Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) --President Trump expressed optimism alongside military commanders in South Korea Tuesday that the diplomatic crisis with North Korea "ultimately" will "work out."



"I think we're going to have lots of good answers for you over a period of time, and ultimately it will all work out," Trump said prior to an operational briefing at Camp Humphreys with U.S. and South Korean military leaders. "Because it always works out, has to work out."



The comments contrast with dire warnings from the president in recent months threatening North Korea with "fire and fury" in the face of repeated missile tests as well as the country's detonation of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb in September.



Trump mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "little rocket man" in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September and said if the U.S. were forced to defend itself or its allies against North Korean aggression, "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."



The president appeared to tone down his language leading up to his visit to Asia. His stop in Seoul puts him in the closest proximity yet to the threat faced by key U.S. allies in the region.



Later Tuesday, President Trump will sit down with South Korean President Moon to discuss trade as well as the country's approach to North Korea. Trump has urged Moon to be more direct in confronting North Korea's aggression in the region.



"I hope that your visit to Korea and to the Asia-Pacific region will serve as an opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety that the Korean people have due to North Korea's provocations and also serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korea nuclear issue," Moon said..



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Homeowners at Sunrise Estates, an acreage development in northeast Lincoln, will likely get a years reprieve from becoming a part of the city.

The Lincoln City Council, in a split vote Monday afternoon, agreed to annex the 203 acres near 84th and Holdrege, but that annexation would not take place until Nov. 6, 2018.

That years delay will give the owners time to plan for the eventual annexation, which will include higher taxes, no burn permits for handling the prairie grass that is part of the area, and moving from the Waverly School District to Lincoln Public Schools.

However, the council failed to take final action on the ordinance at the meeting. They voted only on the amendment but not on the final version as amended.

That mistake did not come to light until after the Monday meeting had ended. In a telephone interview Monday night, Council Chairman Roy Christensen said it was his fault that final vote wasn't taken. Christensen said he will be talking with City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick about putting the amended ordinance on the Nov. 20 council agenda for a vote.

All 28 Sunrise Estates property owners had signed a letter opposing the annexation, and last week many owners offered a variety of reasons why the council should not annex their area, ranging from concerns about fire protection to costs the city would face to provide city services to the development.

Homeowners also said they had been told by city staff their development probably wouldnt be annexed until 2020 or later, and they would rather wait to be annexed until the city has put in the new fire station planned for near 84th and Leighton.

Homeowners in Sunrise Estates, which is surrounded on three sides by the city, said they knew their area would be annexed at some point but wanted more time to prepare for that, said Councilman Carl Eskridge, who offered the motion to annex but delay its implementation for a year.

The council voted on two separate ideas for delaying the annexation.

Councilwoman Cyndi Lamm proposed delaying the entire decision for a year, setting another public hearing for Nov. 5, 2018.

That motion failed on a 3-3 vote.

Only six council members participated in the vote because Councilwoman Jane Raybould had a conflict of interest. Her brother and sister-in-law live in Sunrise Estates.

The amendment by Eskridge to annex, but delay the actual annexation date for a year, passed on a 4-2 vote.

Voting yes were Eskridge, Bennie Shobe, Leirion Gaylor Baird and Roy Christensen. Voting against were Lamm and Jon Camp.

The northeast Lincoln development is one of eight areas of land that the Planning Department has recommended be brought into the city limits because they are surrounded on several sides by city property and have easy access to city water and sewer services.

Normally land comes into the city at the request of a developer or the homeowners of an existing acreage development because the area needs city water and sewer services, so there is seldom opposition.

But these eight annexations are being requested by the city administration, and some property owners objected during hearings before the planning commission and city council.

With action taken Monday, the council has agreed to annex five of the parcels. One area, 211 acres between 56th and 70th north of Fletcher and owned by Nebco, has been delayed while the company works out an easement agreement on the land, which is mostly in the floodplain.

Public hearings before the council on the two remaining properties under consideration for annexation will be held at the councils Nov. 20 meeting.
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Global Payments Inc. provides payment technology and software solutions for card, electronic, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Business and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization services, settlement and funding services, customer support and help-desk functions, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security services, consolidated billing and statements, and on-line reporting services. This segment also provides an array of enterprise software solutions that streamline business operations of its customers in various vertical markets; and value-added services, such as point-of-sale solutions, and analytic and engagement tools, as well as payroll and human capital management services. The Issuer Solutions segment offers solutions that enable financial institutions and retailers to manage their card portfolios through a platform; and commercial payments and ePayables solutions for businesses and governments. The Business and Consumer Solutions segment provides general-purpose reloadable prepaid debit and payroll cards, demand deposit accounts, and other financial service solutions to the underbanked and other consumers, and businesses under the Netspend brand. It markets its products and services through direct sales force, trade associations, agent and enterprise software providers, referral arrangements with value-added resellers, and independent sales organizations. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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BTG plc acquires, develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Interventional Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Licensing. The Interventional Medicine segment offers interventional oncology products and systems, such as beads and TheraSphere for treatment of liver cancer; and GALIL medical system, a cryoablation technology for use in kidney cancer and other indications. This segment also provides interventional vascular products consisting of EKOS system, an ultrasonic catheter drug delivery device used in the treatment of blood clots; Varithena for the treatment of varicose veins; and PneumRx Coil for the treatment of emphysema, a debilitating lung disease. The Pharmaceuticals segment offers antidote products, such as CroFab for the treatment of crotalid snake envenomations; DigiFab for the treatment of digoxin toxicity; and Voraxaze for high-dose methotrexate toxicity. The Licensing segment provides Zytiga for treatment of prostate cancer; Two-Part Hip Cup; and Lemtrada. The company also manufactures and commercializes therapeutic ultrasound devices, and roxwood systems, as well as develops venous thrombus management devices. The company was formerly known as British Technology Group International plc and changed its name to BTG plc in March 1995. BTG plc was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
My 14-hour flight from New York to Seoul was just the beginning. The next morning, my CNN crew and I found ourselves strapped into the Navy's C-2 COD (carrier onboard delivery) aircraft. Only this plane doesn't exactly come with peanuts and a Coke. Instead, I was tethered to a metal seat by four seat belts and facing backwards, helmet on, with only two tiny windows in the entire cabin.

Ninety minutes later, our Navy pilots lined us up with the USS Ronald Reagan, the aircraft carrier in the waters below. As the C-2 started its sharp descent, my heart started to pound. I knew I'd only have two hours to shoot our story and get it right.

I also knew, having done this once before, the adrenaline rush that comes with the "catch." Because the carrier's runway is so short, our plane had a tail hook to catch one of the cable wires on the flight deck and keep us from skidding into the ocean. The pilot has to get it just right. In a successful catch you go from 150 knots to zero in five seconds.

The sailors seated with us gave us the cue to brace ourselves, shouting "Let's go, let's go LET'S GO!" Then we heard a THUDDDDDD and a loud grinding of metal. I had no idea where we'd just landed  I wasn't allowed to know our location  but what I did know was that my journey in Korea had officially begun.

The idea for my trip

I remember sitting in my office in New York several months ago  it was one of those weeks when the war of words between Washington and Pyongyang was particularly intense  and saying to my producer: "I wonder what it's like to be an American in South Korea right now."

My mind instantly went to our men and women in the military who are based precariously closely to North Korea. Could they feel the intensity that we were feeling back at home? And what about their families, many of whom moved with them to Korea? Are they afraid or anxious? In a worst case scenario, what would they do?

I remember tornado drills at school as a kid and wondered, do these American kids in Korea hold nuclear drills? I wanted to know, and I thought CNN's viewers would want to know, too. The US Army offered rare access to several soldiers and their families. And the US Navy gave me access to sailors.

Theirs are the voices I needed to tell this story.

Proud of their daddy

The Army portion of our journey included a road trip, a tour in Blackhawk helicopter and a step  if only for a minute  into North Korea.

We visited Camp Casey, Yongsan Garrison, Camp Bonifas and the DMZ.

I interviewed Lt. Col. Aaron Bright, who serves as commander of the 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery regiment. His battalion operates multiple rocket launchers and is part of the northernmost deployed brigade in South Korea, making them a first line of defense. I also spoke to his soldiers, who told me why they signed up to serve.

And I interviewed Col. Bright's wife and their three daughters, who live an hour and a half away. They talked about the adjustment to life in South Korea and how normal it has become.

And as they talked about how proud they are of their daddy, the tears started to fall.

'That there... is North Korea'

Another day, I boarded a Black Hawk helicopter and flew over the countryside. Our CNN crew didn't fully appreciate until we'd arrived how picturesque Korea truly is.

We arrived in the fall when the leaves in the hills had just started to turn  at sunset, it looked as though we were flying over the Catskills. As I peered through my window, I saw villages and rice fields punctuated with Army bunkers and rocket test sites. It was this juxtaposition of normal life alongside endless uncertainty.

And then I heard over my headset... "That there... is North Korea." Col. Jon Howerton was pointing to an imposing mountain range in the distance. I just stared. That was it  this secretive country we know so little about.

I talk so often about it from the comfort of my studio in Manhattan, but to be flying close enough to make out its towering flag was something I will never forget.

Against a molten sunset, I thought of the grim gulags and the daily misery of North Korea's people. I thought of my interview with Otto Warmbier's parents and his inhuman suffering. I thought of the Americans still being held there today.

And I was grateful to the men and women in the US military for protecting us.

The DMZ

I arrived at the DMZ -- along the 38th parallel which divides North and South Korea -- and was instructed not to point or wave at anyone. We were surrounded by armed guards and prying towers with cameras. Behind dark sunglasses, the South Korean soldiers hold a ready jiujitsu position. A concrete curb defines the line between the two nations.

One visitor asked: "What would happen if someone ran towards the line?" A soldier responded: "You don't want to find out."

No, we didn't. Our group was directed inside one of the blue UN buildings where negotiations are held. This building straddles the border, so for a brief moment inside, you're allowed to cross into North Korean territory. I did and got a photo.

Nearby, I interviewed 19-year-old PFC Joshua Roberson from Florida. He joined the Army after graduating high school. He'd never left the US before, and now he's stationed a stone's throw from North Korea.

Octopus, kimchi and fried chicken

My journey to South Korea wouldn't be complete without spending time with Americans who choose to live here. So on a Saturday night in Seoul, over a dinner of octopus, kimchi and fried chicken, I talked to a group of expats who spoke about their love for Korea, what it's like living under constant nuclear threat and who worries them more -- North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un or President Trump.

What's my takeaway from all of this? Americans in Korea, much like Koreans themselves, are just like us. They go to work every day, send their kids to school and try not to fixate on the threats that hang over them... threats that they acknowledge are on the rise.
Gov. Pete Ricketts outlined a conservative strategy to reduce the size and scope of government, partly by centering entitlement decisions in the states, during an address this week at Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Other key elements in his plan include making government more efficient by using a business model to help institute change while recognizing and supporting the vital role played by volunteer organizations in assisting people with needs.

The address, delivered Monday during the college's "markets and policy" seminar series, appeared to provide the most focused and comprehensive look at the governor's conservative political philosophy and strategy since he was elected three years ago.

Ricketts said more responsibility for managing and directing entitlement programs should be taken out of Washington and "pushed down" to the states.

Under his administration, the governor said, reforms already have been instituted in managing unemployment benefits and food stamp support, providing assistance to "help people get a job (and) help families take care of themselves" as part of the process of receiving benefits.

"The goal is to help people get a job," Ricketts said in outlining reforms in the unemployment benefits program that are designed to turn it into "a re-employment program."

Families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food stamp benefits are being provided assistance in acquiring better jobs that allow them to feed their families while having more time together as a family, the governor said.

Ricketts said he and conservative state senators blocked proposed expansion of Medicaid in Nebraska because the addition of "able-bodied single adults" could result in less funding support for children, the elderly and the disabled.

When conservatives are governing, Ricketts told the Hillsdale audience, it is vitally important that "they make sure government runs really, really well."

And he is focusing in Nebraska on "running it more like a business," delivering improved service at less cost, the governor said.

"Our goal is operational excellence," Ricketts said.

Voluntary organizations are "fundamental and critical," he said, working outside of government to "help us provide for people who need our help with love."
NextEra Energy, Inc. is the largest electric utility holding company in the US. It operates a network of power generation and distribution facilities that include fossil-fuel-generated and green energy. As of mid-2022, the company was capable of generating 58 GW of electricity with nearly 60% of the load produced by green sources including wind and solar. In their view, going green isnt an option, its the solution. NextEra Energy has been recognized multiple times as a leader in clean energy and ESG practices and was ranked the #1 electric and gas utility on the Forbes list of Most Admired Companies.

The company is the result of several mergers that begin with FPL Group. FPL Group is now a subsidiary of NextEra Energy and the third-largest provider of electricity in the US servicing nearly half of Florida. FPL and its affiliates are the single largest provider of renewable energy generated from wind and sun. The group changed its name in 2010 following a decision to shift focus onto renewable energy sources.

Today, NextEra Energy, Inc through its subsidiary FPL serves about 12 million people in eastern and southwestern Florida. The company employs nearly 14,900 people who service 5.8 million accounts. The company is in business to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to retail and wholesale clients. Electricity is generated through wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities.

The company is also engaged in the construction and operation of new facilities, specifically renewable power generation, storage, and delivery facilities, and can offer custom solutions tailored to any need. Offerings include tailored services to assist businesses with their transition to clean energy.

NextEra Energy also owns and operates 7 nuclear power stations in Florida, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin generating power for the wholesale market.

Unlike other companies that are targeting net-zero emissions, NextEra Energy has a plan to reach real zero and is investing heavily to reach that goal by 2045. The company had invested nearly $50 billion in green energy infrastructure and initiatives by mid-2022. The plan is to first work on reducing its own emissions and then take its knowledge and expertise to the world.
Rheinmetall AG provides technologies to the mobility and security sectors worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Vehicle Systems, Weapon and Ammunition, Electronic Solutions, Sensors and Actuators, and Materials and Trade. The Vehicle Systems segment offers combat, support, logistics, and special vehicles, including armored tracked vehicles, CBRN protection systems, turret systems, and wheeled logistics and tactical vehicles. The Weapon and Ammunition segment provides threat-appropriate, effective and accurate firepower, and protection solutions, such as large and medium-caliber weapons and ammunition, weapon stations, protection systems, and propellants and powders. The Electronic Solutions segment offers a chain of systems network, such as sensors, networking platforms, automated connected effectors for soldiers, and cyberspace protection solutions, and training and simulation solutions. Its products include air defense systems; soldier systems; command, control, and reconnaissance systems; fire control systems; sensors; and simulations for the army, air force, navy, and civil applications. The Sensors and Actuators segment provides a portfolio of products comprising exhaust gas recirculation systems; throttle valves, control dampers, and exhaust flaps for electromotors; solenoid valves; actuators and valve train systems; oil, water, and vacuum pumps for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and light and heavy-duty off-road applications; and industrial solutions. The Materials and Trade segment focuses on the development of system components for the basic motors, such as engine blocks, structural components, and cylinder heads; plain bearings, and bushes; and replacement parts. It also engages in the aftermarket activities. The company was formerly known as Rheinmetall Berlin AG and changed its name to Rheinmetall AG in 1996. Rheinmetall AG was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Chegg, Inc. operates direct-to-student learning platform that supports students starting with their academic journey and extending into their careers with products and services to support and help them better understand their academic course materials. The company offers Chegg Services, which include subscription services; and required materials that comprise its print textbooks and eTextbooks. Its subscription services include Chegg Study, which helps students master challenging concepts on their own; Chegg Writing that provides students with a suite of tools, such as plagiarism detection scans, grammar and writing fluency checking, expert personalized writing feedback, and premium citation generation; Chegg Math, a step-by-step math problem solver and calculator that helps students to solve problems; Chegg Study Pack, a bundle of various Chegg Services product offerings, including Chegg Study, Chegg Writing, and Chegg Math Solver services, which creates an integrated platform of connected academic support services; Busuu, an online language learning solution that offers a comprehensive solution through a combination of self-paced lessons, live classes with expert tutors, and the ability to learn and practice with members of the Busuu language learning community; and Thinkful, a skills-based learning platform that offers professional courses along with networking, interviewing, and career services. The company also provides other services, such as Chegg Life, Chegg Prep, and Chegg Internships; provides personal and professional development skills training; and rents and sells print textbooks and eTextbooks. Chegg, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Eric Underwood says that Lincolns citizens like to socialize. They like to go out and be active at events that involve people and experiences.

That is something that Underwood  general manager and part owner of Lincolns Rodizio Grill in the Haymarket area  appreciates. Especially because it meshes so well with the service, attitude and atmosphere of Rodizio Grill.

With the slogan The Brazilian Steakhouse, the Rodizio concept of introducing the southern Brazilian tradition of churrasco (barbeque) dining was brought to America in the mid-1990s by native Brazilian Ivan Utrera.

The Lincoln franchise  the only Rodizio Grill in Nebraska  opened in August 2013, presenting the concept of having patrons interact with each other as well as appreciate the actual act of dining as opposed to just eating.

Underwood acknowledges some initial challenges such as What is Brazilian food? But the enthusiastic Underwood knew that the beef, poultry, pork and more on the Rodizio menu in the end was pretty much Midwestern fare served with Brazilian touches, flavors and flamboyance, such as the meats being delivered on 3-foot skewers and cut at the table by Gaucho-attired servers.

He says that the tastes in the meats are achieved through the use of oils, vegetables, herbs and spices. Also, that there is no MSG in the offerings and that everything, except breads, is gluten-free.

There is little doubt that the restaurants pageantry and flare are directly tailored to its diners positive experience. It is important that every single guest, every single time, has a positive experience, Underwood emphasizes.

Functioning under the concept of unlimited abundant service, the restaurant has two dining options: an impressive salad bar featuring 70-some unlimited sides and salad options ($19.99/$14.99 for brunch); and the Full Rodizio ($29.99/$21.99 for brunch), which includes the above-mentioned salad bar, plus limitless grilled options of 16 entrees. Gaucho servers move from table to table, offering diners selection after selection. Brazilian appetizers are also included with either the salad bar or the Full Rodizio.

Full Rodizio beef offerings include Picanha (top sirloin), Bife Com Alho (steak basted in garlic), Assado (marinated Brazilian brisket), Maminha or Raquete (seasoned tri-tip sirloin or flat iron steak), Fraldinha or Miolo da Paleta (beef tender or beef center cut).

Four pork options include Brazilian sausage, marinated pork loin, pork tender cut with parmesan and bacon, and lean cut of ham. Four poultry options are turkey breast wrapped in bacon, sweet and spicy chicken, marinated and seasoned chicken, and chicken hearts served with a twist of lime.

There is also boneless leg of lamb, a daily fish selection, glazed and grilled pineapple, and grilled tomatoes with parmesan.

From the salad bar, guests can choose from such hot dishes as Brazilian black bean stew, sauteed collard greens and bacon, chicken or beef stroganoff, whipped potatoes, or a plethora of salads including BLT salad, mozzarella salad, strawberry salad, hearts of palm, marinated quail eggs, fruit salad, Caesar salad or turkey pastrami and cheese salad. There are also numerous decadent desserts.

Underwood says that among the customer favorites are the glazed and grilled pineapple and the BLT salad. Some upcoming special grilled promotions will include wild game in November, Baconfest in January and February, and corned beef for St. Patricks Day.

The restaurants customer base is generally patrons in the 40- to 50-plus range, but through some recent target marketing, Underwood has noticed an expansion that includes more family dining. There are childrens rates for 3- to 6-year-olds ($4.99) and 7- to 11-year-olds ($9.99).

Underwood remarks that some 40 percent of Rodizio Grill guests travel to the Lincoln location from Omaha and surrounding areas. Patrons have also come from Des Moines, Sioux Falls and beyond.

He singles out the dedication and service of the Rodizio staff and the restaurants high-quality food as a major reason for the businesss positive reputation. Underwood feels that Rodizio is one of the few restaurants in the downtown area that can handle a large number of customers when Pinnacle Bank Arena has an event. Guests can instantly dine and be in-and-out before arena events start, he says.

According to Underwood, Rodizio provides one of the most unique dining experiences in Lincoln. One can get a meal anywhere  but one can have a sizzling experience at Rodizio Grill, he says.
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Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Alfa Consulting, Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations  Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut.

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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. provides reinsurance and insurance products around the world. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Bermuda with offices in Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, and the US.

The company operates through two segments that include multiple underlying businesses and investment vehicles. The two main segments are Property and Casualty & Specialty. The company operates through intermediaries that include DaVinci Resinsurance Inc, Top Layer Reinsurance LTD, and RennaisanceRe Syndicate 1458 among others.

Top Layer Re is the first major venture and was started in 1999. It is a joint venture with State Farm targeting high layers of the US reinsurance business. DaVinci Re was formed in the wake of 9/11 to assist with capacity and it was given added capacity in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Medici was formed in 2009 and is an open-ended fund intended to spur investment in the catastrophe bond market.

The Property segment writes catastrophic insurance policies to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes. These include but are not limited to hurricanes, floods, freezes, and terrorism.

The Casualty & Specialty segment provides a wide range of consumer products including business insurance, malpractice insurance, liability insurance, workers' compensation, mortgage insurance, and health insurance among others.

Among RenaissanceRes Specialty businesses is capital management. The firm offers 6 investment vehicles and has more than $11 billion under management making it the #1 ILS or insurance-linked asset manager in the US. In regards to its credit ratings, the firm and all of its vehicles carry an A or better rating from every credit rating agency.
Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.
KENOSHA  The second annual Vet Night of the Arts, an event created and inspired by those who serve in the armed forces, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in Wartburg Theatre of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Natural and Social Sciences at Carthage College, 2001 Alford Park Drive.

The event features readings, visual artwork and multimedia performances to honor veterans and induce conversations to improve life for service members as they return to civilian life.

The evening features New York-based actor/activist Stephan Wolfert and his one-man-show, Cry Havoc! Wolfert, who spent six years in the U.S. Army, examines his own experiences (pre- and post-service) through some of William Shakespeares most famous speeches. He explores our societal neurosis of war and questions if theres room to improve the way we reintegrate veterans.

The evenings highlights also include staged readings of new essays and drama from veterans at Carthage and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. During intermission, people can view a display of original artwork inspired by Carthage artists recent conversations with veterans.

Based on the language and content, this event is intended for mature audiences.

There is no admission fee but tickets are required. Go to www.carthage.edu/tickets or call 262-551-6661. Cash donations for Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin will be accepted.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. The company also provides home decor products under the West Elm brand; kids accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand; and an organic bedding to multi-purpose furniture under the Pottery Barn Teen brand. In addition, it offers made-to-order lighting, hardware, furniture, and home decors inspired by history under the Rejuvenation brand; and women's and men's accessories, travel, entertaining and bar, home decor, and seasonal items under the Mark and Graham brand, as well as operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. The company markets its products through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs, and retail stores. It operates 544 stores comprising 502 stores in 41states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; 20 stores in Canada; 19 stores in Australia; 3 stores in the United Kingdom; and 139 franchised stores, as well as e-commerce websites in various countries in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea, and India. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
MOUNT PLEASANT  The Racine Branch NAACP will hold its 67th Freedom Fund Dinner on Friday, Nov. 10, at the Delta Hotel, 7111 Washington Ave.

Chuck Tyler, longtime activist and former director of Racines Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, is to be presented with the Racine Branch NAACPs highest honor bestowed on an individual at the local level, the Theodore Harris Humanitarian Award.

This award is presented annually to a person in the community who has demonstrated a desire to help those less fortunate. Tyler was instrumental in marches leading to the construction of two community centers in Racine. The Tyler-Domer Community Center is named partially in his honor.

The evening is scheduled to begin with a silent auction/reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The speaker will be Dr. John Y. Odom of Madison.

The $75 ticket fee includes a $30 complimentary NAACP membership. For reservations or more information, call Beverly Hicks at 262-880-2128.
RACINE  A homeless Racine man is facing charges after he allegedly beat a man so severely on Friday that the victim suffered serious head injuries.

Michael W. Moore, 30, who was reportedly residing at the HALO shelter, 2000 DeKoven Ave., is charged with felony aggravated battery.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 5:25 p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of people allegedly trespassing in a vacant upper-level apartment on the 1500 block of Washington Avenue.

Police looked through a kitchen window and could see the legs of a person in another room who never flinched, even while police banged on the window and door. Police found an unlatched back door and got into the apartment.

Inside, they found an unconscious man on a couch with severe injuries to his face and head. There also were blood droplets on the wall behind the man and blood pooled on a cushion where the mans head had been lying.

Paramedics arrived and transported the man to Ascension All Saints hospital. The mans condition was life-threatening, the complaint states.

Outside, police saw two men, one of whom was speckled in blood, from his head to his feet. The man was identified as Moore, a previous tenant at the Washington Avenue apartment.

Moore reportedly told police he lives at HALO, but frequently uses his previous apartment to drink. Moore said the male victim had reportedly threatened to strike his girlfriend, so Moore allegedly hit the victim five or six times in the head and face, but then said maybe seven times.

Moore told officers that after he finished punching him, the victims face was bloody. Moore also allegedly described the blows to the victims face as pretty hard.

A physician at the hospital told investigators that the victim had head and facial trauma, as well as subdural hematomas, a collection of blood outside the brain usually caused by a severe head injury, the complaint said.

The physician also said the victim was going to be admitted to the intensive care unit and would be closely monitored.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Moore on Nov. 16 at the Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. He remained in custody as of Monday night at the County Jail.
Justin Yeoh, Pui Li Lai and Khai Shuen Kuu flew 25 hours to Halifax from Kuala Lumpur at the end of July seeking greater independence, a different way of learning dentistry and international options after they graduate.

Its always summer in Malaysia. We never walked anywhere because it is so humid. says Justin. By the end of September, he was already starting to find Halifax cold.

The three Malaysian students are here in Nova Scotia as the result of a new partnership between the International Medical University (IMU) in Kuala Lumpur and Dalhousies Faculty of Dentistry. The IMU has existing partnerships with universities in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, but the partnership with Dal is the first and only one it has in North America.

Dalhousies Faculty of Medicine has been accepting IMU students into its program for over 10 years, explains Dr. Debora Matthews, assistant dean of academic affairs. When one of the Australian dental schools withdrew from the partnership, the Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry stepped in.

We saw this as fantastic opportunity to get involved, says Dr. Matthews. As a member of the Academic Council at IMU, we are part of a network of internationally renowned dental schools. This provides us with opportunities to learn with and about other programs. We also get to work with students who already have some dental knowledge and skills training, and who are self-directed learners. We are delighted that they chose to come to Dal.

Global connections



Prior to arriving at Dal, Khai, Justin, and Pui Li spent two and a half years studying dentistry at IMU. Unlike in Canada, where most students have a BSc when they begin studying dentistry, they were able to start their dentistry studies right out of high school. This means that they are younger  22 and 23  than many of their classmates in the second-year class they joined.

The IMU dentistry program is structured differently to Dals, so Khai, Justin, and Pui Li arrived with one year of clinical experience. Dal dentistry students start treating patients in the latter half of their second year.

Because of the differences in the two programs, the IMU students spent the month of August on a bridging program. The faculty want to evaluate our standards, says Justin.

They want to find out what we know, agrees Pui Li, not just to identify gaps in their learning, but to teach us in a way that is similar to what we are used to.

They all agree that the faculty are kind and friendly and keen to help them make the transition to a new program and a new country.

Justin is full of praise for the pre-clinical training Dalhousie students receive. At IMU we are taught a technique once, we practise once, we are examined on it, and then we do it in the clinic under close supervision. We are taught to treat our mannequins as if they are real life patients and to do our best work on them. We are also able to ask lots of questions, but we are expected to be very independent and to learn a lot on our own.

Pui Li agrees. Its a lot of self-directed learning at IMU. You have to take the initiative to read the material.

Getting the experience



Khai explains that part of the reason for the limited amount of pre-clinical training is down to budgets. At IMU the materials available for practising are limited. Here, there is a stronger focus on the pre-clinical stage and we have greater access to the supplies we need. In the lab, we can use a selection of burrs and instruments. There are better teaching and technology resources here.

I miss being in the clinic, says Justin, but the hands-on pre-clinical practice is a good opportunity for me to brush up on my skills. I will go into the third-year clinic much more confident.

As a left-handed person, Justin also appreciates the facilities for lefties and more anatomically correct mannequins to practise on. At IMU, the chairs are all right-handed. You do the work anyway, but your posture is wrong and you end up with neck and back ache.

But one of the biggest changes is getting used to communication via email. In Malaysia, everyone communicates using WhatsApp. Theres a WhatsApp group for everything at IMU, says Pui Li. I have to remember to check my email so that I dont miss anything important, says Justin.

Opening up their options



Had they continued to study dentistry in Kuala Lumpur, the government would assign the three Malaysian students to a clinic or hospital upon graduation. By gaining their doctor of dental surgery degrees in Canada, Pui Li and Khai can contemplate pursuing their careers in North America and Justin can explore his dream of becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Looking ahead, the Faculty of Dentistry meets all the IMU partner schools at the annual Academic Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss issues around curriculum and student evaluation.

As part of that meeting, says Dr. Matthews, we also meet with students who are interested in our program here at Dal. Our agreement with IMU is to accept up to five students each year. Based on the line-up of students wanting to speak with us last year, we should have no problem filling those spots.
Swazi Mobile, Swazilands recently launched second mobile network, has tapped BICS for its complete range of voice and data roaming services.

BICS has deployed its full roaming outfit to Swazi Mobile, enabling end-users to benefit from international voice and data services, SMS messaging, signalling, IPX and data clearing services. Both incoming visitors to the country and outgoing roamers can now take advantage of BICS portfolio of over 700 partnerships worldwide across a 4G network.

There are around 250,000 inbound roamers in Swaziland, with a vast majority (around 98%) travelling from neighbouring countries South Africa and Mozambique. Mobile users in this region will not only benefit from BICS one-stop-shop roaming solution, but also its point-of-presence (PoP) in Johannesburg, South Africa, which means that regional traffic will be managed locally. BICS local switching provides outstanding quality by reducing latency, which is critical in order to support 4G.

Clementine Fournier, Regional VP Africa at BICS, said: We are dedicated to the African continent, and particularly smaller markets within this exciting region, which may not be able to facilitate a full mobile offering. BICS recognised the demand in Africa back in 2014 when we established our PoP in Johannesburg, which we are now able to fully utilise in supporting the launch of Swazi Mobile and the growth in roaming revenue.

Wandile Mtshali, the CEO at Swazi Mobile said: The immediate access to over 800 of BICS partners will give our customers the ability to roam like never before, and BICS PoP in Johannesburg will provide us with a competitive differentiator through service quality.
Consumers can catch the live launch at select PVR theatres across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. To attend the event, users can book the tickets for Rs 99 on Bookmyshow, starting November 8 from 10 am onwards

OnePlus will unveil the OnePlus 5T at an event in New York. The event is scheduled for November 16, 11 AM ET which is 9:30 PM India time. You may not be able to go to New York to attend the event, but you can watch it at a PVR near you. OnePlus says, In India, OnePlus fans can watch the launch, live at PVR Chanakyapuri, on 16th November at 21:30 IST. Apart from Delhi, fans can also watch the live launch at select PVR theatres across Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. To attend the event, OnePlus fans can book the tickets for just Rs 99 only on Bookmyshow, starting 8th November from 10 am onwards.

If you are looking to get your hands on the OnePlus 5T, you can do so early. OnePlus says, OnePlus 5T will go on Early Access sale on 21st November at 16:30 IST on Amazon India and oneplusstore.in. The device will also be available through all sales channels in the country soon after.

The OnePlus 5T is OnePlus mid-year refresh to the OnePlus 5. OnePlus started the mid-year smartphone refresh with the OnePlus 3T which was a successor to the OnePlus 3. The OnePlus 5T is expected to feature a 6-inch 18:9 display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. If you are wondering about the existance of a 3.5mm headphones jack on the phone, then fear not. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has confirmed that the OnePlus 5T will retain the 3.5mm audio jack.

The smartphone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset and launch in two storage options: 6GB RAM variant with 64GB storage and 8GB RAM variant with 128GB internal storage. With Qualcomm not upgrading its Snapdragon mobile platform for the second half of 2017, the company is sticking with the same internals also found on the existing OnePlus 5. As far as the camera setup is concerned, the smartphone is expected to retain the dual camera system with a 16MP primary sensor and a 20MP secondary sensor. However, a GFXBench listing shows only the 16MP primary sensor in the rear camera setup. The company is likely planning to bump the front camera from 16MP to 20MP, while the overall specifications and design seem similar to that of the Oppo R11s which was launched in China last week.

There is no information available about the battery capacity of the smartphone, but it will support Dash Charging and not wireless charging. Pete Lau, Founder and CEO of OnePlus believes there is no need for wireless charging till the time the company supports Dash Charge for wireless fast charging.
Marks & Spencer interims are the big talking point ahead of Wednesday's release, while others reporting include Persimmon , Esure , JD Wetherspoon , OneSavings Bank , Sophos and Tullow Oil .

For macro news, traders in London will wake up to October trade stats from of China and Bank of Japan meeting minutes, while analysts suggested that, with little in the way of other major economic data, the other focus for markets will likely be politics in the UK, Middle East and a speech from President Donald Trump in South Korea.

Recent soft data from China has suggested the export recovery has continued to hold up well, on the back of steadily improving global demand. Imports likely remained strong, helped by improving demand, and rising commodity prices, said HSBC.

ALL EYES ON MARKS & SPENCER

Interim results from Marks & Sparks are expected to show a fairly sharp fall in profits, while this being the first results under new chairman Archie Norman could result in a slight change in priorities.

The clothing and food retailer is not even half way through a five-year restructuring under chief executive Steve Rowe, a year and a half after he took the helm.

In July, first quarter results showed UK like-for-like sales down 0.5% as clothing sales fell 1.2% and the food division was down 0.1%.

Furthermore, recent industry reports have painted a mixed picture for the clothing market and in recent weeks Rowe's recently recruited director of clothing and beauty resigned to take another job in the industry.

Among the numerous M&S previews put out ahead of results, Investec analysts forecast a 12% fall in first-half profit before tax, with FX and cost pressures predicted to diminish in the second half.

As the M&S trading period is to the end of September, recent numbers from Next and John Lewis have shown weak clothing demand in October, so management "reassurance on current trading is needed for the shares to go better in our view", though the analysts stressed that it it is still early days in Rowes rejuvenation strategy, where most of the benefits are due to be back-ended.

Food will also be in focus after two quarters underperforming the industry, which management put down to having taken out too many promotions and slow-moving lines.

"This is the first set of results since the appointment of the new chairman," said UBS. "While the main thrust of group strategy is unlikely to change  non-food downsizing, focus on full price, food space growth, international retrenchment  investors will be looking for any change in priorities or timescale. This could include an acceleration in UK non-food space reduction, which at 10% over the next four years was less than the market expected 12 months ago."

Deutsche Bank forecast a 0.7% decline in second quarter UK LFL sales and a 12% drop in underlying PBT reflecting mixed performance in an increasingly challenging UK market.

Barclays was looking for underlying PBT of 201m, down 13%, hoping for encouragement that recent issues around wastage, ranging and promotional attractiveness are being death with; in clothing, the hope was for "further confident noises around the growth of full-price sales and some visibility on total sales stabilizing".

PERSIMMON, ONESAVINGS, ESURE

Housebuilder Persimmon is scheduled to release a third quarter trading update following a bumper set of interims in August.



In the first half of the year PBT surged 30% to 457m on the back of a 12% improvement in sales and margins leaping higher thanks to strong cost control.

Legal completions during the period were 8% higher at 7,794 while the average selling price increased 4% at 213,262.

JP Morgan Cazenove said it expected the sales rate to be up slightly, with the group having reporting +2% for the summer months, while the order book is seen growing strongly though slightly less than the 15% growth reported at half-time.

Some broad guidance is expected on second half margins and net cash, "although like last year, it may remain too vague to drive an upgrade at this point".

"Even if estimates dont move on Wednesday, we still see scope for margin-driven upside, and we continue to expect the large cash balance to be used to increase shareholder returns and/or cash settle part of the large LTIP, driving upgrades, which in combination could drive double-digit upgrades to EPS in 2018."

Third-quarter results from OneSavings Bank are normally pretty brief and should give details on gross originations, net loan book size at end of September and commentary around growth.

Barclays expected management to report gross originations of 570m compared to 510m this time last year and net loan book up circa 21% year-on-year to 6.77bn.

Analyst Daniel Garrod forecast management will reiterate their comments about expecting net loan book growth for the full year of at least high teens percentages and net interest margin expectations of circa 314 basis points.

"Analysts will be looking for any commentary around pipeline and application levels remaining strong," he said.

Insurer Esure's quarterly update should contain a policy count, gross written premium and qualitative commentary on margins and pricing trends.

"Any commentary on pricing changes and Esure's growth post the semi-reversal of the Ogden discount rate change will be in focus," said UBS, forecasting group GWP of 218m, up 22% on last year.

An increase in average motor GWP is seen resulting in a 27% increase in motor GWP to 197m, while in home insurance UBS expects a continuation of the difficult market conditions in the first half to drive a 4% reduction in policy count compared to the second quarter and a 4% increase in average GWP to drive an 10% yearly reduction in total GWP to 21m.

TULLOW, SOPHOS, WETHERSPOON

Tullow Oil is also expected to deliver a trading update, following July's interim results where a massive impairment charge on Ghanaian operations saw the oil producer report an operating loss of $395m.

Pre-tax impairment charges came in at $642m (493m) due to the weak oil price and a $572m hit on the TEN oilfields off Ghana.

But since being given permission by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to re-start the development of the TEN fields offshore Ghana and resolving the Jubilee turret issue, analysts have been positive on the stock.

RBC Capital Markets forecast Tullow could be targeting a year-end exit rate of more than 100,000 barrels per day, up from its first-half average of 82,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day. RBC also highlighted potential for resource growth in October, when Tullow drills its first high-impact exploration well offshore Suriname.

Deutsche expects the third quarter trading statement to confirm robust production from both the Jubilee and TEN fields in line with guidance.

"There may also be more detail on development drilling plans following the positive ITLOS ruling in the maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire."

Security software group Sophos will deliver half-year results following a capital markets day last month where management raised guidance for the year to 20% growth following the 19% in the first half.

The consensus analysts forecast is for second quarter billings of $168m leading to first-half billings of $325m, cash EBITDA of $57m and free cash flow of $41m.

Margin and cash flow targets were unchanged but UBS analyst Michael Briest believes Sophos is likely to invest at least some of any billings upside for the future, but there is likely some upside to both.

At JD Wetherspoon's full-year results in September, the pubs group reiterated that given the market's cost pressures, it will require 3-4% LFL sales growth just to keep margins flat in the current trading year.

"With site growth seemingly a thing of the past and leverage rising, we were concerned that profitability could be significantly affected," said Berenberg. "However, increasing mobile app penetration has begun to drive exceptional LFL growth, which seems likely to continue in the near term, mitigating any immediate margin risk."

The app has been downloaded more than one million times across Apple and Android devices since being launched in March and as it allows customers at the pubs to order food and drinks to their table and settle bills it is felt by removing the friction of queuing at the bar, it seems to have contributed to significant LFL outperformance in recent quarters, Berenberg said, with 6.1% LFL growth in August to mid-September.

Wednesday November 08

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (11:00)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

RICS Housing Market Survey (23:01)

FINALS

Tracsis

INTERIMS

JZ Capital Partners Ltd, Marks & Spencer Group, Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust, Sophos Group, SSE, Wizz Air Holdings , Workspace Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

esure Group, Novae Group, OneSavings Bank, Persimmon, Tullow Oil, Wetherspoon (J.D.)

EGMS

Symphony Environmental Technologies

AGMS

Craneware, Haynes Publishing Group, InnovaDerma, Macau Property Opportunities Fund Ltd., Pathfinder Minerals , Picton Property Income Ltd, Ricardo, Strategic Equity Capital

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Begbies Traynor Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

STM Group
Margrethe Vestager , the European Commissioner for Competition, has hit out at major tech firms for their tax practices, and added that they are a "threat" to democracy.

Vestager has been aggressive in pursuing the likes of Google and Apple for anti-competitive behaviour, dishing out fines and ordering unpaid taxes to be repaid.

At a conference in Lisbon, Vestager pointed out the difference in attitudes towards markets as a cause for concern.

"We have to take our democracy back. We cannot leave it neither to Facebook, or Snapchat, or anyone else. We have to take democracy back and renew it because society is about people, not technology," Vestager said.

"The motives go way back but our challenge is to stay fast enough and to have the right tools because this is a fast moving area in our economy now," she added.

Just last month the Commission told Amazon to pay back 250m in taxes to Luxembourg after it asserted that it had been given illegal state aid.

Google was hit with a 2.4bn fine for removing search results of competitors in its online shopping pages.

"We want free markets but we understand the paradox of free markets which is that sometimes we have to intervene. We have to believe that its not the law of the jungle but the law of democracy that works," Vestager added.
US tech giant Apple moved a huge chunk of its untaxed offshore cash to the Channel Island of Jersey following a crackdown on its controversial tax practices in Ireland.

The information was released as part of the Paradise Papers leak, which shows the extent to which several major companies and wealthy individuals are able to use tax havens to avoid paying the correct amount of tax.

Documents show that Apple moved $252bn to a fund in Jersey in 2013 as authorities looked at how its subsidiaries in Ireland processed their taxes.

Last year, the European Commission ordered the iPhone maker to repay 13bn in unpaid taxes to the Irish government, who have so far rejected the idea that it gave the company massive tax breaks. The Commission said Apples de facto tax rate for one financial year in Ireland had been as low as 0.005%, significantly below the countrys 12.5% corporation tax level and even further away from the current US level of 35%.

In a statement in response to the leak, Apple said it pays the correct amount of tax in every country it operates in and reiterated it was the largest taxpayer in the world.

"Apple believes every company has a responsibility to pay its taxes, and as the largest taxpayer in the world, Apple pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world," the company said.

"As the largest taxpayer in the world, Apple pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world" Apple

"We believe every company has a responsibility to pay the taxes they owe and were proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business."

More revelations are expected to arrive this week, with several global news organisations such as The New York Times and the BBC collaborating on the release of the information.

Former US presidential candidate and senator Bernie Sanders lambasted the practice of multinational corporations avoiding the payment of taxes. He called on Congress to investigate the Papers before it moves forward with its major tax overhaul in the US.

"The major issue of our time is the rapid movement toward international oligarchy in which a handful of billionaires own and control a significant part of the global economy," Sanders said

"It must fully investigate the Paradise Papers to make sure that the billionaire class can no longer stash their cash in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and other offshore tax havens."
Keith Anderson, chief corporate officer for Scottish Power , came for the UK government on Tuesday as he challenged ministers to choose whether or not they would back the free market or fully regulate the energy industry.

The market itself had been in a state of uncertainty after Downing Street announced it would institute a cap on standard energy tariffs to help the large number of households that refuse to seek out better deals on their utilities.

But Anderson said the price cap would not help these "sticky" customers and would likely deplete investor sentiment within the sector.

"The key question the Government needs to answer is whether they still believe customers benefit most from free market competition," he said.

"If they do, any intervention must be designed to increase consumer engagement, which is the biggest thing wrong in this sector. Otherwise, we would urge the Government to opt for a fully regulated market. We need clarity one way or the other," Anderson added.

The UK's six biggest energy companies were hit hard by Number 10's pledge to combat Britain's rising energy bills, fanning the flames of a war of words between industry leaders and MPs over the price tag associated with the new energy policies which needed to be added to bills.

British Gas owner Centrica plunged to 14-year lows on the FTSE100 index of the London Stock Exchange, with SSE allegedly seeking to de-list altogether.

Scottish Power, which holds the lowest percentage of its customer base on standard energy tariffs compared to the other big six rivals, is also the only major energy supplier to have increased its market share since 2011 despite rising competition from new brands.

The group's Spanish parent company, Iberdrola, posted an 18% jump in net profits to 2.41bn for its third quarter.
The contact lens industry has, in the recent years, witnessed a shift in the usage of contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel lenses, like those supplied by LensWorld , hold a promising future in improving the contact lens market, as more and more people opt to use them to correct their eye problems. Their development can be termed as one of the biggest technological advancement in the science of contact lenses, having changed the lives of millions of people worldwide.

However, the market for contact lenses appears to have stagnated despite the breakthrough in the development of these better lenses. Several studies and surveys have been conducted to explain the trend, and various reasons have been put forward. In one such study, it was found that their low profitability was a major hindrance to their recommendation to patients by physicians. Doctors felt they stood to gain little by suggesting contact lenses to their patients, opting for other treatments or letting the patients choose for themselves.

In another survey, it emerged that medical experts and practitioners held onto the notion that contact lenses were complex, and not as efficient. So they tended to ignore them when considering treatment options. They were more inclined to suggest-and use, what they perceived to be simpler techniques to correct eye problems of patients.

The solution to the dwindling business of contact lenses lies in creating awareness to both medical experts and patients. That way, doctors would be more willing to suggest the lenses to patients, and patients would, likewise, be willing to consider them. In a research study conducted in 1991 by Tony Hanks, 50 patients were grouped into two. The first group participants received contact lenses only if they asked for them, and in the second group, patients had contact lenses suggested to them by their optometrist.

Results showed a low number of patients who asked for contact lenses while in the other group, many contact lenses were dispensed at the doctor's suggestion. The findings showed the power of a doctor's recommendation and on top of it the need for knowledge of the options available on the part of the patient. The study also looked into the profitability of contact lenses and found it to be about 3 times in referrals, 2.2 times in terms of fees, and that it lessens patient erosion 4 times.

Australia continues to support the industry of contact lenses. Through the Contact Lens Industry Council of Australia, several programs have been undertaken. Activities have included training on skills in business management, sales, and communication. Research shows that these are the skills lacking amongst medics, and which has made the business of contact lenses not to be as robust as it should. Among the projects conducted by the contact lens council of Australia is a pilot program to train eye-care practitioners and other staff at healthcare facilities in Sydney. The number of institutions whose staff benefited from the program totaled 20, with more expected to follow. The eye experts were trained in business management and communication skills in a program designed to increase the sales of contact lenses and increase profitability.

The training aimed to train optometrists on the need how to find market for contact lenses from amongst their patients and how to do it. Practitioners were encouraged find offer suggestions to patients concerning special occasions they would need to wear contact lenses. Such occasions include social events or sports, with doctors can even giving coloured contact lenses at LensWorld. By having more and more people wearing these lenses, their profitability will scale up, improving the outlook of the contact lens business overall.

Other skills covered in the program included the keeping of records, sales language, fitting of lenses, and effective communication skills. The training involved eye-experts as well as their support staff. Ongoing support after the training was also offered, through email and phone. The program also facilitates for optometrists to share ideas on forums organized by the training staff.

The program bore fruits, with improvement registering on all fronts of the contact lens business. There was a 13 percent increase in contact lens prescriptions and a 50 percent sales growth in comparison with the Australian market value average.

The improvements can be attributed to the awareness that was created by the program. And the fact that it happened immediately after the training is proof enough that awareness is what's is needed in the contact lens industry. The optometrists are doing great, prescribing and recommending contact lenses to patients who come to them. Using the skills they gained from the program, they're able to persuade and educate patients on why contact lenses are the best for their eye conditions. And with this trend, the contact lens business is bound to take off, and the earlier notion of low profitability will likely disappear.

A change of attitude, both in patients and the medical fraternity concerning contact lenses, is what the industry needs to registrar growth. Patients need to understand that the lenses are not as hard to maintain, contrary to what the may have heard. They need to look at the long-term benefits of wearing lenses to correct their vision, and not focus on maintenance issues. Isolated cases of people who have had problems with wearing contact lenses may exist, but that shouldn't form the basis for judgment about their suitability. It's important that patients look at the bigger picture, and see the good aspects-which are many.

Overall, a good relationship between the patient and the optometrist is not only essential but comes with many benefits. It allows for the patient to get useful information on the treatment options, the different types of contact lenses available and the procedures for each. With such information, the patient, with the help of the optometrist, is then able to choose the most comfortable and effective treatment for their eye condition.

The change of attitude and awareness should occur at all levels, from the optometrist, support staff, facility management, to the patient. Eye experts should be eager to learn about new technological advancements in the science of contact lenses, and how they can apply them in their daily practice. By keeping abreast with new technology, they would be in a position to offer their patients the best of treatment. Doing so would help the contact lens industry to grow and become profitable.
The Saudi Arabian government's crackdown on corruption was set to expand its reach beyond the princes and billionaires that are already facing charges as the kingdom's central bank called on other banks to freeze the accounts of dozens of individuals.

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority distributed a list of hundreds of names to lenders on Tuesday, requesting any accounts linked to the individuals be frozen, on top of the accounts of 11 Saudi princes charged over the weekend.

One of the big names charged over the weekend was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the richest men in the world, as well as four ministers and several former politicians and influential businessmen with connections to the huge companies in the region like oil giant Saudi Aramco.

Prince Alwaleed is estimated to be the 50th richest person in the world with his investment firm Kingdom Holding Co owning stakes in Citigroup, Twitter and JD.com.

The kingdom's attorney general said on Monday that the previous round of arrests were just "phase one" of the anti-corruption scheme that not only shook up the status-quo but also rattled several investors in the region.

King Salman set up a new anti-corruption commission over the weekend, headed by his son and heir, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Prince Mohammed has led reform efforts in the kingdom in recent years, including the recent launch of a new $500bn special economic zone on the border with Egypt and Jordan and a pledge to return the kingdom to "moderate Islam".

Meanwhile, Saudi tensions with Iran escalated over the weekend as Houthi rebels, reportedly backed by Iran, launched a missile at the international airport in Riyadh, while Lebanons prime minister Saad al-Hariri resigned in an announcement from Saudi Arabia, blaming Iran's "meddling" in his and other countrys affairs.

Hezbollah, the Shiite group based in Lebanon said that Saudi Arabia forced al-Hariri to resign but called for no further escalation in tension.

Oil prices kept creeping higher on Tuesday as a result of heightened tension in the region, with Saudi ministers also expected to extend cuts of 1.8m barrels of oil per day through next year in an effort to reduce inventories and raise prices.

Analysts at broker SP Angel said: "Traders are concerned over oil supply as the anti-corruption purge incarcerates more of Saudi Arabias leading businessmen."

US President Donald Trump praised Saudi Arabian forces for the corruption crackdown, saying he had "great confidence" in the nation's leaders and said "they know exactly what they are doing."
US President Donald Trump departed from previous rhetoric on North Korea during a press conference in South Korea on Tuesday, where he urged Pyongyang to "come to the table".

Trump and Kim Jong-uns regime have been engaged in a war of words for months as North Korea claims to have increased its nuclear ability, with the President saying he would release "fire and fury" if necessary.

In the press conference speaking alongside South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, Trump said he "hoped to God" he would not have to use US armed forces against the North.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and to make a deal thats good for the people of North Korea," he said.

"I think were making progress [] I do see certain movement, yes, but lets see what happens."

Both Trump and Moon reiterated their calls for Pyongyang to reduce their nuclear arsenal, while also putting pressure on Russia and China to do more to deescalate the situation.

Having already travelled to Japan, Trump will also make stops in China, Vietnam and the Philippines on his tour of Asia, where the key themes will be how to deal with Korea and trade policy.
Stocks have started the session slightly higher, buoyed by a positive close to trading overnight on Wall Street and a sharp rise for Japan's Nikkei 225 to its best level since January 1992.

Against that backdrop, as of 0844 GMT the benchmark Stoxx 600 was edging higher by 0.18% or 0.74 points to 397.33, alonside a 0.32% or 43.13 point gain for Germanys Dax to 13,501.75 and a 0.32% or 72.47 advance on the FTSE Mibtel to 23,030.77.

Euro-dollar on the other hand was on the back foot, trading 0.34% lower at 1.1570, dragged lower by weaker than forecast reading on Germany's industrial sector.

To take note of, technical analysts at WebFG were pointing out a so-called inverted 'head-and-shoulders' pattern in euro-dollar which, in theory, was pointing towards a drop in the currency pair head towards 1.13.

Brent crude oil futures were also in focus, with the front month contract seeing some profit-taking and moving lower by 0.4% to $64.03 a barrel on the ICE.

In economic news, German industrial output shrank by 1.6% month-on-month in September (consensus: -0.8%), led by a 4.3% fall in energy production although factory production was also lower, dropping by 1.6%, according to the countrys Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, in Italy, ISTAT said retail sales volumes were 0.9% higher on the month in September (consensus: 0.2%).

Investors were also expected to keep an eye out for possible policy-relevant remarks by European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi. The rate-setter was expected to deliver a speech at the ECB's 2nd conference on banking supervision in Frankfurt.

Later in the day, the US Department of Labor was set to release its JOLTS labour market survey for the month of September at 1500 GMT.

On the corporate front, BMW was in the news after the carmaker posted a 0.3% in third quarter sales to 23.42bn (consensus: 22.97bn).

Over in France, Credit Agricole unit Indosuez announced it was to purchase wealth management outfit Banca Leonardo, for an undisclosed amount.

Another French name, Veolia, reported a dip in nine-month net profits of 1.6% to 406m.
Tobacco volumes fell less than expected at Imperial Brands this year and the cigarette maker once again lifted its annual dividend 10% as currency tailwinds were not enough to puff earnings above consensus forecasts.

As she continues to plan further investment as the company battles a volatile industry environment, chief executive Alison Cooper said the medium-term target was still to deliver "constant currency revenue and earnings per share growth", as well as further years of 10% dividend growth.

For the 52 weeks to 30 September 2017, tobacco volumes shrank 4.1%, meaning adjusted net tobacco revenues of .76bn were only up 8.2% on the previous year thanks to the weaker pound, down 2.6% if this benefit was removed.

Likewise, adjusted operating profits at constant currencies declined 3.2% to 3.76bn and adjusted earnings per share fell 2.2% at constant currencies to 267p, which was 1.4% below the City analyst consensus.

Imperial said constant currency results were impacted by a "tough trading environment" and increased investment in its key brands, which helped deliver market share gains in most priority markets, with volumes for 'growth brands' up 5.5%.

Fortunately, the benefit of the sterling slump meant EPS was lifted 7% at the reported level and with strong cash flow allowed a further interim dividend of 59.51p per share and a final dividend of the same amount to be give a total payout of 170.7p, sealing a ninth consecutive year of 10% dividend growth.

Cooper said this was "an important year of progress" to build on previous work to strengthen the brand portfolio.

"Our results benefited from the overall share momentum which supported improved second half net revenue despite a particularly tough industry backdrop.

"As anticipated, whilst the increased investment impacted current year revenue and profit it is strengthening the business to support improved top-line growth going forward from both tobacco and next generation products."

For the new 2018 financial year, Cooper said Imperial will build on this momentum and "continue to take necessary actions to protect our investments and deliver quality revenue growth in tobacco" and step up activities in next generation products.

The plan is to invest 300m in next generation products in 2018, including consumer trials heated tobacco trials and new e-vapour launches in new and existing markets, which analysts suggested was a lower indicated spend than some had feared.

Cooper also stressed the "decisive cost action" taken "to mitigate a tough trading environment and to protect our investments".

IMB shares were more than 2% higher at 3,153p after an hour of trading on Tuesday.

Planned launches of next generation products, including heated tobacco trials, have been largely anticipated by the market, said Investec analyst Alicia Forry, but may mitigate disappointment over a consensus forecast miss for EPS and operating profits.

"Investments in growth markets have held back the margin, but should support better performance in FY18. Volumes are modestly ahead of expectations and the US business is picking up," she said, noting the shares yield an attractive 5.7% on the 2017 dividend.

Drilling down into the numbers, Forry said Logista profits were disappointing as excise increases in Italy and France were absorbed, while the core business saw weak trading in Russia and the increased investment in growth brands and markets holding back margins.

Offsetting this, the US business, which contributes 21% of revenue and 28% of operating profit, delivered improved performance, with positive price and mix.

Analyst Nicholas Hyett at Hargreaves Lansdown said the first thing he does on opening a set of Imperial results is look for medium-term dividend guidance.

"Thats a reflection of the importance of Imperials dividend policy to investors, and also a niggling worry that at some point one of the most generous dividend policies in the market has to come to an end.

"Imperial has to contend with a seemingly relentless decline in tobacco volumes, despite making progress in key geographies and brands. A recent uptick in investment is helping to slow that decline, but its an industry wide problem.

"Nonetheless, Imperials commitment to grow the dividend by 10% a year over the medium term is legendary. Fortunately the company generates bucket loads of cash, and a combination of price rises and a firm grip on costs has allowed it to hold up the bottom line. There are other demands on the groups cash flow at present, not least reducing a significant debt pile, but the dividend remains top priority.
Vodafone entered the Internet of Things (IoT) consumer market on Tuesday with the launch of its V by Vodafone brand, enabling consumers to connect millions of home and leisure electronics products to the group's dedicated global IoT network.

The FTSE 100 mobile and broadband provider described V by Vodafone as a new, simple system for consumers to connect and manage IoT devices and a product range that includes a connected car dongle, a 4G security camera, a pet location and activity tracker and a bag location tracker.

It said its consumer IoT strategy would build upon its own track record in developing and implementing enterprise IoT technologies.

The group currently boasted 59 million IoT connections and an international network and services platform for a wide range of business-critical applications.

Its board said V by Vodafone comprised a dedicated IoT V-Sim - a SIM card which will be shipped as standard with IoT-enabled consumer electronics products sold by Vodafone from Tuesday.

It would also be also offered by third-party retailers next year.

The product family also included the V by Vodafone smartphone app, which would provide customers with a single and intuitive overview of all IoT-enabled products registered to their account.

Setting up each product would involve scanning a QR code on the product packaging to register it, and add the monthly fee to their existing Vodafone mobile account.

Products in the range would feature automatic connection out-of-the-box to the international Vodafone IoT network in any of 32 countries, with the company saying customers would benefit from a straightforward means of managing all of their connected devices from a single interface in any of those markets.

It added that, unlike Wi-Fi-enabled devices, V by Vodafone products were constantly connected wherever there is a mobile signal.

The product family carried a single, affordable fixed monthly price plan for each product connected with a V-Sim by Vodafone, making it easy for consumers to use multiple IoT-enabled products, with plans to launch a new online product marketplace open to IoT developers that would extend the product choice for customers during 2018.

Vodafone said the V by Vodafone concept and product range were developed with insights from comprehensive research involving more than 15,000 consumers in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

The Internet of Things is already beginning to transform how businesses operate, said Vodafone group chief executive Vittorio Colao.

Over the next decade, the expansion of IoT into consumer markets will bring about an equally dramatic shift in how people manage their daily lives, at home and in their leisure time.

Colao said V by Vodafone would make it simple to connect a range of IoT-enabled devices, helping customers keep everyone and everything that matters safe and secure.

We look forward to applying our world-leading expertise in IoT to help consumers make the most of the next phase of the global digital revolution.

Vodafone said it has focused on four product categories at launch, with other categories to follow in 2018.

It said the products would be available for purchase by current Vodafone mobile customers from Tuesday in selected Vodafone stores in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and could also be purchased online at v.vodafone.com.

The four product categories included V-Auto - a plug-and-drive connected car dongle that would add a number of safety and security features to a car; V-Camera - a high-definition connected surveillance camera; V-Pet - a location and activity tracker for cats and dogs; and V-Bag - an advanced bag tracker.
Boris Johnson is currently fighting off renewed calls for him to resign after a British citizen had her prison sentence extended due to comment made by the Foreign Secretary.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British journalist, was last year arrested and jailed for five years in Tehran, having been accused of plotting the downfall of the government.

She was summoned to court last week where Johnsons comments that she had been training journalists in the country were used as evidence against her.

Her husband Richard Ratcliffe told The Guardian on Tuesday that they had formally requested a meeting with Johnson, after having previously been denied access to a meeting with him.

The Foreign Secretary said in the House of Commons on Tuesday that he "could have been clearer" with his comments about the charity worker.

"When you look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it," Johnson told a parliamentary committee.

Labour MPs called for Johnson to resign over his conduct in the matter, and said that he should retract his statement in order to seek a resolution with Iran.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable described Johnson as a dangerous clown, and asked when Theresa May would sack him from her cabinet.
CALEDONIA  The Caledonia Village Board Monday selected Trustee Jim Dobbs as the new village president, to take the place of Bob Bradley who stepped down to enjoy full retirement.

Dobbs is to complete Bradleys term, which runs through April 2019.

Dobbs is a retired lieutenant from the Racine Police Department and a small-business owner. Hes served on the Village Board since 2011 and had previously served on the Parks and Recreation, Storm Sewer Utility District and Finance committees. More recently, he served on the Public Works and Personnel committees.

Trustee Kevin Wanggaard and Dobbs were the only members of the board to express interest in taking over for Bradley. The two had made their case why they should be appointed to their board peers during an Oct. 31 meeting.

On Monday, Trustee Ed Willing opened the discussion on appointing a replacement by nominating Wanggaard, who has served on Caledonias elected governing body since 2003, when Caledonia was still a town. The motion was voted down 2-4, with Willing and Wanggaard in favor.

Trustee Kathleen Trentadue then nominated Dobbs for the position. When the motion was put to a vote, it passed 4-2, with Willing and Wanggaard voting in opposition.

Farewell to Bradley

Mondays board meeting opened as a fond farewell to outgoing President Bradley. State Rep. Thomas Weatherston, R-Caledonia, and several members of the public stepped up during the citizens comments segment of the agenda to publicly thank Bradley for his years of public service.

Weatherston presented a plaque to Bradley on behalf of the State Legislature to commemorate his years of public service dating back to his service as a Marine from 1969-76.

Whereas his legacy will be remembered as a dedicated public servant to this community, therefore it is resolved by the members of the Wisconsin State Legislature on behalf of State Representative Weatherston do hereby salute Village President Bob Bradley and acknowledge his tremendous record of public service, Weatherston read before presenting a plaque to Bradley. Congratulations, Bob; sorry to have you leave.

Fran Martin of Caledonias Community Development Agency thanked Bradley for his commitment to completing his goals for the village, even though sometimes you were dead wrong.

Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave stopped by the meeting to discuss the 2018 county budget and thank Bradley for his service, particularly with developing the villages water and sewer infrastructure out to the Interstate 94.

I want to say thank you for your leadership and mentorship, Delagrave said to Bradley. I can honestly say that the county has gotten more out of the village than the village has gotten out of the county, especially with the accomplishments out at I-94.

Bradley, 67, who had been field operations manager for Racine Wastewater Utility, first joined the Village Board as a trustee in 2007. He served two terms before spending one year as president of the village utility district. During that year, four utility districts were consolidated into one.

In 2013, Bradley ran against and defeated incumbent Village President Ron Coutts.

After Mondays meeting, Village Administrator Tom Christensen said the board would look into appointing someone for Dobbs trustee seat, but no timeline has been set.

This story has been changed since publication to correct Bob Bradley's former occupation.
The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the first Quadrifoglio SUV, is set to become the new benchmark in the premium compact SUV segment.

With its awe-inspiring design, performance and technology, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the "fastest SUV around the circuit", having clocked the new record for its class on the iconic Nurburgring: 7 minutes 51.7 seconds.

510hp 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is equipped with the exclusive aluminium 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine, developed with inputs and engineering know-how from Ferrari technologies. It delivers maximum power of 510hp at 6,500rpm and generates a maximum torque of 600Nm from 2,500 to 5,000rpm and is teamed with the specifically calibrated eight-speed automatic transmission, that shifts gear in just 150milliseconds in Race mode. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio can accelerate from zero to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds, and on to a best-in-class top speed of 176mph.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is also incredibly efficient in terms of emissions and fuel consumption, thanks to its electronically controlled cylinder deactivation system and the "sailing" function, available in Advanced Efficiency mode. To maximise the driving experience, Stelvio Quadrifoglio is also equipped as standard with one-piece aluminium paddle shifters, integrated into the steering column.

Innovative Q4 all-wheel drive system combined with Alfa Active Torque Vectoring

For the first time, the 510hp 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine is combined with the innovative Q4 all-wheel drive system, which offers a potent combination of unbeatable performance, traction, driving pleasure and safety in all situations. In normal conditions, the Q4 system transfers 100 percent of the torque to the rear axle. As the wheels approach their grip limit, the system transmits up to 50 percent of the torque to the front axle in real time, by means of a transfer case.

Alfa Chassis Domain Control (CDC) and Alfa Active Torque Vectoring

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is equipped with the exclusive Alfa Chassis Domain Control (CDC) unit, with differential Alfa Active Torque Vectoring as standard.

CDC acts as the brain of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, and coordinates all the car's electronic systems, to deliver the best performance and the uost driving pleasure at all times. The system simultaneously assigns specific tasks to the various active systems, such as the Alfa DNA Pro selector, Q4 all-wheel drive, Alfa Active Torque Vectoring system, Alfa Active Suspension system and the ESC.

The Torque Vectoring technology optimises the Stelvio Quadrifoglio's drive distribution and accentuates its sporting character. The two electronically controlled clutches in the rear differential make it possible to control torque delivery to each wheel separately. This ensures the optimal transfer of power to the ground even when the car is pushed to its dynamic limits, without the need for intrusive inputs from the stability control system.

Best-in-class specific power (176hp/l) and weight/power (3.6hp/kg)

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio holds two best-in-class titles which make it the highest-performing SUV in its segment: with a kerb weight of 1,830kg, the model boasts the best power to weight ratio in its category at 3.6 hp/kg and the best power density at 176 hp/l. The power-to-weight ratio was delivered with the aid of ultra-lightweight materials such as carbon fibre for the driveshaft and aluminium for the engine, suspensions, brakes, doors, wheel-arches and bonnet.

Due to the perfect weight distribution between the two axles, achieved by tweaking the SUV's layout and arranging the heavier elements in the most central position possible, the Quadrifoglios light weight does not adversely affect the cars torsional rigidity. It remains durable, with low noise levels and exceptional handling, even under extreme stresses.

Suspension system with exclusive AlfaLink technology and the category's most direct steering

Up front, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a double wishbone system with semi-virtual steering axis, to optimise bump filtration and ensure quick, precise responses to steering inputs. By keeping the contact patch of the tyre constant when cornering, this exclusive Alfa Romeo set-up affords outstanding levels of lateral grip. But regardless of speed and conditions, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio always delivers a natural, instinctive drive.

The rear suspension uses a four-and-a-half link Multilink system  patented by Alfa Romeo  to deliver a winning combination of performance, driving pleasure and comfort. An electronically controlled damping system adapts to driving conditions instantly and enables drivers to opt for performance-biased or comfort-oriented handling.

Alfa Active Suspension controls the suspensions and shock absorbers continuously to reduce movement of the body of the car in all driving conditions. It constantly interacts with the CDC and Alfa DNA Pro and calibrates its actions to suit the driving mode selected, delivering unrivalled comfort and handling.

In any situation and at all speeds, driving the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has the most direct steering ratio on the market (12.1), with a natural and instinctive feel.

Integrated Brake System (IBS) and carbon-ceramic brakes

Having made its debut on the Giulia, Alfa Romeo's unique Integrated Brake System (IBS) is now in use on the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. This innovative electromechanical system combines stability control with a traditional servo brake to deliver instantaneous brake response and shorter stopping distances, while also making a significant contribution to weight optimisation. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio will optionally be available with carbon ceramic brake discs, offering a weight reduction of 17kg and greater mechanical strength, even at the highest temperatures in both dry and wet conditions.

Unique design

The design of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is inspired by the idea of necessary beauty, as the perfect synergy of form and function is even more extreme in this high-performance SUV. Style and design are not merely aesthetic considerations but also support crucial factors including aerodynamics, speed, power and handling. Mirroring the performance, in Quadrifoglio guise everything is raised to new heights and has an even greater visual impact.

This approach is clearly reflected in the structural vents in the bonnet, the intercooler air vents at the side, the sporty side-skirt and the massive body coloured wheel arches and the four exhaust tips. The nose features the iconic and immediately recognisable "Trilobo" motif, while the unmistakable "Kamm tail" rear ensures that the design is rooted in Alfa Romeo tradition.

Bespoke interior with Alfa Connect 3D infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto

The finest expression of Italian design, the interior of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been tailored like a bespoke suit with painstaking craftsmanship and use of premium materials, including carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara. The centre of the dashboard is dominated by the new 8.8-inch Alfa Connect infotainment system - with 3D navigation. It incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to replicate the smartphone environment on the on-board display, for constantly connected, safe, user-friendly life at the wheel.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio will arrive in the UK in summer 2018, with pricing and specification to be confirmed nearer the time. To find out more about the Alfa Romeo range, visit alfaromeo.co.uk or to locate your nearest Alfa Romeo dealer visit alfaromeo.co.uk/find-a-dealer.
By David Wallinga, MD

As antibiotic resistance spreads worldwide, the calls get more urgent to stop squandering our most precious medicines, in both human medicine and in livestock. Just released Tuesday are new recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO)the leading international public health authorityon how the medically important antibiotics given to food animals can be used better. Theyre especially timely, given that next week is Antibiotic Awareness Week.

Resistance is largely a numbers game: The more we use antibiotics, the faster resistance spreads. Already, at least two million Americans suffer drug-resistant infections every year, and more than 23,000 die as a result. And the numbers will keep rising without urgent action. Curbing antibiotic overuse is critical.

Experts warn that antibiotic overuse in livestock contributes significantly to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. With livestock and poultry production expanding in the U.S. and worldwide, that threat will continue to mount. Many livestock antibioticsperhaps a large majorityare not for treating sick animals. Theyre given routinely to healthy flocks or herds to promote faster growth or to compensate for crowded or unsanitary conditions. Routine antibiotic use on farms, in other words, is avoidable.

Here in the U.S. about 70 percent of all medically important antibiotics are sold for use on livestock and poultry. Just since 2009, those numbers have increased more than 26 percent. They includes penicillins, tetracyclines, erythromycins and cephalosporinsused to treat things like pneumoniaas well as antibiotics of last resort from the fluoroquinolone class, which can be used when all other antibiotics fail.

The worldwide epidemic in antibiotic resistance is what motivated the World Health Organization to develop and release today their new Guidelines on Use of Medically Important Antimicrobials in Food-Producing Animals.

The guidelines may be a game-changer in this fight. It calls for fairly significant changes to how many of the worlds biggest food-animal producers now operate, including the U.S. Some of its major recommendations for global livestock and poultry production include the following:

First, use of medically important antibiotics in food animals should be reduced, overall;

Second, use of these precious medicines for growth promotion and so-called disease prevention (i.e. compensation for unsanitary living conditions) in healthy animals should no longer be allowed;

Third, the subset of medically important antibiotics previously identified by WHO as being critically important for humans (fluoroquinolones, colistin, some cephalosporins, erythromycins) should be greatly restricted in terms of their use for treating or controlling disease in sick animals.

As important as these guidelines are, they are just thatguidelines. To help curb resistance, individual companies and/or countries actually have to take action on them. A policy brief released alongside the guidelines has WHOs vision for how the recommendations can be implemented

By our estimates, close to half of U.S. chicken producers now raise birds with responsible antibiotics use practices, or are under a pledge to do so within the next few years. Changing consumer demand, translated via changing chicken policies at the nations biggest restaurant chains, has been a key element, as was described in our latest Chain Reaction report.

The chicken industry cant do it alone, however, and leadership in the U.S. pork and beef sectors to reduce antibiotic use has been largely absent. No major pig or cattle producer has made a commitment to stop the use of medically important antibiotics in hogs or cattle that arent sick, e.g. for disease preventionas the WHO now recommends.

Stronger leadership at the federal level could change that picture. Sec. Sonny Perdue at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently acknowledged the need to address the resistance crisis, according to Politico Agriculture: We need to move faster, we need to be quicker, we need to move more aggressively in attacking this issue so that we dont have the kind of outbreaks that could spread fear across the country, he said.

We hope Sec. Purdue will put his words into action. A good start would be for the USDA to set a concrete goal for reducing the overall use of medically important antibiotic sales/use across the major food animal speciesin pork and beef, as well as in chicken and turkeys. A modest goal of shrinking current use of these precious antibiotics in animal agriculture by 25 percent would mean a rollback to antibiotic use at 2009 levels.

We know this level of reduction is very doable. Since 2009 the Netherlands, an important European livestock producer, has reduced its overall use of agricultural antibiotics by 64 percent.

Anyone who has ever needed antibiotics should be concerned about the overuse of antibiotics in our food supply. Lets hope the strong new WHO guidelines spur more companies and more countries to take the actions that need to happen. Before its too late.
By Tim Radford

Scientists in the U.S. and Italy have worked out a strategy to feed an extra 825 million peopleby rearranging where crops are grown. Their new menu for the global table could serve up 10 percent more calories and 19 percent more protein, while reducing the use of rainwater by 14 percent and cutting irrigation by 12 percent.

The secret: shift the patterns of crop growth to make the best of climate change, in a rapidly warming world in which rainfall patterns could become less predictable and drought and heat waves will become more frequent and more intense.

So that means, for some, less reliance on traditional staples such as rice, wheat, millet and sugar cane and sugar beet, and a switch to more groundnuts, soybean, sorghum, roots and tubers.

Climate change has already announced itself in small ways with earlier wine harvests in Europe, the promise of a sparkling future for wine in southern England, and the first successful cultivation (in South Wales) in the UK of that costly Mediterranean delicacy, the black truffle.

But the overall picture is alarming: there have been predictions of lower yields for coffee producers in South America and for wheat farmers in Europe, Asia and the Americas. There have been warnings that climate change could hit African farmers hard and that traditional crop varieties may not be able to adjust to new conditions.

Big savings

Kyle Davis of Columbia Universitys Earth Institute and colleagues reported in the journal Nature Geoscience that they matched models of water use in farming and yield maps for 14 of the worlds most important food crops.

They found that their new models of crop distribution could create substantial savings in water costs in 42 countries, including Australia, India, Mexico, Morocco and South Africa, as well as in Californias Central Valley and Egypts Nile Delta.

Some regionsthe U.S. Midwest, for examplewould continue to face water scarcities whatever crops were planted. But for at least 63 countriesmany of which, like Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya and Spain, rely heavily on food importscrop redistribution would deliver 20 percent higher levels of calories or protein, and increase self-sufficiency overall.

Research of this kind relies on considering local conditions and making judgments that will deliver the best returns to the farmers and their communities. Farmers have, traditionally, done just that.

But an average rise in global temperatures of around 1C in the last century or so means that local traditions are in question. It is a given that the Mediterranean truffle Tuber melanosporum depends on the Mediterranean oak and the climate conditions of southern France and northern Italy. But UK researchers reported in the journal Climate Research that they have successfully cultivated a 16-gram specimen in Monmouthshire, in Wales.

Black truffles are one of the worlds most expensive delicacies. The success, attributed to climate change, was more or less accidental.

This is one of the best-flavoured truffle species in the world and the potential for industry is huge, said Paul Thomas of the University of Stirling in Scotland, and Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd, one of the co-authors.

We planted the trees just to monitor their survival, but we never thought this Mediterranean species could actually grow in the UKits an incredibly exciting development.

Starting point

Climate change will act as a global lottery: there will be winners. But as global population continues to grow, and extremes of heat, drought, windstorm and flood become more frequent, there may be many more losers.

The Nature Geoscience researchers argue that their recipe for agricultural change is a starting point, not a final answer. Harvest choices must be adapted to local conditions and local cultures.

Our analysis shows that redistributing crops across lands that are cultivated at present can make use of the technologies and knowledge that are already present in a country to offer distinct benefits across food security and environmental spheres, Davis and his colleagues wrote.

In particular, our results are encouraging for several world regions that are grappling with water scarcity, food insecurity or a combination of both.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network.
Two Philadelphia-area children are suing

President Donald Trump and two of his climate skeptic cabinet members, Energy Sec. Rick Perry and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, to try to stop them from rolling back existing environmental protections including the Clean Power Plan.

The plaintiffs, ages 7 and 11, are backed by the

Clean Air Council, Philadelphias oldest environmental non-profit. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Monday.

The complaint alleges that the Trump administrations reliance on junk science to undo climate regulations are a threat to the young plaintiffs and other U.S. citizens. It states:

In recent years, the United States has experienced a steady increase in extreme weather events that have destroyed American homes and businesses, displaced millions of United States citizens, and caused the tragic loss of lives. The United States Governments current acts to roll back regulations and practices previously directed at addressing and minimizing the United States contribution to climate change will increase the frequency and severity of these extreme weather events and the dangers to Plaintiffs lives and a life-sustaining environment.

Through these acts, the Government is relying on junk science to wage a war on facts, data, and reliable principles and methods arising out of scientific, technical, and specialized knowledge. In doing so, Defendants have acted with reckless and deliberate indifference to the established clear and present dangers of climate change, knowingly increasing its resulting damages, death, and destruction.

The children are only identified by their first and last initials in the court papers. Seven-year-old plaintiff S.B. claims to be suffering from medical issues, including severe seasonal allergies that cause recurrent nosebleeds and vomiting, that are directly impacted by the climate and as a result of Defendants affirmative acts in causing increased climate.

Eleven-year-old plaintiff B.B. claims to be suffering from asthma that is exacerbated by climate change. Before moving to Philadelphia, he lived in New York and experienced the impacts of Super Storm Sandy and Hurricane Irene. He similarly alleges he is experiencing harm from the Defendants affirmative acts in causing increased climate change.

B.B. is passionate about protecting the environment, and experiences anxiety about the potentially irreversible impact of climate change on the planet and future generations, including his own children and grandchildren, the court papers state.

Incidentally, the lawsuit comes after the White Houses released a sweeping report on Friday concluding that climate change is real and poses as a major threat to the U.S. and humans are extremely likely to be responsible. The 477-page National Climate Assessment conflicted with Trumps notorious stance on global warming as a hoax and defied his continued efforts to dismantle environmental regulations on both the national and international scale.

We will not stand idly by while President Trump and his agencies raze crucial environmental protections, ignore climate science, dispute well-documented facts and force future generations of Americans to suffer the consequences of this administrations reckless choices and ignorant policies, Clean Air Council Executive Director and Chief Counsel Joseph Minott told The Hill.

We must hold the federal government accountable for the long-term environmental harm that is propagating under its direction. Its time to fight back, he said.

As Reuters reported, by including the children, the Clean Air Council appears to be modeling its case after Juliana v. U.S., a pending federal lawsuit brought by 21 young plaintiffs and Earth Guardians who argue that their constitutional and public trust rights are being violated by the governments creation of climate danger.

The Clean Air Council case is taking the legal theories pioneered in Juliana and applying them to a narrow set of facts related to specific rollbacks of the Trump administration, explained Meg Ward, a spokeswoman for Our Childrens Trust, a group leading the Juliana suit.

The Trump administration has not issued a comment on the lawsuit.
At the

Tikki Hywood Trust in Harare, Zimbabwe, a group of charity workers known as the Pangolin Men dedicate their lives to saving a prehistoric-looking animal from an increasing threat of extinction.

The

pangolin is the only mammal in the world with scales. Sadly, its this unique feature that gives the pangolin the unfortunate title of the worlds most trafficked mammal, with more than a million illegally hunted and killed in just the last decade. All eight species in Africa and Asia are hunted for their scales, meat and use in traditional Asian medicine.

But conservationists, like the team at the Tikki Hywood Trust, are working hard to reverse this horrific trend. As seen in the video above from

Barcroft Animals, each of the Pangolin Men at the trust are assigned a pangolin and spend the whole day rehabilitating and walking with them so they can learn to forage naturally.

The clip also provides a rare glimpse of the gentle and playful creatures interacting with the workers.

Here in Zimbabwe, we are proud to save the pangolins, says one of the minders in the clip. Everyday with my friends we protect the animal. We walk them, we feed them, we protect them like our children.

Photographer Adrian Steirn, who is featured in the video, was granted access to the charitys work. There, he took stunning portraits of the Pangolin Men to help bring attention to the plight of this endangered animal that many people may have never heard of.

I think if people learn what a pangolin is from these images, then we are moving in the right direction, as Steirn says in the clip. I hope that people learn to care a little bit more, not just about pangolins, but about our planet.

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The Trump administration is considering cutting protections for two national monuments lying south of Hawaii in the central Pacific. The decision, scientists warn, will threaten reefs across the Pacific.

The move, according to a memo from Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke obtained by the Washington Post in September, would allow commercial fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument and the Rose Atoll National Marine Monument.

The monuments, both created by former president Bush, protect the waters of a scattering of mostly uninhabited Islands south of Hawaii.

Although the shore reefs of these islands have long enjoyed protection from commercial fishing, the monument designations extended that protection between 50 and 200 miles from shore.

For marine biologists, these marine reserves are among the last untouched, vibrant ecosystems where scientists can study the effects of climate change without the interference of variables such as fishing and pollution.

But this hasnt stopped the fishing industry from pursuing a drastic change to the two monuments. An obscure, quasi-governmental, Honolulu-based organization called the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, or Wespac, is influencing the administrations reconsideration of the monuments protections.

Over the years, Wespac has opposed the creation and expansion of marine monuments. Instead, the group has argued that limits on catch, gear and fishing seasons are the best regulatory tools to ensure the maximum sustainable yields.

In 2017, Wespac unveiled a new slogan: Make America Great Again: Return U.S. fisherman to U.S. waters. In a presentation to other fishery councils in February, Wespac officials claimed the monuments compromised national food security.

The New York Times noted that the Hawaii fishing fleets catch has doubled since 2006.

Many scientists see marine reserves as crucial to the health of surrounding waters, giving fishing populations the space they need to grow.

The consideration to remove the monuments protections came just weeks before scientists from the Nature Conservancy briefed Hawaii lawmakers on the unprecedented state of Hawaiis ocean life. The briefing, given last Thursday, noted that nearly half of Hawaiis coral reefs were bleached between 2014 and 2015, while fisheries experienced a 90 percent decline in overall catch from the last 100 years, a decline partly attributed to overfishing.

Coral reefs, while occupying less than 0.2 percent of the worlds oceans, host more than 35 percent of all known marine species.

These fragile ecosystems already face serious threats from destructive fishing activities and water pollution.

Recent years have thrown their fragility into relief. An estimated 70 percent of coral reefs around the globe experienced prolonged high temperatures that can lead to bleaching events.

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By Janice Pereira, Unearthed

Despite repeated warnings from the European Union, the Polish government continues to defy orders to stop logging operations in the ancient Bialowieza forest.

It started more than a year ago as a formal request by the European Commission, asking Poland to stop logging activity that violates the blocs wildlife protection laws. Now the battle between the European Commission and the Polish government is being fought in the highest court of the European Union.

The relationship hasnt improved. The commission has accused the Polish government of not respecting interim orders issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to stop logging, and state that they have satellite images and other evidence to prove it. Now they have asked the ECJ to impose penalties on Poland for not respecting it.

In recent weeks, the Polish government has reacted angrily, accusing the Commission of spreading lies and manipulating the facts.

They told Unearthed that: These activities are carried out in accordance with the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union as well as Polish and European law.

Meanwhile, the forest continues to be cut down.

The ECJs interim measures permit the Polish government to fell trees where there is a threat to public safety. However, forest patrols carried out by Greenpeace Poland in August found evidence of loggers violating the EU Courts decision in 16 out of 30 forest areas.



Logging in Bialowieza forest, one of Europes last lowland natural forests. Grzegorz Broniatowski / Greenpeace

The Bialowieza forest is a biodiversity hotspot: a Unesco World Heritage site and the best-preserved lowland forest in Europe. Its home to the largest free-roaming population of European bison, as well as several rare species of birds, hundreds of insects and thousands of mushrooms.



The Bialowieza forest, one of Europes last primeval forests, is the worlds last refuge for European Bison. Adam Wajrak / Greenpeace



The Bialowieza forest is home to several rare bird species, including the white-backed woodpecker. Adam Wajrak / Greenpeace

Bark Beetle

The Polish authorities and the state forestry service insist the intensive logging is necessary to protect the forest from a spruce bark beetle outbreak and the fire risk posed by dead wood.

Last year the Polish environment ministry approved an increase in logging limits in order to deal with the beetles and dead tree trunks. This saw the limit increase threefold: from 63,000 m3 to 188,00 m3. Around 80,000 m3 of forest is estimated to have been cleared since.

However, studies have found that the practice of logging trees in areas of damaged forest is destructive to the environment. Rafal Kowalczyk, the Head of the Mammal Research Institute in Bialowieza, says the parts of the forest which have been protected as a national park are continually existing, not dying, which shows that bark beetle outbreaks do not threaten the forest.



The richness of dead wood in the Bialowieza forest provides a habitat for a high diversity of fungi. Adam Wajrak / Greenpeace

Public Safety

The Polish environment ministry told Unearthed that they are carrying out indispensable measures intended to protect endangered Natura 2000 habitats and species, and to ensure public safety.

They say that the dead tree trunks pose an incomparable threat to public safety.

The state forestry website reported: During the few last months the cases of dead trees fallen onto the tourist trails or forest roads have been reported; several times they missed the passing cars or people only by a hairs breadth.

But Adam Wajrak, a journalist writing on nature in Bialowieza disputes this.

This is bullshit, he claimed. There is no evidence that someone has been harmed walking, picking mushrooms or watching the birds.

For the Polish authorities, he said the most safe forest is a forest without trees.

Even where felling for public safety is justified, Kowalczyk said the 100-year-old tree stems should be cut and left, not taken out as those trees provide an important habitat for the forests deadwood-dependent organisms. Instead, the trees are taken off the site and sold.



A truck transporting trees from the Biaowieza Forest in Poland. Such transports are against European lawthe European Court of Justice decided that trees from the Bialowieza Forest should not be logged, but also not removed from the forest, even where logging is carried out legally. Rafal Wojczal / Greenpeace

Motivations

The Polish government have been accused by the European Commission and environmental groups of logging trees that are 100 years and older, an act which is illegal under EU law. Back in April the European Commission said, logging is already being carried out in the forest, including the removal of 100-year and older trees and operations in the habitats which according to the Natura 2000 management plan should be strictly protected.

When asked why the Polish government refuses to stop logging operations in the forest, Kowalczyk said its to show who is in charge of this area in Poland. The notion that Bialowieza is a symbol for power has been voiced elsewhere.

Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, a former Poland prime minister, speaking to The Economist, said of Bialowieza: Whoever controls it, controls the country.



Logged area in Bialowieza forest, one of Europes last lowland natural forests. Grzegorz Broniatowski / Greenpeace

Breaking the Stalemate

While the logging shows no signs of slowing down, the legal challenges continue.

Environmental lawyers at ClientEarth, together with partner NGOs, have been arguing since 2015 that increased logging in the Bialowieza Forest is illegal and threatens the ecosystem.

But the Supreme Administrative Court in Poland has ruled that the logging limits are set by the environment ministry and therefore cannot be appealed to the courts.

This gives courts in Poland no opportunity to verify whether the decision to log in Bialowieza is lawful, and has the same implications for other Polish forests managed by the state.

Consequently, for those unable to access justice through the Polish courts, EU intervention is the only means where the law can be used to ending the destruction of forest in Bialowieza.

The rest will be down to any pressure that the Polish people can put on politicians.

The decision by the European Court of Justice on whether or not they will impose penalties on Poland is expected in the coming days.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Unearthed.
By Heather Smith

To get to the largest surviving population of wild Spring Chinook salmon on the Klamath River, I drive farther north than Ive ever been in California, then turn right. Gradually, the highways disappear, and the roads narrow. Commerce becomes more improvisational. Grocery stores and restaurants disappear and in their place there is a farm stand staffed by Gandalf in overalls and a naked baby cooing to itself and scooting along on a tricycle.

The roads become more improvisational too, and begin to curve and twist until they nearly double back on themselves, until my rental car is trundling along a single lane of dirt and gravel carved into the edge of a cliff. It becomes clear to me that if I meet another car going in the opposite direction that one of us is going to die, probably me. But when I do round a corner and see another car it does a set of maneuvers that seem to bend space-time, and somehow we pass by each other smoothly, and continue on our way.

My destination is a one-room schoolhouse in Forks of Salmon, CA, a place where the closest thing to a town square is a tree that you sit under to drink beer. During the day, a gang of horses roams parking lots and lawns, looking for dumpsters or unattended coolers to break into.

Inside the schoolhouse, the Forest Service and the Salmon River Restoration Council, a local nonprofit, are checking out swim gear to the 90 or so people who have arrived for the annual Spring Chinook salmon count. Tomorrow, we are going to swim down 75 miles of the Salmon River, counting every Spring Chinook salmon we run across.



Salmon River Screengrab from video by Mikal Jakubal

Big changes are coming to the Klamath, which was once Manhattan, for salmon. Local kids from the Yurok and Karuk tribes grow up on stories about how during the old Spring and Fall Chinook runs the water was so thick with fish that you could practically walk across them. In 2020, demolition will begin on four major damsIron Gate, John C. Boyle and Copco 1 and 2. It will open up 300 miles of salmon habitat that has been closed off for nearly a hundred yearsthe largest river restoration project in U.S. history.

The Spring Chinook is the first fish to return from the ocean as the winter comes to an end. Its hard to overstate its importance to the tribes who live on the Klamath, as a religious symbol, and as a literal means of survival. As time goes on it may prove even more critical, because it may prove more resistant to the effects of climate change than the Fall Chinook because it travels early in the year, when water levels are high and cold. But the Spring Chinook became extinct in many tributaries of the Klamath decades ago: a casualty of dams, agricultural runoff, and water being diverted to farms and orchards as far away as Californias Central Valley. Remove the dams, and its possible that the Chinook on the Salmon River could repopulate their former territory.

The Spring Chinook persists on the Salmon because even though gold mining and logging did a number on the local ecology, the river was never dammed or diverted. Its headwaters come out of Marble Mountain wilderness, and the tributary itself is surrounded by forest service land. This is one of the reasons were even able to count the salmon in the first place: private landowners often restrict river access, out of fear that letting people collect data will lead to more restrictions in the future.



Map of the Klamath Basin Shannon1

Because the Salmon river is cold, fast, and full of rocks, our goal is to cover as much of our bodies with neoprene as possible. I successfully check out a snorkel, a wetsuit, a sun-faded jacket with a hole in the elbow, neoprene gloves, two funky-smelling neoprene socks with holes in the heels, and shoes that look like regular hiking boots, but which turn out to be underwater hiking boots.

The only thing Im missing is a cowl, which looks like a neoprene ski mask. There is only one cowl left. It has Small written on the side of it in magic marker, and it looks like it would be appropriate for a toddler.

Do you have any more cowls? I ask. My head is really big. I point to my head, for reference.

The woman supervising the bins looks at me speculatively. Why dont you just try it?

I pull the cowl gently over my head. Then less gently. Then violently. Improbably, it slides into place and breathing suddenly becomes difficult. I claw at my face and dance backwards, like a dog trying to back out of a veterinary cone.

Im not sure how I get myself out of the cowl but when I do, I am relieved to see that all humans in this room are struggling with their wetsuits in their own special way. Everyone is working out their own technique. Some people hop up and down and yank. Some contort. The overall result, played out across the room, is that of a very energetic modern dance performance.

Any salmon who make it to the Salmon River to spawn will find perfect conditions to reproducebut thats if they make it. Its July 2017, the first summer after the worst drought in Californias recorded history. Last year, the Chinook count was around 398a fraction of what it had been before the drought, and half the average run over the last 20 years. During the worst of the drought years, the farmers of Californias Central Valley filed court injunctions to block releasing water from dams that was meant to lower water temperatures and save wild salmon. Both the Karuk and the Yurok voluntarily reduced their subsistence and ceremonial fishing this year, in the hopes that the Spring Chinook will recover.

The salmon counters who have come here cut a wide swath across subcultures and archetypes: The Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, the salmon scientists, the teenager from the local Karuk tribe with the green hair and lip ring, the dive school students from Humboldt State, the back-to-the-land old timers, the documentary filmmaker, the pot entrepreneurs, the real estate agent from a few towns over who keeps bringing the conversation back to nearby homes for sale, and the high school kids working for the Youth Civilian Conservation Corps. The high school kids have perfect California teen names: Trinity, Cassidy, Reno, Chainsaw (Chainsaw is thrilled to be monitoring salmon this summer, since he spent the last one cleaning park toilets). Theres the guy in a utilikilt, another guy who describes himself as a salmon groupie, and the woman with a crystal pendant dangling in the middle of her forehead.

Theyre drawn here for different reasons. Some people have traveled in from nearby towns just for the opportunity to socialize. Im here for the free camping and free food, says one of the Humboldt State students, adding that its easier to dive here right now than in Arcata Bay, where the fertilizer runoff from local weed farms trickles down to meet the ocean. I felt the call of the salmon and the oceans last May, says the woman with the crystal, and leaves it at that.



Salmon counter underwater Mikal Jakubal

Once we have all assembled more or less complete wetsuit setups, we trudge down to a nearby pond to practice the defensive maneuvers were supposed to do if we encounter some rapids (roll on your back, use your feet to push yourself away from rocks before the rocks slam into you, never try to stand up because if your foot gets caught, the river can push you underwater and drown you in no time flat). If we get swept downstream, the instructions are to hike to the nearest house and ask to use their phone. Theres no cell reception out here, and anyone living nearby knows all about the salmon count.

The next morning, we split into groups that are each assigned a section of the river. Out of the water, we trudge over boulders, with the Klamath National Forest stretching around us in all directions. Underwater, the world is cold and alien. One minute, the river bottom is gravel, just a few inches away from the mask of my snorkel, and then the next, the river bed falls away and Im floating over an inky expanse that seems to have no bottom. Theres no mistaking that this is earthquake country. Theres also no mistaking that this underwater world is empty. One of the most experienced divers in our group sees two tiny salmon, the rest of us see none. Its an eerie feelinglike wandering through a beautiful house that is mysteriously vacant.

Navigating our section of the river is not easy. Where the river narrows, the stream is violently fast, and we crawl out onto the boulders at the edge of the streambed and hike for a long time in our soggy frogman getups. A few times I underestimate how fast the current is, and find myself pinging from rock to rock, like Im in a live-action pinball machine.

During these times, I find myself wishing I was a little bit more like a salmonflexible, without so many extremities. Later, I find out that this is a rough environment for salmon too. Before the late 1800s, when gold was discovered on the Salmon River, the river was much wider, and moved more slowly. When gold miners arrived they washed away the cliffs with high pressure hoses, and filled the river valley with rubble, leaving a fast, narrow channel. Juvenile fish will get banged up on the rocks or flushed out into the Klamath, where theyre done in by parasites and bacteria from agricultural runoff. For that reason, theres a whole division of salmon habitat restoration that just involves slowing rivers down by re-creating creeks and floodplains that were filled in or blocked off by mining. Even before a floodplain is completely restored, often a troupe of beavers will show up and finish the job.



Salmon counters Mikal Jakubal

When I see the orange ribbon that marks the end of our section of the river, I relax and float. This turns out to be one of the worst ideas Ive ever had, because what looks like a flat glassy pool at the end pours into a section of rapids that was deemed too dangerous for the group to navigate.

I go over a waterfall. Its only a few feet high, but its fast, and Im out of my league. Its a dreamlike sensation to completely lose control of your body. The water swings me into a boulder, and as my head hits the rock the sound is like someone has rung a bell that also happens to be me. I try to remember what I was supposed to do to not die in this situation, and then I pass a rock big enough to grab with both arms. I drag myself on top of it and lie there, scared to move any more. The rest of the group, which has been screaming and running along the shoreline, catches up to me. That was great! says the group leader. You did that exactly right! I am torn. I would like to believe that I am great, and I did do that exactly right. As a former child care professional I know that this phrasing is the exact same tactic that people use on kids when theyve hurt themselves, and dont want them to start crying.

Back at the schoolhouse, we eat pasta dinner. The old timers reminisce about how, before the numbers dropped so severely, the salmon count used to conclude with Spring Chinook purchased from the Yurok, and cooked the way that it was in this area for thousands of years, which is skewered like kebabs and smoked around an open fire. The Spring Chinook is fattier than salmon that migrates later in the year, so its perfect for this type of cooking, and when I ask people what it tastes like, they just look off into the distance and say, wistfully, Its the best fish youll ever have.

When I wake up the next morning and cant hear out of one ear, I will sit down on a rock and allow myself a moment of perfect sadness at the possibility of having lost 50 percent of my hearing to something so basic and boring as a boulder. The sadness will prove unnecessaryas it turns out, the absence of sound is just swelling from a perforated eardrum, plus an infection from the river water that we were warned so sternly not to drink. After a few weeks of having to rotate my head so that my good ear is facing whoever Im talking to, its like the boulder never happened.

That evening we learn that the recorded count this year is 110just a little under the all-time low of 90, back in 2005, and a far cry from the highest recorded count of 1593 back in 2012. At a conference the next day, the tone is somber. When I heard last night the number of salmon in the system it was like a kick to the gut, says Josh Saxon of the Karuk Council. We are failing this species. If this disappears so will our ceremonies.

These fish are our relations. I dont take that lightly. says Will Harling, Director of the Mid Klamath Watershed Council. Whether or not you subscribe to God or world renewal, this is about survival and place. Thats why we got to keep the fish here. We as humanswe are the problem. But were also the solution.

Later, after numbers come in from Wooly Creek, that count is raised to 160, which is still dangerously low. This year we had perfect conditions, says Karuna Greenberg, Restoration Director for the Salmon River Restoration Council. The river was perfect, all summer long. The eggs would have grown up on the river under really good conditions. The rearing conditions would have been good. The fish would have been unlikely to get diseases. If we even had 350 or 400 fish 

But for the moment, salmon alarm can wait. Back where the salmon counters are camping, theres a bonfire. The Humboldt State students are playing card games with a deck made of cards depicting California wildflowers, and scheming about how to sneak into a scientific symposium tomorrow. The group playing guitars around the fire has tripled in size, and now, improbably, includes an upright bass. The haze from the Island Fire has cleared temporarily and the sky is full of stars.

Out of the corner of my eye I see one star drop casually, like a swimmer leaping off a high dive. Then I see another, and another. Even though Id forgotten about it, the Aquarid meteor shower kept going about its business and happened anyway. Thats why Im here reallyprobably why were all here. Even more intoxicating than the idea of a nature that needs protecting is the idea of nature so wild that it doesnt need us at all to survive. I look up, and another star falls.

Reposted with permission from our media associate SIERRA magazine.
When President Donald Trump decided to

withdraw from the Paris climate agreement in June, the U.S. joined Syria and Nicaragua as the only other countries to not agree to the global action plan.

The reasons for the other two holdout countries were fair. Nicaraguas leaders felt the accord was

not strong enough to fight

climate change. Syria has been embroiled in a full-scale civil war for six years.

But Tuesday, during the

COP 23 climate talks in Bonn, Germany, the Syrian government also decided to sign the Paris climate agreement. Nicaragua officially joined the accord late last month.

#COP23 BREAKING NEWS: #Syria has announced it will sign the Paris Agreement! This will leave US alone if they decide to pull out. pic.twitter.com/VGHqHfRjGN  Climate Tracker (@ClimateTracking) November 7, 2017

A Syrian delegate at the Bonn climate talks did not offer an explanation for the governments decision to ratify the pact, the New York Times reported. Syria, which produces only a small percentage of global emissions, has not yet submitted it targets for cutting greenhouse gases.

The U.S., under President Trump, is now completely alone in this global consensus to limit temperature rise to well below 2C to avoid dangerous climate change.

Under the terms of the Paris agreement, the earliest the U.S. can officially exit the pact is the day after the 2020 election.

The bottom line is that the Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States, Trump

said about the Paris withdrawal.

The United States remains firm in its position, according to White House spokeswoman Kelly Love, who pointed reporters to a prior statement the administration issued after Nicaragua joined the pact, the Times reported.

As the president previously stated, the United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms the are more favorable for our country, the statement said.

Trumps controversial decision was met with intense criticism around the world.

As if it wasnt already crystal clear, every single other country in the world is moving forward together to tackle the climate crisis, while Donald Trump has isolated the United States on the world stage in an embarrassing and dangerous position,

Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune said in response to Syrias move.

Trumps desperate moves to help corporate polluters by refusing to acknowledge the reality of the climate crisis shows that he neither cares about leadership nor does he understand it. Thankfully, leaders in cities and states around the U.S. are taking action and committing to transitioning to 100 percent clean energy, proving that its not America thats devoid of leadership, only the White House.
Schools in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico are slowly getting to their feet, but the struggle is particularly difficult in areas outside major urban centers, as Congress and federal officials continue to work out aid packages that could help the islands still mostly shuttered educational system.

When Hurricane Maria struck the island Sept. 20, the nearly 1,200 schools in Puerto Rico went dark, leaving about 350,000 students in the public K-12 system out of school. And many schools that began to reopen in recent weeks were operating largely as community-support centers, rather than normal instructional environments, until recently.

As of the week of Oct. 23, 119 schools had officially opened their doors for instruction in the cities of San Juan and Mayaguez, according to Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Julia Keleher. Some of the 190 schools on the island that had been operating as community centers since Maria have consolidated their operations.

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Keleher said she hoped that approximately 150 more schools in Bayamon and Ponce (two relatively large cities in the U.S. territory) could restart classes this week.

At the moment, Keleher said her schools biggest need is electricity. She said she did not know how many of the schools that had opened were doing without electricity.

Also as of last week, approximately 25 percent of Puerto Ricans had power, while 75 percent had water, according to Status PR, a website that tracks official statistics on Puerto Ricos recovery.

Outside Help

More broadly, Keleher said in a phone interview, I need continued engagement from our colleagues and friends in the states, whether at the [state] level or at the district-leadership level, to help us by sending [people] with expertise in.

Its a huge lift, she continued. The more talented and knowledgeable people you can get on the team who can roll their sleeves up quickly, ... it makes it so much more of a systematic response than a one-off, problem-solving response.

See Also: Inside Puerto Ricos Recovery Efforts: On-the-Ground Coverage

Keleher also said she was experiencing friction with others in the education community who were pushing to open schools too early, in her view. She said her priority was ensuring that schools were checked for a variety of serious safety issuesfrom electrical wires hanging from the ceiling to the infestation of ratsbefore they could open.

Its really important that we go in and have these buildings certified as safe, she said.

Requests for Aid

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney had set an Oct. 25 deadline for federal departments and agencies to submit their aid requests for Puerto Rico and other areas affected by recent natural disasters, specifically Hurricanes Maria, Harvey, and Irma, and wildfires in California. However, as of the print deadline for Education Week, the U.S. Education Department had not provided details about what it had requested or planned to request for Puerto Ricos schools.

Keleher said Jason Botel, the acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the Education Department, was visiting Puerto Ricos schools last week and was being helpful to her efforts to grapple with systemic issues still facing the K-12 system. Botel did not make himself available for comment. (Botel also visited schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which were also affected by the recent hurricanes, according to a news report.)

Keleher also said she had received assistance from a food and nutrition specialist at the U.S. Agriculture Department.

Both the House and Senate have passed a $36.5 billion aid package for areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as those affected by recent wildfires in California.

Included in that legislation is $4.9 billion for maintaining essential services, including schools.

Separately, lawmakers have pressed U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her department to act on a number of fronts.

In a letter sent last week to DeVos and Mulvaney, 61 lawmakersthe vast majority of them Democratsoutlined eight priorities that the Trump administration should focus on in providing resources to students, educators, and schools in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

They include funding payroll and other contractual obligations; helping with capital costs associated with rebuilding and repairing schools; providing support services for students left homeless after Hurricanes Irma and Maria; and helping to provide three free meals a day to students in the affected areas for the rest of the 2017-18 school year. The lawmakers noted that the Houston school district already has begun providing that meal service to students.

The letter was headlined by Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the top Democrat on the House education committee, and Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, the Republican at-large representative for Puerto Rico in Congress.

While all local educational agencies in affected areas are in need of federal support in the aftermath of recent storms, the needs of students and staff in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are especially pressing, because of the scope of devastation and lack of resources, the lawmakers wrote.

Related Videos

In this collection of videos from Education Week Deputy Director of Photography Swikar Patel, see how the people of Puerto Rico are responding to the devastation of Hurricane Maria and working to rebuild their lives  and their schools.
Indiana Connections Academy faced a dilemma.

Around 2013, a growing number of transgender students at the K-12 school began telling staff they wanted to be recognized by a different name and gender than was listed on their birth certificates.

But Indiana Connections Academy is a full-time online charter. That means most of students interactions with teachers and classmates occur online, using technology platforms that display each childs name and other information. The school couldnt change what was displayed publicly without first wrestling with serious questions about student privacy, as well as changing what was stored in its back-end database, which at the time required students legal name and gender for state reporting purposes.

Finding a technical fix was just part of the ongoing challenge, according to Melissa Brown, Indiana Connections Academys longtime executive director. The school has also had to consider its legal obligations around serving transgender students, which have shifted over the past two presidential administrations. And just as significantly, Brown and her team were forced to navigate a broader culture war in which advocates of LGBT rights have been pitted against some proponents of religious liberty.

The end result?

Indiana Connections Academy decided to not only change their software systems to accommodate transgender students requests, but to develop new training protocols for school staff and a range of other policies and supports for vulnerable students.

We approached this from the perspective that it isnt about anyones particular belief system. Its about serving kids where they are, Brown said in an interview. My job as an educator is to make sure that all students are supported and feel welcome in our school.

Requests From Families

Indiana Connections Academy currently serves about 5,000 students from across the state. The school is one of more than two-dozen full-time online schools, many of them charters, operated by Connections Education, a division of the giant global school corporation Pearson.

Brown and Tisha Green Rinker, Connections Educations director of counseling, talked about their experiences during a panel on Protecting Transgender Student Rights at last weeks conference of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, commonly known as iNACOL. Education Week viewed a video recording of the session provided by Connections staff.

The conference itself stood as an example of the tensions that have erupted across the country around public schools and transgender-student issues. After originally opting to hold the event in Charlotte, N.C., iNACOL organizers in February moved the event to Orlando, Fla., citing North Carolinas controversial H.B. 2, a state law which the group described as anti-LGBTQ. The measure prohibited the establishment of local anti-discrimination ordinances and restricted access to restrooms and locker rooms in public buildings (including public schools) based on the biological sex listed on a persons birth certificate. State legislators eventually replaced the bill with another measure restricting school boards and other local public agencies from setting policies on bathroom access.

That dispute mirrors much of the larger fight within the K-12 sector around transgender students rights. In May of 2016, the administration of former President Barack Obama issued guidance requiring schools to allow students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, prompting cheers from LGBTQ advocates and anger (and lawsuits) from a number of conservative state lawmakers. Then, last February, the administration of President Donald Trump rescinded the guidance.

Even before such legislative and legal battles found their way into the headlines, however, some full-time online schools, including Indiana Connections Academy, recognized they had a challenge on their hands.

Green Rinker, the counseling director, said in an interview that Connections noticed around 2013 that roughly 60 students had requested to use their chosen names and gender identities in their schools learning management system.

In response, Connections convened a cross-departmental team to figure out what to do.

The nuts-and-bolts technical fix to the software proved to be the easy part, Green Rinker said. Within a month, Connections development team was able to separate how students names and gender identities are communicated publicly on the schools technology platforms, versus how they are stored and used for reporting purposes. Now, she said, teachers and every day staff dont even see the backend piece, and instead are provided only with students chosen names and gender identities.

More complicated, Green Rinker said, has been developing protocols and training staff to respond to such requests from students and families. What if a students parents didnt know he or she identified as transgender? Given the emerging research on transgender childrens vulnerability to discrimination, bullying, homelessness, poverty, and suicide, how could counselors and teachers be prepared to offer other support in an appropriate and non-invasive way?

And what about the physical spaces that full-time online students do end up sharing, during events such as field trips, proms, and state testing?

The responses to such questions have varied across the online schools that Connections Education operates. In Indiana, in addition to the changes in the software system, there is now a robust training program, focused on how staff can better understand and respond to the needs of transgender students. And at face-to-face events, the school makes every effort to offer students three types of bathrooms (male, female, and your choice), as well as the right to choose the facility of their choice.

Brown, the executive director of Indiana Connections Academy, said that changing federal guidance on such issues has impacted how her school community feels, more than the schools policies themselves. The truth is we started this prior to any guidance, Brown said during the panel at the iNACOL conference.

The guidelines from the Obama administration caused us, and [me] as a gay person myself, to stand up a little straighter, so to speak, she said. And when that was rolled back by the Trump administration, it caused a little bit of fear.

Checking Values at the Virtual Door

Instituting such changes hasnt been easy.

There have been some raised eyebrows among Indiana Connections Academy staff, Brown said.

Theres a values piece to all this, and there are people whose belief systems dont necessarily agree with certain lifestyles, she said. I think weve battled that.

For example, advocates for transgender students say schools should respect the notion that individual gender identity is non-binary, a belief that some social and religious conservatives vehemently reject. And in states such as Texas, lawsuits challenging the Obama-era guidance on transgender students have focused on the idea that no student should be forced to change clothes or share a bathroom with a student whose biological sex was different at birth.

To deal with such differing opinions and beliefs, Brown said, her school has asked staff to check their values at the virtual door.

We liken [our approach] to a medical model, she said at iNACOL. We dont get to make any judgments about anybodys life if they come in our door. We want to serve them the same as if they were in a medical crisis.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal organization that has helped spur lawsuits challenging the Obama administrations guidance on bathroom access at brick-and-mortar schools, did not respond to a request for comment about how full-time online schools are handling related issues.

Brown and Green Rinker said the number of Connections students in Indiana and across the country who have asked to be identified by their chosen name and gender has continued to grow, to about 100 new such requests this school year.

Some of that is likely due to the bullying and discrimination transgender students experience in traditional schools, they said. During the conference panel, for example, Scout Akamu, now an 18-year old senior at a brick-and-mortar high school, described the bullying she experienced in her traditional middle school, before deciding to attend Indiana Connections Academy for nearly a year.

It was constant, everyday. It really took a toll on how I handled my life, Akamu said of the harassment. When I was in Connections Academy, I didnt have to worry about any of that at all.

The online setting can also give children and families more control over how their identity is presented, Connections staff said, and eliminate some of the day-to-day stresses that many transgender students experience, such as figuring out where to safely and comfortably go to the bathroom.

Still, Brown said, Connections is not actively targeting transgender students with its recruitment efforts.

Overall, said Stephen Russell, a professor of child development at the University of Texas at Austin, its a delicate balancing act for the K-12 sector, especially given the academic and other challenges that full-time online schools have experienced.

We need places for individual students to sustain their education and be safe, Russell said. We also need to continue to work to make all schools safe and supportive schools for all students, and not allow the conversation to fall back on the idea that students who dont fit in, have a hard time, or are bullied should find their education in alternative settings.
Sixty-six percent of American adults worry frequently or occasionally about being a victim of identity theft, and 67 percent worry frequently or occasionally about having their personal or financial information stolen by hackers, a recent Gallup poll of over 1,000 U.S. adults found.

In comparison, just 38 percent of respondents worry about having their car stolen or broken into, just 36 percent worry about their home being burglarized when theyre not there, and 30 percent worry about being a victim of terrorism.

According to Gallup, Americans fears about cybercrime may be driven by high-profile news reports about data breaches at Equifax, Anthem, Home Depot and others.

Still, personal experience is also a factor  25 percent of respondents said they or another member of their household has had personal information stolen by hackers within the past year, and 16 percent said they or another household member was a victim of identity theft in the past year.

Just 3 percent said their home was broken into in the past year, and another 3 percent said a car belonging to them or another household member was stolen in the past year.

Virsec Systems CEO Atiq Raza told eSecurity Planet by email that far too many businesses have been marketing a dont worry, be happy message about cyber security that jars with reality. This is causing a serious erosion in trust, but may have some healthy results, he said.

Consumers need better information about structural problems in cyber security, and objective analysis along the lines of Consumer Reports, about how well companies are protecting their data, Raza added. Customers should punish businesses that suffer breach meltdowns, but they need better information and alternatives to reward companies that are doing the right thing.

Whos Responsible?

A separate Ponemon Institute survey of 549 consumers, 334 CMOs and 448 IT professionals found that while 80 percent of consumers believe companies have an obligation to take reasonable steps to secure their personal information, just 65 percent of CMOs and 64 percent of IT professionals agree.

The survey, sponsored by Centrify, also found 62 percent of consumers have been notified by a company or government agency that their personal information was stolen as a result of a data breach. Of those, 36 percent were affected by two or more incidents.

Sixty-five percent of consumers impacted by data breaches said the experience caused them to lose trust in the organization affected by the breach  and 31 percent said theyve terminated their relationship with the affected organization.

Forty-three percent of IT professionals and 31 percent of CMOs said their organization has experienced a data breach exposing more than 1,000 records containing sensitive or confidential customer or business information in the last two years.

While 71 percent of CMOs believe the biggest cost of a security incident is the loss of brand value, just 49 percent of IT professionals agree  and 45 percent of IT professionals and 42 percent of CMOs dont believe brand protection is taken seriously in the C-Suite.

NuData Security marketing director Lisa Baergen said by email that the Ponemon and Gallup findings together reaffirm that consumers and shareholders are holding companies responsible for securing PII, and for data leaks and breaches.

While internal departments debate responsibility, consumers and shareholders are holding the brand responsible  making it everyones problem, Baergen said. The tangible economic impacts of breaches will only grow. Moreover, hackers are no longer working away in a basement  cybercrime today is highly organized, well-funded, increasingly automated and extremely lucrative.

Every company with PII must advance its defense posture, and those who are ahead of the pack are most likely to survive and thrive, while those who move more slowly become the easiest prey  to hackers, and to investor and consumer sentiment, Baergen added.

More then ever, an optimal security posture is critical for business reputation  and survival.
DALLAS, Nov. 7, 2017 -- More people will survive cardiac arrest if emergency medical dispatchers give chest compression-only CPR instructions over the phone and if infants and children receive chest compressions with rescue breaths, according to updated CPR guidelines published today by the American Heart Association (Association), the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease.

The changes in the 2017 American Heart Association Focused Updates on Adult and Pediatric Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality also re-emphasize the importance of bystanders starting immediate chest compressions if they see an adult collapse in a suspected cardiac arrest. Immediate bystander help has been shown to double or triple survival chances among the more than 350,000 Americans who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.

Highlighting the need for rapid response, the 2017 Focused Updates stress the importance of providing dispatch-assisted compression-only CPR instructions when cardiac arrest is suspected. Telephone CPR not only assists the untrained caller, but it reminds the CPR-trained caller how to provide high-quality CPR in a stressful situation. Currently, only half of the nation's dispatchers provide telephone CPR, which has been identified as a critical intervention in the chain of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The 2017 Focused Updates were informed by research published since the 2015 Guidelines Update, and authors found even more evidence supporting the need for compressions and rescue breaths during CPR for children who have not yet reached puberty. More than 7,000 children die from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually. In most cases, it is the result of a lack of oxygen, and rescue breaths can keep oxygenated blood flowing through the system.

"The 2017 Focused Updates validate what we already know about performing CPR and offer a scientific basis for optimizing CPR quality to save more lives," said Karl Kern, M.D., chair of the Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson's Sarver Heart Center. "It's critically important to translate new science to bedside care as quickly as possible, especially as the amount of scientific research available is growing rapidly."

The Guidelines had previously been updated every five years, and this marks the first year that the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), an organization of global resuscitation experts, is switching to an annual format. The Association represents the United States on the committee.

The ILCOR evaluation process involves hundreds of resuscitation scientists and experts worldwide, who evaluate thousands of peer-reviewed publications for high-priority resuscitation topics requiring a systematic review. The annual focused update allows the rigor of a comprehensive review and expert consensus in as close to real time as possible.

"A continuous evidence evaluation process means that we can address new science quickly and recommend when it should change care," said Robert Neumar, M.D., Ph.D., past chair of the Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, current ILCOR co-chair, and professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. "In this day and age of rapid-fire digital distribution and fewer fact checks, it also allows us to refute studies that may not demonstrate a need to change current practices."

Since establishing its Guidelines in 1966, the Association has led evaluation and dissemination of the latest resuscitation science to help inform and modernize CPR. These guidelines have been used to train more than 22 million people annually in CPR, cardiovascular care and first aid around the world.

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Additional Resources:

* Available multimedia located on the right column of the release link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/more-cardiac-arrest-victims-could-survive-with-dispatcher-cpr-instruction-rescue-breaths-for-children?preview=bd9a4cca509067354cf32b5e64dcde7a

* 2017 Focused Updates landing page and video: http://www.heart.org/ECCguidelines

* To learn more about Hands-Only CPR: http://www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR

* To learn more about CPR, AED and First Aid training: http://www.heart.org/WorkforceTraining

* To find training near you: http://www.heart.org/FindACourse

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2017 -- Electrical physicists from Czech Technical University have provided additional evidence that new current sensors introduce errors when assessing current through iron conductors. It's crucial to correct this flaw in the new sensors so that operators of the electrical grid can correctly respond to threats to the system. The researchers show how a difference in a conductor's magnetic permeability, the degree of material's magnetization response in a magnetic field, affects the precision of new sensors. They also provide recommendations for improving sensor accuracy. The results are published this week in AIP Advances, from AIP Publishing.

With the addition of new renewable energy sources and smart homes demanding more information, the electrical grid is becoming more complex. Author Pavel Ripka said, "If you have [a] grid at the edge of capacity, you have to be careful to monitor all the transients (power surges)." Surges are overloads or failures to the system, which can be caused by something as simple as a broken power line, or more dramatic events like lightning strikes or geomagnetic storms.

Ripka explained the importance of monitoring electrical currents: "Every day you get a lot of these small events (surges) within a big power grid, and sometimes it is difficult to interpret them. If it is something really serious, you should switch off parts of the grid to prevent catastrophic damage, but if it's a short transient which will finish fast there is no need to disconnect the grid. It's a risky business to distinguish between these events, because if you underestimate the danger then parts of the distribution installations can be damaged causing serious blackouts. But if you overestimate and disconnect, it is a problem because connecting these grids back together is quite complicated," he said.

To address the increasing complexity of the grid and power outage threats, there has been an increase in use of ground current sensors in the past couple of years. New yokeless current sensors are popular because of their low cost and compact size. These sensors are good for assessing currents in nonmagnetic conductors such as copper and aluminum. However, ground conductors are usually iron due to its mechanical strength, and iron has a high magnetic permeability.

Using these new sensors to measure ground currents when iron is present is a bit like using a thermometer to assess if the heating needs to be switched on, not taking into account where exactly the thermometer is placed. Near a door or window, the thermometer's reading can be affected differently than elsewhere. In the same way, this study has shown that not taking into account the magnetic permeability of a conductor distorts the accuracy of a reading with a yokeless sensor.

Ripka and his team matched experimental measurements with theoretical simulations to highlight the difference in yokeless sensor readings between nonmagnetic and magnetic conductors.

"We can show how to design (yokeless) current sensors so that they are not so susceptible to this type of error," Ripka said. "[This study is] just a small reminder to make [engineers] design sensors safely."

To further prove the point, Ripka's group is starting to take long-term readings at power stations, comparing results to commercial uncalibrated sensors. In the future, Ripka envisions cooperating with geophysicists to correlate ground currents and geomagnetic activity, to better understand how these currents are distributed within the earth and even predict future disruptions to the grid.

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This work was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic through the project "New methods for the measurement of electric currents" (GACR 17-19877S).

The article, "The effect of conductor permeability on electric current transducers," is authored by Mehran Mirzaei, Pavel Ripka, Andrey Chirtsov, Petr Kaspar and Jan Vyhnanek. The article will appear in AIP Advances Nov. 7, 2017 [DOI: 10.1063/1.4994195]. After that date, it can be accessed at http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4994195.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

AIP Advances is a fully open access, online-only, peer-reviewed journal. It covers all areas of applied physical sciences. With its advanced web 2.0 functionality, the journal puts relevant content and discussion tools in the hands of the community to shape the direction of the physical sciences. See http://aipadvances.aip.org
BALTIMORE (Nov. 7 2017) -- Brain images of people who developed neurological complications from West Nile virus found that many of them--including those who had experienced mild symptoms or none all -- showed evidence of brain damage years after the original infection, according to a new study presented today at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).

The 10-year study from researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston is one of the largest assessments to date tracking neurological deficits in West Nile virus victims -- and the first to link neurological problems associated with the disease, like muscle and memory impairments and tremors, to physical evidence of brain damage as seen via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

"Our findings add to a growing amount of evidence that West Nile virus is a serious health threat that deserves considerably more attention because there still are no drugs available to treat it and no vaccines to prevent it," said Kristy Murray, DVM, PhD, of Baylor's National School of Tropical Medicine and the lead author of the study.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease originally confined to East Africa that did not emerge in North America until 2000. It is now found in every state except Hawaii and Alaska and maintains a consistent presence because it infects both birds and humans. Experts believe up to 3 million people in the U.S. have been exposed to the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented more than 2,000 deaths from West Nile. But previous research by Murray and her colleagues suggests the death rate may be much higher. It found evidence that many people infected with West Nile die years later -- yet far earlier than had they not been infected.

The current study, presented at the ASTMH meeting by co-author Shannon Ronca, PhD, MPH, emerged from a 10-year effort--from 2002 to 2012-- to track 262 people in the Houston, Texas region with a history of West Nile virus to look for evidence of long-term health problems. From that group, 117 were recruited to be tested extensively for signs of neurological deficits. Those tests revealed that 57 of them (49 percent) were suffering from some type of neurological abnormality.

The most common physical problems involved muscle weakness, abnormal reflexes and tremors. Several subjects showed signs of cognitive impairments as well, mainly problems with short- or long-term memory beyond what would be expected from normal age-related cognitive decline.

From that group of 57, 30 subjects agreed to be further assessed with MRIs of the brain. Those scans revealed damage or thinning in different parts of the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the outer surface of the brain often referred to as gray matter that handles much of the brain's higher levels of activity, like memory, attention and language.

The scientists also found that people whose initial infection had progressed to West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, which can produce swelling in the brain, showed signs of degeneration or atrophy in several regions. They included the cerebellum, where damage can affect movement and balance, and the brain stem, which links the brain to a range of bodily functions, including breathing, speech and sleep cycles. In addition, atrophy was observed in the thalamus, where damage can lead to tremors and problems with reflexes.

"The issues we are seeing on the MRIs are consistent with what would occur from an infection that caused a lot of inflammation in the brain," Murray said. "Inflammation can lead to scarring as the brain starts to heal, and that scarring can cause damage."

Moreover, evidence of neurological disorders and brain injury was found across the spectrum of West Nile virus infections. They were seen not just in those who had experienced neuroinvasive disease, but also in people who reported only mild symptoms. Of the 57 people diagnosed with neurological deficits, seven had never noticed any symptoms at all. Their infection was detected during a routine screening test for blood donors.

At the ASTMH conference, Ronca said the new evidence from the brain scans should prompt greater attention to the fact that any West Nile virus infection has the potential to cause long-term neurological problems.

"It will be important to regularly assess people who have been infected with West Nile virus for early signs of neurological deficits and brain MRIs should be considered when symptoms are observed," Ronca said.

"It's critical for our scientists to keep following the outcomes for patients who have suffered a West Nile virus infection so that we have a full picture of the dangers posed by this disease," said Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH. "The risks they are uncovering highlight the need to intensify prevention efforts, from mosquito control to developing a protective vaccine."

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About the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, founded in 1903, is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. It accomplishes this through generating and sharing scientific evidence, informing health policies and practices, fostering career development, recognizing excellence, and advocating for investment in tropical medicine/global health research. For more information, visit astmh.org.
BALTIMORE (7 November 2017) -- The invasive Asian tiger mosquito now rapidly spreading in parts of the United States and Europe may have been significantly underestimated as a potential source of Zika and dengue virus infections -- and for one simple reason: they were underfed, according to a new study presented today at the 66th American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting.

Researchers from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Yale School of Public Health noted that previous risk assessments of the Asian tiger mosquito, technically known as Aedes albopictus, involved laboratory tests in which the insects were given only a single feeding from a sack of blood known to contain one of the viruses. Those studies typically have found that while Asian tiger mosquitoes could easily acquire Zika or dengue viruses, they did a poor job of secreting the viruses in their saliva, which is necessary to make a bite from a mosquito infectious to humans.

"We found that if you gave these mosquitoes a second feeding a couple of days later--and with just regular blood that contained no virus--they became much more infectious," said Doug Brackney, PhD, a virologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the lead author of the study. "The percentage of our Asian tiger mosquitoes that were capable of transmitting virus jumped from 25 to 75 percent."

Brackney and his colleagues believe their approach more closely replicates what would happen in a real-world situation where, if the mosquito--known for being an aggressive biter -- picked up the virus while drawing blood from an infected human, it would likely have additional feedings within a couple of days.

The evidence of how a second feeding can intensify disease transmission also was observed with the mosquito species Aedes aegypti, most closely associated with the spread of Zika and dengue in Latin America and the Caribbean. The researchers believe this booster effect could explain why Zika and dengue have proven capable of producing such explosive outbreaks only shortly after emerging.

"We found that the second feeding not only increases the proportion of insects that are infectious, but also shortens the time it takes for the virus to reach their saliva," he said. "It produces a lot of infectious mosquitoes very quickly."

Brackney said that of the two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti remains the primary concern as a vector of disease because it has such a distinctive preference for biting humans. But he noted that Asian tiger mosquitoes are more tolerant of cold weather and so, theoretically, could extend the risk of disease farther north.

In a related presentation at the Annual Meeting, Brackney's colleagues at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported finding well-established populations of Asian tiger mosquitoes in urban and suburban settings in southwestern Connecticut along the Long Island Sound shoreline. They suspect the mosquito is taking advantage of warmer winters to push deeper into New England. The Asian tiger mosquito also is rapidly establishing populations in Europe.

Tests from the field have fingered Asian tiger mosquitoes as the primary culprits causing dengue outbreaks in Hawaii, Central Africa and southern China. Yet laboratory tests consistently have shown that there seemed to be a barrier in the gut of this particular mosquito that prevented either dengue or Zika from moving into its salivary glands. Brackney said, initially, his team had observed the same phenomenon in laboratory feeding trials with local Connecticut populations of Aedes albopictus.

"Then we started asking, 'What would happen if we gave them a second feeding,' and when we did, it seemed to accelerate the movement of the virus to the saliva," Brackney said. "Asian tiger mosquitoes were still not as efficient as Aedes aegypti at acquiring and spreading disease, but they appear to be much more efficient vectors than we previously thought."

"In much of the United States and Europe, mosquito control measures and simple barriers like window screens have helped limit the reach of Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses, yet we still need to stay focused on potential risks," said Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH. "Evidence that rapidly spreading populations of Aedes albopictus may be much more competent at transmitting infections than previously thought could test those defenses and will require public health officials to stay focused on mosquito control and clinicians focused on tracking patients for signs of infection."

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Contact:

Bridget DeSimone

1-301-280-5735

bdesimone@burness.com

About the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, founded in 1903, is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. It accomplishes this through generating and sharing scientific evidence, informing health policies and practices, fostering career development, recognizing excellence, and advocating for investment in tropical medicine/global health research. For more information, visit astmh.org.
How are we affected by other peoples' opinions? To answer this question, scientists[1] at the CNRS, Inra and Universite Toulouse 1 Capitole conducted a study in France and Japan, quantifying this impact on our decisions. They identified five behaviors common to both countries: a majority of subjects make a compromise between their opinion and that of others (59% of people in France), some hold to their opinion (29% in France), whereas others follow faithfully, amplify or contradict the information they receive. The study also shows how social information can help a group collectively improve its performance and the precision of its estimates. From this analysis, a model has been developed that reproduces the results of the study and predicts the performance of a group depending on the amount and quality of information exchanged between its members. The long-term goal would be to develop algorithms for decision-making support tools. The results of this study were published on November 6, 2017 in PNAS.

The fast growth of digital technologies and content availability is making us interact more with others. Increasingly, social networks are becoming important sources of information that we choose to take account of or ignore. Many e-commerce sites make extensive use of review and scoring systems, which allow their customers to use the opinions of others to make their own choices. Without even considering false information, that is sometimes difficult to detect, we are each exposed to too much information to process it correctly every time.

These observations call for the development of tools to help in collective decision-making, which could assist with processing information and making decisions in a group that uses social interactions. The group of researchers involved in the study focused on the impact of social information, i.e., the way that others affect what we do. Under what conditions can this social information increase the effectiveness of our collective decision-making?

The experiments involved 186 people in France and 180 in Japan. Each participant had to estimate values, such as Gandhi's age when he died, or the number of stars in our galaxy, and give a degree of confidence in their answer. After the first stage, the average of the previous participants' responses - the social information-was given to them, and the subject had to reply again to give a final estimate. One of the unique features of this study is the introduction of virtual agents who were controlled by the researchers without the knowledge of the participants--and always gave the correct answer. These agents, whose number varied, therefore favorably influenced the social information sent to subjects.

This work shows how social information leads the group to collectively improve its performance and the precision of its estimations. It can also accurately measure how sensitive subjects are to social information. The researchers identified five sensitivity profiles that are independent of cultural bias, because they are present in both countries. In France, an analysis of almost 11,000 responses shows that 29% of the people sampled hold to their opinion, 4% strictly follow the information given to them, and 59% find a compromise between their initial opinion and the social information. Thinking that the rest of the group has, the same way as they did, underestimated their initial response, 6% of people amplify the social information received. Finally, 2% end up contradicting their own estimation and that of the group, most often without being able to justify their decision. In addition, the further a participant's personal feeling is from the social information received, the more sensitive this subject is to the information. In another more surprising result, the scientists have shown that the performance of a group may be improved by a limited quantity of incorrect information, which compensates for a human cognitive bias that underestimates quantities.

Based on these experiments, a mathematical model has been developed. It faithfully reproduces the social information sensitivity mechanisms observed experimentally and predicts the impact of the amount and quality of information exchanged between the individuals in a group on their collective performance. A better understanding of the governing processes of how social information influences individual choices and collective information opens new perspectives. Personalized algorithms could be developed to anticipate the different types of answers according to the form of social information received. This could contribute to improving cooperation and collaboration on the scale of groups.

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Note:

[1] The French laboratories involved in this study:

The Centre de recherches sur la cognition animale (CNRS/Universite Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier)

The Laboratoire de physique theorique (CNRS/Universite Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier)

TSE Recherche (CNRS/Universite Toulouse 1 Capitole/INRA/EHESS) a Toulouse school of economics laboratory
ITHACA, N.Y. - North Atlantic right whales - a highly endangered species making modest population gains in the past decade - may be imperiled by warming waters and insufficient international protection, according to a new Cornell University analysis published in Global Change Biology.

North Atlantic right whales' preferred cuisine is copepods that thrive in cool waters, such as the Gulf of Maine, said author Erin Meyer-Gutbrod, who conducted the work as a doctoral student and postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Charles Greene, professor of oceanography and co-author on the paper.

Scientists once relied on continuous plankton sampling to track the copepods, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations' National Marine Fisheries Service discontinued the program, preventing researchers from observing ecosystem changes as they occur.

In the past several years, a smaller portion of the right whale population has been seen in the Gulf of Maine as it has warmed, and the whales have been spotted farther north than usual, in the Canadian Gulf of St. Lawrence, likely in search of the small crustaceans, she said.

Because whales used to be rare in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, northern waterways lack whale protection policies. Without adequate policies the whales are at greater risk from ship traffic and commercial fishing gear.

"Right whales are a highly endangered species with approximately 500 animals remaining," said Meyer-Gutbrod, who now works at the Marine Science Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara. "This crisis signals a major shift in the whale population's recovery, corresponding to a loss of 3 percent of the right whale population."

"There is a very important interaction between climate change and anthropogenic mortality factors," said Greene. "We must extend whale protections to prevent a major decline in the population."

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The work, "Uncertain Recovery of the North American Right Whale in a Changing Ocean," was funded by the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship and by Cornell's Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, through its Sustainable Biodiversity Fund.
Beijing, October 30, 2017: The Autumn 2017 issue, a special issue entitled "Health is Primary", Guest Editor: Li Li, includes an editorial, four original research articles, one case study, one narrative analysis, two commentaries and one China Focus article addressing various topics in family medicine in both China and internationally.

The first featured article in this issue is an original research article entitled "Mental health problems due to community violence exposure in a small urban setting." by authors Faraz Ahmad, Jim Medder, Jenenne Geske, Jannette Taylor and Ruth Margalit, the study suggests that health care providers in smaller cities, where the effects of violent crime may be underestimated or overlooked, be informed of the existence of this public health problem within their community and that they screen at-risk patients for mental health problems. The second featured article is an China focus article entitled "Overnight pulse oximetry for screening of obstructive sleep apnea in at-risk adult patients in the primary care setting: prospective case series" by authors Lap-Kin Chiang, Cheuk-Wai Kam and Lorna V. Ng, which demonstrates that overnight pulse oximetry shows good performance as a screening tool for the screening of OSA.

Other articles published in the issue include:

Health is primary Li Li

Susan A. Flocke, Elizabeth Antognoli: Assessing the accuracy of patient report of the 5As (ask, assess, advise, assist, and arrange) for smoking cessation counseling

Ling Huang, Amod K. Poudyal, Nanping Wang, Ramesh K. Maharjan, Krishna P. Adhikary, Sharad R. Onta: Burden of road traffic accidents in Nepal by calculating disability-adjusted life years

Diane J. Madlon-Kay, Emily R. Smith: Effect of an educational intervention and parental vaccine refusal forms on childhood vaccination rates in a clinic with a large Somali population

Monica Webb Hooper, Michael Payne, Kimberly A. Parkinson: Tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy use among racial/ethnic minorities in the United States: Considerations for primary care

Sheng Liu: Understanding cultures beyond medicine

Geetha Mani: Social prescribing for healthy aging: sustaining social capital in India

Kamil Naidoo, Laura McCrossan: Adult-onset celiac disease for the primary care physician

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FMCH is available on the IngentaConnect platform and at Family Medicine and Community Health. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. FMCH is indexed in the EBSCO, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Scopus, Sherpa Romeo, Ulrichsweb, DOAJ, WPRIM, NISC (National Information Services Corporation) and Index Copernicus Databases. Follow FMCH on Twitter @FMCHJournal; or Facebook.

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Full bibliographic information

Volume 5, Number 1

Family Medicine and Community Health

ISSN 2305-6983 (Print); ISSN: 2009-8774 (Online)
For several years, tension has been rising in line with the approaching commercialization of perovskite photovoltaic cells. Now, there has been another small earthquake: it turns out that devices based on these materials can convert solar energy into electricity even more efficiently! There is one condition: instead of producing perovskites by traditional solution methods, they should be produced by ... grinding.

The interaction of researchers who have fundamental knowledge of chemistry with experienced technologists can produce unexpected results. A Swiss-Polish team from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne (Switzerland) co-operating within the GOTSolar project, implemented under the FET Open (Future and Emerging Technologies) programme in Horizon 2020, has demonstrated a perovskite cell with a significantly smaller number of structural defects. The unexpected improvement of the photovoltaic performance was observed when perovskites produced by mechanochemistry were used for the construction of a typical photovoltaic cell.

Mechanochemistry is a rapidly developing field of science dealing with chemical reactions occurring directly between solid-phase compounds upon activation by mechanical force. In laboratories, such processes are carried out in automatic ball mills. However, some mechanochemical reactions could be successfully performed at home, by manual grinding in ordinary mortars.

Perovskites are a large group of materials with the general chemical formula ABX3, characterized by a cubic crystalline structure. Atoms of A are located at the centre of the cube, in the middle of each wall there is an X atom, and the corners are occupied by the atoms of element B. The name of this group of materials is derived from a naturally occurring mineral, calcium titanate CaTiO3, named perovskite in honour of the Russian geologist Leo Perovski. Over time, it has become apparent that the physicochemical properties of this material can be improved by replacing calcium, titanium and oxygen with other elements. Currently, the most commonly studied compound of the perovskite group is (CH3NH3)PbI3. In this material, calcium, titanium and oxygen ions are replaced by methylammonium (in position A), lead (in position B) and iodide (in position X) ions, respectively.

The group of Prof. Janusz Lewinski (IPC PAS, Warsaw University of Technology) was the first to demonstrate that polycrystalline halide perovskites, e.g., the afore-mentioned (CH3NH3)PbI3 can be produced in mechanochemical reactions. Recently, the group have also presented the mechanochemical production of mixed perovskites, i.e., those in which several different types of ions alternate in position A. This is an important achievement, because, by carefully altering the chemical composition of the perovskite materials, they can be adapted to specific applications in photovoltaics, catalysis and other fields of science and technology.

"In practice, the mechanochemical production of our perovskites is as follows. Two powders, e.g. white methylammonium iodide CH3NH3I and yellow lead iodide PbI2, are placed in a mill equipped with a few steel balls. Then, we grind them for several dozen minutes and... we pour out a homogeneous black powder of the perovskite (CH3NH3)PbI3, which can be directly used for the construction of photovoltaic cells. You do not need to use high temperature, organic solvents, or worry about waste. The whole process is really fast and efficient. It is green chemistry," says Marcin Saski, a PhD student at IPC PAS.

Professor Lewinski's team is a leader in conducting academic research on the synthesis of perovskites in Poland. The materials produced here are assembled and tested at EPFL in collaboration with a world-class Swiss chemist, Prof. Michael Graetzel. Professor Graetzel specializes in nano- and mesomaterials for optoelectronics. One of his greatest achievements was the development of a new type of solar cell in which the conversion of solar energy to electricity takes place using a suitable dye, in 1991. Today, these cells are known as Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), or simply Graetzel cells.

The laboratory photovoltaic cells, working on perovskite materials obtained by mechanochemistry, have just been constructed by Dr. Daniel Prochowicz (EPFL, IPC PAS). Interestingly enough, a perovskite layer of just ~300 nanometers was enough for its efficient action. In the future, such thin coverage will reduce the unit cost of cell production.

"An important property characterizing the quality of a photovoltaic cell is the amount of electrical charge accumulating at the boundary of individual cell layers. If there is too much, the cell undergoes degradation more rapidly. Perovskites obtained by mechanochemistry formed a very homogeneous layer, which reduced the number of defects in the structure impairing the work of the cell and reduced the amount of charge deposited on the surface," says Dr. Prochowicz, who is conducting his research under a Maria Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship in Prof. Graetzel's group.

Why are the electrical properties of perovskite cells obtained by grinding better? The answer is not evident yet. It seems that the solvent used in production of perovskites plays a negative role. It can be incorporated into the structure of the material, and upon deposition of the perovskite on the substrate its residues may cause the formation of defects in the crystalline structure. Microscopic and electrical studies have shown that better quality of mechanochemically-synthesized perovskites (obtained without solvents) comes along with reducing the number of traps for charge carriers, formed at the junction of the material with the substrate.

The research was carried out within two projects of the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union. GOTSolar is a part of FET Open action, one of the most prestigious grants for international consortia of academic institutions and companies for the development of cutting-edge technologies on the early stage. GOTSolar is aimed at creating a new generation of efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Additional part of this research was a part of a Maria Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (MSCA IF), which a prestigious scholarship for young researchers for the postdoctoral research.

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This press release was prepared with funds from the European ERA CHAIR grant under the Horizon 2020 programme.

The Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences was established in 1955 as one of the first chemical institutes of the PAS. The Institute's scientific profile is strongly related to the newest global trends in the development of physical chemistry and chemical physics. Scientific research is conducted in nine scientific departments. CHEMIPAN R&D Laboratories, operating as part of the Institute, implement, produce and commercialise specialist chemicals to be used, in particular, in agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. The Institute publishes approximately 200 original research papers annually.
China's measures to improve air quality are working, but more stringent policies should be put in place to safeguard public health, a new study has shown.

Air pollution in China, especially in mega-metropolitan areas, is a matter of concern due to its impact on public health. The study, from Tsinghua University, Beijing, used satellite-derived aerosol optical depth measurements, ground based observations, and air quality simulations to examine the levels of fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 m (PM2.5) and its adverse health impacts across China.

It is published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

Lead author Yixuan Zheng said: "Exposure to PM2.5 can cause adverse health effects including cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality, and outdoor PM2.5 exposure contributed to approximately 1.22 million deaths in China in 2013.

"The Chinese government has made well-publicised moves to improve air quality and reduce pollution across the whole country, through its Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (the action plan). Our study marks the first estimates of the impact of this stringent action plan on pollution levels and mortality rates from 2013 to 2015."

The research confirms the effectiveness of China's clean air action. The results show that the action plan led to a 21 per cent reduction of population-weighted mean PM2.5 concentration in just two years.

Mr. Zheng said: "China's government has implemented a series of strict measures to tackle the severe air pollution problem, including promoting end-of-pipe control measures, limiting coal use in small combustion devices, retiring old vehicles, and many others. The large reduction in PM2.5 concentration indicates that those measures are quite effective."

This study estimated that the premature mortality related to PM2.5 pollution reduced by nine per cent as the consequence of air quality improvement.

Mr Zheng said: "The smaller health benefits compared to reduction in PM2.5 concentration is due to the non-linear relationship between pollution and mortality in current exposure-response functions. PM2.5 concentrations in polluted Chinese provinces are still at the high concentration end, where marginal mortality reductions are relatively small. Therefore, to improve air quality and achieve larger public health benefits in these regions, the government must continue to enforce clean air actions so that public health improves further, and more stringent actions are on the way.

"It should be noted that the exposure-response functions used in this study is primarily developed by epidemiological studies in developed countries, and subject to uncertainties. More direct evidence from local studies could help us to improve the estimates."

Senior author Professor Qiang Zhang said: "China is now putting tremendous efforts into mitigating PM2.5 levels in several heavily polluted provinces, such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei (BTH region). With the strict control measures, it is most likely China can achieve its goal set in the action plan, i.e., reducing PM2.5 concentration by 25 per cent in the BTH region during 2013-2017. However, continuous efforts should be placed in the future because PM2.5 concentration in BTH is still well above the standard.

"Our study suggests the mortality burdens induced by air pollution are severe in China, indicating that substantial public health benefits can be achieved through further nationwide air quality improvements. China's government should therefore focus on continuous PM2.5 abatements across the country to improve public welfare."

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Annapurna alternative trekking route opens

An alternative route to the round-Annapurna trekking has come into operation.
Hector Munoz-Avila received a grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) on "Adaptive Goal-Driven Autonomous Agents." This is a joint project with Wright State University, with Lehigh serving as the prime contractor. The total award is $950K.

The research centers around Goal Driven Autonomy (GDA), a method for solving problems driven by what is known as "goal reasoning." This method involves physical or virtual entities, called autonomous agents, that are equipped with cognitive capabilities that enable them to self-reflect about the tasks they are performing and make changes accordingly.

The agents, aware of their goals, generate and carry out plans to achieve them while monitoring their performance. GDA directs the focus of the activities, allowing the agents to become more self-sufficient.

In particular, the research will investigate novel AI and machine learning techniques to make these agents adaptive and capable of operating robustly in complex and uncertain environments.

An example of the necessity for GDA is with Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), which need to operate by themselves for extended periods of time. "The vehicle must be capable of self-adapting to changes in the environment that were not foreseen by the vehicle's developers," explained Munoz-Avila.

Such environmental changes can include underwater obstacles, communication problems, turbulent water, or hydrothermal vents. Any of these changes can affect either the UUV's sensors, propulsion mechanisms or both.

"A lack of adaptability can lead to a catastrophic failure that may result in a total loss of the vehicle," continued Munoz-Avila. "So the UUV must reliably self-diagnose and take actions to adjust accordingly."

In the case of a UUV, the agent will first try to assess the nature of the discrepancy between the vehicle's expectations and the events it is currently observing. After this assessment, the UUV will undertake controlled actions that may include actuation changes such as reducing its speed or changing its direction.

"Autonomy is becoming more prevalent in society, and include not only physical agents like UUVs and robotic platforms, but virtual agents like automated trading agents," explained Munoz-Avila. "We need to increase the robustness in their capabilities to ensure these agents operate in a reliable and safe manner."

Munoz-Avila is a professor in the department of Computer Science and Engineering at Lehigh University. He is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, two paper awards and a Lehigh Class of 1961 Professorship. Munoz-Avila has been chair for various international scientific meetings including the Sixth International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning (ICCBR-05) and the 25th Innovative Applications of AI Conference (IAAI-13). He served as program director for Robust Intelligence at the NSF where he managed the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) portfolios and he co-spearheaded efforts related to self-monitoring systems.

Munoz-Avila earned a doctorate in computer science from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany, a masters in computer science from Los Andes University in Colombia, and two bachelors, one in mathematics and one in computer science, both from Los Andes University.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The traditional pairing of wine and food too often misses the mark - leaving people confused and intimidated - and should be scrapped in favor of a more consumer-focused approach, a new study indicates.

The research by Michigan State University hospitality scholars suggests people generally fit into certain wine-drinking categories, or "vinotypes," and that servers and sommeliers should consider these preferences when suggesting a wine.

Ordering beef roast for dinner? A traditional wine recommendation would be Cabernet Sauvignon. But why would a server suggest a bold red wine if the customer hates it? Let the patron drink his or her beloved Riesling with the meal, said Carl Borchgrevink, a former chef and restaurant manager and lead author on the study.

"The palate rules - not someone else's idea of which wine we should drink with our food," said Borchgrevink, associate professor and interim director of MSU's School of Hospitality Business. "They shouldn't try to intimidate you into buying a certain wine. Instead, they should be asking you what you like."

Borchgrevink and culinary expert Allan Sherwin conducted the first scientific study examining the premise of Tim Hanni's vinotype theory. Hanni, in a play on "phenotype," proposed that vinotypes are determined by both genetics and environment and that such tastes change over time based on experiences.

Hanni, a chef and one of the first Americans to earn the designation "Master of Wine," has proposed four primary vinotypes: "sweet," "hypersensitive," "sensitive" and "tolerant." The categories range from those who like sweet, fruity whites (sweet vinotype) to those who enjoy bold, strong reds (tolerant), and everyone in between.

Hanni also created a series of criteria to determine vinotypes. If you like sweet beverages such as soda and salt your food liberally, for example, you trend toward the sweet vinotype. But if strong black coffee and intense flavors are your thing, you're more apt to fall in the tolerant camp.

For the study, MSU researchers surveyed a group of adults on food and beverage preferences and consumption patterns. They also held a reception with 12 stations where the participants rated the food and wine presented at each station individually, and then together.

The results were conclusive: Hanni's premise has merit. The researchers were able to predict wine preferences based on consumption patterns and preferences.

Next, MSU researchers will test the vintoype theory outright by working with scholars globally. Borchgrevink said separate studies are being planned with partners from around the United States, as well as from Hong Kong, France and other areas.

The work has implications for both restaurants and wine stores, which should train their staff members on the vinotype approach and find questions to ask consumers that can reveal their wine preferences, the study says.

But the main focus is the wine-drinker, who should learn to trust their own palate and not necessarily depend on the so-called experts, said Sherwin, the Dr. Lewis J. and Mrs. Ruth E. Minor Chef-Professor of Culinary Management at MSU.

"At the end of the day it's going to be the consumer that has the final say," Sherwin said. "They're going to be the arbiter."

The study is published in the International Journal of Wine Business Research.

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Imagine a miniature device that suffuses each room in your house with a different hue of the rainbow--purple for the living room, perhaps, blue for the bedroom, green for the kitchen. A team led by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has, for the first time, developed nanoscale devices that divide incident white light into its component colors based on the direction of illumination, or directs these colors to a predetermined set of output angles.

Viewed from afar, the device, referred to as a directional color filter, resembles a diffraction grating, a flat metal surface containing parallel grooves or slits that split light into different colors. However, unlike a grating, the nanometer-scale grooves etched into the opaque metal film are not periodic--not equally spaced. They are either a set of grooved lines or concentric circles that vary in spacing, much smaller than the wavelength of visible light. These properties shrink the size of the filter and allow it to perform many more functions than a grating can.

For instance, the device's nonuniform, or aperiodic, grid can be tailored to send a particular wavelength of light to any desired location. The filter has several promising applications, including generating closely spaced red, green and blue color pixels for displays, harvesting solar energy, sensing the direction of incoming light and measuring the thickness of ultrathin coatings placed atop the filter.

In addition to selectively filtering incoming white light based on the location of the source, the filter can also operate in a second way. By measuring the spectrum of colors passing through a filter custom-designed to deflect specific wavelengths of light at specific angles, researchers can pinpoint the location of an unknown source of light striking the device. This could be critical to determine if that source, for instance, is a laser aimed at an aircraft.

"Our directional filter, with its aperiodic architecture, can function in many ways that are fundamentally not achievable with a device such as a grating, which has a periodic structure," said NIST physicist Amit Agrawal. "With this custom-designed device, we are able to manipulate multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously."

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Matthew Davis and Wenqi Zhu of NIST and the University of Maryland, along with Agrawal and NIST physicist Henri Lezec, described their work (link is external) in the latest edition of Nature Communications. The work was performed in collaboration with Syracuse University and Nanjing University in China.

The operation of the directional color filter relies on the interaction between the incoming particles of light -- photons -- and the sea of electrons that floats along the surface of a metal. Photons striking the metal surface create ripples in this electron sea, generating a special type of light wave -- plasmons -- that has a much smaller wavelength than the original light source.

The design and operation of aperiodic devices are not as intuitive and straightforward as their periodic counterparts. However, Agrawal and his colleagues have developed a simple model for designing these devices. Lead author Matthew Davis explained, "this model allows us to quickly predict the optical response of these aperiodic designs without relying on time-consuming numerical approximation, thereby greatly decreasing the design time so we can focus on device fabrication and testing."

The work described in the new paper was conducted at NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology.

Paper: M.S. Davis, W. Zhu, T. Xu, J.K. Lee, H.J. Lezec and A. Agrawal, Aperiodic nanoplasmonic devices for directional colour filtering and sensing. Nature Communications. Published online 7 November 2017. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01268-y
NASA scientists, who always are on the hunt for new platforms from which to carry out their research, now may avail themselves of two agency-developed unmanned aerial systems, or UASs, that some say represent the future for drone aircraft.

Unlike most commercially available unmanned aircraft systems, Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 and Black Swift Technologies' S2 small Unmanned Aircraft System, or sUAS, purposely were designed for scientific investigations.

Both provide one-of-a-kind capabilities that represent a significant success for NASA's Small Business Innovative Research, or SBIR, program, which funded their development, said Geoff Bland, a research engineer at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

"Our goal always is to advance state-of-the-art airborne capabilities and platforms tailored to the needs of our scientists," said Bland, who oversaw the aircrafts' development. "The SBIR program offered us an outstanding venue for engaging small businesses in our quest to develop new tools for gathering scientific data."

Now operational after months of development, the aircraft are offering the scientific community complementary, easy-to-use capabilities at a lower cost.

To Antarctica and Back

Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 provides a case in point.

Smaller than NASA's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft, which requires a relatively large team to operate, the VA001 can carry 35 pounds of payload and fly at 500 to 15,000 feet above sea level. Its primary attraction -- and the reason NASA funded its development through the SBIR program -- is its ability to carry out research over the most forbidding locations on Earth. It can cover thousands of square miles of treacherous terrain and bone-chilling temperatures of -40-degrees Fahrenheit in a single flight.

It runs on jet-grade fuel, which contains corrosion inhibitors and anti-icing additives crucial to operations in the Arctic or Antarctica. "It was an important part of the aircraft's design to fly under the toughest and coldest conditions," said Joe Famiglietti, the technology-infusion manager for Goddard's SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Since NASA's initial SBIR investment in the aircraft's development, the Virginia-based Vanilla Aircraft has garnered support from the U.S. Department of Defense, or DoD, which funded a second prototype as well as test flights. In one non-stop test flight, the VA001 flew for 56 hours on a single tank of fuel, proving the aircraft could meet both NASA and DoD's needs, Bland said.

"The dream mission would be for the VA001 to leave the Wallops Flight Facility, fly over Antarctica, and then return after two days of mapping the changing ice. We could do this on demand for quick response to changing phenomena over the poles," Bland said.

Packed and Ready to Go

The Colorado-based Black Swift offers a completely different set of capabilities with its sUAS. The company originally developed the aircraft to fit inside a vehicle trunk, take off anywhere, and fly up to 90 minutes over 705 acres, with a full payload.

"The company did more than just develop a unique aircraft," Famiglietti said. The company also integrated a specialized radiometer developed by the University of Colorado in a partnership with Black Swift. Its miniature antennas are used to detect proportions of energy reflected from the objects over which the sUAS flies.

Scientists can use the energy readings, along with other aircraft sensors, to differentiate between water contained within the soil or vegetation. With this data, NASA scientists can better understand soil-moisture levels and ground-truth NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite data that scientists use to monitor drought, predict flooding, and assist in crop productivity.

Because the sUAS has a modular "plug-and-fly" instrument capability and can be toted to virtually any location, its use is not restricted to soil-moisture measurements, however.

NASA scientist Miguel Roman at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland now is using the sUAS to map vegetation and climate dynamics under a pathfinding mission called MALIBU, short for the Multi Angle Imaging Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function sUAS.

In 2016, his team integrated MALIBU's two multispectral imagers onto the platform at different angles to precisely match the viewing geometry of polar-orbiting satellite images. It proved so effective that he and his team have acquired a second platform, Roman said.

The aircraft is continually evolving, and will be able to observe volcanic plumes in the future, said Black Swift Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jack Elston, a MALIBU partner.

"Through NASA's SBIR program, we are enabling new types of science," Bland said. "These aircraft represent the future."

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For more Goddard technology news, go to: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/fall_2017_final_lowrez.pdf
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite measured cloud top temperatures as it passed over Tropical Depression 29W and found some disorganized storms.

On Nov. 7 at 2:12 a.m. EST (0712 UTC) NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Depression 29W when it was in the Gulf of Thailand and measured cloud-top temperatures. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an infrared image of the storm that revealed the location of coldest cloud top temperatures and strongest storms were east of the center. VIIRS data showed cloud top temperatures of strong thunderstorms as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius), but the storms were not organized. Since Suomi NPP's overpass, the storms appeared weaker and remain disorganized.

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that 29W's close proximity to the Malay Peninsula is cutting off moisture inflow and inhibiting further development.

At 10 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) Tropical Depression 29W was located near 11.3 degrees north latitude and 99.9 degrees east longitude. That places the center of circulation about 150 nautical miles south of Bangkok, Thailand, 29W has tracked north-northwestward at 7 knots (8 mph/13 kph). Maximum sustained winds were near 25 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph).

29W is moving northwest and will cross the Malay Peninsula near just south of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand and weaken into a remnant low pressure area. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that the depression will exit into the Andaman Sea and regain tropical depression status, but that is expected to be short-lived. Once 29W crosses the northern Andaman Islands it will again weaken.

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This week, publication of a special issue on Advances in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Cure begins in PLOS Medicine, advised by guest editors Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Steven Deeks of the University of California San Francisco, USA; and Sharon Lewin of the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia.

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most critical health challenges, with around 36.7 million people living with HIV and an estimated 1.8 million new infections in 2016. Although progress in research, care, advocacy and donor funding has brought antiretroviral therapy to some 19.5 million people, AIDS-related illnesses continue to claim a million lives annually. The special issue will feature research and discussion articles aimed at advancing progress against HIV/AIDS, with ambitious global goals seeking to bring the epidemic under control by 2020.

In a Research Article, Samantha Kaplan of Yale School of Medicine, USA and colleagues report on almost 40,000 participants in an established antiretroviral programme in Khayelitsha township in South Africa, where maintaining long-term care--required for consistent viral suppression--is an important issue. About a quarter of patients were estimated to have disengaged from treatment in a 2-year period, but some 33% of these patients re-engaged in care. In a further research paper, Tonia Poteat, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA and colleagues describe behavioural and psychosocial factors associated with HIV infection in two key populations at elevated risk--transgender women and men who have sex with men, across 8 African countries.

In a research paper reporting on Link4Health, a cluster-randomized trial in Swaziland, Margaret McNairy of ICAP, Columbia University, New York, USA and colleagues describe the effect of a combined intervention comprising 5 evidence-based methods aimed at improving HIV linkage to and retention in care, including point-of-care testing, accelerated initiation of antiretroviral therapy and non-cash incentives. With a primary trial outcome of combined linkage to care at 1 month and retention in care at 12 months, McNairy and colleagues report substantial benefits for people with HIV as compared with standard care (adjusted relative risk 1.52, 95% CI 1.19-1.96).

In a Perspective article, Wafaa El-Sadr, also of ICAP in New York, and colleagues discuss the need for differentiated approaches to HIV prevention and care, tailored to the needs of specific groups of people (such as pregnant women or sex workers) and the relevant health care settings.

Turning to the long-term consequences of HIV infection, in another Research Article Mark Boyd of the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia and colleagues report analyses from D:A:D, a large multinational study focusing on comorbidities and the adverse effects of antiretroviral treatment. Boyd and colleagues assess the risks of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease by predicted 5-year risk scores in people with HIV infection. As anticipated they find elevated risks of each disease occurring together with the other--for example, people at high risk of cardiovascular disease had a 5.63 fold increase (95% CI 4.47-7.09) in risk of chronic kidney disease events compared to those at low risk. The authors report that, for people at high risk of cardiovascular and renal disease, the risk of both comorbidities was multiplicative as compared with that of people at low risk, and note that the risks for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease in people with HIV should be assessed together.

Curing HIV infection remains an elusive goal. In a further research paper, Timothy Henrich of the University of California San Francisco, USA and colleagues describe detailed analyses of two patients who received prophylactic antiretroviral treatment within an estimated 10 to 12 days of HIV infection (at which point infection had not been identified), later followed by full antiretroviral therapy with four individual drugs. Although cure was not achieved in either case, detailed analyses allow the authors to follow the sequence of events and estimate the size of the viral reservoir, to inform future efforts towards curing HIV infection.

The Special Issue will continue with further research and discussion articles appearing over the next several weeks.

Research Article (1)

Funding:

SK was supported by the National Institutes of Health Office of the Director, Fogarty International Center, Office of AIDS Research, National Cancer Center, National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, and the NIH Office of Research for Women's Health through the Fogarty Global Health Fellows Program Consortium comprised of the University of North Carolina, Johns Hopkins, Morehouse and Tulane (R25TW009340;http://globalhealth.unc.edu/ujmt-fogarty-global-health-fellowship/). GM was supported by the Wellcome Trust (098316; https://wellcome.ac.uk), the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP (SP.2011.41304.074; http://www.edctp.org), the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (Grant No 64787; http://www.nrf.ac.za/division/rcce/instruments/research-chairs), NRF incentive funding (UID: 85858; http://www.nrf.ac.za/division/kfd/instruments/incentive-funding-rated-researchers) and the South African Medical Research Council through its TB and HIV Collaborating Centres Programme with funds received from the National Department of Health (RFA# SAMRC-RFA-CC: TB/HIV/AIDS-01-2014). AB was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 HD080465, U01 AI069924; http://nih.gov) and National Research Foundation (NRF) incentive funding (http://www.nrf.ac.za/division/kfd/instruments/incentive-funding-rated-researchers). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests:

The authors have read the journal's policy and declare the following competing interests: MO does not have any competing interests that would influence this paper, but does work with the team developing the software used to collect the source data whose guidance and mentorship to the national government are for the benefit of all public health facilities using the software, not just those facilities that are contributing to this paper. This is a non-commercial entity. The other authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation:

Kaplan SR, Oosthuizen C, Stinson K, Little F, Euvrard J, Schomaker M, et al. (2017) Contemporary disengagement from antiretroviral therapy in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A cohort study. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002407. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002407

Author Affiliations:

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Medecins Sans Frontieres (Southern Africa Medical Unit), Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Health, Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

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Research Article (2)

Funding:

Work in Togo and Burkina Faso was supported by Project SEARCH, which was funded by the US Agency for International Development under Contract GHH-I-00-07-00032-00 and by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Work in Cote d'Ivoire was funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through the Government of Cote d'Ivoire National AIDS Control Program (PNPEC) contract to Enda Sante, an organization based in Senegal, and subcontracted for technical assistance to Johns Hopkins University. Work in Lesotho was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID, AID-674-A-00-00001), and implemented by Population Services International/Lesotho (PSI). Work in Swaziland was funded by PEPFAR through the USAID Swaziland (GHH-I-00-07-00032-00). Finally, this publication was made possible with help from the Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research, an NIH funded program (P30AI094189), which is supported by the following NIH Cofunding and Participating Institutes and Centers: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Fogarty International Center (FIC), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the Office of AIDS Research (OAR). Efforts for this publication were also supported by National Institutes of Mental Health and Office of AIDS Research of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01MH110358. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests:

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation:

Poteat T, Ackerman B, Diouf D, Ceesay N, Mothopeng T, Odette K-Z, et al. (2017) HIV prevalence and behavioral and psychosocial factors among transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men in 8 African countries: A cross-sectional analysis. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002422. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002422

Author Affiliations:

Epidemiology Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Biostatistics Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Enda Sante, Dakar, Senegal; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS Country Office, Mbabane, Swaziland; People's Matrix Association, Maseru, Lesotho; Programme d'Appui au Monde Associatif et Communautaire, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Institut Africain de Sante Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; ONG Arc-en-Ciel, Lome, Togo; Ministere de la Sante et de l'Hygiene Publique, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Health Research Department, Strategic Information Division, Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland; Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi; Social, Health, and Empowerment Feminist Collective of Transgender Women of Africa, East London, South Africa; Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi

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Research Article (3)

Funding:

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NIH Award Number: RO1A1100059, and the Gates Foundation OPP1145477. No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests:

The authors have declared that no competing interests exists.

Citation:

McNairy ML, Lamb MR, Gachuhi AB, Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha H, Burke S, Mazibuko S, et al. (2017) Effectiveness of a combination strategy for linkage and retention in adult HIV care in Swaziland: The Link4Health cluster randomized trial. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002420

Author Affiliations:

ICAP at Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Swaziland, Mbabane, Swaziland; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America

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Perspective

Funding:

The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Competing Interests:

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation:

El-Sadr WM, Harripersaud K, Rabkin M (2017) Reaching global HIV/AIDS goals: What got us here, won't get us there. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002421. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002421

Author Affiliations:

ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, United States

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Research Article (4)

Funding:

Data on Adverse Events (D:A:D) Study:The D:A:D study was supported by the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Oversight Committee (HAARTOC), a collaborative committee with representation from academic institutions, the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, the United States Food and Drug Administration, the patient community, and pharmaceutical companies with licensed anti-HIV drugs in the European Union: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences Inc., ViiV Healthcare, Merck & Co Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Supported also by a grant [grant number DNRF126] from the Danish National Research Foundation (CHIP & PERSIMUNE); by a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport through the Center for Infectious Disease Control of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment to Stiching HIV Monitoring (ATHENA); by a grant from the Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hepatites virales [ANRS, Action Coordonnee no.7, Cohortes] to the Aquitaine Cohort; The Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD) is funded as part of the Asia Pacific HIV Observational Database, a program of The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, and is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [grant number U01-AI069907] and by unconditional grants from Merck Sharp & Dohme; Gilead Sciences; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Boehringer Ingelheim; Janssen-Cilag; ViiV Healthcare. The Kirby Institute is funded by The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales; by grants from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria [grant number FIS 99/0887] and Fundacion para la Investigacion y la Prevencion del SIDA en Espana [grant number FIPSE 3171/00], to the Barcelona Antiretroviral Surveillance Study (BASS); by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health [grants number 5U01AI042170-10, 5U01AI046362-03], to the Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA); by primary funding provided by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under EuroCoord grant agreement n 260694 and unrestricted grants by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen R&D, Merck and Co. Inc., Pfizer Inc., GlaxoSmithKline LLC, (the participation of centres from Switzerland is supported by The Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant 108787)) to the EuroSIDA study; by unrestricted educational grants of AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals to the Italian Cohort Naive to Antiretrovirals (The ICONA Foundation); and financed within the framework of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant #148522) and by the SHCS research foundation. No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests:

I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: MB has received research grants, paid to his institution from Merck Sharp & Dohme and Gilead Sciences. MB has also received honoraria for participation on HIV advisory boards and preparation and delivery of educational materials from Gilead Sciences, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme and ViiV Healthcare. AM has received honoraria, travel support, speaker fees and consultancy fees from ViiV, BMS, BI, Gilead, and Wragge LLC; AP received speaker fees for a 2015 conference for Gilead Sciences; ML has received unrestricted research grants, paid to his institution, from Boehringer Ingelhiem, Gilead Sciences, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, ViiV HealthCare; ML has also received consultancy and presentation fees from Gilead Sciences, and DSMB sitting fees from Sirtex Pty Ltd; PR through his institution has received independent scientific grant support from Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, Merck & Co, Bristol-Myers Squibb and ViiV Healthcare; PR has served on a scientific advisory board for Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare, as well as on a data safety monitoring committee for Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, and has chaired a scientific symposium by ViiV and received remuneration; CS's institution has received a grant from the D:A:D Oversight Committee for the analysis and co-ordination of the D:A:D Study; CS has also received personal fees from Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare and Janssen-Cilag for the membership of Data Safety and Monitoring Boards, Advisory Boards, Speaker Panels and for the preparation of educational materials.

Citation:

Boyd MA, Mocroft A, Ryom L, Monforte Ad, Sabin C, El-Sadr WM, et al. (2017) Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) event rates in HIV-positive persons at high predicted CVD and CKD risk: A prospective analysis of the D:A:D observational study. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002424. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002424

Author Affiliations:

Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Clinica di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliera-Polo Universitario San Paolo, Milan, Italy; ICAP at Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Division of Infectious Diseases, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Universite de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Bordeaux Population Health, INSERM U1219, Universite de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France,; Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherland; HIV Monitoring Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Research Article (5)

Funding:

This research was supported as part of the amfAR Institute for HIV Cure Research (amfAR 109301), the Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE; AI096109 and A127966), NIH-NIAID R33 (AI116205; TJH), and NIH-NIAID (AI098480; TJH). The SCOPE cohort was also supported by the UCSF/Gladstone Institute of Virology & Immunology CFAR (P30 AI027763) and by NIH ORIP (K01 OD018244, KMP), R01AI120024 (JNB), and 1R01DK108349-01 (SAY). This research was also supported by the Collaboratory for AIDS Research on Eradication (CARE; U19 AI096113 and 1UM1AI126619), the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory (1UM1Al126620), the UCSD CFAR (AI306214), the Department of Veterans Affairs (1 IK2CX000520-01, SAY), the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust, intramural funding to the National Cancer Institute, and by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. subcontract 12XS547 (JWM). No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests:

I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: AYL has led trials in which Gilead has donated study drug. SEC was the protocol co-chair and a site principle investigator of the US PrEP demonstration project for which Gilead donated study drug. JWM has share options in C0-Crystal, Inc; is on the scientific advisory board for Gilead Sciences; and has received research funding from Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Abbott Molecular. SGD declares the research group has received external funding to support our research from ViiV, Gilead, and Merck. He is also a guest editor for the PLOS Medicine special issue on Advances in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Cure. DRK is a consultant, research support and speaker for Gilead; a consultant for Janssen; a consultant, research support and speaker for Merck; a consultant and research support for ViiV.

Citation:

Henrich TJ, Hatano H, Bacon O, Hogan LE, Rutishauser R, Hill A, et al. (2017) HIV-1 persistence following extremely early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute HIV-1 infection: An observational study. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002417. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002417

Author Affiliations:

Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America; Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America; San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America; Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America; The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Center for AIDS Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Centre de Recherche du CHUM and Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America; University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America; Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, United States of America; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, United States of America; University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, Unites States of America

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More than 80 percent of immigrants residing in the U.S. without authorization near the California-Mexico border have a lifetime history of traumatic events, according to a new study from a psychologist at Rice University. Nearly 50 percent of these immigrants suffer from clinically significant psychological distress.

"One Scar Too Many:" The Associations Between Traumatic Events and Psychological Distress Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants" will appear in an upcoming edition of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. This is the first study to provide population-based estimates for the prevalence of traumatic events and the association to clinically significant psychological distress among Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization.

Luz Garcini, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Rice and the study's lead author, sought to assess the prevalence of traumatic events among this population and to identify the prevalence of psychological distress associated with these events.

Overall, 82 percent of the participants interviewed reported a history of traumatic events, from being victims of or witnessing violence to living in poverty. About a third of the participants reported a history of at least six or more different types of traumatic events. Among those with a history of traumatic events, there was a high prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress -- 47 percent. Fifty-nine percent of participants with this psychological distress reported a history of domestic violence or bodily injury, 56 percent said they had witnessed violence toward others, 55 percent reported material deprivation -- the inability of individuals or households to afford consumption of goods and activities that are typical in a society at a given point in time -- and 53 percent said they had witnessed injury of their loved ones. Garcini said differences in psychological distress were not significant between males and females.

"Our findings are alarming," she said. "The prevalence of traumatic events among undocumented immigrants in our study is much higher compared with estimates for other U.S. populations. Of primary concern is that the current socio-political climate and punitive actions against the undocumented community, such as the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, may increase risk of exposure to traumatic events among these immigrants without access to needed services or legal protection."

Garcini hopes the research will encourage the development and provision of culturally and contextually sensitive prevention and treatment interventions, as well as policy efforts to protect the human rights of this immigrant population.

"Revisiting immigration policies to devise solutions grounded in evidence and advocating support mechanisms aimed at protecting the human rights of this immigrant population are essential to prevent the negative consequences of trauma for these immigrants and the broader communities in Mexico and the U.S.," Garcini said.

The study included 248 Mexican immigrants (172 women and 76 men) living in high-risk neighborhoods near the California-Mexico border. (The city where the study was conducted is listed among the most conservative U.S. cities with strong opposition and disciplinary actions against undocumented immigrants. Because of this, Garcini said, the area is considered high-risk for undocumented immigrants.) The majority of participants ranged between the ages of 18 and 45, and approximately 20 percent were older than 45 years of age. Participants had lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years.

The participants took part in clinical interviews conducted by psychology doctoral trainees under the supervision of mental health clinicians. The interviews were assessed using an adapted version of the Traumatic Events Inventory of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, which is designed to assess traumatic experiences among at-risk immigrants.

"This information is only the tip of the iceberg," Garcini said. "Additional research and funding are needed to document the devastating effects of contextual stress and trauma on the health of undocumented immigrants, which is key to inform advocacy, policy and intervention efforts."

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The study was funded by the Ford Fellowship Foundation.

For more information, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 713-348-6777 or amym@rice.edu.

This news release can be found online at http://news.rice.edu/.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

Rice University Department of Psychology: https://psychology.rice.edu/

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,879 undergraduates and 2,861 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for quality of life and for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for happiest students by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview.
Pregnant women exposed to higher levels of a common environmental pollutant, perchlorate, had lower levels of a thyroid hormone crucial for normal foetal brain development, according to a study presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Harrogate. These findings suggest that exposure to this common chemical should be minimised in pregnant women to prevent potential neurodevelopmental abnormalities in children.

Perchlorate is a common environmental pollutant found in water, milk, some foods and everyday chemicals, including fertilisers and air bags. Perchlorate is known to reduce absorption of iodine from the blood into the thyroid, where iodine is needed to make the thyroid hormone, T4. Since T4 is essential for normal foetal brain development, this suggests that perchlorate exposure could decrease maternal thyroid hormone levels, which may lead to brain development defects in babies.

In order to investigate the impact of perchlorate exposure on maternal thyroid hormone levels, Professor Bijay Vaidya and his team measured the levels of perchlorate in urine samples and thyroid hormone levels in blood samples from healthy, pregnant women. The team found that higher perchlorate levels were associated with lower levels of thyroid hormones. These data were gathered in the South West of England but mirror data reported from other parts of the world.

Prof Vaidya comments, "This study adds to the growing body of evidence that exposure to the environmental pollutant, perchlorate, is widespread and may have deleterious health outcomes."

Although further studies are required to confirm that perchlorate exposure in pregnant women can lead to impaired neurological development in offspring, these findings suggest that public health initiatives should be put in place to reduce perchlorate exposure, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women. Furthermore, the possible health impacts of perchlorate exposure on the healthy population remain uncertain and should also be investigated.

Prof Vaidya concludes, "These findings are important because we know that optimum thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy are essential for normal foetal brain development, and this study shows that this common pollutant may be adversely affecting brain development in children."

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Abstract

OC3.1

Perchlorate exposure affects thyroid function in third trimester pregnant women from South-West England

Bridget Knight1,2, Beverley Shields1, Elizabeth Pearce3, Lewis Braverman3, Xuemei He3, Rachel Sturley4, Bijay Vaidya5

1. NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, UK, Exeter, United Kingdom, 2. Royal Devon & Exeter NHS FT, R&D Department, Exeter, United Kingdom, 3Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA, 4Centre for Women's Health, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom, 5Department of Endocrinology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom

Introduction: Iodine is important for thyroid hormone synthesis, and iodine deficiency in pregnancy may impair foetal neurological development. Perchlorate, found in some foods and everyday chemicals (e.g. fertilisers) and thiocyanate, which is found in cigarette smoke, decrease the transport of iodine from the circulation to the thyroid cells by inhibiting the sodium-iodide symporter. Environmental exposure to these substances during pregnancy may result in reduced thyroid hormone synthesis. Therefore, we aimed to explore the impact of perchlorate and thiocyanate exposure on thyroid status in a cohort of pregnant mothers from South-West England.

Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 308 women participating in a study of breech presentation in late pregnancy. They had no known thyroid disease and a singleton pregnancy at 36-38 weeks gestation. Samples were analysed for urinary concentrations of iodine (UIC), perchlorate (UPC) and thiocyanate (UTC). Blood samples were taken for free T4 (FT4), thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab). Baseline data included: age, parity, smoking status, ethnicity, BMI at booking. Variables were assessed for normality and natural log transformed where appropriate.

Results: Participants had a mean (SD) age 31(5) years, median (IQR) BMI 24.4(22.0, 28.3) kg/m2, and median (IQR) UIC 88 (55, 158) mcg/l. 42% were primiparous, 10% were smokers, and 96% were Caucasian. Log transformed UPC was negatively correlated with FT4 in the whole cohort (n= 308, r= -0.12, p=0.03) and in the subgroup of women with UIC <100 mcg/l (n=174, r= -0.15, p=0.04). Regression analysis with the potential confounders, smoking, TPO-Ab status, UIC and UTC, identified UPC to be negatively associated with FT4 (p= 0.04). UPC was not associated with TSH, and UTC was not associated with FT4 or TSH.

Conclusion: Environmental perchlorate exposure is negatively associated with circulating FT4 levels in third trimester pregnant women. This may have an adverse impact on neurocognitive development of the fetus.?
La Jolla, Calif., November 7, 2016 -- Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a new protective function for a brain protein genetically linked to Alzheimer's. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could inform novel treatment strategies.

"We found that a protein called SORLA directly limits the ability of amyloid beta, the toxic protein that causes Alzheimer's, to trigger the destruction of neuronal connections," says Huaxi Xu, Ph.D., professor and the Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair of SBP's Neuroscience and Aging Research Center. (SORLA stands for sortilin-related receptor with LDLR class A repeats.) "This is actually the third way that SORLA has been shown to defend against neurodegeneration."

"It's becoming increasingly clear that the SORLA gene has a major influence on Alzheimer's development--more and more Alzheimer's-associated mutations in the SORLA gene are being discovered," Xu adds. "Our findings help explain why they are so important."

SORLA is one of many genes in which mutations are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's, which affects 5.5 million people in the U.S. The biggest risk factor is age--as the average life expectancy increases, the number of people with Alzheimer's is expected to almost triple by 2050.

Alzheimer's begins when amyloid beta aggregates into small clusters outside neurons. Those clusters, called oligomers, induce toxic signaling that damages the connections between synapses so that neurons can no longer talk to one another. Synapse loss is the reason Alzheimer's patients develop memory problems.

Xu and his collaborators suspected that SORLA--a trafficking protein that shuttles molecules between cellular compartments--might help protect against amyloid beta induced toxic signaling based on their prior observations. SORLA has already been shown to counteract production of amyloid beta and eliminate it from the space around neurons.

Xu's team recently reported that SORLA physically interacts with EphA4, one of the receptors through which amyloid beta provokes synaptic dysfunction. (EphA4 exists primarily to control the wiring of neuronal networks as the brain develops and regulate the behavior of synapses in the adult brain.)

In this study, Xu's team established that SORLA could mitigate the toxic EphA4 signaling caused by amyloid beta. They also showed that increasing levels of SORLA in mice reduced cognitive impairments caused by amyloid beta.

"These observations suggest that early-stage Alzheimer's could be treated with drugs that increase levels of SORLA, or that enhance its interaction with EphA4," comments Xu. "We're currently searching for drugs that have either of these effects.

"The researchers also found that EphA4 is over-activated in brain tissue from Alzheimer's patients, and that over-activation correlates with decreased binding to SORLA, demonstrating the relevance of this discovery to human disease.

"Our study also provides support to explore EphA4 inhibitors as Alzheimer's therapeutics," Xu notes. "There's preclinical data from disease models suggesting they have some efficacy."

"SORLA is becoming a hot topic in Alzheimer's research. No other protein has yet been found to influence Alzheimer's pathogenesis in so many ways. And it may do even more--we plan to explore whether it modulates other cell surface amyloid beta receptors such as the cellular prion protein and the NMDA receptor."

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Co-authors of the paper include Timothy Huang (lead author, SBP) Yingjun Zhao (co-lead author, SBP), Lu-lin Jiang (SBP), Xiaoguang Li (SBP), Yan Liu (SBP and Medical College at Xiamen University, China), Yu Sun (SBP), Juan Pina-Crespo (SBP), Bing Zhu (SBP), Elena Pasquale (SBP and UC San Diego) Eliezer Masliah (UC San Diego) Thomas E. Willnow (Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine.)

Financial support was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer's Association, the Tanz Family Foundation, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, and the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

About SBP

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) is an independent nonprofit medical research organization that conducts world-class, collaborative, biological research and translates its discoveries for the benefit of patients. SBP focuses its research on cancer, immunity, neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders and rare children's diseases. The Institute invests in talent, technology and partnerships to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries that will have the greatest impact on patients. Recognized for its world-class NCI-designated Cancer Center and the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, SBP employs about 1,100 scientists and staff in San Diego (La Jolla), Calif., and Orlando (Lake Nona), Fla. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery.
Vision scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Toronto have discovered that naturally occurring molecules known as lipid mediators have the potential to halt the progression of glaucoma, the world's second-leading cause of blindness.

Their findings, to be published Nov. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, mark a major step forward in the pursuit of a cure for glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease in which fluid buildup in the frontal eye causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

At present, there is no cure for glaucoma, which is estimated to affect 80 million people worldwide.

"Not only could this discovery lead to drugs to treat glaucoma, but the same mechanism, and options for prevention, may be applicable to other neurodegenerative diseases," said study senior author Karsten Gronert, professor of optometry and chair of vision science at UC Berkeley.

Using rodent models, Gronert and fellow researchers found that inflammation-regulating lipid mediators known as lipoxins, secreted from star-shaped cells known as astrocytes, stopped the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in rats and mice with glaucoma. Ganglion cells are the neurons of the retina and optic nerve that receive information from photoreceptors.

"We've taken something everyone assumed was anti-inflammatory, and found that these same small molecules play a key role in neuroprotection, which is really exciting," said study co-senior author John Flanagan, dean and professor of optometry. Much of the study was conducted at UC Berkeley.

Specifically, researchers found that astrocytes, which help maintain brain function and form the nerve fiber layer of the retina and optic nerve, release therapeutic biological agents known as lipoxins A4 and B4, but only when the astrocytes are at rest and maintaining nerve function.

"It is commonly assumed that astrocytes activated by injuries release stress signals that kill off ganglion cells in the retina, causing optic nerve damage," said Flanagan. "However, our research discovered that astrocytes that are triggered by injury actually turn off novel neuroprotective signals that prevent optic nerve damage."

Researchers discovered secretions of lipoxins A4 and B4 in resting astrocytes in culture in the retina and optic nerve head. To test their potential as a treatment, they administered the lipoxins to rodents eight weeks after the onset of glaucoma-like damage and neurodegeneration.

At 16 weeks, they gauged electrical activity in the rodents' ganglion cells, among other measures, and found that lipoxin B4 in particular stopped the cells' degeneration.

"This little-known lipid mediator has shown the potential to reverse cell death," Gronert said. "We know of no drug that can do this."

For decades, pharmaceutical companies have searched for neuroprotective drugs to treat glaucoma and other disorders marked by the death of nerve cells such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS. Glaucoma is by far the most prevalent of these neurodegenerative diseases.

"At the same time, lipoxins have been explored as promising drug targets for treating inflammatory diseases, but nobody has been looking at them as being neuroprotective," Gronert said.

At present, the treatment option for glaucoma is to lower ocular pressure, but there are no effective treatments for preventing or stopping the neurodegeneration of glaucoma, which is irreversible and eventually leads to blindness, Flanagan said

The study authors are excited at the prospect of further investigations into the therapeutic benefits and mechanisms of lipoxins A4 and B4 and their potential to stop or reverse neural damage. They have jointly filed a patent application for use of lipoxin A4 and B4 to treat glaucoma and neurodegenerative diseases. Their eventual goal is to test the lipoxins as drugs in humans.

"These naturally occurring small lipids have great potential as therapies because they may play a fundamental role in preventing other neurodegenerative diseases. And that's hugely significant, " Flanagan said.

In addition to Flanagan and Gronert, Jeremy Sivak, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, is a senior author on the study. The study's co-lead authors are Izhar Livne-Bar of the University of Toronto and Jessica Wei and Hsin-Hua Liu of UC Berkeley. Other co-authors are Samih Alqawlaq, Gah-Jone Won and Alessandra Tuccitto of the University of Toronto

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Chinese team to hold railway studies

A visiting Chinese delegation has expressed positive stance on development of Nepal-China cross border railway connectivity.
The University of Cincinnati's discovery of a rare Minoan sealstone in the treasure-laden tomb of a Bronze Age Greek warrior promises to rewrite the history of ancient Greek art.

In the more than two years since University of Cincinnati researchers unearthed the 3,500-year-old tomb of a Bronze Age warrior in southwest Greece, an incredible trove of riches has emerged, including four gold signet rings that have challenged accepted wisdom among archaeologists about the origins of Greek civilization.

But that wasn't the only secret hidden there beneath the hard-baked clay. It would take another year before the so-called "Griffin Warrior" revealed his most stunning historical offering yet: an intricately carved gem, or sealstone, that UC researchers say is one of the finest works of prehistoric Greek art ever discovered.

The "Pylos Combat Agate," as the seal has come to be known for the fierce hand-to-hand battle it portrays, promises not only to rewrite the history of ancient Greek art, but to help shed light on myth and legend in an era of Western civilization still steeped in mystery.

The seal is the latest and most significant treasure to emerge from the treasure-laden tomb of the Griffin Warrior, which was hailed as the most spectacular archaeological discovery in Greece in more than half a century when it was uncovered in an olive grove near the ancient city of Pylos in 2015.

The remarkably undisturbed and intact grave revealed not only the well-preserved remains of what is believed to have been a powerful Mycenaean warrior or priest buried around 1500 B.C., but also an incredible trove of burial riches that serve as a time capsule into the origins of Greek civilization.

But the tomb didn't readily reveal its secrets. It took conservation experts more than a year to clean the limestone-encrusted seal, say dig leaders Shari Stocker, a senior research associate in UC's Department of Classics, and Jack Davis, the university's Carl W. Blegen professor of Greek archaeology and department head.

As the intricate details of the seal's design emerged, the researchers were shocked to discover they had unearthed no less than a masterpiece.

"Looking at the image for the first time was a very moving experience, and it still is," said Stocker. "It's brought some people to tears." Davis and Stocker say the Pylos Combat Agate's craftsmanship and exquisite detail make it the finest discovered work of glyptic art produced in the Aegean Bronze Age.

"What is fascinating is that the representation of the human body is at a level of detail and musculature that one doesn't find again until the classical period of Greek art 1,000 years later," explained Davis. "It's a spectacular find."

Even more extraordinary, the husband-and-wife team point out, is that the meticulously carved combat scene was painstakingly etched on a piece of hard stone measuring just 3.6 centimeters, or just over 1.4 inches, in length. Indeed, many of the seal's details, such as the intricate weaponry ornamentation and jewelry decoration, become clear only when viewed with a powerful camera lens and photomicroscopy.

"Some of the details on this are only a half-millimeter big," said Davis. "They're incomprehensibly small."

The miniature masterpiece portrays a victorious warrior who, having already vanquished one unfortunate opponent sprawled at his feet, now turns his attention to another much more formidable foe, plunging his sword into the shielded man's exposed neck in what is sure to be a final and fatal blow.

It's a scene that conjures the sweeping and epic battles, larger-than-life heroes and grand adventures of Homer's "The Iliad," the epic Greek poem that immortalized a mythological decade-long war between the Trojan and Mycenaean kingdoms. While the researchers can't say that the image was intended to reflect a Homeric epic, the scene undoubtedly reflects a legend that was well known to Minoans and Mycenaeans, says Stocker.

"It would have been a valuable and prized possession, which certainly is representative of the Griffin Warrior's role in Mycenaean society," she explained. "I think he would have certainly identified himself with the hero depicted on the seal."

Though the seal and other burial riches found within the tomb suggest the Griffin Warrior held an esteemed position in Mycenaean society, that so many of the artifacts are Minoan-made raises intriguing questions about his culture.

Scholarly consensus has long theorized that mainlander Mycenaeans simply imported or robbed such riches from the affluent Minoan civilization on the large island of Crete, southeast of Pylos. Although the Minoans were culturally dominant to the Greek mainlanders, the civilization fell to the Mycenaeans around 1500-1400 B.C. -- roughly the same time period in which the Griffin Warrior died.

In a series of presentations and a paper published last year, Davis and Stocker revealed that the discovery of four gold signet rings bearing highly detailed Minoan iconography, along with other Minoan-made riches found within the tomb, indicates a far greater and complex cultural interchange took place between the Mycenaeans and Minoans.

But the skill and sophistication of the Pylos Combat Agate is unparalleled by anything uncovered before from the Minoan-Mycenaean world, say the researchers. And that raises a bigger question: How does this change our understanding of Greek art in the Bronze Age?

"It seems that the Minoans were producing art of the sort that no one ever imagined they were capable of producing," explained Davis. "It shows that their ability and interest in representational art, particularly movement and human anatomy, is beyond what it was imagined to be. Combined with the stylized features, that itself is just extraordinary."

The revelation, he and Stocker say, prompts a reconsideration of the evolution and development of Greek art.

"This seal should be included in all forthcoming art history texts, and will change the way that prehistoric art is viewed," said Stocker.

Stocker and Davis will present findings from the Pylos Combat Agate in a paper to be published later this month in the journal Hesperia.

Meanwhile, work continues in unlocking the full mysteries of the Griffin Warrior's tomb. Davis and Stocker, along with other UC staff specialists and students, have altogether catalogued more than 3,000 burial objects discovered in the grave, some of which are still in the process of being cleaned and preserved.

"There will be many more surprises to come, for sure," said Davis.

In the spring of 2016, a UC-based team made a rich and rare discovery of an intact, Bronze Age warrior's tomb dating back to about 1500 B.C. in the Pylos region of Greece. The Greek Culture Ministry declared the find the "most important to have been discovered [in continental Greece] in 65 years" by the Greek Culture Ministry.

The tomb revealed a remarkably intact skeleton, which UC researchers dubbed the "Griffin Warrior" for the discovery of an ivory plaque adorned with a griffin -- a mythical beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle -- buried with him.

The 3,500-year-old shaft grave also revealed more than 3,000 objects arrayed on and around the warrior's body, including four solid gold rings, silver cups, precious stone beads, fine-toothed ivory combs and an intricately built sword, among other weapons.

###
Research by experts at The University of Nottingham suggests that current injection techniques in UK dairy cattle need to change to avoid the risk of nerve injury.

The study, carried out by a team of vets with anatomical, pathological and clinical expertise, discovered that current methods of injection are more likely to damage the sciatic nerve - particularly in dairy cattle with a low body condition score, such as those cows who have recently calved.

Cattle farmers are facing major challenges in remaining profitable while maintaining the high standards of animal welfare demanded by retailers and consumers. If the recommendation from this research is used by farmers and vets it will contribute to further improve dairy cattle welfare.

Dr Wendela Wapenaar, Associate Professor of Farm Animal Health and Epidemiology, led the project at the University's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

She said: "Improving animal welfare is one of our key aims as vets, and for a long time I have been wanting to answer the question around the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve when injecting dairy cattle in this gluteal region.

"Our study confirms a high risk of damaging this nerve when injecting cows in the gluteal region (the rump or back end of the cow). In beef cattle, farmers and vets are already avoiding this region because of the value of the primal cut meat, however in dairy cattle this site is still used because of convenience.

"In our experiment, we asked anyone who had injected cattle in the gluteal region before to inject the left and right gluteal region in a cadaver, as if it were 'a normal cow'. To our surprise, 69 per cent of participants injected within 5cm from the sciatic nerve and several participants injected right onto the sciatic nerve. We also discovered that the nerve was a lot wider than ever before reported in textbooks; in the gluteal region, the nerve was 3.5 to 4.5cm wide, making it more difficult to avoid. The depth of the nerve was variable; the shallowest point between the skin surface and nerve was only 2.5cm; this depth was dependent on the cow's body condition."

This research was carried out as part of a veterinary undergraduate research module and started in 2015. Research projects such as these offer third-year veterinary students an opportunity to explore veterinary research and discover their career possibilities in this field.

Dr Wapenaar has been working closely with Rosanna Kirkwood, an undergraduate student with a keen interest in farm animal health.

She said: "Based on our study findings, I strongly advise to inject all cattle in the neck where possible; when this is not feasible and the gluteal region is used as a site for intramuscular injection then a more lateral location should be chosen. The region between the tuber coxae (hook bone) and the tuber ischium (pin bone) has a substantial muscle mass, and there are no underlying neurological structures at risk. This small change in injection technique may prevent nerve damage and we hope farmers and vets will take this advice on, so we may see less cows with sciatic nerve damage in the future and avoid inflicting pain unnecessarily."

A video summary of the project from the Ruminant Population Health Research Group is available via the University of Nottingham You Tube channel and the full paper, Risk of Iatrogenic Damage to the Sciatic Nerve in Dairy Cattle, describing the study has been published by the Veterinary Record.

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A study revealing a connection between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and relapse in stage IV melanoma patients points to liquid biopsy as a potential predictor of patients at high risk for disease progression. CTCs, tumor cells shed into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, can lead to additional tumor growth and/or metastasis to distant sites.

Findings from the study, led by Anthony Lucci, M.D., professor of Breast Surgical Oncology and Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, will be presented at the Nov. 7 annual meeting of the Western Surgical Association.

Based on earlier studies in which Lucci found significant levels of CTCS in breast cancer, Lucci theorized that CTCs may also be present in melanoma patients.

"Optimal management of stage IV melanoma patients remains a challenge, since in spite of promising emerging therapies, many patients develop disease resistance," said Lucci. "This study, designed to determine if CTCs are associated with relapse, detected CTCs in approximately 40 percent of advanced stage melanoma patients."

The team conducted a CTC assessment through blood drawn from 93 melanoma patients at the time of stage IV diagnosis. Median follow-up was 17 months and average patient age was 55 years. CTCs were detected in 42 percent of patients at the time of blood draw. Fifty-seven of the 93 patients (61 percent) experienced disease relapse. The study showed that, within six months, 51 percent of patients who had tested positive for CTCs experienced relapse, while disease recurred in 15 percent of patients without CTCs. Over the five-year follow-up period, 82 percent of those patients who had tested positive for CTCs experienced relapse, while 46 percent of those who did not have CTCs had disease recurrence.

"Based on our findings, it is clear that stage IV melanoma cancer patients with CTCs have a significantly higher chance of relapsing or progressing as compared to those without CTCs," said Lucci. "Hopefully, in the future this information could be used to guide treatment, or select patients for treatment - or maybe stop a treatment and switch to another - when it appears it is not working."

Lucci previously led the first study of CTCs in early-stage breast cancer, which followed 302 non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Lucci's team discovered that CTCs were present in 24 percent of stage 1-3 breast cancer patients, demonstrating CTCs as an independent predictor of worse, disease free, and overall survival. The results were published in Lancet Oncology in 2012.

###

MD Anderson team members in the melanoma study included Merrick Ross, M.D., Richard Royal, M.D., Mandar Karhade, Ph.D. and Jessica Bauldry, Surgical Oncology; Carolyn Hall, Ph.D., Breast Surgery; Joshua Upshaw, Breast Surgical Oncology; and Sapna Patel, M.D., Melanoma Medical Oncology.
With climate change, Mount Rainier floral communities could 'reassemble' with new species relationships, interactions

Central to the field of ecology is the mantra that species do not exist in isolation: They assemble in communities -- and within these communities, species interact. Predators hunt prey. Parasites exploit hosts. Pollinators find flowers.

Yet these interactions are built on more than just serendipity, because species adapt over generations to environmental cues. But when conditions shift due to climate change, species might change markedly in response -- creating "reassembled" communities that might show disrupted interactions among species.

Recently, a trio of ecologists from the University of Washington witnessed such reassembly. It was by accident: They were collecting data on the subalpine wildflowers that bloom each summer on the slopes of Mount Rainier, a volcano stretching 14,411 feet high (4,392 meters) in the Cascade Range of Washington state. As they report in a paper published online on Oct. 11 in the journal Ecology, an unseasonably warm, dry summer in 2015 caused reassembly among these subalpine wildflower communities.

The conditions in 2015 gave the team -- consisting of doctoral student Elli Theobald, doctoral student Ian Breckheimer and biology professor Janneke Hille Ris Lambers -- a preview of what subalpine communities may look like by the end of this century. By then, significant climate change is expected to permanently alter environmental cues that wildflowers rely upon and make community reassembly a more common phenomenon -- with unknown consequences for species interactions in those communities.

"2015 was such an outlier that it gave us a glimpse of what this environment on Mount Rainier might be like toward the end of this century," said Theobald, who is co-lead-author on the paper with Breckheimer. "Conditions were so warm that they affected the flowering time and flowering duration of species, forming communities in 2015 that simply did not exist in the other years of our study."

Their study is one of few to demonstrate evidence for community-level reassembly among multiple species.

"These reassembled communities could potentially change the interactions among wildflowers and other species in this subalpine setting," said Theobald.

For six summers from 2010 to 2015, Theobald tracked environmental conditions and plant behavior for 48 species at 70 field plots, each one square meter, along the southern slope of Mount Rainier. The plots ranged from 1,490 to 1,901 meters in elevation. Within each plot, Theobald used sensors to record temperature, snowmelt and soil moisture content.

"At these elevations on Mount Rainier, snow is the major driver of plant behavior, because the annual cycle of flowering and reproducing cannot begin until the snow melts," said Hille Ris Lambers. "If there is snow on the ground, plants cannot photosynthesize, and if they cannot photosynthesize, they cannot grow."

When the sensors reported that snow had melted at each plot, Theobald collected data on when plants would emerge, flower and begin to produce fruit. These included species familiar to hikers such as avalanche lily, magenta paintbrush, mountain blueberry, wild huckleberry and wild lupines.

Most of these plants are perennials, which retreat underground each winter. But when snow melts, they typically have a two- to four-month window -- depending on elevation and position -- to grow, flower and produce fruit and seeds for the next generation before snow returns.

In 2015, conditions were so warm that, on average, snow began to melt at the study plots 58 days earlier than in 2010-2014. The team recorded major shifts in the bloom times of wildflower species. All of the species -- 100 percent -- flowered earlier in 2015 and 54 percent of species also lengthened their flower duration that year, some by as many as 15 days. The remaining species showed shorter flower duration, in one case by nearly 19 days, possibly due to accelerated soil drying, altered pollinator activity or other factors.

Since species shifted in different ways, conditions in 2015 produced new patterns of reassembled wildflower communities, with unknown ecological consequences.

"These are species that have always coexisted at these subalpine sites," said Theobald. "But in 2015, we saw species flowering at the same time that normally flowered weeks apart."

The team saw the most dramatic signs of reassembly among plants that normally flowered early in the summer. These plants tended to grow at sites experiencing less snowfall -- such as plots at lower elevations, or along ridges and slopes instead of coves and valleys, where snow tends to accumulate. In addition, the plants that tended to lengthen flowering duration did so if they experienced a greater number warm, photosynthetically "productive" days in 2015.

Reassembly on the scale that the researchers saw in 2015 -- and that Mount Rainier may see every year by the end of this century -- may change interactions among species. For example, plants could compete for access to pollinators, which at Mount Rainier include bumblebees, flies and hummingbirds.

"We simply don't yet have enough information to know who the 'winners' and 'losers' of reassembly will be, or even what 'winning' or 'losing' in such a scenario would look like," said Theobald.

To predict that, scientists must observe and test how ecological reassembly affects reproduction for all species in these regions -- from flowers and pollinators, to even the bears that feed on subalpine berries. These effects will also impact the people who visit these sites and try to preserve them.

"All of these interactions among species -- and how those interactions will shift due to climate change -- will affect how we manage these sites," said Hille Ris Lambers. "After all, Mount Rainier is a national park that is here for all of us, as well as the species that call it home."

###

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the University of Washington, the Mazamas and the Alpine Club. Theobald is now a postdoctoral researcher with the UW's Biology Education Research Group.

For more information, contact Theobald at ellij@uw.edu and Hille Ris Lambers at jhrl@uw.edu or (206) 543-7389.

DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1996

Grant numbers: DEB-1054012, DGE-1256082, NNX-14AC34G.

Link to full release with images: https://www.washington.edu/news/2017/11/07/with-climate-change-mount-rainier-floral-communities-could-reassemble-with-new-species-relationships-interactions/

Link to Dropbox folder containing images and video: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/36u713b3mbrpfjf/AABZcR2JBsp8poT_VthVTS9Ia?dl=0
An international team of scientists has discovered a new route to ultra-low-power transistors using a graphene-based composite material.

As transistors are squeezed into ever smaller areas within computer chips, the semiconductor industry struggles to contain overheating in devices.

Now researchers from the University of York and Roma Tre University believe the solution lies in composite materials built from monolayers of graphene and the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC).They discovered these materials could be used to achieve a fine electrical control over the electron's spin - its tiny compass needle.

The new research, published today in the journal Physical Review Letters, could lead the way to much needed low-energy consumption electronics.

Lead researcher Dr Aires Ferreira, of the University of York's Department of Physics, said: "For many years, we have been searching for good conductors allowing efficient electrical control over the electron's spin.

"We found this can be achieved with little effort when two-dimensional graphene is paired with certain semiconducting layered materials. Our calculations show that the application of small voltages across the graphene layer induces a net polarization of conduction spins.

"We believe that our predictions will attract substantial interest from the spintronics community. The flexible, atomically thin nature of the graphene-based structure is a major advantage for applications. Also, the presence of a semiconducting component opens up the possibility for integration with optical communication networks."

The electron's spin is like a tiny, point-like magnet which can point only in two directions, up or down. In materials where a major fraction of electrons' spins is aligned, a magnetic response is produced, which can be used to encode information.

'Spin currents' - built from 'up' and 'down' spins flowing in opposite directions - carry no net charge, and therefore in theory, produce no heating. The control of spin information would therefore open the path towards ultra-energy-efficient computer chips. The team of researchers showed that when a small current is passed through the graphene layer, the electrons' spin polarize in plane due to 'spin-orbital' forces brought about by the proximity to the TMDC base. They also showed that the efficiency of charge-to-spin conversion can be quite high even at room temperature.

Manuel Offidani, a PhD student with York's Department of Physics, carried out most of the complex calculations in this study. He said: "The current-induced polarization of the electron's spin is an elegant relativistic phenomenon that arises at the interface between different materials.

"We chose graphene mainly because of its superb structural and electronic properties. In order to enhance the relativistic effects experienced by charge carriers in graphene, we investigated the possibility of matching it with recently discovered layered semiconductors."

Professor Roberto Raimondi, who leads the spintronics group at Roma Tre University, said: "The possibility of orienting the electron spin with electrical currents is attracting a lot of attention in the spintronics community and arises generally as a consequence of specific symmetry conditions.

"As such this phenomenon represents a perfect example where fundamental and applied research go happily together. In this respect, our calculations demonstrate that graphene combined with the transition metal dichalcogenides is an ideal platform where abstract theoretical principles may find immediate application in showing the way to experimental and technological development."

Current-induced spin polarization in non-magnetic media was first demonstrated in 2001 in semiconductors and, more recently, in metallic hetero-interfaces. Now the researchers predict that a similar effect occurs in graphene on TMDC monolayer.

Surprisingly they found that the unique character of electronic states in graphene enable charge-to-spin conversion efficiency of up to 94 per cent. This opens up the possibility of a graphene-based composite material becoming the basis for ultra-compact and greener spin-logic devices.

Dr Mirco Milletari, a former member of the spintronics group at Roma Tre University, said: "This work follows insights gained from understanding fundamental laws that enabled us to envisage systems where the efficiency of charge-to-spin conversion can be optimal for technological applications. In particular, the much needed low-energy consumption electronics that will improve durability and performances of future devices."

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The research was funded by the Royal Society and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
EC mulling voting rights to govt employees: CEC Yadav

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said that the Election Commission (EC) has begun study to grant voting rights to government officials for the upcoming federal and provincial elections. CEC Yadav said that decision regarding the matter would come within few days.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017

(NewsUSA) - Let the holiday hiring season begin.

Early forecasts anticipate a pretty holly, jolly Christmas for retailers, with total sales expected to grow as much as 4.5 percent as opposed to last year's 3.6 percent. To help get them across the finish line, according to the National Retail Federation, a whopping 500,000 to 550,000 seasonal workers - more than the population of Sacramento, California - will need to be hired.

And while some companies are making it more attractive than ever to come aboard, there's still some forces at work that applicants need to be aware of:

* The economy isn't necessarily your friend. Rather than bringing in hordes of new temps as in the past to do everything from wait on customers to gift wrap presents, some employers like Walmart are instead at least mainly opting to offer existing workers extra hours. "Part of the reason is that there just aren't as many people looking for work this year," CNNMoney.com reports. "Unemployment fell to a 16-year-low of 4.2 percent in September, considered to be pretty much full employment by most economists."

* Except when it is your friend. Because there are fewer people out of work - heck, even the number of part-time workers who'd prefer full-time gigs has fallen by nearly 250,000 in the last year - some of the incentives being dangled to lure qualified applicants are pretty impressive.

One of the most intriguing offers comes from UPS (UPS.Jobs.com), currently in the midst of a major push to fill about 95,000 full- and part-time jobs - primarily as package handlers, drivers, and driver-helpers. The company already has a reputation for providing such seasonal temps what it calls "a road to permanent employment" (more on that in a second). And that's on top of inducements including flexible hours across multiple shifts and - are you ready? - as much as $25,000 in tuition assistance for permanent part-time college students through its Earn and Learn program.

"If you are a student, a working mom, or just looking to make extra money for the holidays, we have a job for you," says CEO David Abney.

* The 800-pound gorilla. Aside from some island castaway, who isn't buying online these days? And with internet sales predicted to rise 18 to 21 percent over last year, not only does someone have to deliver those packages (see UPS above), but stores like Macy's will be needing bodies for their fulfillment centers and online customer service.

So what are the odds of those 500,000-plus temp gigs turning into something more lasting?

Well, as Benjamin Franklin once opined, the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. But UPS, for example, does say that 35 percent of those hired for seasonal package handler jobs over the past three years subsequently landed permanent positions, and that even its permanent part-time employees qualify for healthcare and retirement benefits.

Case in point of how the package delivery company makes it possible to rise through the ranks: Jackie Nicholas, who started out years ago as a temp and who's now a full-time recruiter in Kentucky.

"As a mother, the great pay and benefits have been critical for my family, and so has the flexibility," says Nicholas, recalling how she used to work the night shift when her two kids were young so that she could be with them for things like school field trips.

Oh, and her husband and both her sons now also work for UPS.

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From: MicroTech's CEO Tony Jimenez - Largest Hispanic-Owned IT Integrator in US Tysons Corner , VA Tuesday, November 7, 2017

MicroTech Founder, President & CEO Tony Jimenez has been named to the 2018 "Top 100 Most Influential and Notable Hispanic Professionals in the Technology Industry". Presented by the Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC) since 2008, the HITEC 100 showcases the contributions made by business leaders whose accomplishments represent the influence Hispanics have in the global marketplace and individually display the leadership and IT expertise which impact the growth and success of their organizations. HITEC is a premier global executive leadership organization of senior business and IT executives who have built outstanding careers in information technology. HITEC's premiere network spans the Americas and is focused on building stronger technology and executive leaders, leadership teams, corporations, and role models in a rapidly changing, flatter, and information technology centric world. These global leaders include executives leading Global 1000 corporations while others lead some of the largest Hispanic-owned IT firms across the Americas. The core mission of the HITEC 100 award program is to recognize professionals who have excelled in the business of IT, are role models who inspire young people to pursue careers in technology, and motivate professionals to continue to excel and connect with the Hispanic community. "This is an amazing award", remarked Jimenez, "and I'm always excited to be included with such a prestigious group of IT Executives." About MicroTech: MicroTech, a Certified and Verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) with fourteen years of experience delivering innovative products and services to the government. Under Tony Jimenezs leadership, the privately-owned company experienced exponential growth being consistently recognized by Washington Technologys annual list of the Top 100 Government Contractors, until downsizing and reorganizing in 2016 to focus on aligning the company with new technologies and services. Winning over 100 billion dollars of new multiple-award type contracts in 2017, to include the $37 billion Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services (RS3) contract with the United States Army, and the $50 billion, 15-year, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract, Mr. Jimenez successfully positioned MicroTech for its next stage of growth and innovation. MicroTech now holds 26 multiple-award type contracts with dozens of Federal State and Local Government Agencies providing Telecommunications Services, Solutions & Integration, Cyber Security Solutions, Cloud Computing, Technology and Professional Services, Network Systems Integration, R&D, and Financial Services to the public sector, as well as commercial enterprises - managing more than a quarter of a million technology users daily. About Tony Jimenez: Tony is the award-winning Founder, President, and CEO of MicroTech, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). He is an active member of the technology industry and an advocate for the Veteran, Hispanic and Small Business communities. As a respected business owner, successful entrepreneur, and award-winning small business advocate, Jimenez is always willing to go that extra mile! To learn more, visit www.microtech.net/meet-ceo Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn


In the classic movie, Groundhog Day, Bill Murry endures months of waking up in Punxatawney, Pennsylvania, condemned to repeating the same day. Our harvest this year seems to be an echo of Groundhog Day.

Nothing has changed much in the last week, and I struggle to write something that sounds like news.

As Bill would say, Same old, same old.

After an October that had more dry days than I can ever remember before, our harvest ground to a drizzly halt the last couple of weeks. Then we were parking trucks in the fields while we filled them.

Now we park them in carefully graveled driveways. We have returned to our traditional November, with gray skies, rain mixed with drizzle, and the occasionally really nasty storm.

Residents of Williamsfield, near where I live, are sheltering with neighbors and in motels after the last November blast. One drizzly day runs into another.

Still in fields

On occasional days the combines run corn, but the late beans in northern Ashtabula County are still in the field. The corn harvest was great while it lasted, but it did not last long enough.

We need a few good days to get us going again. As we regroup for another try at harvest, the market is doing nothing.

Corn futures trade in a narrow range just above the contract low. We go up a penny or two one day, down the next.

One day we will have a reason to be higher, but I dont know why or when right now. Soybean futures rallied 80 some cents off the low a few weeks ago, but in the last couple of weeks have moderated back down 35 cents or so.

Traders are now starting to focus more on planting in the Southern Hemisphere than on harvest here.

One bright spot, if you call it that, is the thinking that the bean crop has been overestimated. We will have a new USDA Supply and Demand Report Thursday, and there is hope that the yield will be dropped .6 bpa to 49.3.

Crop progress

That could perk up a market that was down 12 cents one day and up seven the next. It is good news only if it is the neighbors beans that are off a little! The weekly USDA Crop Progress Report came out Monday afternoon, Nov. 6.

There are all kinds of interesting data in it, if you just like data. Maybe you want to check the progress of the cotton harvest. Maybe you are desperate to know about sorghum, or peanuts, or sugarbeets harvested.

Most of us just care about corn and soybeans, with a little wheat planting progress thrown in. The report tells us that Ohio is lagging in the corn harvest, both historically and in comparison to the U.S.

The soybean harvest, on the other hand, has caught up to normal, and is virtually identical to the nations progress. Ohio farmers have now put 60 percent of the corn in the bin, at home or in town.

By comparison

That is up from 48 percent last week, which is not really much gain for this time of year. I would be Northeast Ohio has gained less this week than the state as a whole.

Last year at this time, we had 79 percent of the crop off, and the five-year average is 74 percent. The U.S. corn harvest is ahead of the Ohio harvest even more than normal.

We are 70 percent done as a nation, up from 54 percent last week, but way behind last years 84 percent and the average 83. The Ohio soybean harvest is at 90 percent, identical to the U.S. harvest.

We were at 85 percent last week, but 94 percent last year and we have a 90-percent average. The U.S. had 83 percent done last week, but was at 92 percent last year against a 91-percent average. The big corn and bean harvests continue to pressure prices, although corn is not being priced as fast as normal.

Whether by storage or delayed price, traders acknowledge that farmers are holding ownership away from the elevators.
EU Election Observation Mission officially launched

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies has been officially launched today.
A 'no deal' Brexit scenario could increase Brits' shopping bills by 930 per year, according to new research.

The study, published in the National Institute Economic Review, explains how produce such as meat, vegetables and dairy would be subject to the largest consumer price rises under a 'no deal' scenario.

Entitled 'Will Brexit raise the cost of living?', the report estimates that annual shopping bills would rise by up to an estimated 930.

Brexit has already induced a devaluation of sterling of around 14 per cent since June 2016, which has started to work through to consumer prices: between June 2016 and July 2017 consumer prices increased by around 2.5 per cent.

The paper explores how the imposition of tariffs on imports from the EU will work through into consumer prices.

Making "very conservative" assumptions, the study concludes that a 'no deal' Brexit will increase the average cost of living by around 1 per cent and increase it for 8 per cent of households by 2 per cent or more.

Economists from the University of Sussex and Resolution Foundation, also concluded that leaving the EU without a trade-deal would most likely hit low-income families the most, and will see a sharp increase in prices for foods such as dairy and meat.

WTO rules

Negotiations are set to resume next week in Brussels, and the government is also about to publish a trade bill that would result in Britain being required to apply new tariffs on European imports if it falls back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

WTO tariffs are highest on fresh food, with a 37 per cent tariff for meat and a 45 per cent for dairy products.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) President Meurig Raymond said farmers are "fast running out of patience" over Brexit talks, and warned of a 'no-deal' scenario.

The time has come for both the UK and EU governments to acknowledge that businesses and individuals across Europe will suffer if a deal securing an ongoing and closely-integrated economic relationship is not reached, Mr Raymond said.

A no deal - in terms of a transition period or the long-term future relationship - would have severe affects for UK farmers and growers.

With the vast majority of our exported farmed produce going to the EU any impacts on food production and farming would have severe knock on effects to the entire food supply chain, and ultimately the public.

'Self-sufficient'

Amid the concern in the farming industry, transport secretary Chris Grayling claimed that the UK could become self-sufficient in food after a 'no-deal' Brexit.

Mr Grayling said that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK would respond by growing more produce and importing from more places around the world, in order to prevent a rise of food prices.

However, NFU's Director of EU Exit and International Trade Nick von Westenholz said there will be 'considerable disruption' if a trade deal is not secured with the EU.

Given the extent of our trade in food with the EU, failure to secure a comprehensive trade deal would cause considerable disruption to farming in the UK, Mr Westenholz said.

Although there is some scope for import substitution, farming operates on long timescales. For example, the first crop to be produced post-Brexit will be in the ground in less than a year.

Nonetheless, Brexit secretary David Davis warned MPs this week that the government still needed to seriously consider pursuing the no-deal option in the face of alleged EU intransigence over exit negotiations.
An artist has decorated a tractor with poppies she had shaped and painted herself, in time for Remembrance Weekend.

Caroline Jones, from Widnes in Cheshire, is currently decorating a Nuffield Tractor to remember those who served during the first and second world wars, and in particular for the Womens Land Army.

The 49-year-old artist has been busy working on the poppy project for weeks. She plans to finish her artwork just in time for Remembrance Weekend.

On her post on Facebook, Ms Jones said: "In support of our British soldiers please remember the importance of the Poppy and why it's so important for us to buy one, not just to show support but for all the the wonderful things the money goes to.

(Photo: Caroline Jones/Facebook)

"It helps support soldiers with life changing injuries, help with re-homing homeless soldiers and with mental health issues.

"The poppies are very important part of our war history, it's like you're holding a part of history in your hands when you buy one."

Ms Jones said without the Women's Land Army looking after British farms in World War 1 and 2, ordinary Brits would not have been able to eat because farms wouldn't be producing the food without protection.

"The Land Army was first put in place to help and support our farmers, as all the men that were able to fight in the war had to sign up and leave the farms.

"They were then struggling with producing food and doing farm work... so the first women's land army started in 1917 and then again in 1939.

"So here is my support to our Land Army girls and also support to help the heroes."
A captive Eurasian lynx which escaped a Welsh zoo has killed seven sheep whilst it was on the run, it has emerged.

The lynx, which escaped from Borth Zoo, Aberystwyth almost a week ago, killed seven sheep whist it was in the wild for several days.

The wild cat, named Lillith, also left several sheep traumatised after one single attack.

The cause of death of the seven sheep was determined by post-mortem conducted by Welsh Government Officials, which was confirmed as a single bite to the neck and subsequent internal bleeding.

It is understood that two sheep were partly eaten, while the remaining five appeared to be killed purely out of instinct, just as a domestic cat might do with prey such as mice.

Amid the ongoing application process being considered by Natural England to release Eurasian Lynx into the UK countryside, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has used this incident to alert people about the possible re-introduction.

'Simply unbelievable'

National Sheep Association has released an image showing the mauled sheep

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said there cannot be a clearer warning of the damage lynx will do if they are released into the wild.

At a time when Lynx UK Trusts application to release lynx into Kielder Forest, Northumberland is under review from Natural England, it could not be more timely, he said.

Lynx UK Trust continue to assure us that lynx, on average, will take just 0.4 sheep annually. A fact which is simply unbelievable given the damage just one has inflicted after several days of roaming free.

This incident also backs up what we are hearing from a number of sheep farmers in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe who tell us of high losses theyve experienced from individual lynx that develop the behavioural characteristic of an opportunistic hunter.

Although Lillith was definitely seen close to the dead sheep, the zoo insists she is not to blame for the deaths of the animals.

If she had been eating sheep she would look like Garfield, zoo owner Dean Tweedy told The Guardian. There are dogs, foxes and badgers around here. We dont believe Lillith is to blame. The reports are nonsense.

'Raises questions'

The NSA has said it has received assurances from Natural England that it will work closely with Scottish Government in considering Lynx UK Trusts application, but said it feels that this level of collaboration should go "even further".

Mr Stocker concluded: The fact this attack has happened in Wales raises questions around the land mass similarity between that in the proposed release site of Kielder Forest and the area of Wales this incident took place.

If the release goes ahead and the population expands in the way it is intended, the species could find its way into Wales years into the future without any consultation ever taking place there.

For that reason, NSA believes approval should be sought from the relevant bodies England, Scotland and Wales before any decision is reached.
A senior business representative to President Donald Trump has warned that the British public may have to accept chlorinated chicken as part of any trade deal between the UK and the US.

Wilbur Ross, the US commerce secretary, said any trade deal between the two countries would need to scrap rules that were set by Brussels.

Mr Ross, speaking at the Confederation of British Industry annual conference in London on Monday (6 November), said European regulations governing the safety of imports such as chlorine-washed chicken ignored US scientific research.

He said changing these regulations will form a critical component of any trade discussion, and urged the UK to take measures to remove unnecessary regulatory divergences with the US.

He warned that the close relationship the UK and US enjoy may be strained if the UK doesn't get rid of the EU's laws on food safety.

Mr Ross also said it was important for the UKs deal to leave the EU to take into account Americas commercial interests. He said that Trump was very supportive of a trade deal between London and Washington.

Indeed, Trump has said he wants US agriculture to have more access to British markets after the UK leaves the EU. He has previously criticised the EU's trading relationship with the US on food products.

He said American farmers "can't deal" with the EU as they are "very, very protectionist."

Food safety standards

However, Wilbur Ross explained that the UK would need to change rules in areas such as food safety, a move which many British farmers do not welcome.

He also said Geographic Indicators on food products, such as Gloucester Old Spot and Stilton cheese, is a key impediment to expanded trade.

The comments are likely to pour more fuel on the fire ignited by Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who has previously said allowing chlorinated chicken into the UK should be part of a trade deal with the US.

But despite assurances to the British public and farmers from Defra Secretary Michael Gove, Mr Fox has recently said there are "no health reasons" why British consumers could not eat chlorinated poultry. He added that most salads in our supermarkets are washed in chlorinated water already.

Farmers have a big concern with allowing lower-standard chlorinated chicken to be imported into the UK, effectively undercutting home produce made to higher standards.

In the US, the government permits such practices as chlorinated chicken, which consists of dipping meat into chlorinated water to prevent microbial contamination.

Indeed, a report warned of the potential increase in cheaper, lower standard food imports to the UK which could put British farmers at a competitive disadvantage.

Trade with America

US trade representatives and industry experts are due to hold a second round of preliminary scoping discussions in London next week, after the first meetings in Washington in July.

Mr Ross explained: As the UK stands on the edge of the major changes coming with Brexit, we stand ready to use this opportunity to support our friends across the pond and to deepen our ties even further.

US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue arrived in the UK in October to meet with Michael Gove and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA) to talk farm trade.

Mr Perdue said it is too early to go into too much detail on future trade potential, but he added British lamb could be a big winner for American consumers.

We think probably the UK is ahead of us in lamb and sheep production. There is big demand to have access to the U.S. market in those products, he said.
Twenty-three livestock farmers are showcased in a brochure highlighting how the agricultural sector is tackling climate change.

The booklet, authored by the four UK farming unions, launches in advance of Wednesdays (8 November) Farmers Day at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 23), being held in Bonn, Germany.

Representatives from all over the world have gathered at the conference, which began on Monday (6 November), to further the ambitions of the 2015 Paris Agreement in reducing the planets greenhouse gas footprint.

The conference is an important stepping stone for nations of the world in delivering climate action.

The summits main aims will be to finish the guidelines for implementation of the Paris Agreement and to prepare for 2018 when national governments will take stock of action to date.

For British farmers, the biggest renewable energy resources available to to them are are bio-energy, wind power and solar PV.

It is estimated that farmers own or host over half of the UK's solar power and AD capacity, as well as the majority of wind power. They also play a significant role in the supply or fuelling of renewable heat.

'Unique role'

The booklet, British Livestock and Climate Change: Beyond Meat and Methane, features forward-thinking livestock farmers from across the UK.

It celebrates the work they do in boosting productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In a joint statement, the UK farming union presidents NFU President Meurig Raymond, NFU Cymru President Stephen James, NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick and UFU President Barclay Bell said: Agriculture has a unique role to play in helping to implement the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Our industry supplies food, stores carbon and generates renewable energy, but farming is also on the frontline of climate change impacts, being particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.

We must advance improvements in farm productivity and efficiency, not only to enhance agricultures resilience, but to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint.

The booklet puts our strong dynamic livestock industry centre stage and showcases a diversity of practices undertaken to meet the needs of their business and the country.

Our members have capitalised on opportunities to build businesses that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and personally rewarding, so helping to deliver the Paris Agreement.
There has been no progress in arrangements for agricultural industry for when the UK leaves the EU, according to Scotlands rural affairs secretary.

Fergus Ewing, speaking after a devolved administration meeting with UK ministers in London on Monday (6 November), said support for agricultural priorities in Scotland is being put at risk.

Mr Ewing said this was due to the UK Governments continued failure to provide certainty over the future of EU funding.

The SNP government and UK government are clashing against the background of claims of a post-Brexit "power grab" of agricultural powers by Westminster.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May seeking "urgent clarity" on plans for transitional arrangements.

However, First Secretary of State Damian Green has warned that farm "subsidy wars" between the devolved nations of the UK would be "counterproductive" and said there should be a single market across the UK.

No 'real progress'

Mr Ewing said that despite positive talks with ministers, the UK Government has "failed to enable real progress" to be made on the approach agreed by the Joint Ministerial Committee.

He said: Worse, UK Defra ministers tried to amend that process which they know full well has the highest support of all our governments.

The Scottish Government remains steadfast in its resolve to defend the devolution settlement. We will not sign a blank cheque that expects us to sign up to potential post-Brexit frameworks and legislation without knowing any of the detail of those.

We will not put the future of our agriculture, fishing and environment sectors at risk. For 18 months we have sought to engage openly and constructively with the UK Government over some of the most important issues facing our rural economy and natural environment.

UK ministers have yet to provide absolute clarity on future funding which prevents us and the sectors to plan for the future, nor have they given us sight of their proposed bills on agriculture and fisheries.

Until the power grab is removed from the EU Withdrawal Bill, we can continue to have cordial discussions but little progress will be made.

UK approach

A UK Government spokeswoman said: We want to make sure decisions which should be taken in Scotland are taken in Scotland, as in Northern Ireland and Wales, but in some areas there will be a need for a UK approach to protect the integrity of the UK single market and not put up new barriers to trade.

Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we have a shared interest in protecting our environment and delivering a Green Brexit.

The SNP's opinion comes in stark contrast with the farming union NFU Scotland, who agree that funding must receive a "fair allocation" across the UK, and that a UK-wide financial framework is the best option.

A think-tank has also claimed that a "core UK policy" is the best way forward when deciding how to deliver farm subsidies post-Brexit.
Brexit negotiators must not jeopardise the current high levels of animal health and welfare enjoyed across the UK, according to a plea issued by the veterinary industry.

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) has issued its Brexit negotiation plea ahead of the next round of negotiations in Brussels this week.

The plea, developed in partnership with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), emphasises the role the veterinary profession plays in public goods, like animal health and welfare, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.

The plea outlines key asks of EU and UK politicians and decision makers, including urging the government to pledge continued mutual recognition of veterinary degrees from EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education) accredited veterinary schools.

The plea urges the government to ensure no reduction in the availability of veterinary medicines, to avoid supply difficulties and guarantee the protection of animal and public health.

It also urges continuing of current levels of animal health, animal welfare and food safety standards, which include a single standard for import and export markets underpinned by veterinary certification and controls.

Veterinary degrees

The top ask from the organisations is for continued mutual recognition of veterinary degrees, given the mobility of the profession across Europe.

With over half of vets registering in the UK each year coming from overseas, mostly the EU, securing the existing living and working rights of all EU and UK vets is seen as crucial to ensure that current standards of animal and public health are maintained post-Brexit.

It follows news of the announcement of the possibility of a new veterinary school being established, offering training amid concerns over the possibility over a lack of veterinary workforce post-Brexit.

FVE President Rafael Laguens said: Infectious diseases dont respect borders, so assuring animal health, public health, food safety and animal welfare require an international approach.

They cannot be solved at national level alone. More than ever a continued close collaboration within the European veterinary profession and with international stakeholders is essential for ensuring the interests of animals and people everywhere.

As we move forwards, we must be careful to maintain the important achievements reached together in the past decades.

Official Veterinarians

The European and UK veterinary organisations also highlight that, for every animal or animal product that is imported or exported, specially trained Official Veterinarians must certify and supervise the process to and from third countries, facilitating smooth trade.

According to the UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, the volume of products requiring veterinary certifications could increase by as much as 325%.

The plea calls for the EU and UK to commit to a single standard for animal products destined for domestic or export markets.

A single standard that includes veterinary controls and certifications will avoid the confusion and the opportunity for fraud that is associated with multiple parallel standards, avoid compromised animal welfare, and ensure consumer confidence in the UK, across the EU, and globally.

Other key asks within the plea include ensuring no reduction in the availability of medicines, particularly in light of the fact that some countries heavily rely on joint licensing and packaging with the UK, and securing ongoing surveillance data sharing, such as antibiotic resistance monitoring and systems to track infectious transmissible diseases.

FVE represents veterinary organisations from 38 EU and non-EU countries, including the UK. Post-Brexit, the UK  namely the RCVS and BVA  will continue to be FVE members and collaborate on priority issues for the veterinary profession in the UK and across Europe.
Heres How Ali Came Up With The Idea Of Tiger Zinda Hai

"When I wrote this film, it wasn't like a sequel. I first wrote the story and felt it was worth telling."

"I thought since it's about two agents - and we already had a film about two agents with Salman and Katrina - I'll merge these two in this story so that it becomes a story of two characters which people already know," Ali told reporters at the trailer launch of the film.

The Director Said He Feels Tremendous Pressure To Take The Franchise Ahead.

"There's a lot of pressure. Obviously, it's such a big film with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. It's a big franchise and I did 'Sultan' with Salman, so there's an added baggage," he said.

The film chronicles the story of two agents on a mission to rescue 25 Indian nurses taken hostage in Iraq by a terrorist organisation.

Tiger Zinda Hai Based On A True Story?

"When they (Salman and Katrina) heard about the story and I told them about the rescue mission what happened in those ten days when the nurses were captured they both felt excited."

"It's a completely fictional account, it's a fictional film which we have written around the event, how these two get those nurses back," he said.

How Tiger Zinda Hai Different From Ek The Tiger?

"It's very different from the first part. The first one was romantic, whereas this one is about a mission. In 'Ek Tha Tiger', you saw them (Salman Katrina) as lovers, here you'll see them as agents. The action is more real and gritty. We have spoken about relevant things in today's times which are affecting us," he said.

Heres How Ali Convinced Katrina & Salman For The Film

The director said it was easy to convince both of them as they reacted very strongly to the story of the film.'

"The equation is the same. Somewhere it's a good a relationship. We have worked together very well. He is such a big superstar and there is a certain way people like to present him, perceive him," he said when asked about his equation with Salman.
Trump Card

Donald Trump was elected President of the United States of America on November 8, 2016.

Unreal Election

The election of 2016 was unreal and an experience of a life time.

Trump Vs Hillary

Political novice Donald Trump was pitched against experienced candidate Hillary Clinton.

Victory For Trump

Donald Trump won 306 electoral college votes and Hillary Clinton ended up with only 228.

Hollywood Access

Despite he being caught on the Hollywood Access tape, women still voted for him as he was a true game changer.

Electoral College

The electoral college votes required to become the President is 270, which Trump crossed easily.

Clinton Defeat

Donald Trump supporters mobilised and defeated Hillary Clinton.

Right Choice

Americans made the right choice by electing Trump as their President.

Stopped Her

Hillary Clinton would have been a disaster and Trump stopped her right on her tracks.

Make It Great

Donald Trump is truly making America great again.

One Man Army

Despite all of the media against him, Trump came out as a successor.

Guns & Girls

Guns, girls and God is what America is all about!

Build The Wall

Donald Trump promised to build a wall and stop illegal immigration!

Election Rallies

Trump fans even chanted 'Build the wall' during his election rallies and chant it even now.

The Wall

Everyone's eagerly waiting for Trump to build that wall.

Beautiful Wall

As Trump said in his own words that it's going to be a "big beautiful wall".

Prototypes

The prototypes of the wall are currently being made and Trump will select the best ones.

Mexico Will Pay

Donald Trump promised that Mexico will pay for the wall.

10 Feet Taller

When Mexican President said he'll not pay for the wall, Trump said, "the wall just got 10 feet taller".

Can't Stump The Trump

You simply cannot stump the Trump, folks!

Alpha

He's harsh and brash and doesn't give two hoots about opposing someone.

Wrecking Ball

He took on the elite media and establishment and made them cry on live TV!

Hollywood

Hollywood was against him but still he won! Thanks to the hard working people.

Trump 2020

It looks like he might even win the 2020 Presidential elections as well.
Tamil cinema has witnessed many commercials under the superior direction of many legendary directors. One director who stands in terms of rendering cult classics is Mani Ratnam.

Be it Nayagan, Mouna Ragam or Thalapathi, Mani Ratnam has been a spearhead in registering some exceptional flicks which could be compared to old wine.

The best of the lot would be the 1997-released movie, Iruvar (The Duo). The movie is heavily inspired/based on the real lives of some prominent politicians of Tamil Nadu, with the lead actor's characterization, body language and the screenplay narration drawing heavy references of the said figures.

The movie showcases the bonding, unity, friendship, hatred and egoistical dispute between two friends. Prakash Raj, a screenwriter become friends with Mohanlal, a budding and a struggling actor in the 1950s era.

Both compliment and help each other to climb up the ladder where Raj becomes one of the influential writers of Tamil cinema, while Mohanlal becomes the demi god of masses. When the time is ripe for the duo to enter politics, Raj realizes that his intelligence and wisdom is being overshadowed by Mohanlal's popularity and charisma as both the public and the political party leaders' route for Mohanlal.

An irked Raj expels Mohanlal out of the party leading the latter to establish his own party and emerge victorious in the elections.

Well, the story seem to be way too familiar isn't it? Indeed yes. Prakash Raj portrays the role of the DMK founder and patriarch, M Karunanidhi, whileMohanlal dons the role of MGR, the founder of ADMK party and the demi god of Tamil people. Aishwarya Rai, who debuted in the South represents the role of ex Chief Minister J. JayaMohanlalitha.

The movie stands out high for more than a few reasons. Be it the dialogue verses, the intellectual conversation between the duo and the long composed single-shots with maximum duration, the movie is one of the best works of Tamil cinema. The styling and body language of the lead actors are just near to perfect and one could easily associate the actors to the real life characters.

Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman, the music director of the movie had composed 8 songs for the movie. Seems too much on papers, but the flow of the movie is orchestrated in such a way that the songs are never an interruption to the screenplay.

Prakash Raj was accredited for his stellar performance and fine dialogue delivery. Prakash Raj dubbed for the first time in Tamil and what better movie than Iruvar? Raj's terrific performance fetched him a National Award along with many more opportunities across various industries.

Cinematographer, Santosh Sivan, had a challenging task of completing the movie in a stipulated time frame and in a demanding condition as the technicians were not available due to the union strike. An unperturbed and the talented cinematographer went ahead with limited lighting and extracted the best output. He too was bestowed with a National Award.

Iruvar, can be seen as text book for upcoming film-makers, especially for the ones who are keener on making biopics. The movie doesn't hurt any sentiments, doesn't make objectionable or derogatory remarks, yet draw close references with the real life characters.

Watch it if you have not yet caught the epic classic.
Govt to take over Oriental Cooperative

A glimmer of hope has once again emerged for people who parked their hard-earned savings at now-defunct Oriental Cooperative, as the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation formally declared the financial entity problematic on Monday and will soon form a committee to take over the troubled institution and compensate depositors.
1. Raman Is With Shagun

Raman is seen suffering from depression after Ishita left him! Like always, Shagun is with Raman, taking care of him. She brings him to Budapest for a business meeting, and also to consult a doctor.

2. Raman Refuses To Reveal His Story

As the doctor counsels Raman, he refuses to share his problems with the doctor. He tells the doctor that he is in a beautiful place and still alive! Looks like Ishita's absence has deeply affected him!

3. Ruhi Is Ramans Business Rival

Ruhi has gone totally against her father. She has become a successful (and strict) business woman and is considered as Raman's competitor! She too, is in Budapest and wants to meet the same investor, with whom Raman is meeting.

4. Iyers & Bhallas Separate

Iyers and Bhallas are no more together. Bhallas' new neighbours are the Singhs. Mrs Bhalla hates Ishita and doesn't want anybody in the house to utter her name. She feels that it is because of Ishita, that Raman is in depression!

5. Param Takes Over Ramans Business

Param takes over Raman's business as Raman's health is upset. We assume that Raman was forced to do so, as Ishita was the reason for Simmi and Param's daughter's death!

6. Mihika & Romi Relationship

Romi and Mihika are not seen together! Santhoshi is seen scolding Romi for talking with Bala as they have broken ties with them (Iyers). She even scolds Romi for hurting Mihika.

But Romi shouts at Santhoshi as he feels that if Ishita was with them, the family would have been together. Now since she is not there, Ruhi is not with them and Param has ruined Raman's business.

7. Adi-Aliya Relationship

Shagun and Adi will be seen taking care of Raman. They make sure that Raman does not meet Ruhi! Aliya is seen enjoying in Budapest. Just when Adi was about to take Aliya for shopping, Shagun reveals to Adi that Ruhi is in Budapest! Adi decides to stay with Raman, which irks Aliya.

With Adi and Aliya's talks, it looks like they fight very often. We can clearly say, Adi and Aliya's relationship is not the same as it was before!

8. Simmi Orders Shagun!

What's shocking is that Simmi is seen ordering Shagun to take care of Raman!

9. Ishita With Ashok

On the other hand, Ishita is with Ashok! Yes, she is with the same Ashok whom the Bhallas hate! It was shocking to watch her talk to Ashok politely! Ashok and Ishita are the investors with whom Raman will be making the business deal!

10. Raman & Ruhi Unaware Of Their Business Investors!

Ashok is seen telling Ishita that their business deal will help Raman as well as will be beneficial to them! Both Ruhi and Raman are unaware that their business investors are Ishita and Ashok!
IOM entrance row hits academic calendar

The irregularities surrounding the MBBS entrance examination of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) have left admission of students for this years undergraduate medicine programme under uncertainty.
Mahara-Pun conflict in Rolpa

CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said that he wanted to contest the upcoming elections from Rolpa, but the partys another leader Barsha Man Pun became a hindrance for him. Mahara later decided to contest the elections from Dang constituency-2.
A sheep farmer has told of the heart-stopping moment he came face to face with an escaped lynx which is suspected of killing eight of his flock.

Owen Jenkins said he found the lynx stalking about 10m behind him after he and a zoo worker had gone to check on his sheep last Tuesday (31 October).

A zoo worker had come on to the field with me. We turned around and I saw the lynx stalking us. It was about 10m away, said Mr Jenkins.

Warning: Article contains graphic images of dead sheep

See also: The law on shooting dogs  critical facts farmers must know

It was about the size of a sheepdog and she was all muscle. But she clearly hadnt eaten in days. I felt like my heart had fallen through my stomach.

Dyfed-Powys Police had previously warned livestock farmers to stay vigilant after a Eurasian lynx, named Lilleth, escaped from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom, in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, about a week earlier.

Officers had warned farmers the lynx could attack livestock or domestic pets, but they stressed there was no risk to humans.

A spokeswoman for Borth Wild Animal Kingdom said it was very unlikely that Lilleth had killed the sheep.

She added: The autopsy on one of the dead sheep came back inconclusive. We await the result of blood tests later in the week.

Rethink rewilding plans

Mr Jenkins, who farms near the wildlife park, said he decided to speak exclusively to Farmers Weekly about the attack in the hope politicians would read the article and lobby Natural England to call off plans to reintroduce lynx in the English countryside.

He said eight sheep had died following the attack; five Welsh ewes, two Lleyn ewe lambs and one Suffolk lamb.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Welsh government officials found one of the sheep died after suffering a single bite mark to the side of its neck and internal bleeding.

Mr Jenkins said two sheep had been partially eaten, six others appeared to have died from shock, including the Suffolk lamb.

A number of other sheep in his 1,000-strong flock had been left traumatised.

Mr Jenkins said he was unaware his sheep had been attacked when he went to check his flock at about 6pm on Sunday evening (29 October).

He described the sheep as agitated and said they were all unusually stood by a gate.

He found the Suffolk ewe in distress so he decided to walk it home to the farms base. The next morning, she was dead.

I didnt really think anything of it, said Mr Jenkins. I thought she had a case of acute fluke and had died.

Dead sheep scattered

On Tuesday (31 October), Mr Jenkins went back to the field with the zoo worker and they found another seven carcasses and the lynx lurking near them.

The sheep seem to have died as if they had collapsed, he said. They were just scattered on the ground. There was a tiny bit of blood coming from their mouths.

Mr Jenkins said his flock had never suffered from a dog attack before and he was convinced the escaped lynx was responsible. He has now removed the remaining 19 sheep from the piece of land elsewhere on his farm.

There is a reason why lynx were hunted to extinction 700 ago in the UK  they were a damn nuisance and causing economic pain, said Mr Jenkins.

If they are reintroduced into the countryside, thats going to be the case again. They will eat or kill whatever is easiest or most convenient.

This lynx here has shown they kill out of instinct. She has killed although she is only a year old. She has never been forced to kill. But she has killed because she is hungry and will kill for fun.

Mr Jenkins said pledges by the Lynx UK Trust that farmers will be compensated for any losses suffered through lynx attacks could not be trusted.

The post mortem has been unable to conclude for certain the lynx was responsible for this attack. If the sheep carcass is eaten by a crow or a fox, who can tell?

Mr Jenkins has no plans to prosecute the zoo for his losses, but said he just wanted to see the lynx caught. I cannot blame the zoo, its just an unfortunate incident.

Police apathy

But he criticised the authorities for showing a lack of interest in his case.

The police havent been to see me and the council havent even issued a press release, or anything, he said. Maybe they dont want to scare the public?

But people should be made aware that this animal has killed  and it could kill again.

Lilleth is described as a young juvenile, tan and white in colour with dark spots on her back and legs. It is about twice the size of a domestic cat with black tufts on her ears.

It has a thick, stubby tail which is no more than 6in long, is tan at the base and black at the tip.

Lynx can travel about 12 miles in a day, but the zoo said chances are she hasnt gone too far.

Anyone who spots Lilleth should not approach it, but call police on 101 or contact the zoo straight away 01970 871 224.
Machinery dealers in Essex are preparing to help improve farm safety by raising awareness of the need to correctly maintain pto shafts and guards.

Over the coming weeks, dealers representing four major agricultural machinery manufacturers will work towards the launch of an extended pilot safety scheme being co-ordinated by young farmers.

It follows the success of an initial scheme pioneered by the Devon Federation of Young Farmers in south-west England as a tribute to 20-year-old young farmer Lauren Scott.

See also: 7 ways to drive your farm vehicle safely and legally

Ms Scott died after suffering multiple injuries in a farm machinery accident earlier this year. The Growing Safer Farmers initiative was founded in her memory.

Since the accident, Devon young farmers have provided signs and counter cards so local machinery dealerships can highlight the need to inspect and correctly maintain ptos and guards.

When a farmer arrives at a dealership with a machine to be serviced, the dealer informs the customer of any work needed to bring pto shafts and guards up to standard.

Legal requirement

Some 269 pto guards have been replaced since the scheme launched  although 16 farmers have refused to have remedial work done, despite it being a legal requirement.

The National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) said it now wanted to test the scheme in Essex with a view to rolling it out across the rest of the country.

Representatives from Essex Young Farmers met local dealers Ernest Doe, P Tuckwell, RW Crawford and RC Boreham near Chelmsford on Monday (6 November).

The tractor and machinery global brands represented by the four dealerships include Case New Holland, John Deere, Agco and Deutz Fahr.

Banging the drum

Farming in Essex is very different to farming in Devon  and we want to make sure the scheme works well here too, said NFYFC chairman and Essex farmer Ed Ford.

It is very much a work in progress but we are determined to keep banging the drum and we are very pleased that dealers are willing to get involved.

Other participants at the meeting included representatives from rural insurers NFU Mutual, AHDB monitor farmer Hew Willett and Essex Young Farmers chairman James Carey.

If all goes to plan, the Essex scheme will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
Ive been planning for some time to make a post about things you can do with virtual memory, so when @jimsagevid tweeted me about virtual memory in response to my last post, I felt the time was right.

Virtual memory is funny. As programmers, we know that its there (on all modern CPUs and OSs), but we tend to forget about it, perhaps because its not directly exposed in our programming languages. Or, we just think of it as the thing that makes our software run really slow instead of crashing, when it runs out of physical RAM.

But, it turns out, if you actually make use of what virtual memory can do, you can achieve some pretty cool things.

Obscenely big array

To recap  in my last post I faced the problem of wanting a big lookup table from object IDs to object pointers. Furthermore, I wanted this table to stay fixed in memory, so that writers could atomically replace pointers in the table without disturbing readers. This means that using something like a std::vector is not possible, since the underlying data will be reallocated when the vector grows.

A fixed array works:

object_o *objects[MAX_OBJECTS].

But what size should we use for the array? Pick a big size, and were wasting memory. Pick a small size, and we might run out of objects. In the article, I used a hierarchical approach, but as @jimsagevid pointed out, we could use virtual memory instead, and avoid the complexity of a hierarchical table layout.

When we allocate memory through the virtual memory system we reserve address space for the pages we allocate immediately (no other code can allocate memory in that address range), but actual physical memory is not allocated until we actually touch the pages.

So for this situation, we can just pick a comfortably large number for our array and virtually allocate it. Say 1 billion of objects, for example:

#define MAX_OBJECTS 1000000000ULL object_o **objects = virtual_alloc(MAX_OBJECTS * sizeof(object_o *));

Were using 8 GB of address space and virtual memory, but only as much physical memory as we actually need for our objects. A simple solution that only requires one line of code.

Note: Im using virtual_alloc() here as my OS agnostic virtual memory allocation call. On Windows you would actually call VirtualAlloc() and on Linux mmap().

Another note: Windows separates virtual memory allocation into separate MEM_RESERVE and MEM_COMMIT calls. MEM_RESERVE reserves address space and MEM_COMMIT commits it to physical memory. That does not mean that physical memory is actually allocated when you MEM_COMMIT, the physical memory is still not allocated until you actually touch the pages. But MEM_COMMIT reserves memory in the page file, and if you try to commit more memory than you have in your page file, MEM_COMMIT will fail. So on Windows, you probably dont want to MEM_COMMIT the entire lookup table (because you only have a limited size page file). Instead you want to MEM_RESERVE the whole table in the beginning and then just MEM_COMMIT the range of the table that you actually use.

In contrast, Linux allows overcommitting  i.e., you can commit more memory than the size of your page file. For this reason, Linux doesnt need separate reserve/commit operations which makes the virtual memory a lot simpler to use.

Is reserving 8 GB of virtual memory for the array a problem? Not really. There are two limits that concern us here. The first is address space. In a 64-bit application (which we assume), the address space is 264, a staggeringly large number with room for billions of gigabyte-sized arrays. The second limit is for virtual memory. The OS typically doesnt let us allocate the whole possible address space as virtual memory. On 64-bit Windows, for example, we can only allocate 256 TB of virtual memory. Still, thats room for 32 000 arrays of 8 GB each, so as long as we dont go totally crazy, were fine.

In fact, you could probably use this technique for all global or semi-global arrays in your application without any problems.

Remember the old-school C way of writing games with static arrays for all objects:

uint32_t num_tanks; tank_t tanks[MAX_TANKS]; uint32_t num_bullets; bullet_t bullets[MAX_BULLETS]; ...

If you write code like this, you can be sure that someone will complain that its not future-proof, since you have caps on the number of objects. That is kind of ridiculous, but to satisfy the complaint in a simpler and more fun way than using a std::vector you can just get rid of the MAX_* defines and allocate 1 GB of virtual memory for each array:

#define GB 1000000000 uint32_t num_tanks; tank_t *tanks = virtual_alloc(GB); uint32_t num_bullets; bullet_t *bullets = virtual_alloc(GB);

Application wide unique IDs

A lot of game engine systems need unique IDs to identify objects. Usually the code looks something like this:

uint64_t allocate_id(system_t *sys) { return sys->next_free_id++; }

But virtual memory gives us another option. Instead of using integers as identifiers, we could use addresses reserved from the virtual memory system. This allows us to create IDs that are unique, not just in the current system, but throughout the entire application. And since we never actually use the memory pointed to by these addresses, we wont consume any physical memory.

It might look something like this:

system_id_t *allocate_id(system_t *sys) { if (!sys->id_block || sys->id_block_used == PAGE_SIZE) { sys->id_block = virtual_alloc(PAGE_SIZE); sys->id_block_used = 0; } return (system_id_t *)(sys->id_block + sys->id_block_used++); }

Note that by using a pointer to an opaque struct for the ID we also get some type safety, that we didnt have with the uint64_t approach.

Memory overwrite detection

One of the hardest bugs to fix is random memory overwrites, where some piece of code is writing to memory that it shouldnt touch. Then, later, when some other piece of code tries to use that memory, it will read that trash data and (most likely) crash. The problem here is that while the crash itself is easy to find, it is tricky to know where the bad write that corrupted the data to begin with occurred.

Luckily, virtual memory can help us here too.

To see why, first note that the term random memory overwrite is actually a misnomer. Just like regular space, address space is mostly empty. With a 64 bit address space and an application size of say 2 GB, the address space is 99.999999988 % empty. This means that if the memory overwrites were truly random, most likely they would hit this empty space and cause a page fault/access violation. That would give us a crash at the point of the bad write, instead of the innocent read, which would make the bug much easier to find and fix.

But of course, the writes are usually not truly random. Instead they typically fall in one of two categories:

Writing to memory that has been freed.

Writing beyond the allocated memory for an object.

In both cases, it is pretty likely that the write will actually hit some other object, rather than empty space. In the first case, the memory will probably have been recycled for something else. In the second case, the write will probably hit a neighboring object, or allocation block headers.

We can make these cases look more like the random case by replacing the standard system allocator with an end-of-page allocator. Such an allocator uses the virtual memory system to allocate each object on its own set of pages, and furthermore, it aligns the object so that the end of the object coincides with the end of the last page.

End of page block placement.

This accomplishes two things. First, when we free the pages, we free them in the virtual memory system. This means that attempting to write to the pages after they have been freed will result in an access violation. Note that this typically doesnt happen with a regular memory allocator  it will save the freed memory in its freelists to be used for other allocations, instead of returning it to the OS.

Second, as the end of the block coincides with the end of the page, writing beyond the end of the block will also cause an access violation. In other words, with this approach, our typical bad memory writes will crash at the point of the write and allow us to easily diagnose the problem.

Since this allocator rounds up all allocations to the page size, it will waste a lot of memory for small allocations. It is probably not something that you want enabled all the time. What I typically do is work with the standard allocator. Then, if I suspect bad memory overwrites, I switch it out for the end-of-page allocator. Once Ive fixed the problem, I switch back to the standard allocator. This of course requires you to have an architecture where you can easily change which allocator your system is using.

Writing an end end-of-page allocator is not complicated at all. Heres what malloc looks like:

void *eop_malloc(uint64_t size) { uint64_t pages = (size + PAGE_SIZE - 1) / PAGE_SIZE; char *base = virtual_alloc(pages * PAGE_SIZE); uint64_t offset = pages * PAGE_SIZE - size; return base + offset; }

Note: Theres still bad writes that could go undetected with this approach. For example, after weve freed the pages, a new page allocation could happen in the same memory range. Also, it is possible that another set of pages could be allocated directly after ours in memory, in which case we wouldnt detect overwrites beyond the last page.

Both these problems can be fixed. For the first issue, we can leave the pages reserved, but not committed. That way, the physical memory is freed and we will get page faults, but the addresses are reserved and cannot be used by other objects. For the second issue, we could reserve an extra page after our pages, but not commit that page. No other object could then claim those addresses and writing to them would still cause an access violation. (Note: This only works on Windows, where reserve and commit are separate operations.)

In practice though, Ive never needed to take these extra precautions. For me, the basic end-of-page allocator has always been enough to find and fix the bugs.

Fragment free memory allocation

On old console hardware, memory fragmentation could give programmers nightmares. But even on modern machines, memory fragmentation can be a big problem when trying to implement efficient memory allocators.

A memory allocator works by requesting big chunks of memory from the system and chopping them up into smaller pieces on request of the user. Memory fragmentation occurs when only some of those objects are freed, leaving holes in the used memory block:

Memory fragmentation.

The problem here is that if the user requests a big chunk of memory, none of the holes may be big enough. This means we have to allocate it from the free memory block at the end  increasing the memory use of the application. In other words, we have a lot of wasted memory that we cant really use. In the olden days, memory was a precious resource. Today, its less so, but we still dont want to waste it.

Memory fragmentation is a huge topic, but instead of diving too deep into it, Im just going to look at it from the virtual memory perspective, which is pretty simple. When you are allocating from virtual memory, fragmentation is a non-issue.

The reason is that when we are using virtual memory, each page in address space is individually mapped to a page in physical memory. So if we create holes in physical memory by allocating and freeing pages, it doesnt matter, because those holes can later be used to allocate what to us seems like contiguous memory. Let me try to illustrate it with a picture:

Physical memory can't be fragmented by virtual memory allocations.

Here, we have first made the red allocations and freed some of them, leaving holes in address space and physical memory. However, this doesnt prevent us from making the big purple allocation. Each page in the purple allocation can be mapped to one of the hole pages we created earlier, without the need for allocating any more physical memory. So nothing is lost to fragmentation.

Note that we still have fragmentation in the address space. I.e. we cant make a big contiguous allocation in the address space where the red allocations are. But we cant have any fragmentation in physical memory. Fragmentation in address space doesnt really worry us, because as I said before, address space is typically 99.999999988 % empty anyway, so we have no problem finding contiguous address blocks. (On 32 bit systems, its a different story.)

The drawback compared to using an ordinary allocator is that we have to round up the allocations to the page size, which typically is 4 K on modern systems. This rounding up means we are not using all of the available memory, a problem which is somewhat confusingly referred to as internal fragmentation.

There are lots of ways of dealing with this. For fixed size objects we can use object pools  allocate a page of memory and divide it into as many objects will fit on that page.

For dynamically growing buffers, we can just make the buffer size match the page size. This is a simple but interesting technique that I havent seen mentioned a lot. Say that you have an array of objects that are 300 bytes big. The conventional setup is that as you need more entries you grow the array geometrically by say doubling it in size. So you go from 16 to 32 to 64 to 128 elements. Geometrical growth is important because it means you only pay an amortized constant cost for adding an element to the array.

However, 16 * 300 = 4800. If you allocate that from virtual memory, you have to round it up to 8 K, wasting almost an entire page. But we can easily fix that. Instead of focusing on the number of elements, we just grow the buffer by multiples of the page size: 4 K, 8 K, 16 K, 32 K,  and then put as many elements as will fit in there (13, 27, 54, 109, ). This is still geometric growth, so the cost is still amortized constant, but now the internal fragmentation is just 150 bytes on average, instead of 2 K.

I find it a bit surprising that standard memory allocators dont take more advantage of virtual memory to avoid fragmentation. Most allocators Ive looked at still work by obtaining large chunks from the OS and chopping them up, instead of working with page sized virtual memory allocations.

Is getting larger chunks from the OS more efficient? Im heading into territory where my knowledge is pretty sketchy here, but I dont think so. Using a larger page size can be more efficient, because it means a smaller page table and better use of the TLB cache. But, given a fixed page size, I dont think it matters if you have one big or many small virtual memory allocations, because the address resolve is done page-by-page anyway. And even if you allocate large chunks, consecutive virtual pages are often not consecutive in physical memory anyway.

There is probably some memory overhead for the OS to keep track of a large number of individual memory allocations. Also we need system calls to allocate and release the pages which will consume a little time. Maybe thats the reason. Or maybe its just that general allocators are written to run in a variety of environments  on 32 bit systems or systems with large page sizes  so they cant take advantage of the fragment free allocations you can get with 64 bit address space and 4 K pages.

Gapless ring buffer

This is a trick I found out about from Fabian Giesens blog, but the idea seems to have been around for longer.

A ring buffer is a very useful data structure for any situation where data is produced and consumed at different rates. For example, when reading from a socket, you may receive data in chunks that do not match your packet size, so you need to buffer it until you have received a full packet.

A ring buffer stores the data in an array of fixed size that wraps around, i.e. once the array has been filled we start writing data to the beginning of the array again.

In addition to the array we also need read and write pointers to know where in the buffer to read and write data. I like to use uint64_t counters for this, specifying the total number of data written and read, something like this:

enum {BUFFER_SIZE = 8*1024}; struct ring_buffer_t { uint8_t data[BUFFER_SIZE]; uint64_t read; uint64_t written; };

Note that since the buffer wraps around, we cannot let the write pointer run too far ahead of the read pointer or it will start to trash data that hasnt been read yet. Basically, the BUFFER_SIZE controls how far ahead the writer can get. If the buffer is full, the writer must stall and wait for the reader. If the buffer is empty, the reader must stall and wait for the writer. (The number of bytes available to the reader is written - read .)

A really annoying part of ring buffers is that you need special code to handle the wraparound. If it werent for this, writing to the buffer would be a simple memcpy , but instead we have to be careful that we do the right thing when the write straddles the wraparound point:

void write(ring_buffer_t *rb, uint8_t *p, uint64_t n) { uint64_t offset = rb->written % BUFFER_SIZE; uint64_t space = BUFFER_SIZE - offset; uint64_t first_write = n < space ? n : space; memcpy(rb->data + offset, p, first_write); memcpy(rb->data, p + first_write, n - first_write); rb->written += n; }

As annoying as this is, reading is even worse. If it wasnt for the wraparound, reading wouldnt even require any copying at all  we could just use the data directly from the buffer  but with the wraparound, we need two memcpy() calls to move the data to a contiguous memory block for further processing.

How can virtual memory help here? We could use the huge array technique and just reserve a huge array instead of the ring buffer, commit pages as the writer advanced and decommit them as the reader advanced. With this we wouldnt even need to set a fixed size for the array  it would just use as much memory as needed. Pretty ingenious. But note that you might need a huge array. To buffer a 1 Gbps network stream with an uptime of a year you will need to reserve 4 PB (petabytes) of memory. Sadly, as we saw above, 64-bit windows caps the virtual memory at 256 TB. Also, those commit and decommit calls arent free.

But we can fix this in another way, by taking advantage of the fact that multiple virtual pages can be setup to resolve to the same physical page. This is usually used to share memory between different processes, but we can also set it up in a single process. To use this for the ring buffer we set up a set of pages, immediately after the ring buffer that point to the same physical memory:

Ring buffer with page mapping. The shaded block appears twice.

As you can see, with this setup the virtual memory system takes care of the wraparound for us. In the address space we can always find a contiguous copy of the memory in the ring buffer, even though the buffer is split up physically. The read and write functions become simply:

void write(ring_buffer_t *rb, uint8_t *p, uint64_t n) { memcpy(rb->data + (rb->written % BUFFER_SIZE), p, n); rb->written += n; } uint8_t *read(ring_buffer_t *rb, uint64_t n) { uint8_t *p = rb->data + (rb->read % BUFFER_SIZE); rb->read += n; return p; }

A lot nicer, and were still using the same amount of (physical) memory.

Note that setting up this memory layout can be a bit tricky. On Windows you have to create a file mapping into virtual memory with CreateFileMapping()  yes, even though no files on disk are involved we still need a file mapping because thats how virtual memory is shared. Since we dont need a file on disk we use INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE for the file handle which creates a mapping against the page file. Then we use MapViewOfFileEx() to map that file mapping into two consecutive memory regions. Unfortunately, there is no way of guaranteeing that the memory regions we pass are available. We can reserve them, and then free them just before calling MapViewOfFileEx() , but that still leaves a window of time where if were super unlucky, someone else could come and allocate something in that address area. We might have to retry the mapping a few times before it succeeds, but after that setup we can use the buffer without worrying about it.

And thats all from me

Do you know of any neat virtual memory tricks not mentioned here. Tweet them to me at @niklasfrykholm.
M-tech G24 feature phone with selfie camera launched in India for Rs. 899 News oi -Chandrika The key highlight of the device is the dual digital camera for taking pictures.

Just when we thought feature phones were becoming obsolete, Reliance introduced its revolutionary Jio Phone. Soon after Micromax in partnership with BSNL launched the Bharat 1.

So one thing for sure, feature phones are making a comeback in India. However, unlike yesteryear's feature phones these days offer a lot. For example, Reliance Jio phone allows you to use WhatsApp, surf internet and more. Now, M-tech, a manufacturer of affordable mobile phones, has just launched its new selfie feature phone in India. Dubbed as G24, the device looks pretty cute with its compact design.

The G24 is equipped with a 1,000mAh battery that is claimed to deliver 7 hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby time. It carries dual-SIM support and supports five languages; English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and Bengali. The M-tech G24 is fitted with a 1.8-inch QQVGA display.

The key highlight of the device is the dual digital camera for taking pictures. As for memory, it comes with 16GB of expandable internal storage space. In addition, the G24 packs a host of useful features like MP3/MP4/WAV player, wireless FM radio, Bluetooth, audio/video recording, auto call record and torch light among others.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Goutam Kumar Jain, Director, M-tech Informatics Ltd, said; "We are a leading brand in the feature phone segment. Our latest offering, the G24 selfie phone packs a stunning design, powerful battery back-up, functionality and affordability, all in one product. Further bridging the gap between technology adoption and language, the G24 offers support in 5 languages. We are optimistic that our customers and channel partners will certainly love our new offering".

As for the pricing, you can buy the M-tech G24 at just Rs. 899. Offered in 5 colors Black, Red, Blue, Grey and Brown, the handset is available across the country at 20,000 retail points of all formats and leading e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart.

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Qualcomm to review unsolicited buyout proposal from Broadcom News oi -GizBot Bureau

A couple of days ago, news related to Broadcom's interest on acquiring one of the most well-known chipset maker - Qualcomm hit the web. However, the report was not official and was vague.

Now, Qualcomm has confirmed that it has received a non-binding, unsolicited proposal from Broadcom Limited to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Qualcomm for per share consideration of $60.00 in cash and $10.00 in Broadcom stock.

The Qualcomm Board of Directors, in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, will assess the proposal in order to pursue the course of action that is in the best interests of Qualcomm shareholders. Qualcomm will have no further comment until its Board of Directors has completed its review.

Broadcom reportedly planning to buy Qualcomm for 0 billion

Qualcomm's Board and management have continued to execute on its strategy to position the company for the next phase of profitable growth by making focused investments to extend its leadership in mobile into new opportunities, while maintaining financial discipline and a robust capital return program.

Qualcomm has significant opportunities to drive substantial additional value for its shareholders as its technology and product roadmap move into new industries.

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Samsung is strengthening its retail network: Opens 10 new exclusive stores in India News oi -Samden Sherpa Samsung outlets will enable the brand to create more touch-points for customers while tapping into the huge demand for Samsung's innovative products in the region.

Samsung one of the most trusted Consumer Electronics brand in India has now announced that it is opening 10 new exclusive stores across Bengaluru, the IT hub of India to further expand its retail presence in the country as well as in the city.

This expansion basically reiterates its commitment which the company says is "Samsung will be wherever our consumers are." These outlets will enable the brand to create more touch-points for customers while tapping into the huge demand for Samsung's innovative products in the region.

The large experiential stores will be spread across 1,750 sqft-3,000 sqft in high footfall areas such as Whitefield, Hebbagodi, Peenya, Banashankari, Ramamurthy Nagar, Jaya Nagar and Marathalli. All 10 stores will be functional by end of December, making it the largest number of stores opened within three months.

As for the products, the stores will display the entire range of Samsung offerings like QLED TV, The Frame and other Televisions, FlexWash and other Washing Machines, Air-Conditioners, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Galaxy Note8 and other mobiles phone and wearables. The company is aiming to create a one-stop shopping experience while reinforcing Samsung's commitment to consumers.

Karnataka has always been an important region for Samsung's strategy to increase footprint in high-growth potential markets with good retail and service networks. Bengaluru being the state capital and among the premium, fastest-growing markets as well as the home of Samsung's Research and Development Centre, it receives the lion's share through its retail networks.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajeev Bhutani, Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business - Samsung India said, "Samsung has always been at the forefront of innovation that aims at creating products catering to the evolving needs of consumers. The reception for Samsung products has been overwhelming and we have witnessed tremendous demand from Bengaluru. The opening of 10 new brand shops will help us in reaching out to our customers at their convenience and also enable us to serve them better."

Samsung products are sold via 150,000 retail outlets across the country, built through 22 years of strong partnership. A robust distribution network and healthy relationship with retail partners has enabled Samsung to sustain its market leadership in various product categories. In the offline space, Samsung sells its product through Samsung Plaza, Samsung smart cafes, large retail format and multi-brand outlets.

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Ministry presses NMC to allocate seats to Nat'l Medical College

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has started putting pressure on the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) to allocate seats for the Kathmandu-based National Medical College, Kathmandu.
Officials Release Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 6, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting 14 strikes consisting of 33 engagements Nov. 4-5, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Yesterday in Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS missiles.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed an ISIS line of communication and a fighting position.

On Nov. 4, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 23 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS-held buildings, a command-and-control node, a weapons cache and an ISIS motorcycle.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two lines of communication, three ISIS vehicles, two fighting positions, a vehicle-borne bomb and an explosive hazard.

Strikes in Iraq

Yesterday in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets near Qayyarah, which destroyed two weapons caches.

On Nov. 4, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Qaim, which engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Syria on Nov. 3:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed five explosive hazards, four ISIS fighting positions, a command-and-control center and an ISIS motorcycle.

-- Near Shaddadi, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS fighting position.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.

For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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Army's 1st SFAB demonstrates readiness, experience with first combined field training exercise

By Staff Sgt. Sierra A. Melendez November 6, 2017

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Soldiers and leaders with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade conducted their first combined field training exercise, or FTX, at Fort Benning, Georgia, Oct. 16 - Oct. 27.

This FTX was the first time since the unit's inception in August that all six battalions and the brigade headquarters were able to merge their efforts together for a successful training exercise.

"All of our training so far has been individual training, whether it be the Military Advisor Training Academy, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training, our language training or foreign weapons," said Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Gunn, command sergeant major of the 1st SFAB. "This exercise has given us the opportunity to combine all of our small combat advisory teams in order to build the necessary bonds to make better advisory teams."

While FTX's are a dime a dozen throughout the Army, the 1st SFAB's exercise was unique in that their mission focus was centered on advise and assist efforts rather than traditional decisive action scenarios conducted in conventional units.

This pioneer unit is the first of its kind. Created with the intention to alleviate the enduring advise and assist mission load on brigade combat teams, the SFABs are new formations specially trained and built to enable combatant commanders to accomplish theater security objectives by training, advising, assisting, accompanying and enabling allied and partnered indigenous security forces.

"We ask the central question here and that's 'how does an advisory team fight?'" said Col. Scott Jackson, the commander of the 1st SFAB. "And it's different than how a rifle platoon fights. We have been using the past two weeks to shape that and figure that out."

Jackson stressed the importance of the 1st SFAB in a supporting role versus on the front-line conducing warfighting against near-peer threats.

"Our advisors are not in the lead, our foreign partners are in the lead," said Jackson. "We have to figure out how to position ourselves on the ground, integrate with them in order to make them better and more lethal but yet not be at the very front leading the fight. We're supporting the fight."

The desired end-state of the exercise was to help develop the unit into a well-trained fighting force to advise and assist partner forces abroad in austere environments -- a circumstance that is likely to be in the 1st SFAB's very near future.

Maj. Joseph Loar, the operations officer for 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 1st SFAB, hopes this particular training exercise will build proficiency for the unit's likely deployment overseas where they will be advising foreign partners on a battalion level.

"Our teams conducted call for fires, medical evacuations for both American and foreign allied wounded, and focused on getting our 12-man teams adept to advising in the most austere environments or more permanent locations such as forward operation bases," said Loar.

Loar said the FTX has showcased just how experienced the SFAB's senior leaders are -- which has made for a training exercise that stood out to many.

"Myself and many others here have said 'this has been the best field training exercise we have had throughout our entire careers' and I have been in 18 years now," said Loar. "The average years of experience from everyone is about 10 years, which has clearly been evident the past few weeks."

Soldiers interested in joining the 1st SFAB should contact their branch managers for more information on volunteering.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis November 06, 2017

Media Availability with Secretary Mattis en route to Finland

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JIM MATTIS: So I'll something on the record then I'll take a couple questions, okay?

But first of all, thanks again for coming out here (inaudible). I hope it's worthwhile.

But going to Finland and over to Brussels for NATO, some other business in the United Kingdom. In Finland participating in the Northern Group meeting and it's a forum of Nordics, Baltics, other European allies, not just the Nordic component. You'll see other people these as well.

They talk about security concerns. In other words, they look north, that if they're not -- as you know, NATO's looking east, NATO's looking south, NATO's actually looked out in the Med now for a change. But right now these guys, they -- they're focused on the north, and talking about building allies' capabilities and where we fit into this.

I do a lot of listening at something like this, more than I do a lot of talking. But it's the way I stay connected to see where we can maybe help them, how would we do it, training, telling them "You ought to come see something we're doing in the States," asking them if we can look more deeply at something we hear about. That sort of thing.

But it is an opportunity to reiterate: We stand by our friends, democracies, NATO and otherwise in Europe, if any nation, including Russia, seeks to undermine the rules-based international order. And we do have a lot of shared values, about sovereignty. You know that -- most of you know some of the history of Finland or a lot, and how they've had to fight to hang on to their freedom, their territory, self-determination.

You read it -- I like reading other nation's declarations of independence and constitutions. They're very, very interesting. You see the cultured come out. Some of the same themes keep coming back time after time, but they're in different words.

But we'll -- we'll just talk about how we can work together to boost the collective ability for self-defense, and with some of the NATO nations there as well. Obviously, NATO collective defense.

In Brussels at the defense ministerial, that means all of my counterparts are there. There's also sometimes other international organizations represented at some of the meetings. For example, the E.U. will be at our dinner; that sort of thing.

A lot of interest. A number of them wrote to me or sent me e-mails, called, and they want to hear more about North Korea. Very interesting.

One of the MODs said their capital is closer to North Korea than Washington, D.C., or Chicago. You know, I think we kind of -- excuse me. I'm sorry -- we kind of think of -- you know, we think of where we sit and look outwards. (inaudible) -- see themselves actually closer to danger than us. So it probably has something to do with that. They brought that up to me.

One of them who brought it up, said it had been brought up to him by another MOD. So it's not something just thought of only by a few.

But we will reaffirm the alliance. This is how we get together and talk about the most critical challenges. And, as you know, President Trump went there and said, "We're with you," that -- I think it was May or June, around that time frame. And so, there's been no more discussion about the things that sometimes characterize our -- (inaudible) -- going out in March or April, that sort of thing.

At the -- we'll also hold what's called a D-ISIS ministerial. This is most of the NATO Nations, if not all, but also nations like United Arab Emirates and Iraq; nations like that are also there. And basically talking about the operation against ISIS, and the operational progress and how we're engage going forward.

Right now I'd say probably at least two- thirds, maybe three-quarters of the questions I'm getting asked now is going forward. It's not about, "Are we going to be able to stop ISIS? Are we going to be able to overcome) ISIS?" Not that. "What's next? How is it looking?" And we'll get together.

Again I want to do a lot of listening to them, because you know this is on NATO's southern flank is where ISIS has been. But it's not over. The fight goes on. Even if the fight may shift more to how they do recruiting over the internet, or -- you know (getting over broader?) it's not just geography.

We'll -- we'll close out the trip in London. I want to meet my new secretary of -- my counterpart, Secretary of State for Defense David Williamson. Make certain that the commitment to the U.K.-U.S. alliance is very firm, firm setting. You never take these things for granted. You don't say, "Well, it's U.S.-U.K., so it's fine." You don't do that. You work at it. You always work at it. You want to leave it better than you found it.

And so, I think the theme that's probably most telling here is up in the Nordic area partners -- not all allies but partners certainly -- partners -- Finland and Sweden are two nations that have always taken their defense very, very seriously. And you look at the way they organize, trade and equip as a nation, and it comes through loud and clear.

I also think there's things I can learn while I'm up there with those two nations about how you work together on a bilateral basis. Sweden and Finland, obviously we have very strong relations with them, they're (actively) engaged in the D-ISIS fight, for example, and all.

And then down in Brussels the same thing. NATO allies -- how you work by with and through allies. And then when I go over to U.K., the longstanding U.S.-U.K. what we call the special relationship, how we maintain that and make it a little better.

So that's where I'm going, what I'm doing. I think you all probably know most of that. At least you knew where you were going when you got on the plane I hope.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1363944/

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Brunei, U.S. Deepen Security Partnerships Through CARAT

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171106-17

Release Date: 11/6/2017 10:23:00 AM

From Task Force 73 Public Affairs

MUARA, Brunei (NNS) -- The armed forces from the United States and Brunei kicked off the 23rd annual Cooperational Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercise Nov 6 at Muara Naval Base.

CARAT Brunei features 5 days of shore-based and at-sea training events designed to address shared maritime security priorities, develop professional relationships, and enhance cooperation between the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The exercise ends Nov 10.

"Our relationship with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces continues to flourish and is deepened by the broad exchanges of skills, culture, and friendship that have made CARAT a comprehensive and meaningful exercise for both nations over the last 23 years," said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, Commander, Task Force 73. "Our longstanding ties show the commitment of the U.S. Navy, partnering with like-minded nations to promote peace, stability, security and prosperity across the region."

Key events during CARAT Brunei include subject matter expert exchanges in port security, aviation and surface warfare, diving and salvage, military medicine, law, public affairs, along with a comprehensive at sea exercise. Additionally, U.S. Marines will work alongside soldiers from the Royal Brunei Landing Force (RBLF) during a jungle warfare exercise and the U.S. 7th Fleet band will perform alongside their Royal Brunei Navy counterparts during community relations engagements.

Participating U.S. Navy assets include USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3), USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, staff from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 73 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and the U.S. 7th Fleet Band.

As one of the original CARAT partners, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces have participated in CARAT since the exercise series began in 1995. The United States and Brunei have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1845, when the USS Constitution dropped anchor in the Brunei Bay.

"We are honored to host our friends and partners from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in Brunei for this 23rd iteration of CARAT," said Lt Col Isamaon Bin Zainie, Chief of Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters. "The training and cultural exchanges we conduct during this exercise enhance our tactical skills and build long lasting friendships between our forces."

CARAT is just one element of the longstanding U.S.-Brunei defense partnership, which also includes annual ship visits, staff talks, and Royal Brunei Navy participation in the U.S. led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT), a multilateral exercise that involves navies and coast guards from 11 regional nations. This year, portions of SEACAT were conducted at the multinational coordination center (MNCC) in Brunei.

"We are pleased to have another opportunity to operate with our friends and partners from the Royal Brunei Navy," said Capt Matthew Jerbi, Deputy Commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. "We have built meaningful relationships at the operator level with our Royal Brunei counterparts through CARAT that enables our navies to work effectively together and learn from each other in ways that benefit both nations."

As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, Commander, Task Force 73 and DESRON 7 conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises and engagements, such as Pacific Partnership, the bilateral CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam and the multi-lateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT).

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USS Ashland Completes Blue Chromite, Departs Okinawa

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171106-12

Release Date: 11/6/2017 10:14:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) departed Okinawa, Nov. 4, after completing of a series of amphibious operations as part of Exercise Blue Chromite 18.

Blue Chromite is a joint field training exercise held annually between all U.S. military services, though primarily focused on the Navy and Marine Corps, to strengthen naval integration and tactical proficiencies in amphibious warfare.

Ashland embarked nearly 300 Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (1/3) who have been deployed to Okinawa for several months from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The two services worked together to coordinate an amphibious assault, Nov. 2, which culminated the exercise. The amphibious assault featured 12 amphibious assault vehicles landing on a beach in Okinawa and an assortment of artillery, vehicles and personnel coming ashore via landing craft utility (LCU) - all craft departing from Ashland.

"Coordination with the Navy plays an integral part in successful amphibious operations," said Lt. Col. Jeremiah Salame, commanding officer of 1/3 Marines. "We are grateful to the crew of the USS Ashland for their support of Exercise Blue Chromite 18."

Blue Chromite 18 was the first time 1/3 Marines have worked with amphibious ships since they have been deployed in theater. Ashland and other ships of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 routinely partner with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the forward-deployed MEU based out of Okinawa, but had not previously trained with 1/3 Marines.

Despite the unfamiliarity in working together, both units achieved mission accomplishment in executing the amphibious assault by focusing on fundamentals of amphibious operations.

"In a short period of time, we were able to establish a great working relationship, identify mission essential tasks and solidify a plan that would ensure Blue-Green success," said Cmdr. Patrick German, Ashland's executive officer.

German, who has worked with amphibious operations since 2003, said it's beneficial for a crew to treat every exercise as if it were the first.

"The first time you do an exercise you're double checking everything, sometimes triple checking, just to make sure everything is dialed in," said German. "Approach every exercise as though you're doing it for the very first time, no matter how many times you've done it, making sure everyone knows when, where and what the expectations are."

Part of the Amphibious Force 7th Fleet amphibious ships based in Sasebo, Japan, Ashland has been on a routine deployment for the past five months as a ready-response asset for any of contingency.

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USS O'Kane Deploys to Western Pacific

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171106-02

Release Date: 11/6/2017 9:02:00 AM

From Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS O'Kane (DDG 77) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for an independent deployment to the Western Pacific, Nov. 3.

O'Kane has a crew of nearly 330 Sailors, officer and enlisted, and is a multi-mission ship designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group.

While deployed, the ship will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. Having steadily worked through a sustainment cycle, the ship's commanding officer is confident in his ship and crew's performance.

"The crew has worked hard over the past several months, participating in advanced level exercises and improving the material condition to be ready for our deployment," said Cmdr. Colby Sherwood, commanding officer of O'Kane. "I am proud of the resiliency of these Sailors and all they have accomplished to maintain O'Kane's readiness. We look forward to operating with our allies and partners from around the world again."

O'Kane is named after Adm. Richard O'Kane, a Medal of Honor recipient, as the aggressive commanding officer of USS Tang (SS 306) during World War II. USS O'Kane was last deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2014.

O'Kane is part of U.S. 3rd Fleet and U.S. Naval Surface Forces. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

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Lebanese president calls for national unity after Hariri resignation

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 06:01PM

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has appealed for national unity as the Middle Eastern nation is suffering from the aftershocks of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's sudden announcement resignation.

According to a statement released by presidential office on Monday, Aoun made the comment at a meeting of ministers and top security officials at Baabda Palace earlier in the day, saying he had told them that political leaders had been responsive to calls for calm.

Aoun "stressed that security, economic, financial, and political stability is a red line," Justice Minister Salim Jreissati said after the meeting.

The development came as 47-year-old Hariri, who reached an agreement with political factions in Lebanon in 2016 to become prime minister, announced his unexpected resignation through a televised statement from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, citing numerous reasons, including fears for his life.

Hariri also accused Iran and the Hezbollah resistance movement of interfering in internal affairs of Arab countries. His decision came less than a month after Hariri announced plans to join a coalition government with Hezbollah.

Iran has vehemently rejected Hariri's remarks, saying his resignation and rehashing of the "unfounded and baseless" allegations regularly leveled by Zionists, Saudis and the US were another scenario to create new tensions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Elsewhere in his remarks on Monday, Jreissati said that the Lebanese president "is waiting for Hariri's return to hear from him personally. This indicates a sovereign vision... and that the resignation must be voluntary in every sense," signaling that the Lebanese government regards the sudden move as involuntary.

Aoun also planned to meet the finance minister and central bank governor later in the day. The central bank has sought to calm fears that the current political turmoil would hit Lebanon's already vulnerable economy.

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At least seven killed in two separate attacks in Mali

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 05:53PM

A series of attacks have left at least seven people dead and several others injured in Mali as militants continue to wreak havoc across the West African country.

In the first attack, at least four people lost their lives after a bus traveling in the restive north was blown by a mine on Monday. Local officials said the deadly incident happened near Ansongo, a small town about 100 kilometers from Gao, the regional hub.

"At least four civilians, including a teenage girl, were killed. There were injured as well," said a Malian military officer in the area.

A local official said that it was militants who "laid the bomb in order to terrorize local people, whom they accuse of providing information to the security forces."

Oumar Guire, a member of the Gao region transport association, said passengers were heading to a weekly fair in a location several dozen kilometers from Ansongo when the attack took place.

Another attack in the country's center killed at least three civilians as two trucks chartered by the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) came under assault.

"The trucks were then burnt by the attackers," a customs official said, adding that the driver of one of the vehicles was among the casualties.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga canceled a visit to the central town of Niafounke after one of the security vehicles being sent to the prime ministerial team hit a mine.

An official from the Timbuktu governorate said, "A soldier lost a leg and two others suffered fractures."

"As a precautionary measure, the prime minister's visit was canceled."

The official also noted that three other landmines had been found near the site of the explosion.

In 2012, key cities in Mali's north fell under the control of militant groups linked to al-Qaeda, who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising.

Though the extremists were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups continue to mount attacks on civilians and security forces in the arid remote north.

In mid-2015, a peace accord was signed with Tuareg leaders aimed at isolating the militants. But much of the region remains lawless, despite efforts by Mali's army, French soldiers and MINUSMA.

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China slams Indian minister's visit to disputed border region

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 03:29PM

China has objected to a visit by India's defense minister to the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed region administered by New Delhi but claimed by Beijing, saying the move would block efforts in maintaining peace in the region.

The objection on Monday came a day after Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the remote Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh to take stock of defense preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto, but disputed border between the two countries.

The Indian defense minister also tweeted pictures of her visit, including her meeting with Indian army officers.

"An Indian official going to a disputed region on the China-India border will perhaps make the issue even more complex, and is not beneficial to efforts by both parties to maintain peace and tranquility on the border," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

"We hope India can work with China to continue to use talks to appropriately resolve the border issue via negotiation and create good conditions and atmosphere," she added.

Last month, Sitharaman also paid a visit to Nathu La area on the India-China border and greeted the Chinese Army soldiers across the border.

Beijing and New Delhi's representatives have held 19 rounds of talks to resolve the dispute over Arunachal Pradesh claimed by China as "southern Tibet." India rejects China's claims on sovereignty.

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Narrow escape

Deepaks story is one of hardship and tragedy, and it is unfortunately a narrative that is all too common amongst Nepali migrant workers.
1.25 million face starvation in conflict-torn S Sudan: Report

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 10:59AM

More than a million people are "dying of hunger" in South Sudan, which has been grappling with more than four years of violence, an official report says.

According to a joint report by the United Nations and the South Sudanese government released on Monday, some 1.25 million people in the country are facing starvation.

As of September, 6 million people  56 percent of the population  were experiencing severe hunger, with 25,000 South Sudanese in humanitarian catastrophe in Ayod and Greater Baggari counties.

Both Ayod and Baggari are rebel-held areas where locals say the situation is dire.

"We ran out because of the hunger," said a resident of Baggari who recently fled with his family to the nearby town of Wau because they did not have anything to eat.

In February, South Sudan had declared famine in two counties in Unity State, where 100,000 people were on the brink of starvation, but thanks to early detection and a rapid response, a humanitarian catastrophe was avoided, said the World Food Program.

Humanitarian agencies blame the worsening situation in South Sudan on the ongoing conflict in the country, which is nearing its fifth year and has killed more than 50,000 people. The fighting has made food production impossible. The war prevents safe and easy distribution of food aid, as well.

They have warned that the war-torn country could once again plunge into famine in 2018.

"The widespread and extreme food consumption gaps ... should make us all extremely concerned about the worst case scenario of famine in many locations across South Sudan in 2018," said Katie Rickard, country coordinator for REACH, a humanitarian research initiative that provided data for the report.

Rights groups are calling on all parties of the conflict to provide immediate and unfettered access to humanitarian agencies.

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Lebanon to only consider 'voluntary' resignation from Hariri

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 10:07AM

Lebanese Justice Minister Salim Jreissati says Saad Hariri, who announced his resignation as Lebanon's prime minister from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, should return to the country and his resignation should be "voluntary" to be formally considered by President Michel Aoun.

Hariri reached an agreement with political factions in Lebanon in 2016 to become prime minister. But he said he was stepping down in an abrupt announcement broadcast from Riyadh on Saturday, in what has been widely seen as a move taken under Saudi pressure.

After a meeting of high-level officials chaired by President Aoun, Jreissati said on Monday that Hariri's resignation "must be voluntary in every sense," signaling that the Lebanese government regards the sudden move as involuntary.

Jreissati said the president would not be taking any action regarding Hariri's resignation until he returned.

"The president is waiting for Hariri's return to hear from him personally. This indicates a sovereign vision and that the resignation must be voluntary in every sense," the Lebanese justice minister said.

He also said Aoun had said that Lebanon's stability was a "red line" and had to be preserved.

Speaking in a televised address from Saudi Arabia, Hariri said he feared for his life, and accused Iran and the Hezbollah resistance movement of interfering in the affairs of Arab countries. Iran and Hezbollah both reject the accusations.

The Lebanese army also said on Sunday that no assassination plot had been uncovered in Lebanon.

Hariri had already made two visits to Saudi Arabia, which has taken a hostile approach toward Iran and Hezbollah. Iranian military advisors and Hezbollah fighters have been successfully helping the Syrian government fight a foreign-backed militancy in Syria. Saudi Arabia supports many of the extremist militant groups fighting Damascus and opposes President Bashar al-Assad's elected government.

Hariri's resignation is also largely seen as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to undermine Hezbollah.

The Lebanese president last Monday stressed Iran's significant role as a "regional power" in the Middle East and defended Hezbollah's possession of arms.

On Sunday, Hezbollah's secretary general also said that Hariri's resignation had not been voluntary. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah noted that the real reason for Hariri's resignation had to be sought in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported on Monday that Saudi King Salman had met with Hariri. It did not provide details.

Saudi minister rejoices over Hariri's resignation

A Saudi minister, Thamer al-Sabhan, has made upbeat remarks about Hariri's resignation, saying Lebanon "will never be the same" after his resignation.

"Lebanon, after the resignation, will never be as it was before. We will not allow it  in any form  to be a platform for terrorism against our countries and it's in the hands of its leaders to allow for a state of terrorism or peace," Sabhan reportedly tweeted on Monday.

Sabhan had been assigned as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Iraq before Baghdad asked Riyadh to change him because he was interfering in Iraqi domestic affairs. Sabhan was then named the Saudi minister of state for Persian Gulf affairs.

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Saudi Arabia threatens Iran after Yemen missile strike

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 06:12AM

Saudi Arabia has ramped up threats to Iran, saying there will be a response "in the appropriate time and manner," following a missile strike from neighboring Yemen, which has been under a nonstop bombardment campaign by a Saudi-led coalition for over two and a half years.

The coalition, which includes a number of Saudi Arabia's vassal states under its command, said in a statement on Sunday that Iran was to blame for a Yemeni missile strike on Riyadh earlier in the day.

That missile was fired by the Houthi Ansarullah movement, which together with allied Yemeni army factions and tribal fighters has been fighting off the Saudi-led coalition. Riyadh and its allies accuse the Houthis of receiving financial and arms support from Iran. The Islamic Republic rejects the accusations, but is supportive of the Yemeni defensive campaign against the Saudi invasion.

The Saudi-led coalition went further in its Sunday statement, claiming that the Houthis were under Iran's "direct command."

"Therefore, the coalition's command considers this a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime, and could rise to be considered as an act of war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it said, referring to the Yemeni missile strike. "The coalition command also affirms that the kingdom reserves its right to respond to Iran in the appropriate time and manner."

Saudi Arabia has been pursuing an open warmongering policy toward Iran. Earlier this year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman threatened to move the "battle" to Iran.

Obviously, such bellicose rhetoric has not remained unanswered. Iranian authorities have all along made sure that Saudi royals realize that aggression of any magnitude will be reciprocated.

The Saudi-led coalition invaded Yemen in March 2015 to reinstall a former regime that had been friendly to Saudi Arabia. It also imposed a land, aerial, and naval blockade on the already-impoverished country.

Despite the Saudi-led coalition's superior military power, the Houthis and their allies have been successfully defending the country, turning a war Saudi Arabia had hoped to finish in a matter of weeks into a quagmire that Riyadh continues to be stuck in almost three years later.

Upward of 12,000 people have been killed in the Saudi-led war; and much of Yemen's infrastructure, including factories, roads, and even hospitals, has been destroyed. The coalition has been blamed, including by its Western countries, for mounting civilian casualties in Yemen and a cholera epidemic in the country.

Officials from the United States, which assists the Saudi-led coalition, have admitted that incompetent Saudi pilots, fearing ground fire, have been flying their jets so high that they can't deliver weapons accurately, causing even bigger civilian casualties.

Yemen has been firing missiles at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the massive civilian casualties caused by the coalition bombing.

The Sunday launch was of a Borkan H2 long-distance missile that targeted the King Khalid international airport in northeastern Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia claimed it had intercepted the missile. US President Donald Trump said "our system" took the missile down, apparently referring to the US-made Patriot missile system purchased by Saudi Arabia.

He also said, "A shot was just taken by Iran, in my opinion, at Saudi Arabia."

Iran has denied that it supplies Houthis with weapons. The Saudi-led coalition itself says it has entirely blockaded Yemen.

Following the Sunday missile strike, the coalition said it would be tightening the embargo.

Iran says had no role

Also on Sunday, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Trump's allegation that Iran had had a role in the Yemeni missile strike on Riyadh was "baseless." Major General Jafari said Iran had no means of transferring missiles to Yemen.

The Houthis, too, say the missiles are locally produced.

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami also rejected allegations of Iranian involvement in the missile attack.

This is while the US, under Trump, has agreed to sell Saudi Arabia 350 billion dollars in arms over a period of 10 years. A 110-billion-dollar tranche was scheduled for quicker delivery.

Iranian officials are yet to comment on the latest Saudi threat.

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Saudis, Iran Trade Barbs After Huthi Ballistic-Missile Launch

RFE/RL November 06, 2017

Saudi Arabia and Iran have exchanged accusations over the launch of a ballistic missile by Shi'ite Huthi rebels from Yemen toward the Saudi capital, with Riyadh saying the attack could be considered an "act of war" and Tehran accusing its Middle Eastern rival of war crimes.

A Saudi-led military coalition closed off land, sea, and air access to Yemen on November 6 after the ballistic missile targeted Riyadh two days earlier. It said the temporary closings would "take into account" the work of humanitarian groups.

The diplomatic barbs come amid simmering tensions between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is predominantly Shi'ite. The two sides are on opposite sides of several disputes across the Middle East.

"Iranian interventions in the region are detrimental to the security of neighboring countries and affect international peace and security. We will not allow any infringement on our national security," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir tweeted.

The Saudi-led coalition earlier said that "Iran's role and its direct command of its Huthi proxy in this matter constitutes a clear act of aggression that targets neighboring countries, and threatens peace and security in the region and globally."

"Therefore, the coalition's command considers this a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime, and could rise to be considered as an act of war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the statement said.

The Saudis said they shot down the missile before it hit its target.

Iran countered the Saudi accusations by saying rebels fired the missile in retaliation for Saudi "war crimes" and that the accusations by the coalition were "unjust, irresponsible, destructive, and provocative."

An Iranian Foreign Ministry statement quoted spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying on November 6 that the missile attack was "an independent action in response to this aggression" and that Iran had nothing to do with it.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, and Sudan have supplied assets to the alliance led by Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally.

The coalition was formed in 2015 to fight the Huthis after the rebels overran Yemen's capital, Sanaa, the previous year and forced the Saudi-backed government to flee into exile.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-arabia-iran- yemen-houthi-missile/28837200.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Leaked Documents Tie U.S. Commerce Chief To Firm With Russia Links

RFE/RL November 06, 2017

A massive leak of financial documents indicates that U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has an investment in a shipping firm that has links to a company controlled by associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dubbed the Paradise Papers, the documents released on November 5 by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) also showed that state-controlled Russian giants Gazprom and VTB Bank made large investments in U.S. tech firms.

Among other things, leaked papers also revealed that Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has some $13 million in investments in offshore portfolios.

The U.S.-based ICIJ was behind the release of the so-called Panama Papers in 2016, in which documents from a Panama-based law firm revealed detailed information on offshore accounts of many world leaders and wealthy individuals.

The Paradise Papers material came from two offshore service providers and the company registries of 19 tax havens. It was obtained by the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the ICIJ with partners including The Guardian, the BBC, The New York Times, and dozens of other news agencies that analyzed the information.

The documents were shared with multiple news outlets because of the high volume of information involved in what was called Project Paradise.

Ross and Queen Elizabeth were the biggest names involved in examinations of the first batch of the 13.4 million files. There was no indication either person's activities were illegal, although Ross's connections to Russian interests could increase the scrutiny that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is already facing and lead to questions about conflicts of interest.

Potential links between Trump associates and Russia have come under scrutiny amid multiple U.S. investigations into Moscow's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the question of whether associates of Trump may have colluded with Russia. The U.S. president denies there was any collusion and has called the probes a "witch hunt."

Complex Web Of Companies

The documents indicate Ross, a billionaire investor, maintained ties after taking office with a shipping company that has links to associates of Putin.

Ross, 79, once had a large stake in Navigator Holdings, a shipping company that transports gas for Russian energy firm Sibur.

Sibur is partially owned by Gennady Timchenko, a friend of Putin's who is under U.S. sanctions over Russian aggression in Ukraine, and by Putin's son-in-law, Kirill Shamalov, The New York Times reported.

Ross's private equity firm has been the biggest shareholder in Navigator.

His personal share of the firm's stake was reduced when he took office in February, although his U.S. government filings show his holdings are still valued at $2 million to $10 million.

The New York Times reported that Ross's stake in Navigator has been held by a complex web of companies in the Cayman Islands.

Commerce Department spokesman James Rockas said Ross "was not involved with Navigator's decision to engage in business with Sibur, a publicly traded company, which was not under sanction at the time and is not currently."

"Moreover, Secretary Ross has never met the Sibur shareholders referenced in this story and, until now, did not know of their relationship," he added.

According to a BBC journalist who interviewed Ross, the U.S. commerce secretary said there was nothing improper about his investments in Sibur.

"The fact that [Sibur] happens to be called a Russian company does not mean there's any evil in it," the journalist said on Twitter on November 6, reporting the content of the interview.

Russian Social-Media Investments

In another revelation involving Russia, the ICIJ said the documents show that Yuri Milner, a Russian citizen who is a large investor in Silicon Valley tech companies, got $191 million from the state-controlled VTB Bank and invested the money in Twitter. The New York Times reported that the backing of VTB, which Russia often uses for "politically strategic deals," was "obscured by a maze of offshore shell companies."

The documents also show that a financial subsidiary of Gazprom, the state-controlled Russian natural-gas giant, funded a shell company that invested in a company that was affiliated with Milner and held roughly $1 billion in Facebook shares shortly before Facebook's 2012 initial public offering.

Russian-backed fake-news stories and divisive political ads placed on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks have become a major focus of the U.S. probes into what U.S. intelligence officials have said was a campaign ordered by President Vladimir Putin in an effort to undermine faith in the U.S. electoral system, denigrate Democratic 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and help Trump.

Milner told the ICIJ that he was unaware of any involvement by Gazprom subsidiary Gazprom Investholding in any of his deals.

In an open letter on November 6, he said any suggestions of attempting to influence U.S. politics would be "so far-fetched, it's hard to take them seriously."

"The idea that we were working on Russia's behalf to turn social media against U.S. democracy is a fairy tale, for many reasons," he wrote.

"The events surrounding last year's election are a serious matter indeed, and having grown up behind the Iron Curtain, I have a particular appreciation for democratic institutions," Milner added.

The ICIJ also said that Milner more recently invested $850,000 in Cadre, a real estate fund that was co-founded by Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, according to the Paradise Papers. Milner told the ICIJ that he used his own money for the investment.

Also, according to the BBC, the documents also show that Kremlin-connected tycoon Alisher Usmanov may have a secret stake in a company responsible for making anti-money-laundering due diligence on companies it administers.

The BBC reported that Usmanov is a client of Bridgewaters and said that it would constitute a conflict of interest if he also owns a stake. Usmanov and Bridgewaters "strongly deny" that the Russian owns or controls the company, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, the papers indicate that millions of dollars of Queen Elizabeth's private funds were invested into funds in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda by the Duchy of Lancaster, which provides her with an income and handles investments for her $650 million private estate.

Analysts said that, while there did not appear to be anything illegal with the investment activity and no indication that she avoided taxes, the Queen could face criticism for investing offshore instead of within Britain.

With reporting by the BBC, AP, The Guardian, dpa, AFP, and The New York Times

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia- wilbur-ross-putin-sibur-navigator- paradise-papers/28837167.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Thousands In Romania Protest Against Planned Changes To Judicial System

November 06, 2017

Thousands of people across Romania demonstrated against planned judicial reforms that critics say will weaken the country's anticorruption measures.

Media reports said at least 20,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the government headquarters in the capital, Bucharest, on November 5, then marched to the parliament chanting, "thieves."

Protesters say the proposed changes could put the justice system more directly under government control and weaken efforts to fight endemic corruption in the country. They also claim the changes would benefit members of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD).

Protests were reported in at least 13 other towns and cities, the Mediafax news agency said.

The parliamentary bill would reduce the powers of the anticorruption prosecutor's office (DNA) and prevent it from investigating magistrates.

The demonstrations hark back to protests that erupted after the PSD government attempted to soften anticorruption laws in early 2017.

The protests peaked on February 4 with an estimated at 330,000 people on the streets across the country, making them the largest demonstrations in Romania since the 1989 fall of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

The protests forced the PSD-led government to repeal an emergency decree that critics said would have weakened anticorruption efforts.

Both the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have pressed the Romania government to do more to fight corruption.

The European Commission has warned the government that the plan to overhaul its justice system could undermine those efforts.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romanian-protests-corruption- judicial-changes/28837613.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UAE May Get US F-35s After All, Despite Regional Concerns

Sputnik News

23:56 06.11.2017

US President Donald Trump is finally going to consider selling the United Arab Emirates the F-35s the nation has sought for years, according to a new report.

Abu Dhabi has been requesting permission to buy the radar-evading jet since at least 2013, a senior US State Department official told Reuters at the time, but the US has been reluctant to sell the aircraft to Middle East partners other than Israel. According to Defense News, the UAE's interest in procuring the fifth-generation jet dates back to 2011, before the aircraft had even reached operational capability in the US military.

Washington's reluctance to sign off on deliveries to the UAE reportedly drove the oil-rich nation to seek military equipment from Russia instead. Rostec head Sergey Chemezov has held negations with the UAE regarding a potential deal to export Su-35S Flanker-E fighters since at least 2015, Sputnik News reported.

But for now, at least in principle, "the Trump team has agreed to consider" the UAE's request, a Defense Department official told Defense News November 4.

"It's not a 'yes' yet," the official stressed, "but I'm pretty sure it's going to happen once the dust settles."

The "dust" referred to by the DoD official would be the ongoing spat between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, Defense News explains.

Israel could also be expected to kick up some dust of its own. The Trump administration remains legally committed to upholding Israel's qualitative military edge, a duty US officials have repeatedly resworn themselves to. House Resolution 7177, the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008, included a provision amending the Arms Export Control Act "to require any certification relating to a proposed sale or export of defense articles or services to a Middle Eastern country other than Israel to include a determination that such sale or export will not adversely affect Israel's qualitative military edge."

Israel may not have major objections to the UAE receiving F-35s. While Israel and the UAE "are not allies, not even friends  if anyone thinks that the UAE will use this airplane to attack Israel, he or she is not living in reality," Shoshana Bryen, director at the Jewish Policy Center in Washington, told Defense News.

What's more, in May, the UAE and US signed a new defense accord that Defense Secretary James Mattis said "marks a new chapter in our partnership and reflects the breadth and depth of our ongoing cooperation."

 Sputnik

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China Unveils Titanic Dredger That Can Create New Islands 'Like Magic'

Sputnik News

23:16 06.11.2017(updated 23:20 06.11.2017)

Beijing has unveiled an all-new dredger specialized to quickly create new islands in the disputed South China Sea. The monstrous machine is capable of dredging massive quantities of rock from the ocean floor, allowing it to create new islands like "magic" as China pursues land reclamation initiatives in the disputed waterway.

The Tian Kun Hao undertook its first water tests on Friday. Named after a massive fish in Chinese mythology, the ship is 460 feet long and can mine 212,000 cubic feet of sediment from the ocean floor every hour  enough to fill three olympic swimming pools.

Sediment can then be fired as far as 15 miles away to create new islands via land reclamation. This will allow Beijing to create new islands with incredible speed, making them appear as though by "magic."

The Tian Kun Hao is a cutter suction type dredger, meaning it extends a pipe with a blade on the end to the ocean floor. The blade hacks pieces of sediment off, and they are then suctioned up the pipe. This type was chosen for specific use in the South China Sea, according to chief engineer Zhang Xiaofeng. "For example, there are many hard coral reefs on the sea floor of the South China Sea," Zhang told state media.

The South China Sea, a strategically and economically key maritime region, is disputed between numerous Asian nations. Beijing is particularly interested in land reclamation there to support construction projects it launched in the area starting in 2013.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim some shred of the region  but China has aggressively pushed their claim through the construction of artificial islands around the disputed Spratly Islands and military exercises throughout the sea.

While Beijing argues that the only purpose of these formations is to aid with navigation, weather forecasts and fishing, rivals such as the US and ASEAN argue that the islands are meant to be used as PRC military bases.

The Philippines, which in 2016 took China to the International Court of Arbitration over competing claims in the South China Sea, has expressed concern over the Tian Kun's island-building potential. "The mere presence is a little bit concerning," Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters. "Where it is going, we do not know."

"We are constantly monitoring the movement of the ship. We have also our air patrol going regularly, so we will be able to monitor movement of this so-called very big dredger ship."

But China is unlikely to build more around the Spratly Islands, as that would endanger a tenuous friendship they have fostered with erstwhile rival Manila. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, a US think tank, said in August that China's land reclamation has shifted to the Paracel Islands instead. That land is disputed between China and Vietnam, a nation that Beijing has been frequently at odds with.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong said on Friday that China and Vietnam had hashed out a peaceful resolution to the dispute, and will continue to communicate to address any future conflicts. However, Chinese military forces remain deployed on the Paracel Islands.

Complicating the clashing territory claims in the South China Sea are US and Indian Navy vessels patrolling and performing military exercises in the key maritime region. Washington argues that these exercises are to ensure Freedom of Navigation  the right for ships to travel through international waters without being harassed  is being respected.

By calling the South China Sea international waters, the US is also tacitly denying the Chinese claims to sovereignty over the region. Unsurprisingly, Beijing has not been pleased.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang slammed the US operations in the region in September. "For some time now, some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea," Kang said. "Actually, I think this is behavior that has threatened the sovereignty of South China Sea countries."

Beijing has been endlessly incensed by the presence of the US Navy in what they consider to be their sovereign waters, and increases in tensions between the two powers have often been marked with increased military operations in the South China Sea.

In mid-October, the USS Chafee, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed close to the Paracel Islands, some of which are home to Chinese military bases. US defense officials told Reuters that the mission was to challenge Beijing's "excessive maritime claims" in the region.

 Sputnik

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'Fat Leonard' Corruption Probe Ensnares Additional 60 US Navy Admirals

Sputnik News

22:00 06.11.2017(updated 21:48 06.11.2017)

The "Fat Leonard" corruption scandal has expanded to include 60 US Navy admirals, bringing the total of active and retired military officials under review to 440.

According to the Washington Post, the US Navy's caseload has grown as the US Justice Department handed them cases of certain individuals "who did not meet the threshold for prosecution in civilian courts, but may have committed offenses under the military justice system."

Though the names of those under review have been kept secret to avoid compromising the ongoing case, Kenneth Blanco, acting assistant attorney general for the DOJ, has spoken out and condemned the scandal.

"The defendants in this indictment were entrusted with the honor and responsibility of administering the operations of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, which is tasked with protecting our nation by guarding an area of responsibility that spanned from Russia to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean," Blanco said in a statement obtained by the International Business Times. "With this honor and awesome responsibility came a duty to make decisions based on the best interests of the Navy and the 40,000 sailors and Marines under their care who put their lives at risk every day to keep us secure and free."

"Unfortunately, however, these defendants are alleged to have sold their honor and responsibility in exchange for personal enrichment," Blanco added.

Considered one of the worst corruption cases in the US Navy's history, the "Fat Leonard" scandal revolves around Leonard Glenn Francis, a Malaysian defense contractor who bribed officers with money, sex workers, vacations and even tickets to a Lady Gaga concert, the IB Times reported.

In exchange for the lavish gifts, service members would in turn provide Francis with locations of US ships and submarines, navy contracts and even tip him off whenever an investigation was launched into his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. The company had previously been under investigation for profiting from supplying vessels in ports in Vladivostok and Brisbane, the Times added.

The Justice Department has filed criminal charges against 28 people, including two admirals, while the Navy has only charged five people, none of them admirals, the Post reported.

The Post report also added that 230 people of those under review were by no means guilty of misconduct, as the Navy discovered there were "extenuating circumstances that excused their actions." Forty other cases in which officials violated ethics rules or regulations were ultimately dealt with administratively  meaning no criminal charges were included in their punishment.

The 53-year-old contractor, often called "Leonard the Legend" for his wild parties and "Fat Leonard" for weighing roughly 360 pounds, pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing dozens of Navy officials and defrauding the US government more than $35 million dollars. Francis, who is currently booked in a San Diego prison, is still awaiting his sentencing.

 Sputnik

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Parties to 'brutal conflict' in Yemen must respect international humanitarian law - UN official

6 November 2017  Expressing horror at continued violence perpetrated by all parties to the conflict in Yemen, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the country has called on the conflicting sides to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

"In particular, I ask [the parties] to adhere to the principles of distinction between civilians and combatants and proportionality in the conduct of hostilities and refrain from directing attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, in a statement Sunday.

"I also reiterate my calls on States who have influence over the parties to step up their engagement to bring about a political solution to the crisis," he added.

Last week alone, at least thirteen children were among those killed in the war-torn country, including six among 31 people who were killed in an air strike that struck a busy night market in Sahar district in Sa'ada governorate. At least 26 other people were injured.

On 2 November, shelling in a residential area in Al Onsowa neighbourhood in Taizz city killed five children and injured two others. All the children killed or injured were between seven and 15 years old.

There are also reports that on 3 November house in Baqim district in Sa'ada governorate was hit in an air strike, killing a whole family of seven people, including two children and two women.

"These latest events are unfortunately part of the tragic pattern of the disregard that the parties to the conflict continue to show for the laws of war and their obligations and responsibilities to protect civilians' lives," noted Mr. McGoldrick.

"All parties to this brutal conflict must act in the interest of the people of Yemen and in line with international humanitarian law," he underscored.

The conflict in the country, now into its third year, has killed thousands and driven millions from their homes. Hostilities have also left over 17 million Yemenis food insecure, over a third of the country's district in severe danger of famine, destroyed infrastructure and resulted in the breakdown of public services, especially water and sanitation systems.

Lack of water and sanitation systems has also resulted in a devastating cholera outbreak, which has already killed more than 2,100 individuals and continues to infect thousands each week.

"We must all do whatever we can to bring the horrendous suffering of the people of Yemen to an end as soon as possible," said Mr. McGoldrick.

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NEA mulling ways to hire contractor

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been mulling ways to hire a contractor to complete the stalled Dhalkebar substation since firing the original contractor, Central Power Grid International Economic and Trade Corporation of China, over delays.
AMISOM Launches Attack Against Al-Shabab in Somalia

By Harun Maruf November 06, 2017

African Union troops in Somalia have launched an operation to flush out al-Shabab militants from the Lower Shabelle region and secure main supply routes in the area.

Witnesses told VOA Somali they saw AU troops along a road and in a farming area between the towns of Afgoye and Bal'ad, while noting that al-Shabab did not have a major presence in the area Monday.

The AU Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, said in a statement that it launched the operation after receiving information that Al-Shabab was "destabilizing" a key road linking Mogadishu to Ballidogle airport, 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of the capital.

US advisers train Somali troops

Ballidogle is an airbase in the Lower Shabelle region where U.S. advisers train Somali military units.

Units from the Somali National Army also participated in the operation. Both AMISOM and Somali government officials have promised a major offensive against al-Shabab starting with the two regions neighboring Mogadishu Lower and Middle Shabelle.

It's unclear if today's attack on al-Shabab is part of the major offensive touted by Somali and AU forces, but AMISOM says operations against Al-Shabab militants will be "phased."

Bombing sparks offensive

It has been two years since the AU launched an offensive against Al-Shabab

The Somali government pledged the new offensive after the Oct. 14 truck bomb in Mogadishu that killed 358 people with 56 others missing and presumed dead.

Meanwhile on Monday, Al-Shabab has executed four men accused of "spying" for the Somali government and Ethiopian troops operating as part of AMISOM. The men were taken to a public square in the town of Buale in Middle Juba region where they executed by firing squad.

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US Commerce Chief Defends Investment in Russian Shipper Linked to Putin Inner Circle

By Ken Bredemeier November 06, 2017

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Monday defended his sizable business links to Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, saying "there is no impropriety."

Ross, a 79-year-old billionaire industrialist, has a 31 percent stake worth $2 million to $10 million in a shipping venture, Navigator Holdings, with connections to Putin's son-in-law and an oligarch who is subject to U.S. sanctions and is Putin's judo partner, according to newly leaked documents.

But Ross, a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet, said on the sidelines of a business conference in London, "I think the media has made a lot more out of it than it deserves."

Navigator earns millions of dollars a year shipping natural gas for Russian energy giant Sibur, which is partly owned by Kirill Shamalov, the husband of Putin's daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, and Gennady Timchenko, the oligarch who is Putin's judo partner, according to the documents. Timchenko is subject to the U.S. sanctions because of Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its subsequent support for pro-Russian separatists fighting the Kyiv government's forces in eastern Ukraine.

'Nothing whatsoever improper'

But in a pair of interviews with the BBC and Bloomberg TV, Ross dismissed concern about his involvement in the operation. He said the Sibur deal was arranged before he joined Navigator's board.

"There's no interlocking of board, there's no interlocking of shareholders, I had nothing to do with the negotiation of the deal," he said. "But most importantly the company that is our client itself, Sibur, was not then sanctioned, is not now sanctioned, and never was sanctioned in between. There's nothing whatsoever improper."

Ross told Bloomberg, "We have no business ties to those Russian individuals who are under sanction." Ross said he has been selling his stake in Navigator, "but that isn't because of this."

Ross sold off numerous holdings when he joined Trump's Cabinet earlier this year to avoid conflicts of interest while he promotes U.S. commerce throughout the world. But he kept his Navigator stake, which has been held in a chain of partnerships in the Cayman Islands, an offshore tax haven where Ross has placed much of his estimated $2 billion in wealth.

'Paradise papers'

Ross did not disclose the Russian business link when he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as commerce secretary, but it surfaced in a trove of more than 13 million documents leaked from Appleby, a Bermuda-based offshore law firm that advises the wealthy elite on global financial transactions as they look to avoid billions of dollars in taxes. Appleby says it has investigated all the allegations and found "there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients."

The cache of documents, called the Paradise Papers, was first leaked to a German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, and then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and dozens of other media outlets around the world, including The Guardian in Britain, The New York Times and NBC News in the U.S., all of which reported on the Ross investment on Sunday.

The disclosure of Ross' financial interests in Russia comes as a special prosecutor, Robert Mueller, and three congressional panels are investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, an effort the U.S. intelligence community has concluded was led by Putin in an effort to undermine U.S. democracy and help Trump win the White House.

Several Trump campaign associates have come under scrutiny, but until the disclosures about Ross' holdings, there have been no reports of business links between top Trump officials and any member of Putin's family and his inner circle.

The disclosures could put pressure on world leaders, including Trump and British Prime Minister, Theresa May, who have both pledged to curb aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

"Congress has the power to crack down on offshore tax avoidance," said Matthew Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. "There are copious loopholes in our federal tax code that essentially incentivize companies to cook the books and make U.S. profits appear to be earned offshore. The House tax bill introduced late last week does nothing to close these loopholes."

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Zimbabwe's Mugabe Fires Popular Vice President

By VOA News November 06, 2017

Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, has dismissed a deputy who was once seen as his possible successor.

The firing of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa could open a path to the presidency for Mugabe's wife Grace, who has made her political ambitions known over the past three years.

The government announced Monday that Mnangagwa was removed from his post "with immediate effect."

An explanation for the move came from Minister of Information Simon Khaya Moyo, who told VOA's Zimbabwe Service that "the vice president has consistently and persistently exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability."

Signs of Mnangagwa's pending ouster have been around for some time, but escalated over the weekend, during a youth rally for the ruling ZANU-PF party in the city of Bulawayo.

There, President Mugabe denounced those who criticize him in the name of Mnangagwa. In a tone of anger, he asked, "Did I fail in making Mnangagwa as my deputy? If I failed, I will drop him, even tomorrow."

This is the second time in three years the 93-year-old Mugabe has unceremoniously fired one of his vice presidents following allegations of factionalism and disloyalty. In 2014, he dismissed Joice Mujuru after she was harshly criticized by Grace Mugabe.

Many anticipated that Mnangagwa's ouster would come at ZANU-PF's hastily-called party congress in December, so news of the dismissal caught many by surprise.

Constitutional experts said the move was legal because vice presidents in Zimbabwe are appointed by the president, not elected as a running mate.

"From the time they organized their (party) constitution, they chose one center of power. Whatever Mugabe does is what works. So there is no need for a meeting. Mugabe simply does whatever he wants in that party," said Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly party.

"These vice presidents were appointed. And because they were appointed, they can as the president wishes, be dis-appointed," said Mugabe's own lawyer, Terence Hussein.

The ruling Zanu PF party has two rival factions  Team Lacoste said to be led by Mnangagwa and Generation 40 allegedly led by Grace Mugabe, fighting to succeed the president. Robert Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe attained independence from Britain in 1980.

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Power mission in Puerto Rico set to be largest ever in US

By Patricia Fontanet RodriguezN ovember 6, 2017

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- After the most devastating hurricane in 89 years hit Puerto Rico, all 3.4 million residents were left without power. Though uncertainty remains as to how much it will take to repair the electric grid, restoring power in Puerto Rico is quickly becoming the largest power mission to ever take place on U.S. soil, according to Lt. Col. Daniel Kent, Commander of the 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Power.

The 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Power, is one of the teams in the power mission. The battalion is a versatile power generation battalion assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, that provides large-scale power to military units and federal relief organizations during full-spectrum operations. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency assigned the power mission to USACE, the agency was quick to include the 249th Engineer Battalion in its efforts.

As of early November, the 249th Battalion had mobilized 90 team members on the ground in Puerto Rico. The battalion is tasked by two separate power missions: Task Force Temporary Emergency Power, which involves installing generators in critical facilities, and Task Force Power Restoration, which involves repairing the power grid.

TASK FORCE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY POWER

"Three times as many generators have already been installed in Puerto Rico than in Texas and Florida combined," says Capt. Jaime Cabrera, Commander, Bravo Company, 249th Engineer Battalion.

As of Nov. 1, Task Force Temporary Emergency Power had installed 365 generators, a number that increases every day. Already, the battalion has installed more generators in Puerto Rico than have ever been installed anywhere in the U.S. during an emergency power mission, according to Capt. Cabrera.

Capt. Cabrera mentioned 249th is following the prioritization list set forth by FEMA and the Government of Puerto Rico, which includes hospitals, emergency shelters, water facilities, and wastewater facilities. Once those are complete, priority shifts to police stations, fire stations, and schools.

The generators the battalion are installing are not the same as those found in a house; most are high-capacity generators that can produce 250 times the amount of electricity of a typical home generator. Installation can take an entire day and requires certified electricians to connect the distribution line directly to the generator. When complete, they serve as an essential source of temporary power to hospitals and other critical facilities.

The battalion's efforts don't stop once installation is complete.

Long-term use of generators, which is anticipated in Puerto Rico, requires routine maintenance to keep functioning. For each installation, the 249th needs to calculate how many hours each generator has left in order to schedule maintenance. The battalion is coordinating with hospitals days prior to conducting maintenance to ensure critical processes, such as surgeries, are not impacted.

"Our job is to help the people of Puerto Rico get back on their feet," says Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Allen, 249th Mission Commander. "If I can do that, I've done my job."

TASK FORCE POWER RESTORATION

The road to repairing the grid is a process that includes four main lines of effort: Provide temporary emergency power for critical facilities, ensure adequate generation at the power plants, reinstall and repair transmission lines, and restore and repair distribution lines, ultimately providing power to local residences.

The mission for Task Force Emergency Power is to accomplish the first step in the process, which is to supply temporary power. Remaining steps fall under Task Force Power Restoration, where Delta Company, a unit within the 249th Engineer Battalion, is currently working to repair the electric grid.

Delta Company is an Army Reserve unit comprised of linemen. The unit deployed to Puerto Rico on October 13 on what they call their largest mission to date, according to 1st Lt. Kieran Davis, Operations Officer for Delta Company.

Twenty-three personnel from Delta Company -- the most to ever deploy for a single mission -- are currently on the ground repairing distribution lines in the San Juan area in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.

The process begins with Delta Company receiving new poles from PREPA, which are then firmly secured in place. Fallen distribution lines -- usually tangled and covered in debris -- are then "fished" from the ground and placed in the power pole. The lines are not energized when in place, and will remain as such until transmission lines come back online. Delta Company completes an average of 10 power poles per day, and so far has repaired more than 27,000 feet of distribution line.

Delta Company is currently scheduled for at least 90 days in Puerto Rico, but stressed they will not leave until their mission is complete. "We want people to get home and turn the light switch on," says Sgt. 1st Class Jitu Whitehead, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. "We want to bring the comfort back."

Despite the long road ahead, Delta Company is grateful to be part of the efforts to restore power in Puerto Rico. They're motivated by the Puerto Rican people, who often wave and honk at them as they repair power lines along the street. "When they see us, they know good things are happening," says Whitehead. "It gives them hope."

The 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Power, has proven indispensable in the power mission. Every day the battalion installs temporary generators at critical facilities, and continues repairs on distribution lines. When asked to about 249th, the battalion's commander, Lt. Col. Kent, said it's ultimately about teamwork.

"Power missions are a team effort," he said. "I'm equally proud of our planning and USACE employees and contractors that are working side-by-side with 249th Soldiers. The people of Puerto Rico are counting on us."

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Lockheed Martin Receives Contract to Develop Compact Airborne High Energy Laser Capabilities

Contract funds development of high power laser to be tested on tactical fighter jet

BOTHELL, Wash., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) $26.3 million for the design, development and production of a high power fiber laser. AFRL plans to test the laser on a tactical fighter jet by 2021. The contract is part of AFRL's Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program, and is a major step forward in the maturation of protective airborne laser systems.

"Lockheed Martin continues to rapidly advance laser weapon systems and the technologies that make them possible," said Dr. Rob Afzal, senior fellow of laser weapon systems at Lockheed Martin. "We have demonstrated our ability to use directed energy to counter threats from the ground, and look forward to future tests from the air as part of the SHiELD system."

The SHiELD program includes three subsystems:

- SHiELD Turret Research in Aero Effects (STRAFE), the beam control system, which will direct the laser onto the target

- Laser Pod Research & Development (LPRD), the pod mounted on the tactical fighter jet, which will power and cool the laser

- Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments (LANCE), the high energy laser itself, which can be trained on adversary targets to disable them

LANCE is designed to operate in a compact environment, and as such, the Lockheed Martin team focused on developing a compact, high efficiency laser within challenging size, weight and power constraints.

"Earlier this year, we delivered a 60 kW-class laser to be installed on a U.S. Army ground vehicle. It's a completely new and different challenge to get a laser system into a smaller, airborne test platform. It's exciting to see this technology mature enough to embed in an aircraft," said Afzal. "The development of high power laser systems like SHiELD show laser weapon system technologies are becoming real. The technologies are ready to be produced, tested and deployed on aircraft, ground vehicles and ships."

Lockheed Martin has more than 40 years of experience developing laser weapon systems. The LANCE contract leverages technology building blocks from internal research and development projects, including the ATHENA system and ALADIN laser, as well as contract experience gained from programs such as the U.S. Army's Robust Electric Laser Initiative (RELI) program.

For more information, visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/directedenergy.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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MDAA Alert: 300 Seconds

Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

November 6, 2017

Dear Members and Friends,

"They (North Korea) are the number one existential threat to the U.S. right now. They are. No one else is going to shoot nukes at us." - Congressman Duncan Hunter, Representative for California's 50th District - November 2, 2017

"There is no point in the history of our country where this threat has been forced on us, that we have to deal with. The North Korean crisis is forcing a new way to play." - Riki Ellison - November 2, 2017

MDAA hosted a lively discussion on intercepting ballistic missiles during the first 300 seconds of a missile's flight- its boost phase- before the ballistic missile releases its warheads, decoys, countermeasures, and debris in our 15th Congressional Roundtable.

The first 90 of those seconds are in the earth's atmosphere, where the ballistic missile is at its slowest - reaching one kilometer a second or around 2,200 mph - in which current U.S. air to air interceptor missiles are combat proven. Adding advantage to air to air intercepts of ballistic missiles in the first 90 seconds, is the small width of North Korea, around 150 miles, that enables standoff ranges from air platforms that don't have to fly over North Korea and can avoid their perimeter air defenses.

After leaving the atmosphere, the ballistic missile then continues to accelerate as it releases its boosters and burns through its fuel to get to 7.5 kilometers a second or around 17,800 mph, releasing its warhead - one every thirty seconds if there are multiple warheads - as it the warhead with a cloud of debris, decoys, and countermeasures in a ballistic trajectory through space and back down into the Earth's atmosphere. Both of these phases, midcourse and terminal phase of a ballistic missile flight have specific interceptor and multiple sensor systems deployed by the United States that are proven to track, discriminate, hit and kill the warhead going at speeds up to 17,800 mph.

The ballistic missile is exposed throughout the first 300 seconds, including the first 90 seconds in atmosphere, where directed energy weapons - lasers at the speed of light - placed on air based platforms within the earth's atmosphere would have the capability and the speed of light to burn through the skin of the ballistic missile and/or up through its rocket plume and engine in under a second, from standoff ranges in the 100s of miles, to completely destroy the ballistic missile and cause its debris to fall back down to the territory where it was launched from. The more power of the laser, the faster the burn through of the ballistic missile, and the further distance the laser on the air platform can have standoff range.

"If we can produce the technology, understand it, put the investments in it, and determine whether or not it's feasible--to get to a higher-power laser at the weight that can be carried by a long-endurance aircraft--then we have an option that we can provide the warfighters, and that's really where we're focusing our time." Rear Admiral Jon Hill, Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency - November 2, 2017

"Specifically, for us, it's about scaling--it's about scaling up the power. Why do we care about power? Well, if you're going to go after a boosting missile, you don't want to be flying over enemy territory. You don't want to be in the range of air defense batteries; you want to have standoff range, and power gets you that standoff range." - RADM Jon Hill, November 2, 2017

The United States Government has successfully tested boost phase ballistic missile intercept capability inside the atmosphere over the past decade but have not chosen to make any of the technologies a program of record to be produced and deployed. The Airborne Laser used a chemical laser, that successfully intercepted a short-range ballistic missile during its boost phase on February 11, 2010. The Network Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE), which was based off of existing Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), successfully intercepted a Orion sounding rocket after it was launched from an F-16 during an intercept test on December 3, 2007. It is also to be noted that the Aegis Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) was tested successfully on November 21, 2002 for early ascent phase intercept after boost.

The most expedient possibility to deploy boost phase missile defense could be the F-35 with ARAAM interceptors in the first 90 seconds. Using the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) on the F-35, that uses six mid-wave infrared cameras, that when knitted together create a 360 degree infrared view of the world all around the aircraft. The DAS was successfully tested in October 2014 to detect a missile launch and provide weapons quality tracking information on the ballistic missile and share that information through Link-16 that could then be used by an Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) ship.

"If you extrapolate into the future what you could do with the F-35 and how you would operationally use it, because of the 360-degree nature of the distributed aperture system, you don't always have to be pointed at the potential launch location. So it's fairly easy at that point to detect a launch, track a missile, and pass that off to other shooters." - Mr. Tom Lawhead, Chief of Staff, Air Force Joint Strike Fighter Integration Office

"We're looking at a range of options, and the aircraft launch of missiles is not off the table for us, and it's certainly being considered as part of the BMD review that's in place right now, and I've personally gone through the equations that Dr. Canavan has laid down." - RADM Hill

Boost phase Missile Defense on air based platforms is where our nation must go. Speed of Light Directed Energy is the technology leap that breaks the cost curve and is the nation's fourth offset to lead in the 21st century.

"Beyond the F-35 and the AMRAAM solution, we can look at UAVs, Global Hawks, Avengers, with 4,000-pound solid-state lasers that can burn holes through the skins of missiles in under a second at standoff ranges of 100 miles or so." - Riki Ellison

"Secretary Mattis said it's unacceptable to have a nuclear North Korea, and I'll also dime out Secretary Mattis. In his first couple of meetings when he was talking North Korea and missiles, from what I understand, he had one question at the end: boost phase--'Okay, so how do we shoot them before they go up?' That was it." - Congressman Hunter

"If you don't contain Korea now, when they have a certain number of warheads, then the shoot-down in boost phase doesn't matter anymore. We'll be using what we're talking about now, and the technology, for the next century. We'll have to treat them like a peer country, with nukes, which is insane." - Congressman Hunter

"We're at a different juncture, with our national security and the security of our allies at stake, and we've got to do everything we can across the board, across all agencies, to get capability." - Riki Ellison



Respectfully,

Riki Ellison

Chairman and Founder

Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

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China launches two BeiDou-3 navigation satellites on single carrier rocket

Xinhua

2017-11-06 00:29:37

XICHANG, Sichuan Province, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites into space via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

The satellites were aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket which took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

This is the first two BeiDou-3 satellites launched by China, as its self-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System officially began to expand into a global network.

Named after the Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation, the BeiDou project was formally initiated in 1994. It began to serve China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region at the end of 2012.

China plans to building BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020, making it the third country in the world after the United States and Russia to operate its own navigation system.

Compared to earlier generation satellites, the BeiDou-3 is able to send signals that are better compatible with other satellite navigation systems and provide satellite-based augmentation, as well as search and rescue services in accordance with international standards.

"New technology has significantly improved the performance of the BeiDou-3, with the signal accuracy in space higher than half a meter while its positioning accuracy has reached 2.5 to five meters, said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system.

China plans to launch 18 BeiDou-3 satellites around the end of 2018 to expand the BeiDou services to the countries along the Belt and Road routes.

By around 2020, when the system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites.

"Launches featuring two or more satellites on a single carrier rocket will be conducted regularly," said Ye Chengmin, deputy chief designer of the Long March-3A carrier rocket.

All the BeiDou satellites currently in space were sent up from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, said Lin Yunan, head of the human resources department of the center.

The BeiDou-3 satellites and the carrier rocket were developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively.

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Military pledges total loyalty to Xi

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 07:40, November 06, 2017

The Chinese military will be absolutely loyal, pure, reliable, and resolutely follow the orders of Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping, China's highest military authority has said.

The CMC recently issued a document on fully implementing the chairperson's responsibility system in the People's Liberation Army.

The amendment to the CPC Constitution clarified that the chairperson of the Central Military Commission assumes overall responsibility for the work of the commission and that the CMC is responsible for Party work and political work in the armed forces.

This complies with the realistic requirement to ensure the CMC fulfills its responsibility for Party self-supervision and self-governance.

Fully implementing the system is crucial to the fundamental direction of military construction, as well as building a strong nation with a strong military in the new era, the document said.

It is also related to the country's long-lasting peace and security, and the future of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The military has to support the responsibility system in politics, thought, organization, institutions and behavior. The entire military has to be "absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, absolutely reliable, resolutely follow Xi's orders, be responsible to Xi, and let Xi rest assured".

The document came amid Xi's visits to various military departments and related events.

On Friday, Xi, along with other CMC members, visited the PLA's joint combat command center in Beijing. On Thursday, the CMC promoted Zhang Shengmin  the 59-year-old top anti-corruption official in China's armed forces  to the rank of general.

On Oct 25, a day after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi held the first executive meeting of the Central Military Commission. A day later, Xi appeared at a meeting of top level military leaders, calling on them to work hard to enforce discipline in the armed forces.

Military officers welcomed and embraced Xi's remarks on improving the military's capabilities in preparing for and fighting wars in the new era.

"We must carve the word 'war' into our hearts, and be prepared to fight at any moment," Cui Jiabin, a brigade commander of an aviation unit, told Xinhua News Agency.

"We have to fuse the duties of preparing and training for war into our minds, and be a part of our consciousness," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

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CMC issues guideline to affirm loyalty to CPC, Xi

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 07:32, November 06, 2017

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's military should take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as their guide to fully implement President Xi's thinking on strengthening the military, and must follow the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Central Military Commission (CMC) said on Sunday.

According to a guideline released by the CMC, the army should be absolutely loyal, honest and reliable to Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CMC.

The army should follow Xi's command, answer to his order, and never worry him, said the guideline.

The CMC also said the armed forces should deeply and comprehensively implement the system by which the chairman of the CMC has overall responsibility for the army.

The guideline said, the responsibility system points out the fundamental direction for the army's construction and benefits the development on strengthening the military, the long-term peace and stability of the CPC and the country, and the future destiny of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

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Xi instructs army to improve its readiness for war

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 07:38, November 06, 2017

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday instructed the armed forces to improve their combat capability and readiness for war.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks while inspecting the CMC joint battle command center as its commander in chief.

"The CMC should lead the armed forces to be ready to fight and win wars, and to undertake the missions and tasks of the new era entrusted to them by the Party and the people," said Xi, in military uniform.

The capability to win is strategically important in safeguarding national security, and strengthening that capability and combat readiness in the new era would provide strategic support to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, according to Xi.

Xi called on the military to closely follow the situation of national security and to ensure military preparedness in all directions and all fields.

Innovation should be made in studying and planning for combat to adapt to the trend of military evolution, said Xi.

Xi demanded progress in joint operation command systems, especially in efficiency at regional theater command level.

Troops were ordered to conduct training under combat conditions.

During the inspection, Xi had video chats with troops at frontier posts and a newly established support base in Djibouti.

Xi encouraged those stationed in Djibouti to help promote international and regional peace and stability.

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Nepal aims to draw global attention in climate meet

As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, Nepal will draw the attention of international community during the global climate change conference, also called Conference of Parties (COP23), that kicked off in Bonn, Germany, on Monday.
Beijing urges restraint as Tokyo plans to shoot down North Korean missiles

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 06:11PM

China has called on Japan and the United States to exercise restraint over the tension on the Korean Peninsula after Tokyo warned of shooting down North Korean missiles if necessary.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying warned on Monday that the "situation on the Korean Peninsula is extremely complicated and sensitive," noting the tension over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs should be resolved through peaceful means.

The comments were made after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump reaffirmed their tough stance on Pyongyang in a meeting earlier in the day, with Abe saying it was the time "for applying about maximum level of pressure on North Korea."

The Japanese premier noted that the interception and shooting down of North Korea's missiles were possible through the coordination of actions between Tokyo and Washington.

Trump also assured Abe that Japan would be capable of shooting down Pyongyang's missiles if Tokyo purchased military equipment from Washington.

The US president said, "The era of strategic patience is over," and that Washington and Tokyo were making joint efforts to deal with the "dangerous aggressions" of the North Korean government.

Trump, who is on an extended tour of Asia, reiterated that he was considering all options to rein in Pyongyang.

During the meeting, Abe further said that Japan aimed to impose additional sanctions and freeze the assets of 35 North Korean entities and individuals.

Last month, Japan's defense chief warned that North Korea's perceived nuclear threat was no routine issue, calling on the international community to view it as "unprecedented, critical and imminent."

Japan became specifically worried about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs when Pyongyang fired two long-range missiles over the island nation in September. The missile flew for about 20 minutes before crashing into the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 kilometers east of Hokkaido.

North Korea has been under a raft of crippling United Nations sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear tests as well as multiple rocket and missile launches.

Pyongyang has firmly defended its military program as a deterrent against hostile policies of the US and its regional allies, including South Korea and Japan.

The US has substantial military presence in the region and has several times threatened North Korea with military action.

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US president calls North Korean military program 'threat' to world

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 09:59AM

Speaking in Tokyo, US President Donald Trump has called North Korea's military program a "threat" to global peace, reiterating the mantra that the "strategic patience" with Pyongyang is over.

In a Monday press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the US president defended his belligerent rhetoric against the North, which has sparked global concerns, even among Washington's own allies, of escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong, but look what's happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years," he said. "Look where we are now."

Trump, who is on the second day of an extended tour of Asia, reiterated that he was considering all options to rein in North Korea.

Trump has repeatedly threatened in the past to use military force against the North.

North Korea is "a threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability," Trump insisted. "The era of strategic patience is over."

The US president further said Washington and Tokyo were making joint efforts to deal with the "dangerous aggressions" of the North Korean government.

Abe, for his part, backed Trump's tough stance, saying the two allies stand "100 percent" together on the North Korea issue.

"We always support President Trump's policy that all options are on the table," the prime minister said, stressing that it is time to put maximum pressure on the North.

Abe further announced that Japan will freeze the assets of 35 North Korean groups and individuals.

Abe said the unilateral measures are aimed at punishing the North over its weapons program, as well as to attempt to resolve the issue of civilian abductions that took place in the 1970s and 80s.

A number of ordinary Japanese citizens were kidnapped by North Korean agents in that era, in order to train spies in Japanese language and culture.

The Japanese PM's announcement came only hours after South Korea imposed unilateral sanctions on 18 North Korean bankers for suspect links to Pyongyang's military program.

Since 2006, the United Nations has adopted multiple rounds of sanctions against Pyongyang. The most recent round came in September following North Korea's sixth nuclear test and a string of ballistic missile launches.

Trump due in South Korea

Trump is scheduled to visit South Korea on Tuesday on the second leg of his first official Asia tour.

The US president is looking to use his tour  also taking him to China, Vietnam and the Philippines -- to strengthen Washington's alliances against North Korea.

Trump began his Asia tour by talking tough about North Korea. Back in the US, however, the media tried to portrait the president as having adopted a more diplomatic approach toward the crisis, saying he was prepared for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un.

In a pre-recorded interview broadcast on the weekly television news program 'Full Measure,' Trump said he would "certainly be open" to talks with North Korea's leader.

"I would sit down with anybody," he said. "I don't think it's strength or weakness. I think sitting down with people is not a bad thing," he said.

Pyongyang says its missile and nuclear development program is purely defensive and safeguards the nation against aggression from the US and its allies.

North Korea has reacted to Trump's tour of Asia with a statement published on state media, through which it has called the US president "spiritually unstable" and warned him against making more "reckless remarks" about Pyongyang.

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Trump Blasts North Korea Nuclear Program As 'Threat To The World'

November 06, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump has described North Korea's nuclear missile program as a "threat" to the world, and repeated that the "era of strategic patience" is over with Pyongyang.

Speaking on November 6 after a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Trump said the two countries were working to counter the "dangerous aggressions" of of Kim Jong Un's North Korea.

The North's nuclear program is "a threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability," Trump told a news conference with Abe.

The Japanese prime minister told the same news conference that Tokyo backed Trump's stance that "all options" are on the table when it comes to North Korea, saying the two countries were "100 percent" together on the issue.

Before meeting with Abe, Trump lashed out over Japan's trade relations with the United States, saying they were "not fair and open."

"The U.S. has suffered massive trade deficits with Japan for many, many years," Trump told business leaders in Tokyo.

Trade and the crisis over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic-missile programs are the main issues Trump is focusing on during his 12-day, five-country trip.

He will also visit South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

On the flight from Hawaii aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the trip.

"I think it's expected we'll meet with Putin, yeah," Trump said on November 5.

"We want Putin's help on North Korea, and we'll be meeting with a lot of different leaders," he said.

The most probable location for a Trump-Putin meeting would be at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Danang, Vietnam, on November 10-11.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-north-korea-threat- world-japan-abe/28837472.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Majority of North Korean Defectors Living in South Korea Have Fled - Seoul

Sputnik News

22:30 06.11.2017

North Korean defectors are no longer staying long in their southern neighbor, quitting South Korea for more hospitable nations or avoiding their brother country altogether, according to South Korean government data.

"It was hard to put up with discrimination from South Koreans when I came from North Korea," Kim Dan-bi, a 26-year-old defector, tells Yonhap News Agency. Kim has lived in South Korea for some six years, and says about one-third of her 60 North Korean friends have left South Korea since she defected.

Of the approximately 900 North Koreans South Korea's Unification Ministry estimates to have no physical address for as of June, about 83 percent have moved abroad, South Korean lawmaker Lee Seok-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party said November 3. The 746 defectors to leave this year have gone to 25 nations worldwide, with Canada (169), the US (113) and the UK (97) being some of the most popular destinations, South Korean police data shows.

About 31,093 North Korean defectors were registered with South Korea's Unification Ministry as of late September. A sweeping majority, about 71 percent of those registered, are women.

Lee called on South Korea to strengthen worker support programs for North Korean defectors.

Potential policy actions could include offering a temporary stipend to defectors, providing assistance to job seekers and cultivating communities for North Korean defectors living in the South to intermingle with their southern counterparts.

"The focus should be put on helping them get proper jobs," the legislator said.

Kim Young-hui, 52, tells Yonhap that after leaving North Korea in 2003 to live in Seoul, it was "really hard to settle here at first  having a friend who can give you advice and psychological support will be a huge help."

 Sputnik

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Trump Headed to South Korea Amid Heightened Tensions With Pyongyang

By Steve Herman November 06, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives Tuesday in South Korea as part of a regional tour that has been dominated by North Korea's weapons development.

During his two-day visit, Trump is expected to reaffirm America's commitment to defend the U.S. ally against Pyongyang amid increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula.

In Japan earlier this week, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed that "all options are on the table" when it comes to dealing with North Korea.

Abe, at a news conference with Trump at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, said Monday there is "no point in dialogue for the sake of dialogue with North Korea" and the time has come to exert maximum pressure on Pyongyang.

Abe and Trump, following a second day of meetings, confirmed that North Korea has been the dominant topic of their discussions.

The U.S. president called Pyongyang's pursuit of the ability to place a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile "a threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability."

Trump repeated that the era of strategic patience, in attempting to deal with Pyongyang, is over.

"Some say my rhetoric is strong, but look what's happened with weak rhetoric over the last 25 years," the president said, criticizing the approaches of previous U.S. administrations. But he declined to answer a Japanese reporter's question about whether he is prepared to go to war with North Korea.

The president was also asked about what fresh message he has for Kim Jong Un; the Reuters news agency reporter noted Trump's response to a VOA question on Air Force One on the way to Japan in which he referred to the North Korean people as industrious and warm.

Trump also said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who he has belittled as "Little Rocket Man," should send back to Japan any surviving Japanese abducted by North Korean agents over the decades.

"It would be a tremendous signal," said Trump. The "start of something very special."

Action by Japan

Abe revealed during the joint news conference that on Tuesday he will announce his country will freeze assets of nearly three dozen North Korean groups and individuals.

The unilateral measures follow enhanced sanctions on North Korea placed by the U.S. Treasury Department and the United Nations.

Trump, in a pair of public pronouncements in Tokyo on Monday, said he expects Japan will purchase "massive amounts" of American military equipment and some of it will enable Japan to shoot North Korean missiles "out of the sky."

A nearly three-year war on the Korean peninsula in the early 1950s ended in a stalemate that pitted the United States, South Korea and the United Nations against North Korea, which was backed by forces from China and the Soviet Union.

No peace treaty was signed and the Korean peninsula has remained divided ever since.

North Korea makes frequent claims that the United States is seeking to reignite full-scale conflict.

State media in Pyongyang on Monday, referring to Trump, said that "no one can predict when the lunatic old man of the White House, lost to senses, will start a nuclear war" against North Korea.

North Korea says the situation strongly requires the country to bolster its nuclear deterrent and "the U.S. should not expect us to make any changes."

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Israel launches its 'largest-ever' aerial drill: Report

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 06:05AM

Israel has launched its largest aerial exercise ever with air forces from India and seven other countries taking part, the Times of Israel reported.

The military exercise, dubbed Blue Flag, began at the Israeli Air Force's Ovda base, north of Eilat, on Sunday, the paper said.

According to the Israeli military, India is taking part in the 11-day drill for the first time, sending a C-130J transport plane.

Teams from the United States, Greece, Poland, France, Italy and Germany are also participating in the exercise, along with an eighth country that Israel declined to identify.

The participating countries reportedly dispatched fighter jets, transport planes and refueling aircraft for the drill.

"The participating nations arrived in Israel in their own aircraft and will practice different situations and scenarios," the Israeli military said.

More than a thousand people, including pilots, commanders and technical personnel, are taking part in the biennial exercise, according to the report.

The aerial exercise reportedly aimed to improve technical ability and to strengthen the "diplomatic cooperation between the countries," Israel's army said.

Tel Aviv claimed that the planning for the 2017 exercise began about a year ago, adding that it was not tied to any particular ongoing security situation.

Israel kicked off the biennial Blue Flag exercise in 2013. This year's drill is the third exercise held since then.

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US Calls for 'Equal Diligence' in Efforts to Combat Terror Groups in Pakistan

By Ayaz Gul November 06, 2017

The United States has called on Pakistan to show "equal diligence" in fighting all terrorist groups operating in the country, including the Haqqani network, and cautioned bilateral relations are at a "critical juncture."

U.S. Ambassador David Hale spoke at a seminar in Islamabad Monday as he discussed U.S. policy in relation to neighbors Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hale said that while the Trump administration's recently announced South Asia strategy seeks a secure and stable Afghanistan, it looks to Pakistan for decisive action against all terrorist groups operating on its soil.

The American diplomat praised Pakistan's efforts against anti-state terrorist groups, saying the country has been on the frontline in the effort to defeat al-Qaida and Islamic State in South Asia.

"We ask for equal diligence in decimating all the groups operating in Pakistan which threaten the region's stability, including the Haqqani network. We seek a sustained and irreversible effort to achieve an aspiration and commitment that was made public by Pakistani officials themselves, and end to the use of Pakistan soil for attacks on its neighbors," Hale noted.

Afghan and U.S. officials have alleged the Taliban and its Haqqani allies are directing the insurgency in Afghanistan from sanctuaries on Pakistani soil. The allegations have been at the center of Islamabad's tensions with both Kabul and Washington.

Hale reiterated the U.S. is committed to denying the Taliban a military victory in Afghanistan and urged Pakistani leaders to assist in advancing a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

"Pakistani leaders have made clear that they share our goals for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. It is now time to join in our efforts and create a context in which terrorist groups can no longer launch cross-border attacks and see no alternative to negotiations," said the ambassador.

He repeated U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's warning that Washington "will act accordingly" if Pakistan's leaders choose "not to take advantage of this opportunity."

Pakistan's foreign minister, Khawaja Asif addressed the seminar and in responding to Hale's comments, said security forces have dismantled terrorist networks on its soil and established government authority across the country.

Asif went on to say there may be remnants of these groups in Pakistan because of its porous border with Afghanistan and called for enacted U.S. intelligence cooperation to deal with them.

"Pakistan is committed to respond effectively to any actionable intelligence provided by the U.S. This is the only way forward to test each other's resolve and commitment to combat terrorism," Asif noted.

The foreign minister also said Trump's Afghan strategy has created "needless divergence" in bilateral relations and cast doubts on whether it will promote peace in Afghanistan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a conditions-based approach is primarily a strategy of denial and a strategic stalemate. It would more likely lead to further fragmentation and divisions within an already fractured society, making it that much more difficult to build peace mechanism and related structures," Asif said.

He blamed "internal factors," including rivalries within the Afghan government, for fueling war in the neighboring country, and called on both Kabul and Washington to pay attention to them rather than blaming Pakistan.

"Today, Afghanistan faces huge challenges with respect to corruption, building state institutions, transitioning from a war economy, record drugs production, ethnic and tribal divisions and expanding ungoverned areas; all these are monumental tasks and all are internal to Afghanistan," Asif added.

The minister said Pakistan will do all it can to further an Afghan peace and reconciliation process, saying Islamabad has intensified interactions with Kabul and proposed working groups and mechanisms to build mutual trust and cooperation.

Asif blamed rival India for facilitating terrorist actions in the region but said U.S. officials have noted Pakistan's concerns about giving New Delhi a wider role in the new Afghan strategy. India maintains it is helping Afghanistan in reconstruction efforts and dismisses Pakistani allegations.

"The U.S. assured us that India's role in Afghanistan is limited to economic assistance and that the U.S. would not tolerate Afghan soil to be used against Pakistan," said Asif.

Asif also said his government believes repatriation of around 3 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan will address the issue of terrorism facing both countries. Pakistani officials say anti-state militants operating on both sides of the border use the refugee population for sheltering and planning terrorist attacks.

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Ahead Of Election, Putin Seeks Wider Mandate For Russian National Guard

RFE/RL November 06, 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed legislation to widen the responsibility of the National Guard, an entity created last year and headed by Putin's former chief bodyguard, to include protecting regional governors.

The bill was published on the website of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on November 6.

The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party and supports almost all Kremlin initiatives.

The proposed change could enhance Putin's ability to crack down on dissent or seek to impose order if there is unrest in Russia's far-flung regions.

The National Guard reports directly to the president. Its director, Viktor Zolotov, was chief of the presidential security service from 2000-13.

The initiative comes months before a March 18 election in which Putin is expected to seek and secure a new six-year term.

Putin will be barred from seeking reelection in 2024 if he does win a fourth presidential term in the March vote, raising questions about how Russian politics will play out in the coming years and how he will maintain his grip.

Putin established the National Guard (Rosgvardia) in 2016 on the basis of the Interior Ministry troops and other security forces.

Its stated tasks initially included preserving "social order," fighting against terrorism and extremism, and guarding state facilities.

The National Guard announced that it will be also responsible for a fingerprints database, issuing weapons-possession licenses, averting "threats to state order," and protecting information security.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-seeks- wider-mandate-national-guard/28838199.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Saudi crackdown on high-profile figures widens

Iran Press TV

Mon Nov 6, 2017 11:01AM

Saudi authorities have detained the founder of one of the kingdom's biggest travel companies as part of an ongoing anti-corruption probe that is reportedly aimed at strengthening the crown prince's grip on power.

Al Tayyar Travel company quoted media reports as saying that Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar, who is still a board member, was arrested on Monday, without elaborating.

Shares in the company plunged 10 percent in the opening minutes of trade on the news.

Online economic news service SABQ, which is close to the government, said Tayyar had been detained in an investigation by a new anti-corruption body headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Meanwhile, pan-Arab newspaper Al-Asharq Al-Awsat reported that a no-fly list had been drawn up and the security forces in some Saudi airports were preventing owners of private jets from departing the country without a permit.

Dozens of princes, ministers and former ministers were detained on the order of Saudi Arabia's Anti-Corruption Committee headed by the crown prince on Saturday in a crackdown which has reportedly consolidated his power.

According to Saudi media, billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia's best-known international investor, was also among those detained.

National Guard Chief Prince Meteb bin Abdullah was also detained and replaced by Khaled bin Ayyaf, recalling a palace coup in June which ousted his elder cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, as heir to the throne and interior minister.

A royal decree on Saturday said the crackdown was in response to "exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to, illicitly, accrue money."

Over the past year, the crown prince has become the ultimate decision-maker for the Persian Gulf kingdom's military, foreign, economic and social policies, angering some royals frustrated by his unorthodox and swift rise.

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Russia May Keep Its Bases in Syria After Terrorists Defeated - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

21:30 06.11.2017(updated 21:32 06.11.2017)

The Russian military has said its military operation in Syria is coming to a conclusion as more than 90 percent of the territory of the war-torn country had been freed from terrorists.

VIENNA (Sputnik)  The scale of withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria after the defeat of Daesh terrorists will depend on the situation, but both Russian military bases will most likely stay in the country, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov told Sputnik.

Syromolotov added that Daesh still controls some 10 percent of the territory it used to control, while the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as Nusra Front, a terrorist group banned in Russia) is still active, and the fight against it continues. Apart from that, there are numerous separate groups in Syria that sometimes fight under the flags of larger organizations, and sometimes act on their own, the deputy foreign minister added.

"Sometimes, very unexpected actors join the fight, ones that were not represented on the field, and then they appeared and the situation changes drastically," Syromolotov explained.

He added that the elections in Iraqi Kurdistan, both presidential and parliamentary, set for July 2018, could also affect further development of the situation in the region.

"Therefore it is pointless right now to guarantee [something] and set time frames," Syromolotov concluded.

Russia has two bases in Syria, namely the Hmeimim airbase and the naval facility in Tartus. Apart from them, the Reconciliation Center of the Russian Defense Ministry is also working in Syria.

 Sputnik

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Nepal opposes Catalan secession attempt

Nepal opposes any secession attempt in Spain and unequivocally respects and supports the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of Spain, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
OPCW Verifies 25 of 27 Chemical Weapons Facilities Destroyed in Syria

Sputnik News

01:09 07.11.2017(updated 00:13 07.11.2017)

The Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu said in a note in his forty-ninth monthly progress report on Monday that OPCW had verified the elimination of 25 out of 27 chemical weapons production facilities in Syria.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The report sums up the progress achieved in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons for the period from 23 September 2017 to 22 October 2017.

"The Secretariat has verified the destruction of 25 of the 27 chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs) declared by the Syrian Arab Republic. From 23 September to 6 October 2017, the Secretariat carried out annual inspections of five underground structures already verified as destroyed," the note said.

The note also said that during the period under review, OPCW proceeded with preparations to carry out an initial inspection of the last two stationary above-ground facilities to confirm their current condition.

The Syrian government, he added, has previously requested assistance in the destruction of the facilities located in these two remaining sites.

On October 26, the OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) issued a report that said the Syrian government was responsible for the April 4 sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

The Syrian government rejected the report and said the UN experts had not done any investigations directly at the scene of the incident.

 Sputnik

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Turkey's Prime Minister Heads to Washington Amid Rising Tensions

By Dorian Jones November 06, 2017

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim heads to Washington Tuesday to meet with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, as relations between the NATO allies endure a rocky period.

"Prime Minister Yildirim's visit is being paid in a very critical time with regard to Turkish American relations," said a senior Turkish presidential adviser speaking on condition of anonymity. "It can be a great opportunity to catch a new momentum."

"The very fact the [Turkish] prime minister is almost going impromptu to Washington suggests there are a series of serious crises between Turkey and the United States," said international relations expert Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Kadir Has University. "Obviously, this is coming to a crossroads and the key date is there, 27th of November when the Zarrab trial is supposed to start."

Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab and Mehmet Atilla, the deputy chief executive of the Turkish state bank Halkbank, are facing trial on Iranian sanctions violation charges in a New York court. A former senior Turkish minister, Zafer Caglayan, closely linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has also been indicted in the case.

Erdogan has criticized the probe as politically motivated. According to reports, he lobbied hard for Washington to drop the charges. The issue is expected to top Yildirim's agenda in talks with Pence.

"There is a different perception, fundamental seminal difference in perceiving what the law is," noted political analyst Semih Idiz.

He warned that Washington's claims about the independence of the judiciary are unlikely to assuage Ankara's concerns. "Erdogan says openly that he believes there is this massive conspiracy against him and America is part of it."

Gulen extradition

Additionally, Yildirim is expected to raise Ankara's ongoing attempts to secure the extradition of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Turkish prosecutors accuse Gulen of masterminding last year's attempted coup, a charge the cleric denies.

Erdogan says the lack of progress in the case is politically motivated. Washington counters it's a matter for the courts. But Ankara views recent cooperation between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Turkish prosecutors to track the movement of a suspect in the failed coup as significant. "The U.S. is making considerable progress in this regard," said Erdogan's adviser.

The dispute has fueled suspicions in Ankara of Washington's complicity in the failed coup, a charge the United States strongly rejects. Last month, Turkish prosecutors detained a local employee at a U.S. diplomatic mission in Turkey as part of its Gulen investigation. The detention prompted Washington to impose stringent visa controls on Turkey. Ankara retaliated with similar measures.

Pence is expected to raise the issue of the arrest of U.S. citizen Andrew Brunson, who has been in a Turkish jail without charge for more than a year as part of the ongoing Gulen probe.

"During [Turkish] prime minister's visit, we expect the visa crisis will be ended between the two allies," said the Turkish presidential adviser.

Repairing the damage

"The big question is can Mr. Yildirim, on a trip that will last four days, be able to actually repair much of the damage inflicted on this relationship?" said Ozel. "I think it will be very difficult, unless there is some progress on at least one of the issues of contention."

Potentially more difficult to resolve for Yildirim is the thorny issue of Washington's arming of the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, in the war against Islamic State. Ankara accuses the militia of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which the Turkish army has been fighting for decades. The United States and the European Union have designated the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Yildirim is likely to face difficult questions during his talks in Washington. Turkey's NATO partners are voicing growing concern over Ankara's warming relationship with Moscow, underlined by last month's announcement it planned a multi-billion-dollar purchase of Russia's S 400 missile system.

Analysts suggest both sides still have interests in containing the escalating tensions.

"This is way past a storm in a tea cup; this is a real storm, but there are still strategic interests that either side can't throw away; if there weren't strategic interests, then we would go for some kind of a break up," predicted columnist Idiz.

Analysts also say Washington will be aware Turkey could play a key role in efforts to stem Iran's growing power in the region.

For Ankara, there is the risk of increasing diplomatic isolation, given its strained ties with many of its allies. They suggest both sides will likely try to present a veneer of success to Yildirim's Washington visit, even if there is no breakthrough.

Despite this, there were signs that diplomatic tensions between the two countries were beginning to ease. On the eve of the Turkish official's visit to Washington, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced U.S. consular services in Turkey would resume processing some visa applications. U.S. missions in Turkey suspended the processing of all non-immigrant visas a month ago, after Turkish authorities arrested a local employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul in the wake of last year's failed coup attempt. The employee was held on charges of spying and allegedly having links to Gulen.

In a statement, U.S. Embassy officials said the United States has received "high-level assurances" from the government of Turkey that no other staff of the U.S. missions in Turkey are under investigation or due for arrest. The statement said the Turkish government has agreed to give advance notice if it intends to arrest or detain mission employees in the future.

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Ukraine Says Russia-Backed Separatists Violate Cease-Fire With Heavy Artillery

RFE/RL November 06, 2017

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on November 6 that Russia-backed separatists have used heavy artillery in persistent cease-fire violations in the Donetsk region over the previous 24 hours. It said that two soldiers were wounded.

A ministry statement said the separatists violated the ceasefire 23 times, firing at areas near the towns of Avdiyivka and Opytne with rocket launchers, 82-millimeter mortars, and heavy machine guns.

Ukrainian positions near the towns of Pisky, Novotoshkivske, and Novooleksandrivka were targeted by mortar and artillery fire, the statement said.

It said the separatists also used antitank grenade launchers near the town of Vodyane.

There were no statements from the separatists on cease-fire violations.

Fighting between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014.

Several cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed to resolve the conflict -- have reduced fighting but not stopped it.

The latest cease-fire was agreed on August 22 in a phone call between the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine.

Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict, is scheduled to meet with Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov next week.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on November 5 that he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his 12-day trip to Asia.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-separatists- violate-cease-fire-russia/28837767.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Maina Sunuwar murder case: SC orders Kavre court to produce documents

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Kavre District Court to produce documents regarding its verdict on the Maina Sunuwar case.
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.
Shambhu Lal Shrestha appointed Livestock Development Minister

The government on Tuesday appointed Shambhu Lal Shrestha as Minister for Livestock Development.
If you havent heard, the Paradise Papers is a leak similar to the Panama Papers leak of last year, one that would expose celebrities and business executives who were (reportedly) moving large amounts of money overseas in order to avoid paying taxes.

The Paradise Papers is a collection of several million documents relating to offshore investments totaling $10 trillion involving 120,000 businesses and individuals dating from 1950 to 2016. Since the documents release on Sunday, multiple reports have directly accused Apple of partaking in the use of tax havens overseas, specifically in Jersey, one of the largest Channel islands between England and France.

These accusations can be summarized as: Apple has been abusing loopholes in tax laws to pay less taxes.

Following these accusations, Apple has issued the following statement, a long one that points out various inaccuracies from these reports of accusations.

Apple believes every company has a responsibility to pay its taxes, and as the largest taxpayer in the world, Apple pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world. Were proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business.

Were presenting the facts on this page in response to reporting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Among the inaccuracies in these reports:

 The changes Apple made to its corporate structure in 2015 were specially designed to preserve its tax payments to the United States, not to reduce its taxes anywhere else. No operations or investments were moved from Ireland.

 Far from being untouched by the United States, Apple pays billions of dollars in taxes to the US at the statutory 35 percent rate on investment income from its overseas cash.

 Apples effective tax rate on foreign earnings is 21 percent  a figure easily calculated from public filings. This rate has been consistent for many years.

Last month, in response to questions from the ICIJ, the New York Times and others, Apple provided the following statement:

The debate over Apples taxes is not about how much we owe but where we owe it. As the largest taxpayer in the world weve paid over $35 billion in corporate income taxes over the past three years, plus billions of dollars more in property tax, payroll tax, sales tax and VAT. We believe every company has a responsibility to pay the taxes they owe and were proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business.

Under the current international tax system, profits are taxed based on where the value is created. The taxes Apple pays to countries around the world are based on that principle. The vast majority of the value in our products is indisputably created in the United States  where we do our design, development, engineering work and much more  so the majority of our taxes are owed to the US.

When Ireland changed its tax laws in 2015, we complied by changing the residency of our Irish subsidiaries and we informed Ireland, the European Commission and the United States. The changes we made did not reduce our tax payments in any country. In fact, our payments to Ireland increased significantly and over the last three years weve paid $1.5 billion in tax there  7 percent of all corporate income taxes paid in that country. Our changes also ensured that our tax obligation to the United States was not reduced.

We understand that some would like to change the tax system so multinationals taxes are spread differently across the countries where they operate, and we know that reasonable people can have different views about how this should work in the future. At Apple we follow the laws, and if the system changes we will comply. We strongly support efforts from the global community toward comprehensive international tax reform and a far simpler system, and we will continue to advocate for that.

More Information About Apples Tax Payments

Throughout its history, Apple has designed new products  and established entirely new industries  by focusing on innovation. That hard work and dedication has led to the creation of revolutionary products and services that have profoundly improved peoples lives and created millions of jobs around the world.

Taxes for multinational companies are complex, yet a fundamental principle is recognized around the world: A companys profits are taxed based on where value is created. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Ireland, the United States and others all agree on this principle.

1. Apple is the largest taxpayer in the world, paying over $35 billion in corporate income taxes in the last three years. Apple pays taxes in every country where we sell our products.

When a customer buys an Apple product outside the United States, the profit is first taxed in the country where the sale takes place. Then Apple pays taxes to Ireland, where Apple sales and distribution activity is executed by some of the 6,000 employees working there. Additional tax is then also due in the US when the earnings are repatriated.

Apples worldwide effective tax rate is 24.6 percent, higher than average for US multinationals.

2. The vast majority of the value in Apple products is created in the United States, where design, development, engineering work and more are accomplished. So under the current international tax system, the majority of Apple taxes are owed to the US.

In a white paper last year, the US Treasury expressed concern over European regulators attempts to tax money that is owed to the US. To the extent that such foreign taxes are imposed on income that should not have been attributable to the relevant Member State, that outcome is deeply troubling, as it would effectively constitute a transfer of revenue to the EU from the US government and its taxpayers.

3. Apple has cash overseas because thats where it sells the majority of its products. Under the current tax system, post-tax earnings from foreign sales are subject to US tax. Apple has earmarked more than $36 billion to cover US deferred taxes. This is in addition to the $35 billion the company paid in corporate income taxes over the past three years.

4. Apple has been operating in Ireland since 1980 when Steve Jobs looked for a base to expand outside the US. The facility in Cork, Ireland started with 60 employees and now has over 6,000. Apples innovation and investment supports a further 12,000 jobs across Ireland. And across Europe, Apple supports more than 1.5 million jobs.

When Ireland changed its tax laws in 2015, Apple made changes to its corporate structure to comply. Since then, all of Apples Irish operations have been conducted through Irish resident companies. Apple pays tax at Irelands statutory 12.5 percent.

As part of these changes, Apples subsidiary which holds overseas cash became resident in the UK Crown dependency of Jersey, specifically to ensure that tax obligations and payments to the US were not reduced. Since then Apple has paid billions of dollars in US tax on the investment income of this subsidiary. There was no tax benefit for Apple from this change and, importantly, this did not reduce Apples tax payments or tax liability in any country.

5. Apple believes comprehensive international tax reform is essential, and for many years has been advocating for simplification of the tax code. Reform that allows a free flow of capital will accelerate economic growth and support job creation. A coordinated legislative effort internationally will remove the current tug of war between countries over tax payments and ensure certainty of law for taxpayers.
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Xiaomi is known for quality hardware at an affordable price and with the launch of the Android One-running Mi A1, it even has software better-suited for western tastes. The one major roadblock to expanding its presence in Europe was that you often had no other choice but to import the phone (or other Mi gadget) from China. Was.

This week the company held a launch event in Madrid, Spain. The Iberian country will host a number of online retailers  familiar sites like Amazon.es, MediaMarkt, Phone House and Carrefour. The companys official site will be selling Xiaomi products at mi.com/es as well.

With import headaches gone, youll have 230 Mi A1 and 500 Mi Mix 2 to look forward to. The Android set-top box will go for 75 while the Yi 4K action camera will cost 135.

Online sales start tomorrow, November 8, and there are plans to open authorized brick and mortar stores in Madrid on Saturday, November 11. Retail partners will have Mi devices on the 22nd.

PS. Xiaomi already has an authorized distributor in Greece.

Source




Haiti - FLASH : Renewal of TPS uncertain, 58,000 Haitians at risk of expulsion from the USA





This week, within 80 days of the expiry of the 6-month extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, set for January 28, 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Elaine Duke, Acting Chief of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said that the economic and security conditions in Haiti no longer require that the 58,000 migrants remain on American soil.



However, a spokesman for the State Department said that no decision had yet been made and declined to comment on possible inter-agency internal deliberations. Recall that Elaine Duke must announce a final decision by the end of November, the US law requiring this decision to be announced at least 60 days before the expiry date of the TPS.



Note that at the end of last September, Sharon Scheidhauer, spokesperson for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services had already warned "[...] beneficiaries are encouraged to prepare to return to Haiti in the event that the designation of Haiti is not extended, including requesting up-to-date travel documents from the Government of Haiti [...]"



Nothing very encouraging for our compatriots living in the United States under the TPS status, although there is still some hope thanks to increased political and diplomatic pressure. However, there is a serious fear of President Trump's lack of empathy for the cause of migrants, whatever their origins...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22261-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21037-haiti-flash-extension-of-tps-procedures-to-follow.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















Ireland's millennials are the ultimate online generation, with nearly two-thirds admitting they could not live without their mobiles.

A Europe-wide survey found Ireland's younger generation are the continent's most dependent on smartphones.

The RTE 2 series Generation What?, on at 10.30pm tonight, looks at the answers of over 33,000 18 to 34-year-olds from 14 countries to 149 questions, ranging from politics to media to equality.

Sociologist Kevin Myers, who helped analyse the results along with the Department of Sociology in UCD, said Ireland's mobile dependence was the highest of all nations in the survey.

"Millennials definitely love their mobile phones," he said. "In 2016, mobile phone penetration was 105pc, which meant every person in Ireland had one or more, and 66pc of Irish millennials said they couldn't live without theirs.

"We're the highest out of the entire 14 countries. The next was Wales at 52pc and the lowest Italy with 21pc.

"Meanwhile, 57pc of our younger generation said they wouldn't be happy without the internet."

Politicians

The series, presented by Eoghan McDermott, also revealed 27pc of Irish millennials could not be happy without alcohol in their lives. That was the second highest in Europe behind the Welsh on 31pc.

When it came to drugs, only 7pc said they would unhappy without them.

Politicians come out of the survey poorly.

"Three-quarters of Irish participants felt some or all politicians are corrupt," said sociologist Amanda Slevin. "In France and Greece, the results are even more stark, with 99pc feeling some or all are corrupt.

"We're seeing the repercussions already in low voter turnout. For example, in the 2014 European elections, voter turnout among people aged 18 to 24 was 21pc in Ireland."

The media are also under fire in the survey.

"Only 1pc of Irish participants said they completely trusted the media, and 43pc didn't trust the media at all," Ms Slevin said.

Irish millennials also displayed some right-wing views, with only one in four saying Irish borders should be open to all.

In terms of Europe, 13pc thought Ireland should leave the EU, while only 5pc totally truest the EU.
Four of Dublin's most feared gangsters were arrested last night in the Fairview and south-inner city areas of the capital after gardai foiled a plot to murder a notorious north- inner city drug dealer who has links to the deadly Hutch mob.

Gardai from the elite Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) seized a handgun and a silencer when they stopped a vehicle at Philipsburgh Avenue during the arrest operation at around 8pm last night.

The suspects are now being held for conspiracy to murder the drug dealer.

Sources said officers had been carrying out surveillance on the four major league criminals aged between 23 and 38 for a number of weeks after becoming aware they had been enlisted to kill the volatile dealer on behalf of the Kinahan cartel.

bugging

"Their target was literally only minutes away from death when these fellas were stopped," a senior source said last night.

It is understood gardai used specialist bugging equipment on the phones and vehicles of those involved in the murder plot, which had been ongoing for weeks.

Among the four criminals in garda custody is a 38-year-old south-inner city criminal who was only freed from jail in July.

The Herald revealed at the time that 16 people had to be given security advice because of his release, which was subject to a major garda alert.

This man is already a suspect in a string of gangland murders but has barely any previous convictions, and previously was cleared of charges in a gruesome murder case.

A 23-year-old cousin of this criminal was also arrested in last night's detailed operation.

This young Ballyfermot man survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the face almost four years ago.

Also arrested is a long-term member of the Kinahan cartel, aged in his mid-30s, who is based in the south-inner city and has previously been arrested in relation to a number of foiled hits over the past decade or more.

Another south-inner city criminal aged in his mid-30s was also arrested in the massive garda bust.

Sources revealed that some of the gangsters were arrested in the Fairview area, while others were picked up on the capital's southside.

It is understood that the level of garda surveillance on them means that officers have large amounts of evidence against all four arrested men.

The intended target is a 28-year-old career criminal living in the Marino area. He was warned by gardai a number of weeks ago about an active threat against his life.

The intended target has more than 30 previous convictions for offences including drug dealing, serious assault and other crimes, and was previously brutally assaulted in Mountjoy Prison by a convicted killer.

Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, who is responsible for Special Crime Operations (SCO), said in a statement that the arrests and the associated seizure of a firearm "represents a significant additional achievement in An Garda Siochana's ongoing and unrelenting effort to tackle organised crime and, in particular, the total disregard for human life exhibited by the criminals involved".

assassinations

Mr O'Driscoll recently revealed that operations undertaken by gardai and the DOCB had resulted in interventions in up to 40 cases where assassinations had been planned by organised crime gangs.

He said additional resources provided to SCO had enabled a crew of dedicated and highly skilled personnel to make significant inroads into tackling the activities of major organised crime groups, through arrests and seizures of high calibre weaponry and significant sums of money.

"I continue to be heartened and assured by the level of absolute commitment and top drawer professionalism and, indeed, bravery exhibited over and over again by the personnel within the Garda Siochana, who are assigned to the difficult tasks associated with the operational activity involved," Mr O'Driscoll added.

He said gardai are engaging in "a very productive manner" with other agencies.
Fr Peter McVerry at the launch of his trusts report. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has taken issue with comments made by a Government minister at the launch of his trust's annual report.

Fr McVerry said he does not know of any capital city where homelessness is as visible as it is in Dublin.

He was responding after Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy claimed the rate of homelessness here is low.

"Thankfully our rate of homelessness in Ireland, compared to other countries, is low by international standards," Mr Murphy said, speaking at the launch of the Peter McVerry Trust's annual report in Croke Park yesterday.

"Which is a good thing. But it's also a good thing that we don't think that's good enough."

However, Fr McVerry said he would be surprised if that was the case and said he was going to look into it.

"I don't believe there is any other capital city where you see so many people sleeping on the streets and so many people begging," Fr McVerry told the Herald after the minister's address.

"I don't know of any other capital city that has this visibility. It would surprise me if our figures were low compared to other countries."

He also warned of a new wave of homelessness, as banks crack down on 32,000 private homeowners in mortgage arrears of more than two years.

Fr McVerry said Irish banks were facing pressure from the European Central Bank (ECB) to go after homeowners.

"The banks have been repossessing houses where people are renting from a landlord where the landlord has not been able to pay the mortgage," he said.

"They really have not yet gone after homeowners who are in mortgage arrears.

Pressure

"But the ECB is putting huge pressure on the Irish banks to solve this problem within the next two to three years, so there's going to be a rush now on resolving those 32,000 home-ownership mortgages.

"There's another 15,000 buy-to-let still in mortgage arrears of more than two years," he added.

Fr McVerry said banks would be fined heavily by the ECB if the problem was not resolved.

"The easiest way for the banks to resolve them - repossesses them, throw people out and sell them to vulture funds.

"That's the easy way out and unfortunately, unless Government policy changes, I fear that's the way the banks are going to go," he said.

He called on the Government to introduce mortgage-to-rent "across the board" to stop the problem before it starts.

The trust called for more resources to go toward building homes, rather than emergency accommodation, in order to solve the housing crisis.

The report showed the charity supported 4,584 individuals across its services in 2016.

It has achieved a 28-fold increase in its bed capacity over the last 10 years, with 762 bed units by the end of last year. It said the average age of people it was helping was 32.

There was a 49pc increase in residential placements in the year and more than 3,600 emergency placements in Dublin and Kildare.

Some 589 individuals received ongoing housing with the support of the trust, while 98 individuals exited homelessness into independent living.
A young man charged with possession of ammunition has been sent for trial. Photo: PA Archive

A young man charged with possession of ammunition has been sent for trial.

Kane McCormack (24) was allegedly caught with 50 rounds of .32 ammunition after detectives stopped and searched a car in west Dublin.

He was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

The accused, of Beechfield Heights in Clonee, was charged with possession of the ammunition at Finglas Road in Finglas on November 7 last year.

caution

A State solicitor said the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Ann Ryan gave Mr McCormack the formal alibi caution.

Defence lawyer Jennifer Jackson asked that Mr McCormack's next court date not be read out in open court as there was "a threat on his life".

As part of his bail terms, Mr McCormack must carry a mobile phone and inform gardai where he is staying.

The accused has not yet indicated a plea to the charge.
Severine Doyle was cleared of defrauding her ex of 1,350

A mother-of-one has been cleared of stealing more than 1,300 from her former partner by sending him fake bills for their daughter's education.

Severine Doyle (43) had been accused of tampering with receipts for extra tuition, a school trip and other expenses and mailing them to her ex Wesley Greene, who paid half.

The receipts were forgeries, but Ms Doyle denied faking or sending them, and alleged Mr Green was trying to "set her up".

Judge Kathryn Hutton dismissed all charges, saying there was no evidence linking Ms Doyle to the receipts. Ms Doyle, of Parnell Court, Crumlin, had denied seven counts of theft and three attempted thefts from Mr Greene, between February 2015 and March 2016.

Dublin District Court heard their daughter had been at St Louis High School, Rathmines, and Mr Greene was obliged to pay 50pc of her education costs.

Receipts

Ms Doyle would mail him receipts, and he would pay into her bank account.

Mr Greene said he received 10 fake receipts and paid 1,350 for seven before he realised they "didn't look legit".

The three receipts he did not pay were 645 for a revision course and 420 and 280 for German and maths tuition.

The receipts he paid 50pc of were 497 for a book list, 345 for student expenses, 828 for a prefect's uniform and a trip to Bangor, 578 for prefect and other fees, and 280 for higher maths tuition, all from St Louis, as well as a 550 doctor's bill.

Mr Greene said he had a note that read: "Please arrange payment immediately as I am severely out of pocket." The envelope had handwriting he believed to be Ms Doyle's.

"That is complete speculation," Judge Hutton said.

Mr Greene also denied in cross-examination he was trying to "set her up".
Unlocking potential

On a recent Qatar Airways flight from Washington Dulles to Doha, after completing the safety briefing, the Senior Cabin Attendant came over to speak to me and welcomed me on board.
Voters, leaders in eastern hills stress connectivity with China

n A woman plucks tea leaves in Pashupatinagar of Ilam in Province 1 on Monday. Post Photo: angad dhakal
Police Accountability Boards starting work in most Maryland counties

Mandated by state law after the killing of George Floyd, Police Accountability Boards have begun work in the majority of Maryland counties.
MCCSC authorizes purchase of building on South Walnut Street

The building has housed Herald-Times staff for over 60 years. Now, it is slated to start its second life.
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has signed a lease agreement with one of Germany"s main real estate asset managers, Deka Immobilien, to operate a landmark design-led property in The Hague  a move that accelerates its growth strategy in The Netherlands and Europe.

The stylish 72-room Movenpick Hotel The Hague will also mark a new era for the Swiss hospitality firm as it looks to evolve its interior design strategy with concepts that reflect the lifestyle preferences of modern global travellers.

In keeping with its location, this new hip property promises a contemporary take on quintessentially Dutch motifs and will stand out as one of The Hague"s coolest hotels to date while introducing a new design-focused dimension to Europe"s hospitality landscape. The agreement was brokered with the involvement and advice of DLA Piper, leading agent RV&C/COG, as well as corporate property specialists CBRE and JLL and legal firm Rechtstaete.

The Movenpick Hotel The Hague, which is due to open in the heart of one of The Netherlands" most famous cities in 2019, will introduce leading-edge interior design concepts developed in partnership with premier global design firm Wilson Associates NYC.

This project will be "unmistakably Dutch" with references to regal motifs and the quirkiness for which Dutch design is renowned. The new Movenpick Coffee & Wine Lounge concept will be unveiled at this property too, while key hotel features include an all-day dining brasserie, a gym and three meeting rooms, all designed to appeal to modern travellers.
Hyatt at Olive 8 and Grand Hyatt Seattle are pleased to announce the appointment of Tomas Ortiz as Chef de Cuisine of Urbane restaurant. Ortiz brings experience in menu development for an international palate, plus his knowledge of sourcing local ingredients is a natural fit for Urbane, where the team partners with local farms, purveyors and community programs to use fresh seasonal ingredients in unexpected and innovative ways. From a young age, Ortiz would travel to Mexico to his grandparents goat farm where he would spend hours in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother, which first sparked his passion for cooking and food. Ortiz got his start in the culinary industry at a catering company before formalizing his training at Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas, Texas where he obtained a degree in Applied Food Science. Ortiz went on join the Grand Met at the Grand Hyatt Dallas Fort Worth in 2012, which allowed him to experiment with a broad spectrum of cuisines. He held several positions in the kitchen and was recognized several times by Hyatt for his leadership and commitment to extraordinary service. In his role, Ortiz will be responsible for developing menus, crafting innovative dishes and cuisine, and managing and mentoring Urbanes staff. Bringing his passion for creating new, locally-inspired dishes, Ortiz plans to incorporate his Texan roots into the menu.
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) today announced that Charles Cee Jay Jones Jr. has joined the company as association sales manager of JQHs newly renovated Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel, Convention Center & Spa in Texas, which is located north of Dallas near the $5 Billion Mile development. Jones will serve as the point of contact for large association events at the completely refreshed Frisco Conference Center, connected to the 330-suite, 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence hotel. With more than 25 years of experience in hospitality and travel sales, Jones most recently served as sales manager for the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas DFW Airport South in Irving, Texas, where he was responsible for the Texas association/SMERF business. The upscale Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco is owned and operated by Springfield, Missouri-based JQH, a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States. JQH also operates more than 1 million square feet of superb meeting space.
Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailands leading hotel operator, announced the appointment of Markland Blaiklock as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Blaiklock will be responsible for steering the continued expansion of Centara, which aims to double both its revenues and number of properties over the next five years. Blaiklock returns to Centara in an expanded capacity having previously served as the companys Chief Operating Officer in 2015. He has held senior executive positions with Le Meridien, Shangri-La, Raffles and Accor hotel groups, in Asia and North America. He is a Canadian national educated in England and France. Centara created the new Deputy CEO position and brought in the experienced executive to focus on the companys ambitious growth plans over the next five years and beyond. Blaiklock will also oversee operations, human resources, sales, marketing, business development and legal services. Centara has been expanding outside its base in Thailand, where it operates 32 properties. The company currently has 67 properties open or under development across 13 countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, China, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The next phase of growth will see Centara become an even more significant regional brand with properties opening in China, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Qatar and the UAE. Blaiklocks operational experience will also be put to work leading improvement of Centaras technical platforms and systems, ensuring the companys core infrastructure supports its vision for global expansion.
Chicago  The Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace is now engaging guests with the Amazon Echo Dot powered by Volara, the voice hub for the hotel industry, and docked in the iHome iAVS1 in every guest room. The joint solution provides both staff and guest facing voice-based interactions that operate seamlessly alongside existing software in the hotel.

The new device acts as a gateway to all the local happenings in Lakeview East, the vibrant neighborhood where Hawthorne Terrace resides and encourages them to "Live. Play. Stay. Like a local", which is Hawthorne Terrace's overarching purpose.

"Hawthorne Terrace is a neighborhood treaure, with the Amazon Echo, we can assist our guests in finding the amazing live theatre, music, exceptional dining, and robust events that take place in the neighborhood. And we are incredibly excited to announce our partnership with Volara". said Tony Klok, Principal of Rebel Hospitality which manages Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace. "Making sure our customers are delighted and engaged during their stay is our top priority. Our goal is to provide our guests an authentic neighborhood experience while more efficiently catering to their specific requests and desires."

"Volara is proud to be partnering with the Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace to bring an unparalleled voice-based guest experience to its hotel rooms," said David Berger, CEO of Volara. "Volara's solution, which has been highly customized to meet the specific requirements of the hotel and is running atop the Amazon Alexa platform, will put the services of the hotel at the tip of each guest's tongue. This new offering will supercharge the experience of staying at a Best Western Hotel, while enabling the hotel to serve its guests more efficiently and effectively."

"Hotel Technologies is excited to team up with Volara to deliver voice-enabled bedside solutions to Best Western properties. The innovative iHome iAVS1 Echo Dot docking station combines the power of Alexa voice with the convenience of charging, a dimmable clock display and higher quality stereo audio. We are confident that as more hotels embrace voice in the guest room they will trust iHome to deliver the additional features and value of iHome hospitality products," said Ely Ashkenazi, President, Hotel Technologies Inc.

Use cases have been custom-tailored to the hotel and include, but are not limited to:

Guest Facing

Item & Service requests

Concierge recommendations

Compendium information

Personal greetings

Guest surveys

Custom games

Music

Staff Facing

Room Status Changes

Maintenance Requests

Pickup Requests

Staff Training

At Chicago's Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace, guests can ask for external information such as suggested places to dine in the area, by cuisine and daypart. They can also make requests of the hotel like request more towels, inquire about check-out . . . all with the simplicity of voice activation.

New York-based Volara is the provider of hospitality-specific software for devices like the Amazon Echo, turning the widely used hardware into a hotel business tool that guests actually want to use. When a Volara-powered Echo is deployed in a hotel room, guests can prompt Alexa with questions typically asked of a hotel concierge, valet, housekeeper or bellman. Responses from Alexa are tailored to the hotel's unique brand and are easily updated in real-time by hotel staff. The solution provides an easy, fun way for guests to request services when needed without the hassle of a call to the front desk.

To learn more about Volara's voice-hub, click here.

David Berger

CEO
A restaurant only makes money when customers are paying their bills, having sat on the seats and eaten from the menu. Often restaurant menus have catchy descriptions, gorgeous photos and an attractive layout. But what is sometimes missing from the overall design of the restaurant are key elements that add profitability to the mix.

The principal revenue generating asset under management in a restaurant are the seats and tables  and this applies whether the restaurant is a stand-alone business, is in a mixed-use development, is in a theme park, is in an airport terminal, is in a hotel, or even is a pop-up business in a yurt. The seat is a hugely perishable asset  every minute that it is unoccupied there is a missed revenue generating opportunity. If you don't fill the seats this meal period, the revenue (not to mention the profit that you could have made) is gone  and probably elsewhere!

So, it's clear that a key metric for best practice is Revenue per Available Seat Hour. RevPASH is calculated by getting the revenue for the hour and dividing it by the number of seats that you have. If the restaurant is only half full, your RevPASH will be lower than it might be; if everyone orders one course only, your RevPASH will again be lower again.

Caroline Wilce

is Finance Director and shareholder at Black and White Hospitality Management Ltd (the franchisor of the Marco Pierre White brands  Marco's New York Italian, Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse and Grill, Wheelers Oyster Bar and Grill Room, Mr White's English Chophouse, Bardolino). She says "the main key KPIs used by successful restaurant operators include:

Revenue per available seat hour (RevPASH)

Revenue per available square metre (RevPASM)

Cancelled / No Show Covers as a % of Reserved Covers

Time per Table Turn"

The common ways to increase RevPASH are to

decrease the amount of time each party spends at their table and/or

increase the average spend and/or

decrease the time that a table stays empty after a party leaves

Here are some ideas to increase your RevPASH.

1. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Stelios Haji-Ioannou made a success of easyJet by first filling the aircraft then raising the price. Sweat your asset; how often do we see hotel restaurants closed for lunch. And branded restaurants closed for breakfast. Yet, one rarely sees small privately run restaurants closed - they are open all hours. The entrepreneurial owner/operator knows that the asset must be sweated.

2. Seven days a week

By increasing available seat hours, you give yourself the opportunity to spread your fixed costs. So, if there is a market, keep the restaurant open all week, all meal periods. If there isn't an obvious market, create one. Many hotels have found success with (champagne) afternoon teas. Pre-theatre dinners are a similar reaction to creating a market that enables the restaurant to be more successful.

3. No more quiet nights

Capitalize on menu trends. The industry is seeing a need for more organic, healthy locally sourced options. In some cases, and locations, customers value these options and are willing to pay for them. You need to understand your customers, though, as opinions can vary depending on the market or region. Sundays and Tuesdays are traditionally toughest nights for a restaurant, so running promotions to fill the seats will at least get some revenue. Maybe link in with a local cinema, or run a series of promotions to encourage people to come out on your quieter nights.

4. Increasing the number of turns

The number of turns is the number of parties that sit at a table each night. Depending on your clientele and target market, you may be able to get another sitting in. Some restaurants do fixed sittings, say, 6pm and 8pm so that customers know if they are in the 6pm sitting, they need to be out by 8pm This works well if people are going to the movies or the theatre.

5. Create a pool of ready diners

The bar is a great way to increase your RevPASH. Customers have a couple of beers before dinner and are sitting there ready and waiting as soon as a table is cleared. The in-room TV, the lift walls, are opportunities to promote the hotel restaurant to guests. Better still, a recommendation by the receptionist at check-in can generate business that might otherwise walk out of the hotel for dinner.

6. Increase your prices

Make sure your prices are right. Check the local competition and see how you compare. The big thing is to look at each sitting individually and try to optimise the results. Some restaurants do this without thinking about it. It is why there are separate lunch and dinner menus. After you evaluate what other restaurants are doing to drive sales a review of customer data might show that demand indicates that some menu prices could be increased without hurting sales.

7. Table optimisation

Some restaurants and cafes attract more singles and couples, others larger groups. If all your tables are for 4, it means that every single and couple is wasting seats and decreasing your RevPASH.

8. Last minute offers

If you are having an unexpected quiet night, why not Tweet a special or post it on your Facebook page. Work hard to get those extra couple of tables in. It can be the difference between a loss for the night and breaking even. Customer traffic is one of the key metrics restaurant operators use to measure success. When traffic is down, many restaurants turn to new promotions or even consider lowing prices, but will these actions reverse the trend? Before you act, first take time to understand the change in traffic and the underlying causes. Two key steps in deciding how to address traffic issues are to determine if it is a sustained problem or a short-term trend and to determine whether the decrease is caused by internal or external factors. Guest count problems can be addressed in many ways. Once you gain an understanding of what causes traffic issues at a specific location, you will be better prepared to create solutions that address the true, underlying problem.

Ally Dombey Northfield is a Director at Revenue by Design, creator of revenue management solutions for the hotel industry. In respect of restaurants, she says "..the focus needs to be on optimizing profitability through contribution margins, differential pricing, menu mix and price blending"

Restaurant technology can and should be leveraged to provide better information to inform better decisions. Such tools provide insights into restaurant customer purchasing behavior enabling prediction of their reaction to future initiatives. Technology can be harnessed to

measure the effectiveness and impact of limited time offers

understand the impact of coupons and deciding on the most profitable offers

quantify the impact of testing a new menu line or a new service concept

help selecting the most representative restaurants to test brand innovations

review loyalty programmes and recommend marketing initiatives

The National Restaurant Association in the USA believes that over 60% of sales in fine dining restaurants and 80% of sales in casual restaurants come from repeat business. So, remember that it is existing customers who are your most likely future customers  and through social media they can influence potential customers who have not yet experienced your restaurant. Leverage the database of existing customers (respecting GDPR of course).

Ian Graham

+44 (1752) 873198

View source
PORTSMOUTH, NH  According to recent reports, analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) state that the five U.S. markets with the largest hotel construction pipelines by project count are: New York with 181 Projects/30,225 Rooms; Houston with 148 Projects/16,398 Rooms; Dallas with 143 Projects/17,580 Rooms; Nashville, which hit a cyclical peak this quarter, has 124 Projects/16,699 Rooms; and Los Angeles has 112 Projects/16,780 Rooms.

New York has the most New Hotel Openings forecasted for 2017 with 39 Hotels/6,128 Rooms, then Dallas, which is expected to open 37 Hotels/4,510 Rooms followed by Houston with 27 Hotels/2,828 Rooms. New York is also forecasted to open the most hotels in 2018 with 48 Projects/7,905 Rooms and in 2019, with 35 Projects/5,046 Rooms.

The markets with the most New Project Announcements into the Pipeline in the last 12 months are: New York with 59 Projects/9,563 Rooms, Dallas with 54 Projects/7,142 Rooms, and Orlando with 40 Projects/11,394 Rooms.

About Lodging Econometrics (LE)

For nearly 25 years, Lodging Econometrics (LE) has been the industry-leading provider of global hotel intelligence and decision-maker contact information. LE custom-builds business development database programs for hotel franchise companies looking to accelerate their brand growth, hotel ownership and management companies seeking to expand their real estate portfolios, and lodging industry vendors interested in increasing their sales. To learn more about our business development programs, contact us: +1 603.431.8740 or [email protected]lodgingeconometrics.com.

Emily Dennison

Lodging Econometrics
The Addition of Carlson Rezidor as a Data Provider Expands the Program to over 23,000 Properties Worldwide

TravelClick, a global provider of innovative, cloud-based and data-driven solutions for hotels to maximize revenue, today announced the Companys new data partnership with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the worlds largest and most dynamic hotel companies with more than 1,440 hotels in operation and under development in more than 115 countries and territories throughout the world. Through this partnership, Carlson Rezidor will utilize TravelClicks powerful, forward-looking Demand360 tool, a Hotelligence360 Business Intelligence solution.

Carlson Rezidor is the latest global hotel company to join the Demand360 program, with over 22,000 other properties around the world that contribute their future and historical data. Demand360 is the only competitive market intelligence product available to the hospitality industry that provides forward-looking reservation metrics and competitive share by segment and channel, allowing hotels to drive the right mix of business and stay ahead of the competition. Carlson Rezidor and TravelClick will work together to increase adoption of Demand360 throughout the Carlson Rezidor portfolio.

As a company with a strong global presence, we continuously look for solutions that will drive success and provide the market-leading tools our hotels need to compete in an increasingly complex market, said Charles McKee, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Americas, Carlson Rezidor. TravelClicks innovative Demand360 data will enable us to keep our finger on the pulse of the overall market and help to empower our properties with actionable data.

We are excited to have Carlson Rezidor join thousands of properties worldwide as Demand360 continues to grow exponentially. This valuable partnership will give their hoteliers access to the most comprehensive, forward-looking data in the hospitality space to drive rapid growth and success, added Greg Sheppard, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence, TravelClick. Its no secret that data continues to lead our industry, so its more important than ever to capitalize on business intelligence tools like Demand360 to see the complete picture of market demand.

About TravelClick

TravelClick offers innovative, cloud-based and data-driven solutions for hotels around the globe to maximize revenue. TravelClick enables over 38,000 hoteliers to drive better business decisions and know, acquire, convert and retain guests. The Companys interconnected suite of solutions includes Business Intelligence, Reservations & Booking Engine, Media, Web & Video and Guest Management. As a trusted hotel partner with more than 30 years of industry experience, TravelClick operates in 176 countries, with local experts in 39 countries and 14 offices in New York, Atlanta, Bucharest, Chicago, Barcelona, Dubai, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Ottawa, Paris, Shanghai and Singapore. Additionally, the Company fosters more than 600 travel-focused partnerships for hotels to leverage. Follow TravelClick on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the worlds largest and most dynamic hotel companies and includes 1,440 locations in operation and under development with more than 230,000 rooms and a footprint spanning 115 countries and territories. The Carlson Rezidor portfolio includes a powerful set of global brands: Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites by CarlsonSM. Guests can benefit from Club CarlsonSM, a program that redefines hotel rewards with a collection of exceptional benefits, services, and privileges at more than 1,000 hotels worldwide. Over 95,000 people are employed in Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group hotel systems and the company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Singapore, and Brussels. For more information, visit www.carlsonrezidor.com and follow on Twitter @carlsonrezidor.
HFTPs 2017-2018 Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors Begin Term

The new HFTP Global Board was installed during the associations 2017 Annual Convention

The 2017-2018 Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) have officially begun their term. The association leaders represent a wide variety of segments within the hospitality industry, including: clubs, consulting, hotels, finance, technology and more. The HFTP Global Board volunteers its time and professional expertise to help guide and progress the association to the forefront of the industry as it carries out its strategic plan.

The HFTP Global Board is the primary decision-making body of the association. Under its Board's vision, HFTP is able to expand its international reach and address the needs of the hospitality industry at large. The Board ensures the continuity of the association by planning for the future, establishing and reviewing major policies and programs that support the mission of the association, and by ensuring that the association is fiscally sound.

"The HFTP Global Board is focused on upcoming events including HITEC Dubai, Amsterdam and Houston, the new Club Summit and a new lineup of Prolinks webinars to further the education of our membership," said HFTP Global President Timothy G. Nauss, CHAE. "In my new role as president, I will be working with the executive committee to fill assignments for several key advisory councils for the association, as well as the establishment of the Young Professionals Council, which was recently approved by the board."

Upcoming this year, HFTP will continue its international expansion of the world's largest Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) with its inaugural HITEC Dubai at the end of this month, and its second HITEC Amsterdam in April 2018. HFTP will produce its Club Summit in March 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana USA. The association recently announced its strategic partnership with industry ally Open Travel Alliance (OpenTravel), and will continue the corporate co-location. The association will continue to promote its newsworthy, resourceful web series: HITEC Bytes, HFTP Club Bytes, HFTP Finance Bytes and HFTP News  as well as its hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com.

"HFTP is filled with top hospitality industry leaders from around the world," said HFTP CEO Frank I. Wolfe. "Thanks to these passionate and proactive educators, HFTP was able to celebrate 65 years of success as an association this year. HFTP will continue to work hard, break barriers and create a better industry for hospitality professionals across the globe."

HFTP 2017-2018 Global Executive Committee members:

HFTP 2017-2018 Global Board of Directors:

For more information on HFTP leadership and leadership opportunities, contact HFTP Executive Services Administrator Millicent Gustafson at millicent.gustafson@hftp.org or +1 (512) 220-6449.

Annual Convention 2018 is slated for October 24-26 at the new Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky USA. For more information about HFTP's Annual Convention and other global activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org or visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, follow HFTP/HITEC on HITEC Bytes, PineappleSearch, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com. For more information about HFTP, email membership@hftp.org or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit via the HFTP website. Read industry updates on the suite of HFTP hospitality news sites: HITEC Bytes, Club Bytes, Finance Bytes and HFTP News.
U.S. Domestic Leisure Travel Withstands Harvey and Irma

Numbers are up despite the devastating hurricane season; international inbound travel remained stable.

Domestic leisure travel led all travel segments in September 2017 despite the destructive hurricanes that pummeled U.S. states and territories during a normally busy season, according to the latest Travel Trends Index (TTI).

The increase marked the 93rd consecutive month of travel growth. However, overall travel volume grew at a slower year-over-year rate in September than in August.

Domestic business travel dipped modestly, likely due to a calendar shift in Jewish holidays and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Both the domestic and international travel markets are showing remarkable resilience in the face of some significant headwinds, said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. Pretty much every challenge you can imagineboth natural and man-madehas been thrown at travel this year, and yet this industry continues to do far more than its share for export and domestic job growth.

It doesnt take much for the travel industry to achieve a favorable return on investmentAmerica just needs to compete for market share by facilitating safe, legitimate travel and increasing connectivity by upholding Open Skies and modernizing our airports."

Dow continued: We continue to urge the Trump administration to make clear that new security measures are squarely aimed at bad actors, while legitimate business and leisure travelers are as welcome as ever in the United States.

Total U.S. travel volume is expected to grow at a rate of around 2.2 percent through March 2018. Forward-looking metrics suggest a positive outlook for international travel, but tempered expectations are very much in order.

The TTI is prepared for U.S. Travel by the research firm Oxford Economics. The TTI is based on public and private sector source data which are subject to revision by the source agency. The TTI draws from: advance search and bookings data from ADARA and nSight; Airline bookings data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC); IATA, OAG and other tabulations of international inbound travel to the U.S.; and hotel room demand data from STR.

Click here to read the full report.
Aston Martin Music was a massive single upon its release. The song served as a staple reason of Drakes magical touch as a feature artist and later led to a remix with just Drake called Paris Morton Music. The track was released on Rick Ross Teflon Don album in 2010 and still remains as one of his biggest songs to date. While Drake was only a feature, contributing to the hook, it turns out that the bear was initially supposed to be his before Rick Ross got a hold of it.

In a recent interview with Djbooth, J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, the songs producers, broke down several of their biggest singles theyve produced and detailed the storys behind it. They said the beat wasnt specifically tailored to fit Rick Ross style but was initially sent to Drake. The beat was actually sent to several other people. However, Drake seemed to skim over the beat in a batch he was sent.

We didnt do the song specifically for Ross. A few other people made songs to it. Actually, I sent it to Drake before I sent it to Ross. Ross did the song with him and Chrisette Michele, and DJ Khaled sent it to Drake. Then when Drake got it, he text me and was like, Yo! Why didnt you send me this beat?! I was like, My man, that was in the first set of beats I sent you [laughs]. He got on it and did his thing, though, they said.

After Rick Ross version came out, a leaked track from Drake called Paris Morton Music surfaced on the internet. The track strictly featured Drake going in on an extremely lengthy verse which brought a refreshing take on the track altogether.

The production duo also said once Aston Martin Music fully formed, everyone was convinced it was going to be a hit single. The song ended up at the top of the Billboards Hot Rap Songs chart for a few months.

But when I first heard it, I was like, Hmmm. When I hear songs, I try to find whats wrong with it first and how to fix it. I was like, Damn, this songs got two eight-bar verses and two long-ass hooks. How the fuck is this going to fit into the radio format? But what the fuck do I know? Rook of J.U.S.T.I.C.E League said.

drakeross
Rolling Loud had already established itself as the dominant hip-hop festival in North America on the strength of their flagship Miami show alone. Since adding dates in Southern California, The Bay Area, Miami, The United Kingdom, China, and Japan, Rolling Loud has increased their dominance, and further established themselves as one of the most reliant brands in their industry. And while this summers Miami show had a hell of a lineup, the Southern California edition may very well be making a case for festival of the year. Last week, Rolling Loud brought Atlanta into the mix, adding Migos, Lil Yachty, and Playboi Carti to the already star-studded lineup. Today, that lineup has added even more key players.

Gucci Mane, Ski Mask The Slump God, Smokepurpp and YBN Nahmir have officially joined the bill, which is set to be headlined by ScHoolboy Q and Future. These new additions will be joining the ranks of Rae Sremmurd, Post Malone, 21 Savage, XXXTentacion, Young Dolph, Rich The Kid, Famous Dex, Young Nudy, Lil Wop, Kembe X, Kemba, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, Lil Pump, Trippie Redd, Curren$y, Sahbabii, Lil Peep, Kodie Shane, Maxo Kream, Jay 305, Buddy, Dumbfoundead, Uno The Activist, Leaf, Dice Soho and more.

Rolling Loud Southern California is set to go down mid-December, on the 16th and 17th, spanning across three stages. If youre intrigued by this lineup, and happen to be in the Los Angeles area, you can cop yourself some tickets at the official Rolling Loud website right here. Plus, as an added bonus, Rolling Loud will also have a special booth set up for those with Medicinal Marijuana cards, specifically tailored for consumption. Although, Id be willing to bet that plenty of people will be lighting up regardless of card ownership. Stay tuned here for more news on Rolling Loud.

Gucci Mane / Ski Mask
In case you missed it Monday afternoon, Meek Mill was sentenced by a Philadelphia judge to serve 2-4 years in a state prison for violating probation in a nearly decade-old gun and drug case. The judge cited a failed drug test and a failure to comply with a court order restricting his travel as reasons for the harsh sentencing. The judge added that hes been trying to help Meek out for about a decade, but he just continues to do whatever he wants.

Since the news broke online that Meek was going back to jail, many of todays biggest artists & athletes have taken to social media to voice their concern & come to the defense of the MMG rapper. In fact, Jay Z even chimed into the mix late Monday night, and hopped on Facebook to call out the system for being unjust & heavy handed.

The sentence handed down by the Judgeagainst the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officeris unjust and heavy handed, Hov wrote on FB. We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career.

In addition to Hov, everyone from Nipsey Hussle, A Boogie, YG, Kevin Hart, Angie Martinez, Isaiah Thomas, Leonard Fournette & many more have all voiced their opinions of the wrongful sentencing on social media. So we went ahead and decided to round up some of those tweets & posts, which you can see for yourself (below).

Jay Z Meek Mill
A few days a go, news broke that Meek Mill would be possibly facing jail time after violating probation. He went to court earlier today and now, its looking like hell be facing between 2-4 years in jail.

Meek Mills recent slew of arrests isnt getting past the judge, as he sentenced the rapper to a minimum of two years behind bars, according to TMZ. The rapper went to court earlier today in Philadelphia to deal with probation violations stemming from his 2009 case for drugs and weapons possessions. The violations were a product of his reckless driving arrest in New York City where he was booked after he was caught popping wheelies on his dirt bike. He violated probation again for his involvement in a fight at a St. Louis airport earlier this year. He got off lucky with the reckless driving charge, accepting a deal from the District Attorney that said the charge would be wiped clean from his record if he stayed out of trouble for the next six months. The assault charge from the airport was dropped. However, the fact that he violated his probation was the driving force behind his sentence. On top of that, he violated probation in 2015 but was sentenced to house arrest. Its not looking so good for Meek Mill right now.

Back in March, Meek Mill was arrested for a fight that broke out in an airport at a St. Louis airport. The fight allegedly broke out after an airport employee tried to get a picture with Meek. He was denied by the rapper and later asked him why he wouldnt take a picture with a supporter. The comment didnt sit well with Meek apparently and thats why the whole altercation began.

Despite his legal troubles, Meek Mills had an eventful 2017. The rapper dropped two outstanding EPs along with an incredible album, Wins And Losses. Along with that, hes been giving back to his community. Last week, he kids from a Boys & Girls club in Philly to enjoy a 76ers game and meet some of the players. He announced hed be starting an initiative to give back to kids in Philadelphia schools.
The case against Nicki Minajs brother, Jelani Maraj, is still underway as the prosecutor is urging the jury to give the victim her voice back.

Page Six reports that a Long Island prosecutor told the courtroom yesterday that Maraj must be convicted, based on physical and eyewitness evidence that he raped his step-daughter for eight months beginning when she was just 11-years-old. The victims younger brother previously told the courtroom that he witnessed the rape when he broke his pencil and went looking for his sister in the basement of their home.

Today, you have the power to give (the victim) her voice back. You have the power to stand up in a way she could not, Nassau Assistant DA Emma Slane said. For eight months, (the victim) was too scared to speak. For months  his violence worked. But by the luck of her baby brother looking for a pencil, we might not be here today.

The young girl detailed graphic and disturbing details about her encounters with Jelani that correlate to the semen found on her pyjamas, matching Jelanis DNA. She told you how much it hurt, how scared she was, how much she cried, Emma said of the alleged attacks. You know a little girl is not capable of making that up.

Marajs defence lawyer, David Schwartz, previously stated that this whole case is a set-up by the victims mother to get money from Nicki. Adding, the evidence of a shakedown is just overwhelming in this case.

In the latest hearing, Emma explained that if the family wanted money they would have made a claim against Nicki herself, as Jelani has nothing.

Tell those two children you heard them. Deliver the justice that is so desperately needed in this case. Hold him accountable. Find him guilty, she told the courtroom.
Ski Mask the Slump God was the most recent guest on Complexs Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma. The rapper heads to New York Citys Stadium Goods shoe spot where he talked to the host about childhood sneakers, his favorite shoes, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and more.

Ski Masks trip to Stadium Goods was filled with some pretty interesting tidbits of facts Being a Miami native, La Puma asked Ski Mask about his thoughts on the Nike Lebron 89 South Beach when Lebron initially made his way over to the Heat. He says he remembers a lot of people in school having the shoe and copping them from Sole Exchange and Dunk Exchange. However, Ski Mask never got caught up in the hype.

I was never a Hypebeast, plus my parents hated me anyways, so they never bought me anything nice, he said jokingly, if I was bad, theyd shave my head bald and then take my good shoes. Id have bobos, like Id have some And1s. Id go to school with And1s, brotha, and get made fun of. How the fuck am I supposed to focus on school if Im wearing some And1s.

During his time on the show, he also revealed that hes a huge fan of Vans footwear. He said he used to try and skateboard but it never worked out. However, he did reveal that he used to do the jerk dance back in the day in his Vans which plays a factor in why he likes them so much.

Aside from his love for Gucci, he also revealed that Y-3 is his favorite designer brand.

Going to the Y-3 store is a fuckin hassle, bro. And all the good Y-3 colors is in womens and Im like, Whats the biggest size you got in womens? he said.

Despite the fact most rappers constantly praise Jordans, Ski Mask admits hes never had a pair. However, by the end of the episode he cops his first pair with the Air Jordan 14 Retro.

Watch the full episode and our episode of On The Come Up with Ski Mask below:
In a current pop culture climate where celebrities and especially musicians are making their political opinions heard regardless of the consequences after the fact, few figures from the hip-hop community have been as vocal about the state of America than Vic Mensa. The young Chicago rapper, who released his debut album The Autobiography on Jay-Zs Roc Nation label earlier this year, has been critical of the Trump administration before, but only in the context of the White Houses ineptitude to solve recurring problems that have plagued multiple Presidents. I had to come to terms with the fact that nobody getting into office, as the President of the United States, is really, like, my candidate, he explained to Larry King. Nobodys really representing me or my people. Now, Mensa is taking aim at the American public and their porous attitude towards gun control.





As per a report from TMZ, Mensa didnt hold back with his opinions, stating that Americans need to stop being stupid as f**k when it comes to the issue of gun control. Youre not going to fight off a tyrannical government with an AR-15 or an M16, so give it up. Its not a constitutional right. The rapper goes on to explain that last point, adding that Americas forefathers didnt have assault weapons at their disposal when the constitution was written and that those second amendment rights have been grossly misinterpreted over time. In Mensas mind, its a simple choice between two very different options: get the AR-15s and other such weapons off the streets and out of the hands of civilians or sacrifice your family and friends to mass murder.

He also touched on the political response, which so often falls back on the thoughts and prayers strategy, which he says is basically meaningless at this point. He dragged House Republicans and those in Congress who take money from the NRA, vote against any sort of legislation that will curb Americas enthusiasm for arming themselves and using such weaponry at will, and then resort to the thoughts and prayers response in the face of tragedy. For Mensa, and surely many of other Americans, real change is the only answer.

Did you think the rappers response was too harsh or right on the money? Let us know in the comments.

Vic Mensa
Page Content



Montreal, 6 November 2017  ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu and the President of the University of Waterloo, Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today supporting a new joint educational programme.

The first initiative under the new agreement will be the launch of an e-learning course at the upcoming ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit, on the Fundamentals of the Air Transport System.

Stressing the importance of making more and more young people aware of the diverse career opportunities in air transport globally, especially in light of forecast sectoral growth, Secretary General Liu emphasized that the new partnership represents an important additional step toward addressing future shortages of highly-skilled aviation personnel.

Providing greater access to affordable quality training is key to attracting, educating and retaining the next generation of skilled aviation professionals, Dr. Liu highlighted. ICAO is undertaking an extensive range of activities in aid of raising awareness on these issues, and to improve aviation training access and quality under our NGAP and Global Aviation Training/TRAINAIR PLUS Programmes. I am encouraged this new partnership is coinciding with our inaugural NGAP Summit this November and we will look forward to reviewing its results.

Geared for aspiring aviation professionals as well as professionals transitioning into aviation, the new ICAO/Waterloo course will contain 9 modules covering air law, aircraft, operations, navigation, airports, security, environment, accidents, and safety. Trainees will have the option to complete the course (with no exam) free of charge, or to pay the exam fee and complete the exam to earn the Course Certificate.

The aviation programme at Waterloo is only 10 years old, yet it has quickly become the leading programme of its kind in the country. I am proud that our faculty and students will help establish the next generation of professionals to fulfil global needs and demand, said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of University of Waterloo. Im excited for the future of aviation at Waterloo and pleased to see this partnership with a special agency of the United Nations flourish.

The ICAO NGAP Global Summit is being convened by ICAO at its Montreal Headquarters from 27-28 November 2017, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It will provide a unique opportunity to unite the aviation, education and labour sectors in order to develop strategies and actions to engage and retain the next generation of skilled aviation professionals. As part of the Summit, ICAO is also organizing a special Model ICAO Forum, speed networking sessions, and a career and networking exhibition for student participants.

Resources for Editors



About ICAO



A specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 191 Member States.



ICAO's NGAP Global Summit

ICAOs NGAP Programme

ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative



Contacts

Anthony Philbin

Chief, Communications

aphilbin@icao.int

+1 514-954-8220

+1 438-402-8886 (mobile)

Twitter: @ICAO



William Raillant-Clark

Communications Officer

wraillantclark@icao.int

+1 514-954-6705

+1 514-409-0705 (mobile)

Twitter: @wraillantclark

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raillantclark/


This Big Indian Joint Family Has 72 Members Living in The Same House in Maharashtra
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Saudi Arabia says it has intercepted a ballistic missile fired over capital Riyadh by rebels from Yemen, an attack Donald Trump immediately blamed on Iran.

The missile was brought down near King Khaled International Airport on the northern outskirts of the city and did not cause any casualties, state-owned Al Ekhbariya TV reported.

Rocket fragments fell near the airport grounds, but flights were not disrupted, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said.

 Saudi Arabia's crown prince: Country will return to 'moderate, open Islam'

Yemen's Houthi rebels fired the missile across Saudi Arabia's southern border, according to several Houthi-owned media outlets, including Al-Masirah and SABA.

It is the first time a Houthi missile has come so close to a heavily populated area and appears to be the farthest such a missile has reached inside Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is around 620 miles (1,000km) north of the border with Yemen.

Saba News, which is run by the Houthi rebels, reported the missile was a Burkan H2 and the airport had been the target.

A Saudi military spokesman condemned the attack in a statement, saying the missile was fired "indiscriminately" toward a populated civilian area.

Saudi Arabia is part of a coalition carrying out bombings of the Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen, which has taken over the capital Sanaa and other parts of the country during its civil war.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

Responding to the attack, Mr Trump immediately blamed Iran.

"A shot was just taken by Iran, in my opinion, at Saudi Arabia. And our system knocked it down," the US President said, referring to the Patriot missile batteries Saudi Arabia has purchased from the US.

"That's how good we are. Nobody makes what we make and now we're selling it all over the world."

Saudi military forces have intercepted missiles fired by Houthis several times since March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched a war against the rebels and their allies after they captured northern Yemen and ousted the Saudi-backed president from power. The kingdom has also imposed an air and sea blockade on Yemen.

The stalemated war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and displaced three million others, pushing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.

Saudi Arabia accuses its rival, Iran, of training and helping arm the rebels. Iran denies it has provided material support, though it acknowledges its political support of the Houthis.

News outlet Al-Masirah said the missile was made in Yemen and was the third to be fired toward Riyadh this year. It reported the rebels saying the missile was fired in response to "Saudi-American aggression and crimes against the people of Yemen."

Earlier this week, a suspected air strike by the Saudi-led coalition killed at least 29 people, including children, in northern Yemen.
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If the United Nations gave out MVP trophies for entire countries, Sweden would win hands-down.

According to a new report called the "Good Country Index," which ranked 163 countries by their contributions to the global community, Sweden takes the top spot overall. In individual categories, the tiny Nordic scored first in measures of Prosperity & Equality and Health & Wellbeing.

"Sweden must be bored of coming top in every bloody country index but that's the fact of the matter," Simon Anholt, an independent policy advisor and the Index's creator, told The Local.

As Anholt suggests, Sweden is no stranger to topping lists of innovative countries. Last September, for instance, it ranked third in the Global Innovation Index, most notably for its elite research universities. Within the last four years, it has never fallen outside the top three.

To compile the Good Country Index, Anholt created 35 separate categories that he eventually distilled into seven big buckets: Science & Technology, Culture, International Peace & Security, World Order, Planet & Climate, Prosperity & Equality, and Health & Wellbeing.

The data came from sources like the United Nations and the World Bank, the Local reports.

Sweden's dominance in the equality and wellbeing categories stems from its insistence on human rights for all, both stateside and abroad. Sweden's parental leave policy, for instance, is one of the most generous in the world -- new moms and dads take 480 days, 90 of which are reserved for fathers only as a way to promote bonding.

It also frequently sends its own doctors to help with health crises in other countries and provide aid during pandemics.

Given its heavy arms exports and refugee-related conflicts, however, Sweden's lowest-performing categories were International Peace & Security, where it placed 52nd, and World Order, where it came in at 11th.

Stockholm (iStock)

Those kinds of insights are precisely what Anholt says he wanted to illuminate. Instead of competing against one another, he'd like countries to see the report as an incentive to cooperate.

A country with strong social innovation like Sweden could teach the US, which ranked 46th in Prosperity & Equality and 12th in Health & Wellbeing, a thing or two about making people's live easier. Meanwhile, a country like South Africa, which ranked first in International Peace & Security, could steer a country like Sweden away from relying on selling weapons to boost its economy.

The United States came in 21st. Its strongest category was Health & Wellbeing, for which it came in 12th out of 163, but even with the admirable ranking Sweden beat out the US in every category.

Maybe it's finally time to pack our bags and become do-gooder Swedes.

The top 5:

1. Sweden

2. Denmark

3. The Netherlands

4. United Kingdom

5. Germany

The bottom 5:

159. Iraq

160. Central African Republic

161. Mauritania

162. Ecuatorial Guinea

163. Libya

Read more:

 How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn

 Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore

 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Families of the victims have spent years campaigning to understand the cause of the fire

There will be no new inquiry into the Stardust disaster, the single worst fire in the history of the state.

Forty-eight people died in the 1981 Valentine's Day blaze at the nightclub in Artane, Dublin, and hundreds more were injured in the tragedy.

The cause of the fire was originally said to have been arson - a theory that was subsequently ruled out following a fresh inquiry in 2009 after years of campaigning by victims' relatives.

A new review of evidence in the case was headed this year by retired judge Patrick McCartan who found the cause of the fire cannot be explained and may never be known.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "I want to acknowledge the terrible pain and loss of the relatives of the victims and the fact that the report does not come to the conclusion that they would have wished for."

Mr Flanagan said the McCartan report is the third independent assessment of available evidence.

Finian McGrath, Independent TD and Minister of State for Disability Issues, said the relatives were foremost in his mind.

"This will come as a major disappointment to the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee, which has been working tirelessly for years to determine the cause of the fire," he said.

"I feel for all the families today as I know that they will be disappointed with the outcome of this assessment. They have suffered a huge loss and their efforts over 36 years are a testament to their loved ones."

About 300 relatives received ex gratia payments from the state after making claims in private to a tribunal the 1980s. The average payment was IR12,700 (14,200).

Victims and relatives could decline the offers but if they accepted they could not subsequently sue the owners of Stardust, the Butterlys.

The fire broke out in the early hours of February 14 1981 with more than 800 young people inside. Most of the dead were from Artane, Kilmore and Coolock.

Investigations have discovered some escape routes were hindered by emergency exits that were locked by chains.

Judge McCartan's review found that a dossier on new evidence about the Stardust disaster, which was submitted in July, was "rambling, argumentative, disorganised and at times incoherent".

It said a 999 call from eyewitness Brenda Kelly, who reported a fire in the roof of the building, could be considered new evidence but it offers no explanation on how the fire started.

The review also found there was no confusion or misunderstanding about the layout of the Stardust based on maps used in previous inquiries.

It said: "This assessment would like to acknowledge the grief and trauma experienced by all those affected by the Stardust tragedy, especially the families and friends of those who died in the fire.

"This grief must be compounded by the failure of anyone to explain the cause of the fire. Due to the passing of time it is much harder today to find such an explanation and this assessment must conclude that the cause of the fire may never be known."

In the dossier the Stardust Victims' Committee claimed Ms Kelly's emergency call was not in the original Keane report into the fire.

It alleged a second store room in the Stardust venue had been full of combustible material and was open to the roof but had not been illustrated in maps used in the two previous inquiries.

It said the fire was caused by an electrical fault in an area known as the Lamp Room.

The dossier disputed evidence and details given in previous inquiries.

Judge McCartan found: "Giving support to any other hypothetical explanation of the cause of the fire would simply recreate this problem.

"In the absence of actual proof of the cause of the fire, there is nothing to be gained by commenting on the different possible hypothetical explanations in this Assessment."

Judge McCartan described much of the detail in the dossier for the Stardust Victims' Committee as "theory".

"Unless the Committee can produce new evidence that was not before either the Keane Tribunal or the Coffey Review, or evidence that was not properly considered by either process, there can be no grounds for holding another inquiry," he said.

Antoinette Keegan, who lost her sisters Martina and Mary in the inferno, said the review did not address their concerns and "gave us nothing".

"We are totally and utterly rejecting his report," she said.

"It's just the same old, same old again - political interference. A Commission of Investigation would have cleared up the whole lot. Everything would have been looked at.

"It's politically interfered with from 1981 to 2017, right to this minute. It should've been the case where everybody had their day in court. But because arson was put on the public record... but the fact was that it was a roof fire."

Ms Keegan said: "There should never have been a tribunal of inquiry into a fire that killed 48. It should have been our day in court."

Ms Keegan claimed the theory of arson in the aftermath of the disaster ultimately had the result of preventing families from seeking redress in the courts.

"It's still the same to this day. They don't want to do anything," she said.

"They know the truth is there and they don't want to acknowledge it."

Ms Keegan added: "Lets just put it this way, if it had've been politicians' children it would've been a different response. Regardless of the area it's the people, the working class people, but if it had've been higher class, the politicians wouldn't have done a Tribunal of Inquiry they would've went every step of the way to get justice for their loved ones."

The Stardust Victims Committee said all they have wanted from day one is to get the truth of what happened on public record.

Tommy Broughan, Independent TD who supported the Stardust Victims' Committee campaign for a full inquiry, said the findings of the McCartan inquiry were very disappointing.

"I feel very sad for Antoinette Keegan and those other families who have fought so hard for justice for their loved ones," he said.

"I have always hoped that we would have justice similar to what recently happened with the Hillsborough Disaster in Liverpool. Seeking justice for the relatives and victims of the Stardust disaster still remains unfinished business."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has called for a "sensible" transition period of up to five years after the UK officially leaves the European Union next March.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Minister Coveney said it was "not realistic" to agree upon a UK-EU free-trade deal next year, despite the intention voiced by Theresa May.

An outcome "that is good for the British economy and Irish economy and the EU economy . . . requires a sensible and pragmatic approach towards a transition arrangement. For me, thats closer to four or five years rather than two," Mr Coveney told the paper.

Theresa May has already formally requested what an implementation period of "about two years" to soften the blow of Britains exit from the EU in March 2019.

During this transition period, the UK would stay in the single market and customs union.

Read More

However, Mr Coveney said that "we should not be setting transition periods to meet some kind of political electoral cycle".

"The businesses that are going to have to survive through that transition will also need time," he said.

This week, it has been revealed that the number of Irish businesses that have a plan to deal with the fallout from Brexit is falling, prompting fears of rising complacency as growth continues and last year's shock UK vote fades from memory.

The latest InterTradeIreland Business Monitor shows 95pc of businesses across the island of Ireland don't have a plan for Brexit.

Small and medium enterprises are thought to be the least prepared, and are putting off taking action because of the difficulty of predicting the shape of a final settlement.

"Brexit is not something we should be playing a game of chicken on in terms of making unrealistic demands," Mr Coveney said in the interview.

"Its a much worse outcome for Britain and Ireland than for everybody else if theres no deal."

British and EU negotiators will meet in Brussels again this Thursday and Friday for more Brexit talks.
One of Donald Trumps most senior advisers has told Britain it must scrap EU food standards on genetically modified crops and chlorine-washed chicken if it wants a successful post-Brexit deal with the US.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Confederation of British Industry on Monday, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that other areas that could pose problems to negotiations between the US and the UK after Brexit, included "passporting" of financial services, and future trade tariffs.

But he did say that he hoped the US could become the UKs number one trading partner after the split, especially considering existing substantial trade flows between the two countries.

He said that it was critical that US interests must be taken into account when finalising an exit deal with the EU, whatever such an agreement might look like.

It is ... important that an eventual Brexit agreement takes into account our commercial interests, and does not hinder development of a closer post-Brexit US-UK relationship by continuing divergent standards and regulations and other protectionist measures, he said.

Read More

But Mr Ross also said that it would not be possible to identify exact points of contention until it is clear what form a deal would take. He said that he hopes that a free trade agreement between the US and the UK would take fewer than 10 years to negotiate.

Mr Ross' speech concluded a five-day visit to the UK, during which the commerce secretary met with Prime Minister Theresa May as well as senior ministers including Philip Hammond, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox.

His comments come a day after a massive document leak which showed that Mr Ross had been doing business with Vladimir Putins son-in-law through a shipping venture in Russia.

Theresa May's spokesman said that Ross has shown enthusiasm for a trade deal with Britain when asked about Ross's statement that any Brexit deal must be in United States' interests.

"What I took from the comments from Wilbur Ross was that he was very enthusiastic, as the president has been on a number of occasions previously, about doing an ambitious trade deal with the UK and believing that that trade deal can be done quickly," the spokesman said.

Additional reporting from Reuters
Ornua has confirmed that a fire has severely damaged its mozzarella production facility at Ornua Ingredientes Espana, Avila, Spain.

No one was injured in the incident and Emergency Services have brought the fire under control. Ornua and the local authorities in Spain are investigating the cause of the fire.

An Ornua spokesperson thanked the Emergency Services on behalf of the company for their hard work at the scene of the fire.

The spokesperson also said that Ornua had commenced a process of direct engagement with its c.120 staff at Avila as it continues to assess the impacts of the fire.

In the interim, as part of its business continuity planning, Ornua Ingredientes Espanas immediate product requirements will be met from Ornuas European and North American manufacturing bases.

Ornua recently opened a new Research & Development Centre at its Ornua Ingredientes Espana headquarters in Avila.

Ornua Ingredientes Espana provides cheese solutions, particularly for the pizza sector, that complement similar investments made in Ornuas Middle East, US and UK customised cheese solution businesses.

The dairy exporter has only recently opened a 5,000sq ft innovation centre in Chicago with its subsidiary CoreFX Ingredients.
European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has vehemently denied reports that the EU has offered access to the European market for up to 98,000t of beef from Mercosur trading bloc.

The European Union is pushing to conclude free trade talks with South American bloc Mercosur by the end of the year, despite reservations from a number of Member States over the surge of farm imports an agreement would bring.

At the last round of negotiations the EU is understood to have offered to allow 70,000t of beef and 600,000t of ethanol to enter the EU with lower tariffs.

Speaking following a meeting of European Agriculture Ministers in Brussels yesterday, Commissioner Hogan said confirmed the EUs commitment to a balanced, comprehensive and ambitious agreement.

There is another round of discussions taking place this week. Work remains to be done not least of issues of key interest to the EU.

I want to assure all concerned that every offer of sensitive products made by the EU is calibrated by taking account of all relevant elements including the cumulative impact and effect of past and future free trade agreements.

Hogan said there is no substance what so ever to the 98,000t that was allegedly offered to Mercosur.

However, the Minister for Agriculture and farming organisations said they were concerned about the prospect of a trade deal.

Grave concerns

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed expressed his concern about a Mercusor trade deal that could seriously disadvantage the Irish and European beef sector at the meeting.

Minister Creed said: I have grave concerns about the offer of a beef tariff rate quota in last months round of discussions which gives rise to potentially very serious consequences for the Irish and EU beef sector in particular.

This comes at a time when that market is in a delicate balance and is already faced with the potentially very serious consequences of Brexit, he said.
The sister of a farmer who was attacked at the weekend wants more gardai based in rural communities, CCTV cameras at motorway exits and ample resources allocated to fight rural crime.

Nurse Annette Meacle's 54-year-old brother Richard McKelvey was dragged from his bed and beaten by a gang of four men at his home in Glassderry beg, Brosna near Birr, Co Offaly in the early hours of Saturday morning. She doesn't believe her brother will ever return to the family home.

Mr McKelvey, a bachelor farmer who lived alone with his dog, fell victim to criminals six weeks ago when all of his elderly mother's jewellery was stolen from the same house. Mrs Meacle said her brother had upped his security after the incident.

However, in the early hours of Saturday morning four men burst into his bedroom and savagely beat him and his sheepdog. They continued to attack him and demand money before tying him up and locking him in a barn. He managed to escape and raise the alarm at a neighbours house before being taken to hospital with head injuries.

Mrs Meacle believes motorway access has allowed rural areas in the centre of Ireland to become a "feeding ground" for roving criminals. She said rural Ireland is the backbone of urban Ireland and Gardai should be resourced to protect its residents.

"Put the local community guards back into the community, back into their garda station," she told RTE. "Give them a presence so that they know the local knowledge and they know the people," she said. Mrs Meacle also called for CCTV to cover motorway exits to help identify roving criminals.

Mrs Meacle expressed her thanks to the community for their support in the wake of the attack. She was particularly thankful to the farming community for all of their support and assistance.

Gardai at Birr have appealed to farmers, residents and landowners in the Shinrone area to keep a look out for clothing possibly discarded in fields or hedges.

They are also seeking information on any suspicious people or vehicles in the Drumakeenan and Glassderrybeg areas on the N62 Birr to Roscrea Road, particularly from 11pm on Friday night to 3am on Saturday morning, but also in the days leading up to the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Birr Garda Station 057-9169710 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
New page is a snapshot of the most recent CSO data (stock photo)

A dedicated page has been set up on the CSO website to track key indicators on the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

'Ireland and the UK in numbers' displays graphically information which is pulled directly from the CSO databank.

The most recent information will therefore be available for viewing on the site on six separate areas of interest:

*Trade in goods

*Trade in services

*Employment

*Migration

Expand Close Emigrants to UK / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Emigrants to UK

*Outbound travel (by Irish residents to Great Britain)

*Inbound travel (to Ireland by residents of Great Britain)

Senior Statistician Orla McCarthy said that the new page is a "snapshot" of the most recent CSO data and that there are plans to add further topics and indicators of interest.

"In August 2017, 23.8pc of imported goods arrived from the UK while 13.3pc of exported goods went to the UK. During 2016, 6.4pc of all imports of services were from the UK while 16pc of exports of services went to the UK," she said.

In the year ending April 2017, Ms McCarthy said 18.7pc of all emigrants went to the UK and 22.1pc of immigrants arrived from the UK, while just under 3pc of all persons employed in Ireland in Q2 2017 were UK nationals.

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"More than a quarter (26.3pc) of all outbound trips by Irish residents were to Great Britain in Q2 2017, while 14.3pc of total expenditure by Irish residents on outbound travel was in Great Britain.

"Residents from Great Britain accounted for 38pc of all overseas trips to Ireland in Q3 2017 and they accounted for 22.1pc of all expenditure (excluding fares) in Q2 2017."

The page, which has launched today, intends to complement CSO report "Brexit: Ireland and the UK in numbers" which was published last December.
A long serving Ryanair captain has written a letter to CEO Michael O'Leary backing Captain Imelda Comer's assertion that newly-formed EERC is a group "exclusively comprised of Ryanair pilots".

Captain Terry O'Connor, who states that he has worked with the airline since 2005, has put himself forward as a "conduit" between Ryanair management and the interim European Employee Representative Committee (EERC).

The EERC was founded following Ryanair's recent flights fiasco in an effort to force the carrier to deal with a collective pilot group that would negotiate on behalf of the majority of pilots.

Imelda Comer, who had served as a pilot with Ryanair for a decade, previously told Mr O'Leary in a letter to the airline boss that Ryanair's management has "not listened to the pilots' voice so far".

At the time, Ryanair dismissed her letter as "entirely disingenuous", stating that she was a contractor pilot for the firm who had already resigned.

Now, Terry O'Connor, who states that he is a permanent Ryanair employee who has resigned, said he wants to confirm "the exact same information as Captain Comer".

"It is particularly worrying that correspondence through two separate channels, hand delivery and normal emails, from recognised and established base ERCs do not seem to have been delivered to you," he wrote in a letter which was delivered to Michael OLeary and Ryanair management on Monday, November 6.

"In the near future, the interim EERC will send you details of the Conditions and Pay Proposal that Ryanair pilots from across the bases network have contributed to developing," he wrote.

The release of the letter coincides with pilots across Europe signing a letter 'A collective message to our CEO' , a request for collective bargaining rights over the pay and conditions of employees.

"Ryanair has repeatedly confirmed in recent weeks that it will not engage with this "so-called EERC", the RPG, REPA, or any other group fronting for the pilot unions of competitor airlines," read a statement from the airline.

"The current Base ERC system was not imposed by management but rather was agreed and utilised by both Ryanair and all its pilot bases for the past 25 years with the full participation of Ryanairs pilots voting regularly in secret ballots to approve pay and conditions improvements.

"As the Irish Supreme Court has ruled, the Base ERC system meets all the requirements of a sophisticated collective bargaining process and has done so for over 25 years.

"While these pilot unions continue to send meaningless letters to the media, Ryanair is continuing to agree new pay deals with over 15 ERC bases and this process of bringing Ryanair pilots pay up to over 150,000 pa which is more than 20pc higher than Jet 2 or Norwegian 737 pilots."
Multinational giants, including Facebook, Google and Starbucks, are to be hauled before the Dail's Spending Watchdog to discuss revelations contained in the 'Paradise Papers'.

The Revenue Commissioners are also due to examine the leaked documents, which detail how the rich and famous have reportedly used offshore tax havens to channel funds.

European Union finance ministers, including Paschal Donohoe, will today discuss proposals to set up a blacklist of tax havens as the fallout from the massive leak of files continues.

"It's time that we agree and publish a blacklist on tax havens," EU tax commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters, calling for a "credible" list and "adequate sanctions" when serious breaches are unveiled.

It was also confirmed yesterday that the Revenue Commissioners will examine the documents, which have also pointed to links between Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank (AIB) and the law firm at the centre of the papers.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday said the issue of tax avoidance is an international one and should be dealt with by the OECD.

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"The OECD has said that Ireland is one of only 22 countries in the world out of nearly 200 that is fully compliant with tax transparency," Mr Varadkar said.

He hinted that the papers will not change Ireland's opposition to a clampdown on our low corporate tax rate or the way multinationals are taxed in Ireland.

"First of all, we believe in tax sovereignty. Nation states set their taxes to fund national budgets - national taxes for national budgets. That's what we want. We also want transparency too.

"We're signed up fully to the OECD process. So yes, we're for tax transparency, but we're also for tax sovereignty. That means us setting our tax rates and not other countries," he said.

"We will absolutely support tax transparency internationally and we'll do that through the OECD and at the same time at the European level we will absolutely defend our tax sovereignty."

Last night, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Sean Fleming, confirmed that he intends to invite major multinational companies to appear to discuss their tax arrangements.

Such a move would be unprecedented, but Mr Fleming insisted that the PAC's remit covers the issue of tax collection.

Mr Fleming, a Fianna Fail TD, cited Google, Facebook, Apple and Starbucks as firms that he intends to invite in.

"And I would expect that they would accept the invitation," he told the Irish Independent.

The proposal is due to be discussed by the PAC this week.

While the 'Paradise Papers' appear to involve tax avoidance, which is lawful, a spokeswoman for Revenue said it would also be on the look out for tax evasion.

"Revenue will, as always, strive to obtain in full any emerging information in relation to suspected tax evasion, including offshore tax evasion, and will use such information in the most efficient and effective manner," the spokeswoman said.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Donohoe indicated that he expects a blacklist of tax havens will be agreed.

"Ireland will be one of the first countries to engage in the practice where our Revenue Commissioner will be able to share information with tax authorities in other jurisdictions to ensure assets or income is not being held in such a way to reduce their ability to pay tax," Mr Donohoe said.

EU countries had planned for months to reach an agreement on a blacklist for tax havens by the end of this year. The new revelations prompted the discussion to be brought forward, EU officials said, but no final decision was expected today.

The EU has discussed several measures to crack down on tax avoidance, including in the wake of the 'Panama Papers', a release by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) last year which chronicled a shadowy world of offshore holdings and hidden wealth.

Measures proposed by the European Commission include an EU-wide list of tax havens meant to discourage the re-routing of profits made in the EU to tax-free or low-tax countries, like Panama or Bermuda.

At the moment, each EU state has its own list of jurisdictions that are seen as less cooperative on tax matters. Criteria to define a tax haven vary greatly among EU states and some of them omit any jurisdictions in their national blacklists.
Efforts by Galway businessman, Gerry Barrett, to refinance parts of his heavily indebted business and property empire are expected to come to a head this week.

According to sources, a court-appointed examiner to Edward Capital Group - which employs over 370 people and owns a vast network of assets including the Meyrick Hotel, the five-star G Hotel and Eye Cinema in Galway - is due to recommend a rescue plan for the group's companies within the next few days.

Last month the Court of Appeal confirmed the appointment of Neil Hughes of Baker Tilly Hughes Blake as examiner to seven companies controlled by Mr Barrett. The developer had hoped to secure fresh financing for some of the debts from Irish private-equity firm Cardinal Capital. But the attempt was opposed by Deutsche, the German banking giant which acquired Mr Barrett's debts from Nama in 2015 for an undisclosed sum and asserts it is owed over 690m.

Cardinal is understood to have offered over 70m to refinance loans linked to Edward Capital Group.

Deutsche reportedly described the approach as "unacceptable".

Cardinal has previously worked with Mr Barrett to refinance his Scotch Hall shopping centre in Drogheda.

After acquiring Mr Barrett's loans from Nama in 2015, Deutsche then moved to seize full control by appointing receivers to the Edward Capital Group companies.

The bank has demanded full repayment of the legacy debts.

However, the Court of Appeal heard that while the firm's directors - Gerry Barrett and Catherine Barrett of Drimbawn House Chestnut Lane, Lower Dangan, Galway - accepted the group was "very significantly indebted" to Deutsche Bank, they claimed that while they could service a certain level of the debt, a large amount of what is owed can never be repaid.

Mr Hughes has been appointed interim examiner over ML Meyrick Ltd, MT Mono Trading Ltd, Edward Leisure Assets Unlimited Company, Niche Hotels Unlimited Company, Style City Ltd, Radical Properties Unlimited Company, and Kitty Hall Holdings Ltd.
The European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, has said that she has been given no indication of when Ireland will begin to collect 13bn in back tax from Apple.

Last month, Ms Vestager announced that the Commission would take court enforcement action against Ireland over failure to collect the tax money, which is under appeal by both Ireland and Apple.

Irish officials insist that they are still working to comply with the Commission ruling, which will involve calculating the exact amount to be owed before setting up an escrow account.

However, Ms Vestager says she is still unclear about the timeframe by which Dublin will collect the 13bn.

"We have no indication when it comes to the time perspective in recovering the unpaid taxes from Apple," she said today when asked by Independent.ie.

"We do have from the Irish government the progress made when it comes to figuring out how to deal with such amounts of recovered taxes. I respect the complexities of how to keep 13bn while the court case takes place. But we need to see progress when it comes to making the recovery because we have seen that the Belgians have done it, the Dutch have done it and Luxembourg has done it in terms of recovery. Because of equal treatment, we expect the Irish to do it."

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Government officials had reportedly been told by Ms Vestagers department that court action would be withdrawn if a start to collecting the money was made by the end of 2017.

Asked about this, Ms Vestager said that she would judge the situation as it progressed.

"We will look at the progress in the case, but it remains to be seen," she said. "Well take the decision as we see how the Irish are moving forward."

Ms Vestager also said that while the Commission has not been in contact with Apple since the publication of the Paradise Papers, it has been in communication with the tech giant over its reorganised structure. She said it was too early to say whether the Paradise Papers might prompt another probe of Apple.

"It is very early days in that respect," she said.

"Knowing how Apple is organised now, it remains to be seen if more cases from the Paradise Papers. We have taken an interest in getting to know how Apple is organised now and we did that before the publication of the Paradise papers. The Paradise Paper was launched yesterday and the day before so weve had no contact since the Paradise Papers."

Apple declined to comment on Ms Vestagers remarks.

In its lengthy tax decision of August 2016, the European Commission noted that meetings and detailed correspondence had occurred between Apple, the Commission and Irish authorities concerning Apples revised corporate structure.

This is understood to refer to the same residency changes outlined in the Paradise Papers.
In 2013, Apple was accused by two of Americas most senior politicians of using Ireland to help cut its global tax bill to almost zero. Photo: Getty Images

Apple reportedly looked around Europe and the Caribbean for a new tax shelter, settling on Jersey, after a US Senate inquiry found the tech giant avoided tens of billions of dollars in taxes by shifting profits into Irish subsidiaries.

That US probe subsequently contributed to the Government deciding to tighten rules on so-called stateless companies to ensure that Irish companies had to be resident somewhere.

The Government also shut off the so-called 'double Irish', which allowed companies to funnel profits into tax havens.

That then led Apple lawyers to look at six offshore tax havens that might allow an Irish subsidiary to "conduct management activities without being subject to taxation in these jurisdictions", according to the 'Paradise Papers'.

Reports yesterday from a new release of documents from the 'Paradise Papers' stated that Apple settled on Jersey as its tax refuge.

It is the latest revelation from the vast set of papers throwing light on the offshore activities of certain companies and individuals.

Although there is no suggestion that Apple did anything illegal, the revelations will once again cast the spotlight on the tax affairs of the world's most profitable company.

In 2013, Apple was accused by two of America's most senior politicians of using Ireland to help cut its global tax bill to almost zero.

The head of the world's biggest technology company faced a grilling in Washington over what politicians there claimed were "gimmicks" used to get around US tax laws.

Apple paid almost no tax on earnings of more than $100bn over four years, US Senator Carl Levin and former presidential candidate John McCain claimed, although Apple mounted a strong defence.

Apple boss Tim Cook stressed at the time that the company paid the tax it owed.

"We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. We do not depend on tax gimmicks... We do not stash money on some Caribbean island."

In a statement Apple said changes made to its tax structure in 2015 had not led to a lower overall tax bill.

When Ireland changed its tax laws in 2015, we complied by changing the residency of our Irish subsidiaries and we informed Ireland, the European Commission and the United States. The changes we made did not reduce our tax payments in any country.

"In fact, our payments to Ireland increased significantly and over the last three years weve paid $1.5bn in tax there  7pc of all corporate income taxes paid in that country. Our changes also ensured that our tax obligation to the United States was not reduced."

However, the company was quoted in the 'Guardian' newspaper as saying it had paid tens of billions of dollars in taxes in recent years.

"The debate over Apple's taxes is not about how much we owe but where we owe it. We've paid over $35bn in corporate income taxes over the past three years, plus billions of dollars more in property tax, payroll tax, sales tax and Vat," it said.

"We believe every company has a responsibility to pay the taxes they owe."

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In Budget 2014, following months when the Government here faced repeated attacks over a low corporation tax rate and its popularity with global brands such as Apple, Facebook and Google, the Government moved to rebuild its reputation abroad.

The Government unveiled rules removing the so-called "stateless company" tax loophole.

Then-finance minister Michael Noonan said the reform was necessary because the tax loophole had "caused Ireland great reputational damage" and "the solution was in our hands".

The loophole had allowed countries to incorporate in Ireland but declare profits in other low-tax or tax-free jurisdictions, meaning they could in theory pay no corporation tax at all. In the following Budget, it moved to shut down the so-called 'Double Irish' tax avoidance strategy.

The 'Paradise Papers' reportedly suggest Apple began to consider its options in 2014 after the comments about its alleged actions in Ireland, and the subsequent government response.

Apple is already embroiled in controversy with the European Commission after the latter announced that Ireland must collect about 13bn in back taxes allegedly owed from the iPhone maker.

The record-breaking case surrounding Apple has placed a major spotlight on Ireland's tax regime and led to criticism from the likes of US President Donald Trump.
A MAN who sent a flurry of explicit and upsetting text messages to a teenage girl was suffering from social and rural isolation.

The 38 year old man pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to the campaign of harassment against the 17 year old.

He admitted sending more than 80 messages on some days to the girl between May 2015 and May 2016, some of which were very explicit in nature.

Both the defendant and the victim have addresses in the east Cork area.

Judge Sean O'Donnabhain was told the defendant was deeply remorseful over his actions and had brought 1,000 to court to offer as compensation to the victim.

Gardai were contacted by the girl's family on May 16 2016 after they became very concerned about a flurry of explicit texts she had been receiving.

The girl did not know who was sending the texts as she did not recognise the two mobile phone numbers involved.

The court heard the 38 year old man had two unregistered mobile phones to which the texts and calls were later traced.

However, a Garda investigation led to the defendant being identified.

Gardai were unable to determine how the defendant obtained the teen's mobile phone number.

The court was told the man's family had no knowledge of his actions and were deeply upset by what happened.

The defendant had been suffering from 'social and rural isolation' as he had been living alone with very little contact with others since his father, due to ill health, had to move out of the family home and into a nursing care facility.

Since the incidents came to light, his extended family have been very supportive and the defendant now resides with his sister.

The court was told he is now receiving all the care he requires.

However, Judge O'Donnabhain was told the defendant has a previous conviction for a similar offence.

In 2009, he received an 11 month prison sentence before the district court for harassment.

Judge O'Donnabhain was told that a psychiatric report on the man deemed him to be at a very low risk of re-offending.

The judge said he felt a custodial sentence was unlikely to be of benefit and he wanted to see how the man got on with his family support and additional care regime.

He adjourned sentencing until next year to determine how the defendant was responding.
SEVEN men have appeared in court charged in connection with a major public order incident in a pub in Finglas last month.

The men did not apply for bail and they were remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison for one week.

The seven accused are David Mulvey (35), Gerard Hogg (33) and Robert Gaynor (27) all of Berryfield Drive in Finglas, and Dean Thomas (26) of Glenties Drive in Finglas; Scott Capper (28), of Capppgh Green in Finglas, Paul Brannigan (28) of Tuiterath, Balrath, Navan, Co Meath and Dean Smith (24) of Scribblestown Green in Finglas.

The men appeared before Blanchardstown District Court this morning charged with violent disorder at The Cardiff Inn, Cardiffsbridge Road in Finglas on October 19 last.

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The men were charged following a fight in a pub involving at least 10 men.

Lawyers for the accused told Judge Miriam Walsh that they were not making any applications for bail today.

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Judge Walsh remanded the men in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday.

Gardai gave details of arresting the men at their homes early yesterday morning. The accused were taken to garda stations in Finglas, Ballymun and Clondalkin where they were detained for questioning.

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The court heard that the men were subsequently charged with violent disorder. They were handed true copies of the charge sheets and they made no reply to the charges after caution, except for Mr Brannigan who replied, "it's bollo*ks, it's not me".

The court heard that the men were unemployed and on social welfare and defence solicitors Emer O'Sullivan, Simon Fleming, Tony Collier and Kelly Breen were assigned on free legal aid.

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The men have not yet indicated a plea to the charges.
The State has paid 30,000 in compensation to a woman who had to travel to the UK for an abortion after a fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis.

The settlement with Siobhan Whelan was agreed in recent days, Independent.ie has learned.

It also involves a commitment to fund supports for the Co Wexford woman.

The settlement came after a United Nations committee found Ms Whelan's human rights were violated and recommended she be compensated and have psychological treatment provided to her.

It is the second time the State has compensated a woman who had to go abroad to terminate a pregnancy.

Earlier this year the UN Human Rights Committee concluded Ms Whelan was subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in 2010 after a scan revealed her unborn son had holoprosencephaly, a congenital brain malformation occurring in one in 250 pregnancies during early embryo development, and 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 at term.

The condition meant the foetus would likely die in her womb and if carried to term the baby would probably die during labour or soon after.

But Ms Whelan was prohibited from having a medical termination in Ireland.

She was offered little or no information on her options and was told by her obstetrician to attend ante-natal classes as normal and wait for nature to take its course.

In a complaint to the UN committee, she said she ended up feeling like a criminal travelling to Liverpool for an abortion.

Ms Whelan was assisted in making her complaint by the New York-headquartered Centre for Reproductive Rights.

The UN committees report outlined that in order to fulfil its remedial obligations Ireland must reform its laws to legalise abortion so as to ensure other women do not face similar human rights violations.

In a statement, Ms Whelan said: "The human rights committees decision this year on my complaint, in which it recognised the human rights violations I faced, was immensely important for me.

"I am very glad the Government has now taken steps to acknowledge the committees decision by providing reparations to me and I am grateful for this recognition.

"However, for me, the most important aspect of the Governments obligation is to ensure law reform so that other women no longer have to suffer in this way.

"This is why I took my complaint to the human rights committee and I hope it will not be long before our laws are changed so that women like me can be given the best possible care at home."

It was the second time the UN committee ruled against Ireland in relation to a complaint about the countrys restrictive abortion regime.

Another woman, Amanda Mellet, was awarded 30,000 in compensation by the State after her complaint was upheld by the committee. The State also agreed to provide and cover the costs of psychological support services and counselling.

Ms Mellet had to travel to England in 2012 for a termination after her unborn baby was diagnosed with Edwards syndrome with congenital heart defects, and given a prognosis of death shortly after birth if not in the womb.
Locals have commended the work of the gardai after a suspected gang hit was foiled by armed officers in north Dublin last night.

Gardai from the elite Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) seized a handgun and a silencer when they stopped a vehicle at Philipsburgh Avenue in north Dublin at around 8pm last night and the suspects are now being held for conspiracy to murder.

Speaking to Independent.ie this morning, local councillor Damian O'Farrell said that residents in Marino he spoke to this morning were "shocked" at the incident.

"There is shock all around," Councillor O'Farrell said.

"This is a very quiet area but no area is immune these days," he added.

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It is understood that gardai used specialist bugging equipment on the phones and vehicles of those involved in the murder plot which had been ongoing for weeks.

Among the four criminals in Garda custody last night is a 38-year-old south inner city criminal who was only freed from jail in July.

This man is already a suspect in a string of gangland murders but has barely any previous convictions and previously was cleared of charges in a gruesome murder case.

A 23-year-old cousin of this criminal was also arrested in last nights detailed operation. This young Ballyfermot man previously survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the face almost four years ago.

Also arrested as part of the Garda operation was a long-term member of the Kinahan cartel aged in his mid 30s and another south inner city criminal aged in his mid 30s.

Councillor O'Farrell also said that neighbours he spoke to wished to commend the work of the gardai in this incident.

Sources told Independent.ie last night that officers had been carrying out surveillance on the four criminals, aged 23, 35, 37 and 38, for a number of weeks after becoming aware they had been enlisted to kill the north inner city dealer on behalf of the Kinahan cartel.

Their target was literally only minutes away from death when these fellas were stopped, a senior source said.
Over 150,000 commuters are facing traffic chaos this morning as Irish Rail holds its second day of strike action.

Following a similar action last Wednesday, this morning commuters are facing headaches as there are no services operating on Intercity, DART or Commuter routes.

According to Iarnrod Eireann, the action will affect over 150,000 journeys today.

Striking train drivers caused a commuting nightmare for thousands of workers and students this morning.

On the second day of their industrial action people who would normally use the train or Dart to get to Dublin City had to find an alternative.

Buses were full to capacity a long time before they normally would be, and many commuters were left standing at bus stops as a result.

This put further pressure on the road system and many had to give up and start walking, knowing they would be late for school, college and work.

There was a noticeable increase in car traffic volumes, and the cycle lanes had more cyclists than usual also.

On the Howth Road at the bus stop that serves the 29a, 31a, 31b and 32 buses there was a large number of commuters at 8am.

Kylie Mooney (29) was trying to commute to the city centre for work.

Last week I saw 13 buses in a row go by here without stopping. Ive just contacted someone to come and collect me and give me a lift, she said.

In Fairview the situation was the same.

Bus after bus drove past the busy stop where the cycle lane was bustling with two-wheel commuters.

Colm Meagher (50) decided to walk into town instead of wait for a bus.

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Youd normally get a bus no problem, but three or four have gone by now and haven't stopped, he said.

He said the train drivers were right to strike.

Its an inconvenience, but an acceptable inconvenience for me. Fair play to them for striking for what they believe in, but somebody should step in now and sort it out, he said.

Here is the latest traffic and travel news:

Dublin Bus have confirmed they are operating a full service this morning.

However, they have reported that Real Time Information (RTPI) is not available this morning but they advised customers that they are working to get this resolved.

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AA Roadwatch are warning drivers to expect heavier traffic today due to the industrial action. It's estimated that more than 150,000 have been cancelled today.

Sitting on M1 trying to get to city. Traffic at complete standstill. Ridiculous  Partick McNamara (@PartickMcnamara) November 7, 2017

Roads on north side of Dublin as busy as I've seen in a long, long time. Frustration levels high as full buses drive past bus stops.  Graeme McQueen (@GraemeMcQ) November 7, 2017

N30 fully chocked with car queues...  JDrock (@jtthumar) November 7, 2017

Traffic beyond dire. Thanks Irish rail and unions. Even the buses are barely moving!  Michelle (@CorkSeashell) November 7, 2017

In Dublin, traffic is extremely busy along all city centre routes.

It's particularly heavy along the N3/M3 Navan Road. It's also busy along from Cabra Cross through to Doyle's Corner on the North Circular Road and from the Old Cabra Road right through to Prussia Street, Stoneybatter and the city centre.

Delays of 20 minutes and longer are reported along the M50.

The Howth Road is at a "complete standstill", according to Dublin City FM's Live Drive. They also report a delay of 31 minutes from the Port Tunnel to Collins Avenue and a further 40 minutes to Dorset Street.

N11: Cornelscourt to Mount Merrion - 55 mins. A further 10 mins from RTE through Donnybrook Village  Live Drive (@LiveDrive) November 7, 2017

On the Swords Road, there are delays from the Whitehall Flyover to Drumcondra.

The Blackrock Road is backed up to Deansgrange Cemetery and commuters have tweeted that the N11 is "shocking" this morning from Newtownmountkennedy to the M50 with delays of 35 minutes reported.

N11 is now back to Wyatville. If you can take the bus do take the bus. It could take you 90 mins to 2 hours in a car.  Live Drive (@LiveDrive) November 7, 2017

A commuter tweeted delays along the Rock Road to Blackrock.

Extremely slow moving on the Rock Road heading towards Blackrock.  Zoe Mc I (@zoenose) November 7, 2017

Traffic is heavy along the Malahide Road Junction in Fairview to the Five Lamps on Amiens Street with delays of 25 minutes.

Malahide Rd is now back to Darndale roundabout and taking at least an hour to Fairview. It'll take at least an hour from Fairview to quays  Live Drive (@LiveDrive) November 7, 2017

The AA Roadwatch report that traffic is slow eastbound on the M4 Sligo/Dublin Rd from before J7 Maynooth to J5 Leixlip, and from J4 Newcastle through to the M50.

N11 slow but buses moving pic.twitter.com/AJp2qAGdkM  Shane Mac (@ShaneMacN) November 7, 2017

In Cork, long delays are expected throughout the city centre this morning. Carroll's Quay is slow over Christy Ring Bridge and onto Lavitt's Quay. Delays are also reported in Summerhill North inbound from Middle Glanmire Road to the quays.

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The AA Roadwatch report that it's busy along the N25 Waterford Road with delays from J2 Little Island through to Tivoli.

It's also "very heavy" southbound on the M8 Dublin Road and particularly busy southbound on the N28 Ringaskiddy Rd from Maryborough Hill to Carrs Hill.

In Limerick, traffic is heavy inbound on the Corbally Road from Westbury to the Mill Road Junction.

In Gaway, the Dublin Road is slow and it's slow on the Tuam Road heading southbound.

Currently on the way to Galway from Athenry and not even half way there. Traffic all backed up on the old Dublin road.  Me (@Lariane_C) November 7, 2017

Wage Hikes

Irish Rail workers want a 3.75pc a year pay rise over three years, to match wage hikes recently given to Luas and Dublin Bus workers.

Talks had been ongoing between unions and company management at the Workplace Relations Commission earlier this month, but they failed to reach an agreement.

Three more days of action are planned in the dispute, an action that a SIPTU spokesperson said was 'regrettable'.

SIPTU TEAC Organiser, Greg Ennis, said: Regrettably there has been no initiative taken by either the management of Irish Rail or the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, in seeking to find a solution to this dispute.

Our members do not wish to be returning to the picket lines tonight but they have been left with no alternative. They remain resolute and strong in their belief that it is only by conducting industrial action that their concerns about the future of the company and the failure of staff to receive a pay rise in 10 years will be adequately highlighted.

He added: It is time for the Minister for Transport to accept his responsibilities and commence a process involving all the stakeholders to ensure that the crisis in Irish Rail is speedily resolved. If he continues to sit on his hands and do nothing the current dispute will worsen, with three more days of industrial action already scheduled with a further escalation in the lead up to Christmas an unfortunate but very real possibility.

Also speaking yesterday, Iarnrod Eireann said that they remain committed to the WRC process.

"Iarnrod Eireann remains committed to this process," they said in a statement "and to resolving this claim through dialogue, and through the industrial relations machinery of the state. Customers should not be disrupted in any way while this process  set out by the Labour Court  has not yet been concluded, and we urge trade unions to join us in referring the outstanding issues to the Labour Court.

"Iarnrod Eireann has offered a 1.75pc increase for one year to employees, to be facilitated by measures including performance management, absenteeism management, revisions to redeployment policy and payroll. It committed to discussing more substantive productivity issues to fund further improvements in earnings beyond the one year agreement in a defined period."

Speaking yesterday, Minister for Transport Shane Ross said: I sincerely call on all parties to the Iarnrod Eireann pay dispute to continue to use the services of the Labour Court and the WRC. It is vital for the travelling public  and also for the staff and for the company itself  that public transport is sustained, and that the dispute is resolved in a realistic, fair and workable manner.
A dead whale measuring more than six metres long was found washed up on Arainn Mhor off the Donegal coast over the weekend.

Island resident Rachel Earley photographed the dead whale and said it was a "sad thing to see".

"My father is captain of the local lifeboat here and they got a call on Friday evening as someone had spotted something big floating in the water," she told Independent.ie.

"On Sunday evening, the whale was spotted off the beach on the east side of the island and I went over yesterday morning and it was washed up on the rocks. You often see dolphins here, as I work on the ferry, but I've never seen something like this before.

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"It was very sad to see such a selfless creature just lying there."

It is believed the whale may have been dead for a number of weeks.

Gareth Doherty of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said that the whale was male and most likely a fin whale.

"It is not often a whale like this is found in Donegal," he told RTE News.

Donegal County Council said it is investigating and is "looking for options for its disposal".
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has worn a 'Shamrock Poppy' in the Dail to "recognise Irish soldiers who fought in World War I."

The move is a first for the leader of Fine Gael and is likely to spark debate over how the Irishmen and women who served in the British army are remembered.

Mr Varadkars predecessor Enda Kenny broke new ground in 2012 when he took part in a Remembrance Day event  but he declined to wear the poppy.

More than 200,000 Irish men and women served in the British forces during World War I between 1914 and 1918.

Taoiseach is wearing a poppy-shamrock in the Dail chamber today pic.twitter.com/o0j75SdN3U  Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 7, 2017

The emblem worn by the Taoiseach today shows a poppy laid on top of a shamrock and was supplied by the Irish branch of the Royal Legion.

A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said: "The Taoiseach was given the Shamrock Poppy by Senator Frank Feighan and the issue has also been supported by Senator Neale Richmond.

"The Shamrock Poppy recognises Irish soldiers who fought in World War I. It was commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War by the Irish branch of the Royal British Region to remember the 206,000 Irishmen that fought, 26,500 of whom died in battle."

Proceeds from the Shamrock Poppy go to Irish veterans and their families, and towards the upkeep to memorials to Irish soldiers in Ireland.

All money stays in Ireland.
FOUR well known criminals were arrested after gardai foiled a plot to murder a drug dealer who has links to the Hutch gang.

Gardai from the elite Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) seized a handgun and a silencer when they stopped a vehicle at Philipsburgh Avenue in north Dublin at around 8pm last night and the suspects are now being held for conspiracy to murder.

Sources said officers had been carrying out surveillance on the four criminals, aged 23, 35, 37 and 38, for a number of weeks after becoming aware they had been enlisted to kill the north inner city dealer on behalf of the Kinahan cartel.

Their target was literally only minutes away from death when these fellas were stopped, a senior source said.

It is understood that gardai used specialist bugging equipment on the phones and vehicles of those involved in the murder plot which had been ongoing for weeks.

Among the four criminals in Garda custody last night is a 38-year-old south inner city criminal who was only freed from jail in July.

The Irish Independent revealed at the time that 16 people had to be given security advice because of his release which was subject to a major Garda alert.

This man is already a suspect in a string of gangland murders but has barely any previous convictions and previously was cleared of charges in a gruesome murder case.

A 23-year-old cousin of this criminal was also arrested in last nights detailed operation. This young Ballyfermot man previously survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the face almost four years ago.

Also arrested as part of the Garda operation was a long-term member of the Kinahan cartel aged in his mid 30s and another south inner city criminal aged in his mid 30s.
Despite its recent rostering failures, Ryanair is continuing its quest to become the 'Amazon of travel' with the launch of several new digital initiatives.

The new offerings, launched under Year 4 of its 'Always Getting Better' programme at the Web Summit in Lisbon, include:

A new Ryanair Rooms website & app

A dedicated Chinese language website

A personalised Ryanair.com website

'Ryanair Tickets', selling concert tickets

Connecting flights at Porto Airport

The Ryanair Rooms website (rooms.ryanair.com) is getting a "major upgrade", the airline says, offering a wider choice of hotel, hostel, B&B, holiday villa and homestay options.

The Chinese language site, a further indication of the growing power and volume of Chinese tourists on the world stage, is its 19th non-English language site.

Its customers can search and book flights on ryanair.com/cn/zh.

The personalisation of ryanair.com, meanwhile, is a continuation of the airline's MyRyanair rollout, which requires customers to register before booking tickets.

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The website will now display your preferred and most recently searched routes, as well as recommended products and services based on the type of trip, it says.

The development is described as "part of the first phase of an extensive personalisation upgrade, with tailored special offers to follow."

Ryanair Tickets is an ancillary revenue play in partnership with Coras - it allows customers to book tickets for London West End shows via the main website.

More events and attractions will be added in the coming months.

Also today, Ryanair announced a connecting flights service at Porto Airport from January, allowing customers to book and transfer directly onto connecting Ryanair flights.

Connecting flights are already operating at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Bergamo.

The latest digital developments are in addition to Apple Pay integration, the availability of long-haul Air Europa flights to purchase on Ryanair.com and a new partnership with the Erasmus Student Network  "with much more to come", Ryanair says.

At the Web Summit, Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs described the services as "the latest steps on our journey to becoming the Amazon of Travel."

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Yvonne Gordon spends 24 hours in the heart of Chicago.

10am: Cruise the river

Get your bearings and see Chicago's impressive skyline on a Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise with Chicago's First Lady Cruises. It's a chance to admire historic buildings, new skyscrapers being built and the iconic Willis (Sears) Tower from all angles. If you're brave enough, visit the famous tower later for 103rd-floor views and step out into the 'Ledge' glass box.

How: cruisechicago.com ($43/38); theskydeck.com ($22/19.50).

2pm: Heart of art

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The Art Institute of Chicago's collection spans 260,000 works, eight buildings and a million square feet. The secret is to focus on a couple of areas, such as the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Monets, Renoirs and Cezannes. Don't miss Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, too. There are plenty of options for a lunch break - the Institute's outdoor cafe (11am to 4pm) even has a full bar if art makes you thirsty.

How: artic.edu ($25/22, with under-14s free).

5pm: Shop 'til you drop

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Hit State Street for some retail therapy. Sprawling over a full city block since it opened in 1868, the iconic Macy's (formerly Marshall Fields) department store has eight floors with everything from clothes to furniture and electronics, plus a Tiffany glass dome. Block 37 across the street is where you'll find smaller stores like Anthropologie, Sephora and for cupcakes, Magnolia Bakery.

How: Macy's, 111 North State Street (Visitors can get a 10pc off visitors' pass); blockthirtyseven.com.

8pm: Playtime in the park

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Grant Park is the place to play after a day's sightseeing. In Millennium Park, the Cloud Gate (Anish Kapoor's 'Bean' sculpture) will give you fun and distorted reflections of the city skyline while kids cool off at Crown Fountain. Afterwards, head to nearby Cindy's roof bar on Michigan for rooftop cocktails and sunset views of the park.

How: See grantparkmusicfestival.com for free concert schedule; see also cindysrooftop.com.

Do it

Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies direct to Chicago from Dublin. See choosechicago.com for more info.

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Harvey Weinstein has been expelled for life by the organisers of the Emmy Awards.

The Television Academy voted to impose the ban on Monday following a mountain of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against the film producer.

It said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that it supported those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue.

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It added: The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behaviour are deeply disturbing to the Academys leadership.

We have been in contact with leaders across the industry and share with them a deep sense of responsibility to provide clear workplace benchmarks reflecting decency and respect.

As a result, we are expediting an already-begun detailed review and revision of our Television Academy membership codes of conduct. We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practise their craft in a safe environment.

Last month Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Oscars, and had his membership of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) suspended.

The Producers Guild also revoked his membership and the British Film Institute withdrew a fellowship Weinstein had received in 2002.

The 65-year-old, who has unequivocally denied allegations of non-consensual sex, is facing criminal investigations in both the US and the UK.

Video of the Day

His representative has been contacted for comment.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince has said a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Shiite rebels was a "direct military aggression by the Iranian regime" as the kingdom ordered the closure of all ports and grounded all humanitarian flights to Yemen.

A Saudi-led military coalition, which has been at war with Yemen's Houthi rebels for more than two years, earlier tightened an air, land and sea blockade in response to the missile, which was intercepted near Riyadh but marked the rebels' deepest strike yet into Saudi territory.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency carried a statement on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's call with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

The kingdom has accused Tehran of supplying the missile fired towards Riyadh's international airport on Saturday night. Iran, which supports the Houthis but denies arming them, says it had nothing to do with the attack.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, urged the Security Council to hold Tehran accountable for a missile she said it had supplied to the Houthis in July. She said the missile used on Saturday may also have been Iranian.

"The United States is committed to containing Iran's destabilising actions and will not turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law by the Iranian regime," she said.

Human Rights Watch described the indiscriminate targeting of a predominantly civilian airport as an "apparent war crime".

"But this unlawful attack is no justification for Saudi Arabia to exacerbate Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe by further restricting aid and access to the country," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director for the New York-based watchdog.

Later in the day, Yemeni officials said suspected Saudi-led air raids killed at least 23 people in the rebel-controlled northern province of Hajjah. They said the strikes targeted homes of local sheikhs where the head of the Houthis' Supreme Political Council, Saleh al-Sammad, was visiting.

The dead included women and children, and at least three people were wounded, they added. Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam denied Saudi media reports that Mr al-Sammad was killed.

Humanitarian flights to Yemen were grounded and ships ordered to leave, resulting in immediate price hikes on the streets of the rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The move threatens to worsen an already devastating humanitarian crisis in the country, where fighting has killed more than 10,000 civilians and displaced 3 million.

A UN official said the organisation's flights had been cancelled, and it was seeking "to resolve the issue as soon as possible".

The International Committee of the Red Cross urged the reopening of ports for medical supplies. The relief agency said a shipment of chlorine tables used to prevent cholera, which has ravaged Yemen over recent months, did not get a clearance at Yemen's northern border. More supplies are due next week, including 50,000 vials of insulin, ICRC said.

In announcing the closures earlier this week, Saudi Arabia said it would take into consideration continuing aid efforts.

The Saudi-Houthi war dates back to 2014, when the Yemeni rebels and their allies swept down from their northern heartland and seized Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition controls Yemen's air space but has made little progress on the ground, where the fighting has been in stalemate for more than a year.

The tiny African nation of Djibouti has become the main transit point for humanitarian flights to Yemen. With the latest measures, however, flights are no longer being given clearance to leave, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Saudi Arabia as well as the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the coalition.

Colonel Aziz Rashed, an army spokesman with a unit allied with the Houthis, warned travellers and travel agencies to stay away from Saudi and Emirati airports as they are considered "legitimate targets".

He claimed his military experts could develop missiles with ranges exceeding 1,500 kilometres (932 miles).

AP

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels to allow humanitarian aid into Yemen through all ports and airports and warned that "any further shocks to imports of food and fuel may reverse recent success in mitigating the threat of famine".

Mr Dujarric called on the rival parties in the three-year Yemen conflict "not to escalate the situation further" and to take precautions to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"All parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, through all ports and airports," he said.

AP
The pet cat of New Zealands Prime Minister and her partner was killed by a car in Auckland on Tuesday morning.

The ginger and white moggy was popular with citizens of New Zealand and the world, sharing its life through a Twitter account, @firstcatofNZ.

The Twitter account of the first cat confirmed the news, asking those who wished to remember Paddles to donate to the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The cat, who had opposable thumbs, was adopted by Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford from the charity.

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The PM posted a tribute to her cat on Instagram, writing: To anyone who has ever lost a pet, youll know how sad we feel. Paddles was much loved, and not just by us.

Thanks for everyones thoughts. And on behalf of Paddles, please be kind to the SPCA. They found her before we did, and we will always be grateful for that.

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After the news of Paddles death emerged, fans of the little guy took to Twitter to pay their respects and share their grief.

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Rest in peace, Paddles.
The Australian prime minister has proposed making all politicians prove they are not foreign nationals

Another Australian politician has had his eligibility to sit in Parliament called into question due to a constitutional ban on dual citizens, while the Prime Minister proposed making all politicians prove they are not foreign nationals.

John Alexander would not comment on Tuesday on media reports that he was seeking clarification from London on whether he had inherited British citizenship from his father.

He said in a statement: "I understand he renounced his British citizenship before I was born because he was a proud Australian."

If Mr Alexander is proved to be a dual citizen, he would become the seventh politician to be forced from office since last month's High Court ruling which enforced a 116-year-old constitutional ban on foreign citizens sitting in Parliament.

That has created an unprecedented political crisis that could threaten the majority of Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull's conservative coalition.

House of Representatives politicians found to be dual citizens must renounce their foreign citizenship and then win a by-election if they want to return to their seat.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was disqualified by the High Court last month over New Zealand citizenship he inherited from his New Zealand-born father, has chosen that route and will run in an election on December 2.

Five senators who have lost their seats will be replaced by members of their own parties without a by-election so there is no change to the political balance of power.

Mr Alexander, who has been in the House of Representatives since 2010, announced that his father was born in Britain after Mr Turnbull proposed making all politicians prove they are not dual citizens.

They would have to state where and when their parents were born, details that could reveal an inherited second nationality.

Those born overseas would have to provide records of how and when their foreign citizenship was renounced.

The citizenship registry proposal needs the endorsement of Parliament.

Mr Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Tuesday that his proposed demand could result in more by-elections that could impact his government's slim majority.

"I take it as a given that every Member of the House and the Senate as of today believes that they are eligible to sit in the House or the Senate," he said, after explaining that anyone who thought otherwise should resign.

AP
Philippine National Police Special Action Force personnel man a checkpoint in Marawi city, as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, in Philippines June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Some 13 marines have been killed in fighting with Muslim militants who have laid siege to a city in the Philippines.

It's the biggest single-day loss for government troops since they began fighting the militants allied with Islamic State.
North Korea said on Tuesday it successfully test-launched a first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which some analysts said could put all of the U.S. state of Alaska in range for the first time.

U.S. television networks Fox News and NBC said U.S. officials had told them they believed Tuesday's test was of an ICBM, marking a milestone in Pyongyang's missile development.

The launch, on the eve of U.S. Independence Day, took place days before leaders from the Group of 20 nations were due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea's weapons program, which it has pursued in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

North Korea's state media said the launch was ordered and supervised by leader Kim Jong Un and sent the Hwasong-14 933 km (580 miles) reaching an altitude of 2,802 km (1,741 miles) over a flight time of 39 minutes.

North Korea has said it is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland, something U.S. President Donald Trump vowed in January would never happen.

Some analysts said the flight details on Tuesday suggested the new missile had a range of more than 8,000 km (4,970 miles), which would put significant parts of the U.S. mainland in range, representing major advances in its program.

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Others said they believed its range was not so far.

David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said the flight time and distance suggested the missile could reach a maximum range of about 6,700 km (4,163 miles), bringing Alaska into range.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the missile was believed to be an intermediate-range type, but the military was looking into the possibility it was an ICBM.

The Pentagon and State Department said on Tuesday that they and other U.S. government agencies were working on a more detailed assessment of the launch.

On Monday night, the Pentagon described the missile as an intermediate-range type that traveled for 37 minutes.

Analysts have said they believed North Korea was still years away from having an operational nuclear-tipped ICBM capable of hitting the United States.

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Such a missile would require not only sufficient range, but also a warhead small enough to be mounted on it and technology to ensure stable re-entry into the atmosphere.

North Korea said its missiles were now capable of striking anywhere in the world.

Officials from South Korea, Japan and the United States said the missile landed in the sea in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone after being launched on a high trajectory.

Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Seoul's Kyungnam University, said it appeared the test was successful and that if launched on a standard angle, the missile could have a range of more than 8,000 km (4,970 miles).

"But we have to see more details of the new missile to determine if North Korea has acquired ICBM technology."

TRUMP FRUSTRATION WITH CHINA

Trump has been urging China, North Korea's main trading partner and only big ally, to press North Korea to give up its nuclear program. In an apparent reference to Kim Jong Un, Trump tweeted: "Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?"

"Hard to believe South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer," he added. "Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!"

Trump has indicated he is running out of patience with Beijing's efforts to rein in North Korea. His administration has said all options are on the table, military included, but suggested these would be a last resort and that sanctions and diplomatic pressure are its preferred course.

While China has responded to previous North Korean tests of suspected ICBM technology by agreeing to tougher U.N. sanctions, on Tuesday it emphasized its call for a return to talks with North Korea by signing a joint statement with Russia.

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Under China's plan, North Korea would suspend its ballistic missile program in return for a moratorium on large-scale military exercises by the United States and South Korea, which Washington and Seoul say are essential to maintain defense readiness.

Trump is due to meet both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G20 in Germany this week.

Japan said on Monday it would have a trilateral summit with the United States and South Korea on North Korea at the G20. Its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would ask the presidents of China and Russia to play more constructive roles.

North Korea was a major topic in phone calls between Trump and the leaders of China and Japan this week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang called on Tuesday for calm and restraint, and reiterated China's opposition to North Korea's violation of U.N. resolutions on missile tests.

Responding to Trump's tweet, Geng said China had been working hard to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

"China's role is indispensable," he told a daily news briefing. "We hope all sides can meet each other half way."

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two since the beginning of last year, and the pace of missile tests has risen significantly.

It says it needs to develop its weapons in the face of what it sees as U.S. aggression.

Analysts say it often conducts tests to show its defiance and to raise the stakes when it sees regional powers getting ready for talks or sanctions.
Afghan policemen keep watch at the site of an attack at a private television station in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

Afghan security personnel arrive at the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Police officer Jan Agha says three people including a suicide bomber attacked the TV station. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Two attackers including a suicide bomber have struck a local TV station in Kabul, killing at least two guards, officials said.

The Islamic State group quickly claimed the assault.

Najib Danish, spokesman for the interior ministry, said the two casualties were a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV.

"There were two attackers and both have been killed," Mr Danish said shortly after the attack, adding that police had sealed off the station and were combing the premises.

He said officers rescued some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding.

Wahid Mujro, spokesman for the public health ministry, said 21 people wounded in the attack were taken to hospital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied involvement in the attack.

The Islamic State-linked Aamaq news outlet said IS was behind the attack, reported the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant postings.

Afghanistan's IS affiliate has carried out several attacks in recent years, mainly targeting the country's Shiite minority, which the Sunni extremists view as apostates.

The IS affiliate is largely made up of disenchanted insurgents who left the much larger and more well-established Taliban.

Last Tuesday, an IS suicide bomber struck near the US embassy in Kabul, killing five and wounding at least 20 in a heavily guarded area housing several diplomatic missions and the offices of international organisations.
Catalonia's ousted leader has vowed to prolong the fight for independence from Spain and urged the European Union (EU) to speak out over the jailing of Catalan officials in a rebellion case.

Carles Puigdemont's comments came at a campaign-style rally in Belgium's capital attended by about 200 mayors from Catalonia who greeted the deposed president with chants of "president" and "freedom".

The mayors raised their walking sticks, a symbol of mayoral power in Spain, in the air at the end of his speech and the crowd sang the Catalan anthem.

"We will never renounce this ideal of a country, of this notion of democracy," Mr Puigdemont told the mayors, gathered in a central Brussels art museum.

Flanked by four associates who fled Spain with him, Mr Puigdemont challenged the Spanish authorities and international community to accept the results of a snap Catalan election on December 21 if separatists win.

Mr Puigdemont and his colleagues could face 30 years in jail in Spain on charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement if Belgian justice authorities agree to extradite them.

Nine former Catalan government members have already been sent to jail in Spain. One of them was released on bail during the investigation.

Mr Puigdemont also challenged the EU to make its voice heard.

"Is this the Europe you want, is this the Europe you want to build, with a democratically-elected government in jail?" he said before a group of mayors held up big letters spelling "Help Catalonia".

The leaders of all the EU's main institutions are party allies of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

They have refused to criticise his government and only reacted very cautiously to police violence during the October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia.

Hours earlier, Mr Puigdemont told Catalan public radio that there is an "absolute disconnect between the interests of the people and the European elites", and that Catalonia's problem is an "issue of human rights that requires maximum attention".

Mr Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly implementing a strategy to secede from Spain. His next hearing before a Belgian court is on November 17.

Catalan independence is now the second cause of concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment and ahead of corruption, according to the latest government-run poll.

Before the illegal independence referendum that deepened the political crisis, the issue was only ninth in the ranking of concerns by the CIS survey.

Spanish central authorities are now in direct control of the north-eastern region, where the early election next month is shaping into a tight race between separatist and pro-union forces.

The civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan bid for secession from Spain on Tuesday called for the region's separatist political parties to run in a "unified pro-independence ticket".

In a statement, Assemblea Nacional Catalana said such a joint coalition should include jailed separatist activists and the members of the deposed Catalan Cabinet as candidates.

The parties have until midnight on Tuesday to register an interest in forming coalitions.

AP
Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi looked poised yesterday for a stunning political comeback, as his rightist bloc claimed victory in an election in Sicily that puts it in pole position for a national vote due by next May.

The regional Sicilian ballot, held on Sunday, was seen as a dry run for the nationwide election, with many of the island's problems reflecting those of the country as a whole - high unemployment, a debt mountain and sluggish economic growth.

An influx of migrants was also a key issue.

With 93pc of the votes counted, a centre-right bloc backed by the four-times prime minister was running more than five percentage points ahead of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, with the centre left, which governs at the national level, a distant third.

"Sicily, just as I asked, has chosen the path of real, serious, constructive change, based on honesty, competence and experience," the 81-year-old said in a video posted on Facebook.

Nello Musumeci, the centre right's candidate for governor of the island, had 39.9pc of the vote, while the Five Star's Giancarlo Cancelleri had 34.6pc. The centre left's Fabrizio Micari was lagging on 18.5pc.

The result puts Berlusconi back on the political map after years of sex scandals and graft allegations which seemed to have reduced the billionaire media mogul to a spent force. He cannot run for office due to a 2013 tax fraud conviction. But he hopes the European Court of Human Rights overturns this ban when it reviews his case later this year - which would pave the way for a possible national challenge.

He returned to the fray after open heart surgery last year and campaigned actively in Sicily. Even if the courts deny him the chance to run, he would be an influential figure should the centre right capture power again nationally.

The result on the island deals a stinging blow to former prime minister Matteo Renzi, head of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), which is locked in feuding with erstwhile leftist partners. After a raft of vote setbacks in recent years, Mr Renzi has many critics inside the PD who may now try to mount a challenge to his leadership.

Defiant in its defeat, the anti-system Five Star Movement vowed to reach national government next year, and its leader Luigi Di Maio declared the PD "politically dead".

Opinion polls suggest the centre right will win next year's national vote, but a recent change to the electoral law is likely to stop any one bloc winning an absolute majority, resulting in political gridlock.

Sicily is traditionally a centre-right stronghold which was poached by the PD in 2012 thanks to splits in the conservative bloc. This time, Berlusconi reunited the coalition behind a widely respected leader with a far-right background.

Berlusconi's allies, the Brothers of Italy and the Northern League, reaped rewards with anti-immigrant campaigns, suggesting this will remain high on the agenda for the national vote.
Queen Elizabeth should apologise and be investigated for allowing her advisers to place cash in offshore investments, the leader of Britain's Labour Party has said.

Jeremy Corbyn also said the royal household should be investigated over why the queen's private estate allegedly invested 5.7m (6.5m) in a Cayman Islands fund.

A further 5m (5.7m) had been invested in 2004 in the Bermuda-based Jubilee Absolute Return Fund Ltd, according to files obtained from a law firm with operations in Bermuda and the Isle of Man, dubbed the 'Paradise Papers'.

The queen's assets are invested by the Duchy of Lancaster. Its investment strategy is decided by a council, and the queen pays tax voluntarily on any income.

Mr Corbyn said: "There should be a review. An inquiry into all the revelations about the 'Paradise Papers'."

Asked if that included the queen, Mr Corbyn replied: "Everybody. The royal household is subject to taxation. I don't know what has happened in that case. These issues all must be part of that."

Earlier Mr Corbyn was asked whether the queen should "apologise for her private estate making offshore investments as revealed in the 'Paradise Papers'".

Mr Corbyn replied: "Anyone that is putting money into tax havens in order to avoid taxation in Britain, and obviously investigations have to take place, should do two things - not just apologise for it, but also recognise what it does to our society.

"If a very wealthy person wants to avoid taxation in Britain, and therefore put money into a tax haven somewhere, who loses? Schools, hospitals, housing, all those public services lose and the rest of the population has to pay to cover up the deficit.

"We simply have to challenge the culture that there is something clever about avoiding taxation. Taxation is what gives us ambulances.

"We all have the responsibility to pay for it. It undermines every one of us here, who pay our taxes properly."

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn later tried to say he had not called for the queen to apologise. He said: "Jeremy did not call for the queen to apologise, but said anyone who puts money into a tax haven to avoid paying tax should, and that they should recognise the damage done by avoidance to society."

While there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing, it is the first time that the queen's offshore investments have been revealed.

A spokesman for the Duchy of Lancaster said: "We operate a number of investments and a few of these are with overseas funds. All of our investments are fully audited."
The leaders of Germany's Green party have signalled they may drop demands for a 2030 deadline to phase out combustion engines and shut coal-fired power stations as Angela Merkel's government-building efforts intensify.

The Chancellor's conservative group, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens want to determine by mid-November whether there is enough common ground for full negotiations on a coalition never tried in national government.

They struggled to bridge differences during initial talks.

Greens co-leader Cem Ozdemir said in an interview with the daily Stuttgarter Zeitung that his party will soften its demand, much criticised by its prospective partners, to stop registering new cars with petrol or diesel engines in 2030.

"It is clear to me that we alone will not be able to push through the cut-off date of 2030 for the registration of fossil-fuel combustion engines," he was quoted as saying, adding: "We must of course clear the way for emissions-free mobility with binding measures."

The party has also called for coal-fired electricity plants, a significant source of energy for Europe's biggest economy, to be shut by 2030, but chairwoman Simone Peter told the Rheinische Post daily the party is "pragmatic" on "whether the last coal-fired power station goes offline in 2030 or 2032", and that the key is reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Germany, which is hosting a global conference on combating climate change, will miss its own emissions reduction targets unless further measures are taken, officials say.

The Greens' comments increase pressure on other parties to make concessions. There has been little sign of movement so far, with Free Democrat leaders in particular saying they are not afraid of new elections.

Polls suggest a new vote would not create a parliament much different from the one elected in September. In that election, the nationalist and anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, emerged as the third-biggest party.

"We in AfD are not afraid - we would be very glad of new elections, because apparently none of the other parties is capable of fulfilling the task set by voters and forming a sensible governing coalition," co-leader Alice Weidel said.

AP
Lebanon's prime minister Saad Hariri , who resigned over the weekend while in Saudi Arabia, has left Riyadh for the United Arab Emirates where is he is to meet a senior official, his office said.

Much is unknown about Mr Hariri's unexpected resignation, which stunned Lebanon, threw its government into disarray and prompted a frenzy of speculation.

One of the rumours is that he has been under house arrest in Saudi Arabia, or in some way forced to do the Saudis' bidding.

His departure for the UAE could appear to dispel that, except that the Gulf federation is a close Saudi ally - the two countries have been spearheading a war in Yemen since 2015 against the country's Shiite rebels who are backed by Iran.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sent its harshest threat to the Lebanese government, dominated by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, accusing it of declaring war against the kingdom through support Hezbollah allegedly provides to Yemen's rebels.

Saudi minister for gulf affairs Thamer al-Sabhan said the situation was "very sensitive and worrying" and that Saudi patience over Hezbollah was running thin.

"The Party of Satan has become a tool of killing and terrorism for the kingdom," he told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV, using a subversion of Hezbollah's name, which in Arabic means the Party of God.

Hezbollah and the Houthis, as Yemen's Shiite rebels are known, have denied any role by the Lebanese group in the war in the Arabian Peninsula country.

"The Party of Satan is represented in the Lebanese government and the government should be aware of such dangers," Mr al-Sabhan said.

"The Lebanese government will be dealt with as a government that has declared war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

He added that the Lebanese people should be aware of the dangers "before we reach a point of no return".

Mr Hariri's office said he would meet the UAE's powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi.

AP
Saudi Arabia yesterday said it was shutting Yemen's land, sea and air borders after accusing Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of a missile attack on its capital, as tension escalated between the kingdom and Tehran.

Saudi accused Iran of war crimes after a ballistic missile reportedly fired by the Shia rebels from Yemen landed near Riyadh's international airport.

"The kingdom reserves the right to respond in a timely manner to the hostile actions of the Iranian regime," warned Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi's foreign minister. Saudi Arabia and Iran are opposed in disputes and conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen and Syria to Qatar and Lebanon.

Late on Sunday, a helicopter carrying a prince and several senior Saudi officials inexplicably crashed in Asir province near the Yemen border.

Prince Mansour bin Moqren, the deputy governor of Asir and son of a former crown prince deposed by King Salman, died in the crash.

He had been attempting to flee the country, 'Middle East Eye' quoted sources as saying.

The Houthi have not claimed responsibility. The crash came after a weekend of major political upheaval in the kingdom dubbed "the night of long knives", which saw a purge of at least 38 princes, ministers, senior officials and businessmen.

The highest-profile royal caught in the sweep was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, an outspoken billionaire royal with investments in Western companies including the Savoy Hotel in London.

Critics say that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (32), is attempting to wipe out the old guard, whom he sees as a threat to his rule before his eventual rise to the throne.

The campaign of mass arrests of royals, ministers and businessmen widened yesterday after top entrepreneur Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar was reportedly held in the biggest anti-corruption purge of the kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history.

Both allies and adversaries are quietly astonished that a kingdom once obsessed with stability has acquired such a taste for assertive - some would say impulsive - policy-making.

The crackdown has drawn no public opposition within the kingdom either on the streets or social media.

Many ordinary Saudis applauded the arrests, the latest in a series of domestic and international moves asserting the prince's authority.

But outside the kingdom, critics perceive the purge as a further sign of intolerance from a power-hungry leader keen to stop influential opponents blocking his economic reforms or reversing the expansion of his own political clout.

In an article in the 'Washington Post', prominent Saudi columnist Jamal Kashoggi applauded the anti-graft campaign, but added: "He is imposing very selective justice."

"The crackdown on even the most constructive criticism - the demand for complete loyalty with a significant 'or else' - remains a serious challenge to the crown prince's desire to be seen as a modern, enlightened leader," Mr Kashoggi wrote.

"The buck stops at the leader's door. He is not above the standard he is now setting for the rest of his family, and for the country."

The front page of leading Saudi newspaper 'Okaz' challenged businessmen yesterday to reveal the sources of their assets, asking: "Where did you get this?" in bright red text.

Another headline from Saudi-owned 'al-Hayat' warned: "After the launch [of the anti-corruption drive], the noose tightens, whomever you are!" ( Daily Telegraph London)
Investigators work at the scene of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas (AP)

The gunman who killed 26 people at a small-town Texas church sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law before the attack, which appeared to have been driven by domestic tensions, authorities said.

A day after the deadliest mass shooting in state history, investigators also revealed that the gunman had been confronted about domestic violence at least twice in the last five years, including an assault on his ex-wife and a child that ended his Air Force career and another report of violence against a girlfriend who became his second wife.

In the tiny community of Sutherland Springs, population 400, grieving townspeople were reeling from their losses. The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

President Donald Trump, who was in Japan, called the shooting an "act of evil", branding the gunman "a very deranged individual".

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, announced they pln to travel to Texas on Wednesday to meet with those affected by the shooting.

Announcing his travel plans in a tweet, Mr Pence said he will visit family members of those killed, those injured in the attack, and first responders in Sutherland Springs.

"We are with you Texas," Mr Pence tweeted.

The attack appeared to stem from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated, Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Devin Patrick Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by armed bystanders and crashed his car.

The 26-year-old also used his mobile phone to tell his father that he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

Kelley, dressed in black tactical gear, had fired an assault rifle as he walked down the centre aisle during worship services. He turned around and continued shooting on his way out of the building, officials said.

About 20 other people were wounded, 10 of whom were still in a critical condition in hospital.

The investigation showed that Kelley had displayed a pattern of violence spanning years.

In 2014, sheriff's deputies went to his home to check out a domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend. People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

That same year, Kelley was discharged from the Air Force for assaulting his previous wife and a child and had served 12 months of confinement after a 2012 court-martial.

He was also charged with misdemeanour animal cruelty in 2014 in Colorado and was the focus of a protective order in that state in 2015.

The gunman's family relationships at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs were uncertain. The sheriff said Kelley's former in-laws sometimes attended services at the church but were not there on Sunday.

Mr Martin said the text messages were sent to the gunman's mother-in-law, who attended the church. It was unclear if they were referring to the same people. Once the shooting started, there was probably "no way" for congregants to escape, Wilson County Sheriff Joe D Tackitt Jr said.

Authorities said Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles north of the church. Investigators were reviewing social media posts he made in the days before the attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon.

Less than two months ago, Kelley had started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort.

He "seemed like a nice guy" and did not cause any problems, said Claudia Varjabedian, manager at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels.

In the Air Force, Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

On Sunday, Kelley pulled into a petrol station across from the church, about 30 miles (48.28 km) south east of San Antonio. He crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, Mr Martin said.

Twenty-three of the dead were found in the church. Two were found outside and one died after being taken to a hospital, Mr Martin said.

A local resident, armed with a gun, confronted Kelley when he emerged from the church. He had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened.

The man exchanged fire with the gunman, then asked to get in Mr Langendorff's truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

"He jumped in my truck and said, 'He just shot up the church. We need to go get him.' And I said 'Let's go,'" Mr Langendorff said.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90mph. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. The armed man walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the suspect did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Mr Langendorff said.

"There was no thinking about it. There was just doing. That was the key to all this. Act now. Ask questions later," he said.

Among those killed was the church pastor's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy. Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were both out of town when the attack occurred, Sherri Pomeroy wrote in a text message.

Church member Nick Uhlig, 34, who was not at Sunday's service, said that his cousin, who was eight months' pregnant, and her in-laws were among those killed. He later told the Houston Chronicle that three of his cousin's children were also slain.

Three weapons were recovered. A Ruger AR-556 rifle was found at the church, and two handguns were recovered from the suspect's vehicle, according to officials.

AP
FBI agents search for evidence on a road near First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Photo: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

America's latest mass shooting, at a church in Texas on Sunday, has left at least 26 people dead and 20 injured, making it the worst in the state's history.

It comes just one month after Stephen Paddock's gun attack at a Las Vegas country music festival, which left a record 59 dead and hundreds more injured.

The frequency of this kind of event risks anaesthetising us to the number of people who die from shootings in one of the world's most developed nations. The numbers are staggering.

1. Texas is often at the frontline of mass shootings

In 2015, there were 45 deaths from Texan mass shootings. In 2016, the state saw 39 victims. So far this year the total is 57.

While individual large tragedies may skew the data for particular years, Texas is consistently bad for gun violence.

After the Las Vegas attack, Nevada has suffered the most deaths from mass shootings this year - 59 - but it is also worst when we make the number proportional to a state's population.

Nevada has now had 20 mass shooting deaths per one million of its people in 2017 - with the next highest rates in Mississippi (7.7) and Kansas (3.8).

Having 27.9 million people, Texas has seen mass shootings claim the lives of 2.1 people for every million of its population.

2. Las Vegas wasn't the only mass shooting in America that day

Some 2,092km away in Lawrence, just outside the University of Kansas in Kansas, two men and a woman were killed and a further two people injured.

Mass shootings in America - defined by the website Gun Violence Archive as an event where at least four people are shot - are an everyday event.

The Las Vegas attack makes October the deadliest month for mass shootings this year.

3. A major mass shooting every two months

This year's deaths follow a depressing trend, according to data gathered by the Gun Violence Archive.

Some 346 people are estimated to have been killed in American mass shootings this year, compared to 432 in 2016, and 369 in 2015 - more than one person for every day of the year.

When it comes to major mass shootings (where more than four people are killed), there have been an average of just 72 days between events during the period 2010 to 2017, compared to 162 days from 2000 to 2010, according to data compiled by 'Mother Jones'.

The two worst mass shootings - October's Las Vegas shooting and the Pulse nightclub atrocity in Orlando - have occurred in the last two years.

4. Firearms sales go up after mass shootings

FBI data shows us that there have been 270 million firearms background checks since November 1998 - and the number is increasing as time goes by.

Such background checks, initiated through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (Nics), do not represent the number of firearms sold - but they do give us an idea as to interest in buying guns across the country.

In an alarming pattern identified by the 'New York Times', the fear of firearms restrictions is a significant driver of gun sales. December 2015 saw the highest number of background checks to date - at 3.3 million. This followed the San Bernardino terror attack in November in which 14 people died and after which Barack Obama called for tighter restrictions on the purchase of assault rifles.

5. 270 million guns for 320 million people

In 2007, the Small Arms Survey estimated there were between 250 million and 290 million civilian-owned firearms in the US - around 90 per 100 people.

This was the highest rate of civilian guns for any of the 178 countries surveyed and ahead of Yemen (55 guns per 100 civilians) in second place.

Higher rates of gun ownership correlate strongly with occurrences of mass shootings with the US top when it came to mass shootings per head in a study by Jaclyn Schildkraut of the State University of New York.

6. Mass shootings are just the tip of the iceberg

Between 2001 and 2013, 406,496 people died as a result of gun violence in America, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority - 237,052 - were suicides. Homicides accounted for 153,144 deaths, while the rest comprised 8,383 accidental deaths, 4,778 deaths from police shootings and 3,200 where the cause couldn't be determined.

In this context, mass shootings make up a comparatively small proportion of overall gun deaths in the US, accounting for around 3pc of homicides in 2017 so far.

7. Americans can't agree on gun control

The debate over gun rights and restrictions is not a new one - and it's opened up every time another mass shooting catches the public's attention.

Latest polling from the Pew Research Centre shows 47pc of Americans support protecting gun rights compared to 51pc who support gun control (April 6, 2017). This polling has tightened over the last two decades when 65pc were in favour of gun control in May 1999 - ensuring the debate continues to rage on.
Oil prices are hovering near their highest level since early June 2015, despite Opec dampening hopes of a subsiding oil glut by forecasting slowing demand and pointing to unexpected growth in US shale production.

In its annual World Oil Outlook report, Opec said it expects global oil demand to fall from an annual average of 1.3 million barrels a day (mb/d) between 2016 and 2020, to 300,000 barrels a day by 2035 to 2040.

This deceleration is a result of slowing GDP (gross domestic product) growth, assumed oil price increases, a structural shift of economies towards a more service-oriented structure, efficiency improvements as a result of tightening energy efficiency policies and/or technological improvements, and oil facing strong competition from other energy sources, Opecs report explained.

The oil cartel added that shale gas production  also referred to as tight oil for being extracted from shale or tight sandstone  had outstripped projections.

Most strikingly, US tight oil production has exceeded previous growth expectations and is currently forecast to contribute to a rise in overall US liquids by some 0.6 mb/d in 2017 and then 0.9 mb/d in 2018.

This contrasts with an annual decline in US liquids in 2016, the report added.

Renewables, meanwhile, are projected to record the fastest annual growth rate at 6.8%, but their share of total energy supply is still expected to stand at 5.4% by 2040 given their low initial base, the report said, adding that Opec was greatly supportive of ongoing development in the industry.

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Overall, the use of fossil fuels  which accounted for 81% of the global energy mix in 2015  is expected to decline by 2040, though they will still account then for 74% of all energy used.

It caused a slight dip in Brent crude, which fell 0.5% in afternoon trading.

But prices were still hovering at their highest level in over two years at 63.75 dollars, having jumped amid uncertainty in the Middle East after a string of arrests in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

The countrys newly-established anti-corruption committee oversaw the arrests of top princes and officials, saying evidence of widespread corruption had been uncovered.

Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, two of the late King Abdullahs sons and powerful businessmen, including the chairman of the Binladin Group and the founder of the MBC Group of Arabic channels, are reportedly among those arrested.

Oil prices have been climbing steadily higher since Opec agreed to cut output for the first time since 2008 from the start of this year.

They were joined by a group of major producers outside of the cartel, including Russia, Mexico, Azerbaijan and Oman, in a move that was meant to create a better balance between supply and demand.

Together, those commitments helped bring oil prices from around 56 dollars per barrel at the start of January to around 63 dollars today.

Opec secretary general Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo applauded the output cap in the organisations report, saying that it was central to the rebalancing process that the market has undergone this year.

There is now global recognition that without such adjustments by Opec and non-Opec nations, the market would have experienced further extreme volatility, which would have had far-reaching negative consequences for producers, consumers, investors, the industry and the global economy at large.

Following the reports release, investors are expected to turn attention to Opecs next meeting slated for the end of November in Vienna.
Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea (AP)

US President Donald Trump has urged North Korea to "make a deal" to rein in its nuclear weapons programme.

During a trip to neighbouring South Korea, Mr Trump said he had seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Mr Trump said at a news conference with South Korean president Moon Jae-in.

"I do see certain movement."

Mr Trump was winding down his visit to Seoul on Wednesday with an address to South Korea's National Assembly, where he was expected to outline his view of dangers posed by the North's nuclear weapons programme.

The next stop on his five-nation Asian tour is Beijing, where he will press China to constrict the North's economic lifeblood.

Mr Trump also teased he had a surprise in store for Wednesday, saying at a Tuesday-evening banquet that he had an "exciting day" planned "for many reasons that people will find out".

The president sounded an optimistic note on disagreements with the North, saying confidently, if vaguely: "Ultimately, it'll all work out."

North Korea has fired off more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months, with analysts urging caution against reading too much into the pause.

There is no public sign of any diplomatic progress between Washington and Pyongyang.

US officials say the back channel between the State Department and the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York remains intact, but contacts have not been substantive other than achieving the release of American college student Otto Warmbier in June. He died days after his repatriation to the US.

Mr Trump did note the United States' military options, mentioning that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region.

He said "we hope to God we never have to use" the arsenal.

Mr Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the president's visit would be a turning point in the stand-off with North Korea.

The president began his day with a visit to Camp Humphreys, a joint US-Korean military base where he shook hands with American and Korean service members, and ate lunch with troops in a large mess hall.

When he leaves South Korea, Mr Trump flies to Beijing for what the White House sees as the centrepiece of his trip.

China is North Korea's largest trade partner and Mr Trump is expected to press its leaders to curtail their dealings with Pyongyang and to expel North Korean workers from its borders.

Mr Trump has praised China for adopting tough United Nations sanctions against North Korea but has urged it to do more.

AP
The Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul (AP)

Two attackers including a suicide bomber have struck a local TV station in Kabul, killing at least two guards, officials said.

The Islamic State group quickly claimed the assault.

Najib Danish, spokesman for the interior ministry, said the two casualties were a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV.

"There were two attackers and both have been killed," Mr Danish said shortly after the attack, adding that police had sealed off the station and were combing the premises.

He said officers rescued some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding.

Wahid Mujro, spokesman for the public health ministry, said 21 people wounded in the attack were taken to hospital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied involvement in the attack.

The Islamic State-linked Aamaq news outlet said IS was behind the attack, reported the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant postings.

Afghanistan's IS affiliate has carried out several attacks in recent years, mainly targeting the country's Shiite minority, which the Sunni extremists view as apostates.

The IS affiliate is largely made up of disenchanted insurgents who left the much larger and more well-established Taliban.

Last Tuesday, an IS suicide bomber struck near the US embassy in Kabul, killing five and wounding at least 20 in a heavily guarded area housing several diplomatic missions and the offices of international organisations.

AP
No one person is same. The same holds true for the management style. A person may stick to his default management style throughout the life, or change it to accommodate the business changes. The management styles have evolved drastically and branched out in many more sub-styles over the years with changing times. However, they are still classified into six main types:

1. Autocratic

In this style of management, the manager just informs the employees what they have to do, and if they fail to tow the line, there are disciplinary consequences to bear. Fear is the primary motivation for people to work. Autocratic management style does not leave any room for employee feedback. The employees are shackled and there is no scope for innovation. The organization may not grow under this style. However, this management style can come to the companys rescue in times of crisis, when quick actions are the need of the hour.

2. Consultative/Participative

Here, the management welcomes feedback from the employees before making a final decision. This nurtures a long-term relationship and loyalty between the employees and management. While this style appears nice on the outside and is less authoritarian than the autocratic management style, it does not empower employees to make decisions. At the end, it is the management that makes all the decisions.

3. Persuasive

In this management style, the power of decision-making is still vested in the top management. However, the difference is that the management tries make employees understand why a particular decision was taken. Usually, it is for the benefit of the organization. When employees are explained, they tend to support it. The flow of communication in persuasive management style is one way. This could result in employees feeling alienated as the management does not have the time to invite feedback. Rather, it is focused on proving to employees that it is right.

4. Democratic

As the term suggests, the majority makes the decisions to create win-win situation for all stakeholders. This style comes handy when long-terms decisions need to be taken. It motivates employees because they feel that the organization values their contribution. Democratic management style can be a success in a flat organization, where hierarchies are not obvious and distinct. However, in layered hierarchies, the democratic style may prolong decision-making and the organization may not be able act nimbly to crisis situations.

5. Chaotic

In chaotic management style, manager gives up any semblance of control, and employees are free to make decisions. However, with no structure in place, it leads to confusion as to the role of employees and as a result, it leads to inefficiency. This management style is not the way forward for any organization as no decision can be taken and everyone works at cross purposes rather than working together as a team to accomplish business objectives.

6. Laissez-faire

In the laissez-faire management style, managers function like mentors rather than leaders. While employees are empowered to make decisions, they turn to the manager when they require guidance. This management style is perfect when employees need space to showcase their creativity and can work independent of their managers. It is also said to be useful style for strategic performance management. The only drawback of this style is that employees may start taking their managers for granted and may bypass their authority at times.

To tell whether one style is better than other is subject to opinions and situations. What matters is whether these styles can engage people effectively. If not, then the disengaged employees can lead to low morale and unproductively. In fact, statistics indicate that disengaged employees can cost organizations between $450 and $550 billion every year.

The speed at which business dynamics are changing calls for a leadership style that adopt to change in an agile manner, promote collaboration and drive a culture of innovation. Such leadership style does exist and it is known as transformational leadership style. The leaders who possess or display transformational leadership do not believe in taking control of power. Rather, they sense opportunities, anticipate risks, maintain transparency in responsibility and authority, and have the knack of talent management to create a winning organization.

There is no one best management style to run the organization. Instead, a mix of management styles could lessen the impact of weaknesses and amplify the impact of strengths. Experts recommend selecting one or two management styles that are in contrast to your existing management style. It is best to select low-risk situations to try out these new management styles to see how your team reacts to them and performs. If the styles work, adopt and make them a part of your management style. At the end of the day, it is crucial you find the right balance with the different management styles as your role is not merely being a manager.

Discover the leader and mentor in you and take on nurturing team members into leaders of tomorrow. Find out your management style with the range of online executive courses for professionals offered by Talentedge. Jointly with worlds leading institutes & corporates, Talentedge offers courses enabling working professionals to plan their future course of action and fast track their careers.


Guwahati, Nov 7(IBNS) : Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma on Tuesday said foreign assist poachers gang and some militant groups of North East India are involved in the rhino killing incidents in Assam's Kaziranga National Park (KNP).

Recently, poachers had killed three one horned rhinos, including a calf, inside the national park by using sophisticated weapons and took away its horn.

While visiting the world heritage site, Assam forest minister said that, several evidence revealed that, foreign assist poachers gang and some militants of the region are involved in the rhino killing incidents.

"Compare with previous years, rhino killing incidents in Kaziranga has been decreased, but we want to completely curb it and the state forest department, Kaziranga authority and Assam police have jointly prepared a master plan to protect wild animals in the state. Massive hunting operations against the poachers have been launched," Pramila Rani Brahma said.

The minister also said the state forest department is thinking about covering the entire park by fencing.

On the other hand, pro-talk ULFA leader Anup Chetia said some militant groups of North East India are involved in the rhino killing incidents in the world heritage site.

"Few outfit groups of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur are involved in illegal wildlife trade and we will file complaints before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh soon," Anup Chetia said.



Poachers killed over 250 rhinos in Kaziranga in past a decade.



(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
On October 30, 2017, the three-day debate on the Interim Report of the Steering Committee set up under the Constitutional Assembly (CA) began in Parliament. The debate was supposed to conclude on November 1. However, due to demands from a large number of Members of Parliament (MPs) for additional time to express their views, Chairman of the CA, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya decided on November 2, 2017, to continue the debate on November 2 and November 8.

The Interim Report was submitted to the CA by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Chairman of the Steering Committee on September 21, 2017, stressing that Sri Lanka should remain one undivided and indivisible country, where maximum devolution should be granted, but argued for the inclusion of specific provisions in the Constitution to prevent secession (division of the country). The report proposed that provincial councils would be the primary unit of devolution, while local bodies had been named as the implementing agency of both the central Government and the provincial councils.

Issuing a statement following the submission of the Interim Report, R. Sampanthan, Leader of the Opposition and of the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), stated, on September 21, 2017, "The successful conclusion of this Constitution-making process on the basis of an acceptable, reasonable and substantial national consensus would bring about a firm finality to this issue. Sri Lanka would perpetually be a united undivided and indivisible country in keeping with the basic and Supreme Law of the country, and on the basis of the free will and consent of its entire people."

However, the Joint Opposition has expressed itself against the new Constitution. On July 7, 2016, the Joint Opposition had announced its 'Shadow Cabinet' in which former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed shadow Prime Minister. On January 27, 2017, while addressing a public rally in Colombo, Rajapaksa accused President Maithripala Sirisena of trying to appease the minority Tamil community by promising devolution of power, saying he would oppose the "fraudulent" new Constitution. Further, on October 26, 2017, the Joint Opposition's constitutional expert, Professor G.L Peiris declared that the Government did not have a mandate for a new Constitution, and that the Joint Opposition opposed the Interim Report submitted to Parliament on the new Constitution.

Of late, the Joint Opposition group has been divided over the Constitution-making process, with one group insisting on immediate withdrawal from the CA and the other adamant on remaining in it. Surprisingly, Joint Opposition leader Rajapaksa, participating in the CA debate on the Interim Report on November 2, 2017, expressed hope that the new Constitution would promote national and religious unity. Rajapaksa stated that he was participating in the legislative process to formulate a new Constitution with the sincere hope of creating unity in the country and enjoined leaders not to create hate among communities.

As a result, expressing optimism, Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera, participating the debate in Parliament on October 31, 2017, observed, "By formulating a new Constitution the trajectory of the country can be changed towards a new direction and create an 'equal citizenship' to bring about economic prosperity." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe speaking in the debate on November 1, 2017, insisted that the Government cannot do anything without the agreement of all parties. The Premier called upon everyone to be united to introduce the new Constitution.

Significantly, in another step forward in Sri Lanka's path to sustained peace, and paving the way to set up an office to trace around 20,000 people still missing eight years after the end of the nearly three-decade-long civil war, President Sirisena on July 20, 2017, signed the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Act. Further, on September 12, 2017, President Sirisena signed the Gazette Notification to operationalize the OMP Act from September 15. Accordingly, on October 24, 2017, the Government called for applications to appoint members to the OMP. Applications have been called from persons with previous experience in in fact finding or investigation, human rights law, international humanitarian law, humanitarian response, or who possess other qualifications relevant to carrying out the functions of the OMP. The applications, along with the curriculum vitae, were to reach the Acting Secretary General of the Constitutional Council, Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, on or before November 6, 2017. The bill to establish the OMP was introduced on May 22 2016, and on June 21, 2017, the bill was passed unanimously in Parliament.

Regarding the devolution of power, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, on July 27, 2017, declared that it was difficult to go back to a pre-1972 system, as the parties had committed themselves to maximum devolution of power, unlike those days where Government Agents represented the state at the village level. Meanwhile, on October 21, 2017, President Sirisena observed that the devolution of power should not be carried out in the interest of politicians but it should be dedicated to strengthening the people and fulfilling their needs. The aim of decentralization of power, he emphasized, was to equally hand over the benefits of development to each citizen and to create an environment for each person to live in a just society. Devolution of power should never divide or separate the country, the President added.

Meanwhile, reassuring that the Tamil minority community's demand for a federal solution to meet its political aspirations was not aimed at dividing the country, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran stated on September 9, 2017, "You [the Sinhalese] think we [Tamils] are all terrorists. We do not want to divide this country. When we ask for federalism we are being accused of trying to divide the country. The Tamils want the distinct identity recognized by the majority Sinhalese." Likewise, on October 4, 2017, Opposition Leader Sampanthan stressed that that the majority Sinhala communities need not to be afraid of the Tamils, as there would be constitutional protection preventing any move towards separation. The power-sharing arrangements would be worked out within a United, Undivided and Indivisible Sri Lanka.

Another Tamil demand was the release of prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without any court cases. Around 132 Tamil prisoners are known to be in custody, including both those awaiting trial for several years (ranging from 8 to 24 years) or serving sentences. Disturbingly, a Hartal (General Strike) campaign was launched by the business community and Tamil civil organizations in the Northern Province on October 13, 2017, demanding the release of Tamil prisoners. All traders in the Northern Province closed their shops to support the Hartal. Education activities in all Tamil schools in the North were crippled and all transport services came to a halt. Further, moving an adjournment motion in Parliament on October 17, 2017, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan urged the Government to release all persons held in custody under PTA, from the North and East, without further delay. Once again, Sampnanthan told Parliament on November 1, 2017, that things would get worse for Sri Lanka, especially in the international arena if the country failed to address the 'national question'.

Separately, the international continues to leverage the human rights platform to pressurize Colombo, expressing disappointment in Sri Lanka's progress in achieving the key goals set out in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution adopted in October 2015. UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, Ben Emmerson observed on July 14, 2017, "None of the measures so far adopted to fulfill Sri Lanka's transitional justice commitments are adequate to ensure real progress, and there is little evidence that perpetrators of war crimes committed by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces are being brought to justice." Similarly, International Crisis Group in a report released on July 28, 2017, said that eight years after the end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict, the promises by the Government to the UNHRC in 2015 have failed to materialize and the urgent economic and psychosocial needs of all conflict-affected groups remain unmet.

Moreover, at the 36th session of the UNHRC in Geneva on September 11, 2017, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein urged the Sri Lankan Government to accelerate the pace of fulfilling the UNHRC resolution adopted in October 2015. Similarly, Human Rights Watch (HRW) calling on UN member countries to press Sri Lanka to promptly meet the targets of the UNHRC's October 2015 resolution for transitional justice, stated on September 14, 2017, "Governments at the Human Rights Council should be clear with Sri Lanka that setting up various reconciliation offices and talking of progress is not the same as implementing the 2015 resolution. Long-suffering Sri Lankans need to see the resolution fully carried out, and they need to see evidence that justice is being achieved."

Meanwhile, demonstrating the Government's commitment, Minister of Prison Reforms, Resettlement and Rehabilitation D. M. Swaminathan noted, on September 18, 2017, that the Attorney General's Department would take steps to expedite the cases of those arrested under PTA. The Minister confirmed that steps were being taken to deal with cases filed under PTA. More significantly, at the concluding ceremony of the Nila Mehewara - President's People Service - National Programme 2017 held at Saivapragasa Ladies' College in Vavuniya District, President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Vavuniya District in the North on October 21, 2017, in an effort to resolve the problems of the public. At the event, the President symbolically handed over 5000, land deeds to the people of the North. The Nila Mehewara - President's People Service - National Programme 2017 was launched in Vavuniya in March. For over seven months Ministers and Secretaries have visited Vavuniya from time to time under the program to provide solutions to the unresolved problems of the people.

On November 1, 2017, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe launched the five-yearNational Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights at a ceremony held at the Parliament Complex. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister declared the time had come to reaffirm human rights in the country. The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights 2017-2021 documents goal-oriented activities in Human Rights arena, aimed to strengthen national processes and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights through substantial constitutional, legislative, policy and administrative frameworks. Earlier, on May 26, 2016, Sri Lanka expanded its commitment to human rights by ratifying theInternational Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The National Unity Government (NUG) has made remarkable efforts to press forward the reconciliation process by reaching out to the Tamils and initiating constitutional and legal reforms. It has furthered the much-awaited Constitution-making process by debating the Interim Report of the CA Steering Committee in Parliament. However, as some leaders of the Joint Opposition continue to oppose the Interim Report, the process is yet to be completed, and Sri Lanka's journey to achieve development targets and the reconciliation process remain unfinished.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
On October 22, 2017, the dead body of a civilian, identified as Sama Pangi (45), was recovered from Spillway Ghat (bank of a water body) of Balimela reservoir in the Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri District in Odisha. On October 15, 2017, Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres had hijacked a motor launch boat and taken Sama Pangi, its driver, hostage in the "cut-off" region of Chitrakonda in the District, when the vessel was on its way to Kunturpadar carrying grocery items for Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) forces deployed in the region. The Maoists killed Pangi suspecting him to be a 'Police informer'. According to Police, Pangi had been attacked two years earlier as well, but had survived. Following the attack, he had left his native village Janti and was staying at Pilobai village in the Chitrakonda area. He had sought protection from the District Police.

On October 6, 2017, CPI-Maoist cadres shot Dambaru Nayak (40) dead at Kurub village under Kalimela Police limits in Malkangiri District. According to reports, nearly 20 to 25 armed Maoists had come to the village and dragged Dambaru out of his home. They held a Jan Adalat (People's/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) where they accused him of being a 'Police informer' and shot him dead in the presence of the villagers.

On October 5, 2017, CPI-Maoist cadres killed a villager, identified as Imra Kabasi, in the Bapanapalli area under Padia Police limits in Malkangiri District. The Maoists dragged Imra to the nearby forest and slit his throat. The Maoists suspected that Imra was a 'Police informer'.

According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least nine civilians have been killed in Malkangiri District in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-linked violence in 2017 (data till November 5, 2017). Significantly, out of five Districts across Odisha from where such civilian fatalities have been recorded in the current year, Malkangiri has the dubious distinction of being the front-runner, with Kalahandi and Koraput both standing distant seconds, with two fatalities each. Kandhamal and Rayagada have recorded one such fatality each. The total number of civilian killings in such violence across Odisha in the current year stands at 15.

Out of 31 Districts across seven States from where Maoist-linked civilian fatalities have been recorded in the current year, Malkangiri was the worst, with nine fatalities; followed by Jamui (Bihar) and Gumla (Jharkhand), with five fatalities each.

Since the formation of the CPI-Maoist on September 21, 2004, Malkangiri has recorded at least 116 civilian fatalities and is ranked 1st among a total of 18 Districts in Odisha from where civilian fatalities have been registered over this period. In terms of all-India data, out of 116 Districts from where civilian fatalities have been recorded since the formation of CPI-Maoist, Malkangiri ranked 6th. The Districts which recorded a greater number of civilian fatalities included West Midnapore (West Bengal), 464; Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), 337; Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), 174; Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), 153; and Gumla (Jharkhand), 121.

After registering a significant dip in civilian fatalities, on year on year basis, in 2016, the surge witnessed in the current year is worrying. The escalation may primarily be due to declining engagement with Security Forces (SFs) on the ground, as is evident from the data: just one Maoist killed in the current year as against 31 Maoists killed in the corresponding period of 2016, the highest Maoist fatalities in the District since the formation of CPI-Maoist. Civilian targeting is a low risk effort to restore a measure of dominance in areas where the Maoists have suffered major reverses, and to inflict penalties on those who are perceived as aiding the State's operational successes.

Indeed, since the two successive encounters in the Bejingi Forest area between Ramgarh and Panasput in the Malkangiri District on October 24 and 27, 2016, the Maoists have been struggling to retain their hold in the District. Since September 21, 2004, Malkangiri District has recorded 86 SF fatalities, as compared to 85 fatalities among the Maoists, establishing a kill ratio of 1:1.01 in favour of the Maoists. Out of 69 Districts across 14 States of India from where fatalities in both these categories were recorded, the kill ratio has been in favour of the Maoists in just 25 Districts. Significantly, the kill ratio has veered sharply in favour of the SFs since 2013.

Located in the southern part of the State, Malkangiri also shares its borders with Sukma District (carved out of Dantewada) in Chhattisgarh; Khammam District in Telangana; and East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam Districts in Andhra Pradesh. The District population is 613,192 (Census 2011), and it occupies an area of 5,791 square kilometers. 2,321 square kilometres of its total geographical area, about 40.08 per cent, is under forest cover. Terrain and geographical proximity to contiguous Maoist-affected regions in neighbouring States (Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), have made Malkangiri a perfect area for a guerrilla stronghold.

Significantly, the Maoist diktat runs across the District, despite their progressive loss of geographical control in Malkangiri. Disruptive dominance is maintained through the creation of an atmosphere of terror in the region through the targeted killing of civilians, as well as other acts of intimidation.

On September 18, 2017, the Maoists forced a family from Paparmetla Palem village in Malkangiri District to leave their village. Ten members of the family of Kamal Khila were forced out, as the Maoists had branded their son, who was working outside the State, a Police Informer. Earlier, on September 17, 2017, a youth, Pilku Khara, belonging to Luchapani village in the Chitrakonda Block of the District, fled home after a Maoist kangaroo court held on September 9 told him to join their organisation or face 'punishment'. Further, around 20 armed CPI-Maoist cadres had barged into Murelguda village under Chitrakonda block on September 14, 2017, in search of their 'convict' Ramachandra Sisa, who had been 'awarded death sentence', by a kangaroo court on September 9, 2017, for defying the Maoists. As the Maoists failed to extract any information about Sisa, they set his two-wheeler on fire. They also terrorised the villagers while enquiring about Sisa, who is reportedly running for his life after he escaped from the kangaroo court. Sources indicate that he has moved to an undisclosed location along with his wife, leaving behind his frail mother to fend for herself in the village. Similarly, on September 1, 2017, a family in the Jantri village in the Chitrakonda Block had to leave their home after the Maoists threatened them.

Meanwhile, on October 15, 2017, CPI-Maoist posters and letters were found at Badatekguda under the Kalimela Block of the District, in which the rebels demanded that at least 10 people from each village of Malkangiri District must join the Maoists at the Helkanur Hill on October 25, 2017. A violation of the 'order', the Maoists warned, would attract the 'death sentence'. No further information is available about the incident. In the same letter, the Maoists had asked surrendered cadres to return to the outfit, else they would 'not be spared'.

Apart from the increased civilian fatalities in Malkangiri, other patterns of violence in the District have also seen a rise. A total of 15 persons were abducted in four incidents in 2017 (till November 5), while there was no such incident in the corresponding period of 2016. The Maoists have carried out three incidents of arson in 2017, as against none in the corresponding period of previous year. Further, at least 11 families have deserted their homes in 2017 due to Maoist threats, as against seven families in the corresponding period of 2016.

On October 26, 2017, the State Government decided to intensify its drive against the CPI-Maoist, with a focus on joint operations by Police and Central Forces in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts, which were considered to be Maoist strongholds. On October 26, 2017, during his first visit to Malkangiri and Koraput, State Director General of Police (DGP), R.P. Sharma, since taking charge as the State Police Chief on August 31, 2017, reviewed anti-Maoist operations and stated, "Our emphasis will be on joint operations and better co-ordination between the forces." DGP Sharma, also reviewed the ongoing work on the Gurupriya Bridge, which would connect the six Gram Panchayats (village level local-self government institutions) in the "cut-off" area located across the Balimela reservoir, with the District's mainland.

Earlier, on September 28, 2017, Border Security Force (BSF) Additional Director General (ADG), Arun Kumar, had informed,

We are planning to fill security gaps in the cutoff areas of Malkangiri and Tulsi Dongri of Chhattisgarh to cause maximum damage to the Red rebels. Accordingly, we are planning operations in those particular areas. Communications in the cutoff areas is a major problem. Recently, the Central Government has allotted Rs 25 crore for upgradation of infrastructure in these areas. This has boosted the morale of the forces..

The Maoists persist in their effort to retain a hold in Malkangiri, and the security challenge refuses to die. Time bound efforts - both from the Centre and State - are quintessential for the District to consolidate the tremendous gains that the SFs have secured, and to ensure that the Maoists find no remaining place to hide, despite the difficulties of terrain and location that have long favoured them.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
Chennai, Nov 7 (IBNS): Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, who has already informed about his plans to step into politics, cancelled his birthday which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

The actor, who turned 63 on Tuesday, will however launch his new mobile app as per his initial plans.

Haasan, days ago, informed that he will launch his own party and the launch of the mobile app is the first step towards it, cooling down the speculations about his political moves.

Haasan's joining in politics is speculated over last few months as the actor had been critical of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. He has also said that he is not a saffron person, distancing from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He was seen to meet Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal weeks ago.

He was present at an event organised by the principal opposition party of Tamil Nadu, the DMK, sharing the stage with the DMK chief MK Stalin.

Haasan has recently said the right-wing group can no longer deny Hindu terrorism, invoking anger of RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha.
Image: Wallpaper

Ahmedabad, Nov 7 (IBNS): A woman has alleged that her husband was forcing her to have sex with her father-in-law and family doctor in order to impregnate her, reports said.

The woman, identified as a 25-year-old, said that her husband, Nikesh Giri, a resident of Virar, Mumbai, was physically unfit to copulate with her and ordered his doctor to do the job.

"On the first night, her husband told her that her parents have not given dowry according to their demands and also that he will not be able have sexual intercourse with her," the Times of India quoted woman cell ACP Panna Momaya as saying.

The woman has filed complaints against her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and the family doctor, who has been identified as Anil Yadav.

She said that the time she refused to have sex with the doctor, both her husband and the doctor threw her out of the room, forcing her to spend the night in the balcony.

Stating the father-in-law's role, a police official said, "He used to forcibly touch her private parts and pressurize her to have sexual intercourse with him. However the woman would rush out of the room to save herself."

Police said that they have summoned the perpetrators for questioning.

Image: Wallpaper
Image: Wallpaper

Srinagar, Nov 7 (IBNS): Reports have stated that among the three slain militants in the Pulwama encounter that took place on Monday, one was Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar's nephew.

He has been identified as Talha Raseed.

Officials said that two out of the three militants were Pakistani nationals, including Raseed.

Speaking to India Blooms, a police official said, "The bodies of all the three militants were recovered along with two AK-47 rifles and a pistol."

According to Defence Spokesman, an army soldier, Sham Sundar of 44RR, was also killed in the gunfight.

Azhar is a global terror mastermind who founded Jaish after securing his release following the hijack of IC 814, which took place in 1999.

China on Thursday blocked the move to have Azhar blacklisted by the United Nations.

India, with support of the United States, France and UK, has been taking attempts to get his name added to a UN list of groups with ties to terror organisation Al Qaeda.

China, which is a member of the UN Security Council, has the right to veto.

On Thursday, the country rejected the move stating "there is no consensus" on Masood Azhar's role in terror attacks in India.

The proposal, first introduced by the Trump administration in January this year, wanted the UN to designate Azhar a global terrorist, but was put on a technical hold by China, a permanent member of the UNSC, who used its veto power.



(Additional inputs by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)

Image: Wallpaper
Kolkata, Nov 7 (IBNS): Nearly two years eight months after a 72-year-old nun was raped by armed dacoits in a convent school at Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district, a Kolkata court on Tuesday convicted one man for raping and five others for robbery.

After a year-long hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge of City Sessions Court (Bankshall Court) Kumkum Sinha confirmed that the senior nun was raped by one person, not gang-raped.

Calling the incident very shameful, the judge convicted one accused, Nazrul Islam alias Nazu, for raping the nun and five others, Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam alias Babu, Mohammad Selim Sheikh, Khaledar Rahman and Gopal Sarkar, for robbery.

One of them, Gopal Sarkar, was also convicted for plotting the robbery.

However, the quantum of punishment in the case will be announced on Wednesday (Nov 8).

On the wee hours of March 13 in 2015, a gang of seven armed miscreants stormed Convent of Jesus and Mary High School in Ranaghat's Don Bosco Para area.

Besides robbing the school, one of the dacoits raped 72-year-old Mother Superior of the convent school.

Local police had started investigation into the matter and later West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the probe.

Examining school's CCTV footage, CID identified seven miscreants and arrested six of them, including four Bangladesh nationals, while another person, Mintu alias Farukh, is still absconding.

Three months after the incident, on June 20 in 2015, the CID filed a 995-page charge-sheet before Ranaghat Sub-Divisional Court, accusing five persons, and three months later, the state probe agency submitted a supplementary charge-sheet of 145 pages, framing another man.

Later the case was shifted to City Session Court (Bankshall Court) in Kolkata from Ranaghat Sub-Divisional court.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image from archive)
Kolkata, Nov 7 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called the move of note ban by the Centre last year as a 'big scam'.

"Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved. Demonetisation was not to combat black money. It was only to convert black money into white money for vested interests of political party in power.Black money became white fund for them and the country was plunged into darkness," Banerjee posted on Facebook.

"No black money could yet be brought out from the foreign accounts," she said.

Banerjee said the move yielded no result.

Banerjee even called note ban as a devil act performed by the Centre on Nov 8, 2016.

"In all practical sense, it yielded big, big zero. Neither demonetisation could combat terrorism, nor black money nor aid to development of the country.By the devil act of demonetisation, the country has already lost its GDP worth nearly Rs.3 Lakh Crore," she said.

Wednesday will mark the first anniversary of the move made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government.

Image: twitter.com/MamataOfficial

"From Day 1, I had protested against this draconian decision of demonetisation by the central government and requested for its immediate withdrawal. The Indian economy has been ruined; so has plummeted the growth rate of the country," she said.

Banerjee said: "8th November #Nov8BlackDay this year will be observed as Kaala Dibas (Black Day) to protest against demonetisation and the unparalleled damage it caused to the country and its economy."

The full statement of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as posted on her Facebook account is given below:

"The ill-famed #Noteban 8 November is approaching.

Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved.

Demonetisation was not to combat black money. It was only to convert black money into white money for vested interests of political party in power.

Black money became white fund for them and the country was plunged into darkness.

No black money could yet be brought out from the foreign accounts.

In all practical sense, it yielded big, big zero.

Neither demonetisation could combat terrorism, nor black money nor aid to development of the country.

By the devil act of demonetisation, the country has already lost its GDP worth nearly Rs.3 Lakh Crore.

Crores of workers, particularly in the informal sector, lost their jobs.

Farmers were left to starve. Over 100 people lost their lives.

People had no access to their own money in banks, even in emergency.

The memories of untold sufferings and pain thrust upon the common people still haunt our minds.

From Day 1, I had protested against this draconian decision of demonetisation by the central government and requested for its immediate withdrawal.

The Indian economy has been ruined; so has plummeted the growth rate of the country.

The GDP fell to 6.1% growth in between January and March, 2017 compared to 9.1% in the previous year. It further plummeted to 5.7% between April and June, 2017, compared to 7.9% in the previous year.

More than 75,000 industrialists were compelled to leave India and settle abroad and become NRI because of harassment in the prevailing situation. Business potential worth lakhs and lakhs of crore in India was thus lost.

Demonetisation was a Black Decision worth every sort of condemnation.

8th November #Nov8BlackDay this year will be observed as Kaala Dibas (Black Day) to protest against demonetisation and the unparalleled damage it caused to the country and its economy.

We are for all the people who suffered and still continue to suffer.

Their fight is our fight and we are committed to stand by them."
New Delhi, Nov 7 (IBNS) : Claiming that Demonetisation was a "watershed moment for India", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said it has led the nation to a more transparent paradigm.

Speaking on the occasion of the anniversary of demonetisation, Jaitley hit out at the Congress and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who earlier in the day had called notes ban "an organised loot" and usherer of a black day for India.

"As far as corruption is concerned, the view points of the Congress and ours are completely different. The Congress is for serving a family and we want to serve the nation. Loot is what happened in the allocation of coal blocks or 2G," he said.

Refuting Singh's contention that demonetisation has not served any purpose, Jaitley said the measure left exposed 18 lakh people as having disproportionate deposits.

"Terror funding was squeezed because of Demonetisation, shell companies also being easily identified," he said.

Jaitley said Rs 13716 cr of undisclosed income detected in surveys in 2016-17 higher by 41 per cent YoY. .

The Finance Minister said Demonetisation was needed to boot out black money and one of its important objectives was to make India a less cash economy.

"Fall in currency in circulation indicates the objective was met," he said.

"The country was moved to a more transparent system."

"Post demonetisation our country has moved on to a much cleaner, transparent and honest financial system.Which will benefit future generations,aid the Finance Minister said.

Earlier in the day, while speaking at a programme in Ahmedabad, Manmohan Singh called demonetisation an "organised loot and legalised plunder."

The former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the move, along with roll out of GST, has come disastrous for the country.

Speaking during an interaction with traders and businessmen, Singh said the stated objective of demonetisation has not been met.

"I repeat what I said in the parliament. This this was organised loot and legalized plunder. This twin blow (GST and note ban) is a complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses and traders."

He said the note ban exercise and Goods and Services Tax (GST) were "badly designed and hastily implemented."

"Black money and tax evasion are a menace that need to be tackled, but note ban was not the solution. It had been suggested many times in the past as well, but as a responsible government we never took such a drastic measure," he said.

"No where in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that took away 86 percent of the legal tender...The stated objectives of note ban have not been met," Singh said, adding it demonetisation was a black day for both economy and democracy

He said in order to promote a cashless economy, coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective.
Guwahati, Nov 7 (IBNS): Security forces have apprehended a hardcore militant belonging to the banned outfit NDFB-S in Assam's Chirang district on Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the reports, based on intelligence input, army and Assam police had jointly launched operation at Mandarguri area under Amguri police station along with Indo-Bhutan border in the BTAD district about presence of a hardcore militant.

"The security personnel had nabbed the militant from a house and recovered arms and ammunition," a top police official of Chirang district said.

The nabbed militant was identified as Soumkhur Narzary alias N Sibilang and security personnel had recovered a 7.65mm pistol, two magazines and nine rounds live ammunition in possession from him.

The top police official said that, the nabbed militant belonged to the 40th batch of the outfit and he was trained in Myanmar.

Recently, Soumkhur and few other militants of NDFB-S had returned to Assam via Manjila in Nagaland from Myanmar after completing training.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)




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The High-Level Forum on Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development is the second such event organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, and hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.



In her opening address, UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo underscored the role the space sector can play in combating some of the world's greatest challenges such as climate change, pollution and deforestation.



To understand what is happening to our Earth and to be able to elaborate efficient counter-measures, we need to monitor developments and facilitate access to reliable data, she said.



Space infrastructure offers us this unique tool and is crucial for this purpose. International cooperation and long-term planning is essential in this regard and a global understanding of space technology is therefore imperative, she added.



At the High-Level Forum, officials from national space agencies, astronauts, diplomats, academics, as well as representatives from the private sector and other entities, as well as UN agencies, will explore how they can help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



The 17 SDGs, agreed by world leaders two years ago, address global concerns such as eradicating extreme hunger, promoting good health and wellbeing, and helping vulnerable regions adapt to climate change. They are interconnected and have a deadline of 2030.



Space-based technologies and the Global Goals



UNOOSA believes space-based technologies, applications and services have an impact on almost all aspects of development.



For example, remote sensing satellites supply data that is used to monitor soil, snow cover, drought and crop development, which is critical for agricultural production and, ultimately, food security. The information they provide is also used to analyze infectious disease patterns and determine which areas may be at risk. They also measure and monitor existing land use patterns, thus helping governments to plan for future urban development that is socially and environmentally sustainable.



Discussions in Dubai will centre on what UNOOSA has called the 'four pillars' surrounding space, namely: the economic and societal benefits that can be derived from space activities, the accessibility of space technology and applications to all communities, and the need to strengthen international cooperation in space activities, also known as space diplomacy.



The Director General of the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Ahbabi, reported on how his country is helping others in the region to join the growing number of nations in the global space family.



Earlier this year, the United Arab Emirates, with support from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, managed to organize the first Arab space meeting, he told the gathering.



We managed to help Bahrain and we worked closely with our friends in Egypt, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. We do believe that the more countries in our region involved in space activities is to the [betterment] of our people, he addee.



Di Pippo, the UNOOSA Director, also used her speech to stress the need to bridge the so-called space divide between countries that have developed space technologies and those which do not have access to them.



As space technologies such as satellite-based telecommunication and global navigation satellite systems, also contribute to disaster prevention and response, her agency helps developing countries to access data via the UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER).



One of the great things I admire most about space exploration and the human endeavors in outer space is the common desire for a better world, she said.



Space unites all humans for a shared and higher purpose; it excites, motivates and inspires us in so many ways. We are constantly inventing new tools and capabilities; technology advances and innovations that will take humanity beyond any place we have already been.



The High-Level Forum runs through Thursday is the second of three annual meetings leading up to the June 2018 commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.



Photo: UN News/Runa A.



Source: www.justearthnews.com








New York, Nov 7(Just Earth News): The United Nations Climate Conference opened on Monday in Bonn, Germany, with the aim of a greater ambition for climate action, as the world bodys weather agency issued a stark warning that 2017 is set to be among the three hottest years on record.

The Bonn Conference of the State Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNTCC), informally known as COP 23 and which runs until 17 November, is chaired by Fiji, an island State particularly affected by the impacts of our warming climate.

The need for urgency is obvious. Our world is in distress from the extreme weather events caused by climate change  destructive hurricanes, fires, floods, droughts, melting ice, and changes to agriculture that threaten our food security, said COP 23 President and Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, at the opening of the conference.

Our job as leaders is to respond to that suffering with all means available to us. [We] must not fail our people. That means using the next two weeks and the year ahead to do everything we can to make the Paris Agreement work and to advance ambition and support for climate action before 2020.

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted by the 196 Parties to the UNFCCC in December 2015 in the French capital after which it is named, calls on countries to combat climate change by limiting the rise of global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius and strive not to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A year ago, the Marrakech Climate Conference concluded with the Marrakech Action Proclamation, for our climate and sustainable development, in which the UNFCCC States Parties affirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. On Monday, 169 Parties have ratified the Agreement.

UN weather agency warns 2017 to be among hottest years ever

As this years Conference got under way, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released its provisional statement on the State of the Climate. It is very likely that 2017 will be one of the three hottest years on record, with many high-impact events including catastrophic hurricanes and floods, debilitating heatwaves and drought, said the agency.

For his part, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas told delegates in Bonn that the past three years have all been in the top three years in terms of temperature records. This is part of a long term warming trend, pointing to recent extraordinary weather, including temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius in Asia, record-breaking hurricanes in rapid succession in the Caribbean and Atlantic reaching as far as Ireland, devastating monsoon flooding affecting many millions of people and a relentless drought in East Africa.

Wherever we live, we are all vulnerable and need to act, Bainimarama told delegates, explaining that Fiji is helping build a Grand Coalition for decisive, coordinated action by governments at every level, by civil society, the private sector and all citizens on earth.

Thats why we installed an ocean-going Fijian drua canoe in the entrance here to remind everyone of the need to fill its sail with collective determination to make COP23 a success and confront the biggest challenge humanity has faced, he said.

Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, reminded the participants that: We have some very specific goals we must achieve while we are here in Bonn. We expect these negotiations to be the next essential step that ensures that the Paris Agreements structure is completed, its impacts are strengthened, and its goals achieved. We also need to move forward to fulfil the commitments that are due in 2020. In this regard, finance and mitigation pledges are essential.

The Bonn Conference will feature a series of meetings and events, including the high-level segment, on 15 November and 16 November, attended by Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres has invited leaders to consider championing six high-impact areas at a special Climate Summit in 2019. These areas are investment in clean technology, maturing carbon pricing, enabling the energy transition, risk mitigation and building resilience, augmenting the contribution of sub-national actors and business and mobilizing climate finance.

Among the side events scheduled at COP 23, several will be organized under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, to show how cities, regions, private sector companies and investors are trying to implement the Paris Agreement in the areas of energy, water, agriculture, oceans and coastal areas, human settlements, transportation, industry, and forests.

Photo: UNFCCC

Source: www.justearthnews.com


Convoked as one of the five regional preparatory meetings for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the meeting in Bangkok will focus on all dimensions of international migration.



Migration has been a positive force for millions of people: migrants themselves, those they leave behind and for the new communities who host them. Yet perceptions of migrants as a burden or even as a threat, have risen, in some countries, from the fringes to the mainstream, said Louise Arbour, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for international migration, in her keynote address at the meeting.



The result is both rising intolerance and an environment in which vocal anti-migration sentiments fester, she added.



Noting, in particular, the area of labour migration  the predominant form of migration in the Asia-Pacific region  Arbour highlighted that with sound, gender-responsive and rights-based policies, such migration can deliver significant benefits and opportunities for migrant workers, countries and host communities as well as for countries of origin, as well as contribute to economic growth, create jobs and promote innovation.



According to estimates, the Asia-Pacific region hosts about 62 million migrants from around the world, and is the region of origin for over 102 million international migrations, with most of the migrants engaged in labour migration, taking up low-skilled work in developing countries.



Last year, the remittance sent back by Asian and Pacific migrant workers totalled almost $269 billion and accounted for a significant portion of the gross domestic product in some countries. However, many migrants face discrimination and rights abuses due to their race, gender, ethnicity or culture.



As non-citizens of their countries of residence, and non-residents of their countries of citizenship, migrants are often bypassed in both home and host countries, said Shamshad Akhtar, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which hosted the meeting.



In a world on the move, addressing these challenges directly is all the more critical, she added, underscoring the potential for migrants in filling labour force gaps due to factors such as ageing populations, as well as to reap the benefits of opportunities presented by ever more connected and integrated regions and strengthen people-to-people connectivity.



Photo: ILO/Thierry Falise (file)



Source: www.justearthnews.com
Riyadh/Washington, Nov 7 (IBNS): In the wake of rampant arrests sweeping Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump has tweeted in favour of the the King and the Crown Prince of the regime, saying that "they know exactly what they are doing".

"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," Trump, who is presently touring Asia, tweeted.

In an ensuing tweet, he said, "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years!"

Alleging corruption against certain influential royals and businessmen, the regime has made at least 49 arrests.

Experts have opined that it was done in order to eliminate potential competition for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, popularly known as MBS.

The Crown Prince is widely popular among the young generation of Saudis, as they perceive him as modern and moderate.

MBS too has pledged a moderate and open Saudi Arabia, breaking the ultraconservative rules that make the nation prone to criticism.

In recent months, the nation has relaxed certain rules for women, including that of allowing females to drive and allowing them to enter a stadium to witness an event.
New York, Nov 7(Just Earth News): The media industry, which remains the primary source of news and information in the digital age, faces both vast opportunities and steep challenges, the United Nations cultural agency said on Monday in its flagship analysis of new trends in media freedom, pluralism, independence and the safety of journalists.

Covering the period 2012 to 2017, this study not only maps emerging global trends  it makes an unequivocal call to action to counter new and persistent challenges, stated Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the foreword of the report, titled the World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development.

This provides a unique reference point for Member States, intergovernmental organizations, civil society groups, academia, journalists and media professionals, and all those who wish to understand the fundamentals of press freedom in a changing world, she added.

The report highlights such positive developments as civil society mobilizing to push for greater access to information, media houses cooperating with fact-checking services to push back against a torrent of disinformation, and more and more Governments adopting freedom of information laws.

In the digital age, the report says, women journalists are able to develop an online presence libernated from newsroom hierarchies, and citizen journalists and activists have access to modes of mass communication that were previously unthinkable.

The report, however, warned that across the world, journalism is under fire, citing the rise of fake news stories that shroud the truth and muddy information, as well as social media algorithms that are contributing to the creation of virtual echo chambers and exacerbating political polarization. Governments have shut down the internet, notably before elections. Journalists are under wide-ranging attack, facing rising violence.

The stakes are even higher for citizens across the world, women and men, who rely on professional journalism to navigate the development and transformation of their societies, Bokova said.

The key findings were presented by Guy Berger, Director of UNESCOs Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Development at an event, held alongside the Communication and Information Commission of UNESCOs General Conference in Paris.

File Photo: World Bank

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Nov 7(Just Earth News):The Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution stressing the important contribution that United Nations policing can provide in peacekeeping and special political missions throughout the conflict cycle.

In the unanimously approved text, the 15-member body, while stressing the primacy of political solutions to conflict, resolved to include, on a case by case basis, policing as an integral part of the mandates and decision-making structures of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

In doing so, the Council took into account the need for consistent integration of police expertise within the planning of such missions, and to give dear, credible, achievable, appropriately resourced mandates for policing-related activities.

While recognizing the role of UN policing in UN efforts to prevent conflicts, the Council called on the Secretary-General to make sure that planning of UN peacekeeping and special political missions with police mandates are based on a thorough analysis of the context, capacities and needs of host-States.

Further, the Council recognized the important role that UN police components can play in the protection of civilians, including in preventing and addressing sexual and gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence and violations and abuses against children in the conflict and post-conflict situations.

The Secretary-General is requested to submit a report by the end of 2018, including on the implications for the delivery of policing mandates of changes to the Secretariat's peace and security architecture, as well as efforts to strengthen and improve UN policing coherence, capability, accountability and police generation.

VIDEO: United Nation's new Police Adviser, Luis Carrilho, speaks about expectations for the UN Police Week 2017. The annual event, running from 6  10 November 2017, brings together heads of police components in UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions around the world.

Briefings on UN policing

Briefing the Council, UnderaSecretaryaGeneral for Peacekeeping Operations JeanaPierre Lacroix said the United Nations police played a continued vital role in bridging the Organization's work from prevention and peacekeeping to peacebuilding and development.

UN police now operate on a solid foundation based on the Strategic Guidance Framework, use comprehensive approaches to operations, capacityabuilding and development and focused on basic skills transfer and strengthening hostaState police institutions. As more is demanded from police officers, there is also a need to ensure their welfare, safety and security in the field, he said and such, they need to be supplied with upatoadate equipment to increase their situational awareness.

IssoufouYacouba, Head of the Police Component of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), said the situation on the ground is characterized by a resurgence of attacks against Malian security forces, Mission forces, Operation Barkhane, humanitarian workers and civilians in the north and centre of the country.

MINUSMA has developed a comprehensive policing plan charged with strengthening the Malian structures that fights both criminality and terrorism, he continued. Some 24,000 security personnel had been trained, with 1,385 trained specifically for fighting organized crime and terrorism. A gender strategy was a large part of all training. In addition, Mission officers continued to support the work of the special judicial police, he added.

GeorgesaPierre Monchotte, Police Commissioner of the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), said the first challenge of the transition is managing troop drawdowns and tailoring the initiative to the new landscape, including promoting gender equality. A harmonious transition had been made in cooperation with Haiti's national police, using a new approach to transferring skills, with the aim of generating cultural exchanges.

An advice and support programme had centred on mentoring senior officials in the areas of command and administration. More broadly, he encouraged policeacontributing countries to deliver the necessary resources and to include more female officers.

Also briefing the Council, Priscilla Makotose, the Police Commissioner of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), said including more women is indeed important. Noting that 20 per cent of UNAMID officers are female, she said few women are serving in the Sudanese police in Darfur, emphasizing that progress is essential in order to address conflictarelated sexual violence and sexual- and genderabased violence. Women also need additional training, mentoring, more role models and the appointment by Member States of more qualified females to senior positions.

Turning to UNAMID priorities, she highlighted civilian protection and the creation of a protective environment through community policing initiatives and capacityabuilding for Sudan's police force. Mission police also support the institutional development of Sudan's police force.

UN Photo/Albert GonzlezFarran

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Nov 8(Just Earth News): Condemning the acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called for a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress such acts and tackle their underlying causes.

In a resolution adopted Tuesday, the 15-member Council also urged Somali authorities, to continue expedite the passing of comprehensive anti-piracy and maritime laws, to establish security forces with clear roles and jurisdictions to enforce these laws, as well as strengthen the capacity of its Somali courts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for piracy.

The Security Council also called upon UN Member States, working in conjunction with relevant international organizations, to adopt legislation to facilitate prosecution of suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Also in the resolution, the Council urged all Member States to criminalize piracy under their domestic law and to favourably consider the prosecution of suspected  and imprisonment of those convicted  pirates apprehended off the coast of Somalia as well as their facilitators and financiers ashore, in line with applicable international law.

The UN body responsible for matters relating to international peace and security further encouraged flag States and port States to also consider the development of safety and security measures on board vessels, including, where applicable, developing regulations for the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships, aimed at preventing and suppressing piracy off the coast of Somalia, through a consultative process, including through the relevant UN entities.

The Council also commended the efforts of the European Union Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA, Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 151, counter-piracy efforts of the African Union and the naval activities of the Southern Africa Development Community, as well as the efforts of other States to suppress piracy and to protect ships transiting through the waters off the coast of Somalia.

Photo: EUNAVFOR

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Nov 7(Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the widespread violence in Myanmars Rakhine state, which has led to the displacement of over 600,000 members of the countrys minority Muslim Rohingya community, the United Nations Security Council on Monday called on the Government to end the use of excessive military force and intercommunal violence in the region.

In a statement read out by SebastianoCardi of Italy, the President of the Security Council for the month of November, the 15-member body also called on the Government to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law, and to take immediate steps in accordance with [the Governments] obligations and commitments to respect human rights, including the rights of women, children, and persons belonging to vulnerable groups, without discrimination and regardless of ethnicity, religion, or citizenship status.

The Council also urged the Government to implement measures in line with its resolution 2106 (2013) to prevent and respond to incidents of sexual violence, and encouraged it to work with the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The Council also expressed concern over severely limited humanitarian access to the affected parts of the region and demanded that the Government ensure immediate, safe and unhindered access to UN and other humanitarian actors, and ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.

In the Presidential Statement, the Security Council also welcomed the Myanmars decision to establish a Union Enterprise Mechanism and urged the Government to ensure that the Mechanism supported such return and allowed United Nations agencies full access.

Further, welcoming the Governments support for recommendations by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State and calling for their full implementation, the Council stressed the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and violations, including sexual violence and abuse and violence against children, and of holding to account all those responsible for such acts.

In this regard, the Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to cooperate with all relevant United Nations bodies, mechanisms and instruments, in particular the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, added the Presidential Statement.

Also in the Statement, the Council commended the provision of humanitarian assistance and support for dialogue by Bangladesh as well as other regional countries and organizations; and requested the Secretary-General to continue to engage with the Myanmar through good offices.

It also encouraged the UN chief to consider, as appropriate, appointing a Special Adviser on Myanmar.

UNICEF/LeMoyne

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Kabul, Nov 7 (IBNS): An explosion was heard near a TV station in Kabul city on Tuesday morning.

Local Tolo News reported the presence of a gunmen inside the building that houses Shamshad TV.

The channel has since gone off air and casualties are feared.

Reporting from the scene, a journalist told the network that "insurgents detonated explosive device at gate and then gunmen stormed the building."

Further details awaited.
Kabul, Nov 7 (IBNS): The Islamic State has claimed the responsibility for the Gunmen attack on a private TV station in Afghanistan's capital Kabul city, an incident which occurred on Tuesday, media reports said.

The attack has left one worker dead.

One of the assailants detonated his explosives, paving the ground for others to enter the building, an area resident told country's Pajhwok Afghan News.

The attackers and security forces were exchanging fire even after the attack.

One of the attackers, who was armed with rifles and hand grenades, was engaged in a clash with security forces.
Ottawa, Nov 7 (IBNS): Facing a barrage of questions from the Opposition on Monday about the Paradise Papers leak, the Liberal government has ensured they will carry out a review on the Canadian names that have come up, media reports said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons: "We are fully committed to fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance."

"With respect to the Paradise Papers, the (Canada Revenue Agency) is reviewing links to Canadian entities and will take every appropriate action . . . . We will continue to work for a system that is fair," the PM added.

National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier confirmed that the CRA has already initiated a review and probing the names of the Canadians present in the papers.

More than 300 Canadians whose names are present in Paradise Papers, described as the largest leak of financial data, are suspected to have used offshore tax havens to evade taxes.

The figure is slightly around 3,300.

The revelation comes from Paradise Papers, as the documents are being called by a collective of international journalists who after months of ferreting a clutch of records and internal communications from Bermuda's Appleby and Singapore's Asiaciti presented their findings on Sunday night.

Paradise Papers refer to a trove - 13.4 million files - of financial data leaked from two firms

The reports have shown that Canada is Applyby's one of the biggest markets after the U.S., the U.K. and China.

The data has brought number of Canadian firms and individuals under the scanner who have paid very little or almost no tax as they have received the benefits from the offshore trusts and corporations which are set up in countries.

Canadian supermarket giant, Loblaw, issued a statement that reads: "the CRA is aware of all of our international income. Our activities [...] are legal and transparent."

It is said that Bermuda firm Appleby and Singapore-based Asiaciti helped the ultra-rich & powerful move money abroad

Appleby allegedly helped clients set up offshore firms and manage bank accounts to evade taxes, manage realty, buy planes and yachts, move tonnes of money across the globe.



(Reporting by Suman Das)
Winnipeg, Nov 7 (IBNS): A new exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) has explored the global refugee crisis through the eyes of two teenage boys - a 13-year-old Syrian who survived a perilous voyage across the Mediterranean and a 15-year-old boy in Spain who felt compelled to respond.

Seeking Refuge is centred on a work of art created by 15-year-old Achilleas Souras from lifejackets left on the beaches of the Greek island of Lesbos by thousands of migrants and refugees.

Resembling a domed-shaped shelter that people can crawl inside, his structures have been attracting attention from all over the world.



The installation is brought to life by two emotive videos. One shows Souras assembling his lifejacket dome and sharing his concerns about refugees.

The other, filmed by UNICEF in Lesbos, features 13-year-old Mustafa Al Said, who describes fleeing war across a dangerous sea, along with his hopes, fears and homesickness.

Abandoned lifejackets - now a pervasive symbol of the danger facing millions of global refugees - are visible in both films, linking the stories of two teenagers and their common humanity.



"The exhibit builds awareness of an important and current human rights issue-and also shows us the power of youth to effect change," curator Isabelle Masson said. "It's a call to action-not only for young audiences but also for visitors of all ages."

An accompanying exhibit in the Museum's Rights Today gallery encourages thought and conversation about asylum seekers in Canada.

Seeking Safety was researched by the CMHR, working with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Canada. It explores, through video, images and documents, the stories of people who have come to Canada looking for protection.



Mohammed Alsaleh was among 25,000 Syrians accepted as refugees to Canada.

Eddy Ramirez was a student in Montreal when the political climate in Venezuela became too dangerous for her to return.

A video interview with University of Manitoba law professor Shauna Labman broke down common misconceptions surrounding the arrival of refugees and asylum seekers. The journey of those who cross into Canada by foot is also depicted through photographs.



"This exhibit helps clarify misconceptions about people who cross the border to seek asylum in Canada," curator Armando Perla said. "Who is an asylum seeker, who is a refugee, and what is the difference?"



Seeking Refuge runs at the CMHR until August 2018;

Seeking Safety will continue till October 2018.
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1. Deepika Padukone Gets Slut-Shamed Yet Again, This Time For Posing With Ranbir's Cousins

Thank you for a blurry evening, love you always!!  @deepikapadukone #aboutlastnight A post shared by Aadar Jain (@aadarjain) on Nov 5, 2017 at 1:43am PST

Armaan Jain posted a picture with the star thanking her for the party and but it didn't go down well with the trollers. We're not surprised because they had a problem that DP was hanging out with her ex-boyfriends cousins.

2. The Trailer Of Tiger Zinda Hai Is Here & The Internet Can't Stop Gushing Over Salman & Katrina

Get set Sal-mania because Tiger Zinda Hai is bringing back Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif together. It's not just that, he's also showing his superhero avatar because no one ever does action like him.

3. Swara Bhaskar Narrates A Harrowing Incident Of Getting Harassed By A Drunk Film Director

Narrating one of the incidents, she told Mumbai Mirror, There have been catcalls during shoots and eve-teasing on one of my sets. Ive been groped by a mob during promotions and during a 56-day outdoor at a remote location, when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites. He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing the scene and would find him drinking. During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex and one night, arrived in my room, drunk, and asked to be hugged. It was scary! I was young and alone. I would switch off the lights after pack-up and remove my make up in the dark so he would think I was asleep and stop calling me.

4. On Her 44th Birthday, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Donates Free Meals To 1,000 School Kids For A Year

WALLPAPERCLICKER.COM

As part of the mid-day meal scheme called Annamrita run by Annamrita Midday Meal Scheme of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Aish will help to feed the school kids. The scheme reaches out to about 2,000 kids of 500 municipal schools in an around Mumbai.

5. 'Thor: Ragnarok' Creates Ripples At The Box Office, Collects Rs 31 Crore In 4 Days

screengrab

Chris Hemsworth starrer has created ripples at the box-office worldwide and has raked in Rs 31 crore in four days in India. Starting from Friday, the film opened to Rs 7.77 crore followed by Rs 9.43 crore on Saturday and Rs 10.46 crore on Sunday, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh. The film has found an audience at high-end multiplexes in metros and a large chunk of high-end multiplexes are in the Delhi NCR belt.
Kamal Haasan has been quite vocal about his viewpoints on social media. No matter even if he has to face a lot of backlash for the same, the actor never shies away from saying what he feels. He even got involved into legal troubles but never has he ever taken a step back.

Its his birthday today, and announcing his plans for birthday, Kamal wrote that he is cancelling celebrations. The veteran actor, instead, chose to visit medical camp to meet people affected by Chennai rains.

(Also Read: Voicing His Concern, Kamal Haasan Warns Of Flood Threat In North Chennai)

A. Prathap/TOI

"This year he (Haasan) has decided not to celebrate his birthday while Chennai people are distressed by the rains. Instead he will be visiting a medical camp, set up by his Narpani Iyakkam (welfare movement) at Avadi," his spokesperson said.

Furthermore, Kamal also tweeted about the same.

To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations pic.twitter.com/hkSPJj97C9  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 6, 2017

Mr Kamal Haasan at a medical camp on his birthday https://t.co/9PYGIwXubG  Mandvi Sharma (@MandviSharma) November 7, 2017

Hassan, who has been hinting at his political foray, would be "reaching out to people with his special message and plans for the future," the spokesperson had said without divulging further details.

(Also Read: Kamal Haasan To Venture Into Politics On His Birthday, Announces Launch Of A Political App)

A. Prathap/TOI

The actor has recently pledged to send about five lakh of his volunteers and supporters for refurbishment of water bodies in the wake of the torrential downpour and resultant waterlogging in parts of the state including Chennai.

(Also Read: Muslim Youth Offers Rs 25,000 For Blackening Kamal Haasans Face After His Controversial Remarks)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might not have celebrated her birthday with much grandeur throwing a big lavish party, but she made it special by making a difference in the lives of others. As part of the midday meal scheme, the actress decided to donate free meals to 1,000 school kids for a year.

kinkylittleboots.com

As part of the mid-day meal scheme called Annamrita run by Annamrita Midday Meal Scheme of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Aish will help to feed the school kids. The scheme reaches out to about 2,000 kids of 500 municipal schools in an around Mumbai.

The scheme, which started in 2004 from a small room with meals being prepared for just 900 children, today serves meals to 12 lakh children across seven states in India. Through 20 hi-tech kitchens, Annamrita reaches out to nearly 500 municipal schools in and around Mumbai along with over 2,000 schools in Maharashtra with heavy nutritious meals, ISKCON spiritual leader Radhanath Swami Maharaj said in a statement.

wallpaperclicker.com

Aishwarya Rai celebrated her birthday on Nov. 1 in Maldives with her family. The Bachchans kept it a hush-hush affair and didnt share any pictures on social media. However, we still managed to get access to the photograph of her birthday cake, which looked like a replica of her Cannes 2017 outfit. Take a look.

Keep up the good work, Aish!
AFP/Representational Image

The people of Delhi NCR woke up from their slumber, to find that their surrounding has been enveloped in thick fog which made breathing a bit difficult when people stepped out of their homes for morning walks etc. Read more





Here are more top news of the day:





1) It's Been One Long Year Since Demonetisation Happened And Twitter Has A Thing Or Two To Say About It

There were video footages of people buying gold on cash, piles and piles of cash bundles in debris, long bank queues and beggars dissing 500 rupee notes; who would have imagined all that? Read more

2) Ex-PM Manmohan Singh Offers Economics Lessons To PM Modi, Calls Demonetisation & GST Disasters

AP

Former Prime Minister and Cambridge-trained economist Manmohan Singh, today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government on GST and note ban. Read more





3) 50-YO Woman Cyclist Who Gave Middle Finger To US President Trump's Motorcade, Fired From Job

AFP

The adventurous woman, who gave the middle finger to the US President Donald Trumps motorcade in October has been fired from her job by her employer after a photo of the incident went viral. Read more

4) Supreme Court Comes To The Aid Of Transgender From Tamil Nadu, Denied Air Hostess Job By Air India, Based On Gender

AP/ File

The Supreme Court has given four weeks time to the Civil Aviation Ministry to respond to a complaint filed by Shanavi Ponnusamy, a transgender woman from Tamil Nadu who alleged that she was denied a job as an air hostess, because of her gender. Read more

5) India Seeks Extradition Of Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi, And Twelve Other Fugitives From The UK

BCCL/ File

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju who is in the UK has said, India is trying to extradite 13 fugitives including those of Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, from the United Kingdom. Read more
The fake Rs 2000 note problem has come back to haunt authorities, yet again. This time a 29-year-old grocery shopkeeper from South Delhi fell victim to this menace.

Picture for representation/Reuters

According to reports, the man identified as Mohammad Shadab, resident of Shaheen Bagh area, went to withdraw cash from a bank at 11:55 in the night on Monday, a report by IANS said.

The report added that Shahdab had withdrawn Rs 10,000 from the ATM of which one of the notes were allegedly identified as fake. Out of four notes of Rs 2000, one was fake, with the other half just a plain piece of paper.

FIR registered under section 420 IPC on complaint of a man alleging that he received a fake Rs. 2000 note from ATM at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. pic.twitter.com/gbobIiUd7J  ANI (@ANI) 6 November 2017

After receiving the fake Rs 2000 note, he filed an FIR with the police station, ANI reported on Monday night.

FIR registered under section 420 IPC on complaint of a man alleging that he received a fake Rs 2000 note from ATM at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, ANI said in a tweet.

In February this year, two cases of fake currency with 'Children Bank of India' instead of Reserve Bank of India printed on the notes were found and in March Hyderabad police arrested a man who was allegedly trying to deposit Rs 9.90 lakh from Children Bank of India.
Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has been engulfed under a thick blanket of smog, since Tuesday morning. People are sharing photos from their homes, offices and roads to express the horror that they are experiencing at the moment. Everyone is worried about the kids and the future of the national capital.

AFP

Many who ventured out for jogging and morning walks have complained about unease and feeling breathlessness.

This is because the fine pollutants known as PM2.5 that are most harmful to health reached hazardous levels in most part of the national capital.

BCCL

In some parts of New Delhi, air quality was so poor that it was beyond the maximum reading of 999.

That level is equal to smoking 50 cigarettes a day, Arvind Kumar, chairman for chest surgery at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, told Reuters.

Keeping in mind the dangerous situation, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a health emergency.

PTI

"We have declared a state of public health emergency in Delhi since pollution is at an alarming level," the head of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Krishan Kumar Aggarwal told AFP.

Schools in Delhi have also stopped outdoor activities and asked students to wear protective masks.

BCCL

If the situation does not improve in a couple of days, just like last year, they might be forced to shut temporarily. Since then, authorities have closed power plants temporarily and experimented with taking some cars off the road.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju who is in the UK has said, India is trying to extradite 13 fugitives including those of Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, from the United Kingdom.

BCCL/ File

"We are grateful to the UK's immigration minister for being considerate to our opinion; we raised 13 extradition cases and 16 under mutual legal assistance treaty," ANI quoted Rijiju as saying after his meeting with UK immigration minister Brandon Lewis.

"We made our position clear. The response is positive from the government's side but there can't be a detailed discussion as the matter is in court," Rijiju said in Mallya's case.

BCCL

Rijiju's visit comes amid some concerns by India for facing legal troubles in the extradition.

This came after the Westminster Magistrate's court in London recently refused to send bookie Sanjeev Kumar Chawla to India after an expert cited "unsafe, inhuman and degrading" conditions in Delhi's Tihar jail.

This is the same court which is handling the Mallya case and is set to take it up in two weeks.

AFP

Mallya was on October 4 arrested by police in London in connection with a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and was released on bail soon after.

The beleaguered liquor baron had told news agency PTI that he had "done nothing wrong" and had described the allegations against him as "fabricated".

Among the fugitives whose extradition India is pressing for are Rajesh Kapoor, accused of kidnapping his brother Deepak Kapoor's daughter, Tiger Hanif, who is wanted in connection with two bomb attacks in Gujarat in 1993, Atul Singh, Raj Kumar Patel, Jatiender Kumar Angurala and Asha Rani Angurala.
Lonely in life, 'Prince' Ali Raza was also lonely in death. As the police found his lifeless form on a couch on September 2, a tumultuous chapter that had inspired many a gossipy tale for over 30 years, came to an end.

Twitter

Raza, his sister Sakina, and their mother Begum Wilayat Mahal, had made it to the headlines in the 1970s by claiming to be the direct descendants of the last king of Avadh, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

Mahal had occupied the first class waiting-lounge at New Delhi Railway Station along with her two children, a pack of hounds, and a few servants. She had demanded compensation from the Indian government for the British taking over all the properties of the Nawab after deposing him in 1856.

BCCL

Mahal's sensational claim had brought a lot of press attention then. Eventually, a house was arranged for her in Lucknow.

"But she had refused to move to Lucknow and had asked for an alternative accommodation in Delhi itself," recalled Anil Chandra, a resident of Malcha Marg in Lutyens' Delhi.

Mahal refused to leave the railway station. Requests and threats didn't help. In fact, she would threaten to kill herself by drinking poison just like a famous ancestor of hers supposedly dida tale that historians haven't been able to prove so far.

BCCL

But that was the nature of Mahal's claim to hallowed ancestrydisputed by other, recognised members of the dynasty. Yet, these had no impact on the decision by the Union government in 1985.

"Mahal was offered a DDA flat. But she had refused to settle for anything less than a palace. And a palace was indeed given to her, only a 14th-century one," Chandra recalled.

Known then simply as Bistadari ruins, it was a 14th-century shikargah or a hunting lodge believed to have been built by Sultan Ferozeshah Tughlaq. Located in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, it came to be known as Malcha Mahal as it faced Malcha Marg. But this happened once Wilayat Mahal came to stay there with her kids, dogs and attendants.

However, the family chose a life of isolation right from the beginning. Protected by the ferocious canines, the family wouldn't let anyone come anywhere near their 'palace'. A signboard was put up, warning of terrible consequences for any feat of derring-do. Mahal was known to come good on her threatshe unleashed her dogs on the particularly adventurous.

BCCL

But life at the ruins was hard without water and power. The family wrote to the authorities several times for repairs and other help. A letter written by Raza  now lying on a charpoy  read: "...Those having a conscience should know his Royal house of Oudh  staying at Malcha Mahal is perhaps more complete without water and electricity  with flooded rooms. And no defeat more conclusive for the government of India in particular....(sic)"

On September 10, 1993, Mahal committed suicide. And her children slipped into depression following that. Four years ago, Sakina died too, leaving Raza all alone in this world. He would have occasional visitors in members of the foreign press corps, but he mingled with nobody else. A guard at a nearby ISRO earth station said even policemen were not allowed in. "He had many dogs earlier, but I saw only one in the last one year," he said, adding that he would see Raza cycle towards the main road at times, but never saw him carry groceries. Nobody knew how Raza survived.

BCCL

Inside, the worldly possessions of the family were strewn all over. The only thing that was in order somewhat was a dining table with cups, kettle and plates stacked neatly. A plant by the table seemed to be dying. A red-colour telephone set lay broken too.
The special operations group (SOG) of the city police busted a counterfeit note printing and distribution racket and arrested four persons on Sunday. Police recovered fake notes of face value Rs 40.73 lakh from the accused who were trying to circulate the currency in the market.

Police arrested Ravi Gandhi (30), a resident of Pandesara, Ajay Patel, Babulal alias Babloo Mahadev Vankhede (47) and Vasu alias Bangali Kashinath Karmakar (33), for printing and selling the counterfeit notes.

AFP

Gandhi was running foreign study consultancy service and had suffered major losses. He had borrowed around Rs 70 lakh to pay debt and despite all attempts, he was unable to repay the loan.

Falling prey to a not-so-brilliant idea, he planned to print money and sell. The accused told police that they were planning to sell the fake notes of Rs 3 lakh for Rs 1 lakh of originals.

Following specific information, police nabbed the four when they were searching for buyers. Police nabbed Patel, Vankhede and Karmakar on the Ring Road while they were going on a scooter to sell the counterfeit notes. Police recovered fake notes of face value Rs 25.35 lakh in Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denominations. During questioning, they told the police that Gandhi had given them the notes.

AFP

Police then nabbed Gandhi from Pandesara where he used to print these notes and found the rest in his possession. In all, 4,933 fake notes in the denominations of Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 were recovered.

Gandhi told investigators that he simply copied the notes in a photo copier and took their printouts on a colour printer. He later made specific colour lines on the notes to make them look similar to the silver strip on the originals.
The government claimed that demonetisation will choke the flow of fake currency in the economy. However, the new findings have revealed that there is no end to the menace of fake currency. Finance minister, Arun Jaitley, has informed the Parliament that fake currency of a total of Rs.11.23 crore has been found since demonetisation.

BCCL/representational image

Also Read: Government Deals A Blow To ISI's Terrorism Funding, Fake Note War On India

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data indicates that 1.58 lakh notes of fake currency, having a face value of Rs. 11.23 crore, have been detected in 29 states post demonetisation until July 14, Jaitley said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

BCCL/representational image

A mobile app has been launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which allows the users to see the features of Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series Rs. 500 and 2,000 notes to check their authenticity.

Also Read: Fake Notes Worth Rs 125.18 Crore Were Seized In India Between 2012-14, Delhi Topped The List

The app can be downloaded from the Play Store/App Store in android/iPhone respectively.

BCCL/representational image

The Minister also said that bank notes with writing on them are treated as soiled notes and can be deposited in bank accounts or exchanged at any bank branch.

Also Read: Fake Notes Worth Rs 9.63 Crore Deposited In Banks Since Demonetisation Was Announced
OnePlus has just announced that its next flagship, the OnePlus 5T, will launch at a livestreamed event in New York on November 16. The device is expected to be available starting November 21, though theres no word on pricing just yet.

Rumours indicate itll cost close to $479 (approximately Rs 31,000) -- but even if it sells for under Rs 40,000, it may possibly be the best value for money flagship smartphone you can buy this year.

1. Larger display with thin bezels

The OnePlus 5T is expected to feature a larger 6-inch display, compared to its predecessors 5.5-inch, with the resolution bumped up to 1080x2160. Its also expected to have thinner bezels, with the display wrapping almost to the top and bottom of the device. In this case, the fingerprint scanner is moving to under the camera on the rear panel. It's expected to have an AMOLED screen, hopefully with nice contrast and vivid colours. Will definitely give the lies of Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy S8, Note 8 & iPhone X a tough fight in terms of looks.

2. Better camera

The OnePlus 5Ts shooter will be getting a bump up. The rear camera is expected to feature dual 20MP sensors, with founder Carl Pei teasing some truly amazing portrait shots on Twitter

"What phone is he taking that photo with?..."  pic.twitter.com/PZMIEP1gkv  Carl Pei (@getpeid) October 30, 2017

3. More storage?

The new device is supposedly retaining the Snapdragon 835 processor of the OnePlus 5, but the RAM may be bumped up to 6G or even 8GB. In that case, the company might instead change the storage options from 64GB and 128GB, to also include 256GB. Heck, there might even be a microSD card this time around.

4. More power to you

The smartphone could be getting a new battery, 3,450mAh instead of 3,300mAh on the OnePlus 5. Like the added storage, that makes sense if OnePlus expects people to be using the camera a lot more.

oneplus 5t 3.5mm jack

5. Headphone jack

Despite the fact that major players like Googles Pixel 2 and Apples iPhone 8 and X have dropped the 3.5mm headphone jack, OnePlus has insisted its keeping the aux port. That alone is enough to warrant a second thought, honestly.
Former Democratic chairman reveals Clinton rigging of 2016 nomination campaign by Patrick Martin (WSWS repost)

According to a new book by a top Democratic insider, Donna Brazile, the Hillary Clinton campaign used its financial resources to take control of the Democratic National Committee more than six months before the first primary vote, using the party machinery to insure Clinton won the presidential nomination.



Brazile's revelations confirm that the DNC emails released by WikiLeaks provided an accurate picture of the collaboration between top DNC officials and the Clinton campaign.

Former Democratic chairman reveals Clinton rigging of 2016 nomination campaign

By Patrick Martin

4 November 2017



The Hillary Clinton campaign used its financial resources to take control of the Democratic National Committee more than six months before the first primary vote, using the party machinery to insure Clinton won the presidential nomination, according to a new book by a top Democratic insider.



Donna Brazile, longtime vice chairman of the party, campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000, and interim chairman of the DNC from July 2016 to February 2017, makes the explosive revelation in her newly published account, Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald Trump in the White House.



A chapter of the book was excerpted Thursday on the Politico web site, under the headline, Inside Hillary Clintons Secret Takeover of the DNC. Brazile writes that soon after she became interim chairman after the Democratic convention in July 2016, she began investigating charges of collaboration between the previous DNC chair, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and the Clinton campaign.



She discovered in the DNC files a signed agreement between the Clinton campaign and the DNC, dated August 2015, in which the Clinton campaign was given effective control of DNC decision-making in return for bailing out the DNC financially.



The DNC was near bankruptcy, and Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook agreed to pay off its $10 million debt and provide a monthly stipend, which ultimately totaled another $10 million. Brazile continues: in exchange for raising money and investing in the DNC, Hillary would control the partys finances, strategy, and all the money raised. Her campaign had the right of refusal of who would be the party communications director, and it would make final decisions on all the other staff. The DNC also was required to consult with the campaign about all other staffing, budgeting, data, analytics, and mailings.



Brazile admits the grossly anti-democratic character of this arrangement, given that the Democratic presidential nomination was a contest between at least five candidates at that point, two of them, Clinton and Sanders, with substantial support. In all previous such contested races, the rules of the DNC had required it to remain neutral.



The funding arrangement with HFA and the victory fund agreement was not illegal, she claims, but it sure looked unethical. If the fight had been fair, one campaign would not have control of the party before the voters had decided which one they wanted to lead. This was not a criminal act, but as I saw it, it compromised the partys integrity.



Brazile is defensive about the legality of the arrangement, for good reason: it involved a brazen effort to evade restrictions imposed by federal campaign finance laws, which limit to $2,700 the amount that an individual can give to a presidential campaign.



Under the deal brokered with the DNC, wealthy donors could pump $353,400 into the partys coffers, $10,000 to each of 32 state parties that participated in the scam, and $33,400 to the DNC itself, in each case, the maximum allowed under federal law. All these funds would be deposited in the accounts of the various state parties and the DNC. Most states would send their money back to the DNC, and the DNC would funnel the whole sum to the Clinton campaign. In the end, the state parties retained less than one percent of the $82 million raised in this effort.



Similar money trails have been a staple of both Democratic and Republican fund-raising efforts for the last several presidential election cycles, but the 2016 campaign was the first in which such flimflam was conducted before the party had selected a presidential nominee, and months before a single vote had been cast in a caucus or primary.



There are several important aspects of the Brazile account. It confirms that the DNC emails released by WikiLeakswhich the US intelligence agencies and the media claim, without providing evidence, were obtained through Russian hackersprovided an accurate picture of the collaboration between top DNC officials and the Clinton campaign. The leaked emails were damaging to Clinton because they were true, not because they were false, or fake news.



Some 12 million people, with a preponderance of youth and students, voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries and caucuses, attracted by his claim to be a socialist and his denunciation of the grip of millionaires and billionaires on the US economy and political system.



But he was seeking the presidential nomination of one of the two parties controlled by the billionaires and unshakably committee to their interests, as demonstrated by the blatant purchase of the DNC for $20 million by Hillary Clinton, the favored candidate of the financial aristocracy in 2016.



The US ruling elite was shocked and surprised by the mass support for a candidate claiming to be socialistnone more so than Sanders himself. His major service to Wall Street was to divert this popular following back into safe channels, by wrapping up his campaign and throwing his support to Hillary Clinton at the convention.



Brazile notes in her memoir that she called Sanders in September 2016 to tell him about her discovery of a formal agreement between the Clinton campaign and the DNC. I had promised Bernie when I took the helm of the Democratic National Committee after the convention that I would get to the bottom of whether Hillary Clintons team had rigged the nomination process, she writes.



She described the joint fund-raising agreement between the Clinton campaign and the DNC, telling Sanders, Ive completed my review of the DNC and I did find the cancer, but pleading with him, But I will not kill the patient.



Brazile continues: Bernie took this stoically. He did not yell or express outrage. Instead he asked me what I thought Hillarys chances were. The polls were unanimous in her winning but what, he wanted to know, was my own assessment?



This gives a glimpse of the real politics of Sanders, who agreed to Braziles entreaty not to kill the patient, i.e., expose the Democratic Party and the Clinton campaign by making public this stinking backroom deal.



Some of Sanderss former campaign aides have vocally denounced the DNC and the Clinton campaign in the wake of Braziles revelations. Mark Longabaugh, a former adviser, called the DNC-Clinton deal outrageous, while former campaign manager Jeff Weaver called it egregious and undemocratic, while described the fundraising scheme as a laundering operation.



But Sanders himself continued to downplay the revelation, suggesting that to focus on the 2016 campaign was a diversion from opposing the policies of the Trump administration. After President Trump tweeted about the Brazile book, calling for a Justice Department investigation, Sanders responded, also on Twitter, We won't be distracted from your efforts to give billionaires tax cuts, take health care from millions and deny climate change.
Marcellus Toney Killed by Oakland Police Department: We Want Answers!

Date:

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Time:

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Event Type:

Protest

Organizer/Author:

Anti Police-Terror Project

Location Details:

Oakland Police Department

455 7th St, Oakland, California 94607

In conjunction with Lamesha Smith and others from Marcellus Toney's family, Anti Police-Terror Project and supporters are gathering to demand answers from Oakland Police Department. Toney was killed as a result of being tased by OPD on September 28, 2017 at 42nd Ave and Foothill Blvd. Please come out to support his family in demanding answers about his death.



#MarcellusToney



---



OAKLAND (KRON)  Oakland police are investigating an in-custody death involving a taser on Thursday afternoon, police said. The incident happened at around 2:26 p.m. in the 4100 block of Foothill Boulevard. The person died Thursday night. No other information has been made available by police.



---



[ Marcellus Toney looks for job listings in the newspaper classified ads at the East Bay Career Center February 2, 2006 in Oakland, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News. ]
The Florida Chamber of Commerce brought together regulators, lawmakers, insurance industry executives and other stakeholders last week for the chambers annual insurance summit. Through several panel discussions on pressing and emerging issues facing the states insurance market, the summit touched on everything from recent cases expected to raise workers compensation insurance costs to Hurricane Irmas impact on the insurance and reinsurance markets to an overview of insurance-related bills considered by the Legislature earlier this year.

But the issue that drew the most attention was abuse of the assignment of benefits system, which has become the leading cost-driver in Floridas property and casualty insurance market.

An AOB allows a policyholder, after a loss, to assign his or her policy benefits to a third party  generally to vendors like water-remediation companies, repairmen and contractors. This transfer not only allows the vendor to charge the insurer directly, but should they sue the insurer, they are able to take advantage of what was originally intended to be a consumer-protection provision called the one-way attorney fee law, allowing the assignee to collect legal fees from the insurer.

This system has encouraged unscrupulous vendors to overcharge for their services and file frivolous litigation, which can increase the cost of even the smallest claims by many thousands of dollars. Ultimately, the increased volume and cost of these claims are recovered through higher insurance rates.

This is an issue the R Street Institute has called attention to for the past few years, including in our most recent insurance study published with the James Madison Institute. However, due to yet another year of inaction by the Legislature, the fleecing of Floridas insurance market remains ongoing, with rates needlessly increasing at a time when Floridians would otherwise be experiencing rate decreases.

Some troubling AOB-related statistics shared at the conference include:

A tripling of insurance litigation across every major company in Florida;

An increase in the cost of litigated cases, which now average $40,000, versus nonlitigated cases, which average $8,600;

A spike in the number of insurance companies requesting rate increases, despite a hurricane-free decade and low reinsurance rates. In 2014, only 37.6 percent of insurance companies requested rate increases; by 2016, 72.3 percent of companies requested increases; and in 2017, 90 percent of the companies that have submitted their rate requests have filed for increases.

Despite these troubling figures, trial lawyers and their allies in the Legislature continue to demand more data to justify reforms. I was asked to present my findings on this subject during the summit. My conclusion was that the data is not only abundant, but also that its sources are unbiased, diverse and sufficiently numerous to justify meaningful reforms to tackle the abuse. This conclusion is shared by the insurance industry, national rating agencies, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., consumer groups, realtors, reinsurers, the states insurance consumer advocate, a number of Florida newspaper editorial boards and even the Wall Street Journal. Indeed, Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier remarked that AOB reform would be the Office of Insurance Regulations top legislative priority.

In short, the only participants in this debate who disagree with reforming the system are those who benefit from it financially. It is increasingly apparent that their calls for more and more data are merely a dilatory tactic to prolong their profiteering.

Another argument that opponents of reform have made is that consumers never enjoy lower insurance rates after the Legislature enacts insurance reform legislation. This view was repeated by Senate Banking an Insurance Chair Anitere Flores, R-Miami, during the Summits legislative panel. Given this widespread belief, some have called for statutory insurance rate rollbacks as a condition for meaningful AOB legislation.

However, the facts do not justify this pervasive belief.

After a comprehensive workers compensation reform package in 2003, employers saw their rates fall by 60 percent. Shortly after lawmakers enacted sinkhole insurance reforms, average statewide property insurance rates dropped for three years in a row. Even Citizens average statewide rates went down. Indeed, as recently as 2014, most property insurers were requesting rate decreases. But with AOB costs being allowed to run amok, most companies are now forced to increase their rates.

As the Legislature convenes to tackle this issue, it should bear in mind that the status quo is not hurting insurance companiesno matter what, insurers will recover their losses through higher rates, as the law requires. Consumers are the ones hurt by being forced to pay the price of enriching a small cabal of bad actors. The least lawmakers can and should do as they deliberate over what to do about AOB abuse is to listen to more than just the beneficiaries of the status quo.

Topics Carriers Florida Legislation Market
The insurance industry has a great record of solving problems where government regulation didnt because the government either didnt know how to regulate, or the government wouldnt regulate, Richard A. Clarke, former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counter-Terrorism for the United States, told attendees at a recent cybersecurity insurance forum in Santa Clara, Calif.

Clarke, now CEO of Good Harbor LLC, a security risk management firm that advises companies and governments on cybersecurity and best practices, was the keynote speaker at the recent National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and Stanford Cyber Initiative: Cyber Insurance and Its Evolving Role in Helping to Mitigate Cyber Risks.

The first joint forum between the NAIC and Palo Alto, Calif-based Stanford University held last month sought to explore how insurers and cybersecurity experts can better work together to solve cybersecurity challenges facing the nations technology infrastructure.

Clarkes experience in the cybersecurity world has spanned decades, including a 30-year career with the U.S. Government. He served under three presidents as a Senior White House Advisor, Special Advisor to the President for Cyber Security, and on the United States National Security Council.

I think the cyber insurance industry has enormous potential to positively shape the cybersecurity ecosystem in this country, as it has so many other things in this country  as it has with fire prevention, as it has with automobile safety, Clarke said at the NAIC/Stanford forum.

Clarke offered several ideas on where he thinks the insurance industry can use its power to improve cybersecurity for companies and organizations alike, as well as grow and improve the overall cybersecurity insurance market.

1) Know Your Insureds IT Budgets

Clarke said what differentiates the security of a companys technology infrastructure is what they spend on their IT budget.

If you look at the percentage of their IT budget that they spend on security  that will tell you a lot, he told the audience of insurance professionals and regulators.

The reason for that, Clarke said, is every company has definitional issues about how they look at security and how they allocate their budget to those different areas. Clarke said for companies to truly be effective at combating cybersecurity intrusions they need to employing resources at many different levels, and that costs money.

At the gross level, if the company is spending 3 percent, 4 percent, or even 5 percent, of its IT budget on security, its not spending enough, he said. Getting this right is hard. Getting this right is expensive.

Clarke said good companies that are highly secure are spending at least 8 to 12 percent of their IT budget on security.

If people are unwilling to spend money on IT security, they will get hacked, he said.

2) Cybersecurity Defense is About People

Clarke said even if a company is employing all the right hardware and software that it can to fend off technology intrusions, the real difference maker to keeping a company or institution safe is still its people.

If you dont have training [for] IT security people, all that hardware and software is not going to do you any good. Youre not going to know how to integrate it and youre not going to know what to do at large, he said.

He said there are currently 200,000 vacant IT security jobs across the U.S., and that number doesnt include the people in IT security jobs who arent trained or qualified for them.

You would never a let a doctor operate on you who wasnt board-certified in that capacity; youd never let someone do your income taxes who hadnt recently gone through a tax certification program  yet we have [people] in companies throughout the United States who do not have the qualifications to do their job, he said.

Clarke said part of the reason for that is there isnt a good certification program for people to train in cybersecurity, something he said he is working on. And he thinks insurers should do more to provide adequate training as well.

3) Know How Secure Your Insureds Are

Clarke said insurers shouldnt just be examining a policyholders security system when they are filling out the insurance application, but every moment of the day.

In other words, he said, insurers should continuously monitor the cybersecurity procedures of their insureds, much the way auto insurers do with driving telematic devices. And, he said, the technology exists for insurance companies to gather this information and keep a security score on their policyholders.

If I was an insurance company and I was underwriting a company, I would not underwrite them unless I knew every day how secure they were, he said.

4) Dont Give Up

Clarke said in the wake of many high-profile cybersecurity breaches such as Target, Sony, Yahoo, and most recently Equifax, it would be easy to reach the conclusion that all company technology networks cannot be secured.

You can get really depressed by that and give up, he said.

But he urged people not feel that way, saying there are many companies that are successful at keeping hackers away and keeping peoples personal information safe, they just dont publicize it.

The companies that are successful dont like to attract attention. There are companies that have not been hacked; or when they have had the network penetrated, it has not resulted in the loss of data, it has not resulted in the shutting down of operations, he said. Dont look at all the horror stories  Theyre not all going to be hacked. Some of them are going to get it right. We need to learn from the ones that arent being hacked.

5) Create a Cybersecurity Insurance Institute

Clarke said the insurance industry should develop a place where the phenomenon of cyber incidents and the potential interaction with insurance could be studied. That place could create the data needed for better underwriting, and think of ways of reducing the risks.

He said the institute could also certify people working in cybersecurity.

A cybersecurity insurance institute joining with other organizations could create a multilevel set of certifications and could help run that program, run the curriculum, run the testing, and run the continuing education, he said.

He added such an institute would put the insurance industry on the cutting-edge of the cybersecurity world, and help ensure that insurers are not putting themselves at too great a liability.

You dont have to wait for new technology. You dont have to wait for new breakthroughs, and you dont have to wait for someone to pass the ball because they never will, he said.
A powerful typhoon that rocked Vietnam has killed at least 44 people, left more than a dozen missing and caused extensive damage to the countrys south-central region ahead of a summit that will draw leaders from around the world, the government said Monday.

The Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a statement that widespread flooding was reported in the region and that more than 116,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. In addition to the dead, 19 people are missing, including nine crew members of cargo ships that sank off the coast of Khanh Hoa province.

Typhoon Damrey hit Saturday and had already dissipated, but the disaster agency said flooding may get worse as heavy rain was forecast for the region. The area hit includes Danang, which is hosting an economic summit later this week that will be by President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders.

Many of the banners and posters for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Danang were damaged, but were fixed by Monday. There was only light rainfall in the city on Monday.

A half-hour drive away in the ancient town of Hoi An, where spouses of the APEC leaders were scheduled to visit, residents said they were suffering from the worst floods in decades.

Our family of six members has to live on the second floor, where we had to move all our belongings, said Nguyen Thi Hong, 70, who has been selling silk products in the town for the past 30 years. Life was very difficult because there was no electricity and we have to use boats to get around.

Another local resident, Nguyen Huu Ngai, said it was the worst flooding in the area since 1999, adding that in previous rainy seasons, the water was shallow, but this year the water is so high that we have to use boats.

Shops in Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site popular with tourists, were closed and boats were the only means of transportation in many flooded parts of the town.

Rains of up to 78 centimeters (30 inches) were reported in some parts of the central region over the 24 hours until Sunday evening. Light rains were reported in the region Monday morning.

The typhoon was the second to hit Vietnam in a month.

****

[Editors note: Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide said Typhoon Damrey is the strongest typhoon to hit southern Vietnam in 16 years. Areas from the south-central coast of Vietnam southward to Vung Tau were directly affected by the storm system, said AIR, noting that wind damage near the landfall area was significant, causing ripped off roofs, knocked down electricity poles, downed trees, and widespread power outages.

Interacting with a cold front from the north, Typhoon Damrey caused torrential rain across the entire central and south-central region, with flooding and landslides reported, said AIR. Further damage was predicted as rain continues through Wednesday, with many rivers and lakes reaching capacity. Maximum storm surge height was observed at 0.9 meters, further exacerbating flooding in coastal cities.

The Communist states Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control said the typhoon leveled more than 1,300 houses, and damaged nearly 115,000, according to AIR.

The resort town and industrial center of Nha Trang, capital of Khanh Hoa, was directly hit by strong Category 1-equivalent wind, along with rain and flooding. Cities near landfall were also strongly affected, including Da Nang, where the APEC Summit is hosting world leaders this week. Local authorities made significant efforts to clear downed trees, removed damaged signs, and otherwise prepare the city in advance of the event.

Flooding is widespread through the central region. More than 1,700 people were evacuated from the Can Gio District in Ho Chi Minh City, and tourists were evacuated as Hoi An Town in Quang Nam was submerged with waist-deep water. The Agriculture and Rural Development Minister warned that all the lakes and rivers are full, surpassing historic flood levels set in 1997.

Agricultural damage was reported for 30,000 hectares of crops, including more than 5,000 hectares of rice and nearly 15,000 hectares of vegetables.

According to AIR, after landfall, Damrey lost force within hours. It passed quickly through Vietnam, moving northwest to neighboring southern Cambodia on Sunday afternoon, local time. Precipitation from Damrey may cause continued major flooding in south-central Vietnam over the next several days, with continued flash flooding and landslides, AIR said.

Damrey was the 16th typhoon to make landfall this year in the Northwest Pacific, the fourth to make landfall at Vietnam and the strongest to hit south of Qui Nhon in 16 years since Typhoon Lingling.

AIR said that Vietnam is still reeling from a tropical storm that struck more than two weeks earlier, which caused massive flooding and mudslides farther north in central Vietnam, submerged more than 30,000 houses and damaged infrastructure and crops.

Vietnam is currently ranked as the 52nd largest insurance market in the world and the 57th largest non-life (P/C) market, AIR said, noting that non-life and health insurance penetration in Vietnam lag significantly behind comparable countries. In 2014 non-life (P&C) market premium represented 0.54 percent of GDP, for example, compared with 1.13 percent in China and 1.37 percent in Thailand, AIR added.]

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Flood Agribusiness
Zurich Insurance Group announced that its subsidiary Zurich Insurance plc has entered into an agreement with Catalina Insurance Ireland DAC (Catalina) to transfer its German legacy medical malpractice book to Catalina.

The portfolio concerned represents reserves of approximately US$450 million as of Dec. 31, 2016. Financial details of the transaction were not released.

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory and court approvals, reflects Zurichs continued efforts to manage risk and free up capital from non-core operations.

The transaction with Catalina is another example of how the group is actively managing its capital and legacy liabilities, said George Quinn, group chief financial officer. This transaction reduces risk and continues the process of simplifying the group and releasing capital from non-core activities as communicated at our Investor Day in 2016.

Zurich said the transaction is expected to have a small positive impact on capital and earnings upon completion.

This transfer from Zurich is one of the largest legacy transactions in continental Europe, said Chris Fagan, chairman and chief executive of Catalina Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd.

Together with our purchase of Glacier Re in 2010, reinsurance of $200 million of legacy liabilities from Delta Lloyd in 2014 and transfer of 463 million [$536.5 million] of liabilities from Quinn Insurance in 2015, this transaction clearly positions Catalina as the largest acquirer of legacy liabilities in Europe, with over $3.1 billion of European run-off liabilities acquired to date, he added.

We are pleased to be working with leading insurance groups like Zurich to help them manage risk and reduce capital and management resources devoted to non-core operations, Fagan affirmed.

We continue to see growing opportunities as insurance and reinsurance companies dispose of non-core legacy liabilities, helping develop a secondary market for legacy liabilities with compelling economic benefits for both seller and buyer, he said

Source: Zurich Insurance Group/Catalina

Topics Europe Medical Professional Liability
At least eight people have been injured after a possible tornado hit a small Ohio city.

Mercer County officials say six people were hurt when a restaurant in Celina was damaged during Sundays storms. One person was injured at another business, and one was hurt in a car crash after a utility pole fell. The injuries werent believed to be life-threatening.

WHIO-TV reports that fellow farmers helped a family rescue nearly 400 cows from a flattened barn near Padua.

The National Weather Service plans to review damage to confirm whether one or more twisters struck the area.

The storms swept northeast toward Akron and Cleveland. Cleveland.com reports some schools canceled classes Monday as utilities were still working to restore power for tens of thousands of customers in that region.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Ohio
Severe storms that battered parts of Indiana damaged the Muncie Fieldhouse, caused other sporadic damage and brought some flooding.

The (Muncie) Star Press reports that part of the brick facade at the top of the Muncie Fieldhouse fell Sunday onto the roof, leaving a hole and rupturing sprinkler pipes. Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler says thousands of gallons of water a minute poured inside the landmark gymnasium.

Area schools were closed on Monday amid storm cleanup. The citys McKinley neighborhood also sustained what was described as major wind and storm damage.

The National Weather Service planned to check on whether damage in Muncie and elsewhere was caused by tornadoes. At least two possible tornadoes were reported, including one near Brownstown in Jackson County and another near Portland in Jay County.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Windstorm Indiana
Zurich North America has appointed David Putz to lead Alternative Markets, effective January 1, 2018.

Putz will assume the role currently held by Kathleen Savio, who will become Zurich North America CEO at that same time. Putz, currently head of Direct Markets & Programs, has held leadership positions throughout Zurich North America for more than 20 years. He will report directly to Savio.

Prior to leading Direct Markets & Programs over the past year, Putz was head of Direct Markets for four years. He served in a number of key sales and leadership roles in Direct Markets, including vice president of Sales and Distribution, Finance & Insurance (F&I) Specialist, regional F&I manager Indiana, account executive, regional sales manager Florida, general manager/vice president Northern Division, and national vice president of Sales Eastern Zone.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.6 percent of all domestic freight transportation tonnage and $676 billion, or 79.8 percent,of transportation revenues in the country.

Despite the sectors size, for many trucking firms, its a rough haul being profitable.

Trucking companies are caught in the middle between the shipper and the consignee so they end up being squeezed on both ends, according to Michael Birge, president, HUB Internationals transportation division.

Birge says it is an industry that is known for its thin profit margins.

Plus, its an industry with high costs. Labor, equipment, license and compliance, and insurance costs have all been on the rise since 2013, according to an annual survey by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

Rising insurance costs account for the biggest increase in operational costs for trucking firms. Insurance costs rose by 11 percent from 2013-2014, and rose by 29 percent from 2014-2015, according to ATRIs An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2016 Update published September 2016.

From freight charges going down to fuel surcharges going away to insurance costs going up, its very difficult for trucking firms on a micro economic level to keep make their firms a successful business, said Bill Wesley, president of The Campbell Group based in Caledonia, Mich.

Insurance Costs

Commercial auto continues to perform the worst among commercial lines insurance underwriting segments. The trucking industry plays a role on this insurance saga of continued unfavorable loss severity trends and growing adverse loss reserve development.

While the commercial auto market is made up of a wide-range of vehicles, trucking risks have experienced some of the most dramatic rate increases, at least in the small-to-mid-size fleet category.

Results have not been great for insurance companies writing trucking accounts, Birge said. Over the past two years numerous carriers  Lexington, Zurich, ProSight Specialty, Westfield  have exited trucking completely or changed their underwriting appetite for certain risks.

Really starting about two years ago is when I think some shifts in carriers started to occur, said Trent Tillman, executive vice president, transportation division, at TrueNorth Companies.

Tillman recalls the parade of departures.

In the fall of 2015, Zurich was a big writer of probably a hundred motor carriers or so, trucking companies. They decided to get out of the auto liability business for truckers, altogether, as they were going through some of their overall reorganizations, Tillman said. Really close to the same time, AIG, Lexington in particular, who wrote a lot of the excess policies, also decided to get out. In fact, they were writing somewhere around 60 to 70 percent of the big excess in trucking. That was a huge exit of the market.

The entire market isnt bad; however, trucking accounts not deemed as preferred are feeling the pressure.

Its not a universal rate increase across the board but accounts that have issues where theres loss issues or driver issues or compliance issues, theyre going to see significant rate increases, Birge said. Rates for the below average accounts, as perceived by the insurance companies, Ive never seen this high in my career. Its unbelievable.

Segmentation

Trucking insurance brokers agree that the sector can be quite volatile but how volatile varies and depends on the segment of the market. The fact that the volatility is segmented makes the overall market for truckers more manageable and gives specialty brokers opportunities to help.

Two years ago, the large fleet trucking market was in turmoil, according to Dan Cook, national primary practice leader, transportation/large accounts, at TrueNorth Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

When Zurich moved out of the market, they were a major player in the large fleet space. They left at the same time Lexington Insurance, the AIG division, exited the excess liability market for those large fleets. Together those exits left a significant shortage of capacity in the large fleet space, said Cook.

Since that time the large fleet segment has rebounded somewhat but now smaller fleets  those less than 100 trucks  are experiencing the turmoil.

Theres a lot of specialization and segmentation in the truck insurance market from company to company, Cook said. When you think about trucking insurance carriers, you could group them into different areas.

Small fleets are typically 0 to 10 trucks. They are served by one group of insurance companies. Mid-market fleets are maybe 10 to 100 trucks. Theres a lot of those size firms and theyre all privately held, serviced mostly by agents in their local market. Thats a different group of insurance companies.

Then fleets above 250 trucks move into a different group of insurance companies, Cook said. Part of that, what differentiates a fleet north of 100, is whether they have a low deductible or first dollar program or whether they use some form of alternative risk financing, or large deductible, self-insured retention.

If you think about trucking in that context, you might see one group or segment experiencing rate increases but not another group, so there will be more volatility in small fleet than say large fleet, Cook explained. That segmentation helps the overall trucking market as carriers come and go, he said.

Thirty-five-year transportation veteran Ken Cummings, assistant vice president, director of marketing for The Campbell Groups transportation division, said that insurance pricing is competitive for the desired, established trucking companies but newer trucking firms or those with compliance or loss experience concerns are having a rough time in todays market.

New business ventures in the trucking industry are seeing substantially higher prices, he said. The insurance market is so difficult for these accounts that Cummings says some truckers have even reconsidered plans to start their own trucking business after finding out the cost of the insurance.

Capacity

There is no a shortage of capacity, the experts say. Whats happened is the traditional truck insurers are gaining back market share, according to HUBs Birge.

The traditional truck insurance companies have picked up a lot of market share because theres been not only a few that have exited, but theres been many, many who have re-underwritten and have decided to take a tougher stand, he said. Some insurers are now shedding those accounts, either through huge rate increases or actually non-renewing that business which tends to flow back to the traditional truck markets.

These brokers say the trucking market requires a broker who can direct clients through the maze of options and obstacles.

The trucking market is hardening because of poor underwriting results, which has opened the door for the alternative risk market, captives, specifically, according to Birge. Thats a challenge to navigate so having an experienced trucking specialist is more important than ever in todays climate, he said.

Cummings seconds that. Its beneficial to work with specialists because that provides truckers with the availability to access the more competitive markets, he said, adding that they can also help with claims.

The truck insurance marketplace is not something for people to dabble in, said Lance Smith, head of trucking division at PJC Insurance based in Springfield, Mo. Its not something that you should, in my opinion  it requires a specialized knowledge. You need to be immersed in that every day.  The regulatory environment, the knowledge, the specialized coverages and information that needs to be provided to insurance carriers is something that needs to be done by somebody that truly understands the business and truly understands the industry.

Challenges

Brokers who develop an in-depth understanding of trucking issues including regional and compliance differences can excel in this sector, Birge said. Casting a wider net and being able to focus on trucking beyond just a certain region gives you a lot of opportunities to grow, and thats what weve done. Its proven to be pretty successful.

Specialists are helping trucking clients navigate new compliance issues.

One of the things coming along this year is the mandate for trucking companies to have electronic logging devices that is required as of December 18 for anybody that has trucks that newer than the year 2000, Cummings said. There are a few exceptions but the majority will have to comply with this regulation. That will have an effect on hours of service, which hopefully will bring the majority of drivers into compliance with the regulatory rules right now.

From an underwriting perspective, requiring electronic logging devices will make things easier. Historically, some insurers would reject accounts that did not have them. Now they wont have a choice, Wesley said.

But while ELDs make securing an insurance market easier, the equipment can be costly for truckers.

Wesley says its imperative that his clients have ELDs on all trucks by the deadline or face penalties. We are monitoring and asking questions when we have our visits and/or contact with our clients, just to keep them aware that the clock is ticking and its not going away. It will become the rule.

Another area where specialty brokers are helping is with Compliance & Safety Accountability (CSA) scores. CSA scores are the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations data-driven safety compliance and enforcement program designed to improve safety and prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. CSA consists of three core components; the Safety Measurement System (SMS); interventions; and a Safety Fitness Determination (SFD) rating system to determine the safety fitness of motor carriers.

CSA evaluations and scores are widely used by underwriters. However, they may not be accurate and fair, according to Hubs Birge.

The methodologies have been challenged, the data has been questioned, as to its accuracy, and its hard to get mistakes corrected, Birge said. Theres been changes made to improve it and theres been some recent legislation about the actual formula itself, whether its biased in one direction or another, he said.

While theres criticism of CSA scores, many underwriters still use them. A lot of people rely on that score as the endall for whether a risk is acceptable or not, said Birge. But people are starting to question it and were finally seeing some willingness to change, especially on the insurance carrier side.

Most underwriters have moved to predictive modeling, using this data to derive rates. Theres a substantial weighting place on these scores. It can really influence whether an account even gets a look by an underwriter, depending on their scores, he said. If the data and score are not accurate, there can be problems.

The underwriters who are flexible and are willing to listen to an alternative story from the trucker and their broker will write more business, Birge said. The underwriters that rely strictly on predictive modeling may not see as much business and could be subjected to adverse selection in my opinion.

Smith agrees that CSA scores are a big factor in underwriting today.

Theres been so much increase in the data availability, data analytics thats gone in to the industry over the last few years with carriers trying to adopt predictive modeling and trying to find the data that is actually relevant. Some data is not necessarily predictive but some of it is.

Underwriters are trying to figure out whats what and sometimes truckers get caught in the middle, Smith said.

The main CSA took effect in 2010 and then theres been changes to it over the years, Smith said. It depends on which side you come down, but Ill just say theres a lot of discussion on the methodology and how accurate it really is.

Wesley said that in todays challenging insurance market, agents and brokers need to find ways to stand out. Specialization will do that.

In a difficult market like this, theres an opportunity to find other ways to differentiate ourselves, he said. For trucking that means becoming a true consultant. You need to be heavy on the consulting, loss control activities, which help to improve truckers risk profiles, which again increases their options when theyre actually trying to find coverage options.

Topics Carriers Legislation Auto Agencies Excess Surplus Underwriting Market Trucking
Tricia Wilson has joined insurance broker Holmes Murphy as an account executive, specializing in property/casualty for the Dallas market.

Wilson will play a crucial role in the development and ongoing stewardship of new client relationships, the company said.

She comes to Holmes Murphy with more than 18 years of industry experience. Over the course of her career shes developed experience in all facets of the business  sales, insurance placement, service consulting and leadership.

Most recently, Wilson was the operations manager at Swingle Collins and Associates.

Wilson is certified as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Certified Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS).

Source: Homes Murphy
Jimmy Patronis is asking voters to keep him in his current job as chief financial officer.

Patronis officially filed paperwork on Nov. 1 to run for the Cabinet post in 2018. The 45-year-old Patronis was appointed in June by Gov. Rick Scott.

Patronis followed Jeff Atwater who stepped down to take a job at Florida Atlantic University.

Patronis, who helped his family run a Panama City restaurant, has never run statewide before. He was a member of the Florida Legislature for eight years.

Patronis backed Scott during his first run for governor when many in the GOP establishment were supporting another candidate. Scott is backing him even though other Republicans may run.

Former State Sen. Jeremy Ring, a former executive at Yahoo and a Democrat, is also running.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
Books Lost Warriors: Seagrim and Pagani of Burma, The Last Great Untold Story of WWII

By Philip Davies. Atlantic Publishing, Hertfordshire 2017. 279 pages.

Its often said that World War II never ended in the Karen Hills of Myanmar. Almost as soon as the country gained its independence from Britain in 1948, Karen hilltribe guerrillas, who had fought against the Japanese during the occupation, turned their guns against the government in Yangon (then Rangoon) to fight for self-determination for their own homeland. That war lasted until a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Karen National Union and Myanmars central authorities in January 2012. It remains to be seen if that accord is going to lead to a lasting peace in whats now Karen State as it is only a ceasefire agreement and does not include any provision for a comprehensive political solution to a nearly seven decades long civil war.

A book about World War II would, therefore, be relevant even to todays situation in Myanmars eastern border areas. In fact, Gen. Tamla Baw, one of the main leaders of the Karen movement until his death at the age of 94 in June 2014, was in his youth one of many young Karen guerrillas fighting alongside Maj. Hugh Seagrim, a British army officer, against the Japans Imperial Army. Tamla Baw was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned for four months, but managed to escape and joined Force 136, another British-organized unit in occupied Burma.

Many Karens had been loyal to the British long before the war, and many of them had been recruited into the colonial police and army. Now, they had to face the revenge of the Burma Independence Army (BIA) and its Japanese backers, which exacerbated already existing animosity between the majority Burmans and an ethnic minority like the Karens. The Burmans took revenge, and many Karens were killed, among them a group of elders at Papun where Seagrims guerrilla force was active. The Japanese were even more heavy-handed and reprisals against the Karen civilian population were so brutal that Seagrim surrendered rather than seeing the atrocities continue. At the same time, some of his Karen fighters had been captured and, during his trial in Rangoon, Seagrim told the Japanese do not punish these Karens. It is only because of me that all these Karens have got into trouble. This war is between the Japanese and the British, not between the Japanese and the Karens. I beg you to release all these Karens here.

In a remarkable tribute to his enemy, Col. Sunyoshi, the Rangoon commander of the kempetai, or dreaded Japanese security police, reportedly said that, I have never come across a finer gentleman. That did not help, however. Not only Seagrim was sentenced to death but seven of his men as well. Seagrim stood alongside some of his beloved Karens when he was executed by firing squad in an open space off Rangoons Pyay (then Prome) Road on September 22, 1944. Blindfolded, they sang the hymn The Solid Rock as they were shot.

Seagrims self-sacrifice on the Karens behalf became a legend and his life and struggle was first immortalized by Ian Morrison, a British journalist and author, in his classic Grandfather Longlegs: The Life and Gallant Death of Major H.P. Seagrim. Although he was only in his thirties when he was in hills of eastern Myanmar, the Karens addressed him respectfully as grandfather and his long legs gave him his popular nickname, Hpu Taw Kaw, or, literally Grandfather Longlegs in Karen.

Published in 1947, Morrisons book remained the only biography of Seagrim until the historian Philip Davies wrote Lost Warriors: Seagrim and Pagani of Burma, The last great untold story of WWII. Davies helped Thant Myint-U set up the Yangon Heritage Trust in 2012, so he is no newcomer to the Myanmar scene and his previous books include works on the architectural heritage of India.

Seagrim buried his own diaries and other papers before he ended up in Japanese custody, and efforts to retrieve them have proven unsuccessful, and, as Davies writes, Seagrims box remains undiscovered, hidden somewhere deep beneath the blood-red loam of the Karen hills. He has therefore, quite understandably, had to borrow a lot from Morrisons earlier book and also interviewed Seagrims relatives and Karen survivors of the war. Davies more than Morrison also brings the remarkable exploits of Roy, or Ras, Pagani, an even younger British soldier who crossed paths with Seagrim and sometimes fought alongside him. While Seagrim was a Christian mystic and an intensely spiritual man, Pagani was more of an adventurer and, as Davies calls him a serial escapee. He was at Dunkirk in 1940 and managed to escape, ended up in Southeast Asia and escaped from Singapore. Captured by the Japanese, Pagani was the only European to escape successfully from the Death Railway that Allied prisoners of war were forced to build to connect Thailand and Burma. In the jungle after that escape Pagani met some friendly Karens who took him to Seagrims hiding place and the two began to fight together.

Davies used Paganis own typescript of his life and wartime adventures, I Did It My Way, as the main source for his story. But unlike Seagrim, Pagani never became a legend. After the war, he returned home, as he had promised, to his young wife Pip in England and never received more than a Military Medal for his heroic exploits. After running a taxi service in southern England, Pagani retired and died in 2003 at the age of 87.

The outcome of Davies research is a highly readable account of World War II in Myanmar, and it is free from the kind of colonial superiority that can be found in Morrisons book. To Morrison, the Karens are immensely loyal to the British, which he believes is good, but, as he writes in Grandfather Longlegs, they are not an intelligent people. They are nothing like as quick-witted as the Burmese or the Chinese. They are often extremely stupid [but] to a man they know and trust and love they will remain faithful till they die. In other words, perfect colonial subjects. Seagrim himself would have abhorred such racist stereotypes and Davies also treats the Karen personalities as equals in his account of the war.

Davies concludes his narrative by mentioning Aung San Suu Kyis 2015 election victory and stating that, beautiful, blessed, benighted Burma; sublime, serene and supremely sad; an enchanted land of lost dreams and forgotten promises, but perhaps, just perhaps, one now changed with hope for the future. That might be an overly optimistic assessment of the situation today. There may be no more war in Karen State, but the ceasefire now prevailing between the KNU and the Myanmar Army is far from solid. Some, among them the daughter of Seagrims comrade-in-arms Tamla Baw, are even openly critical of the agreement which has not brought the country closer to what the Karens have been fighting for for decades: a federal union of equal states. Seen in that perspective, World War II has yet to end in the borderlands of Myanmar.
From the Archive Party Lines: Between Hope and Realism

The Irrawaddy revisits this article from the run-up to the landmark 2015 election.

On the second anniversary of Myanmars 2015 democratic election, The Irrawaddy revisits this article from the run-up to that landmark election.

In this article from The Irrawaddys August 2015 issue, contesting parties shared their expectations, challenges and views on the military allotment of 25 percent in Parliament.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD)

DAW NAN KHIN HTWE MYINT, Central Executive Committee member

Founded in 1988, Myanmars largest opposition party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won more than 80 percent of seats in the 1990 general electionthe results of which were annulled by the ruling junta. The NLD boycotted the countrys last general election in 2010 but participated in 2012 by-elections, winning 43 of the 44 seats it contested.

EXPECTATIONS

Everyone wants real change from the 2015 election. To achieve that, I think we all need to support one large democratic force. I hope pro-democracy forces will win in the coming election.

CHALLENGES

We have found many errors in the voter lists. Even my name didnt appear in the voter list in my constituency. And in some places, the collaboration between the sub-election commissions is weak. As with widespread cheating with advance votes in past elections, it is a risk for us if half of the voter lists include the wrong data.

STRATEGY

We have been carrying out our voter list verification process including door-to-door visits to voters. We will also pressure the Union Election Commission on gaining access for party representatives to polling stations.

ON THE MILITARY

If they regard the public as their parents, as they say, they should only fulfill a defense role for the country. There is no way they will reduce their allotment of 25 percent of seats in Parliament [in the near future].

UNION SOLIDARITY AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (USDP)

U TIN MAUNG OO, Central committee member

Formed in 2010 as the political arm of the former military regime, the USDP won a parliamentary majority in that years widely discredited general election. The USDP will contest constituencies nationwide in the coming election, with Union Parliament Speaker U Shwe Mann heading the partys Elections Winning Committee.

EXPECTATIONS

The Union Election Commission has released preliminary eligible voter lists and is fixing the flaws. Each party is trying to win and some may merge or form alliances. New parties have also been founded. So this years election will be the [most] significant election in the countrys history.

Peoples experiences from 2010 and 2012 are different. In 2010, the public had less interest in political parties. Now the quality of party members, lawmakers and politicians has increased to some extent. As a consequence, no party will win a landslide victory. It is also more likely that ethnic parties will win in their ethnic states.

CHALLENGES

Some parties are speaking about constitutional amendments. The main thing in a democracy is to follow the existing rules. The most important thing is the countrys stability. Politicians generally use either students, workers or farmers [for political ends]. If some parties or groups use them for their benefit, it wont be good for the country.

There are many people who dont have a national registration card. There is no specific plan [to address their eligibility to vote]. In my constituency alone, there are thousands [without national registration cards] who arent eligible. This is the biggest challenge for the election. The UEC is trying their best and I believe the election will be free and fair. But the government needs to make sure all eligible citizens are able to vote.

STRATEGY

After the winning party forms government, some party policies should form the policies of the executive body. At present, unfortunately, the USDPs policies arent working in tandem with the governments operations.

ON THE MILITARY

Lets say representatives of the 14 states and regions and the military are on the same boat heading toward democracy; they can encounter strong waves and other difficulties together on the way to their destination. If we work together, the military will know the difficulties in achieving democracy and they can help us too. But if we leave them out, they wont know the challenges and will not be with us. The more doubts and difficulties that build up, the more potential there is for a coup like in Thailand. So for now, the 25 percent of military lawmakers should continue.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FORCE (NDF)

U KHIN MAUNG SWE, Chairman

The NDF is comprised of former leading members of the NLD who disagreed with the partys decision to boycott Myanmars last general election in 2010. The NDF contested 161 seats in that poll, winning 12 seats in the Union Parliament and four seats in state and regional legislatures. The party plans to field nearly 300 candidates to contest the upcoming national election.

EXPECTATIONS

More pro-democracy forces should win seats in Parliament. If so, changes in the country could happen faster. But it depends on the publics votes. I think it is more likely there will be a coalition government. There is no way for a landslide victory by a major party.

CHALLENGES

Errors in the voter lists. Also we need to achieve peace in the country before the election to increase the chance of a fair poll. People may cast votes freely but there could still be manipulation by the ruling partywe need to prevent this. Officers at polling stations could also come under pressure International watchdogs need to be present to monitor the process in as many areas as possible, even if they cant monitor nationwide.

STRATEGY

The NLD and other CSOs are checking the voter lists. We will urge the government and the electoral body to fix the errors in time. Thats all we can do. We dont have the manpower or financial resources to do it ourselves.

ON THE MILITARY

The role of the military in the Parliament will be the same now, with 25 percent of seats. They may consider voluntarily reducing the number of seats themselves if there was a guarantee of peace before the election. If not, there is no way they would [take this step].

ARAKAN NATIONAL PARTY (ANP)

U AYE THAR AUNG, Party patron

ANP formed in January 2014 following a merger between the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). The former party won 35 of 44 seats it contested in the 2010 election, which the ALD boycotted. The party plans to contest 63 seats in the coming election, mainly in the regional Rakhine State legislature.

EXPECTATIONS

I place more emphasis on amending the 2008 Constitution than on the 2015 election. Without major changes to the Constitution, I dont believe there will be changes in the country and internal peace beyond the election. But if candidates from the NLD and ethnic parties win most of the seats in Parliament, we could have more power to make legislation. And the same in regions, if ethnic candidates win in their constituencies and become lawmakers and ministers, I hope they will work for the development of their regions. But we cant expect a real transition since major articles in the Constitution are still not amended.

CHALLENGES

There were voting irregularities in the 2010 election. I am concerned there will be the same in the 2015 election. It is hard to believe that from 30 to 80 percent of the current voter lists are [inaccurate]. I am also concerned that if the NLD and ethnic parties win a landslide victory, the ruling party wont transfer power and [acknowledge] the new Parliament.

STRATEGY

Our party only represents one state. So I think to monitor the [broader] challenges, the government and big parties will be vital.

ON THE MILITARY

After the election, 25 percent of seats will still be reserved for military appointees in the Lower House, Upper House and the regional parliaments. This is the main barrier to changes in the country and I dont see that they will easily quit by themselves.

SHAN NATIONALITIES LEAGUE FOR DEVELOPMENT (SNLD)

U SAI LEIK, Joint-secretary

The SNLD won 23 seats in the annulled 1990 election. It was forcibly disbanded after boycotting the 2010 poll but re-registered in 2012 and plans to contest more than 160 seats in the coming national election.

EXPECTATIONS

If democratic forces win most seats in the election, we will have hope for constitutional amendments. To have the federal union that ethnics demand and the democracy that the public wants, the main challenge is to change the Constitution.

I think this years election is more important than the 2010 election because at that time some parties were excluded and there were many parties, especially ethnic parties, that didnt run for various reasons. But in the 2015 election, I hope almost all ethnic parties will run.

If the military keeps its seats in Parliament, it wont be a good look internationally. It is important that the democratic forces win a landslide. Only with that can we achieve political dialogue and change the Constitution.

CHALLENGES

Im not sure that the election will be free and fair. Even in the preliminary voter lists, there are lots of errors. Although the electoral body is saying they will fix all the errors in time, we cant predict what will happen.

And the government needs to guarantee they will recognize and implement the results of the election. The ruling party needs to contest the election fairly. I am concerned about that; the attention of the international community, media and public is much needed.

STRATEGY

We are doing voter education, verifying voter lists to correct errors and are raising awareness among all eligible voters to come to the polling stations and cast votes.

And we will watch the ruling USDP in accordance with the code of conduct. If they violate it, we will publicly expose them in collaboration with NGOs and the media.

ON THE MILITARY

Until now, they havent looked likely to reduce their current 25 percent of seats in Parliament. But I think if the democratic forces and ethnic parties could pledge not to pursue action over past incidents, they may eventually reduce [their representation].

This article was originally published as the cover story of the August 2015 issue of The Irrawaddy magazine.
Burma Policeman and Miner Killed in Kachin Mine Clash

Miners search for jade stones at a mine dump at a Hpakant jade mine in Kachin state, Myanmar Nov. 28, 2015. / Reuters

MANDALAY  A prospector and a policeman were killed in the Hpakant jade mining area of Kachin State during a clash between authorities and prospective miners on Monday.

The two men were killed when an argument broke out as police tried to stop prospectors from searching for jade scraps before a permitted time at Yadanar San Shwin mining company near Hseit Mu village, said witnesses.

A prospector tried to grab the policemans gun. There was a shooting and the prospector died there, said a witness who did not want to be named out of fear for their safety.

The group of prospectors then attacked the policeman, who died on the spot, according to first-hand accounts.

Later, more police arrived and shot at the prospectors, who then left. We heard another prospector was shot but we could not confirm it, added the witness.

Hpakant Police Station confirmed an officer had died but declined to comment further on the incident.

Local lawmakers told The Irrawaddy they are planning to raise the issue of violence in the mining areas in the next state parliament session.

Incidents like this happen every year, especially during the start and end of the mining season [from mid-October-June], said state lawmaker U Lashi Daseng of Hpakant constituency. We will submit this issue in parliament as an important matter.

In Lone Kin and Hpakant jade mining areas, clashes between freelance miners, jade mining firms and security forces are common, as the firms do not want the prospectors to work in their areas.

In October, five prospectors were shot dead and at least 20 injured when security forces opened fire on them for scavenging for jade scraps in the Lone Kin mining area of Kachin State.

Although local administration offices have mediated negotiations between the prospectors and mining companies in order to allow prospectors restricted access to the areas, clashes still persist.

Even though we are doing our best to help negotiations between them, we need concrete rules and regulation, and, of course, rule of law. That can only be achieved with the central governments orders and power, added U Lashi Daseng.
Burma UN Security Council Urges Myanmar to Stop Excessive Military Force

Overview of the Pledging Conference for the Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Bangladesh at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Oct. 23, 2017. / Reuters

UNITED NATIONS  The United Nations Security Council urged the Myanmar government on Monday to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State, where violence has forced more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee the Buddhist-majority Asian country.

The United Nations has denounced the violence during the past 10 weeks as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. The Myanmar government has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing.

To appease council veto powers Russia and China, Britain and France dropped a push for the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the situation and the 15-member body instead unanimously agreed on a formal statement.

The council expressed grave concern over reports of human rights violations and abuses in Rakhine State, including by the Myanmar security forces, in particular against persons belonging to the Rohingya community.

The Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law, and to take immediate steps in accordance with their obligations and commitments to respect human rights, it said.

Myanmar has been stung by international criticism for the way its security forces responded to attacks by Rohingya militants on 30 security posts. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25.

The Security Council stresses the primary responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to protect its population including through respect for the rule of law and the respect, promotion and protection of human rights, the statement said.

It stressed the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and in this regard, the Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to cooperate with all relevant United Nations bodies, mechanisms and instruments.

Myanmar has refused entry to a UN panel that was tasked with investigating allegations of abuses after a smaller military counteroffensive launched in October 2016.

Myanmars de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has pledged accountability for rights abuses and says Myanmar will accept back refugees who can prove they were residents of Myanmar.

The Security Council said it was alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine State and warned that the increasing number of refugees has a destabilizing impact in the region.

The council demanded that the Myanmar government allow immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian aid and media access. It asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report back in 30 days on the situation.
News Trump Lands in South Korea, Frontlines of North Korean Nuclear Standoff

US President Donald Trump and South Koreas President Moon Jae-in have lunch with troops at US military installation Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, November 7, 2017. / Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

OSAN, South Korea  US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, the closest he has come to the frontlines of the nuclear standoff with North Korea, on a visit that could further aggravate tensions with Pyongyang.

Landing at Osan Air Base outside the capital Seoul, Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began his 24-hour state visit with a ceremonial military honor guard arrayed on the airport tarmac.

The White House says Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate US resolve over his hardline approach to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, but many in the region fear that further bellicose presidential rhetoric could increase the risk of a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Three US aircraft carrier strike groups will conduct exercises together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a show of force rarely seen in the region, US officials said, as Trump continues his 12-day Asia tour aimed at forging a united front against North Korea and developing trade.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN resolutions and an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump on Tuesday was due to tour the main garrison for US troops stationed in South Korea, the sprawling Camp Humphreys, which lies about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea. He will later hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Trump is seeking to further ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the US weaponry needed to do so, suggesting that the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.

The South Korea leg of Trumps trip is an effort to present a united front despite differences with Moon over how to confront North Korea, as well as Trumps complaints over the two countries trade agreement and South Korean defense spending.

Trump has rattled some US allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States, for deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission and for dismissing as pointless any diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

Kim, who has also made clear he has little interest in negotiations, at least until North Korea develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States, has called Trump a mentally deranged US dotard.
Editorial Should Trump Speak on Rakhine?

US President Donald Trump reacts during a news conference with Shinzo Abe, Japans prime minister, not pictured, at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 6, 2017. / Reuters

International campaign groups have urged US President Trump to speak on Myanmar and the plight of the Rohingya during his ongoing trip to Asia.

However, Trump and the White House will need to find a balanced approach to address the complex situation.

The fear is that an offhand remark or tweet from the president could be like throwing gasoline on a fire, further dividing communities.

The US under Trump has been seen as unreliable, distasteful and divisive. This division should not be brought to Myanmar in its fragile state, where enough extremists and hardliners thrive already.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit Myanmar soon. He will hold talks with top ranking officials including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing on the situation in Rakhine State and the democratic transition.

The United States, while condemning the violence, has been careful to say it holds the military responsible, not Daw Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government.

The US still sees Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the best hope to solve the conflict in Northern Rakhine State but it also wants to punish the military for its offensive in the wake of retaliation against Muslim militants and the Rohingya population.

The US Embassy in Yangon condemned militant attacks but the return of targeted sanctions on Myanmar is likely a result of armed forces subsequent brutal campaign against the Rohingya population.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticized for her moral failure in not addressing the crisis in northern Rakhine State  but do we want the scandal-plagued US president to speak on human rights and democratic values in Myanmar?

When Obama made his historic visit in 2012, US engagement was welcomed throughout Myanmar despite some activists and skeptics remaining cautious. The USs engagement now will likely face a mixed reception at home.

The US Congress is paying attention to the situation in Rakhine and in Myanmar and the State Department is under pressure to address the issue in Rakhine State.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) asked the government to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State.

The Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law, and to take immediate steps in accordance with their obligations and commitments to respect human rights, it said. The pressure on the military and the government will not simply go away. But China, powerful neighbor with close ties to the Myanmar government and several armed ethnic groups, still holds the key at the UN to swaying the outcome of the UNSC.

In any case, pressure is mounting to impose sanctions.

A group of US senators introduced a bill that would not allow certain types of military cooperation with the armed forces in Myanmar, and would place sanctions and travel restrictions on top members of the Myanmar military linked to the Rakhine State violence. These restrictions would continue as long as the violence continued.

The Rakhine issue will no doubt dominate the dialogue between Myanmar officials and Tillerson.

With military leaders, Tillerson will have a difficult time engaging as the top leaders these days take a tough stance toward ethnic groups and marginalized populations and have learned to resist foreign influence and pressure by establishing other regional allies. The military feels it is no longer isolated and that it has some degree of support. The military today is more assertive than before. But it also realizes that western pressure and sanctions will soon target it.

The irony is that the military and associates are now placing blame on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as though she wanted the US to impose sanctions. It is unclear whether she wanted to see sanctions imposed as a punishment against the military, but she is now stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The media has suggested that efforts to bring sanctions and accountability through the Senate ultimately rest on majority leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime supporter of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who has thus far sided with those wary of anything that could undermine her position, destabilize the country and diminish the newly installed democratic government. Human rights groups said McConnells friendship with the state counselor was a major obstacle to the Senate imposing repercussions on Myanmar.

As always, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis position on sanctions is vague. In the past, she wanted to pressure the generals to enter into political dialogue, thus western sanctions were her political bargaining chips. Those days are gone. Her spokesman, U Zaw Htay, a former army officer, warned of bad consequences if sanctions were imposed. But the question is bad consequences for whom?

If imposed, how will sanctions affect internal politics and the dynamic between Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? Will there be more open confrontation between top army leaders and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? Moreover, how will ethnic groups react to looming US sanctions and how have radical nationalist groups instigated public opinion of the Buddhist population toward expressing fury over US sanctions?

If Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and top leaders are on the sanction list, his future political ambition will be stained. But will that give more political advantage to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, democratic forces and those ethnic groups struggling to achieve a federal union?

We will soon find out.

But with Tillersons high-level visit in the next week, the USs principle-based engagement should also be under review. Why did the UN and the Wests engagement so far produce a complete failure in Myanmar? There is no happy ending to Myanmars story.

It is time to take a deeper look into the complex situation inside the country in order to assist the people and the country. Aside from the Rakhine issue, the US should also pay attention to the ongoing conflict in ethnic regions in the north, the stalled peace process, the rise of extreme nationalism in the country and the 2008 Constitution  the main obstacles keeping the country from moving forward.
Tuesday, Nov 7th, 2017 (9:10 am) - Score 1,232

The Cambridgeshire County Council has announced the completion of their Phase 2 Broadband Delivery UK contract with Openreach (BT), which has successfully expanded the coverage of FTTC/P based fixed line superfast broadband (24Mbps+) networks to 95% of local premises by the end of 2017.

So far more than 120,000 extra homes and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been put within reach of the new service (note: you have to order the new service in order to receive faster speeds) and take-up in related areas stands at 50%.

The effort has been supported by the construction of 700 new fibre broadband structures (we assume they mostly mean VDSL2 street cabinets / DSLAMS) and over 1200km of fibre optic cable.

Last year the Connecting Cambridgeshire project revealed that completion of Phase 2 could still leave around 18,000 premises to be unserved by superfast speeds, although a new Phase 3 contract was signed in March 2017 to address this (here). Under the new deal its expected that coverage will be expanded from 95% to 97% by the end of 2019 and this would then be followed by a future Phase 4 that could aim for over 99% by the end of 2020.

Matt Hancock, UK Minister for Digital, said: Its great news that Connecting Cambridgeshire has exceeded 95 per cent coverage and Im delighted to hear of the programmes ambitions to extend the rollout and reach everyone who wants high speed broadband. We know theres still more to do but this government is committed to ensure that 100 per cent of the UK can get affordable, fast and reliable broadband by 2020.

Steve Count, Cambridgeshire County Council Leader, said: Digital technology underpins almost every aspect of modern living across work, travel, leisure and health fast, reliable Internet access is now widely viewed as the 4th utility. I am proud that Cambridgeshire has maintained its position as a leading digital county by exceeding the national target of 95% superfast coverage several months early, which is testament to our strong working partnership with BT and Openreach. We know there is more work to do to fill the remaining gaps and the high take-up of fibre broadband means we can now extend the rollout at no extra cost to the County Council with money that the County has secured from BT and has returned to the programme for reinvestment. Connecting Cambridgeshire continues to have high aspirations and is also bidding for further funding to improve digital connectivity so that our rural businesses can grow and compete, wherever they are based.

We note that Phase 4 is expected to focus on upgrades for around 12,000 premises and, unlike Phases 1  3, the local authority has said they would need to conduct a new procurement. The strategy for this has been devised with an accompanying lot approach to determine the optimum way to provide coverage for the remaining premises, which could attract alternative network providers like Gigaclear (FTTP) or Airband (Wireless) etc.
Software giant Oracle is looking to move downmarket with the opening of a cloud experience centre in Sydney for SME customers.

The Oracle Digital Hub in Sydney will provide small and midsize businesses (SMBs) with access to the cloud solutions and resources they need to power digital transformation, the company said.

The Hub, along with four others opening in the Asia Pacific region, is part of a global network of best practice centres intended to help SMBs leverage Oracle Cloud solutions to streamline operations, boost innovation and gain a platform for growth.

With a distinctive Australian feel, and exuding the energy of a start-up, Oracle's digital sales team at the Hub will provide timely, personalised and effective support to customers, using the latest collaboration tools, techniques and technologies to transform the buying experience, the company said.

Oracle's complete suite of cloud applications, platform, and infrastructure services will be available as both standalone products and and as bundles.

"Cloud applications are playing a key role in helping Australian SMEs compete and innovate on a global scale and at the same level as much larger organisations," said analyst firm Telsyte's managing director Foad Fadaghi.

"Cloud has quickly become the IT leader's go-to strategy for rapidly deploying applications, but it is also being used to build transformative products and services to meet customer demands, without the burden and cost of building and managing IT infrastructure."

Oracle ANZ managing director Rob Willis said: "The cloud is making IT much more accessible; you just need a computer or a mobile phone app to take advantage of it.

"More than that, it has incredible transformation potential for small Australian businesses. For instance, we are seeing the cloud enable smaller organisations to use technology to streamline business processes, gain access to an easy-to-use platform for innovation, and digitise their customer experience.

"Simply put, our SMBs are able to do things they have never been able to do before."

Malcolm Ferguson, head of Applications for Digital, Oracle ANZ, said, "There are more than two million SMBs in Australia, many of whom haven't worked with Oracle or used cloud before. They now have access to the most modern solutions in the market, available online [via the click-to-buy Oracle Accelerated Buying Experience], direct via the Hub and through our expanded end-to-end ecosystem, working with the vast network in ANZ.

"The increased choice in cloud technology will help accelerate SMB's ability to innovate and grow more quickly, paving the way for the next big SMB revolution in the country. This solid investment reiterates our strong commitment to Australia."
Optus has said it will spend $3.7 million to further improve its 4G Plus mobile network in the Central Murray region.

In the last year, the company has upgraded two sites at Mallan and Wakool.

Tuesday's announcement is part of Optus $1 billion commitment to improve mobile services.

Optus state manager for New South Wales, Dylan Harrad-Chantler, said: Optus will build a number of new sites to improve network coverage and experience for residents, businesses and visitors to the region.

We are seeing a growing demand for mobile services, which is why Optus is continuously investing to improve mobile coverage across Australia.

Once work is completed, customers will benefit from fewer call dropouts, better indoor and outdoor coverage and smoother streaming to mobile devices.

Planning has started to build four new sites in Blighty, Corowa West, Willowvale and Yarrawonga South in the next 12 to 18 months.

We have also recently built and activated three new sites in Moama, Howlong and Yarrawonga East, which are already providing improved mobile coverage for residents, businesses and visitors. In addition, we have expanded and upgraded our 4G network in Mallan and Wakool.
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Carool Kersten | (OpenDemocracy.net) |  

The Saudi crown prince moves towards concentrating absolute power in his own hands, while escalating tensions on several fronts.

If Machiavelli were alive today, he might have modeled his political treatise The Prince on Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS). Events on the first Saturday of November show that the young heir apparent is confident enough to move on several fronts at the same time on his way to what increasingly seems like concentrating absolute power in one pair of hands: his own.

With the purge and detention of dozens of princes and business tycoons (some doubling both roles), as well as (former) ministers and other senior officials, MBS is doing two things: First of all, he is catering to the sentiments of the average, generally young, Saudi regarding the corrupt elites. This is a safe bet, because the population is well aware of how princes and their coteries acquired their wealth. Riskier, however, is the breaking of a long-held taboo: Publicly turning on other members of the royal family. The last time this happened openly was in 1962, when the then crown prince and later King Faisal exiled a number of firebrand young royals. Known as the Free Princes, their calls for reforms were considered too radical and dangerous for the position of the dynasty. Ironically, their ring leader is the father of one of the detained princes Al-Waleed bin Talal. In the present instance, the radical is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia himself.

Much attention is paid to a rapid succession of changes and initiatives launched by the intrepid crown prince, presented as part of his Vision2030 for a future post-petroleum Saudi Arabia: Women will not only be allowed to drive cars, but also issue fatwas or Islamic legal opinions. Then there is the plan for a high-tech mega city in the countrys northwest  strategically located near the Red Sea on the crossroads between Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. Now he personally heads an anti-corruption board that already seems to have a number of high-profile cases up-and-ready. To a degree, this is all cosmetic.

Firing and detaining dozens of very senior royals and officials takes long and careful planning

More important is the real-life Saudi version of Game of Thrones, consisting of a series of royal musical chairs that started already in 2012,; three years before MBSs father, King Salman, ascended to the throne. Since then Saudi Arabia has had five crown princes. The latest changing of the guard came only this Summer. In what was nothing short of a palace coup, MBS managed to oust his older cousin, Muhammad bin Nayef, as both crown prince and interior minister. A favourite of the political establishment in Washington, it says much of MSBs abilities as a power player. How could an experienced political operator presiding over a massive security and intelligence apparatus be caught so off guard?

The same appears to be true now. Firing and detaining dozens of very senior royals and officials takes long and careful planning, involving substantial numbers of people. How was this kept secret? Also why did the security detail of business tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal not put up a fight? Not to mention the National Guard, until yesterday under command of Prince Miteb, the son of former King Abdullah. Once considered next in line of the throne, even after being side-lined from that, he managed to hold on to the powerbase created by his father in the 1960s and build into what is effectively a shadow army recruited from the Bedouin tribes, used to offset the regular army and security forces of the interior ministry in a careful balance of power between different branches of the royal family.

It appears MBS is set on putting an end to such balances and taking absolute control of political power in Saudi Arabia. While the latest purge is presented as part of an investigation into the mismanagement of the massive floodings in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah in which more than a hundred people died, MBS is picking off influential figures from different sectors of Saudi society, targeting not only fellow royals, but also cabinet members, senior administrators, and financiers. This means that MBS can count on the loyalty of substantial numbers of people in senior enough positions within the bureaucracy, police and military to pull off such operations without equally powerful people getting wind of it.

While he appears to be successful in securing his domestic powerbase, other events taking place on Saturday as well might throw a spanner into the wheels of MSBs political machine. The surprise resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, while being in Saudi Arabia, was also more likely than not instigated by MBS as part of his rivalry with Iran for influence and power in the Middle East. The launch of a missile against Riyadh Airport by the Houthis in Yemen that same evening seems too much of a coincidence. The Houthi forces are supported by Iran in the vicious Yemen civil war, in which Saudi Arabia became meddled up when MBS became defence minister. Also the row with Qatar, which is jeopardizing the unity with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) fits within that scenario. But exerting influence in international relations adds a host of variables that might be more difficult to manage than excercising domestic political control.

So far MBS has managed to surprise friend and foe with his ability to outmanoeuvre and outsmart the competition, but how long will he be able to juggle an increasing number of balls at the same time?

Via OpenDemocracy.net

Dr Carool Kersten is Reader in the Study of Islam & the Muslim World, Dept of Theology & Religious Studies Kings College London. Originally from the Netherlands, Dr Kersten has been with Kings College London since 2007. He has studied Arabic, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, International Relations, Philosophy and Southeast Asian Studies at universities and higher education institutions in his home country, Egypt, Thailand and the UK.

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Related video added by Juan Cole:

Saudi prince killed in helicopter crash near Yemen border  BBC News
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By Nouriel Roubini | (Project Syndicate) |  

US President Donald Trump, in partnership with congressional Republicans, is pursuing tax cuts that will blow up the fiscal deficit and add to the public debt, while benefiting the rich at the expense of middle- and working-class Americans. Once again, Trump has not hesitated to betray the people he conned into voting for him.

NEW YORK  After multiple failed attempts to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), US President Donald Trumps administration now hopes to achieve its first legislative victory with a massive tax giveaway that it has wrapped in the language of tax reform. To that end, Republicans in the US Congress have just unveiled a bill that, if enacted, could vastly widen the deficit and increase the public debt by as much as $4 trillion over the next decade.

Worse still, the Republican plan is designed to funnel most of the benefits to the rich. It would lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, reduce the tax on capital gains (investment profits), eliminate the estate tax, and introduce other changes that benefit the wealthy.

Like the Republicans health-care proposals, their tax plan offers little to struggling middle- and working-class households. Trump continues to govern as a pluto-populist  a plutocrat pretending to be a populist  who has not hesitated to betray the people he conned into voting for him.

Before releasing the current plan, congressional Republicans passed resolutions to reduce taxes by $1.5 trillion over the next decade. But the actual tax cut will likely be much larger. The proposal to lower the corporate tax rate to 20%, for example, implies a $2.5 trillion tax cut, once other tax cuts in the plan are considered. To keep the tax cuts below $1.5 trillion, one would have to keep the corporate rate at or above 28% and broaden the tax base.

To make up for this difference, the bill proposes a cap on the mortgage-interest deduction for homeowners, and on the deductibility of property tax, as well as eliminating other tax benefits for the middle class. It would eliminate or cap the income-tax deduction for state and local taxes  again, squeezing the middle class to cover tax cuts for the rich.

The problem is that eliminating the state and local tax deduction would provide just $1.3 trillion in revenue over the next decade. And because this change would hurt middle-income families, many Republicans in high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey, and California will oppose it. If congressional Republicans and the Trump administration end up keeping the state and local tax deduction, their tax cuts will add $3.8 trillion to the public debt over the next decade.

Moreover, Republicans want their tax cuts to be permanent. Yet they are trying to enact their bill through the congressional budget reconciliation process, which requires any tax cuts that add to the deficit after ten years to be temporary. Even if the Republican plan really did keep the cuts at $1.5 trillion, it still would not comply with this rule.

Trump and congressional Republicans argue that tax cuts will boost economic growth, and thus revenues. But standard dynamic scoring models show that increased growth would offset the cost by only one third, at most: the US would face $1 trillion, rather than $1.5 trillion, in lost revenues.

So, how will the Republicans fudge these fiscal rules? For starters, like President George W. Bushs administration, they will set the personal income tax cuts to expire after ten years. This will give them plenty of time to enjoy the political gains of tax cuts  starting with the midterm elections in 2018  long before the bill comes due.

But corporate tax cuts are another matter, because making them temporary would defeat the purpose. Companies operate with a much longer time horizon than households, and are unlikely to boost investment in response to cuts that last only ten years.

To get around this problem, Trump and the Republicans might decide to bend or manipulate congressional rules. Or they might rely on unorthodox and untested economic models to claim that their cuts actually are revenue-neutral, and will have a much larger impact on growth than what standard models project.

Most mainstream economists would estimate that a tax cut of the size being proposed would increase US potential growth by 20 basis points, at most, taking the growth rate from around 2% to 2.2% over time. Yet Trump and his advisers have clung to the false claim that growth will increase to 3% or even 4%.

If this far-fetched projection sounds like voodoo economics all over again, thats because it is. Voodoo economics came into parlance in the 1980 presidential election, when George H. W. Bush criticized Ronald Reagan for claiming that his planned tax cuts would pay for themselves. Bush was vindicated just a few years later, when the Reagan administrations tax cuts blew a huge hole in US public finances.

And yet Republican administrations have persisted in pursuing unsustainable and undesirable tax cuts benefiting primarily the rich, leading to ever-larger deficits and trillions of dollars of additional public debt. The Republicans eagerness to pass reckless tax cuts once in power gives the lie to their claims of fiscal rectitude.

Making matters worse, Americas pluto-populist president is peddling a tax plan that will further increase economic inequality at a time when income and wealth gaps are already widening, owing to the effects of globalization, trade, migration, new labor-saving technologies, and market consolidation in many sectors.

Given that the rich tend to save more than middle- and working-class people, who must spend a larger proportion of their incomes on basic necessities, the Trump tax plan will do little for economic growth; it may even decrease it. And it will add far more to the USs excessively high public-debt burden. It is fake reform, brought to us by an alt-fact administration and a party that has lost its economic bearings.

Nouriel Roubini, a professor at NYUs Stern School of Business and CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, was Senior Economist for International Affairs in the White Houses Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration. He has worked for the International Monetary Fund, the US Federal Reserve, and the World Bank.

Licensed from Project Syndicate



Related video added by Juan Cole:

PBS NewsHour: Sen. Elizabeth Warren: GOP tax plan is giveaway to giant corporations, not middle class
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Middle East Monitor |  

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran.

The move, which follows the interception of a missile fired towards the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, is likely to worsen a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that according to the United Nations has pushed some seven million people to the brink of famine and left nearly 900,000 infected with cholera.

The Coalition Forces Command decided to temporarily close all Yemeni air, sea and land ports, the coalition said in a statement on the Saudi state news agency SPA. It said aid workers and humanitarian supplies would continue to be able to access and exit Yemen.

The United Nations, however, said it was not given approval for two scheduled humanitarian flights on Monday and was seeking clarification on the coalitions announcement.

The state news agency Saba, run by the Houthis, quoted a source in the navy warning against the closure of ports and said it would have, catastrophic consequences.

The United Nations and international aid organisations have repeatedly criticised the coalition for blocking aid access, especially to north Yemen, which is held by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement battling the Saudi-led coalition.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies have made clear they view Iran as mainly responsible for the Yemen conflict, in which more than 10,000 people have been killed in the past two years.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on his Twitter account on Monday that Riyadh reserved the right to respond to what he called Irans hostile actions. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa also tweeted that Iran was the real danger to the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saudi Arabia was blaming Tehran for the consequences of its own wars of aggression.

On Sunday the coalition accused the Houthis of dangerous escalation (that) came because of Iranian support after Saudi air defences intercepted the ballistic missile heading towards Riyadh. It was brought down near Riyadh airport without causing casualties.

Iran rejected the criticism as destructive and provocative.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi referred to the war crimes and aggression of the Saudis during the past years and said the reaction by Yemenis is an independent reaction  and not a move caused by another countrys action or incitement, a ministry statement said.

US President Donald Trump has also blamed Iran for Saturdays missile attack, but the head of Irans Revolutionary Guards rejected that view as slander.

The Houthis are fighters drawn mainly from the Zaydi Shiite minority which ruled a 1,000-year kingdom in northern Yemen until 1962. The Saudi-led coalition has been targeting the Houthis since they seized parts of Yemen in 2015, including the capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee and seek help from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a security checkpoint in the southern port city of Aden, killing 15 people and wounding at least 20, residents and a security officials said. Aden is the interim headquarters of Yemens internationally recognised government.

Via Middle East Monitor

Creative Commons License This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Related video added by Juan Cole [ Warning: Disturbing images :

Al Jazeera English: A look at Yemens malnourishment problem
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The Christian-owned Beirut daily al-Nahar reports that the Saudi minister for Gulf Affairs, Thamer al-Sabhan, said Monday that Saudi Arabia would not accept that Lebanon should join in the war on his country.

He added, We will treat the government of Lebanon like a state that has declared war on us, because of the Hizbullah militias. He pointed out that Hizbullah influences all the decisions made by the Lebanese government.

Al-Sabhans take on Lebanon is frankly bizarre. He doesnt seem to realize that over a third of Lebanese are Christians and nearly a third are Shiites. Sunnis are reckoned at 28%. Sunnis are the ones most likely to tilt toward Saudi Arabia, but even many of them do not like Saudi hard line Wahhabism or its backing for extremist groups such as the Army of Islam in Syria or the Lebanese Salafi cult in Sidon. So Saudi Arabia simply does not have a majority constituency in that country and it is hard to see how threatening Beirut in this way will increase Saudi influence there.

Al-Sabhan is right that the Shiite Hizbullah, which is a legal political party in Lebanon with seats in parliament and cabinet ministers, is very influential. But it is influential because it has gained the support of a majority of Shiites (even secular ones) and substantial numbers of Christians have decided to put up with it or actively ally with it (as with president Michel Aoun). Hizbullah is given money by Iran, but Iranians cant vote in Lebanese elections, and Lebanese Shiites have other choices if they dont like Hizbullah and its Iran connections. Unsurprisingly, most Lebanese Shiites are not afraid of Iranian Shiites.

Christians and Shiites in Lebanon on the whole supported or were neutral toward the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which the Saudis tried to overthrow by backing hard line Salafi/ Sunni militiamen. The Saudis actually directed shelling and bombing of Syrian government buildings. Both in Syria and in Lebanon, the idea of Salafis taking Damascus sent a chill down the spines of Christians, given that the hard liners reject secular government, democracy, and basic human rights, and would reduce Christians to second class citizens or even non-citizens.

Al-Sabhan appeared to accuse Lebanons Hizbullah of training Saudi Shiites to be guerrillas. Something like 12% of the Saudi population is Shiite, and it predominates in the oil-rich Eastern Province. The current king has repressed the Saudi Shiites, whose position has worsened palpably after having improved a bit in the last decade after the government permitted municipal elections (largely Shiite cities such as Qatif then allowed Shiite rituals inside city limits). But Saudi Shiites have protested peacefully against Wahhabi repression. The major terrorism committed in Saudi Arabia in recent years has come from Salafi jihadi outfits such as al-Qaeda and ISIL. Some Saudi Wahhabis have at least been favorable toward al-Qaeda.

Al-Sabhan added, in an interview on the Saudi-owned, Dubai-based mouthpiece for Riyadh, Alarabiya, that Saudi Arabias King Salman informed Saad Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon who just resigned, of the details of Hizbullahs acts of enmity toward Saudi Arabia, indicating that it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to be aware of the danger these militias pose to Saudi Arabia.

He alleged that Hizbullah fighters participate in every act of terrorism threatening Saudi Arabia, underlining that the kingdom will deploy every political and extra-political means to confront what he called Hizb Shaytan. (Hizbullah in Arabic means party of God; Hizb Shaytan means party of Satan).

He said that the Lebanese have a choice between Islam and joining in with Hizbullah.

[Yes, he said this to a country that is, like, 36% Christian!]

He added that Riyadh had expected the Lebanese to work to repress Hizbullah and that they had it in their power to define what will happen to their relationship with Saudi Arabia.

He accused Hizbullah of smuggling drugs into the kingdom and of training young Saudi [Shiite] men in terrorist techniques.

He denied that Riyadh had forced Hariri to resign as prime minister.

He concluded, Lebanon has been taken hostage by Hizbullah militias, with Iran standing behind them and the Lebanese are capable of making a stand against the transgressions of these Hizbullah militias.

The likelihood of the Lebanese people or government bowing to these threats is slim to none.

I dont think the Saudi military, bogged down in Yemen, is likely to try anything in Lebanon. If war comes out of all this, it would be from the Israeli Air Force.

This is a EXPLOSIVE thread that proves how Saudi and Israel are deliberately coordinating to escalate the situation in the MidEast. https://t.co/dMe4PnkwTf  Trita Parsi (@tparsi) November 6, 2017

But now that Russia has put a security umbrella over Syria, it is not at all clear that Moscow would be happy with or allow an attempt to quash Hizbullah, which has been Putins key ally in propping up Bashar al-Assad.

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Related video:

Wochit News: Saudi Arabia says Lebanon has declared war on it
VANCOUVER, Nov. 6, 2017 /CNW/ -- Tahoe Resources Inc. ("Tahoe" or the "Company") (TSX: THO, NYSE: TAHO) today announced solid financial and operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The Company's balance sheet remains strong, with cash and cash equivalents of $182.1 million at September 30, 2017 and very little debt.

Ron Clayton, President and CEO of Tahoe, commented: "Despite challenges in Guatemala during the quarter, we are very pleased with our team's performance, particularly at our gold operations which produced 109 thousand ounces at a total cash cost of $747 per ounce. The Company remains focused on executing our strategy to advance near-term development projects in Canada and Peru. Although we reported a loss for the quarter, the results were negatively impacted by $14 million in costs ($0.04 per share) related to the suspension and care and maintenance of Escobal and a $9 million non-recurring pre-tax expense ($0.03 per share) at La Arena as a result of completing negotiations to fulfill historical commitments made to the community. Except for these items, we would have reported positive earnings for the quarter on the strength of our gold operations alone. In Guatemala, we are gratified that the Supreme Court reinstated the Escobal license in September and are working diligently to resolve the Casillas road block and to obtain renewal of our export credential so that we can resume mining operations at Escobal. We believe the resolution of these two issues will follow the Constitutional Court decision on the appeals from the Supreme Court ruling."

Key Financial and Operating Results $ millions unless otherwise indicated Q3 2017 Q3 2016 Q3 YTD 2017 Q3 YTD 2016 Revenue $ 155.2 $ 234.7 $ 615.8 $ 595.1 Earnings (loss) and total comprehensive income (loss) $ (8.4) $ 63.0 $ 99.8 $ 117.6 Earnings (loss) per share $ (0.03) $ 0.20 $ 0.32 $ 0.42 Adjusted earnings (loss) (1) $ (7.2) $ 65.7 $ 101.7 $ 162.0 Cash provided by operating activities $ 60.0 $ 99.7 $ 272.7 $ 196.0 Cash provided by operating activities before changes in

working capital $ 37.0 $ 126.0 $ 269.3 $ 311.3 Silver production (moz)  5.0 9.8 16.5 Gold production (koz) 109 98 340 265 Total cash cost per silver oz produced ($/oz)(1)(2) $  $ 6.5 $ 6.15 $ 5.66 AISC per silver oz produced ($/oz)(1)(2) $  $ 8.68 $ 8.91 $ 7.55 Total cash cost per gold oz produced ($/oz)(1)(2)(3) $ 747 $ 625 $ 639 $ 632 AISC per gold oz produced ($/oz)(1)(2) $ 1,088 $ 974 $ 954 $ 979 Sustaining capital (incl. capitalized drilling) $ 25,133 $ 26,315 $ 71,100 $ 63,159 Project capital $ 28,600 $ 30,110 $ 96,793 $ 87,741 Exploration expense $ 4.5 $ 4.7 $ 14.6 $ 7.5 Corporate G&A(4) $ 11.7 $ 7.5 $ 34.7 $ 38.0 Weighted average shares outstanding (basic, in millions) 313.15 311.41 312.67 282.34

(1) See "Cautionary Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of this press release. (2) Total cash costs and AISC are presented net of by-product credits. (3) Total cash costs for Q3 2017 included a $9.0 million non-recurring pre-tax expense at La Arena as a result of completing negotiations to fulfill a historical commitment that impacted total cash cost per gold ounce produced by $82/oz for Q3 2017and $27/oz for Q3 YTD 2017. (4) Corporate G&A includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.

Summary of Q3 2017:

Strong operating and financial results from gold segments  Q3 2017 gold production totaled 108.7 thousand ounces, including 19.4 thousand ounces from Shahuindo. Production and costs in Q3 2017 reflected strong results at all of the Company's gold mines, with total cash costs and AISC averaging $747 and $1,088 per ounce, respectively, in Q3 2017.

Shahuindo expansion plan remains on track  Construction of the initial 12,000 tpd crushing and agglomeration circuit at Shahuindo is now nearly complete with commissioning initiated at the end of September. The additional 24,000 tpd crushing and agglomeration circuit remains on schedule and within guidance for commissioning by mid-year 2018. The project is planned to reach the full 36,000 tpd production rate by the end of 2018, providing an expected 80% ultimate gold recovery.

Bell Creek Shaft Project continues on plan  The sinking hoist was commissioned and work began on the third and final pilot raise. The project remains on schedule and within guidance for commissioning in mid-year 2018, with a ramp up through the end of the year.

Released improved 2017 gold production guidance at lower costs  In September, the Company re-instated and increased its guidance for gold production to 400,000 to 450,000 ounces for 2017 due in large part to the positive mine plan reconciliation (higher grade and additional tonnes) experienced at La Arena year to date. Total cash cost estimates have been decreased by $50 per ounce to an estimated $650 to $700 per ounce, reflecting the higher anticipated production levels and better than anticipated cost performance year to date. Likewise, all-in sustaining costs decreased by $100 per ounce to a guidance range of $1,050 to $1,150 per ounce, driven by higher production and lower capital and exploration costs. The Company remains in line to achieve our new guidance.

Conservative balance sheet management with $182m in cash  Despite the on-going interruption of mining operations at Escobal, the Company's balance sheet remains strong, with cash and cash equivalents of $182.1 million at September 30, 2017. In addition, the Company has access to $75 million of the $300 million revolving credit facility that matures on July 19, 2021. As previously reported, the credit agreement includes terms that limit borrowing to a maximum of $75 million during the period of suspension of the mining operations at Escobal as a result of the CALAS claim in Guatemala. The revolving credit facility remains undrawn.

Timmins West Mineral Resource and Reserve update  The Company announced an updated Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for Timmins West in Canada. The Company had significant growth in Mineral Reserves attributable to the initial Mineral Reserve for the 144 Gap deposit, a part of the Timmins West mine. Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves at Timmins West increased from 233,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 3.7 gpt as reported January 1, 2017 to 738,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 3.2 gpt effective May 15, 2017. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources total 1.02 million ounces of gold at the Timmins West Mine.

Update on Escobal Mining License and Export Credential  On July 5, 2017, the Company was notified that the Supreme Court of Guatemala issued a temporary decision to provisionally suspend the Escobal mining license of Minera San Rafael ("MSR") in response to an action brought by CALAS, an anti-mining NGO, against the Ministry of Energy and Mines ("MEM"). On September 10, 2017, the Guatemalan Supreme Court issued a definitive decision that reinstated the Escobal mining license. The ruling also ordered MEM to consult with the Xinka indigenous communities within certain geographic areas within 12 months. The ruling allows Escobal to restart operations immediately and to continue to operate during the consultation process. Although Tahoe believes that MEM complied with ILO Convention 169 before it issued the Escobal license, it will fully support MEM in any of its future indigenous engagement.

CALAS and other interested parties appealed the Supreme Court's decision reinstating the Escobal mining license to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in Guatemala, which heard the matter on October 25, 2017. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on the appeals before the end of the year.

In June 2017, the Company filed its annual request to renew the export credential with MEM. However, MEM did not renew the credential because its renewal had become contingent on the Supreme Court's reinstatement of the Escobal mining license. The credential therefore expired in August 2017. After the Supreme Court reinstated the mining license in September 2017, MEM publicly stated that the export credential could now be legally renewed. However, contrary to such public declaration, MEM has yet to renew the credential. The Company believes that MEM is unlikely to renew the export credential prior to the Constitutional Court ruling on the appeals.

Update on Guatemala Road Block  Since June 7, 2017, a group of protesters near the town of Casillas has blocked the primary highway that connects Guatemala City to San Rafael Las Flores and the Escobal mine. Operations were reduced between June 8 and June 19 to conserve fuel and were further curtailed on June 19, 2017.

While some of the protesters come from Casillas, which is approximately 16 kilometers from the mine, many more are from outside the municipality. The Company has reason to believe that the blockade is politically motivated and is being substantially funded by anti-mining groups. As the road block continues, some protesters have become increasingly violent. Following the September 10, 2017 court ruling that reinstated the Escobal mining license, the Company attempted to transport supplies to the mine site. Protesters blocked the passage of vehicles and attacked the truck drivers and trucks. On a separate occasion, a helicopter attempting to deliver fuel to the mine was shot at. These violent episodes have put people's lives at risk and violated the human rights of the Company's employees, contractors and San Rafael Las Flores residents, particularly the right to freedom of movement, the right to liberty and security of person, and the right to work.

Tahoe deplores violence of any kind and continues to focus on reaching a peaceful and expeditious conclusion to the roadblock at Casillas. The Company is working with the government, community leaders and international mediation experts to develop a dialogue process aimed at resolving the matter. Once the roadblock is lifted, the export credential is renewed and the Supreme Court ruling is confirmed by the Constitutional Court, the Company expects to be in a position to resume production at Escobal within a week.

OPERATIONS REVIEW

Escobal

The Escobal Mine remained on standby during the third quarter with a focus on care and maintenance. There was no ore production, development, rehabilitation, paste fill or shotcreting operations during this time. Escobal has maintained the readiness of the equipment fleet for the orderly resumption of operations once the mine restarts.

Gold Operations

La Arena Q3 2017 Q3 2016 Q3 YTD 2017 Q3 YTD 2016 Gold Ounces Recovered (000's) 48 49 148 146 Costs Per Ounce Gold Produced(1) Total cash costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 794 $ 593 $ 624 $ 626 All-in sustaining costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 1,038 $ 864 $ 831 $ 859 Capital Expenditures $ 7,687 $ 9,456 $ 20,005 $ 22,547 Sustaining Capital $ 7,687 $ 9,456 $ 20,005 $ 22,547 Non-Sustaining Capital $  $  $  $ 

(1) Non-GAAP financial measures are described in the "Cautionary Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release.

Mine Operations

Production from the Calaorco pit totaled 3.1 million and 9.7 million tonnes of ore at an average strip ratio of 2.0 and 2.0 during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. A total of 3.1 million and 9.8 million tonnes at average gold grades of 0.48 gpt and 0.49 gpt containing 48.4 thousand and 153.9 thousand gold ounces were placed on the leach pads during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. Total cash costs for Q3 2017 included a $9.0 million non-recurring pre-tax expense as a result of completing negotiations to fulfill a historical commitment that impacted total cash costs by $189/oz for Q3 2017 and $60/oz for Q3 YTD 2017.

Mining operations continue to be focused in the Phase 4, Phase 5 and Phase 6 areas of the Calaorco pit. Ore is currently being produced from Phase 4 and Phase 5, with Phase 6 under development.

Process plant

The process plant performed well with an average of 12 hectares under irrigation throughout Q3 2017. The La Arena plant recovered 47.6 thousand and 148.4 thousand ounces of gold during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017. Gold recovery continues to be approximately 86%.

Shahuindo Q3 2017 Q3 2016 Q3 YTD 2017 Q3 YTD 2016 Gold Ounces Recovered (000's) 19 10 60 35 Costs Per Ounce Gold Produced(1) Total cash costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 774 $ 742 $ 647 $ 638 All-in sustaining costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 1,328 $ 990 $ 1,066 $ 1,258 Capital Expenditures(2) $ 19,314 $ 19,355 $ 44,345 $ 52,397 Sustaining Capital $ 7,622 $ 2,050 $ 14,834 $ 8,649 Non-Sustaining Capital $ 11,072 $ 17,305 $ 28,580 $ 43,748

(1) Non-GAAP financial measures are described in the "Cautionary Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release. (2) Commercial production at Shahuindo was declared on May 1, 2016. The figures presented for Q3 YTD 2016 include pre-commercial production which reduced the capital expenditures.

Mine Operations

Production from the Shahuindo pit totaled 1.8 million and 4.7 million tonnes of ore at an average strip ratio of 0.98 and 1.0 during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. A total of 1.5 million and 3.8 million tonnes at average gold grades of 0.61 gpt and 0.63 gpt containing 28.6 thousand and 76.2 thousand gold ounces were placed on the leach pads during Q3 2017and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. Total cash costs net of by-product credits for Q3 2017 are higher than Q3 YTD 2017 due to grade variance and timing of community costs in the quarter.

Process plant

The Shahuindo plant recovered 19.4 thousand and 60.4 thousand ounces of gold during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. Primary leaching is focused on Pad 2A which is resulting in faster than expected leach cycles attributable to optimized coarse/fine ore blending. The average area under leach was 8.3 hectares during Q3 2017. Overall gold recovery increased from 58% in January to 64% at the end of Q3 2017, in line with the ramp up to an ultimate recovery of 67% for run-of-mine material.

Capital projects

Construction of leach pad 2B began in the Q3 2017 as planned. Pad 2B is scheduled to be placed into production in Q3 2018.

Permits for the operation of the first phase of the south waste rock dump were received in the third quarter and the waste rock dump is currently in use. The south waste rock dump has sufficient capacity to accommodate waste rock mined from the Shahuindo pit through the end of 2018.

Dry commissioning of the 12,000 tpd crushing and agglomeration circuit was initiated late in Q3 as scheduled. A portion of the final purchase orders for the additional 24,000 tpd circuit has been deferred to early Q4 2017 due to modifications to the final engineering design. The Company does not expect this to have an impact on the commissioning of the full 36,000 tpd plant anticipated in mid-year 2018. The project is planned to reach the full 36,000 tpd production rate by the end of 2018, providing an expected 80% ultimate gold recovery, in-line with the pre-feasibility study.

Timmins Mines Q3 2017 Q3 2016 Q3 YTD 2017 Q3 YTD 2016 Gold Ounces Recovered (000's) 42 37 127 76 Costs Per Ounce Gold Produced(1) Total cash costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 681 $ 635 $ 653 $ 640 All-in sustaining costs per ounce net of by-product credits $ 1,034 $ 1,112 $ 1,046 $ 1,131 Capital Expenditures $ 25,047 $ 21,013 $ 80,814 $ 56,767 Sustaining Capital $ 9,824 $ 14,944 $ 36,260 32,199 Non-Sustaining Capital $ 15,223 $ 6,069 $ 44,554 24,568

(1) Non-GAAP financial measures are described in the "Cautionary Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release. (2) Results prior to the acquisition date of April 1, 2016 are excluded.

Bell Creek

Underground ramp and sublevel development continues to advance in support of the life-of-mine production schedule, with approximately 2,850 metres and 8,200 metres of development completed in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. Infill and definition drilling at the Bell Creek mine totaled 11,100 metres and 38,800 metres in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively.

The Bell Creek mine delivered 92 thousand and 247 thousand tonnes of ore to surface, mined from longitudinal longhole stopes on multiple production sublevels during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively.

Timmins West

Underground ramp and sublevel development continues to advance in support of the life-of-mine production schedule, with approximately 2,700 metres and 8,250 metres of development completed in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017. Progress continued to be made on the infrastructure development at 144 Gap which included ramp, raise and lateral development to access the resource. Underground infill and definition drilling completed at the Timmins West mine in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017 to improve resource/reserve definition totaled 23,800 metres and 92,300 metres, respectively.

The Timmins West mine delivered approximately 0.2 million and 0.8 million tonnes of ore to surface, mined from longitudinal and transverse longhole stopes on multiple production sublevels from the Timmins West, Thunder Creek and 144 Gap deposits during Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively.

Mill processing

Mill operations averaged 3,679 tpd and 3,704 tpd in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. The mill processed a total of 0.3 million and 1.0 million tonnes with an average gold feed grade of 3.98 gpt and 4.05 gpt recovering 41.7 thousand and 127.0 thousand gold ounces in Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017, respectively. Process recovery for Q3 2017 and Q3 YTD 2017 averaged 96.3% and 96.5%, respectively.

Construction of the Phase 5 tailings facility expansion continued in Q3 2017.

Capital projects

The Bell Creek Shaft Project continued on schedule during Q3 2017. Excavation of the third and final pilot raise started in Q3 from the 1040 level. The enlargement of the second pilot raise had reached 682m depth by the end of the period. The underground sinking hoist was commissioned and the installation of the new steel sets were completed approximately 450m below surface. Surface construction continued in Q3 with the completion of the new administration and security complex. The new hoist foundations were completed and tenders for the installation of the hoistroom and headframe were received.

Conference Call

Tahoe's senior management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Q3 2017 results on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). To join the call please dial 1-800-319-4610 (toll free from Canada and the U.S.) or +1-604-638-5340 (from outside Canada and the U.S.). The webcast will be available on the Company's website at http://www.tahoeresources.com/investor-relations/, as will a recording of the call later in the day.

Complete financial results for Q3 2017 including the Company's management discussion and analysis and other filings will be posted on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov) and on the Company's website.

About Tahoe Resources Inc.

Tahoe's strategy is to responsibly operate mines to world standards and to develop high quality precious metals assets in the Americas. Tahoe is a member of the S&P/TSX Composite and TSX Global Mining indices and the Russell 3000 on the NYSE. The Company is listed on the TSX as THO and on the NYSE as TAHO.

Qualified Person Statement

Technical information in this press release has been approved by Charlie Muerhoff, Vice President Technical Services, Tahoe Resources Inc., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Technical Disclosure

The basis of the Timmins West Mine Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves is from National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Timmins West Mine, Timmins, Ontario, Canada, dated September 20, 2017 with an effective date of May 15, 2017. Mineral Resources include Measured Mineral Resources of 361 thousand tonnes with an average gold grade of 4.95 gpt containing 57.5 thousand ounces of gold, Indicated Mineral Resources of 7.5 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 3.99 gpt containing 966.5 thousand ounces of gold, and Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.1 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 3.80 gpt containing 133.4 thousand ounces of gold. Mineral Resources are reported using a gold cut-off grade of 1.5 gpt. Mineral Reserves include Proven Mineral Reserves of 407 thousand tonnes with an average gold grade of 3.61 gpt containing 47.2 thousand ounces of gold, and Probable Mineral Reserves of 6.7 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 3.18 gpt containing 690.6 thousand ounces of gold. Mineral Reserves are reported using a gold cut-off grade of 2.0 gpt and a gold price of $1,250/oz. Mineral Reserves are included in Mineral Resources.
MONTREAL, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALGOLD RESOURCES LTD. (TSXV: ALG  Algold or the Corporation) today announced additional assay results from diamond (DDH) and reverse-circulation (RC) drilling carried out on its Tijirit property (Tijirit) in Mauritania as part of the Corporations Phase III 30,000-meter drilling program completed on August 25, 2017.

The results, which include 6.14 g/t Au over 4 meters, continue to demonstrate the high-grade nature and the continuity of the mineralization, both near surface and at depth, over the 3.5-kilometer strike length of the Eleonore zone (Figure 1). Additionally, drilling results from the Lily and Sophie zones extended the width of the mineralization, thereby continuing to add significant gold ounces to the Tijirit project.

Highlights*

T17RC179 (Eleonore South)  6.14 g/t Au over 4 m, including 21.30 g/t Au over 1 m, approximately 125 meters below the surface (Figure 2).

T17RC146 (Eleonore South)  2.75 g/t Au over 8 m, approximately 115 meters below the surface (Figure 2).

T17DD010 (Eleonore South)  7.74 g/t Au over 2.10 m, which is approximately 50 meters from T16RC104 (4.25 g/t Au over 3 m ), extended the strike length of mineralized zone.

T17DD018 (Lily)  0.37 g/t Au over 111 m, including 1.11 g/t Au over 19.55 m, from 36.35 meters core length (Figure 3)

T17RC177 (Lily)  0.34 g/t Au over 179 m, including 1.01 g/t Au over 17 m, from 138 meters hole length. This hole and subsequent holes drilled in the Lily area demonstrate the pervasive low-grade mineralization of the Lily gold zone (Figure 3).

*All intersections reported are down-hole lengths.

Eleonore South Zone

Hole T17RC179 was drilled 40 meters north of T17RC107 (6.84 g/t Au over 15 m and 2.16 g/t Au over 8 m; reference Algolds press release dated September 12, 2017) and T17RD044 (5.81 g/t Au over 3.05 m; reference Algolds press release dated September 12, 2017) and 50 meters below T17RC045 (2.24 g/t Au over 2 m and 14.15 g/t Au over 10 m; reference Algolds press release dated April 25, 2017). Two significant mineralized zones were intersected, which correlate with mineralization discovered in the surrounding holes. The structure remains open along strike to the north and at depth.

Hole T17RC146 is the up-dip extension of the visible-gold-bearing mineralization intersected in core hole T17RD139 (5.14g/t Au over 2.4m and 21.53 g/t Au over 1.8 m; reference Algolds press release dated September 12, 2017). The northern and down dip extensions of this mineralized zone are yet to be tested.

Eleonore North Zone

Hole T17RC111 (1.44 g/t Au over 5 m), located 50 meters northeast of T17RC084 (3.05 g/t Au over 21 m; reference Algolds press release dated May 23, 2017) confirmed the northern extension of this zone, which remains open at depth. Further drilling will be required to test this structure to the north (Figure 4).

Sophie II & III Zones

The banded iron formation (BIF) continues to be the main exploration target at Sophie II, with recent drilling extending the mineralization at depth over the 1.5-kilometer strike length currently defined by drilling. Hole T17RC173 intersected mineralization approximately 70 meters below surface. The BIF structure, as defined by surface mapping and geophysics, is part of a more than five-kilometer-long soil anomaly and remains a significant exploration target.

Wide, lower-grade BIF-associated mineralization was intersected at Sophie III, extending the mineralization at depth. In addition, new BIF-associated anomalies one kilometer southwest of the known Sophie III mineralization were drill tested, the results of which returned values up to 0.7 g/t Au over 4 m.

Lily Zone

Drilling at the Lily gold zone has continued to establish a wide mineralization style, with current testing supporting a 1.4-kilometer strike length. In the thickest sequences, mineralization occurs over a true width of 130 meters. Mineralization is associated with a lithological package that has undergone high-strain deformation and is sub-vertically dipping. Unlike Eleonore, visible gold is rarely observed with gold finely disseminated throughout the package.

Table 1: Assay Results - Phase III Drilling Program

Hole ID Prospect East

UTM North

UTM From

(m) To

(m) Vertical

Depth*

(m) Average

Grade **

(g/t Au) Width ***

(m) T17RC111 Eleonore N 482498 2250588 80.00 85.00 62.93 1.44 5.00 T17RC179 Eleonore S 481797 2249200 125.00 130.00 97.63 1.27 5.00 139.00 140.00 106.94 2.29 1.00 164.00 168.00 127.75 6.14 4.00 Including 166.00 167.00 127.00 21.30 1.00 T17RC180 Eleonore S 481930 2248597 56.00 59.00 44.85 1.87 3.00 T17DD010 Eleonore S 481967 2249008 95.00 97.10 73.45 7.74 2.10 T17RC146 Eleonore S 481734 2248732 152.00 160.00 116.97 2.75 8.00 T17RC154 Eleonore S 481554 2248683 56.00 58.00 44.72 2.64 2.00 T17RC173 Sophie II 475664 2250793 142.00 147.00 105.01 1.35 5.00 T17RD165 Sophie III 475466 2248693 92.00 95.00 71.33 1.32 3.00 T17RC177 Lily 476595 2245298 138.00 318.00 107.00 0.34 179.00 Including 194.00 211.00 156.12 1.01 17.00 T17DD018 Lily 476503 2245356 36.35 147.71 28.00 0.37 111.36 Including 45.45 65.00 41.50 1.11 19.55

*Vertical depth of intersection below RL collar.

**Weighted average grade, composite based on a minimum grade of 0.3 g/t Au with an internal dilution of 0.005 g/t Au over 2 m and an edge grade of 0.25 g/t Au permitted. For the Lily deposit, lower grade dilution was included.

***Width, believed to be close to true width.

No capping of higher values has been applied.

Note: Complete assay results are available on Algolds website (www.algold.com).

As of November 1, 2017, Algold collected 16,188 samples (excluding QA/QC) as part of the Phase III drilling program, with 15,363 samples having been sent to the SGS Bamako facilities for analysis. Algold is in receipt of 14,545 assay results, with 1,643 drill samples still pending and under preparation (excluding QA/QC). Sampling of previously untested core drilling from 2016 and 2017 as well as resampling of select RC intervals is currently underway. Accordingly, a further 2,643 (excluding QA/QC) samples have yet to be analyzed.

Detailed geological descriptions of all mineralized zones can be found on Algolds website (www.algold.com) and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) in the report entitled, Algold 43-101 Technical Report: Tijirit Maiden Mineral Resources Estimates for the Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

Analytical work for drill core and chips, geochemical samples and rock chip samples is carried out at the independent SGS Laboratories Ltd. in Bamako, Mali. The 50 g fire assay with ASS finish analytical services are accredited by SANAS and are carried out with a quality assurance protocol in line with ISO 17025:2005. Samples are stored at the Corporations field camps and put into sealed bags until delivered by a geologist on behalf of Algold to the laboratory in Bamako, Mali, where samples are prepared and analyzed. Until the end of 2016, samples were analyzed at ALSs facility in Loughrea, Ireland. Beginning in 2017, samples are analyzed at SGS Laboratory, Bamako. Samples are logged in the tracking system, weighed, dried and finely crushed to better than 70%, passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. A split of up to 1,000 g is taken and pulverized to better than 85%, passing a 75-micron (Tyler 200 mesh) screen, and a 50-gram split is analyzed by fire assay with an AA finish. Anomalous samples greater than 5 g/t Au are re-analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish. Selected samples may be re-analyzed using a 1 kg cyanide leach (Bottle Roll) using LeachWELL or the 1 kg screen fire assay method. Blanks, duplicates and certified reference material (standards) are inserted to monitor laboratory performance during the analysis.

This press release has been reviewed for accuracy and compliance under National Instrument 43-101 by Andre Ciesielski, DSc., PGeo., Algold Resources Ltd Lead Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person, and Alastair Gallaugher, C.Geo. (Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Geological Society of London), BSc. Geology, Algolds Exploration Manager in Mauritania, Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Andre Ciesielski has further approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

ABOUT ALGOLD

Algold Resources Ltd is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in West Africa. The board of directors and management team are seasoned resource industry professionals with extensive experience in the exploration and development of world-class gold projects in Africa.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 7, 2017) - Centerra Gold Inc. ("Centerra" or the "Company") (TSX:CG) and AuRico Metals Inc. ("AuRico Metals") (TSX:AMI) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") whereby Centerra will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of AuRico Metals (the "Arrangement") for C$1.80 in cash consideration per share (the "Purchase Price"), representing an aggregate transaction value of C$310 million.

The Purchase Price represents a 38% premium to the closing price of AuRico Metals' common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") on November 6, 2017 and a premium of 37% to the 20-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") as of such date.

AuRico Metals is developing the Kemess property in British Columbia, Canada; a low-cost brownfield development asset that is host to the feasibility-stage Kemess Underground ("KUG") and preliminary economic assessment level Kemess East ("KE") projects. AuRico Metals also owns a high-quality, free-cash flow generating royalty portfolio which includes a 1.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Young-Davidson gold mine in Ontario and a 2.0% NSR royalty on the Fosterville mine in Australia. Together with Centerra's low-cost, long-lived Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada, Centerra is expected to be firmly established as a low-cost gold producer with a geographically diversified footprint and peer-leading development pipeline. Post-transaction, Centerra is expected to sustain and grow its production base with its strong balance sheet and liquidity profile, sector leading operating margins, and low capital requirements.

Highlights of the Transaction:

Enhances Centerra's high-quality asset base in a world-class jurisdiction : The Kemess property adds a future cornerstone asset that will further bolster Centerra's strong development pipeline including the fully-financed Oksut Project in Turkey, the Greenstone Gold Property in Ontario, Canada, and the Gatsuurt Project in Mongolia. Kemess will also complement existing Centerra operations at the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia and has the potential to unlock operating and tax synergies with its existing assets in British Columbia.

: The Kemess property adds a future cornerstone asset that will further bolster Centerra's strong development pipeline including the fully-financed Oksut Project in Turkey, the Greenstone Gold Property in Ontario, Canada, and the Gatsuurt Project in Mongolia. Kemess will also complement existing Centerra operations at the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia and has the potential to unlock operating and tax synergies with its existing assets in British Columbia. De-risked brownfield project: Over C$1 billion of surface infrastructure already in place, environmental approvals and an Impact Benefits Agreement with First Nations in hand, and permitting well advanced.

Over C$1 billion of surface infrastructure already in place, environmental approvals and an Impact Benefits Agreement with First Nations in hand, and permitting well advanced. Numerous mine life upside opportunities at Kemess: The integration of KUG and KE has the potential to unlock a number of synergies and optimization opportunities.

The integration of KUG and KE has the potential to unlock a number of synergies and optimization opportunities. Attractive acquisition return profile : Expected to be accretive to Centerra shareholders, on a per share basis, to net asset value, reserves and resources.

: Expected to be accretive to Centerra shareholders, on a per share basis, to net asset value, reserves and resources. Optionality retained in royalty portfolio : Acquisition of a high quality, free-cash flow generating royalty portfolio provides immediate incremental cash flow and long-term upside from strong underlying assets.

: Acquisition of a high quality, free-cash flow generating royalty portfolio provides immediate incremental cash flow and long-term upside from strong underlying assets. Maintains strong balance sheet: Centerra currently holds in excess of US$350 million in cash to fund the acquisition and has secured a new US$125 million acquisition facility. Centerra plans to maintain its strong cash balance which positions the Company with the financial strength and flexibility to fund operating and capital expenditures required to build out its pipeline of development projects. Centerra plans to restructure its current debt facilities in connection with the closing of the Arrangement.

Stephen A. Lang, Chairman and Director of Centerra, said, "With the acquisition of the AuRico Metals assets, Centerra expands its existing development pipeline to include another low-cost de-risked brownfield development asset, the Kemess property, located in Canada-one of the lowest risk mining jurisdictions in the world. As well, the Company adds a high-quality, free-cash flow generating royalty portfolio. In the future, as the Company delivers on building out this development pipeline its production base will be sustained and continue to grow with sector-leading operating margins positioning the Company to generate robust free cash flows for many years to come."

Chris Richter, President and CEO of AuRico Metals, stated, "Since AuRico Metals' inception in the middle of 2015, our key objective has been to surface what we saw as significant value in the Kemess Project. I am delighted to now see this value being recognized, with our shareholders receiving a strong cash offer from Centerra at a very attractive premium of 38% to the current spot price, and representing a return of over three times their initial investment in a period of less than two and a half years. I am proud of the success the AuRico Metals team has had in advancing Kemess while growing the value of our portfolio of high quality royalties. I also believe that Centerra is ideally positioned to realize the full potential of Kemess as a long life, significant gold and copper producer."

Benefits to Centerra

Acquiring a de-risked, brownfield development asset located in Canada that is complementary to Centerra's Mount Milligan operation and has the potential to generate meaningful synergies;

Adds a strong polymetallic project in a tier-one jurisdiction that yields high-margin gold and copper production at a time when copper markets are expected to improve significantly;

Significant mine life improvement potential through the potential KUG and KE integration, resource to reserve conversion, and exploration potential;

Expected to improve Centerra's operating cost profile and generate meaningful life-of-mine free cash flows; and

High-quality, cash flow generating royalty portfolio.

Benefits to AuRico Metals

Immediate and significant premium of approximately 38% based on the prior day closing price, and 37% based on the 20-day VWAP;

All cash offer, not subject to financing condition;

Strong deal certainty with support agreements from directors and senior officers of AuRico Metals as well as Alamos Gold Inc.; and

Secures future funding for Kemess to realize its future potential.

Transaction Summary and Timing

The proposed business combination will be effected by way of a plan of arrangement completed under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The Arrangement will require approval by 66 2/3 percent of the votes cast at a special meeting of AuRico Metals shareholders. In addition to shareholder and court approvals, the Arrangement is subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in a transaction of this nature. Directors and senior officers of AuRico Metals, in addition to Alamos Gold Inc., collectively representing approximately 11.4 percent of the outstanding AuRico Metals common shares, have entered into support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote in favour of the proposed transaction.

The Arrangement Agreement includes customary provisions including non-solicitation provisions, including a C$12 million termination fee payable to Centerra under certain customary circumstances.

Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the meeting materials which are expected to be mailed to AuRico shareholders in connection with the AuRico shareholder meeting that will take place in December 2017 with closing of the Arrangement expected in January 2018.

Transaction Financing

The proposed acquisition is expected to be financed through a combination of a new US$125 million acquisition facility and cash on hand at Centerra.

Board of Directors' Recommendations

The Arrangement Agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of each of Centerra and AuRico Metals. The AuRico Metals Board of Directors recommends that AuRico Metals shareholders vote in favor of the Arrangement. Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. has provided an opinion to the Board of Directors of AuRico Metals, stating that in its opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth therein, the Purchase Price pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the AuRico Metals shareholders.

Scotia Capital Inc. has provided an opinion to the Centerra Board of Directors, stating that in its opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth therein, the Purchase Price pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to Centerra.

Scott Perry, CEO and Director of Centerra, also holds a Director position on the Board of Directors of AuRico Metals and has therefore recused himself from the transaction from both a Centerra and AuRico Metals perspective. In connection with the Arrangement, Scott Perry has resigned from the Board of Directors of AuRico Metals contemporaneously with the execution of the Arrangement Agreement.

Advisors and Counsel

Scotia Capital Inc. acted as financial advisor to Centerra and Stikeman Elliott LLP acted as Centerra's legal advisors. Scotia Capital Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Centerra Board of Directors.

Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. acted as financial advisor to AuRico Metals and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP acted as AuRico Metals' legal advisor. Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. has provided a fairness opinion to the AuRico Metals Board of Directors.

Conference Call

Centerra Gold and AuRico Metals will host a joint conference call on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time for members of the investment community to discuss the transaction. The call-in details are as follows:

North American participants should dial the toll-free number: (800) 404-5245

International participants may access the call at: +1 (416) 981-9070

The call will also be webcast live by NASDAQ and can be accessed at: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/o3q7qtwg

A copy of the investor presentation is also available on the Centerra Gold and AuRico Metals websites at www.centerragold.com and www.auricometals.ca, respectively.

An audio recording of the call will be available shortly after the call and will be available until midnight Eastern Time on Friday, December 8, 2017. The recording can be accessed by calling (416) 626-4100 or (800) 558-5253 and using the passcode 21862384.

About Centerra Gold

Centerra Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold properties in North America, Asia and other markets worldwide. Centerra operates two flagship assets, the Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada and is the largest Western-based gold producer in Central Asia. Centerra's shares trade on the TSX under the symbol CG. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Additional information on Centerra is available on the Company's website at www.centerragold.com and at SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About AuRico Metals

AuRico Metals is a mining development and royalty company with a 100% interest in the Kemess property in British Columbia, Canada. The Kemess property hosts the feasibility-stage Kemess Underground Gold-Copper Project, the Kemess East Project, and the infrastructure pertaining to the past producing Kemess South mine. AuRico's royalty portfolio includes a 1.5% NSR royalty on the Young-Davidson Gold Mine and a 2.0% NSR royalty on the Fosterville Mine, as well as a portfolio of additional producing and pre-production royalty assets located in North America and Australia.
VANCOUVER, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Alexco Resource Corp. (TSX:AXR, NYSE AMERICAN:AXU) ("Alexco" or the "Company") today announced results from its 2017 surface exploration drilling program in the vicinity of the Bermingham deposit in the Keno Hill Silver District ("KHSD") in Canada's Yukon Territory.

Numerous significant silver-rich intercepts have been received from 28 of the 37 holes drilled in two target areas proximal to the Bermingham resource, and a third shallower new exploration target area approximately 200 meters ("m") to the northeast.

True width intercepts ranging from 5.15 m grading 1,547 grams/tonne ("g/t") (49.73 ounce/tonne ("oz/t")) silver ("Ag") in hole K-17-0658, and 5.01 m grading 2,464 g/t (79.23 oz/t) Ag in drill hole K-17-0643, along with numerous other significant intercepts demonstrate expansion of the Bermingham deposit along strike and down plunge. True width intercepts up to 4.20 m grading 2,518 g/t (80.95 oz/t) Ag in hole K-17-0663 approximately 200 m to the northeast of the high grade Bear Vein represent a new discovery which remains open along strike.

Alexco Chairman and CEO Clynt Nauman commented, "Two important conclusions come from our 2017 exploration work. First, we can be pretty confident that the Bermingham silver resource (currently estimated to contain an indicated 17 million ounces of silver) will be expanded; and second, the deposit is clearly open at depth where strong structures and related mineralization project into increasingly favourable stratigraphy. As we systematically expand drilling coverage, our understanding of the interconnected mineralized vein systems at Bermingham is becoming one of local very high grade shoots such as the Bear Vein where our current Preliminary Economic Assessment mine plan identifies 220,000 potentially mineable tonnes grading 1,276 g/t Ag, sitting within more extensive zones of "lower" grade mineralization with true widths up to 8.62 m thick grading more than 600 g/t Ag as identified in recent drill hole K-17-0653. This pattern of mineralization very much reflects a large hydrothermal system with distinct similarities to the adjacent historic Hector-Calumet deposit. Furthermore, with our exploration model becoming ever more refined, we are actively generating and ranking new silver targets across the Keno Hill Silver District which we will start to test in 2018."

Geology and Drilling

The 2017 Bermingham surface drill program was completed in early September with 37 holes totaling 13,832 m of diamond core drilling. This drilling was conducted at relatively wide spacing in three zones to further explore structural targets adjacent to, or along strike of the existing Bermingham deposit resource that includes 858,000 tonnes with an average grade of 628 g/t silver totaling 17.3 million ounces of silver in the indicated category (see news release dated December 8, 2016, entitled "Alexco Expands Bermingham Silver Deposit, Initial Tests Confirm Excellent Metallurgical Performance").

The three target zones were:

The SW Zone, targeting the Bermingham, Bermingham Footwall and Bear Veins within a 100 x 200 m window of previously unexplored structure located immediately to the southwest of the Arctic Zone resource in the footwall of the Mastiff cross fault.

The Mid Zone, a fault bounded panel of the Bermingham Vein adjacent to and below the planned mining zone and in the hangingwall of the Bear and Bermingham Footwall Vein resource areas.

The NE Zone, a fault offset panel of the Bear Vein in the footwall of the Ruby B fault, located 200 m northeast of the current resource area.

Bermingham Drill Composite Assay Interval Highlights

Refer to Table 1 for drill hole details, Figure 1 for drill hole locations and Table 2 for complete results. All true widths are calculated from modelled vein attitude and drill hole intercept orientation.

In the SW ZONE:

K-17-0658 intersected the Bear Vein grading 1,547 g/t (49.73 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 5.15 m from 375.40 m.

intersected the Bear Vein grading 1,547 g/t (49.73 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 5.15 m from 375.40 m. K-17-0668 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,447 g/t (46.53 oz/t) Ag, over a true width of 4.18 m from 352.25 m, including an interval of 6,730 g/t (216.38 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.66 m from 355.10 m.

intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,447 g/t (46.53 oz/t) Ag, over a true width of 4.18 m from 352.25 m, including an interval of 6,730 g/t (216.38 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.66 m from 355.10 m. The hole also intersected the Bear Vein grading 1,469 g/t (47.24 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 2.21 m from 370.25.

K-17-0653 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,678 g/t (53.96 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 3.40 m from 350.48 m.

intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,678 g/t (53.96 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 3.40 m from 350.48 m. K-17-0641 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,190 g/t (38.26 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 2.44 m from 341.33m.

intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 1,190 g/t (38.26 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 2.44 m from 341.33m. K-17-0645 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 2,056 g/t (66.10 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.09 m from 347.27 m.

intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 2,056 g/t (66.10 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.09 m from 347.27 m. K-17-0662 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 2,757 g/t (88.64 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.03 m from 305.11 m.

intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 2,757 g/t (88.64 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.03 m from 305.11 m. K-17-0664 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 6,620 g/t (212.84 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.53 m from 359.50 m.

In the MID ZONE below the planned mine blocks:

K-17-0643 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 2,464 g/t (79.23 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 5.01 m from 399.40 m, including a 0.70 m true width interval grading 12,003 g/t (385.91 oz/t) Ag from a depth of 404.20 m.

In the NE ZONE:

K-17-0659 intersected the Bear Vein grading 1,214 g/t (39.02 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 5.05 m from 311.50 m, that included 3,180 g/t (102.24 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.14 m from 311.50 m, and 2,096 g/t (67.38 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 2.65 m from 314.30 m.

intersected the Bear Vein grading 1,214 g/t (39.02 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 5.05 m from 311.50 m, that included 3,180 g/t (102.24 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.14 m from 311.50 m, and 2,096 g/t (67.38 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 2.65 m from 314.30 m. K-17-0663 intersected the Bear Vein grading 2,518 g/t (80.95 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 4.20 m from 331.80 m, that included 8,905 g/t (286.30 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.10 m from 334.50 m.

intersected the Bear Vein grading 2,518 g/t (80.95 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 4.20 m from 331.80 m, that included 8,905 g/t (286.30 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.10 m from 334.50 m. K-17-0669 intersected the Bear Vein grading 704 g/t (22.64 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 3.76 m from 321.07 m, that included 2,567 g/t (82.54 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.97 m from 325.19 m.

intersected the Bear Vein grading 704 g/t (22.64 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 3.76 m from 321.07 m, that included 2,567 g/t (82.54 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.97 m from 325.19 m. K-17-0671 intersected the Bermingham Vein grading 10,126 g/t (325.55 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 0.21 m from 271.05 m.

The emerging geological picture at Bermingham is one of a complex system of interconnected mineralized vein shoots related to a strong hydrothermal fluid system. The 2017 program confirms the occurrence of high grade silver intervals along the known 700 m strike length of the Bermingham Vein system where mineral deposition has occurred preferentially in a north-northeast orientation and where local structural - stratigraphic conditions controlled the distribution of high and "lower" grade areas.

The Bermingham system remains open at depth where it enters the same stratigraphy that hosted the adjacent Hector-Calumet mine which historically produced 96 million ounces silver. Current results confirm that the mineralized system is well developed at depth with significant intersections such as the Bear Vein in the southwestern extension of the Arctic Zone at a vertical depth of 425 m below surface with an intercept of 1,355 g/t (43.56 oz/t) Ag over true width of 1.24 m in drill hole K-17-0660.

The opportunity to follow this well-developed mineralized system to depth will ultimately be tested from underground as the proposed mine is developed.

Four exploration holes were completed near the intersection of the Ruby and Townsite veins adjacent to the historically producing Ruby Mine (approximately 260 m to the NE of the Bermingham area). These produced an intersection of 1,040 g/t (33.4 oz/t) Ag over a true width of 1.18 m from 131.05 m in hole K-17-0642 and represents a possible Ruby Vein offset in an untested northeast extension of the historic Ruby mine approximately 400 m from the current Bermingham resource area.

The mineralogy of the Bermingham system is characterized by the presence of a complex silver bearing mineral assemblage including pyrargyrite (ruby silver), freibergite, argentiferous galena, stephanite, polybasite and wire silver in a dominantly sideritic gangue. The mineralized structures exhibit textures indicative of prolific fluid flow, hydro-brecciation, and fluid boiling during several pulses of mineral deposition and fault movement.

Bermingham Underground Development

Following receipt of an amended Class IV permit in August 2017, underground activity to establish and drive an approximate 580 m decline to the Bermingham deposit commenced. At present the 3.7 m x 3.7 m ramp has been advanced approximately 135 m and is targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2018. Once complete, a 5,000 m underground drill program will target infill and extension drilling of the proposed Bear Vein and other potential mining zones including areas which have been identified as a result of the 2017 surface exploration program. Work to advance the Bermingham ramp is continuing into the winter and is being carried out by Alexco's underground operations group supported by on-site geologists and engineers. A total of approximately 30 employees are dedicated to this project.

Notes

Details of the drill holes are shown in Table 1. Composite assay grades and intervals, calculated at a 30 g/t Ag cutoff restricted to include a maximum of two meters unmineralized dilution, used to identify the mineralized zones are shown in Table 2. The locations of the drill holes are shown in Figure 1 and are available for review on the Company's website at www.alexcoresource.com.

The 2017 exploration drill program and sampling protocol has been reviewed, verified and compiled by Alexco's geologic staff under the supervision of Alan McOnie, Vice President, Exploration for Alexco and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). A rigorous quality control and quality assurance protocol is used on the project, including blank, duplicate and standard reference samples in each batch of 20 samples delivered to the assay lab. Drill core samples were direct shipped to ALS Minerals Lab at Whitehorse, Yukon for preparation, and to the ALS Minerals facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for fire assay, multi-element ICP and overlimit analyses.

The disclosure of all other scientific and technical information contained in this news release regarding projects on Alexco's mineral properties have has also been reviewed and approved by Mr. Alan McOnie, FAusIMM, Alexco's Vice President, Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Alexco

Alexco Resource Corp. holds the historical high grade Keno Hill Silver District located in Canada's Yukon Territory. Employing a unique business model, Alexco also provides mine-related environmental services, remediation technologies and reclamation and mine closure services to both government and industry clients through the Alexco Environmental Group, its wholly-owned environmental services division.

Hole Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Length (m) Surface Azimuth (true) Surface Inclination Date Started Date Completed K-17-0634** 478827.18 7086960.73 1308.66 226.00 352.0 -45.0 01/06/2017 06/06/2017 K-17-0635** 478628.16 7087107.17 1257.82 148.00 35.0 -50.0 31/05/2017 03/06/2017 K-17-0636 479245.37 7086598.77 1364.15 494.30 275.0 -60.0 04/06/2017 13/06/2017 K-17-0637** 478695.32 7087176.99 1255.39 184.00 35.0 -50.0 04/06/2017 07/06/2017 K-17-0638 478918.14 7087045.28 1302.76 155.00 309.0 -46.0 06/06/2017 09/06/2017 K-17-0639** 478747.01 7087264.08 1248.46 88.00 35.0 -48.0 07/06/2017 08/06/2017 K-17-0640 478948.55 7086988.03 1299.65 259.00 286.0 -48.0 09/06/2017 13/06/2017 K-17-0641 479090.33 7086610.97 1357.01 423.00 319.0 -65.0 10/06/2017 20/06/2017 K-17-0642 479215.22 7087160.34 1307.33 279.00 285.0 -48.0 14/06/2017 18/06/2017 K-17-0643 479242.07 7086597.27 1364.06 500.00 334.0 -66.0 13/06/2017 23/06/2017 K-17-0644 479216.81 7087161.75 1307.40 277.00 315.0 -65.0 18/06/2017 22/06/2017 K-17-0645 479095.11 7086616.12 1357.04 454.00 303.0 -66.0 20/06/2017 01/07/2017 K-17-0646 479347.48 7087037.99 1332.86 337.00 345.0 -62.0 23/06/2017 27/06/2017 K-17-0647* 479241.80 7086596.95 1364.03 83.00 327.0 -71.0 24/06/2017 25/06/2017 K-17-0648* 479242.63 7086595.83 1364.20 84.40 325.0 -71.0 26/06/2017 27/06/2017 K-17-0649 479235.85 7086592.54 1363.72 509.00 328.0 -71.0 28/06/2017 08/07/2017 K-17-0650 479350.74 7087042.00 1333.01 283.00 266.0 -68.0 28/06/2017 01/07/2017 K-17-0651 479094.99 7086616.25 1357.00 408.50 303.0 -60.0 01/07/2017 12/07/2017 K-17-0652 479236.25 7086593.16 1363.70 491.00 344.0 -60.0 09/07/2017 20/07/2017 K-17-0653 479094.86 7086615.52 1356.93 470.00 289.0 -67.0 13/07/2017 26/07/2017 K-17-0656 479475.86 7087024.23 1346.61 446.25 305.0 -63.0 19/07/2017 26/07/2017 K-17-0657 479085.26 7086523.25 1363.09 488.00 307.0 -64.0 20/07/2017 30/07/2017 K-17-0658 479094.51 7086615.13 1356.89 409.50 283.0 -59.5 26/07/2017 05/08/2017 K-17-0659 479474.31 7087023.36 1346.72 345.00 285.0 -55.0 26/07/2017 01/08/2017 K-17-0660 479085.38 7086522.96 1363.04 545.00 292.0 -66.0 30/07/2017 11/08/2017 K-17-0661 479474.91 7087023.25 1346.81 386.00 285.0 -59.0 02/08/2017 07/08/2017 K-17-0662 479095.46 7086615.51 1356.98 341.00 300.0 -55.0 06/08/2017 13/08/2017 K-17-0663 479475.98 7087022.93 1346.94 350.00 270.0 -53.0 08/08/2017 13/08/2017 K-17-0664 479085.43 7086524.09 1363.08 444.00 304.5 -57.0 12/08/2017 20/08/2017 K-17-0665 479476.48 7087022.93 1346.94 413.00 270.0 -56.0 13/08/2017 21/08/2017 K-17-0666* 479463.00 7086843.00 1360.00 29.65 305.0 -50.0 14/08/2017 14/08/2017 K-17-0667 479463.90 7086840.79 1359.69 428.00 300.0 -50.0 14/08/2017 24/08/2017 K-17-0668 479085.68 7086525.14 1362.99 413.00 317.0 -53.0 20/08/2017 27/08/2017 K-17-0669 479475.34 7087023.05 1346.88 341.00 296.0 -53.0 21/08/2017 26/08/2017 K-17-0670 479235.61 7086594.12 1363.85 482.00 337.0 -62.0 24/08/2017 04/09/2017 K-17-0671 479474.08 7087023.62 1346.81 344.00 295.0 -49.5 26/08/2017 01/09/2017 K-17-0672 479086.41 7086525.25 1363.04 412.00 324.0 -66.0 27/08/2017 03/09/2017 K-17-0673 479476.26 7087019.24 1347.19 338.00 273.0 -50.5 01/09/2017 06/09/2017 K-17-0674 479085.05 7086524.33 1363.02 467.00 305.0 -60.0 03/09/2017 10/09/2017 K-17-0675 479345.84 7087038.75 1332.85 257.00 275.0 -71.0 06/09/2017 10/09/2017 Bermingham Total Drilling 13,832.60

*Hole abandoned

**Decline Investigation Surface Hole

Coordinates are in map projection UTM NAD 83Z8

Table 2  2017 Bermingham Assay Composites

Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Est. True Width (m)1 Ag (g/t) Ag oz/t Pb % Zn % Au (g/t) Vein 2 SW ZONE K-17-0636 467.82 471.40 3.58 3.15 406 13.04 0.69 1.38 0.20 BM Including 471.11 471.40 0.29 0.26 3,720 119.60 2.01 3.41 1.19 K-17-0641 250.49 254.08 3.59 3.05 50 1.60 0.30 1.44 0.04 340.55 346.35 5.80 4.93 699 22.46 1.19 1.68 0.11 BM Including 341.33 344.20 2.87 2.44 1,190 38.26 2.21 3.30 0.17 357.08 360.37 3.29 2.80 123 3.95 0.19 0.59 0.03 Including 357.08 357.57 0.49 0.31 661 21.25 0.38 2.39 0.21 366.33 370.84 4.51 2.82 679 21.84 3.21 1.19 0.09 FW Including 369.52 370.84 1.32 0.83 2,270 72.98 10.30 2.39 0.22 374.26 398.20 23.94 14.96 241 7.76 0.49 0.79 0.03 BR Including 377.00 377.50 0.50 0.31 800 25.72 0.16 0.26 0.19 and 382.20 384.72 2.52 1.57 498 16.01 0.23 1.92 0.06 and 390.60 391.47 0.87 0.54 1,350 43.40 2.19 4.20 0.16 405.42 406.15 0.73 0.46 53 1.70 0.00 0.14 -0.01 K-17-0645 284.30 285.05 0.75 0.61 75 2.40 0.21 1.15 0.08 291.40 291.65 0.25 0.20 82 2.64 0.76 0.02 0.27 347.27 348.62 1.35 1.09 2,056 66.10 1.02 1.59 0.33 BM Including 348.30 348.62 0.32 0.26 8,180 263.00 2.86 0.09 0.72 396.85 398.18 1.33 0.73 1,941 62.41 5.16 1.14 0.23 FW Including 396.85 397.90 1.05 0.58 2,380 76.52 5.77 1.27 0.28 402.50 411.85 9.35 5.46 311 10.01 0.74 0.23 0.06 BR Including 403.40 405.84 2.44 1.42 929 29.88 1.36 0.17 0.09 K-17-0651 324.15 327.20 3.05 2.50 475 15.26 1.72 0.97 0.09 BM Including 325.30 325.90 0.60 0.49 2,160 69.45 7.99 1.91 0.34 334.55 334.85 0.30 0.25 95 3.04 0.81 0.28 0.01 359.00 360.30 1.30 1.21 88 2.83 0.40 0.60 0.01 FW 365.00 365.60 0.60 0.35 2,400 77.16 1.48 0.68 0.25 372.70 374.45 1.75 1.02 1,030 33.12 2.34 0.38 0.14 BR Including 372.70 373.65 0.95 0.55 1,730 55.62 4.16 0.49 0.21 K-17-0653 350.48 361.18 10.70 8.62 783 25.17 0.82 0.76 0.10 BM Including 350.48 354.70 4.22 3.40 1,678 53.96 1.83 1.13 0.19 and 360.25 360.78 0.53 0.43 1,625 52.25 0.19 0.33 0.14 428.00 429.50 1.50 0.88 1,279 41.11 0.35 0.08 0.28 BR Including 428.00 428.75 0.75 0.44 2,520 81.02 0.31 0.15 0.53 K-17-0657 400.15 401.25 1.10 0.90 114 3.67 0.49 2.10 0.21 449.36 449.43 0.07 0.06 1,600 51.44 1.83 2.03 0.16 BM 456.75 460.70 3.95 2.54 547 17.60 0.86 0.37 0.17 BR Including 457.70 460.15 2.45 1.58 777 24.97 1.12 0.40 0.10 K-17-0658 328.50 329.95 1.45 1.18 946 30.40 1.12 12.50 0.19 BM Including 328.50 329.20 0.70 0.57 1,800 57.87 2.13 24.90 0.26 375.40 383.35 7.95 5.15 1,547 49.73 8.00 0.56 0.18 BR K-17-0660 473.45 473.90 0.45 0.28 105 3.38 0.98 3.09 0.10 478.55 490.80 12.25 7.60 321 10.33 1.50 0.31 0.09 BR Including 485.00 487.00 2.00 1.24 1,355 43.56 5.30 0.11 0.32 SW ZONE K-17-0662 302.97 306.58 3.61 3.25 972 31.26 1.31 1.57 0.11 BM Including 305.11 306.26 1.15 1.03 2,757 88.64 3.78 2.41 0.21 308.75 309.56 0.81 0.73 65 2.10 0.19 1.32 0.07 317.75 319.40 1.65 1.29 51 1.65 0.07 0.06 0.01 323.00 324.75 1.75 1.37 537 17.26 1.37 0.83 0.06 BR Including 323.85 324.75 0.90 0.70 1,011 32.52 2.46 1.42 0.11 K-17-0664 359.50 361.55 2.05 1.89 1,950 62.70 5.62 3.62 0.13 BM Including 359.50 360.08 0.58 0.53 6,620 212.84 17.80 12.10 0.40 381.40 389.35 7.95 5.97 221 7.11 0.63 0.40 0.03 BR Including 386.56 387.30 0.74 0.56 1,415 45.49 4.45 0.86 0.12 K-17-0668 344.57 347.95 3.38 3.18 343 11.02 1.17 0.22 0.04 BM Including 344.57 344.90 0.33 0.31 833 26.78 2.12 0.26 0.10 and 347.85 347.95 0.10 0.09 7,530 242.10 27.50 2.56 0.30 352.25 356.70 4.45 4.18 1,447 46.53 0.96 2.78 0.08 BM Including 352.25 352.45 0.20 0.19 7,110 228.60 4.43 5.35 0.49 and 355.10 355.80 0.70 0.66 6,730 216.38 4.40 7.40 0.29 358.80 363.80 5.00 4.70 119 3.82 0.28 1.61 0.02 BM 367.05 373.08 6.03 4.70 726 23.35 1.59 3.98 0.06 BR Including 370.25 373.08 2.83 2.21 1,469 47.24 3.23 8.20 0.11 K-17-0672 391.25 399.10 7.85 6.88 500 16.09 0.65 0.66 0.16 BM Including 391.25 395.50 4.25 3.72 786 25.27 1.04 0.57 0.25 K-17-0674 385.65 386.32 0.67 0.47 107 3.44 0.80 0.71 0.03 392.11 393.70 1.59 1.11 718 23.10 1.33 4.19 0.12 BM Including 392.57 393.70 1.13 0.79 984 31.65 1.81 5.73 0.16 428.00 434.30 6.30 4.35 176 5.67 1.53 2.28 0.17 BR Including 429.92 430.34 0.42 0.29 1,350 43.40 8.68 10.25 0.37 Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Est. True Width (m)1 Ag (g/t) Ag oz/t Pb % Zn % Au (g/t) Vein 2 MID ZONE K-17-0643 399.40 406.00 6.60 5.01 2,464 79.23 2.28 1.34 0.37 BM Including 399.40 401.70 2.30 1.61 1,384 44.50 4.72 2.28 0.22 and 404.20 405.20 1.00 0.70 12,003 385.91 0.52 0.41 1.54 460.35 461.55 1.20 0.84 37 1.19 0.02 0.01 0.07 FW K-17-0652 410.90 412.15 1.25 0.95 74 2.36 0.10 0.02 0.06 BM 425.07 435.10 10.03 7.02 310 9.96 1.19 0.47 0.10 FW Including 425.07 425.20 0.13 0.09 2,370 76.20 10.15 1.80 0.21 450.20 450.45 0.25 0.18 2,320 74.59 11.30 0.02 0.21 456.75 457.20 0.45 0.33 32 1.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 467.00 467.50 0.50 0.37 3,900 125.39 0.47 0.15 0.64 BR K-17-0670 378.47 382.30 3.83 2.73 857 27.54 0.23 1.10 0.17 BM Including 378.47 379.22 0.75 0.53 4,219 135.64 0.65 4.90 0.80 393.01 393.53 0.52 0.37 49 1.57 0.04 1.76 0.18 BM 396.82 401.38 4.56 3.25 207 6.67 1.49 1.64 0.04 BM Including 397.53 398.00 0.47 0.33 1,530 49.19 12.60 11.80 0.19 426.53 427.01 0.48 0.35 331 10.64 3.11 0.59 0.07 FW NE ZONE K-17-0646 203.00 205.54 2.54 1.94 290 9.33 0.27 0.65 0.06 BM Including 203.00 203.30 0.30 0.23 1,870 60.12 1.61 0.67 0.18 210.90 215.24 4.34 3.32 157 5.03 0.55 0.40 0.03 Including 214.90 215.24 0.34 0.26 702 22.57 4.25 0.77 0.13 284.40 284.98 0.58 0.24 377 12.12 0.07 0.46 0.11 BR K-17-0650 216.27 217.18 0.91 0.64 100 3.21 0.73 1.07 0.06 228.30 229.20 0.90 0.63 796 25.59 11.45 0.30 0.06 BM 232.50 233.36 0.86 0.46 92 2.96 0.17 0.58 0.02 237.12 238.00 0.88 0.47 659 21.19 4.66 0.35 0.08 BR K-17-0656 299.73 304.20 4.47 3.67 36 1.15 0.21 0.21 0.01 BM 377.00 378.20 1.20 0.93 50 1.59 0.03 0.04 0.01 BR K-17-0659 291.93 292.70 0.77 0.71 3,240 104.17 6.67 0.69 0.22 BM 296.20 297.05 0.85 0.78 53 1.71 0.33 0.40 0.03 BM 311.50 318.00 6.50 5.06 1,214 39.02 2.47 2.52 0.20 BR Including 311.50 311.68 0.18 0.14 3,180 102.24 11.50 2.32 0.23 and 314.30 317.70 3.40 2.65 2,096 67.38 3.61 4.31 0.32 K-17-0661 303.56 307.37 3.81 3.24 394 12.68 1.98 1.54 0.08 BM Including 303.56 306.87 3.31 2.82 377 12.14 1.99 1.10 0.05 359.70 362.27 2.57 1.75 53 1.70 0.16 0.77 0.04 BR K-17-0663 331.80 337.35 5.55 4.20 2,518 80.95 2.57 3.14 0.30 BR Including 331.80 332.35 0.55 0.42 766 24.63 1.58 6.82 0.56 and 334.50 335.95 1.45 1.10 8,905 286.30 8.56 5.34 0.82 K-17-0665 316.00 317.60 1.60 1.37 390 12.53 1.75 1.39 0.05 BM 333.75 340.25 6.50 4.81 80 2.56 0.55 0.64 0.08 344.95 345.63 0.68 0.50 60 1.94 0.22 1.81 0.05 BR K-17-0667 399.32 400.18 0.86 0.69 49 1.58 0.40 0.03 0.01 BR K-17-0669 283.22 283.77 0.55 0.51 56 1.81 0.21 0.91 0.04 BM 287.60 288.22 0.62 0.57 49 1.57 0.38 1.56 0.30 BM 321.07 326.62 5.55 3.76 704 22.64 1.92 2.70 0.09 BR Including 325.19 326.62 1.43 0.97 2,567 82.54 7.00 9.07 0.30 K-17-0671 271.05 271.27 0.22 0.21 10,126 325.55 24.86 1.15 1.34 BM 278.51 281.22 2.71 2.60 18 0.59 0.18 0.85 0.00 BM 289.86 290.73 0.87 0.63 138 4.44 2.04 0.26 0.06 BR K-17-0673 312.80 313.08 0.28 0.24 38 1.21 0.33 0.68 0.05 317.61 319.65 2.04 1.72 93 3.00 0.14 1.96 0.01 BR RUBY K-17-0642 131.05 132.42 1.37 1.18 1,040 33.44 1.43 2.03 0.17 RB

Table 2

2017 Bermingham Assay Composites.

Calculated at 30g/t Ag cut-off with a maximum of two metres unmineralized internal dilution.

1 Estimated True Width calculated from modelled vein attitude and drill hole intercept orientation.

2 Correlated Vein: BM = Bermingham, FW = Bermingham Footwall, BR = Bear, Rb = Ruby.

Intervals calculated at + 600 g/t Ag with a maximum of two metres unmineralized internal dilution.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov. 7, 2017) - MAG Silver Corp. (TSX:MAG) (NYSE American:MAG)(NYSE MKT:MAG) ("MAG") is pleased to announce the results of an independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report encompassing a new Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the stand-alone Juanicipio Joint Venture Project ("Juanicipio Project") in Zacatecas State, Mexico, owned 44% by MAG and 56% by the operator Fresnillo plc ("Fresnillo"). The studies were commissioned by MAG and carried out by AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC"). Unless otherwise noted, all numbers are reported in US dollars on a 100% basis.

MINERAL RESOURCE AND PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

2017 MINERAL RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS

High grade silver-rich Bonanza Zone (basis for development to date) containing: 8.2 million ("M") Indicated Resource tonnes at 550 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver; and, 2.0 M Inferred Resource tonnes at 648 g/t silver.

Significantly expanded Mineral Resource for the base metal-rich Deep Zone, containing: 4.7 M Indicated Resource tonnes with 209 g/t silver, 2.96% lead, 4.73% zinc, and 0.23% copper; and, 10.1 M Inferred Resource tonnes with 151 g/t silver, 2.69% lead, 5.05% zinc, and 0.31% copper.

Consistent gold across both zones, containing: 12.8 M Indicated Resource tonnes at 2.10 g/t gold; and, 12.1 M Inferred Resource tonnes at 1.44 g/t gold.



The new 2017 PEA outlined below stems from the new Mineral Resource estimate and confirms the Juanicipio Project as a robust, high-grade, high-margin underground silver project exhibiting low development risks. The new PEA incorporates major overall project upgrades highlighted by the delineation and provision for mining of greatly expanded Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources in the recently discovered (2015) "Deep Zone". The volume of these new base metal-rich Deep Zone Resources contributed to a significant expansion of project scope and enhancements to most aspects of the mine design; the most important being an increase of the planned production rate to 4,000 tonnes per day. Within the expanded scope of the new PEA the Juanicipio Project is projected to produce a payable total of 183 million silver ounces, 750 thousand gold ounces, 1.3 billion pounds of zinc and 812 million pounds of lead over an initial 19 years of mine life.

(1) AISC (All In Sustaining Cost)  see tables 1 and 10 for calculation methodology.

2017 PEA BASE CASE HIGHLIGHTS

4,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") production rate with an initial 19 years of mine life;

Enhanced project engineering, including: new plant and tailings location on flat, open ground; underground crusher and ore conveyor system; ramp expansions and internal shaft (winze);

Low All-In Sustaining Costs ("AISC") of $5.02 per ounce ("oz") of silver;

$360 M initial capital cost from January 1, 2018 to projected production start-up in H1, 2020;

Payback in less than two years after plant start-up;

Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") at a 5% discount rate of $1.86 billion and an Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 64.5%; and;

After-tax NPV at a 5% discount rate of $1.14 billion and IRR of 44.5%.

"We are very pleased to see the strong positive impact of the enhanced project scope on the already remarkable economics of the Bonanza Zone," said George Paspalas, MAG Silver President and CEO. "The PEA considers expanding the throughput from 2,650 tpd to 4,000 tpd, a reformulated ramp system, underground crusher-conveyor system and an internal shaft for expediting extraction of the mineralization towards the base of the previously known resources together with the new Deep Zone resources. The fact that we can accomplish the scaled-up project in a short time period and for a relatively small Capex increase is testimony to the quality of the asset and the insightful experience brought to the project by our partner and project operator, Fresnillo. With over $121 million in cash and cash equivalents as at September 30, 2017, we believe MAG is funded for its share of the development well into 2019."

Mr. Paspalas continued, "Strong margins drive the solid economics of Juanicipio. The upside to higher metal prices is obvious, but equally important, the project even shines brightly at significantly lower metal prices: At $8/oz silver and $0.75/lb zinc, the project still delivers an after-tax IRR of 15%."

Lastly, Mr. Paspalas noted, "The most exciting aspect to Juanicipio remains the immediate and long-term exploration upside. We know the Valdecanas Deep Zone is open in several directions and we have yet to test a number of high-potential targets for additional epithermal veins, or possible vein systems on the property."

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL DETAILS

The PEA Base Case uses a 5% discount rate and metal prices of $17.90/oz for silver, $1,250/oz for gold, $0.95 per pound ("lb") for lead and $1.00/lb for zinc. The PEA presents a range of metal pricing scenarios on both a pre-tax and after-tax basis. Unless otherwise noted, all numbers are reported in US dollars on a 100% basis. Table 1 below illustrates the effect of various price levels on key economic measures.

Table 1: Metal Price Sensitivity Analysis:

Discount Rate (5%) Base Case 2012 Metal Prices (1) Metal Prices: Silver ($/oz) 14.50 17.90 19.50 23.00 23.39 Gold ($/oz) 1,000 1,250 1,300 1,450 1,257 Lead ($/lb) 0.75 0.95 0.95 1.15 0.95 Zinc ($/lb) 0.75 1.00 1.05 1.20 0.91 Copper ($/lb) N/A - Copper excluded for purposes of PEA (2) Economics: 2017 2012 (1) Pre-Tax NPV (M) $ 1,080 $ 1,860 $ 2,104 $ 2,776 $ 2,427 $ 1,762 After-Tax NPV (M) $ 635 $ 1,138 $ 1,295 $ 1,729 $ 1,503 $ 1,233 Pre-Tax IRR 45 % 64 % 71 % 86 % 83 % 54 % After-Tax IRR 30 % 44 % 49 % 61 % 58 % 43 % Undiscounted life of mine ("LOM") after tax cash flow(M) $ 1,170 $ 1,995 $ 2,243 $ 2,945 $

2,542 $ 2,162 Cash cost $/oz Ag (net of credits) (4) (0.35 ) (3.94 ) (4.45 ) (6.90 ) (3.11 ) (0.03 ) Total Cash cost $/oz Ag(5) 3.50 2.39 2.63 2.29 4.89 N/A(3) AISC $/oz Ag(6) 6.13 5.02 5.25 4.92 7.51 N/A(3) Payback (Years) From Plant Start up (based on after tax cash-flows) 2.6 1.8 1.6 1.2 1.2 2.1

Notes: 1) This column is based on metal prices used in the previous 2012 Juanicipio PEA, and has been provided in order to allow a comparison of PEA economics (2017 vs 2012) and demonstrate the economic effects on the project of the expanded resource and enhanced mine design. (A Corporate Tax Rate of 28% was used in 2012 (30% in 2017) and in 2012 there was no Special Mining Duty (7.5% in 2017) or gold/silver Royalty, (0.5% in 2017), the latter both imposed in 2014. Exchange rate of 12.86 Mexican Pesos per US$was used in 2012 (18.46 Mexican Pesos per US$in 2017)). 2) Although the resource for the Deep Zone includes copper (see below), no copper circuit has been included in the PEA as no metallurgical testing and recovery assessment for copper has yet been completed. 3) See Press Release June 14, 2012. Total Cash cost and AISC per oz. of silver were not calculated for the 2012 report. 4) Cash costs include all operating costs, smelter, refining and transportation charges, net of by-product (gold, lead and zinc) revenues. 5) Total cash costs include cash costs and all corporate taxes, special mining duty, and precious metals royalty. 6) All In Sustaining Costs ("AISC") include total cash costs and all sustaining capital expenditures.

While the results of the PEA are significantly promising, by definition a Preliminary Economic Assessment is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There can therefore be no certainty that the results in the PEA will be realized. This new PEA is based on MAG's understanding of how the project is being developed; however, Fresnillo is the project operator and the actual development plan and timeline may be materially different (see "Feasibility Study" below). It is also important to note that Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that Mineral Resources will ever become Mineral Reserves.

Table 1 above highlights how the project's low costs and high silver grades have the ability to generate resilient, highly positive and high margin economics across a range of metal-price scenarios, with the greatest metal price sensitivity being to the silver price, and to a lesser degree, to the zinc price. Silver and zinc account for 52% and 21%, respectively, of the gross revenue under the Base Case scenario: the impact of varying silver and zinc prices on the after-tax NPV and IRR is outlined in Table 2.

Table 2: Impact of Varying Silver and Zinc pricing on after-tax NPV and IRR(1):

Zinc Price ($/lb) After-tax NPV 5% (M US$) / After-tax IRR (%) $1.75 $768 / 26% $1,065 / 36% $1,361 / 45% $1,657 / 55% $1,953 / 65% $2,249 / 74% $1.50 $647 / 24% $943 / 33% $1,240 / 44% $1,536 / 54% $1,832 / 63% $2,128 / 73% $1.25 $526 / 21% $822 / 31% $1,118 / 42% $1,415 / 52% $1,711 / 62% $2,007 / 71% $1.00 $405 / 18% $701 / 29% $997 / 40% $1,293 / 50% $1,590 / 60% $1,886 / 70% $0.75 $284 / 15% $580 / 26% $876 / 37% $1,172 / 48% $1,469 / 58% $1,765 / 68% $8.00 $12.00 $16.00 $20.00 $24.00 $28.00 Silver Price ($/oz)

(1) Gold at $1,250/oz and lead at $0.95/lb

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

The updated independent Mineral Resource estimate was generated using a cut-off Net Smelter Return ("NSR") value of $55 per tonne ("/t") and drilling data available up to December 31, 2016. This estimate has an effective date of October 21, 2017 (see Table 3) and reflects the results of both infill and exploration holes drilled in 2014 through 2016, with the greatest increase shown within the Deep Zone discovered in 2015. The Valdecanas Vein displays well the vertical mineralization gradations from upper silver-rich zones to deep base metal-dominant areas that are typical of Fresnillo District veins and epithermal silver veins in general. Because of this vertical compositional zonation, and significant dimensional increases with depth, the Mineral Resource estimate has been manually divided into the Bonanza Zone and the Deep Zone to highlight the definition of each zone.

Table 3: Juanicipio Project Mineral Resource estimate by zone (October 21, 2017):

Zone Resource

Category Tonnes

(Mt) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) Cu

(%) Ag

(Moz) Au

(Koz) Pb

(Mlbs) Zn

(Mlbs) Cu

(Mlbs) Bonanza Zone Indicated 8.17 550 1.94 1.63 3.08 0.08 145 509 294 554 14 Inferred 1.98 648 0.81 1.32 2.80 0.06 41 52 58 123 3 Deep Zone Indicated 4.66 209 2.39 2.96 4.73 0.23 31 359 304 486 24 Inferred 10.14 151 1.57 2.69 5.05 0.31 49 510 601 1,129 69

Footnotes: 1) CIM Definition Standards were used for reporting the Mineral Resources. 2) The Qualified Person is Dr. Adrienne Ross, P.Geo. of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. 3) Mineral Resources are reported at a resource NSR cut-off value of $55/t. 4) The Mineral Resource estimate uses drill hole data available as of December 31, 2016. 5) Resource NSR values are calculated in US$using factors of $0.61 per g/t Ag, $34.27 per g/t Au, $19.48 per% Pb, and $19.84 per% Zn. These factors are based on metal prices of $20/oz Ag, $1,300/oz Au $0.95/lb Pb, and $1.00/lb Zn and estimated recoveries of 82% Au, 95% Ag, 93% Pb, 90% Zn. The Mineral Resource NSR does not include offsite costs. 6) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. 7) Totals may not add correctly due to rounding.

The Bonanza Zone resource veins have a similar footprint as previous Mineral Resource estimates (see press release dated, May 27, 2014), with approximately 78% of the total silver ounces in the Bonanza Zone now classified as Indicated. The newly updated Mineral Resource estimate significantly expands the Inferred and Indicated resources in the base metal-rich Deep Zone, which includes a maiden copper resource.

Total Mineral Resources - Bonanza Zone and Deep Zone Combined and by vein

Combining the Bonanza Zone and the base metal-rich Deep Zone into a total global resource by Mineral Resource classification, results in a lower overall silver grade reflecting the blending of high and lower grade materials (See Table 4).

Table 4: Juanicipio Project Global Mineral Resource Estimate and summary by vein (October 21, 2017):

Resource

Category Vein Tonnes

(Mt) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) Cu

(%) Metal Contained in Mineral Resource Ag

(Moz) Au

(Koz) Pb

(Mlbs) Zn

(Mlbs) Cu

(Mlbs) Indicated V1E 6.35 528 1.86 1.89 3.81 0.09 108 379 264 533 12 V1W 6.48 327 2.35 2.34 3.55 0.18 68 488 334 507 26 Total Indicated 12.83 427 2.10 2.11 3.68 0.13 176 867 598 1,041 38 Inferred V1E 3.18 121 0.95 2.14 3.60 0.54 12 97 150 253 38 V1W 3.74 155 1.88 3.18 5.97 0.26 19 226 262 492 21 HW 0.25 529 0.59 0.52 0.89 0.03 4 5 3 5 0 Vant 2.06 111 1.39 3.50 7.41 0.18 7 92 159 337 8 V2W (a) 0.61 330 1.37 2.44 3.41 0.14 7 27 33 46 2 V2W (b) 1.01 659 0.64 1.23 2.72 0.05 21 21 27 60 1 JV1 0.58 260 3.74 0.35 0.82 0.03 5 70 5 11 0 JV2 0.70 678 1.07 1.29 3.18 0.04 15 24 20 49 1 Total Inferred 12.13 232 1.44 2.46 4.68 0.27 91 562 658 1,252 71

1) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability 2) Additional Footnotes - see above Table 3.

Mine Design

The principal mining method proposed in the PEA is longhole stoping with waste rock back-fill at a production rate of 4,000 tpd using modern mining equipment.

From the results of a series of trade-off studies previously commissioned by Minera Juanicipio S.A. de C.V. ("Minera Juanicipio"), the joint venture company, truck hauling, shaft hoisting, and conveying, along with underground crushing of the mineralized rock are all projected to be utilized for delivering the mineralized rock to the surface processing plant. An underground winze (internal shaft) is planned to be sunk within the hangingwall of the Valdecanas Vein System, to hoist mineralized rock from lower levels of the mine to the underground crusher and conveying system from the 6th year after start-up (projected as 2025), onward.

The Mineral Resource used for the PEA mine design does not include any of the Juanicipio Vein resource which is included in the Mineral Resources above (Table 4). Further analysis is required to arrive at a potential extraction strategy, with the possibility that these resources may ultimately be brought into a future mining plan.

No copper circuit has been included in this PEA as no metallurgical testing and recovery assessment for copper has yet been completed.

Process Plant

Metallurgical test-work conducted between 2008 and 2015 on composite samples from 67 drill hole intercepts was used to design the mineral processing facility. Mill recoveries are estimated as:

 95% for silver  93% for lead  82% for gold  90% for zinc

The process plant is expected to ramp up operations over a three-year period to a steady state throughput rate of 1.4 M tonnes/year (4,000 tpd). The PEA mine plan indicates that total production of 23.3 M tonnes will be processed, estimated by applying a $55/t NSR cut-off grade to the Mineral Resource model and then allowing for dilution as well as mining recovery and design losses. The PEA LOM production scenario contains an estimated 210 M oz of silver, 1.017 M oz of gold, 940 M lbs of lead, and 1.746 billion lbs of zinc.

The proposed process plant and tailings storage facility will be located in newly acquired open, flat ground. It will include a SAG/Ball mill comminution circuit followed by sequential flotation to produce a silver-rich lead concentrate, a zinc concentrate and a gold-rich pyrite concentrate.

LOM Payable Metal

Table 5: Estimated LOM payable production by metal including Silver Equivalent (Silver Eq) ounces:

Metals from

Concentrates(1) Total Payable Metal

Production

LOM Average 1st

6 years

(2020-2025) LOM Annual

Average Peak Annual Production

(Year) Silver M oz. 183 16.5 9.6 20.1 (2021) Gold K oz. 747 43.8 39.3 50.6 (2025) Lead M lbs. 812 30.6 42.7 63.0 (2031) Zinc M lbs. 1,327 54.3 69.8 95.9 (2031) Silver Eq. oz

Payable (M)(2) 352 24.2 18.5 26.5 (2023)

Footnotes:

Lead, zinc, and pyrite concentrates produced. Silver Equivalent calculated using the base case metal recoveries and base case metal prices of $17.90/oz for silver; $1250/oz for gold; $0.95/lb for lead and $1.00/lb for zinc.

Payable production for each metal is based on processing recoveries less smelter deductions and losses during third party treatment of the lead, zinc and pyrite concentrates.

Capital Costs

Capital expenditure estimates have been prepared for both initial and sustaining capital. A projected summary timeline of scheduled capital costs is shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Initial Capital and Sustaining Capital Schedule



Year Initial Capital ($M)

At 100% Sustaining Capital ($M) (1)

At 100% 2018 124 - 2019 156 - 2020 80 44 2021 - 88 2022 - 42 2023 - 2038 - 306 Total (100% basis): 360 480

(1) Sustaining capital is projected to be funded from operational cash-flow

Initial Capital Costs

The initial capital expenditures (Table 7) for the project, inclusive of capitalized operating costs, as estimated by AMC and as of January 1, 2018, are $360 M (Fresnillo plc 56% ($201.6) and MAG 44% ($158.4 M)), including all mine development-related costs to be incurred prior to the envisaged commencement of commercial operations in 2020. Capital costs incurred after start-up are assigned to sustaining capital and are projected to be paid out of operating cash-flows (also see Table 7). Contingencies have been added at appropriate percentages to each component of the project, excluding capitalized operating costs, resulting in an overall contingency of $39.7 M or 17%.

Table 7: Initial and Sustaining Capital Cost Estimates ($M) - 100% basis

Item Pre-Production

(Initial Capital) Sustaining Capital

(paid from Operating cash-flow)

Total Underground development 63 163 226 Mine equipment 12 150 162 Winze - 64 64 Material movement - trucking

development waste 5 42 47 Road and powerline to portal 6 - 6 Process plant 72 20 92 Surface infrastructure 42 26 68 Underground Infrastructure 58 8 66 EPCM 25 - 25 Owners cost 16 - 16 Capitalized Pre-Production

Operating Cost 23 - 23 Contingency 40 5 45 Total (100% basis) 360 480 840

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of the components due to rounding adjustments.

Sustaining Capital Costs:

Sustaining capital of $480 M (Table 7), to be funded from operating cash flow, will be required throughout the life of mine. This capital will primarily be for waste development (footwall); replacement of mining equipment; major mill maintenance; major surface infrastructure upgrades and replacements; and completion of the internal shaft (winze). Mine closure costs are assumed to be equal to the salvage value of the mine plant and equipment.

On Site Operating Costs ("Opex")

The estimated Opex for the PEA is $58.67/t of mill feed - see Table 8. AMC estimated the Opex based on industry first principles, proprietary information and experience.

Table 8: On Site Operating Cost:

Area Cost ($/t mill feed) Mining 34.95 Processing 20.37 G & A 3.34 Total: 58.67

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of the components due to rounding adjustments.

Off-Site Costs (Concentrate Transport, Treatment and Refining Charges)

Projected Treatment Charges ("TCs") and transport charges for the lead and zinc concentrates were provided to AMC by Neil S. Seldon & Associates, specialist consultants in concentrate marketing. AMC considers that the projections received are reasonable. It is anticipated that the zinc concentrate will be sold primarily to smelters in Asia while the lead concentrate could potentially be sold to a smelter in Mexico or exported to offshore smelters. For purposes of its analysis, AMC has assumed that both the lead and zinc concentrates will be treated in Asia and subject to a transport cost of $115/wet metric tonne.

LOM off-site costs for lead and zinc concentrates included in the PEA are estimated to average $41.32/t of mill feed. Off-site costs comprise freight charges (highway and ocean), port handling fees, and smelter treatment and refining charges - see Table 9.

Table 9: Off Site Costs - Lead, Zinc and Pyrite concentrates:

Item Treatment Charges Cost ($/t

mill feed) Silver refining 4% of Ag price 5.44 Gold refining $5/ounce of Au payable 0.16 Lead TCs $235(1)/dry metric tonne of concentrate 9.37 Zinc TCs $235(1)/dry metric tonne of concentrate 13.85 Transportation $115(2)/wet metric tonne of concentrate 12.50 Total: 41.32

(1) Although current spot TCs for lead and zinc concentrates are approximately $50-$60/dry metric tonne ("dmt"), rates above ($235/dmt) reflect projected long term sustainable rates. (2) Assumes that both the lead and zinc concentrates will be treated in Asia, and assumes a moisture content of 10%.

Taxes

Income and other taxes presented in the PEA are based on Mexican legislated tax rates and do not reflect any tax planning opportunities. Specific rates used are outlined in Table 10 below, and result in total LOM combined taxes of $1,157 M in the base case scenario.

Costs per Ounce of Silver

LOM estimated combined on-site opex ($58.67/t) and off-site costs ($41.32/t) are $99.99/t of mill feed, or $2,312 M. The LOM Cash Cost (on-site and off-site, less by-product credits) is negative US ($3.94)/oz silver, and Total Cash Cost (including taxes) is $2.39/oz silver. All-In Sustaining Costs (AISC) total $5.02/oz silver, and include total cash costs plus sustaining capital. See Table 10.

Table 10: Cash Costs, Total Cash Costs and AISC per oz of Silver (Base Case)

Total $M Cost Per Oz of Silver(1) Operating costs 1,357 Offsite costs 956 Less: By Product Credits (2) (3,033 ) Cash Cost (720 ) $ (3.94 ) Corporate tax (30%) 837 Special Mining Duty (7.5%) 299 Gold and Silver Gross Revenue Duty (0.5%) 21 Total Cash Cost 437 $ 2.39 Sustaining capital 480 AISC 917 $ 5.02

(1) Based on 183 M ounces of payable silver production. (2) By-product revenue credits (Base Case): gold $934 million, lead $771 million, zinc $1.327 billion.

Undiscounted Cash-flow, Revenue and Cost

A summary of estimated gross revenue, costs and resulting undiscounted cash flow over the LOM is provided in Table 11.

Table 11: LOM Undiscounted Cash Flow, Revenue and Cost Summary (Base Case)

Total $M $/tonne

mill feed Gross revenue 6,304 272.64 Offsite costs 956 41.32 Operating costs 1,357 58.67 Initial capital 360 15.58 Sustaining capital 480 20.75 Taxes 1,157 50.05 LOM Undiscounted Cash Flow: 1,995 86.27

Note: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of the components due to rounding adjustments.

Additional Considerations Related to the Preliminary Economic Assessment

As a Preliminary Economic Assessment, the 2017 PEA and its estimated costs are subject to an approximate margin of error of plus or minus 25%. Readers should note that approximately 38% of the tonnage and 25% of the silver content of the material that forms the basis of the economic assessment is derived from Inferred Mineral Resources. The PEA is preliminary in nature in that it includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that any of the Mineral Resources will become Mineral Reserves, or that the PEA will be realized.

Feasibility Study

This 2017 PEA was commissioned independently by MAG, and not by the Juanicipio Joint Venture. The mine plan and mine design anticipated in the 2017 PEA are based on both Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources and reflect a processing capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day, expanded underground workings and the sinking of an internal shaft (or winze) to access the deeper areas of the previously estimated Mineral Resources and the newly defined Deep Zone. The 2017 PEA is based on our understanding of the operator's development to date and our understanding of the development permit applications submitted by the operator which we understand are expected to be issued prior to December 31, 2017, although there is no assurance that such permits will be issued on a timely basis or at all.

As a requirement of the Minera Juanicipio Shareholders' Agreement, Minera Juanicipio has commissioned a Feasibility Study as a basis for a "Production Decision" expected in early 2018 The Feasibility Study, also to be prepared by AMC, will not include Inferred Mineral Resources in the mine plan, so the results of the Feasibility Study will be different from the results of the 2017 PEA. There is no assurance that the Feasibility Study will recommend proceeding with the project development, and any recommendation to proceed with development may differ significantly from the scope and design recommended in the 2017 PEA. Changes to the mine plan and mine design that may be recommended in the Feasibility Study, if approved and implemented, will impact the Juanicipio Project's construction schedule, capital and operating costs, profitability and cash flows and timeline to production, the impact of which cannot be quantified at this time. As a result, there are additional uncertainties with respect to the size and grade of the Mineral Resources that may become Mineral Reserves and that will serve as the basis for the Feasibility Study, the extent of capital and operating costs, mineral recoveries and financial viability.

There is no guarantee that development and construction will be completed in accordance with the 2017 PEA, and if completed, that production will begin or that operating or financial results will be consistent with the 2017 PEA.

Further Information:

An investor conference call with MAG's President and CEO, George Paspalas and management, will be held November 7, 2017 at 4:30 pm Eastern time (1:30 pm Pacific time). To participate, please dial: Canada/USA toll-free (800) 319-4610 or International toll-free (604) 638-5340 and request to join the "MAG Silver Conference Call". Participants please dial in five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Qualified Person:

The Mineral Resources disclosed in this press release for the Juanicipio Project have been prepared by Dr. A. Ross, Ph.D., P.Geo. an employee of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. who is independent of MAG and a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Ross has read and approved the content of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource estimate.

The estimates for metal recovery, and the design and methodology for mineral processing that form the basis for the economic assessment disclosed in this press release for the Juanicipio Project have been prepared by Harald Muller, FAusIMM, a former employee of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. who is independent of MAG. By virtue of his education and relevant experience Mr. Muller is a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Muller, has read and approved the content of this press release as it pertains to the mineral processing disclosures.

The cost estimations, infrastructure needs and costs that form the basis for the economic assessment, and the financial analysis, disclosed in this press release for the Juanicipio Project have been prepared by Carl Kottmeier, P. Eng. an employee of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. who is independent of MAG. By virtue of his education and relevant experience Mr. Kottmeier is a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Kottmeier, has read and approved the content of this press release as it pertains to cost estimations, infrastructure needs and costs, and financial analysis.

The estimate of the tonnage and grade of material to be mined and processed that form the basis for the economic assessment, and the financial analysis, disclosed in this press release for the Juanicipio Project have been prepared by Gary Methven, P. Eng. an employee of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. who is independent of MAG. By virtue of his education and relevant experience Mr. Methven is a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Methven, has read and approved the content of this press release as it pertains to all mining matters other than the Mineral Resource estimate, mineral processing disclosures, costs estimations, infrastructure needs and costs, and financial analysis.

A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report documenting the updated Mineral Resource and associated PEA will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Indicated Resources

This press release uses the term "Indicated Resources". MAG advises investors that although this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize this term. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in this category will ever be converted into reserves.

Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Resources

This press release uses the term "Inferred Resources". MAG advises investors that although this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize this term. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in this category will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, "Inferred Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. 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 Assessment as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an Inferred Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.

About MAG Silver Corp. (www.magsilver.com)

MAG Silver Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on becoming a top-tier primary silver mining company, by exploring and advancing high-grade, district scale, silver-dominant projects in the Americas. Our principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Property (44%), being developed in partnership with Fresnillo Plc (56%) and is located in the Fresnillo Silver District in Mexico, the world's premier silver mining camp. We are presently developing the underground infrastructure on the property, under the operational expertise of our joint venture partner, Fresnillo plc, to support an expected 4,000 tonnes per day mining operation. As well, we have an expanded exploration program in place investigating other highly prospective targets across the property. In addition, we continue to work on regaining surface access to our 100% owned Cinco de Mayo property in Mexico while we seek other high grade, district scale opportunities.
Stuff reports:

Paid parental leave provisions will be progressively increased to 26 weeks by July 2020.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement on Monday as part of the new governments 100-day plan.

Cabinet today decided to increase the duration of parental leave entitlements to 22 weeks from 1 July 2018, extending further to 26 weeks from 1 July 2020, she said. 

The current entitlement is up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave, one of the lowest allowances in the OECD. Legislation to allow the increase will be introduced to Parliament under urgency on Wednesday. 

The bill is largely the same one drawn up by former MP Sue Moroney, which gained a parliamentary majority but was blocked by former Finance Minister Bill English at the last hurdle using his financial veto in 2016.

It had been well-canvassed and supported by all parties other than National and ACT back then, and would not be required to be put through a select committee process for a third time.
1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities.

2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion.

3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact.

4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance.

Vote

View Results
By Jun Ji-hye



Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties conducted the first parliamentary audit into Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, since the launch of the Moon Jae-in administration in May.



Presidential aides including Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok and National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong were present at the audit of the National Assembly Steering Committee, during which time they briefed lawmakers about how the presidential office has handled state affairs.



But the session could not proceed properly due to wrangling between rival lawmakers over the absence of Cho Kuk, presidential secretary for civil affairs.



Members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) have demanded Cho attend the session and explain what they call the failure of the presidential office's personnel screening system. They cited President Moon's seven nominees for ministerial and vice ministerial positions have dropped out.



Cho, however, did not appear before the session, telling lawmakers in a statement the reasons it would be difficult for him to leave the presidential office because many other officials were out of Cheong Wa Dae to attend the audit held at the Assembly.



Rep. Kim Seon-dong of the LKP said, "Cho ignored the National Assembly and the people."



Rep. Jun Hee-kyung of the same party said Cho should take responsibility for having failed to fill in Moon's Cabinet although six months have passed since the launch of the Moon government.



Rep. Choi Gyung-hwan of the minor opposition People's Party echoed the point, saying, "Cho has been in charge of personnel screening for Cheong Wa Dae. The National Assembly and the people have a lot of questions for him."



On the other hand, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea protected Cho, citing there have been few cases of presidential secretaries for civil affairs attending the parliamentary audit, except for when they personally faced corruption allegations.



Rep. Kang Hoon-sik said there have been only six cases of presidential secretaries for civil affairs attending the audit, and those occurred during the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations.



"For the past nine years, presidential secretaries for civil affairs have not appeared before the audit," he said.



The DPK members recalled the demand made by then opposition parties for then presidential secretary for civil affairs, Woo Byung-woo, to attend the parliamentary audit during the Park Geun-hye government. Woo, at the time, faced several corruption allegations involving his family members, but did not appear before the session, they said.








By Michael Breen





With little North Korea  its population is less than that of greater Seoul  unlikely to give up nuclear weapons, it seems this issue will only be resolved when the two Koreas address the underlying conflict that drives them to arm themselves in the first place.

Here is the issue. Unlike all other neighboring states today, the two Koreas claim sovereignty over one another.

And even though the South has become an advanced economy and a modern democracy, and even though the North stumbles along as a weak, backward dictatorship, neither has taken a single step to alter that posture.

Each, in other words, remains committed to unification.

This idea  "tongil" in Korean  is more than an explanation of the national vision. It is a magic word which stirs the soul. It fills Koreans with sadness, for it underscores their self-perception as victims of history. And it fills them with a sense of virtuous nationalistic purpose. Unification, they feel, is a dream worth sacrificing for.

But, viewed dispassionately, what is unification? Isn't it a land grab? Isn't that why, when one side talks about unification, the other reaches for its guns.












A fertility doctor says that in theory, men could attempt to get pregnant as soon as "tomorrow" thanks to advances in uterus transplant surgeries. But other experts say that such a procedure won't happen anytime soon because many more studies are needed to know whether it could be done safely.

Dr. Richard Paulson, the outgoing president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), said he thinks it would be possible to perform uterus transplants on transgender women, who are born male and transition to female, according to The Telegraph. Speaking at ASRM's annual meeting, he said he sees no biological reason why the procedure wouldn't work in the male body.

"You could do it tomorrow," Paulson was quoted as saying. "There would be additional challenges, but I don't see any obvious problem that would preclude it. I personally suspect there are going to be trans women who are going to want to have a uterus and will likely get the transplant." [The 9 Most Interesting Transplants]

But other experts point out that the procedure isn't even mainstream for women, let alone men.

Uterus transplants are "still highly experimental," said Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics and head of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University's School of Medicine. This means that the procedure is still being studied for its safety and effectiveness in women, and it is performed only as part of experimental trials.

Because of the additional research needed to understand the risks of the procedure and its effect on the fetus, performing a uterus transplant on a man right now would not be responsible, he said. "Surgically, could you put [a uterus] in a man tomorrow? Yeah, but it would be completely irresponsible," Caplan told Live Science.

Dr. Saima Aftab, medical director of the Fetal Care Center at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, agreed that the fertility treatment field has not yet reached the point where this procedure could be done in men.

"Even for women, there's still a reason for caution" as researchers collect more information about the safety procedure, Aftab said. "[We're] still far away from understanding enough to be able to do this safely in men," she said.

Uterus transplants are a relatively new procedure, with only about a dozen transplants performed so far worldwide. In Sweden, doctors have performed nine uterus transplants, and five of these women went on to successfully get pregnant and have children. But a recent uterus transplant in the United States failed after the organ became infected and had to be removed.

There are a number of risks involved with uterus transplantation, Aftab said. The surgery itself is a complicated procedure that requires the organ to be properly connected to the body's veins and arteries so that it has an adequate blood supply. If there is a problem with the blood supply, the organ will start to die, she said. In addition, people who undergo any organ transplant need to take medications to suppress their immune system so that the body does not reject the organ. But these medications can also increase a person's risk of developing infections.

In men, there could be several added risks. The surgery would be more complicated because the "body's anatomy is not naturally designed for there to be space and blood supply for the womb," Aftab said.

In addition, men do not produce the hormones needed to support pregnancy, so they would need a lot of hormone therapy to allow pregnancy to happen, which could introduce additional risks.

Animal studies likely would be needed to examine the doses of hormones needed to support pregnancy in men and to see whether the blood flow to the uterus is adequate after transplantation, Caplan said.

Finally, if a uterus transplant were to be performed on a person with male anatomy, that person would have to give birth via cesarean section because the male pelvis is too narrow for a baby to pass through, Aftab said. A C-section is also a major surgery that comes with risks. (Women who receive a uterus transplant also have to give birth via C-section because labor may be too stressful for the transplanted organ and because recipients do not feel contractions in the same way women who have traditional pregnancies do, according to Scientific American.)

Right now, the risks of the procedure for someone with male anatomy are so great, "it would be very difficult to think it's something that would be feasible in the short-term future," Aftab said. But it's conceivable that with additional research, doctors would get to a point where the risks are much lower, she said.

Original article on Live Science.
U.S. Air Force fighter jets may soon be able to instantly disable enemy targets using invisible, energized beams of light shot from a small, compact laser cannon. The laser-equipped vehicles might call to mind the heavily armed "helicarriers" from Marvel's "Captain America" films.

Yesterday (Nov 6), the U.S. Air Force Research Lab signed a $26.3 million contract with Lockheed Martin to develop high-energy laser weapons that are lightweight and compact enough to be mounted on fighter jets. Lockheed Martin is a defense, aerospace and technology company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.

There's nothing new about laser weaponry, but most laser systems that are powerful enough to be effective are too heavy and bulky to be carried by a plane. Rather, most of these lasers are limited to ground and sea use. But now, that's changing. Lockheed Martin conducted flight tests in 2015 with laser-equipped research planes to determine whether mounting powerful lasers on planes was feasible.

"Earlier this year, we delivered a 60-kW [kilowatt]-class laser to be installed on a U.S. Army ground vehicle," Rob Afzal, a senior fellow of laser weapon systems at Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. "It's a completely new and different challenge to get a laser system into a smaller, airborne test platform. It's exciting to see this technology mature enough to embed in an aircraft." [7 Technologies That Transformed Warfare]

The new contract is part of the LANCE program, or Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments, which seeks to develop a high-power laser that can disable military targets without weighing down the plane carrying the weapon. LANCE, along with research developing targeting and cooling systems, falls within the Air Force Research Laboratory's Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) initiative.

Unlike the colorful, bullet-like lasers that fly back and forth between Stormtroopers and Rebel soldiers in the "Star Wars" films, real-life laser weapons are invisible and travel to their targets at the speed of light. The weapons can be used to destroy or disable rockets, drones and vehicles, sometimes without leaving any external sign of the damage  although some lasers can burn holes into their targets.

Lockheed Martin said that it envisions that lasers, once they become more commonplace and lightweight, better equipping soldiers to disable new threats that didnt exist a few years ago. For instance, lasers could help U.S. armed forces target small, cheap drones or explosives that are hard to hit with traditional guns and defense systems. The company refers to those traditional systems as kinetic weapons, because they launch physical projectiles, such as bullets or missiles.

"I really see laser weapons and kinetic weapons being side by side on the battlefield, and together providing the defense that our forces need against traditional threats  kinetic weapons  emerging, inexpensive proliferated threats  laser weapons," Iain McKinnie, the business development lead for laser sensors and systems at Lockheed Martin said in a video the company produced about laser weaponry.

"This advanced turret design will enable tactical aircraft to have the same laser-weapon-system advantages as ground vehicles and ships," Doug Graham, the vice president of missile systems and advanced programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, said in a statement after the 2015 test flights.

Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin plans to test a high-energy laser weapon mounted on a fighter jet by 2021.

Original article on Live Science.
Water carried by lead pipes in Pompeii had a little something extra  toxic antimony, which likely sickened many residents and may even have been lethal.

When Mount Vesuvius in southwestern Italy erupted in A.D. 79, it engulfed the city of Pompeii so quickly that residents barely had time to react to the impending disaster before it killed them. Their final moments were frozen in time as people were buried in layers of hot ash, their lives snuffed out in moments.

But even before the volcanic eruption, Pompeii was harboring another hidden and potentially deadly threat, one that flowed through its water system and into its homes.

Recent tests of a lead water pipe fragment from the ancient city show evidence of antimony, a highly toxic metallic element that was historically mixed with lead to strengthen it. [Preserved Pompeii: Photos Reveal City in Ash]

Lead pipes, which were widely used as water conduits throughout the Roman Empire, are now known to be a poor choice for carrying drinking water. Though lead is less prone to corrosion than other metals, lead particles leach into water and can build up in the human body, causing lead poisoning. Over time, accumulation of lead in adults can harm the kidneys and the nervous system, and can even cause strokes or cancer, Live Science previously reported. Children and babies are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can lead to developmental delays.

But the metallic element antimony may have posed an even greater threat to the health of the ancient Romans, according to the new analysis of the pipe fragment from a home in Pompeii. Based on the amount of antimony found in the fragment, the city's water supply system would have contained sufficient quantities of the metal to cause daily bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, potentially resulting in severe dehydration and even liver and kidney damage over time, the researchers reported.

Toxic infrastructure

Since the early 18th century, historians have argued that the systems of lead pipes branching through Roman cities would have led to chronic lead poisoning that eventually caused the empire's fall.

But lime in the water likely prevented that, the study authors wrote. In recent decades, other researchers suggested that the inner surfaces of Roman pipes would have quickly calcified with limestone after a few months at most, shielding the water from harmful lead particles thereafter.

However, antimony is much more toxic than lead. Before protective calcite layers formed in the pipes, even small amounts of antimony that seeped into the water would have sickened people very quickly, leading to cardiac arrest in severe cases, the scientists wrote.

To identify the compounds in the pipe fragment, the researchers used a method capable of detecting even small amounts of metallic and nonmetallic elements. They dissolved a sample in concentrated nitric acid and then heated it to 10,832 degrees Fahrenheit (6,000 degrees Celsius) to ionize the elements  adding or removing electrons to change their charge  so they could be identified and analyzed within a mass spectrometer.

Based on their analysis, the antimony concentration in the pipe was about 3,680 micrograms, approximately 0.0001 ounces. This may not sound like much, but in actuality it's an "alarming level" to find in proximity to drinking water, and would have been sufficient to cause serious symptoms of antimony intoxication, the study's authors wrote.

And Pompeii's nearness to the volcano may have made their antimony problem worse than other Roman cities with similar water systems. Antimony occurs naturally in the groundwater close to volcanoes, and Pompeii's proximity to Mount Vesuvius could have provided toxic antimony concentrations in the water that were even higher than in a typical Roman city at the time, according to the study.

As their tests were carried out on only a small fragment of pipe from Pompeii, further tests would be needed to confirm how widespread this problem may have been throughout the Roman Empire, investigating more lead pipes as well as human remains from the period for traces of antimony in their bones and teeth, the researchers noted.

The findings were published online Nov. 5 in the journal Toxicology Letters.

Original article on Live Science.
Kaumatua Ben Hita, of Te Uri o Hau, leads a blessing ceremony in the new workspace.



Mary-Anne Boyd thanked supporters of the Workspace project.



Dr Jason Smith celebrated the fact that people could create art together.



Lea Watson was among the prize winners in the Mangawhai Artists Youth Art Showcase competition.

Mangawhai residents eager to develop their artistic talents will have fresh opportunities to do so, following the opening of the Mangawhai Art Workspace.

The workspace was created by extending the existing Mangawhai Artists Gallery and will be used to host art classes and workshops.

The 62-square-metre workspace was officially opened by Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith before a gathering of around 100 people on December 5.

In 2018, Mangawhai Artists Inc organised a community fundraising campaign that successfully raised $175,000 to construct the space.

Dr Smith told the gathering that projects such as the workspaces didnt happen without the great leadership that exists in communities such as Mangawhai.

He celebrated the fact that the workspace provided an opportunity for people to create art together, rather than being forced to do it at home alone.

I would like to congratulate everyone who is involved with this, he said.

Speaking after the opening, Mangawhai Artists chair Mary-Anne Boyd said the previous gallery space had only limited opportunities to conduct workshops, because of the lack of room and the absence of a toilet.

Now workshops would be able to be conducted year round and half a dozen tutors were already lining up, eager to make use of the space.

She thanked community members for contributing money for the project and also local tradies who had done additional work without charging.

Art plays a significant part in the general wellbeing of a community. It gives people a kind of focal point for connecting with other people, she said.
Sutures and staples are the usual options for closing wounds postoperatively, but they can be painful and require surgical skills. The microMend Skin Closure Device, produced by Seattle-based KitoTech Medical, provides a potentially better alternative.



The design of the microMend is conceptually similar to a bandage, like Steri-Strip. The device is made of a thin adhesive backing with two arrays of tiny microstaples on either side. It is placed across a wound, one side at a time, so that the microstaples can insert into the skin and align the two edges of a wound. The device is flexible enough to allow conformity to a patients movements, and it has a holding strength similar to that of sutures. The microstaples are supposedly painless, and the device can last for as long as it takes for the wound to heal.

The concept was first envisioned by Dr. Ron Berenson, a medical doctor by training and a biotech and medical device entrepreneur for more than 25 years. He was serving as entrepreneur-in-residence at University of Washingtons innovation hub in 2012. While there, he was inspired by UW professor Dr. Marco Rolandi, who was working on a project using tiny chitosan microneedles to heal wounds. Although we ended up using metal rather than chitosan, Dr. Rolandis research got me thinking about the use of microneedles to close wounds, says Berenson. KitoTech Medical was incorporated later that year, with Berenson as CEO, and research began in earnest.

Since then, the company has finalized its design, found manufacturing partners, and completed initial clinical studies with promising results. The company is currently overseeing more clinical studies with about a dozen physicians across several medical specialties, to generate more data on how microMend compares to sutures and staples.

For the patient, microMend confers many advantages. Its tensile strength is almost the same as sutures, but it can close wounds two to three times faster. It leaves a much smaller scar than do sutures or staples. The two-millimeter spacing between each microstaple maintains an even distribution of tension that reduces inflammation and scarring, and provides a more effective barrier that protects the patient from infection.

microMend has advantages for physicians as well. Its easy application results in fewer needle sticks and requires minimal training to use. Simple removal by patients means fewer return office visits, which are typically not reimbursed. Furthermore, as Berenson notes, it is as easy and intuitive to put on as a bandage, making it a time-saving and less expensive approach that could enable a physician to see more patients.

KitoTech Medical is initially focusing on microMends use in dermatologic and plastic surgeries, where speed and cosmetic results are especially important. However, Berenson is quick to point out a wide range of potential applications, including in emergency settings, or vascular, spinal, and laparoscopic surgeries. Its uses may even extend across the broader wound care spectrum; ongoing clinical studies show that its relatively gentle tension can make it effective for closing wounds in the elderly and for more serious avulsion injuries, where skin is often too fragile to suture.

Recently, the device was introduced at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, where it was met with enthusiasm by attending doctors. The team has numerous clinical studies and case studies lined up, and physicians across various specialties are beginning to use microMend.

Its simplicity is deceptive, Berenson says. In fact, the design and development process took years. And that work is paying off  if initial market reception is any indication, microMend is on its way to becoming a major player in the landscape of wound closure products.

To learn more, check out microMends website
by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, November 7, 2017

Political TV advertising can be a hornets nest of fact and fiction.

This comes with the territory; viewers always take messaging with a grain of salt. Or maybe a shaker. However, in an age of increasingly partisan TV news programming, viewers' input can take on a different value for TV executives as they make advertising decisions.

Fox News Channel, MSNBC and others had been running a commercial from California billionaire Tom Steyer that implored viewers to urge their Congressional representatives to push for impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Now Fox News Channel has stopped those commercials. Why? Its not about any TV network standards with regard to a content issue. Its about Fox News viewers' reactions.

Jack Abernethy, co-president of Fox News Group, issued this response: "Due to the strong negative reaction to their ad by our viewers, we could not in good conscience take their money."

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In response, lawyers for Steyer accused Fox News of breaching a contractual agreement to air the commercial. Steyers $11 million campaign has also run on Fox-owned local TV stations and other TV networks. Fox News Channel made the decision to stop the ad on October 31.

Political advertising is different from selling shampoo. Laws protecting consumers from false advertising of consumer products are heavily enforced. TV stations can reject ads for any reason from political groups -- but not political candidates.

Cable TV networks have no restrictions on political advertising. So do TV executives need to take a closer look here, especially concerning future TV brand appreciation?

The confusing part is that Fox News Channel had been running the spot for a week, and then it was cancelled. Add in this wrinkle: The commercial still airs on some Fox TV stations, according to reports.

For many, it is no surprise that one of the Fox News Channel shows where the commercial had been airing was Fox & Friends -- the early show that President Trump reportedly watches daily.

We understand. TV friends can be hard to come by. News programming needs all they can get.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 7, 2017

Google and Salesforce have entered into a partnership to integrate their respective technologies. The deal will allow the companies to share data between Google and Salesforce platforms, gaining insights into consumer behavior across search, email, websites and more.

As part of the deal, businesses will have the ability to integrate Salesforce CRM data with Google search, Google apps, and website data. Salesforce services will be integrated with Calendar, Docs, Gmail, Drive and other G Suite productivity applications.

"As one example, a business can create a group in Google Analytics of qualified leads from Sales Cloud, which can then tie into AdWords or DoubleClick to reach similar audiences," wrote Colin Sebastian, senior research analyst at Baird Equity Research, in a research note published late Monday.

New integrations will connect Salesforce's CRM platform with Google's G Suite, giving businesses the ability to transfer data between the company's respective platforms such as Salesforce Lightning and Quip with Gmail, Hangouts Meet, Google Calendar, Drive, Docs and sheets.

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"We are also thrilled to have Salesforce announce that their core services will run on our Cloud, and that Salesforces Sales and Marketing Clouds will be powering better insights with Google Analytics 360, stated Diane Greene, CEO, Google Cloud.

As part of the agreement, Salesforce has named Google Cloud as a preferred public cloud provider to support the companys growing global customer base. Salesforce plans to use Google Cloud Platform for its core services as part of the companys international infrastructure expansion.

For the first time, companies will have the ability to integrate Salesforce with Google Analytics, connecting sales, marketing and advertising data across Salesforce Sales Cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Google Analytics 360.

The partnership will allow brands to integrate sales, marketing and advertising data. The idea is to share the data between Salesforce's and Google's platforms, allowing marketers to gain insights into consumers through sales, by opening emails, visiting websites, clicking on an ad, or through Google searches.

Eligible Salesforce customers new to Google's productivity and collaboration services will have the ability to use G Suite at no charge for up to one year.

Several integrations between G Suite and Salesforce are available now, but the Salesforce Quip Live Apps integration with Google Drive is expected to become available in the first half of 2018 with any Quip Enterprise License. The integration between Salesforce and Google Analytics 360 is expected to begin to arrive in the first half of 2018 and will be offered at no additional cost.
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Young Japanese star Shohei Otani has hired Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to represent him in his planned move to the majors, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). Nez Balelo will be the lead agent, per the report, wholl help steward Otani through what promises to be a fascinating process.

While news of an agency choice is rarely outwardly exciting, its particularly notable in this case. Otani is severely limited in what he can earn, but will be looking for a team that suits his other preferences  the precise nature of which remain unknown, but which reportedly include a preference to see time as a hitter as well as a pitcher. His representation will also be advising him about marketing and other earning opportunities as well as the possibility of ultimately securing a long-term contract of the type he cannot now obtain due to the international signing restrictions.

CAA, one of the larger agencies in the sport, evidently beat out several other major competitors to land Otani as a client. Some of the outfits notable clients include Japanese players Nori Aoki and Junichi Tazawa. CAA has negotiated quite a few significant extensions, including big contracts for Ryan Braun, Matt Cain, Adam Jones, Buster Posey, and Ryan Zimmerman along with more recent deals for Stephen Piscotty and Jean Segura. The agency also worked on contracts for Robinson Cano, Yoenis Cespedes, and Rusney Castillo in the course of its former partnership with Roc Nation Sports.

The most recent reports on Otanis potential posting suggest all the more reason to take note of this decision. A negotiation impasse threatens to scuttle his move altogether, with the reporting indicating that Otani (through his agent) will likely need to play a role in resolving things. (Youll want to read the full report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post to understand the situation in full, but in essence, the problem is tied to the confluence of international bonus limitations and the proposed modification to the posting system whereby Japanese clubs would receive a percentage of any bonus.)

While Otanis reps work to sort out the transfer situation, teams will no doubt be interested in beginning to learn just what Otani will base his decision on if and when hes formally made available by his current team, the Nippon Ham Fighters. Many have speculated on the points of a decision  the availability of a DH slot, geography, a history of successful Japanese players, willingness to do a significant early extension, etc.  but as of yet nobody really knows how the two-way talent will make up his mind.

As always, you can find the most up-to-date MLB agency information in MLBTRs Agency Database.
Former President of Ghana , John Dramani Mahama has paid a visit to veteran actor Asonaba Kweku Darko affectionately known as Super OD.

This was after the National Democratic Congress Unity Walk in Cape-Coast.

The veteran actor was very excited to see His Excellency John Dramani Mahama in his house as he was visibly happy.

Former President Mahama acknowledged the contribution of Super OD to the Culture and Creative Arts industry and Ghana as a whole.

He wished the veteran actor good health and long long life.

In a separate chat with GhanaPoliticsonline.com, Super OD expressed gratitude towards the entire National Democratic Congress team for showing him so much affection.

The Ex-President was accompanied by Hon Queenstar Pokua Sawyer, former Deputy Minister of Central Region in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress administration and Member of Parliament for Agona East, some National Executives and Central regional executives of the NDC

John Mahama 3

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Veteran Ghanaian actor Fred Amugi has stated that the assumption that Ghanaian politicians are enemies is completely false describing them as people who come from the same womb.

Fred Amugi, who made an appearance on the satirical talk show on TV3, the After Hours Show, also explained that his lack of interest in politics is as a result of the relationship he has established with various governments over the years.

He stated: I hardly talk about politics because I am somebody who has worked with almost all our leaders there at the castle. Its hard for any political party to convince me of what we can or cannot do. And something about all of them, I think they come from the same womb. Sometimes when they surface, is like they are enemies but behind the scenes, they are not

Fred Amugi also explained how he came close to being chosen as a Ga Chief but had to reject it because of his religion and social life.

At some time in my life some bird whispered to me they are calling for a meeting and that they will write you a letter, and I said yes I have that letter and she said then dont go. It will actually tarnish my religious and social life.
In July this year, media company Zylofon Media secured the signatures of five actors in Ghana in what has been described as a big money swoop.

The list includes James Gardiner, Bibi Bright, TooSweet Annan, Zynnell Zuh and Benedicta Gafah.

Six months after signing these talents, Head of Communications at Zylofon Media, Samuel Atuobi Baah admits that the actors have not shot a single movie.

They have not done any [movie] yet, he told Naa Ashorkor on Showzbiz A-Z on Joy FM last Saturday.

Samuel Atuobi Baah further disclosed that the inactivity of the already established actors regarding movie production is due to an ongoing training process the actors are being taken through.

They are going through some training even under Zylofon Media that we believe that when it is time to hit the road, you will see them as matured stars. You will see them as people who have knowledge in the chosen area, he explained.

Mr Baah stressed that there was the need to reorient these actors to better prepare them for movie production.

Responding to the question on whether the musicians signed by the company are also undergoing the same training, he stated that they were already established before joining Zylofon Media.

Most of them [musicians] they were already on the path to stardom. Youve mentioned Stonebwoy, Becca, Joyce BlessingWith them there was no need to go back with them. You need to continue with the process, he asserted.

Samuel Atuobi Baah asked Ghanaians to look out for well-produced movies from the camp of Zylofon Media after the ongoing training.
Former President John Dramani Mahama over the weekend paid a visit to ailing actor Asonaba Kwaku Darko, popularly known as Super OD.

The 82-year-old veteran actor had been out of the publics eye for some time due to his illness and currently resides in Agona Swedru in the Central region.

Former President Mahama, after the Unity Walk by National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Cape Coast, visited his friend to check up on him.

The former President was in the company of some members of the NDC including Allotey Jacobs, Central Regional Chairman; Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman; Nana Oye Lithur, former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection; and actor Clement Bonney (Mr Beautiful).

Allotey Jacobs, on behalf of the former President, presented an undisclosed amount of money to the veteran actor.

In July this year, the leadership of Ghana Actors Guild paid a visit to the actor and presented a mobile phone and an undisclosed amount of money to him.

That delegation included the Guilds President, Samuel Fiscian; Welfare Officer, Secretary, Ziggy Netteyson; and Kalsoume Sinare.

Super OD, started acting in the 1970s and gained national prominence in the 1990s for roles in popular series, Akan Drama on Ghana Television.

He was part of the Oppong Drama Group which later became known as Osofo Dadzie Group.

See photos of former President Mahamas visit below:
Photo credit - Socialwebtactics.com

07.11.2017 LISTEN

How to Boost Your Company's Public Relations With Promotions

1. Study the demographic you wish to target in your promotions. You should understand their socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, genders and other factors that play a role in determining whether and how much of your product or service they would buy.

2. Design your advertisements and promotions to appeal to your targeted customers. Appeals that try to scare the customer into purchasing product to prevent negative situations or that suggest that your product or service is better than a competitors are two types of appeals. Avoid using too much humor in your advertisements as some cultures may misunderstand them, and humor quickly becomes boring.

3. Use a wide range of promotions. Some types of promotions include contests, sweepstakes, rebates, samples and sales of your products and services. Referral programs, new customer discounts and other promotions can also help increase your companys visibility.

4. Work with a local newspaper to get your companys name in print. You might send the newspaper your credentials as an expert in your field and contribute a weekly column. You might also write a press release or get the newspaper to cover a community service your company has provided recently.

5. Network with reporters and editors in your community to develop relationships. When you pitch a story to them that includes mention of your business name, you will have a better chance of a reporter coming to interview you. When your companys name is in print, you may receive invitations to speak at community groups whose members can benefit from your expertise.

6. Select a number of mediums through which you can promote your business at the lowest cost and with the highest exposure. You might consider television, radio, social media, personal contact, email marketing, newsletters or newspapers. Decide when your advertisements will run, considering how often new buyers enter the market, how quickly consumers forget the brand name and seasonal demand for your product or service.
06.11.2017 LISTEN

Usawa Venture Capital has invested the sum of $100,000 in local fintech Logiciel Ghana Limited, in an equity deal.

The investment is aimed at bolstering the companys follow-on capital to fuel its growth.

Logiciel Ghana Limited has the largest microfinance banking software platform in Ghana, powering the operations of over 280 financial institutions in the country.

Logiciels clients include microfinance institutions, credit unions, savings and loans companies, as well as, universal banks in Ghana and Nigeria.

Usawa Venture Capital is a joint venture between 3nity Global, an investment advisory firm in Luxembourg, and Gold Coast Partners in Accra.

Managing partner of Usawa Venture Capital said the move was to support the Africas growing tech industry.

He noted that technology in Africa is on the takeoff and government and investors cannot afford to miss this huge opportunity.

He further emphasized the need for government to develop policies and incentives to support Upcoming tech firms like Logiciel.

Commenting on the transaction, Kabanga Michel Kayembe, founder of 3nity Global, praised the firms commitment to reaching the over 2 million financially underserved individuals impacted through its platform.

CEO of Logiciel Derrick Dankyi expressed appreciation for the donation.

He indicated that technological solutions to microfinance institutions will go a long way to improve financial services among the unbanked population as well as check the cost of credit.

He said when the microfinance institutions are able to check their data and have better records they are able to maintain strong balance and businesses in general.

With the new arrangement, businesses will become more attractive to investors and with the availability of funds from investors, banks can reduce the cost of lending.

Co-founder and CTO of Logiciel, Farida Bedwei stressed the need for more investment in the Ghanaian tech sector.

She explained that investments into the tech sector will create a lot of jobs for the youth and further improve the economy.

The Usawa fund is an impact investment vehicle that invests money in SMEs operating in the agribusiness, financial services and healthcare sectors in West and Central Africa.
06.11.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Ghana, November 6, 2017//-Madam Bola Atta, Group Director of Marketing and Communications of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, a leading pan African banking group operating in 19 countries, has been adjudged the Top Marketing & Communications Professional in West Africa of the Year 2017 at the prestigious Marketing World Awards (MWA) 2017 and Marketing360 summit, held in Accra over the weekend.

The coveted plaque award which was presented by Akin Naphtal, CEO/Group Executive Publisher, Instinct Wave magazine, organisers of the awards and received by Daniel Adjei, an official of UBA Ghana communications team on behalf of Madam Atta, seeks to recognise her outstanding achievement over years in the field of marketing and communications in Africa.

The seventh MWA 2017 also rewarded and celebrated other top individuals that have delivered superior product values to the market and exhibits excellence in upholding concrete marketing strategies, display uniqueness and among offerings convey clear message to their consumers while standing out from the competition.

While some companies were rewarded for their excellent performances across the marketing and communications industry on the African continent.

In all, about 20 companies and individuals were awarded in various categories including emerging brand of the year; iconic brand of the year; digital agency of the year, P.R agency of the year; media agency of the year; brand evolution of the year; special recognition; life achievement; and Top Marketing & Communications Profession in West Africa.

Commenting on the award, Madam Atta , said: I am very honoured to be recognized for this award. I am also really happy to be representing the United Bank for Africa, a brand that is dominating the financial sector on the continent. Hard work definitely pays off

Speaking at the awards night, Akin Naphtal, CEO/Group Executive Publisher, Instinct Wave magazine, organisers of the awards, said: Now in its seventh, Marketing World Awards (MWA) recognises outstanding performances across the marketing and communications industry in Africa.

Organisations and individuals who have delivered superior product values to the market and exhibited excellence in upholding concrete marketing strategies, display uniqueness, convey clear message to its consumers and stood out from the competition, will be rewarded and celebrated.

Designed to promote excellence in banking and marketing, MWA would continue to recognise and celebrate top outstanding marketers who have helped enhanced the image of their organisations and significantly contributed to the countrys economy, Mr Naphtal emphasised.
07.11.2017 LISTEN

The Students of Masters and Doctoral studies at the Institute of Development and Technology Management (IDTM) from the University of Cape Coast have paid a study tour on Schlumberger, a company in the oil and gas sector to study the procedures as part of course work.

The learning tour, was to enable them appreciate development in a more practical manner through a deepened understanding of how industries particularly in the oil and gas sector operated as well as sharpen their research and development skills.

Mr Ebenezer Anuwa-Armah, Senior Lecturer of the Institute told the GNA that the IDTM would continue to deliver world -class professionals through affordable educational and consultancy services with consistent quality and values.

According to him, IDTM trains masters and doctoral students in development research, finance and community service, science and technology and leadership skills including problem -solving approaches and techniques.

Mr Anuwa-Armah said, 'Our students are here to integrate technology transfer and acquire more practical information to enhance experience in the oil industry and come back to the classroom to equate notes.'

'IDTM courses promote industrial research because development does not happen by accident, it's intended, it's a deliberate activity, we train and equip people with the research tools that can generate development,' Mr Anuwa- Armah underlined.

He said the conceptual idea guides students to generate practical solutions to challenges on the field, saying they were opened to opportunities in finance, development, non-governmental organisations, teach or run their own businesses.

The senior lecturer said Ghana needed to bridge the gap between academia and industry adding, industry and academia seems not to be working together, there are no linkages and that is a problem. We need to relook at the syllabus.

The Facility Manager of Schlumberger, Mr Joseph Willie Amoah who took the students round the workshops, explained that security, health and safety were paramount in the company's operations and did not compromise on standards within the industry.

'We are alert at all times and we post Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) messages that ensured compliance with Health Safety and Environment (HSE). We also have an emergency response with fire alarms with evacuation plans stating the muster assembly point from exit to entrance. Again, Schlumberger has a health policy on HIV and AIDS and Ebola'.

Mr Amoah said management encouraged staff to be equipped with all the skills on the field to enable them become 'masters' in the industry from basic safety through logistics to quality assurance and environmental waste management, adding that the policy of Schlumberger was underpinned by technology transfer.

On gender, he stated that the company operated a zero policy whereby every job could be done by a man or woman, stressing 'there is no discrimination.'

He told the students that Ghana needed to add value to the training of manpower to compete on the international job market, explaining that the lack of competency in certain fields posed a challenge to Local Content Law in Ghana.

He noted 'We need to train, build capacity and competencies of our professionals, for example, artisans like welders so that they participate in the new industry, indeed, we need quality training in the industry.'

GNA

By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon, has emerged winners of the 2017 edition of the Model Bridge Contest, an initiative organised by Knight Piesold (KP) Consulting, an engineering firm.

The Contest on the theme: 'Building Bridges- Connecting People,' challenged science departments of senior high schools (SHS) to design a model bridge for construction, using wood, strings and glue.

Other participating schools were Achimota SHS, Accra Girls SHS, Aburi Girls SHS and Nungua SHS.

Achimota SHS who placed second, followed by Accra Girls SHS in third position, Aburi Girls SHS fourth and Nungua SHS taking the fifth position.

PRESEC, the winning school received a projector, a projector screen and a laminator, whiles the second took away a projector and a projector screen, the third had a 40inch Plasma television (tv) set and a laminator, fourth grabbed a 40inch Plasma tv whereas, fifth received a 30inch Plasma tv.

Activities that marked the competition were a bridge display by schools, presentation and demonstration by schools, overview of bridge building rules, bridge inspection and testing by judges, and finally the presentation of awards.

Prior to the contest, the participating students were briefed on the preparation of a model bridge as such; marks were awarded based on bridge efficiency, aesthetics, design and record, and creativity.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Jeffrey Coffin, Regional Manager for KP Consulting, West Africa, said the programme was in line with the company's vision of providing skills training for the youth.

He said as part of the Company's Corporate Social Responsibility, KP Consulting was dedicated to support the educational sector and so decided to highlight civil engineering based on the level of participants.

He further stated that as engineers, it was important to explain to the youth how they use the knowledge acquired in school, to make the world a better place.

Mr Coffin told GNA that the initiative involved team work, understanding roles within the team, thinking through and solving problems, and developing concepts, which portrays what engineering is all about.

He noted that with this year's edition even though all participating schools had access to information; each school came up with innovative and different designs.

Mr Coffin, who lauded the unique skills showcased by the participating schools, again revealed that with subsequent editions, there would be a need to put more design constraints on the bridge building; which according to him would further challenge the students to be more creative.

Madam Ama Nketiah, the Senior Project Engineer at KP Consulting, also told GNA that the company wanted to reach out to the next generation of engineers and teach them about the fundamentals of civil engineering.

She noted that the participating students had had their capacity enhanced to actualize the many dimensions of science learned in class into a practical civil engineering design.

'The initiative since its introduction has received positive feedbacks and would therefore encourage participating students to pursue varies engineering programmes in the universities,' she added.

GNA

By Iddi Yire, GNA
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Parents in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region at the weekend rushed their wards with complaints of various eye conditions to take advantage of the free eye screening exercise organised by Bliss Eye Care, a private eye care service provider.

For many of the parents who trooped to the Nadowli D/A Primary School where the exercise took place, saw the opportunity as one they could not afford to miss.

Some of the parents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said they knew of their wards eye problems but could not take them to the eye clinic for treatment because of monetary challenges.

Mr Bernad Anguopelle, one of the parents said something fell into Juliana, his four-year-old daughter's eye about five months ago and that all efforts by him to remove the particle proved futile.

He noted that the particle was forming in the eye posing a threat that could destroy his daughter's eye, adding 'I thank God that through this exercise, not only has the particle been removed but also free medicine have been given for her to continue to use until the eye completely healed and returned to normalcy'.

'My fears that my daughter's eye could be destroyed has been allayed and I am so happy that she can now happily go to school', he said and thanked Bliss Eye Care for the good work.

Madam Grace Angtiene, Mother of five-year-old Puoriyelle Angtiene said her child behaved like a complete blind person at night as he knocks things around and hoped that through the exercise her child's problem would be solved to enable him also learn at night.

Madam Linda Batumato shared a similar story of her four-year-old child, Nelson. She said Nelson could not see well both day and night and hope to get a solution after going through the screening.

Dr Zakarea Alhassan Balure, an Optometrist and Manager of Bliss Eye Care said the free eye screening and treatment exercise was part of the implementation of the 'Blissful Sight for Kids' project being sponsored by Vision 2020 in Switzerland.

He said the project started in 2016 with the goal of covering school pupils across the entire Upper West Region, adding that a good eye sight contributed greatly to a child's academic performance; a course Bliss Eye Care was committed to achieving through the 'Blissful Sight for Kids' project.

He said those who benefited from the exercise so far, had their eye problems completely solved while others had improved situations when given the free medications and spectacles among others.

Dr Balure disclosed that a total of 355 pupils benefited from the screening in the Nadowli District.

Mr Simon Peter, Regional Coordinator, School Health Education Programme (SHEP) said the project was impacting a lot as he had seen through his monitoring that most of the pupils who hitherto had visual challenges and had been taken care of have improved their performance tremendously at school.

GNA

By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Monday opened an agricultural consultative forum in Peduase in the Eastern Region, to discuss and put together a comprehensive plan to ensure integrated agricultural industry.

The two-day meeting, which was organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, brought together key stakeholders in the agriculture sector, to focus on three thematic areas, including policy framework, technology and innovation as well as agriculture financing.

Vice President Bawumia said the vision of the government to roll out an Agriculture Marshall Plan was to inject renewed energy and the right spirit to re-invigorate the sector and serve as a major pillar to the success of the government's transformation agenda.

'We must feed our population, provide raw materials for industry, sustain our environment and use our natural resources to generate employment, catalyse rural development and create wealth,' he said.

He gave the assurance that, government would make agriculture attractive to women and youth in particular, to engender socio-economic development of the country.

Dr Bawumia said: 'We need to re-orient the skills of small-scale farmers to embrace a modernised approach to the source of their livelihoods.

'Our manifesto pledge dwelled on high regard for all our farmers and it is in keeping with our promises and goes beyond the noble attempt to address land issues using technology and research'.

He said the government would use the Marshall Plan to address issues of improved seeds and other planting materials, issues of optimal pricing, distribution and access to fertilizer, issues of expanded and improved irrigable lands, storage and ware housing, improved food security, accessible and stable markets by commodity exchange, adding; 'This will re-ignite hope towards agriculture'.

'Let's provide confidence for nearly 50 per cent of the labour force in agriculture and attract more of our youth away from the rush of small-scale and illegal mining. Let's re-orient the youth to be more profitable business of agriculture,' he emphasised.

Vice President Bawumia urged smallholder farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, processors and manufacturers, as well as service providers and researchers to actively engage in all aspects of the agricultural value chains as a business, for sustainable economic growth.

He noted that in the past decade and half, the contribution of agriculture to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) had fallen behind services and industry, and thus, falling as low as 0.8 per cent in 2011 partly due to the coming of the production of oil and gas.

The Vice President observed that though the sector improved its contribution to GDP to 2.3 per cent in 2012 and 5.2 per cent respectively.

However, he said, in 2013, the performance of agriculture declined subsequently, prompting some observers to suggest that Ghana's agriculture may be suffering from the conventional Dutch Disease.

He noted that agricultural production suffered because of the flight of labour and capital into more lucrative non-agriculture producing sectors, therefore the Marshall Plan would provide a paradigm shift to the sector and re-invigorate it to contribute meaningfully towards economic growth.

Dr Bawumia mentioned some policy intervention to address the sector's myriad of challenges such as Planting for Food and Jobs to promote crop production and to create jobs, One District One Warehouse to solve storage and some post-harvest difficulties, One District One Factory for value addition and to provide stable markets for produce, while the One Village One Dam in the Savannah Area would provide infrastructural support.

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, also reiterated government's commitment to make a difference in the agriculture sector.

He said government would provide the needed infrastructure to make the Agricultural Marshall Plan successful.

Dr Akoto noted that both the President and his vice were leading the charge for agricultural transformation and that the forum was ample demonstration of the government's efforts to promote genuine agriculture.

He said the government was of great conviction that any efforts towards the development of the economy would only be based on sustainable growth of agriculture.

He said the flagship programme of 'Planting for Food and Job' was leading the drive for sustainable agriculture and that the pilot phase with 200,000 farmers this year had witnessed tremendous success and have high prospect for the economy.

He said the target of reaching a minimum of 1.5 million of the five million farmers by 2020 could not be achieved without the requisite investment in the areas of marketing facilities, agro-processing and other supporting infrastructure.

GNA

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Passengers will now be able to fly directly to and from Accra, Freetown and Banjul via ASKY Airlines.

The Airline also has a four-time weekly flight to Monrovia.

The Pan-African Airline has realigned its schedules with that of its strategic Partner, Ethiopian Airlines to be able to link these destinations in West Africa to the rest of the world via ET's hub in Addis Ababa.

Mr Worlanyo Afadzinu, the Country Manager, ASKY Airlines, told the GNA that this was a direct flight that would offer the travelling public options and easy flying between these cities on a safe and comfortable Airline.

Mr Afadzinu, speaking at the commencement of the maiden flight to these destinations, said the patronage was encouraging and management was happy and assured its clients that they would endeavour to serve them better.

He said this was a three-time weekly flight from Accra to Freetown and Banjul.

He said as part of the strategic partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, the Airline would bring passengers from all over the world through its hub in Addis Ababa into Accra and ASKY connects them to Freetown, Banjul and Monrovia.

Mr Afadzinu said the Airline was operating the new generation of aircrafts like the B737.

He called on its clients to endeavour to patronise the resumed route, since it was convenient and safe for the traveller.

The Country Manager said the Airline had also structured it in a way that, management gives extra baggage allowance to both the economic and business class clients.

He said with the idea to promoting connectivity on the continent of Africa, it was also providing high means of revenue to the Ghanaian government and promoting Ghana in the process for passengers to experience the country.

"Management is really happy with the maiden flight to these destinations and commended its travel partners and media for their support,' he added.

ASKY is the pan-African airline that was created by regional institutions: the Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the ECOBANK Group.

ASKY is a commercial company under private law and managed by experienced professionals from Africa.

ASKY the Pan African airline currently operates a fleet of eight New Generation aircrafts, one (1) Boeing 737 - 800, three (3) Boeing 737-700 and four (4) Dash Q-400. ASKY now serves 22 cities in 20 countries on the African continent.

Some of the destinations are Abidjan, Abuja, Cotonou, Lagos, Bissau, Niamey, Brazzaville, Bamako, LomA, YaoundA, Libreville and Ouagadougou.

GNA

By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - Ms Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has launched a biodegradable Fish Aggregating Device (FADs) pilot study in Accra.

She said the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) biodegradable FADs study, which was being coordinated by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), would help in addressing some of the challenges facing the fishing sector, and ensure sustainable management of oceans, seas and marines resources.

The launch on Monday, was witnessed by persons including Directors of the Fisheries Commission, as well as representatives of the Ghana Tuna Association, the ABNJ project Coordinators and some members of the fishing industry.

Ms Quaye explained that for centuries fishers have known that fish were attracted to and congregate around naturally occurring floating objects, and that by placing their own floating objects in the sea, the fish would aggregate around them making catching easier.

These man-made objects, she said, were known as FADs and they could be either drifting or anchored, and since these methods could improve fish catches, the study would be examining the merits of using anchored FAD programmes.

According to her, Ghana like other developing nations was confronted with challenges involving marine pollution, the destruction of its ecosystem, as well as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing activities among other things.

She said the adoption of the use of FADs by the local fishing sector since the 1990s for artisanal, commercial and industrial purposes, although might have had some positive impact, had been abused leading to several negative effects.

Ms Quaye said majority of these modern FADs entangle, wedge, trap or ensnare tuna, sharks and turtles and their use have raised several questions on its interaction with these species and their sustainability.

She said the health of the oceans had deteriorated as a result of poor planning, bad fishing practices and poor sanitation among other factor, which has gravely affected the marine resources.

She said micro plastics and other non-biodegradable materials continue to destroy fishes and large marine mammals not only in Ghana, but all over the Atlantic Ocean, citing also that the use of monofilament nets and their attendant resultant problems of ghost fishing after the active life of the net was just one issue all fisheries managers frowned upon.

In some areas this has raised concerns about the potential negative impacts on fisheries and the marine environment as they have led environmental and conservation groups to lobby for FAD-free caught tuna, particularly in industrial type tuna fisheries.

The Minister said the local tuna industry was one of the important areas of the fishery sector with a lot of promise for the future under the management of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as it was important to all costal states.

Ms Quaye said the use of biodegradable FADs, which would not entangle fishes and create undue ecological imbalance in the environs, has been raised by both fishers and managers at large and it was believed that ICCAT was taking a giant step to ensure safe fishing and in an environmentally friendly manner.

She said it was expected that all contracting parties to the ICCAT used these biodegradable FADs by 2018, adding that the Ministry was very much concerned about the health of the oceans and other water bodies, and would support all endeavours to make them better for a clean blue economy.

She appealed to the tuna sector operators who were the major beneficiaries to see the use of these FADs as an important step to the sustainability of the fisheries industry, and urged that they pledged their total support to make the project successful.

She also asked that the findings from the study be widely shared.

Mr Kim Stobberup, the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Specialist with the FAO, said the five-year project would introduce new practices and methods among other things, to support the use of biodegradable FADs for both sustainable fishing and the environment.

GNA
The President will not sack Ghanas High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi-Boateng, despite calls by a section of the public for him to do so.

Mr Ayisi-Boateng earned the wrath of some Ghanaians when declared at an event for youth of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he will put their interests above other Ghanaians in the discharge of his duties as Ambassador.

He defended his comment in the early days of fierce criticisms over the comment that many say was discriminatory and undiplomatic.

However, he was overwhelmed by heightened public criticism and he offered an apology for his comments. Calls for him to be removed then started.

Campaigners for Ayisi-Boateng to be removed from office, particularly the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have been waiting with bated breath for a swift action in line with their call from the Flagstaff House.

Related: MPs mount pressure on Akufo-Addo for Ayisi-Boatengs dismissal

But Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has revealed the President Nana Akufo-Addo has accepted the apology rendered by the High Commissioner and has decided to give him another chance.

Related: Mahama condemns Ayisi-Boatengs apology of an apology letter

Mustapha Hamid said because the Ambassador has apologised and retracted the comments there was no need to take further action because it is morally right to forgive those who show remorse for their trespasses and beg for forgiveness.

The president has accepted the apology and has decided to give Mr Ayisi-Boateng a second chance to represent Ghana in South Africa, the Information Minister said Monday on Akan language current affairs programme Ekosi Sen on Asempa FM.

Related: I would advise Akufo-Addo to sack Ayisi-Boateng  Kwaku Baako

Mustapha Hamid, Information Minister

The turn of events will surely be seen as a smack in the face of the opposition whose call for the diplomat has been in unison.

Recently, former President John Mahama joined the call for Mr Ayisi-Boateng's removal.

The former President had urged Nana Akufo-Addo to show leadership by showing Ayisi-Boateng the exit.a

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Among the lines of small mud houses, plastic litter and piles of parched earth, children gaze skywards at a shiny blue tank perched on steel legs.

It holds a vital resource of which they have been deprived for years: water.

In a world where more than a billion people lack access to water, residents of this dusty corner of Gao, the main city in Mali's sprawling arid north, know the terrifying consequences of drought -- and today is a time for celebration.

"Before, I had to walk three or four kilometres to go and get water with jerrycans. Sometimes I had to queue all day," said Hawa Kante, a mother of six who had dressed up in a black and yellow turban, immaculate white blouse and gold jewellery for the inauguration of the well.

"I was obliged to take my little ones to help me carry the water, they were not able to go to school," she said.

After years of French forces fighting a jihadist insurgency in the west African country's north, building up infrastructure is part of a renewed focus to win over local hearts and minds -- a campaign to help stabilisation.

The well was built by a local company and funded by France's Barkhane mission -- an anti-terror operation involving some 4,000 troops across the Sahel region, a vast stretch of territory on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

In this former French colony, French troops have not always been welcomed.

But today is a victory in the battle against grinding poverty and is something to celebrate. Swarms of children wave Malian flags, excitedly singing along to the beat of drums, as others dance and clap.

Nearby, other children sit on the sandy ground alongside a French soldier, his rifle slung over his shoulder, while other troops hand out mango juice and cakes to local people.

The well has six taps and an automatic pumping system that runs on solar energy, capable of drawing up water from 80 metres (262 feet) deep into a 10-cubic-metre (10,000-litre) tank.

It aims to transform the lives of 6,000 local residents, and some 25,000 people living in the surrounding area, who previously had to walk many kilometres to access a water source.

The 'situation was critical'

"In 2015, a two-year-old child died here due to the lack of water. It is what motivated us to act," said Boureima Keita, a member of a group calling itself the Young Patriots.

"The water stocks were insufficient, the situation was critical," Keita said, explaining that the population of Gao has grown again since jihadists were cleared from the city in 2013.

The well was funded by France's Barkhane mission and built by a local company.

His group asked French troops to help tackle the water crisis, as supplies delivered by tanker trucks had failed to meet demand.

The Barkhane mission responded by offering 10,000 euros ($11,600) in financing.

"We have a common history with Mali, the relations between France and Mali are old, they did not start with Barkhane," said French Colonel Arnaud Cervera, outlining other military initiatives to help local communities, including supplying medicine and computers for schools.

NGOs say irregular rainfall and political instability in Mali have left as many as four million people lacking safe water, with the centre and north of the landlocked country suffering from grave shortages.

More than 4,000 children die before the age of five every year due to diarrhoea caused by poor water and sanitation, according to charity WaterAid.

"Water is life, so today after the installation of this well, women go about their business and children go to school," said Keita.
Clinical Psychologist, Adolf Awuku-Bekoe, has blamed rising cases of child sexual abuse on a lack of proactive initiatives by state agencies mandated to protect the rights of children.

The state has a responsibility to protect children. I think that the state is reneging on its responsibility in terms of its responding agencies; talk about the Department Social Development, talk the police and other agencies, he said.

Mr Awuku-Bekoe cites the unavailability of a recognised and functioning shelter for abused children in the country as a credible sign that we are not serious, in terms of protection of childrens rights.

He has described situation as a care crisis, which must be checked quickly.

The clinical psychologist was speaking on A Walk with Jesus, a religious programme that airs on Joy FM on Sundays.

I want to make a passionate appeal to the President that the centre for managing childrens issues is not holding, he said.

Joy FM has been focusing on stories of defiled girls with its campaign #JusticeforKids, to help deal with issues of defilement including situations where many girls are left to fend for themselves after their perpetrators are jailed.

The campaign was triggered after several reported cases of alleged rape in the Central regional town of Assin Adadientem including the defilement of a four-year-old by another minor.

Recently, a Supreme Court Judge, Mrs Sophia Ophelia Adjeibea Adinyira, recommended the amendment of Ghanas criminal laws to make defilement a first-degree felony in a bid to stem the rising menace.

Mr Awuku-Bekoe said on A Walk with Jesus although parents have a role to play in preventing child sexual abuse, the state has fallen in its responsibility so much that discussion of the matter now goes beyond parenting.

We may just address the symptoms if we are only looking at what parents can do anytime, but that is at the micro-level...what happens if you report and the police doesnt handle the report very well..? he quizzed to say that the responding agencies, including traditional leaders, have a greater role to play to curb the menace.

He urged churches, civil society groups and allied stakeholders to embark on a "massive public education" to arrest the situation.

However, an Elder of the Church of Pentecost, Amos Kevin Annan, who was also a guest on the programme said although the call for state agencies to be proactive is good, parents can also play their part to educate children.

"We cannot throw our arms into despair," he said to buttress the point that an ineffective responding state agency must not mean parents should not play their role.

Accurate statistics on child sexual abuse cases are hard to find, however, a 2016 report revealed that a total of 5,752 children were defiled in Ghana between 2010-2014.

342 of the cases perpetrated by family members of the victims.

Statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, shows that 1,298 cases were reported in 2014 with only eight of the victims being males.
Folks, utterances made by ex-President Mahama in assessing the drift of governance under Akufo-Addo has opened a can of worms and exacted the kind of reaction that makes the NPP camp come across as amateurish.

Mahama jabbed the NPP administration from several angles, mocking it for its awkwardness in implementing policies and for its abject incompetence thus far.

He spoke on a range of issues at Cape Coast at the end of the NDC's version of "Unity Walk" there. And, boy, did he step on toes!!!

His comments were apt and pointed. They hit hard at the inadequacies of the NPP administration, which Dr. Bawumia chose to react to, making utterances that ended up deepening his negative public posturing instead of adding value to him as the Vice President. No wonder that he is perceived as still stuck in the electioneering campaign mode instead of doing things and talking as the Vice President of Ghana should do.

He is still running the fool's errand, his official purview having been usurped surreptitiously by Basket Mouth, Yaw Osafo-Marfo, the chief hatchet man of the Akyim Mafia. In effect, Dr. Bawumia's reaction to ex-President Mahama's observations don't cut butter.

Dr. Bawumia shouldn't forget that ex-President Mahama rose through the ranks to become the fount of authority/power in Ghana---something that Dr. Bawumia hasn't got the knack for and cannot accomplish in the camp of the ethnocentric NPP cabal. (Ayisi-Boateng's foolishness suggests more than what has been teased out thus far. Discerning minds know better what the red flags popping up imply.)

Many years ago, John Mahama was where Dr. Bawumia is today; and from the template already being woven, Dr. Bawumia should have known by now that he seems destined not to go beyond this stage in his political career.

He was in public service at the Bank of Ghana and got roped into the NPP's kind of rogue politics to be used for purposes that he is slavishly serving. In effect, Dr. Bawumia is not a politician but a public servant. That explains why he talks "by heart".

Unlike him, John Mahama began his political career from the grassroots and rose to become a Minister, Vice president, and President of Ghana. As a former President, he knows more than the political neophyte parading as Dr. Bawumia does. Can Dr. Bawumia see the difference and behave properly?

And for the records, let it be known that John Dramani Mahama is the first Ghanaian politician to have risen through the ranks to become the President. The only former Vice President to become the President of Ghana!! And he didn't do so through subterfuge but because he worked hard for it.

Of course, monkeys play by size. As a Vice President, not everything about governance is available to Dr. Bawumia. The fount of authority/President has the hang of things, much of which he won't reveal to his Vice President, especially in a situation where the "Yen Akanfuo" ideology reigns supreme in Akufo-Addo's agenda for governance. And Dr. Bawumia isn't exposed to inner-circle discussions and schemes (which the Akyim Mafia under Akufo-Addo has control over).

I urge the NDC to sustain this "Unity Walk" agenda and to use it to advantage.

So far, this version of the "Unity Walk" in Cape Coast has brought out many issues from the NDC camp that threaten the NPP administration's public image. Even as I expect more work to be done by the NDC beyond staging such "Unity Walks", I suppose that the event serves useful purposes and should be sustained. It should create the forum for frontal attacks on the lame-duck Akufo-Addo administration, especially if it will be used properly to countermand the treachery of the mass media lying in bed with the NPP.

I have been monitoring their misrepresentation of the "pigs" analogy made by ex-President Mahama and how they've shamefully eaten back their own vomit!!

More of those, folks. And the occasion should be used for party-building as well and pinpointed damnation of the clueless Bawumia and Akufo-Addo administration. Only then will they feel the pinch.

I shall return
There appears to be panic and disappointment among some Ghanaian youth who are prospective applicants of the Diversity Lottery Visa Program following an announcement by US President, Donald Trump to terminate the programme.

Donald Trump called for the end of the programme, which awards visas to about 50,000 people every year.

According to him, a suspect who carried out a recent terror attack killing eight persons and injuring several others in New York, came into the country through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

President Trump's intention for the termination of the program which has provided opportunities to about 100,000 applicants from Africa with Ghana inclusive, has heightened concerns among prospective applicants of the program in Ghana.

Since its inception, over one million immigrants have had the opportunity to be admitted to the United States from across the world.

Applicants from around the world, whether applying alone or with their families, do so with the same aim of trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.

At one of the application centers Citi News visited at Krofrom in Kumasi, Citi News met a 19-year old Senior High School (SHS) leaver, Ibrahim Alhassan.

Growing up, Alhassan has seen poverty after the death of his father, whilst he was only two (2) years old.

His widowed mother singlehandedly looked after him, and now he has completed the Antoa Senior High School.

Alhassan has decided to give the program a try, hoping his luck will shine.

Since I was a little boy, I lost my father. So I want to work hard and achieve something in the future to cater for my mother. That is why I have come to apply for the Lottery Visa Program maybe I have a chance of winning the lottery so I can travel abroad and one day come to look after her.

He was confident of his ability to make a living in a foreign land where he knows no one.

I have done a lot of work here in Ghana. I have even gone into waste collection, I have been a conductor and I am now a mechanic. So working in America will not be a difficult task since the working conditions there and here are not the same.

Apart from Alhassan, there were a number of anxious young people at the center with similar ambitions in their quest to travel abroad through the program.

One of these applicants who is applying for the eighth time, said I have come to register for the America lottery 2017. The living conditions in Ghana are not all that good. Though I work for a private company, but the salary they give me is very low. So I have the intention of going abroad to get a well-paid job to take care of myself and my family.

But Mr. Trump's sudden announcement borne out of one incident involving a terrorist who came into the state through the programme, has rather brought disappointment to young people like Alhassan, who troop the Visa Lottery registration centers every day.

The operator of the registration center who preferred to remain unnamed also feared he will be rendered jobless if the program is terminated.

When I heard that the program was going to be terminated, I felt unhappy because this has been the job I have done since I completed Senior High School four years ago, and I was not able to continue because of money.

Should the directive be adhered to, leading to the termination of the Visa Lottery program, the hopes of young Africans who want to seek a better life abroad through the program will be dashed.

1.7 million Ghanaians applied for US visa lottery in 2015

About 1.7 million Ghanaians applied for the US visa lottery in 2015 .

The number, which is the highest from a single country represented 12% of the total 14 million people who applied within that year.



By: Hafiz Tijani/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
Bedbugs have invaded Kalpohin Senior High School in the Tamale Metropolis where some of the students have been exposed to insanitary conditions and bad weather.

The school like others, is also facing serious infrastructure problems due to the implementation of the free SHS programme, forcing some of them to sleep on the schools veranda.

The influx of these tiny blood sucking insects called bedbugs is as a result of overcrowded dormitories there.

The school is located at Kalpohin Estates, and it is closer to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council.

Kalpohin, Nyanshegu, Salamba and Tishigu, are the four houses there, and some of the dormitories are converted classroom blocks.

Comparable to Vitting Senior High School, scores of students of Kalpohin Senior High School sleep on verandas, in classroom blocks, the Mosque and in the open.

Valuables including books, bags, chop boxes and student mattresses are kept outside.

About 60 female students who share 25 beds in a Citi News interview, narrated their ordeal saying, In the girls dormitory, some of us are lying down on the floor and there are some insects called bedbugs, they disturb us a lot if you are lying down.

The beds are not enough and we are about 60 in number and we are sharing 25 beds. Some sleep up and some sleep down and some of us sleep on the floor.

They appealed to government to fix the infrastructure deficit there. Since we reported to school last month as first years we sleep on the veranda.

We don't have a place to sleep. Some sleep at the Mosque and even in class we don't have a place to sit because there are no furniture for us and so we are appealing to government to come to our aid.

Our MPs from Tamale Metropolis they need to come to our aid. There is inadequate infrastructure for us and so we need government to come and build enough infrastructure for us especially the first years.

Following Citi News' earlier report about the dire situation at Vitting Senior High School, government has promised to fix the myriad problems there.

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed visited the school and pledged government's support.

According to him, the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the regional directorate of education will liaise with the Ministry of Education and the GETfund secretariat to fix the problems.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) has signed a partnership agreement with two great Bronx organizations, the Bronx African American History Project and the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action. The purpose of this partnership is to promote tourism, commerce, cultural exchange and academic research involving Cape Coast and the City of Bronx, United States of America.

With this agreement, the Department of African American Studies at the Fordham University will use its infrastructure and platform to promote Cape Coast as a tourism destination of choice in Africa. The first fruit of this partnership will see CCMA presenting a traditional music and dance company to the United States of America in February 2018 to attend Fordham Universitys official Black History Month programme.

The partnership agreement was signed during an investments tour to the United States of America by a delegation from the Central Region. The tour which was put together by the Cape Coast Metro Investments Desk and Malaika Media Network, Accra took the delegation to the Fordham University, the City of Rochester and Manhattan where the delegation met the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Investments tour was sponsored by Fordham University with support from the City of Rochester, New York.

The delegation included, Hon. Kwamena Duncan, the Central Regional Minister who was also the leader of the delegation, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, President, Oguaa Traditional Council, Hon. Bismark Baisie Nkum, District Chief Executive, Gomoa West District and Kojo Ampah, a businessman.

At Fordham University, Hon. Arthur made a presentation on Cape Coast Tourism and Development Initiative to students and faculty members. He used the opportunity to invite American students to consider Cape Coast for internship and volunteering programmes.

Hon. Ernest Arthur also paid a courtesy call on Mayor Lovely A. Warren, the Mayor, City of Rochester, New York. The two Mayors exchanged gifts and had discussions on collaborations between the two cities. Consequently, a committee was set up to work on establishing a Sister-City relationship between the two cities aimed at sharing ideas and supporting each other in the areas of sanitation and poverty eradication.

Finally, Hon. Arthur and the delegation met the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to discuss investment opportunities in Cape Coast and Central Region at large. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the largest Hispanic business organisation and represents 4.1 million Hispanic businesses in the US. It contributes in excess of $661 billion to the American economy. The Regional Coordinating Council and the Chamber are expected to sign a partnership agreement to promote investments and trade between Ghana and Latin America States.

Meanwhile, Hon. Ernest Arthur will leave Ghana tomorrow, Tuesday November 7, 2017 to Germany on the invitation of the Mayor of Bonn, Ashok Alexander and Engagement Global/Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) to attend a gathering of local and regional governments at the 23rd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) to be held in Bonn, Germany.

Whilst in Germany, Hon. Ernest Arthur will hold discussions with the Mayor of Bonn on the four-year project for the restoration of Fosu Lagoon and also exchange ideas about further options for future cooperation between Cape Coast and the City of Bonn.

Hon. Ernest Arthur is expected to return to Ghana on Tuesday November 14, 2017.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has debunked news reports written by Star Fms Ashanti Regional correspondent, Isaac Bediako Justice, about using vigilante group Delta Force to relocate traders and transport operators from unapproved areas in the city to the Race Course.

In a release signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the assembly, Okumah Nyame Godwin, it said the relocation exercise of the traders and transport operators is been supervised by a joint security task force led by DSP Kingsley Kwame Kawodie.

It explained that the task force is made up of the Military, the Ghana Police, the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO, KMA Metro Guards, and the representatives of the traders and transport operators.

So far as the assembly is concerned, we have not engaged the services of the Delta Force gorup for this decongestion exercise, we only deal with the military, the police and other security agents, led by DSP Kinglsey Kwame Kawodie. It will be very surprising that one will say we are using Delta Force in this exercise, he bemoaned.

With the caption KMA Recruits Delta Force to Evict Traders on Monday, November 6, 2017, starrfmonline.com accused the KMA of engaging members of the Delta Force, a pro NPP vigilante group to evict traders and transport operators from unapproved areas in the city.

The assembly is therefore demanding an unqualified apology from the reporter and starfmonline.com, and to desist from such act that might destroy their peaceful media relationship.

The release also rejected claims that the traders are protesting against the decision of relocating them to Race Course, claiming the new space provided for them is uncompleted and not fit for trading activities.

It must also be put on record that no point during the relocation meetings did the leadership of the traders and the transport operators kicked against the Assemblys decision to relocate them to Race Course, he said.

He therefore admonished media practitioners to always cross-check their information with the Assemblys Public Relations Unit to avoid publishing hoax reports on issues concerning the assembly.
I have heard lots of Ghanaians seeking for an apology from the former President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for his description of the President and all Ghanaians as pigs, and also the Flagstaff House as a Pig Pen, but I can only advise them to kill their expectation because he is not going to give any to them due to the fact that it was deliberate and intentional on his part to insult Ghanaians the way he did, and if any apology will even emanate from his quarters, it will just be as fake as that of Hon. Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament(MP) for Bawku Central after he intentionally wrongly accused some of his colleague Members of Parliament of corruption.

This has in fact not been the first time H.E Mahama, and sometimes through his cronies have deliberately attacked the personality of Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and Dr. Bawumia without any apology, they constantly labeled him as a dwarf and retarded, and Ghanians in general have also not been spared, H..E Mahama has actually in the past labeled Ghanaians as ungrateful, liars, and sometimes their views as baloney.

The "Animal Farm's" twist of the issue by the former President's Desperados in their desperate attempt to defend and cleanse the uncouth statement can only be flashed down the water closet because of how hollow that explanation is, in fact, it could never be a coincidence that two months after Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, MP for Tamale North described the entire 54 percent of Ghanaians who voted for the New patriotic Party, in addition to its other sympathizers as pigs, and mixed with his huge criticism for that, H.E Mahama would also make a similar statement.

The above explanation can only conclude that the constant label of NPP members and sympathizers, and Ghanaians in general as "PIGS" is a very deliberate plan, which has only not be thought of or planned by H.E Mahama and Hon. Suhuyini, but it has rather been strategical designed by the entire NDC to continuously describe any opponent of theirs as such.

Thank you

Hhhmm, may God be praised always

Nana Kwadwo Akwaa
In 2006, The Whistleblowers Act was passed to protect individuals who leak important information bordering on crime to the security agencies and reward them accordingly.

In 2013, Parliament improved it by approving amendment to the Act to give more protection to `those who may volunteer information on crime to the security services. If the idea behind passing the Whistleblowers Act was that it will end corruption or reduce it drastically, hindsight has thought us that everyone was wrong.

The only time the Whistleblowers Act works is when the culprit is an ordinary turkey thief like Kofi Asante who was sentenced for 10 years a couple of weeks ago for stealing two turkeys belonging to his neighbour. The fact that he confessed and pleaded for clemency did not prevent the judge from giving him more punishment than some rapist received.

The Whistleblowers Act doesnt move our Security and anti-corruption Agencies when the accused is linked to the NDC or NPP.

It is the inactiveness of State Institutions that partly instigated many Ghanaians to vote for Nana Akufo Addo, the man touted as incorruptible by his colleagues to once and for all make corruption unattractive and punish those who decide to live on the food meant for many alone

Ten months into his government, like ordinary whistle blowers, a lot of allegations have been made against former government appointees and associates in relation to corruption but none has been prosecuted so far.

Every week is dominated by one wild allegation or the other against the former government but they all end up as topics for discussion.

Governments position is that the Almighty Special Prosecutor will deal with the issues one by one with none escaping.

Until the Special Prosecutor starts working, allegations of corruption from the President, Vice President and even the Attorney General is as good an allegation from an ordinary whistle blower with the only difference being the media making it an Agenda for our national discourse when the blower of the whistle is in government.

How long are government functionaries going to make wild corruption allegations without any frantic effort from State Institutions to interrogate the matter?

Does governments plan to use the Special Prosecutor prevent these state institutions from doing their constitutionally mandated duty?

The Special Prosecutor is one of the many politicisation of the fight against corrupt that has taken us nowhere and brought state institutions mandated to fight the canker on their knees.

The most important step to indicate our commitment to fighting corrupt should be empowerment of existing institutions and giving them the tools and more freedom to work.

Our State Institutions have enough legal backing to fight any kind of crime. The only hindrance is interference from politicians who unfortunately have become the loudest in exposing corruption despite being the guiltiest.

If the politicians cant appoint, fire or promote people in these agencies, they will have the confidence to work and deal with corrupt people.

President Akufo-Addo can be an exception to the rule if he is indeed incorruptible as we have been made to believe by strengthening these institutions to champion the fight.

The Special Prosecutor can be an addition and not the substitute because we have people paid with TAX payers money to fight the rot.

If the allegations made against the previous government are not mere political gimmicks for attracting votes and diverting attention from the shortcoming of this government, then I dont see why the Attorney Generals Department in collaboration with the relevant institutions cannot deal with some of the allegations.

Additionally, nothing stops the President from attaching another Deputy Minister to that Ministry with the singular duty of dealing with these issues.

We are gradually getting to the point where allegations of corruption against public officials carry no weight because it has become a mere anthem.

As government awaits the never arriving Special Prosecutor, as current appointees make their own mistakes, the moral right to take action and the fear of being at the receiving end when power changes hands will result in a compromise.

This is why immediate action was needed to send a signal to those currently at the helm of affairs that corruption wont be condoned

We need State Institutions capable of bringing corrupt people in and out of government to book.

From all indications, the special prosecutor will come and deal with NDC thieves. What happens to NPP thieves? Do they have to go to opposition before the law can be applied to them?

If people have indeed stolen money as we have been made to believe, are we waiting for them to spend it or make profit off it before pushing them to refund.

I am particularly tired of the allegations and using same allegations to equalise and justify alleged wrong doing in this government.

The allegations of corruption have lost the spark; those accused no longer feel embarrassed: action is needed to back the wild claims.

A government with the power to act cannot behave like a powerless whistle blower and waste our ears on daily basis with much ado about nothing

Enough of the talking: its time to get ahead of the Special Prosecutor and act.

Isaac Kyei Andoh
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has ruled out any peace deal that allows for the independence of the Western Sahara as the United Nations renews efforts to resolve the decades-old dispute.

A UN peacekeeping force has been deployed in the former Spanish colony since 1991 with a mandate to organise a referendum on its independence or integration with Morocco.

Morocco agreed to the vote in a 1988 agreement with the pro-independence Polisario Front that ended 13 years of conflict but has since blocked it being held, saying it will accept only autonomy for the territory.

"No settlement of the Sahara affair is possible outside the framework of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara and the autonomy initiative, whose seriousness and credibility the international community has recognised," the king said in a televised address on Monday.

His speech marked 42 years since hundreds of thousands of Moroccan civilians marched across the border to lay claim to the mineral-rich territory.

The "Green March" triggered war with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front which had been campaigning for independence for the territory since 1973.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in April that called for a new push for talks between Morocco and the Polisario.

The new UN envoy, former German president Horst Kohler, held talks with both sides last month.

The king said Morocco was committed to contributing to the "new momentum" desired by the United Nations and to cooperating with the new envoy.

But he said it would categorically reject "any overreach, any attempt to undermine the legitimate rights of Morocco".

The king said Morocco would press ahead with its own plans for the development of the Western Sahara, regardless of the progress of the new peace push.

"We are not going to sit idly by waiting for the solution to be found," he said.

"We will continue to stimulate the development of our southern provinces and provide their people with the conditions for a free and dignified life."

Tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees have lived for decades in desert camps run by the Polisario in neighbouring Algeria.

Spread over 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 square miles) where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Western Sahara is the last territory on the African continent whose post-colonial status has yet to resolved.

Morocco controls all of the territory's main towns. The Polisario controls parts of the desert interior.

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared by the Polisario is a member of the African Union and recognised by many African governments.

Morocco's claim to the territory is supported by the Arab League.

The conflict has poisoned relations between Morocco and Algeria for decades. The land border between the North African neighbours has been closed since 1994.
The two teeth are from small, rat-like creatures that lived 145 million years ago in the shadow of the dinosaurs. They are the earliest undisputed fossils of mammals belonging to the line that led to human beings.

They are also the ancestors to most mammals alive today, including creatures as diverse as the Blue Whale and the Pigmy Shrew. The findings are published tomorrow in the Journal, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, in a paper by Dr Steve Sweetman, Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth, and co-authors from the same university.

Dr Sweetman, whose primary research interest concerns all the small vertebrates that lived with the dinosaurs, identified the teeth but it was University of Portsmouth undergraduate student, Grant Smith who made the discovery.

Dr Sweetman said: Grant was sifting through small samples of earliest Cretaceous rocks collected on the coast of Dorset in Southern England as part of his undergraduate dissertation project in the hope of finding some interesting remains. Quite unexpectedly he found not one but two quite remarkable teeth of a type never before seen from rocks of this age. I was asked to look at them and give an opinion and even at first glance my jaw dropped!

The teeth are of a type so highly evolved that I realised straight away I was looking at remains of Early Cretaceous mammals that more closely resembled those that lived during the latest Cretaceous - some 60 million years later in geological history. In the world of palaeontology there has been a lot of debate around a specimen found in China, which is approximately 160 million years old. This was originally said to be of the same type as ours but recent studies have ruled this out. That being the case, our 145 million year old teeth are undoubtedly the earliest yet known from the line of mammals that lead to our own species.

Dr Sweetman believes the mammals were small, furry creatures and most likely nocturnal. One, a possible burrower, probably ate insects and the larger may have eaten plants as well. He said:

The teeth are of a highly advanced type that can pierce, cut and crush food. They are also very worn which suggests the animals to which they belonged lived to a good age for their species. No mean feat when youre sharing your habitat with predatory dinosaurs!

The teeth were recovered from rocks exposed in cliffs near Swanage which has given up thousands of iconic fossils. Grant, now reading for his Masters degree at The University of Portsmouth, said that he knew he was looking at something mammalian but didnt realise he had discovered something quite so special. His supervisor, Dave Martill, Professor of Palaeobiology, confirmed that they were mammalian, but suggested Dr Sweetman, a mammal expert should see them.

Professor Martill said: We looked at them with a microscope but despite over 30 years experience these teeth looked very different and we decided we needed to bring in a third pair of eyes and more expertise in the field in the form of our colleague, Dr Sweetman.

Steve made the connection immediately, but what Im most pleased about is that a student who is a complete beginner was able to make a remarkable scientific discovery in palaeontology and see his discovery and his name published in a scientific paper. The Jurassic Coast is always unveiling fresh secrets and Id like to think that similar discoveries will continue to be made right on our doorstep.

One of the new species has been named Durlstotherium newmani, christened after Charlie Newman, the landlord of the Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers, close to where the fossils were discovered.

A reconstruction of Durlstotherium and Durlstodon by University of Portsmouth palaeo-artist, Dr Mark Witton.

Stereo images of the teeth taken using an electron microscope.

Dr Steve Sweetman, Grant Smith Professor Dave Martill.
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Forty young and vibrant community citizens from four Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana have received training on how to actively participate in governance processes at the local level through the effective use of the media and other governance dialogue platforms.

The participants included staff of Civil Society Organisations, senior high school graduates, university graduates, teachers, and some administrative staff of media houses drawn from the Tema Metropolitan in the Greater Accra region, Wa Municipal in the Upper West region, Twifo Ati-Mokwa in the Central, and Ellembelle District in the Western region. They received in-depth knowledge on the concept of citizen journalism, ethics of citizen journalism, communicating more effectively and basic writing skills.

Participants were also assisted to create Blogs, Facebook and Twitter accounts and how to effectively utilise them to participate in governance processes and demand accountability in the management and utilisation of public resources in their local assemblies.

The training, which was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), formed part of activities under the project: Promoting Citizens Participation in Local Governance through Increased Access to Information. The MFWAs Access to Information Project seeks to promote accountability, transparency and inclusive governance. It is currently being implemented in partnership with DW Akadamie in four pilot districts across the country.

Two participants at the training had this to say:

I never knew I could contribute to my community by being a citizen journalist. With this training, I am going to be an active citizen in the community by highlighting and sharing the development challenges in Tema on the blog and twitter accounts which I created during the workshop. This I am confident will reach the rest of the world, hopefully, someone will come to our aid - Richard Martey.

Another trainee who is a children's rights advocate indicated how the training will enhance her work.

Being an advocate for childrens rights, I believe that the skills I have acquired will help me to highlight the challenges facing school children in the Wa Municipality, said Monica Tungbani.

The MFWAs Access to Information Project involves town hall meetings, comprehensive capacity building programmes for assembly officials and journalists of local radio stations based in the target districts as well as support for media programme production on community development and governance issues.

Other activities under the project include the production of policy briefs highlighting community development and governance challenges in the target districts.
The Police in the Brong Ahafo Region say frantic efforts are being made to arrest four armed robbers who attempted to rob GH28,000 in a Groupe Nduom (GN) Bank at Subinsu No 1 in the Wenchi Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region last Friday.

One of the armed robbers died in the robbery operation.

Briefing DAILY GUIDE on the incident, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwame Tachi-Poku, said five robbers wielding AK 47 rifles and pumped action guns stormed the Groupe Nduom Bank (GN) premises at Subinsu No 1 around 1:30 pm last Friday and in the process of scaring the workers and residents away to enable them to rob, one of them was hit by their own bullets and died instantly in front of the bank.

Two other residents, Lucy Ama, 55, and Kofi Tawia, 25, later died at the hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.

The bodies of the armed robber and two others have been deposited at Wenchi Methodist Hospital morgue.

Two others, who sustained severe injuries, Mary Azumah and Francis Addo, are responding to treatment at the hospital.

The armed robbers were unable to make away with GH28,000 in the coffers.

He said 18 rounds of ammunition were found on the dead armed robber.

The Brong Ahafo Police Chief said a police officer, who was returning from escort duties from the Wa direction, responded to call of the residents, who signaled him to stop.

He engaged the armed robbers in a gun battle which forced them to run into the bush.

He explained that the armed robber is believed to be of Fulani extraction.

According to him, information from the crime scene and the hospital would help the police to arrest the suspects.

He called on banks in the country to apply for security personnel to protect lives and properties.

[email protected]

From Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
Delta Airlines has been recognized by the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards for its commitment to funding vital screening to help eradicate breast cancer in Ghana.

The airline has supported the work of Breast Care International (BCI) for more than 12 months, funding vital screenings for women and men across the country.

Delta joined a number of local and global companies at the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards, now in their seventh year.

The organizers cited Delta's long-term involvement in raising funds for Breast Cancer research and valuable support to the Ghanaian market as key factors for the recognition when presenting the award to Delta.

Through Delta's partnership, BCI has screened more than 11,600 people for signs of breast cancer in rural regions throughout the country and of these detected almost 1,300 suspected cases, said Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director Community Engagement. We are very proud of this work and humbled that together we are changing lives.

Globally, Delta has been a supporter of breast cancer charities for the past 12 years and in that time has raised $12.8 million and funded more than 40 research projects to help end the disease.

At Ghana's Kotoka International Airport, the airline decorated its check-in and gate area and sales office pink throughout October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Its staff also wore pink uniforms and pink products were offered on board, including pink lemonade and pink headsets, while Delta One customers each received a special pink amenity kit.

Delta has operated flights to Ghana since 2006 and operates non-stop service four times a week to New York-JFK.

In Africa, it also serves Lagos, Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Through the hubs in Atlanta and New York-JFK, the airline offers an unsurpassed network of hundreds of convenient onward connections throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
President Rawlings with Peter Mensah. On his left is Madam Anita Sefa Boakye

Former President Jerry John Rawlings was at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on Saturday to visit a boy who was hit by a vehicle at Offinso near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, a few months ago.

The vehicle knocked down Peter Mensah  who was six years old at the time of the accident and is now seven  on his way home. It crushed his legs and both (legs) were amputated.

Mensah, who apart from the amputation, has had multiple surgeries including graft and plastic, has responded positively to treatment and was in high spirits when the former president visited the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of the hospital to see his (Mensah's) condition for himself.

Dr. John Adabie Appiah, Senior Specialist, Paediatric Critical Care and Head of the PICU, briefed former President Rawlings on the treatment Peter had received since he was admitted at the facility.

He has adapted very well to an automatic wheel chair and controls it without assistance.

Mr Rawlings said he was moved when he saw the 'pitiful' video of Peter being lifted into a taxi with his limbs hanging off his body and decided to visit him anytime he had the opportunity to travel to Kumasi.

The former president, who interacted with other patients at the ward, also congratulated the doctors and the nurses on the hard work in ensuring Peter's recovery and called for support from well meaning people to cater for his huge medical bills. He promised to do what he could to solicit support for the treatment.

Mr. Rawlings also lauded Anita Sefa Boakye, whose huge financial contributions had paid for the boy's numerous surgeries and treatments. Peter's grandmother, Esther Darkoaa, who has cared for him since the accident and his mother, Alice Fosuaa, who incidentally was heavily pregnant when her son was knocked down and has since delivered, were at the hospital during the visit.
Management of Bond Savings and Loans Company Limited says it's ready to thrill customers with new products.

Bond has already redesigned and improved its internet banking suite with additional features that simplify transactions.

The company has also introduced its mobile banking application for android; IOS for apple and USSD code to enable customers carry out account-to-account and account-to-wallet transfers on all mobile networks.

Its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are one of the most reliable on the market due to the use of superior applications.

Bond will soon roll out Bond Collect, a product that provides the platform for merchants to collect funds through Mobile Money.

Bond Paypoint has also been developed to allow agents and merchants to retail top ups, customers to make bill payments and also effect wallet transfers to all networks.

These products and services come on the heels of the company's sterling performance at this year's National Marketing Performance Awards organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG).

Bond Savings and Loan Limited was adjudged Savings and Loans Company of the year, 2016.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, George Ofosuhene, said the award will encourage his outfit to achieve greater successes.

He attributed the prestigious feat to hard work and dedication on the part of the board, management and staff, as well as the support of its loyal customers.

Mr Ofosuhene asserted that Bond chalked successes in operating profit, balance sheet size and market share for the year 2016 in the face of several challenges that bedeviled the financial sector.

Bond expresses its appreciation to its customers, the board, management and staff, as well as the general public for the diverse roles that ensured this feat.

Mr Ofosuhene intimated that Bond would continuously improve its services to the public.
The Biakoye District Assembly has tried to erase the seeming impression that they were against female district chief executive (DCE) nominees of President Akufo-Addo. The impression was negated by their endorsement of Comfort Attah as DCE.

The district, prior to confirming Madam Attah, had out-rightly rejected another female nominee, Millicent Kabuki Carboo, on three occasions. She only managed to poll 23 out of the 43 votes cast, representing 53 percent at the last voting  short of the required two-thirds of the total votes cast.

Madam Comfort Attah nearly suffered a similar faith as her first attempt at the confirmation resulted in 40 'Yes' votes in favour of her endorsement, out of 47 votes  one vote short of the two-thirds needed to be confirmed. However, she was second time lucky, polling 42 out of the 47 votes cast, representing 89 percent.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, who witnessed the confirmation, commended the assembly members for rescinding their decision and giving the nominee the nod. He was hopeful that their decision would open the floodgates of development in the Biakoye District.

In her acceptance speech, Madam Comfort Attah thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the assembly members for giving her the opportunity to serve the nation.

She promised to provide the leadership that will help transform the living standard of the people in the district and urged the assembly members to put all hands on desk to fashion out a holistic strategy to tackle the myriad problems  sanitation, water, education, jobs, among others  facing them.

Madam Attah added that improving the economic life of the people is her priority and would also make sure that every citizen of Biakoye is offered the opportunity to participate actively in the governance of the district.

From Fred Duodu and Collins Anku ( [email protected] )
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, says boosting private sector investment in agribusinesses in Ghana is vital for the transformation of the country's economy.

Dr Afriyie Akoto said this on Thursday in Accra in a speech read on his behalf at the opening ceremony of a stakeholder consultative meeting organized by Grow Africa and Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) of Ghana.

The meeting was aimed at enlisting the private sector practitioners in the agricultural value chain in Ghana to discuss options to enhance opportunities and increase private sector investments in the sector.

According to the minister, it was no longer acceptable for agriculture to be left in the hands of smallholder farmers and the aged.

He said it was about time private entrepreneurs were encouraged to partner the smallholder farmers to increase productivity, market access and development of agro industry.

This, the Minister said, will culminate in wealth and job creation in Ghana, adding that government was making conscious efforts to boost private sector investment in agriculture.

Government's efforts at providing the necessary policies and programmes to boost private sector investment are expressed in many of the interventions in the agricultural sector, Dr. Afriyie Akoto explained.

According to him, One such example is the Ghana Commercial Agricultural Project (GCAP), which is aimed at providing public infrastructure such as land and water systems development to leverage private sector investment.

Close collaboration

The Minister reiterated the need for a close collaboration between government and private players in the sector, saying the partnership between public and private sector needs to be strengthened to take advantage of the opportunities.

He said the renewed efforts to accelerate agricultural development through increased public sector investment and promotion of private sector investment need to be embraced by all.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grow Africa, William Asiko, indicated that efforts must be made to enhance the contribution of agriculture to Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, in order for agribusiness to be successful, there was the need for a strong alignment of the efforts of government with farmers, financiers and investors' efforts.

By Melvin Tarlue
The Jomoro District Assembly has finally approved the Presidents nominee, Ernest Kwofie, as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.

Mr Ernest Kwofie, who obtained 47 votes out of 49 votes during the election at the Assembly, was the second nominee of the president.

The Presidents first nominee, Eric Muah was rejected on three occasions.

Immediately Ernest Kwofie was nominated by the President, the vociferous Nzema Youth Association released a statement congratulating him, particularly after nobody contested the president's decision.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that Mr Kwofie was overwhelmingly endorsed because he served with most of the assembly members who voted during his tenure as a member of the assembly.

In his acceptance speech, the new DCE commended President Akufo-Addo, the Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Paul Essien, and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him to lead the people in Jomoro District.

Mr Kwofie charged the assembly members to bury their differences and focus on the development of the district.

He said that the Jomoro district did not benefit from the numerous policies of the NPP government because there was no DCE in the area for some time now.

He explained that although he was not the only intelligent person in the Jomoro District, he would lead the assembly to ensure development.

To this end, he called for the support of all and sundry to enable him put Jomoro on a good development path.

As we are aware, our district, which is in its formative stage and requires very aggressive and tactical approach to ensure the accelerated development of the area, he added.

He promised to improve education, healthcare delivery and sanitation.

The development agenda of the district is delaying and we have to start the works immediately to catch up with other districts, he noted.

He called on the people in the district to support him regardless of the political affiliations and called for unity to facilitate development in the district.

He also called for peaceful co-existence to ensure the smooth implementation of pro-poor programmes, including the Planting for Food and Jobs, One-district, One factory policy, among others.

The Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, congratulated the DCE on his confirmation and charged him to work with all the stakeholders in the district.

He promised to offer the needed support to the new DCE to ensure the effective development of the district.

Present at the confirmation exercise were the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Eugenia Gifty Kusi, acting Regional Chairman of NPP, Francis Ndede Siah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro Constituency, Paul Essien and Regional Secretary of the party, Charles Bissue, who is also a presidential staffer.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
Students of the various Agric Colleges in the country have returned to their schools after holding several meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders on the restoration of their allowances.

The students of the various Agric colleges boycotted classes for weeks to demand the payment of their unpaid allowances, following the restoration of the allowances of nurses.

The Agric students, who protested recently due to the non-payment of their allowances, have now resolved the issue with the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry, which indicated that students would be paid soon, admonished them to go through the due process for payment to be effected.

The colleges include Ejura Agric College in the Ashanti Region, Ohawu Agric College in the Volta Region, Damango Agric College in the Northern Region, Kwadaso Agric College also in the Ashanti Region and Animal Health and Production College at Pong Tamale in the Northern Region.

Stanley Mensah, an executive member of the Agric College students association, told DAILY GUIDE that leaders of the association met stakeholders and the ministry and reached an agreement for the payment of students' allowances within the shortest possible time.

He therefore admonished his colleagues to heed the directive of the ministry and return to their schools since payment would begin soon after the due process.

The leadership of the Agric College Students has reiterated that the students would have no option than to demonstrate if government fails to pay their allowances.

From Eric Kombat, Tamale
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Dedjoe Redeemer has called on personnel of the Service to be professional in all their activities, in order not to fall out of the Ghana Police Transformation Agenda, being spearheaded by the I.G.P, David Asante-Apeatu.

According to the Regional Commander, the Inspector General of Police(IGP) wants the Ghana Police Service to handle policing services as a profession, hence, his decision to ensure that, all Police Stations across the country display the Mission and Vision statements of the Ghana Police Service, to serve as a reminder to all personnel in the conduct of their duties.

DCOP Dedjoe was speaking at the opening of a one-day sensitization workshop on the Ghana Police Transformation Agenda for Senior Officers and District Commanders drawn from all over the Upper East Region.

The training was expected to get the Senior Officers to understand the Transformation Agenda to enable them lead the other Police Officers through the process to make the Ghana Police Service the best in Africa and among the best ten(10) in the world.

The nationwide sensitization programme for Police Officers is being funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation; a German Organization. Prior to this programme, the Foundation had supported the Ghana Police Service to run some training programme for police personnel under a project dubbed, Citizen-Friendly Policing to activate community policing.

The Programme Coordinator of Hanns Seidel Foundation, Aridja Frank in an interview said, the Foundation was satisfied with the outcome of the earlier collaboration it had with the Ghana Police Service.

We're looking forward to the day the Ghana Police Service will become the best in Africa and among the best 10 in the world. This is the vision of the leadership of the Ghana Police Service and we, as citizens, must support this vision, Mrs. Aridja Frank said.

She called on Ghanaians to be interested in helping the Ghana Police Service to become citizen-friendly, professional and proactive in their duty to prevent and fight crime and protect lives and property.

We cannot hide information from them and expect them to do magic. The media for example should be educating the public on the processes under the Transformation Agenda and encourage them to report all suspected criminals in our communities. That way, we will be helping the Police to either prevent or fight crime.

An Executive Secretary to the IGP, DSP Peter Toobu advised Police Commanders across the country to lead the personnel under them, in a way that will make them better Police Officers.

He advised Police Officers to live exemplary lives in their communities and respect members of the public so as to attract respect and support from them.

FROM: EBO BRUCE-QUANSAH, Bolgatanga
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Members of the Non-State Actors (NSA) in health, a civil society advocacy platform, have claimed that the current shortage of condoms in the country could seriously erode the gains made in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

If we are talking about HIV prevention, condom is very key and lubricants as well. You can't talk about prevention without these, Cecilia Senoo, President of NSA, told Ghana News Agency during a briefing on the sidelines of the first general meeting of the NSA held recently in Accra.

She alleged that checks by some NSA members with the Ghana Health Service revealed that there is shortage of condoms, especially in the regional health facilities, and those few ones who have the condoms are selling them at exorbitant prices that people cannot afford.

This means that people in the communities cannot have access to condoms which negatively impact on universal health coverage that ensures that health financing should not be a barrier to accessing quality health care services.

Mrs Senoo, who is also the Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), an NGO, said NSA is worried that the gains made so far in the prevention of HIV and AIDS in the country could be eroded, saying, People are going back and now nobody is talking about HIV prevention.

HIV is rising because prevention is relegated to the background. Nobody is talking about it. We need to ensure that there is condom investment in HIV prevention, she said.

Mrs Senoo stated that government counterpart funding of 15 percent of GDP to the health sector has also not been forthcoming, and that has been a big challenge to the sector against the background that many donors, including GAVI, were withdrawing their assistance to many countries.

Very soon there will not be GAVI and immunisation of children will suffer. We also have nutrition problems among children, HIV and TB drugs are in short supply, so what are we doing about these? she queried.

Mrs Senoo said Ghana has not met the 15 percent Abuja Declaration for Health and that successive governments keep committing on paper but the actual resources do not trickle down to the sector.

There are also periodic shortages of Anti retroviral (ARVs), and currently the paediatric liquid ARV was in short supply and so children were now taking ARV tablets, she said.

Mrs Senoo said NSA has planned to engage government on various platforms to discuss its commitment towards health.

NSA is made up of civil society organisations, community and traditional leaders, private sector patient groups that look at issues affecting the health sector and advocating for the gaps to be bridged to ensure better health for Ghanaians.

It serves as a strong voice for communities and Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, officials from the GHS have refuted claims of shortage of condoms in the country.

The official said there are also other forms of contraceptives, including Copper-T, used by women to prevent pregnancies that could also last for 22 more months.

In a related development, officials from the Ministry of Health, led by Joe Dodoo, Deputy Head in-charge of Policy, used the occasion to brief the NSA membership about the new National Health Policy being formulated by the state, and asked NSA to submit its inputs to the ministry to be incorporated into the main policy.

GNA
Mr Nicholas Fiifi Baako, Assin North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has called on citizens of the area not to sit on the fringes but contribute meaningfully to the development of their localities.

He said the surest way to deepen democracy was to bring local government to the doorstep of people in the grassroots to ensure their participation in the governance process.

The MCE made the call during a thanksgiving and fund raising service held by "Osonomba", one of the youth wings of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Assin Constituency of the Central Region last Sunday.

He promised to maintain an open-door policy to welcome everybody within the municipality regardless of their political affiliation to offer suggestions or point out mistakes in his administration so as to foster unity and sustainable development of the area.

Mr Baako advised NPP members to desist from discussing internal party issues in public, saying most political parties around the world that succeeded in governance managed to settle internal wrangling using internal party structures, which won them multiple elections.

He said the NPP could fully accomplish its mission of transforming the economic fortunes of the country through sound policies and programmes, if it was given the necessary support by all.

"I want to advise members of the NPP not to be enemies to themselves by washing their dirty linens in public. This attitude gives the party a bad name, derails government efforts and does not attract people to the party."

He said "as party people, particularly communicators, you must always crosscheck from the Assembly instead of sometimes jumping into conclusions and muddying the waters on the airwaves".

The MCE promised to help speed up socio-economic and infrastructural development to bring prosperity to all citizens of the area.

He said government and the Assembly had prioritised development projects with prudent management of limited resources and would pursue policy initiatives to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

To achieve that, the MCE promised the government's support to the private sector, especially the growth of indigenous Ghanaian businesses and foreign investments.

In addition to that, he said the Assembly had put together well thought-out and cutting edge investment packages to step up private sector investments in the area to boost the local economy.

On health, Mr Adams said he would work in collaboration with the District Health Services to improve health delivery system in the municipality.

He also assured to improve on the poor road network in the area to facilitate the free movement of goods and services.

He advised assembly members to educate their people after each assembly meeting in order for them to be abreast with matters concerning their areas.

Mr Dominic Boa Agyeman, Secretary of the group, thanked the people of the area for voting massively for the party in the 2016 general election.

He indicated their preparedness to propagate the works of the government during their various public outreach programmes.

GNA

By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
The former Corruption Advisor to ex-president John Mahama has deplored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos anti-corruption campaign, describing it as a big joke.

Daniel Batidam said the President does not need the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to fight corruption if he is committed to the fight.

The former Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) boss told Bernice Abu Baidoo on Joy FMs Midday News Tuesday, the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) details initiatives to combat the canker.

NACAP aims at institutionalising efficiency, accountability and transparency in both the public and private sectors.

Anti-corruption campaigner, Daniel Batidam

It also provides a framework for conducting effective investigations and prosecutions of corrupt conducts.

With the implementation of NACAP ending in 2020, Mr Batidam said the President has the blueprint to address issues of corruption.

The President is fighting galamsey [but] he didnt set up any special body. If he wants to fight corruption he can fight it, he said.

Mr Batidam is one of a number of past government officials who have challenged President Akufo-Addo to elevate his anti-corruption rhetoric to the courtroom.

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho said they are ready to meet the government in court.

The promised Special Prosecutor will be appointed after the bill currently before Parliament is approved.

But Mr Batidam said the OSP is a big joke, which provides the government with the leeway to avoid the problem of corruption.

The Special Prosecutor thing I dont get it. If the Attorney-General (AG) has evidence she should proceed to court, he said.

He said the President could have appointed an independent person as his AG if he was committed to the anti-corruption fight.

But Chairman Parliaments Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Ben Abdallah Banda has cautioned the opposition to be mindful of what they are calling for.

He said the government will not be coerced into taking any action that is not supported by the country's law.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | [email protected] | Instagram: @Realbrakopowers
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Barring any unforeseeable challenge, the next destination after Ekumfi for President Nana Akufo-Addos flagship One-District-One-Factory (1D-1F) policy is Bogoso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District in the Western Region.

The decision to locate the US$3.7million palm oil processing factory in Bogoso was sealed following the visit to the community by National Coordinator for the 1D-1F policy, Gifty Ohene Konadu on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, to appraise herself with the availability of raw materials to feed the factory, the prospects of the facility as well as the communitys preparedness towards receiving such a plant.

Issues of availability of a litigation-free land for such a facility was also highly considered during her visit which saw her interact with a number of stakeholders in the community including Golden Star Mining Company, smallholder farmers, traditional leaders and management of the Prestea-Huni Valley District Assembly.

Her visit was spurred by a proposal submitted to her office for consideration and approval by the Golden Star mining company over the

need to build an oil palm mill for downstream processing to complement organic plantation growth in the Bogoso township.

Gold Star has a unique oil palm plantation flagship project which has brought the entire community together and helping each other to

alleviate poverty.



Known as the Gold Star Oil Palm Plantation (GSOPP), the initiative has acquired a unique approach to land acquisition by soliciting land from the Traditional Authorities (seven divisional chiefs), who offer their land to become partners of the scheme.

Under the scheme, GSOPP provides funds for the development of the plantations through Gold Stars financial commitment of US$1 per ounce of gold produced.

Selected and affected smallholder farmers participate as beneficiaries to the scheme. Under this arrangement, agreements are signed with the selected farmers where the cost of the plantation development is treated as loans (Revolving Fund) to the smallholder farmers.

Through this partnership approach, the major issues of land tenure associated with large-scale developments are eliminated. So far, GSOPP has developed 1,133 hectares of land in ten (10) communities where over 700 workers from the catchment communities have been engaged in this business.

The harvested products are sold to Benso Oil Palm Plantation where 70% of the revenue goes to the farmer and 20% is deducted as loan. 5% of the proceeds also go to the Landlord while the remaining 5% is retained by GSOPP as its contribution for field infrastructure.

However, the cost of carting the produce from the farm gate to the oil mill is very high, with the smallholder farmers, estimating a 20% loss in revenue.

This among others, according to the farmers, will enable them have more returns on their produce when an oil palm processing plant

is cited in the community.

Already, more communities are knocking on the doors of Gold Star mining company to enroll them onto their flagship oil palm plantation

project. Some of the farmers who interacted with Gifty Ohene Konadu outlined how beneficial the project had been to them and their

households.

With this work, I have been able to build a three-bedroom facility and a chamber and hall. I am also able to take care of my family by

paying the school fees of my three children without any difficulty, give my wife household keeping money and also pay my utility bills. In

2014, I was given an award as the best farmer in the District. I am hoping to expand my farm when the oil mill is cited here, noted one

of the long-serving smallholder farmers.

Chairman of the Smallholder Farmers Association, Daniel Kwao Wiredu also said Before GSOPP came on board; I was struggling to make ends meet. But when the mines came to our aid, our production doubled and now I am able to pay the school fees of my children with ease. My living standard has improved and looking forward to seeing Nana Akufo-Addos factory in this community.

He complained bitterly about losing some of the palm fruits when carting or transporting them from the farm gate to the factory site.

This, he noted, also affects the revenue they generate from the sales of their produce and therefore pleaded with Hon. Konadu to fast-track the process of citing an oil mill in Bogoso to relieve them from the burden and cost in transporting their produce from one place to

another.

Maxwell Owusu, a harvester, also told Madam Konadu to do whatever within her might to cite the factory in Bogoso, stressing that it

would help them maximize profit on their produce.

Madam Konadu responding to the concerns of the local farmers assured them that once funds for the facility is ready, she will do whatever she could to cite the facility in Bogoso to meet the aspirations of all.

The National Coordinator for the 1D-1F had earlier said she will not build factories when the means of sustaining such a facility is not

there.


A Cameroon policeman has been killed while pursuing men who attacked a school in one of the country's English-speaking regions, where tensions have fuelled a separatist movement, authorities told AFP on Tuesday.

"Suspected separatists gunned down a gendarme yesterday (Monday) in Jakiri," a town in the country's northwest, a source close to local authorities said, an account confirmed by a government source.

"They killed him with the officer's own gun," the sourced added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Police were in pursuit when the officer found himself cut off and encircled by the attackers in a forest, the source said.

French-speaking Cameroon has a large anglophone minority which comprises about a fifth of its population of 22 million.

Gathered mainly in two regions, many English speakers say they suffer inequality and discrimination, and last month a breakaway movement issued a symbolic declaration of independence which was met with a government crackdown.

International monitors say at least 20 and possibly 40 people have been killed in clashes since late September, but those figures are disputed by the government of President Paul Biya.

Leaders of the secessionist drive have urged locals to form self-defence groups against the "occupation forces", after the government deployed thousands of soldiers to the regions.
FirsTrust savings and Loans picked up the best savings and Loans product in the industry for its FirsT Savings PLUS at the Ghana Accountancy and Finance Award last weekend. The pronouncement was made after a careful assessment by its jury who were of the view that the FirsT Savings PLUS product is commendable for its competitive interest and deliver value to the Ghanaian market.

The organizers of Ghana Accountancy and Finance Awards (GHAFAWARDS) acknowledged that, FirsTrusts synergy with its sister subsidiaries make them a one stop Shop and a preferred brand on the market.

Receiving the award, The Managing Director of FirsTrust Savings and Loans Mr. Charles Otoo said, We believe that we are different people engaged in different activities and heading towards different goals. We provide tailor-made solutions for all your financial needs. Our bid to ensure your total satisfaction makes us flexible in handling individual needs. At FirsTrust we give the opportunity for individuals, groups and staff members to have the experience they deserve. I am grateful this has been recognized.

We look forward to providing a more convenient banking experience for all, he added.

FirsTrust, is licensed by the Bank of Ghana as a deposit-taking non-banking financial institution and is known best in the industry for its excellence delivery, speed and customer centricity.

As a subsidiary of Groupe Ideal, FirsTrust Savings and Loans brings unto the financial industry a wealth of experience with its highly qualified and well-motivated management. It is a financial institution established to mobilize deposits from the general public and extend credit to Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

FirsTrust seeks to provide a unique and convenient banking experience where innovative tailor-made products are within the reach of clients irrespective of location.

Over 3 years of existence, FirsTrust Savings and Loans provide loans for business expansion, working capital, personal loans, corporate loans, Susu loans and car loans. These loans are accessible to salary workers in both informal and formal sectors, entrepreneurs, and corporate institutions.

The stability of the business and the effort to restore trust which is every customer centric business focus is a great competitive advantage for the business.

The Ghana Accountancy and Finance Awards provides a platform to recognize individuals and companies. This is the premier event in Ghana which showcases on a national scale the prudence and innovation within Ghanas Accounting and Finance sector. The Ghana Accountancy Awards 2017 brought together players in the Accounting and Finance industry and recognized some of the outstanding ones.
African Court President and Vice President of Tanzania

07.11.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Nov. 7, CDA Consult - The Third African Judicial Dialogue, organised by the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights under the auspices of the African Union (AU), which was earlier planned from November 8th to 10 in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, will now be held from November 9 to 11 at Arusha, Tanzania.

The Dialogue will be attended by about 150 delegates from AU Member States, including Chief Justices, Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional Courts from the 55 AU Member States, as well as regional and international judicial bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

This years theme of the biennial meeting is: Improving Judicial Efficiency in Africa and is a follow up to the first edition held in November 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania, and second in November 2015, also in Arusha.

The overall objective of the Dialogue is to explore ways of enhancing judicial efficiency in Africa, said Justice Sylvain Ore, President of the African Court told the CDA Consult.

He added that the three-day meeting would provide an important forum for Africas top judiciary officials to exchange experiences on the on-going continental judicial reforms, trends on human rights jurisprudence, continuing judicial education and management of judicial institutions on the continent.

The African Dialogue is organized in collaboration with the World Bank, the German Cooperation (GiZ) and the European Union (EU).
The Lands Ministry is investigating what it says is the fraudulent sale of state lands by the previous administration.

According to the sector Minister John Peter Amewu state lands were given away to cronies like kelewele [fried pieces of plantain] without regard to due process.

A committee has thus been formed to look into the land sale, he stated in an interview on Joy News Tuesday.

The sale of state lands and properties have always been shrouded in controversy under every other regime in the fourth Republic.

The Rawlings administration was accused, under a divestiture programme, of selling state properties including the Nsawam cannery to the then first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.

The Kufuor government was not spared the effusions of the angry Ga youth who accused the then government of selling Ga lands to cronies.

Shortly after winning the elections in 2009, the Ga youth some of whom were supporting the NDC went on a series of demonstration in protest against an office given to the ex-president John Kufuor.

There were widespread accusation of the government of selling Cantonment lands with reckless abandon.

Interestingly, Ex-president John Rawlings who suffered similar accusation during his tenure led the chorus against the Kufuor government accusing it of selling state lands, bungalows to its ministers and other cronies.

The decision by the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey to purchase the state bungalow which was allocated to him as a minister did not help matters.

Even though Mr Lamptey would later win a case brought against him in court, the perception about politicians grabbing state lands, houses and properties was greatly entrenched.

After the eight year tenure of the late John Mills/Mahama administration, the NDC has also been accused of selling state lands.

The founder of the party, Ex-president John Rawlings began the crusade against the selling of lands close to the 37 military hospital and chided the previous administration for superintending yet another sale of state lands.

In an interview with Joy News Latif Iddris, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu said from 2013 the then government sold state lands without due process.

He did not mention who were the beneficiaries or the cost at which the lands were sold, except to add that a committee has been constituted to re-examine the entire allocation process.

He also talked about the governments plans to automate the entire land administration system to reduce the incidence of corruption in the process.

For a system that is hugely manual, the minister said human intervention is a critical factor for corruption a reason why the government is exploring other avenues with the private sector to digitalize the entire process.
Zimbabwean vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was plotting to seize power, state media said Tuesday, the day after President Robert Mugabe sacked him in a bitter power struggle.

Mnangagwa was the leading contender to succeed Mugabe, 93, but his abrupt removal appeared to clear the way for the president's wife Grace to take over.

The government-owned Chronicle newspaper published an excoriating editorial accusing Mnangagwa and his supporters of being "prepared to stampede President Mugabe from power."

"The President had warned his deputy time and again to desist from having grand designs to seize power unconstitutionally," the Bulawayo-based paper said.

It accused Mnangagwa of "running parallel structures with the ruling ZANU-PF party and fomenting divisions."

Mnangagwa, 75, a veteran party loyalist who has strong ties to the military and to veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war, has not yet commented on his dismissal.

"(Mugabe) has done it to pave way for his wife. It's not a secret anymore," Victor Matemadanda, secretary-general of the war veterans association, told AFP.

"Mnangagwa himself knew this was coming.

"Should he venture into anything else in service of the people of Zimbabwe, he is going to have the support of war veterans."

Grace on the rise

On Saturday, Grace Mugabe was jeered at a rally in Bulawayo in front of the president.

She shouted back at the hecklers: "If you have been paid to boo me, boo, go ahead... I don't care, I am powerful."

The Chronicle said the jeering was "the highest level of indiscipline ever seen in the ZANU-PF" and that Grace had been targeted for exposing the "nefarious activities" of Mnangagwa's supporters.

Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980 and is due to stand in elections again next year.

Mnangagwa, seen here in a file picture, was dramatically fired by Mugabe after a weekend in which his conflict with the president's wife spilled out into the open

He sacked Mnangagwa for "disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability", a presidential spokesman said Monday.

Grace Mugabe -- 41 years younger than her husband -- has three children with the president and is often accused of extravagant spending on clothes and travel, as well as involvement in corrupt land deals.

In her political ambitions, she is thought to be backed by "G-40", a group of young activists of the under-40 generation that has earned a reputation for aggression.

Grace was granted diplomatic immunity in South Africa in August after she allegedly assaulted a model at an expensive Johannesburg hotel where the couple's two sons were staying.
07.11.2017 LISTEN

Professor Raphael Folitse, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has appealed to the government to move quickly to give clearance for the employment of newly-qualified veterinary doctors.

This, he said, was necessary to avoid the risk of losing these trained professionals as they increasingly sought greener pastures abroad out of frustration.

'Already, some of them have started leaving. This is not because there are no jobs, but due to the fact that Ghana Health Service (GHS) has not been given the clearance to employ them.'

Prof Floitse, was addressing the third white coat ceremony of the school in Kumasi.

He said it was deeply troubling that majority of veterinary doctors, who graduated three years ago, remained unemployed, in spite of the fact that they had successfully completed the clinical phase of their training.

A total of 21 veterinary medicine students took part in the ceremony, ushering them into the clinical phase of their training - practical aspect of their education.

The School, Ghana's foremost veterinary medicine training institution, was established in 2009 to augment veterinary medicine education and healthcare services.

This was necessitated by the nation's high deficit of veterinary doctors.

According to the Veterinary Council of Ghana, there are only 32 certified veterinary doctors in active service currently - all of them trained abroad, East Europe and Cuba.

Prof Folitse said this did not paint a good picture of a nation where animal-borne infections and diseases had been threatening the health and safety of the people.

He indicated that about 70 per cent of all human diseases came from animals, adding that, recent outbreak of the deadly Ebola and avian flu diseases should be a wake-up call to everybody.

He said it was important the government stepped up the effort at strengthening veterinary healthcare and delivery to save the lives of the people.

Prof Folitse asked the students to take the practical aspect of their training seriously since it constituted a vital component of their training.
07.11.2017 LISTEN

As from 1st January 2018, Ghanaian farmers will be able to resume exports of all plant commodities to the European Union (EU) market.

This follows the European Commission's decision to lift the current ban on the exports of five plant commodities from Ghana to the European Union (EU) market on 31st October 2017, according to a statement from the EU.

The five Ghanaian plants (chilli pepper, bottle gourds, luffa gourds, bitter gourds and eggplants) will from 1 January 2018, have duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market like any other product from Ghana.

The five commodities will have to fulfil the EU phytosanitary legislation to ensure the freedom of quarantine pests.

This decision follows an audit undertaken from 12 to 21 September 2017 by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission and the evolution of the numbers of import interceptions with quarantine pests notified by Member States for commodities not subject to the ban.

A statement from the European Union said, Since the beginning of the ban in October 2015, the Ghanaian authorities have taken significant corrective measures to improve the inspection and control system for plant health at exit points, in particular at Kotoka International Airport.

The European Commission congratulates Ghana for reaching this important milestone and encourages Ghana to consolidate the upgraded system and to continue further improvements in the phytosanitary certification system to obtain full compliance with the EU phytosanitary requirements.

The statement continued, This outcome has been possible thanks to combined efforts of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Service Department (PPRSD) and coordinated support from several development partners including the European Union through the Trade related Assistance and Quality Enabling programme (TRAQUE), the German International Cooperation (GIZ), the Netherlands Embassy through the GhanaVeg project and USAID. This harmonised approach has been instrumental to reach the objective of complying with EU requirements this year.

The resumption of exports of all plant commodities to the EU market will enable Ghana to fully benefit from the 100% preferential access to the EU market provided by the Stepping Stone Economic Partnership Agreement which entered into force on 15 December 2016.

Agric Minister on ban earlier

Dr. Afriyie Akoto earlier on said the ban of vegetables to the European market will be lifted by the end of November.

Oh definitely, may be in the next one month, theyve indicated to us unofficially that everything is ok now, weve put in so much effort in the nine month to correct all those things that were really hampering the progress in the lifting of the ban, he said.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto said, Weve put reforms in place, weve changed personnel, and weve infused new qualified personnel into the systemso now we are that we are confident that we have a sustainable system to ensure good quality products to the European market.

Background

From 2012 to 2015, the number of intercepted plants from Ghana at the EU borders due to the presence of harmful organisms had increased significantly, leading Ghana to face the highest number of interceptions globally in 2015.

On 13 October, 2015, the European Commission decided to prohibit the introduction of 5 plant commodities from Ghana into the EU market until end of December 2016.

The ban was purposely restricted to those commodities that have had the highest number of interceptions.

The five concerned plants were chilli pepper, bottle gourds, luffa gourds, bitter gourds and eggplants. Following an audit undertaken in September 2015, decision was taken by the European Commission to renew the ban by one year until December 2017.

Over the past years, the Plant protection and Regulatory Service Department (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has received support from several development partners notably to improve the inspection and control system at the airport, to improve traceability as well as to develop and implement the Ghana Green Label Scheme.

Coordination of the received support has been successfully done through the SPS Task Force setup and chaired by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
07.11.2017 LISTEN

BACKGROUND

Two weeks ago, we woke up to media reports, alleging that a 4-year old girl had been sexually abused in Assin Adadientem in the Central Region. This allegedly took place on 13th October 2017. The age of the suspect, named only as Kwabena. varies between 17 and 18 years, depending on which source you are getting the information from. The mother of the victim is alleged to have reported the matter to the chief, who is said to have pronounced the suspect innocent on the instructions of the gods. The chief has denied this. The victims father is also said to have reported the case to the police. There is very little to that part of the story.

According to one article on myjoyonline, she bled profusely for days before her mother sought help. According to one report, the victims mother had travelled to a funeral and had left her in the care of her 8-year old sister, a report that ought to be seriously investigated. That narrative, and given the fact that the mother detected the bleeding on the 14th of October, suggests that the mother was away for at least one night. Even though the article did not specify the bleeding site, we will assume that it was from the area of the vagina, considering the circumstances.

According to another Joy FM report, Dr. Bernard Brew at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu, issued a medical report showing an intact hymen with no evidence of laceration; the vulva however was moist and appeared inflamed. These events are not unusual when it comes to matters involving child sexual abuse. The stories are hardly ever straightforward and it takes a lot of time, patience, training and commitment to sieve through the available evidence.

We condemn without reservation sex abuse in general and Child Sex Abuse in particular. However, we also believe in being innocent until proven guilty by a competent law court. For there to be a conviction, there must be good evidence gathered by the authorities to hold up in court, and like with all evidence, the earlier collected, the better. A delay usually leads to contamination and unreliability of the evidence, if any.

The court of general opinion has already found 17 or 18-year old Kwabena guilty. We do not have the luxury to support that position until, it has been so proved by the prosecution in a competent law court. If Kwabena is under the age of 18 years, he would be treated as a juvenile. That would mean that this matter would fall squarely within the remit of the 2003 Juvenile Justice Act, which has very different considerations as regards offences committed by juveniles. Our hearts still go out to the little girl because she is unwell and has been admitted to hospital. This will attempt to dissect the media reports, in an attempt to make any sense of it all, but ultimately, the evidence produced in court is the most crucial.

Globally, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is defined as intra or extra familial contact abuse of a minor (below 18 years of age), and the victim may be female or male. What then is defilement? In Ghana, section 101 of the 1960 Criminal and Other Offences Act defines defilement as the natural or unnatural carnal knowledge of a child under sixteen years of age. In defilement, consent from the child is immaterial. What this means is that, a suspect who defiles a child under sixteen cannot say that he obtained consent from the victim therefore he is justified. Apart from having natural or unnatural carnal knowledge of a child, some children are also indecently assaulted; there is a spectrum, running from non-invasive to frank rape, and this poses a challenge.

There are varied but marked consequences on the victims, from mental, through emotional and even to their physical health. CSA is a complex, deeply rooted and very traumatizing phenomenon; the victims suffer profound disturbances in their sexual development. It leads to profound feelings of guilt, shame, low self-esteem and familial and social isolation. Globally, about 20% of girls are sexually abused as minors. Curiously, it has very little correlation with socio-economic status of the victim and the perpetrator  all are at risk. Indeed, it is commoner than childhood cancers.

Could it be related to culture? At this moment, there is no evidence to support that, because the incidence is about the same globally, with the difference being in the number of reported and prosecuted cases. Perhaps, the effect of our culture may lie in the elders, chiefs and deities deciding to adjudicate the matter, rather than allowing the law to take its course. The perpetrators are related or known to the victims in 70% of cases. We also know that this is grossly under reported because of collective and individual shame. When there is strong collective shame, there is a low tendency to disclose. It is even worse when the victim and perpetrator are related. With the combined efforts of the police Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), social pressure groups, better education and financial independence of our women, the number of reported cases has increased. For instance, reported rape cases rose by about 10% from 2016 to 2017, whereas defilement cases reduced by about 15% over the same period.

There are a ton of publications on CSA, and most papers often address it as primarily legal as well as feminist issue. This moved the discussion away from the psychological and emotional dimensions and focused more on the direction and development of the law, and in such cases, the law tends to be identified as a significant site of contest.

This particular case, presents more questions than answers:

1. Apart from the 8-year old sister, was there an adult child keeper?

2. If there was such a keeper, what did she do about it before the victims mother returned from the funeral?

3. From the media, the victims mother reported after several days of bleeding, why was that so? Was it that the child refused to talk? Was she afraid? Was the mother also afraid?

4. Did the mother confide in another person prior to reporting the case? If she did, what did the person advise?

5. The victims mother is said to have reported to the chief of the village, can this be corroborated?

6. If she did report to the chief, what exactly did the chief advise?

7. Did the chief say he had consulted the oracles who declared the suspect innocent?

8. Was there another person present when the victims mother met the chief? We know that per our customs, there is usually a linguist at least, when the chief holds court.

9. Has the chief been invited by the police for questioning? If he did not advise the lady to report the case, nor did not report same to the police, can we say he obstructed justice?

10. Has the suspect been questioned by the police?

11. Has the suspect been examined by the doctor?

12. How authentic is the medical report doing the media rounds?

13. Is it possible for a rape victim not to have physical clinical evidence of rape?

EVIDENCE GATHERING.

The successful prosecution in a normal legal system requires that there are laws that have been infringed upon and good quality evidence presented. Sadly, 90% of CSA will not have any physical clinical findings. Sometimes, the only evidence is the victims word, and that has many challenges; even for adults, it is not easy, so you may well imagine it for a 4-year old witness whose evidence might even require corroboration to stand up in court. The recent abuse stories involving Harvey Weinstein, the American movie producer, show that even the adults were afraid to come forward for many years.

The absence of the hymen does not mean CSA.

Anatomy is not sacrosanct; there are variations of normal, and these are not abnormal. In simple language, there are tall and short people, with many shades between. Likewise, there are normal variations of the genitals. The appearance of genitalia and the hymen in particular varies with age, constitution, hormonal and the different phases of life. Tampons, riding, splits and stretches may vary the shape and size of hymen.

The perineum (the area around the vagina/penis and anus) has a rich blood supply, and this hastens tissue healing. It is important therefore, to report immediately. A few days later, and the evidence is gone. Early presentation may also allow for DNA evidence from semen, skin and hair to be collected at the hospital. It also allows for medical examination of the suspect for scratch marks, bruising of genitalia and the victims DNA samples on his body. It is important to examine the whole body, and not just the genital area. Most doctors may not be sufficiently trained in child and adolescent gynaecology and forensics, and are therefore, likely to miss important pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. A well-trained gynaecologist will be familiar with the challenges and the current trends in determining CSA. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of those.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

DOVVSU should join hands with the gynaecologists to organize training sessions for the doctors in the front line. This will equip them with the skills to enable them pick up evidence and quickly from the history, physical examination and appropriate investigations. Again, we should look at the legal framework that will enable limited and responsible use of photography to improve evidence collection, interpretation and preservation.

Having lost so much time already, this case needs a medical board with gynaecologists, police interrogators and investigators, psychologists and forensic scientists to give it the best shot.

There is a lot of work to be done to reduce the incidence of CSA in Ghana and the rest of the world. We need the police to be professional, we need the doctors to be well equipped to gather the evidence, we must encourage people to come forward, and early and we must find a way of stopping adjudication by people who are not mandated by law so to do. Even though the state encourages out of court settlement in certain cases, that only applies to misdemeanours and not offences like CSA. It might even be prudent to consider legislation that punishes people who block such cases from coming to the authorities.

Children are not responsible enough to look after other children. That is why the 1998 Childrens Act demands that parents must ensure that in the temporary absence of a parent, the child is cared for by a competent person. Parents should therefore show responsibility and not leave children in the care of other children and adults in whom trust is questionable. Ghanaians must be educated on the fact that the breach of the parental care and duty provisions of the Childrens Act is an offence that could end up in the parent being fined and/or going to jail.

Further, parents should love and encourage their children to communicate with them without fear, so that the children are able to report any form of abuse. Finally, the community should not shield offenders.

What we should all realize is that, prevention is better than cure!

Yours in the service of God and Country

OccupyGhana
The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would bolster the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic with 900 extra troops to help protect civilians, according to the text obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

The measure follows a request from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has warned of a risk of ethnic cleansing in parts of the impoverished African country.

The French-drafted resolution would extend the mission known as MINUSCA until November 2018 and increase the number of uniformed peacekeepers by 900, to a ceiling of 11,650, along with 2,080 police and 480 military observers.

The question is whether the United States will support a bigger mission in the Central African Republic after pushing for a $600-million cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year.

Guterres, who last month paid a visit to the country, has said he expected a "positive understanding by all the members of the Security Council including the United States" on the need to shore up the mission.

The council is scheduled to vote on the resolution on November 15.

The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

France intervened militarily to push out the Seleka alliance but the country remains plagued with violence pitting groups competing for control of resources and areas of influence.

Ongoing clashes

Jordanians peacekeepers meet Muslim refugees at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Bangassou, Central African Republic

The draft resolution expresses the council's "concern at the degradation of the security situation in the southeastern part and the northwestern parts of the CAR due to the ongoing clashes between armed groups."

It condemns widespread human rights violations including sexual violence against women by rebel groups and expresses grave concern over continued allegations of rape by MINUSCA peacekeepers.

During a council meeting on Monday, MINUSCA head Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said the 900 extra peacekeepers "should include highly mobile troops that would provide the force with greater flexibility to rapidly deploy in areas of heightened threat to civilians."

Italian Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, who holds the council presidency in November, told reporters that there was "a fair amount of understanding" that the request for more troops "is a good one."

MINUSCA deployed in 2014 with a strong mandate to protect civilians, but the draft resolution would include language on ensuring the peacekeepers have a "robust posture."

The conflict has driven more than 600,00 people from their homes within the country and an additional 500,000 have crossed borders to become refugees. Half of the population, or 2.4 million Central Africans, are in need of aid.
France has sent high-level representatives to talk to the Malian government after a French anti-terror raid killed Malian troops held by the jihadists.

Defence Minister Tiena Coulibaly met on October 31 with the French ambassador and the commander of France's military force in Mali, according to a ministry communique received by AFP on Monday.

They discussed a night-time operation on October 23-24 "in which Malian troops, held by the terrorists, were killed," it said.

On October 26, French military headquarters announced that 15 jihadists had been killed.

But on Sunday, a Malian military source said 11 soldiers who had been captured between July 2016 and March 2017 had died in the operation.

The incident occurred near Abeibara, in the northeastern Kidal region, in an attack on a group affiliated to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a jihadist organisation better known by its French acronym of AQMI, according to the French statement.

Fighter jets and helicopters backed the operation, it said.

The accidental deaths come at a time when France is stepping up its anti-terror activity in the Sahel.

France has a 4,000-man anti-terrorist force, called Barkhane, in northern Mali and is supporting a five-nation force, the so-called G5 Sahel, to buttress security across the sprawing region south of the Sahara.

"Our soldiers who were prisoners of the jihadists were definitely killed during the French anti-terrorist operation in northern Mali," a senior Malian defence ministry official said on Tuesday, requesting anonymity.

"A French delegation which was received at the ministry here acknowledged the facts."

According to the Malian communique, the French envoys explained in the October 31 meeting that the operation aimed at destroying "a terrorist group's training camp" but "upstream reconnaissance was not able to determine the presence of Malian soldiers."
Tanzanian police carried out a raid Tuesday night on the headquarters of an opposition party which recently criticised the state of the economy under President John Magufuli.

"The police have just ended a raid on the headquarters of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) Wazalendo," read a statement from the party.

The party, whose leader Zitto Kabwe is fiercely critical of the government and has been arrested three times since main opposition chief Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party was shot and wounded in September, said police had seized a laptop, a flashdrive and a recent press statement.

The statement, issued on October 12, had criticised "the bad state of the economy, the deterioration of security and the narrowing of the democratic environment."

Police also seized a second statement entitled: "Evidence of the deterioration of the national economy."

After the publication of the two statements, Magufuli had accused the party of deliberately minimising his economic achievements and asked prosecutors to go after those publishing information contrary to official statistics.

The entire central committee of the ACT Wazalendo party was on Monday summoned to present themselves to police, however it only sent its top leaders who were released after questioning.

Since his October 2016 election Magufuli has shut down newspapers, banned opposition rallies, switched off live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and used a draconian "cyber crimes" law to jail critics.

Main opposition party leader Lissu has accused the government of being behind an attack in which he was shot and wounded, requiring 17 operations in a Nairobi hospital.

Lissu had had a series of run-ins with the government and has been arrested at least six times this year, accused of insulting the president and disturbing public order, among other charges.
The United States signaled on Tuesday it was ready to back a French-drafted UN resolution that would bolster the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic with 900 extra troops.

The Security Council is considering the measure following a request from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has warned of a risk of ethnic cleansing in parts of the impoverished African country.

The draft resolution would extend the mission known as MINUSCA until November 2018 and increase the number of uniformed peacekeepers by 900, to a ceiling of 11,650, along with 2,080 police and 480 military observers.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, said it was open to beefing up the mission after repeated calls for cuts to peace operations.

"The United States is not opposed in principle to a modest troop increase for MINUSCA, but only if the additional troops would help more than hurt the mission's mandate," said a spokesperson for the US mission.

"That means any additional troops should maintain the highest standards of professionalism and refrain from incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, for which we have a zero-tolerance policy."

MINUSCA has been hit by a string of sex abuse allegations against its peacekeepers, prompting Guterres to step up measures to counter such misconduct.

The council is scheduled to vote on the draft resolution on November 15.

The United States has called for streamlining missions and was the driving force behind a $600-million cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year.

Ongoing clashes

The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

France intervened militarily to push out the Seleka alliance but the country remains plagued with violence pitting groups competing for control of resources and areas of influence.

Jordanians peacekeepers meet Muslim refugees at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Bangassou, Central African Republic

The draft resolution expresses the council's "concern at the degradation of the security situation in the southeastern part and the northwestern parts of the CAR due to the ongoing clashes between armed groups."

It condemns widespread human rights violations including sexual violence against women by rebel groups and expresses grave concern over continued allegations of rape by MINUSCA peacekeepers.

During a council meeting on Monday, MINUSCA head Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said the 900 extra peacekeepers "should include highly mobile troops that would provide the force with greater flexibility to rapidly deploy in areas of heightened threat to civilians."

MINUSCA deployed in 2014 with a strong mandate to protect civilians, but the draft resolution would include language on ensuring the peacekeepers have a "robust posture."

The conflict has driven more than 600,00 people from their homes within the country and an additional 500,000 have crossed borders to become refugees. Half of the population, or 2.4 million Central Africans, are in need of aid.
Nollywood actor cum politician, Desmond Elliot, since becoming a politician has been giving his colleagues at the office a tough run for their money when it comes to fashion.

The actor is rarely seen dressed in English outfit as he prefers native attires which really looks good on him all thanks to his fashion designer who has been doing great justice to his clothes.

Desmond recently stepped out in an Agbada outfit at the just concluded face of Democracy Awards which was held in Abuja, and he indeed stole the show with his outfit.

There is never a dull moment whenever the actor steps into an event because he tries to create humour and also add glamour with his outfit.
People around Akufo-Addo afraid to tell ...
Why Leaf-Peeping Season Is Disappointing This Year Bloomberg (David L)

Flanagan scores stunning victory in New York City marathon Reuters (EM)

These 10 rivers likely the source of millions of tons of ocean plastic TreeHugger (resilc)

Over 1,000 years old, drought resistant and unique  miracle plants in the Namib desert DW (Chana)

2017 to be the hottest year on record that wasnt affected by El Nino Independent (Dr. Kevin)

Fiji calls for urgency in talks to implement climate accord Pattaya Mail (furzy)

Cost of wind keeps dropping, and theres little coal, nuclear can do to stop it ars technica. Chuck L: As wind and solar costs fall a major step forward on the energy storage front appears to have been made with the arrival of the Vanadium-Redox flow battery, which is featured in this months IEEE Spectrum.

23andMe and the problem with genetic testing Stuff.nz (David L). Important. Even worse than I thought and Ive been a big skeptic.

The U.S. Embassy Watched the Indonesian Army Kill 500,000 People War is Boring (JTM). From last month, still germane.

North Korea calls Trump a lunatic old man who may start nuclear war as US and Japan hold summit Independent. Resilc: Completely wrong imoMoron king of moronistan is more like it.

Trump says Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of sky if it bought U.S. weaponry Reuters

The names bonds, Franco-German bonds Politico

Euro-area enlargement: a new opening? Bruegel

Brexit

This tweetstorm is a must read. I want to post on this but it will have to wait a day.

Back from meetings in Brussels. There's good news and bad news. First, the bad news. Because it's extremely bad. 1/  Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) November 6, 2017

Fears for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Boris Johnson remark BBC

When put like this by @POLITICOEurope can start to understand why there is no Cabinet meeting this morning (via @PaulBrandITV) pic.twitter.com/VGsqFWLR7j  Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) November 7, 2017

So many members of the Cabinet ought to resign that none of them can. It's like the Three Stooges trying to get through a door.  Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) November 7, 2017

Catalonia

From Politicos Europe e-mail: 331: The number of companies that have moved their headquarters (on paper) out of Catalonia in the last week, adding up to a total of 2,152 since the October 1 referendum. h/t Maria Tadeo Puigdemont comparecera el 17 de noviembre ante el tribunal que decidira sobre su entrega a Espana El Mundo

Syraqistan

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump Transition

Obamacare

Medicaid and Financial Health NBER. Dr. Kevin flags this section re Medicaid expansion: reduced unpaid medical bills sent to collection by $3.4 billion in its first two years, prevented new delinquencies, and improved credit scores. GOP unlikely to repeal ObamaCare mandate in tax measure The Hill

Bridgewater Paid Over $1 Million to Employee Pushed Out After Relationship With Dalios Protege Wall Street Journal

Democrats in Disarray. If I remember, I am buying Braziles book tomorrow in an old-fashioned way, trundling to my local Barnes & Noble. Anything but Amazon! Even if it takes me forever to find the time to read it, IMHO doing my little part to help make it a best seller sends a message to the Clintonbots.

Early Comey draft accused Clinton of gross negligence on emails The Hill

Tax Reform

Marc Fliedner for Manhattan District Attorney Adrien: Sick of Cyrus Vance as Manhattan D.A.?

Gunz

The rise of water data promises to make every piece of land and drop of water in California a source of conflict Business Insider

Paradise Papers

Fake News

Wouldnt it be great if America had a fiat-money system? New Economic Perspectives (UserFriendly). One of the things working against the MMT types is the term fiat money. Its way too wonky. If they were conservatives, theyd have hired someone come up with a super duper catchy phrase long ago. The problem with the left is that it thinks marketing is beneath them.

Uber might make more money this year selling real estate in Oakland than actually selling rides Business Insider (David L). Look a bit desperate.

WSJ poaches NYT's Gretchen Morgenson new @RonanFarrow story coming congrats @DavidChalian! Get caught up here: https://t.co/YVpecrarCl  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 6, 2017

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (Jim D):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
(Natural News) When we think of weapons of war, most of us typically think about machine guns, frag grenades or bulletproof tanks. But in 2017, manmade machines arent the only type of weapon that is being used by various nations to harm their enemies.

Just days ago, President Donald Trump left the United States for a 12-day tour of various nations in Asia. During his visit to Beijing, Trump plans on addressing Chinas production and distribution of the synthetic opioid known as Fentanyl, which is considered by the DEA to be one of the most dangerous types of narcotics due to its cheap price, widespread use, addictive quality and its devastating effects. Considering the fact that the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has called the problem Chinas deadly export to the United States, President Trump should be praised for speaking out about it on his tour of Asia. Indeed, forcing Chinas hand on the production and distribution of Fentanyl is the right thing to do.

Known as China Girl or China White on the streets, Fentanyl is a highly dangerous chemical that has destroyed countless American lives, making it an extremely valuable export for Chinese-run drug cartels and distributors within the United States. Considering the fact that Chinas authoritative government has control over virtually every aspect of its citizens lives, from what young people learn in school to what type of content is allowed to be spread across the Internet, it is without question that the regime would also be capable of stopping the production and distribution of Fentanyl as well. But just because they can doesnt necessarily mean that they will.

To say that China has a solid understanding of just how effective a manufactured Opium War can be when it comes to destroying an entire nation is an understatement. This is because, in the 19th century, China experienced what they now call the Century of Humiliation, which first began amidst widespread opioid addiction and lasted until the mid-1900s. Now, it appears as though China is taking the lessons that it learned during those devastating hundred years and using it against its enemies, albeit under the radar.

The opioid epidemic in the United States is arguably more serious than it ever has been, with millions of Americans becoming severely addicted to the drug and hundreds of thousands of families being torn apart as a result. People are dying, and our nations leaders are working relentlessly to find an effective solution.

Last month, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump urged the people of the United States to join the fight against this ongoing opioid crisis and declared a state of emergency. As Americans, we cannot allow this to continue, the president said. It is time to liberate our communities from this scourge of drug addiction. We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic. (Related: Opioids are killing thousands of Americans but alternative medicine backers say there has always been a better way to treat pain.)

Trump put emphasis on the fact that drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of unintentional deaths, and that opioid addiction kills more Americans than gun homicides and car accidents combined. For too long we have allowed drugs to ravage American homes, cities, and towns, he said. We owe it to our children and to our country to do everything in our power to address this national shame and this human tragedy. (Related: Opioid drug manufacturers have been caught bribing doctors with lucrative kickbacks.)

President Donald Trump also took time to address the importance of treatment for opioid addictions. We understand the need to confront reality right smack in the face  that millions of our fellow citizens are already addicted, he argued. We want them to get the help they need.

Sources include:

McClatchyDC.com

Breitbart.com
(Natural News) Prince William recently warned that the population growth in Africa is putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the natural world and driving many species of animals to extinction.

Africas rapidly growing human population is predicted to more than double by 2050  a staggering increase of three and a half million people per month, Prince William explained during a recent event hosted by the Tusk Trust, a charity that is committed to protecting African wildlife. There is no question that this increase puts wildlife and habitat under enormous pressure.

According to The Telegraph, Prince William continued, Urbanization, infrastructure development, cultivation  all good things in themselves, but they will have a terrible impact unless we begin to plan and to take measures now. He added, We are going to have to work much harder, and think much deeper, if we are to ensure that human beings and the other species of animal with which we share this planet can continue to co-exist.

For many, the Duke of Cambridges words serve as a stark reminder of what his grandfather once said decades ago: That in order to curb population growth, we may have to resort to voluntary family limitation. Others who are too young to remember his grandfather may recall his father, who himself was a staunch environmentalist. In 2006, for example, Prince Williams father warned that the people of earth only had 96 months to save the planet before irretrievable climate and ecosystem collapse, and all that goes with it.

Needless to say, the idea of population control and limitations being placed on how many children women are allowed to give birth to runs contrary to the values of liberty and individualism that America was founded upon. For that reason, it is an idea that should be (and for the most part, is) rejected in the United States as well as dozens of other countries throughout the world. (Related: Americas vaccine narrative now mirrors nazi eugenics propaganda.)

On Tuesday, November 7, Natural News will be releasing a video lecture detailing the covert agenda to eliminate people of African descent from the human gene pool. The series, which was put together by the Health Ranger Mike Adams himself, will document the five vectors through which Africans are currently being targeted. While critics will be quick to label the lectures as one big conspiracy theory the second they are made available, Mike Adams wants Natural News followers to know that the series is entirely based in fact, complete with a collection of credible sources, studies, news clips, and even archived newspaper articles.

While it may not be one of the most pressing issues in American politics today, population control and eugenics has unfortunately been embedded in our society for decades thanks primarily to the progressive left. Most of the time, they have sneaky ways of getting the American people on board with the idea without actually making direct calls for population control. Other times they are more direct and upfront about what it is that they want to accomplish.

One open supporter of eugenics was Margaret Sanger, the original founder of the pro-abortion organization Planned Parenthood. Sanger was actually quite candid about her support for abortion as a means of controlling the population, and whats equally as shocking is how the liberals have ignored this rather dark and evil history of Planned Parenthood for decades.

This is an issue that must be addressed and that the public must become informed about. If you want to check out Mike Adams lecture series on the science agenda to exterminate people of African decent, watch the full video below.

Sources Included:

DailyCaller.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A study published online in the journal Ecology and Evolution has revealed that environmental toxins may negatively affect the circadian rhythm or internal body clock, which in turn may spur a host of inflammatory diseases. The study carried out by researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York is based on previous findings by the Jefferson Project at Lake George, which demonstrates that a common species of zooplankton called Daphnia pulex has the ability to tolerate moderate levels of road salt  at concentrations ranging from 15 milligrams per liter of chloride to 1,000 milligrams per liter  in a relatively short time frame of two and a half months.

Plankton, which are key consumers of algae and a food source for many fish, may be making a monumental tradeoff to tolerate increased road salt. The circadian rhythm guides these animals through a daily migration, to deep waters during the day to hide from predators and shallow waters at night to feed. Disrupting that rhythm could affect the entire lake ecosystem, study co-author Rick Relyea explained in a News Medical article.

According to senior author Jennifer Hurley, adaptation to environmental toxins such as road salts might be affecting the plankton species at the epigenic levels. To examine this, the researchers have first noted that the plankton is regulated by a core set of clock-control genes that oversees the day and night cycle. According to the research team, these clock control genes take charge of various functions: such as promoting and suppressing gene transcription; and developing daily oscillations that impact cell function, division and growth. The scientists have also checked other physiological parameters such as the animals temperature and immune responses.

Likewise, the research team has studied that expression of the mRNA of PERIOD (PER) genes in Daphnia exposed to low salt levels and dark conditions. The results have shown that despite the low salt levels and constant darkness, the planktons PER mRNA levels oscillated with a 24-hour rhythm, which indicates a functional circadian clock. (Related: Biological clock disruption in humans may lead to cancer, study finds.)

Toxin exposure impacts circadian rhythm in plankton

The scientists have also performed a similar test on the plankton using a high-salt environment. The researchers observed that the animals PER mRNA rhythms have shown a drastic deterioration upon exposure to increasing salt concentrations.

What we see is a graded, measured response in this organism; the higher the level of salt to which the Daphnia are adapted, the more it suppresses the expression of its circadian clock. This research shows that exposure to environmental toxins may be depressing the function of our circadian clock, the disruption of which is linked to increased rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression, Hurley has told Science Daily online.

The implications are substantial. Youve exposed Daphnia to an environmental toxin, and its clock was suppressed, probably through epigenetic mechanisms. The clock and biology of Daphnia is very similar to the clock and the biology both in our brains and most organisms. Is it possible that we can see epigenetic changes in the human brain because of exposure to environmental toxins?, Hurley adds.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

News-Medical.net

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com
Press Release

Alpha Packaging Inc. announced today that it has acquired a plant in Etten-Leur, the Netherlands, from Graham Packaging Company. The transaction  for which terms were not disclosed  was completed on November 2nd.

Alpha is a leading blow molder of bottles and jars for rapidly growing consumer markets, including the nutrition, pharmaceutical, personal care and niche food and beverage categories. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, Alpha now operates ten manufacturing facilities, including eight in North America. The acquired plant is Alphas second in Europe, and is just a few miles from its existing facility in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, which Alpha launched as a greenfield site in 2010. Alpha is owned by Irving Place Capital, a middle-market private equity firm.

Jeffrey Kellar, Alphas President and Chief Executive Officer, said The acquisition more than doubles our production capacity on the continent making Alpha one of the largest single stage blow molding operations in Europe. The addition of the operation in Etten-Leur significantly expands our capabilities in this geography and supports future European growth.

Alpha is already a meaningful packaging supplier to the vitamins, minerals & supplements and personal care markets in Europe. The acquisition provides Alpha with a strong foothold in the European food packaging sector. The Etten-Leur facility has earned a grade AA certification for the BRC-IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, which is the highest possible rating for the quality management system for food packaging suppliers.

Alphas business model uniquely positions us to deliver the flexibility, speed and reliability needed in todays complex marketplace. Brand owners and consumers want diversity in their product options, which requires packaging suppliers to be quick and agile, added Kellar. Alpha provides one of the broadest portfolios of stock bottles and jars as well as custom bottle design and development. Our in-house mold-building capability and flexible manufacturing network help to ensure speed, quality, and cost-effective solutions for our customers.

Phil Yates, Chairman of Alpha and Senior Advisor at Irving Place Capital, said, The acquisition of the site in Etten-Leur is consistent with Alphas strategy of acquiring successful businesses with complementary customer relationships, product lines, manufacturing technologies and plant locations. Alpha has achieved outstanding growth in Europe and we are confident that this will continue with the addition of the Etten-Leur operation.
Press Release

With a publication date of October 20th 2017, Quatrefolic officially joins the Food Safety Law in China with a specific monograph that describes its quality (physical, chemical and microbiological) requirements.

After the first positive assessment by the Ministry of Health of the Peoples Republic of China (MOH), on early 2016, the use of Quatrefolic as Food Nutritional Fortification Substance finally enters in force in China.

The published monograph defines dosage and intended use of Quatrefolic, the 5-MTHF glucosamine salt, as a new active ingredient, introducing this innovative folate instead of the already known folic acid.

Quatrefolic is the metabolically active folate that is not affected by the common impairments of folate metabolism since it does not require the complex absorption, metabolic and enzymatic steps that are required by folic acid. Contrary to folic acid, Quatrefolic - being the metabolically active form of folate - is not influenced by the polymorphism of the MTHFR (methyltetrahydrofolate reductase) enzyme, a genetic defect with a high incidence in Chinese population.

In these part of the population folic acid is not effectively converted to the biologically active form 5-MTHF (methylfolate) due to the reduced enzymatic activity. Therefore, the beneficial effect of folic acid supplementation is not guaranteed in the folate deficiency related status of people, like Chinese(http://www.quatrefolic.com/quatrefolic_vs_folic.php).

FOCUS ON CHINESE INCIDENCE OF MTHFR POLYMORPHISM

In the recent years, a wide numbers of clinical studies have investigated the incidence of this polymorphism in China. Of particular relevance, the very recent meta-analysis published in 2016 by Wang et al. where sixty-six studies were identified with a total of 92277 study participants, in 23 provinces in Mainland China.

The meta-analysis revealed that the frequencies of the MTHFR C677T allele and the 677TT genotype increased from lower values (5% and 17%, respectively) in Guangxi, to intermediate values (12% and 32%, respectively) in Anhui, to higher values (39% and 62%, respectively) in Shandong.

The frequency of the 1298C allele was found to be the lowest in northern China [18% (17%-19%)], intermediate in central China [18% (17%-19%)], and highest in southern China [28% (24%-31%)]. The mean frequency of the 1298C allele was 20% (18%-22%) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4835080/).
Teachers and counselors spoke to students Monday at San Joses Presentation High School, an all-girls Catholic school, about sexual assault allegations dating back nearly three decades that involve a former Spanish teacher.

In a recent Washington Post op-ed essay, Presentation High graduate Kathryn Leehane accuses former Spanish teacher John Fernandez of sexually assaulting her and a classmate in separate incidents when they were students in 1990.

Fernandez left the school in 2004 and died of cancer in 2015. As of Monday, a tribute to Fernandez had been removed from the schools website.

Last Friday, Principal Mary Miller sent a letter to parents acknowledging the allegations. In the letter, she wrote an investigation was conducted 25 years ago, but due to privacy and confidentiality, she could not disclose the details of the probe.

Most parents on campus had no comment Monday.

Sharon Lohbeck, the mother of a sophomore student, said she was concerned about the letter, but overall, her experience with Presentation has been phenomenal over the years.

We told (our daughter) you dont judge until you get the whole story, Lohbeck said.

Heather Jacobson, a junior at Presentation, said school administrators told students they were there to support them, and they have policies in place to deal with these types of allegations.

Jacobson's sister Rachel echoed her thoughts.

They are good about teaching us to come forward to people and making sure we have someone we can trust at school, she said.

Leehanes essay, published Oct. 20, prompted a flurry of online conversations among Presentation graduates and parents. New allegations also surfaced against Fernandez.

According to multiple sources, at least one other student said she was sexually assaulted by Fernandez in the late 1980s. Others are now posting about their experiences with the teacher on Facebook.

One graduate wrote in a post that Fernandez would often give her a kiss on the cheek or put his hand on her knee. She said he also made inappropriate comments.

Leehanes accusations go much further.

In the essay, Leehane accuses Fernandez of groping her breast and showing her a pornographic photo while preparing for an upcoming poetry competition. According to the essay, Leehane reported the incident to police in 1996 but was told the investigation came to a dead end.

The essay also blames school administrators at the time, including former Principal Marian Stuckey and current Principal Mary Miller, for failing to act when Leehanes classmate reported being sexually assaulted by Fernandez the same year.

I buried my secret for a couple of years until my classmate 'Jane' (not her real name) confessed to me in a flood of whispers that this same man had sexually assaulted her, Leehane wrote in the essay. When she told the administrators, they scared her into taking back the story.

Sources who spoke with NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit confirmed Jane reported being sexually assaulted to both Stuckey and Miller shortly after it happened in 1990 and say the allegations were brushed aside.

Presentation declined an interview request from NBC Bay Area to speak with Miller about what she knew and when she knew it. In an email, however, a spokesperson said the matter was referred to (Child Protective Services.)

The school declined to say which specific incident was referred to CPS and has not yet stated what year that report was made. They declined to reveal if any allegations against Fernandez were reported to police.

The Diocese of San Jose also declined to speak with NBC Bay Area but said in a written statement it was not aware of the allegations against Fernandez until they recently became public.

We cant say who knew what when it happened," the statement said. "We became aware of the situation at Presentation High School the same time the public did. It is the expectation that anything like this that comes to light be reported to the Superintendent of Schools and the Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults who will work together in tandem to address it. If it is a current situation the expectation is that the school will contact the authorities and address the situation before contacting the Superintendent of Schools and the Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

A petition circulating on the website change.org directed at current Principal Miller now has more than 1,800 signatures.

We are outraged by the nature of the accusations against former Presentation French and Spanish teacher John Fernandez, the petition states.

We are outraged by the apparent lack of response by the Presentation administration once charges of abuse were reported to Marian Stuckey and Mary Miller beginning in 1990. We are outraged that John Fernandez was allowed access to thousands of young women while in a position of authority for twenty years.

Attempts by NBC Bay Area to locate any living relatives of Fernandez for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

NBC Bay Area is now investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against other teachers that have come out since Leehanes article.

If you have a tip regarding this story or any other, you can email Vicky Nguyen at vicky@nbcbayarea.com or contact her on Twitter at @VickyNguyenTV or Facebook at www.facebook.com/vickynguyenTV.

You can reach investigative producer Michael Bott at michael.bott@nbcuni.com or on Twitter @TweetBottNBC.

If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit, you can send it to theunit@nbcbayarea.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/the-courts-regularly-fail-sexual-assault-victims-so-we-have-to-find-our-own-closure/2017/10/20/d476099a-b42d-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html
Chances are if youve been to a Bay Area rock concert in the last 40 years, youve encountered Jay Blakesberg at work on stage. He was the guy behind the camera.

And after decades focusing his lens on some of the biggest names in music, the prolific rock 'n' roll photographer is the star of his own career retrospective titled Dark + Light, opening in San Franciscos Harvey Milk Photo Center this Thursday.

For the show, Blakesberg pared down what he estimates are more than two-million photos taken during a 40-year career, into 140 pictures lining the walls of the photo center, with even more on display in the San Francisco Parks and Rec Departments McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park.

When people look at my photographs, Blakesberg said, I want my photographs to take them to another place.

Blakesberg was around 16 years old in New Jersey when he began borrowing his fathers camera to take photos and develop them in his basement. Soon he was sneaking his camera into rock concerts to photograph bands like Led Zeppelin and Crosby Stills and Nash.

I was bringing my camera to concerts, he said, because I wanted to create my own memorabilia to hang on my bedroom wall.

It was the Grateful Dead that lured Blakesberg West. Inside the photo center where he was setting up for his show, he pointed to a picture of the band taken in San Francisco in 1978. He rode a Greyhound Bus across the country to see the concert  and ended up staying.

Im not an L.A. guy, Im not a New York guy, Blakesberg said. Ive always been based in San Francisco.

The photos themselves are embrued with stories  both conveyed in expression and setting  but also in Blakesbergs account of each session.

He photographed Tom Waits playing a tiny piano in the Petaluma recording studio closet where the artist preferred to record. The photo of Jerry Garcia strumming a guitar was taken in mandolinist David Grismans Mill Valley home. He took the portrait of Emmylou Harris at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival where Blakesberg has been a staff photographer for the last 16 years.

Joe Rosato Jr.

He photographed guitarist Roger McGuinn at a Byrds concert back in New Jersey in 1979 while Blakesberg was still in high school. Decades later he was taking a portrait of McGuinn in his San Francisco photography studio when he pulled out the earlier photo to show the musician.

We look at this photograph and I notice the date, April 14, 1979, Blakesberg said. And this was April 14, 2004  25 years to the day later.

He points out a picture of Bono spray painting the Vaillancourt Fountain in 1987. It was Blakesbergs first assignment for Rolling Stone Magazine. His photo of Jefferson Airplanes Jorma Kaukonen, taken when the photographer was 16, was the first picture he ever sold to a magazine.

Nowadays were published every day; Instagram, Facebook, social media, Snapchat, he said. Back then a photograph in print in a magazine was a pretty monumental thing.

Blakesbergs photos are a mixture of live concert action  and thoughtful portraits posed in what appears as fussily crafted settings  which isnt necessarily the case. The Richard Avedon-esque black and white of John Lee Hooker was taken with a white sheet for a backdrop in the musicians Redwood City garage. Another photo of Tom Waits was taken behind a shed. Waits didnt want to sit for the shot until Blakesberg took a polaroid to convince him of the pose.

Joe Rosato Jr.

I dont want to put out pictures of people looking bad, Blakesberg said of his loyalty to his subjects, or doing things they might not want the public to see.

Blakesberg has long straddled the worlds of analog and digital photography. The show is split into two walls  analog on one side, digital on the other. Blakesberg said hes a bit nostalgic about his thousands of hours spent in darkrooms watching photos slowly come to life in a pool of chemicals. And yet, he said he wouldnt go as far as saying he actually misses it. He doesnt. These days he only shoots digital.

He said hes shot a million, three hundred thousand digital files since 2004. And probably another million photos on film. Many of those photos were taken of his childhood favorites, the Grateful Dead, whom he has followed for decades  including snapping the bands iconic 50 year anniversary in 2015. Blakesbergs photo is taken from behind the stage with the band posing with the crowd at its back.

Blakesberg still marvels that hes gotten to photograph so many of his childhood idols  and is now folded into a plethora of musical families.

Im a working photojournalist, Im a working commercial photographer, Blakesberg said. And I happened to get lucky enough to do it all in sort of the rock 'n' roll world.
A 4-foot-long lizard discovered suntanning in a Riverside backyard, thousands of miles from its native land in the southwestern Pacific, was reunited with its owner.

The 4-year-old male crocodile monitor named Chopper was spotted sunning itself on top of a hedge Wednesday afternoon. The Riverside County Animal Services said Chopper's owner picked up the stray lizard from a shelter Friday.

The crocodile monitor is a relative of the famous Komodo dragon. It's native to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia  not California  but it is legal to own them in the state.

The crocodile monitor, also known as varanus salvadorii, can grow up to 8 feet long and is considered a top predator on the island. It's green and yellow with big claws, a long tail and a forked tongue.

Video of Chopper was posted on the agency's Facebook page.
Police on Tuesday said five people have been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a Concord high school student.

The student, who was shot and killed near Olympic Continuation High, has been identified as Lawrence Janson, 17. Police said some of the five arrested are minors. The suspected shooter is an adult. Authorities are not releasing the names of the suspects citing an ongoing investigation.

At a press briefing late Tuesday, police said the weapon used in the shooting and getaway vehicle have been found. Police have said Janson likely was targeted, but a motive is still under investigation.

A memorial overflowing with candles and flowers continued to grow Tuesday for Janson.

"My son was gone," Raul Bravo, Janson's stepfather, remembers thinking as he rushed to the hospital and saw hospital staff trying to save his stepson. "Some punk took his life."

The shooting was reported just after 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Salvio Street and Beach Street. Jansen was transported to a local hospital with several gunshot wounds, where he was later pronounced deceased, police said.

A preliminary investigation shows when school was dismissed, a passenger in an unknown dark sedan exited the car and approached a group of individuals off campus. The suspect, who witnesses say was wearing a clown suit, then shot at Janson in what appears to be a targeted shooting, according to police.

Janson ran back onto campus, where he was treated by staff, paramedics and police.

In addition to a noticeable police presence near the campus on Tuesday, counselors were at the school to assist any members of the school community.

If anyone has any information about the shooting, they are asked to contact the Concord Police Department.
Surveillance video footage of a group of people gathered on San Francisco's Pier 14 shortly before Kate Steinle was shot supports the claim by the man charged with her murder that he found the gun on the pier, defense attorneys said Tuesday.

Defense attorneys for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, 45,who is on trial for second-degree murder in the July 1, 2015 shooting, asked a video enhancement expert, Paul Hiromi Endo of the San Bruno-based video and graphics firm Think Twice, Inc., to present enhanced video of the pier where the shooting occurred and analyze other images taken at the scene.

Defense attorneys Matt Gonzalez, chief attorney for the public defender's office, and Francisco Ugarte, are not contesting that he fired the shot that killed Steinle, a 32-year-old Pleasanton native and San Francisco resident.

Instead, they are presenting a series of expert witnesses this week to bolster their argument that the shooting was an accident that occurred after Garcia Zarate found and picked up a gun on the pier that had been stolen from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger several days earlier.

The dark, grainy video presented by Endo today was taken by a surveillance camera at another pier around a quarter of a mile away and shows individuals only as small indistinct figures. The version presented to jurors today was zoomed in and enhanced to somewhat improve visibility.

While prosecutors showed jurors the portion of the video including the shooting, Gonzalez had Endo walk through an earlier time period before Garcia Zarate first appears on the pier.

A group of six people can be seen gathering there around the seat where the defendant later sat, moving back and forth and at some points appearing to bend down as if they are picking things up or setting them down.

Prosecutors have cast doubt on Garcia Zarate's statement to police that he found the gun on the pier, arguing that he could have been carrying it in his pockets.

However, defense attorneys say the images of the group on the pier shows one way the gun could have ended up on the pier.

"We believe that it was entirely likely that group of individuals discarded that weapon," Ugarte said outside of court. "That's evidence that when he said he found the gun right there it appears to be a legitimate statement."

Gonzalez also spent some time with Endo going over enhanced imagery that appeared to show Garcia Zarate bending over in his seat, another point the defense said corroborated his story. In addition, he presented still photos demonstrating that items hidden behind Garcia Zarate, such as a gun wrapped in a piece of cloth, would not necessarily have been visible to passersby.

Steinle was hit in the back by a single bullet as she walked on the pier with her family. The bullet ricocheted off the pier about 12 feet in front of Garcia Zarate before it struck her where she stood around 90 feet away.

On Monday, the defense opened its case with testimony from James Norris, former head of the San Francisco crime lab, on that bullet ricochet.

Prosecutor Diana Garcia is expected to cross-examine Endo Wednesday as the trial continues.

Steinle's shooting triggered a national furor over San Francisco's Sanctuary City policies after it was learned that Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant with a history of deportations and drug charges, had been released from San Francisco jail several months earlier without notice to federal immigration authorities.

Sanctuary City policies, which have been adopted by hundreds of cities and counties across the country, limit the communication and cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The policies are intended to increase community safety by encouraging immigrants to report crimes and work with local police and also to avoid liability due to illegal detentions. They have been upheld by court rulings but are bitterly opposed by immigration opponents.

Garcia Zarate had been sent to San Francisco jail after he completed a federal sentence for returning to the country following deportation because he had a warrant in the city for an old marijuana charge. That charge was dismissed once he arrived in San Francisco and he was released.

Defense attorneys have said they expect to wrap up their case this week, with closing arguments expected to take place next week.
The Mountain View Police Department on Tuesday will offer an educational opportunity for residents plagued by an increase in the number of car and home burglaries.

The initiative is slated to teach residents about what burglars look for when they peek into homes and cars as well as inform residents about how they can do to prevent burglaries from occurring in the first place.

When it comes to car break-ins, folks are first warned not to leave anything valuable in their vehicles. Police say it would also be a good idea to not leave anything at all inside cars.

"Leaving gym bags and diaper bags and they say, 'Well, there's not really anything of value in there so I don't mind if it gets stolen,'" Det. Andrew Wong with Mountain View police said. "But what they don't realize is that thieves don't understand that, so they will break in thinking that there might be valuables in that gym bag or diaper bag. That makes you susceptible to becoming a victim."

Property crime across some Bay Area counties has actually been dropping over the past several years, according to data from the Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice.

Between 2010 and 2016, property crime fell 9.5 percent in Alameda County, 13 percent in Contra Costa County, 2 percent in Santa Clara County and 8 percent in San Mateo County.

San Francisco has not been so fortunate. The city by the bay has witnessed a 35 percent jump in property crime during that span.

Local communities such as Mountain View, Livermore and Los Alto have also seen spikes in property crime, but an analyst with the Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice says police departments can help reduce those numbers through community programs.

Mountain View police on Tuesday will host a question-and-answer event regarding auto and home burglaries at 7 p.m. at the police auditorium on Villa Street.
PG&E auditors allow one out of 100 trees they check to violate state power line clearance standards, NBC Bay Area has learned.

But critics say one out of 100 is one too many.

PG&Es CEO has staunchly defended the utility's program, which came under scrutiny after the 2015 Butte Fire that killed two and devastated more than 70,000 acres in Amador and Calaveras counties.

Our people are well-trained, our patrols are terrific, we are on time, everything is going great, Geisha Williams said in July, during a videotaped deposition in the Butte fire litigation.

Last week, Williams reiterated her defense of the companys effort to manage the 55 million trees that grow near its power lines.

We also have one of, if not the most comprehensive vegetation management programs in the country, she told shareholders in the companys quarterly earnings call last Thursday, with the company spending more than $400 million last year on clearing trees because of the drought.

"Through its Electric Vegetation Management program, the company said Monday in a statement, PG&E dedicates hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of workforce hours to help enhance safety and reduce electrical outages and wildfire risks."

But such efforts are now facing scrutiny from state regulators as Cal Fire investigates whether downed power lines started any of the North Bay fires that leveled more than 6,000 homes and businesses.

PG&E had long known that the biggest threat of a tree-caused electrical wildfire was in the North Bay.

NBC Bay Area obtained a 2013 internal analysis of five years of data on vegetation-caused wildfires. It shows the North Bay counties to have nearly a 3 percent risk of a power line sparking a wildfire. The risk was listed as 1 percent elsewhere in PG&E territory.

Amanda Riddle, one of the attorneys in the Butte Fire litigation, contends the company was not ready for that threat.

What we know is PG&Es vegetation management program is worth nothing more than the paper its written on, Riddle said.

She said it emerged during the Butte fire litigation that auditors were giving out a passing grade when one out of 100 trees they checked turned out to be too close to power lines under state standards.

She said while that 99 percent ratio may sound good, it has 55 million trees near its lines.

That means a half-million trees out there could fall into power lines and cause a wildfire, Riddle said. And obviously that shouldnt be acceptable to anybody.

You cannot accept any tree ... or any pole, or any component that does not meet minimum standards, said retired Public Utilities Commission attorney Robert Cagen. Your safety goes awry.

But the Butte fire legal battle revealed something more troubling for Riddle. When it failed to reach that 99 percent compliance rate in the area around the fire, she says, the company just expanded the universe of trees covered in a particular audit.

So what PG&E does when it doesnt pass, it basically cheats, Riddle said. It adds more miles and more miles until it reaches a passing grade.

PG&E maintained that there was nothing inherently wrong about expanding the audit sample size, adding in legal filings that the practice does not jeopardize safety.

Cagen, the veteran regulatory lawyer who handled the case over the 2010 San Bruno pipeline fire, cant understand that position.

Failure occurs at the weakest link in the system, Cagen said. It doesnt matter if theres a hundred good poles, if one pole is going to fail.

In a statement, PG&E stressed that its audit process is statistically valid and complies with industry best practices.

PG&E said its methodology provides a reasonable way to monitor compliance levels and audit PG&Es vegetation management activities.
A ferry boat carrying hundreds of passengers from San Francisco to Vallejo became stranded in San Pablo Bay on Monday evening, turning a normally 45-minute commute into a nearly 5-hour debacle.

Passengers reported that the vessel lost both its engines and dropped its anchors off the coast of Hercules and had to wait for assistance from a tug boat. There were an estimated 330 people on the boat.

"It was long, very long," passenger Kristina Gutierrez, of Vallejo, said. "But youre laughing now. Five delightful hours, yes."



The ferry was towed to Mare Island, where passengers deboarded and boarded another ferry to take them to Vallejo. The tug boat was unable to go directly to Vallejo because its hull was too deep.

"It was fine. It was just a long day's journey into night," passenger Michael Beseda, of Vallejo, said. "Crew was great, very accommodating. Its good to be on land."



The ferry, which left San Francisco at 5:30 p.m., originally was scheduled to land at Vallejo at 6:15 p.m. The delay was in its third hour by the time the tug boat arrived at the stranded ferry, and because of the side trip to Mare Island, it lasted about another two hours.

"At the end there, we couldnt use the bathroom, so that kind of sucks. But other than that, it was OK," said Deana Curran, of Vacaville.

The delay will carry over to Tuesday morning, with the 7:15 a.m. service out of Vallejo and the 8:15 a.m. service out of San Francisco operating with buses.

The cause of the engine failures was not known.
The nation's chief law enforcement officer is finding himself in a familiar spot: belittled by the president, pressured to investigate political opponents and sucked back into the center of the storm around the investigation into the Trump administration's campaign ties to Russia.

In President Donald Trump's Cabinet, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appears to be perpetually in the hot seat, yet he has made clear he's not going anywhere. In an administration where top aides serve at the president's displeasure, the former Alabama senator has shown he is more than willing to absorb the blows.

Trump paused Friday to hit Sessions with yet another indignity just before he left the White House for a 12-day Asia trip increasingly colored by his domestic political troubles. Asked if he would fire the attorney general if he doesn't investigate his Democratic political rivals, Trump said, "I don't know." He continued to vent his frustration with the top prosecutor.

"I'm not really involved with the Justice Department," he said. "I'd like to let it run itself. But honestly, they should be looking at Democrats. ... They should be looking at a lot of things, and a lot of people are disappointed with the Justice Department, including me."

Two White House officials quickly cautioned against reading too much into Trump's comments, reiterating that he has no plans to fire Sessions. And although the White House maintains that Trump's tweets are "official record," it says Trump has not ordered Sessions or the FBI to do anything related to Democrats.

Trump issued a flurry of tweets over a 3-1/2-hour span Friday urging the Justice Department to investigate Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee over a joint fundraising agreement they signed in August 2015.

Trump's accusations follow publication by Politico of an excerpt from former acting DNC Chair Donna Brazile's upcoming book. Brazile alleges she found "proof" that the 2016 Democratic primary was rigged in Clinton's favor.

"Everybody is asking why the Justice Department (and FBI) isn't looking into all of the dishonesty going on with Crooked Hillary & the Dems..." Trump tweeted.

The aides said the tweets were a media savvy way to deflect attention from the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. This week, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates, who also had a role in the campaign, were indicted on 12 counts, and former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying about his dealings with Russians who were offering "dirt" on Clinton.

Sessions has become a scapegoat for Trump's anger, allowing the president to avoid some of the political consequences of directly attacking the special counsel.

But the president's lashing was another blow to the attorney general, and came amid calls for him to return to Congress to explain why he said earlier this year he was unaware of information exchanges between Trump's campaign and intermediaries for the Russian government.

Papadopoulos admitted he told Sessions at a March 2016 meeting he had made contacts with Russians who said they could set up a meeting between Trump and President Vladimir Putin. Sessions quickly dismissed the idea and said he'd prefer no one ever speak about it, according to one person who was there, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share the private conversation.

Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are now asking Sessions to follow up.

"This is another example in an alarming pattern in which you, the nation's top law enforcement officer, apparently failed to tell the truth, under oath, about the Trump team's contacts with agents of Russia  a hostile foreign power that interfered in the 2016 election," Sen. Al Franken wrote in a letter to Sessions.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal also asked Sessions to return to the panel to clarify his comments.

A person close to Sessions said Papadopoulos' comments during the March meeting did not leave a lasting impression on the then-senator, who quickly dismissed them and moved on. The person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and did so on condition of anonymity, said Sessions does not recall any further interactions with Papadopoulos.

Sessions has been a loyal foot soldier to the president, even after repeated attacks from Trump this summer over his decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe, which Trump has come to view as the original sin in the swirling special counsel investigation.

But Sessions clung to the job he had long desired, in part to enact his hawkish immigration and crime-fighting strategies. And he has since been steadily carrying out Trump's agenda, stumping for Trump policies and praising the president directly in speeches. The two have been lock-step on everything from drugs and gangs to terrorism and immigration. Sessions has been mostly silent as Trump has inserted himself into legal matters, including calling for the execution of the Islamic State devotee charged with mowing down eight people on a New York bike path this week.

There's nothing expressly preventing the president from opining on law enforcement investigations, and Trump is not the first president to have done so. But pressuring the attorney general to investigate a foe would be a violation of longstanding protocol and insensitive to the bright-line boundary between the White House and the FBI.

Sessions also has said he would recuse himself from any Clinton-related investigations.

Still, the president's casual call for an investigation into the Democrats drew outrage from some in Congress, at a time of increasing concern about White House interference with Justice Department doings.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said it was "characteristic of authoritarian regimes, not democracies, and it needs to stop." And Republican Sen. Bob Corker, a Trump critic, said Trump's wading into criminal cases and pushing for investigations of adversaries not only "undermine our justice system but erode the American people's confidence in our institutions."

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Steve Peoples contributed to this report.
A south suburban man who spent a 10 years in prison for a crime he didnt commit is suing the Indiana police officers who put him in jail.

Keith Cooper, 50, of County Club Hills filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in South Bend, Indiana, against the City of Elkhart and four Elkhart police officers, including current Police Chief Ed Windbigler.

Today begins the final chapter in Keith Coopers story, Coopers attorney, Elliot Slosar, said in a statement. Tragically, Keiths 21-year wrongful conviction was not accident, but rather, the result of intentional misconduct by members of the Elkhart Police Department.

Cooper, who was married with three children, had no prior criminal record when he was wrongfully convicted of a 1996 armed robbery and attempted murder, according to the suit.

The crime happened on the evening of Oct. 29, 1996. Michael Kershner was watching a movie in his familys apartment on Monroe Street in Elkhart with his girlfriend, his friend, his mother and his mothers boyfriend, according to the lawsuit.

About 9:30 p.m., someone knocked on Kershners door. When he opened it, two black menone short and one tallarmed with handguns forced their way into the apartment, demanded money, drugs and asked for Shell.

Kershner lunged for his SKS rifle, which was lying at his side, and a scuffle broke out between him and the taller intruder, according to the lawsuit.

Kershner knocked off the suspects hat, but the tall intruder then shot him in the hip, according to the lawsuit. Both suspects left a few minutes later, taking a bag full of quarters, a stun gun and Kershners rifle.

Kershner was taken to Elkhart General Hospital, and survived his wounds after multiple surgeries.

Several months after the shooting, Cooper was arrested for an unrelated purse-snatching, according to the suit. Though he was later acquitted of the charge, an officer with the Elkhart Police Department developed a hunch that Cooper was the suspect who had shot Kershner.

The lawsuit alleges that four Elkhart police officers, including Windbigley, framed Cooper for the shooting. Cooper spent more than a decade in prison.

DNA from the hat left at the scene by the tall gunman did not match Cooper, according to the suit. Five years after his conviction, it was retested and matched an inmate serving a 60-year sentence for second-degree murder in Michigan.

On Feb. 9, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb exonerated Cooper through the first actual innocence pardon ever awarded in the state.

It took more than two decades for Keith to finally get his name back. Today begins his much shorter journey towards rebuilding the life he once enjoyed before being framed for a crime he did not commit, Slosar said.

Windbigler did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on the lawsuit Monday.

The eleven-count lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
Illinois voters could soon be able to voice their say on whether the state should legalize recreational marijuana.

Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey plans to announce Tuesday an effort to put the marijuana legalization question on the March ballot.

Legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana in Illinois is long overdue, Fritchey said in a statement. Polls have shown that Cook County voters, who makes up 40 percent of the Illinois population, are very supportive of the idea. I want to voters to have a direct opportunity to have their voices heard as the debate on this issue in Springfield continues.



Southern Illinois Universitys Simon Poll found that 66 percent of voters believe marijuana should be legal if its taxed and regulated like alcohol. Seventy-four percent of state voters have said they support the decriminalization of marijuana.

Last year, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill that decriminalized up to 10 grams of marijuana, but earlier this year said hes not supportive of legalizing pot, saying Illinois should look at the impact and ramifications it has had in other states.

Recreational legalization is being supported by some gubernatorial candidates including Daniel Biss, Chris Kennedy and JB Pritzker.

Fritchey and about a half dozen others will speak Tuesday morning about the push for a vote next spring.
When disaster strikes, houses of worship are often on the front lines, feeding and sheltering victims. Yet churches, synagogues and mosques are routinely denied aid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency when it comes time to repair or rebuild their damaged sanctuaries.

Pressure is mounting to change that after this year's series of devastating hurricanes damaged scores of churches in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

FEMA is rethinking its policies in the face of a federal lawsuit, scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, by three Texas churches hit by Hurricane Harvey. President Donald Trump has signaled his support, via Twitter, for the religious institutions.

At the same time, several members of Congress have revived legislation  first proposed after 2012's Hurricane Sandy  that would force FEMA to pay for repairs at places of worship.

The debate centers on two key questions: Does providing such aid violate the First Amendment separation of church and state? Or is it an infringement on the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion to deny churches the same aid available to numerous other nonprofit organizations, such as libraries, zoos and homeless shelters?

"It seems like the only reason churches are excluded is because they're churches, and it just seems discriminatory to me," said Bruce Frazier, pastor of Rockport First Assembly of God Church, which is part of the lawsuit.

Religious entities already can receive some government help in disasters. They can be reimbursed by local governments for sheltering evacuees and can receive U.S. Small Business Administration loans to repair their buildings. FEMA grants are available to religiously affiliated schools, health care providers and nursing homes. And FEMA also can provide money to repair church-run facilities that function like community centers, but only if less than half the space or use is for religious purposes.

Over the past five years, FEMA has authorized a net of $113 million for about 500 religiously affiliated entities such as schools, medical clinics and community centers after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other disasters, according to an AP analysis of data made public as part of the lawsuit.

But FEMA hasn't supplied money to repair sanctuaries, and its 50 percent rule excludes many other types of church facilities.

"It is the faith community that responds so robustly to the need. And then to say, 'Tough luck, we're not going to help you put your own facility back together' is wrong," said Rep. Christopher Smith, a New Jersey Republican sponsoring the bill that would change the policy.

Not everyone shares that view, noting constitutional concerns.

"I really can't see anything more core and more of an establishment of religion than building a house of worship," said Maggie Garrett, a lawyer who has lobbied against FEMA aid to religious institutions on behalf of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

FEMA declined to comment, citing the lawsuit. But in a court filing, the U.S. Justice Department said the challenged policies are being reconsidered.

High winds and flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 damaged more than 1,000 buildings owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. FEMA later came through with more than $300 million, an amount the archdiocese's chief financial officer, Jeff Entwisle, described as "extraordinary assistance."

Even so, he estimated that FEMA deemed less than one-third of the buildings eligible for funding. The archdiocese opted not to rebuild nearly one-quarter of its churches and schools.

When Hurricane Harvey slammed Texas in August, it blew down the steeple, ripped away the front doors and destroyed the roof of Frazier's church, causing extensive water damage. The church applied for FEMA disaster aid but was directed instead to private insurance coverage and the Small Business Administration for a loan.

Frazier said the church of about 125 members couldn't afford wind-storm insurance and can't even afford the loan payments that would be necessary to fully rebuild.

"We're just asking to get help," Frazier said. "I mean, we're struggling."

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Congregation Torah Vachesed, a Houston-area synagogue flooded by Harvey, filed briefs in support of the churches that are suing. The synagogue asserted that the "pernicious effect of FEMA's policy of explicit discrimination" is "to deter and discourage the exercise of the Jewish faith."

The lawsuit contends hundreds of other places of worship also are being denied access to FEMA funding, but it's hard to say how many would seek federal aid if given the opportunity or how much money is at stake.

First Baptist Rockport Church, a mile from the First Assembly of God, sustained about $1 million in damage when Hurricane Harvey collapsed a choir room wall and caused leaks in the roof. Senior Pastor Scott Jones said he doesn't fault others who seek FEMA aid, but his church won't be doing so.

"We believed that God would provide for us another way, and that we were going to respect the separation of church and state, and not expect or count on help from the federal government," Jones said.

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court found that a Lutheran church in Columbia, Missouri, had been wrongly excluded from a state grant program to install a soft playground surface made of recycled tires. Chief Justice John Roberts called it "odious to our Constitution" to deny an otherwise eligible recipient solely because it's a church.

Richard W. Garnett, a University of Notre Dame law professor who runs the school's program on Church, State and Society, said that based on that ruling, there is a good chance the high court would allow FEMA to provide aid to rebuild places of worship.

"The purpose of the support would not be to subsidize religious worship but rather to clean up the community and help local institutions that themselves provide important relief services to those in need," Garnett said.

Associated Press Writer Ryan J. Foley contributed to this report.
Meriden police have arrested one man and are searching for a second after a manhunt that started near the Meriden Square Mall Monday.

According to Meriden police, members of the Crime Suppression Unit tried to stop a suspect vehicle in the area, but the driver took off. Police tried to stop the vehicle using stop sticks, but the driver continued onto I-691 westbound and onto Interstate 84 in Southington before losing control and crashing the vehicle.

Two male occupants then fled on foot.

Connecticut State Police and Southington police responded to help Meriden police search the area for the suspects. One suspect, who has not been publicly identified, was located and arrested. The second remains at large.

Police did not indicate what charges the suspects face.

No other information was immediately available. Check back for updates.
A prison in Enfield is slated to shut down as the rate of crime and the prison population continues to decline, the governor's office said.

The Enfield Correctional Institution located at 289 Shaker Road will close in early 2018, Governor Dannel Malloy announced on Tuesday.

The building currently holds around 700 offenders who will be transferred to other facilities and save the state approximately $6.5 million in annual operating costs.

"As crime in Connecticut has dropped to its lowest level in two generations, new prison admissions have declined 38 percent over the last ten years, and the prison population has reached its lowest level in 23 years, weve been able to create efficiencies by closing outdated facilities and reallocating these resources toward efforts that will further enhance public safety initiatives and keep our neighborhoods even safer," Malloy said.

Right now, there are 14,103 inmates incarcerated in Connecticut's state prison system, which is 836 fewer than last year at this time.

The Department of Correction (DOC) will work with staff members to reassign the approximate 190 workers at the prison.

"We are monitoring the situation to ensure that all aspects of the closure are handled properly, safely and in accordance with our collective bargaining agreement for all our staff," Larry Dorman, the public affairs coordinator for the workers' corrections union, said in a statement. "While we understand the reasons behind the decision to close Enfield CI, we are still saddened by the news and empathetic towards the staff who are negatively impacted."

Enfield Correctional Institution is a Level 3, medium security, dormitory-style facility that originally opened in 1962 as a low-level, pre-release facility, the governor's office said.

The closing of the Enfield facility comes after several other state prison system closures in recent years, including the

The Radgowski Annex Building at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville in April 2017 and the Niantic Annex of the York Correctional Institution in January 2016.
There will be two public forums Tuesday and Wednesday at Capital Community College to discuss the potential consolidation of the states 12 community colleges.

Tuesdays meeting will focus on faculty and staff concerns, and Wednesdays on student concerns.

The plan to combine the colleges is designed as a cost-saving measure. The plan would save millions of dollars by reducing the number of administrators.

Instead of each school having its own set of differences, like curriculum and financial aid, those services would e combined.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian presented the idea to students last month. He said a benefit to them would be the opportunity to enroll in classes on multiple campuses and combine those credits for one degree. Students could pursue their education based on interested and not just proximity to the school closest to them.

Students that spoke to NBC Connecticut last month had concerns that combining everything would slow down the process of class enrollment and affect financial aid.

"Cut spending without affecting the students. I've been at Gateway for 3 years. It's a great school. There's not much about it I would change," said West Haven resident Lamar Hodge.

"Now you have one central location for multiple different locations for all information to feed to, said Aamir Kadeem of Stratford. Would it be longer time to get through different processes? Would it be longer time for our classes, financial aid?"

Those interested can attend one of the public meetings in person or watch on Facebook.

Public comment for students will be tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

After public comment, a final recommendation will be handed to the Board of Regents on December 17.
CLICK HERE FOR ELECTION 2017 RESULTS

Voters in Connecticut are still learning the results for local races after polling stations closed at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Even in an off-year election there was a steady stream of voters arriving at New Britains Pulaski Middle School Tuesday morning. A three-way race for mayor and a crowded contest for common council are driving many in New Britain to the ballot box.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart won a third term after she faced competition from Democrat Merrill Gay and petitioning candidate Al May.

A dozen people lined up before the doors opened.

Mark Ciosck was the first in line at 5:30 a.m. and said last Novembers election pushed him to the polls this year.

"This is actually the first year Im actually voting in all of my life and Im 46. Its important to me. I want to start voicing my opinion," said Ciosck.

John Alteiri stood behind him, second in line. Alteiri said he never misses an election.

Its my civic duty and its my right to vote, and whether my person that I vote for gets in or not it gives me a right to complain about government. If you dont vote then you dont have a right to complain, Alteiri said.

I think its time for a change. There are so many women here in New Britain that are running for office who want to take a stance and they want to make a positive change and I think by having us rally together and going out and doing our part that thats what its going to take to get New Britain on track, said Norma Brown.

In the race for the Common Council, there are 30 candidates, but only 15 open seats.

A month ago, thieves were caught on surveillance video removing signs from outside the mayors re-election campaign headquarters.

There were also nearly two dozen complaints of damaged or stolen campaign signs.

All that gets set aside today as voters got to the polls.

In Bristol, voters will decide it was time for a change.

Democrat Ellen Zoppo-Sassu has been elected the new mayor for Bristol, defeating incumbent Mayor Ken Cockayne.

Zoppo-Sassu fell short in her previous attempt to unseat incumbent Mayor Ken Cockayne, but since his last victory Cockayne, a Republican, has been censured twice by his own council.

East Haven's incumbent Mayor Joseph Maturo defeated Salvatore Maltese two years ago, and did so again this year.



Voters in West Haven have elected Nancy Rossi to be their new mayor, according to her opponent and incumbent mayor, Ed O'Brien said.

In September, the former city council member Rossi defeated incumbent OBrien by a razor-thin margin in the Democratic primary by only 136 votes.

NBC Connecticut will provide coverage on races across the state.
The state is raising awareness about the need for more adoptions and highlighting the importance of same-sex couples to help find homes for foster children.

Troy Saunders and Michael Brinckerhoff, a same-sex couple, brought Indigo into their home as a foster child when she was 5 years old.

You can even put it in words what she is to us, said Saunders.

Very quickly after she was in our care, we knew we wanted to adopt her, Brinckerhoff said.

November is national adoption month.

We want folks to come forward, said Gov. Dan Malloy. If you want a new loved one in your family, this is the month to be reminded.

State leaders said there are so many children in Connecticut who need loving homes.

At DCF we dont care about your sex, we dont care about gender, we dont care about sexual orientation, we dont care about color, we dont care about religion. All we care about is finding families who can provide the love and nurturing and adoration that these children deserve, DCF Commissioner, Joette Katz said.

Learn more about adopting or fostering children in Connecticut on the state Department of Children and Families website.
A 34-year-old woman was dragged while trying to stop the man who was stealing her car from a Windsor Locks gas station Monday morning and police are searching for the car thief.

Police said they responded to the Shell gas station at 80 Ella Grasso Turnpike at 10:31 a.m. Monday after a 34-year-old woman reported that her car had been stolen.

When officers arrived, the woman told them shed parked her gray 2016 Nissan Altima next to the convenience store in the gas station to buy something. The car was left it running and the woman had a keyless fob in her pocket, according to police.

While she was in the store, the woman saw someone get into her car, so she ran outside, opened the drivers side door and struggled to keep the car thief from driving off, police said.

The man who took her car sped up, dragged the woman around 15 feet until she lost her grip on the door, police said.

The car was last seen on Ella Grasso Turnpike and the man who stole it is thin and was wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt that said Navy in gold letters.

The stolen car has Connecticut plate AC 70199.

The mans accomplice was driving a Maxima, police said.

Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Windsor Locks Police at 860-627-1461.
There's an Election Day dispute about whether the name of a deceased Connecticut city councilmember should still appear on the ballot.

After longtime Danbury City Councilman Gregg Seabury died on Saturday, his fellow Republicans have decided to leave his name on Tuesday's ballot. Republican Mayor Mark Boughton told the News-Times there was no way to change more than 20,000 ballots before voters went to the polls.

But Secretary of the State Denise Merrill's office contends state law is clear. If a candidate dies between 24 days and 24 hours before an election, they can be replaced with another candidate. If not, the ballots should be re-printed, the name blocked with a blank sticker or blacked out.

Merrill's spokesman said all local election officials should follow the law as written.
If you're having trouble coping with a tragedy, NBC 5 has put together a list of resources to help you find help.

For general information on mental health and to locate treatment services in your area, call the National Institute of Mental Health's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Health Treatment Locator on its website that can be searched by location.



Other local and national advocacy and professional organizations have information on finding a mental health professional, and sometimes practitioner locators, on their websites. Some of those are listed below -- more can be found in our special section on mental health -- State of Mind.

The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse is a faith-based Independent Life Program offering housing, transportation, child care, food, clothing, education and more. Because when the cycles of abuse, poverty and helplessness are disrupted and transformed into self-supportiveness, generations of lives are saved. Find out more here.



Metrocare Services

Metrocare provides behavioral health, primary care, pharmacy, housing and supportive services, staffed a call center at NBC 5 Monday fielding calls from people with questions about mental or behavioral health. Find out more about their adult and adolescent programs here.



Mental Health America

With locations in Fort Worth and Dallas, MHA can help people locate a wide range of treatment and support. Find help here.

Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers

There are 39 MHMR community centers in Texas that provide community-based services across all 254 Texas counties. MHMR centers help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serious mental illness and substance use disorders. To find a community center near you, click here.



The Texas Department of State Health Services

The Texas DSHS publishes a Suicide Prevention webpage complete with crisis hotlines, local mental health authority centers, resources for Veterans, as well as educational materials for schools. The state also published a video where DSHS employees talk about where Texans can get help in the video Suicide Prevention Resources in Texas: Where to go if You or a Family Member Needs Help." Click here to visit the DSHS wepage. The suicide prevention video is embedded below.

Crisis Hotlines

The Texas DSHS maintains a list of state-wide crisis hotlines. See a complete list by clicking here.



Suicide Crisis

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which is toll-free and available 24/7. Also, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website by clicking here.

There are a number of local and national organizations dedicated to preventing suicide and saving lives.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national suicide prevention and intervention telephone service funded by the Federal Government. Callers are redirected to a suicide and crisis center in North Texas where they can receive immediate assistance. If you are considering suicide or if you know someone considering suicide, you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help. En Espanol: Red Nacional de Prevencion del Suicidio 1-888-628-9454.

Call 911

If you believe someone may be an imminent threat to themselves, call 911. Operators can dispatch police and medical help to the location or route your call to a crisis hotlines.

Go to a Hospital

If you believe someone may be having suicidal thoughts, a hospital can also provide immediate help to people at-risk of suicide. Doctors can assess if someone is in need of immediate inpatient treatment or recommend outpatient services where they can get help.
For almost a century, the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Hemphill Street in Fort Worth has been known for serving food that comes with comfort.

But here again, its just a sad situation, said Dave Harris of Weatherford while sitting at the Paris Coffee Shop.

Hes among a lunch crowd of heavy hearts, I feel sad, said Karen Shields Smith. I feel like we need more love in the world.

It breaks my heart, said Susan Imke. I drove home yesterday with my husband from San Antonio. Wed been there on holiday.

My heart goes out to the victims and the families, said Sigourney James.

James was on break with her classmates. All three of them are trying to get back into the work force while also taking questions from home.

And unfortunately when the children ask, mommy can this happen to me? said Renea Roeder.

Another friend of mine, their child did say, daddy can this happen to me? And his response was, its my job to make sure this doesnt happen to you. Because it could happen to them, but its a hard, hard, hard conversation to have, Roeder said.

While out in front of the restaurant, Deborah Mahomes sat at the bus stop. Where are you heading? asked NBC 5s Kristin Dickerson. Well Im just here because Im homeless right now, answered Mahomes.

Shes homeless, but not removed from the sadness thats coming from South Texas.

I read it in the paper this morning, Mahomes said.

Deborah has been without a permanent residence for almost two months. In that time, two mass shootings have taken 84 lives.

Do you have time to worry about those things when your day-to-day needs still need to be met? Dickerson asked Mahomes. Ya, pray every day for the families that lost their loved ones, Mahomes responded.

Its violence that is changing the way we live.

Where do I sit in church? You know, wheres the safest place? Those are not things that I used to think about, Roeder said.

And now our houses of worship arent safe? I mean you just want to say, enough, Imke said.

I just told my friend as I was parking somebody was waiting to get in I said, you have to be careful because they might pull a gun because you never know now, were living in hostile times, said Shields Smith.

There are also differences of opinion when it comes to what needs to be done about the violence.

I think that were all devastated that one more time these mass murders occur and our leaders refuse to even address the issue of guns, Imke said.

Its my opinion that guns dont kill people, people kill people, Harris said.

And we have to look at mental illness, Shields Smith said.

Nearly everyone interviewed on Monday mentioned not being able to understand how someone could commit such violence.

Whats going on in their minds and how could somebody do something like that? James said. Its just something thats very scary to think about and Im just hoping that nothing like that happens again, but I think its something that everybody should come together and seriously have a conversation and talk about.

We need to come together and see if theres a way that we can protect society in some way, said Harris.

No matter how close or far from home violence happens, it still hurts.

If they had the opportunity for someone to show them what the reality of their actions really is, you know it might change something, said Harris.

And maybe that change could bring comfort.

Lets just give a little bit more love to each other, because love breeds love, said Shields Smith.
A disbarred lawyer who once represented Casey Anthony has been convicted of conspiring to fly a plane filled with $13 million worth of cocaine from Ecuador to Honduras.

The office of U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers said Todd Macaluso was found guilty last Friday in Brooklyn of international cocaine distribution conspiracy.

He could get 10 years to life in prison when he's sentenced on Feb. 16.

His lawyer, Michael Gold, told the Daily News that Macaluso "looks forward to being vindicated in future proceedings."

Macaluso was on Anthony's defense team between 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Anthony was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in a high-profile Florida case.

In 2015, Macaluso was sentenced to five months in federal prison for fraud.

The attorney, who had a personal injury law practice in Rancho Santa Fe, apologized for defrauding clients by forging their signatures to obtain millions of dollars from investors.

As part of his sentence, he was ordered to be placed on three years of probation after his prison time was served.
California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu stepped out of a moment of silence Monday for the slain victims of a recent mass shooting in a Texas church, urging action towards stricter gun laws.

Lieu published a video on Facebook addressing his removal from the moment of silence shortly afterward.

"I'm heartbroken about the children and adults that were in the worst mass shooting in Texas history this Sunday," he said.

Referencing the Texas shooting, recent Las Vegas mass shooting and Pulse nightclub shooting, he explained how throughout his career in Congress, he witnessed three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.

"I will not be silent," he said. "What we need, is we need action. We need to pass gun safety legislation now."

Lieu suggested lawmakers should implement a universal background check, ban assault rifles and ban bump stocks, which Stephen Paddock used to kill over 50 people during the Las Vegas massacre and injure more than 500 others.

"We need to act now," Lieu said to conclude the minute-long video.

A gunman fired a semi-automatic rifle at a church in Sutherland Springs, a small town in South Texas, on Sunday. The shooting killed 26 people and injured about 20 others.

Two good Samaritans pursued the gunman after he attempted to flee the scene in his truck. The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, was found dead inside his getaway vehicle.
Voters will head to the polls in a handful of Southern California cities and school districts Tuesday to choose city council members and school board members and decide bond and tax issues.

Election Day Guide: Where to Vote, Voter Information

Nearly a dozen cities from Compton to Whittier will be holding elections, as will residents of school districts including Rosemead, La Canada and Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes.

Voters in Compton will be weighing in on a much-debated proposal to dramatically increase the salary of the mayor and city council members. Those elected officials currently receive about $600 a month, but Measure A would effectively make the positions full-time jobs, with council members being paid $43,000 a year and the mayor $54,000 a year.

Measure A needs a simple majority vote for approval.

El Monte voters will decide on Measure EM, which would extend by 10 years the existing half-cent sales tax that is used to fund city services such as police and fire services, street and park maintenance. Hawthorne residents will have the final say on Measure HH, which impose a 0.75 percent sales tax, also to fund city services. Both measures require a simple majority vote.

The Glendora and La Canada unified school districts are both asking voters to approve school-improvement bond measures -- $98 million under Measure GG in Glendora and $149 million under Measure LCF in La Canada. Those measures both need a 55 percent majority vote for approval.

The city of Whittier is looking for voter approval of Measure L, which would approve $22 million in bonds to fund upgrades to the 58-year-old Whittier Central Library. That measure will require approval from two-thirds of voters.
A man who kidnapped and killed a Southern California gas station attendant nearly 40 years ago was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Neal Antoine Matthews was convicted in September of first-degree murder for the death of Leslie Long. The married mother of three children was working a night shift in Palmdale when she disappeared on Dec. 3, 1978.

Her body was found three days later along a freeway.

The conviction includes special circumstance allegations of murder during a robbery, murder during a kidnapping and murder during a rape. Authorities said robbers took money from a floor safe and kidnapped Long at gunpoint.

After her abduction, a driver stopped to buy gas and found coins scattered on the floor, according to the LA Times. Three days after her disappearance, a sheriff's department helicopter search team found Long's body at the base of a small hill in the Acton area, about eight miles from the station.

She had been sexually assaulted and shot multiple times.

A break in the case came through DNA evidence that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said linked Matthews, now 60, to the slaying. The case was reviewed in 2006 and detectives developed new leads.

Matthews was arrested in May 2015.

A co-defendant Terry Moses, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three consecutive terms to life in prison. Both men were gang members at the time of the attack, according to prosecutors.

The trial was the second for Matthews after jurors deadlocked in June.
Saudi Arabia is more aggressively confronting its rival Iran on multiple fronts. It's a policy that risks sharpening several conflicts in the Middle East, even though so far it has failed to score any successes in stemming Tehran's influence.

The bolder steps are largely seen as the work of the son of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consolidated his power. Under his leadership, the kingdom has shown a readiness to shake up the region, launching a military campaign in Yemen against rebels its sees as Iranian proxies and sparking a confrontation with Qatar in part over ties with Tehran.

Still, Iran has been able to use wars in Iraq and Syria to build a bridge of alliances stretching from its border to the Mediterranean.

The question is whether the Saudis will push even harder against Iran  and what will happen if they do. So far, the kingdom's policies appear to have the full support of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The past weekend saw dramatic developments connected to the kingdom that intensified regional tensions:

 Yemeni rebels fired a missile targeting the international airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supplying the missile, saying that could be "considered an act of war." The missile was intercepted by air defenses, but it was the deepest rebel strike in Saudi territory since the Yemen war began in 2015.

 Saudi Arabia seems to have acted to wreck Lebanon's government that includes Iran's powerful ally, Hezbollah. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Saudi ally, announced his surprise resignation in Riyadh, believed to be at the Saudis' prompting.

 Crown Prince Mohammed appeared to strengthen his power at home. There were a series of arrests of princes and senior figures in what was billed as a crackdown on corruption but was widely seen as a purge of potential rivals and critics.

How Saudi policies are affecting different countries of the Middle East:

DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN?

Though Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to respond over the Yemeni missile, it is unlikely to take direct military action against Iran.

The kingdom's military is already tied down in the Yemen war, with its warplanes leading the air campaign there and troops on the border. Iran's military is larger and more battle-hardened than Saudi Arabia's, but the kingdom has far more advanced weaponry bought from the U.S. and Europe in the past decade. It has a strong ally in the United Arab Emirates, which also has built a large military.

Direct military action would risk huge destabilization in the Gulf and beyond, disrupting oil shipments vital to Saudi Arabia and its allies. The kingdom is unlikely to act without a green light from Washington, where the policy has been to avoid direct confrontation with Iran.

That leaves them squaring off in proxy battles for power in the region.

YEMEN

The war in the impoverished nation on Saudi Arabia's southern border has been a quagmire for the kingdom. In 2015, a coalition of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other allies began a campaign against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who they say are tools of Iran.

This prevented the Houthis and their allies from overrunning Yemen and preserved a hold in the south. But the coalition has been unable to push the rebels farther back, leaving them in control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north.

The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and pushed millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine. It also has drained Saudi resources at a time of already lower oil prices. Saudi troops have largely stayed out, relying instead on airstrikes. The crown prince has said a ground invasion would cost too many Saudi lives.

The Houthis' missile launch increased tensions, and Saudi Arabia responded by intensifying its blockade of Yemen, raising fears an already dire humanitarian situation will get worse.

A Houthi-linked army spokesman said the rebels will continue to target Saudi airports and also threatened to hit the UAE. That seems unlikely, since Dubai is one of Iran's top trading partners and home to a significant number of Iranians and Iranian businesses.

Iran has backed the Houthi rebels, but denies arming them. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif dismissed Riyadh's accusations over the missile, saying Saudi Arabia blames Iran for the consequences of the kingdom's own "wars of aggression, regional bullying, destabilizing behavior and risky provocations."

Neither side seems willing or able to escalate the fight, leaving a debilitating stalemate. But the missile strike underscores the potential for the conflict to grow beyond Yemen's borders.

LEBANON

Hariri's resignation was widely seen as a Saudi move against Hezbollah, the Shiite political group and guerrilla force that is Iran's powerful arm in Lebanon and Syria.

In doing so, the Saudis demonstrated an ability to sabotage Lebanese politics, wrecking the compromise government led by Hariri that the kingdom saw as too close to Iran.

But it's difficult to see what Saudi Arabia gained otherwise.

Hezbollah still dominates Lebanon, and nothing will shake that anytime soon. No Sunni militia or political group has the same clout, and few Sunnis want to risk a destabilizing fight with Hezbollah. The Saudi intervention only made many Lebanese, including some Hariri supporters, resent the kingdom, fearing it will upset the delicate power-sharing structure among Lebanon's Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and other communities. The country will probably be stuck without an effective government  or a weak, provisional one.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi criticized it as a U.S.-Israeli-Saudi plot to cause tension in Lebanon.

The fear is that Saudi Arabia will push the situation further somehow to try to set back Hezbollah. That could potentially destabilize Lebanon, which saw bloody clashes between the guerrilla force and Sunni rivals in the mid-2000s.

Prominent Saudi minister Thamer al-Sabhan was quoted as blaming Iran for the instability and saying the kingdom will now treat Lebanon "as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia due to the aggression of Hezbollah."

SYRIA

After six years of war in Syria, Iran and its ally President Bashar Assad are prevailing over mainly Sunni rebels, many of them backed by Saudi Arabia.

Iran has intensified its influence in Syria, with its own forces and fighters from Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias battling alongside Assad's troops. Iran's direct intervention and Russia's air campaign rescued Assad and turned the tide in his favor, recapturing large stretches of territory.

As international pressure on Assad to step down recedes, Saudi Arabia's effort to push Iran out of Syria has crumbled.

Still, the kingdom is trying to hold influence in the mainly Sunni areas that remain out of Assad's hands. Saudi warplanes helped in the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State group. A Saudi envoy recently went to the Syrian city of Raqqa, newly retaken from IS, to discuss a Saudi role in reconstruction.

QATAR

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut relations with neighboring Qatar in June over the tiny Gulf state's ties with Iran and its support of Islamist groups.

The diplomatic rift has played out to Iran's advantage. When Saudi Arabia and the UAE barred Qatari aircraft from their airspace, Qatar used Iranian airspace. When Saudi Arabia sealed Qatar's only land border, it looked toward Iran and Turkey to fill the gap.

Despite repeated efforts by Washington to encourage dialogue and resolve the standoff, the Saudis and Emiratis demand a number of concessions from Qatar, many of which Qatar has rejected.

Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Maggie Michael in Cairo, Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed.
In a striking shift of tone, President Donald Trump abandoned his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea on Tuesday, signaling a willingness to negotiate as he urged Pyongyang to "come to the table" and "make a deal."

Trump, in his first day on the Korean peninsula, again pushed Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program, but sounded an optimistic note, saying confidently, if vaguely, "ultimately, it'll all work out." And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in. "I do see certain movement."

Trump said he's seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with North Korea though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

Trump also underscored the United States' military options, noting that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region. But he said "we hope to God we never have to use" the arsenal.

And at an evening banquet, Trump teased an "exciting day tomorrow for many reasons that people will find out." He did not elaborate.

During his first day in South Korea, Trump at least temporarily lowered the temperature on his usually incendiary language about the North. There were no threats of unleashing "fire and fury" on North Korea, as Trump previously warned, nor did Trump revive his derisive nickname for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, "Little Rocket Man."

But he did decree that the dictator is "threatening millions and millions of lives, so needlessly" and highlighted a central mission of his first lengthy Asia trip: to enlist many nations in the region, including China and Russia, to cut off Pyongyang's economic lifeblood and pressure it into giving up its nuclear program.

Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the president's visit would be a moment of inflection in the stand-off with North Korea and said the two leaders had "agreed to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue in peaceful manner" that would "bring permanent peace" to the peninsula.

"I know that you have put this issue at the top of your security agenda," said Moon. "So I hope that your visit to Korea and to the Asia Pacific region will serve as an opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety that the Korean people have due to North Korea's provocations and also serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue."

Trump did bemoan that previous administrations had not handled Pyongyang, saying "Now is not the right time to be dealing with this but it's what I got."

He began his day in South Korea with a visit to Camp Humphreys, a joint US-Korean military base, but even as he walked among the weapons of war, he struck a hopeful note, saying: "it always works out."

Much as he did in Japan, Trump indicated he would place the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit. He praised South Korea for significant purchases of American military equipment and urged the two nations to have more equitable trade relationship. Moon said the two agreed on lifting the warhead payload limits on South Korean ballistic missiles and cooperating on strengthening South Korea's defense capabilities through the acquisition or development of advanced weapons systems.

Trump also pushed his economic agenda, saying that the current US-Korea trade agreement was "not successful and not very good for the United States." But he said that he had a "terrific" meeting scheduled on trade, adding, "hopefully that'll start working out and working out so that we create lots of jobs in the United States, which is one of the very important reasons I'm here."

At Camp Humphreys, Trump shook hands with American and Korean service members and sat with troops for lunch in a large mess hall, a visit intended to underscore the countries' ties and South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defense.

But Trump was expected to skip the customary trip to the demilitarized zone separating north and south  a pilgrimage made by every U.S. president except one since Ronald Reagan as a demonstration of solidarity with the South. Trump has not ruled out a military strike and backed up his strong words about North Korea by sending a budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday for $4 billion to support "additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners."

North Korea has fired off more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months.

Trump and Moon agree on the need to pressure the North with sanctions and other deterrence measures. But Trump has repeatedly insisted that all military options are on the table and suggested that Moon was being too lenient on the North. Moon, meanwhile, favors dialogue as the best strategy for defusing the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash that could cause enormous casualties in South Korea.

Moon rolled out an elaborate arrival ceremony for Trump at South Korea's stately presidential residence known as the Blue House. He made a point of saluting the recent gains of the U.S. stock market, a favorite Trump talking point, and congratulating the president a day ahead of the one-year anniversary of his election.

___

Associated Press writers Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey contributed reporting from Washington.
A Florida woman is accused of suffocating her 4-year-old daughter and then tossing her body in a dumpster, police said.

Tina Farrington, 31, was held without bond Monday at the Miami-Dade County jail on a first-degree murder charge, officials said.

According to an arrest report, Farrington told police she was at her home on Halloween night with 4-year-old Tania Paige and another child when she became upset with the girl.

Farrington lured Tania and her brother to a bedroom, according to police, and then used a pillow to suffocate her.

Farrington hid the girl's body in the trunk of her car for several days until she noticed a foul odor, the report said. On Sunday, she moved the child's remains to the dumpster of her apartment complex, the report said.

The community held a vigil Monday night for Tania. Neighbors and family gathered to release balloons and light candles in her honor.

"It felt good to come together for this innocent baby, that lost her life to nonsense," neighbor Ayyana Johnson said.



A resident at Tuscany Place Apartments was throwing out garbage Sunday when he discovered the body around 12:45 p.m.

The man, Alan Tapia, said he lifted the lid on one side of the dumpster and was making room for his trash when he saw feet sticking out of a blanket. Tapia ran to his apartment and reported the body to his children.

"I didn't believe that so when I went, I checked and the baby was wrapped in the blanket with signs she was beaten to death," Alan's daughter, Milagros Tapia, said. "I don't feel safe anymore here. Because we don't know who is around us."

The report said Tania's body had bruises on her arms, legs and torso. Farrington confessed to her involvement in her death, the report said.

Jail records did not show whether Farrington had an attorney.

Tania's 2-year-old brother was taken away Monday by officials with the Florida Department of Children and Families. DCF officials said the boy was placed in the care of relatives.

"We are disgusted and devastated by the death of this innocent girl," DCF said in a statement. "DCF has opened a child death investigation to review all circumstances that led to this tragedy and will assist police in any possible to hold anyone responsible accountable for this heinous act."


Florida State University is imposing an indefinite interim suspension on all fraternities and sororities following the death of a student from South Florida.

University president John Thrasher announced the suspension on Monday, three days after the death of Andrew Coffey.

Coffey, a civil engineering major from Pompano Beach and a Pi Kappa Phi pledge, died after attending an off-campus house party.

Tallahassee Police officials said there are indicators that alcohol may have been a factor but they're awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

FSU said the suspension also is in response to the arrest on Monday of a 20-year-old member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity for the sale and trafficking of cocaine.

"For this suspension to end, there will need to be a new normal for Greek Life at the university," Thrasher said in a statement. "There must be a new culture, and our students must be full participants in creating it."

During the interim suspension, fraternity and sorority chapters will be prohibited from holding new member events, council or chapter meetings, chapter organized tailgates, chapter events such as socials, philanthropy, retreats, intramurals, organized participation in Market Wednesday and organized participation in Homecoming.

They will be allowed to remain as residents in their fraternity or sorority house and will have meal service.
A tense situation in Miami-Dade has ended with a man described by police as suicidal being sent to the hospital after the incident shut down part of Sunset Drive and the Don Shula Expressway.

Traffic was shut down in both directions of the roads due to the man barricaded inside of a car near train tracks, the Miami-Dade Police Department said.

Traffic has resumed on the Don Shula Expressway. Heavy police presence remains on Sunset Drive.

The incident occurred near Sunset Drive between SW 88 Avenue and 92 Avenue close to an office complex.

"SR-874/Don Shula Expressway (North at Kendall Drive (SW 88 St.) & South at Bird Road (SW 40 St.) is closed," the MDPD said.

The MDPD said the man wanted to commit suicide. Video from the scene shows the man is inside of a black Toyota pickup truck.

Officers are attempted to negotiate with the man. The MDPD said the man is not a threat to anyone else.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital after the intervention of heavily armed police personnel.

Heavy congestion may resume.

Alternate route for Don Shula Expressway: Florida's Turnpike.

Alternate route for Sunset Drive: northbound Miller and southbound U.S. 1.
Omar C. Nickerson, the vice mayor of Miami-Dade's El Portal community, has been arrested on a battery charge related to a domestic violence incident.

The 40-year-old's bond was set at $1,500, the Miami-Dade Police Department said.

According to an arrest report, Nickerson said he got into an argument with his wife about her cheating. Nickerson and his wife have been married for 17 years and have two children, the report said.

Nickerson said he went outside for fresh air and as he was walking back, he saw his wife putting luggage and the kids in their SUV. He said he stood behind the SUV to stop her from taking the kids, and she looked back and drove in reverse, running over his left ankle, the report said.

But Nickerson's wife told officers he had grabbed her around the neck and pushed her to the floor, causing minor scratches, the report said.

El Portal's biographical information on Nickerson, who is described as "first and foremost a lecturer," suggests the vice-mayor is well-educated, as he received degrees from the University of Miami, the University of Cairo in Egypt and the University of Damascus in Syria, where he received a doctorate.
The Trump administration is seeking nearly $6 billion to pay for urgent missile defense improvements to counter the threat from North Korea, increased U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan and fast repairs to Navy ships in the Asia-Pacific theater.

The budget request delivered to Capitol Hill on Monday coincided with tough words for Pyongyang from President Donald Trump during the first stop of his lengthy Asia trip. Trump sought to ratchet up pressure on North Korea by refusing to rule out eventual military action and declaring that the United States "will not stand" for North Korea menacing America or its Asian allies.

Trump denounced North Korea as "a threat to the civilized" for pursuing nuclear weapons and the development of the long-range ballistic missiles to deliver them.

The spending request designates $4 billion of the total to support "additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners," according to the document. That includes current and projected threats to the U.S. homeland, Guam, South Korea and Japan.

A large chunk of the money would be used for the construction of an additional ground-based interceptor field at Fort Greely, Alaska; the initial procurement of 20 new ground-based interceptors; ship-based missiles; and interceptors for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, a U.S. mobile anti-missile system.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Monday that "all the name calling and all the chest beating" by Trump isn't helpful and may actually be increasing the risks of confrontation with North Korea. Van Hollen said Trump's rhetoric also serves the interests of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by elevating his status "in an international yelling match" with the U.S. president.

Van Hollen is co-sponsoring bipartisan sanctions legislation that would target Chinese banks and other financial institutions found to be assisting North Korea in evading existing financial penalties.

The sanctions bill, which the Senate Banking Committee will consider on Tuesday, also would punish companies that knowingly import coal, iron, lead and seafood products from North Korea. Those goods are estimated to be worth more than $1 billion  about one-third of the country's estimated $3 billion in exports in 2016.

Roughly $1.2 billion in the request would allow the Defense Department to deploy an additional 3,500 U.S. troops to Afghanistan as part of Trump's new strategy for the country where the U.S. has been fighting since 2001, according to the budget request. Trump in August unveiled his new plan for the 16-year Afghan war, declaring that American troops would "fight to win" by attacking enemies, "crushing" al-Qaida and preventing terrorist attacks against Americans.

About $700 million of the spending package would go to the Navy to make repairs to the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald. Both ships from the Pacific-based 7th Fleet were damaged in deadly collisions that led to eight top Navy officers, including the 7th Fleet commander, being fired from their jobs

The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided near Singapore in August, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead. And seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided off Japan.
What to Know President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program

The Air Force acknowledged it failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley's conviction into a database that would have stopped him from buying guns

Actor Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behavior

Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here.

In Seoul, Trump Calls for North Korea to "Make a Deal"

President Trump, on his first day on the Korean peninsula, signaled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program, urging Pyongyang to "come to the table" and "make a deal." In a notable shift from his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea, Trump took a more optimistic tone, suggesting that "ultimately, it'll all work out." And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy. Trump said he's seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with North Korea though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

Texas Killer Was Able to Buy Guns Because of Air Force Lapse

The Air Force acknowledged it had failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley's domestic violence conviction into a national database that would have prevented him from buying the Ruger AR-556 rifle he used to kill 26 people in a small Texas church. Kelley was found guilty by a court-martial of assaulting his wife and fracturing his infant stepson's skull in 2012, but that information was not forwarded to a national database used for background checks of would-be gun purchasers, according to Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman. Federal gun regulations prohibit anyone with a domestic violence conviction, even at the misdemeanor level, from purchasing a gun. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told CBS This Morning that the law should have blocked Kelley from obtaining the rifle.

Voters to Pick Christie's Replacement for Governor; NYC Voters to Chose Mayor

New Jersey voters are going to the polls to pick Republican Gov. Chris Christie's successor. Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno are the two major party candidates vying to replace the two-term, term-limited incumbent in the election. Murphy has a double-digit lead in polls and cast himself as a check on unpopular Republican President Donald Trump. He also has pinned his campaign on Christie's low approval ratings. Guadagno's campaign has focused almost entirely on her promise to lower property taxes, but recently she's steered into a discussion on immigration policy calling for a ban on sanctuary cities. In New York, Voters in New York City are poised to decide whether to give Mayor Bill de Blasio a second term leading the nation's largest city. The Democrat is expected to prevail in a crowded race on Tuesday after facing only token opposition. De Blasio's toughest challenger is Republican state Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island. He also faces several third-party candidates.

Ben Affleck Speaks Out on Sexual Harassment in Hollywood

Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behavior. After condemning Harvey Weinstein's actions, Affleck was forced to defend his own conduct. He apologized for groping the actress Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 when she was a host on MTV's "Total Request Live." Another video from 2004 showed Affleck pulling Montreal TV host Anne-Marie Losique onto his lap. Affleck said two things need to happen, that "more women need to be pushed to power" and that sexual harassment has to also be "a men's issue" where guys call out inappropriate behavior.

Rapper Meek Mill Sentenced to Prison for Probation Violation

A judge sentenced popular rapper Meek Mill to two to four years in prison for violating probation in a nearly decade-old gun and drug case. When sentencing the 30-year-old musician, Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley cited a failed drug test and a failure to comply with a court order restricting his travel. Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, was convicted on drug and gun charges in 2008 but released in 2009 under a five-year parole agreement. Since then prosecutors say Mill has violated parole by repeatedly changing his court-approved travel schedule and ducking a drug test. Mill's lawyer has vowed to appeal.
What to Know The Manhattan district attorney is planning to present its case against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, sources say

The NYPD said last week it investigated actress Paz de la Huerta's allegations that Weinstein raped her, and turned its case over to the DA

Weinstein previously has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex

The Manhattan district attorney is expected to pursue an indictment of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to a grand jury, senior officials familiar with the investigation tell News 4 New York. But the sources now say that discussion of presenting the case to a grand jury as early as next week could be pushed back by the D.A.'s office.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Joan Vollero said late Tuesday We are not commenting on the investigation or any timeline."

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told News 4 earlier in the day, "We'll move as fast as we can to resolve the outstanding issues."



A spokesperson for Weinstein said Wednesday, "We do not believe an indictment of Mr. Weinstein is imminent. A formal presentation will be made on Mr. Weinstein's behalf in the appropriate course of the investigation, and we strongly believe that no criminal charges are warranted."

Weinstein has also hired high-profile defense attorneys Ben Branfman and Blair Berk to represent him in the case in New York City, the spokesperson said. Branfman represented former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn during a 2011 rape case that fell apart amid questions about the accuser's credibility, and Blerk has represented Mel Gibson, Kiefer Sutherland and others.

The development by prosecutors comes after NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told reporters Friday that they were gathering evidence for a possible rape arrest of Weinstein, and that it had presented the case to the district attorney's office.

Vance said his office is working closely with the NYPD on this and other investigations: "We are on the same page when it comes to mission, which is protecting the public and preventing crime and building investigations and cases."

He also urged any victim of sexual assault to contact his office, saying, "When that report is made, it will be investigated."

Boyce said last week that investigators have interviewed actress Paz de la Huerta, who called police on Oct. 26. Boyce said detectives found the "Boardwalk Empire" actress' story believable and corroborated portions of her account.

De la Huerta told CBS News in an interview that aired last Thursday she was first raped in October 2010 after Weinstein gave her a ride home from a party, insisted on having a drink in her apartment and forced himself on her. She said he raped her again in December 2010 after coming to her apartment. She had been drinking and was not in a condition to give consent, the actress told CBS News.

Boyce said the factors that made de la Huerta's story credible included "the ability to articulate each and every minute of the crime, where she was, where they met, where this happened and what he did," he said.



"If this person was still in New York, and it was recent, we'd go right away and make the arrest," Boyce said Friday. "No doubt. But we're talking about a 7-year-old case. And we have to move forward gathering evidence first."

Weinsteins representatives have not responded to recent requests for comment. Previously, a representative has said that Weinstein denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.



The investigation comes a month after The New York Times published an expose of sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein, leading to his firing from the company he co-founded and his expulsion from the organization that bestows the Academy Awards.
Authorities say an off-duty police officer returned fire and wounded a suspect during an attempted robbery in New Jersey's largest city.

Authorities say the officer was confronted by two males on Wainwright Street in Newark early Tuesday. When he identified himself as a police officer, authorities say one of the suspects opened fire.

The officer shot one of the suspects, who was taken to a hospital. The second suspect fled.

The officer was not injured.

No names have been released.
What to Know Meek Mill was convicted on drug and gun charges in 2008 but released in 2009 under a 5-year parole agreement.

A Philly judge sentenced the popular rapper to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation in the nearly decade-old case.

Born and raised in Philly, Meek Mill grew a local following in the hip-hop scene before gaining national recognition.

A Philadelphia judge has sentenced popular rapper Meek Mill to two to four years in state prison for violating probation in a nearly decade-old gun and drug case.

When sentencing the 30-year-old musician Monday, Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley cited a failed drug test and a failure to comply with a court order restricting his travel.

Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, was convicted on drug and gun charges in 2008 but released in 2009 under a five-year parole agreement. Since then prosecutors say Mill has violated parole by repeatedly changing his court-approved travel schedule and ducking a drug test.

In 2016, Mill was ordered to serve 90 days on house arrest for violating the terms of his parole. Prosecutors described violations that included unapproved travel to New York for a benefit concert and efforts to join his then-girlfriend, rapper Nicki Minaj, in various cities. They also accused him of turning in cold water instead of urine for a drug test.

[NATL] Famous Mug Shots: Sam Hunt

In March, Mill was accused of being involved in an altercation at an airport in St. Louis, Missouri. He was also arrested this year in New York City for reckless driving.



Monday's sentencing came as a surprise after prosecutors recommended Mill not be imprisoned for the probation violations, noting he's been clean since January and has complied with most requirements of probation.

Brinkley said the prosecutor was too new to the case to understand how Mill just "does what he wants."



Mill's attorney, Brian McMonagle, has vowed to appeal the ruling.

Fellow rapper Jay-Z, an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform, spoke out against the judge's decision.

"The sentence handed down by the Judge  against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer  is unjust and heavy handed," the "4:44" rapper wrote on Facebook Monday. "We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career."



Mill was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he became a key figure in the local hip-hop scene before gaining national recognition.

He has released three studio albums since 2012; the most recent, "Wins & Losses," peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Click here for updates the day after the shooting.

What started as a routine traffic stop in Northampton County Tuesday morning ended with a Pennsylvania State Police corporal shot three times and a suspect in custody, state police said.

Daniel Khalil Clary, 22, is charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and other related offenses, according to the Northampton County District Attorney.



The ordeal unfolded shortly before 11 a.m. in Plainfield Township on PA State Route 33 near State Route 191 when a trooper pulled over a Pontiac sedan for speeding.

The trooper returned to his car assuming the exchange was over, but the driver, identified by officials as Clary, got out of his car and flagged the trooper to approach, police said.

Officials released the identity of the man accused of shooting a Pennsylvania State Trooper Tuesday. NBC10 also obtained video of part of the incident. NBC10s Aaron Baskerville has the details.

When the trooper again talked to Clary, he became suspicious the suspect was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, state police said.

The corporal, who has not been identified, advised Clary to remain on the scene while he called for backup. A second trooper arrived on the scene and two officers proceeded to do a field sobriety test on the driver, according to state police.

The officers determined they had probable cause to arrest Clary, but instead of cooperating, he began to "violently resist," state police said. The confrontation continued to escalate from there.

State police described the scene as a "knock-down, drag-out fight on the side of the road with cars speeding by them."

Clary allegedly wrestled free from the officers, ran back to this car, grabbed a gun and started firing on the two troopers. They returned fire. One trooper was hit three times and airlifted in critical condition to St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem. He remains stable in the intensive care unit, state police said.

Clary was also hit by gunfire. He drove himself to Easton Hospital and was later transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital's Cedar Crest campus. He also was in surgery Tuesday afternoon and is currently in stable condition.



"The thoughts of every Pennsylvania State Police employee are with our wounded member at this time," said Commissioner Tyree C. Blocker.

Troop M reports one trooper shot during traffic stop on Rt. 191, Plainfield Twp., Northampton County. More information to come as available.  PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) November 7, 2017

After Clary arrived at Easton, police blocked off the entrance to the hospital and diverted patients to other medical centers.

SkyForce10

Route 33 was shut down in both directions during the investigation. Traffic on nearby State Route 22 was backed up for miles, according to a NBC10 photographer near the scene.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey tweeted their support for the trooper.

FYI: @PAStatePolice has updated their original tweet on the shooting of a trooper in Northampton County. https://t.co/0bh7qMQOZC  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) November 7, 2017

Pa. State Police Corporal Shot: What You Need to Know in Pictures
While President Donald Trump's visit across Asia is underway, the United States testy relationship with North Korea has become a central issue to discuss for South Korean officials, NBC News reported.

South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha told NBC News before President Donald Trump's visit that war, "on the Korean Peninsula must not happen."

Trump is expected to arrive in Seoul  where the subject of how to tackle North Korea's totalitarian dictator is expected to be at the top of the agenda.

Kang cautioned against "military options," NBC News reported.

South Korea is home to over 50 million people and estimated 28,000 American troops are stationed in the country.
Authorities arrested two women in Los Angeles who fled a San Diego Reentry Facility, confirmed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials.

Karen Flores, 26, and Gisselle Rivas, 20, were apprehended at 4 p.m. Sunday Nov. 5, according to the CDCR. Agents detained both women in the Southwest area of LA.

The pair walked away on Armstrong Street from the Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program (CCTRP) last Thursday, said CDCR officials.

Agents from Special Service Unit (SSU) San Diego and the San Diego Fugitive Apprehension Team discovered Flores and Rivas as they stood outside on Martin Luther King Boulevard and Western Avenue. They were taken into custody without incident.

Both women were transported to the California Institution for Women in Corona. CDCR officials said the District Attorneys office will review their cases.

When authorities searched their room on Thursday, CCTRP staff found a cell phone in the room shared by Flores and Rivas. Staff were quickly alerted that the women had removed their ankle monitors, according to CDCR.

A faculty-wide search followed an emergency count of the inmates at 11:50 a.m. As they searched, staff spotted one ankle monitor on program grounds.

Flores came from Los Angeles County in August 2016 to serve two years, eight months for second-degree robbery and grand theft. She took part in CCTRP since May 2017 and was set to be released in September 2018.

Rivas was sent from Los Angeles County in January 2017 to serve four years for first-degree burglary and vehicle theft. She has been in this program since June 2017 and was set to be released in April 2018.

CCTRP staff said eligible participants may serve the remainder of their sentence in a community program, instead of a state prison. The program provides a series of rehabilitative services that help with alcohol and drug recovery, employment, education, social support and more.

Local law enforcement agencies and CDCR's Office of Correctional Safety worked together to locate the inmates. According to the CDCR, they have apprehended 99 percent of all offenders who left an adult institution, camp or community-based program without permission since 1977.

No further information is currently available.
The ex-husband of a U.S. Army veteran was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the woman's disappearance.

Julia Jacobson was seen on Sept. 2 inside her company car at the corporate offices of 7-Eleven on Aero Drive in Kearny Mesa.

That day she had texted a friend to tell her she was driving from Big Bear to Palm Springs with another friend, according to San Diego Police Department investigators.

Hours later, a store surveillance camera captured Jacobson in Ontario. She was accompanied by her dog Boogie, police said.

On Sept. 7, her car was found on Monroe Avenue in University Heights, east of Texas Street, about a half-mile away from her home.

Evidence found in the car led detectives to believe she may have been killed. Police did not release details about what led to their suspicions.

On Oct. 16, homicide investigators confirmed they had arrested Dalen Larry Ware, Julia's ex-husband, in Laveen, Arizona.

Friends say Jacobson called her father every day. After the time of the Sept. 2 surveillance video, those calls stopped.

Dressed in an orange jail uniform, Ware entered a not guilty plea to one charge of murder.

The case was handled by both San Diego Police Department and Ontario Police Department, two of the last places Jacobson was seen alive.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call the Ontario Police Department at (909) 986-6711, Detective Ruben Espinoza at (909) 395-2894 or Detective Brant Devey at (909) 395-2715.
Disagreement between Sen. Rand Paul and his neighbor over the senator's politics and his property line were possible motives in the Sunday attack that left the Kentucky lawmaker with five broken ribs, a source told NBC News on Monday.

Paul was wearing headphones while mowing his lawn in Bowling Green, Kentucky, when he was attacked from behind by Rene Boucher, 59, on Sunday afternoon, two sources said. Paul suffered five rib fractures, including three displaced fractures.

Paul managed to throw Boucher off of him and they exchanged words, sources said.

The two men had not spoken in several years and a rift between the pair possibly stemmed from Boucher's distaste for Paul's politics, as well as those of his father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a source said.
Democrat Ralph Northam handily won the hard-fought Virginia governor's race over Republican Ed Gillespie, a contest watched across the country as an early referendum on President Donald Trump.

"Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry, Northam said in his victory speech.

Democrats also won Virginia's lieutenant governor and attorney general offices.

Justin Fairfax defeated Republican state Sen. Jill Vogel to succeed Lt. Gov. Northam, and Attorney General Mark Herring held off a challenge from Republican John Adams.

Gillespie said he wishes Northam success in the governor's mansion. In his concession speech, Gillespie wiped tears from his eyes. He said he called Northam to offer his support in any way he could.



Democrats were eager to prove they could convert anti-Trump energy into success at the polls, while Republicans looked to show they have a winning blueprint in a blue-leaning state. Virginia is the only southern state Trump lost last year.

Polls showed a tight race to succeed Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, but Northam was projected to win shortly after 8 p.m., just over an hour after Virginia polls closed at 7 p.m.

Despite his early morning tweets supporting Gillespie, Trump distanced himself from the Republican candidate once Northam was named the winner.

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump tweeted.

Voter turnout was strong. As of 10:16 p.m. Tuesday, more than 2.5 million votes had been counted in the governor's election, NBC News reported. In 2013, 2,240,314 votes were cast, and in 2009, 1,984,934 voted.



The NAACP and officials in Fairfax County say voters in northern Virginia received phone calls falsely saying that voters' polling places had changed.

The Prince William County chapter of the NAACP wrote on its Facebook page Monday that the calls were fraudulent and an attempt to suppress the vote as Virginians picked a new governor. The NAACP said the out-of-area calls were reported in Prince William County, as well as in Manassas and Manassas Park.

Reports of similar calls were also received in Fairfax County, a county spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon.

The NAACP said voter protection services were made aware of the issue.

There were a handful of local elections in Maryland, including for mayor of College Park and Greenbelt City Council. Polls closed in Maryland at 8 p.m.

Virginia voters said they were driven to the polls by a wide range of issues.

At Jahnke Road Baptist Church in suburban Richmond, 39-year-old Angelica Bega said she wasn't sure who she would vote for until she was handed a ballot, but she ultimately voted for Northam.

As an "issues-driven voter," she said it was "very frustrating" to see so many attack ads. She said Gillespie's attempt to make immigration such a big part of the campaign frustrated her and was a factor in her decision to vote for his opponent.

Emogene and Jimmy Babb, both 74, voted straight Republican at a rural polling station in Windsor, Virginia.

They said there wasn't any one particular issue that drove them to the polls. But they said they shared Gillespie's positions on gun rights and not removing Confederate statues.

"We don't need a governor who is going to take our guns away,'' Jimmy Babb said.

Northam Elected Governor of Virginia

Virginia appeared to have the nation's only competitive governor's race this year. Front-running Democrat Pat Murphy appeared to have an easier path to victory in New Jersey, where Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno contended with the unpopularity of Trump and Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Gillespie, a White House adviser to President George W. Bush and multimillionaire lobbyist, ran on lower taxes, tougher policies toward immigrants in the state illegally, and preserving the state's Confederate statues.

Lt. Gov. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, promised to continue many of the policies of current Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is barred from seeking a second term due to the state's term limit. Northam championed increased spending on public education, tighter gun rules and strong support for abortion rights.

Most polls showed a close contest, and both candidates were helped by big names. Former President Barack Obama held a rally with Northam and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton helped him raise money.

Bush appeared at three fundraisers for Gillespie, who also campaigned with Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

Unlike other high-profile elections this year, Trump kept out of the race except for a few tweets in support of Gillespie and robocalls recorded to help boost Gillespie's candidacy on Election Day. In one call, Trump said Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help "Make America Great Again."

Trump still was a dominant factor in the race. Democrats tried to cast the gubernatorial contest as a way for voters to send a message against Trump. Northam dubbed Gillespie, a former Washington lobbyist and Republican National Committee chairman, as "Trump's lobbyist."

On the Republican side, Gillespie has kept Trump at an arm's distance while mimicking his policies on certain social issues. In particular, he pledged tougher policies for immigrants in the country illegally and blasted his Democratic opponents for support of so-called sanctuary cities. Gillespie also criticized Northam for favoring the removal of the state's Confederate monuments.

Libertarian Cliff Hyra ran on a campaign platform of protecting personal freedoms and limiting government power.

Herring Wins Second Term as Virginia Attorney General



Republican John Adams lost his challenge to Democratic incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring in the only attorney general contest in the country this year.

Herring said his victory and a wide-ranging Democratic win in Virginia sent a message that will be heard across this country and around the world.

We have rejected the politics of fear and division, Herring told supporters at a Democratic victory celebration, in an apparent reference to Republican President Donald Trump's election a year ago.

In a news release, Herring said Virginia voters looked at the results of 2016 and said we need to set the ship right.

Tonight, Virginians said, This is the way back, Herring said.

Adams conceded the race to Herring just before 9 p.m.

The ideas that we stand for are timeless. There are bumps in the road. But the road continues, Adams said in a speech to supporters.

Adams, a former federal prosecutor, made his first run for political office. Herring, a former state senator, won his second term as Virginia's top lawyer.

Herring drew national attention early in his first term when he said he would not defend a 2006 state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Virginia. Adams, an opponent of gay marriage, sharply criticized Herring during the campaign for refusing to defend a measure approved by Virginia voters and the state legislature.

Adams called Herring's switch a political calculation and said the state's attorney general should defend the state's laws, no matter what his personal beliefs.

That is an unbelievable position for a lawyer to take, Adams said during the second of two debates. He got on the other side and sued his own client.

Herring said his position was validated by the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down gay marriage bans as unconstitutional.

Herring portrayed Adams as a staunch conservative out of touch with most Virginians on social issues, including gay marriage, women's access to contraception and gun control.

Herring served as a state senator for eight years before being elected attorney general in 2013. Adams is a corporate defense lawyer who works for McGuireWoods, one of the most powerful law firms in Virginia.

Democrat Justin Fairfax Wins Virginia Lieutenant Governor's Race



Democrat Justin Fairfax and Republican Jill Vogel competed for a largely ceremonial position that's often a stepping stone to higher office.

I am so grateful for this opportunity, Fairfax said to hundreds of cheering supporters at a statewide victory party at George Mason University in Fairfax. We are changing the course of history in this commonwealth.

Fairfax, who served a two-year stint as a federal prosecutor in Alexandria, has long been interested in politics. After graduating from Duke University, he worked as a briefing coordinator for Tipper Gore during her husband Al's 2000 presidential campaign. He also worked on the staff of then-Sen. John Edwards, a North Carolina Democrat. He made his first run for office four years ago, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination for attorney general to Herring.

He is the second African American to win statewide office in Virginia after Gov. Doug Wilder.

Vogel, a state senator from Fauquier County and attorney for right-leaning causes, cast herself as a Trump supporter with bipartisan credentials who puts "principle before party." She touted her willingness to break with her party in supporting an openly gay judge, on environmental issues, and on low-profile but important issues such as redistricting reform.

Fairfax made a campaign issue of legislation Vogel sponsored in 2012 that would have required women to receive an ultrasound before getting an abortion.

In her concession speech in Richmond, Vogel said her campaign "talked about things that actually matter to Virginians and inspire Virginians." Moving forward, she said they would "not be about division" and continue to be about "solutions."



The lieutenant governor, a part-time position, involves presiding over the state Senate and breaking tied votes.

Democrats, Women Make Gains in Virginia House of Delegates

All 100 seats in the GOP-controlled House of Delegates were up, and Democrats picked up at least 14 seats. Five races are too close to call and may require recounts, but if the leader as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday wins, the House of Delegates will have a 50-50 split with a Democrat lieutenant governor to cast tie-breaking votes.

Sixty seats were being contested by candidates of both major parties, more than in any year for at least two decades. Most observers didn't think Democrats will be able to pick up the seats they need to retake control of the lower chamber, expecting them to chip away at only a handful.

A number of women won tonight including seven in northern Virginia who beat incumbent Republican candidates. Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman will be the first two Latina women elected to the House.

In the Virginia House, Democrat Danica Roem became the state's first openly transgender lawmaker, after a campaign against longtime incumbent Republican Bob Marshall received national attention.
Harry Jaffe, a longtime chronicler of the people and politics of Washington, D.C., writes a column for NBC Washington's First Read DMV blog.

Its no secret that poor African-American residents of D.C. east of the Anacostia River get shafted while the rest of the nations capital basks in boom times.

The divide came into stark relief last week with reports of another poor person dying under questionable circumstances under the care of the United Medical Center, the only hospital east of the river. For decades the Districts publicly owned hospital has served up subpar health care, while largely white neighborhoods west of the Anacostia can choose from four hospitals that are among the nations best.

How come? The cost of caring for the citys most poor and vulnerable is high with little return, for sure. But in sorting through the contracts and connections, I cant help but see money, politics and mismanagement contributing to the undependable health care.

All of that will come into play Tuesday, when the D.C. Council is scheduled to weigh the extension of the contract to manage UMC.

The latest abomination came to light thanks to excellent reporting by the Washington Posts Peter Jamison. Warren Webb, a UMC nursing home patient with AIDS, died Aug. 25 after begging for help, falling out of his bed and dying in his own excrement on the floor. The hospital then fudged reports on the incident.

Webbs death followed a drumbeat of disheartening news reported by Jamison and the Washington Business Journals Tina Reed. In July the hospital lost track of a body. In August the D.C. health department shut down the obstetrics unit because of inadequate care. In early October the nurses voted no confidence in the hospitals management company, Veritas.

Last week the Councils health committee grilled Veritas officials on why the company deserved a $4.2 million extension of a contract thats already paid the firm $5 million in public funds.

David Boucree, the Veritas official running UMC, acknowledged he had no experience running a health care facility.

It raises a lot of questions for me, at-large Council member Elissa Silverman tells me.

How did Veritas, a company thats been in D.C. for a couple of years, land such a sweet contract? Answer: great connections and campaign contributions, rather than stellar credentials.

Corbett Price is behind Veritas, though hes not formally listed in its leadership.

I am a senior advisor, Price tells me.

Price has been in the business of working with troubled public hospitals for decades, starting in the 1990s with his company Kurron. But he has not always achieved positive results.

During that time, said a report by WNYC public radio, Kurron and Price have cut a trail of financial and medical mismanagement, run-ins with regulators and public controversies -- not least repeated clashes with health care unions -- up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

Price acknowledged the negative stories but says: Most restructuring people get lousy press. When Interfaith Medical Center, the public hospital he was managing in New York, went bankrupt, Price started Veritas in D.C., where he had family roots.

Price is married to Chrystie Boucree, a member of a well-connected Ward 4 family close to Mayor Muriel Bowser. Her parents, Dr. Stanley Boucree and Catherine, are said to be close to Bowsers parents. In 2014 Bowser put Dr. Boucree on her transition team.

Bowsers office did not respond to questions about Price.

When Corbett Price set up shop in D.C., the Boucrees asked him to raise funds for Bowser, who was running for her first term, he says. I held a fundraiser for her in Marthas Vineyard, he says. Thats were I first met her.

Price, his companies and family would contribute more than $35,000 to the mayors campaign, campaign finance records show. Though Price had no transit experience and had not lived in the D.C. region, Bowser appointed him to the Metro board.

Enter Wayne Turnage, executive director of D.C.s Health Care Finance Agency, responsible for funding UMC. Huron Consulting Group, hired by then-mayor Vincent Gray, had exited the hospital.

Find an operator, Bowser told Turnage, he tells me.

Without putting the contract out to bid, Turnage approached Price, because he believed Price had experience turning hospitals around. Turnage says Bowser did not recommend Price but was aware of the contract.

Did Prices turnaround efforts in New York and another problem project in the Bahamas present red flags? No, Turnage says. They did a good job in New York. You have to do unpopular things in that situation.

Turnage presented the Veritas contract to the UMC board, which approved it.

Corbett Price installed his wife as Veritas president. She then brought on her cousin, David, to manage UMC.

Capitalizing on political connections and installing family members doesnt disqualify Veritas, but it doesnt instill confidence either. UMCs chief medical officer, Dr. Julian Craig, last week charged Veritas with mismanagement and malfeasance. Veritas detailed response called his charges false.

On the surface, UMC shows well. Last Thursday David Boucree gave me a tour of the hospital, on Southern Avenue bordering Prince George's County. Its in much better shape that the last times I visited a few years ago. The elevators worked, the floors were shined, the emergency department was bustling, and the nursing facilitys social room appeared to be well-organized.

Boucree has worked in corporate management for the last 36 years -- from space to parking meters. But no health care or hospitals.

I saw it as a challenge, Boucree tells me. A way of giving back.

He declined to divulge his compensation to me but told the Council his annual salary was $210,000.

Now the D.C. Council is poised to vote on the Veritas contract extension. Health committee Chair Vince Gray would like to use UMCs failures to beat up Bowser, who he might challenge for mayor next year. But Gray has to share the responsibility. Huron, the consultant before Veritas, came in under his watch.

Says Elissa Silverman: Everyones guilty.

Besides, Corbett Price says, "the doctors and nurses there now were there in the Gray administration.

Veritas and UMC are in talks with the GW Medical Faulty Associates to take over its emergency room, which could be a move forward. But UMCs efforts in the past to partner with Medstar failed.

Whats next?

The District has invested $316.8 million in capital and operating funds since 2007, according to the chief financial officer. It might make fiscal sense to close UMC, but not having a hospital east of the Anacostia River is not politically possible.

Bowser is developing a plan to build a new hospital on the St. Elizabeths campus for $330 million. Even thats problematic, because it still leaves open the question of whether a successful hospital group like Johns Hopkins or Medstar would agree to operate a facility on the citys east side.

Even if the District serves up a brand-new facility, one Council member says, the hospital company is not assured of making the financial side work.

Turnage says he sees the problem and a way forward.

No big hospital with the preponderance of patients under Medicaid and Medicare can survive financially, he says, and thats the situation right now.

But, he predicts, theres potential for success if theres gentrification.

In other words, a hospital for poor people can work, once more white people move into the neighborhood. Perhaps. But it certainly doesnt help D.C. residents who still rely on UMC -- and will for years go come.
A man has been arrested after authorities said he set a fire at the Embassy of Malaysia and vandalized the Embassy of Austria.

Versie Segers is accused of throwing an incendiary device over the fence line at the Embassy of Malaysia in Northwest Washington Saturday. The incendiary device included a T-shirt soaked in alcohol to potentially fuel the fire. Secret Service agents helped extinguish the fire, according to the court filings.

A spokeswoman for the Embassy of Malaysia said damage is minimal. The embassy employs 60 people but is not a residence for the Malaysian ambassador, she said.

About 40 minutes later, a burglar alarm sounded at the Embassy of Austria. According to the affidavit, loud sounds were heard near the back of the embassy, where shattered glass and a large rock were found.

According to an affidavit, no injuries were reported.

Segers told investigators that he selected the embassies of Malaysia and Austria "because of what he perceived to be those countries with the development of Kim Jung Nam of North Korea," a court filing stated.

Kim Jung Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was assassinated earlier this year at a Malaysian airport.



Segers is charged with two counts of violating the property of a foreign government. He was not reachable for comment. An attorney and court date for Segers are not yet listed by the clerk of courts.
A woman and her child were injured after being pushed down a flight of stairs by two suspects who were fleeing security inside a northwest Washington, D.C., store, D.C. police say.

Police said two men were arrested after they stole clothing from the H&M store in the 5300 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW on Sunday evening.

Taquan Neal, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and a second man are accused of stealing jeans, shirts and hoodies from the store.

Detectives said while the men were fleeing, they pushed a woman and her child down a flight of stairs. The woman sustained a possible broken ankle and swollen foot, and the child had a 4-inch cut on his chin and possible broken teeth.

Neal was arrested for aggravated assault, first-degree cruelty to children and theft. The second man was arrested for aggravated assault, first-degree cruelty to children and shoplifting.
A young Maryland native shot in the head during the Las Vegas massacre is slowly but surely recovering.

Tina Frost, 27, was moved out of the Johns Hopkins Hospital intensive care unit this week, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. Frost's family said her new 12th-floor hospital room has a lovely view of Baltimore.

Her father, Rich Frost, said she is making progress every day.

"Milestones would be talking, walking and talking and understanding things. And some of these are happening, slowly but surely," he said.

On Oct. 1, Tina Frost was one of hundreds shot at an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowd, leaving 58 people dead and more than 500 injured.

Frost's boyfriend carried her from the scene of the massacre to a nearby truck, whose driver rushed her to a hospital. A bullet was lodged in her right eye, which doctors had to remove to save her life.

"Gunshots to the head: Five percent survive," Rich Frost said. "And to go from that to where we are now is a miracle."

Tina Frost, who was transferred from the Las Vegas hospital to one in her home state of Maryland, has started walking again, albeit slowly, and she appears to recognize her family and friends.

To redevelop her motor skills, Tina Frost has been practicing throwing and kicking a rubber ball. She's also baked cookies and painted her own eye patch.



While she has started speaking more as she recovers, her doctors said they don't think she knows what happened to her. They don't expect her to remember the shooting.

But, it's too soon to know the extent of any brain damage Tina Frost may have. She will undergo physical and cognitive therapy as well as facial reconstruction surgery in the coming weeks and months.

As of Monday, the GoFundMe page for Tina Frost had raised more than $592,000 for medical care and other expenses. Family friend Pam Clark said that when she launched the funding campaign in October, she "had no idea of the severity of Tina's condition."

"We never imagined raising this much money," Clark said. "She will definitely need it towards medical bills and recovery."

Rich Frost made a surprise appearance at a recent fundraiser for his daughter. He said he is thankful for the outpouring of support for his family.

"We appreciate everything that everybody's doing for her. Pulling for her and all the prayers that have come. It's helping. She's made great progress. She's making progress every hour," he said.
An unidentified white powder was found inside a high school in Montgomery County on Tuesday, and five employees who were exposed to it were taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The substance was found at John F. Kennedy High School in a plastic bag inside a student's backpack, sources told News4.

Montgomery County police are working to identify the substance. It is not believed to be fentanyl, the drug that can be deadly in minuscule amounts.



One student said shouting could be heard in the school.

"Someone started screaming, 'Oh my God. There's drugs! There's drugs!'" she said.

School employees were searching a teen boy in a conference room about 11 a.m. when they discovered a bag full of the substance, sources said. Some of it spilled out. Then, the staffers started to feel sick.

Medics went to the school on the 1900 block of Randolph Road in Silver Spring and took five employees to a hospital as a precaution.

"Right now we're hearing about dizziness, a bit of discomfort," Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Derek Turner said. "We're waiting to hear more details."

The school district did not release information immediately on why staffers were searching the student. Neither his name nor his age were released.
A mother's pride lit up Crystal Holcombe's Facebook page on Friday. Daughters Emily and Megan had finished third and first in their respective categories in a 4-H bakeoff and displayed their handiwork in posted photos.



But on Sunday afternoon, the page went grim.



"Keep the Holcombe family in your prayers," a friend posted.



Crystal Holcombe, who was eight months pregnant, was among the 26 killed by a lone gunman wielding an assault rifle, most as they worshipped at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, said her cousin, Nick Uhlig.

Uhlig told The Associated Press that Holcombe's in-laws were killed, and he told the Houston Chronicle that three of Holcombe's children were killed, among at least a dozen, according to the local sheriff.

"She doesn't even drink, smoke or nothing," he told the newspaper. "She just takes care of kids; she raises goats and makes homemade cheese. That kind of thing, you know? They don't go out dancing or anything like that. They're real old-fashioned, down-to-earth."

Holcombe's grandfather-in-law told The Washington Post that a total of eight members of the clan died, including his grandson and infant great-granddaughter.



The father-in-law, Bryan Holcombe, had done prison ministry, said Uhlig. "He would go up to the prison with ukulele to sing."



The massacred churchgoers ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years, state police said. Twenty others were wounded, including 10 still in critical conditions on Monday.

"Most of our church family is gone," said Sherri Pomeroy, wife of the church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy. "Our building is probably beyond repair. The few of us that are left behind lost tragically yesterday."

Annabelle Pomeroy, Sherri and Frank's 14-year-old daughter, was killed. Both Frank and Sherri were out of town, in different states, on Sunday.

"As senseless as this tragedy was, our sweet 'Belle would not have been able to deal with losing so much tragedy yesterday," Sherri Pomeroy said on Monday morning. "Please don't forget Sutherland Springs.

Twelve to 14 children were found dead inside the church, according to Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt.

"You dont understand, you lean into the Lord," Frank Pomeroy said on Monday morning. "Whatever life brings to you, lean on the Lord rather than your own understanding. I dont understand, but I know my God does."



Another of those killed was the 13-year-old goddaughter of Amanda Mosel, she told the Express-News.

Hank Summers, a local who had moved to San Antonio, told the AP via text message that his uncle, David Colbath, survived five gunshots that required extensive surgery and skin grafts to save an arm.



Sutherland Springs is a tiny town where everyone knows each other, said L.G. Moore, who runs the Holiday RV Park, which is 1/4 mile from the church.



Everyone in town was apt to know someone who was killed, he ventured.



"They say the population is 400 and that's if you count every dog, cat and armadillo," Moore, 75, said over phone. "It's more like 200 people."

CORRECTION (Nov. 6, 2017, 12:50 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this story misspelled Sheriff Joe Tackitt's name.
President Donald Trump says tougher gun laws would not have prevented a mass shooting at a south Texas church, arguing that more restrictions might have led to more casualties.

Trump spoke at a news conference in South Korea Tuesday where he was asked about "extreme vetting" for gun purchases. Trump said: "If you did what you're suggesting, there would have been no difference three days ago and you might not have had that very brave person who happens to have a gun or a rifle in his trunk."

As he did following last month's Las Vegas massacre of 58 people, Trump pushed back against the question, calling it a "situation that probably shouldn't be discussed too much" and noted that he was "in the heart of South Korea."

Trump added that if the good Samaritan didn't have a gun, "instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead."

Authorities say Devin Patrick Kelley fired at least 450 rounds of ammunition at worshippers in Sunday's attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

Asked about Trump's comments Tuesday, Texas Department of Public Safety official Freeman Martin said he didn't want to speculate about whether gun laws would have caused more deaths.



And when House Speaker Paul Ryan was asked if had ideas on legislation that could stop mass shootings, he pointed to the fact that Kelley should have had a red flag on his record because of a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force, which failed to enter a conviction for domestic violence into a national gun database.



"How about enforcing the laws weve got on the books," Ryan said. "This man should not have gotten a gun. You know why? Because he was a domestic abuser."

Trump's more muted response to gun violence contrasts with his swift call for legislative and military action following the Oct. 31 truck attack in New York City. Within hours of a rental truck ramming through a crowded bicycle path and into a school bus, Trump called for Congress to "immediately" repeal the diversity visa lottery program that suspect Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbekistan citizen, used to enter the country in 2010.

After the Las Vegas shooting, Trump and aides said it was inappropriate to consider a policy response while people were still grieving. Despite days later suggesting openness to outlawing the bump stock device that allowed Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock to fire at near-automatic rates, the Trump administration has shown no signs of urgency.

Trump, who supported gun control before reversing his position to enter the Republican presidential primary, courted the National Rifle Association's endorsement in 2016, and earlier this year became the first president in three decades to speak at the gun group's annual convention.

Associated Press writer Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.
Kentucky's Republican House speaker resigned his leadership position Sunday after acknowledging he settled sexual harassment claims from one of his staffers last month.

Jeff Hoover denied sexually harassing the staff member, but said he sent inappropriate text messages that were consensual. Hoover's wife and two of his three daughters were in the room as he spoke.

"I engaged in banter that was consensual but make no mistake it was wrong on my part to do that. And for that, I am truly sorry," Hoover said. "I want to reiterate that at no time, at no time did I engage in unwelcome or unwanted conduct of any kind."

Thomas Clay, a Louisville attorney who represents the victim, said his client had "legitimate concerns about workplace conduct."

"Our client was not coerced by anyone to resolve the matter and has been satisfied with the resolution," Clay said. "We look forward to moving past this matter."

Hoover said he received a letter on Oct. 17 from a lawyer whose client made allegations of sexual harassment against Hoover and others. Hoover did not identify the other people involved. However, multiple media outlets have identified them as three Republican committee chairmen: Brian Linder, Michael Meredith and Jim DeCesare. Ginger Wills, Hoover's chief of staff, was also named.

A legislative official who has seen a copy of the letter confirmed the names. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they were not authorized to talk about the letter.

Attempts to reach Linder, Meredith, DeCesare and Wills were unsuccessful. A news release from House GOP leadership said they are "removing implicated committee chairmen from their roles, pending the outcome of the investigation" but did not name them.

Hoover said everyone reached an agreement on Oct. 25. He said no one admitted wrongdoing and everyone agreed to keep the settlement secret because the victim was going to keep her job. But Wednesday evening, The Courier-Journal reported the settlement, based on anonymous sources, which eventually led to Hoover's resignation.

Hoover said he will remain in the legislature. House Speaker Pro Tempore David Osborne will become the acting speaker.

"We are asking any member of the House Republican caucus who is or believes they will be implicated in this matter to inform this leadership team immediately if their name has not already surfaced in the public domain," according to a statement attributed to Osborne and three other House GOP leaders. "We were blindsided but remain determined to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible."

The resignation comes amid a brutal legislative fight to change the state's struggling public pension system. Gov. Matt Bevin's proposal would eventually end Kentucky's pension system and replace it with a 401(k)-style retirement plan for state workers and public school teachers.

The bill has the votes in the Senate, but not the House. Hoover had said he would not vote for the bill without changes, and he has been critical of some of Bevin's comments about teachers and other state workers.

"It's fair to say I am not the favorite legislator of some in this capitol," Hoover said without mentioning Bevin's name. "I leave this speaker's position with no animosity toward anyone. Not even those who have been working and conspiring for months for this result. Nor against those who have used this as an opportunity for personal selfish political gain."

On Saturday afternoon, House Republican leaders announced they planned to hire a private law firm to investigate the allegations and would grant them the power to subpoena witnesses. A news release Sunday said the investigation will continue.

Hoover has been speaker since January, shortly after Republicans won a majority in the state House for the first time in nearly a century. The victory gave Republicans control of every state legislative chamber in the South.

"I have asked for and received forgiveness from God, my family, my wonderful wife, Karen, and my daughters," Hoover said. "The decision today is what is best for Kentucky. And what is best for the House of representatives that I love and have spent 21 years here."
Three teens from the same school were killed in a single-car rollover crash in Massachusetts on Tuesday.

The accident was reported around 3:30 p.m. on Douglas Road in West Brookfield. The teens were driving south about a quarter mile from Route 9 when their car left the road, hit a tree and rolled over, according to the Worcester district attorney's office.

Warren police said preliminary reports are that all three of the victims  two girls and a boy  were students at the Quaboag Regional Middle High School in Warren. The school serves both towns.

The victims' names and ages have not been released.



"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and the entire population at the school," Warren police said in a statement posted on Facebook. "We are asking that everyone please respect the privacy of the families of the victims."

Grief counselors will be available for students and staff at Quaboag Regional Middle High School on Wednesday, according to the DA.

The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known.

Police asked motorists to avoid the area of the accident as they continue to investigate.

Aerial footage from NBC Boston's Sky Ranger showed a red sedan lying on its side with heavy front end damage. Numerous police and fire vehicles and an ambulance were at the scene.

West Brookfield is located in Worcester County, north of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The district attorney's office initially identified the victims as two boys and a girl, but has since confirmed two girls and a boy were killed.
Now that Massachusetts has voted to legalize recreational marijuana, the state needs someone to help regulate it.

According to a recent job posting on Mass.gov, the state Department of Agricultural Resources is hiring an agricultural inspector who will focus on marijuana. The inspector "will enforce the laws and regulations involving hemp and overlapping laws and regulations that impact the cultivation of marijuana," the job posting says.

The person who fills the position will also help to create and enforce rules and regulations relative to hemp and provide education and outreach to stakeholders relative to the enforcement of laws and regulations.

Among other qualifications, applicants need to have experience or knowledge about cannabis and how it is regulated in other states.

In 2016, Massachusetts voters chose to legalize adult use of marijuana in the state. Currently in a legal gray area, statewide marijuana sales are expected to be legal next year.


Police in Maine say a man was taken into custody Monday night after a shot was fired inside the Walmart in Augusta.

Authorities said the suspect walked into the store with a firearm around 8 p.m. and got into a confrontation with another man who was trying to disarm him.

According to police, one shot was fired but no injuries were reported.

Augusta Police Deputy Chief Jared Mills said the suspect was taken into custody after an officer who was nearby responded to the scene.

Police said it did not appear the suspect and the man inside the store knew each other.

Mills told WCSH-TV that a preliminary investigation seems to conclude that the suspect was not in the store "to do a lot of harm."

Police are reviewing surveillance video which captured the altercation and are reviewing a number of witnesses.

Mills said it's unfortunate to have to deal with these types of incidents.

"Ten years ago this wasn't something we were dealing with on a day-to-day basis," Mills told WCSH-TV. "Certainly not here in Augusta, Maine  it's a very safe community and we don't have a lot of this happening."

The man taken into custody has not yet been identified. It's unclear what charges he will face.

In a separate incident outside the store, Mills said a woman died. The medical examiner's office is working to determine her cause of death.
Incumbent Daniel Rivera defeated William Lantigua on Tuesday to win re-election to a second term as mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Lantigua, the city's former mayor, lost his seat to Rivera in 2013; this time around, Rivera hung onto his seat by more than 400 votes.

While thanking his family and supporters, Rivera admitted that it was a hard-fought race.

"When you're a community with a lot of needs and very few resources, it's going to be a bitter fight," he said.

After losing the first time, Lantigua moved back to his native Dominican Republic, where he spent four years. He decided to move back to Lawrence earlier this year for a rematch.

During the last four years in office, Rivera has had to deal with the city's rising crime rate and opiod epidemic, and acknowledged that during his victory speech.

"Tomorrow is a new day, tomorrow everyone is Lawrence again," Rivera said. "Everyone is Lawrence again."

Back in March, Lantigua told NBC Boston that his 2013 defeat was the result of not getting his primary voters to the polls on the election day.

"We won the primary by thousands of votes. A lot of people in the final didn't think they needed to come out and vote. So it was not a rejection, it's just that people thought we had it," Lantigua told Alison King.

Lantigua had said he wanted a better relationship between the mayor's office and the police department.

However, his controversial past had some voters worried. Lantigua had previously been sued over campaign finance violations and three aides were indicted while he was mayor.

Rivera said he's made great strides with the city, but it was hard to be up against someone who has been on the ballot before.

"It's something to be - to have name recognition - to be infamous. And I think Willie's infamous. And people are going to have to decide between the clouds of the past or a positive future," Rivera told King in March.
The power is back on across Vermont, following last weeks prolonged outages caused by a ferocious storm that saw winds of 60 miles per hour and even more intense gusts.

Despite the restoration of electricity, though, there are still lingering challenges from the storm, including in Vermonts agriculture sector.

Christmas tree farmer Andy Aldrich was cutting up a large poplar Tuesday that toppled in last weeks blasts of wind, damaging a field on his Richmond farm and some of his Christmas tree plantings for future holidays.

Farming and Mother Nature: she can be real nice or real mean to you, Aldrich sighed.

Deputy Vermont Agriculture Secretary Alyson Eastman said she heard a number of problems like greenhouses destroyed in high winds or barns that suffered roof damage.

Eastman also said she heard several reports that Vermonts iconic maple syrup industry was hit hard.

It looks like theyll be spending quite some time out in the woods repairing pipelinea lot of downed branches and downed trees, Eastman said of maple syrup producers.

At Adams Turkey Farm in Westford, there was gratitude ahead of Thanksgiving.

Facing days without power after the storm, Judy Adams reached out to the Vermont Agriculture Agency in Montpelier for emergency help.

We were out of options, Judy Adams recalled.

Adams said she was deeply appreciative for the agencys support in lending a generator large enough to keep the farms equipment running through her busiest time of year.

The generator was critical, Adams explained, to ensuring processed turkeys stayed at safe temperatures until electricity returned.

We saved Thanksgiving, Adams beamed, noting without state agriculture officials help, her farm might have experienced significant financial losses.

Eastman said The Vermont Farm Fund is currently offering no-interest loans to assist farmers in recovering from natural disasters, including last weeks wind storm.

The loans, which are a maximum of $10,000, are repayable over two years, Eastman explained.

For more information, visit the Vermont Farm Fund.

Eastman said she is constantly impressed with the Vermont farming communitys hard work and commitment to rebounding when adversity strikes.

Farmers are very resilient, she said.
Digital transformation is on every IT and business leaders radar today. The path to it, though, may not be simple. While many industry pundits like to call out the likes of Uber and AirBnb, those digital natives didnt have to worry about disrupting an existing business.

To help mainstream businesses make that jump to a digital organization, Riverbed launched two new solutions at its Disrupt customer event last week in New York City.

Enhanced network performance management

The first is a new version of its network and application performance management platform, SteelCentral, enabling IT staff to better understand digital experiences. This aligns with a new movement among the NPM/APM vendors to shift to digital experience management (DEM), providing visibility into customer or worker experience regardless of whether the infrastructure is on premises, in the public cloud or in a hybrid environment.

This specific release correlates the end-user experience with network performance. If the worker or customer experiences a problem, SteelCentral users can see the end-to-end service and analyze devices, applications, compute infrastructure or network traffic in one console. Also new with this release: integration with ServiceNow, the de facto standard in IT Service Management. SteelCentral Aternity (the acquisition that gave Riverbed device monitoring capabilities) can automatically generate trouble tickets into the ServiceNow system if performance thresholds are exceeded.

This should be invaluable to IT departments, as my research shows that 75 percent of trouble tickets are currently opened by users and not the IT department, putting infrastructure people in constant firefighting mode. There has been a significant amount of industry focus on having IT departments shift to a proactive management model, but that cant happen without the tools. The integration of SteelCentral and ServiceNow enables IT pros to get a head start on the troubleshooting process and then the visibility in SteelCentral can help identify the exact source of a problem quickly.

SteelCentral now also supports container monitoring by managing container and application performance without requiring modifications to the container image. Instead of having to tweak the image, management is done through container orchestrators such as Kubernetes or Dockers Swarm. These are widely adopted tools, so this should be easy for most companies to implement. Containers have grown increasingly popular, particularly with organizations that have developed a DevOps strategy. There has always been a divide between application developers and infrastructure engineers, and CIOs have been working to bring these groups together. The ability to monitor containers can help create a common view for these historically siloed groups, which is a prerequisite for having them work as one.

SD-WAN integration with Zscaler

Riverbeds second announcement is software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) integration with Zscaler, one of the leading cloud security vendors. One of the building blocks of digital transformation is the cloud, but security is the top inhibitor to faster cloud adoption. This alliance enables businesses to securely connect their networks to cloud apps.

Zscaler has partnered with many of the common public cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office 365 for secure connectivity. Zscaler has been integrated into Riverbeds SD-WAN management tool, SteelConnect Manager, making it easy for network engineers to create policies to steer cloud traffic to the Zscaler service.

One of the benefits of SD-WANs is that branch workers can connect directly to a cloud service, but this creates additional security risks and forces companies to buy local firewalls for each branch. Distributed organizations will find doing that gets very expensive, quickly. The Riverbed-Zscaler partnership lets organizations configure secure branch connectivity with just a few mouse clicks.

No matter how much training companies do, workers cant be relied upon to always make the right decision on what to click and what not to click. This joint solution gives business the benefits of an SD-WAN but ensures user sessions are protected with access controls and advanced threat protection, which protects the worker and the company.

Most businesses are focused on digital transformation (84 percent, according to my research). But many complications hold businesses back. Riverbeds announcements certainly dont solve all challenges, but they do help secure the cloud and bring visibility to user experience, which are two of the bigger challenges.
FILM REVIEW: The Snowman: Michael Fassbender heads strong cast in Scandi thriller adaptation that sadly lacks suspense.

The Snowman (15)

Running time 1hr 59min

Rating: **

THE Scandi noir craze having lost much of its momentum of late, this adaptation of Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbs bestselling whodunnit (a classic of airport literature) might seem a quaint, even unfashionable proposition. A mere glance at the synopsis will reveal tropes familiar to those with even a passing acquaintance with the genre (mind games, troubled cops, messy sexual psychopathologies and even messier crime scenes), but the cast list packs in an enviable string of household names (all of them pronounceable, to boot), with Michael Fassbender slotted into a pair of snow bootsto star as Harry Hole, a hard-drinking Oslo detective. Frankly, while theres visual nastiness galore, the films purest cruelty is in its regard (or, rather, lack thereof) for the viewer. Its the kind of movie you root for, but which is obsessed with defying your expectations at every juncture and turning up consistently poorer and poorer results  exemplifying, in other words, the sort of twisted dark triad that Hole himself might otherwise have a field day with.

The last Nesb adaptation, 2011s Headhunters, was both gleefully suspenseful and blackly hilarious; The Snowman is a vastly more privileged production, but, even with the cream of the Anglo-Saxon acting profession queuing up to feature, the action and design lends it an infuriatingly televisual feel. Theres little of Headhunters humour; Hole is a lousy protagonist (somehow, studios have yet to cotton on to the fact that boozy cops ceased to be interesting decades ago), and Fassbender makes for a bizarre casting choice  are we seriously meant to believe that one can abuse substances for years and come out the other end looking like Magneto? His life off the beat is an even bigger cliche, with a long-suffering ex (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and a wayward son (Michael Yates) to account for when hes not scouring the landscape in search of

disembodied heads and torsos.

The mystery is preposterous, but far too dull and underdeveloped to demand our attention. Unlike Se7en or Silence of the Lambs, which more than compensated for the barminess of their plots with real dread and tension, The Snowman doesnt exactly have a handle on tone and peril. The titular serial killer executes their victims with a hit-and-run rashness  with hindsight, I feel guilty for expecting the trailer to reveal the film to be some sort of ghastly crime-comedy a la Edgar Wrights Hot Fuzz. Their schtick (theres always one) is to build a snowman at the crime scene; putting the plausibility aside for one moment, theres nothing particularly striking or scary about the concept (though the numerous scenes of mutilation and mayhem might draw a wince or two out of the audience). We actually get a look at the Snowmans motivations early on, a poor craft decision that instantly robs us of any sense that Hole is up against something genuinely menacing, a criminal force beyond his comprehension. Far from inspiring primal terror in us, the Snowman comes off as a bloody kook, a rabid dog that needs to be put down (and who, in his slapdash flagrancy, would not reasonably be able to get away with a spree of these staggering proportions in the age of iPhones and advanced forensics).

No thriller of The Snowmans ilk is complete without shots of the bleakly beautiful Scandinavian countryside, and there are a number to be found here, including a rather spectacular (albeit gruesome) setup involving a flock of seagulls. But Id pass on this one  theres nothing in this tiresome adaptation you cant get for free in BBC repeats of The Killing.
Winner to be announced at ceremony next month

Xtrac's Thatcham factory

Two talented apprentices who work in Thatcham have been shortlisted for a prestigious regional apprentice award at this years EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.

Andrew Haysom, 19, a first year apprentice at Xtrac, and Christopher Marrs, 21, a final year apprentice at the Gables Way firm, are both in the running for the awards, sponsored by Siemens.

They were selected along with 10 other apprentices from across the South East, after impressing judges with their hard work, dedication and determination to pursue a career in manufacturing.

The apprentices will find out who has been crowned regional winner at a ceremony taking place at Epsom Downs on November 9. If successful, they will then go on to compete with other regional winners from across the UK for a national title.

This will be announced at an awards gala dinner in London early next year.

Mr Haysom said: Im tremendously pleased to have been shortlisted for this award.

It recognises the dedication and hard work that we all put into our apprenticeships and will hopefully encourage more people to look at getting an apprenticeship.

Im now looking forward to the award ceremony where we will find out how we did.

Mr Marrs said: I found my apprenticeship to be a valuable opportunity to gain and improve my skillset.

I never thought I could learn so much, so quickly.

I am very grateful that I have been recognised for my achievements.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, the manufacturers organisation, said: Manufacturing is the cornerstone of British economic success. These awards recognise the important role and contribution of apprentices and go a small way to recognise the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication that they bring to the sector. They are the future of manufacturing so their success is industrys success for years to come.
Newbury craft beer specialist recognised at Celebrate British Beer Awards

NEWBURYS craft beer specialist Inn at Home has been celebrating after being named Best Beer Retailer in the South of England.

The store, which is based in Bartholomew Street, specialises in beer, ales, wines, spirits and cigars.

It was recognised at the Celebrate British Beer Awards, held at the House of Commons.

Marks & Spencer was among the winners, along with a host of top independent beer shops from across the UK.

Several MPs and the great and good of the beer industry attended the event, which was organised by trade magazine Drinks Retailing News.

The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, led by Mike Woods MP, partnered Drinks Retailing News in hosting the awards.

A panel of judges comprising some of the most respected names in the industry voted for the winners.
Im just so angry that a member of the public can do this

TWO vulnerable adults were left fearing for their safety after a callous thug threw a tin of paint over them and their carers, in what has been described as a despicable attack.

Charity workers at West Berkshire Mencap have spoken of their horror and disgust following the incident on Friday, October 27 which left the service users, who have learning difficulties, and three staff members, covered in white gloss paint.

Lucy Dodd, manager of assisted living complex Heffernan House in St Johns Road, said the service users and staff members had been left distressed by the terrifying ordeal.

No arrests have been made and police are appealing for witnesses to the attack, which happened at around 6.30pm in St John's Road.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Mrs Dodd said: They were all scared.

Two of my staff were just young girls, 19 and 20  they were petrified.

The users didnt sleep at all that night.

We havent tried to take them out again, so dont know how they will react, but weve been reassuring them a lot.

Im just so angry that a member of the public can do this.

She explained how the group had encountered a gang of youths when returning from a shopping trip to the Co-op in Pound Street.

According to Mrs Dodd, words were exchanged with the youths as the female Mencap staff accompanied the service users back to their home at the assisted living complex.

Mrs Dodd told how the young gang then appeared to go their separate ways.

But as the Mencap party entered the car park of St Johns Church, one of the youths reportedly reappeared, running and shouting, before throwing a tin of gloss paint over the group.

Mrs Dodd, who has been involved with the charity for seven years, said that she was extremely proud of the carers  with one young staff member in particular shielding those in her care from the worst of the attack.

Im so proud, she said.

Their first thought was for the people we support.

One of the young girls took the brunt of the paint as she shielded the service users  for a young girl to do that shows extreme bravery.

They even stayed on to finish their shift to make sure everything was as normal as possible for the people they care for.

Thames Valley Police said they responded to reports of an incident outside Heffernan House in St Johns Road at 6.47pm on Friday, October 27.

A spokesman said no arrests had been made and investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Thames Valley Police on 101.

For more on this incident pick up a copy of the Newbury Weekly News.
Newbury MP Richard Benyon on A34 safety and British penguins

On Wednesday last week I met with neighbouring MPs, the A34 Action Group, Highways England, and others as part of our campaign to get improvements to the A34 between the Newbury junction of the M4 and the M40.

We discussed the keenly-awaited safety review that came from a commitment we got from the Roads Minister following the tragic multiple fatality accident of just over a year ago.

The report highlights just how out of date the A34 has become.

The configuration of slip roads, the size of lay-bys and many other features might have been suitable when the road was constructed but, with massively increased traffic and the changing face of transport generally, we can see what needs to be done now.

Safety is the main motivation for our campaign but statistics prove that the A34 is actually no more dangerous than most similar roads in the UK.

What is a factor is that traffic flows are increasing and even small shunts block the road for hours causing a big headache for business and the economy.

This is why the 27m that the Chancellor has allocated to the so-called Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, which will start at Junction 13 of the M4, will eventually deliver the big win.

I scuttled from this meeting to a packed Committee Room for the launch of my pamphlet Blue Belt 2.0.

This highlights many of the good things Britain is doing in ocean conservation around the world, particularly surrounding our Overseas Territories.

I then set out how this can be improved and how it can and should be seen as both an act of environmental responsibility and, crucially, global leadership.

One of my great frustrations has been that whilst other countries shout from the rooftops about much smaller acts of marine conservation, Britain lets it slip out with a press release.

I call the UK's oceans commitments "the love that dare not speak its name".

This all ended last week when the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson came along and gave it the UK Government's seal of approval with a typically barnstorming speech.

It turns out that one of his cultural heroes is the mayor in the film Jaws. Boris' point here (follow me if you can) was that the sea around the fictional town was as much a home for the shark as it was for people. Anyway it seemed to go down well with a room full of greenies.

The stat that surprised many and found its way on to national media was when I said that the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic are home to a quarter of the world's penguins.

So, yes, a quarter of all the penguins in the world are British.
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Micro Center Introduces PowerSpec Gaming Notebooks

HILLIARD, Ohio: Micro Center (www.microcenter.com) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its PowerSpec desktop computer brand by offering the first PowerSpec mobile computers ever - the PowerSpec 1710 and 1510 gaming notebooks.





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PowerSpec performance takes to the road with the 7th Generation Intel Core i7 7700HQ processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics for gameplay domination.Both the 17.3" PowerSpec 1710 and 15.6" 1510 include 16GB DDR 4 2400 RAM, Full HD display with NVIDIA G-Sync technology, and Windows 10 Home operating system loaded on a Samsung 960 EVO Series 250GB NVMe M.2 SSD with a 1TB storage drive."Micro Center is always looking for new ways we can bring outstanding performance and value to our customers," said Herb Doss, PowerSpec Product Manager. "The new PowerSpec gaming notebooks bring a new level of gaming prowess and affordability to the U.S. market." The 17.3" PowerSpec 1710 is priced at $1,399.99, while the 15.3" PowerSpec 1510 is $1,299.99.VR Ready GraphicsThe NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chipset is standard on both PowerSpec gaming notebooks features incredible speed and power structured in its Pascal architecture. In addition to innovative gaming experiences, expect up to three times the performance of previous-generation graphics. The GTX 1070 is well equipped to handle the latest games and virtual reality adventures. Designed with 8GB GDDR5, 8Gbps memory speed, and a 1.4x relative and 1683MHz actual boost clock, users will experience gameplay at a whole new level. The GeForce GTX 1070 is cool from every angle of its ultra- modern design to its advanced thermal interior, even when running the most demanding games.Illuminated KeyboardNever miss a keystroke, even in the heat of battle with the cool customizable light of the backlit RGB keyboard. It doesn't just look good, it has a responsive precision touchpad making it a key weapon in a mobile gamer's arsenal.Plenty of PortsBoth PowerSpec gaming notebooks offer plenty of ports. The PowerSpec 1710 boasts 4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A and 1 Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port for more power and faster charging. The PowerSpec 1510 includes 3 USN 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A and 2 USB 3.1 (Gen 2 Type-C). In addition, both models also have HDMI, two mini display ports, a LAN RJ-45, and 2 audio ports.
5 Ways to Improve Your Employee Benefits Program

TAMPA, Fla: Most employers are either totally frustrated at their employee benefits program or are frozen in place waiting to hear about the next round of Congressional votes, according to Rob Pariseau, executive vice president of Lykes Insurance, a premier Florida-based commercial insurance firm.





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"This is actually a good time for employers to take a step back and take a look at their group health plan," says Pariseau. "The goal is to identify what's most important (and affordable) and to build a plan, over time, to keep it sustainable."Pariseau says that the following five questions are a good guide through the process. He includes suggestions and options to assist employers when they speak with their benefits adviser about next steps.1. How do you select your carrier or administrator?Most mid-sized advisers focus on the lowest rate for each 12-month period. Compare that method with establishing a strategic platform that addresses your challenges over multiple years. Challenges and options include integrated administration, care coordination, networks and reinsurance. The goal should be negotiation of multi-year total rate guarantees and caps. In addition, consider advisers who will work with best in class partners to identify customized initiatives like high performance networks for savings opportunities.2. What is the cost structure and how are rates determined?Approximately 80 percent of midsized employers are fully insured and paying between 7 and 9 percent in fees, taxes and profits. An option to consider is "level funding," which avoids fees and taxes, authenticates claims and uses data strategically. It also eliminates subsidies of other, less innovative employers stuck in deteriorating insured pools.3. Who assists you and your employees with questions?Many carrier call centers and websites are either not helpful or not responsive. A better option is to identify carriers or administrators who offer dedicated teams, by name, to conduct multi-media open enrollments, and provide for telemedicine, prescription assistance, claims, care coordination and wellness. What if they contacted doctors and pharmacies on behalf of employees to assure accurate insurance information for that first visit?4. How engaged are your employees in evaluating cost and quality of healthcare services and how compliant are they with treatment recommendations?A continuing challenge for cost control and improved employee health is to involve employees in shopping for cost and/or quality. Many either don't understand or can't afford to comply with their course of treatment. By contrast, look for benefits advisers who identify carriers or administrators who will actually research cost and quality and intervene to incent patients to get the best care with the best outcomes from the best providers.5. What type of communications tools are available?Too often, communications are "one size fits all," whether in content or method of presentation. Increasingly, benefits advisers are suggesting more creative ways to identify when and how employees want to be communicated with, including ways to involve spouses and partners."Putting in place even a simple planning process can provide employers with an effective roadmap that leads to fewer hassles, better care and more cost-effective services," says Pariseau. "It's a process that's well worth the time."
Star Of Martial Arts Cult Classic 'The Last Dragon' Kicks Off Indiegogo Campaign To Fund Epic Comeback Project

LOS ANGELES: Who's the master!? Thirty-two years after the question was made famous in the 1985 cult classic, The Last Dragon, the answer remains the same: It's actor and martial artist Taimak.





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The man who achieved global stardom and pop culture immortality with his iconic role as Bruce Leroy announced today the launch of the official Indiegogo campaign in support his long-awaited return to the big screen, "Master."Co-written by Taimak, the film is a martial arts adventure set in ancient China that tells the story of a reluctant warrior who embarks on an epic journey of vengeance and self-discovery.Perks for backers include a variety of "Master" merchandise, "The Last Dragon" memorabilia, as well as one-of-a-kind experiences; such as a personal training session with Taimak and a private screening of "The Last Dragon" hosted by the star. Click here to visit "Master's" official Indiegogo page.The crowdfunding campaign, which closes on Dec. 8, seeks to raise $75,000 to produce a proof-of-concept trailer for "Master," which will be filmed on location in Asia, featuring an international cast of actors and martial artists. To promote the project, Taimak is also kicking off a nine-city screening tour of "The Last Dragon" at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas across the U.S., where he will discuss the movie's legacy and his plans for "Master." The "Master" campaign is managed by IW Group, a Los Angeles-based marketing agency specializing in cross-cultural content, making their first venture into feature film development.About "Master"Inspired by the Shaw Brothers films of the 1970s and the works of Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone, "Master" will mark a return to the roots of classic martial arts cinema a no fight doubles, no CGI, and absolutely no "shaky cam." The film's story centers around a Persian-African soldier on a quest to avenge the murder of his adopted Chinese family. Hunted by an army of assassins, our hero must battle unknown forces while trying to uncover the truth about his past.Perks for the Master Indiegogo campaign include:a$20 a "The Last Dragon" 8x10 photo signed by Taimaka$25 a T-shirt or cap featuring the "Master" logoa$35 a Special edition Blu-Ray of "The Last Dragon" signed by Taimaka$40 a Signed copy of Taimak's autobiography, "The Last Dragon"a$400 a Dim sum in Chinatown with Taimaka$500 a Personal training session with Taimak"The story of 'Master' is one I've been trying to tell my whole life, as both a martial artist and an actor," said Taimak. "Like Bruce Lee, I believe martial arts films should be about martial arts a not just the fighting and combat but also the philosophy and spirituality. 'The Last Dragon' achieved this balance brilliantly, and I've spent many years trying to find a worthy follow-up. Similar to my character in that film, I realized the answer came from within.""As life-long 'Last Dragon' fans, our team is honored to be working with Taimak to launch such an ambitious project," said Telly Wong, Chief Content Officer at IW Group. "'Master' is a tribute to the golden age of martial arts cinema that also explores new thematic territory for the genre. Its universal themes of honor, redemption and self-determination will allow the film to resonate with audiences around the world.""The Last Dragon" U.S. Screening TourAlamo Drafthouse Cinemas will host a U.S. screening tour of "The Last Dragon" featuring Taimak from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, where the star will introduce the film and conduct an audience Q&A. Below is the schedule:aNov 9: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a Chandler, 4955 S. Arizona Ave. Chandler, AZ 85248aNov 12: Alamo Drafthouse DFW, Richardson Heights Village, Richardson, TX 75080aNov 14: Alamo Drafthouse Main Street, 1400 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105aNov 15: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Omaha, 12750 Westport Pkwy, La Vista, NE 68138aNov 20: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a Sloans Lake, 4255 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204aNov 27: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a Westlakes, 1255 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227aNov 28: Alamo Drafthouse Marketplace, 651 TX-46 BUS #1010, New Braunfels, TX 78130aNov 29: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a Laredo, 11210 East Point Dr, Laredo, TX 78045aNov 30: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Corpus Christi, 7601 S Staples St, Corpus Christi, TX 78413
Pakistani diplomat shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Afghanistan

Jalalabad [Afghanistan], November 6 : A Pakistan diplomat was shot dead by gunmen near his residence in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, The Express Tribune reported.





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Nayar Iqbal Rana, who was serving at the Pakistan Consulate General in the Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province, was gunned down by unidentified men near his house, The Express Tribune quoted a security official, as saying.The diplomat was targeted when he was returning home after offering prayers at a mosque.The gunmen fled after the incident.No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Trump calls Texas shooting a 'mental health problem'

Tokyo [Japan], November 6 : United States President Donald Trump has called the mass shooting at a Texas church on Sunday a mental health problem at the highest level and not an issue with gun laws in the country.





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"This isn't a guns situation. This is a mental health problem at the highest level. It's a very, very sad event. A very, very sad event, but that's the way I view it," CNN quoted Trump, as saying in response to a question related to the Texas church shooting incident during a joint news conference in Tokyo.Based on preliminary reports, Trump called the gunman in the Texas shooting as a "deranged individual".Earlier, condemning the shooting in Texas as an "act of evil", Trump termed the incident as "horrific" at his first public remarks."We pull together. We join hands, we lock arms and through the tears and through the sadness we stand strong, oh so strong," Trump said.Trump also pledged his administration's "full support to the great state of Texas and all local authorities investigating this horrible crime".At least 26 people were killed and several others injured in a mass shooting incident at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The gunman was identified as Devin Patrick Kelley.After a brief chase, the law enforcement found the suspect dead of a gunshot wound inside his vehicle. Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the authorities were not sure if the wound was self-inflicted or the result of the resident who fired on the suspect.
Pak army chief meets Iranian President Rouhani

Tehran [Iran], November 7 : Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during his ongoing visit to Iran.





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According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Iranian leadership thanked Gen Bajwa for his visit and acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices and achievements in the war against terrorism, the Dawn reported.The ISPR is the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.General Bajwa also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.Earlier in the day, General Bajwa met Iranian Chief of General Staff (CGS) Major General Muhammad Bagheri and was presented with a guard of honour.General Bajwa also laid a floral wreath at Martyrs' Monument.During the meetings with the civil and military leadership of Iran, Gen Bajwa discussed issues related to the geo-strategic environment, defence and security and economic cooperation at bilateral as well as regional level, ISPR said.Afghan situation, growing threat of ISIS in the region and the Pak-Iran border security also came under discussion, the military's media wing added.The Iranian leaders agreed to stay engaged for enhanced bilateral cooperation.Gen Qamar, is on a three-day official visit to Iran.
Texas gunman 'had row with mother-in-law' before church attack

Texas [United States], November 7 : The man who shot dead 26 people at a Texas church carried out the attack after a domestic situation with his mother-in-law, it has been revealed.





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According to the officials, 26-year-old Devin Kelley opened fire on the church attended by his mother-in-law after he sent "threatening" text messages to her, the Independent reported.Freeman Martin, the regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said, "This was not racially motivated, it wasn't over religious beliefs. There was a domestic situation going on with the family and in-laws.""We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in-law, who attends this church," Martin added.The U.S. officials said that he was not legally permitted to own the weapons.According to the reports, Kelly possessed three guns.At least 26 people were killed and several others were injured in a mass shooting incident at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.The youngest victim of Sunday's shooting was an 18-month-old baby and the oldest one being 77-year-old.After a brief chase, the law enforcement found the suspect dead of a gunshot wound inside his vehicle. Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that the authorities were not sure if the wound was self-inflicted or the result of the resident who fired on the suspect.Kelley, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, was court-martialled in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child, the reports said.
Milind Soman unfazed by trolls, and here's how!

New Delhi , Nov 7 : Milind Soman's birthday selfie with girlfriend Ankita Konwar had social media buzzing but his latest Instagram post is proof he is least perturbed by all the 'fuss'.





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The model-turned-actor, who is holidaying in Norway, posted more pictures with Konwar that show he doesn't care about the trolls over his alleged age difference with his girlfriend.For the unversed, the 'Ironman' celebrated his 52nd birthday in Tromso, basking in the glory of Northern Lights. He had shared a selfie with Ankita to thank the fans for their love.
Ultimate Sun Systems commissions 500kW expansion to Ambala rooftop solar plant

New Delhi , Nov 7 : Ultimate Sun Systems, an MNRE channel partner company installed and commissioned a 500kW expansion to the existing 1mW rooftop solar plant at the Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College in Mullana, Ambala.





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The expansion is a grid-tiled rooftop solar PV system, generating 750,000 kWh of electricity every year. The project has been sanctioned and approved by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which has provided 30 percent subsidy to the project."The additional 1564 solar panels and the 10 inverters installed at MM College of Engineering, Mullana, will lead to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, which would be the equivalent of planting over 22,000 teak trees, while substantially reducing the cost of energy," said B.S. Yadav, Managing Director, Ultimate Sun Systems.Rooftop solar has the potential of generating 124,000 MW, but this potential is being wasted due to the slow adoption of the technology in major cities. The company will look to further expand to other Asian and African markets subsequently.
President of India visits Guru Ghasidas Jaitkham at Girodhpuri in Chhattisgarh

Raipur : The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, visited Guru Ghasidas Jaitkham and attended the bhoomi pujan for a Saamudayik Bhavan at Girodhpuri in Chhattisgarh today (November 6, 2017).





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Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Guru Ghasidas was a remarkable social reformer among the dispersed community of this region almost 200 years ago. He struggled against social evils and injustice, and fought for the poor and downtrodden. His message was simple: that truth and noble conduct are synonyms for God. He made efforts to eliminate the practice of untouchability, and emphasised fraternity and social harmony. He also stressed women's rights and supported widow marriage.The President said that the teachings of Guru Ghasidas have given direction to social reform among not only the Satnami Samaj but in entire Chhattisgarh. He expressed confidence that by imbibing the ideals of Guru Ghasidas, the people and government of Chhattisgarh would continue to work to build a society based on equality and unity.
Passing out Parade of Dogs at Air Force Dog Training School (AFDTS), Air Force Station Faridabad

New Delhi : A Passing out parade for the Air Force Dogs undergoing training at Air Force Dog Training School, Air Force Station Faridabad was organized on 06 Nov 2017.





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Air Force Dogs of Labrador breed successfully completed training for 32 weeks and passed out yesterday, in a glittering ceremony. These Air Force Dogs will be posted to different Air Force establishments in order to supplement their existing security set up.Air Force Dog Training School (AFDTS) established at Air Force Station Faridabad is doing a commendable task of training Air Force Dogs. The dogs displayed their calibre and skills of agility, obedience, chasing suspects, identifying unknown objects and sniffing power by searching the hidden explosives.Air Vice Marshal Alok Singh VSM, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer (SMSO), Western Air Command was the Reviewing Officer at the passing out ceremony. He was accompanied by Mrs. Preeti Singh,ECM, Air Force Wives Welfare Association(Regional). The Reviewing Officer reviewed the parade presented by the dogs along with their masters and gave away awards to the instructors and appreciated the contribution of the Commanding Officer and staff of AFDTS towards the successful completion of training.In his reviewing address, the Air Vice Marshal highlighted the role and importance of Air Force Dogs in the present security scenario. He informed that these dogs are imparted rigorous training and they pass out only on attaining the earmarked high standards.
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of The Naval Staff visits France

New Delhi : Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff is visiting France on a bilateral visit from 05 to 10 November 2017. The visit aims to consolidate cooperation between the Armed Forces of both India and France and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation.





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During his visit, the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff will hold bilateral discussions with Her Excellency Ms Florence Parly, Hon'ble Defence Minister of France, General Francois Lecointre, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Christophe Prazuck, Chief of French Navy, General Joel Barre, Director General Armament and Vice Admiral Hervede Bonnaventure, Director General International Relations and Strategy.In-addition to holding important bilateral discussions, the Admiral will be visiting the Maritime Prefectures at Brest and Cherbourg, and be conducted around the Maritime Operations Centre. He will also visit the French Airbase at Landivisiau, where he will be briefed on the operational employability of the Rafale aircraft by the French Air Force, and also visit the French Submarine Facility at Cherbourg.India and France have traditionally maintained close and friendly relations. The two countries established a Strategic Partnership in 1998, thereby significantly enhancing bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defence, nuclear energy and space. The Defence relationship between the two countries has been one of mutual trust and confidence. India has been importing critical defence technologies from France; the latest being the Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Forces and the Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy.The Indian Navy cooperates with the French Navy on many issues, which include operational interactions such as the VARUNA series of bilateral exercises, training exchanges, exchange of White Shipping Information and Subject Matter Experts in various fields through the medium of Staff Talks.Warships from Indian Navy have been regularly visiting ports at France, with IN ships Mumbai, Trishul and Aditya making port call at Toulon from 24 to 27 April 2017. The French Navy ship Auvergne, a FREMM Class Frigate, also visited the Indian Naval Base at Karwar from 02 to 06 October 2017.The Indian Army and Air Force also maintain robust cooperation with the French Army and Air Force. The Indian Army conducts the biennial exercise SHAKTI with the French Army, whilst the Indian Air Force conducts the GARUDA series of exercises annually. Both the Services also carryout exchanges of Subject Matter Experts and pursue a structured cooperation mechanism through the medium of Staff Talks of their respective Services.
India Pavilion Launched at Cop 23 in Bonn Conserving Now, Preserving Future is India's Theme

New Delhil : The India Pavilion at COP 23 was inaugurated by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan at Bonn in Germany today.





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The Minister is leading the Indian delegation, which is participating in the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP-23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held at the Bonn, Germany from November 6-17, 2017. The inauguration of India Pavilion was attended by the partner ministries, government departments, multi-lateral and bilateral partners, industry associations, Non-Government Organisations and Civil Society Organisations and others.India's theme for COP 23 "Conserving Now, Preserving Future" takes India's message forward. He expressed happiness over the organization of the India Pavilion at COP-23 and added that India has been ambitious in its climate change actions, and expects other countries also to be ambitious based on their historical responsibility on the basis of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities. He invited all participants to be active members of discussions, deliberations and sessions scheduled at the India Pavilion.Additional Secretary, MoEF&CC, Shri. Arun Kumar Mehta, said that over the next 11 days, India will be organizing 20 sessions, covering issues important for climate change adaptation and mitigation. He added that presentations and panel discussions involving experts from both public and private spheres will be hosted.In his address, Joint Secretary MoEFCC, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, welcomed the Minister and expressed the hope that through its activities, the India Pavilion will create awareness about India's positive climate actions. He added that the India Pavilion will strive to become an ideal platform for the exchange of innovative ideas for the world to come together and take action.The India Pavilion at COP 21, Paris and COP 22, Marrakesh showcased climate change related activities under the themes of Climate Justice and Sustainable Lifestyles. This year at COP 23, the India Pavilion from November 6-17, focuses on India's positive climate actions in adaptation, mitigation, clean technology innovation' and renewable energy.
India considers Climate Change as a major Threat to Collective being, wants to Play a Positive and Constructive Role in Combating it: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi : Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that India considers climate change as a major threat to collective well-being and wants to play a positive, as well as constructive role in combating it.





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Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of India Pavilion at the ongoing meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-23) at Bonn in Germany today, the Minister said that climate change will put a disproportionate burden on the poor and marginalised sections of the global community. He added that scientific evidence clearly indicates the severity of climate change and the cost of delayed action. "Access to clean air, water, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is just not a question of politics, it is our moral obligation", Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.Emphasising that though India's per capita emissions are only one-third of global average and its contribution to global stock of carbon dioxide is less than 3%, India has still moved ahead with implementation of path-breaking initiatives under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.The Minister pointed out that India Pavilion is a window to our heritage and our progress, our traditions and indigenous technology, aspirations and achievements.Inviting views and best practices among different stakeholders, Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that one of the key global objectives is to develop an inclusive world order that does not leave anyone behind. The Minister underlined poverty eradication as one of the most fundamental objectives we all must work together upon. Dr. Harsh Vardhan also pointed out that the contribution of citizens, sustainable lifestyles and climate justice provides an alternative means to address climate change, which must be rigorously pursued.The Minister also highlighted several key initiatives at the national and state level.The following is the text of the Environment Minister's speech in Bonn today:"I welcome you all to the India Pavilion at COP 23. India considers climate change a major threat to our collective well-being and wishes to play a positive and constructive role in combating it. We have large vulnerable populations and therefore, we take the challenge seriously, especially because climate change shall put disproportionate burden on the poor and marginalized sections of the global community. Therefore, this COP is of great significance to all of us.We have gathered here at COP-23 in Bonn to move forward and work towards developing guidelines for efficient implementation of the Paris Agreement under the Convention.Scientific evidence clearly indicates the severity of it and the cost of delayed action. Access to clean air, water, and a liveable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is just not a question of politics, it is our moral obligation. We have only one planet and humankind must become accountable for the destruction of our collective home. Protecting our future on this planet depends on the conscious evolution of our species. Though India's per capita emissions are only one-third of global average, and its contribution to global stock of carbon dioxide is less than 3%, it has still moved ahead with implementation of path breaking initiatives under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.In this context, the India Pavilion is a window to our heritage and our progress; our traditions and our indigenous technology; our aspirations and our achievements. India's new economic momentum is a subject of international attention and a source of global opportunity.A series of events will be hosted at India Pavilion showcasing India's achievement, contributions and initiatives to address various dimensions of climate change and we invite exchange of views and best practices among different stakeholders. Therefore, we are here with a constructive and positive approach. One of the key global objectives is to develop an inclusive world order that leaves no one behind. Therefore, poverty eradication is one of the most fundamental objective that we all must work together to bestow upon the future generations a healthy and green planet.Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, we have launched many policies and institutional mechanisms to advance our climate actions. These initiatives are a reflection of our commitment towards addressing climate change concerns including energy security, food and water security, capacity enhancement at national and state level etc. Some of the key initiatives include:A Achieving about 58.3 GW of Renewable Energy Capacity out of a targeted 175 GW for 2022.A Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for providing free LPG connections and Ujala for embracing energy efficient LED bulbs dedicated towards supporting citizens move towards sustainable lifestyle.A The broad policy initiatives of the central government are supplemented by actions of the State Governments. 32 States and Union Territories have put in place the State Action Plan on Climate Change attempting to mainstream climate change concerns in their planning process.A As part of our mission on strategic knowledge on climate change, we have established 8 Global Technology Watch Groups in the areas of Renewable Energy Technology, Advance Coal Technology, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Green Forest, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustainable Agriculture and Manufacturing.A India is one of the few countries where, despite ongoing development, forest and tree cover has increased transforming country's forests into a net sink owing to national policies aimed at conservation and sustainable management of forests.A A number of schemes for transformation and rejuvenation of urban areas have been launched including Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. These schemes have integrated appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures for environment protection.A Swachh Bharat Mission has been launched with aim to make India clean and litter free. Government has recently revised following waste management rules to make them more effective, efficient and stringent.A Government has revised six waste management rules which are more effective, efficient and stringent. These include rules for solid waste, Plastic waste, E-waste, bio-Medical and Hazardous and Construction and Demolition Waste.A Greening of India's extensive Railway routes and Highways is being undertaken.A Air Quality Index launched in over 30 cities to provide real-time data of air pollution on daily basis.A Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been formulated with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation and improving water use efficiency 'More crop per drop'.A Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been launched for farmers' welfare. Another scheme has been launched to provide Soil Health Card to every farmer. Further Government of India has set up the goal is to double the income of the farmers by 2022.A Second Phase of Science Express Climate Action Special train with the aim to create awareness among various sections of society, especially students, on the science of climate change, the observed and anticipated impacts, and different possible responses as to how climate change can be combated.A Government has launched "Skill India" with the target to provide skill training in various sectors including sustainable development to about 400 million people by 2022.A Zero Effect, Zero Defect is a policy initiative to enhance energy efficiency and resources efficiency in Medium & Small Industries.A Another important initiative relating to rivers is the National Mission for Clean Ganga which seeks to rejuvenate the river along its length of more than 2,500 km.A Digital India has been launched to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.A All these schemes contribute to mitigation and adaptation.India has been ambitious in its climate change actions and expect other countries also to be ambitious based on their historical responsibility on the basis of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities. We also believe that contribution of citizens, sustainable lifestyles and climate justice provides an alternative means to address climate change which must be rigorously pursued."
UK MoS (Immigration) Mr. Brandon Lewis holds delegation level talks with Shri Kiren Rijiju

A delegation from the United Kingdom led by the Minister of State for Immigration Mr. Brandon Lewis, held talks with the Indian delegation led by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju here today.





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The discussions covered variety of important issues ranging from cooperation in matters of immigration, tackling extremism, extradition, cyber crimes, sharing of criminal records and social security for Indian workers returning from the UK.At the outset, Shri Kiren Rijiju elaborated the stand of the Government of India on the Migration issues between India and the UK and also sought cooperation of the UK side on more favourable visa regime for Indians, especially Indian students. While seeking cooperation of the UK Government in expediting India's 13 extradition requests MoS (Home) also assured the visiting Minister of full cooperation on behalf of the Government of India in the extradition of Mohammad Abdul Shakur wanted in the UK on murder charges.During the meeting, Shri Rijiju conveyed New Delhi's concerns on the continuing anti-India propaganda carried out by Kashmiri and Sikh extremists in the UK that bear "serious repercussions on India's sovereignty". On behalf of the Government of India, Shri Rijiju also conveyed willingness to cooperate on exchange of criminal records.Mr. Lewis expressed satisfaction that meetings between the Indian and UK Immigration Ministers have been formalized as a dialogue every six months and expressed hope that this will further strengthen the bilateral ties. Further, drawing attention to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will take place in London in April next year, Mr. Lewis sought India's participation and support in making the summit a success.
Kochi wins Best Urban Transport Initiative Award for fastest completion of its integrated Metro Rail

New Delhi : Surat Municipal Corporation has been chosen for the 'Best City Bus Services Award' by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for succeeding in attracting 87pc of the private vehicle and auto rickshaw users to use city buses.





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Mysuru's Public Bicycle Sharing has won the 'Best Non-Motorised Transport' Award while Kochi (Kerala) has been chosen for the 'Best Urban Transport Initiative' Award for completing its Metro Rail Project in a quick time besides integrating the metro with other modes of transport.The Awards for the 'Best Urban Transport Practices' were announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs today on the concluding day of the three day Urban Mobility Conference -cum-Exhibition at Hyderabad. The Awards will be presented to the winning cities in the Valedictory Session later in the day.H-TRIMS of Hyderabad, the Traffic Integraged Management initiative has been chosen for the 'Commendable Initiative Award' under 'Best Intelligent Transport Project' category. Chittor has been chosen for the 'Commendable Initiative Award' for the city police's initiative for improving road safety.Surat city with a population of about 45 lakhs was heavily dependent on three wheelers and private vehicles till 2014 when Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) and city buses were made operational. At present, 275 city buses are operational in the city on 28 routes with fares ranging from a minimum of Rs.4.00 to a maximum of Rs.22. With 95% of arrivals and departures on time, 87% of those using private vehicles and auto rickshaws have now shifted to city buses minimizing environmental and social adversity issues. Single ticketing system, Integration of city buses with feeder systems, Intelligent Transit Management are in place.The tourism city of Mysure launched its Public Bicycle Sharing in June this year with 425 bicycles and 45 docking stations. More than 6,400 members have been registered till last month. Fares are as low as Rs.5.00 for up to two hours of use. PBS resulted in improved last mile connectivity besides converting short distance vehicular trips to cycle trips, which are eco-friendly.Fastest constructed Metro Rail Project of Kochi has been chosen as the 'Best City in Urban Transport Initiative' category for its innovative features including implementation in integration with Water Transport. Kochi Metro also introduced 'Rupay' based transit card.Hyderabad has about 39 lakh registered vehicles on its roads with 600 more added every day and vehicle density of 723/km, the second highest in the country but traffic management was being done with 20 year old signal network which do not function if power supply stopped. H-TRIMS was introduced in 2012 to provide round the clock, no break in service signalling at all the 221 junctions and remotely controlled. H-TRIMS also enables automatic adjustment of signal timings based on traffic flows, pedestrian controlled signals and SMS based alerts to the citizens. This initiative brought down waiting time at traffic junctions by over 33%. H-TRIMS initiative has been commended under the 'Best Intelligent Tran[port System' category. Pune has won the Best Performer Award in this category.Chittor in Andhra Pradesh, the district headquarters has won the 'Commendable Initiative' Award for the initiative of the City Police aimed at reducing the accidents and fatalities. Under this Education, Engineering and Enforcement initiative, Community Police Officers and students are roped in for creating awareness about road accidents and measures to be taken to prevent the same. Over 1.76 lakh drivers and riders have been administered oath, speed breakers and rumble strips erected to regulate speeds and 259 road side villages have been sensitised. Chittore police introduced 'no helmet-no petrol' policy for two wheelers. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has won the Best Performer Award in this category.Other Award Winners are:Madhya Pradesh: Commendable Urban Mass Transit Initiative for implementing Cluster Based BusTransit SystemBhopal : Commendable Initiative for introducing Public Bicycle SharingNoida and Greater Noida: Commendable City Bus Service Project initiativeAndaman : Commendable Initiative for introducing Special Bus Services for womenLucknow Metro Rail Project : Commendable Urban Mass Transit InitiativeMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs announces these awards to promote Best Practices in Urban Transport and are presented at the annual Urban Mobility India Conference.
Trump lands in Seoul

Seoul [South Korea], Nov. 7 : United States President Donald Trump arrived in South Korean capital Seoul on Tuesday on a two-day official visit.





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According to CNN, President Trump's arrival in South Korea was accompanied by a major show of force in the Pacific Ocean.As per the report, the U.S. Navy said that in the coming days, they will be conducting a mock battle in waters in the region.The North Korean government termed the announcement as a direct provocative action that could "ignite another Korean War.""Nobody knows when and how the 'war maniac' Trump will ignite the 'wick of war," Pyongyang said, referring to the presence of American naval carriers in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula.Yesterday, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with 14 family members of those Japanese kidnapped by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s at the State Guest House in Tokyo's Akasaka district.Later in the day, President Trump told reporters that he had heard "very, very sad" stories about the victims and assured, "We will work with Prime Minister Abe on trying to get them back to their loved ones."President Trump also underscored America's "solidarity" with Japan against "the North Korean menace," at a joint news conference with PM Abe.Japan was President Trump's first stop of his five-nation tour of Asia.
Belgium's King Philippe meets PM Modi

New Delhi , Nov. 7 : Belgium's King Philippe has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday.





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Earlier today, Belgium's Royal Couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here.Belgium's King also met President Ram Nath Kovind in the presence of Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.Addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Belgium's King said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here.""Been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time we are here for a state visit and we hope to improve very good contacts that already exist because I think in today's globalise world there's a lot we can do together," he added.King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday.This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country, following his ascension to the throne in 2013."The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence," a press release by Ministry of External Affairs stated.India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union.In 2016-17, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion .
SDN and NFV could be the next game changer in India telecom sector: SDN and NFV India Congress 2017

New Delhi , Nov 7 : At a time when Indian telecommunications sector is witnessing unprecedented growth and consolidation towards network virtualization and automation, evolving technologies like Software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) are gaining importance immensely.





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Telecom industry professionals from across the country are in favour of adopting these two technologies for better network virtualization and automation. Even though SDN and NFV are closely related, yet differs from each another.In the present day context, the occurrence of these two technologies are primarily driven by the requirements for robust data management systems and access to bandwidth by servers located at different sites and connected over long distances through public and private clouds.Additionally, though SDN and NFV are highly promoted as next-generation technology solutions, there are still many challenges in successfully deploying them. With the support of organizations like Huawei, Ericsson, Juniper Networks, IBM, Nokia, ADVA Optical Networking, Lavelle Networks, UT Starcom, and COAI, more than 200 senior telecom professionals gathered at 'SDN and NFV India Congress 2017' in Mumbai to discuss about the prospects and challenges of these technologies from Indian telecommunications industry perspective.Held for the first time in India, 'SDN and NFV India Congress 2017' created the principal market focus for network innovation, and which led to largest meeting place for carrier Network Transformation industry leaders in the country.Key relevant industry topics like SDN and NFV in India - understanding the opportunity, defining the business case for network virtualization, and the evolving role of SDN and NFV on 5G Networks were discussed and deliberated in the congress."SDN and NFV are the key drivers for the next phase of network evolution towards a 5G era where connectivity will beyond the immediate boundaries of SP's and hence they need to be ready to transform accordingly in a timely manner. SDN and NFV will bring efficiency agility and new revenue streams to the world of telecom," said IP Solutions Sales Director Huawei, Jaswant Boyat.While Srishty Raj Koul, Cloud Core Network Solution Director stressed on the need for NFV based on VM's and containers seamlessly transforming SP core networks towards the 5G Service oriented core.Network X-formation based on DC-Centric approach to support futuristic services for 5G, which demand ultra-high throughput, Low latency and massive IOT connection.Huawei also added that Huawei is already working across the globe with large operators in matured markets like China, Europe and South America in the area of SDN and NFV. Huawei is also already talking to leading operators in India for SDN and NFV based networks."SDN and NFV is a punctuated jump and forums like this are critical for the whole industry to learn, to execute and then finally achieve the excellence which SDN and NFV promises. SDN and NFV is the bridge which is going to take us into the new telecom era and provide a wholenew dimension on how customer uses data. Real time is the biggest building block which SDN and NFV is going to co-create with all the telcos and deliver a new consumer experience," said CTO - Service Provider Systems Engineering, India-SAARC, Juniper Networks, Pankaj Kitchlu.Speaking on the occasion Ludvig Landgren, VP and Head Network Applications and Cloud Infrastructure, Ericsson said, "India has very large 2G and 3G networks that we need to take care of at the same time alongside 4G and 5G networks which NFV represent. The advantage here is that the same software and same infrastruce is used for 4G and 5G networks is actually the same one we actually used for 2G and 3G networks. What we provide to Indian market is really a lot of experience that we have had throughout the world. We have gone very early into SDN and NFV."Vishal Awal, Vice President and Lead Partner, IBM Global Business Services; Comms Leader India/South Asia said, "SDN and NFV is going to really impact the market both from operator's perspective and consumers' perspective. The need of the hour is automation driven by cognitive or artificial intelligence. We gave deep telco industry experience, and have already made strategic investments in cognitive and cloud domain. We have the expertise and track record in successfully executing some complex migrations to the cloud."Speaking on the occasion Anjani Kumar Singh, CEO, Nexgen Conferences said, "The first edition SDN and NFV India Congress 2017 brought together thought leaders, policy makers and key industry professionals at one platform which provided a solid platform to discuss and deliberate on SDN and NFV at length. We are overwhelmed to witness the participation from all the stakeholders of the telecom industry." (ANI-NewsVoir)
First ever Women 1st! Lakeside Bank Education Awards a huge success

CHICAGO: In support of Women and Education, Lakeside Bank held a student chef competition called the Women 1st! Lakeside Bank Education Awards on Wednesday Evening, October 25th at Kendall College.





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This was Lakeside's first year teaming up with Kendall College's Culinary Arts School to hold the competition and awards ceremony.During this event, seven female Kendall Culinary students competed to win $10,000 in scholarships. The students were challenged to create a dish inspired by a woman in their lives while using fresh and local ingredients. James Beard Award Winning Chefs, Carrie Nahabedian and Sarah Stegner, judged the dishes and chose the Grand Prize and Best Presentation winners. All guests tasted each dish and voted for a "People's Choice" winner."Education is the key to everything. Lakeside Bank is proud to be of help to deserving students," said David Pinkerton, Lakeside Bank President & Vice Chairman.
Pareteum to Power Latin American Expansion of One of World's Largest CPaaS Companies

NEW YORK: Pareteum Corporation (NYSE American: TEUM), (Pareteum or the Company), the rapidly growing mobile Cloud Communications Platform company, today announced that it has been awarded a cloud services contract with one of the world's largest Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) companies.





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Pareteum's newest customer offers cloud communications, global messaging, application programming interfaces (APIs) and Internet of Things (IoT) services that enable businesses to communicate with their customers, workforce and machines. Pareteum's Global Mobility Cloud Platform enables this new customer to seamlessly provide mobile connectivity to its messaging customers in Latin America, its newest geographic market. The 3-year contract is scheduled to add $3,000,000 in revenues to Pareteum's revenue backlog."Our customer is delivering pioneering technology and business innovation to its enterprise customers and Pareteum's Global Mobility Cloud Platform helps them extend their offerings, wherever they originate on any network, anywhere," stated Vic Bozzo Pareteum's CEO. "We are delighted to welcome this new customer to our Global Mobility Cloud and expect this contract to grow in size as APIs are increasingly used for everything in corporate life.""Pareteum is signing new customers and contracts at an unprecedented pace because of the clear value we deliver to global communications companies that are seeking further expansion and growth, in the most efficient way possible on a unified platform. Leveraging our cloud platform, we save our customers time and money while expanding their revenue opportunities. We expect to see increasing demand in this space," commented Hal Turner, Pareteum's Executive Chairman."The CPaaS market for worldwide voice and text messaging alone is forecast to reach $8.2 billion in 2021. On a broader view, the ability to monetize the use of IoT through applications, which was estimated at $50 billion in 2016 and expected to grow to $101 billion by 2020, means that billions of applications are communicating with each other every day bringing an exponential growth in the amount of data and communication that will require connectivity," Mr. Turner concluded.
New federal report highlights demand in the skilled trades

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz: A surge of skilled automotive and diesel technicians is needed nationwide over the next decade, according to new employment projections released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).





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With its new 2016-2026 report, the BLS has more than tripled its 2014 estimate for the number of "new entrant" transportation technicians necessary to meet industry demand. The BLS now estimates more than 120,000 new technicians - on average - are needed each year in the coming decade to work as automotive and diesel technicians and in collision repair1. By 2026, that equates to approximately 1.2 million new technicians nationwide."The transportation industry leaders who employ our graduates consistently say they need more skilled, trained technicians - and now the demand we're seeing on the ground is backed up by these new federal employment projections," said Kim McWaters, president and CEO of Universal Technical Institute (UTI). "UTI is well-positioned to help meet this industry demand as the nation's leading provider of training for students seeking careers as transportation technicians. Better still, our graduates are poised to benefit from the strong employment market for their skills and training.""One of the biggest challenges we face is in recruiting enough skilled technicians to meet the needs of our customers," said Paul Neumann, Vice President of Human Resources for Penske Automotive Group. "This federal report should be a clarion call to students, parents and policymakers about the growing workforce opportunities across the skilled trades, especially in the high-tech service shops of the automotive and diesel industry."According to the latest BLS data, between now and 2026, the transportation industry will require, on average, approximately 76,000 new automotive technicians; 28,000 diesel technicians; and 17,000 collision repair technicians each year to fill new positions in the industry or to replace technicians who leave the occupation due to retirement or other reasons.TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit corporation focused on helping solve the technician shortage, has identified a handful of primary factors driving increased demand for new transportation technicians, including:aA sustained cycle of economic growth, resulting in more demand for automotive and transportation services;a"Catch-up" demand due to the number of technicians who left the industry during the Great Recession;aWorkforce attrition as Baby Boomers reach retirement age; andaThe increasingly complex nature of modern vehicles, which makes advanced training a must for new technicians.According to TechForce Foundation, meeting the workforce needs of the transportation industry requires a coordinated and concerted effort within the transportation industry to educate Americans about the quality jobs available to technicians. This includes: shifting outdated, negative public perceptions toward work in the skilled trades, and building a stronger employment pipeline among young students who've demonstrated an interest and aptitude for automotive and technician-related work."It is going to take all of us working together to educate students and the general public about the great career opportunities in the skilled trades," said McWaters. "UTI students graduate with strong job prospects and excellent opportunities to build a rewarding career in the transportation industry. We're going to continue partnering with our automotive, diesel and other employer partners to help give this growing industry the trained, ready workforce it needs."
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Collection Enters the Delightful World of Body Oils

NEW YORK: Kiehl's Since 1851 welcomes two new additions to its world-renowned Creme de Corps family - Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-to-Foam Body Cleanser and Creme de Corps Dry Body Oil. Kiehl's has created the new luxurious formulas to impart softer and smoother feeling skin, and a wonderfully indulgent experience.





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Since the 1970s, Kiehl's classic Creme de Corps has been revered as one of the most hydrating, luxurious body moisturizers in the Kiehl's line. This iconic body moisturizer has inspired a collection of equally nourishing formulas including Creme de Corps Lightweight Body Lotion and Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish, and Kiehl's is pleased to introduce two new highly effective, yet equally indulgent formulas to the collection.Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-to-Foam Body Cleanser ($29) is a new, skin-smoothing, richly-textured, body cleansing oil that transforms into a light, fine foam to gently cleanse the skin. Enriched with Castor Oil, which is known for its use as a traditional medicine, this luxurious oil cleanser lathers up and rinses clean, leaving the skin feeling nourished, soft and velvety smooth. Lightly scented with decadent notes of Vanilla and Almond, the silky formula nourishes the body leaving skin supple in a delightful indulgence.The high botanical oil content and water-free format gives the formula a richness that is soothing to use, but rinses effectively for clean, healthy skin, without an oily after-feel. Additionally, Kiehl's chemists were able to achieve a final formulation that consists of 99.8% biodegradable ingredients.Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil ($34) is a lightweight body oil that nourishes the skin to help achieve a more refined texture. Conveniently packaged in a spray bottle, this dry body oil delivers a fine mist that quickly absorbs into skin, dry to the touch and leaving no residue on skin. This indulgent, mineral and silicon-free oil is also scented with decadent notes of Vanilla and Almond, and leaves skin superbly nourished, pampered, and velvety to the touch. A secret to the Creme de Corps formula is Squalane, an olive-derived oil, which helps moisturize and care for the skin and is highly compatible with our own skin sebum. Kiehl's chemists artfully combined Squalane with Grapeseed Oil for Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil.
Tampa Bay Cyclist Will Ride Coast to Coast to Find a Cure for Niemann-Pick Type C

LOS ANGELES and TAMPA BAY, Fla: Sean Griffith and Marian McGlocklin live on opposite sides of the country and have never met each other, but after hearing about how Marian is fighting for her life against the rare and fatal Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC), they have been united by a common cause: Hope.





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At 18-months old Marian was diagnosed with NPCa a rare, incurable progressive genetic disease. As it progresses, NPC causes dementia and the gradual but complete loss of the ability to move, eat, speak and breathe. Without intervention, half of all children diagnosed with NPC die before the age of 10.After hearing her story and with a cure in sight, Sean couldn't sit idly by while Marian fights for her life. A registered nurse, Sean Griffith heard about Marian and wanted to do more than just donate to her cause. He wanted to help raise awareness to drive the funds needed to find a cure, so that Marian can be part of the first generation of patients to be cured of NPC."When Sean told us what he was going to do, we were overwhelmed by this amazing act of kindness from a stranger," said Sara McGlocklin, Marian's mother. "Niemann-Pick Type C is a terrible disease, but so much beauty is coming out of this experience in the form of people like Sean who are helping to raise awareness and bring Hope for Marian and all kids with NPC. We are so close to finding a cure, and that's why raising funds is critical right now and why Sean is doing this ride. It's about saving lives and we are more grateful to Sean for his effort than we can ever express."Sean is a Registered Nurse, an avid cyclist, animal lover and nurturer who has dedicated his life to helping others, both personally and professionally. He currently serves pediatric and adult patients in the Tampa Bay area, where he specializes in infusion care for isolated, chronic and terminal illnesses.On November 1-4, Sean will cycle across the state of Florida (~160 miles) to raise funds and awareness for lifesaving NPC research. He will ride 50 miles a day, stopping at one hospital each day to talk about NPC, share Marian's story and challenge hospital staff to the NoPuckerChallenge, further spreading the word to raise funds for NPC.Community SupportThe Tampa and St. Petersburg communities are rallying behind Sean with donations from local businesses including Chick-Fil-A, the TradeWinds Resort and The Hotel Zamora. The donation of accommodations are enabling two NPC families to travel in for the finish line to cheer on the man helping to fight for them to live. Kamryn Brumbleloe, age six from Alabama, has been fighting NPC since 18 months old. Liam Ferguson, age three from Virginia, has had over 10 major surgeries in his life due to NPC. Kamryn, Liam and Marian are three children whose lives are on the line for a cure to be found in time.More about MarianTwo-year old Marian is currently one of the youngest patients on an experimental treatment, VTS-270, which slows the progression of NPC, giving her critical time to live. Currently, VTS-270 is in a phase 3 clinical trial and is administered to Marian via spinal tap under general anesthesia every two weeks, for the rest of her life. Marian has shown incredible improvements since she started treatments: she is walking, talking, and reaching new milestones. This is not a cure, but it is buying time as doctors and researchers come ever closer to breaking through to a cure. You can follow and find out more about Marian's story at Hopeformarian.org. To help spread awareness about Niemann-Pick Type C, we encourage everyone to take the #NoPuckerChallenge and share with friends.All money raised through Hopeformarian.org directly supports the research efforts of Support of Accelerated Research for NPC (SOAR) and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Fund at Notre Dame (APMRF).
Federation of Gay Games Announces Hong Kong As 2022 Gay Games XI Presumptive Host

PARIS: The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) General Assembly voting took place 30 October 2017 in Paris, France; Hong Kong is the 2022 Gay Games XI presumptive host city.





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Site inspections of the three finalist cities took place June & July 2017 by a team of inspectors from Australia, Germany, Canada, and the USA. The team spent 3.5 days in each city, toured all venues and attended local supporter civic events.The FGG expresses gratitude to the record number of 17 cities that expressed interest in 2022 Gay Games XI. Five of these cities made it to the semi-final round (Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, and San Francisco, CA). In the first phase, an additional nine cities had expressed interest: Cape Town, South Africa, Tel Aviv, Israel and USA cities Anaheim, CA, Atlanta, GA, Des Moines, IA, Los Angeles, CA, Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and San Antonio, TX.The impact that the Gay Games has in host cities is incredible in terms of culture, sport, economic impact, history and most importantly elevating all matters of LGBT+ equality.Paris 2018 - Gay Games 10 takes place 4-12 August 2018, features 36 sports, 14 cultural events, academic conference and up to 15,000 participants from 70 countries. Paris2018.com.Since 1982, the FGG mission promotes equality and is the largest sport and culture event in the world open to all. Its legacy changes social, and political attitudes towards LGBT+ people through the core principles of "Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best". The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982. Subsequent Gay Games are San Francisco (1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), Cleveland+Akron (2014), and Paris (2018).
Unifor and U.S. Commerce Secretary agree on key NAFTA strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C: Unifor National President Jerry Dias and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross have agreed that addressing the core issue of low Mexican wages is the key to breaking the impasse at NAFTA renegotiations.





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"There is a clear understanding that Canadian and American workers have both been injured by the siphoning off of manufacturing jobs to Mexico," said Dias. "We agreed that Canada and the U.S. must work together to pressure Mexico to drive up wages significantly or face joint retaliatory measures."Unifor has previously called on both the Mexican government and on international corporations to end the exploitation of Mexican workers and create a level playing field for workers in all three countries. Dias and Ross believe that a united front is needed to raise Mexican living standards and forge a path to a new trade agreement.Today in Washington D.C., the Commerce Secretary acknowledged the benefits of trade with Canada, telling Dias that the U.S. wants to negotiate a new NAFTA deal.During the meeting, the third between Dias and Ross, key trade issues were discussed including NAFTA, the auto sector and the unfair imposition of duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S."We had a frank discussion but were unable to find common ground on the softwood lumber issue," said Dias. "Given the wide difference in our positions I don't anticipate a resolution to the dispute anytime soon."Unifor continues to maintain that all new trade deal must address the needs of workers and their communities.
Place Design Group Hits New Design Level

CHENGDU, China: With over 16 years of experience, Place Design Group is hitting its design stride in Chengdu. The team's combined industry experience and world-class design skills have delivered highly acclaimed projects, renowned for service excellence, inspired leadership and innovation.





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To align with the company's evolution, Place Design Group today hosted an open day in celebration of its newly relocated office at the Yanlord Landmark Office Tower. Attended by Real Estate and Landscape Architecture professionals and industry peers, the event provided both reflection and future insight for the group's direction in China's design industry.Yolanda Yu, Associate, Office Manager, attributes the group's momentum to the team's dedication to provide only the highest quality design outcomes."Our talented design staff bring innovative ideas and high-level design expertise to all projects, working closely with our clients to deliver exceptional project outcomes." Ms Yu says.Working alongside Chengdu, Place Design Group across China, Australia, and South East Asia has been working with its international investment team to identify new areas of design innovation to develop our teams project approach including across the smart city space and policy arena and aged care and retirement living with a particular focus on dementia design innovation. Regional tourism, master planning, commercial retail strategy, business development projects and policy research have also been a focus.Sue Wang, co-lead of Place Design Group's international investment team says, "Learnings around how we create places for people from all our innovations are critical, be they smart city technology, tourism or human centric design, these will drive design outcomes for our clients and projects across China."Since inception in 2011, the Place Design Group team in Chengdu have built an extensive portfolio of projects throughout China. Project highlights reflective of the quality of design work include Bund Brilliance, a high-end project in Chengdu that has listed on the top 10 luxury residences in Asia, as well as the JW Marriott in Guiyang, another high-end hotel.Mark Burgess, China, Managing Director, Place Design Group, says "We focus on delivering superior quality design work in a highly efficient manner, and with a collective team focus on this, we are able to deliver exceptional projects to a high level."With teams across Australia, China, and South-East Asia, Place Design Group is an award-winning leader in planning and design with a reputation for creative and commercial solutions.
SolarHome Attracts First Debt Funding with the Support of IIX

SINGAPORE: SolarHome, the pioneer in Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Solar for off-grid households in Southeast Asia, secured its first debt funding. The new financing comes on the heels of the pre-Series A equity funding round that the company recently closed.





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Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a global leader in impact investing, played a pivotal role in the securing of this financing by providing the company with impact assessment and technical assistance services as well as connecting SolarHome with its debt-provider Kiva, an online lending platform connecting lenders to entrepreneurs. This support was provided as part of the award-winning IIX Acceleration for Capacity-building and Technical Services (IIX ACTS) program in partnership with USAID.The incremental funding will be used to support the rapid growth of SolarHome's installed system base in Myanmar. In the recent months, SolarHome ramped up its installations run-rate to over 150 systems per week. It now operates out of four hubs in Pathein, Myaung Mya, Hinthada, and Pyapon across Myanmar with a captive field force of over 30 sales representatives and installers. SolarHome has also become a member of the IFC Global Lighting Program as well as the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA). SolarHome was seeded and developed by FORUM, the largest fintech venture builder in Emerging Asia.CEO of SolarHome, Ted Martynov, commented: "The achievement of first debt funding is a major milestone for SolarHome. As a pioneer of affordable clean energy for off-grid communities in Southeast Asia, we are dealing with an addressable market of 27 million households and over $3 bln of annual spend on legacy energy sources. We are honored to see that our high social impact business model continues to attract such high caliber investors and partners as IFC, USAID, Kiva, IIX, GOGLA. We believe that this development serves as very important validation by the market of the strength of our international team and of our execution track record. We look forward to putting this funding to work for the benefit of the off-grid communities in which we operate."
Learn about important China topics on 'China Keywords'

BEIJING: China Keywords, an encyclopedia section of China.org.cn, has added information on terms relevant to China's recently concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.





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The section is focused on important topics of China's political, social and economic development. All the information is available in 15 languages, including Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish and Japanese. "China Keywords" is produced in a joint effort by the China International Publishing Group, the China Academy of Translation, the Translators Association of China and China.org.cn.The keywords cover several major categories, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the 13th Five-Year Plan, China-U.S. relations, the Chinese Dream, China's Political Development, and others.One of the critical topics discussed during the 19th National Congress of the CPC was the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era. "China Keywords" provides a detailed breakdown of the key concepts in this topic, covering the basic line of the CPC, the primary stage of socialism, social harmony, common prosperity, fairness and justice, etc.The English version of the site can be accessed from the China.org.cn front page by clicking on "China Keywords" under the section banners. Topics relevant to the 19th CPC National Congress are available by clicking on "More" on the "China Keywords" page.
Soul-jazz Diva Natalie Williams to Perform in Hong Kong for the First Time Ever -- Live at W Hong Kong's WOOBAR

HONG KONG: Orbital Events debuts their quarterly Seasonal Sounds series with MOBO nominee soul-jazz vocalist, Natalie Williams, in her first ever Hong Kong performance.





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In partnership with W Hong Kong, this unique night of firsts will be held at the glamorous and chic WOOBAR on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm1.A veteran of over a decade in the British jazz scene, Natalie Williams has performed as lead vocalist and named soloist on some of the UK's largest and most respected stages, having sold out her Ronnie Scott's residency, Soul Family Sundays every month for over 8 years.In addition to jazz, Williams has touched a variety of musical styles throughout her career. To the mainstream world of commercial music, she is known for appearing on tracks by drum and bass icons such as Goldie and Nu:Tone, while it was from her youthful output of soul and R&B based tracks that she received her coveted MOBO nomination2.Having performed at major jazz festivals around the world, Williams is now ready to share her music for the first time with jazz fans in the city. "I'm bringing my band to Hong Kong! I could not be more excited!" she says about the event which will include songs from her latest album, Kaleidoscope.The event will also feature supporting act NTBM (Not-To-Be-Missed), a jazz collective founded by Hong Kong native, Tjoe Man Cheung, who has played at top jazz venues in London like Ronnie Scott's, Southbank Centre, and Rich Mix. He's also served as leader for the house band at Hong Kong's very own Orange Peel Music Lounge3.Tickets for the event start at $280 and come with a complimentary welcome drink. Guests with Priority Seating will be gifted a Mulberry silk handkerchief courtesy of local handkerchief brand Fractal Style.
Nineteen-year-old Student of KES' Shroff College Enters Limca Book of Records

MUMBAI: Chinmay Prabhu, a student of Kandivali's KES' Shroff College, made his way into the Limca Book of Records for being the first Indian to solve mirror cube blindfolded in record time





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aChinmay comfortably beat the previous record of 4 minutes and 40 seconds by solving the mirror cube in 1 minute and 31 secondsaKandivali Education Society, which runs the Shroff College in Mumbai's Kandivali, has recently been in the news for a 100% passing rate for the Higher Secondary (Arts) exams. KES has traditionally been a stimulator and mentor of developing young talentProwess in solving a Rubik's cube is often a test enough for gauging one's intelligence. When it comes to solving a mirror cube (shape-wise modified), with the added challenge of doing it blindfolded, the average person would simply baulk at it. However, 19-year-old Chinmay Prabhu of Mumbai's KES Shroff College in Kandivali, not only rose up to the challenge but shined brighter than any Indian ever.(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/593698/Chinmay_Prabhu.jpg )(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/593699/Chinmay_Prabhu_KES__Shroff_College.jpg )Chinmay, a student of S.Y. B.Sc. (IT), entered the Limca Book of Records-2017 by becoming the first Indian to solve the mirror cube puzzle blindfolded in a record time. This was a no mean feat for Chinmay as solving a mirror cube is much more difficult than solving a Rubik's cube. While in a standard Rubik's cube, the task is to search for different colours and match them in their specific places, in a mirror cube the real challenge lies in its shape as when the cube is scrambled, it becomes unequal and has to be unscrambled back to fit the shapes in place. One can imagine how difficult the task becomes when done blindfolded, especially when the aim is to do it at a record-breaking time.Chinmay clocked a time of 1 minute 31 seconds, comfortably beating the previous Indian record of 4 minutes and 40 seconds. This is a creditable improvement indeed but not for Chinmay, who is aiming to do better. He says, "I am keen to practice more and I am confident that I can improve on my performance and lower the time taken."Kandivali Education Society, which runs the KES Shroff College, has for long built a reputation of mentoring and nurturing young talent and Chinmay's achievement is yet another example of its efforts. Recently, KES had the pride of achieving a 100% passing rate for the Higher Secondary (H.Sc.) exams for its Arts stream.Commenting on the results Principal, Dr. Lily Bhushan, said, "Our staff doesn't just teach, but educates and inculcates a way of thinking among students. Rather than focussing on academics, we focus on overall excellence. which gets accentuated in every walk of life. We are proud of Chinmay's achievement and hope that he will go on to do better and touch higher landmarks in future."Limca Book of Records, launched in 1990, has become a benchmark of excellence with an aggregation of India-based records across 20 broad categories such as sports, communication, paint, dance, music, adventure, education, business, cinema, etc. In the narrow segment of cube solving itself, there are 10 records of different kinds. The Limca Book of Records has had its own television shows. The Limca Book of Records quiz, based on its content and conducted in schools (Grades 8-12), has gone from strength to strength with over 4,000 schools participating in the same in 2012.
Newpark Resources Announces Agreement To Purchase Mats Service Business

THE WOODLANDS, Texas: Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE: NR) today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire substantially all of the assets, operations, and employees of the Well Service Group Inc. (WSG), a containment and well site service company based near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its affiliate Utility Access Solutions Inc. (UAS) for approximately USD 75 million.





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Since 2012, WSG has been a strategic logistics and installation service partner for Newpark's Mats & Integrated Service segment, providing a variety of complementary services to the composite matting systems, including access road construction, site planning and preparation, environmental protection, fluids and spill storage/containment, erosion control, and site restoration services. Building upon their position as a leading worksite service provider to operators drilling in the Marcellus and Utica basins, the combined WSG and UAS business has expanded geographically and entered new customer markets, including the utility transmission and distribution sector. The combined business now maintains a footprint that covers the Northeast, Midwest, Rockies and West Texas regions.Under the terms of the agreement, total consideration at closing is expected to be approximately $75 million, subject to typical adjustments for actual working capital conveyed, which will include approximately $43 million of cash consideration and $32 million of common equity of Newpark Resources, Inc. The cash consideration will be funded through borrowings on Newpark's revolving credit facility and the transaction is expected to close in November 2017. The Company expects the acquisition to be accretive to Newpark earnings in 2018.Matthew Lanigan, Newpark Vice President and President of Mats and Integrated Services, stated, "We are very pleased to announce this acquisition, which serves as another critical step in the execution of our long-term mats strategy. Serving as our key partner in the significant Northeast market over the last five years, Well Service Group has demonstrated their unique capabilities and focus on superior customer service and continual innovation, a culture that fully aligns with Newpark. Through this acquisition, we see a meaningful opportunity to drive additional operational efficiencies for our existing matting customers, deliver further advancements of our industry-leading composite matting systems, accelerate our penetration of targeted end-user market opportunities, and create additional value for our shareholders."Rich Brennan, President of the Well Service Group added, "We are delighted to be part of the Newpark family and excited at the opportunities this union brings for our customers and employees."Newpark management plans to provide additional details regarding this transaction during their third quarter 2017 earnings conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 9:00 a.m. Central Time.Newpark Resources, Inc. is a worldwide provider of value-added drilling fluids systems and composite matting systems used in oilfield and other commercial markets. For more information, visit our website at www.newpark.com.This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including Newpark's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and future financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Newpark, including the ability of Newpark to successfully integrate the operations of WSG and UAS and the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Newpark, particularly its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry, our customer concentration and reliance on the U.S. exploration and production market, risks related to our international operations, the cost and continued availability of borrowed funds including noncompliance with debt covenants, operating hazards present in the oil and natural gas industry, our ability to execute our business strategy and make successful business acquisitions and capital investments, the availability of raw materials and skilled personnel, our market competition, compliance with legal and regulatory matters, including environmental regulations, the availability of insurance and the risks and limitations of our insurance coverage, potential impairments of long-lived intangible assets, technological developments in our industry, risks related to severe weather, particularly in the U.S. Gulf Coast, cybersecurity breaches or business system disruptions and risks related to the fluctuations in the market value of our common stock.
Kortext Awarded Tender for the Jisc Learning Analytics Purchasing Service for UK Universities

BOURNEMOUTH, England: Kortext has been accepted onto the new Jisc Learning Analytics Purchasing Service, having been appointed as a supplier for Learning Analytics Solutions, Services and Infrastructure.





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This announcement means that Kortext are now the only company in the UK listed on both the SUPC eTextbook Provision (Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium) and the Jisc Learning Analytics Purchasing Service.The aim of the new Purchasing Service is to create an efficient and cost-effective mechanism to enable Universities and Colleges nationally to buy add-on services that complement the core Learning Analytics Service they receive from Jisc.Through our strong partnership with Microsoft, leveraging their Azure platform, Kortext have been able to provide a highly flexible solution to target improvements in student retention, progression and support. Learning analytics enable universities to produce a personalised approach to how they can aid student learning, develop independent study and encourage research skills, as set out by the TEF framework put forward by the Department of Education.Andy Alferovs, Managing Director of Kortext said, "Being officially recognised by Jisc for our innovative advancements in Learning Analytics on the back of our SUPC announcement earlier this year is a mark of the progress we are making in supplying innovative solutions to support teaching and learning across the world. We would not have achieved so much this year without our university partners that have provided superb feedback and added to our development goals."Phil Richards, Jisc's Chief Innovation Officer, commented, "Kortext impressed us with the capability of their platform and the flexibility of the analytics services and infrastructure they offered. With the analytics sector rapidly evolving we're excited to welcome such an innovative supplier into the Purchasing Service. We look forward to working more deeply with Kortext as they continue to grow, both in scale and capability, in the UK and internationally."Anthony Salcito, Vice President Microsoft Education added, "We have worked closely with Kortext for over 2 years now and they have proven to be a great partner in building world class solutions that leverage the best of Microsoft's technologies to support education. We are excited by the developments they are working on in machine learning by leveraging Microsoft's artificial intelligence capabilities and we look forward to ongoing collaboration."
World-Renowned Greenbuild International Conference to be Held in Europe in 2018

BERLIN, Germany: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building rating system, and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), announced that Greenbuild, the world renowned green building conference will be held in Europe in April 2018.





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The event will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin from 17-18 April and the call for proposals is now open at greenbuild.usgbc.org/europe.Founded in 2002, Greenbuild brings together industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building, making it the ideal space to learn about groundbreaking green building products, services and technologies. Greenbuild offers two groundbreaking days of U.S. and international speakers, invaluable networking opportunities, industry showcases and workshops on the LEED green building program."The green building movement is driven by passionate individuals who are dedicated to creating healthier, more sustainable communities," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC and GBCI. "There is no better place than Greenbuild to bring these passionate green building leaders together. Greenbuild Europe is an opportunity for us to come together and explore new opportunities to create a more sustainable built environment throughout the region."The 2017 Greenbuild conference will be held in Boston, Mass. with more than 20,000 attendees expected and 500 exhibiting companies. Greenbuild also expanded to India and China this year.With demand for green building expected to double every three years according to the World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report, Greenbuild's expansion increases access to green business tools and resources and encourages discussion around some of today's toughest environmental issues.GBCI, the certification body for LEED and other sustainability systems globally, will play a key role in the conference having recently announced its expansion in the region. GBCI opened its first European office in Munich in April to help facilitate its array of green business rating systems and professional credentials, which include LEED, the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL building standard, the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES), Parksmart, TRUE Zero Waste, the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) for energy efficiency retrofits, and the GRESB benchmark, which is used by institutional investors to improve the sustainability performance of the global property sector."For decades, the European building community has been among the greenest, continually raising the bar on sustainability," said Kay Killmann, managing director, GBCI Europe. "With Greenbuild coming to Europe, we will finally have a platform that brings regional players together."The world's green building market has become a trillion-dollar industry, a surge that has led to a corresponding increase in the scope and size of the green building materials market, which is expected to reach $234 billion by 2019. In Europe, currently, there are more than 5,200 LEED registered and certified projects, comprising more than 147 million gross square meters of space, and more than 2,500 LEED professionals.U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our planet through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its global network of member and partner organizations; LEED green building rating system and performance platform; robust educational offerings and professional credentials; the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo; and advocacy in support of public policies that encourage and enable green buildings and communities.GreenbuildGreenbuild is the world renowned conference dedicated to green building. Founded in 2002, Greenbuild brings together industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building, making it the ideal space to learn about groundbreaking green building products, services and technologies. Greenbuild offers two groundbreaking days of keynote & master speakers, invaluable networking opportunities, educational sessions, industry showcases, green building tours, and workshops on the LEED green building program. For more information: greenbuild.usgbc.org.GBCIGreen Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the premier organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally. With locations in the U.S., Europe and India, GBCI supports project teams and professionals in over 160 countries. GBCI.org.
Growing Swiftly: LifeCell's Cord Blood Donor Stem Cell Units Surges Past 10,000

CHENNAI: India accounts for more than 25 million babies that are born every year. Despite being a high birthing nation, the availability of umbilical cord stem cells for patients needing them for treatments is still very low.





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India was estimated to have more than one lakh cases of leukemia in 2010 with the number only increasing over the years. While umbilical cord blood has great potential to treat such conditions, there are certain critical factors that still limit the availability of donor stem cells units. Firstly, the number of cord blood units preserved with public banks in India is collectively around 5,000 only over many years. Secondly, the cost of procurement of these stem cells from a public bank, even if a match is found, could range between Rs. 15 lakhs to 20 lakhs per unit making it unaffordable for many. Hence over 70% of patients requiring matching donor stem cells are left in despair with a huge unmet demand. According to an ICMR sponsored study, only when the inventory of stem cells increases to >250,000 would every patient have a high probability of finding a matching donor stem cell unit. Hence there has always been a dire need for a large inventory of donor stem cells to meet the growing demand.Fueling this thought, LifeCell launched BabyCord Share - Community stem cell banking earlier this year which works on the concept of sharing of stem cells amongst a community of families banking their baby's stem cells with LifeCell. In August 2017, LifeCell announced that its community stem cell registry has recorded preservation of over 5,000 qualified units available for sharing with an unrelated patient within the community thus surpassing the collective number of available samples across all public banks in the country.In yet another landmark achievement, LifeCell today announced that they have doubled this inventory size within two months surpassing 10,000 units of donor stem cells now available within the community.Speaking on this achievement, Mr Mayur Abhaya, MD & CEO, LifeCell, said, "We are seeing an encouraging trend from parents who are joining our community stem cell banking. With this growing trend LifeCell is eyeing to transform the stem cell inventory and cost situation. I can assure that within the next few years our inventory will surpass global benchmarks and every family member under our Community Banking could find a well matched cord blood unit when required."
Renaissance Suzhou Hotel Hosts U.S. Beef Tasting Events

SHANGHAI: Last week, Renaissance Suzhou Hotel hosted a U.S. beef tasting event for local media and meat distributors at its R Bar and restaurant.





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U.S. Consul General Shanghai, Sean Stein, attended the event to support the promotion. Consul General Stein gave brief remarks about U.S. beef's return to the China market and answered questions from local Suzhou media. Consul General Stein also enjoyed a sample of the USDA Prime grade rib-eye steak prepared by Renaissance Suzhou Hotel's Executive Chef Galliano Tao.Guests of the tasting event watched a screening of the second episode of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office's new short video series "Cooking with U.S. Beef", which features top chefs from eastern China cooking with U.S. beef.A similar tasting event was held last month at InterContinental Shanghai Puxi Hotel. Another event will be held at Sheraton Hotel in Wuxi in November.U.S. beef was re-introduced to China on June 23rd of this year and can be found at many hotels, high-end restaurants, and supermarkets.
Researchers are on the verge of developing a new breath test that could detect malaria. The team from Washington University in St. Louis found that malaria in blood leaves a typical breathprint that is unique and can be detected using a breath analyzer test. They presented their findings at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting this week.

The team of researchers worked on a group of African children and found that this new breath test was significantly successful in detecting and diagnosing malaria. This is the first study of its kind that shows that when a person gets malaria, he or she can exhale certain chemical compounds that could be easily detected using an appropriate device. They noted that the breath of a person with malaria contains a compound that is similar to a vapour that plants produce that can attract mosquitoes. This is probably the reason why mosquitoes are attracted to persons with malaria and the bite infects the mosquitoes that can spread the disease to others when they bite them.

Audrey Odom John, principal author of the study and associate professor of Pediatrics and of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine explained that one of the compounds found was terpene. It is an attractant for the mosquitoes. She added that this could also be used to trap mosquitoes and prevent them from biting. This would lead to more effective mosquito control she explained.

Chad Schaber, who presented the results of the study explained that the biologists and bioengineers on the team identified the six unique compounds found in the breaths of the children with malaria. They collected breath samples from 35 children aged 3 to 15 years The children had come to a pediatric care center in Lilongwe, Malawi with fever and symptoms of malaria. Of these 35 children, 17 had tested positive for malaria and 18 were negative in other conventional tests. The breath samples were collected in a balloon like bag and the breath was then sealed in a tube with absorbent material to be analyzed in the labs. The blood samples of these kids were also analyzed simultaneously. The breath test could successfully predict which ones of these had malaria in 83 percent cases. They correctly predicted malaria or not in 29 of the 35 cases.

According to the researchers as well as health experts, malaria detection using simple tools such as this breath analyzer could be a boon to the regions affected with this disease. It would be able to detect the disease early and provide life saving treatment to the infected persons and also act as a surveillance tool to know the prevalence of the infection in large populations where healthcare reaches poorly. This could be the push required to eradicate the disease from regions believe experts. At present malaria requires blood tests for diagnosis. There are simple finger prick tests for diagnosis of malaria but these tests are limited in their success at diagnosing malaria correctly. There are rapid diagnostic tests or RDTs that could detect malaria easily. However a deadly and common form of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum or falciparum malaria is not easily detected by these RDTs. This is because falciparum malaria patients do not produce a specific protein needed to detect the infection.

The success rates of RDTs and also checking slides of blood smears under the microscope manually have a 90 percent accuracy in detecting malaria compared to the 83 percent predicted by breath tests agree researchers. The blood sample tests thus remain the mainstay of diagnosing malaria. But simple non-invasive and easy to administer tests such as these breath analyzer tests could be helpful in rural areas where resources are scarce. With time the success rates for this new test would also improve they add.

According to Schaber a new technology called the eNose is a compact electronic nose that is shaped like a credit card. It can detect specific smells accurately. It is being used to detect bombs etc. This same technology could be developed in detection of malaria using the breath tests. He added that eNose is already being developed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis  another infectious disease affecting thousands of people worldwide.
Research in Bangladesh has found that a quarter of children need more than single doses of the measles vaccine to be protected against the disease. This research supports the country's recent move to a double-dose approach.

Measles affects 20 million people and kills about 242,000 people worldwide each year. It is the fifth largest cause of death globally among children below five years of age and, in the absence of proper immunization, it spreads quickly in a population. In 2005, the number of measles cases in Bangladesh was about 25,935. This decreased to approximately 2,660 cases in 2008 after the Measles Catch-up Campaign. But research in Bangladesh has shown that immunization programmes based on single doses of the vaccine are not sufficient.

Research carried out by Dr Sharmin Sultana, Medical Officer at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh, and her colleagues found that about one quarter of the children who had just a single dose of the measles vaccine had not been totally immunized from the disease.

The research published in Bangladesh Journal of Medical Biology found that, although children were vaccinated against measles, many of them had not developed antibody response.

"In my research, I found that children had not been fully immunized by the single dose of the measles vaccine and that they required a second dose of vaccination to be better immunized," says Dr Sultana.

Fortunately, Bangladesh already made second dose of measles vaccination compulsory in 2012, according to Dr Sultana, who added that, with the introduction of the second dose of the measles vaccine, Bangladesh stands a better chance of achieving the target of eliminating measles by the year 2020. Dr Sultana plans to conduct follow-up research soon to assess the efficacy of the vaccination after the administration of a second dose of the measles vaccine.

The research was conducted among 77 children of different age groups who had been administered with a single dose of the measles vaccine.
A combination of race and socioeconomic factors play a role in hip replacement outcomes, according to a study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Researchers found that black patients who lived in areas of economic deprivation did worse in terms of physical function two years after surgery compared to white patients living in impoverished areas. In wealthier neighborhoods, there was no difference in hip replacement outcomes between blacks and whites.

The study was presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals annual meeting on November 5 in San Diego.

Using data from a large total hip replacement registry including more than 4,000 patients, researchers compared pain and function two years after surgery between blacks and whites. "To measure community deprivation, we used the census tract variable 'percent of the population with Medicaid insurance coverage,'" explained Susan Goodman, MD, a rheumatologist and director of the Integrative Rheumatology and Orthopedics Center of Excellence at HSS. "We found that black patients living in these areas did worse in terms of physical function than white patients in those neighborhoods."

Researchers evaluated pain and physical function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), a health status assessment tool. To assess physical function, it includes questions on walking, using stairs, rising from a chair, getting out of bed, putting on socks, shopping and other activities of daily living.

"Although we're unable to pinpoint a specific reason for the study findings, perhaps the message for doctors is to try to identify patients at risk of a less favorable outcome and provide them with extra support," Dr. Goodman said.

"Patients from impoverished areas also tend to have much worse pain and function at baseline, that is, when they first seek medical care," she added. "Community-based outreach and education may be helpful to ensure that they have access to appropriate care before their situation deteriorates further."
Cases of gonorrhea and syphilis are increasing in Australia, according to the most recent Annual Surveillance Report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Australia.

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The report, which has been released by the Kirkby Institute at UNSW Sydney, says that gonorrhea has increased by 63% over the past five years, particularly among heterosexual individuals living in major cities.

Rising rates in this group highlight the need for initiatives to raise awareness among clinicians and young people about the importance of testing, says Rebecca Guy, head of the Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Program at the Kirby Institute.

The report also says that among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the chlamydia rate was three time higher than among the non-indigenous population and the gonorrhea rate was seven times higher. Since 2011, syphilis rates have also risen among young individuals in these indigenous peoples.

James Ward from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute says comprehensive strategies are needed to reduce STIs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:

Initiatives underway to address the syphilis resurgence include enhanced testing and treatment, and culturally appropriate health promotion campaigns.

The report also showed that HIV rates have remained stable over the last five years. In 2016, there were 1,013 new cases diagnosed. Guy says this is due to an increased uptake of HIV testing in Australia, especially among gay and bisexual men, the demographic most affected by HIV in Australia. Treatment rates are also improving, with 86% of people diagnosed with HIV on treatment in 2016.

There is also some good news about hepatitis C. Estimates show that more than 30,000 people were cured of hepatitis C between March and December 2016 due to new direct acting antiviral therapy becoming available.

Jason Grebely, also from the Kirkby Institute, says these new therapies have been game-changers for hepatitis C in Australia: Our estimates indicate that the number of people with hepatitis C who have advanced liver disease has fallen for the first time in 10 years. This is excellent news, but to achieve hepatitis C elimination in Australia we must sustain our efforts to ensure all people living with hepatitis C are tested and have access to these cures.

Sources
Pregnant women who received vaccine information through an interactive website monitored by a clinical expert were more likely to vaccinate their children than those who did not use the web resource, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Pediatrics.

The research finding builds upon a previous Pediatrics study (2011) that found 10 to 15 percent of parents chose to delay or refuse one or more vaccines for their children and a Kaiser Permanente study in JAMA (2013) that found an increasing number of parents were choosing to delay or refuse one or more vaccines for their children.

This most recent Kaiser Permanente study examined the impact of a web-based intervention on the vaccination rates of 888 Colorado infants.

"The results of this study suggest websites with interactive components have the potential to complement face-to-face clinical interactions," said Jason Glanz, PhD, lead study author and senior investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research. "It's well known that patients use the internet to obtain health care information. Clinicians can combat misinformation by giving patients access to websites that are clinically accurate, engaging and offer ways to communicate with experts and other patients about their concerns."

From 2013to16, Glanz and his colleagues studied 888 pregnant women in the study. Kaiser Permanente researchers created a website that presented easy-to-understand information on the risks and benefits of vaccination, recommended vaccination schedules, vaccine ingredients and vaccine laws. In addition to vaccine information, the interactive website had an expert-moderated blog, discussion forum, chat room and "Ask a Question" portal where parents could ask experts questions about vaccines.

Participants were randomly assigned to three study groups: website with vaccine information and interactive social media components (or VSM); website with vaccine information (or VI); or usual care only (UC). Infants of study participants were followed from birth to age 200 days to assess vaccination rates for early childhood vaccines. Infants of parents in the VSM arm were about twice as likely to be up-to-date on all recommended infant vaccines than infants in the UC arm. Up-to-date status was not statistically different between VI and UC arms, or between the VSM and VI arms.

According to Glanz, the study's results also have implications for when vaccine information is presented to parents. This type of information is typically offered after birth, during well-child checkups. Because parents often begin researching vaccinations during pregnancy, the study suggests the information seems to be effective when presented before a child is born.
A research team led by scientists at the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto has identified a new neuroprotective factor that has the potential to help people suffering from the common blinding disease glaucoma.

"This discovery provides hope that we can devise a new strategy for protecting the vision of glaucoma patients," said principal investigator Dr. Jeremy Sivak, who holds the Glaucoma Research Chair at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute at UHN and is Associate Professor at the University of Toronto School of Medicine.

The research team, which was led by Dr. Sivak and assisted by Dr. John Flanagan and Dr. Karsten Gronert of the University of California, Berkeley, published its findings today in a featured article in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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As part of the study, researchers studied the different functions of cells in the retina and optic nerve; the delicate cable connecting the eye to the brain. The team identified an unconventional signal  a unique lipid called LXB 4 that protects these neurons against the harmful effects of glaucoma in preclinical models.

"We found that this tiny lipid molecule is normally present in healthy eyes and acts as a neuroprotective signal," said Dr. Sivak. "Healthy eyes produce LXB 4 , but in diseased eyes its levels are reduced. We showed that by restoring LXB 4 we can preserve injured nerve cells from dysfunction and death."

Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve that is irreversible and can eventually lead to blindness. It affects more than 400,000 Canadians and 70 million people worldwide. There is no known cure, and current treatments are limited to reducing eye pressure (a risk factor often associated with the disease). A method to preserve the survival of nerve cells is a major research and pharmaceutical goal for all neurodegenerative conditions.

"A particularly exciting part of this discovery is that we don't think this effect is limited to glaucoma," said Dr. Sivak. "This neuroprotection extends to the central nervous system and could be applicable to a host of other neurodegenerative diseases."

Next steps for the research team include further investigation of the mechanisms that underpin this signal in the eye, and designing a practical method to activate it in the clinic. Researchers also plan to explore the potential application of this discovery to various other conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.
Many people around the world, especially in Asia, wear face masks to protect against air pollution. Do they work?

Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, Herman Hellerstein, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and chief of cardiovascular medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, has received a $2 million National Institutes of Health grant to help find out if face masks really protect against air pollution.

Rajagopalan will serve as the principal investigator (PI) for a team of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals colleagues, as well as researchers from Peking University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Michigan, in an international study - ASPIRE (Air Pollution: Strategies for Personalized Intervention to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure) - of the effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system.

In the study, the researchers will evaluate the ability of the devices to reduce exposure to an air pollutant known as fine particulate matter. This pollutant takes the form of minute particles in the air, making it look hazy and reducing visibility. Breathing it in increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, and other respiratory problems.

According to a new study published in the Lancet, approximately 4.2 million deaths in 2015 were attributed to air pollution, a twenty percent increase from 1990. Last year, researchers from the Health Effects Institute in Boston reported that on some days in Beijing or Delhi, the number of fine particles in the air can be ten times what is considered a safe level.

The global air pollution picture is a story of contrasts. While the air in many North American and European cities is far from pure, their problems are dwarfed by the statistics in Asia where levels of air pollution and the complications that arise from the constant exposure are having dire consequences.

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"Air pollution puts millions of people, throughout the world, even here in North America, at risk of serious health problems," said Rajagopalan. "While the eventual solution to air pollution must be rigorous regulation, sufficient improvements in air quality are not going to happen anytime soon. Our new study will examine whether face masks known as N95 respirators offer effective protection in the meantime."

The respirators, unlike looser-fitting general surgical masks, are designed to achieve a very close facial fit. The "N95" designation means that the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small test particles.

Because air pollution levels in the United States and Europe are now generally too low to adequately evaluate the benefits of interventions such as N95 respirators, especially in smaller populations, the researchers will study heart attack patients in China, where pollution levels are high and expected to remain so for decades. The study will serve as the prelude to a larger definitive trial study in China, India, and Brazil that will examine the effect of this intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

"The results from our study could be broadly applicable to millions of people who are routinely exposed to high levels of air pollution, as well as to visitors to high-pollution locales," said Rajagopalan.

Source: http://casemed.case.edu/cwrumed360/news-releases/release.cfm?news_id=854
A free telephone support and education program for people with lupus is a valuable resource to help them cope with the disease, according to a study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.

"At a time when technology is moving so quickly and we're moving to different modes of communication, our study shows that telephone communication is still a viable way to connect with people all over the world to support them and educate them about chronic illnesses such as lupus," said Jillian Rose, LCSW, MPH, assistant director, Community Engagement, Diversity and Research, Social Work Department at HSS. "The service, offered by Hospital for Special Surgery, provides callers with solid support by trained peer counselors."

The study on the lupus support line was presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals annual meeting on November 6 in San Diego.

LupusLine, established in 1988, is free and available to the public. People find out about the service through referrals from their physicians, lupus organizations, the Internet or word-of-mouth, and calls come in from around the world. In addition to the United States, volunteers have counseled callers from Canada, Europe, South America, Jamaica, China and India. The number of calls has more than doubled since 2005, averaging 80 to 100 per month.

A clinical social worker conducts an initial screening and assessment, matching the caller with a trained volunteer and scheduling a time for the private counseling session. Many callers receive ongoing support on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. Counseling is available in English and Spanish. Services in Chinese are provided through another HSS program, LANtern.

"Volunteers, most of whom have lupus themselves, receive 20 hours of training to acquire skills related to counseling, support and active listening. Bimonthly seminars provide them with additional education," explained Priscilla Toral, LCSW, program manager, LupusLine and Charla de Lupus/Lupus Chat. "Four of the counselors have been with the support line since it was established in 1988."

"Lupus can be very isolating," said Rose. "Friends and families may not understand the illness, so it's very valuable for the caller to have a peer counselor, someone with similar experiences, who will listen and help to guide them."

To assess the support line, a 60-item survey was administered to callers matched with a peer-counselor between 2015 and 2017. It collected information on demographics, satisfaction with the screening process and peer counselors, lupus management, coping and the overall impact of the service.

The questionnaire was completed by 23 callers  72% of those contacted  ranging in age from 30-80, with 67% ages 40-59. When asked about their initial reasons for calling, 68% indicated they were seeking emotional support, as well as lupus education and resources.

The vast majority of respondents (95%) indicated that their expectations were met. Seventy-two percent noted that having someone knowledgeable about lupus was the most valuable aspect of the call. The majority of participants said the LupusLine helped them feel less isolated, with one caller commenting, "I feel less alone."

Additional survey results:

95% of respondents indicated they were satisfied with their peer counselor match.

94% said they would recommend the service to others.

90% of participants were satisfied with the initial screening call with the social worker.

85% indicated that they have coped better with lupus since being counseled.

81% agreed they had a better understanding of lupus, and 88% respectively attributed this to utilization of the program.

66% reported feeling less depressed since starting the service, with a majority of these callers (78%) crediting LupusLine for this change.

52% had more than 12 calls with their peer counselor.

The LupusLine number is 866-375-1427.
Health care providers should look beyond body mass index when providing care to patients with obesity, according to an article in AACN Advanced Critical Care.

Since the American Medical Association voted to acknowledge obesity as a chronic disease in 2013, the health care profession has sought to change its approach to caring for patients with obesity, also known as adiposity.

The disease has reached epidemic levels, with every state in the United States having more than one in five residents considered obese. The fast-growing number of people with obesity means that hospitals are caring for more bariatric patients who are critically ill, recovering from surgery or have complex medical needs.

The journal article, "Weight Bias and Psychosocial Implications for Acute Care of Patients With Obesity," describes psychosocial and environmental factors that contribute to obesity and the physiological needs related to their care. It also examines evidence of weight bias and stigmatization in the health care setting for this patient population.

Clinical nurse specialist Rachel Smigelski-Theiss, RN, MSN, ACCNS-AG, with nurse managers Malisa Gampong, RN, MS, RN-BC, and Jill Kurasaki, RN, MS, ACNS-BC, of The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, co-wrote the article.

"Clinicians and hospital administrators must understand the complex needs of bariatric patients and the implications for protocols, equipment and staffing," Smigelski-Theiss said. "If ignored, our biases and misconceptions may impede how patients with obesity are diagnosed and cared for, leading to poor patient outcomes."

According to the authors, weight bias and stigmatization by healthcare providers and bedside clinicians negatively affect patients with obesity, hindering those patients from receiving appropriate care. To provide optimal care of patients with obesity (adiposity), health care providers must understand the physiological needs and requirements of this population while recognizing and addressing their own biases.

The article includes online resources to help clinicians improve how they help patients with obesity manage their weight, including strategies to reduce weight bias among health care practitioners.

It also provides specific recommendations regarding the care of acutely ill patients with obesity, immobility, pressure ulcers, positioning and pharmacologic needs.

Hospitals should have appropriate equipment for bariatric patients, including larger blood pressure cuffs, scales that can accommodate up to 700 pounds and appropriately sized gowns. Bariatric beds with power-drive assistance, wider commodes and appropriately sized wheelchairs, walkers and stretchers allow patients with obesity to feel more at ease and comfortable while hospitalized. Defibrillators with voltage up to 360 watts should also be available for emergency situations, since bariatric patients have thicker chest walls.

As hospitals renovate or build new facilities, bariatric care rooms with mechanical lift systems, stronger grab bars in shower stalls and other design elements also must accommodate patients with obesity.

The article is part of a symposium, published in the fall 2017 issue of the peer-reviewed journal, that explores the complexity and multitude of clinical and psychosocial challenges and considerations for bariatric patients. Other articles discuss complex nursing care for critically ill patients having weight-loss surgical procedures and the role neuroendocrine hormones play in regulating obesity and energy balance.

Clinical nurse specialist and education consultant Angela Benefield, RN, MSN, ACNS-AG, CCRN, CSC-CMC, served as editor for the symposium.

"Labeling obesity as a treatable disease is a paradigm shift for many health care providers and patients," she said. "Recognizing its complexity is crucial to improving the health care systems and processes, so we can provide optimal care to bariatric patients." 
Study finds Low Vitamin D may up risk of renal disease in lupus patients

New York : Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with higher incidence of end-stage renal disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus, researchers claimed to have found.

"We have shown that supplementing Vitamin D reduces urine protein, which is the best predictor of future renal failure," said the study's lead author Michelle A. Petri, Director at Hopkins Lupus Center.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease wherein an unknown trigger causes the body's immune system to attack its own healthy tissues. The most common type of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

A group of researchers conducted a study, presented at the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2017 in San Diego, to determine how low Vitamin D levels could predict later organ damage.

The researchers analysed data of 1,392 SLE patients, including their first medical office visit wherein vitamin D levels were measured and organ/tissue damage during follow-up clinic visits.

The patients studied included 92 per cent females, with a mean age of 47.3 years, and included 50 per cent Caucasian and 41 per cent African-American.

Patients were categorised based on 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels that were either below 20 nanograms (ng) per millilitre (ml), or at or above 20 ng/ml on their first office visit.

At their first office visit where Vitamin D levels were measured, 27.3 percent of the patients had levels below 20 ng/ml.

The researchers then calculated the risk of lifetime organ damage for patients with low vitamin D levels.According to the study's results, the relative risk of renal damage was the highest for SLE patients whose Vitamin D levels were insufficient.

"Supplementary Vitamin D helps to prevent one of the most dreaded complications of SLE and likely has a role in preventing blood clots and cardiovascular disease as well," Petri noted.
Suicide car bomb attack kills 75 in Syria

Damascus : At least 75 people were killed and 140 others wounded in a suicide car bomb attack carried out by the Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Sunday said children were among those killed in the blast that took place Saturday evening on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Deir al-Zour, Xinhua news agency reported.

The explosion rocked the Tujar or Merchants Street between the Conoco gas field and the Jafra energy plants in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.

The UK-based watchdog group said many people have fled toward the desert region following the explosions carried out by the IS group.

The IS group is losing ground to the Syrian Army, which captured recently the entire capital city of Deir al-Zour.
The government in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu has unveiled a plan to sequence the genomes of 1 million people for a large DNA sequencing platform and biomedical big data analysis center in Nanjing as well as a genetic information database for Chinese.

1 million genome sequences can crack problems like the genetic basis of intelligence

One million people is significant because physicist and genome information expert Steve Hsus estimates that a sample size of roughly 1 million people may be required to reliably identify the genetic signals of intelligence.

* Intelligence is (at least crudely) measurable

* Intelligence is highly heritable (much of the variance is determined by DNA)

* Intelligence is highly polygenic (controlled by many genetic variants, each of small effect)

* Intelligence is going to be deciphered at the molecular level, in the near future, by genomic studies with very large sample size

Cracking other complex features with a genetic basis will also need large (1 million) sample sizes and they need to be combined with detailed medical records and testing of gut bacteria and other factors to tease out more and more of the causal relationships.

Once intelligence is cracked then the information will be used by tiger parents to use IVF and selection of superior embryos.

The 1 million person genome sequencing project was announced at the China-US Precision Medicine Initiatives Nanjing Summit yesterday and Four experts from China and abroad will act as senior consultants. One consultant is George Church, a professor of genetics from Harvard University, who is the Godfather of genetics.

The National Health Medicine Big Data (Nanjing) Center began building its facilities last October. Almost a billion dollars (USD902.28 million, CNY6 billion) has gone into the project. It can store 52 petabytes can cover the health records of 80 million individuals and video materials from 174 of the provinces hospitals. They have the capacity to sequence about 400,000 to 500,000 people each year. It will take about two years to sequence one million people.

SOURCES  Infoproc, yicaiglobal.com
North American oil shale output will soar to 7.5 million barrels a day in 2021 according to OPECs World Oil Outlook report on Tuesday. This forecast is 56 percent higher than OPEC forecast a year ago.

Bloomberg sees a lag between OPEC oil cuts and US Shale production increases which allows oil prices to increase if there is strong oil demand. Currently there is strong oil demand. Oil Prices could increase for 2-3 years if OPEC maintains supply discipline.

Shale oil production

North American shale production for 2017 is now seen at 5.1 million barrels a day, up by almost a quarter from last years World Oil Outlook report.

In Jan. 1,OPEC targeted output cuts of about 1.8 million barrels a day in a bid to reduce global stockpiles. Brent crude has rebounded more than 10 percent this year, trading at more than $62 a barrel in London.

OPEC expects shale oil production to peak after 2025 and decline from about 2030. OPEC will then be required to increase its own output from about 33 million barrels a day in 2025 to 41.4 million in 2040, according to the report.

India and China are the two largest contributors to future energy demand

Within the grouping of Developing countries, India and China are the two nations with the largest additional energy demand over the forecast period, both in the range of 2223 mboe/d. It should be noted, however, that for the first time recent projections see India as the single largest contributor to future energy demand, followed by China and other countries. However, this change in the leading position is primarily the result of the downward revisions made for China, compared to the Reference Case, rather than a more positive outlook for India.

Morgan Stanley has raised its forecast for oil prices through 2020, saying the world is hungry for more U.S. shale crude at a time when its uncertain American drillers can deliver it.

The bank now sees international benchmark Brent crude fetching $62 a barrel in the final quarter of the year, up from an earlier estimate of $55. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude is poised to average $56 for the quarter, up from Morgan Stanleys prior $48 call.

By the second quarter of 2018, Morgan Stanley forecasts Brent will average $63 and WTI will trade at $58 a barrel.

To balance the market, U.S. shale drillers will have to grow production from about 5.9 million barrels a day this year to 7 million barrels a day in 2018, more than previously thought, Morgan Stanley analysts conclude. That would require drillers to start standing up 8 to 10 new rigs each month, but the analysts are uncertain that will happen.
One of the many Saudi princes died in a helicopter crash near Yemen and another died in a firefight between his security forces and government security that came to arrest him.

This will be very interesting and bloody if many of the thousand Saudi Princes choose not to bend the knee. They have resources and would have to try to counter attack the Saudi King.

Saudi Arabias anti-corruption purge has widened after one of the countrys top businessmen was reportedly detained, accounts were frozen and a no-fly list was drawn up.

On Monday, Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar, a board member at Saudi Arabias biggest travel company, was reportedly added to the list detainees, which already included some of the countrys most influential officials and entrepreneurs.

It started off with the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a clearly orchestrated move produced and executed by his paymasters in Riyadh.

Hariri announced on a Saudi-owned channel from the Saudi capital that he was resigning his post in protest at foreign intervention in Lebanons domestic affairs. The irony was lost on him.

The ostensible reason he gave, as he invoked his late fathers name, was that he too is threatened with assassination.

As the day turned into evening, there were reports of explosions being heard close to the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It transpired that Houthi rebels (linked to Iran and allied with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is partially linked to the United Arab Emirates) had fired at least one ballistic missile from Yemen towards Riyadh.

A royal decree ordering the arrest of several princes, billionaires, and notable figures, as well as the sacking of senior government officials. Some were the sons of the late King Abdullah. One was the head of the Saudi National Guard.

The 32-year-old Bin Salman shows that he is willing to throw the entire region into jeopardy to wear the royal gown. He has destroyed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Yemen can no longer be referred to as a functioning state; Egypt is a ticking time bomb; and now Lebanon may erupt.

A senior Saudi prince and seven other officials have been killed in a helicopter crash near the countrys border with Yemen, state media report.

Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, the deputy governor of Asir province, was returning from an inspection tour when his aircraft came down near Abha late on Sunday, the interior ministry said.

Prince Mansour was the son of Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, a former intelligence chief who was crown prince between January and April 2015, when he was pushed aside by Prince Mohammeds father, King Salman, now 81.

Mansour served as a consultant to his fathers royal court and in April 2017 was among eight young royals appointed deputy governors.

Bin Salmon Sends his regards

Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud went a step further by declaring a return to moderate Islam and a tolerant society. The 32-year-old monarchs efforts to rebrand the ultraconservative kingdom and fend off accusations of human rights abuses, however, has been shadowed by an increasingly public campaign to consolidate power that has already had far-reaching, bloody consequences.

Mohammed bin Salman was unexpectedly promoted to crown prince in June after his father, reigning King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, demoted his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef Al Saud, from his standing as next-in-line for the throne. Since last year, Mohammed bin Salman has championed his Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the kingdoms oil-addicted economy and to fight corruption.

One of the targets of Sundays early-hours raids in Saudi Arabia was billionaire Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Previously the ruler of Saudi Arabia has usually been someone very old. And there was a system for power sharing. A young King could rule for 50 years instead of ten and lock in the power of his heirs.

Getting to moderate Islam and a tolerant society that could involve a lot of killing and arrests. But you have to break some eggs to make an omelet.
The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) awarded Lockheed Martin $26.3 million for the design, development and production of a high power fiber laser. AFRL plans to test the laser on a tactical fighter jet by 2021. The contract is part of AFRLs Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program, and is a major step forward in the maturation of protective airborne laser systems.

Initially the lasers will be defensive and will power levels that target the sensors of enemy missiles or drones.

The main challenge is to make the lasers small and light so they do not reduce the agility of a jet.

The SHiELD program includes three subsystems:

* SHiELD Turret Research in Aero Effects (STRAFE), the beam control system, which will direct the laser onto the target

* Laser Pod Research & Development (LPRD), the pod mounted on the tactical fighter jet, which will power and cool the laser

* Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments (LANCE), the high energy laser itself, which can be trained on adversary targets to disable them

LANCE is designed to operate in a compact environment, and as such, the Lockheed Martin team focused on developing a compact, high efficiency laser within challenging size, weight and power constraints.
THIS NOTICE RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED BY LAW, AND PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND TO OBSERVE, ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.

7 November 2017

NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL) (Incorporated with limited liability in the Kingdom of Sweden) announces invitations to holders of its outstanding notes listed in the table below (each a "Series" and, together, the "Notes") to consent to (i) certain modifications of the terms and conditions (the "Conditions") of the relevant Series and related documents in connection with the proposed re-domiciliation of the Issuer from Sweden to Finland, and (ii) certain other modifications of the Conditions, by approving a resolution of the holders of such Series (a "Resolution"), all as further described in the consent solicitation memorandum dated 7 November 2017 prepared by the Issuer (the "Consent Solicitation Memorandum" and each such invitation in respect of a Series, a "Consent Solicitation"). Capitalised terms used in this notice and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum.

ISIN CUSIP Description Outstanding principal amount [1] Principal amount held by the Issuer (or its affiliates)[2] Consent Fee (as a percentage of the principal amount) EMTN Notes XS0497179035 N/A EUR 1,000,000,000 4.50 per cent. Dated Subordinated Notes due 26 March 2020 1,000,000,000 2,900,000 0.20% XS0544654162 N/A EUR 750,000,000 4.00 per cent. Dated Subordinated Notes due 29 March 2021 750,000,000 175,000 0.20% XS1292434146 N/A SEK 1,700,000,000 Dated Subordinated Floating Rate Notes due September 2025 (current coupon: STIBOR plus 1.50 per cent.) SEK1,700,000,000 SEK5,000,000 0.20% XS1292433767 N/A SEK 2,300,000,000 Dated Subordinated Fixed Rate Reset Notes due September 2025 (current coupon: 1.935 per cent.) SEK2,300,000,000 SEK0 0.20% XS1299769858 N/A JPY 15,000,000,000 1.160 per cent. Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes due 6 October 2025 JPY15,000,000,000 JPY0 0.20% XS1317439559 N/A EUR 750,000,000 Dated Subordinated Fixed Rate Reset Notes due November 2025 (current coupon: 1.875 per cent.) 750,000,000 968,000 0.20% XS1486520403 N/A EUR 1,000,000,000 Dated Subordinated Fixed Rate Reset Notes due September 2026 (current coupon: 1.000 per cent.) 1,000,000,000 1,802,000 0.20% GMTN Notes Regulation S: US65557DAM39Rule 144A: US65557CAM55 Regulation S:65557DAM3Rule 144A:65557CAM5 U.S.$1,000,000,000 5.50% Perpetual Non-Call September 2019 Additional Tier 1 Notes U.S.$1,000,000,000 U.S.$2,931,000 0.20% Regulation S: US65557DAL55Rule 144A: US65557CAN39 Regulation S: 65557DAL5Rule 144A: 65557CAN3 U.S.$500,000,000 6.125% Perpetual Non-Call September 2024 Additional Tier 1 Notes U.S.$500,000,000 U.S.$0 0.20% XS1202090947 N/A U.S.$550,000,000 Perpetual Non-Call September 2021 Additional Tier 1 Notes (current coupon: 5.250%) U.S.$550,000,000 U.S.$4,310,000 0.20% XS1202091325 N/A SEK 2,250,000,000 Perpetual Non-Call March 2020 Additional Tier 1 Notes (current coupon: STIBOR plus 3.10 per cent.) SEK 2,250,000,000 SEK40,000,000 0.20% XS1202091671 N/A NOK 1,250,000,000 Perpetual Non-Call March 2020 Additional Tier 1 Notes (current coupon: NIBOR plus 3.10 per cent.) NOK 1,250,000,000 NOK0 0.20%

Background to the Proposed Amendments

On 6 September 2017, the Board of Directors of Nordea decided to initiate a re-domiciliation of the Issuer (the parent company of the Nordea Group) from Sweden to Finland. This decision was based on the Nordea Group's unique pan-Nordic and international structure, which means that the existing national regulatory frameworks do not fully accommodate the Nordea Group's operating model and recent strategic developments. Nordea expects that domiciling the parent company of the Nordea Group in a country that is participating in the EU's banking union will mean that Nordea will be subject to a similar regulatory framework as its European peers, with a greater consistency of the application of laws and regulations and, therefore, more of a level playing field. The re-domiciliation of the parent company of the Nordea Group to Finland is intended to be carried out as a cross-border reverse merger by way of absorption, through which Nordea Bank AB (publ) (for the purposes of the discussion under this section "Background to the Proposed Amendments", "Nordea Sweden") will be merged into a newly established Finnish subsidiary, Nordea Holding Abp ("Nordea Finland") (the "Merger"). Upon the completion of the proposed Merger, Nordea Finland will become the new parent company of the Nordea Group and the Nordea Group's registered office will be transferred to Helsinki, Finland.

On 25 October 2017, the Boards of Directors of Nordea Sweden and Nordea Finland executed a merger plan that sets out the terms and conditions and related procedures for the proposed Merger (the "Merger Plan"). The Merger Plan is available for inspection by the Noteholders at https://www.nordea.com/en/about-nordea/corporate-governance/legal-structure/nordeas-re-domicilation.

Upon the completion of the proposed Merger, the assets and liabilities of Nordea Sweden will by operation of law transfer to Nordea Finland by way of universal succession in accordance with relevant Finnish and Swedish corporate law. As a result, all assets, liabilities, rights, obligations and contractual relationships of Nordea Sweden (including, without limitation, in relation to or pursuant to the Notes) will be assumed by Nordea Finland without any further action required under Finnish and Swedish corporate law to effect the transfer.

Nordea is proactively undertaking the Consent Solicitations to make certain technical amendments to the terms and conditions of the Notes to ensure that these reflect the re-domiciliation from Sweden to Finland. The proposed amendments include updates to definitions such as the relevant prudential regulator, applicable banking regulations, and relevant jurisdiction for prudential and tax purposes as well as technical changes to the governing law and subordination provisions and the events of default relating to winding-up proceedings, in order to reflect the new jurisdiction.

Nordea is undertaking the Consent Solicitations prior to the re-domiciliation to ensure that unforeseen legal issues are not encountered and to ensure that the conditions of the Notes will continue to provide appropriate protections for Noteholders following the Merger. The proposed amendments to the terms and conditions are being undertaken to align the terms and conditions of the Notes with future debt issuance, and thereby remove documentation uncertainties for investors.

Noteholders should note that the completion of the Merger is planned to take place during the second half of 2018, tentatively on 1 October 2018, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals and shareholders' approval at a general meeting. Based on the current strategic plans, it is the intention of the Issuer to consummate the Merger provided that the conditions to the completion of the Merger have been fulfilled. The Merger is not subject to Noteholder approval and completion of the Merger is not dependent on the passing of the resolutions in the Consent Solicitations. The completion of the Merger is permitted by the terms of the Notes, and the Merger would not therefore constitute an event of default in respect of the Notes or otherwise require the consent of Noteholders. Noteholders should also note that if the changes are not implemented, this may limit certain rights and protections currently afforded to Noteholders by the terms of the Notes.

If the relevant Consent Solicitation relating to a Series is successful (and subject to any other terms and conditions set out herein), the Proposed Amendments in relation to such Series will be implemented as soon as practicable thereafter. The Issuer is also proposing similar amendments to holders of the U.S.$1,250,000,000 4.875 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2021 (US65557FAA49/US65557HAA05) and U.S.$1,000,000,000 4.25 per cent. Subordinated Notes due 2022 (US65557FAD87/US65557HAD44) (the "US MTN Notes") issued by the Issuer under the U.S. MTN Program pursuant to the terms of the U.S. Consent Solicitation Statement. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no inter-conditionality between the Consent Solicitations in respect of any Series of Notes or the US MTN Notes.

Key Terms and Conditions of the Consent Solicitations

Proposed Amendments

The purpose of each Consent Solicitation is to modify the Conditions of the relevant Series and related documents to:

(a) make certain technical amendments to the terms and conditions of the Notes to ensure that these reflect the re-domiciliation from Sweden to Finland (as further described under "Re-domiciliation and Merger" in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum);

(b) ensure that the conditions of the Notes continue to provide appropriate protections for Noteholders following the Merger;

(c) in relation to Legacy Tier 2 Notes only, update the subordination provisions in order to permit the issuance of "non-preferred" senior debt with effect from the Amendments Implementation Date (following the legislative proposals published by the European Commission on 23 November 2016, proposing amendments to BRRD to facilitate the creation of a new class of "non-preferred" senior debt), as already contemplated by the Issuer's subsequently issued subordinated Notes;

(d) include substitution and variation provisions permitting the substitution of, or variation to the terms of, the Notes (without the consent of Noteholders) in the event of unforeseen changes in the relevant legislative requirements or their application by the relevant regulator following the Merger (subject to various conditions including, without limitation, that the terms of such substituted or varied securities have terms not materially less favourable to a Noteholder than the terms of the Notes); and

(e) include a contractual acknowledgement of the bail-in powers of the relevant resolution authority in accordance with Article 55 of BRRD, with effect from the Amendments Implementation Date,

(the "Proposed Amendments").

For example, the Proposed Amendments include (without limitation) updating the following provisions (to the extent applicable in respect of the relevant Series - see "Annex IV  Amended Conditions" of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum) so that references therein to Sweden, Swedish regulations or other Swedish concepts are capable of including Finland, Finnish regulations or other Finnish concepts (as applicable), following the re-domiciliation of the Issuer from Sweden to Finland:

(a) the definition of "Applicable Banking Regulations" (where this currently refers to laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines and policies in effect in Sweden);

(b) the subordination provisions (where these currently refer to Swedish concepts such as primarkapitaltillskott);

(c) the redemption provisions (where these currently refer to consent of the SFSA);

(d) the events of default (where these currently refer to winding-up proceedings in Sweden);

(e) the modification provisions (where these currently refer to consent of the SFSA); and

(f) the governing law provisions relating to subordination (where these currently refer to the laws of Sweden).

For further detail on the Proposed Amendments, see (i) "Annex IV  Amended Conditions" of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum which contains the Amended Conditions for each Series (presented as a comparison against the current Conditions), which, if the relevant Consent Solicitation is successful, would be implemented as soon as practicable thereafter, and (ii) the relevant Resolution.

To the extent that the tax gross-up provisions in any of the Notes currently refer to withholding or deduction imposed by the taxing authorities of Sweden, and if the pre-conditions to implementation of the Merger are satisfied, the Issuer will also confer on Noteholders the benefit of an equivalent gross-up obligation in respect of withholding and deduction imposed by the taxing authorities of Finland, irrespective of whether the relevant Resolution is passed or implemented in respect of a Series. This obligation will be assumed unilaterally by the Issuer pursuant to a deed poll (the form of which is set out in "Annex V - Form of Deed Poll" to the Consent Solicitation Memorandum) and will not require the consent or approval of Noteholders.

In addition, if the relevant Resolution is implemented in respect of a Series, the Issuer also intends not to exercise any early redemption right in respect of the Notes on account of a Capital Event, Tax Event or Withholding Tax Event (each as defined in the relevant Conditions) arising from changes in Finnish law or regulation which occur (or have occurred) prior to the relevant Consent Fee Deadline.

Consent Fee

Each Noteholder from whom a valid Consent Instruction in favour of the relevant Resolution is received by the Tabulation Agent by the relevant Consent Fee Deadline (and not revoked (in the limited circumstances in which such revocation is permitted)) will be eligible to receive payment of an amount equal to 0.20 per cent. of the principal amount of the Notes that are the subject of such Consent Instruction (the "Consent Fee"). Payment of the Consent Fee in respect of each Series is conditional on (i) the passing of the relevant Extraordinary Resolution for that Series (in respect of the EMTN Notes and the 2015 GMTN Notes) or (ii) the Requisite Consents in respect of the relevant Resolution for that Series being obtained (in respect of the 2014 GMTN Notes).

In respect of the EMTN Notes, Noteholders may continue to submit Consent Instructions after the relevant Consent Fee Deadline up to and excluding the EMTN Expiration Deadline, but such Noteholders will not be eligible to receive the Consent Fee in respect of those Consent Instructions. To be eligible to receive the Consent Fee, in the case of the EMTN Notes, each Noteholder who submits a valid Consent Instruction must not attend, or seek to attend, the relevant Meeting in person or make any other arrangements to be represented at the relevant Meeting (other than by way of its Consent Instructions). Such Noteholders may choose to attend and vote at the relevant Meeting in person or to make other arrangements to be represented or to vote at the relevant Meeting in accordance with the relevant Voting Provisions and as described in the Notice, without submitting a Consent Instruction. However, any such Noteholder will not be eligible to receive the Consent Fee in respect of such Notes, irrespective of whether such Noteholder has also delivered a Consent Instruction or such other arrangements are made by the relevant Consent Fee Deadline.

Subject to the foregoing, the Issuer will pay the Consent Fee to the relevant Noteholders by no later than the tenth Business Day following the relevant Consent Fee Deadline (in the case of the GMTN Notes) or the tenth Business Day following the relevant Meeting or any adjourned such Meeting (in the case of the EMTN Notes) (in each case, the "Payment Date").

Resolutions

The implementation of each Resolution will be conditional on (i) the passing of the relevant Extraordinary Resolution (in the case of the EMTN Notes and the 2015 GMTN Notes) or (ii) the Requisite Consents in respect of such Resolution having been obtained (in respect of the 2014 GMTN Notes). For the avoidance of doubt, there is no inter-conditionality between the Resolutions in respect of any Series.

In respect of the GMTN Notes, the Issuer will announce whether or not (i) each Resolution has been passed (in the case of the 2015 GMTN Notes) or (ii) the Requisite Consents in respect of each Resolution have been obtained (in the case of the 2014 GMTN Notes) as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Consent Fee Deadline. In respect of the EMTN Notes, the Issuer will announce the results of each Meeting as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Meeting.

The quorum required for each initial Meeting to consider the relevant Extraordinary Resolution is persons holding or representing more than half of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Series of Notes then outstanding. To be passed at the relevant Meeting, an Extraordinary Resolution requires a majority in favour consisting of at least three-fourths of the votes cast. If passed, an Extraordinary Resolution shall be binding on all Noteholders of the relevant Series, whether present or not at the relevant Meeting and whether or not voting.

The implementation of the relevant Proposed Amendments in respect of the GMTN Notes is conditional on obtaining the consent of holders representing at least two thirds in outstanding principal amount of the relevant Series.

Consent Procedure

EMTN Notes

In respect of the EMTN Notes, Noteholder consent to the Proposed Amendments is being sought by way of noteholder meetings. A Notice convening the Meetings, to be held at the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, 10 Upper Bank Street, London E14 5JJ on 30 November 2017, has been given to the relevant Noteholders in accordance with the Conditions on the date hereof. The form of the Notice is set out in "Annex I  Form of Notice of Meetings  EMTN Notes" to the Consent Solicitation Memorandum. The initial Meeting (in respect of the EUR 1,000,000,000 4.50 per cent. Dated Subordinated Notes due 26 March 2020) will commence at 10.00 a.m. (Central European Time), with subsequent Meetings in respect of each other Series of EMTN Notes (in the order set out in the table above) being held at 5 minute intervals thereafter or after the completion of the preceding Meeting (whichever is later).

GMTN Notes

In respect of each Series of the GMTN Notes, Noteholder consent to the Proposed Amendments is being sought by way of a written consent process, and Noteholders may only participate in such process by submitting Consent Instructions in accordance with the procedures described herein. Noteholders are invited to consider and, if thought fit, consent to the relevant Resolution in the form set out in "Annex II  Form of Written Resolution  2015 GMTN Notes" to the Consent Solicitation Memorandum (in the case of the 2015 GMTN Notes) or "Annex III  Resolutions  2014 GMTN Notes" to the Consent Solicitation Memorandum (in the case of the 2014 GMTN Notes).

General

The Issuer may, at its option and in its sole discretion, extend, or waive any condition of, any Consent Solicitation at any time and may amend or terminate such Consent Solicitation at any time (subject in each case to applicable law, the relevant Voting Provisions and as provided in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum, and provided that no amendment may be made to the terms of the relevant Resolution). Details of any such extension, waiver, amendment or termination will be announced as provided in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum as promptly as practicable after the relevant decision is made.

Indicative Timetable

Set out below is an indicative timetable showing one possible outcome for the timing of the Consent Solicitations, which will depend, among other things, on timely receipt (and non-revocation) of Consent Instructions, the rights of the Issuer (where applicable) to extend, waive any condition of, amend and/or terminate any Consent Solicitation (other than the terms of the relevant Resolution) as described in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum, (in the case of the EMTN Notes) the passing of each Extraordinary Resolution at the initial Meeting for the relevant Series, and any changes to the expected timetable relating to the Merger. Accordingly, the actual timetable may differ significantly from the timetable below.

Event

Announcement of Consent Solicitations

7 November 2017 Announcement of Consent Solicitations

Notice delivered to the relevant Clearing System(s) for communication to Direct Participants

The Consent Solicitation Memorandum and documents referred to under "General" in the Notice available from the Tabulation Agent and from the specified office of the Fiscal Agent

Publication of the Notice in the Financial Times

8 November 2017 Consent Fee Deadline  EMTN Notes and 2015 GMTN Notes



In respect of the EMTN Notes, deadline for receipt by the Tabulation Agent of valid Consent Instructions from holders of EMTN Notes for such Noteholders to be eligible to receive the Consent Fee. Such Consent Instructions must be in favour of the relevant Extraordinary Resolution in order for the relevant Noteholder to be so eligible for the Consent Fee, and not revoked (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted)In respect of the 2015 GMTN Notes, final deadline for receipt by the Tabulation Agent of valid Consent Instructions from Noteholders in respect of the relevant Resolution. Such Consent Instructions must be in favour of the relevant Resolution in order for the relevant Noteholder to be eligible for the Consent Fee, and not revoked (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted)

5.00 p.m. (Central European Time) on 17 November 2017 Consent Fee Deadline  2014 GMTN Notes



In respect of the 2014 GMTN Notes, final deadline for receipt by the Tabulation Agent of valid Consent Instructions from Noteholders in respect of the relevant Resolution. Such Consent Instructions must be in favour of the relevant Resolution in order for the relevant Noteholder to be eligible for the Consent Fee, and not revoked (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted)

5.00 p.m. (New York City Time) on 17 November 2017 Announcement of results of Resolutions in respect of the GMTN Notes



In respect of the GMTN Notes, announcement of the results of the Resolutions

As soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Consent Fee Deadline in respect of the GMTN Notes EMTN Expiration Deadline



In respect of the EMTN Notes, final deadline for receipt by the Tabulation Agent of valid Consent Instructions from Noteholders for such Noteholders to be represented at the relevant Meeting. This will also be the deadline for making any other arrangements to be represented at any Meeting. However, Noteholders making such other arrangements or submitting Consent Instructions after the relevant Consent Fee Deadline, will not be eligible to receive the Consent Fee

10.00 a.m. (Central European Time) on 28 November 2017 Noteholder Meetings From 10.00 a.m. (Central European Time) on 30 November 2017 In respect of the EMTN Notes, Meetings to be held at the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, 10 Upper Bank Street, London E14 5JJ

Announcement of results of Meetings



In respect of the EMTN Notes, announcement of the results of the Meetings

As soon as reasonably practicable after the Meetings Amendments Implementation Date



In respect of any Resolution which has been passed (in the case of the EMTN Notes and the 2015 GMTN Notes) or in respect of which the Requisite Consents have been obtained (in respect of the 2014 GMTN Notes), signing of the Supplemental Agency Agreement in order to implement the relevant Proposed Amendments

As soon as reasonably practicable after the Meetings Payment Date



Payment of any Consent Fee No later than the tenth Business Day following (i) in respect of the GMTN Notes, the relevant Consent Fee Deadline or (ii) in respect of the EMTN Notes, the applicable Meeting (including any adjourned such Meeting) at which the relevant Extraordinary Resolution is passed

Completion Date The date on which the Merger is completed, which is planned to take place during the second half of 2018, tentatively on 1 October 2018

Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold their Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for such Noteholder to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) to validly revoke their instruction to participate in, the relevant Consent Solicitation(s), the relevant Resolution(s) and/or the relevant Meeting(s) by the deadlines specified above. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission and (where permitted) revocation of Consent Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines above.

Further Information

A complete description of the terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitation is set out in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum. A copy of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum is available to eligible persons upon request from the Tabulation Agent.

Before making a decision with respect to any Consent Solicitation, Noteholders should carefully consider all of the information contained in the Consent Solicitation Memorandum and, in particular, the risk factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors and Certain Other Considerations ".

Further details about the transaction can be obtained from:

The Solicitation Agents

The Joint Lead Solicitation Agents

Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

Winchester House

1 Great Winchester Street

London EC2N 2DB

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 7545 8011

Attention: Liability Management Group

Merrill Lynch International

2 King Edward Street

London EC1A 1HQ

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 7996 5420

Attention: Liability Management Group

Email: DG.LM_EMEA [at] baml.com

The Solicitation Agent

Nordea Bank AB (publ)

Grnjordsvej 10

DK-2300 Copenhagen S

Denmark

Telephone: +45 6161 2996

Attention: Nordea Liability Management

Email: nordealiabilitymanagement [at] nordea.com

Tabulation Agent

Lucid Issuer Services Limited

Tankerton Works

12 Argyle Walk

London

WC1H 8HA

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 7704 0880

Fax: +44 20 7067 9098

Attention: Paul Kamminga

Email: nordea [at] lucid-is.com

Nordea Investor Relations

Andreas Larsson, Head of Debt Inverstor Relations, Telephone: +46 709 70 75 55

Maria Caneman, Debt Investor Relations Officer, Telephone: +46 768 24 92 18

This information is information that Nordea Bank AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact people set out above, at 09.00 AM CET on 7 November 2017.

The Solicitation Agents and the Tabulation Agent do not take responsibility for the contents of this announcement and none of the Issuer, the Solicitation Agents, the Tabulation Agent, or any of their respective directors, employees or affiliates makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the Consent Solicitation. This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Consent Solicitation Memorandum. No offer to acquire any Notes is being made pursuant to this notice. This announcement and the Consent Solicitation Memorandum contain important information, which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Consent Solicitation. If any holder of Notes is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent adviser.

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This announcement and the Consent Solicitation Memorandum do not constitute an offer or an invitation to participate in the Consent Solicitation in any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of the Consent Solicitation Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Consent Solicitation Memorandum comes are required by each of the Issuer, the Solicitation Agents and the Tabulation Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction by the Issuer, the Solicitation Agents or the Tabulation Agent in relation to the Consent Solicitation that would permit a public offering of securities.

Any materials relating to the Consent Solicitation do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, any form of offer or solicitation in any place where such offer or solicitation is not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Consent Solicitation be made by a licensed broker or dealer and the Solicitation Agents or their affiliates are such licensed brokers or dealers in that jurisdiction, the Consent Solicitation shall be deemed to be made by the Solicitation Agents or such affiliates (as the case may be) on behalf of the Issuer in such jurisdiction.

[1] Includes Notes held by the Issuer and its affiliates.

[2] As of the date of this announcement. Notes held by the Issuer, or its affiliates, will not count for quorum/voting purposes.

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The bill is likely to change significantly in coming days. On Monday evening, the Houses tax-writing Ways and Means Committee began the formal process of reviewing the bill, which could involve dozens of amendments, some of them substantial. The bill, which the House could pass as early as this week, is likely to change further in the Senate, where procedural rules place practical limits on how much the plan can add to the federal deficit.

The Times analysis looks at the direct effect of the tax changes on Americans incomes and does not account for changes in economic growth that Republicans say will amplify the impact of the tax cut and deliver higher wages to Americans across the income spectrum. Economic models disagree about the size of those effects, but generally agree they would be smaller in the initial years after a bill was passed since the tax cuts would take a while to filter throughout the economy.

Still, Republican leaders in Congress and the White House havent just argued that the bill would have broader economic advantages. Rather, they have repeatedly described it as a tax cut for middle-class families.

This whole tax reform is designed for the middle-class family thats working so hard, for that Main Street business thats working so hard, Representative Kevin Brady, Republican of Texas and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said on MSNBC on Thursday. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, went further, telling the MSNBC host Hugh Hewitt over the weekend that nobody in the middle class is going to get a tax increase under the bill.

Few independent economists find evidence to support that claim. Analyses published since the plan was introduced last week have consistently found that some middle-class families would see their taxes go up immediately, compared with existing law. One such analysis, from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, found that 8 percent of middle-income earners would pay more in 2018  and 21 percent in 2027  with upper-middle-class taxpayers more likely to see their taxes rise.
Mel Rosenthal, a photographer who documented life both close to home in the South Bronx and in faraway places like Tanzania, focusing on the human side of hardship and urban decay, died on Oct. 30 in Redding, Conn. He was 77.

The cause was complications of dementia, said Deborah Dichter, a family friend.

Mr. Rosenthal, who taught photography at Empire State College for 36 years, was especially known for photographing the South Bronx in the 1970s and 80s, a time of burned-out buildings and desolate streets. But where others often shot only the blight, Mr. Rosenthal usually made people the central element of any picture, emphasizing both the human impact of the conditions and the human spirit that survived amid the bleakness.

A young man turns a flip over a discarded mattress on a sidewalk. A woman and her dog pause for a portrait on Bathgate Avenue.
La Catrina, the skeleton lady of the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, began life as satire. An etching of a skeleton wearing a fancy French hat sent up the pretensions of rich Mexicans who tried to pass for European.

Dia de los Muertos, the show that the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company presented at Town Hall on Saturday, might seem to have a similar anxiety about the worth of Mexican culture in relation to that of Europes. It takes Mexican folklore and the folk dance that is the specialty of this large-spirited, Queens-based troupe and crosses them with French ballet.

Here, the music of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld, comes from the 19th-century French ballet Giselle and is played live, in a Mexican-styled arrangement, by George Saenzs capable band. Roberto Lara, Calpullis choreographer in residence, dances the character of La Catrina, the queen of Mictlan, in a many-layered floral skirt, skull makeup and pointe shoes.
By Ruth Anderah:

Nakawa Court Grade One Magistrate Noah Sajjabi has released on bail 7 out of the 14 people who have been on remand at Luzira prison on charges relating to the murder of former AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi and 2 others.

The magistrate has ordered each of the 7 suspects to sign a non-cash bond of Shs 50m and their sureties to also execute a bond of Shs 500 million to ensure that the suspects return to court as and when they are required.

The suspects through their lawyer Ladislous Rwakafuuzi last week requested court to release them on bail having spent 6 months on remand without being committed to High Court for trial.

Rwakafuuzi explained that the actions of the DPP to commit only 8 out of the 22 suspects clearly showed that he did not have evidence against the remaining 14 accused linking them to the murder of Kaweesi, his driver Kenneth Erau and driver Godfrey Wambewa.

Rwakafuzi also argued that the law requires that if an accused person charged with a capital offense completes 180 days on remand without being committed for trial, they are entitled to a mandatory release on bail.

The remaining 7 suspects have been sent back at Luzira prison until November 23rd 2017 so as to clock the mandatory period of 180 days in before they can also apply for bail.
WASHINGTON  After armed men stormed the American diplomatic mission and assaulted a C.I.A. base in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, the United States turned to a Libyan to help gather information about Ahmed Abu Khattala, a prime suspect in the deadly attacks.

The soft-spoken informant befriended Mr. Khattala and began visiting his house in Benghazi. He gave Mr. Khattala money, a vehicle and computers, pleasing Mr. Khattala, who eventually began confiding in the man.

The 40-year-old informant testified matter-of-factly for hours in federal court in Washington on Monday and Tuesday under the pseudonym of Ali Majrisi. He implicated Mr. Khattala in the attacks that killed four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, and spoke of his initial reservations about working with the United States, which eventually paid him a $7 million reward for his work.

There was lot of dangers in that thing. It was really a hard decision to make, he said, explaining that he wanted to help his home city of Benghazi.
'Medicine can also be studied in Tamil medium!' - CM Stalin's efforts are getting a growing response

Mayor Priya is not the puppet but the savior - How did Chennai recover from the floods?

As schools reopen in Chennai, weathermen predict more rains for the city

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Recommended Video

Chennai Rains 2017: Schools reopen after a week, but weather conditions to remain grim|Oneindia News

Chennai, Nov 7: Finally, schools reopened in Chennai on Tuesday, after being closed for several days as a precautionary measure to avoid children getting into any trouble due to the current rain spell in the city and neighbouring areas.

Since last Tuesday, local administration decided to keep schools closed in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur as rain badly battered several parts of Tamil Nadu in the last few days.

However, looking at the weather report it seems that the administration probably acted in a hurry by deciding to reopen schools as more rains are predicted in Chennai in the coming few hours.

"Just as schools started working in Chennai, #ChennaiRains2017 seem to say Dont forget me. Fresh bands approaching from East, could give more rains to many areas of the city. Heaviest Rains to the South of Chennai," tweeted @ChennaiRains, an independent weather blogging community from Chennai, on Tuesday morning.

Just as schools started working in Chennai, #ChennaiRains2017 seem to say Dont forget me. Fresh bands approaching from East, could give more rains to many areas of the city. Heaviest Rains to the South of Chennai pic.twitter.com/gnkeuvXQAk  Chennairains (@ChennaiRains) November 7, 2017

Today's post follow soon. S #Chennai and suburbs could see a spell or two of heavy rains soon. Lesser chance for places North of PH Road pic.twitter.com/5ZjdZoWnUj  Chennairains (@ChennaiRains) November 7, 2017

Some western suburbs of the city received sharp showers on Tuesday early morning.

The North-East monsoon, which set in on October 27, has been active over Tamil Nadu, with Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts receiving heavy rains since last week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the situation arising out of heavy rains and floods in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu and assured the state government of all possible assistance from the Centre in tackling the problem.

Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam have bore the brunt of the monsoon fury, with torrential rains inundating low-lying areas. Nine people died across the state in the recent spell of heavy rain.

"I assure all possible support to the Tamil Nadu government to tackle the situation due to rains," Modi said at a function to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Tamil daily Dina Thanthi in the city.

The prime minister expressed grief over the rain-related deaths over the last few days.

"On landing in Chennai, PM @narendramodi discussed the situation arising due to heavy rains and floods in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu with the CM (K Palaniswami) & Dy CM (O Panneerselvam) of the state. He assured them of all assistance from the Centre," @PMOIndia, the official twitter handle of Prime Minister's Office, said in a tweet.

The last time when Chennai saw so much rainfall was during the 2015 South India floods which created havoc across the city and the state. At least 500 people died during the 2015 South India floods.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 9:41 [IST]
Coronavirus crisis: Why COVID-19 death rates is higher in some countries?

Teen pilot on track to become youngest pilot for solo global flight

Belgian royal couple accorded ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were accorded ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Belgian Royal couple met with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

After the ceremonial reception, Belgium's King Philippe, said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here."

"I have been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time it's a state visit. Hope to improve existing good contacts:," said King Philippe.

This is King Philippe's first state visit to India after his ascension to the throne in 2013. He is accompanied by a business delegation of nearly 90 people comprising CEOs of Belgian companies.

The Royal couple is on a seven-day visit to India with an aim of boosting overall cooperation between India and Belgium, with a focus on further ramping up trade and investment ties.

The royal couple was received at the airport by Union Urban Development Minister and former diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri, according to an official of the Belgian Embassy. India is Belgium's second largest export destination and the third largest trading partner outside the European Union.

According to official data, in 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.

Belgian Royal couple Belgian Royal couple King Philippe and Queen Mathilde during a ceremonial reception at Forecourt in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.PTI Photo Bust of Mahatma Gandhi Belgian Royal couple King Philippe with Queen Mathilde being presented with a bust of Mahatma Gandhi after they paid homage at Rajghat in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI Photo Floral tributes to Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi Belgian Royal couple King Philippe with Queen Mathilde pays floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI Photo Guard of honour Belgian King Philippe inspects a guard of honour during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI Photo

(With agency inputs)
Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000

Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD

Bihar: Over 200 students sick, claim they saw 'dead lizard' in mid-day meal

British couple harassed in Bihar, two arrested

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Two people were arrested after a British couple complained that attempts were made to loot them while they were camping on the banks of river Ganga in Bihar's Pandarak area.

The duo also misbehaved with the couple and thried to attack them with sticks.

"The two came with weapons and sticks, misbehaved and tried to loot us. We somehow crossed the river and sought help from police," said the British tourist.

Bihar police assured that speedy trial would be carried out to bring perpetrators to justice.

"The men were arrested within two hours. A speedy trial will be done and it will be seen that such incidents do not recur," ANI quoted SSP patna as saying.

On Sunday, a German national was beaten up at Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra railway station because he inadvertently ignored a man's greeting.

Last week, a Swiss couple was brutally thrashed by a group of youth in Agra's Fatehpur Sikri.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had sought for a report from the Uttar Pradesh Government over the alleged harassment of a Swiss couple in Agra.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 10:40 [IST]
Calcutta Court convicts a Bangladeshi for rape of 71 year old Nunand others for dacoity

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

The Calcutta City Sessions Court pronounced a Bangladeshi guilty of raping a 71-year-old Nun in West Bengal. The person along with 4 other Bangladeshis were also found guilty of conducting dacoity in a Convent.

A resident of the State was found guilty of criminal conspiracy charges and for harbouring the criminals in the same case. Another accused is still on the run. On March 14, 2015, a 71 year old Nun was raped and dacoity committed in the Convent of Mary and Jesus High School in Ranaghat in the border district of Nadia in West Bengal. Nadia district shares an international border with Bangladesh.

The case had been handed over to the CID. Interestingly the CBI had been approached to investigate the case but had refused.

"We had identified the gang from Bangladesh" stated a CID officer. The prime accused Nazrul Islam alias Noju had been picked up by the police from the Sealdah Railway Station in Kolkata on June 17, 2015. The victim had identified Islam from among a group of 10 persons in a test identification parade.

The Court found all six guilty. While Islam was found guilty of rape and robbery; Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Selim Sheikh and Khaledar Rahman, all from Bangladesh were found guilty of dacoity.

Gopal Sarkar, a resident of North 24 Pargana district was found guilty of criminal conspiracy. Gopal Sarkar has been found guilty of harbouring the 5 Bangladeshis in his house where the dacoity plot had been hatched.

"This incident is particularly shameful for the people of West Bengal, a state where persons such as Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa have worked. The missionary who was raped was an aged woman who was working for the welfare of the people stated Judge Kumkum Singha while pronouncing the 6 guilty. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Wednesday.

Aninda Kishor Raut, Public Prosecutor stated that footages of 6 CCTV cameras had been examined along with 42 witnesses. "We will plead for maximum punishment which is life term" added Raut.

"We have been successful in proving that it was not a case of gangrape but a case of rape. We will decide on whether to approach a higher court only after the punishment is announced" stated Fazal Ahmed, Defence lawyer.

Cases are pending against the 5 Bangladeshis under Foreigners' Act before another court.

The convicted had decamped with Rs. 6 lakhs, gold ornaments, camera and computers from the Convent on that day. They had ransacked the premises and tied up staff including nuns and security person following which rape on the 71 year old Nun had been committed. The case had sparked widespread protest from all over the state.

In May 2016, the trial was shifted from a Ranaghat Court to the Kolkata Sessions Court by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the victim. Ranaghat is 78 km away from the State capital Kolkata.

The nun, who had relocated to Delhi had expressed concerns regarding her safety as the accused had strong connections in Ranaghat. She had then prayed for the transfer of the case to Kolkata.

"We are very happy that justice is finally delivered. We are praying that the convicted are given life term. Let it be an exemplary judgement" stated a former student of the school.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 20:04 [IST]
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

Clear that terrorists are getting support from across border: Army Chief on Pulwama encounter

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Recommended Video

M-4 rifle recovered from terrorists, Army Chief say they are getting help from across the border

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said that the recovery of M-4 rifle from the terrorists killed in Pulwama encounter makes it clear that they are getting support from across the border.

One of the terrorists killed in the Pulwama encounter was the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar. One Army jawan was martyred and three terrorists killed in an encounter that took place at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

"Doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else, we aim at neutralizing all terrorists no matter where they belong," General Rawat said.

Major General BS Raju earlier confirmed that a M4 rifle recovered from slain terrorists.

IGP Kashmir Munir Khan said that the joint operation between the Army, police and the CRPF was an "excellent one".

Talha Rashid one of the terrorists who was killed in the encounter was the nephew of Azhar. The other two have been identified as Muhammad Bhai, the divisional commander and Waseem, a Pakistani national.

[Maulana Azhar's nephew gunned down by Indian Army in Pulwama]

Intelligence Bureau officials inform that the attack was carried out on the same day that the Centre's interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma visited the state. Separatists and terrorists have been protesting against his appointment and have said that they would boycott peace talks.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 12:47 [IST]
Demonetisation was an attack on RBIs credibility: Dr Manmohan Singh

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Prime Minister Narendra Modi must accept that demonetisation was a blunder. He should take steps to rebuild the economy after this blunder, former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said in an interview to BloombergQuint.

"The impact of demonetisation on the society's weaker sections and business was far more damaging than what economic indicators reveal".

Demonetisation was an attack on the independence and credibility of the RBI as an institution. Modi must accept his mistake and work towards rebuilding the economy, Dr Singh further said.

"It is time the prime minister graciously acknowledges the blunder and seeks support from all to rebuild our economy. Demonetisation has also caused reputational damage to India as a peaceful and stable nation for economic policy," he further said.

Dr Singh however praised Modi's decision to encourage digital economy. "If formalisation of the informal sector means widening of the tax base, it should be welcomed. But the means is as important as the ends. GST is certainly an idea in that direction to widen the tax base but the implementation of it is threatening to derail the informal sector entirely," the former PM also said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:38 [IST]
Jaitley statue at Kotla: Angry Bedi asks DDCA to remove his name from stands, quits membership

Reforms in India being done by conviction, not compulsion: PM Narendra Modi

BJP leaders pay tribute to former minister Arun Jaitley on his third death anniversary

Demonetisation a watershed moment, says Arun Jaitley

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

On the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that note ban pushed for greater tax compliance and greater digitalisation.

The union minister said that the demonetisation exercise undertaken a year ago would be remembered as a "watershed moment" in the history of the Indian economy.

In a blog post on Facebook, Jaitley said the NDA government had taken a number of steps since the start of its tenure to weed out black money and demonetisation was a culmination of those efforts.

Jaitley said that "demonetisation met the objective of cash circulation and helped the country move to a much cleaner, transparent and honest financial system."

Further, he said that "there is Rs 3.89 trillion less cash in the economy now than in 2016 and the next generation will view 8 November 2016 with pride as it provided them with a fair and honest system to live in."

Hitting back at the detractors Jaitley said that "every structural reform will have some consequences and in the long run it will help the economy."

"If a major structural reform can cost you a setback for a quarter or two, is it too big a price to pay," Jaitley asked, adding that all his predecessors can boast of is "policy paralysis".

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on demonetisation.

Manmohan Singh said," 8th November was a black day for our economy and indeed our democracy. Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country."

"Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86% of the currency," he said.

OneIndia News
National Selfie day: Why it is celebrated and everything you need to know

How selfies are used to forcibly convert gullible girls in Kerala

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Forced conversions in Kerala are a reality and is getting very serious. The National Commission for Women in-charge Rekha Sharma who met with Hadiya, the woman whose marriage with a Muslim man was annulled said that many types of lures, many other threatenings, blackmailing, all types of things are happening. This is not one small thing which we are reading in Delhi... But this is getting serious.

Sharma met Hadiya at her family home in Vaikom in Kottayam district, a week after the Supreme Court directed her father to produce her before it on November 27.

"I just met Akhila - Hadiya. NCW was concerned about her well being. She is in good health, she has not been beaten up or anything, she is eating her food and she was smiling, she was happy," she said, adding that there were no security issues.

"She said she is willing to go to court. She is waiting for November 27. I am OK. I will talk to the court. That is what she said," Sharma said.

The meeting came amid complaints from various Kerala- based Muslim bodies that the woman's rights were being violated in the confines of her home.

"Many types of lures, many other threatenings, blackmailing, all types of things are happening. This is not one small thing which we are reading in Delhi... But this is getting serious," she told reporters here after meeting some other girls who were allegedly forced to convert.

Sharma claimed that the girls had told her how they were "manipulated" and how "forced conversions" took place.

They said that boys would take selfies with them and threaten them that the picture would be circulated in social media if they did not agree to marriage or conversion, she claimed.

One of the girls who underwent a "very very horrifying" experience was just 17 years old, Sharma said, adding that instead of using 'Love Jihad', she would use the term "forced conversion".

The Kerala High Court had annulled Hadiya's marriage with Shafin Jahan after her parents argued he was a radicalised person and took her into their custody.

In Hadiya's case, there was no love as such, Sharma claimed.

"She had met the man once and spoken to him twice or thrice. Their marriage too was not arranged by the family, but by a third party," the NCW official said.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud last month directed the woman's father to ensure she is produced on November 27 for an interaction.

The court is hearing an appeal by Jahan, who had challenged the annulement of their marriage by the high court, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed the court that there was a well-oiled machinery working in the state which is indoctrinating and radicalising society and that 89 cases of similar nature have been reported.

Jahan, allegedly a member of radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India, had on September 20 moved the apex court, seeking recall of its August 16 order directing NIA to probe the case.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:14 [IST]
HP Assembly polls: How demonetisation has dampened the spirits of voters

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Shimla, Nov 7: In less than 48 hours Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on Thursday (November 9) to elect 68-member state legislative assembly.

While national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, visited the Himalayan state as a part of their election campaign, the residents, especially those from the rural areas, are not very enthusiastic about voting.

They say they have lost faith in politicians, irrespective of whether they belong to the ruling Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition in the state. The reason, economic policies like demonetisation that added woes to the rural community by throwing many out of their jobs.

In fact, a farmer couple from Banbagh village near Theog, about 40km from Shimla, the state's capital city, decided to boycott the upcoming elections by not voting this time. The couple is so miffed with Modi's demonetisation that they have lost faith in all politicians.

"My wife Vidya Devi and I will stay indoors on polling day, November 9," the 50-year-old Bishan Singh Verma was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "I'm angry. All the political parties are the same. I shall not vote."

Because of demonetisation, Verma left farming and is currently running a small dhaba to maintain his household which includes his two children.

The former farmer was engaged in growing vegetables in his 5-bigha land. However, this summer he could not sow seeds as the arthia (market middleman) refused to give him an advance of Rs 50,000.

"Every year the arthia gives us an advance to help us buy seeds and fertilisers, sometimes farm equipment too. This time he had no money; the cash pool had dried. From whatever little I had, I planted some cabbage and beans. But since the buyers had little money, prices fell to a third," Verma told The Telegraph.

"For a 50kg sack of cabbage, I was offered Rs 200 in a Delhi market. Poor farmers like us have been left nowhere."

Thus note ban forced the likes of Verma to give up farming. Just three months ago, he and his son Barinder opened an eatery along the Shimla-Rampur highway. Now, Verma hopes he will get enough costumers (mostly tourists) for his dhaba to earn some money to run his home.

The problem of people like Verma becomes more visible as the nation is going to observe the first anniversary of demonetisation announced by the Modi government on November 8 last year.

Due to demonetisation, high-value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 were scrapped leading to severe cash crunch and loss of jobs. According reports, thousands of people, especially farmers, daily wagers and small traders, have lost their source of income due to demonetisation.

While the Modi government is going to celebrate the first anniversary of note ban as the "anti-black money day", the Opposition will mourn the day as "black day" on Wednesday. The BJP announced demonetisation to fight against black money, corruption and terror funding.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 8:38 [IST]
IndiGo ground staff manhandles passenger at IGI airport, airline apologises

India

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Private airline IndiGo was on Tuesday accused of manhandling a passenger at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in the month of October. The passenger, identified as Rajiv Katyal, had flown in from Chennai on 6E 487.

The video shows the ground personnel asking a passenger why he used an abusive word against them. The passenger fought back and fell to the ground in the melee. Following an argument, they are seen assaulting the passenger instead of taking him to the Central Industrial Security Force personnel or other appropriate authorities.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju sought a report from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the incident. ''Violence of any sort is deplorable and should result in criminal action,'' he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines issued a statement regarding the incident. ''Incident probed by designated committee. Took action against staff who was main culprit, by immediately terminating his employment,'' the statement added.

Earlier this year a passenger, Dr David Dao, was dragged out of a United Airlines plane at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as the airline needed to free up seats for flying crew members, triggering an outrage, with passengers threatening to boycott the airline.

A video showed Dao bleeding profusely from his mouth after three airport security officials grappled with him. In India, the aviation ministry unveiled rules for a no-fly list for unruly passengers that imposed a ban on flying from three months a lifetime. However, the rules do not deal with misconduct by airline staff.

OneIndia News
In J&K, over 130 youth choose Indian Army's 'Sahi Rasta' over radicalisation

Indian Army gets exclusive intellectual rights of new design & camouflage pattern uniform

1st Annual Day Function of The Indian Army Dagger Parivaar School built by Indrani Balan Foundation

Indo-Bangladesh armies flag off joint exercise in Meghalaya

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

The 7th annual joint exercise of the Indian and Bangladesh armies "Sampriti 2017" was flagged off on Monday at the Umroi Cantonment in the Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya.

The Umroi Cantonment of the Indian Army boasts of a brand new state of the art joint training warfare centre.

The centre has been set up for conducting joint exercises with foreign armies and is at par with training centers of the advanced armies of the world.

Every year the joint exercise is held alternatively in India and Bangladesh. This year 14 officers from Bangladesh and 20 officers from India are taking part in the joint exercise.

Organised by the Red Horns Division of the Gajaraj Corps, the joint exercise is scheduled to continue till November 11.

Sumeet Newton, Public Relation Officer, Defence (Guwahati) stated "The Indo-Bangladesh joint exercise will send a strong message to the world that both the countries understand the fast emerging menace of transnational terrorism and are prepared to combat it together."

Along with building and promoting positive relations between the two countries, the joint exercise aims to augment interoperability.

Another objective is to share experiences and techniques in the field of counter insurgency and counter terrorism.

India and Bangladesh share 4.096km long international border, the 5th longest land border in the world.

The Indian state of West Bengal shares 2217km of border with Bangladesh; Assam 262 km; Tripura 856km; Mizoram 180km and Meghalaya 2217km.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 10:32 [IST]
India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky

Is India changing its stand on deportation of Rohingyas by adopting a humanitarian approach?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Nov 7: In September, the Narendra Modi government took a firm stand on the deportation of Rohingya refugees staying in various parts of the country. The Centre in its affidavit to the Supreme Court stated that the Rohingya Muslims are "illegal" immigrants in the country and their continued stay posed "serious national security ramifications".

"It is submitted that continuance of Rohingyas' illegal immigration into India and their continued stay in India, apart from being absolutely illegal, is found to be having serious national security ramifications and has serious security threats," the affidavit filed by the ministry of home affairs said.

However, a month later in October, the Supreme Court said the Rohingya refugee problem was of a "great magnitude" and the state would have to play a "big role" in striking a balance between national interests and human rights while dealing with the contentious issue.

The apex court, which decided to give a detailed and "holistic hearing" from November 21 on the government's decision to deport Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, observed that a balance has to be struck between national interest and human rights as the issue involved national security, economic interests and humanity.

According to an estimate at least 40,000 Rohingyas are staying in various parts of India. The Centre's decision to deport the Rohingyas has come at a time when the Rohingyas in large batches are fleeing from Myanmar to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Rakhine State on August 25.

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that 622,000 Rohingya refugees have taken shelter in Bangladesh in more than two months. Hasina also asked Commonwealth countries to pressurise Myanmar to take back its "Rohingya citizens".

As India is trying to maintain a balance in the entire issue by avoiding antagonising neither Myanmar nor Bangladesh has sent aid for Rohingyas staying in refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.

Recently, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was in Dhaka and urged the international community to handle the situation with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population. "It is clear that normalcy will only be restored with the return of the displaced persons to Rakhine State."

Amid all these developments, it seems India's stand on the deportation of Rohingyas is likely to change.

According to reports, foreign secretary S Jaishankar is understood to have told the members of a parliamentary panel in the national capital on Monday that India is in touch with Myanmar and Bangladesh on the issue of Rohingya Muslims.

The foreign secretary told the panel that the government was keeping a close watch on the Rohingya issue and was examining the matter through humanitarian prism, said a member present in the meeting.

India was in touch with both Myanmar and Bangladesh over the situation arising out of the crisis, another member quoted Jaishankar as saying.

Things will become clear whether India would decide to deport Rohingyas or not once the Supreme Court on November 21 take up various petitions both for and against the refugees.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:44 [IST]
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

J&K: Pulwama attack staged to coincide with Dineshwar Sharmas visit

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A high alert has been sounded in Jammu and Kashmir as the Centre's interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma began talks in the Valley. Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Pulwama attack that took place on Monday was staged to coincide with the visit of Sharma.

There is an input. May be a grenade throwing, may be hit and run attack. There is an indication that they may step up violence," Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Singh Sahi told reporters here on Monday.

He said, "Whenever any such step (dialogue) is taken, which leads to peace, the enemy will not want it. So, they may try to step up the attacks."

Sahi said while the situation in Kashmir was under control, the security forces need to remain alert.

"We keep on receiving inputs about terrorists' activities and their movements. We are alert and the situation is under control," he said.

The IG CRPF said terrorists do not have a permanent base in the summer capital here but maintain their presence in the city.

"As per information available with us, they do sometimes come to the city. They do not have a permanent base (here), but of course we receive inputs about their presence on the city outskirts. And (based) on these inputs, we carried out some operations and many commanders have been neutralised," he said.

Sahi said there has been a reduction in the number of stone-pelting incidents in the Valley this year.

In 2017, there has been a significant reduction in stone pelting, especially after April, he said, adding that the stone pelting, however, still takes place at the encounter sites and termed it as a cause of concern.

"By and large, the spontaneous stone-pelting in city from law and order point has reduced to a large extent," he said.

Asked about the reason for decline in stone-pelting incidents, Sahi said the people of the Valley have understood that it does not have any positive result.

"It also has an adverse impact on image of Kashmiri people outside and economy as well. Besides, the operations were also carried out and also the NIA operations could be the reason," the IG CRPF said.

"There are multiple reasons," he added, referring to the NIA investigation into terror funding.

Sharma reached here Monday for a five-day visit to the state during which he will hold talks with various stakeholders.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:23 [IST]
Ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle to political career: Kamal Haasan

Chennai Rains: Kamal Haasan asks fans to help flood victims as his birthday gift

Don't want to hurt Hindu sentiments, never used word 'terror': Kamal Haasan

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

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Actor Kamal Haasan on Tuesday launched a mobile app and said that it would serve as a platform for the public to voice their concerns and dissent.

Haasan, who turned 63 today, said that the app would "be a sort of a whistleblower platform" where people can raise issues whenever something wrong happens.

"Many are speculating that today I will announce political party, I have to do a lot of groundwork, we have been sitting and analysing," he added.

The launch of the app is being seen as the first step by Haasan towards floating a party.

"I plan to tour across Tamil Nadu, volunteers doing good work in all districts.All parties appreciate our social welfare work," he said.

"Dreams create inventions, and inventions become a way of life," he added.

Haasan, who had drawn flak for raking up the issue of Hindu terror, said that he did not use the word "terror".

"I did not use the word terror, the word I used was 'extreme', like some of my fans who love me..I definitely don't want to hurt Hindu sentiments, as I myself belong to a Hindu family,but have taken a different path," he added.

Haasan has been making politically loaded statements in the recent past. Since July, the 63-year-old veteran actor has been maintaining that he's ready to form his own political party. In fact, last month, he said he will recruit "fresh, young faces" in his party. For his political party, Haasan indicated that he would crowd-sourced funds to ensure transparency. He said all these methods of operating his party have been inspired by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal.

A few weeks ago, Haasan met Kejriwal in Chennai and the two had lunch together.

OneIndia News
Fact Check: Rishi Sunak never said India needs a PM like Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh launches scathing attack on Centre over demonetisation

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

A day before the BJP government's planned celebration of 'Anti-blackmoney Day', former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on demonetisation.

Manmohan Singh is in Gujarat to address traders and businessmen of the state, which is just weeks away from voting for its next government.

Manmohan Singh said," 8th November was a black day for our economy and indeed our democracy.Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country. "

"Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86% of the currency," he said.

Commenting on BJP's digital economy, he said, "to promote less cash economy coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective."

He reiterated that "I repeat what I said in the parliament, this was organised loot and legalized plunder."

He further said that this twin (Demonetisation and GST) blow is a complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses.

OneIndia News
Vice-Presidental Election 2022: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh arrives in wheelchair to cast vote

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Manmohan Singh says demonetisation led to increase in imports from China

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

A day before the BJP government's planned celebration of 'Anti-blackmoney Day', former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on Centre's twin blow - Demonetisation and GST.

Manmohan Singh is in Gujarat to address traders and businessmen of the state, which is just weeks away from voting for its next government.

Speaking on the impact of demonetisation and GST, Manmohan Singh said, "Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 Cr, a 23 percent increase in a year can be attributed largely to demonetisation, GST."

"In first half of 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1. 96 lakh crore. In 2017-18, it increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore," Singh said.

"The fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest," he said.

When undertaking endeavour of 1 nation 1 tax if PM had taken inspiration from resolve of great Sardar Patel,outcome would've been diff-Singh pic.twitter.com/pdnsSEhWpe  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Not only economy, Singh also questioned PM Modi's dream project bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

" Does questioning GST and Demonetisation make one a tax evader?," Singh asked.

He resented government's attitude of suspecting everyone to be a 'thief or anti-national', low-level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse.

OneIndia News
Maulana Azhars nephew gunned down by Indian Army in Pulwama

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

One of the terrorists killed in the Pulwama encounter was the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar. One Army jawan was martyred and three terrorists killed in an encounter that took place at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Kashmir: Terrorists shun Ak-47, go for US Army's M4 Carbine

Talha Rashid one of the terrorists who was killed in the encounter was the nephew of Azhar. The other two have been identified as Muhammad Bhai, the divisional commander and Waseem, a Pakistani national.

Intelligence Bureau officials inform that the attack was carried out on the same day that the Centre's interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma visited the state. Separatists and terrorists have been protesting against his appointment and have said that they would boycott peace talks.

Sharma on the other hand will meet with political leaders and other interested parties who are interested in restoring peace in the Valley.

OneIndia News
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

No compensation for human shield Dar in Kashmir: Here is why

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Jammu and Kashmir government has declined to give Rs 10 lakh compensation to Farooq Ahmed Dar, the "human shield" tied to an Army jeep and taken around the Srinagar parliamentary constituency during the bypoll on April 9.

Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Bilal Nazki had directed the state government in July to give the compensation amount to Dar.

There was "no scheme or policy in vogue in the state, which could cover the payment of compensation" in such matters, the state government said in its reply to the human rights panel recently.

The statement argued that an FIR was filed and compensation would tantamount to establishing the guilt of the accused without affording him the opportunity to be heard.

In the four-page reply, filed through Deputy Secretary (Home) Mushtaq Ahmed, the state government said the empowered committee of the government had examined the order of the rights panel and observed that the grounds on which compensation was recommended "cannot be accepted".

The state government, it said, had discharged its obligation by registering an FIR in the matter in the Beerwah police station and consequently initiating the investigation.

"That pending completion of the investigation in the matter, the recommendation with regard to payment of compensation to the complainant (Dar), shall tantamount to establish the guilt of the accused without affording him an opportunity of being heard," the reply accessed by PTI said.

The response will be placed before Nazki on November 13.

While asking the government to give Rs 10 lakh compensation to Nazki, the rights panel in its July 10 order had refused to direct the Army in the case, saying it did not have jurisdiction over the force.

Dar was tied to the bonnet of an Army vehicle and taken around 19 villages in Budgam during the Lok Sabha bypoll on April, purportedly as a shield against stone pelters.

A video grab showed the youth tied to an Army vehicle, eliciting sharp reactions from civil society. However, the Army backed Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied Dar, and honoured with him with the Army chief's 'Commendation Card' for his 'sustained efforts' in counter-insurgency operations.

He said he took the step to save local people.

The Army's claims that Dar was among the stone pelters were not substantiated by local police officials, who established Dar's statement that he was on his way to another village to for offering condolences.

Dar's statement that he was taken hostage after he cast his ballot was verified by the district election officer.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:18 [IST]
PM Modi, Xi Jinping greet each other at G-20 dinner in first meet after Galwan clash

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No political significance in PM Modi's meet with Karunanidhi : BJP

India

pti-PTI

Kanyakumari (TN), November 7: A senior BJP leader dismissed any political significance in Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on the DMK supremo M Karunanidhi in Chennai and described it as a courtesy call.

As the prime minister of the country, Modi wanted to meet the ailing Karunanidhi during his visit to Chennai on Monday and pay his respects and also to inquire about his health condition.

That was what happened, Union Minister of state Pon Radha Krishnan told reporters here.

Modi even invited Karunanidhi to his house in New Delhi, Radhakrishnan, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the meeting said in response to a question.

"It has become a practice now to attach significance to even such meetings, where the prime minister has expressed heartfelt wishes...one can see how Modi was moved on seeing Karunanidhi...it was a moving meeting.

One should see only that," he said. Modi met the 93-year old leader, who is wheelchair-bound, at his residence in Gopalapuram here, taking time-off during his one-day visit to the city yesterday during which he attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of Tamil daily Dina Thanthi.

It was the first meeting between the two leaders after Modi became the prime minister in May 2014.

The DMK has also indicated that not much should be read in the meeting between the two and that it was a courtesy call.

Party working president M K Stalin said Modi did not come with any political intentions to meet his father and did not talk politics.

Modi only enquired about Kalaignar's (Karunanidhi) health, he said adding only the media was thinking that there was a political angle to the meeting.

Before the next elections, BJP wanted to emerge as the prime political party of Tamil Nadu and it was working hard in that direction, said Radhakrishnan.

PTI
NEET-UG to be conducted in 13 languages for first time; exam centre opened in Kuwait: Dharmendra Pradhan

Pradhan dubs Odisha's BJD government as 'anti-farmer'

India

pti-PTI

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: Lashing out at the BJD government for farmer suicides in Odisha due to crop loss caused by pest attack, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that the state government used the tragedy to announce relief package, instead of taking timely steps to prevent such incidents.

Pradhan alleged that the "insensitive" state government waited for a situation to announce the package, keeping an eye on the upcoming by-election for Bijepur Assembly seat.

"The BJD government in Odisha is not only inefficient, corrupt and insensitive, but is also responsible for suicide by farmers hit by crop loss due to pest attack," the Petroleum Minister said at a press meet in Bhubaneswar.

Dubbing the BJD regime as "anti-farmer", the BJP leader said though the state government had announced Rs 100 would be given as bonus to the farmers over and above the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, it is yet to become a reality.

The Union Minister said several BJP-ruled states including Chhattisgarh are providing such bonus, while in Odisha, it remained only an announcement without being translated into action. Pradhan lashed out at the state government for having failed to bring out a new share-cropper policy, despite making an announcement in this regard long back.

The minister said he has spoken to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh regarding the situation in Odisha for appropriate steps. Pradhan also criticised Odisha's Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout for stating that no compensation would be given to farmers, who have burnt their pest-infected crops.

PTI
Jharkhand crisis: UPA to stage protest across state on Nov 5 against 'attempts to destabilise govt'

Unaccounted transactions of Rs 100 cr found during IT raids in Jharkhand

Ragubar Das bats for 'ease of doing business', says it is in Jharkhand's interest

India

pti-PTI

Jamshedpur, Nov 6: Asserting that government schemes should be implemented with transparency and accountability, Jharkhand Chief Minister Ragubar Das has said ease of doing business was in the interest of the state.

He said that his government would strive to towards it as it would encourage businesses to invest in Jharkhand.

Schemes should be implemented soon with transparency and accountability, and the officers at ground level should implement the schemes effectively, an official release quoted Das as saying.

The chief minister said no work should be done offline, especially in the departments which have started online operations. The state government will conduct meetings every three months and review the situation, the release added.

[World Bank's ease of business rankings: Why is Congress cribbing?]

Hailing India's 30 places jump in the World Bank's ease of doing business rankings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week said ease of doing business leads to "ease of life".

India has jumped a massive 30 places to 100 in the World Bank's ease of doing business rankings this year.

PTI
Rajnath slams Congress for unnecessarily criticising Centre's economic policies

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed Congress saying that the grand old party is trying to defame the government on the economic front.

"The Congress is trying to defame the Central government on the economic front," he said.

"The demonetisation and the GST are strong economic measures. Had India's economy not been strong no foreign investor would've come here. Fact is foreign investments is rising," Singh added.

The Union Home Minister also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will attain a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

While replying to Pulwama encounter which took place on Monday, Rajnath said Pakistan indulges in unholy practices but coordination among our security forces is so good that terrorists are being regularly neutralised.

OneIndia News
Senior Congress leaders likely to meet Hardik Patel in Ahmedabad tomorrow

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 7: Senior Congress leaders are likely to meet the Patidar quota agitation spearhead, Hardik Patel, in Ahmedabad tomorrow to discuss modalities of providing reservation to the community, a precondition set by the young leader for supporting the party in the coming Assembly polls.

According to Congress sources, former Union minister Kapil Sibal will lead the Congress team. The Congress is trying to woo all those disgruntled with the BJP government to stitch an alliance in its bid to oust the saffron outfit from power in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The Patidars have been demanding that the Congress make its stand clear on how it plans to provide reservation to them without crossing the 50 per cent upper limit on quota fixed by the Supreme Court. The Congress is working out the modalities of provide reservation to the Patidars under the OBC category, a condition set by 24-year-old Hardik Patel for extending his community's support to the party. Sibal was not available for comments.

Sibal has met some Congress leaders from the state on Sunday. Hardik Patel has said that he would support the Congress in the Assembly election due next month, only if the party committed itself to allotting quota in education and government jobs to his community under the OBC category. He had set a deadline of November 7 for the Congress to make its stand clear on the issue.

Former Gujarat Congress chief Siddharth Patel has said that the Congress high-command was likely to take a call on the issue of reservation for Patels soon. "We have discussed various alternatives during today's meeting (with Sibal). By tomorrow, the party high command is expected to take a call on those suggestions (about giving reservations to Patels), following which, we will engage in discussions with Hardik Patel," he said earlier.

Hardik Patel (24), the face of the quota stir, recently met Congress's Gujarat affairs in-charge Ashok Gehlot to discuss the quota demand. The issue of OBC quota for Patels remained unresolved during a meeting between Patidar representatives and state Congress leaders on October 30.

Trying to do a balancing act, the Congress had promised to offer reservation in jobs and education to the Patidars under the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) category, but not in the other backward class (OBC) group as demanded by the community. The party is trying to wean away the Patidars from the ruling BJP in the state. The community is believed to be a loyal vote bank of the saffron party and its numerical strength can tilt the scales in elections.

PTI
Pak back at UNSC over Kashmir, India to respond to rant at appropriate time

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Stop Kashmir talk in your parliament, India tells UK

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

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India has raised strong concerns with the United Kingdom about the frequency with which the Kashmir issue is being raised in its parliament. The minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju raised this issue during his delegation level meeting with visiting British minister of state for immigration, Brandon Lewis.

Rijiju said that the Kashmir issue was being raised in the British parliament at the behest of some MPs of Pakistan origin. He said that this was against the stated policy of non-interference in such matters.

Rijiju also raised issues regarding the pro-Khalistani and Kashmir separatist activists who are operating in UK. There are many in the UK who are indulging in anti-India activity. They are raising an anti-India propaganda and it must stop, Rijiju also told Lewis.

Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and the UK should not allow an anti-India propaganda on its soil, the junior home minister also said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 7:24 [IST]
WB: Fire breaks out in abandoned godown at Armenian Ghat, no casualty

India

pti-PTI

Kolkata, Nov 7: A major fire broke out at a godown near Armenian Ghat on Strand Road in the central part of the city tonight.

Fire brigade sources said 20 fire tenders rushed to the spot to put off the blaze which broke out at around 8 pm. The fire was suspected to have been caused by barrels of diesel kept in an godown owned by Kolkata Port Trust, the sources said.

There was no report of any casualty or injury in the blaze. The sources said there was no information about anyone being trapped inside the godown. Senior police officials rushed to the spot and the entire area has been cordoned off and traffic movement on Strand Road has been diverted.

PTI
West Bengal Group D (WBSSC) Final Result declared on westbengalssc.com

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

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The West Bengal Group D Final Result or WBSSC Group D Final result has been declared. The results are available on the official website.

The final waiting list of candidates who have appeared for the WBSSC Group D recruitment process has also been published.

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) group D third regional level selection test-2016 was held on February 19, 2017 for recruitment of non-teaching staff (Group D) in the state government aided or sponsored secondary and higher secondary schools.

"This is notified for information of all concerned that final panel in respect of selected candidates as well as final waiting list towards recruitment of Non-Teaching Staff (Group-D) in State Govt. aided/sponsored Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools is hereby published today, the 6th November, 2017," said a notification from West Bengal SSC.

The WBSSC will publish the count of final vacancies on the website of Commission on November 7, 2017. A notification from the WBSSC also said the programme of Counselling and detailed lists of vacancies will be notified in due course. WBSSC Group D selected candidate list and final waiting list can be accessed from the official website, westbengalssc.com.

OneIndia News
West Bengal police arrest two in connection with the gang rape, murder of a class 8 student

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

West Bengal police have arrested 2 persons in connection with the rape and murder of a Class 8 student in North Dinajpur. They were produced at a Special POCSO court and remanded to 4 days of police custody.

On November 3, Ritika Tudu a class 8 student was allegedly raped and murdered in Kadirgunj under the Karandighi police station in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal.

Gosai Mandal, 25 years was arrested from Bikor along with Ratan Biswas, 24 years was arrested from Kadirgunj on Monday night in connection with the case.

Raids are on to nab the others who are absconding. The accused were charged under Sections 376 (2)(i), 376D, 302, 201 of the Indian Penal Code read with Sections 4, 6, 8 and 12 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012.

The duo were produced at the special POCSO Court in Islampur on Tuesday. The police had prayed for 14 days of custody. The Court however remanded the two to 4 days of police custody.

On Friday night the parents of the victim had gone to a nearby village to attend Raas celebrations. The victim who is the eldest of the 4 daughters was sleeping in the veranda.

It is believed that the assailants had stifled her and carried her to the nearby Litchi groves where they gang raped her. Followed this they allegedly strangled her to death and left the dead body on the veranda.

The parents returned late at night. They initially thought that their daughter was in deep sleep. However when she did not respond to their calls, closer inspection revealed the horrific truth.

She had bled from the nose and her body bore marks on injury. There was mud and grass all over her body.

Police state prima facie she was taken to the Litchi groves and gang raped and then strangled to death. The groves showed signs of resistance.

oneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 22:09 [IST]
Several Afghans on Germany's evacuation list have died

13th batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan delivered by India

Taliban bans women from parks and gyms in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Gunmen attack television station in Kabul

International

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

A private television station in the Afghan capital came under attack on Tuesday by unidentified gunmen who broke into the building after an explosion, a security official said.

Unidentified gunmen stormed the studio of Afghanistan's Shamshad TV channel in Kabul city and opened fire on 7 November, TOLO news reported.

As the attack unfolded, Shamshad TV, a Pashto language broadcaster, stopped normal programming, transmitting only a still image.

The attack began at around 10:45 AM Ambulances and security forces were rushed to the spot.

"I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," said Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied the militant group was involved in the attack in a Twitter post.

The attack is the latest in a series of assaults on Afghan journalists and media workers.

OneIndia News
Thief calls cops for help after being caught by mob

China backs UNSC statement on Rohingya crisis, pressure mounts on Myanmar

International

pti-PTI

United Nations, November 7: In a unanimous statement backed by China, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the violence that has forced more than 600,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

The UN Security Council called on Myanmar to rein in its military campaign in Rakhine state and allow hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya driven out by the violence to return home.

The council expressed "grave concern" over human rights violations, "including by the Myanmar security forces" against the Rohingya such as killing, sexual violence and burning of homes and property.

It called on the government "to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law."

The statement included most of the demands contained in a draft resolution presented last month by Britain and France, but that measure ran into strong opposition from China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta.

China had indicated it was willing to resort to its veto power to block a resolution, but Beijing finally agreed to a statement during negotiations, diplomats said.

Since late August, more than 600,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes by an army campaign that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar authorities say the military operation is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts.

The Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

Council members called for full access for humanitarian aid workers to Rakhine and said the government must address the root causes of the crisis by allowing "equal access to full citizenship."

The statement did not, however, threaten sanctions. During negotiations with China, language on citizenship rights was watered down in the statement as was a demand that Myanmar allows a UN human rights mission into the country, diplomats said.

The statement calls on Myanmar to cooperate with the United Nations and encourages UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special advisor on Myanmar.

British Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen said despite the decision to drop the resolution, the council was issuing a strong, united message. "The important thing is the content," Allen told reporters.

"Gaining a very strong, unanimous statement I think was the real prize here." The council statement was agreed as Guterres prepares to travel to Manila this week to join leaders of the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) bloc for a summit.

The Rohingya refugee crisis is expected to be a top issue of discussion at the summit, to be attended by US President Donald Trump, who will dispatch US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Myanmar later this month.

Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet and are calling for sanctions against those involved in the atrocities in Rakhine.

"Going forward, council members should be clear that they won't be held hostage by China's objections, and will instead be driven by the needs of victims and realities on the ground, not what makes China comfortable," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch deputy UN director.

PTI
China's stand on Masood Azhar hurting to New Delhi-Beijing ties: US expert

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Nov 7: The top experts in the US have said that China's recent decision to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar as a global terrorist is doing "material harm" to its ties with India.

Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.

"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washingtons stronger rhetoric against Pakistans support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistans benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI.

The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UNs list of banned terror outfits. Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15- nation UN Security Council to put a hold on Indias application. The other 14 members supported New Delhis bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban. Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.

PTI
Donald Trump against 'extreme vetting' for gun ownership

International

pti-PTI

Seoul/Washington, Nov 7: President Donald Trump said "extreme vetting" for gun ownership in the US would not have averted the Texas church massacre and asserted that there would have been "hundreds more dead" in the incident if gun laws were stricter.

A court-martialled former US Air Force airman armed with a powerful assault rifle opened fire on worshippers at a Sunday service at a rural church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 20 others, once again triggering a heated national debate on the need for stricter gun control laws.

Trump's latest comments came during a joint press conference in Seoul alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in when a reporter asked the US president if he would consider "extreme vetting" not only for people entering the US but as well as "for people trying to buy a gun." Trump appeared annoyed at the question and wondered if it was an appropriate question while he was on a visit to South Korea. But he went on to say that extreme vetting would have made no difference in Sunday's mass shooting, and would have prevented the "brave person who happened to have a gun in his truck and shoot him, and hit him and neutralise him."

Trump was referring to Stephen Willeford, a plumber, who managed to shoot the gunman Devin Kelley before jumping in another man's vehicle to chase him down. "I can only say this, if he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead you would've hundreds more dead," the US president added. Trump yesterday said the mass shooting at the church was the result of a "mental health problems at the highest level" and called the killer a "very deranged individual."

About 40 per cent of Americans say they own a gun or live in a household with one, according to a 2017 survey, and the rate of murder or manslaughter by firearm in the US is the highest in the developed world. There were more than 11,000 deaths as a result of murder or manslaughter involving a firearm in 2016.

Since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in June 2016, there have been 555 mass shootings as the FBI defines them: four or more people shot at once. Approximately 689 people have been killed, and nearly 2,700 wounded, CBS News reported. The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the most powerful special interest lobby groups in the US, is opposed to all forms of gun control and argues that more guns make the country safer.

PTI
In less than 24 hours, second Saudi prince dead?

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Recommended Video

Saudi Arabia: Another prince dead in 24 hours| Oneindia News

The mystery in Saudi Arabia is deepening. Just a few hours after the death of Mansour Bin Muqrin, son of former crown prince Muqrin al-Saud, Twitter is abuzz with the reports of death of yet another Saudi prince.

The AlIthad News quoted a Saudi Royal Court release saying that the Saudi royal family mourned the death of the prince who died at 44. The reason for the death was however not specified.

Prince Aziz (44) was the youngest son of King Fahd and was reportedly arrested on Sunday. The news of the arrest and a subsequent gunfight came from various sources and earlier reports suggested that Abdul Aziz was hospitalised. The al-Masdar news network first reported the news of his death and later removed it.

Death of Mansour Bin Muqrin:

A Saudi prince has died in a helicopter crash near the border of Yemen on Sunday afternoon.

Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin, a member of the House of Saud and son of former crown prince Prince Muqrin al-Saud, was the appointed Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Mansour Bin Muqrin was also the governor of Asir, a southern province in Saudi Arabia. Muqrin was traveling with several other government officials who were also killed in the crash, state TV Ekhbariya reported.

The helicopter crash came after Saudi Arabia arrested nearly a dozen princes, and several other former and current officials in a crackdown by the government's new anti-corruption committee on Saturday night.

OneIndia News
Indian gets 27.5 years prison term after pleading guilty of terror in US

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

An Indian national was sentenced to 27.5 years in jail after he pleaded guilty of providing several thousand dollars to slain al-Qaeda leader Anwar-al-Awlaki. Yahya Farooq Mohammad also pleaded guilty of soliciting the murder of the judge hearing the case in the United States.

Mohammad, 39, was an engineering student at Ohio State University during 2002-04 and married a US citizen in 2008. He along with three others were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2015. The case against the three other men, who pleaded not guilty, is pending.

Mohammad will be deported from the US on the completion of his sentence, under the terms of his plea agreement.

"As part of his conspiracy, the defendant provided thousands of dollars to Anwar Al-Awlaki in response to his calls to support violent jihad. Once detained, the defendant also solicited the murder of the federal judge presiding over his case," said acting assistant attorney general Dana J Boente. Al-Awlaki, who was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in September 2011.

A statement issued by the US department of justice said Mohammad "admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants to travel to Yemen to provide thousands of dollars, equipment, and other assistance to Anwar Al-Awlaki, in an effort to support violent jihad against US military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world".

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Story first published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 6:43 [IST]
From hijab to Kashmir, Zawahiri was Al-Qaeda's voice for everything anti-India

As Al-Qaeda scouts for new chief, Indian agencies worry about an Islamic State spillover

They stay among you to kill you: Ansarul Bangla Team could be Indias biggest threat

Indian national confesses to having funded Anwar al-Awlaki

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

An Indian national has pleaded guilty for having funded dreaded al-Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki. He has been sentenced to 27.5 years in prison for having links with al-Qaeda, said reports.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad is said to have provided thousands of dollars to Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda terrorist who was killed in Yemen in 2011, for supporting violent jihad. Mohammed has pleaded guilty in this case.

Awlaki was a key leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and was designated as a global terrorist in 2010.

Mohammed, who was an engineering student in 2002-2004, has also been charged with soliciting the murder of a federal judge presiding over his case, an HT report said.

Mohammed, along with his two associates, travelled to Yemen in 2009 to meet al-Awlaki and gave the noted al-Qaeda terrorist 22,000 dollars, said the report.

Al-Awlaki was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in September 2011.

Three others accused in the case - Ibrahim Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Room Salim- have not pleaded guilty and the case against them is pending, said the report.

OneIndia News
Indian-origin teenager stabbed to death in Israel after brawl at birthday party

Indian-origin UK minister apologises for meetings on Israel holiday

International

pti-PTI

London, November 7: Britain's senior-most Indian-origin minister Priti Patel formally apologised for holding undisclosed meetings with Israeli leaders during a holiday visit to Israel.

The secretary of state for international development admitted meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among other senior figures without "following the usual procedures" but claimed it was simply the result of "enthusiasm" to engage.

"This summer I travelled to Israel, on a family holiday paid for myself. While away I had the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was aware of my visit while it was underway," she said in a statement.

"In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be misread, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures.

I am sorry for this and I apologise for it," she noted. Ministers are required to tell the Foreign Office when they are conducting official business overseas, but a BBC report had claimed last week that British diplomats in Israel were not informed about these meetings.

Downing Street had dismissed it as a "private holiday" with nothing to investigate, but Prime Minister Theresa May had a follow up meeting with the minister over the issue this morning.

"The prime minister welcomes the secretary of state's clarification about her trip to Israel and has accepted her apology for her handling of the matter.

The prime minister met the secretary of state this morning to remind her of the obligations which exist under the ministerial code," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Opposition parties had called for Patel to resign if it emerges that she breached the ministerial code of conduct.

The BBC report had revealed that Patel had been accompanied by pro-Israeli Conservative party lobbyist Lord Polak during several meetings on the 13-day visit in August.

Among her 12 meetings, now made public, including an interaction with Yair Lapid, the leader of one of Israels main political parties (Yesh Atid), and visits to charity organisations.

The senior Conservative MP's meeting with the Israeli PM including discussions on her "family background" and "her experience growing up in an area of the UK with a thriving Jewish community".

The two leaders also discussed "the Israeli domestic political scene" as well as his "forthcoming visit to the UK" which took place last week.

Patel also discussed "prospects for closer collaboration between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues".

"The FCO (Foreign Office) are clear that UK interests were not damaged or affected by the meetings on this visit," the Department for International Development (DfID) said.

PTI
US shooting: Gunman kills four, multiple people injured in medical center in Tulsa, Oklahoma

US mass shootings in 2022: Here is a list of some notable episodes of gun violence

4 killed after man goes on shooting spree across Memphis, gunman in custody

US: Gunman opens fire near University of South Carolina

International

oi-Madhuri

One person was shot when a gunman opened fire near the University of South Carolina on Tuesday.

Earlier, the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spatanburg issued a Twitter alert warning of shots being fired, with four buildings on campus placed on lockdown. That lockdown was later lifted.

According to Spartanburg County Sheriff's Lt. Kevin Bobo said that the shooting happened at an apartment complex next to the school's campus injuring one person.

Police said the suspect who is on run is a black male wearing khaki pants, grey hoodies and is carrying an automatic weapon. Meanwhile, no arrests have been reported so far.

OneIndia News
In the last month the DNC has purged Bernie Sanders progressives from the organization. It's time for the millions who supported Bernie and those who have awakened to realize that the DNC is a failed organization to start a new, shadow or alternative organization.

Virginia is really the test case that will be most telling. Democrats went with a weak, centrist Democrat-- a neoliberal who is not that different than many Republicans. The Democratic leadership rejected a progressive candidate, Tom Periello. A loss to an outright racist, Ed Gillespie, will make it clear that the Democratic leadership does not deserve to continue to hold on to its power.

Today, for a healthy political opposition party going up against a party led by Donald Trump, with his 58% negative polling, should be a massive victory. But polls are not predicting anything close to that.

Rob Kall is an award winning journalist, inventor, software architect, connector and visionary. His work and his writing have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, the HuffingtonPost, Success, Discover and other media.

Check out his platform at RobKall.com

He is the author of The Bottom-up Revolution; Mastering the Emerging World of Connectivity

He's given talks and workshops to Fortune 500 execs and national medical and psychological organizations, and pioneered first-of-their-kind conferences in Positive Psychology, Brain Science and Story. He hosts some of the world's smartest, most interesting and powerful people on his Bottom Up Radio Show, and founded and publishes one of the top Google- ranked progressive news and opinion sites, OpEdNews.com

more detailed bio:

Rob Kall has spent his adult life as an awakener and empowerer-- first in the field of biofeedback, inventing products, developing software and a music recording label, MuPsych, within the company he founded in 1978-- Futurehealth, and founding, organizing and running 3 conferences: Winter Brain, on Neurofeedback and consciousness, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology (a pioneer in the field of Positive Psychology, first presenting workshops on it in 1985) and Storycon Summit Meeting on the Art Science and Application of Story-- each the first of their kind. Then, when he found the process of raising people's consciousness and empowering them to take more control of their lives one person at a time was too slow, he founded Opednews.com-- which has been the top search result on Google for the terms liberal news and progressive opinion for several years. Rob began his Bottom-up Radio show, broadcast on WNJC 1360 AM to Metro Philly, also available on iTunes, covering the transition of our culture, business and world from predominantly Top-down (hierarchical, centralized, authoritarian, patriarchal, big) to bottom-up (egalitarian, local, interdependent, grassroots, archetypal feminine and small.) Recent long-term projects include a book, Bottom-up-- The Connection Revolution, debillionairizing the planet (more...)


From Mike Malloy Website



Paradise paper leak

(Image by (Image Courtesy: Indian Express)) Details DMCA



Donald Junior, Donna Brazile, the Michael Flynns, Jeff Sessions, Paradise Papers, Mark Zuckerberg, Yuri Milner, Vlad Putin, Wilbur Ross, Big Paulie Manafort, Rand Paul, Jared Kushner...and another horrific mass murder of innocents ages 18 months to 77 years.

Where to begin? Maybe with a note about Trump fatigue. It's part exhaustion from the non-stop, head-spinning despicable acts this psychopath hurls at us like a manic super villain. And also the demoralizing realization that the only weapon that can slay this tangerine dragon is useless.

Short of shipping him to Leavenworth, there is only one tonic to neutralize this home grown terrorist, and that is to ignore him completely. Trump is now the most famous person in the world, according to international polling statistics and data research. Global fame and domination drove this fanatic's obsession and we carried him over the goalposts.

It's the worst possible catch-22. Mention his name and you feed The Beast, but you cannot have a political discussion about any topic, from taxes to education to infrastructure or climate change, gun safety, police brutality, healthcare, the opioid epidemic, the economy, the death penalty, LGBT rights, veterans affairs -- and ALL of foreign policy -- there is no way to have those conversations without discussing the madman Leader of the Free World!

That disturbing reality is the new normal, the bizarro world of alternate facts. It's the backdrop to the other Trump effect -- the use of his psychotic superpowers for evil. We can't catch our breath, every day he tosses a fresh thunderbolt:

I like people who weren't captured, BAM! Obama tapped my phones, WHAM! NeoNazis that killed that Antifa broad are very fine people, KA-POW! That Gold Star widow, whassername, she's a liar, BOOM! Hey deadbeat wetbacks, catch! You can soak up that floodwater with this pack of Bounty, SOK!

Adrenal fatigue-level exhausting.

It's no wonder we barely register a reaction to the Paradise Papers' blockbuster release Monday. Is appears that Mark Zuckerberg literally formed a business partnership with a Putin-connected Russian tech baron, Yuri Milner. Jared Kushner was the latest Trumpster to recover from Russian amnesia, suddenly recalling yet another 75 business holdings he "forgot" to disclose. One of these is "Cadre," a company he co-founded with his brother that happens to be linked to (wait for it) Yuri Milner.

Then there is Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Rachael Maddow had the goods on Ross back in February, and now we know the details of his association with an infamous Cyprus bank known for Russian money laundering.

Not enough? Okay, seems Mueller has enough evidence to indict both Daddy Flynn and Crazy Baby Boy Flynn, and Michael Sr. was involved in James-Bondesque paid international kidnapping and assassination espionage involving the Turkish government. Yes, our confirmed National Security Director was literally a paid foreign agent.

And then there was the Donna Brazile bombshell, the Rand Paul front yard attack, and the mass murder Sunday in a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 28 people so far.

Within hours of that massacre, right-wing websites were shamelessly exploiting the tragedy for personal gain by spreading Trumpian fake news about the shooter. One common theme was that the shooter was connected to the "Antifa" movement and was shouting about communism as he shot at the helpless congregation. Sick.

And finally, consider this -- three of the the worst five mass shootings in US history took place in the last 18 months. And yet again, members of Congress stood in front of the telescreens and defended their loyalty to guns over human beings.

And it's only Tuesday.


Kshama Sawant 2 | March for $15 on March 15 - Seattle. Socia. | Flickr1024 -- 690 - 234k - jpg

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As a 20-Year Precinct Committee-person on Vashon, along with being the editor of the District Newsletter, chair of the Vashon Democrats, and member of both the County and State Democratic Committees, I am here to tell you that the DNC and the State Democratic Committee has little or no control over the precinct caucuses.



Unlike an election, where the entire process is controlled by the state parties, a caucus is controlled by the local PC. An activist can gain the support and votes of his/her neighbors by door-belling, having the caucus at their home rather than a group of precincts meeting at the local school - and proselytizing the entire community.

I was first elected in '72 - My precinct was the only one of 16 on the island to support McGovern. That gave us 2 delegates at both the State and County conventions. By 1980, with a lot of work and writing, Vashon was solidly Democratic [14 of 16 precincts] and left of the County and State party-line.



PCs control the caucuses - which is why the State Party prefers the big group method of caucusing. That allows the 'important people' to control the discussion. Individual PCs can manipulate [influence] the vote by being effective speakers and explaining things to their neighbors based on their own views.





Once you are elected, the hard part starts. Attend the district monthly meetings. Volunteer for any thing you have the time and skill to do well. Newsletters are usually poorly written, so that is a good place to start - and it gives you control of the district voice. Run for a district party office, as there are usually more districts than counties. Try to get elected as the district rep to the party's county council. They might have an opening on the county newsletter too:)





This is my take on How to Win Friends and Influence People on the local level. Perhaps women have a knack for this type of organizing because we've been delegated to the kitchens and typing pools of the powerful. We know how they manage it, but lack the money and finishing-school touch of so many national politicians.

Shame they don't teach this stuff in school - but they no longer teach history, civics, or ethical behavior either. The last thing the puppeteers want are the "inmates running the prisons"...
This week on Talk Nation Radio: Climate chaos and militarism. We're joined by Nick Buxton, who is the co-editor of an important book called The Secure and the Dispossessed - How the military and corporations are seeking to shape a climate-changed world. Nick Buxton is a communications consultant, working as a publications editor and supporting online learning and support of activist scholar communities for Transnational Institute. He works actively on issues of climate change, militarism and economic justice. He has been based in California since 2008 and prior to that lived in Bolivia for four years.



Total run time: 29:00

Host: David Swanson.

Producer: David Swanson.

Music by Duke Ellington.



Download from LetsTryDemocracy or Archive.



Pacifica stations can also download from Audioport.




This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com.

Who can keep up with the madness of our never-ending Trumpian media moment? Each day is a lesson in the bizarre, in ever-wilder comments, accusations, charges, and claims of every sort from or against The Donald and crew. Each day spotlights subjects you hardly knew were subjects until they burst onto cable news and individual screens nationwide. Did an American president really call the country's justice system "a joke and a laughingstock" (in the context of the possible sending of terrorist Sayfullo Saipov to Guantanamo) during a televised cabinet meeting? And that very afternoon, did his White House press secretary flatly deny he had ever said such a thing? Is a "seething" Donald Trump truly angry at his son-in-law Jared Kushner for his advice on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation? Did Paul Manafort really use (launder?) $1.3 million, assumedly from Russian oligarchs, on clothes? Is special counsel Mueller about to be fired by the president? Had you ever even heard of the Diversity Visa Lottery program before Donald Trump pinned its existence on the Senate minority leader -- "a Chuck Schumer beauty" -- even though it was actually signed into law by President George H.W. Bush? Did the White House chief of staff, who adamantly refuses to apologize for an erroneous accusation against a Democratic congresswoman, actually call for "compromise" when it came to the years leading up to the Civil War?

I mean, in your wildest dreams could you make this stuff up? And worse yet, in the maelstrom of claims, tweets, wild statements, strange bits of information, and god knows what else, it would be so easy for what truly matters in our world to get lost in the shuffle. For instance, amid all Donald Trump's bluster and tweets, it's not hard to forget who he really is: our first elected billionaire president. (Nelson Rockefeller undoubtedly came closest, historically speaking, but he was only vice president and was in any case appointed, not elected.) Trump should be seen as the living, breathing result of an inequality gap that first began to widen almost four decades ago in the era of President Ronald Reagan and reached cataclysmic proportions in this century. It was, of course, the Supreme Court which, in 2010, released all the money that has flowed so steadily upwards into the political system big time with its Citizens United decision and so paved the way for the truly wealthy to organize and fund a genuine 1% politics in which a billionaire could finally become the people's candidate.

It's easy in the chaos of the moment -- every moment these days -- to forget that Donald Trump appointed the wealthiest cabinet in our history by a country mile and so prepared the way for the further promotion of a system in which the benefits of... well, you name it... will flow ever upwards ever more rapidly. Amid all the chaos and "fake news" of our moment, something profound is happening and, under the circumstances, it's easy enough to ignore. However chaotically, we're witnessing the creation of a new American system of injustice, a true government of the plutocrats. Fortunately, we still have TomDispatchregular Nomi Prins, author of All the Presidents' Bankers: The Hidden Alliances That Drive American Power, to remind us of this reality, as today when she focuses on Secretary of the Wealthy... oops, I mean Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Tom

Steven Mnuchin, Foreclosure King of America

Secretary of the Treasury for the .01%

By Nomi Prins Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin doesn't exactly come across as the guy you'd want in your corner in a playground tussle. In the Trump administration, he's been more like the kid trying to cop favor with the school bully. That, at least, is the role he seems to have taken in the Trump White House. When he isn't circling the Sunday shows stooging for the president, he regularly plays the willing fall guy for tax policies guaranteed to stoke further inequality in America and for legislation that will remove just about any consumer protections against Wall Street. Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner, arrived in Washington with a distinct reputation. Back in 2009, he had corralled a bundle of rich financiers to take over California's IndyMac bank, shut down amid the 2008 foreclosure crisis by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Bought for $13.9 billion (but only $1.3 billion in actual cash), Mnuchin turned it into a genuine foreclosure machine, in the process sealing his own fate when it came to his future reputation. At the time, he didn't appear concerned about public approval. Something far more valuable was at stake: the $200 million that, according to Bloomberg News, he raked in personally, thanks to the deal. No such luck, of course, for the bank's ordinary borrowers. During Mnuchin's reign, IndyMac carried out more than 36,000 foreclosures, tossing former homeowners (including active duty military servicemen and women) onto the street without hesitation or pity by any means necessary. According to a memo obtained by investigative reporter David Dayen, OneWest, the new name that Mnuchin and his billionaire posse coined for Indybank, of which Mnuchin was now CEO and chairman, "rushed delinquent homeowners out of their homes by violating notice and waiting period statutes, illegally backdated key documents, and effectively gamed foreclosure auctions." Now, Mnuchin remains bitter and frustrated that he can't kick the reputation he got in those days. As he told a House Financial Services Committee Congressional hearing this July, "I take great offense to anybody who calls me the foreclosure king." Such indignation would ring truer if, in May, one of Mnuchin's banking units, a company called Financial Freedom, hadn't agreed to pay a more than $89 million settlement to the government for taking unreasonable advantage of thousands of seniors through reverse mortgages which convert equity in a home into a loan. (A few months later, in August, a watchdog group, Campaign for Accountability, called upon the Justice Department to investigate Mnuchin for allegedly making false statements under oath to Congress about his actions at OneWest between 2009 and 2015.) Like Donald Trump, Mnuchin is a man intent on making the rich richer and to hell with everyone else. Continually channeling Trump's ego, whatever his smoldering resentments may be, he soldiers on -- and in the context of the Trump White House successfully indeed. After all, this administration has lost 14 key people in less than a year, including an FBI director, a national security adviser, a White House chief of staff, and a White House communications director. Through it all, Mnuchin has remained in place, one of the relatively few members of The Donald's original team not related by blood or marriage who is seemingly thriving. (Admittedly, he and the president were linked in what CNN once called a "business capacity" even before he became Trump's campaign finance director in May 2016.) Hamilton, Trump, and a Playbill for the Economy There's a history of Treasury secretaries having a special rapport with presidents that snakes back to the founding of the Republic. Alexander Hamilton, the first of them, had the full confidence of the first president, George Washington. With such backing, he established federal taxes and came up with plans for real economic development. He understood federal taxes to be essential to building America. In contrast, Mnuchin thinks the stock market is the ultimate arbiter of economic health and appears to consider taxation without representation (by the wealthy) the order of the day. Since Mnuchin bagged one of the most influential economic positions on the planet, he's been remarkably consistent on just one thing: making sure he lends a helping hand to the world of big finance, his former universe. He has, for instance, pushed hard for more bank deregulation by claiming that it will help the smaller banks. Don't believe it for a second. His disdain for reenacting the Glass-Steagall Act, which once made the merging of commercial and investment banking operations illegal and so curtailed the too-big-to-fail status of the largest banks, tells you all you need to know. It reflects his real thinking when it comes to banks and the stability of the economy. Emblematic of this has been the way he steered the Financial Stability Oversight Council that he chairs to give AIG, the insurance company at the core of the 2008 financial meltdown, a gateway back to prominence by removing its too-big-to-fail label. He's proven adept at blurring the lines between what effective banking regulation would actually involve and how he can wordsmith out of pushing for it. In May, testifying before the Senate Banking Committee, for example, he noted that "we do not support [the] separation of banks and investment banks." When Senator Elizabeth Warren pointed out that this was hardly the position Donald Trump and his team had taken during campaign 2016 (or of the Republican platform, which had explicitly called for the reinstitution of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933), he promptly waffled: "We, during the campaign... specifically came out and said we do support a twenty-first-century Glass-Steagall... That means there are aspects of it that we think may make sense, but we never said before that we supported a full separation of banks and investment banks." In June, when pressed on the matter by Senator Bernie Sanders, the Treasury secretary argued that Trump was not responsible for the language in the Republican party platform and remained opposed to breaking up the big banks. He added, "We think that that would hurt the economy, that would ruin liquidity in the market. What we are focused on is safe and prudent regulation for the large banks so we don't have taxpayer risk." In other words, this is a man who has a real sense of the opportunity that's embedded in this moment -- for the large banks and their CEOs to make a bundle of money -- but no appropriate sense of the risks involved or fear for a future in which he and his president might find themselves bailing out such banks, 2008-style.

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By subir

I've written previously about the Kushner family's attempts to shore up their precarious finances by extorting fees from low-income tenants and selling green-cards to Chinese investors. As Bloomberg reported in August, the Kushners are desperately seeking cash to save their heavily-mortgaged Manhattan skyscraper as balloon payments come due over the next two years.

Last week, Kushner took an unannounced trip to KSA:

"President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner returned home Saturday from an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia -- his third trip to the country this year. "Kushner left Washington, D.C., via commercial airline on Wednesday for the trip, which was not announced to the public, a White House official told POLITICO. He traveled separately from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who led a delegation to Riyadh last week to focus on combating terrorist financing. [...] "The White House official would not say who Kushner met with in Saudi Arabia. But he has cultivated a relationship with the crown prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, who, like Kushner, is in his 30s." www.politico.com

Saudi Arabia has, for the past two years, been waging a brutal bombing campaign against Yemen which has caused thousands of civilian deaths. This war is widely believed to be Mohammed Bin Salman's [MBS] project, though the war is broadly supported in Saudi Arabia across factions. For example, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal promised to reward Saudi air force pilots with Bentleys when they returned from bombing raids.

Sadly, our government has actively supported the Saudi war in Yemen, providing weapons (including cluster bombs) and operational support. Hundreds of children have been killed by these weapons, thousands have lost limbs. Many of you saw the heart-rending pictures of a young toddler who had lost four of her fingers, staring at the intact hand on her doll.

Then yesterday, the crown prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, engineered a palace coup, arresting dozens of his own uncles and cousins.

"A midnight blitz of arrests ordered by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia over the weekend has ensnared dozens of its most influential figures, including 11 of his royal cousins, in what by Sunday appeared to be the most sweeping transformation in the kingdom's governance for more than eight decades. "The arrests, ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman without formal charges or any legal process, were presented as a crackdown on corruption. They caught both the kingdom's richest investor, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and the most potent remaining rival to the crown prince's power: Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, a favored son of the late King Abdullah." www.nytimes.com

Another prince died along with several officials as his helicopter crashed near the Yemeni border.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal had sparred with Trump during and after the election. His Kingdom Holding Company is a major investor in Twitter and Apple. He was one of the people arrested.

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Korean War Veterans Memorial

(Image by Tim Evanson) Details DMCA



I've been touring around South Korea (ROK) since mid-October. For about 10 of those days I was with a group of US Korean War veterans. The ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs sponsors a Revisit Korea Program. They even pay for airfare and accommodations of organized groups to "express gratitude to Korean War veterans from 21 UN allied nations and build their pride by allowing them to witness how Korea enjoys peace and prosperity thanks to their noble sacrifices and dedication". As a veteran, I managed to "stowaway" with the group tour even though I was never stationed in Korea.

The ROK gives an honored status to the aging veterans that were in Korea during the 1950 to 1953 "United Nations Police Action" (i.e. Korean War). Those veterans that came after 1953 are included as "Peacekeepers" since the Korean War has never officially ended. All are honored as heroes and even give "Hero" lapel pins; along with a lot of pomp, ceremony and a "Thank You Banquet".

The ROK has a lot of military and economic self-interest in buttering up Yankees. They call it "reinforcing the alliance and pursuing cooperative partnership for the future". The hotel staff even had to line up and applauded the American vets upon their arrival. I was embarrassed for the staff, even if they weren't. It was a demeaning display.

Other Koreans see the Yankees as foreign interlopers. They blame the US for dividing Korea after 1945, denying them independence and meddling in Korea for the US's own self-interests. During the Korean civil war of the 1950's the US bombed Korea back to the Stone Age, and killed several million of their ancestors. They see the US as having blocked Korean independence and reunification for over 70 years.

Today, South Korea is not much higher than that of a US semi-colony. The US has 30,000 troops occupying Korea and still maintains wartime operational control of the ROK armed forces. Whoever controls the army has ultimate control of the nation. I applaud the new South Korean President Moon Jae-in for saying his government is "increasing efforts to take back wartime operational control of its military [see link ]."

After several days of formal "hero" events that included ceremonies, speeches, dinners and group photos, our veteran group toured Seoul, the DMZ, and Panmunjom, Incheon, Busan and many other locations. We went from one war memorial, POW camp, cemetery and all you can eat Korean buffets after another. We gazed at pine tree covered hills named Pork Chop, White Horse, T-Bone, Old Baldy, Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge, and Punchbowl.

Today those hills don't looked any different than the thousands of others in Korea. I certainly wouldn't die for any of them, but a lot of Americans were ordered to, and 54,246 did. In 2017-dollars the war cost was $600 billion, in addition to hundreds of billions of more dollars spent on the "peacekeeping mission", and military and financial aid to South Korea.

To pass the hours on the bus our American retired-military expat tour guide showed Korean War movies. One scene in the 1959 movie Pork Chop Hill has an African-American soldier saying, "I ain't gonna die for Korea, what do I care about this stinking hill?" The anti-war and historical pre-civil rights movement message is highly charged in that scene: firstly, the movie has many anti-war messages mixed in with the themes of duty, righteous patriotism and evil communism; secondly, the US Army was just starting to integrate during the Korean War and many white soldiers questioned the loyalty and courage of black soldiers. Gregory Peck, as Lieutenant Joe Clemons, runs roughshod over him so that he can join the "exclusive club" of white soldiers.

Whoosh!---all those anti-war messages from the 1950's went over the heads of most of the vets on the bus, as they would other US audiences today. Instead the vets related to the last line in the movie that, "Millions live in freedom today because of what they did". That 'thank you for your service' is total nonsense and propaganda.

Nobody is free today because US soldiers died on Pork Chop Hill. The hundreds killed on Pork Chop Hill were just negotiating pawns. Thousands of other Americans died as pawns fighting for other meaningless hills too, and that is the real message of the movie. As with Pork Chop, many of those hills are in the Iron Triangle Area above the 38th Parallel. Each side of the war was playing king on the mountain to jockey for an advantage in the 1953 armistice negotiations at Panmunjom.

A lot of lives could have been saved if the US had just agreed in 1951 to redraw the armistice line at the original dividing line at the 38th Parallel. Instead the US wanted to hold the Imjin valley area above the 38th because of its strategic position and to deny the North the fertile rice producing valley. After 2 years of haggling and 20,000 more US casualties the US agreed to a stalemate.

Another scene in the movie Pork Chop Hill has the American negotiator lecturing the communists that "Pork Chop Hill is not worth a single human life". If the hill was not worth a single human life, then why did the US keep ordering soldiers to their death? The move didn't ask that question out loud, but it was there for those that could understand it. Two months after Pork Chop Hill the armistice was signed.

After the Korean War the US public went through an anti-war "Korean War Syndrome" similar to the "Vietnam War Syndrome" distaste for insane, genocidal and disastrous wars. Hollywood even put out movies such as Pork Chop Hill (see trailer) and "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" that had anti-war messages mixed in with the patriotism, duty to follow orders, esprit de corps and glory of combat required by the censors to get the Pentagon's blessing and money. In the 1970's the TV series M*A*S*H would use the Korean War setting for its anti-war message. Most viewers had already forgotten the US's agony, shame and war crimes during the Korean War, and the US was repeating them again in Vietnam.

Many veterans and the public cope with their cognitive dissonance by saying the Korean War was "worth it". They point to South Korea and they can't imagine how any Asian country could possibly become "prosperous and democratic, a miracle really" without the US first bombing it back to the Stone Age and killing millions of their people [irony inserted]. Americans must be among the most indoctrinated people in the world to believe the mythology that US wars are about freedom, democracy and human progress. Human progress and Korea would be a lot better off without US wars.

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From Consortium News

The New York Times has finally detected some modern-day McCarthyism, but not in the anti-Russia hysteria that the newspaper has fueled for several years amid the smearing of American skeptics as "useful idiots" and the like. No, the Times editors are accusing a Long Island Republican of McCarthyism for linking his Democratic rival to "New York City special interest groups." As the Times laments, "It's the old guilt by association."

Yet, the Times sees no McCarthyism in the frenzy of Russia-bashing and guilt by association for any American who can be linked even indirectly to any Russian who might have some ill-defined links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Monday, in the same edition that expressed editorial outrage over that Long Island political ad's McCarthyism, the Times ran two front-page articles under the headline: "A Complex Paper Trail: Blurring Kremlin's Ties to Key U.S. Businesses."

The two subheads read: "Shipping Firm Links Commerce Chief to Putin 'Cronies'" and "Millions in Facebook Shares Rooted in Russian Cash." The latter story, which meshes nicely with the current U.S. political pressure on Facebook and Twitter to get in line behind the New Cold War against Russia, cites investments by Russian Yuri Milner that date back to the start of the decade.

Buried in the story's "jump" is the acknowledgement that Milner's "companies sold those holdings several years ago." But such is the anti-Russia madness gripping the Establishment of Washington and New York that any contact with any Russian constitutes a scandal worthy of front-page coverage. On Monday, The Washington Post published a page-one article entitled, "9 in Trump's orbit had contacts with Russians."

The anti-Russian madness has reached such extremes that even when you say something that's obviously true -- but that RT, the Russian television network, also reported -- you are attacked for spreading "Russian propaganda."

We saw that when former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile disclosed in her new book that she considered the possibility of replacing Hillary Clinton on the Democratic ticket after Clinton's public fainting spell and worries about her health.

Though there was a video of Clinton's collapse on Sept. 11, 2016, followed by her departure from the campaign trail to fight pneumonia -- not to mention her earlier scare with blood clots -- t he response from a group of 100 Clinton supporters was to question Brazile's patriotism: "It is particularly troubling and puzzling that she would seemingly buy into false Russian-fueled propaganda, spread by both the Russians and our opponents about our candidate's health."

In other words, the go-to excuse for everything these days is to blame the Russians and smear anyone who says anything -- no matter how true -- if it also was reported on RT.

Pressing the Tech Companies

Just as Sen. Joe McCarthy liked to haul suspected "communists" and "fellow-travelers" before his committee in the 1950s, the New McCarthyism has its own witch-hunt hearings, such as last week's Senate grilling of executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google for supposedly allowing Russians to have input into the Internet's social networks.

Trying to appease Congress and fend off threats of government regulation, the rich tech companies displayed their eagerness to eradicate any Russian taint.

Twitter's general counsel Sean J. Edgett told the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and terrorism that Twitter adopted an "expansive approach to defining what qualifies as a Russian-linked account."

Edgett said the criteria included "whether the account was created in Russia, whether the user registered the account with a Russian phone carrier or a Russian email address, whether the user's display name contains Cyrillic characters, whether the user frequently Tweets in Russian, and whether the user has logged in from any Russian IP address, even a single time. We considered an account to be Russian-linked if it had even one of the relevant criteria."

The trouble with Twitter's methodology was that none of those criteria would connect an account to the Russian government, let alone Russian intelligence or some Kremlin-controlled "troll farm." But the criteria could capture individual Russians with no link to the Kremlin as well as people who weren't Russian at all, including, say, American or European visitors to Russia who logged onto Twitter through a Moscow hotel.

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Digital Map Market to reach a market size of $7.2 billion by 2023

http://kbvresearch.com/digital-map-market/

According to a new report Global Digital Map Market, published by KBV research, the Global Digital Map Market size is expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2023, rising at a market growth of 12% CAGR during the forecast period.The North America market holds the largest market share in Global Mobile & The Internet Digital Map Market by Region in 2016, and would continue to be a dominant market till 2023; growing at a CAGR of 8 % during the forecast period.The Europe market is expected to witness a CAGR of 8.6% during (2017  2023) in Global Public-Sector Agencies Digital Map Market. Additionally, The Asia Pacific market is expected to witness a CAGR of 12.9% during (2017  2023) in Global Automotive Navigation Digital Map Market.The GPS Navigation market holds the largest market share in Global Digital Map Market by Functionality in 2016, and would continue to be a dominant market till 2023. The Scientific market is expected to witness a CAGR of 13.3% during (2017  2023). Additionally, The Computerized market would attain market value of $1,197.2 million by 2023.Full Report:The market research report has exhaustive quantitative insights providing a clear picture of the market potential in various segments across the globe with country wise analysis in each discussed region. The key impacting factors of the Global Digital Map Market have been discussed in the report with the elaborated company profiles of Apple, Inc., ARC Aerial Imaging Limited, ESRI, Google, Inc., HEREAOL (MapQuest), Micello, Inc., MiTAC Holdings Corporation, Nearmap Ltd., and TomTom NV.Global Digital Map Market SizeBy UsageOutdoor ApplicationMobile & The InternetPublic Sector AgenciesAutomotive NavigationEnterprisesIndoor ApplicationAirportMalls & StoresBy FunctionalityGPS NavigationScientificComputerizedBy GeographyNorth America Digital Map MarketUS Digital Map MarketCanada Digital Map Market SizeMexico Digital Map Market SizeRest of North America Digital Map Market SizeEurope Digital Map MarketGermany Digital Map Market SizeUK Digital Map Market SizeFrance Digital Map Market SizeRussia Digital Map Market SizeSpain Digital Map Market SizeItaly Digital Map Market SizeRest of Europe Digital Map MarketAsia Pacific Digital Map MarketChina Digital Map MarketJapan Digital Map MarketIndia Digital-Map MarketSouth Korea Digital-Map MarketSingapore Digital-Map MarketMalaysia Digital-Map MarketRest of Asia Pacific Digital-Map MarketLAMEA Digital-Map MarketBrazil Digital-Map MarketArgentina Digital-Map MarketUAE Digital-Map MarketSaudi Arabia Digital-Map MarketSouth Africa Digital-Map MarketNigeria Digital-Map MarketRest of LAMEA Digital-Map MarketCompanies ProfiledApple, Inc.ARC Aerial Imaging LimitedESRIGoogle, Inc.HEREAOL (MapQuest)Micello, Inc.MiTAC Holdings CorporationNearmap Ltd.TomTom NVUnique Offerings from KBV ResearchExhaustive coverage of Global Digital Map MarketHighest number of market tables and figuresSubscription based model availableGuaranteed best priceAssured post sales research support with 10% customization freeRelated Reports:North America Digital Map Market (2017-2023)Europe Digital Map Market (2017-2023)Asia Pacific Digital Map Market (2017-2023)LAMEA Digital Map Market (2017-2023)Knowledge Based Value Research is a global brand and consulting firm serving all kinds of business verticals, government and non-governmental organizations, and not-for-profit organizations. Our motto is to extend our services that will have a lasting impact on our clients who trust us with their business goals.4F  CS  27, Ansal PlazaSector  1, Vaishali  201010Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, IndiaTel: 0120-4968631 / +91-9990696033Email: info@kbvresearch.com
Neuromed hospital grows

Neuromed

www.climaveneta.com

https://www.melcohit.com

Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems, with its brand Climaveneta, provided air conditioning units to the new clinic belonging to Neuromed Institute in Italy, after having successfully supplied other units to the same hospital in the past years.Five years after laying the first stone, the new clinic of the Neurology Institute was inaugurated on October 27th. The Hospital boasts a high degree of specialization in Neurosurgery, Neurology, and all Neuroscience-related diseases, encompassing three specific areas: clinical, research, and training. In order to consolidate the role of Neuromed as an international reference center in 2012, the investors decided to start the process of widening the structure and enhancing the research activities. The first result of this important investment plan is the new clinic that boasts high levels of innovation and features of high anti-seismicity and energy efficiency.Even the new facilitys HVAC system pursues innovation and energy efficiency goals, while minimizing CO2 and noise emissions. The heart of the plant is composed of Climaveneta heat pumps. Following the installation pf the first units in 2013, this year the following machines have been delivered: 2 INTEGRA multi-purpose heat pumps ERACS2-Q / XL-CA3222, 15 WIZARD Air Treatment Units for Air Renewal and Treatment, and 94 a-CHD cassette hydronic terminals for air distribution.Follow Climaveneta:youtube.com/user/climavenetaweb, @ClimavenetaHVAC, linkedin.com/company/climaveneta, facebook.com/climavenetaHVAC/Media Relations:Sara Di Clementesara.diclemente@melcohit.comMitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A. is Mitsubishi Electric Company specialized hydronic systems for air conditioning and heating and in IT cooling solutions.Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A. designs, produces and markets innovative, energy efficient products and provides value added services for Indoor Climate Control in commercial buildings and for Refrigeration (ICC&R) of industrial processes and ICT applications through CLIMAVENETA and RC.MEHITSMitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A.via Valsugana 98 - 36022 Cassola (VI)Italy+390424509500
Is Upleap the new alternative to Instagram bots?

www.upleap.com

With the closing of all the big Instagram bots by their anti-spam team it doesn't seem like keep trying this kind of services it's a good idea in order to keep an account safe while making it grow, especially if it's a business one.Upleap comes as a solution to this problem, instead of automating activities, which violates Instagram's TOS, Upleap assigns an account manager to your profile that gives you personalized attention, achieving better and more relevant results than a bot.It comes with a free trial for new accounts so it's accessible for everyone to check if the service actually works.Upleap is an Instagram growth tool that will assign an account manager to your profile so he can improve your engagement daily for a really affordable price.Company: UpleapAddress: Unit Level 13(A), Main Office Tower87000 FEDERAL TERRITORY OF LABUANFederal Territory of LabuanWebsite:Email: emily@upleap.com
Nov 7, 2017 : Blood Glucose Tester Market Forecast 2023 Roche, Lifescan, Bayer, Abbott, ARKRAY

Blood Glucose Tester

https://goo.gl/kKrB19

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-blood-glucose-tester-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Blood Glucose Tester Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Blood Glucose Tester market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Blood Glucose Tester market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Blood Glucose Tester market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Blood Glucose Tester Market 2017 report includes Blood Glucose Tester market Size, Revenue, market Share, Blood Glucose Tester industry volume, market Trends, Blood Glucose Tester Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Blood Glucose Tester Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Blood Glucose Tester Market Forecast 2017:1. Roche2. Lifescan3. Bayer4. Abbott5. ARKRAY6. I-SENS7. Omron8. B. Braun9. 77 Elektronika10. Nipro Dagnostics11. AgaMatrix12. Infopia13. All Medicus14. Terumo Corporation15. Hainice MedicalFirstly, the report covers the top Blood Glucose Tester manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Blood Glucose Tester report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Blood Glucose Tester industry, Blood Glucose Tester industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Blood Glucose Tester Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Blood Glucose Tester research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Blood Glucose Tester market revenue worldwide.Finally, Blood Glucose Tester market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
Nov 7, 2017 : New Energy Vehicles Market Forecast 2023 TOYOTA, Nissan, Tesla, Mitsubishi, GM, Ford, BMW, Renault

New Energy Vehicles

https://goo.gl/zmxWzz

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-new-energy-vehicles-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global New Energy Vehicles Market Forecast  examines the performance of the New Energy Vehicles market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the New Energy Vehicles market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of New Energy Vehicles market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global New Energy Vehicles Market 2017 report includes New Energy Vehicles market Size, Revenue, market Share, New Energy Vehicles industry volume, market Trends, New Energy Vehicles Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, New Energy Vehicles Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global New Energy Vehicles Market Forecast 2017:1. TOYOTA2. Nissan3. Tesla4. Mitsubishi5. GM6. Ford7. BMW8. Renault9. Volvo10. Mercedes-Benz11. Volkswagen12. Honda13. FIAT14. BYD15. Chery16. ZOTYE17. Yutong18. BAIC19. King-long20. Zhong Tong21. Geely22. SAIC23. JACFirstly, the report covers the top New Energy Vehicles manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the New Energy Vehicles report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of New Energy Vehicles industry, New Energy Vehicles industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. New Energy Vehicles Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The New Energy Vehicles research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the New Energy Vehicles market revenue worldwide.Finally, New Energy Vehicles market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
Nov 6, 2017 : Marine Audio Receiver Market Forecast 2023 BOSS, Clarion, Dual, Fusion, JBL, Jensen

Marine Audio Receiver

https://goo.gl/Hmm2nm

http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-marine-audio-receiver-sales-market-2017-demand-insight-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

A market study  Global Marine Audio Receiver Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Marine Audio Receiver market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Marine Audio Receiver market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Marine Audio Receiver market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Marine Audio Receiver Market 2017 report includes Marine Audio Receiver market Size, Revenue, market Share, Marine Audio Receiver industry volume, market Trends, Marine Audio Receiver Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Marine Audio Receiver Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Marine Audio Receiver Market Forecast 2017:1. BOSS2. Clarion3. Dual4. Fusion5. JBL6. Jensen7. JL Audio8. JVC9. Kenwood10. Lanzar11. MB Quart12. Planet Audio13. Prospec14. Pyle15. Simrad16. Sony17. UnidenFirstly, the report covers the top Marine Audio Receiver manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Marine Audio Receiver report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Marine Audio Receiver industry, Marine Audio Receiver industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Marine Audio Receiver Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Marine Audio Receiver research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Marine Audio Receiver market revenue worldwide.Finally, Marine Audio Receiver market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
Nov 6, 2017 : Elevators & Escalators Market Forecast 2023 Otis, Hitachi, Toshiba, SANYO

Elevators & Escalators

https://goo.gl/SsqTd9

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A market study  Global Elevators & Escalators Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Elevators & Escalators market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Elevators & Escalators market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Elevators & Escalators market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Elevators & Escalators Market 2017 report includes Elevators & Escalators market Size, Revenue, market Share, Elevators & Escalators industry volume, market Trends, Elevators & Escalators Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Elevators & Escalators Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Elevators & Escalators Market Forecast 2017:1. Otis2. Mitsubishi Electric3. Schindler Group4. Hitachi5. Kone6. ThyssenKrupp7. Toshiba8. Fujitec9. Yungtay Engineering10. SANYO11. Hyundai12. Canny Elevator13. Volkslift14. SJEC15. Syney Elevator16. Hangzhou XiOlift17. Sicher Elevator18. Guangri Elevator19. CNYD20. Edunburgh Elevator21. Shenlong Elevator22. Suzhou Diao23. Meilun Elevator24. IFE Elevators25. FEIYA Elevator26. Aolida Elevator27. Tailing Elevators28. Yongri Elevator29. Hosting Elevators30. Dongnan Elevator31. Elevators & Escalators Market : Type Analysis32. Elevator33. Escalator34. Elevators & Escalators Market : Application Analysis35. Residential Area36. Commercial Office37. Transportation Hub Area38. Industrial AreaFirstly, the report covers the top Elevators & Escalators manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Elevators & Escalators report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Elevators & Escalators industry, Elevators & Escalators industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Elevators & Escalators Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Elevators & Escalators research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Elevators & Escalators market revenue worldwide.Finally, Elevators & Escalators market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United StatesA market study  Global Elevators & Escalators Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Elevators & Escalators market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Elevators & Escalators market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Elevators & Escalators market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Elevators & Escalators Market 2017 report includes Elevators & Escalators market Size, Revenue, market Share, Elevators & Escalators industry volume, market Trends, Elevators & Escalators Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Elevators & Escalators Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Elevators & Escalators Market Forecast 2017:1. Otis2. Mitsubishi Electric3. Schindler Group4. Hitachi5. Kone6. ThyssenKrupp7. Toshiba8. Fujitec9. Yungtay Engineering10. SANYO11. Hyundai12. Canny Elevator13. Volkslift14. SJEC15. Syney Elevator16. Hangzhou XiOlift17. Sicher Elevator18. Guangri Elevator19. CNYD20. Edunburgh Elevator21. Shenlong Elevator22. Suzhou Diao23. Meilun Elevator24. IFE Elevators25. FEIYA Elevator26. Aolida Elevator27. Tailing Elevators28. Yongri Elevator29. Hosting Elevators30. Dongnan Elevator31. Elevators & Escalators Market : Type Analysis32. Elevator33. Escalator34. Elevators & Escalators Market : Application Analysis35. Residential Area36. Commercial Office37. Transportation Hub Area38. Industrial AreaFirstly, the report covers the top Elevators & Escalators manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Elevators & Escalators report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Elevators & Escalators industry, Elevators & Escalators industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Elevators & Escalators Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Elevators & Escalators research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Elevators & Escalators market revenue worldwide.Finally, Elevators & Escalators market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
Nov 7, 2017 : Xenon Arc Lamps Market Forecast 2023 Amglo, Hamamatsu, OSRAM, LuxteL, PHILIPS

Xenon Arc Lamps

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A market study  Global Xenon Arc Lamps Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Xenon Arc Lamps market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Xenon Arc Lamps market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Xenon Arc Lamps market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Xenon Arc Lamps Market 2017 report includes Xenon Arc Lamps market Size, Revenue, market Share, Xenon Arc Lamps industry volume, market Trends, Xenon Arc Lamps Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Xenon Arc Lamps Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Xenon Arc Lamps Market Forecast 2017:1. Excelitas Technologies2. Amglo3. Advanced Radiation Corporation4. International Light Technologies5. Hamamatsu6. JKL Components Corp.7. OSRAM8. LuxteL9. PHILIPSFirstly, the report covers the top Xenon Arc Lamps manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Xenon Arc Lamps report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Xenon Arc Lamps industry, Xenon Arc Lamps industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Xenon Arc Lamps Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Xenon Arc Lamps research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Xenon Arc Lamps market revenue worldwide.Finally, Xenon Arc Lamps market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
Nov 7, 2017 : Rotary Cutters Market Forecast 2023 Rhino, Alamo Group, JBar Corp, Hardee

Rotary Cutters

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A market study  Global Rotary Cutters Market Forecast  examines the performance of the Rotary Cutters market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Rotary Cutters market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Rotary Cutters market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Get Free Sample Of Report:The Global Rotary Cutters Market 2017 report includes Rotary Cutters market Size, Revenue, market Share, Rotary Cutters industry volume, market Trends, Rotary Cutters Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Rotary Cutters Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Rotary Cutters Market Forecast 2017:1. Rhino2. Alamo Group3. JBar Corp4. Hardee5. Moline Machinery LLC6. General ImplementFirstly, the report covers the top Rotary Cutters manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Rotary Cutters report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Rotary Cutters industry, Rotary Cutters industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Rotary Cutters Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Rotary Cutters research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Rotary Cutters market revenue worldwide.Finally, Rotary Cutters market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:Spire Market Research is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244United States
An annual Halloween event held by the Holmen Lutheran Church should make this season less scary for local families experiencing food insecurity.

The congregation held its annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat on Oct. 31. The treats collected by an army of volunteers included canned foods and non-perishables, hygiene products, items for infants and some household products.

The church started the food drive in 2006 and has continued to be involved in organizing the food drive every year since.

Planning for the event begins in September and then, a week before Halloween, teams of four to six volunteers distributed door hangers with information about the food drive, to approximately 4,000 households in their assigned neighborhoods.

On Halloween night, the volunteers returned to their assigned neighborhoods to collect bags filled with donations. Many different groups worked together to make the event happen. In addition to Holmen Lutheran, volunteers turned out from Coulee Life, Journey Lutheran and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. A significant number of Holmen High School students also donated their time.

The donations are stacked high on tables set up in the churchs lower level. Two days following the collection, families in the School District of Holmen that have been identified as possibly benefiting from the drive were invited to come to the church to stock up.

The families come in and shop, said Lori Taylor, a member of the Holmen Lutheran Church Service Ministry Team that helps organize the event.
Adult Advent Calendars Are All the Rage This Christmas

Beer Cartel's 2017 Beer Advent Calendar

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https://www.myer.com.au/shop/mystore/clinique-clinique-advent-calendar-set

https://www.beercartel.com.au/beer-advent-calendar

www.beercartel.com.au

The history of the advent calendar dates back to the 1800s where it was used as a device to count down the days to Christmas. Advent calendars of old traditionally consisted of a piece of card with 24 doors that opened to reveal different Christian festive scenes. Over time they morphed to also include chocolates inside.Today they are becoming increasing popular as adult gifts with a number of exciting variants featuring adult indulgences such as beer, gin and beauty products.Richard Kelsey, Director of Beer Cartel, a craft beer bottle shop and online retailer says that the advent calendar is now one of their strongest selling Christmas season products. In 2016 Beer Cartel released their own branded advent calendar for the first time and were simply swamped by demand.We had a theory that it could be a good inclusion to our Christmas product mix, but the level of interest was far bigger than we ever anticipated, said Mr Kelsey. People just loved the concept. Whoever we told about our beer advent calendar, their response was always the same - what a brilliant idea!There are a number of popular advent calendars available to Australian adults, across a range of products:Beer Advent Calendar - $114.99Includes a mix of 25 delicious craft beers from Australia and overseas. Your tastebuds will be tantalised by the flavours and your mind blown away by the range of styles. Even includes a beer to have on Christmas Day.Gin Advent Calendar - $295Discover 24 Australian craft gins in 50ml bottle sizes. These can be enjoyed neat or mixed. Includes tasting notes.Grooming Advent Calendar - $109Perfect for the well-groomed man. Features a range of hair and skin products allowing him to curate his unique style.Clinique Beauty Advent Calendar - $165Contains 24 different beauty products in one set. Give her the best of skin care and colour, including 3-Step Skin Care, award-winning moisturiser, best-selling lip colour, a fragrance favourite and more.To learn more about Beer Cartels Beer Advent Calendar visit:Beer Cartel is Australias leading craft beer bottle shop, stocking over 1,000 craft beers from Australia and overseas. Purchases can be made through the Beer Cartel website () and its Sydney store.Beer Cartel9/87 Reserve RdArtarmonNSW 2064AustraliaMedia Contact:Richard KelseyPhone: 0405 251 864Email: richard@beercartel.com.au
Investors Seeks to Solve the Affordable Housing Issue in Charlotte, NC

Derrick J. Moultrie, CEO and Founder of The K.O.G. Acquisitions Group is partnering with several investors in the local market to work toward creating more affordable housing options in the Charlotte Metropolitan area.The long time debate in the city has been how to solve the affordable housing issue. The Charlotte City Council recently released a report citing that Charlotte, NC is facing a shortage of affordable housing. Data shows in Mecklenburg county alone there are over 2,500 vacant single family houses.Working alongside other investors and motivated realtors, The K.O.G. Acquisitions Group will look to restore these communities by having these properties restored and filled with new families over the next two to three years.The time has come for us to work together and not separate, Mr. Moultrie stated. All investors who share the same vision in and out of the city are welcome to work with us to solve the issue that has faced our city for some time.To be considered to work alongside The K.O.G. Acquisitions Group as a realtor, investor, or in any capacity please send your request to Ebony Wiggins, Broker Assistant at Ebony@kogacquisitions.comK.O.G. Acquisitions Group is the Premier Real Estate Investment & Development Company in the Southern United States. As an all-inclusive and privately owned real estate development and investment firm, K.O.G. Acquisitions is dedicated to fortifying neighboring territories through investing, developing, managing, and financing prime multi-family, industrial, commercial and residential real estate assets.8022 Providence RoadSte # 500-129Charlotte, NC, 28277
Humanized Mouse Model Market - In-Depth Analysis & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: SnapshotThe pharmaceutical industry has been experiencing a consistent surge in the past decade, owing to rising prevalence of a number diseases, and biotechnology promises to revolutionize the field going forward. This surge is quite evident on the global humanized mouse model market too, which is based on humanizing mice with a short strand of human DNA, tissue, tumor, or microbiome. The mice that are humanized make for a highly useful model to study genetics, and ultimately leading to the development of new drugs.Some of the leading companies in this market are aggressively investing on research and development as well as pursuing alliances and acquisitions to maintain their stronghold. For instance, Horizon Discover Group plc. recently announced the signing of a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with three pharmaceutical companies in order to expand their drug discover efforts and attain full suite of services from their organization. Services included under the MSA are: target identification and validation screening, customer line engineering, cell-based assay services, and drug combination screening. On the other hand, another prominent name in this industry, The Jackson Laboratory, has developed humanized NSG (hu-NSG) and NSG-SGM3 mouse models as tools to study cancer, infectious and inflammatory disease, and hematopoiesis. Taconic Biosciences, Inc., another key vendor in the global humanized mouse model market, offer nearly 4,500 genetically engineered mice and rats with health status such as germ-free (GF), defined flora (DF), excluded flora (EF), restricted flora (RF), and murine pathogen free (MPF). Type of animal offered by Taconic Biosciences include conditional knock out, constitutive knock out, double knock out, congenic, hybrid, inbred, microinjected, and outbred.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: OverviewA humanized mouse is referred to as a mouse transmitting functioning human organs, tissues, cells, and genes. Humanized mice are basically employed in medical and biological therapeutics as animal models. Immunodeficient mouse are often act as recipients of tissues or human cells, as they can easily receive heterologous cells because of lack of immunity in the host. Conventionally, the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse and the nude mouse have been employed for the aforesaid purpose. However, recently the NSG and NOG mouse have been exposed to engraft human tissues and cells more effectively than any other model variant. Such models of humanized mouse might be employed for modelling the human immune system in situations of pathology and health, and also is likely to enable the evaluation of therapeutic candidates in an in vivo setting which is relevant to human psychology.CD34 mouse models are employed as in vivo platforms for the purpose of examining the safety and efficiency of possible new drugs that can moderate the immune system. Moreover, they are also used for long-term research in the fields of infectious disease, immuno-oncology, and graft versus host disease. Therefore, the rising application fields of CD34 models are anticipated to intensify the demand for these humanized mouse models over the coming years.Request TOC of the Report @The market intelligence publication delves into the possible growth opportunities for the global humanized mouse market and the chronological growth of the market throughout the forecast period. It also uniquely provisions required data related to facers such as dynamics influencing the progress in all possible retrospective manner. Several ubiquitous and non-ubiquitous trends have also been mentioned in the study. An outlook of extensive nature keeping in mind the Porters five forces analysis has been provided to make the vendor landscape transparent to the reader. The report further reaches out to point out accomplishments related to R&D, acquisitions, mergers, and crucial partnerships and verifications. The companies in limelight have been analyzed on market shares, products, and key strategies.Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe progress of the global humanized mouse model market can be credited to the incessant support by the governments across the globe for research projects in the form of grants and investments, a significant upsurge in the amount of research projects concerning humanized mouse models, high R&D activities by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and the mounting adoption of personalized medicines. Based on type, the humanized mouse model market can be classified into cell-based and genetic humanized mouse model. The segment of genetic models is projected to hold for the leading share in the global humanized mouse model market until the end of the forecast period. The segment of cell-based models is likely to expand at a strong CAGR from 2017 to 2025 due to the cumulating number of applications of cell-based humanized mouse models. The cell-based mouse model segment can be further classified into PBMC, BLT humanized mouse, and CD34. In 2016, CD34 model held the dominating share in the global cell-based humanized mouse model market and also exhibited a strong CAGR.Get Discount @Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Regional OutlookOwing to the significant rise in expenditure on R&D and biomedical research by several leading pharmaceutical companies, North America is expected to emerge as prominent region in the global humanized mouse model market in the near future. Asia Pacific is also expected to exhibit strong growth due to the growing focus on personalized medicines in China and rising investment by the governments of various countries in the region in the development of the life science sector and regenerative medicines.Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Vendor LandscapeThe leading companies in the market include Horizon Discovery Group PLC, genOway S.A., Axenis S.A.S, ingenious targeting laboratory, HuMurine Technologies, Inc., Harbour Antibodies BV, and The Jackson Laboratory.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
High Temperature Resin Market - Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global High Temperature Resin Market: SnapshotRapid urbanization and a surge in industrialization activities are some of the factors that are driving the global high temperature resin market. The growing application areas and an increase in the demand for high temperature resin from defense and railway applications are pushing the growth of this market. Today mechanical fasteners are being replaced by high temperature resin adhesives for composite applications, and this is creating a heightened demand for this product.High temperature resins are also used in aerospace, transportation, construction, and marine, boosting their demand. They are used in composites to increase the ignition resistance, reduce fume emission, decrease smoke, and heat release. In the aerospace industry, high temperature resins are used in ceilings, edges, sidewalls, bulkheads, doors, floorings, window reveals, latches, seating, and ducting. Thus, these resins are increasingly in demand.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The electronic industry is a key application area of high temperature resins and since the electronic industry is witnessing a high growth from the past few years and is anticipated to continue to do so. This in turn spells growth in the high temperature resin market. As the electronics industry is flourishing in Asia Pacific and urbanization and industrialization activities are increasing in the developing nations of the region, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be a lucrative market for high temperature resins. India and China are anticipated to contribute significantly in the years to come to the growth of the Asia Pacific high temperature resin market.Global High Temperature Resin Market: OverviewThe global high temperature resin market is likely to register promising growth potential in the forthcoming years. The rising demand for thermoplastic resins in the high temperature composites market is driving the global market. High temperature resins are used in some of the most rigorous applications for composite materials. They exhibit superior thermal stability, minimal mechanical degradation, and excellent chemical resistance. They are available in various types including epoxy, polyethersulfone, silicone, polyutherane, acrylic, polyester, alkyd, and phenolic. These resins are used as primarily used as adhesives and sealants, composites, and paints and coatings.Request TOC of the Report @The research report is an outcome of an in-depth analysis of the various important parameters of the global high temperature resin market including its dynamics and region-wise outlook. The data presented in the report has been derived from various paid and unpaid sources including white papers, press releases, journals, presentations, and directories. The report offers both qualitative and quantitative insights into the competitive landscape of the market. It meticulously studies the business strategies and latest developments of the key players in the market. It performs SWOT analysis that reveals the potential growth trajectory of each prominent player in the market. There is a separate section of recommendations for both new and existing players in the global high temperature resin market.Global High Temperature Resin Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of the global high temperature resins market is receiving a significant boost from the upswing in the consumption of high temperature composites in the railway, defense, and aerospace applications. The exposure of most of the structural components of aircraft to harsh environment such as high velocity and extreme heat creates a dire need for materials with excellent stability. Additionally, the increasing emphasis on fuel efficiency is fuelling the use of advanced materials including composites. Moreover, high temperature resins are being increasingly adopted as an alternative to mechanical fasteners, thereby providing a fillip to the growth of the market.Get Discount @On the other hand, the high cost of these resins is limiting their widespread adoption across different end-user industries. Furthermore, the increasing stringency of regulations set by several governments pertaining to the use of hazardous chemicals is hindering the growth of the market. However, the future of the market looks bright with the anticipated upsurge in the demand from the electronics industry for newer applications.Global High Temperature Resin Market: Geographical SegmentationThe key regional markets covered in the report are North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific will be a prominent market throughout the forecast period. The growth of the region is largely supplemented by emerging economies such as India and China. The rapid urbanization and industrialization along with the robust growth of end-user industries such as electronics and aerospace in these countries are contributing to the growth of the region.North America is also expected to account for a large share in the market owing to the presence of a large number of aerospace OEMs and tier players. The presence of advanced aviation and automotive sector in the U.S. is augmenting the growth of the region.Global High Temperature Resin Market: Competitive LandscapeProminent players in the global high temperature resins market are strategically shifting their research and development centers and manufacturing units to developing nations owing to tremendous growth opportunities in such countries. Several players are adopting technological advancements and product portfolio diversification as their key growth strategies to strengthen their positions in the market. Some of the key players are E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Henkel AG & Co., KGaA, BASF SE, Dow Corning Corporation, Royal Tencate N.V., and Solvay S.A.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Oral Spray Segment to Show Higher Growth Pace Throughout the Period of Assessment by Registering a CAGR of 14.7%

MRRSE

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https://www.mrrse.com/artificial-saliva-market

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A recent market research report named Artificial Saliva Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2025) has been added to the vast research repository of MRRSE (Market Research Reports Search Engine). This research study covers numerous facets associated with artificial saliva that have an influence over the growth of the market for artificial saliva. All vital aspects such as trends, developments, drivers and restraints across key regions in the globe that include both emerging as well as developed economies are assessed and included in this analytical research report. This research study supports the reader in gaining thorough market understanding of artificial saliva based on which short term and long term strategies can be devised to gain competitive advantage in the coming years.Free Copy of Sample Report @Global Artificial Saliva Market: SegmentationThe global market for artificial saliva has been segmented by product type, by age group, by distribution channel and by region. In the product type category, the market is further categorized into oral spray, oral liquid, oral solution, powder and gel. The age group segment is further sub segmented by adult and by pediatric. The distribution channel segment is further categorized into retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, hypermarkets and supermarkets and mail order pharmacies. With respect to region, the analysis has been done on regions such as Latin America, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC).Global Artificial Saliva Market: Competitive AssessmentThe comprehensive research report on artificial saliva market on a global front incudes a dedicated section describing key intelligence on the companies involved in the artificial saliva market. This chapter profiles all key stakeholders involved in the market. Information on company overview, service and product portfolio, SWOT analysis, geographical presence, strategies used, distribution channel analysis, marketing tactics, and recent innovations and key developments of major players have been discussed in this section.Read Full Report with TOC @Global Artificial Saliva Market: Research MethodologyThe research methodology used for gaining statistical data and insights on the global artificial saliva market is highly effective and exquisite research process that takes the accuracy level to a higher extent. The research process initiates with a secondary research wherein the global market is thoroughly assessed based on which primary research is carried out. Several interviews with market observers and subject matter experts are conducted. The data gathered in one interview is verified in the second and this continues till the research process ends. This multiple verification increases the accuracy level of the data gleaned and this system is followed to assess each and every segment of the market across every region and sub region. With the help of a triangulation method valuable insights are drawn pertaining to each segment of the market thus increasing the credibility quotient of the research report.Global Artificial Saliva Market: Reasons to InvestQualitative and quantitative insights with unbiased opinionWeighted market nomenclature covering all angles of the global marketHigher accuracy of the researched dataTrends, developments, drivers and restraints assessed so as to give a realistic picture of the market across the globeHistorical, current and future market projections included in this research study thus assisting the reader in all possible waysEnquire About this Report @About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence 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.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Barrier Shrink Films Market - Vacuum Bags to Outclass with Astonishing Revenue Growth

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The global barrier shrink films market is foretold to gain a high demand in end-consumer businesses where products are stored in retail store shelves. The fresh and processed food industry could be a good instance to follow where products such as meat, poultry, and cheese are sliced and stored in plastic trays covered with peelable and mostly with reclosable lidding laminates or films. Barrier shrink films are expected to become extremely demanding in the foreseeable future due to their excellent printing designs, capability to increase the shelf life of products, and convenience. Companies today are focusing more on providing innovative and comprehensive packaging solutions.The global barrier shrink films market is foreseen to attain a valuation of US$4.5 bn by the completion of 2022, as per Transparency Market Research (TMR), at a 5.1% CAGR. In 2017, the market earned a valuation of US$3.5 bnGet an exclusive sample of this report @Vacuum Bags to Outclass with Astonishing Revenue GrowthThe world barrier shrink films market is projected to be cataloged into flowpacks, vacuum bags, shrink forms, chubs, and shrink wraps, according to product. Out of these segments, the market could witness the dominance of vacuum bags accounting for a titanic share during the forecast period. By the end of 2022, this segment is forecast to earn a revenue of US$1.2 bn. It could expand at a US$0.06 bn annually, which is expected to be larger than the absolute growth of other products.By end use, the world barrier shrink films market could be classified into food and beverages, healthcare, electronics, cosmetics and personal care, and other manufacturing end users. In terms of material, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and others could be the primary segments. By barrier, the market could see a classification into low, medium, high, and ultra-high.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @APEJ to Showcase Notable Growth, Japan Expected to StumbleRegionally, the international barrier shrink films market is prognosticated to honor Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) as a leading segment securing a greater share in the near future. APEJ could rise at a 6.6% CAGR and gain more basis points (BPS) than other regions of the market during the said forecast period. North America could be a high-growth market expected to account for a US$0.9 bn of the total revenue by 2022 end. Europe is prophesied to be another region with a decent market growth but is estimated to lose 143 BPS in the coming years.Although the international barrier shrink films market incorporates the aforementioned lucrative regions, it could suffer a slow growth in other geographies such as the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan. During the forecast period, the MEA is envisioned to embrace an absolute opportunity of US$0.05 bn. Japan could create a lower opportunity of US$0.02 bn during the same period.Some of the vital players operating in the worldwide barrier shrink films market could be Bemis Company, Inc., Sealed Air Corporation, Winpak Ltd., Kureha Corporation, Coveris Holdings S.A., Schur Flexibles Group, Flavorseal Llc., Buergofol GmbH, Flexopack S.A., and Premiumpack GmbH.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
LLDPE Market - Packaging and Nonpackaging Films and Coatings to Dominate Global Market

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The global LLDPE market has exhibited rapid growth in the last few years on the back of steady drivers such as the growth of the packaging industry and is likely to be a key beneficiary of likely developments in the global economic cycle in the coming years. The LLDPE market has been profiled in detail in the report to provide readers with a clear idea of the markets historical development trajectory and growth prospects over the 2017-2022 forecast period. The key drivers affecting growth of the LLDPE market are profiled in the report in reference to their broader macroeconomic context in order to enable readers to gain clear understanding of the major factors aiding expansion of the LLDPE market over the 2017-2022 forecast period.According to Transparency Market Research, the global LLDPE market is likely to exhibit a steady 6.2% CAGR over the 2017-2022 forecast period, with the markets valuation expected to rise from US$52.2 bn by the end of 2017 to US$70.6 bn by the end of 2022.Get an exclusive sample of this report @The global LLDPE market is segmented by application into packaging and nonpackaging films and coatings, injection and blow molding, sheets, and containers, tanks, toys, rotational molded outdoor products etc. Of these, packaging and nonpackaging films and coatings are likely to be the dominant contributor to the global LLDPE market over the 2017-2022 forecast period. The packaging and nonpackaging films and coatings segment was valued at US$36.4 bn in 2017, representing close to 72% of the global LLDPE market. The segment is likely to exhibit a solid 6.1% CAGR over the 2017-2022 forecast period, with its valuation expected to rise to US$48.9 bn by the end of 2022. The market share of packaging and nonpackaging films and coatings in the global LLDPE market is likely to fall slightly to 71.4% over the 2017-2022 forecast period, although the annual growth figure of the segment  US$2.5 bn  is by far the largest in the global LLDPE market.Asia Pacific except Japan to Remain Leading Contributor to Global LLDPE MarketRegionally, the report studies the performance of the LLDPE market in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Japan, and Asia Pacific except Japan. Of these, Asia Pacific except Japan is likely to remain the leading contributor to the global LLDPE market over the 2017-2022 forecast period, with the regional market expected to rise to a valuation of US$36.6 bn by the end of the forecast period. The Asia Pacific except Japan market for LLDPE is thus likely to retain a majority share in the global LLDPE market over the 2017-2022 forecast period, cementing its supremacy with a strong 6.6% CAGR over the forecast period.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @North America to Remain Key Contributor with 6% CAGR 2017-2022North America is also likely to remain among the key regional markets for LLDPE over the 2017-2022 forecast period, with the regional LLDPE market likely to exhibit a steady 6% CAGR therein. Valuation of the North America LLDPE market is likely to rise from US$7.7 bn to US$10.4 bn between 2017 and 2022. The LLDPE market in Europe, meanwhile, is expected to generate an absolute opportunity of close to US$2.2 bn over the 2017-2022 forecast period.Global LLDPE Market: Competitive DynamicsKey companies in the global LLDPE market include The Dow Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries NV, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., SABIC, Mubadala Investment Company, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Reliance Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, and Sasol Limited.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Vials Market - Trends, Share and Growth & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Vials Market: SnapshotThe chromatography market along with the packaging market serves as the top driver of the global vials market. Owing to the dynamic nature of the global chromatography market, where end user and existing technologies experience incessant change, the demand for vials in this sector is likely to be high, thus benefitting the global vials market in return. Vials are basically small glass or plastic bottles that employed for storing medications such as capsules, liquids, and powders. With respect to the growing healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, the demand for vials is also expected to be comparatively high from these industries along with the ones mentioned above.To maintain a leading position in the global market and stay competitive, the leading companies are focusing spontaneously on investments and enhancing their research and development activities for manufacturing new products by deploying advanced technologies for the purpose. The demand for vials is basically anticipated to be driven by the constant need for chromatography processes in industries such as insecticides, pesticides, food and beverages, chemicals, life sciences, and biotechnology.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Based on region, the prevalence of leading players in Europe and North America are likely to make these regions potential prospects for the entry of new players to make the most of the available opportunities. As for the existing players in these, they are focusing on expanding their services and products to countries in the Asia Pacific region with the prevalence of a large population base and well equipped laboratories for carrying out further research.Vials Market: Comprehensive OverviewVial also known as phial or flacon, is a small plastic or a glass bottle or vessel. Vials are primarily used to store medication such as powders, liquids or capsules. In the past, vials were made of glass, but now, various plastic materials, including polypropylene are being used in manufacturing vials. Varieties of closed systems are used during the manufacturing of vials, including screw vials and crimp vials. In addition, plastic vials can have various other types of closure systems including flip-tops or snap caps. A vial can either be bottle shaped or can have a bottle-like shape with a neck. The volume that is defined by the neck of the vial is called the headspace.Request TOC of the Report @However, the bottom of the vial is usually flat, unlike that of test tubes, which is circular or rounded. The small vials, which are bottle shaped, are typically used in chemical laboratories and are known as McCartneys bottles or bijou. The bijou bottles are usually smaller, and have holding capacity of around 10mm. Various laboratories use different types of vials depending on their need such as low adsorption vials, certified vials, screw top vials, 9mm screw top vials, snap ring vials, crimp top vials, polypropylene vials, interlocked vials, inserts, versa vials, shell vials, center drain vials and headspace vials.Vials are primarily used as scientific sample vessels specifically in auto sampler devices employed in the analytical chromatography process. In addition, vials are used as primary or secondary packaging material in order to store various medicines in their powder, granular or liquid form. Medications of highly sensitive nature can only be stored in vials in order to protect them from external environment.Get Discount @Vials Market: Trends and ProspectsThe chromatography accessory market as well as the packaging market boosts demand for vials in the global market. The chromatography market is technology driven, where new technologies and end users witness continuous and rapid change. All major companies continue to invest, in order to expand its research and development team, with principal aim of introducing new products and technologies in the market. The vial market is the fastest growing segment in the chromatography accessory market, and is expected to grow even further over the next few years, owing to innovations, in terms of various types of materials used in the manufacturing and designing of vials. The demand for vials is essentially driven by the increasing demand for chromatography procedures in various industries including biotechnology, life sciences, chemicals, food and beverage, pesticides, and insecticides. In addition, increasing investments made by the government in the Asia Pacific region, primarily in the biochemical industry, is expected to boost the vial market in the projected period.Vials Market: Regional OutlookThe key regions of the vial market are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). Major players in the North American region as well as the European region are focused on increasing their presence in various high growth markets of the Asia pacific region. Various companies plan to expand their base in emerging countries like India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. These markets offer a wide range of opportunities for growth and are expected to become high investment regions as well as new revenue pockets for the global market. High population, new technologies, increasing number of chemical laboratories, high investment in various research and development activities, and favorable demographics are expected to drive the global vial market.Vials Market: Key Market PlayersThe key vials market players include MeadWestvaco Corporation., Amcor Ltd, Schott AG, Rexam PLC, Gerresheimer AG, and West Pharmaceutical Services.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Corrugated Boxes Market Overview 2017: Growth, Demand and Forecast Research Report to 2022

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The global corrugated boxes market has witnessed a healthy growth over the past several years. The major factor driving the growth of the market is the thriving e-commerce industry and other end-use segments such as textiles, food and beverages, automotive, etc.Request a free sample copy of the report:The latest report by IMARC Group, titled Corrugated Boxes Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2017-2022, finds that the global corrugated boxes market reached a value of US$ 161 Billion in 2016, exhibiting a CAGR of around 5% during 2009-2016. Corrugated boxes represent one of the most preferred means of packaging across the world. They are made by pasting two layers of flat papers (liners) with a wavy layer of cardboard (flute) in between. The wavy layer protects the content of the box by providing insulation and strength. Unlike plastic crates, corrugated boxes provide rigidity, flexibility, durability and cost-effectiveness. Corrugated boxes are available in various shapes, sizes and designs. Owing to these properties, they are extensively used in the packaging of various goods such as foods, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, hazardous chemicals and other materials.Highlights of the global corrugated boxes market:Expanding e-commerce industry is the primary factor driving the global corrugated boxes market.Food products and beverages represent the largest end-use segment.Asia-Pacific is the largest market, accounting for around half of the total share.The global corrugated boxes market is driven by the rise of the e-commerce industry which is being fuelled by hassle-free delivery, free shipping options, easy return policies and convenience. Additionally, rapid urbanization in the developing countries like India and China, and rising disposable income resulting in increased purchasing power are considered to be the other growth drivers for the market. The increase in population in these countries has also increased the demand for consumer goods which, in turn, has fuelled the corrugated boxes market. Growth of the end-use industries such as the food and beverage industry, which has grown exponentially in the last few years, has led to a rise in demand for the corrugated boxes. Owing to the aforementioned factors, the market is further projected to reach a value of US$ 200 Billion by 2022.The market has been segmented on the basis of end-use. Currently, food products and beverage represent the largest end-use segment, accounting for around two-fifths of the total market share. It is followed by electronic goods, household care goods, paper products, chemicals, glassware and textile goods. The major types of materials used for corrugated boxes are virgin corrugates and recycled corrugates. Being cost-effective, environment-friendly and convenient, recycled corrugates have an increased adoption rate, as compared to virgin corrugates. Region-wise, Asia-Pacific holds around a half of the total market due to a growth in the demand for FMCG products like toiletries, food and beverages, OTC drugs, etc. It is followed by Europe, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. On evaluating the competitive landscape of the market, it is found that Nine Dragons Paper, West Rock, International Paper, Lee & Mann Group and Smurfit Kappa Group are the key players.Read full report with TOC :The report by IMARC Group has examined the global corrugated boxes market on the basis of:End-use:Food Products and BeveragesPaper ProductsElectrical and Electronic GoodsPersonal and Household Care GoodsChemicalsGlassware and CeramicsTextile GoodsOthersMaterial:Virgin CorrugatesRecycled CorrugatesRegion:Asia-PacificEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaNorth AmericaMajor Manufacturers:Nine Dragons PaperWest RockInternational PaperLee & Mann GroupSmurfit Kappa GroupBrowse related reports:Jute Bag Market:PET Bottle Market: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.Contact usIMARC Group309 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USAWebsite:Email: sales@imarcgroup.comUSA: +1-631-791-1145Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Market -Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Market: OverviewInternet protocol television is considered as an effective technology that offers several television services through a packet-switched network although remaining within a large number of internet protocol suites. With the tremendous rise in the online traffic, the need for internet protocol television is expected to rise substantially, thus encouraging the overall development of the market. Moreover, the growth in the internet video advertising is expected to accelerate the growth of the global internet protocol television market over the next few years.Furthermore, the emergence of new technology and advanced products are estimated to generate promising growth opportunities for the leading players operating in the internet protocol television market in the near future. The lack of verification of effective locations for servers and the lack of proper accounting are estimated to curtail the growth of the market in the coming years. In addition, the rising need to meet the customer preference is considered to act as a major barrier for the development of the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Nonetheless, the growing need of consumers for high-quality and reliable online experience is likely to offer growth opportunities in the near future. Moreover, the rise in the use of internet and the advent of mobile CDN is estimated to accelerate the markets growth in the near future. The developed economies across the globe are expected to offer lucrative benefits for the market players, whereas the rising population in developing economies is likely to fuel the development of the global internet protocol television market over the next few years.Global IPTV Market: SnapshotIPTV stands for Internet protocol television, a technology that delivers television services over a packet-switched network while remaining within the Internet protocol suites. With IPTV, smaller batches of media can now be streamed directly on customers devices in smaller batches. As per the International Telecommunication Union, IPTV functions over an IP-based network that enable high level of security, quality of service, reliability, and interactivity. With the widespread outreach of the Internet and direct to home (DTH) services, and technological advancements in interactive television, the global market for IPTV is projected for a robust growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Request TOC of the Report @Broadly, there are three types of services offered by IPTV: live television, time-shifted television, and video on-demand (VOD). Live television is streaming of current events broadcast on television while time shifted services allows used to replay the content after delays. VOD refers to services wherein customers select a video of choice from a catalog of videos offered by the service providers. Major components involved to deliver IPTV services include TV head-end, interactive portal, VOD platform, home gateway, delivery network, and set-top box. The two basic types of architectures used for delivering IPTV are distributed architecture and centralized architecture. IPTV is implemented using several protocols such as H.263 for video compression, modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) for audio compression, and Real-time Protocol (RTP) for live streaming and VOD.Global IPTV Market: Trends and ProspectsDTH services have gain immense popularity in the recent past, which is clearly reflecting on increased demand for VOD services. Additionally, IPTV offer value added services such as e-mail, voicemail and others, which is further fueling the market. Moreover, several telecommunication services have entered the IPTV market recently, including Verizon, Vodafone, and British Telecom. These new entrants with strong financial background are expected to escalate the level of competition, which will eventually lead to reduced cost to the consumers and thereby increase the demand in the global IPTV market. However, for the proper functioning of IPTV, minimum bandwidth required is around 10 mbps of high speed Internet connectivity, which is not available all across the globe. This is the solitary restraint over the growth rate of the global IPTV market, although the effect of this factor is expected to reduce over the duration of forecast period as several next-generation spectrums are being launched by several governments.Get Discount @Global IPTV Market: Segment AnalysisIPTV market can be segmented on the basis of end-users and geography. Corporate consumers and individual consumers comprise end-users. Currently, corporate consumers serve the maximum demand but, with improving network infrastructure, the segment of individual consumers will also escalate significantly during the forecast period. Geographically, the report studies the lucrativeness of the regional markets of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Though the developed countries in North America and Europe are currently serving the maximum demand, vast population base in Asia Pacific is expected to surge ahead in terms of demand towards the end of the forecast period.AT&T, Cablevision, China Telecom, Comcast, Bharti Airtel Limited, Reliance Communications Limited, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, British Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, Etisalat, France Telecom, Telecom Malaysia, NTT DOCOMO, Telenor, Verizon, and Vodafone are some of the key players currently operational in global IPTV market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Chinese experts aim to help Zanzibar's chefs raise their standards to international levels

The China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries and State University of Zanzibar have signed an agreement to collaborate in enhancing the food industry of the East African islands.

The collaboration is aimed at capacity building through training in the food industry and food technology for personnel of the university's Institute of Tourism Development.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania.

Representatives of the China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries delegation meet with officials of State University of Zanzibar. An agreement to collaborate in enhancing the food industry has been reached between the two sides. Chris Mabeya / For China Daily

Huang Yutong, vice-president of the China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries, says: "By collaborating with SUZA and other institutions in Zanzibar, CNRIFFI will be putting into practice the bilateral relationship between these two nations. We want to create chefs of international quality who will be able to work internationally and who can serve better in the booming tourism industry."

Huang says representatives of the Chinese institute will make frequent visits to the university to enhance the relationship and collaborate on other projects aimed at developing Zanzibar's tourism industry.

Idris Rai, vice-chancellor of SUZA, says China has been a good friend to Zanzibar, and many Chinese higher learning institutions have shown interest in partnerships with the university. The food industry partnership will strengthen their relationship with SUZA.

"Tourism is SUZA's emerging priority, and the aim is to capture all the opportunities which are so far mostly occupied by foreigners, due to a lack of expertise among Zanzibaris," says Rai.

"We appeal to CNRIFFI to develop a joint program with SUZA in which, through the SUZA television station, the two institutions may introduce special chef programs which offer practical training."

SUZA is expected to identify the problems encountered in the industry and seek solutions from CNRIFFI under the partnership agreement.

CNRIFFI has extensive expertise and has enjoyed world-level achievements in the food field. It has also maintained a leading position within China in such areas as traditional brewery engineering technology, new food resources and functional ingredients development, food safety assurance technology and standardization technology.

Before the delegation from the Chinese institute left for China, its members visited the Kizimabani Institute of Agriculture-SUZA, where they learned about spice growing and processing. They promised to spread the word about the islands' spices.

Tourism is the main source of foreign currency in Zanzibar, which is best known for its beaches. It has reportedly received 9,018 visitors from China since the beginning of the year.

President Xi Jinping, during his visit to Tanzania in 2013, pledged to support major projects in Tanzania, including Zanzibar.

Among the projects were construction of the new Maruhub Harbor on Zanzibar's main island, the expansion of the airport and the improvement of water facilities and services through nonconditional loans from the Chinese government.

In 2013, China gave a 30-year, $73.9 million preferential loan to the government of Zanzibar for expansion work at the airport, which is on Pemba Island.

Zanzibar is also a beneficiary of three major projects from 16 agreements signed between Tanzania and China, including economic and technical cooperation, the rehabilitation and upgrading of Abdulla Mzee Hospital in Pemba and two scanners provided by China for container inspection at Zanzibar Port.

For China Daily
Cosmetic Threads Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast till 2025

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Cosmetic threads are defined as medical sutures that are injected into the skin with the help of needles beneath the skin in order to rejuvenate and lift the skin. It is a recent technology which was launched and tested in Europe. The first generation cosmetic threads were not very successful due to several reasons like improper product positioning, lack of marketing strategy and many others. There are few types of cosmetic threads like suspension threads and rejuvenating threads.The Suspension threads is a type of cosmetic threads that has barbs and cones on it. These barbs and cones help to pull the sagging kin backward. These are intended to be injected in to the target area on the face. Rejuvenating threads are a type of cosmetic thread which does not have the tendency to lift the skin, instead production of natural collagen when injected beneath the skin. These product do not bring about permanent change in the skin of the patient. Regular and repetitive procedures like derma fillers and botox treatment are required to maintain the effectiveness of cosmetic threads. Cosmetic threads procedure is one of the minimally invasive alternate procedure to surgical procedure for facelift.Request for TOC @One of the unique characteristic of cosmetic threads is that it is approved in more than one indication as compared to traditional facial injectable. For an instance, other than facial skin, the cosmetic threads are also approved in correction of ptosis that occurs anywhere on the body. The probable prone areas for ptosis are neck, stomach, thighs and arms.Although the idea of inserting the threads is not a new idea for the cosmetic industry as gold threads were used as a treatment in ancient Egypt to inject into the skin for the natural collagen production in the skin. Since then, modern generations are developed in Europe and Asia. However, cosmetic threads were banned in US by the FDA for use due to complications in the procedures, which was backed by physicians who were performing the procedures in a wrong way.The global Cosmetic threads market is segmented on basis of product type, indication type and geography:Segment by Product TypeSuspension ThreadsRejuvenating ThreadsSegment by Indication TypeFace liftSkin RejuvenationPtosisThe global cosmetic threads market is segmented, by product type and indication type. Based on the product type the global Cosmetic threads market is segmented into suspension threads and rejuvenating threads. Suspension threads are used in order to lift the sagging skin as it has barbs and cones that pulls the skin. The other type of cosmetic thread called as rejuvenating thread does not have the ability to pull the skin as it does not have any burbs and cones. Instead it has the property of natural collagen production once it is inserted in to the skin. By Indication type the global cosmetic thread is segmented into facelift, skin rejuvenation and ptosis. Depending upon the indication appropriate type of cosmetic thread is used for the procedure.On the basis of regional presence, global Cosmetic threads market is segmented into five broad regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Europe is leading the global Cosmetic threads market due to increased awareness about cosmetic threads and associated benefits. Asia Pacific market is also projected to experience growth in the near future. Asia Pacific market is estimated to grow at faster growth rate during the forecast period, owing to factors such as growing demand for aesthetic procedures, adoption of effective new therapies and raising aesthetic expenditure. The North American market is not supporting this therapy as the FDA did not approve the therapy for any of the indication. But recently in 2015.Make an Enquiry @Some of the major players in global Cosmetic threads market are Aptos Technology Inc., Gold Thread LLC, Healux, Metro Korea Co.,Ltd, Coron Exclusiv AG, BS Medical Tech Industry, N Finders Co.,Ltd., SJ Medics Ltd, and many othersAbout UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesT: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Hyperscale Data Center Market - Analysis Market with Current Trends Analysis upto 2025

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Hyperscale Data Center Market: SnapshotWith the increasing need for decline in operational expenditures and high application performance, the global market for hyperscale data center is displaying a significant increase in its size. The rise in the spending on data center technology is also boosting the growth of this market substantially. Additionally, the escalating number of users, adopting solutions, which assist them in scaling their infrastructure with the increasing demand, is likely to propel this market in the years to come.Cloud providers, enterprises, and colocation vendors have emerged as the main users of hyperscale data centers across the world. Since hyperscale data center is a vital commodity for the construction of a scalable and robust cloud, it is used by a large number of cloud service providers. Enterprises mostly have their hyperscale data centers within their premises; however, they, sometime, contract out it to colocation service vendors.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Servers and networks are the main components of the global hyperscale data center market. As the increase in the operational complexities and the augment in the demand from end users has raised the requirement for technically advanced and more efficient hyperscale data centers, the need for cutting-edge hardware and networking component has also increased across the world.Global Hyperscale Data Center Market: OverviewHyperscale data centers are created to provide a single, massively scalable compute architecture. The architecture is essentially comprised of small, separate servers, called nodes, which provide compute, storage, and networking. These nodes are then brought together and managed as a whole. Nodes are usually deployed from inexpensive, off the shelf servers.Request TOC of the Report @The primary objective of hyperscale architecture is to keep in the initial investment in check by starting on a small scale. Depending upon demand, new nodes can be added to the cluster resulting in an extension of the initial infrastructure. Hyperscale data centers, a part of the IT infrastructure domain, have been mostly leveraged by international internet giants, namely Google and Amazon. Going forward their market looks promising.A report by Transparency Market Research throws light on important facets of the global market for hyperscale data center. It furnishes a qualitative analysis of the growth drivers and restraints in the market and chronicles the prevalent trends in it. It also offers a detailed assessment of the competitive landscape and identifies key players contributing towards the growth of the global market for hyperscale data center. The report leverages market-leading analytical tools to gauge the opportunities and threats awaiting players in the market.Get Discount @Global Hyperscale Data Center Market: Trends and OpportunitiesEnergy efficiency, usefulness in a gamut of industries, open compute project, and lessened ownership cost are some of the unique perceived benefits of hyperscale data centers. Such advantages have driven their demand so far from consumers wanting to tackle the growing operational complexities that traditional data centers are unable to resolve. There are three types of hyperscale data centers  cloud providers, colocation providers, and enterprises.Based on application, the global hyperscale data center market can be segmented into IT and telecom, healthcare, banking, financial services, and insurance, government utilities, energy, and manufacturing, among others. A booming IT services industry has substantially upped the demand for hyperscale data centers in the IT and telecom industry. Depending upon the component again, the market can be categorized into server, networking, etc. Among them, the server segment leads the market and going forward too is slated to hold onto its dominant share.Factors serving as bottleneck to the growth in the global market for hyperscale data centers are power failures and generation of a lot of heat.Global Hyperscale Data Center Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the key segments in the global market for hyperscale data center management are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Among them, Asia-Pacific is slated to gain most market share in the near future on account of the growing demand for cloud service from small, medium, and large enterprises and swift take-up of hyperscale data center architecture and technologies by various industries in the region. The IT and telecommunications industry has been generating the most revenue so far and in the near future the banking, financial services, and insurance segment will gross maximum revenue in Asia Pacific. Countries such as India, China, and Japan are at the forefront of driving demand in the Asia Pacific market.Companies Mentioned in the ReportTo assess the competition prevailing in the global market for hyperscale data center, the report profiles companies such as Intel Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Nlyte Software, Sandisk Corporation, Cisco Systems, INC., Ericsson, and International Business Machines Corporation.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Cloud-based English Language Learning Market Size, Trends,Share,Status and Forecast 2022

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Research Beam has added a report on Global Cloud-based English Language Learning Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022Cloud-based English Language Learning Market is provided in the report based on product scope and market status & outlook. The market is segmented on the basis of type, end-users/application, and geography. The report provides information about the production, price, revenue, market share, and growth rate of each type. Geographically, the market has been analyzed across North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India. The status and prospect through 2012-2022 for each of these regions are listed in the report.Get Sample@The report entails the qualitative and quantitative analysis of current and future market estimations. It also divulges details about the mode of research methodology used for the study. It includes data from primary as well as secondary resources. The report is a useful resource for industry players, new entrants in the marketplace, and investors as it helps them plan their business to gain fruitful and meaningful outcomes. It makes them aware of the production, capacity, revenue, supply, consumption, export, import, the challenges and risks associated with the industry, and much more. Factors that drive the growth of the market are detailed in the study. Key players are profiled in the report and their developments in recent years are mentioned, which helps in understanding the competitive outlook of the Cloud-based English Language Learning MarketGet 15% discount on this report @market/purchase-enquiryThe Cloud-based English Language Learning Market report has a mention of the industrial chain, sourcing strategy, and downstream buyers. This incorporates the overall industrial chain analysis, upstream raw materials sourcing, raw materials sources of the product major manufacturers in 2015, and downstream buyers.The report also throws light on the marketing strategy used for the study. It includes marketing channel (direct marketing, indirect marketing, and marketing channel development trend) and market positioning (pricing strategy, brand strategy, and target client).The Cloud-based English Language Learning Market report also covers an analysis of the market effect factors. This includes the technology progress/risk (substitutes/threat and technology progress in the related industry), consumer needs/customer preference change, and economic/political environmentalThe key players which provide solutions in the Cloud-based English Language Learning Market Linguatronics Rosetta Stone Sanako SANS Edusoft OKpanda Sanoma VoxyCheck Full Report With TOC@About Us:Research Beams uniqueness lies in its highly ethical reports at economical rates because we value your relationship and growth more than money. Your growth is our aim. With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact Us:Global Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United Statesphone+1 (800) 910-6452mail help@researchbeam.com
Global Signal Transformers Market 2017 - RFMW Ltd, West Coast Magnetics, Premier Magnetics, Inc, Datatronics

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Signal Transformers market report issues the latest industry data and future trends permitting you to discern the products and end users driving Revenue growth and benefits. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request for Sample Report:Backed by extensive primary and secondary research, the report Global Signal Transformers Industry delivers valuable market insights. The report has been prepared using inputs from industry experts and features valuable recommendations from senior analysts. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the Global Signal Transformers industry.The reports includes market drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, investment potential, leading technologies, future roadmap, player profile, regulatory ecosystem, and strategies. The report also delivers market size forecasts for Signal Transformers Industry. The forecasts are further mentioned for the top segment of the Signal Transformers market. This report comes with several charts, graphs and graphics to make it an interesting read.The report is divided into product segment analysis, application segment analysis and regional segment analysis. Geographically, the global Signal Transformers market is designed for the following regional markets:The industry research is disperse over the world which includes Signal Transformers market in USA, Europe, Japan, China, India and South East Asia.Access Full Report With TOC:This report includes industry definitions and types, regions, Signal Transformers industry analysis like industry revenue, growth rate and price analysis, market share by players and regions, supply chain analysis, various company profiles, globalization and trade inclusive of business locations, supply channels, marketing strategy and barriers to entry, Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major Countries.Thus, the research study provides a comprehensive view of the global Signal Transformers market, offering market dimensions and evaluations for the period from 2017 to 2022, keeping in mind the aforementioned factors.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Legal Process Outsourcing Services 2017: Global Maket Key Players- Clutch, Infosys, Integreon, QuisLex, UnitedLex, Capita, Capgemini, Cobra Legal Solutions, CPA Global, Exigent, Legal Advantage, LegalBase, Mindcrest, NewGalexy

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This report studies the global Legal Process Outsourcing Services market, analyzes and researches the Legal Process Outsourcing Services development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeRequest a Sample Report @ClutchInfosysIntegreonQuisLexUnitedLexCapitaCapgeminiCobra Legal SolutionsCPA GlobalExigentLegal AdvantageLegalBaseMindcrestNewGalexyMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Legal Process Outsourcing Services can be split intoIP technical support outsourcingReview services outsourcingLegal research outsourcingLitigation support outsourcingE-discovery services outsourcingContract management outsourcingMarket segment by Application, Legal Process Outsourcing Services can be split intoCompanyBanking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI)HospitalFactoryOthersMake an enquiry of this Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Legal Process Outsourcing Services1.1 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Overview1.1.1 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market by Type1.3.1 IP technical support outsourcing1.3.2 Review services outsourcing1.3.3 Legal research outsourcing1.3.4 Litigation support outsourcing1.3.5 E-discovery services outsourcing1.3.6 Contract management outsourcing1.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Company1.4.2 Banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI)1.4.3 Hospital1.4.4 Factory1.4.5 Others2 Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Clutch3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Infosys3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Integreon3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 QuisLex3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 UnitedLex3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Capita3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Capgemini3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Cobra Legal Solutions3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 CPA Global3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Exigent3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Legal Process Outsourcing Services Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Legal Advantage3.12 LegalBase3.13 Mindcrest3.14 NewGalexy4 Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Legal Process Outsourcing Services in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Legal Process Outsourcing Services5 United States Legal Process Outsourcing Services Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)6 EU Legal Process Outsourcing Services Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Legal Process Outsourcing Services Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)ContinuedPurchase Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Biochemistry Analyser Market is Expected to Expand US$ 4,625.3 Mn in Revenues during 2016-2024

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The clinical use of biochemistry analyzers in measurement solutions such as latex agglutination, ion-selective potentiometry, and colorimetric & photometric testing. In addition to this, accuracy of biochemistry analyzers in analyzing blood and urine samples has benefited pathology labs and diagnostic centers across the globe. Persistence Market Research predicts that the global demand for biochemistry analyzers will continue to soar on the grounds of such factors. A recent report published by Persistence Market Research projects that by the end of 2024, the global market for biochemistry analyzers will reach US$ 4,625.3 Mn in terms of value.Request Sample Report @Key findings in the report cite that the use of chemistry analyzers spans from high-throughput clinical labs to point-of-care clinics, and its use for testing enzymes, electrolytes and proteins is gaining traction. The report current values the global biochemistry analyzer market at a little over US$ 3,000 Mn. During the forecast period, revenues generated through global sales of biochemistry analyzers are, thus, expected to soar at a steady CAGR of 5.5%.Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Siemens AG, Beckman Coulter Inc., Abbott Diagnostics Inc., Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Hologic, Inc., Randox Laboratories, Ltd., Awareness Technology, Inc., Transasia Biomedicals Ltd., and Nova Biomedical Corp. are profiled in the report as key players of global biochemistry analyzer market.View To View Table Of Content @The report further reveals that fully-automated biochemistry analyzers will remain in great demand in the years to come. In 2017 and beyond, more than 85% of global biochemistry analyzer revenues will be accounted by sales of fully-automated biochemistry analyzers. Moreover, clinical diagnostics will also remain the largest application of biochemistry analyzers throughout the forecast period. Revenues accounted by global sales of biochemistry analyzers in clinical diagnostics are anticipated to register speedy growth at 5.7% CAGR. The report further identifies diagnostic centers as largest end-users of biochemistry analyzers in the world. On the other hand, rising number of point-of-care diagnostic labs instated in hospitals will render a key end-user of biochemistry analyzers. Together, hospitals and diagnostics centers will be responsible for procure over two-third of global biochemistry analyzers revenues through 2024.The use of biochemistry analyzers in drug development applications is also expected to gain traction in the future. Based on modality, the report forecasts that in 2016, more than 70% of the market value was accounted by bench-top biochemistry analyzers. However, towards the end of the forecast period, the demand for bench-top modality will incur a marginal decline, while floor standing biochemistry analyzers will bring in over US$ 1,200 Mn revenues.Browse Report Overview @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Military Robots Market 2017 Research, Share, Size, Growth, Competitor Strategy and Trends by Forecast to 2023

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Latest Report on Military Robots Market Global Analysis & 2022 Forecast Research StudyMilitary Robots Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Northrop Grumman System Corp. (U.S.), General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.), BAE Systems, Inc. (U.K.), AeroVironment Inc. (U.S.), iRobot (U.S.), Boston Dynamics (U.S.), Thales Group (France), Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel), Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (Turkey).Request a Sample Report @Market Scenario:Military robots are machines that are controlled by remotes designed for military purposes. They have a number of advantages such as the capability to perform dangerous tasks. Military robots have become more reliable and efficient because of the advancements and upgrades in technology. They are also designed so as to carry out operations such as search & rescue and even for attacking the enemy. There has been an increase in the investment in military robots so as to strengthen their development and procurement.Military robots market is expected to witness growth due to factors such as rising growth in efficient border investigation and common ISR functions. The rise in border investigation is aimed at making the military aware about any conflict. The global military robots market is expected to account for USD 13.6 billion by 2023 with 9.5 % CAGR.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 40 market data tables and figures spread over 80 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Military Robots Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023.Regional Analysis of Global Military Robots Market:Europe is expected to witness the highest growth in military robots market during the forecast period as the manufacturers here have the knowledge of developing robots with built in speech and human machine interface. It has various innovation driven research institutes, offering education in robotics. Due to the innovation in technology of robotics, the market in Europe is expected to grow during the forecast period. North America is expected to be the second largest region in military robots market during the forecast period due to higher government spending in defense sector.Intended Audience: military robots market manufacturers Distributer &Supplier companies End Users consultants and Investment bankersFor Detailed Reading Please visit MRFR Reports @Major Topics Covered in Table of Content1... Executive Summary2 Research Methodology3... Market Dynamics4... Global Military Robots Market, By Platform5... Global Military Robots Market, By Application6... Global Military Robots Market, By Payload7 Regional Market Analysis8... Competitive AnalysisLIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET, BY PLATFORMTABLE 2 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET, BY APPLICATIONTABLE 3 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET, BY PAYLOADTABLE 4 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET, BY REGIONSLIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGYFIGURE 2 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET: BY PLATFORM (%)FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET: BY APPLICATION (%)FIGURE 4 GLOBAL MILITARY ROBOTS MARKET: BY PAYLOAD (%)Continued.For More information or any query mail at sales@marketresearchfuture.comAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market - Value Chain Analysis and Forecast upto 2025

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Global Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: SnapshotConcerns regarding the rising levels of pollution and looming threat of global warming have escalated in the recent past and a number of countries, developed or developing, have come together to reduce these concerns. One of the primary reason of environmental damage is the poor compliance of regulatory by various companies, and governments are now bringing in stricter regulations, which in turn is encouraging companies to implement advanced processes of environmental health and safety (EHS) software and services, providing a thrust to the market for the same.The demand in the global environmental health and safety market is expected to increment at a strong CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025, owing to a number of factors such as government initiatives to protect the environment, incremented investment by end users, and reduced cost of environmental compliance software, which is leading to its adoption across small and medium businesses. On the other hand, there is still a vast population base that is unaware of the availability of the EHS software and are still depending on traditional methods. This factor is obstructing the market from attaining its true potential.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The competitive landscape of the global environmental health and safety market is highly dependent on product innovation, as there is strong need for products that can work efficiently and can be installed in different business setups of diverse companies. The EHS market is primarily used by industries pertaining to energy and mining, chemical and petrochemical, construction, manufacturing, telecom and IT, and healthcare. While a number of companies are also focused on strategic mergers and acquisitions in order to expand their geographical presence, satisfaction of the stakeholders, preservation of their brands, and development of solutions are also at the forefront for the key companies to maintain their strong hold.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: OverviewA variety of chemicals have become unavoidable in our everyday lives. From computers, to medicines, cosmetic creams to paints and coatings. The chemical industry is one of the worlds largest industries, with products manufactured in the range of billions of tonnes every year. The industry and countries with established chemical industries therefore have a huge responsibility to ensure the safe usage and production of chemicals so that the associated activities do not pose harm to the human resources working in close proximity and the environment.Request TOC of the Report @Environment health and safety (EHS) tools allow companies to keep track of and properly manage activities that related to the production or usage of chemicals, especially the ones that are known to pose harm to health of living organisms and the environment, such as mercury or CFCs. Companies operating in sectors such as power production, mining, and construction also frequently use EHS tools to ensure that production and operation sites to adhere to environmental norms and regulations concerning occupational and environmental health and safety.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe increasingly stringent health, safety, and environment laws, regulations, guidelines, and processes instigated in the past few years across leading chemical producing countries is the key factor driving the increased implementation of EHS tools across the industrial sector. Companies diligently adhering to environment- and resource-friendly manufacturing practices are increasingly investing in the deployment of effective EHS tools.Get Discount @In developing economies such as India, China, South Africa, and the UAE, the thriving industrial sector is encouraging the increased adoption of EHS tools. However, certain factors, such as the high costs involved in auditing complex production sites and the highly expensive services and solutions required to comply with EHS regulations are expected to hinder the overall rate of adoption of EHS tools to a certain extent.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Market PotentialChina is one of the largest producers of a number of chemicals and has immense scope for the implementation of EHS tools across companies involved in the production of a number of high-risk chemicals. Recent incidences of leakage of hazardous chemicals (the series of explosions on the Port of Tianjin in August 2015), leading to the death of hundreds of people and serious injuries to many more, have highlighted the pressing need for effective management of chemical production and storage sites. Post this incidence, the government has been paying more attention to the strict implementation of EHS rules and regulations.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Regional OverviewThe EHS market holds immense promise of growth in Asia Pacific owing to the established chemical industry and burgeoning construction and energy and mining sectors. The rate of implementation, however, is presently low in the region owing to high costs and is expected to increase in the future years owing to initiation of stringent EHS regulations in countries such as India, China, and Japan.The high costs of EHS tools largely restrict their overall adoption to developed economies across regions such as North America and Europe. North America presently accounts for the dominant share in the global implementation EHS software and services. The region is also expected to retain dominance owing to the stringent EHS regulations and policies and steady pace of development of the chemical and energy industries.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Competitive LandscapeThe market for EHS tools and services features a large number of companies, pointing towards a largely fragmented vendor landscape. The market features some of the worlds leading software development companies and several non-profit consulting organizations. Some of the leading vendors in the market are 3E Company, International Finance Corporation, IHS Inc., UL LLC, SAP SE, Medgate Inc., and Enablon North America Corporation.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Business Aircraft Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Trends by Forecast 2017  2023

Business Aircraft Market

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Exclusive Summery About Report:The major factors driving the global business aircraft market are the significant growth in global economies and the simultaneous improvement of the aviation industry. Moreover, the rapidly growing individual income levels and staggering profits of multinational firms and institutes are inducing a large demand for the business aircraft. Concurrently, the increasing demand for long range flights, is expected to push the demand for the market. Tourism activities, majorly contribute growth and development for the global market.However, the 2008 economic slowdown had adversely affected the global market with severe decline in the number of operational business planes. Thus, economic uncertainty is one of the major restraints for this market.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 40 market data tables and figures spread over 80 numbers of pages on the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Business Aircraft Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023.Major Key Players: Bombardier Inc. (Canada), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (U.S.), Cessna Aircraft Company (U.S.), Dassault Aviation S.A. (France), Embraer S.A. (Brazil).Request a Sample Report @Concurrently, the increasing demand for long range flights, is expected to push the demand for the market. Tourism activities, in particular, add to the growth and development of the global market.However, the 2008 economic slowdown had adversely affected the global market with severe decline in the number of operational business planes. Thus, economic uncertainty is one of the major restraints for this market. .Market Research Analysis:North America dominates the global business aircraft market, by region, as the market originated in the region. Europe is the second largest market, and is projected to receive almost 1,530 business aircraft, valued at USD 55 billion, by 2025. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the fastest growing regions in this market due to rapidly improving aviation infrastructure combined with geographical position beckoning the need for long range business aircraft. While, the Middle East region is expected to witness the fastest growth, among all regions, primarily due to the high economic levels, the Latin American regions have been systematically registering high year-on-year growth rates with countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela racking up almost 80% of the regional market.Table of Content1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.3 Research Objective1.4 Assumptions & Limitations1.5 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Challenges3.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor Analysis4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Customer4.1.3 Intensity Of Competitors4.1.4 Threat Of New Entrants5 Business Aircraft Market, By TypeContinued.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Sensor Market Future Forecast Assessed On The Basis Of How The Market Is Predicted To Grow

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The Sensor Market Research Report Forecast 2014-2022 is a valuable source of insightful data for business strategists. It provides the Sensor industry overview with growth analysis and historical & futuristic cost, revenue, demand and supply data (as applicable). The research analysts provide an elaborate description of the value chain and its distributor analysis.Sensor market is expected to experience significant growth in coming years between 2014 and 2022. The market is expected to reach $190.95 billion by 2022 at a growing CAGR of 9.14%. Increasing application in automotive application, collision prevention, healthcare monitoring and oil platforms will enhance the growth of sensor market in the upcoming years. In addition, growing application of sensors in military and surveillance, transportation and logistics will also boost the market. Moreover, increasing trends of internet of things (IoT), using sensors in smartphones and medical devices will also enhance the market growth. For instance, in 2016, Lufthansa started using IoT based strategy to develop an entirely new business mining data from their maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations and providing it to their customers. This incidence ensures steady market growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, technological advancements in consumer electronic products will further render ample opportunities for the growth of the market. But, high cost of replacement and dearth of privacy factors will impede the growth of the market over the forecast period. In addition, extra cost incurred by manufacturers for embodying sensors in devices will also restrain the market growth. Thus, considering the drivers and challenges, the growth of the market is expected to be steady in the upcoming years.Get sample copy of this Report:Sensors are complex devices that are used to detect and respond to number of inputs from physical environment. The specific input can be light and temperature which are frequently converted into human readable electrical signals which are readily displayed at sensor screen. For instance, mercury based thermometers is used to measure temperature by expansion and contraction of mercury which can be read through calibrated glass tubes. Sensors are pervasive and embedded in our bodies, automobiles, medical devices, airplanes and other range of applications. Sensors are of two types: active and passive sensors. Active sensors require external source of voltage that is used to provide output signals whereas in passive sensors output power is entirely supplied by the measured signal. Sensors are used in wide range of application ranging from simple touch screen elevator buttons to highly sophisticated sensors used in robots. Sensors are highly sensitive to measure property and do not get influenced by other property encountered in its application or measurement.The key players operating in the global sensor market emphasize on product development in order to introduce improved diabetes management systems and capture a larger share of the market. Some of the major players in this market are, STMicroelectronics, Qualcomm Technologies, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Custom Sensors and Technologies Inc., Analog Devices Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Infineon Technologies AG, Omron Corp, Vishay Intertechnology Inc. and Wilcoxon Research Inc.Download PDF Brochure:Market OpportunitiesThe key opportunity for the players operating in sensor market lies in the development of various types of sensors and also increasing its application in various fields. Apart from that, technological advancements and high investments in R&D will further broaden the opportunities of the key players to grow significantly over the forecast period. In addition, promotional activities related to product information and benefits in various fields, will further increase demand of this market, creating a lucrative opportunities for growth, for the key players of this market.Key Players in Market:STMicroelectronicsQualcomm TechnologiesSiemens Healthcare DiagnosticsCustom Sensors and Technologies Inc.Analog Devices Inc.Delphi Automotive PLCInfineon Technologies AGOmron CorpVishay Intertechnology Inc.Wilcoxon Research Inc.Sensor Market Segmentation:By TypeOptical sensorImage SensorTouch sensorPressure SensorRadar SensorTemperature SensorBiosensorsBuy Report:About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog: blog.crystalmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Authorities on Tuesday identified Robert Wiemerslage as the Minnesota man killed during a head-on traffic crash early Monday in Crawford County.

Wiemerslage, 63, of Spring Grove, slumped over at the wheel of his semi while driving west on Hwy. 18 about 9 a.m., according to the Crawford County Sheriffs Department.

The semi then struck a pickup truck head-on and pushed it 300 feet. Wiemerslage was pronounced dead at a hospital, and his passenger, 65-year-old Mary Agnes Wiemerslage, had non-life-threatening injuries, according to the department.

The driver of the Ford, Raul Alexis Rivera Negron, 49, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was extricated and flown to a La Crosse hospital with broken bones and possible internal injuries, according to the department.
Sodium Metal Market Expected to Account CAGR of 3.3% through 2024

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Global consumption of sodium metal will grow at a sluggish CAGR of 3.3% through 2024, according to Persistence Market Researchs report entitled, Sodium Metal Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2024. In 2016, over 98,400 MT sodium metal was consumed globally, and it is estimated to surpass 127,400 MT by 2024.The sluggish demand for sodium metal is attributed to hazardous effects of highly reactive sodium element. Challenges with handling and storage of sodium metal will continue to negatively impact the growth of the market. Further, limited availability of sodium metal on account of fewer players has resulted into introduction and use of alternatives, such as magnesium for use in industrial applications.Request Sample Report @Key players in this market are concentrating on expansion of their production capacities and making long-term contacts with end-use industries, especially in near proximity, to incur growth opportunities. Manufacturers are also focusing on introduction to new grades of application-specific sodium metal. Inner Mongolia Lantai Industrial Co. Ltd. held the highest volume market share in 2015. Other leading players in the global sodium metal market include Wanji Holdings Group Limited, Shandong Moris Tech Co. Ltd., and MSSA S.A.S.In terms of volume, chemical synthesis application of sodium metal held 70.4% share of the market in 2016; by 2024, this is expected to reach nearly 72%. Sodium metal is also used in the production of dyes, and it is projected that this application segment will grow at 4.7% CAGR in terms of volume through 2024. The weakness in demand will be offset to a certain extent by applications in chemical synthesis and textile industry.View To View Table Of Content @APAC is projected to be the most lucrative region for the global sodium metal market followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific forms a hub for textile industries owing to the ever-growing population and demand for a wide range of textiles, resulting in steady demand for sodium metal. Over 53,690 MT of sodium metal was consumed in APAC in 2016. The North America sodium metal market was around US$ 60 Mn in 2016, and it is expected to reach around US$ 80 Mn by 2024. Consumption of sodium metal in Europe, pegged at over 19,700 MT in 2016, is expected to surpass 24,200 MT by 2024.Browse Report Overview @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Paladion announces its participation at Saudi Arabias biggest digital transformation show

Amit Roy, executive vice president and regional head for EMEA at Paladion,

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Paladion, a global cyber security provider, today announced its participation at the Kingdom Digital Enterprise Transformation Show, the Saudi Arabias biggest digital transformation show that will be held in the capital city of Riyadh at Burj Rafal, Hotel Kempinski on 7th and 8th November 2017.The Kingdom Digital Enterprise Transformation Show is primarily created to support the Digital Transformation Movement within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and National Transformation Program 2020 launched under the guidance of H.R.H Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with a common theme: Transform or Be Left Behind!The show is one of its kinds in the country and is aimed to bring C-Level people together from all across the kingdom to discuss, learn and experience the most innovative cutting-edge technologies available in the world. Paladion, the pioneers in the field of cyber security is all set to present its Next Gen Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service, which has been lapped by several enterprises across the globe. The company offers a fully managed service that enables enterprises bring their cost down, while enhancing their cyber security by leveraging Paladions leading big data analytics and incident response platform.Cyber security is key to generate the momentum towards digital transformation and to discuss the importance of security analytics for faster detection and response to cyber-attacks, Paladions Pre-Sales Head for MEA, Rajesh Gopinath will take the center stage during show to underline the advantages that Paladions Next Gen MDR service offers to its customers across the globe.Commenting about their participation at the show, Amit Roy, executive vice president and regional head for EMEA at Paladion, said, We are proud to be part of this show, and are totally committed to the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia. We extend our support to all the organizations in the country to counter the challenge posed by cyber security to them. Our Managed Detection and Response Service will enable Saudi enterprises to embark on a new journey of transformation by enhancing their cyber security with improved threat detection and response mechanism to threats like never before.About PaladionPaladion is a global cyber defense company that provides Managed Detection and Response Services, DevOps Security, Cyber Forensics, Incident Response, and more by tightly bundling its semi-autonomous cyber platform and managed services with leading security technologies. Paladion is consistently rated and recognized by analyst firms such as Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, and awarded by CRN, Asian Banker, Red Herring, amongst others.For 17 years, Paladion has been actively managing cyber risk for over 700 customers from its six cyber operations centers placed across the globe. It houses 900+ cyber security professionals including security researchers, threat hunters, ethical hackers, incident responders, solution architects, consultants and more. Paladion is also actively involved in several information security research forums such as OWASP, and has authored several books on security monitoring, application security, and more.For more information, please visit628, Business VillageTower B, DeiraDubai, UAE
Gas Meters Market to Develop Rapidly by 2024

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Most of the companies in the global market for gas meters operate at regional level. Led by Elster Group GmbH, Itron Inc., and Dandong Dongfa Co. Ltd., this market demonstrates a highly competitive nature, states a new study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). In 2015, these three companies collectively accounted for 33.4% of the overall market.View Full Report:These gas meters manufacturers are striving to improve in regional and the global markets and are aggressively focusing on product innovation. Analysts at TMR expect the degree of competition within this market to remain high over the next few years.According to the research report, the global market for gas meters presented an opportunity worth US$2.3 bn in 2015. Increasing at a CAGR of 8.10% during the period from 2016 to 2024, the market is likely to reach a value of US$4.7 bn by the end of the forecast period. The demand for diaphragm gas meters is higher than other products and is expected to remain so over the years to come, states the market study.Increasing Industrialization to Boost Asia Pacific Gas Meters MarketThe report also presents a regional analysis of the worldwide market for gas meters. As per the report, Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa are the prime regional markets for gas meters across the world. Among these, Asia Pacific has acquired the leading position in the overall market and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period, thanks to the increasing industrialization in this region. China, Japan, Australia, India, and the ASEAN countries have surfaced as the leading domestic markets for gas meters in Asia Pacific. The rising consumption of natural gas in Asia Pacific is projected to propel this regional market substantially in the years to come.Europe is also expected to witness healthy growth in the demand for gas meters over the next few years on account of the rising enforcement of stringent regulations regarding the usage of smart meters and the increasing uptake of natural gas as primary fuel. The U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Russia are expected to lead the Europe market for gas meters, states the report.Increasing Enforcement of Favorable Regulations to Propel Global Gas Meters MarketThe growing usage of natural gas as a primary energy source is the key factor behind the growth of the global gas meters market, states the author of this report. With natural gas replacing crude oil in a number of applications, its consumption across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors has increased tremendously, which is reflecting on the growth of this market greatly.Request to view Sample Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs 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.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Gaucher Disease Treatment Market Intelligence with Competitive Landscape 2025

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Gaucher disease is recessive gene dominance disorder with massive clinical heterogeneity. Symptoms of the disease include painless splenomegaly, anemia, or thrombocytopenia, chronic fatigue, hepatomegaly, bone pain, and pathologic fractures. The disease also contributes to easy incidence of bruising and bleeding through the nose. Manifested in three sub-types, the disease results from the deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase.It is the most common lysosomal storage disorder and has an incidence of approximately 1 for every 50,000 live births. The most severe form of the disease is the perinatal lethal form. Gaucher disease is said to exhibit the highest manifestation in Jewish population of Eastern and Central European region, affecting 1 out of every 450 people and the number of disease carriers is 1 out of every 10 within the descent. Increasing medical advancement in research and development for rare disorders is leading to rising awareness and could eventually lead to a cure for such rare disorders.Request for Report TOC @In past, recombinant enzyme imiglucerase was used in most patients. The treatment was effective in retrograding the visceral and hematologic symptoms of Gaucher disease. However, slow responses of the skeletal disease and pulmonary involvement is comparatively resistant to the enzyme. Treatment for Gaucher disease is typically given in high dose once a week, but, in some cases, medium dose of medicine is given every week or three times in low dose quantity. Significant responses have been observed in all type of dose regimens.The lack of drugs in last stage of development is anticipated to limit the expansion of the Gaucher disease market, although the rise in number of patient globally tend to favor the growth of Gaucher disease treatment in the market over the forecast period. Furthermore, ERT is suggested for patients with type 1 Gaucher disease exhibiting the sign and symptoms such as anemia, thrombocytopenia and bone disorder. However, sternness and progression rate of disease varies, mainly in adults, which complicates the treatment decision for the medical specialist. Enzyme replacement therapy has widely improved the quality of life for the patients.Companies involved in producing the enzyme has also gained traction in the profit margins. As a result, the major players in this industries are strictly working for the development of the latest drug therapy for the patients suffering from Gaucher disease. Since, the population suffering from Gaucher disease is comparatively less than other fatal diseases, the treatment is costlier and development is slow. Unfortunately, it has been anticipated that in spite of improvements in diagnosis and treatment, major chunk of population having Gaucher disease may not be treated over the forecast period, due to late or misdiagnosis of the Gaucher disease, which will further affect the market.Increased focus on formation of research consortiums on rare diseases is leading to rising disease awareness levels and increased reporting of such diseases too. Furthermore, rising affordability for access to essential healthcare services is contributing largely to disease testing and identification at early stages. Availability of symptomatic control options and validation of the same in international consortiums and federations has been leading to greater availability of symptom control options.Barriers include lack of companies researching on cures due to profitability issues of targeted therapy. Lack of awareness among physicians also contributes largely towards no treatments or wrong treatments. Also professional counselling is one of the most effective mediums of disease management, stigmatization of patient leads to psychological issues thus leading to absence of proper treatments.On the basis of region presence, Gaucher disease treatment market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Presently, North America dominates the global market for Gaucher disease treatment market due to high diagnose rate and large number of facilities for enzyme replacement therapy. However, growth in Middle East and African region is expected to take exponential growth in terms of CAGR over the forecast period. Rising number of people with bone disorder is expected to fuel the Gaucher disease treatment market. The U.S. Gaucher disease treatment market is expected to dominate in terms of market share with major share among all the regions.Request for Report Sample @Some of the major market players in Gaucher disease treatment market globally includes, Abbott , Aptalis Pharma , Genzyme Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pfizer Inc., Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Enobia Pharma Inc., Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., MedPro Rx, Zymenex A/S, Merck Serono.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Caps and Closure Market size and Key Trends in terms of volume and value 2015-2021

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The increasing demand for effective packaging to ensure the longer shelf life of food and beverages is the key factor driving the global caps and closures market. The market is currently witnessing impressive demand from Asia Pacific. As per Transparency Market Research (TMR), a paradigm shift in consumer preference from unpackaged to more convenient and packaged food products is fuelling the demand for caps and closures from the regions packaging industry. The market is also gaining from the rising use of caps and closures in the alcoholic beverages segment.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Despite witnessing favorable growth opportunities, the advent of flexible packaging is likely to dampen the markets growth to an extent. Nevertheless, the increasing investment by manufacturers in novel technologies, designs, and materials is expected to boost the market in the near future.According to TMR, the global caps and closures market, which stood at US$36.23 bn in 2014, is expected to reach US$51.57 bn by the end of 2021. If these figures hold true, the global caps and closures market will exhibit a CAGR of 5.2% between 2015 and 2021.Rising Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages to Fuel Demand for Caps and ClosuresIn terms of revenue, the alcoholic beverages segment held over 57.35% of the overall caps and closures market in 2014. The rising consumption of beer around the world has been fuelling demand from the alcoholic beverages segment. While this has led to the increasing use of metal crowns for beer bottles, metal screw closures are fast replacing corks used in wine bottles. The segment is also expected to gain impetus from the rising consumption of wine across emerging economies.Obtain Report Details @The non-alcoholic segment includes caps and closures manufactured for the packaging of bottled water and carbonated soft-drinks. The shifting demand of consumers from carbonated soft drinks to bottled water is expected to fuel the demand for caps and closures in this segment. Bottled water is calorie-free, which is the key factor boosting its sales worldwide. This will, in turn, fuel the demand for caps and closures.Increasing Purchasing Power of Consumers Puts Asia Pacific at the ForeRegionally, Asia Pacific led the global caps and closure market in 2014, with China and India emerging as lucrative markets. The rising demand for canned food and beverages is the primary factor driving the Asia Pacific caps and closures market. Furthermore, due to rising purchasing power and improving living standards, consumers in this region have become more willing to spend on packaged products and convenient foods. The consumption of alcoholic beverages has increased as well. Spurred by these factors, the market for caps and closures in Asia Pacific is expected to reach US$18.75 bn by the end of 2021.Besides this, TMR also projects that the market will witness considerable growth in developed economies across Europe and North America. The rising demand for plastic packaging in these regions is fuelling the demand for plastic screw caps, which in turn, boosts sales opportunities for caps and closures manufacturers.Some of the leading companies operating in the global caps and closures market are Silgan Holdings, Plastics Corporation, Crown Holdings, Closure Systems International, Aptar Group, and Pact Group Holdings.About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Market 2017: Continuous Advancements in Electronics and Automation & Robotics

Global Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Market accounted for USD 7.5 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 8.0% by 2024

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databridgemarketresearch.com Provides new report Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Market 2017: Continuous Advancements in Electronics and Automation & Robotics, also the Global Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Market, By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa), By Technique (Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Visual Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT), Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT), Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Radiographic Testing (RT), Acoustic Emission Testing (AET)); By Method (Visual Inspection, Surface Inspection, Volumetric Inspection) By Service (Inspection Services, Equipment Rental Services, Calibration Services, Training Services), By Vertical (Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense, Public Infrastructure, Automotive, Power Generation)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Analysis:Global Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Market Size accounted for USD 7.5 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2014, 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Report Definition:Non-destructive testing and inspection is a non-invasive inspection technique used to testing, or evaluating materials, components or assemblies for discontinuities, or differences in characteristics without causing damage to the serviced part or system. These testing services are performed in variety of industries such as manufacturing, oil & gas, aerospace & defense, public infrastructure, automotive, power generation to comply with a wide variety of industry standards, government contracts, and unique customer requirements.Get Sample Copy of this Report @This report consists of below pages: No of pages: 350 No of Figures: 60 No of Tables: 220Report Segmentation:The non-destructive testing and inspection market is segmented on the basis of technique into Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Visual Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT), Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT), Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Radiographic Testing (RT), Acoustic Emission Testing (AET), and Other Techniques.The global non-destructive testing and inspection market is also segmented on the basis of method into visual inspection, surface inspection, volumetric inspection, and other methods.On the basis of service, the global non-destructive testing and inspection market is further segmented into inspection services, equipment rental services, calibration services, and training services.On the basis of end-user, the global non-destructive testing and inspection market is further segmented manufacturing, oil & gas, aerospace & defense, public infrastructure, automotive, power generation.On the basis of geography, global non-destructive testing and inspection market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.For More Details In-Depth Enquiry @Company Share Analysis:The report for non-destructive testing and inspection market include detailed vendor level analysis for market shares in 2016 for Global, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America specifically. Also impact and development analysis of key vendors is registered in the market and factored on the basis of Vendor Positioning Grid Analysis which measures the vendors strengths and opportunities against present market challenges, measure providers ability to identify or satisfy present market needs, map providers market vision to current and upcoming market dynamics among others. The report also measures technology life line curve and market time line to analyze and do more affective investments.Major Market Competitors:Some of the major players of the global non-destructive testing and inspection market are General Electric Company, Olympus Corporation, Ashtead Technology Ltd., MISTRAS Group Inc., Nikon Corporation, Magnaflux Corporation, Zetec Inc., Sonatest Ltd., Sonotron NDT, Bosello High Tech SRL, Yxlon International GMBH, Fischer Technology Inc., Eddyfi NDT Inc., FujiFilm Corporation, ibg NDT Systems Corporation, Institut Dr. Foerster GmbH & Co. KG., KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG, Magnetic Analysis Corporation, NDTS India (P) Limited, among others.Major Market Drivers: Rising adoption of IOT solutions Continuous advancements in electronics, and automation & robotics Strong government to safety and product quality regulations Increasing need for the capability of aging assetsView Full Report Visit @Related ReportGlobal Sensor Patch Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Sensor Patch Market, By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa), By Product (Temperature Sensor Patch, Blood Glucose Sensor Patch, Blood Pressure/Flow Sensor Patch, Heart Rate Sensor Patch, ECG Sensor Patch, Blood Oxygen Sensor Patch); By Application (Monitoring, Diagnostics) By End-Users (Healthcare, Fitness and Sports)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit Blog:Follow us on LinkedIn:
Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market is likely to register Single Digit CAGR during 2015-2025

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In global information and communication industry one of the significant trend is shifting of internet services from computers to mobile devices. As the penetration of smart phone is increasing exponentially, most of the companies around the world is focusing to deliver their services with enhanced user experience over the mobile platforms. User experience (also UX) is all about how convenient a person feels while interacting with a system, this system could be a utilization of hardware, web application or a software. User centered designs is one of the key ingredient of digital services and devices and by creating it as differentiator can become the companys competitive advantage in market place while increasing the operational performance at the same time. The user experience includes various functions such as media, visuals, information and functional architects, etc.A sample of this report is available upon request @Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global advanced mobile UX design services is increasing exponentially due to various driving factors such as increasing smart phone penetration in developing economies such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, increasing mobile banking, mobile shopping, gamming social media browsing, etc. Also, growing penetration of 4G LTE infrastructure is supporting the growth of the advance mobile UX design services market. However, some security factors such as data security and cyber-crime are posed to be major restrains towards the growth of the global advanced mobile UX design services market.Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: SegmentationThe global advance mobile UX design services market is broadly segmented into geography and type of services. There are various advance mobile UX design services are available nowadays such as, voice over internet protocol, video on demand, web browsing, micro-blogging, live tv streaming etc. Some of the major service type segment included in the global advance mobile UX design services market are;Web browsingStreamingVoIPMicro-blogOthersAdvanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement and wide acceptance of smartphones, the global advance mobile UX design services market is expected to expand at healthy CAGR of around 10% during the forecast period (2015-2025). Some of the latest trends identified in the global advanced mobile UX design services market are enhancing personalization features such as rearranging tabs and functions within the mobile app, Date/Time format, themes (color, image, etc.), and preferred language etc.Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global advanced mobile UX design services market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global advanced mobile UX design services market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, North America, and Western Europe dominated the global advanced mobile UX design services market in terms of market revenue. Asia Pacific & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will contribute to the global advanced mobile UX design services market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2016?2025.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Key PlayersThe rapid technological changes such as change in operating system, communication technology are pushing advanced mobile UX design services providers to go extra mile for technological advancement to meet the demand of future. Some of the key market players in global advanced mobile UX design services market are Mindtree Ltd., Infosys Limited, RapidValue Solutions, AKTA, Sourcebits, Feathersoft Info Solutions Private Limited, Space Chimp Media, Computer Sciences Corp. and SoftServe Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Electronic Toll Collection Market - Value Chain Analysis and Forecast upto 2025

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Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: OverviewElectronic toll collection (TEC) systems are devices that enable the central management of toll operations via a single integrated solution. Eliminating delay on highways and roadways, the system ensures that toll payment is made electronically in a hassle-free manner.The global electronic toll collection system market can be segmented by application, region, product type, and technology. By product type, the global market for electronic toll collection can be segmented into antennae, treadles, transponders, weigh-in-motion devices, film storage devices, cameras, communication systems, and scanning devices. By technology, the market can be categorized into global positioning system (GPS), dedicated short range communications (DSRC), radio-frequency identification, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS).Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Key TrendsAs these systems eliminate manual operations by toll receivers and payers, the demand for electronic toll collection is likely to witness an upsurge. Cashless transactions offered by electronic toll collection systems do not only save travel time, but also minimizes traffic congestion near toll collection booths across roads and highways. Electronic toll collection systems offer cost-efficient solutions that are faster too. The need for multiple toll plazas is ruled out owing to the installation of electronic toll collection systems, saving additional costs. However, high dependence on government funding and high installation costs of these devices might restrain the growth of the market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Market PotentialA number of emerging economies are increasingly addressing the need to adopt time and cost efficient electronic toll collection systems throughout the major cities. For instance, in India, the National Payments Corporation of India has been encouraging several highways to install electronic toll collection systems with a view to increase digital payments across the country, supporting the cashless economy initiative of the government.Nearly 14-16% of the toll collection in the country has been converted into electronic mediums, with the transaction number rising up to 7 million per month, reported the National Electronic Toll Collection in April 2017. The availability of advanced, easy, and convenient digital platforms for payment such as BharatQR and Samsung Pay has eliminated the waiting time required for card swipes.Similarly, in April 2017, the Transport Minister of Vietnam ordered swift installations of electronic toll collection equipment across the major highways of the country. Malaysia is another nation which has been promoting the adoption of electronic toll collection systems via its PLUS highways that offer cashless, fully electronic payments. Features such as Touch n Go Card, PlusMiles Card, and SmartTag have enabled smooth transactions, ensuring that 600 vehicles can pass through a TnG lane per hour, compared to 180 vehicles per hour that previously paid manually.Get Discount @Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global market for electronic toll collection market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to advance at a rapid pace due to the growing demand for safe, efficient, and secure toll collection infrastructure. The growing demand for electronic toll collection systems in Asia Pacific can be attributed to favorable government policies, growing investments in infrastructural development, and increasing adoption of automation across several regions. Singapore, India, Malaysia, China, and Thailand are expected to represent a large slice of revenue of the overall market.Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Competitive AnalysisCubic Transportation Systems, Inc., 3M, EFKON AG, Kapsch TrafficCom, Xerox Corporation, Q-Free, Toll Collect GmbH, TransCore, Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co., Ltd., Transurban Limited, VaaaN, Raytheon Company, and Schneider Electric SE are some of the leading companies operating in the global electronic toll collection market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Thermal Imaging Market: Present Scenario and the Growth Prospects with Forecast 2019

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According to a new market report Title Thermal Imaging Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, the global thermal imaging market is forecast to reach USD 6,098.8 million by 2019. The market growth is driven by emergence of new applications and increased investment on modernization of armed forces across emerging markets.Browse the full Thermal Imaging Market (By Applications -Surveillance and Security, Maintenance and Monitoring, Traffic Monitoring, Healthcare, Automobiles, Research and Development, and Others (Firefighting and Personal Vision); By End-users - Defense and Military, Industrial, Commercial and Residential Sector) -Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019 report at :Global thermal imaging market was valued at USD 3,192.5 million in 2012 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.76% from 2013 to 2019. Rising penetration of thermal imaging devices in industrial and commercial sector is driving the growth of this market. Industrial sector is using thermal imaging devices for manufacturing process monitoring and to find hot spot in mechanical and electrical installation.Commercial sector is deploying thermal imaging devices for building diagnosis and security of airports and estates etc. In addition, reduction in the price of thermal imaging devices has increased penetration in the residential sector. However, decreasing military spending by major countries such as U.S., Canada, Italy and France are hindering the growth of thermal imaging market.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Among the various end-user segments, defense and military is the largest sector and accounted for 45.04% of market revenue share in 2012. The defense and military sector is expected to dominate the market over forecast period due to the increasing investment by various countries such as China, U.K, Russia and India for upgrade and modernization of armed forces.Thermal imaging devices are widely used in applications such as surveillance and security, maintenance and monitoring, traffic monitoring, healthcare, automobile, research and development, and others (firefighting and personal vision). Surveillance & security and maintenance & monitoring applications are emerging as promising applications for thermal imaging devices.These two segments together accounted for 44.7% of market revenue share in 2012. Demand for surveillance and security is supported by the need to enhance border and commercial security. Commercial security includes security of airports, ports, estates and warehouse.Get A Sample Report @Geographically, North America is expected to remain largest market for thermal imaging due to the growth in industrial and commercial sector in the country. North America is anticipated to dominate this market throughout the forecast period due to the increasing use of thermal imaging devices for law enforcement activities. Europe would be the next largest market followed by Asia-Pacific. Countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific are increasing their defense spending, which is expected to drive thermal imaging market in these regions.Global thermal imaging market was dominated by few existing players in 2012. Renowned players such as FLIR Systems Inc., DRS Technologies Inc., Raytheon Company and BAE Systems Inc. led the global market, and collectively accounted for around 75% of the market in 2012. These players have well-developed resources and network to meet industry demand and to retain pace with the changing technology. In order to increase their market share, key players are reducing their product prices, which is further increasing the competition among the manufacturers.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Physician Office Laboratory (POL) Market - Future Market, Growth & Forecast upto 2025

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Global Physician Office Laboratory (POL) Market: SnapshotThe global market for physician office laboratory (POL) has been expanding substantially over the last few years. Supported by the technological advancements, the market is likely to remain proliferating over the next few years. POL testing has its base in developed regions as emerging economies still rely on hospital infrastructure for the diagnosis of acute and chronic medical conditions. Developing regions, however, has been demonstrating a significant potential for decentralized testing, thanks to the rising support from nongovernmental organizations and the increasing number of public health programs, intended towards spreading awareness for high-burden diseases such as hepatitis, acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), diabetes, and tuberculosis (TB).As of now, the substandard care present at primary care facilities and community health organizations in most of the emerging countries lead a number of patients to hospitals. However, the rise in the disposable income of people in these nations have encouraged leading healthcare providers to invest heavily in western style physician practices, leading to the installation of a large pool of physician office laboratories and clinics, especially in India and China.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Since POL testing is not prevalent globally, as its counterparts (hospital laboratories, commercial or private reference labs, and hospital POCT), its future growth is seemingly uneven. Also active restriction on specified services from physicians or healthcare professionals over the primary care visits in some countries may also reflect negatively on the growth of this market in the near future.Global Physician Office Laboratory (POL) Market: OverviewClinical and hospital laboratories presently account for a massive chunk of the total number of diagnostic, monitoring or screening tests undertaken across the globe. However, a constantly rising number of physicians and physician groups are preferring to undertake part or entire volumes of lab testing in-house as an excellent way of improving patient care and boosting their operative incomes. Such in-house lab practices are called physician office laboratory (POL). The term is diverse and covers physicians practices as small as 2 to 5 physicians to large practitioners with 200 or more physicians that operate labs similar to laboratories in small hospitals.Request TOC of the Report @In-house testing practices facilitate physicians to become self-reliant and obtain results in a much faster manner than possible in outsourced lab tests. POLs also reduce the chances of loss or deterioration of test samples, enhancing the confidence regarding the accuracy of results. Broadly, POL refers to tests performed in: physicians office, conducted at the same time of consultation or with other healthcare professional, wherein results are mostly provided during the medical visit itself, and are used for monitoring, screening or diagnosis purposes.This report on the global physician office laboratory market presents a thorough overview of the present growth dynamics of the market and its key segments. Several insightful projections regarding the growth trajectory of the market over the period between 2017 and 2025 are also included in the report. The report also includes a detailed analysis of factors such as growth drivers, restraints, regulatory scenario, competitive landscape, and trends and opportunities, expected to have a notable influence on the growth prospects of the market over the said period.Get Discount @Global Physician Office Laboratory (POL) Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global POL market is chiefly driven by the vast advancements observed in the field of testing technologies and supporting instrument and equipment in the past few years. The emergence and easy availability of easy to use microelectronic and microfluidic instruments that offer excellent accuracy and control is making POL feasible for smaller offices and is also enabling some physicians to perform tests for other doctors.The demand for such in-house laboratories is also significantly rising globally owing to the rising prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases and associated public health issues. However, the cost of meeting compliance requirements for local, state, and federal regulations, especially in developed economies, may hamper the markets growth to some extent.Global Physician Office Laboratory (POL) Market: Geographical and Competitive DynamicsOn the basis of geography, the global physician office laboratory market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). Of these, North America and Europe are presently the leading contributors to the revenue of the global physician office laboratory market. In the North America, the number of POLs increased at a phenomenal rate from nearly 95,000 in 2000 to 111,000 in 2010. The number of POLs has also significantly in Europe over the said period. Across both the regions, the constantly rising number of POL tests approved by the respective healthcare authorities will help drive the POL market in the next few years as well.However, the POL market is expected to witness the most lucrative growth market across emerging economies in Asia Pacific in the next few years. Several factors, including the vast rise in prevalence of infectious diseases, the rising population of elderly, and a significant rise in focus on quality health care are expected to fuel the growth of the Asia Pacific POL market in the next few years.Some of the most influential companies in the global physician office laboratory market are Accriva Diagnostics, Akers Biosciences, Axis-Shield, Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Boule Diagnostics, Alfa Wassermann Diagnostic Technologies, Diazyme Laboratories, Polymer Technology Systems (CHEK Diagnostics), Carolina Liquid Chemistries Corp., 3D Medical Diagnostics, Magellan Diagnostics, Biomerica, Inc., Accumetrics, Vital Diagnostics, and Nanosphere, Inc.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Gov. Scott Walker, who officially launched his bid for a third term Sunday, rallied supporters at Empire Screen Printing in Onalaska Monday morning. That evening, more than half a dozen of the Democrats hoping to unseat him debated at a candidate forum in La Crosse.

Walker bragged of record employment numbers and graduation rates, ACT scores among the best in the nation, and $8 billion in cumulative tax cuts enacted during his first seven years. He also touted six years of tuition freezes at state universities, and new requirements for people receiving public assistance to look for work and pass a drug screening.

We are moving Wisconsin forward, Walker said, while asking voters for another four years in office. Theres more work to be done.

Walker did not mention his 2010 campaign promise to create 250,000 new private sector job, a goal that has continued to elude him, but the states economy is far healthier than when he took office. The unemployment rate is at a 16-year low, and there are more people working than at any point in state history.

Also absent in the 9-minute stump speech was any mention of the economic development deal Walker signed earlier this year to land a $10 billion flat-screen manufacturing plant, which includes a controversial $3 billion in government assistance but could bring up to 13,000 jobs.

Walker did not take questions before heading to his next stop in Eau Claire.

The state Democratic party accused Walker of ignoring working-class people so far during his tenure.

Its appalling that Walker has not been focused on all the people of Wisconsin all along, chairwoman Martha Laning said in a news release. He had his opportunity, yet his actions have benefited the wealthy elite at the top while he left everyone else behind.

The $3 billion in proposed funding for the Foxconn expansions was one of the targets the Democratic candidates latched onto as they threw jabs at Walker during Mondays debate at the Brick House. They also charged Walker with failing to make good on his promise of 250,000 new jobs, using a former conservative talking point to describe the Governors policies of tax breaks for businesses: crony capitalism.

We need to do an about-face, candidate Mike McCabe said during the debate. We need to build the economy from the ground up.

It will be the fourth gubernatorial campaign for Walker, the former Milwaukee County executive who survived a 2012 recall election spurred by Act 10, signature legislation introduced early in his first year that stripped public workers of most collective bargaining rights. Walker has since signed Republican legislation making Wisconsin a right to work state, further weakening unions.

None of that bothered John McCann, a retired Trane worker and union member disillusioned with organized labor. McCann attended the rally with his wife, Bonnie, who said she appreciates Walkers efforts to create jobs and keep taxes down.

Walker would be only the second governor in state history to be elected to a third term, and the first since Tommy Thompson did it 20 years ago.

Hes done a lot better job than Tommy Thompson ever did, said Carol Schumann, who worked on Walkers first campaign and was one of several dozen supporters at his rally Monday. The 82-year-old former Empire Screen Printing employee said she likes that Walker is straightforward and follows through on what he says.

Not everyone was so enamored.

Ben Plunkett of River Falls, one of about 20 protesters outside the private event, said Walker has failed to create jobs that provide workers with a livable wage.

A group of self-described low-wage workers who contend Walker has rigged the system to reward the wealthy planned to travel around the state this week picketing his campaign rallies.

While no clear Democratic frontrunner has emerged, Walker said he expects to be the target of big government special interest groups, including a progressive group aligned with former President Barack Obamas campaign that has set its sights on statehouse elections in an effort to end gerrymandering.

This isnt going to be an easy race, he said. We know as weve seen in the past, the attacks are coming.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market - Analysis Market with Current Trends Analysis upto 2025

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Global Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market: OverviewThe global market for alternative and complementary medicines is projected to experience substantial growth in the next few years. The rising expenditure of the healthcare facilities is considered as the major factor that is likely to encourage the growth of the overall market in the coming years. In addition, the increasing number of initiatives being taken by Governments across the globe to promote alternative and complementary medicines is projected to accelerate the markets growth. Thanks to these factors, the global alternative and complementary medicine market is likely to exhibit a promising growth rate in the near future.Global Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market: Key TrendsA significant rise in the number of initiatives by NGOs and government organizations to encourage the use of alternative and complementary medicines is estimated to bolster global market in the near future. In addition to this, technological advancements in this field and the rising inclination of consumers towards these medicines and practices are likely to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the leading players operating in the alternative and complementary medicine market across the globe. However, the lack of scientific results is expected to hamper the overall growth of the market in the next few years.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market: Market PotentialAlternative and complementary medicines make use of several tradition methods to help the patients, most of which are not completely supported scientifically. As a result, the use of these medicines in several developed economies is comparatively less. Nonetheless, with a rising focus on research and development activities in order to find clinical support and the emergence of new methods and medicines are anticipated to encourage the growth of the global alternative and complementary medicine market throughout the forecast period.Global Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market: Regional OutlookFrom a regional perspective, Europe is considered as one of the leading segment, thanks to the significant revenue contribution in the last few years. This region is expected to account for a large share of the global alternative and complementary medicine market with the rising use of botanicals. In addition to this, the increasing awareness among consumers regarding the availability of effective alternative and complementary medicines and the benefits they offers are expected to encourage the growth of the Europe market in the coming years.Request TOC of the Report @Furthermore, with the rising popularity of medical tourism, the alternative and complementary medicine market in Asia Pacific is projected to witness a steady growth in the next few years. Moreover, the presence of a large number of new players operating in this region is likely to offer promising growth opportunities over the forecast period. The Middle East and Africa segment is anticipated to experience a healthy growth in the alternative and complementary medicine market in the near future.Get Discount @Global Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global market for alternative and complementary medicines is presently at a highly competitive stage and is predicted to experience an intense level of competition among the leading players in the coming years. The prominent players in the market are focusing on the expansion of the product portfolio so as to attract a large number of consumers across the globe. This is likely to help them in creating a brand name and acquiring a leading position in the global market. Some of the leading players operating in the alternative and complementary medicine market across the globe are Herb Pharm, Yoga Tree, Quantum Touch Inc., Helio USA Inc., Pure encapsulations, Inc., Pacific Nutritional Inc., Deepure Plus, Herbal Hills, Iyengar Yoga Institute, The Healing Company, and Nordic Naturals.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Fruits Market 2017-Global Industry Growth and Regional Forecast 2022

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Based on the Fruits industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Fruits market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Fruits market.The Fruits market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.Browse complete report @Major Regions play vital role in Fruits market are:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaOthersGet sample copy @Table of Content1 Fruits Introduction and Market Overview2 Industry Chain Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Fruits Analysis2.2 Major Players of Fruits2.2.1 Major Players Manufacturing Base and Market Share of Fruits in 20162.2.2 Major Players Product Types in 20162.3 Fruits Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.3.1 Production Process Analysis2.3.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure of Fruits2.3.3 Raw Material Cost of Fruits2.3.4 Labor Cost of Fruits2.4 Market Channel Analysis of Fruits2.5 Major Downstream Buyers of Fruits Analysis3 Global Fruits Market, by Type3.1 Analysis of Market Status and Feature by Type3.2 Global Fruits Value ($) and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Fruits Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.4 Global Fruits Value ($) and Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)3.5 Global Fruits Price Analysis by Type (2012-2017)4 Fruits Market, by ApplicationDiscount @6 Global Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)6.1 Global Fruits Consumption by Regions (2012-2017)6.2 North America Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.3 Europe Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.4 China Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.5 Japan Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.6 Middle East & Africa Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.7 India Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)6.8 South America Fruits Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)7 Global Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions7.1 North America Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.2 Europe Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.3 China Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.4 Japan Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.5 Middle East & Africa Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.6 India Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis7.7 South America Fruits Market Status and SWOT Analysis8 Competitive Landscape9 Global Fruits Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application10 Fruits Market Analysis and Forecast by Region11 New Project Feasibility Analysis12 Research Finding and Conclusion13 AppendixBuy now@We provide best in classcustomer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries. Our commitment to customer service is best exemplified by free analyst support that we offer to our clients which sets us apart from any other provider. We also offer enterprise subscriptions which provide significant cost savings to our clients.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com533, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Agricultural Insurance Market - Global Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities, and Market Forecast up to 2022

Agricultural Insurance Market

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Agricultural insurance protects against loss of or damage to crops or livestock. It has great potential to provide value to low-income farmers and their communities, both by protecting farmers when shocks occur and by encouraging greater investment in crops. However, in practice its effectiveness has often been constrained by the difficulty of designing good products and by demand constraints.Get a Sample of Agricultural Insurance Market research report from Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Agricultural Insurance in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Major Players Included in Agricultural Insurance Market:PICCZurich (RCIS)ChubbQBEChina United Property InsuranceAmerican Financial GroupPrudentialXL CatlinEverest Re GroupEndurance SpecialtyCUNA MutualAgriculture Insurance Company of IndiaTokio MarineCGB Diversified ServicesFarmers Mutual HailArcher Daniels MidlandNew India AssuranceICICI LombardScope of the Agricultural Insurance Industry on the basis of region:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Browse full Report with table of contents and data tables For Agricultural Insurance Market Report @Market Segment by Type, covers:Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Crop/MPCICrop/HailLivestockOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Agricultural Insurance market.Chapter 1, to describe Agricultural Insurance Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Agricultural Insurance, with sales, revenue, and price of Agricultural Insurance, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Agricultural Insurance, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Agricultural Insurance market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Agricultural Insurance sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceCheck for Discount @Some points from TOC:-1 Market Overview1.1 Agricultural Insurance Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Crop/MPCI1.3.2 Crop/Hail1.3.3 Livestock1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force .ContinuedFor more help Speak to our Experts @No. of Report Pages: 117Price of Report (Single User Licence): $3480About Global Info Reports:GIR Market Research is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. GIR Market Research is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:+1-888-376-9998 (US)Email- sales@globalinforeports.com
Smart Machines Market expand at a CAGR of 18.8% during the forecast period 2016 - 2024

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Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights on the global smart machines market in its upcoming report titled, Smart Machines Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024. In terms of value, the global smart machines market is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 18.8% during the forecast period. This is attributed to various factors, regarding which PMR offers vital insights in detail.On the basis of a component, the global smart machines market has been segmented into hardware, software, and service. Demand for smart machines is enhanced by increasing need to process and analyze big unstructured data among different sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and defense. On the basis of machine type, the global smart machines market has been segmented into robots, autonomous cars, drones, wearable electronics and others.Request Sample:On the basis of technology, the global smart machines market has been segmented into cloud computing, big data, internet of everything (IoE), robotics, cognitive technology and effective technology. Affective technology segment is expected to expand with a substantial CAGR over the forecast period. Various enterprises working on cognitive computing are facing glitches and errors in technology. This, in turn, is encouraging adoption of affective computing. Cognitive computing technology enables emotions linking to a robot, assisting the robot in making rational decisions and performing more complex tasks.Smart machines are deployed to enhance networked resources and implement distributed intelligence in manufacturing industries. Integration of devices provides more accessibility. Smart machines can be easily connected to a broader network of connected devices, enabling users to share data on numerous devices. This ensures users to connect/access their devices from anywhere and anytime. This is expected to fuel demand for smart machines in various industries. The market in Australia is expected to witness substantial growth in adoption rates of smart machines over the next five years. Autonomous robots are expected to find applications in agriculture and commercial sectors to overcome the lack of labor in the country. Australia-based companies have also been investing significantly in advanced technologies such as IoT.Smart machines are programmed to make intelligent decisions in a time efficient manner. They are built to learn from their interactions and their precision increases over time. Hence, new developments in operational intelligence are encouraging companies to adopt systems that are smarter and efficient. Narrative Science Inc., a company that offers analytical solutions uses its virtual assistant Quill, which is programed using natural language processing to provide relevant solutions.Browse Research Report:This report covers trends driving each segment and offers analysis and insights of the potential of the smart machines market in specific regions. The markets in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific are expected to register high growth rates between 2016 and 2024. MEA is a small but significant market for smart machines as governments in the Middle East countries are investing in this sector to digitize government services. The market in Europe is expected to gain substantial market share in terms of revenue. This is attributed to increasing demand for smart machines from the automobile and manufacturing industries in countries such as Germany and France. The APAC accounted for the highest market share in 2015 and is expected to gain 232 BPS by an end of 2024.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United States+1-646-568-7751+1 800-961-0353 (USA-Canada Toll free)Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Soybean Oil Market is expected to grow with a single digit CAGR from 2013 to 2019

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Soybean Oil Market - Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis, and Forecast 2016 - 2023 is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Get Free Sample Report@Extracted from soybean, soybean oil is extensively used for household cooking and in great demand from restaurants as well. This oil has an important role in the preparation of shortenings and margarine. A number of factors are driving the global soybean oil market; these include the emulsifying ability of the oil and its low-calorie content. Soybean oil has no trans-fat and negligible saturated fat, making it a preferred choice from among all other oils. The soybean market is anticipated to grow in the years to come owing to a rise in the demand for food, growing population, improvement in retailing network, rapid urbanization, and increasing soy crop yields.The report is a study of the global soybean oil market, its present and future position. It discusses factors that can affect the market movements and changing consumer taste and trends. The study elaborates on the growth plans and strategies adopted by manufacturers of soybean oil, including their expansion plans and new product launches. Key companies are profiled in the report and it covers the companys business and financial overview.Soybean Oil Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe growing awareness among consumers regarding advantages of soybean oil in comparison to other vegetable edible oils has driven its demand significantly. The health-related concerns among consumers is likely to shift their food preferences and this will benefit the global soybean market because this oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. On the other hand, the availability of substitutes such as olive, rice bran, palm, sunflower, and rapeseed oil in abundance is limiting the demand for soybean oil.The versatility of soybean oil is expected to emerge as an opportunity and attract a large number of manufacturers in the food products sector across the world. Increasing number of channels that facilitate the sales of soybean oil such as departmental stores, hypermarkets and supermarket, and convenience stores is also expected to boost the market in the coming years. Apart from its uses in cooking, soybean oil has its applications in lubricants, bio-diesel, industrial paints, solvents, adhesives, cleaners, oleo chemicals, and bio-composites. As such, the demand for this oil will continue to grow and the market will witness a significant rise in the coming years.View Full Report At@Soybean Oil Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global soybean oil market is segmented on the basis of geography into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World. China, in Asia Pacific is the leading producer of soybean oil followed by India and Japan. The U.S. is the leading producer of this oil in North America. Argentina in South America is also popular for its soybean oil production.Key Players Mentioned in the ReportThe report profiles key players in the soybean oil industry such as Cargill Foods Inc., Adani Wilmar Limited, and Ruchi Soya Industries. Information regarding their strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions have been included in the report.Market Segmentation of the Global Soybean Oil Market is as follows:The regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Rest of the WorldThis report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this report:Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsEnquire About this Report@About MRRSEMarket 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.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Third-Party Logistics Industry Size, Share, Trends, Development, Analysis and Forecast Report 2017-2025

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The Insight Partners has announced the addition of the Third-Party Logistics Market to 2025  Global Analysis and Forecasts by Solution (Transportation Based, Warehouse Based, Financial Based, Forwarder Based and Information Based); Mode of Transportation (Rail & Roadways, Marine and Air); and Services (Freight Payment, Order Processing, Inventory Replenishment, Fleet Management, Shipment Consolidation, Order Fulfillment, Labelling & Packing and Custom Clearance & Brokerage) to its research database.Third-Party Logistics (3PL) firm is an external supplier that perform companys logistics function. It encompasses providers of services such as transportation, warehouse, financial and so on. 3PL can go beyond logistics and distribution and can provide specific services such as inventory management, freight payment, order processing and packaging of products.Request Sample Copy is Available atIncrease in e-commerce industry and reverse logistics operations are the major drivers which help in surging the growth of third-party logistics market whereas loss of direct control on the logistics service may act as a restraining factor for this market. Advanced software and smart devices for carrying out effective supply chain operation will add new opportunities for this market in the forecast period.The Global Third-Party Logistics Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the third-party logistics industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global third-party logistics market with detailed market segmentation by solutions, mode of transportation, services and geography. The global third-party logistics market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Inquire before Buying atThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global third-party logistics market based on solutions, mode of transportation and services. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall third-party logistics market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 16 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Besides this, the report analyzes factors affecting 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 America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the market in these regions.Also, key third-party logistics market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Some of the key players influencing the market are Sinotrans (HongKong) Logistics Co., Ltd., UPS Supply Chain Solutions, XPO Logistics, Inc., DB Schenker, DHL Supply Chain, Nippon Express Co., Ltd., FedEx Corporation, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., Kuehne + Nagel Inc and Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. among others.View Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout 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, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Smart Cities Market: Trends, outlook and Opportunity Analysis 2019

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A new market study published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), which is titled Global Smart Cities Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, examines the developments in the global smart cities market for the period 2013-2019. According to the report, the said market will rise at a phenomenal CAGR of 14.0% for the market to be valued at US$1,265.85 bn by 2019 increasing from US$506.78 bn in 2012.Browse the full Smart Cities Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019 report atThe report covers the regional and technological trends that will affect the dynamics of the smart cities market for the forecast period. Included in the report is an in-depth analysis of the major segments of the smart cities market with market size estimates provided for each segment for the forecast period.Rapid population growth in urban areas is regarded as the first and foremost factor driving demand for the development of smart cities. Due to the massive migration of populations from rural to urban areas, the municipalities and local bodies are facing infrastructural challenges, which require a sustainable solution to fulfill the needs and wants of the growing population. This has led to the emergence of the concept of smart cities.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Smart cities are planned to include smart homes, intelligent transportation, security and sustainability, smart buildings, and energy management, among other things, to render the best developmental options for authorities and decision makers. On the design part, the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT) helps identify problems at an early stage, which in turn offers added safety for residents and an improved quality of life.In this regard, the development of smart cities is carried out in an endeavor to address the economic, environmental, engineering, and social challenges arising due to the exodus of population from rural to urban areas across the world.By application, smart transportation held the largest share of almost 16% of the global smart cities market in 2012. This was mainly due to the rising demand for advanced traffic management, need to reduce the volume of delivery vehicles, and build a superior transportation environment.Get A Sample Report @Concurrently, smart transportation connects the various transportation modes for improved traffic flow in both urban and inter-urban road networks. The use of smart transportation significantly helps to reduce travel delays and cut fuel consumption, which implicitly minimizes the economic burden on governments.Smart security will be the fastest growing application segment and will display a CAGR of 15.0% from 2013 to 2019, the report states. The growing popularity of smart security is attributed to its ability to stop third-party misuse of data or systems by imposing high security requirements on in-use technology.North America is the largest market for smart cities and will reach US$392.41 bn by 2019. In a bid to reduce the carbon footprint, regional governments are making efforts for increasing the use of renewable energy sources. Regional governments in North America are striving to achieve zero energy wastage target by 2020. This factor will further supplement the growth of the smart cities market here.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Next Generation Memory Technologies: Trends, outlook and Opportunity Analysis 2019

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The uncertainty in profit margins of legacy memory technologies and the demand for new memory technologies that are faster, scalable, and cost competitive will fuel the emergence of next generation memory technologies. These factors will lead the next generation memory technologies market to achieve a CAGR of 46.1% between 2013 and 2019. Next generation memory technologies constituted a US$207.8 million market in 2012.These aspects are discussed in detail in Transparency Market Researchs report titled, Next Generation Memory Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019.The report, however, also notes that designing next generation memory technologies can be an expensive process  this will likely be the largest impediment to the market.Browse the full Next Generation Memory Technologies Market (Non-volatile and Volatile) - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 report atThe report segments the global next generation memory technologies market on the basis of product type, interface technology, application, and region. Demand for universal memory solutions is progressively scaling upward; this presents a space that can be tapped by companies in the next generation memory technologies market.From the product standpoint, the market for next generation memory technologies is sub-segmented into: Non-volatile and volatile next-generation memory technologies. The former has been further split into five sub-segments for an in-depth analysis. Based on interface type, the next generation memory technologies market is classed into: SATA, PCIe and I2C, DDR, and SAS. Of these, DDR was the leading interface technology type deployed in conjunction with next generation memory technologies.Obtain Brochure Of Report @DDR interface constituted 47.6% of the global next generation memory technologies market by interface type as of 2012.Likewise, the market for next generation memory technologies has been split into the following application types: Mobile phones, mass storage, cache memory and enterprise storage, industrial and automotive, and smart card and embedded MCU. With a progressive increase in the adoption of PCM and MRAM memory, enterprise storage and cache memory storage is poised to emerge as the largest application segment in the next generation memory technologies market.The regional markets studied in the report are: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America held the lions share of the global next generation memory technologies market in 2012, with Europe occupying the second position. Key trends influencing the trajectory of the North America next generation memory technologies market are: The availability of technologies that offer high-speed mobile memory chips and low cost per bit.Get A Sample Report @In Europe, on the other hand, the average selling prices of existing memories have slid in the recent past, contributing to increased consumption of next generation memory technologies. However, the market in Europe has been facing a certain degree of volatility, prompting market players to look eastward to markets such as South Korea, Japan, and China.The report features a Company Profiles section wherein the financial standing, product pipeline, mergers and acquisitions, and business strategies of leading market players are discussed. Companies profiled in the report include: Micron Technology, Inc., SK Hynix Inc., Everspin Technologies, Inc., Avalanche Technology, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Fujitsu Ltd. The report identifies Fujitsu as the leading market player in 2012 thanks chiefly to the companys appreciable sales volume of its FeRAM technology. Everspin Technologies and Micron Technology ranked second and third, respectively, in the next generation memory technologies market.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
APAC Broadcasting Equipment Market to be Valued at US$ 5,104.8 Mn by 2024

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According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research, titled Broadcasting Equipment Market: Asia Pacific Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024, the broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is expected to be valued at US$ 5,104.8 Mn by 2024.The broadcasting equipment market in APAC region was valued at US$ 2487.5 Mn in 2015 and is expected to register a CAGR of 8.1% from 2016 to 2024. The growth of broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is primarily driven by convergence of high definition technologies such as 4K with IP. As per the report, 4K services are expected to be available on IP networks over the next four to five years via satellite launching and cable platforms.Request Sample:The report has segmented the APAC broadcasting equipment market into traditional TV broadcast, traditional radio broadcast, IP converged broadcasting and asset management systems.Traditional TV broadcast segment was valued at US$ 1123 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period (20162024). The traditional radio broadcast segment was valued at US$ 544 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. The IP converged broadcasting is projected to be the fastest growing segment in APAC broadcasting equipment market, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period.Traditional TV broadcast segment accounted for 45.1% share in terms of value of the total APAC broadcasting equipment market in 2015. Consumption of high definition content in APAC region is increasing at a rapid pace, supported by rising sales of HD ready TVs.Browse Research Report:The traditional TV broadcast equipment market is further segmented into camera, monitors, routers, switchers, cable, transmitter, receiver and other accessories. Routers sub-segment is projected to expand at the highest CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. Content creators across the region are shifting towards 4K cameras in order to capture high definition video. This is being supported by sales of 4K UHD television that has gained momentum due to rising disposable income in the region.Key players of the APAC Broadcasting Equipment market include Media Excel Inc.(US), ChyronHego Corporation (US), TVU Networks Corporation (US), XOR Media Inc.(US), FOR-A Company (Japan), ORACLE Corporation (US), Unlimi-Tech Software Inc. (US), Grass Valley (Canada) and General Dynamics Mediaware (Australia).This report covers trends that are driving each segment and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of the broadcasting equipment market in APAC regions.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United States+1-646-568-7751+1 800-961-0353 (USA-Canada Toll free)Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Biometrics Technology Market: Analysis and Forecast upto 2019

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The global biometrics technology market is progressing at a CAGR of 20.80% within a forecast period from 2013 to 2019. This growth spurt is likely to boost the market to US$23.3 bn by 2019, according to a research report released by Transparency Market Research. The report, titled Biometrics Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, is available on the company website.Browse the full Biometrics Technology (Face, Hand geometry, Voice, Signature, Iris, AFIS, Non-AFIS and Others) Market - Global Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 report atThe key driver of the global biometrics technology market, as stated in the report, is the growing level of concern over national and personal security. Developed economies have already adopted preventive measures  including the use of biometrics  to combat the rising wave of terrorism and crime. The global biometrics technology market provides a major advantage over other security measures; it uses permanent and universal identification methods. This includes human DNA, fingerprints, facial recognition, iris details, and even typing rhythms.The global biometrics technology market was dominated by the non-AFIS segment on the basis of application. The segment led the global biometrics technology market in 2012 owing to is user-friendly operation and cost-effectiveness. The report also states that non-AFIS systems are convenient and flexible in comparison to other application segments.Obtain Brochure Of Report @They are also preferred due to their lack of major maintenance.The report adds that the future of the global biometrics technology market may be reliant on the largely untapped segment of iris recognition. Such systems are widely used for access control and high-end security, due to their unobtrusive nature and the non-requirement of contact with a person for identification.From a geographical perspective, the global biometrics technology market is currently dominated by North America and Europe, owing to their early adoption of advanced technologies and matured markets. Both regions have expressed increasing concern over security threats, terror attacks, and crime rates, due to which there is an increase in the number of government-funded or approved projects for the same.Get A Sample Report @The issuance of e-passports and establishment of national identification programs in several countries are the major factors responsible for the growth of the Asia Pacific biometrics technology market. South Korea, Israel, Indonesia, China, and India have been rapidly implementing these security measures.Key players in the global biometrics technology market, as stated in the report, are DigitalPersona, BIO-Key International, NEC Corporation, 3M Cogent, and Safran Morpho. The global biometrics technology market is a highly consolidated one, with the NEC Corporation and Safran Morpho holding major stakes in it.The top companies in the global biometrics technology market are expected to maintain their rates of expansion in terms of consumer base through product innovation and strategy alliances. The larger companies are expected to boost investments in research and development.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Marine Propulsion Engine Market Analysis and Forecast Study for 2017 - 2027

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Marine propulsion is the system or mechanism used to generate thrust that allows a small boat or even a ship to move across waterways. Modern ships are usually equipped with mechanical systems consisting of an electric motor turning a propeller, or even pump-jets or an impeller. These ships employ reciprocating engines as their main source of power because of their robustness, operational simplicity and lower emissions. The power required by a ship largely depends on the way it is used during regular operations  for e.g.  A passenger ship requires less power than either a trade or naval ship. The marine propulsion engine market serves offshore support vessels, commercial vessels, inland waterway vessels, submarines and more.Focus on renewable energy fuelling the marine propulsion engine marketA growing need for dependent and fuel-efficient ships is anticipated to be the main driver of the marine propulsion engine market. There has been rapid innovation in the industry that has led to the development of new high-performance engines that are more fuel-efficient than their predecessors. Leading companies in the marine propulsion engine market are continuously innovating and extending their product offerings to handle the growing demand for greater capacity handling. This is mainly due to a rise in international seaborne trade caused by a globalised world with heavy interdependence and interconnectivity.Request For Report Sample:The second major factor that is likely to impact the marine propulsion engine market is the focus on renewable energy sources. Global warming and an impending energy crisis are some of the biggest challenges faced by the world in the 21st century. Commercial and transport ships notorious for causing a lot of pollution and accidental oil spills not only damage the regional natural ecosystem but also negatively impact the companys goodwill and market image. That is why energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, electric energy and hydroelectric energy are becoming more important than ever before. The development of electric motors that can power ships and reduce fossil fuel consumption will definitely have a positive impact on the marine propulsion engine market. The depletion of shale gas and conventional reserves will increase the demand for LNG, particularly as a marine fuel.Regulatory hurdles  the biggest challenge to the marine propulsion engine marketUncontrollable CO2 emissions from conventional engine systems have led to the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and various taxes such as carbon tax to help reduce the impact of climate change. The marine pollution convention (MARPOL) regulations help prevent sewage, oil and chemical spill contamination along with air pollution caused by marine propulsion engine exhaust fumes. Non-adherence to these governmental rules and regulations may lead to severe penalties running into billions of dollars. This can stifle the growth of the marine propulsion engine market particularly as smaller domestic companies may not be able to comply.Asia Pacific is the key marine propulsion engine market to watchAsia Pacific accounts for a major portion of the marine propulsion engine market and is anticipated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is primarily because of key nations China, Japan and South Korea that have become manufacturing powerhouses heavily dependent on external trade. China is already the worlds largest exporter and would naturally require a greater number of commercial ships, thus having a positive impact on the demand for marine propulsion engines. In addition to trade, countries across the world have begun beefing up their navies to combat ocean piracy. Asian navies, in particular, are rapidly building their defence capabilities and this should increase the size of the marine propulsion engine market across the Asia Pacific region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Marine propulsion engine market: key playersSome of the key players in the marine propulsion engine market are Caterpillar, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., General Electric Company, and Masson Marine.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Europe Baby Drinks Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2021

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Europe Baby Drinks Market: SnapshotThe Europe baby drinks market is anticipated to display a steady growth in the upcoming years on account of several favorable factors. Amongst a few, the increasing acceptance of formula milk as a substitute to breast milk is one of the key factors stoking growth of Europe baby drinks market. Infant formula contains vital nutrients that are needed for babys growth, because of which it is either complemented or sometimes substituted with breast milk. Water is added to dry milk to be fed to babies.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Along with this, the availability of a number of products, an increasing number of women in the workforce, and active marketing by baby drinks manufacturers are aiding the growth of Europe baby drinks market.On the flip side, high sugar content in baby drinks that may have a negative impact on babys heath, is proving to be a deterrent to the markets growth.As per a report by Transparency Market Research, the Europe baby drinks market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 3.5% for the forecast period between 2015 and 2021vis-a-vis revenue. At this rate, the market will become worth US$20,402.9 mn by the end of 2021 increasing from US$15,930.9 mn in 2014. In terms of volume, the Europe baby drinks market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.2% for the period between 2015 and 2021. Progressing at this rate, the market will increase from 1953 kg million in 2014 to 2439.6 million by the end of 2021.Rising Acceptance to be close to Breast Milk Makes Infant Formula Leading SegmentOn the basis of product, the Europe baby drinks market is segmented into infant formula and baby juice in this report. The segment of infant formula held the leading share of the market in 2014 in terms of revenue. Infant formula is considered to be close to breast milk containing vital nutrients needed for babys growth. This, along with recommendations from pediatricians will account for the infant formula product segment to hold on to its dominant position in the years ahead too.Browse Market Research Report @The baby juice segment is further sub-segmented into baby juice and concentrated baby juice. The growth of this segment is mainly because of an increasing demand for ready-to-drink baby juices. However, factors such as high sugar content in baby juices that make them less preferred among parents and weak distribution channels of baby juices are some of the restraints of the product segment.Large Number of Women in Workforce Makes France LeaderThe Europe baby drinks market is studied across the U.K., Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Rest of the Europe in this report. In 2014, France led with 18.50% of the overall market on the basis of revenue. This is mainly because of both partners in the workforce, favorable government policies, and increasing acceptance of infant formula to be the best substitute for breast milk. The U.K. stood as the second close accounting for 16.30% of the market in the same year.In the coming years, the U.K. and Spain are expected to contribute substantially to the Europe baby drinks market. This is because introduction of baby drinks that are close to all-natural products is driving their sales. Parents are ready to pay premium prices for improved quality products, as the quality significantly influence purchase decisions.Leading players in the Europe baby drinks market include Nestle SA, H.J. Heinz Company, Danone, Hipp GmbH & Co., Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, and Vertrieb KG.About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Metamaterials Market 2017 Key Specification, Top Brands, key Development, Overview

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Metamaterials Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Metamaterials market has been compiled by research analysts of the industry, with a primary aim to offer relevant information on the current market conditions for the global Metamaterials. Its objective is to talk about the growth prospects of the market and reach out to a wider range of audience such as government agencies, manufacturers of Metamaterials, and multiple consultancy services. The research report offers comprehensive analysis of the vital driving factors that will have a huge impact on the global Metamaterials market. It also studies the impeding or restraining aspects, upcoming and latest trends in the global Metamaterials market which the prominent players in the global Metamaterials market should make a note of to enhance their market presence. The potential of other factors of the Metamaterials market can be assessed by studying its multiple segments such as products, end users, types, application, services, and others, whichever are applicable. The report also studies the future conditions of the global Metamaterials market in all the important regions across the world, such as Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA), North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @The report of the global Metamaterials market gives out the projection of the market size in terms of its revenue (USD billion). Top-down as well as Bottom-up approaches are applied in the study report to give an estimate and confirm the size of the global Metamaterials market and of its other different sub-segments. The research report also extensively discusses the opportunities that may arise in the global market for Metamaterials by type and application in the manufacturing countries, and provides a prediction for the period of 2017-2022.Some of the prominent companies in the global Metamaterials market have been mentioned to attract the market shareholders. These companies are profiled respectively so as to give out their product portfolio, recent strategic decisions, and overall market share. The chapter also tries to grasp the possibility of the entry of upcoming players in the global Metamaterials market. The leading companies of the global market have been spotted with the help of secondary research methodologies and their dominance in respective areas have been evaluated with the help of detailed primary as well as secondary research.Browse full table of contents of Report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure North America Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Metamaterials Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Metamaterials Capacity, Production (K MT) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Metamaterials Major Players Product Capacity (K MT) (2012-2017)Table Global Metamaterials Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Metamaterials Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Metamaterials Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Figure Global Metamaterials Capacity (K MT) of Key Manufacturers in 2017About UsQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.Contact usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Smart Intelligent Sensor Market: Key Trends and Future Prospects 2019

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According to a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, the global smart/intelligent sensors market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 12.2% during the period between 2013 and 2019. The report, titled Smart/Intelligent Sensors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, projects the global smart/intelligent sensors market to be worth US$21.60 bn by 2019. The overall market stood at a valuation of US$9.0 bn in 2012.Browse the full Smart/Intelligent Sensors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019 report atThe rapidly growing importance of smaller and more diversely functional smart/intelligent sensors across applications such as healthcare monitoring, collision prevention, automotive application, and oil platforms has boosted the growth of the global smart/intelligent sensors market.The report points out that increasing application of smart/intelligent sensors in transportation and logistics, military, and surveillance will further augment the growth of the market during the forecast horizon. However, high replacement costs and lack of privacy are the key factors restraining the markets growth.The global smart/intelligent sensors market has a huge opportunity to grow with the development of smart cities and the growing trend of harnessing power from non-conventional sources of energy.In terms of application, the report segments the global smart/intelligent sensors market into medical equipment, consumer electronics, infrastructure, automotive industry, and others including avionics and food and beverage. In 2012, the automotive sector dominated the overall market, closely followed by the industrial sector.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Both these sectors are anticipated to maintain their leading positions in the market during the forecast horizon.The report studies the global smart/intelligent sensors market across four key regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. The overall market witnessed the highest demand from Europe in 2012.The robust growth of the market in Europe can be attributed to the high healthcare standards, developed infrastructure, and presence of leading automobile manufacturers such as Audi, Renault, and BMW. North America ranks second in terms of market share in the global smart/intelligent sensors market.The growing demand for advanced medical equipment, introduction of advanced features in automobiles, and consumer preference for the replacement of electronic devices for technologically advanced features have propelled the growth of the market in this region.Get A Sample Report @Describing the competitive hierarchy, the report profiles some of the key players in the global smart/intelligent sensors market such as Custom Sensors and Technologies Inc., Analog Devices Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Eaton Corporation PLC, Emerson Process Management LLLP, Omron Corp., Infineon Technologies AG, Vishay Intertechnology Inc., Yokogawa Electric Corp., and Wilcoxon Research Inc.The report further provides insightful information about the players by including their financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments. The key players are focusing on advancements in smart/intelligent sensors, thereby expanding their applications across other sectors.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
IoT Processors and Chip Market to 2025 - Cypress Semiconductor, ARM, Atmel, Freescale Semiconductor, Mediatek, NXP Semiconductors and Others

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The Internet of Things is a fast-growing industry built on the promise of ubiquitous connectivity that will enable billions of devices to talk to each other and to people. The IoT processors and chip market report discuss about the different processors and Integrated circuit used in IoT application.View Complete Report @The report aims to provide an overview of global IoT processors and chip market with detailed market segmentation by component, processor type, application and geography. The global IoT processors and chip market is expected to witness decent growth during the forecast period. Increasing demand of wearable devices and smart technology is expected to drive the market in near future.Request Sample Copy @The objectives of IoT Processors and Chip Market report is as follows: To provide overview of the global IoT Processors and Chip market To analyze and forecast the global IoT Processors and Chip market on the basis of component, processor type and application To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall IoT Processors and Chip market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions To profiles key IoT Processors and Chip players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesSome of the leading players in IoT Processors and Chip market are ARM Ltd., Atmel Corporation, Cypress Semiconductor, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Intel Corporation, Mediatek Inc., NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm Incorporated, STMicroelectronics N.V. and Texas Instruments.Inquire about discount on this report @The report segments the global IoT Processors and Chip Market as follows:IoT Processors and Chip Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 -Components MCU Market FPGA Market Memory Market Others MarketIoT Processors and Chip Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 - Processor Types 8 bit processors Market 16 bit Market 32 bit MarketIoT Processors and Chip Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 - Application Wearables Market Building & Home Automation Market Smart Manufacturing Market Health Care Market Smart Cities Market Automotive MarketIoT Processors and Chip Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 - Geographical Analysis North America Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Middle East & Africa (MEA) South America (SAM)Access Full Report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout The Insight Partners: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, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Modular PLC Market Projected to Grow Steadily During 2017 - 2027

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PLCs or Programmable Logic Controllers are generally the commercial or industrial computers used to operate automated systems. From traffic lights on streets to roller coasters at parks, PLCs are seen everywhere. To make PLC work, three major components are required, namely, the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the power supply and rack, and the I/O section. The two main categories of PLC are fixed and modular PLCs. Modular PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is preferred over fixed PLC owing to its capability to execute complex processes. Furthermore, modular PLCs are also called rack-mounted units, consisting of bases for installation of various I/O modules, which are easier to repair. Capability to store more information, greater number of available I/O modules, designed to expand and customize processes for continuous development and greater economic security for long-term are some of the benefits, which are expected to be the factors for the market growth. Based on product type, micro modular PLC is expected to dominate the global modular PLC market.Modular PLC Market: DriversThe modular PLC has the ability to complete the process while the other errors are being fixed. Moreover, the ease of troubleshooting the downtime of the modular PLC is lesser than the fixed PLC. Due to the aforementioned factors, global modular PLC is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, growing home and building automation market is expected to fuel the demand for modular PLC in the near future. Additionally, increasing requirement of automation solutions is projected to upsurge the demand for modular PLC during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample:Modular PLC Market: RestraintsHigher initial cost as compared to fixed PLC is expected to be one of the factors hindering the growth of global modular PLC market over the forecast period. Furthermore, decrease in space efficiency, high cost of diagnostic labour during failure, need of enclosure due to low IP ratings and more spare stock, which increases maintenance cost are the other factors hampering the growth of global modular PLC market during the forecast period.Modular PLC Market: SegmentationThe global modular PLC market can be segmented on the basis of product type, program memory size, offerings and end-use industry mainly. On the basis of product type, the global modular PLC market can be segmented into micro modular PLC and nano modular PLC. On the basis of program memory size, the market can be segmented into small size PLC (max two I/O module), medium size PLC (less than 100 I/O modules) and large size PLC (more than 100 I/O modules). On the basis of offerings, the modular PLC market can be segmented into hardware, software and services. On the basis of end use industry, the market can be further segmented into automotive, food and beverage, cement industry, home & building automation, metal & mining, pharmaceutical industry and others.Modular PLC Market: Regional OutlookBased on regions, North America is expected to dominate the global modular PLC market. The increasing demand for modular PLC from food and beverage, power and waste water treatment industries is expected to drive the growth of modular PLC market in North America. Asia Pacific, led by China and India, is projected to witness high growth during the forecast period. Rapid industrialization coupled with increasing manufacturing units in this region are projected to fuel the demand for modular PLC. Latin America and Europe are expected to witness positive growth during the forecast period. Japan, being the matured and developed market, is expected to witness stagnant growth in modular PLC market during the forecast period. Owing to growing industrialization and commercialization in Middle East & Africa, the modular PLC market is expected to exhibit significant growth during the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Modular PLC Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the examples of the prominent players identified in the global modular PLC market are as mentioned below:ABB LimitedB&R Industrial AutomationGeneral ElectricIDEC CorporationMitsubishi Electric CompanyOmron CorporationRockwell Automation Inc.Siemens AGSchneider Electric SERobert Bosch GmbHABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Software-Defined Wide Area Network Market 2016 - Latest and updated Scope and Application

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Market Research Report 2016 to its huge collection of research reports.The report Software-Defined Wide Area Network Market is a comprehensive industry study featuring qualitative and quantitative analysis. In todays complex business environment, players in the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market need to remain updated about the latest trends. The latest intelligence on the Software-Defined Wide Area Network market can help companies form more informed business decisions. Furthermore, knowing the latest market trends will also help companies avoid any unnecessary business risks in the changing landscape of the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market. The research report on the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market presents to readers recent news, key deals, and other trends that are shaping the market. Furthermore, the valuable recommendations provided in the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market report will help companies form a more effective strategy, whether to penetrate a new market or expand their portfolio.The research report begins with a brief industry overview. In this section, the report offers definition, specifications, classifications, and applications of Software-Defined Wide Area Network. Further to this, key data on the latest industry news and major deals is covered. This will update readers regarding the key events that are shaping the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market. Moreover, the report also provides the latest news and details regarding the regulatory framework of the global Software-Defined Wide Area Network market.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure North America Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Europe Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure China Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Japan Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Southeast Asia Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Revenue (Million UDS) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Table Global Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Capacity of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)About UsQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.Contact usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Web Content Filtering Market: Present Scenario and the Growth Prospects with Forecast 2019

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According to Transparency Market Researchs new market report, titled Web Content Filtering Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, the need for web content filtering has increased with the exponential growth of the Internet that has also increased the number of cyber-attacks and cyber threats in the web world.Internet malware and cyber-attacks are on the rise, leading to breaches of confidential information and security, data theft, and easy access to undesirable content.Browse Full Web Content Filtering Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 Research Report With Full TOC @These threats have given rise to a number of time-consuming issues that bother data-sensitive industries and corporate offices. Such issues have led to growing concern for corporate as well as domestic security and safety and thus, the demand for web content filtering solutions is on a rise. The report provides a complete strategic analysis of the global web content filtering market, including competitive analysis of various market segments based on end use, technique, type, and in-depth cross-sectional scrutiny.Under the market overview section, the report states that web content filtering solutions have the ability to provide strong network security by blocking access to undesirable websites that are likely to distribute malicious content and viruses. Web content filtering solutions are designed to restrict information delivered over the internet via the web or e-mail and provide users access to only specified content on the internet.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Such factors have made web content filtering solutions a basic necessity in business organizations. Based on the overall market analysis and key trends in the report, the demand for web content filtering solutions is growing mainly due to the increasing corporate concerns over employee productivity at offices, data security, and legal liability.The need for prevention of web content liabilities, malware exposure, and meeting government standards is pushing the market for web content filtering solutions. Awareness regarding the need to control and monitor internet-related security issues and breaches encourages corporate firms and business organizations to adopt web content filtering solutions on a wider scale.Moreover, the constantly changing government regulations, coupled with the increasing desire to reduce bandwidth usage, has fueled to the growth momentum of this market. However, high maintenance requirements and high cost involved in the installation of web content filtering solutions pose a significant challenge for growth of this market.Get A Sample Report @Therefore, in response to customers high sensitivity to price factors, web content filtering solutions have reached a state of equilibrium in the global market. Presently, the market has several security vendors that have started developing multiple deployment platforms and integrated suites. These solutions help monitor malicious activities in an easy manner.The report also analyzes various technologies in this market and currently places URL filtering technique as the most dominant technology of all, followed by file type filtering as the next fastest growing technology for the coming years. Within the end-use segments of the web content filtering market, the business organizations segment accounted for a value of US$441.9 million in 2012 and is expected to grow further at a CAGR of 10.3% until 2019.By geography, the North America market accounted for the largest market share in 2012 owing to the favorable government regulations that encourage the use of web content filtering solutions and technologies in the consumers day-to-day life. The U.S. is at the forefront of the North America market for web content filtering solutions.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Paraffin Inhibitors Market: Challenges and Opportunities Report 2017 - 2027

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Paraffin inhibitors are polymers used to prevent the precipitation of paraffin from oil. Crude oil paraffin inhibitors alter the shape and size of wax crystals, thereby keeping them dispersed and preventing them from adhering to the surface. Deposition of paraffin, which happens naturally in crude oil, can pose serious challenges during production, transportation and storage. A number of factors affect the precipitation of paraffin, some of them include temperature, cooling rate of the storage tanks and pipelines, etc. Paraffin inhibitors are essentially chemicals that prevent the deposition of paraffin in storage tanks and pipelines and prevent paraffin induced blockage. Paraffin inhibitors can be used for different varieties of crude oil. The particles remain dispersed and are flown back into the oil. The wastage, thus, is minimized and the additional waste disposal cost is also saved. It is because all of these benefits that paraffin inhibitors offer, it is anticipated that the paraffin inhibitors market will expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period.Global Paraffin Inhibitors Market DynamicsGlobal Paraffin Inhibitors Market DriversThere is an increasing need to improve the flow of crude oil flow preventing blockages and reducing the wastage of oil caused due to deposition of paraffin from oil and this is one of the prime factors driving the paraffin inhibitors market. Moreover, the downtime for the flow of oil can also be reduced with the help of these inhibitors. With increase in oil exploration and production activities worldwide, the global paraffin inhibitors market is foreseen to remain lucrative over the span of next 10 years. The use of paraffin inhibitors has led to decrease in energy costs and has also managed to reduce the wear and tear of equipment. Moreover, paraffin inhibitors also prevent the deposition of sludge at the bottom of the tank. Thus, the use of paraffin inhibitors reduces operational issues and maximizes hydrocarbon production. All of these factors are expected to affect the market positively in years to come.Request For Report Sample:Global Paraffin Inhibitors Market RestraintsThe time of application of paraffin inhibitors plays a very crucial role. If paraffin inhibitors are added before the oil is cooled to a particular temperature, the paraffin inhibitors induce the formation of agglomerates as the stability of the colloidal solution is disturbed. Thus, due to technicalities and complexities associated with application, the market is growing at a steady rate. Moreover, in regions such as Asia Pacific, the lack of awareness is a major factor restraining the growth of the market in the regionGlobal Paraffin Inhibitors Market TrendsThe manufacturers have managed to develop such paraffin inhibitors that can work at low temperature conditions like subsea umbilical and cold climates. Efforts are being made to produce such paraffin inhibitors that can prevent deposition under extreme environmental conditions.Global Paraffin Inhibitors Market SegmentationThe global market for paraffin inhibitors can be segmented on the basis of application and region.On the basis of application the global paraffin inhibitors market can be segmented into:Exploration and drillingStorageTransportation(Pipelines)Global Paraffin Inhibitors Market Regional OutlookNorth America holds a major share in the global paraffin inhibitors market and is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period, 2016-2026. This can be attributed to increasing technological advancements and development of unconventional methods for the production of oil which has shown rising demand for paraffin inhibitors. Western Europe also holds a significant share in the global paraffin inhibitors market. Asia Pacific and Japan are anticipated to expand at a moderate CAGR over the forecast period. Middle East and Africa is expected to expand at a significant CAGR owing to the large oil and petrochemical base industries in the region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Global Paraffin Inhibitors Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants identified across the value chain of the global paraffin inhibitors market are: BASF SE, NALCO, Halliburton, Evonik Industries AG, Croda International Plc, Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes Incorporated, GE Corporation, Clariant, AkzoNobel N.V, Zirax Limited, Refinery Specialties, Inc., Dorf ketal Chemicals.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
IoT in BFSI Market to 2025 - Cisco Systems, SAP, EMC, IBM, Symantec, Accenture and Other Players

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BFSI segment is leveraging the enormous gain from Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the benefit are for both; the consumer as well as the organization. The Internet of Things in BFSI segment is applicable for devices to connected to the Internet to communicate and share information and other data with smart devices in real time. The BFSI business segment has started experiencing the IoT disruption from last few years in the form of mobile banking. However, mobile banking is seen as an incredible advancement in BFSI services.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the IoT in BFSI Market to 2025 @The report aims to provide an overview of Global IoT in BFSI Market along with detailed segmentation of market by category, applications and five major geographical regions. Global IoT in BFSI market is expected to gaining popularity with features such as improve customer experience, product development and back-office performance with IoT application.Request Sample Copy @The objectives of IoT in BFSI Market report are as follows: To provide overview of the global IoT in BFSI market To analyze and forecast the global IoT in BFSI market on the basis of category and applications To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall IoT in BFSI market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM), which are later sub-segmented across respective major countries To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions To profiles key IoT in BFSI players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesSome of the important players in IoT in BFSI market are Cisco Systems, Inc., SAP SE, EMC Corporation, IBM Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Honeywell International, Inc., AT & T, Inc., Accenture PLC, Qualcomm, Inc. and Intel Corporation among others.Inquire about discount on this report @The report segments the global IoT in BFSI Market as follows:IoT in BFSI Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 -Category Banking Market Capital Market Investment Management Market Insurance Market Capital Real Estate MarketIoT in BFSI Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 - Application Product Monitoring Market Customer Monitoring Market Premises Monitoring Market Supply Chain Monitoring Market Others MarketIoT in BFSI Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 - Geographical Analysis North America Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Middle East & Africa (MEA) South America (SAM)Procure Full Report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout The Insight Partners: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, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global E-cigarette Sales market 2017 Top players-Blu eCigs, Njoy, V2, International Vaporgroup, KiK

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The market report on the E-cigarette Sales Market 2017 is a skillful and in-depth research report and it consist of all the major branches of the market. The market size of the E-cigarette Sales market is estimated in terms of value. In this report all the important aspects are included considering the E-cigarette Sales market so that the user can understand the market completely.Download Full Request Sample@Details of the ReportThe report begins with industrial overview of the E-cigarette Sales market. In the overview all the primary and secondary factors are covered.In market segmentation the E-cigarette Sales market is segmented depending on the major aspects including applications, end use industry, and other leading factors. Along with this the sub segments are also included in this report.In the next sections, other components and elements are discussed which contribute to the growth of the market. These consequences help in analyzing the current position of the market.The technological advancements that are created in the E-cigarette Sales market are also described. These advancements help the beginners to understand the upcoming opportunities in the market.Companies Mentioned are :Blu eCigsNjoyV2International VaporgroupVaporcorpTruvapeProVapeCigr8KiKHangsenFirstUnionShenzhen Jieshibo TechnologyAccess Full sample Report@Further in the report:Several factors that are regulating the growth of the market are also included. Various challenges that are affecting the current and future growth are added. The position and size of the market in nations and regions are added in this report. Active region of the market can be understood through the Region-wise analysis.Other aspects:Global E-cigarette Sales market covers Testimonials of the E-cigarette Sales industry. The report gives an extensive view of the global E-cigarette Sales market.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Distribution Automation Market: Key Players and Production Information analysis

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A market study, based on the global distribution automation market, has been published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), estimating the market to report a CAGR of 8.50% during the period from 2013 to 2019. Analysts at TMR anticipate the worldwide market for distribution automation to reach US$17,677.2 mn by the end of the forecast period.The research study, titled Distribution Automation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, also estimates the historical value of the global distribution automation market in 2012 to be US$9,986.3 mn.Browse the full Distribution Automation Market (By Product Type - Monitoring and Control Devices, Power Quality and Efficiency Devices, and Switching and Power Reliability Devices; By End-user - Industrial, Commercial and Residential Sector) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 report atThe technical advancement in distribution automation solutions, improving their reliability and efficacy, is significantly fuelling the global distribution automation market. However, the report states that the growth of the global market may get hampered by the lack of adequate standards in communication technology and infrastructure in the coming years.The market for monitoring and control devices held 36.1% of the global distribution automation products market in 2012. However, the fastest growth is projected to be reported by the power quality and efficiency devices market over the forecast period, cites the report.The industrial sector emerged as the largest end user of distribution automation solutions in 2012 with a share of 51.3%, notes the study. This market segment is predicted to maintain its leadership throughout the forecast period.Obtain Brochure Of Report @According this market study, the distribution automation market in Europe contributed for the highest revenue in 2012, accounting for a 32.2% of the global market. The rising number of smart grid projects and increasing investment in various components of distribution automation have stimulated this regional market. Additionally, the low cost associated with operation and maintenance of distribution automation is likely to drive this regional market during the forecast period, maintaining its dominance.The research report further discusses the condition of the distribution market in North America and Asia Pacific. The increased focus on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) integrated with distribution automation solutions in North America is likely to boost this market during the forecast period.Get A Sample Report @The distribution automation market in Asia Pacific is also expected to exhibit remarkable growth between 2013 and 2019, states the report.The global distribution automation market is highly concentrated with the presence of a few number of market players. ABB Ltd. and Siemens AG dominate this worldwide market with a share of 24% and 22%, respectively.Other prominent players in this market are American Electric Power, Dominion Virginia Power, Cooper Power Systems, Electricite de France, S&C Electric Co., Pacific Gas and Electric Co., General Electric Corp., Schneider Electric SA, Beckwith Electrics, Alstom Group, Edison Electric Institute, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc., Duke Energy Corp., PECO, Nissin Electric Co. Ltd., and Tennessee Valley Authority, reports the market study.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nov, 7 2017: Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market Forecast 2023 Artemis, Knoll, Wangen Pumpen, Sulzer, Continental Pump

Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump

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Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market Research 2017A market study "Global Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market" examines the performance of the Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market 2017 report includes Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market Revenue, market Share, Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump industry volume, market Trends, Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market 2017 :PCMSydex USASEEPEXSEKOLiberty Process EquipmentWangen PumpenArtemisALLWEILERContinental PumpKUDUMANTLMonoDover Artificial LiftKnollSulzerTwo-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market : By ApplicationFood And Arink PumpingOil PumpingCoal Slurry PumpingSewage And Sludge PumpingViscous Chemical PumpingOthersTwo-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market : By TypeLarge-scale Single-screw pump Progressing Cavity PumpSmall Size Single-screw pump Progressing Cavity PumpFirstly, the report covers the top Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump industry, Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market revenue worldwide.Finally, Two-screw pump Progressing Cavity Pump market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Feeding Systems Market by Type and by Application

Feeding Systems Market Research Report by Market Data Forecast

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The Global Feeding Systems market size was around USD 840.96 million in 2016. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% to reach USD 1.25 billion by 2021. Feeding systems are designed to efficiently manage nutritional requirements of animal husbandry and other business related to it. The main reason for installation of these systems is to automate the entire process of feeding the animals along with cost reduction.Augmenting size of dairy farms worldwide, rising focus of companies on technological advancements in the feeding management coupled with new product launches, and considerable cost savings related to the adoption of feeding systems are the key factors anticipated to drive the growth of the market during the aforementioned forecast period.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Global biomaterials Industry to 2021 @The primary restraint for the growth of the market is the paucity of trained professionals to handle numerous types feeding systems and high upfront cost involved in the installation of automated feeding systems. Currently, there is inadequate supply of trained professionals in the livestock industry.The market is segmented on the basis of application, offering, system type, and region. By offering, the market has been categorized into hardware, software, and service. Various factors, like enhanced performance of these hardware and software systems, standardization of hardware and software systems, and reduced time and cost related to the feeding management are incentivizing the livestock owners to adopt various types of feeding systems. The hardware offering category is projected to command the feeding systems market during the aforementioned forecast period. By application, the market has been categorized into dairy farm, poultry farm, swine farm, and equine farm. The swine farm application category of the feeding systems market is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the aforementioned forecast period. The high growth of this application category is due to the growing adoption of automated feeding systems like liquid feeding systems and dry feeding systems on swine farms for feeding livestock. By type, the market has been categorized into rail guided system, conveyor belt system, and self-propelled system. Manual feeding of livestock is very costly and time-consuming process because of the large-scale labour involvement in it. Hardware and software feeding solutions enable automatic identification of livestock and data capturing, resulting in accurate and quick tracking of livestock and their feeding.Free sample of the report is available @By geography, the global Feeding Systems market has been categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The North American region is anticipated to command the feeding systems market during the aforementioned forecast period. The Asia Pacific feeding systems market is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the aforementioned forecast period. The growth of the Asia Pacific feeding systems market is fuelled by several factors, viz. technological advancements in the feeding management and rising adoption of feeding systems based on new technologies in the Asia Pacific region.Major players in this market include Trioliet B.V. (Netherlands), DeLaval Holding AB (Sweden), Lely Holding S.A.R.L (Netherlands), Cormall AS (Denmark), and GEA Group AG (Germany), among others and providers of software and services for feeding systems, which include Agrologic Ltd (Israel), Cormall AS (Denmark), Rovibec Agrisolutions Inc. (Canada), and DairyMaster (Ireland), among others.About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@marketdataforecast.com
Latin American Spirits Sector Market 2017By Identifying the Key Market Segments and Key players holding market share

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Summary"Opportunities in the Latin American Spirits Sector", report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Latin American Spirits sector. It includes market overview, high growth country analysis, top brands, key distribution channels, packaging formats and case studies.The Latin American spirits sector is forecast to grow at 4.2% during 2016-2021. Liqueurs is estimated to witness the fastest growth in both value and volume terms during 2016-2021. Vodka is expected to record growth in share of consumption across all high potential countries. Food & drinks specialists accounted for a 33.1% share of volume sales in Latin America in 2016. Glass accounted for 99.9% share of all the packaging material used in 2016.GET SAMPLE REPORT @ScopeThis report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Latin American Spirits sector. It includes analysis on the following -- Sector overview: Provides overview of the sector size, value and volume growth analysis, across regions- Change in consumption: Analysis on the shift in consumption of Spirits by markets across the key countries in the Latin American region.- High potential countries: Provides Risk-Reward analysis of top 4 high potential countries in the Latin American region based on market assessment, economic development, socio-demographic, governance indicators, and technological infrastructure- Country analysis: Provides deep-dive analysis of 4 high potential countries covering value growth during 2016-2021, key challenges, consumer demographics, and key trends supported with product examples. It also includes analysis of the key challenges faced and future outlook for the region.- Brand analysis: Provides an overview of leading brands in the Latin American region, besides analyzing the growth of Private Label products in the region.- Key distribution channels: Provides analysis on the leading distribution channels for Spirits across the key countries in the Latin American region, in 2016. It covers these distribution channels - hypermarkets & supermarkets, convenience stores, food & drinks specialists, dollar stores, which include variety stores & general merchandisers and others, which includes cash & carries & warehouse clubs and others.- Preferred packaging formats: The report provides percentage share (in 2016) and growth analysis (during 2011-2021) for various packaging materials, container, closure, and outer types based on the volume sales (units) of Spirits.Reasons to buy- Manufacturing and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region.- The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis , that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances- The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion- To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth ratesTable of Content: Key Points1. Executive summary2. Market size and growth analysis (region analysis)Market size in context - Latin America compared to other regionsGrowth analysis by regionGrowth analysis by countryGrowth analysis by market3. Identifying high potential countries in Latin AmericaHigh potential countries in Latin AmericaAnalyzing countries in Latin America - methodologyIdentifying high potential countries - risk, reward, and opportunity analysis4. Market size and growth analysis (high potential countries in Latin America)High potential countries in Latin America - overviewGrowth contribution analysis by countryShare of Spirits compared to other alcoholic beverages sectorsChange in consumption levels by country and spirits marketsPer capita consumption and expenditure analysis5. Country profiles (high potential countries in Latin America)BrazilChilePeruColombia6. Success stories7. Company and brand analysisBrand share analysis in the Spirits sectorLeading companies in the Latin American Spirits sectorLeading brands in the Latin American Spirits sectorPrivate label penetration in the Latin American Spirits sector8. Key distribution channelsLeading distribution channels by countriesLeading distribution channels by markets9. Key packaging formatsGrowth analysis by key package material and pack typeGrowth analysis by closure type and outer type10. Challenges and future outlookKey ChallengesFuture OutlookContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
3d Ics Market: Segmentation and Company Analysis to 2019

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According to a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, the global 3D ICs market is estimated to expand robustly at a CAGR of 18.1% during the period between 2013 and 2019. The report, titled Global 3D ICs Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, projects the global 3D ICs market to be worth US$7.52 bn by 2019. The overall market stood at a valuation of US$2.4 bn in 2012.Browse the full Global 3D ICs Market (MEMS and sensors, RF SiP, Optoelectronics and imaging, Memories, Logic, HB LED) - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 report at3D ICs chips are expected to define the future of electronics as they consume 30-40% less power compared to 2D ICs chips. The report points out that the demand for 3D ICs chips would be boosted by the growing demand for efficient solutions and an increase in the number of portable devices.However, high costs, coupled with thermal and testing issues is expected to restrain the growth of the global 3D ICs market during the forecast horizon. The overall market has a huge opportunity to grow with advancements in big data and predictive analysis. Multi-chip packing and introduction of IntSim have emerged as the key trends in the global 3D ICs market.Obtain Brochure Of Report @According to end-use industries, the global 3D ICs market has been categorized into information and communication technology, transport, military, consumer electronics, and others including biomedical applications and research and development. The information and communication technology industry held a 24.2% share in the overall market revenue generated in 2012. During the forecast horizon, the report anticipates the consumer electronics and ICT industries to significantly impact the growth of the global 3D ICs market.On the basis of product type, the report segments the global 3D ICs market into memories (3D Stacks), RF SiP, HB LED, logic 3D SiP/ SoC, MEMs and sensors, and optoelectronics and imaging. The report projects that memories and MEMs and sensors will lead the 3D ICs market in the future. The increasing popularity of memory-enhanced solutions will propel the growth of the memories segment during the forecast horizon.Get A Sample Report @The report segments the global 3D ICs market into four key regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. Rapidly growing ICT and consumer electronics industries across Asia Pacific are expected to drive the overall growth of the market during the forecast horizon. North America is anticipated to emerge as the second-largest region in the global 3D ICs market.Describing the competitive landscape, the report profiles some of the key players in the global 3D ICs market, such as, XILINX Inc., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd., The 3M Company, Tezzaron Semiconductor Corporation, STATS ChipPAC Ltd., Ziptronix Inc., United Microelectronics Corporation, MonolithIC 3D Inc., and Elpida Memory Inc. The report further provides insightful information about the key players including their financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nov, 7 2017: Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market Forecast 2023 Yamal LNG, Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries

Liquified Natural Gas Tanker

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Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market Research 2017A market study "Global Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market" examines the performance of the Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market 2017 report includes Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market Revenue, market Share, Liquified Natural Gas Tanker industry volume, market Trends, Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market 2017 :Samsung Heavy IndustriesMitsubishi Heavy IndustriesHyundai Heavy IndustriesDSMEMitsui O.S.K. LinesNYKYamal LNGFirstly, the report covers the top Liquified Natural Gas Tanker manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Liquified Natural Gas Tanker report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Liquified Natural Gas Tanker industry, Liquified Natural Gas Tanker industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Liquified Natural Gas Tanker Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Liquified Natural Gas Tanker research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market revenue worldwide.Finally, Liquified Natural Gas Tanker market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Global Master Data Management Market is anticipated to rise to US$37.97 bn over 2016-2024

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The master data management market has undergone tremendous advancement in the past few years. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) the penetration of information technology across various industries has increased. Organizations have ramped up their investments in IoT technology. IoT offers a range of benefits to organizations in the sectors of cloud computing, big data analytics, and global networks. The global start up industry has grown hugely in the IoT sector. Also there has been a significant rise in the number of businesses conducted over the web over the past few years.Moreover, increase in the number of connected devices globally has also been one key factor in promoting the growth of IoT market. Economies across the world foresee the economic benefits of IoT. Considering the direct proportionality of growth in IoT to need for data management, the growth of IoT is expected to drive the demand for master data management in organizations. Master data management can enable organizations to derive actionable insights from the IoT data generated. Master data management offers actionable analytical and predictive data to organizations in order to carry out their business operations effectively related to product and customer data. For product and customer centric industries, availability of effective and accurate master data is critical. Discrepancy in customer as well as product related data can cost any organization hugely in terms of time and money.Click to get sample PDF with TOC:Therefore, the need to invest in effective master data management solutions has become vital for the success of any organization. Businesses today have to handle a large amount of data related to products and customers. Master data management focuses on managing product- and customer-related information through product data solutions and customer data solutions. Improper management of data can lead businesses to face loses in terms of money and time. Master data management serves as a central repository of master data, which is consolidated from various sources of data. Data-driven business operations rely hugely on master data. Master data management done correctly helps achieve risk management and regulatory compliance in organizations. Thus organizations consider investing in efficient data management and master data management solutions.View Complete TOC with Tables and Figures list at:This report on the master data management market provides analysis for the period from 2014 to 2024, wherein 2015 is the base year and the period from 2016 to 2024 is the forecast period. Data for 2014 has been included as historical information. The report highlights the various drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during the said period. It also highlights the trends that prevail in the master data management market globally. The study provides a holistic perspective on market growth throughout the forecast period in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn) across regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America (LATAM).This research report provides in-depth analysis of the master data management market, which is segmented on the basis of component, solution, and industry. The report provides cross-sectional analysis of the global master data management market in terms of market estimates and forecasts for all segments across regions.The report profiles the major players of the master data management market. The company profiling includes an overview of the company with respect to parameters such as company details, market presence and segmentation by geography, key developments, strategy and historical roadmap, and revenue and operating profits. Major business strategies adopted by these players, their market positioning, and their recent developments have also been identified in the research report. This report also provides market positioning analysis of major players in the master data management market based on their 2015 revenues. The major players profiled in the report include Informatica, IBM Global Services, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Stibo Systems, Riversand Technologies, Tibco Software, Agility Multichannel, and EnterWorks Acquisition Inc.Buy Report:Master Data Management Market: By ComponentBy Software- On Cloud- On PremiseBy Service- Consulting- System Integration- Operations and MaintenanceResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Global Market 2017: Key Players  Upland Software, Inc., Planview, Inc., Planisware S.A.S., Oracle Corporation, Software AG

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Project Portfolio Management (PPM) IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Project Portfolio Management (PPM) -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis of Top Key Player Forecast To 2022 To Its Research DatabaseThis report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) market by By PPM Type, By Deployment, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersUpland Software, Inc. (Texas, US)Planview, Inc. (Texas, US)Planisware S.A.S. (California, US)Oracle Corporation (California, US)Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany)SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany)Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US)Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US)CA Technologies (New York, US)Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US)Clarizen (California, US)ErviceNow, Inc. (California, US)Foxtable (Zhanjiang, China)Request for Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Aquatic Feed in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaMain types of productsProject Portfolio Management (PPM) Market, by PPM TypeSoftwareServicesProject Portfolio Management (PPM) Market, by DeploymentOn-premisesCloudProject Portfolio Management (PPM) Market, by Key ConsumerProject managementPortfolio managementDemand managementFinancial managementResource managementOthersLeave a Query @Table of ContentsGlobal Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer...Chapter Six Global Key Players Profile6.1 Upland Software, Inc. (Texas, US)6.1.1 Upland Software, Inc. (Texas, US) Company Details and Competitors6.1.2 Upland Software, Inc. (Texas, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.1.3 Upland Software, Inc. (Texas, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.1.4 Upland Software, Inc. (Texas, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.2 Planview, Inc. (Texas, US)6.2.1 Planview, Inc. (Texas, US) Company Details and Competitors6.2.2 Planview, Inc. (Texas, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.2.3 Planview, Inc. (Texas, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.2.4 Planview, Inc. (Texas, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.3 Planisware S.A.S. (California, US)6.3.1 Planisware S.A.S. (California, US) Company Details and Competitors6.3.2 Planisware S.A.S. (California, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.3.3 Planisware S.A.S. (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.3.4 Planisware S.A.S. (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.4 Oracle Corporation (California, US)6.4.1 Oracle Corporation (California, US) Company Details and Competitors6.4.2 Oracle Corporation (California, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.4.3 Oracle Corporation (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.4.4 Oracle Corporation (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.5 Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany)6.5.1 Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany) Company Details and Competitors6.5.2 Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.5.3 Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.5.4 Software AG (Darmstadt, Germany) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.6 SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany)6.6.1 SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) Company Details and Competitors6.6.2 SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.6.3 SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.6.4 SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.7 Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US)6.7.1 Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US) Company Details and Competitors6.7.2 Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.7.3 Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.7.4 Microsoft Corporation (Washington, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.8 Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US)6.8.1 Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US) Company Details and Competitors6.8.2 Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.8.3 Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.8.4 Changepoint Corporation (Washington, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.9 CA Technologies (New York, US)6.9.1 CA Technologies (New York, US) Company Details and Competitors6.9.2 CA Technologies (New York, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.9.3 CA Technologies (New York, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.9.4 CA Technologies (New York, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.10 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US)6.10.1 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US) Company Details and Competitors6.10.2 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US) Key Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Models and Performance6.10.3 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast6.10.4 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (California, US) Project Portfolio Management ( PPM) Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin6.11 Clarizen (California, US)6.12 ErviceNow, Inc. (California, US)6.13 Foxtable (Zhanjiang, China)Buy Now @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (Us) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (Uk)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune  411028Maharashtra, GlobalPh: +91 841 198 5042
Nov, 7 2017: Floating LNG Tanker Market Forecast 2023 Royal Dutch Shell, Excelerate Energy, Hoegh LNG, PETRONAS

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Floating LNG Tanker Market Research 2017A market study "Global Floating LNG Tanker Market" examines the performance of the Floating LNG Tanker market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Floating LNG Tanker market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Floating LNG Tanker market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Floating LNG Tanker Market 2017 report includes Floating LNG Tanker market Revenue, market Share, Floating LNG Tanker industry volume, market Trends, Floating LNG Tanker Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Floating LNG Tanker Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Floating LNG Tanker Market 2017 :Excelerate EnergyGolar LNGHoegh LNGRoyal Dutch ShellSamsung Heavy IndustriesPETRONASDaewoo Shipbuilding and Marine EngineeringHyundai Heavy IndustriesFirstly, the report covers the top Floating LNG Tanker manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Floating LNG Tanker report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Floating LNG Tanker industry, Floating LNG Tanker industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Floating LNG Tanker Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Floating LNG Tanker research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Floating LNG Tanker market revenue worldwide.Finally, Floating LNG Tanker market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Ever since State Superintendent Tony Evers launched his gubernatorial campaign, Republicans have been hammering him over his role in a 2009 case that rocked a Dane County school district involving a middle school teacher who looked at pornography during school hours.

Republicans last week and again on Monday used the case to argue that Evers, who did not revoke the teachers license, is unfit for the job he wants to take away from Gov. Scott Walker, and theres no sign the issue will go away before the August primary election.

The school board went to great lengths to terminate this persons employment to a tune of $1 million, and when I think of that irresponsibility as well on the part of Tony Evers, that he could have stepped in but instead theres a million-dollar lawsuit, said Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, on a phone call Friday with reporters organized by the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Evers maintains he didnt have the legal authority to revoke Andrew Harris license because the teachers actions didnt involve children  a loophole in state law he worked with lawmakers to fix in 2011 because of the case.

It did not fit the law, Evers said on Friday, dismissing the continued criticism of his decision. So, therefore we recognized the problem and we fixed it by working with legislators to change the law.

Meanwhile, the district that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to fire Harris now backs him and challenged Republicans suggestion that children are unsafe in his classroom because of Evers decision.

We are absolutely not concerned. The case was never about that, Middleton-Cross Plains district spokesman Perry Hibner said, adding the teacher has done great work since his return, as his students and their families will attest. We have moved ahead and our focus continues to be on making sure every student feels included and inspired every day.

Harris, a Middleton-Cross Plains middle school science teacher, was one of seven teachers in the district in 2009 found looking at and sharing emails that included material ranging from lewd and sexually explicit jokes to photos of naked women  one of which showed a womans genitals up close.

A complaint by a female teacher whom Harris had shown an image of a nude woman prompted an investigation, which determined 23 emails Harris received from his sister over several years violated the districts policy on acceptable internet use. A subsequent districtwide review found other teachers also viewed or shared inappropriate content. The teacher further alleged Harris made sexually explicit comments about female middle school students for years.

Harris was fired in 2010 but sought to get his job back after the other six employees were given suspensions or a reprimand. An arbitrator settling a grievance filed by the districts teachers union over the matter ruled Harris should be given a suspension rather than be fired because the other employees were given lesser punishments for similar offenses. The ruling was upheld by circuit and appeals court judges, and Harris returned to work in 2014 when the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to take up the Middleton-Cross Plains School District appeal of the rulings  a lawsuit that cost the district about $1 million in legal fees and back pay.

Now Republicans are focusing on Evers subsequent decision not to do so.

The Department of Public Instruction, which Evers oversees, in an April 2014 letter to Harris explaining the decision said while Harris conduct was highly inappropriate, his actions did not meet the legal definition of immoral conduct for teachers at the time Harris viewed the pornography because children were not exposed to the material. A DPI official wrote in the letter that Harris license would not be revoked citing Wisconsin Supreme Court rulings that said new laws cannot be retroactively applied.

Lawmakers and Evers worked to pass legislation in 2011 that said immoral conduct includes looking at pornography on school computers  a law that was prompted in part by Harris case.

Evers argued he could not have taken an action that was not supported by the law.

Thats not what constitutional officers do. We see a problem. We fix it, Evers said. If it happened today, we would have pulled the license.

But Mark Morgan, executive director of RPW, said Evers could have at least tried and at least taken action and he refused to.

Morgan and Republicans also point to allegations made by the teacher who complained that Harris made sexually explicit comments about female students appearances and sexual activity at Glacier Creek Middle School, where the two taught, as enough basis to pursue license revocation.

According to a 2010 report on the districts investigation into the matter, the teacher said Harris comments about female students ebbed and flowed over nine years.

But Tom McCarthy, spokesman for the DPI, said department officials could not confirm those allegations. The teacher who made the claim refused to swear to them under oath, and the department did not have the power to directly subpoena her, McCarthy said.

The arbitrator couldnt take it at face value either, so she couldnt substantiate it and neither can we, Evers said. For them to sit back three years later and nitpick is ridiculous. Im proud of the fact that we changed the law. Its unfortunate that Republicans have decided to spend all their time on Andrew Harris. That playbook is beneath them and us.

Morgan said the DPI should have given more weight to the initial district investigation report that included the allegations.

Harris lawyer William Haus said Harris is a little troubled by the case resurfacing in the news and pointed out there have been no complaints about Harris since he returned to work at Kromrey Middle School nearly four years ago.

He never touched a kid  No kid ever got exposed to it, Haus said. To try to just destroy people for no reason because youve got some political game youre trying to play  hes just trying to live his life and teach.
Managed Security Services Market: Market Development, Overview and Forecast upto 2019

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) has published a research report on the global managed security services market, forecasting that the market will expand at a CAGR of 15.40% during the period from 2013 to 2019 and reach a value of US$24,127.1 mn by the end of the forecast period.The market study, titled Managed Security Services Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2013 - 2019, states that the worldwide managed security services market stood at US$9,249.7 mn in 2012.Browse the full Managed Security Services Market (CPE, Cloud/Hosted and Hybrid) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2013 - 2019 report atAccording to the report, the rising awareness regarding the benefits these services offer has fueled the demand for managed security services in the global arena. Additionally, the emergence of cloud-based managed security services is likely to boost the global market significantly over the forecast period. However, the reluctance among consumers to share confidential information is projected to limit the growth of this market in the coming years.Based on the modes of delivery, the worldwide market for managed security services is classified into the markets for consumer premise equipment (CPE)-based services, cloud-based services, and hybrid services, which is an integration of cloud-based and CPE-based services.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Among these, the market for cloud-based services leads the global market on account of the ease of installation and low maintenance cost. The report further states that this market segment is expected to retain its position in the global managed security services market during the forecast period.The banking & financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, manufacturing, government & utilities, retail, telecom & IT, education, R&D, and hospitality sectors are the key end users. The report also cites that network security, business continuity, access control, confidentiality, compliance, and risk assessment are the major application areas of managed security services.The BFSI, telecom and IT, and government and utility sectors emerged as leading end users of managed security services, collectively accounting for a share of 59.2% in 2012. The network security, compliance services, and confidentiality markets held the leading position among application segments with 67.4% of overall market the same year, reports the study.The report also segments the global managed security market regionally into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. The managed security services market in North America has been the leader among the regional markets and it is likely to maintain its dominance over the forecast period.Get A Sample Report @Europe has occupied the second position in this market. However, analysts at TMR have predicted the Asia Pacific managed security services market to register the fastest growth during the forecast period.The global market for managed security services is led by Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell SecureWorks Inc., IBM Corp., and EMC Corp.Other prominent players operating in this market are AT&T Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Dell SecureWorks Inc., Symantec Corp., Bell Canada Inc., Trustwave Holdings Inc., Verizon Communication Inc., Wipro Technology Services Ltd., CenturyLink Inc., Tata Communications Ltd., and Intergalis AG, reports the market study.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nov, 7 2017: Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market Forecast 2023 Molex, Fujikura, Belden, Positronic Industries

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Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market Research 2017A market study "Global Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market" examines the performance of the Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market 2017 report includes Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market Revenue, market Share, Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors industry volume, market Trends, Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market 2017 :AmphenolBeldenCorningFujikuraHuber+SuhnerLeviton Network Solutions3MMolexPositronic IndustriesRosenberger-ISI GmbHStratosTyco ElectronicsUS ConecFirstly, the report covers the top Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors industry, Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market revenue worldwide.Finally, Commercial Telecom Fiber Optic Connectors market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Fresh Report Examine Connected Logistics Market - Global Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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A latest technology based Connected Logistics Market provide the detailed information, applications, technology, geography, and types. Traditionally computers have been used to monitor and track logistics in transit. Connected logistics add an all new dimension to the management of logistics sector. Connected logistics can provide valuable information related to operations in connection to logistics. Connected logistics involves multiple sensors on the vehicles, in which the products are transported, that pass on information to internal and external data feed which would provide information and analysis of the road conditions, in terms of the physical condition of the roads, traffic at various parts of the day.Click here For Free Sample Report @Further the connected logistics provide information regarding the weather, shipping lane traffic, and much more. Connected logistics could emerge as a major breakthrough in transportation of sensitive products like pharmaceutical items. There are many applications in management of such sensitive items. For instance, in the event of a stiff temperature fluctuation at the time of transit, the manufacturer would be alerted automatically and will be in a position to intervene before the products gets affected. The application of connected logistics would also enable better management of the goods, optimize management of the entire process involved in managing the logistics, and further help reduce time of delivery, and reduce damage to goods during transit. Connected logistics provide real time access to data. This enables retailers and manufacturers with information about the movement of the ships, trucks, planes, and trains and helps logistics departments of the business to plan more effectively and bring more efficiency into the process. Further, real time access to data enables handling complex logistics operations more effectively with the help of tools that are designed to accumulate and decode data. Logistics operations could be managed in a more precise and streamlined manner. In addition, it also leads to greater customer satisfaction in the logistics sector, thus creating demand for connected logistics.Global Connected Logistics Market: Market SegmentationThe connected logistics market by service has been bifurcated into asset management, remote asset tracking, security, network management, data management. Further, the connected logistics market by end use industry has been bifurcated into freight management, food and beverage supply chain, healthcare, retail, warehouse management and others. The global connected logistics market by geography has been bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.Global Connected Logistics Market: Scope of StudyThe market report deals in the forecast of the connected logistics market in terms of revenue (USD billion) as well as the CAGR for the forecast period 2016 to 2027. The competitive profiling of the key players in the global connected logistics market has been comprehensively covered under the scope of the report. The key players in the connected logistics Market have been competitively profiled across the five broad geographic regions. This competitive landscape is inclusive of the various business strategies adopted by these major players and their recent developments in the field of connected logistics market. In order to provide a detailed insight into the market dynamics of global connected logistics Market, the drivers and restraints affecting the industry are included in the study. Market dynamics include market opportunity, drivers and restraints and an extensive analysis of these factors are included in the report. Furthermore, market attractiveness breakdown has also been provided in the report. Therefore, the report provides a comprehensive study of the global Connected logistics market and also offers the forecast of the market for the period from 2017-2025.Browse Full Report with TOC @Global Connected Logistics Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players participating in the connected logistics market include Google Inc. (U.S.), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (New York City, U.S.), Amazon Web Services Inc. (Seattle, U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (Washington, U.S.), Infosys Limited (Bangalore, India), SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany), Dynatrace LLC (Waltham, U.S.), NETSUITE Inc. (San Mateo, U.S.), Oracle Corporation (California, U.S.), Freightgate Inc. (California, U.S.).The market has been bifurcated as follows:Connected Logistics Market, by ServiceAsset ManagementRemote Asset TrackingSecurityNetwork ManagementData ManagementConnected Logistics Market, by End Use IndustryFreight ManagementFood and Beverage Supply ChainHealthcareRetailWarehouse ManagementOthers?Connected Logistics Market, by Geography:North AmericaThe U.S.CanadaRest of North AmericaEuropeThe U.K.GermanyFranceRest of EuropeAsia PacificChina(Including Taiwan)IndiaJapanSouth KoreaRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaUAESaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of AmericaEnquire about this Report @About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. 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.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Nov, 7 2017: Currency Strapping Machines Market Forecast 2023 BS Banktechnik, AccuBANKER, Elida, Felins, Jain Packaging & Solutions

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Currency Strapping Machines Market Research 2017A market study "Global Currency Strapping Machines Market" examines the performance of the Currency Strapping Machines market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Currency Strapping Machines market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Currency Strapping Machines market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Currency Strapping Machines Market 2017 report includes Currency Strapping Machines market Revenue, market Share, Currency Strapping Machines industry volume, market Trends, Currency Strapping Machines Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Currency Strapping Machines Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Currency Strapping Machines Market 2017 :AccuBANKERFelinsK-Tech InternationalJain Packaging & SolutionsBS BanktechnikElidaBSTFirstly, the report covers the top Currency Strapping Machines manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Currency Strapping Machines report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Currency Strapping Machines industry, Currency Strapping Machines industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Currency Strapping Machines Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Currency Strapping Machines research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Currency Strapping Machines market revenue worldwide.Finally, Currency Strapping Machines market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 7 2017: Electric Three Wheeler Market Forecast 2023 Terra Motors, Scooters India, Chongqing Bajaj Machinery

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Electric Three Wheeler Market Research 2017A market study "Global Electric Three Wheeler Market" examines the performance of the Electric Three Wheeler market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Electric Three Wheeler market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Electric Three Wheeler market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Electric Three Wheeler Market 2017 report includes Electric Three Wheeler market Revenue, market Share, Electric Three Wheeler industry volume, market Trends, Electric Three Wheeler Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Electric Three Wheeler Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Electric Three Wheeler Market 2017 :Chongqing Bajaj MachineryQiangsheng Electric Tricycle FactoryScooters IndiaTerra MotorsFirstly, the report covers the top Electric Three Wheeler manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Electric Three Wheeler report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Electric Three Wheeler industry, Electric Three Wheeler industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Electric Three Wheeler Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Electric Three Wheeler research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Electric Three Wheeler market revenue worldwide.Finally, Electric Three Wheeler market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 7 2017: Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market Forecast 2023 Dongfeng Motor, Navistar, Daimler Trucks, Volkswagen, Ford Motor

Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle

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Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market Research 2017A market study "Global Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market" examines the performance of the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market 2017 report includes Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market Revenue, market Share, Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle industry volume, market Trends, Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market 2017 :CNH IndustrialDaimler TrucksGeneral MotorsMAN Truck & BusVolvo TrucksBeiqi Foton MotorBRC Gas EquipmentCummins WestportDongfeng MotorFiat Chrysler AutomobilesFord MotorGAZHondaIMPCO TechnologiesISUZU MOTORSKAMAZLandi RenzoNavistarRenaultVolkswagenHeavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market : By ApplicationLight Commercial VehiclesPassenger CarsFirstly, the report covers the top Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle industry, Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market revenue worldwide.Finally, Heavy Duty Natural Gas Vehicle market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Global New Research on Weather Information Technologies Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027

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The new research report Weather Information provide the detailed information, applications, technology, geography, and types. The APEJ weather information technologies market is expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the forecast period. The market in APEJ is also expected to exhibit a significant value CAGR during the forecast period. Within the APEJ region, revenue from the China weather information technologies market is projected to account for more than 28% share of the APEJ weather information technologies market by the end of 2027. The weather information technologies market in India is expected to represent incremental opportunity of more than US$ 15 Mn between 2017 and 2027. The weather information technologies market in APEJ is expected to be valued at more than US$ 120 Mn in 2017 and is projected to reach more than US$ 200 Mn by the end of 2027. The market in APEJ is expected to represent incremental opportunity of more than US$ 80 Mn between 2017 and 2027.Click here For Free Sample Report @Increasing expenditure on sea, road and railway transport and increasing demand from defence and agriculture verticals to boost the weather information technologies market in APEJIncreasing expenditure of APEJ countries in improving sea, road and railway transport is expected to drive demand for weather information technologies in the region. The demand is expected to be high as governments have to know accurate weather forecasts during the construction process to avoid any adverse scenarios. Also, after the development of such routes, it is necessary to know the weather conditions to ensure smooth trade between countries. For instance, through the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) project, China has planned to invest US$ 800 Bn in order to connect Asian countries through the Silk Road Economic Belt connecting via road and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road connecting via sea route. In 2016, India and Iran signed a deal worth US$ 500 Mn to develop Irans Chabahar port so as to transport goods via sea to Afghanistan and Central Asia.Increasing demand from defence and agriculture verticals is expected to provide support to the growth of the weather information technologies market in APEJ. The economy of South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh is primarily an agro-based economy with a large portion of the population relying on the agriculture sector, which is dependent upon rain from the monsoon. Anomalies occurring during the monsoon season affect the entire region and thus there is a need for better forecasting methods and equipment, which eventually aids in driving demand for weather information technologies. Also, military operations require constant weather updates in order to successfully implement critical operations, which is why the vertical is witnessing increasing demand for weather information technologies and this rising demand is supported by increasing expenditure on defence budgets by APEJ countries such as China, India and Vietnam.Browse Full Report with TOC @In 2016, North America was the largest regional market for weather information technologies and is anticipated to dominate the global market throughout the forecast period. Increasing demand from the aerospace & defence, oil & gas and railways sectors coupled with improved accuracy in terms of weather forecasting are factors expected to drive growth of the global weather information technologies market. In terms of value, the North America weather information technologies market registered a CAGR of 3.9% from 20122016 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% from 20172027. The APEJ weather information technologies market registered a CAGR of 4.0% from 20122016 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.4% in terms of value from 20172027. The weather information technologies market in MEA is expected to represent incremental opportunity of US$ 37.8 Mn between 2017 and 2027.About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. 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.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Nov, 7 2017: 48V Micro Hybrid Market Forecast 2023 Porsche, Audi, Daimler, Kia Motors, Toyota, Tata Motors, BYD Auto

48V Micro Hybrid

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48V Micro Hybrid Market Research 2017A market study "Global 48V Micro Hybrid Market" examines the performance of the 48V Micro Hybrid market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the 48V Micro Hybrid market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of 48V Micro Hybrid market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global 48V Micro Hybrid Market 2017 report includes 48V Micro Hybrid market Revenue, market Share, 48V Micro Hybrid industry volume, market Trends, 48V Micro Hybrid Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, 48V Micro Hybrid Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global 48V Micro Hybrid Market 2017 :AudiBMWGeneral MotorsToyotaBYD AutoDaimlerFiatHyundaiIran Khodro Industrial GroupJaguar Land Rover AutomotiveKia MotorsMahindra & MahindraMazdaNissanPorscheRenaultTata Motors48V Micro Hybrid Market : By ApplicationLight Commercial VehiclesPassenger CarsFirstly, the report covers the top 48V Micro Hybrid manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the 48V Micro Hybrid report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of 48V Micro Hybrid industry, 48V Micro Hybrid industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 48V Micro Hybrid Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The 48V Micro Hybrid research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the 48V Micro Hybrid market revenue worldwide.Finally, 48V Micro Hybrid market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Nov, 7 2017: Automotive Park Assist Systems Market Forecast 2023 Aisin Seiki, Delphi Automotive, Valeo, Denso, Panasonic

Automotive Park Assist Systems

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Automotive Park Assist Systems Market Research 2017A market study "Global Automotive Park Assist Systems Market" examines the performance of the Automotive Park Assist Systems market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Automotive Park Assist Systems market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Automotive Park Assist Systems market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Automotive Park Assist Systems Market 2017 report includes Automotive Park Assist Systems market Revenue, market Share, Automotive Park Assist Systems industry volume, market Trends, Automotive Park Assist Systems Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Automotive Park Assist Systems Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Automotive Park Assist Systems Market 2017 :Delphi AutomotiveDensoHellaMagna InternationalRobert BoschAisin SeikiGentexPanasonicValeoAutomotive Park Assist Systems Market : By ApplicationCommercial VehiclesPassenger CarsFirstly, the report covers the top Automotive Park Assist Systems manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Automotive Park Assist Systems report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Automotive Park Assist Systems industry, Automotive Park Assist Systems industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Automotive Park Assist Systems Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Automotive Park Assist Systems research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Automotive Park Assist Systems market revenue worldwide.Finally, Automotive Park Assist Systems market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) Market by Product type and by Region 2017 - 2025

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Methyltriethoxysilane is considered as an organic compound of silicon, which belongs to the organosilicon compound class. Methyltriethoxysilane is manufactured at an industrial scale from ethanol and trimethylsilyl chloride. The increasing use of methyltriethoxysilane is anticipated to encourage the growth of the overall market in the next few years. The key players operating in the global methyltriethoxysilane market are emphasizing on the expansion of the application base, which is likely to fuel the markets growth in the coming years.Among the regional segments, the developing economies in the methyltriethoxysilane market are projected to grow at a substantial rate in the coming years. The high pace of industrialization and the increasing construction activities are estimated to accelerate the growth of the overall market. The rising use of methyltriethoxysilane as water repellants, sealants, stabilizing and coupling agents in the chemical industry is one of the major factors anticipated to supplement the markets growth in the near future. The high performing characteristics offered by methyltriethoxysilane is likely to contribute significantly towards the development of the overall market in the next few years.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Furthermore, several new entrants are anticipated to enter the global methyltriethoxysilane market and enhance the competitive scenario of the market in the near future. Advancements in technology and the expansion of the product portfolio, thanks to the rising research and development activities are estimated to encourage the growth of the global methyltriethoxysilane market. These players are predicted to focus on emerging economies, which are expected to help them in enhancing their market presence and attain a leading position across the globe.Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) Market: General OutlineMethyltriethoxysilane (MTES) (CH3Si(OCH2CH3)3 ) is an organic compound of silicon, belonging to a class of organosilicon compounds known as silanes, which are saturated hydrosilicones and are generally stable due to their high saturation. Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) appears to be a colorless, clear, free flowing liquid, and readily hydrolyzes when mixed with water. The hydrolysis of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) increases in basic solutions and reduces in acidic solutions. It is produced at an industrial scale from trimethylsilyl chloride and ethanol. It has a stable tetrahedral molecular structure, with a low flashpoint that readily catches fire at temperatures beyond 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) is usually supplied at purity levels higher than 98% in the market, and is classified as a toxic chemical and may cause harm when exposed.Request TOC of the Report @Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) Market: Inclusive InsightsSilane compounds are commonly used as sealants, water repellents, coupling and stabilizing agents in the chemical industry. Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) is primarily used as a cross-linking agent for curing of silicone rubber polymers at room temperature, and is also used as coupling agents for glass fibers and silicon oxide. It also acts as a strengthening agent, while treating and coating of plastic materials, and is widely used in polymer industry. The stability of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) comes in handy for sol-gel systems, and acts as a chain protecting agent against water and polymerizing agents.Due to its high performing characteristics, silianes are predominantly used in the polymer industry for manufacturing polysiloxanes. It can be applied as sealants for caulking, used for insulating and sealing in construction industry, and act as semiconductors for electronics among others. The market is therefore expected to grow in the coming years. Demand growth is expected to be driven primarily with the increase of end use industries of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) including construction, polymer, and electronic industries. The market growth is likely to be affected by the availability of substitutes and toxicity of the chemical. On the other hand, the prospective market opportunity is set to increase with new application of polymer manufacture and electronic products among others.Get Discount @Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) Market: Regional OverviewPolymer, construction, and electronics industries are the end users of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), and due to its high demand in Asia Pacific, the region accounts for growing number of consumers. Industrial economies namely, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand are the main consumers of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) for its usage in the manufacture of various plastics and coating materials.Two of the fastest growing industrial economies of Asia, China and India are the rapidly growing market for polymer industry, and in turn is responsible for driving the demand for methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and other silanes. Cheap labor availability, land, and comparatively lenient norms and regulations against chemicals, have led several market players to establish their production facilities in Asia. The demand is high for methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) in North America due to its heavy usage in chemical industry, requirement of coatings for plastics and sealants for construction industry, making the region another key market for methyltriethoxysilane (MTES). In due course of time, the demand for methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) is likely to rise in Brazil, South Africa, and the Middle East.Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) Market: Key Market PlayersThe key players of the marmethyltriethoxysilane (MTES) market are: Alfa Aesar (Johnson Matthey Group Company), Asia Silicones Association Ltd., BRB International BV, and Wynca Chemicals AG.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Turnout among black voters in Wisconsin dropped about 19 percent in the 2016 election from 2012, more than four times the national decline, according to a new study by a liberal group.

The study, released by the Center for American Progress, made the estimates based on data from the U.S. Census, polls and state voter files.

It provides the strongest evidence yet that Wisconsins decline in voter turnout, while seen in other demographic groups, was much more dramatic among African-Americans.

The study also found in Wisconsin, as in other key states, the 2016 electorate was significantly more white and non-college- educated than was reported by exit polls immediately after the election.

The downturn in black voter turnout was cited by critics of the states requirement to show a photo ID to vote, which was in effect for the first time in a presidential election in 2016.

State Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, said the findings very much confirm some of the suspicions he and other Democrats have expressed that the requirement disproportionately hurt turnout among minority voters  who courts have found are less likely to have drivers licenses or other IDs that meet the requirement.

It definitely had a significant impact on turnout in 2016, Bowen said.

Gov. Scott Walkers office and Republican legislative leaders who backed the voter ID law did not respond Monday to requests for comment on the study.

In 2012, the chance to re-elect the nations first African-American president, Barack Obama, was widely viewed as having boosted turnout among black voters. For the first time that year, black turnout rates surpassed that of white voters.

But Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, could not maintain those turnout levels among black voters. Clinton lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump, the first Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984 to carry Wisconsin  which he did by about 23,000 votes.

The new study finds Wisconsins drop in black voter turnout was far greater than in other states.

It estimated the turnout rate among eligible black voters in Wisconsin fell from 74 percent in 2012 to 55.1 percent in 2016. Nationally, the black voter turnout rate was down about 4.5 percent, the study found. In neighboring Michigan, it dropped 1.2 percent.

Voter turnout among other minority groups in Wisconsin also declined in 2016, the study found. Turnout by Hispanics and Asians dropped 5.8 percent for both groups, the study found. Nationally, the turnout rate for Hispanics increased 2.1 percent and for Asians, 2 percent.

The turnout rate among white voters also declined, but much less sharply  by 2.2 percent for both college-educated and non-college-educated whites. Nationally, turnout among non-college-educated whites increased 3 percent, and among college-educated whites, 1.9 percent.

Previous reports found Wisconsin had the second-biggest downturn in voter turnout of any state in 2016, with some of the biggest declines occurring in Milwaukee, home to many of the states black residents.

A UW-Madison study released in September found nearly 17,000 registered voters in Dane and Milwaukee counties may have been deterred from voting in 2016 because of the voter ID requirement.

A federal judge struck down parts of the voter ID law prior to the election, based in part on the finding that it discriminated against minority voters.

Still, the bulk of the requirement remained in effect. The state had a process in place by which eligible voters who lacked an ID to meet the requirement could petition for a receipt that would enable them to vote.

But Bowen said many voters didnt know about the petition process, in part because he said the state didnt do enough to publicize it.

Leaving that confusion out there worked for Republicans to be able to disenfranchise voters, Bowen said.
Healthcare Automation Market: Value Chain Analysis and Forecast 2025

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) states that Siemens AG, General Electric Company, Swisslog Holding AG, and Koninklijke Philips N.V. are some of the leading companies in the global healthcare automation market. These players have consistently worked toward expansion of product portfolio and reinforcing business through innovation product development. In the coming years, to beat the competition, players are expected to plan for mergers and acquisitions to expand their horizons to newer geographies.The research report states that the global healthcare automation market was valued at US$28.31 bn in 2016. However, over the forecast period of 2017 and 2025, the global market is likely to pace ahead at a CAGR of 8.8% to reach a valuation of US$58.98 bn by the end of 2025. Research institutes and labs have been identified as the key end users of healthcare automation.Obtain Report Details @The need for fast-paced operations and precision is expected to propel this end-user segment at a CAGR of 8.2% in the global market over the forecast period. From a geographic point of view, North America is expected to dominate the global healthcare automation market despite a slight dip in its overall share. Analysts expect that this regional market will account for a share of 39.5% by 2025, which will be higher than the rest of the regional markets across the globe.Automation has brought in a range of benefits across all industrial platforms. The healthcare industry has been steadily adoption automation in several areas such as research institutes and labs, pharmacies, and home care among others. The uptake of healthcare automation processes and systems is expected to remain persistent in the coming years as these solutions designed with smarter technologies tend to make operations significantly efficient.Obtain Brochure Of Report @The superior quality of these systems has also garnered unprecedented support from governments across the globe, thereby bolstering market growth. A clear example of remarkable advantages rendered by application of healthcare automation are the lack of errors in maintaining inventory and medicine management in pharmacies. Owing to this very reasons, the pharmacies are also expected to offer the healthcare automation market lucrative growth opportunities in the near future.The high-tech solutions offered by healthcare automation also expands to material handling, transport, and disease management. The growing demand for wearable technology has been noted as an emerging trend in the global market. Smartwatches, an important aspect of wearable technology, has empowered both patients and physicians to closely monitor changes in health, intervene at an appropriate time, and ensure a better lifestyle. In light of these reasons, the global healthcare automation market has a bright future in the world economics.Get A Sample Report @On the flip side and despite the advantages, the cost of automation has turned out to be a major disappointment to the global healthcare automation market. The requirement of regular maintenance has also dissuaded several end users as it adds to the operational costs. Thus, the hesitation amongst end users is likely to hold back the market from achieving its potential in the near future.This review is based on Transparency Market Researchs report, titled Healthcare Automation Market (Application - Therapeutic Automation, Lab and Pharmacy Automation, Logistics and Training Automation, and Diagnostics and Monitoring Automation; End Use - Pharmacies, Research institutes and labs, and Home Care) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Patient Positioning System Market Outlook by Product Overview, Application and Regions 2024

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Industrial Overview on Patient Positioning System Market:In this region, Global Patient Positioning System Market accounted to USD 987.5 million in 2016 is accounted to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024.On the basis of product, global Patient Positioning System market is segmented into oxygen source and delivery devices. Oxygen source is further segmented into concentrator and cylinder. Oxygen source equipment is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period 2017-2024 due to increasing incidence of respiratory disorders and technological advancements.Download Sample Copy@The research report examines the market, demand, competitive landscape and trends of the top 5 Global markets of the Patient Positioning System market. It provides an all-round analysis of overall number Global users. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2017 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and barriers of the Patient Positioning System market.The Patient Positioning System market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Patient Positioning System Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Patient Positioning System from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2024 by region/country and subsectors.Key Companies Covered in the Report are as follows:Hill-Rom (U.S.), STERIS Plc. (U.S.), Getinge AB (Sweden), Stryker (U.S.), Span-America (U.S.), Elekta AB (Sweden), SKYTRON (U.S.), Mizuho OSI (U.S.), LEONI AG (Germany), C-RAD (Sweden), Alvo (Poland), Civco Radiotherapy (U.S.), Eschmann Equipment (U.K.), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Meditek (Canada) and Innovative Medical Products Inc. (U.S.)Key Topics are Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global virtual events market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of the web conferencing and unified communication and collaboration (UC&C) and video conferencing, secondary resources and doing in-depth company share analysis of major 10 players in the market.Make More Inquiry@This Study on the Global Patient Positioning System Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the Patient Positioning System market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Table of Content1.1. OVERVIEW OF THE GLOBAL PATIENT POSITIONING SYSTEM MARKET1.2. CURRENCY AND PRICING1.3. LIMITATION1.4. MARKETS COVERED2 MARKET SEGMENTATION2.1. KEY TAKEAWAYS2.2. ARRIVING AT THE GLOBAL PATIENT POSITIONING SYSTEM SIZE2.2.1 VENDOR POSITIONING GRID2.2.2 TECHNOLOGY LIFE LINE CURVE2.2.3 MARKET TIME LINE2.2.4 MARKET GUIDE2.2.5 COMPANY POSITIONING GRID2.2.6 COMAPANY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS2.2.7 MULTIVARIATE MODELLING2.2.8 STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT2.2.9 TOP TO BOTTOM ANALYSIS2.2.10 VENDOR SHARE ANALYSIS2.2.11 DATA POINTS FROM KEY PRIMARY INTERVIEWS2.2.12 DATA POINTS FROM KEY SECONDARY DATABASES2.3. GLOBAL PATIENT POSITIONING SYSTEM MARKET: RESEARCH SNAPSHOT2.4. ASSUMPTIONS3 MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. DRIVERS3.2. RESTRAINTS3.3. OPPORTUNITIES3.4. CHALLENGES4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY5 PREMIUM INSIGHTS5.1. VENDOR POSITIONING GRID AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIESView Complete Report@About us:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysisContact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Technological Advancement in Healthcare Devices is Projected to Flourish the Growth of Organ on a Chip Market in Near Future, according to Research Nester

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Organ on a Chip Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2024The global organ on a chip market is segmented into organ such as heart-on-chip, human-on-chip, intestine-on-chip, kidney-on-chip, liver-on-chip and lung-on-chip. Among these segments, lung-on-chip segment captured the largest market in overall organ on a chip market in 2016 and it is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Likely, increasing incidences of lung failure across the globe is envisioned to propel the growth of lung-on-chip segment. Moreover, increasing government initiatives and funding is also positively impacting the growth of organ on a chip market.Global organ on a chip market is expected to register a notable CAGR over the forecast period. Moreover, the global organ on a chip market is anticipated to reach at noteworthy revenue by 2024. The market is expected to expand on the back of increasing rate of organ transplant coupled with advancement in transplant technology.In terms of regional platform, North America region captured the largest market of organ on a chip in terms of revenue owing to increasing utilization of organ on a chip in organ transplantation coupled with rising number of organ transplantation. Furthermore, U.S. is the prominent market in the region. Apart from this, Asia-Pacific region is the most lucrative market due to emerging economies such as India and China. In addition to this, increasing adoption of technologically advanced medical devices is expected to positively drive the growth of the market in the Asia Pacific region.Request Report Sample@Rapid Development in Healthcare InfrastructureRapid development of healthcare industry in many nations across the globe is anticipated to positively impact the growth of the organ on a chip market. In addition to this, increasing spending on the development of healthcare infrastructure is envisioned to bolster the growth of organ on a chip market. For e.g. U.S. spends 16% of its GDP on healthcare. Similarly, substantial funding for the development of organ on chip is expected to fuel the growth of the organ on a chip market.Favorable Government InitiativesGovernment of various nations are emphasizing on adoption of better healthcare technologies. For instance, government of India has targeted development of 50 new technologies in 2016. Apart from this, technological advancement in organ transplant and favorable government initiatives such as research funding coupled with increasing research activities are anticipated to supplement the growth of organ on a chip market. Although, high cost associated with organ on a chip is expected to limit the growth of organ on a chip market. Moreover, lack of awareness in developing and undeveloped nations is hindering the growth of Organ on a Chip Market.The report titled Organ on a Chip Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2024 delivers detailed overview of the global organ on a chip market in terms of market segmentation by organ and by region. Further, for the in-depth analysis, the report encompasses the industry growth drivers, restraints, supply and demand risk, market attractiveness, BPS analysis and Porters five force model.Request For TOC Here:This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the global organ on a chip market which includes company profiling of Emulate, Inc., AxoSim Techologies LLC, CN Bio Innovations Ltd., HREL Corporation, Hepregen Corporation, InSphero AG, MIMETAS B.V, Nortis Inc., TARA Biosystems, Inc. and TissUse GmbH. The profiling enfolds key information of the companies which encompasses business overview, products and services, key financials and recent news and developments. On the whole, the report depicts detailed overview of the global organ on a chip market that will help industry consultants, equipment manufacturers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties.Buy This Premium Reports Now @Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting, serving clients from 120+ countries across the globe. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties.Contact for more Info:Name:- Ajay Daniel1820 Avenue M, Suite# 1113,Brooklyn, New York 11230Email: ajay.daniel@researchnester.comU.S. +1 646 586 9123U.K. +44 203 608 5919
Europe Antibacterial Glass Market To Cross USD 150 million by 2023

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Europe antibacterial glass industry, worth USD 95 million in 2015, is anticipated to hit USD 150 million by 2023. Strict legislations to monitor the transmission of bacteria across the food & beverages sector along with the large presence of key industry players is predicted to push the revenue.As per Global Market Insights, Inc., Antibacterial glass industry, which was estimated at USD 150 million in 2015, is projected to surpass the revenue of USD 270 million by 2023.Asia Pacific antibacterial glass market is anticipated to record a CAGR of more than 6% over the coming timeframe, subject to the mounting usage of antimicrobial coatings across the healthcare & electronics goods sector.Request for A Sample Copy of This Report @Taking into consideration the regional trends, North America antibacterial glass market is slated to grow at a CAGR of 6% over 2016-2023, owing to the enhanced focus on the improvement of the health care infrastructure along with product innovations. The U.S. antibacterial glass industry is expected to contribute a major chunk toward the regional revenue, driven by the high expenditure on the healthcare activities.Rising occurrence of hospital-acquired infections have increased the demand for antibacterial coatings, boosting antibacterial glass market size. The ongoing trend prevalent across the medical sector is that of developing novel products for countering contagious ailments, which will create a plethora of opportunities for the new entrants to explore the market.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 10% of the patient population across the emerging economies and nearly 7% of the population in the developed nations suffer from hospital acquired infections, which will impel antibacterial glass industry trends. In addition, the escalated product demand from the consumer electronics sector is also projected to favorably influence the business expansion over the coming years.Browse Complete Summary Of This Report Titled "Antibacterial Glass Market Size, By Application (Hospitals, Food & Beverage, Military Equipment, Household/Residential), By Active Ingredient (Silver), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2023"Antibacterial glass comprises silver as its major active ingredient, which is projected to experience a marked expansion, pertaining to its extensive usage across the defense, medical equipment, and disaster management sectors.Antibacterial glass finds wide application in households, hospitals, military equipment, and food & beverages sectors.Antibacterial glass market size in the hospitals sector, which was assessed at USD 60 million in 2015, is forecast to experience a substantial surge over the coming years. The growth can be attributed to high product utilization across the hematology, oncology, and burn units. Household applications are expected to witness an attractive surge over the coming six years, owing to extensive product application on various surfaces such as mirrors, wall coverings, and vision glazing.Food & beverage application, worth USD 20 million in 2015, is slated to register notable gains of over 7% during the period from 2016 to 2023, driven by the growing product requirement for enhancing the shelf life of food items coupled with its high popularity in canteens, cafeterias, and hotels for preserving food quality.Make An Inquiry Before Purchase This Report@Saint-Gobain S.A., Corning Inc., Glas Trosch Holding AG, AGC Glass Europe, and Vetraria Bergamasca-Tecnovetro Srl are the major participants of antibacterial glass market share.Read Our Blog:About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Nov, 7 2017: Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market Forecast 2023 Lion, Huntsman, Ineos, KLK Oleo, Jet Technologies

Methyl Ester Ethoxylates

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Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market Research 2017A market study "Global Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market" examines the performance of the Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market 2017 report includes Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market Revenue, market Share, Methyl Ester Ethoxylates industry volume, market Trends, Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market 2017 :HuntsmanKLK OleoLionIneosJet TechnologiesMethyl Ester Ethoxylates Market : By ApplicationDomestic CleaningIndustrial CleaningPersonal CareOthersMethyl Ester Ethoxylates Market : By TypeC12-C14C16-C18Firstly, the report covers the top Methyl Ester Ethoxylates manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Methyl Ester Ethoxylates report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Methyl Ester Ethoxylates industry, Methyl Ester Ethoxylates industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Methyl Ester Ethoxylates Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Methyl Ester Ethoxylates research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market revenue worldwide.Finally, Methyl Ester Ethoxylates market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Cutting Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market : Evolving Industry Trends 2017 - 2025

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Global Cutting Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market: SnapshotThe global cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables market is being majorly boosted by demand in Asia Pacific and from end-use sectors such as residential, commercial, institutional, infrastructure, industrial, and marine.Among the different types of consumables, the shielding gases and oxy-fuel gases currently dominate the market and are forecasted to gain maximum market share in the near future owing to increasing demand for argon gas by the industries to meet the demand.The various types of technologies leveraged in the market are carbon arc cutting, oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting, and water jet cutting. Powered by robust demand from developing economies such as India and China, the plasma cutting technology is anticipated to record maximum growth rate. It will likely be trailed by the laser cutting segment.Request Sample Copy of the Report@From a geographical perspective, Asia Pacific spearheads the global market for cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables and is projected to witness healthy growth in the near future as well. This is mainly on account of its large population base and growing demands for better residential, commercial, institutional, and infrastructure spaces.Illinois Tool Works Inc., Colfax Corporation., Lincoln Electric Company, Air Liquide, and the Linde group are to name a few key players in the global market for cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables. Other prominent companies operating in the market are Muller, GCE holding AB, Messer group, Matheson tri-gas Inc., Fronius international GMBH, and Bug-O, Gentec. Currently astute companies are trying to come with cost-effective technologies to outsmart one another and capture greater market share.Global Cutting Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market: General OutlineCutting equipment are at the backbone of any manufacturing industry, and the related accessories and consumables are frequently required in order to maintain consistent production. Some of the common cutting equipment are handheld and mechanized plasma cutters, high definition plasma cutters, CNC plasma cutting tables, retrofit solutions, pipe and tube cutting machines, structural steel fabrication, shape cutting controllers, and plasma torch consumables. Due to the rising population across the world, which is not only escalating the demand from manufacturing industry but also encouraging the set-up of new production outlets and in turn fueling the demand for cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables.Request TOC of the Report @This report on global cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables market is a comprehensive analysis of all the factors that are expected to influence the growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025. The report segments this market by technology, equipment, accessories and consumables, and geography. By technology, the market can be divided into carbon arc cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting, oxy-fuel cutting, and water jet cutting. Bu equipment, the market is segmented into manual cutting equipment and mechanized cutting equipment. The segment of manual cutting equipment is further sub-segmented into oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting, gouging, portable cutting and, air or fuel torches. The segment of mechanized cutting equipment can be sub-segmented into oxy-fuel, plasma cutting, cutting tables, and cutting machines. By accessories, the market is divided into gas regulators, gas filters, gas flow meters, gas manifolds, gas panels, check valves, flow controllers, and gas cabinets. By consumables, the market is segmented into shielding gases and oxy-fuel gases.Global Cutting Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market: Trends and ProspectsThe credits the growing demand from the end-use industries such as commercial, residential, institutional, infrastructure, and marine are the prominent factor fueling the demand in global cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables market. Moreover, rapid industrialization, especially in the emerging economies in Asia Pacific such as India and China, is enticing players in this market to stretch their production capacity and meet the demand. The report anticipates consumables such as shielding gases and oxy-fuel gases to gain maximum traction over the period of next few years, due to the rising demand for argon gas by the industries. Also, plasma cutting as a technology is projected for robust growth rate, particularly from China and India, which are ranked as the first and second most lucrative country-wise market in the global cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables market.Get Discount @Global Cutting Equipment, Accessories, and Consumables Market: Key RegionsGeographically, the report studies the regional markets of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world, and rates Asia Pacific as the most lucrative market due to its vast population. The developed region of North America is rated as the second most prominent region.Colfax Corporation., Lincoln Electric Company, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Air Liquide, and the Linde group are identified as the key players in the global cutting equipment, accessories, and consumables market. Other prominent players in this market identified by the report include GCE holding AB, Messer group, Fronius international GMBH, Matheson tri-gas Inc., Bug-O, Gentec, and Muller.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Healthcare Information System: Key Players and Production Information analysis with Forecast 2024

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The leading players in the global healthcare information systems market are Cerner Corporation, McKesson, and All Scripts. Collectively, these players held a share of 26% in the global market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research. The diversified portfolio of these companies is expected to help them maintain a lead in the coming years. Several companies in the global healthcare information systems market are expected to focus on increasing geographical presence through mergers and acquisitions to increase their revenues.According to the research report, the global healthcare information systems market is expected to reach a valuation of US$448 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$192 bn in 2015. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.1%.Obtain Report Details @The end users in the global market are hospitals, academic and research centers, and diagnostic centers. The report indicates that hospitals are expected to key users of healthcare information systems by the end of 2024. This end-user segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11.1% between 2016 and 2024. The increasing adoption of healthcare information systems in hospitals for storing a large amount of information and making it easily accessible to physicians is expected to boost the demand.In terms of geography, the global healthcare information systems market is segmented into North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Of all these regions, North America is expected to dominate the global market in the coming years. This regional market is slated to acquire a share of 36.6% in the overall market by the end of 2024. Asia Pacific too is expected to offer the healthcare information systems market a significant boost in the near future.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Growing number of government initiatives to digitize healthcare systems has led to the adoption of healthcare information systems. These systems are aimed at achieving an accurate analysis of the health of the patient by maintaining the records about patients disorders or diseases in an organized manner.Over the years, the usage of healthcare information systems has allowed improved the quality of medical assistance provided to the patients along with improving disease surveillance. These systems have also enabled reduction of medication error. The market for healthcare information systems is also expected to be fueled by the growing need to cut down on healthcare costs that are associated with paperwork and maintenance of physical records.The high cost of investments in such as purchasing the systems, installing them, and the cost training labor to use them is discouraging many end users from adoption the new-age healthcare information systems. The maintenance cost of these systems includes software upgradation, hardware replacement, and support.Get A Sample Report @Thus, all of these factors are acting as a major restraint for the global market. The report also points that concerns pertaining to cyber security are also likely to hamper the growth of the overall market in the coming years. Lastly, issues related to integration and interoperability are also likely to hold the market back to a noticeable extent.This review is based on Transparency Market Researchs report, titled Healthcare Information Systems Market - Global & North America Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market is Projected to Reach +11.1% CAGR With Key Players Analysis

Report Analysis: Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market Outlook 2017-2024

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The report Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market accounted to USD 12.4 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 11.1% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.This report consists of below pages: No of pages: 350 No of Figures: 60 No of Tables: 220Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market By Type (Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, (VWD), Drug Class (Plasma Derived Coagulation Factor Concentrates, Recombinant Coagulation Factor Concentrates, Desmopressin, Antifibrinolytics, Fibrin Sealant), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Get Free Sample Report Visit @Report Definition:Bleeding disorder is a medical situation described by the despicable working of blood clotting procedure known as coagulation. Bodys coagulation framework cant shape blood clumps at the site of damage or injury, at cuts made amid surgery, feminine cycle which results in large amounts of blood loss. Different treatment choices are available for bleeding disorders such as, substitution treatments which incorporate replacement of coagulating, iron supplementation and fresh frozen plasma and platelet transfusion.Major market drivers and restraints: Increase of technological advancement and R&D activities More number of related patients Growing awareness among people Initiatives by GovernmentReport Segmentation:On the basis of type, the global bleeding disorders treatment market is segmented into hemophilia a, hemophilia B, and Von Willebrand Disease (VWD). In 2016, hemophilia A dominated the market with the largest market share.On the basis of drug class, the global bleeding disorders treatment market is segmented into plasma derived coagulation factor concentrates, recombinant coagulation factor concentrates, desmopressin, antifibrinolytics, and fibrin sealant. Here, recombinant coagulation factor concentrates led the largest market share in 2016 due to its extensive R&D investment made by the players for the production of recombinant products.Have Any Query? Ask Ours Expert @On the basis of geography, the global bleeding disorders treatment market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Competitive Analysis:The global bleeding disorders treatment market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes bleeding disorder treatment shares for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and South America.Key Players:Some of the major players operating in the global bleeding disorders treatment market are: Shire (U.S.) Baxter (U.S) CSL Behring (U.S.) Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(U.S) Bayer AG (Germany) Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark) Pfizer Inc. (U.S.) Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (U.S) Biogen (U.S.) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (U.S) Octapharma (Switzerland) Sanofi (France) Amgen, Inc.(U.S) Bioverativ (U.S) Janssen Global Services, LLC (U.S) Cangene Corporation (Canada) CSL Behring (U.S) among others.View Full Report Visit @Research Methodology of Global Bleeding Disorders Treatment Market:Data collection and base year analysis is done using data collection modules with large sample sizes. The market data is analyzed and forecasted using market statistical and coherent models. Also market share analysis and key trend analysis are the major success factors in the market report. To know more please request an analyst call or drop down your inquiry.Demand Side Primary Contributors: Doctors, Surgeons, Medical Consultants, Nurses, Hospital Buyers, Group Purchasing Organizations, Associations, Insurers, Medical Payers, Healthcare Authorities, Universities, Technological Writers, Scientists, Promoters, and Investors among others.Supply Side Primary Contributors: Product Managers, Marketing Managers, C-Level Executives, Distributors, Market Intelligence, and Regulatory Affairs Managers among others.Related ReportGlobal Pen Needles Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Pen Needles Market, By Product Type (Standard Pen Needles, Safety Pen Needles), By Product Length (Nano Length, Medium Length, Long length), By Usability (Reusable Pen Needles, Disposable Pen Needles), By Application (Diabetes, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Others), By Therapy (Insulin, Glucagon-like peptide-1, Growth Hormones), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, OTC, Home Healthcare, Others), By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Rest of the World)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit Blog:Follow us on LinkedIn:
Automated Passenger Counting System Market Research Analysis 2017 and Industry Estimated to Rise Profitably with 20% CAGR by Forecast 2022

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Market Research Future published a research report on Global Automated Passenger Counting System Market Research Report - Forecast 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market Synopsis of Automated Passenger Counting System MarketMarket Scenario:Automated Passenger Counter is an electronic device available for installation on transit vehicles including buses and rail vehicles which accurately records boarding and alighting data. The technology helps to improve the accuracy and reliability for counting the number of passenger that board and leave at every stop over traditional methods of manually counting by drivers or by random estimation.The devices are becoming more common in the American region for operators to seek better accuracy and analyze transit use patterns by linking boarding and alighting data with stop or station location.Get Sample of Report @The key drivers for the growth of the automated passenger counting system are cost-effective, increasing need to achieve fleet optimization, demand for smart telematics solutions, technological advancements passenger information systems and growing urbanization. Also, government regulations supporting automated supporting system installations in the North-American region. Even, the pricing of tickets and augmentation to existing real-time passenger information systems are the opportunities for the automated passenger counting system market.However, high initial cost in the price sensitive emerging economies and relatively quick return on investment are hindering the growth of the market.Geographically, North-America accounted for the largest market share in the global automated passenger counting system market whereas Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at a fast pace over the forecast period 2016-2022.The global Automated Passenger Counting System Market is expected to reach USD 300 million by the end of 2022 with ~20% CAGR during forecast period 2016-2022Study Objectives of Automated Passenger Counting System Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Automated Passenger Counting System Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Automated Passenger Counting System market based on various factors- supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country level analysis of the Market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the Market for segment by Component, Cooling Type, Service, End-User, Verticals and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the Market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To Track and Analyze competitive developments such as Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances, Mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Automated Passenger Counting SystemKey PlayersThe key players of global automated passenger counting system market report include Ris-GmbH (Germany), HELLA Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH (Germany), Eurotech S.p.A. (Italy), DILAX Intelcom GmbH (Germany), Infodev Electronic Designers International Inc. (Canada), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.) Siemens AG (Germany), Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan), Huawei Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Clever Devices Ltd. (U.S.), Retail Sensing Ltd. (U.K.), Syncromatics Corp. (U.S.), and Trapeze Group (Canada) and others.Segments:The Global automated passenger counting system market has been segmented on the basis of technology, application, end-users and region. By technology, the market has been bifurcated into infrared, stereoscopic vision, time-of-flight, ip cameras. On the basis of application, the market can be segmented as railways, roadways, airways. On the basis of end-users the market can be segmented into buses, trains, ferry boats among others. Further, the market has been segmented into four regions which include- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW.On the basis of application, the market can be segmented into Railways, Roadways, Airways . Out of these, railways accounted for the largest market share because passenger information systems provide real-time information related to train timetables, train delays, current location, emergency announcements, advertisements and infotainment services.Regional AnalysisRegionally, North-America accounted for the largest market share especially in the countries such as U.S. because it was the early adopters of automated passenger counting system.Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow over the forecast period, 2016-2022 especially in countries such as China and India countries because they are investing huge amounts of money for developing the transportation sector.Get complete Report @Intended Audience Automated passenger counting system Manufacturers Distributors Research firms Consultancy firms Software Developers Vendors Semiconductor Manufacturers Stakeholders End-user sectors Technology InvestorsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global New Report Examine LED Lighting Solutions Market: Indoor Applications Projected to be the Most Attractive Segment During 20172025

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This new research report LED Lighting Market presents an in-depth study about the production, consumption, market volume, revenue (million USD) and market share across different geographical regions. The LED Lighting Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2017-2025 consists of four main parts. The first part is dedicated to explaining the market definitions, market segmentation and acronyms used in the report. In this section of the report, the key definitions in the global LED lighting market are provided, along with an explanation of how Persistence Market Research has segmented the target market. In the subsequent sections of this part of the report, research methodology used to arrive at the indicated market numbers has been clearly indicated.Click here For Free Sample Report @In the second part of the report, the major factors enabling and impacting growth of the global LED lighting market as well as the growth of the parent industry is briefly elaborated. This section of the report includes key growth drivers and the impact of these drivers on the global LED lighting market. Major challenges confronting the global LED lighting market and the impact of these challenges on the market is also mentioned in the report. At the end of the second part, trends, opportunities and recent developments in the global LED lighting market have been included. The third part of the report consists of the key analysis and insights into the global LED lighting market and comprise the bulk of the report.This part consists of information regarding the market size and CAGR  historic, current estimated and forecast  for the next eight years. Y-o-Y growth rate comparison of various segments and sub segments of the global LED lighting market are also presented in this section of the report. In addition, absolute dollar opportunity analysis of each segment of the global LED lighting market is also presented. In the fourth and last part of the report, a competition landscape is included, which presents a dashboard view of the competitive benchmarking, based on relative positioning of the competitors in the global LED lighting market. Besides this valuable information, product offerings of the major competitors operating in the global LED lighting market is also highlighted in this section. The company profiles covers the overview, financials, recent developments, SWOT analysis and a brief business strategy of the main players in the global LED lighting market.Another distinctive feature of this report is the inclusion of the current scenario of the global LED lighting market that tracks the various phases the market has covered or is yet to cover and the evolution of the global LED lighting market based on phases such as the introductory phase, growth phase, maturity phase and the decline phase. In addition, a detailed product lifecycle stage write up is also given that discusses the various characteristics of the global LED lighting market, which comprise sales perspective, price, product adoption, competitors and also information on manufacturer profit margins. Also, there is one more distinctive feature in the report pertaining to the global LED lighting market value chain analysis. In this part of the report, various stages in LED lighting manufacturing have been elaborated  upstream stage, midstream stage and downstream stage. The value chain analysis has all the manufacturing components broken down minutely and cross reductions across various stages in the value chain are also given.Browse Full Report with TOC @Research MethodologyPersistence Market Research has used multiple resources of information and analysis to estimate the market revenue of the global LED lighting market. In order to give the market value projections till 2025 end, Persistence Market Research analysts have first explored LED lighting solutions by product type, services, end user and application. After this, the analysts have done primary and secondary research to arrive at the stated market figures. The secondary research consists of qualitative data gathering through various articles, journals, blogs, industry association data, company websites and other secondary sources. In primary research, discussions with industry experts were carried out. In the data analysis phase, adoption of LED lighting solutions across various industries was considered, along with value chain analysis. A study of the trends in the parent market and end user industry was also carried out and a forecast was developed. This was verified and validated using the triangulation method. Based on this, market insights were derived on which key findings and recommendations of this report are based.Market SegmentationBy Product TypeLED BulbsBare LED TubesLED FixturesLED DownlightsOthersBy ServicesConsulting ServicesInstallation ServicesMaintenance & Support ServicesBy End UserResidentialCommercialIndustrialBy ApplicationOutdoorIndoorBacklightingAutomotiveOthersBy RegionNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)Middle East and Africa (MEA)Enquire about this Report @About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. 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.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Minnesota voters in the La Crescent-Hokah, Caledonia and Winona school districts go the polls today to vote on referendums that would levy taxes to fund schools.

In La Crescent-Hokah, voters are being asked to approve an $850-per-student levy that would last for 10 years and bring in a little over $1 million annually. The current levy, $235 per pupil, expires in December.

The Caledonia School District wants to set a new operational levy, $460 per pupil, to replace an expiring levy of $395 per pupil.

Winona Area Public Schools is asking taxpayers to approve an $82,370,000 bond referendum that would fund the renovation and expansion of Washington-Kosciusko and Goodview elementary schools, and fund projects at Winona Senior High School, Winona Middle School and the Winona Area Learning Center. It would lead to the closure of Madison and Jefferson elementary schools, but Rollingstone Elementary would stay open. Superintendent Rich Dahman has said the projects would help shore up the districts budget, saving as much as $1.1 million annually.
Refrigerated Display Cases Market: Recent Industry Developments and Growth Strategies Adopted by Players

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A new research report published by Transparency Market Research states that the global refrigerated display cases market is expected to grow at a rapid pace due to technological developments in advanced refrigerators with unique temperature control features. The report, titled Refrigerated Display Cases Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019, discusses the various types of refrigerators in the market and explains in detail the reasons supporting the growth of this market.Browse the full Refrigerated Display Cases Market (Plug-in and Remote) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 report atAccording to the research report, the global refrigerated display cases market was valued at US$8.8 bn in 2013 and is expected to reach US$16.3 bn by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 9.60% from 2013 to 2019. Refrigerated display cases or cabinets are mainly used for storing food products and other products that have to be kept or preserved at low temperatures.Furthermore, the sudden increase in the number of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and retail stores has given an impetus to the global refrigerated display cases market. The growth of this market is also being encouraged by changes in the eating habits of people, which are shifting towards frozen or chilled food items. The rising disposable incomes of consumers are also expected to augment the demand for refrigerated display cases market across the globe.Obtain Brochure Of Report @The global refrigerated display cases market is segmented on the basis of type of product, design, and geography. The types of products in the global refrigerated display cases market are plug-in (self-contained) and remote. In terms of design, this market is segmented into vertical  front open and horizontal  top open, and others such as hybrid or semivertical. Geographically, this market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.Analysts predict that the demand for medium-sized and small stores will trigger the demand for plug-in refrigerated display cases, as they fit the constraints of a small budget, limited floor space, and power consumption. This trend will also be supported by the low installation time these units take and the ease of portability they offer. These reasons are making plug-in refrigerated display cases popular amongst store owners.Get A Sample Report @Geographically, Asia Pacific holds a major share in the global refrigerated display cases market due to the contribution of emerging economies. The growth of the commercial sector with respect to restaurants, hotels, the catering industry, and the retail sector is fueling the demand for refrigerated display cases.Some of the important players in the global refrigerated display cases market are United Technologies Corporation  Climate, Metalfrio Solutions S.A., Daikin Industries, Ltd., Beverage-Air Corporation, Epta S.p.A., Dover Corporation, Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Controls & Security Unit (Carrier), Hussmann International, Inc., AHT Cooling Systems GmbH, Lennox International, Inc., and Blue Star Ltd.The report explains the competitive landscape of the global refrigerated display cases market along with sharing details pertaining to the financial overview, research and development activities, and investment outlook of key companies for the coming years.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Eyewear Market: Structure and Overview of Key Market Forces Propelling Market

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A new market research report has recently been published by Transparency Market Research and made available on the companys website. The research study, titled Eyewear Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast 2012 - 2018, offers a comprehensive analysis of the market, focusing on its product segmentation, geographical segmentation, current trends, key growth drivers, barriers, and competitive landscape.Eyewear refers to a product that is worn over or on the eye either for protection or for vision correction. As vision plays an important role in the development of the human mind, eye care is extremely vital for human beings. In the last few years, the number of people diagnosed with poor vision has risen. This is propelling the growth of the global eyewear market. As per the research study, in 2011, the global market for eyewear was valued at US$81 bn and is it anticipated to reach US$130 bn by 2018. The market is estimated to register a 3.70% CAGR between 2012 and 2018.Browse the full Eyewear Market (Spectacles, Contact Lenses, Plano Sunglasses) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast 2012 - 2018 report atThe growing disposable income of people worldwide, wearer base expansion, and high renewal rate of lenses are some of the major factors fuelling the growth of the global eyewear market. In addition, the presence of a large population with uncorrected vision is one of the key opportunities for the major players operating in the global market. However, the growing number of refractive surgeries is projected to curb the growth of the global eyewear market in the next few years.By product type, the global eyewear market has been categorized into contact lenses, spectacles, and plano sunglasses. The spectacles segment is further sub-categorized into spectacle lenses and spectacle frames. In 2011, the spectacles segment dominated the market and was worth US$63 bn. This segment is anticipated to witness rapid growth throughout the forecast period due to the growing number of individuals who require and use eyewear.Obtain Brochure Of Report @Furthermore, the study has segmented the overall eyewear market on the basis of distribution channel into online portals, healthcare service providers, and retail outlets. The market size, share, and future statistics are further presented by the research report.By geography, the global eyewear market has been classified into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. In 2012, North America dominated the market in terms of volume, accounting for a 30% share in the global eyewear market. The rapid growth of this region can be attributed to the growing demand for sunglasses and contact lenses in the last few years.On the other hand, the Europe eyewear market led the overall market on the basis of revenue in 2011. Nevertheless, the eyewear market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a fast pace owing to the growing population in this region. The Asia Pacific eyewear market is estimated to register a 9% CAGR between 2012 and 2018, thanks to the substantial contribution from China and India.Get A Sample Report @The research study further analyzes the competitive landscape of the global eyewear market and present detailed profiles of the major players operating in the market. The product portfolio, business policies, financial overview, recent developments, and SWOT analysis of the players have also been included in the scope of the research study. Some of the prominent players mentioned in the research report are Essilor International, Vision Express, Luxottica Group S.p.A, Carl Zeiss AG, Fielmann AG, Specsavers Optical Group Ltd., CIBA Vision Inc., De Rigo S.p.A, Hoya Corporation, Safilo Group, Marchon Eyewear, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, CooperVision, and Bausch & Lomb.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
2017-2022 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications

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This report studies the Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call. United States plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of XX.Download Sample Report Copy From Here:Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call market, including Jabra, AT&T, Panasonic, Plantronics, Spracht, Cyber, VXI, Sennheiser, Beats, Bose, Sony, Samsung.The On the basis of product, the Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call market is primarily split intoIn-ear TypeOver-ear TypeOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversFor Cell PhoneFor TelephoneOthersTable of Contents2017-2022 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Overview2.1 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Overview2.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Segment by Type2.2.1 In-ear Type2.2.2 Over-ear Type2.2.3 Others2.3 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)3 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Application/End Users3.1 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 For Cell Phone3.1.2 For Telephone3.1.3 Others3.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)4 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Size and CAGR by Regions (2012, 2016 and 2022)4.1.2 North America4.1.3 Asia-Pacific4.1.4 Europe4.1.5 South America4.1.6 Middle East and Africa4.1.7 United States4.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.3 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.4 North America Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.5 Europe Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.7 South America Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4.2.8 Middle East and Africa Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.9 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers5.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)5.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)5.3 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)5.4 Players Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types5.5 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Competitive Situation and Trends5.5.1 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Concentration Rate5.5.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players5.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion6 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers6.1 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)6.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)6.3 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)6.4 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players7 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Jabra7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Jabra Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 AT&T7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 AT&T Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Panasonic7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Panasonic Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Plantronics7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.4.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Plantronics Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Spracht7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.5.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Spracht Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Cyber7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.6.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Cyber Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 VXI7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.7.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 VXI Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Sennheiser7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.8.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Sennheiser Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Beats7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.9.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Beats Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Bose7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.10.2 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Bose Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Sony7.12 Samsung8 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Manufacturing Cost, Industrial Chain and Downstream Buyers8.1 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Key Raw Materials Analysis8.1.1 Key Raw Materials8.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials8.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials8.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure8.2.1 Raw Materials8.2.2 Labor Cost8.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8.3 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Industrial Chain Analysis8.4 Downstream Buyers in United States9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors and Market Effect Factors9.1 Marketing Channel9.1.1 Direct Marketing9.1.2 Indirect Marketing9.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend9.2 Distributors in Untied States9.3 Market Effect Factors Analysis9.3.1 Economic/Political Environmental Change9.3.2 Downstream Demand Change9.3.3 Technology Progress in Related Industry9.3.4 Substitutes Threat10 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Forecast10.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales, Revenue Forecast (2017-2022)10.1.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)10.1.2 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)10.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Market Forecast10.1.1 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)10.2.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) Forecast (2017-2022)10.3 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Forecast by Regions10.3.1 North America Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)10.3.2 Europe Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)10.3.3 Asia-Pacific Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)10.3.4 South America Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)10.3.5 Middle East and Africa Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)10.4 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Forecast by Type10.4.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast by Type (2017-2022)10.4.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Forecast by Type (2017-2022)10.5 Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Forecast by Application10.5.1 Global Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) Forecast by Application (2017-2022)10.5.2 United States Bluetooth Headsets for Phone Call Sales (K Units) Forecast by Application (2017-2022)11 Research Findings and ConclusionBuy Now This Report From Here: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.Unit 1, 26 Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London,E182AN, United KingdomCall: +44 20 3239 2407
Soluble Fertilizer Market 2017  Global Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Trend & Future Strategic Planning

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Research Report 2017.The study document titled Global Soluble Fertilizer industry gives helpful observations into the general trends as well as the points that propel this World-wide market. This industry examine completely covers the salient highlights of the Global Soluble Fertilizer market regarding the industry structure and even landscape designs, difficulties and desire ideas, along with projected current market effectiveness .Get Your Free Sample Report @Top Key manufactures of Soluble Fertilizer Market are Haifa Chemicals, Yara, Arab Potash Company, Omex, Everris, Bunge, SQM, UralChem, ICL Fertilizers, Sinclair, Grow More, EuroChem Group, Mosaicco, Nutrite, Aries Agro, LemagroNV, Dongbu Farm Hannong, Stanley, Hebei Monbang, CNAMPGC Holding, Hanfeng, Batian, Kingenta, Sichuan Guoguang Agrochemical, Beijing Jinggeng Tianxia Agricultural Science and Technology, Strongwill Group.The Soluble Fertilizer Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Soluble Fertilizer Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Soluble Fertilizer opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Soluble Fertilizer industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into NPK Water-soluble, Humic Acid Water-soluble, Amino Acid Water-soluble, Others.By Application, the market can be split into Horticulture, Crop, Others.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Soluble Fertilizer Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Soluble Fertilizer Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Soluble Fertilizer Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Soluble Fertilizer Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Soluble Fertilizer industry report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the global as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining to the Soluble Fertilizer market are also discussed in the report.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Rising International Tourism and Rapid Urbanization to Boost Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market

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Pune, India, 06 November 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021).Timeshare is a property owned or owned by a particular proprietorship; These properties are usually in the licensing circles, in which multiple parties have the right to use the property, and each person has a right to use a period (especially one week and every year as well as the same) in which they can use the property.The Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2017-2021) report analyzes the development of this market. This report discusses key trends, growth drivers and market problems. Four major players: Interval Leisure Group, Windmill Worldwide Corporation, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation are making progress with their major financial and growth plans.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The people across the globe are traveling more and they want their vacation to good and memorable. With the change of time and fast moving lifestyle people are looking more comfort and peaceful vacation. The Timeshare term is revolving around the quite long time they are one the trending concept because of their product and plans they offer.There are many things to do with holiday times but there is differences between the typical hotel and timeshare, the main difference is the quality of the real rooms available. Vacations Timeshares are very deluxe and have the convenience of an applet stall in the size of the studio units (two rooms), up to three to four bedroom units.These large units can usually accommodate larger families comfortably. Elements generally include fully equipped kitchens, including dining areas, dishwashers, televisions, DVD players, etc. There are many things to do with holiday times.The vacation can be short or long, the major focus of timeshare organization are customer comforts. Offering the latest and trending luxury and technology advancement service. Its all about the brand as the market is becoming more competitive every player in the market are offering the unique product and plan.Some players offered their regular customers with new offers and discount or there is fix room for them or the specific part of the property. Timesharing is just perfect for every vacationer. Vacation Ownership (Timeshares) market will experience favorable growth for the reasons such as high-end population growth and wealth growth, increased Internet penetration, international tourism promotion, rapid urbanization and economic growth.Major drivers in this market include technical progress, market participants, adoption of green methods and focus on health and wellness. However, the growth of these emerging markets is limited due to difficult regulations, seasonality and cyclical risk and problems related to occupational ownership, other risks related to the industry.The major players in the report are Interval Leisure Group, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, and Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation.For accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Latex Powder Market Professional Survey Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers 2017

Latex Powder Market Professional Survey Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers 2017

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ReportsMonitor.com has added Global Latex Powder Market Research Report 2017.The study document titled Global Latex Powder industry gives helpful observations into the general trends as well as the points that propel this World-wide market. This industry examine completely covers the salient highlights of the Global Latex Powder market regarding the industry structure and even landscape designs, difficulties and desire ideas, along with projected current market effectiveness .Get Your Free Sample Report @Top Key manufactures of Latex Powder Market are Wacker, Akzo Nobel, DCC, SANWEI, BASF, Shandong Xindadi, Xinjiang Huitong, Dow, VINAVIL, Hexion, Ashland, Wanwei, Acquos, Organik, Fenghua, Shaanxi Xutai, Puyang Yintai, Gemez Chemical, Guangzhou Yuanye, Zhaojia, Sailun Building, Henan Tiansheng Chem, Xinjiang Su Nok, Mizuda Bioscience, Shandong Micron.The Latex Powder Market, presents critical information and factual data about the global Latex Powder Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread global Latex Powder opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in Latex Powder industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into VAE Type, VAE-Veo Va Type, Others.By Application, the market can be split into Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), Construction and Tile Adhesives, Putty Powder, Dry-mix Mortars, Self-leveling Flooring Compounds, Caulks, Other Applications.Check Discount on this report@Some points from TOC:1 Global Latex Powder Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 Global Latex Powder Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 Global Latex Powder Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 Global Latex Powder Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 Global Latex Powder Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 Global Latex Powder Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 Latex Powder Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Global Latex Powder Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the Latex Powder industry report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the global as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining to the Latex Powder market are also discussed in the report.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
SNTA Tobacco 2017 Global Market Challenge, Driver, Trends & Forecast Summary

"Tobacco Company Profile - SNTA, 2017", is an analytical report by that provides extensive and highly detailed current and future market trends in the Alergian and global market. The report analyzes the market size and structure of Eastern Company in Egypt and globally, based upon a unique combination of industry research, fieldwork, market sizing analysis, and our in-house expertise. Key companies and consumer trends are also analyzed.



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The Societe Nationale des Tabacs et Allumettes (SNTA) is a state monopoly, and the leading producer of cigarettes in Algeria. It has its headquarters at Belcourt in Algiers with manufacturing at a number of other sites. It has formed a partnership with a group of UAE investors to manufacture a number of international brands locally with this extending to the distribution of SNTA brands in 2016. The company was established in 1963 when the tobacco industry was nationalized; following which SNTA became the sole manufacturer of tobacco products in the country. In addition to its cigarette manufacturing activities, SNTA produces snuff and chewing and cut tobacco.



Scope

- SNTA produced almost 9 billion pieces of cigarettes in 2016, including both domestic and export sales.

- It accounted for 35% of the total cigarette market in Algeria.



Reasons to buy

- Get a detailed understanding of consumption to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market.

- Identify the areas of growth and opportunities, which will aid effective marketing planning.

- The differing growth rates in regional product sales drive fundamental shifts in the market.

- This report provides detailed, authoritative data on these changes - prime intelligence for marketers.

- Understand the market dynamics and essential data to benchmark your position and to identify where to compete in the future.



Table of Content: Key Points

1. Introduction 5

2. Key Company Facts 6

3. Corporate Structure 7

3.1. Ownership 7

3.2. Organization 8

4. Financial Highlights 11

5. Cigarette Business Review 12

5.1. Overview 12

5.2. Algeria 14

5.3. International Markets 18

6. Other Tobacco Interests 19

7. Company Strengths, Strategies & Performance 20

8. Appendix 22

8.1. What is this Report About? 22

8.2. Time Frame 23

8.3. Product Category Coverage 23

Continued



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Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.



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Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market 2017-2021- Industry Trends, Competitor Analysis, Market Size, Forecasts, Applications, Shares & Insights

Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market Analysis Report

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Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market Professional Survey Report 2017 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. This study recognizes that in this quick-evolving, competitive environment, up-to-date industry information is essential to monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, and on the changing structure of the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market.The Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market consists of different international, regional, and local vendors. The market competition is foreseen to grow higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the future. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Get Access to sample pages @Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes Bartolini, Bigsby, El Dorado, EMG, Floyd Rose, Graph Tech, Hal Leonard, Joe Barden Pickups, John Pearse, Lace, Proline, Railhammer, Shadow & ToneProsGlobal Acoustic Guitar Bridge (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Pin Bridge & Pinless BridgesMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Pin Bridge xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Pinless Bridges xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Classical Guitars, Concert Acoustics, Mini and Travel Acoustics, Grand Auditorium Acoustics, Jumbo Acoustics & Other with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Classical Guitars xx xx xx xx% xx%Concert Acoustics xx xx xx xx% xx%Mini and Travel Acoustics xx xx xx xx% xx%Grand Auditorium Acoustics xx xx xx xx% xx%Jumbo Acoustics xx xx xx xx% xx%Other xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Acoustic Guitar Bridge in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)North America xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Europe xx xx xx xx% xx%Southeast Asia xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%This independent 116 page research with title Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market Professional Survey Report 2017 guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India and important players/vendors such as Bartolini, Bigsby, El Dorado, EMG, Floyd Rose, Graph Tech, Hal Leonard, Joe Barden Pickups, John Pearse, Lace, Proline, Railhammer, Shadow & TonePros. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Acoustic Guitar Bridge, the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Further it focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Acoustic Guitar Bridge industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The study is organized with the help of primary and secondary data collection including valuable information from key vendors and participants in the industry. It includes historical data from 2012 to 2016 and projected forecasts till 2022 which makes the research study a valuable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry related data in readily accessible documents with easy to analyze graphs and tables. The report answers future development trend of Acoustic Guitar Bridge on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 to assist manufacturers and investment organization to better analyze the development course of Acoustic Guitar Bridge Market.The research insights solutions to the following key questions:What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022?What are the key factors driving the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market?Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market?What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Acoustic Guitar Bridge market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Acoustic Guitar Bridge market.Chapter 1, to describe Acoustic Guitar Bridge Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Acoustic Guitar Bridge , with sales, revenue, and price of Acoustic Guitar Bridge , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Acoustic Guitar Bridge , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Classical Guitars, Concert Acoustics, Mini and Travel Acoustics, Grand Auditorium Acoustics, Jumbo Acoustics & Other], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Acoustic Guitar Bridge market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Acoustic Guitar Bridge sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @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.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Brewing Enzymes Market to exceed $390mn by 2024: Global Market Insights Inc.

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Brewing Enzymes Market size is estimated to exceed USD 390 million by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Rapid maturation along with properties including chill proofing and cold haze in beer will drive the brewing enzymes market growth. Ensuring better adjunct liquefaction for producing low-carbohydrate beer, to shorten beer maturation time will remain a key factor fueling product demand.Harvest deficiency, non-standardized barley quality, odd flavoring & alcoholic content are key pain areas driving beer manufacturers towards brewing enzymes. Standardized taste & quality accompanied by maximum beer output have positively influenced product emand.Request for a sample of this research report @Beer industry expansion accompanied by implementation of alternate material other than malt at competitive prices will fuel product demand. Rising trend for light beer owing to its low-calorie content will open new avenues for brewing enzymes market penetration.Proteases will observe gains over 5.5% up to 2024 owing to faster beer production as it improves product functions. Rise in consumer spending on liquor mainly among millennials will stimulate brewing enzymes market demand.Increasing health awareness among consumers and decreasing use of emulsifiers in beverages has provided immense growth opportunities to enzyme producers for developing innovative products.Changeable raw material prices owing to dependency on agricultural products will impact brewing enzymes market price trend. Instable temperature and reaction rate along with shifting pH properties may restrain demand.Browse key industry insights spread across 250 pages with 198 market data tables & 10 figures & charts from the report, Brewing Enzymes Market Size By Product (Amylases, Proteases, -glucanases, Xylanases), By Function (Amylases [Decotion vessel/ cereal cooker, Mashing, Fermentation], Proteases [Conditioning Tank], -glucanases [Decotion vessel/ cereal cooker, Mashing, Fermentation], Xylanases [Mashing]), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Czech Republic, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Amylases were valued over USD 75 million in 2016. The product demand will be driven by its beneficial properties including, increases maltose & glucose content, reduces viscosity and improved starch digestion.-glucanases will be valued at over USD 100 million by 2024. Rising product adoption owing to the key benefits including, enhanced filtration, reduced viscosity and improved wort separation will propel the product demand.APAC brewing enzymes market was valued at over USD 70 million in 2016. Raw material availability coupled with resource presence at competitive price will drive regional industry growth. Increasing disposable income along with changing lifestyle will facilitate beer production in the region. Increasing youth population is among the major factors influencing industry growth. For instance, 65% of the Indian population is below the age of 35 years.North America brewing enzymes will witness growth over 6% up to 2024. Increased beer production due to presence of major manufacturers in the region will drive product demand. The U.S. produced over 220 million hectolitres beer in 2016.Increased pharmaceutical investment in the region has led to a significant growth of the industry during the forecast period as it is used for treating various ailments including, gallstone treatment, stress buster and reduced risk of heart attack.Global industry share is competitive in nature due to few industry players capturing majority of the market share. Key manufacturers include Novozymes, Royal DSM, AB Enzymes, Amano, Danisco, Denykem, Lyven, Dyadic Internationa, Z.A. Biotech, Megazyme, Boli Bioproducts and Hobio Bioengineering.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Brewing enzymes market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of volume in tons and revenue in USD thousand from 2013 to 2024, for the following segments:Brewing Enzymes Market, By Producto Amylaseso Functiono Decotion vessel/ cereal cookero Mashingo Fermentationo Proteases Function Conditioning tanko -glucanases Function Decotion vessel/ cereal cooker Mashing Fermentationo Xylanases Function Mashingo Others (Amyloglucosidase, Debranching enzyme, -acetolactate-decarboxylase (ALDC)) Function Mashing FermentationThe above information has been provided on a regional and country basis for the following: North America U.S. Mexico Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Russia Spain Poland Netherlands Ukraine Belgium Czech Republic Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Thailand Vietnam Latin America (LATAM) Brazil Argentina Venezuela Colombia MEA Saudi Africa Nigeria EgyptGlobal 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.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:Connect with us: Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Building Automation Systems Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025

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In reference to a new report published by Persistence Market Research, the global building automation systems market will showcase significant growth between 2016 and 2026. Manufacturers of building automation systems are rapidly adopting new regulations set across the globe and they are also lining up new products to meet rising market demand. The Persistence Market Research report titled, Building Automation Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis & Forecast, 2016-2026, talks in detail about the market psyche and also scrutinizes the market drifts which are expected to impact the future of the global building automation systems market. The global building automation systems market was valued more than US$ 43 Bn in 2015 and is expected to mint better revenue by the end of 2016, reaching approximately US$ 48 Bn. The market will continue its journey towards expansion and the market worth will reach US$ 141.1 Bn towards the end of 2026. The global building automation systems market will record a CAGR of 11.1% during the projected period.Request to view Sample Report:Global Building Automation Systems Market: Factors and Trends Impacting GrowthGovernments around the globe are rolling out different precautionary measures to cut down the wastage of energy. Different new regulatory methods are adopted to reduce the consumption of energy. This is a massive booster for the global building automation systems market. Several big economies around the globe such as Europe, US and Japan have already curated some restrictive methods to revise the previous trends. This opens a new window of opportunity for the global building automation systems market. A slew of new technologies that are eroding this market are actively affecting the global canvas of the market. Better and more advanced technologies are enhancing the end-user experience and also increasing market outreach. The introduction of smart web-based, cloud-based control networks backed by the Internet of Things (IOT), mobile technologies, integrated building systems and facility management solutions are expanding the periphery of the global building automation systems market. Last but not the least, the urgent need for consolidated security solutions is also pushing ahead the market growth of the global building automation systems market. These key factors will complement the all-round development of the market within the forecast period but there are also certain key factors that might barricade the normal development of the market within the period of forecast. Building automation systems come with a high price tag and this is expected to impact their widespread adoption. The absence of skilled manpower is another market growth deterrent.Request to download and view full ToC @Global Building Automation Systems Market: Revenue ForecastThe rising incidences of security violations across the globe are likely to impact the growth of the security and surveillance segment in the global building automation systems market. The security and surveillance segment will exhibit a robust growth in terms of revenue and will overshadow the market within the forecast period. The commercial segment will contribute notably to the global building automation systems market. Towards the end of the projected period, the commercial segment will touch a market worth of more than US$ 63 Bn and will record a CAGR of 10.9%. Apart from this the government and residential segments will also project promising growth trends by 2026 end. North America will lure maximum investors, as the building automation systems market in this region will exceed a whopping value of US$ 55 Bn by the close of 2026.The global market for building automation systems is crowded with several players. The Rheem Manufacturing Company, United Technologies, General Electric, Lennox International, Philips Lighting Holding B.V., Ingersoll-Rand Plc. Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls are some of the major players contributing to the growth of the market. They are establishing smart IT backed platforms to provide advanced building automation systems to their customers.View Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Bank Kiosk Market (Kiosk Information Systems, Phoenix Kiosk, RedyRef Interactive Kiosks) Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends & Forecast to 2022

Bank Kiosk market

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HTF MI recently added a new research study in its database that highlights the in-depth market analysis with future prospects of Bank Kiosk market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for marketing managers, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other key people who are in need of ready-to-access and self analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. Some of the key players mentioned in this research are Kiosk Information Systems, Phoenix Kiosk, RedyRef Interactive Kiosks, Kontron AG, Shaanxi Hui Lian Electron Technology & ....Get Access to sample pages @The research covers the current market size of the Global Bank Kiosk market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [United States, EU, China, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan], by product /end user type [Single-Function Kiosk & Multi-Function Kiosk], by applications [Rural, Semi Urban, Urban & Other] in overall market. The in-depth information by segments of Bank Kiosk market helps monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Bank Kiosk Market.The study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of Global Bank Kiosk Market, some of them are Kiosk Information Systems, Phoenix Kiosk, RedyRef Interactive Kiosks, Kontron AG, Shaanxi Hui Lian Electron Technology & .... The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global Bank Kiosk (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Single-Function Kiosk & Multi-Function KioskMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Single-Function Kiosk xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Multi-Function Kiosk xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Rural, Semi Urban, Urban & Other with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Bank Kiosk (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Rural xx xx xx xx% xx%Semi Urban xx xx xx xx% xx%Urban xx xx xx xx% xx%Other xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Bank Kiosk in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)United States xx xx xx xx% xx%EU xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%South Korea xx xx xx xx% xx%Taiwan xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research insights solutions to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Bank Kiosk market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Bank Kiosk market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Bank Kiosk market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Bank Kiosk market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Bank Kiosk market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Bank Kiosk market.Chapter 1, to describe Bank Kiosk Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bank Kiosk , with sales, revenue, and price of Bank Kiosk , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bank Kiosk , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, China, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Rural, Semi Urban, Urban & Other], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Bank Kiosk market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bank Kiosk sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @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.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Argentina Crude Oil Refinery Market 2017 -Develop Market-Entry and Market Expansion Strategies 2022

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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Argentina Crude Oil Refinery Outlook."Argentina Crude Oil Refinery Outlook to 2022" is a comprehensive report on crude oil refinery industry in Argentina. The report also provides details on oil refineries such as name, type, operational status, operator apart from capacity data for the major processing units, for all active refineries in Argentina for the period 2012-2022. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the countrys oil refinery industry.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- Updated information related to all active refineries in the country, including operator and equity details- Information on CDU, coking, catalytic cracking and hydrocracking capacities by refinery in the country, where available- Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and IPOs in the countrys crude oil industry, where available- Latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to crude oil refineries in the countryKey points to buy- Gain a strong understanding of the countrys crude oil refining industry- Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast capacity data- Assess your competitors major crude oil refining assets and their performance in the country- Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the countrys crude oil refining industry- Understand the countrys financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the marketTable of Contents1 Table of Contents 11.1 List of Tables 21.2 List of Figures 32 Introduction 42.1 What is This Report About? 42.2 Market Definition 43 Argentina Refining Industry 53.1 Argentina Refining Industry, Key Data 53.2 Argentina Refining Industry, Overview 53.3 Argentina Refining Industry, Total Refining Capacity 53.4 Argentina Refining Industry, Crude Distillation Unit Capacity 73.5 Argentina Refining Industry, Coking Unit Capacity 73.6 Argentina Refining Industry, Catalytic Cracking Capacity 83.7 Argentina Refining Industry, Hydrocracking Capacity 83.8 Argentina Refining Industry, Asset Details 9..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Blood Irradiation market 2017 - Hitaci, Gilardoni, Gamma-Service, Cegelec, Rad Source

Global Blood Irradiation market

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Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Blood Irradiation Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Blood Irradiation Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Blood Irradiation industry, and estimates the future trend of Blood Irradiation market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Blood Irradiation Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportBest TheratronicsHitaciGilardoniGamma-ServiceCegelecRad SourceJL SHEPHERD & ASSOCIATESShinva MedicalNPICCIF medicalThe market research report explores the Blood Irradiation market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Blood Irradiation Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Blood Irradiation market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Blood Irradiation. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Blood Irradiation market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Blood Irradiation is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Blood Irradiation market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Blood Irradiation market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Blood Irradiation market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Blood Irradiation production volume, data pertaining to demand and Blood Irradiation supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Blood Irradiation along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Blood Irradiation across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
Healthcare Laboratory Informatics Market trends research and projections for 2017-2024

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Over the years, the escalating growth of healthcare laboratory informatics market has been highly influenced by the surging requirements of laboratories to comply with a plethora of regulations. The healthcare space that has been witnessing a paradigm shift from volume to value-based model is adding a renewed dynamism to the market. The growing volume and complexity of clinical data are necessitating the requirement of advanced HTS (high throughput screening) and UHTS (Ultra high throughput screening) solutions that can efficiently derive meaningful insights. In addition to this, increasing integration of lab automation in contract manufacturing and research organizations have significantly accelerated healthcare laboratory informatics market commercialization.The emergence of digitization and big data analytics is providing a major push to healthcare laboratory informatics market outlook, which is projected to exceed a revenue of USD 1.8 billion by 2024, with 9.5% CAGR projection. This is quite evident from the increasing adoption rate of cloud computing technology in the healthcare organizations lately. Cloud computing technology enables customized services via internet such as disease monitoring, providing alerts to patients about the risks, and geospatial mapping. Advancement in virtualization and increasing access to high-speed internet at low cost is allowing healthcare organization to readily adapt these advanced technological solutions, leaving a subsequent impact on healthcare laboratory informatics market dynamics.Request Sample Copy of this Report@The renewed healthcare fraternity where cost effective value-based models have become imperative, the industry giants are vigorously exploiting the potential growth prospects of the market. Strategic acquisitions, geographical expansion, and business partnerships are some of the major strategies adopted by the companies to maintain their position in the global healthcare laboratory informatics industry. Leading companies are also integrating informatics solutions to have a competitive edge in the competitive business landscape. Abbott Informatics, Perkin Elmer, Thermo Fisher, Perkin Elmer, LabVantage, LabWare, Lablynx, and Core Informatics are some of the top companies witnessing a strong ground in the overall healthcare laboratory informatics market.Based on the product trends, LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) dominated the global share in 2016. The prime trigger that is enhancing the LIMS based healthcare laboratory informatics market share is its increasing deployment in biobanks. Increasing proliferation of integrated healthcare solutions that require advanced systems to manage a chain of services such as online request management, data security, regulatory compliance, client billing, and patient demographics have significantly increased healthcare laboratory informatics market demand. Other than LIMS, scientific data management systems are also expected to chart an appreciable growth in the years ahead, with a CAGR projection of 9% over 2017-2024.Make Inquiry about this report @Overall, healthcare laboratory informatics market share from services observed a notable surge in 2016, covering almost half of the overall volume. The trend is likely to continue in the same line over the coming years, subject to its low internal IT resource requirement and comparatively lower capital investment. Software based market will also witness substantial growth, driven by the increasing demand for technologically evolved scientific data integrated software solutions in clinics and hospitals. Having said that, it is imperative to note that clinics will cover a major portion of the healthcare laboratory industry share in the coming seven years. Growing incorporations of laboratory informatics for health information tacking and quality assurance is further fueling the overall industry trend.Regionally, healthcare laboratory informatics market has spread its wings mainly across China, U.S., and Germany. The expanding healthcare IT industry in these nations remains the common ground for the regional market growth. Germanys increasing adoption of cost-effective workflow management system has led the country to achieve a global domination in the overall healthcare laboratory informatics market in 2016. China market will also carve a positive growth chart in the years ahead subject to the ongoing research investments undertaken by both private and public agencies along with spreading healthcare awareness.Laboratories play a pivotal role in the latest healthcare outcome  based business model. Laboratory information coupled with its scientific data integrated solutions have now become a vital component in the healthcare IT. Despite the fact that healthcare laboratory informatics industry is characterized by some of the major challenges such as unavailability of skilled and trained personnel and instructors that might hamper the industrys growth path, yet the rapid pace of technological developments and its imprint in medical space will bring a revolutionary change in the way healthcare laboratory informatics market has been perceived so far.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.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Biopsy Device Market Set to Witness an Uptick during 2016-2026

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Key players focussing on strategic M&A for amplified market sharesPatients are increasingly preferring minimally invasive surgical procedures in order to avoid conventional surgical complications and side-effects, promoting sales of biopsy devices, leading to the growth of the biopsy devices globally. In addition to enabling the accurate diagnosis, a biopsy device assures minimal patient discomfort and trauma. This is identified to be a major factor impacting the popularity of biopsy, and biopsy device thereby.Over the 10-year forecast period 2016-2026, the global biopsy device market is estimated to witness a moderate yet promising CAGR of 6.5%, according to Future Market Insights. In a recently published report titled Global Biopsy Device Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026, Future Market Insights analyses the market for biopsy device and offers key insights into the market condition for the aforementioned period. Valued at around US$ 1,397 Mn in 2016, the market will possibly attain the revenues beyond US$ 2,621 Mn by 2026-end.Request For Table Of Content @Key Opportunities for Manufacturers and Suppliers, Grasped by Future Market Insights Research:Developing economies present lucrative, untapped markets for biopsy device.Growing adoption of hybrid imaging technology will underpin new growth opportunities.Following massive consumption by hospitals, demand for biopsy device from specific oncology centres and research institutes will prompt at multiple opportunities in near future.Surging demand for minimal invasive breast biopsy highlight lucrative opportunities that lie in the breast cancer sector.ncreasing adoption of biopsy device by oncologists will generate several revenue generation opportunities in the disease monitoring sector.Supported by increasing discretionary funding for cancer research, growing government expenditure for healthcare and favourable reimbursement scenario (especially in the U.S.) will collectively elevate the revenue sales of the global biopsy device market. Collaborations between various government and private companies, fuelled by increasing awareness about disease diagnosis and monitoring, will further elevate the market growth in near future.M&A and Technological Upgrades Remain at the ForefrontA majority of key players in the global biopsy device market are currently focusing on providing innovative biopsy tests and technological upgrades. Mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships with diagnostic laboratories will help to strengthen their presence in the global market.Among the top companies, Becton, Dickinson and Company is concentrating on innovative, cost-effective product development, whereas Hologic, Inc. is targeting manufacture and sales of biopsy devices, especially for breast cancer surgeries. Other notable players include Boston Scientific Inc., C. R. Bard, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Cook Medical, INRAD Inc., and PLANMED OY.Argon Medical, one of the promising new entrants, is expanding its product portfolio and collaborating with established players, whereas for Devicor Medical Products Inc., M&A remains the key strategy.North America Retains the Most Lucrative Market, Developing Countries to Witness Impressive Growth over 2016-2026North America will remain the dominant market, reaching nearly US$ 882 Mn by 2026 end, accounting for over 33% share of the market. Western Europe is expected to remain the second largest market for biopsy device, crossing a value of US$ 683 Mn by the end of 2026, capturing over 26% share of the market.APEJ, with around 14% market value share in 2026, is likely to reach US$ 370.0 Mn by the end of forecast period. MEA will register the fastest CAGR of 7.3%, followed by APEJ and Latin America with the respective CAGRs of 7.1% and 6.5% over 2016-2026. North America, Europe, and Japan will see moderate growth over the forecast period.Need More Information About Methodology Report@Needles Continue to Drive Product Type SegmentBy product type, needles will remain dominant with over 36% share of the market value in 2026, whereas guns will represent the second largest sub-segment with over 26% market value share in 2026. With growing significance of early diagnosis of breast biopsy, guidance system segment is estimated to gain around 222 BPS in its market share by 2026 over 2016. Stereostatic X-ray guided biopsy will drive the guidance system segment through to 2026. Reagents and kits will witness moderate consumption.Medical Diagnostics Monopolise Application SegmentBased on application type, medical diagnostics will continue to hold a dominant share of over 61% by 2026 end, in terms of revenues. Scientific research, accounting for the rest, will witness an impressively growing CAGR of 6.9% over 2016-2026. This segment is expected to reach beyond US$ 1,008.0 Mn in 2026.Hospitals Remain Largest End-use ConsumerBy end-user, hospitals will continue to contribute nearly 50% share to the market value by 2026 end. This end-use segment will witness a robust CAGR of 8.2%. Diagnostic centres will account for over 23% in 2026 with a slight decline over 2016-2026, whereas specialised oncology centres are anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.1% during 2016-2026.Buy Full Biopsy Device Market Report @Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global BTE Hearing Aids market 2017 - Sonovav, GN Store Nord, Sivantos Group, Widex, Starkey

Global BTE Hearing Aids market

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Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "BTE Hearing Aids Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "BTE Hearing Aids Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global BTE Hearing Aids industry, and estimates the future trend of BTE Hearing Aids market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "BTE Hearing Aids Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportWilliam DemantSonovavGN Store NordSivantos GroupWidexStarkeyThe market research report explores the BTE Hearing Aids market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "BTE Hearing Aids Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the BTE Hearing Aids market based on major product types, application and end users industries of BTE Hearing Aids. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for BTE Hearing Aids market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for BTE Hearing Aids is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, BTE Hearing Aids market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the BTE Hearing Aids market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global BTE Hearing Aids market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, BTE Hearing Aids production volume, data pertaining to demand and BTE Hearing Aids supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of BTE Hearing Aids along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for BTE Hearing Aids across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in Japan Market 2017-By Facilitate Decision Making on the Basis of Historic and Forecasts Data 2030

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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in Japan, Market Outlook."Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in Japan, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles", is the latest report from the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market in Japan.The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Japan (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes hydro, small hydro, biopower and Solar Photovoltaic (PV)) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Japan Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by team of industry experts.GET SAMPLE REPORT @ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market, Japan power market, Japan renewable power market and Japan Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. The scope of the research includes -- A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.- An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period 2017-2030.- Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), Solar Photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydro power (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.- Detailed overview of the global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major Solar Photovoltaic (PV)power countries in 2016 and key owners information of various regions.- Power market scenario in Japan and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.- An overview on Japan renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2016.- Detailed overview of Japan Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects.- Deal analysis of Japan Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. Deals are analyzed on the basis of mergers, acquisitions, partnership, asset finance, debt offering, equity offering, private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC).- Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the development of renewable power sources in general and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in particular.- Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Key points to buy- The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.- Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Japan Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential.- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents2 Executive Summary3 Introduction4 Renewable Power Market, Global, 2006-20305 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market, Global, 2006-20306 Power Market, Japan, 2006-20307 Renewable Power Market, Japan, 2006-20308 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market, Japan, 2006-20309 Regulatory Scenario, Power Market, Japan10 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market, Japan, Company Profiles11 AppendixCONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
China Seeds Industry Insights & Forecast Report

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China is one of the worlds major producers of consumer and industrial products. Over the years, the nation has outrun other economies in terms of consumption of various goods and services. The agricultural production has grown significantly pushing the seeds industry to new heights. Growing population in China can be seen as a prime reason for the growth of the seeds industry. To study in-depth, a new report has been added to the broad archive of Market Research Hub (MRH). This research study is titled China Seeds Industry Forecasts, which includes details about China seeds production and demand along with information covering government regulations.Request Free Sample Report@As per research insights, this smart research report focuses on China seeds industry forecasts. During the past two decades, the industry has been advancing at a fast pace. Moreover, the dramatic expansions of the manufacturing capabilities coupled with rising consumer consumptions across the nation have effectively transformed Chinas economy. Further, it has been noticed that rapid alliance between medium and large players is projected since the Chinese government is actively encouraging industry amalgamation with an effort to control the industry and improve competitiveness across the global market.The research study starts with the scope and methodology followed by the executive summary. This section includes information related to the business environment. It covers economic outlook, key economic indicators, and industrial output. Further, the readers can gain knowledge about foreign investment, population & labor plus insights about foreign investment. This portion of the report also encloses data about market trends and labor market management, so as to give a clear idea about the prevailing scenario in the Chinese region.The following section primarily stresses on the seeds production and demand. Grain seeds, oilseeds, fruit seeds, forage seeds, flowers & trees seeds and vegetable seeds, are the major varieties which are studied and evaluated carefully through this report analysis. Specifics regarding seeds import and export can also be grasped through this particular section of the study. The Chinese Government Environment Regulations plays a major role in the current setup and is discoursed for the benefit of the readers.Browse Full Report with TOC@As per research discoveries, although China has cherished the benefits of an expanding market concerned with production and distribution, the industry is struggling from trifling innovation and investment in R&D as well as new product development. Furthermore, most of the domestic manufacturers are deprived of financial resources and autonomic intellectual property to cultivate their own brand name products.Enquire About this Report@About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: - 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email:- press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:-Read Industry News at :-
Overview of ePharmacy Market in Global Industry : Size, Share, Trends and Analysis 2017-2023

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Albany, NY, 7th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "ePharmacy Market (By Geography - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Latin America) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023" globally.With the rise of Internet penetration, there has been a dramatic shift in the buying behavior of customers toward increased online purchasing. From essentials such as groceries and apparel to luxury products, everything is available for purchase on online retail platforms.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The healthcare sector is no exception to this online retail trend, with pharmacies going online. With advantages such as round-the-clock availability and delivery of drugs, complete information on the prescribed drug, and knowledge of cost-effective substitutes, the market for ePharmacies is expected to experience a surge of growth in the coming years.Operating within all the guidelines and standards set by their respective national governments, ePharmacies have emerged as ethical business entities and have become an effective source of prescription medicines. The trend of ePharmacies was initially witnessed in the developed economies of North America and Europe; however, with the rising penetration of the Internet and growing awareness among customers about prescription medicines, the market for ePharmacies is gaining momentum in the emerging countries in Asia Pacific.This research study focuses on providing a comprehensive market assessment on current trends in the global ePharmacies market, along with a focus on various factors affecting the markets growth. The influential factors that affect the growth of the ePharmacy market have been analyzed under the market dynamics section, which comprises market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. The report also provides comprehensive assessment of vendor strategies for excellence in the business. The report segregates the market into five different geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Some of the major countries/regions analyzed in the report include the U.S., the EU7, the CIS, China, Japan, the Indian Subcontinent, Australasia, the GCC countries, North Africa, and South Africa. The report provides market size estimates and forecasts for all the regional and country segments for the ePharmacies market.Get Complete TOC with tables & Figures @The research study estimates the global ePharmacies market in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for the period 2013 to 2023, which comprises:2013: the base year2014: estimated value20152023: forecast periodThe market estimates have been evaluated considering different technological, economic, political, environmental, social, and legal factors. The market positioning analysis of major players in the market is provided in the research study, which would help the buyers of this report understand the key strategies adopted by these players.The company profiles section in the report provides competitive profiles of the leading players (however not all the market players) in the market. This section elucidates on the below details:Company addressGeographical presenceProduct/service portfolioRecent developmentsHistorical roadmapFinancial performanceBusiness strategiesSome of the leading players profiled in the report include Banner Health, Dr. Fox Pharmacy, Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd., eDrugstore.MD, Walgreen Co., DocMorris NV, Rowlands Pharmacy, MediSave, CVS Caremark, and PlanetRx.com.ePharmacy Market Segmentation:ePharmacy Market, by Geography:North AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeEU7 (UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands)CISRest of EuropeAsia PacificJapanChinaIndian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and Guinea)Rest of Asia PacificMiddle East and AfricaGCC CountriesNorth AfricaBrowse Report @South AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Department Stores Retailing Market: Indonesia will grow in coming years, followed by India and Philippines

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The research report on Department Stores Retailing market based on in-depth market analysis and have been prepared with data gathered from industry experts. This report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. This report also includes the discussion of Value Chain Analysis, Pricing Analysis, Opportunity Analysis, and Product Life Cycle in this market. Then detail analysis for the market drive, challenge, and trend. The report showcase the current situation of the Department Stores Retailing Market and the possibility of growth in coming years.GET SAMPLE REPORT @According to research report, the global department store retail market is expected to reach US$675.9 billion and grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during 20152020.The department store is one the biggest store where you can get everything and every products have its own separate section. Even this concept was old but with change time and lifestyle this sector has created huge demand and they are used on daily base of life. This store contains the product from low price to high price, premium category. The department store USP is a lot of product and that too in one place.The department stores majorly have an ancillary items and household textiles, small household items, furniture, electrical appliances and accessories. With the help digital technology, this product provide great user experience and satisfaction for consumers.The growing disposable income of consumer every year and developing the standard of leaving has also created major demand for departmental stores. The rising purchasing power of the middle-class population, young working professionals, and the expansion of department stores are various factors.The Key Findings in reports are as follow, Consumers are looking for more discount and offers. Savings are driving sales in off-price department stores. Clothing and footwear were the most preferred category by channel. Indonesia will grow the fastest during the forecast period, followed by India and Philippines The US market will continue to be the largest market in 2020.Finally the Sales of off-price department stores are being sold in North America positively and in future it is expected to become more popular in Europe. In an effort to provide customers with seamless shopping experience, department stores retail retailers are developing a new innovative concept such as Virtual Reality, Increasing Reality and others.The major players for Department Stores Retailing coverd in report are David Jones, Myer, Macys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, JC Penny, KOHLS, Dillards, Hudsons Bay Company, Falabella, Lojas Riachuelo and Liverpool.ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Brake Pad Market SWOT, Investment Feasibility and Investment Return Analysis: Radiant Insights

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: Radiant InsightsBrake Pad Report by Material, Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, united Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China).Request a Free Sample Copy of this Report @The report firstly introduced the Brake Pad basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Browse the Full Global Brake Pad Market Market - Global Scenario, Industry Outlook, Share, and Industry analysis, Size, Trends and Forecast to 2021 Report at -The report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) basic information;2.) the Asia Brake Pad Market;3.) the North American Brake Pad Market;4.) the European Brake Pad Market;5.) market entry and investment feasibility;6.) the report conclusion.Read more related reports by Radiant Insights: Cyclohexylamine MarketThe report covers forecast and analysis for the ,cyclohexylamine market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2012-2016 along with a forecast from 2017 to 2022 based on both output/volume and revenue. The study then describes the drivers and restraints for the cyclohexylamine market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the cyclohexylamine market on a global level. Demand for this market rises from the Water Treatment, Rubber Chemicals, Agrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Food Additives and other applications. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2017 to 2022. Relevantly, the report and company profiles specify the key drivers that are impacting the demand in global cyclohexylamine market. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites MarketThe global fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites market is anticipated to reach USD 282.9 billion by 2025. Numerous properties such as strength, flexibility, conductivity, and low cost offered by FRP products are anticipated to boost the industry growth over the forecast period. The global players present in the market are collaborating with research agencies for developing new & improved synthetic and natural fiber-based reinforced polymer to gain a competitive edge over other companies. The players are also trying to develop new manufacturing techniques to reduce the production cost and increase production capacity.About Radiant Insights, IncRadiant Insights is a market research and consulting company offering syndicated research studies, customized reports, and consulting services. Market research studies are designed to facilitate strategic decision making, on the basis of extensive and in-depth quantitative information, supported by extensive analysis and industry insights. Using a patented and robust research methodology, we publish exhaustive research reports covering a host of industries such as Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. Radiant Insights has a strong base of analysts, consultants and domain experts, with global experience help for delivering excellence in all research projects.Media Contact:Michelle Thoras201 Spear Street 1100,Suite 3036,San Francisco,CA 94105, United StatesTel: 1-415-349-0054Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744Mail: sale@radiantinsights.com
Demand of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Market in Global Industry : Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Research 2017-2024

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Albany, NY, 7th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Nuclear Power Plant Safety Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" globally.The global market for the nuclear power plant safety is expanding steadily. A turning point in its trajectory has been the Fukushima-accident in Japan, triggered by a major earthquake followed by a 15-meter tsunami. The calamity disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, resulting in a nuclear accident on 11 March 2011.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @All three cores melted substantially in the first three days. Many governments, since then, have recommended use of backup generators for nuclear power plants to protect against floods and tsunami.Nuclear power plant safety primarily involves radiation detection and monitoring and it is seeing a sea change on account of the changing contours of nuclear power plants, homeland security, defense, and manufacturing industries. The different nuclear power plant safety measures are a combination of active and passive to purge heat from the core of the reactor, a robust containment to stem the release of radioactive materials, and shutdown systems for the reactors. At present, the competition in the global market for nuclear power plant is stiff on account of the presence of numerous small and large players.Global Nuclear Power Plant Safety Market: Trends and OpportunitiesAt the forefront of driving demand in the global nuclear power plant is the substantial rise in the global demand for power in the face of depleting fossil fuels. This has been providing a fillip to the nuclear power industry and thus nuclear power plant safety backup market. New programs ushered in by governments worldwide to meet their nations energy needs by leveraging nuclear power plants are estimated to promote the nuclear power plant safety market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts the demand for energy to increase by 4,700 GWe in the next 20 years. This will create a sustained demand in nuclear power plant safety market.Get Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Additionally, the Fukushima nuclear accident jolted authorities to frame rules to compel nuclear power plants to have robust safety measures in place to thwart release of radioactive materials. Many existing nuclear power plants have revamped their layouts in keeping with the rules stipulated by governments and new ones are being designed to lessen the impact of complex accidents, including multiple failures and severe accidents. Safety standards laid down by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also adding to the demand for nuclear power plant safety worldwide.Countering the growth in the global market for nuclear power plant safety is the lessened support for nuclear in nations such as the U.S, Germany, Japan, and France. The massive cost of maintenance of nuclear power plant safety systems and mechanisms is another challenge to the markets growth.Global Nuclear Power Plant Safety Market: Regional OutlookThe key segments of the global nuclear power plant safety market are Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America and Europe, among them, hold considerable share in the market. Besides, Asia Pacific is an upcoming attractive market that players are keeping a tab on. This is because of the insatiable demand for energy due to rapid industrialization and urbanization in the countries of India, China, and Japan, among others. This has made the nations invest in nuclear power plants which will create demand for nuclear power plant safety market.Global Nuclear Power Plant Safety Market: Competitive AnalysisSome of the prominent players in the global nuclear power plant safety market are Southern Company, the Babcock & Wilcox Company, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Exelon Corporation, Florida Power & Light Company, and Vattenfall AB.Major regions analyzed under this research report are:EuropeNorth AmericaAsia PacificRest of the WorldThis report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsBrowse Report @Key highlights of this report:Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
The global interactive baby monitors market is expected to cross US$2 billion by 2022

https://www.arizton.com/reports/smarttech-market-analysis/interactive-baby-monitors-market

Dorel, Flir Lorex, Mattel, Motorola, Philips, Samsung, Summer Infant are the top leaders in the global market. The global baby monitors market is expected to cross US$2 billion growing at a CAGR of 12.3% during the period 20172022. With the growth in indispensable income, introduction of smart baby monitors and increased marketing activities and visibility of these products online are majorly driving the market growth. In terms of revenue the audio and video monitor segment will remain in the leading position, whereas the audio only monitor segment will remain dominant in terms of shipment. Based on connectivity, the cordless baby monitors segment will lead the overall market both in terms of revenue and shipment. The digital segment is likely to surpass the analog technology in terms of signal transmission. Although Europe remained the largest market in 2016, North America and APAC are gaining momentum and are expected to increase their market presence during the forecast period.View report:Interactive Baby Monitors Market Key Vendor AnalysisCurrently, the competitive scenario in the global interactive baby monitor market is intensifying. The competition will be based solely in terms of features such as quality, quantity, technology, services, and price. The market competition is expected to intensify further with an increase in product/service extensions, technological innovations, and M&A.Major Vendors areDorelFlir LorexMattelMotorolaPhilipsSamsungSummer InfantOther Prominent vendors in the interactive baby monitor devices segment mentioned in the report are BabyPing, Dropcam (Nestlab), Foscam, Graco, VTech, WiFi Baby, and Withings.Emerging Vendors in the market are SEP Solutions, Philips, iBaby Labs, Motorola, Stem Innovation, Belkin International, ChinavisionThe prominent vendors in the baby movement monitor market are Angelcare, Bluespark, Hisense, Mayborn Group, Snuza, Exmovere, iBaby Guard, infanttech, Jablotron, MonDevices, Owlet Baby Care, Respisense, Rest Devices, Safetosleep, and Tomy International.Growing awareness of SUID leading to increased salesA rise in the number of newborns is a key demographic factor influencing the sale potential of baby monitors. Also, growing awareness about SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) is another major reason for the increase in the sale of monitoring devices. Introduction of smart technology-driven products and increased popularity of movement/motion-detection monitors and popularity of IoT and smart home devices are some of the latest trends that are emerging and are expected to catalyze the interactive baby monitors market growth during the forecast period.About Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceArizton  Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-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.Arizton has gained a paramount standpoint in the market research arena as it offers top of the line solutions to clients to assess market landscape and to finalize foolproof business strategies. We are committed to provide inclusive market research reports and consulting services to clients from diversified industries including Consumer Goods & Retail Technology, Automotive and Mobility, Smart Tech, Healthcare and Lifesciences, Industrial Machinery, Chemicals and Materials, IT and Media, Logistics and PackagingArizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceChicago, Illinois, 60605Mail: enquiry@arizton.comCall: +1-312-465-7864
High Performance Plastics Market Size, Industry Analysis & Forecast Report 2017

High Performance Plastics Market Size, Industry Analysis & Forecast Report 2017

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ReportsMonitor.com has added United States High Performance Plastics Market Research Report 2017.The study document titled United States High Performance Plastics industry gives helpful observations into the general trends as well as the points that propel this World-wide market. This industry examine completely covers the salient highlights of the United States High Performance Plastics market regarding the industry structure and even landscape designs, difficulties and desire ideas, along with projected current market effectiveness .Geographically, this report splits the United States market into seven regions: The West, Southwest, The Middle Atlantic, New England, The South, The Midwest, with sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of High Performance Plastics in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast).Get Your Free Sample Report @Top Key manufactures of High Performance Plastics Market are BASF SE, Du Pont, Arkema Group, Celanese Corporation, Solvay SA, Daikin Industries, Asahi Glass, SABIC, Royal DSM, Honeywell International, Evonik Industries AG, Mitsubishi Chemical, 3M, EMS-Chemie Holding, Sumitomo Chemical, Toray Industries, Mitsui Chemicals, UBE Industries, Fortron Industries, Kuraray Co, Kureha Corporation, SK Chemicals, Dongyue Group, Jiangsu Meilan Chemical, Shanghai 3F New Material.The High Performance Plastics Market, presents critical information and factual data about the United States High Performance Plastics Market, providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread United States High Performance Plastics opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in High Performance Plastics industry.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each Type, primarily split into Fluoropolymers, High Performance Polyamides, Sulfone Polymers, Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Other.By Application, the market can be split into Automotive, Healthcare, Home Appliances, Aerospace, Other.Some points from TOC:1 United States High Performance Plastics Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)2 United States High Performance Plastics Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20163 United States High Performance Plastics Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)4 United States High Performance Plastics Market Competition by Players/Suppliers5 United States High Performance Plastics Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)6 United States High Performance Plastics Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data7 High Performance Plastics Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 United States High Performance Plastics Market Size (Value and Volume) Forecast (2017-2022)Have a query on this report? @All aspects of the High Performance Plastics industry report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the United States as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining to the High Performance Plastics market are also discussed in the report.About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Advertising industry made huge investment in technology and digital advertising

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Pune, India, 7th November 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Advertising Global Industry Almanac 2017.Advertising Global Industry Almanac 2017 report presents a detail qualitative analysis of the advertising market and its important classification and forecast for 2017-2021. The report contains current scenario of the advertising industry and encompasses discussion various prime factors related to markets such as growth, drive, various patterns, and control.The report analysis and study is a vital process to understand how the production takes place, total revenue investment and profit generated through it and skills used by the leading players that helped market to develop. The report provides in-depth analysis of cost and profit margins making some statically analysis and comparison of previous years data. These examinations are used later to estimate the parameters described earlier. Moreover, the report provides detailed survey of import/export and supply-demand trend for the global market at various level.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Major highlight of the report are as follow, Advertising industry includes advertising agency, which includes advertising, services. Industry value reflects the agency's income from such services. Any currency adaptations used in the creation of this report have been continually measured according to the annual average exchange rates of 2016. Internet based advertising clients are based on recent searches, further supported in targeted advertising.The report provides in depth study of Advertising using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The report identifies the strength factors of the organization that will help organizations to acquire a prominent market share, to rectify where the organization is lacking or some hole which is creating glitches for development product, rectify where the organization is lacking or some hole which is creating glitches for development product. Look out for more opportunities in the market, get up to date to avoid any threats, competitors and substitutes.The Advertising report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.Additionally report also briefs about the cost structure of organization. Finally, what strategies should be used by organizations to place their product in the market, branding idea to be adopted by them, cost estimation for marketing and branding?The report gives the reasonable picture of current market situation which incorporates past and anticipated market data for development purpose considering reference point such as esteem and volume, innovative development, economic science and government in the market.ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Halal Cosmetics Market Expected To Reach $21.4 Billion by 2024

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Pune, India, 02 October 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Global Halal Cosmetics Market Outlook 2024: Global Opportunity and Demand Analysis, Market Forecast, 2016-2024"Halal Cosmetics" this categories was introduce for Muslim community. The word "halal" means products that have been manufactured, produced and combine of ingredients which are allow under Islamic Sharia law.This community are very particular for their rules and regulations they do not allow any consumption of following product alcohol, chemicals, petrochemicals, fatty acids and ingredients that are obtained from the animals like pig which are commonly found in the cosmetic products. The halal cosmetics does not contain these ingredients. The main objective behind this product is to deliver the pure and clean product, not against their religion Islam.GET SAMPLE REPORT @However, with change of time even the Muslim community are adopting a modern lifestyle which is the major factor for growth of market. The truing point is non-Muslim community also showing more interest in Halal cosmetic in terms of natural, organic and vegetarian. Main driving factor market is youth or young population they more concerned about skin and beauty.Even this would be a great chance for some big players like L'Oreal, Unilever, P&G, and others to mark a step in this market because the market is at growing stage, the flow is handled by local players, and therefore, it would be great opportunities for this big player to enter into this segment.According to research report, Global halal cosmetics market accounted is expected to reach USD 21.4 Billion and growing CAGR of 6.8% during forecast period 2016-2024.The report provide comprehensive analysis on the global halal cosmetics market that will help industry consultants, equipment manufacturers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future. The report also cover in-depth analysis for industry growth drivers, market challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, BPS (Base Point Scale) analysis, Porters five force model and SWOT analysis.The worldwide halal cosmetics market is based on products and distribution channels. The distribution channel is then split into online and offline channels. The online distribution channel Halal is a major contributor to the cosmetics market. More than 50% of Halal Cosmetics were sold through online channels, more than 70% of the customers were women. However, Major of crowd is observe in Supermarkets, pharmacies and branded showrooms are still people's choice to buy halal cosmetics.The region covers in this report are Asia-Pacific, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India, China, Singapore and APAC region.Global Halal Cosmetics Market report cover the major players which are Amara Cosmetics, Pure Halal Beauty, SAAF International, Samina Pure Makeup, Inika Cosmetics, Martha Tilar Group, One Pure, Ivy Beauty, MMA Biolab, The Halal Cosmetics company and Clara International.For accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Worldwide Waterproofing Membrane Market Strategies, Application, Growth Estimation and Key Players Sika AG, Pidilite Industries Ltd

Waterproofing Membrane Market

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HTF MI published a new industry research that focuses on Waterproofing Membrane market and delivers in-depth market analysis and future prospects of Global Waterproofing Membrane market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for marketing managers, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other key people who are in need of ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. The study is segmented by Application/ end users [Liquid Applied (Cementitious, Bituminous, Polyurethane, Acrylic) & Sheet (Bituminous, PVC, EPDM)], products type [Bitumen & Propylene] and various important geographies like United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India].Get Access to sample pages @The research covers the current market size of the Global Waterproofing Membrane market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers such as Sika AG, Pidilite Industries Ltd., BASF SE, Paul Bauder GmbH & Co. KG, Kemper System America, Inc., Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, GAF Materials Corporation, Fosroc Ltd., CICO Technologies Limited, Alchimica Building Chemicals, Maris Polymers, Saint-Gobain Weber GmbH, Isomat S.A. & Bayer MaterialScience AG. The in-depth information by segments of Waterproofing Membrane market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Waterproofing Membrane Market.The study provides company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of key manufacturers of Global Waterproofing Membrane Market, some of them listed here are Sika AG, Pidilite Industries Ltd., BASF SE, Paul Bauder GmbH & Co. KG, Kemper System America, Inc., Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, GAF Materials Corporation, Fosroc Ltd., CICO Technologies Limited, Alchimica Building Chemicals, Maris Polymers, Saint-Gobain Weber GmbH, Isomat S.A. & Bayer MaterialScience AG. The market is growing at a very rapid pace and with rise in technological innovation, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new manufacturer entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global Waterproofing Membrane (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Bitumen & Propylene. Further the research study is segmented by Application such as Liquid Applied (Cementitious, Bituminous, Polyurethane, Acrylic) & Sheet (Bituminous, PVC, EPDM) with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Waterproofing Membrane in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research insights solutions to the following key questions: What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022? What are the key factors driving the Global Waterproofing Membrane market? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Waterproofing Membrane market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Waterproofing Membrane market? What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Waterproofing Membrane market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Waterproofing Membrane market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Waterproofing Membrane market.Chapter 1, to describe Waterproofing Membrane Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Waterproofing Membrane , with sales, revenue, and price of Waterproofing Membrane , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Waterproofing Membrane , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia & India;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Liquid Applied (Cementitious, Bituminous, Polyurethane, Acrylic) & Sheet (Bituminous, PVC, EPDM)], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Waterproofing Membrane market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Waterproofing Membrane sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @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.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218
Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales Market Research, Study And Overview 2017- Toshiba, Micron, GigaDevice, Spansion

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The report Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Market is a comprehensive industry study featuring qualitative and quantitative analysis. In todays complex business environment, players in the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market need to remain updated about the latest trends. The latest intelligence on the Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market can help companies form more informed business decisions. Furthermore, knowing the latest market trends will also help companies avoid any unnecessary business risks in the changing landscape of the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market. The research report on the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market presents to readers recent news, key deals, and other trends that are shaping the market. Furthermore, the valuable recommendations provided in the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market report will help companies form a more effective strategy, whether to penetrate a new market or expand their portfolio.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report begins with a brief industry overview. In this section, the report offers definition, specifications, classifications, and applications of Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory. Further to this, key data on the latest industry news and major deals is covered. This will update readers regarding the key events that are shaping the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market. Moreover, the report also provides the latest news and details regarding the regulatory framework of the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market.Lastly, the research report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape of the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market. This section covers the analysis of key companies operating in the global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory market with their portfolio, production data, company profile, price, revenue, and cost. In addition to this, this section also enlists the contact information of these major firms.This report studies sales (consumption) of Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringToshibaMicronGigaDeviceSpansionSK HynixSamsung ElectronicsATOMacronixPowerchipBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales Market Report 20171 Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory1.2 Classification of Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory2 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3 United States Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Low Density SLC NAND Flash Memory Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Clover Honey Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2022

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Global Clover Honey Market Professional Survey Report 2017The Global Clover Honey Market Professional Survey Report scrutinizes the present scenario and the future growth prospects of the Industry. It covers the market canvas and the growth opportunities in the coming years. The report has been made with an in-depth and detailed analysis along with important inputs from the various industry experts.Geographically this region is divided from North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India. The time period is from 2012 to 2016 and forecast is from 2022.The report brings to forth an overview of the Clover Honey Market and its various dimensions.Request a Free Sample Report @It also brings to the spotlight top manufacturers in the Global market along with parameters such as price, revenue and the market share. They cover the followingBarkman HoneyBee Maid HoneyBeeyond the HiveBilly Bee ProductsCapilano HoneyComvitaDaburDutch Gold HoneyGolden Acres HoneyHoneyLabLittle BeePolar-HoneyR Stephens ApiaryRowse HoneySavannah BeeSioux HoneySteensThe HoneyYanbian BaolixiangDalian Sangdi HoneybeeShanghai GuanshengyuanUTMTSpruce Impex BangaloreCheck Discount @On the basis of the different products it shows the various productions, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type. They are mainly split intoExtracted HoneyPressed HoneyComb HoneyOtherBy Application, the market can be split intoFood & BeverageFood AdditivesHealthcareCosmeticOtherBy mentioning the above key fundamentals, this report tries to present a valuable source of information and guidance for various companies who aim to find out the required data for the particular industry. It is a comprehensive insight covering the important parameters the various prices, revenue and the market share.Some Points From Table Of Contents:Global Clover Honey Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Clover Honey1.1 Definition and Specifications of Clover Honey1.1.1 Definition of Clover Honey1.1.2 Specifications of Clover Honey2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Clover Honey2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Clover Honey2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Clover Honey3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Clover Honey3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Clover Honey Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Clover Honey Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Clover Honey Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Clover Honey Capacity and Growth Rate AnalysisView Entire Report @List of tables and figuresFigure Picture of Clover HoneyTable Product Specifications of Clover HoneyTable Classification of Clover HoneyFigure Global Production Market Share of Clover Honey by Type in 2016Figure Extracted Honey PictureThe above report can be customized according to your needs.We at Reports Monitor provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide, backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.About Us:Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysisContact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales Market 2017 - DOW Chemical, BASF, DuPont

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Phosphorus Pentasulfide market is being shaped by different factors, a thorough assessment of which has been offered in the report. The research study groups them under growth drivers and restraints. It carefully examines their effect on the trajectory of the market from 2017 to 2022. It also provides a peek into the recent important trends in the market.The report also leverages market-leading analytical tools such as Porters Five Forces and SWOT analysis to understand the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers and the threat from substitutes and new entrants. In this manner it uncovers the opportunities and pitfalls awaiting players in the near future. All these helps it to fathom the prevalent competition in the global Phosphorus Pentasulfide market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The analysts who have prepared report totally understand that it is crucial for companies to chart their marketing strategies carefully. Hence, they have arranged crucial information through charts and tables so that the intended audience is able to spot trends instantaneously. They have also furnished necessary suggestions to help companies stay ahead of the curve by strategizing right. Overall, the report consists of exhaustive information which is aimed at providing a thorough insight into the global Phosphorus Pentasulfide market to its stakeholders.Furthermore, the report also studies how the latest domestic and international policies are impacting the global Phosphorus Pentasulfide market. It divides the market based upon different parameters and also throws light on the factors impacting their growth.To study the vendor landscape in the global market for Phosphorus Pentasulfide, the report lists and scrutinizes some of the prominent participants. It throws lights on their product offerings, sales, revenues, strategies, and growth trajectories.This report studies sales (consumption) of Phosphorus Pentasulfide in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringDOW ChemicalBASFDuPontScharlauBhagwati ChemicalsAlpha ChemikaBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales Market Report 20171 Phosphorus Pentasulfide Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Phosphorus Pentasulfide1.2 Classification of Phosphorus Pentasulfide2 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3 United States Phosphorus Pentasulfide (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Phosphorus Pentasulfide Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Phosphorus Pentasulfide Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Software Defined Radio Market Headed for Growth and Global Expansion by 2025

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Technology has become an essential part of life in many areas of the world, reaching even some of the more remote regions of the planet impacting the world in many important ways. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is currently one of the most advanced technology in wireless applications area. RFID is the use of radio waves to read and capture information stored on a tag attached to an object. It uses radio frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item to identify and track.An RFID system consists of three components: tag (transponder), reader (transceiver) and software define radio (SDR). SDR is a wireless communication including transmitter, channel and receiver where all of the signal processing is implemented in software. The transmitter element process an information signal in order to produce a signal most likely to pass reliably and efficiently through the channel. The biggest advantage of RFID system is transmitting data with very low or without power.A sample of this report is available upon request @Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application: Drivers and ChallengesSome of the emerging technologies such as smart antennas, networking, software, semiconductors, signal processing and battery technology are making SDR technically and commercially realistic. Rapid advancement in integrated circuit (IC) technology are fueling the growth in commercial wireless communications systems. SDRs efficiency and cost effectiveness along with advance capabilities are expected to drive the growth of market.However, multiple regulations that govern the SDR market is hindering the market growth.Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application: SegmentationOn the basis of end-user Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application can be segmented into defense industry, telecom industry, manufacturing plants, public safety vendors and personal use and others. The defense industry segment is sub-segmented into airborne, naval, and land-based defense.On the basis of region, Software Defined Radio for RFID Application Market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan.Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application: Regional OutlookPresently, North America and Europe regions are holding the largest market share of Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application due to the adoption of advance infrastructure. RFID technology is also being pressed into service for use in U.S. Homeland Security with applications such as securing border crossings and intermodal container shipments while expediting low-risk activities. However, other regions such as Middle East and Asia is expected to witness a reasonable growth rate.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Key Market Players:Some of the key players of Software Defined Radio Market for RFID Application are: BAE Systems PLC, IndraSistemas, L3 Communications Corporation, Raytheon Co., Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG, Thales Group, Rockwell Collins, Northrop Grumman Corp., ITT Corporation, Harris Corporation, Datasoft Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Agriculture Robots Market - Adoption of Telematics Sensors to Create Growth Opportunities

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The growing population and with it the rising demand for food is creating a need for high yield of crops. This has led to farmers seeking agriculture robots so as to enhance agricultural yield. Agriculture robots are also increasingly in demand as a growing number of people are shifting to urban areas and towards other career options. This in turn has led to a decreased workforce for agricultural sector and has impacted the agricultural industry to a great extent. Thus, with the adoption of agriculture robots, the problem of lack of human labor is conveniently managed. Additionally, these robots offer benefits such as reduced use of pesticides and chemicals as well as ability to perform in diverse range of environmental conditions.Some of the other factors fueling the growth of the global agriculture robots market are improved efficiency and cost saving as a result of reduced usage of chemicals. The farming processes such as weeding pick and place, and spraying are some of the extensively adopted modes of corporate farming. All these factors will help propel the growth of this market in the forecast period.Get an exclusive sample of this report @Asia Pacific to Emerge as Lucrative Regional Segment Driven by High Demand for Driverless TractorsWhile North America led in the market in 2015, it is expected that Asia Pacific will witness a rapid growth in the agriculture robots market on account of big contribution by Japan and China. Agriculture robots are increasingly being used for management of dairy and also for horticulture. This is acting as a key driver for the growth of the agriculture robots market in Asia Pacific. Players in the region are taking continuous efforts to develop and ensure product innovation which is furthering the growth of the market. The automated harvesting machine is high in demand, which is also boosting the market in the region. Driverless tractors are also leading in terms of demand in the Asia Pacific region.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @High Cost of Maintenance to Deter Adoption of Agriculture RobotsThe global agriculture robots market is restrained by the high investments needed for installing the robots. The maintenance of agriculture robots is also an expensive affair, deterring the adoption of these robots by farmers. The high cost of agriculture robots is especially a major issue for farmers in cost sensitive nations of emerging economies. The cost of agriculture robots is increasing with advancements in technology, making it difficult for farmers to purchase them. The use of obstacle sensors, high definition cameras, and incoming wave may enhance the features and abilities of the agriculture robots, but are also increasing the cost of these robots to a large extent. A lack of technical knowhow as to how to operate robots is deterring many farmers from investing in these devices.It is not feasible for manufacturers to construct robots that perform multiple functions and run farm. The designing of various robotic programs and functions for crop management, livestock rearing, and irrigation can be complicated and difficult to accomplish in a single device. Thus multiple robots are required for achieving different functionalities, which obviously requires extensive capital investment. However, the adoption of telematics sensors will help in reducing the complications caused by tractor failure and several other functions. In addition to this, the use of crop sensors will help in enhancing the precision of pesticide usage. This in turn is expected to improve crop health and reduce the amount of chemicals used, benefitting both farmers and consumers.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
The Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Industry Will Be Fiercely Competitive in 2018

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market is undergoing dynamic changes. In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the complex industry scenario for clients and thus enhance their decision making process, the study on the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market in the coming few years.The research study begins with a brief overview of the industry and enlists details such as the definition, specifications, and classification of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices and industry policy analysis. The manufacturing cost structure evaluation in the research study delivers an extensive analysis of the labor costs, equipment suppliers, and raw material suppliers, and manufacturing cost. In-depth segmentation analysis of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market is covered in the report. The global and regional trends that will impact the growth of the various segments of the market further give insights to readers into the market scenario. Description of key strategies of the major companies operating in the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market allows readers to estimate the competitive framework of the market. Further, the study offers details such as each key companys profile, contact information, sales, sales price, sales revenue, and gross margin analysis. Actionable insights from expert analysts on the new project investment feasibility of the global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBoston ScientificEthiconMedtronicKarl StorzOlympusCheck-CapChongqing Jinshan Science & Technology (Group)CONMEDCOOK MEDICALEndocure TechnologiesEndoLookFujifilmOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoGastrointestinal EndoscopesCapsule EndoscopyVirtual ColonoscopyAnti-Reflux DevicesRead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:Table of ContentsGlobal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Research Report 20171 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices1.2 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Gastrointestinal Endoscopes1.2.4 Capsule Endoscopy1.2.5 Virtual Colonoscopy1.2.6 Anti-Reflux Devices1.3 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Segment by Application1.3.1 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1..2 Application 11..2 Application 21.4 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Devices Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Decongestants Market New Market Research Report Announced; Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

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Decongestants are widely used in the treatment of nasal congestion. They are also used for relieving systems associated with hay fever, sinusitis, and colds and flu. Decongestants are usually available in the form of tablets, capsules, and nasal sprays. Considering that nasal congestion is often accompanied with other symptoms, pharma companies usually include painkillers in their decongestant formulations. Many decongestants are usually available over-the-counter, however, in case of children below six years of age and pregnant women, a prescription from a GP may be required.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional & Technical industry insights:Key Factors Expected to Impact Decongestants MarketGlobal demand for decongestants has remained stable over the years, with sales usually increasing in winters when cold and flu cases are on an increase. During the forecast period 2016-2024, the global decongestants market is expected to witness steady growth, owing to increasing demand from Asia Pacific. Owing to steady economic growth, a burgeoning middle class has emerged in many Asian countries, especially in China and India. This consumer segment has increased the demand for many OTC healthcare products, as consumers are finally reducing their reliance on home remedies to treat common health problems. As a result of this, pharma companies can expected to witness higher demand for decongestants in the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period.Seasonal allergies also have a bearing on the sales of decongestants as many people suffer from common symptoms like blocked nose, cold, and cough during early spring and late winter  when pollen concentration in the environment increases. Many pharma companies increase their marketing outreach during these months.Demand for decongestants is also projected to be influenced by the growing geriatric population. As the world population ages, demand for various healthcare products and services is also witnessing an increase. Many elderly people suffer from nasal congestion when temperatures become sub-zero. It is forecasted that growing aging population will lead to higher sales of decongestants during the forecast period 2016-2024.Recent Studies Can Impede Market GrowthWhile demand for decongestants is anticipated to remain steady during the forecast period, recent studies suggesting the placebo effect of these medicines can stymie demand, especially among consumers who are proactively looking for in-depth information on drugs they consume. According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice in 2015, oral intake of phenylephrine was ineffective in treating nasal congestion. Phenylephrine is one of the major components of various decongestants available in the market.Region-wise Analysis: Decongestants MarketIn addition to Asia Pacific, Western Europe and North America are the other key markets for decongestants globally. Demand for decongestants in North America is largely driven by high sales in the U.S.  a lucrative market for OTC products. The U.S. is anticipated to remain a leading market for decongestants during the forecast period, while Canada will also contribute a significant share to total revenues in North America. Demand for decongestants in Western Europe is majorly influenced by climate, with sales witness an uptick during winters. The Western Europe decongestants market is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period 2016-2024.Request for Report ToC:Leading companies in the decongestants market include Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sandoz International GmbH (Novartis AG), Cipla Ltd., Mylan N.V., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.About UsTransparency Market Research is a global 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. We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700Albany NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453E-mail: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Vegetable Seed Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Bayer Crop Science, Bejo, Monsanto, Syngenta, LONGPING HIGH-TECH, DENGHAI SEEDS and Others

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Global Vegetable Seed market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Sakata, Takii, Nongwoobio, LONGPING HIGH-TECH, DENGHAI SEEDS, Jing Yan YiNong, Monsanto, Syngenta, Limagrain, Bayer Crop Science, Bejo, ENZA ZADEN, Rijk Zwaan and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Vegetable Seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering. Seeds are the product of the ripened ovule, after fertilization by pollen and some growth within the mother plant.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Vegetable Seed Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:MonsantoSyngentaLimagrainBayer Crop ScienceBejoENZA ZADENRijk ZwaanSakataTakiiNongwoobioLONGPING HIGH-TECHDENGHAI SEEDSJing Yan YiNongOthersGlobal Vegetable Seed Market: Key Product TypeSolanaceaeCucurbitRoot&bulbBrassicaLeafyOthersGlobal Vegetable Seed Market: Key Application TypeFarmlandGreenhouseOthersGlobal Vegetable Seed Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Vegetable Seed Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Vegetable Seed Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Vegetable Seed Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Solanaceae1.2.1.2 Cucurbit1.2.1.3 Root&bulb1.2.1.4 Brassica1.2.1.5 Leafy1.2.1.6 Other........................Continue (Global Vegetable Seed Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Mexico Coffee Market Analysis 2017: by Key Players  Grupo LALA, Nestle, Sabormex, Sigma Alimentos

Coffee Market in Mexico 2017

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Coffee Market in Mexico 2017The coffee market in Mexico comprises fresh roasted and ground coffee, instant coffee, RTD coffee, and coffee pods. Increasing demand from the millennial population has contributed to the rise in demand for coffee in Mexico. An improved economy and increased job opportunities have made different types of coffee more affordable for younger consumers. This demography is more likely to spend on premium beverage brands. This has led to a spurt of cafes and coffee shops, which has further strengthened Mexico's coffee market.Mexico has many certified organically grown coffees, sold in many North American specialty coffee stores. These coffees are certified by independent monitoring agencies. Coffee from Mexico is exported to the US, Japan, and Europe, especially to Germany.The analysts forecast the coffee market in Mexico to grow at a CAGR of 5.83% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the coffee market in Mexico for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, Technavio considers the revenue generated from the total consumption of coffee in Mexico. The report does not include revenue generated from the aftermarket service of the product.Request a Sample Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on types: Instant coffee Fresh roasted and ground coffee RTD coffee Coffee podThe report, Coffee Market in Mexico 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors Grupo LALA Nestle Sabormex Sigma AlimentosOther prominent vendors Cafinco Mondelez InternationalKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Any Query, Submit Here @Table of Contents Analysis of Key PointsPART 01: Executive summary HighlightsPART 02: Scope of the report Market overview Base year Vendor segmentation Numerical figures Top-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodology Research methodology Economic indicatorsPART 04: Introduction Key market highlightsPART 05: Coffee market outlook Global coffee market Coffee market in North America Global annual per capita consumption of coffee Global top 10 coffee producing countriesPART 06: Mexico: An overview Mexico: OverviewPART 07: Market landscape Market overview Market landscape by production Market landscape by consumptionPART 08: Market segmentation by distribution channel Segmentation of coffee market in Mexico by distribution channelPART 09: Market segmentation by type Segmentation of coffee market in Mexico by type 2015-2020 Instant coffee market in Mexico Fresh roasted and ground coffee market in Mexico RTD coffee market in Mexico Coffee pod market in MexicoPART 10: Market drivers Increasing demand from millennial population Demand for organic coffee Rise in demand for RTD coffee Increased per capita consumption Extensive scope through organized retailingPART 11: Impact of driversPART 12: Market challenges Price volatility of coffee Cost of coffee production Environmental sustainability Effect of natural disasters and adverse weather conditions Threat from substitutesPART 13: Impact of drivers and challengesPART 14: Market trends High demand for single-serve coffee pods Premiumization Rise in private labels Growth in online retail sector Increased number of food service outlets/cafeteriasPART 15: Vendor landscape....ContinuedABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Address:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
The Healthcare Biometrics Market is Projected to Grow at a Substantial Rate

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Healthcare Biometrics to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global Healthcare Biometrics market is undergoing dynamic changes. In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the complex industry scenario for clients and thus enhance their decision making process, the study on the global Healthcare Biometrics market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global Healthcare Biometrics market in the coming few years.The research study begins with a brief overview of the industry and enlists details such as the definition, specifications, and classification of the global Healthcare Biometrics market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of Healthcare Biometrics and industry policy analysis. The manufacturing cost structure evaluation in the research study delivers an extensive analysis of the labor costs, equipment suppliers, and raw material suppliers, and manufacturing cost. In-depth segmentation analysis of the global Healthcare Biometrics market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global Healthcare Biometrics market is covered in the report. The global and regional trends that will impact the growth of the various segments of the market further give insights to readers into the market scenario. Description of key strategies of the major companies operating in the global Healthcare Biometrics market allows readers to estimate the competitive framework of the market. Further, the study offers details such as each key companys profile, contact information, sales, sales price, sales revenue, and gross margin analysis. Actionable insights from expert analysts on the new project investment feasibility of the global Healthcare Biometrics market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.This report studies the Healthcare Biometrics market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, regions, product and end Application/industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and major regions, and splits the Healthcare Biometrics market by product and Application/end industries.United States will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Healthcare Biometrics.The major players in global market includeGemalto(3M Identity Management)AgnitioBioAXSCenmetrixFujitsuHID GlobalHitachiIntegrated BiometricsInnovatricsIriTechLaserLockM2SYSMorphoTrustNuanceQualcomm LifeSecuGen CorporationUniphoreVoiceTrustVoiceVaultRead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:Table of Contents1 Industry Overview1.1 Healthcare Biometrics Market Overview1.1.1 Healthcare Biometrics Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Healthcare Biometrics Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2012-2017)1.2.1 United States Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.2.2 EU Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.2.3 Japan Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.2.4 China Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.2.5 India Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.2.6 Southeast Asia Healthcare Biometrics Market Status and Outlook1.3 Classification of Healthcare Biometrics by Product1.3.1 Global Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) and Growth (%) Comparison by Product (2012-2022)1.3.2 Global Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) Market Share (%) by Product in 20161.3.3 Fingerprint Recognition1.3.4 Voice Recognition1.3.5 Vascular Imaging1.4 Healthcare Biometrics Market by End Users/Application2 Global Healthcare Biometrics Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Global Healthcare Biometrics Market Size (Million USD) by Players (2012-2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles and Key Data3.1 Gemalto(3M Identity Management)3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Gemalto(3M Identity Management) Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Agnitio3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Agnitio Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 BioAXS3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 BioAXS Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Cenmetrix3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Cenmetrix Healthcare Biometrics Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent DevelopmentsContinue reading...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Green Cross, Biken, BCHT, GSK, Shanghai Institute and Others

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Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Changsheng Keygen, Green Cross, Biken, Merck, GSK, Shanghai Institute, BCHT and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A live attenuated varicella vaccine, derived from the Oka strain of VZV has clinical efficacy for the prevention of varicella.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:MerckGSKShanghai InstituteBCHTChangshengKeygenGreen CrossBikenOthersGlobal Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market: Key Product TypeMonovalent VaccineCombination VaccineOthersGlobal Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market: Key Application TypeKids InjectionAdults InjectionOthersGlobal Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Monovalent Vaccine1.2.1.2 Combination Vaccine1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 Kids Injection1.2.2.2 Adults Injection1.2.3 by Regions........................Continue (Global Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
18650 Lithium Battery Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Henry 18650 Panasonic(Sanyo), Samsung SDI, LG Chem, Sony, Johnson Controls, Hitachi, Zhuoneng New Energy, Hefei Guoxuan and Others

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Global 18650 Lithium Battery market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Hefei Guoxuan, Dongguan Large Electronics, OptimumNano, DLG Electronics, Zhuoneng New Energy, CHAM BATTERY, Padre Electronic, Eastman, Panasonic(Sanyo), Samsung SDI, LG Chem, Sony, Johnson Controls, Hitachi, Tianjin Lishen and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging. Li-ion batteries use an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery. The electrolyte, which allows for ionic movement, and the two electrodes are the constituent components of a lithium-ion battery cell. Cells with a cylindrical shape are made in a characteristic swiss roll manner, which means it is a single long sandwich of positive electrode, separator, negative electrode and separator rolled into a single spool. The main disadvantage of this method of construction is that the cell will have a higher series inductance.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global 18650 Lithium Battery Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:EastmanPanasonic(Sanyo)Samsung SDILG ChemSonyJohnson ControlsHitachiTianjin LishenHefei GuoxuanDongguan Large ElectronicsOptimumNanoDLG ElectronicsZhuoneng New EnergyCHAM BATTERYPadre ElectronicOthersGlobal 18650 Lithium Battery Market: Key Product TypeLiCoO2 BatteryNMC/NCA BatteryLiFePO4 BatteryOthersGlobal 18650 Lithium Battery Market: Key Application TypePower BanksLaptop Battery PacksElectric VehiclesFlashlightsCordless Power ToolsOthersGlobal 18650 Lithium Battery Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global 18650 Lithium Battery Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global 18650 Lithium Battery Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global 18650 Lithium Battery Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 18650 Lithium Battery Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 LiCoO2 Battery1.2.2 NMC/NCA Battery1.2.3 LiFePO4 Battery1.2.4 Others........................Continue (Global 18650 Lithium Battery Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Global Network Security Market Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis, Forecasts 2012-2018

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"The Report Network Security Market - Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis, And Forecasts 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The global network security market is experiencing constant growth as a result of the growing virtualization of servers leading to adoption of newer network security solutions.Get Sample copy of this Report @ There is also an increasing use of network security solutions by small and medium-sized businesses. The growing complexity of the IT infrastructure is the major challenge faced by the network security market, which is affecting the growth rate of this industry. Another major factor contributing to the growth of the network security industry is the rising demand for workforce mobility that is necessitating improved security solutions for protecting laptops, PDAs, and smart phones from malwares and cyber attacks. As there is an increase in complexity of the IT infrastructure, more robust and complete solutions will be required to ensure safety of network. Development in network technology to ensure better safety solutions is helping in the growth of the network security industry.Majority of firms connected to the Internet are aware of vulnerability of data to cyber attacks, which encourages the need for network security tools. Most government offices and private firms are implementing appropriate network security technologies and procedures to maintain confidentiality of information in order to avoid making that information vulnerable to any kind of threats.View Report @Market SegmentationVirtual Private Network (VPN) GatewaysLow End Hybrid SolutionsHigh End Hybrid SolutionsNext Generation Hybrid SolutionsIntrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IDP)This research report on the network security market analyzes its market segmentation and major geographies. Geographical regions analyzed under this research study areNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldThis report includes a comprehensive analysis of the current market trends, industry growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for the near future. The report also includes an analysis of the recent developments in the network security industry, Porters five force model analysis, and detailed company profiles of the top industry players. It also provides a review of the micro and macro factors essential from the point of view of the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @Some of the major players dominating this market are Cisco Systems Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Juniper Networks Inc., Fortinet Inc., IBM ISS, McAfee, Alcatel, Assured Digital, Avaya, Computer Associates, CyberGuard, Enterasys, Fortress, Intrusion, ISS, Lucent, NetScreen, Network Associates, NFR, Nokia, Nortel, SonicWall, Symantec, WatchGuard, and others.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis research report provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of the major industry segmentsIt helps to know the innovative products development and to keep updated with technological developments in the marketIt helps to make informed business decisions by performing in-depth analysis of the marketIt provides a technological growth map over a time and explains its impact on the marketIt provides a pin-point analysis of the changing competition dynamics and helps to stay ahead of competitorsCheck Discount @ About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Salus Alpha wins Finnovasia Startup Pitch Contest at Hong Kong Fintech Week 2017

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Looking for the top A.I. StartUp Company Finnovasia has been successful. Salus Alpha has been selected from the jury as best StartUp 2017 with its B2B Smarter Than Beta solution targeting to outperform any index in any asset class. Nine selected startups got to pitch their ideas to more than 500 FinTech executives at the main stage at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2017 in front of a panel of judges  and potential partners from AliPay, Standard Chartered Bank, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Arbor Ventures and Sentient Technologies.Salus Alpha convinced the jury and the audience with its one of a kind Smarter Than Beta solution combining latest A.I. Technology & Investment Disruption on Salus Alpha direct platform.Hong Kong Fintech Week is one of the largest events attracting almost 3000 senior FinTech executives and business leaders from across the world to discuss and debate the future of financial technology.Salus Alpha direct is the first online platform to invest in"Smarter Than Beta" products exceeding the expectation of each private, institutional and retail investors. Providing an easy-to-use investment platform Salus Alpha direct enables tailor-made satisfaction guaranteed investment opportunities for each client. Proven investment strategies together with updated technology will result in growth without additional fees.Salus Alpha directWegacker 42/69493 MaurenLiechtensteinKontakt: Anke Engel
Global PH Meters Market Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis, And Forecasts 2012 - 2018

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"The Report PH Meters Market - Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis, And Forecasts 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"pH meters are required to detect the alkali content in water and verify its purity. These meters are most commonly required at water purification plants to check water purity and determine whether it is suitable for drinking or not.Get Sample copy of this Report @The rising population has led to the growing demand for portable pH meters for home use. Water contamination incidences and water-related diseases have prompted people to use pH meters in their homes to confirm water purity before its usage. The pH meters market is expected to witness stupendous growth in the near future due to the rising concerns of people regarding personal health.pH meters are used in numerous end-use applications like laboratory use, pharmaceutical use, and food science, among others. Technological advances and portable design in pH meters are some of the major reasons responsible for driving this market.Market SegmentationBased on Application:Water and Wastewater TreatmentPharmaceuticals and BiotechnologyChemicals and PetrochemicalsEnvironmental Research and Pollution ControlFood ScienceEducational LaboratoriesView Report @Based on TypeBench-top pH MetersPortable pH MetersContinuous pH MetersThis research report analyzes various market segments and major geographies. It provides a complete analysis of market trends, market growth drivers, restraints, market structure, and market projections for the coming years. It also includes an analysis of technological advancements in pH meters market, Porters five force model analysis, and detailed profiles of the top industry players. The report includes a review of the micro and macro factors significant for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis. The major geographies investigated under this report study are North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World.The major players dominating the market are Qingdao Tlead International Co. Ltd., Zhangzhou Eastern Intelligent Meter Co Ltd, Hangzhou Lohand Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Huge Creation Technology Ltd., Tecpel Co Ltd., Yantai Chemins Instrument Co Ltd., Suzhou Unigreen Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Selon Scientific Instrument Co. Ltd., Contech Instruments Ltd., A & E Technology Import & Export Co. Ltd., Swastik Scientific Company, and others.Request for Enquiry @ Reasons for Buying this ReportThis research report provides a forward-looking perspective on the different factors driving and restricting market growthIt helps to know about technological advancements to stay updated with current changes in the pH meters marketIt helps to make informed business decisions based on in-depth analysis of the marketIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of the different market segmentsIt provides a technological growth map over time and explains its impact on the marketIt provides a pin-point analysis of the changing competition dynamics and helps to stay ahead of the competitorsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Polycarbonate Market - Global Industry Forecast, 2017-2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Polycarbonates (In Primary Forms) - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep study of the key indicators of the polycarbonate market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market study, giving insights on the most important markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a outlook of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a comprehensive survey of the data provided. Specifically, the report covers the historical developments and current perspectives of polycarbonate production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of polycarbonate trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Polycarbonates, in primary forms.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Data coverage: Polycarbonate market value and size; Major trends in the polycarbonate market; Historical data of production volumes and its dynamics; Per capita consumption data and its dynamics in recent years; Breakdown of polycarbonate production by region and country; Outlook of the market in the middle term; Trade volumes and prices; Profiles of major polycarbonate producers.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Our analysts compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of country-by-country data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Global Tissue Paper Market 2017-2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Toilet Or Facial Tissue Stock, Towel And Similar Paper - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep survey of the key indicators of the tissue paper market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market survey, giving insights on the most valuable markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a outlook of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a comprehensive analysis of the data provided. Specifically, the report indicates the historical developments and actual projections of tissue paper production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of tissue paper trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Toilet or facial tissue stock, towel or napkin stock and similar paper of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, whether or not creped, crinkled, embossed, perforated, surface-colored, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or sheets.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Data coverage: Tissue paper market value and size; Major trends in the tissue paper market; Historical data of production volumes and its dynamics; Per capita consumption data and its dynamics in recent years; Breakdown of tissue paper production by region and country; Outlook of the market in the middle term; Trade volumes and prices; Profiles of major tissue paper producers.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Our analysts compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of country-by-country data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Global Electric Locomotive Market Report 2017 - Trends & Analysis

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Electric Locomotives - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep study of the key indicators of the electric locomotive market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market survey, giving insights on the most important markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a forecast of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a an in-depth study of the data provided. Specifically, the report indicates the historical developments and relevant perspectives of electric locomotive production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of electric locomotive trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity or by electric accumulators.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Data coverage: Electric locomotive market value and size; Major trends in the electric locomotive market; Historical data of production volumes and its dynamics; Per capita consumption data and its dynamics in recent years; Breakdown of electric locomotive production by region and country; Outlook of the market in the middle term; Trade volumes and prices; Profiles of major electric locomotive producers.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Our analysts compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of country-by-country data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Asia Pacific Wine Sector Market 2017By Identifying the Key Market Segments and Key players holding market share

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Pune, India, 7th November 2017: WiseGuyReports announced addition of new report, titled Opportunities in the Asia Pacific Wine Sector: Analysis of Opportunities Offered by High Growth Economies.Summary"Opportunities in the Asia Pacific Wine Sector", report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Asia-Pacific Wine sector. It includes market overview, high growth country analysis, health & wellness analysis, top brands, key distribution channels, packaging formats and case studies.The Asia-Pacific Wine sector is the second largest in the world in value terms following Western Europe and the third largest by volume following Western Europe and North America. Still Wine is the largest market in both value and volume terms, while the Fortified Wine market is expected to grow at the fastest pace in both value and volume terms. Amongst all the high potential countries in Asia-Pacific, Japan is the leading market in value terms, while Australia is the largest market in volume terms. Rising demand for premium quality Wines, growing urbanization and growing interest in western cuisines are driving growth in the Asia-Pacific Wine sector. High taxes, popularity of local traditional alcoholic beverages and erratic weather are the major challenges faced by Wine businesses in the region. Changyu, Tonghua, Shangri-La, Great Wall and Accolade are the leading brands in the Asia-Pacific Wine sector. On-Trade is the dominant distribution channel in the Asia-Pacific Wine sector.GET SAMPLE REPORT @ScopeThis report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the Asia-Pacific Wine sector. It includes analysis on the following -- Sector overview: Provides overview of the sector size, value and volume growth analysis, across regions.- Change in consumption: Analysis on the shift in consumption of Wine by markets across key countries in the Asia-Pacific region.- High potential countries: Provides Risk-Reward analysis of top 4 high potential countries in the Asia-Pacific region based on market assessment, economic development, socio-demographic, governance indicators, and technological infrastructure.- Country analysis: Provides deep-dive analysis of 4 high potential countries covering value growth during 2016-2021, key challenges, consumer demographics, and key trends supported with product examples. It also includes analysis of the key challenges faced and future outlook for the region.- Brand Analysis: Provides an overview of leading brands in the Asia-Pacific region, besides analyzing the growth of private labels in the region.- Key distribution channels: Provides analysis on the leading distribution channels for Wine across the key countries in the Asia-Pacific region in 2016. It covers six distribution channels - On Trade, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Food & Drinks Specialists, e-retailers and Others that include - Other Retailers, Dollar Stores, Variety Stores & General Merchandise Retailers, Department Stores, Vending machines.- Preferred packaging formats: The report provides percentage share (in 2016) and growth analysis (during 2011-2021) for various Package Material, Pack Type, Closure Type and Primary Outer Type based on the volume sales (by pack units) of Wines.Reasons to buy- Manufacturing and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region.- The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis , that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances- The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion- To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth ratesTable of Content: Key Points1. Executive summary2. Market size and growth analysis (Region analysis)Market Size in Context - Asia Pacific compared to other regionsGrowth analysis by regionGrowth analysis by countryGrowth analysis by market3. Identifying high potential countries in Asia PacificHigh potential countries in Asia PacificIdentifying high potential countries - MethodologyIdentifying high potential countries - Risk, reward and opportunity analysis4. Market size and growth analysis (High potential countries in Asia Pacific)High potential countries in Asia Pacific - OverviewGrowth contribution analysis by countryShare of wine compared to other Alcoholic Beverages sectorsChange in consumption levels by country and marketsPer capita consumption and expenditure analysis5. Country Profiles (High potential countries in Asia Pacific)JapanSouth KoreaSingaporeAustralia6. Success Stories7. Company and Brand AnalysisBrand Share analysis in the wine sectorTop companies in Asia Pacific wine sectorTop brands in Asia-Pacific wine sectorPrivate Label penetration in the Asia-Pacific wine sector8. Key Distribution ChannelsLeading distribution channels by countriesLeading distribution channels by markets9. Key Packaging FormatsGrowth analysis by key package material and pack typeGrowth analysis by closure type and primary outer type10. Challenges and Future OutlookKey ChallengesFuture OutlookContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global DNA Sequencing Market Industry Analysis, Market Size, Market Share And Forecasts, 2012 - 2018

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"The Report DNA Sequencing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Market Share And Forecasts, 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The global DNA sequencing market is forecast to grow to $6.6 billion over the year 2016 at the compounded annual growth rate of 17.5% as a result of emerging technologies in this field and its use in a number of applications.Get Sample copy of this Report @DNA sequencing industry is segmented into instruments and consumables, services, and workflow products. Instruments and consumables segment are the rapidly emerging segments accounting for about $2.2 billion by the year 2016. Services segment is expected to grow significantly and reach market value of $3.5 billion with CAGR of 29% over the year 2016. The workflow segment will reach $883.6 million at CAGR of 16.6% by 2016.The chain terminator DNA sequencing market and next generation DNA sequencing market are constantly undergoing technological changes, thus creating new opportunities and attracting new market players to this industry.The DNA sequencing industry is expected to penetrate the clinical field in the near future as DNA sequencing technologies can be used in a number of clinical applications.The current breakthroughs in bioinformatics, imaging, nanotechnology and microfluidics are revolutionizing many life science fields and providing a novel platform for next generation DNA sequencing.View Report @ Market SegmentationInstruments and ConsumablesServicesWorkflow ProductsSegmentation Based on TechnologyChain Terminator DNA SequencingNext Generation DNA SequencingThe DNA sequencing market research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments and major geographies. Geographies analyzed under this research report areNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report includes comprehensive analysis of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, market structure, and industry projections for upcoming years. This report also includes detailed analysis of technological improvements in the field, Porters five force model analysis, and complete company profiles of top industry players. The report provides review of micro and macro factors significant with respect to new entrants and existing market players with value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @ Major PlayersSome of the major players dominating this market are 454 Life Sciences, Beckman Coulter (Fullerton, CA), GE Healthcare Life Sciences, LI-COR Biosciences (Lincoln, NE), Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies, Bayer Corporation, Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Hamilton Thorne Biosciences, Integrated DNA Technologies, Johnson & Johnson, Microchip Biotechnologies, Myriad Genetics, Pacific Biosciences, Siemens AG, ZS Genetics, and others.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis research report provides overview of major market forces driving and restraining market growthIt helps in making informed business decisions by making in-depth analysis of marketThe report provides technological growth map over time and explains its impact on marketIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsIt provides clear understanding of changing competitive dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsThe report provides detailed analysis of major competitors and their strategiesIt also provides up-to-date analysis of latest trends in market and helps you stay updated with recent technological improvementsCheck Discount @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Oncology Biosimilars Market Set to Witness Y-o-Y Growth of US$ 17,478.2 Million by 2025

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Cancer is considered the second-leading cause of death worldwide, says an analyst at TMR. Driven by the need to develop affordable treatment options for cancer, and various other factors, the global oncology biosimilars market is projected to expand at a phenomenal CAGR of 27.5% for the forecast period between 2017 and 2025. At this pace, the market that stood at US$2,100 mn in 2016 will become US$17,478.2 mn by the end of 2025.Majorly fuelling the growth of oncology biosimilars market is the need to develop affordable therapies for the treatment of cancer. This is because cancer is presently the costliest health affair in terms of diagnosis as well as treatment. Pharmaceutical companies across the world are focused on developing biosimilars and generic medicines to combat cancer at all stages and for early detection of all types of malignancies.Request Sample Report@Oncology biosimilars are officially approved versions of oncology biologics that are cost-effective with similar efficacy and potency as original reference biologic. They differ from biologics in terms of manufacturing process and complexity, and can also be manufactured after the patent expiration of original reference biologic. This, along with a robust pipeline of biosimilars is expected to generate promising opportunities for the market in the next few years.In Europe and Asia, Non-Hodgkin and neutropenia are the major disorders where oncology biosimilars are used. Apart from this, various biosimilars are in the pipeline for the treatment of breast cancer and lung cancer.On the flip side, need for a complex infrastructure for the production of biosimilars and a lengthy process for biosimilars to receive approval from regulatory bodies are proving to be a roadblock to the markets growth.The G-CSF drug class segment led the market in 2016 in terms of revenue, and is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to strong pipeline portfolio of key players in the biosimilars market. Hospital pharmacy led amongst key distribution channels in 2016 vis-a-vis revenue and the trend is expected to continue until the end of the forecast period in 2025.Need more information about Report methodology@Asia Pacific is a significant market for oncology biosimilars. A robust pipeline of biosimilars of key players in India, and practices of strategic alliances for the development and commercialization of biosimilars is expected to fuel the growth of Asia Pacific oncology biosimilars market.Transparency Market Research (TMR) in one of its latest publications envisages the global oncology biosimilars market to feature a fairly consolidated vendor landscape. Prominent participants in the market are vying to enter into strategic collaborations to strengthen financial standing as well to expand global outreach. For instance, Dr. Reddys Laboratories entered into an agreement with TR-Pharm to be a win-win for both the companies. As per the agreement, TR-Pharm will commercialize Dr.Reddys three biosimilars in Turkey to translate into business growth for the former. On the other hand, Dr.Reddys Laboratories is benefitted with the goodwill of a regional player for business expansion in the Middle East and Africa region.Besides this, leading pharmaceutical companies are entering into strategic alliances with leading generic manufacturers to develop biosimilars. A case in point is Biocon. The company entered into a strategic collaboration with Mylan to develop a strong portfolio of biosimilars, including recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.Buy Oncology Biosimilars Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Argentina Automotive Parts Die-Casting Market Report 2017, Trends, Analysis, Share, Estimates and Forecasts to 2022.

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The Argentina Automotive Parts Die-Casting report provides an in-depth analysis of the various market segments and its sub-segments.Products Covered: Pressure die-casting Vacuum die-casting Squeeze die-casting Semi-solid die-castingRaw Material Types Covered: Aluminium Zinc Magnesium OthersApplication Types Covered: Body assemblies Engine Parts Transmission parts OthersThe report focuses on current and upcoming market trends such as Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, and Challenges, technological advancements, Porters Five Forces analysis to assess the intensity of competition in the market. The market values are presented in the form of tables and graphs for better interpretation.For More, Please Visit:Market Size EstimationsThe market assessment is made by the core industry experts using our 360 research approach. The data is derived from the most reliable, authenticated data sources and is validated by the industry experts (Primary Research). Both top down and bottom up analysis are implemented to enhance the accuracy of the market figures. The market projections are calculated for the next 8 years using the actual market numbers of previous year as the base value.Company ProfilingThis section provides the overview of the key players that are leading in the industry, covering their business operations, financials, list of products & services, SWOT analysis, major developments such as mergers & acquisitions, agreements, partnerships, joint ventures, new product launch, expansions etc.Report Highlights:- Market share assessments for all the mentioned market segments and sub-segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 8 years for all the given segments- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping, mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
Shares of Pet Food Market in Global Industry : Growth, Trends and Application 2017

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Albany, NY, 7th November : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Pet Food Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020)" globally.The report titled Global Pet Food Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global pet food market with detailed analysis of market size on the basis of value along with the comprehensive examination of each of the major segments of the market, namely, dog food and cat food.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The report provides detailed regional analysis of the United States, UK, Germany, France and Canada. The regional analysis of the markets includes market size by value along with the analysis of the dog food and cat food market, in terms of the value.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global pet food market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global pet food market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Nestle Purina PetCare Company. Further, key players of the market Hills Pet Nutrition Company and Mars, Incorporated., are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.Regional CoverageUnited StatesUKGermanyFranceCanadaGet Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Company CoverageNestle Purina PetCare CompanyHills Pet Nutrition CompanyMars, IncorporatedExecutive SummaryThe global pet food market witnessed an upsurge at a significant CAGR during the span of 5 years, i.e., 2010-2015 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The market is spread across North America, Europe and Asia. Among these regions, the North America held the largest share, followed by the Europe and Asia-Pacific region.The pet food market can be segmented on the basis of pet type, product type, ingredients and price. On the basis of pet type, market can be segmented into dog food, cat food and other pet food, while on the basis of product type, the market can be classified into wet food, dry food and treats & mixers. The market can be distinguished into natural and non-natural food, on the basis of ingredients. However, on the basis of price, the food market can be segmented into economy pet food, mid-priced pet food and premium pet food. Among all the classifications, segmentation on the basis of pet type is most popular, with dog food dominating the market.Browse Report @The major growth drivers for the global pet food market are: an increase in the pet population, pet humanization, health conscious consumers, upsurge in urbanization and personal disposable income. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as pet obesity, grinding challenge, supply chain challenge and nutritional sustainability. Some of the recent trends in the market include the rise in social awareness among consumers, sustainable packaging, cooked pet food and exotic ingredientsResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Global Blockchain Technology Market Outlook 2022

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Blockchain is a decentralized software mechanism enabling public distributed ledger system. The technology facilitates tracking and recording of assets and transactions without presence of a central trust authority. The technology also called distributed ledger has brought forth new era of openness, decentralization and global inclusion. The blockchain network enables peer-to-peer exchange of data, assets and currencies through rules-based smart contracts in a more efficient, transparent and cost-effective manner without the need for any human intervention.Request a sample copy of Blockchain Market Report @The blockchain technology is poised to emerge as one of the most disruptive technologies of present days, with considerable stake from operations to business models. Growth of the industry is primarily driven by associated cost-effectiveness, improved security, transparency & immutability and faster processes & greater flexibility. Most of the organizations still face substantial uncertainty with respect to development of blockchain ecosystem and the potential changes it can unleash. Global Blockchain technology vendors need to overcome significant hurdles in order to reap rewards of this disruptive technology. Some of these growth inhibitors are regulatory uncertainty, lack of technological awareness and concerns related to privacy and scalability.The report Global Blockchain Technology Market Outlook 2022  By End-Use, Type, Enterprise Type and Region provides information on the current scenario, detailed market outlook of the global blockchain technology market with market segmentation by end-use, type, enterprise type and region. Future forecasts of blockchain technology market overall and across various segments till 2022 is provided in the report. Furthermore, major industry players have been prudently analysed in the competitive landscape section of the report in order to provide key comparative insights.Major international industry players operating in the global blockchain technology market include IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Digital Asset Holdings, Blockchain technologies Ltd., Chain Inc., R3, among others. These players are profiled herein based on attributes such as business overview, product segments and financial analysis. It also compiles performance comparison of aforementioned companies and other leading companies in the segment based on various parameters in the competitive landscape section. In totality, the report provides detailed market analysis, with relevant forecasted data supported by key market dynamics. This information will be helpful in evaluating opportunities in global blockchain technology market.To Browse the Entire Report, Visit:About Bharat Book Bureau:Bharat Book Bureau is the leading market research information provider for market research reports, company profiles, industry study, country reports, business reports, newsletters and online databases Bharat Book Bureau provides over a million reports from more than 400 publishers around the globe. We cover sectors starting from Aeronautics to Zoology.Contact us at:Bharat Book BureauTel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773Email: poonam@bharatbook.comWebsite:Follow us on: Twitter|Facebook|LinkedIn|Google Plus
Research Study Offers Insights on Future of Confectionery Market 2015 - 2021

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The confectionery market is one of the growing sectors globally . Usually, confections are low in nutrients and high in calorie. Sugar-free confections are gaining popularity in the recent years due to factors such as increasing obesity rate, increasing number of diabetic patients, increasing nutritional and health concerns, and changing lifestyle. The confectionery market can be primarily divided into two broad categories: sugar confectionery and bakers confectionery . Sugar confectionery includes sweets, candies, chocolates, and chewing gum. Bakers confectionery includes pastries, cakes, doughnuts, and cookies.The global confectionery market can be segmented into five categories: chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery, gum, cereal bars, and others. Major raw materials used in chocolates are cocoa and sugar, and raw materials used in gum include latex. Confectionery products are consumed by people of all age groups.Request For Report Sample@In terms of geography, Europe dominates the global confectionery market, followed by North America and Asia Pacific . The U.S. represents the largest confectionery market globally , followed by China and the U.K. India is the key market in Asia Pacific and the fastest-growing confectionery market in the world.Rising disposable income, growing retail market, increasing trend of gifting confectionery items, increasing population , increasing urbanization, hectic lifestyle, and more women in the workforce are some of the major driving factors of the confectionery market. Increasing population along with increasing disposable income in developing countries such as India and China is expected to increase the growth rate of the confectionery market. Increasing disposable income allow the customer to spend more.According to the National Bureau of Statistics China, annual per capita disposable income of urban households in China increased from USD 2,271.0 in 2008 to USD 3408.5 in 2012. The overall annual disposable income in India median household income increased from USD 1,366.2 billion in 2010 to USD 1,587.6 billion in 2013. Consumers with hectic schedule tend be more inclined toward confections, as these items are tasty and consume less time. Additionally, increasing number of working women is driving the global confectionery market as it is resulting in higher disposable income for the family .According to the U.S. Department of Labor in 2013, there were 127.1 million working women in the U.S. which is expected to grow at 5.4% by 2022. The urban population is more inclined toward consumption of confectionery compared to its rural counterparts. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in 2013 the largest urban population growth took place in the Asian countries such as India and China. By 2050, India is expected to have 404 million urban dwellers while China is likely to stand at 292 million. Some of the major restraints for the global confectionery market are rising health issues, increasing government regulations , and increasing raw material cost.Visit For TOC@Some of the major companies operating in the global confectionery market are The Hershey Company, the Ferrero Group, Mars, Incorporated., MondelAz International, Nestle S.A., Parle Products Pvt. Ltd., Kraft Foods, Cadbury, HARIBO Dunhills (Pontefract) PLC, United Confectionery Manufacturers, Perfetti Van Melle, Kegg's Candies, Petra Foods, Yildiz Holding, Crown Confectionery, and Brookside Foods.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Ourresearch model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and marketresearch methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Contact USPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Web:Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Epoxy Resins Market Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis And Forecast, 2012 - 2018

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"The Report Epoxy Resins Market - Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis And Forecast, 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Epoxy resin is a malleable resin used for a number of applications. The most common application of these resins includes uses in laminates, insulators, jewelry, and others.Get Sample copy of this Report @Epoxy resins are popularly known for their electrical, mechanical, and heat resistant properties, due to which they are best suited in insulation applications. They are also available in a wide range of curing agent variants.There is a growing market for epoxy resins in developed economies such as North America and Europe owing to their increasing use in coating processes, wind blades in wind mill turbines, electronic applications, construction work, and adhesives among others. Paints and coatings are primary applications in terms of use of epoxy resins. The global epoxy resins market growth is mainly focused in developed economies owing to its co-relation with industrialization.Epoxy resins are thermosetting polymers known for their variety of industrial applications such as corrosion protection, moisture resistivity, mechanical strength and adhesion among others. Correlation of epoxy resins with different industry applications is driving the growth of the global epoxy resins industry. In addition, growing R&D activities and technological improvements in the modified epoxy resins field is widening the scope for epoxy resins in industrial applications.View Report @The global market for epoxy resins is segmented based on its applications as follows:Paints & coatingElectrical & electronicsBuilding & constructionWind energyAdhesivesOthersSome of the key players in the market of epoxy resins include 3M (U.S.), BASF SE (Germany), Momentive Performance Material Holding LLC (U.S.), Atul Ltd (India), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Aditya Birla Chemicals Ltd, Huntsman Corporation (U.S.), Kukdo Chemical (South Korea), DuPont (U.S.), Sika AG (Switzerland), Cytec Industries Incorporation (U.S.), and others.This market research report analyzes important market segments, and major geographies. This report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rateIt provides a seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides an overview of the pricing trend and its impact on the marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Market, by Application (Onshore and Offshore) Trends and Forecast 2015  2023 - Enercon GmbH, GE Wind Turbine, Nordex SE, Siemens Wind Power GmbH, Suzlon Group

Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Market, by Application (Onshore and Offshore) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.This research study analyzes the market for wind turbine operation and maintenance (O&M) in terms of revenue (US$ Mn). The wind turbine O&M market has been segmented on the basis of application and geography. The regional segment has been described separately for onshore and offshore wind turbine O&M market. Regional segment of onshore wind turbine O&M market is further divided into 37 sub-segments that comprise 33 countries, which are major players in the global wind turbine O&M market. Regional segment of offshore wind turbine O&M market is further divided into 12 sub-segments that comprise nine countries. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2015 to 2023. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the wind turbine operation and maintenance market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global wind turbine O&M market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive industry analysis of the global wind turbine O&M market with the help of Porters Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the market structure and profitability of the global wind turbine O&M market. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition. The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the wind turbine O&M business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. Some of the most prominent drivers are increasing number of aging turbines and the rising number of gearbox and generator assembly failures.The wind turbine O&M market was segmented on the basis of application (onshore and offshore). Some of the key players in the global wind turbine O&M market are Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica, Enercon GmbH, GE Wind Turbine, Nordex SE, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technologies, Co. Ltd., Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Siemens Wind Power GmbH, Suzlon Group, Guodian United Power Technology Company Ltd., and Upwind Solutions, Inc.Wind Turbine Operation and Maintenance Market: By Application- Onshore- OffshoreOnshore Wind Turbine Operation and Maintenance Market: By Region- North America- U.S.- Canada- Mexico- Europe- Austria- Belgium- Denmark- Finland- France- Germany- Ireland- Italy- Netherlands- Norway- Poland- Portugal- Romania- Spain- Sweden- Turkey- U.K.- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- Australia- China- India- Japan- New Zealand- South Korea- Taiwan- Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the World- Argentina- Brazil- Costa Rica- Iran- Egypt- Morocco- OthersOffshore Wind Turbine Operation and Maintenance Market: By Region- North America- U.S.- Rest of North America- Europe- Belgium- Denmark- Germany- Netherland- Sweden- U.K.- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- China- Japan- Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the WorldBrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Medical Electrodes Market Projected to Gain Significant Value by 2022

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According to Transparency Market Research, the global medical electrodes market is likely to exhibit a strong 6% CAGR in the 2017-2022 forecast period. The market is expected trajectory of the global medical electrodes market is likely to carry it from US$641.3 to US$857 mn over the forecast period.Read Report Overview -Rising prevalence of lifestyle conditions in Western economies is helpful for the growth of the global medical electrodes market. The prevalence of cardiac disorders in particular has grown at a rapid rate in recent years following growing adoption of sedentary lifestyles among the consumer demographic in regions such as North America and Western Europe. This has driven demand from the global medical electrodes market as the convenient tool required in diagnosis. The rising risk of cardiac problems in developed countries such as the U.S. is likely to keep this a major driver for the global medical electrodes market in the coming years.North America and Europe are the leading contributors to the global medical electrodes market. The North America market for medical electrodes is likely to rise to US$297.9 mn by 2022 at a strong CAGR of 6.3%, while the Europe medical electrodes market is expected to rise to US$247.7 mn by 2022 at a 5.6% CAGR between 2017 and 2022.Request Sample Report -The rising use of nanotechnology in the medical devices sector could be an important step for the global medical electrodes market. Medical electrodes are operated through a metal detector and conducting paste/gel, which is applied on to the patients body. The use of nanotechnology can improve the efficacy of this process significantly, making medical electrodes even more relevant diagnostically. Rising research into nanotechnology with a view to applying nanotechnology products in medical devices is likely to aid the growth prospects of the medical electrodes market in the coming years.The rising government support to the healthcare sector in emerging regions such as Asia Pacific and the Middle East could be crucial to the global medical electrodes market in the coming years. Rising economies in Asia Pacific have turned up their efforts to improve their healthcare and medical devices sector due to the significant benefits this provides in terms of the overall health of the population, which is likely to remain a key driver for the medical electrodes market in the coming years. The Asia Pacific medical electrodes market is expected to exhibit a robust 6.3% CAGR between 2017 and 2022 to emerge at a valuation of US$154.2 mn by 2022. The Middle East and Africa market for medical electrodes, on the other hand, is expected to generate a significant absolute opportunity of US$7.5 mn over the 2017-2022 forecast period.Get Information about Report methodology -The fragmented global medical electrodes market is likely to remain intensely competitive in the coming years due to the entry of new players in several regional markets. The steady growth of the electronics sector and steady acceptance of medical electronics is likely to drive new investment in the medical electrodes market in the coming years. Leading companies in the global pacemaker devices market include Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc., Oscor Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik SE & Co. KG, Lepu Medical Technology, OSYPKA AG, Zoll Medical Corporation, and Pacetronix Limited.Medical electrode are a key implement used in the diagnosis of several types of diseases, including cardiological disorders, neurophysiological conditions, sleep disorders, and others. Medical electrodes operate by converting ionic current energy into electronic energy, which can be used to detect biomarkers left by a number of diseases. The accuracy provided by medical electrodes at perfect convenience to the patient has made them a crucial part of the healthcare sector. The global medical electrodes market is thus likely to exhibit flourishing growth in the coming years on the back of the rising demand. Steady growth of the healthcare industry in developed regions is likely to help the growth prospects of the global medical electrodes market in the coming years.Buy Medical Electrodes Market Report -About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
The Overall Revenue Growth Of Geosynthetics Can Be Summarized In A 9.1% Projected CAGR From 2015 To 2023 Expected To Reach US$20.80 bn - Low & Bonar PLC, AVINTIV Inc., Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., NAUE GmbH & Co. KG

Geosynthetics (Geotextiles, Geomembranes, Geogrids, Drainage Composites and Others) Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Geosynthetics (Geotextiles, Geomembranes, Geogrids, Drainage Composites and Others) Market for Containment, Reinforcement, Filtration and Drainage and Other Functions - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.This report analyzes and forecasts the market for geosynthetics at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on volume (Mn Square Meters) and revenue (US$ Mn) from 2015 to 2023. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global geosynthetics market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for geosynthetics during the forecast period. The report also highlights the opportunities in the geosynthetics market at the global and regional level.The report includes a detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global geosynthetics market. Porters Five Forces Model for the geosynthetics market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein products are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The study provides a decisive view of the global geosynthetics market by segmenting it in terms of products and functions. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual products and end-user segments in all regions.The study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global geosynthetics market. Key players profiled in the report include Low & Bonar PLC, AVINTIV Inc., Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., NAUE GmbH & Co. KG, Agru America, Inc., Propex Operating Company, LLC, TenCate Geosynthetics, GSE Environmental, Inc., Tenax Corporation, Tensar International Corporation. Market players are profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.The report provides the estimated market size of geosynthetics for 2015 and forecast for the next eight years. The global market size of geosynthetics is provided in terms of both volume and revenue. Market volume is defined in Mn Square Meters, while market revenue is in US$ Mn. Market numbers are estimated based on key product segments and end-user segments of geosynthetics. Market size and forecast for each major product and end-user is provided in terms of global and regional markets.In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, Internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, Plastemart magazine, TPE magazine, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases such as ICIS, Hoovers, oneSOURCE, Factiva, and Bloomberg, national government documents, statistical databases, trade journals, market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and face-to-face interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The report segments the global geosynthetics market as follows:Geosynthetics Market  Product Segment Analysis- Geotextiles- Geomembranes- Geogrids- Drainage Composites- Others (Geosynthetic Clay Liners, etc.)Geosynthetics Market - Function Analysis- Containment- Reinforcement- Filtration and Drainage- Others (Separation, etc.)Geosynthetics Market - Regional Analysis- North America- U.S.- Rest of North America- Europe- France- U.K.- Spain- Germany- Italy- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- China- Japan- ASEAN- Rest of Asia Pacific- Latin America- Brazil- Rest of Latin America- Middle East & Africa (MEA)- GCC- South Africa- Rest of MEABrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Virus Filtration Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016  2024 | Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., Pall Corporation

Virus Filtration Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Virus Filtration Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Virus filtration is an important procedure in the pharmaceutical industry. It ensures the purity and steady consumption of valuable products, besides optimizing the economic process and preventing loss. Virus filtration feed streams generally exhibit high purity and heavy product concentrations. Retrovirus and parvovirus filtration membranes are two ultrafiltration membranes tested (and their performances compared) using realistic model feed streams consisting of minute virus of mice (recommended from FDA). This approach provides an industry-relevant benchmark for the engineering competence of virus filters. Asymmetric membranes operate in direct flow and in a constant pressure mode in accordance with the industrial practice of virus filtration. However, new developments in research and development using flux method allow to image at the performance of virus filtration and similar ultrafiltration membranes, which also provides insights into designing virus filtration membranes.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Hike in R&D expenditure, development of the biopharmaceutical industry, and increasing government funding for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are driving the global virus filtration market. According to the parenteral drug association, parvovirus filters in the downstream process have become an industry standard and a common regulatory expectation in the recent years. The filters consistently demonstrate highly effective retrovirus retention without impacting the quality of the product across a wide range of parameters and are an effective method to reduce virus risks in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The filtration technique needs to be approved by the U.S. food and drug administration (FDA). Regulatory agencies in Germany and France require the manufacturing processes to be evaluated and the units to be cleared of the multiple models of relevant viruses before being marketed as authorization. These stringent government validation practices are expected to be a hindrance for the global virus filtration market.The market has been segmented by product type, application, end-users, and geography. In terms of product type, it is classified into the following categories: virus filters, kits and reagents, filtration systems, and others. It majorly has biological applications, besides being employed in medical devices, water purification, stem cell products, vaccine & therapeutics, and others. Based on end-user, its divisions include pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies (which use virus filtration techniques in order to prevent unavoidable contamination in products), medical device companies, and contract research organizations. Filtration systems and devices are becoming popular because they deliver a high level of retention assurance and productivity across a broad range of feed stream characteristics. Rising industrialization coupled with the rapid evolution of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and water purification sectors, along with demand for medical devices & implants are likely to propel the virus filtration market by 2024.Geographically, the market is distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the dominant region due to the increasing modern industrialization, sophisticated infrastructure, patient awareness, and high per capita health care expenditure here. Moreover, the emerging trend of single-use techniques provides a boost to the pharmaceutical & biotechnology market, in turn motivating the virus filtration market. This is followed by Europe where there exist favorable government policies regarding health care infrastructure and awareness programs about the various diseases which can spread among the population through the air, water, or even products generated from industries. In 2013, the ICH (international conference on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use), a project that brings together the regulatory authorities of Europe, Japan, and the U.S., discussed the scientific and technical aspects of drug registration in order to streamline the testing requirement for research and development of new medicines and eliminate unnecessary delays in their global development. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand swiftly due to rising population, changing lifestyles, rising number of awareness programs for patients, and the ever-increasing per capita expenditure. In addition, economic growth supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology units in developing countries such as India, China, and Singapore. All these factors collectively support the virus filtration market in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the market include Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., Pall Corporation, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Sartorius AG, Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd., and WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:- Market segments and sub-segments- Market trends and dynamics- Supply and demand- Market size- Current trends/opportunities/challenges- Competitive landscape- Technological breakthroughs- Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:- North America (U.S. and Canada)- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market- Important changes in market dynamics- Market segmentation up to the second or third level- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments- Market shares and strategies of key players- Emerging niche segments and regional markets- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Construction Material Testing Equipment Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Construction material testing equipment finds significant applications in the infrastructure building process, primarily owing to the requirement to ensure the safety of the humans, goods and amenities in the building. Requirement of elimination of hazards from every individual building procedures, from selection of lands, concrete & aggregates, cements, bituminous materials, steel, masonry, steel to the mission critical testing of pavements and roads.Requirement for compliance with the national and state directives and regulations regarding the infrastructure will further propel market growthMost residents are unaware of the standards required for the residential and commercial buildings. In order Requirement to keep a check on human safety, national and state regulatory authorities have established various standards, directives and regulations for these buildings. Regulations also cover the different infrastructure categories that include utilities, industries, telecommunication, transport, and others. For instance, Australasian Procurement and Construction Council in Australia, Environmental Protection Agency and national Association of Home Builders in U.S., and Construction Products Regulation by European Council in EU are few among the many regional bodies that are responsible for the building standards. Requirement of compliance with these regulatory bodies and ensure the requirements are met, construction material equipment market will witness substantial growth over the forecast period.Request Sample Copy of this Report Construction Material Testing Equipment Market TaxonomyOn the basis of testing equipment, the global construction material testing equipment market is classified into:Soil testing equipmentAggregate testing equipmentConcrete testing equipmentCement testing equipmentAsphalt testing equipmentPavement testing equipmentLaboratory testing equipmentOn the basis of end use, the global construction material testing equipment market is classified into:Training and EducationInfrastructureExtraction (Upstream industries)Utilities (Energy related infrastructure)Manufacturing IndustriesTransport (Roads, Railways, Airport)Residential & CommercialTelecommunicationOthers (Government, Hospitals, Education, etc.)Proliferation of smart cities and connected infrastructure will propel the industry growth through 2025According to United Nations press release in July 2014, around 54% of the global population lived in the urban areas, which is expected to account for overall 66% by 2050. Rapid urbanization across all the major global economies, specifically in the BRIC countries is expected to drive the demands for the infrastructure. Moreover, increasing population and government interests in the smart city infrastructures will inadvertently fuel the growth prospects. According to the white paper report by Technology that was sponsored by the United Parcel Services and Consumer Technology Association, the smart city initiatives rose to over 235 in 2016, an estimated surge of over 38% in comparison to 2013. Proliferation of such infrastructural activities are expected to present extensive growth prospects to the construction material testing equipment market.Residential and commercial infrastructure is expected to dominate the global demands over the next few yearsGrowth of residential housing is anticipated to be the primary growth driver for all the other associated infrastructure that includes transportation, utilities, and other commercial activities. However, according Coherent Market Insights, there have been several incidences of paradigm shifts with the development of commercial and manufacturing activities that in turn led to traction of residential buildings in the vicinity. In both scenarios, residential segment is expected to register highest traction, which is expected to present highest demands for the construction material testing equipment market.Owing to presence of largest population base, highest number of emerging economies, significant growth in infrastructural activities, Asia Pacific is expected to remain the most lucrative regional segment through the forecast period. Trends such as connected vehicles, smart factories and connected infrastructure is expected to drive the demands in other developed economies that include U.S. and the Western Europe. Moreover, large budget projects in the Middle East which specifically includes Gulf Cooperation Council will provide considerable product requirements.Chief players in the construction material testing equipment market include Aimil, Humboldt Mfg., ELE International, CONTROLS Group, and Matest. Industry is characterized by high regional consolidation, with few leading global players. Owing to the intensive competitive scenario, industry is expected to witness significant strategic initiatives to strengthen their industry foothold and expand regional presence. For instance in June 2017, University of Missouri System collaborated with Missouri University of Science and Technology for the development of Advanced Construction and Materials Laboratory (ACML), to address public infrastructure challenges.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.comVisit our news Website:
Global Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP) Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024 | NXP Semiconductors, Infineon, Skyworks Solutions, Linear Technology, Renesas Electronic

Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP) Industry

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Application specific standard product (ASSP) is an integrated circuit used for a specific product in multiple units. These products consist of embedded programmable logic, mixed-signal, analog products as well as digital products. General purpose of ASSP integrated circuits is to cater to a wide range of applications. These circuits are used in several system-design houses across the globe. The market is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period. The anticipated increase in demand for consumer electronics is anticipated to affect the demand for ASSP positively in the next few years. For providing detailed overview of the ASSP market, it has been segmented on the basis of applications and geographies. On the basis of applications, the market can be segmented into: communications, automotive, consumer electronics, computers, industrial applications, and others. Geographically, the ASSP market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Use of ASSP in consumer electronics makes them highly cost-effective and efficient. Such beneficial features along with increasing usage are expected to dominate the market during forecast period. ASSP provides images with high quality. Such beneficial features made the innovation of the global smart Television, high resolution DSLR camera and smart phones is driving the opportunities for universal ASSP market. ASSPs are consolidated circuits that can perform audio and/or video de-coding and/or encoding. Short replacement cycle (SRC) of portable electronic devices increases the demand for consumer electronic devices, which is anticipated to drive the ASSP market. The automotive industry has been enjoying a period of relatively stronger profitability and growth worldwide. This is the most important factor driving the global application specific standard product market. Fueled by demand from carriers and data center technology is the most important factor driving the market opportunities for the global ASSP market. In addition, rising demand from the mobile phones & tablets industry is driving the global ASSP market. Local producers are introducing tablets and mobile phones. This market expansion is expected to augment the demand for ASSP during the forecast period. Things are more closely, smart-home applications such as automated lighting and heating growing demand in the market. This in turn has boosted the demand of these technology to a great extent in the global market.However, high capital investment in the semiconductors industry is anticipated to limit several manufacturers from entering the ASSP market. This is estimated to hamper the growth of the ASSP market during the forecast period.Geographically, in terms of revenue, North America held the major share in the global application specific standard product market in 2015. In Asia Pacific, China and India hold the leading share of the market in the region, due to growing consumer preference to electronic products and automation. The U.S. is the main hub for R&D (research and development) activities that take place in the semiconductors industry, which is opportunities for growing these market in future. Owing to significant growth in the electronics segment in China, India, the U.S., and Japan, the countries are major emerging markets for ASSP. Ever-changing consumer needs in the electronics industry is a key factor influencing the market for application specific standard product. The advancement of medical technology equipment may also act as a driving factor for the market.The application specific standard product market is characterized by presence of numerous key players. These companies include NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), Infineon (Germany), Skyworks Solutions (the U.S.), Linear Technology (the U.S.), Renesas Electronic (Japan), ON Semiconductor (the U.S.), Melexis (Belgium), STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), Texas Instruments (the U.S.), Toshiba (Japan),, and Maxim Integrated Products (U.S).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:- Market segments and sub-segments- Market trends and dynamics- Supply and demand- Market size- Current trends/opportunities/challenges- Competitive landscape- Technological breakthroughs- Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:- North America (U.S. and Canada)- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market- Important changes in market dynamics- Market segmentation up to the second or third level- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments- Market shares and strategies of key players- Emerging niche segments and regional markets- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Aircraft Ejection Seats Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024 | Martin Baker, NPP Zvezda, SEMMB, UTC Aerospace Systems, Airborne Systems NA Inc.

Aircraft Ejection Seats Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Aircraft Ejection Seats Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Aircraft ejection seat is a type of system designed to rescue the crew/pilot of an aircraft during emergency situation. In an aircraft ejection seat, the seat is boosted out of the aircraft by an explosive charge carrying the pilot with the seat. Once the seat is ejected out of the aircraft, it deploys a parachute so that the pilot lands safely on the ground. The main purpose of the ejection seat is safety and survival of the pilot and crew. Ejection seat is one of the most complicated pieces of equipment on an aircraft. Airplanes flying at low speed and low altitude use a dissimilar sequence from that of jets flying at high altitudes and high speed. Pilots do not need to freely fall at low altitude; hence, the main parachute opens immediately. The decisions are based on altitude, weight of passengers, speed are already made for the pilot before he vacates the aircraft.The aircraft ejection seats market is primarily driven by the innovation of the aircraft fleet. Aircrafts are now developing an improved layer of technologies and are reviewing new fuselage patterns. The new technologies help in customizing cabin components with integrative and lightweight design by using refined design solutions. Another major driver for this market is the increasing adoption and development of two-seater fighter jets. These jets are being developed and manufactured widely across the globe. This fuels the growth of the market for aircraft ejection seats.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The market growth is restrained by injuries sustained at the time of ejection. At the time of ejection, there are possibilities that the seat ejection malfunctions, due to which injuries are caused to the pilot/crew. This factor is likely to have medium impact in the short term of the forecast period.One of the major opportunities in the aircraft ejection seats market is application of these seats in light commercial aircrafts and combat helicopters. Companies are now coming up with new developments in the design of aircraft ejection seats to improve the safety of pilots. Hastening the activation of the parachute after ejection and increasing trajectory height of the seat in a favorable direction would ensure the safety of the pilot and crew. Martin-Baker has developed an ejection seat with multi-tube rocket packs, which are designed to fit precisely in the small space between the lowermost part of the cockpit floor and the seat bucket. This design provides more thrust of the ejection catapult and expands the trajectory to provide more time for the parachute to open.On the basis of application, the aircraft ejection seats market has been segmented into combat aircraft ejection seats and training aircraft ejection seats. The combat aircraft ejection seats segment accounted for the maximum share, followed by the training aircraft ejection seats in the global aircraft seats market. Based on components, the market has been divided into seat actuators, foams & fittings, and others. On geographical basis, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Increasing demand for military spending in countries such as the U.S., India, China, and Russia is likely to lead to development of fifth-generation fighter jets and aircraft components during the forecast period. Moreover, major Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have increased their investments in modern combat aircrafts, due to constant threats from the militant terrorists group. France and Russia would be a key contributing factor in the growth of the market for the development of new fighter jets with advanced ejection seats.Some of the major players operating in the global aircraft ejection seats market comprise Martin Baker, NPP Zvezda, SEMMB, UTC Aerospace Systems, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Survival Equipment Services Ltd., and Neomega Resin.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:- Market segments and sub-segments- Market trends and dynamics- Supply and demand- Market size- Current trends/opportunities/challenges- Competitive landscape- Technological breakthroughs- Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:- North America (U.S. and Canada)- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market- Important changes in market dynamics- Market segmentation up to the second or third level- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments- Market shares and strategies of key players- Emerging niche segments and regional markets- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketBrowse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Analysis on Medical Grade Silicone - Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024

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"Medical Grade Silicone Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.. .Description-' 'Global Medical Grade Silicone Market: General DescriptionMedical grade silicone is used in implantable and disposable medical devices which require high performance and safety standards when in contact with the human body. Medical Grade Silicone include instruments with critical functions such as defibrillators, heart pumps, and surgical reconstructive components which employ the biocompatible and hydrophobic properties of silicone. It has gained widespread acceptance because of its negligible levels of toxicity and low risk of unfavorable biological reactions. Liquid silicone rubber is a highly common variety owing to its high bacterial and chemical resistance, excellent transparency, gas permeability, clarity, elongation feature, superior dielectric strength, high tensile strength, and ability to function in extreme temperatures.. .Get Sample Report With TOC @' 'The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global medical grade silicone market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the global medical grade silicone market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Global Medical Grade Silicone Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing need for disposable devices has led to an increased demand for medical grade silicone. Liquid rubber silicone, for instance, is utilized in sealing membranes, electric connectors, seals, and infant care products such as bottle nipples, besides several other medical applications. Lifestyle shifts and changing concepts of beauty resulting in the rising incidence of cosmetic and plastic surgeries are considered to be significant drivers of the global medical grade silicone market. Modern food habits often associated with cardiovascular diseases play a role as well in the growth of the global medical grade silicone market.Global Medical Grade Silicone Market: Key SegmentsIn terms of products, medical grade silicone is divided into four categories: gels, medical adhesives, medical coatings (hydrophilic or hydrophobic), and liquid silicone rubbers. Based on application, the four segments of the medical grade silicone market are: prosthetics, orthopedic components, medical devices, and medical tapes. The former two are major applications, whereas the latter two could be further distributed into the following sub-segments: medical electronics and device assemblies, medical tubes, catheters, medical rings and gaskets, and miscellaneous accessories such as drugs, gels, and oral care products; and wound care, drug delivery, personal hygiene, and component joining, respectively. In terms of molding processes, the segments are liquid injection molding, transfer molding, compression molding, micro-molding, silicone to metal bonding, and silicone infused with desiccant molding.Global Medical Grade Silicone Market: Regional AnalysisThe global medical grade silicone market has shown a significant growth in 2015 and is expected to exhibit the same trend during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is projected to be a rapidly expanding market of medical grade silicone due to applications such as prefilled syringes, prosthetics, surgical implants, catheters, and medical tapes. North America and Europe are major consumers thanks to the technological advancements and mounting health concerns in these regions. The developmental activities in Latin America and Middle East & Africa make them emerging regions in the global medical grade silicone market.Global Medical Grade Silicone Market: Companies Mentioned in the ReportKey players in the global medical grade silicone market include Dow Corning, Wacker Chemie AG, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Bluestar Silicones, 3M Company, Nusil Technology Llc, and Applied Silicone Corporation.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional markets. .Report Enquiry and Other Query @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Rapid Advancements will boost Mono DiGlycerides Market Size Further 2017 - 2025

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Mono DiGlycerides market: OverviewMono DiGlycerides is commonly known as fatty acid; it is used in food products as an emulsifier. Fatty acid or mono-diglycerides are typically low in concentration. This chemical is extensively added in food commodities to enhance their shelf life. Though it is used to increase the storage life of the food products, several inbuilt negative qualities are impacting the overall development of the mono-diglycerides market.Some of the popular food products such as palm oil contain a considerable amount of mono-diglycerides and studies reveal and the consumption of this chemical hampers health. Ricinus fatty acids, nickel, tartaric acid are some of the commonly found compounds in mono-diglycerides. Mono-diglycerides are typically present in packaged foods. Some of the less health friendly food products available in the market, such as baked foods, soft drinks, ice creams, gums and candies harbour mono-diglycerides.Request For Report Sample@The packaged food industry is booming, and this constant growth of this industry is expediting the sale the preservatives such as mono-diglycerides. Packaged food industry is continually expanding its periphery. In the recent times' packed food and drinks have grown manifold in some of the developing regions such as APEJ and MEA. Countries such as India and China are playing a crucial role in the growth of the packaged food and beverages industry. Apart from the APEJ region, processed and packaged food industry in GCC region has witnessed a standard growth in the last few years. Market experts believe that the food processing sector will register a significant CAGR in the coming few years. Political turmoil in some of the East European countries will continue to hamper the growth of the food processing and packaged food and beverages industry; the adverse political climate has already fractured the financial development of this region and further reduced the purchasing power millions of citizens present in this region of the globe. The packaged food will clock less profit from the Chinese market as stringent regulations; enhanced awareness will play a spoilsport in the growth of the prepared food and beverages market. These conflicting elements will affect the healthy development of the food preservatives market in the years to come.Mono DiGlycerides market: DriversRapid change in the lifestyle of the commoners around the globe, rising need of on -the- go- food products and the emergence of new thriving markets packed with millennial population will help to expand the market of the packed foods and beverages. These factors will fuel the use of mono-diglycerides as an additive. Natives of the emerging markets such as India, MEA are less concerned about food safety and government rules are lenient, authorities are apathetic towards public and food security. These factors will support the growth of the food preservatives such as mono-diglycerides in the forthcoming years. Though the awareness levels about healthy foods are high in developed markets such as North America and Europe, still there is a large chunk of the population which is dependent on these packaged foods. The food giants present in these regions of the globe are incredibly powerful and they are capable of twisting government policies to continue their market dominance. Some of the biggest names from the processed food industry are camped across this region to compliment the market requirement. These food giants are moulding the psyche of the consumers through star-studded brand campaigns. These components will promote the processed food market which will further enhance the demand of the chemicals such as mono-diglycerides.Mono DiGlycerides market: RestraintsDip in the use of packaged food products and minimal use of harmful chemicals adapted by some organic or halal food manufacturing companies around the globe and stringent government rules to protect public health will slow the growth of the mono-diglycerides market.Mono DiGlycerides market: Key RegionsBeing the largest processed food market North America will drive the growth of the mono-diglycerides market. Europe will follow suit. APEJ and MEA market will probably hold a lion share of the monoglycerides market in the years to come. As the consumers of these regions are unaware of the harmful effects of this chemical and government rules on food safety are full of loopholes. China and Japan will showcase a dip in the growth of the mono-diglycerides market as buyers are sensitised, and their food habits are different from rest of the world.Visit For TOC@Mono DiGlycerides market: Key PlayersESTELLE, gillco ingredients, parchem, ChemNet, Hangzhou GengYang Chemical Materials Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Fuchun Food Additive Co., Ltd. are some of the many companies operating in the mono diglycerides market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Ourresearch model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and marketresearch methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Contact USPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Web:Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Trends & Forecasts on Dental Device with Focus on Digital Dentistry Market: Size (2017-2021)

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"Global Dental Device Market with Focus on Digital Dentistry Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021)" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.. .Description-' 'Scope of the ReportThe report entitled Global Dental Device Market with Focus on Digital Dentistry Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) provides a detailed analysis of the global dental device market with analysis of market size and growth. The analysis includes the market by value and market share by product. Special focus has been given on the digital dentistry with its market size in terms of value for different segments.. .Get Sample Report With TOC @' 'The report provides brief regional/country analysis of the Asia Pacific, China and Korea. Regional/country analysis include market sizing in terms of value as well as volume. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a high CAGR in the forecasted period.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global dental device market has also been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.A brief company profiling of major market players namely Dentsply Sirona, Danaher Corporation, Zimmer Biomet and Henry Schein has been provided in the report on the basis of aspects like business overview, financial overview and business strategies adopted by respective companies.Company CoverageDentsply SironaDanaher CorporationZimmer BiometHenry ScheinRegion/Country CoverageAsia PacificChinaKoreaExecutive SummaryDental devices are set of tools used by dental profession to provide dental or oral treatment. These tools are mainly used to examine, manipulate, treat, restore and removing teeth. Dental devices are useful in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various dental diseases. Dental devices are categorized into several types to encompass the types of equipment that every practice needs in order to treat patients. Dental devices are broadly classified into seven categories namely preventive, restoratives, large equipment, implants, prosthetics, orthodontics and endodontic.A new era has developed in the field of dentistry with the help of technological advancements known as digital dentistry. Dental device that combines digital or computer-controlled components in contrast to that of mechanical or electrical alone in oral treatment is digital dentistry. Digital dentistry has several advantages over the conventional dental devices. Digital technologies introduced in the dental market are: CAD/CAM, CBCT, digital scanner, digital x-ray and lasers etc.The global dental device market witnessed an upsurge during the period 2015-2016 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2017 to 2021 at a rapid pace. Major factors contributing in the growth of the market are rising aging population, rising middle class income in emerging economies, growing demand for cosmetic dentistry and rising dentist penetration in both developed as well as developing nations.In the forecasted period, market will be pushed by increasing dental tourism, revolutionary technological advancements, and health insurance companies to cover dental expenses and introduction of digital solutions in the market. In spite of high growth, market is still facing certain challenges that are hampering the growth of the market. Challenges encountered by the market are high cost of equipments, growing demand for refurbished equipments, fluoridation measures for decay prevention and growing taxes on medical devices.. .Report Enquiry and Other Query @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Prime Auction Solutions offers personal property auction services in Virginia

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United States 07-11-2017. Prime Auction Solutions is the leading company of auctioneer who provides best support to domestic and international buyers and sellers. It has been in this industry for long-time and has helped many home buyers and sellers with amazing auction services. Generally, Auction is not an easy task as it requires knowledge of real estate market, interested buyers and sellers then an auction can be successful. Hiring professional and trusted auctioneer can be really beneficial for you to get the right deal.Some people love buying properties on auction as they feel it is right time to get the right deal. On other hand, some sellers feel they can fair price for their property in auction so they prefer to conduct auction. So, hiring auctioning services are really helpful to ensure you get the right value for property. Prime Auction Solutions is your best resource for professional auction services. It has many years of experience and knowledge in conducting successful real estate auctions in VA.If you are looking for the professional and specialized auction services which can be easily relied upon then Prime Auction Solutions is your #1 resource. You can contact it for real estate auction of personal property auctions or can take benefit of the professional service. It is engaged in connecting sellers to buyers around the world. It is not providing services to any particular area only but provides best support both domestically and internationally.When it comes to personal property auctions then hiring professional auction services can be fruitful. And for best standard of reliable and experienced services, make sure you contact to Prime Auction Solutions.For additional detail on real estate auctions in Virginia simply visit at:United States 07-11-2017. Prime Auction Solutions is the leading company of auctioneer who provides best support to domestic and international buyers and sellers. It has been in this industry for long-time and has helped many home buyers and sellers with amazing auction services. Generally, Auction is not an easy task as it requires knowledge of real estate market, interested buyers and sellers then an auction can be successful. Hiring professional and trusted auctioneer can be really beneficial for you to get the right deal.Some people love buying properties on auction as they feel it is right time to get the right deal. On other hand, some sellers feel they can fair price for their property in auction so they prefer to conduct auction. So, hiring auctioning services are really helpful to ensure you get the right value for property. Prime Auction Solutions is your best resource for professional auction services. It has many years of experience and knowledge in conducting successful real estate auctions in VA.If you are looking for the professional and specialized auction services which can be easily relied upon then Prime Auction Solutions is your #1 resource. You can contact it for real estate auction of personal property auctions or can take benefit of the professional service. It is engaged in connecting sellers to buyers around the world. It is not providing services to any particular area only but provides best support both domestically and internationally.When it comes to personal property auctions then hiring professional auction services can be fruitful. And for best standard of reliable and experienced services, make sure you contact to Prime Auction Solutions.For additional detail on real estate auctions in Virginia simply visit at:6820 Elm StreetMcLean, VA 22101United States
Global Supercapacitor Market to Rise at CAGR of 22.3% from 2015 to 2023 as Green Revolution Forces Energy Savings

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Supercapacitor Market to Rise at CAGR of 22.3% from 2015 to 2023 as Green Revolution Forces Energy Savings" to its huge collection of research reports.The global supercapacitor market is expected to experience stable growth during the forecast period of 2015 to 2023. Supercapacitor, also known as ultracapacitor, is an electrical component having greater capacitance and power density than conventional capacitors. Currently, supercapacitor are increasingly adopted across various applications such as automotive, elevators, cranes and consumer electronics among others that require frequent energy charge and discharge cycle rather than long term energy storage. For the purpose of our research, the global supercapacitor market is segmented on the basis of application, product, type and geography. By application the various category of supercapacitor market includes automotive and transportation, industrial, energy, consumer electronics and others. The other segment includes application of supercapacitor in aerospace, military and sensors technologies. Based on products, the global supercapacitor market is segmented into double layer supercapacitor, pseudocapacitors and hybrid capacitors. By type, supercapacitor market is segmented into supercapacitor module, weldable cells and board mounted supercapacitor.Moreover, the report also provides cross sectional analysis of all the above segments across different countries within North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World.The global supercapacitor market is primarily driven by increasing demand for supercapacitor across different consumer electronics and automotive applications in order to provide backup power.Supercapacitor provides the necessary power backup required for smooth functioning of the various applications such as video calling, cameras, wireless communications and GPS navigation used in consumer electronic devices. Similarly, the other industrial hand-held devices such as GSM/GPRS and RFID (Radio-frequency identification) communications, LED flash, thermal printers, bar code scanners and GPS (Global Positioning System) chips among others can also be operated more conveniently with the help of supercapacitor for providing the required power boost. Using supercapacitor in line with batteries in these electronic devices increases the lifecycle of conventional batteries by reducing the load of voltage drops. Thus, battery run-time and operational life can be improved extensively by using supercapacitor in these electronic devices. Thus, enormous demand of the highly advanced consumer electronic appliances, in turn is predicted to drive the market for supercapacitor at exponential rate in the coming years. In addition, different initiatives by the government in different parts of the world such as the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, China and Japan to reduce the power consumption and heat generation is also anticipated to increase the deployment and usage of supercapacitor globally. Moreover, the ongoing practice to upgrade the power generation system from renewable sources across the globe in order to reduce rapid depletion of natural resources is also anticipated to drive the market of supercapacitor in the coming years.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @However, competition from well-established battery market and lack of awareness about the huge benefits associated with supercapacitor are the most important factors that deters the growth of supercapacitor market and restrict users from adapting supercapacitor technology. In addition, high initial purchasing cost of supercapacitor coupled with low adoption is also inhibiting the market growth of supercapacitor. Currently supercapacitor are facing immense competition from lithium batteries due to its high price. Despite of these restrictive factors, the supercapacitor market is forecast to witness substantial growth during the forecast period of 2015 to 2023.This report provides the future predictive market growth of the global supercapacitor market from 2015 to 2023 along with current market analysis. Detailed study of the global supercapacitor market across different countries with respect to product, type and application segment is also highlighted in this report. In addition, the various micro economic and macro-economic factors that are anticipated to affect the growth of global supercapacitor market is also provided in this report.In 2014, among the different product categories of supercapacitor, the double layer supercapacitor occupied the largest market share and accounted for 42.8% market share. However, the hybrid capacitors segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growing segment. Rapid growth of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) market globally, in order to reduce carbon emission is one of the major factors responsible for the exponential growth of hybrid supercapacitor in the coming years. The market of hybrid supercapacitor is forecast to witness the fastest growth with a CAGR of 23.5% during the forecast period.Among the different types of supercapacitor, the board mounted supercapacitor held the largest market share in 2014 and is also predicted to be the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 22.7% from 2015 to 2023. Increasing usage of board mounted supercapacitor by different automotive manufacturers for various applications such as regenerative breaking and start stop system in order to reduce fuel consumption is responsible for the robust growth of board mounted supercapacitor market.Geographically, Asia Pacific supercapacitor market is predicted to experience the fastest growth rate with a CAGR of 23.2% from 2015 to 2023. Rapid expansion of production facility in this region owing to huge capital investment by different companies in this emerging technology results in sharp fall of price of the supercapacitor. This reduction in price of supercapacitor coupled with low maintenance cost is predicted to increase the usage of supercapacitor across different application segments. This in turn, is expected to boost the demand for supercapacitor in the coming years.After considering the various macroeconomic and micro economic factors, the predicted future growth of the global supercapacitor market is provided in this report. In addition, detailed analysis of various factors that are anticipated to affect the demand of supercapacitor globally, is highlighted in this report.The global supercapacitor market can be segmented as follows:Global Supercapacitor Market, By ApplicationAutomotive and TransportationIndustrialEnergyConsumer ElectronicsOthersGlobal Supercapacitor Market, By ProductDouble Layer SupercapacitorPseudocapacitorHybrid CapacitorGlobal Supercapacitor Market, By TypeSupercapacitor ModuleSupercapacitor CellBoard Mounted SupercapacitorGlobal Supercapacitor Market, By GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.GermanyItalyFranceRest of EuropeAsia-PacificIndiaChinaBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Nanoemulsion Market to Garner Brimming Revenues by 2025

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A report by Transparency Market Research finds that big international players in the global market for Nanoemulsion are keen to tap into the developing nations market that offer ample room for growth.Read Report Overview -Buoyed by demand from both developed and developing nations, the TMR report projects the global Nanoemulsion market to rise at a 9.2% CAGR during the period between 2017 and 2025. Expanding at this pace, the market which was worth US$6.78 bn in 2016 will probably become worth US$14.91 bn by 2025.Serving to majorly fuel the global market for Nanoemulsion is the rapid technological progress in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, rising instances of chronic diseases, increasing awareness about their treatments, growing demand for more target specific drug delivery systems, and supportive policies of governments. Emergence of technologically advanced new products is also having a positive impact on the global Nanoemulsion market.Request Sample Report @The other factors responsible for the growth the market include increasing healthcare infrastructure, increasing economic stability, increasing participation of major market players in in developing economies such as Latin America and the Middle East and Africa. Increasing demand for more efficient drug delivery systems and increasing research and development is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.As the Nanoemulsions do not undergo flocculation or sedimentation they are ideal for use in baby-care wipes or make-up removal applications. This is another growth driver in the market. As nanoemulsions are non-toxic and non-irritant they are widely used in skin care cosmetics. However, the cost of nanoemulsions preparation can prove to be a deterrent to the nanoemulsions market, explains the lead analyst of the report.Depending upon the type of drugs, the global market for Nanoemulsion can be segmented into steroids, anesthetics, NSAIDs, antiretroviral, antimicrobials, immunosuppressant, vasodilators, etc. Among them, the segment of NSAIDs will likely gain maximum share by outpacing all others vis-a-vis growth rate. By 2025, the segment of NSAIDs will rake in a revenue of US$2.470 bn. The high growth of the segment is due to the increasing use nanoemulsion formulation in topical and other drug administration routes for more efficient drug delivery allowing for rapid penetration.Request Nanoemulsion Market Report Brochure @Geography-wise, the key segments of the global market for Nonoemulsion are North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among them, North America held the leading share of 39.7% in 2016. The market in the region is predicted grow at a healthy clip in the upcoming years as well on account of the increasing demand generated by a well-established pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, increasing research activities, increasing prevalence of chronic disorders, and increased demand for highly efficient drug delivery module for target specific treatment of disorders.Some of the key players operating in the global market for Nanoemulsion are Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Allergan plc, AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca Inc., Fresenius Kabi AG, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis AG, Sanofi, and B. Braun Melsungen AG. Many of them already have a robust pipeline of nanoemulsion based vaccines against influenza, anthrax, chlamydia infection, several sexually transmitted infections, and respiratory diseases.Buy Nanoemulsion Market Report -About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global UAV Flight Training And Simulation Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 7.29% During The Period 2017-2021 | CAE, Israel Aerospace Industries, L-3 Link Simulation & Training, Selex, Simlat

UAV Flight Training And Simulation Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global UAV Flight Training and Simulation Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are also called as remotely piloted aircraft by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as they are controlled remotely either by a pilot at a ground station or by on-board computers. They are also commonly referred to as drones and host various types of payloads that enable the aircraft to easily navigate, communicate, and perform various missions.Technavios analysts forecast the global UAV flight training and simulation market to grow at a CAGR of 7.29% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global UAV flight training and simulation market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from UAV flight training and simulation during the forecast period.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global UAV Flight Training and Simulation Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsCAEIsrael Aerospace IndustriesL-3 Link Simulation & TrainingSelexSimlatOther prominent vendorsBAE SystemsNorthrop GrummanTextron SystemsThales Training & SimulationMarket driverGrowing need for UAV flight simulationFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeComplexities in decision making and regulationsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend3D simulation provisions for UAV trainingFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse Detail Report With TOC @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Consumer Products and Retail Market By Consumer Sector, By PLM Component & By PLM End-use Industry

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Consumer Products and Retail Market By Consumer Sector, By PLM Component & By PLM End-use Industry" to its huge collection of research reports.Product lifecycle management (PLM) represents an overall vision and systematic data management related to the product design, production, support, as well as its ultimate disposal in a product development process in organizations. There are certain variables such as time, functions, performance, and price that change frequently in tandem with the product lifecycle processes.Therefore, the product innovation process should be based on changes in the aforementioned variables to meet the market demand. Delivering the right product at the right time is the major goal of enterprises in the market. PLM provides many benefits to organizations, such as significant reduction in time-to-market for the product, production cost minimization, and product quality and reliability enhancement. The various challenges faced by product development teams in enterprises include globalization, as well as growing demand for mass customization and quick innovation. These challenges are leading to the growing need for PLM solutions, which provide the collaborative environment and knowledge management of a products lifecycle process.This research report provides in-depth analysis of the global consumer products and retail market and global PLM market for consumer products and retail end-users. Report analysis for global consumer products section is based on different sector types while for the global PLM market for consumer products and retail end-user section, the analysis is based on component types, end-use applications, and geography. In terms of geographical regions, the report segments the global consumer products and retail market and global PLM market for consumer products and retail end-user into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America, which are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. North America is further segmented into the U.S. and Rest of North America, while Europe is divided into EU7, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Rest of Europe. Moreover, Asia Pacific is subdivided into Japan, China, South Asia, Australasia, and Rest of Asia Pacific. Also, MEA is further segmented into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, North Africa, Southern Africa, and Rest of MEA, while Latin America is subdivided into Brazil and Rest of Latin America.The PLM market is categorized based on component types into software and services. The market is experiencing implementation of PLM software in both on-premise as well as cloud based models. The report further segments both on-premise and cloud-based PLM into various software types including CAD/CAM/CAE (CAx), numerical control (NC), simulation and analysis (S&A), architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), collaborative product definition management (CPDM), digital manufacturing, electronic design automation (EDA), and others. The PLM services market is also subdivided into consulting, integration, and operation & maintenance. This research report provides complete insights into different consumer products and retail end-use application sectors of PLM including footwear, apparel, durables, consumer packaged goods, and others (toys, jewelry, and electronic consumer appliances). The report analyzes each of these segments for various geographical segments considered under the scope of the study.Furthermore, the report analyzes the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the PLM market for consumer products and retail end-use. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of PLM software and services. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided is the market positioning of key players in the global PLM market for consumer products and retail end-use.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering consumer products and retail market and PLM software and services. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The key market players profiled in this study include both software vendors and service providers. The major retail providers profiled include Metro AG, Kroger Company, Carrefour SA, Tesco PLC, Costco Wholesale Corporation, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Consumer products major include Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Amway, Unilever PLC, Procter & Gamble, LOreal Group, Nestle S.A., and PepsiCo, Inc. The major PLM software vendors profiled in the report are Dassault Systemes, PTC, Inc., Autodesk, Inc., SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Gerber Scientific, Inc., Infor, Centric Software, and Selerant Corporation. The major service providers of PLM profiled in the study are IBM Corporation, Accenture PLC, Atos SE, and Hewlett-Packard Company.The Global Consumer Products and Retail Market has been segmented as follows:Consumer Products and Retail Market, by SectorFootwearApparelDurables (Sporting Goods and Furniture)Consumer Packaged GoodsOthers (Toys, Jewelry and Electronic Consumer Appliances)Consumer Products and Retail Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of the North AmericaEuropeEU7 (U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and Netherlands)CISRest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)JapanChinaSouth Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Sri Lanka)Australasia (Australia, NZ & Guinea)Rest of APACMiddle East & Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesNorth AfricaSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of the Latin AmericaPLM Market for Consumer Products and Retail End-use, by ComponentSoftware (On-Premise Software and Cloud-based Software)Services (Consulting, Integration, Operation, & Maintenance)PLM Market for Consumer Products and Retail End-use, by SectorFootwearApparelDurables (Sporting Goods and Furniture)Consumer Packaged GoodsOthers (Toys, Jewelry, and Electronic Consumer Appliances)PLM Market for Consumer Products and Retail End-use, by GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.Rest of the North AmericaEuropeEU7 (U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands)CISRest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)JapanChinaSouth Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Sri Lanka)Australasia (Australia, NZ & Guinea)Rest of APACMiddle East & Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesNorth AfricaSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of the Latin AmericaBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Aerial Refueling Pumps Sales Report 2017 with Global Research and Analysis

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"Global Aerial Refueling Pumps Sales Market Report 2017" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.. .Description-' 'In this report, the global Aerial Refueling Pumps market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Aerial Refueling Pumps for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChina. .Get Sample Report With TOC @' 'EuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Aerial Refueling Pumps market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Aerial Refueling Pumps sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingEatonZODIAC AEROSPACECobhamAir ForceHeroes Support NetworkAIAAMusthane...On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into50 GPM Model100 GPM ModelOtherOn 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 of Aerial Refueling Pumps for each application, includingAerospaceDefenceOthers. .Report Enquiry and Other Query @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Global In-flight Autopilot Systems Market to reach US$8.4 bn by 2021, Fueled by Rise in Number of Air Passengers

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global In-flight Autopilot Systems Market to reach US$8.4 bn by 2021, Fueled by Rise in Number of Air Passengers" to its huge collection of research reports.In-flight autopilot systems are nowadays finding application in all kinds of aircrafts in order to enhance the operational efficiency during the flight. The major usage of in-flight autopilot systems is to guide and control an aircraft without any direct assistance from the pilot. The global in-flight autopilot systems market has been segmented on the basis of system type, aircraft type, application and geography. A broad cross sectional study of the global in-flight autopilot systems market across geographical segments has also been covered under the scope of the study.The growing focus among various airline companies towards improving upon the operational efficiency of the aircraft is one of the primary factors responsible for fuelling the demand for in-flight autopilot systems market. Autopilot systems enhance the operational efficiency of the aircrafts by not only lowering the fuel consumption of the aircraft but also improving the safety of the aircraft.Moreover, in-flight autopilot systems also lower the fuel consumption of the aircraft which is further contributing to the growth of the market. In addition, the demand for in-flight autopilot systems is also expected to be high throughout the forecast period as a result of the growing need of automation of the aircrafts. Improving upon the navigational accuracy of the aircraft is another factor driving the demand for such systems. However, the in-flight autopilot system market is a niche market where only a limited number of manufacturers operate, as a result of which the cost of these systems are high, which in turn acts as a barrier for the growth of the market. Autopilot systems comprise a range of robust and complex equipments and are laden with wide variety of features. As a result of its complexity there is a high cost of maintenance involved which further impacts the market negatively.Recent trends have shown that the various manufacturers of in-flight autopilot systems are constantly engaged in research and development activities in order to improve the performance of the aircraft and also making it fuel efficient by equipping the aircraft with the most advanced versions of autopilot systems. The in-flight autopilot systems market is also witnessing trends such as technological advancements which has enabled its integration with complex systems, and is expected to fuel its demand in the military and commercial aircrafts. Autopilot systems are also used more often in long air routes in order to minimize human intervention and thus reducing the pilots fatigue.The competitive profiling of the key players in the global in-flight systems market and their market shares across four major geographic regions which include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (RoW) has been exhaustively covered under the purview of the study. Moreover, the distinct business strategies that have been adopted by the major players in the market have also been included in the report. For providing a detailed insight into the global in-flight systems market, the market attractive analysis has been provided in the report.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @A comprehensive analysis of market dynamics, which include the market drivers, restraints and opportunities, is included under the scope of the report. Market dynamics are the distinctive factors that influence the growth of the specific market and therefore help to study the current trends in the global market. Thus, this report provides an inclusive study of the global in-flight systems market and also provides the forecast of the market for the period from 2015-2021.Some of the major players in the market are Rockwell Collins, Inc. (U.S.), Airware, Inc. (U.S.), Garmin Ltd. (Switzerland), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), L-3 Communication Holding Inc., (U.S.), BAE Systems, Plc (U.S.), Cloud Cap Technology Inc (U.S.), MicroPilot Inc., (Canada) and Genesys Aerosystems Group, Inc., (U.S.) among others.The global in-flight systems market market has been segmented into:In-flight autopilot systems market, by System typeFlight Director SystemAttitude and Heading Reference SystemAvionics SystemsFlight Control SystemOthersIn-flight autopilot systems market, by Aircraft typeRotary Wings AircraftFixed-Wing AircraftIn-flight autopilot systems market, by ApplicationCommercial AircraftsMilitary AircraftsCivilian AircraftsIn-flight autopilot systems market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeUnited KingdomFranceGermanyItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Mobile Medical Apps Market Industry Analysis, Size, Share & Forecast, 2010 - 2017

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"The Report Mobile Medical Apps Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share & Forecast, 2010 - 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Smart phones and other mobile apps are largely used in various areas of healthcare like health education, health management, data management, health information, and relative workflow processes.Get Sample copy of this Report @ Variety of mobile phone apps have been developed to monitor the health of patients and provide the relative data to physicians. The modern age technology is driving the market growth as it saves time and proves much beneficial in providing medical care to patients in remote areas.Healthcare industry has exhibited the need for such innovative technologies. Smart phones are playing a vital role in healthcare industry by making medical services easier and even replacing some of the work that would have previously been done on laptops or desktop computers.The worldwide market for mobile medical apps is growing significantly in developed economies like US and Europe as a significant number of healthcare professionals are using mobile phone medical applications in everyday business activities. Compared to other mobile phone apps segments, there is sluggish growth in popularity of medical apps; however, it is expected to grow rapidly in the coming few years due to increasing dependence on medical apps for patient health monitoring.Market Segmentation Based on ProductEpocratesMedscape MobileiRadiologyNursing CentralCare360 MobileSTAT ICD-9 LITENetter's Atlas of Human AnatomyEMR apps.View Report @ Market Segmentation Based on ApplicationNursing ToolsDrug ReferencesStudy Tools (includes games and flashcards)Medical ReferenceClinical Support SystemsResearch report on mobile medical apps market analyzes this industry based on its market segments and major geographies. Geographies analyzed under this report areNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the WorldThis research report also includes complete analysis of current market trends, industry drivers, factors limiting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for upcoming years. The Report also provides analysis of recent technological developments in this industry, Porters five force model analysis, and complete company profiles of top industry players.This report includes review of micro and macro factors significant for existing market players and new entrants with value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @Major PlayersSome of the major players dominating this industry are Apple Inc., Blackberry, Android, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Panasonic, Huawei, and others.Reasons for Buying this ReportIt provides overview of major market forces driving and restraining market growthIt provides complete analysis of major competitors and their business strategiesThis research report provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead in the competitionThe report provides technological growth map over time and explains its impact on industryIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of latest market trendsThe report provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsThe report helps in clearly understanding the competitive environment and key product segmentsCheck Discount @ About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Optical Amplifiers Market With Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2023

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Optical Amplifiers Market With Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.Optical amplifiers are a key technology used for optical communication. It is a device used to amplify any input optical signal without the need to first transform it into an electronic signal. Together with the technology of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) which allows the communication of various channels over the same optical fiber, now it is possible to transmit many terabits of data covering a distance of few hundred kilometers to transoceanic distances with the help of optical amplifiers. Generally an optical communication comprises of a transmitter and a receiver connected with an optical fiber. Although the signals transmitted through optical fiber suffer far less disturbances than in other mediums like copper, there is always distance of 100 kilometers a signal can travel before the signal becomes too noisy.Before the introduction of optical amplifiers, it was mandatory to regenerate the optical signals every 80-100 km in order to attain transmission over long distances. It includes receiving of optical signal, cleaning and amplifying it electronically and then again transmitting it over the next segment of communication link. Optical amplifier made it possible to amplify together all the WDM channels, their bit rate, modulation format and protocols which are completely transparent to all the communication channels. So, multiple components which are required for regeneration of electronic signals can be replaced with the help of a single optical fiber.Constant availability of 100Gbps devices and massive increase in the internet traffic over the communication network is playing the role of key drivers in the optical amplifiers market. The growth of internet traffic comes from the fact that everything is going mobile nowadays with the growth of various smart phones and tablets providing universal connectivity. This results in demand of different optical components in order to ensure smooth communication over the network consisting of lakhs of users.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @There are primarily two types of optical amplifiers, semiconductor laser amplifiers and fiber amplifiers. Semiconductor laser amplifier is further divided into Travelling wave amplifier (TWA) and Fabry-perot amplifier. Fiber amplifiers include Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA).Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) are basically laser diodes which can amplify any optical signal coming from either side of the fiber-end and send the amplified version of the signal out of the fiber attached through the other end. They are constructed in a small package and transmit bidirectional reducing the size of a device. However, it has some limitations which include high coupling loss, dependence of polarization and a high noise figure. It requires very high quality of anti-reflective coatings. Fiber amplifiers are silica fibers doped with an earth element Erbium. It consists of a reliable and compact high power semiconductor pump lasers which is used for fast communications over the large area of network. Further, it introduces no crosstalk when amplifying the WDM signals.The opportunity of this market lies in the 4G facilities which are gradually being introduced by various mobile telecom companies in order to reduce the internet traffic and deliver the best communication services to all the mobile operators across the globe. Also, the optical amplifiers see strong potential in the field of laser physics involving all the quantum mechanics and photonics instrumentation. The key players in the market include Finisar corp., Avago technologies Ltd, Furukawa co. Ltd., NEC corporation, Sumitomo Heavy industries, Ltd., and Source Photonics., Inc., among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Nuclear Medicine Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Nuclear Medicine Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Nuclear medicine uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases. Nuclear medicine helps uncover medical information that is not easily available, or requires surgery or expensive and invasive diagnostic tests. It aids in unearthing symptoms at a very early stage of a disease. Nuclear medicine helps treat different types of diseases such as various forms of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological disorders, and other abnormalities within the body.A report by Transparency Market Research studies the global market for nuclear medicine in-depth by factoring in historic and current data. It also presents a qualitative analysis of the factors stoking growth in the market or hindering its progress. The report profiles the prominent names operating in the market and their growth strategies. It leverages market-leading analytical tools to understand the opportunities and threats awaiting them.Global Nuclear Medicine Market: Trends and OpportunitiesAt the forefront of driving growth in the global market for nuclear medicine is the rising instances of different diseases and a thriving healthcare industry trying to meet the pressing demands for accurate and efficient medicinal scans. The increasing occurrence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases and the consequent demand for photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) as well radiopharmaceuticals has been propelling the market too.On the flip side, expensiveness of the process, regulatory bottlenecks, and inadequate stock of nuclear medicine has been deterring growth in the market. Some of the noticeable trends in the market are partnerships for formulating nuclear medicine, increasing investment in research and development, and production based on cyclotron. All these factors will help in overcoming the myriad roadblocks to the markets growth.Depending upon the types of products available, the global market for nuclear medicine can be segmented into radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine equipment, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET). Among them, the radiopharmaceuticals dominate in terms of demand and going forward too is predicted to retain their leading position due to increasing use of radioactive pharmaceutical drugs as nuclear imaging agents.Depending upon application, the global market for nuclear medicine can be classified into neurology, oncology, and cardiology. Depending upon end user again, it can be segmented into diagnostic centers, hospitals, and research centers.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Nuclear Medicine Market: Regional OutlookFrom a geographical standpoint, North America is considered the most attractive market because of a highly developed healthcare infrastructure and swift uptake of cutting-edge technology. Europe is another key region that follows North America in terms of demand. However, vis-a-vis growth in demand, Asia Pacific is predicted to outshine all other regions in the upcoming years, powered primarily by Japan, China, Australia, and India  nations where a lot of funds are being funneled into research and development. The massive population, growing instances of neurological and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer, is also contributing to the growth in the market in Asia Pacific.Companies Mentioned in the ReportTo assess the competition prevailing in the global market for nuclear medicine, the report profiles companies such as Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., Eczacibasi-Monrol Nuclear Products, Bayer AG, Mallinckrodt plc, GE Healthcare, Nordion, Inc., IBA Molecular Imaging, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., and Bracco Imaging S.p.A.To This report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this reportOverview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Digital Cameras Market Industry Analysis, Market Size, Market Share And Forecasts 2012 - 2018

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"The Report Digital Cameras Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Market Share And Forecasts, 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The worldwide digital camera market is projected to grow to 138 million units by the year 2015 attributed by increasing demand for digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras.Get Sample copy of this Report @Demand for digital SLR cameras is expected to witness significant growth in Asia Pacific due to the increasing income levels and growing prosperity of consumers.Digital cameras represent one of the most popular segments of consumer electronics products market and it has benefited immensely from digitization of consumer electronics products. The global economic downturn hampered the growth of this sector during the past few years; however, with global economy recovering from economic recession, this industry is expected to witness significant growth with more number of people buying digital SLR cameras. Increased competition and growing income levels of consumers are equally responsible for driving the demand of digital cameras in the global market. Technological advancements like introduction of touch screen technology and HD quality in cameras is also contributing to the rise in sales of compact digital cameras.The US, Europe, and Asia Pacific are the major contributors to the digital camera industry accounting for the lions share. With global economic recovery and US and Europe exhibiting mature market conditions, India, China, and Russian markets are offering potential growth opportunities for manufacturers of digital cameras.Purchase of new cameras is likely to be influenced by incorporation of new technologies like touch screen user interface, high definition video, wireless connectivity, advanced image detection, and improved zoom lenses among others.Single lens reflex (SLR) camera is the rapidly growing segment of this market as it offers better photograph quality. Digital single lens reflex cameras are offering vast growth opportunities because of digitization, falling prices, easy usage, and robust demand in growing markets.View Report @Market Segmentation Based on TypeCompact Digital CamerasBridge CamerasMirror-less Interchangeable-lens CamerasDigital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) CamerasDigital RangefindersLine-scan Camera SystemsIntegrationWaterproofThis research report on the digital cameras market, analyzes the market based on its segments and major geographies. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report is a comprehensive study of current market trends, growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for upcoming years. The report also includes analysis of recent technological developments in this market, Porters five force model analysis, and complete company profiles of top industry players. The report also provides review of micro and macro factors significant with respect to existing market players and new entrants with value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @Major PlayersSome of the major players dominating this market are Canon Corporation, Casio Corporation, Eastman Kodak, FujiFilm, Japan Victor Company (JVC), Kyocera, Matsushita (Panasonic), Minolta, Olympus Corporation, Polaroid, Ricoh, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony Corporation, Hewlett Packard Company, and others.Reasons for buying this reportThis research report provides forward looking perspective of major factors driving and restraining market growthIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market trendsThis report provides clear understanding of key product segments and changing competition dynamicsIt provides complete analysis of major competitors and their strategiesThe report provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsIt provides up-to-date analysis of recent technological improvements in industry and helps you stay updatedCheck Discount @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Warm Air Heaters Market Size Share - Industry Trends 2018

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"The Latest Research Report Warm Air Heaters Market - Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis And Forecast, 2012 - 2018 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Warm air heating is the recent replacement for traditional methods of water heating systems within the industrial arena. Warm air heaters are now largely becoming popular in residential areas with their increasing use in home heating applications and a number of other residential applications. The global market for warm air heaters is expected to witness significant growth in the coming few years with tremendous growth potential in new installations.Get Sample Copy of this report @Warm air heaters force the air around the building and are used in industries and public spaces to increase efficiency by saving up to 20% energy. These systems are also referred to as HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).The warm air heaters and air conditioning systems market was valued at approximately USD 10.8 billion in 2009 which grew and reached the value of USD 24.5 billion in 2010 with gross profit of 28.64%. Warm air heating systems are expected to witness growing demand as a result of their increasing use in a number of industrial applications, and power generation, building heating, and process applications.View Report @The global market for warm air heaters is classified based on type as follows:Convection heatersRadiant heatersForced air heatersDirect fired heatersIndirect fired heatersElectric forced air heatersBased on the end use application, warm air heating systems are categorized asIndustrialPower generationProcessTunnelsPortable buildingsWarm air heating equipments are in growing demand in developed economies like North America and Europe owing to the rising use of these equipments in portable building and other residential applications. This industry is geographically distributed throughout the US, with Florida, Texas, and California having the largest number of industries. Florida remained the largest revenue generator for warm air heaters industry in the year 2010 accounting for about 22% of the total revenue generated by the US. This industry is also witnessing considerable growth rate in emerging economies like India and China due to growing use of air heating equipments in industrial applications.Send An Enquiry Request @Growth of warm air heaters market is also expected to be driven by sales through non-traditional channels like Internet and changing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations (as phasing out of old refrigerants resulted in increased demand for replacement units). Restaurants, supermarkets, and high rise buildings are also expected to contribute significantly in the growth of this market.Some of the major players in the warm air heating market are AmbiRad Limited, Reznor UK, Dantherm A/S, Kroll UK Ltd., Kroll UK Ltd, Winterwarm BV, and others.With tremendous growth potential for this industry, more number of players are entering this industry, thus creating competition which is resulting in the development of new products with technological improvements.Check Discount This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global OTC Orthopedic Braces Market is expected to touch $1.33 Billion by 2021 | Market Data Forecast

Global OTC Orthopedic Braces Market

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The Global OTC Orthopedic Braces Market is estimated to be growing from 1.05 billion in 2016 at a CAGR of 4.8%, to reach USD 1.33 billion by 2021. The market is showing high growth potential in the mentioned period. It will continue to expand with the recent developments in medical sector.Browse more details @Orthopedic braces are the medical devices which help in supporting and controlling the various joints of the body. The braces can be worn on knee, hip, ankle, back, neck, elbow, fingers, and wrist. Orthopedic braces regulate the position of limbs and initiate specific movement or motion in the body. Also, the braces can be used to compensate for muscles which are low in strength and to rectify structural abnormalities. Orthopedic braces are for diagnosis of cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and to treat with effects caused by stroke. Braces are also worn for getting extra support to avoid injuries on the joints. Athletes particularly wear braces to provide shock absorbance and to avoid injuries.The increasing popularity of orthopedic braces among the elder population, growing prevalence of bone-degenerative disorders, commercialization of the orthopedic bracing industry, and easy availability of OTC orthopedic brace, increasing inclination towards practicing sports, developing e-commerce websites, and wide usage of orthopedic braces for preventive care are the factors driving the growth of the global market. However, inclination of patients towards alternative treatments, insufficient reimbursement scenarios of OTC orthopedic brace and supports, doubtful efficacy of orthopedic braces and not being able to provide customization for OTC orthopedic braces are the key constraints for global OTC orthopedic brace market.Download Free Sample Report @The Global OTC Orthopedic Braces market is broadly categorized on the basis of Product into Lower Extremity Braces, Knee Braces, Foot & Ankle Braces, Upper Extremity Braces, Shoulder Braces, Elbow Braces, Wrist Braces, Back & Hip Braces and Other Braces. Based on Indication, the market is segmented into Prophylactic, Injury, Osteoarthritis (OA) and Other Indications. The prophylactic braces segment is expected to hold the largest share of the global OTC orthopedic braces market in 2016 owing to increased participation in sports, studies proving the efficacy of prophylactic braces in decreasing the injuries, and increased awareness.On the basis of region the global market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle-East and Africa. North America holds the biggest market share in the global OTC orthopedic braces market as of 2016 and is followed by Europe. However, the Asia-Pacific market is predicted to register the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021.Some of the major competitors dominating the global OTC Orthopedic Braces market are DJO Finance LLC, DeRoyal Industries Inc, Breg, Inc, Bauerfeind AG, BSN Medical, Otto Bock HealthCare, Medi GmbH & Co. KG, Thuasne Group and 3M Company.Market Segmentation :1) Product2) IndicationInquire before buying @Scope of the Report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketFor more information, kindly visit,Contact us:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail:abhishek@marketdataforecast.comVisit Market Data Forecast Blog @View latest Press Releases of MDF @Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialties with competitive pricing options.531/MIG-II, Rd Number 1, Kukatpally Housing Board Colony, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072.
Global Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN) Market Forecast And Analysis (2012 - 2017): By Technology, Components, Applications, Geography

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"The Report Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN) Market - Global Forecast, Analysis (2012 - 2017): By Technology, Components, Applications, Geography provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The industrial wireless sensor networks market is forecasted to grow and reach the market value of USD 3,975.38 million at the compounded annual growth rate of 15.59% by the year 2017.Get Sample copy of this Report @ Growth of this market is driven by increasing use of wireless sensors in number of industrial applications like process automation, security, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). There are number of physical quantities required to be measured in the processing world. Some common parameters include temperature, pressure, level, and flow. Other wireless sensors used in manufacturing and process control include position sensors, proximity, image, and security sensors among others.With the increasing usage of wireless sensor networks in industries like oil and gas, food and beverages, automotives, chemicals, metal and mining, and others, this market is expected to grow significantly in the near future in developed countries.America holds the largest market share of industrial wireless sensor networks industry due to the presence of a number of industries in this region. With the focus on increasing the overall market revenue, most companies are targeting industrial segments in Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (ROW). Major players of this industry are taking advantage by collaborating with local players to setup their markets in these regions. Because of the high rate of adoption, many market players are launching new customized products to local application industries.View Report @ Market Segmentation Based on TechnologyWirelessHARTISA100.11a6loWPANProprietaryMarket Segmentation Based on TechnologyOil & GasWater and WastewaterFood & BeveragesAutomotivePowerChemicalsMetal & MiningPharmaceuticalsPaper and PulpOthers (Textile, Cement, Printing and Packaging etc)This research report on industrial wireless sensor networks market analyzes this market based on its market segments and major geographies. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the WorldThis research report is a comprehensive analysis of current market trends, industry growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for upcoming years. Research report also provides analysis of recent technological developments in this market, Porters five force model analysis, and complete company profiles of top industry players. Report includes review of micro and macro factors significant with respect to existing market players and new entrants with value chain analysis.Request for Enquiry @ Market PlayersSome of the major players dominating this market are Emerson (U.S.), GE Energy (U.S.), Honeywell (U.S.), ABB (Switzerland), Endress+Hauser (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Yokogawa (Japan), Yamatake (Japan), Invensys (U.K.), Mitsubishi (Japan), and others.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis research report provides overview of major market forces responsible for driving and restraining market growthIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market trendsThe report provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsIt provides up-to-date analysis of latest market trends and keeps you updated with technological changes in industryThe report provides technological growth map over time and explains its impact on marketCheck Discount @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
We protect the National Pantheon of the Heroes in Paraguay against lightning

The National Pantheon of the Heroes and Oratory of the Virgin Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de la Asuncion is an emblematic building located in the capital city of Paraguay which, at the moment, is under restoration.Due to its great architectural and patrimonial value, guaranteeing the safety of this construction is essential and that is why the building has been equipped with an ESE lightning arrestor from Aplicaciones Tecnologicas. This lightning rod is certified according to the current regulations and is completely autonomous allowing for in situ verification status.The monument, built in the 19th century, is the mausoleum of the country, where the mortal remains of some country's heroes in history were laid to rest. Due to this it is part of the points of tourism interest of the city of Asuncion and now, thanks to the products of Aplicaciones Tecnologicas, is protected against atmospheric discharges.In At3w we design and manufacture of ese terminals, surge protection devices, storm detectors, earthing systems and exothermic welding.Aplicaciones Tecnologicas SAParque Tecnologico de Valencia C/Nicolas Copernico, 446980 PaternaValencia ESPANATel: (+34) 96 131 82 50Fax: (+34) 96 131 82 06
Global Digital English Language Learning Market Expected To Reach At A CAGR Of 23.36% For The Period From 2017 - 2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Digital English Language Learning Market Expected To Reach At A CAGR Of 23.36% For The Period From 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.English is spoken by more than one billion people worldwide and is the second most popular language to learn after Mandarin. ELT programs are gaining momentum because of globalization, urbanization, and the desire for better education and employment opportunities. With the advent of the Internet, information and communications technology (ICT) tools are being used to provide learning content in digital formats. Digital English language learning comprises digital content and products that facilitate the learning of languages through ICT tools. These include mobile apps, activities, e-Books, games, videos, audio clips, digital software, learning lab equipment, and online tutoring. These tools are interactive, allow real-time feedback, and enhance learning processes as they involve different formats.Technavios analysts forecast the global digital english language learning market to grow at a CAGR of 23.36% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global digital english language learning market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of the digital English language learning products and services provided by the language learning institutions, and online language learning service providers.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeNorth AmericaROWTechnavio's report, Global Digital English Language Learning Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsBerlitz LanguagesPearson ELTSanako CorporationEF Education FirstTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsInlinguaHoughton Mifflin HarcourtLearnCubeMcGraw-Hill EducationOnwards LearningOKpandaOxford University PressRosetta StoneTransparent LanguageVoxyMarket driverSignificant upsurge in demand from organizations.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeExtensive use of wearable technology for language learning.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIncreased implementation of language cloud services.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
System Integration Services Market 2017 Trends, Growth and Forecast to 2021

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Businesses worldwide depend on software and technology integration solutions to achieve seamless operations and drive revenue growth. While innovative IT applications and integrated solutions have enriched business functions, IT departments are implementing relevant measures and upgrades to smoothen the IT and business operations. The companies seek integrated IT infrastructure solutions that are agile, resilient, secure, and cost-effective. It enables rapid integration of different processes, systems, services, information, and devices to enhance the overall business performance.Publisher's analysts forecast the global system integration services market to grow at a CAGR of 8.02% during the period 2017-2021.For more information about this report:Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global system integration services market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from system integration services in the global market.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAPublisher's report, Global System Integration Services Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Accenture- CSC- Fujitsu- HPE- IBMRequest Sample Copy atOther prominent vendors- Atos- BT Global Services- Capgemini- CGI- Cisco Systems- CMS IT Services (A Blackstone Portfolio Company)- Infosys- Microsoft- MuleSoft- NEC- WiproMarket driver- Need for converged ICT infrastructure- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Technical issues and delay in integrating large-scale IT projects- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Increased adoption of cloud-based integration solutions- For a full, detailed list, view our reportInquire for Report atContact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comOrganization: ReportsWebPhone: +1-646-491-9876ReportsWeb.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.Pune, India
Smart Pole Market Future Forecast Assessed On The Basis Of How The Market Is Predicted To Grow

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Initiatives taken by the government in various countries has led to upsurge in demand for the global Smart Poles Market. In addition, growing need for monitoring the roads and routes for traffic management is projected to impact growth of the global market of smart pole positively. According to Transparency Market Research, the global market of smart pole is projected to register a CAGR of 13.7% through 2022.Factors Fuelling Growth of the Global MarketGrowth of the global smart poles market is mainly bound to various micro-economic and macro-economic factors. Growing need to monitor the traffic and prevent accidents has led to an upsurge in demand for the smart poles. Manufacturers are increasingly installing the smart poles as they are equipped with smart cameras and enable traffic management conveniently. In addition, as the smart poles are equipped with features such as smart sensors, the end users can easily monitor the weather conditions and unprecedented accidents. Moreover, the smart poles are also equipped with announcement speakers, public charging points and internet connectivity, which is expected to rev up adoption of smart poles globally. These factors are expected to propel growth of the global market of smart pole during the forecast period.Sample With Latest Advancements @Furthermore, government in developing countries are taking initiatives to implement the smart city plan, which is projected to fuel adoption of smart poles globally. Attributed to features such as access to the internet connectivity and sensors in these poles, various disconnected regions can conveniently connect with the developed regions. Smart poles mainly run on solar batteries and is energy efficient as compared to the conventional street light poles. Bound to these factors, government in various countries continue to encourage installation of smart poles. Several market players in the commercial industry can bank on the lucrative opportunity of offering their services in the disconnected regions in the commercial industry attributed to increasing internet connectivity. These factors will continue to rev up adoption of the smart poles in the global market during the forecast period.However, smart poles need increasing maintenance requirement as they operate on solar power. The conventional street light poles require comparatively low initial investment as they mainly function on electricity. Extreme climatic conditions such as moisture, dust and snow can disrupt the functioning of these poles. Attributed to these factors, sales of the smart poles is likely to dip in the backward region of the country. As the smart poles are mainly wireless, the risk of theft continues to remain high. These factors are projected to inhibit growth of the global market of smart pole throughout the forecast period.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @Adoption of Sensors to Remain High in the Smart PolesGrowing need for traffic management, tracking weather conditions and on-road accidents has led to an upsurge in demand for sensors in the global market. By component, the sensor segment is projected to witness a relatively high growth in terms of revenue, accounting for more than US$ 1,000 Mn by 2022-end. Moreover, the sensor segment is projected to reflect a relatively high CAGR in the global market of smart pole through 2022.In terms of revenue, the retrofit installation type segment is projected to witness robust growth, accounting for more than US$ 1,000 Mn by 2017-end. Through 2022, the new installment segment will continue to reflect the fastest growth in the global market of smart pole. On the basis of application, revenue growth of the highway & roads segment is projected to remain high. The highway & roads segment is projected to represent more than US$ 1,000 Mn in the global market by 2022-end. However, adoption of smart poles will continue to witness the fastest adoption in the public places as compared to the other applications.Browse Our Table of Content @Market PlayersMajor players in the global market of smart pole are Telensa Limited, Lumca, Inc, Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., Philips Lighting Holding B.V, Maven Systems Pvt. Ltd, Neptun Light, Inc, Streetscape International LLC, Ericsson Inc, Sunna Design, SA and Shanghai Sansi technology Co., LTD.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Optical Brighteners Market Recent Industry Developments And Growth Strategies Adopted By Players

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In the highly consolidated global Optical Brighteners Market, the top four vendors, including BASF SE, AkzoNobel N.V., Huntsman Corporation, and Eastman Chemical Company, accounted for over 54% share in the market in 2015, states TMR in a recent report. BASF SE, the leading company of these four, accounted for nearly 22% of the market in the same year.Key players in the market are focusing on expansion across lucrative emerging markets in Asia Pacific. BASF SE, for example, inaugurated a new research and development center in Navi Mumbai, India in March 2015; it already has a sprawling chemical production complex at Dahej in Gujarat, India. Mergers and acquisitions with specialty chemical manufacturers in developing regions, focus on the production of organic products, and production of quality intermediates are among other prominent strategies adopted by key vendors in the market.Sample With Latest Advancements @Booming Textile and Cosmetics Industries to Provide Substantial Growth OpportunitiesThe textile industry is one of the most prominent consumers of a variety of optical brighteners. In the past few years, the flourishing growth achieved by the textile industry, especially across emerging economies such as India and China, has greatly influenced the total global demand for optical brighteners. According to the Indian Ministry of Textiles, the textile industry in the country is expected to expand at a strong CAGR of 11% over the period between 2009 and 2020, aiding the increased consumption of optical brighteners in the Asia Pacific market.The market for optical brighteners is also expected to substantially benefit from the booming cosmetic industry globally. Rising disposable incomes and a vast surge in the global demand for skincare and suncare products have encouraged the growth of the global cosmetics market in the past few years. Being another prominent consumer of optical brighteners, the growth of the cosmetics industry has in turn also boosted the overall global intake of optical brighteners.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @Stringent Government Regulations and Declining Paper Industry to Hinder Markets GrowthStringent government regulations pertaining to the usage or exclusion of certain chemicals in consumer products owing to their potential health hazards on the user have resulted in complete bans on certain chemicals or have restricted the usage per product of some. This has significantly affected the global market for optical brighteners in the past few years.Along with this, the declining paper industry has also had severe implications on the overall development of the global optical brighteners market. The rising use of smart technologies such as computers, smartphones, and tablets across a number of industrial applications and processes have significantly reduced the amount of paper that was traditionally required to maintain records. The paper industry being one of the key consumer of optical brighteners, decline in its growth prospects has also dented growth opportunities of the global optical brighteners market.View Report @Asia Pacific to Play Pivotal Part in Growth of Global Optical Brighteners MarketTransparency Market Research states that the market will exhibit a 4.1% CAGR from 2015 through 2023. At this pace, the market, which had a valuation of US$1.12 bn in 2014, is expected to rise to US$1.71 bn by 2023. In terms of volume, the market is expected to expand at a 3.8% CAGR over the said period. Of the key chemicals used as optical brighteners, the segment of stilbene accounted for over 65% of the global market in 2014 and is expected to retain its dominance in the next few years as well. Geography-wise, Asia Pacific accounted for a 38% of the global markets revenues in 2014.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Market: New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, Manufacturing Execution System Market was valued at USD 7,860.5 Million in 2014; and is expected to reach USD 19,364.7 Million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2015 to 2023.Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are integrated software application aimed to provide manufacturing industries with the means to schedule and plan, direct and operate, and track and analyze their operations. Presently, manufacturing industries are experiencing increasing overhead and material costs. In addition, intense economic conditions are compelling manufacturers to surge production in a cost effective way.Sample With Latest Advancements @This in turn is leading to rising need for implementation of industrial control systems aimed to optimize processes and provide better visibility of the shop floor. Need for quicker turnarounds and efficient utilization of resources or inventories is further driving the need for automation in industries. MES solutions offers real-time information of the shop floor, allowing end user industries to quickly response to any challenge that could negatively impact efficiency, productivity and quality. In addition, MES solutions offer uninterrupted visibility into production operations, gaining an overall view of the shop floor. Demand for industrial automation, better visibility of the shop floor and need for real-time control and adjustments to operations is driving the demand for manufacturing execution system (MES).However, requirement of high initial investment upfront, end user industries are often reluctant to install MES, which in turn is posing as a major factor restraining the market growth. Moreover, rising complexities in manufacturing industries is leading to complexities in installation of MES, further limiting the growth of the MES market. Growth opportunities for key players in the MES market lies in increasing penetration of industrial internet of things (IoT), which in turn is leading to rising demand for next-generation advanced MES solutions across the globe.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @The global manufacturing execution system (MES) market is categorized based on process and discrete industry. Process industry includes oil and gas, chemical, food and beverages, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, energy and power, water and wastewater treatment and others. Other process industry segment includes textiles, and steel and aluminum. In 2014, oil and gas segment contributed the majority of the global MES market share by process industry in terms of revenue.Based on discrete industry, the global manufacturing execution system (MES) market is segmented into automotive, aerospace and defense, electronics and electrical, medical devices, FMCG, and others. Others segment includes semiconductors, furniture & wood products, and printing and publishing. Amongst discrete industry, automotive segment held the majority of the market share in terms of revenue in 2014. Surge in installation of MES in automotive industry to meet increasing demand for faster time to market is driving the growth of the segment.View Report @Geographically, North America led the manufacturing execution system (MES) market in 2015. Growth in this region is attributed to the rising need for advanced MES in industries aimed at integrating data from ERP and routing the information to plant floor for efficient operation. Europe followed North America and held the second largest market share in terms of revenue in 2014. Asia Pacific region closely followed Europe region and is anticipated to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.Key players have also been profiled on the basis of company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments in the field of manufacturing execution system (MES) industry. Major market participants profiled in this report include ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Schneider Electric S.E. (France), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Emersion Electric Co. (U.S.), General Electric Co. (U.S.), and SAP SE (Germany) among others.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Circuit Breakers and Fuses Market: New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Circuit Breakers and Fuses Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021, the circuit breakers and fuses market was valued at USD 20.75 billion in 2014, which is expected to reach USD 31.11 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 6% from 2015 to 2021.Circuit breakers are electric switches which operate automatically to protect the electric circuit from damage by turning itself on/off when faced with overload or short circuit. The basic function of the circuit breaker is to identify any malfunctioning and breakup in the current flow. Whereas fuses are a kind of low resistance resistor which acts as a sacrificial appliance designed to protect overcorrect protection from either load or short circuit.Sample With Latest Advancements @Growth of industrial and construction industry in emerging markets and increasing demand for electricity and reliable power delivery are factors driving the circuit breakers and fuses market. Moreover, electronic devices are vulnerable to failure due to power fluctuations. Private agencies and governments around the world have recommended and mandated the incorporation of device protection components such as fuses and circuit breakers in electronic devices.Geographically the circuit breakers and fuses market has been broadly segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). In 2014 North America was the largest contributor in the circuit breaker and fuses market. The North America market accounted for 34.8% of the total market share. The market for circuit breakers and fuses in North America is likely to grow significantly in the future due to rising demand for electricity.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @The global circuit breaker and fuses market is segmented by the voltage level of installation into low, medium and high voltage circuit breakers. By arc quenching media type the circuit breaker market can be segmented into air, vacuum, oil and SF6 circuit breakers. Further, the fuses market is segmented into low voltage fuses and high voltage fuses. The low voltage fuses are further segmented into Plug-in fuses and cartridge fuses. The low voltage circuit breakers were a major contributor in the global circuit breakers and fuses market in 2014. This growth is attributed to vast and rapid development of power grids.The global circuit breaker and fuses market by industrial application has been segmented into: construction, automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, power generation, healthcare and military. The power generation segment was the largest contributor in the circuit breakers and fuses market. In 2014 the power generation segment amounted for USD 5.41 billion. There is growth in demand for efficient and smart power generation which is required to address the futuristic demand for electricity. As power generation increases, the market for protection devices such as circuit breakers and fuses is expected to grow.View Report @Key players in the circuit breakers and fuses market are ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Alstom SA. (France), Eaton Corporation (Ireland), G&W Electrics Company (U.S), General Electric Corp. (U.S), Siemens AG (Germany), Schneider Electrics SE (France), Pennsylvania Breaker LLC (U.S.), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Maxwell Technologies Ltd (U.S.) and Mitsubishi Electric (Japan) among others. This report provides strategic analysis of the circuit breaker and fuses market and the growth forecast for the period 2015 to 2021. The report covers competitive analysis of various market segments based on the type of circuit breakers and fuses, industry applications and in depth cross section analysis of circuit breakers and fuses market across different geographic segments.About UsTransparency 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e 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, chemical, 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, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Food Grade Glycine Market Report 2017 - Evonik, Showa Denko KK, Chattem Chemicals, Paras Intermediates

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Food Grade Glycine Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Food Grade Glycine Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Food Grade Glycine industry, and estimates the future trend of Food Grade Glycine market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Food Grade Glycine Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportEvonikShowa Denko KKChattem ChemicalsParas IntermediatesAjinomotoGEO Specialty ChemicalsLinxi HongtaiNewtrend GroupThe market research report explores the Food Grade Glycine market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Food Grade Glycine Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Food Grade Glycine market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Food Grade Glycine. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Food Grade Glycine market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Food Grade Glycine is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Food Grade Glycine market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Food Grade Glycine market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Food Grade Glycine market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Food Grade Glycine production volume, data pertaining to demand and Food Grade Glycine supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Food Grade Glycine along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Food Grade Glycine across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
Kombucha Market Global Trends, Key Vendors, Drivers, Profits & Analysis, Forecast to 2023

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Market OverviewManuka honey is produced from the nectar of the manuka tree and is manufactured only in New Zealand and Australia. Due to the anti-bacterial properties of manuka honey, they are used majorly for medicinal purpose. The strong flavor and sweetness of manuka honey make them a potential sweetener and table sugar replacer. The common practice of usage of unconventional sweeteners is increasing the popularity of manuka honey globally. Manuka honey is known to contain low fat and hence is gaining its significance amongst the health conscious consumers.The wide application of Manuka Honey in the food industry as well as for medicinal purpose is considered as a major driver for Manuka Honey market. The rich taste of Manuka Honey and its increasing usage as a table sugar alternative also has a positive impact on its market growth. The high nutrient value of Manuka Honey makes its consumption more popular amongst the health conscious consumers. Shift in consumption pattern and adoption of healthy lifestyle has supported the positive growth of Manuka Honey market.On the basis of specialty food type, HFCS-free form is found to hold a major share and is calculated to increase at high rate globally based on the rising awareness about the severe effect of consumption of high fructose corn syrup. However, organic manuka honey due to its chemical free form is also supporting the increased demand of the product from consumers side. The application of manuka honey in for direct consumption is found to hold a major share on a global level followed by medicinal purpose based applications. Amongst the distribution channels for the sale of manuka honey, e-commerce share is projected to increase at a high rate as the product is manufactured only in New Zealand and has less availability in other regions.Request a Sample Copy of Report @These factors will play a key role in the growth of kombucha market at the CAGR of 15% from 2016 to 2022.Competitive Analysis-Major Key Players in Kombucha Market are Buchi Kombucha (U.S.) Gts Kombucha (U.S.) Kombucha Wonder Drink (U.S.) Makana Beverages Inc. (U.S.) Kosmic Kombucha (U.S.) Reeds Inc (U.S.) Kancor Ingredients Limited (India) Nesalla Kombucha (U.S.) Live Soda Kombucha (U.S.) Kevita, Inc. (Canada)Kombucha market is dominated by key manufacturers and very few new players are entering in Kombucha market due to high investment cost required. Key players are focusing on research and development activities to expand their product portfolio.The Global Manuka Honey Market is segmented under the following Regions mentioned below:North America U.S. Canada MexicoEurope Germany France Italy Spain U.K. Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific China India Australia Japan Rest of Asia PacificRest of the world Brazil Argentina Saudi Arabia South Africa OthersRegional Analysis:Global Kombucha Drinks Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, along rest of the world (ROW). North American region has the major market share with U.S and Canada has more number of leading kombucha manufacturers. Growing positive attitudes towards healthy drinks with additional features including herbal ingredients and effervescence is driving the kombucha drinks market growth globally. Kombucha drinks in U.S. and Canada has been significantly growing since last few years. Overall rise in demand for functional beverages is supporting the kombucha drinks market growth.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Composites Market to Exceed USD 7,019.7 Mn by 2022

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According to latest market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Automotive Composites: Polymer Matrix Composites to be the Largest Segment by 2022, the global automotive composites market was valued at US$ 3,062.7 Mn in 2014, which is expected to increase to US$ 7,019.7 Mn by 2022 at a CAGR of 8.8%.Increasing urban population due to rising industrialization, particularly in developing countries such as India and China, is encouraging the establishment of automotive manufacturing facilities in these regions. Increasing automobile production is expected to fuel the overall demand for carbon composites in the near future. In 2014, 16.5 million vehicles were manufactured in the U.S., compared to 15.6 million in 2013. This number is expected to increase to 17.0 million by the end of 2015.Request Sample Report @In addition, increasing carbon emissions due to rising number of vehicles over the last few decades is prompting governments worldwide to revamp various aspects in order to adhere to environmental norms and regulations, particularly with emphasis on reduction of carbon emissions from vehicles. Automakers are focused towards using lightweight materials to manufacture external and internal parts of vehicles in order to reduce vehicle weight, and in turn improve fuel efficiency. This is a major factor driving growth of the automotive composites market.Additionally, consumers are more inclined towards purchasing lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles due to increasing fuel prices over the last decade. This is influencing automakers to invest in R&D initiatives with regard to lightweight materials to manufacture exterior as well as interior parts of vehicles. Composites with properties such as easy to process, high tensile strength, lightweight, good corrosion resistance and surface tension are ideal for manufacturing lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles.Request To View Table Of Content @Region-wise, the report covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. Asia-Pacific is the largest market for automotive composites. Increasing domestic production of vehicles along with increasing disposable income is driving growth of the automotive composites market in Asia Pacific. However, one of the major factors contributing to growth of the automotive composites markets in North America and Europe is stringent CO2 emission norms in these regions.In this report, the automotive composites market has been segmented on the basis of composite material (polymer matrix composites, metal composites, and ceramic matrix composites), manufacturing process (manual, compression, injection and continuous, and other), composite component (interior components, exterior components, engine and drivetrain components, and others) by value (US$ Mn), and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World).The global automotive composites market revenue increased from US$ 3,062.7 Mn in 2012 to US$ 3,593.6 Mn in 2014 at a CAGR of 8.3%. Under regional segment, the Asia Pacific automotive composites market (the largest market in 2014) revenue increased from US$ 1,543.6 Mn in 2012 to US$ 1,825.5 Mn in 2014 at a CAGR of 8.7%.The global automotive composites market is highly consolidated, with the top four players  Toray Industries, Toho Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi, and SGL  accounting for between 70 and 75% market share. Other players operating in the global automotive composites market include Cytec Industries Inc., SAERTEX GmbH & Co. KG, Koninklijke Ten Cate N.V., Johns Manville, Johnson Controls, Inc., Scott Bader Company Ltd., Teijin Limited, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and UFP Technologies, Inc. The automotive composites market has been segmented on the basis of the following:Buy Automotive Composites Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Synthetic Fabric Market 2017 Industry Trend Analysis, Growth Rate, Gross Margin to 2022

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Global Synthetic Fabric Market Report 2017In this report, the global Synthetic Fabric market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Request For the Sample Report Here @This report is split area wise globally and has included many important regions. The sales, revenue, market share and Growth rate of Synthetic Fabric of these regions from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) areNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaThe top competitors for Synthetic Fabric according to the sales volume, Price, (K USD /Unit), Revenue (Million USD), and Market Share are as follows-Great Lakes Power CompaniesShreeji FabricsJct Mills LimitedUni-Sparkle Company LimitedYuanbo Textile Co. LimitedParagon Textile Mills Private LimitedRuchika GroupWujiang Shiyo Textile Import & Export Co., Ltd.Wuxi Rich Textile Co. LimitedRequest For Inquiry Report Here @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoRayon FabricsPolyester FabricsNylon FabricsSatin FabricsAcrylic FabricsChiffon FabricsGeorgette FabricsOn the basis of the end users and applications this report throws light on the status and the outlook for major end application users .It also focuses on the market share and growth rate for every application includingClothingConstructionAutomotiveAccess Full Report Here @The above report can be customized according to your needs.We at Reports Monitor provide a comprehensive analysis by providing in-depth reports of the various market verticals. Our Mission is to provide a detailed analysis of the vast markets worldwide, backed by rich data. Decision makers can now rely on our well-defined data gathering methods to get the correct and accurate market forecasting along with detailed analysis.About UsReports Monitor is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global Market Study on Smart Mirror - Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016  2024

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Smart Mirror Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Get Free Sample Report@Any highly functional mirror can be a smart mirror. Smart mirror technologies include self-dimming capability, as well as self-cleaning and self-repairing ability with the layers of different smart materials. Embedded electronics including cameras, displays and sensors are also the parts of smart mirror technologies as they help in converting a simple mirror into an electronic device. Smart mirrors can be used in various applications such as advertising, healthcare, consumer, and automotive. Digital smart mirrors are significantly gaining momentum due to various factors such as design/style, comfort/convenience and safety.The focus on enhanced road safety drives the demand for incorporating new electronic functionalities to the automotive mirrors. Activated light sensors, and electrochromic self-dimming smart mirrors have significantly improved road safety by increasing response times as well as reducing driver fatigue.However, through the use of other electronic functionalities such as integrated sensor systems, displays, touch capability, Wi-Fi connectivity, and GPS, the road safety can be further enhanced in a significant manner. Automotive smart mirror vendors are now focused on marketing mirrors having customizable capabilities.Smart Mirror Market: TrendsSmart mirrors are also anticipated to have a potential market in retail and advertising sectors. The use of these mirrors is in trial stage in certain places such as in elevators, public restrooms, hotels or office lobbies, and so on. For instance, in January 2011, Clear Channel Airports (CCA) and Mirrus Corporation collaborated on a pilot program of deploying 150 smart mirrors with advertising displays in all restrooms at the Chicago O'Hare airport. Moreover, smart mirrors have the capability to increase sales in retail sector, mainly in dressing rooms. The combination of mirrors with RFID and display technology can be helpful in displaying vital information and user-specific suggestions hence increasing the sales.The smart digital mirrors are anticipated to gain a considerable market share in healthcare applications, in both residential and professional settings. Smart mirror technologies can improve patient care and compliance, thus reducing healthcare expenses in certain cases. Smart mirrors can deliver patient-specific information such as real-time human body statistics (heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure) and prescription reminders. The information which is provided by the camera in form of an image can be used for diagnostic purposes as well as for determining appropriate treatment.View Full Report At@Smart Mirror Market: DriversGrowing investment in R&D activities on smart mirrors and new technology penetration are the major factors driving the smart mirror market globally. Various companies are coming up with smart mirror technologies with additional features further aiding the growth of global smart mirror market. For example, in November 2015, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation launched new smart mirrors in the fitting rooms of its flagship New York store. The mirror enables its customers at the store to tap for assistance for the items to try on.Each clothing item brought in the fitting room is detected by the mirror through RFID chips, and it shows up a display about the garment details. In October 2015, Panasonic Corporation introduced 'Interactive Mirror', having multi-functional features which was anticipated to lure customers from retail, beauty as well as lifestyle industry. This mirror was capable of enhancing the lifestyle similar to a professional health or beauty advisor. In December 2014, Gentex Corporation launched its all new Full Display Mirror which was an intelligent rear vision system that used an outside mounted camera and mirror-integrated video display for improving a vehicle's rearward view.Smart Mirror Market: Key PlayersThe key players in smart mirror market are Gentex Corporation, Magna International Inc., ACEP France SA, Panasonic Corporation, Seura Solutions, Samsung Electronics, Dension, Keonn Technologies, S.L. and Mirrus Corporation.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketEnquire About this Report@About MRRSEMarket 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.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Emerging Trends and New Technologies In ATM Market: Global Industry Analysis & Outlook, 2016 - 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Emerging Trends and New Technologies In ATM Market: Global Industry Analysis & Outlook, 2016 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.An ATM is one of the most important self-service channel of the retail banking sector that connects the banks or financial institutions and its customers. Over a long period of time, the services offered by ATMs have evolved tremendously from a role of just being a cash dispenser to a multi-utility service provider. ATM serves as a key element in branch transformation of the banks with continuous innovation in line with internet and mobile banking channel.Trends suggest that the market growth potential lies majorly in Asia-Pacific region with China and India being the most potential targets for the industry due to growing banking population and demand for cash. Moreover, despite the considerate decline in ATM installed base in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, the worldwide ATM market is expected to escalate.The factor such as growing GDP, rising replacement demand of ATMs in developed countries, integration of check-imaging technology, cash recycle and continuously growing demand in developing countries are the primary growth drivers of global ATM market. However, the threat of security breaches, dynamic technological advancements and operational threats for ISOs hinder the market growth.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report Global ATM Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020) analyzes the development of this market, with focus on the Asia-Pacific, Americas and EMEA markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: NCR Corporation, Diebold Inc., Wincor Nixdorf and Hitachi Ltd. are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global ATM market along with the study of the regional markets.Table of Content1. Overview1.1 ATMs1.2 Types of ATM1.3 ATMs by Solution1.4 ATMs by Location1.5 Functions of ATMs2. Global ATM Market2.1 Global ATM Market by Value2.2 Global ATM Market Forecast by Value2.3 Global ATM Installed Base2.4 Global ATM Installation Base Forecast2.5 Global ATM Terminals Per 100,000 Adults2.6 Global ATM Market by Region3. Regional ATM Market3.1 The Americas3.1.1 The Americas ATM Market by Value3.1.2 The Americas ATM Market Forecast by Value3.1.3 The US ATM Market by Value3.1.4 The US ATM Market Forecast by Value3.1.5 The US ATM Installed Base3.1.6 The US ATM Installation Base Forecast3.1.7 The US ATM Market by SolutionBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Aircraft Piston Engines Market 2017: MINARI ENGINES, Lycoming Engines, SKY ENGINES, ULPower Aero Engines

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Global Aircraft Piston Engines Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Aircraft Piston Engines market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Aircraft Piston Engines Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Aircraft Piston Engines market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Aircraft Piston Engines report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Aircraft Piston Engines industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Aircraft Piston Engines market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Aircraft Piston Engines market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Aircraft Piston Engines industry. This Aircraft Piston Engines market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. Gobler Hirthmotoren2. MINARI ENGINES3. ULPower Aero Engines4. Limbach Flugmotoren5. Lycoming Engines6. SIMONINI Racing7. Rotax Aircraft Engines8. VITTORAZI MOTORS9. Pure Power Fm Maro10. JABIRU France11. RAZEEBUSS12. Continental Motors Group13. D-MOTOR BVBA14. SKY ENGINES15. CORS-AIR MOTORSThe present trends shaping the worldwide Aircraft Piston Engines market and the way it will influence the Aircraft Piston Engines market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Aircraft Piston Engines market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Aircraft Piston Engines report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Aircraft Piston Engines industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Aircraft Piston Engines market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Aircraft Piston Engines report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Aircraft Piston Engines market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Aircraft Piston Engines market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Aircraft Piston Engines market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Aircraft Piston Engines industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Smart Weapons Market 2017: General Atomics, Kongsberg Gruppen, MBDA, AeroVironment, Orbital ATK

Smart Weapons Market 2017

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Global Smart Weapons Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Smart Weapons market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Smart Weapons Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Smart Weapons market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Smart Weapons report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Smart Weapons industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Smart Weapons market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Smart Weapons market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Smart Weapons industry. This Smart Weapons market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. The Boeing Company2. Lockheed Martin3. General Atomics4. Kongsberg Gruppen5. MBDA6. Raytheon Company7. AeroVironment8. Northrop Grumman9. Denel Dynamics10. Rheinmetall AG11. Israel Aerospace Industries12. General Dynamics Corporation13. Oculus Systems Ltd14. Teledyne Scientific15. Siemens16. Orbital ATK17. Rafael Advanced Defense SystemsThe present trends shaping the worldwide Smart Weapons market and the way it will influence the Smart Weapons market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Smart Weapons market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Smart Weapons report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Smart Weapons industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Smart Weapons market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Smart Weapons report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Smart Weapons market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Smart Weapons market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Smart Weapons market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Smart Weapons industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Retail Automation Market 2017 Growth Rate Research Report and Top Leaders: Toshiba, Honeywell Scanning and Mobility, Kuka AG, Posiflex, Zebra, NCR, Kiosk & Display LLC

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Market Research Future published a research report on Retail Automation Market Research Report -Global Forecast 2023  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market HighlightsThe study reveals that retail automation is trending in North America region. The retail automation demand is growing very rapidly as the technological advancements in retail industry are influencing retail touch points and retail tech. It provides improved service to the customer at a very low cost. These services have changed the buying experience. There are various factor that drives the market growth such as demand of customers to improve the service quality, appreciation for automation in retail and others.In North America region, the retail automation has been growing exponentially in last five years. The RFID technology has driven smart card system which offers the purchasing power of the customers without bothering about tickets. Moreover, the retail automation provides a path for the national brand and retailers to make the sales channels. These sales channel will reach to each customers in an innovative way. In U.S., Point of Sale retail was estimated to be maximum revenue of about 92 percent of total retail dollar volume in 2013.The global Retail Automation Market is growing rapidly over ~11 % of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD ~ 18 Billion by the end of forecast period.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on The Global Retail automation Market Research Report -Forecast to 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in the global retail automation market are  Fujitsu Limited (Japan), Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Inc. (US), Honeywell Scanning and Mobility (US), Posiflex Technology, Inc. (Taiwan), E&K Automation GmbH (Germany), First Data Corporation (US), Kuka AG (Germany), Wincor Nixdorf AG (Germany), Zebra Technologies Corporation (US), NCR Corporation (US), and Kiosk & Display LLC (US) among others.Get Sample of Report @Market Research Analysis:On geographic basis, global Retail automation market is studied in different regions as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. It has been observed that North America region is leading with largest market share growth in the retail automation market due to the major companies including Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Inc. (US), Honeywell Scanning and Mobility (US), are investing in providing better services at the fastest way to the customers. In this market, Europe is to be estimated to be the second largest market share for retail automation during the forecast period.Segments:The global Retail automation market has been segmented on the basis of type, components, end-users, and region.Global Retail automation market by Type: Electronic Shelf Labels Point of Sale Automatic Storage and Retrieval Barcode & RFID Autonomous Guided Vehicle Automated Conveyor OthersGlobal Retail automation market by Components: Hardware Software Services OthersGlobal Retail automation market by End-Users: Hypermarkets Supermarkets Single Item Stores Fuel Stations Retail Pharmacies OthersGlobal Retail automation market by Regions: North America Europe APAC Rest of the WorldGet Complete Report @Intended Audience Semiconductor component manufacturers and distributors Technology consultants and system integrators Equipment distributors and suppliers Research and development companies Market research and consulting firms Technology standards organizations Technology investors System IntegratorsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Proton Therapy Market - US Trends & Forecast 2012 - 2025

Proton Therapy

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United States Proton Therapy market is expected to reach nearly US$ 1 Billion, potentially US$ 7 Billion by 2025.Buy Now :Market growth can be attributed to factors such as rising cancer incidence, increasing number of proton therapy centers, decreasing cost of proton therapy treatment, technological advances and market adoption. However, high costs involved in the establishment of the center is likely to restrain growth in the forecast period.The research report titled United States Proton Therapy Market: Demand, Insights, Analysis, Opportunities, Growth Potential and Forecast 2018 - 2025 examines the market dynamics, competitive landscape and discusses major trends. The study describes an indepth analysis of the United States actual and potential proton therapy market.The report contains a granular analysis of the present industry situations, market demands, reveal facts on the market size, volume, revenues and provides forecasts through 2025. A comprehensive analysis has been done on market share of US proton therapy center (installed base) and treatment room by company. The report also provides information on the proton therapy current applications and comparative analysis with more focused on pros and cons of proton therapy and competitive analysis of eight companies.The report further sheds light on the number of treatment rooms, current and upcoming proton therapy centers. In addition, the report also provides essential insights on number of patients treated at US proton therapy centers from 2008 to 2015.The report also includes assessment of US reimbursement scenario, proton therapy clinical trials and offers a clear view of the proton therapy center component analysis. Key trends in terms of venture capital investment, collaborations, partnerships, licensing and development agreements are analyzed with details. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and inhibitors of the US proton therapy market.The report concludes with the profiles of major players in the US proton therapy market. The key market players are evaluated on various parameters such as company overview, product portfolio, US proton therapy centers developed by the companies and recent development & trends of the proton therapy market.Key Highlights of the United States Proton Therapy Market Report: Proton Therapy Current Applications Pros and Cons of Proton Therapy, Radiotherapy and Carbon Ion Therapy Proton Therapy Competitive Analysis: By Company Market Size & Analysis: United States Proton Therapy (2012  2025) Market Opportunity Assessment: United States Proton Therapy (2012  2025) United States Number of Treatment Rooms and Forecast (2012  2025) United States Proton Therapy Center (Installed Base) and Treatment Room Market Share: By Company United States Proton Therapy Center Infrastructure Analysis: Treatment Rooms & Proton Therapy Accelerator United States Number of Patients Treated at Proton Therapy Centers (2008  2015) United States Proton Therapy Reimbursement Scenario Proton Therapy Center Component Analysis Proton Therapy Clinical Trail Insight by Phase, Institute & Country Proton Therapy Market  Major Deals Key Market Drivers and Inhibitors of the United States Proton Therapy Market Major Companies AnalysisKey Companies Covered in the Report are as follows: Optivus Hitachi Ion Beam Applications(IBA) Varian Medical Systems Mevion Medical SystemsContact Us:Maria RaiTel :+91 -7289949987Email: sales@dpiresearch.comWebsite:DPI Research is a business solutions firm which offer bespoke market research reports, custom research solutions and consulting across multi geographies and industry verticals. We deliver wide range of cutting-edge research solutions that helps organizations in making better decisions of the business to business needs.New Delhi
Ginger market is projected to gain US$3.06 bn by 2017

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Ginger Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022 is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Get Free Sample Report@Of late, the global market for ginger has been witnessing a remarkable upswing in its valuation, thanks to the growing popularity of ginger as an herbal medicine across the world. The augmenting usage of ginger as a flavoring agent is also propelling this market tremendously and is expected to continue to drive it in the years to come.This research report offers a strategic assessment of the global market for ginger and the growth forecast for the period 2017 to 2022. To aid in proper decision-making, the report includes the profiling of top players in this industry, their respective market share along with various business strategies which are adopted by them as well as the recent developments.Global Ginger Market: Scope of the StudyThe analysis of the key trends and the market opportunity map presented in this study discusses several imminent trends in the end-use industries that may fuel he demand for ginger in the coming years. Other than this, the scope of the report also focuses on the future penetration of various ginger related products. The market attractiveness analysis and the opportunity map provided here offers deep insights into various market dynamics and the competition between the leading players, along with providing the most profitable segments within the global ginger market.Download Full Report with TOC @The research report also presents the breakdown and the assessment of various factors, such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities that influence the growth of the global market for ginger. These factors determine the prominent trends and their effect on the overall market growth. Overall, after taking into consideration the different factors which affects the global ginger market along with providing a holistic analysis of the global ginger market, and also provides an estimation of growth for the forecast period during 2017 to 2022.Global Ginger Market: SegmentationUnder the scope of this research report, the global market for ginger has been evaluated on the basis of the form, distribution channel, application, and the regional spread. As per the market study, based on the form, this market is classified into fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, and powdered forms. Based on the distribution channel, the market is categorized into Traditional grocery retail, modern grocery retail, and non-grocery retail. By the application, the market is divided into culinary, snacks and convenience food, soups and sauces, bakery products, non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, and chocolate and confectionery.Send an Enquiry @On the basis of the geography, the global market has been bifurcated into Asia Pacific excluding Japan (India, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore), North America (Canada and the U.S.), the Middle East and Africa (Turkey, Israel, South Africa, and GCC countries), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico), Europe (the U.K., Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Nordic countries), and Japan. The performance of each of the regional market is calculated on the basis of the performance of each of the domestic markets for ginger in this research report.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe worldwide ginger market is highly competitive and fragmented. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Yummy Food Industrial Group, Monterey Bay Spice Co. Inc., Sun Impex International Foods L.L.C., Indian Organic Farmers Producer Co. Ltd., Sino-Nature International Co. Ltd., Atmiya International, Buderim Group Ltd., Food Market Management Inc., and SA Rawther Spices Pvt. Ltd. are some of the leading players in the global ginger market.Check Discount @About MRRSEMarket 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.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Global Turn Indicators Market 2017: Bendix, Pioneer, Baocheng Group, Tokyo Aircraft Instrument

Turn Indicators Market 2017

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Global Turn Indicators Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Turn Indicators market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Turn Indicators Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Turn Indicators market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Turn Indicators report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Turn Indicators industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Turn Indicators market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Turn Indicators market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Turn Indicators industry. This Turn Indicators market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. Kelly Manufacturing Company2. Mikrotechna Praha a.s.3. Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics4. Bendix5. Pioneer6. Baocheng Group7. Nu-Tek Aircraft Instruments8. Tokyo Aircraft InstrumentThe present trends shaping the worldwide Turn Indicators market and the way it will influence the Turn Indicators market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Turn Indicators market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Turn Indicators report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Turn Indicators industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Turn Indicators market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Turn Indicators report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Turn Indicators market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Turn Indicators market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Turn Indicators market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Turn Indicators industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Antilock Braking System (ABS) Market 2017: Wabco, Hyundai Mobis, Knorr, Nissin, TI, Dongfeng Electronic

Antilock Braking System (ABS) Market 2017

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Global Antilock Braking System (ABS) Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Antilock Braking System (ABS) market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Antilock Braking System (ABS) Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Antilock Braking System (ABS) market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Antilock Braking System (ABS) report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Antilock Braking System (ABS) industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Antilock Braking System (ABS) market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Antilock Braking System (ABS) market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Antilock Braking System (ABS) industry. This Antilock Braking System (ABS) market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. Bosch2. Mando3. Advics4. Wabco5. Wanxiang Qianchao6. Haldex7. Hyundai Mobis8. Knorr9. Nissin10. TI11. Dongfeng Electronic12. Kormee13. Shanghai Automotive Brake SystemsThe present trends shaping the worldwide Antilock Braking System (ABS) market and the way it will influence the Antilock Braking System (ABS) market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Antilock Braking System (ABS) market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Antilock Braking System (ABS) report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Antilock Braking System (ABS) industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Antilock Braking System (ABS) market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Antilock Braking System (ABS) report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Antilock Braking System (ABS) market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Antilock Braking System (ABS) market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Antilock Braking System (ABS) market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Antilock Braking System (ABS) industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Mobile Data Protection Solutions Market 2017: EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Dell, Trend Micro, WinMagic

Mobile Data Protection Solutions Market 2017

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Global Mobile Data Protection Solutions Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Mobile Data Protection Solutions market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Mobile Data Protection Solutions Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Mobile Data Protection Solutions market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Mobile Data Protection Solutions report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Mobile Data Protection Solutions industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Mobile Data Protection Solutions market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Mobile Data Protection Solutions market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Mobile Data Protection Solutions industry. This Mobile Data Protection Solutions market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. Microsoft2. Cisco3. Intel4. Symantec5. EMC Corporation6. Hewlett-Packard (HP)7. Sophos8. Check Point Software Technologies9. Dell10. Trend Micro11. Digital Guardian12. WinMagic13. Secude14. Wave SystemsThe present trends shaping the worldwide Mobile Data Protection Solutions market and the way it will influence the Mobile Data Protection Solutions market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Mobile Data Protection Solutions market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Mobile Data Protection Solutions report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Mobile Data Protection Solutions industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Mobile Data Protection Solutions market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Mobile Data Protection Solutions report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Mobile Data Protection Solutions market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Mobile Data Protection Solutions market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Mobile Data Protection Solutions market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Mobile Data Protection Solutions industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Manuka Honey Market 2017- Revenue, Price and Gross Margin Research Report 2023

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/manuka-honey-market-3112

Market OverviewManuka honey is produced from the nectar of the manuka tree and is manufactured only in New Zealand and Australia. Due to the anti-bacterial properties of manuka honey, they are used majorly for medicinal purpose. The strong flavor and sweetness of manuka honey make them a potential sweetener and table sugar replacer. The common practice of usage of unconventional sweeteners is increasing the popularity of manuka honey globally. Manuka honey is known to contain low fat and hence is gaining its significance amongst the health conscious consumers.The wide application of Manuka Honey in the food industry as well as for medicinal purpose is considered as a major driver for Manuka Honey market. The rich taste of Manuka Honey and its increasing usage as a table sugar alternative also has a positive impact on its market growth. The high nutrient value of Manuka Honey makes its consumption more popular amongst the health conscious consumers. Shift in consumption pattern and adoption of healthy lifestyle has supported the positive growth of Manuka Honey market.On the basis of specialty food type, HFCS-free form is found to hold a major share and is calculated to increase at high rate globally based on the rising awareness about the severe effect of consumption of high fructose corn syrup. However, organic manuka honey due to its chemical free form is also supporting the increased demand of the product from consumers side. The application of manuka honey in for direct consumption is found to hold a major share on a global level followed by medicinal purpose based applications. Amongst the distribution channels for the sale of manuka honey, e-commerce share is projected to increase at a high rate as the product is manufactured only in New Zealand and has less availability in other regions.Competitive Analysis-The major key players in Manuka Honey Market are Manuka Health (New Zealand) Cammells Honey (New Zealand) Comvita Limited (New Zealand) Watson & Son Ltd (New Zealand) Mossops Honey (New Zealand) API Health (New Zealand) Wedderspoon (New Zealand)Manuka manufacturers across various regions follow the strategy of improving their existing product as well as increasing the manufacture of organic manuka to add more value to their products to expand their business. This is one of the major factors due to which the demands of Manuka is experiencing a surge. New Zealand is amongst the dominating countries holding a major share in Manuka market and exports the product in various other countries which include U.S., China, Australia, Japan and others.Sample Copy of Report @Study Objectives of Manuka Honey Market Detail analysis of the markets segments and sub-segments Value chain analysis & supply chain analysis of Manuka Honey Company profiling of major players in the market Competitive strategy analysis and mapping key stakeholders in the market Analysis of historical market trends and technologies along with current government regulatory requirements To estimate and forecast market size by Specialty Food Type, Application, Distribution Channel and Region To analyze key driving forces which are influencing the market Region level market analysis and market estimation of North America, Europe, Asia, and rest of the world (ROW) and their countriesRegional Analysis:Global Manuka Honey Market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). Asia Pacific holds a major market share followed by Europe. The high demands for Manuka from the developed countries of these regions are contributing to the positive growth of Manuka market. New Zealand, Australia, China, Germany and Spain are the major importers of Manuka. Asia-Pacific is found to be the major exporter of Manuka and exports majorly to countries of Europe and North America.Access Report Details @Key Findings: Application of Manuka Honey for medicinal purpose is anticipated to have a high growth during the forecast period. Top exporters of Manuka Honey include New Zealand, Australia, China, Germany and SpainAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Business Insurance Market 2017: Aviva, Cardinal Health, State Farm Insurance, Munich Re Group, Prudential, MetLife

Business Insurance Market 2017

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Global Business Insurance Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Business Insurance market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Business Insurance Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Business Insurance market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Business Insurance report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Business Insurance industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Business Insurance market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Business Insurance market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Business Insurance industry. This Business Insurance market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,1. AXA2. Nippon Life Insurance3. American Intl. Group4. Aviva5. Assicurazioni Generali6. Cardinal Health7. State Farm Insurance8. Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance9. Munich Re Group10. Zurich Financial Services11. Prudential12. Asahi Mutual Life Insurance13. Sumitomo Life Insurance14. MetLife15. Allstate16. Aegon17. Prudential FinancialThe present trends shaping the worldwide Business Insurance market and the way it will influence the Business Insurance market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Business Insurance market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Business Insurance report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Business Insurance industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Business Insurance market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Business Insurance report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquiring most profits.The Business Insurance market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Business Insurance market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Business Insurance market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Business Insurance industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Specialty Green Coffee Global Industry 2017 Sales, Supply and Consumption Forecasts to 2022

Specialty Green Coffee Market

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Global Specialty Green Coffee MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds Global Specialty Green Coffee Market Professional Survey Report 2017 Research To Its Database.This report studies Specialty Green Coffee in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringCoffee Holding Company(US)Innovus Pharma(US)Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC. (US)Get sample Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLean Green CoffeeGreen Unroasted CoffeeBy Application, the market can be split intoHealth CarePersonal UseBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaEnquiry About Report @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsGlobal Specialty Green Coffee Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Specialty Green Coffee1.1 Definition and Specifications of Specialty Green Coffee1.1.1 Definition of Specialty Green Coffee1.1.2 Specifications of Specialty Green Coffee1.2 Classification of Specialty Green Coffee1.2.1 Lean Green Coffee1.2.2 Green Unroasted Coffee1.3 Applications of Specialty Green Coffee1.3.1 Health Care1.3.2 Personal Use1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Specialty Green Coffee2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Specialty Green Coffee2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Specialty Green Coffee2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Specialty Green Coffee...8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Specialty Green Coffee8.1 Coffee Holding Company(US)8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Coffee Holding Company(US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Coffee Holding Company(US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Innovus Pharma(US)8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Innovus Pharma(US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Innovus Pharma(US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC. (US)8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC. (US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC. (US) 2016 Specialty Green Coffee Business Region Distribution Analysis..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Cheese Powder Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2022

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The global cheese powder market demonstrates an extremely competitive business landscape, thanks to the presence of a large pool of players in this market, states a new research study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Hitherto, the leading players, such as Kraft Heinz, Kerry, Thornico, Dairy Farmers of America, Land O'Lakes, Bluegrass Dairy & Food, All American Foods, Aarkay Food Products, Kanegrade, and Archer-Daniels-Midland, have been competing on the basis of product innovation by adding flavors and nutritional value to their products.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Going forward, they are likely to focus on expanding their regional reach by collaborating with domestic players and distributors in various regions over the next few years, states the research study.Global Cheese Powder Market to Rise 13.70% between 2017 and 2022With the increasing preference for ready-to-eat meals, on account of the hectic lifestyles of consumers with no room to cook a proper meal, the demand for cheese powder, as an alternative to nutritional substances present in freshly cooked food, is witnessing a high-paced increase, which, consequently, is influencing the growth of the global market for cheese powder, says a researcher at TMR. The rising preference for convenience food and the augmenting urban population are also propelling this market substantially across the world.Obtain Report Details @As per TMRs observations, the global market for cheese powder is anticipated to reach a value of US$355.9 mn by 2017. Further, the market is projected to report a healthy rise at a CAGR of 13.70% over the period from 2017 to 2022 to offer an opportunity of US$677 mn by the end of the forecast period. On the whole, the future of this market looks flourishing; however, the concerns regarding obesity caused by cheese may hamper the markets growth in the years to come, notes the research study.Increasing Preference for Convenience Food Products to Raise Demand for Cheddar CheeseAccording to the research report, the demand for cheddar cheese powder is higher than other types of cheese powders. With the increasing preference for convenience food items across the world, researchers anticipate the cheddar cheese segment to remain on the top over the forthcoming years. Sauces dips, dressings, and condiments have surfaced as the leading application areas of cheese powder and are expected to continue being so in the years to come.The research study also provides a regional evaluation of the global market for cheese powder. As per the report, North America, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Latin America, Europe, and Japan are the main regional markets for cheese powder solutions across the world.Currently, North America leads the worldwide market for cheese powder, thanks to the rising preference for convenience food among consumers. With a CAGR of 12.70% during the period of 20172022, this regional market is anticipated to continue to lead in the near future. The cheese powder markets in Europe and Asia Pacific excluding Japan are also projected to display a high growth rate over the next few years, reports the market study.About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
U.S. Electric Bus Market by Technology Pure Electric, Parallel Hybrid by Size Above 10 Meters, Below 10 Meters, Growth and Demand Forecast, 2013-2025

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The demand for electric buses in the U.S. has augmented dramatically over the last decade. More than 47,000 electric buses are plying on the countrys roads and it has a target to reach 1 million by 2025. The transit agencies in the U.S. are reflecting their interest in zero emission buses. The major transit agencies including metropolitan transportation authority (MTA), Chicago transit authority (CTA), Los Angeles county metropolitan transportation authority (LACMTA) and south-eastern Pennsylvania transportation authority (SEPTA), are considering electric propulsion system of buses, as a dominant factor behind new purchase.Request for Sample Pages:The U.S. is home to a large number of pure electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cells buses. Hybrid buses accounted for around 40% bus purchases in the U.S. during last few years. The local and state government initiatives towards lower greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., is a promising growth factor boosting the demand of such buses in the country. South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in Southern California has recently restricted the procurement of new diesel buses for the local public transportation.The market in the country is predominantly driven by rising air quality concerns, high dependence on conventional or non-renewable fuels, strong environmental ethics and the growing need to assimilate renewables into a network. Penetration of charging infrastructure also plays a significant role in market development. For instance, California had 10,280 public charging places situated at 3,376 amenities, as well as 2,041 private charging stations located at 609 amenities.Explore Full Report:Key players in the U.S. electric bus market are inventing new electric bus models having substantial performance to expand their customer base. These players are developing advanced and innovative electric buses with more capabilities. The advancement of improved models, along with quicker and simplified charging systems has led to the replacement of existing traditional buses with the battery-powered model.Electric bus manufacturers in the country have also worked on to improve the speed of such buses and expand their capability to accelerate. For instance, K9 electric transit bus, offered by BYD Motors Inc., offers an enhanced speed of 62 mph, which makes it suitable to run on highways. Further, K9 is motorized by two 100kW brushless AC synchronous motors to ensure smooth and speedy acceleration, making it far better than conventional electric transit buses.P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:AbhishekManager  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Market Study on Indium Oxide- Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017  2024

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Indium Oxide Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Get Free Sample Report@Indium oxide also known as indium sesquioxide is a yellow colored ceramic like material which is insoluble in water. It is an n-type semiconductor and is therefore used as a resistive element in integrated circuits. Indium oxide can be doped with tin dioxide to form indium tin oxide which is used in display technologies such as OLED, plasma electroluminescent, electrochromatic display and LCD. It is used as an antistatic indium oxide coating, in photovoltaic solar cells, aircraft windshields, EMI shielding and nanowires. Indium oxide finds several applications in the electronics industry owing to its semiconductor characteristics.Indium oxide has excellent optical and antistatic properties. It is used as a substitute of mercury in batteries. Additionally, it forms a transparent conducting ceramic in combination with tin oxide, which is used in the micro electronics industry to form capacitors, resistors and other components. Furthermore, indium oxide is used to form thin film infra-red reflectors. The dark yellow pigment imparted by indium oxide enables the formation of histological stain formulations, in order to study biological samples under microscopes. The nanowires composed out of this chemical are used as redox protein sensors, owing to which they find application in biotechnological studies and biomedical devices.Furthermore, indium oxide is used in solar cells due to which it finds application in renewable power generation sources. It can be doped with several materials such as silicon and gallium to form hetero-junctions thereby imparting electrical conductivity to them.Indium Oxide Market: DriversThe growing demand for semiconductors from the electronics industry has been propelling the indium oxide market. Nanowires, batteries, electrically charged nanoparticles, optical and anti static coatings among others are extensively used in the electronics industry. Furthermore, electrically charged ceramics find application in electronic parts required in aircrafts and sub marines which have to withstand extreme pressure and temperature conditions. However, the inhalation of indium oxide causes nasal irritation, skin and lung infections owing to which its use is highly regulated in countries such as the U.S and Western Europe. The growing GDP of emerging economies such as China and India is expected to open new avenues of opportunity for the indium oxide market.View Full Report At@Indium Oxide Market: Regional DynamicsCountries such as China, India and South Korea dominate the global electronics market. There is widespread use of indium oxide in these countries owing to the numerous applications of indium oxide in the electronics industry. In Europe, indium oxide nanoparticles are used by CERN- the European organization for nuclear research. Additionally, in the U.S. indium oxide is used in histo-pathological applications for staining of biological samples. The flourishing biotechnology industry in Israel and the U.S. are minor users of indium oxide for specialty stains.Countries such as China and India manufacture mercury-free batteries for use in power back-up inverters. These batteries find application in household inverters. The Indian sub continent and Africa are large markets for mercury-free inverters, owing to which indium oxide has a large consumption in these countries.Indium Oxide Market: Key PlayersThe key players in this market are Beijing Cerametek Materials Co., Ltd. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc., Umicore Marketing Services, Genvac Aerospace, Inc, Photo Sciences, Inc, Thin Film Devices, Inc, Thin Film Devices, Inc, Colorado Concept Coatings, LLC, Shanghai Huzheng Nano Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Huzheng Nanotechnology Co., Ltd, China Leadmat Advanced Materials Co., Ltd, Shanghai Huzheng Nano Technology Co., Ltd., Zhongnuo Advanced Material Technology Co., Ltd, Huizhou Tianyi Rare Material Co., Ltd, Xuzhou Jiechuang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd and Huizhou Tianyi Rare Material Co., Ltd among others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market.Enquire About this Report@About MRRSEMarket 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.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Respiratory Analysers Market size and forecast-2026

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In the field of medicine, anaesthesia is a temporary state induced to cause amnesia, paralysis, and unconsciousness. The main objective is to enable a surgeon to perform a procedure which would cause the patient immense and intolerable pain without it. While it has enabled the saving of lives on many an occasion, it is not completely risk free. Minor risks include nausea, vomiting while major ones can include a heart attack or even death. Thus, respiratory analysers are absolutely critical as they measure various gases like Oxygen, Carbon Monoxide and volatile anaesthetics in the operation theatre. It enables the anaesthetist to ensure that the patient does not have any adverse reaction to the drugs administered. Paramagnetic Oxygen Analysers, Carbon Dioxide analysers are some of the respiratory analysers available.A sample of this report is available upon request @Respiratory Analysers Market: DriversAt present, North America is the leading global respiratory analyser market. As per the WHO, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is expected to be the 3rd leading cause of global deaths. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 40 million Americans suffered from insomnia or some other form of chronic sleep disorders. There are many cases of both COPD and Asthma reported there. While North America leads these statistics, Europe is second in terms of the people complaining of respiratory ailments. The key respiratory analyser market to focus on for long-term growth would be the APAC region. It is undergoing rapid modernization, with little to no concern for environmental or biological factors, thus giving rise to health issues for its citizens. Increasing focus on medical programs and awareness, both from the government and the private sector all point to a bright future for this market. Hospitals form the largest end users of respiratory analysers and they are also expected to record the highest growth rate.Respiratory Analysers Market: RestraintsAny equipment which serves a specialised function tends to be expensive and this holds true for the Respiratory Analysers Market as well. The high cost is such a detriment that customers hesitate purchasing modern equipment and prefer using the old, archaic ones. Even lack of awareness in underdiagnosed, undertreated poorer countries can be a major impediment to growth. Along with this, the installation and usage of such advanced respiratory analysers requires highly skilled professionals, who are in short supply in these nations. Another issue is the saturation in developed countries due to the oligopolistic market situation. Hence, there are moderate to high barriers for entry for new players seeking to enter this market, thereby limiting competition and customer choice.Respiratory Analysers Market: Key RegionsThe Respiratory Analysers Market can be divided into five key regions viz. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa. (MENA) North America is the largest market at present and is expected to remain so for the near future. The fastest growing market for this is unquestionably the Asia- Pacific region. China and India are the fastest growing major economies in the world. Their large populations, increasing government attention towards healthcare, booming medical tourism in them and Southeast Asian nations like Thailand will ensure continued demand for products sold in the respiratory analyser market. Key players would also be advised to look at Latin America to provide ample growth opportunities in the years to come.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Respiratory Analysers Market: Key Market PlayersThe main manufacturers in the Respiratory analyser market include globally renowned companies like Smiths Medical (U.K), Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), ResMed, Inc. (U.S.), Covidien plc (Ireland), Masimo Corporation (U.S.), Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Limited (New Zealand), and CareFusion Corporation (U.S.).The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, types and applications.About UsFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact UsFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Soju Market 2017 Trend, Demand Analysis & 2022 Industry Growth Forecast Report

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Soju Market Forecast to 2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.This report studies sales (consumption) of Soju in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringHiteJinroLotte LiquorMuhakKumbokjuC1 SojuBohaeChungbukHallasanMackissAndongRequest Sample copy @Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Soju in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product Types, with sales, revenue, price and gross margin, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoDistilled SojuDiluted SojuSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Soju in each application, can be divided intoBelow 20 years oldBetween 20 and 40 years oldAge from 40 to 60For more Information Visit @Table of Contents1 Soju Market Overview2 Global Soju Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Korea Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 Taiwan Soju (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Soju Manufacturers Analysis9.1 HiteJinro9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Soju Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Product A9.1.2.2 Product B9.1.3 HiteJinro Soju Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Lotte Liquor9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Soju Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Product A9.2.2.2 Product B9.2.3 Lotte Liquor Soju Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Muhak9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Soju Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Product A9.3.2.2 Product B9.3.3 Muhak Soju Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Kumbokju9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Soju Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Product A9.4.2.2 Product B9.4.3 Kumbokju Soju Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview10 Soju Manufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Soju Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this Report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.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.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Seating And Positioning Belts Market Volume Analysis, size, share and Key Trends -2026

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If modern society is driven by speed, then safety is the buzzword of the hour. Seating and positioning belts play a major role in building a shield against any possible life threats. Every year several people succumb to their injuries for not wearing a proper seating or positioning belt. The numbers of aware commuters are respectively high in U.K. and U.S. markets in comparison to the commuters who are staying in India or China. Apart from the commuters the seating and positioning belts are widely used in healthcare industry mainly by people who are coping with disability and it is also used in several high risk jobs. There are several active seating and positioning belt markets spread across the globe. Though the seating and positioning belts market expands wide across China and India is thriving on local buyers and on a massive number of importers who queue in to purchase quality budget goods from these seating and positioning belts markets fragmented in this region of the globe.A sample of this report is available upon request @Seating and Positioning Belts market: DriversSeveral prominent players of this segment is present in United Kingdom and with their expertise and skills they are creating a right noise in seating and positioning belts market in Europe and other adjacent countries of Europe. On the other hand Chinese market which is related to industrial safety belts is rapidly increasing. But the seating and positioning belts market in China is completely dependent upon imports done from several European countries as the safety awareness levels in China is yet to reach the cusp.According to a recent report more than 100,000 people die in road accidents every year in China and most of them are ill equipped with safety gears. The seating and positioning belts market in India is stuffed with local manufacturers and exporters. The rising need of cost effective and quality safety belts are on the rise in the international market which is further compelling the rise of this market. The Indian market players are dependent upon domestic as well as fertile international markets which are spread across the south- East Asia, Dubai U.S. and Latin America.Seating and Positioning Belt Market: RestraintsThe Seating and Positioning Belts market is growing globally. But the clear disparity of demands is evident. Few key factors such as public sensitivity towards safety, boom in healthcare, cost of the safety products and skilled manpower will create a headway for all the global market players who are working in this segment.Seating and Positioning Belts Market: Key RegionsThe United States is a major procurer and manufacturer of seating and positioning belts. Every year their exports touch few billions. The country has been one of the most dominant player in the healthcare segment which further gives them the fuel to earn a respective lead in the race. The Seating and positioning belts market in U.K. is extremely vibrant, as the safety awareness levels amongst the denizens are quite high which also encourages the growth of the market. The quality of products are extremely high which compliments the expansion of the exports. Apart from this the Seating and positioning belts market in China is surviving with the help of multiple exports channels, as the domestic requirement is low in automobile sector but the demand and supply chain is extremely significant in healthcare and industrial safety segments. The Indian Seating and positioning belts market is still nascent, but evolving at a fast pace. The export revenue is soaring every day as the market is producing some of the most competent and pocket friendly products. The healthcare boom in India is also supporting the surging demands in the domestic markets. As seating and positioning belts market also depends upon the healthcare segment. The abundance of skilled labour and a range of virgin markets spread across the Afghanistan, China, Singapore and Malaysia is igniting hope for the players in the Seating and positioning belts markets of India and adjacent region.Seating and Positioning Belts Market: Key Market PlayersThe global Seating and Positioning Market is flooded with several big and small player who are bagging their own share of pie from the market. In U.K. companies like Sunrise medical and many more are registering good profits from this segment In China, Heshan Changyu Hardware Co., Ltd produces three point and two point safety belts and exports them to the international buyers. In India there is an army of manufacturers who are producing these products. National Safety Solutions, Protector Fire and Safety, Specialty Safe Engineers are some of the prominent players in the Seating and Positioning belts market spread across India.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, types and applications.About UsFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact UsFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Ginger Market Growth and Forecast 2017-2022

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Characterized by the presence of a massive pool of established participants, the worldwide market for ginger demonstrates a highly competitive and fragmented business landscape, finds a new research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The leading players in this market, such as Archer Daniels Midland, Yummy Food Industrial Group, Monterey Bay Spice, Sun Impex, Indian Organic Farmers Producer, Sino-Nature, Atmiya International, Buderim Group, Food Market Management, and SA Rawther Spices, rely heavily upon introducing novel products, using new flavors or added nutrients, notes the research study.Download exclusive Sample of this report:According to the TMRs estimations, the global ginger market is expected to gain US$3.06 bn in revenues by 2017. The markets opportunity is estimated to further rise at a healthy CAGR 6.50% during the period from 2017 to 2022 and attain a value of US$4.18 bn by the end of the period of the forecast, states the report.Growing Popularity of Ginger as Herbal Medicine Aiding in Markets GrowthThe global ginger market is heavily influenced by the growing popularity of ginger as an herbal medicine, says a researcher at TMR. Since, ginger helps in combating various ailments, such as degenerative disorders (arthritis and rheumatism), digestive problems (indigestion, constipation, and ulcer), cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, and hypertension), cancer, diabetes mellitus, and nausea, its demand has always been on the positive side.Obtain Report Details @Its antimicrobial potential, which aid in the treatment of infectious diseases, and its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties for keeping the process of aging in check are likely to boost this market substantially in the years to come. The hectic lifestyles of consumers and the increasing health consciousness among them is also projected to contribute to the growth of this market in the near future, notes the research study.APEJ to Present Attractive Growth OpportunitiesThe research report presents a thorough geographical analysis of the global ginger market. According to it, North America, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Europe, Latin America, and Japan are the main regional ginger markets across the world. Among these, APEJ is the leader, being the most attractive market for ginger, and is expected to retain its leadership throughout the period of the forecast.Researchers anticipate this regional market to progress at a CAGR of 7.10% over the period from 2017 to 2022 and experience a high rise in the near future on account of the rising medical tourism in Asian countries, especially in China and India, leading to an increasing yield of medicinal plants and spices.Fresh ginger is experiencing a much higher demand than the other forms of commercially available ginger, including dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, and powdered. The fresh ginger segment is anticipated to remain on the top in the near future, with its demand rising at a CAGR of 7.30% between 2017 and 2022, reports the research study.About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Trends in the Fresh Cherries Market 2017-2022

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With a large pool of fresh cherries vendors operating across the world, the global fresh cherries market is demonstrating a highly competitive business landscape, finds a new study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The continuous entry of new players into this market is expected to intensify the competition in the years to come. Leelanau Fruit, Rainier Fruit, Vitin Fruits, Dell's Marachino Cherries, Alacam Tarim, The Global Green Company, Smelterz Orchard, Hood River Cherry, and Bel'Export are some of the most prominent vendors of fresh cherries across the world, states the research report.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Increasing Preference for Fresh Fruits Reflect Positively on Demand for Fresh CherriesThe rising awareness among consumers regarding the harmful effects of chemicals and preservatives, used for food preservation, has surfaced as the key factor behind the significant growth of the global market for fresh cherries, says a TMR analyst. People, nowadays, are preferring fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption, which is influencing the demand for fresh cherries, considerably. The markets opportunity is expected to increase to US$3.9 bn by 2017. Researchers expect this market to continue registering a high rise, expanding at a CAGR of 5.50% during the period from 2017 to 2022 and reaching US$5.2 bn by the end of the forecast period.Over the coming years, the increasing consumption of cherries in emerging countries, such as China and India, will create lucrative opportunities for the growth of this market. The surge in consumers purchasing power and the increasing export demand for fresh cherries are likely to boost this market in the years to come, notes the research study.Obtain Report Details @Advent of China as Prominent Consumer to Boost APEJ Market for Fresh CherriesAccording to the research report, APEJ market for fresh cherries is leading the global market, thanks to the emergence of China as a prominent consumer of fresh cherries across the world. Researchers at TMR anticipate this regional market to remain on the top in the near future, rising at a CAGR of 5.90% and reporting immense increase over the period of the forecast. With the augmenting demand for cherries in China and several other Asian countries, fueled by the rising trend of urbanization and the surging influence of western culture on food habits, the APEJ fresh cherry market is projected to register high growth in the near future.The demand for sweet cherries is much higher demand than the sour ones, owing to which, the sweet cherries segment is estimated to hold more than 60% of the overall market by 2017. Analysts anticipated this segment to continue witnessing strong demand over the next few years. The traditional grocery stores and convenience stores have emerged the most prominent sales channels for fresh cherries across the world and this trend is projected to remain so over the next few years. However, online channels and direct sales are also expected to experience a rise in cherry sales from these sales channel over the forthcoming years, reports the research study.About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Business Overview and Upcoming Trends Forecast by 2022

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Research Report 2017-2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Bacillus Coagulans in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Bacillus Coagulans market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingGanedenSabinsaMitsubishiNebraska CulturesSyngen BiotechMicrobaxHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFood TypePharmaceutical TypeOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales) , market share and growth rate of Bacillus Coagulans for each application, includingFoodDrugsOtherBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Bacillus Coagulans Market Overview2 Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Bacillus Coagulans Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Bacillus Coagulans Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Bacillus Coagulans Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type6 Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Analysis by Application7 Global Bacillus Coagulans Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Ganeden7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Bacillus Coagulans Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Ganeden Bacillus Coagulans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Sabinsa7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Bacillus Coagulans Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Sabinsa Bacillus Coagulans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Mitsubishi7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Bacillus Coagulans Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Mitsubishi Bacillus Coagulans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Nebraska Cultures7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Bacillus Coagulans Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Nebraska Cultures Bacillus Coagulans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Bacillus Coagulans Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Bacillus Coagulans Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop for 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 with your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
GPS Tracking Device Market by Types and by Components, Global Industry Leaders - Atrack Technology, Tomtom International, Calamp Corp., Sierra Wireless, Verizon Wireless

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Market Scenario:The GPS Tracking Devices is normally carried by a moving vehicle or person that is used to determine and track its current location. IoT and cloud technology are some of the major factors driving this market. The modern technology in the GPS tracker, which allows a covert GPS tracking device to be placed anywhere in terms of size, range and dependability and being used for surveillance. The standalone and advance tracking devices are coming in use along with it. This can be used for the business, government, and individuals to showcase its real time information in term of the National Safety.The study indicates that the GPS Tracking Device Market has huge demand in various sectors including transportations and IT and Telecommunication sector that provides the real time information about the vehicles, products and individual. These device provides and advanced GPS vehicle tracking systems for businesses and consumers that enhance safety and security.The global Wireless security system market is expected to grow at USD$ ~2.53 Billion by 2023, at ~11.9% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Key Players:The prominent players in the GPS Tracking Device system Market are  Atrack Technology Inc. (Taiwan), Tomtom International Bv ( Neitherland), Calamp Corp. (US), Orbocomm Inc. (US), Sierra Wireless Inc. (Canada), Laipac Technology, Inc. (Canada), Concox Information Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Spy tech, Inc. (U.S), Verizon Wireless (U.S) and Queclink Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. (China) among others.Request a Sample Report @Segments:The global GPS Tracking Device system market has been segmented on the basis of type, components, end -users and region.GPS Tracking Device system Market by Type:Covert GPS TrackersStandalone TrackerAdvance TrackerOthersGPS Tracking Device system Market by Components:GPS LoggersPersonal GPS TrackersReal-Time GPS TrackersOthersGPS Tracking Device system Market by End-User:Automotive and aerospaceHealthcareTransportationRetailGovernment and defenseIndustrialHospitalityEducationOthersGPS Tracking Device system Market by Regions:North AmericaEuropeAPACRest of the WorldBrowse Report @Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of GPS Tracking Device market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, North America, Europe and Rest of the World. North America is one of the leading region across the world in terms of highest market share in GPS Tracking market. In North America, these devices is widely used to help monitor anti-poaching patrols in recent days and to track the location all the time, in commercial as well as for the personal purposes. Europe region is also showing a positive growth in the GPS Tracking Device devices market due to safety purpose and to also helpful in getting a real-time vehicle location updates, vehicle speeds, as well as instant alert message to bad driver behaviors. Whereas, Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan and South Korea is an emerging market for GPS tracking devices market. This market has huge potential for growth of GPS tracking device specifically the country like China.List Of FiguresFigure 1 Research MethodologyFigure 2 GPS Tracking Device Market: By Type (%)Figure 3 GPS Tracking Device Market: By Components (%)Figure 4 GPS Tracking Device Market: By End-User (%)Figure 5 GPS Tracking Device Market: By Region (%)Figure 6 North America GPS Tracking Device Market, By Type (%)Figure 7 North America GPS Tracking Device Market, By Components (%)Figure 8 North America GPS Tracking Device Market, By End-User (%)Figure 9 North America GPS Tracking Device Market, By Region (%)Figure 10 Europe GPS Tracking Device Market, By Type (%)Figure 11 Europe GPS Tracking Device Market, By Components (%)Figure 12 Europe GPS Tracking Device Market, By End-User (%)Figure 13 Europe GPS Tracking Device Market, By Region (%)Figure 14 Asia-Pacific GPS Tracking Device Market, By Type (%)Figure 15 Asia-Pacific GPS Tracking Device Market, By Components (%)Figure 16 Asia-Pacific GPS Tracking Device Market, By End-User (%)Figure 17 Asia-Pacific GPS Tracking Device Market, By Region (%)Figure 18 Row GPS Tracking Device Market, By Type (%)Figure 19 Row GPS Tracking Device Market, By Components (%)Figure 20 Row GPS Tracking Device Market, By End-User (%)Figure 21 Row GPS Tracking Device Market, By Region (%)Ask for Discount @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Telecom API Market Size Share - Technology Innovation and Advancement, Industry Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022

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The global market for telecom API is expected to progress at an extremely positive CAGR of 23.6% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2022. By the end of 2016, its revenue is expected to reach US$97.06 bn and US$323.44 bn by the end of 2022.Telecom API market represents an overall Application Programming Interface (API) services provided by telecom carriers, service providers and aggregators to application developers in order to create mobile applications. Telecom API helps application developers to integrate various services such as payment, voice, SMS and WebRTC into their mobile application. This helps application developers to enhance their customer experience and market their mobile applications among end-users. Telecom API provides many benefits to telecom carriers in the form of revenue generation and enhancing end-user experience. Telecom API faces competition from Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers and due to growing adoption of open API platform. However, the increasing adoption of M2M devices among end-users is anticipated to boost the market for telecom API in coming years.Get The Sample Copy of Report :This research report provides in-depth analysis of the global telecom API market based on services, user types and geography. In terms of geographical regions, the report categorizes the global telecom API market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America is further segmented into the U.S. and Rest of North America, while Europe is divided into EU7, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Rest of Europe. Moreover, Asia Pacific is subdivided into Japan, China and Rest of Asia Pacific. Also, MEA is further segmented into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, South Africa and Rest of MEA, while Latin America is subdivided into Brazil and Rest of Latin America.The telecom API market is categorized based on service types into payment, SMS, MMS and RCS, maps and location, voice/speech, identity management, WebRTC and others. Further, the research report provides complete insights into different users of telecom API such as enterprise developers, internal telecom developers, partner developer and long tail developers. The report analyzes each of these segments for various geographies considered under the scope of the study.Furthermore, the report analyzes factors that drive and restrain the growth of telecom API market. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies resulting in the popularity of telecom API services. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided in the report is the market positioning of key players in the global telecom API market.Send An Enquiry :Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering telecom API services. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The key market players profiled in this study include telecom carriers, aggregators and service providers. The major telecom carriers providing telecom APIs profiled in the report include AT&T, Inc. and Orange. The major service providers and aggregators of telecom API profiled in the study are Apigee Corp., LocationSmart, Alcatel-Lucent, Twilio, Inc., Tropo, Inc. (Cisco, Inc.), Aepona Ltd. (An Intel Company), Fortumo OU, Nexmo, Inc. and Comverse, Inc.The global telecom API market is segmented as below:Telecom API MarketBy Service TypePaymentSMS, MMS and RCSMaps and LocationVoice/SpeechIdentity ManagementWebRTCOthers (Device Information and Do Not Distrub)By User TypeEnterprise DeveloperInternal Telecom DeveloperPartner DeveloperLong Tail DeveloperBy GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market 2017 Global Industry Analysis & Forecast to 2022

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Market Study Report adds Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 118 pages with table and figures in it.Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) market is technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. The sulfuric acid is absorbed by a very fine fiberglass mat, making the battery spill-proof. This enables shipment without hazardous material restrictions. The plates can be made flat to resemble a standard flooded lead acid pack in a rectangular case; they can also be wound into a cylindrical cell.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the AGM Batteries in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Johnson Controls Bosch Yuasa Batteries Deere & Company Trojan Battery Exide Technologies.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Overview Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Analysis by Regions Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) by Countries Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Segment by Type Global Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Segment by Application Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  6V 12V OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Aircraft Automotive OthersEnquire For Discount on Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global AGM Batteries market.Chapter 1, to describe AGM Batteries Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of AGM Batteries, with sales, revenue, and price of AGM Batteries, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of AGM Batteries, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, AGM Batteries market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe AGM Batteries sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -Global AC Stabilized Power Supply Market Research Report 2017In this report, the global AC Stabilized Power Supply market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.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.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Global Clinical Trials Review, H2, 2016

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Summary:ReportsWeb.com published Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) from its database. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Original Content:Publisher's clinical trial report, "Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Global Clinical Trials Review, H2, 2016" provides an overview of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) clinical trials scenario. This report provides top line data relating to the clinical trials on Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Report includes an overview of trial numbers and their average enrollment in top countries conducted across the globe. The report offers coverage of disease clinical trials by region, country (G7 & E7), phase, trial status, end points status and sponsor type. Report also provides prominent drugs for in-progress trials (based on number of ongoing trials). Publisher Clinical Trial Reports are generated using Publisher's proprietary database - Pharma eTrack Clinical trials database. Clinical trials are collated from 80+ different clinical trial registries, conferences, journals, news etc across the globe. Clinical trials database undergoes periodic update by dynamic process.For more information about this report:Report Scope- The report provides a snapshot of the global clinical trials landscape- Report provides top level data related to the clinical trials by Region, Country (G7 & E7), Trial Status, Trial Phase, Sponsor Type and End point status- The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials (Trial title, Phase, and Status) pertaining to the company- The report provides all the unaccomplished trials (Terminated, Suspended and Withdrawn) with reason for unaccomplishment- The Report provides enrollment trends for the past five years- Report provides latest news for the past three monthsRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy- Assists in formulating key business strategies with regards to investment- Helps in identifying prominent locations for conducting clinical trials which saves time and cost- Provides top level analysis of Global Clinical Trials Market which helps in identifying key business opportunities- Supports understanding of trials count and enrollment trends by country in global therapeutics market- Aids in interpreting the success rates of clinical trials by providing a comparative scenario of completed and uncompleted (terminated, suspended or withdrawn) trials- Facilitates clinical trial assessment of the indication on a global, regional and country levelCompanies Mentioned:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.Merck & Co., Inc.Pfizer Inc.Novartis AGAstraZeneca PlcEli Lilly and CompanyBristol-Myers Squibb CompanyAbbVie IncE. Merck KGCelgene CorporationBuy Now Report at@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.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Phone : +91-20-67278686E-Mail : info@reportsweb.com
Thin Film Battery Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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"The Report Thin Film Battery Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"In common parlance, thin film battery can be defined as any battery which is comparatively thinner as compared to other typical batteries. In thin film batteries, instead of liquid based Li-ion batteries, solid-state electrolyte is used. These electrolytes greatly improve the performance of a battery and its ability to function over a wide temperature range makes its appropriate for use for various applications. The various advantages associated with the use of thin film battery in electronics include lower cost potentially, smaller footprint, less weight and higher energy density. Moreover, thin film batteries have a flat shape and thus enabling the developers to have an option of fitting in a battery according to their plans.View Report @Thin film battery market is expected to grow as a result of various factors such as increasing application of thin film battery in smartphones and phablets coupled with its use in sensor networks. Internet of things in this regard has contributed a great deal for the growth of the market. The increasing demand for wearable devices like such as smart watches and health tracker among others has further propelled the demand for thin film batteries. These devices make use of small batteries as it enables the manufacturers to design them within a manageable size. This factor further enables the manufacturers to focus upon the product development. These kind of batteries can also fit in a vest or a shoe and thus enabling the functionality of wearable electronic. Moreover, the ability of thin film batteries to perform better as compared to other kind of batteries makes its adoption even more common. Furthermore, smart computing is another important factor contributing to the growth of the thin film battery as these devices require inexpensive, reliable and smaller batteries that also provide better battery backup. As a result of its reduced size, these batteries provide unique solutions a wide range of power source problems. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices is another area of application where thin film batteries finds immense application as RFID technology is widely used across various businesses to keep a check on the tracking of shipments. Thin film batteries are also finding application in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) devices and drug patches. In both the mentioned applications, the devices are required to have the power source built in order to it becoming bulkier. These factors in combination are expected to contribute to the growth of the thin film battery market positively during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.However, despite the end number of benefits associated with thin film batteries, there are restraints present. One of the noticeable challenges being faced by the thin film batteries includes the shorter operational life as compared to a typical battery. Balancing between the the current rate, the battery capacity and the battery volume is another challenge faced by this battery.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Based on technology, the thin film battery market can be segmented into four categories; Thin-film lithium, Thin-film lithium polymer, Zinc based thin-film, solid state, advanced lithium-ion, laminar fuel cells, stretchable, transparent and others.The application segments of the thin film battery market will include mart cards and RFID, WSNs, smart wearables, electronic textiles, Internet of Things, smart packaging interactive media, toys, medical applications, portable electronics among others.Geographically, the thin film battery market has been categorized into five regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.Some of the key players operating in the thin film battery market are Solicore, Blue Spark Technologies, ITN Energy Systems, FlexeI, Samsung SDI, BrightVolt. Front Edge Technology, Imprint Energy, Rocket Electric, Prelonic, Jenax, Cymbet, STMicroelectronics and NEC among others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Send An Enquiry Request @The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Aerosol Market Extensive Growth Opportunities to be Witnessed by 2016-2023

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Aerosols are primarily used in paints, perfumes, room fresheners, medical products deodorants in order to hold liquid droplets in pressurized form. Moreover, increasing demand for household and personal care products is expected to fuel the demand for aerosols during forecast period. The market has been segmented by application type into household products, personal care products, medical products and paint among others.The global aerosol market is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period due to growing application of aerosols in paints, medical products, food, adhesives and automotive. Rising demand for air care products along with personal care products such as shaving and depilatories, hair care products, skin care products and deodorants are expected to create positive impact on the market for aerosols.Request For Report Sample@Personal care is the largest application segment of aerosols globally, followed by household application segment. Increasing disposable income along with rising standard of living is fueling the usage of personal care and household products for better living. Increasing demand for household and personal care products is expected to have a positive impact on the aerosols market. Furthermore, another application area of aerosol as spray paints in construction and automobile industry. Moreover, asthma inhalers are one of the application areas for aerosols, but the presence of fluorocarbons named hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) is expected to restrain the demand.Europe dominated the aerosols market in 2014 in terms of volume followed by North America and Asia Pacific. Growing demand for personal care products is expected to contribute in the growing popularity of aerosols in UK, Germany, Spain and France across Europe. U.S. is leading the aerosols market in North America. Furthermore, Asia pacific is the fastest growing market for aerosols. Lenient regulatory scenario coupled with growing demand for personal and household products are driving the market for aerosols across Asia Pacific. Growing consciousness towards personal care and hygiene, aerosol market is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period in China and India. Furthermore, stringent environmental rules and regulations by European Commission and Environmental Protection Agency towards restricting the application of HCFC, CFC and HFC components is one of the prime reasons behind the anticipated reduction in market share of Europe and North America by 2021. Increasing automobile production in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Germany and China is expected to create a positive impact on the demand for aerosol. Urbanization coupled with technological development is boosting the use of aerosol in household and personal care products across Middle East.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Some of the major players of aerosol market invest in research and development for better product quality. Furthermore, manufacturers focus on innovation and products development in the household and personal care product segments. Some of the key players operating in the aerosol market are Proctor & Gamble, Unilever PLC, Henkel AG, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Thymes, LLC, Crabtree & Evelyn, Ltd. and AkzoNobel N.V. among others. Mergers and acquisitions are also one of the business strategies of major companies in order to strengthen their foothold in the industry.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Need to Eradicate Production Fluctuation to Bolster Growth of global Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing Market

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MarketResearchReports.biz has added a new report to its research repository. The report is titled, Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025. The report shows a broad outline of the entire progress heading of the market over the route of the figure time cross. Unmistakable regions have been considered to give the perusers a wide viewpoint of the entire economic situation. The charging scene in thought with the chief affiliations and the affiliations working in the market has been joined and analyzed upon minutely. Unmistakable districts have also been cleared up where the market is working attainably and the zones where the players may find lucrative open sections later on have in like way been said in the report.In pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology, dynamic ingredients are delivered in conservative, shut units, utilizing automation. Subsequently, it requires less manual mediations. Generation steps did successively in an exemplary cluster process are joined in a nonstop procedure. All these assistance to realize proceeded with use of creation limit. This thus serves to decrease vacillations underway, enhance yields, and lower expenses of operation and hardware. By virtue of such preferences, the strategy is seeing quick reception.For Sample Copy, click here:Different points of interest of pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology is the prevalent improvement speeds, higher process security while utilizing risky sciences, and the chance to perform responses that can't be keep running under group handling. Numerous pharmaceutical makers are changing to constant creation from group strategies. In consistent generation, dynamic fixings are created in minimal, shut units, utilizing computerization and less manual intercessions. Generation steps did consecutively in a great bunch process are coordinated in a ceaseless procedure. The primary special saw advantage of pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology is that it achieves proceeded with usage of creation limit. This thusly serves to diminish variances underway, enhance yields, and lower expenses of operation and gear. By virtue of such preferences, the technique is seeing quick take-up.Aside from the previously mentioned benefits, different points of interest of pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing technology is the unrivaled advancement speeds, higher process wellbeing while utilizing perilous sciences, and the chance to perform responses that can't be keep running under cluster handling. Checking and control are at the focal point of fruitful constant assembling process which isn't conceivable without process investigative innovation (PAT); quick and progressing input of basic process parameters is energetic if ideal preparing conditions is kept up. Advance in PAT have been considerable in the current past, and today there is a wide cluster of apparatuses pertinent for the ongoing observing of assembling forms for both medication substances and medication items. At last consistent process is prepared to succeed inferable from the developing of a blend of modern advances prompting better gear, precise checking, automation, and programming.The core applications of the global market for pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing are active pharmaceutical ingredients, dry powders, and biologics, among many others. Amongst all. The biologics segment held the leading position in 2016 with a share of around 35.3%. It was closely followed by the segment of active pharmaceutical ingredient. On the basis of region, the global market for pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing is being currently reigned by Europe owing to the intensifying demand for the technology in countries such as Germany and the U.K. It has been projected that Asia Pacific will trail Europe on the run. Some of the leading companies operating in the global marker for pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing are Chemtrix, Corning Life Sciences, Scott Equipment Company, Korsch AG, S K Biotek ltd, Continuus Pharmaceutical, GEA group, and Siemens AG.To order report Call Toll Free: 866-997-4948 or send an email on sales@marketresearchreports.bizMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
The Netherlands: Revenue to Grow Moderately Through 2021 as Operators Focus on M2M and FMC to Support Subscriptions

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"The Report The Netherlands: Revenue to Grow Moderately Through 2021 as Operators Focus on M2M and FMC to Support Subscriptions provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The telecommunications market in the Netherlands generated $11.7bn in service revenue in 2015. The telecom services revenue in the Netherlands is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in mobile data, fixed broadband and pay-TV. Mobile data and pay-TV will be the fastest-growing segment in the telecom market. Going forward, operators shoul focus on fixed-mobile convergence and multiplay offerings. Investment by operators in 4G network expansion, fiber deployment and IoT/M2M will provide opportunities for vendors to support network operators by offering afordable LTE-compatible devices.View Report @Key FindingsThe overall telecom service revenue in the Netherlands is estimated to generate $11.3bn in 2016 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by the data segment.- Mobile revenue will account for 51.1% of the total telecom revenue in 2021; mobile data will be the fastest-growing segment over 2016-2021.- The Netherlands telecom market will be dominated by KPN as the leading operator, followed by Ziggo and Vodafone Netherlands. Operators are focusing on fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) and multiplay offerings to increase their subscriber base and revenue.Synopsis"The Netherlands: Revenue to Grow Moderately Through 2021 as Operators Focus on M2M and FMC to Support Subscriptions," a new Country Intelligence Report by Pyramid Research, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in the Netherlands today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile and pay-TV sectors, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in the Netherlands compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in the Netherlands.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony (including VoIP), broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV markets.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed/pay-TV and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in the Netherlands's telecommunications and pay-TV markets.ReasonsToBuy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of the Netherlandss telecommunications and pay-TV markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying Pyramid Researchs Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in the Netherlandss mobile communications, fixed telephony/VoIP, broadband and pay-TV markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in the Netherlandss telecommunications and pay-TV markets.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in the Netherlands.Table of ContentsExecutive summaryMarket and competitor overviewRegional contextEconomic, demographic and political contextRegulatory environmentDemand profileService evolutionCompetitive landscapeMajor market playersSegment analysisMobile servicesFixed servicesPay-TVIdentifying opportunitiesOverall market opportunitiesAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Thailand: Data Services to Spur Robust Growth in the Telecom Market between 2016-2021

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"The Report Thailand: Data Services to Spur Robust Growth in the Telecom Market between 2016-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"In 2016, Thailand telecom market will generate total service revenue of $10.2bn (THB360.1bn), (or 2.6% of the nominal GDP), an increase of 1.7% over 2015. Mobile data services will be the key revenue contributing segment, accounting for 36.1% of the total service revenue in 2016. Operator focus on network expansion and service enhancement, and investment in advanced technologies such as VoLTE and VoWiFi, will be the major factors driving growth of mobile data services in Thailand over the forecast period.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Key Findings- The overall telecom service revenue in Thailand is estimated to generate $10.2bn in 2016 and is estimated to decline at a CAGR of -0.2% during 2016-2021.- Mobile segment will account for 69.7% of the total telecom revenue in 2021.- The Thailand telecom market will be dominated by AIS Dtac and TrueCorp. AIS will remain the largest player in the telecom market through 2021. Operators focusing on expansion of 4G services, hence offering heavy discount on smartphones with data packages. Moreover the operators are stimulating the data usage through infotainments bundles.View Report @Thailand: Data Services to Spur Robust Growth in the Telecom Market between 2016-2021' a new Country Intelligence Report , provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Thailand today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband and mobile sectors, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Thailand compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Thailand.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice and mobile data.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed and mobile sectors and between voice and data from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice and mobile data: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Thailand 'telecommunication market.Send An Enquiry Request @ReasonsToBuy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Thailand telecommunication market, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Thailand mobile communications, fixed telephony and broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Thailand telecommunication market.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Thailand.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Natural Flavours Market Insights and Analysis for Period 2015 - 2025

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The market for natural flavours has grown tremendously over the past couple of years due to increase awareness of health coupled with emerging middle class across the globe. Flavours are used in food and beverages in order to enhance the taste and quality of the products. Thousands of natural volatile compounds make up the flavours and aromas of the food products that we eat in our day to day life. The definition of natural flavour under the Code of Federal Regulations is: the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavouring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavouring rather than nutritional. The market is buoyant for the coming years especially in Europe for the natural and clean label flavours.Request For Report Sample@Natural Flavours Market: Drivers and RestraintsGrowing consumer interest in natural ingredients coupled with the strong command of retailers in the supply chain has made natural flavours easily and widely available in the market for consumers and are the major driving forces of the market globally. However, rising cost of raw materials and the issues of sustainability and stability of natural flavours over synthetic flavours are major restraining factor of the natural flavour market. Trends of the natural flavour market includes demands for clean-label products categories such as confectionery and soft drinks and growth in R&D for stability of natural flavour.Natural Flavours Market: SegmentationNatural flavour market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and region. On the basis of product type the market can be segmented into natural extract, aroma chemical, essential oils and other natural flavour. Furthermore, on the basis of application natural flavour market can be segmented into beverages, dairy product, confectionary, oral products, tobacco and others. Beverages was the largest segment in natural flavour market followed by dairy products in 2014. Lastly, on the basis of region the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa.Natural Flavours Market: Region-Wise OutlookIn 2014, North America holds the largest market of natural flavours followed by Europe. However, Asia Pacific and Latin America are key emerging region in natural flavours market and are expected to marginally take a lead in the global natural flavours market by 2025 over developed regions.Visit For TOC@Natural Flavours Market: Key PlayersSome of the global key players in the natural flavour market are Givaudan, Firmenich, Takasago International Corporation, Symrise AG, Sensient Technologies Corporation, Kerry Group PLC, Frutarom Industries Ltd. to name a few. Givaudan, a Switzerland based company holds the maxium market share in the global natural flavour market. Big multinational companies in the natural flavour market focus on the acquisition activity in order to expand within the growth areas of natural flavour market. Major Companies such as Givaudan currently marking its footprint by increasing number of production sites, creative centres, an increased marketing and sales force and also opening new offices in Africa and Asia to cater the local demandFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Research Study Offers Insights on Future of Meat Packaging Market 2015 - 2025

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Demand for meat packaging is projected to witness single digit growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increased production of meat in the global market. Packaging is anything which is used to contain, handle, protect, and deliver raw material and processed goods. The main purpose of packaging is to provide products to consumer in perfect condition i.e, in intact form of food without spoilage. In addition, the advantages of packaging includes providing space for sharing information about the product such as nutrition, usage and direction.Meat Packaging Market: Drivers and RestraintsMeat packaging market is flourished worldwide due to various factors such as urbanization especially in developing economies such as India, Russia, Brazil and China, increase in demand of convenience products due to the time constraint. However, some of the factors which are restraining the market growth of meat packaging includes environment issues such as recyclability and sustainability coupled with hygienic packaging and rising concern regarding the health. The major trends of global meat packaging market are demand for smaller packaging size, new packaging material development and increase awareness towards environmental issues. Nano packaging also plays an important role in meat packaging as meat needs an aseptic packaging that lasts for maximum days for extended shelf life.Request For Report Sample@Meat Packaging Market: SegmentationMeat packaging market is segmented on the basis of type, material, distribution channel and region. On the basis of type meat packaging market is segmented into On the basis of material meat packaging market is segmented as plastic wraps and storage wrap which includes three major categories of plastics: polyethylene (PE), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), oven cooking bags which are made from heat-resistant nylon, aluminium foil which primarily is made from iron and silicon, freezer paper which is white paper coated on one side with plastic to help keep air out of frozen foods, parchment paper made from cotton fibre and/or pure chemical wood pulps and wax paper made with a food-safe paraffin wax. Further on the basis of distribution channel it is segmented into hypermarket/supermarket, grocery stores, online retailing, departmental stores and others. Lastly, on the basis of region the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa.Meat Packaging Market: Regional OverviewNorth America is the largest market for meat packaging followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. China meat packaging is expected to show a significant growth due to rise in personal disposable income coupled with rise in consumption of beef, pork and other meat. Developed market such as North America, Europe are expected to exhibit faster growth rate by 2025.Visit For TOC@Meat Packaging Market: Key PlayersThe major players in the meat packaging market Amcor Ltd, Crown Holdings, Dupont, Nuconic Packaging Llc, Tetra Pak International S.A., Silgan Holdings, Inc., Reynolds Group and Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd to name a few.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Forecast on Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market for the Period 2015 - 2025

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Food ingredients are used in food manufacturing industry to get desired product quality. Multifunctional food ingredients is defined as, ingredients which are used to replace gums, gluten, fats and other expensive ingredients. These ingredients ensures food safety and enhances shelf life, increases product yield, maintains taste, texture and appearance. In meat and poultry industry, multifunctional ingredients are used to provide safety of production during storage, to increase firmness of products, and also provide optimum indicators of rheological and thermodynamic characteristics, it helps to achieve the improved consistence and moisture holding ability of finished goods.Oat derived multifunctional ingredients are used in bakery products to extend shelf life as it hinders the moisture migration. It also helps to improves volume and yield, enhances texture and improves nutritional value of finished products. Multifunctional food ingredient are also derived from food grade yeast and it is used to improve the flavour of fat reduced salad dressings which are pourable and this addition reduces the acid bite of added vinegar. The addition yeast extract results in a smoother and balanced flavour. Addition of multifunctional ingredient does not increases viscosity.Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: SegmentationMultifunctional food ingredients are segmented on the basis of ingredient type, applications and region. On the basis of ingredient type, multifunctional food ingredients market is segmented as flavours and emulsions, yeast extracts, oat extracts, bulking agents, fibers, hydrocolloids, and others (dairy powders). Among these segments hydrocolloids is expected to grow during forecast period. Multifunctional fibers are made from fruits and vegetable peal and pulp are used to replace expensive ingredients such as eggs, oil and pectin. With increasing application of bulking agents, this segment is expected to show fastest growth in near future.Request For Report Sample@Multifunctional food ingredients market is segmented on the basis of application type, includes dairy product, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, dessert and toppings, and processed food products. Among these segments meat and poultry represents the mature market and expected to be dominant during forecast period. Multifunctional food ingredients are used in confectionery products to increase flavor intensity and taste enhancement and it ensures product stability during shelf life. Multifunctional flaxseed ingredients are used as gum replacer in cereal products such as tortillas, gluten-free products, pizza crusts, sheeted dough, batters and breads.Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: Region-wise OutlookMultifunctional food ingredients market is segmented on the basis of region includes North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe are established markets for multifunctional food ingredients. With increasing demands for processed food and ready-to-eat products, multifunctional food ingredients market is expected to register healthy CAGR during forecast period.Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: DriversConsumers demand for clean label products and natural ingredients are major drivers for multifunctional food ingredient market. As companies are launching new ingredient blends with all natural ingredients which can be used to improve product quality without processing loss. In early 2015, Corbian launched new range of multifunctional food ingredients for meat and poultry products. Many companies are launching new products to fulfill the different gender specific requirements. For instance, in 2015 NutraGenesis LLC launched functional ingredient called Sensara which can be used in foods and beverages and it provides wellness benefits to nourish and protect a womans mind and body. Marine sources are used as a raw material for multifunctional food ingredients, algae is most commonly used because of its oil content, fiber content and the small particle size. Algal flour acts as multifunctional food ingredients and it can be used in bakery products such as breads, dough products, dressing, sauces and nutritional beverages.Visit For TOC@Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: Key PlayersThe key international players operating in multifunctional food ingredients market includes AlgaVia, Arla Foods Ingredients, Ashland Inc., Butter Buds Inc., E & R Food Ingredients B.V., Florida Food, Inc., Fiberstar, Inc., Z Trim Holdings, Inc., NutraGenesis LLC., Glanbia Nutritionals, Solazyme and many others.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market 2017 Analysis & Forecasts to 2022

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Market Study Report adds Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 120 pages with table and figures in it.Bag Heat Sealing Equipment market machines that are used to seal polythene and plastics and are available in a range of different sizes here at Kite Packaging. The sealers are ideal for use on plastic tubing as they close off the edges, ensuring that it protects the content inside.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Bag Heat Sealing Equipment in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Robert Bosch GmbH, Fischbein, INPAK SYSTEMS, Pacific Bag, American-Newlong, Inc., OK Sealer, Crown Machine, JMC PACKAGING EQUIPMENT, Plexpack, Thiele Technologi.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Overview Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Analysis by Regions Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment by Countries Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Segment by Type Global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Segment by Application Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Hot bar sealing Ultrasonic sealing Impulse sealingMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Agriculture Chemicals Food Pharmaceutical Pet/animal food Building materials/aggregatesEnquire For Discount on Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bag Heat Sealing Equipment market.Chapter 1, to describe Bag Heat Sealing Equipment Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bag Heat Sealing Equipment, with sales, revenue, and price of Bag Heat Sealing Equipment, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bag Heat Sealing Equipment, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Bag Heat Sealing Equipment market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bag Heat Sealing Equipment sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2012-2022 Report on Global Portable Toilets Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, ApplicationThe major players in global Portable Toilets market include PolyJohn Satellite Shorelink Armal Sanitech ADCO International B&B Portable Toilets Camco Manufacturing, Inc. Toi Toi Sanitech.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.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.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Peanut Butter Market Competitive Intelligence and Tracking Report 2015 - 2025

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Peanut butter is a high protein, low calorie product that possess high nutritional value. It is healthy alternative to dairy butter and used as bread spread. Major market presence of peanut butter is in western countries in comparison to Asian countries such as India as product is relatively new to the Asian region. Peanut butter is used in various applications in the form of spread and is used as the substitute for milk butter. However, in comparison to other spreads peanut butter is a low calorie product with high protein content. Consumption of peanut butter includes various benefits associated with it such as it helps to reduce the weight and also possess optimum nutrition value. Peanut butter are also available in powder form and used in various applications such as breakfast food, savory sauces and smoothies.Peanut Butter Market SegmentationPeanut butter market is segmented on the basis of product type, distribution channel and region. On the basis of product type peanut butter market is divided into regular, low sodium, low sugar and plain. Among all the segments of the peanut butter, regular peanut butter is the dominating segment, followed by other segments. However, low sodium peanut butter is expected to show fastest growth in the forthcoming years. Peanut butter market is segmented on the basis of distribution channel into supermarkets, hypermarkets, retailers and others. Among all the segments of peanut butter market supermarket segment is expected to contribute maximum revenue to the overall revenue of the peanut butter market, followed by hypermarkets and retailers. Peanut butter market are segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan.Request For Report Sample@Peanut Butter Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global peanut butter market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecasted period due to the rising needs of the consumers for low calorie nutritious products. Globally, among all regions, North America is expected to contribute highest market share, followed by Europe over the forecasted period. In North America, U.S. is expected to contribute maximum market share due the high disposable income of the consumers. However, in emerging economies such as Asia Pacific peanut butter market is anticipated to witness highest growth owing to the rising disposable income of consumers in these regions.Peanut Butter Market: DriversVarious drivers for peanut butter market includes rising demand for nutritious products coupled with increasing disposable income of consumers especially in developing countries. Other drivers that fuel the growth of peanut butter market are increasing demand for low calorie healthy food and emergence of hectic life schedule. Changing lifestyle coupled with shift towards the intake of convenient food are also factors that are expected to drive the peanut butter market in the coming four to five years. Major restraint that is expected to hamper the growth of the overall peanut butter market is the availability of peanut at relatively competitive prices coupled with fluctuating production of peanuts especially in India.Visit For TOC@Peanut Butter Market: Key PlayersMajor players operating in peanut butter market are Procter & Gamble, Unilever, The J.M. Smucker Company, Hormel Foods Corporation, Boulder Brands Inc., Kraft Canada Inc., Algood Food Company Inc. Various companies operating in peanut butter market are mainly adopting strategy to launch new varieties of peanut butter in order to grab the changing needs and preferences of the consumers.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Healthcare Business Intelligence Solution Market Subdivision, Technology, New Innovations, Future Guidelines, Key Players, Trends and Forecast 2022

Healthcare Business Intelligence Solution

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Business Intelligence (BI) can be specified as a set of tools, technologies, and techniques, which can be utilized for the accumulation of raw data and then translating it into insightful, useful and meaningful information. It extensively uses qualitative and statistical analysis, data, predictive and explanatory modeling. The Business Intelligence permits healthcare organization for interpreting big volume of data and derived from this innovative strategies can be created and prospective market or growth opportunities can be recognized.Request for sample of Meat Substitutes Market research report @The business intelligence (BI) platforms assist to build BI applications by rendering competences in information delivery, platform integration, and analysis. Since healthcare organizations are recognizing the unexplored prospective of large amounts of information, they are enforcing solutions that use business intelligence to assist to sort, collect, and extract important insights out of this data. The major benefit of healthcare Business intelligence are easiness of handling a large volume data, and according to this analysis discovering growth opportunities and making new strategies or altering previous ones. A few of other advantages are the better patient satisfaction, proficient decision-making process, quick information exchange, transparency and clarity of information and cost and time efficiency.The Asia-Pacific healthcare business intelligence solution market is projected to show prominent growth with stable compound annual growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022. Healthcare business intelligence assists in handling and examining huge amounts of data accumulated in the healthcare industry for efficient decision making. The global market is propelled by various factors like a need to manage rising healthcare costs, rise in healthcare data, enhance patient satisfaction, improve medical outcomes, and fulfill the rising regulatory agreement requirements. Excluding these parameters, other factors like rising application of smartphones by the healthcare industry, rising implementation of cloud computing, rising healthcare IT adoption, fueling the health insurance exchanges, healthcare data exchanges, and also the integration environments are circuitously supporting the growth of the global market. Though, factors like security issues and data privacy, absence of flexibility of systems, complex set of technologies, cultural barriers to IT adoption by the medical community particularly in Europe, lack of transparent and comparable healthcare data, lack of workforce with technical and healthcare skills, and operational gap between consumers and suppliers are anticipated to hamper the global market growth.For More Details Of Report, Table Of Content, Purchase Copy of Report Visit @The key market players in the Asia-Pacific healthcare business intelligence solution market are Microsoft Corporation (United States), Tableau Software (United States), IBM Corporation (United States), Information Builders (United States), MicroStrategy, Inc. (United States), Qlik Technologies, Inc. (United States), Oracle Corporation (United States), SAP AG (Germany), TIBCO Software Inc. (United States), SAS Institute, Inc. (United States), and other players such as Agilum Healthcare Intelligence (United States), Accenture (Ireland), CitiusTech (United States), Dimensional Insight (United States), Computer Sciences Corporation (United States), Hexaware Technologies Limited (India), Jaspersoft (United States), Infosys (India), Klipfolio Inc. (Canada), Siemens Healthcare (Germany), Perficient, Inc. (United States), Wipro Limited (India) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (India), among others. By product type, the global market is divided as; Traditional BI, Cloud BI, and Mobile BI. According to the application, the market industry is classified as; Clinical, Financial Analysis and Operational Performance & Cost Management. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific healthcare business intelligence solution market is segmented into regions which are; India, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.Get Exclusive Discount on This Report @About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb-
Greenhouse Equipments Market Share and Forecasts Research Report 2017

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Market Study Report adds Global Greenhouse Equipments Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 123 pages with table and figures in it.There are many kinds of Greenhouse Equipments market, like Heating Systems, Cooling Systems other. Greenhouse Equipments market projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8%. The evolution of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and commercial greenhouses took place in global due to the favorable climate for the adoption of greenhouse automation technologies and encouragement from governments. A large number of Europe-based companies have invested significantly in the research of various areas of greenhouse automation, including climate control, lighting, and material handling, among others.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Greenhouse Equipments in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Greenhouse Equipments Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  FarmTek, Rough Brothers, GGS, IGC, NGMA, Atlas, Beijing Kingpeng International, Siebring, Rimol Greenhouse, Agroponic Industries, Hun-kun, Cropking and Stuppy, Zestha Developers, Philips, OSRAM.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents: Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Overview Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Analysis by Regions Global Greenhouse Equipments by Countries Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Segment by Type Global Greenhouse Equipments Market Segment by Application Greenhouse Equipments Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Heating Systems Cooling Systems OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Fruits & Vegetables Flowers & Ornamental Nursery Crops OthersEnquire For Discount on Greenhouse Equipments Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Greenhouse Equipments market.Chapter 1, to describe Greenhouse Equipments Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Greenhouse Equipments, with sales, revenue, and price of Greenhouse Equipments, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Greenhouse Equipments, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Greenhouse Equipments market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Greenhouse Equipments sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2012-2022 Report on Global Portable Toilets Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, ApplicationThe major players in global Portable Toilets market include PolyJohn Satellite Shorelink Armal Sanitech ADCO International B&B Portable Toilets Camco Manufacturing, Inc. Toi Toi Sanitech.Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.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.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Polyethylene Glycol Adhesive Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-2022

Polyethylene Glycol Adhesive Market

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Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether substance widely utilized as a solubility agent, lubricant and solvent in a variety of industrial applications. The molecular weight and forms of PEG changes in accordance with the type of initiator utilized for its polymerization procedure. Owing to its brilliant characteristics, like hygroscopicity, non-toxicity, solubility in the natural solvents, PEG is appeared as a lubricating solution over pharmaceutical applications, like the production of ointments and tablets. PEG is normally considered as biologically safe and inert. Though, analyses of clinical safety are usually based on grownups, not kids. The Food and Drug Administration has been demanded to investigate the potential effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in laxatives for kids.Request for sample of Meat Substitutes Market research report @The global polyethylene glycol adhesive market is expected to demonstrate major growth during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022 with prominent compound annual growth rate owing to the increasing significance of its properties like wear resistance, non-toxicity, and solubility in natural solvents. The appearance of PEG as a lubricating solvent in the pharma industry owing to it exhibiting abovementioned properties is anticipated to impact on the global market positively. Pharmaceutical market growth in developing markets involving Brazil, India, and China along with augmented spending on technological innovation is projected to fuel the global PEG market growth. Growing popularity of water-based inks, paints, and coatings due to amplified application scope in automotive and construction industries is estimated to boost the global PEG market demand during the forecast years. PEG is also utilized as a color stabilizer in the manufacturing of ceramic and paper.For More Details Of Report, Table Of Content, Purchase Copy of Report Visit @The growth of paper industry in India and China as a result of rising local demand is anticipated to encourage PEG demand. Construction, household, and automotive industries are a major customer of ceramic tiles and the expansion in these industries are predicted to boost the PEG demand during the next few years. The market existence of alternatives like MEG as well as other glycol ethers is anticipated to present a credible risk and impact the global market negatively over the projected period. Technological innovations in hydraulic fracturing have ensued in rising production of alternative resources like tight oil and shale gas, which is prone to augment the petrochemicals availability, intended for PEG manufacturing and likely to unlock new market opportunities.The major industry players involved in the global polyethylene glycol adhesive market are BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, India Glycols Ltd., Zhejiang Huangma Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd., Ineos, Jiangsu Haian Petrochemical Plant, Liaoning Oxiranchem, Inc., and Croda International Plc. By product, the global market is split as; Medical Grade, Cosmetic Grade, Food Grade and Industrial Grade. According to the application, the market industry is classified as; Medical, Personal Care, Industrial, and Others. Geographically, the global polyethylene glycol adhesive market is segmented into regions which are; Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, North America, South America Europe, Africa, Middle East and rest of the world.Get Exclusive Discount on This Report @About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb-
Radiology Information Systems (RIS) Market is Considered as One of the Rapidly Growing Dynamic Markets, 2017 - 2025

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Global Radiology Information Systems Market: SnapshotA radiology information system (RIS) refers to a networked software system for managing medical images and related data. Some of the major functions of RIS include patient scheduling, tracking radiology orders, examination interpretation, billing information, and results distribution. RIS is used in conjunction with hospital information systems (HIS) and picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to manage image archives and for efficient workflow of radiology practices.A radiology information system has several advantages over antiquated paper-based record keeping for disease diagnosis and treatment. It helps staff work more accurately resulting in fewer medical errors and deliver accuracy in transcription while at the same time help professionals present a more salient diagnosis. An RIS is useful for managing image files and large data that are typically generated in a radiology practice.It helps integrate multiple functions into a single comprehensive system, thereby eliminating likelihood of redundant actions and boosting staffs efficiency at the same time. From registration to scheduling to billing to reporting results, RIS streamlines operations so that staff can better help patients.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The many advantages of RIS help increase revenue due to fewer missed appointments and decreased turnaround time for reports. Moreover, several governments around the world offer incentives for physicians that use certified RIS software for generating reports. Radiology Information Systems are also important for transmitting information across service boundaries such as from the imaging unit to the patients primary healthcare provider.As RIS is a mature market over other areas of healthcare that are heading towards digitization, radiology has a high scope of innovative digitized systems.Global Radiology Information Systems Market: OverviewRadiology information system (RIS) is an advanced software tool developed to manage radiological data generated in hospitals around the world. The software majorly caters to digital data collection, thereby assisting the overall healthcare information systems. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the global radiological information systems market covering the growth drivers, major restraints, segmentation based on various parameters, and the impact of the latest technological advancements. It also covers outcomes of various analyses, intended to help the readers gain a better perspective of the global radiology information systems market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Radiology Information Systems Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe increasing costs and demand for more effective healthcare services have compelled hospitals to integrate advanced technologies for managing work force better and simultaneously delivering quicker and better patient care. Spurred by these factors, the uptake of radio information systems has significantly increased across hospitals and radiology departments. Besides this, enterprises operating in the global radiology information systems market are also gaining from the increasing incidence of chronic ailments such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and others. In addition, the rising aging population will prove a boon as geriatric population is more prone to developing terminal illnesses.As per the findings of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, nearly 400 million medical imaging procedure are conducted annually in the U.S. A comprehensive and integrated system is thus required to manage such staggering volume of patient-related data generated yearly. Moreover, with the decentralization of hospital processes, incomplete data storage has emerged as a major concern. In order to address these concerns, the deployment of radiology information systems is expected to rise significantly.Get Discount @Global Radiology Information Systems Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, North America holds position as the most lucrative market for radiology information systems. Europe comes second to it in terms of exhibiting opportunities for radiology information systems sales. Besides this, Asia Pacific has been exhibiting attractive prospects as a result of the rising demand from countries such as China, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. Due to the excessively high cost of medical services in the U.S., hospitals are losing businesses to their counterparts in Asia Pacific, with Malaysia, Singapore, China, India, and other countries emerging as popular destinations for medical tourism.Moreover, the prevalence of cancer across emerging nations is considerably high. According to the WHO, over 60% of new cancer cases are reported from Asia, South America, and Africa. Furthermore, these regions also show a high incidence of cardiovascular disease mortalities among the low and middle-income countries, which is a chief driver of the demand for radiology information systems.Global Radiology Information Systems Market: Vendor LandscapeTo study the prevailing vendor landscape, the report also profiles a few of the most prominent enterprises operating in the global radiology information system market. Using SWOT analysis, the report determines the strengths and weaknesses of the companies profiled. The analysis also helps the companies identify the opportunities and threats that they might witness over the course of the forecast period.Some of the leading enterprises operating in the global radiology information systems market are CoActiv Medical, AGFA Healthcare, FUJIFILM, Carestream Health, MERGE Healthcare, Cyglera Health Systems, Comrad, Novarad Corporation, Siemens Healthcare, and Infinitt Healthcare Co., Ltd.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Automotive Engine Pulley Market to Witness Steady Expansion During 2017-2025

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An engine pulley is a basically a wheel that is mounted to the engine of a vehicle, mostly automobile, that drives or guides a belt. It is also known as a serpentine belt. The belt is a part of a system which powers the peripheral devices within an engine compartment including the power steering, fan of the vehicle and air conditioner. An engine pulley is frequently used in combination with a timing belt  which helps in the opening as well as closing of the engine's valves.The engine pulley system in a vehicle usually features many pulleys that perform diverse functionalities. One pulley may be in control of powering the air conditioning unit, whereas another pulley or a set of pulleys may take care of the engine timing. Certain types of pulleys, known as idler pulleys, are responsible for keeping tension on the belt and aids in guiding the belt accurately through the system. Generally idler pulleys are not connected to the peripheral devices, and they are adjusted in a number of directions to regulate the tension on the belt. Adjusting the tension of the pulley need to be done very carefully in order to prevent breakage and avert dismounting of the belt.The global automotive engine pulley market is principally driven by the growth in vehicle production owing to growing disposable income and rapid urbanization, especially in the developing nations. Furthermore, increasing demand for lightweight and efficient pulley systems that reduce the vehicle weight and improve vehicle performance for meeting rigorous government regulations including the CAFE standards are likely to increase the global automotive engine pulley market growth during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@The global automotive engine pulley market can be segmented by type, type of vehicle, and geography. Automotive engine pulleys can be of two types - drive belt, and timing belt. The drive belt segment held a significant market share in the global automotive engine pulley market in 2016. Drive belts reduce engine load along with increasing fuel efficiency and available power. Moreover, these belts are easy to maintain and replace. These factors are likely to boost the segments growth thereby augmenting the overall growth of the automotive engine pulley market. Based on vehicle type the market can be divided into passenger car, light commercial vehicle, and heavy commercial vehicle. By volume, the passenger car segment is expected to hold a substantial share of the market, owing to the rising demand for high-quality pulleys with advanced load-carrying capacity.By geography, the global automotive engine pulley market can be segmented broadly into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle east and Africa. Asia pacific held a significant market share in the global market in 2016 owing to the rising production of vehicles in Japan, and China. Asia Pacific is followed by North America and Europe, in terms of market share. The U.S. held the majority of the market for automotive engine pulleys in the North American region trailed by Mexico and Canada. The demand for automotive engine pulleys in European region is likely to be high owing to the growing demand for technologically advanced automobiles in this region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):The key players in the region are investing profoundly in research and development activities to introduce strong and durable automotive pulley systems that have reduced widths and a lengthier service life than the existing ones. For instance, some R&D activities are focusing on decreasing the breadth of the belt for incorporation of those in compact engines. The primary aim of this is to attain a reduction of width from 16 to 20 mmto 10 mm to 14 mm. Some of the major players in the global automotive engine pulley market include ContiTech, Phoenix Pulleys, Bearings & Belts, Clark Pulley Industries, Zhejiang Renchi Auto Parts Co.Ltd., Panjiva, Inc., KAVO B.V., and Kanemitsu Co. Ltd., among others.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Renal Insufficiency Market Grows Owning To Innovations In Technology, 2017 - 2025

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Global Renal Insufficiency Market: SnapshotThe demand for renal disease treatment products and therapies has been incrementing steadily in the past few years, owing to the prevalence of poor kidney functions among a vast population base across the world, especially in the Asia Pacific region, and increased government support. However, the participants of the global renal insufficiency market must take a note of weak competition among the marketed products for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Currently, there are more than a dozen products marketed in the field, such as Erythropoietin (EPO), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), phosphate binders, and iron replacement products. While most of these products are approved by regulatory bodies including FDA, their lack of effectiveness in order to control the escalation of chronic kidney diseases is discouraging the targeted patients to continue. Consequently, the global market for renal insufficiency desperately needs a first-in-class product, and research and development of the vendors will determine the leader among them in the near future.The global renal insufficiency market is also gaining traction from poor safety profiles of the existing therapies. As there is an ample amount of unmet need and hence the market is ripe for the introduction of a therapy that meets the expectations. The severity of phosphate binders events associated with sevelamer hydrochloride, sevelamer carbonate, and lanthanum carbonate have given rise to a requirement of products with enhanced safety profiles and improved efficacy. This is another factors that augur well for the future of the market for renal insufficiency.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Renal Insufficiency Market: OverviewRenal insufficiency also referred to as kidney or renal failure is an ailment characterized by poor kidney function. In the last few years, the incidence of this condition has increased at such a pace that the demand for effective treatment for renal insufficiency is at all-time high. With governments around the world have increased their healthcare spending to battle the spread of chronic ailments, the investment in research and development of novel therapeutics for renal insufficiency is expected to show considerable increase.The report studies the prevalent dynamics in the global renal insufficiency market and its potential growth opportunities in detail. It presents insights into the growth drivers and key restraints to help the stakeholders get a better perspective of the global renal insufficiency market.Global Renal Insufficiency Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global renal insufficiency market is exhibiting impressive growth under the influence of drivers such as the increasing number of people with renal insufficiency, rising incidence of diabetes and blood pressure, and the rising number of dialysis centers worldwide. Of these, diabetes and blood pressure are regarded as the two main causes of renal insufficiency such as end stage renal diseases. In addition, the market is also witnessing increasing demand for home based dialysis as it helps in significantly reducing the cost incurred on treatment. Hence the rising demand for home based dialysis is also expected to have a positive impact on the overall market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Renal Insufficiency Market: Regional AnalysisRegionally, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World constitute the key market segments. Among these, North America represented the leading regional market in 2013, trailed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The rising demand witnessed in the U.S. and Canada is the chief driver of the renal insufficiency market in North America. As per findings of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 113,136 patients received treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2011 in the U.S. alone. Over the course of the forecast period, the number if projected to increase further, which subsequently will create high demand for effective treatment and diagnosis solutions.Between 2017 and 2025, the renal insufficiency market is expected to report impressive growth in Asia Pacific under the influence of persistent economic growth across emerging nations. Besides this, the market is also expected to gain from the increasing pool of patients suffering from renal diseases and the growing awareness about the availability of advanced treatment options.Get Discount @Global Renal Insufficiency Market: Vendor LandscapeTo study the prevailing competition, the report includes profiles of companies such as Baxter Healthcare, DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc., Fresenius Medical Care AG, Nikkiso, Gambro AB, Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Nipro Corporation, Terumo Corporation, Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc., and Asahi Kasei Medical Co. Ltd. Since these players actively participate in the market, their operations have a significant influence on the overall business dynamics.To gauge the contribution of these companies towards the markets growth, the report conducts SWOT analysis on them. It thus studies in detail the strengths and weaknesses of the companies profiled and also identifies the opportunities and threats that these companies are poised to witness over the course of the forecast period.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Rapid Industrialization to Boost Steel Rebar Market Growth by 2017-2025

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Steel Rebar Market: SnapshotSteel Rebar, also known as reinforcing bar is widely used in the construction industry, majorly in concrete reinforcement. It serves as a tensioning device and assists to hold the concrete in a compressed state. Concrete can carry a heavy load for compression but is very weak in tension. To allow concrete to carry tensile load, steel rebar is used. Steel rebar is commonly used for concrete construction its thermal co-efficient value is close to the thermal co-efficient value of concrete.Deformed steel bars, a type of steel rebar, have ribs, lugs, or deformity on the bar surface. These steel bars bind two materials strongly, limit cracks in concrete, avoid slippage and have higher tensile strength than mild steel rebar. Mild steel rebar is used to support the tensile stress of slab beams.Steel rebar is a cost-effective product that could be used for concrete masonry and concrete reinforcement. Conversely, aluminum is an expensive with less tensile strength alternative for the same applications. However, steel rebar comes with several drawbacks. In the production of steel, various types of wastes are discharged in water which can cause water pollution. Its manufacturing also releases CO2 causing greenhouse effect. It is also responsible for emission of hazardous gases such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide in the air, causing air pollution. The corrosion tendency of steel leads to deterioration of constructions where rebar is used. While these drawbacks will continue posing threat, increasing construction activities worldwide, especially in emerging nations, will keep the demand for steel rebar high in the coming years.Steel rebar, commonly known as steel reinforcement or reinforced bar, is a steel bar or a mesh of steel wires used in concrete constructions and concrete masonry as a tension device in order to provide support to concrete structures. Concrete exhibits high strength when compressed, but is equally weak under tension. Steel rebar acts as the tensioning device, thus providing strength to concrete structures. It makes these structures stable under strength and tension. Steel is used in concrete reinforcement as it offers high tensile strength and has a thermal co-efficient value, which is close to the thermal co-efficient value of concrete. Furthermore, it is one of the cheaper options that can be used for concrete reinforcement and concrete masonry. Aluminum is a costlier substitute for steel with less tensile strength. However, steel rebar has several disadvantages. These include the corrosion tendency of ferrous materials. This leads to intrinsic deterioration of structures where steel is used. Production of steel adversely affects the environment. For instance, it leads to emission of hazardous gases such as carbon oxides, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxide in air. It also is responsible for emission of CO2, thus leading to the greenhouse effect. Production of steel results in discharge of wastes into water, thereby leading to water contamination. The steel rebar market has been expanding due to the rapid infrastructure development, especially in housing, commercial, and industrial infrastructure, in developing nations. The market for steel rebar is expected to expand significantly in the next few years owing to the rapid industrialization in developing nations. There exists a need for substitutes for steel rebar considering its various disadvantages. Some substitutes such as basalt rebar and fiber reinforced polymer are eco- friendly and possess high tensile strength. These substitutes are anticipated to seize some share of the steel rebar market due to the environmental and corrosive effects of steel. Basalt rebar possesses numerous advantages over steel rebar and also has thermal co-efficient almost equal to that of concrete. The industry is experiencing continuous innovations and advancements due to the rapid technological advancements and high end applications of steel rebar. The newer grades that are being introduced are Fe-500, Fe-550, and Fe-500D. Similarly, in terms of application, a newer range of steel rebar that is corrosion resistant, epoxy coated, and earthquake resistant is being used increasingly in applications than the conventional rebar.Request For Report Sample@Based on application at the site of work, the steel rebar market can be segmented into mild steel bars and deformed steel bars. Mild steel bars are used to support the tensile stress of slab beams. Deformed steel bars come with deformity or lugs or ribs on the bar surface. It has higher tensile strength as compared to the mild steel rebar and avoids slippage, limits cracks in concrete, and also binds two materials strongly.Based on its finish, the steel rebar market can be divided into black rebar, epoxy coated rebar, and fabricated rebar. The use of these finishes depends on the environmental conditions that the bars are subjected to. Black rebar is a conventional uncoated rebar used at sites with minimum exposure to moisture, with minimum chances of catching rust or corrosion. Epoxy rebar is usually found in marine applications where there is a high chance of corrosion due to water. Black rebar is the preferred rebar is widely used owing to its cost effectiveness.In terms of end-use industry, the steel rebar market can be segregated into construction and infrastructure, manufacturing, and oil & gas industry. The construction and infrastructure sector dominates the steel rebar market. The segment is expected to expand during the forecast period due to the rapid development and industrialization in developing countries such as China and India. This is anticipated to result in real estate and infrastructural developments.In terms of geography, the global steel rebar market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America, and Latin America. The market for steel rebar is dominated by North America owing to the large number of construction activities in the region. Asia Pacific is also a key consumer if steel rebar, led by the rapid industrial and infrastructural development in developing countries such as India and China. This results in the need for steel rebar for housing, industrial construction, and other infrastructural construction. Consumption of steel rebar has increased significantly in Asia Pacific. Europe and Middle East & Africa are the other major consumers of steel rebar.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Major players operating in the global steel rebar market include Arcelor Mittal, Saudi Iron & Steel Co., Tata Steel, and Zamil Steel Holding.The steel rebar market is expected to expand significantly in North America and developing countries in Asia Pacific due to its cost effectiveness and increase in construction and infrastructure development activities in these regions.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Quinoa Market Research Study for the Period 2017 - 2025

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Quinoa is a grain crop also known as Chenopodium quinoa used for its edible seeds. Quinoa is a source of manganese, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, fiber, folate, zinc etc. which makes it one of the healthy food for consumption. Quinoa have health benefits such as it minimizes the cardiovascular disease, risk of type-2 diabetes, regulates blood sugar, helps maintain cholesterol level, reduces risk of various allergies etc. Quinoa is grown organically as well as conventionally. Quinoa is a gluten-free product which makes it popular in health conscious consumers for consumption which is increasing demand for it in global market. Quinoa have various application in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, medical industry which grows its demand in global market.Market Segmentation: QuinoaThe quinoa market is segmented on the basis of application in industries such as food industry, cosmetic industry, pharmaceutical industry etc. In food industry, quinoa is used to prepare noodles, pasta, vegetable soup, muffin, breads etc. Quinoa can also be consumed along with breakfast meal, salads, sandwiches etc. In cosmetics industry, quinoa is used for anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, dark spot reduction, reduce pigmentation, treat acne, promote hair growth, treat dandruff etc. Saponins obtained from quinoa can be used in pharmaceutical industry as it changes intestinal permeability useful for absorption of specific medicines. It is also used as an antibiotic for fungal control.The quinoa market is segmented on the basis of its type as organic and inorganic. As a result of increasing population of health conscious consumers and awareness of using organic products, the quinoa market is increasing its demand in global market. Awareness of using organic products in cosmetics is increasing in turn increasing the demand for organic quinoa market globally.Request Report Brochure @The quinoa ingredients market is segmented on the basis of its end-use as an ingredient and packed food. As an ingredient it is used in preparation of pasta, breads, noodles etc. Manufacturers offering ready-to-use soup powders use quinoa ingredient in their products to enhance its nutritive value. Packed Quinoa products is available in retail shops, online portals for home use packed in bags, cans, boxes etc.The Quinoa market is segmented on the basis of regions as North America, Latin America, Europe, APAC and ME.Global Quinoa Market: Regional OutlookDepending on geographic regions global Quinoa market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, APAC and ME. South America is major producer of quinoa which include countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. The U.S. is a major consumer of quinoa followed by Asia Pacific. The U.S., Africa, India and other countries in Asia are gaining interest in quinoa market.Global Quinoa Market: Drivers and TrendsQuinoa market is in demand due to its health benefits and nutrient rich property. Quinoa is high in fiber and gluten-free product which makes it popular in health conscious consumers. Application of quinoa in food products such as noodles, bread, pasta etc. is trending which in turn helps quinoa market to grow in global market. Increasing demand for organic and natural products in cosmetic industry is gaining interest which is driving global quinoa market. Consumption of quinoa in breakfast food is increasing due to its use as an ingredient in breakfast foods which is one of the driver for increasing demand of quinoa in global market.Visit For TOC@Global Quinoa: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global Quinoa market include Quinoa Foods Company, Northern Quinoa Production Corporation, Andean Valley S.A., Quinoa Corporation, Keen One Quinoa, The British Quinoa Company, Hain Celestial Group, Andean Naturals Inc., European Quinoa Group, Inca Organics etc. are amongst.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Oil Seal Market - Global Trends, Share, Manufacturers and Forecast 2017-2021

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Oil Seal Industry Market Research Report 2017-2021 The report focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.The report firstly introduced Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board basic information including Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board definition classification application and industry chain overview; Oil Seal Industry policy and plan, Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.2017 Market Research Report on Oil Seal Industry was a professional and depth research report on Oil Seal Industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Oil Seal Industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc., and the main country including United States, Germany, Japan and China etc..In the end, the report introduced Color-Coated Steel Insulation Sandwich Board new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Oil Seal Industry.In a word, it was a depth research report on Oil Seal Industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from Oil Seal Industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second parts mainly analyzed the Asia Oil Seal Industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Oil Seal Industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Oil Seal Industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.Get complete access of this reportMarket SegmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (Global, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Table of Content1 Oil Seal Industry Definition2 Asia Oil Seal Industry Product History of Development3 Asia Oil Seal Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis3.1 Company A4 Asia Oil Seal Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis5 Oil Seal Industry Development Trend6 North American Oil Seal Industry Product History of Development7 North American Oil Seal Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis8 American Oil Seal Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis9 Oil Seal Industry Development Trend10 Europe Oil Seal Industry Product History of Development11 Europe Oil Seal Industry Key Manufacturers Analysis12 Europe Oil Seal Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis13 Oil Seal Industry Development Trend14 Oil Seal Industry Marketing Channels Analysis15 Oil Seal Industry Development Environmental Analysis15.1 China Economic Environment Analysis15.1.1 China GDP Analysis15.1.2 China CPI Analysis15.2 European Economic Environmental Analysis15.3 United States Economic Environmental Analysis15.4 Japan Economic Environmental Analysis15.5 Global Economic Environmental Analysis16 Oil Seal Industry SWOT Analysis and New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis17 Global Oil Seal Industry Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast Analysis18 Oil Seal Industry Development TrendContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.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.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Battery Energy Storage System Market Revenue Growth Predicted by 2017-2025

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Demand for energy conservation is increasing and considering the depleting level of energy resources, numerous companies emphasize on efficient energy consumption techniques. Rising population coupled with increasing industrial activities are likely to raise the demand for battery energy storage systems during the forecast period. Battery energy storage systems have been increasingly utilized in the production of renewable energy sources such as solar cell, wind turbine. The battery energy storage system market has expanded considerably in recent years due to increasing demand for renewable energy sources. Some important applications of battery energy storage systems include electrification of grid and this requires large amount of renewable energy resources, thus contributing to the consistent increase in demand for battery energy storage system. Gradual advancement in energy storage technology leads to significant cost reduction and enhances the efficiency of battery energy storage system. This, in turn, is likely to boost its demand in the market during the forecast period.Battery energy storage system requires substantial amount of space and infrastructure set up. The considerable installation cost and complexity in regulation for setting up proper infrastructure is estimated to restrain the potential growth prospect of the battery energy storage system market during the forecast period. During round trip inefficiencies considerable amount of energy is lost and this factors hinder the expansion potential of the market.Request For Report Sample@A battery energy storage system allows integration of renewable energy and fossil fuel sources. This system utilizes intermittent energy, which is projected to offer a growth opportunity for the market during the forecast period. Rural electrification has been a major agenda of the government and in emerging economies such as China and India this issue gets substantial government support. Battery energy storage systems have been majorly used in areas where grid power is very weak. Increasing application of renewable sources is estimated to propel the battery energy storage system market during the forecast period.In terms of connection type, the battery energy storage system market can be segmented into On-grid and Off-grid. The battery energy storage system is a new method of generating and distributing power energy. Considering the present trend of using significant amount of renewable energy, the on-grid battery energy storage system segment held considerable share of the market, as this system install substantial storage capacity and gets legal support for required infrastructure. Off-grid battery energy storage systems are majorly demanded by countries in the sunbelt regions where solar radiation is very high. Off-grid battery energy storage systems have been increasingly deployed in remote areas where electrification and efficient usage of renewable resources is a challenge.In terms of application, the battery energy storage system market can be segmented into residential, transportation, non-residential, utility, and others. The transportation application segment held dominant share of the market due to increasing utilization of batteries in battery driven cars and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Different types of batteries such as lithium ion, Li-Ion polymer find maximum application in different types of vehicles. These lithium-ion based batteries are lightweight and are highly energy efficient, and thus, these factors boost the demand for battery energy storage systems in vehicles The residential segment is projected to expand rapidly during the forecast period due to government initiatives for supplying electricity to every single house. Increasing usage of solar power plants, wind energy in these batteries are also likely to drive the demand for battery energy storage system in the market during the forecast period.In terms of region, the battery energy storage system market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific held a prominent share of the market due to the rise in number of housing units in the region, latest trend of using renewable energy, and significant number of industrial belts.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Key player operating in the global battery energy storage system market include ABB Ltd., General Electric Co., Tesla Motors Ltd, and Siemens AG.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Dual Mass Flywheel Market Estimated to Soar Higher During 2017-2025

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Global Dual Mass Flywheel: Market OverviewAn automotive dual mass flywheel is abbreviated as the dual mass flywheel is a mechanical device which provides energy to the system continuously. The dual name mass implies the mass of the device which is split into two, one-half of the mass is attached to the engine and another half to the gearbox. The installation is between the engine and the transmission along the clutch cover over the clutch disc. By accumulation of stored energy in two flywheels half masses, the vibration is reduced. The absorption of the vibration in the engine depends on the moving parts of the dual mass flywheel. The dual mass flywheel is widely adopted in the automotive industries considering its well-known positive effects on fuel consumption of the vehicles. The OEM in recent times are more inclined towards the reduction in the weight of the engines and to improve the fuel economy of the vehicle. The dual mass flywheel thus is one of the components used in the vehicles for the fuel efficiency as the light weight components employed in the vehicles increases the vibration levels. The dual mass flywheel by reducing the vibration in the engine has reduced the fuel consumption and facilitate the OEMs to offer fuel efficient engine to the vehicles. The dual mass flywheel since its introduction has undergone many development phases. Dual mass flywheels with the centrifugal pendulum type absorber are used wherever the conventional flywheels were installed. The dual mass flywheel introduction in the vehicles allows the vehicles to be operated at deficient speed without compromising the fuel efficiency and comfort of the driving. Owing to all above factors the dual mass flywheel is expected to have significant CAGR during the forecast period.Global Dual Mass Flywheel: Market DynamicsThe Global Dual Mass Flywheel Market is projected to gain traction over the forecast period owing to the advantages and its features. The dual mass flywheel facilitates the OEMs and user to have less noise, easy to shift gears, vibration damping, longer service life, reduced fuel consumption and enhanced vehicle performance. These factors facilitate the OEM to provide vibration and thus noise controlled engine performance. The OEMs to have light weight engine by using lightweight components ultimately increases the vibrations of the engine and eventually opt for the dual mass flywheel for vibration damping. The other prominent factor responsible for the growth in demand for the dual mass flywheel is the stringent government rules for the emission and noise control in the vehicles. The latest 7 and eight-speed gearboxes favor the growth of dual mass flywheel in a global market.Request For Report Sample@However, the factors such as the cost of the dual mass flywheel and the comfortable wear out of the dual mass flywheel affect the demand for the dual mass flywheel in the automotive industries and thus over the global platform.Global Dual Mass Flywheel: SegmentationBased on the types, the Global Dual Mass Flywheel Market is segmented intoIndividual bent springOne phase bent spring in parallelTwo phase bent spring in parallelThree phase bent springGlobal Dual Mass Flywheel: Regional OverviewGeographically, the Global Dual Mass Flywheel Market is segmented into seven regions including North America, Western Europe, Latin America, Japan, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific other than Japan, and the Middle East and Africa. North America due to rising in demand for the noise and vibration controlled vehicles along with the prominent presence of automotive industries in the region dominate the global dual mass flywheel market. The stringent government rules and growing trend of the quiet transport facilities in the regions facilitate the dual mass flywheel market to flourish in the regions such as North America and Europe. North America is thus expected to drive the market with the significant CAGR in the forecast period. However, the growing use of vehicles, adoption of latest technology, awareness about the noise levels emitted by the transportation and rise in the fuel prices all together make Asia Pacific prominent market forecast period 2017-2027. Increasing demand for the dual mass flywheel and vibration damping devices propels the growth rate of the global dual mass flywheel market in the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Global Dual Mass Flywheel: Market PlayersSome of the prominent players for the Global Dual Mass Flywheel Market includeLuK GmbH & Co. KGValeoZF Friedrichshafen AGSchaeffler GroupVelteks AutomotiveYuhuan Yanghoo Auto Parts Co., LtdAmsautomotiveQualvecomHalfordsHubei Space Double Rhombs Logistics Co.,LtdAbout USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Wind Turbine Gear Oil Market Projected to Witness Vigorous Expansion by 2016-2024

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Wind Turbine Gear Oil Market: OverviewWind turbines have been used in one form or another since the last 7,000 years. The primary function of the gear oil for rolling bearings in a wind turbine is to prevent or reduce contact between rolling and sliding surfaces. As a result, friction and wear are kept to a low level. Gear oil has the following functions: corrosion protection, heat dissipation from the bearing, flushing out of wear particles and contaminants (recirculating oil lubrication with filtration of the oil), and support for the sealing effect of bearing seals (grease collar and pneumatic oil lubrication). Surfaces moving relative to each other are separated completely or almost completely by a lubricant film. This film is called gear oil.Hydrodynamic lubrication gear oil is preferred for wind turbines with power rating of 0.75 MW to 2.5 MW. This lubricant is conveyed into the narrowing lubrication gap by the motion of the contact surfaces relative to each other. Due to the extremely high pressure in the immediate contact zone, the lubricant here has extremely high viscosity for a short period and facilitates separation of the contact surfaces.Request For Report Sample@Development of advanced wind turbines in the 4 MW to 5 MW capacity range is under testing phase. The gear box and drive systems of these prototypes demand use of Elastohydrodynamic (EHD) lubrication.Wind Turbine Gear Oil: Market Dynamics and TrendsMost manufacturers of wind turbine gearbox have compiled or are in the process of compiling new lubrication specifications. These specifications are more stringent than those for industrial gear applications, and more accurately reflect true operating conditions, including low-temperature conditions. Performance expectations for lubricants used in offshore wind turbines are higher due to the demand for extended life.New trends include FAG FE 8 bearing test (Fatigue test) which is required by all gear box manufacturers, move toward synthetic formulations (PAO/ester based  Poly Alfa Olefin and PAG-based  Polyalkylene Glycol), new oil compatibility specifications for paints-lacquers-sealants and bearing materials, and new extended lifecycle seal tests for static and dynamic seals.The SKF EMCOR rust test, for example, is being evaluated to include testing with salt water. With the latest trend of offshore wind turbine parks, accessibility is even more difficult than on land. Therefore, proactive prediction of the useful life of lubricants becomes the new maintenance strategy rather than the reactive strategy based on measuring acid number and viscosity.Another collaborative effort has produced a monitoring system for in-service wind turbine lubricants that detects the remaining concentration of antioxidants. As a quick check for fluid condition, at a minimum, the turbine operators should be measuring cleanliness (contamination by ISO class), oxidation, water, and viscosity.Wind Turbine Gear Oil Market: Market SegmentationThe wind turbine gear oil market has been segmented by major turbine components (gear box and generator), by oil replacement cycle (6-12 months and 12 months above) and by type of gear oil (semi synthetic industrial gear oil, fully synthetic industrial gear oil, and polyalphaolefin based gear oils).Wind Turbine Gear Oil Market: Region-wise OutlookWind power is a high-growth, rapidly evolving industry with a direct proportion to the lubricant usage (gear oil). Currently, North America is the leading region for the manufacture and usage of gear oils. Europe follows North America in terms of consumption and manufacture of gear oils for wind turbines. With new developments and rising focus on renewable energies, Asia and Latin America are poised to surpass North America and Europe in terms of consumption of gear oils in the near future.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Wind Turbine Gear Oil Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global wind turbine gear oil market are Lubrizol, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Kluber Lubrication, Shaeffler Group, OKS Spezialschmierstoffe GmbH, Castrol, Evonik Industries, PETRONAS, CNOOC, Petro China, Amsoil Inc., and Suzlon.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact USState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Website:Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market Players to Open Facilities Worldwide 2017 - 2025

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Global West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market: SnapshotWest Nile virus (WNV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family, comprising pestivirus, flavivirus, and hepacivirus. It is a positive stranded RNA virus and outbreaks of West Nile fever has occurred across the globe since the mid 90s. Moreover, West Nile Virus is currently an endemic in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. as well. The infection bears negligible to no symptoms in human body. Elderly people, extremely young children, and those with immunosuppression and HIV, are most susceptible to West Nile fever.One of the primary ways by which this virus is spread is by mosquitoes and one of the most commonly infected animal is birds. WNV is also found in dead birds. Birds in fact serve as the key host of spreading this infection. Migratory birds are transporting this virus to the temperate areas of Europe in spring. West Nile Virus is also found in ticks, but ticks are not the main vector for the spread of this disease. All these factors are likely to increase the number of people suffering from this infection and this is expected to drive the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The report discusses the recent progress in the diagnosis and vaccination to treat West Nile Virus infections. As presently there are no effective vaccinations for the prevention of West Nile Infection, the market is challenging to many players. This is attracting players to enter in the market and invest in extensive research and development to come up with some form of medication and treatment options.Global West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market: OverviewWest Nile Virus (WNV) infections are transmitted through mosquitoes. Birds are the major carriers of West Nile virus. Mosquitoes that bite infected birds become vector for the virus. Individuals with a weak immune system and older people are at a high risk of WNV infection.Some of the symptoms of WNV include fever, muscle weakness, convulsions, back pain, eye pain, diarrhea, headache, swelling of lymph glands, paralysis, numbness, comatose state, fatigue, sore throat, confusion, nausea, and rash on stomach, chest, and back. Some other serious symptoms of NWV infection are inflammation of the brain and meningitis.Global West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsA rising geriatric population globally and an increasing pool of population with weak immune system leading to increased hospital admissions are the major factors driving the West Nile virus infection treatment market. On the other hand, factors such as lack of awareness about the infection and unavailability of infection specific treatment are restraining the markets growth.Request TOC of the Report @Global West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market: Growth OpportunitiesPresently, the specific course of treatment for West Nile virus infection is not available. This has led market players and research organizations to develop infection specific drugs. Drugs such as human leukocyte derived interferon alfa-n3, HBV-002, Hu-E16 monoclonal antibody derived from plant, CEL-1000, VG-WNV, BG-323, ETX-112, and innate immune agonists are some of the potential drugs and therapies that are under clinical trials.Global West Nile Virus Infection Treatment Market: Regional OutlookThe global NVW infection treatment market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. North America and Europe are presently the leading markets for West Nile virus infection treatment. The dominance of these regions is due to the availability of advanced healthcare facilities, high awareness about the infection, and government support for research and development initiatives pertaining to the infection.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for WNV infection treatment for the 2017-2025 period. Factors such as a large geriatric population, increasingly developing healthcare infrastructure, and government support to provide advanced healthcare are expected to propel the global WNV infection treatment market in Asia Pacific. In this region, China and India are expected to display the fastest growth due to surging medical tourism in these countries. Apart from India and China, Japan is expected to display significant growth due to the increasing support by the Japanese government for development of the healthcare industry in the country.Get Discount @Rest of the World (RoW) region comprises Middle East, Latin America, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Latin American countries are anticipated to display significant growth than other countries in RoW region due to the presence of a well-laid regulatory framework coupled with a developing economy. On the other hand, African countries will display a low growth rate due to poor healthcare infrastructure, lack of regulatory framework, and poor economic growth.Companies Mentioned in ReportLeading players in the global WNV infection treatment market are Kineta Inc., Hemispherx Biophrma Inc., CEL-SCI Corporation, and Hawaii Biotech Inc. Each of the companies are profiled for key business attributes such as recent developments, financial standing, and SWOTs.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Whole Exome Sequencing Market : Regulatory compliance initiatives 2017 - 2025

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Global Whole Exome Sequencing Market: SnapshotWhole exome sequencing is expected to receive a staggering demand as DNA sequencing and its advances pave the way in the research field with the transformation of genomics. When compared with whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing is technically studied to be quick and cost-efficient. Since exons carry an 85.0% of disease traits, exome sequencing is regarded to be more effective. Researchers are anticipated to significantly adopt whole exome sequencing services, kits, and systems because of their double benefit of saving time and simplifying work.On the basis of end user, the global whole exome sequencing market could gain a telling demand because of the influence of a colossal growth of government and academic institutions and research centers in the past. By application, the diagnostics segment is prognosticated to own a larger share in the global whole exome sequencing market. Predicted to incorporate two sub-segments, viz. data analysis and sequencing services, the services segment is prophesied to demonstrate dominance in the global whole exome sequencing market by products and services.Request Sample Copy of the Report@One of the high impression driving factors of the global whole exome sequencing market is the need to monitor pathogenic infections, cancer, and various other chronic maladies. More opportunities are envisaged to take birth with the surging adoption of next-generation sequencing techniques for the purpose of predicting and treating such diseases. The speed and cost factors are foretold to play a major role in the adoption of whole exome sequencing methods and the growth of the overall market.Global Whole Exome Sequencing Market: OverviewWhole exome sequencing involves the sequencing of all protein-coding genes in a genome. Clinically exome account for 82% to 85% of known disease-causing variants and less than 1.5% to 2% of the human genome, which converts whole-exome sequencing into an effective alternative.The report analyzes key market segments and growth trends in the past, based on which the progression analysis of the global market for whole exome sequencing for the 2017-2025 period is presented herein.Global Whole Exome Sequencing Market: Drivers and RestraintsTechnological progression in sequencing systems, collaborations and partnerships amongst leading research organizations for improved drug discovery, and an increasing expenditure on research and development are the major factors driving the global whole exome sequencing market. However, factors such as unavailability of trained workforce, increasing trend of funds and grants from universities and research organizations, and high instrument costs are challenging the growth of this market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Whole Exome Sequencing Market: Regional OutlookNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World are the regional segments of the whole exome sequencing market. Amongst these, North America stands as the largest whole exome sequencing market. This is mainly due to the increasing application of whole exome sequencing for detection of rare diseases, increasing awareness programs through industry meets and conferences, and government funding for whole exome sequencing studies. In 2010, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,148,200 persons above the age of 13 and more were diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States, including 207,600 individuals whose infections had not been diagnosed.Europe is the second largest market for whole exome sequencing. This is because Europe is a leading region for the diagnostics and treatment of cancer and HIV diseases. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe is home to almost one quarter of the worlds cancer patients with 3.2 million new patients diagnosed every year. In 2010, UNAIDS estimated that approximately 2.3 million people were living with HIV in Europe. The prevalence of HIV among adults varies from less than 0.2% of the population in Central Europe to more than 1% of the population in parts of Eastern Europe.Get Discount @Asia Pacific and Rest of the World are expected to be lucrative markets for whole exome sequencing in the coming years. Increasing research and development initiatives and strategic expansion and acquisitions among research organizations in the emerging economies of Asia Pacific are favoring the growth of this regional market. The increasing impact of bioinformatics and biotechnology research in Latin America is anticipated to fuel the growth of whole exome sequencing market. An increasing number of patients diagnosed with HIV in the emerging economies of India, China, and Brazil will lead to significant growth of the whole exome sequencing market in these regions.Companies Mentioned in ReportThe report mentions top players in the whole exome sequencing market, namely Agilent Technologies, BGI, Eurofins Genomics, Macrogen Inc., GENEWIZ Inc., Ambry Genetics, Illumina Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Roche NimbleGen Inc., Sengenics, and Knome Inc. among others.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Yellow Fever Treatment Market : New Entrants & Recent Developments and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Yellow Fever Treatment Market : SnapshotYellow fever is essentially a mosquito-borne disease, which is more prevalent in African countries as well as in Central and South American region. Often, these diseases are transmitted across the countries via infected travelers, but it is more frequent in countries wherein the mosquito species are able to flourish in a regions specific climatic conditions and the animal pool required to maintain their prosperity. In 2017, Brazil has notified more than half a dozen separate cases of yellow fever across the country and its prevalence continues to mount in different parts of the world too. As a result, the demand in the global yellow fever treatment market is expected to expand at a steady rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Factors such as unhygienic lifestyle, increasing awareness among people pertaining to the availability of the treatment to cure yellow fever, improving healthcare infrastructure in several emerging economies, growing number of international travelers, and increased efforts from health organizations such as the UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are some of the factors augmenting the demand in the global yellow fever treatment market. UNICEF already procures nearly 34 million yellow fever vaccination doses per year and has long-term agreements with four drug companies to provide the vaccination required for routine programmers, emergency, and preventive campaigns. Still, the supply is significantly insufficient to meet the increasing demand, and hence the demand in the global market for yellow fever is expected to swell consistently over the course of next few years.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Yellow Fever Treatment Market: OverviewYellow fever is caused by a virus transferred through infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes thrive near human dwellings and breed in clean waters. The occurrence of yellow fever is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. Humans and monkeys represent the target patient population infected with yellow fever virus.Yellow fever infection can be lethal as it damages the liver and other internal organs. As per statistics of the World Health Organization, yellow fever affects more than 200,000 individuals every year, of which 90% are reported in Africa. These cases result in 30,000 deaths every year. Factors such as decreasing immunity among the local population, deforestation, and high-density urbanization increases the risk of yellow fever across the world.The report represents facts and figures pertaining to the global yellow fever treatment market in a chronological order. With a scrutiny of past data and current market trends, analysts present a satisfactory picture regarding the markets future. The users of the report, therefore, receive accurate projections of the global yellow fever treatment market that can be used to formulate cutting-edge business strategies for the future. Using validated analytical tools such as Porters Five Forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the report presents valuable insights about the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats of the market until the end of the forecast period in 2025.Request TOC of the Report @A detailed analysis of the current competitive landscape is included in the report. The section includes a competitive profile of the leading players and an analysis of their strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats for the 2017-2025 period.Global Yellow Fever Treatment Market: Disease Prevention MeasuresThe prevention of yellow fever is essential and vaccination is advised for children above 9 months of age. These vaccines are usually administered by travel medicine clinics and local or state health departments and needs to be repeated every 10 years for individuals who travel frequently to high risk African and Latin American countries.Individuals with compromised immune system or cancer patient, pregnant women, and children below 9 months of age are recommended not to take yellow fever vaccine.Global Yellow Fever Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing importance of travel medicine complemented by increasing involvement of respective governments for timely vaccination are the major factors driving the global yellow fever treatment market. However, factors such as demand-supply gap of vaccines and high costs are restraining the growth of this market.Get Discount @As per data provided by the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), there is a large demand-supply gap for yellow fever vaccines. For instance, the demand exceeded supply by almost 44% for the year 2014-2015 despite procurement of all available vaccines by UNICEF. DiTu, LCTA-949, YF-17D, Flaviviruses infection vaccines represent some of the drugs under clinical trials for yellow fever.Major Companies Mentioned in ReportSome of the leading companies operating in the global yellow fever treatment market are Panacea Biotech Limited, Themis Bioscience GmbH, Arbovax Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutcals Inc. Each of the companies is profiled for their attributes of product portfolio, recent developments, and financial standing.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Brain Disease Market : Understanding of Competitive Landscape and Major Key Product Segments for 2025

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Global Brain Disease Market: SnapshotOne of the important factors crucial for the growth of the global brain disease market is technological advancement. Recently, scientists at the University of Utah Health and Stanford University have found a way out in the form of a targeted therapy treatment that slows down the progression of or improves a couple of degenerative brain disorders, viz. ataxia and Lou Gehrigs disease, which is another name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).WHO has already estimated a billion people to seek treatment for neurological disorders globally, yet there are fewer treatments available today. While the need for brain disease treatment is urgent, highly targeted and noninvasive treatments such as focused ultrasound approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could attract attention. With the advent of rare brain disease called rat lungworm disease in the Hawaii state of the U.S., the need for accurate and responsive treatments is expected to increase significantly.Request Sample Copy of the Report@While some scientists argue that humans need less sleep with the progression of age, such changes in sleep hours could aggravate the disintegration associated with brain disorders such as Alzheimers disease. Moreover, people above 30 years of age suffering from broken sleep and difficulty sleeping are exposed to a greater risk of brain disease. As a result, with a growing number of population aging above 30 years and rising risks of brain disorders, the growth in the global brain disease market could gain a strong impetus. Other factors that could contribute toward the growth of the global brain disease market include the demand for brain monitoring devices and growing occurrence of neurological disorders.Global Brain Disease Market: OverviewAny damage caused to the brain through injury or health conditions  commonly known as brain disease  can come in different forms, such as infections, trauma, tumors, seizures, and strokes. Headaches, migraines, poor muscle control, memory problems, vision problems, and vomiting or nausea are some of the common symptoms of brain diseases.Treatments which are available for various brain diseases depend on the diagnosis. The common treatments include drug medication, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.Request TOC of the Report @Global Brain Disease Market: Key Segments and AnalysesBased on the type of infections, the brain disease market can be into meningitis and encephalitis. Meningitis is characterized by an inflammation in the delicate membrane (meninges) that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. It is commonly caused by bacterial and viral infection. Encephalitis is characterized by an inflammation in the brain tissue. Meningitis and encephalitis commonly occur together and are collectively termed as meningoencephalitis.Based on the type of trauma, the brain disease market can be segmented into concussion, traumatic brain injury, and hemorrhage. Concussions are highly traumatic brain injuries that affect brain function and result in loss of consciousness and headaches. A traumatic brain injury can lead to permanent brain damage with mental impairment and can also cause changes in the affected individuals personality. Bleeding in the brain caused by an injury or high blood pressure is referred to as hemorrhage.Based on the type of tumor, the brain disease market can be segmented into brain tumor, hydrocephalus, and glioblastoma. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull, while a glioblastoma is a brain tumor that is highly cancerous and usually occurs in the cerebrum of adults.Get Discount @Global Brain Disease Market: Geographical AnalysisBased on geography, the global brain disease market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the rest of the world. For 2016, North America held the leading position in the market, followed by Europe. The key drivers for the two regions include a consistently increasing prevalence of neurological diseases and a rising demand for technologically advanced medical equipments for treatment. According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, around 350,000 brain and nervous system tumor cases have been registered in the U.S. European countries are also expected to show a steady growth rate in the global brain disease market. In the next few years, Asia Pacific is likely to show a remarkable growth in the brain disease market through fast-paced developments in healthcare infrastructure and a growing demand for advanced treatments. Other factors which could fuel the growth of the market in Asia Pacific are a growing awareness regarding various brain disorders and an increase in the number of patients getting affected with neurological disorders.Global Brain Disease Market: Players Mentioned in the ReportIt is expected that with time, there will be an influx of more well-established players in the global brain disease market. Some of the leading players operating in the brain disease therapeutics market for 2016 were Medtronic, Inc., AstraZeneca plc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Boston Scientific Corporation, Sapiens Neuro, and Omeros Corporation.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Forecast on Methyl Ester Ethoxylate Market for the Period 2017 - 2025

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Regular ethoxylation of greasy methyl esters, or other greasy esters or diesters, produces poor yields of the desired ethoxylated ester. A restrictive ethoxylation force, presentlybeing used to deliver topped" or limit run liquor ethoxylates, has been found to effectively embed ethylene oxide into the ester linkage of greasy esters. The component for this inclusion likely includes an ethoxylation-transesterification in the ethoxylation procedure. The global market for methyl ester ethoxylate is segmented on the basis of type and application. In terms of type, the global methyl ester ethoxylate market can be segmented into C12-C14 and C16-C18. The C12-C14methyl ester ethoxylatesegment held a majorshare of the market in 2016 and is anticipated to dominate the marketduring the forecast period. The C16-C18 methyl ester ethoxylatesegment is estimated to expand rapidlyduring the forecast period. This is attributed to feedstock availability from oil of palm. Detergent in concentrated liquid form is showing highest demand for this type of methyl ester ethoxylate. They are a derivative of natural feedstock and therefore, are eco-friendly, which results in its high demand. Methyl ester ethoxylate is also economical and costs less as governments in Europe and Southeast Asia offer subsidy to produce C16-C18 methyl ester. This results in higher demand among the application industries.In terms of application, the global methyl ester ethoxylate market can be segmented into domestic cleaning, personal care, industrial cleaning, and others.The domestic cleaning segment is anticipated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing awareness regardinglow-rinse,low-foam, and detergents that offer single wash benefits. Methyl ester ethoxylate is a detergentin concentrated liquid form that is utilized in a wide range of cleaning agents for domestic cleaning.A major driver driving the global methyl ester ethoxylate market is the low cost of methyl ester ethoxylate. Its cost is considerably less due to governments in Europe and Southeast Asiaproviding subsidies to produce methyl ester ethoxylate.This is increasing the demand for methyl ester ethoxylate globally,which in turn is driving the global market. Rising awareness about single wash detergents is also boosting the global market.Water consumption is reduced considerably due to low foam and low rinse formulas, which is propelling the market for methyl ester ethoxylate globally. Insolubility in water and cloudy appearance when mixed with water at higher temperatures is a major drawback of methyl ester ethoxylate, which is a major restraint to the global methyl ester ethoxylate market. Major opportunities forthe global market is the rising usage of low foam detergents in areas of water scarcity, especially in the countries of Asia Pacific, which have higher population, such as China and India.Request Report Brochure @In terms of geography, the global methyl ester ethoxylate market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East &Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific held a majorshare of the market in 2016 and is anticipated to maintainits dominance duringthe forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing usage of low rinse detergents in the region.Themarket in the region is also anticipated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. This is attributed to non-ionization of methyl ester ethoxylate in solution, which makes itresistant to hardnessand cleans most hard surfaces. Countries such as China and India in witnessinghigh demand for methyl ester ethoxylate. This is turn is resulting is consistenthigh demand for methyl ester ethoxylate in the region.Visit For TOC@Major players operating in the global methyl ester ethoxylate market include Lion Corporation (Japan),Huntsman Corporation (U.S.),JC Chang Group of companies (Malaysia), Clariant AG (Switzerland), Ineos Group Limited (Switzerland), KLK OLEO (Malaysia), and Jet Technologies (Australia).About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Contract Research Organization Market 2017 Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Research Report

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Contract Research Organization Market Research Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.GBI Research's latest report, "Contract Research Organization Market - Global Deals and Operational Strategies" discusses the deal making activity during the past five years and in-depth analysis of the key deals involving more than 40 public and privately held CROs. The operational strategies adopted by key players in the recent years have been listed. A heatmap analysis of the key companies was done based on their firm utilization and capital management. SWOT analysis and profiles are given for the key companies in the market.Scope of the ReportThe scope of the report includes -- Overview of key reasons behind outsourcing, outsourcing service models- Examples of operational strategies- Global deals analysis by type and value- Major acquisitions and partnerships- Regional analysis of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Emerging markets- Company benchmarking based on heatmap analysis- Vendor positioning- SWOT analysis and profiles of key playersComplete report is available atCompanies mentioned in the report are Quintiles, Covance, Parexel, Catalent, ICON, PRA Health, Charles River, INC Research, WuXi PharmaTech, CMIC Holdings, EPS Corporation, Recipharm, Novotech, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Consort Medical, Meiji Seika, Eurofins Scientific, Simbec Research, Hangzhou Tigermed, MPI Research, Sun Pharma, Noble Life Sciences, Chiltern International, BioPharma, Carlina, Euprotech, Protagen, Assign, Aurigon, Celonic and PharmaLex, Cromos Pharma, Avillion, Pfizer, Sanofi, Harlan Labs, Almac Group, Jubilant BiosysRequest a Sample copy atKey Reasons to PurchaseThe report will enhance your decision-making capability by allowing you to -- Identify the top players in the CRO market, financial revenues and key services offered- Analyze the key geographies that are lucrative markets for deal making, market-entry and market expansion strategies- Analyze the trends in acquisitions, licensing and other type of deals and explore potential investment opportunities- Understand the operational strategies of key playersExecutive SummaryIntroductionMarket DynamicsOperating ModelsExamples of Operational StrategiesGlobal Deal AnalysisCollaborations and AcquisitionsMajor AcquisitionsMajor PartnershipsRegional AnalysisNorth AmericaDeal AnalysisService Delivery and OperationalStrategiesPartnershipsRevenue and Growth LeadersEuropeDeal AnalysisService Delivery and OperationalStrategiesPartnershipsRevenue and Growth LeadersAsia-PacificDeal AnalysisService Delivery and OperationalStrategiesPartnershipsRevenue and Growth LeadersEmerging MarketsMarket AssessmentAcquisitionsFirm UtilizationFirm Utilization and Capital ManagementCompany BenchmarkingVendor PositioningProfiles and SWOT AnalysisAppendixContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.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.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Fire Door Market is set to surpass 31 million units by 2024

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The world is witnessing a major shift in the global consumer base in terms of safety consciousness, which will fuel fire door industry size. Global spending in constructional activities which is slated to cross USD 15.88 trillion by 2024, will play a key role in influencing fire door industry trends in the coming years. Increased expenditure in infrastructural developments have resulted in a noticeable shift toward safety equipment, both across residential and commercial domains. This is evident from the statistics - global fire door industry size from commercial applications, in 2016, held a valuation of USD 7 billion. In addition to this, increasing prevalence of fire accidents across the globe has markedly brought about a renewed attention to safety codes of buildings, which in a way is impelling the fire door industry.Request for a sample of this research report @Aluminum, steel, glass, timber, vermiculate, and gypsum are the various raw materials that are being widely used in fire door manufacturing process. High strength, durability, low maintenance cost, and ductility, being some of the unique properties of aluminum, has led to its extensive utilization in the manufacturing of fire doors. Estimates depict that aluminum based fire door industry in the coming seven years will witness substantial gains, with a target valuation of more than USD 2 billion by the end of 2024.Taking into consideration the product terrain, sliding fire door industry has been gaining popularity, subject to the products easy installation, compact construction, double skinned insulated panels, and lightweight structure. Having already penetrated a billion-dollar business space in 2016, sliding fire door industry is expected to witness an appreciable growth at an annual rate of 6.5% over 2017-2024. Other than sliding doors, flush glazed models are also likely to witness a steep growth curve with a CAGR projection of 9% over the coming seven years.Browse Full Market Research Report Of Fire Door Market @Accounting for 33% of the overall volume, Europe fire door industry witnessed an upper hand over APAC in 2016. With U.K., Germany, and France as the major revenue pockets, the region is expected to grow massively over the years ahead. Analysts assert that the development of the commercial sector and the products robust deployment in commercial domains can be mainly credited for the excellent growth rate.Following similar trends, APAC fire door industry represented 28% of the global share in 2016. The escalating population curve, growing urbanization, and increasing investments in constructional activities will lead APAC fire door industry to witness highest growth over 2017-2024.Make an inquiry for buying this report @As per Global Industry Insights, Inc., the growth prospect of fire door industry in the near future is huge, with a targeted valuation of USD 16.7 billion by 2024. With the growing proliferation of environmentally feasible passive flame protection technology, the overall industry is likely to observe a renewed dynamism in the years ahead. The sudden hike in the price trends of raw materials may slightly hamper the industry growth, however, industry players are heavily incorporating effective industrying tactics to overcome these challenges. Prominent fire door industry participants include Simto, Essex Ford Joinery, Agta Record, Nihon Funen, and Wanjia.About Fractovia.orgFractovia.org is one of India's leading in-house and free news portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAFractovia.orgPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@fractovia.orgWebsite:Connect with us: Facebook | Twitter
Dimethyl Ether Market Research Report by Demand, Applications and Forecast 2020

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Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled aDimethyl Ether Market by Raw Material Types - Global & China Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020.a According to the report, the global DME market in China and across the globe was valued at US$ 4.46 Bn in 2013 and is likely to reach US$ 8.37 Bn in 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 9.4% between 2014 and 2020.Read Report Overview @Dimethyl ether, commonly known as DME, is a downstream derivative of methanol. It can be obtained from fossil fuel resources such as coal and natural gas as well as bio based feedstock such as agricultural waste, forest waste, municipal waste and black liquor. Favorable physical and chemical characteristics of DME make it a viable option for a number of applications; its application as blending chemical in LPG is the most important one. Owing to the similar properties of LPG and DME, accurate proportion blend of the two chemicals does not require significant change in existing equipment and logistical operations, which were earlier used for LPG alone.Request Sample Report @In terms of application, the DME market can be segmented into LPG blending, aerosol propellants, transportation fuel, industrial applications, and others. LPG blending is the largest application, followed by aerosol propellants. China accounts for the highest demand for LPG across the globe. However, application of DME as transportation fuel is likely to expand at the fastest pace during the forecast period. Low carbon emissions and clean burning are some of the positive traits of DME. These factors are expected to drive the market in the near future. High degree of research and development pertaining to use of DME as transportation fuel is anticipated to boost the DME market during the forecast period.Request Dimethyl Ether Market Report Brochure @Led by China, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the global demand for DME in 2013. China accounted for the major share of Asia Pacific as well as the global DME market in the year. Asia Pacific was followed by Europe and North America in 2013. The market for DME is estimated to expand at the fastest rate in the Rest of the World region. However, China is projected to dominate the market in terms of volume in the near future.Buy Dimethyl Ether Market Research Report @The report provides an in-depth analysis of the DME market in terms of volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn). It includes current demand analysis and forecast for each application and raw material segment at the global and regional level. Regions analyzed include North America, Europe, China, Rest of Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Bone Graft Substitute Market Is Relied upon to Grow USD 5,031.0 million by 2027, At CAGR of 6.52%

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The World market of Bone Graft Substitute is expected to reach $ 5,031.0 million by the end of 2027, this market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 6.52% during the forecast period 2017-2027.The Bone Graft Substitute Market offers great opportunities in the form of technological advancements in the orthopaedic industry, opportunities for investments, and consolidation for big healthcare providers in the U.S. among others. Synthetic material used in manufacturing of bone graft substitutes, for instance, hydroxyapatite are devoid of organic and biological agents, which hinder osteoconduction, osteoinduction, and osteogenesis. Thus, technological advancement in the form of recombinant DNA technology is use to eliminate these drawbacks by mixing these materials with growth factors to enhance grafts and stem cell-based auto grafts. The greater use of biotechnology is expected to increase the characteristics of synthetic bone graft such as osteoconduction, osteoinduction and osteogenesis, etc.Bone grafting is a surgical procedure carried out fix facture bones and bone injury. The procedure involves transplantation of bone tissues to augment and regenerate bones that are lost due to diseases or an injuries. Autografts have been used for decades for the grafting purposes. Autografts is one of the greatest available surgical procedure for the bone grafting. However, due to the double incision required during the autograft procedure, the pain associated with the procedure, and the post-operative pain on both the sites have encouraged the scientists to look for the alternatives. With the changing trends, use of the allografts, xenografts, and synthetic bone grafts is on the rise. Thus, with the development of these innovative products as a substitute for the real bones, the global market for bone graft substitute is growing.Increased use of bone grafting procedure in the fixation of the damaged/ broken bones, high demand of the bone graft substitutes in the military medical units, rising geriatric population with increasing orthopaedic problems, and increasing need for the reconstructive orthopaedic treatments drive the growth of the market. Additionally, increased usage of the bone graft substitutes in the field of dentistry and technological advancements from the leading market players with innovative bone graft products add fuel to the market growth. Furthermore, patient safety due to the risk of disease transmission in allografts and xenograft, risk of graft rejection, improper fixation and weak bonding, and unmet medical needs in the low income countries may hamper the growth of the market.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players in the Global Bone Graft Substitute Market ACE Surgical Supply Company, Inc. BioHorizons IPH, Inc. Dentium Co., Ltd. Dentsply Sirona Institut Straumann AG Medtronic plc Stryker Corporation Zimmer BiometKey Findings:Americas accounted for the largest market share in 2016, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast periodEurope was the second-largest market in 2016 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.76%Asia Pacific is projected to show the fastest growth at the CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period 2017-2027Browse Full Report Details @SegmentsThe global bone graft substitute market has been segmented on the basis of type and application. Based on type, the market has been segmented as autograft, demineralized bone matrix, synthetic bone grafts, bone morphogenetic protein, and others. Based on the application, the market has been segmented as a spinal fusion, joint reconstruction, long bone, dental, foot & ankle, and others.Regional analysisThe US accounts for the significant market share due to extensive use of medications and greater expenditure on health care. The fastest uptake of new technology and devices in the US is also an important driver of the global bone graft substitute market. The concentration of the major medical device manufacturers in the developed regions is also adding fuel to the market.Europe is the second largest market due to a high disposable income and rising awareness regarding bone graft substitutes.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and is estimated that China and India will lead the market.Gulf nations, particularly, Saudi Arabia and UAE drives the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare penetration.Get Discount @The report for Global Bone graft substitute market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size with respect to value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information about and strategies used by top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Bone Graft Substitute Market Research Report- Global Forecast till 2027 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Microcrystalline Cellulose Market Growth Analysis, comprehensive analysis, Emerging Trends 2020

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Transparency Market Research announces the release of a new research report, titled Microcrystalline Cellulose Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020. According to the report, the global microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) market is forecast to reach a value of US$936.3 million by 2020.Read Report Overview @The MCC market was pegged at US$632.9 million in 2013 and is anticipated to grow at a 5.8% CAGR from 2014 to 2020.The global MCC market is primarily driven by factors such as growth of the pharmaceutical excipient industry and surge in demand for low-fat foods. The use of eco-friendly raw materials for the production of MCC has been identified as an opportunity for manufacturers to capitalize on. In contrast, the MCC market is hampered by high cost of production and comparatively low yield.Request Sample Report @MCC finds application in industries such as pharmaceutical, food and beverages, personal care, and paints and coatings. Pharmaceutical was the largest application segment in 2013, accounting for a share of over 35% that year. The industry is also projected to be the fastest developing end-use segment from 2014 to 2020, according to the research report. MCC has been declared suitable as an excipient in pharmaceutical applications owing to properties such as efficient binding ability, significant compressibility, and high internal porosity. The pharmaceutical segment is also driven by rise in global geriatric population and development of innovative products. After the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved MCC as a safe food ingredient, its demand from the food and beverages industry has grown. The developing market for low-fat foods is also expected to further the demand for MCC by 2020.Request Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Market Report Brochure @Geographically, the global market for MCC is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Accounting for a 30% share of the overall market, North America dominated the worldwide MCC market in 2013 owing to the roaring demand for MCC from the food and beverages and pharmaceutical industries and the slow yet steady recovery of the U.S. economy. Rising demand for MCC from the Middle East and Latin America is likely to boost the MCC market in the Rest of the World region.Asia Pacific has been identified as the most rapidly developing region in the global MCC market. This spurt in growth can be attributed to increasing demand from emerging economies such as Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and India.Buy Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Market Research Report @Some of the key manufacturers of MCC in the global market are Asahi Kasei Corporation, MINGTAI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., J. RETTENMAIER & SOHNE GmbH + Co KG, BLANVER FARMOQUIMICA LTDA, Accent Microcell Pvt. Ltd., FMC Corporation, JUKU ORCHEM PRIVATE LIMITED, DFE Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Libraw Pharma, Sigachi Industrial Pvt. Ltd., and Avantor Performance Materials, Inc.Request to view Sample Report:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Foam Blowing Agents Market Competitive Dynamics & Global Outlook 2020

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) has released a new market study on foam blowing agents. The report discusses the existing market development and how it will influence future markets for foam blowing agents and insulating foams globally. The report states that the global foam blowing agents market will register a 4.4% CAGR between 2014 and 2020, and will grow from US$ 631.3 million in 2013 to US$ 843.8 million by the end of 2020. The report is titled Foam Blowing Agents Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020.The market research report on foam blowing agents provides a detailed and complete study analysis of the historic market performance, current market trends, and future outlook on a global scale. The report categorizes and describes the market drivers, restraints, market segments and forecasts future market opportunities for foam blowing agents.Read Report Overview @According to the report, growth in construction industry worldwide has contributed to the increased demand for insulating foams. This factor has proven to be a market driver and led to the rise in end-user applications for foams in the construction field. The application of polyurethane foams is among the motivating growth drivers for the insulating foams market.The market report states that due to the volatile pricing of feedstock petroleum-based foam blowing agents, and stringent regulations against harmful chemicals that adversely affect the environment could hinder market growth during the next few years. But, the report also observes that there is anticipation of growth opportunities in the future markets due to the introduction of ecological foam blowing agents such as hydrofluoroolefins (HFO). Eco-friendly and low priced foam blowing agents such as hydrazine, azodicarbonamide, CO2 and water are increasingly adopted and this will contribute to market growth according to the report.Request Sample Report @The foam blowing agents market analyzes the market segments by products, application, and regions. Product segments include hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), hydrocarbons (HC), and others which has hydrazine, azodicarbonamide, water, and CO2 etc.) Among these the market report says that Hydrocarbon (HC) foam blowing agent is the rapidly growing segment over the forecast. HFCs are also an important segment due to increased demand in emerging nations. HCFCs are witnessing declining use due to their ozone harming properties and are being substituted by HFCs in developing nations. According to the market study PU foams gained global market share of 50% in 2013 and the report anticipates this segment as the fastest developing market for foam blowing agents in the forecast period. PU applications are anticipated at the quickest pace during 2014 to 2020. This is due to the demand increase in construction and automotive industries. The report forecasts that foam blowing agents will be used in furniture and footwear and this will drive the market demand in Asia Pacific region.Request Foam Blowing Agents Market Report Brochure @The geographical segments as described in the market study for foam blowing agents are North America, Europe, Rest of the World (RoW) and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is forecast as the most rapidly growing market for foam blowing agents and accounted for 24% of the foam blowing agents worldwide market in 2013. Europe is forecast to have an average growth rate during the next few years.Buy Foam Blowing Agents Market Research Report @The report concludes with a list of major players in the market. Among these are Honeywell International Inc. ZEON Corporation, Haltermann GmBH, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Sinochem Group, Daikin Industries Ltd., Exxon Mobil Corporation, AkzoNobel N.V. and Arkema S.A.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Autism-Pipeline Review H2 2017

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ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Autism-Pipeline Review H2 2017 this report provides an overview of the Gallbladder Cancer-Pipeline landscape.Publisher's latest Pharmaceutical and Healthcare disease pipeline guide Autism-Pipeline Review H2 2017 provides an overview of the Autism (Central Nervous System) pipeline landscape.Autism also known as complex developmental disability is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by social interaction verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Risk factors include child's sex family history fragile X syndrome Tourette syndrome and epilepsy. Treatment includes SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants antipsychotics and sedatives.Report Highlightstherapeutics under development for Autism (Central Nervous System) complete with analysis by stage of development drug target mechanism of action (MoA) route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Autism (Central Nervous System) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Autism and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes the molecules developed by Companies in Pre-Registration Phase III Phase II Phase I IND/CTA Filed Preclinical Discovery and Unknown stages are 1 2 6 4 1 18 3 and 2 respectively. Similarly the Universities portfolio in Phase II Phase I Preclinical and Discovery stages comprises 1 1 1 and 1 molecules respectively.Autism (Central Nervous System) pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. The guide is built using data and information sourced from Publisher's proprietary databases company/university websites clinical trial registries conferences SEC filings investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources. Additionally various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis.For more information about this report atReport Scope- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Autism (Central Nervous System) .- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Autism (Central Nervous System) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise product description descriptive licensing and collaboration details R&D brief MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Autism (Central Nervous System) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.- The pipeline guide evaluates Autism (Central Nervous System) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA) drug target route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.- The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.- The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Autism (Central Nervous System)Request a sample copy atReasons to buy- Procure strategically important competitor information analysis and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies.- Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage.- Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for Autism (Central Nervous System).- Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic.- Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies.- Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and it's most promising pipeline therapeutics.- Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Autism (Central Nervous System) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics.- Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope.- Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understand from the know-how what drove them from pipeline.Company ProfileAddex Therapeutics LtdCoronis NeuroSciences LtdAnima Biotech LtdF. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdHeptares Therapeutics LtdSumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co LtdContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.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.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Advanced Polymer Composites Market Future Demand & Growth Analysis with Forecast up to 2020

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) has announced the addition of a new report, titled Advanced Polymer Composites Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020. According to the report, the global advanced polymer composites market will expand at a moderate CAGR of 7.20% during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020.Read Report Overview @The global advanced polymer composites market recorded a value of around US$7.4 bn in 2013 and by 2020, it is projected to be worth more than US$12.1 bn. The global advanced polymer composites market is driven by the rising demand from the aerospace industry. Furthermore, the expanding application of advanced polymer composites in the wind energy sector will also drive the market.On the other hand, the global advanced polymer composites market will be constrained by the high production costs of carbon fiber. Nevertheless, players in the global advanced polymer composites market will benefit from the opportunity presented by the automobile sector increasing its demand for advanced polymer composites in the coming few years. Some of the key players in the global advanced polymer composites market are Owens Corning, Cristex, SGL Carbon, Solvay, Mitsubishi Rayon, Toray Industries, Cytec Industries, Hexcel, BASF, and Arkema.Request Sample Report @The global advanced polymer composites market is segmented in the report on the basis of raw material, end use, and region. By raw material, the global advanced polymer composites market is divided into resins (polyester resin, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, and others) and fibers (aramid, glass, carbon, and others).Application-wise, the global advanced polymer composites market is classified into wind blades, boat building, aviation parts, tanks and pipes, auto parts, conductors, and others. On the basis of end use, the global advanced polymer composites market is divided into marine, consumer goods, aerospace and aviation, energy, automotive, electrical and electronics, and others. Several parts of an aircraft, such as rudders, floor beams, doors, and landing gear assembly, are made using advanced polymer composites. The aerospace sector held a share of more than 40% in the global advanced polymer composites market in 2013. The demand for advanced polymer composites is predicted to grow significantly due to the rising demand for aircraft carriers around the world.Request Advanced Polymer Composites Market Report Brochure @Region-wise, the global advanced polymer composites market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World (RoW). In 2013, the global advanced polymer composites market was led by North America with a share of around 38%, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Several aircraft makers are based in North America, which will drive the demand for advanced polymer composites in this region.The Asia Pacific advanced polymer composites market is expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in the forecast period due to the rising demand from its end-use industries. Asia Pacific is one of the key markets for producers of advanced polymer composites owing to the economic growth and technological advancement observed in this region in the past few years. This has led to many manufacturers establishing new plants in Asia Pacific countries.Buy Advanced Polymer Composites Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Car Rental Services Market to Record Sturdy Growth by 2027

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Future Market Insights (FMI) presents a revised forecast of the global car rental market for the period 2017-2027 in its published report titled Car Rental Services Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012  2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172027). In terms of revenue, the global car rental market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, about which FMI offers thorough insights and forecasts in this informative report. The market is segmented on the basis of end use, customer type, sector, booking type and car type.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Increased Global Affluence to Make Leisure Travellers Demand Car Rental ServicesBy customer type, the global car rental market is segmented into business and leisure customers. The leisure segment is expected to dominate over the forecast period due to expansion of global tourism market, increasing disposable income, and improved infrastructure for rental service. The leisure segment is anticipated to record a high CAGR growth rate of 7.8% over the forecast period with the total market valued at US$ 51,734.7 in 2017. On the other hand, the business segment has low growth rate of 4.3% CAGR with market valued at US$ 52,365.3 in 2017.Online Booking Unlikely to Outpace Offline Booking in the Car Rental MarketBy booking type, the market is segmented into offline access, mobile application, and other internet access. Offline booking is projected to be the higher revenue generator compared to online bookings and mobile apps. The offline booking segments is estimated to account for approximately 68% of the car rental market i.e. a value of US $ 44,871.6 Mn in 2016. Online bookings for car rentals have increased globally with the development of mobile applications and IT infrastructure advancements making it easy to book car rental services online or via mobile apps. Therefore, the car rental market is thriving. An updated report of the International Telecommunication Union, 2015 WSIS Forum states that Internet users have increased rapidly worldwide on account of continuous developments in Information & Communication Technologies. This is estimated to further increase the demand for car rental services. The proportion of households with the internet access at home increased from 18% in 2005 to 46% in 2015; whereas in 2000 the penetration rate was 6.3%.Request for Table of Contents @On-Airport End Use has Maximum Potential in the Car Rental MarketOn the basis of end use, global Car Rental Services is segmented into Intercity, Intracity, On-Airport, and others. On Airport segment has highest growth rate of 7.3% CAGR followed by intercity with a CAGR of 5.3% in the forecast period. Air travel has skyrocketed mainly because of the plummeting prices of airline tickets, leading to a substantial increase in air travelers across the globe. The increasing air trips for business and leisure purpose is fuelling the growth of car rentals to airports.Booming Economic Growth makes APEJ Car Rental Market Critical in the Long TermThe North America market has been estimated to dominate the Global car rental market, accounting for maximum revenue share of 45.9% by 2027 end. In terms of value, North America and Western Europe collectively accounted for more than 57% share in the global market in 2027. Although APEJ has a relatively lower market share of 17.5%, all the stars are in its favor making it likely to witness high growth rate in the medium term. Latin America, Japan and Middle East are also anticipated to show substantial amount of growth over the forecast period.Competition Dashboard in the Global Car Rental MarketSome of the key players in the global car rental market include Enterprise Holdings Inc., The Hertz Corporation, Avis Budget Group Inc., Europcar S.A., Carzonrent India Pvt Ltd., Sixt Rent a Car, Al-Futtaim, Localiza Rent a Car S / A, Eco Rent a Car, and GlobalCARS.Buy Car Rental Services Market Research Report @ABOUT USFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Dental Infection Treatment Market Projected To Draw a Healthy Growth of USD 20.5 Billion by 2023

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Dental Infection Treatment Market information: by type (periapical abscess, periodontal abscess, others) by treatment, procedures, by end users - Global Forecast till 2023Market Research Future adds new report of Dental Infection Treatment Market Research Report - Global forecast till 2023 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentThe market for dental infection treatment is expected to reach $ 20.5 billion by the end of 2023, this market is projected to growing at a CAGR of ~ 8.6 % during 2017-2023.Dental Infection or tooth ulcer is the disease of teeth, gums and related tissue caused by a bacterial disease. The boil can happen at various areas, for example, periapical sore happening at the tip of the root, and a periodontal canker happening in the gums alongside a tooth root. Dental infection prompts discharge arrangement and if left untreated can prompt genuine, even hazardous, intricacies. The side effects of a tooth ulcer incorporate serious, industrious, throbbing agony in the tooth which can emanate to the jawbone, neck and other related parts of the head, fever, swelling in cheeks, swollen lymph hubs, affectability to hot and frosty sustenances and so on. The spread of contamination brings about foul smell and foul-taste in mouth. The periapical tooth sore is the most unsafe as microorganisms attack the dental mash which is the deepest piece of the tooth that contains veins, nerves and connective tissue.Get a Sample Report @The market for dental infection is driven by elements, for example, poor dental cleanliness because of ascend in hazard factors, for example, time limitations because of quick way of life, inactive ways of life, not brushing your teeth twice every day and absence of flossing and so forth. Other solid factor is the high sugar eating regimen and garbage sustenances. High sugar weight control plans have high affinity to cause a dental disease while garbage nourishments are sticky and hold in the cavities of the teeth for longer circumstances. Drinking soft drinks can bring about moderate disintegration of the dental lacquer and can prompt ascent in pits because of the debilitating of the regular physical hindrance of the teeth. The treatment incorporates depleting the canker took after by anti-toxin treatment, playing out a root trench and so on. Root trench includes the end of the tainted focal tissue, depleting the boil and after that filling and fixing the tooth's mash chamber with a dental filling material.On the off chance that the contamination is extreme and the tooth is harmed past recuperation, at that point it must be extricated out totally to keep away from any further inconveniences.Key players profiled in the report are Kerr Corporation, Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited, Septodont Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd., Bayer HealthCare, Ultradent Products Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo and others.Market Segments: The global dental infection treatment market is segmented on the basis of type, treatment and end users. Based on type, the market has been segmented as periapical abscess, periodontal abscess and others. Based on the treatment, the market has been segmented as drugs (antibiotics, pain killers, others), procedures (root canal, tooth fillings, tooth extraction, others). Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as dentistry clinics, hospitals and others.Browse Report Details @Regional Analysis: US represent the most extreme piece of the pie because of broad utilization of pharmaceuticals and more noteworthy use on medicinal services. The quicker market take-up of new innovation and gadgets in the US is likewise a critical driver of the market for worldwide dental infection treatment. The nearness of vast gadget organizations in the created locales is additionally a noteworthy driver of the market. Europe is the second biggest market because of substantial extra cash and rising mindfulness with respect to the wellbeing perils of this condition. Asia Pacific district is required to have the most future potential and is assessed to be driven by China and India. The Middle East and Africa market is driven by the bay countries especially Saudi Arabia and UAE. The areas of Africa are required to witness a direct development because of poor monetary and political conditions and poor human services entrance.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Antihelminthics Global Market Poised To Acquire A Massive Growth of 5.3% by 2023

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Antihelminthics Market Information: By Type (Benzimidazoles, Abamectin, Salicylanilides, Praziquantel), Application (Schistosomiasis, Fasciolasis), End User  Global Forecast till 2023Market Research Future adds new report of Antihelminthics Market Research Report- Global Forecast till 2023 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentAntihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that kill and expel parasitic worms & other internal parasites from the body without causing any significant damage to the patient. These drugs are used for the treatment of various diseases such as fasciolasis, filariasis, angiostrongylosis, and many others. Increasing prevalence of diseases such as schistosomiasis, whipworm infection, ascariasis, and other intestinal infections have boosted the growth of the antihelminthic drugs market.Competitive Analysis:Some of key the players in the market are Abbott (US), Novartis AG (Switzerland), ZEISS International (Germany), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), Sanofi (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), GlaxoSmithKline plc. (US), Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan), Bayer AG (Germany), Mentis Pharma Ltd. (India), Pfizer Inc. (US), Sanofi (France), ALLERGAN (Ireland), and AstraZeneca (UK)Get a Sample Report @Market Highlight:According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, over 1.5 billion people were infected with soil-transmitted helminthes worldwide. Additionally, a latest report published by the WHO says that more than 880 million children are in the need of treatment for these parasitic diseases. A number of different types of antiparasitic drugs are available in the market for the treatment of the different parasitic diseases. According to a research, ascariasis remains the most common intestinal parasite with 8071221 million infections globally. It is the most prevalent diseases in East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and India. Majority of the patients are in developing region due to unhygienic condition. Over 65% of the patient population suffering from parasitic diseases are present in East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and India. Moreover, increasing geriatric population, rapidly developing healthcare sector, and increasing demand for the treatment of the parasitic diseases have fuelled the market growth. On the other hand, the side effects associated with the treatment may slow the market growth over the review period.The global antihelminthics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~5.3 % during the forecast period 2017-2023.Market Segmentations:The global antihelminthics market is segmented on the basis of types, application, and end user.On the basis of types, the market is segmented into benzimidazoles, abamectin, salicylanilides, praziquantel and others. Benzimidazoles is further segmented into albendazole, mebendazole, benzimidazoles, thiabendazole, and others. Salicylanilides is further segmented into niclosamide, oxyclozanide, rafoxanide, and others. On the basis of applications, the market is segmented into schistosomiasis, fasciolasis, filariasis, angiostrongylosis, ascariasis, giardiasis and others. On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, and others. On the basis types, benzimidazoles holds the major share in the market due to their long history and efficiency. A number of different types of benzimidazoles are available in the market, however, certain side effects are observed in the patient, which may slow the growth of the benzimidazoles market.Browse Report Details @Regional AnalysisThe Americas dominate the global antihelminthics market owing to the increasing prevalence of people with parasitic diseases and presence of huge geriatric population. Additionally, well-developed technology, huge number of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, and strong government support for research & development will fuel the market growth.Europe is the second leading market across the globe, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Huge geriatric population, availability of funds for research, and government support for research & development will drive the market. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing antihelminthics market due to the presence of huge patient pool, rapidly growing economy, increasing prevalence of digestive diseases, and presence of huge geriatric population. Some of the regions in the Asia Pacific is still lack the proper hygiene which has led to the growth of the market in this region.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa holds the least share of the market owing to limited availability of medical facilities, less availability of funds, and poor political conditions in Africa. Majority of the market of this region is held by Middle East due to a well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Diamond Coating Market Report 2017 Top Players : SurModics, Inc., Biocoat, Inc.

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Diamond Coating Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Diamond Coating market has been developed by a selected group of professional market research analysts, with a solitary goal to present the current scenario of the market for Diamond Coating and throw light on its growth prospects. The report targets audiences such as manufacturers of Diamond Coating, government agencies, and other research consultancy services. The report presents comprehensive assessment of the major factors that may impact the demand in the global Diamond Coating market, analyzes the challenges or pitfalls, and catches the latest trends, which the existing vendors must take a note of in order to stay ahead of the competition.This report on the global Diamond Coating market provides estimations regarding the market size in terms of value (USD million). It includes both top-down and bottom-up views in order to estimate and validate the size of the Diamond Coating market and of several other related submarkets in the overall global market. The opportunities open in the market for Diamond Coating by manufacturing countries type and application, and presents forecast for the duration of 2017-2022 has also been discussed extensively in this research report.Get complimentary Research Summary Of The Repot:This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringSpecialty Coating Systems, Inc. (US)SurModics, Inc. (US)Hemoteq AG (Germany)Hydromer, Inc. (US)N2 Biomedical (US)Nanocopoeia, Inc. (US)Armoloy of Connecticut, Inc. (US)AST Products, Inc. (US)As this report targets the stockholders of the global Diamond Coating market, it was only wise that some of the leading companies currently in this market are profiled in order to represent their market share, product portfolio, and recent strategic decisions. This chapter is also aimed at understanding the potential of the entrance of new players. Leading players in the global Diamond Coating market have been detected via secondary research, and their dominance in respective regions have been evaluated through rigorous primary as well as secondary research.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Diamond Coating1.1 Definition and Specifications of Diamond Coating1.2 Classification of Diamond Coating1.3 Applications of Diamond Coating1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Diamond Coating2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Diamond Coating2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Diamond Coating2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Diamond CoatingAccess the Report and full TOC @8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Diamond Coating8.1 Specialty Coating Systems, Inc. (US)8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Specialty Coating Systems, Inc. (US) 2016 Diamond Coating Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Specialty Coating Systems, Inc. (US) 2016 Diamond Coating Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 SurModics, Inc. (US)8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 SurModics, Inc. (US) 2016 Diamond Coating Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 SurModics, Inc. (US) 2016 Diamond Coating Business Region Distribution AnalysisList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Diamond CoatingTable Product Specifications of Diamond CoatingTable Classification of Diamond CoatingFigure Global Production Market Share of Diamond Coating by Type in 2016Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Diamond Coating by Application in 2016Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Diamond Coating Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Diamond Coating Major Manufacturers in 2016About Us:QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Market Report 2017 Top Manufacturers : Cordis, Abbott

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent market is a comprehensive assessment of the current scenario, and has been developed to act as a reliable commerce and business tool for its targeted audiences. The report includes historical data, and presents a figurative forecast of the future scenario of the market. It does so by considering all the prominent factors, be it a driver or a restraint that are anticipated to impact the global market for Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent over the course of next few years. The report also identifies some of the trends that are emerging in the market. The goal of the report is to serve as an assistance for the existing and emerging players in making more informed choices and gain shares over their competitors. It also covers the latest competitive developments in the market, such as expansions and new product launches.A detailed value chain analysis has been included in the report to provide a comprehensive view of the Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent market, analyzing it using proven market attractiveness tools. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information. Apart from that, one of the key feature of this report on global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent market is the section on player profiles, where it identifies some of the key aspects of several prominent names currently operational. The aspects include market share, manufacturing base, competitors, product portfolio, sales and revenue, margin, mergers and acquisitions, and their strategies for the future.Get A PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBoston ScientificCordisAbbottAdvantec VascularB.Braun Melsengen AGBiosensorsBiotronikBlue MedicalDISA VascularEssenMedtronic VascularTo present a clear research study that provides the opportunities available, the report divides the global market for Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent into important segments on the basis type, application, technology, and geography. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between the forecast period of 2017-2022 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) are provided for all the segments in the report. Market size estimations involved in-depth study of product features.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent1.1 Definition and Specifications of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent1.2 Classification of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent1.3 Applications of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Coronary Drug-Eluting StentComplete table of content is available at:8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent8.1 Boston Scientific8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.3 Boston Scientific 2016 Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Boston Scientific 2016 Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Cordis8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.3 Cordis 2016 Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Cordis 2016 Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Business Region Distribution AnalysisList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Coronary Drug-Eluting StentTable Product Specifications of Coronary Drug-Eluting StentTable Classification of Coronary Drug-Eluting StentFigure Global Production Market Share of Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent by Type in 2016Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Major Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Major Manufacturers in 2016Table R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Major Manufacturers in 2016About Us:QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Latin America Capnography Equipment Market is projected to Reflect 17.5 CAGR throughout 2014-2021

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Brazil to Witness Highest Growth by 2021, the capnography equipment market for Latin America was valued at USD 9.7 million in 2014 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.5 % from 2014 to 2021, to reach USD 30.2 million by 2021.The capnography equipment market is growing rapidly in Latin America majorly due to the recommendations to use capnography in routine hospital settings by esteemed organizations and government bodies. The World Health Organization (WHO), in its 2009 report on safe surgery, recommended the use of capnography monitoring during endotracheal tube placement, hypoventilation, and esophageal intubation for better outcome. The Uruguayan Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommended capnography monitoring in routine-use during procedural sedation and anesthetics. These guidelines substantiate the importance of capnography equipment in hospital use. Moreover, high impact of the U.S. health care system on the health care market in Latin America is augmenting the capnography equipment market in this region.Request to view table of content @Based on types of capnograph, the sidestream capnograph segment dominated the capnography equipment market in 2014, with a share of around 52.9%. Easy-to-use and capability to monitor the patient in non-intubated condition are the major factors that contributed to the high demand for sidestream capnograph. Additionally, presence of large number of players including local companies offering sidestream capnograph in their portfolio has increased the awareness and demand for sidestream capnograph in Latin America. The microstream capnograph segment has been projected to witness high growth during the forecast period in Latin America as these are cost-effective and offer several advantages in all hospital settings. The device could also be used for monitoring both non-intubated patients and neonates. However, sidestream capnograph cannot be used to monitor neonatal patients and mainstream capnograph lack the capability to monitor non-intubated patients.Request Sample Report @Based on countries, Brazil held the largest share of around 31.4% of the capnography equipment market in Latin America in 2014. High demand for plastic surgery, rising medical tourism for various types of dental surgeries, cosmetic surgeries and cardiac procedure, and large proportion of GDP expenditure on health care in Brazil are the major factors propelling the capnography equipment market in the region. Brazil is anticipated to be the fastest growing market for capnography equipment in Latin America during the forecast period.Key players operating in the capnography equipment market in Latin America include Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Masimo Corporation, Medtronic, Inc., NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION, Nonin Medical, Inc., Philips Healthcare, Smiths Medical, and Welch Allyn, Inc. Market players are continuously engaged in developing new and advanced capnography equipment along with additional features to strengthen their position in the capnography equipment market.Buy Latin America Capnography Equipment Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA,Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Biggest price hike in construction costs since 2008

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While the construction costs for residential buildings have been going up steadily for years, they climbed faster in August than at any other time in nearly a decade. According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office on 10 October, the one-year price growth in August 2017 equalled 3.1 percent. The previous price check in May 2017 had returned a positive growth of 2.8 percent year on year, and this was already up from 2.6 percent in February 2017. The figures therefore suggest that the price trend is accelerating much faster this year than it did in prior years. As a reminder: Between 2013 and 2016, the annual average price growth had moved in a range between 1.6 and 2.1 percent.High Construction Costs Raise Rents and PricesIn August 2017, prices surged especially for earthworks, showing a 4.6-percent increase over prior-year period. Price hikes nearly as steep were reported for sheet metal work (plus 3.9 percent), scaffolding work (plus 3.7 percent) as well as roofing and roof sealing works (plus 3.6 percent). At the same time, maintenance costs for residential buildings (not including small repairs) showed a substantial increase by 3.5 percent.Rising construction costs are quickly becoming an issue in the housing construction business. Higher costs for the development of new buildings will be passed on in the form of higher rents and prices. Property developers are forced to raise their prices if housing development is to remain a paying proposition.Shortage of Apprentices in the TradesHigh construction costs are generally blamed on two factors: rising energy requirements for new buildings, on the one hand, and the high capacity utilisation of the building industry, on the other hand. Meanwhile, the construction sector is booming as a result of the keen demand. In July, reports put the overall surge in revenues at eight percent year on year. In structural engineering (meaning the construction of buildings), the growth in revenues was actually as high as 11.8 percent.A shortage of manpower could further drive up construction costs. The trades in Germany are plagued by a conspicuous shortage of apprentices. On 10 October, the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) reported that 19,000 apprenticeship openings nationwide have yet to be filled. The shortage in apprentices is most acute in the electrical, sanitary and heating industries.For further information go to:ACCENTRO GmbH is a real estate service provider that specialises in the retailing of large housing portfolios. Our fortes include:- the socially responsible, tenant-sensitive selling of large housing portfolios,- the exit-oriented asset management of housing portfolios,- and investment consultancy in either area.ACCENTRO looks back on more than fourteen years of experience in the privatisation business, and act as sales partners of major housing associations.ACCENTRO GmbHMarketingJerome TheisUhlandstrae 16510719 Berlin
Latest Study on Global Smartphone Cover Glass and Glass Casing Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) - Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Smartphone Cover Glass and Glass Casing Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021)" to its huge collection of research reports.The report titled Global Smartphone Cover Glass and Glass Casing Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021), provides an in-depth analysis of the global smartphone cover glass and smartphone glass casing market by value and by volume. The report also gives an insight of the global smartphone cover glass market by segments and smartphone glass casing market by penetration rate.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global smartphone cover glass and glass casing market has been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.Get Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @The competition in the global smartphone cover glass and glass casing market is concentrated in the region of China with few players i.e. an oligopolistic market.Key players of the smartphone cover glass and glass casing market, Lens Technology Co. Ltd., Zheijang Firstar Panel Co. Ltd., Bielcrystal Manufactory Limited and G-Tech Optoelectronics Corporation are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.Company CoverageLens Technology Co. Ltd.Zheijang Firstar Panel Co. Ltd.Bielcrystal manufactory Ltd.G-Tech Optoelectronics CorporationTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Executive SummaryThe competition in the smartphone market is on the verge of saturation. The smartphone makers are tapping the new opportunities in the smartphone field to maintain a continual pace of the competition and survive in the long-run. The smartphone appearance is one such avenue which is been increasingly explored and innovated by the smartphone manufacturers. Therefore, innovations in the smartphone cover glass and smartphone casing is an emerging fundamental to keep driving the consumer demand for smartphones.The smartphone cover glass is the display screen. The cover glass is used to protect front and rear panels and cameras of the smartphone. The cover glass is produced by molding, cleaning and cutting glass sheet from suppliers such as Corning, Asahi Glass and Hoya.The smartphone casing is the back cover of the smartphone which is predominantly manufactured using metals. However, glass and ceramic are the emerging elements that are increasingly invading the smartphone manufacturers experimental platform.The smartphone cover glass and glass casing could be segmented into 2D, 2.5D and 3D. The 3D cover glass and glass casing is increasingly used in virtual reality (VR), smartphone, wearable device, etc. The global smartphone cover glass market and glass casing market is expected to increase at a significant CAGR during 2015-2021. The smartphone cover glass and smartphone glass casing market is expected to increase due to growing usage of smartphone, increase mobile payments, increased adoption of NFC, etc. Yet the market faces some challenges such as, lack of experimentation with glass element because of its fragile nature and strenuous processing of 3D glass.Browse Detail Report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global and United States Gel Paste In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022 | Schwarzkopf, VS, GATSBY, MAESTRO, L'Oreal, Syoss

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global and United States Gel Paste In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The report is based on the market historical data from 2012 to 2016 and forecast the market trend from 2017 to 2022.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Gel Paste industry.Major CompaniesSchwarzkopf(Germany)VS(UK)GATSBY(Japan)MAESTRO(China)L'Oreal(France)Syoss(Japan)Beeflower(China)SEBASTIAN(US)Dcolor(China)WELLA(Germany)UNO(Japan)Liese(Japan)JOICO(US)Ruihu(China)LUCIDO-L(Japan)Lovefun(China)Get Comple TOC With Tables and Figures @Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsGel Paste Market, by Gel Paste CompositionFilm Forming AgentNeutralizer AgentThinner AgentConditioning AgentOther (Light Stabilizer, Preservative, Flavor)Gel Paste Market, by EffectMoisturizing TypeRefreshing TypeDeodorization TypeBaking Oil TypeGel Paste Market, by Key ConsumersHome UseBarbershopBeauty SalonTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of ContentsGlobal and United States Gel Paste In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022Chapter One Global Gel Paste Market Overview1.1 Global Gel Paste Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20171.2 Gel Paste, by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20171.2.1 Global Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20171.2.2 Global Gel Paste Revenue Market Share by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20171.2.3 Global Gel Paste Price by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20171.2.4 Film Forming Agent1.2.5 Neutralizer Agent1.2.6 Thinner Agent1.2.7 Conditioning Agent1.2.8 Other (Light Stabilizer, Preservative, Flavor)1.3 Gel Paste, by Effect 2012-20171.3.1 Global Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Effect 2012-20171.3.2 Global Gel Paste Revenue Market Share by Effect 2012-20171.3.3 Global Gel Paste Price by Effect 2012-20171.3.4 Moisturizing Type1.3.5 Refreshing Type1.3.6 Deodorization Type1.3.7 Baking Oil TypeChapter Two United States Gel Paste Market Overview2.1 United States Gel Paste Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-20172.2 Gel Paste, by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20172.2.1 United States Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20172.2.2 United States Gel Paste Revenue Market Share by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20172.2.3 United States Gel Paste Price by Gel Paste Composition 2012-20172.2.4 Film Forming Agent2.2.5 Neutralizer Agent2.2.6 Thinner Agent2.2.7 Conditioning Agent2.2.8 Other (Light Stabilizer, Preservative, Flavor)2.3 Gel Paste, by Effect 2012-20172.3.1 United States Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Effect 2012-20172.3.2 United States Gel Paste Revenue Market Share by Effect 2012-20172.3.3 United States Gel Paste Price by Effect 2012-20172.3.4 Moisturizing Type2.3.5 Refreshing Type2.3.6 Deodorization Type2.3.7 Baking Oil TypeChapter Three Gel Paste by Regions 2012-20173.1 Global Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.2 Global Gel Paste Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20173.3 Global Gel Paste Price by Regions 2012-20173.4 North America3.4.1 United States3.4.1.1 California3.4.1.2 Texas3.4.1.3 New York3.4.1.4 Others in United States3.4.2 Canada3.5 Latin America3.5.1 Mexico3.5.2 Brazil3.5.3 Argentina3.5.4 Others in Latin America3.6 Europe3.6.1 Germany3.6.2 United Kingdom3.6.3 France3.6.4 Italy3.6.5 Spain3.6.6 Russia3.6.7 Netherland3.6.8 Others in Europe3.7 Asia & Pacific3.7.1 China3.7.2 Japan3.7.3 India3.7.4 Korea3.7.5 Australia3.7.6 Southeast Asia3.7.6.1 Indonesia3.7.6.2 Thailand3.7.6.3 Philippines3.7.6.4 Vietnam3.7.6.5 Singapore3.7.6.6 Malaysia3.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia3.8 Africa & Middle East3.8.1 South Africa3.8.2 Egypt3.8.3 Turkey3.8.4 Saudi Arabia3.8.5 Iran3.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Four Global Gel Paste by Companies 2012-20174.1 Global Gel Paste Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20174.2 Global Gel Paste Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20174.3 Global Top Companies Gel Paste Key Product Model and Market Performance4.4 Global Top Companies Gel Paste Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Five United States Gel Paste by Companies 2012-20175.1 United States Gel Paste Sales Volume Market Share by Companies 2012-20175.2 United States Gel Paste Revenue Share by Companies 2012-20175.3 United States Top Companies Gel Paste Key Product Model and Market Performance5.4 United States Top Companies Gel Paste Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Six Global Gel Paste by Consumer 2012-20176.1 Global Gel Paste Sales Market Share by Consumer 2012-20176.2 Home Use6.3 Barbershop6.4 Beauty Salon6.5 Consuming Habit and PreferenceContinue...Browse Detail Report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Healthcare IT Integration Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR of 11.8% through 2024

Global Healthcare IT Integration Market ? Trends and Forecast to 2024

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Global healthcare IT integration market is expected to reach USD 6.5 billion, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024, from USD 2.68 billion in 2016.The new market report contains data for historic years 2014 & 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Any specific requirements are you looking for? Inquiry before Buying @Global Healthcare IT Integration Market, By Type (Products (Integration Engines, Integration Software), Services (Installation Services, Maintenance Services, Training), By End User (Hospitals, Radiology Centers, Diagnostic Laboratories, Cath Labs, Clinics, Others), By Applications (Medical Device Integration, Healthcare Center Integration), By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Rest of the World)  Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Healthcare IT Integration Market  Market Segmentation:The healthcare IT integration market is segmented based on type, services, end user, applications and geography. Based on type the market is segmented into products and services.The product segment includes integration engines or platforms and integration software. In 2015, the healthcare IT integration engines segment is dominant with approximately a market share of above 70% growing at the highest CAGR of 12.6% in the forecast period. The healthcare It integration services is further segmented into installation services, maintenance services and training services. The maintenance services segment commanded the largest share of 48.7% of the global healthcare IT integration market, by service, in 2015.Purchase Full Report at $4,200 Single User @Based on end-users the healthcare IT integration is segmented into hospitals, radiology centers, diagnostic laboratories, cath labs, clinics and, others. In 2016, hospitals is expected to be the largest end-user for healthcare IT integration products, owing to the large number of healthcare IT products installed in hospitals, the larger number of products more is the complexity and hence greater needs for integration.Based on applications the global healthcare IT integration market is segmented into medical device integration and healthcare center integration. In 2015, healthcare It integration leads the market, owing to the increasing number of users for healthcare IT products and increasing demand of Electronic Health Records (EHR) solutions in the market.Based on geography the market is segmented into 5 geographical regions, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and rest of the world. The geographical regions are further segmented into 24 major countries such as U.S. Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Belgium, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa and many others.Request For Sample Report @:Some of the major players operating in this market areSome of the major players operating in this global healthcare IT integration market are Care point Health, Oracle, AVI-SPL, Inc., All scripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Epic Systems Corporation, Qualcomm Life, Inc., Interfaceware, Inc., Orion Health, Quality Systems, Inc., Cerner Corporation, InterSystems Corporation, Infor, Inc., Orion Health, Summit Healthcare and Siemens among other vernacular players.About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor: investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit Blog
Glass Packaging Global Analysis & Forecast to 2021 Market Research Report

Glass Packaging Market 2017

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Glass Packaging Market 2017Summary:MarketResearchFuture adds Glass Packaging Market 2017: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, Forecast to 2021reports to its Database.Key PlayersThe key players of Global Glass Packaging Market report include-Owens Illinois Inc.Saint-GobainArdagh GroupGerresheimer AG, and Vetropack Holding AGAmcor LtdNihon Yamamura Glass Co. LtdTamron Co.Ltd., and Piramal Glass LimitedHindustan National Glass & Industries LtdStolzle-Oberglas GmbHVidrala SAWiegand GlasBerk Company LLCShandong Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Ltd.Synopsis of the Global Glass Packaging MarketMarket ScenarioGlobally there is an increase in demand for alcoholic beverages and beer which has augmented the market for glass packaging. The non-reactive nature of glass makes it a suitable packaging material in pharmaceutical and alcoholic beverages industry. This is backed by the increased awareness for eco-friendly packaging and increase in investments by packaging companies which has led to the growth of the global glass packaging market.SegmentsGlobal glass packaging market is segmented on the basis of Application and Region. On the basis of application it is segmented as alcoholic beverages, food & beverages, pharmaceuticals and others. Additionally on the basis of region, it is segmented as North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.Request For Sample Report @Study Objectives of Global Glass Packaging MarketTo provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of various segments and sub-segments of the global glass packaging marketTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the global glass packaging Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World (RoW)To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by application and region.To provide strategic profiling of the key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global glass packaging marketRegional Analysis of Global Packaging Machinery MarketAPAC dominates the global glass packaging market with its fast growing market worldwide. The region is expected to grow in coming years due to increasing glass packaging consumption, particularly in China and India. The demand is dominated by the alcoholic beverages and pharmaceuticals industry.The report for Global Glass Packaging Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Complete Report Details @Table of ContentsRequest for Table of Contents.Continued.About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have the prime objective to provide optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies depending on products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments enables our clients to know more consequently do more, which gives them answer for their each and every important question. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industryCONTACT US:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Market Trends and Industry Analysis 2023

Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Market

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Global Automotive exhaust gas recirculation Market Information Report by Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Commercial Vehicle), by Product Type (EGR Valve, EGR Cooler and EGR Pipe) and by Regions - Global Forecast To 2023Market Highlights:Automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is a technique which helps in reducing and controlling the nitrogen oxide emission in gasoline as well as diesel powered vehicles. The global automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system market has experienced a potential growth over the past few year and it has been projected that the market will grow at the same pace during the forecast period. Automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system market looks promising during the forecast period due to the major driving factors such as booming automotive industry, expansion of global players into emerging nations and growing urbanization. On the other hand, the major trends and opportunities in the market are combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems and emerging economies. Whereas, the major challenging and restraining factors that can hinder the market growth are the availability of substitute, rising pressure and strict government regulation for certification of automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Market: Mahle GMBH Wells Vehicle Electronics BorgWarner Inc. Cambustion Ltd. Delphi ANSYS Inc. DENSO Europe B.V Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG Friedrich Boysen GmbH & Co. KG ElringKlinger AG and IAV GmbH.Global Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Systems Market:The market for automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems is expected to grow with an increase in demand for automobile, majorly in the United States. There is an immense demand of commercial vehicles in United States. With the increase in demand of commercial vehicles there is an increase in demand for automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems market. The growth of the North America region is also driven by the presence of major automotive EGR system manufacturers which are mainly focusing on key developments such as expansion, mergers & acquisition, product launch and others. Moreover, the spending of much of the time in Vehicles by the people generates the need for adoption of advanced technologies, such as automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems. Owing to all these factors, the growth of the region is expected to grow at a rapid pace.Due to the presence of most populous countries of the world such as China and India among others, the dominance of APAC becomes evident in the global automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems market value. The market has been experiencing rapid growth in the last two years owing to the rising sales of passenger cars, emerging economies, shifting of global players and technological advancements are giving a much needed thrust to the automotive exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems market. Another major reason behind APAC leading the global market is that the countries within this region were able to sustain its economy during the global economic crisis of 2008-09 and have been able to showcase continued growth in automobile production and sales across the globe.Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.3 Assumptions2.4 Market Structure3 Market Highlights3.1 Key Takeaways3.2 Key Buying Criteria4 Research Methodology4.1 Research Process4.2 Primary Research4.3 Secondary Research4.4 Market Size Estimation4.5 Forecast ModelContinueAccess Report Details @List Of TablesTable 1 Market SynopsisTable 2 Laser Strike ConcernsTable 3 Global Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Application, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)Table 4 Global Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Product Type, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)Table 5 Global Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Region, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)Table 6 North America: Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Country, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)Table 7 North America: Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Application, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)Table 8 North America: Automotive Exhaust Gas Recirculation Market, By Product Type, 2016-2023 (Usd Million)ContinueAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Cancer Gene Therapy Market Is Estimated To Reach $2,082 Million By 2023

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Gene therapy is an experimental technique that encompasses the replacement of mutated genes with healthy genes. During the treatment of cancer, the genes are replaced to fight against carcinogenic tumor cells. Gene therapy is considered to be an effective treatment for chronic diseases as they cause minimum side effects with maximum efficacy. The global cancer gene therapy market was valued at $289 million in 2016, and is estimated to reach $2,082 million by 2023, registering a CAGR of 32.4% from 2017 to 2023.For More Info, Get Sample :The rise in prevalence of cancer, benefits of cancer gene therapy over conventional cancer therapies, and the advancement in this field are the major factors that drive the market growth. In addition, increase in government support, ethical acceptance of gene therapy for cancer treatment, and rise in biotechnological funding encourage the R&D activities for cancer gene therapy and thus fuel the growth of the cancer gene therapy market. However, high cost associated with the treatment and unwanted immune responses are expected to restrain the market growth.The global cancer gene therapy market is segmented based on therapy, end user, and geography. Based on therapy, it is categorized into gene induced immunotherapy (delivery of cytokines gene and delivery of tumor antigen gene), oncolytic virotherapy (adenovirus, lentivirus, retro virus, adeno associated virus, herpes simplex virus, alpha virus, vaccinia virus, simian virus, and others), and gene transfer (naked plasmid vector, electroporation, sonoportion, magnetofection, and gene gun). Based on geography, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This report offers a detailed quantitative analysis of the current market trends from 2016 to 2023 to identify the prevailing opportunities. The market estimations provided in this report are based on comprehensive analysis of the key developments in the industry. In-depth analysis based on geography facilitates in analyzing the regional market to assist in strategic business planning. The development strategies adopted by key manufacturers are enlisted in the report to understand the competitive scenario of the market.KEY PLAYERS PROFILED Adaptimmune GlaxoSmithKline Bluebird bio, Inc. Merck Celgene Shanghai Sunway Biotech BioCancell Shenzhen SiBiono GeneTech SynerGene Therapeutics OncoGenex PharmaceuticalsEnquire About Report :KEY MARKET SEGMENTSBy Therapy Gene Induced Immunotherapy Delivery of Cytokines Gene Delivery of Tumor Antigen Gene Oncolytic Virotherapy Adenovirus Lentivirus Retro Virus Adeno Associated Virus Herpes Simplex Virus Alpha Virus Vaccinia Virus Simian Virus Others Gene Transfer Naked/Plasmid Vectors Electroporation Sonoportion Magnetofection Gene GunBy End User Hospitals Diagnostics Centers Research InstitutesAlso Request For Discount :By Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific Japan China Australia India Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Brazil Republic of South Africa Saudi Arabia Rest of LAMEAThe other players of the cancer gene therapy market include (companies not profiled in the report): Cell Genesys Advantagene GenVec BioCancell Celgene and Epeius Biotechnologies Introgen Therapeutics Ziopharm Oncology Shenzhen SiBiono GeneTech Genelux Corporation Altor BioscienceTable Of Content CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3 MARKET OVERVIEW CHAPTER 4 CANCER GENE THERAPY MARKET, BY THERAPY CHAPTER 5 CANCER GENE THERAPY MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 6 COMPANY PROFILESAbout UsWe have a large database of quality and precise market research reports that will be very beneficial for your organization. Reports that we sell our authentic in nature and from reputed publishers, hence it can definitely help you with your growth opportunities. Research Beam will always make sure to bring most ethical and high quality reports. We value your relationship with us and look forward for a long term relation.Contact UsGlobal Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com
Car Fleet Leasing in the US Market 20172021 : Drivers, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts

Car Fleet Leasing in the US Market

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Car Fleet Leasing in the US Market 20172021 : Drivers, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts.The analysts forecast the car fleet leasing market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 2.57% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the car fleet leasing market in the US for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThe market is divided into the following segments based on geography: California Texas New York Washington New JerseyThe report, Car Fleet Leasing Market in the US 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors ALD Automotive ARI Arval Donlen LeasePlanOther prominent vendors ExpatRide Car Express Executive Car Leasing First Class Leasing High End Auto Leasing Absolute Auto Leasing Autoflex Global Auto Leasing World Auto Group LeasingMarket driver Growth of auto leasing market in the US For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Fragmented telematics market in the US For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Emergence of captive finance For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outlinePART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by types of lease Segmentation of car fleet leasing market in the US by types of lease Car fleet leasing market in the US by close end lease Car fleet leasing market in the US by open end leasePART 07: Market segmentation by end-user Segmentation of car fleet leasing market in the US by end-user Car fleet leasing market in the US by IT industry Car fleet leasing market in the US by food and beverage industry Car fleet leasing market in the US by pharmaceuticals industry Car fleet leasing market in the US by othersPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 10: Market trends Emergence of captive finance Dominance of bank and independent leasing company Advances in technologyPART 11: Vendor landscape Competitive scenario ALD Automotive ARI Arval Donlen LeasePlan Other prominent vendorsContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Kosher Foods 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 13.09% and Forecast to 2021

Kosher Foods Market 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Kosher Foods 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 13.09% and Forecast to 2021.The analysts forecast the global kosher foods market to grow at a CAGR of 13.09% during the period 2017-2021.Foods that adhere to Jewish religious laws, halakha, and are permitted to be consumed by the Jews are known as kosher foods. Kosher means appropriate or fit in Hebrew. There are certain restrictions on what kinds of foods can be consumed by people who follow the Judaism religion. For land animals, creatures that have split hooves and can chew cud are considered kosher.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global kosher foods market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, Global Kosher Foods Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors ADM Kedem Food Products Manischewitz Nestle Streit'sOther prominent vendors Art Chocolatier BASF Blommer Chocolate Brooklyn Cookie Denovo Beverage Eden Foods Hodo Soy Ice Chips Levana Meal ReplacementMarket driver Rise in urbanization and change in lifestyle For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Intense competition from halal foods For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing popularity of private labels For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outline Global food and beverage marketPART 05: Market landscape Market overview Global kosher foods market Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by product Global kosher foods market by product type Kosher pareve Kosher meat Kosher dairyPART 07: Market segmentation by distribution channel Global kosher food market segmentation by distribution channelPART 08: Geographical segmentation Geographic segmentation of global kosher foods market Kosher foods market in Americas Kosher foods market in EMEA Kosher foods market in APACPART 09: Key leading countries America Canada France Israel Russia UKPART 10: Decision frameworkPART 11: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 12: Market trends Effect of private labels Development of apps for kosher foods Effect of country-of-origin labelling products on consumer purchasing behavior Increased demand for convenience foodsPART 13: Vendor landscape Competitive Scenario Other prominent vendorsContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Electric Vehicles Charging Stations Market Trends Estimates High Demand by 2023

Electric Vehicles Charging Stations Market

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Market Highlights:The global electric vehicle market is a very dynamic and is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. As a result, the demand for its charging stations have also been fueled. During the last few years, the global electric vehicle charging stations market has seen remarkable growth due to the rise in the sales of electric vehicles. It has also been observed that the market demand will grow rapidly during the forecast period. This market is expected to grow at the CAGR of over30% during forecast period.The global electric vehicle charging station market has been largely influenced by the growth in the number of electric cars and trucks, and government initiatives on reducing vehicles emissions. Focus on renewable forms of energy, and government regulations on tax exemptions on electric vehicles also lead to the growth of the market. In spite of the growth factors, the global market could face the challenges such as high installation cost, non-availability of public charging stations and slow charging time.Request a Sample Copy @Market Drivers: Growth in the number of electric cars and trucks Government initiatives on reducing vehicles emissions Focus towards renewables energies Government regulations on tax exemptions on electric vehiclesMarket Research Analysis:Geographically, Asia Pacific is the leading market for electric vehicle charging stations and has consumed the market share of more than 50% in 2016. Presence of China, Japan and South Korea is one of the major factors driving the electric vehicles market, which will increase the demand for charging stations. China is the largest market for electric cars and electric two wheelers. Since 2015, sales have been grown massively in China. However, it has created an ample scope for the manufacturers to cover the region. Moreover, the automakers such as Tesla, Tata Motors, Hyundai and others have decided to commence electric car production in India as well. This is a profitable decision as the government has been taking various steps to invest more into these countries.Key Players of Electric Vehicles Charging Stations Market: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions (Germany) Bollore Group (France) Chargemaster (UK) Delphi Automotive (UK) ABB Ltd (Switzerland) General Electric Company (US) Tesla Motors Inc (US) Siemens AG (Germany) Eaton Corporation (Ireland) Schneider Electric (France)Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global electric vehicles charging station market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global electric vehicles charging station market by charging type, by connector, by application and by regions.By Charging Type AC Charging DC ChargingBy Connector CHAdeMO Combined Charging System OthersBy Application Commercial ResidentialBy Regions North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldBrowse Full Report @Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces AnalysisContinueAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
E-commerce Logistics in APAC Market 2017 Share,Trend,Segmentation and Forecast to 2021

E-commerce Logistics in APAC 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - E-commerce Logistics in APAC Market 2017 Share,Trend,Segmentation and Forecast to 2021.The analysts forecast the e-commerce logistics market in APAC to grow at a CAGR of 11.48% during the period 2017-2021.E-commerce logistics is the term used for logistics service providers (LSPs) for the e-commerce industry. They deal with planning and controlling the flow of goods through the entire supply chain from the point of source to the point of destination (end customer). The objective of the E-commerce logistics is to play a supporting role for the e-commerce business by delivering right products in the right quantity at the right place to the right customer by charging the right price.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the e-commerce logistics market in APAC for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Australia Bangladesh China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Myanmar New Zealand Pakistan Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand The Philippines UAE VietnamThe report, E-commerce Logistics Market in APAC 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors Aramex CEVA Logistics DPDHL Group FedEx SF ExpressOther prominent vendors C.H. Robinson Gati Kerry Logistics Kuehne + Nagel Nippon Express Panalpina Rhenus SinotransMarket driver Emerging cross-border e-commerce market For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Vertical integration by e-commerce companies For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Strategic alliance between e-commerce companies and LSPs For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research methodologyPART 04: Introduction Key market highlightsPART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by services E-commerce logistics market in APAC by services E-commerce logistics market in APAC by transportation services E-commerce logistics market in APAC by warehousing and distribution services E-commerce logistics market in APAC by other servicesPART 07: Key leading countriesPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Impact of drivers on key customer segments Market challenges Impact of challenges on key customer segmentsPART 10: Market trends Strategic alliance between e-commerce companies and LSPs Growth of logistics industry by rising investment in technology Increase in M&A activitiesPART 11: Vendor landscape Overview Aramex CEVA Logistics DPDHL Group FedEx SF Express Other prominent vendorsContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Automotive AHSS Market Size, Growth Factors and Worldwide Forecast 2023

Automotive AHSS Market

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-ahss-market-4648

Global Automotive AHSS Market, By Product Type (Dual Phase, Martensitic Steel, Boron Steel and Others), by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car and Commercial Vehicle), By Application (Body & Closures, Suspensions, Bumper and Others) and Region - Forecast 2016-2023Market Highlights:Focus on light weighting in automobiles is well underway, and will continue in the future. With the objective to reduce fuel emissions and to meet greenhouse gas requirements, automobile manufacturers need to significantly reduce the weight of vehicles. The recent efforts to build lightweight cars from aluminum and carbon-fiber composites, acts as a major restraint for the growth of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) market. Automotive AHSS Market is expected to reach at market size of ~USD 23.45 billion by the end of forecast period with CAGR of ~9.8% during the forecast period.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive AHSS Market: AK Steel Holding Corporation (U.S.) ArcelorMittal S.A. (Luxembourg) China Baowu Steel Group Corp., Ltd. (China) Kobe Steel Ltd.( Japan) POSCO (South Korea) SSAB AB (Sweden) Tata Steel Limited (India) ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany) United Steel Corporation (India)Market Research Future Analysis:Market Research Future analysis shows that the global market of Automotive AHSS market is estimated to grow at USD 23.45 billion by the end of year 2023. Asia Pacific is leading the market of automotive AHSS. With the increasing vehicle production in countries such as India and China, and the focus of manufacturers on increasing production capacity, the demand for automotive AHSS is anticipated to grow, significantly. Growing purchasing power, low penetration of automobiles, and infrastructure development in emerging nations, has resulted in an increase in demand for personal transportation and commercial vehicles. Additionally, increasing need for fuel-efficient vehicles along with light-weight automotive parts, and the increase in the production of vehicles are among the other growth drivers of the automotive industry, which would contribute in the automotive AHSS market growth.Europe holds the largest market share in automotive AHSS market, followed by Asia Pacific due to factors such as strict emission norms laid down by the government, improvement in the economic conditions, and increasing investment by the industry players in the region. The global automotive AHSS is expected to grow at CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period.Access Report Details @Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope Of The Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces AnalysisContinueMarket Drivers: Rising government regulations regarding CO2 emissions Growing vehicle demand Advancements meant for improving vehicle lifeAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Technologies 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.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Tipper Trucks Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021

Tipper Trucks Market 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Tipper Trucks Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021.The analysts forecast the global tipper trucks market to grow at a CAGR of 9.54% during the period 2017-2021.Tipper truck, also known as dump/dumper truck, is a commercial truck used for the transportation of materials in bulk. The materials, for example, include sand, gravel, and demolition waste from the construction industry; limestone, clay, and fuel ash materials from the cement industry; and garbage from solid waste management. Tipper truck contains open-box bed (open trailer) at the rear end, which is hinged to the front driving cabin (tractor).Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global tipper trucks market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers shipments/sales/volume and excludes revenue.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, Global Tipper Trucks Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors BELAZ Caterpillar Hitachi Construction Machinery KomatsuOther prominent vendors Abbott Vascular Abiomed AtriCure Biosensors International Biotronik BioVentrix C. R. BardMarket driver Infrastructure developments in BRIC countries For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge High manufacturing costs of tipper trucks For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Self-driving tipper trucks For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outlinePART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Geographical segmentation Market overview Tipper trucks market in Americas Tipper trucks market in APAC Tipper trucks market in EMEAPART 07: Decision frameworkPART 08: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 09: Market trends Self-driving tipper trucks Alternative fuel tipper trucksPART 10: Vendor landscape Competitive benchmarking Other prominent vendorsPART 11: Key vendor analysis BELAZ Caterpillar Hitachi Construction Machinery KomatsuContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Biologic Therapy Market: Insights, Development, Research and prophecy 2017-2027

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/840

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/biologic-therapy-market

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Biological therapy is a type of treatment that utilizations parts of the body's normal resistant framework to treat a malady. Natural treatment is additionally used to shield the body from a portion of the reactions of specific medications. Biologic Therapy Market is blasting as of now and anticipated that would develop at sound GAGR, The real development drivers for Biologic Therapy incorporates the expanding pharmaceuticals businesses, expanding biologic items expanding government bolster for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology enterprises, developing fame for in fact overhauled treatments and developing number of irresistible sicknessesGet Sample Report @Segmentation for Biologic Therapy market involves the Product such as instruments, kits & reagents, services among others.Main objective is to analyze the Biologic Therapy Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.However, high cost involved with medicine manufacturing, adverse effects associated with biologic drug therapies are the major restraint of the Biologic Therapy market.Competitive Companies Involved:Bureau veritas sa, Genevac ltd, Accugen laboratories, Aegis food testing laboratories, ALS limited, Avomeen analytical services, Bio-Rad laboratories, Campden bri, Adpen laboratories.Biologic Therapy Market Objective Study:To give nation level investigation of the market for fragment by Product, Technology and sub-portions.To give key profiling of key players in the market, exhaustively breaking down their center skills, and drawing a focused scene for the marketTo track and investigate focused improvements, for example, joint endeavors, key organizations together, mergers and acquisitions, new item advancements, and research and advancements in the worldwide Biologic Therapy advertise.To give point by point investigation of the market structure alongside figure for the following 10 years of the different sections and sub-portions of the worldwide Biologic Therapy showcaseTo give experiences about components influencing the market developmentTo give chronicled and gauge income of the market portions and sub-sections concerning four primary topographies and their nations North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW)To give nation level investigation of the market as for the present market size and future forthcoming.Browse Report @Market Segments:By MethodSegmentation for Biologic Therapy market involves the following Method such as protein therapy, vaccines therapy, and cell therapy among others.By ApplicationsSegmentation for Biologic Therapy market involves the following Applications such as pharmaceuticals, medical, healthcare, cellular therapy, and gene therapy among others.AmericasNorth America, US, Canada, Latin AmericaEuropeWestern EuropeGermany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K, Rest of Western Europe, Eastern EuropeAsia PacificAsia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of Asia, PacificThe Middle East& AfricaThe report for Biologic therapy market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Get a Discount @At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Industrial Hand Gloves Market Trends & Worldwide Growth 2022

Industrial Hand Gloves Market

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/industrial-hand-gloves-market-2071

Market Scenario:Industrial gloves referred as essential item especially for food, chemical and healthcare industry. It provide protection against cold, heat, damage by friction, chemicals and diseases and selected according to the occupation, the duration of the job, and the type of conditions or contaminants associated with the job. Employee safety and sanitary conditions in the workplace fuels the demand for industrial hand gloves market. Moreover, it also keep hands clean and even protect from extreme temperature as well as transfer of dangerous substances. Additionally, healthcare awareness, healthcare reforms and stringent government regulations are some of the factors which drive the market for industrial gloves.However, raw material prices and use of robotics may hamper the growth of the market.Market is expected to reach at market size of USD 9,798 million by the end of forecast period with CAGR of around 3% between 2016 and 2022.Regional Analysis:North America is dominating the market of Industrial hand gloves market. Sustainable growth in the pharmaceutical, automotive as well as in construction segment, high concerns and strict regulatory mandates regarding worker safety lead to the high consumption of industrial gloves across these regions. Moreover, APAC region is expected to grow due to owing factors such as government initiatives for worker safety and security as well as rapid industrialization in the region.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Industrial Hand Gloves Market: Honeywell Safety Products Ansell Ltd. Protective Industrial Products Inc. Semperit A.G. Holding Towa Corporation Top Glove Shamrock Manufacturing Company Globus (Shetland) Rubberex.Brief TOC:1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:1.3.1 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Product1.3.2 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Material1.3.3 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Application1.3.5 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Region2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market OpportunitiesContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Technologies 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.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Coating Equipment Market Is Expected To Reach USD 20 Billion By 2022

Coating Equipment Market

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/coating-equipment-market-2124

Global Coating Equipment Market Information Report by Type (Liquid Coating Equipment, Powder Coating Equipment, and Specialty Coating Equipment), by End-user (Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial, and Construction) and by Region - Global Forecast to 2022Market Scenario:A coating is also known as substrate which is applied to the surface of any object. Coating has different purpose, it may be used for decorative, functional or for both. The equipment which is used for covering the surface of an object is known as coating equipment. Coating can be all-over coating, full covered surface or a part of substrate. The coating equipment includes resourcing of raw material, manufacturing and supply of coating equipment. The market is expected to cross USD 20 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of approximately 5% for the forecasted period.On the basis of type, powder coating is expected to grow at a highest CAGR for the forecast period because it is the most common type which is applied to the metal surface. On the basis of end-user, industrial sector is expected to lead the coating equipment market by 2022. The demand for the coating equipment in the industrial segment is fueling up due to the increasing use of coating in heavy machinery. Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest market share for the forecast period.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Coating Equipment Market: Nordson Corporation (U.S.) Anest Iwata (Japan) Graco Inc. (U.S.) O.C. Oerlikon (Switzerland) IHI Ionbond AG (Switzerland) SATA GmbH & Co. KG. (Germany)Market Research Analysis:The market is highly application based. The industrial sector is dominating the coating equipment market by end-user, due to increasing need for the personalized coating equipment in various end-use industries. There is continues R&D carried out so as to develop new and advanced equipment.There is also seen an increase in demand of the coating equipment from the industries, which is backed by the rapid industrialization, building and infrastructures. Furthermore such coating equipment is used for coating heavy machines.There are various restraints which hinders the growth of the coating equipment markets such as high cost of coating equipment and fluctuation in the crude oil prices.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global coating equipment market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global coating equipment market by its type, end-user and Region.By Type Liquid Coating Equipment Powder Coating Equipment Specialty Coating EquipmentBy End-Use Automotive Aerospace Industrial ConstructionBy Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific ROWBrief TOC:1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:1.3.1 Global Coating Equipment: By Type1.3.2 Global Coating Equipment: By End-Userr1.3.3 Global Coating Equipment: By Region2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Researchpt2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market OpportunitiesContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Maine stands at a crossroads that could affect the nations healthcare system and the 2018 midterm elections, and nobody seems to know about it.

Today, while there are many important state special elections to watch, Maines referendum on Medicaid expansion could have some of the furthest-reaching consequences. The referendum marks the climax of a long battle in state government: on one side, the state legislature, and on the other, Governor Paul LePage. The state legislature has repeatedly put forward bills to expand the states access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, while LePage says that would be too expensive. Incidentally, The New York Times shows that LePages administration seems to be wildly overestimating the costs to the state in its report on the referendum. Republican senator Susan Collins hasnt weighed inher staff says she never does on referendumsdespite her opposition to Obamacares repeal in the senate.

We wont go into why Paul LePage is a bad person and a bad governor, but you can find a pretty good summation here that includes his racist comments, his petty political squabbles and his assertion that America should bring back public executions.

Instead, one thing stands out as LePages most enduring facet: his vetoes. In order to pressure state lawmakers into voting for initiatives he supported, he began vetoing bill after bill they put forth, regardless of how necessary the bills were. The man has vetoed literally hundreds of laws for no reason other than to punish his own colleagues for perceived slights. Case in point: LePage has vetoed this very effort no less than five times.

So along comes the referendum, which, if successful, would bypass LePage and put the issue directly to the state legislature. While Republicans may have a narrow majority in the state senate, The NYT reports that they would be unlikely to oppose the results of the referendum, since theyve already voted in favor of it multiple times.

The one real obstacle to the referendum seems to be voter turnout. First, Mainers arent entirely convinced that Medicaid expansion is financially feasible, as they expanded it once before just over a decade ago, and the results were not favorable. Maine ended up falling behind on Medicaid payments and increasing debt. Second, there isnt a large-scale national or local election to drive people to voting booths, so the referendum isnt getting the increased attention of a political race.

But despite the lack of awareness, both at the local and national level, certain people are watching this vote very closely. This referendum is the first of its kind, the first that could potentially thwart Republican holdouts in their efforts to stop the rollout of Obamacare in their states. There are 18 other states that currently refuse to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and you can bet your ass that lawmakers in those states are watching the results of this referendum like hawks. A victory for expanded Medicaid here could signal to politicians that they may need to revise their positions on healthcare come 2018.

Tens of thousands of poor Maine adults would receive healthcare coverage if this bill were to pass. If the other 18 holdout states did the same, that number would go up over 2.5 million. The medical futures of many people could hang in the balance of this vote, so even though there hasnt been much mainstream coverage, even though there isnt a political race, make sure you keep an eye on it.
Petoskey library hosting food drive this holiday season

The Petoskey District Library has partnered with Manna Food Project to host a food drive Nov. 14  Dec. 23 to help people in need this holiday season.
$1 Million Big One for One Drop Returning to 2018 World Series of Poker

November 06, 2017 Valerie Cross

Minutes before the 111,111 High Roller for One Drop No-Limit Hold'em event resumed at the World Series of Poker Europe on Saturday, WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart made a big announcement regarding the 2018 series in Las Vegas next summer.

"The WSOP's partnership with the One Drop foundation started with the Big One for One Drop back in 2012," Stewart said. "And I'm happy to announce that the Big One for One Drop will return next summer for the 2018 WSOP from July 15-17. I'm looking forward to seeing some of you there."

The seven-figure buy-in event will return to Las Vegas after a four-year hiatus for its fourth-ever edition. The event will be capped at 48 players and once again, the WSOP will waive their fee so the entire $111,111 entry fee for each participant goes directly to the One Drop Foundation.

A Fruitful Partnership

The One Drop foundation is committed to providing sustainable safe water access to communities in need worldwide. The WSOP and One Drop began a partnership in 2012 which has raised over $20 million for the charity, started by Cirque du Soleil's founder Guy Laliberte. The Big One for One Drop has accounted for nearly $14 million of that contribution, and the event in Las Vegas in 2018 will further add to that figure.

Through the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop, the Little One for One Drop and the High Roller for One Drop, 11,000 unique players who have participated thereby contributing to the amazing amount that the partnership has raised for One Drop. Laliberte commented in the WSOP press release about the importance of the Big One and the partnership with the WSOP for One Drop.

The Big One is an important landmark in the history of poker. Players that I meet here and there remind me on a constant basis that this history lives on and that they want to be a part of it. The thrill to compete for the chance of walking away with millions all the while contributing to an important cause - providing safe water access globally  has given strong roots to the event.

"I am currently working on a new major fundraising initiative that is tapping into another very important passion of mine and that will be announced soon. This leaves me with less time for poker, but Im confident that after three editions, the Big One is mature enough to live without a big involvement on my part."

During the announcement at the WSOPE, Stewart commented, "I remember in 2012 people said that a $1 million buy-in tournament was crazy. They also then said that you couldn't have 11% juice on a mid-stakes tournament; that's crazy! Or have a $10 million guaranteed One Drop in Rozvadov!

"However, what is truly crazy is that to date we have raised more than $20 million because of the generosity of you all, which makes us one of the biggest charitable partnerships in the world.

"For anyone who says that poker players aren't charitable it's just truly amazing. That motivates us that there should be no end in sight."

The first three versions of the Big One for One Drop took place in 2012, 2014 and 2016, with the first two at the Rio in Las Vegas and the most recent one in Monaco. It has attracted 86 unique players, with 22 players who have played in two or more. Here is a look at the three winners to date.

Year Casino City Entries Winner 1st-Place Prize 2012 Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas 48 Antonio Esfandiari $18,346,673 2014 Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas 42 Daniel Colman $15,306,668 2016 Casino de Monte Carlo Monaco 28 Elton Tsang 11,111,111

Who Will Participate?

Stewart introduced at the WSOPE High Roller for One Drop the first entry into the 2018 Big One for One Drop: King's Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik.

Tsoukernik responded, "I know you all want to participate in this beautiful event, and I'm waiting for you all in Vegas. Thank you!"

In the WSOP press release, Tsoukernik elaborated on his support for One Drop.

I had the opportunity to work closely with One Drop around the World Series of Poker Europe this year and to get acquainted with Guy, and this made me understand the unparalleled importance of the cause of water.

"I am a father of two and it really struck me when I heard that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-borne disease. We all need to do something about it. Me, I have decided to do what I am best at: bringing people together to play poker. I am not only the first player to put his name on the list. I have also promised Guy that I will pick-up the phone to make sure the enthusiasm for the Big One translates once again into a great success for the charity.

The remaining 47 competitors remain to be determined and players can reserve their seat for the Big One for One Drop event at the 2018 World Series of Poker July 15-17 on a first-come first-serve basis with a non-refundable $50,000 deposit by July 1. Interested players should contact Alexandre Meunier at One Drop ([email protected]) or Gregory Chochon at WSOP ([email protected]).
Theres no tropical big band here. Singing powerhouse Betsayda Machado and her compatriots in La Parranda El Clavo bring strictly rustic Afro-Venezuelan musical styles to

Loe Loa: Rural Recordings Under the Mango Tree, their first widespread release after three decades of playing together in their small Venezuelan hometown of El Clavo. The instrumentation here is simple, made up only of percussion and voice. The sound the group puts together, though, is large and full; I had listened to the album at least once from start to finished before I realized in seeing Machado and the band live that they did not, in fact, have any other accompaniment besides pure rhythm. Its simply all they need.

As frontwoman, Machado has tremendous musical charisma, her voice strong and soaring, vibrating with the ease that only comes from a lifetime of devoted practice. While she may be the top-billed star of the show, though, the respect and cooperation shared between her and each member of La Parranda El Clavo resonates, whether they sing and play in the form of calls and responses or united chorus. For the last 30 years, the group has played for festive occasions and celebrations, and it translates well to their recording, where the group embraces joy with every new song. The ability of ensembles oriented toward party-esque live performances to sound just as vivid in a studio session as out in the wild is a rare one, and the fact that the players of La Parranda have mastered the trick to it on their first album speaks volumes to the close ties and mutual comfortability between members.

There are no ballads on

Loe Loa; the momentum is uninterrupted from start to finish. What that emphatically does not mean, though, is that there is a lack of depth or feeling. Each piece has its own statement to add to the larger picture of local tradition. On No Me Voy De El Clavo, the performers are resolute; Me Meo, Juliana rings with a sweeter melody; Oh Santa Rosa hits clear, ecstatic highs that come from deep within the soul to hit the heavens. At the very end, Sentimiento begins with a few legato vocal lines, but percussion follows close behind to drive forward the beat.

The variations tend to be subtle; you could be forgiven for thinking of it as a one-trick pony after a single, casual listen. To dismiss it out of hand, though, is to disregard a wealth of sound that makes much from what is materially very little. Parranda El Clavo takes pride in the music that the group makes, and that is as evident on

Loe Loa as it is in the stage shows that see them sporting the Venezuelan flag as both garment and mic stand decor. Theirs is a sound that pinpoints the groups (and their hometowns) Afro-Venezuelan origins with immediate sonic impact, and throws a seriously fun disc-long festival, to boot. On Loe Loa, theres no better cure for what ails your spirit than a bracing dose of polyrhythms, and thats exactly what Machado and her crew are here to bring us.

RATING: 7
One of electronic musics rising stars just so happens to be a Southern boy at heart. Mississippian Starita has wowed international crowds with his innate knack for blending acoustic instruments into an electronic song, which he argues is indicative of his roots.

The Grammy-recognized producer is gearing up for the release of his upcoming album with some other big names, including Jarobi White (A Tribe Called Quest) and Mamel (Los Amigos Invisibles). On his latest track, hes teamed up with drummer and activist Madame Gandhi, vocal sensations Trent Park and Trevor Hall, and percussionist Christian Pepin of La Cuneta Son Machine fame.

On The One, Starita blends warm vocal interpretations courtesy of Park and Hall with a soundscape that relies more on building up tension. The juxtaposition feels naturally derivative of the producers unique background, showcasing multiple sonic and personal layers presented as a singular earworm that is sure to catch on with fans of hazy, summery synthpop.

Starita says that the inspiration for this song stemmed from my wanting to create a piece that is reminiscent of the style of music that I listen to. So naturally, the song needed to have a deep groove, hits hard with live and electronic drums. The message is positive about deep love, connection, and partnership.

There are so many scenarios in life that we go through; to have one person to call in every rise and fall is what this song is about. So, when it was time for the lyrics to come to life, my writing partner, Trent Park, and I asked the natural questions. Where do you go? What do you do? Who do you call if you are in need? These lyrics became the core of the song. We wanted that deep concept showcased in a pop, tropical soundscape.

At the beginning, I had a vision of want a very specific female artist from an Israeli band to sing the vocals. All this flowed when Trent embraced the song and we arrived at the chorus which was big and explosive. At that point, it was clear that he needed to be the vocal lead. So while the song started out moody and was written from a dark place, Trent and Madame Gandhi gave it energy.

Trent Park adds, While the song has the element of thought in the lyrics, it also makes you feel good listening to it. It stands alone as a beautiful song, but the production takes it to another level. With the production having elements of Latin flair, tropical house style bass line, with pop centric topline, it appeals to a larger audience. We are very proud of the collaboration and excited to see our fans embracing it.
Known mostly as an august sidekick to many modern Americana greats,

Tom Heyman started playing to the beat of his own blues-infused rock tunes since the late 1980s when he hit the scene with his band, Go to Blazes.

Since then, hes gone on to release a number of solo efforts in between playing along with the likes of Chuck Prophet, Alejandro Escovedo, and Hiss Golden Messenger. His latest full-length solo effort was released just last month. Like his latest music video featuring a tune from off of the record would attest,

Show Business, Baby is all about leaning back into the pocket of 70s and 80s pub rock and letting Heyman take it for a spin.

On the video, Heyman says: Baby Let Me In was the first song recorded for

Show Business, Baby. We cut it in the big room, Studio A at the venerable Hyde St Studios in SF. The riff is so knuckle-headed and fun to play that the song practically plays itself, so we got a good take really quickly. After listening to the playback, the engineer Chris von Sneidern (currently the bassist in the Flamin Groovies) suggested a static piano part like the one in Iggys Raw Power. Studio A has an absolutely beautiful Yamaha concert grand that, believe it or not, used to belong to Frank Sinatra, so I hammered out the two finger genius part for 3:22. Happy to say that I was a real one take Jake on that.

The video director Steve Hanft and I go back almost 25 years to when he used a couple of Go to Blazes (a band I had in the 90s) songs in his film

Kill the Moonlight. He did a video for my last record, and he was really fun, and loose, and has a way of making you feel unselfconscious when you are walking around in public making an idiot of yourself. He has been making films and videos for a pretty long time and is one of the least jaded people I know. He is really fast, and his work is really kinetic and connected to the music.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=http://tomheyman.bandcamp.com/album/show-business-baby target=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://tomheyman.bandcamp.com/album/show-business-&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Show Business, Baby by Tom Heyman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=http://tomheyman.bandcamp.com/album/show-business-baby target=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://tomheyman.bandcamp.com/album/show-business-&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Show Business, Baby by Tom Heyman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

I wanted to make a performance-based video, so we shot that part in the Make Out Room, the bar where I work San Francisco when I am not out being bad and nationwide.

I thought it would be funny, and not that far off the mark to show the band really rocking out, and then pan back to a mostly empty bar, with just one drunken patron, and an extremely bored bartender. The bartender is played by my wife Deirdre White, and the drunk was played by my brother in law Pat Ryan. I had to call in a couple of favors to get them into a bar that early in the morning.
According to the research report, the global market for acute care needleless connectors, rising at a CAGR of 10.20% during the period from 2014 to 2012, is anticipated to reach a value of US$972.0 mn by the end of the forecast period.

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As per TMR estimations, the global market for acute care needleless connectors, rising at a CAGR of 10.20% during the period from 2014 to 2012, is anticipated to reach a value of US$972.0 mn by the end of the forecast period. Hitherto, the demand for complex needleless connectors was higher than products. However, simple needleless connectors are expected to report a rise in their demand at a faster rate in the years to come. Geographically, North America, which is the current leader of the overall market, is projected to continue on the top over the period of the forecast, thanks to the presence of an advanced medical and healthcare infrastructure, notes the research study. According to the author of the study, the global market for acute care needleless connectors is witnessing an incredible rise, thanks to the increasing cases of needlestick injuries and blood drawback, together with an escalating base of the geriatric population. The increasing number of patients suffering from various chronic disorders, such as diabetes, cardiac diseases, and cancer, is also influencing the sales of acute care needleless connectors, as the awareness regarding the benefits of needleless connectors is increasing substantially among medical professionals and patients, both.Request to view Sample Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4230 The market is also gaining from the increasing disposable income of people in emerging economies, which has enabled them to spend comfortably on expensive treatments and afford costly medication and medical devices, states the research report. The worldwide market for acute care needleless connectors, although, looks flourishing, it may hit some roadblocks in future, such as the high cost of branded needleless connectors, resulting in consumers reaching for easily available substitutes. The market may also get hampered by the increasing incidence of bloodstream infections triggered by catheters. Nonetheless, the market will still prosper in the years to come, thanks to the rising investments made by emerging economies in research and development initiatives. With companies increasingly establishing their production units in emerging countries, the market is likely to witness a high growth in the coming years, reports the market study.With a large pool of vendors of acute care needleless connectors across the world, the global acute care needleless connectors market are displaying a highly competitive business landscape, states a new study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). As researchers review the performance of each of the leading market players in this report, they find out that innovation is pivotal to success in this market and companies are constantly investing in research initiatives to design and develop innovative connectors that meet the dynamic expectations of customers. CareFusion Corp., Becton, Dickinson and Co., Baxter Healthcare Corp., RyMed Technologies, Vygon SA, B. Braun Medical Inc., ICU Medical, and Nexus Medical LLC are some of the leading vendors of acute care needleless connectors, worldwide, reports the study.Global Acute Care Needleless Connectors Market is available @ US$ 5795: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=4230<ype=S
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Anti-infectives consists of the drugs that are responsible for killing or inhibiting the growth of a micro-organism inside the body. Anti-infectives consists of antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals and others. Anti-infectives work by interfering with the biomolecular functioning of the microbes like cell wall formation, protein synthesis, replication and many more. The market for anti-infectives enormously increased in the recent decades by the rise in various pharmaceutical companies and growing number of infections worldwide. Without effective anti-infectives, success of chemotherapy and major surgery would be compromised.Anti-infectives market is an ever-going market and the pharmaceutical sector is having more profit margin than any other sector globally. The increase in the number of hospitals, primary care clinics are also contributing towards increase demand of anti-infectives. Nowadays, antimicrobial resistance is one of the major threat to the industry as according to WHO last year, 480,000 people develops multi-drug resistance against tuberculosis drugs each year. Similarly, Staphylococcus aureus also develops methicillin resistance in many parts of the world. This is the biggest concern of the anti-infectives market at this time.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14116 Anti-Infectives Market: Drivers & RestraintsIncrease in demand by the rise in the number of patients and surge of microbes around the globe is major driver of the industry. Funding and assistance provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations like WHO are fuelling the market. New research activities in the direction and discovery of novel therapeutics with improved effectivity would be the cutting edge for global players. Growing reimbursement scenario in almost every country is also growing the market. Decrease in the trend of new antibiotics approvals is one of the restraint in the industry. Resistance gained my microorganisms in recent past is one of the main restraint which curbs the present market of anti-infectives to grow. Hence, improving the safety and efficacy of the drugs will keep the market growing. Great competition in the market due to the vast expansion of this sector is posing a restriction for new growth opportunities on the other hand, business strategies, new collaborations in this sector would provide the upper hand for the growth.Since the discovery of anti-infectives from the antibacterial Penicillin, there is a huge market for anti-infectives nowadays. In this highly competitive world, revenue of pharmaceutical companies depends on the brand value and the marketing strategies followed to attract the customers. Broad spectrum antibiotics such as quinolones and cephalosporins are major consumed anti-infectives worldwide generating higher revenue for the industry. The future market of anti-infectives would be driven by the novel therapeutics which will work against the current antibiotic resistant bacteria. In this regard, Pharmaceutical giants including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck are teaming up with other healthcare companies to accelerate the development of drugs for superbug infections that are resistant to existing antibiotic treatments.A geographic condition regarding the anti-infectives market, it has been segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. Accordinng to scientific data from Princeton University, rising trend in consumption of anti-infectives has increased in BRICS nation. The consumption of antibiotics in the last years has greatly enlarged in Asian countries like India and China, some parts of Africa. Australia and New Zealand also showing rising trends in this market. High income countries still consume more antibiotics per capita such as North America followed by Europe. Due to the shifting trends of anti-infective consumption towards developing countries, investments in these countries would reap a good revenue in future.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14116 Major companies involved in the production and novel R&D activities for the development of anti-infectives involve Astra Zeneca plc, Johnson &Johnson, Glaxo SmithKline plc, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc, Wockhardt ltd, Roche, Sanofi, Merck and many others.
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As per estimates presented in a report by Transparency Market Research, the demand Global Antithrombin Market will rise at a CAGR of 5.2% for the forecast period of 2017 to 2025. The market for antithrombin is predicted to attract a revenue of US$704.5 mn by the end of 2025 from US$448.2 mn in 2016.View Report-The antithrombin market is primarily driven by the widespread use of antithrombin for several medical conditions such as hereditary antithrombin deficiency, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and sepsis. Apart from this, engineered antithrombin has gained clinical significance lately for the prevention of various peripartum and perioperative thromboembolic events or blood clots. Rising prevalence of hereditary antithrombin deficiency and rising antithrombin treatment among adults for ECMO is expected to provide impetus to the antithrombin market globally during the forecast period. The increasing use of antithrombin in combination with heparin is likely to support the growth of antithrombin market. For instance, heparin resistance in cardiac surgery is likely to create opportunities for use of antithrombin products in anticoagulation therapy.Request Antithrombin Market Report Brochure @Geographically, antithrombin market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Powered by the U.K. and Germany, Europe held the commanding position in 2016 holding more than 38% of the overall market. The growth of this region is attributed to significant adoption of antithrombin therapies on the back of high awareness, early availability of advanced technologies, significant increment in national healthcare budgets, and extensive research initiatives. North America stood as the second-leading market for antithrombin in 2016 accounting for almost 21.2% market share. However, Asia Pacific is expected to display the leading growth rate of 6.3% for the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Request to view Sample Report -The global Antithrombin market is consolidated in nature with a few small-scale vendors that operate in regional markets and a few large-scale vendors that operate in international markets, states a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). In the coming years, the market is likely to witness the entry of new participants, as a result of which competition in the market is predicted to heat up. However, some of the companies such as Grifols, Shire Plc., and rEVO Biologics Inc. dominate the market holding leading market shares. CSL Limited, Kedrion S.p.A, Lee Bisolutions, and Scripps Laboratories Inc. are some other prominent participants in the global antithrombin market. These market players are engaged in research and development in order to accentuate their respective market shares.Antithrombin Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.
Retractable Needle Safety Syringes Market report categorizes the Asia Pacific market by Product Type (Manual and Automated), End-users (Hospitals, Clinics, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers) & Geography

Asia Pacific Retractable Needle Safety Syringes Market

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As per TMR, the Asia Pacific market for retractable needle safety syringes stood at US$236.7 mn in 2016. Rising at a CAGR of 8.90% during the period from 2016 to 2024, the opportunity in this market is predicted to reach US$467.2 mn by the end of the forecast period. Hospitals have emerged as the leading end user of retractable needle safety syringes in Asia Pacific. Thanks to the increasing insurance coverage, this segment is likely to remain the key contributor to this market in the years to come.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/asia-pacific-retractable-needle-safety-syringes-market.html The report considers manual retractable needle safety syringes and automatic retractable needle safety syringes as the key products available in the Asia Pacific market for retractable needle safety syringes. Among these, the demand for manual retractable needle safety syringes has been higher and the trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period, thanks to their affordability.The report also presents a geographical study of this market, where it considers China, Japan, India, New Zealand and Australia, ASEAN Countries, and the Rest of Asia Pacific as the main geographical segments. Japan has been dominating this regional market and, expanding at a CAGR of 9.10% between 2016 and 2024, is anticipated to retain its position over the next few years.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=24083 The continual expansion in the healthcare industry in Asia Pacific, fueled by the rising number of favorable initiatives by various governments across this region, is having a significant influence on the Asia Pacific market for retractable needle safety syringes, says the author of this study. With government institutions promoting the safe injection practices by encouraging people to shift to safe syringes, this market is likely to rise exponentially in the years to come. India and several other nations in the Southeast Asia are increasingly collaborating with the WHO to encourage the usage of safe syringes in an effort to prevent the proliferation of deadly diseases.Apart from this, the market is also expected to gain significantly over the forecast period from various factors, such as the technological advancements, increasing shift of people towards self-administration of drugs, and the growing awareness pertaining to the benefits offered by retractable needle safety syringes. However, the emergence of more advanced drug delivery methods, thanks to the recent developments in medical science, may limit the adoption of retractable needle safety syringes in the near future. Besides this, the high cost of these safety syringes are also projected to hamper this market over the forthcoming years, reports the research study.Request Asia Pacific Retractable Needle Safety Syringes Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24083 The Asia Pacific retractable needle safety syringes market demonstrates a highly consolidated business landscape, finds a new research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The top four players, namely, Becton, Dickinson and Co., Smiths Medical, Medtronic Plc, and Retractable Technologies Inc., held more than 95% of the overall market in 2015.These enterprises are focusing aggressively on expanding their operations across the region, for which they are strengthening their distribution network considerably. Apart from this, they are also engaging into strategic alliance to gain a strong foothold in the overall market.Buy Asia Pacific Retractable Needle Safety Syringes Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=24083<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
Beauty Devices Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 07:13:07

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The increasing prevalence of skin-related issues, a rising geriatric population, and the expansion of the middle class have been the key factors boosting the global beauty devices market. The market is poised to surge exponentially between 2016 and 2024. Much of the growth exhibited by the market is attributed to the rising demand for hair removal devices. This product segment is expected to hold a considerable share in the market during the forecast period. Among the various application segments, the demand for beauty devices from salons is expected to rise at an impressive rate.Among other factors, the growth of consumerism has had a profound impact on the markets trajectory. Increasing demand for devices used in the treatment of skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis has been crucial in expanding the markets operation. Of the aforementioned skin-related issues, acne is among the most prevalent dermatological conditions, troubling millions around the world. It is caused due to the clogging of hair follicles by dirt, dead skin cells, and sebum. More often than not, acne leaves behind scars. According to the findings of the American Academy of Dermatology, about 85% of Americans suffer from acne at some point in their lives. Apart from this, exposure to ultraviolet radiation can also cause skin diseases.Beauty devices that have been launched recently in the market have proven extremely beneficial in the treatment of the aforementioned dermatological conditions. Demand from the global beauty devices market is thus expected to increase at a robust pace in the coming years. The report studies the various factors influencing the global beauty devices market. It provides a comprehensive overview of the growth trajectory exhibited by the market over the last few years. It also presents forecasts about the markets growth prospects based on information obtained from trusted industrial sources.Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11651 Global Beauty Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe majority of demand witnessed by the market comes from geriatric consumers. Old age is often associated with a reduced vascular network in layers of skin and loss of fibrous tissue. Consequently, people belonging to this age group demand special treatments for healthier-looking skin. Furthermore, the characteristics and appearance of a person get altered in old age, leading to dryness, pigmentation, wrinkles, and sagging of skin. Anti-aging beauty devices available in the market help in reducing these signs of skin aging, thus lending the skin a youthful radiance by tightening it.Awareness about the availability of treatments and related devices for treating aging skin has been thus boosting the global beauty devices market. Despite witnessing a considerable rise over the last couple of years, knowledge regarding the risks associated with using these devices is hampering the markets growth to an extent. Some of the most common side-effects associated with the beauty devices include fragile skin, excessive swelling, discomfort, blistering, and bruising. The appearance of these side-effects can slow or postpone the process of skin treatment. Also, many popular beauty devices emit intense pulsed light that can result in side-effects such as edema, superficial burn, scarring, and postoperative erythema.Visit For TOC@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11651 Global Beauty Devices Market: Competitive InsightIn order to study the competition prevailing in the market in detail, the report profiles some of the major companies operating therein. These include the LOreal Group, Panasonic Corporation, Procter & Gamble Company, and Carol Cole Company. The strengths and weaknesses of these companies are extensively studied in the report. It also provides in-depth insights into the threats and opportunities that these companies are likely to face in the near future.
On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bioreactors and Fermenters Market report categorizes the global market by Product (Single-use Bioreactors and Multiple-use Bioreactors), Process (Fed Batch and Continuous Batch), End User & Geography

Bioreactors and Fermenters Market

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Transparency Market Research states that the global bioreactors and fermenters market, pegged at US$1,779.1 mn in 2016, will reach US$4,461.0 mn by 2024 at a CAGR of 12.2% from 2016 to 2024. The leading factors to have boosted the global demand for bioreactors and fermenters in the past few years include the increased adoption of hybrid technologies, which use single-use and stainless steel systems, and the increasing popularity of single-use disposable bioreactors among biopharmaceutical companies and contract manufacturers. The market is also driven due to the rising prevalence of a number of chronic diseases, which has consecutively increased the worlds appetite for biologics, drugs for orphan diseases, and personalized medicines. These factors are expected to remain at the helm of all major developments expected to be observed in the global market for bioreactors and fermenters in the next few years.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/bioreactors-fermenters-market.html On the contrary, factors such as the high cost associated with the setting up of bioreactors and fermenters and the several concerns associated with the rising use of single-use bioreactors are expected to hamper the growth prospects of the market over the forecast period. Although single-use bioreactors play a huge role in mitigating issues such as cross-contamination that are generally associated with multi-use bioreactors, they present concerns such as the possible reaction of biologics with extractables and leachables that can release from the material used to manufacture bioreactors.On the basis of product type, the market has been segmented into single-use and multi-use. Of these, the segment of multi-use bioreactors presently accounts for the dominant share in the global market. However, the segment of single-use bioreactors is expected to register growth at a more promising pace, nearly 13% CAGR, as compared to the multi-use segment over the forecast period. Single-use bioreactors are finding increased demand owing to benefits such as quick assembly lower capital expenditure, and smaller footprint, and are expected to gain traction owing to the significant rise in demand from developed countries and new start-up biotech companies.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=15230 From a geographical standpoint, North America is anticipated to be the leading regional market for bioreactors and fermenters in terms of revenue contribution to the global market, chiefly owing to the presence of leading bioprocessing manufacturers and the rising demand for biologics. However, the Asia Pacific market is anticipated to be the leading regional market in terms of growth rate over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific bioreactors and fermenters market is projected to record a commendable 14.3% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, owing to the emergence of strong local players in countries such as India and China.The global market for bioreactors and fermenters features a largely consolidated vendor landscape and a low to moderate level of competition, with the top five companies accounting for a more than 63% of the overall market in 2015, observes Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a recent report. These leading vendors, including Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, and Danaher Corporation, dominate the market owing to their diversified product portfolios, expansive presence across the globe, and an eye for high-growth potential emerging markets, such as Asia Pacific, for expansion strategies.Request Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=15230 An instance of this would be Merck KGaAs decision to enter the Asian market by establishing a new pharmaceutical production plant in China. Furthermore, another leading vendor in the global bioreactors and fermenter market, Applikon Biotechnology, started a new production facility in Guangzhou, China, in March 2014. The new facility is expected to be able to provide a broad range of bioreactor systems, help in reducing the lead time, and significantly improve the local technical support for its customers in the China market.Buy Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=15230<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:33:47

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Growing need of blood on the daily basis in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and several multispecialty centers increases the demand for blood bank reagents in blood banks in order to maintain the keep up the supply of blood. Reagents are crucial testing reagents used by several hospitals and blood banks to determine and identify the antibody type in the donors and patients blood, thus ensuring the blood transfusion to be safe and effective. During every blood transfusion, patients blood is tested with the donors reagents in order to identify the harmful antibodies thus, decreasing the risk of any potential infection. Antibodies are blood proteins produced by the plasma cells to protect the body against several infections. Routinely performed blood banking procedures includes several reagents used for blood groping, antibody screening and cross matching/compatibility testing. Blood groping reagents are intended for determining the ABO blood group and Rh type from the donors blood. Blood groping reagents are made from the antibodies derived from the in-vitro cultures of hybridomas of murine and human origin and include, antigens against blood group A, B, A & B, D, Anti-C, Anti-c, Anti-E, Anti-e, and Anti-K for ABO typing. Anti-D is the most important Rh reagent for Rh typing. Antibody screening reagents are used for identification of antibodies with specificity of red blood cells (RBC) antigens. Antibody screening reagents are used to test donor plasma cells in order to make sure than no unexpected antibodies are transfused in to the patients body thus allowing detection of unexpected antibodies particularly alloantibodies in the RBCs. Antibodies including, Duffy, Kell, Kidd, MNS, P, and certain Rh types that are considered clinically significant. Cross matching reagents are used to ensure whether the blood can be transfused in the recipients body prior to the blood transfusion procedure.A sample of this report is available upon request @The market for blood bank reagents is expected to witness healthy growth over the forecast period. The antibody screening testing is essential as it prevents hemolytic transfusion reactions from occurring.Blood Bank Reagent Market: Drivers & RestraintsBlood bank reagents market is expected to witness higher demand over the forecast period owing to increasing prevalence of various diseases and expanded need of blood during several surgical procedures. Furthermore, increasing government initiatives regarding the necessity of donation of blood and other tissues and organs through education, safety of blood transfusion and several blood donation campaigns are pushing more number of blood donors in blood bank. This is expected to positively affect the market growth of blood bank regents market over the forecast period. Screening of donors blood during the blood transfusion is mandatory in order to avoid severe transfusion reaction if large amount of whole blood is transfused into the recipients body. However, lack of awareness and lack of skilled and trained professionals can lead to misleading transfusion thus, leading to declining sales of blood bank reagents market globally.Blood Bank Reagent Market: SegmentationBlood bank reagent market is segmented by test type, reagents and geography:By Test TypeABO TypingAntibody ScreeningCross Matching TestBy ReagentsAnti-Sera ReagentsReagent Red Blood CellsAnti-Human GlobulinBlood Bank SalineBlood Bank Reagent Market: OverviewBlood group typing reagents are essential tools for diagnostic laboratories specialized in blood group serology. Increasing number of blood transfusion procedures globally is expected to create higher demand for blood bank reagents in the coming years. This is attributed to large demand of blood from the hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and several other healthcare facilities. Blood bank reagents are important to ensure whether donors blood can be transfused to the recipient. In addition, expanded use of blood bank reagents for research purpose is further expected to fuel the market of blood bank reagents over the forecast period.Blood Bank Reagent Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Blood Bank Reagent market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Continuous rise in the demand for blood and high rates of blood donation procedures are expected to fuel the market growth of blood bank regents market in North America. Also, large number of blood banks in the region as compared to other regions is further expected to result in escalating revenues in the region. Several promotional blood donation campaigns and large volume of blood donors and set up of guidelines for reagent manufacturers in several North American, European countries is expected to fuel the market growth of blood bank reagents in the near future.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Blood Bank Reagent Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the Blood Bank Reagent market are, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Cardinal Health, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Quotient, Ltd. Lorne Laboratories Limited, Immucor, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and bioMerieux, Inc. The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:00:12

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for BTU Metals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - BTU Metals Corp. (TSX Venture:BTU). has issued a press release with the following headline:BTU Commences Ground Program Aimed at Defining Drill Targets at Galway, IrelandTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on BTU Metals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/BTU Metals Corp.Source: BTU Metals Corp. (TSX Venture: BTU)Date: November 07, 2017Time: 4:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of BTU Metals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Cancer Biomarkers Market report categorizes the global market by Disease Indication (Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Melanoma), Test Type (PSA, AFP, HER2, BRCA, ALK, CEA, EGFR Mutation), End User & Geography

Cancer Biomarkers Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:02:23

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According to TMR, the global cancer biomarkers market, which stood at US$10.25 bn in 2016, is expected to reach US$27.63 bn by the end of 2027. If these figures hold true, the global cancer biomarkers market will exhibit a CAGR of 11.8% between 2017 and 2025. By disease indication, the demand for cancer biomarkers was the highest for the treatment of lung cancer, which is likely to hold nearly 25.8% of the market by the end of 2017. Regionally, North America held the dominant share of 42.5% of the global market in 2016.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cancer-biomarkers-market.html The market is majorly gaining from the rising discretionary funding for cancer research. Governments across most developed countries are engaged in raising funds for cancer research to aid in diagnosis and research. They are also funding clinical trials for breakthroughs in cancer treatment. As their initiatives gain pace, the cancer biomarkers market will witness greater growth opportunities. Also steps taken by the government to spread cancer awareness will help the market gain momentum. In lines with the same, the demand for cancer biomarkers will therefore rise in response to the rising incidence of cancer worldwide.To gain a stronger foothold, the leading market players are forging strategic collaborations. They are also keen on acquiring established regional players to expand their geographic footprint. Such strategies adopted by companies will have a positive influence on the market. Besides these, growing acceptance of patients towards innovative technologies and tests and novel product launches will enable the market exhibit strong growth during the forecast period.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=479 On the downside, the unwillingness of healthy population to participate in clinical research is acting against the markets growth prospects. While overall, the incidence of cancer cases is surging around the world, but not many of them have access to proper treatment. This is partly due to the lack of participation in clinical trials and unavailability of patient surveillance systems. Given the scenario, low awareness and ambiguity regarding blood tests such as tumor biomarkers are inhibiting the cancer biomarker markets trajectory. Also the high attrition rate in product development cycle is restricting the markets growth to an extent.Nevertheless, with the advent of minimal-invasive diagnostic tests for cancer diagnosis will support the markets growth in the near future. Minimally invasive diagnosis will provide simple and comparatively less expensive method of detecting cancer. These innovations will bring in fresh opportunities for the market players to capitalize on. Also the market will witness considerable growth opportunities as governments across emerging nations boost their healthcare spending and take steps to deliver healthcare services at par with the international standards.Request Cancer Biomarkers Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=479 Several players operate in the global cancer biomarkers market, catering to niche segment. The global biomarkers market offers a favorable environment for competitors as there are several unique customer segments within the industry, exhibiting demand for distinct product type. However, as market players target multiple pathways, in the near future the market could witness increased competition. Abbott Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Illumina, Inc., and bioMerieux SA are among the leading market players, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study.Considering the dynamic business environment, a majority of the market players are focusing on achieving greater market share via product differentiation. The research and development spending is thus significantly high in the market. Besides this, several companies are aiming at expanding their footprint through acquisitions and disinvestments. As the companies continue spending on product development and technological advancements, consequently the cancer biomarkers market will witness greater opportunities for growth.Buy Cancer Biomarkers Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=479<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:32:02

China Everbright Bank Opts for Wolters Kluwer's OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting

Wolters Kluwer

Paul Lyon

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Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com

China Everbright Bank (CEB) has chosen Wolters Kluwers OneSumX Regulatory Reporting to provide its regulatory reporting software for its operations in Luxembourg.

OneSumX Regulatory Reporting uses a single source of data to ensure consistency, reconciliation and accuracy and includes the firms Regulatory Update Service. This unique service is maintained by Wolters Kluwer experts who actively monitor regulation in approximately 50 countries, helping to ensure the solution is current at all times.

CEB (Europe) S.A., a wholly owned Luxembourg-based subsidiary of the bank, was granted a license by the European Central Bank and started operations in July 2017. CEB was established in August 1992 and is headquartered in Beijing, as a national joint-stock commercial bank approved by the State Council of China and the Peoples Bank of China. The bank was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in August 2010 and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2013.

In the past few months leading financial services firms from across the world have implemented the OneSumX solution for Regulatory Reporting, Risk and Finance (including IFRS 9 solutions). Major financial services providers that have recently announced their use of Wolters Kluwer include LGT, Nordea, BBVA, CIBC, Australias Queensland Treasury Corporation and The Swedish Export Credit Corporation.

Wolters Kluwer has received a number of recent awards, providing independent verification of its leading market position in integrated regulatory reporting. Chartis Research, for example, recently named Wolters Kluwer a Category Leader for IFRS 9 [..], for the second year running, as well as a Category Leader in its Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) Report. Wolters Kluwer has won a number of other accolades for its dominant position in regulatory reporting from the likes of Wealth & Finance International, FinTech Finance, Data Management Review and Corporate Vision magazine. Wolters Kluwers OneSumX for Risk was also [..] at the end of 2016.

About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance

Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer which provides legal, finance, risk and compliance professionals and small business owners with a broad spectrum of solutions, services and expertise needed to help manage myriad governance, risk and compliance needs in dynamic markets and regulatory environments.

Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711070051
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:17:16

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A win-win Cooperation to Expand their Footprint in Both China and InternationallyHONG KONG, Nov 6, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Chinlink International Holdings Limited ("Chinlink" or "Company", HKSE Stock Code: 0997), its subsidiaries (collectively the "Group") and MCM Holdings Limited ("MCM") are pleased to announce the completion of a Joint Venture ("JV") between Chinlink and MCM that took place on 6 November 2017. After Completion, the JV became a 51%-owned subsidiary of the Company. The JV will bring together the financial services provided by Chinlink and the businesses under MCM.Chinlink is a financial services provider holding multiple licenses both in Hong Kong and China. It provides financing guarantee, finance lease, supply chain finance and money leanding services. Over the past years, the Group established a strong foothold in Xi'an in particular.MCM is a financial services boutique providing high-end investment and merchant banking services, and soon asset management services. It services clients and investors across Hong Kong, China and the Asia Pacific region along with major global centres including Europe and the Americas. MCM is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC").The JV establishes a unique opportunity for Chinlink and MCM to significantly expand their financial services offering and expertise, as they also develop their asset management platform. Furthermore, the JV will bring together the necessary professional qualifications, experience and expertise as they expand their footprint in both China and internationally.Through Chinlink's strong understanding of China market, and MCM's extensive global network and the investment banking experience of its founders and key members, the JV will be well positioned as a cross-border financial player with local presence in China as well as benefiting from a fully integrated platform with access to international capital markets.Mr. Siu Wai Yip, Executive Director of Chinlink, said, "Given with our establishment in Xi'an, the increasing importance of The Belt and Road Initiative provides ample opportunities for Chinlink. The JV with MCM enables the Group to grasp such opportunities. We are confident that the JV will increase the competitiveness of Chinlink in long run by offering an extensive range of financial services." Mr. Rachid Bouzouba, MCM Co-Founder, said, "Through its extensive network in Asia as well as in Europe and the Americas, this Joint Venture with a reputable Chinese group will consolidate MCM's position as a leading financial services boutique specializing in bringing global investment opportunities to Asia, and Asia to the world. As part of this strategy MCM recently opened an office in London to expand its presence in Europe." Mr. Adrian Valenzuela, MCM Co-Founder, said, "Chinlink represents the best attributes we would look for in a partnership. They exemplify a story of successful entrepreneurship and vision, building a fantastic business in China. Together with the financial expertise and global network of MCM, we will create a financial services platform that will be positioned to capitalize on the next stage of development and growth in the region, particularly as China's role in global financial markets is sure to expand significantly." About Chinlink International Holdings LimitedChinlink International Holdings Limited is a listed company on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 0997). Chinlink provides financial services such as supply chain finance, financing guarantee, finance lease and money lending to China and Hong Kong enterprises, and also builds and operates large scale logistics park, mall and trade centre accommodating a huge business client base to integrate with the financial and logistics services. For business particulars, please visit www.chinlinkint.com About MCM Holdings LimitedMCM is a financial services boutique headquartered in Hong Kong providing high-end investment and merchant banking services, pursuing continuous innovation to support our clients' activities. We provide wide access across Hong Kong, Greater China & other Asian markets along with major global centres including Europe and the Americas, making MCM Partners one of the leading integrated platforms of its kind in Hong Kong. We identify strategic and financial opportunities within a global context, through the extensive network of our experienced banking team.MCM Asia Limited, a subsidiary of MCM, is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and a member of Alliance of International Corporate Advisors (AICA).MCM Investment Partners, a subsidiary of MCM, has been granted an approval-in-principle by the SFC for Asset Management activities (Type 9).This press release is issued by Financial PR (HK) Limited on behalf of Chinlink International Holdings Limited. For enquiries, please contact:Chinlink International Holdings LimitedJoanne LeeCorporate Development and Communications DirectorTel: +852 2126 6363Email: joannelee@ chinlinkint.com Website: www.chinlinkint.com Rebecca ChanCorporate Communications ManagerTel: +852 2126 6363Email: rebeccachan@ chinlinkint.com Website: www.chinlinkint.com MCM Holdings LimitedVivian LiuChief Operating OfficerTel: +852 2210 0812Email: vivian.liu@mcmpartners.com Website: www.mcmpartners.com Financial PR (HK) LimitedFung Hon / Cara PangTel: +852 2610 0846Email: hf@ financialpr.hk / carapang@ financialpr.hk Topic: Press release summarySectors: Daily Finance, Daily NewsFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:39:10

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Contactless Connectivity System Market: OverviewThe term connectivity implies the bridging between two or more elements. The main aspect or feature of any connection lies in its proper functioning, which involves conveying signals properly and minimizing the loss of power. Mechanical connectors face problems due to pollution, temperature changes, vibrations, harsh environments etc. Recent technological advancements have led to the innovation of contactless connectivity systems, which would eliminate all the limitations faced by traditional connectivity. Contactless connectivity encompasses a wide range of applications across many industries. Disruptive in nature, this technology denotes a system that can establish a connection between at least two electronic systems without any actual physical contact between them. It is based on contactless data technology and contactless power. The data transfer from one sub system to another actuates when the connecting systems are brought near each other, usually called a mating range. This concept is still relatively new and more research and development is being carried out in order to manufacture and promote products that operate using this technology; however owing to its numerous advantages and features, the contactless connectivity system market is likely to see good growth in the coming future. Virtually invisible NFC (Near Field Communication), iBeacon and Bump technologies are pushing the contactless connectivity system market to new heights.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22643 Contactless Connectivity System Market: Growth PropellersTraditional cables or connectors have many drawbacks with respect to signal crossing between systems. Contactless connectivity technology was introduced to overcome these limitations. Mainly, this technology reduces maintenance costs and improves efficiency. This could be a major growth driver for the global contactless connectivity system market. Here, there is no possibility of wear and tear of the connecting ends as it used to be in traditional connections, which improves the shelf life dramatically. Another aspect of hygiene comes into picture. Cables need to be changed after some time as they might get contaminated, but contactless connectivity technology doesnt need any measures to reduce physical contamination, thereby saving time.In harsh environments it is easier to use contactless connectivity technology to carry out operations. Operating underwater, in vacuum spaces, or on instruments that spin at huge rpm is convenient with this technology, where traditional connectivity had failed several times earlier. There are no maintenance costs associated as such with the devices using contactless connectivity systems, making this market a lucrative one to invest in. In factories, the time associated with the supply chain of assembly lines is reduced. For environments that are deemed hazardous to human beings such as radioactive chambers and bomb disarmament, robots can be used to carry out the operations efficiently. However, robotic operations might fail due to cable failures. Here contactless connectivity proves pivotal. To sum up, contactless connectivity provides a reliable, robust and flexible solution for transmission of data signals and power; and has different applications including factory automation, injection molding and equipment safety.Contactless Connectivity System Market: RestraintsAspects such as acceptance and pricing are major pullers of the global contactless connectivity system market. Most people are not aware of the advantages of this technology and stick to traditional technology with a view that the advanced products or devices are not user friendly. Moreover, owing to higher pricing of newer connectivity technologies, many people find it over hyped and continue using traditional connectivity systems. Also, in contactless connectivity technology, the devices that need to get connected should come within close range of one another. In case this range increases beyond the specified limit  based on the instruments connected and the data signals to be transferred  there might be poor connectivity accompanied by loss of signal. These restraints can become a cause for slow acceptability of the contactless connectivity technology, thereby restraining its market growth. However, research and development is being carried out to remove any technological glitches and improve the quality and features of contactless connectivity technology and introduce more user-friendly devices in the market that rely on this technology.Contactless Connectivity System Market: Regional PreviewNorth America is likely to show good growth in this sector owing to the present and future technological advancements. The region is totally technology driven and the R&D people strive to innovate more for the better  reflecting steady growth. European countries are using contactless connectivity technology to the maximum in the automobile industry and integrating it in other applications as well. Japan followed by Europe is also likely to show good growth potential for this market. India, China, Korea, and other developing countries are expected to show slow yet steady adoption of contactless connectivity technology over the forecast period.Contactless Connectivity System Market: Key PlayersMajor players operating in the contactless connectivity system market include TE Connectivity, Corning Incorporated, Amphenol Corporation, Talkaphone and Plantronics.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22643
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 09:06:43

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Critical Care Diagnostics also known as point of care are the approved tests that are done near to the patient and provides quick result. The self-testing or over the counter test are also comes under critical care diagnostics. The pathology labs require certain time to provide results depends upon type of test, while critical care tests are the sophisticated test which provides result earlier to detect the disease for better treatment plan.Critical care diagnostics provides quick diagnostics tests to the patient and where the results can be obtained immediately, while the pathology labs requires hours or sometime days to provide results. The critical care diagnostics includes cancer biomarker test, cardiac markers diagnostics, blood glucose testing, pregnancy testing, blood gas and electrolyte analysis, drugs of abuse, urine stripe testing, food pathogens screening, cholesterol screening, haemoglobin diagnostics and infectious disease testing. The critical care diagnostics are used in hospitals, research centres, clinical laboratories as well as home. These diagnostic tests are cost effective and provides appropriate and rapid diagnosis. These test are used for diagnosis of life threatening diseases occurring in patients.A sample of this report is available upon request @Critical Care Diagnostics Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe Critical Care Diagnostics Market is expected to grow exponentially during the estimated period. The rising awareness about these test among physicians and patients and its associated benefits, increasing geriatric population, increasing prevalence of chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, cancer will drive the market of critical care diagnostics in forecast period. However, the increasing cost of molecular diagnostics and less technological adoption in some developing countries may affect the growth of market. The critical care diagnostics test are easy to use and provides results and minutes. Theses test also provides mobile connectivity and hand-held system.Critical Care Diagnostics Market: SegmentationThe global Critical Care Diagnostics Market is segmented on the basis of types of product, by mode of prescription, by End User, and regional presence.Segmentation based on Type of Product:Glucose monitoring kitsCardiometabolic monitoring kitsInfectious Disease testing kitsCoagulation monitoring kitsCancer markers testing kitHematology testing kitsPregnancy and fertility testing kitsCholesterol test stripsDrugs-Of-Abuse testing kitsFecal Occult testing kitsOther critical care diagnostics testing kitsSegmentation based on Prescription Mode:Prescription-Based Testing KitsOTC Testing Kits MarketSegmentation based on End User:HospitalsAmbulatory surgical centersResearch LaboratoriesHomeSegmentation based on Distribution Channel:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern Europesia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanThe Middle East and AfricaCritical Care Diagnostics Market: OverviewThe market of critical care diagnostics is segmented as by type of product of product, mode of prescription, by end user and geographically. The product type includes type of kits for various type of disease such as blood glucose test, cancer biomarker test, infectious disease such as HIV, STDs, hepatitis, respiratory infections, influenza testing kits etc. some of critical care diagnostics test are prescription base and some are Over the counter tests. The test like biomarker test, infectious disease test, hematology test etc. are prescription test. These test are prescribed by physician to detect the cause of disease and other factors. Test like blood glucose test, pregnancy test are OTC tests. These test are done at home by patient himself to monitor and to check the level of disease states and other things.Critical Care Diagnostics Market: Regional OverviewGeographically, the global Critical Care Diagnostics Market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and AfricaNorth America is expected to be the most lucrative market for critical care diagnostics owing to the presence more sophisticated instruments and technology in the region. The product awareness among the people of Europe is high and evolution of more physicians office labs and this will fuel the market of critical care diagnostics in the region. The large presence of geriatric population, improving health care service due to positive support of government to provide treatment in rural regions, increasing prevalence of chronic disease such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes are the key factor responsible for growth of critical care diagnostics in Asia pacific. The increasing healthcare expenditure in Japan will drive the market growth in the country. The epidemiology and mortality due to severe disease like cancer, heart disease is more in the Latin America due to less facilities available in the country. The insurance plan by government of region will help in the critical care diagnostics market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Critical Care Diagnostics Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in the market for Critical Care Diagnostics Market are Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Beckman Coulter, Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Becton Dickinson & Co., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Nanomix Inx., Sysmex Corporation, Nova Biomedical, Siemens AG, Biosensors Japan etc. In 2015, stat profile prime, the blood gas analyzer, new generation product of Nova Biomedical got U.S. FDA approval for point of care diagnosis. In 2016, Abbott laboratories acquires Alere, the leader in point of care diagnostics.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:52:28

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Cushing disease is caused by tumour in the pituitary gland which leads to excessive secretion of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH), which in turn leads to increasing levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands and helps the body to deal with injury or infection. Increasing levels of cortisol increases the blood sugar and can even cause diabetes mellitus. However the disease is also caused due to excess production of hypothalamus corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) which stimulates the synthesis of cortisol by the adrenal glands. The condition is named after Harvey Cushing, the doctor who first identified the disease in 1912. Cushing disease results in Cushing syndrome. Cushing syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms developed due to prolonged exposure to cortisol.Signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome includes hypertension, abdominal obesity, muscle weakness, headache, fragile skin, acne, thin arms and legs, red stretch marks on stomach, fluid retention or swelling, excess body and facial hair, weight gain, acne, buffalo hump, tiredness, fatigue, brittle bones, low back pain, moon shaped face etc. Symptoms vary from individual to individual depending upon the disease duration, age and gender of the patient. Disease diagnosis is done by measuring levels of cortisol in patients urine, saliva or blood. For confirming the diagnosis, a blood test for ACTH is performed. The first-line treatment of the disease is through surgical resection of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, however disease management is also done through medications, Cushing disease treatment market comprises of the drugs designed for lowering the level of cortisol in the body. Thus patients suffering from Cushing disease are prescribed medications such as ketoconazole, mitotane, aminoglutethimide metyrapone, mifepristone, etomidate and pasireotide.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14155 Cushings disease treatment market revenue is growing with a stable growth rate, this is attributed to increasing number of pipeline drugs. Also increasing interest of pharmaceutical companies to develop Cushing disease drugs is a major factor contributing to the revenue growth of Cushing disease treatment market over the forecast period. Current and emerging players focuses on physician education and awareness regarding availability of different drugs for curing Cushing disease, thus increasing the referral speeds, time to diagnosis and volume of diagnosed Cushing disease individuals. Growing healthcare expenditure and increasing awareness regarding Cushing syndrome aids in the revenue growth of Cushings disease treatment market. Increasing number of new product launches also drives the market for Cushings disease Treatment devices. However availability of alternative therapies for curing Cushing syndrome is expected to hamper the growth of the Cushings disease treatment market over the forecast period.Cushings disease treatment market revenue is expected to grow at a good growth rate, over the forecast period. The market is anticipated to perform well in the near future due to increasing awareness regarding the condition. Also the market is anticipated to grow with a fastest CAGR over the forecast period, attributed to increasing investment in R&D and increasing number of new product launches which is estimated to drive the revenue growth of Cushings disease treatment market over the forecast period.Depending on geographic region, the Cushings disease treatment market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA).North America is occupying the largest regional market share in the global Cushings disease treatment market owing to the presence of more number of market players, high awareness levels regarding Cushing syndrome. Healthcare expenditure and relatively larger number of R&D exercises pertaining to drug manufacturing and marketing activities in the region. Also Europe is expected to perform well in the near future due to increasing prevalence of the condition in the region.Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR because of increase in the number of people showing the symptoms of Cushing syndrome, thus boosting the market growth of Cushings disease treatment market throughout the forecast period.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14155 Some players of Cushings disease Treatment market includes CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS, HRA Pharma, Strongbridge Biopharma plc, Novartis AG, etc. However there are numerous companies producing branded generics for Cushing disease. The companies in Cushings disease treatment market are increasingly engaged in strategic partnerships, collaborations and promotional activities to capture a greater pie of market share.
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In the manufacturing process of electronics, integrated circuit (IC) packaging is one of the major stages of semiconductor device fabrication in which the small blocks of semiconducting material is encapsulated in a supporting case that prevents physical corrosion and damage. The market is segmented into by application which includes LED, sensors and MEMS, logic, optoelectronics and imaging, memory, among others. The market, by region is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa and South America.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23648 Lower cost, low power consumption, high speed signal processing and small form factors are some of the prime reasons behind the growing application of 2.5D packaging in smartphone and memory chips. Additionally, high thermal performance is another major feature which is fueling the market for 2.5D integrated circuit packaging globally. In order to increase the efficiency and to cut down the power consumption up to 50%, the usage of 2.5D IC packaging technique is increasing in different processing units which include central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU). Moreover, application of 2.5D IC packaging technique also reduces latency of different networking equipment. Furthermore, it also helps in interconnection with low power consumption and higher bandwidth. Increasing proliferation of minimization of devices, heterogeneous integration and high I/O density are some the prime factors influencing the growth of 2.5D IC packaging market globally. It is cost effective technique and flexible to integrate in any semiconductor and networking devices. High end communication devices, RF wireless modules, LED packages, portable computers, power amplifiers, and other wearable gadgets among others are some of the key application areas of 2.5D IC packaging market. With the rising research and development activities of 2.5D packaging technologies has enabled different ways of producing advanced packages for the advanced devices. Increasing technological advancement in the field of semiconductor fabrication is one of the fueling factors for the market for 2.5D IC packaging. 2.5D IC packaging enable integration of multiple different chips into a system at lower cost. Furthermore, 2.5D IC packaging refers to stacking chips side by side horizontally on the silicon interposer. Design complexity, tool readiness, heat dissipation and potential yield loss may be considered as some of the restraining factor which may inhibit the growth of the 2.5D IC packaging market. However, increasing application of 2.5D IC packaging in high end research laboratory equipment, satellite communication devices and advanced medical devices are some of the opportunities for the market.In 2016, North America accounted for the largest market share in terms of revenue for the 2.5D IC (integrated circuit) packaging market, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. The U.S. is leading the market for 2.5D IC packaging across North America. In Asia Pacific, China held the largest market share in terms of revenue across Asia Pacific, followed by Japan, South Korea. Germany, Italy, the U.K. and France among others are influencing the positive growth in the 2.5D IC packaging market. Brazil and Argentina are anticipated to contribute positive development over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. In Middle East and Africa, there has been considerable advancement, miniaturization and development in the sector of electronics and other industries is stimulating the demand for 2.5D IC packaging market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=23648 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited (Taiwan), Palomar Technologies (The U.S.), Amkor Technology, Inc. (The U.S.), Texas Instruments Inc. (The U.S.), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (The U.S.), Micron Technology, Inc. (The U.S.), Maxim Integrated (The U.S.), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (Taiwan), API Technologies Corporation (The U.S.), Tektronix, Inc. (The U.S.), Toshiba Corporation (Japan) and Intel Corporation (The U.S.) are some of the key players operating in the 2.5D IC packaging market globally. Merger and acquisition and long term and short business alliances with raw material suppliers and component distributers are some of the major strategies abide by the companies in the 2.5D IC (Integrated Circuit) packaging market globally.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:39:32

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DNA sequencing is a laboratory technique used to determine the sequence of a DNA molecule. Particularly, the arrangement of four nucleotide bases i.e. Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine, and Thymine can be identified by usage of various sequencing techniques available in the market. Human Genome Project was the major step in this direction for analyzing the complete human genome sequence.Nowadays, the usage of DNA sequencing techniques has increased with several applications available in the field of medicines, agriculture, forensics, biological research, and others. Starting from Sanger sequencing, the market is growing with significant pace with millions of sequencing analysis going done per day. This is all due to the technological expansion in this field which improves the speed, accuracy, fidelity and magnitude of sequencing methods.Request for Report TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14122 Next generation sequencing is the latest technology in the field of sequencing. Some of the leading NGS platforms products available commercially includes Illumina (Solexa), Roche 454, Ion Torrent and SOLiD sequencing. Latest, third-generation DNA sequencing machines such as SMRT and Oxford Nanopore are available in the market which measures the real time addition of nucleotides to a single DNA molecule. Oncology research is the key application area for DNA sequencing which is increasing the usage of sequencing techniques to detect the mutations. Key, Next Generation DNA Sequencing market players, includes Life Technologies, Illumina, Hamilton Thorne Biosciences, Siemens AG, Pacific Biosciences, Eppendorf, Perkin Elmer, Tecan, and Thermo Scientific with different sequencer machine models. Personal genomics and personalized medicines are becoming the future of healthcare and treatment. In addition to this, the future is also moving towards digital DNA data storage which is going to increase the use of DNA sequencing and innovation.DNA Sequencing Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe increasing trends of personalized genomics, growing demand for easy and fast clinical diagnosis, increase in the cancer research activities, high throughput technology, funding by the governmental agencies for research activities and landing up of various leading companies in DNA sequencing is expected drive the growth of DNA sequencing market. However, expensive machinery, algorithmic challenges, repeat content, professional expertise and ethical issues are some of the challenges that restraints the market of DNA sequencing from growing.Oncology is one of the major segment for the usage of DNA sequencing. Cancer is more prevalent in US, Europe, and Australia due to increasing mutations and these countries and also developed, so the usage of DNA sequencing techniques is more in developed countries. Moreover, these countries also spend more on research activities, so the market for DNA sequencing is growing progressively in these countries. Some of the developing countries are also investing more these days on research activities like India and China, so they also make some of the market for DNA sequencing. But awareness of new techniques and innovation, technical expertise, etc. are some of the limiting factors in developing countries.Request for Report Sample @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14122 Based on geography, DNA Sequencing market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America is at the top in the use of high-throughput sequencers owing to availability of skilled professionals and growing innovation in the sequencing technology. Europe is at its second position in overall DNA sequencing market share with growing focus on cancer research by CROs and biopharmaceutical companies. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow in the future because of the increasing government funds in the research sector. Some of the key market players in the DNA sequencing market are Siemens AG, Pacific Biosciences, Eppendorf, Perkin Elmer, Agilent Technologies Inc., Illumina, Genia Corporation, Oxford Nanopore technologies, Roche Holdings AG, ThermoFisher Scientific and many others .
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 16:32:01

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Predictive Analytics Drive Supply Chain Excellence and Continuous Improvement

WAYNE, Pa., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elemica, the leading Business Network for the process industries, introduces unprecedented new levels of extended end-to-end supply chain visibility with Elemica Pulse, a new solution that provides real-time predictive visibility from customer order to supplier delivery and the complete order-to-cash and procure-to-pay process.

Elemica Pulse enables companies to have greater ability to satisfy customer service levels, mitigate supply chain risk, and streamline cash collection and payments. Leveraging predictive intelligence, Elemica Pulse uses innovations in machine learning to help predict outcomes and correlate the dynamic influencers on their supply chain anomalies. By measuring the contributing impact, companies then achieve competitive advantage by adding value-added solutions that improve the customer experience while reducing cost to serve.

"While supply chain visibility is not new, the ability to gain deep visibility with embedded predictive analytics is. Gleaning historical data from disparate enterprise systems including the customer, supplier, and logistics providers is what businesses have been needing for a long time," said Rich Katz, Chief Technology Officer of Elemica. "Elemica Pulse is the next generation of visibility, utilizing machine learning to deliver unprecedented end-to-end supply chain visibility."

Most significantly, Elemica Pulse features the Elemica Reality Check (TM). As the Elemica Business Network captures event and transaction data across the entire network, it creates a critical mass of historical business information that is used to generate strategic and actionable insights. For example, if a carrier promises next-day delivery, Elemica Reality Checkanalyzes network data using proprietary algorithms to make an accurate prediction of delivery, alerting users on a high probability of late delivery.

"Today's businesses expect the same customer experience that consumers get from their online vendors with full visibility in real time, regardless of mode," said Adrian Gonzalez, President of Adelante SCM. "Therefore, the need to convert data into actionable insights is more important than ever, and industry business networks, which enable trading partners to connect, communicate, and collaborate in more scalable and efficient ways, are responding by innovating their platforms with machine learning, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics capabilities."

Elemica Pulse:

Provides visibility from end-to-end, allowing all parties to track orders, cash, and status through the entire cycle: order capture, shipment, receipt, invoice, and payment.

Utilizes machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide more accurate predictions of shipping and delivery dates, leading to improved customer satisfaction.

Gives a comprehensive picture of business performance both inside and outside the four walls.

Leverages an easy-to-use, exception-based management dashboard allowing drill down access.

About Elemica

Elemica is the leading Business Network for the process industries. Elemica transforms supply chains by replacing manual and complex approaches with efficient and reliable ones. Launched in 2000, customers like BASF, BP, Continental, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, LANXESS, Michelin, Shell, Solvay, Sumitomo Chemical, Wacker and more process nearly $400B in commerce value annually on the network. Elemica drives bottom line results by promoting reduced cost of operations, faster process execution, automation of key business processes, removal of transactional barriers, and seamless information flow between trading partners. For more information, visit www.elemica.com.

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This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Elemica via Globenewswire


Molecular Diagnostics Market report categorizes the Europe market by Product (Real-time PCR Systems, Liquid Handling Systems and DNA Extraction Systems), End User (Diagnostic Laboratories, Academic and Research Institutes & Biotechnology Companies)

Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:18:18

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As per a report by Transparency Market Research, the Europe molecular diagnostics market will likely rise at a steady CAGR of 6.6% during the period between 2017 and 2025. At this rate, the market will become worth US$769.0 mn by 2025-end from US$395.7 mn in 2016. A noticeable trend in the Europe market for molecular diagnostics is the move toward automation. In fact, quite a few automated products, particularly in the area of automated liquid handling systems has been launched and are predicted to boost sales in the market in the upcoming years.Currently, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are resulting in maximum demand in the market because of substantial amounts being poured into research that has generated the need for molecular diagnostic devices.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/europe-molecular-diagnostics-market.html The market for molecular diagnostics in Europe has seen steady progress so far on the back of an ever-increasing healthcare expenditure. Besides, rising awareness about different chronic diseases and disorders, abundant availability of diagnostic centers, and increasing affordability of diagnostics are also serving to catalyze growth in the market. Rising support from the government and growing investments in research and development of advanced diagnostics are also positively influencing the market.Posing a hindrance to the molecular diagnostics market in Europe is the shortage of skilled labor, which makes it tough for companies to control costs. Further, the constant thrust on new and improved technologies is also predicted to thwart market growth. Take, for example, the surging popularity of next generation sequencing (NGS) which is snipping away the market share of real-time PCR systems. However, the demand for non-contact dispensing technologies stoking sales of liquid dispensing systems, will likely help the market overcome the challenge.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=9434 The different types of product in the market for molecular diagnostics in Europe are real-time PCR systems, liquid handling systems, and DNA extraction systems. Of them, the real-time PCR systems accounts for maximum market share and going forward too will likely dominate the market owing to a range of advantages over conventional PCR systems.From a geographical standpoint, the key segments of the of the Europe molecular diagnostics market are France, the U.K., Germany, Spain, and Italy. Germany, among them, leads vis-a-vis revenue and in the near future too will retain its leading position in this aspect. This is mainly on account on the increased investment of the government in the domain of healthcare, the thrust on bolstering the biotechnology sector, and the growing number of biotechnology companies in the country.Request Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9434 The market for molecular diagnostics in Europe is slated to see competition increase in the near future as companies focus on research and development to come up with better products. With product differentiations and customizations they are attempting to increase their sales and revenues. To that end they are partnering or collaborating with research institute. Dominant players are also focusing on mergers and acquisitions to increase their market share.Some of the key players in Europe molecular diagnostics market are Agilent Technologies, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Tecan Group Ltd., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., QIAGEN N.V., Danaher Corporation, Eppendorf AG, PerkinElmer, Inc., and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Of them, Bio-Rad Laboratories and Thermo Fishcer Scientific accounted for almost half the share in the market in 2016.Buy Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=9434<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
Global Fabric Filters Market: Rapid Industrialization Creates New Opportunities for Growth

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:05:46

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Strict Rules Pertaining to Indoor Air Quality Fuels DemandFabric filters, also known as bag filters, or bag house filters, are used as a control technology for particulate matter (PM). They remove particulate matter embedded in the flue gas stream of fuel combustion unit or industrial process ventilation units by passing the gas stream through the porous fabric. Fabric filter units are comprised of one or more isolated compartments, having rows of fabric bags in the form of flat, round, or shaped tubes, or pleated cartridges. These filters are efficient in collecting particle size ranging from submicron diameter to hundreds of microns. Their accord over 90% efficiency. Fabric filters are mainly used for effective particle collection. The ability to renew the filtering surface periodically by cleaning helps fabric filters to steal a march over other gas filters.As per a report by Transparency Market Research, the global fabric filters market will likely expand at a CAGR of 6.18% during the period between 2017 and 2025. Rising at this pace, the market which was worth US$9.6 bn in 2016, is expected to become US$16.34 bn by 2025.View Full Report TOC, Figures and Tables @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fabric-filters-market.html Regulations mandating the need for pure indoor air is majorly fuelling demand for fabric filters. Take for example the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration that has stressed upon the need for best quality indoor air to make work place safer and healthier. This has helped stoke demand.Focus on Product Development Benefits MarketBesides, in response to increased need for more effective fabric filters, manufacturers are focusing on the developing those with improved functionalities. This is also proving beneficial to the market. Currently, the application segment of pharmaceutical is responsible for generating maximum demand in the market. Manufacture of pharmaceuticals products, namely vitamins, drugs, minerals, and herbs involves different types of processes which often result in dust as a harmful by-product. This poses health hazards to workers and ups risk of chemical hazards in the manufacturing units. To mitigate such issues, fabric filter comes in handy.The different types of global fabric filters purveyed in the market are pulse jet, reverse jet, etc. Of them, the segment of pulse jet accounts for maximum share in the market. In 2016, the segment held a substantial 55% share in the market. This is because of its rising adoption owing to its ability to lessen in bag house size and capital cost due to less fabric usage. Pulse jet cleaning type does not require the building of an extra compartment for off-line cleaning.Request A Sample Of This Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=15860 Geographically, the key segments of the global filters market are Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. At present, Asia Pacific holds a dominant position  something it is expected to retain in the years ahead by rising at a CAGR of 6.89% from 2017 to 2025. The growth in the region is mainly brought about the rapid expansion of various end-use industries such as chemical, power generation, etc.Some of the prominent names in the global fabric filters market are Parker-Hannifen, Corporation, Hamon Corporation, Cummins, Affinia group, Siemens AG, Pall Corporation, and Nederman Corpo.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 00:02:02

Manulife and Finantix also agree plans for new Competency Centre

Finantix Software Goes Live in New Market to Support Manulifes Pan-Asia Digital Point of Sales Program

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Finantix, an established provider of sales and advisory software for financial services, today announced the activation of a third market in its pan-Asia partnership with Manulife, a leading international financial services group. The solution helps digitise Manulifes agency distribution and create an improved experience for customers of select Manulife bank partners. The go live milestone in Singapore follows earlier activations in Hong Kong and Japan.

The digital solution covers the full end-to-end sales process: from client profiling, needs analysis and product quotation, to policy application and automated decision making. It scales to support diverse distribution channels, working environments such as online browser or disconnected tablets, regulatory requirements and cultural advisory styles across Asia. One important feature of the activation has been an enhanced digital capability to support Manulifes key partner, DBS in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Additionally, Manulife and Finantix have agreed plans to create a Competency Centre. This will enable Manulife delivery teams to take ownership of platform changes and product management while Finantix concentrates on injecting innovative new platform capabilities.

John Brisco, Chief Information Officer & Chief Operations Officer at Manulife Asia said, "Over the past two years we have worked with Finantix to accelerate delivery of our digital distribution ambitions. Finantix has demonstrated commitment to our needs and goals of providing market-leading customer and distribution experiences across diverse markets. With the creation of the Manulife Competency Centre, our partnership continues to evolve and we are excited about the potential for Finantix to help to differentiate Manulife in the future."

Ralf Emmerich, Co-founder and Director at Finantix said, "The deployment across Asia required a digital solution that was enterprise-grade yet flexible enough to support multiple devices, local market requirements and different regulatory conditions. Our modular omni-channel and offline capable architecture enabled Manulife to differentiate the assembly and deployment of the digital sales solution across countries and channels. With the new setup of the Manulife Competence Centre focused on Finantix Components and APIs we are proud to move to the next stage of the partnership between the two companies that will produce a tighter integration of Finantix' product labs and all the future Manulife initiatives."

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a Canadian multinational insurance company and financial services provider headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The company operates in Canada and Asia as "Manulife" and in the United States primarily through its John Hancock Financial division. Manulife helps more than 22 million customers around the world with their big financial decisions. Through our international network of more than 35,000 employees and 70,000 agents, we provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions that support our customers lifestyles and secure their financial futures. Manulife is now one of the fastest-growing companies in Asia and we continue to grow stronger in Canada and the U.S.

About Finantix

With offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Singapore, Toronto, Tokyo, Zurich and Venice and a global customer base spanning over 40 countries, Finantix sales and advisory digital enabling software is trusted by some of the worlds largest banks, insurers and wealth managers. Finantix Components offers a broad and comprehensive library of multi-channel, omni-device reusable software modules, widgets, engines and APIs that help leading financial institutions digitize key processes and extract valuable knowledge in private and retail banking, wealth management, insurance and lending. www.finantix.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711060050
Flowering Stimulants Market By Type (Solid Flowering Stimulants, Liquid Flowering Stimulants), By Application (Agriculture And Horticulture) And By Region - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts (20162021)

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The Global Flowering Stimulants Market was worth USD xx billion in 2016 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of xx%, to reach USD xx billion by 2021.View report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/flowering-stimulants-market-4159/ Flowering of plants is very essential in both agriculture and horticulture. In horticulture good flower yield is the priority to bear fruits and in agriculture also good flowering gives good yield. So, farmers always try to increase the flower yield by using excessive fertilizers, both organic and chemical. This increases the yield but it has a limit to the growth and use of excessive fertilizers support growth of other vegetation which is not desirable.Flower formation in plants is stimulated by certain hormones namely auxin, cytokinin, gibbrellic acid and Ethylene. Flowering stimulants increases the production of these substances in the plant and also in ratios favorable for flower yield. Currently, Nitrobenzene mixed with some other chemicals is the best and most used stimulant. It is estimated that flowering stimulants increase the flower yield by more than 40%.Download free sample report: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/flowering-stimulants-market-4159/request-sample Increase in the crop yields has become stagnant due to the increase in the use of fertilizers and other chemicals. This increased the demand alternatives which can increase the crop yield resulting in the demand for flowering stimulants. Increasing necessity to improve crop yields due to the decreasing agricultural land, rapidly increasing population and increasing awareness among people regarding the stimulants are expected to drive the flowering stimulants market. However, availability of alternate chemicals and strict approval regulations are restricting the market growth.The Flowering Stimulants market is segmented by type, application and region. Based on the type, the market is segmented into Solid Flowering Stimulants and Liquid Flowering Stimulants. Liquid flowering stimulants hold the largest market share as they are easily absorbed by the plant within a short time. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into Agriculture and Horticulture. Usage of flowering stimulants is very high in horticulture. It is because of the restrictions on the use of many fertilizers in horticulture. Agriculture segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment due to the increasing popularity for flowering stimulants.Inquire before buying: http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/flowering-stimulants-market-4159/inquire On the basis of region, the global Flowering Stimulants market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific holds the largest market share. It is because Asia Pacific is the leading cultivator of horticulture where flowering stimulants are widely used. Latin America is expected to be the fastest growing segment due to the increasing awareness among consumers.Some of the major players in Flowering Stimulants market are Greenland Bio-Science, Molecule Agri, Nitesh Agro Industries, Sikko Industries, Redox Industries, Rishabh Intermediates, Bhartiya Fertilizers and Chemicals and Agrichem Life Science.Market SegmentationType Introduction Liquid Flowering Stimulants Solid Flowering Stimulants Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Type Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Type Market Share Analysis, By TypeApplication Introduction Agriculture Horticulture Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, By Application Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Application Market Share Analysis, By ApplicationThe scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis, and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:39:06

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Glass bonding adhesives is a bonding technique used to bond one glass to another and/or to various other substrates such as metals, plastics, and rubbers. These compounds are available as silicones, epoxies, polysulfides, polyurethanes, cyanoacrylates, and UV/LED curing systems. The selection of a suitable adhesive for proper bonding of glass depends upon various factors. These include load and stress at which the glass resists, and functional and technical requirement of a joint. The bonding strength depends on the chosen material such as glass/glass, glass/ metal, glass/stone, and glass/wood. Glass bonding adhesives are used in a wide range of applications in the automotive industry. For instance, they are employed to bond glass in vehicles, manufacture water tanks and optical glasses, bond window glass to frame or structure, etc.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22631 Based on product type, the glass bonding adhesives market can be segmented into UV-curable acrylate, silicone, UV-curable epoxy, polyurethanes, and others. Silicone accounted for significant share of the glass bonding adhesives market in 2015 due to the rising demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as transportation. High demand for glass bonding adhesives in architecture and electronics is boosting the glass bonding adhesives market. The UV-curable acrylate segment is expected to experience high growth rate due to the increase in demand for glass bonding adhesives in the architecture industry. Growth in demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as electronics, furniture, and transportation is anticipated to boost the glass bonding adhesives market across the globe. Expansion of the electrical & electronics sector has also augmented the demand for silicone in the glass bonding adhesives market. Demand for glass bonding adhesives has also increased significantly in glass water tanks and other glass storage applications.In terms of region, the glass bonding adhesives market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of volume, Asia Pacific held the significant share of the glass bonding adhesives market in 2015. It was followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate the glass bonding adhesives market during the forecast period owing to the high demand for these adhesives in emerging economies such as China, India, and Japan. Demand for glass bonding adhesives in Asia Pacific is anticipated to increase significantly in the near future, led by the increase in demand for these adhesives in end-use industries such as furniture, electronics, medical, transportation, and industrial assembly. In terms of end-use, the furniture segment is estimated to account for the prominent share of the glass bonding adhesives market during the forecast period. Increase in usage of glass bonding adhesives in electrical and electronics appliances is driving the glass bonding adhesives market. Significant industrial development is anticipated to open up new opportunities for the global glass bonding adhesives market. Economic development and rise in the number of applications are anticipated to augment the global glass bonding adhesives market in Asia Pacific. Increase in usage of glass bonding adhesives in electronics, medical, and construction end-use industries is likely to propel the global glass bonding adhesives market in the next few years.Global demand for glass adhesives is projected to rise significantly in the near future, thereby offering high growth opportunities for companies operating in the glass bonding adhesive market. Rapid increase in demand in end-use applications, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate are propelling the glass bonding adhesives market in Asia Pacific. These factors are encouraging companies to adopt expansion and R&D strategies in the region. Market players are focusing on Asia Pacific to gain higher market share. Producers of glass bonding adhesives have been compelled to adopt expansion and acquisition strategies to meet the global demand. Large numbers of producers are shifting their plants to countries such as China and India due to factors such as high demand and low raw material and labor costs.Key players operating in the global glass bonding adhesives market are Three Bond Holdings Co., Ltd, Permabond Engineering Adhesives, Bohle Group, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Sika A.G., H.B. Fuller Company, Dymax Corporation, Ashland Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, 3M Company, and KIWO.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22631
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According to the research report, The Worldwide Hemostasis Diagnostics Market is projected to attract a revenue of US$3,979.5 mn by 2025 from US$1,960.0 mn in 2016 at a CAGR of 8.3% between 2017 and 2025. Among several factors driving the global hemostasis diagnostics market, the rising prevalence of blood clotting disorders is a prominent one. Across the world, 440,000 people are afflicted with hemophilia, of which, 75% people are in under developed and developing countries.View Report-This ever-increasing disease burden of blood clotting disorders is anticipated to stoke growth of the hemostasis diagnostics market during the forecast period. Automation is the tool for efficient and effective disease diagnostics that has extended to hemostasis diagnostics as well, says a TMR analyst. The technological revolution in hemostasis diagnostics is expected to fuel the market from 2017 to 2022. Current technologies for hemostasis diagnostics include automation of blood coagulation analyzers, flow cytometers, microarrays, and PCR that are less labor intensive, rapid, and easy-to-use. The incorporation of these technologies for better bleeding control measures during surgical procedures is expected to provide opportunities for companies operating in the hemostasis diagnostics market.Request Hemostasis Diagnostics Market Report Brochure @Geographically, the global hemostasis diagnostics market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In addition, the regions have been further segmented into major countries from each region. These include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, Australia, India, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico. North America holds dominance in the global hemostasis market, and the trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report -Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Alere Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, Instrumentation Laboratory, Danaher Corporation, and Grifols S.A. are some of the key companies operating in the global hemostasis diagnostics market.Hemostasis Diagnostics Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.
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High-performance polyamide (HPPA) is a type of synthetic thermoplastic resin from the polyamide family. It is a polyamide wherein the residues of terephthalic acid contain at least 55% of the molar percentage of dicarboxylic acid present in structural units in the polymer chain. Polymers are added to the HPPA resin to make it useful for specific applications. The combination of polymers and additive is referred to as a composite. Ingredients added to produce composites include minerals, flame retardants, fiberglass, and other chemicals. The aromatic content is supplemented in the form of isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid. The special monomeric structure of amorphous polyamides imparts heat resistance and transparency. Advantages of high-performance polyamides include high melting point, reduced absorption of moisture, improved dimensional stability, and better retention of mechanical property at high temperature.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22625 High-performance polyamides are injection-molded into parts of different shapes that are used in a wide variety of applications. Temperature resistance, mechanical strength, and weight reduction by replacing metal parts of an automotive are factors driving the market for HPPA. Nomex and Kevlar are fibers made from aromatic polyamides, which offer high tensile strength and excellent resistance to high temperatures. Similar to any other thermoplastic, HPPA can be fully recycled by re-melting.Based on the end-use application, the market for high-performance polyamides can be divided into automotive and defense accessories. Automotive applications include fuel and coolant lines, pump wear rings, motor bobbin parts, water heater manifold fuel modules, fuel line connectors, thermostat housing, air coolers, and coolant pumps. Based on the end product application, the HPPA market can be segmented into Nomex and Kevlar fibers. Nomex honeycomb is a lightweight, non-metallic, and strong fiber that offers excellent heat resiliency, low density, and high strength-to-weight ratio.In terms of region, the global high-performance polyamides market can be segregated into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to be the dominant market, as China has a large-sized automobile industry. North America and Europe are also expected to hold a key share of the global market during the forecast period, owing to strong presence of automobile manufactures in the two regions. North America is anticipated to hold a key share of the global market during the forecast period, due to wide use of Nomex and Kevlar fibers in the aerospace industry in the region, as they are highly resilient to high temperatures and are light in weight. The increasing demand for lightweight, fuel-efficient engines and replacement of metal parts by plastics are the factors likely to drive the market for high-performance polyamides in the near future.Key players operating in the global HPPA market are Arkema, BASF SE, DuPont, DSM, EMS, Evonik, Kuraray, Mitsui, and Solvay. DSM markets the HPPA resin under the brand name Stonyl. The resin offers replacement of metals in a variety of applications and is stable up to 250C temperature. DuPont manufactures high-performance polyamides and sells them under the brand name Zytel HTN. Zytel HTN series is manufactured by its own, proprietary SHIELD technology and it retains good strength even after being exposed to 180C temperature. DuPont is strategizing to provide high-performance polyamide resins for use in oil and gas refining units. This would be aimed at replacing the centrifugal pump metal parts by plastics to make them more efficient and reliable.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22625
Ileostomy Market report categorizes the global market by Procedure (End Ileostomy and Loop Ileostomy), Disease Condition (Cancer, Diverticulitis, Ulcerative Colitis, and Crohns Disease, and Crohns Disease), Equipment, End User & Geography

Ileostomy Market

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According to the research report, the global market for ileostomy stood at US$765.2 mn in 2015. Proliferating at a CAGR of 8.90% over the period from 2016 to 2024, the market is anticipated to attain a value of US$1.65 bn by the end of the forecast period. The demand for stoma bags is much higher than other equipment and the trend is anticipated to remain so over the period of the forecast, states the report.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ileostomy-market.html As per a TMR analyst, the growth in the geriatric population will fuel the demand for ileostomy substantially in the near future, as people above 80 years are extremely vulnerable to a number of chronic diseases. The increase in longevity, globally, is likely to boost the demand for these procedures in the coming years, thus creating lucrative growth opportunities for the market, he added further.On the other hand, the augmenting demand for alternative procedures, although expensive but highly efficient, may inhibit the markets growth trajectory over the forthcoming years. In addition to this, the lack of favorable reimbursement policies will remain the bottleneck for this market in the near future, states the report.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=23285 Based on procedure, the report bifurcate the global ileostomy market into end ileostomy and loop ileostomy. Among the two, the end ileostomy led the overall market in 2015 and is anticipated to remain at the leading position during the forecast period, thanks to its increasing application for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, which is highly prevalent among global population.Regionally, the report has classified the worldwide ileostomy market into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. With a share of 43.2%, Europe led the global market in 2015. With the presence of a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, supporting the expansion of this market in this regions, the Europe ileostomy market is likely to remain on the top over the next few years. Apart from this, the presence of leading companies here is also expected to aid this regional market in the near future, notes the study.Request Ileostomy Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23285 The global ileostomy market demonstrates a high degree of consolidation, finds a new research study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Coloplast, Hollister, and Convatec are the leading players in this market, among which Coloplast held the dominant position in 2016 with a share of 36%. With a diverse product portfolio and a number of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships that took place recently, Coloplast is likely to continue leading the market over the next few years.Other prominent players in this market are focusing aggressively on diversifying their product offerings, for which they are expected to increase research and development activities in the years to come, notes the research study.Buy Ileostomy Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=23285<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
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PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:18:02

Another successful milestone in the MetaVision project at UHS

iMDsoft Brings Clinical Information Management to the Neonatal Unit at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

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iMDsoft, a leading provider of clinical information systems, announced that University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) in the UK has successfully gone live with the MetaVision PDMS in their neonatal ICU. UHS is a major centre for teaching and research that provides specialist services to more than 3 million people. The trust has chosen a clinical EPR solution that combines the MetaVision systems for ICU, HDU, theatres and ward observations, providing one hospital-wide clinical record across the patient journey.

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Neonatal ICUs present an especially challenging environment, where variations in micro-calculations and dosages can have serious ramifications. MetaVision fully supports the unique workflows of this data-rich environment. The system generates complete electronic medical records, arming healthcare professionals with timely and accurate information. It seamlessly integrates data from bedside devices, including IV pumps, haemodynamic monitors and ECMO. Advanced decision support tools provide notifications at the point of care, increasing adherence to protocols for critical events such as identification for transport and therapeutic cooling.

UHS has chosen the MetaVision PDMS for all of their intensive care units and high dependency units. The system is already in use in the hospitals Surgical HDU, Respiratory HDU, Cardiac Theatres, GICU, CICU and Neurosciences ICU. In addition, iMDsofts mobile electronic observation system, MetaVision SafeTrack, is being implemented across all general wards.

iMDsoft were a great support to the UHS team as we got the system up and running, despite some challenges specific to the patients and work on the Neonatal Unit. MetaVision has introduced innovation that has made a real difference on the unit: Nursing and Medical handover, automatic Jaundice Treatment Threshold plotting, discharge planning, medication reminders and more. The workflow of the system is familiar and logical  soon no one will want to return to the days of paper, said Charlie Pugh, Clinical Information System Manager, UHS.

We are pleased to be extending our rollout of MetaVision into UHSs neonatal ICU," said Shahar Sery, Executive Vice President of iMDsoft. This is an additional step in our ongoing collaboration with the trust to bring innovative solutions that improve patient care and safety.

Come find out how MetaVision can help your trust at Patient First in London, Stand L20.

About iMDsoft

iMDsoft is a leading provider of Clinical Information Systems for acute, critical care and perioperative environments. The company's flagship family of solutions, the MetaVision Suite, was first implemented in 1999. Hospitals and health networks worldwide use MetaVision to improve care quality and enhance financial results. The system promotes compliance with protocols and best practices, streamlines reporting and supports clinical research. iMDsoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation, headquartered in Wakefield, MA. To learn more about iMDsoft, visit www.imd-soft.co.uk.

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Jadestone Energy Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Singapore (FSCWire) - Jadestone Energy Inc. (TSX Venture:JSE). has issued a press release with the following headline:Jadestone Energy Corporate UpdateTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Jadestone Energy Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Jadestone Energy Inc.Source: Jadestone Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: JSE, ISIN: CA46989Q1000, WKN: A2DHZ1)Date: November 07, 2017Time: 8:56 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Jadestone Energy Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
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UV curing systems is a process in which visible light and ultraviolet light is used to initiate a photochemical reaction that is used to instantly dry or cure inks, adhesives or coatings. UV curing is a low temperature and a high speed process that helps in curing by polymerization rather than evaporation. It is adaptable to coating, printing, decorating and assembling of a variety of products and materials. The global UV curing systems market is anticipated to witness a robust growth rate during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025 owing to the increasing demand for improved quality of the finished products and for greater consistency.A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24797 The global UV curing systems market is expected to witness a progressive growth in the coming years due to the requirement of less equipment space and energy since there is no need to wait for the product to get dry. This helps in creating an efficiency that exists through the entire manufacturing process. In addition, it is a one part system that requires no need to measure or mix and does not have any pot life concern. It also allows testing of parts soon after assembly that helps in eliminating possible quantities of work in process scrap. In addition due to the UV curing systems UV-LED printers enjoy a higher degree of traction compared to conventional printers due to their versatility and energy efficiency.However, when curing in the air the oxygen in the atmosphere can cause the oxygen to inhibit the cure on the surface layer. This causes the top layer to become uncured sticky and wet while the bottom layer have hardened into dry finish. This affects the long term reliability of the coated layer. This is one of the reason which can hamper the growth of UV curing systems market.For the purpose of providing detailed research report, the global UV curing systems market is segmented on the basis of product type and application. On the basis of product type the market is segmented into free radical systems and cationic systems. Among the different product types of UV curing systems available in the market, free radical system is expected to grow at a higher rate owing to its facilities that majority of the commercial light cure products are of free radical types and use acrylic components that helps the polymerization to stop as soon as the light gets eliminated.UV curing systems also finds its application across various end user segments including automotive, electronics, telecommunication, graphic arts and others.Geographically, the global UV curing systems market has been further divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America is expected to hold the largest share of the UV curing systems market among the different regions in 2016. The UV curing systems market of North America is majorly driven by the U.S owing to increasing demand for electric vehicle. Tesla, one of the major car electric manufacturer sells nearly 6,500 electric car every month in U.S. Government is also encouraging sale of electric car by giving discounts and providing incentives due to the decreasing oil resources and increasing demand for petrol. On the flip side, the Asia Pacific UV curing systems market is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. UV curing system is widely used in Indonesia and are mostly in the wood based industry such as coating of parquet, table top fancy plywood and others.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=24797 Some of the key vendors operating in the global UV curing systems market includes BASF SE (Germany), DSM AGI Corporation (Taipei), Nippon Gohsei ( Japan), Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd.( China), Toagosei Co. Ltd (Japan), Jiangsu Sanmu Group Corporation (China) and many more
According to the research report, the global kidney cancer drugs market was valued at USD 2.6 billion in 2013 and is expected to reach USD 4.5 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2014 to 2020.

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A report by Transparency Market Research predicts the global market for kidney cancer drugs to expand at a 6.6% CAGR during the period between 2014 and 2020. Depending upon the prominent brands of drugs, the global market for kidney cancer drugs can be segmented into Avastin (Bevacizumab), Afinitor (Everolimus), Inlyta (Axitinib), Torisel (Temsirolimus), Nexavar (Sorafenib), Sutent (Sunitinib), Proleukin (Aldesleukin/Interleukin-2), and Votrient (Pazopanib). Of them, Sutent, which is the marketed version of Sunitinib  Pfizers drug in the global kidney cancer drugs market, raked in maximum revenue in 2013. This is because Sutent is mainly prescribed as the first-line of treatment against kidney cancer. Sutent is also among the most studied drugs in its class for multiple indications, as it targets multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Geography-wise, the key segments of the global market for kidney cancer drugs are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America, among them, accounts for maximum market share owing to most prominent brands of kidney cancer treatment drugs being commercially available. In addition, a substantial number of patients and a solid healthcare system tailor-made for the pharmaceutical industry is also majorly fuelling the market in the region. North America accounted for 45% of market share in 2013.Request to view Sample Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=537 The global market for kidney cancer drugs is predicted to clock steady growth in the upcoming years because of an increasing geriatric population and higher prevalence of kidney cancer. As per the American Cancer Society, those afflicted with kidney cancer are mostly in the higher age bracket. The average age of people diagnosed with the malady is 64. Kidney cancer is very uncommon in people under the age of 45. The organization also finds that kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Approval of novel drug molecules is also serving to catalyze growth in the global kidney cancer drugs market. Posing a challenge to the market, on the contrary, is the growing sales of generic drug variants on account of expensiveness of branded cancer drugs. A trend noticed in the global market for kidney cancer drugs is the manufacturers shifting their gaze towards developing economies to bring about sales growth.The global kidney cancer drugs market is dominated by a few global giants, namely F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Bayer AG, Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline plc, and Pfizer, Inc. This makes the competitive landscape highly consolidated in nature. Competition among the players is stiff too. Biopharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer, Inc., among them, led the global market for kidney cancer drugs with maximum share in 2013 on the back of Sunitinib and Axitinib, two of the main drugs used for treating kidney cancer. Other big names in the industry, such as Novartis and GSK too are adopting other strategies to increase their geographical outreach. They are focusing on bolstering their distribution networks in the relatively underserved markets in the emerging nations that are seeing an increasing prevalence of kidney cancer cases.Global Kidney Cancer Drugs Market is available @ US$ 5795: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=537<ype=S
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:33:17

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Filtration is one of the commonly used separation process for removing solid particles, microorganisms or droplets from a liquid or a gas by depositing them on a filter medium. Laboratory filtration devices have enormous applications in everyday research practices being performed in various setups including research and development laboratories, academic institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, food industries and many more. In all these industries filter membranes or filter assemblies are routinely used for water treatment and filtration of particulate matter. Filtration is the important process used in many chemical, clinical, biological and analytical laboratories for various applications such as water treatment, percolation, concentrating the solution, gas purification in analytical processes etc. Various filtration techniques are used to separate solid from liquids or solutions by interposing a filter medium through which solutions or liquids can pass. Ultrafiltration technique is commonly used in biotechnology industry for protein concentration or purification, DNA or RNA concentration, etc. Microfiltration techniques are commonly used in pharmaceutical industry in preparation of sterile formulations. Some of the commonly used brands of laboratory filtration devices are Whatman, Millex syringe filters, Minisart syringe filters, Vivapore ultrafiltration membrane filters, AKTAcrossflow systems and others. Cross flow filtration techniques are specifically in bioprocess filtration where purification of biomolecules is desired.A sample of this report is available upon request @Laboratory Filtration Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobal market for laboratory filtration devices is expected to be driven by increasing pace of research and development activities in pharmaceutical, life sciences and biotechnology industry. Thus, increasing research activities in the biopharmaceuticals segment, and focus on development of biopharmaceutical molecules is fueling the growth of global laboratory filtration devices market. However, increasing competition from local and Chinese players and requirement of is expected to hinder the growth of laboratory filtration devices market over the forecast period.Laboratory Filtration Devices Market: SegmentationThe global laboratory filtration devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type, utility, technology, end user, and geography.Based on product type, the global laboratory filtration devices market is divided into following:Membrane FiltersFilter papersFibrous Filters (glass fibers, quartz filters etc.)Syringe FiltersCapsule FiltersFiltration MicroplatesBottle-top UnitsFiltration AssemblyVacuum Filtration DevicesPressure Driven Filtration DevicesStirred CellsBased on utility, the laboratory filtration devices market is divided into following:DisposableReusableBased on technology, the laboratory filtration devices market is divided into following:MicrofiltrationMacrofiltrationUltrafiltrationCross Flow FiltrationBased on retail end user, the laboratory filtration devices market is segmented as below:Academic and Research InstitutesPharmaceutical CompaniesBiotechnology CompaniesDiagnostic CentersContract Research OrganizationsFood and Beverage CompaniesLaboratory Filtration Devices Market: OverviewThe global market for laboratory filtration devices is highly fragmented with presence of local and regional players. Top 5 players in the market account for more than half of the market share due to specific product features offered specifically for use in life science and biotechnology industry. Obvious use of Whatman and other filter papers in academic and research laboratories causes the highest demand for membrane filters followed by syringe filters. Based on techniques, microfiltration techniques are expected to hold the largest share in the global laboratory filtration devices market.Laboratory Filtration Devices Market: Regional Wise OutlookGeographically, the laboratory filtration devices market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The market in Asia Pacific and Japan is expected to grow at significant CAGR due to increasing number of research institutes in countries such as India, Australia and Japan. North America will continue to hold largest share in the laboratory filtration devices market. Many of the best academic institutions are located in the U.S. and a culture positive to innovation as well as the presence of venture capital has led to the emergence of a number of regions with top universities and businesses.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Laboratory Filtration Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the players operating in the global laboratory filtration devices market are Spectum Inc., GE Healthcare, Merck KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, LLC., Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp., Sartorius AG, Pall Corporation and others.The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:36:14

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According to the report Medical Tourism Market, published by Market Data Forecast, the Latin America market is projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 18.9% from 2016 to 2021.Medical tourism is the most dynamically growing sectors today. It is believed to be the direct impact of globalization of healthcare, it certainly exhibits robust growth potential worldwide. Though, based on FMIs research, the market of medical tourism is anticipated to concentrate within most of the developing countries of the world. The top treatments people travel abroad for, include cardiovascular surgeries, orthopaedic treatments, cancer therapy, dentistry, cosmetic surgeries, weight loss therapies, health screenings, reproductive treatments, and medical tests and scans. In critical cases, a sizeable patient population also solicits second opinion from specialist doctors abroad.Get a comprehensive overview of the Latin America Medical Tourism Market: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-medical-tourism-market-1859/ Latin America Medical Tourism Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe Latin America medical tourism market is primarily driven by accessibility and affordability of good quality healthcare services coupled with assistance from tourism departments and local governments. Additionally, availability of latest medical technologies in medical tourism hubs, worldwide, is anticipated to propel the market growth.But still, medical tourists are highly vulnerable to a wide variety of health risks after they return. The conditions may include TB, deep vein thrombosis, paratyphoid, amoebic dysentery, and more commonly caused owing to poor post-operative care and inadequate rest. This could affect the market to some degree. Strict documentation processes, issues regarding visa approval, and limited insurance coverage are reportedly few of the most deterring factors for the Latin America market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Latin America Medical Tourism Market. Request a sample to stay up-to-date on the main trends affecting this market: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-medical-tourism-market-1859/request-sample Latin America Medical Tourism Market: SegmentationBy Treatment Type Orthopaedic Neurological Cardiovascular Fertility Cancer Treatment CosmeticFrom simple data collation through secondary and primary research to ad-hoc research requests relating to specific information, we provide our services via customization. Get customization at http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-medical-tourism-market-1859/customize-report Latin America Medical Tourism Market: OverviewCosmetic treatments leads in terms of market share as cosmetic surgeries are not covered by insurance.Latin America Medical Tourism Market: Region-wise OutlookBy geography, the Latin America market is segregated into Brazil, Chile, Argentina and others. It is second to last in terms of market share.Key Questions Answered What is the current and future Medical Tourism Market outlook in Latin America? What trends are affecting the Latin America market? What is the competitive landscape and market share of major players in the Medical Tourism space in Latin America? What are the key, high growth markets that Medical Tourism manufacturers should expand into? Which market segments are growing the fastest? What are the unmet needs with the Medical Tourism currently on the market? How will emerging technologies fulfil these unmet needs? What is physician perception and market outlook of Medical Tourism? What are the challenges and barriers that have hindered widespread adoption of Medical Tourism?Latin America Medical Tourism Market: Key PlayersLeading healthcare players contributing to the Latin America medical tourism market include Min-Sheng General Hospital, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, Samitivej Sukhumvit, Fortis Healthcare Ltd., Asian Heart Institute, Prince Court Medical Center, Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Raffles Medical Group, and Bumrungrad International Hospital.Reasons to buy Medical Tourism Market Report: Latin America, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the geographical areas in which this industry is prospering Segment-level analysis on basis of product type, application, colour along with market size forecasts and y-o-y estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of macro and micro environmental factors that affect the market presented in an extensive strategic analyses section containing PESTLE and Porters Five Forces Analyses A comprehensive listing of key market players along with company overview, product portfolios, key financial information (subjected to availability), SWOT analysis and Analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies Expertly devised Market Outlook along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketLatin America Clinical Nutrition Market: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-clinical-nutrition-market-789/ About Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com
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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for LED Medical Diagnostics Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. (TSX Venture:LMD). has issued a press release with the following headline:LED Medical Diagnostics VELscope(R) Vx Receives 2017 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award for Seventh Consecutive YearTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on LED Medical Diagnostics Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/LED Medical Diagnostics Inc.Source: LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. (TSX Venture: LMD, OTCQB: LEDIF, FWB: LME, WKN: A1KC2E, ISIN: CA50184T1093)Date: November 07, 2017Time: 8:30 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
According to the research report, The Latin America minimally invasive surgery market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 10.80% between 2014 and 2020. The market was valued at US$925 mn in 2013 and is expected to reach US$1.93 bn by the end of 2020.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:08:40

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The Latin America minimally invasive surgery market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 10.80% between 2014 and 2020. The market was valued at US$925 mn in 2013 and is expected to reach US$1.93 bn by the end of 2020. According to the report, the primary growth driver of the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market is the large-scale use of advanced surgical instruments in the recent years. This market provides the benefit of performing low-cost surgeries, adding to its rate of preference. The increase in preference of minimally invasive surgeries in Latin America is also attributed to the higher rate of patient comfort in terms of surgical discomfort and reduction in duration of their hospital stay.The report segments the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market according to the categories of product types, type of surgery, and country. From the point of view of product types, the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market was dominated by surgical devices in 2013. This is attributed directly to the growing use of advanced surgical tools that reduce the need for invasive surgery. The fastest growth rate in the product segment is attributed to medical robots.Request to view Sample Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3842 In terms of types of surgeries, the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market was led by cardiac surgery in 2013 according to revenue. However, the report states that this segment is expected to decline in market share owing to the rapid rate of increase of cosmetic surgeries in Brazil and Mexico. The segments of orthopedic and cosmetic surgeries are expected to witness the fastest rate of growth within the reports forecast period.Regionally, the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market was led by Brazil and Mexico as the two nations collectively held over 50% of the market in 2013. Mexico is expected to show the fastest growth rate within the reports forecast period, followed closely by Brazil.The report cites figures by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which states that there was a 120% increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries in Brazil between 2009 and 2012. This favors the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market to a large extent. Key players in the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market are Stryker Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Siemens Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Inc., Teleflex, Covidien plc, DePuy Synthes, Inc., Biomet, Inc., and Philips Healthcare. The top companies of the Latin America minimally invasive surgery market all possess highly advanced product portfolios which allow them to take up larger share in the market.Latin America Minimally Invasive Surgery Market is available @ US$ 5795: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=3842<ype=S
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:39:02

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Nanofibers can be defined as fibers with diameters in the range of 1001000 nanometer. Nanofibers is a new class of materials used for several value-added applications such as filtration, medicines, composites, and energy storage. Nanofibers can be manufactured by interfacial polymerization, antisolvent-induced polymer precipitation, melt processing, or electrostatic spinning. Carbon nanofibers are graphitized fibers formed by catalytic synthesis.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22628 Nanofibers are used in tissue engineering and drug delivery as well as in artificial organ components, implant materials, wound dressings, and therapeutic textile materials. Recently, researchers have discovered that nanofiber meshes can be used against the HIV-1 virus and also as a contraception. In the healing of wounds, nanofibers accumulate at the injury site and remain at that place, drawing the bodys own development factors to the injury site. Nanofibers are also used in pigments for cosmetics. They can stimulate the fabrication of cartilage in damaged joints. Numerous approaches toward this use of nanofibers are being utilized by researchers at John Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University. Researchers are using nanofibers in sensors that modify color as they engross chemical vapors. They plan to use these sensors to demonstrate when the absorbing material in a gas mask becomes saturated. Researchers have also developed piezoelectric nanofibers that are elastic enough to be interlaced into clothing. These fibers can transform the normal motion into energy to power the electronic devices such as mobile phones. In addition, researchers are developing nanofibers to capture cancer cells flowing in the blood stream. They use nanofibers covered with antibodies that bind to cancer cells, ensnaring those cells.Growth of bioengineering and biomedical industries across the globe is projected to boost the demand for nanofibers. Additionally, increase in demand for medicines in emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America is projected to further propel the demand for nanofibers in those economies. However, volatile prices of raw materials and availability of substitutes can hamper the growth of this market.North America is projected to be a key market for nanofibers during the forecast period, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the rapidly expanding market for nanofibers during the forecast period. China, India, and Japan are major markets for nanofibers in Asia Pacific due to presence of an established end user industry. Singapore, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia are expected to be other prominent consumers of nanofibers in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. The nanofibers market in Europe and North America is projected to experience moderate to high growth during the forecast period. Brazil and Argentina are estimated to be major consumers of nanofibers in Latin America.The nanofibers market is highly fragmented. It is dominated by large- and medium-sized corporations in the field of materials and chemicals. Key players operating in the global nanofibers market are FibeRio Technology Corporation, Toray Industries, Ahlstrom Corporation, Johns Manville Corporation, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Donaldson Filtration Solutions, Asahi Kasei, Johns Pyrograf Products, Inc., Elmarco, Jiangxi Xian Cai Nanofibers Technology Co., Ltd., Revolution Fibers, eSpin Nanofibers, and MemPro.Companies are adopting the acquisition strategy and aggressive marketing tactics to increase their market share. They are investing in research and development activities to develop new techniques for nano capsules. Moreover, companies are shifting their production facilities to emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America, due to easy availability of land, inexpensive labor, and governmental subsidies in those countries.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22628
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 09:07:23

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Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life. Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.A sample of this report is available upon request @Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & RestraintsRising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring. In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction. The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: SegmentationNon- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography:By TechnologyMIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy)Raman SpectroscopyOcclusion SpectroscopyOptical Coherence TomographyThermal Emission SpectroscopyPhotoacoustic SpectroscopyImpedance/Dielectric SpectroscopyElectromagneticPolarimetryFluorescenceBy ModalityWearable Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsNon-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsBy End UserHospitalsHome Care SettingsClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewRising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.
According to the research report, The lNovel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) in Cancer Therapy Market states that expanding at a remarkable 23.70% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, the global market is anticipated to rise from a value of US$3.6 bn in 2013 to US$15.9 bn in 2020.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) in Cancer Therapy Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:03:26

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The Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) in Cancer Therapy Market states that expanding at a remarkable 23.70% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, the global market is anticipated to rise from a value of US$3.6 bn in 2013 to US$15.9 bn in 2020. The NDDS in cancer therapy market is categorized on the basis of technology into liquid embolics, nanoparticles, and embolization particles. Valued at US$3.3 bn in 2013, nanoparticles emerged as the leading technology segment in terms of revenue. This segment is projected to expand at an astounding 24.70% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, presenting the most promising opportunities for players within the NDDS in cancer therapy market. The segment of liquid embolics is forecast to expand at a 4.90% CAGR by 2020.On the basis of geography, the global NDDS in cancer therapy market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Accounting for a share of 46.60% in the overall market in 2013, North America has emerged as the leading regional segment. Expanding at an impressive 24.90% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, North America is anticipated to hold 49.70% of the global NDDS in cancer therapy market by the end of the forecast period. The NDDS in cancer therapy market in this region is fueled by favorable reimbursement scenario, rising number of people suffering from various types of cancer, and technologically advanced healthcare infrastructure.Request to view Sample Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3590 Accounting for 29.20% of the global NDDS in cancer therapy market, Europe became the second largest regional segment in 2013, propelled by technological advances, strong pipeline, and development of innovative products. The Asia Pacific market for NDDS is anticipated to exhibit a 22.60% CAGR during the forecast period owing to rapid growth in emerging economies such as Japan, New Zealand, China, India, and Australia. The NDDS in cancer therapy market in this region is also fueled by increasing market penetration by major players and improvement in reimbursement scenario. The key participants in the global NDDS in cancer therapy market include Mo-Sci Corporation, Cook Medical, Inc., Sirtex Medical, Inc., Bind Therapeutics, EmboMedics, Inc., BTG plc, Kobo Products, Inc., Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation, Nanobiotix, CeloNova BioSciences, Inc., Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG, Boston Scientific Corporation, Polysciences, Inc., Covidien, plc, Cospheric LLC, Terumo Medical Corporation, and Merit Medical Systems, Inc. These players are profiled in the research report based on attributes such as company and financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.Global Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) in Cancer Therapy Market is available @ US$ 5795: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=3590<ype=S
Online Clothing Rental Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 07:06:37

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Online clothing rental comprises services through which individuals can rent items of clothing for a predefined period. These services are of benefit to individuals participating in occasionally conducted events, such as wedding parties, theme parties, corporate parties, and photoshoots and filmmaking. Fashion-conscious individuals lacking the financial resources to purchase the clothing of their choice can also make use of online clothing rental services. Moreover, online clothing rental services are also of use for individuals going through temporary changes in their physique, such as pregnant women. Rental services provide a cost-effective option for these demographics, which has driven the demand from the global online clothing rental market.Online Clothing Rental Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe primary driver of the global online clothing rental market is the increasing ease of use of online retail. Thanks to the rapid advancement observed in telecommunications technology, Internet shopping portals have grown in popularity rapidly over the last decade. The advancement in mobile Internet technology has further driven the demand for online shopping by making the process even more convenient. The rapidly growing middle class and corporate sector in developing economies has also expanded the target demographic for the online clothing rental market. Both these factors are expected to retain a strong influence on the trajectory of the global online clothing rental market in the coming years.Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11378 Increasing Internet penetration in developing countries with a promising demographic breakdown, such as India, China, Brazil, etc. is also helping the online clothing rental market post a strong growth rate. While mobile telephony in these countries still lags behind developed regions such as North America and Western Europe, broadband Internet is becoming easily available for an increasing portion of the population, which has driven the demand for online shopping and online rental services.The major restraint on the global online clothing rental market is the lack of customizability. In contrast to purchased items of clothing, which can be refitted according to the individuals measurements or even customized before buying, rental clothing cant be adjusted to precisely fit the customers needs. This leaves significant scope for discontent among users of online clothing rental services. In response to this, many companies in the online clothing rental market are starting to offer innovative features. Live chats with stylists are becoming an increasingly common feature, while some companies offer the same item in two sizes so that customers may try them on and choose the better fit. Such innovative solutions are making this inherent restraint on the online clothing rental market less cumbersome for market players.Online Clothing Rental Market: Geographical OverviewThe global online clothing rental market is led by North America, followed closely by Europe. Western Europe is by far the dominant segment of the Europe market, thanks to the high purchasing power and fashion consciousness of consumers in developed countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and the U.K. The easy availability of broadband Internet in these regions has also been a major factor in the growth of the online clothing rental market.Visit For TOC@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=11378 However, the larger population of dynamic Asian countries such as China and India is expected to swing the balance in the favor of Asia Pacific in the coming years. The purchasing power of APAC consumers is on the rise due to the growing GDP of developing economies in the region, while Internet penetration is also increasing at promising rates across the region.In terms of competition, Rent the Runway, Share Wardrobe, Elanic Services Private Limited, Secoo Holding Limited, Stylish Play, FlyRobe, Walkin Closet, and Secret Wardrobe are the major players operating in the global online clothing rental market.
Oral Biologics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:14:12

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Oral biologics represent a novel category of drugs, which is gaining traction in the last few decades. Biologic therapeutics has proven to be a highly effective treatment for various chronic ailments, such as diabetes, plaque psoriasis, arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis. The major concern regarding oral biologics is to protect the protein from degradation and digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. The first products were mostly insulin-related, novel peptides and protein are appearing in the market currently. For instance, antibodies and their derivatives, particularly human monoclonal antibodies are the most rapidly growing category. Moreover, small interfering RNA, enzymes, cytokines, and various type of peptide drugs are the most studied biological therapeutics. Rapid discoveries of new drug targets, effective engineering processes, and knowledge of the fate of biologics in the human body is resulting in increased number of biologics in the market. Among the therapies, proteins and monoclonal antibodies are expected to fuel the growth of oral biologics market in near future, due to their high selective and potent therapeutic efficacy with limited side effects.Request a sample copy of this report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/989 Global Oral Biologics Market TaxonomyBy Therapy TypeTumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitorsLymphocyte modulatorsInterleukin inhibitorsBy IndicationsArthritisAsthmaCarcinomaCrohns DiseaseDiabetesEnterocolitisMultiple myelomaMultiple sclerosisPsoriasisSarcomaOthersAdvance drug formulation and increase compliance of oral biologics is expected to accelerate the growth of oral biologics market in near futureOral delivery of drugs is the most preferred route of administration by both patients and the manufacturers. Convenience and ease are the major requirements for patients leading to higher medicine adherence. The production cost for the oral dosage is low from other options and offer the greatest adaptability with respect to optimization of drug delivery. The greatest challenge of oral administration of biologic APIs is absorption across the gastrointestinal (GI) tract specifically in the small intestine, which has the highest permeability for the drugs as compared to the large intestine. Large size and polar surface of biomolecules are difficult to diffuse across the epithelial layer. Drug formulations are focusing on the overcoming of various physiochemical challenges by permeation enhancer, enzyme inhibitors, and encapsulation. Encapsulation is a protective covering that helps to prevent chemicals and enzymatic degradation. For instance, Rani Auto Pill, 2012, is an ordinary robotic capsule delivered in the intestine without exposing the drug to the digestive enzymes. It is incorporated with number of innovations enabling it to navigate through the stomach, which enters small intestine and undergoes transformation to deliver the drug into the intestine, such innovative products are expected to boost growth of market in near future. Currently, insulin buccal sprays, inhaled insulin, nanotechnological systems, phytobiochemicals, and oral insulin are under clinical trials. For instance, Nova Nordisk is bringing its latest oral version GLP-1, type-2 diabetes medication in early 2018 in partnership with Emisphere technologies.Ask for customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/989 Geographically, North America is expected to be the major consumer of innovative products, followed by Europe. These are the primary launch targets for manufacturers as they generate maximum revenues for the company. Therefore, this regions are the fastest growing markets and are expected to retain their position in near future. In 2016, around 50% of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals were for biologics. Asia Pacific region is expected to show slow growth in oral biologics market, due to higher cost of the biologics.Collaboration and innovation are expected to be the major strategies of the oral biologics market playersThe major key players operating the oral biologics market include AstraZeneca plc, Eli Lilly and Co., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk, and Rani Therapeutics, LLC. Innovation and collaboration are expected to be the major strategies to combat the oral biologics market. For instance, Rani Therapeutics announced collaboration with Medimmune in 2016, research and development arm of AstraZeneca globally to evaluate Ranis novel oral drug delivering platform. This collaboration is expected to conduct feasibility studies of the drug and test biologic molecules in the area of metabolic disease to evaluate the oral delivery of the molecules. The objective of this collaboration is to deliver biologics orally, which is expected to increase the compliance and improve the patient lives globally.Click here to know more about this report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/oral-biologics-market-989 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.Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentnews.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:15:51

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The demand for lubricants has peaked globally in response to the expansion and diversification objectives across diverse industries. At a time when initiatives are taken to curb harmful emissions, industries are gradually ebbing from conventional lubricants and gradually inclining in favor of polyalkylene glycol (PAG) base oil. Unlike conventional lubricants, PAG base oils offer extended lubricant performance and have environmental acceptability. On the back of these factors, PAG base oils have forayed across major industries.Overall the PAG base oil market will continue exhibiting growth at a moderate pace between 2017 and 2022. Because of their low volatility, PAG base oils are valued in high temperature applications. Besides this, PAG base oils are biodegradable and has therefore emerged as an ideal option for environmentally sensitive application. As a cumulative impact of the aforementioned factors, the global PAG base oil markets trajectory is expected to remain positive through the forecast period.View Full Report TOC, Figures and Tables at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pag-base-oil-market.html In addition, the impressive growth of the industrial sector in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa will prove a boon for the market, enabling it sustain its growth pace in the near future. As per Transparency Market Research, the global PAG base oil market will exhibit a CAGR of 4.6% between 2017 and 2022.Global PAG Base Oil Market: Key InsightsThe pace of growth for the global PAG base oil market is likely to remain moderate through the forecast period from 2017 to 2022. PAG lubricants have various properties, which are uniquely suited for diverse manufacturing and industrial applications. Also they are water soluble, which makes clean-up of equipment easier. Besides this, PAG base oil are shear stable and offer high viscosity indexes. These, coupled with the fire resistance and energy efficiency of PAG base oils have bolstered their application across industries.The rising popularity of PAG base oils is due to various benefits they offer such as wear and tear protection, excellent thermal stability, besides other properties such as low friction and good load carrying capacity. Also research and development initiatives aimed at innovation of cutting edge technologies such as fire-resistant ester-based oils are incorporated across diverse industries and are often used with hydraulic battery packs to sustain high temperature and pressure.Despite exhibiting positive trajectory over the last few years, the high cost of synthetic fibers compared to their mineral counterparts could threaten the global PAG base oil market. Furthermore, the rising consumption of mineral oils in emerging nations of Asia Pacific especially among the mushrooming small-scale manufacturers is also likely to have an adverse impact on the overall market.Among various products available in the global PAG base oil market, the water insoluble PAG oils segment will represent nearly 53% of the market by the end of 2017. Before 2022 ends, the segment is expected to 839.4 mn, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.3% during the time.Request A Sample Of This Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=33296 Regionally, the report forecasts the PAG base oil market in North America to reach US$342.4 mn by the end of 2017, reaching US$412.3 mn by 2022. If these figures hold true, the North America market will exhibit a CAGR of 3.8% between 2017 and 2022. However, it is Asia Pacific except Japan, which is expected to showcase a more prolific growth during the forecast period. According to the report the market in APEJ will exhibit a CAGR of 4.6% between 2017 and 2022.Global PAG Base Oil Market: Competitive DynamicsIdemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Morris Lubricants, Petronas Lubricants International, Hornett Bros & Co Ltd, Phillips 66 Company, Fuchs Group, and I.L.C. S.r.l. are some of the prominent names operating in the global PAG base oil market.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.
Periodontal Therapeutics Market report categorizes the global market by Product (Systemic Antibiotics and Local Antibiotic), Distribution Channel (Hospitals Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Drug Stores, and E-Commerce) and Geography

Periodontal Therapeutics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:10:10

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A report by Transparency Market Research predicts the global periodontal therapeutics market to register a CAGR of 8.7% during the period between 2016 and 2024 to attain a value of US$537.2 mn by 2024. At the forefront of driving demand in the global periodontal therapeutics market is the rising consumption of tobacco which leads to periodontal disorders. Besides, the growing number of diabetics, increasing thrust on research, and technological progress is also proving beneficial to the market. Colgate-Palmolive, a multinational consumer products company, estimates that about 300 million will be afflicted with diabetes by 2025 and most of them will be from India and China.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/periodontal-therapeutics-market.html The American Academy of Periodontology finds that the occurrence of periodontal disease is maximum among ethnic minorities. Almost 63.5 percent of Hispanic-Americans, 50 percent of Non-Hispanic Asian Americans, and 59.1 percent of Non-Hispanic Blacks suffer from the disease.Based on the type of products, the global market for periodontal therapeutics can be divided into systemic antibiotics and local antibiotics. Among the two, the systemic antibiotics segment dominated the market in 2016 with a lions share for more than 94%. In the years ahead, the segment is slated to continue to rake in maximum revenue, although reducing its share slightly because of its affordability and availability.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=24614 Geographically, the key segments of the global market for periodontal therapeutics are North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. North America, of them, led the market in 2015 with a dominant share of more than 40.0%. This is primarily on account of the rising occurrence of periodontal diseases, product innovation, helpful reimbursement policies, and a growing pool of elderly. As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 47.2% of adults 30 years and above is afflicted with some type of periodontal disease. This, along with increasing awareness about the ailment is expected to drive the market.The global periodontal therapeutics market is highly consolidated in nature on account of a few players holding most of the share in the market. Some of the key players in the market are Den-Mat Holdings, Valeant Pharmaceuticals international, Inc., 3M, Galderma S.A., and LLC Dexcel Pharma. In 2015, 3M, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Int. Inc., and Den-Mat Holdings emerged as the top three players in the market and together they accounted for a mammoth share of 77.7%.Request Periodontal Therapeutics Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24614 A key trend noticed in the global market for periodontal therapeutics is the investment into research and development of more effective therapies by prominent participants. This, coupled with the focus on strategic mergers and acquisitions and partnerships by players seeking to expand their outreach, is serving to heat up competition in the market.Buy Periodontal Therapeutics Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=24614<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
According to the research report, Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Drugs Market is mainly driven by the increasing prevalence of nosocomial infections across the globe. The global hospital-acquired pneumonia drugs market currently features one vaccine and five investigational drugs in clinical trials phase III. Six major phase III drugs will collectively generate revenue to the tune of US$3.8 bn by 2020.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 13:01:03

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Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Drugs Market is mainly driven by the increasing prevalence of nosocomial infections across the globe. The global hospital-acquired pneumonia drugs market currently features one vaccine and five investigational drugs in clinical trials phase III. Six major phase III drugs will collectively generate revenue to the tune of US$3.8 bn by 2020. The appreciable demand for hospital-acquired pneumonia falls into perspective when one considers the fact that pneumonia accounts for over 22% of all hospital-acquired infections. Often, conventional antibiotics are unable to treat multidrug resistant organisms, creating a sizeable unmet demand for effective drugs for not just hospital-acquired pneumonia but also for other kinds of hospital acquired infections.However, the astounding amounts of money spent on combating hospital-acquired drugs has forced governments to impose strict policies to address the root causes of such infections. As many of these programs meet success, the incidence rate of hospital-acquired infections will likely see a dip. This will, in turn, lead to a decline in the demand for hospital-acquired pneumonia drugs. The report terms this trend as an impending restraint for the growth of the global hospital-acquired pneumonia drugs market. Hospital-acquired pneumonia, which is also sometimes referred to as ventilator-associated pneumonia, is typically seen among patients who are immunocompromised patients, on enteral feeding, or have undergone surgery. Infants, too, face a risk of acquiring hospital-acquired pneumonia. Among the newborn, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is identified as being the major cause of nosocomial pneumonia.Request to view Sample Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1881 The global hospital-acquired pneumonia drugs market currently features one vaccine and five investigational drugs in clinical trials phase III. It is estimated that many of these drugs will hit the market in 2017. The following drugs are currently in phase III of clinical trials, as per the report: Cubist Pharmaceuticals Ceftolozane/tazobactam and tedizolid phosphate, AstraZeneca PLCs Ceftazidime/avibactam, Bayer Healthcares Amikacin inhale, Achaogen, Inc.s Plazomicin, and GlaxoSmithKlines Synflorix. Of these, tedizolid phosphate is emerging as the most preferred drug for treating nosocomial pneumonia. TMRs analysis reveals that many of the candidates that are expected to be launched over the coming years are biological drugs. With this, it can be gauged that a paradigm shift is taking place from traditional antibiotic therapy to more sophisticated biological drug therapy. With four drug candidates for hospital-acquired pneumonia, the pipeline of Aridis Pharmaceuticals is seen to be the strongest, and each of these drugs is a monoclonal antibody therapy. In addition to these drugs, the market also features ten drugs that are in the early clinical trial stages. The market is characterized by numerous research and development activities. Companies that currently hold a strong position in the global hospital acquired pneumonia drugs market are: Achaogen, Inc., AstraZeneca PLC, Aridis Pharmaceutical, Valneva SE, Bayer Healthcare, Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd., Cubist Pharmaceutical, Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck & Co.Global Pipeline Analysis of Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Drugs Market is available @ US$ 5795: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=1881<ype=S
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 16:22:21

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A new Transparency Market Research report states that the global polypropylene market was valued at US$81.6 bn in 2014 and is predicted to reach US$ 133.3 bn by 2023. It is expected to expand at a 5.7% CAGR in the forecast period between 2015 and 2023. The title of the report is Polypropylene Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023.The rising demand for polypropylene within the food and beverages packaging industry, along with the rising demand for lightweight vehicles, is predicted to fuel the market for polypropylene in the coming years. On the other hand, the rising concern regarding the hazardous effects of plastics on the environment and the unpredictable prices of raw materials may inhibit the growth of the market for polypropylene in the coming years. To overcome this obstacle, manufacturers of polypropylene are focusing on biobased polypropylene, which will bring in new opportunities by the end of 2023.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polypropylene-market.html On the basis of end user, the polypropylene market is segmented into automotive, packaging, electrical and electronics, consumer products, construction, and others including agriculture, medical, furniture, etc. Amongst these, in 2014, packaging dominated the market, representing a share of over 45% and is also the most swiftly developing end-use segment in the polypropylene market. This is due to the fact that polypropylene has significant uses in both rigid and flexible packaging because of its resistance to high temperatures and strong chemicals.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1664 The automotive end-use segment trailed the packaging segment and took the second biggest share in the market the same year. Polypropylene presents the right amount of mechanical strength and flexibility and provides a high-quality surface finish in vehicles. Polypropylene is also lightweight  around 15-20% lighter when compared to other plastics. This lowers the total weight of vehicles and as a result reduces fuel consumption and resultant carbon dioxide emissions. Hence, the growing demand for lightweight motor vehicles in developing and developed economies is accelerating the global market for polypropylene.Request Polypropylene Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1664 On the basis of geography, the polypropylene market is segmented into Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Amongst these, in 2014, Asia Pacific constituted a share of more than 50% in the global market for polypropylene and is predicted to rise even more by 2023. The demand for polypropylene is predicted to rise in India, China, Brazil, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), owing to rising demand for food containers within these countries. Additionally, the increasing number of supermarkets within these countries is further raising the demand for polypropylene in the packaging industry.On the other hand, Latin America is predicted to increase at an above-average rate owing to rising polypropylene demand from the automotive, construction, and packaging industries. Europe is a stagnant market for polypropylene, however, the rising automotive industry in this region is expected to fuel the polypropylene market in the forecast horizon. BASF SE, Total S.A., Braskem, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., SABIC, Borealis AG, Sinopec, and Reliance Industries Limited, among others are the key players dominant in the market.
Soups Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 12:35:03

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Soup is a type of liquid food that is prepared using vegetables, meat, fish, water, and other additives. Consumption of soup has many benefits. It is a source of nutrients, which are essential for proper functioning of the body. American Heart Association recommends that an adult should consume eight or more servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Soups can help to achieve this amount easily. The growing demand for convenience foods, increasing health awareness, introduction of new flavors in the market, and attractive advertisements by the soup manufactures are the key drivers of soups market. Moreover, urbanization, growing disposable incomes, increase in working women population, and hectic lifestyle are further fueling the growth of soups market. The rising awareness about health risks associated with the consumption of preservatives in ready-to-cook soups is a major restraint for soups market. However, many manufacturers are introducing products with low preservative content.Request Sample of Soups Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/848 Soups Market TaxonomyBased on product type, the soups market is segmented intoCannedChilledDriedFrozenUHTBased on distribution channel, the soups market is segmented intoSupermarketsHypermarketsConvenience storesE-commerceDried soup is projected to be the largest segment in the soups market, owing to the high demand for quick meals. Demand for canned soups is decreasing, owing to the increasing health awareness of consumers about the presence of preservatives in these soups and dislike for heavy metal packaging. Furthermore, consumers prefer soups, which are easier to open as compared to canned soups and come in biodegradable packaging. Hypermarkets and supermarkets are the biggest and favorable distribution channels in the soups market.Soups Market OutlookEurope holds a major share in the global soups market. This is, as a result of the growing demand for high-quality meals that can be prepared in short time. The U.K., France, Russia, Spain, and Germany are the major contributors to the growth of soups market in this region.Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market over the forecast period, owing to the availability of a wide variety of products in the market and changing consumer preference toward healthier products. Furthermore, abundance of raw materials, especially in India and China, is further fueling the growth of soups market. The market in Asia Pacific is highly cost competitive, owing to which, many brands such as Knorr by Unilever Plc. are launching inexpensive variants in local authentic flavors to attract consumer attention.North America soups market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has imposed stringent regulations on safety of food products such as soups, which plays a pivotal role in market growth.In Latin America, Middle East, and Africa, increasing per capita income, health awareness, industrialization, literacy, and changing consumer preferences are projected to be the market driversCheck the Trending Report of Soups Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/soups-market-848 The companies are adopting various inorganic and organic growth strategies such as new product launch, mergers, and acquisitions to retain their market position. For instance, Campbell Soup acquired Pacific foods in June 2017 for US$ 700 million. An example of new product launch is the Well Yes! Line of soups by Campbell, which contains ingredients such as kale, farro, sweet potatoes, and quinoa in January 2017. Key market players in the soups market are Associated British Foods, Baxters Food Group, B&G Foods, Inc., Campbell Soup Co., Greencore Group Plc., General Mills, Inc., Nestle S.A., Nissin Foods Holdings Co. Ltd, The Kraft Heinz Company, and Unilever Plc.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:38:59

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Spiromesifen Market: OverviewSpiromesifen, a type of compound, is used for the protection of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It functions as an efficient insecticide and miticide, and is available in the form of colorless crystals. Spiromesifen is produced synthetically and is applied as a spar by mixing it in water. The compound is used as a foliar insecticide on plants such as tea, strawberries, corns and tubers, cucurbits, potatoes, and leafy vegetables. It can efficiently control organisms such as whiteflies, aphids, psyllids, and mites such as rust mites, spider mites, broad, and flat and cyclamen mites.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22583 Spiromesifen belongs to a class of the new spirocyclic phenyl-substituted tetronic acid. It is highly effective against organisms that can be harmful toward the growth of crops or plants. Its unique mode of action makes it a preferable choice even at the initial stages of the lifecycle of insects and mites. Infection of plants, crops, or vegetables can be arrested at the initial stages, since spiromesifen is effective at all stages of growth in mites, including eggs. It is effective in the juvenile stages and also while the organism is an adult. In case of psyllids and whitefly, spiromesifen is known to be much effective at the pupal stages.Ideally, the right time for the application of spiromesifen would be before leaf damage and discoloration and at the initial stages of the infection of crops. Spiromesifen functions as a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor, which is the reason for its high efficiency rate. It can easily terminate the growth of harmful pests, insects, and mites. It can be used individually or along with other pesticides, depending upon the level of damage that has occurred to the crops.Spiromesifen Market: TrendsSpiromesifen is an essential part of resistance management of crops; hence, it is used widely in regions where crops are cultivated on a large scale. Of late, spiromesifen has replaced various age-old insecticides and miticides due to its better mode of action and early removal of pests and insects from infected plants or crops.The trend usage of ornamental plants has been increasing of late. Spiromesifen is being employed widely for the protection of ornamental plants. This is primarily boosting the market for spiromesifen. Unlike other substances, spiromesifen is said to have less harmful effects and superior qualities. This is further anticipated to bolster the spiromesifen market in the near future.Spiromesifen Market: Region-wise OutlookThe market for spiromesifen in Asia Pacific has been expanding significantly due to the presence of major agriculture based countries such as India and China in the region. Awareness about maintaining the quality of crops is increasing in Asia Pacific. This coupled with rise in population and growth in demand for food is propelling the demand for spiromesifen in the region.The market for spiromesifen in North America is estimated to expand at a moderate pace during the forecast period since agricultural practices are comparatively less in the region. The market for spiromesifen in Europe and Latin America is projected to expand substantially, led by the increase in the rate of cultivation in countries such as Brazil, Spain, and Germany. However, the spiromesifen market in Middle East & Africa is likely to expand at a sluggish pace due to the lower number of agricultural activities vis-a-vis that in other regions.Spiromesifen Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the spiromesifen market include Bayer CropScience Limited, Sigma Aldrich, LGC Limited, A.S. Joshi & Company Ltd, Neelkanth Chemicals and Star Bio Science.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22583
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 10:39:08

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Starter fertilizer is a small amount of fertilizer nutrients placed near the seed, usually at the time of planting. Starter fertilizers boost the development of budding seedlings by supplying vital nutrients. These fertilizers aim to strengthen the roots of a plant at an early stage. Phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen are the key nutrient components in a starter fertilizer. Phosphorus is essentially used to promote vigorous root growth. Starter fertilizers have traditionally been recommended for fields lacking in phosphorous. Starter fertilizers are highly beneficial for corn crops. Food crops do not respond to starter fertilizers the same way as corn crops. Starter fertilizers have generally been used in the production of corn in fields with cool soil temperatures so that the nutrients can be easily accessed until the soil condition improves.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22634 Based on the type of nutrient component, the global starter fertilizers market can be segmented into nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and micronutrients. The phosphorous segment led the global market for starter fertilizers in 2015. It is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period due to the characteristics of phosphorous to stimulate growth and nourish the roots of the plant at early stages. Thus, demand for phosphorous has been rising in the global starter fertilizers market. The phosphorous segment was followed by nitrogen and potassium segments, respectively, in 2015. Micronutrients such as boron, chlorine, and copper are used in traces; these constitute a small share of the global starter fertilizers market.Based on the crop type, the global starter fertilizers market can be divided into cereals, fruits & vegetables, and oil seeds & pulses. The cereals segment held the prominent share of the global starter fertilizer market in 2015. The cereals segment has been expanding due to the significant demand for cereals across the globe. Cereal crops include corn, which is suited for the use of starter fertilizers. Thus, the cereals segment is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The fruits & vegetable segment is estimated to follow the cereals segment in the near future. Based on form, the global starter fertilizer market can be divided into dry and liquid. Both these forms of starter fertilizers are equally effective; the choice between the two depends upon the cost and convenience of usage.In terms of region, the global starter fertilizer market can be divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America held the major share of the global starter fertilizer market in 2015. The U.S. not only accounted for the prominent share of the region, but also led the market across the globe. The starter fertilizers market in North America is anticipated to expand at a steady pace and continue its dominance during the forecast period. This is ascribed to the rise in adoption of improved fertilizer technologies for enhanced production of cereals and fruits and vegetable crops in the region. North America is likely to be followed by Europe during the forecast period. Countries in Europe such as France, Spain, the U.K., Italy, and Germany have been quick in adopting advanced fertilizer products. Europe is also a large export market for fruits and vegetables. The starter fertilizers market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period primarily due to the large consumer base in the region. Countries such as China and India in the region are also key producers of cereals and fruits and vegetable crops.Prominent players operating in the global starter fertilizers market are Stoller USA Inc., The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Conklin Company Partners Inc., Yara International ASA, CHS Inc., Agrium Inc., Helena Chemical Company, Miller Seed Company, Nachurs Alpine Solution, and Conklin Company Partners Inc.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=22634
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:33:36

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Sterilization is the process of eliminating biological agents or any forms of lives, which include transmissible agents such as fungi, bacteria, spore forms, unicellular eukaryotic organisms and spore forms that are present in a specific surface, region, medication, fluid, etc. Sterilization is an unavoidable process in medical industry withefficacy and sterility of the sterilization equipment as prime factors. The serious issues over utilization of unsterilized equipment such as lethalhepatitis and HIV threatening public health, emphasise the importance for effective infection control. Sterilization equipment are thus a crucial part of the heath care setting owing to their extensive utilization for disinfecting and aiding in reprocessing tools and devices. With governments engaged in introducing productive measure to uplift and improve public heath, the scope of application of medical service, tools and devices has expanded significantly. Recent pandemics such as Ebola virus has emphasized the crucial need of hygienic environment and proper administration of medical faculties. Ultra high sterilization temperature equipment finds an extensive utilization in sterilization of food containers such as milk, juice & beer bottles.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global Sterilization Equipment Market: Market DynamicsWith the growth of geriatric population and increasing concern over post-operation acquired infection and diseases, the demand for sterilized equipment is increasing significantly. The increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure and focus over public health by introducing stringent regulations regarding medical equipment is positively influencing and propelling the global sterilization equipment market. However, in relatively emerging economies and countries, the high cost of sterilization equipment acts as a barrier and challenges revenue sales growth of the sterilization equipment market. Not only the utilisation is limited to medical application, but also the food and beverage industry is a prime application segment of sterilization equipment market. With prominent consumption in cleaning and disinfecting container and packages, the thriving sector is expected to create significant revenue opportunities during the forecast period. Sterilization equipment market participants are focusing over the development of equipment catering to a wider scope of tools and having extensive disinfecting properties. The sterilization equipment market is expected to witness a growing trend of outsourcing sterilizing services to independent operators during the forecast year.Global Sterilization Equipment Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global sterilization equipment market can be segmented as following:Heat SterilizationLow Temperature SterilizationEthylene oxide sterilizationVaporized hydrogen peroxidePlasma sterilizationFiltration SterilizationRadiation SterilizationBeam radiationX-rayGammaThe global sterilization equipment market can be segmented on the basis of technology as:Steam-flush pressure pulseGravity displacementPre-vacuumGlobal Sterilization Equipment Market: Regional OutlookNorth America sterilization equipment market accounts for maximum revenue contribution during the forecast period. Followed by North America, Western Europesterilization equipment market is expected to contribute significant revenue share during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for medical devices from key markets such as Germany, France and Nordics. The evolving healthcare infrastructure in Asia Pacific spearheaded by India, China and ASEAN is expected to create significant revenue and unit sales opportunities for manufacturers in the region. Pivotal focus over healthcare spending and government initiatives to improve medical services is expected to moderately increase the consumption of sterilization equipment moderately in Japan. Likewise, increased investment for medical services in the Middle East and Africa has propelled the demand for sterilization equipment. Even though the revenue contributions of Eastern Europe and Latin America sterilization equipment market are relatively low, escalating number of small and medium medical facilities are expected to register relatively higher revenue growth during the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Global Sterilization Equipment Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global sterilization equipment market include Tuttnauer, Steris Corporation, Cantel Medical Corporation, Matachana Group, Celitron Medical Technologies Kft, Getinge Group, Belimed Ag, which is a part of A Metall Zug Group, MME group Inc, Anderson Products, Inc, MMM Group and Nanosonics Ltd among other key participants in the global Sterilization Equipment Market.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 17:49:37

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A report by Transparency Market Research projects The Global Stretch Marks Treatment Market to attain a value of US$1.99 bn by 2025-end by clocking a CAGR of 5.40% from 2017 to 2025.View Report-Rising instances of stretch marks in people of various age-groups is catalyzing growth in the global stretch marks treatment market. Growing prevalence of obesity on account of increasing consumption of calorie-laden fat food and a sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes of stretch marks these days. Besides, rising consciousness among pregnant women highly prone to stretch marks, on account of urbanization and skillful advertisements by manufacturers, is also positively impacting demand. A range of products serving different needs is another factor boosting the global market for stretch marks treatment. This is mainly on account of the thrust on research and development by keen players to come up with more effective products. Explosive growth in e-tailing platforms worldwide and penetration of internet is benefitting the market as well.Request Stretch Marks Treatment Market Report Brochure @Geographically, the key regions in the global market for stretch mark treatments studied in the report are North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Of them, Asia Pacific is expected to surpass all other regions by clocking maximum CAGR of 5.8% from 2017 to 2025. Rising disposable incomes of people along with the changing lifestyle and growing popularity of mushrooming ecommerce platforms are mainly serving to stoke growth in the region. Japan and India are two of the nations that are powering the market in Asia Pacific.Request to view Sample Report -Some of the key players in the global stretch marks treatment market are Laboratoires Expanscience, Clarins Group, Merz North America, Inc., Cynosure, Inc., Syneron Medical Ltd., E.T. Browne Drug Co., Inc., Union-Swiss (Pty) Ltd., Basq Skincare, Ellipse A/S, The Boppy Company LLC, Helix BioMedix, Inc., Weleda AG, Dermaclara, Inc., Mama Mio US, Inc., and Centre Light Solutions, LLC.Stretch Marks Treatment Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.
Surgical Sutures Market report categorizes the global market by Product Type (Absorbable Sutures, Non-absorbable Sutures), Application (Gynecological Surgeries, Cardiovascular Surgeries, Orthopedic Surgeries), End User & Geography

Surgical Sutures Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 12:26:02

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Transparency Market Research states that the global market for surgical sutures will exhibit a 3.9% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, rising to a valuation of US$5,080.1 mn by 2025. The rising global demand for surgical sutures is chiefly attributed to increasing numbers of surgical procedures, surging global population, rapidly expanding geriatric population base across developed and developing economies, rising disposable incomes, and the rising willingness of the global population to spend on healthcare and wellness. Technological advancements enabling the development of suture materials capable of improving wound closure time and tissue approximation, which add more value to the final result of surgeries, are also fueling the uptake of surgical sutures across the globe. Moreover, the vast improvements observed in healthcare facilities such as the rising numbers of clinics and hospitals, especially in developing economies, are also intensifying the growth opportunities of the global surgical sutures market.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-sutures-market.html However, certain factors, such as the availability of other advanced wound closure materials and the burgeoning demand for minimally invasive procedures could hamper the growth prospects of the global surgical sutures market to some extent during the forecast period. The rising demand for precision surgical sutures and the rising number of vendors, especially in several developing economies where a number of local manufacturers offer surgical sutures at significantly low prices, have intensified price wars. The need to offer products at low costs to survive in such environment is adversely affecting the profit margins of leading players, which is consecutively bringing down funds usually invested in R&D activities and eventually resulting in the lack of innovative products in the global market.On the basis of product type, the segment of absorbable sutures, which accounted for a nearly 60% of the overall market in terms of revenue contribution in 2016, is expected to remain the leading segment throughout the forecast period. The segment is expected to offer an incremental opportunity of nearly US$880 mn between 2017 and 2025. Geographically, the North America market dominated the global market in 2015, accounting for a nearly 35%. Factors such as the rising numbers of orthopedic surgeries and the high per capita expenditure on healthcare will continue to drive the strong demand for surgical sutures in the North America market throughout the forecast period.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=19172 The global market for surgical sutures features a largely consolidated vendor landscape, with the top five vendors accounting for over 65% of the market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research in a recent report. The market features an intensifying price war due to the emergence of a number of domestic players selling products at significantly low prices. These leading players, namely Acelity L.P. Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Cardinal Health, Medela AG, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, dominate the global surgical sutures market owing to their innovative product offerings and strong customer relationships.With profits margins rapidly shrinking and the threat of alternatives becoming a huge challenge, companies operational in the field are focusing on expansion across emerging economies where the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is leading to a huge surge in open-heart surgeries. An instance of this would be Medtronics acquisition of Covidien plc., an Ireland-based healthcare company and manufacturer of medical devices and supplies, in 2015. The acquisition helped the former gain benefits such as expanding geographical access to a high-growth potential region and lower operational costs.Buy Surgical Sutures Market Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=19172<ype=S About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global 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. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
Titanium Dioxide Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 07:00:16

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CONTACT:Future Market InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral, whose chemical formula is TiO2. Titanium dioxide is processed and refined in a very fine powder after it is mined from earth. It is produced either by sulphate or by chloride process. Rutile, ilmenite, brookite and antanese are its natural forms, which are available as bulk crystals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared titanium dioxide as GRAS i.e. Generally Regarded As Safe for consumption. FDA also allows use of food grade titanium dioxide usage up to 1 %, without declaring it on products labels. In many consumer products such as personal care and food; titanium dioxide is used as a common additive. Titanium dioxide also provides smooth texture to products such as chocolates and doughnuts, whilst provides abrasive texture in products such as toothpastes and lotions. It is also used to brighten the color of the products whether it be food or personal care. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are the second most produced nanoparticles in the world. Nanowires and nanotubes made by titanium dioxide are high performance materials. Titanium dioxide imparts brightness, opacity and whiteness when used as a coating. It is extensively used as a white pigment in the paint industry.Global Titanium Dioxide Market: Market DynamicsThe increase in use of plastic and paper as packaging materials is fostering the growth of titanium dioxide market. The increasing number of patents and research activities is developing new applications of titanium dioxide creating a base for its further production. The growing need for high-scratch resistant materials is increasing the demand of titanium dioxide as a coating material.The use of calcium phosphate and silica dioxide as a substitute can affect the titanium dioxide market in future.Titanium dioxide is listed as a Group 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research (IARC) on Cancer which means it can cause cancer in human beings. More studies on hazardous effects on direct inhalation of titanium dioxide are being conducted, which can affect the steady growth of titanium dioxide market. The self-cleaning, odor reducing and water shedding properties of titanium dioxide makes it an ideal coating material for sustainable construction projects. The increasing use of personal care products in Middle East and Latin American countries is increasing the scope of more production of titanium dioxide in the respective regions. The growing infrastructure development in the Asia Pacific countries includes the growing usage of paints and coating materials, which are produced with titanium dioxide as a major ingredient. The increasing awareness for beauty and personal grooming around the globe especially in Chinese citizens is indirectly increasing the titanium dioxide demand by fostering the demand for cosmetic products.Request For Report Sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4030 The growing trend for low weight automobiles is fostering the growth of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. The increase in use of low volatile paints and coatings in sustainable housing projects is creating the growth opportunities for titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide coating on construction materials is used to maintain the indoor quality of air in commercial and residential buildings. Reflective properties of titanium dioxide make it ideal for manufacturing solar panels.Global Titanium Dioxide Market: Market SegmentationOn the basis of application:FoodBeveragesCosmeticsManufacturingOn the basis of form:Rutile gradeAntanese gradeGlobal Titanium Dioxide Market: Segmentation OverviewThe titanium dioxide market can be segmented on the basis of its applications. Titanium dioxide is used in the production of various cosmetic products such as creams, toners etc. The property of reflecting UVA and UVB radiations of the sun makes titanium dioxide a key ingredient for sunscreen lotions. It is also used in the manufacture of different construction materials such as fibers, paints, coatings etc. Titanium dioxide is used in food industry as an additive and coloring agent. It also increases shelf life of various food products which are sensitive to UV radiations. Dairy products such as mayonnaise, yogurt etc. also contain titanium dioxide. The photo catalytic activity of titanium dioxide diversifies the scope of its applications in various industries such as automobiles (manufacturing of side mirrors). It is used for coating glass and cement. Titanium dioxide has replaced lead in the paint industry and is also used in the production of cleaning products used in households. Titanium oxide is used in the packaging industry for making light weight films. Other applications of titanium dioxide are preparation of printing inks, artificial fiber, rubber and semiconductors. Titanium dioxide market can be segmented on the basis of form i.e. Antanese and Rutile. Rutile titanium dioxide pigments are preferred over antanese because they are more stable and they scatter light more efficiently.Global Titanium Dioxide Market: Regional OutlookThe global iron oxides and hydroxides market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). The APEJ region, holds a significant market share of titanium dioxide owing to the growth of cosmetic industry. The market in North America and Europe, is more inclined towards increasing consumption of titanium dioxide for construction of sustainable habitats using innovative materials manufactured from titanium dioxide such as paints and surface coatings. Furthermore, the robust growth of construction materials such as abrasives, adhesives and sealants, wherein titanium dioxide is the key chemical ingredient, aids in boosting the titanium dioxide market in the aforesaid regions.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4030 Global Titanium Dioxide Market: Prominent Market PlayersDuPont, Huntsman, Evonik, Argex Titanium, Tronox Limited, Henan Billions Chemicals are some of the prominent players in global titanium dioxide market.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 09:07:27

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Each year traumatic brain injuries (TBI) contribute a substantial number of cases worldwide. TBI can be defined as an injury to the brain resulting from externally inflicted trauma resulting in damage to the brain cells and blood vessels. The signs and symptoms of TBI may appear soon after the head trauma or may sometimes take several days to weeks to appear. TBI can be categorized as mild, moderate and severe brain injury. In case of a mild injury a patient experiences a brief concussion and in rare situations may lead to lasting functional brain changes. However, the risk of developing severe and permanent brain damage increases with the extent and severity of the traumatic brain injury and the level of unconsciousness. Depending up on the location of the injury, TBI can lead to dementia along with memory, lack of concentration, problems related with speech and eating, lack of coordination and walking problems are often associated with moderate to severe brain injuries. As estimated by Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) every day 138 people in the U.S. die from TBI. According to the CDC 2010 estimates in the U.S. approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits and hospitalization were associated with TBI cases (either alone or in combination with other injuries). Falls are leading cause of hospitalization in patients with TBI followed by accidents including motor, vehicle traffic injuries.Mild traumatic brain injuries do not require treatment other than over the counter pain relievers and the patient with mild traumatic injury need not to be monitored in hospital. However for treatment of severe TBI several medications indicated includes several diuretics, anti- seizure drugs, comma inducing drugs etc. However, in case of severe TBI surgery and rehabilitation is required. The traumatic brain injuries treatment market is expected to witness higher growth over the forecast period owing to introduction of several new therapies. Increasing number of manufacturers are developing new medications for the treatment of TBI and large number of clinical trials are conducted in order to better understand the etiology of the condition.A sample of this report is available upon request @Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Drivers & RestraintsExtensive R&D by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists in order to study various biomarkers of brain imaging, bio fluid and physical indicators such as eye tracking and electroencephalography holds immense potential as diagnostic techniques for detection of TBI. This is expected to change the treatment pattern of TBI in patients with severe brain injuries. Apart from this a large number of clinical trials are conducted worldwide in order to develop effective therapies for TBI have proven to be opportunistic for the market growth of TBI treatment in the near future. Furthermore rising incidence of falls cases along with accidental cases are expected to be the leading accelerating factors for market growth of TBI treatment market globally. The expected entry of some molecular targeted therapies such as BHR-100, a progesterone drug being developed by BHR Pharma, LLC, rhuEpo, a recombinant human erythropoietin are expected to brace the TBI treatment market growth over the forecast period. However, factors such as low societal awareness, delayed diagnosis and low government funding in TBI treatment research are expected to hamper the TBI treatment market growth in the future.Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: SegmentationTraumatic Brain Injuries Treatment marketis segmented by treatment type, route of administration, end user and geography:By Treatment TypeDrugsAnalgesicsAnti-Anxiety AgentsAnti-CoagulantsAnti-ConvulsantsAnti-DepressantsAnti-PsychoticsOthersSurgeryBy Route Of AdministrationOralInjectableBy Distribution ChannelHospital PharmaciesDrug StoresIndependent PharmaciesTraumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: OverviewThe traumatic brain injury treatment market is expected to increase at an alarming rate among childrens and adults over the forecast period. In childrens, few outcomes of TBI may not be encountered at an initial stage of but can emerge in later developmental stages of his/her life which may lead to chronic behavior problems and social isolation. Better understanding of the injury mechanisms and its effect on sub-populations is required in order to manage the TBI. Growing number of falling cases and accidental cases worldwide are expected to drive revenue growth of TBI treatment in the near future.Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, traumatic brain injuries treatment market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The incidence of TBI is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. TBI is the major cause of mortality accounting for 30% of all death related injuries in the U.S. Presence of several pipeline therapies in treatment of TBI is expected to be the biggest driver in global TBI treatment market. Cognosci, a privately held U.S. start-up is developing a novel therapeutic compound, COG1410, for the treatment of TBI which is expected to launch in the coming years.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the traumatic brain injuries treatment market are, Zimmer Biomet, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc, TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Ischemic, Grace Laboratories LLC. Several key players developing therapeutics for TBI treatment include, Cognosci, Medicortex, Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Aldagen, NeuroScience Pharmaceuticals and Targacept.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.
Trona Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 07:01:02

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CONTACT:Future Market InsightsAbhishek Bhudoliya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Trona also knew as sodium carbonate is a natural form of sodium sesqui- carbonate. It is a double salt of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate with two waters of hydration. Trona is named from a Swedish term which means native salt. The process of extracting soda ash and sodium bicarbonate starts with the heating of the material followed by refining and purification. Its chemical formula is Na2CO3-NaHCO3:2H2O. In the arid regions, trona forms efflorescent crusts on the walls of caves and mines. Trona is found in deposits Trona is the odorless, light brown solid, crystal or dust used in varied industrial applications such as glass manufacturing and is a common source of soda ash. Soda ash is used in chemicals, paper, textiles, and glass. It is used for water conditioning. The global trona market is anticipated to have significant CAGR owing to vast use in the application and functional uses.Global Trona Market: Market DynamicsThe glass manufacturers majorly drive the trona market. Trona being a non-energy commodity is not directly affected by the oil, and natural gas prices. It is widely used in industrial applications of soda ash in glass, detergents, and textiles. Moreover, the growth of trona market is fueled by the factors such as availability of trona in the mines, wide industrial applications and concentrated source of mines. Thus trona market is expected to grow with a significant CAGR in the forecast period 2017-2027. However, the major factor affecting the trona market is the environmental issues and air quality concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency is the responsible agency for the maintenance of air quality in the areas where the market exist. Moreover, the prolonged contact with the trona may cause eye and skin irritation. It reacts with the acids to form carbon dioxide and heat. Thus these factors mentioned above stagnates the growth of trona market in the forecast period 2017-2027.Request For Report Sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4031 Global Trona Market: SegmentationIndustrial use segments global trona market intoChemicalsGlassSoaps and DetergentsMetals and MiningPaper and PulpAnimal FeedAir pollution controlFunctional use segments global trona market intoBath saltsWater treatmentCleaning agentSoftening agentGlobal Trona Market: Segment OverviewThe global trona market is specifically segmented into industrial applications and functional uses. Industrial applications based on soda ash consists of glass manufacturing, chemicals, soap, detergents, and metal and mining. In the animal feed, trona is used as animal feed for dairy cows. It helps to increase milk production. In air pollution control, trona removes oxides of sulfur, hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid from fuel gas emissions. The trona market on the basis of functional uses is segmented into water treatment i.e. for water softener and cleaning. It is also used in swimming pools and as a bath salts. Trona is rapidly calcined to sodium carbonate at or above 275 F. The global trona market is driven majorly by the glass manufacturing industries owing to high dependence on soda ash. The global trona market is expected to grow with significant CAGR in the forecast period.Global Trona Market: Regional OverviewGeographically, global trona market is divided into seven regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America dominates the global trona market. United States lead the market in the exports of trona and ultimately of soda ash in the world. South western Wyoming mines in the Wilkins Peak Member of Green River is the largest deposit for trona in the world. Thus it supplies around 90 percent soda ash of the nation. Apart from United States, trona is also mined in China, Turkey, Africa and Mexico. Asia Pacific also shows significant CAGR and is expected to show positive outlook during forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4031 Global Trona Market: Market PlayersThe prominent players of the global trona market areTata Chemicals North America, Inc., OCI Chemical Corp. and Solvay Chemicals Inc.,
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 17:46:03

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As per a report by Transparency Market Research, The Global Tuberculosis Testing Market will likely expand at a tepid CAGR of 3.9% during the period between 2017 and 2025. Rising at this pace the market is projected to reach a value of US$3.18 bn by 2025. Tuberculosis claims numerous lives annually. As per a WHO report, around 10.4 mn new tuberculosis incidents occurred in 2015. Men comprised almost 56% of that figure. Such alarming numbers have benefitted the global tuberculosis testing market.View Report-The global tuberculosis testing market will likely expand at an incremental pace owing to different factors such as high return on investments, first-mover advantage to the tuberculosis test kits manufacturers, growing focus on awareness programs by the governmental and non-governmental organizations, and tax credits, and fee waivers offered by the government. Currently, hospital laboratories generate maximum demand in the global tuberculosis testing market. The growth in the hospital laboratories can be attributed to the cost effective tests available in hospital laboratories. The physician's office laboratories segment is another key segment which is proliferating worldwide because of their cost effectiveness.Request Tuberculosis Testing Market Report Brochure @Geographically, the key segments of the global tuberculosis testing market are North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among them, Asia Pacific, at present accounts for maximum share in the market in terms of revenue. It is expected to hold on to its leading revenue share in the near future too by rising at a maximum CAGR of 4.9% from 2017 to 2025.Request to view Sample Report -Some of the prominent players in the global tuberculosis testing market are Becton, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Hain Lifescience GmbH, Hologic Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Alere Inc., Epistem plc, Cepheid, bioMerieux SA, Akonni Biosystems Inc., LIONEX Diagnostics & Therapeutics GmbH., Danaher Corporation, Creative Diagnostics, QIAGEN, and Oxford Immunotec Ltd.Tuberculosis Testing Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency 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. TMRs 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.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 16:22:41

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Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY  12207United StatesMarketing Head+1-518-618-1030

Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled Unsaturated Polyester Resin Market - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2023. According to the report, the Asia Pacific unsaturated polyester resin market was valued at US$ 3.98 Bn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 7.45 Bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 7.2% between 2015 and 2023.Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/asia-pacific-unsaturated-polyester-resin-market.html Increasing demand for unsaturated polyester resin in the building & construction industry is one of the key factors driving the market growth in Asia Pacific. Growth in building & construction activities in Southeast Asia, China, and India is projected to chiefly boost industry growth. Furthermore, high demand for composite materials is likely to drive the market for unsaturated polyester resin in this region. Composite materials are primarily consumed in marine, transport, and pipes & tanks. Growth in chemical and maritime industries is likely to drive the unsaturated polyester resin market in Southeast Asia. However, stringent regulations related to styrene and volatile raw material prices are expected to hamper growth of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific. Increasing application scope of unsaturated polyester resin in wind energy and marine industries is likely to open new growth opportunities during the forecast period.Request Sample Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=6083 In terms of demand, orthophthalic resin was the most widely used product segment, accounting for over 35% share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific in 2014. This resin is widely consumed in building & construction due to its high tensile strength and fatigue limits. Isophthalic resin held the second-largest share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific in 2014. Isophthalic resins possess higher strength and resistance as compared to orthophthalic resins and are principally used in automotive and marine industries. However, DCPD resins are projected to be one of the fastest-growing product segments during the forecast period due to high demand from transport and marine industries.Building & construction constituted the largest share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in 2014. Unsaturated polyester resin is chiefly employed in reinforcement, roofing, composites, and concrete. Tanks & pipes accounted for the second-largest share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific with 20% share in 2014. Artificial stones held the third-largest share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific in 2014. However, high demand for unsaturated polyester resin in wind energy and marine industries is projected to provide strong growth opportunities during the forecast period. This is due to resistance and hydrolytic stability properties offered by unsaturated polyester resin.Request Unsaturated Polyester Resin Market Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6083 China dominated demand for unsaturated polyester resin, accounting for over 55% share of the market in Asia Pacific in 2014. Growth in building & construction coupled with high demand for composite materials has been driving the unsaturated polyester resin market in this country. India held the second-largest share of the unsaturated polyester resin market in Asia Pacific in 2014. Growth in the chemical industry coupled with rise in automotive and marine activities have been primarily boosting growth of the market in India. Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are likely to witness upsurge in demand for unsaturated polyester resin due to growth in building & construction and transport industries. Furthermore, significant development in the marine industry in Southeast Asia, especially in pleasure boats and yachts, is estimated to provide lucrative market opportunities in the near future.Buy Unsaturated Polyester Resin Market Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=6083<ype=S The report provides a comprehensive view of the unsaturated polyester resin market in terms of volume and revenue. It includes current demand analysis and forecast for product segments and end-users in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Rest of the Asia Pacific.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-06 23:15:12

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ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. (TSX Venture:VIR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Viridium Acquires Its ACMPR Licensed Facility LandsTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Viridium Pacific Group Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.Source: Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. (TSX Venture: VIR, OTC Bulletin Board: MRRBD)Date: November 06, 2017Time: 5:15 PM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 09:07:15

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# 731 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Vitreoretinal surgery is a surgery of the eye for treatment of complication related to retina, vitreous fluid and macula. Vitreoretinal surgery procedures commonly include retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, ocular trauma, macular degeneration, ocular tumor treatment and hereditary retinal disease treatment. Eye is a very delicate organ and performing an eye surgery requires precision for which doctors use various assistive devices while performing vitreoretinal surgeries. Vitreoretinal surgery devicesVitreoretinal Surgery Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreasing number of vitreoretinal surgeries globally is expected to boost demand for vitreoretinal surgery devices over the forecast period. Vitreoretinal surgeries are more common among geriatric population. Growing global geriatric population is expected to increase demand for vitreoretinal surgeries which in turn is directly expected to propel the sales of vitreoretinal surgery devices over the forecast period. According to the statistics from the World Bank Group, nearly 8.2% of the global population is aged above 65 years. The incidence and prevalence vitreoretinal complications among the geriatric population is high as compared to the younger population and therefore with the rising geriatric population the number of vitreoretinal surgeries is expected to witness high demand. According to the United Nations report on the World Population Ageing, 2013 the global population of people above 60 years of age will reach 2 billion by 2050. Growing number of eye disorders is also expected to propel demand for vitreoretinal surgery devices over the forecast period. According to the World Health Organization there were nearly 285 million visually impaired people globally. The increasing incidence of visual disorders are expected to create high opportunities for vitreoretinal surgery devices manufacturers. Moreover recent technological developments like automation and ease of use of the vitreoretinal surgery devices is expected to boost sales and increase adoption of vitreoretinal surgery devices over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Vitreoretinal Surgery Devices Market: SegmentationThe global vitreoretinal surgery devices market is segmented into three key segments: by product type, by end user and by regionSegmentation by product typeVitrectomy surgery devicesPhotocoagulation surgery devicesIllumination surgery devicesOthersSegmentation by end userHospitalsOphthalmology ClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersVitreoretinal Surgery Devices Market: OverviewThe global vitreoretinal surgery devices market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to rising geriatric population, increasing incidence of visual disorders and growing adoption of automated surgery devices among end users. Incresing number of people opting for eye surgeries for treatment of visual impairment in low and middle income countries is also expected to provide high growth opportunities for manufacturers of vitreoretinal surgery device manufacturers.Vitreoretinal Surgery Devices Market: Region  wise OutlookRegionally the global vitreoretinal surgery devices market is segmented into seven regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA).The vitreoretinal surgery devices market is expected to witness healthy growth during the forecast period. APEJ region is expect to show the robust growth due to the increased number in diabetic patients suffering from diabetic retinoplasty. Also, this market is expected to be primarily driven by increasing healthcare expenditure in China and India and high geriatric population in this region. North America is expected to dominate the overall vetreoretinal surgery devices market throughout the forecast period. The North America proves to be a huge market as around 9% of the ophthalmologist present worldwide are in U.S. North America is followed by Western Europe and APEJ. In terms of opportunities, North America is expected to be the most lucrative market during the forecast period. Latin America and MEA are expected to account for marginal share. These regions are yet to flourish. Companies need to create promotional campaign regarding potential benefits for eye treatment and eye care.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Vitreoretinal Surgery Devices Market: ParticipantsSome market players in global vitreoretinal surgery devices market are Alcon, Inc. (Novartis AG), Bausch & Lomb Inc., Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, MedOne Surgical, Inc., OCULUS Optikgerate GmbHThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 15:33:02

The perfect hibernation: Get your bike ready for next year now with the right maintenance and new tyres.

Moto-tyres.co.uk offers good value tyres, tubes and engine oil for every bike.

Winterproof Your Bike With Moto-tyres.co.uk

Press contact:

insignis Agentur fur

Kommunikation GmbH (GPRA)

Henning Jahns

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or

Delticom AG

Anne Lena Peters

Tel.: +49-511-93634-8909

Fax: +49-511-93634-8301

anne.lena.peters@delti.com

The days are getting colder, and dead leaves are dancing over the asphalt  an unmistakable sign that the biking season is drawing to a close.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711070060

Get your bike ready for next year now with the right maintenance and new tyres (Photo: Business Wire)

Keen bikers arent going to be put off by cooler weather alone. Its often still sunny in autumn, and bikers will still feel the urge to hit the road. So dont put your bike away too soon, or youll miss these beautiful moments, says Oliver Pflaum of Moto-tyres.co.uk.

Cold and snow will soon rule the roads, however, meaning that many bikers are ready to winterproof their bikes. Simply sticking your bike in the garage or covering it with a breathable tarp isnt enough. But with a bit of care and attention, you can make sure that even the most rust-prone parts of your bike survive the winter unscathed. First of all, take your bike to a car wash and clean it with an oil separator, as old oil can corrode the engine. Even if a full oil change isnt required, check the oil level and top up if necessary. Find the perfect products in the extensive range available at Moto-tyres.co.uk.

Many bikers ask if their bike should spend the winter with a full or empty tank. It depends: if your bike has a steel tank, you should fill it completely to prevent condensation from building up and corroding the tank. But if you have a plastic tank, you should empty it to prevent diffusion. If you want to be on the safe side, you should do the same with the carburetor, unless your bike has electric fuel injection, of course, and therefore no carburetor. You should also check the antifreeze levels, and change/refill if necessary. Remove the battery for the winter and store it somewhere cool and dry, charging occasionally. Increase the tyre pressure by 0.3 bar, and mount your bike on an assembly stand or a block of wood, so that the bikes tyres arent touching the ground and are therefore not under pressure. If the pressure in the tyres is relieved, the casing wont warp. When it comes to the tyres: you should take a good look at the tyre tread. If you see any damage or the tyres are worn, deal with this immediately. Great value tyres are available at Moto-tyres.co.uk. If you are buying off-season tyres you can often make even greater savings. Finding the right tyres is made even easier thanks to the bike model search field.

As a rule, tyres and tubes are immediately available, and delivery is free from the very first tyre. Another bonus: Moto-tyres.co.uk offers customers the option to have their tyres delivered to one of countless fitting partners at no extra cost, where their new tyres will be expertly fitted and their old tyres disposed of. Simply choose a fitting partner during the ordering process. For more information and to find a fitting partner near you, go to: https://www.moto-tyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/stationssuche.

About Moto-tyres.co.uk

Whether you're looking for chopper, sport-touring or scooter tyres: bikers will find everything their heart desires in this renowned online store's range. Accessories such as bike tubes and motor oil complete Delticom's bike range. The two-wheeler tyre specialist's portfolio includes all established premium bike tyre manufacturers such as Metzeler, Pirelli, Continental, Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin, as well as renowned quality brands such as Heidenau, Avon, Maxxis and Mitas.

Online store for end users: www.moto-tyres.co.uk

Further online stores in Europe: www.MotorradreifenDirekt.de (DE), www.MotorradreifenDirekt.at (AT), www.MotorradreifenDirekt.ch (CH), www.pneus-moto.fr (FR), www.motorbandenmarkt.nl (NL), www.moto-pneumatici.it (IT), www.neumaticosdemoto.es (ES) and more.

Online store for dealers: www.yourtyres.co.uk

About the company: www.delti.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201711070060
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:32:02

Oslo, 7 November 2017: Yara will sign a mining agreement with the Ethiopian authorities, making possible the future development of the Yara Dallol potash mine.



The mining agreement will be signed today at a ceremony in Addis Abeba by Ethiopian Minister of the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, H.E. Ato Motuma Mekasa, and Yara International President and CEO, Mr. Svein Tore Holsether.



"We are glad to achieve this key milestone in the Dallol mining project. A mine in the Afar region would contribute significantly to economic development locally and nationally. We recognize and appreciate the efforts made by the Ethiopian government in supporting the project, both by providing necessary infrastructure and through making the mining agreement possible," said Svein Tore Holsether.



Yara Dallol is a mining project located in the Afar region in the northern part of Ethiopia. During the feasibility studies carried out over the recent years, significant reserves of natural resources used for the production of Sulphur of Potash (SOP) have been identified in the allocated exploration area. SOP is a premium fertilizer product especially beneficial for fruit, vegetable and coffee crops.



The planned Yara Dallol mine will have a production capacity of approximately 600,000 tonnes of SOP per year, equivalent to approximately ten per cent of the global market. The products will be mined using solution mining, meaning there will be no open pit at the site.



Yara Dallol is a 51.8 per cent Yara International owned company. The other owners are Liberty Metals and Mining Holdings (25 per cent) and XLR Capital (23.2 per cent). A final investment decision is expected towards the end of 2018. The total capital expenditure frame for the project has yet to be finalized, but significant efforts have been made to optimize expenditure, and the amount has been reduced from the previously estimated USD 740 million.





About Yara









This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Yara International ASA via Globenewswire









# 801 Words



Office: (+47) 24 15 72 95Mobile: (+47) 48 07 53 56E-mail: thor.giaver@yara.com Phone: (+47) 90 50 84 00E-mail: esben.tuman@yara.com Phone: (+47) 90 01 55 50E-mail: kristin.nordal@yara.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-11-07 08:33:57

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Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

One of the biggest public growing threat is the rapid emergence of mosquito borne virus called as Zika virus. Zika virus was first identified in rhesus monkey in the year 1947 in Uganda. Later in 1952 the virus was identified in humans. The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, and is transmitted by two species of Aedes genus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These are the same mosquito species that also spread dengue and chikungunya virus. The virus can also be vertically transmitted during fetal/perinatal period or by unprotected sexual contact. In case of perinatal transmission the virus can pass from mother to fetus through trans-placental transmission which can lead to the most common birth defect of brain called as microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Eye defect, hearing problems and impaired growth are some of the issues commonly associated with the infection of Zika virus in fetus. Apart from this several evidences of Guillain-Barre syndrome, have also been reported in patients carrying the virus. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system which leads to ascending paralysis. However, the risk is found to be higher in pregnant womens during their first trimester of pregnancy period. Symptoms associated with the infection of Zika virus includes, fever, rashes, joint pain, conjunctivitis, muscle pain and headache. These symptoms last for several days to weeks. Africa, America, Asia and Pacific regions are likely to be dominated regions witnessing outbreaks of Zika virus.A sample of this report is available upon request @The first largest outbreak of Zika virus was reported in the year 2007 across the Pacific island of Yap, in the Federated States of Micronesia. In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the local transmission of Zika infection in more than 20 countries and territories across the Americas. Currently a number of Zika virus testing assays are available in the market some of which have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) while some of them are used for Research Use Only (RUO) and are used as Laboratory Developed Test (LDT). Currently, a number of diagnostic tests are available in the market for the diagnosis of Zika virus in humans. This includes, Zika ELITe MGB detection test, Sentosa SA ZIKV RT-PCR, LightMix Zika rRT-PCR test and many more. All these tests allow qualitative detection of RNA from Zika virus from body samples such as urine, human serum and plasma. The market for zika virus testing is expected to rise over the forecast period owing to continuous increase in population exhibiting symptoms of Zika virus over the forecast period.Zika Virus Testing Market: Drivers & RestraintsExpanded disease surveillance efforts undertaken by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expected to spur the market for Zika virus testing in the U.S. In august 2016, FDA announced screening of all donated blood and blood products for Zika virus across the world. This would help prevent increased chances of getting infected through transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). Substantial spending by U.S. government and FDA to add Zika screening program across all the hospitals and blood banks in U.S. is expected to spur the market for Zika virus testing over the forecast period. Furthermore, increasing efforts by various manufacturers to develop Zika virus screening tests is expected to accelerate the market growth in the coming years. Major demand for Zika virus testing is expected to come from Florida attributed to increasing number of patients exhibiting symptoms of Zika virus. Lack of awareness in the developing countries and inaccurate results from available diagnostic tests may affect the revenues for Zika virus testing market globally over the forecast period.Zika Virus Testing Market: SegmentationZika virus testing market is segmented by test type, route of administration, end user and geography:By Test TypeNucleic Acid Amplification Test/ Molecular TestsZika Virus Antibody Test/ Serological TestBy End UserHospitalsDiagnostic CentersPathology ClinicsZika Virus Testing Market: OverviewAccording to WHO, since 2007, 67 countries and territories reported the evidence of Zika virus transmission. At present, the diagnosis of Zika virus in humans is dependent upon the molecular detection of viral RNA. However, presence of RNA only during the viraemia i.e. presence the virus in blood, and close clinical association of Zika symptoms with dengue and other infections, has resulted in lare number of undiagnosed cases.Accessibility of better diagnostic testing services (i.e. rapid near-patient tests) across several haeltcare facilities is expected to fuel the market for Zika virus testing over the forecast period.Zika Virus Testing Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Zika virus testing market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Continuous spread of Zika virus across several countries in North America is expected to increase the demand for Zika virus testing services over the forecast period. WHO estimated that as of July 2016, in the U.S. CDC reported 12 birth defects related cases and six pregnancy losses. Furthermore, increasing efforts by HHS, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to raise the fund for development of diagnostic assays for Zika virus detection is expected to drive the market growth of Zika virus testing over the forecast period. Also the Zika virus outbreak in several Latin American countries is rapidly growing. For example in Brazil alone the virus is known to affect 21 states out of 26 states. Rapid local transmission of Zika virus across the globe is expected to result in more number of diagnostic assays performed thus driving the revenues.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Zika Virus Testing Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the Zika virus testing market are, ELITechGroup Inc. Molecular Diagnostics, Abbott Molecular Inc., ARUP Laboratories, Vela Diagnostics USA Inc., Roche Molecular Systems Inc., InBios International, Inc., Luminex Corporation, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Hologic, Inc. and Focus Diagnostics, Inc.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.
The federal government said it would redress the debt service imbalance ratio in the 2018 budget through improved non-oil revenue generation drive and restructuring of the existing debt portfolio.

Presenting the 2018 Budget proposal to the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said the government was concerned that domestic debt accounted for about 79 per cent of the total debt portfolio at the moment.

The president said the governments medium-term strategy was to reduce the domestic debt proportion to about 60 per cent by the end of 2019, while increasing external debt to 40 per cent.

With total domestic debt figure currently in excess of N12 trillion, the Debt Management Office, DMO recently said the governments new debt management strategy, DMS for the next four years would involve de-emphasising domestic borrowing and focusing on foreign loans.

Under the new DMS, government said it would be possible to get external loans at cheaper rates and avoid crowding out private sector investors who are looking for opportunities to borrow to finance their businesses.

We are closely monitoring our debt service to revenue ratio, the president said.

Rebalancing our debt portfolio will enhance private sector access to domestic credit. In addition, annual debt service costs will reduce as external debts are serviced at lower rates and repaid over a longer period than domestic debt, Mr. Buhari said.

On management of oil revenue, the president said despite declining oil earnings as a result of the drop in global oil prices, his administration was able to invest additional $500 million to the $1 billion used in establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF in 2011.

With oil price rising on Monday to a new high of an average of $64 per barrel, the first time in several years, the government believes the budget has taken off on a positive note.

Also, with oil benchmark at $45 per barrel, the government says if the current environment is sustained, more money would become available for more transfers to the Fund for infrastructure development.

Describing the investment as a demonstration of his governments determination to maintain a stable and secure economy, the President said the government would continue to strive to lay a solid foundation for the future prosperity of successive generations in the country.

He said the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, was directed to build on its successes so far, by looking inward and investing locally, particularly in the agricultural sector, to support governments inclusive and diversified economic growth plan.

The President said interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to improve access to liquidity, discourage currency speculation and increase net foreign exchange inflows had restored stability in the market.

Consequently, as at the October 30, the stable foreign exchange environment boosted the countrys external reserves to about $34 billion, with exports significantly outpacing imports, resulting in a trade surplus of N506.5 billion by the second quarter of the year.

Besides, he said the stability in the FOREX market would support the governments efforts to create the enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, investors, manufacturers and exporters, to grow their operations and provide jobs.

On revenue, President Buhari said although the countrys economy was diversified, with non-oil sector accounting for over 90 per cent of total nominal gross domestic product, GDP, the governments revenues were not as diversified yet.

Our tax-to-GDP ratio of about 6 per cent is one of the lowest in the world, he noted. This situation is not consistent with our goal of having a diversified, sustainable and inclusive economy.

He said the government would step up efforts to ensure all taxable Nigerians complied with the legal requirements to declare income from all sources and remit taxes due to the appropriate authorities.

Apart from a nine-month window granted non-compliant taxpayers to regularise their tax status, the president said the introduction of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS, would also offer amnesty to those overdue in interest.

In addition, he assured that the VAIDS would help widen the tax net for both the Federal and State governments, as more persons would be encouraged to pay tax through exemptions from investigations or criminal charges.

Details of the N8.612 trillion budget announced by the President included recurrent costs of N3.494 trillion, while capital expenditure of N2.428 trillion, excluding the capital component of Statutory Transfers, and debt service (N2.014 trillion).

Statutory Transfers was about N456 billion, while provision for a sinking fund was about N220 billion (subject to retired maturing bond to local contractors).

The president explained that the five per cent increase over last years provision was as a result of increases in transfers to Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, relative to the size of oil revenue.
Veteran actor, Sadiq Daba, has said that despite his ailment, he is not begging for financial assistance as speculated on social media.

Mr. Daba said this in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday. He also expressed displeasure with the news of his illness making the rounds.

The way you people (media) are going about my case as if Im carrying a bowl in hand, moving around Nigeria, begging people; that I am a destitute. I am not. Yes, I have health challenges. Yes, I am sick. So, what is the big deal? The way people are taking it, Sadiq Daba is dying, Sadiq Daba is doing this. Im a journalist. Im a broadcaster. There are certain ways you can go about it if you want to help somebody.

Yes, I am sick. Will I be the first person to be sick? Im dealing with prostate (enlargement); Im dealing with leukaemia. That is no news. And by the special grace of God, Ill get over it. I have that faith that God is in control, he added.

The actor also told this newspaper that he is currently receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital and the doctors have been wonderful.

The ace broadcaster said he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This is coming barely months after he was hospitalised for months due to leukemia.

One of Nigerias most loved television stars, the actor has had a long career in broadcasting with the Nigerian Television Authority.

He also appeared in early soap operas such as Cockcrow At Dawn and Behind The Clouds.

He co-hosted the popular AM Express with late Yinka Craig (who died of a similar illness in 2008) and had an award winning role in Kunle Afolayans October 1 in recent times.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells and has no known cure. However, with adequate medical care or a blood marrow transplant, the disease can be managed.
President Donald Trump says there is no reason to amend firearms legislation in the United States following the mass shooting at a Texas church over the weekend.

If the gunman had not been stopped by other people who were also armed, things could have been much worse, the president told journalists in Seoul during his five-country Asian trip on Tuesday.

Trump suggested that hundreds more could have been killed as opposed to the 26 who died.

The gunman was wounded by a neighbour as he left the church and was later found dead in his vehicle.

Police are reported to be working from the assumption that he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Trump reacted with irritation to a question from U.S journalists on whether stringent checks, or extreme vetting of immigrants to the U.S should not also be applied to those buying firearms.

The president indicated that he believed discussing a domestic issue was inappropriate in the heart of South Korea.

On Monday, the U.S Air Force said that a domestic violence conviction for the suspect, Devin Kelley, may not have been entered into a national database.

In 2012, Kelley, a licensed unarmed security guard and former Air Force airman, was court martialled and convicted of domestic violence against his wife and step-son, and he received a bad conduct discharge.

After that conviction, Kelley would have been prohibited under federal law from buying or possessing firearms.

Earlier, in Japan, Trump called the shooting a mental health problem at the highest level. (dpa/NAN)
A British man said to have been kidnapped while carrying out missionary work in Delta State, South-south of Nigeria, has been killed by his abductors, a UK newspaper, The Guardian, has reported.

The victim, 56-year-old Ian Squire, was one of four British charity workers kidnapped from the rural community of Enekorogha on October 13, the paper reported on Monday.

It described the victim as an optician, who had been working with a Christian health charity, the New Foundations, to train local people to carry out sight tests and dispense prescription spectacles.

The New Foundations is reported to have opened an eye clinic in Enekorogha in 2016.

Mr. Squire is credited with developing a solar-powered, portable lens-grinding machine for the clinic, which is said to be located in an area without electricity.

Mr. Squires death, the paper said, has been confirmed on Monday by the UK Foreign Office.

The paper, however, said that the circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately clear.

The names of the other abducted missionaries were given as David Donovan, a General Practitioner from Cambridge, said to be the founder of the New Foundations; Mr. Donovans wife, Shirley; and Alanna Carson, an optometrist from Leven, Fife.

The three were released and have reunited with their families outside Nigeria.

The Guardian quoted an unnamed UK Foreign Offices spokesperson as saying, We are supporting the families of four British people who were abducted on 13 October in Nigeria, one of whom was tragically killed.

This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families. We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations.

The paper also published a statement issued by the families of the four hostages.

Alanna, Ian, David and Shirley were kidnapped in Nigeria some three weeks ago. We are grateful for the support received by the British high commission and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release, the families said.

We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.

The late Mr. Squire was said to have set up his own charity, Mission for Vision, in 2003, and had been travelling to Nigeria since 2013 in a joint effort with New Foundations.

Mission for Vision, in its filing in the UK, said it was in the process of training three healthcare workers in the Delta.

The organisation has also done charity work in other African countries like Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kidnap-for-ransom has been one of the strategies associated with the militants in the Nigerias Niger Delta region who are agitating for the control of the oil deposits in the area.

The Guardian report didnt, however, attribute the latest incident to any of the militant groups in the region.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had stakes in at least three companies in offshore tax havens, and, by his own admission, illegally remained connected to at least one of them until July 2017, while also holding on to his top CBN job, an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has shown.

Mr. Emefiele partly owned Vitesse Asset Management SA, incorporated in Switzerland in 2007; Oviation Asset Management Limited, a Bermuda company established in 2009; and Oviation Limited, an Isle of Man company incorporated in 2012, a review of data obtained by German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung, and ICIJ from two offshore secrecy providers (Appleby and Asiaciti Trust) and 19 secrecy jurisdictions showed.

The leaked 1.4 terabyte data, now infamously dubbed Paradise Papers, contains 13.4 million records and is no doubt one of the biggest leaks in history.

For 12 months, more than 380 journalists from 96 media organisations in 67 countries pored over the gigantic data, which cover a period of nearly 70 years, from 1950 to 2016. PREMIUM TIMES is the only Nigerian media organisation involved in the investigation.

More than 120 politicians and country leaders, in nearly 50 countries as well as hundreds of business people across the world were identified in the record as users of offshore entities.

The data shows that the CBN governor jointly owned the identified shell companies with Zenith Bank Chairman, Jim Ovia, who was his (Mr. Emefieles) boss at Zenith and with whom he appears to maintain close business ties.

Mr. Emefiele worked as deputy to Mr. Ovia when the later served as managing director at Zenith. He was promoted managing director of that bank on August 1, 2010 when Mr. Ovia moved up as chairman. Mr. Emefiele became CBN governor on June 3, 2014.

Documents show that the CBN governor and Mr. Ovia each held 50,000 bearer shares in Vitesse Asset Management, which in turn owns 100 percent of the shares in Oviation Limited.

Mr. Emefiele held 49 percent of the shares in Oviation Asset Management Limited while his ally, Mr. Ovia, owned the majority 51 percent stake.

Records indicate the shell companies were simply formed to trade in luxury jets and move funds around in manners that suggested tax avoidance schemes.

The shelf companies have no offices of fixed address, staff, computers or even telephone lines in the countries they are based. They were seen either shuffling assets among themselves or loaning millions of dollars to each other in a cyclical manner.

Although the use of shell companies is not illegal and there are individuals and firms who incorporate them for purely legitimate purposes; yet, many who operate them do so to avoid or evade tax, hide Ponzi schemes, launder funds, run predatory lending scams, and myriad illicit finance.

For instance, in early 2013, Mr. Emefieles Oviation Limited opened a bank account with UBS in London. Shortly afterwards, that account was used to receive the proceeds of the sale of an $11.5million Challenger 300 private jet which had previously been owned by another company belonging to the two bankers  Oviation Asset Management Limited.

Oviation Asset Management Limited had two years earlier, in July 2011, bought the same jet for $12,755,000 from Churchill Finances Twenty Six Limited/Ovlas SA, another offshore company owned by Sayyu Dantata, the founder of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc. But when, two years later, Oviation Asset sold the jet to a sister company, owned by the same shareholders (Oviation Limited), it claimed a loss of about $1.3million.

One of those who helped facilitate the 2011 purchase deal, Daniel Cowdy of London-based law firm, Thomas Eggar LLP, claimed in a March 17, 2011 email to Appleby that the sale would not involve the payment of cash.

This is a straightforward equity purchase with no funds being borrowed and will therefore more than likely be accounted for by way of a shareholder loan, Mr. Cowdy said in his email.

Yet, on July 1, 2011, Mr. Dantatas Churchill Finances/Ovlas sent Oviation Asset Management an invoice demanding payment of $12,755,000 within 14 days, in what experts believe deepened suspicion about artificiality of the transaction.

In April 2014, a curious, $9.4 million transfer was made by Oviation Asset Management Limited to an account in the name of Zenith Bank Plc.

Responding to an inquiry by the Guardian UK on behalf of PREMIUM TIMES and other ICIJ partners, Mr. Emefiele said the transfer related to the proceeds of the sale of the Challenger 300 aircraft.

He said Zenith Bank received the funds on behalf of Mr. Ovia through its account in Citibank and that the money was ultimately passed to the Zenith Bank chairman. It remains unclear why the funds were not passed directly to Mr. Ovia especially because Zenith Bank does not own the company that sold the jet.

Also in January 2013, Oviation Limited acquired a $33million Gulfstream 450 jet using a loan from Vitesse Asset Management SA  another company owned by the two men.

On 14 September 2015, Oviation Asset Management Limited transferred about $3.9million to UBS AG Account 54648101 in London claiming to be repaying a loan it took from Oviation Limited.

That was not all. In November 2015, another of their companies, Oviation Asset Management Limited, also acquired a $51million G550 jet, with registration number M-MNDG, and imported it into the Isle of Man where Oviation Limited is domiciled. Oviation Limited claims it continues to lease this aircraft; the islands aircraft registry shows.

Violating Nigerian laws

According to documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Emefiele, in clear violation of Nigerian law, remained director of Oviation Asset Management Limited until July 2017, more than two years after he assumed duties as CBN governor.

There is also no evidence that the central banker stepped down from Oviation Limited and Vitesse Asset Management SA, although he claimed he did so.

Yet Mr. Emefiele did not disclose his interests in these companies and their associated foreign bank accounts in the asset declaration form he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau prior to taking office.

Under Nigerian laws, public office holders must declare their assets while taking and leaving their positions, although those records are never made public.

Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act says: A public officer shall not except where he is not employed on full-time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade; but nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming or participating in the management or running of any farm.

Section 7 of the law clearly prohibits officials such as the CBN governor from operating foreign accounts. The section says: Any public officer specified in the Second Schedule to this Act or any other persons as the President may, from time to time, by order prescribe, shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.

That law also forbids public officials from putting themselves in a position where their personal interests conflict with their duties and responsibilities.

Yet Mr. Emefiele continued to maintain business and financial ties with Mr. Ovia, the chairman of one of the banks the CBN regulates, in what is clearly a conflict of interest.

Officials at the Code of Conduct Bureau told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Emefieles directorship of OAML for years after he took public office is clearly a breach of Nigerias Code of Conduct law which forbids public officials from running private companies and foreign accounts while in office.

They argued that his claim that he did not know know that relevant paperworks were not completed in his case might not be an enough shield from prosecution.

Mr. Emefiele reacts

In his response to an enquiry sent to him by The Guardian UK on behalf of PREMIUM TIMES and other ICIJ partners, Mr. Emefiele claimed he took steps to resign his directorship of Oviation Asset Management Limited (OAML) and transfer his shares in the other companies to Zenith Bank before assuming duties as CBN governor in June 2014.

Before our client departed from the Bank on 31 May 2014, he signed and left in the custody of the Bank all of the necessary paperwork so as to enable the Bank to transfer his minority shareholding in OAML , Mr. Emefiele said in a 12 October letter by his London-based lawyers, New Media Law LLP.

Our client now understands that due to an administrative oversight the actual transfer did not take place until sometime after his appointment. We have seen a copy of the members register of OAML obtained in July 2017 which confirms that the share transfer has been completed.

It is unclear why the CBN governor would ask Zenith to help him transfer his shareholdings when the bank does not own the companies and has no stake in them, according to documents seeing by this newspaper.

But even as at July 2017 when Mr. Emefiele claimed his exit from the firms took effect, PREMIUM TIMES and its partners had already obtained the Appleby data and had begun reviewing his involvement with the shell companies.

It remained unclear whether he decided to hurriedly step down to preempt the publication of our findings after becoming aware of our investigation.
The Federal Government says there is ample stock of anti-snake venom in Nigeria, contrary to a report that the scarcity of the drug has led to the death of hundreds of people within three weeks in two states in the country.

According to the report on Sunday by the News Agency of Nigeria, 250 people died in Plateau and Gombe states from snake bites because there was no anti-snake venom to treat them.

According to the report, scores of snake-bite patients were lying helpless in critical conditions at three medical centres in General Hospital, Kaltungo, Ali Mega Pharmacy, Gombe and Comprehensive Medical Centre, Zamko, Plateau State.

The report said some of the patients were left on bare floor by doctors who said there was nothing they could do to help without anti-venom.

According to the NAN report, Echitab Plus ICP polyvalent and Echitab G monovalent anti snake-venom drugs had not been supplied to Nigeria since August, throwing the treatment centres into crisis after the last vials were used up in the first week of October.

Echitab Plus ICP, produced at Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica, treats bites from all venomous snakes in Nigeria, while Echitab G, produced by Micropharm Ltd, United Kingdom, is solely for carpet viper bites.

Medics, who spoke with the news agency at the three treatment centres, said that the cases of snake bites were usually very common during the harvest season.

However, Plateau State Commissioner of Health, Kunden Kamshak, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, denied that anti-snake venom was not available in the state.

The commissioner described the report as malicious.

He also disputed the claim that many people had died in the state as a result of snake bite, saying as custodians of such information, verification of the claim should have been made from the government.

We have a teaching hospital and where we have a lot of cases of snake bite is in the southern part of Plateau State, Mr. Kamshak said.

He said Zamko Comphrensive Centre in the area is an outlet of the Jos University Teaching Hospital handling such cases.

It is like a special centre for snake bite where people are being treated and there is no point in time that you go there and they lack anti-snake venom. It is just that sometimes people cannot afford the cost, but that has not being an impediment to treatment, he said.

Mr. Kamshak also denied that the drugs were not available at Pankshin, one of the places at which the NAN report said many had died.

The commissioner said Pankshin is his home local government area, stressing that there was no way there would be a scarcity of the drug in the area without his being aware of it

Mr. Kashak said under the reporting system in the states health sector, disease surveillance and notification officers in all the 17 local government areas of the state report daily to the state surveillance team, which in turn reports to his office on a daily basis.

Responding to inquiries by PREMIUM TIMES over the report of 250 deaths, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, also denied that Nigeria had run out of stock of anti-snake venom.

The minister, whose office later issued a press statement over the matter on Monday, said if there was shortage of anti-snake venom in any state in Nigeria, it implied that the state in question had refused to comply with the new procedure of request, hence their inability to access the product from the ministry.

Mr. Adewole said the ministry still has vials of anti-snake venom stocked from its 2016 procurement and from which states and other treatment centres were being issued upon request.

Although the minister disclosed that the 2017 procurement of the drugs had some hitches because the funding was mistakenly transferred to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), he said five states had made requests and were issued the drugs in the four months previous to September 6 this year.

Mr. Adewole called on states where snake bite is prevalent to invest in procurement of anti-snake venom for their people.

He warned that the Federal Government cannot continue indefinitely to procure and distribute the drugs free to states as being currently practiced.

The Federal Government is however working on Public Private Partnership arrangement for local production of anti-snake bite venom, which will make the product available affordable and accessible, the minister said.
Infrastructure, represented by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Ministry of Transportation, and Defence, will take the bulk of federal capital spending in 2018, according to a proposal submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly Tuesday.

The three ministries will get money more than the 12 other sectors combined.

Dubbed the Budget of Consolidation, President Buhari said the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigerias Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2018  2020.

Giving a further breakdown of the budget, Mr Buhari said that 30.8 percent (or N2.652 trillion) of the budget will be allocated to capital expenditure while N3.494 trillion is budgeted for recurrent expenditure.

Details of the budget proposal revealed that the Power, Works and Housing has the highest capital project proposal with N555.88 billion.

The president listed some projects which will be executed under this sector in 2018 to include the Mambilla hydro power project and the National Housing Programme.

Transportation sector comes second with a projected allocation of N263.10 billion for capital projects.

Specifically, N12 billion counterpart funding is earmarked for transmission lines and substations, N10.00 billion for the 2nd Niger Bridge; and N300 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of the strategic roads.

The third sector to attract most in capital expenditure proposal is Special Intervention Programmes with N150.00 billion and Defence, fourth with N145.00 billion.

Other sectors are Agriculture and Rural Development, N118.98 billion; Water Resources: N95.11 billion; Industry, Trade and Investment, N82.92 billion; Interior: N63.26 billion; Education N61.73 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission, N109.06 billion; Health, N71.11 billion; Federal Capital Territory, N40.30 billion; Zonal Intervention Projects, N100.00 billion; North East Intervention Fund, N45.00 billion; Niger Delta Ministry, N53.89 billion; and Niger Delta Development Commission, N71.20 billion.

Details of the budget proposal revealed that a significant increase is being projected in the revenue accruable from the oil and non-oil sectors.

Based on the above fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue is estimated at 11.983 trillion Naira in 2018. Thus, the three tiers of Government shall receive about 12 percent more revenues in 2018 than the 2017 estimate.

Of the amount, the sum of 6.387 trillion Naira is expected to be realised from oil and gas sources. Total receipts from the non-oil sector are projected at 5.597 trillion Naira.

The Federal Governments estimated total revenue is 6.607 trillion Naira in 2018, which is about 30 percent more than the 2017 target. As we pursue our goal of revenue diversification, non-oil revenues will become a larger share of total revenues. In 2018, we project oil revenues of 2.442 trillion Naira, and non-oil as well as other revenues of 4.165 trillion Naira.

Non-oil and other revenue sources of 4.165 trillion Naira, include several items including: Share of Companies Income Tax (CIT) of 794.7 billion Naira, share of Value Added Tax (VAT) of 207.9 billion Naira, Customs & Excise Receipts of 324.9 billion Naira, FGN Independently Generated Revenues (IGR) of 847.9 billion Naira, FGNs Share of Tax Amnesty Income of 87.8 billion Naira, and various recoveries of 512.4 billion Naira, 710 billion Naira as proceeds from the restructuring of governments equity in Joint Ventures and other sundry incomes of 678.4 billion Naira.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has stated that the Legislature and the Executive are not rivals but partners in progress.

Mr. Dogara stated this when he received the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in his office on Monday.

He described the appointment of Mr. Mustapha as a round peg in a round hole, or a square peg in a square hole.

He said the visit to the National Assembly by the new SGF is unprecedented in the history of the parliament.

Its never been done, he said

He added that In those days it was invitations extended to them, then a discussion whether theyll appear at all would ensue. In some cases, some members of the Executive would go to to court on the basis of legislative summons.

Mr. Dogara assured the SGF of the desire of the parliament to work with the Executive in order to ensure good governance.

As a matter of fact for us, there really is no distinction in government, its just ignorant people who tend to make these distinctions.

 If the Executive fails, theres no way the Legislature would be exonerated, we are all guilty.

Ive always been mindful of our place in history, that is why we have organised this House with the leaders that you see here and some of the members of the House of Representatives to always work on the policies and programmes of government with little or no resistance, bearing in mind that if we succeed, we succeed together and if we dont succeed history would say, youre a Speaker, youre a leader and a member of parliament when this government failed.

While responding, Mr. Mustapha thanked the leadership of the House of Representatives for standing with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I bring you the warm greetings of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to also extend his thanks to your leadership in the House of Representatives for the level of progress that has been achieved thus far in the area of the primary responsibility.

He acknowledged that without the support extended by the Speaker to the President, the modest efforts that have been achieved would not have been achieved to date. So I want to particularly thank you with your leadership for maintaining stability in the body polity and for also ensuring that whenever there is a call to duty, you attend to the matters of state expeditiously.

Mr. Mustapha said the executive and the legislature arejoint owners of this enterprise.

He further acknowledged the huge role played by legislators in the 2015 election and said: We went around this country with most of you, campaigning to ensure that we win elections and it behoves on us to ensure that in the implementation of government policies, that we take steps that will provide for the well being of our people.

Earlier on Monday, Mr. Mustapha paid a courtesy visit to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and leadership of the Senate to solicit the support of the Senate in delivering the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on communication equipment and service companies/vendors in Nigeria has begun investigations into allegations that some telecom firms are owing the nation N143 billion in unpaid taxes.

At the opening of the investigative hearing, the chairman of the committee, Ahmed Abu, disclosed that the committee will assess the tax compliance status and remittance of statutory contributions to relevant government agencies by telecommunication service providers.

So far, we have 24 companies (reportedly owing) and we have a total of N143.434 billion, he said.

He also disclosed that auditors were still looking at the books of others including vendors and lottery operators operating under the platform of telcos.

Mr. Abu said the committee plans to meet with the companies, so that they can defend themselves and reconcile these figures with the committee.

When you say tax evasion, it is criminal in nature (and) tax avoidance is legal. So, what we are trying to do here is simple; to strengthen our laws.

There is nothing wrong if you try to avoid tax, it means there are loopholes in our laws. And what we do is to strengthen these laws and make them better for the benefit of the industry and the benefit of the country, he said.

The chairman said the total figure was interim and needed to be reconciled, and he called on other companies to come forward to enable the committee get a more accurate picture.

Between today and tomorrow, we hope that some of you (company representatives) who have not come forward to provide further documents to reconcile these figures, I am pleading with you to come forward, bring documents at your disposal which we dont have and reconcile these figures so that we can move forward, he said.
At about 8.30 a.m. on Monday, a brand new Prado SUV caught fire along the highway at a location adjacent to the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

The driver tried to stop the fire without success. For almost half an hour, the vehicle burnt, other drivers went about their businesses.

Officials of the fire service arrived after the vehicle had completely been engulfed in flames.
Journalists, mostly from online news platforms, were on Tuesday barred from entering the National Assembly to cover the 2018 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The event is expected to start by 2p.m.

Journalists from PREMIUM TIMES and several other online publications, and some in the print and electronic media, were denied entry into the premises of the National Assembly as early as 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The journalists were stopped despite presenting their official and National Assembly identity cards, as their names were missing from an accreditation list prepared by the Research and Information Directorate of the National Assembly.

Thats the instruction given to us, a security operative, identified only as Nicholas, told PREMIUM TIMES. I cant do anything even if youve been covering here for years. My own work is just to check the list. There was a circular and this list was sent to us yesterday.

One of the journalists denied entry, Damilola Adeniran of Order Paper, said he was at the Research and Information Directorate Monday morning but was not informed of the accreditation issue.

Goodness Adaoyiche of Pulse.ng was equally irritated. I came to the National Assembly on Monday to find out if there would be accreditation against President Buharis coming today but my journalists colleagues said there was none, only for me to come today to meet a list without my name, she said, frustrated.

The National Assembly also prepared and used a separate list for the legislative chamber where the presentation is expected to hold.

As a result, some journalists admitted at the main gate were still barred from accessing the main venue of the event.

This is not the first time the National Assembly would prevent journalists, mostly from online media, from covering major events.
A Nigerian senator on trial for forgery is to be re-arraigned on December 12, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

An error by the prosecution compelled Anwuli Chikere of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to postpone the arraignment of Isah Misau, APC-Bauchi Central, at the resumed hearing Tuesday morning.

Mr. Misau faces 10-count allegations of forgery of discharge documents when he left the police in 2010 to join politics. He appeared for hearing today and was docked for about 30 minutes.

The Attorney General of the Federation had initially filed forgery charges against Mr. Misau in September after the police first raised the allegations when Mr. Misau and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had a face-off in August.

Mr. Misau has denied wrongdoing, saying he honourably left the service and was given a discharge letter by the Police Service Commission. The PSC confirmed authorising Mr. Misaus resignation from service after completing the requirements, including paying the mandatory one month in lieu of notice.

The senator in turn accused the police inspector-general, Mr. Idris, of gross incompetence, aggravated sexual assaults on female officers and fraud.

Mr. Idris denied the allegations. The Senate has commenced a separate hearing on the controversy, and Mr. Idris had resolved to testify after initially declining the invitation on the grounds that the matter was already in court.

The Attorney-General, represented by Saleh Barkun, increased the charges against Mr. Misau from seven to 10 on October 27,

But when trial resumed Tuesday, Mr. Misaus counsel, Joshua Musa, a senior advocate of Nigeria, observed some inconsistencies with the charges, saying failure to place a bar association seal on them contradicted order 10, rules 1, 2 and 3 of the Federal High Court.

Mr. Barkun asked the court to give him more time to attach the seal on the charges, a prayer the judge subsequently granted, informing all parties to return to court on December 12.
The Police Command in Bayelsa said 10 detainees had escaped from the custody of its Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Yenagoa on Tuesday morning.

A statement issued by the Commands Public Relations Officer, DSP Asinim Butswat, on Tuesday in Yenagoa said three of the escapees had been re-arrested.

The Police Command in Bayelsa wishes to inform the people of the state and the general public that at about 0200hrs, 7th November, 2017, the incident duty officer of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) while on routine cell check discovered that ten suspects had escaped.

They escaped through the ceiling of SARS detention facility.

Policemen immediately cordoned off the SARS detention facility and re-arrested three out of the ten suspects that escaped.

The profile of the suspects has been circulated to our intelligence sources and efforts have been intensified to re-arrest the remaining suspects.

The Command urges members of the public not to panic and to volunteer useful information that may assist the Police in arresting the fleeing suspects, Mr. Butswat said.

However, a reliable source had earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria that about 42 suspected armed robbers and cultists detained at the SARS facility broke free and escaped.

The cell holds more than 50 suspects but it is empty, so it is difficult to give an accurate number, but we hear that 42 criminals were being detained, the source said.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said that the three tiers of government would receive additional 12 per cent revenues in 2018.

The president disclosed this while presenting the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N8.6 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly.

According to him, based on the total federally-collectible revenue estimated at N11.983 trillion in 2018, the three tiers of government shall receive 12 per cent more revenues than the 2017 estimates.

Of the amount, the sum of N6.387 trillion is expected to be realised from oil and gas sources.

Total receipts from the non-oil sector are projected at N5.597 trillion, Mr. Buhari said.

The president said that the federal governments estimated total revenue was N6.607 trillion in 2018, about 30 per cent more than the 2017 target.

As we pursue our goal of revenue diversification, non-oil revenues will become a larger share of total revenues.

In 2018, we project oil revenues of N2.442 trillion and non-oil as well as other revenues of N4.165 trillion , he added.

The president said that non-oil and other revenue sources of N4.165 trillion would include share of Companies Income Tax (CIT) of N794.7 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N207.9 billion as well as Customs and Excise Receipts, N324.9 billion.

Others are Independently Generated Revenues (IGR) of N847.9 billion, Federal Governments share of tax amnesty income of N87.8 billion and various recoveries of N512.4 billion.

It also includes N 710 billion as proceeds from the restructuring of governments equity in joint ventures and other sundry incomes of N678.4 billion.

(NAN)
A 72-year-old businesswoman, Esther Akinsanya, was on Tuesday charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged packaging of unregistered Brazilian sugar as Dangote granulated sugar.

The accused is charged alongside her company, Esther Olufumilayo Nig. Ltd, before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

She is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on false representation, importation and distribution of unregistered products.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After her plea, the prosecutor, Shamaki Umar, urged the court to give a date for trial.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel, while moving a bail application for the accused, urged the court to grant her bail on liberal terms.

He said the accused was diabetic and also had some health challenges, adding that she had no criminal records.

But the prosecutor opposed the bail application on the grounds that the accused had interfered with a prosecution witness by telling him to stay away from court.

Mr. Umar added that the accused will continue to interfere with witnesses if granted bail.

But Justice Faji chided the defence counsel for not attaching medical records or a doctors report in support of his application in spite of the fact that the accused had been charged since the court was on vacation.

Consequently, he adjourned the case until November 13 for the defence to get all the medical details and remanded the accused in prison pending the determination of her bail.

The accused was alleged to have committed the offence on August 2 at No. 1, Tailor St., Iddo, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the accused imported various brands of granulated Brazilian Sugar namely: Aqucar Crystal Sugar, Aqucar Special Crystal Sugar, and Usina Belavista Sugar.

In addition, it said the products were repackaged as Dangote Sugar in a manner likely to create a wrong impression as to its value.

The products were not fortified with Vitamin A contrary to the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Food Fortification with Vitamin A Regulation Act 2004.

The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Food, Drugs and Related Products Registration Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

(NAN)
President Muhammed Buhari on Tuesday said N118.98 billion will be spent to strengthen the nations agricultural sector in 2018 in order to ensure food security.

He said the agricultural sector played a crucial role in Nigerias recent exit from recession and remains the largest employer of labour.

The president said this while presenting the 2018 budget to the National Assembly, Tuesday.

We will consolidate on existing policies and develop new ones to ensure the numerous value chain challenges in the agricultural sector are addressed, Mr. Buhari said.

He said several investors had deployed significant capital in the production and processing of crops like rice, sugar, maize, soya, cassava, yams, tomato, oil palm, rubber and poultry products adding that more effort will be deployed to see increased investment in the agro-inputs manufacturing sector.

Aside getting more of these investments, the president said efforts will be made to protect these investments because food is a crucial part of the administrations national security agenda.

We are determined to protect these investments and encourage more. Food security is an important aspect of this administrations national security agenda. Any person involved in smuggling of food items is a threat to our national security and will therefore be dealt with accordingly, the president said.

He said a committee chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was working to ensure the nations borders are protected in this regard. He said a key part of the work of the committee would be the reactivation of the Badagry Agreement signed between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in 2003.

This agreement, which the president said was abandoned by previous administrations, was to tackle smuggling and other cross border crimes.

To further support investors and state governments, he said his administration will accelerate the establishment of at least six staple crop processing zones which will develop infrastructure for the production, processing and storage of strategic commodities.

The president also spoke on other ongoing initiatives in the sector.

We have also completed over 33,000 hectares of irrigation projects that have increased water availability in key food producing states. We shall continue to intensify our interventions through the Anchor Borrowers Programme and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative to ensure that this momentum is sustained.

We have also made provisions in the 2018 budget to complete ongoing irrigation projects at Ada, in Enugu State; Lower Anambra, in Anambra State; and Gari, in Jigawa State. In 2017, many factories and projects in the food and agricultural sectors were commissioned in Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Anambra, Edo, Jigawa, Rivers, Niger, Ogun and Ebonyi States, to mention a few.

This is a clear statement that our economic diversification and inclusive growth ambitions are coming to fruition.
The federal government has set aside N35.4 billion to address the housing needs of its workforce under the National Housing Programme in 2018.

President Muhammadu Buhari made this known when he presented the 2018 budget proposal at the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday.

He also announced a budgetary allocation of N9.8 billion for the Mambilla hydro power project in Gembu in Taraba.

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, had on August 30 approved $5.79 billion (about N1.140 trillion) for the construction of the Mambilla hydro plant 45 years after its conception.

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba had on Monday lauded President Buhari for ensuring the commencement of work on the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Plant.

President Buhari stated that the N9.8 billion earmarked for the plant included N8.5 billion as counterpart funding.

The president revealed that the 2018 budget estimate also contained N12 billion counterpart funding for earmarked transmission lines and substations as well as N10 billion for the second Niger Bridge project in the South-east region.

According to him, about N300 billion has been set aside for the construction and rehabilitation of the strategic roads across the country.

Furthermore, we have also invested a lot of time and effort in identifying alternative means of funding new projects.

For example, the recent N100 billion Sukuk Financing will cater specifically for the development of 25 roads across the country.

We also developed different structures that empower private investors to contribute to the development of roads of significant national importance.

Already, we are seeing results. For example: The Bonny-Bodo Road is being jointly funded by the Federal Government and Nigeria LNG Limited.

This project was conceived decades ago but it was abandoned. This Administration restarted the project and when completed, it will enable road transportation access for key communities in the Niger- Delta region, he added.

The president stated that the Apapa Wharf-Toll Gate Road in Lagos State was also being constructed by private sector investors in exchange for tax credits.

He maintained that the federal government had also continued work on key strategic roads, adding that over 766 kilometres of roads were constructed or rehabilitated across the country in 2017.

For instance, work is at various stages of completion on these strategic roads with immense socio-economic benefits: rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Road; Dualization of Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road and rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road.

Others, according to him, are dualization of Kano-Maiduguri Road; rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega road and Kotangora-Makera road that transverse Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger States; rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu-Port-Harcourt road; rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway Road and rehabilitation of Aleshi-Ugep Road and the Iyamoyun-Ugep Section in Cross River State.

The president also disclosed that his administration had embarked on the rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway road; construction of Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States and the construction Gokanni Bridge along Tegina-Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State.

(NAN)
The staff union of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday shut down activities at the commissions headquarters as the members began a three-day warning strike over alleged administrative anomalies.

The chairman of the staff union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Promise Chukwu, accused the management of the commission of several labour maltreatment.

People dont get promotion when due, the staff are not trained, no working materials in the office. We dont even have simple anti-virus software, Mr. Chukwu said.

He said the commission was under-performing because the Director General, E.J Bala does not understand its core mandate.

The director had described the commission as a research institute and this is at variance with the mandate of ECN which is strategic planning and coordination of policies on energy.

This mandate has eluded the commission because the director general does not understand the status and the mandate.

There is no condition of service, no schedule of work, no internal structures and mechanism in the commission where workers report directly under a director.

Mr. Chukwu also accused the management of irregular payment of N11 million through the project account of the commission to the account of the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, who is not a staff of the commission.

The union demanded, among others, the sack of the director general, investigation into the irregular transfer of N11 million into the account of the minister and a mandatory constitution of a committee to draw career progression training.

This is just a warning strike and if nothing is done after this three days, we (will) proceed on indefinite strike until something is done, Mr. Chukwu said.

Abubakar Shehu, working with energy information system of the commission, said his promotion was due since January but was yet to be effected.

Management does not provide training arrangement. There is a backlog of promotion so if our demands are not met, there will be total shutdown of the commission, Mr. Shehu said.

A senior official of the commission, who identified himself as Malam Umar, said the organisation would respond at the appropriate time.

Repeated calls to the mobile line of the director general were not answered. He is also yet to respond to a text message seeking clarification.
The Borno State police command says four people were killed in Tuesday morning multiple suicide attacks near the state capital, Maiduguri.

A spokesman, Victor Isukwu, said four teenage girls believed to have been primed by Boko Haram to carry out the attack, did not make it into Maiduguri as they were all killed by their own explosives.

A civilian-JTF operative had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that four people were killed in the attack and six injured.

A statement signed by Mr. Isukwu, a deputy superintendent, said eight persons, comprising fleeing farmers and an operative of Civilian-JTF, were injured by one of the explosives during a screening exercise.

Today 7/11/2017 at about 0820, four (4) female suicide bombers attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri Township through a farmland behind the parapet in London Sudan of kaleri area, Jere LGA, a statement by the police said.

On sighting the joint security personnel deployed along the parapet, the first bomber hurriedly detonated her suicide vest killing herself and a second suicide bomber in the farmland.

The statement adds: As a result of the explosion, farmers who were running back to town were stopped and screened at the entry point through the parapet by security personnel. In the process, a third female bomber sneaked into the group of persons being screened and detonated her suicide vest, killing herself alone while eight (8) others including a member of civilian Jtf, sustained various degrees of injuries.

In the ensuing stampede, a fourth suicide bomber was sighted by vigilant security personnel while trying to cross the parapet, and was gunned down. Her unexploded suicide vest and that of the second suicide bomber were rendered safe, and the area sanitized by police EOD team who were mobilized to the scene.

The injured were evacuated to University of Maiduguri teaching hospital and are responding to treatment, while normalcy has since been restored to the area.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday refuted media report of a dispute going on between it and the State Security Services, SSS, adding that the commission had the autonomy to invite members of any law enforcement agency during investigation.

The commission said this in a statement on Tuesday by Wilson Uwujaren, its spokesperson.

According to the statement, the commission said it was not strange for the EFCC to invite officers of other law enforcement agencies alleged to be complicit in any case being investigated by the commission, for questioning.

But there are protocols in doing this; and part of that protocol is to write to the heads of such agencies, requesting that the officer(s) in question be released to be interviewed, Mr. Uwujaren said.

In the course of investigating the arms procurement scandal in the Office of the the Commission has had cause to request the release of officers of other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy and now the DSS, for questioning. All, but the DSS have acceded to this request, he added.

The statement said the commission had no agenda to rubbish other security agencies in the country.

Mr. Wilson said the arms procurement investigation is a national issue in view point of the alleged culprits cutting across the military, security establishments as well as the political class. It is not targeted at any institution.

Consequently, the insinuation about a revenge-instigated investigation of the DSS by the EFCC over its role in the senate refusal to confirm Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC, is not only specious, but pure mischief contrived for motives that are unclear, he added.

The Senate had months earlier refused to confirm Mr. Magu as head of the EFCC over allegations of impropriety levelled against him by the SSS.

The principal charge against Mr. Magu, by the SSS as reported by PREMIUM TIMES in December last year, was that he (Magu) was tainted with corruption.

Mr. Magu has consistently denied any wrongdoing, a plea that has been further backed by presidential approval inspite of the Senates refusal to confirm him twice.
The government of Jersey Island has said that the Abacha loot would not be released to Nigeria if a third party representation is involved in the negotiation.

Nigerias former military dictator (1993-1998), Sani Abacha, is believed to have stolen billions of dollars of government money before his death in office.

According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, the Minister and Attorney General of Jersey Island, Robert MacRae, disclosed the condition for return of the funds on Tuesday during the ongoing 7th Session of Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, holding in Vienna, Austria.

Mr. MacRae spoke at a side meeting with the Nigeria delegation led by acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

The EFCC was accompanied to the meeting by four members of the Nigeria delegation, its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

The Jersey Attorney General expressly stated that negotiations in respect of repatriation of the $300 million (about N108 billion) being part of the Abacha loot involving Jersey, Nigeria and the United States, must be government to government cooperation.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the Nigeria media is acknowledged as one of the freest in the world.

The Minister stated this at the 39th Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, in Paris on Tuesday.

Contributing to a debate on UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, the minister said the Nigerian Government does not engage in impunities against journalists and will never tolerate such.

Mr. Mohammed said that the freedom of the media had been further enhanced through the Freedom of Information Act, adding that government would continue to make efforts to further enable the media to serve the people better.

This effort is intended not only to produce a robust and healthy media, but for the journalism profession to continue to thrive under a conducive environment.

The right to Freedom of Information, commonly understood as the right to access information held by public offices, is now widely recognised in Nigeria as a fundamental human right.

By this act, the Nigerian Government is doing its utmost best to ensure accountability, transparency and openness, he said.

The minister noted that because of the crucial role that journalists play in the quest for development, Nigeria had shown significant commitment at ensuring that journalists experience no official hindrance in the course of their legitimate work.

He said that the government had responded to inquiries from international organisations, such as UNESCO on cases pertaining to acts of alleged violence against journalists.

The Government of Nigeria has resolved to continue to defend the freedom of expression and press freedom as well as uphold justice, the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the country, he said.

The minister reassured that the government would remain responsive to the issues of journalists safety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 39 UNESCO member states contributed to the debate on Safety of Journalists which was presided over by Frank La-Reu, the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO Commission on Information and Communications.

Leading the debate, the United Kingdom and Sweden commended the Commission for presenting a detailed report outlining how UNESCO would strengthen its leadership of the UN Plan of Action to address the challenge of safety of journalists.

They respectively contended that the focus should be on concrete measures to be taken by member states to address the challenge of attacks on journalists and impunity.

The U.S stressed the need for the protection of journalists in conflict areas and called for the immortalisation of Avijit Roy, a U.S.-Bangladeshi blogger who was hacked to death in Dhaka in 2015.

Cameroon in its contribution said though its President Paul Biya was the most insulted leader in the world by the media, the country would support UNESCO Action Plan.

The country, however, underscored the need for the Plan of Action to clarify on how to deal with the so called journalists who specialised in blackmailing government officials.

NAN reports that of the 39 member-nations that contributed to the debate, only Russia and Turkey opposed the adoption of the Action Plan.

Russia was of the opinion that the Action Plan was circulated to member-states on November 21, and so there was no enough time to study the contents and there was the need to converse with its government before a decision was taken on such sensitive issue.

Turkey on its part said the resolutions in the Action Plan were too long and complex and called for its review.

Meanwhile, Ghana has been given the hosting right for the 2018 World Press Freedom Day.

(NAN)
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives say they suspended their planned protest against President Muhammadu Buhari because of the respect they have for the office of the president.

The lawmakers had earlier boasted their plan to protest as the president presented the 2018 to a joint session of the National Assembly.

But the members, who separately spoke to PREMIUM TIMES shortly after the president laid the 2018 budget, said they also shelved the protest due to the respect they had for the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who they said appealed to members.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Toby Okechukwu, from Imo state, said the lawmakers were not happy with the pace of implementation of the 2017 budget.

He added that it was not just the PDP lawmakers who planned the protest, but also members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Its not a PDP thing per say, he said. In 2016 he brought N6 trillion, N7 trillion in 2017 and now he is bringing N8 trillion, we are not interested in the trillion, we are not interested in the trillions but rather what you can implement, he said.

If you dont have N8trn, why dont you budget for what you have? It is just mere deception

A lawmaker from Lagos State, Oghene Egoh, also said the lawmakers were aggrieved because of the slow pace of implementation of the 2017 budget.

2017 was not well implemented, now you bring 2018. We thought about protesting against the president but the speaker appealed to us that in the interest of the country, he said.

He said the opposition party had the people of Nigeria at heart.

That shows you PDP, we are people who are willing to work for the betterment of the country, he said.

It was purely on principle that we fight for implementation. The generality of the people suffer it, that was the reason. But we thank God we dropped the idea and today the budget has been laid.

He added that most of the PDP lawmakers have no confidence in the 2018 budget proposal.
Mixed reactions on Tuesday trailed the 2018 budget proposal of N8.6 trillion, shortly after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari before a Joint Session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Some lawmakers expressed satisfaction with the budget which has a nominal increase of 16 per cent above the 2017 budget estimate and tagged Budget of Consolidation.

Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) said it was a budget of hope and a realistic one, looking at its parameters.

He said there are various indications that the budget proposal is realistic.

Also, the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari during the presentation that the aspirations Niger Delta people would be looked into, would improve crude oil production.

Even with the sectoral allocation, I believe it is a budget for the common man.

Mr. Marafa assured that the National Assembly would play its role by ensuring that all standing committees worked assiduously to realise an implementable budget.

He added that the legislature would be keen on oversight to check implementation level of projects.

Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) said the budget proposal was realisable.

He said that from the presentation, every part of the country got something out of the budget.

Everybody looking for the prospect of the economy got a glimmer of the hope from the budget proposal presented today.

We need to do what we ought to do not to lose time while we re-organise the budget from January to December, by rolling over some of the projects and plans for 2017.

The lawmaker, however, added that like every other budget, there were still challenges in passing and implementing it.

He said budget cycle had some procedures and rules that had to flow with it, adding that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was supposed to be treated by National Assembly before receiving the budget proposal.

Mr. Abe said that was not done because MTEF was not presented early enough.

It will be difficult to implement the budget proposal without taking care of some of those challenges; but outside of that, I believe that we are on track and with all working together, it is achievable.

On the effect of non-oil sector on the economy, Mr. Abe said from the presentation, the countrys export was beginning to bring in returns. He said if consolidated, it was achievable in the long term.

However, Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP-Abia) said his concern was the implementation of the 2017 budget.

He stressed it was the implementation of the budget that would impact positively on the people.

He added that I am speaking on behalf of Nigerians as a senator that we should talk more about implementation than applauding the presentation of the budget proposal.

That is why I am insisting that we should know the level of implementation of the 2017 budget before we talk of 2018.

On the face value, N8.6 trillion is an increment over 2017 estimate but what is the level of implementation of the previous budget?

Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa) said the budget proposal was promising and achievable if all hands would be on deck.

Similarly, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta) said the budget proposal by the President demonstrated that he was up to the task for the remaining term he had in office.

The President demonstrated that he is capable of running another campaign and govern this country for another four years. We believe in his vision for this country. We are his foot soldiers.

The lawmaker noted that the increase in funding for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was highly commendable.

He added that I am excited about that. There is adequate funding for the Itakpe-Alaja rail line. The N150 billion set aside for social intervention is also commendable.

I am also excited about that even though I am not happy with the mode of implementation of the 2017 budget.

Mr. Omo-Agege said President Buhari had fulfilled his constitutional obligation and it was now left for the legislators to cross the Ts and dot the Is.

Also, Peter Nwaboshi (PDP-Delta) commended the President for his resilience and the way he spoke for one hour five minutes.

It is a good development that we are seeing our president well. I am really happy about that.

He, however, said he expected the president in his speech to dwell on achievements in the Niger Delta.

This is where principally the revenue for this budget is coming from. He should have specific achievements in those areas.

On the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) not passed before the presentation of the budget proposal, Mr. Nwaboshi said this is a condition that precedes the budget as stipulated by the Fiscal responsibility Act.

We are supposed to pass the MTEF before the budget is presented but that was not done.

On his part, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Francis Alimikhena, said the MTEF and the budget proposal were presented to meet the January to December target.

He added that we will treat MTEF first before attending to the budget.

Foster Ogola (PDP-Bayelsa) on his part said the budget would emancipate Nigerians.

He said we pray that God will intervene to enable us to have a government that will take care of our needs.

(NAN)
Leadership is not just some empty formulas but establishing deep connection at soul levels through service, integrity, passion, perseverance and equanimity,  Amit Ray.

For those who want to make a difference, the first step out of the gate is knowing where you want to end up. Knowing the destination and height you want to take your organisation to.

For Tokunbo Abiru, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bank Nigeria, service, passion, perseverance and equanimity best describe him.

Since joining Skye Bank in 2016, Mr. Abirus ingenuity, leadership style has helped in changing the fortune of the bank in just a period of one year. Within a short period at the helms of affair at Skye Bank, Mr. Abiru has championed series of transformative business initiatives geared towards repositioning as well boosting the fortunes of Skye Bank to the admiration of both the customers and shareholders.

Described as the man with the midas touch, within a period of one year, Mr. Abirus dexterity has helped in stabilising and restoring the confidence of the Skye Bank brand among stakeholders

Mr. Abiru has successfully implemented cost management initiatives which has enhanced liquidity and efficient service delivery to Skye bank customers.

Through his aggressive recovery initiatives, the bank has been able to recover over N60 billion of outstanding bad loans within one year of mounting the saddle.

Under his watch, the bank has been able to reach settlement and restructuring agreements with many of the chronic bad debtors resulting in substantially improved payments and prospects of future recoveries.

In line with the banks broad mandate which includes cost management and optimisation, as well as divestments to improve the institutions financial position, Tokunbo Abiru has embarked on several initiatives aimed at restructuring and repositioning the bank.

Some of the initiatives embarked by Mr. Abiru in the past one year include: branch rationalisation, review of service contracts and cash management operations which have resulted in hundreds of millions of financial savings. Also, through some of the initiatives, the bank has successfully settled many matured trade and bilateral obligations and restructured outstanding balances with the relevant institutions and counterparties.

Under Mr. Abirus watch, the bank has divested from four local subsidiaries releasing total cash value of N6.2 billion.

Tokunbo Abiru is also known for his no-nonsense approach to service delivery which keeps members of staff on their toes always, but doesnt hesitate in wielding the big stick when necessary in order to achieve the desired growth goals of the brand, while rewarding outstanding members of staff.

As a man of integrity and strong values, Skye Bank Plc. under Mr. Abirus leadership, emerged The Most Committed Watch Listing Bank in Nigeria out of four corporate awards that were up for grabs at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) Annual Dinner and Awards which held in Lagos recently. The other NeFF awards won by the bank are: the best fraud desk personality of the year; the responsive fraud desk and the overall best fraud desk.

Skye Bank, a Systematically Important Bank (SIB), with strong market share and relative interconnectedness, occupies a sensitive role in the financial industry in Nigeria and West Africa. For the customers and shareholders of Skye Bank, they should look at future with great hope as Mr. Abiru and his team are working tirelessly in making sure that Skye Bank ranks amongst the Top 3 financial institutions in Nigeria

Mr. Abiru is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School. He holds a B.Sc. (Economics) from Lagos State University and is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, as well as an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Mr. Abiru is a financial guru extraordinaire has had a distinguished career in banking spanning about 26 years, and has held positions in both Nigerias public and private sectors.

Tokunbo Abiru was, in 2016, appointed the Group MD/CEO of Skye Bank, after the Central Bank of Nigeria approved the reconstitution of the banks board. A banker who has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, Mr. Abiru started his career at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), where he worked for 10 years. He then spent 14 years working at First Bank of Nigeria Limited, and at various times there was the relationship Team Leader, Retail Banking; Business Development Manager, Lagos (Ikeja1); and Group Head, Corporate Banking.

In 2011, Mr. Abiru was appointed the Commissioner of Finance for Lagos State under then governor, Babatunde Fashola. In 2013, he resigned to take up a position as the Executive Director, Corporate Banking of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Mr. Abiru served in this capacity until his retirement in 2016. While at First Bank, Mr. Abiru also served as a Non-Executive director in Airtel Mobile Networks Limited; FBN Capital Limited (now FBN Merchant Bank Limited); and FBN Bank Sierra Leone Limited.

While serving as the Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, it is to Tokunbo Abirus credit that the state successfully floated an N80 billion bond, earning it the EMEA Finances Best Local Currency Bond Award for 2012. Under his leadership, Mr. Abiru made the states tax efforts yield maximum results; and the discovery of over 5.5 million tax evaders in 2013 opened up the discussion regarding taxation in Lagos State. Mr. Abirus efforts also led to increased Land Use Charge revenue generations to the tune of N6.2 billion.

Tokunbo Abiru is also a member of the Lagos HOMs Committee, which is in charge of the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, HOMS, instituted to reduce the housing deficit in the state.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe zonal office has arrested a former acting governor of Taraba State, Abubakar Danladi, for alleged diversion of N450 million during the 2015 presidential election campaign.

The EFCC said this in a press statement made available to journalists by Bello Bajoga, of the agency press unit.

The statement said Mr. Danladi allegedly collected the money through two lawmakers, Joel Ikenya and Mark Useni, during the 2015 election .

The amount in question was part of the N23 billion allegedly doled out by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

Danladi told interrogators that he chaired the 8- man committee that disbursed the money for Taraba State. He further stated that he and the other members of the committee shared N36 million among themselves while the balance of N414 million was distributed to other stakeholders across the 16 local government areas of the state and one Development Area Council, the EFCC said.

The statement said Mr. Danladi was arrested and detained in Abuja last week but was later released on bail to reliable sureties. He was asked to report to EFCC Gombe zonal office for further investigation.
The federal government will in 2018 be spending N45 billion under its special intervention for the war-wrecked northeast.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari while presenting a N8.612 trillion 2018 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

The proposed spending is expected to consolidate the gains being made in the current 2017 budget, the president said.

In his first mention of the northeast in his speech, the president announced the spending proposal, and later said N9.8 billion had been proposed for the Mambilla hydro power project, which he said includes N8.5 billion as counterpart funding. Mambilla is located in Taraba, a state within Northeast Nigeria.

Mr. Buhari said his administrations absolute commitment to securing life and property in other parts of the country would be replicated in the war-wrecked northeast.

He said soldiers prosecuting the war against Boko Haram in the states of northeast would be supported and equipped to enable them achieve victory over the countrys enemies.

We will ensure that our gallant men and women in arms are properly equipped and well-motivated, he said.

He said it was due to the commitment of his government towards ending Boko Haram insurgency that resulted in the gradual return to normalcy in the North East.

It is in this spirit that I recently assented to the North-East Development Commission Bill that was passed by this Distinguished House.

We expect that this development will consolidate on our ongoing efforts to combat insurgency, reintegrate Internally Displaced Persons and rebuild communities in the North East Region, which have been adversely affected by the insurgency, he said.

Unlike the N71.20 billion earmarked for the Niger Delta Development Commission, President Buhari did not clearly mention if the proposed N45 billion for Northeast Intervention Fund was meant to fund the new North-East Development Commission (NEDC).
The Plateau State Government on Tuesday commenced payment of workers in 17 councils of the state who suffered the no-work-no-pay policy of the former governor, Jonah Jang.

Mr. Jang had in 2014, refused to pay workers four months salaries when they went on strike in protest over non-implementation of payment of their minimum wage during the period.

Paul Seku, Chairman, Plateau Central Zone Committee on Payment of No-work-no-pay for Local Government Staff, disclosed this during the committees visit to the Chairman of Pankshin Local Government.

We are in this council today to commence the payment of the No-work-no-pay to all the local government staff of this council and the remaining four local governments within the Plateau Central Zone including, Mangu, Bokkos, Kanke and Kanam.

This is in fulfilment of the promise made to the staff by our loving Governor Simon Lalong, when he asked the workers to withdraw the court case in Abuja for amicable settlement.

We are starting with Pankshin Local Government, and thereafter, move to other local governments where we hope to complete payment within this week, Mr. Sheku pledged.

Mr. Sheku, who is also the Director General, Plateau Debt Management Committee, explained that the verification would give the committee the opportunity to pay one month out of the four months owed the workers in cash.

According to him, after this payment, the remaining three months salaries will be paid to them through their accounts in their various banks.

Responding, Naomi Golmwen, Chairman, Pankshin Local Government, expressed happiness over the magnanimity of Mr. Lalong and described it as a welcome development.

She expressed the hope and belief that the payment of the fund would go a long way to mobilise the people of Pankshin to retain the governor in 2019.

This is a long awaited goodwill of the governor that has become a reality today; our community depends largely on salary, and I believe the payment will touch many homes and build their confidence on the government.

To us as politicians and leaders, it will build a strong support for us to go all and mobilise the people for their cooperation and support for this administration both now and come 2019, when we shall seek their mandate, she said.

Mr. Golmwen assured the committee of the orderliness of the councils staff and advised the cashiers to cooperate with the committee for successful verification and payment.

The Council NULGE Chairman, Pankyes Benwuk, described the exercise as a dream come true and commended Mr. Lalong for keeping to his promise.

We hope that the four months being owed us will be completely settled before the end of this year as early pledged by the government, Mr. Benwuk said.

(NAN)
The governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, on Tuesday said the state will not rescind its decision to sack 21,780 teachers, who recently failed the competency test conducted by the state government.

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, had threatened that its members will proceed on an indefinite strike from November 23 to protest the sack of the teachers.

Apparently responding to the threat in a Facebook post, Mr. El-rufai said, he will not bow to such threats.

We have received a notice from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Kaduna State wing demanding that we rescind our decision on unqualified teachers or else they (will) go on an indefinite strike. But then we ask, whats the point of that strike?

To force us to violate our oath of office and retain unqualified teachers? We have sworn by the Holy Books that we will only do justice and we are committed to ensuring that the children of the poor in Kaduna State must get free basic and quality education, Mr. El-rufai wrote.

In another post, Mr. El-rufai said, One evidence of the crisis in our society is that a union, whose members failed a Primary 4 examination thinks it can create problems over the issue rather than be a part of the solution.

We are not people that bow to threats. We will respond appropriately. What will be point of the threatened strike? To force us to violate our oath of office and knowingly retain as teachers those that are not qualified? That will not happen!

We will recruit as many qualified teachers as we can find. We will not keep unqualified teachers on our payroll.

About two-thirds of primary school teachers in Kaduna State who sat for the test, made up of primary four questions, failed to score up to 75 per cent in the grading.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has reserved judgment in a legal action seeking to unseat Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on account of non-compliance with laws in the conduct of the primary election that produced him in 2014 as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The appeal was filed by Umaru Dahiru and Aliyu Sanyinna, who were governorship aspirants in the December 4, 2014 APC governorship primary election in Sokoto but lost out due to alleged swapping of the delegates list by the governor.

Respondents in the appeal are the APC, Mr. Tambuwal and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Justice Abubakr Yahaya who presided over two other justices of the appellate court reserved the verdict of the court after counsel in the suit made their final brief of arguments to back up their respective reliefs sought at the court.

Counsel to the appellants Roland Otaru, while making his final submissions asked the appeal court to remove Mr. Tambuwal as governor on the ground that he was not lawfully and validly elected as the APC gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 governorship elections.

He submitted that the APC constitution, primary election guidelines and the Electoral Act were grossly violated during the conduct of the December 2014 primary election.

The senior counsel argued that the disregard for the observance of due process got to the climax with the alleged swapping of the delegates list by the governor to circumvent the rules provided for the conduct of the primary by the national secretariat of the APC.

Mr. Otaru informed the panel of justices that the two appellants attached the authentic delegates to their originating summon to confirm that none of the names on the list was ticked to establish accreditation of delegates for conduct of the primary election. He added that the failure of the respondents to produce the list of accredited delegates to rebut the claims of the appellants was fatal to the case of the respondents.

He then urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court which on June 22, 2017 upheld the primary election.

Mr. Otaru claimed that the judge erred in law and engaged in mis-carriage of justice by going out of the counter claims of the respondents to arrive at his conclusion.

Specifically, the senior lawyer canvassed that the principal appellant, Umaru Dahiru, be declared the candidate of the APC in the 2015 governorship election.

However, the APC, represented by Jibrin Okutepa, canvassed that the suit be dismissed for being vexatious and lacking in merit.

He submitted that the appellants were inconsistent in their pleadings having allegedly claimed that there was no primary election conducted and in another averment established that not all the authentic delegates were accredited for the primary election.

Besides, Mr. Okutepa claimed that the appellants changed the character of their case when in the originating summon they canvassed cancellation of the primary election for a fresh one but came back to seek that they be declared the winner of the same faulted primary poll.

From the totality of the case of the appellants and from the list they submitted on their own, they admitted that 1620 delegates from the 23 local government areas of the state were accredited and in their inconsistent claim, came out to allege again that delegates were not accredited as required by law.

In the face of this glaring inconsistence, the case of the plaintiffs is liable to be dismissed, and I urge this court to do so and uphold the findings of the High Court on the issue, he said.

Also, counsel to Mr. Tambuwal, Ibrahim Ameh, canvassed the dismissal of the suit for lacking in merit.

Mr. Ameh claimed that the fulcrum of the case of the appellants was non-accreditation of delegates adding that they did not establish their allegation as required by law in court.

The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Tanimu Inuwa, also supported the submission for dismissal of the suit.

Justice Yahaya after the adoption of the arguments by lawyers said that the date for judgment will be communicated to parties in the suit by the court.
The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested three men suspected to be behind a number of bank robberies in the state.

The state, especially its capital city, Uyo, has witnessed a series bank robberies of late.

The police commissioner in the state, Zubairu Muazu, who paraded the three suspects before journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, said that they were arrested at Eket town, in Eket local government area of the state, on November 3 after robbing a bank customer of N1 million.

The victim, Nkereuwem Akpan, was said to have just withdrawn the money from a First Bank branch in Eket, when the robbers trailed and attacked him at a local eatery, Food Affairs, opposite the bank.

The arrest was effected through sustained monitoring of the suspects movement, the police commissioner said.

The police gave the names of the suspects as Hycent Bright, said to be their gang leader, Medford John and John Chibueze.

Apart from the gang leader, who is said to be based in Eket, the other two, the police said, usually travelled from the neighbouring Rivers State to carry out operations in the state.

The police said they recovered a Toyota Avalon car, with the registration number NCH 28 ST, N521, 300, one Techno phone, and several ATM cards from the suspects.

The commissioner, in addition, said that the police anti-kidnapping team in the state on Tuesday arrested four kidnappers at Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.

Public trust and confidence in the police has improved tremendously. The large flow of information from members of the public is unprecedented. We have established more platforms where the police and members of the public interface regularly, the police commissioner said.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




New international tours and visa packages have been added to the company's ever-growing lineup of products and services.

macau tower

Contact

Rajkumar Gaikwad

***@raynatours.com

+971 42087444 Rajkumar Gaikwad+971 42087444

End

-- Rayna Tours and Travels has announced the release of its latest tours and visa services. This includes the addition of Macau tours to its global destination portfolio, plus visa services to countries such as the Kingdom of Bahrain, South Korea, and Nepal. It's for the third time this year the company has unveiled its brand-new offerings, after the introduction of Hong Kong and Georgia tours. Accordingly, this Dubai-based Destination Management Company now offers trips in several countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.On the launch of Macau tours, the company spokesperson said, "Due to its mix of vibrant modern sights, fascinating colonial style structures and intriguing culture, Macau has been in great demand for quite a long time. With our sensational new tours, our guests will now be able to have an incredible perspective of the region's distinguished highlights and inspiring experiences."When asked about the visa services, he continued, "This move is also in direct response to our customers' increased demand to expand our international visa services by adding more countries."Rayna Tours' Macau tours encompass a blend of popular attractions, iconic experiences, and authentic culinary trips. A guided city tour accompanied by a compact travel program and roundtrip transfers provides a comprehensive overview of Macau's must-sees. The company also arranges entry tickets with optional transfers to landmarks such as Macau Tower, House of Magic, House of Dancing Water, and the Venetian Macau where guests can relish upscale dining and enjoy an Italian style gondola ride.Alternatively, through the expansion of its visa services, both the Emiratis and the UAE residents from different parts of the world can now apply for a business visa or tourist visa to new three destinations:the Kingdom of Bahrain, Nepal and South Korea, apart from 20 plus countries. This gives applicants the flexibility to complete their visa procedures online or via dropping directly into Rayna Tours' main office; one of its branches (Abu Dhabi and Sharjah); or 70 plus outlets across Dubai.For more information, visit https://www.raynatours.com
ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today released its second annual Labor & Employment Practice Benchmarks Report, which offers practitioners a comprehensive review of how their peers conduct many aspects of the practice, from use of technology and knowledge management to billing rates and fees, business development, and compensation structures. A complimentary executive summary of the survey report is available online at http://on.bna.com/c0AT30goJBg and is being offered to attendees of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law's 11th Annual Conference, November 8-11 in Washington, D.C. Exclusive access to the full report is available to subscribers of Bloomberg Law.

"This report is an authoritative, trusted source of research and analysis that provides detailed insights into the practice of labor and employment law," said Victoria Roberts, Vice President and General Manager for Labor & Employment, Benefits and HR at Bloomberg Law. "We continue to enhance the content of this survey report and new this year is intelligence regarding research methods, tools, and the value of various types of data for decision making."

Among the key findings:

Larger firms (51 or more attorneys) are more likely to offer a fixed fee structure for labor and employment matters, with 80 percent offering this option, as compared to only 61 percent of smaller firms. Nearly half of firms offering fix fees respond that they are somewhat profitable (46 percent), nearly three in ten say they break even (29 percent) and one in four respond that they are somewhat unprofitable (24 percent).

Attorneys negotiate billing/fees with just under half of their clients (43 percent) with an average discount of 11 percent.

On average, labor and employment attorneys spend 18 percent of their time on business development efforts and report an average RFP win rate of 39 percent. Firms with at least one person dedicated to responding to RFPs have a higher win rate (47 percent) than those who do not (37 percent).

Over half of all labor and employment matters (65 percent) are settled, and of those, nearly two-thirds (53 percent) are settled pre-judgement. Strength of claims and defenses (81 percent) and cost-benefit analysis (79 percent) are the most cited factors in decisions to settle.

Use of email and paper documents are ubiquitous among labor and employment attorneys (100 percent and 95 percent, respectively), but digital means are catching up. Virtual meetings and cloud based storage are used by 7 out of 10.

"This report is a significant component of the Labor and Employment Practice Center on Bloomberg Law," noted Roberts. "With more tools, content, and data than any other labor and employment resource, Bloomberg Law makes it easier for labor and employment attorneys to evaluate and improve their practices, solve issues, devise successful litigation strategies, draft and negotiate agreements, and advise on compliance matters."

Within the full report, each chapter includes a full-page infographic showcasing the top-line findings on that specific topic. The survey was conducted during July and August of 2017 and the report is based on responses from nearly 350 labor and employment practitioners. The respondents represent a mix of attorneys from labor and employment practices around the country including Am Law 200 and boutique firms.

About Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted and exclusive content, news, time-saving practice tools, market data and business intelligence. For more information, visit www.bna.com/bloomberglaw.

SOURCE Bloomberg Law

Related Links

http://www.bna.com/bloomberglaw


MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WOHASU LLC today announced the speakers and theme for their 2nd annual World Happiness Summit returning to Miami on March 16-18, 2018, at the University of Miami's Shalala Center. This three-day event unifies people from around the world to listen to the leading experts in the different disciplines that compose happiness and well-being.

The World Happiness Summit, organized by WOHASU, is an inclusive forum designed to expose individuals to the practical implementations of the science of happiness by providing scientifically proven tools that people can use daily to build resiliency and maximize human flourishing. This year's Summit theme is "SUSTAINABLE Happiness: Developing Balanced Personal, Interpersonal, Career & Environmental Ecosystems One Person at a Time."

Highlighted Speakers (Full speaker list available here)

- Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, renowned expert in Positive Psychology who taught the most popular course at Harvard University

- Lord Richard Layard, Programme Director  Wellbeing, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics, Co-Editor of The World Happiness Report

- Ismael Cala, Motivational Speaker and former CNN en Espanol Host

- Dr. Mark Williamson, Director, Action for Happiness

- Dr. Emma Seppala, Science Director, Stanford Center For Compassion And Altruism Research and Education

- Howard Martin, Executive Vice President, Heart Math

- Luke Lorio, CEO iPEC Coaching

- Romero Britto, International Pop Artist

- Dr. Fred Luskin, Director, Stanford University Forgiveness Projects

- Gopi Kallayil, Chief Evangelist Brand Marketing, Google

- Dr. James Pawelski, Director of Education, Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania

- Dr. Robert Emmons, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Davis, & Founding Editor-In-Chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology

The inaugural World Happiness Summit 2017 was a success welcoming over 1,250 daily attendees (84% outside Florida), from over 30 countries and 40 U.S. states garnering international media coverage from dozens of outlets. The team at WOHASU was supported by over 80 sponsors and partners and was awarded the key to the City of Miami by Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, proclaiming March 19 "Make Miami Happy Day."

Media Contact: Katelyn Gimbel

540-718-2407

[email protected]

SOURCE World Happiness Summit

Related Links

http://www.happinesssummit.world


The Figure 4 platform incorporates high speed digital molding, a process that speeds and simplifies the production of plastic parts -- enabling manufacturers to match the accuracy, reliability, repeatability and uptime of traditional injection molding.

Figure 4's ultra-fast print technology combined with production-grade materials enables up to 15x throughput improvements versus competitive offerings, at up to 20 percent lower cost of current manufacturing processes.

While 3D Systems' Figure 4 platform represents an innovative approach to manufacturing, the technology behind Figure 4 has roots in the early days of the company. In 1983, 3D Systems' co-founder and current Chief Technology Officer Chuck Hull filed a patent for the first stereolithography (SLA) printer, which included many of the processes and ideas found in the new Figure 4 systems.

A Modular Platform That Grows with Manufacturing Needs

Figure 4 is a flexible production system with models designed to meet the needs of various production environments, from standalone units to factory solutions for Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Dental, Durable Goods and Service Bureaus. The Figure 4 hardware lineup includes four models:

Figure 4 Production is completely customizable and provides customers with the ability to scale the technology as their business and manufacturing needs grow. Completely automated, the same or similar functional production parts can be built in high volume via an in-line production configuration, with integrated post-processing. Automated material delivery and integrated post-processing reduce labor requirements -- increasing productivity and lowering total cost of operation.

is completely customizable and provides customers with the ability to scale the technology as their business and manufacturing needs grow. Completely automated, the same or similar functional production parts can be built in high volume via an in-line production configuration, with integrated post-processing. Automated material delivery and integrated post-processing reduce labor requirements -- increasing productivity and lowering total cost of operation. Figure 4 Modular provides customers with an upgradable and affordable direct 3D production solution which includes automated materials-handling and centralized post-processing. As with all Figure 4 units, it is designed to grow with a customer's business as they move from prototyping to production. With operation from a master control box, each modular unit is capable of producing multiple unique parts simultaneously  saving customers time, money and resources, while speeding time to market.

provides customers with an upgradable and affordable direct 3D production solution which includes automated materials-handling and centralized post-processing. As with all Figure 4 units, it is designed to grow with a customer's business as they move from prototyping to production. With operation from a master control box, each modular unit is capable of producing multiple unique parts simultaneously  saving customers time, money and resources, while speeding time to market. Figure 4 Standalone is an affordable, industrial-grade single engine solution for low volume production and rapid functional prototyping. Ideal for small design shops and OEMs, it provides industry-leading economical print volume at the lowest cost compared to other printers in its class.

is an affordable, industrial-grade single engine solution for low volume production and rapid functional prototyping. Ideal for small design shops and OEMs, it provides industry-leading economical print volume at the lowest cost compared to other printers in its class. Figure 4 Dental is a single-engine, independent 3D printer with centralized post-processing designed for dental production, prototyping and sacrificial casting. 3D Systems' portfolio of biocompatible materials makes Figure 4 Dental the only printer on the market to address more than 10 indications.

Figure 4 solutions are designed to break down barriers found with traditional manufacturing processes, giving customers streamlined and efficient access to superior quality parts with minimal effort. In order to help customers increase productivity and efficiency, all Figure 4 configurations come integrated with 3D Systems' 3D Sprint and 3D Connect software.

3D Sprint helps customers address all aspects of print preparation from CAD model repair to automatic placement and support of the part on the print platform  while being able to submit and monitor jobs in the print queue.

Maximum uptime is critical in a manufacturing environment and requires ongoing status reports and preventative maintenance. 3D Systems' newest solution, 3D Connect, a cloud-based software solution, delivers proactive and predictive serviceability for production environments. 3D Connect is comprised of two solutions: 3D Connect Service and 3D Connect Manage. 3D Connect Service provides a secure, cloud-based connection to 3D Systems' service team for proactive and preventative maintenance of the printer. Proactive scheduled maintenance and service alerts with remote diagnostics allow 3D Systems' service personnel to either solve problems remotely or mobilize a technician on-site, equipped with the necessary parts for repair. 3D Connect Manage allows customers to securely and remotely monitor the status of one printer or a fleet of printers, as well as view comprehensive and historical data to more effectively understand the utilization of their printer fleet. Customers can view and analyze a number of metrics such as materials usage and utilization rates, as well as receive real-time text and email alerts based on conditions they specify (e.g., job complete).

Significantly Expanding the Materials Portfolio

3D Systems is launching 15 new materials to be used in industrial and dental applications with its Figure 4 solutions. The company is the first to offer all the materials needed for production parts, including rapid prototyping, elastic, clear, tough (functional) and high temperature consumables.

While many competitive materials require lengthy photo- and heat-curing processes, 3D Systems' new functional plastics only require curing in bright light, making the entire process ultra-fast; delivering up to 15x faster throughput. Each product in the Figure 4 portfolio is capable of printing biocompatible materials, as well as those with elastomeric properties. All materials feature the same durability as traditionally manufactured parts, however the level of accuracy and surface finish is unmatched.

Groundbreaking Technology at an Incredible Price

In addition to offering versatile capabilities to disrupt the traditional manufacturing landscape, each printer model in the Figure 4 lineup is affordably priced, making the platform attractive and accessible to any sized business.

"Figure 4 is a game-changing production solution for additive manufacturing that will help CEOs bridge the chasm and move from prototyping to production," said Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive officer, 3D Systems. "Leveraging this platform approach helps us protect the investment of our customers and smooth the transition as they scale their operations."

The Figure 4 solutions will range in price from approximately $25,000 to over $1 million. General availability for the various Figure 4 configurations is planned to be staged across 2018:

Figure 4 Production and Figure 4 Dental are planned for Q2 2018.

Figure 4 Modular and Figure 4 Standalone are planned for Q3 2018.

For more information, please visit the 3D Systems website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

SOURCE 3D Systems

Related Links

http://www.3dsystems.com


DENVER, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) today announced award of a new 3-year contract with BMW. The contract for the company's On Demand Manufacturing (ODM) Services includes production of 3D printed parts that BMW will use for design and functional prototypes.

Using their stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) technologies as well as providing finishing services such as painting, dying and tumbling, 3D Systems will produce prototype and functional interior and exterior automobile test parts for BMW, as well as tools and fixtures. These parts will be used during summer and winter rideout testing to verify their designs for proper fit and approach, as well as to understand how the parts function in extreme heat and cold.

3D Systems combines its print technologies with a variety of materials to produce these durable, functional parts. For example, the company uses its DuraForm HST Composite fiberglass-filled plastic to create 3D printed parts to be used in powertrain and under-the-hood applications. DuraForm HST Composite is a fiber-reinforced engineering plastic with excellent stiffness and high temperature resistance which makes it ideal for durable prototypes in the automotive industry.

3D Systems has a long-standing relationship with BMW; delivering not only high quality parts, but also lending their engineering expertise to help define manufacturing processes and solutions. In addition to fulfilling a large proportion of BMW's need for rapid prototyping via 3D printing technologies, 3D Systems will also be one of the manufacturer's preferred vendors for prototypes via traditional processes such as urethane casting, injection molding, and CNC.

"3D Systems and BMW have been business partners for many years and we're pleased to expand our relationship through this contract," said Ziad Abou, senior vice president and general manager, Global On Demand Manufacturing Services. "3D Systems has a rich history and depth of knowledge in the Automotive industry. We offer a complete end-to-end solution which not only includes our On Demand Manufacturing Services, but technology, materials and software that enables us to deliver solutions tailored for our customers' workflow."

For more information on 3D Systems' On Demand Manufacturing Sevices, please visit the 3D Systems website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

SOURCE 3D Systems

Related Links

http://www.3dsystems.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Foundation announced today the grant recipients of its Hurricane Harvey fundraising efforts. With matching funds from AARP and AARP Foundation, the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund raised $3.25 million to help hurricane victims  especially those age 50 and older  in Houston and Southeast Texas.

"I am deeply moved by the extraordinary generosity of all those who donated to help people 50 and older affected by Hurricane Harvey," said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation. "These funds will help local organizations address the immediate needs of low-income seniors, as well as supporting long-term recovery efforts in the area. We especially appreciate the role AARP Texas played in helping us identify organizations providing on-the-ground support."

The grant recipients of the AARP Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund are:

Texas Association of Community Action Agencies: $1,325,000

Rebuilding Together Houston: $1,150,000

YWCA Houston: $35,000

BakerRipley: $35,000

Interfaith Ministries/Meals on Wheels: $35,000

Houston Food Bank: $35,000

Bread of Life: $35,000

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center: $35,000

The Montrose Center: $35,000

St. Bernard Project USA : $35,000

: Chinese Community Center: $30,000

HOPE Clinic: $30,000

OCA  Greater Houston : $30,000

: Boat People SOS  Houston : $30,000

: Greater Houston Community Foundation: $100,000

Texas Access to Justice Legal Relief Fund: $50,000

Lone Star Legal Aid: $50,000

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: $50,000

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas : $50,000

: Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission (Experience Corps affiliate): $50,000

PeopleFund (Work for Yourself 50+ grantee): $5,000

Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TACAA) will distribute its entire grant through 11 member agencies to provide direct relief assistance to older adult households. Rebuilding Together Houston not only will focus on making the older adults' homes habitable, but will also provide the necessary aging-in-place features to keep these older adults safe and secure in their homes for many years to come.

"The Texas Community Action network is very grateful for AARP Foundation's grant to assist older adult households affected by Hurricane Harvey in 39 disaster declared counties," said Stella Rodriguez, Executive Director, TACAA. "The focus is to help Texans with critical needs and the return to safe housing. The types of assistance to be provided include rent, home repairs, appliance repair/replacement, food (meals and grocery gift cards), medications and medical equipment, transportation (car repair, tires, batteries and gas), personal or household supplies, and other needs as identified."

"This generous gift from AARP Foundation allows Rebuilding Together Houston to go forward with confidence in our disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey," said Christine Holland, CEO and Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Houston. "We are using our volunteer reach, community partnerships, and economies of scale in ways that will make homes dramatically healthier and safer for aging in place. We will return Hurricane Harvey-impacted seniors to homes with significant accessibility and safety upgrades. This support will help us to efficiently meet the significant needs of this city's most vulnerable populations. We're in this for the long haul."

For more information on AARP Foundation and its hurricane relief fundraising efforts, please visit AARPFoundation.org.

About AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable, livable and healthy housing, a steady income, and strong and sustaining bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem-solving. Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the affiliated charity of AARP. Learn more at aarpfoundation.org.

SOURCE AARP Foundation

Related Links

http://aarpfoundation.org


Portman is a globally-acclaimed actress and director. She began her acting career at the age of 12 and has since achieved recognition and praise from audiences around the world. She is a winner of multiple prestigious awards, including an Academy Award (Oscar), two Golden Globe Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Award, as well as other industry honors.

Portman was born in Israel and, after moving to the US as a child, retained a close connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots. In 2015, she directed Tale of Love and Darkness, a Hebrew-language film made in Israel and based on the novel by an Israeli writer Amos Oz. Portman also played a leading role in this picture.

Natalie Portman is noted for her social activism in such areas as gender equality, combatting poverty, microfinance, and animal rights. She is a graduate of Harvard University, where she returned to deliver a commencement speech in May 2015.

"We are delighted to celebrate Natalie Portman as the 2018 Genesis Prize Laureate," said Stan Polovets, co-founder and Chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation. "Natalie's charismatic on-screen presence has touched the hearts of millions. Her talent, her commitment to social causes and her deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots are greatly admired. She exemplifies the core traits of the Jewish character and values of the Jewish people  persistence and hard work, pursuit of excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a heartfelt desire to contribute to making the world a better place. Without a doubt, she is a role model for millions of young Jews around the world."

In keeping with the tradition established by the previous Genesis Prize Laureates, $1 million in award money will be granted to philanthropic programs in honor of Natalie Portman. The programs will focus on advancing women's equality in all aspects of human endeavor. In particular, funds will be used for grants to organizations involved in promoting women's educational opportunities, economic advancement, health and safety, and full participation in policy formulation and political activity. A significant portion of the funds will be channeled to programs advancing women's equality in Israel.

Chairman of the Genesis Prize Selection Committee, Natan Sharansky said: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome Natalie Portman to the distinguished family of Genesis Prize Laureates  outstanding Jews of our time. An example of excellence and dedication to Jewish values, she is an exemplary Genesis Prize Laureate. I express my strong support for her chosen philanthropic cause and wish the new Laureate further success in advancing the mission of the Genesis Prize that is so relevant to all of us today."

Natalie Portman said: "I am deeply touched and humbled by this honor. I am proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage; they are crucial parts of who I am. It is such a privilege to be counted among the outstanding Laureates whom I admire so much. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Genesis Prize Foundation, and look forward to using the global platform it provides to make a difference in the lives of women in Israel and beyond."

Natalie Portman becomes the fifth winner of the annual $1 million Genesis Prize. Previous Laureates of the Award, dubbed "the Jewish Nobel" by Time Magazine, are former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (2014), actor and peace activist Michael Douglas (2015), virtuoso violinist and advocate for people with disabilities Itzhak Perlman (2016) and prominent sculptor and activist for the rights of refugees Sir Anish Kapoor (2017).

Natalie Portman will be honored at the Genesis Prize Ceremony in Jerusalem in June 2018.

BACKGROUND

The Genesis Prize is a global award created to celebrate Jewish achievement and contribution to humanity. Launched in 2013, the Prize is financed through a permanent endowment of $100 million established by the Genesis Prize Foundation. All previous laureates have selected causes about which they are passionate. Award funds in their honor have been donated to these causes, which included support of social entrepreneurship based on Jewish values, inclusiveness of intermarried families in Jewish life, improving the lives of individuals with special needs, and helping to alleviate the global refugee crisis. Laureates have engaged in yearlong related initiatives developed jointly with the Genesis Prize Foundation.

SOURCE The Genesis Prize Foundation

Related Links

http://genesisprize.org


Accudata, celebrating its 35 th anniversary this year, has always made a point to support the local Houston community. The company is excited about this new opportunity to invest in the students' futures and propel STEM initiatives with KIPP by providing mentorships, internships, and future career opportunities for the young people taking part in the technology program.

"Our KIPPsters will benefit greatly from this meaningful partnership with Accudata. Exposing our students to information technology and engaging them in immersive learning experiences such as these creates a world of possibilities for their future," said Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of KIPP.

"This partnership is perfect in so many ways and gives our team  men and women who are incredibly passionate about technology  a way to give back to our community's youth. Not only are we helping foster excitement in these young students and provide them with a path for the future, but we're also meeting the needs of a very real talent gap in our industry. It's a win-win all around," said Patrick Vardeman, CEO of Accudata Systems.

ABOUT KIPP HOUSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KIPP was founded in Houston in 1994 and has since grown to 209 public charter schools in 20 states and D.C. educating 88,000 children. Houston is KIPP's largest region and educates 14,500 students in 28 schools and serves an additional 2,300 alumni in college and beyond. While only 10.6 percent of students from low-income communities in Houston graduate from college, 50 percent of KIPPsters, tracked from the 8th grade, graduate college. www.kipphouston.org

ABOUT ACCUDATA SYSTEMS, INC.

Accudata Systems is a leader in IT consulting and systems integration. For more than 35 years, we have helped strengthen organizations by solving their toughest IT challenges with a commitment to partnership, flexibility, and guaranteed results. The vastness of our expertise, paired with our proven methodology, enables a true partnership as we help our clients secure, modernize, and grow.

To learn more about Accudata and our leading-edge technology solutions, visit www.accudatasystems.com.

Media Contact:

Jessica Stenklyft

Director of Marketing

Accudata Systems, Inc.

281.897.5033

[email protected]

SOURCE Accudata Systems

Related Links

http://www.accudatasystems.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke largely ignored a State Department recommendation that the nearly two decades-long Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 400,000 Central Americans and Haitians be terminated. In a letter to Ms. Duke, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that conditions in the Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Haiti no longer justify continuation of TPS.

Despite that assessment, Duke extended TPS for 86,000 Hondurans, while announcing that about 5,000 Nicaraguans would lose that status come January 2019. More disturbingly, Duke torpedoed the entire concept of offering temporary protection to people whose homelands have been affected by some unforeseen event. In a press release announcing her decision, Duke suggested that the long-term abuse of TPS that has resulted in over 400,000 people remaining here decades after the triggering event necessitates that "Congressenact a permanent solution to this inherently temporary program."

"There is a permanent solution to this situation and others that may arise in the future. That is for Congress to ensure that TPS is not 'inherently' a temporary program, but is actually temporary, as the T in its name indicates," responded Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration (FAIR). "The hurricane that struck Central America in 1998 is not the reason why citizens of those countries still enjoy TPS in 2017. They are still here because the people who willingly accepted our temporary offer, their advocates, and their governments have abused our generosity and managed to get the program extended far beyond any reasonable definition of temporary.

"It is also important to remember that many people who have been granted TPS were in this country illegally at the time of the triggering events, and never had any intention of returning home," continued Stein. "Now the Acting Secretary of DHS is suggesting that our nation's generosity be used against us by arguing that we owe them a permanent amnesty. Abuse of TPS by guests  most of whom should not have been here in the first place  and foreign governments that value remittances sent home by their citizens more than they value the citizens themselves, should never be rewarded."

Duke's announcement coincides with the start of the confirmation process for her permanent replacement, Kirstjen Nielsen. At tomorrow's confirmation hearing, Senators will have an opportunity to seek clarity from Nielsen about the direction the department will take on TPS and other immigration matters. "President Trump vowed to end the flagrant abuses of our immigration system. Secretary Tillerson has made clear his department's assessment of conditions in Central America and Haiti. The question now is whether DHS will act in concert with the president, the rest of the administration, and the expressed wishes of the American people, or will it continue to bow to external pressures on immigration?," Stein concluded.

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With more than 1.3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

Contact: Joe Gomez, [email protected]; 202-742-1843

SOURCE FAIR

Related Links

http://www.fairus.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Active Schools is excited to announce seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller, Stanfield Elementary School principal Chris Lineberry, and founding/former principal of Red Hawk Elementary School Cyrus Weinberger as the first Active Schools Ambassadors. This newly created team of athletes and experts is helping Active Schools inform parents, principals, teachers, policymakers, and the public about the many benefits of physical education and physical activity  including physical health, social-emotional health, and academic performance. The goal? To create a demand for K-12 schools to take action and provide students with at least 60 minutes a day of physical education and physical activity before, during, and after school.

"We are proud of what has been accomplished since Active Schools' inception in 2013, but our work is not done," says Active Schools Executive Director Charlene Burgeson. "The majority of our nation's children and adolescents are inadequately active  and most schools are not providing enough physical education and physical activity opportunities. With physical inactivity and obesity epidemics and ever-increasing mental health challenges, now, more than ever, we need to get our message out and create champions and advocates for active school environments."

"Active Schools needs role models who exemplify the belief that Active Kids Do Better," she continues. "Be it bringing awareness to both the benefits and joy of movement, integrating activity into academics, or making before and after school physical activity programs a priority, our ambassadors are practicing what we preach and helping us bring our vision of active, healthy, and happy kids to life. I'm pleased and honored to welcome them aboard."

Shannon Miller

Seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller remains the most decorated Olympic gymnast in American history. An advocate for the health and wellness of women and children through her company Shannon Miller Lifestyle and a mother of two, she knows how important it is to instill a love of movement from an early age.

"There are so many good things that come from being physically active," says Miller, "And so many ways to do it  from participating in sports, riding a bike, playing tag, throwing a ball  even seeing how long you can balance on one foot! Studies show physical activity and movement benefits brain activity and I am proud to serve as an ambassador for Active Schools."

"Shannon Miller truly demonstrates her belief in the importance and benefits of school physical education and physical activity in a credible and authentic manner," says Burgeson. "We are thrilled to join forces with her as a spokesperson for Active Schools."

Chris Lineberry

Dr. Chris Lineberry is principal at Stanfield Elementary School in Arizona and co-author of the book, Recess Was My Favorite SubjectWhere Did It Go? An advocate for integrating health and wellness throughout the entire curriculum, he was honored as 2016-17 Principal of the Year by the Arizona Health and Physical Education Association.

Cyrus Weinberger

Cyrus Weinberger is founding and former principal of Red Hawk Elementary School in Erie, Colorado, and is currently preparing to open a new PK-8 school in the district in fall 2018. As the principal at Red Hawk, Cyrus developed a rigorous academic program coupled with a comprehensive wellness program  which now serves as the model for an online course on classroom physical activity integration, funded by the Colorado Health Foundation.

To learn more about Active Schools Ambassadors, visit https://champion.activeschoolsus.org

Started in 2013, Active Schools is a national movement to ensure that 60 minutes a day of physical education and before, during, and after school physical activity is the norm in K-12 schools throughout the United States. It is powered by an unprecedented collaborative of public and private organizations, currently 75, who believe that meaningful, sustainable, large-scale social change is best accomplished when organizations and individuals work together. To learn more about Active Schools and join the movement, visit www.activeschoolsus.org.

SOURCE Active Schools

Related Links

http://www.activeschoolsus.org


READING, England, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ActiveOps, leaders in cloud-based back office workforce optimization solutions, announces the appointment of Kevin Evans as Chief Technology Officer. The creation of the CTO role underlines the continued growth of ActiveOps and Workware as an innovative and increasingly comprehensive back office workforce optimization solution.

"Kevin brings extensive knowledge and experience of artificial intelligence, SaaS software development, information security and management together with proven business acumen to this newly created role within ActiveOps." commented Richard Jeffery, CEO of ActiveOps.

"The appointment of a CTO is a yet another milestone in the evolution of Workware, following the recent introduction of a mobile application and support for Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

Responsible for our international development, customer and application support teams, Kevin will be working closely with customers and partners to accelerate our plans to incorporate artificial intelligence within Workware, thereby ensuring ActiveOps stays in the forefront of the digital transformation of back offices."

Kevin holds a BSc (Hons) (First Class) in Technology Management and is currently studying for a PhD in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Information Security at the University of Bradford. Kevin joins ActiveOps from Sun Branding Systems where he held the position of Chief Information Officer. Previously, Kevin held senior roles at Access Intelligence Plc, Vital Technology Group and Wingas UK.

About ActiveOps

Manage Differently

Since 2005, ActiveOps has been committed to helping organisations improve their operational efficiency by helping managers and teams deliver their best possible performance. ActiveOps provide cloud based software and services to meet the increasing market demand for back office workforce optimization.

Workware, our cloud based SaaS software, is purpose built for the back-office to quantify work and time, measure productivity by efficiently measuring both human and robotic resources in real-time. It enables capacity to be optimized, reducing costs and improving service delivery across diverse and complex back office operations.

The Active Operations Management (AOM) method enables 'teams of teams' to collaborate and sustain higher productivity through a consistent management framework. Better communication and improved control results in higher staff engagement and reduced stress.

ActiveOps operates across the globe from offices in the UK, Australia, India, South Africa and North America supporting back office operations in financial services, shared service centres, government organizations and Business Process Outsourcers (BPOs).

Media Contact:

Zoe Rogers

[email protected]



activeops.com



SOURCE ActiveOps
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Insights, the recognized leader in cloud corporate performance management (CPM), has extended its platform for financial and operational planning, capping a year of innovation and accolades for its Adaptive Suite. The third major software release of the year, Adaptive Suite 2017.3, brings new features and functions that continue to deliver on the company's commitment to offer a planning, reporting, and analytics platform that enables businesses to adopt an active planning process for decision making.

"Throughout 2017, we have focused on enhancing our platform to encourage a collaborative planning process across the entire organization," said Bhaskar Himatsingka, chief product officer at Adaptive Insights. "As a result, power finance users and business managers alike can take advantage of our newest self-service analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing access to financial and operational data that companies require to make fast, data-driven decisions. Anyone involved in planning and decision making in an organization today  from an operations manager to department head to a CEO  can use our platform to better plan and react to needs in their organization in real-time."

Key highlights of Adaptive Suite 2017.3 include:

Accessible Self-Service Analytics and Reporting . To meet the growing demand for self-service reporting and analytics, Adaptive Insights continues to extend its offering with new visualizations, quick and efficient global multi-currency reporting, and single-click access to favorite reports, enabling users to easily view, analyze, and share insights.

. To meet the growing demand for self-service reporting and analytics, Adaptive Insights continues to extend its offering with new visualizations, quick and efficient global multi-currency reporting, and single-click access to favorite reports, enabling users to easily view, analyze, and share insights. Deeper financial and operational planning . Continuing its "click, not code" approach to modeling, more in-depth planning enables operational teams such as sales, HR, marketing, and engineering to flexibly plan according to their needs, yet still roll up to the corporate plan. A new suite-wide capability allows each team to plan in the level of detail required for their function and in the time frame they needdaily, weekly, or monthly. Finance then has an updated, accurate view of total projected revenue and costs, incorporating unique events or time periods from across the organization. For example, hotel chains and entertainment companies can now plan for holidays, popular vacation weekends, or seasonal travel to more accurately forecast guests so they can align staffing and resources precisely with demand.

Accessibility Drives Usability Across the Organization

Recognized by leading analyst firms for its ease of use and recently recognized as the best financial management solution of 2017 in the 32nd annual SIIA CODiE Awards, the Adaptive Suite continues to accelerate enterprise-wide adoption of corporate performance management tools.

"Adaptive Insights has enabled faster and more efficient decision making in our organization by offering managers across 17 dealerships better oversight across New Car, Used Car, Service, Parts, and Accessories Departments," said Shawn Dettrey, CFO, Fletcher Jones Automotive Group. "We currently have 100 users across California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Illinois who previously oversaw dealership budgets and planning via Excel. With the Adaptive Suite, they're now able to review KPIs, compare their performance relative to other dealerships, and see how they are doing against the forecast, gaining insights that improve our performance as a company."

For more information about the new Adaptive Suite 2017.3, read the blog "In Our Latest Release, Self-Service Goes Big Time."

About Adaptive Insights

Adaptive Insights is the recognized leader in cloud corporate performance management (CPM). The company's Adaptive Suite enables companies of all sizes to collaboratively plan and model, easily access real-time analytics, streamline complex financial reporting, and accelerate financial consolidation. With this best-practice active planning process, Adaptive Insights differentiates with easy, powerful, and fast software that empowers more than 3,500 customers in over 50 countries to drive business success.

Adaptive Insights is a privately held company with headquarters in Palo Alto, CA. To learn more, visit adaptiveinsights.com.

SOURCE Adaptive Insights

Related Links

http://www.adaptiveinsights.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) bids farewell to the Boeing 747 today, affectionately known as "Queen of the Skies," and recalls the safety advancements, heroic actions amid tragic events and personal connections aboard our first and most distinct jumbo jet. More than twice as large as the next largest aircraft when it took its first flight in 1969, the history of the B747 is interwoven with the history of modern aviation, and the history of aviation safety and security.

"Flight Attendants around the industry are raising a glass to our 'Queen of the Skies,'" stated Sara Nelson, AFA-CWA international president. "We remember connections with new cultures, our most precious cargo of young troops going to war and the joy of bringing them home, as well as the lasting relationships first formed aboard this extraordinary iconic bird. Millions traveled safely on this great plane, and Flight Attendants played a big role in making sure safety, heroism and wonderment is the legacy that she leaves as the 747 and AFA members fly over the horizon for the last time."

AFA has had its own rich history with the B747 since its first flight. The plane ushered in a new era in commercial aviation with its upper deck and its instantly recognizable hump. Throughout its decades in service, AFA Flight Attendants from numerous carriers have flown the Queen of the Skies, including:

United Airlines



Continental Airlines



America West



Northwest Airlines



Cathay Pacific



Braniff



Pan Am



People Express Airlines



Flying Tigers



TransAmerica



Tower Air

Emergency Evacuation Exits

In 1984, AFA's Air Safety Department learned that the FAA had approved a request from Boeing to remove two of the emergency evacuation exits from the B747 airplane. Boeing's request assumed that, even with fewer exit doors, a full load of passengers on the 747 could be evacuated through 10 emergency exits within 90 seconds under the direction of the Flight Attendant crew. Data obtained by AFA showed that the existing exits were sometimes not useable in an emergency evacuation due to unexpected emergency exit slide failure, not to mention fire or debris outside the exit(s). AFA fought for Congressional hearings. With AFA as a lead witness before the House Public Works and Transportation Committee in June 1985 it was clear that removal of the exits was a dangerous policy mistake.

In the aftermath of the hearing, then-FAA Administrator Donald Engen wrote to each US flag carrier that flew the 747 and asked them not to remove any 747 exits, even though they could legally do so. The carriers agreed to not remove the exits.

Although the removal of the doors was averted, AFA continued to push for a permanent solution. By 1988 our advocacy help prod the FAA to propose that no two exits on each side of the airplane can be more that 60 feet apart. The FAA's final 60-foot rule effectively prevented removal of the two 747 exits and became the worldwide standard for passenger airplanes still in effect today.

United Flight 811

On February 24, 1989, a B747 operating as United Flight 811 lost a cargo door shortly after leaving Honolulu. The explosive decompression that followed blew out several rows of seats, with nine passengers losing their lives. The aircraft returned to Honolulu, where it landed safely. The heroic actions of the 15 Flight Attendants and the pilots on the flight deck averted a far greater tragedy.

The Flight Attendants attended to the injured, secured oxygen masks, cleared debris from the aisles and exits, and prepared for an emergency landing. When the cargo door and a section of the hull blew out, Laura Brentlinger, the Flight Attendant serving as chief purser on the flight was knocked down near the stairs to the upper deck. She later described being drawn toward the hole in the aircraft by the force of the decompression, digging her fingernails into the carpet to slow her movement toward ejection. She was just feet from the hole when she managed to hook her elbow around the bottom rung of the stairs to the upper deck. Once the aircraft had stabilized she led the preparation of the cabin for an emergency landing. Other Flight Attendants described being in the lower galley when the decompression caused the walls to cave in around them, barely allowing them to escape. Still others told of the final moments before landing, sitting together on their jumpseats and rehearsing emergency evacuation procedures.

Returning to Honolulu, the aircraft landed 24 minutes after the cargo door had failed. Despite the loss of two engines and damage to the wing, the landing was without incident. When the aircraft came to a stop the Flight Attendants completed the evacuation in an astonishing 45 seconds. Every Flight Attendant suffered minor injuries. Known flaws in the design of the cargo door latching mechanism were ordered to be repaired within 30-days.

In the investigation that followed, the NTSB recognized the crucial safety role Flight Attendants play in a decompression, and made recommendations intended to insure that Flight Attendants had immediate access to oxygen bottles in order to avoid being incapacitated by lack of oxygen and left unable to assist the passengers.

TWA Flight 800

In July, 1996 a B747 operating as TWA Flight 800 exploded and crashed 12 minutes after takeoff from New York's JFK International Airport. All aboard were killed, including the 14 TWA Flight Attendants on the working crew, 14 TWA deadheading or pass-riding Flight Attendants and one United Flight Attendant non-revving. This incident resulted in the death of the largest number of Flight Attendants ever in a single crash.

The NTSB later determined the cause of the crash to be ignition of a fuel-air mixture in the center wing fuel tank. The investigation led to numerous recommendations for design changes to prevent such explosions.

"Although we continue to honor those who we lost throughout the history of aviation, the 747 will live on in fond memory for all that we gained. The 747 embodies the magic of flying. Flight Attendants will honor her legacy by telling her stories, cherishing the relationships formed within her great cabin and fighting for important safety regulations, like the 60-foot rule, that continue to make U.S. aviation more safe. United Airlines flew our Queen longer than any other airline and we are grateful to celebrate her extraordinary history with the Friend Ship's final flight." Nelson stated.

View Online

The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 72 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA)

Related Links

http://www.afacwa.org


HOUSTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- alliantgroup, a leading tax consultancy and the nation's premier provider of specialty tax services, is proud to announce the promotion of Matthew Noll to Managing Director. In his new position, Noll will be contributing as part of alliantgroup's executive management team and taking on an expansive leadership role for the firm. In addition to continuing to serve as the leader of the entire R&D Implementation Departmentthe division responsible for the firm's Research and Development Tax Credit servicesNoll will be working with the management team to implement future strategic endeavors and to further develop the entire organization.

"This promotion is an exciting step in my career-long journey with alliantgroup," said Noll. "I have seen us accomplish some amazing things on behalf of U.S. businesses during my tenure at alliantgroup and I am looking forward to this new role and to continuing to serve as a mentor for our professionals. alliantgroup truly is the best organization I have had the pleasure of being a part of and I cannot wait for the next chapter of this journey."

Noll began his career at alliantgroup as an attorney for the firm's Tax Controversy Services Division helping clients resolve a wide-range of tax issues in various forums across the nation. From there, Noll rose to become a Senior Director for the firm's TCS and Quality Control divisions. In the latter role, Noll led a team of tax attorneys, statisticians and other professionals responsible for reviewing and ensuring the accuracy and legal compliance of all of alliantgroup's service offerings.

Prior to his latest promotion, Noll was a Senior Director in alliantgroup's R&D Implementation Departmentthe largest division and service line at alliantgroup. Under Noll's leadership, the department achieved record numbers and growth. During the most recent tax season, Noll's department delivered over $300 million in R&D tax credits to more than 1,400 clients. During his tenure as Senior Director, the department has seen growth of over 30 percent year over year in both clients served and in total tax savings delivered to clients.

"What Matt has been able to accomplish at our firm is nothing short of amazing," said Dhaval Jadav, alliantgroup CEO. "Since his first day at alliantgroup, I have been impressed by his unwavering devotion to the firm, our clients and to the professionals around him. Every day he has inspired our people to be their very best and has served as a personal mentor to our firm's current and future leaders."

"Matt is a natural and gifted leader that has already accomplished so much for our firm. I am proud to have been a part of his professional development and look forward to everything he will accomplish in his new role," said Jadav.

alliantgroup is a leading tax consultancy and the nation's premier provider of specialty tax services. The firm assists U.S. businesses and their CPA advisors in properly identifying and claiming all federal and state tax incentives that were designed for their benefit. These incentive programs were created to help American businesses grow and remain competitive in an increasingly global economy. To date, alliantgroup has helped 12,000 U.S. businesses claim over $6 billion in tax savings. For more information on alliantgroup, please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE alliantgroup
LINTHICUM, Md., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) and Sociedad Cubana de Urologia (SCU) have partnered to present the 2nd Annual AUA/SCU Summit to be held November 8 at El Palacio de Convenciones in Havana, Cuba.

This year's summit will bring together members of the global urologic community, including those of SCU, as well as urologists from the AUA New York Section, which comprises the southeastern portion of the state of New York, including Long Island and the northern portion of the state of New Jersey. Manoj Monga, MD, AUA Secretary, as well as Wayne Hellstrom, MD and Edmund Sabanegh, MD will serve as AUA faculty and present the latest advances and treatments in urologic medicine in the areas of Endourology, Male Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction.

"Inclusion and diversity are pillars within both organizations," said Dr. Monga. "The AUA and Sociedad Cubana de Urologia remain committed to advancing urology through continued collaboration and the exchange of urological skills, education and patient care that is critical to the continued success of urology in the world community."

The AUA/SCU summit will promote discussion and learning among these unique urologic communities, while providing a forum to foster education, research and the advancement of patient care globally.

"Urologic health transcends geographic borders," said Dr. Octavio Manuel de la Concepcion Gomez. "It remains our desire to continue to collaborate and build bridges of friendship with the AUA and with all corners of the globe that will foster progress in urologic care. We look forward to this dynamic program in Havana, Cuba."

In November 2015, leaders from the AUA and SCU solidified an educational bridge between the two organizations to include joint educational programming with the goal to further cultivate the two parties' friendship and collaboration and foster academic exchange among urologists within both associations.

The AUA has a long history with Cuba, with the Southeastern Section of the AUA actually having held its Annual Meeting in Havana more than 60 years ago. Now, the AUA looks to continue its era of friendship and collaborations among the AUA and Cuban urology.

The AUA/SCU Summit was made possible through the generous support of KARL STORZ Endoskope.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 22,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Contact:

Christine Frey, AUA

410-689-3731, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association

Related Links

http://www.AUAnet.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquant, a New York City-based tech company, announced it has secured $2.6 million in seed funding from World Trade Ventures, SilverTech Ventures, AngeList Syndicate led by Gil Dibner, and a group of private investors in order to expand their customer base and accelerate development of the technology's abilities.

Aquant

Aquant, a rising name in the tech business ecosystem, has developed sophisticated AI and machine learning technology to addresses the multi-billion-dollar problem of machinery downtime that troubles service companies. The unique aspect of Aquant's technology is its ability to locate potential failures at levels that are difficult to be predicted by humans.

Companies in the service industry have gotten used to paying a fortune on a yearly basis on machinery downtime and recurring technicians' visits, due to lack of technicians' skills and wrong stocking of parts.

Aquant provides service companies with a permanent solution for this problem.

"The downtime problem is a $647 billion a year problem. It still amazes me that service companies have let this problem go on for so long," says Shahar Chen, CEO and co-founder of Aquant. "It takes an amazing, experienced, dedicated team with the specific knowledge of the industry and of AI to change things and solve this problem. We are really proud of the team at Aquant.io for providing the solution the industry has been looking for."

Engineered with predictive AI and machine learning, Aquant's state of the art algorithms are able to forecast the servicing needs long before they occur and save precious downtime, all based on the analysis of existing historical structured and unstructured data.

"As one of the pioneers to introduce artificial intelligence and machine learning to the space of service, Aquant is creating a revolution by eliminating the need to replace existing IT systems at an excessive cost," says Assaf Melochna, COO and co-founder of Aquant. "Instead, Aquant turns those IT systems into intelligent ones by providing a 'brain' that is able to collect and analyze any format of data in a flash and generate predictions for expected technical failures of the machine, the most cost-effective solution and the required parts and skills in order to increase uptime."

"We are excited to be a part of Aquant's growth trajectory and looking forward to seeing Aquant's team grow their company and provide value to their clients on a global scale," said Charlie Federman, Partner at SilverTech Ventures.

The company is a winner of the Industry Innovators 2017 Award, and the keynote speaker at the upcoming Field Service Connect convention in Austin, Texas on Nov. 13.

For further information and to learn more about the revolutionary technology contact [email protected].

Related Links

Company's website

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGgMBsRvcw0

SOURCE Aquant
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AR15Discounts.com, an online AR15 Parts Warehouse is announcing a discount program for Veterans, Active Duty Military and non-military customers who donate $5 or more to a Veterans Charity of their choosing. Instead of using this sacred holiday as simply another excuse to promote a sale, AR15Discounts wanted to come up with a more substantial and hopefully meaningful program that is reserved for those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and those who support our service members through charitable donation.



How it works:

For Veterans and Active Duty Military, it is simple: you get a 15 percent discount storewide

(this is additional savings, on top of already discounted prices).

To receive the discount email the following information to [email protected]:

A copy of your Military ID or DD 214 for Honorable Discharged Military Veteran. It is ok to block out personally sensitive information.

A copy of government-issued photo ID with the same name on your work ID/credential (i.e. driver's license, CCW permit, etc.)

All non-military customers can earn the same 15% discount by donating at least $5 to a Veterans charity of their choosing.

To receive the discount, you must email the following information to [email protected]:

Proof of Donation which must consist of a photo, screenshot or forwarded email showing the amount donated, the date donated and the name of the charity that was donated and the first and last name of the person donating. (This must be the same name as the person making the order.)

You may donate to the charity of your choosing but it must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the charity must provide services directly to veterans or their families. We will check. If you don't have a charity in mind, we recommend Operation Homefront and you can donate to them by clicking here:

https://www.operationhomefront.org/donate

We recommend Operation Homefront because when doing the research for this program we found that they manage money really well. In fact, of the $60-plus million dollars that they've raised in donations, 92 percent has gone directly to aid with only 8 percent going to management and fundraising costs. So you can be confident that your money is going directly to where it is needed most.

You will receive your discount code within minutes.

We want you to be able to place your order quickly but rest assured, we will verify your credentials or proof of donation before we fulfill your order. Any orders placed that do not meet the criteria outlined above will be canceled.

This offer expires Nov. 14, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

If you have any general questions about the promotion, please contact:

Dustin Pitcher

Phone: 855-556-2230

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

AR15Discounts.com Veterans Day Program Information

SOURCE AR15Discounts.com

Related Links

https://ar15discounts.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Carney Shegerian, trial lawyer and founder of the Los Angeles-based employment discrimination firm Shegerian & Associates, released a statement regarding the sexual harassment and assault allegations against Brett Ratner. The producer was accused of sexual misconduct by six women who told their stories in an article published by the Los Angeles Times earlier last week.

"Brett Ratner has been known as one of the most powerful and successful producers in Hollywood for the last several decades," Shegerian says. "If these allegations are true, it appears that Mr. Ratner has used his position of power to harass and assault innocent women, which happens far too often in workplaces across the country."

"The women allege that Mr. Ratner made inappropriate comments and unwelcome sexual advances on movie sets, at parties, and even while on an airplane," Shegerian states. "One victim has also alleged that Mr. Ratner blocked the exit to his home and forced her to engage in a sexual act."

"Over the last several weeks, women have proved that they will no longer tolerate being mistreated, harassed, and assaulted in the workplace," Shegerian says. "It takes an incredible amount of courage to speak out against anyone, especially a man in a position of power, so these women should be applauded for their bravery."

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California and with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, & New York, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Carney Shegerian, Trial Lawyer of the Year Award winner for 2013, has won 76 jury trials in his career, including 33 seven figure verdicts. Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information about the firm, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.

Media Contact: To arrange interviews with Carney Shegerian employment law matters, please contact [email protected]

SOURCE Shegerian & Associates, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.shegerianlaw.com


RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hastings Cohan & Walsh, LLP, is pleased to announce that attorney and partner Richard P. Hastings has received an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell. This designation is based upon the results of interviews with lawyers and judges. This announcement reaffirms in 2018 the AV preeminent (highest in legal ability and ethics) rating originally awarded to Attorney Hastings in 2011. This rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence and is the highest rating an attorney can receive from Martindale Hubbell. He has also been named to Martindale's Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. Attorney Hastings stated "It is a great honor to be recognized by members of the bar and the judiciary. This is one of the first sources that attorneys turned to when they need to find a lawyer that they do not personally know. An AV rating is a great way to screen lawyers you are interested in hiring, no matter what type of lawyer you need."

Hastings, who has practiced for more than 30 years, concentrates his practice on personal injury law helping a variety of accident and injury victims and their families. He has also received the following accolades: Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Connecticut by the National Trial Lawyers; CT Super Lawyer; New England Super Lawyer; Rue's Rating Best Attorneys in America;Top Rated Lawyers by the American Lawyer; Top 10 Attorneys in Connecticut for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys; Million Dollar Advocates Forum Member; Superb (10/10) rating by AVVO; and is a member of National Academy of Best-Selling Authors.

Attorney Hastings has written over 10 books, has published hundreds of articles, produced over 100 videos and has published articles in the Connecticut Law Tribune and New York State Trial Lawyers magazine. He has received negotiation training and mediation training through the Harvard Law School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, the University of Windsor Faculty of Law of Toronto Canada, Quinnipiac Law School and the Center for Mediation in Law. He has taught lawyers throughout the country on how to get more money for their clients personal injury cases. He also has been issued a business method patent on a unique personal injury system from the United States Patent and Trademark office.

The firm has offices throughout the state of Connecticut and the attorneys can be reached at 888  842  8466.

Links to Social Media:



https://www.facebook.com/hcwlaw

https://plus.google.com/104723114141360811744/posts?partnerid=ogpy0

https://twitter.com/hcwlaw

http://www.youtube.com/user/HCWLawCT

About Hastings Cohan & Walsh, LLP

Hastings Cohan & Walsh, LLP specializes in several areas of law, including personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and negligence cases. Their lawyers have been nationally recognized and are recipients of numerous awards including AV rated; Member of the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers; New England Super Lawyer; Connecticut Super Lawyer; 100 Top Trial Lawyers in Connecticut by National Trial Lawyers; Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum; recognized by numerous publications as a top lawyer, top attorney and top rated lawyer; superb rating by AVVO (10/10). They proudly serve throughout Connecticut, including, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Danbury, Ridgefield, and Stamford. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.hcwlaw.com.

SOURCE Hastings Cohan & Walsh, LLP

Related Links

http://www.hcwlaw.com


Designed with the SLEEP FUEL brand message, the BEDGEAR Performance Sleep Shop will share with Art Van PureSleep guests the approach to identifying sleep as essential to greater achievement in your active life. The enhanced retail concept designed for the active lifestyle allows individuals to build their personalized sleep system based on their sleep position and body frame.

"We are excited to partner with a like-minded, forward-thinking retailer like Art Van PureSleep, who has always led the market in delivering specialty shopping experiences to the Michigan market," said Eugene Alletto, CEO of BEDGEAR. "Our vision for our brand store concept is to create a truly great omnichannel guest experience. The shop design brings a new way to present bedding to young, millennial customers as well as everyone with a millennial mindset, which focuses on having purpose and getting more from life."

The process begins by selecting between two mattress comfort choices, the M1 and the M1X, followed by a personalized performance pillow fitting. Shoppers can complete the sleep system with a selection of breathable layers including air flow enhancing sheets, mattress protectors and performance blankets. The personalized shopping experience pioneered by BEDGEAR includes interactive technology displays with a focus on curated information for customer impact.

"The addition of BEDGEAR's Performance Sleep Shops in Art Van PureSleep further enhance the educational and interactive guest experience that distinguishes us," said Neil Zimmer, Senior Vice President of Art Van PureSleep, the Midwest's No. 1 independent mattress retailer. "We are proud to partner with this exceptional brand."

For additional information, visit bedgear.com , facebook.com/bedgear , Twitter: @bedgear and Instagram: @bedgear.

About BEDGEAR Performance

Founded in 2009, BEDGEAR is a rapidly growing lifestyle brand of performance bedding for people that want more out of life. BEDGEAR has redefined the way people view sleep by offering personalized products based on sleep position and body frame. Our patented fabric technologies wick away heat and moisture to help regulate body temperature and generate a cooler, drier sleep environment to maximize recovery at night. With distribution facilities in the US and Asia, BEDGEAR is international with specialty retailers in the US and, Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, China and continues to expand globally to consumers on bedgear.com.

About Art Van Furniture

Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer. The company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, Art Van Furniture franchise locations and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com for more information.

SOURCE BEDGEAR

Related Links

http://www.bedgear.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots announced today it is celebrating the grand opening of its newest store in Grandview, Ohio, on Thursday, November 9, 2017. The store reflects a new format showcasing the Ownable and Winnable merchandise categories of Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, and Consumables with prominent positioning in the store, and is part of a broader initiative to reposition the brand as a community retailer offering trustworthy value and friendly service.

"We're proud to open a store in Grandview and serve the residents of the community," stated David Campisi, CEO and President of Big Lots. "Columbus is one of two markets with the new store format which brings to life our brand principles, including our mission to serve everyone like family."

As part of the grand-opening celebration, Big Lots will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 9 at the store located at 1451 West 5th Avenue, Columbus. Big Lots will make $5,000 donations to Grandview Heights High School, Edison Intermediate / Larson Middle School, and Stevenson Elementary School during the ceremony.

The Grandview store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

To learn more about Big Lots or set up an interview with a company representative, please contact Andrew Regrut at 614-278-6622 or email [email protected].

About Big Lots, Inc.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a community retailer operating 1,428 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states, dedicated to friendly service, trustworthy value, and affordable solutions in every season and category  furniture, food, decor, and more. We exist to serve everyone like family, providing a better shopping experience for our customers, valuing and developing our associates, and creating growth for our shareholders. Big Lots supports the communities it serves through the Big Lots Foundation, a charitable organization focused on four areas of need: hunger, housing, healthcare, and education. For more information about the Company, visit www.biglots.com.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.biglots.com


BJ's grant to Philabundance is part of BJ's Charitable Foundation's $1 million donation to Feeding America , the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Philabundance is one of nine local food banks to benefit from BJ's $1 million donation, which is the foundation's largest single donation to any organization to date.

"BJ's is bringing a fresh approach to nourishing communities and helping families thrive, and we're proud to support Philabundance," said Kirk Saville, executive director of the BJ's Charitable Foundation. "No one should have to worry about where to get their next meal, and we know that food banks face challenges in storing and distributing perishable foods. Our strategic partnership with Feeding America is focused on building capacity for fresh food at local food banks so we can work together to put an end to hunger in our communities."

With BJ's $100,000 grant, Philabundance will purchase two refrigerated sprinter vans, which will help the organization expand the acquisition and distribution of perishable food from retail partners such as BJ's. As a result, agency partners will rescue approximately 5,000 additional pounds of perishable product each week that would otherwise be diverted or go to waste. Moreover, by focusing on perishable foods such as produce, dairy and fresh meat, agency partners will be able to increase the variety and quality of food they are able to source for their clients.

Philabundance provides food to approximately 90,000 people each week through its network of nearly 350-member agencies, including food cupboards, shelters, emergency kitchens and more. In 2016, Philabundance distributed 24 million pounds of food, 10 million of which was rescued from retail partners and given to neighbors in need.

"More than 700,000 people in the Delaware Valley are food insecure, which is why we are grateful for BJ's partnership in helping nourish our community with fresh, healthy food," said Glenn Bergman, Executive Director, Philabundance. "Because of BJ's generous donation, Philabundance will continue to drive hunger from our communities today with the mission to end hunger forever."

Since 2009, BJ's has provided ongoing support to Feeding America through the BJ's Charitable Foundation and BJ's Feeding Communities program, helping local food banks successfully expand their programs to reach wider and more diverse audiences.

In addition to capacity building grants from the BJ's Charitable Foundation, BJ's has secured over 50 million pounds of donated food, including fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, baked goods and dairy items through the BJ's Feeding Communities program.

About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 215 clubs and 133 BJ's Gas locations in 16 states.

BJ's provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ's is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.

Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

BJ's is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team.

About Philabundance

Philabundance is the Delaware Valley's largest hunger relief organization, serving more than 90,000 people each week in nine counties in PA and Southern NJ. Of those served, 30 percent are children, 16 percent are seniors, and adults served include students, the working poor and single parents. In 2016, Philabundance rescued more than 10 million pounds of food and distributed 24 million pounds through its own distribution programs, and a network of 350 agencies. A one dollar donation provides two meals  Give now or learn more at Philabundance.org.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

SOURCE BJ's Wholesale Club

Related Links

http://www.bjs.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's health company, Bloomlife, announced today they were awarded two grants to further develop their groundbreaking prenatal wearable for remote fetal monitoring and preterm labor detection. The projects received a total of $2.3M in funding from the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union under the SME instrument, and Belgian based Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship funding agency.

Both grants will enable the commercialization of novel medical products for prenatal care and, in turn: improved birth outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and job creation within Belgium and Europe at large.

"We are honored to have the support of both Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the European Commission Horizon 2020 program," commented Bloomlife Co-founder and CEO Eric Dy, "Given the highly competitive review process, this is a major endorsement by key opinion leaders in Europe for both our technology and vision to bring prenatal care into the 21st century."

The Horizon 2020 project is focused on the development and clinical validation of Bloomlife's labor detection algorithms. Bloomlife will run a multi-site clinical study over the next two years to longitudinally collect data on expectant moms throughout their 3rd trimester. The goal is detecting labor onset remotely, a diagnosis that today requires a visit to the doctor for a clinical examination.

"The biological triggers of labor onset are still unknown, and identification of the early stages of labor are often difficult to interpret. For low-risk risk moms at term (>37 weeks gestation) this uncertainty leads to unnecessary, inconvenient trips to the hospital. However, for moms at high risk to deliver preterm (<37 weeks) this uncertainty can cause a significant increase in morbidity and even mortality for her baby," says Dr. Frederic Chantraine, MD Ph.D., and Principal Investigator at CHR Citadelle in Liege (Belgium). "Getting proper medical care to detect preterm labor and delay delivery is critical especially for moms less than 32 weeks. This project will develop and validate a novel tool for remote labor detection to ensure each mom gets the care she needs when she needs it."

The Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship grant is focused on expanding the development of Bloomlife's wearable to monitor fetal health for early signs of distress non-invasively and remotely.

"Fetal movement and fetal heart rate are the two indicators of fetal health today. Unfortunately, fetal heart rate is limited to hospital settings, and there is no tool to objectively and accurately monitor fetal movement. We are excited to be part of the research to quantify fetal movements and fetal heart rate in ambulatory settings. The clinical relevance, for instance, is in pregnancies with growth retarded fetuses (+/- 5%) where we do not have any decent day-by-day monitoring today, is unquestionable," commented Dr. Wilfried Gyselaers, MD, and Principal Investigator at Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg in Genk (Belgium).

About Bloomlife

Bloomlife's mission is to empower women by delivering unprecedented insight into her health. With its smartphone-connected sensor and app, Bloomlife puts clinically validated information into the hands of expecting parents starting with a better way to visualize and track contractions. Bloomlife's long-term mission, to improve the health of moms and babies worldwide, is fulfilled through its community of moms. By crowdsourcing the largest and most comprehensive dataset on maternal and fetal health parameters, the company hopes to accelerate long overdue advancements in women's healthcare with a better understanding of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth.

Contact: Eric Dy, [email protected]

SOURCE Bloomlife

Related Links

https://bloomlife.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two of the five deadliest mass shootings in American history occurred in the last 35 days. Three of them occurred in the last 17 months. In response to Sunday's shooting, the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence has begun to review, research and investigate how the Texas shooter was able to obtain his guns in light of his legal history. "This cannot be our new normal," said Brady Campaign Co-President Kris Brown who continued, "It is simply too easy for dangerous people to buy guns, and strengthening our background check system is a critical step in will stopping them. All Americans should be asking our leaders, how is it that a man who was court-martialed for domestic abuse and later discharged from the military able to purchase these guns?"

In response to President Donald Trump's statement that, "this isn't a guns situation," Brown said, "This is about guns and the failure of this administration to protect us. We have not invested in basic protections to close gaps in our background check system that allow dangerous people ready access to guns. Instead, this administration has spent its time systematically weakening the system. The reason America's gun homicide rate is 25 times that of similar countries is because we have a gun problem. Now is the time to address it, and we know howexpand and enhance reporting in our nation's background check system."

"Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, friends and to the entire community of Sutherland Springs, TX," said Brady Co-President Avery Gardiner. "Sutherland Springs joins communities like Las Vegas, Newtown, Orlando, Charleston, and so many others across this country who have been torn apart by gun violence. We don't know all the details about how this killer got his guns, but we know that in Texas he could have gone to a gun show or online and bought all the guns he wanted without a background check. We need comprehensive Brady background checks so dangerous people can't buy guns, no questions asked. Now is the time for us all to stand up, hold our elected officials accountable and demand changes to ensure dangerous people do not have ready access to guns."

The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025. For more insight on gun violence prevention, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BradyBuzz.

About Us: The Brady Campaign and Center, united with the Million Mom March, is a national network of over 90 grassroots chapter affiliates mobilized to prevent gun violence at the community level. The network has played a vital role in expanding Brady background checks in the six states that have passed legislation since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and produced the largest national protest of gun violence in U.S. history - The Million Mom March, Mother's Day 2000.

SOURCE The Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence

Related Links

http://www.bradycampaign.org/


NEW YORK and LONDON and OSLO, Norway, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BuzzBack, a global consumer insights and innovation company, has signed a three-year renewal agreement with Confirmit to continue its use of the Confirmit Horizons platform to support its research and insight activities.

BuzzBack helps major corporations and emerging brands break through challenges around concept development, brand positioning and communication strategy. Its clients include major global consumer products, healthcare, communications and technology companies. BuzzBack has used the Confirmit Horizons platform since 2008 to push through new insights boundaries with its innovative techniques  especially as it focuses on mobile and in-the-moment research going forward.

Carol Fitzgerald, CEO of BuzzBack explained: "We help hundreds of brands to better connect with consumers and fast-track innovation. Working with Confirmit and its new mobile offerings, we will collaborate on pushing clients forward in a mobile-first world with exciting future introductions."

BuzzBack's research requires advanced technology to help its clients better connect to consumers, and Confirmit's focus on innovating and continuously developing its product roadmap was fundamental to BuzzBack's decision to continue the partnership.

Dave King, President of Americas, Confirmit, says: "We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the BuzzBack team. They are an exceptionally innovative organization and are always keen to work with the latest capabilities available in Confirmit Horizons. We look forward to continuing our partnership over the coming years."

About Confirmit

Confirmit is the world's leading SaaS vendor for multi-channel Customer Experience, Employee Engagement, and Market Research solutions. The company has offices in Oslo (headquarters), Grimstad, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver, and Yaroslavl. Confirmit's software is also distributed through partner resellers in Madrid, Milan, Salvador, and Tokyo.

Confirmit powers Global 5000 companies and Market Research agencies worldwide with a wide range of software products for feedback / data collection, panel management, data processing, analysis, and reporting. Customers include Aurora, British Airways, British Standards Institution, Copart, Cross-Tab, Dow Chemical, GfK, GlaxoSmithKline, GMO Research, KeepFactor, Morehead Associates, Nielsen, Research Now, RS Components, QRS, SSI, Sony Mobile Communications, and Swisscom. Visit www.confirmit.com for more information.



About BuzzBack

BuzzBack works with companies who seek to advance business performance, delivering demonstrably richer understanding through creative and visual techniques. These products enable marketers to address challenges with concept development, brand positioning and communication strategy. For both major corporations and emerging brands, BuzzBack has been effective in hundreds of brand initiatives worldwide, with a highly-engaging online experience that reveals how companies can more meaningfully connect with consumers for greater commercial success.

BuzzBack Media Contact

Melanie Degnan

BuzzBack

[email protected]

Confirmit Media Contact

Sara Beth Fahey

Matter Communications

[email protected]

(401) 351-9507

SOURCE Confirmit

Related Links

http://www.confirmit.com


IRVING, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences, a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, today announced that the Company has filed a patent infringement suit against Foundation Medicine, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts Boston Division. Caris is seeking damages and other relief for Foundation's willful infringement of Caris' patent rights by its FoundationOne, FoundationACT and FoundationOne Heme products.

According to the complaint, Foundation Medicine infringes five U.S. Patents (Nos. 8,880,350; 9,372,193; 9,383,365; 9,092,392; and 9,292,660) held by Caris. The patents cover Caris' novel system of performing molecular profiling of tumors to identify treatment options based on groups of molecular targets not traditionally or conventionally associated with various types of cancer. The system generates a molecular profiling report, which the treating physician may then use to develop a personalized treatment plan for the patient.

"Before Caris' tumor profiling invention, cancer treatment was based on a defined list of therapy options conventionally associated with a tumor's tissue of origin," said Russ Farr, J.D., Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Caris Life Sciences. "We have invested heavily in the development of our innovative technology for precision medicine because we strongly believe, and have demonstrated, that the molecular findings identified with tumor profiling can be utilized to provide cancer patients viable therapeutic options. We intend to vigorously defend our intellectual property and investment and take action against those who violate it."

Caris Life Sciences is represented by Fish & Richardson in this case. To view a copy of the complaint, click here.

About Caris Life Sciences 

Caris Life Sciences is a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation, and the world's leading immunotherapy diagnostic expert. Caris Molecular Intelligence, the company's Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Plus (CGP+) molecular testing service, assesses DNA, RNA and proteins, including microsatellite instability (MSI), total mutational load (TML) and PD-L1, to reveal a molecular blueprint to guide more precise and personalized treatment decisions. The ADAPT Biotargeting System, the company's revolutionary and unbiased profiling platform, is currently being utilized for drug target identification, therapeutic discovery and development, fixed tissue-based companion diagnostics, blood-based cancer screening and biomarker identification. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the U.S., Europe and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com.

Media Inquiries:

The Ruth Group

Kirsten Thomas / Joanna Zimmerman

[email protected] / [email protected]

Tel: +1-508-280-6592 / +1-646-536-7006

Caris Life Sciences Media Relations

[email protected]

214-294-5606

SOURCE Caris Life Sciences

Related Links

http://www.carislifesciences.com


NETANYA, Israel, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL) (TASE: CEL) (hereinafter: the "Company"), announced today that it will be releasing its financial results for the third quarter of 2017 on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, before the US markets open.

The Company will be hosting a conference call at 10:00am Eastern Time (7:00am Pacific Time, 3:00pm UK time, 5:00pm Israel time). On the call, management will review and discuss the results and will be available to answer questions.

To participate, please call one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin placing your calls a few minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US Dial-in Number: 1-866-860-9642

UK Dial-in Number: 0-800-917-5108

Israel Dial-in Number: 03-918-0692

International Dial-in Number: +972-3-918-0692

at:

10:00 am Eastern Time; 7:00 am Pacific Time;

3:00 pm UK Time; 5:00 pm Israel Time

The conference will be broadcast live on the investor relations section of the Company's website: http://investors.cellcom.co.il. After the call, a replay of the call will be available under the same investor relations section.

About Cellcom Israel

Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is the largest Israeli cellular provider; Cellcom Israel provides its approximately 2.779 million cellular subscribers (as at June 30, 2017) with a broad range of value added services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad and additional services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel's technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel's broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Through its broad customer service network Cellcom Israel offers technical support, account information, direct to the door parcel delivery services, internet and fax services, dedicated centers for hearing impaired, etc. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services (as of December 2014), internet infrastructure (as of February 2015) and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone communication services in Israel, in addition to data communication services. Cellcom Israel's shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL). For additional information please visit the Company's website http://investors.cellcom.co.il.

Company Contact Shlomi Fruhling

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Tel: +972-52-998-9755 Investor Relations Contact Ehud Helft GK Investor & Public Relations [email protected] Tel: +1 617 418 3096

SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd.
Round is joined by ScaleUp Ventures and StandUp Ventures of Toronto along with PIC Investment Group of Saskatoon and Silicon Valley firm Bay Partners

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Coconut Software Corporation, a leader in enterprise appointment scheduling software, today announced it has raised CAN $4.2 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Toronto-based venture capital firm, Information Venture Partners and joined by ScaleUp Ventures and StandUp Ventures, both also located in Toronto. The Series A funding follows on a seed round of $700K that was raised less than a year ago. Previous investors, PIC Investment Group of Saskatoon and Bay Partners from Silicon Valley, also joined this round. The company plans to use the additional funds for expansion plans in both Saskatoon and Toronto.

Coconut provides an enterprise appointment scheduling platform for large companies that manage millions of customer appointments during the year. Coconut lets the customer choose times that work best for them without extensive telephone hold times. Large organizations, such as telco companies with retail store outlets, ensure customers are not frustrated waiting in line for service. The enterprises can better manage their workforce, while providing a positive and modern experience with the brand.

"Coconut is taking old ways of scheduling appointments, such as emails, forms, and voicemails, and making them a real-time experience that is quick and easy for both companies and their customers," said Katherine Regnier, CEO of Coconut. "Customers want their problems solved without wasting time waiting for an appointment, and corporations want to provide a digital customer experience. At Coconut, we're making appointment scheduling as easy as picking a time. This investment will bolster our platform, and we are thrilled with the level of expertise and sophistication each investor brings to the table."

Regnier is not only driving her own company's growth, but actively contributing and mentoring other startups in Canada. She is a board member of Saskatchewan's first technology incubator Co.Labs, and coordinates events and meetups with Canadian entrepreneurs and investors from Silicon Valley. Regnier has recently been nominated for CBC Saskatchewan's Future 40, as well as selected to participate in 48hrs in the Valley, which introduces Canada's most promising startups to Silicon Valley's top mentors, investors and industry executives this December.

"Coconut is changing the way large institutions engage with customers and deliver service-first experiences," said David Unsworth, General Partner and Co-Founder at Information Venture Partners. "The Company is providing a solution that allows leading retailers to seamlessly blend their online, in-store and mobile service requests leading to enhanced customer service and efficiency. Customer satisfaction is top of mind with many of these institutions and Coconut is providing an innovative solution that we are proud to support as their impressive growth continues."

As part of the investment, Unsworth will join the Board of Directors along with Kevin Kimsa of ScaleUp Ventures and Neal Dempsey of Bay Partners.

About Coconut

Coconut provides an enterprise appointment scheduling solution that redefines how customers interact with organizations, while maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance. Born out of a need for a real-time, easily adopted, scheduling solution, Coconut is now used by many of the North America's largest firms, such as Jackson Hewitt, London Drugs, Rogers, and TELUS. Since its founding in 2011, the company has quickly become the leading appointment scheduling platform that modernizes the customer experience while saving companies time and money. For more information, visit www.coconutcalendar.com

SOURCE Coconut Calendar
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Code of Support Foundation (COSF) and VetLinks.org (VL) announced a multi-year national partnership to increase the sharing of critical services for veterans, caregivers and their families in crisis. In recent years, organizations in the veteran support space have begun to acknowledge that no one organization can provide all of the direct and often immediate services needed to support their respective veterans and caregivers who are on the brink of crisis.

Code of Support Foundation and VetLinks Announce Multi-Year National Partnership to Provide Shared Services and Help Close the Veteran Mental Health Services Gap

COSF began working with VL in late September after one of COSF's caregiver peer navigators received a phone call from one of its PATRIOTlink pilot sites. The organization was asking for assistance in helping the parents of a post 9/11 veteran who was suicidal. Their son was also self-medicating and they could not get him into a treatment program and time was running out. Within hours of collaborating on the case, COSF and VL were able to place the veteran into a 30-day treatment program and secure a service dog to assist in his follow up recovery. The young man has now successfully completed his in-patient program and he is continuing with counseling while his service dog completes its training. This is just one example of how the COSF/VL partnership demonstrates the need for greater collaboration in the veteran support space.

"Code of Support is excited to partner with VetLinks and help forward its mission to educate and empower veterans and caregivers by linking them to an array of services that will enrich their clients quality of life," says Kristina Kaufmann, Executive Director of Code of Support Foundation. "This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission at Code of Support to leverage our nation's resources, through our Case Coordination and PATRIOTlink programs, to ensure that troops, veterans, and their families have access to the support services they need and have earned."

"VetLinks is proud and excited to announce a formal partnership with Code of Support, an important and effective organization dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families," says Jessica Kavanagh, Executive Director of VetLinks. "We are stronger together, and this partnership is the latest example of our devotion to the fight against PTS."

In keeping with the critical human element, the partnership also includes an intimate level of support where a caregiver will be invited, through COSF, to join VL's private PTSD Caregiver Support Facebook Group. The purpose of the closed group is to pass on encouragement from the VL organization and its founder, Jessica Kavanagh.

COSF's Coordination program provides holistic one-on-one assistance to all generations of service members, veterans and families regardless of discharge status. COSF's team of Veteran and Caregiver Peer Navigators work to address the long-term needs of these families by helping them leverage the tools and resources that will improve their quality of life. VetLinks.org provides personalized, tailored support to post 9/11 individual combat veterans and caregivers suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress, substance use disorder, and traumatic brain injury.

ABOUT

Code of Support Foundation (COSF) was founded in 2011 and is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides essential and critical one-on-one assistance to those struggling service members, veterans and their families who have the most complex needs. COSF is dedicated to leveraging the nation's full spectrum of resources to ensure all members of our military, veterans and their families receive the support services they need and, through their collective sacrifice, have earned. COSF's integrated programs include personalized, holistic long-term case coordination services that serve all service eras across the nation.

VetLinks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bridging the VA mental health care gap for Veterans with PTSD. We also awareness in hopes that families, caregivers, and veterans will not suffer in silence with PTS. Our focus is on assisting caregivers, families, and combat veterans suffering from PTS, Traumatic Brain Injury and Substance Use Disorder. We raise money year-round to assist those in need and link them with resources, programs, or alternative therapies unavailable through the VA.

Media Contacts

Code of Support Foundation

Amy McWethy: 703.629.2875

[email protected]

VetLinks.org

Mark Schremmer: 620.704.2147

[email protected]

SOURCE Code of Support Foundation

Related Links

https://www.codeofsupport.org


SAN ANSELMO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Group Five, a corporate services research company, today announced the results of its annual study of corporate opinions of services provided by transfer agents. The annual study is based on the completed surveys from 908 public companies  representing over 27 million registered shareowners. The study provides the only reliable and independent forum for corporate issuers to make their opinions and priorities known to service providers.

Client loyalty for the industry, as measured by the Net Promoter Score (NPS),* declined one point from last year to 51. Computershare is highest rated for client loyalty at 55 followed by Wells Fargo at 54. Broadridge and American Stock Transfer have loyalty ratings of 53 and 44 on the NPS scale, respectively.

For overall client satisfaction, the industry average is unchanged from 2016 at 91 percent favorable. Computershare is highest rated at 94 percent favorable and Wells Fargo is second at 90 percent favorable. Broadridge and AST follow at 89 and 88 percent favorable, respectively.

Annual meeting services remain the highest rated transfer agent service at 93 percent favorable. Telephone service to shareholders and the ease of use of the shareholder website are the lowest rated transfer agent services at 71 percent favorable.

"Computershare is dedicated to delivering great service and we are happy to see our commitment to our clients and their shareholders recognized in the survey results," said Steve Rothbloom, CEO of Computershare US. "Transfer agency is at the core of our business and we will continue to invest in innovative new products and services to benefit our clients and shareholders."

"The valuable feedback we receive from our customers through this survey really supports our efforts to provide our clients with the best level of service and allows us to focus on areas where we can improve," said Todd May, head of Wells Fargo Shareowner Services.+ "As we are preparing to transition our business, this data is more important than ever before and we look forward to continuing striving for excellence in client satisfaction."

Mark Kopelman, CEO of Group Five, pointed out, "This year's study once again illustrates the importance of service to both issuers and shareholders and the critical role that technology plays in delivering that service."

Group Five is a consulting and corporate services research firm. The firm is best known for its consulting and research expertise in shareholder and stock plan administration services.

* NPS, Net Promoter & Net Promoter Score are registered trademarks of Fred Reichheld, Satmetrix, and Bain & Company. Net Promoter Scores range from -100 to +100 based upon the percent of promoter and detractor scores.

+ On July 12, 2017, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services entered into a purchase agreement with Equiniti, a UK-based technology and service provider.

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or Group Five survey results without the express prior written consent of Group Five.

SOURCE Group Five

Related Links

http://www.groupfiveinc.com


"Credit Suisse is an invaluable key corporate partner of Opportunity International, and has enabled us to make strategic investments in cutting-edge technologies to accelerate access to financial resources for clients, increase innovative leadership development initiatives and advance financial solutions in education," Atul Tandon, CEO, Opportunity International, said. "What's so unique about Credit Suisse's commitment to capacity development and innovation, is it goes beyond the investment of financial resources, and includes their employees lending us their technical expertise over the last decade as part of the company's Global Citizens Program to assist us with special projects and initiatives."

This year, Credit Suisse celebrates 15 years of pioneering microfinance and impact investing. Most recently, Credit Suisse and Opportunity International have partnered to expand the global nonprofit's Education Finance program to invest in the education of children living in under-resourced communities which has impacted 2 million children to date.

"As the bank for people with entrepreneurial drive, Credit Suisse is committed to serving the increasingly diverse financial needs at the base of the pyramid through our Microfinance Capacity Building Initiative which helps micro-entrepreneurs help themselves and their communities," said Manuel Horl, Head Microfinance Capacity Building Initiative, Credit Suisse. "By providing grant capital, sharing our expertise with microfinance institutions, and linking them to our clients and business, we foster the industry's innovation and growth in product development, and beyond. The initiative is also one of several ways we support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals."

Previous recipients of this Award have included the Mastercard Foundation, Caterpillar Foundation, Dorsey and Whitney LLP, and UPS Foundation.

Opportunity International's National Summit, held at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center, brought together leaders from around the world, including major philanthropic, corporate and nonprofit organizations, individual donors, entrepreneurs and business executives. In addition to Opportunity International CEO Atul Tandon, speakers included Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor; Kelly Wright, Anchor, FOX News; Geoff Andersen, Manager of Corporate Citizenship, John Deere; Ward Brehm, Bigger Than Me Author and Chairman, U.S. African Development Foundation; Dean Karlan, Frederic Esser Nemmers Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance, Northwestern University; Scott Jackson, President and CEO, Global Impact; and Steve Bartlett, senior advisor, Treliant Risk Advisors, among many others.

About Opportunity International

Opportunity International is a global non-profit organization that helps people in developing countries work their way out of poverty. Since 1971, the organization has provided more than $12 billion in loans to help 24 million clients launch and expand businesses, feed and educate their children and create jobs in their communities. At the end of 2016, more than 10 million clients in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, were using an Opportunity International loan, savings account, insurance policy or training to improve their lives. Through microfinance and complementary products and services in education, agriculture and health, the organization has helped clients create or sustain 17 million jobs on the way to achieving its goal of 20 million jobs by 2020. More than 95 percent of Opportunity's loan clients are women who would otherwise likely not have access to financial services because of legal and cultural gender inequities. The global headquarters of Opportunity International are in Chicago, with other key offices in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The organization serves clients through a network of more than 23,000 people worldwide. Discover more at opportunity.org or join the conversation on facebook.com/opportunityintl and twitter.com/opportunityintl.

Media: Christina Koliopoulos, +1-312-487-5064

[email protected]

SOURCE Opportunity International

Related Links

http://www.opportunity.org


LAKE FOREST, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Crummack Huseby Property Management, Inc. is proud to announce a new position and a new employee, Laurisa Ehlers, Assistant Vice President. She comes to us as a longtime resident of Orange County with a long list of accomplishments in the field of property management.

Laurisa began her property management career over 18 years ago and quickly found her passion, working her way up through various positions including Director of Community Management and Vice President of Community Management. She also earned the prestigious "Rookie of the Year" award from the California Association of Community Management in 2001 and was nominated for Manager of the Year  Veteran Category from the Community Associations Institute (CAI) in 2016.

"Sandy and I met Laurisa through CACM, and when she came in to interview, we immediately knew she would harness the core values of Crummack Huseby and be a tremendous addition to our leadership team," says Margo Crummack, Co-Founder, Co-Principal, and CEO.

Throughout Laurisa's career journey, her desire to train and mentor new managers came naturally and will be an asset to our team at Crummack Huseby because she feels the better the Manager, the more satisfied the clients! She also enjoys creating and implementing policies and procedures to streamline customer service efficiencies, offering enhanced services to clients.

Laurisa also knows the importance of providing excellent customer care, understanding that each client is different and deserves a customized approach. She joined Crummack Huseby because of its reputation and workplace culture, "I've always found them to be a well-respected company with a reputation for being open to new ideas, and it's exciting to work for a company that wants you to make an impact," says Laurisa.

Crummack Huseby anticipates Laurisa's highly sought after talent will provide unmatched service to their homeowner and developer clients. Her primary role as Assistant Vice President will be to standardize training and create internal support for the Community Management team.

About Crummack Huseby

Crummack Huseby Property Management was awarded "Best Places to Work" three years in a row by the Orange County Business Journal and Best Companies Group. They have added value to communities throughout Southern California by working with HOAs, homebuilders, and land developers through their collaborative and customized approach. Their personalized philosophy to community management has allowed them to successfully discover and develop one-of-a-kind programs for new and existing communities. For more information, please visit www.ch-pm.com or call (949) 367-9430.

SOURCE Crummack Huseby Property Management, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ch-pm.com/


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced that its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division was awarded a five-year contract extension worth more than $3 million to deliver maintenance services for the North County Transit District (NCTD), a regional partner in the San Diego County Compass fare payment system, designed and delivered by Cubic.

Cubic has provided services to NCTD since 2013, maintaining the agency's Compass ticketing machines and platform validators used by riders of the COASTER commuter rail and SPRINTER light rail. Cubic has also managed the ticket office terminals for Compass Card transactions by NCTD customer service representatives.

"Our highest priority is our customer service and Compass is an important part of that experience for our riders," said Matthew Tucker, NCTD executive director. "Our partnership with Cubic ensures continued support for our Compass system."

"We are excited to extend our work with NCTD and we look forward to even more opportunities working with the agency as it plans for future improvements," said Matt Newsome, vice president and general manager, CTS Western Region Americas.

In addition to the COASTER and SPRINTER, NCTD operates the BREEZE bus system, FLEX rural and on-demand service and LIFT paratransit  all of which accept the Compass Card. With a mission to deliver safe, reliable and user-friendly public transportation, NCTD provides 12 million passenger trips annually.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

SOURCE Cubic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cubic.com


"Congratulations to our Partner Program Award recipient, Datix, for enabling business growth through Epicor solutions," said Steve Murphy, chief executive officer, Epicor Software Corporation. "Our partners are an extension of our salesforce and we are fortunate to have such a talented group of IT professionals aligned with us to support customers with business growth, innovation, and enhanced customer experience."

Candice Evertowski, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Datix, commented on the crucial role Epicor plays in Datix's success in offering comprehensive enterprise software solutions: "At Datix, our passion is to be the best with the best. That's why we chose to partner with the best: Epicor. Because we work with such a flexible, robust system, we can offer our clients optimal ERP solutions."

Epicor develops innovative ERP solutions for manufacturing, distribution and retail industries all over the world. Highly flexible and scalable, Epicor ERP can be deployed to fit unique operational needs, resources and budgets. Its powerful module-based software enables in-depth supply chain management and comprehensive business intelligence.

But as Datix CEO Matt Schuval explains, Epicor's robust ERP software isn't enough to ensure a successful implementation: "Each business is different. No matter the quality of the software, if it doesn't meet your specific needs, it won't do your business any good if it's deployed straight out of the box. We have the best ERP software, which is Epicor, but how can a manufacturer or distributor configure it to fit their processes? That's where Datix comes in."

Datix works closely with clients to keep ERP projects on track and under budget. With 20 years of experience, a proven track record with Epicor and expertise in business process modeling and streamlining, Datix consultants can help clients define current processes, evaluate optimizations and implement software solutions that ensure project ROI and fit each client's specific needs.

Their Epicor Platinum Partner status and experience aren't the only qualities that distinguish Datix as a leading software solutions provider. Datix is also a partner of both Microsoft Dynamics and Salesforce CRM, as well as a Magento eCommerce implementer. Using Unity, their integration platform, Datix can connect a myriad of softwareincluding ERP, CRM and/or eCommerceinto a streamlined system that improves a manufacturing or distribution business' efficiency and visibility.

Datix highly values their long-time partnership with Epicor and is honored to be acknowledged for their excellence in ERP consulting. With their continued innovations and excellence in enterprise software solutions, Datix intends to remain an Epicor Platinum Partner for years to come.

About Datix

Datix has worked with clients in a wide range of industries throughout its 20 years as a premier software consulting firm in St. Louis, MO, USA. Their unique approach to optimizing business processes through software can be applied to almost any industry, from manufacturing to product distribution. As authorized partners of Epicor, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Scribe, Datix specializes in Business Process Management and Enterprise Application solutions, including customizable integration options. Unity is Datix's pre-built integration solution for ERP, CRM and eCommerce enterprise software, available to connect software seamlessly without any of the typical errors or bugs that can come with implementation and integration.

Datix also provides a wide range of ERP and CRM support services, business consulting and software development to clients all over the globe. Contact Datix today to learn more about their enterprise software solutions.

www.datixinc.com

Datix Media Contact: Candice Evertowski

Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer

Datix

314-962-3466 ext. 1004

[email protected]

SOURCE Datix

Related Links

http://www.datixinc.com


"We're confident that consolidating two of our three administrative offices into this one location will lead to greater cost efficiency and effectiveness, and allow us to provide even better service to all our members," said Delta Community CEO Hank Halter. "More than 300 employees have now relocated to our new administrative center in Cobb County, bringing our Vinings Campus employee total to more than 500."

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Halter pledged to continue Delta Community's responsible corporate citizenship. "We look forward to continued growth in Cobb County and throughout metro Atlanta," Halter said. "We're excited for the opportunity to continue providing important resources such as free financial education opportunities, investments in schools and charities, and partnerships with local businesses, allowing us to give back to the communities in which we serve."

In addition to Riverwood 200, Delta Community's Vinings Campus includes offices in the Riverwood 100 building, as well as a retail branch and administrative offices at 3250 Riverwood Parkway. In total, the Credit Union employs more than 1,000 people in retail branches and offices throughout metro Atlanta and three out-of-state locations.

About Delta Community Credit Union

Delta Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with a mission of providing better service and value on the deposit, loan, investment and insurance products consumers use to manage their household expenses and save for the future. Founded in 1940, Delta Community has become Georgia's largest credit union with more than 360,000 members, 24 metro Atlanta branches and three out-of-state branch locations. It now welcomes anyone who lives or works in 11 metro Atlanta counties as well as employees of more than 150 businesses including Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, RaceTrac and UPS. Visit www.DeltaCommunityCU.com to learn more about opening an account at Delta Community or follow the Credit Union on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeltaCommunity and Twitter at @DeltaCommunity.

SOURCE Delta Community Credit Union

Related Links

http://www.deltacommunitycu.com


MIAMI, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global U.S. law firm Diaz, Reus & Targ LLP announces that it has entered into an agreement with Moscow law firm LegaLife to act as Diaz Reus' affiliate office in Russia.

Diaz Reus is a full-service, entrepreneurial law firm offering comprehensive legal services to U.S.-based and international clients. In addition to its Miami headquarters, the firm has ten offices in key Latin American business centers, as well as in Shanghai, China; Prague, Czech Republic; Madrid, Spain; Dubai, UAE; Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and now, Moscow.

"Diaz Reus offers seamless access to legal representation across multiple jurisdictions," says the firm's Global Managing Partner, Michael Diaz, Jr. "With interest in Russia on the rise, having a presence in Moscow significantly enhances our international presence."

Businesses and individuals with relationships in Russia will appreciate the expert guidance and personalized service of the firm. At the same time, Diaz Reus' proven track record in helping high-profile clients successfully navigate regulatory minefields such as OFAC, U.S. Customs and Immigration, and anti-money laundering rules, as well as the firm's depth of experience in orchestrating global strategies for the resolution, litigation and arbitration of commercial business disputes, will make Diaz Reus an attractive option for Russian nationals and businesses seeking representation in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.

"We encourage potential clients to explore our website at www.diazreus.com, and take a look at our global office locations," says Mr. Diaz.

Marina Zinovieva, a Partner in the Moscow office, explains that, "We are delighted to be part of Diaz Reus, an international law firm operating in a wide range of sensitive issues which ultra-high and high net worth individuals may face on a personal level, ranging from fraud and asset recovery to off-shore asset-protection, investigations, immigration for families, businesses and individuals, trusts and will contests, as well as OFAC sanctions. The firm also assists their companies in business support, corporate and commercial law, and international transactions."

For more information please visit www.diazreus.com and www.legalife.ru

Media Contact:

Marta Colomar-Garcia, Administrative Managing Partner

[email protected]

+ 1 305-375-9220

SOURCE Diaz Reus
Guests may choose a combination of Dickey's holiday meats and sides to create their desired meal. These options include Smoked Turkey, Cajun Fried Turkey, Spiral Cut Ham, Prime Rib and delicious sides such as baked potato casserole, green beans, cornbread dressing and buttery rolls.

"As a family owned business, the holidays are a precious time for us. We are not only offering guests Holiday Meals, we are becoming a part of their family and their traditions," says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "The best part of the holidays this year is that for the first time, Dickey's will offer delivery options, so our guests can do what is most important, spend time with their friends and family."

Dickey's holiday meal options can be found online or at your local Dickey's location.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and home style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 550 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2017 again won a top 10 on the list. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times, and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital advertising agency, NMPi, announced the addition of two new offices to their already substantial international presence. Originally founded in the UK in 2004, NMPi has launched it's brand in 8 new markets in just over a year, including Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, and now New York and Los Angeles in the US.

NMPi currently works with 27 brands in the US including Saks Fifth Avenue and Autodesk. "The US has always been an exciting region for us," explains Alex Moody, Partnerships Director, North America. "The NMPi team and I are looking forward to catching up with all of our US clients and partners over the coming months and exploring the further opportunities that a permanent base provides."

With the growth of NMPi's global network, they are now offering 24-hour global support for their clients.

"NMPi offices now cover every timezone around the world, giving our clients access to staff 24-hours a day. It's really exciting for us to be able to offer this level of service for our clients. Their customers aren't just shopping 9 to 5 on weekdays, so we want to have them covered no matter what," says Luke Judge, CEO of NMPi.

The launch of NMPi's US offices follows a significant client win for the agency. In September this year, they began delivering Paid Search, Display, Paid Social and Analytics services for US retail group, Fullbeauty Brands, and seven of their subsidiary companies. Fullbeauty Brands has specialised in plus-size clothing for women and men in the US for over 100 years, and includes the popular brands Jessica London, ellos, Woman Within, and King Size Direct.

According to Vice President of Digital Marketing at Fullbeauty Brands, Bobby Missry, "The transition of our paid media channels for 7 brands has been flawless. They truly feel like an extension of the team rather than an agency."

"As a key market for NMPi, the US was the natural next step to continue our international expansion. Relationships like Fullbeauty Brands, Autodesk and Saks Fifth Avenue are just the beginning, and we are excited to move forward in 2018."

Any questions contact: Damien Bennett, Director of Business Strategy, [email protected]

SOURCE NMPi

Related Links

https://nmpidigital.com


AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Drillinginfo, the energy industry's leading SaaS and data analytics company, has acquired Oklahoma City-based Oil-Law Records (OLR), one of the first oil and gas industry information providers in the U.S. Throughout its 62-year history, Oil-Law Records has developed an unrivaled reputation for quality records-keeping and timely updates used in the exploration and production of oil and gas.

The combination of Oil-Law Records' data and Drillinginfo's cutting edge information, software and analytical solutions provide a solid foundation for the discovery phase of leasing and drilling activity, which helps landmen, geologists, engineers, regulatory compliance teams and others involved in the Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) process.

"Bringing our two resources together reinforces our commitment to meticulously capture data and produce meaningful intelligence. This serves a diverse mix of stakeholders  from landmen to lawyers and planning to permitting teams  and drives efficiencies for those focused on doing more with less, a critical goal of every company in energy right now," said Jeff Hughes, CEO of Drillinginfo.

OLR's Source spacing database is the only fully interpreted database of spacing information in existence. With it, users have the power to quickly tie together historical spacing information up and down geological strata  across geography and across time  which establishes new spacing and reveals opportunities for well development and in-fill drilling.

In addition to its proprietary database of historical spacing units and expertise in regulatory processes unique in these basins, Oil-Law Records was instrumental in digitizing New Mexico's historic well records, hearing and administrative orders. The result is an extremely robust database with tens of thousands of New Mexico well records that are proprietary to OLR, as the originals were destroyed by the state commission in the early 2000s.

"The pairing of these two highly complementary systems clearly demonstrates that the sum is greater than its parts," said J. Brad McPherson, Chief Executive Officer of Oil-Law Records Corporation. "We've worked with Drillinginfo as partners for more than ten years. Adding our historical data to DI's best-in-class solutions is something that will benefit everyone interested in Oklahoma and New Mexico, including the SCOOP/STACK, and Permian Basins," said McPherson.

About Drillinginfo:

Drillinginfo is the leading energy SaaS and data analytics platform that provides predictive tools and technology to drive exploration decisions, evaluate rapidly evolving opportunities and achieve better, faster results. The company delivers actionable intelligence over mobile, web and desktop to analyze and reduce risk, conduct competitive benchmarking, and uncover market insights. Drillinginfo serves more than 3,000 companies globally from its Austin, Texas headquarters and has more than 400 employees. For more information visit drillinginfo.com.

About Oil-Law Record:

Founded in 1955, Oil-Law Records provides the oil and gas industries of Oklahoma and New Mexico with innovative efficient solutions to address information gathering challenges. Every day, Oil-Law Records compiles, analyzes and abstracts state-level oil and gas filings and distributes that information to thousands of end users. OLR allows its users to harness the most precious of all assets: time. For additional information, please see www.oil-law.com.

SOURCE Drillinginfo

Related Links

https://info.drillinginfo.com


BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnSync, Inc. (NYSE American: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, a leading developer of innovative distributed energy resources (DERs), and DCfusion, a subsidiary of EnSync Energy and pioneer in direct current (DC) system engineering design, consulting and policy, have been contracted to design and manage the Net Zero Zone and Microgrid Showcase at this year's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the world's largest green building conference. The design leverages EnSync Energy's Matrix Energy Management system and DER Flex Internet of Energy software to create a microgrid that will power a part of the exhibition.

Greenbuild's Net Zero Zone reflects the growing interest in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from buildings, which account for a whopping 39 percent of emissions in the United Statesmore than any other sector. The exhibition showcases technologies that will help building operators achieve net zero emissions by producing enough renewable energy to offset the energy consumed.

"Getting to 'net zero' is possible with the right tools," said Dan Nordloh, executive vice president of EnSync Energy. "Adding renewable energy sources requires managing DERs in a synchronized manner. At Greenbuild, we will demonstrate how our adaptable hardware-software system manages these energy sources to prioritize and deliver the highest value, most reliable electricity for buildings. Our technology simplifies the complexities behind transitioning to the future of power: cleaner, distributed energy."

DCfusion is engineering the alternating current (AC)/DC hybrid microgrid, and EnSync Energy's technologies will serve as its control center. The Net Zero Zone will also provide connections for companies to demonstrate their technologies working in real time  including energy storage batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and more. EnSync Energy's command center  utilizing its Matrix Energy Management and DER Flex technology  will gather data and determine which power sources to prioritize and ensure the loads are supplied with the most effective energy. The showcase's lead organizer is the EMerge Alliance, an open industry association leading the adoption of DC power distribution in commercial buildings through the development of EMerge Alliance standards. DCfusion is an active member.

The Net Zero Zone and Microgrid Showcase will be located on the main exhibition floor of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on November 8 through 10. The Net Zero Zone microgrid will be powered from solar arrays located outdoors near the showcase. An "Unplugging Ceremony," during which the Net Zero Zone will officially go "off the grid" for the remainder of the conference, will take place on November 8 at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

About EnSync Energy Systems

EnSync, Inc. (NYSE American: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems (EnSync Energy), is creating the future of electricity with innovative distributed energy resource (DER) systems and internet of energy (IOE) control platforms. EnSync Energy ensures the most cost-effective and resilient electricity, delivered from an electrical infrastructure that prioritizes the use of all available resources, such as renewables, energy storage and the utility grid. As project developer, EnSync Energy's distinctive engagement methodology encompasses load analysis, system design consulting, and technical and financial modeling to ensure energy systems are sized and optimized to meet our customers' objectives for value and performance. Proprietary direct current (DC) power control hardware, energy management software, and extensive experience with numerous energy storage technologies uniquely positions EnSync Energy to deliver fully integrated systems that provide for efficient design, procurement, commissioning, and ongoing operation. EnSync Energy's IOE control platform adapts easily to ever-changing generation and load variables, as well as changes in utility prices and programs, ensuring the means to make or save money behind-the-meter, while concurrently providing utilities the opportunity to use DERs for an array of grid enhancing services. In addition to direct system sales, EnSync Energy includes power purchase agreements (PPAs) in its portfolio of offerings, which enables electricity savings for customers and provides a stable financial yield for investors. EnSync Energy is a global corporation, with joint venture Meineng Energy in AnHui, China, and energy project development subsidiary Holu Energy LLC in Hawaii, and DCfusion LLC, a power system engineering and design, consultancy and policy firm. For more information, visit www.ensync.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements made in this press release contain 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 that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release may address the following subjects among others: project completion timelines, our ability to monetize our PPA assets, statements regarding the sufficiency of our capital resources, expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses and our expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Media Relations Contact:

Antenna

Shreema Mehta

[email protected]

(646) 416-9853

EnSync Energy Media Contact:

Michelle Montague

[email protected]

(262) 735-5676

Investor Relations Contact:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Robert Blum, Joseph Diaz, or Joe Dorame

(602) 889-9700

SOURCE EnSync, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ensync.com


It is critical to ensure that tobacco production is as environmentally sustainable as possible as it supports the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale farmers in Africa. The tobacco industry purchases most of its tobacco supplies from smallholder farmers. Improving the sustainability of tobacco farming will require assisting these farmers by providing support, advice and information on how to improve farming methods and protect the environment.

Many farmers can benefit from advice not only on how to improve soil conservation and fertility, manage water usage and recycle waste but also on how to manage fuel sources sustainably.

Helping farmers to adopt extensive good agricultural practices (GAP) such as effective farming techniques; safe storage and use of crop protection agents; water and waste management, and energy efficiency can help them establish a consistent source of income, while simultaneously reducing the impact on the environment.

Making the curing process greener

Tobacco production, as with many other agricultural crops, is a resource-intensive process. Tobacco growing, harvesting and curing can account for approximately 40% of the carbon emitted in the cigarette supply chain, out of which more than half comes from the fuels used to cure certain types of tobacco.

For this reason, tobacco companies such as Philip Morris International (PMI) are also focusing on making the curing process greener.

Some types of tobacco require that it be cured in heated barns, which are often made of bricks. Converting conventional curing barns using improved furnace, insulation, chimney and flue modifications helps to reduce the amount of fuel needed to cure tobacco and improves overall energy efficiency.

PMI is also moving towards more sustainable curing fuel sources and encourages switching to less polluting fuels such as the use of biomass  wood and crop residues such as nut shells and tree prunings  as an alternative fuel where appropriate. The potential of new technologies, such as solar energy in curing barns, is also being explored.

By 2020, the company aims to have zero coal usage for tobacco curing and ensure no deforestation due to the growing and curing of the tobacco purchased.

Tackling the deforestation issue

Tackling the issue of deforestation in Africa though requires a multi-pronged approach.

Apart from improving curing barn design and technologies to make the process more efficient, planting trees to replenish deforested areas; implementing track and trace systems to ensure traceable sources of wood fuel, as well as assisting farmers to set up small-scale forestry operations are some of the ways companies are combating deforestation to actively reforest areas to replenish stocks.

In 2015, PMI and its suppliers planted more than 29 million trees and implemented programmes to increase the total fuel consumed for tobacco curing from renewable energy sources.

Green tobacco supply chain bears fruit

Further along the supply chain, each factory and facility uses different environmental approaches adapted according to local circumstances. For example, prioritising water conservation for facilities in water-scarce regions or first investing in renewable energy where its available, cost-effective and provides supply security makes sense.

This integrated approach to greening the tobacco supply chain is bearing fruit. The sustainable use of natural resources has become a top priority for the tobacco industry.

Of more than a thousand of the worlds largest companies assessed in detail by the CPD last year, the emissions from PMIs own operations were only 700,000 metric tons, well below the average footprint of 5.8 million metric tonnes.

In sub-Saharan Africa, farming represents a subsistence lifestyle for millions of people. In recent years though, the development of farming into an economic activity has made a real change in the way the land is used in providing for the needs of the population. Not only is the land able to provide food security, crops can be used to generate much-needed income to improve living conditions and provide for education.

Promoting good agricultural practices

Each year, Philip Morris International purchases 400,000 tonnes of tobacco leaf from about 500,000 farmers in over 30 countries. The majority of the tobacco is grown on small-scale farms of two hectares or less. This makes it one of the largest tobacco purchasers globally.

In Southern Africa, most of the tobacco is sourced and purchased in Malawi, where Philip Morris South Africa has been promoting the growth of high-quality tobacco under conditions which protect the environment and which encourage sustainable agricultural practices. To help achieve these goals, PMI developed the good agricultural practices (GAP) programme to assess the processes on farms from which it sources its tobacco and to identify opportunities for improvement.

PMI is committed to promoting GAP that supports the growing of tobacco in a sustainable manner while benefiting the communities involved and managing the natural resources responsibly.

These GAP standards are organised around three focus areas: crops, environment and people. In Africa, PMI sources tobacco through leaf suppliers which are independent companies that have supply contracts with the farmers. The suppliers have structures in place to support and guide the farmers in line with the GAP standards and the implementation of those guidelines is compulsory for the suppliers.

The relationship between the suppliers and the farmers is known as the Integrated Production System (IPS) which in effect gives the farmers a commitment by the suppliers to purchase their volumes at an agreed price. Part of the process includes advice on agricultural practices, access to fertilisers and certified seeds and food packages. At the same time, the system addresses the issue of child labour and environmental stewardship and sustainability.

The benefits of this system are that smaller farmers have improved income and food security as they get access to credit and cash advances so that growers can buy maize before the tobacco crops are sold.

Examples of how tobacco farming can be conducted to improve agronomy practices

Mthunduwatha Joshua, an IPS farmer in Kasungu in Malawi explains, being productive is all that one needs to succeed. She started production in 2007 and has managed to construct a house with electricity from the proceeds of selling ten bales of tobacco of 100kg each.

In addition to a small collection of livestock, and the 20 kg maize seed package of four bags of fertiliser, she was able to produce enough maize for all of her family. In this village, I believe I am an example to other women, she adds.

In the village of Mchinji, Gilberta Chimtowe explains how she makes use of live barns. With live barns, the upright poles used in the construction are replaced by live trees, which are grown in situ, on the farms. This reduces the deforestation pressure on forests, reduces wood use, and barns undergo annual repairs rather than annual replacement. She currently maintains a forest of more than 200 trees.

The projects in Africa are an illustration of how tobacco farming can be conducted to improve agronomy practices, provide opportunities for better food security, and to enhance farmers productivity.
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Visage Imaging, Inc. ("Visage"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pro Medicus Ltd. (ASX: PME), has announced the demonstration of the latest version of the industry leading Visage 7 Enterprise Imaging Platform at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2017 annual meeting (Visage Booth 4365, McCormick Place-South Hall A), November 2630, Chicago, Illinois.

Visage advances Enterprise Imaging with precision implementations and differentiated technology enabling imaging organizations to quickly achieve their strategic goals. Visage continues to optimize the speed, clinical depth and unmatched scalability of Visage 7, reinforcing Visage's impressive reputation of excellence that has no comparison. At RSNA 2017, Visage will preview capabilities projected for Visage 7.1.11 and highlight the current Visage 7.1.10 release, demonstrating:

Visage 7.1.11 . Visage will include over 150 new features and refinements in the next release of Visage 7, most of which have been driven by customer enhancement requests. Continuing Visage's documented history of impressive development velocity, Visage 7.1.11 is intended for global availability in early 2018.

Visage will include over 150 new features and refinements in the next release of Visage 7, most of which have been driven by customer enhancement requests. Continuing Visage's documented history of impressive development velocity, Visage is intended for global availability in early 2018. Visage 7 Web. Visage has developed a new HTML5 viewer, Visage 7 Web, intended for users who do not have access to the Visage 7 thin-client or the Visage Ease/Visage Ease Pro mobile clients. Visage 7 Web provides diagnostic access to images and results via all readily available web browsers, as well as mobile devices running the Android operating system. No prior download is required for authorized users. And most importantly, Visage 7 Web does not require additional servers, unique integration, or separate system administration. Visage 7 Web will be available for customers by the end of 2017.

Visage has developed a new HTML5 viewer, Visage 7 Web, intended for users who do not have access to the Visage 7 thin-client or the Visage Ease/Visage Ease Pro mobile clients. Visage 7 Web provides diagnostic access to images and results via all readily available web browsers, as well as mobile devices running the Android operating system. No prior download is required for authorized users. And most importantly, Visage 7 Web does not require additional servers, unique integration, or separate system administration. Visage 7 Web will be available for customers by the end of 2017. In-Viewer Workflow Enhancements. Through the convergence of increased automation, end user flexibility and interactivity, Visage has refined the user experience with even more optimized hanging protocols, Auto-Prior Rules and convenient tools. Mini Drop Zone is the latest tool introduced with 7.1.11 to help users work smarter, faster, with greater accuracy. Available from the Study Navigator, Image Thumbnail Section, and Image Viewports, Mini Drop Zone enables users to drag additional image thumbnails into a small, graphical representation of the current display layout, quickly reorienting the displayed image viewports with new image series. Through the use of this tool, mouse fatigue associated with traditional drag-and-drop of images is minimized.

"Visage enables customers to go-live faster, with the most differentiated technology available," said Malte Westerhoff, PhD, Visage Imaging Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Westerhoff continued, "While other vendors delay product releases, extend implementations and struggle getting live, Visage delivers excellence with proven solutions allowing customers to thrive."

In the spirit of Visage's leadership in proven interoperable modularity and Deconstructed PACS, Visage is pleased to announce that Visage 7 will be an interoperable solution at Barco (Booth #1311, South Hall A), Clario (Booth #1403, South Hall A), Medicalis (Booth #1554, South Hall A), and Nuance (Booth #2700, South Hall A).

To schedule a priority demonstration and/or meeting with Visage at the upcoming RSNA 2017, please visit this link for additional details.

About Visage Imaging, Inc.

Visage Imaging is a global provider of enterprise imaging and advanced visualization solutions for diagnostic imaging. The Visage 7 Enterprise Imaging Platform delivers amazingly fast server-side rendered images streamed via an intelligent thin-client viewer with unmatched interoperability. Radiologists and referring physicians have a customized, protocol-driven workflow to natively view multi-dimensional imagery and multimedia using a One Viewer philosophy, scaled to support the world's most sophisticated healthcare organizations. Powerful solutions include enterprise interpretation and viewing; archiving, image enablement of EHRs; RIS/PACS, as well as anywhere mobile diagnostic access. www.visageimaging.com

About Pro Medicus Limited

Pro Medicus Limited [ASX: PME] is Australia's leading imaging IT provider. Founded in 1983, the company provides a full range of integrated software products and services to hospital, imaging centers and health care groups worldwide. www.promed.com.au

Visage, Visage Imaging, Visage Ease Pro, Visage Ease, One Viewer, ANV, and Deconstructed PACS are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks that are licensed by Visage Imaging, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners or licensees.

SOURCE Visage Imaging, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.visageimaging.com


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EVOTEK, Inc., North America's premier enabler of digital business, announced today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named EVOTEK to its 2017 Next-Gen 250 list. The annual list recognizes prominent solution providers who are successfully leading the digital transformation with emerging technologies such as cloud, IoT, mobility, business analytics, and business intelligence.

EVOTEK Recognized by CRN on the 2017 Next-Gen 250 List

"Since inception, EVOTEK has tracked and implemented innovative technologies to enable our customer's rapidly evolving requirements," said Ned Engelke, Chief Technology Officer at EVOTEK. "Every environment is unique and we carefully match products and services to deliver business value throughout each engagement."

EVOTEK was founded in San Diego, CA and has offices in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Orange County, and Portland. The company was purpose built to address the evolving technology landscape. With offerings in both data center and cloud, EVOTEK is uniquely equipped to assist customers with the industry shifts from traditional IT computing to multi-cloud. The distinct ability to connect the business side of digital transformation with the ideal underlying technologies is what has led EVOTEK to such quick success.

"From how we serve our customers, to how we value and care for our employees, EVOTEK will continue to be disruptive," said Jeffrey Klenner, President of EVOTEK. "The company continues to experience extreme growth and we are thrilled to be recognized as an industry leader."

"This group of solution providers is leading the way when it comes to emerging technologies, bravely stepping into the uncharted territory of next-generation IT solutions ahead of their peers," said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. "Our 2017 Next-Gen 250 list is comprised of relatively new companies as well as established ones, all sharing the common thread of successful, trailblazing solutions designed to meet an unprecedented set of customer needs. We congratulate each team on its vision and contribution to the overall advancement of the IT channel." A sampling of the Next-Gen 250 list will be featured in the December issue of CRN. The complete list will be available online at www.crn.com/nextgen250.

About EVOTEK

EVOTEK is North America's premier enabler of digital business with a focus on innovation. With technology offerings in both data center and cloud, EVOTEK is uniquely equipped to enable customers with the industry shift from traditional IT computing to multi-cloud. With services practices in security, mobility, and DevOps, EVOTEK is quickly moving up the value chain, closer to the part of digital business that matters most. In both 2016 and 2017, EVOTEK was named to The San Diego Business Journal's Best Places to work and recognized in CRN's Solution Provider 500 list. Earlier this year, EVOTEK was placed #1 on CRN's Top 150 growth list, recognized as the fastest growing system integrator in the country.

To learn more about how EVOTEK can enable your digital business, visit http://www.EVOTEK.com/.

Follow EVOTEK: Twitter, LinkedIN and Facebook

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 unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Contact:

Torrie Bradley

6199625470

[email protected]

SOURCE EVOTEK

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DDoS attacks have emerged as one of the top concerns of the digital transformation era. Digital transformation describes the global trend of smart devices, hyper-connectivity, and Big Data and analytics that will usher in vast public economic and social benefits. The Internet of Things (IoT) is one aspect of this new world, where all manner of consumer devices, industrial systems, and communications systems are interconnected, interoperable, and able to intercommunicate without any need for human intervention.

"As the threat from DDoS attacks rise, the need for mitigation products has also risen. However, because attackers are constantly modifying their strategies and refining their techniques, end users need mitigation solutions that can adapt within this dynamic environment," said Senior Industry Analyst Chris Rodriguez. "While DDoS threat protection is vital for companies today, customers are concerned about cost versus value. Arbor Networks recognizes this and offers updated pricing models, deployment flexibility, and fully managed services to meet these value-centric concerns. The company has also virtualized its entire DDoS portfolio for support of customer SDN and NFV environments, introduced low-cost appliances, and new virtual solutions that start at sub-100Mb capacity," said Rodriguez.

Arbor Networks' diverse and comprehensive DDoS mitigation portfolio solutions include:

Arbor Networks SP solutions , which provide scalable on-premises detection of attacks and can be deployed as hardware appliances or software. The company also offers Arbor APS for real-time detection of application-layer attacks, including stealthy attacks such as Slowloris.

, which provide scalable on-premises detection of attacks and can be deployed as hardware appliances or software. The company also offers for real-time detection of application-layer attacks, including stealthy attacks such as Slowloris. Arbor Networks TMS appliances can be deployed in-line for instant detection and mitigation of attacks, offering up to 160 Gbps of performance per single appliance or clustered to make a scrubbing center with up to 8 Tbps of dedicated bandwidth for attack mitigation. Arbor TMS is the DDoS mitigation solution of choice for global network operators.

appliances can be deployed in-line for instant detection and mitigation of attacks, offering up to 160 Gbps of performance per single appliance or clustered to make a scrubbing center with up to 8 Tbps of dedicated bandwidth for attack mitigation. Arbor TMS is the DDoS mitigation solution of choice for global network operators. Arbor Cloud is a fully managed DDoS mitigation service promoting best practice hybrid defense. It includes a suite of on-premise appliances and virtual offerings that are connected to an on-demand scrubbing service with up to 4 Tbps of attack mitigation capacity (and the company plans to expand this to 8 Tbps in 2017). This integrated and automated capability significantly reduces time to mitigation for DDoS attacks.

is a fully managed DDoS mitigation service promoting best practice hybrid defense. It includes a suite of on-premise appliances and virtual offerings that are connected to an on-demand scrubbing service with up to 4 Tbps of attack mitigation capacity (and the company plans to expand this to 8 Tbps in 2017). This integrated and automated capability significantly reduces time to mitigation for DDoS attacks. Arbor Managed APS is an Arbor Cloud offering that is designed to help businesses with limited IT staff or technological maturity.

Arbor is so effective at detecting potential threats due to its ATLAS threat intelligence system, which gathers and analyzes threat data from information shared by its large installed base of over four hundred service provider customers. The Arbor Networks research team then develops threat protections that are automatically propagated to its products via the ATLAS Intelligence Feed, providing customers with a robust defense against malware, botnets and DDoS threats.

Arbor Networks has firmly established itself as the DDoS mitigation products market leader by delivering a robust and integrated portfolio of products, services, and features. Furthermore, the company's attention to customer value and a clear strategy to mitigate future attacks indicates the company's staying power as the leading provider of DDoS mitigation products. For these reasons, Arbor Networks has earned Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Global Market Leadership Award.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which in turn raises customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Arbor Networks

Arbor Networks, the security division of NETSCOUT, is driven to protect the infrastructure and ecosystem of the internet. It is the principle upon which we were founded in 2000; and remains the common thread that runs through all that we do today. Arbor's approach is rooted in the study of network traffic. Arbor's suite of visibility, DDoS protection and advanced threat solutions provide customers with a micro view of their network enhanced by a macro view of global internet traffic and emerging threats through our ATLAS infrastructure. Sourced from more than 300 service provider customers, ATLAS delivers intelligence based on insight into approximately 1/3 of global internet traffic. Supported by Arbor's Security Engineering & Response Team (ASERT), smart workflows and rich user context, Arbor's network insights help customers see, understand and solve the most complex and consequential security challenges facing their organizations.

To learn more about Arbor products and services, please visit our website at arbornetworks.com or follow on Twitter @ArborNetworks. Arbor's research, analysis and insight is shared via the ASERT blog. For a global data visualization of DDoS attacks that leverages our ATLAS intelligence, visit the Digital Attack Map, a collaboration with Jigsaw, an incubator within Alphabet, Google's parent company.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Samantha Park

P: 210.348.1001

F: 210.348.1003

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As California's Governor traverses the world urging it to wake up to climate change, California's leading consumer group called on Brown to take note of how much tougher Europe is on oil and gas companies than he has been. Brown has yet to support or approve limits on fossil fuel infrastructure in California, even though he has increased renewable energy and efficiency standards and championed low carbon fuel standards.

Europe's industrial powerhouse, Germany, could teach Jerry Brown how to be greener when he stops off in Baden-Wurttemberg, and, at the end of the week, in Bonn, where he wraps up with a UN-hosted talk on sustainable innovation, the nonprofit, nonpartisan group Consumer Watchdog said today.

"Germany has taken tougher steps directly charging utilities and oil and gas companies for their greenhouse gas pollution and protecting the environment than Governor Brown has," said consumer advocate Liza Tucker. "Jerry Brown has largely given California's oil and gas industry, and major investor-owned utilities, a free pass."

Germany has set more ambitious emissions goals than Californiaaiming for cuts of 40 percent over 1990 levels by 2020, 55 percent by 2030, and 95 percent by 2050. Jerry Brown has set emissions goals at attaining 1990 levels by 2020, 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and an 80 percent cut by 2050.

While Germany grapples with how to shutter both nuclear power plants and coal plants simultaneously, on Brown's watch, regulators okayed 15 fossil fuel-powered natural gas power plants, building in massive carbon-emitting overcapacity. California ratepayers have overpaid billions of dollars to finance this unnecessary generating capacity.

Germany became the world's solar superpower by requiring utilities to hook up solar panels and wind turbines to the grid and to buy the power back at a fixed rate with a guaranteed return. Germany generated such renewable growth that it is now dialing back on subsidies and transitioning to auctions for set amounts of green generating capacity whose price will be set by the market.

In California, major investor-owned utilities that view rooftop solar they don't control as a threat have been allowed to charge customers for hookups and to pay them less for the solar power generated. Under Brown, California's abundant potential for rooftop solar power was excluded from the state's renewable energy standard.

Germany has been tough on fracking, banning shale gas fracking through 2021, though shale could yield at least three times and perhaps up to 20 times more than what is contained in Germany's conventional natural gas reserves. Germany has not fracked in shale, clay, and coal deposits at depths of less than 3,000 meters for fear of contaminating the water supply.

Though states like New York, Vermont and Maryland have banned fracking, Brown has refused to do so, despite a majority of Californians favoring a ban until it's proven safe. The state's first fracking law dropped a moratorium on fracking until proven safe in favor of a state study. Brown has not acted on the study's conclusions that unknown and very hazardous chemicals used in fracking be banned. Brown fired two oil and gas regulators at the behest of Occidental Petroleum in 2011 for trying to make fracking and wastewater injections safer, leading to the poisoning of thousands of protected aquifers.

Germany levies a high "eco-tax" on gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and fossil fuels used to generate electricity. Those funds are used to subsidize renewable energy and to offset costs elsewhere, including to lower payroll taxes to make German workers more internationally competitive. It also forces coal-burning utilities to buy extra pollution permits on the EU's carbon trading market. Top German scientists are now pressing for a single carbon tax with breaks for lower-income households.

Governor Jerry Brown has rejected a carbon tax in favor of reliance on the state's cap-and-trade program, which has done virtually nothing to cut emissions via trading of pollution permits under a state emissions limit. Oil industry lobbying ensured that California's cap-and-trade program was extended through 2030 with so many loopholes and free permit handouts that it will continue to stay cheaper to pollute than to install emissions-cutting technology. Refineries were exempted from direct regulation of emissions.

Germany's Bundesrat, essentially that country's upper house of parliament, passed a resolution to ban the internal combustion engine in 2030. It calls on the EU to ensure that only zero-emission passenger vehicles will be approved for use on EU roads by then. The Germans want Europe to consider using taxation in addition to subsidies to make only zero-emissions cars on Europe's roads a reality. The resolution doesn't have the force of law but German regulations traditionally influence EU negotiations.

Jerry Brown caved into oil industry demands to drop a provision slashing the use of gasoline in cars in half by 2030 from SB 350legislation that dramatically increased renewable energy and efficiency standards. The transportation sector generates the most carbon emissions in California and those emissions are rising.

For more on Jerry Brown and his green report card, see:

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/12-public-interest-groups-find-governor-jerry-brown-not-so-green-lays-blame-excess-ca-el

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

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ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gibbs & Cox, Inc., a leading independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm has entered into a strategic agreement with OSD-IMT, a leading international ship designer, to offer producible, capable, and competitive vessel designs to commercial customers in U.S. market. OSD-IMT has a proven portfolio of a wide range of designs including vessels for the offshore, renewable energy, passenger transport, fishing, oceanographic research, and general cargo markets. Over 160 OSD designed vessels are in service worldwide. Under this partnership, G&C and OSD offer an expansive range of designs that are efficient to operate, maintain, and construct.

"We are delighted to enter in this synergistic partnership. OSD is a recognized leader in commercial vessel design outside of the U.S. with a diversified portfolio of vessels that have been constructed worldwide. Gibbs & Cox has over nine decades of designing vessels in the U.S. with particular experience in detail and production design of vessels constructed at U.S shipyards. The commercial market demands proven vessel designs that are efficient to build, operate, and maintain. Shipyards demand designs that are straightforward to construct based on a design package optimized to their facilities. Together with OSD, we can satisfy these requests to U.S. customers on a broader range of vessel types than before." stated Chris Deegan, President and Chief Executive of Gibbs & Cox, Inc."

"OSD is very excited about this transatlantic partnership with Gibbs & Cox and we look forward to working with them to deliver competitive and producible designs to the U.S market. Gibbs & Cox's reputation and knowledge of the U.S. market complements our own capabilities and experience demonstrated in markets outside of the U.S. Further, as the largest independent U.S. naval architectural firm, Gibbs & Cox offers the resource depth and processes to competitively execute any size project on-schedule." said Neil Patterson, Managing Director of OSD-IMT.

Gibbs & Cox will be exhibiting at this year's International Workboat Show, Booth #321 and will be co-presenting with OSD-IMT during the Shipyard Conference Program. If you would like to arrange a meeting, please contact Mark Masor at 504-265-8316, [email protected] or Geoff Dean at [email protected]

About Gibbs & Cox, Inc.

Gibbs & Cox is a global leader in maritime engineering and design, with nearly 7,000 vessels built to our designs since 1929. Gibbs & Cox supports commercial and military clients in the U.S. and internationally across all phases of marine design, construction, and lifecycle management. Independent and privately held, Gibbs & Cox is headquartered in Arlington, VA, with offices in New Orleans, LA; Chesapeake and Newport News, VA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA and Yarralumla, ACT, Australia.

About OSD-IMT

OSD-IMT Limited is a member of the Offshore Ship Designers Group which is an independent and privately owned ship design and consultancy provider. OSD-IMT specializes in the new build design, ship conversion design and consultancy for a wide range of vessel types including vessels for the offshore, renewable energy, passenger transport, fishing and general cargo markets.

OSD-IMT originates from IMT Marine Consultants, which has been operating since 1989. IMT Marine consultants joined the Offshore Ship Designers group in 2007 to strengthen its resources and provide a truly international service. OSD Group is headquartered in The Netherlands with OSD-IMT offices in Scotland, England and Singapore, and an OSD (Holland) office in The Netherlands.

SOURCE Gibbs & Cox, Inc

Related Links

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DUBLIN, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global Onshore Oil and Gas Pipeline Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global onshore oil and gas pipeline market to grow at a CAGR of 6.59% during the period 2017-2021.



Global Onshore Oil and Gas Pipeline Market 2017-2021 , has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. To calculate the market size, the report considers the new construction of pipelines and exclude operations and maintenance cost of pipelines.



According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is Rising global oil and gas demand. According to the US Energy Information Administration, global consumption of liquid fuel stood at 96.47 mbpd in 2016 compared with 86.43 mbpd in 2007. The US leads in global liquid fuel consumption with a total consumption of 19.2 mbpd, followed by China and India with 11.5 mbpd and 4.3 mbpd liquid fuel consumption, respectively.

Pipelines associated with the oil and gas business are utilized to transport a multitude of commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, and refined products over various distances. Onshore pipelines are constructed over land and may even stretch across different countries. Onshore pipelines may either be laid underground or above ground. Crude oil and natural gas are found in rock formations in the earth's crust. The depths at which oil and gas reservoirs occur can vary from a few meters to more than 40,000 feet. The valuable petroleum resources are extracted by drilling through the surface to the depths where the resources occur.





Further, the report states that one of the major factors hindering the growth of this market is Increasing use of renewable energy. Renewables have now become competitive with fossil fuels and are being used as primary sources of energy in many countries. As per the Eurostat, the share of renewables in the gross primary energy consumption in the EU nations is expected to rise by 4% during 2015-2020, owing to supportive government regulations.



In 2016, renewable energy accounted for more than 50% share of the energy mix in many countries of Europe, including Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. This is owing to the imposition of stringent emission norms by the governments all across Europe.



Market Trends



Big data analytics in oil and gas industry

Satellite-based pipeline monitoring systems

Falling raw material prices

Key vendors

BP

Gulf Interstate Engineering

Mott MacDonald

Saipem

TechnipFMC

Other prominent vendors

Appalachian Pipeline Contractors

AUDUBON COMPANIES

BARNARD

Bechtel

Burrow Global

Campos EPC

Dominion Energy

Driver Pipeline Company

ENBRIDGE

GAIL ( India )

) General Electric

Hyundai Heavy Industries

Kinder Morgan

MasTec

Michels

MPG Pipeline Contractors

PLH Group

Snelson Companies

The Williams Companies

TransCanada

WorleyParsons

Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive Summary



Part 02: Scope Of The Report



Part 03: Research Methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Market Landscape



Part 06: Market Segmentation By Application



Part 07: Regional Landscape



Part 08: Decision Framework



Part 09: Drivers And Challenges



Part 10: Market Trends



Part 11: Vendor Landscape



Part 12: Vendor Analysis



Part 13: Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vv4svs/global_onshore



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

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Waymo, must publicly release key information about its robot cars' driving records in Arizona before it turns the vehicles loose on Phoenix streets and uses passengers as human guinea pigs, Consumer Watchdog said today.

The nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group added that the most recent information required to be filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows Waymo's cars aren't ready to be deployed without drivers.

"The most recent required public 'disengagement reports' in California show Waymo's robot cars aren't ready to roam the roads without a human driver monitoring them," said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project Director. "There is no such public information in Arizona. CEO John Krafcik is simply asking us to trust him as he uses public roads as a private laboratory. That's simply not good enough."

Krafcik told the Web Summit meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, today that Waymo, which started business operating under Google's name, will start deploying robot cars in the Phoenix area without test drivers and will offer rides initially for free.

Waymo's most recent California disengagement reports released earlier this year show that its robot cars aren't ready to be turned loose on our highway, Consumer Watchdog said. The required reports show Google's Waymo robot technology failed 124 times in 635,868 miles. Waymo said disengagements declined from 341 in 2015 to 124 in 2016, or 0.8 per 1,000 miles compared to 0.2 per 1,000 miles. While there has been an improvement, the reports show the robots simply aren't ready to be released to roam our roads without human drivers, Consumer Watchdog said.

"Putting robot cars on public roads without any kind of driver's license amounts to giving the manufacturer a license to kill," said Simpson.

Consumer Watchdog expressed concern that Waymo is following Silicon Valley's tradition of releasing software in "beta" or test mode and then tweaking it while it's being used. "That's one thing, when you're talking about Gmail and maybe losing an email or two," said Simpson. "It's the wrong approach when you're dealing with self-driving cars. When things go wrong with a robot car, you kill people."

Consumer Watchdog said that autonomous vehicles raise a host of safety, ethical and other public policy issues, which Waymo has not adequately addressed.

"The public has right to know what programming decisions have been made in the robot car's software, for instance, who gets priority in a crash? Is it the passengers or a pedestrian?" said Simpson. "How often does the robot technology fail? How many jobs will it steal? The public deserves answers. 'Trust us, we're Google's Waymo,' simply doesn't suffice."

Visit our website at www.consumerwatchdog.org,

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

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NEW YORK CITY, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

BUFFERZONE Security, a provider of next-generation endpoint security solutions protecting organizations from advanced threats including ransomware, zero-days and phishing scams, and Gotham Technology Group, a leading technology solutions provider in the Northeastern United States, announced today a partnership to provide BUFFERZONE's patented virtual-container security solution to Gotham's customer-base, enhancing Gotham's endpoint security offering.

Through this agreement, Gotham will promote BUFFERZONE's security solutions to organizations in the Northeastern United States, including cybersecurity consulting, on-site configuration, support, technical training and installation as well as marketing activities. BUFFERZONE and Gotham are both McAfee partners.

BUFFERZONE protects organizations from a wide range of threats with patented containment, bridging and intelligence technologies. Instead of blocking, BUFFERZONE isolates potentially malicious content from web browsers, email and removable storage in a virtual container that keeps the application separate from real memory, registry, files and network resources of the computer. BUFFERZONE maximizes user productivity with seamless, unrestricted access to information, while empowering IT with a simple, lightweight and cost-effective solution for up to thousands of endpoints within and beyond the corporate network.

Gotham has more than 20 years of experience providing technology solutions to IT professionals at Fortune 500 companies and partners with the world's leading technology firms. Additionally, Gotham's clients include several global financial services companies. With sales offices in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, Gotham serves clients based throughout the Northeastern United States, and delivers goods and services across the globe.

"We are proud to be associated with a veteran service and technology provider such as Gotham Technology Group," said Israel Levy, the CEO of BUFFERZONE. "As BUFFERZONE continues to expand its global footprint, partnering with companies such as Gotham is going to be vital to our continued success."

"Today, we are witnessing ransomware, phishing and other APTs on an unprecedented scale," said Ken Phelan, CTO of Gotham Technology Group. "We are not only confident BUFFERZONE will help protect our base, but the company's technology will also increase productivity without increasing the risks associated with the connection to the Internet."

About BUFFERZONE



BUFFERZONE endpoint security solutions protect enterprises from advanced threats including ransomware, zero-days, phishing scams and APTs. With cutting-edge containment, bridging and intelligence, BUFFERZONE gives employees seamless access to Internet applications, mail and removable storage - while keeping the enterprise safe. Learn more at bufferzonesecurity.com . Follow BUFFERZONE on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

2017 BUFFERZONE Security Ltd. All rights reserved. BUFFERZONE is a registered trademark of BUFFERZONE Security Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Gotham Technology Group



Gotham Technology Group, LLC is a technology solutions provider that specializes in innovative infrastructure solutions. We build agile solutions that enhance the business value of our clients' technology investments by delivering IT as a service. We enable secure access to applications, from any location, at any time, on any device.

With sales offices in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, we serve clients based throughout the northeastern United States; and deliver goods and services across the globe. For more information, visit http://www.gothamtg.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gothamtg.

Media Contacts:

Tamar Shmaryahu

GKPR BUFFERZONE Security

+972-58-582-6277

[email protected]



Steve Kilcoyne

Gotham Technology Group

+1-201-474-4245

[email protected]

SOURCE Gotham Technology Group and BUFFERZONE
"Grady's success as Hospital of the Year is a testament to the accomplished leadership and talented health professionals who work there every day on behalf of Atlanta. Grady has a commitment to exploring health IT and growing the industry here," said Kornelius Bankston, director of Bioscience Ecosystem Expansion, Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Grady leverages an integrated EMR and many innovative technologies to provide high quality care. Through actionable analytics and guided pathways, patients are benefitting. The hospital's advanced use of technology and data is making a real difference in patient care and leading to better patient outcomes. The effective combination of world class people and technology has driven clinical quality and financial improvements throughout the organization.

"Grady is honored to be named health IT hospital of the year. Receiving the Phoenix Award validates that we are among the best when it comes to advancing patient care through IT," said Ben McKeeby, senior vice president and chief information officer, Grady Health System.

About Grady Health System

Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed emergency medical services, Grady has Atlanta's premier Level I trauma center - Metro Atlanta's only nationally verified Level 1 center - and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. Grady's American Burn Association/American College of Surgeons verified Burn Center is one of only two in the state. And the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center is a Joint Commission designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Other key services/distinctions include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center with its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgia's first Cancer Center for Excellence, The Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center - one of the top HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country. Grady is one of an elite group of hospitals to earn the Baby-Friendly USA international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility. In 2017, Grady earned the prestigious Stage 7 on the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, becoming Georgia's first adult acute care hospital to earn the highest rating for improving patient care and safety through health information technology.

SOURCE Grady Health System

Related Links

https://www.gradyhealth.org/


SAN FRANCISCO, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Grand View Research Inc., announces the launch of 'The Grand Library', a BI enabled intuitive market intelligence database. The Grand Library is a comprehensive database of market research reports, company profiles, country level reports & newsletters. With business intelligence, as the centerpiece of this product, it is set to be a one-stop market research solution, for any entity ranging from a manufacturer to an investor.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371361LOGO )



Shashi Kumar, the CEO of Grand View Research Inc. says, "We are one of the fastest growing market research and consulting firms in the market. We have identified trust & ROI are the two most important buying criteria at the moment. The Grand Library is a platform which is going to cater both owing to the fact that a paid subscription is only going to be subsequent to a free trial to the complete platform."

Swayam Dash, the Managing Director of Grand View Research Inc. adds, "The duration of the free trial is going to be seven days. During which, the client will be granted unlimited access to the platform. The clients will get to read our reports for free and only then make a purchase decision."

Below are some notable features of this platform :

The Grand Library is a holistic and flexible market research database and is designed to provide the users with a complete experience

More often than not, market research reports, include details on the final outcomes and fail to provide details of multiple processes & data points which go into the formulation of conclusions

The Grand Library, apart from comprising a large set of market research reports, also includes access to all these processes & associated market variables, micro & macro factors

The platform includes global market reports, country reports, company profiles, a database of market variables (drivers and restraints) & newsletters.

The platform is the most cost-effective, as clients will only have to pay for the market research reports and not for the rest of the aforementioned features

Last but the most important factor is that the platform is completely customizable. The clients have complete authority to personalize the platform, by adding, deleting or modifying features

To request a free seven day trial, please visit: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/grand-library

About Grand View Research Inc.

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company is A+ BBB accredited market research company and provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services.

Contact:

Steve Cooper

BI Sales Specialist

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/







SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
PALM DESERT, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The third annual Growing Together Latino Farmer Conference is being held today, in Palm Desert, Calif. The annual conference is unique in that it is conducted in Spanish and translated into English, as needed for all attendees.

"I am happy to know that the USDA has taken the initiative to create a conference for Spanish speaking farmers and I hope it will continue to grow," said Enrique Bautista, a farmer and the conference keynote speaker.

Hosted by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the conference is open to all farmers and ranchers, yet is uniquely tailored towards Spanish-speaking growers. Conducting the conference in Spanish will provide an enriched learning experience.

"Hispanic farmers and ranchers are a dynamic growing demographic in California and this conference aims to help Spanish-speaking farmers share, learn and grow in their native language," said Curtis Tarver, NRCS acting state conservationist.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. today at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center, located at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, CA. Attendees had to register in advance, as space was limited.

Three different workshops are following the opening keynote address by Bautista. The Bautista family of Mecca, Calif., grows organic dates and sells them in their store, at local farmers markets and online. The courses are held in two 90-minute blocks. This allows each attendee to choose two different subjects of interest throughout the day. The workshop topics cover: Access to Capital and USDA Resources; Soil Health; Efficient Use of Water; Food Safety Requirements; Regulations for Farmworker Health and Safety; and Marketing. The conference will conclude today with a farmer panel representing a diverse cross section of California agriculture.

In-person or over-the-phone interviews with organizers and attendees are still available today by calling Jonathan Groveman at (703) 980-1464.

NCAT, a nonprofit, has been promoting sustainable living for over 35 years. In recent years, their agriculture work has focused on small-scale intensive farming, urban farming, and local foods, and assistance to small farmers and beginning farmers and ranchers.

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Related Links

http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo GDI, one of the leading real estate development companies in Mexico, today signed a letter of intent and an exclusive agreement with the Oberoi Group of India to develop the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in the US, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Oberoi Hotels have established a reputation for redefining the paradigm of luxury and excellence in service around the world and this partnership with Grupo GDI will allow the Oberoi Hotels to make its debut in the Americas and expand the global reach of its award-winning luxury hotels. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts was voted "Best Hotel Brand" during the World's Best Awards by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine for two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016.

"We are delighted to partner with Grupo GDI to bring the Oberoi brand to the Americas," said Mr. PRS Oberoi, Executive Chairman of The Oberoi Group. "We look forward to bringing Oberoi's distinct culture of personalized service and commitment to excellence to the region, expanding its global footprint in select destinations."

Grupo GDI has already secured the sites for the first two Oberoi properties and a formal announcement with more details is anticipated by early 2018. Grupo GDI will handle all aspects of real estate ownership and development while the Oberoi Group will be responsible for branding and management. GDI estimates to invest approximately US$100 million in each of these two properties.

"For us, it is an honor to begin this journey with the Oberoi Group to bring its one of a kind hospitality to the Americas," said Simon Galante, CEO of Grupo GDI. "The combination of Oberoi Group's legendary service with unique locations in the Americas will, without a doubt, result in long-awaited and unparalleled experiences in the region."

About Grupo GDI

For more than 25 years, Grupo GDI has been one of the leading real estate development companies in Mexico. Grupo GDI is comprised of four divisions  retail, hospitality, leisure, and luxury residential. Based in Mexico City, Grupo GDI has become an industry leader, offering integral solutions in real estate, redefining the concepts of world-class comfort, quality and exclusivity in the marketplace.

About The Oberoi Group

The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, operates more than twenty luxury hotels across the world under the luxury 'The Oberoi' brand. The Group's commitment to excellence, attention to detail and personalized service has ensured a loyal list of guests and accolades in the worldwide hospitality industry.

The Oberoi Group's recent accolades include being voted World's Best Hotel Brand by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore, The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur has been voted the World's Best Hotel Overall and ranked first in the Top Resorts in Asia category for five consecutive years.

In the World Travel Awards, the Oberoi Group was recognized as the World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand during 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and Asia's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand during 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.

Media Contact

Gracia Larrain

[email protected]

305.205.5270

SOURCE Grupo GDI
LONDON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- H/2 Capital Partners today announced that certain of its affiliated investment funds (together, "H/2") have responded to the proposal by Four Seasons Health Care of a high-leverage restructuring plan supported by Four Seasons' private equity sponsor (the "High Leverage Sponsor Plan"). Taking into account the interests of a broader group of Four Seasons stakeholders, we today conveyed to Four Seasons a stakeholder plan (the "Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan") reflecting major improvements to the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, including substantially lower leverage. Via a consensual restructuring, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan creates fundamental improvements in Four Seasons' operational and financial stability to benefit its residents, their families, its employees, local communities and other important government and private stakeholders.

Today's announcement of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan comes three weeks after the Notes Issuers' announcement of the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. We believe that key stakeholders (including but not limited to H/2) were not made aware of the High Leverage Sponsor Plan prior to its October 17, 2017 announcement. H/2 believes that the Group's creditors also include U.K. institutions.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan reflects our continued preference for a consensual solution with the Group's existing private equity sponsor. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan accomplishes this by making necessary and substantial improvements to the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan achieves key stakeholder objectives, including stabilising Four Seasons' operations, improving its governance and significantly reducing its leverage  all for the overriding purpose of ensuring continuity and quality of care for its residents, over both the short and long term.

Spencer B. Haber, H/2's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"Like a broad group of its stakeholders, H/2 looks forward to helping Four Seasons Health Care begin a new chapter. We firmly believe that with the right stewardship, enterprises like Four Seasons best serve their investors when they best serve their residents. Responsible private capital understands the primacy of resident care and peace-of-mind for their families.

Four Seasons' dedicated managers and employees are more than capable of setting an example here, right across the social care community. While we share a mission with these talented individuals, it is their role  and not ours  that holds the consequence and the challenge. We just need to do the easy part, which is to enable them by providing the bedrock of financial stability, aligned incentives, and a fair cost of capital that enables the Group to carry out the solemn responsibility of caring for 17,000 vulnerable people.

As H/2 helps Four Seasons conclusively turn the page on a challenging period, we look forward to a new approach to governance, financial stability and a re-energised workforce. We would like the Group's stakeholders to know that we measure the success of these and other initiatives by their impact on advancing our highest priority for Four Seasons  providing high-quality care to the residents and families we are honoured to serve."

Baroness Margaret Ford, Former Chair of Barchester Healthcare Limited, said:

"The plan for stakeholders put forward today by H/2 Capital Partners provides stability for Four Seasons Health Care, its residents, their families and its employees. If implemented, it should ensure the long-term sustainability of this important care provider.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan comes as a very constructive step forward and at a crucial juncture for Four Seasons Health Care, strengthening oversight of the Group. As I have personally observed across our working relationship, H/2 Capital Partners understands the special nature of our social care system and Four Seasons' important place in it. I am confident the financial stability brought about by H/2's proposed capital commitments, alongside the appointment of senior and experienced care professionals to the Board, give Four Seasons' management team the tools they need to deliver the highest-quality care.

This plan places quality and continuity of care at its heart. I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders in the coming weeks to put it into action."

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan: Highlights

H/2's Investment Helps Four Seasons Begin a New Chapter: The scale of H/2's financial support reflects its long-term commitment to residents, their families, the Group, its employees, and its broader stakeholders in government and elsewhere. Even prior to its additional commitment, we believe that the current value of H/2's investment in the Group exceeds that of the Group's legacy shareholders.

The scale of H/2's financial support reflects its long-term commitment to residents, their families, the Group, its employees, and its broader stakeholders in government and elsewhere. Even prior to its additional commitment, we believe that the current value of H/2's investment in the Group exceeds that of the Group's legacy shareholders. Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Significantly Increases Four Seasons' Equity Capital: In addition to providing new cash equity, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan converts to equity all of Four Seasons' Senior Notes. Investment funds affiliated with H/2 hold the substantial majority of the Senior Notes. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan's debt-for-equity swap represents a substantially larger equity conversion and debt reduction than the High Leverage Sponsor Plan.

In addition to providing new cash equity, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan converts to equity all of Four Seasons' Senior Notes. Investment funds affiliated with H/2 hold the substantial majority of the Senior Notes. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan's debt-for-equity swap represents a substantially larger equity conversion and debt reduction than the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Substantially Reduces Leverage: The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan's new cash equity commitment and debt-for-equity conversion result in a significant 247 million reduction in the Group's total debt, as compared to an inadequate 77 million reduction in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan's new cash equity commitment and debt-for-equity conversion result in a significant 247 million reduction in the Group's total debt, as compared to an inadequate 77 million reduction in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Eliminates "PIK" Debt Risks in High Leverage Sponsor Plan: The High Leverage Sponsor Plan includes PIK interest accruals on the Group's higher debt levels. PIK provisions risk even further increases in debt over time. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan eliminates the PIK interest structure included in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan.

The High Leverage Sponsor Plan includes PIK interest accruals on the Group's higher debt levels. PIK provisions risk even further increases in debt over time. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan eliminates the PIK interest structure included in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Leverage Gap Further Widens Over Time: We believe that the High Leverage Sponsor Plan's structure and significantly higher leverage lead to an even larger increase in risk over time. Overlaying the High Leverage Sponsor Plan with the Group's own operating projections (which it publicly released on February 28, 2017 ), we estimate that by 2019, Four Seasons' leverage levels under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan would be more than double those under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, using the same operating projections. (Please note that these figures reflect estimates based on publicly-available information.)

We believe that the High Leverage Sponsor Plan's structure and significantly higher leverage lead to an even larger increase in risk over time. Overlaying the High Leverage Sponsor Plan with the Group's own operating projections (which it publicly released on ), we estimate that by 2019, Four Seasons' leverage levels under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan would be more than double those under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, using the same operating projections. (Please note that these figures reflect estimates based on publicly-available information.) New Cash Equity for Resident Home Improvement: The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan includes 25 million of new cash equity, of which H/2 has proposed to commit 100%, set aside to improve Four Seasons' homes for residents.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan includes 25 million of new cash equity, of which H/2 has proposed to commit 100%, set aside to improve Four Seasons' homes for residents. New Cash Equity for Employee Reward Programme: The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan includes 15 million of new cash equity, of which H/2 has proposed to commit 100%, set aside to fund a new reward programme for Four Seasons' caring and talented workforce, from management through to its home managers and other employees.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan includes 15 million of new cash equity, of which H/2 has proposed to commit 100%, set aside to fund a new reward programme for Four Seasons' caring and talented workforce, from management through to its home managers and other employees. Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Grants 10% Direct Equity Interest to Workforce: To further recognise employees' critical role in any successful social care enterprise, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan grants to Four Seasons' management and employees a full 10% equity interest in the Group following implementation of the plan. Based on preliminary enterprise value estimates in the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, this represents 35 million of prospective value.

To further recognise employees' critical role in any successful social care enterprise, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan grants to Four Seasons' management and employees a full 10% equity interest in the Group following implementation of the plan. Based on preliminary enterprise value estimates in the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, this represents 35 million of prospective value. High Leverage Sponsor Plan Purports to Contribute Assets That Are Already Pledged: In the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, Four Seasons purports to contribute the value of assets which, pursuant to certain deeds of accession, already inures for the benefit of the Group. Four Seasons is separately seeking rectification of those deeds of accession in legal proceedings in the English High Court.

In the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, Four Seasons purports to contribute the value of assets which, pursuant to certain deeds of accession, already inures for the benefit of the Group. Four Seasons is separately seeking rectification of those deeds of accession in legal proceedings in the English High Court. Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Lowers Interest Rate and Lengthens Maturity on Remaining Group Debt: On the Group debt retained by Existing SSN Noteholders (including H/2), the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan proposes a lower interest rate than the interest rate already offered by the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Despite the fact that H/2 currently holds a majority of the Group's outstanding Senior Secured Notes, under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, H/2 proposes that these same Notes will receive a lower interest rate and carry a longer maturity date than under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. These changes provide greater financial stability for the Group than under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Furthermore, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan eliminates the "PIK" interest included in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. H/2 believes that when combined with the other aspects of the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, the "PIK" interest structure increases risks to the Group.

On the Group debt retained by Existing SSN Noteholders (including H/2), the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan proposes a lower interest rate than the interest rate already offered by the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Despite the fact that H/2 currently holds a majority of the Group's outstanding Senior Secured Notes, under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, H/2 proposes that these same Notes will receive a lower interest rate and carry a longer maturity date than under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. These changes provide greater financial stability for the Group than under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Furthermore, the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan eliminates the "PIK" interest included in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. H/2 believes that when combined with the other aspects of the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, the "PIK" interest structure increases risks to the Group. Best Practices Governance: Under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, the new Board of Directors will be comprised of nine members, a majority of which will be independent, with a focus on individuals with healthcare, public policy and operational experience. Baroness Margaret Ford is expected to serve as the Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. Baroness Ford has been a member of the House of Lords since June 2006 , and was formerly Chair of Barchester Healthcare Limited. She is currently Chair of STV Group. The new Board will also appoint critical new oversight committees, such as a Quality of Care Committee to support management in its efforts to deliver the highest quality of care to residents. We are optimistic that the reconstituted Board of Directors and the management team can together chart a course to enhance operating excellence, care quality and resident satisfaction.

Under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, the new Board of Directors will be comprised of nine members, a majority of which will be independent, with a focus on individuals with healthcare, public policy and operational experience. Baroness is expected to serve as the Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. Baroness Ford has been a member of the House of Lords since , and was formerly Chair of Barchester Healthcare Limited. She is currently Chair of STV Group. The new Board will also appoint critical new oversight committees, such as a Quality of Care Committee to support management in its efforts to deliver the highest quality of care to residents. We are optimistic that the reconstituted Board of Directors and the management team can together chart a course to enhance operating excellence, care quality and resident satisfaction. H/2 Opens Participation in Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan to Existing Stakeholders and Independent Third Parties: While it proposes to backstop 100% of the new equity funding in the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan to help ensure the plan's success, H/2 has invited existing stakeholders to participate in the investment of new equity, should they choose. This includes the Group's existing private equity sponsor.

In addition, H/2 is open to considering proposals from independent third parties unaffiliated with the Group who wish to participate.

In connection with its proposed backstop commitment, H/2 has offered to forego any of the fees that customarily accompany lender backstops and/or commitments per market convention for such transactions. Backstopping the entire 135 million of new cash equity while seeking no commitment fees from the Group or other stakeholders, H/2 has further proposed what it regards as an extraordinary offer of assistance to the Group's existing private equity sponsor. Specifically, H/2 proposes to give the private equity sponsor the option of increasing the sponsor's equity ownership in the deleveraged Group that results from the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan. Under H/2's proposal, the private equity sponsor may elect to fund up to 45 million of the 135 million in new cash that H/2 would backstop and otherwise commit to the Group.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan also treats minority holders of the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Notes identically to H/2 (H/2 holds the substantial majority of the Senior Secured Notes and over 75% of the Senior Notes). In the case of the other Senior Noteholders, as with the Group's existing private equity sponsor, H/2 proposes to offer them the choice, but not the obligation, of participating in the new equity funding (that H/2 proposes to back-stop for no additional consideration).

In all cases, should the private equity sponsor or other Senior Noteholders choose not to fund any additional cash for the benefit of the Group, H/2 has proposed that it backstop and therefore fund 100% of the cash requirement itself. H/2 believes the fact that it is not seeking any fees, special terms or other consideration for its commitment to backstop the new equity funding is rare under the circumstances, and provides the Group with an increased level of certainty at a lower cost.

Key Provisions of Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Form An Integrated Whole: The terms of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan form a carefully considered and integrated whole. Each of the significant individual elements of the plan is dependent on its other elements. For example, the equity conversion for the Senior Notes, the amended terms for the Senior Secured Notes, and the preliminary enterprise valuations considered in the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan  each is inextricable from the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan's provisions regarding the Group's leverage, governance, equity control and voting, cash reserves for investments in care homes and employee incentives, and a number of other critical elements of the proposal.

High Leverage Sponsor Plan: Risks of Completion and Implementation

For the reasons detailed above, we believe that the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan carries significantly less ongoing risk to the Four Seasons enterprise than the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Moreover, we believe that the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan also has substantially less completion risk than the High Leverage Sponsor Plan. Some of the major reasons we believe this to be the case include:

High Leverage Sponsor Plan Likely to Lack Sufficient Creditor Support

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan can be implemented on a consensual basis without the need for any administration or insolvency process, while the High Leverage Sponsor Plan is likely to lack sufficient creditor support. To implement a scheme of arrangement and avoid the risk of a non-consensual outcome, both the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan and the High Leverage Sponsor Plan require support from creditors representing 75% in value of each of the two classes of creditors (namely, the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Notes). H/2 owns a substantial majority of the Senior Secured Notes and over 75% of the Senior Notes. As such, if H/2 does not support the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, it is unlikely to satisfy the voting thresholds required for scheme approval. On the other hand, if the Group agrees to propose the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan to creditors, H/2 believes it has a high likelihood of approval.

High Leverage Sponsor Plan Proposes a Risky Leasehold Estate Restructuring

We believe that the leasehold estate restructuring proposed in the High Leverage Sponsor Plan exposes Four Seasons to risks regarding continuity of care and operational stability. Under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan, we understand that leasehold operating companies whose landlords have not consented to revised lease terms are proposed to be left behind in a "Transition Group" whose oversight is unclear.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is not contingent on a restructuring of any leases with the Group's landlords. While the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is not subject to any leasehold estate restructurings, H/2 has substantial in-house expertise in property lease restructurings and modifications that it believes would materially benefit the Four Seasons management team and new Board of Directors in developing and completing lease restructurings. In this regard, H/2 has spent considerable time independently assessing a restructuring of Four Seasons' property leases.

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Retains and Incentivises Four Seasons Management

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is not subject to any changes in Four Seasons' management or employees. H/2 is excited at the prospect of working together with the Four Seasons team, and looks forward to a long and rewarding collaboration.

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Capital Commitment Not Subject to Financing Contingencies

Under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan, H/2 is fully prepared to fund the entire 135 million backstop commitment should no other parties elect to participate. The H/2 investment funds have sufficient unrestricted cash to do so. H/2 backstop proposal is not subject to any other financing contingencies.

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Reflects Extensive Work Done to Date

H/2 has, over a considerable period of time, undertaken significant work to fully understand the nature of the Group's business and its operations. To this end, H/2 has conducted extensive independent due diligence and has worked with numerous advisers (both financial and operational) to formulate plans that ensure the continuity of care.

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan: Interest Deferral and Engagement

H/2 has offered to defer the semi-annual interest due to be paid on the Senior Secured Notes and Senior Notes on December 15, 2017. H/2 is offering a deferral of interest in order to reassure stakeholders and provide time to implement the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan.

To facilitate the Group's interest deferral, H/2 has provided the Group with a draft deferral and forbearance agreement running through March 1, 2018.

We have also provided the Group with a simple, one-page extension to the non-disclosure agreement previously executed by both parties in September 2016 (which has since lapsed, but which can be reinstated with a simple extension letter). We have made clear to the Group that we are prepared to execute the extension letter immediately in order to receive updated due diligence materials and negotiate detailed transaction documentation.

Implementation of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is subject to confirmatory due diligence typical for transactions of this nature (including financial, tax and legal due diligence) and the receipt of any required stakeholder, regulatory and other governmental approvals. H/2, together with its advisers, stands ready to complete confirmatory due diligence quickly and efficiently.

Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan: Next Steps

We stand ready to immediately work with Four Seasons and its advisers to complete the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan. Over multiple years, H/2 has maintained a substantial investment in the Group. As detailed above, we consider the risks and conditions to implementation of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan to be modest and manageable over an abbreviated period, whilst we believe the High Leverage Sponsor Plan carries significantly greater risk of failure. H/2, as well as its extensive group of professional and individual healthcare advisers, have devoted substantial time and resources to Four Seasons stakeholder communications, business and legal preparations, operating plans and related work.

Under our improved plan for stakeholders, we believe that Four Seasons' residents, families, employees and other important constituents can look forward to a secure future. To that end, we would like to engage with the Group as soon as possible. We and our advisors are available to meet with the Group and its advisors at any time and location that is most convenient for the Group. Given the importance of the matter, we have taken the liberty of clearing our schedules from 8:30 am onward every day this week, so that we can immediately begin work toward implementation.

Stakeholder Enquiries

Stakeholders and other interested parties should contact Matthew Prest ([email protected]) or Stephen Aulsebrook ([email protected]) at Moelis & Company UK LLP regarding the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan.

In addition to Moelis, we are advised by Weil, Gotshal & Manages (London) LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Blake Morgan LLP.

About H/2 Capital Partners

H/2 Capital Partners is an institutional investment manager that has completed over $40 billion of investments since its inception, including approximately $3.8 billion in healthcare. H/2 invests on behalf of leading institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign funds, insurance companies, foundations, and other institutions globally. H/2 has a track record of working constructively with both private and publicly-listed companies in the U.K. and elsewhere to create financial stability and encourage long-term success for those businesses.

Media Enquiries





WA Communications H/2 Capital Partners



Dominic Church Ashvin B. Rao Mobile: +44 (0)7903 112 909 680 Washington Boulevard Direct dial: +44 (0)20 7227 1646 Stamford, CT 06901, U.S.A.

Dial: +1 203 569 4000 Stan Jackson Email: [email protected] Mobile: +44 (0)7934 853 204

Direct dial: +44 (0)20 7227 1640





Email: [email protected]



Annex 1

A Superior Proposal for Four Seasons, its Residents and Employees



High Leverage Sponsor Plan Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan Debt Reduction 77m(1) 247m(2) Leverage Ratio(3) 74% 46% PIK Interest Yes No Interest Rate on Senior Secured Notes 8.75% 7.00% Maturity for Senior Secured Notes June 2021 June 2023 New Cash Equity 0m 135m Portion for Care Home Improvements 0m 25m Portion for Employee Incentive Plan 0m 15m

Notes:

1) Assumes current debt at the Group as of June 30, 2017 includes 40 million super senior term loan, 350 million Senior Secured Notes, 175 million Senior Notes and 32 million of net debt at brighterkind (CB) Limited. These amounts are based on Elli Investments Limited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (as posted on Four Seasons' Investor Relations website) and the Group announcement dated October 17, 2017. Assumes proposed debt under the High Leverage Sponsor Plan includes 40 million super senior term loan, 420 million Senior Secured Notes and 60 million Senior Notes. These amounts are based on the Group announcement dated October 17, 2017.

2) Assumes Group debt as of June 30, 2017 as described in Note 2 above. Proposed debt under the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is 350 million.

3) Reflects net debt (debt minus cash), divided by preliminary enterprise value estimates.

Annex 2

Key Terms of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan

The key terms of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan include:

New Capital Investment

Certain investment funds affiliated with H/2 have agreed to backstop 100% of 135 million in new cash equity capital to be invested in the Group, of which 25 million will fund resident home improvements and 15 million will fund an employee incentive plan.

Four Seasons' legacy private equity sponsor will be offered the opportunity to invest up to 45 million of the 135 million in new cash equity received by the Group. In addition, each holder of the existing Senior Notes (the "Existing SN Noteholders") will have the opportunity to fund its share of the 135 million in new cash equity. However, H/2 is proposing to backstop the entire 135 million such that the plan's completion will not depend on new equity funds from other holders or the private equity sponsor.

Corporate Governance

The reconstituted Board of Directors will consist of nine directors, a majority of which will be independent. One director will be appointed by Four Seasons' existing private equity sponsor, and one director will be a member of the existing management team. Two directors will be appointed by Existing SN Noteholders exchanging into equity and funding new cash.

We currently expect that the new Board's composition will include greater participation from professionals with experience in the social care and public policy sectors.

Senior Secured Notes

The holders of the existing Senior Secured Notes (the "Existing SSN Noteholders" and, together with the Existing SN Noteholders, the "Existing Noteholders") will exchange the 350 million Senior Secured Notes for new senior secured notes with a principal amount of 350 million (the "New SSNs").

The New SSNs will bear a stated coupon of 7.00% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash, and will mature 5.5 years following the implementation of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan.

The New SSNs will have a guarantee and first ranking security package granted by the Group, with first ranking mortgages on all owned facilities.

Equity Ownership

Existing SN Noteholders will receive a 40% equity interest in the Group, as restructured, following the exchange of their Senior Notes.

The Existing SN Noteholders will receive the right to purchase up to an additional 39% of the equity by funding their share of the 135 million new cash equity capital to be invested in the Group. The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan provides the Group's existing private equity sponsor with the option to increase its equity ownership by funding up to 45 million of the 135 million, if it so chooses. The up to 39% interest purchased by Existing SN Noteholders will be reduced by any portion of the up to 45 million that the existing private equity sponsor elects to fund.

These ownership percentages reflect 10% dilution from the direct equity interest granted by the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan to the Four Seasons workforce. The remaining equity interest of 11% will be held by the existing private equity sponsor, subject to its full support of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan.

Other Secured Debt

The existing 40 million super senior term loan will be repaid in full.

External debt of the brighterkind (CB) group of companies (net debt of 32 million) will be repaid in full.

Cash Reserves

Certain investment funds affiliated with H/2 have agreed to backstop 100% of 135 million in new cash equity capital to be invested in the Group, of which 25 million will be allocated across the relevant regulatory jurisdictions to fund resident home improvements and 15 million will fund an employee reward programme.

Implementation and Other Considerations

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is not contingent on a restructuring of any leases with the Group's landlords. While the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan is not subject to any leasehold estate restructurings, H/2 has substantial in-house expertise in property lease restructurings and modifications that it believes would materially benefit the Four Seasons management team and new Board of Directors in developing and completing lease restructurings.

The Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan will be implemented via schemes of arrangement, new share issuance and the exchange of Senior Secured Notes and Senior Notes as provided above.

Notices and Interpretation

Definitions

In this announcement, references to the "Group" or "Four Seasons" or the "Company" include FSHC Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, including brighterkind (PC) Limited and the Notes Issuers. The "Notes Issuers" are Elli Investments Limited and Elli Finance (UK) plc. Financial metrics for the Group in this press release include figures for Elli Investments Limited and brighterkind (CB) Limited. "Enterprise values" for purposes of a restructuring are here preliminary estimates and will be finalised following due diligence.

Certain Plan Assumptions

While we intend to conduct confirmatory due diligence as is customary in transactions of this type, we currently assume implementation on December 31, 2017; Group EBITDA of 76.8 million (for the 12 months ended June 30, 2017); and a Group cash balance of approximately 35 million prior to implementation of the Low Leverage Stakeholder Plan.

Notices

THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

The terms set out in this announcement are not exhaustive and do not constitute an offer. This announcement is not intended to be legally binding and remains subject to due diligence, tax input, local law advice, satisfactory documentation and other matters.

This announcement includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws of certain applicable jurisdictions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Group's future financial condition and performance, results of operations and liquidity, and our strategy, plans, objectives and targets. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual outcomes may differ materially from (and be more negative than) those made in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. In addition, even if the actual outcomes are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those outcomes may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are only made as at the date of this announcement and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to publicly update or publicly revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This announcement has been prepared by H/2 on the basis of publicly-available information. This information has not been independently verified by H/2 or any member of the H/2 group or any of their respective agents, as defined below. No liability whatsoever is accepted and no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is or will be made by H/2, any member of the H/2 group or any of their respective agents (including, without limitation, their shareholders, partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, representatives or other agents) for any information or any of the views contained herein (including, without limitation, the accuracy or achievability of any estimates, forecasts or projections) or for any errors, omissions or misstatements herein. Neither H/2, nor any member of the H/2 group, nor any of their respective agents makes or has authorised to be made any representations or warranties (express or implied) in relation to the matters contained herein or as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of this document, or any associated written or oral statement provided. Only those representations and warranties which are made in any definitive agreement(s), which will not contain any representations, warranties or undertakings as to this document, shall have any legal effect.

This communication is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities discussed herein have not been registered, and there is no present intention to register them, under the securities laws of any jurisdictions. In particular, the securities discussed herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws.

This communication is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information contained in any offering memorandum or prospectus relating to the securities discussed herein.

The content of this announcement is provided for information purposes only and is not investment advice. This communication is not an invitation or an inducement to engage in investment activity, and is solely intended to communicate the views of H/2 regarding the restructuring proposal made by the Group and to set out a proposal for an alternative plan.

ISIN: XS0794786011 / ISIN: XS0794785633

ISIN: XS0794787415 / ISIN: XS0794787175

SOURCE H/2 Capital Partners
PUERTO CORTES, Honduras, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At a dedication ceremony for the new Honduran ship Gracias a Dios, President Juan Orlando Hernandez announced that crime in Honduras plunged to its lowest level in a decade this past October.

"We are making strides in crime reduction previously thought impossible," President Hernandez said. "Gracias a Dios will help us continue to fight and win our war on crime."

At a dedication ceremony for the new Honduran ship Gracias a Dios, President Juan Orlando Hernandez announced that crime in Honduras plunged to its lowest level in a decade this past October.

Gracias a Dios is a logistical support and coastal vessel designed to fight drug, currency, and human trafficking in the Atlantic. The ship is the product of a bilateral agreement between Honduras and Colombia. It was built in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with input from the Honduran government.

President Hernandez said that Gracias a Dios will be used for humanitarian aid and crime prevention, not military exercises. The ship is fully equipped with the latest maritime technology and can sail for 40 days without returning to port.

During the ceremony, Colombian Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas pledged to help Honduras continue making strides in regional security. "[Building this ship] was not a military act, but one of brotherhood, unity, and commitment," he said.

Minister Villegas added that Honduras's lower crime rate is "good news for Hondurans, of course, but it's also good news for the region, for Latin America."

Gracias a Dios will make its first voyage to La Mosquitia in eastern Honduras to provide social assistance and deter crime.

"Organized crime and drug trafficking have no place in Honduras," President Hernandez said. "With resources like Gracias a Dios at our disposal, my administration will keep working to make Honduras a safer place for our citizens."

Media Contact

Andrew Grafton

(202)-471-4228 ext. 119

[email protected]

www.keybridgecommunications.com

SOURCE Republic of Honduras
AUSTIN, Minn., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced it has been recognized by Forbes on its World's Best Employers 2017 list.

"On behalf of our 20,000 team members, we are honored to be recognized as one of the best employers in the world," said Jim Snee, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "The creativity, innovation and continual growth of our employees is crucial to our company's future. That's why we invest in our people and strive for a culture that is consistently recognized for our commitment to our employees and the communities where we live and work."

The Forbes World's Best Employers list is based on Forbes' 2017 Global 2000 rankings, which featured public companies from 58 countries that together accounted for $35.3 trillion in revenue. Forbes partnered with Statista to compile the list in which more than 360,000 global recommendations were analyzed. Employees were asked to rate their own employer and the likelihood they would recommend the company to a friend or family member. They were also asked to recommend other employers they admired.

"This recognition is a testament to our outstanding team and culture," said Janet Hogan, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. "We are extremely proud to be a company that genuinely cares about its people and customers."

Hormel Foods was also recently recognized as one of the 50 Best Places to Intern in the U.S. by Vault and was awarded a silver Stevie Award as an Employer of the Year in the food and beverage category. In addition, the company has been on the Best for Vets Employers List by Military Times for five consecutive years and on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List by Corporate Responsibility magazine for nine consecutive years.

To view the complete Forbes World's Best Employers list, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinstoller/2017/10/10/worlds-best-employers-2017/#7dbddac22a01.

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across 75 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly Guacamole, Hormel Black Label and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the ninth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. Inspired Food. - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Media Contact:

Kelly Braaten

Hormel Foods

507-437-5345

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

Related Links

http://www.hormelfoods.com


Managed hosting and cloud services provider iomart (AIM: IOM) has partnered with OnApp to launch a new cloud-in-a-box solution for small businesses and enterprise IT departments. The new solution combines OnApp Enterprise private cloud software with Intel hardware to create a turnkey appliance that can be deployed on premises, or hosted by iomart, with self-managed and fully managed options available for each approach. By combining its experience in hosted cloud and managed services, with OnApp's streamlined and intuitive private cloud management software, iomart can deliver private and hybrid cloud that is significantly more cost-effective and easier to manage than other solutions.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/579634 )



The new cloud-in-a-box solution is available now with a unique 'try before you buy' scheme that takes companies from proof-of-concept into production without any additional configuration or migration work. It is designed for companies looking to virtualise and consolidate traditional IT into a more cost-effective integrated appliance; to bring cloud automation and efficiency to their business without requiring an army of technicians; and to simplify the management of workloads across on-premises and hosted cloud infrastructure, using a single, unified cloud platform.

"OnApp is the perfect cloud solution for businesses that don't want to hire an army of certified professionals to build and administer their cloud, or invest in the cost and complexity of running a complete VMware or Azure stack," said Neil Christie, iomart's Commercial Director. "Our new private cloud solution delivers rock-solid virtualisation, automated cloud management, software-defined storage and the robust security and access controls you need, at a fraction of the cost - and we can manage the whole environment for you, in your data centre or ours."

United Hosting , a managed hosting brand within iomart, already uses OnApp. "OnApp provides our customers with cost-effective hosting that's 100 per cent available. The self-healing technology means VM uptime is never interrupted by hardware failure," explained Martin Cole, United Hosting's Sales Director. "It allows us to offer highly available and instantly scalable solutions to our customers. It's the flexibility and ease of use that our customers love."

The wider offering from the whole of the iomart group of companies will allow many more of its customers to benefit. "With its OnApp hosting and managed services experience, iomart is perfectly placed to help companies choose the right mix of managed, unmanaged, hosted and on-premises cloud," said Alistair Wildman, Chief Revenue Officer for OnApp. "OnApp Enterprise is a truly turnkey cloud solution that brings the public cloud experience to the enterprise data centre at a radically different price point - and working with iomart enables companies to take full advantage of whatever mix of on-premises and hosted private cloud works best for their applications and data."

iomart's new cloud solutions are based on Intel 2u, 4-node servers with OnApp pre-installed and ready to run. They also include OnApp's global 24x7 support. For hosted private cloud options, iomart offers a choice of eight data centre locations in the UK and a further 19 across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. iomart provides a range of supporting services to help customers migrate workloads to its private cloud solution, and offers dedicated connectivity between on-premises clouds and its hosted clouds, to create ultra-low latency, hybrid cloud environments.

About iomart Group plc

iomart Group PLC (AIM: IOM) helps organisations maximise the flexibility, cost effectiveness and security of the cloud. From strategy to delivery, our 300+ consultants and solutions architects provide the cloud expertise to transform your business. With a dynamic range of managed cloud services that integrate with the public clouds of AWS and Azure, our agnostic approach delivers solutions tailored to your exact needs. iomart is a long-term supplier to G-Cloud and our infrastructure and cloud and backup services are designed to meet the requirements of the UK public sector. To find out more about our managed cloud services visit www.iomart.com

About OnApp

OnApp is a complete cloud management software platform for service providers and enterprises. The OnApp cloud platform enables hosts, telcos and other service providers to sell the complete range of Infrastructure-as-a-Service products. For enterprises, OnApp provides a turnkey solution for private and hybrid cloud, enabling IT departments to automate infrastructure management, reduce support costs, and simplify provisioning of IT resources to departments and users.

OnApp launched in July 2010. Today more than 3,500 companies in 93 countries run their cloud services on OnApp software. OnApp has 170 staff across the EU, U.S. and Asia-Pacific and is headquartered in London, UK. For more information, visit http://onapp.com or contact [email protected].

Media Contact:

Jane Robertson

PR Manager

[email protected]

+44-(0)-141-931-6400



SOURCE iomart Group PLC
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF) is pleased to announce that its 44th Inventor of the Year Award will go to the inventors of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.

CRISPR [Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats] allows scientists to identify diseased or mutated gene sequences in the human genome and remove and replace them with healthy genes. It is believed that the technology could eventually help eliminate certain diseases such as Sickle Cell Anemia.

CRISPR is "the hallmark of a bacterial defense system that forms the basis for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology," according to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, from which one of the winning teams of CRISPR inventors hails. "CRISPR 'spacer' sequences are transcribed into short RNA sequences...capable of guiding the system to matching sequences of DNA. When the target DNA is found, Cas9  one of the enzymes produced by the CRISPR system  binds to the DNA and cuts it, shutting the targeted gene off."

IPOEF will honor inventor teams from the University of California, Berkeley and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard with the Inventor of the Year award in recognition of their commitment to innovation and the positive impact it will have on society. IPOEF Executive Director Mark Lauroesch said, "We are proud to give this year's award to the scientific teams behind this groundbreaking technology. CRISPR-Cas9 has already inspired a number of follow on inventions. We are excited to see the positive impact this technology will have in the future."

The Inventor of the Year Award fosters the spirit of innovation and highlights the protection offered to inventors by the patent system. It is one of several programs of Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation, a non-profit subsidiary of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), for educating the public on the importance of intellectual property rights.

For more information about the award, the winning teams, or CRISPR-Cas9, contact Robin Muthig at 202-507-4514 or [email protected]. Members of the media can arrange to attend the 5 December Awards Dinner by contacting Kristen Garrett at 202-507-4504 or [email protected]. To find out more about IPO Education Foundation programs visit www.ipoef.org or call 202/507-4500.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Robin Muthig

Intellectual Property Owners

Education Foundation

202/507-4514 | [email protected]

SOURCE Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF)

Related Links

http://www.ipoef.org


"CAST is a proven model to address affordabilityone of the biggest issues facing the Bay Area. In the most expensive US real estate market, CAST has created a solution adaptable to cities to ensure that the arts remain part of our community fabric. This innovative idea addresses financial equity issues by profoundly changing the dynamics," said Jennifer Rainin, PhD, Rainin Foundation CEO. "We are continuing to invest in CAST, and invite other funders to join us, to help scale this bold solution that preserves our valued artists and cultural organizations."

CAST is a first of its kind real estate holding company that serves the cultural sector. Launched in 2013 with a seed grant from the Rainin Foundation, this nonprofit's earliest undertaking was securing permanent, affordable spaces for two San Francisco arts organizations with deep rootsThe Luggage Store Gallery and CounterPulse. CAST's collaborative approach has been essential to their continued growth and success. By working closely with real estate developers, city government, local arts commissions and other stakeholders, CAST helps arts nonprofits survive in a challenging real estate marketplace. Solutions include acquiring properties for lease/buy back by arts organizations, master leasing to sustain affordable rents, and building the capacity of nonprofits to help them gain a permanent asset without jeopardizing their core operations.

"In the midst of escalating real estate prices, CAST has forged key partnerships and raised the necessary capital to help stabilize spaces for Bay Area arts and cultural organizations," said Moy Eng, CAST Executive Director. "Through training, funding, and ultimately permanent real estate solutions, we are ensuring that artists and arts organizations who are facing space challenges remain a vital part of our communities."

With the initial $5 million grant from the Rainin Foundation in 2013, CAST took immediate and bold steps to provide real estate security for vital community arts organizations at risk. In 2016, the Rainin Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded CAST an additional $1.3 million. CAST used this funding to start a capital fund to initiate an arts real estate acquisition program in Oakland and launch Keeping SpaceOakland, a pilot program that provides technical and financial assistance to arts groups.

"Our artists and cultural organizations are increasingly vulnerable to displacement due to Oakland's rising real estate costs. As Oakland grows and changes, one of my key priorities is to keep Oakland's creative voices as a significant and vital presence in our city," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. "The partnership with CAST will help us provide long-term, affordable and safe spaces for Oakland's arts organizations."

About the Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Kenneth Rainin Foundation is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers in the Arts, Education and Health. At the Rainin Foundation, we believe in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. We support visionary artists in the Bay Area, create opportunities for Oakland's youngest learners, and fund researchers on the forefront of scientific discoveries. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded over $30 million in funding to support artists and small to mid-size arts organizations in the Bay Area that are pushing the boundaries of creative expression. More information on the Rainin Arts Real Estate Strategy can be found at: krfoundation.org/artsrealestate.

SOURCE The Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Related Links

http://www.krfoundation.org


NASHVILLE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Our personal injury attorneys at Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge have dedicated their careers to providing injured victims with the high-quality legal representation they require in their time of need. Over the years, we have handled record-breaking cases, including the largest medical malpractice verdict in the history of Tennessee for a single person, as well as cases that made national headlines, like Erin Andrews' fight against a hotel for assisting a stalker secretly film her.

We are proud to announce that our firm's three partners, Randall L. Kinnard, Daniel L. Clayton, and Mark S. Beveridge were all named to the 2017 list of Super Lawyers, and attorney Jenney Springer Keaty was selected to the list of Rising Stars. Only the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state are selected to the list of Super Lawyers, and only the top 2.5 percent of attorneys who have been in practice for 10 years or less are selected to the list of Rising Stars. On top of that, partners Randall L. Kinnard and Daniel L. Clayton were both named to the list of the Top 100 in Tennessee, and Top 50 in Nashville.

Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge is a personal injury firm that represents clients wherever we are needed. Our attorneys are dedicated to providing the elite legal representation our clients have come to expect. We are here to help. To contact Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge, call us at (615) 933-2893, or visit our website at http://www.kinnardclaytonandbeveridge.com/.

SOURCE Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge

Related Links

http://www.kinnardclaytonandbeveridge.com


CINCINNATI, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralphs Grocery Company, a division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), today announced it is offering home delivery in select locations in Southern California through a partnership with Instacart, the technology-driven, nationwide on-demand retail delivery service.

This pilot in Southern California supports two key drivers of the company's Restock Kroger Plan: Expand Partnerships to Create Customer Value and Redefine the Food and Grocery Customer Experience.

"Kroger's success has always depended on our ability to evolve with our customers. Offering home delivery powered by Instacart in Southern California is another way we are accelerating our digital and ecommerce efforts to create new and highly-relevant customer experiences," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Restock Kroger builds on our strengths, including our incredibly convenient locations and platforms for pickup and delivery within one-to-two miles of our customers."

"The Kroger Co. is leading the way in ecommerce grocery adoption, enabling consumers across the country to have access to fresh, quality food at the push of a button," said Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Instacart. "I'm proud that by partnering with Kroger, Instacart is solving the last frontier for the customer."

For the past several years, Kroger has been actively experimenting with numerous digital and ecommerce models, and applying its data and customer insights expertise through 84.51, with a focus on delivering a differentiated and personalized experience to its customers. Today across the country Kroger offers home delivery from nearly 200 store locations in partnership with service providers including Shipt, deliv, Roadie, Uber, and others. This is in addition to the company's ClickList and Harris Teeter ExpressLane locations  Kroger's personalized, order-online service  now available to customers in more than 900 stores. This service will be available in more than 1,000 locations by the end of the year. In Kroger's third quarter, reported on September 8, 2017, digital revenue was up 126%, driven by ClickList sales.

The company plans to pilot Ralphs delivery Powered by Instacart in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks and Beach communities by the end of November.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit. We are 450,000 associates who serve nearly nine million customers daily in 2,793 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our Family of Companies operates an expanding ClickList offering  a personalized order online service  in addition to 2,258 pharmacies, 783 convenience stores, 307 fine jewelry stores, 222 retail health clinics, 1,472 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Our Company has been recognized as one of America's most generous companies for our support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. As a leader in supplier diversity, we are a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

About Instacart

Instacart helps people cross grocery shopping off their to-do lists with just a few clicks. Customers use the Instacart website or app to fill their virtual shopping cart with items from their favorite, local stores and Instacart connects them with shoppers who hand pick the items and deliver them straight to their door. Founded in San Francisco in 2012, Instacart has quickly scaled to over 150 markets nationwide and partnered with retailers across the United States, including popular national chains as well as local, regional grocers. By combining a personal touch with cutting-edge technology, Instacart offers customers a simple solution to save time and eat fresh food from the most trusted grocery brands. Instacart is the only grocery service that can meet today's on-demand lifestyle by delivering in as little as one hour. First delivery is free at www.instacart.com.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Related Links

http://www.kroger.com


LOS ANGELES, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

While it is unclear who will capitalize most from Canada's move to legalize pot in July of 2018, it seems that licensed producers (LPs) are still key.

Not surprisingly, they continue to offer the best value in the space to date.

Leading companies already heavily investing in this area include Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED) (OTC: TWMJF), Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTC: OGRMF), and MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF).

The public LPs are generally the most advanced in terms of attaining revenue and profitability. Many of these companies have grown and harvested many crops and have an established customer base for their products.

Investors like the security that this group holds and are showing their favor.

Likely the best known for its high profile in production is Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED) (OTC: TWMJF). Its stock was as high as $13 per share in February of 2017, but has returned to the $10 level. It is on most investors' watch lists.

Several other competitors have entered the market to offer similar promise.

Other cannabis LPs joining the race to produce include Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTCQB: APHQF), which is establishing itself as the lowest cost producer, Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTCQB: OGRMF), who are focused on producing the highest quality marijuana in Canada, along with MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. (CSE: MYM) (OTCQB: MYMMF), that is developing two production operations including a mega facility bigger than any producer to date.

BIG STAKES

Although it is still in the early going, Canada's fledgling marijuana industry has shown unbelievable potential for generating wealth and increasing the country's economy.

Deloitte estimates the market has a base retail value between $4.9 billion-$8.7 billion, which would rival the size of the Canadian alcohol market, currently pegged at $5 billion annually.

Vivien Azer of Cowen & Co. said in a recent report, "When you consider ancillaries such as growers, testing labs, security, etc., the economic impact could range from $12.7 to $22.6 billion."

That figure doesn't account for impact on other area like taxes and tourism etc.

According to researchers, in order to meet the low end of the estimates for the adult-use market, Canada would have to produce over 600,000 kg of cannabis a year.

Looking at the entire industry the numbers are even more over staggering.

The cannabis plant derivative Cannabidiol (CBD), which is legal in all 50 US states and Canada, was responsible for $170 million in the US 2016 and is projected to hit $1 billion by 2020.

The American marijuana industry as a whole is expected to hit $50 billion by 2026.

Any way you slice it, there are big stakes up for grabs in the growers and producers sector.

The significant increase in demand over current production capacities is key in driving the rush to build new and better grow facilities.

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST

To accommodate expansion, the cannabis industry is in a race to build the biggest, best, most sophisticated greenhouses in the world.

The early lead goes to Canopy's Tweed facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which covers 350,000 square feet of greenhouse space. It is at present the world's largest marijuana greenhouse.

On its heels is Aurora Cannabis, which began work on their Leduc facility near the Edmonton Airport. This entry is designed to be more than double the size of Canopy at a gigantic 800,000 square feet of growing space.

That equates to a grow capacity of 100,000 kgs of cannabis annually.

Next in line is AmeriCann Inc. who have announced plans to build the largest cannabis greenhouse facility in the USA. This behemoth will cover roughly 1 million square feet and located in Massachusetts.

But, here's where MYM leapfrogs all of their plans: MYM Nutraceuticals and its majority-owned subsidiary CannCanada signed an exclusive deal with the Quebec municipality of Weedon to build a 1.5 million-square-foot cannabis production facility, consisting of fifteen 100,000-square-foot-greenhouses.

As envisioned, this massive marijuana operation will be one of the largest grow operations on the planet with the potential to produce over 150,000 kgs of cannabis per year-or roughly $750,000,000 worth annually at current market value.

Ironically, all of this increase in production will still not likely result in enough marijuana to fill the massive demands in a post legalized environment.

MYM TAKES UP ROOT

MYM Nutraceuticals sees itself as a long-term player, and so they have made their efforts part of the communities they plan to work in.

This has been a real win for MYM.

The developing cannabis producer has worked in tandem with the municipality in Weedon to create jobs and spark an entire industry in the process. Weedon itself has gone so far as to commit to acquiring the 329 acres of land for MYM to establish its mega facilities.

The first phase of the Weedon plan, which accounts for 300,000 square feet of greenhouse space, has both architectural and security plans completed. The additional four phases that will see the complete build out are in development.

MYM has advanced on another Quebec-based project, with the recent approval and permitting to begin construction on the company's smaller facility in Laval. This operation will have the capacity of producing 1,000 kgs of cannabis annually. It's scheduled for completion by the end of Q4 2017.

Along with growing and cultivation at Weedon and Laval, the company is advancing formulation and production to support branding and distribution of its entities Joshua Tree, MyHemp Skin Therapy, and HempMed offerings.

MYM appears well diversified.

Out of all the noise in this space, the leaders are emerging. LPs seem to the obvious choice and are gaining ground fast.

MYM Nutraceuticals is on a fast track.

The company has been building its brand and distribution, alongside its growth and product quality. They've combined this with experienced management and channel partners who can contribute to them becoming one of solid players in the LPs category.

POTENTIAL COMPARABLES

Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTCQB: APHQF)

Aphria Inc., boasts itself as one of Canada's lowest cost producers, that produces, supplies and sells medical cannabis. Located in the greenhouse capital of Canada, Leamington, Ontario, Aphria provides pharma-grade medical cannabis, and quality patient care. Aphria was the first public LP to report positive cash flow from operations, and the first to report positive earnings in consecutive quarters.

Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTCQB: OGRMF)

Organigram Holdings Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange listed company whose wholly owned subsidiary, Organigram Inc., is a licensed producer of medical marijuana in Canada. Organigram is focused on producing the highest quality, condition specific medical marijuana for patients in Canada. Organigram's facility is located in Moncton, New Brunswick and the Company is regulated by the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.

Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED.TO) (OTC: TWMJF)

The granddaddy of the corporate cannabis sector, Canopy Growth is the world's largest diversified cannabis company. Canopy boasts a wide offering of distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and capsule forms. Most widely recognized is Canopy's subsidiary Tweed which is the world's most recognized marijuana production brand, as well as an industry educator. Accompanying Tweed in Canopy's portfolio is medical-grade cannabis producers Bedrocan Canada. In total, Canopy Growth's numerous state-of-the-art production facilities total over half a million square feet of GMP-certified indoor and greenhouse production capacity.

For a more in-depth look into MYM you can view the in-depth report at USA News Group:

http://usanewsgroup.com/2017/11/06/the_marijuana_boom_is_here_to_stay-2-2-2/

Article Source:

USA News Group

http://usanewsgroup.com

[email protected]

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WILMINGTON, Mass., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Locus Robotics (www.locusrobotics.com), the award-winning provider of autonomous, mobile robots for use in e-commerce fulfillment warehouses, today announced its channel partnership with Supply Chain Services LLC (www.supplychainservices.com), the leading integrator of supply chain and warehouse technologies. The partnership makes Locus Robotics' industry-leading, cutting-edge robotics solution available to Supply Chain Services' extensive network of warehouses and distribution centers throughout North America.

"We are excited to announce our partnership with Supply Chain Services," said Al Dekin, SVP of Sales at Locus Robotics. "Supply Chain Services has a proven track record of driving efficiency and throughput in the e-commerce space via the industry's most advanced technology solutions. We look forward to working together to drive greater operational efficiency, productivity, and accuracy."

"Supply Chain Services' purpose is to provide our customers with the latest, most innovative technology and equipment to maximize operational efficiencies," said Chip Emery, CEO of Supply Chain Services. "We are delighted to be a value-added channel partner for Locus Robotics, a recognized leader in the warehouse robotics industry, and are confident that their next-generation technology will deliver dramatic productivity benefits for our customers around the nation."

Locus Robotics and Supply Chain Services will showcase Locus's unique, multi-robot warehouse fulfillment solution together at the MinnPack Tradeshow (minnpack.packagingdigest.com) at Booth 747, held November 8-9th at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Visitors will be able to enter a simulated warehouse environment where they can interact with the LocusBots to pick product orders, as well as explore the latest print & apply technologies. This environment dynamically demonstrates the streamlined and integrated warehouse processes Supply Chain Services implements for its customers.

About Supply Chain Services

Founded in 2002, Supply Chain Services of Oakdale, MN is a privately-owned company with the goal of helping customers operate better through the deployment of barcode equipment and label solutions. With over 2,000 warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution customers across North America - Supply Chain Services has extensive experience in designing, recommending, implementing and servicing industrial barcode solutions. For more information, visit https://www.supplychainservices.com

About Locus Robotics

Locus Robotics transforms your productivity without transforming your warehouse. Locus's innovative, autonomous robots work collaboratively alongside workers, helping them pick 2x-5x faster, with near-100% accuracy, and less labor compared to traditional picking systems. This proven, powerful technology integrates easily into existing warehouse infrastructure without disrupting workflows. For more information, visit www.locusrobotics.com.

SOURCE Locus Robotics

Related Links

http://www.locusrobotics.com


In a landscape of rising health costs, Accolade has a proven model for reducing the complexity and expense of healthcare by empowering individuals and organizations to make better decisions and utilize healthcare more appropriately and efficiently.

"Lowe's is focused on delivering a personalized, omni-channel experience for our customers to make shopping for the home easier and more enjoyable. We also want to deliver the same ease of experience and level of ease when it comes to our employees' medical care," said Gregor Teusch, Lowe's Vice President of Total Rewards. "Accolade enables us to deliver on this promise to employees with its sophisticated engagement strategy, deep clinical team and advanced technology platform. Through this expanded partnership, we anticipate more effective and satisfying use of our benefits programs by employees and their families."

Integrating and Simplifying Lowe's Complete Health Benefits Solution

As the first point of health benefits support for Lowe's employees and dependents, Accolade simplifies access and use of Lowe's health management programs. Supported by intelligent technology, Accolade Health Assistants and Registered Nurses understand how each member can benefit from Lowe's programs  including value-based price transparency advice, telemedicine, expert second opinion, pre-diabetic weight loss solutions, no-cost diabetic support, onsite clinics, maternity programs, mobile screening units and a nationally recognized Centers of Excellence program for heart, knee, hip and spine conditions. Additionally, Accolade provides Lowe's its NCQA-accredited Care Management program while also integrating with healthcare providers and Lowe's health plans.

"One of the great joys of our work is hearing that Accolade is improving the health and lives of Lowe's families, and we're thrilled to expand what we do across the Lowe's employee and dependent population," said Rob Cavanaugh, President of Accolade. "The combination of personalized healthcare navigation and an intelligent platform that integrates with Lowe's health plans and other health programs is what's needed today to move the bar on engagement, satisfaction and costs. We're honored to grow our partnership with Lowe's."

The Lowe's Employee Experience with Accolade

Accolade receives more than 500 inspiring comments every month from members about their experience with Accolade. Recent comments from Lowe's employees include:

"This is a wonderful, personalized service! They searched for two tests I needed, and found that I could save close to $500 by getting these tests done locally versus going to a big hospital."

by getting these tests done locally versus going to a big hospital." "There is no way I could have navigated through the paper work when I was ill without the assistance of Accolade. Please express my appreciation to all staff who assisted them and me in this life-changing time in my life."

"They have been a great help to me as I am going through my second bout of cancer. They are always there to help and answer all my questions and go to bat for [me] on insurance claims."

"You are all very sensitive to my needs. It is great to know while we are dealing with a large and complicated health care system, you are there for us."

"The staff is so nice and helpful, they do not rush you off the phone, they call back to check on you and get reports from the doctor. It's just reassuring to be able to talk to a nurse to ease your mind until you can get to a doctor if need be."

About Accolade

Accolade is the single entry-point for personalized health and benefits for employers, health plans and their members. The company empowers individuals and companies to make smart decisions that dramatically change the complex and costly realities of healthcare. Accolade integrates disparate silos of health information and programs within an intelligent technology platform, with highly trained Health Assistants and Nurses applying empathy and expertise to engage more than 70% of an employee population and empower action toward better decisions and better health. Accolade maintains 70+ Net Promoter Scores, 98% consumer satisfaction ratings, and up to 15% employer cost savings. Accolade has been recognized as one of the nation's 25 most promising companies by Forbes magazine, a fastest-growing private healthcare company by Inc. 500, and a Top Workplace in Philadelphia, Scottsdale and Seattle. For more information, visit accolade.com .

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,370 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

SOURCE Accolade

Related Links

http://www.accolade.com


SEATTLE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LumiThera Inc., a clinical stage medical device company focused on developing non-invasive photobiomodulation (PBM) therapies for ocular disorders and disease, today announced topline interim results from the LIGHTSITE I trial for treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) trial utilizing its LT-300 device. The 30-subject pilot study funded from a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awarded to the Company from the National Institute of Health and the National Eye Institute is testing each subject's vision and examining disease pathology in the eye, following PBM treatments for up to one year.

"We have examined the interim data from the LIGHTSITE I study for up to the first 3 months following treatment with a multi-wavelength PBM therapy and results have demonstrated statistically significant vision benefits in dry AMD patients that were maintained for the 3 month interval," stated Samuel Markowitz, M.D., Co-Principal Investigator, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto. "The PBM treatment was most beneficial in AMD patients with better vision reaching statistically significant benefits in both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (p < 0.05)."

"We are encouraged by these interim clinical results which are consistent with outcomes we have seen previously," stated Clark Tedford, Ph.D., LumiThera President and CEO. "The LIGHTSITE I clinical trial is fully enrolled and targeted to complete in 2018. Patients will undergo a second series of treatments at the 6-month time point. These early clinical results allow us to better understand the dry AMD patient response and provide s further refinement opportunities in the design of the upcoming multi-center clinical trials expected to start in Europe in 2018."

"LumiThera has demonstrated intriguing early data in this prospective, sham controlled, double-masked pilot clinical dry AMD study," says Dr. Robert Devenyi, Co-Principal Investigator, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief and Director of Retinal Services, UHN, University of Toronto. "The results show PBM using the LT-300 device can improve vision for dry AMD patients and could be an important option for these patients to counteract the degradation in vision that this disabling disease brings."

The LIGHTSITE I data will be presented at the 2017 American Academy of Ophthalmology Conference in New Orleans on November 12th. Visit the Company's website at www.lumithera.com.

About LumiThera Inc.

LumiThera is a clinical-stage medical device company focused on treating people affected by ocular disorders and diseases including dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in adults over 65. The Company is a leader in the use of photobiomodulation using non-invasive light emitting diodes ("LED") for treatment of acute and chronic ocular diseases and disorders. The Company is developing the LED office-based LT-300 instrument to be used by ophthalmologists and other eye specialists as non-invasive medical treatments.

The LT-300 is not yet approved for use by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA. The device has not yet been granted a CE Mark by a Notified Body for commercial use outside of the USA.

2017 LumiThera Inc., All rights reserved.

SOURCE LumiThera Inc.

Related Links

http://www.lumithera.com


TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Breaking the mold of traditional employee recruitment, Marco's Pizza announced today a far-reaching Recruitment and Apprenticeship Program that will open doors for hundreds of qualified existing employees, active duty military, Veterans and their families looking to get their foot in the door of the pizza industry.

Ranked amongst Military Times' Top Five Best Franchise Opportunities for Military Veterans, with franchise fee discounts of up to 100 percent, Marco's will give special attention to the recruitment and training of the military community. The program provides mentorship, training and eventual equity deal opportunities over a 20-month period. Accepted apprentices go under the mentorship of Marco's Pizza regional managers to learn valuable skills such as best practices in pizza making, marketing, hiring, team building, inventory management and store profitability. Once initial training is complete, applicants officially become Apprentices and eventually graduate to store ownership.

Overseeing the Veterans' recruitment arm is newly hired Richard Scott "Q" Quagliata, a military Veteran with more than 20 years of experience. As Marco's Vice President of Veterans' Program and Recruiting, Quagliata is tasked with facilitating passionate, disciplined leaders entry into the Marco's management pipeline with a focus on transitioning Veterans.

"Having transitioned from the military myself, I understand the requirements to help our Veterans enter back into a civilian workforce," Quagliata said. "The Recruitment and Apprenticeship Program is a phenomenal vehicle to do so. Growing our own leadership is mutually beneficial both for Marco's Pizza's continued success and the futures of these men, women and their families. We are providing opportunities not just for employment, but for long-term career paths."

Working towards this goal, Quagliata has implemented a Career Skills Program, inspired by the mission of Soldier For Life, which affords Soldiers to gain career skills during their last six months of duty at a Marco's Pizza location. There are currently three active programs in Fort Jackson, SC, Forts Benning and Stewart, GA, and Quagliata was recently granted access by the U.S. Army to recruit at any base around the country. The program recently graduated its first Soldier, Alex Stanley, who is on track to begin working as the General Manager in Boise, Idaho this fall.

"When I was looking into what could benefit me most in the future, I decided it would be Marco's Pizza," Stanley said. "I was initially drawn to Marco's because I liked the idea of having hands-on experience before moving into a leadership role. It's amazing that Marco's and the Army have made opportunities like this possible for Soldiers."

As the only national franchise chain founded by a native Italian, Marco's Pizza has carved out a niche in the industry as the expert in authentic Italian pizza, known for its fresh never-frozen dough made daily on site, a proprietary cheese blend that is fresh never-frozen and a secret pizza sauce recipe. Averaging at least one store opening every three days, the Apprentice Program serves as an innovative way to continue growth with a hard-working, dedicated team as Marco's Pizza expands its footprint nationwide.

For more information on Marco's Pizza Recruitment & Apprenticeship Program and details on how to apply, please visit https://recruiting.talentreef.com/marcos-pizza/leadership-program-general-manager.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA:

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza company in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian born, Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives by making Italian Pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 800 stores in over 30 states and four countries. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked by consumers as America's Favorite Pizza Chain through Market Force Information surveys. Other recent accolades include landing No.38 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, No. 2 on Forbes' Top 10 Franchises to Invest In in the medium investment range, No. 3 on the Military Times Best For Vets list and No. 4 on the Franchise Times Fast and Serious list. To inquire about franchise opportunities with Marco's Pizza visit marcosfranchising.com.

SOURCE Marcos Pizza

Related Links

http://marcosfranchising.com


BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For 30 years, architects and engineers have trusted the MasterSpec content developed by the deeply experienced specification writers at ARCOM. Today, ARCOM is proud to build on this strong foundation by unveiling a new brand and vision to serve the AECO community in the digitally connected future.

Meet Avitru, the specifications experts you've trusted for years, committed to helping construct a world where better building leads to better lives. The name is inspired by the Roman master builder, Marcus Vitruvius, whose treatise on architecture notably espoused the virtues of function, strength and beauty. While that is an ancient reference, Avitru will provide a thoroughly modern software platform to harness and share the collective knowledge and expertise that will enable better building.

"Innovation in today's world doesn't happen in silos," explained Jim Contardi, Chief Executive Officer of Avitru. "You see it when people come together to collaborate, improve on ideas and share. Design and construction is incredibly complex and requires the knowledge that comes from experience and diverse points of view. We will use our position as trusted specification experts to deliver a technology platform that captures and leverages this wisdom to help our users make better decisions.

"We bring people and ideas together to build a better world."

Strong partnership with American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Avitru and the AIA remain committed to their long-standing partnership. Together, they will continue to offer MasterSpec the industry's most trusted and used guide for building specifications. MasterSpec is used by 22 of the top 25 Architectural and Engineering firms, and thousands of national, regional and specialist firms.

"Avitru, formerly known as ARCOM, has a long history of providing leadership in the architecture and building design industry through delivery of MasterSpec, a product created by AIA for its members," said Robert Ivy, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the AIA. "We are very confident in the capabilities and expertise of the Avitru team as they continue to define our mutual legacy of helping architects succeed."

In addition to its widely adopted MasterSpec product, Avitru will be releasing new technology solutions for A/Es, specification writers, building product manufacturers and building owners in coming quarters.

On the Shoulders of Giants

The concept for Avitru was born when ARCOM was acquired in late 2016 by private equity firm, Alpine Investors. ARCOM then purchased InterSpec, a specifications software specialist in early 2017 and the two companies were combined. In the months since, a dynamic and diverse leadership team has been assembled to execute against Avitru's mission: to construct a world where better building inspires better lives.

Karthik Mani, Executive Vice President of Product and Delivery, joined the team in late 2016. He leverages his extensive experience with technology product companies, including Equifax and i2 Technologies, where he served in senior leadership positions.

Liz Sophia was appointed Chief Marketing Officer in June 2017. She had previously served in senior marketing positions at SaaS technology companies including North Plains Systems, Sage and PGi after starting her career in agency marketing.

Andrew Brown will serve as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the team in July 2017, Brown had worked in Deloitte's Financial Services Consulting Group and started his career at Goldman Sachs.

Marlena Slowik, Vice President of Operations and Customer Success, joined in August 2017 and works across the Avitru business to enhance both the customer and employee experience. She had previously led teams focused on analytics, content and syndication for Zerve, a SaaS-based aggregator for tour operators.

David Houde is the Vice President of Sales. He was promoted to the position in 2017 following the acquisition of InterSpec. Previously, he had been InterSpec's Director of Sales and Marketing.

Gilles Letourneau, AIA, CSI, with over 35 years' experience as an architect, has served as the General Manager of Architectural and Engineering Products since InterSpec, the company he founded, was acquired in early 2017.

Michael Heinsdorf, P.E., LEED AP, CDT is Vice President of Business Development, responsible for new market development, alliances and partnerships. With an extensive AECO background, he joined ARCOM in 2013.

In addition, the company benefits from the knowledge and experience of highly regarded industry experts, including licensed architects, professional engineers and certified construction document technologists. Avitru maintains offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Portland, Maine; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

"The keys to success in a fast-paced technology business are the quality of the team and their alignment around the mission. We have an incredibly talented team with a real commitment to better building," said Contardi. "I am eager to see what the Avitru team will accomplish; we can have a meaningful impact on the built environment."

ABOUT AVITRU

From conception to construction, AVITRU empowers architects, engineers, contractors and owners to make better, faster decisions. As the developer of MasterSpec, the most trusted and comprehensive master guide specification system in the industry, Avitru has leveraged its position in the market to launch a cloud-based platform that enables the collaborative exchange of expert knowledge to design, build and operate a better built environment. With some of the most highly regarded experts in the industry, the Avitru team is committed to construct a world where better building leads to better lives.

Previously known as ARCOM LLC, Avitru LLC is a portfolio company of Alpine Investors and a strategic partner of the American Institute of Architects.

AVITRU

LeAnn Boucher for AVITRU

404-932-8677

[email protected]

SOURCE Avitru
PLANO, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MDwise, an Indiana-based nonprofit healthcare company and longstanding ZeOmega client, recently went live with ZeOmega's end-to-end population health management (PHM) platform, Jiva 6.1. MDwise cares for families in Indiana, working with the Indiana State Government and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide the Hoosier Healthwise Plan, the Healthy Indiana Plan, and MDwise Marketplace health insurance programs. MDwise sees additional value in Jiva 6.1, expecting the platform's vast capabilities to help their organization overcome today's challenges, as well as tomorrow's.

"We partnered with ZeOmega to enhance our integration of real-time data, support collaboration, and assist with the creation of patient-centered care plans," says MDwise's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ty Sullivan. "ZeOmega supports our mission to provide high quality healthcare to the vulnerable populations of Indiana. Their platform has already helped us achieve our goals, and we anticipate Jiva 6.1 will do the same with both current and future objectives."

MDwise has long maintained a commitment to deploying innovative technology to coordinate and manage care for its 350,000 members. For this reason, MDwise selected Jiva in 2012 to meet their evolving needs. Two years later in 2014, MDwise reported that Jiva had helped their organization:

Reduce readmission rates by 66%.

Decrease lengths of stay by 61%.

Achieve a potential annual savings of $6.5 million as part of a special initiative.

as part of a special initiative. Enhance adolescent well-care visits by 50%.

Improve LDL related to diabetic care for the target individuals from the previous year by 75%.

Boost the adult preventive care in identified members year-over-year by 50%.

MDwise's success and significant return on investment are the reasons they continue to partner with ZeOmega. Since 2012, MDwise has invested in two Jiva upgrades: first to Jiva 5.6 in 2015, then to Jiva 6.1 in 2017.

A key goal MDwise hopes to accomplish with their latest upgrade to Jiva 6.1 is the improvement of their utilization management (UM). The level of automation they will now be receiving with Jiva 6.1's dashboards will save them time, allow better caseload balancing, and help supervisors heighten the management of their support teams.

MDwise has also added an appeals module with their upgrade. Using Jiva 6.1's streamlined, automated workflow, nurses will have more time to manage cases and have a cleaner pathway for reporting, tracking actions, following state reports, and managing other vital information.

Regarding care management, MDwise is implementing Jiva 6.1's integrated assessments with the goal of simplifying NCQA audits, accreditation, and the application of other quality measures.

"We are thrilled by the successful partnership between MDwise and ZeOmega," says ZeOmega's Founder and Chief Executive Officer Sam Rangaswamy. "We recognize MDwise's industry thought leadership. These upgrades help improve lives: the patient's, the population's, and the end user's. It is an honor to be part of MDwise's progression, aiding the advancement of healthcare through innovative technology."

About ZeOmega

ZeOmega's powerful population health management platform delivers high-value, strategic solutions enabling payers and care-delivery organizations to improve individual health and provider performance. With deep domain expertise and a comprehensive understanding of complex population health challenges, ZeOmega serves as a "true-north" partner for clientsoffering flexible deployment and delivery models that leverage an innovative platform designed to integrate workflow, analytics, content and communication capabilities. By consistently meeting customer expectations and project benchmarks, ZeOmega has earned a sterling reputation in the industry for responsiveness and reliability.

For more information, visit www.zeomega.com or call 214-618-9880. Follow ZeOmega on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

SOURCE ZeOmega

Related Links

http://www.zeomega.com


(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/596157/Merck_100_Years.jpg )



The Consumer Health business of Merck, a leading science and technology company, released today a new whitepaper [http://www.merckgroup.com/en/expertise/consumer-health/our-consumer-health-debate/white-paper.html ] entitled "100 Healthy Years - Are Kids Prepared?" aimed at shining light on preparing the young generation for a new era of 100 healthy years. The publication follows the 2017 edition of Merck's Consumer Health "Global Consumer Health Debate", which gathered experts from the UN, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the World Obesity Federation, McKinsey and others to discuss how best to prepare kids for living 100 healthy years. The new whitepaper published today highlights the importance of adopting good health habits early on to ensure any additional years of life expectancy are lived healthy.

Uta Kemmerich-Keil, CEO and President of Merck's Consumer Health business, explains: "As the number of people aged 60 or above is expected to grow 56% between 2015 and 2030 - from 901 million to 1.4 billion - this whitepaper highlights the importance to focus on today children's health to address society's changing demographic and ensure today's kids approach older age in good health." While life expectancy is increasing worldwide, the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study reports that non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease account for seven out of ten deaths worldwide[1]. In addition, the World Obesity Federation reports that over 223 million school children globally are overweight or obese and that this number is expected to reach 268 million by 2025[2].

This means those additional years of life expectancy could be lived in a disease state, showing the importance of healthy life expectancy as a KPI, i.e. the number of years an individual is expected to live in good health and free of long-term disability. While biological factors play a significant role in determining healthy life expectancy, non-biological factors, such as behavioral, economic, social, environmental, and cultural conditions, can be influenced and are equally important in determining lifelong health.

To participate in global efforts to address this situation, Merck's Consumer Health new whitepaper advocates for renewed collaboration between the main stakeholders, including educators, parents, policy makers, healthcare practitioners, and NGOs, to develop health education programs for school-aged children taking into account the prospective of living 100 healthy years. With support from research conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit in five countries, Merck's Consumer Health whitepaper provides a holistic view of the state of play of children's health today. It also takes a deep dive into healthy life expectancy, exploring health education programs in various countries, and providing a roadmap for achieving optimal outcomes for children's health over the long-term.

The white paper also features a case study of the GEN100[TM] program recently rolled out by Merck's Consumer Health in South Africa, and which aims at raising awareness on the importance of health programs and education in South Africa school's curriculum. Given the country's current health challenges, such as malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, and infectious diseases, it is vital to inform the younger generation to adopt healthy habits early on. The GEN100[TM] program convenes public and private partners, including Merck's Consumer Health and the South African Ministry of Basic Education, to teach children how to live longer and healthier lives. GEN100[TM] is currently operating in more than 40 schools and touches upon nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and physical exercise topics. Key element of this program is quantitative measurement to be able to evaluate the mid- and long-term effects and impact of such educational awareness program.

The white paper released today is a part of Merck Consumer Health's WE100 movement, which aims to help prepare society for a new era of humans living 100 healthy years. WE100 is a brand neutral initiative supporting all generations and cultural backgrounds globally.

Merck's Consumer Health new whitepaper "100 Healthy Years - Are Kids Prepared ? " can be accessed [http://www.merckgroup.com/en/expertise/consumer-health/our-consumer-health-debate/white-paper.html]

" can be accessed [http://www.merckgroup.com/en/expertise/consumer-health/our-consumer-health-debate/white-paper.html] Merck's Global Consumer Health Debate entitled "100 Healthy Years: Are Kids Prepared?" took place in Darmstadt, Germany , on Thursday, May 18, 2017 .

, on . Further information, including the EIU study, is available at http://www.merck-consumer-health.com/en/industry/industry.html.

The global reach of the EIU study conducted research in the following countries: Brazil , Germany , India , Saudi Arabia , and South Africa .

, , , , and . Merck Consumer Health on Twitter:@Merck_CH / https://twitter.com/merck_ch

WE100 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WE100/

About the Consumer Health business of Merck

Brands of the Consumer Health business, such as Neurobion, Bion, Nasivin, Seven Seas, Dolo-Neurobion, and Femibion are innovative leaders in key markets, backed by science and trusted by consumers worldwide. The Consumer Health business is with over 3,800 employees globally active in over 40 markets. The portfolio comprises of brands with annual total sales of about $ 1 billion. Consumer Health is a business of the Healthcare business sector within the Merck Group with global headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany.

For more information please go to http://www.merck-consumer-health.com or https://twitter.com/merck_ch .

All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of  15.0 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

References:

1. "7 out of 10 people die globally of non-communicable diseases." British Heart Foundation, October 2016, https://www.bhf.org.uk/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2016/october/7-out-of-10-people-die-globally-of-non-communicable-diseases.

2. "World obesity day infographic." World Obesity Federation, 2016, http://www.obesityday.worldobesity.org/infographics .

Contact: Lars Atorf, +49-6151-856-3114

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/596180/MERCK_Logo.jpg )



SOURCE Merck
MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami Mold Specialist, a State Certified Environmental Service Company, specialized in indoor air quality, mold assessments, mold remediation, flood and water damage restoration, recently announced a new philanthropic effort to assist struggling south florida residents with Hurricane Irma relief assistance.

This assistance comes in the form of education, questions and answers, insurance claim assistance, financial discount assistance for low income families, estimates and consultations and assistance information for local, state, and federal organization programs.

"The old adage 'knowledge is power' holds true in these catastrophic situations," stated Marty Katz, a senior environmental consultant for Miami Mold Specialist. He continued, "The owners of the company operated a mold remediation company in NYC for many years, including when Superstorm Sandy ravaged the northeast. As chaotic as the situation was, they already had many years of previous experience, related knowledge and the connections to raise and increase awareness with officials and community associations to rapidly assist thousands of suffering residents in the NYC metro area quickly, efficiently, and effectively."

Miami Mold Specialist's new Hurricane Irma Relief Program was also recently featured in South Miami News, one of South Florida's popular newspapers, after they heard about Miami Mold Specialist's philanthropic efforts. (Read the digital version of the story on page 45: http://en.calameo.com/read/002791721ba4a42cb0a63)

Miami Mold Specialist has reported they have already completed well over 1,000 mold removal projects since Hurricane Irma struck the area.

For more information on Miami Mold Specialist's Hurricane Irma Relief Program, please visit: https://www.miamimoldspecialists.com/hurricane-irma

About Miami Mold Specialist

Specializing in state of the art mold inspections, "conflict free" 3rd party mold testing, and rapid and efficient mold remediation services. State of Florida multi-certified, eco-friendly, licensed, insured, bonded, mold remediation services with a 1 year warranty.

Call-1-305-763-8070

http://miamimoldspecialists.com

Proudly Serving:

Miami-Dade County and Broward County

Marty Katz

Operations Manager

Miami Mold Specialist

305-763-8070

[email protected]

This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.

SOURCE Miami Mold Specialist

Related Links

http://miamimoldspecialists.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Michelinone of the largest tire manufacturers in the worldis using Salesforce to reinvent its customer, partner and employee engagement experiences.

With 111,700 employees spanning 170 countries, Michelin faced a major challenge in getting connected more closely to its customers. In response to this challenge, the company launched a worldwide program called ENGAGE to completely transform how it engages with customers. Launched at the end of 2016 in the U.S., ENGAGE is built on the Salesforce Platform and leverages Sales Cloud, Service Cloud and Community Cloud to provide Michelin's marketing and sales teams with a single platform to better understand customer needs and respond to their demands more quickly and efficiently.

"It remains essential to maintain our advantage in terms of product quality and performance, and our relationship with our customers is key to our success. As a result, we need to provide an extraordinary customer experience," said Eric Chaniot, chief digital officer, for Michelin Group. "With Salesforce, we're building an entire ecosystem around our customers and partners, ensuring that every interaction is smooth. We also believe that speed of innovation is critical in our market, and we were able to complete the first phase of the Salesforce rollout in under six months."

Michelin sales agents and retailers in North America were previously required to use multiple tools to access customer information. Now, they can access in real-time all customer information, such as tire reference numbers, sales history and order status, from anywhere, on any device. They can also use MapAnything, an app from the Salesforce AppExchange that integrates with Salesforce, to manage dealer and customer visits, with route planning and optimization. Today, less than a year since the program was launched, 80% of Michelin's sales reps have already adopted the solution.

Michelin sales agents and customers can also collaborate in a portal built on Community Cloud. This central portal enables customers to identify the right tires and check availability at nearby dealers, access the right after-sales services and get answers to their questions. In addition, employees and partners are able to collaborate around complex tasks, such as fleet management.

Moving forward, artificial intelligence powered by Salesforce Einstein combined with Michelin's connected tires opens up new possibilities, such as automating orders, managing miles travelled for fleet managers and more.

"Michelin understands that to meet changing customer expectations and empower its employees and partners to deliver success, it needs to have a single, unified view of its customers," said Achyut Jajoo, VP and Global Head of Automotive, Salesforce. "With Salesforce and powerful partner ecosystem on the Salesforce AppExchange, Michelin continues to innovate by giving its sales representatives and its retail partners a system of engagement and intelligent tools to develop a deep understanding of their customer needs and deliver an outstanding experience."

Michelin at Dreamforce 2017

At Dreamforce this week, Michelin participated in the Manufacturing Keynote: "Disrupting Your Way to a Connected Customer Experience." Michelin will also be speaking in the following Dreamforce sessions:

About Michelin

Michelin, a leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients' mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients' needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 111,700 employees and operates 68 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced 187 million tires in 2016.

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: http://www.salesforce.com.

SOURCE Salesforce

Related Links

http://www.salesforce.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA commercial cargo provider Orbital ATK is scheduled to launch its eighth mission to the International Space Station at 7:37 a.m. EST Saturday, Nov. 11 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Live launch coverage will begin at 7 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website.

NASA TV also will air two prelaunch briefings Friday, Nov. 10. At 11 a.m. mission managers will provide an overview and status of launch operations, and at 3 p.m. scientists and researchers will discuss some of the investigations and technology demonstrations to be delivered to the station.

The Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on Orbital ATK's upgraded Antares rocket from Pad 0A of Virginia Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at Wallops. Following launch on Nov. 11, NASA TV coverage of the spacecraft's solar array deployment will begin at 9 a.m. and a post-launch news briefing will held at approximately 10 a.m.

Under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract, Cygnus will carry about 7,400 pounds of crew supplies and hardware to the space station, including science and research in support of dozens of research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 53 and 54.

Cygnus will carry several CubeSats that will conduct a variety of missions, from technology demonstrations of laser communication and increased data downlink rates to an investigation to study spaceflight effects on bacterial antibiotic resistance. Other experiments will advance biological monitoring aboard the station and look at various elements of plant growth in microgravity that may help inform plant cultivation strategies for future long-term space missions. The spacecraft will also transport a virtual reality camera to record a National Geographic educational special on Earth as a natural life-support system.

Cygnus will arrive at the station on Monday, Nov. 13. Expedition 53 Flight Engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA (European Space Agency) and Randy Bresnik of NASA will use the space station's robotic arm to capture Cygnus at about 5:40 a.m. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and capture will begin at 4:15 a.m.

After Canadarm2 captures Cygnus, ground commands will be sent to guide the station's robotic arm as it rotates and attaches the spacecraft to the bottom of the station's Unity module. Coverage of installation will begin at 7 a.m.

Cygnus will remain at the space station until Dec. 4, when the spacecraft will depart the station and deploy several CubeSate before its fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere as it disposes of several tons of trash.

This Cygnus spacecraft is named in honor of the former astronaut Eugene "Gene" Cernan, the last human to step foot on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission. Cernan set records for both lunar surface extravehicular activities and longest time in lunar orbit. He died in January 2017.

Learn more about Orbital ATK's mission at:

http://www.nasa.gov/orbitalatk

Get breaking news, images and features from the station on Instagram and Twitter:

http://instagram.com/iss

and

http://www.twitter.com/Space_Station

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


HADDONFIELD, N.J., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Something new from locally-owned independent bridal retailersan indoor sidewalk sale. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the beginning of the engagement season, brides can shop for designer wedding gowns and wedding party dresses at substantial savings at hundreds of locally-owned independent bridal retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"Each participating store will offer something different in terms of merchandise, selection, and price," says event coordinator Sue Maslowski, owner of Jay West Bridal in Haddonfield, N.J., "but brides everywhere benefit. They will be buying from a reputable, full-service salon where they can see and touch exactly what they are getting. No unpleasant surprises from counterfeit gowns purchased online. Brides take home the dress of their dreams that very day, no waiting or delays!"

Maslowski noted brides will also get an advance look at the latest styles from designers' Spring 2018 collections that arrive in stores in November.

For more information and links to participating retailers, brides can go to www.IndoorSidewalkSale.com. By November the list, which grows daily, will include nearly 500 stores. Interested retailers register for the event at www.IndoorSidewalkSale.com/register.

Maslowski is also the originator of the annual National Bridal Sales Event (NBSE) held the third Saturday in July. After two such successful NBSE events, the many hundreds of participating bridal shops asked for an additional opportunity to work with brides who may not realize the value of the full-service bridal experience.

Organizations supporting this event include the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS), BridalBoutiques.us, Bridal Guide, BrideClick, International Bridal Manufacture Association (IBMA), National Bridal Market Chicago, Martha Stewart Weddings, MyWedding.com, TheKnot, Vows Magazine and WeddingWire. An AWGS coupon good towards gown cleaning and preservation is available at www.IndoorSidewalkSale.com/special-offer

CONTACT: Sue Maslowski

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.indoorsidewalksale.com

SOURCE National Bridal Sale

Related Links

http://nationalbridalsaleday.com/


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Magilla Loans, a search engine for loans which connects borrowers to banks without requesting personal information, has been recognized by National Real Estate Investor (NREI), a leading authority on trends in the commercial real estate market, as one of the 2017 Top Financial Intermediaries for commercial real estate loans arranged within the last calendar year. The ranking identifies Magilla Loans as a reliable and efficient service which satisfies the needs of commercial real estate developers and executives.

"The NREI ranking affirms Magilla's position as a leading provider of fast, seamless, and most of all, effective, lending solutions for the prime borrower," said Chris Meyer, Co-Founder & CEO of Magilla Loans. "Magilla Loans was created to simplify a borrower's search for the absolute best rates on residential and commercial loans. We are glad to not only satisfy the needs of commercial real estate borrowers, but also attract a large residential loan audience with our proprietary anonymous loan search."

Built using patent pending technology, Magilla's platform connects a borrower to multiple lenders after answering a few questions. Once the loan application is submitted, Magilla's quick turnaround time enables a borrower to receive multiple loan proposals from numerous lenders usually within 24-hours. If the borrower accepts a loan proposal, an introduction is made to the lender  which keeps the borrower anonymous and in control during the entire process.

The 2017 Top Financial Intermediaries ranking was determined through an NREI administered online survey and review of company reports.

About Magilla Loans

Magilla Loans is a search engine for loans which connects borrowers to banks without requesting personal information. The platform enables borrowers to search and compare loans without providing a name, social security, or phone number. The loan proposals are presented on its patented MagChart, allowing borrowers to easily compare the loan terms and choose a lender. Magilla has already channeled billions of dollars in loans through its website since launching in September of 2015.

Media Contact

For media inquiries, please contact media (at) magillaloans (dot) com or call 1.844.MAGILLA.

SOURCE Magilla Loans

Related Links

http://www.magillaloans.com


"Over the last few years, our copper collection has become increasingly popular and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand the brand beyond the spirits industry," says CEO Jonas Tahlin.

Absolut Elyx has a one-of-a-kind, hand crafted distillation process in which copper plays an integral role. The unique use of copper in the distillation process removes unwanted impurities and gives Elyx a distinct character and unparalleled silky smoothness. Absolut Elyx is to be enjoyed in many forms and arguably best served in Elyx's original copper drinking vessels.

For every copper item and every bottle of Absolut Elyx sold in the USA, the brand will be donating a week's (140 liters) worth of safe water to those in need of it. Absolut Elyx has been helping to provide sustainable water solutions where they are needed most through their partnership of the non-profit organization Water for People. Elyx is made from over 50% water so they have partnered with one of the most respected water organizations to drive awareness to the cause with hopes of transforming the spirits industry. To date, over 30,000 people have been given access to safe drinking water through this partnership.

In addition to the upcoming pop-up, Holiday shoppers can purchase select copper pieces at www.ElyxBoutique.com and Fred Segal (8500 Sunset Blvd). Exclusive copper gift sets and Absolut Elyx will also be available at Los Angeles locations including Mel & Rose (8344 Melrose Ave), Liquor Locker (8161 Sunset Blvd.) and John & Pete's Fine Wine and Spirits (621 N. La Cienega Blvd.).

ABOUT ABSOLUT ELYX:

Absolut Elyx is the Single Estate, Copper Crafted, Luxury expression of Absolut Vodka. Every bottle is made with soft winter wheat and the most pristine water in the world, drawn from the aquifer deep beneath the ground, in Ahus, Sweden. Elyx is distilled using sacrificial copper and further rectified by hand using a copper vintage still from 1921. Krister Asplund, Master Distiller, and his team are knowledgeable to oversee the century-old distillation process that has been passed down through generations of Swedish vodka-makers. Absolut Elyx has joined forces with Water for People to support and raise awareness for long-term solutions to the global water crisis.

Discover more about Elyx at www.absolutelyx.com, www.elyxboutique.com and on Instagram @AbsolutElyx.

Kristina Rivera, [email protected]

SOURCE Absolut Elyx

Related Links

http://www.absolutelyx.com


TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold") (TSX:NGD) (NYSE American:NGD) announces the resignation of The Honourable David Emerson from its Board of Directors, effective November 30, 2017.

Since joining the Board on July 1, 2012, Mr. Emerson has made a significant and highly valued contribution to the development and success of New Gold.

"On behalf of our company and shareholders, I would like to thank David for all he has done for New Gold over the past five years," stated Ian Pearce, Chair of New Gold. "He has been a valuable member of New Gold's Board of Directors and we wish him great success in his future endeavours."

Also as of November 30, 2017, Mr. Emerson will be joining the Board of Directors of Deloitte Canada.

About New Gold Inc.

New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company with a portfolio of five producing assets in top-rated jurisdictions. The New Afton and Rainy River Mines in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico (which transitioned to residual leaching in 2016), provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Blackwater project located in Canada. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com.

SOURCE New Gold Inc.

Related Links

www.newgold.com


Founded in early 2017 and born out of the idea that high end leisure should be integrated into everyday experiences, POUCH challenges the way people traditionally think about hammocks, and aims to redefine the concept of relaxation. Enlisting a product historically associated with resort vacations, serenity, and time alone, the brand has raised the bar for indoor hammocks through expert craftsmanship, intricate weave patterns, and thoughtfully sourced materials.

"In launching POUCH, our goal was to create a new consumer experience - improving, modifying and expanding upon an old world craft that provides a daily getaway that was long overdue," said Robert Ramirez, Founder and CEO of POUCH. "The unvisited aesthetic POUCH creates, highlights a timeless hammock style I grew up with in my own home - a gift to my father when he moved from El Salvador to the United States in 1975. POUCH reintroduces a slightly modified hand-woven design, using the same traditional weave found in Central America, with a focus on creating a more comfortable and secure hammock experience that is inviting, lush and warm."

Unique to the interiors market in its design aesthetic, process, color, and architecture, each POUCH hammock and hanging chair body is woven by hand in El Salvador. Selected for its softness, durability, and versatility, cotton is spun and woven in San Salvador in a traditional native-style weave using homemade, old-fashioned devices. The body is then sent to POUCH's Brooklyn studio where the custom woodworking, natural dying, custom curtain work are completed. The rods and frames are crafted from wood native to the East Coast and the natural dying process of the cotton utilizes ingredients from local New York restaurants and farms to create a grounded color palette. Leveraging the natural pigments from avocado pits, iron, madder root, fustic, and osage orange, the five beautifully muted hues bring comforting, grounding vibes to any space.

POUCH hammocks and hanging chairs easily fit into small spaces, with designer wall-mounted hardware or freestanding options, blending seamlessly with existing design schemes. Each piece is easily assembled and can be permanently installed or act as a temporary piece in a room. Customization options are available through the POUCH.NYC website or by scheduling an in-person consultation at the studio in Brooklyn. In home and onsite style and design consultants, as well as installation experts, are exclusively available to New York City residents.

All hammocks are handwoven in double-ply cotton with an interlocking net stitch, accented by hand crocheted detailing. Each style is available in five naturally dyed hues  Rose, Sage, Creme, Slate, and Gold  as well as six types of wooden rods  Ash, Ash with Brass Dashes, Ash with Walnut Inlay, Walnut, Walnut with Brass Hole Inlay, and Round Ash with Brass Cuffs.

Pieces in the collection, which range from $600-$4,000, are now available for purchase worldwide through POUCH.NYC. Follow the collection on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

About POUCH

Founded in 2017, Pouch is a New York-based furniture design company in the business of reconceptualizing comfort. In collaboration with artisans in Chalate, El Salvador, the Pouch design collective consists of New York-based artisans and designers contributing their craft and creative perspectives to a common platform. The resulting product integrates timeless handwoven techniques from Central America with endless customization options for an elevated style of hammocks that challenges existing modern environments. Pouch extends the versatility of hammocks and hanging chairs, aiming to make the physical experience of leisure readily available within the parameters of contemporary living.

SOURCE POUCH

Related Links

https://www.pouch.nyc


WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New information, just reported by the Air Force, shows what many had feared: the killer in the Texas church mass shooting on Sunday was known to be dangerous, but because of gaps in our background check system, he was able to buy guns and kill people.

The Air Force is now saying that the killer had been convicted of crimes that made him ineligible to buy guns. But somehow, that data was not reported to the FBI, which administers the background check system.

"We thank the Air Force for being forthright and launching an immediate investigation into both this killer's record and all other Air Force records. Strengthening the background check system will save lives," said Avery Gardiner, Brady Co-President.

"Indeed, the Air Force's investigation is a step in the right direction when so many in the Trump administration are hell-bent on taking steps backward," said Co-President Kris Brown. "What this exposes are the deadly gaps in our system. Instead of working to bolster the system, this administration and this Congress have actively undermined it, passing two bills and enacting one to remove hundreds of thousands of names from the background check system."

"We call on the Trump administration to protect Americans and save lives," added Gardiner. "This is about guns. We know how to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and it is well past the time for our leaders to take action."

For more information see Brady's report on the background check system.

The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025. For more insight on gun violence prevention, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BradyBuzz.

About Us: The Brady Campaign and Center, united with the Million Mom March, is a national network of over 90 grassroots chapter affiliates mobilized to prevent gun violence at the community level. The network has played a vital role in expanding Brady background checks in the six states that have passed legislation since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and produced the largest national protest of gun violence in U.S. history - The Million Mom March, Mother's Day 2000.

SOURCE The Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence

Related Links

http://www.bradycampaign.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Norco-Bicycles-Recalls-Childrens-Bicycles

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Children's bicycles with Samox cranksets

Hazard: The cranks can bend or break during use, posing a fall hazard.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact an authorized Norco Bicycles dealer for free installation of a new crankset.

Consumer Contact: Norco at 800-663-8916 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.norco.com and click on "Safety Notices/Recalls" for more information. Consumers can also contact their local Norco Bicycles dealers to request installation of a new crankset.

Recall Details

Units: About 1,050 (In addition 1,750 were sold in Canada)



Description: This recall involves 2015, 2016 and 2017 model year Norco children's bicycles with Samox SAC30-111NA square taper bicycle cranks in 140mm and 152mm lengths. The crank model number AC30 is located on the inside of both crank arms, and the crank length is stamped at the end of each crank arm. Included in this recall are 20- and 24-inch wheeled bicycles with the following model names: Storm 2.1, Storm 4.1, Charger 2.1, Charger 4.1, Fluid HT 2.3, Fluid HT 4.3, Fluid FS 2.2, and Fluid FS 4.2. The model name is located on the top tube of the bicycle.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received four reports of the cranks bending or breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Sold at: Norco Bicycles dealers nationwide from May 2016 through September 2017 for between $400 and $1,700.

Importer/Distributor: Norco Bicycles, of Canada

Manufactured in: China

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2017/64926r-eng.php

This recall was conducted voluntarily by the company under CPSC's Fast Track Recall process. Fast Track recalls are initiated by firms who commit to work with CPSC to quickly announce the recall and remedy to protect consumers.

About U.S. CPSC:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals  contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m.  5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: (301) 504-7908

Spanish: (301) 504-7800

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov


EAST HANOVER, N.J., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis announced today results from the FUTURE 5 study showing Cosentyx (secukinumab) reduced the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) while significantly inhibiting the progression of joint structural damage in PsA patients compared to placebo at 24 weeks. The Phase III data were presented for the first time today as a late breaker during the 2017 American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) Annual Meeting in San Diego.

PsA is estimated to affect up to 2 million people in the US and is characterized by joint pain and stiffness.2

Study participants (n=996) were randomized to receive Cosentyx, 300 mg with loading dosage (LD), 150 mg with LD, 150 mg without LD, or placebo. At week 24, more participants treated with Cosentyx had no worsening of joint structural damage compared to placebo, as measured by the modified total van der Heijde Sharp score (mTSS) <=0.5; 88% (300 mg), 80% (150 mg), 84% (150 mg without LD), and 74% (placebo).1 mTSS is a detailed scoring method evaluating erosion in the joints.3

"People living with psoriatic arthritis deal with the daily impact of pain, tender joints, as well as the potential of reduced mobility, and irreversible joint damage," said Philip Mease, MD, director of the Rheumatology Clinical Research Division of Swedish Medical Center and lead study investigator and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. "A treatment that reduces the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and addresses the disease on a structural level by slowing the progression of joint damage could offer a significant benefit for patients."

Participants taking Cosentyx achieved significant improvements in the signs and symptoms of PsA compared to placebo, as measured by the ACR response criteria (ACR20) at 16 weeks, the study's primary endpoint.1 ACR is a standard tool used to assess improvement of PsA signs and symptoms such as tender and swollen joints, pain and physical functioning. The number of ACR20 responders at week 16 were 62% (300 mg, P < 0.0001), 55% (150 mg, P < 0.0001), 59% (150 mg without LD, P < 0.0001), and 27% (placebo).1

"With nearly 1,000 patients included in the study, FUTURE 5 is the largest randomized controlled trial of a biologic conducted to date in psoriatic arthritis," said Vas Narasimhan, Global Head, Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "The results are encouraging as they provide important information about the ability of Cosentyx to address key areas of concern for physicians when managing the symptoms and the underlying progression of joint structural damage of psoriatic arthritis."

All hierarchical endpoints were significant for Cosentyx versus placebo at week 16 for all treatment arms, except for the 150 mg without LD in resolving enthesitis (tenderness or pain often occurring in the bottom of the foot, heel or elbow) and dactylitis (sausage-like swelling in the fingers or toes).1,2 Further, efficacy across all endpoints was greater in patients who had not been previously treated with anti-TNF therapies.1 Participants taking the 300 mg and 150 mg dosages with LD had an earlier onset of response versus participants who received 150 mg without LD.1

The safety profile was consistent with that observed in previous studies and similar across arms, with no new adverse events (AEs) identified.1,4 The most common AEs at week 16 were upper respiratory tract infection, headache, hypertension, and urinary tract infection.4

About the FUTURE 5 study (NCT02404350)1

In the study, participants (n=996) with active PsA were randomized to receive Cosentyx 300 mg with LD, 150 mg with LD, 150 mg without LD, or placebo. All groups received Cosentyx or placebo at baseline (BL), weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, and then every 4 weeks. At week 16, placebo non-responders (patients with <20% improvement from BL in tender or swollen joint counts) were switched to Cosentyx 300 mg or 150 mg; remaining placebo patients were switched at week 24. The primary endpoint was ACR20 at week 16 and the key secondary endpoint was radiographic structural progression, as measured by mTSS, assessed by two blinded readers, based on hand/wrist/foot X-rays obtained at BL, week 16 (non-responders), and week 24.

With nearly 1,000 patients included in the Phase III study, FUTURE 5 is the largest randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a biologic conducted to date in PsA.

About psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Closely associated with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is part of a spectrum of long-term diseases impacting joints, known as spondyloarthritis (SpA).5 Up to 2 million people are currently diagnosed with PsA in the US and approximately one in four of people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed PsA.2,6 Symptoms of PsA include joint pain and stiffness, skin and nail psoriasis, swollen toes and fingers and persistent painful tendonitis.2 PsA can lead to irreversible joint damage and disability caused by years of inflammation.7 Up to 40% of PsA patients can suffer from joint destruction and permanent physical deformity.8

About Cosentyx (secukinumab) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A)

Cosentyx is a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAB) that selectively binds to the interleukin-17A (IL-17A) cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor.9

Cosentyx is the only IL-17a approved for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis and PsA. Cosentyx is approved in more than 70 countries, which includes the European Union countries and the US. Cosentyx is also approved for the treatment of PsA and pustular psoriasis in Japan.10

In addition, Cosentyx is approved in more than 75 countries for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, which includes the European Union countries, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, the US and Canada. In Europe, Cosentyx is approved for the first-line systemic treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients.11 In the US, Cosentyx is approved as a treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy (light therapy).12

To date, more than 100,000 patients worldwide have been prescribed Cosentyx in the post-marketing setting across all indications.13 In addition, 2017 marks 10 years since the first patient visit in a clinical trial with Cosentyx.13

INDICATIONS

Cosentyx is a human interleukin-17A antagonist indicated for the treatment of:

moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy

adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use Cosentyx if you have had a severe allergic reaction to secukinumab or any of the other ingredients in Cosentyx. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.

Cosentyx is a medicine that affects your immune system. Cosentyx may increase your risk of having serious side effects such as:

Infections

Cosentyx may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.

Your doctor should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with Cosentyx.

If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with Cosentyx and during treatment with Cosentyx.

Your doctor should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with Cosentyx. Do not take Cosentyx if you have an active TB infection.

Before starting Cosentyx, tell your doctor if you:

are being treated for an infection

have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back

have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB

think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:



- fevers, sweats, or chills - warm, red, or painful skin or

- muscle aches sores on your body

- cough - diarrhea or stomach pain

- shortness of breath - burning when you urinate

- blood in your phlegm or urinate more often than

- weight loss normal

After starting Cosentyx, call your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection listed above. Do not use Cosentyx if you have any signs of infection unless you are instructed to by your doctor.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

New cases of inflammatory bowel disease or "flare-ups" can happen with Cosentyx, and can sometimes be serious. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), tell your doctor if you have worsening disease symptoms during treatment with Cosentyx or develop new symptoms of stomach pain or diarrhea.

Serious Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions can occur. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: feeling faint; swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing or throat tightness; chest tightness; or skin rash. If you have a severe allergic reaction, do not give another injection of Cosentyx.

Before starting Cosentyx, tell your doctor if you:

have any of the conditions or symptoms listed above for infections

have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)

are allergic to latex. The needle caps contain latex.

have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take Cosentyx should not receive live vaccines.

receive live vaccines. have any other medical conditions

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Cosentyx can harm your unborn baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will use Cosentyx.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Cosentyx passes into your breast milk.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I use Cosentyx?

See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with your Cosentyx for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of Cosentyx, and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used Cosentyx Sensoready pens and prefilled syringes.

Use Cosentyx exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections of Cosentyx at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject Cosentyx. Do not try to inject Cosentyx yourself, until you or your caregiver has been shown how to inject Cosentyx by your doctor or nurse.

The most common side effects of Cosentyx include: cold symptoms, diarrhea, and upper respiratory infections. These are not all of the possible side effects of Cosentyx. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; general economic and industry conditions, including the effects of the persistently weak economic and financial environment in many countries; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 121,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

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References

Mease, PJ et al. Subcutaneous Secukinumab Inhibits Radiographic Progression in Psoriatic Arthritis: Primary Results from a Large Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Phase 3 Study. Presented as a late-breaker at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. November 7, 2017 . National Psoriasis Foundation. Media Kit. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/sites/default/files/for-media/MediaKit.pdf. Last accessed October 2017 . van der Heijde , D. Psoriatic arthritis imaging: a review of scoring methods. BMJ. 2005; 64(Suppl II):ii61ii64. doi: 10.1136. Data on File. CAIN457F2342 (FUTURE 5) Data Analysis Report. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; Sept 2017 Spondylarthritis (Spondylarthropathy). American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Web site. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Spondyloarthritis. Accessed October 2017. Gladman DD, Antoni C, Mease P, et al. Psoriatic arthritis: epidemiology, clinical features, course, and outcome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005; 64:ii14-ii17. Villani AP, Rouzaud M, Sevrain M, et al. Prevalence of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis among psoriasis patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;73(2):242-8. Mease P, Goffe BS. Diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005; 52(1):1-19 Mease, PJ, McInnes, IB, Kirkham, B, et al. Secukinumab, a human anti-interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody, in patients with psoriatic arthritis (FUTURE 2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. 2015; 386, No. 9999; p11371146. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. Review Report. Available at: http://www.pmda.go.jp/files/000216877.pdf . Accessed August 10, 2017 . Cosentyx Summary of Product Characteristics. Novartis Europharm Limited. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/003729/human_med_001832.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124. Last accessed August 2017 . Cosentyx [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ : Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2017 Novartis Data on file. Number of Patients Prescribed Cosentyx. May 2017 .

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: [email protected]

Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) [email protected] Jeannie Neufeld Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation +1 862 778 2104 (direct) +1 201 650 2728 (mobile) [email protected]

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: [email protected]

Central Samir Shah Pierre-Michel Bringer Thomas Hungerbuehler Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7944 +41 61 324 1065 +41 61 324 8425 +41 61 324 7188 North America Richard Pulik Cory Twining +1 212 830 2448 +1 212 830 2417

SOURCE Novartis

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SOUTH MIAMI, Fla., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ofo, the world's leading station-free bike-sharing company, launched operations in South Miami today.

Mayor of South Miami Phillip Stoddard and other elected officials including Vice Mayor Robert Welsh, Commissioner Gabriel Edmond, Commissioner Josh Liebman, Commissioner Walter Harris, City Manager Steven Alexander and Deputy City Manager Shari Kamali celebrated the beginning of station-free bike-sharing in the city at an event held Tuesday morning at City Hall.

"We are very excited to welcome ofo to our city," said Mayor Stoddard. "We are forward-thinking in South Miami, and station-free bike-sharing is another way to bring another technology to our community that can change the way residents experience their city, help tourists get around, improve access and positively impact our environment."

ofo bikes provide the benefits of bike-sharing without the limitations of docking stations. Bicycles are located using a GPS finder on ofo's mobile app and are equipped with a smart lock on the rear wheel. Users can unlock the bikes by scanning a QR code on the bike, using their phones. Rides cost $1 per hour.

"This marks the beginning of ofo's presence here in the Southeast," said Chris Nakutis Taylor, Head of ofo U.S. "We are grateful for the Mayor's support, and we are looking forward to building our presence here, across Florida and beyond."

Founded in 2014, ofo pioneered the concept of station-free bike-sharing. Today it operates in over 180 cities across 17 countries and generates more than 32 million daily transactions. ofo currently operates in cities across the U.S. including Seattle, Washington, D.C., the greater Boston area and Colorado, and last week launched a significant presence in Dallas.

ABOUT OFO

Founded in 2014, ofo is the world's largest station-free bicycle-sharing platform. ofo was created for sharing and aims to unlock every corner of the world by making bikes accessible to everyone. To date, ofo has connected users to more than 10 million bikes in over 180 cities across 17 countries, generated more than 32 million daily transactions and has provided over 200 million global users with 4 billion efficient, convenient and green rides. ofo partnered with the UN Development Programme in April to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and launched a partnership with Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation in August, in which ofo donate bicycles to girls living in Malawi in need of a safe way to get to school. To learn more, visit www.ofo.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS

U.S. Contact

Hannah Buzicky

Mobile: (212) 819-4879

Email: [email protected]

Global Headquarters

Angela Cai

Mobile: +86 138 1063 8166

Email: [email protected]

Hilary Shi

Mobile: +86 136 9336 7685

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ofo

Related Links

http://www.ofo.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Together with 4th of July, Thanksgiving is one of the most important US holidays of the year. One of the big stars of Thanksgiving is the turkey, and a lot rests on the bird being perfectly cooked. Olives from Spain have introduced a new way to prepare the traditional dish with a new twist.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

Stuffed Thanksgiving turkey recipe

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8217451-olives-from-spain-twist-thanksgiving-turkey/

Tradition with a touch of innovation

For those who seek to surprise their guests while participating in a day as important as Thanksgiving, Olives from Spain brings a recipe for the traditional roast turkey, with an innovative and different touch provided by table olives. The flavor of olives contains the four basic flavors; they are sweet, salty, bitter and sour. This makes them a great accompaniment with everything, Olives from Spain's recipe incorporates olives into a stuffing with, mushrooms and dried apricots. A great way to combine tradition and innovation this Thanksgiving dinner.

The fourth Thursday of November is one of the most important days of the year in the United States. A unique chance to gather around the table with loved ones and give thanks for the things they have and share that gratitude with the people around us. A custom that started in the 17th century, Thanksgiving continues to lead Americans to travel across the country to celebrate the holiday.

Thanksgiving cannot be separated from the main star of the menu that is served mostly throughout the country: the turkey. You can find the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, with the innovative touch that olives can give the stuffing, and many more ideas for one of the most important days of the year at www.haveanoliveday.eu

Stuffed Thanksgiving turkey

http://www.haveanoliveday.eu/index.php/videorecipes/holiday-recipes/114-stuffed-turkey-with-olives

http://www.haveanoliveday.eu/index.php/videorecipes/holiday-recipes/114-stuffed-turkey-with-olives Gourmet pincho

http://www.haveanoliveday.eu/index.php/videorecipes/tapas/80-gourmet-pincho

Have a Thanksgiving Day  Have an Olive Day.

About INTERACEITUNA and Olives from Spain

INTERACEITUNA is the Inter-Professional Table Olive Organization recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment that represents the entire producing sector, processing and marketing sector of table olives. Created to implement different general interest programs and activities, INTERACEITUNA promotes knowledge of the Spanish table olive and conducts research and development related to the product and production techniques. INTERACEITUNA and the European Union have partnered to promote this product.

@HaveanOliveDay

haveanoliveday

www.haveanoliveday.eu

More Information:

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Olives from Spain

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NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyft, the transportation network company, has raised its stake in women's leadership parity by announcing a multipart sponsorship of Take The Lead Day, a global day of action in support of women's leadership parity on November 14th.

"Lyft has always been at the forefront of advancing women and fighting for gender equality in the workplace," says Drena Kusari, Lyft General Manager, Southwest Region. "This is an amazing opportunity for Lyft to continue to support other organizations who care for and fight for the same cause."

A long-standing supporter of women both in and out of its organization, Lyft will donate $10 to Take The Lead, the women's leadership nonprofit, every time a new user downloads the app and uses the code TAKETHELEAD as a passenger on that day. This partnership begins today and will last for one year, November 2018.

It will also offer special discount codes nationally for new and existing riders who use the service to attend any of the Take The Lead Day events and watch parties across the country. Events are scheduled in over 89 cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Phoenix.

Lyft is revving up its recruitment for women drivers on Take The Lead Day. The company has joined up with Take The Lead to offer their female drivers a chance to take a three-part virtual training course taught by Take The Lead Leadership Ambassadors in December. The training will be taught by Jenn Manuel, Felicia Davis, and Kristie Holmes and will cover critical areas in the curriculum Take The Lead cofounder Gloria Feldt created to teach women skills, techniques, and concepts needed as women move up in their careers.

And in Phoenix, Lyft is giving their drivers special Take The Lead Day materials to share on November 14th with their riders. Lyft will play a part in Phoenix's own Take The Lead Day event hosted at Galvanize and scheduled with a full day's and evening's worth of programming featuring speakers from Take The Lead, GoDaddy, Phos Labs, Synapse Studios, and Hera Hub.

Drena Kusari, Lyft's southwest region general manager, played a critical part in bringing Lyft and Take The Lead together for the November 14th event. A survivor of the war in Bosnia, she spent time after the conflict working with refugee families and was recently chosen for the Athena Young Professional Award given by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, in recognition for her work in the community. The team she leads has been instrumental in creating innovative ways in which the company and the nonprofit could work together on this special day.

Concerning the partnership on Take The Lead Day, Kusari says, "Both organizations stand for the advancement of women and gender equality in leadership. Lyft walks the talk and everyone at Lyft works to achieve gender parity in leadership and the workplace. There is synergy among the work that both organizations and doing it together means hopefully getting there faster, more convincingly."

Take The Lead's cofounders Gloria Feldt and Amy Litzenberger are thrilled with Lyft's support for the global day of action and for what it says about its commitment to helping women. Feldt says, "I want to express my deep gratitude to the Lyft team -- I am proud to have them as a partner on Take The Lead Day and expect other companies to follow Lyft's lead as we must commit to closing the gender leadership gap and achieving our goal of parity by 2025." And Litzenberger adds "Gloria & I believe in taking both small and giant leaps for change, and we are thrilled to be along for the ride with Lyft."

Take The Lead Day, created by the nonprofit women's leadership organization Take The Lead, is hosting events, skills-based workshops, interactive panels, live stream watch parties, webinars in over 90 cities and 10 countries on November 14th to help provide women with the tools and confidence to move women's leadership parity forward, 70 years ahead of time.

In their NYC hub, the Helen Mills Auditorium, the organization will host Powertopia Symposium, a half-day program of skill-based workshops and interactive panels led by expert women in every field. The day will end with a star-studded program of music, poetry, and theater featuring Former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, "Orange is the New Black" actress Alysia Reiner, actress Kathleen Turner, rock group BETTY, poet Brooke Axtell and much more. For more on this day, www.taketheleadday.com. For more on Lyft, https://www.lyft.com/press

SOURCE Take The Lead

Related Links

https://www.taketheleadday.com


"The launch of this new Fund demonstrates OppenheimerFunds commitment to developing client-centric solutions in the midstream energy sector," said Brian Watson, director of research and senior portfolio manager. "This Fund continues our legacy of innovation in the MLP and energy infrastructure space."

The Fund will be structured as a traditional flow-through mutual fund with no fund level taxation.

"The SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund provides investors seeking to limit the impact of fund level taxation an additional option. By limiting the Fund's MLP holdings to 25%, the Fund can qualify for pass-through tax treatment," said Cartner.

The universe of investable midstream companies structured as c-corps has expanded significantly since the launch of the original SteelPath funds in 2010.

"Our proven bottoms-up, risk-focused investment process will drive the construction of the portfolio to help our clients achieve their investment goals," said Coble.

OFI SteelPath, a leading innovator in developing midstream energy investment products, was first to market with MLP-focused open-end mutual funds, providing investors convenient access to the asset class. Energy infrastructure assets include pipelines, tanks, rail cars, ships, terminals, and storage facilities characterized by their strategic importance and largely fee-based revenues.

OppenheimerFunds' SteelPath MLP funds were recently ranked as three of the top five funds in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Mutual Funds  Energy Limited Partnership"i rankings, with the Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 Fund coming in second, the Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Fund fourth and the Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income Fund fifth.

SteelPath's current mutual fund lineup includes:

About OppenheimerFunds

OppenheimerFunds, Inc., a leader in global asset management, is dedicated to providing solutions for its partners and end investors. OppenheimerFunds, including its subsidiaries, manages more than $246 billion in assets for over 13 million shareholder accounts, including sub-accounts, as of October 31, 2017.

Founded in 1959, OppenheimerFunds is an asset manager with a history of providing innovative strategies to its investors. The firm's 16 investment management teams specialize in equity, fixed income, alternative, multi-asset, and revenue-weighted-ETF strategies, including ESG. OppenheimerFunds and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of products and services to clients, who range from endowments and sovereigns to financial advisors and individual investors. OppenheimerFunds and certain of its subsidiaries provide advisory services to the Oppenheimer family of funds, and OFI Global Asset Management offers solutions to institutions. The firm is also active through its Philanthropy & Community initiative: 10,000 Kids by 2020, reaching children with introductions to math literacy programs.

Web: oppenheimerfunds.com

Tweets: twitter.com/OppFunds

Podcasts: oppenheimerfunds.com/advisors/podcasts

Small and mid-sized company stock is typically more volatile than that of larger company stock. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small-sized company, if any gain is realized at all. Investments in securities of growth companies may be volatile. Investing in MLPs involves additional risks as compared to the risks of investing in common stock, including risks related to cash flow, dilution and voting rights. The Fund may invest no more than 25% of total assets in MLPs. Energy infrastructure companies are subject to risks specific to the industry such as fluctuations in commodity prices, reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities, environmental hazards, changes in the macroeconomic or the regulatory environment or extreme weather. MLPs may trade less frequently than larger companies due to their smaller capitalizations which may result in erratic price movement or difficulty in buying or selling. Below-investment-grade ("high yield" or "junk") bonds are more at risk of default and are subject to liquidity risk. Foreign investments may be volatile and involve additional expenses and special risks, including currency fluctuations, foreign taxes, regulatory and geopolitical risks. Emerging and developing market investments may be especially volatile. The Fund is classified as a "non-diversified" fund and may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer.

Shares of Oppenheimer funds are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not guaranteed by any bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency, and involve investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Before investing in any of the Oppenheimer funds, investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses contain this and other information about the funds, and may be obtained by asking your financial advisor, visiting oppenheimerfunds.com or calling 1.800.CALL OPP (225.5677). Read prospectuses and summary prospectuses carefully before investing.

Oppenheimer funds are distributed by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.

225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281-1008

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i The U.S. News Mutual Fund Score is produced using an equal weighting of the overall ratings provided by their data sources. Individual fund rating systems are normalized to a 100-point scale based on point totals assigned to individual scoring systems. For Morningstar's and CFRA's five-Star ranking and Zacks five-point scale, each star or point awarded would receive 20 points. In TheStreet.com's A-to-E scale, a highly rated "A" fund would receive 100 points, while a low-rated "E" would receive 20 points. The five Lipper Leader categories are each worth a total of 20 points, giving 4 points to each 1-to-5 point scale assigned to each section of the Lipper rankings. The U.S. News score is calculated by dividing total points awarded according to the above system by the number data sources (5). The combined U.S. News Mutual Fund Score ranks funds numerically based on this score. Funds with identical scores to one decimal place are awarded the same numerical ranking. Funds must be ranked by all five data sources to receive a U.S. News Mutual Fund Score. Lipper rankings are comprised of five unique measures (Total Return, Consistent Return, Preservation, Expense, and Tax Efficiency), each with a 1-to-5 score. While the U.S. News Mutual Fund Score combines all five equally weighted category scores to achieve its weighting in our score, Lipper intends its measures to be used as individual assessments of a fund's ability to meet specific goals, rather than as a cumulative measure of fund quality. The U.S. News Mutual Fund Score groups funds by their Morningstar fund category (Energy Limited Partnership funds). However, some systems use different categorizations when ranking funds.

SOURCE OppenheimerFunds

Related Links

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AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsley Energy, Inc. (NYSE: PE) ("Parsley," "Parsley Energy," or the "Company") today announced financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The Company has posted to its website a presentation that supplements the information in this release.

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights

Net production averaged 71.5 MBoe per day, up 11% versus 2Q17 and 66% year-over-year. Daily net oil production increased 10% versus 2Q17 and 63% year-over-year.

The Company continues to execute acreage trades that optimize the development potential of its Midland Basin footprint. Net of acreage traded away, Parsley added more than 1.2 million net lateral feet to the Company's horizontal drilling inventory through trades executed since its last quarterly update in August. Including this footage, Parsley has added approximately 2.6 million net lateral feet through acreage trades since announcing the acquisition of Midland Basin assets from Double Eagle Permian, LLC and certain of its affiliates in February 2017 , while consolidating key development areas.

, while consolidating key development areas. Parsley built upon an encouraging 2Q17 result from a well utilizing a compressed stage completion design with several additional compressed stage tests during 3Q17. Relative to offset wells utilizing the Company's standard completion design, these compressed stage wells in the Midland Basin exhibit a meaningful uplift in oil production accompanied by a more modest cost increase, translating to an enhanced return profile.

The Company amended its revolving credit agreement on October 11, 2017 , thereby increasing its borrowing base to $1.8 billion while maintaining the Company's elected commitment amount of $1.0 billion . As of the end of 3Q17, pro forma for the October issuance of $700 million of senior unsecured notes due 2027, liquidity stands at approximately $1.9 billion , including $934 million of cash on hand.

Preliminary 2018 Outlook

Parsley's preliminary 2018 capital program targets high-margin oil volume growth with top-tier capital efficiency on a steady development pace.

The Company estimates that capital expenditures of $1.35-$1.55 billion would translate to oil production of 67.5-72.5 MBo per day.

would translate to oil production of 67.5-72.5 MBo per day. While almost half of the wells Parsley has drilled and completed over the past four quarters have been located in new counties, targeted new formations, and/or implemented new spacing arrangements, the Company intends to focus on relatively established areas, formations, and configurations in 2018.

"Parsley Energy's core objective is to create long-term shareholder value by investing large amounts of capital at high rates of return," said Bryan Sheffield, Parsley's Chairman and CEO. "Having added almost 100,000 net acres and essentially doubled our activity level since the beginning of the year, we intend to stabilize at a measured development pace that prioritizes operational continuity and advances our progress toward free cash flow generation. Based on the momentum we have generated and our track record of capital efficient investment, if we were to maintain our current development pace for the next two years, at current strip prices we would expect to generate free cash flow from operations by the end of 2019. In the interim, we would expect to fund the associated development program entirely with operating cash flow and current cash on hand. In addition, with services and equipment largely secured and a robust hedge position in place, we have taken steps to insure a compelling 2018 development program."

Operational Highlights

During the third quarter, the Company spud 38 and completed 36 gross horizontal wells. Parsley's working interest on completed wells was approximately 97%, with an average completed lateral length of approximately 7,700 feet. Drilling and completion activity was concentrated in the Midland Basin, where the Company spud 24 and completed 27 gross operated horizontal wells; the balance were spud and completed in the Southern Delaware Basin.

In light of enhanced lease geometry as facilitated by recent acreage trades, the Company anticipates a significant step up in the average lateral lengths of the wells it will bring online in future periods. Through the end of 2018, for example, the Company expects that the wells it turns to production will be characterized by average lateral lengths of more than 9,000 feet.

Production Trends

Parsley is replacing its one million Boe type curve (based on a 7,000 foot lateral) with a 1.6 million Boe Midland Basin reference curve (based on a 10,000 foot lateral). This revised Midland Basin curve better reflects the Company's expanded acreage footprint, recognizes the shift to higher average lateral lengths, and captures incremental gas and NGL production based on actual results. The Company is also introducing a 1.5 million Boe reference curve for the Southern Delaware Basin (likewise based on a 10,000 foot lateral). Details on these new curves can be found in the 3Q17 investor presentation posted to the Company's website.

Parsley continued to deliver solid well performance during 3Q17, helping to offset previously disclosed impacts from Hurricane Harvey-related curtailments. The 20 Midland Basin wells that achieved 30-day peak production periods since the Company's last quarterly update registered an average peak 30-day rate of 1,177 Boe per day with an average lateral length of 7,229' and an average three-stream oil cut of 72%. The four Southern Delaware wells that reached peak production since the Company's last update achieved an average 30-day initial production rate of 1,333 Boe per day with an average lateral length of 7,867' and an average three-stream oil cut of 67%.

Parsley's first well targeting the Wolfcamp C formation, the Taylor 45-33-4601H, continues to generate robust volumes, with cumulative production of over 525 MBoe (56% oil) after 240 days. The Taylor well achieved payout within six months and was still producing over 700 Bbls of oil per day after eight months on production. The Company's second Wolfcamp C well, the Paige 13A-12A-4810H, reported a peak 60-day production rate of nearly 1,600 Boe per day (~56% oil) and has generated cumulative volumes that are consistent with the Company's Midland Basin reference curve.

Parsley built upon an encouraging 2Q17 result from a well utilizing a compressed stage completion design with six additional compressed stage tests during 3Q17. These seven wells were drilled with one-mile laterals and completed with 50 stages on average, equating to 100-foot stage spacing versus Parsley's heretofore standard design of 170-foot stage spacing. Compared to the nearest offset wells using a standard stage spacing design, these seven compressed stage wells have registered a 10-25% uplift in cumulative oil production, with an incremental well cost of 5-7%. This cost/benefit relationship continues to imply a compelling economic profile, motivating additional tests during 2018.

Financial Highlights

During 3Q17, the Company recorded net loss attributable to its stockholders of $13.3 million, or $0.05 per weighted average share, compared to net income of $40.7 million, or $0.17 per weighted average share, during 2Q17. Excluding, on a tax-adjusted basis, certain items that the Company does not view as indicative of its ongoing financial performance, and adding back the non-controlling interest allocated to Class B stockholders, adjusted net income for 3Q17 was $29.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $12.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in 2Q17.(1)

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and exploration expense ("Adjusted EBITDAX") for 3Q17 was $164.9 million, up 15% compared to 2Q17.(1)

During the third quarter, Parsley successfully reduced production costs on recently acquired wells, leading to an 11% decrease in lease operating expense ("LOE") per Boe to $4.49 in 3Q17 from $5.03 in 2Q17. Parsley reported general and administrative expense ("G&A") per Boe of $5.10, down 5% versus 2Q17. The Company reported cash G&A per Boe, which excludes stock-based compensation expense, of $4.32, down 4% over the same period. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense per Boe increased to $14.41 in 3Q17 from $14.15 in 2Q17.

Parsley reported capital expenditures of $307 million during the quarter, comprised of $281 million for drilling and completion and $26 million for facilities and infrastructure. In addition to spending associated with the 38 horizontal spuds and 36 horizontal completions noted above, 3Q17 capital expenditures include expenses associated with drilling and completing three saltwater disposal wells.

Strong Balance Sheet and Robust Hedge Position

As of September 30, 2017, pro forma for the October issuance of $700 million of senior unsecured notes due 2027, the Company had approximately $1.9 billion of liquidity, consisting of $934 million of cash on hand and an undrawn amount of $997.3 million on the Company's revolver.(2) Based on the midpoint of Parsley's preliminary 2018 oil production outlook, the Company is fully hedged through 2018 with an average floor price of approximately $50/Bbl.(3)

For details on Parsley's hedging position, please see the tables below under Supplemental Information and/or the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, upon availability, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Conference Call Information

Parsley Energy will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2017 on Wednesday, November 8 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Central Time). Participants should call 877-407-0672 (United States/Canada) or 412-902-0003 (International) 10 minutes before the scheduled time and request the Parsley Energy conference call. A telephone replay will be available shortly after the call through November 15 by dialing 877-660-6853 (United States/Canada) or 201-612-7415 (International). Conference ID: 13671668. A live broadcast will also be available on the internet at www.parsleyenergy.com under the "Events & Presentations" section of the website. The Company has also posted to its website a presentation that supplements the information in this release.

About Parsley Energy, Inc.

Parsley Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.parsleyenergy.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Parsley Energy's expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this news release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Parsley Energy's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Parsley Energy does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Parsley Energy to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements found in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risk factors and other factors noted in the Company's SEC filings could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

_____________ (1) "Adjusted EBITDAX" and "adjusted net income" are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Please see the supplemental financial information at the end of this news release for definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted EBITDAX and adjusted net income to GAAP financial measures. (2) Fully undrawn revolver balance is net of letters of credit. (3) Average floor price refers to the Company's weighted average long put price for 2018.

- Tables to Follow -

Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Selected Operating Data (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended

September 30, 2017

June 30, 2017

September 30, 2016 Net production volumes:









Oil (MBbls) 4,342



3,917



2,669

Natural gas (MMcf) 6,265



5,421



3,553

Natural gas liquids (MBbls) 1,194



1,069



695

Total (MBoe) 6,581



5,890



3,956

Average net daily production (Boe/d) 71,534



64,725



43,000

Average sales prices (1) :









Oil, without realized derivatives (per Bbl) $ 45.80



$ 45.46



$ 42.23

Oil, with realized derivatives (per Bbl) $ 45.51



$ 45.49



$ 46.19

Natural gas, without realized derivatives (per Mcf) $ 2.49



$ 2.39



$ 2.38

Natural gas, with realized derivatives (per Mcf) $ 2.45



$ 2.36



$ 2.38

NGLs (per Bbl) $ 22.23



$ 19.02



$ 15.50

Total, without realized derivatives (per Boe) $ 36.62



$ 35.89



$ 33.35

Total, with realized derivatives (per Boe) $ 36.39



$ 35.87



$ 36.03

Average costs (per Boe):









Lease operating expenses $ 4.49



$ 5.03



$ 4.15

Production and ad valorem taxes $ 2.25



$ 1.93



$ 2.12

Depreciation, depletion and amortization $ 14.41



$ 14.15



$ 16.62

General and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation) $ 5.10



$ 5.39



$ 6.24

General and administrative expenses (cash based) $ 4.32



$ 4.50



$ 5.40







(1) Average prices shown in the table include transportation and gathering costs and reflect prices both before and after the effects of the Company's realized commodity hedging transactions. The Company's calculation of such effects includes both realized gains and losses on cash settlements for commodity derivative transactions and premiums paid or received on options that settled during the period.

Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited, in thousands, except for per share data)



Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 REVENUES













Oil sales $ 198,865



$ 112,705



$ 546,676



$ 255,865

Natural gas sales 15,601



8,457



41,051



19,834

Natural gas liquids sales 26,547



10,770



64,296



24,811

Other 8



605



3,533



1,388

Total revenues 241,021



132,537



655,556



301,898

OPERATING EXPENSES













Lease operating expenses 29,525



16,407



76,783



44,509

Production and ad valorem taxes 14,808



8,391



37,367



18,993

Depreciation, depletion and amortization 94,819



65,741



247,104



171,113

General and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation) 33,573



24,695



89,376



61,301

Exploration costs 88



3,113



5,293



12,779

Acquisition costs 2,449



440



10,969



926

Accretion of asset retirement obligations 268



190



597



575

Other operating expenses 2,419



1,220



7,205



3,767

Total operating expenses 177,949



120,197



474,694



313,963

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 63,072



12,340



180,862



(12,065)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)













Interest expense, net (21,866)



(15,561)



(59,417)



(38,954)

Loss on sale of property 











(119)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 







(3,891)





(Loss) gain on derivatives (61,955)



1,374



6,175



(23,842)

Change in TRA liability 







(20,549)





Other income (expense) 508



(1,073)



1,281



(1,605)

Total other expense, net (83,313)



(15,260)



(76,401)



(64,520)

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES (20,241)



(2,920)



104,461



(76,585)

INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE) 5,080



1,279



(25,538)



21,765

NET (LOSS) INCOME (15,161)



(1,641)



78,923



(54,820)

LESS: NET LOSS (INCOME) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS 1,828



(1,065)



(22,068)



11,383

NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARSLEY ENERGY, INC. STOCKHOLDERS $ (13,333)



$ (2,706)



$ 56,855



$ (43,437)

















Net (loss) income per common share:













Basic $ (0.05)



$ (0.02)



$ 0.24



$ (0.28)

Diluted $ (0.05)



$ (0.02)



$ 0.24



$ (0.28)

Weighted average common shares outstanding:













Basic 246,518



173,241



237,725



156,018

Diluted 246,518



173,241



238,785



156,018







* Certain reclassifications and adjustments to prior period amounts have been made to conform with current presentation.

Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in thousands)



September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016

(In thousands) ASSETS





CURRENT ASSETS





Cash and cash equivalents $ 242,547



$ 133,379

Restricted cash 4,448



3,290

Accounts receivable:





Joint interest owners and other 31,875



12,698

Oil, natural gas and NGLs 94,790



59,174

Related parties 207



290

Short-term derivative instruments, net 94,709



39,708

Other current assets 5,791



50,949

Total current assets 474,367



299,488

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT





Oil and natural gas properties, successful efforts method 8,150,403



4,063,417

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment (732,690)



(506,175)

Total oil and natural gas properties, net 7,417,713



3,557,242

Other property, plant and equipment, net 87,562



59,318

Total property, plant and equipment, net 7,505,275



3,616,560

NONCURRENT ASSETS





Long-term derivative instruments, net 60,953



16,416

Other noncurrent assets 8,838



6,318

Total noncurrent assets 69,791



22,734

TOTAL ASSETS $ 8,049,433



$ 3,938,782









LIABILITIES AND EQUITY





CURRENT LIABILITIES





Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 313,905



$ 162,317

Revenue and severance taxes payable 95,939



69,452

Current portion of long-term debt 8,037



67,214

Short-term derivative instruments, net 90,244



44,153

Current portion of asset retirement obligations 5,624



1,818

Total current liabilities 513,749



344,954

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES





Long-term debt 1,487,271



1,041,324

Asset retirement obligations 14,323



9,574

Deferred tax liability 9,234



5,483

Payable pursuant to TRA liability 114,876



94,326

Long-term derivative instruments, net 50,037



12,815

Total noncurrent liabilities 1,675,741



1,163,522

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES





STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding 





Common stock





Class A, $0.01 par value, 600,000,000 shares authorized, 247,890,053 shares issued and 247,739,464 shares outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 179,730,033 shares issued and 179,590,617 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 2,479



1,797

Class B, $0.01 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 66,655,716 and 28,008,573 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 667



280

Additional paid in capital 4,608,515



2,151,197

Accumulated deficit (6,400)



(63,255)

Treasury stock, at cost, 150,589 shares and 139,416 shares at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (681)



(381)

Total stockholders' equity 4,604,580



2,089,638

Noncontrolling interest 1,255,363



340,668

Total equity 5,859,943



2,430,306

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 8,049,433



$ 3,938,782



Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016

(In thousands) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:





Net income (loss) $ 78,923



$ (54,820)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation, depletion and amortization 247,104



171,113

Accretion of asset retirement obligations 597



575

Loss on sale of property 



119

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 3,891





Amortization and write off of deferred loan origination costs 2,826



2,293

Amortization of bond premium (387)



(617)

Stock-based compensation 14,630



9,466

Deferred income tax expense (benefit) 25,538



(21,765)

Change in TRA liability 20,549





(Gain) loss on derivatives (6,175)



23,842

Net cash received for derivative settlements 13,845



28,678

Net cash paid for option premiums (19,905)



(2,270)

Net premiums (paid) received on options that settled during the period (22,404)



26,181

Other 366



6,026

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:





Restricted cash (1,158)



(1,616)

Accounts receivable (54,793)



(23,295)

Accounts receivablerelated parties 83



59

Other current assets 67,543



(38,436)

Other noncurrent assets (739)



682

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 94,442



28,168

Revenue and severance taxes payable 26,487



20,817

Other noncurrent liabilities 



2

Net cash provided by operating activities 491,263



175,202

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:





Development of oil and natural gas properties (733,179)



(385,076)

Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties (2,131,361)



(864,870)

Additions to other property and equipment (31,947)



(20,818)

Proceeds from sales and exchanges of oil and natural gas properties 13,366





Other 2,893





Net cash used in investing activities (2,880,228)



(1,270,764)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:





Borrowings under long-term debt 452,780



404,000

Payments on long-term debt (68,410)



(813)

Debt issuance costs (9,281)



(8,958)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net 2,123,344



930,315

Repurchase of common stock (300)



(213)

Vesting of restricted stock units 



(91)

Net cash provided by financing activities 2,498,133



1,324,240

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 109,168



228,678

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 133,379



343,084

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 242,547



$ 571,762

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:





Cash paid for interest $ 49,565



$ 42,909

Cash paid for income taxes $ 350



$ 315

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:





Asset retirement obligations incurred, including changes in estimate $ 8,144



$ (1,124)

Additions (reductions) to oil and natural gas properties - change in capital accruals $ 57,014



$ (46,669)

Additions to other property and equipment funded by capital lease borrowings $ 3,571



$ 1,517

Common stock issued for oil and natural gas properties $ 1,183,501



$ 



Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDAX

Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measure of net income as determined by GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDAX as net income (loss) before depreciation, depletion and amortization, exploration costs, net interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), change in Tax Receivable Agreement ("TRA") liability, stock-based compensation, acquisition costs, (gain) loss on sale of property, asset retirement obligation accretion expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt, (gain) loss on derivatives, net settlements on derivative instruments, net premium realizations on options that settled during the period, and certain additional items.

Management believes Adjusted EBITDAX is useful because it allows the Company to more effectively evaluate its operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. The Company excludes the items listed above from net income in arriving at Adjusted EBITDAX because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within its industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures, and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDAX. The Company's computations of Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measure of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDAX to the GAAP financial measure of net (loss) income for each of the periods indicated.

Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Adjusted EBITDAX (Unaudited, in thousands)



Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Adjusted EBITDAX reconciliation to net (loss) income:













Net (loss) income attributable to Parsley Energy, Inc. stockholders $ (13,333)



$ (2,706)



$ 56,855



$ (43,437)

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests (1,828)



1,065



22,068



(11,383)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization 94,819



65,741



247,104



171,113

Exploration costs 88



3,113



5,293



12,779

Interest expense, net 21,866



15,561



59,417



38,954

Income tax (benefit) expense (5,080)



(1,279)



25,538



(21,765)

EBITDAX 96,532



81,495



416,275



146,261

Change in TRA liability 







20,549





Stock-based compensation 5,170



3,316



14,630



9,466

Acquisition costs 2,449



440



10,969



926

Loss on sale of property 











119

Accretion of asset retirement obligations 268



190



597



575

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 







3,891





Loss (gain) on derivatives 61,955



(1,374)



(6,175)



23,842

Net settlements on derivative instruments 10,982



5,373



15,654



24,560

Net premium realization on options that settled during the period (12,487)



5,215



(22,404)



26,181

Adjusted EBITDAX $ 164,869



$ 94,655



$ 453,986



$ 231,930







* Certain reclassifications to prior period amounts have been made to conform with current presentation.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income is a performance measure used by management to evaluate financial performance, prior to non-cash gains or losses on derivatives, net cash received for derivative settlements, net premiums received on options that settled during the period, (gain) loss on sale of property, exploration costs, acquisition costs, loss on early extinguishment of debt, and change in TRA liability, while adjusting for noncontrolling interest and the associated changes in estimated income tax. Management believes adjusted net income is useful because it may enhance investors' ability to assess Parsley's historical and future financial performance. Adjusted net income should not be considered an alternative to consolidated net income, operating income, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net income to the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss).

Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Adjusted Net Income and Net Income Per Share (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)



Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Net (loss) income - as reported $ (13,333)



$ (2,706)



$ 56,855



$ (43,437)

















Adjustments:













Loss (gain) on derivatives 61,955



(1,374)



(6,175)



23,842

Net settlements on derivative instruments 10,982



5,373



15,654



24,560

Net premium realization on options that settled during the period (12,487)



5,215



(22,404)



26,181

Loss on sale of property 











119

Exploration costs 88



3,113



5,293



12,779

Acquisition costs 2,449



440



10,969



926

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 







3,891





Change in TRA liability 







20,549





Noncontrolling interest (13,472)



799



(6,872)



(11,643)

Change in estimated income tax (6,839)



(4,203)



4,819



(25,280)

Adjusted net income $ 29,343



$ 6,657



$ 82,579



$ 8,047

















Net (loss) income per diluted share - as reported(1) $ (0.05)



$ (0.02)



$ 0.24



$ (0.28)

















Adjustments:













Loss (gain) on derivatives $ 0.25



$ (0.01)



$ (0.03)



$ 0.13

Net settlements on derivative instruments 0.04



0.03



0.07



0.13

Net premium realization on options that settled during the period (0.05)



0.03



(0.09)



0.14

Exploration costs 



0.02



0.02



0.07

Acquisition costs 0.01







0.05





Loss on early extinguishment of debt 







0.02





Change in TRA liability 







0.08





Noncontrolling interest (0.05)







(0.03)



(0.06)

Change in estimated income tax (0.03)



(0.02)



0.02



(0.13)

Adjustment for change in weighted average diluted share count(1)(2) 











0.04

Adjusted net income per diluted share(2) $ 0.12



$ 0.03



$ 0.35



$ 0.04

















Basic weighted average shares outstanding - as reported(1) 246,518



173,241



237,725



156,018

Effect of dilutive securities:













Class B Common Stock 













Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units 







1,060





Diluted weighted average shares outstanding - as reported(1) 246,518



173,241



238,785



156,018

















Effect of dilutive securities:













Class B Common Stock 



29,223







31,164

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units 



1,129







965

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for adjusted net income(2) 246,518



203,593



238,785



188,147



___________ (1) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and and the three months ended September 30, 2017, the number of weighted average diluted shares used to calculate actual net income per share is based on the fact that, under the "if converted" and treasury stock methods, Class B Common Stock and restricted stock and restricted stock units were note recognized because they would have been antidilutive. (2) For purposes of calculating adjusted net income per diluted share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Class B Common Stock was not recognized because it would have been antidilutive using the "if converted" method and, for the three months ended September 30, 2017, restricted stock and restricted stock units were not recognized because they would have been antidilutive using the treasury stock method.

Supplemental Information Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Open Crude Oil Derivatives Positions (1)



4Q17

1Q18

2Q18

3Q18

4Q18

1Q19

2Q19

3Q19

4Q19 Put Spreads (MBbls/d) (2) 45.5



38.3



37.9



39.1



42.4



11.7



11.5









Put Price ($/Bbl) $ 50.96



$ 51.74



$ 51.09



$ 46.69



$ 49.71



$ 50.00



$ 50.00









Short Put Price ($/Bbl) $ 41.43



$ 40.65



$ 41.09



$ 39.69



$ 39.71



$ 40.00



$ 40.00









Three Way Collars (MBbls/d) (3)



21.7



28.0



31.0



31.0



8.3



8.2



8.2



8.2

Short Call Price ($/Bbl)



$ 68.85



$ 70.79



$ 75.65



$ 75.65



$ 80.40



$ 80.40



$ 80.40



$ 80.40

Put Price ($/Bbl)



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00



$ 50.00

Short Put Price ($/Bbl)



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00



$ 40.00

Premium Realization ($ MM) (4) $ (9.6)



$ (19.6)



$ (18.0)



$ (18.3)



$ (19.6)



$ (5.9)



$ (5.9)



$ (1.5)



$ (1.5)

Collars (MBbls/d) (5) 4.0







3.0



3.0



3.0

















Short Call Price ($/Bbl) $ 59.98







$ 61.31



$ 61.31



$ 61.31

















Put Price ($/Bbl) $ 46.75







$ 45.67



$ 45.67



$ 45.67

















Swaps (MBbls/d) 0.5

































Strike Price ($/Bbl) $ 55.00

































Total MBbls/d Hedged 50.0



60.0



68.9



73.1



76.4



20.0



19.8



8.2



8.2





































Mid-Cush Basis Swaps (MBbls/d) 16.7



11.5



11.4



11.3



11.3

















Swap Price ($/Bbl) $ (1.00)



$ (0.86)



$ (0.86)



$ (0.86)



$ (0.86)



















Parsley Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Open Natural Gas Derivatives Positions (1)



4Q17

1Q18 Three Way Collars (MMBtu/d) (3) 15.5



26.7

Call Price ($/MMBtu) $ 4.02



$ 4.70

Put Price ($/MMBtu) $ 2.75



$ 3.25

Short Put Price ($/MMBtu) $ 2.36



$ 2.60

Swaps (MMBtu/d) 5.0



5.0

Strike Price ($/MMBtu) $ 3.46



$ 3.50

Total MMBtu/d Hedged 20.5



31.7



__________ (1) As of 11/7/2017. (2) When the NYMEX price is above the put price, Parsley receives the NYMEX price. When the NYMEX price is between the put price and the short put price, Parsley receives the put price. When the NYMEX price is below the short put price, Parsley receives the NYMEX price plus the difference between the short put price and the put price. (3) Functions similarly to put spreads except that when the index price is at or above the call price, Parsley receives the call price. (4) Premium realizations represent net premiums paid (including deferred premiums), which are recognized as income or loss in the period of settlement. (5) When the NYMEX price is above the call price, Parsley receives the call price. When the NYMEX price is below the put price, Parsley receives the put price. When the NYMEX price is between the call and put prices, Parsley receives the NYMEX price.

SOURCE Parsley Energy, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.parsleyenergy.com


BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) and its employees are heading to camp to help kids fine-tune their diabetes management skills and build healthy habits. As a new, national sponsor of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), PHLY is contributing $100,000 to the ADA's Camp program. ADA Camps provide a fun and unique experience for children and families living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and those at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

PHLY employees are raising money and volunteering nationwide to promote diabetes awareness. To kick off the partnership last month, PHLY employees:

Packed healthy lunches as part of ADA's National Healthy Lunch Day

Organized clothing drives

Participated in spin class fundraisers

Were trained to host health fairs on behalf of the ADA

PHLY offices are also participating in Step Out 5K Walk and Run events across the U.S. and will be engaging with the ADA in November for National Diabetes Awareness Month.

"Diabetes is a serious, but manageable disease. Working together with the American Diabetes Association is a unique opportunity for our employees to make a difference in the lives of young people," shared Bob O'Leary, president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. "For years we've excelled at being a premiere insurance carrier for non-profit and human service organizations, camps, and other businesses. Being a national sponsor of ADA Camps bridges our business with our culture of giving back through health and wellness."

For nearly 70 years, the ADA has hosted camps for children with diabetes across the country, serving more than 6,000 campers annually. A dedicated medical staff and more than 2,000 volunteersthe majority of whom are health professionals and community championsare onsite 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, often using their vacation time to be there to help campers. Many of the campers return to be camp counselors because in addition to learning how to better manage their diabetes, they develop social skills, self-confidence, and lifelong friendships.

"At the American Diabetes Association, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes, and our Camps program is an essential part of our mission," said Kelly Mueller, managing director of youth, young adult and family initiatives for the Association. "Support for Camps allows us to provide this life-changing experience for thousands of children every summer and throughout the year. While we are all aiming for a cure, we stand firmly with families as they overcome the daily challenges of managing this disease."

Since 1980, PHLY and its employees have donated nearly $35 million to charitable causes and organizations.

About Philadelphia Insurance

Philadelphia Insurance Companies designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. The Company is rated "A++" (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and "AA-" for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poor's. In business for over 50 years, PHLY is nationally recognized as a member of Ward's Top 50, one of the Best Places to Work in Insurance, and one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. The organization has more than 50 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit www.PHLY.com.

About the American Diabetes Association

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. The American Diabetes Association (Association) is the global authority on diabetes and since 1940 has been committed to its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To tackle this global public health crisis, the Association drives discovery in research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and provides support and advocacy for people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

SOURCE Philadelphia Insurance Companies

Related Links

http://www.phly.com


DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pique Therapeutics, Inc. today announced positive results for PT 107 from its Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with late-stage, second-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These results will be presented at the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 32nd Annual Meeting, being held November 8-12 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Primary Endpoint

Median overall survival for patients receiving treatment with PT 107 (PT 107 arm) was 12.5 months versus 8.4 months for patients who received placebo (control arm), with a hazard ratio of 0.65 (p=0.06, all p-values two-sided). In the subset of 71 non-squamous patients, median overall survival was 15.5 months (PT 107 arm) vs. 5.8 months (control arm), with a hazard ratio of 0.46 (p<0.01).

"We are very encouraged to see such positive results with a single agent in late stage non-small cell lung cancer," said Christopher S. Meldrum, President of Pique Therapeutics. "The improvement in overall survival, particularly the significant 10-month benefit seen in non-squamous patients, highlight the promise of PT 107."

Secondary Endpoints

Median time to progression for the PT 107 arm was 4.0 months versus 2.5 months for the control arm, with a statistically significant hazard ratio of 0.45 (p=0.01). Median progression-free survival for the PT 107 arm was 3.9 months versus 2.9 months for the control arm, with a hazard ratio of 0.67 (p=0.08).

Safety

There were no drug-related serious adverse events reported for patients on PT 107, consistent with previous clinical experience, and minimal causal grade 3+ toxicity (5%).

"We will now seek to move PT 107 forward in collaboration with a partner," said Meldrum. "The results of this trial indicate that this first-in-class therapeutic vaccine has tremendous potential as a therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, both as a stand-alone treatment, as well as in conjunction with other treatments, such as standard of care checkpoint inhibitors."

The Phase 2 trial was a multi-center, randomized (2:1) double-blind clinical trial, and enrolled 94 patients with Stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed following previous therapy. The Phase 2 trial was seeking to confirm the safety of PT 107, and further evaluate the efficacy of the drug. PT 107 had similar survival benefits across a variety of subgroup analyses, including by age, smoking status, and stage of cancer, but was distinct by type of NSCLC, with non-squamous patients faring much better than squamous patients, as compared to placebo.

About Pique Therapeutics

Pique Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company seeking to become the leader in the development and commercialization of new therapeutic vaccines, focused initially on the treatment of cancer. The Company was founded on research licensed from the University of Miami and discovered by the late Eckhard R. Podack, M.D., Ph.D., one of the pioneering researchers in the field of immunotherapy. Dr. Podack was the discoverer of perforin-1 and perforin-2, and also created the technology underlying brentuximab (Adcetris), used in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.

About PT 107

Pique's lead product, PT 107, is a first-in-class allogeneic whole cell vaccine for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. In a previous Phase 1 trial, PT 107 was shown to induce robust cytolytic T cells that persisted for more than two years, was well tolerated, and exhibited a very good safety profile in cancer patients. In this trial, PT 107 showed a dramatic improvement in median overall survival for patients with second-line, late-stage non-small cell lung cancer, more than doubling the expected survival in these patients. Remarkably, over 30% of PT 107-treated patients survived 4 years or longer.

Contact:

Christopher S. Meldrum

President

Pique Therapeutics, Inc.

(919) 473-9296

[email protected]

SOURCE Pique Therapeutics, Inc.
FRANKFURT, Germany, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is pleased to announce that it was recognised as the 'Industry Partner of the Year' at the recently held Global Generics & Biosimilars Awards 2017, in Frankfurt, Germany. It competed with several global peers in this category and emerged as the winner.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20170320/480020LOGO )



"It is a great moment for Piramal and I would like to congratulate everyone who has worked hard at making this recognition possible. Understanding customers' needs and delivering on our commitments in time are central tenets at Piramal," said Vivek Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Piramal Pharma Solutions. He added, "PPS is built on the pillars of Customer Centricity and Quality. Our belief is that these values will allow us to become a 'Partner of Choice' for the life sciences industry - it is great to see that the award recognises the progress we have made on this journey. I thank all our partners for their trust in us, and promise that we will work on getting even better in assisting customers deliver cost-effective medicines that impact human lives."

Anil Srivastava, Business Head - API Generics, said, "I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of Team Piramal who helped build confidence in our partners with years of commitment and dependability. We aspire to continue partnering with our customers, ensuring relevant products, impeccable quality standards and compliance records, innovative and efficient R&D, and delivery excellence with the larger goal of assisting in the development of cost-effective, life-saving medicines, which improve the quality of life."

The Global Generics & Biosimilars Awards 2017 rewards 'best practice' in two sectors, while at the same time encouraging improvements in every aspect of the way business is conducted. Every award effectively underscores the efforts made by the global generics and biosimilars sectors to make affordable medicines available to more people across the globe. These are among the most coveted recognitions in the pharmaceutical industry.

Piramal Pharma Solutions is a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with a large portfolio of APIs, intermediates and formulations. Since its inception in 1995, Piramal's Generic API business has been the preferred partner of customers for providing a wide range of quality APIs. The Generic API business has grown consistently over the years based on strong customer relationships, a stand out quality record, an emphasis on innovation, and a stellar reputation on time delivery and customer centricity. Piramal holds a successful performance record of over 20 years of supplying API to U.S. and European markets from facilities located in India and the UK. All the facilities meet global regulatory requirements, cGMP compliance standards and are FDA inspected and approved.

About Piramal Enterprises Limited:

Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL) is one of India's large diversified companies, with a presence in Financial Services, Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Insights & Analytics. PEL's consolidated revenues were over US$1.3 billion in FY2017, with 51% of revenues generated from outside India.

In Financial Services, PEL provides comprehensive financing solutions to real estate companies. The division's Corporate Finance Group (CFG) also provides senior and mezzanine growth capital to various businesses across varied sectors that are integral part of India's growth story. The division has also launched Distressed Asset Investing platform that will invest in equity and/or debt in assets across sectors (other than real estate) to drive restructuring with active participation in turnaround. The total funds under management under all these businesses are over US$5.5 billion. The Company has recently launched a retail housing finance vertical. The Company also has strategic alliances with top global funds such as APG Asset Management, Bain Capital Credit, CPPIB Credit Investment Inc. and Ivanhoe Cambridge (CDPQ). PEL also has long term equity investments worth ~US$1 billion in Shriram Group, a leading financial conglomerate in India.

In Pharma, through an end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 13 global facilities and a large global distribution network to over 100 countries, PEL sells a portfolio of niche differentiated pharma products and provides an entire pool of pharma services (including in the areas of injectable, HPAPI etc.). The Company is also strengthening its presence in the Consumer Product segment in India.

PEL's Healthcare Insights & Analytics business, Decision Resources Group, is the premier provider of healthcare analytics, data & insight products and services to the world's leading pharma, biotech and medical technology companies and enables them to take informed business decisions.

PEL is listed on the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited in India.

For more information:

For Investors:

Hitesh Dhaddha/Bhavna Sinyal

Investor Relations

Contact: +91-22-3046-6444/6570

Email: [email protected]

For Media Queries:

Dimple Kapur/Rohan Sharma

Corporate Communications

Contact: +91-22-3351-4269/4094

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Piramal Pharma Solutions
HAMPTON, N.H., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights

Total revenue increased from the prior year period by 12.1% to $97.5 million .

. System-wide same store sales increased 9.3%.

Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $15.3 million , or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of $3.4 million , or $0.08 per diluted share in the prior year period.

, or per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of , or per diluted share in the prior year period. Net income was $18.9 million , compared to net income of $14.9 million in the prior year period.

, compared to net income of in the prior year period. Adjusted net income (1) increased 17.9% to $18.7 million , or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to $15.9 million , or $0.16 per diluted share in the prior year period.

increased 17.9% to , or per diluted share, compared to , or per diluted share in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased 22.4% to $43.4 million from $35.4 million in the prior year period.

increased 22.4% to from in the prior year period. 31 new Planet Fitness franchise stores were opened during the period, bringing system-wide total stores to 1,432 as of September 30, 2017 .

(1) Adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income to U.S. GAAP ("GAAP") net income see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" accompanying this press release.

"The strong top and bottom line momentum we generated during the first half of the year carried into the third quarter highlighted by a 9.3% increase in system-wide same store sales and earnings per share that exceeded expectations," commented Christopher Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer. "With the increased brand awareness and reach of our welcoming, non-intimidating fitness offering combined with our asset-light business model that includes our fast-growing, high-margin franchise segment, we continue to expand market share and generate significant profitability and cash flow. While this year marks Planet Fitness' 25th anniversary, I believe we are just beginning to scratch the surface of the Company's full potential. My optimism is fueled by the long runway for store growth, the financial and operational strength of our franchisees, our growing national advertising fund and ability to continue to attract casual and first time gym users to our unique fitness experience, and the growing consumer shift towards health and wellness. I am confident that we are well positioned to capitalize on the many opportunities that lie ahead, deliver a strong finish to the year, and increase shareholder value over the long-term."

Operating Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2017

For the third quarter 2017, total revenue increased $10.5 million or 12.1% to $97.5 million from $87.0 million in the prior year period. By segment:

Franchise segment revenue, which includes commission income, increased $8.3 million or 30.6% to $35.6 million from $27.2 million in the prior year period;

or 30.6% to from in the prior year period; Corporate-owned stores segment revenue increased $1.9 million or 7.1% to $28.6 million from $26.7 million in the prior year period; and

or 7.1% to from in the prior year period; and Equipment segment revenue increased $0.3 million or 0.8% to $33.4 million from $33.1 million in the prior year period.

System-wide same store sales increased 9.3%. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 9.6% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 5.1%.

For the third quarter of 2017, net income was $18.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income of $14.9 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income increased 17.9% to $18.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, from $15.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 39.5% for the current year period and the comparable prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased 22.4% to $43.4 million from $35.4 million in the prior year period.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Franchise segment EBITDA increased $7.1 million or 31.2% to $29.9 million driven by royalties from new franchised stores opened since September 30, 2016 , increased royalty rate and higher same store sales;

or 31.2% to driven by royalties from new franchised stores opened since , increased royalty rate and higher same store sales; Corporate-owned stores segment EBITDA increased $1.5 million or 14.2% to $12.0 million driven primarily by higher monthly and annual revenue, including an increase in same store sales, and improved operating margin; and

or 14.2% to driven primarily by higher monthly and annual revenue, including an increase in same store sales, and improved operating margin; and Equipment segment EBITDA increased by $0.5 million or 7.4% to $7.7 million driven by an increase in replacement equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores.

2017 Outlook

For the year ending December 31, 2017, the Company now expects:

Total revenue between $425 million and $430 million ;

; System-wide same store sales growth in the 9.5% to 10% range; and

Adjusted net income of $79 million to $81 million , or $0.80 to $0.82 per diluted share.

Presentation of Financial Measures

Planet Fitness, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in March 2015 for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering (the "IPO") and related recapitalization transactions that occurred in August 2015, and in order to carry on the business of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC ("Pla-Fit Holdings") and its subsidiaries. As the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings, the Company operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, and through Pla-Fit Holdings, conducts its business. As a result, the Company consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings' financial results and reports a non-controlling interest related to the portion of Pla-Fit Holdings not owned by the Company.

The financial information presented in this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted to provide measures that we believe are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with, GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar amounts or other unusual or nonrecurring items. See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in our full-year outlook will differ from net income and net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP in ways similar to those described in the reconciliations at the end of this press release. We do not provide guidance for net income or net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP or a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2017. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2017.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on November 7, 2017 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.planetfitness.com via the "Investor Relations" link. The webcast will be archived on the website for one year.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.5 million members and 1,432 stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, approximations, estimates and projections with respect to our anticipated future performance, especially those under the heading "2017 Outlook," ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties associated with competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain new members, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries Condensed consolidated statements of operations (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)













For the three months ended September 30,



For the nine months ended September 30,



2017



2016



2017



2016

Revenue:





























Franchise $ 31,413



$ 23,046



$ 94,485



$ 70,042

Commission income

4,149





4,179





15,668





14,338

Corporate-owned stores

28,560





26,675





83,886





78,756

Equipment

33,374





33,107





101,875





98,686

Total revenue

97,496





87,007





295,914





261,822

Operating costs and expenses:





























Cost of revenue

25,819





25,925





78,395





77,365

Store operations

15,551





15,181





45,339





45,673

Selling, general and administrative

14,071





12,244





42,659





36,470

Depreciation and amortization

8,137





7,745





23,982





23,127

Other loss (gain)

(36)





(241)





280





(406)

Total operating costs and expenses

63,542





60,854





190,655





182,229

Income from operations

33,954





26,153





105,259





79,593

Other expense, net:





























Interest expense, net

(8,920)





(6,291)





(26,711)





(18,819)

Other (expense) income

408





(204)





157





30

Total other expense, net

(8,512)





(6,495)





(26,554)





(18,789)

Income before income taxes

25,442





19,658





78,705





60,804

Provision for income taxes

6,540





4,795





23,933





11,504

Net income

18,902





14,863





54,772





49,300

Less net income attributable to non-controlling interests

3,557





11,438





18,173





38,374

Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. $ 15,345



$ 3,425



$ 36,599



$ 10,926

































Net income per share of Class A common stock:





























Basic $ 0.18



$ 0.08



$ 0.48



$ 0.28

Diluted $ 0.18



$ 0.08



$ 0.48



$ 0.28

Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding:





























Basic

85,663





44,669





76,391





39,394

Diluted

85,734





44,686





76,435





39,397



Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries Condensed consolidated balance sheets (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

















September 30,



December 31,





2017



2016

Assets















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents

$ 93,267



$ 40,393

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts of $95 and $687 at

September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively



16,358





26,873

Due from related parties



2,984





2,864

Inventory



550





1,802

Restricted assets  national advertising fund



3,014





3,074

Other receivables



10,768





7,935

Other current assets



8,623





8,284

Total current assets



135,564





91,225

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $33,546 as of September 30, 2017 and $30,987 as of December 31, 2016



72,426





61,238

Intangible assets, net



239,741





253,862

Goodwill



176,981





176,981

Deferred income taxes



731,131





410,407

Other assets, net



10,177





7,729

Total assets

$ 1,366,020



$ 1,001,442

Liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)















Current liabilities:















Current maturities of long-term debt

$ 7,185



$ 7,185

Accounts payable



12,826





28,507

Accrued expenses



13,357





19,190

Equipment deposits



8,121





2,170

Restricted liabilities  national advertising fund



3,008





134

Deferred revenue, current



17,124





17,780

Payable to related parties pursuant to tax benefit arrangements, current



24,487





8,072

Other current liabilities



438





235

Total current liabilities



86,546





83,273

Long-term debt, net of current maturities



697,876





702,003

Deferred rent, net of current portion



5,289





5,108

Deferred revenue, net of current portion



8,180





8,351

Deferred tax liabilities



751





1,238

Payable to related parties pursuant to tax benefit arrangements, net of current portion



702,906





410,999

Other liabilities



4,111





5,225

Total noncurrent liabilities



1,419,113





1,132,924

Commitments and contingencies (note 11)















Stockholders' equity (deficit):















Class A common stock, $.0001 par value - 300,000 shares authorized, 85,682 and 61,314

shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively



9





6

Class B common stock, $.0001 par value - 100,000 shares authorized, 12,682 and 37,185

shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively



1





4

Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(1,013)





(1,174)

Additional paid in capital



11,693





34,467

Accumulated deficit



(127,513)





(164,062)

Total stockholders' deficit attributable to Planet Fitness Inc.



(116,823)





(130,759)

Non-controlling interests



(22,816)





(83,996)

Total stockholders' deficit



(139,639)





(214,755)

Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit

$ 1,366,020



$ 1,001,442



Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands)











For the nine months ended September 30,





2017



2016

Cash flows from operating activities:















Net income

$ 54,772



$ 49,300

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:















Depreciation and amortization



23,982





23,127

Amortization of deferred financing costs



1,439





1,114

Amortization of favorable leases and asset retirement obligations



260





297

Amortization of interest rate caps



1,552





459

Deferred tax expense



21,344





11,062

Loss on extinguishment of debt



79







Third party debt refinancing expense



1,021







Gain on re-measurement of tax benefit arrangement



(541)







Provision for bad debts



44





44

Gain on disposal of property and equipment



(357)





(347)

Equity-based compensation



1,800





1,373

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions:















Accounts receivable



11,099





4,898

Due to and due from related parties



(580)





8,494

Inventory



1,253





3,798

Other assets and other current assets



(2,413)





(1,635)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses



(16,985)





(10,172)

Other liabilities and other current liabilities



(724)





(30)

Income taxes



(1,462)





(7,543)

Payable to related parties pursuant to tax benefit arrangements



(7,909)





(6,007)

Equipment deposits



5,951





(1,609)

Deferred revenue



(958)





(1,264)

Deferred rent



361





379

Net cash provided by operating activities



93,028





75,738

Cash flows from investing activities:















Additions to property and equipment



(23,229)





(9,266)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment



166





402

Net cash used in investing activities



(23,063)





(8,864)

Cash flows from financing activities:















Principal payments on capital lease obligations









(37)

Repayment of long-term debt



(5,388)





(3,825)

Payment of deferred financing and other debt-related costs



(1,278)







Premiums paid for interest rate caps



(366)







Proceeds from issuance of Class A common stock



172





79

Repurchase and retirement of Class B common stock









(1,583)

Dividend equivalent payments



(1,322)







Distributions to Continuing LLC Members



(9,308)





(27,071)

Net cash used in financing activities



(17,490)





(32,437)

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents



399





87

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents



52,874





34,524

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period



40,393





31,430

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 93,267



$ 65,954



















Supplemental cash flow information:















Net cash paid for income taxes

$ 3,769



$ 8,121

Cash paid for interest

$ 23,637



$ 17,187

Non-cash investing activities:















Non-cash additions to property and equipment

$ 482



$ 127



Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted (collectively, the "non-GAAP financial measures"). The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, are useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

EBITDA, Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

We refer to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as we use these measures to evaluate our operating performance and we believe these measures provide useful information to investors in evaluating our performance. We have also disclosed Segment EBITDA as an important financial metric utilized by the Company to evaluate performance and allocate resources to segments in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We define EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Segment EBITDA sums to Total Segment EBITDA which is equal to the Non-GAAP financial metric EBITDA. We believe that EBITDA, which eliminates the impact of certain expenses that we do not believe reflect our underlying business performance, provides useful information to investors to assess the performance of our segments as well as the business as a whole. Our Board of Directors also uses EBITDA as a key metric to assess the performance of management. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain additional non-cash and other items that we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing performance of the Company's core operations. These items include certain purchase accounting adjustments, stock offering-related costs, and certain other charges and gains. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance in addition to EBITDA because it eliminates the impact of other items that we believe reduce the comparability of our underlying core business performance from period to period and is therefore useful to our investors in comparing the core performance of our business from period to period.

A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is set forth below.





Three months ended

September 30,



Nine months ended

September 30,





2017



2016



2017



2016



































Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc.

$ 15,345



$ 3,425



$ 36,599



$ 10,926

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests



3,557





11,438





18,173





38,374

Net income

$ 18,902



$ 14,863



$ 54,772



$ 49,300

Interest expense, net



8,920





6,291





26,711





18,819

Provision for income taxes



6,540





4,795





23,933





11,504

Depreciation and amortization



8,137





7,745





23,982





23,127

EBITDA



42,499





33,694





129,398





102,750

Purchase accounting adjustments-revenue(1)



336





450





1,116





458

Purchase accounting adjustments-rent(2)



174





202





561





664

Transaction fees(3)



-





-





1,021





-

Stock offering-related costs(4)



41





1,078





977





2,105

Severance costs(5)



-





-





-





423

Pre-opening costs(6)



421





-





421





-

Equipment discount(7)



(107)





-





(107)





-

Early lease termination costs(8)



-





-





719





-

Other(9)



-





-





(573)





72

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 43,364



$ 35,424



$ 133,533



$ 106,472



(1) Represents the impact of revenue-related purchase accounting adjustments associated with the acquisition of Pla-Fit Holdings on November 8, 2012 by TSG (the "2012 Acquisition"). At the time of the 2012 Acquisition, the Company maintained a deferred revenue account, which consisted of deferred area development agreement fees, deferred franchise fees, and deferred enrollment fees that the Company billed and collected up front but recognizes for GAAP purposes at a later date. In connection with the 2012 Acquisition, it was determined that the carrying amount of deferred revenue was greater than the fair value assessed in accordance with ASC 805Business Combinations, which resulted in a write-down of the carrying value of the deferred revenue balance upon application of acquisition push-down accounting under ASC 805. These amounts represent the additional revenue that would have been recognized in these periods if the write-down to deferred revenue had not occurred in connection with the application of acquisition pushdown accounting. (2) Represents the impact of rent-related purchase accounting adjustments. In accordance with guidance in ASC 805  Business Combinations, in connection with the 2012 Acquisition, the Company's deferred rent liability was required to be written off as of the acquisition date and rent was recorded on a straight-line basis from the acquisition date through the end of the lease term. This resulted in higher overall recorded rent expense each period than would have otherwise been recorded had the deferred rent liability not been written off as a result of the acquisition push down accounting applied in accordance with ASC 805. Adjustments of $100, $105, $306, and $372 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, reflect the difference between the higher rent expense recorded in accordance with GAAP since the acquisition and the rent expense that would have been recorded had the 2012 Acquisition not occurred. Adjustments of $75, $97, $255, and $292 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are due to the amortization of favorable and unfavorable lease intangible assets which were recorded in connection with the 2012 Acquisition and the acquisition of eight franchisee-owned stores on March 31, 2014. All of the rent related purchase accounting adjustments are adjustments to rent expense which is included in store operations on our consolidated statements of operations. (3) Represents transaction fees and expenses related to the amendment of our credit facility in May of 2017. (4) Represents legal, accounting and other costs incurred in connection with offerings of the Company's Class A common stock. (5) Represents severance expense recorded in connection with an equity award modification. (6) Represents costs associated with new corporate-owned stores incurred prior to the store opening, including payroll-related costs, rent and occupancy expenses, marketing and other store operating supply expenses. (7) Represents a gain recorded in connection with the write-off of a previously accrued deferred equipment discount that is no longer expected to be utilized. This amount was originally recognized through purchase accounting in connection with the acquisition of eight franchisee-owned stores on March 31, 2014. (8) Represents charges and expenses incurred in connection with the early termination of the lease for our previous headquarters. (9) Represents certain other charges and gains that we do not believe reflect our underlying business performance. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, this amount includes a gain of $541 related to the adjustment of our tax benefit arrangements primarily due to changes in our effective tax rate.

A reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to Total Segment EBITDA is set forth below.





Three months ended

September 30,



Nine months ended

September 30,





2017



2016



2017



2016

Segment EBITDA































Franchise

$ 29,925



$ 22,814



$ 94,444



$ 71,308

Corporate-owned stores



12,046





10,550





35,579





30,259

Equipment



7,683





7,153





23,587





21,330

Corporate and other



(7,155)





(6,823)





(24,212)





(20,147)

Total Segment EBITDA(1) $ 42,499



$ 33,694



$ 129,398



$ 102,750



































(1) Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA.

























Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share

As a result of the recapitalization transactions that occurred prior to our IPO, the limited liability company agreement of Pla-Fit Holdings that was amended and restated (the "New LLC Agreement") designated Planet Fitness, Inc. as the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings. As sole managing member, Planet Fitness, Inc. exclusively operates and controls the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC. As a result of the recapitalization transactions and the New LLC Agreement, Planet Fitness, Inc. now consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings, and Pla-Fit Holdings is considered the predecessor to Planet Fitness, Inc. for accounting purposes. Our presentation of Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, gives effect to the consolidation of Pla-Fit Holdings with Planet Fitness, Inc. resulting from the recapitalization transactions and the New LLC Agreement as if they had occurred on January 1, 2016. In addition, Adjusted net income assumes that all net income is attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc., which assumes the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units for shares of Class A common stock of Planet Fitness, Inc., adjusted for certain non-recurring items that we do not believe directly reflect our core operations. Adjusted net income per share, diluted, is calculated by dividing Adjusted net income by the total shares of Class A common stock outstanding plus any dilutive options and restricted stock units as calculated in accordance with GAAP and assuming the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units and corresponding Class B common stock as of the beginning of each period presented. Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent, and should not be considered, alternatives to net income and earnings per share, as calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, supplement GAAP measures and enable us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of Adjusted net income to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and the computation of Adjusted net income per share, diluted, are set forth below.





Three months ended

September 30,



Nine months ended

September 30,





2017



2016



2017



2016



































Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc.

$ 15,345



$ 3,425



$ 36,599



$ 10,926

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests



3,557





11,438





18,173





38,374

Net income

$ 18,902



$ 14,863



$ 54,772



$ 49,300

Provision for income taxes, as reported



6,540





4,795





23,933





11,504

Purchase accounting adjustments-revenue(1)



336





450





1,116





458

Purchase accounting adjustments-rent(2)



174





202





561





664

Transaction fees(3)



-





-





1,021





-

Stock offering-related costs(4)



41





1,078





977





2,105

Severance costs(5)



-





-





-





423

Pre-opening costs(6)



421





-





421





-

Equipment discount(7)



(107)





-





(107)





-

Early lease termination costs(8)



-





-





1,143





-

Other(9)



-





-





(573)





72

Purchase accounting amortization(10)



4,622





4,843





13,867





14,528

Adjusted income before income taxes

$ 30,929



$ 26,231



$ 97,131



$ 79,054

Adjusted income taxes(11)



12,217





10,361





38,367





31,226

Adjusted net income

$ 18,712



$ 15,870



$ 58,764



$ 47,828



































Adjusted net income per share, diluted

$ 0.19



$ 0.16



$ 0.60



$ 0.48



































Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding(12)



98,428





98,572





98,445





98,615



(1) Represents the impact of revenue-related purchase accounting adjustments associated with the 2012 Acquisition. At the time of the 2012 Acquisition, the Company maintained a deferred revenue account, which consisted of deferred area development agreement fees, deferred franchise fees, and deferred enrollment fees that the Company billed and collected up front but recognizes for GAAP purposes at a later date. In connection with the 2012 Acquisition, it was determined that the carrying amount of deferred revenue was greater than the fair value assessed in accordance with ASC 805Business Combinations, which resulted in a write-down of the carrying value of the deferred revenue balance upon application of acquisition push-down accounting under ASC 805. These amounts represent the additional revenue that would have been recognized in these periods if the write-down to deferred revenue had not occurred in connection with the application of acquisition pushdown accounting. (2) Represents the impact of rent-related purchase accounting adjustments. In accordance with guidance in ASC 805  Business Combinations, in connection with the 2012 Acquisition, the Company's deferred rent liability was required to be written off as of the acquisition date and rent was recorded on a straight-line basis from the acquisition date through the end of the lease term. This resulted in higher overall recorded rent expense each period than would have otherwise been recorded had the deferred rent liability not been written off as a result of the acquisition push down accounting applied in accordance with ASC 805. Adjustments of $100, $105, $306, and $372 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, reflect the difference between the higher rent expense recorded in accordance with GAAP since the acquisition and the rent expense that would have been recorded had the 2012 Acquisition not occurred. Adjustments of $75, $97, $255, and $292 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are due to the amortization of favorable and unfavorable lease intangible assets which were recorded in connection with the 2012 Acquisition and the acquisition of eight franchisee-owned stores on March 31, 2014. All of the rent related purchase accounting adjustments are adjustments to rent expense which is included in store operations on our consolidated statements of operations. (3) Represents transaction fees and expenses related to the amendment of our credit facility in May of 2017. (4) Represents legal, accounting and other costs incurred in connection with offerings of the Company's Class A common stock. (5) Represents severance expense recorded in connection with an equity award modification.

(6) Represents costs associated with new corporate-owned stores incurred prior to the store opening, including payroll-related costs, rent and occupancy expenses, marketing and other store operating supply expenses. (7) Represents a gain recorded in connection with the write-off of a previously accrued deferred equipment discount that is no longer expected to be utilized. This amount was originally recognized through purchase accounting in connection with the acquisition of eight franchisee-owned stores on March 31, 2014.

(8) Represents charges and expenses incurred in connection with the early termination of the lease for our previous headquarters.

(9) Represents certain other charges and gains that we do not believe reflect our underlying business performance. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, this amount includes a gain of $541 related to the adjustment of our tax benefit arrangements primarily due to changes in our effective tax rate.

(10) Includes $4,086, $4,218, $12,258 and $12,655 of amortization of intangible assets, other than favorable leases, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, recorded in connection with the 2012 Acquisition, and $536, $624, $1,609 and $1,873 of amortization of intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, recorded in connection with the acquisition of eight franchisee-owned stores on March 31, 2014. The adjustment represents the amount of actual non-cash amortization expense recorded, in accordance with GAAP, in each period.

(11) Represents corporate income taxes at an assumed effective tax rate of 39.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 applied to adjusted income before income taxes.

(12) Assumes the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units and corresponding shares of Class B common stock for shares of Class A common stock of Planet Fitness, Inc.



A reconciliation of net income per share, diluted, to Adjusted net income per share, diluted is set forth below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:





For the three months ended September 30, 2017



For the three months ended September 30, 2016





Net

income



Weighted

Average

Shares



Net

income

per share,

diluted



Net

income



Weighted

Average

Shares



Net

income

per share,

diluted

Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc.(1) $ 15,345





85,734



$ 0.18



$ 3,425





44,669



$ 0.08

Assumed exchange of shares(2)



3,557





12,694













11,438





53,903









Net Income



18,902





















14,863

















Adjustments to arrive at adjusted income

before income taxes(3)



12,027





















11,368

















Adjusted income before income taxes



30,929





















26,231

















Adjusted income taxes(4)



12,217





















10,361

















Adjusted Net Income

$ 18,712





98,428



$ 0.19



$ 15,870





98,572



$ 0.16



(1) Represents net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. and the associated weighted average shares, diluted of Class A common stock outstanding. (2) Assumes the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units and corresponding shares of Class B common stock for shares of Class A common stock of Planet Fitness, Inc. Also assumes the addition of net income attributable to non-controlling interests corresponding with the assumed exchange of Holdings Units and Class B common shares for shares of Class A common stock. (3) Represents the total impact of all adjustments identified in the adjusted net income table above to arrive at adjusted income before income taxes. (4) Represents corporate income taxes at an assumed effective tax rate of 39.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, applied to adjusted income before income taxes.





For the nine months ended September 30, 2017



For the nine months ended September 30, 2016





Net

income



Weighted

Average

Shares



Net

income

per share,

diluted



Net

income



Weighted

Average

Shares



Net

income

per share,

diluted

Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc.(1) $ 36,599





76,435



$ 0.48



$ 10,926





39,394



$ 0.28

Assumed exchange of shares(2)



18,173





22,010













38,374





59,221









Net Income



54,772





















49,300

















Adjustments to arrive at adjusted income

before income taxes(3)



42,359





















29,754

















Adjusted income before income taxes



97,131





















79,054

















Adjusted income taxes(4)



38,367





















31,226

















Adjusted Net Income

$ 58,764





98,445



$ 0.60



$ 47,828





98,615



$ 0.48



(1) Represents net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. and the associated weighted average shares, diluted of Class A common stock outstanding. (2) Assumes the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units and corresponding shares of Class B common stock for shares of Class A common stock of Planet Fitness, Inc. Also assumes the addition of net income attributable to non-controlling interests corresponding with the assumed exchange of Holdings Units and Class B common shares for shares of Class A common stock. (3) Represents the total impact of all adjustments identified in the adjusted net income table above to arrive at adjusted income before income taxes. (4) Represents corporate income taxes at an assumed effective tax rate of 39.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, applied to adjusted income before income taxes.

SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.planetfitness.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Property Group Partners (PGP) today announced the opening of an exhibition of artwork on loan from The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. It includes pieces by contemporary artists and is located in the entrance lobby of its newest completed commercial project at 860 Washington Street, New York City. The exhibition is now open to the public.

John Newman | Shelf Life (Terra Cotta) | 1988 | Cast aluminum with lacquer | 47" x 57" x 16" | From the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection, courtesy of The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Graham Nickson | Georgica Bathers | 1986-1996 | Oil on canvas | 8' X 16' | The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. John Moore | Globe Dye | 2010 | Oil on canvas | 70 X 70 | The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Helen Frankenthaler | Off-White Square | 1973 | Acrylic on canvas | 79 3/4 X 255 1/2 | From the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection, courtesy of The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Raymond Mason | Vue de Menerbes | 1974 | Epoxy resin and acrylic paint | 29 1/4 X 43 3/8 | The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Eduard Schteinberg | Composition | Oil on canvas | 18 x 21 | The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. Eduard Schteinberg | Composition | Oil on canvas | 14 3/4 x 21 | The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

"The installation of these unique paintings at 860 Washington both honors William Louis-Dreyfus' legacy and furthers the mission of the foundation to make art more accessible to the public," said Jeffrey Sussman, President of Property Group Partners, which co-developed 860 Washington with Romanoff Equities. "This exhibition opens the building's doors to the community and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the rich cultural history of the neighborhood."

The artwork was chosen by Louis-Dreyfus himself to reflect a variety of styles and materials. This initial installation of contemporary paintings and sculptures includes works by John Newman (American b.1952), Graham Nickson (English b.1946), John Moore (American b.1941), Helen Frankenthaler (American 1928-2011), Raymond Mason (English 1922-2010) and Eduard Schteinberg (Russian 1937-2012).

"We are very excited to celebrate this opportunity," said Mary Anne Costello of the foundation. "William Louis-Dreyfus cared deeply about art and giving back to the community. This is a wonderful way to honor him. PGP and Louis-Dreyfus have a long history of placing master works in public places, and this installation continues that tradition."

The building is the largest ground-up commercial building in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. Located at the crossroads of culture and commerce in one of the city's most dynamic neighborhoods. Just steps from the Whitney Museum and surrounded by the headquarters and retail flagships of innovative tech, media, fashion, and lifestyle brands, 860 Washington, it is grounded in the connection between art and business.

As the only first-class office building in the Meatpacking District, 860 Washington offers approximately 114,000 square feet of state-of-the-art commercial office and retail space. The building's impressive tenant roster includes American automotive and energy storage company Tesla Motors, Inc.; wellness real estate and technology firm Delos; and Social Finance, an online financial technology company, known as SoFi.

Designed by the highly acclaimed James Carpenter Design Associates, the 10-story glass structure is one of the most advanced boutique commercial buildings in the Meatpacking District. With an incredible floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall uninterrupted by perimeter columns, 860 Washington reimagines commercial real estate with a true loft-office feel in a modern style. Boasting the latest in technology, the LEED Silver building features an advanced raised floor that integrates under floor air-conditioning, telecom and building systems for an entirely open work environment.

About The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

The mission of the Foundation is to educate the public about the importance of art and to increase public awareness of self-taught and emerging artists. It also intends to benefit other specific educational purposes when it sells select pieces from its collection, in particular the educational programs of the Harlem Children's Zone. Over 200 artists are featured in the Foundation's collection, all collected by its benefactor, the late William Louis-Dreyfus.

For more information, please visit www.wldfoundation.org.

For additional information about 860 Washington, please visit www.860Washington.com.

The list of featured paintings appears below:

John Newman

Shelf Life (Terra Cotta)

1988

Cast aluminum with lacquer

47" x 57" x 16"

From the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection, courtesy of The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

Graham Nickson

Georgica Bathers

1986-1996

Oil on canvas

8' X 16'

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

John Moore

Globe Dye

2010

Oil on canvas

70" X 70"

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

Helen Frankenthaler

Off-White Square

1973

Acrylic on canvas

79 3/4" X 255 1/2"

From the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection, courtesy of The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

Raymond Mason

Vue de Menerbes

1974

Epoxy resin and acrylic paint

29 1/4" X 43 3/8"

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

Eduard Schteinberg

Composition

1998

Oil on canvas

18" x 21"

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

Eduard Schteinberg

Composition

2001

Oil on canvas

14 3/4" x 21"

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

About Property Group Partners

Property Group Partners, formerly Louis Dreyfus Property Group, is a fully integrated real estate company with over forty years of experience building, acquiring, and managing over 10 million square feet of premier properties. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C.; West Palm Beach, Florida; Wilton, Connecticut; and London, the firm is focused on the development, acquisition, ownership and management of first-class office buildings in North America and Europe.

Past examples of Property Group Partners' internationally-recognized quality of development and operations include the Four Seasons Hotels in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. and Jackson Hole, WY, and Station Place, the 1.6-million-square-foot development connected to Union Station that is the headquarters of the SEC.

SOURCE Property Group Partners
Alan Panezic, ISARA's vice president of strategic partnerships, will help West Coast partners prepare for the significant security challenges and threats posed by the advent of large-scale commercial quantum computing. Panezic, who recently joined Waterloo, Ontario-based ISARA from Telenav, has deep experience in network security and connected devices  and is the holder of six wireless technology patents.

"As the quantum age is about to dawn, there is growing awareness of the need to prepare existing systems for the very real security threat a new breed of computer poses to everything from bank records to autonomous cars," Panezic said. "There is not a single sector within technology that shouldn't be assessing how to ensure their systems are quantum safe. Expanding our operations to Silicon Valley gives ISARA easier access to our growing customer base."

ISARA in September announced the release of its newest version of the ISARA Radiate Security Solution Suite. ISARA Radiate 1.3 gives OEMs the ability to integrate quantum-safe security measures into their existing commercial products and networks to protect today's data from future quantum computer attacks. ISARA Radiate is the first complete solution that offers a high-quality implementation of quantum-safe algorithms and integration tools built by developers for developers.

"From our home in Canada's Quantum Valley, ISARA is collaborating with technology companies, banks and government agencies to safeguard critical data with quantum-safe cryptography," said ISARA CEO Scott Totzke. "Establishing a full-time presence among the world's top technology innovators allows ISARA to be even more responsive to the needs of our partners as large-scale quantum computing becomes a commercial reality."

About ISARA Corporation

ISARA is a security solutions company specializing in creating class-defining quantum-safe cryptography that can be embedded into commercial products to secure data now and in the future. As a commercial solution provider within a rich academic and standards ecosystem, ISARA is part of a collaborative effort to raise awareness of the quantum threat, and design and implement quantum-safe solutions that will work globally. For more information, visit www.isara.com.

SOURCE ISARA Corporation

Related Links

http://www.isara.com


SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- While thousands of franchise systems are actively recruiting U.S. military veterans to become franchisees, many fall short of proving a good fit for military personnel. One way for our service men and woman to navigate through the plethora of franchise opportunities is to turn to respected publications for rankings on the best brands for veterans. Recently, the Real Property Management franchise, the nation's leading full-service property management organization, was named to not one, but two, lists of America's top franchises for veterans.

Each year, Entrepreneur Magazine puts out a call to companies ranked on their annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, to learn more about their veteran programs. From there, the magazine develops a ranking of the top 150 franchises for veterans, taking into account each company's veteran incentives, support systems, and company rankings in the Franchise 500. This year, Real Property Management came in at No. 105 on the list.

Franchise Business Review, a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchise owner satisfaction, recently conducted an assessment on franchise brands to identify which veteran franchisees show the highest level of satisfaction. As a result, Real Property Management was selected as a 2017 Top Franchise for Veterans, proving its veteran franchisees are pleased with the training, support, leadership and financial opportunity of the brand.

"There has been steady increase in veteran representation within the franchise community over the last several years  validating that the industry is a great place for our military personnel," stated Lukas Kraus, CEO of Real Property Management. "Being recognized on two prestigious publications' lists as one of the best franchise opportunities for our service men and women is an honor and we are proud to offer a chance at business ownership to those who have served our country."

Real Property Management is the leading property management franchise in the nation, with more than 300 offices in 46 states that manage assets worth more than $13 billion. The company's offices specialize in managing single-family homes, townhomes, condos, multiplexes and small apartment buildings. Its services include finding and screening tenants, completing the lease agreements, collecting rent, arranging for any necessary repairs, and processing evictions when necessary. Real Property Management offices also manage the legal compliance for local, state and federal real estate law.

About Real Property Management

Real Property Management is a franchise organization owned by Property Management Business Solutions, LLC, a privately held corporation based in Utah. With over 30 years of industry expertise, Real Property Management offices provide full-service residential property management for thousands of investors and rental home owners from more than 300 independently owned and operated locations throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about Real Property Management or property management services, please visit the following link: www.realpropertymgt.com. For information on franchising opportunities, please visit www.propertymanagementfranchise.com.

Media Contact: Julianne Stevenson, Fishman PR, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Real Property Management

Related Links

http://www.realpropertymgt.com


YORK, Pa., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced that it has been honored as a recipient of the first APEX Partner Award for Excellence by Allied Electronics.

Betty Chambers, Red Lion national accounts manager, was one of three supplier partner representatives taking the distinction. Chambers was awarded an APEX for expanding the Red Lion portfolio of cellular products including special pricing, and for her work improving logistics processes between Red Lion and the Allied Operations Team.

"This was the first time Allied has presented suppliers with an award of excellence," said Frank Cantwell, VP of Product and Supplier Management at Allied Electronics. "The APEX Partner Award for Excellence is bestowed on suppliers whose performance and portfolio meet our high standards for delivering a great customer experience every day."

Red Lion's cellular routers offer secure and reliable remote connectivity to deployed devices and machinery that utilize cellular carrier networks. Ruggedized and ideal for harsh environments, they provide easy wireless communication between a variety of industrial components. Red Lion's industrial cellular RTUs provide a secure all-in-one platform to remotely connect, monitor and control assets by seamlessly connecting to existing Modbus or DNP3 enabled devices.

"The combination of the solutions of Red Lion and the expertise of Allied delivers great benefit to customers," said Jack Lee, president of Red Lion Controls. "It is a great honor to receive such a testament to the hard work our employees devote in developing and improving our product portfolio. We will continue to deliver solutions that help our customers in their cellular and other industrial automation needs."

For additional information about Red Lion, please visit www.redlion.net.

About Red Lion Controls

As the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, Red Lion has been delivering innovative solutions for over forty years. Our automation, Ethernet and cellular M2M technology enables companies worldwide to gain real-time data visibility that drives productivity. Product brands include Red Lion, N-Tron and Sixnet. With headquarters in York, Pennsylvania, the company has offices across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Red Lion is part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company. For more information, please visit www.redlion.net.

2017 Red Lion Controls, Inc. All rights reserved. Red Lion and the Red Lion logo are registered trademarks of Red Lion Controls, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Red Lion Controls

Related Links

http://www.redlion.net


TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After opening one new location every month for the past 30 months, RNR Tire Express (RNR), the fastest-growing tire and custom wheel franchise in the nation, announced today the opening of its 100th location. Responding to consumer's demands for a flexible pay-as-you-go model, the announcement signifies a new company milestone for the fast-growing quality tires and custom wheels concept. The landmark 100th location will be in Sarasota, Florida.

Founded in 2000, RNR has experienced significant organic growth with just 20 franchisees operating 100 locations. Capitalizing on the brand's unique niche directed toward a growing and underserved market, RNR offers a business model that allows customers to pay off name brand tires and wheels on a weekly or monthly plan that fits each customer's budget.

"This is a really exciting time in our brand's history, as we are entering new markets and opening stores at a record pace," said RNR Tire Express Founder and President Larry Sutton. "RNR continues to succeed and grow as people seek more affordable options when it comes to quality tires and wheels; due to the demand for our pay-as-you-go model we plan to add an additional 16 stores to our roster before the end of the year."

To celebrate the 100th opening and to thank customers for their support throughout the Southeast, RNR will host a grand opening celebration in Sarasota slated for November 18th.

Fueled by passion, with over 45 years' of rent-to-own experience and extensive knowledge of the tire and custom wheel industry, RNR looks to continue its expansion across the county. With a corporate culture that allows franchisees to have a high degree of entrepreneurial freedom and a proven record of same-store revenue growth of 20 percent for three consecutive years, the brand is seeking additional qualified multi-unit franchisees in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Utah, Oregon and Idaho, among other states.

For more information about RNR and its franchise opportunities, visit www.RNRfranchise.com.

About RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels:

RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels is a national franchise retailer of quality tires and custom wheels offered with convenient, no credit hassle payment plans designed to fit each client's unique budgets. Established in 2000 by rent-to-own veteran, Larry Sutton, RNR has grown to 100 locations in 22 states. The brand recently ranked as the No. 1 category leader for miscellaneous auto products in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2017 Franchise 500 list and also took home the No. 126 spot on the annual rankingthe highest in company history. RNR was also ranked on the magazine's Best of the Best list  coming in at No. 1 in the Automotive  Wheel and Tire Category. The brand was also recently ranked as the 14th largest tire dealership in the U.S. by Tire Business. RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels is seeking qualified multi-unit franchisees to expand even further nationally with prime markets available throughout the country. For more information about RNR, or to inquire about franchise opportunities, visit www.RNRfranchise.com.

CONTACT: Julianne Stevenson, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300 x 239 or [email protected]

SOURCE RNR Tire Express

Related Links

http://www.rnrtires.com


SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sundance, a premier lifestyle retailer of women's and men's apparel, footwear, jewelry, accessories, art, and home decor, announces the opening of its newest store within the Kansas City metropolitan area, in Leawood, KS. This store, located in Leawood Town Center Plaza & Crossing, will host its grand opening weekend celebration beginning on Thursday, November 9th, 2017.

Robert Redford's Sundance opens newest retail location at Leawood Town Center Crossing & Plaza in Leawood, KS.

Leawood Town Center Plaza & Crossing, an open air shopping experience, is located in Leawood, outside of Kansas City, KS. Leawood holds a long standing reputation for arts excellence and cultural distinction. CEO Matey Erdos explains, "We are thrilled to be joining this art-forward community. The Sundance heritage is one of celebrating artistic passion and independent spirit. There is an obvious fit for the Sundance brand through our mutual appreciation for, and recognition of, new forms of creative expression."

Erdos continues, "The Leawood store offers our customers a unique experience, one we are privileged to provide. The design of the store is artisan inspired, bringing the distinctive Sundance lifestyle to the culturally rich area, and we are confident our loyal supporters will make it a great success."

In support of the victims of the recent events and natural disasters around the United States, Sundance will donate a portion of the proceeds from the grand opening weekend to the American Red Cross of Kansas City, a humanitarian organization working to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

The opening of the Leawood Town Square Center Plaza & Crossing Sundance Store continues the company's recent retail expansion. Since August of 2015, Sundance has opened stores in Edina, MN, Dallas, TX, Southlake, TX, Scottsdale, AZ, Tigard, OR, San Diego, CA, Atlanta, GA, adding to its existing legacy stores in Park Meadows, CO and Corte Madera, CA. The company plans to expand their retail locations over the next several years. One-of-a-kind pieces and Sundance exclusive items will continue as the cornerstones for product offerings.

About Sundance

Famed actor, director, and visionary of independent filmmaking, Robert Redford founded Sundance Catalog in 1989 to promote the works of artists and craftspeople from across the country and around the world. From a small operation run out of the attic of the old Sundance Village firehouse, Sundance has grown to become one of America's preeminent lifestyle retailers. Offering a thoughtfully curated mix of unique, premium-quality women's and men's apparel and footwear, jewelry, accessories, art and home decor, Sundance elevates the traditions of authentic American heritage into a classic and creative style.

Sundance headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, UT. In addition to Leawood Town Center Crossing & Plaza, the company's unique product selection is available through its catalog, nine other retail stores in Corte Madera, CA, Park Meadows, CO, Edina, MN, Dallas, TX, Southlake, TX, Scottsdale, AZ, Tigard, OR, San Diego, CA, Atlanta, GA and an outlet store in Salt Lake City, UT, and website www.sundancecatalog.com.

SOURCE Sundance

Related Links

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ANGLETON, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowdy Girl Sanctuary ("RGS"), a 501(c)(3) charity that provides sanctuary to rescued farm animals and advocates a vegan lifestyle, is pleased to announce that all of the resident animals are back home safe and sound at the sanctuary in Angleton, Texas following the evacuation required after the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. "This is the second time in two years that we have had to evacuate," said founder Renee King-Sonnen. "We are grateful to our staff, donors and volunteers for assisting us during this difficult time."

Now that everyone is home, RGS is already planning for the future. "We recognize that unless and until climate change is properly addressed by our nation and all other nations, the force and effects of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico may continue to wreak havoc in and around Houston," said Drew Alexis, an RGS Board member. "Therefore, for the long-term sustainability of the sanctuary, the RGS Board of Directors has determined that relocation to an area less likely to be impacted by flooding is necessary." RGS is in the process of looking for a location further inland from the Gulf and flood plain areas.

"I predict that 2018 will be an important and transformational year for Rowdy Girl," said Renee, "a year in which we focus on our future and spend our time and resources on advocating for the rights of farmed animals, and not on flood-driven evacuations and clean-ups."

In connection with focusing on its future, RGS also made a decision to resolve the pending lawsuit against a number of individuals who have sought to damage the name and good work being done by RGS through defamatory social media posts. Fortunately, a donor who has spent significant time working with RGS and personally assisted with the evacuation this year stepped up to assist RGS by donating the funds needed to cover the litigation and settlement expenses. "RGS is grateful to this donor, whose contribution will mean that the funds raised throughout the year for animal care, bedding, supplies, food and other operational needs, not be reallocated away from such important needs," said Renee.

About Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, Inc.

Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2015 by Renee King-Sonnen. After going vegan, King-Sonnen and her husband, Tommy Sonnen, turned their beef cattle ranch into farm animal sanctuary that seeks to rescue farm animals from the cruelties of factory farming. Its mission is to educate the public about the cruelties of factory farming and to inspire other ranchers to experience a paradigm shift and help them move from participating in the cruelty of factory farming to living out compassion towards the animals whose lives usually end in brutal death.

Media Contact:

Renee King-Sonnen, Executive Director

Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, Inc.

[email protected]

(281) 684-9101

Mark Goldman

516-639-0988

[email protected]

SOURCE Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, Inc.

Related Links

http://rowdygirlsanctuary.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's fastest growing sales automation and prospecting platform Vainu unveils today a new CRM integration that could change the way businesses around the world think about finding and cultivating sales leads.

Vainu, a SaaS sales platform that tracks and stores crucial open data on 108 million companies worldwide, now seamlessly integrates with the most recognized and widely used CRM, Salesforce.

Vainu has grown into a team of more than 130 people since launching several years ago.

"We're extremely excited about this new way of using our solution," said Vainu Co-Founder Mikko Honkanen. "The Salesforce integration is a logical extension of Vainu's other relevant integrations and opens the door for efficient sales automation from start to finish for clients here in the United States and across Europe. As we like to say, we're providing salespeople the tools to become all-knowing sales wizards."

With a U.S. database and ones across Europe in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, the company is constantly leveraging open data and AI to improve the sales process for thousands of salespeople who already use the software. The Salesforce integration adds to other useful sales and workflow tools, including Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, LinkedIn, Slack, Gmail and more.

Vainu's integration with the Salesforce Sales Cloud  and other CRMs  keeps useful data up-to-date and also uses CRM data to make the prospecting experience an easier one. Combining a trusted CRM with Vainu's prospecting data helps salespeople unlock relevant, useful data about companies, which allows them to tailor communications with every company they're targeting. And the integration limits the risk of any duplicate prospects within large sales teams. When conducting a Vainu search with an integrated CRM, sales team members will know who owns which prospects and searches can be filtered to omit any of those companies.

The platform's customized sales triggers let users know when companies are hiring, when they are going through rounds of funding, what kinds of marketing automation they use and more. These triggers, when integrated with a CRM, also eliminate leads that tend to fall through the cracks. Triggers keep data fresh and keep clients top of mind for sales teams.

"We've all been there...any salesperson who has been doing it for long enough has probably watched a prospect slip through the cracks," Honkanen added. "No matter how organized you are, it happens. That's why Vainu is such a useful tool for sales teams. Our scheduled triggers on companies make it nearly impossible to forget about prospects  they are always top of mind."

Since its 2014 launch, Vainu has grown from three guys and an idea to a team of more than 130 people, nearly $1 million in monthly revenue and bookings, more than 1,000 customers with thousands of users and more than 100 million companies worldwide in its database. With a recently launched U.S. headquarters in New York City, a European headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and several other European offices, Vainu continues to advance its mission to collect, read and understand all the information written about every company in the world and make it readily available. By 2018, the company plans to launch at least three new databases in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Trusted by companies like FedEx, UPS, Manpower, Dell and Microsoft, B2B business development leaders around the world capitalize on Vainu's platform. The company recently launched an app to provide its same customized sales and prospecting solution to users on the go.

For more information, visit product.vainu.io.

About Vainu

Vainu.io is a data-driven prospecting and lead generation sales intelligence platform used by more than 1,000 organizations to identify actionable insights and sales leads. On mission to collect, read and understand all the information ever written about every company in the world, and with more than 100 million companies in its platform already, Vainu has helped its clients streamlines sales and close more deals.

Vainu's European headquarters is in Helsinki. It also has European offices in Amsterdam, Oslo and Stockholm. The company's U.S. headquarters is in New York City.

More information about the platform is available at product.vainu.io.

Media contact:

Bob Spoerl

[email protected]

(773) 453-2444

SOURCE Vainu
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Italian wine importer, Santa Margherita USA Inc., has announced the release of three sparkling wines. Two bottlings, their Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore Brut DOCG, and Santa Margherita Sparkling Rose, re-enter the marketplace with a redesigned bottle, label and communications campaign, "Uncork Extraordinary". Their third, Santa Margherita "Rive di Refrontolo" Prosecco Superiore DOCG, a small production, single vineyard 2016 vintage, will debut for the first time in the United States.

Santa Margherita's winemaking tradition has a long-standing history in the production of sparkling wine, having made Prosecco in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region since 1952, prior to even the region's official DOCG classification in 1969.

"Santa Margherita has a long and proud history of producing sparkling wine from some of Italy's most storied sparkling wine regions," remarked Vincent Chiaramonte, CEO, Santa Margherita USA Inc."This reflects the Marzotto family's commitment to their winemaking teams and oenologists, and continuing commitment to the region."

The impetus behind the label and bottle relaunch was the winery's desire to highlight both the company's proud history as a longtime Italian sparkling wine producer, and also give the wines a contemporary style, more recognizable to today's Santa Margherita consumer. Not only was a custom label designed, but a proprietary bottle, from a hand-crafted mold, was produced at the company's own glassworks factory. The front label's decorative seal is reminiscent of the iconic mosaic tiles found throughout Venice and Italy, a nod to the company's origin and wine's provenance, while the family crest, embossed on a cigar-band style label, wraps around the neck of the bottle, in homage to Santa Margherita founder Gaetano Marzotto.

"In the wine industry's competitive global landscape, it's not enough to hope that the wine speaks for itself," said Mark Lyle, Vice President of Marketing, Santa Margherita USA Inc."Santa Margherita has an 82 year old history of crafting a variety of exceptional Italian wines, and that lineage wasn't being fully shared. By incorporating a bolder, more dynamic look closer to our Italian roots, the new packaging is both appealing and recognizable to the consumer, while retaining the sophistication, luxury and style befitting the high quality of wine inside."

Santa Margherita's Prosecco Superiore Brut DOCG, 100% Glera, has long been a benchmark for high-quality Prosecco Superiore, recognized for its clean and elegant taste and perlage. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rose, predominantly Glera with a small addition of Malbec, is also a favorite for pairing with food and lifestyle occasions.

The third wine, "Rive di Refrontolo", from the Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene DOCG, is a single-vineyard Prosecco Superiore made from the winery's 52 parcels. The approximately 30 acres of the storied Rive di Refrontolo vineyard were acquired in 2011, one of only 43 specific vineyards within the Conegliano Valdobbiadene appellation. A vintage-dated Prosecco Superiore, this wine is extremely limited in production.

With the introduction of these three sparkling wines, Santa Margherita reaffirms its commitment to the sparkling wine category. In addition to producing Prosecco Superiore from 1952, the group's breadth of knowledge and experience with sparkling wines extend across their portfolio to include Torresella (Veneto), founded in 1984; Kettmeir (Alto Adige), founded in 1919 and acquired in 1986, which has been producing sparkling wines since 1964; and Ca' del Bosco (Lombardy), founded in 1969 and acquired in 1994, one of the foremost producers of Franciacorta.

About Santa Margherita

Founded in 1935, Santa Margherita is a world-renowned Italian winery that prides itself in its deep rooted values of provenance, character and craftsmanship. Headquartered in Veneto for the past 80 years, Santa Margherita has grown into one of the most sought after wine brands in the world. In line with Santa Margherita's dedication to crafting one of a kind wines, the brand seeks to encourage consumers to be true to themselves and enjoy life's moments with the people they care about most. Santa Margherita is committed to making a premium, top quality wine that complements consumers' lives and enriches their stories. A wine made for who they are. For more information, visit www.santamargheritawines.com.

About Santa Margherita USA Inc.

Established in 2014, Santa Margherita USA Inc. is a fine wine import company representing premium and ultra-premium wine estates from Italy. Santa Margherita USA Inc. represents eight world-renowned wineries throughout the United States including Santa Margherita, Ca' del Bosco, Kettmeir, Lamole di Lamole, Sassoregale, Torresella, Feudo Zirtari and Fattoria Sardi. The wine portfolio is a dynamic and diverse mosaic of Italy's finest wine regions including the Veneto, Alto Adige, Franciacorta, Tuscany and Sicily. For more information, visit www.santamargheritausa.com.

SOURCE Santa Margherita USA Inc.

Related Links

http://www.santamargheritausa.com


BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the third time, a legally-armed private citizen has intervened in a church shooting, once again underscoring the importance of the right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment Foundation said today.

Sunday's tragic mass shooting might have been even worse, according to some officials, had not an armed "good Samaritan" fired at mass shooter Devin Patrick Kelley. It was that exchange of gunfire that caused the killer to flee Sutherland Springs with the armed citizen and another man in pursuit, eventually veering off the highway, where he apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"What happened Sunday in Sutherland Springs once again demonstrates that armed, law-abiding Americans will step forward when the need arises to defend their neighbors and their communities," said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. "This is not the first time an armed citizen has engaged in a heroic act at a church.

"In Tennessee on Sept. 24," he recalled, "a gunman opened fire at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, only to be confronted by Robert Engle, who physically confronted the shooter and, despite being injured, continued the fight until the gunman accidentally shot himself. Engle then retrieved his own gun from his car and held the suspect for police.

"Back in 2007," Gottlieb added, "a woman named Jeanne Assam shot a man who had entered the New Life Church in Colorado Springs after killing two teens outside. That killer subsequently took his own life.

"We stand in agreement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who told both MSNBC and Fox News early Monday that Kelley had already violated laws against murder, so another gun law would not prevent this from happening," Gottlieb concluded. "The courage of these individuals can never be over stated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

SOURCE Second Amendment Foundation

Related Links

http://www.saf.org


BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Panorama Education (www.panoramaed.com) announces it has raised $16M in Series B funding, led by Emerson Collective, with participation from Spark Capital, Owl Ventures, SoftTechVC, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) DAF. Now serving 10 percent of America's students, Panorama Education will use the funding to expand its tools that help school districts develop students' social and emotional skills, promote family engagement with school, and increase college readiness.

School systems, including the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), Dallas Independent School District (Tex.), San Francisco Unified School District (Calif.), and Long Beach Unified School District (Calif.), use Panorama Education's technology platform and professional training workshops to tackle critical challenges, such as serving all students equitably and helping every student develop social-emotional skills. Schools use Panorama to improve student and staff engagement, family partnerships, school climate, and social-emotional learning. Now serving 400 school systems across the country, Panorama Education will use the investment to bring tools for understanding and improving central aspects of student success to hundreds more districts.

"We founded Panorama on a simple idea," said Aaron Feuer, CEO and Co-Founder of Panorama Education. "Great schools go beyond English and math to help grow every aspect of the child, from social-emotional development to love of learning. Thousands of schools are embracing Panorama to help achieve this vision for every student, and this funding will help us expand and deepen this work."

Panorama Education helps schools better understand their students' growth mindset, social awareness, self-management, and other social-emotional learning domains through research-backed surveys. Many schools and districts use Panorama to analyze school climate and social-emotional learning for diverse student populations, including racial and ethnic groups, foster youth, and homeless youth.

Teachers, counselors, and principals use Panorama's Playbook, guided by their social-emotional learning data, to find strategies and resources to develop their students' skills and improve classroom and school climate. In addition to offering strategies from master teachers, Playbook provides resources from trusted organizations and curriculum providers, including Second Step, Transforming Education, and Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Panorama's new tool, Panorama Student Success, combines academic, attendance, behavior, and social-emotional learning data to provide a holistic picture of each student. Schools use Success to identify whether students are on track to graduate, to monitor the progress of students receiving special services, and to coordinate data-informed actions to support every student.

Washoe County School District (Nev.) works with Panorama Education to support students' growth in social-emotional learning. "We are on a mission to graduate 100 percent of our students," said Traci Davis, Superintendent of Washoe County School District. "We know that students' social-emotional learning is critical to their overall success. We're using social-emotional learning and school climate data from Panorama Education across our entire district for insight into our students' social-emotional competencies and what they need to succeed."

"I can't think of better data to help our 64,000 students on their path to graduation," said Kristen McNeill, Deputy Superintendent of Washoe County School District. "With SEL data, our district is taking a student-centered view of growth and development for every child, and we're seeing the impact of that focus across our schools."

Ross Jensen led Emerson Collective's investment in Panorama Education and will join Panorama's board of directors. "As a teacher in Newark (NJ) Public Schools, I cared about so much more than test scores, grades, and attendance because I knew that my students' mindsets, emotional well-being, and feelings about school were key factors to their success," said Jensen. "But without a way to measure growth, I had real blind spots around these areas. Panorama's tools would have been incredibly valuable to me as a teacher, and it's so exciting that this team is now poised to bring these tools to millions more teachers and students."

Founded in 2012, Panorama Education is a team of 80 former educators, engineers, designers, and researchers. With this funding round, Panorama Education will add significantly to its product team by hiring a VP of Product, senior and full-stack engineers, and for other key positions across the company.

About Panorama Education

Panorama Education partners with schools and districts to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement, and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data and improve student outcomes. Panorama has supported more than 5 million students in 7,500 schools across 45 states, including those in the New York City Department of Education, Dallas Independent School District, Seattle Public Schools, and San Francisco Unified School District. To learn more about Panorama Education, visit www.panoramaed.com.

Media Contact

Elizabeth Breese, Ph.D.

Panorama Education

[email protected]

SOURCE Panorama Education

Related Links

http://www.panoramaed.com


LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Silvergate Bank today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, with net income of $2.6 million. The Bank's total assets increased to $1.2 billion from $978.1 million at year end 2016 and total shareholder's equity grew to $90.6 million at September 30, 2017.

"We are pleased to report strong earnings for the third quarter of 2017," said Alan Lane, the Bank's chief executive officer. "We continue to invest in technology and people that allow Silvergate to offer innovative products and services to our business customers."

Financial Performance

The Bank's net income for the third quarter of 2017 totaled $2.6 million, compared to $2.2 million in the second quarter, and $2.1 million for the third quarter last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net income totaled $6.5 million, compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2016.

The Bank's net interest income for the third quarter of 2017 was $11.3 million, compared to $9.9 million for the prior quarter and $9.1 million for the third quarter last year. The Bank's net interest margin for the third quarter was 3.70%, compared to 4.10% for the second quarter, and 3.86% for the same period in 2016. The decrease from prior quarters is the result of faster growth in interest earning assets relative to the increase in interest income on those assets.

The Bank's allowance for loan losses was $8.1 million, or 1.16% of loans held for investment at September 30, 2017. During the third quarter of 2017, the Bank's provision for loan losses totaled $209 thousand, as the Bank added to the loan loss allowance based on estimated losses resulting from the recent hurricane activity. The Bank had net charge-offs of $61 thousand in the third quarter of 2017, compared to no net charge-offs in the prior quarter, and $3 thousand in charge-offs with no recoveries in the third quarter of 2016.

Noninterest income totaled $718 thousand for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to $704 thousand for the prior quarter, and $833 thousand for the same quarter last year. The variance over the prior quarter reflects increased fee income from deposit and loan growth. For the first nine months of 2017, noninterest income totaled $2.0 million, compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2016.

Noninterest expense was $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $7.0 million for the prior quarter and $6.2 million for the third quarter last year. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, noninterest expense was $21.3 million, compared to $17.8 million for the first nine months last year. The increase over the prior periods reflects higher compensation and professional services expenses resulting from deposit growth, strong production activity and an increase in total employees as the Bank continues to expand its business banking activities.

"The third quarter's net income was supported by continued strong loan production at good yields," noted Derek Eisele, the Bank's president.

Balance Sheet Activity

The Bank's total loans increased by $17.1 million to $859.2 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $842.1 million at June 30, 2017, and $834.2 million at September 30, 2016.

Loans funded and purchased by the Bank's Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division totaled $1.1 billion in the third quarter, compared to $1.0 billion in the prior quarter and $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Total commercial real estate loan balances totaled $369.9 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $371.4 million and $346.5 million at June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively. Single family residential loan balances totaled $448.1 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $431.1 million and $462.2 million at June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively.

At September 30, 2017, deposits totaled $985.4 million, compared to $969.4 million at the prior quarter-end and $769.2 million at September 30, 2016. At September 30, 2017, noninterest bearing deposits totaled $610.2 million (representing approximately 62% of total deposits), an increase of $159.3 million over the prior quarter and $471.9 million compared to September 30, 2016. These large deposit increases resulted from a combination of growth in our local markets as well as significant growth in the Bank's Financial Technology deposit initiative.

At September 30, 2017, Silvergate Bank's Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio was 7.44% and Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 14.98%, both substantially exceeding "well capitalized" minimums of 5.00% and 10.00%. At September 30, 2017, the ratios of nonperforming loans to total loans and nonperforming assets to total assets remained low, at 0.53% and 0.43%, respectively.

About Silvergate Bank

Silvergate Bank is a San Diego-based bank that specializes in meeting the needs of businesses and residential loan producers through a comprehensive offering of lending products and personalized banking services. Silvergate Bank opened in 1988 and is a subsidiary of Silvergate Capital Corporation. Bank branches are located in Carlsbad, Escondido, La Jolla, and La Mesa and a loan production office is located in Seal Beach in Orange County. Silvergate Bank's headquarters office is located at 4250 Executive Square, Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037. The Bank's website is www.silvergatebank.com.

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for growth and income forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. When used in this release, the words or phrases such as "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "expect," "projected," "believe," "seeking," or similar expressions, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect views only as of the date hereof. Neither Silvergate Capital Corporation nor Silvergate Bank undertakes any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

CONTACT:

Alan Lane

858-362-6300

SOURCE Silvergate Bank

Related Links

http://www.silvergatebank.com


RALEIGH, North Carolina, November 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Simplilearn, the leading digital economy training company, today announced its plan to expand its business and operations center by opening up a new office space in Raleigh, North Carolina. The new facility will enable the company to grow its enterprise and academic learning business across North Carolina, and leverage the area's diverse talent pool. The talent from the regional office will contribute towards sales, strategic partnerships, customer relationship and marketing business units.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg )



Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn said, "Research Triangle has been the hub for innovation, technology and educational excellence. Our Raleigh location presents a great opportunity to partner with local enterprises and universities as we help them prepare their employees and students to enter the digital workforce. We intend to increase awareness on the need for upskilling for the 21st century and also become active members of the local business community in Raleigh. That, combined with North Carolina's impressive talent pool, makes it a promising location for us to invest in."

Adding to the company's existing offices in Bangalore and San Francisco, the new Raleigh office will enable Simplilearn to better support the learning needs of enterprises and universities. In June 2015, Simplilearn set up operations in the U.S. through the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based digital marketing training company, Market Motive.

About Simplilearn

Simplilearn's mission is to help professionals around the world acquire the skills they need to succeed in today's digital economy. The company provides online training in disciplines such as Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Digital Marketing, Data Science and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco, California and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 500,000 professionals and companies across 150+ countries get trained, acquire certifications and upskill their employees. Its training courses are designed and updated by renowned industry experts. Simplilearn's blended learning approach combines online classes, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, relevant, applied projects and 24/7 teaching assistance. Leading global training organizations have recognized Simplilearn as an official provider of certification training. The company has been named the 8th most influential education brand in the world by LinkedIn. For more information, visit https://www.simplilearn.com.



Media Contact

Rushitha Samavedam

+91-9538207070

[email protected]



SOURCE Simplilearn
"As a Latino, I know how central fresh pork is for many traditional Holiday dishes," said Mendin. "Quality pork that consumers can trust to create flavorful recipes for their celebrations with families and friends is important, and Smithfield Fresh Pork provides them that confidence."

Puerto Rican-born and Miami-based Chef Mendin is the connoisseur behind the Pubbelly Group, a variety of pork-inspired restaurants, including critically-acclaimed Pubbelly Noodle Bar. His restaurants are internationally located in the cities of Miami, Casa de Campo and San Juan.

For this Holiday season, Mendin has prepared a collection of six of his favorite recipes highlighting the quality and flavor of Smithfield Fresh Pork.

CHEF MENDIN'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES

Spicy Marinated Pork Loin - A take on Smithfield's classic Boneless Pork marinated with chipotle, honey, oregano, cumin and paprika with a blend of caramelized garlic and onions.

- A take on classic Boneless Pork marinated with chipotle, honey, oregano, cumin and paprika with a blend of caramelized garlic and onions. Sauteed Pork Chops with Romesco - These pork chops feature Smithfield  Fresh Pork Bone-in Pork Chops marinated in a homemade Romesco sauce consisting of a mix of pine nuts, hazelnuts, garlic, tomatoes and piquillo chiles for a kick the whole family will love.

- These pork chops feature Fresh Pork Bone-in Pork Chops marinated in a homemade Romesco sauce consisting of a mix of pine nuts, hazelnuts, garlic, tomatoes and piquillo chiles for a kick the whole family will love. Pork Sirloin Steak Milanesas with Chimichurri - Smithfield  Fresh Pork Boneless Sirloin Roast steaks fried with panko breadcrumbs, garlic and onion powder and served with flavorful Chimichurri, are a mouthwatering delight for your Holiday guests.

- Fresh Pork Boneless Sirloin Roast steaks fried with panko breadcrumbs, garlic and onion powder and served with flavorful Chimichurri, are a mouthwatering delight for your Holiday guests. Pork Tenderloin Cutlets with Caramelized Onions - Add flavor to your Holiday dinner with Smithfield  Fresh Pork Tenderloins coated with lemon juice, orange juice, vinegar and onion marinade, served with caramelized onions and drizzled with a thickened sauce.

- Add flavor to your Holiday dinner with Fresh Pork Tenderloins coated with lemon juice, orange juice, vinegar and onion marinade, served with caramelized onions and drizzled with a thickened sauce. Lechon Asado Mojo Marinated - The perfect mojo marinade paired with Smithfield  Fresh Pork Bone-In Pork Chops is the combination your taste buds have been craving. The one-inch cut pork topped with a blend of fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic and lemons.

- The perfect mojo marinade paired with Fresh Pork Bone-In Pork Chops is the combination your taste buds have been craving. The one-inch cut pork topped with a blend of fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic and lemons. Puerto Rican Christmas Pork Roast - It's your traditional holiday roast with a Puerto Rican flare. Marinated in a tangy cilantro that will give your Smithfield  Fresh Pork Bone-In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast the perfect taste for this holiday season.

An amazing Holiday season begins with delicious meals, and Smithfield Fresh Pork's high-quality, flavorful & hand-trimmed cuts will help your recipes be the stars of the Holiday table for unforgettable memories with friends and family.

To join the conversation, like us on Facebook @SaborSmithfield using the hashtag #SaborSmithfield. Visit SaborSmithfield.com to explore flavorful fresh pork grilling recipes and tips.

About Smithfield

A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the "Ham Capital of the World." From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.SaborSmithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

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, Nathan's Famous, Farmer John, Farmland, Armour, John Morrell, Cook's, Kretschmar, Gwaltney, Curly's, Margherita, Carando, Healthy Ones, Krakus, Morliny 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.

SOURCE Smithfield
Upon her first introduction to SnapPower, Crystal tried her hand at installing both the SnapPower Charger and the GuideLight. The Charger features a USB port built into the bottom of a standard electrical outlet cover, thus eliminating the need for plug-in USB chargers and freeing up outlets for other uses. The SnapPower GuideLight features an outlet cover with built-in LED lighting, relinquishing the need for bulky, plug-in night-lights once and for all.

Since SnapPower's inception, the organization has boasted simple-to-install consumer technology, suggesting that even a monkey could complete the installation. Critics have branded the company as simply "bananas" for making such daring claims; however, its celebrity endorser seems to agree with the assertion. When asked about what she thought of SnapPower's products, Crystal eagerly responded, "OOO! OOO! EEE! EEE!"...Her trainer said that basically means she loves them; that, or she's just making noises because she's an animal.

"It has been an absolute honor to work side-by-side with Crystal and have the amazing opportunity to observe her interact with our products," said Jesse Leishman, CEO of SnapPower. "I knew we had an intuitive cover design, but I feel like a monkey's uncle watching Crystal easily install the SnapPower GuideLight."

Appearing in movies like Night at the Museum and The Hangover Part II, Crystal is accustomed to the limelight. After witnessing her poise and charm on the red carpet, SnapPower executives knew it was time to get into the monkey business. The company identified Crystal as the perfect celebrity spokesperson to star in its new marketing campaign, and sought her aid in proving to critics just how divinely simple SnapPower products are to install.

You can view the first video of the series here.

For more information about SnapPower, visit: www.snappower.com.

About SnapPower

Located in Vineyard, Utah, SnapPower is a consumer technology company focused on creating simple and convenient solutions that solve some of the basic issues in today's home. Powered by its patented technology, SnapPower's easy-to-install, sleek and energy-efficient designs transform outlet cover plates into convenient nightlights and USB chargers. SnapPower products are installed in seconds, requiring no wire or batteries and leaving all outlets free for use. For more information, visit, www.snappower.com

Press Contact

Amberly Asay

SnapPower Public Relations

801-461-9776

[email protected]

SOURCE SnapPower

Related Links

https://www.snappower.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the end of most new college graduates' student loan repayment grace period, SoFi today announced its first-ever Refi and Relax campaign, which aims to educate graduates on their refinancing options as a way to relieve the overwhelming stress that comes with carrying student debt.

"We hear everyday from people with student debt that it feels like an anchor weighing them down from achieving other goals," said Joanne Bradford, chief marketing officer of SoFi. "There are millions of people who could take advantage of refinancing their student loans to lessen their burden that just don't even know it's an option for them."

Student loan debt is a large source of anxiety and stress for many young Americans. According to a recent SoFi member survey of over 1,200 respondents, eighty three percent shared that they've felt like they couldn't relax due to the burden of the debt. Fifty percent of people dealing with student loan debt reported feeling anxious and/or depressed, and fifteen percent of respondents went so far as to talk with a mental health professional about the stress of their student debt.

Over a third of respondents have reported losing sleep due to student loan debt. Seventy five percent of respondents shared that they would give up social media if it meant their student loans would disappear. Forty percent of respondents said they would stay at a job that they hate because of student loan debt. Another twenty percent are willing to take even more dramatic measures by sacrificing a finger or toe in exchange for erasing their student loans.

Americans currently owe over $1.34 trillion in student loan debt, about $319 billion more than total credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's August 2017 report.

Refi and Relax will comprise of a robust social media advertising campaign (#RefiandRelax), in addition to a members-only launch party in New York exclusively for those who recently refinanced their loans. On November 7, to give SoFi members a night off to unwind, the event will be dedicated to utmost relaxation, with manicures from GlamSquad, playtime with Socials Tees puppies, premium giveaways, and more.

SoFi was the first company to refinance student loans in the United States, and has helped people save more than $2 billion in interest on their student loans. On average, SoFi members save $288 a month -- or $22,359 over the lifetime of their loan -- through refinancing.

About SoFi

SoFi is a new kind of finance company taking a radical approach to lending, wealth management and insurance. From unprecedented products and tools to faster service and open conversations, we're all about helping our members get ahead and find success. Whether they're looking to buy a home, save money on student loans, ascend in their careers, or invest in the future, the SoFi community works to empower our members to accomplish the goals they set and achieve financial greatness as a result. For more information, visit SoFi.com.

Contact

Danika Owsley

Director of Consumer Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE SoFi

Related Links

http://www.sofi.com


PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLE Financial recently partnered with JumBurrito, an award-winning Midland, Texas restaurant chain serving authentic, scratch-made Tex-Mex, to offer payroll cards to the members of JumBurrito's unbanked workforce. JumBurrito is a family-owned company that focuses on providing quality food and secure employment for the local communities in Midland and Odessa Texas.

SOLE Financial

The World Bank Global Findex reports that companies play a "pivotal role" in fostering the financial inclusion that leads to the reduction of poverty. Paycards cultivate financial inclusion by offering unbanked employees, who are more likely to be low-wage workers, many of the benefits of a traditional bank account without the risk of overdraft fees. Texas is one of the most unbanked states in the country, but because of the active role JumBurrito has taken in advancing financial inclusion for its workforce, JumBurrito's unbanked employees will now have access to services like online bill pay and purchases, no-cost cashback at point-of-sale transactions and a mobile app to check account balances. The SOLE Paycard's routing and account number also give cardholders the ability to use the card for any direct deposits, such as paychecks from a second job. The payroll card allows these employees to maintain all of their funds electronically, in a secure FDIC-insured account.

Shortly after partnering with SOLE, JumBurrito achieved 100% participation in direct deposit by implementing the payroll card to nearly half of its employees, all who were not already enrolled in direct deposit. To honor JumBurrito's achievement of paperless payroll, SOLE planted 100 trees in JumBurrito's name as part of SOLE's Paperless Trees Project, which celebrates the environmental benefit of direct deposit by planting a grove of trees every time a client eliminates paper checks.

Regarding the partnership, JumBurrito's payroll manager Lacy Davidson said, "We are happy to partner with SOLE for our non-banking employees. The enrollment process is easy and fast. The support staff has always been just an email away, and quick to respond. Our employees really like their SOLE Paycards. They have instant access to their funds on payday. They also like the ease of navigating and the security of the app."

SOLE President, Tom Secor, said, "We are so proud to be of service to the JumBurrito team, namely those that are unable to participate in direct deposit. Employers are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap of banked and unbanked, and we are excited to partner with clients who share our passion for providing easy access to the savings and convenience of direct deposit through our payroll debit card. The Paperless Trees initiative extends the benefit of direct deposit outside of our company and clients to our global community, which mirrors JumBurrito's innovation and forward-thinking way of doing business."

About SOLE: SOLE Financial advances financial inclusion by providing unbanked workers instant and affordable access to their hard-earned pay while helping companies go paperless. The SOLE Visa Payroll Card eliminates the expensive and logistical burden of paper checks and bridges the gap for clients striving to reach 100% direct deposit participation. SOLE celebrates clients who achieve 100% paperless pay by planting a grove of trees in their name through its corporate social responsibility program, the SOLE Paperless Trees Project.

About JumBurrito: JumBurrito's six restaurants are a Tex-Mex institution in the Midland/Odessa area. JumBurrito proudly employs 155 West Texans, and has been the winner of the Best Burrito in the Permian Basin for 17 years in a row.

Media Contact:

Taylor Ellsworth

Phone: 971.227.5364

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

A Day in the Life of the Unbanked

SOURCE SOLE Financial
The Louisville, Colo.-based company was recognized for its efforts in advancing Colorado's cleantech ecosystem, increasing jobs and driving innovation in the cleantech sector, with a proven ability to scale its technology moving forward. Solid Power is developing its solid-state battery technology for use in the electric vehicle, aerospace, defense and consumer electronics industries. Compared to today's existing lithium-ion batteries, Solid Power's cutting-edge battery technology enables batteries to operate remarkably longer and with more power on a single charge while being considerably safer than current lithium-ion batteries.

"We are grateful to be recognized by CCIA for our growth in developing an improved battery with our current solid-state technology," said Doug Campbell, president and CEO of Solid Power. "This award is a validation of our work as the transportation industry increasingly shifts toward vehicle electrification. We are proud to know that our technology will provide an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and high-performing alternative for electric vehicles in the future."

Recently, Solid Power moved to a new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Louisville to support commercialization of its battery technology with multiple partnerships with automotive manufacturers. A result of these partnerships will see the company's solid-state batteries powering electric vehicles by the mid 2020s. To learn more about Solid Power's solid-state batteries or review available company positions, visit: http://www.solidpowerbattery.com.

About Solid Power

Solid Power is an industry-leading developer of the next-generation of all solid-state rechargeable batteries. Established in 2012 as a spin-out company from the University of Colorado Boulder, based on ground-breaking research in solid-state battery technology, the company has an exclusive goal of commercializing the company's technology for battery-powered devices such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, aircraft, and satellites. For more information, visit http://www.solidpowerbattery.com.

About Colorado Cleantech Industries Association

Founded in 2008, CCIA is a statewide, industry-led, industry-focused organization dedicated to promoting Colorado's cleantech industry. CCIA impacts Colorado's policies, people, products and programs that drive expansion of a cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and secure energy economy. Through advocacy, public policy leadership, development and education, CCIA works to ensure that Colorado is a global cleantech leader. For more information, visit https://coloradocleantech.com/.

SOURCE Solid Power Inc.

Related Links

http://www.solidpowerbattery.com


ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation, a coalition of more than 50 organizations working to reduce youth tobacco use, thanks the St. Cloud City Council and the Bloomington City Council for voting to protect kids by raising the minimum tobacco sale age to 21. Both Councils passed the policy at meetings tonight. However, shortly after the vote, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis announced he would veto the lifesaving measure, putting up a roadblock to implementation of the policy in Minnesota's 10th largest city. Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation supports local advocates' efforts to override the Mayor's veto.

Nearly 95 percent of addicted adult smokers started smoking before age 21, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Raising the minimum tobacco sale age to 21 helps prevent more young people from ever trying tobacco products and getting hooked. The National Academy of Medicine reports that there would be a 25 percent reduction in smoking initiation among 15-to-17-year-olds if the tobacco age was raised to 21.

The actions by the St. Cloud City Council and the Bloomington City Council reflect the growing momentum for increasing the tobacco age to 21. Public support for raising the age is strong: A 2015 national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that three out of four American adults support the move. So far, five states and 270 communities across the country, including two others in Minnesota, have raised the tobacco sale age to 21.

In St. Cloud, the final vote was four Council Members voting in favor, with three opposed. Local advocates are considering their options to override the veto by Mayor Kleis.

In Bloomington, the final vote was six Council Members voting in favor, with none opposed. Bloomington city administrators are expected to announce the effective date for the policy soon.

"We are encouraged by the decisions of the St. Cloud and Bloomington City Councils," said Molly Moilanen, Director of Public Affairs at ClearWay Minnesota and co-chair of the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation coalition. "However, we are deeply disappointed in the St. Cloud Mayor's pledge to veto this measure. Raising the tobacco age to 21 helps stop kids from trying tobacco before they can understand the long-term consequences. We support local central Minnesota public health experts, youth advocates and others in continuing the fight for raising the tobacco sale age in St. Cloud."

During public hearings prior to tonight's vote, local parents, youth advocates, medical professionals and public health experts urged the Councils to support raising the tobacco age to 21. A few of their remarks:

"At age 19 I lost my father to esophageal cancer," said Giana Ballard, Bloomington resident and a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "And that's why I am here. The tobacco industry is in Minnesota, spending millions every year targeting kids and young people. Tobacco 21 is one way we can stand up to the tobacco industry and prevent kids from starting, from going down the road my dad did."

Sueling Schardin, a mother and Bloomington resident who works for the American Heart Association, said, "State lawmakers are slow to act. That's why it's important that Bloomington leads the way for state action."

"Last year, I researched Tobacco 21 for a school project," said Ling Schardin, Sueling's daughter and a sixth-grade student. "I learned how Tobacco 21 is helping prevent kids from smoking. After I told my class about Tobacco 21, we took a vote on it, and it passed."

"As a young person, it is easy for me to understand how Tobacco 21 will prevent younger kids from smoking. This ordinance will positively impact my school community," said Emma Roggeman, a senior at St. Cloud Technical Senior High School. "I know plenty of 18-year-olds, but no 21-year-olds. I believe that we need to make it harder for teenagers and young adults to get access to tobacco products. It's clear- if young people don't start smoking or using other tobacco products by the age of 21, they likely never will."

"Each time tobacco prevention measures evolve, usage rates decline," said Rhonda Shoberg, a St. Cloud resident, mother of three, and Clinic Services Assistant for CentraCare. "It's time to evolve again. If it was harder for my parents they might not have ever started. My mom might not have emphysema and my dad might not have suffered and died from lung cancer."

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation supports policies that reduce youth smoking and help end the death and disease associated with tobacco use, including raising the tobacco age to 21, limiting youth access to menthol-, candy- and fruit- flavored tobacco, keeping tobacco prices high and funding tobacco control programs.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation partners include: A Healthier Southwest, African American Leadership Forum, Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for Nonsmokers  Minnesota, Becker County Energize, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CentraCare Health, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay MinnesotaSM, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio  CLUES, Essentia Health, Four Corners Partnership, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Hennepin County Medical Center, Hope Dental Clinic, Horizon Public Health, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, ISAIAH, LAAMPP Institute, Lake Region Healthcare, Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, March of Dimes, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public Health Association, Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc., NAMI Minnesota, North Memorial Health Care, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Perham Health, Rainbow Health Initiative, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Tobacco Free Alliance, Twin Cities Medical Society, UCare and WellShare International.

Find out more at: smokefreegenmn.org.

SOURCE Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Related Links

http://smokefreegenmn.org


CINCINNATI, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Textile announces that VESTEX Active Barrier1 apparel received a 2017 Innovative Technology designation from Vizient, Inc., the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country. The designation was based on direct feedback from hospital experts who interacted with VESTEX at the Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange in Denver on Sept. 14, 2017.

VESTEX Active Barrier apparel is a unique combination of technologies that addresses the need for continuous-wear, comfortable healthcare worker garments intended to minimize the risks associated with unanticipated exposure to body fluids during routine use, by repelling fluid splatter and spills from the fabric. VESTEX Active Barrier apparel has also earned the exclusive endorsement of the American Hospital Association.

VESTEX fabric is breathable and it contains an EPA-registered antimicrobial agent2 shown in controlled conditions in laboratory and hospital settings to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria on the fabric.3,4 A peer-reviewed hospital-based study published in a leading medical journal showed reduced acquisition and retention of certain microorganisms on VESTEX scrubs under the study conditions compared to conventional healthcare uniforms.

"For more than 70 years, Standard Textile has brought breakthrough technology to the healthcare industry," said Norman Frankel, Executive Vice President/Sales at Standard Textile. "VESTEX provides healthcare worker-focused innovation, addressing the growing environmental risks to these essential stakeholders in the healthcare setting. VESTEX Active Barrier fabric incorporates multiple technologies to help minimize those environmental risks while being comfortable and durable for everyday use."

"We are honored that Vizient, Inc. has recognized VESTEX and look forward to expanding its adoption with Vizient members," said Bill Bold, CEO of Vestagen Protective Technologies, Inc., developer of VESTEX.

"Hospitals and providers are looking for innovations that offer unique and cumulative benefit over other products available on the market today. The feedback on VESTEX Active Barrier by attendees at our Innovative Technology Exchange was strongly in favor of assigning this technology an Innovative Technology designation. Congratulations to Standard Textile on receiving this status," said Debbie Archer, director of procurement and Vizient Innovative Technology Program lead.

Vizient represents a diverse membership base that includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks and non-acute health care providers and represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume. Through its Innovative Technology Program, Vizient works with member-led councils and task forces to review potentially innovative products. If it is determined that a product is innovative, Vizient may award a contract outside of the competitive bid cycle.

1 - Neither liquid repellency nor antimicrobial tests are intended to assess the VESTEX active barrier apparel's ability to meet personal protective equipment requirements. The ability of the fabric to reduce exposure to microorganisms or infections has not been studied.

2 - VESTEX garments do not protect users or others against disease-causing bacteria. Always clean the garment thoroughly after each use.

3 - Bearman, G., Rosato, A., Elam, K., Sanogo, K., Stevens, M., Sessler, C., and Wenzel, R. P., "A Cross-over Trial of Antimicrobial Scrubs to Reduce MRSA Burden on Healthcare Worker Apparel," Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol., Vol. 33, No. 3, 2012, pp. 268275.

4 - Hardwick, Matthew, Walsh, Thomas, and Cotton, Margaret, "Fabric Challenge Assays: New Standards for the Evaluation of the Performance of Textiles Treated with Antimicrobial Agents," Pesticide Formulation and Delivery Systems: Innovating Legacy Products for New Uses on November 13, 2011 in Tampa FL; STP 1558, M. Bernards, Editor, pp. 114, doi: 101520/STP155820120184, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA 2013.

About Standard Textile

Founded in 1940, Standard Textile has developed a culture of innovation, quality, and service. With more than 70 patents, its products are engineered to deliver durability, longevity, and value. A vertically integrated company, Standard Textile is a leading global provider of total solutions in the institutional textiles and apparel markets. Leveraging textile design, manufacturing, and laundry expertise, and its global infrastructure, this company serves customers in the healthcare, hospitality, interiors, workwear, and consumer markets worldwide. For more information visit standardtextile.com.

Contact:

Judy Sroufe

Vice President, Brand Marketing and Communications, Standard Textile

[email protected]

(513) 761-9256

SOURCE Standard Textile

Related Links

http://www.standardtextile.com


EAST DORSET, Vt., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The SteelShad Fishing Company is proud to announce the 2018 SteelShad College Bass Fishing Scholarship Program. SteelShad wants to support the growth of college bass fishing and the individual anglers participating in the sport. SteelShad will award 3 college students, whom bass fish competitively or avidly, individual scholarships of $1,000 each in May of 2018. The SteelShad Selection Committee will look at academic achievements, college bass fishing achievements and social media posts and engagement. College Bass Fishing Students may apply for the SteelShad Scholarships at https://steelshad.com/fishing-scholarship/.

Stephen Price, CEO of SteelShad remarks, "We are so excited about the growth in the sport of College Bass Fishing and we want to support these students in a significant way. We plan to support each applicant for the SteelShad College Scholarship Program with SteelShad lures and we will award each winner a scholarship check for $1,000 in May of 2018. We are proud to help support each student and the sport of College Bass Fishing as a whole."

Captain Steve Niemoeller, VP of SteelShad and Full-time Fishing Guide says, "I am very happy to see these talented, young anglers pursue bass fishing during their college years. We are proud to support them and their college bass fishing teams. The sport of college bass fishing is expanding the sport and the number of anglers nationwide."

Jim Root, Pro Staff Team Member of SteelShad says, "College Bass Fishing is now a permanent part of the tournament landscape. I am excited to be partnering with SteelShad to announce these scholarships and engage with college bass fisherman nationwide as we talk to applicants and get them SteelShad lures and gear."

The SteelShad Fishing Company is proud to be a supporter of College Bass Fishing. Last year, three best friends partnered together with Captain Steve Niemoeller to launch the SteelShad Fishing Company nationwide. The SteelShad fishing lure was designed and perfected by Anglers and Guides whom are on the water every day. Captain Steve, a full-time fishing guide in Florida, says, "Once you catch your first trophy fish on a SteelShad, it's hard to go back to other baits." SteelShad makes fishing simple, easy and fun.

Pro Bass Anglers are discovering SteelShad as well. Jay Yelas, 2002 Bassmaster Classic Champion, says that he likes to fish SteelShad because, "Fish just bite it! It's a fun lure to fish because so many species of gamefish will eat the SteelShad. It's a very versatile lure and a must-have for my tackle box."

Anglers love SteelShad because "Fish Bite It!"

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather McCullough  [email protected] | 484-459-2855

SOURCE SteelShad Fishing Company

Related Links

http://www.steelshad.com


VILNIUS, Lithuania, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BitDegree announces that Dutch entrepreneur and founder of the Steve JobsSchool, Maurice de Hond, has joined the revolutionary blockchain-based education platform as an advisor ahead of its pre-ICO date, December 1st, 2017. The Steve JobsSchool has been previously nominated by Tech Insider as one of the most innovative schools in the world.

BitDegree

In addition to his work as an educational reformer, de Hond is a keen innovator with more than 50 years experience in the field of technology. He also has over 40 years of experience in polling and is one of the Netherlands' most foremost opinion pollsters. de Hond is the founder of the Peil.nl polling site.

"I joined BitDegree because I was attracted to its team's revolutionary approach to solving the problem of educational institutions failing to prepare students with the necessary applicable skills they need to succeed when they enter the world of work," explained de Hond. "I believe BitDegree's philosophy of rewarding students with tokens will encourage its students to find, and stick with, a course of study that is right for them."

Regarding de Hond's appointment, BitDegree CEO, Andrius Putna, commented: "BitDegree is thrilled to have Maurice on board as one of our advisors. His huge wealth of experience as an educational pioneer through his work at The Steve JobsSchool, plus decades of knowledge amassed from working with technology and polling will ensure that we achieve our goals of revolutionizing education."

Other advisors include Electronic Arts co-founder, Jeff Burton, who joined the BitDegree due to its emphasis on gamified and reward-based learning.

BitDegree is a pioneering massive open online course provider, which will revolutionize education by offering blockchain-powered IT and tech courses. It was created by the founders of Hostinger and 000webhost, world's largest free web hosting platform.

BitDegree is already proud to boast a user base of over 29 million customers, plus a fully functioning Minimum Viable Product, which is constantly being updated by its developers.

Media Contact

Contact Name: Andrius Putna

Contact Email: [email protected]

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Website: https://www.bitdegree.org

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bitdegree_org

Blog: https://blog.bitdegree.org

Telegram: https://t.me/bitdegree

Whitepaper: https://www.bitdegree.org/white-paper.pdf

Related Images

image1.jpg

Steve JobsSchool founder Maurice de Hond (left) with BitDegree co-founders Andrius Putna (center) and Danielius Stasiulis (right)

image2.jpg

BitDegree Token

Related Links

BitDegree Twitter

BitDegree Telegram

SOURCE BitDegree

Related Links

http://www.bitdegree.org


MONTREAL, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - StoneCalibre is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Applied Voice & Speech Technologies Inc. ("AVST"), a trusted developer of software-based Unified Communications (UC) solutions for businesses of all sizes. The company was merged with XMedius Solutions Inc. ("XMedius") as of October 31st. With its global headquarters in Montreal, Canada, the newly combined entity will provide a complete set of communication tools that leverage voice and data through IP networks using different types of enterprise grade solutions, either on-premises or in the cloud.

The transaction combines 60 years of experience and two customer-driven organizations with a shared commitment to innovation, service, and channel partner relationships. AVST designs, delivers and supports software-based UC voice solutions that transform the productivity of individual workers, teams and enterprises. XMedius provides the most efficient and reliable secure file exchange software solutions available in the market today. The combination of AVST and XMedius creates a new leader in communication solutions, whether voice or data, with over 500 partners and nearly 4,500 active customers worldwide. The company will leverage the resources of both organizations, including complementary sales channels, to accelerate its sales and maintain the best-in-class customer service for which they are both renowned.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this compelling transaction, as it brings together two highly complementary companies as part of the StoneCalibre family", said Brian Wall, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of StoneCalibre. "Both have long track records of innovation and commitment to helping their customers build cutting-edge solutions for today's business environments. And, while AVST focuses on improving the productivity of its customers' communications, XMedius enables those communications to be secure."

"The integrated companies' expertise in developing software solutions will allow us to deliver world-class integrated product offerings and services and provide greater value to our customers," said Jean Champagne, President and Chief Executive Officer of XMedius. "We're excited to be joining forces with AVST as it enters into the next chapter of its growth trajectory. Blending the complementary UC and secure file exchange offerings of our organizations uniquely positions the combined company at the forefront of a new generation of solutions."

About StoneCalibre

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, StoneCalibre is a privately funded investment firm specializing in the acquisition of lower middle market companies. Founded by Brian Wall in 2012, StoneCalibre is focused on making investments in both special situations and quality long-term capital investment opportunities. For more information please visit our website at www.stonecalibre.com.

About XMedius

XMedius is a global leader in the field of secure file exchange for businesses. Its on-site and cloud-based software solutions enable businesses to exchange sensitive and confidential data in a secure manner. Founded in 1993 and based in Montreal (Canada), the company operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific Rim. With more than 14,000 deployments in SMEs, large enterprises and service providers, XMedius solutions are present in many markets, including the financial, health, government, manufacturing, retail, legal services and education sectors. For more information about XMedius and its solutions, visit www.xmedius.com.

SOURCE Les Solutions XMedius Inc.

Related Links

http://www.xmedius.com


"While in Mexicali, I met with CETYS students who are working to make their school one of the top 10 universities in the world. Inspired by their tenacity, I issued a challenge to raise $25,000 for the victims of Mexico's earthquake," said Jorge Ramos, last September, during his visit to CETYS University 's 56th anniversary. "These students not only stepped up to the plate to deliver much needed resources, but the University also backed them 100%."

Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, President of CETYS University declared, "We're proud to say that we have clearly surpassed our goal. The work shows our commitment at CETYS of focusing both on the academic and social development of our students. By forming upstanding people who are very committed to their communities, we're educating true agents of change."

Fundraising activities were led by student groups, including the University Network for Disaster Prevention and Care (UNIRED for its Spanish acronym), a non-governmental association, located in Mexico City, whose Northwestern chapter is coordinated by CETYS; the leadership group FORTES, and the Alumni Society. These groups organized social and cultural events, fundraisers, raffles, and sales throughout the three CETYS campuses.

Through different initiatives, CETYS University seeks to promote its students' sensitivity to their environment, raise their awareness about their responsibility within the society, and reaffirm their commitment as future agents of change.

Jorge Ramos's challenge started with a personal donation by the renowned journalist himself of $10,000. To this day, CETYS and the community has collected over $29,000 more for a total of over $39,000. The school will unveil the names of the institutions that will be in charge of bringing the funds to the devastated areas soon.

Video:

http://www.cetys.mx/noticias/cetys-jorge-ramos-logran-recabar-39-mil-dolares-damnificados/

About CETYS:

CETYS is ranked among the top universities in Mexico and is climbing the ladder of international recognition. With bilingual and dual-degree programs, CETYS is innovative and expects academic, as well as moral, excellence from its students. Further, CETYS location in Baja California, a region ripe with innovation, is a major draw. With a population of just over 3 million, and proximity to important cities in the United States, like San Diego, the state has 32 major universities and offers over one hundred professional degrees. The region also has an incredible tech ecosystem, with major technology parks focused on research and development.

CETYS University is the first Mexican university accredited by WASC, (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and boasts alliances with more than 80 international universities, including: UCSD, USD, City University of Seattle and National University. CETYS already serves a diverse population from Southern California, where students from the U.S. border region commute to CETYS in pursuit of an international quality education. By 2020 CETYS University aims to be the educational institution with the best MBA program in Latin America, with a focus on entrepreneurship and in Engineering, with a focus on Innovation and Design.

Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/598908/Ramos_with_CETYS_students_to_help_Mexicos_earthquake_victims.jpg

SOURCE CETYS University
"As a food company with a global footprint, we are proud to be in the fight against hunger  and we cannot do it alone," said Suzanne Greco, President and CEO, Subway. "We have the best franchisees, Sandwich Artists and customers in the world. It is because of their hard work that we are able to make an impact on hunger in more than 60 countries around the world."

According to the World Food Program, one in nine people go hungry in the world every day. Most of them are children, working families and seniors. On Nov. 3, Subway took National Sandwich Day global with World Sandwich Day to address hunger around the world. More than 40,000 restaurants in more than 60 countries, including the U.S., helped Subway donate to people who do not have enough to eat.

"Every day, there are people who do not get the food they need to thrive, and families around the world struggle to put food on the table," said John Scott, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Subway. "As the world's largest sandwich restaurant chain, we have the opportunity to raise awareness about world hunger and partner with organizations around the world to fight hunger."

To support World Sandwich Day in the U.S., Subway U.S. donated 11.5 million meals to Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief-organization, to fight hunger in communities nationwide. This is the second consecutive year that Subway has collaborated with Feeding America for the sandwich holiday. In 2016, Subway made the largest single-day donation of 11 million meals, which provided resources to Feeding America's nationwide network of 200 food banks.

Visit www.SubwayLiveFeed.com to learn more about World Sandwich Day and the global impact it had on communities around the world.

About Subway Restaurants

Subway offers a fresh alternative to traditional fast food, serving 7 million made-to-order sandwiches a day. Guests choose from 37 million combinations of quality proteins, fresh vegetables, and bread baked daily. The world's largest restaurant chain serves nutritious and delicious subs, soups, and salads at more than 44,000 restaurants in 113 countries. The Subway experience is also delivered online at www.Subway.com and through the Subway App, available in select markets at the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Founded by then 17-year-old Fred DeLuca and family friend Dr. Peter Buck more than 52 years ago, Subway is still a family-owned business today working with more than 21,000 dedicated franchisees in communities around the world.

Subway is a registered trademark of Subway IP Inc.

SOURCE Subway Restaurants

Related Links

http://www.subway.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif., and VISALIA, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Suncrest Bank (OTCQX: SBKK) ("Suncrest") and CBBC Bancorp (OTCBB: CBBC) ("CBBC"), the parent company of Community Business Bank, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the "Agreement") whereby CBBC will merge with and into Suncrest. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of all regulatory approvals and the approval of the shareholders of CBBC and Suncrest, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. Additionally, directors and executive officers of CBBC and directors of Suncrest have entered into agreements whereby they have committed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction.

Under the terms of the Agreement, CBBC shareholders will have the right to receive, at their election, (i) $23.75 in cash or (ii) a fixed exchange ratio of 2.262 shares of Suncrest common stock, subject to a customary proration mechanism so that 50% of the CBBC common shares are exchanged for cash and 50% of the CBBC common shares are exchanged for Suncrest common stock.

In addition, Suncrest also announced today a fully subscribed $25 million capital raise of Suncrest common stock at $10.50 per share, subject to customary closing conditions, with the proceeds being used both to support the merger and for future organic growth. The fully subscribed offering was led by Castle Creek Capital Partners VI, L.P.

Deal Economics

The transaction is valued at approximately $62.5 million, based on a per share valuation of Suncrest's stock of $10.50 and includes the cash out of CBBC in-the-money options. This is equivalent to a price to tangible book multiple of 1.86x and a price to earnings multiple of 17.6x for the twelve months ending September 30, 2017. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Suncrest's earnings per share by over 40%, in the first full year following deal close (excluding transaction costs) with an earn back of approximately 5 years and IRR of over 35%. The pro forma company will have 12.26 million shares issued and outstanding, representing a prospective market capitalization of approximately $129 million based on a per share valuation of Suncrest's stock of $10.50 or $142 million based on Suncrest's stock price of $11.59 as of November 6, 2017, with the potential for significantly increased liquidity. Total pro forma assets at deal close are expected to be approximately $900 million. Further information regarding the financial impacts of the merger and transaction assumptions is contained in a presentation which can be accessed at http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SBKK/video-and-presentations or at http://www.snl.com/IRW/CorporateProfile/4163729/

CBBC is headquartered in West Sacramento, Ca., with $325 million in assets and two branches located in West Sacramento and Lodi, and a Loan Production Office in Roseville. Suncrest is headquartered in Visalia, Ca., with $529 million in assets and five branches located in Fresno, Kingsburg, Porterville, Visalia and Yuba City. The merger combines two profitable and growing franchises; CBBC has consistently delivered strong earnings performance while Suncrest's improving profitability has been supported by its low cost of funds and strong growth in core deposits. CBBC and Suncrest have annualized year-to-date loan growth of 20% and 17%, respectively.

Suncrest President and CEO, Mr. Ciaran McMullan will continue as President and CEO of the combined bank. CBBC CEO, Mr. John A. DiMichele and CBBC President, Mr. Chad Meyer, will join the Board of the combined bank as non-executive directors. Following completion of the merger, the CBBC branches in West Sacramento and Lodi will continue to operate under the Community Business Bank name, as a division of Suncrest Bank.

"I am very pleased with our decision to enter into this strategic partnership with Suncrest Bank. The combination of our two strong community banks will not only benefit our customers but also have a positive impact on our staff and communities, while rewarding our shareholders for the Bank's excellent performance," said John A. DiMichele, Chief Executive Officer of CBBC. "I strongly believe we have found a partner in Suncrest, with the right merger experience, to ensure the process of integrating our two great banks will go as smoothly and efficiently as possible for both our staff and our customers."

"This is a truly transformational deal for Suncrest, with the potential to double our assets and double our market capitalization while significantly improving our earnings power," said Ciaran McMullan, President and CEO of Suncrest Bank. "The completion of this transaction will make Suncrest a formidable competitor in the Central Valley banking marketplace, and positions us for continued profitable growth in key markets such as the Greater Sacramento area and the South Valley."

MJC Partners acted as financial advisor to Suncrest in the transaction and delivered a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Suncrest and King Holmes Paterno & Soriano, LLP served as legal counsel to Suncrest. Sandler O'Neill + Partners L.P. acted as financial advisor to CBBC in the transaction and delivered a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of CBBC and Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin Law Corporation served as legal counsel to CBBC. In addition, MJC Partners, LLC acted as placement agent in conjunction with the offering by Suncrest Bank.

About Suncrest Bank

Suncrest Bank, member FDIC, is locally owned and operated and offers a full range of commercial, small business and agribusiness loans, cash management services and personal deposit products throughout the Central Valley of California. It is regularly rated Five Stars by Bauer Financial as one of the nation's strongest financial institutions, and in 2017 was named to the 2017 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market. It is a Preferred Lender with the Small Business Administration and its stock can be purchased on the open market, trading on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol SBKK. For all other information, visit www.suncrestbank.com

About CBBC Bancorp

CBBC Bancorp's market area includes the greater Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and contiguous counties. It focuses on and provides highly personalized commercial banking services to businesses, professionals, and nonprofit organizations. Community Business Bank continues to be recognized by multiple ranking groups as one of the top performing community banks in America. The Bank has received the following organizations' highest ratings of recognition: Bauer Financial, Bankrate, Weiss Rating, DDF, CB Top 10 and The Findely Reports. Call Reports for CBBC's subsidiary bank Community Business Bank are available for review or download directly from the FDIC website at www.fdic.gov, or through Community Business Bank's website at www.CommunityBizBank.com

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information in this news release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, that the all requirements to consummate the merger will be met or if the merger is consummated, that it will be completed during the second quarter of 2018. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Suncrest Bank undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors are encouraged to read the Suncrest Bank annual reports which are available on our website.

SOURCE Suncrest Bank

Related Links

https://www.suncrestbank.com


The global supply chain management software market value is projected to reach $13.4B by the end of 2017, according to Clearwater International & Gartner. $2.1B (31%) of that market share resides in sourcing and procurement software. While ERP giants like SAP occupy 26% of this market, it leaves a majority 52% open for game changers such as ConnXus.

A Shift in International Procurement Practices

There is no singular definition for global supplier diversity. Standards and requirements for validating diversity statuses and reporting diverse spend shifts country-to-country and sometimes region-by-region. Today, ConnXus validates and classifies international vendor data in Canada, South Africa and United Kingdom, with more international vendors being added to their database daily. ConnXus' localized Registration Portals are translated in each region or country's native language to streamline supplier enrollment and communication, with data rolling up to a singular Enterprise Dashboard view.

What to Expect from ConnXus in 2018

The procurement industry has, for decades, catered to the buyer market. Supplier registration and bid opportunity platforms are built with corporate buyers' ease-of-use and goals at the top of mind, often providing hurdles for suppliers seeking access to corporate supply chains. ConnXus plans to disrupt industry standards by keeping suppliers' goals at the forefront of innovation.

Diverse Marketplace and E-Commerce

In collaboration with their established procure-to-pay partnerBuyerQuestConnXus will launch a groundbreaking diverse marketplace and e-commerce platform. Diverse suppliers that sell goods and products will be able to capture, approve, promote and maintain catalog data. Buyers will have capabilities to source, compare and purchase products from new and existing diverse suppliers to build more inclusive supply chains.

One-click Tier 2 Reporting Submission

ConnXus will lead supplier diversity reporting protocol by further automating the Tier 2 reporting process. Prime vendors will have the option select their reporting period and submit spend to multiple buyers simultaneously. Buyers do not have to "crunch the numbers," the system will produce the report itself.

Supplier Risk and Ethics Analysis

For long-term supplier contracts, updates to the existing ConnXus Risk Scorecard will include sovereign debt scores by country and industry risk scores by cost of capital to aid in contract negotiations for both private and public suppliers. Disbarment alerts will assist with risk mitigation for personal or company-related legal proceedings and human trafficking reports.

News Feeds with Cyber Security Risk Alerts

For an added layer of data confidentiality and protection, cyber security threats and malware attack alerts will feed directly into ConnXus dashboards with real-time updates via an API. With its industry-trusted restful API, ConnXus will also tighten security requirements with the availability of two-factor authentication during the sign-in process.

About ConnXus

ConnXus supplier management software solutions simplify the complexities of global supply chains and allow buyers to achieve their goals of responsible and sustainable sourcing. ConnXus is a NMSDC, CAMSC, CPUC and State of Ohio-certified minority-owned business enterprise based in Mason, Ohio with local, regional and international capabilities. For additional information about ConnXus and their growing suite of supplier management solutions, visit the company's website at www.connxus.com, and to register your company on the ConnXus platform, visit https://mysuppliernetwork.com/user/signup.

SOURCE ConnXus

Related Links

http://www.connxus.com


SAO PAULO, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

SUZANO TRADING LTD.

(an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands)

Offer to Purchase for Cash

Up to U.S.$300,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount

of Suzano Trading Ltd.'s Outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021

(CUSIP: 86960FAA1 and G8600UAA1; ISIN: US86960FAA12 and USG8600UAA19)

Guaranteed by Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. (incorporated in the Federative Republic of Brazil)

and Solicitation of Consents for Amendments to the Related Indenture

Suzano Trading Ltd. ("Suzano") hereby announces the commencement of its offer to purchase for cash up to U.S.$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Tender Cap") of its outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 (CUSIP: 86960FAA1 and G8600UAA1; ISIN: US86960FAA12 and USG8600UAA19) (the "Notes"), from holders thereof (each, a "Holder" and collectively, the "Holders"), at the prices set forth below, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated November 6, 2017 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Statement") and in the related Consent and Letter of Transmittal dated November 6, 2017 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Letter of Transmittal" and together with the Statement, the "Offer Documents"), which together constitute the "Tender Offer" (and, together with the Solicitation, the "Offer"). As of the date hereof, 2017, the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding was U.S.$499,467,000.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the tender agent and as the information agent (the "Tender and Information Agent") for the Tender Offer and the Solicitation, and BB Securities Limited, Banco Bradesco BBI S.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Santander Investment Securities Inc., and SMBC Nikko Securities America Inc. are acting as dealer managers for the Tender Offer and solicitation agents for the Solicitation (the "Dealer Managers and Solicitation Agents").

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Statement, Suzano hereby offers to pay each Holder that validly tenders its Notes and delivers its Consents (as defined below) on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on November 17, 2017 (the "Early Tender Date") an amount in cash in U.S. dollars equal to the Total Consideration (as defined below) and Accrued Interest (as defined below). The "Total Consideration" for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and Consents validly delivered and not revoked is equal to U.S.$1,090.00, which includes the Purchase Price (as defined below) and an early tender consideration (the "Early Tender Consideration") of U.S.$30.00 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date and not validly withdrawn on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on November 17, 2017 (the "Withdrawal Date"). The Early Tender Consideration is payable only to Holders who validly tender their Notes and deliver their Consents on or prior to the Early Tender Date. The "Purchase Price" for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn and Consents validly delivered and not revoked is equal to the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Consideration. Holders who validly tender their Notes and deliver their Consents after the Early Tender Date but on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 4, 2017 (such time and date, as the same may be extended or earlier terminated at Suzano's sole discretion, the "Expiration Date") and do not withdraw their tender or revoke their Consents will be eligible to receive the Purchase Price. In each case, Holders whose Notes are accepted for purchase shall receive accrued and unpaid interest ("Accrued Interest") from, and including, the last interest payment date to, but not including, any Settlement Date (as defined below), payable on such dates Date. Tenders of Notes will not be valid if submitted after the Expiration Date.

The Tender Offer is not contingent upon the valid tender of any minimum principal amount of Notes. Consummation of the Tender Offer is conditioned upon satisfaction of each and all of the Conditions as defined in the Offer. The Tender Offer is open to all registered holders (individually, a "Holder," and collectively, the "Holders") of the Notes. The purpose of the Tender Offer is to retire a portion of the Notes in order to increase the efficiency of the capital structure of Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. (the "Guarantor"), the controlling entity of Suzano.

In conjunction with the Tender Offer, Suzano solicits (the "Solicitation") consents (the "Consents") to proposed amendments (the "Proposed Amendments") to the Notes and the indenture dated as of September 23, 2010 (the "Indenture") among Suzano, the Guarantor, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as trustee, registrar, paying agent and transfer agent (the "Trustee") and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as paying agent (the "Paying Agent"), under which the Notes were issued providing for, among other things, elimination of substantially all restrictive covenants and certain of the events of default contained in the Notes and the Indenture. If the Tender Cap is exceeded in respect of valid tenders made on or prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, the Proposed Amendments and the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) will not become effective, but Holders of such Notes will receive the Purchase Price or Total Consideration, as applicable.

The following table sets forth certain terms of the Tender Offer:

Title of Security CUSIP / ISIN Nos. Outstanding Principal Amount of Notes Tender Cap Purchase Price* Early Tender Consideration* Total Consideration* 5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 Restricted Notes CUSIP: 86960FAA1 ISIN: US86960FAA12 U.S.$499,467,000 U.S.$300,000,000 U.S.$1,060.00 U.S.$30.00 U.S.$1,090.00 Regulation S Notes CUSIP: G8600UAA1 ISIN: USG8600UAA19







_____________________________________________ (*) Per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase.

If any Notes are purchased in the Tender Offer, Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) on or prior to the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase in priority to other Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer after the Early Tender Date (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions set forth in the Statement). Accordingly, if the Tender Cap is exceeded in respect of tenders made on or prior to the Early Tender Date, no Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase and any Notes accepted for purchase on the Early Settlement Date (as defined below) will be accepted on a prorated basis up to the amount of the Tender Cap. If the Tender Offer is not oversubscribed at the Early Tender Date and the purchase of all Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer on or prior to the Expiration Date would cause Suzano to purchase an aggregate principal amount of Notes in excess of the Tender Cap, then the Tender Offer will be oversubscribed at the Expiration Date and Suzano will (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions set forth in the Statement) accept for purchase such tendered Notes as follows:

first, on the Early Tender Date, Suzano will accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date; and

second, promptly after the Expiration Date, Suzano will accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date on a prorated basis such that Suzano purchases the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes that does not exceed the Tender Cap.

All Notes not accepted as a result of prorationing will be promptly returned to tendering holder.

To ensure the return of Notes in minimum principal amounts of U.S.$100,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 above U.S.$100,000 ("Authorized Denominations"), if necessary, Suzano will make appropriate adjustments downward to the nearest U.S.$1,000 principal amount, or if applicable, the minimum denomination of U.S.$100,000, with respect to each Holder validly tendering Notes. Any tender of Notes, the proration of which would otherwise result in a return of Notes to a tendering Holder in a principal amount below the minimum denomination of U.S.$100,000, may be rejected in full or accepted in full in Suzano's sole discretion. Holders who tender less than all their Notes must continue to hold Notes in Authorized Denominations. Suzano expressly reserves the right, but is not obligated, to increase the Tender Cap in its sole discretion, without extending the Withdrawal Date or otherwise reinstating withdrawal rights.

The Tender Offer commenced on the date of the Statement and will expire on the Expiration Date, unless extended or earlier terminated by Suzano. No tenders will be valid if submitted after the Expiration Date. If a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee (each, a "Nominee") holds your Notes, such Nominee may have an earlier deadline for accepting the offer. You should promptly contact such Nominee that holds your Notes to determine its deadline. The Tender Offer is open to all registered Holders of the Notes.

The payment date for (i) the Notes validly tendered and Consents validly delivered on or prior to the Early Tender Date and not validly withdrawn or revoked on or prior to the Withdrawal Date (the "Early Settlement Date") and (ii) the Notes validly tendered and Consents validly delivered after the Early Tender Date but on or prior to the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date", and each of the Early Settlement Date and the Final Settlement Date a "Settlement Date"), in each case upon satisfaction (or waiver by Suzano) of each and all of the Conditions described under the heading "Conditions to the Offer and the Solicitation" in the Statement will occur promptly after the acceptance by Suzano for purchase of the Notes. Suzano expects that the Early Settlement Date will be within two business days following the Early Tender Date, which will be November 21, 2017, and expects that the Final Settlement Date will be within two business days following the Expiration Date, which will be December 6, 2017, but any such dates may be changed or early terminated by Suzano in its sole discretion without notice. During any such extension, all Notes previously tendered and not accepted for purchase and Consents previously delivered pursuant to the Offer will remain subject to the Offer and may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, be accepted for purchase by Suzano.

Holders may not tender their Notes without delivering their Consents to the Proposed Amendments pursuant to the Solicitation and may not deliver Consents to the Proposed Amendments without tendering their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer. Holders that validly tender their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer will be considered to have validly delivered their Consents pursuant to the Solicitation. The delivery of the Consents by Holders representing at least a majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Notes is required to authorize the Proposed Amendments (the "Required Consents").

Assuming that the Required Consents to authorize the Proposed Amendments are validly delivered and not validly revoked, it is expected that Suzano, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will execute a supplemental indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture") providing for the Proposed Amendments; provided however, that the Supplemental Indenture and the Proposed Amendments will not become effective and operative until the Final Settlement Date. If the Tender Cap is exceeded on or prior to the Early Tender Date or the Expiration Date, the Proposed Amendments and the Supplemental Indenture will not become effective, but the Holders of validly tendered Notes accepted for purchase will receive the Purchase Price or Total Consideration, as applicable, on a prorated basis as set forth in the Offer Documents. If the Proposed Amendments become operative, any Notes remaining outstanding after that date will no longer be entitled to the benefit of substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain of the events of default contained in the Notes.

Suzano's obligation to accept for payment, and to pay the Total Consideration or the Purchase Price, as applicable, and Accrued Interest for, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and Consents validly delivered and not validly revoked pursuant to the Tender Offer and the Solicitation are subject to, and conditioned upon, the satisfaction of, or Suzano's waiver of the Conditions described under the heading "Conditions to the Offer and the Solicitation" in the Statement.

If you do not tender your Notes or if you tender Notes that are not accepted for purchase, they will remain outstanding. If Suzano consummates the Tender Offer, the applicable trading market for your outstanding Notes of the applicable series may be significantly more limited. For a discussion of this and other risks, see "Certain Significant ConsiderationsThe Offer may adversely affect the market value and reduce the liquidity of any trading market of the Notes" in the Statement.

THE STATEMENT AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFER AND THE SOLICITATION.

NEITHER THE STATEMENT NOR ANY OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TENDER OFFER OR THE SOLICITATION HAVE BEEN FILED WITH OR REVIEWED BY THE FEDERAL OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY COUNTRY, NOR HAS ANY SUCH COMMISSION OR AUTHORITY PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OR ANY OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TENDER OFFER OR THE SOLICITATION. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL AND MAY BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Tender Offer or the Solicitation, Suzano's obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, any Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer and Consents validly delivered pursuant to the Solicitation, is conditioned upon the satisfaction of the Conditions (as defined in the Statement). The Conditions to the Tender Offer and the Solicitation are for the sole benefit of Suzano and may be asserted by Suzano, regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (including any action or inaction by Suzano). Suzano reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any and all conditions of the Tender Offer, at or prior to the Expiration Date (or the Early Settlement Date). The Tender Offer is not subject to a minimum principal amount of Notes being tendered. The Proposed Amendments related to the Solicitation are subject to obtaining the Required Consent and will not be effective if the Tender Cap is exceeded.

Subject to applicable laws and the terms set forth in the Tender Offer and the Solicitation, Suzano reserves the right (i) to waive or modify in whole or in part any and all conditions to the Tender Offer and the Solicitation, (ii) to extend the Expiration Date, the Early Tender Date, the Early Settlement Date, the Final Settlement Date or any other date mentioned herein, (iii) to modify or terminate the Tender Offer or the Solicitation or (iv) to otherwise amend the Tender Offer or the Solicitation in any respect.

NONE OF SUZANO, SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A., THE TRUSTEE (AS DEFINED IN THE STATEMENT), THE TENDER AND INFORMATION AGENT, THE DEALER MANAGERS AND SOLICITATION AGENTS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHETHER HOLDERS SHOULD TENDER, DELIVER CONSENTS OR REFRAIN FROM TENDERING OR FROM DELIVERING CONSENTS AS TO ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THEIR NOTES PURSUANT TO THE TENDER OFFER AND THE SOLICITATION, NOR SHOULD THE TENDER OFFER OR THE SOLICITATION BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT, ACCOUNTING, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE BY SUCH PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS OR EMPLOYEES. HOLDERS MUST MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS AND OTHER ADVISORS WITH REGARD TO TENDERING NOTES.

Neither this press release nor the Statement constitutes an offer to purchase the Notes or solicits Consents in any jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer under applicable securities laws. If Suzano becomes aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Tender Offer or the Solicitation would not be in compliance with applicable laws, Suzano will make a good faith effort to comply with any such laws. If, after such good faith effort, Suzano cannot comply with any such laws, the Tender Offer or the Solicitation will not be made to (nor will tenders of Notes or delivery of Consents be accepted from or on behalf of) the owners of Notes or delivery of Consents residing in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of the statement nor any purchase thereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained therein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof or that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or in any attachments hereto or in Suzano's affairs since the date hereof. The Dealer Managers and Solicitation Agents may be tendering Notes in connection with the Tender Offer and the Solicitation.

The Statement does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities (other than the Notes). Any offering of securities will only be made by an offering document and any such offering may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking 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. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Suzano that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Although Suzano believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available, Suzano cannot guarantee future results or events. Suzano expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements.

The Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offer is:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

United States

Email: [email protected]

www.dfking.com/suzano

Banks and Brokers call: +1 (212) 2695550

All others call toll free (U.S. only): +1 (800) 967-7574

By Facsimile Transmission:

(for Eligible Institutions only)

+1 (212) 7093328

For Confirmation

+1 (212) 269-5552

Attn: Andrew Beck

Any questions or requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Statement may be directed to the Tender and Information Agent at one of its telephone numbers above. A Holder (or a beneficial owner that is not a Holder) may also contact the Dealer Managers and Solicitation Agents at their respective telephone numbers set forth below or its broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Tender Offer or the Solicitation.

The Dealer Managers and Solicitation Agents for the Tender Offer are:

BB Securities Limited

4th Floor  Pinners Hall 105-108 Old Broad Street London, EC2N 1ER United Kingdom Attn: Operations Department

Collect: +44 (20) 7367-5803 E-mail: [email protected] Banco Bradesco BBI S.A.

Attn: International DCM Department Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3064, 10 andar Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil, 01451-000 Tel. +55 11 3847-5219 J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10179

Attn: Latin American Debt Capital Markets

Toll Free: 866-846-2874

Collect: 212-834-7279 Santander Investment

Securities Inc.

45 East 53rd Street, 5th floor

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Liability Management Group

Toll Free: 855-404-3636

Collect: 212-940-1442 SMBC Nikko Securities America Inc. 277 Park Avenue New York, New York 10172 Attn: Latin American Debt Capital Markets Toll Free: 1-888-868-6856 Collect: 212-224-5417

The Statement and the Letter of Transmittal shall be available online at www.dfking.com/suzano until the consummation or termination of the Tender Offer.

SOURCE Suzano Trading Ltd.
Barbara suffers very differently. She meets Count Carret, the object of all the single ladies in Paris. Carret is immediately taken with her, an obsession of love, and violence that lasts all his life. Barbara's hatred of Carret can only come from one place: her past. It is not until she confronts the reasons both in this world and in the spirit dimension, that she is able to live in peace, with love in her heart and in her actions.

Barbara is the reincarnation of Helen and Leonora from Volume 1, Leonard, the reincarnation of Nestor, and in this chapter of the endless love of two souls, they have new opportunities to redeem their karma.

Rather than a story of good and evil, it is a story of love and hate; and how a heart filled with love, forgiveness, and acceptance of what God has given us, can truly bring a life of clarity, tranquility, inner beauty and joy.

Translated from the Portuguese in contemporary English, this epic novel was channeled to author Valeria Lopes by her spirit guide Andorra, so that she might pass along life lessons to her readers - to all who endure the trials and tragedies of life.

Valeria Lopes (http://www.valerialopeswriter.com/) was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With the help of her friends in the spiritual world, she developed her mediumship, learning how to use this gift to aid others.

With novels, inspirational tales, and autobiographical stories dedicated to bringing spiritual messages, the value of opening one's heart to love along with other valuable life lessons to North and South American audiences in English, Spanish and Portuguese, The PiuBook Publishing Company (www.piubook.com) is creating a new niche in the book business.

For more information, copies of The Curse of the Werck Family, information on author Valeria Lopes, please contact Amy Krakow, A.G. Krakow & Associates 212.587-0540 [email protected].

SOURCE PiuBook Publishing Company

Related Links

http://piubook.com


BALTIMORE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tessemae's, a leader in the fresh salad dressing and condiment category, successfully achieved SQF Level 2 (Safe, Quality, Food). Heightened consumer demand for increased food safety assurances moves up the supply chain with retailers asking their suppliers to provide proof that robust food safety control programs have been effectively implemented. This is where the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program comes in.

Recognized by retailers and foodservice providers around the world who are mandating a food safety management certification.

Fulfills the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements for food manufacturing, distribution and agent/broker management certification.

Increases customer and consumer confidence in our Brand.

Tessemae's CEO Greg Vetter said, "SQF is an outward display of our commitment to quality and food safety. This certification validates our hard work and investment into our people and processes. We believe that this is a game changer for us and something that will set us apart from our competition now and well into the future."

"I am very proud of our operations team's accomplishment. Their performance insures that we provide good, clean food to our customers and consumers every day," Scott Figura, SVP Supply Chain & Manufacturing

About Tessemae's

Tessemae's is an organic fresh food company that makes products with real, whole ingredients. The Vetter brothers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods Market in Annapolis, Maryland, using a simple salad dressing recipe created and used by their mom throughout their childhood. Tessemae's commitment to healthy eating and living is the core of their mission. Provide simple, yet delicious food to consumers made with real ingredients. Available in Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Earthfare retailers across the country, Tessemae's products are creating a new standard in the produce department and raising consumer awareness on the importance of consuming real, clean ingredients. For more information please visit www.tessemaes.com.

Contact: Shawn McLaughlin

[email protected]

SOURCE Tessemae's

Related Links

http://www.tessemaes.com


LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Conversocial, the leader in social messaging for customer care, today announces that Conversocial and some of its customers are among the first to gain early access to the closed beta of Facebook Messenger customer chat, a newly-released capability that enables people to talk with businesses across web and Messenger.

Conversocial clients given exclusive early access to Facebook Messenger Customer Chat include UK retailer Argos (shown above on www.argos.co.uk), Latin American airline Volaris and German ecommerce vendor Zalando

Gartner predicts that, by 2019, requests for customer support through consumer messaging apps will exceed requests for customer support through public social media, and Messenger customer chat directly reflects this trend, offering an invaluable resource for brands catering to the next generation of consumers.

Messenger customer chat is particularly valuable for customer service teams, enabling them to provide consumers for the first time with a single, seamless experience across devices. Unlike traditional web-chat, which lives only on a business's website, consumers can now chat with a business on its website and in Messenger (across web, mobile or tablet) and transition back and forth seamlessly without losing the conversation's history and context. With early access to Messenger customer chat, Conversocial customers with already progressive customer care programs are now able to more broadly promote Messenger as a customer support channel.

"The future of customer service is messaging - it's more effortless and convenient for customers, and more efficient for brands. With Messenger customer chat, the benefits of messaging can now be expanded to include live conversations on their website," says Conversocial CEO and founder Joshua March. "We're excited to be one of the first customer care platforms to offer preferred access to this game-changing format for Messenger to our clients, who can now promote private messaging and create a truly seamless, effortless customer experience, ushering in the next generation of social messaging for customer care."

Among the select Conversocial clients invited to pilot Messenger customer chat are UK retailer Argos, Latin American airline Volaris and German fashion retailer Zalando, all of which have launched seamless chat with customers in-app and web via Messenger. Argos, the retail giant with over 845 stores across the UK and a website that serves nearly 1 billion visitors annually, has made a serious commitment to Facebook Messenger as a customer service channel over the course of 2017, in large part empowered by its confidence in Conversocial to help the brand handle an increased volume of customer conversations.

Since initially promoting Messenger across customer service touch points, Argos has instantly seen a significant increase in daily incoming messages via Messenger, while email volumes have simultaneously dropped. "Our customers clearly prefer using personal messaging apps like Facebook Messenger to reach out to us for assistance. Messenger customer chat supplements existing live chat and gives our customers a familiar and convenient way to contact us, while allowing Argos to further promote private messaging as a channel, reducing instances of public complaints while increasing customer satisfaction and convenience," says Chris Tomlinson, Digital Product Owner of the Customer Management Centre at Argos. "The increase in messaging volume is allowing us to address broader types of issues without hampering our ability to deliver good service. Conversocial's intelligence, automation and workflow truly enables us to meet our SLA benchmarks while handling increased messaging volume."

This announcement comes on the heels of Conversocial's recent launch of platform enhancements enabling brands to conduct social messaging for customer care at scaleincluding the industry-first capability to survey CSAT and NPS Via Facebook Messengerand demonstrates their commitment to bolstering the advancement of personalized, convenient social messaging, and driving the broader adoption of social customer service.

To learn more about how Conversocial can help integrate Messenger customer chat and other social channels into your customer care program, head to http://www.conversocial.com/customer-service-via-facebook-messenger

About Conversocial:

Conversocial (@conversocial / http://www.conversocial.com) is a leading customer engagement platform for today's always-on mobile, social customer. Delivering a unified approach to a new generation of customer interaction, Conversocial enables hundreds of global brands including Hyatt, Tesco, Alaska Airlines and more to ensure they are supporting in-the-moment resolution, at scale, to drive profitable and lasting relationships. Socially empowered consumers have a voice and a choice, requiring brands to engage across multiple channels including Facebook Messenger, Twitter, SMS, Instagram, Google Play Store Reviews, YouTube and more, while offering seamless consistency and cohesion. Conversocial creates a clear path for engagement that combines best-in-class technology and world-class services.

Conversocial is a select member of the Twitter Official Partner Program, Official Instagram Partner, Facebook Marketing Partner and a Facebook Preferred Developer. For more information, visit @conversocial / http://www.conversocial.com

Media Inquiries Contact:



Sarah Small

HEADLINE MEDIA

[email protected]

UK: +44(0)203-807-1858

USA +1-929-255-1449

SOURCE Conversocial

Related Links

http://www.conversocial.com


TOKYO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A public event, titled "The Future of Fukushima: A New Generation Rises to the Challenge," was held at David Brower Center on October 30, 2017, hosted by Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Center for Japanese Studies at University of California, Berkeley, in cooperation with Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Photos: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201711017462/?images

Fukushima Prefecture has achieved a remarkable recovery after the nuclear accident in 2011. Thanks to extensive clean-up of a large part of the area as large as the state of Connecticut, radiation in more than 97% of the region is at natural background levels. However, negative perception still persists across Japan and the world, causing economic and psychological damage within the region. A group of local high-school students teamed up with Professor Ryugo Hayano at the University of Tokyo in 2015 to face this challenge head-on, collecting their own radiation data using a new portable sensor, called D Shuttle.

The event -- highlighting their efforts and experiences -- came to fruition through the joint efforts of Dr. Haruko Wainwright, a research scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Prof. Hayano. It featured presentations by Professor Hayano and three high-school students from Fukushima, who discussed what they learned from their experiences following the accident and from their research. The students also delivered their positive messages for the future of Fukushima to the audience of 122 in the Bay Area.

The event commenced with Dr. Wainwright's speech on the importance of monitoring and measurements in the wake of environmental disasters. She discussed various research activities to which Berkeley Lab has been contributing in the Fukushima region. Dr. Wainwright argued that the efforts in Fukushima could be a model case for community empowerment though citizen science at many contaminated sites around the world. Prof. Hayano and the three high-school students then took the podium for the conversation-style presentation. During their talk, Prof. Hayano highlighted their peer-reviewed paper titled "Comparative Radiation Levels Taken by High-School Students Worldwide," which concluded that the radiation level in Fukushima was not any higher than other places in the world.

The three high-school students also shared their personal stories during and after the accident as well as their aspirations for the future. Shunya Okino, a 2nd-year student at Fukushima High School and a member of the Super Science Club, explained how his parents' scientific knowledge helped his family act calmly in the wake of the accident. Honoka Ara, a student at the same high school, talked about her research into food safety and agriculture issues in Fukushima. Ryo Endo, a 2nd-year student at Fukushima Futaba Future School, was born near the power plant and has been evacuated for the last six and half years. He is determined to become a nuclear engineer to close and clean up the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Next, two American journalists (Natalie Yemenidjian and Guadalupe Gonzalez), who had stayed in Fukushima in 2015 in an exchange program between San Francisco State University and Fukushima University, reported on their firsthand experiences in the prefecture.

In closing, a representative of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment explained the progress in environmental recovery in Fukushima and said, "We deeply thank everyone in the world for their support and assistance for the areas of our country affected by the March 2011 disaster. I invite you all to come visit Fukushima."

After these speeches, there were also exhibits and a video presentation on Fukushima. The presentations were followed by refreshments and networking by those in attendance.

For reference:

- University of California, Berkeley:

http://events.berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/ieas.html?event_ID=112255&date=2017-10-30&filter=Secondary%20Event%20Type&filtersel=830

- EESA Berkeley Lab:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGiwz_bjY9erKFEyEDc535Q

(Details of this colloquium will be published on the above websites at later dates.)

- Japanese Ministry of the Environment: http://josen.env.go.jp/en/news/

SOURCE Ministry of the Environment, Japan
LONDON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --



"The reaction monitoring market projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7%."

The global reaction monitoring market is projected to reach USD 1.52 billion by 2022 from USD 1.15 billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 5.7%. Factors such as stringent regulatory guidelines in the pharmaceutical & biotechnology industry, expansion of the food and beverages industry, and launch of innovative products are factors driving the growth of this marketare driving the reaction monitoring market. However, the high cost of analytical instruments is the major factor restraining the market growth to a certain extent.







Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5175228







"The spectroscopy segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period."

The spectroscopy market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing use of spectroscopy drug development pipelines, stringent regulatory compliance for drug manufacturing & food processing protocols are expected to support the growth of this market during the forecast period.



"The pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR."

Based on end user, the reaction monitoring market has been categorized into the following segments: pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies, life science and genomic research facilities, food and beverage industry, pollution monitoring and control industry, and other end users. Amongst these, the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to factors such as the stringent regulations for pharmaceutical drug development and manufacturing (such as cGMP, cGLP, and EXCiPACT certification) and increasing usage of analytical techniques during quality assessment during drug manufacturing.



"Quantitative reaction mode segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment."

On the basis of reaction mode, the market is segmented into qualitative reaction mode and quantitative reaction mode. The quantitative reaction mode segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the ongoing technological advancements in the field of analytical techniques (such as real-time quantification, device miniaturization, and process automation), ongoing expansion and modernization of the pharmaceutical & biotechnology and food processing industries.



"Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest growth rate in the reaction monitoring market."

Geographically, the reaction monitoring market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the RoW. The Asia Pacific market is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The strong growth potential, key industry players are expanding their geographic presence in emerging APAC countries (such as China, India, South Korea, and Taiwan) to position in the reaction monitoring market are some of the major factors driving the growth of the Asia Pacific reaction monitoring market.



Breakdown of supply-side primary interviews:

 By Company Type - Tier 1  45%, Tier 2  34% and Tier 3  21%

 By Designation - C-level  10%, Director level  14%, Others  76%

 By Region - North America - 40%, Europe  32%, APAC  20%, RoW  8%



The major players in the market included are Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Waters (US), Agilent Technologies (US), Danaher (US), ABB (Switzerland), and Merck (Germany).



Research Coverage

This report studies the reaction monitoring market based on technology, end user, and reaction mode. The report also studies factors (such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) affecting market growth. It analyzes opportunities and challenges in the market and provides details of the competitive landscape for market leaders. Furthermore, the report analyzes micromarkets with respect to their individual growth trends. The report forecasts the revenue of the market segments with respect to four main regions and respective countries.



Reasons to Buy the Report:

From an insight perspective, this research report has focused on various levels of analysisindustry trends, market share analysis of top players, and company profiles, which together comprise and discuss basic views on the competitive landscape, emerging segments of the reaction monitoring market, and high-growth regions and their drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.



The report will enrich both established firms as well as new entrants/smaller firms to gauge the pulse of the market, which in turn will help firms garner greater market shares. Firms purchasing the report could use any one or a combination of the below-mentioned five strategies for strengthening their market shares.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5175228



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

https://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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CHICAGO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Loan Companies has successfully completed its historic purchase of T.N. Donnelly & Company, a storied Chicago lender with the notable distinction of having been in continuous operation since 1881, making it America's oldest operating pawnshop. Rebranded as Chicago Loan Company, it is the newest addition to The Loan Companies, joining New York Loan Company in New York City's Diamond District and "Pawnshop to the Stars," Beverly Loan Company, which has provided collateral loans to clients in Beverly Hills since 1938. Continuing this legacy, Chicago Loan Company provides pawn loans against diamonds, gold and platinum jewelry, high-end watches, modern and contemporary art, and unique memorabilia.

Chicago Loan Company employs GIA-trained gemologists and specialists in the field, who are prepared to offer collateral loans in minutes. Family-owned and operated since 1881, Chicago Loan Company makes buys, sells and makes loans against diamonds, gold jewelry, fine watches, and auction-worthy artwork.

Chicago Loan Company writes nonrecourse loans from its secure upper story office in downtown's Jewelers Row. Jordan Tabach-Bank, CEO and owner of Chicago Loan Company, explains, "Qualifying for a traditional bank loan is a challenging and onerous process for anyone in today's economy. Our loan officers have the expertise to lend up to seven figures in a matter of minutes, without ever performing a credit check. Your collateral speaks for itself."

Even the most financially secure individuals can find themselves strapped for cash with expenses such as private school tuition, insurance premiums and probate taxes. These unforeseen expenses can leave Chicagoans in need of immediate funds. For 136 years, Chicago Loan Company's predecessor solved these short-term liquidity issues by providing concierge collateral lending services to Midwesterners from all walks of life.

Rolex, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston are only some of the iconic brands that borrowers leverage to secure a loan. "Our family business has always specialized in luxurybe it a Tiffany & Co. diamond engagement ring, a crocodile Hermes Birkin bag or a Patek Philippe minute repeater. Unlike many other pawnshops, we also have expertise in auction-worthy art and can offer loans against your Picasso, Warhol or Basquiat, a lending product that did not previously exist in the Midwest."

"We certainly cater to clients who require an immediate cash infusion for personal matters, such as healthcare expenses or a divorce," said Tabach-Bank, "but a large percentage of Chicago Loan Company's clientele are small business owners and professionals who have short-term liquidity needs for investment opportunities, capital calls or escrow closings. Luckily, these clients are asset rich and can leverage their tangible personal property instead of liquidating their stocks or selling their home."

Chicago Loan Company is located on the twelfth floor of the historic Heyworth Building at 29 East Madison Street in downtown Chicago. For more information on Chicago Loan Company please visit www.ChicagoLoan.com or call 312-236-2929.

Media Contact:

Jordan Tabach-Bank

[email protected]

310-275-2555

SOURCE Chicago Loan Company

Related Links

http://www.ChicagoLoan.com


MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friedemann Firm, a boutique healthcare law firm based in Minneapolis, is pleased to announce that highly-regarded healthcare attorney Teresa Knoedler has joined the organization.

Konrad (Kit) J. Friedemann, founder of the Friedemann Firm said, "Healthcare providers work in a world of constant change and uncertainty. In this chaotic environment, Teresa's depth and breadth of experience serving hospitals, clinics, group practices and individual physicians is of immediate benefit to our healthcare clientele. We're excited to have her on-board."

Knoedler has more than ten years' experience providing legal services to a broad variety of healthcare clients, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance, the development and implementation of effective federal and state health care legislation, and the resolution of health care disputes through litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Said Knoedler, "The foundation of my practice is my deep understanding of the joys and challenges attendant to the practice of medicine. I am committed to helping physicians, hospitals, health systems and other medical professionals deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. As a lawyer, my primary goal is to remove the barriers that get between providers and their patients."

Teresa was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, the entity responsible for developing and overseeing the Minnesota Premium Security Plan.

Prior to returning to private practice, Knoedler served as an attorney for the Minnesota Medical Association. In addition to her work with health care providers, she provides governance and operational counsel to non-profit entities, boards of directors and executive leadership.

About the Friedemann Firm

The Friedemann Firm passionately supports the delivery of high-quality healthcare services across the upper Midwest. We help our clients create successful delivery models, negotiate and close health care transactions, resolve medical staff, credentialing and licensing issues, ensure compliance with federal and state health care regulations, resolve commercial and criminal disputes, and address the full spectrum of healthcare data privacy, employment, medical decisionmaking and other ethical challenges.

For more information, see ffhealthlaw.com.

Media Contact: Wendy Horn, Liftoff LLC.

[email protected]

+1.612.770.6046

SOURCE The Friedemann Firm

Related Links

http://ffhealthlaw.com


Avison Young releases Topical Report "Transit Nodes of Tomorrow:

Development Opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area"

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is projected to be Ontario's fastest-growing region over the next 25 years with its population increasing by 42.3% to reach 9.6 million by 2041. Supporting these projections, the provincial Ministry of Infrastructure made the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history: more than $160 billion over 12 years, starting in 2014. Of these funds, 51% will go toward improving roads and transit. Developers are also making significant investments in all types of residential and commercial real estate in locations connected with the expansion of public infrastructure that will be required to accommodate future population growth. Key commercial growth areas in the GTA will emerge at a number of transit-oriented development hubs where there is a confluence of residential and commercial demand, creating significant opportunities for development and investment.

These are some of the key trends noted in Avison Young's Topical Report: "Transit Nodes of Tomorrow: Development Opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area," released today.

"Our topical report profiles four commercial growth areas that demonstrate the importance of transit connections to future development: East Harbour, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the Pearson Transit Centre and the Hurontario Light-Rail Transit corridor," comments Bill Argeropoulos, Principal and Practice Leader, Research (Canada) for Avison Young. "With so much planned development on the drawing board and funding in place, this is a time of opportunity for forward-looking commercial property owners and occupiers."

The report concludes that rapid population growth and demand for commercial space will challenge government and private developers' ability to deliver necessary infrastructure. However, strategic investment from both investor groups will provide significant opportunities for commercial property owners and occupiers to capitalize on the GTA's growth.

"The GTA has experienced extraordinary commercial and residential growth in recent years, and that trend looks set to continue and intensify in the coming decades," says Argeropoulos. "The recent news that Toronto is vying for selection as the location of Amazon's proposed $5-billion second headquarters in North America, and Google sister company Sidewalk Labs' plan to build a high-tech neighbourhood called Sidewalk Toronto on the city's waterfront, only serve to emphasize the importance of making investments in the city's future to further increase its appeal to major global corporations."

Argeropoulos concludes: "The initiatives profiled in this report will all add to the Toronto region's increasing profile on the world stage. We are hopeful that the commitments made by private stakeholders and all levels of government will ensure the success of these plans, helping to future-proof the GTA and setting an example for achieving its long-term growth and prosperity."

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,600 real estate professionals in 81 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties.

For further information/comment/photos:

Bill Argeropoulos , Principal and Practice Leader, Research ( Canada ), Avison Young :

416 .673.4029; cell : 416.906.3072





, Principal and Practice Leader, Research ( ), : cell Sherry Quan , Principal and Global Director of Communications & Media Relations,

Avison Young : 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959





, Principal and Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, : cell: Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young : 416.673.4028



www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and requalified in 2017 to maintain its status as a Best Managed Gold Standard company.

Follow Avison Young on Twitter:

For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung

For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals

Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com

Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate

Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE

Follow Avison Young on Instagram: www.instagram.com/avison_young_global

Editors/Reporters

 Please click on link to view and download Avison Young's Topical Report: "Transit Nodes of Tomorrow: Development Opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area"

https://avisonyoung.uberflip.com/i/896596-aytopicalreportgreatertorontoareatransitnodesoftomorrownov7-17final

SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

Related Links

www.avisonyoung.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Twistlock, the leading provider of container and cloud native cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it has been named a 2017 SINET 16 Innovator. Each year, SINET evaluates hundreds of emerging cybersecurity companies from around the world on their technology and product solutions. The 16 most innovative and compelling companies, known as the SINET 16, are chosen and invited to present their products and solutions on stage at the annual SINET showcase held on November 8th and 9th in Washington D.C.

"We are honored to be recognized amongst such an innovative group of cybersecurity companies," said Twistlock CTO John Morello. "As the industry's first enterprise security platform for containers and cloud native environments, being recognized as a 2017 SINET 16 innovator is incredible validation of the leading work our team is doing around cloud native cybersecurity solutions on a global scale. We're looking forward to collaborating further with cybersecurity leaders as part of the SINET 16."

Twistlock has consistently demonstrated its commitment to evolving today's technology to address security threats, with this SINET recognition marking the latest industry leadership milestone. In September, the company shipped Twistlock 2.2, delivering advanced threat analytics and prevention. The release included several machine learning driven layers such as a Cloud Native Network Firewall and Incident Explorer, as well as runtime defense down to the host OS and comprehensive compliance monitoring and enforcement for Kubernetes. This is the 11th time Twistlock has shipped a major release of the product over the past ~2.5 years.

As organizations move to containers and the cloud native ecosystem, they need a more automated, comprehensive cybersecurity platform to protect against real-world attackers and APTs. This is precisely where Twistlock's revolutionary products come in. By seamlessly integrating across the application delivery lifecycle, Twistlock uses machine learning to model app behavior and automatically create and enforce whitelist based runtime protection and firewalling. This automated approach to security not only reduces the workload on security teams, but by profiling every application and preventing any anomalous behavior, ultimately delivers more scalable security than ever before.

Join Twistlock for a product demonstration on November 9th at 2:00 p.m., and visit our booth at SINET Showcase at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street, N.W., 13th Floor, Washington, D.C. Over 350 attendees will join the prestigious event, consisting of large commercial organizations, government agencies, investors, and other cybersecurity professionals. For more details and registration information, please visit here.

About Twistlock

Twistlock is the leading provider of container and cloud native cybersecurity solutions for the modern enterprise. From precise, actionable vulnerability management to automatically deployed runtime protection and firewalls, Twistlock protects applications across the development lifecycle and into production. Purpose built for containers, serverless, and other leading technologies, Twistlock gives developers the speed they want, and CISOs the controls they need. Twistlock's mission is to provide a full, enterprise-grade security platform for containers, so organizations can confidently adopt and maximize the benefits of containers in their production environment. For more information, please visit www.twistlock.com

Twistlock Contacts

Jeannie Christensen

415.341.6713

[email protected]

Rachel Nelson

415-299-6600

[email protected]

SOURCE Twistlock

Related Links

http://www.twistlock.com


BOCA RATON, Fla. and CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Unify, the Atos brand for communications software and services, and T-Metrics, a premier telecommunications software developer, today announced they have successfully completed joint interoperability testing by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC). The interoperability testing showed the compatibility between Unify's OpenScape Voice and T-Metrics' TM-2000 Multi-Purpose ACD Platform as well as the TM-2000 Consolidated Answering System.

By successfully completing interoperability testing, Unify and T-Metrics provide reassurance to government customers choosing these products that they will work together reliably, effectively and securely. Unify has long been committed to delivering flexible, reliable and secure solutions that work in any environment, and this joint interoperability testing provides further evidence that customers can select the communication components that best fit their purposes, without sacrificing performance.

Unify's JITC Certified OpenScape Voice Session Controller is a carrier-grade enterprise communication solution, scalable up to 100,000 users per system and 500,000 per cluster. It delivers superior security capabilities, including Assured Services SIP (AS-SIP), the standard signaling protocol used within the U.S. Department of Defense, and cyber security features as required by the Department of Defense, which are also critical features for public sector, healthcare and financial services customers.

T-Metrics' TM-2000 Multi-Purpose ACD Platform is a feature-rich contact center system that offers both flexibility and simplicity in configuring skill based call routing. Subscription based and on-demand reporting allow managers to accurately assess metrics, discover customer pain-points, and staff for call volume. The T-Metrics TM-2000 Consolidated Operator Answering System allows an organization to share operator resources across multiple locations and phone switches, without worrying about tying up expensive trunk pools. It has proven especially valuable to customers who have needed to staff operators around the clock in multiple locations, when fewer shared operators can handle the call load.

"Unify aims to provide our customers with the flexibility to select the products that best fit their specific needs both from Unify and from other vendors," said Russell Brodsky, Director of Federal Government Sales for Unify. "Successfully undergoing interoperability testing with T-Metrics provides customers with the assurance that if they select each of our solutions, they will easily and effectively work together, in adherence to the high standards set out by the U.S. Department of Defense."

"T-Metrics prides itself on being a premier provider of contact center solutions to government and federal agencies, and JITC testing is a key component of building that legacy," said Ryan Ross, Director of Department of Defense Sales for T-Metrics. "With this joint interoperability testing with Unify's OpenScape Voice, we can assure government customers that their communication and call center solutions will seamlessly work together to ensure mission-critical communications are supported."

About T-Metrics

T-Metrics, Inc. (www.tmetrics.com) is a premier software developer that has been providing telecommunication solutions since 1989. The two primary areas of business T-Metrics serves are the Contact Center and Attendant PC Console markets. T-Metrics solutions are deployed in every vertical. This includes commercial healthcare organizations, VA hospitals, federal agencies, retail, finance, and the Department of Defense (DoD). T-Metrics has a proud legacy of providing call center solutions to more than 100 DoD facilities worldwide. Our substantial presence is a result of more than fifteen consecutive years of JITC certification. During that time, no active T-Metrics certified products have lapsed in certification.

About Unify

Unify is the Atos brand for communication and collaboration solutions. At the core of the Atos Digital Workplace portfolio, Unify technology enables organizations of all sizes to transform the way they collaborate, creating a more connected and productive workforce which can dramatically improve team performance, individual engagement and business efficiency.

Unify products represent a strong heritage of technology innovation, reliability and flexibility. Their award-winning intuitive user experience can be delivered through almost any device and in any combination of cloud or on-premise deployment. Augmented by Atos' secure digital platforms, vertical solutions and transformation services, they set the global standard for a rich and reliable collaboration experience that empowers teams to deliver extraordinary results.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 72 countries and annual revenue of around  12 billion. The European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, The Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

SOURCE Unify

Related Links

http://www.unify.com


WEST HAVEN, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of New Haven's Model United Nations Team, competing against 1,000 students from 67 universities from around the world Nov. 3-5 won eight awards  more than any other college.

The University's team, participating in the international competition at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, in Washington, D.C., won one of 12 top team awards for Outstanding Delegation, four outstanding position paper awards, and three outstanding delegate awards.

Teams at the Model UN competition represent countries on UN committees to explore and research their countries' stance on global issues such as overfishing, narcotics trafficking, national security, refugees, urbanization, and others. At the competition, they are asked to grapple with real world problems by discussing, debating, and voting on resolutions to solve them.

The University of New Haven students were assigned last April to represent Brazil and have spent the last five months researching and writing about that country's positions on a variety of issues. Then, at the Model UN, just like at the real United Nations, student delegates representing various countries debate the issues and vote on resolutions to solve the problem.

Sixteen students, eight from the College of Arts and Sciences and eight from the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, represented the University of New Haven.

About the University of New Haven 

The University of New Haven, founded on the Yale campus in 1920, is a private, coeducational university situated on the coast of southern New England. It's a diverse and vibrant community of more than 7,000 students, with campuses around the country and around the world.

Within its five colleges, students immerse themselves in a transformative, career-focused education across the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, and public safety and public service. More than 100 academic programs are offered, all grounded in a long-standing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning.

Information is available at http://www.newhaven.edu

SOURCE University of New Haven

Related Links

http://www.newhaven.edu


Dr. Edenfield was selected from more than 1,400 graduates of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences' (USAHS) Occupational Therapy (OT) program, which celebrated its 20 th anniversary this year. Dr. Edenfield is currently a director and founder at Great Strides Rehabilitation Inc., and a resident of Jacksonville, FL.

Edenfield attended USAHS during the university's inaugural OT program, and was among the first to receive a master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the university. He graduated in 2000, and was presented with the top honor for his class, the Outstanding Occupational Therapy Student Award.

"All of our graduates have made significant contributions in the field of Occupational Therapy in the U.S. and throughout the world, so when we looked back over the last 20 years, it wasn't easy to select a winner," said Dr. Wanda Nitsch, president and chief academic officer at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. "Dr. Edenfield rose to the top for a number of reasons, including his innovative approach to pediatric rehabilitation and his leadership in advocacy for the profession."

In 2004, Dr. Edenfield founded Great Strides Rehabilitation, which provides Hippo-Therapy and Therapeutic Riding services to children. Over the past 13 years, he grew a one-room clinic, providing only occupational therapy, to a 12,000-square-foot facility employing more than 85 therapists of various disciplines. Great Strides Rehabilitation has been recognized locally for the broad range of unique programs it provides to children with special needs.

Edenfield also earned his doctorate from USAHS, researching his capstone project for three years, titled "Pilot Study: The physiological effects of animal assisted therapy on children with autism spectrum disorder." His findings were published in the Journal of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics.

"They say do what you love and love what you do  and I do," says Dr. Edenfield. "I appreciate the University of St. Augustine giving me this career path."

The 20th Anniversary Occupational Therapy Award ceremony was recently held in Carlsbad, CA.

In addition to the 20th Anniversary Occupational Therapy Professional Award, the university's Board of Directors also honored Dr. Katherine Wilford and Dr. Shannon Groff with an Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Mary Zadnik with an Excellence in Innovation award.

For more information on USAHS, visit www.usa.edu.

About University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS)

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, education and health science, as well as continuing education programs. Founded in 1979, USAHS has locations in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Miami, Florida. USAHS is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. USAHS is one of more than 70 institutions in 25 countries that comprise the Laureate International Universities network. For more information about USAHS visit www.usa.edu.

SOURCE University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Related Links

http://www.usa.edu


BOZEMAN, Mont., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Dept. of Defense is supporting SiteOne Therapeutics in the effort to develop the company's proprietary, highly selective small molecule Na1.7 inhibitors for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.

In an announcement today, SiteOne Therapeutics Co-Founder and Vice President of Research, John Mulcahy, said "The validation and confidence of officials of the U.S. Department of Defense is exceptionally welcome. There is a critical need for non-opioid therapeutics that treat acute and chronic pain effectively, allowing for less reliance on opioids, and reducing the side effects and addiction potential associated with them. We are committed to advancing our research and development programs focused on Na1.7 and are inspired by the confidence of the many people and entities who support our approach."

In January 2017, Stan Abel, Chief Executive Officer and President of SiteOne Therapeutics announced the closing of a research and development agreement with Amgen, a collaboration focused on combining SiteOne's experienced drug discovery team and portfolio of novel Na1.7 inhibitors with Amgen's neuroscience capabilities. At the same time, Abel announced that SiteOne had closed a $15 million series B round of financing, led by Amgen and joined by founding investors Next Frontier Capital, 2M Companies Inc., Mission Bay Capital, Sears Capital Management, Biobrit LLC, and Z Investments.

About SiteOne Therapeutics

SiteOne Therapeutics was founded with technology licensed from Stanford University. The company has advanced this science with support from its founding investors as well as from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which contributed more than $3 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant funding.

SiteOne Therapeutics is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana with a research team based in the San Francisco, California area. Since its inception, SiteOne has been dedicated to developing novel pain therapeutics and diagnostics to safely, effectively and efficiently treat acute and chronic pain without the limitations of existing pain therapies, such as NSAIDs or opioids. The company's therapeutic candidates are highly selective sodium ion channel 1.7 (Na1.7) inhibitors based on naturally occurring small molecules. Given the critical role Na1.7 plays in the generation and conduction of pain signals, combined with the urgent need for new, non-opioid pain therapies, SiteOne is focused on advancing its lead products for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.

DOD REQUIRED INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, through the Broad Agency Announcement under Award No. W81XWH-17-1-0672. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. In conducting research using animals, the investigator(s) adheres to the laws of the United States and regulations of the Department of Agriculture. In the conduct of research utilizing recombinant DNA, the investigator adhered to NIH Guidelines for research involving recombinant DNA molecules. In the conduct of research involving hazardous organisms or toxins, the investigator adhered to the CDC-NIH Guide for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.

For more information, visit SiteOne's Web site at www.site1therapeutics.com.

SOURCE SiteOne Therapeutics

Related Links

http://www.site1therapeutics.com


DAVIS, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is continuing to offer assistance to landowners affected by recent catastrophic wildfires. The assistance, provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) covers erosion control and water quality practices on eligible cropland, rangeland and nonindustrial private forestland. Typical practices include mulching, seeding, grade stabilization, tree planting and other measures to protect burned areas from eroding and/or minimizing transport of sediment and pollutants into waterways. NRCS will continue to accept applications and will periodically evaluate them for funding consideration.

Applicants may also request early-start waivers to enable recovery work to begin immediately. (The Agency's standards and specifications will still need to be met and any needed permits must still be secured before work begins.)

NRCS is targeting $4 million to help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners in California recover from the recent wildfires. This is one of several disaster assistance programs available through USDA to support recovery efforts for individuals and communities.

NRCS is also offering technical and educational assistance to fire-impacted landowners faced with erosion and flooding in a damaged watershed. NRCS conservationists have expertise in erosion, hydrophobic soils, and the use of measures (such as sand bags, mulching, etc.) to mitigate damage to the landscape.

NRCS is also continuing to work with communities and partners to assess eligibility for its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program which assists communities with rebuilding efforts following imminent hazards to life and property caused by natural disasters. For more information on available NRCS, FSA or RMA assistance, contact a local field office, or visit www.usda.gov

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Related Links

http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov


LAS VEGAS, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard Integrity Professionals, Inc., cybersecurity experts with cybersecurity solutions securing any enterprise, is proud to be a silver sponsor and exhibit at IBM z Systems Technical University 2017 in Washington, D.C., November 13 - 17, 2017. Additionally, Vanguard cybersecurity experts will be available to discuss topics addressing the latest security and compliance issues. Vanguard will highlight its security solutions demonstrating how they play a vital role protecting any enterprise, cloud or IBM z/OS security server environment.

IBM technical training events are designed for technical development in IBM Z, IBM Power Systems and IBM Storage. The week is packed with skill-building sessions, hands-on labs, onsite certification testing and a vibrant Solution Center.

Security experts from Vanguard will be on hand at IBM z Systems Technical University 2017 to discuss the latest security and compliance topics, trends and techniques over the multi-day conference. We invite you to come by our booth in the Solutions Center in the Washington Hilton and meet with Vanguard executives.

About Vanguard Integrity Professionals

Vanguard Integrity Professionals provides enterprise security software and services that solve complex security and regulatory compliance challenges for financial, insurance, healthcare, education, transportation and government agencies around the world. Vanguard provides Cybersecurity Solutions Securing any Enterprise. The world's largest Financial, Insurance, Government Agencies and Retailers entrust their security to Vanguard Integrity Professionals. Vanguard is committed to protecting and securing the Cloud and any Enterprise environment. Vanguard provides 24/7/365 live customer support from the United States of America.

IBM, the IBM logo, IBM.com, IBM z, z Systems and z/OS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation registered in many jurisdictions in the United States and/or other countries worldwide.

SOURCE Vanguard Integrity Professionals, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.go2vanguard.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtual Distance International (VDI) today announced it has received an initial private placement to fund the company's transition from a provider of consulting services to a software company, leveraging the company's groundbreaking Virtual Distance Analytics for workplace transformation.

The amount of the placement was not disclosed, but lead investor Stephen D. Weinroth said the amount is sufficient to help the company develop more customers, build its second software product, hire at least a dozen people in the first year and open a New York office. In addition to leading the investment team, Mr. Weinroth is serving as Chairman of VDI's Board of Directors.

VDI founder and CEO, Dr. Karen Lojeski, said the company's shift to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model is being driven by customer demand to use VDI's exclusive Virtual Distance Analytics to drive dramatic improvements in workplace productivity, business profitability, collaboration and innovation.

"The exponential growth of digital communication technologies is transforming the workplace at a pace we've never seen before," Dr. Lojeski said. "In order to succeed, organizations need their employees, customers and partners to communicate and collaborate effectively using modern technologies  including cloud computing, social networking and digital devices."

While rising productivity and the ability to reach across continents to leverage the best talent are among some of technology's many advantages, there are unintended consequences to social relationships which translate into measurable challenges for leadership. "The explosive expansion of digital communications and collaboration is creating a corresponding rise in Virtual Distance, which is the measurable disconnect that occurs when people rely heavily on smart, digital devices to communicate, no matter where they are located," Dr. Lojeski added.

As the amount of Virtual Distance increases, organizations experience sharp declines in performance, productivity, innovation, trust, engagement and job satisfaction. Employees can become less motivated, projects often miss deadlines and leadership effectiveness lags. "For example, we've seen Virtual Distance result in a $3 million business loss on just one of dozens of IT projects at one of our customers," Dr. Lojeski said. "But by harnessing the power of Virtual Distance Analytics, organizations can not only eliminate these potential problems, they can revitalize their teams, strengthen core competencies and cultivate long-lasting competitive advantage."

VDI was launched as a consultancy about a decade ago while Dr. Lojeski was working toward her Ph.D. at Stevens Institute of Technology. Her award-winning discovery then took her to Stony Brook University where she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Technology and Society. From the time of her discovery to now, VDI has worked with dozens of Fortune 500 companies across all industries to identify, measure, analyze and reverse the impact of Virtual Distance across businesses, workgroups, teams and individuals. In that time, VDI has helped organizations dramatically improve productivity, morale, profitability, performance, innovation and on-time delivery of new products and services.

The advanced analytics that are at the core of the company's success as a consultancy are now the foundation of its new SaaS business model. Leveraging predictive analytics based on more than 40,000 data (and growing), VDI solutions help organizations transform Virtual Distance from a potential problem into a competitive business advantage. VDI's new Virtual Distance Management SaaS solutions enable customers to:

-Identify areas in their organizations where Virtual Distance is affecting productivity, performance, product development or other critical areas of business operations.

-Leverage advanced analytics to measure the impact of Virtual Distance in specific areas of the business or across the entire enterprise and its surrounding ecosystem.

-Reduce Virtual Distance by leveraging company-specific metrics and applying best practices that have been tested, validated and proven for more than a dozen years in the field.

-Manage Virtual Distance to improve productivity, support employees at all locations, enhance collaboration and drive speed-to-market, innovation and digital disruption.

-Predict where Virtual Distance may occur in the future to make teams more productive and avoid traps that can make digital collaboration ineffective.

"The dynamic growth of digital communications makes this an exciting time to be in business, but also a challenging time," said Mr. Weinroth. "With advances such as digital transformation, social networking, big data analytics and globalization, forward-thinking companies can disrupt industries. But, to do so, they must address the very real impediments that Virtual Distance can create. VDI, under Dr. Karen Lojeski's leadership, is poised to be a powerful force in enabling workplace transformation and business innovation."

In addition to Weinroth, VDI has the backing of other prominent visionaries in business and technology, including board member Charles "Chuck" House and strategic advisory board member Dr. Irving Wladawsky-Berger. Mr. House is an icon in the technology industry, having started multiple divisions and serving as Chief Engineer at HP, a senior executive at Intel and the Director of Stanford MediaX Lab. Dr. Wladawsky-Berger spent 37 years at IBM where he led a number of companywide initiatives including the internet and e-business, supercomputing and Linux, and now serves as a visiting lecturer at MIT's Sloan School of Management, a fellow of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy and is a member of the advisory board of Imperial College's Data Science Institute. "I am very excited to help VDI address the challenges companies and individuals are facing in effectively using digital technologies to collaborate," said Mr. House. "Technology can be a powerful enabler, but we must always remember the human factor. With Virtual Distance Management solutions, VDI is giving organizations the technology and tools to make human interactions more compelling, collaborative and comfortable in this time of great change and opportunity." Dr. Wladawsky-Berger adds, "Over the course of history, breakthrough communication technologies have effectively been leveraged to move us from the agricultural age to the industrial age and now into the digital age. Each of these transitions came with both unprecedented advancements as well as some growing pains. With the introduction of VDI's SaaS offering, organizations will now have the analytics and solutions needed to address one of the most vexing digital age challenges; 'relearning' appropriate social skills in the context of today's technological world."

About Virtual Distance International

Virtual Distance International is a New York-based provider of software-as-a-service solutions for workplace transformation. Founded as a consultancy in 2004 by Dr. Karen Lojeski, VDI now provides software solutions built on its groundbreaking Virtual Distance Analytics platform. VDI's client and partner base consist of dozens of Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions and policy organizations. They include Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Alcatel-Lucent, Merck, The Stockholm School Economics, the Wharton School of Business, The United Nations, the World Economic Forum and many others.

About Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski

Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Distance International (VDI), a software company specializing in Workplace Transformation powered by Virtual Distance Analytics. Dr. Lojeski began as a Systems Engineer with a B.S. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. She also held leadership positions at major corporations including Chase Manhattan Bank, Stratus Computer, and Mercer Consulting. Karen then earned her Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology where her thesis, "Virtual Distance: A New Model for the Study of Virtual Work" won Outstanding Dissertation of the Year in 2006.

Dr. Lojeski has been featured in top media outlets including the AP, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, BusinessWeek, Fortune, CBS News, The Brian Lehrer Show, NPR and more. She is the author of two books, "Uniting the Virtual Workforce" and "Leading the Virtual Workforce" and is now working on her third book. Dr. Lojeski is also a faculty in Stockholm School of Economics' Executive Education and is affiliated with several other major universities. Her engaging speaking style also makes her a highly sought-after talent at major conferences worldwide.

About Stephen D. Weinroth

Mr. Stephen Weinroth is a Director of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. He has been the Chairman of five public companies and Chief Executive of three. He also serves on the board of several other private companies. Mr. Weinroth is a former investment banker and private equity investor. He began his career at Loeb, Rhoads & Co. He served as Managing Director at Drexel Burnham Lambert, running the Commitment Committee for many years. While at Drexel, he started and ran the International Investment Banking business, and the Commercial Paper business. He founded and became Chairman, Chief Investment Officer, of a UK mezzanine investment fund. He ran the bankruptcy of Integrated Resources for three years before leaving to become a private equity investor. He was Chairman of Core Laboratories, NV (NYSE) an extremely successful buyout. He was also Chairman and Chief Executive of Cyalume Technologies, Inc. Mr. Weinroth is also on the Board of the Joyce Theater Foundation (past Chair), Vice Chair of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, and is Chair and Chief Executive of the Central Asia Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to needy students in Central Asia to attend college. Virtual Distance is a registered trademark of Virtual Distance International LLC.

For More Information Contact:

Dr. Karen Lojeski, Founder and CEO  [email protected] or call 631.509.6490

Stephan Klaschka, COO  [email protected] or call 631.509.6490

Related Links

https://www.facebook.com/virtualdistance/

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMTA2_LwRXI

SOURCE Virtual Distance International
HOLMDEL, N.J., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of business cloud communications, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Consolidated Results

"Vonage delivered record results in the third quarter driven by our continued investments in Vonage Business, including product, infrastructure and distribution. Highlighted by 22% GAAP growth, Vonage Business revenues exceeded Consumer revenues for the first time. And, we're improving the revenue trajectory of Consumer and corresponding consolidated cash flow," said Vonage CEO Alan Masarek.

"Our results demonstrate that we're delivering on our strategic priorities, using our full suite of cloud communications services to deliver better business outcomes to our customers, and successfully transforming Vonage into a market leader in business cloud communications. On the strength of these results, we are raising our consolidated revenue and OIBDA guidance."

For the third quarter of 2017, Vonage reported revenues of $253 million, a 2% increase from the year ago quarter. Income from Operations was $25 million, up from $15 million in the prior year. Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted OIBDA")1 was $51 million, up from $41 million in the prior year. GAAP net income was $11 million or $0.05 per share, up from $7 million or $0.03 per share in the year ago quarter. Adjusted net income2 was $17 million or $0.07 per share, up from $13 million or $0.05 per share in the year ago quarter.

Business Segment Results

Vonage Business total revenues were $129 million , representing 51% of total consolidated revenues and 22% GAAP growth.

, representing 51% of total consolidated revenues and 22% GAAP growth. UCaaS revenues were $91 million , of which $71 million were service revenues. Service revenues increased 16% year-over-year on an organic 3 basis; Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform revenues (which are all service revenue) were $38 million , a year-over-year increase of 45% on an organic 4 basis.

, of which were service revenues. Service revenues increased 16% year-over-year on an organic basis; Nexmo, the Vonage API Platform revenues (which are all service revenue) were , a year-over-year increase of 45% on an organic basis. Ending UCaaS seats at Vonage Business were 710,000, up from 616,000 seats in the year ago quarter, an increase of 15%.

UCaaS revenue churn was 1.2%, down from 1.4% sequentially and the prior year.

The Company increased its registered developers on the Vonage API Platform to 371,000, a sequential increase of 62,000.

Consumer Segment Results

Consumer revenues were $124 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $142 million in the prior year.

in the third quarter of 2017 compared to in the prior year. Consumer customer churn was 1.9%, flat sequentially and down from 2.2% in the year ago quarter.

Average revenue per line ("ARPU") in Consumer was $26.29 , down from $26.36 in the year ago period.

, down from in the year ago period. The Consumer segment ended the third quarter with approximately 1.5 million subscriber lines.

Consumer's tenured customers, defined as those with the Company for more than two years, increased to 81% of the base. The churn rate of this tenured cohort is 1.5%.

Balance Sheet

In the quarter, the Company generated Adjusted OIBDA of $51 million, and Adjusted OIBDA minus Capex5 of $42 million. This enabled the Company to pay down $37 million of debt, resulting in a net debt to Last Twelve Months Adjusted OIBDA ratio of 1.7x. Vonage's cash flow generation and access to capital supports significant strategic and financial flexibility.

Guidance Update

The Company is raising consolidated 2017 revenue and adjusted OIBDA guidance. Consolidated revenue is now expected to be at least $1 billion and up to $1.005 billion. Adjusted OIBDA is now expected to be at least $180 million. Consumer revenues are now expected to be at least $500 million and up to $505 million dollars. There is no change to Business revenue guidance, which was updated in August.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call to discuss third quarter financial results and other matters at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. To participate, please dial (866) 807-9684. International callers should dial (412) 317-5415.

A live webcast of the event will be available on the Vonage Investor Relations site. A replay of the call and webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and may be accessed through Vonage's Investor Relations website or by dialing (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, passcode 10113223.

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer below to Table 4 for a reconciliation to GAAP income from operations. (2) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer below to Table 5 for a reconciliation to GAAP net income. (3) We define organic UCaaS growth as the increase in UCaaS revenues after giving pro forma effect for the exclusion of one-time items. See Table 3 for reference (4) We define organic Vonage API Platform growth as the increase in Vonage API Platform revenues after giving pro forma effect for the change in accounting treatment with respect to certain Vonage API Platform revenues being recognized on a gross rather than net basis. See Table 3 for reference. (5) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer below to Table 4 for a reconciliation to GAAP net income.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)









(revised) (1)





(revised) (1) Statement of Income Data:

















Revenues $ 253,083



$ 251,836



$ 248,359



$ 748,266



$ 708,858





















Operating Expenses:

















Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization of

$6,852, $6,863, $7,460, $20,497, and $21,278, respectively) 96,632



97,674



87,377



281,902



232,605

Cost of goods sold 6,306



6,187



8,591



19,786



26,009

Sales and marketing 73,576



79,738



83,731



235,245



246,676

Engineering and development 6,956



6,670



8,075



21,996



22,152

General and administrative 26,811



36,514



27,538



98,411



89,261

Depreciation and amortization 18,179



18,394



18,018



54,520



53,215



228,460



245,177



233,330



711,860



669,918

Income from operations 24,623



6,659



15,029



36,406



38,940

Other income (expense):

















Interest income 3



4



19



12



65

Interest expense (3,821)



(3,861)



(3,974)



(11,385)



(9,477)

Other income (expense), net 465



686



(495)



931



(237)



(3,353)



(3,171)



(4,450)



(10,442)



(9,649)

Income before income tax expense 21,270



3,488



10,579



25,964



29,291

Income tax benefit (expense) (10,668)



1,337



(3,539)



(4,624)



(14,102)

Net income 10,602



4,825



7,040



21,340



15,189

Earnings per common share:

















Basic $ 0.05



$ 0.02



$ 0.03



$ 0.10



$ 0.07

Diluted $ 0.04



$ 0.02



$ 0.03



$ 0.09



$ 0.07

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

















Basic 227,943



223,492



217,000



223,956



214,872

Diluted 242,720



239,938



234,868



242,552



227,499



(1) Revised due to the correction of prior period financial statements.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)









(revised) (1)





(revised) (1) Statement of Cash Flow Data:

















Net cash provided by operating activities $ 47,907



$ 15,432



$ 27,087



$ 80,600



$ 69,614

Net cash used in investing activities (9,349)



(7,518)



(5,852)



(23,626)



(188,637)

Net cash used in financing activities (35,379)



(7,838)



(13,059)



(56,757)



93,264

Capital expenditures, intangible assets, and development of software assets (9,349)



(8,798)



(7,364)



(25,228)



(28,967)



(1) Revised due to the adoption of new Accounting Standard Updates and the correction of prior period financial statements.





September 30,

December 31,



2017

2016



(unaudited)

(revised) (1) Balance Sheet Data (at period end):







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 29,869



$ 29,078

Marketable securities





601

Restricted cash

1,827



1,851

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

42,435



36,688

Inventory, net of allowance

2,683



4,116

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

26,010



29,188

Deferred customer acquisition costs, current and non-current

1,863



3,136

Property and equipment, net

45,760



48,415

Goodwill

371,535



360,363

Software, net

23,574



21,971

Intangible assets, net

181,522



199,256

Deferred tax assets

192,879



184,210

Other assets

14,662



16,793

Total assets

$ 934,619



$ 935,666

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$ 109,233



$ 139,946

Deferred revenue, current and non-current

31,694



32,892

Total notes payable, net of debt related costs and indebtedness under revolving credit facility, including current portion

278,111



318,874

Capital lease obligations

227



3,428

Other liabilities

5,740



3,985

Total liabilities

$ 425,005



$ 499,125

Total stockholders' equity

$ 509,614



$ 436,541



(1) Revised due to the correction of prior period financial statements.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 2. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED OPERATING DATA (Dollars in thousands, except per line/seat amounts) (unaudited)

The table below includes revenues and cost of revenues that our management uses to measure the growth and operating performance of the business focused portion of our business:

Business Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Revenues:

















Service $ 109,483



$ 103,825



$ 86,662



$ 305,599



$ 210,214

Product (1) 13,085



13,392



13,618



39,837



39,795

Service and Product 122,568



117,217



100,280



345,436



250,009

USF 6,738



6,497



6,029



19,386



15,832

Total Business Revenues $ 129,306



$ 123,714



$ 106,309



$ 364,822



$ 265,841





















Cost of Revenues:

















Service (2) $ 50,777



$ 49,246



$ 34,858



$ 139,218



$ 72,788

Product (1) 12,702



12,456



13,101



38,360



38,465

Service and Product 63,479



61,702



47,959



177,578



111,253

USF 6,738



6,497



6,029



19,386



15,843

Cost of Revenues $ 70,217



$ 68,199



$ 53,988



$ 196,964



$ 127,096





















Service margin % 53.6 %

52.6 %

59.8 %

54.4 %

65.4 % Gross margin % ex-USF (Service and product margin %) 48.2 %

47.4 %

52.2 %

48.6 %

55.5 % Gross margin % 45.7 %

44.9 %

49.2 %

46.0 %

52.2 %

(1) Includes customer premise equipment, access, professional services, and shipping and handling. (2) Excludes depreciation and amortization of $5,053, $5,003, and $5,015 for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively

and $14,931 and $13,807 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.



The table below includes revenues and cost of revenues that our management uses to measure the growth and operating performance of the consumer focused portion of our business:

Consumer Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Revenues:

















Service $ 111,913



$ 115,636



$ 128,167



$ 346,666



$ 399,401

Product (1) 94



201



207



498



514

Service and Product 112,007



115,837



128,374



347,164



399,915

USF 11,770



12,285



13,676



36,280



43,102

Total Business Revenues $ 123,777



$ 128,122



$ 142,050



$ 383,444



$ 443,017





















Cost of Revenues:

















Service (2) $ 19,434



$ 21,435



$ 24,973



$ 62,969



$ 77,220

Product (1) 1,517



1,942



3,331



5,475



11,196

Service and Product 20,951



23,377



28,304



68,444



88,416

USF 11,770



12,285



13,676



36,280



43,102

Cost of Revenues $ 32,721



$ 35,662



$ 41,980



$ 104,724



$ 131,518





















Service margin % 82.6 %

81.5 %

80.5 %

81.8 %

80.7 % Gross margin % ex-USF (Service and product margin %) 81.3 %

79.8 %

78.0 %

80.3 %

77.9 % Gross margin % 73.6 %

72.2 %

70.4 %

72.7 %

70.3 %

(1) Includes customer premise equipment, access, professional services, and shipping and handling. (2) Excludes depreciation and amortization of $1,799, $1,860, and $2,445 for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively

and $5,566 and $7,471 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.



The table below includes key operating data that our management uses to measure the growth and operating performance of the business focused portion of our business:

Business Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Revenues (1) $ 129,306



$ 123,714



$ 106,309



$ 364,822



$ 265,841

Average monthly revenues per seat (2) $ 43.53



$ 43.99



$ 45.50



$ 43.7



$ 44.96

Seats (at period end) (2) 709,736



683,079



615,728



709,736



615,728

Revenue churn (2) 1.2 %

1.4 %

1.4 %

1.3 %

1.4 %

(1) Includes revenue of $38,364, $35,171, and $23,909, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016 and $99,780 and

$31,607, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 from CPaaS, which was acquired on June 3, 2016. (2) UCaaS only



The table below includes key operating data that our management uses to measure the growth and operating performance of the consumer focused portion of our business:

Consumer Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Revenues $ 123,777



$ 128,122



$ 142,050



$ 383,444



$ 443,017

Average monthly revenues per line $ 26.29



$ 26.33



$ 26.36



$ 26.18



$ 26.55

Subscriber lines (at period end) 1,543,760



1,594,857



1,767,212



1,543,760



1,767,212

Customer churn 1.9 %

1.9 %

2.2 %

2.0 %

2.2 %

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 3. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP BUSINESS REVENUES TO ADJUSTED BUSINESS REVENUES (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Total Business revenues(1) $ 129,306



$ 123,714



$ 106,309



$ 364,822



$ 265,841





















Total UCaaS revenues (1) $ 90,942



$ 88,543



$ 82,400



$ 265,042



$ 234,234

Early termination letter 















(500)

Bad debt policy reclassification 















(431)

Accounts receivable write-down 







(300)



319



(300)

Adjusted total UCaaS revenues 90,942



88,543



82,100



265,361



233,003

Hosted Infrastructure Sale 



(1,100)



(1,580)



(2,721)



(4,602)

Adjusted total UCaaS revenues 90,942



87,443



80,520



262,640



228,401

Less: Product revenues 13,085



13,392



13,618



39,837



39,795

Less: USF revenues 6,738



6,497



6,029



19,386



15,832

Adjusted total UCaaS service revenues $ 71,119



$ 67,554



$ 60,873



$ 203,417



$ 172,774





















Total CPaaS revenues (1) $ 38,364



$ 35,171



$ 23,909



$ 99,780



$ 31,607

Nexmo pre-acquisition revenues 















34,225

Pro forma CPaaS revenues 38,364



35,171



23,909



99,780



65,832

Net-to-gross revenue reporting adjustment 







2,530



3,374



7,440

Adjusted total CPaaS revenues $ 38,364



$ 35,171



$ 26,439



$ 103,154



$ 73,272



(1) Total Business revenues is comprised of revenues from UCaaS and CPaaS

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 4. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP INCOME FROM OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED OIBDA AND TO ADJUSTED OIBDA MINUS CAPEX (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Income from operations $ 24,623



$ 6,659



$ 15,029



$ 36,406



$ 38,940

Depreciation and amortization 18,179



18,394



18,018



54,520



53,215

Share-based expense 7,594



7,412



6,526



22,070



20,791

Acquisition related transaction and integration costs 15



18



(68)



172



5,082

Change in contingent consideration 







(7,362)







(7,362)

Organizational transformation 



4,000



2,435



4,000



2,435

Acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation 886



4,310



6,655



11,959



9,967

Adjusted OIBDA 51,297



40,793



41,233



$ 129,127



$ 123,068

Less:

















Capital expenditures (6,795)



(5,294)



(4,032)



$ (15,790)



$ (19,980)

Acquisition and development of software assets (2,554)



(3,504)



(3,332)



$ (9,438)



$ (8,987)

Adjusted OIBDA Minus Capex $ 41,948



$ 31,995



$ 33,869



$ 103,899



$ 94,101



VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 5. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NET INCOME EXCLUDING ADJUSTMENTS (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016









(revised) (1)





(revised) (1) Net income $ 10,602



$ 4,825



$ 7,040



$ 21,340



$ 15,189

Amortization of acquisition - related intangibles 9,257



9,069



8,074



27,325



23,310

Acquisition related transaction and integration costs 15



18



(68)



172



5,082

Acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation 886



4,310



6,655



11,959



9,967

Change in contingent consideration 







(7,362)







(7,362)

Organizational transformation 



4,000



2,435



4,000



2,435

Tax effect on adjusting items (4,197)



(7,188)



(4,022)



(17,954)



(13,812)

Adjusted net income $ 16,563



$ 15,034



$ 12,752



$ 46,842



$ 34,809

Earnings per common share:

















Basic $ 0.05



$ 0.02



$ 0.03



$ 0.10



$ 0.07

Diluted $ 0.04



$ 0.02



$ 0.03



$ 0.09



$ 0.07

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

















Basic 227,943



223,492



217,000



223,956



214,872

Diluted 242,720



239,938



234,868



242,552



227,499

Earnings per common share, excluding adjustments:

















Basic $ 0.07



$ 0.07



$ 0.06



$ 0.21



$ 0.16

Diluted $ 0.07



$ 0.06



$ 0.05



$ 0.19



$ 0.15

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

















Basic 227,943



223,492



217,000



223,956



214,872

Diluted 242,720



239,938



234,868



242,552



227,499



(1) Revised due to the correction of prior period financial statements.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 6. FREE CASH FLOW (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

June 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016









(Revised) (1)





(Revised) (1) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 47,907



$ 15,432



$ 27,087



$ 80,600



$ 69,614

Less:

















Capital expenditures (6,795)



(5,294)



(4,032)



(15,790)



(19,980)

Acquisition and development of software assets (2,554)



(3,504)



(3,332)



(9,438)



(8,987)

Free cash flow $ 38,558



$ 6,634



$ 19,723



$ 55,372



$ 40,647



(1) Revised due to the adoption of new Accounting Standard Updates and the correction of prior period financial statements.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 7. RECONCILIATION OF NOTES PAYABLE, INDEBTEDNESS UNDER REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY, AND CAPITAL LEASES TO NET DEBT (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited)





September 30,

December 31,



2017

2016 Current maturities of capital lease obligations

$ 206



$ 3,288

Current portion of notes payable

18,750



18,750

Notes payable and indebtedness under revolving credit facility, net of current maturities and debt related costs

259,361



300,124

Unamortized debt related cost

764



1,064

Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities

21



140

Gross debt

279,102



323,366

Less:







Unrestricted cash and marketable securities

29,869



29,679

Net debt

$ 249,233



$ 293,687



About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of cloud communications services for business. Vonage transforms the way people work and businesses operate through a portfolio of cloud-based communications solutions that enable internal collaboration among employees, while also keeping companies closely connected with their customers, across any mode of communication, on any device. Vonage's API Platform provides tools for voice, messaging and phone verification services, allowing developers to embed contextual, programmable communications into mobile apps, websites and business systems, enabling enterprises to easily communicate relevant information to their customers in real time, anywhere in the world, through text messaging, chat, social media and voice. The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. In 2015 and 2016, Vonage was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as-a-Service, Worldwide. Vonage has also earned the Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Leadership Award for Hosted IP and Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) Services. For more information, visit www.vonage.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by Regulation G adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, including: adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization ("adjusted OIBDA"), adjusted OIBDA less Capex, adjusted net income, net debt (cash), free cash flow and adjusted revenues.

Adjusted OIBDA

Vonage uses adjusted OIBDA as a principal indicator of the operating performance of its business.

Vonage defines adjusted OIBDA as GAAP income (loss) from operations excluding depreciation and amortization, share-based expense, acquisition related transaction and integration costs, change in contingent consideration, acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation, organizational transformation costs and loss on sublease.

Vonage believes that adjusted OIBDA permits a comparative assessment of its operating performance, relative to its performance based on its GAAP results, while isolating the effects of depreciation and amortization, which may vary from period to period without any correlation to underlying operating performance; of share-based expense, which is a non-cash expense that also varies from period to period; of one-time acquisition related transaction and integration costs, acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation and change in contingent consideration, organizational transformation costs and loss on sublease.

The Company provides information relating to its adjusted OIBDA so that investors have the same data that the Company employs in assessing its overall operations. The Company believes that trends in its Adjusted OIBDA are valuable indicators of the operating performance of the Company on a consolidated basis.

The Company does not reconcile its forward-looking adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure of income from operations due to the significant variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts with respect to the various expenses we exclude, as they may be significantly impacted by future events the timing and nature of which are difficult to predict or are not within the control of management. As such, the Company has determined that reconciliations of this forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort.

Adjusted OIBDA less Capex

Vonage uses adjusted OIBDA less Capex as an indicator of the operating performance of its business. The Company provides information relating to its adjusted OIBDA less Capex so that investors have the same data that the Company employs in assessing its overall operations. The Company believes that trends in its Adjusted OIBDA less Capex are valuable indicators of the operating performance of the Company on a consolidated basis because they provide our investors with insight into current performance and period-to-period performance.

Adjusted net income

Vonage defines adjusted net income, as GAAP net income (loss) excluding amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, acquisition related transaction and integration costs, change in contingent consideration, acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation, loss on sublease and tax effect on adjusting items.

The Company believes that excluding these items will assist investors in evaluating the Company's operating performance and in better understanding its results of operations as amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets is a non-cash item, one-time acquisition related transaction and integration costs, change in contingent consideration, acquisition related consideration accounted for as compensation, loss on sublease and tax effect on adjusting items are not reflective of operating performance.

Net debt (cash)

Vonage defines net debt (cash) as the current maturities of capital lease obligations, current portion of notes payable, notes payable and indebtedness under revolving credit facility, net of current maturities and debt related costs, and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities, less unrestricted cash and marketable securities.

Vonage uses net debt (cash) as a measure of assessing leverage, as it reflects the gross debt under the Company's credit agreements and capital leases less cash available to repay such amounts. The Company believes that net cash is also a factor that first parties consider in valuing the Company.

Free cash flow

Vonage defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures, purchase of intangible assets, and acquisition and development of software assets.

Vonage considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after the acquisition of equipment and software, can be used by Vonage for debt service and strategic opportunities. Free cash flow is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since the Company has certain non-discretionary obligations such as debt service that are not deducted from the measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used by Vonage may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to differences in accounting policies and items excluded or included in the adjustments, which limits its usefulness as a comparative measure. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Adjusted Revenues

Vonage uses adjusted Business revenues to illustrate the impact of one-time items for UCaaS and CPaaS revenues.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about acquisitions, acquisition integration, growth priorities or plans, revenues, adjusted OIBDA, churn, seats, lines or accounts, average revenue per user, cost of telephony services, the Company's share repurchase plan, capital expenditures, new products and related investment, and other statements that are not historical facts or information, that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, other statements in this press release that are not historical facts or information may be forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's belief as of that time with respect to future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the competition we face; the expansion of competition in the cloud communications market; our ability to adapt to rapid changes in the cloud communications market; the nascent state of the cloud communications for business market; our ability to retain customers and attract new customers; the risk associated with developing and maintaining effective internal sales teams and effective distribution channels; risks related to the acquisition or integration of businesses we have acquired; security breaches and other compromises of information security; risks associated with sales of our services to medium-sized and enterprise customers; our reliance on third party hardware and software; our dependence on third party facilities, equipment, systems and services; system disruptions or flaws in our technology and systems; our ability to scale our business and grow efficiently; our dependence on third party vendors; the impact of fluctuations in economic conditions, particularly on our small and medium business customers; our ability to comply with data privacy and related regulatory matters; our ability to obtain or maintain relevant intellectual property licenses; failure to protect our trademarks and internally developed software; fraudulent use of our name or services; intellectual property and other litigation that have been and may be brought against us; reliance on third parties for our 911 services; uncertainties relating to regulation of VoIP services; risks associated with legislative, regulatory or judicial actions regarding our CPaaS products; the impact of governmental export controls or sanctions on our CPaaS products; our ability to establish and expand strategic alliances; risks associated with operating abroad; risks associated with the taxation of our business; risks associated with a material weakness in our internal controls; our dependence upon key personnel; governmental regulation and taxes in our international operations; liability under anti-corruption laws; our dependence on our customers' existing broadband connections; differences between our services and traditional telephone service; restrictions in our debt agreements that may limit our operating flexibility; foreign currency exchange risk; the market for our stock; our ability to obtain additional financing if required; any reinstatement of holdbacks by our credit card processors; our history of net losses and ability to achieve consistent profitability in the future; and other factors that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, and therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to today.

(vg-f)

SOURCE Vonage Holdings Corp.
"Hackers no longer discriminate based on location or the size of a business," said Brendan Patterson, Director of Product Management at WatchGuard Technologies. "Small offices and home offices are just as likely to be targeted as enterprise locations, which is why they need access to the same enterprise-grade protection, including services like APT Blocker and Threat Detection and Response (TDR). As internet speeds continue to increase, we continue to improve the performance of our tabletop Fireboxes to ensure that security doesn't restrict network performance or interfere with business goals."

WatchGuard's tabletop appliances offer leading price-to-performance while running full UTM features, including: APT Blocker, TDR, IPS, Anti-Virus, and Application Control. In addition to offering a broad range of security services to keep smaller sites safe, the Firebox T Series appliances are easy to configure and deploy in small offices, branch offices, and distributed enterprise locations.

KEY FIREBOX T SERIES FEATURES :

Significantly Improved Performance: Faster throughput across the board gives the new T Series models the highest-performing security inspection in its class. Administrators can confidently enable protections against a wide variety of advanced malware without slowing network speeds.

Faster throughput across the board gives the new T Series models the highest-performing security inspection in its class. Administrators can confidently enable protections against a wide variety of advanced malware without slowing network speeds. Integrated 802.11ac Wireless : Wi-Fi-enabled T35 and T55 Series appliances feature integrated 802.11ac wireless adapters, allowing users to inspect and secure wireless traffic using the latest standards

: Wi-Fi-enabled T35 and T55 Series appliances feature integrated 802.11ac wireless adapters, allowing users to inspect and secure wireless traffic using the latest standards Power Over Ethernet: The T35 and T55 include a Power over Ethernet plus port, which eliminates the need to run AC power to peripheral devices like security cameras or wireless access points.

Replacing WatchGuard's T10, T30 and T50 products, respectively, the T15, T35 and T55 models are available now.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS :

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in network security, providing best-in-class Unified Threat Management, Next Generation Firewall, secure Wi-Fi, and network intelligence products and services to more than 80,000 customers worldwide. The company's mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for Distributed Enterprises and SMBs. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.

For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter, @WatchGuard on Facebook, or on the LinkedIn Company page. Also, visit our InfoSec blog, Secplicity, for real-time information about the latest threats and how to cope with them at www.secplicity.org.

Media Contacts:

Chris Warfield

WatchGuard Technologies

206.876.8380

[email protected]

Anthony Cogswell

Voxus PR

253.444.5980

[email protected]

SOURCE WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.watchguard.com


AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To honor all those who have served our country, nonprofit, online university WGU Texas is offering up to $50,000 in scholarships for veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and military family members who want to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in high-demand fields including IT, business, K-12 education, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Texas is accepting applications through January 31, 2018, for the WGU Salute to Veterans Scholarship.

Each Salute to Veterans Scholarship is valued at up to $2,500$650 per six-month term for up to four terms and is part of $500,000 in scholarships offered to new students throughout the country through WGU Texas' parent university, Western Governors University.

2017 WGU Texas graduate and El Paso resident Michael Arias joined the Army at 19 and began attending college while stationed in Iraq. "When I was fresh out of high school, there was no dream of earning my college degree. While in Iraq, I literally risked my life to obtain my education," said Arias. He became an Army recruiter and earned his bachelor's and a master's of business administration from WGU Texas. He credits WGU's flexible programs for his success. "If someone had asked me ten years ago if I would go through long nights in the field, risking my safety to earn my degree, I would have laughednow I have an MBA."

Today, more than 16 percent of WGU Texas' students are active-duty military personnel, veterans, or dependent family members of military personnel. That's more than 1,500 students and another 737 graduates. Western Governors University has been recognized for ten consecutive years by Military Advanced Education & Transition as a "Top School" and for seven consecutive years as a Military Friendly School.

"WGU Texas has a long history of giving back and showing our appreciation to veterans," said WGU Texas Chancellor Steven Johnson. "We're continuing that tradition by supporting the academic and career goals of veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and helping them obtain the quality education they deserve and need to succeed in their careers."

All WGU programs are competency-based, providing the flexibility veterans and their families need. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and real-world experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money.

The WGU Salute to Veterans Scholarship is open to new students who have been officially admitted to WGU and are a U.S. military veteran, active-duty or retired military, reservist, military spouse or children. While multiple scholarships will be awarded, this is a competitive program, and scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate's academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations.

About WGU Texas

WGU Texas is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Texans' access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Texas and nationally-recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas is open to all qualified Texas residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Learn more at texas.wgu.edu

Follow WGU Texas:

http://www.facebook.com/WGUTexas

http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university

http://twitter.com/wgutexas

Contact for media inquiries:

Kathy Koza, PR Manager

512.225.6644 or 214.674.8057 (c)

[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:

877.214.7011

texas.wgu.edu

SOURCE WGU Texas

Related Links

http://texas.wgu.edu/


DAYTON, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Winsupply Inc., one of the largest distributors in the nation, has purchased APCO Inc., a Lansing, Michigan-based broad line distributor of heating, ventilation and cooling, plumbing, and apartment maintenance supplies. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. APCO has nine locations, with two doing business as APCO Supply and seven as Michigan Temperature Supply.

APCO Supply is a distributor of building furnishings and maintenance supplies to multi-tenant industrial, commercial and residential complexes throughout Michigan and Indiana. Michigan Temperature Supply specializes in providing sourcing to residential and light commercial contractors and is a traditional branch network that services the needs of HVAC contractors. The company will continue under the APCO Supply and Michigan Temperature Supply names in the foreseeable future.

"APCO Inc. is a successful, growing distributor with long-standing customer relationships, offering Winsupply additional coverage in the state of Michigan," said Roland Gordon, president and chief executive officer of Winsupply Inc. "The owners Mike and Jeff Nussdorfer have successfully grown the business since purchasing it from their father in 2005. In order to position the company for the future, the two brothers looked to Winsupply to become an equity partner to help with future succession planning, provide capital for future growth and provide assistance in product breadth and enhance profitability. We're pleased that Mike has indicated he wants to take advantage of the Winsupply Spirit of Opportunity by investing in shared ownership."

In the Winsupply co-ownership business model, Winsupply Inc. has majority equity in each of its locations, while the local company presidents and sometimes employees own substantial equity.

About Winsupply Inc.

Winsupply Inc. (www.winsupplyinc.com) is a leading supplier of residential and commercial construction and industrial supplies and equipment headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The privately-held company has nearly 600 wholesaling locations in 45 states and offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to own a meaningful part of the local business. Collectively, Winsupply is known as "The Winsupply Family of Companies" and includes Win-branded locations, Noland Company, Carr Supply, Security Plumbing & Heating Supply, Wyatt Irrigation and Electrical Sales, Inc. In the family are companies conducting business-to-business wholesale distribution of supplies and equipment in plumbing and heating; hydronics; pipe, valves and fittings; HVAC and refrigeration; electrical; fastening hardware; waterworks and utility; pumps; turf irrigation and landscape; and fire system fabrication. Follow Winsupply on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Contact:

Winsupply

Maury Williams

[email protected]

937-531-4554

SOURCE Winsupply Inc.

Related Links

http://www.winsupplyinc.com


Alpha Industrial is continuing its shopping spree. Following on from the acquisition of a developed logistics facility in the Stuttgart conurbation , the investor, project developer and asset and portfolio manager specialising in logistics, industrial and commercial real estate has acquired a commercial property with upside potential in the

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At the beginning of summer 2016, production and distribution complex owned by Coca-Cola HBC Czech and Slovak republic, was added to the Slovak industrial market. Since October 2017 the new owner is Priemyselny areal Luka s.r.o.. The complex, which offers approximately 30,000 sq m of leasable area with ca. 35,000

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The historic Beltana Station has sold to new South Australian owners, selling to a Far North pastoralist at $8.4 million.

The picturesque Flinders Ranges property was bought by Andrew Doman, owner of Yadlamalka sheep and cattle station near Port Augusta.

The 1541 square kilometre historic station, which has links to Sir Thomas Elder, was sold by the Ragless family.

It was first farmed by Elder's brother-in-law, Robert Barr Smith in 1857, with its name coming from an Aboriginal word meaning running water.

Beltana was used during filming of the movie Gallipoli in the 1980s and also featured in movies Tracks , Thousand Skies , Stealth and Rabbit Proof Fence.

With sweeping views of the Flinders Ranges, Beltana is 506 kilometres north of Adelaide.

The Ragless family bought the property in 2007 and added accommodation, a cafe and a restaurant.

It was sold by the Elders rural agency with an Angus cattle herd of 750, a Dorper sheep flock of 6000 and its historic 1860s homestead, cottage and shearing shed.
One of Australias largest irrigation properties, Gundaline Station  located in the highly regarded Southern Riverina region of NSW  has been listed for sale.

Fronting the Murrumbidgee River in NSW, the 15,000 hectare rural property suited to growing a combination of irrigated cotton, cereals/oilseeds/legumes and permanent crops such as almonds was last sold in 2014 to an institutional investor consortium led by Southern Agricultural Resources.

Over the past three years, they have more than doubled the land area under irrigation, significantly expanded and improved the water storages and irrigation infrastructure, as well as upgrading the existing irrigation land.

The property consists of more than 6,000 hectares of highly developed furrow irrigation (over 3,500 hectares of new development), with the balance comprising land suitable for development to permanent plantings and additional furrow irrigation, and grazing land.

The holding benefits from significant water entitlements.
A top executive of one of Australias biggest home builders has warned of a growing land affordability crisis in Sydney.

Chief executive of MJH Group Andrew Helmers said while the cost of construction was rising at between 6-9% per annum, lot prices were rising at annual rates of 40-50%.

"We don't have a housing affordability crisis, we have a land affordability crisis, Helmers told Fairfax Media.

"All the major tier one developers are continuing to lift their prices with each new land release. The slowdown in prices in Sydney has not been felt in the land market."

He said MJH completed 2716 housing starts in the 2017 financial year up from 2199 in fiscal 2016 making it the fastest-growing builder in the country.

The company builds homes in NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Tasmania under a number of brands including McDonald Jones, MOJO Homes, Wilson Homes and Hayman Homes.

He noted building product manufacturers were operating at 100% capacity.

The Newcastle-based company recently reported a big boost in revenue it accounts filed with the corporate regulator for the year to June.

They show that MJH Group  previously called McDonald Jones Homes  saw revenue up 48% to $621 million from home building and land sales.

Its after-tax profits were up 55% to around $16 million.

The company sold a 40% stake to Japan's Asahi Kasei Homes in August.
Seagull Lodge has been sold for $2.4 million to a Sydney investor.

The ageing block of apartments at 99 Seagull Avenue, Mermaid Beach, was sold over the phone when auction through Tony Velissariou, of Burleighs Tony V Real Estate in conjunction with Luke Henderson, of The Professional Mermaid Beach.

The three-level Seagull Lodge is on a 647 square metre site in a medium-density residential zone.

The property was listed after the six owners agreed to a consolidated marketing effort.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported they will each will receive $400,000.

The highest price paid by any of them for a unit was $334,000 in 2008.

One of the sellers had paid $77,000 in 1993.
Are you getting ready to sell your house?

Setting the right asking price is going to be challenging for vendors as spring volumes peak and the summer break looms.

It can be a tricky task, especially when the property market is displaying signs of movement.

Sometimes a home can be listed into a seemingly strong market, which then weakens during the marketing campaign.

Most asking prices tend to a little above what the vendor will actually take, as this allows some negotiating space between the buyer and seller.

Often vendors get a very realistic offer early on from buyers who've been in the market for some time. They might also get a cheeky lowball offer.

It is one of those ponderables as to whether it is best to accept a speedy sale, or wait for that desired higher price.

Higher discounting certainly occur longer into marketing campaigns when the asking price simply doesn't match buyer interest so a vendor eventually accepts a figure well below the initial advertised price.

At the moment Sydney vendors are typically accepting 5.1% discounts on their asking prices to secure their house sales. It was 4.8% at the start of the spring selling season according to CoreLogic.

Canberra is a hot market so its vendors need only to discount by 2.5%, while Darwin is ailing and it requires a 9.9% discount before most sales are done.

The national average sits at just above 5%, with peaks over the past decade seeing 8% required discounting across Australia.

Ofcourse you will have your own idea on the worth of your property, but it is important to canvas and listen to the professions.

Before you signup to one agent, for auction or private treaty, be sure you get two or three other local agents to come through your property.

They will happily provide a report on how they see the local market, its likely direction, and just where your property sits within it.

It is important to get these varied insights for the best way forward.

And don't necessary simply select the agent who promised the highest price outcome.

You have to be comfortable working with your agent all the way through the listing.

Ofcourse the lucky vendors will find a buyer as soon as the for sale sign goes up from someone who's always fancied your home from just along the same street.

The less fortunate will be nervously hoping they finally get that pre-Christmas buyer, forever grateful they had secured extended settlement terms on their next home purchase.

The key is ascertaining where the localised market is placed pricewise, and often that relates to the level of stock.

Overall there's some 25,000 offerings across Sydney - around 20% more stock than the same time last year, which means buyers have more choice. There were 22,000 listings at the start of spring.

Ask your prospective estate agents what, say, four bedroom house stock levels have been in your suburb over recent times, and also find out what sales they have actually secured.

Asking prices can of course change throughout a campaign but if a vendors expectation was unrealistically way too high even this is unlikely to trigger any sale.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
Both houses and apartments in Sydney have begun their decline, according to the latest Herron Todd White property clock.

The valuation firm put Melbourne apartments at their peak, with Melbourne houses approaching their peak.

There are two capital cities with property markets at the bottom, Adelaide units and Darwin houses.

Brisbane, Canberra and Perth units are in decline. Perth houses are approaching the bottom of the market

Click to enlarge

Sydney houses were at their peak last month and in September when HTT noted the "frenzied" house buying was fading.

Sydney houses and units were also deemed to be in decline in August. Sydney units stayed in decline in September and October.

Click to enlarge
The home sharing platform Airbnb has come out in support of a limit on the number of days a investment property can be rented in NSW strata, as it seeks to avoid a tougher regulatory crackdown by the NSW government.

In a submission to the NSW government, Airbnb said if a host wants to rent out an investment property on Airbnb for more than 180 days in a year, they would have to apply for a development application through the local council.

There are more than 45,000 Airbnb listings in the state with average host earning around $5,300 a year.

Hosts will not require permissions to rent out their primary place of residence or investment property for less than 180 days a year.

The NSW government's options paper, which was released in July, considers a range of options.
Feuding Singaporean investors have joined forces to sell their neighbouring Melbourne development sites, just days after one of them pulled the plug on its proposed 71-storey Tower Melbourne skyscraper.

Chip Eng Seng owns 150 Queen Street where legal action by his neighbour brought demolition of the existing building to a halt in 2013.

CEL has ended its long-running dispute with neighbour, Colonial Range, a company controlled by the wealthy Singapore-based Chow family.

Now the two developers have joined forces to quietly offer their combined Queen Street sites for sale.

Their are reported $150 million to $200 million hopes for their combined blocks at 140 and 150 Queen Street and 27 McKillop Street that cover more than 2500 square metres

The Age reported there had been six legal cases played out in two Supreme Court appearances, a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal case, several Building Appeal Board sittings and a formal complaint to Victoria's ombudsman.
The Sydney investment management firm KSI Investments has acquired 11.55 acres of land in Rossmore, in South-West Sydney which will be part of the Sydney Landbanking KSI Investment Fund.

The land is located 5 kilometres from the planned second airport at Badgerys Creek.

It is expected to accommodate between 110 to 140 houses once rezoned which is expected to occur over the next five to seven years.

The deal, brokered by KSI Investments as an off market transaction includes two adjoining pieces of farm land.

It has been structured under an options contract with settlement to occur within the next six month.

Robin Luo, CEO of KSI Investments says investing in landbanking has been traditionally limited to wealthy investors and property developers.

"However, KSI Investments has opened up this sector to retail investors via this Australian first, with a minimum of $2,000 investment under a retail managed fund structure, Luo says.

The KSI Sydney Landbanking fund is a retail managed fund overseen by ASIC.

KSI Investments has engaged Perpetual Australia Limited as custodian for the fund, named the Sydney Landbanking KSI Investment Fund.

The fund is able to accept investment from SMSF investors as well as private investors, companies and trusts.

Using the investment registry services of DomaCom Limited, investors are able to trade units in the fund freely, meaning they have liquidity before the eventual land sale after rezoning occurs.

KSI Investment, charge a 25% annual management fee and 20% performance fee on the eventual sale of the land.

DomaCom is working with KSI investments to bring this Rossmore/Badgerys Creek land banking crowdfunding campaign to investors.

Once the land/campaign is acquired KSI have the skillset to manage the opportunity through subsequent phases of development to extract additional value.
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Jeff Kinney is the author and illustrator of the beloved and bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which is now celebrating 10 years in print. The series, which focuses on the hijinks of middle-schooler Greg Heffley and his friends, got its start on Kinneys educational gaming website, FunBrain, and has since spawned 11 sequels, four movie adaptations, and a musical. Book 12, which hit shelves today, finds the Heffley clan on a holiday vacation that is more stressful than relaxing. Kinney, having recently returned from an international tour, is currently embarking on a series of school visits across the U.S., bringing books to underserved communities. We spoke with Kinney about the global success of the series, the appeal of visual storytelling, and finding new aspects of childhood to explore.

The series has been extremely popular with readers and so-called reluctant readers alike. Looking back on 10 years of Wimpy Kid, what was one of your most memorable or unexpected encounters with a fan?

Just about everything has been unexpected for me! From the time the first book was published, everything has felt a bit like The Truman Show. A few weeks ago, I went to Taiwan. What was strange for me was I went to a school of about 2,500 kids and they seemed to know my books really well; it was wild. These are children from a totally different culture from mine, literally on the other side of the world. It astonishes me how humor translates and that kids can relate to the characters. Things like that keep the fire burning for me. It was really inspiring and motivating.

Speaking of international readers, the books have been translated into more than 50 languages. Do you consider your global readership when creating the books?

I do much more now. I used to think of the books as being about this American kid, Greg Heffley. But over time, Ive come to understand the reason readers connect is these are stories of childhood. And childhood, by and large, is a universal experience. What I do now when Im thinking about what to write next is to consider which aspect of childhood I havent really explored yet.

For The Getaway, I wanted to write about airplane travel. For many kids, getting on a plane is a huge privilege, and flying for the first time can be a really unnerving and exciting experience. Im always trying to look at childhood from a different perspective.

How has your creative process evolved over the course of the series? What do you still find most challenging, 12 books into Gregs story?

It actually gets more and more challenging as I go along! Im always trying to explore something I havent explored yet. On the one hand, its more challenging because you run out of areas to explore. On the other hand, childhood is such a big universe with an almost unlimited amount of topics to cover.

I used to draw on my memories. Most of the incidents in the books happened to me in real life, but were put into the fiction blender. Now I have to generate the ideas. One technique I use is called systematic inventive thinking, to help me generate new jokes.

Are you surprised by the growing attention and acceptance for graphic novels for young readers?

Im surprised it didnt happen much sooner. Kids always like to have pictures to look at. Theres such a big jump kids have to make from beautiful picture books to text-only novels. I think, for most kids, there needs to be an in-between that is accessible and that makes them feel successful.

Something I find very interesting, over the past 10 years or so, is that a lot of great storytellers have migrated to the gaming sphere. These games are blockbusters in the truest sense. Kids can now experience storytelling in an interactive fashion, where they are the hero. Its remarkable, but its also in competition with reading. The good thing is that good stories are still being told. Kids are still experiencing good storytelling.

The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12) by Jeff Kinney. Abrams/Amulet, Nov. 7 $13.95 ISBN 978-1-4197-2545-6
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's announcement last week that the U.S. would contribute $60 million to France's Joint Force G-5 Sahel (or FC-G5S, to use the French acronym) project is welcome news. Supporting the French initiative is a worthy undertaking, provided, of course, that everyone understands what it is and is not.

The idea for the FC-G5S ostensibly came from the G-5 Sahel membersBurkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Nigerwho see it as a way to bolster security in the region and in Mali in particular. All five nations, among the world's poorest, have tiny security forces that can only accomplish so much given their limited resources.

Fighting terrorist groups alongside them is a French military force, known as Operation Barkhane, with roughly 4,000 troops and a handful of combat and transport aircraft, the same force that rescued ambushed U.S. Special Forces soldiers earlier last month.

Though capable, the French force is woefully undersized given the geographic expanse of the Sahel, which is as wide as the continental U.S. In Mali, there is also a large U.N. force, MINUSMA, which like Barkhane is too small. It is also hindered by a weak mandate that limits its activities and prevents it from acting offensively.

The FC-F5S, to be clear, is not a new force to be stood up alongside the G-5s existing militaries. Rather, the idea is to make the whole of their military capacity greater than the sum of the parts by establishing a joint command structure that, with French help, will coordinate the different militaries' actions and enable them to support one another and operate in one another's territory.

Initially, the focus will be on boosting security in three border areas, part of the border between Mauritania and Mali, the tri-border region that unites Mali with Niger and Burkina Faso and a portion of the border between Niger and Chad.

Already, they have established a central command center in Sevare, Mali, and are working toward establishing a joint command center in each of the three zones. The next step will be to organize roughly a brigade-sized elementsometimes described as a quick reaction forceintended to operate in Mali.

The Trump administration, keen on cutting U.S. financial support to U.N.-backed programs, has balked at the estimated price tag of roughly $500 million as well as voiced concern over the force's mandate.

Whereas Barkhane's mandate authorizes it to engage only designated terrorist groups, the FC-G5S will have a broader mandate that includes groups involved in trafficking, a category that includes a wide array of local groups and greatly raises the risk of getting entangled in local disputes and perhaps taking sides. It is akin to entering a minefield.

Finally, as several Sahel experts have noted, any plan that focuses on security is no substitute for a comprehensive and coherent strategy for the Sahel, which must pay at least as much attention to addressing political matters and fostering development.

This criticism is absolutely correct, and in a nutshell, it describes all that's wrong with U.S. and French efforts in the Sahel, which focus on military matters and pay considerably less attention to anything else.

It is a major reason why the security situation in the Sahel has degraded considerably in the past decade, notwithstanding everything both nations have been doing to stop it.

Nonetheless, in the spirit of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, the French plan has certain advantages even if one agrees that a security-focused effort can never, on its own, achieve the larger U.S. and French policy goals of generating security and stability in the Sahel.

First, given the apparent lack of significant return on investment for past and present U.S. security assistance programs in the region, it stands to reason that something different either alongside or in lieu of current efforts might yield better results.

Second, the plan places African security forces squarely at the center, with the ambition of making them more effective, rather than calling for a greater French or American footprint. The advantages of host nation militaries doing the job are self-evident.

Third, the plan extends the reach of the French military, which will provide some of the organizational structure for the force and support it with a number of capabilities. It is simply a more efficient way for the French to assist the G-5 militaries than by interacting with each on a bilateral basis.

The French military happens to be particularly good at this kind of close work with African militaries. As for the problem of straying into local conflicts, that risk is real, but at least the French are well informed about those conflicts and can weigh the pros and cons of a specific course of action.

There is no guarantee that the French will be able to steer Sahelian forces through any figurative minefields, and do so correctly. French claims to impartiality are already worn thin, at least in the eyes of many. However, to be blunt, better the French than the U.S. military, at least in this part of the world.

Lastly, the ever-worsening situation in Mali makes clear that the country needs more help than its military, Barkhane and MINUSMA currently can provide. Part of the problem is the weakness of the Malian Armed Forces, (FAMA), which lack both the will and the ability to operate effectively and forcefully in northern Mali.

Fixing FAMA is a difficult proposition. The French are convinced that FAMA could and would do more and better if their partners operated alongside them. It is, they say, a condition the Malians require. The French cannot be that partner, at least not all the time, because they are too few.

MINUSMA cannot, either, for a variety of reasons. What the FC-G5S does is project into Mali an international force that is neither Barkhane nor MINUSMA, and can operate with few hindrances and with French military support.

The French plan offers the possibility of strengthening the Sahel nations' efforts to combat terrorism. So long as it is not mistaken for the kind of broader strategy that the region requires, the FC-G5S is worth a shot.

Michael Shurkin is a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on November 4, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
The Barcelona-based B2B provider of broadcasting solutions Charmex is to open an office in Lisbon, in a bid to strengthen its presence in the Portuguese audiovisual sector.





The office, in the Bela Vista Office business centre, will also include a showroom, and will be headed by Bruno Couto, who has been head of the commercial unit of Charmex in Portugal since 2009.By opening this showroom, we intend to strengthen our position in the country, building stronger relationships with our local distributors and enable them to use our own facilities to show our technology to potential clients, said Inigo Gonzalez, director, international expansion, Charmex In the end, its about getting closer to our local network to deliver a better service in commercialising our solutions in the B2B market, also offering advice throughout their projects, he added.Among other technologies available at the showroom, will be Clevertouchs 4K touch screens, interactive projectors by Vivitek and Hitachi, and Vestels professional displays.Charmex wont bring Sony Professional Solutions portfolio to Portugal, as its recently-signed agreement with the Japanese company only covers the Spanish B2B market.
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African service provider InterSat has tied up with satellite operator ABS to offer access services across the sub-Saharan region through the iDirect platforms on ABS-3A.





The broadband platforms, which can deliver video and other data using the satellites C-band and Ku-band beams, will be operated by InterSat via its new teleport in Nairobi. InterSat and ABS will offer software virtual network operator (SVNO) access to resellers in Africa to distribute and manage internet services through VSAT without the need for hardware investment.The requirement for satellite capacity in the broadband market in Africa continues to grow. At InterSat, we are now ready to start a new chapter towards accelerated growth and our renewed collaboration with ABS marks that new beginning. With our high-quality and affordable service offerings on ABS-3A satellite, we are confident that our customers in Africa will reap many benefits of a next-generation network, said Hanif Kassam, CEO of InterSat.Flavien Bachabi , MD of Africa for AB S, added: ABS-3A is a new choice for high profile broadband as well as broadcast distribution in Africa, MENA, Europe and the Americas. Our VNO services in cooperation with InterSat will provide a cost-effective way for resellers and clients to establish a comprehensive communication network without the capital investment on a hub infrastructure.
Martinsville is building a new police station. What you need to know.
BRUSSELS -- NATO allies are set to agree on November 9 to increase personnel levels for the alliance's training mission in Afghanistan by about 3,000 troops, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says.

Stoltenberg told a news conference in Brussels on November 7 that the troops would not have combat roles but would be part of NATO's "train, advise, and assist" mission called Resolute Support.

Half the additional troops will come from the United States and the other half from other members of the 29-nation alliance and partner countries, Stoltenberg said.

Allies are expected to commit troops during two days of NATO defense ministerial talks starting in Brussels on November 8.

The additional NATO troops would take Resolute Support's total to around 16,000 troops, up from around 13,000 today, Stoltenberg said.

"We have decided to increase the number of troops...to help the Afghans break the stalemate," Stoltenberg said.



Stoltenberg said there will also be more help to develop the Afghan Air Force.

U.S. Army General John Nicholson, the commander of the Resolute Support mission and of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in February that several thousand more troops would make a difference in weakening the Taliban and other Islamist militants.

U.S. President Donald Trump in August announced a new Afghan strategy. In September, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops would be deployed to Afghanistan.

The United States led an invasion to drive Taliban extremists from power after Al-Qaeda militants whose leaders were sheltering in Afghanistan carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

The U.S., NATO, and other partners had more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan for a time, but the Taliban has been resurgent since NATO ended combat operations in 2014. The extremist group Islamic State (IS) has also stepped up attacks.

In the latest such attack, gunmen disguised as policemen stormed Shamshad TV station in Kabul on November 7, killing at least two people and wounding two dozen others in an attack claimed by IS.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
What to call the Persian language in Afghanistan? It's a question Afghans have grappled with and sparred over for decades.

The long-simmering dispute was reignited after the BBC changed the name of one of its local-language Facebook pages to BBC Dari, prompting a backlash from many Afghan Persian speakers who despise the word officially used to describe their language.

Many Persian speakers in Afghanistan prefer and use the name Farsi, the official language in Iran. They say the term Dari has been forced on them by the dominant Pashtun ethnic group as an attempt to distance Afghans from their cultural, linguistic, and historical ties to the Persian-speaking world, which includes Iran and Tajikistan.

Language has long been a sore point in Afghanistan, where it has exposed unresolved tensions among the country's ethnic and linguistic groups.

Same Language

"Dari is not the Afghan dialect of Farsi," says Partaw Naderi, a prominent Afghan poet and minority-rights activist. "Dari is the name of a language that is also known as Farsi."

Naderi says historical documents prove that the word Dari, along with Parsi, dates as far back as the sixth century, when it was used to describe the Persian language. After the language adopted the Arabic script centuries later, it fell out of use and was replaced by the term Farsi.

Naderi says he prefers to use the word "Farsi-Dari" to describe the Persian language, calling it a solution to the current standoff. Any change would require a constitutional amendment.

Naderi says that while the Persian spoken in Afghanistan and neighboring Iran have distinct accents and variations in vocabulary and usage, the language is the same. There are dozens of regional variations of Persian inside Iran and Afghanistan, Naderi says.

Dari is the lingua franca in Afghanistan, where it is the native tongue of ethnic Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimaqs as well as being spoken by Pashtuns in and around the capital, Kabul. Many educated Afghans are bilingual, speaking both Dari and Pashto, the country's other official language.

Constitutional Standoff

Dari became an official language in Afghanistan in the country's 1964 constitution. Two earlier constitutions in the 20th century had labeled it Farsi.

The late Afghan historian Mir Sediq Farhang, who was a member of the commission that drafted the 1964 constitution, wrote in his memoirs published in 2015 that the term Dari became a compromise in a standoff between the ruling Pashtun elite and leaders of the Persian-speaking community.

Farhang wrote that Afghanistan's Pashtun leaders wanted Pashto as the sole official language, claiming that Farsi belonged to Iran. To ensure equity between Pashto and Farsi, Persian speakers opted to include the name Dari to make a superficial distinction, Farhang wrote.

While Dari became the official name of the language, Farsi is still the word of choice among many Persian speakers even today.

"This debate pits those who look at language as a shared heritage that includes thinkers, writers, and poets of the Farsi language against those who believe that Dari has older roots and provides a distinct identity that cannot be confused with Iran's claim," says Omar Samad, an analyst and former Afghan ambassador who has advised senior Afghan officials.

Political Move

It is the politics surrounding Dari that has angered many Persian speakers, who say the term Dari was favored by Pashtun leaders as a means of distancing Afghanistan from the Persian cultural and political sphere.

Ali Adili, a researcher at Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul, says many see the BBC name change as a continuation of this policy. "Afghan Persian speakers oppose a move they think is aimed at dividing one common language that is spoken in a broader civilizational sphere into two," he says.

The language dispute comes with ethnic tensions running high, spurred on by an unpopular and polarized central government in which power is divided between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who draw political support from the Pashtun and ethnic Tajik communities, respectively. Ghani has been accused of ethnic favoritism and stoking tensions, allegations that he vehemently denies.

Adili says ethnic and linguistic issues are a manifestation of broader identity politics in Afghanistan. Some political figures, for example, have recently told journalists what Persian words they should and should not use. "This is a bid to distinguish Dari and Farsi, which Persian speakers consider as a campaign to block their language and reconstruct their identity," he says.

'Plot To Divide'

Mina Baktash, head of the BBC's Afghan service, said on November 4 that there were "absolutely no political and cultural reasons behind our decision" and added that the term Dari was the official name of the language in Afghanistan.

But that has not ended the criticism of the BBC.

The Private Arman-e Melli daily newspaper accused the BBC of a "plot to divide Dari from the Persian language."

"The people in Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan speak Dari, which is the Persian language," said an editorial published on November 5.

In an editorial on November 5, the private Mandegar daily said the BBC was guilty of "fascism" and sowing divisions in the country.

Amrullah Saleh, the country's former intelligence chief and leader of the Green Trend political movement, called in a Facebook post on November 5 for his supporters to boycott the BBC.

The European Campaign for Human Rights for the People of Afghanistan (ECHRA), a London-based group, has launched a social-media campaign to get the name changed back to BBC Afghanistan.*

CORRECTION: This article has been amended to correct the previous name of the BBC's service in Afghanistan.
KABUL -- Two people have been killed and at least 20 wounded in an armed attack on a private television station in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

"People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another," Abed Ehsas, the news director of Shamshad TV, told Tolo News.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said two security guards were killed in the attack and that two gunmen were also killed. He said police have sealed off the station and are investigating the attack.

Afghan special forces blasted a hole in a concrete wall to enter the building and end the crisis. Several employees of the station were hit by bullets and falling glass, Reuters reported, adding that several jumped from windows to escape the gunmen.

The extremist Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on the website of a news agency affiliated with it, Amaq. Taliban insurgents had previously issued a denial that they were involved.

Gunfire could be heard within the Pashto-language TV station during the two-hour-long attack.

Shamshad TV went off the air during the attack but quickly went back on air after the attack ended. One news moderator appeared on TV wearing bandages on his hands after the station resumed broadcasting.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack during a speech in Brussels.

"The last few weeks have been tough in Afghanistan with a number of brutal and senseless attacks, such as today's attack on Shamshad TV," he said. "At the same time, the Afghan security forces have shown bravery, determination, and increasing capability."

Amnesty International's Omar Waraich, the deputy director for South Asia, called the attack "a horrific crime that tragically demonstrates the risks Afghanistan's journalists face for their legitimate work."

Afghan Journalists Safety Committee head Sediqullah Tawhidi told Radio Free Afghanistan that "an attack against civilians and civilian structures must be considered a war crime."

Some journalists and employees of the TV channel managed to flee the building, an employee of the news channel told RFE/RL.

The IS-branch in Afghanistan has carried out several attacks in Kabul in recent years, mainly targeting the country's Shi'ite minority.

On October 31, an IS suicide bomber struck near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, killing five people and wounding at least 20.

A Taliban suicide bomber killed seven people at Afghanistan's largest private television station, Tolo, early last year.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


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The 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution was marked in different ways in different former Soviet republics -- and in some cases, it was hardly marked at all.

The November 7 centenary of the revolution -- which ushered in more than seven decades of repressive single-party rule from Moscow across a huge swath of Europe and Asia -- came nearly 26 years after the Soviet Union's collapse.

The Russian Communist Party staged a major march and rally in central Moscow, while other commemorations across the former Soviet Union were smaller. For some, the anniversary was an occasion to criticize the revolution and the Soviet Union, while the vast majority of citizens throughout the region stayed away from the organized events.

In Minsk, some 700 people -- most of them members of the Communist Party of Belarus -- held a rally on Independence Square. Demonstrators held red Soviet flags and flags of Belarus, portraits of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and red posters praising the revolution and "dictatorship of proletariat."

Some 30 people marked the revolution's centennial anniversary in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, gathering in a park near Saryarqa market and laying flowers at a Lenin monument that was moved from a more prominent location after Kazakhstan and the other 14 republics of the Soviet Union gained independence in its collapse.

A similar commemoration was held in the northwestern Kazakh city of Aqtobe, where a Lenin monument was moved in the 1990s from the central square to a more obscure spot.

In Kyrgyzstan, for the first time since the Soviet era, November 7 was not marked as the anniversary of the 1917 revolution. Instead, November 7-8 are now designated the Days of History and Commemoration of Ancestors.

Nonetheless, some 100 communists and others gathered at a Lenin monument in central Bishkek, bearing red flags and flowers.

Park Of Friendship

Also on November 7, authorities opened the Park of Russian and Kyrgyz People's Friendship in Bishkek.

In Tajikistan, several Communist leaders laid flowers at a bust of Lenin in the party's headquarters in Dushanbe.

In Uzbekistan, no official events were held to commemorate the revolution, but authorities announced a November 6 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sharaf Rashidov, who led the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1961 to 1983.

In Moldova, dozens of Communists laid flowers at a Lenin monument that was moved from Chisinau's center to a park.

In Ukraine, police said vandals poured cement on the eternal flame in the capital's Park of Glory, which commemorated Soviet soldiers killed in World War II.

Kyiv is deeply at odds with Moscow over Russia's armed takeover of Crimea and its support for separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

There were no state-sponsored ceremonies marking the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Turkmenistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Armenia.

The date was also not marked in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were occupied by the Soviet Union during World War II but are now members of the European Union and NATO and have severely strained ties with Russia.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Moldovan, and Ukrainian services
Estonia has detained a man suspected of being a Russian agent operating against the Estonian state, the Prosecutor-General's Office says.

The man, a Russian citizen, was suspected of plotting a computer-related crime, among other things, prosecutor Inna Ombler said on November 7.

She said that Estonian state institutions were targeted but did not disclose details, adding that the suspect's detention last week means that "bigger damage was prevented."

Ombler said the suspect was working for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB. The suspect, who was not identified, was formally charged in a Tallinn court on November 6.

In 2015 and 2016, three men in Estonia were convicted of cooperating with Russian intelligence services and sentenced to prison.

In May, Estonia expelled two Russian diplomats posted at Moscow's consulate in Narva over contacts with local officials that were considered inappropriate for diplomats.

Government and private Internet sites in Estonia suffered major cyberattacks in 2007, following a decision by the Baltic nation to move a Soviet-era war memorial from a square in the capital.

The small Baltic country has made cybersecurity a focus of its six-month EU presidency, which ends on December 31, following a series of global cyberattacks this year.

Occupied by the Soviet Union during World War II, Estonia gained independence in the Soviet collapse of 1991 and is now a member of NATO and the European Union.

Relations with Russia are severely strained.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP


The events of 1917 changed the course of Russian, and indeed world, history. But as these remarkable then-and-now pictures show, pockets of Russia's two largest cities have endured almost unchanged through a century of revolution and the fall, rise, and fall of empire.

The cheering crowds below Nicholas on that summer day had little inkling of it, but their tsar was standing on the edge of an abyss.

Tsar Nicholas II makes a public address on July 20, 1914. A few days later, the tsar would mobilize troops to defend Russia's "little Slavic brothers" in Serbia who were under a barrage of Austrian artillery. This conflict would soon expand into World War I.

Click and drag, double-click, or use the slider to fade between images.

Russia was ill-prepared for war against a coalition led by the highly industrialized Germany. By 1917, the battlefields of WWI had taken around 1 million Russian lives, most of them peasants and workers in soldiers' uniforms who would otherwise have been feeding and supplying Russia's cities. Shortages and hunger became the norm in wartime Russia. In a country where the glittering lives of the nobility had long bred resentment among the lower classes, the war was giving rise to increasingly dark mutterings in the streets and factories. Much of the hostility was directed toward the German-born Tsarina Aleksandra Feodorovna, who many believed was nothing more than a bejeweled German spy.

Russian troops on the Eastern front of WWI .

(Public Domain)

Russia was ill-prepared for war against a coalition led by the highly industrialized Germany. By 1917, the battlefields of WWI had taken around 1 million Russian lives, most of them peasants and workers in soldiers' uniforms who would otherwise have been feeding and supplying Russia's cities. Shortages and hunger became the norm in wartime Russia. In a country where the glittering lives of the nobility had long bred resentment among the lower classes, the war was giving rise to increasingly dark mutterings in the streets and factories. Much of the hostility was directed toward the German-born Tsarina Aleksandra Feodorovna, who many believed was nothing more than a bejeweled German spy.

Russian troops on the Eastern front of WWI . (Public Domain)

With Tsar Nicholas away at the front commanding Russia's war effort, the capital, St. Petersburg (then called Petrograd), was left in Aleksandra's hands. Her "spiritual adviser" was the Siberian mystic Grigory Rasputin, a Russian peasant whose pursuit of prostitutes and raucous drinking sessions had tainted the tsar and tsarina by association.

Aleksandra Feodorovna was by 1917 described by a contemporary as "fiercely and universally hated."

(Public Domain) Grigory Rasputin. In December 1916, the reputedly lascivious holy man was assassinated by Russian noblemen. (Public Domain) Aleksandra Feodorovna (left) was by 1917 described by a contemporary as "fiercely and universally hated." Grigory Rasputin. In December 1916, the reputedly lascivious holy man was assassinated by Russian noblemen. (Public Domain)
A French court has rejected a lawsuit by Azerbaijans government against two French journalists it accuses of defamation in a case described by the defendants and media freedom activists as an attempt by the South Caucasus nation's authorities to export censorship beyond the country's borders.

Broadcast journalists Elise Lucet and Laurent Richard were accused in the lawsuit of defaming the Azerbaijani government by referring to it as a "dictatorship" two years ago, when then-French President Francois Hollande was visiting the Caspian Sea country.

The case was the first time that a foreign government had brought a defamation suit against journalists before a French court.

"The press law has been put in place to prevent political censorship," the president of the court in the Paris suburb of Nanterre said in the November 7 ruling.

Introducing an investigation program about the background to Hollandes trip on the France 2 television channel in September 2015, Lucet described Azerbaijan as "one of the world's harshest dictatorships."

In an interview with France Info radio, Richard referred to Azerbaijan as a "dictatorship."

Richard and his cameraman were briefly detained in Baku at the end of their reporting trip in May 2014 and their equipment was seized.

"This decision was a very strong signal to the Azerbaijani government that they could not carry out their censorship outside the country," Richard told RFE/RL after the decision was announced.

Johann Bihr, the head of Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, welcomed the court decision rejecting the lawsuit, which the journalism watchdog has called "an act of intimidation highlighting the Azerbaijani government's contempt for free speech."

"We are deeply relieved that Azerbaijan has failed to export its censorship to France," Bihr was quoted as saying in the statement. "Any other decision would have opened a dangerous breach that would have allowed despots all over the world to come and persecute French journalists in France."

Azerbaijan is ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. For the past three years, the watchdog says, the countrys authorities have "systematically eliminated what remained of media independence."

President Ilham Aliyev -- who has ruled the oil-producing country of nearly 10 million people since shortly before the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003 -- is on RSFs list of press freedom predators.

RSF says that at least 16 journalists, bloggers, and media workers are "currently imprisoned in connection with the provision of news and information  usually on trumped-up charges."

Dozens of journalists have fled the country in recent years to escape the crackdown, according to the watchdog.
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish.

Before we get started, a few announcements: The newsletter is now biweekly, rather than going out only on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here.

And I will also be launching Talking China In Eurasia, a new podcast. It will air live on Twitter Spaces and later be available on RFE/RLs website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts. We will be taking questions live starting at 2 p.m. CET/8 a.m. EST on November 16. Ill be joined by the Royal United Services Institutes Raffaello Pantucci to talk about Xi and Putin. Tune in here.

Xi Gets Pragmatic About Russia At The G20

It was light on optimism, but U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping injected a healthy dose of pragmatism back into the U.S.-China relationship with their meeting in Bali at a time when global anxiety is rising over Russias war against Ukraine.

Finding Perspective: The meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit was far from a breakthrough, but it did repair some damage from the recent backslide in relations between both countries and send some signals that the world isnt necessarily destined for Cold War 2.0.

The more than three-hour talks saw some blunt exchanges over contentious issues like Taiwan and North Korea, but the two leaders also pledged more frequent communications and decided that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Beijing for follow-up talks in 2023.

Of particular note, Biden raised Russias invasion of Ukraine and threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons. Both leaders reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought, according to a White House readout.

While far from a sea change for Chinese policy, thats notable. The credibility of Beijings claims to be neutral on the Ukraine war continue to come under scrutiny, and China has shown discomfort of late with the Kremlins nuclear saber-rattling.

Xi made similar comments after a November 4 summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and during another G20 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the French readout.

Why It Matters: Xi is not abandoning Putin, but this marks the latest shift for Beijings balancing act over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Four Chinese officials briefed on the February 4 meeting between Xi and Putin, where they declared a no-limits partnership, told the Financial Times that Putin didnt tell Xi the truth about the invasion and that Beijing was caught off guard by it.

What Xi knew about Putins war plans has been a topic of debate, and there is evidence to support both the idea that Xi was aware and that he was caught off guard.

Many analysts are of the opinion that Xi knew about Putin's decision to invade but expected a quick victory, which perhaps was what Putin believed at the time.

Others point to a steady stream of dismissals from Chinese officials and experts about the likelihood of an invasion in February and the fact that Beijing did not evacuate its citizens from Ukraine  like Western nations did  as evidence that China was not expecting a war.

China certainly has its own interests in keeping a distance from Moscows war and using that space to do some upkeep with the West. But perhaps the most important point here is that even if Putin did blindside Xi, China has stuck with Russia despite its battlefield failures, political isolation, and the atrocities its troops are accused of committing.

Again, this is pragmatism more than anything else. As Chinese experts often say, even if Russia is looking unattractive these days, why would Beijing abandon its main anti-Western partner as China continues to be in the crosshairs of rising American pressure?

Read More

 Want to hear more about Russia and Chinas complex relationship amid the Ukraine war? Then tune in to the debut of Talking China In Eurasia today at 2 p.m. CET/ 8 a.m. EST. You can listen live here and find the episode on RFE/RLs website and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

 Condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine and its global fallout is shaping up to be the key theme of the G20, with the Financial Times reporting that a joint communique from the summit takes aim at Moscow.

Expert Corner: The Future Of The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Readers asked: Did Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs recent trip to Beijing breathe new life into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? How do Islamabad and Beijing really feel about the project after all these years?

To find out more, I asked Filippo Boni, an expert on China-Pakistan relations at the Open University in Britain:

Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China was high on symbolism and relatively low on substance. While the two sides were keen to reaffirm and emphasize the strength of their strategic partnership, no significant new commitment was made. Apart from a few memorandums of understanding and attempts from the Pakistanis in the run-up to the trip to address some of CPECs issues  including payments to Chinese independent power producers  nothing major came from the visit. This is despite Sharif's attempts at revitalizing CPEC since April and the very close ties he enjoys with the Chinese leadership.

The outcome of this visit is not entirely surprising, especially if interpreted against the backdrop of Pakistan's current domestic predicaments. The security situation for Chinese nationals has deteriorated, the economy is struggling, and political instability is at one of its highest points in recent years. All these dynamics, coupled with the global scaling down of Belt and Road Initiative financing, have likely impacted Beijing's lack of commitment to new projects.

After almost 10 years and $25 billion worth of projects, there seems to be a general consensus on both sides that the first phase of CPEC  the one focused primarily on energy projects  was largely successful. The same cannot be said for the second phase, including the slow progress on the development of Special Economic Zones, and for the port of Gwadar, where little progress has been made for the ports full commercial functioning.

Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. 'Sweep It Under The Rug'

Recent allegations of China operating 54 overseas police stations have fueled controversy around the world and sparked investigations, but in Hungary and Serbia the new findings are being met with swift denials by authorities, despite growing evidence.

The Details: My colleagues Akos Keller-Alant from RFE/RLs Hungarian Service, Mila Durdevic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service, and I reported on the fallout from these revelations and the slew of probes launched in many European countries recently.

The stations are overseas operations of the public security bureaus from two Chinese provinces and are used to persuade citizens to return to China, including through pressure on family members at home. While most of those involved appear to be suspected of crimes such as telecommunications fraud or corruption, dissidents have also reported that the stations have been used to monitor and threaten them.

Fourteen governments have already launched investigations into the overseas police stations, and the Dutch and Irish governments have ordered China to shut down the facilities in their countries.

But in Hungary and Serbia  two countries where Beijing is said to operate such facilities and whose governments prize their warming political and economic ties with China  officials appear to be trying to sweep it under the rug, as one analyst characterized it, despite growing scrutiny from opposition lawmakers in each country.

2. Global Ripples Hit Central Asia

Political and economic shocks from Moscows war in Ukraine, coupled with added strains from tensions between Beijing and Washington, are taking their toll around the world, especially in Central Asia, where countries in the region are closely tied to both China and Russia.

What It Means: As RFE/RLs Uzbek Service reported, Vladimir Norov, the countrys foreign minister, warned about geopolitical tensions affecting stability in the region and beyond while addressing his counterparts at an Organization of Turkic States meeting in Samarkand.

The breakdown in global cooperation is felt particularly strong in Central Asia. While some economies have been able to benefit by becoming a new home for businesses and capital relocated from Russia, others are seeing investment dry up and their economies coming under strain.

World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde recently warned that Uzbekistan needs to continue with its market reforms in order to withstand the global economic shocks that are to come.

RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service also reported that the countrys government is trying to court more investment but that questions remain from investors about Kyrgyzstans stability and investment climate. According to official statistics from January to June of this year, China is the leading source of foreign investment, with $129 million during that span.

3. The Tech In Moscows Iranian Drones

A new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, looked into electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 drone, which Russia has used in its war in Ukraine, and found that theyre far from homegrown.

What You Need To Know: The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

The investigation also found drone components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm.

The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China.

The international tech in the drone not only highlights the complex ecosystem that allows firms and buyers to circumvent sanctions slapped on both Iran and Russia, but also the close networks between Chinese and Western tech companies that still exist, despite a recent push to break some of those linkages.

Across The Supercontinent

On The Mainland: The watchdog group Freedom House recently launched a new project called the China Dissent Monitor, which tracks protests and other forms of dissent inside China. Read it here.

Censored: Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by European Council President Charles Michel that was set to criticize Russia's illegal war in Ukraine and call for reduced European dependency on China, Reuters reported.

Backtracking: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has softened his countrys stance toward China, moving away from his predecessor Liz Trusss decision to label it a threat.

One Thing To Watch

How long will Chinas stringent COVID policies stay in place?

New infections are rising as a winter wave hits and popular frustration continues to boil over inside the country as investor confidence stays dented over the measures. New footage also showed crowds of residents in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou escaping a compulsory lockdown and clashing with police.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
ASTANA -- Former Kazakh Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev went on trial along with 22 other defendants charged with bribery and embezzlement on November 7.



Bishimbaev, 37, was arrested in January by Kazakhstans Anticorruption Service.

He pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on October 31, while several of his co-defendants pleaded guilty and concluded deals with prosecutors.

Several former officials have faced prosecution on suspicion of graft in the tightly controlled Central Asian country, with some sentenced to long prison terms.

Also in January, state-run Unified Pension Fund chief Ruslan Erdenaev and the director of the fund's financial department, Musa Bakhtov, were arrested on suspicion of embezzlement.
BISHKEK -- Documents related to the criminal case against imprisoned Kyrgyz opposition leader Omurbek Tekebaev have been stolen from his lawyer's house in Bishkek, the lawyer says.

The accusation from attorney Kanat Khasanov came a day after a brother of a fellow leader of Tekebaev's Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party was shot dead.

Khasanov said that someone entered his home at about 4 a.m. on November 7, most likely through a kitchen window on the ground floor, while he and his family were asleep upstairs.

"When we heard that somebody was downstairs, we rushed down but the perpetrators fled the house," he said, adding: "They took only the file with documents related to Omurbek Tekebaev's case and my small souvenir pistol."

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Mira Abdyldaeva said police were looking into the situation but that an investigation has not yet been opened.

Tekebaev was convicted of bribery in August and sentenced to eight years in prison.

He denies guilt and supporters contend that the case was fabricated to prevent him from running in the Central Asian country's October 15 presidential election.

Outgoing President Almazbek Atambaev's preferred successor, former Prime Minister Sooronbek Jeenbekov, won the election. He is due to be inaugurated on November 24.

On November 6, masked assailants fatally shot a brother of Aida Salyanova, an Ata-Meken leader and former prosecutor-general, at his home in Bishkek.

The killing took place less than a month after a court convicted Salyanova of abuse of office and sentenced her to five years in prison but postponed her imprisonment until her 2-year-old daughter reaches age 14.

Salyanova has maintained her innocence, saying the case against her is politically motivated.

Authorities targeted Salyanova for investigation in March, days after Tekebaev was arrested.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on November 7 that the alliance is set to create two new command centers, as it revamps its structures to better counter the threat posed by Russia.

Stoltenberg said that he expects the 29 NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on November 8-9 to agree on an "outline" for a revision of the alliance's command structure.

This will include a new command to "help protect sea lines of communication" across the Atlantic between North America and Europe, and another command to "improve the movement of troops and equipment within Europe," he said.

NATO had more than 20,000 personnel in 32 commands at the end of the Cold War, but cuts and restructuring have left the alliance with 7,000 personnel in seven structures.

Over the past years, Russia's military actions in Ukraine have increased concerns about Moscow's intentions in NATO nations, particularly former Soviet republics or Warsaw Pact satellites of the Soviet Union.

Russia occupied and seized the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and backs separatists whose war against Kyiv's forces has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April of that year.

A series of potentially dangerous close encounters between Russian and NATO warplanes and navy ships in recent months has added to the tension, with the alliance accusing Moscow of aggressive maneuvers in the air and at sea.

Those actions have prompted NATO to step up its defenses in the east, deploying four multinational battlegroups in the three Baltic states and Poland -- totaling approximately 4,500 troops.

'Deterrence And Collective Defense'

Stoltenberg said that adapting NATO's command structure was necessary "when tensions are increasing again."

"We have to be able to move forces, troops, across the Atlantic, from North America to Europe," Stoltenberg said. "Our ability to move forces is essential to deterrence and collective defense."

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, told reporters that NATO allies "saw the need to have more deterrence against the Russian encroachment on the east after Crimea."

Stoltenberg said that no decisions have been taken yet on where the new command bases would be located.

He added that the next meeting of NATO defense ministers in February would be crucial for agreeing more of the details of the revised NATO command structure, which also includes developing means to respond to cyberthreats following a series of global cyberattacks that disrupted multinational firms, ports, and public services this year.

Members of the alliance last year recognized cyberspace as a domain of operations in which NATO must defend itself as effectively as it does in the air, on land, and at sea.

With reporting by AFP and dpa
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter and her husband have appeared before an antigraft tribunal in Islamabad on corruption charges.

The three are accused jointly in three corruption trials stemming from documents leaked from a Panamanian law firm.

During the November 7 appearance before Judge Mohammad Bashir, Sharif and his family members requested that the three corruption cases against them be merged into one.

Sharif arrived in Pakistan from London, where his wife is receiving medical treatment, on November 3.

He was indicted last month and has pleaded not guilty.

The 67-year-old Sharif was dismissed from office by the Supreme Court in July for allegedly concealing assets abroad and other corruption allegations.

Allies of Sharif, who has served as prime minister twice and was toppled in a military coup in 1999, have called the proceedings a political vendetta and suggested the powerful Pakistani Army might be behind it.

Based on reporting by AP and dawn.com
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Small crowds of communists celebrated the Bolshevik Revolution's centennial anniversary in Bishkek and Minsk. Belarus is the only former Soviet country which still observes the day as an official national holiday. (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz and Belarus services)
Six members of a Russian opposition group that mixes far-left politics with nationalism have been jailed for terms ranging from eight to 33 days after an unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg.

The Other Russia, headed by firebrand writer and politician Eduard Limonov, said on November 7 that 17 other activists from the group were fined the equivalent of $180-$270.

The 23 activists were detained on November 6 in connection with the rally on St. Petersburg's main street, Nevsky Prospekt, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

They unfurled a big banner from the roof of a building urging Vladimir Lenin -- the leader of the revolution that ushered in more than 70 years of communist rule in Russia -- to "wake up."

Limonov formed an unregistered party under the name The Other Russia in 2010 after his National Bolshevik Party was outlawed.

The National Bolshevik Party had been part of an opposition coalition that was also called The Other Russia and included liberal Kremlin opponents, but the name now refers to Limonov's organization alone.
KAZAN, Russia -- A court in the capital of Russia's central Republic of Tatarstan has rejected a lawsuit filed by a local woman seeking 2.75 million rubles ($47,000) in damages because her son was required to study the Tatar language in school.

Judge Yevgeny Zybunov of Kazan's Vakhitov district court on November 7 rejected the complaint filed by Olga Ziyatdinova. After the court session, Ziyatdinova told RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service that she will appeal the court's ruling.

"My son appeared on NTV and gave his personal opinion -- that he has one president, Vladimir Putin, that there is one constitution for him and one state language and that he doesn't intend to study any other," Ziyatdinova told RFE/RL before the November 7 ruling. "And he doesn't attend Tatar classes, out of principle. I cannot influence his opinion."

The high-profile case was just one skirmish in a controversy that came to the fore in July when Putin said during a visit to the Republic of Mari El that it was "impermissible to force someone to learn a language that is not [his or her] mother tongue, as well as to reduce the hours of Russian-language [classes in schools] in Russia's ethnic republics."

In her lawsuit, Ziyatdinova claimed that Russian-language instruction in Tatarstan schools was just 700 hours per academic year, compared to 1,200 hours on average across the country. "This caused enormous material harm to my son," she told RFE/RL.

In August, Putin ordered the Prosecutor-General's Office to check whether students in the so-called ethnic republics -- where indigenous, non-Russian ethnic groups are well represented -- were being forced to study local languages. That order prompted a spate of rallies by non-Tatar parents who demanded an end to mandatory Tatar classes, as well as demonstrations in support of the use of Tatar in Tatarstan.

Of Tatarstan's population of nearly 4 million, about 53 percent are Turkic-speaking ethnic Tatars, followed by 43 percent Russians and about 5 percent Chuvash.

Under the republic's constitution, both Russian and Tatar are considered state languages and education legislation mandates school instruction in both. The Russian Constitution gives all constituent republics the right to have their own state languages.

In October, Farid Muhkametshin, head of the Tatarstan State Council, told journalists that the study of Tatar would remain mandatory in the republic's schools. "We will only discuss the methods and extent of the [language] education," he told journalists in Kazan. "I think we will find a solution. Don't worry.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov has also urged calm, asking prosecutors not to "terrorize" school directors. "How can it be that [the official] language can be voluntary?" he said on October 26. "It isn't like that anywhere in the world."

On November 5, prosecutors in Tatarstan declared the region's education plan in violation of national law, saying that "the order for mandatory study of the state language of the republic, at the moment of publication, does not conform to the law or federal education standards."

Under the proposal, students must study two lessons of Tatar language per week, with three additional lessons taught "in the native language."

Tatarstan's Education Ministry on November 7 postponed adoption of the plan in the wake of the prosecutors' finding.

On November 8, the State Council, in a special session with Minnikhanov, is expected to discuss the matter further.

To further complicate relations between the federal center and Tatarstan, the power-sharing treaty between them that was signed in 2007 expired in August. Moscow has so far been unwilling to renew the agreement, despite calls from lawmakers in Tatarstan for it to do so.
A former foreign policy adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign has acknowledged in testimony to Congress that he had contact with a high-level Kremlin official while on a trip to Russia last year.

According to a transcript released on November 6, Carter Page, an unpaid adviser who left the campaign before Trump was elected, told the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee last week that he "briefly said hello to" Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich when he traveled to Russia for a speech in July 2016.

Under repeated questions about the contact -- which he had at times denied in the past -- Page said that he had spoken to Dvorkovich after his speech at Moscow's New Economic School.

"It was a very brief interaction. It was some nice pleasantries. I cannot recall the precise words I said, but it was sort of best wishes, and, you know, that's about it," Page said.

Page, a former Merrill Lynch investment banker in Moscow, testified that he saw Dvorkovich again at a dinner during a second trip to Russia in December 2016.

When asked if he had a private meeting with Dvorkovich on that trip, Page replied: "We did. He stopped by a dinner I went to in December with people from the university."

Page's testimony was part of the committee's probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether it is linked to Trump's campaign. Russia has denied any interference and Trump has denied any collusion with the Kremlin.

Page's Russia trips raised questions just as the FBI began its investigation into Russian meddling in the summer of 2016, and he has offered contradictory accounts about whom he met there. At one point, he told the Associated Press that he hadn't met with Dvorkovich, AP reported. But his testimony on November 2 was under oath.

The House panel released the transcript from the closed-door interview with Page with partial redactions. Page was subpoenaed by the committee in early October.

Page told the panel he had informed some members of the Trump campaign about the Russia trip, including then-Senator Jeff Sessions. He said he mentioned in passing to Sessions, who is now attorney general, that he was preparing to visit Russia and Sessions "had no reaction whatsoever."

The testimony could raise more questions about the extent of Sessions' knowledge about interactions between Trump campaign aides and Russians.

Sessions recused himself from overseeing an investigation into the Trump campaign in March after acknowledging two previously undisclosed conversations with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the campaign. Since then, Sessions has downplayed his knowledge about communications between campaign aides and Russian officials.

Page has insisted that the July 2016 trip was personal and not campaign related.

However, the committee produced an e-mail in which Page wrote to campaign officials and asked them to let him know "if you have any reservations or thoughts on how you'd prefer me to focus these remarks," apparently referring to the speech he gave in Moscow.

He also suggested that Trump take his place at the speech -- a suggestion that appeared to go nowhere.

In a statement prepared for the committee, Page insisted that he had no personal information that the Russian government or anyone affiliated with it played any role in the 2016 presidential campaign.

He said he was not approached by anyone during the trip who led him to believe they were planning to interfere in the election.

Page said he had no direct relationship with the Russian government, though he conceded that he may have spoken with different Russian government officials over the years.

Representative Adam Schiff, the committee's top Democrat, pressured Page on what he suggested were inconsistencies in his testimony and past statements.

He noted how Page told the committee that he had met only one Russian government official during his July 2016 trip to Russia, and yet had told campaign officials in an e-mail that he had received valuable insights from legislators and senior members of the Russian presidential administration.

"Are you being honest in your testimony?" Schiff asked. "Because it doesn't seem possible for both to be true."

Page said the insights he was referring to were based on materials he had read in the press, "similar to my listening to President Trump in the various speeches that I heard of his."

With reporting by AP and Reuters


U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States is prepared to use the full range of military force to stop a North Korean attack, but that he is also focused on using "all available tools" short of military action. "North Korea is a worldwide threat that requires worldwide action," he said at a joint news conference with South Korea President Moon Jae-in during a visit to Seoul on November 7. (Reuters)
Envoys from the 30 NATO members are holding emergency talks in Brussels after two people were killed in Poland by a missile that Warsaw said was Russian-made, as U.S. President Joe Biden and Western allies pledged full support for the investigation into the incident.

Biden said on November 16 that it was "unlikely" the missile was fired from Russia, citing information about the trajectory of the projectile.

The gathering of NATO ambassadors in Brussels was called at the request of alliance member Poland and is being chaired by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will hold a news conference around 12:30 p.m. local time, the alliance said.



The Polish Foreign Ministry said a Russian-made missile fell on the village of Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland about 6 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, killing two people on November 15 after a day of massive Russian shelling of Ukraine.

Russia has denied its missiles hit Polish territory, saying the reports were "a deliberate provocation" to escalate the situation.

Biden, speaking after convening emergency talks with leaders of Western allies in Indonesia on the sidelines of a G20 summit, pledged support for Poland's investigation into what it had called a "Russian-made" missile.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Biden stressed that investigations into the incident were still ongoing, but said there was "total unanimity" among world leaders in supporting Poland in its efforts to establish the circumstance of the incident.



"There is preliminary information that contests" that Russia fired the missile, Biden told reporters. "It is unlikely in the lines of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia, but we'll see. I'm going to make sure we figure out exactly what happened."



Three U.S. officials also said preliminary assessments suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian projectile amid an overwhelming wave of strikes against Ukraine's electrical infrastructure on November 15. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.



The Kremlin on November 16 hailed Washington's "measured" response to the incident.



"In this instance, attention should be paid to the measured and more professional response from the American side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.



Peskov said that, as opposed to the U.S. response, a number of countries had made "baseless statements" about Russia's involvement "without having any idea of what had happened."



"We have witnessed another hysterical, frenzied Russophobic reaction, which was not based on any real data," Peskov told reporters.



The Russian Defense Ministry said on November 16 that its strikes on Ukraine on the previous day were no closer than 35 kilometers from the Polish border, RIA Novosti news agency reported.



Polish President Andrzej Duda had told reporters earlier that it was "most likely a Russian-made missile," but there was no concrete evidence of who fired it, and the incident was a one-off.

WATCH: Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine on November 15, hitting energy infrastructure facilities in regions across the country and plunging Kyiv and other cities into darkness.

Biden spoke by phone with Duda, offering "full U.S. support for and assistance with Poland's investigation," the White House said.

The NATO meeting in Brussels is reportedly being held on the basis of the alliance's Article 4, according to which members can raise any issue of concern when any alliance member feels its "territorial integrity, political independence, or security" are at risk.



Poland is protected by NATO's commitment to collective defense -- enshrined in Article 5 of its founding treaty -- but the alliance's response will likely be heavily influenced by whether the incident was accidental or intentional.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron -- all leaders of NATO member states -- voiced solidarity with Poland.



Russia's ambassador to Poland has been summoned to provide "immediate detailed explanations" and the military had been put on heightened alert after an emergency national security council meeting, Polish authorities said.



"There has been a decision to raise the state of readiness of some combat units and other uniformed services," government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters after the meeting in Warsaw, adding that "our services are on the ground at the moment working out what happened."



The incident came as Russia unleashed one of the heaviest missile attacks since the start of the war on sites across Ukraine aimed at crippling the country's energy infrastructure.



Ukrainian officials said that more than 90 missiles were fired in the attacks.

Biden on November 16 called those attacks "barbaric," and Zelenskiy described them as a "slap in the face" for the G20 summit.



The summit has been dominated by the Ukraine war, with members struggling to find common ground on Russia's unprovoked invasion of its neighbor.



In a joint statement issued November 16, leaders came together to condemn the war's effects but remained divided on assigning blame.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and BBC
A Russian court has denied a house arrest request from a Ukrainian teenager held in custody on terrorism-related charges.



The Krasnodar Regional Court on November 7 upheld a lower court's decision to keep Pavlo Hryb in pretrial detention until January 4.

Hryb, 19, went missing in late August after he traveled to Belarus to meet a woman he met online in what his relatives believe was a trap set by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

The FSB subsequently informed Kyiv that Hryb was held in a detention center in Russia on suspicion of abetting terrorism, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.



Hryb's father, Ihor Hryb, has said his son was openly critical of Russian interference in Ukraine on social media.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maryana Betsa protested Hryb's continued detention in a message on Twitter.

"There is no law in Russia... A human life does not mean anything [there]. We demand that Russia releases illegally detained Ukrainian P. Hryb," Betsa wrote.

Kyiv and Moscow have been locked in a standoff over Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and its backing of separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

With reporting by censor.net.ua


Mikheil Saakashvili says he has received confirmation from the Ukrainian authorities that his stay in the country is legal.

"Today I finally received a document from the Migration Service, which certifies that I am legally in the territory of Ukraine. Of course, I'm not satisfied with this, but I am struggling through the court to restore my citizenship," the leader of the Movement of New Forces political party said in a post on Facebook on November 7.

In 2015, President Petro Poroshenko appointed Saakashvili governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, and the former Georgian president surrendered his Georgian citizenship in order to take the post.

However, Saakashvili resigned in November 2016, saying that his reform efforts had been blocked by Poroshenko's allies.

In June 2017, Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship, saying that he had withheld information during the application procedure.

Saaksashvili reentered Ukraine in September, even though his Ukrainian passport was invalid.
Colleagues of prominent Uzbek blogger Hayot Hon Nasriddinov say he has been arrested in Tashkent.

Tashkent-based journalist Aleksei Volosevich told RFE/RL that he learned of Nasriddinov's arrest on November 6.

Volosevich said that Nasriddinov's close friends told him that the blogger and economy teacher had been detained by the National Security Committee around October 20.

Relatives of Nasriddinov could not immediately be reached for comment, and Volosevich said that they refused to talk about the situation.

Daniil Kislov, chief editor of the Moscow-based news site Fergana -- for which Nasriddinov used to write -- told RFE/RL that Nasriddinov had been held in custody incommunicado for more than two weeks.

"We do not know what charges he is facing.... They are not allowing lawyers to meet with him and there are no official explanations of his arrest," Kislov said.

Nasriddinov's blogs are largely apolitical, often involving social issues and human interest stories. His articles were not only about Uzbekistan but also about Russia and other former Soviet republics.

Nasriddinov contributed to RFE/RL's Russian Service from 2010-12.
Flooding led to a 30 km (19 miles) tailback on Vietnams main north-south highway in Thua Thien Hue province. At least 27 people have initially dead and dozens are missing. More than 40,000 homes have been damaged. The worst affected area was the city of Nha Trang  about 500km (310 miles) south of the coastal city of Da Nang where world leaders will be attending an Apec summit later this week.

Flooded homes in Vietnam

Weather experts say it is the most destructive storm in decades to hit the southern coastal region. The typhoon knocked down electricity poles and uprooted trees. 626 houses had collapsed entirely. Battle tanks were mobilized to help with rescue efforts. Raging floodwaters could cause severe damage and close roads and bridges, threatening to cut off some mountainous communities from receiving aid. The government said on Saturday more than 40,000 hectares of crops had been damaged, including sugar cane, rice fields and rubber plantations. On Moday the dead toll rised to at least 49. Danang will host U.S. President Donald Trump from Nov. 10, as well as Chinas Xi Jinping, Russias Vladimir Putin and counterparts from other APEC members.
Another Australian politician has had his eligibility to sit in Parliament called into question due to a constitutional ban on dual citizens, while the prime minister proposed making all lawmakers prove they are not foreign nationals.

Ruling party lawmaker John Alexander said yesterday he was seeking verification from London on whether he had inherited British citizenship from his father.

I understand he renounced his British citizenship before I was born because he was a proud Australian, Alexander said in a statement about his father, who died in 1987. As my father was born in the U.K., and consistent with the plan of action outlined by the prime minister yesterday, I am making further enquiries, he added.

If Alexander proved to be a dual citizen he would become the seventh lawmaker to be forced from office since the High Court last month made a ruling to enforce a 116-year- old constitutional ban on foreign citizens sitting in Parliament. That has created an unprecedented political crisis that could threaten the majority of Prime Minister Malcom Turnbulls conservative coalition.

House of Representatives lawmakers found to be dual citizens must renounce their foreign citizenship and then win a by-election if they want to return to their seat. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was disqualified by the High Court last month over New Zealand citizenship he inherited from his New Zealand-born father, has chosen that route and will run in a Dec. 2 election.

Five senators who have lost their seats will usually be replaced by members of their own parties without a by-election so there is no change to the political balance of power.

Australias ban on dual national lawmakers is rare if not unique in the world, and many argue it is outdated in a nation of immigrants where half the population was born overseas or has a foreign parent

Alexander, who has been in the House of Representatives since 2010, announced his father was born in Britain after Turnbull on Monday proposed making all lawmakers prove they are not dual citizens.

Australian-born lawmakers, such as Alexander and Joyce, would have to state where and when their parents were born, details that could reveal an inherited second nationality. Overseas-born lawmakers would provide records of how and when their foreign citizenship was renounced. The citizenship registry proposal needs the endorsement of Parliament.

Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio yesterday that Alexander had told his government colleagues that he believes he is not a dual citizen.

Turnbull said his proposed demand for all lawmakers to prove their nationality could result in more by-elections that could impact his governments slim majority.

I take it as a given that every Member of the House and the Senate as of today believes that they are eligible to sit in the House or the Senate, he said, after explaining that anyone who thought otherwise should resign.

Independent lawmaker Andrew Wilkie called on Alexander to prove that his father had renounced his British citizenship before Alexander was born on July 4, 1951. Australian citizenship has only existed since Jan. 1, 1949, giving Alexanders father less than three years to become solely Australian before his son was born.

Given the furor over this, knowing that he has a British- born parent, it wouldve been wise of him to look into this and certainly to have looked into it well before the media challenged him on it yesterday, Wilkie said.

Calls for an audit of all lawmakers citizenship intensified when a senior senator announced last week that he was resigning from his 350,000 Australian dollar (USD270,000) a year job because he had inherited British citizenship from his father. Government ministers said he should have declared his dual citizenship much earlier.

Turnbull has previously resisted calls for added scrutiny of lawmakers citizenship status. His critics say he fears losing more lawmakers because of his governments precarious control of Parliament. Lawmaker John Alexander, Rod McGuirk, Canberra, AP
H.S. polls: Washington girls steady at No. 1 in 4A, Marian girls No. 2 in 3A
China enacted sweeping changes to a business competition law to address fraud in the e-commerce industry, which is plagued by malfeasance ranging from fake positive reviews to merchants goosing sales numbers.

The National Peoples Congress adopted revisions this weekend to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law intended to address online retailers, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The changes take effect Jan. 1 but were announced days before Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s Nov. 11 Singles Day bargain extravaganza, which dwarfs Black Friday in the U.S. in terms of revenue.

The Chinese law initially took effect in 1993 as a way to protect consumers and businesses from unfair market practices. At that time, none of Chinas biggest online companies  including Alibaba, Tencent Holdings Ltd., Baidu Inc. and JD.com Inc.  even existed. As e-commerce developed and prospered, attendant problems grew with it.

These latest revisions stipulate that operators shouldnt deceive consumers by faking sales or employing click farms to rack up positive product reviews  increasingly common practices that have drawn the ire of buyers. And the rules encompass the entire breadth of internet commerce, from online goods and movie ticketing to food delivery.

You now cannot delete bad comments or employ people to leave good comments, said Christine Yiu, an intellectual property law expert and partner at Shanghai-based Bird & Bird. Its a welcome change that echoes with the whole direction that Chinas trying to move in, by strengthening old protections and discouraging infringement in the market.

Another example of such fraud in China is e-commerce sites buying up movie tickets to artificially boost a films box-office rankings and to drum up popularity, Yiu said.

The new legislation states that businesses should be self-policing when upholding market order. Among the punitive measures outlined, online merchants that fake sales or feedback can be fined as much as 2 million yuan (USD301,000) or lose their business license, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported yesterday.

The revision will better address new problems emerging in the market and protect the rights and interests of both business operators and consumers, Yang Heqing, an official of the National Peoples Congresss Standing Committee, said Saturday, according to Xinhua.

The practice of brushing  faking sales transactions to boost rankings or draw more traffic to a website  has plagued Chinese online commerce for years. Much of the criticism focused on Alibaba, the market leader, which has a complicated history with brushing operators and has been trying to stamp out such practices.

The Hangzhou-based company sued Shatui.com last year for allegedly linking merchants with people willing to falsify purchases and reviews to help boost sellers rankings. Along with the lawsuit, Chinas biggest technology company warned that merchants found to be violating its policies can have their credit scores cut or businesses shut down.

With a billion listings on Alibabas Taobao website alone, standing out is critical for online sellers. The art of brushing comes down to tricking a site into believing a purchase has been made and then disguising the movement of money that makes it happen. The fake buyer is then paid by the brushing company.

Chinese companies arent alone in battling fabricators. Amazon.com Inc. is trying to quash fraudulent reviews, and Facebook Inc. is combating fake news. Yet Chinas operators take things to the next level by crowdsourcing the tasks to thousands of people.

We tried to keep the interests of vendors and customers in mind while revising the law because we need to keep fair market order while encouraging innovation in the cyberspace, Yang Hongcan, director of the Anti-Monopoly and Anti-Unfair Competition Enforcement Bureau of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, said, according to China Daily.

Bloomberg
The year isn't over yet, but 2017 is already expected to be the second- or third-hottest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced today (Nov. 6) at the United Nations climate change conference in Bonn, Germany.

From January to September 2017, the average global temperature was 1.98 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial levels, according to the WMO, which is an agency within the United Nations.

Last year's powerful El Nino, the warm phase of a recurring climate system across the tropical Pacific, basically guarantees that 2016 will remain the warmest year on record for the time being. But it's still unclear whether 2017 or 2015 will be the second-hottest year on record, the WMO said. [The Year in Climate Change: 2016's Most Depressing Stories]

Whatever place 2017 gets, the five-year period of 2013 to 2017 is expected to be the warmest five-year period on record, the WMO reported. This finding is based on five independently maintained global temperature data sets, the agency said.

"The scientific evidence supporting human-caused global warming is overwhelming," Don Clifton, a senior lecturer in the School of Management at the University of South Australia, said in a statement. "Yet, progress to address the problem is still hampered by ideology over evidence, political inaction and the self-interest of powerful players in industries that are key drivers of our impact on the climate."

In addition to high temperatures, 2017 also had its fair share of catastrophic events, including hurricanes, floods, heat waves and droughts, the WMO reported. Climate change can make weather events more extreme than they would be otherwise, Live Science reported previously.

Moreover, long-term indicators show that human-caused climate change isn't going away; as carbon dioxide concentrations continue to increase, sea levels are rising and ocean acidification is getting worse, the WMO said. Arctic sea-ice coverage is below average, and the extent of Antarctic sea ice, which was previously stable, is at a near-record low.

"We have witnessed extraordinary weather, including temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius [122 degrees F] in Asia, record-breaking hurricanes in rapid succession in the Caribbean and Atlantic reaching as far as Ireland, devastating monsoon flooding affecting many millions of people and a relentless drought in East Africa," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in the statement.

In its findings released today, the WMO announced:

- January to September was the wettest on record for the lower 48 states in the United States.

-The area burned by fires in the contiguous United States from January to October was 46 percent above the 2007 to 2016 average.

-Parts of southern Europe, including Italy, North Africa, parts of east and southern Africa and the Asian part of the Russian Federation broke records for hot weather, and China was equally hot. However, the northwestern United States and western Canada were cooler than the 1981 to 2010 average.

-The five-year average of 2013 to 2017 is about 0.72 degrees F (0.4 degrees C) warmer than the 1981 to 2010 average, and about 1.8 degrees F (1.03 degrees C) above the preindustrial period. [Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth]

-California had its hottest summer on record, and extreme heat impacted other western states. This culminated in a major heat wave from the end of August to early September, which included a record-high temperature of 105.98 degrees F (41.1 degrees C) in San Francisco.



The WMO's findings are "alarming, but not unexpected," Liz Hanna, an honorary senior fellow at the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University, said in the statement."Global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are now 46 percent higher than pre-industrial levels."

Original article on Live Science.
NASA's Curiosity rover is putting its color-discerning capabilities to full use as it treads up a steep Martian ridge on lower Mount Sharp.

Curiosity began climbing Vera Rubin Ridge in early September and is using its Mast Camera (Mastcam) to identify variations in the terrain ahead, which will help the rover's handlers map a path up the steep slope, according to a statement from NASA.

"We're in an area where this capability of Curiosity has a chance to shine," Abigail Fraeman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who leads planning for the mission's investigation of Vera Rubin Ridge, said in the statement. [Curiosity Rover Climbing Steep Martian Ridge (Photos)]

This close-up photo of Mars taken by NASA's Curiosity rover shows a target called "Christmas Cove" on Sept. 16, 2017. Curiosity used its Dust Removal Tool to brush an area 2.5 inches (6 cm) across. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

Curiosity is equipped with special filters that can identify certain minerals in the bedrock, as well as a spectrometer that sorts light into thousands of wavelengths. Some of the Mastcam's science filters are used to detect certain minerals based on the wavelengths of light that are either absorbed or reflected. For example, the rover's camera can detect the iron-oxide mineral hematite, which is believed to be abundant in the upper reaches of the Vera Rubin Ridge, according to the statement.

Prior to Curiosity landing on the Red Planet in 2012, NASA scientists first detected evidence of hematite on the Vera Rubin Ridge using spectrometer observations from orbit. The mineral usually forms in wet environments, so its presence could provide clues about the planet's watery past, NASA officials said.

"As we approached the ridge and now as we're climbing it, we've been trying to tie what was detected from orbit to what we can learn on the ground," Danika Wellington, Curiosity science team member from Arizona State University, said in the statement. "It's still very much a work in progress. The extent to which iron-bearing minerals here are oxidized relates to the history of interactions between water and rock."

Curiosity also has a chemistry and camera instrument called the ChemCam. Although this instrument generally uses a laser to identify chemical elements in rocks, it too has color-filtering abilities that can be used to identify the composition of rocks and target minerals across large landscapes.

"The colors of the rocks on the ridge are more interesting and more variable than what we saw earlier in Curiosity's traverse," Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said in the statement.

A false-color view of the "Christmas Cove" rock target on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover. The exaggerated purple color, visible through special filters, suggests the presence of the mineral hematite. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

Hematite absorbs some wavelengths of green light and reflects red and blue light, which gives the terrain a purplish tint in color images captured by Curiosity. The additional color-discerning capabilities of Curiosity's Mastcam and ChemCam capture a clear view of hematite deposits that are present in the bedrock.

"We're using these multi-spectral and hyper-spectral capabilities for examining rocks right in front of the rover and also for reconnaissance  looking ahead to help with choosing where to drive for closer inspection," Johnson said.

In fact, Mastcam images taken on Sept. 12 identified hematite in an area that was at the time a few days' drive away, in regions around fractured bedrock. Upon further investigation, NASA scientists found that the mineral was more widely distributed than previously thought and is covered by a layer of tan dust in some areas, causing the hematite to appear patchier than it actually is. The discovery suggests the mineral may have formed early in Mars' ancient past, according to the statement from NASA.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Humans are to blame. That's the verdict of an executive-branch government report concluding that Homo sapiens are the dominant cause of planetary warming since the mid-20th century.

The climate report, released today (Nov. 3), paints a dire picture of the present and future effects of global climate change, from sea levels that could rise by as much as 8 feet (2.4 meters) by 2100, to more-frequent heat waves and other extreme weather events. It is also in stark contrast to climate change stances taken by President Donald Trump, who has ranged from calling it a hoax to saying he had an "open mind" about whether human-caused climate change is actually happening.

"Many lines of evidence demonstrate that it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century," the authors wrote. "Over the last century, there are no convincing alternative explanations supported by the extent of the observational evidence." [6 Unexpected Effects of Climate Change]

For instance, the global seas have risen an average of 7 to 8 inches (17.8 to 20.3 centimeters) since 1900, with nearly half of that (3 inches, or 7.6 cm) occurring since 1993, the report said.

"Human-caused climate change has made a substantial contribution to this rise since 1900, contributing to a rate of rise that is greater than during any preceding century in at least 2,800 years," the report said. "Global sea level rise has already affected the United States; the incidence of daily tidal flooding is accelerating in more than 25 Atlantic and Gulf Coast cities." [Photographic Proof of Climate Change: Time-Lapse Images of Retreating Glaciers]

And things are getting hotter, with annual average temperatures over the contiguous United States increasing by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) between 1901 and 2016. And over the next few decades, scientists predict those temperatures will rise by about 2.5 degrees F (1.3 degrees C) relative to the period of 1976 to 2005, the report said.

Assessing the science

The Climate Science Special Report (CSSR) is based on an analysis of peer-reviewed research, publicly available resources, and certain models and data sets related to climate change, according to the report's executive summary. The report was overseen by the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program, which itself consists of 13 federal agencies that deal with environmental issues, ranging from NASA to the Department of Energy and the Department of State. The group assesses the current state of climate science as part of the National Climate Assessment (NCA) program. The new report is the first volume of the fourth-ever NCA (NCA4). The first NCA was published in 2000, the second in 2009 and the third in 2014.

Ultimately, the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program is under the oversight of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). President Trump has yet to name a head for his administration's OSTP. Previous presidents have typically filled the role before they've taken office or within a few months of doing so, according to The Washington Post.

The new report's findings conflict with Trump's stated positions on climate change. Over the years, he has called human-caused climate change a "hoax," including in a 2013 tweet that read, "We should be focused on magnificently clean and healthy air and not distracted by the expensive hoax that is global warming!" During the presidential campaign, Trump was vague on his beliefs about climate change, sometimes indicating he did not believe it was a problem, but telling The New York Times editorial board in 2016 that he had an "open mind" on the issue.

In office, Trump said that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, an international agreement that aims to limit global warming to below 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) above preindustrial temperatures. The president also nominated Scott Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney general who rejects the evidence that human-made carbon dioxide emissions are driving climate change, to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Dire warnings

In addition to documenting changes in temperatures and sea levels, the new report warns that heavy rainfall events are increasing across the United States, as are heat waves and forest fires. Reduced snowpack and early spring melt are driving water scarcity in the western U.S., according to the report, threatening to bring about long-term drought by the end of the century.

Atlantic hurricanes are likely to bring greater amounts of precipitation on shore in a warming world and may increase in intensity, according to the report. Small tidal floods have already increased between five-fold and 10-fold since the 1960s in U.S. coastal cities, and the rate of these floods continues to increase in 25 cities along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic Coasts.

"Without major reductions in emissions, the increase in annual average global temperature relative to preindustrial times could reach 9 degrees F (5 degrees C) or more by the end of this century," the report authors wrote. "With significant reductions in emissions, the increase in annual average global temperature could be limited to 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) or less."

Such reductions require a major effort that would need to start rapidly, the report continued.

"After accounting for the temperature effects of non-CO2 species [such as methane], cumulative global CO2 emissions must stay below about 800 GtC [gigatons of carbon] in order to provide a two-thirds likelihood of preventing 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) of warming," the authors wrote. "Given estimated cumulative emissions since 1870, no more than approximately 230 GtC may be emitted in the future in order to remain under this temperature limit."

As is, the authors wrote, emissions are likely to surpass that level within two decades.

Original article on Live Science.
During his campaign, candidate Donald Trump said little about space science and exploration other than that he thought it was "terrific," hastening to add, "We have to fix our potholes, too." As president he has been slightly more outspoken, telling Congress in February, "American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream," and pushing for NASA to accelerate its plans for sending astronauts beyond low Earth orbit. Speaking from his desk in the Oval Office, he has mused about sending humans to Mars during his second term and has promised "we're going to lead again" in space, which he calls "the next great American frontier."

None of this is very surprisingall presidents in recent memory have scarcely discussed space at all on the campaign trail, and once elected offer similar blandishments about the nation's once and future leadership in space. But in at least one respect Trump's space plans are different from those of his most recent predecessors. In June he revived the National Space Council, a White House advisory body that originated in the Eisenhower administration and was last active between 1989 and 1992, during the presidency of George H. W. Bush.

Helmed by Vice Pres. Mike Pence and packed with high-powered cabinet members including the secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce, Transportation and Homeland Security, the Space Council is meant to coordinate and oversee policymaking for the nation's military, civil and commercial space efforts. At its first meeting, held in public on October 5 in a massive airplane hangar, Pence declared the nation would soon send humans back to the moon, breaking from an Obama-era policy that favored human missions to asteroids.

Whether, when and how such journeys ever happen, however, may depend to some degree on the day-to-day leadership of the Council by Pence's second-in-command, Executive Secretary Scott Pace. Tapped for the position in July, Pace is the former director of the Space Policy Institute at The George Washington University. He has previously worked for NASA, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Scientific American spoke with Pace about his goals for the National Space Council, the balance between scientific research and human space exploration, and the administration's nascent plans to send astronauts back the moon.

[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]

What is the core purpose of the National Space Council, and why is it coming back now?

Its purpose is the same as most any White House coordinating body that works issues which cut across multiple departments and agencies: to press the president's agenda down and oversee that it's being done, and then to adjudicate issues that come up, where there naturally will be conflicts or differences of viewpoint between different agencies.

Also, space has become much more globalized. There are many more players in it. Some people call it the democratization of space. But there are certainly many more spacefaring countries around then ever before. There are many more private sector actors that are more capable than ever before. And so it's a much more complex world than when we were responding to a space race, or dealing with the immediate aftermath of the cold war. Because of this globalization of space, because a lot of these space issues cut across multiple agencies and departments, coordination at the level of the White House has natural value.

In terms of enacting the White House's agenda, the two most important facts here are that the president cares and that the vice president cares. That makes all the difference in the world. I work for the vice president in particular, and I've been very gratified with how interested, engaged and energetic he is on this challenging subject. He's pushing always to do more. And the other offices have been very welcoming. There is an interest group spread across the executive office of the presidentpoints of contact who have "space" in their portfoliosand we have good relationships with all of them.

What we're trying to do with the Space Council is have a unity of effort that recognizes these different aspects of national powernational security, commercial, diplomatic, scientificand how they affect each other, to the extent that we have, say, more international cooperation on exploration. That actually opens up opportunitiesfor achieving our diplomatic objectives, for leveraging the commercial sector morewhich can get us more efficiencies, so that we can do more science and exploration at less cost than what might have otherwise been historically the case. These things all feed on each other and relate to each other. Everybody has separate responsibilities, but that perception of a need for a unity of effort is in part what I think the president and the vice president are intending.

You brought up diplomacy, international collaboration and working with the commercial sector, and that all seems to come together in Vice Pres. Pence's recent announcement that NASA will be returning humans to the surface of the moon, shifting away from the Obama-era policy that favored crewed missions to asteroids and to Mars. What motivated that decision?

This is an update to the existing national space policy directive issued by Pres. Obama in 2010. And as such [sending humans to] Mars is still therethat is still the horizon goal, and hasn't been eliminated. The reason we chose a return to the moon is because this reflects the president's and vice president's sense of what's in the national interest. I became very much a critic of the Mars and asteroidoriented policy, but not because I think Mars and asteroids aren't great missionsthey are. They are inspiring, and they offer some great science. But they were so ambitious that they really didn't provide opportunities for international or commercial partnerships, and therefore I would argue they were actually contrary to U.S. national interests. And the reason we do space is not simply to do it, but to advance U.S. national interests.

The nature of leadership in space is very different than it was in the 1960s and 1970s, when we last went beyond low Earth orbit with the Apollo missions. Back then it was about showing leadership by doing things no other country could do. That's still a factor today. But now the measure of leadership is how many people want to work with you, how many people want to be part of your team, right? If we want to be a global leader in space exploration today, we need to have projects that are both challenging and realisticbut which also allow for meaningful international partnership and private sector participation: building components, delivering cargo, providing services of various kinds. An architecture that returns to the moon, then on to Mars, offers those opportunities because it is more in alignment with where industry is and where our international partners are.

This reflects where the space community has been going and has wanted to go for some time. There are lots of countries that haven't been to the moon. We haven't been to the [surface of the] moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972. And we're already seeing private sector proposals for doing things there. NASA has to be rethinking thingsand they have beenbut now they're cleared to do that in a more concrete manner. The vice president wants NASA to come back with specific plans. These ideas have been bubbling around for quite some time, and now they're coming out more clearly in the open. We're hopefully going to see them become more concrete in the year ahead as people take stock of this change in direction.

Speaking of going back to the moon, rethinking things and engaging more with the private sector, NASA is spending billions of dollars developing its own heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System, as the centerpiece for future exploration activities beyond low Earth orbit. But private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are pursuing more reusable heavy-lift vehicles of their own that may be less expensive to build and operate. Is there room for public-private partnership there, and what might that look like?

Heavy-lift rockets are strategic national assets, like aircraft carriers. There are some people who have talked about buying heavy-lift as a service as opposed to owning and operating, in which case the government would, of course, have to continue to own the intellectual properties so it wasn't hostage to any one contractor. One could imagine this but, in general, building a heavy-lift rocket is no more "commercial" than building an aircraft carrier with private contractors would be.

In the past, funding for NASA's science missions has suffered when the agency is directed to shifting budgetary resources toward tasks like building new rockets and spacecraft for astronauts. What is your strategy for preserving balance between the agency's human exploration program and its diverse science missions?

Well, let's also mention that imbalances can occur within NASA's science community. You can see situations where one particular sectorwhether it be Earth science or planetary science, depending on the year you're looking atstarted doing more at the expense of others, like heliophysics or aeronautics. And particular projects like the James Webb Space Telescope have had a big impact on the astrophysics budget line. And so what we consider first of all is, are we following the scientific priorities laid out [by each sector]? Now we're obviously never able to do all those prioritiesthere's never enough money to do everythingbut first of all, are you looking at those and trying to comply with them? Then the second thing you look for in balancing among the different sectors is the health of the underlying community. That is, it's not just a matter of how much money you're spending, but also whether new researchers are able to come in and get funding to make important contributions.

In that regard neither NASA's budget nor human space exploration is really the primary threat or problem. The larger problem is the pressure on all nondefense discretionary spending, and the resulting need for larger entitlement reform and for tax reform. Because it's not a matter of some zero-sum game between scientific sectors or between exploration, engineering and technology development. The larger problem is that our ability to invest in innovation, to invest in the future, is under tremendous pressure on account of all our nondefense discretionary spending. This is a problem both the Congress and the executive branch have been struggling with.

One of the ways to cope with thisnot to solve itis to look for synergies between exploration and science. So for example, let's look at the "Deep Space Gateway," a space station near the moon, which NASA has proposed. What kinds of astrophysics or lunar science might be done using that? If we're looking at doing a Mars atmospheric entry probe, NASA's aeronautics people could have instruments onboard that would give them beneficial information for their hypersonics research. So breaking down some of the traditional divisions between these entities is helpful; making sure we're tracking each community's priorities is really important; and thinking about their underlying health is critical because you don't want to go down a path that you know makes an entire field unviable. But the far larger issue, I would argue, is not one of space policy issue but rather of tax policy and entitlement reform.

Looking forward four years or eight years from now, what do you hope will be the National Space Council's greatest accomplishment during your tenure as executive secretary?

I hope that the habit of thinking about space as a vital aspect of national power and of national interest becomes more routine across all sectors of policymaking. This requires getting people out of their "swim lanes," so they can think about space in a more integrative way as opposed to strictly seeing it as a national security issue or as a science issue.

In terms of more tangible outcomes, I'd like to see a stronger and more vibrant commercial space community that has been able to take advantage of regulatory reform and relief. I'd like to see the U.S. capitalizing on a lot of those newly opened opportunities and leading the world in commercial space industry growth. And on exploration and science, I'd like to make sure the U.S. is still a global leader in science exploration, and that our astronauts are operating beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since 1972but that we're doing it with a bigger community of commercial and international partners. If we can get past policymaking divisions, if we can get smarter with regulation on our industries and make our going out into deep space more of a team effort, then I think it will be time well spent.

This article was first published at ScientificAmerican.com.  ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved. Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
Artist's illustration of NASAs New Horizons spacecraft flying by the distant object 2014 MU69 on Jan. 1, 2019. Early observations hint at the Kuiper Belt object being either a binary orbiting pair or a contact (stuck-together) pair of nearly like-sized bodies with diameters near 12 and 11 miles (20 and 18 kilometers).

You have the chance to hang a nickname on the small, distant object that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will zoom past on Jan. 1, 2019.

That flyby target now goes by the rather uninspiring moniker "(486958) 2014 MU69." But the New Horizons team wants to jazz things up a bit, so they're soliciting nickname suggestions from the general public.

"The campaign is open to everyone," New Horizons team member Mark Showalter, of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute in Mountain View, California, said in a statement. "We are hoping that somebody out there proposes the perfect, inspiring name for MU69." [Destination Pluto: NASA's New Horizons Mission in Pictures]

You can submit a suggestion through Dec. 1 at http://frontierworlds.seti.org. NASA and New Horizons team members will announce the winner in early January.

To be clear: That winner will be a nickname, not the new official appellation of MU69.

"After the flyby, once we know a lot more about this intriguing world, we and NASA will work with the International Astronomical Union to assign a formal name to MU69," Showalter added. "Until then, we're excited to bring people into the mission and share in what will be an amazing flyby on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, 2019!"

The upcoming flyby will be the second for the $700 million New Horizons mission, which famously cruised past Pluto on July 14, 2015. Before that close encounter, the best photos of the dwarf planet showed a mere blur of pixels. But New Horizons' stunning imagery revealed a complex, diverse world with a variety of landscapes, from big mountains of water ice to a plain of frozen nitrogen 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) wide.

Like pre-flyby Pluto, MU69  which lies about 1 billion miles (1.6 billion km) beyond the dwarf planet  is cloaked in mystery. For example, astronomers don't even know if it's a single object; MU69 could consist of a pair of bodies, each about 12 miles (19 km) wide, New Horizons team members have said.

"New Horizons has always been about pure exploration, shedding light on new worlds like we've never seen before," New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern, of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, said in the same statement.

"Our close encounter with MU69 adds another chapter to this mission's remarkable story," Stern added. "We're excited for the public to help us pick a nickname for our target that captures the excitement of the flyby and [the] awe and inspiration of exploring this new and record-distant body in space."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
An illustration of a Lockheed Martin concept for NASA's proposed Deep Space Gateway, with the Power and Propulsion Module on the right.

WASHINGTON  NASA awarded contracts Nov. 1 to five companies to examine how they could develop a power and propulsion module that could become the initial element of the agency's proposed Deep Space Gateway.

NASA issued the contracts, part of the agency's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships, or NextSTEP, program, to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada Space Systems and Space Systems Loral. The contracts, which run for four months, have a combined value of approximately $2.4 million.

Each company will perform studies regarding how they would develop the Power and Propulsion Element for the proposed gateway. The module, as currently envisioned, will generate electrical power for the gateway and move the spacecraft through cislunar space with a solar electric propulsion system, as well as provide communications.

NASA has been studying the design of the element internally for several months, said Mike Barrett, manager of the Power and Propulsion Element effort at NASA's Glenn Research Center, in a Nov. 3 interview. These studies, he said, will offer industry an opportunity weigh in with their ideas, including technologies they can offer to support the module's development.

"We've been looking at it internally, but if they have different ideas on the general concept of the gateway, how we can do that and how it aligns with their internal plans, then we're hoping to get that out of this as well," he said.

The element does have some similarities with the robotic portion of the now-cancelled Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), in which a robotic spacecraft would have used solar electric propulsion to travel to a near-Earth asteroid and return to cislunar space with a boulder retrieved from that body. NASA awarded study contracts for an ARM spacecraft bus and later solicited proposals for its construction, but never issued a contract for it.

"There is quite a bit of learning from the work on the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission that we're able to take forward," said Michele Gates, director of the Power and Propulsion Element at NASA Headquarters and former program director for ARM, in a Nov. 3 interview. One of the objectives of the study contracts, she said, is to have the companies outline how the differences between the missions affect what capabilities they have to offer for the vehicle.

"There is a degree of similarity that the team is able to take advantage of and help us get off on a very solid start," she said.

NASA has separately been developing a 50-kilowatt solar electric propulsion system for use on the element that could later evolve into more powerful systems suitable for missions to Mars. Companies involved in the study contracts can use that system in their designs or propose their own, provided it has similar capabilities and growth potential.

"We didn't prescribe the use of the current technologies we've developed," Barrett said. "But to be successful, we do believe it would have to be systems that have the equivalent performance to meet the same requirements. To our knowledge, the array developments and the [electric propulsion] string developments that we have are the only things that can."

NASA, he said, is interested in other technologies that companies can offer, including helping mature those that can be used for the Power and Propulsion Element as well as commercial applications. "If we have demonstrated a new technology that enables a new capability for them, and matches with us, that helps a lot with their customers downstream," he said.

This study is separate from another ongoing set of NextSTEP awards made in 2016 to examine development of habitat modules that could be used on the Deep Space Gateway as well as other commercial applications. All five of the companies that received contracts for Power and Propulsion Element studies also either have a NextSTEP habitat award or are partnered with a company that does.

"This is a distinct activity but highly coupled" to the habitat studies, Barrett said. Both NASA and, he expected, the companies are coordinating their work on the two studies. "They're separate in terms of work scope, but the coordination, at least on the government side, is very deliberate."

How NASA plans to proceed with development of the element, including how it procures it from industry, will depend on the outcome of the studies as well as NASA's overall exploration planning, said Gates. The Deep Space Gateway remains a concept and not a formal NASA program as the agency studies options for its development, including roles for commercial and international partners.

Under NASA's notional plans for the gateway, the Power and Propulsion Element would be the first module of the gateway launched, flying on the Exploration Mission (EM) 2 launch of the Space Launch System along with an Orion spacecraft. Future SLS/Orion launches would carry other parts of the gateway, including a habitation module, logistics module and airlock.

That EM-2 mission, which will also be the first crewed flight of Orion, is planned for the early 2020s. "We have quite a lot of work in front of us," Gates said.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson has spent more time in space than any other American, and that is only one of the records she holds. She retired from NASA on June 15, 2018.

Joining NASA

Peggy Annette Whitson was born Feb. 9, 1960, in Mount Ayr, Iowa. After earning her bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry from Iowan Wesleyan College in 1981, she went on to earn her doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in 1985. Whitson then served as a National Research Council Resident Research Associate at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and later as the supervisor for the Biochemistry Research Group at KRUG International, a medical sciences contractor at NASA-JSC. She was also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Texas and at Rice University.

On May 6, 1989, Whitson married Clarence F. Sams in Harris, Texas. Sams, also a biochemist, had joined NASA in 1984, researching the biological effects of spaceflight at the cellular and subcellular levels.

Also in 1989, Whitson began work as a research biochemist at JSC, serving as a technical monitor of the Biochemistry Research Laboratories. In 1992, she was named the project scientist of the Shuttle-Mir program, where she served for three years. She also served as deputy division chief of the medical Sciences Division at Johnson.

Headed for space

In 1996, Whitson was selected as an astronaut candidate; she started training that August. After two years of training and evaluation, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Planning Branch and served as the lead for the Crew Test Support Team in Russia from 1998 to 1999.

On June 5, 2002, Whitson launched with the Expedition 5 crew on her first trip to the International Space Station. She was there for six months. Named the first NASA Science Officer during her stay, Whitson conducted 21 investigations in human life sciences and microgravity sciences. She returned to Earth on Dec. 7, 2002, logging 184 days, 22 hours, and 14 minutes in space.

Whitson returned to space on Oct. 10, 2008, as part of Expedition 16, this time as the first female station commander. Along with Pamela Melroy, she was one of the first pair of women to lead missions together at the same time. (Melroy led a 13-day shuttle mission.) While onboard the ISS, she oversaw the first expansion of the station's living and working space in more than six years. She returned to Earth on April 19, 2008, after 191 days, 19 hours and 8 minutes in space. At that time, she had accumulated the most time in space for any woman. She also surpassed Sunita Williams for woman with the most spacewalks during her fifth overall Extravehicular Activity (EVA); she would make one more by the end of the mission.

It would be almost a decade before she returned to space. Whitson served as the Chief of the Astronaut Corps from 2009 to 2012, the first female, nonmilitary Chief of the Astronaut Office. In this position, she was responsible for the mission preparation activities and on-orbit support of all International Space Station crews and their support personnel.

Although she enjoyed the job, she wasn't ready to say goodbye to space.

"It was actually a very satisfying job, but I did know that I still wanted to fly again  at least, I was not willing to say I didn't want to fly anymore," Whitson said in a Youtube video for the AARP. "So that's when I stepped down to get back in line [for a flight]."

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is pictured with an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft (left) during a May 12, 2017 spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Whitson, the station's commander, and fellow NASA astronaut Jack Fischer will conduct a repair spacewalk on Tuesday, May 23. (Image credit: NASA)

Record-breaking trip to space

On Nov. 17, 2016, Whitson once again launched into space as part of Expedition 50/51. At the age of 56, she immediately became the oldest woman to go to space. [In Photos: Record-Breaking NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson]

Although initially planned to spend only three months in space, Whitson's stay on the ISS was extended by three more months. She returned home on Sept. 2, 2017, after clocking 289 days, 5 hours and 1 minute in space. She now holds the record for the most cumulative days in space for an American, as well as the most cumulative days for a woman of any nationality.

"I haven't felt bored since I got here in November last year," Whitson said from orbit (July 26) in a video interview with a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records. "I think if you have the right attitude, you can stay in space for a long period of time, and it's actually very satisfying and enjoy[able]."

While in space, Whitson performed four additional spacewalks, bringing her total to 10. This ties her for first place with Michael Lopez-Alegria for the most spacewalks performed by NASA astronauts. She also clocked the most time spent by a woman performing EVAs.

"I feel like the reason I'm here is to do my job, and I'm going to do it to the best of my abilities," she said in the interview with Guinness.

"The records, I think, are important for NASA, to demonstrate what we're doing, how we're expanding and what we're improving on. And that continual improvement, that continual expansion of our records, is an important one for all of us at NASA, not just me

More to come?

Whitson isn't quite ready to call off her spaceflight adventures. In a media interview from orbit on April 13, 2017, she said she would like to visit other worlds.

"I would definitely like to go to the moon or Mars or some other destination," Whitson said.

"Space Station has been phenomenal but I would like to take some of the next steps. I'm not sure if I will last that long, but I'll give it my best."

Records, current and broken

Expedition 16

One of the first pair of women to lead missions at the same time

Oct. 10, 2008: First female commander for the ISS

Dec. 16, 2008: Most cumulative spacewalk time for a woman during her fifth spacewalk, at 32 hours, 36 minutes over five spacewalks

Astronaut Office

2009: First female, nonmilitary Chief of the Astronaut Office

Expedition 50/51/52

Nov. 17, 2016: Oldest woman to go to space at the age of 56, first woman to command the International Space Station twice

March 30, 2017: Most spacewalking time accumulated by female astronaut

April 24, 2017: Most cumulative days in space for an American, and by a woman of any nationality (534 days, 2 hours, 48 minutes; when she landed, she had clocked 665 total days in space)

May 23, 2017: On her 10th spacewalk, tied with Michael Lopez-Alegria for most by NASA astronauts

Nov. 17, 2017: With 665 days in space, Whitson holds the record for most days in space for an American astronaut and the most for a woman of any nationality. On the all-time spaceflight endurance list, she currently sits at number 8.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd at @NolaTRedd, Facebook, or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+.

Additional resources
The 2017 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Development Summit (Macau) was held yesterday with the theme Smart city construction and the development of Asian region.

Secretary-General of BFA, Zhou Wenzhong, said at the opening ceremony that the MSAR is one of the most open trade and investment economies, and also that it is an important platform for communication and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, said in his opening speech that all countries and regions have to choose to open up to realize sustainable development. The rapid development of Asian countries and regions has shown that the economic globalization and regional integration are the engine for economic and social advancement. The local government will speed up the smart city construction to assist the development of Macau, he added.

The one-day summit set up three sessions: Smart City and the Development of Asia, Young Talent and the Future of Asia and The Belt and Road Initiative and the Specialized Financial Services.

The summit attracted over 1,600 heads of government bodies, industry representatives, experts and scholars from Macau, the Chinese mainland, Britain, Australia and the United States. This was the second development summit held by BFA in Macau. The first version was held in 2015.

MDT/Xinhua
T he head of tax and finance consultant deVere rode to the defence of offshore funds today by labelling the idea that they break the law as nonsense.

Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of the firm, said offshore firms were a legitimate part of the global economy after the Paradise Papers put the spotlight on everyone from the Queen to BBC sitcom stars.

The idea that everyone using offshore centres is not financially operating within the law is nonsense. Such claims are simply not showing the whole  and complex  picture of todays wider international financial services industry, which has a legitimate and beneficial role to play in the global economy, he said.

However, Green added that the papers made clear the need to improve some procedures.

DeVere works with big banks such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, RBS and Morgan Stanley to offer financial products to customers and consultants. It advises on issues ranging from international retirement plans to inheritance tax planning for 60,000 clients served out of 60 offices worldwide .

The Paradise Papers leak, which made public 13.4 million documents from Bermuda firm Appleby, has sparked a global debate over low tax jurisdictions.

However, Green said offshore accounts were a sensible choice for globe-trotting individuals because they offer centralised, safe, flexible and worldwide access to their funds no matter where they live and no matter to which country the person might relocate in the future.

Disclosures from the Paradise Papers continued to drip out with Apple and Serco implicated. The Guardian reported that Appleby regarded Serco as a high-risk client and also said tech giant Apple shifted some operations to Jersey after criticism of its tax affairs.

The financial affairs of Nike were also under scrutiny.
F ever-Trees extraordinary march continued on Tuesday, as the posh mixers maker shrugged off competition and revealed that full-year results will be materially ahead of forecasts.

Pre-tax profits and sales for the year to December 31 are expected to be around 54.5 million and 158 million respectively. That is above the 47.9 million and 150 million analysts had pencilled in.

Boss Tim Warrillow said: We have seen growth across all our regions. We are performing well in pubs, and retailers are giving us a little more shelf space.

He added that the AIM-listed firm is certainly not feeling under threat from rivals such as Coca-Cola, which is relaunching its Schweppes range.

Fever-Tree shares rose 184p, or more than 9%, to 2145p. They floated at 134p in November 2014.

The firms biggest shareholders are co-founders Warrillow and Charles Rolls, Old Mutual and Standard Life Investments.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association and a number of gin businesses called on the Chancellor to put an increase in spirit duty on ice.

They warned that more tax burdens will stifle the growth of gin start-ups.
B oris Johnson likes to think of himself as a big picture guy. When it comes to governing London, exiting the European Union and running his own leadership campaign, he leaves the details to others.

Sadly this approach to the job has left the big picture looking pretty bleak for one British mother, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Imprisoned on false charges of espionage while visiting her family in Iran, the Evening Standard has championed the case of this Londoner and brought it to public attention.

Now the Foreign Secretary has potentially prolonged her incarceration by blurting out before a parliamentary committee that he thought she had been in Tehran training journalists.

He got the facts wrong. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was on holiday  and that is her key defence. But the Iranian authorities have seized on Mr Johnsons remarks as evidence to support their case that she was spreading propaganda.

Mr Johnson made a stupid, careless mistake because he wasnt on top of the detail  a mistake that her family believes could have dangerous consequences.

Rather than quickly apologise and correct his error, he got the Foreign Office to issue a ridiculous statement that he was, in a convoluted way, in fact trying to help.

Spare us, please. We imagine that consular cases are a frustration for our Foreign Secretary. He must feel that they get in the way of the Great Game.

But as a fan of classical allusions, Mr Johnson will remember what that impressive Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston promised more than 150 years ago: just as an ancient Roman would always have protection because they could say civis Romanus sum (I am a citizen of Rome), so our own citizens were entitled to the watchful eye and strong arm of Britain to protect them from injustice and wrong.

We dont have the legions stationed around the world any more always to respond with force. What we do have are intelligent, persistent diplomacy and a global voice. We should use it.

The Foreign Secretary should come to Parliament, retract his mistake and dramatically step up his efforts to free Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, citizen of Britain.

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Rail: a triple whammy

Tomorrow commuters face lengthy delays on three key rail networks as RMT workers stage a 48-hour walkout.

Passengers on Southern routes have become grimly used to the misery caused by strikes, having endured numerous stoppages over the past 18 months. Now they will be joined in their dismay by travellers using South Western and Greater Anglia services, which are also affected.

In an open letter to the Evening Standard, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling expresses his frustration at the continuing dispute.

Unions claim that they oppose the move to driver-operated doors for safety reasons  but that is disingenuous since many services already work perfectly well in this way. Nor will there be fewer jobs.

Indeed, Mr Grayling makes the point that, on an increasingly crowded railway, there are likely to be more staff in the future, not fewer, though some of them will be working on platforms rather than in carriages.

The row over driver-only operation has become emblematic for union chiefs who appear desperate for a showdown with the Government.

Yet it is ordinary people, paying over the odds for their season tickets, who suffer from these unnecessary strikes  and they have already suffered more than enough.
P icture the scene. It was 2003 and HSBCs chairman Sir John Bond was presiding over the annual meeting of the banks shareholders.

Suddenly someone in the audience put up their hand and asked permission to speak. His name was Abdul Durrant and he was pretty nervous, but pictured his six children at home and summoned the courage to stand up.

Sir John, said Abdul, I work as a cleaner in your headquarters. In fact, I clean your personal office every day.

The audience fell silent and Adbul pressed on, politely stating that it was wrong that the bank was making big profits while its cleaners only received the minimum wage, which meant he couldnt afford to send his daughters on school trips. Wouldnt it be fairer, he asked, if HSBCs workers got paid a wage that reflected the cost of London life? Abdul finished speaking, and sat down. All around him, shareholders started to murmur, clearly moved  and one by one they began to call for action. A little while later, Sir John announced that the bank would pay its cleaners the London Living Wage (which today stands at 10.20 per hour), a huge boost for hundreds of families.

Pretty damned inspiring. But what I love most about the London Living Wage is that it reflects the true spirit of the capital. As Peter Ackroyd notes in his book London: The Biography, our city does not respond to policy committees or to centralised planning. It would be easier to control the elements.

In a similar way, the original Living Wage campaign came from the grassroots. It was started by Citizens UK, a coalition of community groups, and they never once called for government legislation. In their view, change should come from the people themselves, which is why they helped Abdul buy some HSBC shares which enabled him to speak at the shareholders meeting.

According to Citizens UK founder Neil Jameson, Abduls intervention was a turning point. Once HSBC took action, hundreds of other companies followed suit. Today 3,600 organisations (including mine, Second Home) are Living Wage employers, and more than 150,000 people have benefited.

As it happens, its Living Wage Week right now, so why not take a stand for fairer pay? As Abduls story shows, you never know what might come of it.

Marthas public and private passions

I recently chaired a talk with the entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox in Lisbon, all about her experience of co-founding Lastminute.com during the first dotcom era, and her work since then as an entrepreneur, charity founder and government adviser.

What was really striking is the way Martha has moved between the public and private sector throughout her career, trying to have the biggest positive impact wherever she goes.

As Marthas work shows, its not only government and not-for-profit organisations that can do good: companies can too.

It all reminds me of my favourite quote about business, by David Packard of the tech company Hewlett Packard in 1961: Many people assume, wrongly, that the purpose of a company is to make money a group of people get together and exist as an institution we call a company so they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately  they make a contribution to society, a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental.

Amen to that.

Lisbons politicians can really party

This week Im in Lisbon for Web Summit, the biggest technology conference in Europe. During last years event I was at a party attended by the mayor of Lisbon, who apologised for having to leave so early (it was 1am), but he had to go the opening of a nightclub on the other side of town. If only Londons politicians were similarly enlightened  with 40 per cent of our live music venues closing in recent years, we could do with some of that Portuguese spirit.

* I started learning the piano at the start of this year and Ive got my next exam coming up, so Ive been practicing whenever I get a spare minute.

Unfortunately my own piano is truly rubbish, so the other day a friend let me use his apartment to have a lesson on his much better instrument. All had gone well but when I was leaving I somehow broke my mates door lock and when he got home he couldnt get back into his flat.

We called an emergency locksmith, who replaced the lock at extortionate expense, making it one of the most expensive piano lessons of all time.

It would have been cheaper to hire Elton John as a teacher  so I really had better pass this exam now.
With the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show only a couple of weeks away, talk has turned to the details.

Revealing its location back in August, the lingerie giant announced that it would be taking its 2017 showcase to Shanghai.

The brand are yet to release an official date for the show, but it will air on CBS in America on November 28 at 10pm EST so it is presumed that the runway will take place no more than a week prior.

Thrilling their loyal fans, the brand have now also confirmed that Karlie Kloss and Candice Swanepoel will return to the runway after short breaks to reunite with the likes of Adriana Lima, Taylor Hill, Alessandra Ambrosio, Gigi and Bella Hadid.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017: Confirmed Model Line-up 1 /72 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017: Confirmed Model Line-up Walked before Karlie Kloss Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Walked before Candice Swanepoel Getty Images Walked before Sara Sampaio Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Adriana Lima Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Devon Windsor Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Josephine Skriver Getty Images for Swarovski Walked before Bella Hadid Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Jasmine Tookes Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Taylor Hill Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Alessandra Ambrosio Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Gizele Oliveira Getty Images Walked before Lily Aldridge Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Mayowa Nicholas AFP/Getty Images Walked before Barbara Fialho AFP/Getty Images Walked before Jourdana Phillips Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Kelly Gale Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Zuri Tibby Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Vanessa Moody Getty Images for Visionaire Walked before Stella Maxwell Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Amilna Estevao AFP/Getty Images Walked before Blanca Padilla Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Daniela Braga Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Grace Bol Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot Newcomer Aiden Curtiss Getty Images for Foundation Figh Newcomer Xin Xie instagram.com/xinxiexx Walked before Martha Hunt Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Alecia Morais instagram.com/alecia_morais Walked before Alanna Arrington Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Leila Nda AFP/Getty Images Walked before Bruna Lirio Getty Images Walked before Maria Borges Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Frida Aasen Getty Images Newcomer Samile Bermannelli Getty Images for Marc Jacobs Walked before Liu Wen Walked before Shu Pei Qin Getty Images Newcomer Victoria Lee instagram.com/victorial24 Walked before Sui He Getty Images for Swarovski Newcomer Nadine Leopold Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas Walked before Herieth Paul Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Maggie Laine Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Lais Ribeiro Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Grace Elizabeth Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Estelle Chen instagram.com/chen_estelle Walked before Dilone Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Romee Strijd Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Roos Marijn de Kok instagram.com/roosmarijndekok Walked before Elsa Hosk Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Sanne Vloet Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Leomie Anderson Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Newcomer Alexina Graham Getty Images for amfAR Walked before Megan Williams Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Ming Xi Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Lameka Fox Getty Images for Victoria's Secret Walked before Cindy Bruna AFP/Getty Images

And while Behati Prinsloo was reportedly rejoining the fold having missed last year to have a baby, she has recently announced that she is expecting her second child and will not be walking this year.

Kendall Jenner is also absent from this year's line up having walked the past two years. She is an ambassador for Italian lingerie brand La Perla and is reportedly not walking Victoria's Secret due to a non-compete clause in her contract.

But which new faces will be taking to the iconic runway for the first time?

There are 17, to be precise, and they represent a very impressive 15 different nationalities.

Click through our gallery above to meet the new faces
A ustralian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklins just arrived in London and  although jetlagged  is elated that a half-empty plane from Sydney meant she got space to stretch out during the lengthy flight.

That shes well rested is a minor miracle.

The 27-year-old has spent a year touring the beautifully sparse indie-country sound she honed on last years debut album Dont Let The Kids Win and is in London for the British leg of an 11-date tour that also takes in the US, Canada and her native Australia.

Growing up in New South Wales' stunning Blue Mountains, her early relationship with music was shaped by classical training and her parent's love of Irish music, although it took upping sticks for Sydney before she found her feet in the industry.

"I felt a bit stifled by my school, which was far more encouraging of sporting achievements than musical," she says. "I'd get a two-hour train to Sydney where I got into folk music, played in a covers band and was constantly searching until I found something I was good at. Any success I've had since has come through chance and by saying yes to things.

Fast forward a couple of years and  via a stint living in New Zealand, where she recorded her debut album  Jacklin finds herself the toast of the indie circuit and touring the world. Im still coming to terms with success," she says. I havent had heaps of time to reflect  for now I'm just trying to get through it all and not screw up. Maybe once I finally take a break itll hit home.

Far from screwing up, Jacklin has instead won over armies of critics and fans with her razor-sharp lyrics and pared-back songwriting that have previously graced a packed-out London Scala and a host of summer festivals.

"I've definitely emerged from it stronger," she says of her hectic schedule. "There have been moments like at Glastonbury this year where Id open my eyes, see a huge camera in my face and look out over hundreds of people singing along and Id think How did this happen?'"

September saw the release of two new singles on Transgressive and although a release date isn't set yet, Jacklin's second album is on the way. The new songs all mean something special to me and are a natural progression influenced by the music Ive been listening to, she says, referencing Bjork's vocal range (which can go from two per cent to 150 per cent) and Michelle Zauner's solo project Japanese Breakfast as current inspirations.

Anyone who's been to one of Jacklin's gigs knows well the affecting qualities of her songs and particularly among a certain contingent. "Ive had some really emotional conversations with male fans after gigs," she says. "I played a show at End of the Road last year and after the show there was a line of grownups still with a tear in their eye. Its pretty moving for me to see  I never thought that would be a demographic that my music would reach."

With more new music on the horizon and a sell-out tour to wrap up, we're sure Jacklin will be winning over plenty more demographics in the months to come.

Julia Jacklin plays Shepherds Bush Empire on Thursday November 9
T his month sees Syrian cuisine take centre stage across London as the #CookForSyria charity campaign returns for a second year.

Designed to raise money and awareness of Syria's ongoing humanitarian crisis following six years of war, the Unicef-backed campaign has seen many of London's top chefs and restaurants take up the mantle thrown down to them by founders to put a Syrian spin on their classic dishes, donating 2 from each sale to #CookForSyria.

According to the campaign's co-founder and social media star Clerkenwell Boy (@clerkenwellboyEC1), the first question most chefs had was on the definition of Syrian cuisine. "I wanted to make it interesting for the chefs, challenging them to do their own research on Syrian cooking and to put a twist on their own iconic dishes," he says. "Nuno Mendes has developed a Syrian version of his best-selling steak tartare at Chiltern Firehouse, using flatbread, pistachios and orange blossom. Elsewhere, St John has produced an onion bread take on its baked bone marrow, while Pizza Pilgrims has produced a special spiced ground beef topping."

As well as visiting the 50-strong list of participating restaurants, Londoners should also look out for a charity dinner at Petersham Nurseries on November 9, the #BakeForSyria bake sale at Spitalfields Market on November 18 and a brunch by John Gregory-Smith at Southwark's Great Guns Social the day after. Or host your own Syrian supper club using recipes available on the #CookForSyria website.

The campaign  which first started as a supper club  has raised more than 400,000 to date and has gone global with recent launches in Hong Kong and Paris adding to existing events as far afield as Sydney, Dubai and San Francisco.

According to Clerkenwell Boy, the campaign has exceeded all expectations. "There's been a far greater awareness of Syrian cuisine in the past 12 months and I think we've played a role in that," he says, pointing to the power of social media in helping the campaign take off. "It's proven a great tool for bringing communities of like-minded people together  the hashtag has had almost 7,000 posts in the past year."

Ahead of this year's #CookForSyria event, we asked Clerkenwell Boy to highlight the star dishes we should all be embracing this month.

Pizza Pilgrims' ground beef pizza

Clerkenwell Boy's #CookForSyria picks

1 Bleecker Burger Spitalfields

Pistachio and cinnamon shake.



2. Caravan

Lamb meatballs, flatbread, sesame labne, pickled cucumber, mint, sumac.



3. Chiltern Firehouse

Syrian beef tartare.

4. Dock Kitchen

Pistachio and nutmeg cake.



5. Jamie Oliver's Fifteen

Rose syrup infused pistachio and semolina cake, tonka bean yoghurt.



6. Jacob the Angel

Chocolate and pistachio baklava.



7. Frenchie

Elwy Valley lamb with home-made harissa, tahine smoked yoghurt, butternut squash and pomegranate.



8. Ottolenghi Islington

Sweet potato and lamb kubbeh, sumac yoghurt and green salsa.



9. Petersham Nurseries

Roast poussin stuffed with couscous, pistachio nuts, raisins, rose & preserved lemon.



10. Pizza Pilgrims

Traditional Syrian spiced beef pizza with yogurt & zaatar.



11. Smokestak

Za'atar crusted brisket with Syrian-style salad, pickled cucumber yoghurt, harissa chilli and flatbread.



12. Temper City

Chopped marinated goat leg, garlic sauce, sour pickles, salad and French fries.

For more information visit the #CookForSyria website
A hit-and-run driver who paralysed a young mother by mowing her down on the pavement was forced into the dangerous manoeuvre because he was under attack, a court heard.

Pascoe Petgrave, 21, was behind the wheel of a grey BMW which struck 30-year-old Chanelle Higgins and her friend Nikisha Cox as they walked home from a night out in south London.

CCTV caught the moment Petgraves car, driving along the pavement in Norwood High Street, in West Norwood, sent the two women crashing to the ground.

Ms Higgins was paralysed from the waist down and is now in a wheelchair. Ms Cox was hurt in the crash but escaped serious injury.

Ms Higgins paralysed on the ground in the aftermath of the crash, in CCTV which was shown to jurors

Inner London crown court heard Petgrave did not stop after the 4.30am crash, handing himself in to police more than two weeks later.

Prosecutor David Ryan said Petgrave admits driving the car that caused catastrophic and life-changing injuries to Ms Higgins, but denies the charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Outlining Petgraves defence, Mr Ryan told the jury he will say: At the time I was acting under a duress of circumstances, a necessity.

I was being threatened or about to be threatened. As a result of which I basically drove up the pavement as that was the only thing I could do to escape serious injury or far worse.

Chanelle Higgins was paralysed in the crash and is now in a wheelchair

The prosecutor pointed out two men who appear on the CCTV footage to be chasing Petgraves car, including one armed with a stick.

He also read to the jury a letter from a PC in the Croydon Police gangs task force, recommending Petgrave be moved out of Croydon for the safety of him and his family.

He said Petgrave had been twice chased by men armed with knives in the weeks before the crash, and was deemed at risk of gang violence.

Pascoe poses a huge risk both to himself and his immediate family of serious harm from other gang rivals, he wrote. His lifestyle is having a detrimental effect on his family life.

A note had also been sent in April last year to Petgraves family home, saying: YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN DANGER.

The court heard the crash happened on May 29 last year, as Ms Higgins and her friend walked home from a night out at Scandals nightclub.

While walking on the pavement they were run over by this defendant, who was driving his motor vehicle along the pavement, said Mr Ryan.

Theres no dispute the driver of that vehicle, a grey BMW, was this defendant.

The car, after colliding with both girls, did not stop - it continued on its way and disappeared.

Ms Higgins, sitting in a wheelchair with her body covered with a blanket, was in court just a few feet from Petgrave as the prosecutor outlined the case.

The court heard Ms Higgins had multiple injuries when admitted to A&E, including broken bones in her leg and damage to her spine and underwent emergency surgery.

Mr Ryan told the court Ms Cox was also hurt in the crash but her injuries were nowhere near the severity of those sustained by Ms Higgins.

The court heard Petgrave initially claimed his car had been stolen when he was arrested on June 16 last year.

Petgrave, from Croydon, has pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.
T his the moment a plain clothes police officer pulls a drone laden with drugs from the sky before it could clear the walls of Pentonville prison.

The officer managed to grab the black bag dangling from the pilotless aircraft, which was loaded with cannabis and mobile phones.

CCTV footage shows the detective rushing from his undercover car after spotting the drone hovering overhead.

He is part of a specialist team tasked with tackling the rising number of drones being flown into the London jail.

The police unit  known as Operation Airborne  was tipped off by prison staff who spotted the approaching drone on the jails CCTV cameras.

Drone: A black bag packed with drugs and mobile phones was attached to the device / Metropolitan Police

It was carrying 118 grams of cannabis, two mobile phones and 71.7 grams of a psychoactive substance wrapped in a black plastic bag.

Pharmacology student Charlie Adifiyi, who was operating the remote-controlled device, managed to flee the scene on August 14 last year.

But officers tracked down the 21-year-old using DNA found on the drone.

Charlie Adifiyi: The 21-year-old was sentenced to three years in jail / Metropolitan Police

In a search of his home in Islington, officers found a further 476 grams of a psychoactive substance, which is said to have a prison value of up to 38,000.

Adifiyi was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle cannabis, psychoactive substances and phones into prison.

He was also sentenced to one count of possession with intent to supply psychoactive substance.

Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah, said: "I am determined to stem the flow of drugs into our prisons, and I want to pay tribute to the staff at HMP Pentonville and the police for preventing this haul from entering the prison system and undermining the stability and order at the jail.

"This conviction should send a strong message to others who may attempt to do the same; we will find you and put you behind bars."
A mother of five from north-west London has been spared jail for encouraging terror attacks on a pro-ISIS Facebook group after her eldest son wrote a letter to the judge.

Farhana Ahmed, 40, from Wembley, posted a prolific amount of propaganda in support of ISIS via the alias Kay Adam on Facebook.

She has been detained since she was charged over the 2015 posts while her five children, aged between six and 16, were cared for by relatives.

The judge in the case decided to give her a suspended sentence after he was "moved by the suffering of her children."

Judge Christopher Moss sentenced her to a suspended term of two years on Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to encouraging terrorism and three counts of disseminating documents.

The mother of five posed on social media under a fake Facebook profile / Getty Images

The judge was "moved" by a letter from her eldest son and told Ahmed: "In your exceptional case, the sooner you are returned to your children, the better for all concerned."

The court had heard how Ahmed had been a "prolific" contributor to the Facebook group, which had 1,406 members and described itself as a "pro-IS group, the purpose of it is to connect mawhideen brothers from different parts of the world and to help each other".

Ahmed used the fake name Kay Adams to encourage terrorism on the social media site between September and November 2015.

Her postings included a speech by an IS spokesman and a link to an "extensive online library" of terrorist publications, prosecutor Ben Lloyd said.

Mr Lloyd said: "It is clear from the defendant's decision to join this group, and then by virtue of the material that she posted, that she shared the group's ideology and aims."

Ahmed's posts, in which she expressed approval of the Paris terror attacks, attracted a large number of followers.

The court heard how the Brit travelled to Turkey with her husband Muhammed Burmal Karwani and their five children in November 2013.

She and the children returned to the UK while her husband stayed behind and, when she tried to go to Turkey in August 2015, she was turned away by authorities, the Old Bailey heard.

Mr Lloyd suggested that it was following this that the defendant decided to begin her campaign on Facebook.

It was revealed that Ahmed's behaviour was borne from a difficult period of her life, and she had now rejected extremism.

She was said to be have been living in temporary accommodation and "suffered at the hands of strangers".

In mitigation, Hossain Zahir said his client was a "good mother" and was full of remorse.

Judge Moss said her period in custody had already had an "extremely adverse effect on the children".

He said there was no realistic danger of her returning to her former behaviour.

The prosecution offered no evidence on two terrorism-funding charges which related to thousands of pounds sent to Ahmed's husband, who has since been acquitted of terrorism offences in Turkey and returned to the UK.
The worlds first fully-painted feature film is a hit in Macau, according to organizer Cinematheque Passion, with its first two local screenings selling out just hours after tickets were made available.

In response to public interest in the film, Cinematheque Passion last week announced 12 additional screenings in late December, all of which sold out within hours.

Exploring the last days of one of historys most illustrious and prolific painters, Loving Vincent brings Vincent Van Goghs tragic end to the big screen through oil paintings in his instantly recognizable style.

Each of the films 65,000-odd frames is an oil painting. 125 professional artists from across Europe traveled to the Loving Vincent studios in Poland and Greece to participate in this unique and unprecedented production.

The Times attended a media preview of the film on Wednesday night at the art house, along with representatives of the governments cultural institutes and several local artists.

Guests at Wednesday nights screening described the film as innovative and gorgeous, with one attendee commending filmmakers for their courage and determination in making the film.

I think no matter [whether] youre a fan of Van Gogh or not, this movie is a must see, said Dirco Fong, an executive at the Macau Design Center.

Loving Vincent had its world premiere on June 13 the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2017, where it won the Audience Award and, according to Cinematheque Passion, earned a standing ovation of more than 10 minutes.

The first round of public screenings began yesterday and will run until November 12. The second round begins on December 22 and ends on December 31. The film is in English with Chinese subtitles. DB
A murder probe has been launched after a young London man was chased onto train tracks and killed in Kent.

The victim, a 24-year-old man from Croydon, is believed to have died after being followed onto tracks at rural Knockholt station on Bonfire Night, police said.

The driver of the 11.40pm service from Sevenoaks to London Charing Cross reported a body on the line just after midnight.

Initially detectives deemed the mans death not suspicious but today launched a murder investigation after receiving fresh information, a British Transport Police spokesman said.

Officers now believe the victim was chased into the station by another man around 9.30pm.

He was chased onto tracks before the suspect was seen leaving the station a short time later, the spokesman added.

The victims cause of death is currently unknown and police are calling for anyone with information to come forward.

DCI Paul Langley said: Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, we believe this man to be a 24-year-old from the Croydon area of London.

A post mortem examination will take place in the coming days, from this we hope to understand exactly how this man died. In the meantime, we are trawling through all available CCTV and looking to speak with any witnesses or local residents who saw or heard anything.

Knockholt station is in a rural location and I know that very few people are likely to have been in the area at the time when both the victim and suspect went onto the tracks. However, if you were in the area at the time and a man chasing another, please contact us as a matter of urgency.

Anyone with any information is asked to text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 3 of 06/11/2017. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
P olice are hunting for up to a dozen men and women after a Polish man was left with a fractured skull in a vicious attack on a Tube station platform.

The victim is fighting for his life in hospital and has bleeding and swelling on the brain more than two days on from the Sunday morning attack at busy central London Underground station Oxford Circus.

He was one of two men who were attacked by a group of between eight to 12 people on the southbound Bakerloo line platform at around 11.15am on Sunday. The other man is recovering at home.

It is thought the group got into a fight with the two men, British Transport Police said.

One of the two victims is in a critical condition in hospital. / BTP

Officers have now released pictures of 10 people they are hoping to trace who they hope could help with their investigation.

This was an unprovoked attack on two men who were going about their travel, Detective Inspector Gabriel Oresajo said on Tuesday.

The attack happened on Sunday morning. / BTP

Everyone has the right to travel on the rail network without fear of crime.

I am keen to speak to anyone with any information, no matter how big or small the detail may seem.

Oxford Circus is one of Londons busiest Tube stations and is packed at most hours of the day.

Anyone who has any information is asked to please contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 citing 195 of 05/11/17.
T his is the horrifying moment a hooded thug stabs a teenager repeatedly as a fight breaks out in an east London Pizza takeaway restaurant.

Shocking footage shows the suspect pull out a blade and knife the 18-year-old victim as others stop him from running away.

The victim is stabbed three times as he tries to escape the attackers by getting behind the counter of the shop in Newham on Friday, October 6.

The youth was brutally stabbed several times after violence broke out in the takeaway restaurant

He was rushed to hospital after the terrifying ordeal unfolded just before 8pm in Mahins Pizza Peri Peri Grill, Station Road, and was later discharged.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information on two teenagers wanted in connection to the attack

The first suspect is described as a black teenager wearing a dark blue hooded top over a grey hooded jumper.

Newham: Police are appealing for witnesses following the horrifying ordeal in east London / Metropolitan Police

The second is described as black, wearing a dark black padded jacket over a black hooded top and striped tracksuit trousers.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Phil Fox, from Newham CID, said: This is an attack on a man who suffered multiple stab wounds from his ordeal. We are asking for anyone who recognises these two teenagers to come forward and assist us with our investigation.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to call Newham CID on 101 or tweet @MetCC. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
F aith leaders have condemned critics over hostile and racist opposition to proposals for a new Islamic centre in a former north London Hippodrome.

The Hippodrome in Golders Green was snapped up for 5.25 million by Markaz El Tathgheef El Eslami, the Centre for Islamic Understanding.

A planning application has now been submitted to Barnet Council for the former entertainment venue  which in the past hosted the likes of the Kinks  to convert it into a Muslim community centre and mosque.

The proposals sparked a wave of objections from residents, one of whom opposed the centre on the grounds that it would make this beautiful neighbourhood crowded with loads of burkas and veils.

Almost 30 members of an interfaith forum in the north London borough have hit out at the hostile and racist response to the plans, in an open letter that welcomes the Markaz El Tathgheef El Eslami.

It was signed by representatives of Catholic, Anglican and Greek Orthodox churches, imams, Sikhs, rabbis, Quakers and Methodists, and posted on Facebook.

As clergy and faith representatives we unanimously deplored and condemned the hostile and, at times, racist response to the new Islamic Centres opening, the letter read.

We are sure the new Islamic community will contribute, with us, to the neighbourhoods character, harmony and safety.

Gavin Boby, of the Law and Freedom Foundation, said the plans were the biggest threat to the sense of home for Jews since Cable Street  referring to 1930s fascists in east London.

His comments came at a meeting two weeks ago, where he protested against the proposals, the Guardian reported.

Mr Boby reportedly said he had challenged 47 planning applications for mosques in the past, and claims he stopped 33 from being approved.

A petition asking the council to deny the application for the Grade II listed former music venue on the grounds of increased traffic, air and noise pollution has gained more than 5,000 signatures.

Hundreds of objections have been lodged with the local authority, which was forced to remove all comments on the proposal from its website due to increasingly racist language.

Commenting on the campaign against the plans, Marcus Dysch, political editor at the Jewish Chronicle, wrote on Twitter: Hard to see [the campaign] as anything other than inexcusable, blatant Islamophobia.

A spokesperson for Barnet council said a date to decide the planning application had not been set but it was working with the new owners of Hippodrome and the local community to ease tensions, according to the Guardian.
C alls are growing for the Government to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics to stop women being harassed by pro-life campaigners.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott criticised the protests and said cordons around clinics should be used wherever necessary.

At a clinic in Ealing women have reportedly been handed models and pictures of dismembered foetuses, harassed by protesters and told they will be haunted by their baby.

It comes as a new YouGov survey found that the majority of MPs (57 per cent) support the introduction of buffer zones.

But the same data also found that male MPs are far more likely to oppose the action, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).

In support: Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott / EPA

Some 32 per cent of male MPs surveyed said they would oppose the proposals, compared to 9 per cent of female participants.

On the introduction of buffer zones, Ms Abbott said: The anti-abortion vigils often held outside clinics are not legitimate protest, they are harassment.

We wouldnt stand for this hounding outside any other medical facility, and reproductive services should be no exception.

Buffer zones should be used wherever necessary to protect those that work in and require abortion services.

Today a Home Office minister will be asked to introduce the zones during a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament led by Labours Ealing Central & Acton MP Rupa Huq.

Ealing Council last month became the first authority in the country to suggest using Public Space Protection Orders to disperse demonstrators from outside the boroughs Marie Stopes Clinic.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said American campaigners often target women outside a clinic in his constituency of Twickenham.

He said: People who oppose abortion are perfectly entitled to campaign to change the law.

But they are not entitled to apply emotional pressure on women often wrestling with very difficult personal choices.

The Scottish National Party also back buffer zones.

The Home Office has previously said they will help police and councils make full use of their existing powers to prevent this kind of behaviour.

Of the 101 MPs asked, less than a quarter (24 per cent) said they opposed the introduction of buffer zones.

Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs at BPAS, said: A clear majority of MPs support action on anti-abortion clinic protests. For years, a tiny handful of individuals have been permitted to cause women seeking legal healthcare services significant distress.

As a direct result of the governments refusal to engage with this issue, these groups have become emboldened and protests have intensified.

This cannot be allowed this to continue.
W aterloo residents took to the streets to protest plans for an Abba-themed musical restaurant from Swedish superstar Bjorn Ulvaeus.

Mr Ulvaeus has been battling local campaigners since proposals for the restaurant based on his Swedish pop-group were made earlier this year.

Campaigners voiced their opposition by singing altered versions of Abbas hits on the vacant site, in advance of a meeting to decide planning permission on Tuesday.

Protesters believed the site should be used for social housing and are concerned that the restaurant will bring disruption to the local community.

Protestors sang Abba's hits as they protested the new venue / Waterloo Resident's Alliance

Mr Ulvaeus submitted plans to build a branch of his themed restaurant Mamma Mia! The Party on a corner plot on Stamford Street, Waterloo, next to a community centre and nursery.

He called the South Bank the perfect place for the Party and said: The building could be used for other activities as well, outside Party hours, so we hope it would be an asset for the whole community.

Mamma Mia! The Party will see audiences dine on Mediterranean food in Greek tavern surroundings while a live show unfolds around them.

But local residents have slammed plans for the 500-seater auditorium.

The show is supported by social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB), which has offered to lease the land for five years.

The developer has said the restaurant will provide up to 50 jobs, and it will turn the building into a neighbourhood centre after the five years is up.

Residents have also confirmed they have been offered early application access to new jobs created by the restaurant.

Stop Mamma Mia Party: Signs posted around the area opposing the venture / Waterloo Resident's Alliance

However, they have strongly objected to plans and are concerned about loud crowds filling up the neighbourhood every night.

Wai-King Cheung, from Waterloo Residents Alliance, said: It will be catastrophic.

A night club will be landed on our doorsteps, five metres from peoples homes."

She added: The design has no allowance for people. They will spill out on to the streets.

Campaigners say the land is earmarked for social housing, however, CSCB board member Iain Tuckett told The Guardian the site proposed for Mamma Mia! The Party was never intended for this.

While it is intended that the local community use the building outside of party hours, Ms Cheung said the proposed plans are not conducive to community use.

There is only time till 11am for people to use the venue, she said. There are going to be four deliveries during the day.

Its not really conducive to people having meetings or classes. Its not useful for people.

The Mamma Mia! The Party team have reportedly said they are trying to address community concerns over noise, saying they will fully soundproof the venue and finish the show an hour earlier than planned.

More than 700 people signed a petition against the plans and London Assembly members, including Chair of the Housing Committee Sian Berry have written formal objections to the proposal.

Last week, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that sites such as this should be compulsorily purchased by local councils to meet their housing targets for affordable homes.

The planning meeting is scheduled to take place on November 7 at 7pm.
B oris Johnson has insisted remarks about a jailed British-Iranian mother had no bearing on calls for her prison term to be extended.

The Foreign Secretary faced calls to resign today over his claim to a parliamentary committee last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran at the time of her arrest last year.

The comment was reportedly being used by Tehran as jurisdiction to add five years to her jail term.

The Hampstead mothers employer and her family insist the comment is incorrect.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was left crying in despair after Boris Johnson's most serious blunder yet as Foreign Secretary

Speaking to the Commons, Mr Johnson admitted his comments could have been clearer but said Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes current situation had no link to my testimony last week.

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He added: The point was that I disagreed with the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that I wanted to lend any credence to Iranian allegations that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity.

Mr Johnson pledged to visit Iran in the coming weeks to discuss all out consular cases and paid tributes to Mr Ratcliffes tireless campaign to free his wife.

He today spoke by phone to Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif and insisted that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been on holiday.

Boris Johnson speaks in the Commons / PA

He said his remarks could form no justifiable basis for further action against her.

However, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Mr Johnson should quit if his actions turn out to have damaged Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes prospects of freedom.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband Richard Ratcliffe told the Standard how his wife wept as she was told in court that the Foreign Secretary has revealed the truth behind the allegations.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence in an Iranian jail, was summoned to an unscheduled court hearing last weekend at which Mr Johnson's remarks were cited as proof that she had been engaged in "propaganda against the regime".

She and her family say she was taking her daughter Gabriella to visit her grandparents in Tehran when she was arrested in April last year.

Reports suggest the new charge could add five years to her prison term, imposed over unspecified allegations of involvement in a supposed coup attempt against the Tehran regime, which she denies.
A n embattled Labour council leader was today accused of running it like her personal fiefdom.

Long-standing councillor Stuart McNamara blasted Haringey boss Claire Kober for wasting public money on vanity projects while strangling services. He announced that in protest he would no longer stand for the party at next Mays elections.

The setback for one of Londons most prominent town hall leaders came after the Standard revealed that she was being targeted by Left-wing supporters of Jeremy Corbyn plotting a leadership challenge.

In a stinging letter seen by the Standard, Mr McNamara likened Ms Kobers leadership style to Margaret Thatchers. Somebody has to call you out on your wrecking ball tactics and horrific wasting of public money, he said.

The fall-out is the latest in a dispute over the Haringey Development Vehicle  a 2 billion transfer of council assets to a public-private partnership and a major estate regeneration.

Anger over the scheme was behind a key section of Mr Corbyns conference speech in September, when he accused councils and developers of social cleansing.

McNamara claimed Ms Kober had done incalculable damage to the Labour Party in Haringey and that he would stand down after 25 years as a councillor.

He had also served as a cabinet member. Mr McNamara said: For the sake of Haringey and the Labour Party you probably need to just resign before you cause any more harm to this great borough.

His protest came as Left-wing Labour members plan a take-over of the council at a series of selection contests in the next two weeks.

Ms Kober said Mr McNamaras decision to step down represented the end of an era and she was grateful for his work as a councillor. However she defended the Haringey Development Vehicle as the best way to tackle the boroughs housing crisis.

Phil Rose, spokesman for the Stop HDV campaign, said Mr McNamaras decision showed how disillusioned Labour members were with their own council. This is not somebody having a hissy fit, Mr Rose said. He is a committed councillor most offended by the lack of democracy.

A High Court judge is due to decide before Christmas whether the HDV plan is legal. A two-day hearing was held last month.
A "slip of the tongue" by Boris Johnson which has been used by Iran as justification to extend the jail term of a British woman was "not a serious gaffe", Cabinet colleague Liam Fox said.

Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson is expected to call his Iranian counterpart in an effort to defuse the row after he told MPs last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran at the time of her arrest last year.

Her employer and her family insist the claim incorrect.

Richard Ratcliffe, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband said Mr Johnson should make a statement in Parliament to correct his mistake in an effort to prevent the sentence being lengthened.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said Mr Johnson would be "speaking to his opposite number to clarify" the situation.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "we all make slips of the tongue", adding "we have got to be very careful that we are not overreacting to this".

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe / PA

On Sky News he said: "I don't believe that it is a serious gaffe.

"I think people in the Iranian regime, which is a very brutal regime, are using this as an excuse to hold a UK citizen in the most tenuous of circumstances.

"I think what we are seeing here is an attempt to discredit the Foreign Secretary without thinking first of all what the impact may be and what excuses it may give to the Iranian regime to act improperly."

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Mr Johnson should quit if his actions have damaged Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's prospects of freedom.

Boris Johnson is to make a key phone call to his Iranian counterpart / PA

In a statement released by the Foreign Office, a spokesman did not offer any correction, saying instead that Mr Johnson's comments may have been "misrepresented" and they provide "no justifiable basis" for additional charges.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence in an Iranian jail, was summoned to an unscheduled court hearing last weekend at which Mr Johnson's remarks were cited as proof that she had been engaged in "propaganda against the regime".

Reports suggest the new charge could add five years to her prison term, imposed over unspecified allegations of involvement in a supposed coup attempt against the Tehran regime, which she denies.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe insisted in her original trial that she was not working in Iran at the time of her arrest, but was visiting the country to show her infant daughter Gabriella to her grandparents.

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Mr Johnson told a parliamentary committee on November 1: "When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it.

"(Neither) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe nor her family has been informed about what crime she has actually committed.

"And that I find extraordinary, incredible."

Following Saturday's hearing, the Iranian judiciary's High Council for Human Rights said: "His statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

"For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested ... Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's employer, Thomson Reuters Foundation, urged Mr Johnson to correct his "serious mistake".

Additional reporting by Press Association.
A senior Palestinian envoy today criticised Cabinet minister Priti Patels secret talks with Israels prime minister.

The International Development Secretary was forced to apologise to Theresa May for her summer meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, which Mrs May only became aware of last Friday.

The PM did not sack Ms Patel and Downing Street insisted that the Foreign Office had concluded that no UK interests were damaged or affected by her meetings in Israel.

However, Manuel Hassassian, ambassador at the Palestinian Mission in the UK, told the Standard that Ms Patels secret talks would cause great concern to the Palestinians and believed it was a clear breach of the Governments ministerial code.

He said: If the present Conservative Government is committed to a two-state solution and the Secretary of State for International Development, as part of the Government, is truly committed to this, why did she not visit Palestinian officials also?

Imagine, though, the uproar if she had done this without the Prime Ministers knowledge.

Ms Patels meetings in Israel between August 13 and 25 are understood to have been arranged by Lord Polak, the honorary president of the lobbying group Conservative Friends of Israel, who also attended all but one.

On returning, Ms Patel commissioned Department for International Development work on disability and humanitarian and development partnerships between Israel and the UK.

The BBC reported that Ms Patel also suggested that some of Britains aid budget go to the Israeli army to support humanitarian work in the occupied Golan Heights. Her visit has caused astonishment at Westminster but International Trade Secretary Liam Fox insisted that she had not done anything forbidden.

I find it utterly unsurprising that the international aid secretary would want to talk to charities while she is on holiday in a particular area about whether or not we can use the British aid budget to diminish the humanitarian problems of people in that area, he said.

Mrs May has ordered a review of the ministerial code amid claims that it was not clear enough to determine whether Ms Patel had broken it.

Yesterday, she reminded Ms Patel of her obligations as a minister after she took time out from a family holiday to meet Mr Netanyahu, other politicians, businesses and charities without telling the Foreign Office beforehand.

A No 10 source said: The Government is unshakeably committed to a two-state solution.
Sands China Care Ambassadors participated in the 48th Caritas Macau Charity Bazaar over the weekend, making it the seventh straight year that the company has helped raise funds for the annual Caritas event.

A total of 100 Sands China Care Ambassadors were on hand volunteering at the two-day charity bazaar at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre.

On Saturday, Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong presented a cheque for MOP200,000 to Caritas Macau Secretary-General Paul Pun during the opening ceremony of the bazaar. The donation will help support the operational expenses of the non-profit charitable organization.

Since 2004, Sands China has contributed more than MOP4.3 million to Caritas Macau through events such as charity runs and bazaars.

St. Regis Macao teams up with Bugaboo

The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central has teamed up with Bugaboo, the world leader in innovative stroller design, to offer families complimentary use of the limited edition Bugaboo Donkey Weekender during their visit.

The resort says that the stroller grants active and adventurous families the freedom and mobility to thoroughly enjoy their visit.

Guests at The St. Regis Macao can reserve the limited edition Bugaboo Weekender stroller through the hotels Concierge or simply make a request through their St. Regis butler, who can help bring the strollers to guests room.

We are delighted to offer our guests with children the chance to fully experience their visit to Macau with the use of the Bugaboo Donkey Weekender, said Daniella Tonetto, general manager of sales and marketing for Sheraton Grand Macao and The St. Regis Macao. Offering one of the worlds most innovative strollers helps our guests create amazing memories by making the most of their visit to Macau.
B ig Ben will chime for the first time in almost three months on Thursday as the bell is reconnected ahead of Armistice Day.

The bells rings will be once again heard in Westminster at approximately 9am following an 11 week break.

The test run is to ensure it chimes at exactly the right time for Armistice Day commemorations at the 11th hour on Saturday, followed by Remembrance Sunday events the next day.

The bells will then be disconnected again after ringing the hour at 1pm on Sunday 12 November.

Big Ben's tower is almost completely encased in scaffolding / Jeremy Selwyn

Palace of Westminster engineers will work to correct any slight inaccuracies that may become apparent when the bell chimes on Thursday, parliamentary authorities confirmed.

Big Ben was silenced for conservation works at 12pm on 21 August this year. Renovation is expected to last for four years but the clock will be restarted for important national events.

The decision to silence Big Ben to protect the hearing of engineers sparked controversy over the summer, with some MPs campaigning for it to continue chiming while the multi-million pound works were carried out.

Big Ben is silenced for four years 1 /10 Big Ben is silenced for four years Big Ben is to be silenced today for the next four years AP Photo/Caroline Spiezio A row has broken out about the silencing of the bells Rex Workers installed scaffolding as the major restoration was beginning Rex Big Ben will fall silent at midday Jeremy Selwyn Tourists gathered to hear the bell silence for the last time in several years Jeremy Selwyn Workers erect scaffolding around Big Ben's tower Jeremy Selwyn The bells were silenced to protect workers' hearing Jeremy Selwyn Tourists take a selfie in front of Big Ben's tower AP

Even Prime Minister Theresa May added her voice to the criticism, saying: "It can't be right for Big Ben to be silent for four years."

Scaffolding around the Elizabeth Tower has now reached the belfry (where the bells are housed), covering the entire monument.

The chimes will next be heard 23 December for the Christmas period, before falling silent again at 1pm on New Years Day 2018.
F ossils of two rat-like creatures thought to be the oldest known ancestors of humans have been discovered in Dorset.

Scientists believe they can draw a direct evolutionary line from the ancient mammals, which lived alongside dinosaurs 145 million years ago, to people living today.

Two teeth belonging to two different species were sifted out of samples of Cretaceous period rock collected from exposed cliffs near Swanage.

Dr Steve Sweetman, from the University of Portsmouth, said his "jaw dropped" when one of the university's undergraduate students asked him to look at the specimens.

The teeth are highly evolved and could have pierced and crushed food / PA

He said: "The teeth are of a type so highly evolved that I realised straight away I was looking at remains of Early Cretaceous mammals that more closely resembled those that lived during the latest Cretaceous, some 60 million years later in geological history.

"In the world of palaeontology there has been a lot of debate around a specimen found in China, which is approximately 160 million years old. This was originally said to be of the same type as ours but recent studies have ruled this out. That being the case, our 145 million-year-old teeth are undoubtedly the earliest yet known from the line of mammals that lead to our own species."

The area where student Grant Smith found the teeth is known as the Jurassic Coast because it has produced so many dinosaur fossils.

Both the ancient mammals were probably nocturnal, Dr Sweetman and co-authors reported in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.

One was likely to have been a burrower that ate insects and the other larger creature may have consumed plants as well, the researchers believe.

Dr Sweetman added: "The teeth are of a highly advanced type that can pierce, cut and crush food. They are also very worn which suggests the animals to which they belonged lived to a good age for their species - no mean feat when you're sharing your habitat with predatory dinosaurs."

The animals are believed to be direct ancestors of most mammals living today including creatures as diverse as the blue whale and pigmy shrew, as well as humans.

One of the species has been named Durlstotherium newmani, after Charlie Newman, landlord of the Square and Compass pub in the village of Worth Matravers close to where the fossils were discovered. The other has been named Durlstodon Ensomi.
A Scottish man who went missing almost 25 years ago may now be living in London, according to police.

Peter McGuire, who was 21 when he disappeared, was last seen leaving a swimming pool in Dunfermline in January 1993.

His car was later discovered at the Forth Road Bridge but he was never seen again.

Police now believe a man using Mr McGuire's name and date of birth had been living in Hastings, East Sussex, before moving to west London.

In a statement, members of his family said: "Peter, you are a big part of our lives that is missing and the pain of that has never gone away.

"It would be a blessing to hear from you. We would love for you to be a part of our lives again in any way you choose, your terms, your pace, one step at a time."

Detective inspector Kelly McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: "At this time, we do not know if the male down south is indeed the Peter McGuire who went missing 25 years ago.

"We are conducting a thorough investigation and liaising with our colleagues at the relevant police forces to try and identify and speak to this individual.

"We would ask that if Peter McGuire becomes aware of this appeal then he comes forward to speak with us."

Anyone with information as to Mr McGuire's whereabouts are asked to contact Dunfermline Police on the non-emergency number 101.
T ens of thousands of people will gather to commemorate Remembrance Sunday this weekend at a memorial led by Prince Charles in a historic break with tradition.

The Queen will watch the service from the balcony and the Prince of Wales will lay her wreath on her behalf at the Cenotaph.

The monarch, 91, has appeared in the ceremony and laid a wreath for the nation every year for decades.

It comes just months after the Duke of Edinburgh retired from royal duties earlier this year at the age of 95.

Every year thousands join together in Whitehall for the service and two-minute silence in honour of the war dead.

Queen Elizabeth II laying a wreath at the service at last year's parade. / PA

The crowds, made up of hundreds of Armed Forces personnel, are joined by Prime Minister Theresa May and members of the royal family.

The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire their First World War-era guns to mark the beginning and end of the war and the Last Post is played.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall and the Countess of Wessex during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service last year. / PA

Last year, the Queen laid a wreath of poppies while Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn followed behind.

The Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Queen Elizabeth II lays a wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in 2015 / Getty Images

Former prime ministers David Cameron, Tony Blair and Sir John Major were also present along with London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

This year the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will watch the ceremony from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office building. An equerry will lay the Duke of Edinburghs wreath.

For many, the move will be seen as Charles stepping up to take on more state occasions at the direction of the Queen.

Other royals will be out in force to remember the fallen. On November 9, Prince Harry will visit the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.


M ore than 12,000 people have signed a petition to save local Remembrance Sunday parades.

The petition has called on the Government to provide local councils or police with extra money after an alleged policy change that means roads cannot be closed for parades.

It states that local communities must now contract a road traffic management company to close the roads at a cost of thousands of pounds.

Mr T Miller, who started the petition on April 2, claimed that local communities are devastated as their local parades or remembrance Sunday services are being lost forever.

Mr Miller said that local councils do not have funds for the events to take place and police are no longer able to close roads due to the change in policy.

Soldiers [sic], have died in 2 world wars and various other conflict since, he wrote. We need to ensure they are remembered in a fitting manner.

He added: These parades need to be saved for future generations so they understand the ultimate sacrifice that was made by these men and women.

The Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures. Petitions that reach 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate in Parliament.

The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that no policy changes have taken place on a national level. It said that with the exception of Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London, organisation of these events in the UK has always been a "wholly local matter".

A spokesperson for the DfT said: The petition has been written on the mistaken assumption that policy has been changed. There has been no national policy change.

"Local authorities continue to be responsible for arranging the road closures and determining how they are managed."

In October, campaigners in Leicestershire accused officers of breaking Remembrance Sunday tradition after the police force said manning the roads was affecting their day-today operations, according to the Express.
B oris Johnson faced calls to resign today as it emerged that jailed mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe wept in despair after his most serious blunder yet as Foreign Secretary.

Two ex-foreign secretaries criticised Mr Johnson, with one saying he needed to understand that careless talk costs lives in high-level diplomacy.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, below, is serving a five-year prison sentence in Iran, over allegations of involvement in propaganda against the regime. She has worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the BBC, but insists the visit last year was for her daughter to meet her grandparents in Tehran.

Today a Cabinet colleague, Liam Fox, admitted Mr Johnson had made a slip of the tongue when he told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the innocent holidaymaker had been training journalists in Iran.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, right, was left crying in despair after Boris Johnson's most serious blunder yet as Foreign Secretary

The mistake could cost her an extra five years behind bars.

In key developments:

Mr Johnson spoke by phone to Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif today and insisted that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been on holiday. He said his remarks could form no justifiable basis for further action against her.

However, the Foreign Office said he accepts his remarks to the Foreign Affairs Committee could have been clearer. Mr Johnson was due to address the Commons.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former Tory foreign secretary, rebuked Mr Johnson, saying he needed to concentrate more and get the detail right.

Jack Straw, an ex-Labour foreign secretary, said: I am concerned about the intense risks to the security of UK citizens by Boriss flippant busking.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Mr Johnson should quit if his actions turn out to have damaged Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes prospects of freedom.

The chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation said Mr Johnson had failed to meet her or the family despite their pleading. Monique Villa said: You could think the Foreign Minister would meet with us.

Dr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, claimed: I dont believe that it is a serious gaffe.

"I think people in the Iranian regime, which is a very brutal regime, are using this as an excuse to hold a UK citizen in the most tenuous of circumstances.

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Speaking to the Standard, London accountant Richard Ratcliffe told how his wife wept down the phone when she was hauled back before a court.

She was just saying, Why do I have to suffer? Why does my baby have to suffer? he said. On Saturday she was gutted and furious, and cried most of the call.

Evening Standard comment: Youre not playing the Great Game, Boris

Later, Mr Ratcliffe told his wife that Mr Johnsons comments could have been behind the Iranian authorities taking her back to court for new charges.

Mr Ratcliffe said: She was obviously distraught about being taken back to court and bewildered about what caused that.

She isnt sitting there blaming Boris, she knows its the Iranians doing this, and what she is focused on now is him visiting her as soon as possible.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 and separated from her toddler Gabriella during a family holiday / PA

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from Hampstead, was arrested in April 2016 and separated from her toddler Gabriella, who remains trapped in Iran.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe insisted at her original trial that she was not working at the time. But Mr Johnson told the committee on November 1: When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it.

[Neither] Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe nor her family has been informed about what crime she has actually committed. And that I find extraordinary, incredible.

After Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was dragged into court on Saturday, the Iranian judiciarys High Council for Human Rights declared that the Foreign Secretary had revealed the truth. It said: His [Johnsons] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested ... Mr Johnsons statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin.

Diplomatic insiders pointed out that hardliners in the regime, rather than the more emollient Iranian ministry for foreign affairs, are holding Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead & Kilburn, said: Boris has been given a long period now in which to retract his wrong statement. Now he has to resign. Nazanin has been on hunger strike, she is suicidal. You cannot bumble your way through a case like this.

Sir Malcolm told the BBCs Today show: You have to get the detail right or could cause serious problems for your own government. Mr Straw said Mr Johnson was causing harm. If you are Foreign Secretary, rule number one is Careless talk costs lives.

Mr Johnson has been involved in a series of gaffes as Foreign Secretary. Last month he joked that firms would invest in Libya once its dead bodies had been cleared away.
B oris Johnson is expected to call Iran's foreign minister on following reports that comments he made were being used in Tehran as a justification to extend the jail sentence imposed on a British woman.

The Foreign Secretary is facing calls to retract his claim to a parliamentary committee last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran at the time of her arrest last year - something her employer and her family insist is incorrect.

In a statement released by the Foreign Office, a spokesman did not offer any correction, saying instead that Mr Johnson's comments may have been "misrepresented" and they provide "no justifiable basis" for additional charges.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence in an Iranian jail, was summoned to an unscheduled court hearing last weekend at which Mr Johnson's remarks were cited as proof that she had been engaged in "propaganda against the regime".

Mr Johnson said Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran last year, which is not correct / PA

Reports suggest the new charge could add five years to her prison term, imposed over unspecified allegations of involvement in a supposed coup attempt against the Tehran regime, which she denies.

Richard Ratcliffe, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, said "careless talk has a cost and there's been a lot of careless talk".

Labour former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper said the comments were "appalling".

"Hard to find words for how appalling this is," she said. "For him it's just another lazy, arrogant failure to check facts. For her it's incarceration."

Mr Ratcliffe said: "The worst thing the Foreign Secretary could do is to now suddenly go quiet and to create this problem without making any clarifications.

"I think that's really important. You can't make a muddle and then leave it. That would be the worst of both worlds."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe insisted in her original trial that she was not working in Iran at the time of her arrest, but was visiting the country to show her baby daughter Gabriella to her grandparents.

Mr Johnson told a parliamentary committee on November 1: "When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it.

"(Neither) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe nor her family has been informed about what crime she has actually committed. And that I find extraordinary, incredible."

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Following Saturday's hearing, the Iranian judiciary's High Council for Human Rights said: "His statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

"For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested ... Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's employer, Thomson Reuters Foundation, urged Mr Johnson to correct his "serious mistake".

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Last week's remarks by the Foreign Secretary provide no justifiable basis on which to bring any additional charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

"While criticising the Iranian case against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Foreign Secretary sought to explain that even the most extreme set of unproven Iranian allegations against her were insufficient reason for her detention and treatment.

"The UK will continue to do all it can to secure her release on humanitarian grounds and the Foreign Secretary will be calling the Iranian foreign minister to raise again his serious concerns about the case and ensure his remarks are not misrepresented."
D onald Trump has arrived in South Korea on a visit that will see him further pressure the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Landing at Osan Air Base outside the capital Seoul, the US president arrived on Tuesday for the second leg of his 12-day Asia trip.

He stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began his 24-hour state visit with a ceremonial military honour guard arrayed on the airport tarmac.

The White House says Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate US resolve over his hardline approach to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, but many in the region fear that further the president's stance could increase the risk of a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Donald Trump kisses Melania as they arrive at Osan Air Base / AP

Three US aircraft carrier strike groups will conduct exercises together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a show of force rarely seen in the region, US officials said, as Trump continues his 12-day Asia tour aimed at forging a united front against North Korea and developing trade.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN resolutions and an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

Trump is welcomed by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha / AP

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump on Tuesday was due to tour the main garrison for US troops stationed in South Korea, the sprawling Camp Humphreys, which lies about 60 miles from the border with reclusive North Korea. He will later hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Trump is seeking to further ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the US weaponry needed to do so, suggesting that the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.

The South Korea leg of Trumps trip is an effort to present a united front despite differences with Moon over how to confront North Korea, as well as Trump's complaints over the two countries' trade agreement and South Korean defence spending.

Trump has rattled some US allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States, for deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission and for dismissing as pointless any diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.
D onald Trumps administration is negatively impacting the world economy, a damning new report suggests.

Experts from across the world say the US government under Mr Trump has had a detrimental economic impact globally, according to a leading economic research group.

It is a year on Wednesday since the billionaire businessmans shock victory over Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election.

The German IFO Institute Centre collected data from 929 experts in 120 countries and found that almost 74 per cent believed that the US President is negatively influencing the world economy.

Just 2.3 per cent of the experts said the US President's influence on such policies were positive.

Donald Trump boasts things were not pleasant for US enemies in the past

Canada, Ireland and Mexico were the countries where Mr Trumps administration was considered to have had the worst impact, according to the draft report seen by the Standard.

Mr Trumps politics has significantly damaged international trade, global cooperation, peace and security, experts said.

His repeated threats and jibes at North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-Un on Twitter are likely to be a major factor in why specialists felt that he has damaged global cooperation, peace and security.

As recently as this weekend, he boasted to an audience in Japan that "things were not pleasant for enemies who had underestimated the US in the past". He also faced a backlash after branding London Mayor Sadiq Khan's response to the London Bridge terror attack as "pathetic" and tweeted that a rise in crime in the UK was down to "radical Islamic terror".

Hardest hit policy areas of Trumps negative influence, according to experts (%) Environmental protection : 68.1 Peace and Security: 59.2 International Cooperation: 59.2 Social Justice (domestic): 58.4 Health Care (domestic): 49

His threats to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement  an agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US  could also be a contributing factor.

Environmental protection, social justice and healthcare are the areas where his impact is considered to have been most negative in the US.

The Presidents move to pull the US from the Paris climate change agreement and his reversal of Obamacare could be the reason specialists felt this way.

US experts saw the least damaging results in his employment policy.

The IFO said: Trumps administration also scores poorly in international trade, cooperation in multilateral organisations, as well as in peace and security, ifo said.

Experts in neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico, as well as in Ireland claim that the US has a particularly bad influence on their countries.

A year after he was elected, Mr Trumps administration is considered to have hit the USs own economy hard.

Fifty-seven per cent of the experts who took part, including those from the US, said the Republican has had a "poor overall influence" domestically. His influence on social justice was considered to be just as poor.

But US experts thought his influence on the world economy was far worse than his impact domestically.

Some 38 per cent said his administration had a bad influence in the US, while 63 per cent said he impacted the international economy negatively.

929 financial experts from 120 countries were featured in the World Economic Survey (WES) from the Munich-based IFO Institute. The draft report is titled A Year after the Election  What are the economic impacts of the Trump Administration.

The same institute carried out a similar survey just after Mr Trump was elected, which found he represented a "major risk" to the world economy.

His opponent Hillary Clinton was viewed in a more positive light.
D onald Trump has Made America Grate, with almost eight out of 10 Britons saying his election has led to a fall in the USs standing in the world, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos MORI survey, published on the eve of the first anniversary of Mr Trumps election victory, highlighted that more women than men are critical of the US presidents impact on his countrys reputation.

It found that 78 per cent of people in Britain believe Mr Trumps election has had a negative effect on Americas global standing  49 per cent said it had made it a lot worse, and 29 per cent a little worse. Just six per cent said it had had a positive impact.

More women (82 per cent) than men (73 per cent) felt Mr Trump moving into the White House had tarnished Americas image abroad, as did 89 per cent of people with a degree, compared with 71 per cent of those without.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: Britons expectations of Donald Trump were low even before his inauguration  and since becoming president dont seem to have become much better. After becoming more positive during Barack Obamas term, President Trump is in danger of making Americas external image grate, in the eyes of Britons at least.

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During a visit to South Korea today, Mr Trump warned North Korea that the US is prepared to use the full range of its military power if needed to defend itself and its allies.

Speaking alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in, the US president said that while he hopes to use all tools short of military force, he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to prevent the North Korean dictator from threatening lives ... so needlessly.

But he also urged North Korea to do the right thing, adding I do see some movement, though he declined to elaborate.

The rhetoric was less aggressive than his branding of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as Little Rocket Man and his warnings of the risk of war.

The White House says Mr Trumps five-nation trip, which includes China, is intended to demonstrate US resolve over his hardline approach to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,052 adults across Britain between October 27 and November 1. Data are weighted.
Phone reports from citizens directly to the police or via Facebook led to the finding of several law offenders and subsequently to arrests, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) spokesperson said yesterday afternoon during a press conference.

In two different and unrelated cases reported by the PSP, reports from concerned citizens helped the force to act and to find the suspects of unlawful activities. In one case, authorities acted following the upload of a picture to a personal Facebook account.

In the first case, the PSP responded to a phone call from an unidentified source, who said that in a certain food and drinks establishment located at Rua de Hong Chau, in Taipa, there were people employed without legal authorization to work in the region.

After receiving the complaint on October 31, the PSP sent officers to the venue, where they found a man outside that was operating a food delivery motorcycle. When requested to show his documents to the police, the man provided a non-resident worker permit (commonly known as a blue card) and a driving license from Hong Kong.

The officers promptly noticed that the blue-card had a different job stated from the one the man was in fact performing. According to the PSP, the blue card stated Kitchen Assistant. Moreover, his driving license had not been registerd with the police in the region so it was considered that he was riding the delivery motorcycle illegally.

Further investigation uncovered a second man, a cook from the mainland, who did not possess any work permit but a safe conduct to visit Macau (travel permit).

The police also detained the individual responsible for the establishment, a man of 50 years from mainland China, on the accusation of facilitating illegal work.

In the second case, the police said they were alerted to an exhibitionist following the upload of a photo from a Facebook user showing a man seated on a motorcycle and displaying his genitals. According to the Facebook user, the situation was allegedly occurring in the Areia Preta district.

The PSP went to investigate and at around 8.30 p.m. on November 5, the officers spotted a man riding a motorcycle on Rua da Perola Oriental that resembled the one in the photo. The officers followed him and when he left a food establishment nearby and was preparing to ride the motorcycle again they stopped and questioned him.

The man, a permanent resident of Macau, aged 47, admitted that he was the same person as in the photo but said he did not remember the incident as he was intoxicated. The police also found out that he did not possess a permit to ride the motorcycle and that according to him, the motorcycle was his brother-in-laws.

He was accused of exhibitionism.

Mother and son involved in casino scam

Two local residents, a mother and her son, were involved in a swindle scheme that defrauded a Cotai casino some HKD900,000, the Judiciary Police (PJ) informed at a press conference.

The case started with a report from the casinos security that informed the PJ that the son  a croupier and employee of the casino  had been illegally siphoning gaming chips to a woman that authorities later discovered was his mother.

According to the casinos security team, which had been following the case for a while, there were two ways the duo were unlawfully obtaining credits. The first involved the woman being given more chips by her croupier son than she was entitled to for each winning play. The second occurred during the exchange of chips, when he would credit her with the double the amount she had traded in.

The security team collected evidence of 51 such incidents and calculated a combined loss of HKD130,000.

Last week the PJ organized a special surveillance unit to monitor the table where the man was working. On November 6 they were finally nabbed.

Questioned by the PJ, the suspects admitted the crimes and revealed surprisingly that the swindle, having started in July this year, had earned the duo around HKD900,000, more than six times what the casino had calculated.
N uclear testing in North Korea has left parts of the country barren and is causing babies to be born deformed, defectors have reported.

The area surrounding the Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site near Kilju is so contaminated by recent testing that it has been reduced to a wasteland, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

A group of defectors told the Research Association of Vision of North Korea how, in the North Hamgyong Province, 80 per cent of trees die and underground wells have run dry.

One member of the group, who all used to live in Kilju county, said locals were worried about radioactive contamination.

Punggye-ri: The test site is around 26 km from the town of Kiju / Google Maps

I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there, he said.

I spoke on the phone with family members I left behind there and they told me that all of the underground wells dried up after the sixth nuclear test, said another.

Locals described how former delicacies from the region like trout and pine mushrooms stopped growing after the first nuclear test in 2006.

Netanyahu: A nuclear Iran could be 'more dangerous' than North Korea

One person, who claimed to have lived through two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 before escaping, said local people were not warned in advance.

Only family members of soldiers were evacuated to underground shafts. Ordinary people were completely unaware of the tests, they said.

The defector added that, before nuclear testing, locals are ordered to dig deep holes for detonator-only tests - which can lead to human casualties.

I personally saw corpses floating down the river with their limbs severed," they said.

According to other sources, residents from Kilju have been banned from going to Pyongyang and, since Kim Jong Uns most recent nuclear test, are refused hospital appointments in the capital.

Anyone caught boarding trains from Kilju with samples of soil, water or leaves, are reportedly being arrested and sent to prison camps as officials attempt to contain the problem.

The claims came as US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea as part of his Asian tour.

The American leader will spend just 24-hours in the province but had made clear the norths nuclear ambitions are high on his agenda.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump / EPA

He flew in from Japan on Monday after telling reporters Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was "going to purchase massive amounts of military equipment" from the US.

Referencing North Korea's missiles, he said Mr Abe could "shoot them out of the sky" when he completed the purchase, which Mr Trump said would provide jobs to Americans as well as "safety for Japan".

The President will meet South Korean leader Moon Jae-In and is believed to focus on securing fresh terms for a trade deal with the America.

Before leaving for South Korea, Mr Trump tweeted: Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman. We will figure it all out!
T ech giant Apple moved offshore funds to the Channel Islands after a crackdown on tax laws in Ireland, the Paradise Papers suggest.

The company is alleged to have rearranged its affairs, moving the firm holding most of its untaxed overseas cash to Jersey, after changes were made to the low Irish tax regime.

The claims are the latest to emerge from the Paradise Papers, a huge leak of documents concerning the world of offshore finance. There is no suggestion that those involved, who also include the Queen, Bono and Lewis Hamilton, acted illegally.

In response to the claims, Apple said its move did not reduce tax payments in any country and "ensured that our tax obligation to the United States was not reduced".

The company said in a statement: "The debate over Apple's taxes is not about how much we owe but where we owe it.

"As the largest taxpayer in the world we've paid over 35 billion dollars in corporate income taxes over the past three years, plus billions of dollars more in property tax, payroll tax, sales tax and VAT.

"We believe every company has a responsibility to pay the taxes they owe and we're proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business."

Apple said it had paid paid over 35 billion dollars in corporate income taxes over the past three years / REUTERS

Until 2014, Apple channelled sales outside of America through Irish companies, which kept taxes low.

But the arrangement was the subject of an investigation by the EU Commission and resulted in a crackdown on practices in Ireland.

Paradise Papers documents show Apple's two key Irish subsidiaries, Apple Operations International and Apple Sales International, were managed by Bermuda-based legal firm Appleby's office in Jersey from the start of 2015 until early 2016, the BBC said.

The majority of the leaked Paradise Papers come from Appleby, which specialises in offshore accounts.

Apple said: "When Ireland changed its tax laws in 2015, we complied by changing the residency of our Irish subsidiaries and we informed Ireland, the European Commission and the United States.

"The changes we made did not reduce our tax payments in any country. In fact, our payments to Ireland increased significantly and over the last three years we've paid 1.5 billion dollars in tax there  7 per cent of all corporate income taxes paid in that country.

"Our changes also ensured that our tax obligation to the United States was not reduced."

It added: "We understand that some would like to change the tax system so multinationals' taxes are spread differently across the countries where they operate, and we know that reasonable people can have different views about how this should work in the future.

"At Apple we follow the laws, and if the system changes, we will comply."

Queen's offshore tax investments exposed in leaked Paradise Papers

It comes after the Paradise Papers claimed Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton avoided paying tax on his 16.5million private jet.

Among others said to be named in the tranche of material is former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft and US President Donald Trump's commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, who is reportedly linked to a Russian firm.

The Duchy of Lancaster, the private estate of the Queen, was found to have millions of pounds invested in offshore arrangements.

Around 10 million from the Queen's private fund was paid into funds in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda between 2004 and 2005, according to reports.
T his is the shocking moment a man hurled vile abuse and body shamed a female news reporter as she filmed a piece to camera outside court in Australia.

Maggie Raworth, a 9NEWS reporter, was covering the case of a pregnant woman in Victoria who was sentenced to eight years in jail over a New Years Eve crash that killed a teenager, the Australian news outlet reported.

As she was reporting outside Ballarat Magistrates' Court, a man appeared and started to hurl verbal abuse at her.

The man told her and her camera operator to get a real job before body shaming Ms Raworth.

The man approached the journalist while she was reporting outside court (MAggie Raworth/9NEWS)

F******* journos. Lowest of the low, he said.

He claimed that he makes more money than Ms Raworth before insulting the pair for choosing to follow their career as journalists.

He shouted: Take a look at this. I make ten times the f****** money you do.

Get a real job. Both of you, he added.

The journalist kept her cool in the face of the vitriol, asking the man Whats your problem, sir?

She added: What have I personally done to you?

He replied: You chose to be a journalist. Theres a million and one jobs in this world and you chose to be a lying piece of s*** for a living.

The man went on to insult Ms Raworths appearance and implied that she would soon lose her job.

He said: Give it five f****** years and youll be out of a job, all wrinkled up and s***.

I mean youre already getting fat and that so f***.

Ms Raworth started to film as she was concerned for her safety (Maggie Raworth/9NEWS)

The journalist started to film the man during the rant as she was concerned for her safety.

I thought he would hit me so I wanted to capture that, she told 9NEWS.

It upsets me about how misinformed people are about the work we do. I was most insulted by what he thinks of journalists and the work we do, Ms Raworth said.

I couldnt lie in a story. No journalist could get away with lying as our producers wouldnt let us.

The journalist said she often receives abuse when reporting outside court.

She brushed off the comments on her weight saying she is a confident person and he chose the wrong target.

Her story has been met with strong support from audience members online.

One Twitter user praised her and said, "Nobody should have to put up with that regardless of what you do as a job."

Police in Victoria are reportedly looking to charge the man with offensive behaviour.
W itnesses have spoken of their horror after a car crashed into a Sydney school classroom killing two eight-year-old boys and seriously injuring three children.

A Toyota Kluger vehicle, driven by a 52-year-old woman, ploughed into a classroom of 24 primary-age pupils and their teacher on Tuesday.

Pupils and parents at Banksia Road Primary School in the suburb of Greenacre who witnessed the crash described a scene of carnage.

A vigil for the two boys that were killed was held on Tuesday.

Sydney School Crash Vigil - In pictures 1 /8 Sydney School Crash Vigil - In pictures Members of the community attend a vigil outside Banksia Road Public School, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia EPA People react as parents collect their kids following a car accident at the Banksia Road Primary School in Greenacre, Sydney, Australia EPA Flowers are seen as members of the community attend a vigil outside Banksia Road Public School, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia EPA Members of the community attend a vigil outside Banksia Road Public School, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia EPA Members of the community attend a vigil outside Banksia Road Public School, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia EPA Members of the community attend a vigil outside Banksia Road Public School, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia EPA

Five children were rushed to hospital, including the two deceased boys and three girls, two aged eight and another aged nine, in a serious or stable condition.

Another 17 children and their teacher were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Paramedics arrived to "a scene of carnage" with "distressed and overwhelmed children and teachers", NSW Ambulance superintendent Stephanie Radnidge told reporters.

It was "pandemonium", Ms Radnidge said.

A man breaks down after hearing that two children died following the car accident / EPA

Local TV images showed the car stopping completely inside the primary classroom, which is decorated with childrens drawings and pictures.

A man at the scene, Khaled Arnaout, said he saw a "big hole" in the wall of the classroom after being drawn to it by screams.

He reportedly worked with at least three tradesman at the site to lift the vehicle off several children.

"Teachers and everyone were just running around," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

He added: "There was blood and kids on the floor, just lying down and screaming."

Parents collect their children following the crash at Banksia Road Primary School / EPA

Marian Issmail, a Year 4 student, was in a nearby classroom when the car careered into the school.

She told the Sydney Morning Herald: We were just doing work and then all of a sudden we heard this big bang.

They [students] were screaming and saying, I want my mum, I want help, she said.

Her mother Khadige Issmail was at Bankstown when she heard what had happened.

Everything went blank, she said. Thats everything. Its all my kids, my nephew.

Mohammad Badarani, a father at the school called the scenes terrifying and said he saw parents crying on the floor and crying for help.

The two boys died from their injuries at the hospital. A girl, nine, remains in a serious condition, while the two other eight-year-olds were stable, according to authorities.

A vigil was held at the school for the two boys later on Tuesday by students, teachers and family.

"A good heart has stopped beating, a good soul ascended to heaven," one message, that hung on the gates of the Greenacre school, read.

"You will never be forgotten."

Police confirmed the driver, who was not hurt, was taken to hospital for blood and urine tests and later charged with two counts of dangerous driving.

They confirmed that police are not investigating this as an intentional act, but as a crash.
T he gunman who killed 26 people at a Texas church was treated at a mental health centre in New Mexico and briefly escaped in 2012, according to a police report.

Devin Patrick Kelley was also caught trying to bring guns onto Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico when he was stationed there, according to a police report.

Kelley, who was 21 at the time, had made death threats against superior officers, the report said.

He was committed to a mental health facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, but at some point escaped and was later found by police at a bus station in downtown El Paso in June 2012.

Meanwhile at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, investigators continued analysing the crime scene and tried to gain access to the shooter's cellphone, a longstanding challenge for the FBI in thousands of other cases.

The scene outside the church on Sunday / AP

Authorities aimed to conclude the crime-scene investigation at the church by Wednesday evening. Investigators have no reason to believe anyone conspired with Kelley, who acted alone, said Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin.

Martin repeated earlier statements that the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic dispute involving Kelley and his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended services at the church but was not present on Sunday.

"We don't know what he was thinking or what was in his mind," Martin said. "There was conflict. He was upset with the mother in law."

The gunman's phone was flown to an FBI lab for analysis, but agents have yet to access it, said Christopher Combs, who is in charge of the agency's San Antonio division.

The inability to access the shooter's phone highlights a longstanding frustration of the FBI, which said it has been unable to retrieve data from half the mobile devices it tried to access in less than a year.

Director Christopher Wray said last month that in the first 11 months of the fiscal year, agents were unable to access the content inside more than 6,900 mobile devices, an issue he said stymies investigations.

The FBI and other law enforcement officials have long complained about being unable to unlock and recover evidence from cellphones and other devices seized from suspects even if they have a warrant. Technology companies have refused to help, insisting they must protect customers' digital privacy.

The long-simmering debate was on display in 2016, when the Justice Department tried to force Apple to unlock an encrypted cellphone used by a gunman in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. The department eventually relented after the FBI said it paid an unidentified vendor who provided a tool to unlock the phone and no longer needed Apple's assistance, avoiding a court showdown.

The Justice Department under president Donald Trump has suggested it will be aggressive in seeking access to encrypted information from technology companies. But in a recent speech, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein stopped short of saying exactly what action it might take.

Kelley had a history of domestic violence that spanned years before the attack and was able buy weapons because the Air Force did not submit his criminal history from his time in the military to the FBI, as required by military rules.

Gunman: Devin Kelley, 26, killed at least 26 people after opening fire during mass inside a Texas church

If Kelley's past offences had been properly shared, they would have prevented him from buying a gun, the Air Force acknowledged Monday.

Investigators also revealed that Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of the church, before the attack, and that sheriff's deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at his home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife.

Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for a 2012 assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull.

At a news conference in South Korea, Trump was asked if he would support "extreme vetting" for gun purchases in the same way he has called for "extreme vetting" for people entering the country. Trump responded by saying stricter gun control measures might have led to more deaths in the shooting because a bystander who shot at the gunman would not have been armed.

"If he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead," Trump said.

Investigators collected at least 15 empty magazines that held 30 rounds each at the scene, suggesting the assailant fired at least 450 rounds. About 20 people were wounded.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders, one of whom was armed, and crashed his car.

While in the military, Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and her child and had served a year of confinement after a court-martial. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes such as assault should be submitted to the FBI's Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

Stefanek said the service is launching a review of its handling of the case and taking a comprehensive look at its databases to ensure other cases have been reported correctly.

A few months before he received the bad-conduct discharge, the sheriff's deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend.

People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles north of the church, and had recently started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort.
T he US Air Force has admitted it failed to log information about Texas gunman Devin Kelleys criminal history that could have blocked him from purchasing guns.

Ex-airman Kelley killed 26 people and injured another 20 when he attacked a small church outside San Antonio.

It has since been revealed he was court-martialled for domestic violence in 2012 and barred from owning or buying guns.

However, last year he was able to purchase the rifle he used in Sundays attack, which was reportedly motivated by a row with his in-laws.

Investigators work at the scene of the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs / AP

He was found dead in his car after being chased from the church by armed bystanders. Police said he died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound.

The Air Force said in a statement: "Initial information indicates that [Devin] Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations."

Donald Trump Says Texas Shooting Is A Mental Health Problem, Not A Gun Problem

It said an investigation had been launched into the failure, in conjunction with the Department of Defense.

Kelley is believed to have been dishonourably discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial.

On his Facebook page, he appeared to have a fascination with guns, recently sharing a photo of an AR-15 style gun with the caption: "She's a bad b****."

An FBI official said that there was no terrorism investigation open at this time relating to the church massacre and that the Texas rangers were leading the probe.
S imon Cowell has broken his silence on the ongoing Hollywood sex abuse scandal, claiming he was put in situations when he was younger.

The music mogul, 58, weighed in on the crisis in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, James Toback and Jeremy Piven.

Cowell said the entertainment industry is not a nice business and that he hopes those involved will get what they deserve.

Speaking at the Music Industry Trusts Award he told The Sun: Look, I have grown up in the music business.

Disgraced: Producer Harvey Weinstein with his CBE in 2004 / PA

Even as a kid I was put in situations when I was first working you know, its not a very nice business.

He continued: I do [think there will be change] actually to be honest with you. People get what they deserve. Thats all Im going to say.

Society to burn Harvey Weinstein effigy at Bonfire Night event

Cowells comments came as Weinstein was expelled for life from the Television Academy because of widespread examples of this horrific behaviour.

The disgraced producer has been accused of harassment, assault and rape by scores of high profile actresses including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Rose McGowan. He has denied any claims of non-consensual sex.

Cowells attendance at Monday nights event, which was in aid of charities Nordoff Robbins and Brit Trust, marked his first red carpet appearance since falling down the stairs at his London home.

The father-of-one was forced to pull out of the first round of X Factor live shows after he was rushed to hospital.

The reality TV judge fainted due to low blood pressure while he was getting himself a glass of milk in the middle of the night.
A single mum who swapped lives with a rich family for a TV show splurged on a 500 watch for her son after struggling to spend the couples massive 3,000-a-week budget.

Mother-of-four Claire Lee, who is among the poorest 10 per cent in Britain, spent a week living the life of the wealthy Alsoud family, from the richest 10 per cent.

School finance clerk Ms Lee usually lives on 170 a week after bills, meaning the family cannot afford to go to the cinema but instead enjoys board game evenings and film nights.

But for one week she lived the life of doctors Mahrous and Rana Alsoud, who enjoy a 3,000 weekly budget after their mortgage payments, for Channel 5 show Rich House, Poor House.

The wealthy Alsoud family in Wolverhampton. / Channel 5

The high-flying couple, who grew up in Syria before moving to the UK in 2000, live in a five-bedroom mansion in a leafy part of Wolverhampton.

Handed the 3,000 budget, Ms Lee  who usually has no money left over after necessities - was shocked and struggled to find what to spend it on. She ended up splurging on 50 of fillet steak and other luxury supermarket food as well as 140 in new toys and a 500 watch for her son to use up the extra money.

The Lee family of five live off 170 a week. / Channel 5

She also enjoyed a 70 family takeaway and gave her children horse riding and piano lessons.

But cardiologist Mahrous and paediatrician Rana were forced to move into Ms Lees cramped terraced house and swapping four bathrooms for one.

The couples daughter Zain, 15, said: 'I am so grateful I have been sheltered from it my whole life. I am really lucky.

The Alsoud family swapped their 3,000-a-week budget for 170. / Channel 5

Ms Lee said: I cannot comprehend that a job pays that much money that at the end you still have that much... at the end.

"I'm not saying that the Alsouds haven't worked incredibly hard to get to that position they are in, but to help your children however you want and be able to do it... [it] must be lovely to give them the best start in life.

The show returns for a second series on Thursday on Channel 5 at 9pm.

It won TV moment of the year at this years Edinburgh TV Festival and nominated for an award at the prestigious Grierson Awards.
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The result of the American presidential election is still hanging in the balance hours after the last polls officially closed.

Votes are still being counted in the key state of Florida where it seems there are only a few hundred votes separating the two would-be presidents.

Early exit polls claimed Republican George W Bush had taken the Sunshine State  but the claim was later retracted.

The Democrat White House hopeful, Al Gore, had apparently been on the verge of admitting defeat.

He had already phoned Mr Bush to offer his congratulations when he was told the Florida result was still too close to call.

Mr Gore telephoned Governor Bush a second time to withdraw his concession.

He said: Circumstances have changed since I first called you.

We have now learned we are down by only about 600 votes out of millions cast and that means an automatic recount.

The election campaign has been one of the closest for years.

National polls gave Governor Bush a slender lead as voters went to the polls but one survey gave Al Gore a two point advantage suggesting he could still win the race.

A high turnout of blacks and union members appears to have helped Mr Gore in the large industrial states.

Jeb Bush, Mr Bushs brother and governor of Florida, had promised to deliver the state for his brother.

The Texas governor appeared to hold a slender advantage in a string of swing states, including Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Nevada.

If he wins in Florida, he will probably have enough electoral college votes to become president.

It is possible Mr Bush could win the electoral college but lose the popular vote. This has not happened since 1888 when Benjamin Harrison became President even though Grover Cleveland had amassed more votes.

Mr Bush closed his White House campaign by vowing to be a uniter not a divider if elected president and Mr Gore promised to fight for you.

If Mr Bush were to win, he would be the first son of a former president to win the White House since John Quincy Adams was elected in 1824.

For Mr Gore, the son of a senator, victory would represent fulfilment of a childhood ambition and the culmination of 24 years as a congressman, senator and vice-president.

He ended his campaign with a whistle-stop tour of five states, ending in Florida. He was joined in Miami by celebrity supporters including actors Robert de Niro, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck and Stevie Wonder.

Courtesy BBC News

In

context

Texas Governor George Bush was eventually declared President-elect on 13 December 2000 after a protracted legal battle.

The vote in Florida went to a hand-count. But it turned out thousands of votes had been discarded by automatic machines because voters were supposed to knock out a small rectangle of card next to their choice of candidate and many were not punched properly.

The bits of card, known as chads, gave rise to serious complaints. Many black Americans claimed they had been disenfranchised after it was revealed the oldest and least reliable voting machines were placed in black precincts.

An inquiry carried out after the result had been decided concluded that more than 180,000 votes were thrown out as a result of poorly trained poll workers and a lack of standard procedures.

On 13 December 2000 Al Gore conceded victory to George W Bush.

It followed the Supreme Courts decision to impose a deadline for the recounts which, in effect, ruled out several thousand votes. It meant George W Bush won by just 537 votes out of a total of six million in Florida.

Al Gore did not stand for the 2004 presidential election  despite a vociferous campaign by supporters who wanted to see a re-match of the 2000 election.
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Ahead of President Donald Trumps visit to Beijing, literary luminaries such as Margaret Atwood and Philip Roth are calling on China to free the widow of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

A letter issued through the writers organization PEN America asks that China remove restrictions on Liu Xias freedom of movement and allow her to meet freely with whomever she wishes.

Liu Xia has undergone great suffering for many years, simply for being the wife of a man that China has deemed to be a dissident, the letter said. She should be free to meet freely with family, friends, and members of the international community, free to travel where she wishes, and free to be reunited with the outside world.

Others signing the letter include Chimamanda Adichie, Louise Erdrich, Robert Pinsky and Stephen Sondheim.

In a news release last week, PEN Americas executive director, Suzanne Nossel, said the writers hope Trump will voice the United States concern about the inhumane and unjustifiable detention of a poet who has been accused of no crime.

An accomplished poet and artist, Liu Xia has been under unofficial house arrest since Liu Xiaobo was awarded the 2010 prize while serving an 11-year prison sentence for incitement to subvert government power resulting from his co-authoring a manifesto calling for political reform. Her whereabouts since his July 13 death of liver cancer are unclear.

China has dismissed all previous calls for her freedom, including from the United Nations human rights chief.

Trump arrives in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has overseen a wide-ranging crackdown on civil liberties under the strict authoritarian rule of the Communist Party. AP
Russia is delaying making repairs to a Russian nuclear sub India leased and the reason appears to be Russian suspicion that India is violating the lease agreement and allowing American naval personnel to get a close look at the Russian sub. This is prohibited by the lease agreement, which included a clause that called for a Russian naval officer to be aboard the leased sub at all times to prevent such snooping and to provide technical assistance. There is also a dispute over the extent of the damage. The sonar dome has a hole in it and this occurred while the sub was at sea last August. But it is believed the damage may have been made worse, or be entirely because of a collision while the sub was navigating the narrow channel it has to pass through to reach its southern India base at Vizag. If the damage is too extensive the sub would have to return to Russia for repairs and be out of action for a lot longer. The Indian inspection team has already delivered its report but Russia insisted on sending its own inspection team to examine the damaged sonar dome.

India finally received its Akula II SSN (nuclear attack submarine), the Nerpa, in 2010 on a ten year lease. The Nerpa was built for this Indian deal and finally completed its sea trials and was accepted into Russian service in late 2009. India was supposed to take it in 2008 but there have been many delays. The Indian crew for the Nerpa had been ready since 2008.

Most of the delays stemmed from an accident in late 2008 when, while undergoing sea trials, there was an accidental activation of the fire extinguisher system on the Nerpa. This killed 20 sailors and civilians and injured more than 20. There were 208 people aboard the sub at the time, most of them navy and shipyard personnel there to closely monitor all aspects of the sub as it made its first dives and other maneuvers. The source of the fatal accident was poor design and construction of the safety systems on the sub. This accident led to sailors and shipyard technicians being fearful of going to sea on the boat. So the sea trials were delayed, even after repairs were made. The post-accident modifications on the Nerpa cost $65 million. Traditionally, when a new ship loses lots of people during sea trials it is regarded as "cursed" and unlucky. Sailors can be a bit superstitious, especially when there are dead bodies involved. So far India has not had any problems with this, until now.

When Nerpa finally entered Indian service it was renamed the INS Chakra (the same name used by the Charlie class Russian sub India leased from 1988-91). The lease arrangement has India paying $178,000 a day, for ten years, for use of the sub. The 7,000 ton Akula II requires a crew of 73 highly trained sailors.

It was Indian money that enabled Russia to complete construction on at least two Akulas. These boats were less than half finished at the end of the Cold War. This was another aftereffect of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Several major shipbuilding projects were basically put on hold (which still cost a lot of money), in the hopes that something would turn up. In this case it was Indians with lots of cash and seeking to lease a sub.

Meanwhile India has designed and built its own nuclear sub, the INS Arihant. This is basically a development craft, and mass production of Indian designed nuclear subs is still years away. In February 2017 the 5,000 ton SSBN (ballistic missile carrying sub) Arihant completed sea trials and entered service. This comes after twelve years of planning and construction. Arihant was supposed to enter service before the end of 2015 but there were more unforeseen technical problems to fix. Nevertheless Arihant was commissioned as a navy ship in August 2016 even though it had not carried out its sea trials. These commenced in late 2016 and were successful. In 2015 India decided to start construction of six SSNs based on what was learned building the SSBN Arihant. The unlucky Russian Charka sub will enable India to train more nuclear sub sailors in the meantime.

Meanwhile negotiations to lease another Akula II sub are not making much progress. In 2013 India is sought to lease the second sub, in part because of the recent loss of a Russian made Kilo sub to an accidental explosion and continuing delays in building new diesel-electric and nuclear subs in India. India offered to supply the cash to complete an Akula class nuclear sub that Russia halted work on in the 1990s because of money shortages. India believed that work could be completed in about four years and then that sub would enter Indian service. India believed this would cost about a billion dollars but now India has found that the work would take six years and cost over $2 billion. This has stalled negotiations. Russia is also believed to suspect that a growing number of Indian naval officers have become so dissatisfied with Russian ships and poor Russian workmanship and repairs that they might pass details of the Akula II India already has to U.S. Navy officers they work with.
Who controls Syria once ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and other rebels are defeated? It is basically a showdown between Iran (which has been at war with Israel since the 1980s) and Israel (which does not want Iranian military forces on its Syrian border under any circumstances). Iran is also at war with Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies. Not surprisingly the Saudis and Israel have been cooperating more since 2001 because of this shared threat. Yet the Arabs in general have a problem as they have been insisting that Israel does not have the right to exist since Israel was created in 1947 and decades of state sponsored propaganda leaves a lot of Arabs confused as Israel and Saudi Arabia cooperate to deal with Iran. .

The Saudis are likely to become more public about their alliance with Israel because the Sunni Arabs believe they can rely on Israel more than their Western allies and that will require more open joint operations soon. The Western allies can back off from a fight while the Israelis cannot as they, and Saudi Arabia, are the main Iranian objectives. Iran is moving forward towards a confrontation and given past performance, might agree to back off if offered enough of an incentive.

When it comes to Iran Israel has some very public backing from Russia despite the fact that this puts Russia at odds with their two other allies (Turkey and Iran) in Syria. The Russians see the Israelis as a more powerful and reliable ally that the Turks or Iranians. Russia is also backing the Kurds in Syria and that is causing problems with Turkey. For example on October 31st Russia invited the Syrian Kurds to a November 18th Syrian Congress on National Dialogue conference in Russia. The Kurds were among 33 groups invited to a UN backed effort to work out a peace deal for post-war Syria. Russia has long tried to play peacemaker even though to make any progress it must offend its new allies Turkey and Iran. Russia is recognizing the key role the Syrian Kurds played in defeating ISIL in Syria and driving ISIL out of Raqqa. In contrast Turkey and Iran want to attack the Syrian Kurds and force them to submit to Assad rule. A week later Turkey said it had convinced Russia to allow the Syrian Kurds to attend. That was incorrect but Russia did postpone the conference until it could deal with Turkish objections.

ISIL Withers But Does Not Die

ISIL has lost all its major urban areas, more recently Raqqa and Deir Ezzor city in eastern Syria. Overall ISIL has lost 98 percent of the territory it controlled at their peak in late 2014. At that point ISIL controlled about ten million people in Syria and Iraq. Now they control less than 100,000.

Syrian forces are moving down the Euphrates River valley towards the Iraq border, clearing out remaining ISIL forces as they go. At the Iraqi border Iraqi troops (and Iran backed Shia militia) have already captured both sides of a key border crossing.

Up north the Kurds still control most of the Turkish border but the Turks are making their move to change that. Down south rebels still hold a lot of the Jordan border while the Israeli border is mixed with Syrian troops holding about half and various rebel groups the rest. Syrian forces control most of the Lebanon border. There is still a lot of fighting expected and before this is over (sometime in 2018) about half a million will have died in the war, most of them Syrians.

Libya is seen as the new ISIL base area. That is not working out so well because if there is one thing most Libyans can agree on is the need to keep ISIL out. With their headquarters in Syria gone, along with most of the territory ISIL had controlled until about a year ago, Libya still has to deal with more than a thousand ISIL members seeking to establish base areas (for training and planning operations worldwide).

As happened in Syria, Iraq Afghanistan and elsewhere harsh ISIL rule enraged many of the locals. In Libya ISIL punished or executed people for minor infractions of what ISIL considers proper Islamic lifestyle and that eventually backfired. ISIL definitely believes that if you cant be loved by your subjects than fear is an acceptable substitute. That approach works both ways and ISIL lost in Libya and most everywhere else.

ISIL also needs money and with the Syrian oil income gone people and drug smuggling gangs have become more important, especially in Libya and Afghanistan. ISIL remains the most effective hired guns smuggling gangs can get. But even ISIL cannot stand up to the Western troops or determined local militias.

November 6, 2017: In the east, (Deir Ezzor province) a roadside bomb wounded five Russian soldiers and four Russian journalists.

November 4, 2017: The Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri resigned while visiting Saudi Arabia. Hariri, who was raised in Saudi Arabia and maintained a second home there, was persuaded to become the new Lebanese prime minister in late 2015 despite the fact that his father had been murdered by Hezbollah in 2005 after leaving the same job. The Hariri clan and many other prominent Lebanese Sunnis and Christians have complained about Iran backed (and created) Shia Hezbollah militia taking control of Lebanon. This has happened even though the Shia are a minority in Lebanon but with Iran backed Hezbollah have managed to develop a veto over most government decisions.

November 3, 2017: In the east, (Deir Ezzor province) Syrian troops cleared the last ISIL held areas of the provincial capital (Deir Ezzor city). At this point Syrian forces will move southeast to clear the Euphrates River valley to the Iraqi border. There ISIL today lost control of Qaim on the Iraqi side of the border. ISIL had had controlled this town since 2014. Qaim was special because it was the main border crossing between Iraq and Syria and increasingly hit with airstrikes and now ground forces as well. ISIL lost most other border towns already but held onto Qaim as long as they could because it was a key link in the main road from Mosul to Raqqa. That link is apparently no longer considered essential because ISIL no longer occupies Raqqa or Mosul. But the Qaim crossing also opens the way for a Iran-to-Lebanon highway for Shia forces. American backed rebels in Syria might still block use of that road.

In the southwest (Quneitra province) al Nusra rebels attacked Hader, an Assad controlled Druze village near the Israeli border. The attack began with a suicide car bomb exploding. This killed at least nine and wounded over 20. There was a lot of gunfire after that but the remaining rebels in the attack force appeared to retreat. Later that day, under pressure from the Druze community on the Israeli side of the border, Israel agreed to do what it could to keep the Islamic terrorists away from the Hader but would not send Israeli troops into Syria.

The Druze in Syria (about five percent of the population) turned against the Assad government by 2015. At this point Israel had, for several years, been letting badly wounded Syrians in for medical treatment but with Islamic terror groups like Al Nusra and ISIL operating on the border by 2015 and threatening Syrian Druze the situation has become tense. This led some Israeli Druze to assume that wounded Syrians were often al Nusra or ISIL men and there were some violent attacks on ambulances. One mid-2015 attack led to the murder of the Syrian patient. Israeli soldiers had been injured trying to protect ambulance crews and patients. Israeli police managed to track down the Israeli Druze responsible for the violence and end it.

Israeli Druze leaders had condemned the attacks and that helped the police investigation because the Druze can be very secretive (a centuries old trait). At the same time Druze leaders announced that Israeli Druze have raised nearly $3 million for Syrian Druze by 2015 and that fund raising continues. In 2015 Israel announced that it had told Syrian rebels across the border that if they wished to continue receiving Israeli medical aid for their badly wounded they must leave the Syrian Druze alone and help protect them from harm. Since late 2014 al Nusra and other Syrian rebels have come to control most of the border adjacent to Israel. This created problems with the Israeli Druze who feared for the safely of the 500,000 Syrian Druze.

The 130,000 Israeli Druze have been pressuring Israel since 2013 to rescue or help protect Druze living across the border in Syria. Israel has agreed to help but never released a lot of details. The solution apparently involved quietly making deals with Syrian rebels. This solution meant there was no need to allow lots of Syrian Druze into Israel or send Israeli troops across the border to establish a safe zone for Syrian Druze. This would preserve the lands of Syrian Druze and not turn them into refugees, but would also be more expensive (in cash and lives) for Israel by establishing a new border.

In 2015 Al Nusra was temporarily allied with ISIL and both these groups, especially ISIL, were very hostile to Druze (a semi-Islamic sect considered heretical by most mainline Moslems). By 2015 over a hundred Druze had already been murdered by Islamic terrorists in Syria and there was a sense of desperation among Israeli Druze. Al Nusra apologized for Druze their men killed recently but ISIL was unapologetic. Other Syrian rebel groups were willing to leave the Druze alone and even protect them in order to gain immunity from Israeli attacks. With ISIL gone from the Israeli border by late 2017 al Nusra and Assad forces control most of the Israeli border. Al Nusra has replaced ISIL as the source of most Islamic terror attacks.

November 1, 2017: In central Syria (Homs province) an Israeli airstrike did major damage to an industrial facility outside the city. Locals indicated that that plant and storage area had long been used by the Syrian military and may have contained a chemical weapons facility. All Syrian chemical weapons are supposed to be gone since a 2013 Russian brokered deal. But in the last few years there have been a number of confirmed instances where Syrian forces used chemical weapons.

October 31, 2017: In the northeast (Hasakah province) Turkish police found a smuggling tunnel under the border to the Kurdish town of Qamishli. The entrance on the Syrian side was blocked. The tunnel was about six meters (20 feet) beneath the surface.

The U.S. revealed that in the last two months they had killed 11 senior ISIL officials in Iraq and Syria, most of them having something to do with weapons development, finance, media and transportation. This is why the ISIL program of arming commercial UAVs with explosives suddenly disappeared and why so many ISIL dead appeared malnourished while captured (or surrendered) ISIL fighters talked of growing shortages of food and all manner of supplies. Large stockpiles of these supplies are being captured in Syria and Iraq but the organization that once arranged for distribution of this stuff were in disarray, in large part because the few senior ISIL officials who knew how it worked have recently been killed (while the few others have disappeared and appear to have used their resources to get out of the region). Another purpose of this decapitation (going after key leaders) campaign was to reduce the number of ISIL fighters getting home, especially if they came from the West. It was also noted that these decapitation attacks were hurting ISIL media operations, which were once the most successful among many Islamic terror groups. As suspected the last of the ISIL media experts were in Raqqa because after that city was captured by Kurd led rebels two weeks ago, ISIL media activity took a sharp drop. It is believed that ISIL still has some media experts out there and that they are seeking a new base of operations.

Russia announced that one of its Kilo class diesel-electric submarines in the Mediterranean had launched three Kalibr cruise missiles against ISIL targets in eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province). Russia makes these announcements as part of a promotional program for sales of its Kilo subs and various Russian made weapons they can be equipped with. This marketing approach is working and that is one reason Russia also revealed that it would not reduce its air force activity in Syria now that ISIL was beaten but would increase it. Russia is more confident of using its new aircraft models in combat now that it has found and fixed various minor problems with some of these aircraft and the smart bombs and guided missiles they use.

October 27, 2017: Iraq called a halt on its offensive against its autonomous Kurdish provinces in northern Iraq. In return the Iraqi government expects the Kurds to turn over control of border crossings (to Turkey and Syria) as the Kurds has already (before the Iraqi October 16 offensive against its Kurds) agreed to. This agreement allows the Iraqi forces to direct all their military forces towards the remaining ISIL held territory along the Syrian border. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are believed to have persuaded the Iraqi government to call off the offensive but the details of that are not yet known. The U.S. led air coalition continued its airstrikes in Iraq along with support on the ground and extensive logistic, technical and intelligence support.

October 26, 2017: In the east (Hasakah province) the main border crossing (Fishkhabour) with Iraq came under threat of attack on the Iraqi side by Iran-backed Shia militias and Iraqi troops. This threat did not materialize for several days but is apparently still present. If the Iraqi troops did make a move they would be an attack on one of the original (since the early 1990s) autonomous Kurdish provinces (Dohuk). Fishkhabour is also near one of the main border crossings to Turkey (Ibrahim Khalil). This border crossing was turned over the Iraqi government control on the 30th, which was according to an existing agreement. That deal will also turn control of the Fishkhabour to the Iraq government later. This crossing to Syria connects Iraqi Kurds with Syrian Kurd controlled Hasakah province. Losing access to this would make it more difficult for American troops who aid and advise the Kurds from moving between Syria and Iraq. Turkey wants this as well as Iran and the Assad government.

The UN released a report on an investigation into continued chemical weapons use in Syria. The report confirmed that the Assad government used nerve gas against a pro-rebel village in Idlib province during April 2017, an attack that killed over 83 (30 of them children) and left over 300 with nerve gas related injuries. This is a war crime that many UN members are demanding be prosecuted. As expected the Assads denied the charges safe in the knowledge that their ally Russia would use their veto to block any major war crimes prosecution. The UN investigators had concluded early on that the April attack used nerve gas but the latest report confirms that the nerve gas was delivered by the Assad forces. Another part of this report confirmed that ISIL used mustard gas in several September 2016 attacks.

Nerve gas was first used in combat during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) and Syrian patron Iran was believed to have let the Syrians know details of how nerve gas worked in combat. In 2013 the Assads knew that once they defeated the rebels they could rebuild the plants that manufacture the nerve and mustard gas and rebuild their pre-rebellion stocks in a few years. It was believed that the Assads would not hold onto a secret stash of mustard and sarin as using it would get them in even more trouble. It is doubtful that the Assads would sell any secret stash because it would likely be used against them. But in late 2013 there were suspicions that some of the Assad chemical weapons were not accounted for. The Americans doubt that ISIL had any success manufacturing chemical weapons. It was already known that ISIL was creating primitive chemical weapons by filling 120mm mortar shells with potentially lethal industrial chemicals (like chlorine or grain fumigant). Chemicals like this can be lethal to humans in large quantities, but when used in a mortar shell or as part of a vehicle bomb the amounts victims might be exposed to only have temporary effects ranging from nausea to poor vision, problems breathing and so on.

Nerve gas is different and the effects are unmistakable, gruesome and often fatal. Moreover the ability to accurately identify the composition or chemical weapons residue has improved greatly since the 1980s. Each batch of chemical weapons is a little different, especially rarely manufactured items like mustard or the various nerve agents (some are a gas some are an aerosol). Chemical analysis can quickly identify the type and identifying profile of the samples taken from a victim or the vicinity of the attack. This analysis was done to some of the Syrian stuff surrendered and destroyed in 2014. That means any use of chemical weapons leaves an informative data trail that can be read and followed.

October 25, 2017: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) SDF forces reported being attacked eight kilometers from Deir Ezzor city by ISIL and Assad forces. The ISIL attack force was largely destroyed while the Kurds fired back as the Assad forces and maintained their position.

October 24, 2017: Lebanese media confirmed that Hezbollah was withdrawing all its forces from Syria in early 2018. Hezbollah had earlier told the media about how soon its next war with Israel will happen but a lot of Lebanese were dubious. So were the Israelis who reported that Israeli military analysts agreed with that because the chatter (monitoring of attitudes in Lebanon among Hezbollah supporters and Lebanese in general) indicates that another Hezbollah war now would be unlikely. At the moment Hezbollah military power is crippled by losses (nearly 2,000 dead) in Syria and the continued deployment of about a third of their available forces there. In addition a significant number of veteran personnel are working in Iraq and Yemen supporting local pro-Iran Shia militias. More Hezbollah personnel will be heading back to Gaza now that Hamas has resumed its alliance with Iran. Same with Iranian efforts to form a Syrian Hezbollah along the Israeli border, especially the Golan Heights. This effort is led by the Quds Force and Hezbollah commanders who have long worked directly for Quds. In the long term (the 2020s) Iran is building something that is more than another bit of destroy Israel propaganda. By establishing military bases in Syria and organizing a branch of Hezbollah in Syria Iran has legal justification for stationing Iranian troops in Syria. Unless Israel interferes Iran could rebuild the Syrian military, especially the Syrian ballistic missile stockpile. Iran would have time (and money) to deal with the financial problems that are crippling Hezbollah and Hamas. Thus by the mid-2020s Iran would be in a much stronger position for attacking Israel. That would include the new Israeli natural gas fields off the coast near the Lebanese border. Hezbollah getting out of Syria is a necessity for Hezbollah which grew even more unpopular in Lebanon over the last five years.

October 23, 2017: In the south (outside Damascus) there was an outbreak of fighting between FSA rebels and nearly ISIL groups. This happened in a ceasefire zone that FSA had agreed to but ISIL had not. Nevertheless the local ISIL forces informally complied (most of the time) with the ceasefire, until now. This may have had something to do with the recent ISIL loss of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor city.

October 21, 2017: In the south (Israeli border), five small rockets fired from Syria landed in the Israeli Golan Heights and in response Israeli artillery fired on three Syrian army artillery positions. Israel has adopted a policy of only firing on the Syrian Army if anyone fires into the Golan Heights. There are a number of different groups in southern Syria that have a presence on the Israeli border. Israel suspects this particular incident was carried out by Hezbollah. Rather than try to determine exactly who fired into Israel each time Israel retaliates against the Assad forces as an encouragement to actually take control of their southern border. Earlier in 2017 the Assads said they now controlled the border with Israel and they may or may not.

In central Syria (Homs province) ISIL forces retreated from the town of Qaryatayn and Syrian soldiers entered to find that the Islamic terrorists had killed over a hundred residents before they withdrew (rather than fight Syrian troops inside the town). This sort of thing has become common in Homs province as ISIL forces retreating from towns they had long held are often murdering dozens of civilians before they leave and taking some civilians with them to use as hostages.

Russia used its UN veto to block a proposal to continue investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The UN had investigated and confirmed accusations that Assad forces used nerve gas earlier in 2017.

October 20, 2017: In the east (Raqqa province) the U.S. supported SDF (largely Kurdish) militia declared their effort to take control of the ISIL capital of Raqqa was completed. Now the SDF Syrian Kurds have to decide what to do about the Iraqi and Iranian threats join forces and attack the Iraqi and Syrian Kurdish areas. The SDF suspected the same sort of thing will happen to them. Since mid-2017 Iran led Iraqi Shia militiamen have entered an area (Hasakah province) that has largely been under Kurdish control since 2012 and the Syrian Kurds warned Iraqis to stay out. These accidental incursions apparently had more to do with the Iranian goal of establishing a safe (for Iranian arms shipments) land route from Iran to Lebanon. A major highway crosses the border in the area where the Iraqi Shia militia are operating, now on both sides of the border.

October 19, 2017: In the south (Israeli border), , a mortar shell fired from Syria landed in Israel and within hours Israeli artillery tanks fired on an Syrian army mortar position visible from the Israeli side of the border.

In the east (Deir Ezzor province) SDF handed over control of the largest natural gas field to Russia. SDF had captured this Conoco natural gas facility in late September. The Conoco (an American company) connection ended in 2005 when the Syrian government took possession of the facility.

October 18, 2017: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) a Syrian Army general (Issam Zahreddine) died when his vehicle his a landmine. Zahreddine was a veteran (1980s) officer and a commander of 7,000 Syrian Republican Guard troops clearing ISIL out of the province.

In Nineveh Province Kurdish forces withdrew, as they had earlier agreed, from the border town of Rabia and the major border crossing with Syria.

Russia made it clear their forces in Syria will not be reduced anytime soon because with the rebels defeated Russia has two military bases in Syria to develop and agreements to continue training and rebuilding the Syrian military. Opinion polls in Russia show 54 percent of Russians approve of the Russian efforts in Syria, but 34 percent oppose the Syrian operation and that percentage is increasing. While the government has kept Russian casualties down it has not demonstrated how the expensive operations in Syria are helping the average Russian.

October 16, 2017: Senior Russian military officials visited Israel and met with their Israeli counterparts. This was the first time a Russian Minister of Defense had visited Israel and, as expected, some major agreements were worked out and details of some were made public. Apparently Israel and Russia confirmed some modifications to their agreement on what Russia would do to keep Iranian forces (including Iranian backed Shia militias like Hezbollah) away from the Israeli border. Israel wanted the Russians to keep the Iranians at least 60 kilometers from the border but the Russians have agreed to smaller buffer zones (10-20 kilometers) and are willing and able to enforce those buffer zones. In part this is done by telling the Assad government that continued Russian assistance for the Assads is contingent on the Assads cooperating with the Russians in keeping the Iranians away from the border. At the same time the Russians do not interfere with Israeli air and missile strikes on Iranian weapons shipments moving from Syria to Lebanon (for Hezbollah). Syria protests via the media but does little beyond that. This cozy relationship with Israel is more valuable to Russia than any deals it has with Iran. Russia recognizes that Israel has the strongest economy in the region as well as the most capable military and nuclear weapons. After the Russian delegation left a senior Israeli official visiting Japan repeated that Israel would, if necessary, use military force to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

In the west (Lebanon border) an Israeli reconnaissance jet flying along the Syrian border was fired on by a Syrian air defense unit based across the border in Syria. The Syrian SA-5 anti-aircraft missile missed the Israeli jet, as these missiles have done several times already in 2017. Three hours later an Israeli airstrike hit the Syrian SA-5 unit. The SA-5 is a 1960s design that Russia has updated and Syria received the latest S-200 version of the missile in 2010.

October 14, 2017: In Syria an IRGC general (Abdollah Khosravi) was killed while commanding Shia mercenaries. Khosravi was known to be involved organizing a unit of Shia volunteers from Iran and Iraq.

October 13, 2017: In the north (Idlib province, west of Aleppo and bordering Turkey) another 80 Turkish troops entered Syria in twelve armored vehicles. The Turks have kept their troops strength in Syria low. At first (August 2016) only about a thousand troops came in but occasionally Turkish troop levels increased by several thousand, most of those coming to the border or crossing it briefly. The Turks have kept their own casualties down (71 dead so far) and depended on Turk supported FSA Syrian rebels (about 12,000 of them) to do most of the fighting (and losing about 600 dead in the process).

October 11, 2017: In Damascus three suicide bombers tried to get into a police station but failed and two of them detonated. The three attackers and two policemen died. There are still some rebel held areas outside the capital and a lot more Syrians in government controlled communities that are hostile to the Assad government. It is much more difficult for Islamic terrorists to get into the capital and carry out attacks, but what happened today shows it is still possible.
The airwaves above your house are packed with signals that usually live side-by-side with no problems, but sometimes interference can occur. When it comes to digital TV reception, cellular signals on nearby frequencies can mess up your picture.

Strong signals can disrupt and interfere with television signals causing pictures to momentarily break up or making the channel impossible to receive. In those circumstances, an LTE filter can help.

What is the LTE problem?

Television broadcasting in the United States is split between three frequency bands, with the majority of broadcasters using the UHF band.

UHF currently runs from 470MHz to 698MHz and includes channels 14 to 51, but it used to be wider. Until 2009, television broadcasting went up to channel 69 at 806MHz, but that upper portion was reallocated to cellular carriers to help them cope with surging demand for 4G wireless.

Rob Schultz/IDG Demand for mobile broadband spectrum has slowly shrunken the TV broadcast band in the U.S.

That placed LTE signals directly adjacent to TV broadcasting and at frequencies that many TVs and antennas were designed to receive. Under most conditions, a TV will ignore those higher frequencies, but if the signals are strong enough, they can bleed over into the lower frequencies used by television stations and cause interference.

What is the solution to LTE interference?

An LTE filter is designed to stop interference by aggressively clamping down on radio signals outside of the TV broadcast band.

The filter sits inline with the antenna cable, so it only affects signals traveling between the antenna and the TV and wont affect LTE reception for nearby phones and tablets.

The diagram below shows the signal response from an antenna with and without an LTE filter. The unfiltered connection (the lighter red) has strong signals above the 700MHz top of the broadcast TV band, but with a filter (the darker red) those signals are significantly reduced so they wont interfere with TV reception.

Antop Antenna/IDG Antenna plots from a network analyzer show the effect of a 700MHz filter on signal reception.

How to choose the right filter
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others may pose a threat to American democracy, suggests a new report from The Omidyar Group.

The report follows recent disclosures about targeted dark post advertising, fake news and other abuses propagated by Russian troll farms during the 2016 presidential election.

Among the questions the report raises is whether the U.S. government may need to take steps to protect the public from future influence campaigns that could undermine the very foundation of a free society, wrote billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar in a Washington Post op-ed published earlier this week.

For all the ways this technology brings us together, the monetization and manipulation of information is swiftly tearing us apart, he wrote. From foreign interference in our elections to targeted campaigns designed to confuse and divide on important issues, groups looking for an important way to infiltrate and influence our democracy have found generous hosts in the world of social media.

Bias, Manipulation, Intolerance

There are six major ways social media directly threatens democratic ideals, according to the report:

Facilitating echo chambers and hyperpartisanship; Spreading false or misleading information; Conflating popularity with legitimacy; Providing tools for political manipulation; Allowing microtargeting to influence behavior change; and Amplifying hate speech, intolerance and exclusion.

Facebook plans to release information regarding the extent of Russian efforts to target U.S. voters, COO Sheryl Sandberg told Axios in an extensive interview, but she hedged when asked specifically whether the company was aware of collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.

Facebook previously handed over direct evidence to congressional investigators, Sandberg said, and it has hired 4,000 additional people, employed machine learning, and taken several other major steps to better police its internal systems.

I See You

There needs to be greater transparency about election-related ads on social media sites, said Darrell West, director of the Center of Tech Innovation at Brookings. Right now, it is impossible to see who is behind large advertising campaigns, and that is corrosive of American elections.

Voters need to know what is happening in order to judge a political campaign, West told TechNewsWorld.

Its difficult to know the exact impact of these campaigns on voter behavior, but large online campaigns can be important, he added.

People rely on social media platforms to communicate with each other, conduct business and form opinions, said Dan Nadir, vice president of digital risk at Proofpoint, but the Internet wasnt designed with trust in mind.

Often our confidence in an email, a website, a social account, or even a mobile app has no technical basis, he told TechNewsWorld, and we need to recognize how easy it is to abuse it.

Omidyar does a good job laying out some of the election-related problems with social media, but the solutions offered, while well intended, miss the mark by a bit, observed Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Though hes spot on in criticizing how online media can be used to promote bogus information and spread partisan messages, simply regulating social media sites isnt likely to succeed, King told TechNewsWorld.

The Omidyar proposal would require the federal government to go on a new and highly radical round of business and financial regulations, King said. In addition, such a change would likely eliminate or drastically reduce anonymity of online social media users.

It would be ideal if social media firms like Facebook, Google and others voluntarily adopted some of Omidyars suggestions, he suggested, but doing so would hurt their revenues significantly.

Unless a larger number of voices call for major reform, wholesale changes are unlikely to happen, King said.

Despite legitimate concerns about the role of social media in the 2016 election, a lot of what took place was new for everyone, and social media executives should not be treated as though they were capable of seeing the future, said Chris Calabrese, vice president of policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology.

I dont think we want to pick on a particular tool and say this is the problem, he told TechNewsWorld. Nor do I want to say the solution is some kind of government censorship. Thats not something we want to endorse.

Its not surprising that Russia or any other outside entity would try to influence U.S. elections, said Richard Forno, assistant director of the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity.

However, I think the broader danger is that social media was part of a concerted effort to undermine not just the outcome of the election, but to sow distrust in the electoral system, he told TechNewsWorld, and the very sources of information that a citizenry needs to make informed decisions about their political status and/or future.
A three-pronged banking malware campaign has been infecting Android phones since the beginning of this year, according to security researchers.

Attackers have been stealing credentials, planting the Marcher banking Trojan on phones, and nicking credit card information. So far, they have targeted customers of BankAustria, Raiffeisen Meine Bank and Sparkasse, but the campaign could spread beyond Vienna.

The attack begins with a phishing message delivered by email to a phone, security researchers at Proofpoint explained in a Friday post. The message pretends to be from the targets bank and contains a link that often is obscured by a Web address shortener like bit.ly.

The link takes the victim to a bogus bank page where the bandits request the targets bank account or PIN information.

Once the hackers have that information, they instruct victims to log into their accounts using their email address and password. All the information entered at the fake banking site is harvested by the hackers.

Permission to Hijack

Instead of getting access to an account, banking customers get a popup message instructing them to install the banks security app. About 7 percent of targets have downloaded the security app, which is really the Marcher malware, Proofpoint estimated.

Once installed, the malware asks for extensive permissions  everything from receiving, sending, reading and writing SMS messages to opening network sockets, reading address books, changing system settings and even locking the phone.

In addition, when applications like the Google Play store are opened, the malware will ask for the users credit card information.

While banking Trojans and phishing are common fare for cybercriminals, combining the two in a focused campaign isnt, noted Patrick Wheeler, director of threat intelligence at Proofpoint.

In general, we dont see a lot of crossover between phishing actors and those who distribute malware, he told TechNewsWorld. The combination of the socially engineered banking Trojan download and multistep phishing attack that gathers credentials or financial information at each step, is fairly unusual.

Not Your Typical Email Attack

The Marcher campaign in Austria is significantly more coordinated than the standard email attack, noted Matt Vernhout, director of privacy at 250ok.

However, it may have limited impact, as the number of steps required to complete the attack may be more than most individuals are willing to complete, he told TechNewsWorld.

Marcher has been around for a long time, which is why its perpetrators may find it necessary to modify the way they create landing pages to ensnare victims.

This is likely because security vendors and domain hosts are hot on their heels shutting them down, said Armando Orozco, a senior malware intelligence analyst with Malwarebytes.

They need other avenues to keep their business model going, he told TechNewsWorld.

Future Expansion

The likelihood of the Marcher campaign spreading is very high, said Proofpoints Wheeler.

Marcher has been observed worldwide, and we have already seen a variety of schemes to distribute the malware, primarily via SMS, and increasingly sophisticated social engineering from actors associated with Marcher, he said.

Any attack such as this one is usually a canary in the coal mine, noted Rajiv Dholakia, vice president of products at Nok Nok Labs.

One should expect variations of this to continue to evolve and spread around the world, he told TechNewsWorld.

Its not unusual for malware to be released in a single country or region and then, depending on its success, expand to other countries, said Damien Hugoo, director of product marketing at Easy Solutions.

We have seen many banking Trojans start out in Europe in the past year and expand globally, he told TechNewsWorld.

Protect Yourself

What can consumers do to protect themselves from this kind of attack?

One defense is to use Android phones that are easy to keep current with the latest version of the operating system, like Googles Pixel and Nexus phones, suggested Daniel Miessler, director of advisory services at IOActive.

Pixel and Nexus stay updated constantly, he told TechNewsWorld.

Also, never use app stores other than the official Google Play store, Miessler advised, and for the highest security, refrain from installing apps that are not extremely well known and well-tested.

Consumers need to be vigilant.

As with phishing attacks on any platform, the onus is on consumers to beware of scams and look for red flags. Unsolicited emails or texts asking for information or giving extensive reasoning for why they should download an app are clear warning signs, advised Proofpoints Wheeler.

Apps that ask for extensive permissions or that do not come from legitimate app stores should also be avoided, he said, unless consumers are absolutely sure of the origin and necessity of the app.
Apple and Samsung have had no shortage of legal disputes surrounding their various patents. From hardware to software and everywhere in between, the two tech giants have pretty much been in a perpetual state of lawsuits for years. Today does mark the end of one of the more high-profile disputes though.

The Supreme Court has decided not to hear an appeal to the patent infringement case surrounding Apple's slide-to-unlock patent on mobile devices. The two have been battling on the topic since 2014 and have escalated it to higher courts numerous times.

Apple claimed Samsung infringed on the famous slide-to-unlock patent. Also included in the lawsuit is a patent for turning actionable information like a phone number into a link.

Apple came out on top in the initial ruling and Samsung was ordered to pay for infringing on the patents. Samsung then appealed the ruling two years later and it was overturned. The following year, Apple went to yet a higher court with an appeal and it was reinstated. After that, Samsung pulled out all the stops and appealed to the Supreme Court. Today, the Court decided not to hear that case, thus reaffirming Samsung's obligation to pay Apple the $120 million settlement.

Samsung was not happy with the result, saying that Apple would be able to "unjustly profit" from the patent. Ironically, the lawsuit has dragged out for so long that nobody even uses slide-to-unlock anymore.

While $120 million is a lot of money, this is peanuts compared to earlier battles. Back in 2012, Apple won a $1 billion settlement against Samsung. The final amount will be closer to $400 million and will be decided in May.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a statement yesterday [Macau time] strongly condemning the violence that has caused more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar to Bangladesh, a significant step that still fell short of a stronger resolution that Western nations wanted but China opposed.

The presidential statement calls on Myanmars government to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State and take immediate steps to respect human rights.

It expresses grave concern at reports of human rights violations in Rakhine by Myanmars security forces against the Rohingya. These include the systematic use of force and intimidation, killing of men, women and children, sexual violence and [] the destruction and burning of homes and property, it says.

Britain initially circulated a Security Council resolution with similar language, backed by the U.S., France and other council members. But resolutions are legally binding and diplomats said China, a neighbor and ally of Myanmar, was strongly opposed. China is one of the five countries that have veto power on the council.

So Britain and France turned the resolution into a presidential statement, which becomes part of the councils record but does not have the legal clout of a resolution.

Nonetheless, the statement still represents the strongest council pronouncement on Myanmar in nearly 10 years, and reflects widespread international concern at the plight of the Rohingya, who face official and social discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the Security Council sent a strong and unanimous message to end the ethnic cleansing that is taking place before our eyes in Myanmar and recreate the political momentum in this country.

Britains deputy U.N. ambassador, Jonathan Allen, called it a first step and said the council will judge Myanmar on how they act.

Both Delattre and Allen decried the desperate humanitarian situation for the Rohingya, with the French ambassador calling it one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time.

The council statement expresses alarm at the significantly and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine state and demands that the government grant immediate, safe and unhindered access to United Nations agencies and their partners and other aid organizations.

On Oct. 27, the U.N. World Food Program said it had gotten a green light to resume full operations in northern Rakhine State and was working out the details.

But the agencys executive director, David Beasley, said in an interview late Monday with The Associated Press that were in the infant stages of negotiating working with the government of Myanmar to re- enter strategically where we need to be to help innocent people.

Were hopeful the Myanmar government will give us the access we need, said Beasley, who recently visited Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. That situation is catastrophic. [] Ive never seen anything like it.

Myanmars government doesnt recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group, insisting they are Bengali migrants from Bangladesh living illegally in the country. It has denied them citizenship.

The latest violence began with a series of attacks Aug. 25 by Rohingya insurgents, which the presidential statement also condemns. AP
Despite containing numerous features that have been present in Android handsets for years, and its restrictive price, the iPhone X has received some rave reviews. Apple's new OLED screen, in particular, has been singled out for praise. But it's not just critics who love it. According to DisplayMate, it's "the most innovative and high-performance smartphone display ever tested."

Dr. Raymond M. Soneira, president of DisplayMate Technologies Corporation, explains that the Apple flagship's display comes out on top in several categories.

The iPhone X has a record full screen brightness for an OLED smartphone of 634 nits. While the Galaxy Note 8---DisplayMate's former favorite---can reach 1240 nits, that's only for small portions of the screen. The overall brightness of Samsung's handset is at most 560 nits.

The iPhone X uses a diamond-shaped layout for its sub-pixels, which plays a big part in reaching those peak luminance levels.

The phone's color accuracy (0.9 JNCD) is the best DisplayMate has ever tested. Soneria writes that it is visually indistinguishable from perfect, "and is very likely considerably better than any mobile display, monitor, TV or UHD TV that you have."

Other display records broken by the iPhone X include highest full screen contrast rating in ambient light (141), highest contrast ratio (Infinite), lowest screen reflectance (4.5 percent), and smallest brightness variation with viewing angle (22 percent).

DisplayMate highlighted some of the iPhone X's display features, such as its 2.5K resolution (2436 x 1125 at 458 PPI), the 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and its two industry standard color gamuts (sRGB / Rec.709 and the new wide DCI-P3). The way it automatically switches between color gamuts based on displayed content is also noted---a system that makes sure the colors are neither over-saturated nor under-saturated.

Despite Samsung's recent ad that mocks the last ten years of Apple handsets, it's the Korean company that makes the iPhone X's display, though Apple customizes and calibrates them---something DisplayMate acknowledges.

"First we need to congratulate Samsung Display for developing and manufacturing the outstanding OLED display hardware in the iPhone X. But what makes the iPhone X the Best Smartphone Display is the impressive Precision Display Calibration that Apple developed that transforms the OLED hardware into a superbly accurate, high performance, and gorgeous display!!"
Polish President Duda acknowledged that the missile was unintentionally launched from Ukraine. | Read More
Newly leaked documents show that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Trump administrations point man on trade and manufacturing policy, has a stake in a company that does business with a gas producer partly owned by the son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to records obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Ross is an investor in Navigator Holdings, a shipping giant that counts Russian gas and petrochemical producer Sibur among its major customers. Putins son-in-law Kirill Shamalov once owned more than 20 percent of the company, but now holds a much smaller stake.

Commerce Department spokesman James Rockas said Ross never met Shamalov and has generally supported the Trump administrations sanctions against Russia, according to the ICIJ report. Rockas added that Ross has withdrawn from matters related to transoceanic shipping vessels and has met the highest ethical standards.

The details are likely to add to the questions about ties between Russia and the Trump administration, connections that for months have shadowed the White House and are a focus of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Yet it wasnt immediately clear how many partners Ross might have or what the profit-sharing agreement might be.

ICIJ disclosed the Ross holding as part of reporting on 13.4 million records of offshore entities in tax havens leaked to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung. The newspaper then shared the records with ICIJ and a network of more than 380 journalists in 67 countries. The New York Times is its U.S. partner in this inquiry.

The Times reported on the Ross holding yesterday [Macau time].

It wasnt immediately clear exactly how much of Navigator, which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Ross personally owns. ICIJ reported that Ross and other investors own four Cayman Island entities that in turn own 31.5 percent of Navigator, a stake worth USD176 million at Fridays closing stock price.

Ross stake in Navigator is likely a small fraction of that. In financial disclosure forms he filed with the government this year, Ross valued his holdings in the Cayman Island entities, which include other companies besides Navigator, at no more than $10.1 million.

Sibur contributed 8 percent to Navigators revenue last year, according to reports filed with securities regulators. Russias energy sector is largely controlled by individuals with ties to state actors, including Putin.

Much of the new trove of files includes bank statements, emails and loan agreements from Appleby, a law firm that helps set up offshore dummy companies and trusts. Appleby told the ICIJ that there is no evidence that it has done anything wrong.

Other records came from Asiaciti Trust, a family-run offshore specialist based In Singapore, and from 19 corporate registries maintained by governments in jurisdictions that draw the wealthy seeking privacy.

Big investments in two U.S. tech companies from a Russian government bank and Russian energy giant have also come to light.

The ICIJ reported that Silicon Valley investor and Russian citizen Yuri Milner got $191 million from VTB Bank, and invested that money in Twitter. The leaked records also show that a financial subsidiary of Russian energy company Gazprom funded a shell company that invested in a Milner-affiliated company that held roughly $1 billion in Facebook shares shortly before its 2012 initial public offering.

Milner told the ICIJ that he was unaware of any involvement by the Gazprom subsidiary in any of his deals and that none of his investments has been related to politics.

Milner has also invested in a tech-savvy real estate fund that was co-founded by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner called Cadre. Milner told the ICIJ that he used his own money for the investment.

The revelations follow last years release of records from a Panama-based firm involved in setting up offshore accounts. That disclosure triggered investigations in several countries, the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and ouster of the leader of Pakistan. The Panama Papers also revealed that close associates of Russias leader Putin had been using the dummy accounts abroad to store their wealth, including a close Putin friend who had $2 billion of offshore assets.

There are legitimate reasons for setting up offshore accounts, but lax regulation and anonymity in some jurisdictions make it easy to launder money, evade taxes and avoid regulatory scrutiny. Critics of the widening gap between the super-wealthy and the rest have seized upon the use of tax havens as revealed in the Panama Papers as evidence of a crisis, and governments have promised to crack down.

In the case of Ross, the ICIJ reported Navigators Russian customer, Sibur, has ties to Putin in addition to his son-in-law.

A big shareholder is Gennady Timchenko, who was targeted by the U.S. and other Western nations for sanctions after Russias invasion of the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014. A few months later, the U.S. barred banks from providing long-term financing to a gas company belonging to another large Sibur shareholder, Leonid Mikhelson. Mikhelson has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department for propping up Putins rule.

Sibur itself was not targeted by the U.S. sanctions, but the Bank of America and the Royal Bank of Scotland reportedly backed away from doing business with the company.

The Russian gas producer last year contributed $23 million to Navigators revenue, an increase of more than 40 percent in two years. Bernard Condon, New York, AP
Rescue workers recovering a body in Salerno, Italy. Photo: CESARE ABBATE/ANSA via AP

On Sunday, rescuers discovered the bodies of 26 girls aged 14 to 18 in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. Many migrants use that route to cross over from Libya into Europe and the girls  who are all from either Niger or Nigeria  were among them. However, Italian officials are investigating this case further.

Per CNN, the head of police in Salerno, Italy, Lorena Ciccotti, told them autopsies would be carried out on Tuesday and that coroners would be investigating whether the girls had been tortured or sexually abused.

The majority of the bodies were found drowned near an almost fully sunk rubber dinghy. NPR reports that Salvatore Malfi, the police prefect of  Salerno, said the 26 [victims] may have been thrown off their rubber dinghy into the waters of the Mediterranean.

There were four different operations conducted in the area during last weekend, with about 400 migrants ultimately rescued and brought to Salerno.
Ainsley Earhardt (center). Photo: Fox News

On Sunday morning, a man named Devin P. Kelley opened fire inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people. His victims range in age from 18 months to 77 years old, and this horrific incident comes just over a month after a mass shooting in Las Vegas claimed the lives of 59 people.

So whats the Fox News take on this? Well, theyre just trying to look on the bright side of all the rampant gun violence that plagues our country. During Monday mornings Fox & Friends, host Ainsley Earhardt spoke to Texas governor Greg Abbott, pointing out that  as far as dying in a mass shooting goes  at least it happened in a church.

Weve been reporting, this shouldnt happen in a church. But I was downstairs talking with some people that work here, we all talk about our faith and we share the same beliefs, we were saying theres no other place we would wanna go other than church because Im there asking for forgiveness, I feel very close to Christ when Im there, Earhardt said. So Im trying to look at some positives and know that those people are with the Lord now and experiencing eternity, no more suffering, no more sadness anymore.

Looking at some positives in a mass shooting: the new thoughts and prayers.

Update, November 7, 2017, at 9:24 a.m.: Fox News provided the Cut with the following statement from Earhardt:

As any Christian would understand, I feel church is sacred. For me, it is the place I worship, where I learn about God and feel closest to Him each week. I meant no disrespect, as I have continuously said, the Texas families are in my thoughts and prayers. And, anyone who truly knows my heart, knows that about me. But, I do believe there can be positives in death. Christians believe death is when they enter into the afterlife  a place without pain, suffering and away from the evil that takes place on earth like we saw this past weekend. I know one day I will take my last breath and if I am in His house when that happens, I pray my family can find a bit of solace and peace knowing that is where I saw Jesus for the first time. I pray for those families and the parents, children and loved ones who will be changed forever. I hope they cling to God during such a difficult time.
Qatar Airways Ltd.s surprise purchase of a 9.6 percent stake in Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. to gain a foothold in East Asia has damped a long-held speculation among investors that the Hong Kong flag carrier would soon merge with another major shareholder: Air China Ltd.

Qatar Air on Sunday agreed to buy the stake for HKD5.16 billion (USD662 million) from Hong Kong-based Kingboard Chemical Holdings Ltd. and related companies, which have been steadily amassing shares in the Asian airline for the past year. The purchase, the first by a Middle Eastern airline in an East Asian carrier, makes the Doha-based company the third-largest shareholder in Cathay after Hong Kong conglomerate Swire Pacific Ltd. with 45 percent, and state-owned Air China with almost 30 percent. Cathays stock fell the most in more than three months.

Cathay will have three major shareholders, all with different and potentially conflicting interests, said Corrine Png, chief executive officer of Crucial Perspective, which focuses on research in Asia transportation equities. We still think it makes more economic sense for Cathay and Air China to merge longer term, but given this new development with Qatar Airways in the picture, it is going to become more complicated for all three parties.

Behind the investment is the battle for better access to China, which is expected to become the worlds biggest aviation market within a decade. U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc. bought a minority stake in China Eastern Airlines Corp. in 2015, while American Airlines Group Inc. purchased a minority stake in China Southern Airlines Co. this year.

Cathay Pacific is one of the strongest airlines in the world, respected throughout the industry and with massive potential future, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said. Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg said in a statement on Monday that he looks forward to a continued constructive relationship with Qatar Air, which is a fellow member of the Oneworld Alliance of airlines.

Zhou Feng, board secretary at Air China, said having an airline as Cathays stakeholder, rather than Kingboard Chemical, would bring about better synergy as an airline stakeholder has a better understanding of Cathays strategy and business. Regarding the relationship between Qatar, Cathay and Air China, Zhou said there is both competition and cooperation and it will depend on how the carriers maintain the balance. Air China is part of the rival Star Alliance.

Cathay has previously denied that it is considering a merger with Air China. Swire said in an email that it is firmly committed to Cathay and it has confidence in its long-term prospects.

Qatar Airs Al Baker said the purchase supports Qatar Airways investment strategy. The Doha-based airline has been buying minority stakes in airlines around the world, including a 20 percent stake in British Airways parent IAG SA and a 10 percent share of Latam Airlines Group SA, the biggest South American carrier. It also made a failed attempt to gain a slice of American Airlines Group.

Bloomberg
Santa Rosa, after the Tubbs fire. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

Last month, I watched the place Im from burn down. The sleepy city of Santa Rosa, known for its wineries and the Snoopy museum, went up in flames. Around 1 a.m., the Tubbs fire jumped Highway 101 like it was an escaped convict, raging toward freedom. At 3 a.m., I finally woke my mother with a phone call. She looked out the window of her bedroom and said, confused, Everyones gone.

My mom was lucky, her place in northwest Santa Rosa was spared. But so much on her periphery is gone. Next to the hospital where my dad died is a mobile-home community, and that was among the first to burn to the ground. The hotel-restaurant where we had breakfast with family the morning after his funeral, that hotel burned down, too. As did the homes of many people I went to high school with, and the home of an older girl who was always better than me at the cello, but always kind to me. So did the Kmart shopping center where my mom usually stopped in after Trader Joes. The Trader Joes is also damaged, as well as the performing arts center where I saw Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, where I worked after school for the Santa Rosa Symphony. The woman who taught me traditional Japanese dance during the Buddhist summer festival of the dead, her house burned down, and so did the home of the man who rented me my first violin, and the inn where my sister waited tables, and the converted-stable house of the friend who used to drive me to orchestra camp in the summer. One of my moms friends had her door axed down because the fires came when she was sleeping.

The Tubbs fire burned a truly representative 36,000-acre swath, from the estates of rich winery owners to the homes of migrant laborers that tend to the vines. From the private Catholic high school with a $15,000-a-year price tag, to the bordering working-class neighborhood of Coffey Park, whose children went to the same public high school I did.

Its a complicated provenance, being from Santa Rosa, growing up poor in a region thats known for spas and Syrahs and Michelin stars, a place thats had a housing crisis my entire life, where the distribution of wealth has only gotten more and more extreme. So when people asked me if my mothers house in Santa Rosa was okay in the wake of the fires, I said yes, but theres a more complex answer. She lives in a tiny apartment, not a house. She doesnt own that apartment, and never will. The fires stopped a mile from her address, but if she had lost everything, everything would be truly lost, with no hope of payments or rebuilding. When I called her to make sure she was evacuating, I realized there was nothing valuable enough to take with her. She took her insulin and a toothbrush. Shes used to starting over from scratch.

We must document what has been lost in these fires, but it isnt just grapevines and views of the valley. Its a way of life that was only barely possible before, and will now be impossible without understanding what the margins were made of.

There are a lot of ways to live in America, and all of them were present in Santa Rosa.

This is a Santa Rosa that isnt often talked about. My whole life in Santa Rosa, my parents rents were subsidized by Housing and Urban Development. Every quarter, a state employee would come into our house to inspect it for cleanliness and organization, to make sure we werent trashing the place, but I understood it as an inspection to make sure we werent ourselves trash. We paid for groceries at the cheapest grocery store with food stamps, strangers eyeing our cart in line. When I ate my school lunches, kids asked me why I wasnt eating rice since their parents had told them I was a poor rice-eater. I applied for every scholarship for everything, since playing cello isnt a low-income game, and neither is applying to colleges or taking SAT prep courses. My father, a carpenter, did regular work on my cello teachers home to pay for my already discounted lessons. My cello teacher bought me a nice cello, which my parents paid her back for, week by week. (My cello teachers home also burned down.)

What Im trying to say is that there are a lot of ways to live in America, and all of them were present in Santa Rosa. The economic landscape of Santa Rosa is the economic landscape of our country, and last month, we all watched it burn. Its an analog thats impossible to ignore, with so many now displaced, and yet I mostly see coverage of the lost vintages and the big homes with views of the valley. Losses like those will have a major impact on the economy of the region, of course. But its also important to pay attention to the economics of what happens in the ashes  who gets to speak and who gets to rise and who even gets the option to rebuild.

Now that we have counted the devoured structures and acres, there are first responders to thank. Heartwarming stories with the hashtag #SonomaStrong temper the devastation: dogs reunited with their owners, As players visiting a kid whod lost all his memorabilia, firefighters dancing in the long-awaited rain. And just now, I see the arguments about rebuilding surfacing. On Facebook, someone warns the city not to take dirty FEMA money. Another post warns of your tax dollars going to help undocumented immigrants. It seems only certain people get to be #SonomaStrong.

I called my mom, to check in again. For two weeks she stayed at my brothers house 45 miles south, in a diverse, working-class town called American Canyon, whose logo is The Gateway to Napa Valley. My brother, the first one in our family to own property, in a town that asks you to buy snacks at their Safeway before heading to Stags Leap. He told me the American Canyon high school served as a refuge for undocumented evacuees, with signs in Spanish vowing not to check IDs.

As for Santa Rosa, my mom said, You wouldnt recognize parts of the city. I didnt expect to be so  upset. So much is gone.

She told me at the deli she overheard a man saying hed lost his home but now has $4,500 a month from insurance to rent a place. He said he was surprised  hed found something for that price! To me, my mom said, Can you imagine? That much for rent?

She says it doesnt smell like smoke anymore, and that she threw away the face mask shed had to wear last month. Today she went to her regular Monday mah-jongg game at the temple (the Friday group had been displaced because the place where they usually meet is still an evacuee shelter). She said everyone told their stories of evacuation and then they played for hours, just like they always do. I asked her if the city felt the same and she said sort of, if you dont go to the neighborhoods that are just no longer there.

I imagine in a while, with the right gaze, the city really will start to look the same, if a little scathed, the air thinner and rarer than before. As for my moms friend, the one who had her door axed down by firefighters? She was lucky. Her house is safe, the fire doused a block away. But now she has a new problem. Her home is now nakedly open to the elements, the scorched neighborhood. And every time she reaches to close the door she has to remember. There is no more door.
Harvey Weinstein. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images For NYFW: The Shows

The New Yorker has published a follow-up to its earlier story on allegations of sexual harassment made against Harvey Weinstein, and like the other bombshell accounts, it is damning.

The story, written by Ronan Farrow, documents that starting in the fall of 2016, Weinstein put an elaborate army of spies in place to suppress allegations of sexual harassment and assault from coming out in The New Yorker and New York Times. (He also targeted New York Magazines editor-in-chief Adam Moss and reporter Ben Wallace who was working on a story about Weinstein at the time.)

Weinstein reportedly hired private security agencies, staffed by people who had previously worked in Israeli intelligence, to collect information both on women like Rose McGowan who had accused him of sexual assault and on the journalists who were trying to expose him.

Read the full story here. In the meantime, here are the biggest shockers.

Weinstein allegedly hired corporate security agencies to prevent the allegations from emerging.

According to dozens of pages of documents, and seven people directly involved in the effort, the firms that Weinstein hired included Kroll, one of the worlds largest corporate intelligence companies, and Black Cube, an enterprise run largely by former officers of Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies. Black Cube, which has branches in Tel Aviv, London, and Paris, offers its clients the skills of operatives highly experienced and trained in Israels elite military and governmental intelligence units, according to its literature.

One of the operatives met with some of the women who brought up allegations against Weinstein, as well as journalists pursuing stories on him.

One of the investigators pretended to be a womens-rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan. The same operative, using a different false identity and implying that she had an allegation against Weinstein, met twice with a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press. In other cases, journalists directed by Weinstein or the private investigators interviewed women and reported back the details.

The operatives put together reports and dossiers on journalists reporting on Weinstein, including New York Magazines editor-in-chief Adam Moss.

All of the security firms that Weinstein hired were also involved in trying to ferret out reporters sources and probe their backgrounds. In a series of e-mailsDan Karson of Kroll sent Weinstein preliminary background information on Wallace and Moss. No adverse information about Adam Moss so far (no libel/defamation cases, no court records or judgments/liens/UCC, etc.), Karson wrote in one e-mail. Two months later, Palladino, the PSOPS investigator, sent Weinstein a detailed profile of Moss. It stated, Our research did not yield any promising avenues for the personal impeachment of Moss.

Celebrated lawyer David Boies was allegedly aware of some of these tactics.

In some cases, the investigative effort was run through Weinsteins lawyers, including David Boies, a celebrated attorney who represented Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential-election dispute and argued for marriage equality before the U.S. Supreme Court. Boies personally signed the contract directing Black Cube to attempt to uncover information that would stop the publication of a Times story about Weinsteins abuses, while his firm was also representing the Times, including in a libel case.

Weinsteins team reportedly hired a freelance investigative journalist to interview the women accusing him of sexual harassment and assault.

Black Cube also agreed to hire an investigative journalist, as per the Client request, who would be required to conduct ten interviews a month for four months and be paid forty thousand dollars. In January, 2017, a freelance journalist called McGowan and had a lengthy conversation with her that he recorded without telling her; he subsequently communicated with Black Cube about the interviews, though he denied he was reporting back to them in a formal capacity. He contacted at least two other women with allegations against Weinstein, including the actress Annabella Sciorra, who later went public in The New Yorker with a rape allegation against Weinstein.

The team reportedly gathered information on women accusing Weinstein of sexual assault that could later be used to discredit these women.
Law enforcement officials continue their investigation at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs as the sun begins to rise on Nov. 6, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

5-Year-Old Found by Aunt Among Pews With 4 Bullets in Body After Texas Church Shooting

A badly wounded five-year-old boy was found by his aunt among dead bodies in the Texas church where a gunman killed 26 on Sunday, Nov. 5.

The boy, Ryland Ward, had four gunshot wounds to his stomach, groin, and arm, his uncle, Michael Ward, told The Dallas Morning News. The boys aunt Leslie Ward found him in the sanctuary among the pews after the shooting.

I found my nephew in the front, in pain, she told The New York Daily News. It was bad. There were just dead bodies everywhere. It wasnt what I wanted to see but at the time, I wasnt worried about it. I was worried about finding my family.

The boy lost his mother, Joann Ward, in the shooting together with sisters Brooke Ward, 5, and Emily Garza, 7.

His uncle carried him out of the church and his aunt comforted him until help arrived and he was taken by helicopter to a hospital.

The boy was out of surgery and in stable condition as of Sunday night.

Pray for 5-year old Rylan Ward who was shot 4x yesterday at the First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas. pic.twitter.com/oO7qlibNSb  Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) November 6, 2017

Michael and Leslie Ward live a few blocks from the shooting scene, the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.

Leslie was setting up a yard sale when she heard the shots. It sounded fast, like a machine gun to her. The word was spreading fast in the tiny town of only several hundred. Soon, she heard from somebody there was a gunman shooting inside the church.

She ran inside the house and woke up Michael. His brother Chris family often attends the church so they called him, but got no answer. They jumped in their car and drove to his house.

He was after a night shift and skipped the service that morning. But his family went. At first, he didnt believe what Michael and Leslie were saying. Im not lying to you, Chris, theyre all shot, Michael said.

When Chris realized what was going on, he immediately ran to the church. He didnt even put his shoes on.

Some media reportedly erroneously marked Chris as the shooter. Law enforcement sources later identified the shooter as Devin Patrick Kelley.

Kelley, 26, entered the church around noon, wearing black tactical-style outfit and body armor, armed with an AR-15-type rifle. He killed 26 people and wounded 20.

Upon exiting the church, he was confronted and shot by Stephen Willeford, 55, a local resident. Kelley dropped his rifle, ran to his car, jumped in, and began to flee.

The good Samaritan asked another Texas man for help and the two began to pursue the suspect in their vehicle.

Investigators believe that Kelley then shot himself. Authorities found him dead in his vehicle.
Practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual practice doing standing exercises in Beijing before the persecution began in 1999. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

Beijing Artist Tortured for His Faith for Past Decade, Denied Right to Appeal His Prison Sentence

Beijing artist Qin Wei is passionate about art and philosophy. During his years studying at the prestigious Central Applied Arts Academy (now known as Tsinghua Academy of Arts and Design), he would wake up at 3 a.m. to read books on ancient masterpieces and their creators.

He later became an arts teacher at a local middle school. During summer breaks, he would make his own art. Eventually, his artwork was recognized and was exhibited in Germany.

At this pivotal moment in his life, Qin was introduced to the Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, spiritual practice. He read through the main book of teachings, Zhuan Falun, and felt he finally understood the true meaning of life.

When the Chinese regime began its persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China, Qin wanted desperately to tell people the truth about Falun Dafa, as the state authorities had spread hate propaganda across its state media to turn public opinion against the faith.

As a result of his efforts, he has been arrested, sent to labor camp, and imprisoned several times in the past decade.

According to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Dafa in China, Qin endured all sorts of torture while imprisoned. He has been beaten with high-voltage electric batons until he could barely breathe. At one point, he was forced to go 30 days without sleep, with police shouting loudly every time he drifted into sleep.

As a result of the persecution, Qin lost his job. He began making a living as a private drawing instructor. Even though he did not have much, Qin kept his tuition low so people could afford his lessons.

In May 2016, after he gave a passerby a copy of The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), an award-winning, book-length editorial by The Epoch Times exposing the crimes of the CCP, Qin, now in his mid-50s, was once again arrested and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.

He is currently detained at the Qianjin Prison in Tianjin City. His 84 year-old mother is concerned about his well-being.

According to Minghui reports, when lawyers recently attempted to visit Qin to file an appeal for his case, the prison denied Qin visitation rights.

On Nov. 2, Qins family visited the prison with two lawyers they had hired. The prison staff who received them said Qin refused to renounce his faith in prison, and began making phone calls, making the family and lawyers wait.

Eventually, a police officer came. In a menacing manner, he asked the family and lawyers what their opinion of Falun Gong was, then told them that since Qin had not requested an appeal, the family could not see him.

However, Qins family said that when they visited him in October, Qin expressly asked about how to appeal his case. The family had told him they had already hired lawyers and asked him to memorize the lawyers names. At the time, Qin told them he was trying to write an appeal letter, but has met with disapproval from prison staff.

The lawyers have filed a complaint with the judicial department. According to the CCPs own laws, lawyers are allowed to visit prisoners whom they represent.

In the first half of 2017, lawyers in China have helped 186 practitioners plead not guilty in court. Most practitioners are arrested under dubious charges.

Ye Feng contributed to this report.
Child Murderer Being Terrorized in Jail

A man who killed a two-year-old child is being terrorized in prison by inmates who have put a price on his head.

Craig Smith, 28, has been jailed for life for murdering his stepson Teddy by striking him in the stomach so hard that the toddler suffered massive internal bleeding.

Smith, from the town of Birkenhead in the UK, will serve a minimum term of 17 years. Teddys mother Ashleigh Willett, 25, is also being convicted of child cruelty after failing to secure medical assistance for Teddy and his twin sister Cassidy.

British newspaper the Liverpool Echo reported that Smith is now being targeted by inmates at HMP Liverpool prison.

Inmates have apparently stolen Smiths belongings and put a price on his head.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said, We do not comment on individuals, according to the Echo.

Earlier this year Smith called emergency services saying that Teddy had swallowed water in the bath. Smith could be heard weeping in the call, describing Teddy as blue.

But a post-mortem showed that Teddy had died from a huge tear to the tissue connecting the intestines to the abdominal wall.

Experts said in the trial that the injury must have been caused by a blow to the stomach most likely from a punch or kick.

Teddy was also found to have a bleed on the brain and bruises to his head, ear, upper lip, neck, jaw, abdomen, and back, according to reports.

The jury heard how Smith had struggled with anger throughout his life and had once stabbed his mother in the face.

Teddys mother Ashleigh Willett has been bailed to be sentenced in the future.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Denn of Merseyside Police said in a statement, The death of two-year-old Teddy Tilston was a senseless tragedy.

He added, Craig Smith was not previously known to police for incidents of violence but Teddy and Cassidy never stood a chance against his acts of aggression resulting in the tragic death of Teddy.
A woman looks at a screen projecting pictures of people crossing the roads or offending traffic rules in Shanghai, China, on August 9, 2017. (Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Building Orwellian Nightmare

All-embracing digital surveillance allows state to squash dissent before it occurs

Facial recognition technology is becoming ubiquitous throughout China. It is used to serve meals to students at school cafeterias, pay for items at stores, as a virtual boarding pass for airline flights, and even to prevent toilet paper theft at the public restrooms inside a popular tourist attraction in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the country plans on expanding its Skynet system, a net of more than 20 million security cameras that employs facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology to gather personal information in real time, to cover the entire country by 2020. The Chinese regime claims the system is used as a crime-fighting tool.

China has embraced the latest advances in surveillance technology with a kind of fervor that has observers worried that an Orwellian nightmare could come true.

At a panel on Chinas future held at Taiwans Academia Sinica research institute on Nov. 3, scholars warned of China under digitized totalitarianism.

Political science professor Dr. Titus C. Chen from the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan expressed concerns that the advanced technology can be used to squash any potential dissent, in thought or actions, before it takes place, calling it a modern form of political engineering.

He also mentioned Chinas social credit score system, in which all citizens will be enrolled into a national database and rated according to their level of trustworthiness by 2020. The authorities cull criminal records, online purchases, social media activity, and other data to judge peoples levels of social responsibility.

The system is already in place in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Xinjiang. Chen explained that the authorities often use big data for their surveillance purposesespecially to see whether someone has opinions that are against the Chinese regime. One way they can determine that is through peoples e-commerce purchases. Chen said this can become a form of Leninism in the digital era.

The Skynet system is similarly invasive, using facial recognition and AI to identify peoples personal information, such as their age, gender, and clothing description. It is connected to a massive database obtained from citizens government IDs. Chinese residents 16 and above are required to obtain one, which includes their name, gender, ethnicity, birth date, and address.

In a recent documentary that aired on the state mouthpiece broadcaster CCTV, the surveillance system was revealed as a way for police to easily identify criminals on the run. But the footage of people crossing the streets and going about their day as information popped up next to them gave off an air of George Orwells 1984.

China is the worlds biggest market for surveillance tools. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a trade show in Shenzhen City. Technology on display could detect peoples moods with a facial scan, gather information on peoples social networks, and search surveillance footage for specific colors and models of vehicles.

Guo Yaorong contributed to this report.
Daylight Saving Time Causes Rare Age Phenomenon

These twin brothers have a bizarre tale that they can tell for the rest of their lives, thanks to Daylight Saving Time.

The riddle goes: Samuel was born first but his twin brother Ronan is older, how is it possible?

The father of the boys, Seth Peterson who is a trooper with the Massachusetts State Police, thought that something unusual might happen as his wife was giving birth on the night that Daylight Saving Time ended.

I said earlier that night that they were either going to be born on two different days or the time change was going to come into play, he said to the hospital, according to NBC.

Samuel was born at 1:39 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, at Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts. About half an hour later, Ronan was bornbut Daylight Saving Time meant Ronans official time of birth was earlier, at 1:10 a.m.

Meet the Cape Cod family whose newborn twins got stuck in a daylight saving time paradox https://t.co/Cbf1WqqWrt pic.twitter.com/ulYzbYtAGx  Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) November 12, 2016

Mother of the twins, Emily Peterson, 32 told ABC News today, My husband was the first to say it, Heres a riddle for you!'

It literally took me a day to wrap my head around it. I didnt realize it was quite that big of a deal until my nurse turned around and said, Ive been working here 40 years and havent seen anything like that.'

Deb Totten, a nurse at Cape Cod Hospital Maternity, said it was the first time that she saw this occurrence in more than 40 years of nursing, according to the hospital.



Michael K. Lauf, president and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare, described the birth as a remarkable occurrence, ABC News said.

He added, Its a pleasure to have such a positive story at our hospital about a wonderful young couple who will have a great tale for their sons.

Samuel was born 5 pounds, 13 ounces at 1:39 a.m while Ronan was 5 pounds, 14 ounces 31 minutes later. Except his official birth time was 1:10 a.m. rather than 2.10 a.m.
Flight Diverted When Wife Uncovers Husbands Affair

A flight had to be diverted when a woman became unruly on learningmid-flightthat her husband was having an affair.

According to reports, the woman had already been drinking before she boarded the flight from Iran to Bali on Sunday, Nov. 5. When her husband fell asleep, she managed to unlock his phone and uncovered evidence that he had been cheating.

The Hindustan Times said Indian security officials confirmed that the flight had been diverted to Chennai in India to offload a drunk Iranian woman.

She had flown into a rage after unlocking her husbands phone by pressing his thumb against the screen as he slept. The pilot requested permission to divert and land at Chennai as she refused to settle down and cooperate with the flight crew.

According to the Hindustan Times, a security official said on condition of anonymity, On November 5, at about 10 a.m., Qatar Airways flight QR-962 (Doha-Bali) was diverted to Chennai.

A lady along with her husband and a child, all Iranian nationals, were offloaded by Qatar Airline as the lady passenger (who was intoxicated) misbehaved with crew members inflight. They were sent to Kuala Lumpur by Batik Air flight 6019 for further travel to Doha, said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official.

The family spent the day at Chennai airport and was sent to Kuala Lumpur by a Batik Air flight. No police action was taken, the officer said.

The Times of India reported that Qatar Airways said in a statement, In respect of passenger privacy we do not comment on individual cases.
Scholars from the University of Macau (UM) want the government to include typhoon prevention measures as well as concrete measures regarding participation in the Greater Bay Area plan included in the 2018 Policy Address.

In a symposium, which took place last week at UM, several participants who teach at UM voiced their opinions on the preview of the policy address for the fiscal year of 2018 in Macau.

Kwan Fung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Government and Public Administration in the Faculty of Social Sciences at UM, said that the local government must use the experience of Hato to reach a conclusion regarding the [potential influence of a] typhoon over the development of Macau. In Kwans opinion, the government needs to set out a plan of action to prepare for future typhoons.

When commenting on the governments financial assistance payments to the victims of Typhoon Hato, particularly the payments to the SMEs, Kwan said that they [SMEs] already lost their properties, [therefore] subsidies might not be of much help. Kwan then added that regarding the typhoon, the government needs to assume the biggest responsibility because it did not perform well on warning and advising.

Davis Fong, director of Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of UM, who is also a lawmaker, wants the government to reveal the number of jobs already completed within the first five-year plan, which was published last year.

I hope that in this Policy Address the government can report how much it has done regarding the five-year plan. [] Will it [the government] reach its goal during the remaining three years? asked Fong. Fong would also like the Policy Address to include a detailed strategy plan for Macaus entrance into the Greater Bay Area plan.

How can the [regional] Greater Bay Area plan coordinate with the [local] five-year plan? Fong questioned. He affirmed that he hopes the two plans will not lead Macau into competition with her sister cities.

Hao Yufan, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UM, suggested that there is still a long way for Macau to go before it can be considered a world class tourism and leisure center.

The typhoon shows that there is still a great distance between Macau and a world level tourism leisure center across all domains, such as infrastructures, warning systems, and handling of crisis, said Hao.

Hao also thinks that Macau lacks an accountability mechanism. He has hopes that, this time, the SAR government can establish one in its policy address.

I hope this time [the government] can elucidate exactly how it will participate in the Greater Bay area plan, [] [Macau] should study plans for accelerating the integration [into the Greater Bay Area] and for simultaneously reducing costs, Hao declared.

He explained that the government should figure out methods for Macau to assimilate with the regional development without compromising Macaus quality of life.

Several other professors also voiced their differing opinions regarding the Policy Address 2018. Calling Macau to improve its cultural and scientific development was another popular suggestion.
Former SEAL Team 6 Sniper Tells of Finding Peace after Black Hawk Down Incident

For years, Dr. Howard Wasdin lived with chronic pain, survivors guilt, and depression. He was haunted by his pastthe battle immortalized in the film Black Hawk Down, when a small group of U.S. special operations forces faced down thousands of Somali fighters in an effort to rescue each other after a mission went wrong.

For Wasdin, that battle was the end of his career in Navy SEAL Team 6. Three gunshots nearly cost him his leg, and he was cast from being one of the top snipers in Americas elite military force, to being a man injured both inside and out. He describes it as a fall from rock-star status to rock bottom.

Yet today, Wasdin tells his story as one of redemption, and through it, he has helped other veterans pull themselves up from the same state he fell into. He now looks back on his trials as a gift that helped him to find peace, and find himself.

You dont always seeespecially with a tragedy like thatthat this is a doorway to something else that Gods got planned for you, said Wasdin, who has now written about his experiences in several books, including 2014s The Last Rescue and the 2012 New York Times bestseller SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper.

His trials have taught him to see adversity as a good thing. Through trial comes enlightenment, he said, adding, I cant show you anybody I know that has character that hasnt had adversity. I think thats the character builder.

SEAL Team 6 was formed in 1980 as a specialized counterterror force, and in 1993, the team was deployed on a special mission known as Operation Gothic Serpent. This mission would send him to Somalia and lead to the infamous Battle of Mogadishu, where 18 American troops lost their lives and an estimated 1,000 Somali fighters were killed, although numbers vary.

At the time, the people of Somalia were dying from famine as factions of rival warlords fought in the lawless state. U.S. Marines were sent to provide aid and quickly ended the famine, yet after they pulled out and U.N. Peacekeepers moved in, one of the most powerful warlords, Mohamed Farrah Aidid, backed by Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist group, began seizing the relief goods, and ambushing and killing those providing aid.

The conflict quickly escalated, and NATO began fighting back. They tried negotiating peace between the warlords, but Aidid refused, and as his attacks became more serious, the United States sent in a team of special operations forces that included the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and the secretive Delta Force to open supply lines to civilians and apprehend Aidid.

The Safe House

At the beginning of the mission, Wasdin was helping run a safe house in Mogadishu called Pasha, and every night, a terrible smell would fill the air. For the men running the secretive location in the otherwise hostile area, this set off an alarm, and they set out to investigate.

It wasnt long before they tracked down the source: a young boy, around 12 years old, who had stepped on an enemy landmine. His right foot had been blown off, and his left foot was badly injured. His wounds were rotting with gangrene, and each night his family would bring him outside to the porch, since they couldnt otherwise sleep with the nauseating stench.

The enemy would plant landmines near schoolhouses and areas where children played. The warlords believed, Wasdin said, that if they could maim them as kids, they wouldnt have to fight them as fully functioning adults. Think about how sick yet effective that is.

Wasdin wanted to save the kid, and asked the CIA agent running the safe house to call headquarters and request compromise authority, which would clear them for an action that could compromise their mission. The request was denied. Our mission wasnt to save a little kid. It was to run the safe house, Wasdin said.

Yet, one night, Wasdin heard the childs death moans, and decided he was going to save the kid, with or without approval.

For Wasdin, this was personal. I was adopted at an early age, beaten and abused as a child until my teen years, he said. So having a firsthand account of what it feels like to be helpless and nobody helping you is probably what drove me to help the little kid.

People think you become a SEAL because you want to become Superman, or a tough guy, or a badass or whatever, but you really become a SEAL because you want to help people, Wasdin said. When I say you want to help people, that means in whatever capacity, whether its hostage rescue, helping this little kid, whatever it takes, up to and including dying trying to get the job done.

They didnt know whether enemy fighters were also in the home, so moving in required them to handle this as a potentially dangerous mission. Wasdin and other troops put on their night-vision goggles, grabbed their rifles, and entered the home. They had to briefly apprehend the members of the household while Wasdin treated the kids woundsscrubbing off the necrotic tissue, giving him medicine, then bandaging his wounds.

They continued to help the kid on the following nights, and eventually the family was providing them with teaa gift far beyond their means. Wasdin and the others began bringing an interpreter to help them communicate. As the kid recovered, Wasdin helped him learn to walk again, and soon the situation had changed not just in the home, but also in the local community.

You would see people coming up to us, touching their heads, touching their hearts, and bowing to us, Wasdin said. They would say in the local language, We realize youre here in our country, risking your lives, away from your families to save us.

We got that every day after we started that local project in Pasha, once we were no longer a concealed safe house and started helping everybody, he said, noting that they also helped teach the locals to purify their water, since many were suffering from cholera.

When the children got off school each day, they would come by the safe house, and Wasdin and the other troops would throw down packages of food to them from their meals. One of the snipers in his unit was a bodybuilder, and when the kids came by, he would playfully flex and kiss his biceps. Wasdin said, After about a week, all the little kids would come by the house, look up, and lean over to kiss their biceps.

Yet, in a single day, everything would change.

Black Hawk Down

A faction led by the local warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid was among the key forces blocking any chance of peace in Somalia. The U.S. forces obtained strong leads on the location of several lieutenants of Aidid, and on Oct. 3, 1993, they launched a mission to apprehend the men.

The plan was simple: Four Army Rangers would fast rope from hovering Black Hawk helicopters and form a perimeter, while Delta Force operators would infiltrate the building from Little Bird helicopters and arrest Aidids lieutenants. A convoy of nine Humvees and three trucks would follow on the ground to transport the team and their prisoners back to the base.

They planned to be in and out within 30 minutesthe amount of time it often took Aidids forces to respond.

The mission went infamously wrong. Aidids militia formed barricades that delayed the ground convoy, and an Army Ranger missed his fast rope and was critically injured from the fall. The force of 160 U.S. troops would soon find themselves surrounded on all sides by 4,000 to 6,000 enemy fighters.

Wasdin was in one of the Humvees during the incident, and while evacuating the forces and prisoners at the compound, he was shot in the knee. He said, In all humility, I will tell you the first thing that went through my mind when I got hit with the first bullet was disbelief. I couldnt believe that I got shot.

Soon after, an enemy fighter shot down one of the Black Hawk helicopters with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and not long after, more fighters managed to shoot down the second Black Hawk. The mission turned from being focused on capturing the enemy lieutenants to rescuing the men in the downed helicopters.

In all humility, I will tell you the first thing that went through my mind when I got hit with the first bullet was disbelief.  Howard Wasdin, former SEAL Team 6 sniper

This was no easy task, however. The convoy was taking fire from all directions, and men in the convoys were being killed and wounded by enemy fire. While exchanging gunfire, Wasdin was shot again, and while the assailant was killed, the shot had nearly torn Wasdins leg off. As they drove further, Wasdin was shot again in the same leg.

For Wasdin, this changed him. He said being shot killed the perceptionor the misperceptionof who I thought I was.

He said, I had literally gotten to the point where I felt like I was more than just a mere mortal. I was highly trained, I was versed in many things. I was a jumpmaster, I was a dive supervisor, I had at that point over 750 parachute jumps and never so much as a sprained ankle. I had people get hurt and killed around me, and I never got a scratch.

After being shot the third time, he said he realized, well, I guess when its all said and done, Im just flesh and bone, too.

I think Gods got a way of getting your attention when he wants to get it. And I think that my misperception of who I was, it was just time for him to bring it down a notch, if thats a good way to put itto show me I really was human and he had a bigger plan for me, he said.

With casualties mounting, the convoy was ordered to return to base, and as they were making their way back, Wasdins Humvee hit a landmine. The armored floor saved him and others inside, but the vehicle was destroyed.

The convoy kept moving, and Wasdin and the men with him were left behind. They were low on ammunition and enemy fighters were moving in on them. Wasdin was beginning to go into shock from loss of blood. It was at that moment that he accepted the idea that he was likely going to die. Yet, just in time, a rescue team sent from the U.S. base managed to pick them up and transport them back to base.

The mission was technically successful, although at great cost. As Wasdin was lying on the runway, waiting to be flown for medical treatment, the CIA agent who ran the safe house with him came and asked if there was anything he could do. Wasdin said the parallel of him nearly losing his leg reminded him of the boy next to the Pasha safe house. He asked his friend to get the kid a wheelchair. He said that about two weeks later, he got a message that they had delivered a wheelchair to the little boy and that he was doing well.

Coming Home

Wasdins leg was saved by a doctor, but coming home was another battle.

For Wasdin, being forced from the job he loved was among the hardest things he had to face. The pain came from many directions. He had been a Tier 1 operative in one of the worlds most elite fighting forces, and losing that was difficult. On top of it, he suffered from chronic pain and survivors guilt, with thoughts of, Why was I allowed to live, and better people died?

I had to get past the point where I was blaming God for everything bad in my life, he said, noting, Getting to that dark spot is a gradual process, and its so gradual that you dont realize it.

He said he came to realize, however, that the light didnt move away from meI moved away from the light.

Eventually, Wasdin was saved in his own way. He found love again, got custody of his son, and rediscovered his faith. Gradually, he was able to open up about his experiences. Especially after Somalia, it took me 17 years to really talk about it and get it out, he said.

After pulling himself out of his despair, Wasdin was able to find relief from his chronic pain by visiting a chiropractor, and this inspired him to go back to school and also become a chiropractor. Over the years, he found that many other veterans were in the same state he was in, and he has managed to help others by sharing his story in presentations.

Wasdin said, I had a Vietnam veteran come up to me and hold onto me and sob after a presentation, and tell me that he now knew that it was OK for him to talk about what he had been through, because if I could do it, being a Navy SEAL, then he could, too.

The pain comes in other forms, he said. After his experience in Somalia, former President Bill Clinton pulled the U.S. forces out of the country, which left him and others feeling that their mission and their sacrifices were for nothing. Wasdin said many veterans have felt this same pain seeing the battles they fought ridiculed and the values they lost friends to uphold criticized.

Today, when veterans ask him why they fought, Wasdin said he tells them, The reason I did what I did, and the reason I would still do what I did, is for love of God and country.

He believes that weve forgotten how to love our country.

Weve forgotten how to love each other, he said. The simple fact is, weve got to learn to love each other again and get back to our core principles.
Founder of Medical Marijuana Company Dies in Lamborghini Crash: Reports

A man is dead and a woman was injured in a severe crash involving a Lamborghini on Sunday morning, Nov. 5, in San Diego, California, according to local media reports.

Michael Llamas, 33, a medical marijuana millionaire, was speeding at more than 100 mph, CBS 8 reported. He smashed into a palm tree early Sunday before the vehicle burst into flames.

One person killed and another critically injured when a green Lamborghini crashed into a tree and ignited downtown https://t.co/ycSSQyRBrR  #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) November 5, 2017

DETAILS: Investigation underway after 1 killed, 1 hurt in fatal Lamborghini crash in Downtown SD. https://t.co/UT4gyYs9Mj pic.twitter.com/wyUwRBKTSd  #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) November 5, 2017

A police officer was in the area as the crash took place and was there in a few moments, police said. But even then, it was likely too late.

A woman inside Llamass car was ejected and she was hospitalized, the CBS affiliate reported.

Whats left of a Lamborghini after a terrible fatal crash downtown. @RamonGalindoNBC is there. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/5OWwpDBOhs  Megan Tevrizian (@meganNBC) November 5, 2017

Authorities cleaned up the mangled, burnt wreckage from a fatal Lamborghini crash in Downtown San Di https://t.co/zX6W0rW1oA  San Diego Local News (@SanDiegoLocalTV) November 6, 2017

Llamas is the founder of Medical Marijuana Inc., a firm thats worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The company has learned that Michael Llamas died in a traffic accident over the weekend in San Diego. The company mourns the loss of one of its visionary founders. Mr. Llamas was an incredible philanthropist and changed countless lives throughout the world, the company said in a statement.

He also served as CEO of the Poway company, which sells hemp products, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Lamborghini driver killed in crash was medical marijuana millionaire. https://t.co/6uOUZEe7GK pic.twitter.com/pwcxX05ICr  The CW San Diego (@thecwsandiego) November 7, 2017

Llamas was found dead in the drivers seat, reports say.

The medical examiner hasnt confirmed his death, but a number of media outlets have.

The condition of the female passenger injured in the crash is unknown, 10News reported.
Hundreds of Turtles Dying Off El Salvador Coast

Hundreds of endangered sea turtles have been found dead off El Salvadors Pacific coast under mysterious circumstances, with authorities unable to determine what caused their demise.

The countrys environment ministry said in a news release that its officers found approximately 300 turtles floating in the waters off Jiquilisco Bay, some 71 miles (115 kms) from the capital San Salvador.

Tecnicos y guardarrecursos navegaron 7 millas nauticas mar adentro de la Bahia de Jiquilisco donde se hallaron varias tortugas muertas (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Wvzq970gDW  MARN El Salvador (@MARN_SV) November 3, 2017

According to officials, the turtles were found by chance by local fishermen. According to the ministry, most of the turtles were decomposing when found.

We still ignore the species of the turtles. There are people who say they are olive ridley turtles and others who say they are a different type of species, Barahona said.

Were waiting for the relevant authorities, in this case, the Environment Ministry and other authorities, to carry out studies to determine the reason behind the death of the turtles, Jiquilisco Mayor David Barahona told Reuters on Oct. 31.

Esto no descarta afectacion por marea roja. Manana se realizaran mas muestreos de agua. Resultados de tejidos estaran en proximos dias (2/2) pic.twitter.com/IZS0IBR2Mh  MARN El Salvador (@MARN_SV) November 6, 2017

In 2013, hundreds of sea turtles were found dead off El Salvadors coast. Authorities at the time ascertained the cause of death to be due to exposure to toxins from a toxic algal bloom, commonly known as red tides.
A baby plays around in the imported baby products section while his parents talk to a sales clerk in a supermarket in Beijing in 2013. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

In China, Social Problems Make Parents Struggle to Make Ends Meet

Baby formula and cram schools take large percentage of household incomes

In China, two glaring social problems exacerbate the financial burdens of parents: food safety and unethical teachers.

Chinese parents have to fork out more than in other countries to buy baby formula, then pay extra to keep their children at so-called cram schools, where teachers charge high fees, to give them a chance at excelling academically.

On Oct. 31, Globalization Monitor, a nonprofit organization based in Hong Kong, published a report on global milk formula consumption, revealing that Chinese consumers had to pay more for the same kind of branded baby milk formula compared to consumers in other countries. They also had to spend a greater portion of their salary on baby formula.

For instance, the baby formula Aptamil Profutura 1, one of the most expensive in the UK, is sold for about $17 per 800 grams (1.76 pounds) in the UK, $24 per 800 grams in Germany, and $55 per 900 grams in China.

Consumer confidence in domestic brands of baby milk formula became essentially nonexistent a decade ago, after the melamine milk scandal. In 2008, a major Chinese brand of milk powder was found to be contaminated with melamine, an industrial byproduct. Six babies were reported to have died, and an estimated 300,000 became ill. Since then, the phenomenon of Chinese traveling abroad and emptying store shelves of formula has been noted in many places, including Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan.

Some cram schools charged 50,000 yuan (about $7,540) per school semester.

The report states that while it costs about 1 to 3 percent of an average monthly salary to feed a 2- to 3-month-old baby in the UK, France, and Germany, the percentage sharply increases to 15 percent for Chinese who buy foreign brands, and even up to 40 percent for those who buy super premium formula.

I started buying imported foreign baby milk formula 15 years ago. Back then, a 900-gram package of either Wyeth Promil or SMA cost like 148 yuan [about $22]. Domestic brands cost like 20 yuan [about $3], said Ms. Tian, a mother living in Beijing, in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Tian said she felt early on that domestic brands were not trustworthy. I would rather buy foreign brands of baby formula that have expired than any domestic brand, she said.

Another woman, Wang from Shaanxi Province, told The Epoch Times: If I have a child of my own in the future, and I am not doing so well financially, I still wont buy domestic baby formula. I would raise a cow and feed [my child] fresh milk.

Not Teaching Diligently

On the same day the report was released, Wang Wenzhan, a former division director in Chinas Ministry of Education, reported another glaring set of data about raising children in China: There are more than 220,000 cram schools in China, attended by about 137 million studentsaround 70 percent of all students, according to the state-run ChinaNews.com.

Tian said, It is hard to raise children in China because the fee for cram schools is too high. It takes hundreds of thousands of yuan to raise a single child.

Exorbitant cram school fees were reported by Chinese news portal Sina in 2012. Some cram schools charged 50,000 yuan (about $7,540) per school semester, and others charged twice as much.

These fees are unaffordable for many Chinese families. Estimating the annual salary in China is a notoriously difficult exercise, with accurate data hard to come by and salaries differing dramatically from province to province. According to the World Bank, Chinas gross national income per capita was $8,260 in 2016.

You look at those corrupt officials, they have so many illegitimate children. Normal citizens cannot even afford to raise two children, said Wang.

Meanwhile, parents report poor teaching practices during the regular school day. Tian explained that school teachers often do not teach diligently, then ask their students to attend their expensive after-school cram sessions.

In another article, Sina reported that at one middle school in Shaanxi Province, a teacher purposely did not explain thoroughly a new topic in class. When students asked the teacher for help, he refused to spend extra time teaching them, and instead told them to approach other students who had learned the material well.

As it turned out, those students had already been going to his after-school cram sessions.
A man has his head covered with a Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia flag during a protest against the President Joko Widodo's decree to disband Islamist groups in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 28, 2017. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

Indonesias Bid to Root out Islamists Throws Spotlight on Universities

NUSA DUA, IndonesiaWhen students at Indonesias prestigious Institute of Agricultural Studies swore an oath to support a caliphate in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country last year, a video of the event went viral and the government grew alarmed.

Months later, Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned the decades-old hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which organized the student pledge, and declared its goal to set up a caliphate was incompatible with the Indonesian constitution and could threaten security.

Last month, under prodding from the government, thousands of students across the nation made an anti-radicalism pledge. It followed an unprecedented gathering in late September of some 3,000 academics in Bali, who also pledged to fight extremism and defend the secular constitution.

The campaign against extremism in education comes amid a rise of a hardline, politicized Islam in Indonesia, which until recently had occupied the fringe of the nations politics.

Radical organizations can spread like a virus in universities, said Professor Muhammad Sirozi, rector of the State Islamic University Raden Fatah in Palembang on Sumatra.

These are not the organizations that students form themselves, but they are from outside, he said at a briefing that outlined ways to help universities tackle radicalism following the Bali conference.

The campaign to root out boosters of the caliphate is not just confined to schools.

A document collated by Indonesias intelligence agency lists 1,300 HTI members in senior posts in the civil service, universities, the military and police.

An intelligence source confirmed the authenticity of the document, which was reviewed by Reuters. Some of those on it declined to comment after being contacted, but HTIs former spokesman Ismail Yusanto said it did include some of its members.

Suharto Tactics

Illustrating how a politicized brand of Islam has gained traction, nearly 20 percent of high school and university students in Indonesia support the establishment of a caliphate, a survey showed last week.

Moreover, around one in four of the 4,200 Muslim students in the survey by pollster Alvara said they were, to varying degrees, ready to wage jihad to achieve this.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international organization, established by a Palestinian Islamic scholar in 1953, has been banned in some Arab, Asian and European countries. One of its former members in Indonesia is Bahrun Naim, who went to fight for ISIS in Syria and is accused of masterminding a series of attacks in Indonesia since early last year.

An officially registered organization in Indonesia since 2000, HTI has sought a judicial review in the constitutional court over its disbanding.

They never gave us a chance to defend ourselves. Is it not an authoritarian and repressive action? said HTI spokesman Yusanto, who likened the crackdown to the tactics used against opponents under former strongman President Suharto.

Asked whether HTI was still operating, Yusanto said no one could ban members from their duty to do Dakwah (missionary work) and those activities would continue.

Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir told reporters in July that HTI members were lecturers in many universities  Indonesia has 394 state universities and about 3,000 private ones. He warned they could be sacked unless they proffer loyalty to Indonesias ideology of Pancasila, or five principles, that was first spoken about by Indonesian nationalist leader Sukarno in 1945.

Yusanto said, however, no lecturers who were HTI members had been sacked. A Home Ministry spokesman said a task force set up to find members in the civil service had not found any so far.

Military Sympathizers

One former HTI member, Ayik Heriansyah, said the group tries to enlist support from influential members of society and sympathizers in the security forces to overthrow governments, or what it terms the handing over of power.

Universities have been a key recruiting ground.

Heriansyah, who was once chairman of HTI at the University of Indonesia, said potential recruits were usually invited to an Islamic study group. After about three months, they might be asked to participate in intensive Hiz b-ut-Tahrir study, said Heriansyah, who said left the group after a falling out with its central board.

Heriansyah said the ban on the group would simply push it underground.

They are still running the movement as usual, but with a new structure and stewardship, he said.

HTI has not disclosed its membership. Raymond Arifianto, a research fellow at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said his sources say HTI had about one million members, including an estimated 10-15 percent of junior army officers as members or sympathizers.

A spokesman for Indonesias military denied this.

Targeting High Schools

The group has also gained a strong presence in state universities that train public school teachers, meaning new teachers could spread HTI ideology to high school pupils.

A survey published last December by the Institute for the Study of Islam and Society, showed that 78 percent of 505 religious teachers in public schools supported implementing sharia law in Indonesia. The survey also found that 77 percent backed Islamist groups advocating this goal.

Muhammad Abdullah Darraz, director of the Maarif Institute, which promotes religious and cultural harmony, said HTI had targeted religious lessons at state high schools to spread its ideology.

Clerics offered their services for free, often with school principals and teachers being unaware of their affiliation, he told Reuters. HTIs spokesman denied this was a strategy but said members were obliged to do missionary work without charge.

Indonesias biggest Islamic groups, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, which claim to have about 120 million members between them, back the crackdown on HTI.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, chairman of NUs GP Ansor youth wing, said that Indonesia had been built by many religions and cultures, but HTI came and wanted to change this diversity into one nation called an Islamic country.

By Ed Davies and Agustinus Beo Da Costa
Illegal migrants from Africa arrive ashore after being rescued by Libyan coast guards at sea, off the coastal town of Guarabouli, 36 miles east of the capital Tripoli on May 18, 2017. (Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images)

Italy Investigating 26 Teen Girls Found Dead at Sea: Reports

At least 26 Nigerian teenage girls were found dead at sea, and Italian authorities are investigating.

According to the BBC, there are fears that the women were killed after being abused as they tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Five migrants are now being questioned in the Italian port city of Salerno.

The bodies of 26 Nigerian girls have been recovered from migrant boats https://t.co/1FyfSM1qjo pic.twitter.com/n5NF2LHU7l  OkayAfrica (@okayafrica) November 6, 2017

It was reported that 23 female teenage migrants were found on a rubber boat with 64 other people.

The girls are between the ages of 14 and 18, and officials think theyre from Niger or Nigeria, CNN reported.

In all, during several rescue attempts, 400 people were brought aboard the Spanish warship Cantabria before heading to Salerno. Among them were 90 women and 52 minors, officials said.

People-smuggling gangs charge migrants about $6,000 to travel to Italy. Some $4,000 of that sum is for the Saharan journey to Libya, Italian aid group LAbbraccio told the BBC.

Two men who are believed to have been captains of a boatAl Mabrouc Wisam Harar, from Libya and Mohamed Ali Al Bouzid of Egyptwere arrested, according to the Guardian.

"Most of the girls were between 14 & 18 years old."https://t.co/iIaD0vepuZ  Ayishat A. Akanbi (@Ayishat_Akanbi) November 7, 2017

The prefect of Salerno, Salvatore Malfi, said that the young women were traveling among the men when the vessels sank. Unfortunately, the women suffered the worst of it, he said.

He added: Sex trafficking routes are different, with different dynamics used. Loading women onto a boat is too risky for the traffickers, as they could risk losing all of their goodsas they like to call themin one fell swoop.

About 90 percent of migrant women arrived with some signs of abuse.

Its very rare to find a woman who hasnt been abused, only in exceptional cases, maybe when they are traveling with their husband. But also women traveling alone with their children have been abused, Marco Rotunno, an Italy spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency, told the Guardian.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) during a news conference at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2017. (KIYOSHI OTA/AFP/Getty Images)

Japan Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea Following Trump Visit

Japan announced on Tuesday that it is imposing new sanctions on North Korea.

The announcement came following a two-day visit by President Donald Trump to Japan where he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed the North Korean threat.

Under the new sanctions, assets of nine organizations and 26 individuals will be frozen.

The North Korean missile and nuclear issue is a pressing threat unseen before, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga at a news conference. Its provocative actions, in which it has ignored the severe warnings of international society, are totally unacceptable.

The organizations are North Korean banks, several of them based in China, while the individuals are based in a number of countries, including China, Russia, and Libya.

Suga said the move was taken in the wake of Trumps visit as a way of demonstrating the determination of the two nations to stand together and increase pressure on Pyongyang.

In Japan, President Trump reiterated the United States commitment to work with Japan and South Korea against the North Korean threat.

Trump said that Japan will be buying a lot more U.S. military equipment. He said this will, on the one hand, help them keep safe with the most advanced equipment in the world, and on the other hand, help reduce the trade deficit the United States has with Japan and help to create jobs in America.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also met with an abductee victim and families of Japanese abducted by North Korea.

For two days, President Trump and I spent many, many hours together, and had an in-depth discussion on various global challenges, said Japanese Prime Minister Abe during a state dinner at the Akasaka Palace on Monday.

Im particularly grateful for President Trump and Madam First Lady, who kindly spent their time with a former abductee and the family members of those who had been abducted by North Korea, he said.

Trump is currently in South Korea where he is discussing trade and the North Korean threat with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

During a visit at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, Trump expressed hope that the situation with North Korea will be resolved.

Ultimately it will all work out. Because it always works outhas to work out, he said.

The Trump administration has said that the only solution to the North Korean situation is a denuclearization of the communist regime in Pyongyang.

The close coordination between Korea and the United States, and the overwhelming superiority of power that stems from the ROK-U.S. alliance, will eventually make North Korea cease its reckless provocations and make North Korea come out to dialogue for denuclearization, said South Korean Prime Minister Moon during a state a state dinner on Tuesday.

During the visit, Trump said that the South Korean military is becoming increasingly strong.

We make the finest equipment in the world, and youre buying a lot of it, and we appreciate that, Trump said.

Trump said that North Korea poses a threat to the whole world, and requires worldwide attention.

We call on every responsible nation, including China and Russia, to demand that the North Korean regime end its nuclear weapons and its missile programs, and live in peace, Trump said.

He will visit China next on his 5-country Asia trip.

I want to just say that President Xiwhere we will be tomorrow, Chinahas been very helpful. Well find out how helpful soon, Trump said.

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Pennsylvania State Trooper Shot on Highway, Suspect Caught

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was shot Tuesday, Nov. 7, on Route 33 near Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania, and a suspect is in custody, authorities have said.

Troop M reports one trooper shot during traffic stop on Rt. 191, Plainfield Twp., Northampton County. More information to come as available.  PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) November 7, 2017

In a tweet at a little after 11:30 a.m., the Pennsylvania State Police said that one trooper [was] shot during [a] traffic stop.

State police said the corporal was outside his vehicle when he exchanged gunfire with the suspect, according to The Morning Call.

Crews shut down Route 33 at Route 191 to make a helicopter landing, WFMZ reported.

The Easton Hospital was briefly placed on lockdown after a blue Pontiac with a back window that had been shot out was seen near the hospital emergency room.

The suspect drove himself to the hospital and is now in custody, local media report.

According to emergency radio dispatches, police were attempting to locate a second occupant of the blue Pontiac, The Morning Call reported.

The condition of the shot Pennsylvania State Police trooper isnt yet known.

At 191 near 33 pic.twitter.com/wWz8XBtnd2  Pamela Lehman (@pamelalehman) November 7, 2017

Governor Tom Wolf issued a statement on twitter, saying that hes praying for this trooper and their family.

My thoughts are with all of the Pennsylvania State Police, he wrote.

District Attorney John Morganelli confirmed a trooper was shot and hospitalized, The Morning Call reported.

All I know is that a state trooper was shot at a traffic stop and that hes being attended to, Morganelli said.

Praying for this trooper and their family. My thoughts are with all of the @PAStatePolice. https://t.co/tuolQswz7P  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) November 7, 2017

#UPDATE: @PAStatePolice trooper has been airlifted to Saint Lukes Hospital, condition is unknown https://t.co/MkP2ciaTPI  KYW Newsradio (@KYWNewsradio) November 7, 2017

Nazareth Area School District Superintendent Dennis Riker called all parents at around 11:15 a.m. and said all schools were locked down due to an active shooter. Five minutes later, he said the lockdown had been lifted, according to Lehighvalleylive.com.
This picture taken on Aug. 12, 2013, shows Siberian tigers licking ice cubes to cool off in Guaipo Siberian Tiger Park in China. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Photos Show Siberian Tiger Attacking Russian Zookeeper

Pictures captured the moment a large Siberian tiger attacked a zookeeper in a Russian zoo.

According to The Sun, a keeper at the Kaliningrad Zoo had food for the tiger when it attacked her on Sunday. The pictures show Taifun, the tiger, on top of the woman, who is screaming.

Siberian tiger mauls female zookeeper Sunday inside enclosure in Kaliningrad, Russia, at feeding time. Zookeeper is expected to survive. pic.twitter.com/l5HjPUJeYG  World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 6, 2017

Onlookers helped save the zookeeper by shouting, the zoo said in a statement. They also threw stones and benches and tables from a cafe at the beast.

The zookeeper was then able to go hide in an inner room in the enclosure, the statement said.

Zookeeper screams in terror as Siberian tiger attacks her at feeding time https://t.co/BQZJPkGJwc  The Sun (@TheSun) November 5, 2017

The patient was delivered to the hospital with multiple wounds to the body and limbs, said a local Health Ministry spokesman, The Sun reported.

The zookeeper, who was not identified, was not critically injured. The zoo said her injuries are nonlife-threatening, and her condition is stable.

Until today, he did not show aggression toward employees, the zoo said, adding it is the first tiger attack in the 120-year history of the Kaliningrad Zoo.

Siberian tigers are the largest big cats in the world. They can weight up to 800 pounds.
President Donald Trump announces Jerome Powell as the new chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Nov. 2, 2017. (Samira Bouaou/ The Epoch Times)

President Donald Trump Says North Koreans Are Great People

Amid concerns of a nuclear attack by the North Korean regime, President Donald Trump drew a distinction between the rulers in Pyongyang and the North Korean people.

I think theyre great people. Theyre industrious. Theyre warm, much warmer than the world really knows or understands, Trump said aboard Air Force One en route to Japan on Nov. 4.

Trump is currently on a 12-day tour of Asia. One of the main goals of the trip is to gain support from countries in the region to deal with the North Korean problem.

I hope it all works out for everybody. It will be a wonderful thing if we can work out for those great people, and for everybody, Trump said.

Generations of North Koreans have suffered under the communist dictatorship in North Korea. The Kim regime started in 1948 when Kim Il Sung was installed as the leader of North Koreas communist party.

Kim had been trained by the Soviet Unions red army and had initially been installed in the leadership of the Korean Workers Party in 1946.

Millions have died as a result of multiple famines in North Korea. To date, most North Koreans live in abject poverty with no or limited access to basic necessities such as electricity.

During the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 19, President Trump said that while the United States has great strength and patience, it would not hesitate to totally destroy North Korea if needed.

The regime in Pyongyang has escalated its threats of using nuclear weapons against the U.S. mainland and its allies in the region. In early September it conducted a highly controversial underground nuclear test.

The Trump administration is trying to solve the situation through diplomatic means, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said last month. At the same time as pursuing diplomatic means, the administration is also using economic pressure through sanctions backed up by the threat of military force to get North Korea to the negotiating table.

So far, North Korea has refused to engage in talks about abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

Its state-controlled media have issued multiple threats in recent months that its state-sanctioned nuclear program is now near conclusion. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said last month that North Korea is now in the final stages of being able to launch a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

Trump has frequently criticized previous U.S. administrations for not having handled the North Korean nuclear threat.

National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster told reporters at the White House last week that time is running out for a diplomatic solution to the situation. He has said previously that the Trump administration demands North Korea denuclearize.

A senior White House official said that the first goal of the Asia trip is to strengthen international resolve to denuclearize North Korea.

The second is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and the Third, according to the official, is to advance Americas prosperity.

Trumps visit to China will be especially important in solving the North Korean situation. North Korea is estimated to depend on China for as much as 90 percent of its trade.

While China has implemented U.N. sanctions that were imposed in September, and has put more pressure on North Koreas finances and businesses, the Trump administration believes they can do much more.

As a fellow communist nation, North Korea has depended on China for years.

The President is very much focused on China as the leading trading country, or the leading trading partner of North Korea. He is very much focused on making sure that China lives up to all the obligations under the U.N. Security Council resolutions, but also to do more than that, to go further, the senior White House official said in a background briefing.

The official also said that Trump would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the APEC summit to discuss the North Korean situation.

Russia has obligations as a U.N. member to upholding U.N. Security Council resolutions, all of them going back and, of course, to include the two significant increases in sanctions that were passed in 15-0 votes by the U.N. Security Council resolution earlier this year, the official said.

During his visit to Japan, Trump met with one person who was abducted by North Korea as well as family members of Japanese citizens who were also abducted by the regime and have not returned.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam,says it is necessary to combine cultural innovation with the culinary arts and gastronomy to be able to forge a new path of development in the cultural and creative industries of Macau.

Speaking on the sidelines of a public event earlier this week, Tam noted the challenges connected to Macaus recent designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.

In the secretarys opinion, the title will contribute to and benefit the development of the adequate diversification of Macaus economy and promote Macaus transformation into an World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

The Secretary noted that culinary culture was considered by the government as the fifth branch of the activities classified under the Cultural Industries of Macau category, which also includes creative design, exhibitions and cultural shows, collection of artistic works and digital media. These creative sectors were grouped together intentionally, with the aim of promoting collaboration between the tourism sector, food and beverage establishments and the cultural and creative industries sector. The hope was expressed that the interconnectedness of these sectors would enrich the content of the Creative City of Gastronomy.

To do so, Tam said that the government was already preparing for the construction a technical and vocational education center with the purpose of providing training in a variety of international cuisines.

The building, according to Tam, will occupy the land plot named CN6a in Seac Pai Van while at the higher education level, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) will continue their works to create a culinary center, as well as organize courses for undergraduates, continue education, and train professionals already operating in this field with the idea to improve skills and knowledge of the professionals in the culinary area.

Tam stressed that gastronomy does not mean only wines and foods of different qualities but also includes popular, economic, home and community gastronomy. He announced that the government will support the creation of an environment of culinary culture in the community and reinforce promotion and information disclosure with the purpose of attract[ing] tourists to visit different areas of Macau, enjoy local food, as well as boost consumption and growth in different areas of Macau.
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Nov. 4, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting the March 16 factory at an undisclosed place. Unprecedented sanctions have crippled the North Korean economy and could intensify, said a senior White House official. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Sanctions Hitting North Korea Hard As Trump Tours Asia

Sanctions currently crippling the North Korean economy could intensify if President Donald Trump succeeds in achieving one of the overarching goals of his current trip through several Asian countries.

The U.S. presidents top priority during his current Asia tour is to strengthen international resolve to denuclearize North Korea, a senior White House official told reporters on Nov. 5.

Trump will urge the Chinese regime to go beyond fulfilling its U.N. Security Council resolution obligations with North Korea when he arrives there on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Reports that China is already ejecting North Korean workers ahead of a 120-day U.N. deadline indicate this could already be happening.

Chinas cooperation with the sanctions is seen as critical to ensuring they have an impact.

North Koreawhich has been considered very resilient to international trade sanctionshas complained bitterly about its reduced trade and capital flows.

KCNA, one of the regimes official news agencies, reported on the regimes efforts to appeal to the United Nations about the sanctions on Nov. 5.

The regime mouthpiece described the brutal sanctions as genocide.

Without naming a specific country, the regime said the sanctions were condemned by the international community because they threatened the the enjoyment by the people of DPRK of their human rights in all sectors.

The regime, which has been a recipient of foreign aid throughout its existence, complained that the sanctions had thwarted international humanitarian organizations active in the country.

According to North Korean defectors, however, aid to North Korea has given the regime more resources to pursue its Songunmilitary firstpolicy, which sees it prioritize military capability over any other international or domestic concernincluding feeding its citizens.

Some defectors from North Korea have advocated that the only foreign aid that should be sent to North Korea is animal-grade feedstock.

Feed you send for cattle and for horses and chickens is what gets to the North Korean people when you provide that support to North Korea, defector Hye Sook Kim told a Canadian parliamentary committee in 2012. You need something in your belly to survive, so I think food support is probably the most important, but we need to remember what kind of food actually reaches the North Koreans.

Sanctions and a drought this past spring have caused North Korean food prices to dramatically fluctuate, spurring reports of increased bribe demands from North Korean officials as well as new taxes and tolls.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the Trump administration has brought pressure on the North Korean Regime to unprecedented levels around the world.

The result has been international cooperation on the sanctions, as well as diplomatic isolation, and expulsion of North Korean workers.

Our goal for this pressure campaign  is to persuade the North Korean regime that the only way to achieve the stability it seeks is to abandon its current path and embrace meaningful dialogue about a different future, said the State Department spokesperson.

More than 20 countries have restricted North Korean diplomatic activity while Mexico, Peru, Spain, Italy, and Kuwait have announced they will expel North Koreas ambassadors. Portugal and the United Arab Emirates have suspended diplomatic relations and the Philippines and Taiwan have suspended all trade with North Korea.



Other countries have recognized that U.N. sanctions are not enough and adopted additional autonomous measuresincluding the EU, Australia, ROK, Japan, and Latvia, the State Department spokesperson said.
Stepsister: Thornton Walmart Shooter Plagued by Demons After Taking Drugs

The stepsister of the man who fatally shot three people in a Colorado Walmart Wednesday, Nov. 1, said her stepbrother is not the murderous monster that he is portrayed as, but a sick man who was never treated for his demons.

Michelle Willoughby, 43, told The Denver Post her 47-year-old stepbrother Scott Ostrem was an outgoing and social person until he took LSD at a party in 1988.

When he came home he was terrified. He had voices in his head. Demons. My brother was freaking out, she told the Post. He was screaming that the devil was after him.

The family sent him to the hospital, she said, but he only received medication, and to her knowledge, has never seen a psychiatrist.

A local priest began visiting Ostem three times a week, she recalled, and she remembers seeing him putting a crucifix on his head and commanding the demons to come out.

But after the priest died, Ostrem became reclusive, and lost contact with the family, including her.

He went off the grid. Nobody could find him. Not one person on the face of the Earth knew where he was, Willoughby said.

Ostrem was working as a metal fabricator for B&M Roofing at the time of the attack.

Without telling anyone, he walked off his job that day and drove to the Walmart in Thorton, about 9 miles north of Denver.

There he took out a handgun and fired randomly, killing three: Pamela Marques, 52; Carlos Moreno, 66; and Victor Vasquez, 26.

He fled in his car, but police found him and arrested him when he got stuck in traffic.

Willoughby attributes Ostrems violent attack to his isolation, lack of treatment, and his inability to put things into perspective.

My brother is not this monster, she said. He is not cold blooded. He hears these voices.  I believe there is only so much a person can take.

David Heidt, Ostrems employer, told the Post that Ostrem was a good employee, and while he mostly kept to himself, saying only Hello, Good morning, See you later, he also didnt get into any conflicts.

I guess the word that comes to mind is bewildered, said Heidt after the shooting. He was a very good employee. We had no problems with him.

Willoughby said she hardly recognizes her stepbrotherhes lost so much weight since she last saw him and his voice has changed.

Law enforcement officials told Denver7 that they were looking into Ostrems mental health history, which could be a factor in his case.

He faces six counts of first-degree murder, 30 counts of attempted first-degree murder and a sentencing enhancer if hes convicted for the shooting. He could face up to life in prison or face the death penalty if he is found guilty of the murder charges.

However, if is he is found to be mentally incompetent, state law would bar him from being put to death.

From NTD.tv
Teen Who Went Missing in New York City Feared to Be Victim of Sex Trafficking

A teen who went missing in Queens, New York, might be the victim of sex trafficking, officials said on Tuesday.

Sources in the New York City Police Department told the New York Post that Corinna Slusser, a 19-year-old college student from Pennsylvania, was seen last in Queens on Sept. 20. Now, police think that she was abducted and is in a prostitution ring.

She was seen last at the Haven Motel, on Woodhaven Boulevard by 68th Avenue in Rego Park, according to the New York Daily News.

Slusser filed a complaint against a man who is known for overseeing prostitutes in New York City. She was first reported in Pennsylvania. Her family found photos on Instagram tracing her to the Bronx.

Corina please be safe .xoxo I love you, a friend wrote in a comment on the post on Sept. 10.

The NYPD released a photo on Monday, and it added that it is looking out for the teen.

My daughter was a great student, a cheerleader. She had many friends and lived her life as a normal teenager. I need her home and I cant bare anymore days like this, Sabina Tuorto, the teens mother, wrote on Oct. 10 on Facebook. I fear the worst but I pray for the best and her to return home. Waiting for an Angel to hear my prayer, she wrote.

Slusser is 5 foot 6 and weighs about 140 pounds. She has blue eyes and blond hair, and she has a black flower tattoo in the middle of her chest.

Corinna Slusser has been missing for 3 weeks. Her last known location is the Bronx, NY. If u have ANY info contact the police #MissingPerson pic.twitter.com/Eh4cDP0g5l  genny shawcross (@gennnyshawcross) October 10, 2017

She filed an emergency protection from abuse while living in New York with a man. She is originally from the Bloomsburg area and has been missing for around two weeks, wrote one friend, Cameron Seely, in an Oct. 5 Facebook post.

She is a very active social media user and has not poster in weeks either.

Those with information about her disappearance are urged to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS [8477].
An aerial photo showing the site of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 6, 2017. (REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman)

Texas Church Gunman Escaped Mental Facility in 2012

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TexasThe man who carried out one of the deadliest U.S. mass shootings escaped from a mental health facility in 2012, the same year he was convicted by a U.S. Air Force court-martial of domestic abuse, according to a police report.

Devin Kelley, who massacred 26 people at a church in rural southeastern Texas on Sunday, was convicted of assaulting his first wife and stepson while serving in the U.S. Air Force in 2012, according to the Pentagon.

That same year he briefly escaped from a mental health facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, according to an El Paso, Texas, police report.

The person who reported Kelleys escape warned police that he could be a danger to himself and others and had been caught sneaking weapons into Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he had been stationed, according to the police report.

He had attempted to carry out death threats that (Kelley) had made on his military chain of command, the report stated.

Police found Kelley in El Paso and turned him over to New Mexico police to return him to the facility, according to the police report.

The attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, ranks as the fifth deadliest by a single gunman in U.S. history.

The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years and including the unborn child of a pregnant woman who was killed. Twenty others were wounded, with 10 still in critical condition on Tuesday, officials said.

Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his getaway vehicle, where authorities found two handguns, said Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety.

Kelley was also wounded by a resident of the town of about 400 people who heard the gunshot, grabbed his rifle and raced to the church, shooting the 26-year-old twice as he fled.

Domestic Dispute

Kelley was involved in a domestic dispute with the parents of his second wife, whom he married in 2014, authorities said, and had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law before the shooting.

We have some indication of what the conflict was between the family, Martin told a Tuesday press conference.

Although Kelleys in-laws occasionally attended services at First Baptist, they were not there on Sunday.

Kelleys cell phone has been sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations crime lab at Quantico, Virginia. Specialists have been unable to get into the device to see if it holds details on the cause of his attack, said Christopher Combs, the FBIs special agent in charge in San Antonio.

By Jon Herskovitz and Lisa Maria Garza
Police move flowers placed at a barricade near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Texas Church Gunman Killed Wifes Grandmother in Mass Shooting

The Texas gunman who killed 26 people and wounded 20 more at a rural churchalso killed his wifes grandmother in the massacre.

The shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs was the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history, according to Fox News. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called it the deadliest mass shooting in the states history.

Gunman Devin Kelley, killed his grandmother-in-law, Lula Woicinski White when he entered the church and opened fire on Sunday at about 11:30 a.m., New York Daily News reported.

Whites sister, Mary Mishler Clyburn, told the Daily News: My sister was a wonderful, caring persona God-loving person. She loved the people in her church. They were all her best friends.

I miss her badly already. We texted every day. We loved each other to the moon and back, she continued.

Clyburn, 74 said the whole family is in pain.

The whole family is very devastated. This is not something we ever expected. Its just, I dont know how to put it into words. Theyre hurting a lot. The whole family is hurting a lot. I dont know where were going from here. Were going to have to take one day at a time, she told Daily News.

Clyburn said that Whites daughter Michelle Shields 54, is the mother of Kelleys second wife, Danielle.

But Clyburn declined to comment about the relationship between Danielle and Kelley, adding that she wasnt at liberty to give any information on the topic.

When asked if Kelley had threatened the family, Clyburn said, Not that Im aware of, according to Daily News.

Whites niece, Amy Johnson Backus wrote a heartfelt farewell post on Facebook. She wrote that she has no doubt where her aunt is.

I have no doubt where she is right now. She is in Heaven laying her crowns and jewels at the feet of Jesus and celebrating. I love and will miss you Aunt Lula Woicinski White, Backus wrote in the Nov. 5 post.

Whites job on her Facebook page was listed as do whats needed at FBC Sutherland Springs.

Also among the dead was a woman who was pregnant, the 14-year-old daughter of the churchs pastor, and an 18-month-old.

From NTD.tv
Conal County Sheriffs guard the entrance to the home of Devin Kelley, the Texas shooting suspect in New Braunfels, Texas on Nov. 6, 2017. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images)

Texas Church Shooter Broke Infant Sons Skull in 2012 Assault

Devin Kelley, the 26-year-old who murdered 26 people in a Texas Church on Nov. 5, was convicted of assault on his wife and child while in the Air Force in 2012.

Kelley joined the Air Force in 2010 and was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico until his discharge for Bad Conduct. He served a year in detention prior to being discharged in 2014.

In 2012 Kelley pleaded guilty to charges of assault on his spouse and assault on their childnot just once, but on several occasions.

He assaulted his stepson severely enough that he fractured his skull, and he also assaulted his wife, Don Christensen, a retired colonel who was the chief prosecutor for the Air Force, told The New York Times. He pled to intentionally doing it.

The Air Force said Kelleys case was a general court martial, the most serious level of military trial proceedings. It is reserved for more serious criminal allegations, those substantially similar to felonies in civilian jurisdictions.

The charges should have barred him from buying or owning handguns in the State of Texas. However, the information didnt appear to have been passed along the proper channels, because Kelley was able to buy two guns in Texas and two more in Colorado.

Animal Assault

Kelleys first wife, whom he married in 2011, divorced him in 2012 while he was in military prison. In April of 2014, after his discharge, he moved to Texas and married Danielle Lee Shield. The couple moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they lived on Lot 60 in the Fountain Creek RV Park.

His neighbors in the park remember him mostly for an incident involving his pet pit bull.

Kelley kept the dog tied up in the sun all day long, causing neighbors to be concerned for the dogs well-being. At one point the police were called after Kelley hit the dog in the head.

The suspect then started beating on the dog with both fists, punching it in the head and chest, the police report cites a witness saying. He could hear the suspect yelling at the dog and while he was striking it, the dog was yelping and whining. The suspect then picked up the dog by the neck into the air and threw it onto the ground and then drug him away to lot 60.

According to his neighbors, Kelley holed up in his trailer and refused to come out for about an hour. He finally emerged and was charged with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. He paid a fine and the case was dismissed.

He moved away a few weeks later.

A Turn to the Dark Side

Friends who knew Kelley in High School said he turned dark after graduation. Many unfriended him of Facebook as his attitudes seemed to grow more extreme.

I had always known there was something off about him. But he wasnt always a psychopath though, said longtime friend, Courtney Kleiber on Facebook on Nov. 5 after hearing about the shooting.

She posted that he had been happy at one point, normal, your average kid. We had a lot of good times together. Over the years we all saw him change into something that he wasnt. To be completely honest, Im really not surprised this happened, and I dont think anyone who knew him is very surprised either.

Among the changes, Kelley became a zealous atheist, and was vocally anti-Christian. This also cost him some friends.

He was always talking about how people who believe in God were stupid and trying to preach his atheism, said Nina Rosa, one of his Facebook friends who unfriended him because of it.

In June of 2017 Kelley got a job as a security guard at a local water park. Despite his prior legal entanglements, he managed to pass all the necessary background checks.

Kelley was terminated, after less than six weeks on the job, said park spokeswoman Winter D. Prosapio. He was not a good fit.

Kelleys Facebook page featured pictures of his firearms. The main one displayed on his profile banner photo was a picture of the AR-556 he used in the church shooting.

From NTD.tv
FBI agents search for clues at the entrance to the First Baptist Church, after a mass shooting that killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 6, 2017. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

Texas Gunman Dated Underage Girl, Hounded Ex-girlfriends

The gunman in the Texas church shooting, Devin Kelley, dated an underage girl and hounded his ex-girlfriends, trying to bribe them to hang out with him, according to NBC.

Kelley had a troubled and violent past, with an arrest for animal cruelty and a court-marshal for assaulting his baby stepson and his first wife, the report said.

One former girlfriend said that he also tried to assault her, and another that he dated her when she was underage.

Brittany Adcock, 22, said she dated Kelley for two months when she was 13 and he was 18.

At the time I didnt think much into it being so young but now I realize that theres something off about someone who is 18 with someone who is 13, she told NBC.

After she broke it off, he hassled her through fake Facebook profiles, and constant phone calls, offering her money to hang out with her, according to Reuters. It only stopped about six months ago.

She was forced to call the police, change her phone number and to file a complaint with police.

He just started getting really weird, Adcock, now 22, told NBC, describing how he had asked her to move in with him and to walk around topless.



Another ex-girlfriend, Katy Landry, who met Kelley in church as a teenager, also said Kelley had continued to hassle her after they broke up.

Years after dating me he would try to bribe me to hang out with him, Landry told NBC News in a Facebook message. He ended up assaulting me. He would stalk me by repeatedly calling meeven prank calling me, saying really weird stuff.

That was another thing about himhe was very sick in the headHe would tell me very sick strange things, she said, without providing any details.

Kelley divorced his first wife in New Mexico in 2012 and married Danielle Shields in Texas in 2014, soon after his discharge, according to state records, said NBC.



Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas and opened fire with an assault weapon, killing at least 26 people on Sunday.

A local resident fired shots at him, and he fled in a car. After a pursuit during which his car crashed, he was found dead, killed by what authorities believe were self-inflicted gunshots.

He had been involved in a domestic situation with his in-lawswho sometimes worship at the churchsending them threatening text messages, Texas officials said, according to Reuters.

A local resident told the LA Times that Kelley had been adding strangers in the area on Facebook and starting online fights with them.

Its like he went looking for it, you know what I mean?Johnathan Castillo told the newspaper. You can tell people who are defending their opinions versus someone whos looking to start something.

A lot of people were deleting him from Facebook for starting drama Castillo said.
President Donald Trump talks to military personnel while South Korean President Moon Jae-In (R) looks on at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on Nov. 7, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump Opts to Have Lunch with Troops in South Korea

President Donald Trump ate with the troops while visiting Camp Humphreys in South Korea.

I had a choice of having a beautiful, very fancy lunch, and I said, No, I want to eat with the troops,' Trump said. And it was good eating. It was good eating.

The president praised the troops for doing a terrific job.

Trump was joined for lunch by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and American and South Korean troops.

Troops who were present at the lunch said Trump told them there was no place hed rather be, Stars and Stripes reported.

On the menu was Mexican food. According to Stars and Stripes, Trump had tacos, a burrito, and curly fries.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Banegura, who manages the dining facility at Camp Humphreys, told the publication that the president was offered more options, but that he had insisted to eat the same thing as the troops.

One of the 108 handpicked service members present at the lunch, Marine Sgt. Cortney Wells, 25, said she was humbled to have been chosen to sit near Trump.

With everything going on I know people at home are concerned. I think its great, especially for the alliance, that both presidents are going to be here together, she told Stars and Stripes.

Located 40 miles south of Seoul, Camp Humphreys is the United States largest overseas base. Over 90 percent of the nearly $11 billion cost of the base is being paid by South Korea under the Special Measures Agreement signed in 2013.

Trump is currently on a 12-day tour of Asia where he will visit five countries. Solving the North Korean nuclear threat is the top priority for Trumps visit.

In a joint press conference with the South Korean President on Tuesday, Trump said their military is becoming very strong, adding that South Korea is buying a lot of military equipment made in the United States.

The United States has an estimated 37,000 troops currently stationed in South Koreathe highest number in over a decade.

North Korea has repeatedly threatened to attack the U.S. mainland along with U.S. allies South Korea and Japan with nuclear weapons.

In response, Trump has sought to find a diplomatic solution for the denuclearization of North Korea while at the same time using economic sanctions and a strong military threat to force the North to the negotiating table.

I would also like to commend you on your efforts in leading the international collaboration and unity when it comes to countering North Korea nuclear issue, Moon told Trump during the joint press conference.

I hope that your visit to Korea and to the Asia Pacific region will serve as an opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety that the Korean people have due to North Koreas provocations, he said.

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President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In walk towards a guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Nov. 7, 2017. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Trump Sends Message of Strength and Hope in South Korea

U.S. sending three aircraft carriers to region

President Donald Trump expressed hope for a free and peaceful Korea during his visit to South Korea on Nov. 7.

Together, our nations remind the world of the boundless potential of societies that choose freedom over tyranny, Trump said at a state dinner in Seoul on Tuesday.

At the same time, Trump sent a message of strength in the face of North Koreas threats to use nuclear weapons.

You know we sent three of the largest aircraft carriers in the world, and theyre right now positioned. We have a nuclear submarine also positioned, Trump said.

The United States is deploying three aircraft carrier strike groups to the western Pacific in the coming days.

The aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz, the Ronald Reagan, and the Theodore Roosevelt, along with their accompanying warships, will take part in navy drills. Its the first time three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups have exercised together in the region in a decade.

The United States has sharply increased its military assets in the region in recent months after North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons against the U.S. mainland and South Korea and Japan.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan departs the Yokosuka naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, on Sept. 8, 2017. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

A Japanese destroyer, the Inazuma, will join the armada, two Japanese government officials said, following a separate three-day exercise with the Reagan and two Indian warships in the Sea of Japan that ended Monday.

Military expert Tim Huxley, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the presence of the U.S. carriers still sent an unmistakable message, with each one carrying around 70 aircraft.

Beyond the capability to project military power at great range, their ability to project political and psychological power is arguably unmatched, and we are seeing that play out, said Huxley.

Carrier commanders say the strike groups are kept combat-ready at all times, with jet fighters and surveillance planes taking off constantly from their flight decks to maintain a protective screen.

Crew members spread out lights on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier during a port visit in Hong Kong on October 2, 2017. (ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/Getty Images)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that Trump had reaffirmed to him Americas ironclad commitment to defend The Republic of Korea.

Against escalating nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, we reaffirmed our principle that we must maintain a strong stance toward North Korean threats based on overwhelming superiority of power, Moon said.

Trump said that South Korea will be buying a lot of military equipment from the United States.

We make the finest equipment in the world  Theres nobody that comes close, whether its the planes, the missiles, the ships, Trump said.

And we appreciate your big purchase orders for military equipment, he added.

Besides the pressing North Korea issue, Trump is keeping a priority on trade during his five-country trip to Asia.

Crewmen launch a US Navy Super Hornet off the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan on July 14, 2017, in Townsville, Australia. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

While visiting Japan on Sunday and Monday, Trump said that he will require U.S. allies to buy American-made military equipment.

He said that on the one hand, this means that they will buy the best equipment. On the other hand, they will help reduce the trade deficits that the United States has with their countries, and help to create jobs in America.

Your military is becoming very strong, Trump said.

During his visit, Trump also sought to highlight the distinction between an oppressive North Korea and a free South Korea.

Following the withdrawal of Japanese troops after World War II, the Soviets took over North Korea and installed a communist regime.

Kim Il Sung, who was trained by the red army, became the first leader of the Korean Workers Party in 1948. The country has since seen decades of unprecedented poverty and suffering. To date, most North Koreans lack access to basic necessities and millions have died over the years from famine.

South Korea, meanwhile, which was under control of U.S. troops following World War II, has flourished as a free and democratic country, becoming one of the most prosperous nations in the region.

Here in South Korea, the people built a free, sovereign, and democratic republic. Through their resilience and sacrifice and determination, they became the chief architects of the future, Trump said during the state dinner in Seoul.

Reuters contributed to this article.
President Donald Trump (C) makes his way to board Air Force One in Riyadh as he head with the First Lady to Israel on May 22, 2017. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump Voices Support for Saudi Arabia Anti-Corruption Purge

President Donald Trump declared support on Monday evening for a large-scale anti-corruption crackdown taking place in Saudi Arabia.

Seventeen royal princes and 38 high-level ministers have been arrested since Saturday in a sweeping purge by a recently-formed anti-corruption committee led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a list obtained by CNN. Two princes have also been killed: one in a helicopter crash, and another during an attempted arrest.

Trump wrote on Twitter on Nov. 6 I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing. Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!

.Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

The arrests began shortly after Trump sent a Twitter message on Nov. 4 indicating that the United States will open the door for Saudi Arabia to cash in on its oil business on the lucrative New York Stock Exchange.

Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange, Trump wrote on Saturday morning. Important to the United States!

The timing of the message and the arrests may not be accidental given the significance of Saudi Arabia to Trumps foreign policy. The presidents first visit was to Saudi Arabia and he brought nearly his entire cabinet on the trip.

Trumps speech in Saudi Arabia centered singularly on the eradication of radical Islamic terrorism. He said that the path to peace begins in Saudi Arabia and offered the heads of state in attendance a choice, affirming that the United States will support those who oppose the spread of terrorism.

But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them, Trump said. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.

A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out, the president said, adding (with emphasis taken from official speech transcript): DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship. DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities. DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH.

Crown Prince Salman, whom Trump addressed in the Aramco tweet, is a young and reform-minded leader who showed that he is willing to address to problem of radical Islamic terrorism in exchange for peace and prosperity for his people. The crown prince and Trump opened the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology after Trumps speech, signaling the princes support for the U.S. leaders cause.

Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most prolific state sponsors of Islamic terrorism. Trump offered the crown prince a choice and, by all appearances, the prince decided to side with the United States. Trumps message of support for the cause indicates that the two are on the same page.

The cleanup in Saudi Arabia also appears to be linked to Trumps goal of draining the swamp in Washington. Millions of dollars worth of Saudi Arabian currency goes to non-profits, including the Clinton Foundation and The McCain Insitute, that are linked to top U.S. politicians

The Podesta Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, receives $140,000 a month from the Saudi government, Huffington Post reported. Tony and John Podesta founded the firm in 1988. John Podesta chaired Hillary Clintons presidential campaign in 2016 while the firm received Saudi money.

From NTD.tv
President Donald Trump visits South Korea today on the second leg of his first official Asian tour. While Trump will be looking to use his trip to strengthen Washingtons alliance with Seoul and reaffirm their joint push to maximize pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program, he will also be faced with several thorny issues weighing on the relationship. Heres a look at some of them.

NORTH KOREA

Both Trump and South Koreas liberal President Moon Jae-in agree that its time to ramp up sanctions and pressure on North Korea, which has ignored international condemnation as it moves forward with its nuclear and missile tests.

But Moon, a former human rights lawyer, still favors dialogue as a way to defuse the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash, which experts believe would cause enormous casualties in South Korea. This contrasts with Trump, who has threatened the North with fire and fury and exchanged warlike rhetoric with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The world will be watching what kind of language Trump will use in his comments on North Korea. A hint at a military option or crude insults directed at Kim  like the term Little Rocket Man he previously used to deride the young North Korean dictator  is certain to enrage North Korea, which could react with weapons tests and threats of war.

Increasing animosity would be a burden for Moon.

TRADE

Renegotiating South Koreas bilateral free trade agreement with the U.S., dubbed KORUS, is likely be high on the agenda during the Trump-Moon summit. Trump has criticized the deal as a source of the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea, an argument officials there dismiss.

Before Trumps presidency, many in South Korea and the United States regarded the deal as a key pillar of their alliance. But Trump has made scrapping trade deals a hallmark of his presidency. Earlier this year, reports that Trump was considering triggering a withdrawal from the deal caused uproar not just in South Korea but also in the United States.

The two countries eventually started talks this summer on renegotiating the deal, which went into effect five years ago. Many South Koreans are watching if Trump will make off-the-cuff remarks on the trade deal during news conferences or on Twitter.

U.S. TROOPS

Trump wants South Korea to pay more for the U.S. military presence on its soil, which is chiefly aimed at deterring potential aggression from North Korea.

During election campaigning, Trump said South Korea and Japan must make more contributions for together hosting 80,000 U.S. troops or he might withdraw those soldiers. Security jitters subsequently flared among many in South Korea and Japan.

Since taking office in January, Trump hasnt publicly threatened to pull out the troops but he harkened back to an election campaign request for greater burden-sharing with South Korea during his first summit talks with Moon in late June.

South Korea currently pays more than 900 billion won (USD800 million) annually and negotiations with the United States are to start in the coming months to try to determine a new amount for South Korea to contribute.

U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE

South Koreas recent agreement with China to try to end disputes over an advanced U.S. missile defense system deployed in South Korea could be an issue.

While announcing the deal last week, Beijing, which views the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system as a security threat, said it noted that Seoul stated it wont do several things: deploying an additional THAAD battery, helping develop security cooperation with Japan and the U.S. into a trilateral military alliance and joining a global U.S. missile defense network. South Koreas foreign minister made similar remarks during a parliament committee meeting earlier last week.

Critics say the South Korean moves, dubbed by local media as its Three No policies, could undermine the operational capability of the allied South Korea-U.S. forces and Trumps push to bolter three-way cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo to put more pressure on Pyongyang.

Other issues at stake are South Koreas hope to regain the wartime operational control of its troops, currently placed at the hands of the chief of the 28,000 U.S. troops in the South, and Seouls possible purchase of high-tech U.S. weapons systems. Hyung-Jin Kim, Seoul, AP
The Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington on Nov. 8, 2017. Established by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, it is a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue erected during China's Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

White House Commemorates Victims of Communism With New National Day

It was 100 years ago, between Nov. 6 and Nov. 9, 1917, that a small group of Red Guards under Vladimir Lenin seized the Winter Palace in Russia and established a communist regime, marking the beginning of a century in which more than 100 million people would be killed by the ideology of communism, rooted in atheism and struggle.

The White House commemorated the victims of communism on Nov. 7, proclaiming it National Day for the Victims of Communism.

Over the past century, communist totalitarian regimes around the world have killed more than 100 million people and subjected countless more to exploitation, violence, and untold devastation, said the office of the White House press secretary, in a statement.

These movements, under the false pretense of liberation, systematically robbed innocent people of their God-given rights of free worship, freedom of association, and countless other rights we hold sacrosanct. Citizens yearning for freedom were subjugated by the state through the use of coercion, violence, and fear, it said.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation says America has never before had a day recognizing the victims of communism.

Today, many people still suffer under communism, including in North Korea and its complex system of labor camps, and in China under its persecution of religions, including Falun Gong, Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism, and Islam.

These persecutions follow trends seen under nearly all communist regimes. Examples include the genocide of intellectuals under the Cambodian Khmer Rouge, the genocides and brutal gulag system under Soviet leader Josef Stalin, the destruction of Chinese culture under Mao Zedong, and many others.

Before leading the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenins movement functioned as a terrorist group. In 1906, he wrote in Proletary magazine that he aimed at assassinating individuals, chiefs, and subordinates in the army and police and on seizing money from governments and individuals.

After taking power in 1917, Lenin had tens of thousands of people arrested for opposing his new system, and many were tortured and executed.

Lenin also forbade private property and sent his guards to seize food and seeds from peasants throughout Russia. When the peasants were unable to plant their crops, a famine swept the country; according to the Hoover Institution, from 1921 to 1922, between 5 million and 10 million people died.

Rather than show remorse for his man-made famine, Lenin expressed joy. According to The Black Book of Communism, a man close to Lenin said the dictator believed the famine would bring about the next stage more rapidly, and usher in socialism, the stage that necessarily followed capitalism.

He stated that the famine would also destroy faith not only in the tsar, but in God, too.

The White House release said that on the day marking 100 years since the Bolshevik Revolution, we remember those who have died and all who continue to suffer under communism.

The White House also honored the memory of the indomitable spirit of those who have fought courageously to spread freedom and opportunity around the world.

Our nation reaffirms its steadfast resolve to shine the light of liberty for all who yearn for a brighter, freer future, it said.

During an Oct. 6 event at the White House celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, President Donald Trump stated, The same failed communist ideology that has brought oppression to Cuba has brought nothing but suffering and misery everywhere and [in] every place it has been, anywhere in the world.

Communism is the past. Freedom is the future, Trump said, to cheers and applause from the crowd.
Police move flowers placed at a barricade near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Youngest Killed in Texas Church Shooting Was 18 Months Old

The youngest person killed in the Texas church shooting massacre was 18 months old, according to a revised age range provided by Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin.

Martin had previously provided a different age range of 5 to 72 years old but clarified on Monday that the first set of ages was for those wounded.

At least 26 people were killed, including an 8-month pregnant woman with her unborn child. Martin said that 23 people died inside the church, two died outside and one died at a hospital.

Another 20 people were wounded. Of those, 10 are in critical condition, four in serious condition, and six are in stable condition or have been discharged.

Several children are among the killed, including the pastors 14-year-old daughter.

Suspected gunman Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, carried out one of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history on Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

Kelley sent threatening messages to his mother-in-law who sometimes attends the rural Texas church.

Kelley was involved in a domestic dispute with the family of Danielle Shields, a woman he married in 2014, and the situation had flared up, according to officials and official records. It was unclear if the two were still married.

There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws, Martin told reporters outside the church on Monday morning. The mother-in-law attended the church  she had received threatening text messages from him.

The suspect was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged by the U.S. Air Force on charges of assaulting his then-wife and child. A federal law prohibits those who have been dishonorably discharged from owning a gun.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. said in an interview that the family members were not in the church during Kelleys attack.

I heard that (the in-laws) attended church from time to time, Tackitt said. Not on a regular basis.

The attack came about a month after a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting by a lone assailant in U.S. history.

The Texas death toll matched the fatalities at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where a man shot and killed 26 children and educators after slaying his mother at their home in December 2012.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD.tv
Venezuelas sudden demand to renegotiate its billions in debt could complicate life for its two biggest oil patrons, China and Russia.

President Nicolas Maduro caught bondholders off guard last week with a vow to wring debt relief from Venezuelas creditors, sending the countrys bonds tumbling. But the move may also have been calculated to reassure the countries that are among Maduros biggest lenders, and the most vital customers of his nations crown-jewel oil industry.

State-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA, keeper of the worlds largest oil reserves, has seen output drop to a 14-year low, beset by the countrys economic collapse, a global plunge in crude prices and U.S. sanctions. As American refineries, once PDVSAs top customers, have bought less, China and Russia have stepped in. The two countries have loaned more than USD60 billion to boost production there, prepaying for more than a billion barrels.

Venezuela is too important for the likes of China and Russia to let it fail, said Thomas Onley, an analyst at consultant Facts Global Energy, in a phone interview Friday. Things are getting tough, no question about that, but China and Russia are the backstop.

At a rally in Caracas, Maduro said his cash-strapped country would seek talks with creditors, including for PDVSAs outstanding debt. He blamed American sanctions for drying up the well for new financing.

The step to restructure debt comes as Venezuela stands to receive more revenue for its oil. The countrys crude oil basket price rose to CNY350.75 ($52.90) a barrel Friday, the highest since July 2015. And Venezuela did approve a $1.1 billion principal payment on a PDVSA bond on Thursday.

However, that came with the country holding just $10 billion left in hard-currency reserves, a sign, perhaps, of how wary Maduro might be of getting the oil company embroiled in a messy default. That he immediately followed that with a demand for relief is an indication he sees the situation as unsustainable.

In 2001, Venezuela was pumping more than 3 million barrels a day. Last month, national crude production fell to 1.95 million barrels a day and Venezuelan rig counts are at their lowest level since June 2012.

With output tanking, PDVSA has been forced to buy more cargoes from abroad to blend with its own, tar-like low-quality oil. Meanwhile, many of its refineries have shut because of recurring breakdowns or a lack of domestic supplies to process.

Sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, meant to punish Maduros crackdown on his political opposition, helped drive down exports to the U.S. by 35 percent from August to October. Over the same period, daily shipments to China doubled while cargoes to Russias state-owned oil company Rosneft PJSC more than tripled, according to U.S. Customs data and a shipping report compiled by Bloomberg. But income from those sales are limited because theyre repayments for previous loans.

Turning to the risky process of renegotiation may be the price paid by Venezuela to preserve that lifeline, said Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice University in Houston.

Russia and China have incentives to provide financing just for oil investment, so that they are able to get the oil repayments, Monaldi said in an email. If Venezuela was able to successfully restructure the debt with bond holders that would make it more attractive for Russia and China to help, but giving them more money just to pay bond holders is unlikely to happen.

Rosneft said in August it isnt planning any further advance payments to PDVSA after providing about $6 billion in loans, including interest.

Seeking more help, PDVSA in recent weeks turned to oil trading houses in search of more prepayment deals. The company held talks with Trafigura Group over a proposal that envisaged the Singapore-based merchant house paying as much as 80 percent of a $700 million oil contract upfront, according to emails and PowerPoint presentations reviewed by Bloomberg News.

PDVSA approached at least one other trading house with a similar deal, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the discussions were private. Neither deal was consummated.

PDVSA has refineries overseas and oil receivables that could become a target in any debt fight. The companys U.S. refining arm, Citgo Holding Inc., has already been used as collateral to back some bonds. If creditors start going after the assets, buyers are apt to turn to other sources of crude, depressing not only demand but the price of Venezuelas main treasure.

An actual default at PDVSA would create significant downside risks to both oil production and exports, Luisa Palacios, senior managing director at Medley Global Advisors, said in an email. Shell be watching to see whether the oil producer makes its bond coupon payments next week, she said. We will know by Nov. 10. Alex Nussbaum, Lucia Kassai, Bloomberg
The right unites

Indeed, it was only two decades ago that some influential conservatives sharply rebuked so-called rights talk, Lewis explains. So how and why did religious conservatives come to embrace the language of liberalism?

The politics of abortion, he says, is the key to understanding the rights shift on rights.

Traditionally, religious conservative politics have long been rooted in biblical conservatism. Whereas liberals typically emphasized individual and minority rights, conservatives tended instead to promote moral communities based on Christian values.

Then, the author notes, following the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, anti-abortion activists found themselves a political minority, an unfamiliar position that prompted a new focus among the ranks on free speech and religious liberty.

Still, it wasnt until the late 1970s that evangelicals became active in abortion politics and even longer still until they consistently applied a rights-based language to the cause. The strategy, says Lewis, was inspired by an unlikely source: Catholics.

As Lewis details, for much of American history, Catholics and evangelicals, particularly Baptists, were often foes in many public affairs battles.

For decades, Catholics had framed their anti-abortion position in the language of human rights  the individual right to life. While evangelicals increasingly decried legalized abortion for a variety of reasons, including opposition to feminism and sexual freedom, abortion opposition was still mostly seen as a Catholic issue.


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S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know Apple, Amazon, and Walmart are Investing in Solar Energy (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report On Watch: Israeli Tech Stock (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine This Govt. Act Can Help Investors (Ad) Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US The Latest | UN Climate Summit

S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know Apple, Amazon, and Walmart are Investing in Solar Energy (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report On Watch: Israeli Tech Stock (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine This Govt. Act Can Help Investors (Ad) Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US The Latest | UN Climate Summit
New facilities inspire learning in sports, fine arts at Great Plains

Great Plains Lutheran High School students are active in their extracurricular activities. The new expansion gives them a space to play and learn.
The ownership status of Canadian landmarks including the Royal York Hotel, the Chateau Frontenac and the Banff Springs Hotel has been placed in question by the startling arrest Saturday of billionaire Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal and close to 50 other prominent Saudi nationals by Saudi authorities.

Al-Waleed, 62, used to be the largest investor in the Fairmont chain that operates those hotels until its sale to the French AccorHotels conglomerate in 2015. However, he retains a 5.8 per cent stake in the AccorHotels conglomerate through his investment company, Kingdom Holding Co. and still retains great influence over the chain.

In an abrupt re-ordering of the Saudi power structure, Saudi King Salman directed his son and designated successor, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon, to arrest 11 of the Saudi kingdoms highest-ranking princes.

Another 38 prominent Saudis were arrested on the weekend, including four sitting cabinet ministers, several former government ministers, and prominent Saudi tycoons. The once powerful ministers of finance and of the National Guard were fired and charged with corruption.

Dressed up as an anti-corruption drive, the dragnet, unprecedented in modern Middle East history, is actually a bid to consolidate power in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Widely known as MBS, Mohammed heads the new anti-corruption agency that made the arrests. MBS is expected to succeed his father, octogenarian King Salman, as the ruler of the Saudi kingdom by early next year.

The startling power grab has already triggered a 3 per cent surge in the world oil price. Saudi bonds have slipped in price, since their prices did not factor in political instability in a country long regarded as the most stable in Arab world.

Shares in al-Waleeds Kingdom Holdings conglomerate have plunged. Investors fear that some or all of Kingdom's assets could be expropriated by the Saudi government.

That instability has sparked jitters among fellow investors in al-Waleeds remarkably diverse global investment portfolio. Al-Waleeds holdings include major stakes in Apple, Twitter and other iconic Silicon Valley firms; the U.S. banking giant Citigroup; and JD.com, a leading Chinese online merchant, to name a few.

A change in ownership of al-Waleeds 5 per cent stake in Rupert Murdochs media empire puts in jeopardy the Murdoch clans continued control of Fox News, the 20th Century Fox film studio and other Murdoch assets. The Murdochs hold just 14 per cent of the empires stock, not enough on its own to thwart activist investors bids to diminish the Murdochs control.

Al Waleeds stake in the Accor chain is now uncertain given the limitless powers with which MBS anti-corruption agency is invested. Those powers include the authority to seize assets of Saudi nationals.

That has real estate observers speculating about the fate of al-Waleeds historic Plaza hotel in Manhattan, and the prospect of Londons elite Savoy hotel becoming Saudi Arabia government property, as the U.K. Daily Mail suggests.

Optimists say that Saudi Arabias new one-man rule could lead to more stability for outside investors. For decades until last weekend, outside investors in Saudi Arabia had to account for power-sharing among princes vying for influence within the ruling House of Saud.

With power now consolidated in MBS, they argue, Saudi Arabia is more likely to stick with its current practice of reducing oil production, and encourage its fellow OPEC member countries to follow suit. That would put a higher floor under the world oil price.

But that assumes the 32-year-old crown prince is able to hold onto power as he embarks on sweeping reforms. Mohammed's ambition to reinvent Saudi Arabia is likely to promote the emergence of rival factions in the House of Saud and the country's powerful clerical groups.

Mohammed bin Salman has invited qualms about his rule with his arbitrary arrests last weekend, and his arrests of scores of clerics and political dissidents in September.

As defence minister since 2015, MBS has been unsuccessful in the costly war Saudi Arabia is waging in Yemen. And Mohammed's regimen of trade and travel blockades of Qatar, citing supposed Qatar support of terrorism as his motive, has not seen Qatar accede to Saudi demands. Neither has MBSs belligerence toward Iran, Saudi Arabias chief enemy, curtailed Irans drive for greater regional influence.

Arresting al-Waleed could backfire on Mohammed in light of his recent campaign to attract foreign investment.

Al-Waleed, who this year has publicly and frequently supported the crown princes liberalization campaign, has been channeling offshore investment into his homeland for decades.

Al-Waleed could have been an ambassador in ramping up foreign investment that MBS needs for, among other things, an ultra-modern supercity he wants to build.

Al-Waleed is a business partner and friend of scores of the worlds most influential investors. They include Warren Buffet; Bill Gates, an investment partner of al-Waleeds in the Four Seasons chain; Lloyd Blankfein, longtime CEO of Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs Group Inc.; and billionaire investor Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York.

Crown Prince Mohammeds own gala investor conference this year generated only a tepid response. And the arrest of al-Waleed just a month after that gala, in which al-Waleed participated as a cheerleader for MBSs ambitious makeover of Saudi Arabia, has put a chill in global investors.

In contrast to an opaque Saudi Arabia, an outspoken al-Waleed is easily the worlds best-known Saudi prince.

While he is a bit of an outsider within the royal family, given his extensive activities abroad, his arrest is hard to figure. It is true that al-Waleeds father, Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud, has opposed Prince Mohammeds growing power, though al-Waleed himself has done rather the opposite.

Such is al-Waleeds prominence that Robert Jordan, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has told Time magazine that al-Waleeds arrest is the equivalent of having Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Colin Powell arrested. It is a shocking display of power.

As a leader who is set to remain in power for decades, Mohammed bin Salman is remaking the kingdom in his own image, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Houstons Rice University, told the Associated Press.

The recent arrests are signaling a potentially significant move away from the consensual balancing of competing interests that characterized Saudi rule in the past.

Long a holdout to the autocratic power that characterizes Middle East governance, Saudi Arabia finally has succumbed to one-man rule. Given the countrys strategic location and immense oil reserves, the world can only hope that yet another brutal dictatorship is not on the rise.

Correction  November 15, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal is the largest investor in the Fairmont chain that operates landmark hotels in Canada such as the Royal York Hotel, the Chateau Frontenac and the Banff Springs Hotel. In fact, al-Waleed sold his stake in the Fairmont Hotel and Resorts chain of Canadian hotels to the French AccorHotels conglomerate in 2015 but retains a 5.8 per cent stake in the conglomerate through his investment company, Kingdom Holding Co.

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Will she or wont she?

As the music world awaits the release of Taylor Swifts new album, Reputation, on Friday, the industry has been preoccupied with a guessing game: Will it be immediately available on streaming services?

With streaming now contributing nearly two-thirds of the revenue of the recording industry in the United States, few artists would even consider withholding their music from outlets such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Yet as the release date for Reputation approached, four executives at major streaming services said they did not expect the album to be made available for streaming, at least at first. But those executives, who spoke anonymously to protect private negotiations, said that plans could change at any time.

When Swift released her last album, 1989, three years ago, streaming was still an unproven format, and the defiant stances she took against Spotify and Apple over royalties and control were hailed as heroic wins for artists rights.

But those battles have long since been settled; Swift starred in Apple commercials and returned her catalogue to Spotify. So will her fans be able to find Reputation there  and on streaming outlets like Amazon and Tidal  on Friday? Or will they have to wait?

Swift and her label, Big Machine, have not announced their plans, and a spokesperson for the star declined to comment.

The fact that Swift can keep the industry on edge shows her extraordinary power. Her apparent lack of commitment to streaming also shows that although streaming has taken over listening habits, it is still not fully embraced by artists as a satisfactory source of income.

Taylor Swift is one of the few artists who has the combination of star power and fan cultivation to truly drive how her music is consumed, said Vickie Nauman, an industry consultant and former digital music executive.

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The last big star to avoid streaming was Adele, who two years ago kept 25 from those platforms and had record-breaking sales. Swift also kept 1989 off streaming services, reaching a deal with Apple Music only after eight months. By that time, the album had sold 5 million copies via download and CD.

By most analyses, these have been financial calculations: It would take 150 streams of every song on a 10-track album to equal the revenue of a single CD sale, according to standard industry estimates.

Beyonce, perhaps the only other comparable artist, has kept her latest record, Lemonade, from streaming on Apple and Spotify, but her reasons may be competitive  she is a partner in Tidal, the streaming service controlled by Jay-Z.

Taylor Swift ends intrigue, announces new album in November. (The Associated Press)

Reputation seems to be following a similar strategy as 1989, with much of its marketing campaign focused on sales. UPS trucks emblazoned with Swifts face are poised to deliver copies of the CD, and Target will sell a special version of it with Taylor Swift-designed print magazines.

Through a partnership with Ticketmaster, Swift has told fans that they can boost your place in line for tickets to her concert tour by purchasing CDs and merchandise.

I anticipate she will hold it from streaming until she hits some sales mark, said Stephanie Kellar, an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and then she will revisit that decision.

By contrast, many hip-hop albums, which now dominate streaming, do not release a CD version at first, potentially leaving money on the table.

For those who have been watching Spotify closely, there have been signs of a lack of promotion of Swifts music. When she released a new track, Call It What You Want, last week, the song did not appear on Spotifys popular New Music Friday playlist.

Graham James, a spokesperson for Spotify, declined to comment on whether the service would have Swifts album. When asked about the songs absence from its playlist, he said, Our policy is to work with artists and managers who want to work with us to connect with their millions of fans on Spotify.

Representatives for Apple, Amazon and Tidal declined to comment.

For Swift, absence from streaming  where the bulk of listening now occurs, especially for young people  carries an additional risk of shunning the market. The albums first single, Look What You Made Me Do, went to No. 1 and logged hundreds of millions of streams, but successive songs have missed the mark.   Ready for It?, for example, released shortly thereafter, stalled at No. 4 and has been streamed a moderate 93 million times on Spotify.

If Swift decides to withhold her music from streaming services, her lead may be followed by other artists, Kellar said, but likely not with the same success.

She will not be the last one to do it, she said, but she is one of the few that can.

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After years of trying to win over lunch and dinner crowds, Starbucks is preparing to open its first stand-alone Italian restaurant.

The company is teaming up with Princi, a small chain of 24-hour bakeries in Milan and London, to offer customers freshly made items including focaccia sandwiches, margherita pizzas and tiramisu. The first stage of the partnership will debut Tuesday, when Starbucks opens a Princi bakery in its upscale Reserve Roastery in Seattle. The company plans to eventually open bakeries inside all of its Reserve locations, and next year hopes to open stand-alone Princi eateries across the country. The openings will be in New York, Seattle and Chicago.

Were getting into the food business, Howard Schultz, the chairman of Starbucks, said in an interview. Princi will be fully integrated with bakery operations, so not only will we be roasting coffee, but well be baking bread, pastries  the kind of Italian pastries youve never seen in America.

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The move is the latest effort by the 45-year-old coffee purveyor to expand into food. Many of its attempts  prepackaged cake pops, truffle mac and cheese, sushi burritos  have fizzled, analysts say, in part because Starbucks stores havent had kitchens. If customers are paying $10 for lunch, analysts say they want it to be prepared on the spot.

There is a perception that Starbucks is selling an inferior product, Nick Setyan, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, told The Washington Post in September. Customers are saying, How good can that salad or sandwich be if youre not making it in front of me? 

The new Princi locations are to have full kitchens staffed with bakers and food ambassadors called commessas. The menu, with about 100 items, includes baked eggs for breakfast, caprese salads for lunch, cocktails and small plates for dinner, and tarts, cookies and crostatas for dessert. Items will be priced between $3 and $11 (U.S.).

In 1980, Italian baker Rocco Princi started the boutique company, which now has five European locations. In July, Starbucks announced that it had invested in Princi and had become the companys global licensee. (Princis U.S. workers will be employed by Starbucks.)

We have never baked in our stores in 45 years. But all of that will change with the creation of this unique partnership, Schultz said in a statement at the time. Rocco and his team at Princi possess a passion for handcrafted food and artisanal baked goods that mirrors how I feel about our coffee.

The announcement comes as Starbucks prepares to open its first coffee shops in Italy next year, starting with a Reserve Roastery in Milan.

Having Princi in the Roastery in Italy will give us instant credibility, among other things, Schultz said.

The Seattle-based chain has tried for years, with mixed success, to get its customers to think beyond beverages. About 20 per cent of Starbuckss revenue  which last year was $21.32 billion (U.S.)  comes from food sales, up 16 per cent from five years ago.

But this isnt the first time Starbucks has pinned its hopes on a stand-alone bakery. In 2012, the company paid $100 million for La Boulange, a San Francisco-based company with 23 stores. Starbucks had high hopes then, too, with plans to open about 400 new locations in five years.

But it didnt take long for those plans to fall flat. Three years later, Starbucks said it would be closing its La Boulange bakeries because they were not sustainable for the companys long-term growth.

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Harassed. Livid. Stressed out.

These words leapt out at me when I heard from three people who were going around in circles with stubborn corporate bureaucracies.

Here are their stories:

Bell finally clears the account

Andrew Halmay was dismayed by a Bell Canada demand he felt was unjustified.

I turned 90 last month, he said. About 10 years ago, I switched my phone and Internet service from Bell to Rogers. Early this year, Bell contacted me, claiming that I had never returned their modem.

Since he never threw anything out and didnt have the modem at home, he must have returned it during the switch, he argued.

Bell billed him $300 for the modem and sent two Montreal collection agencies after him.

Theyve upped the amount they seek. They are polite, but consistent, and this gives me a feeling of being harassed. Its been going on for over six months.

Its a mental burden when you get the sense that a whole organization is after you. I am thinking of contacting the CRTC and even suing Bell. What would you suggest?

Hold off, I said, knowing my Bell media contacts would react quickly. And they did.

A Bell executive called Halmay within hours and said hed look into the complaint. Two days later, Bell apologized and pledged not to bother him again.

We discovered a system error that resulted in the customer being mistakenly billed for unreturned equipment after he had cancelled, said Bell spokesperson Nathan Gibson. We have cleared the account of all charges.

RBC resolves a trade dispute

Frank Coppola felt livid about his failure to transfer an investment to his RBC Direct Investing account.

Last February, he decided to buy a deal from an Israeli pharmaceutical company whose shares traded on the U.S. over-the-counter market. He could buy them at a specified price if he kept them locked up for six months.

In August, he tried to arrange a transfer of the soon-to-be-unrestricted shares and supplied all the required documents.

But in mid-October, RBC Direct Investing told him it couldnt accept the shares. Nor could full-service broker RBC Dominion Securities accept them.

I think it is a disgrace the way that banks handle disputes, especially when dealing with seniors. I will soon be 70 and I probably have toenails older than the characters involved here, Coppola told the bank.

His only options were to file a complaint with the RBC ombudsman, which could take months, or ask the bank to waive the fees to move his accounts elsewhere.

Two days later, the matter was resolved.

We thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, said RBC spokesperson Kathy Bevan. RBC Direct Investing has spoken directly to Mr. Coppola and has been able to address his concerns to his satisfaction.

LG replaces a faulty fridge

Maxine Goldstein had an LG refrigerator that fell apart after three years and could not be fixed. She was given a prorated amount of $2,200 to buy a new one.

A year later, the $4,000 LG fridge she bought at Sears had also stopped working. She spent weeks trying to get help and was given three options:

1) A replacement under an extended warranty (but she hadnt bought an extended warranty).

2) A replacement from Sears (but Sears was in bankruptcy protection).

3) A prorated amount to buy a new LG fridge (but this would take another six to eight weeks).

Please, can you help me resolve this? she asked. I am a 71-year-old who is running up and down a difficult flight of stairs at least 20 times a day to use my small bar fridge in my basement.

I cant afford to pay for another comparable fridge at this time  and to be without a fridge for the last five weeks has been very stressful. The horrible customer service from LG is having an effect on me.

LG Electronics Canada, a South Korean manufacturer, has an A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau of Canadas website  along with 31 customer reviews, two-thirds of which are negative.

However, LG moves quickly when the media are involved. It agreed to replace the defective fridge at no charge right away.

Customer service is very important to us, spokesperson Jennifer Elias said.

LG is committed to finding fast and fair resolutions to any customer complaints. Unfortunately, in Mrs. Goldsteins case, we saw an exception. We apologize for all the inconvenience and thank her for choosing LG.

Have you faced a runaround when complaining about a product or service? Have you found any effective solutions, other than going to the media? If so, please share your experiences and Ill use some of them in a future column.

Ellen Rosemans On Your Side column runs on Tuesday in Smart Money. You can reach her at eroseman@thestar.ca.

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How about a good news story for a change?

Thats the spirit behind a new report commissioned by the Toronto Arts and Metcalf foundations about two successful initiatives in the citys independent theatre sector that share a spirit of innovation and generosity.

One, the RISER Project, supports indie companies and artists by redirecting resources from more established organizations. Its founder, Why Not Theatres artistic director Ravi Jain, rather gleefully calls RISER Robin Hooding.

The other, Generator, is an organization helping indie companies and artists through producer training, shared office space and resources, mentorship and workshops.

The goal of the report, says Margo Charlton, research and impact manager of the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, is to offer positive models for sectoral change in the performing arts.

What needs changing? Independent theatre is where the new energy comes in and where things are tested out, says Charlton, but its the most precarious area of the sector. People come in, but they cant sustain their practice. RISER and Generator have looked at whats needed and have provided it.

The report defines independent theatremakers as people involved in the making of theatre who are not students and do not consider themselves living an established life with steady, predictable stream(s) of income. The big message is that many of the hundreds of professionals in Torontos indie scene want to stay there, that its not necessarily somewhere people pass through on their way to full-time jobs in building-based theatre companies. So how to make indie theatre careers sustainable is a crucial question.

The reports author, artist/researcher Helen Yung, says a core value of both initiatives is collectivity. Neither Why Not nor Generator think theyre going to fix the sector on their own. This is not about single-company heroism. Its about doing things together.

Why Not Theatre piloted RISER in 2014 to respond to the high cost of production and the challenge of getting people to your show, says Jain. To an audience member, RISER looks like a theatre festival  four productions running in repertory at the Theatre Centre for two weeks in April and May  but the producing model is innovative.

Shepherded by Why Not, senior partner companies  currently fu-GEN, Nightwood, Modern Times, Necessary Angel and the Theatre Centre  pool resources, financial and in-kind, to get the shows onstage and do not expect a return on investment. Its a gift, the report underlines.

The way our ecology has traditionally been funded is like a pyramid, explains Jain, with a small cadre of well-established companies at the top getting the lions share of funding. Project grants, and established companies supporting younger artists by developing their scripts or renting them space, are supposed to fill the gap below, but Jain says that isnt really working  not quickly enough for ambitious young artists, at least.

The success of the model is there in the numbers: over four seasons, RISER has produced 15 new Canadian productions that have been seen by nearly 5,000 audience members and garnered 12 award nominations. The 2018 RISER projects  revealed here for the first time  will be Lester Trips Theatres Mr. Truth, about consent and female desire; Spiderbones Performing Arts Everything I Couldnt Tell You, about Indigenous healing; daniel jelani elliss speaking of sneaking, about growing up queer in Jamaica; and the band Zuzeverses multidisciplinary piece Zendegi.

Generator, for its part, is a place with two full-time staff where artist-driven companies and creators can go to get all the resources they need to self-produce, as one participant in its artist producer training program (or APT) says in the report. Founded in 1992 as STAF (Small Theatre Administrative Facility), it rebranded as Generator in 2014 and altered its model from offering support services to helping companies do things themselves.

Eight individuals each year are chosen for APT, twice-weekly classes in all aspects of producing ending with a trainee placement (and a stipend of $1,000 for the year). ArtistProducerResource.com, an online compendium of resources complied over the years through APT, is launching Nov. 13.

Resident companies (at the moment, The AMY Project and House + Body) work in Generators space for free, while company collaborators (Shakespeare in the Ruff, Outside the March, Common Boots and Fixt Point) pay a small desk rental fee; all the companies get a load of perks including meeting space, printing, free internet and auditing APT classes.

Someone can turn around and say, Im having trouble with the city on this permit and someone else will say, Oh, Ive had that problem . . . says Lemieux. You can ask the question in the room, rather than spend two hours googling.

Lemieux, who joined the company in 2016, has broadened Generators remit to include dance and interdisciplinary companies and artists, because dividers are slipping between genres and producers need to respond. (Full disclosure: I am in talks with them about a theatre criticism training initiative).

Charlton, whos been working in theatre for 35 years, says that while many of the issues the report covers arent new (theres never going to be enough money), what feels fresh is the openness of this generation to talking about their personal needs. To reveal that you were struggling with mental health and stress used to be self-indulgent. Now a more holistic idea of health is being talked about openly. Theatre professionals in todays Toronto aspire to work-work-life balance: most artists and producers have day jobs as well as theatre jobs to afford to live here.

Yung hopes the report will raise public awareness about the vitality and excellence of independent theatre: People dont know all the gems that we have hidden in lesser known venues, playing smaller shows, shorter runs. We just need to find ways to connect the people to the performances.

Generator and The RISER Project: Sector developers for independent theatre in Toronto will be published Thursday at . Karen Fricker is a Toronto Star theatre critic. She alternates the Wednesday Matinee column with Carly Maga.

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On New Years Day in 2015, feminist, writer and activist Jennifer Weiss-Wolf and three friends put on Wonder Woman costumes and took a polar bear dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Later that day, Weiss-Wolf logged into Facebook and saw a post about a local familys drive to collect tampons and pads for the low-income patrons of her community food pantry. Channelling the feminist superhero, she began what would become a Wonder Woman-esque fight for equitable menstruation policy in America.

Since that day, Weiss-Wolf has written articles on policy for the New York Times, Washington Post, Time and Cosmopolitan, catching the attention of lawmakers. She also became the co-founder of Period Equity, the first United States legal and policy organization committed to menstrual access, affordability and safety.

Now, Weiss-Wolf is pushing periods further into the public consciousness with her new book, Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity (Arcade Publishing, $24.99). This book recounts her own experience fighting for period equity as well as those of other activists in North America and around the world.

Weiss-Wolf spoke to the Star from New York about her book, menstruation products and profits, and why public bathrooms should carry tampons as much as toilet paper.

Why is it important to speak publicly about periods?

When I started to learn about the issue in 2015, I really wanted to be part of a systemic solution. So I started thinking about it in terms of a policy agenda that would zero in on the economics and equity issues involved in managing menstruation. The tampon tax seemed like a good testing ground. It was a way of getting people use to talking about periods, use to saying the word tampon, use to speaking about and admitting that there are actual economics to menstruation.

So my goal wasnt solely to destigmatize menstruation; my goal, really was to focus in on populations where menstruation posed a barrier to participation in society, but doing so required creating a discourse.

Meanwhile, other activists started stepping into the ring. In a way that wasnt prefabricated, none of us knew each other. We started to find each other and, by the end of the year, we became this strong network for social change.

In the book you talk about travelling to southern India to learn about the Make your own pad revolution  a DIY pad production model for local women. Can any of the lessons learned abroad be applied to rural and/or vulnerable populations here?

Ive been able to travel to both Kenya and Nepal since writing the book, so Ive been able to study this and similar models in three very different cultures

The model is rather extraordinary. Its focused on this completely micro model; as local as it can be, right down to the wood fibre used to create the pad. The idea of women creating affordable menstruation products themselves and through networks that support women as family members, educators, entrepreneurs  theres something quite radical about that. It was amazing to me that everyone, from the people who created these models, to the women who make and sell the products, to the women and girls who receive the products, everyone involved understands that products alone arent the solution.

It depressed me a little, too. This model seemed too small for Americas big economy and that seems wrong. It would be really neat to see something like this be embedded in a job-training site or something because the benefits are extraordinary. The stories that women told about the autonomy they felt in learning how to do a job, earning an income, educating and being thought of as a leader to their communities and to other women, that stuff is all part of womens empowerment and economic empowerment.

What is the relationship between menstruation activists and the companies that produce menstruation products?

You can tell from my book that I have some mixed emotions.

Over the past few years, a number of small companies, women-run, have started to emerge that produce menstruation products and espouse profound feminist values. Luna (period product company) is one here in Canada.

Its interesting. Im thrilled to see women forging ahead with entrepreneur spirit and creating products that are better and provide more choice. I do worry about how a profit-yielding industry can be part of devising a social agenda. The advocacy is not intended to create profit; the advocacy is intended to create a social good. Im reminded of Andi Zeislers book, We Were Feminist Once, about marketplace feminism. I dont want someone to think that because theyre wearing a T-shirt that says nevertheless she persisted, or because they donated 30 per cent of their purchase to a cause that that equates to the hard work that needs to be done.

How can people get involved in menstrual activism?

The first step toward action is acknowledging that menstruation matters and is a viable political issue. Changing our law will improve the lives of many who are marginalized  the incarcerated and homeless  itll improve the lives of low-income people who struggle to afford these products, and itll improve the lives of all women when our bodies are treated as normal.

Activism takes many forms. Some people like to write, some are poets, some are musicians, some are athletes and some are just really good on Twitter. Everybody has something to contribute. Its not hard to be an activist.

In terms of making policy change, it doesnt have to involve speaking to your government officials. It can be as simple as going to your local school board, or your gym, or your local library and saying, hey, you know if you provide menstrual products in your bathroom youd make it more useful to half the people who use it.

Im going to go off on a slight tangent here, but its important: Bathroom laws sound sort of silly  how much social change happens in bathrooms? Well, right now public bathrooms provide certain products and we treat that as very normal. We expect there to be toilet paper, hand soap, some way to dry our hands after we wash them, not because we were born feeling entitled to toilet paper, but because our laws made that the norm. Who decides that toilet paper is free, but tampons are not? And to all those people saying whos gonna fund this? Just carry your own tampon its a fairly quick retort: Yeah, well, what about all that government-funded toilet paper youve been wiping youre a with your whole life?

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Valerie Plante, Montreals newly elected mayor, went from being a virtually unknown name going up against veteran politician Denis Coderre, to holding the highest post in municipal office. But not much is known about the citys first female mayor.

Plante is the leader of the Projet Montreal, the only municipal political party to count women as half of its members. She was elected leader of the left-leaning Projet Montreal in 2016, and launched her campaign for mayor in mid-August this year.

With less than three months to win over the hearts of Montreal voters, the 43-year-old kicked off her campaign with a slogan that declared her the man for the job. Montrealers were curious about the ambitious underdog seeking to unseat political veteran and incumbent mayor Coderre, who has been in office since 2013.

Read more: Denis Coderres stunning defeat a message to Montreals elites: Hebert

Prior to that, Coderre was elected six times as a federal Liberal MP and in 2002, served briefly as immigration minister under prime minister Jean Chretien.

Plante forayed into municipal politics after being elected as a Montreal city councillor in 2013. Before that, she worked as a community organizer and activist.

The new mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, went on her first outing Monday. She shook hands with subway riders who stopped to congratulate her. Plante is the first-ever woman to be elected mayor of the city She replaces Denis Coderre, who announced his departure from municipal politics. Plante says she hopes to meet her provincial counterparts to follow up on her campaign promise for better transit. (The Canadian Press)

During her campaign, she rallied support for election promises including the construction of 12,000 new low-income housing units, improved management of the citys construction-related traffic, and building a new subway line.

She has been described by colleagues as tireless, determined, and charismatic.

Shes a sponge. She learns very quickly, said Benoit Dorais, a Montreal city councillor, according to LaPresse.

Maja Vodanovic, another councillor, was cited describing Plante as a humble person. She does not have an ego, she doesnt play games. What fascinates her is finding solutions . . . I feel comfortable around her. I do not feel the need to put on white gloves. Me, my role is to serve my citizens. Not to serve the mayor of Montreal.

Plante is a native of Rouyn-Noranda in western Quebec and lived briefly in North Bay, Ont., as a teenager.

She met economist Pierre-Antoine Harvey, her husband, at the University of Montreal. She has a degree in anthropology and a masters degree in museum studies. The couple have two children.

With files from Allan Woods and La Presse

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FREDERICTONGovernor General Julie Payette, who faced criticism for a speech last week that some said mocked people of faith, praised Canadas tolerance and freedom of religion Tuesday.

She told the New Brunswick legislature that Canada is in a fortunate position to be able to make a difference, because the country is rich in values.

Our values are tolerance and determination, and freedom of religion, freedom to act, opportunities, equality of opportunities amongst everyone and for all, she said.

The comments come a week after she criticized people who believe in creationism and horoscopes, and those who dont believe in climate change.

Read more: Dont silence our high-flying Governor General: Cohn

She did not directly address controversy over her earlier remarks, but the former astronaut spoke Tuesday about seeing Canada from space without borders, and talked of the need to work together.

It is one planet and we all have a duty to protect it. We have to work together. We have to use our power to work together and make decisions and changes that are needed to preserve our world, she said.

Payettes earlier comments came as the keynote speaker at the ninth annual Canadian Science Policy Convention in Ottawa last Wednesday.

In last weeks speech, she urged her friends and former colleagues to take responsibility to shut down the misinformation about everything from health and medicine to climate change and even horoscopes that has flourished with the explosion of digital media.

Can you believe that still today in learned society, in houses of government, unfortunately, were still debating and still questioning whether humans have a role in the Earth warming up or whether even the Earth is warming up, period, she asked.

And we are still debating and still questioning whether life was a divine intervention or whether it was coming out of a natural process let alone, oh my goodness, a random process.

She generated giggles and even some guffaws from the audience when she said too many people still believe taking a sugar pill will cure cancer if you will it good enough and that your future and every single one of the people heres personalities can be determined by looking at planets coming in front of invented constellations.

Conservative political strategist Alise Mills said Payette went way over the line with her speech, which Mills characterized as not only political but mean-spirited.

She said Payette wasnt just promoting science, she was mocking people with religious beliefs, and specifically, evangelical Christians who dont believe evolutionary science.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didnt seem to have any issue with what Payette said, saying his government and Canadians understand the value of science.

Payette met Tuesday with Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau and Premier Brian Gallant before addressing the legislative assembly.

Payettes visit also included a tour of the Institute of Biomedical Engineerings prosthetics labs at the University of New Brunswick, and a visit to 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown.

She was scheduled to end her day by delivering remarks at a reception hosted by Gallant at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

Payette was sworn in as Canadas 29th Governor General on Oct. 2.

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ABBOTSFORD, B.C.A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a police officer in British Columbia.

Oscar Arfmann was charged today after an exchange of gunfire with police who were responding to a report of a possible stolen vehicle on Monday in Abbotsford.

The charge is included in a court document, but it does not list an address for Arfmann. After the shooting, police said they arrested a man from Alberta who is in his 60s.

Const. John Davidson died after responding to to the call Monday in Abbotsford, B.C.

The Abbotsford Police Department said Davidson began his career as a police officer in the United Kingdom in 1993 before moving to British Columbia in 2006.

He is survived by his wife and three adult children.

In a statement on Tuesday, Abbotsford police said Davidson worked for Northumbria police until 2005.

With the Abbotsford force he worked in the patrol, youth squad and traffic sections.

Our community lost a hero, the statement said.

John was a dedicated police officer who devoted so much of his time to connecting with the community and helping kids.

Mayor Henry Braun said the community is in disbelief and people have lots of questions but the first priority is to support the fallen officers family.

We just want to express our heartfelt sorrow to the family. We all have heavy hearts but they are carrying a much bigger burden than we are, he said.

All we can do as a community is surround them and just let them know they are loved and that we empathize with them and that they will be in our thoughts and our prayers.

Davidson had an impact on students in the community thanks to his work as a school liaison officer, Braun added.

Theres going to be some schools, some kids, when they find out who this is who are going to be grieving as well. So we need to surround our kids as well because theyll have a tough time grappling with this, because he was greatly, greatly loved in our schools.

Chief Bob Rich said officers were called about a possible stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping complex at about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

The caller hemmed in the suspects vehicle while waiting for police to arrive, Rich said. The suspect emerged from the vehicle and began shooting at the caller and others, he said.

When police officers arrived, they attempted to arrest the suspect, who fled in the vehicle.

Police officers pursued him to an intersection where he was apprehended and taken to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The civilian agency that investigates police actions resulting in serious harm or death says its believed the suspect was shot.

Rich paid tribute to Davidson and his other officers for their response on Monday.

There were officers heroically trying to save the life of our member. There were officers immediately taking control of the scene, he said.

When they responded to this, they responded in a way that was designed to protect the public. This person was trying to kill people, members of the public, and our officers responded.

The officer who gave his life today is a hero. He was protecting this community.

He will always be my hero.

The B.C. Law Enforcement Memorial lists only one other Abbotsford member in its online registry of officers who died in the line of duty. Const. John Goyer died in 2006 from complications sustained while responding to a call involving a domestic dispute five years earlier.

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OTTAWAThe Liberal government is proposing tougher federal labour laws that would enact stronger protections against sexual harassment and for the first time cover Parliament Hill staff like interns and aides to MPs and senators.

Under a new bill, if an employer  whether MPs, senators, federal departments, agencies, or bosses in federally-regulated sectors like banking, telecommunications or transport - does not establish clear policies to prevent workplace sexual harassment and to address complaints impartially, they could be fined or publicly named and shamed.

Employment and Social Development Minister Patty Hajdu tabled Bill C65 Tuesday, saying it will cover the full range of unacceptable behaviours, from teasing and bullying all the way to sexual harassment and physical and sexual violence.

It does not outline penalties for harassers, leaving the range of sanctions for bad behaviour up to the employer. Hajdu said thats the way the labour code works: Ultimately the employer is responsible for the workplace safety of their organization.

Yet an employer who fails to meet their new statutory obligations could be penalized under the Canada Labour Code, and in some cases ordered fired from the workplace.

For most employees, their last resort for redress is an appeal to the Federal Court. But an MP, minister or senator cannot be sued or fired for breaches of the code. Hajdu said they could face significant sanctions nevertheless.

The bill proposes that a negative Labour Relations Board decision about an MP or senator could be publicly tabled by the government in Parliament. Hajdu said a Speaker will be compelled to table that, those findings. So, it will be a public document that will be accessible and I would argue quite detrimental to people who dont choose to take the legislation seriously.

Hajdu said the bill is a critical first step in addressing gaps in workplace laws and policies that deal with sexual violence and sexual harassment including on Parliament Hill, a workplace she described as ripe for harassment and sexual violence.

Parliament Hill, she said, has all the markers of what research shows is a risky environment for women and men: male-dominated, a distinctive power imbalance where people with very little power work alongside people who have a lot, and where the work is heavily focused on service.

The bill doesnt cover MP-to-MP behaviour, which is addressed by House of Commons procedures.

Yet in many ways its long overdue.

The bill will provide stronger protections for the RCMP and civilian employees of the military  two federal workplaces where sexual harassment and bullying have been exhaustively documented. However uniformed members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be exempt as they are legally not employees of the government, departmental officials said.

The minister says the aim is to extend protection beyond office walls, after work, at other workplace events. The legislation will address the kinds of bullying and harassment that we know doesn't necessarily happen in a 9-to-5 regime in the office, said Hajdu. Oftentimes, harassment and bullying take place in other spaces and we want to make sure that people are protected in the workplace. So sometimes incidents happen after work, said Hajdu. That doesn't mean its still not workplace harassment.

Union officials for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) flagged concerns that some federal employers have already tried unsuccessfully to weaken the interpretation of 2009 regulations against sexual violence in the workplace, and they predicted a similar fight when it comes to sexual harassment.

Right now, physical and psychological violence are barred under the Canada Labour Codes occupational health and safety standards. But sexual harassment comes under a separate section on labour standards, a weaker regime, that also does not apply to the public service nor to employees on the Hill, said Hajdu. Bill C65 would create a more comprehensive regime.

Parliamentary employees  meaning House of Commons and senate employees, political staff of MPs and senators, workers at the parliamentary library, the Commons and Senate ethics watchdog offices, parliamentary budget office, and the Parliamentary Protective Services  currently do not have access to complaint processes under the Canada Labour Code, which can ultimately lead to investigations, prosecutions and sanctions by the minister of labour. Their only recourse is to go to a chief human resources officer responsible to the Speakers of the Commons and Senate.

Bill C65 would change all that by amending the code and the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act. It would expressly state that all public- and private-sector employers in federally regulated industries have an obligation to prevent, investigate and resolve complaints of sexual harassment as well as sexual violence, and it sets out steps that must be followed.

Chris Aylward, PSAC national cxecutive vice-president, said after 25 years of fighting for protections for Parliament Hill workers, the union welcomed reforms but it is disappointing that the bill stops short of outlining sanctions for offenders.

In the context of allegations of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and around the world, I am surprised that the federal government would table a bill on sexual harassment and violence which fails to provide a remedy for victims, said Aylward. The government must give teeth to this legislation by outline clear repercussions for the perpetrator and including a personal and systemic remedy for victims.

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As harm reduction programs grow across the country, which provide clean needles to drug users, residents in some communities are calling on local governments to do more to clean up public spaces where they say discarded syringes are posing a risk.

Volunteers in various cities have taken to cleaning up parks and laneways where the drug paraphernalia has been found, with some suggesting needle exchange efforts are contributing to the issue. But public health workers and experts say such programs are in fact part of the solution.

In Moncton, N.B., and Brantford, Ont., volunteers have been going out with rubber gloves and garbage bags to pick up the drug paraphernalia, while in Cambridge, Ont., a handful of residents have taken to social media recently, posting photos of needles found in their neighbourhoods in an effort to call attention to what they say is a growing problem.

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We wanted to know where they were, what was going on, said Mary Jane Sherman, co-founder of the Facebook group A Cleaner Cambridge. Volunteers started coming forward to do cleanups. Everyone was just so angry about it ... This is not a safe environment for our kids to grow up in.

Sherman said local harm reduction programs are contributing to syringes being found in public areas.

But public health experts say harm reduction programs are part of the solution when it comes to dealing with discarded needles.

Id be concerned if I found a needle in my community, and if I didnt know a lot about the programs I might make assumptions about where the needle came from and how many there are, said Carol Strike, a professor at the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health. (But) the programs that Ive worked with across the country ... dont want needles in the community either. Thats why they exist, not only to give out needles, but to dispose of them properly,

The number of discarded needles found in a community may rise or fall from time to time, but harm reduction staff generally respond with cleanup sweeps and increased efforts on syringe collection, Strike said.

Over time, some programs actually collect more needles than they give out, she said.

In Moncton, where a community group known as the Needle Dogs has been collecting stray syringes for a decade, harm reduction workers in the city say the return rate of used needles is high.

AIDS Moncton distributes nearly 200,000 needles to over 600 people per year, said executive director Debby Warren. Each month, between 75 and 90 per cent of those needles are returned safely to the organization, she said.

We give them containers (to put needles in) and they bring them back, and we also have a drop-off box and thats available to them 24-7, she added.

Further west, Vancouver Coastal Health, the public agency that provides health care to a quarter of British Columbias population, offers needle exchanges and safe injection sites for intravenous drug users.

To help keep used needles off the streets, Vancouver Coastal Health runs a mobile needle exchange program and a hotline where members of the public can report needles they see in their community. The health agency also has over 40 needle disposal boxes in parks and laneways around the city, and funds regular community sweeps, said spokesman Gavin Wilson.

While the growth of harm reduction practices has led to more discarded needles being found in Vancouver  most of them in alleyways on the citys downtown east side  the advent of needle distribution programs in the mid-2000s has also contributed to a dramatic decline in HIV cases among B.C.s injection drug users, Wilson said.

While we understand the frustration of community members when they come across discarded needles, the risk to the public is extremely low, Wilson said. No one (to our knowledge) has ever acquired HIV, or any other pathogen, from a needle-stick injury from a discarded needle in a park or any other public place in Vancouver.

In Cambridge, in response to the concerns of groups like Shermans, the city has expanded its needle collection services, soliciting reports of discarded syringes on public and private property around town.

No matter where the needle is found ... residents can now call us directly for assistance, said city spokeswoman Susanne Hiller. Even if the location is a road or laneway that technically (arent under City) jurisdiction, we will co-ordinate the clean up as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The citys mayor has also launched a task force to address opioid addiction in the area, while regional public health officials are working toward opening safe injection sites, Hiller said.

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The boyfriend of a 36-year-old woman gunned down on the doorstep of her neighbours east Hamilton home has been arrested in what police are calling a domestic-related homicide.

Natasha Thompson, a mother of two daughters 16 and 11, was pronounced dead en route to hospital Monday night after being shot multiple times at a Lang Street CityHousing Hamilton townhouse complex around 5:15 p.m., said Homicide Unit Det. Sgt. Peter Thom.

Police allege Mark Joseph Champagne, 41, initially ran from the scene, crossing through backyards, but later turned himself in to Toronto Police Services 41 Division without incident around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Read more: Neighbours describe hearing brazen shooting that left one woman dead in Hamilton

The pair was heard arguing inside their townhouse unit 15 before the shooting. Its alleged that argument spilled outside and Thompson was shot on a neighbouring doorstep at unit 17.

The argument started in their own residence, she left and the argument continued outside, Thom said.

Police believe a handgun was used, but no weapon has been recovered.

Thompsons 16-year-old daughter was inside the home and heard the argument and gunshots, but did not witness the murder, Thom said. Her 11-year-old daughter was not home at the time.

Both girls are with family, he added.

Champagne is known to police but not for domestic violence against Thompson, Thom said.

A flood of condolence messages have been posted on social media, where many remembered Thompson as a loving person and dedicated mother to two daughters.

Thompsons former partner and the father to her younger daughters was Phonesay (Pun) Chanthachack who was fatally shot by Hamilton police in 2012. She was outspoken in her call for answers in his death, repeatedly speaking with the Spectator about her loss and how she believed police failed her family.

Detectives believe Thompson and Champagne had been in a relationship since April and were living together.

Police were executing search warrants at both Lang Street townhouse units Monday, with the possibility of expanding to a ground search for the murder weapon.

Its alleged Champagne fled westbound on Lang Street, then north on Reid Avenue North. He cut across Lewis Street, before last been spotted near the Ukrainian Catholic church on Melvin Avenue.

Anyone with information or who may have security footage in the area are asked to contact police.

Champagne was described by police as a 41-year-old man, who is not white, about 200 pounds, six-foot, with black hair that is shorter on the side and longer on the top. He often wears removable gold grills in his front teeth.

After turning himself into Toronto police, Hamilton police transported him back to central station in Hamilton, where he was interviewed, before being transferred to court to be formally charged. He was expected to briefly appear in court Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Homicide Unit Det. Ross Johnson at 905-546-3827.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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A Toronto doctor again finds himself the subject of discipline proceedings before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

And once again, the CPSOs case against him could be in jeopardy because the main witness  a former patient  has not appeared to testify.

Dr. Suganthan Kayilasanathan appeared before a five-member panel of the discipline committee Monday, facing allegations of sexually abusing a patient and disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct. Through his lawyer, he denied the allegations.

This will be a relatively straightforward case, college lawyer Carolyn Silver told the panel in her opening remarks.

The college alleges Kayilasanathan wrote two doctors notes for Patient A  whose name is covered by a publication ban  within the span of about a week in December 2010 so she could avoid taking exams, and that the two had sex at a hotel one night during that week.

Kayilasanathan met Patient A several years ago through a mutual friend, and the two became reacquainted through the same friend in 2010, Silver said. One night in December of that year, the three partied in a downtown Toronto club, and then kept the party going at the doctors brothers condo, where Patient A said she was concerned because she had an exam the following Monday, Silver told the panel.

Dr. Kayilasanathan told her not to worry about the exam because he was a physician and could write her a doctors note so she could postpone her exam, Silver said.

The note was provided that Monday, when Patient A went to the Scarborough clinic where Kayilasanathan worked, Silver said. The discipline panel can expect to hear from the patient that she and Kayilasanathan then had sex at a Mississauga hotel two days later, and that he wrote her another doctors note to avoid an exam the following Monday, Silver said.

Kayilasanathan got back in touch with the patient about two months later and she visited him at his condo, where he made advances toward her, which she rebuffed, the college alleges. Its also alleged that when he drove her home, he placed her hand near his genitals and exposed his penis.

Silver told the panel that the college became aware of Patient A through a mandatory report by another physician, and that the patient herself had not complained to the regulatory body. (Doctors are required by law to disclose to the college if they become aware of another health professional having sex with a patient.)

A problem arose during the proceedings Monday when it became apparent that Patient A had not arrived at the college to give her testimony, and the college was unable to communicate with her. This led to the college and defence offering different views as to whether the patient does indeed intend to testify against Kayilasanathan.

Defence lawyer Andrew Parley said that Patient A reached out to his firm last Thursday, and he read an email to the panel in which she said she was feeling extremely pressured and coerced into testifying, and that she is not physically or psychologically able to go through with the proceedings.

I have been threatened with legal action by way of bench warrants and being held in contempt of the law, read the email Patient A sent to the defence, acknowledging that she had been served with a summons by the college requiring her to testify.

Attending is not an option for me, Patient A wrote.

But she then sent an email to the college the following day, parts of which Silver read to the panel, in which she indicated she had spoken with a lawyer and said, I now understand the importance and ramifications of attending this and any hearing.

Silver told the panel that she does have instructions from the college to apply to the court to enforce the summons if necessary, which could involve having the police bring the woman to testify. The panel adjourned until Tuesday morning for an update.

The colleges position on the summons is different than in a previous case involving Kayilasanathan this past spring.

Along with another doctor, Amitabh Chauhan, he was facing a discipline proceeding on professional misconduct charges for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a woman. (The pair had been acquitted of the same allegations in 2014 following a high-profile judge-alone criminal trial. The burden of proof at the college level is lower than in criminal court.)

But the alleged victim in that case also did not appear to testify, and in that instance, Silver, who was also the colleges lawyer on that case, said the college would not be enforcing the summons and withdrew the allegations against the two doctors.

The process of testifying has been gruelling and has had a significant detrimental impact on Ms. X, said a letter from the womans lawyer that Silver read into the record in May. She is simply not able to subject herself to the psychological, emotional and physical harm of another hearing.

In that case as well, the woman had not complained to the college. The regulator launched its own investigation in the wake of the criminal trial.

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Almost as interesting as Sidewalk Labs plan for the Toronto waterfront is the response to it. Pundits here and abroad have spilt much ink on the project, and though some like what they see, many are convinced the sky will soon fall on poor little us.

One critic, writing in the Guardian, worried that Quayside is a Trojan Horse that will allow Sidewalk to take over the city. This model of creating our urban future, we were warned, is also an insidious way of handing more control  over people, places, policies  to profit-driven, power-hungry corporations.

One hates to have to say it, but we handed control to those power-hungry corporations decades ago. In the Toronto region, developers dictate not only where we live, but how. Many municipal politicians, dependant on developers for donations, serve them faithfully.

Closer to home, one observer argued that the deal plays into a false narrative that government cant deliver innovation. This in a city that agonizes at the mere mention of a bike lane, a city that will rebuild a notorious urban expressway when cities everywhere are tearing theirs down.

Then there were those critics who fretted, more understandably, about the loss of privacy. A community built from the internet up, they insist, will turn residents into lab rats run by data-crazy techno-geeks seeking to record our every move. Where have they been? We willingly gave up privacy years ago in return for the convenience of computerized connectivity. Our screens watch us as much as we watch them.

The real issue, of course, is Quaysides sister company, Google. Though we couldnt survive without the tech titan, when we think about it, we fear it.

But perhaps its worth looking at the deal Waterfront Toronto offered Sidewalk Labs; basically, it means the latter will spend up to $50 million (U.S.) and devote a year to research and then reveal its plan for Quayside. Most importantly, the agreement does not commit Waterfront or the city to accept that plan.

Perhaps its also worth considering the tsunami of development that has already changed the face of Toronto. It gets much less attention locally, let alone internationally. Except for NIMBY rage, it goes largely ignored. Unless a Margaret Atwood or Galen Weston Jr. is involved, its unlikely that the fate of a similar-sized 12-acre site in, say, North York or Etobicoke would attract enough people to fill the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, as Quayside did last week.

More likely, it would be the subject of one or two public meetings in a church basement, or maybe a high school auditorium, where some unlucky planner or architect would be on hand to defend an obviously inappropriate scheme before an audience angry that it was about to lose the neighbourhood McDonalds or a Timmys that has been there for years. Those who showed up for last weeks fireside chat at least got to hear and question the CEOs of Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto, Dan Doctoroff and Will Fleissig respectively.

When was the last time the millionaire president of a large development corporation deigned to appear before a neighbourhood he was about to change forever?

And wheres city hall in all this? Quietly, surreptitiously, with little media coverage, its considering an alternative scheme to hand over much of the Port Lands to the film industry for big-box studios and back lots. That both scenarios are playing out at the same time is a disturbing measure of civic dysfunction.

Sidewalk comes to Toronto with impressive ambition and deep pockets, seemingly determined to do something truly historic. Doctoroff speaks of lowering the cost of both housing and transit significantly. When was the last time developers or the city made such promises?

But so far Sidewalk has only had to deal with Waterfront Toronto, a relatively enlightened tripartite agency. The trouble will start when it faces the ugly parochialism of a municipal culture less interested in city-building than in retro moves like expanding the elevated highway in whose shadow Quayside will be built. Sidewalks admiration for Torontos openness to new things could soon start to wear thin.

Then again  who knows?  things might just work out. Lets not forget how Torontonians rose up to stop Doug Fords crass scheme to give away the Port Lands for a mega-mall. Torontonians had to save the waterfront then. They may have to again.

Christopher Humes column appears weekly. He can be reached at jcwhume4@gmail.com.

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Every kid with a Spider-Man comic learns quickly that With great power comes great responsibility. Sometimes that responsibility can be a drag. But its still a good lesson. And its one Julie Payette, the Governor-General of Canada, and Kyle Ashley, a Toronto Police Service parking officer, have had reinforced for them over the past week.

Payette has been subject to some chatter and debate because during a speech about science at a conference she was interpreted as being dismissive and insulting to some people  so many people she said  who still question human-made climate change or whether life evolved naturally and randomly instead of being created through a divine intervention, and who believe in the curative power of sugar pills or the predictions of horoscopes.

Ashley, who focuses on bike-lane infractions in his parking enforcement work, has had his popular Twitter account suspended while the service investigates the appropriateness of some of his tweets. While the police havent said which tweets might have crossed a line, there was one a while back in which he said of Councillor Giorgio Mammolitis penny pinching opposition to bike lanes I dont want to pay his salary. But I do, and one more recently where he said an MPPs proposed distracted walking law was dribble.

In both Payette and Ashleys cases, many people (mostly those who agree with them and think what they said shouldnt be controversial) have stood up to defend their freedom of speech. They were just expressing the truth! is the rallying cry. Payette is a scientist  an astronaut!  expressing scientific knowledge. Ashley patrols bike lanes and is just speaking out on behalf of their safety! Their defenders, in fact, seem to suggest more people in such positions should speak out in the same way.

Im not sure thats a good idea. At least in part because they werent just speaking the truth as they see it, but were explicitly taking shots with those who disagree with them.

I should point out I am among those who think that the substance of what both said is true. In fact, I have said similar things, in much stronger and sometimes more insulting language, as what theyve said, and about the very same people. But thats my job. Im an opinion columnist. Payette and Ashley have different jobs. Powerful jobs, in some respects. Ones that come with certain responsibilities.

Take, for instance, the Governor General of Canada. This is a position that seems almost powerless, until suddenly, periodically, its holder has tremendous power.

That is, most of the time, the role of the Governor General is ceremonial: making speeches and attending events and handing out awards for high achievement, generally making people feel good about being Canadian, if she can.

But whenever there is a crisis of legitimacy in Parliament, often in a minority government situation, she needs to make a huge and important decision about whether to allow one party or another to govern, whether to grant a request to prorogue parliament of force the prime minister to face the house, whether to call an election or ask an opposition party to form the government.

This is an appointed position  she has no democratic mandate to hold this power. Like a judge, her legitimacy rests solely on whether she is seen as impartial and non-partisan, rendering judgment in a crisis based purely on the wise application of the constitution.

Both of these roles, as a national mascot most of the time and as the One Vote to Rule Them All in times of crisis, kind of require the Governor General to be seen as above  or at least outside of  political debates. Because of this, its traditional and expected that the person holding that position should not express personal opinions on issues that are subject to partisan debate. If she looks like shes on someones side on the issues, that could colour her judgment  and would likely colour the perception of it  when she has to pick which side governs the country.

And when she does, reasonably, express her own worldview and ideas about things, she might at the very least attempt not to be dismissive or insulting of people who disagree. She represents those people, so many people in her own estimation, and may be called upon to make constitutional decisions that would put them in power or keep them from it. How she portrays them, and how they feel portrayed by her, can become an actual issue of parliamentary legitimacy.

Members of the Toronto Police Service wield a different kind of authority, obviously. They enforce the laws. They wear uniforms that indicate their role, a good many of them are armed and authorized to use force in a variety of situations. (Though, note, Ashley as a parking officer does not carry a gun.) We give members of the police service power in order that they may protect us from danger and apprehend those who break the law.

It is an absolute requirement of that role that they enforce the law as our democratically elected lawmakers have written it, without fear or favour, as former chief Bill Blair used to put it. Impartially, apolitically, and without prejudice, to the extent that they can. That human beings often fail to live up to this mandate is not a reason to disregard it  because of the power they wield in society (and the respect that authority bestows on them)  police need to remain officially neutral on civic political debates. They need to submit to the authority of the governments they serve whether they like them or not, enforce laws whether they disagree with them or not, and respect the role of elected lawmakers who decide on those laws, whether they like to or not.

Were not too far, in this city, from the days when members of the police force publicly called then-mayor John Sewell a fag and campaigned against him in uniform because they didnt like his policies. Were not too far from members of the police force spying on a member of the police services board because they didnt like her oversight. Were not too far from police endorsing candidates for mayor in Toronto.

Bike lanes are good! Mammoliti draws a taxpayer-funded salary! These kinds of expressions of opinion seem harmless  or even laudable  when you agree with their substance. But it doesnt take much imagination to see how, were these people expressing a different opinion on a different controversial subject (or person), we would think it radically inappropriate.

And its important to note that whether Payette and Ashley are right or wrong in their opinions, or even just stating facts, is not the point. In case it is not obvious: It is entirely possible to speak the truth in ways that are inappropriate. I am mostly bald and my teeth are crooked  these are facts about me  but it would be insulting and likely inappropriate for someone to focus on speaking these truths in, say, an employment performance review, or in most social situations.

No one expects Payette and Ashley and others in similar positions to lie. But their jobs require a certain amount of diplomacy, and reserve, and that they attempt to stay out of active political debates and controversies. When called upon to express an expert opinion relevant to their jobs, it is incumbent on them to be respectful and gentle in expressing it, even while expressing it clearly. Laugh lines beginning with can you believe some people still think dont fit the bill. Neither do personal attacks on specific city councillors.

Neither of these cases appears worthy, to me, of more than a minor controversy  one remedied by a bit of discussion. To determine whether what they said or did crossed a line, or crossed it by much, but most urgently reminding us that there is a line and they need to be aware of it, for good reasons. Thats the discussion were having now  and Id hope the consequences for the people involved dont go beyond hearing the discussion and learning from it.

It isnt an injustice that people in those positions need to be reserved when expressing their opinions on controversial or political subjects. Because of the authority they wield, their reserve is part of how justice is preserved.

Edward Keenan writes on city issues ekeenan@thestar.ca. Follow: @thekeenanwire

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Whats art? Whats activism? Where do they intersect?

Those were the first questions Tania Bruguera got from a group of art students and advocates at the workshop of the Nomadic Resident, which runs this week at Torontos OCAD University as the school inches toward launching Canadas first undergraduate degree program in art and activism.

To the renowned Cuban-American performance and installation artist, art is the impetus for social change, whether the issue is anti-immigration backlash, poverty, gender inequality, racism or global warming.

Its not just about poster-making to create awareness about an issue, but you want people to think of other ways to implement new solutions for our problems, said Bruguera, who will give a free public talk Wednesday evening at OCADs McCaul St. campus about arte util (useful art), a movement she founded to harness arts potential to shift perspectives and bring about social, political and cultural change.

I want to do art where people are part of the process, and not just a passive audience, but sitting at the table.

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Bruguera, a daughter of a diplomat, is no stranger to controversy. She was arrested by Cuban authorities for planning a public performance that left an open microphone to fellow Cubans to let them express their thoughts after the U.S. resumed its diplomatic ties with the nation in 2014.

In Queens, N.Y., she started Immigrant Movement International, a multimedia project sparked by her spending a year in 2011 with five immigrants and their children. The project, funded by the Queens Museum of Art and a not-for-profit art group called Creative Time, explored the precarious status of undocumented migrants.

One of its participatory works, Surplus Value, involved museum visitors waiting in a long line, facing random admission to the show, undergoing a lie-detector test and being asked about their travel history.

Min Sook Lee, an assistant professor at OCAD, said Brugueras work exemplifies the vision of the universitys Art and Social Change program, which is only available as a minor but will become a full-time undergraduate degree program in 2020.

War, colonial legacies, climate change, economic inequality, forced migration and border imperialism, global health, and the increased precarity of labour are some of the daunting realities our students face today, said Lee, herself a documentarian and producer of the award-winning film Migrant Dreams.

As change-makers, students have the opportunity to use their work as a catalyst for social justice . . . respond creatively to global issues through intersections with fields as diverse as philosophy, technology, medicine, spirituality and political science.

The study of art and activism is relatively new, said Lee, citing a recent New York Times story that dated the movement back to 2005, when the first academic program was established at California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

There are now at least 10 schools south of the border offering graduate degree programs in this area. OCADs proposed program will be a first in Canada at the bachelor level.

Recent social movements in Canada such as Black Lives Matter and Idle No More used art elements including poetry, dance and music to convey messages and issues, said Lee, and many artists were involved in those campaigns.

Caleigh Clements, a fourth-year OCAD student, said in most public art, audiences are passive viewers, and she would like to learn from Bruguera how to better engage people and move them.

Through art, we can create a community and a future that does not exist, said Clements, a photography major who is particularly interested in promoting womens reproductive health issues.

Alexia Breard-Anderson, also a fourth-year student, said the study of art tends to fall into the academic or commercial streams, and art and activism provides a new way of thinking.

People have different ideas of change and change is not always tangible, said the art criticism and curatorial practice major. Art can create dialogues and change perspectives. It is a long-term process.

And it could be something as simple as creating a narrative that disrupts comfort, said Bruguera, who insists on travelling back to Cuba even though she claims she gets hassled by Cuban customs upon her return each time.

This is my country and Im coming back, vowed a stubborn Bruguera, who has already declared her candidacy for the 2018 Cuban presidential race.

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Tim Cook was angry.

It was May 2013, and Cook, the chief executive of Apple, appeared before a U.S. Senate investigative subcommittee. After a lengthy inquiry, it found that the company had avoided tens of billions of dollars in taxes by shifting profits into Irish subsidiaries that the panels chairman called ghost companies.

We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar, Cook declared at the hearing. We dont depend on tax gimmicks, he went on. We dont stash money on some Caribbean island.

True enough. The island Apple would soon rely on was in the English Channel.

Five months after Cooks testimony, Irish officials began to crack down on the tax structure Apple had exploited. So the iPhone maker went hunting for another place to park its profits, newly leaked records show. With help from law firms that specialize in offshore tax shelters, the company canvassed multiple jurisdictions before settling on the small island of Jersey, which typically does not tax corporate income.

Apple has accumulated more than $128 billion (U.S.) in profits offshore, and probably much more, that is untaxed by the United States and hardly touched by any other country. Nearly all of that was generated over the past decade.

The previously undisclosed story of Apples search for a new island tax haven and its use of Jersey is among the revelations emerging from a cache of secret corporate records from Appleby, a Bermuda-based law firm that caters to businesses and the wealthy elite.

The records, shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with The New York Times and other media partners, including the Toronto Star, were obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

The documents reveal how big law firms help clients weave their way through the gaps between different countries tax rules. Appleby clients have transferred trademarks, patent rights and other valuable intangible assets into offshore shell companies, avoiding billions of dollars in taxes. The rights to Nikes Swoosh trademark, Ubers taxi-hailing app, Allergans Botox patents and Facebooks social media technology have all resided in shell companies that listed as their headquarters Appleby offices in Bermuda and Grand Cayman, the records show.

U.S. multinational firms are the global grandmasters of tax avoidance schemes that deplete not just U.S. tax collection but the tax collection of most every large economy in the world, said Edward Kleinbard, a former corporate tax adviser to such companies, now a law professor at the University of Southern California.

Indeed, tax strategies like the ones used by Apple  as well as Amazon, Google, Starbucks and others  cost governments around the world as much as $240 billion a year in lost revenue, according to a 2015 estimate by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The group is overseeing efforts to change the global rules that permit such manoeuvres.

The disclosures come on the heels of last weeks proposals by Republican lawmakers to provide several new tax benefits for multinational companies, including cutting the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 per cent to 20 per cent. President Donald Trump has said that U.S. businesses are getting a bad deal under current rules.

But the documents show how major U.S. companies find creative ways to avoid paying anything close to 35 per cent.

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Apple, for example, pays taxes at a small fraction of that rate on its offshore profits, according to calculations by The Times based on the companys securities filings. Apple reports that nearly 70 per cent of its worldwide profits are earned offshore.

An Apple spokesman, Josh Rosenstock, declined to answer most questions about the companys tax strategy. He did say that Apple had told regulators  in the United States, Ireland and at the European Commission  about the reorganization of its Irish subsidiaries. The changes we made did not reduce our tax payments in any country, he said.

He added: At Apple we follow the laws, and if the system changes we will comply. We strongly support efforts from the global community toward comprehensive international tax reform and a far simpler system.

Allergan, Facebook, Nike and Uber said they complied with tax regulations around the world, according to prepared statements.

Congressional Republicans are also seeking to impose a 10 per cent tax on some of the profits that U.S. businesses say are earned offshore  half the rate they are proposing for profits in the United States. The lawmakers have also proposed another break, permitting multinationals to bring home more than $2.6 trillion stowed offshore at sharply reduced tax rates. Both proposals, critics say, would only create additional incentives for businesses like Apple to shift more profits into island hideaways.

Appleby is a member of the global network of lawyers, accountants and bankers who set up or manage offshore companies and accounts for clients who want to avoid taxes or keep their finances a secret from authorities, business partners or even spouses. The firm did not respond to questions from The Times about its work for Apple or other companies.

U.S. tax authorities have challenged several of the offshore structures maintained by Appleby and Estera, a spinoff of the law firms corporate services business. Nike triumphed over the Internal Revenue Service in a fight over back taxes a year ago; a similar dispute between the IRS and Facebook is continuing.

European regulators are trying to force countries including Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to collect back taxes from big companies that relied on offshore arrangements. Apple is being pursued for $14.5 billion in back taxes after European regulators ruled that its old tax structure amounted to illegal state aid from the Irish government.

Seeking the Holy Grail

Since the mid-1990s, multinationals based in the United States have increasingly shifted profits into offshore tax havens. Indeed, a tiny handful of jurisdictions  mostly Bermuda, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands  now account for 63 per cent of all profits that U.S. multinational companies claim to earn overseas, according to an analysis by Gabriel Zucman, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. Those destinations hold far less than 1 per cent of the worlds population.

Criticism of such profit shifting was largely ignored until government finances around the globe came under pressure in the years following the 2008 financial crisis, when the practice led to government inquiries, tax inspector raids, media scrutiny and promises of reform.

In May 2013, the Senates investigative subcommittee released a 142-page report on Apples tax avoidance, finding that the company was attributing billions of dollars in profits each year to three Irish subsidiaries that declared tax residency nowhere in the world.

Under Irish law, if a company can convince Irish tax authorities that it is managed and controlled abroad, it can largely escape Irish income tax. By seeming to run its Irish subsidiaries from its world headquarters in California, Apple ensured that Irish tax residency was avoided.

At the same time, U.S. law dictated that the subsidiaries were only tax residents in the United States if incorporated there. The federal government permits taxes on any income generated by foreign units to be deferred indefinitely, as long as the company says those profits stay offshore.

Apple has sought the Holy Grail of tax avoidance: offshore corporations that it argues are not, for tax purposes, resident anywhere in any nation, then-Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, who was the subcommittee chairman, said at the 2013 hearing.

Irelands finance minister at the time, Michael Noonan, at first defended his countrys policies: I do not want to be the whipping boy for some misunderstanding in a hearing in the U.S. Congress. Ireland had long pursued business-friendly tax policies, which helped lure jobs to the country, primarily for technology and pharmaceutical companies. Apple now has about 6,000 employees in Ireland, including customer service and administrative jobs.

But by October 2013, in response to growing international pressure, Noonan announced that Irish companies would have to declare tax residency somewhere in the world.

At that time, Apple had accumulated $111 billion in offshore cash, mostly in its Irish subsidiaries. Billions of dollars in new profits poured into them each year. Yet they paid almost no corporate income tax.

Company officials wanted to keep it that way. So Apple sought alternatives to the tax arrangement Ireland would soon shut down. And the officials wanted to be quiet about it.

For those of you who are not aware Apple are extremely sensitive concerning publicity," wrote Cameron Adderley, global head of Applebys corporate department, in a March 20, 2014, email to other senior partners. He added, They also expect the work that is being done for them only to be discussed amongst personnel who need to know.

In building Apples new tax shelter, Appleby served as something of a general contractor. A key architect was Baker McKenzie, a huge law firm based in Chicago with 77 offices around the world. The firm has a reputation for devising creative offshore structures for multinationals and defending them to tax regulators. It has also fought international proposals for tax avoidance crackdowns.

Baker McKenzie wanted to use a local Appleby office to maintain an offshore arrangement for Apple, its client. For Appleby, Adderley explained, this potential assignment was a tremendous opportunity for us to shine on a global basis with Baker McKenzie.

Baker McKenzies San Francisco office emailed a 14-item questionnaire in March 2014 to Applebys offices in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey.

Confirm that an Irish company can conduct management activities (such as board meetings, signing of important contracts) without being subject to taxation in your jurisdiction, the document requested. Baker McKenzie also asked for assurances that the local political climate would remain friendly: Are there any developments suggesting that the law may change in an unfavourable way in the foreseeable future?

(A Baker McKenzie spokesman said, As a matter of general policy, we do not comment on confidential client matters.)

Apple decided that its new offshore tax structure should use Applebys office in Jersey, which is one of the Channel Islands and has strong links to the British banking system. Jersey makes its own laws and is not subject to most European Union legislation, making it a popular tax haven.

The double Irish

But the plan to use Jersey faced a potential snag: In mid-2014, again under pressure from other governments, Irish ministers explored ending a tax shelter known as the double Irish, used by scores of companies, including the Appleby clients Allergan and Facebook, as well as Google, LinkedIn and other businesses.

The double Irish allows companies to collect profits through one Irish subsidiary that employs people in Ireland, then route those profits to an Irish mailbox subsidiary that is a tax resident of an offshore haven like Bermuda, Grand Cayman or the Isle of Man.

Irish officials explored a ban on Irish companies claiming tax residency in tax havens. Executives at Allergan  which had used a double Irish for at least a decade, records show  tried to derail the rule change. Terilea Wielenga, then Allergans head of tax, was also international president of the Tax Executives Institute, a trade group. She argued to the Irish finance ministry in July 2014 that any such changes should occur slowly.

The campaign seemed to work. For existing companies, there will be provision for a transition period until the end of 2020, the Irish finance minister Michael Noonan declared in October 2014. The gradual phase-in would apply not just to existing companies but to any new ones created by that December.

This gave Apple just enough time. By the end of the year, Jersey had become the new tax home of the Irish companies Apple Sales International and Apple Operations International.

But a third Apple subsidiary, Apple Operations Europe, instead became resident in Ireland.

Apple would not say why. But tax experts offer one possible reason. While press attention focused on Irelands crackdown on the double Irish, officials announced a measure that gave Ireland more appeal: The country expanded its tax deductions for companies that move rights to intellectual property  like patents and trademarks  into Ireland. If an Irish company spent $15 billion buying such rights, even from a fellow subsidiary, it could claim a $1 billion tax deduction each year for 15 years.

Apple declined to say whether it has availed itself of the new benefit.

But J. Richard Harvey, a Villanova law professor and former IRS official who reviewed the Appleby documents, concluded that there was a strong possibility the company moved intellectual property into Ireland to take advantage of the generous tax rules. Based on disclosures in Apples U.S. securities filings, he estimated that the transfer was worth about $200 billion.

That would mean that any income that Apple now generates in Ireland could be partially offset by more than $13 billion in tax deductions each year for 15 years.

Apples hunt for a tax haven is a familiar tale, said Reuven Avi-Yonah, director of the international tax program at the University of Michigan Law School, who also reviewed the Appleby documents.

This is how it usually works: You close one tax shelter, and something else opens up, he said. It just goes on endlessly.

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Over the past six years, three different parliamentary budget officers  mandated to report to parliament on matters of fiscal importance  have requested federal data to calculate the difference between taxes due and those actually collected.

The records required to find the figure  called the tax gap  never came.

Dozens of pages of correspondence between the parliamentary budget officers and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) officials, obtained by a Toronto Star/CBC investigation, detail a five-year battle for data that has now concluded in a stalemate  and no information shared.

It is disappointing, says Jean-Denis Frechette, Canadas current parliamentary budget officer, sitting with a large stack of paper and folders in his Ottawa office, evidence of the five-year tug-of-war with the CRA. It can go on and on and theres no way out at one point, if you dont have a full team of lawyers negotiating something with CRA.

Eventually, the PBO had to walk away Frechette said. We had legal counsel, they had legal counsel. One said we should have access and the other said no . . . At some point you say, Do we keep negotiating? 

For more than 50 years, the U.S. has measured and publicly reported the countrys tax gap. The U.K. began doing the same in 2009, annually detailing the amount of taxes  from both domestic and offshore sources  that never make it into the countrys tax coffers.

In all, more than a dozen Western countries  including Australia, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Mexico and Denmark  measure their uncollected taxes in order to understand the size of their shortfalls and plot public policy strategies to address the problem.

Canada lags.

Even as the federal Liberals invested $1 billion over the past two years in rooting out offshore tax evasion, the government has never conducted a comprehensive calculation of the size and scope of the offshore tax collection problem it seeks to correct.

In Canada, the countrys overall tax gap  including the billions lost offshore  remains a known unknown.

Diane Lebouthillier, the federal minister of national revenue, declined interview requests for this story. In a statement, a ministry spokesperson wrote that the integrity of the tax system and the confidence of Canadians are of utmost importance to the CRA, and that while the agency worked with the PBO to identify data it could legally share, there were privacy concerns around information related to individual Canadians.

Generally speaking, the PBO has the authority to obtain financial or economic data from government departments. However, this does not supersede the confidentiality protection provided for in Section 241 of the Income Tax Act.

Mark Mahabir, general counsel for the PBO, says his agency challenged that interpretation, arguing that it only ever wanted anonymized data that allowed for a broad tax gap calculation.

Our position is that we work for Senate and the House of Commons so they should give it to us, he says. They said, We will give it to you, but it will cost a lot of money, and then they moved back to the old position (of denying the records).

Last year, the CRA published a report about GST tax losses, concluding that about 5.6 per cent in potential revenues went uncollected every year from 2000 to 2014. Earlier this year, the agency released a report saying Canada forfeited $8.7 billion in 2014 domestic taxes as a result of unreported underground economy income and unpaid taxes.

But those reports ignored the white elephant in the room: uncollected offshore taxes fuelled by the billions flowing out of the country and often into foreign tax havens.

That offshore chunk, say experts, should be the governments tax gap focus.

Theyve just gone for the low-hanging fruit and left the important matters alone, says Liberal Senator Percy Downe, a vocal advocate for tax gap reporting in Canada.

The best guesses from credible sources place Canadas tax losses to offshore havens at between $6 billion and $7.8 billion each year.

But those estimates are theoretical. And that means public policy is being made in a knowledge vacuum, says Frechette.

The measurement of this gap is . . . showing to Canadians and parliamentarians who are making these decisions that there is a serious problem in terms of collecting that money or protecting the tax collection system of Canada, he says. Thats what other countries are . . . saying as well. Its not only the value of the billions of dollars that you can collect, its to measure it and do something, improve your system.

Methodologies differ among agencies that conduct their own analyses. For example, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service  which most recently estimated a gross tax gap of $458-billion (U.S.) based on averages from 2008 to 2010  uses a different formula than U.K. tax authorities  which estimated a tax gap there of 34-billion in 2013-14.

International tax gaps These numbers were calculated by each country's respective tax agency. However, comparing figures is difficult because there isn't one commonly accepted methodology. All figures are in Canadian dollars. $70B The United Kingdom's estimated tax gap (2013-14) $24B Sweden's estimated tax gap (2007) $2.8B Australia's estimated tax gap (2014-15) $261B The European Union's estimated tax gap (2013) $689B Estimated tax gap in the United States (annual average for 2008-2010) Source: Canada Revenue Agency

The Paradise Papers is the second major leak in two years showing how billions of dollars flows out of countries and into offshore tax havens, sheltering the money from domestic tax authorities.

Last year, the Liberals directed $444 million to the Canada Revenue Agency aimed at rooting out offshore tax evasion. The governments 2017 budget earmarked another $523.9 million over the next five years to prevent tax evasion and improve tax compliance with a focus on wealthy individuals and multinational corporations.

In its written statement, the government says those investments in tax evasion detection have been aggressive and effective including more than 990 audits and more than 42 criminal investigations.

As well, the ministry has levied more than $262 million in penalties against promoters and tax preparers between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2017, who advised their clients to participate in aggressive tax arrangements, plans or schemes.

Measuring the tax gap will assist the government in determining if the Canada Revenue Agency needs $444.4 million or $777.7 million to fight overseas tax evasion, said Downe. Without the tax gap information, they are only guessing at the resources they require.

Downe began agitating for tax gap transparency in 2012, asking then parliamentary budget officer (PBO) Kevin Page to investigate the impact of overseas tax evasion. Page concluded it was both possible and valuable. He committed his office to developing the methodology in co-operation with the CRA.

That didnt happen.

The CRAs initial response was succinct: The CRA does not generate information or data on the tax gap,  wrote the then deputy commissioner of revenue in response. The CRA is not aware of a recognized or reliable methodology for determining the tax gap. 

A month later, Page returned with a request for data that would allow his office to calculate the tax gap based on methodologies used by the U.K. and the U.S.

I am open to your recommendations regarding the best method by which these data could be shared with my office, Page wrote.

No data was provided.

Unfortunately, CRA has informed us that they are unable to share any relevant data with my office, Page wrote to Downe on March 2, 2003. Page did not respond to interview requests for this story.

Pages interim successor, Sonia LHeureux, renewed the PBO request for CRA data in June 2013, offering to have her office compensate the CRA for the reasonably incurred expense of preparing the required data or be given access to the data to prepare it itself.

In response, CRA Commissioner Andrew Treusch dismissed the value of the exercise, saying the figures are produced at high cost and cannot be compared across jurisdictions because of varying calculation methods.

While the CRA can provide you with the requested data, I would like to reiterate that this data will not advance public understanding of the tax gap.

Frechette became the third parliamentary budget officer to press for the data when he took the office in late 2013.

Correspondence shows lengthy discussions over the CRAs $141,000 fee estimate and six-month timeline.

Frechettes concerns about the quality of anonymized and aggregated data led to a legal standoff for much of 2014 and 2015.

An April 2015 letter from the CRA to Frechette reads: Our position is that the PBO does not have the authority to access confidential taxpayer information.

Frechette suggested taking the matter to Federal Court for a resolution, Treusch replied: The CRA declines . . . In our view, the legal position relating to your request is clear and unambiguous. Given this, there is no value in seeking further clarification.

It was a dead end, says Frechette. We decided that . . . there was no point to continue the negotiations.

After the Liberals took power in 2015, Lebouthillier, newly named as national revenue minister, wrote to Downe that her department has strong interest in measures of tax evasion and avoidance both domestically and internationally, and that it would undertake a comprehensive study of tax gap estimation.

Downe was unsatisfied, believing the time for studying methodologies already well-established was over. He appealed directly to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year.

Rather than studying the tax gap itself, CRA proposes to study the idea of studying the gap, Downe wrote. Calculation of the tax gap is the very embodiment of (the Liberal Partys) commitments . . . For years, the Canada Revenue Agency has acted in flagrant disregard of the letter and spirit of the mandate of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Good information is the foundation of good policy and your leadership is vital to rectifying this problem.

There has been some movement.

In April of last year, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance recommended the CRA calculate the countrys federal tax gap on an ongoing basis and make that information, and the methodology, public.

In response, Lebouthillier wrote that the government supports this idea, committing to explore methodologies and better understand the benefits and drawbacks of tax gap estimation.

There remains skepticism.

I think it will be a one-off, says the PBOs general counsel Mahabir. They arent going to publish a co-ordinated figure incorporating all of it together.

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OTTAWARevelations from a massive leak of tax haven records containing the names and offshore dealings of 3,300 Canadians dominated question period Monday, with the Liberal government promising a review of the Paradise Papers Canadian connections.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier faced a barrage of opposition questions over headlines drawn from the cache of 13 million documents leaked to the Suddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and the Toronto Star.

We are fully committed to fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance, Trudeau said in the House of Commons.

With respect to the Paradise Papers, the (Canada Revenue Agency) is reviewing links to Canadian entities and will take every appropriate action . . . . We will continue to work for a system that is fair.

Lebouthilliers office confirmed the CRA has already launched a review into the Canadian names found in the Paradise Papers, and said the agency is looking for more information about the leak from international partners.

Trudeau never used Stephen Bronfmans name in the Commons Monday. The billionaire philanthropist was at the centre of stories published Sunday by the Toronto Star and CBC-Radio Canada. They detail how Bronfman, the Liberal partys chief fundraiser, is linked to a $60-million (U.S.) Cayman Islands trust.

Records name Bronfman, his father, Charles, his godfather, retired senator Leo Kolber, and Leos son, Jonathan, as key figures in the Kolber Trust, which was used to invest their collective fortunes in Israel.

Together, the Bronfmans and Kolbers have been connected in the trusts financing and operation for 24 years, the records show.

Stephen Bronfman has never funded nor used offshore trusts, reads a statement Bronfman issued Monday in response to the stories. His Canadian trusts have paid all taxes on all their income to the Canadian government.

The statement also reads Stephen Bronfman and his family have always conducted themselves in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards.

His involvement with the Kolber Trust amounts to a single loan made over a quarter century ago, which was repaid five months later and was, an arms-length, fully commercial basis, in full compliance with all legal requirements, including with respect to taxes.

Bronfmans loan to the Kolber Trust in 1997 is described in the documents as $5.3-million loan without interest owed or due date. It was repaid in April 1998, the leaked documents read.

Stephen Bronfman had no other direct or indirect involvement whatsoever in the Kolber Trust, his written statement reads.

Justin Trudeau says the Liberals have invested historic sums to crack down on tax avoidance. Opposition parties questioned the prime minister over leaked records suggesting his partys top fundraiser is linked to offshore tax havens. (The Canadian Press

The leaked documents show Bronfman, his father, Charles, and the two U.S.-based Charles Bronfman trusts transferred nearly $40 million (U.S.) to the Kolber Trust though loans. Stephen Bronfmans name, along with that of his investment firm, Claridge, appear throughout the records, often detailing an oversight role in trust decisions.

Bronfman declined repeated interview requests before publication of the stories.

The Paradise Papers revelations come months after Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have been pushing messages of tax fairness.

Morneau was forced to back down from proposed small business tax tweaks that, the government argued, allowed wealthy Canadians to shelter their income and pay less tax. After months of criticism from doctors, lawyers and accountants  as well as the Conservatives  the Liberals watered down their proposals and cut the small business tax rate instead.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer accused the Liberals of demonizing those professionals with private corporations, while protecting their wealthy friends.

The prime minister spent a part of the summer and fall treating local entrepreneurs as tax evaders. He accused them of using loopholes to save on taxes, Scheer said in the House of Commons. Lets see what hell do now that close Liberal advisers are named in the Paradise Papers, and they were the ones who used loopholes to save their fortunes.

The NDP, who have long criticized the use of offshore tax havens by the wealthy, similarly accused the Liberal government of going after the small taxpayer while letting the big fish go.

Let us not forget that the government has done nothing about the Panama Papers. The government has not taken seriously the issue of tax havens and offshore accounts, said Guy Caron, the New Democrats parliamentary leader.

Trudeau and Lebouthillier both pointed to the roughly $1 billion in funding committed to CRA over the past two years to combat aggressive offshore tax planning and tax evasion, and vowed the Liberal government would continue to pursue tax cheats.

The CRA also said they currently have 990 audits and 42 criminal investigations into offshore financial structures underway.

As for the individuals named in the Paradise Papers, Trudeau said: I will let individuals comment on their own situation.

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President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a two-day visit, bringing him near North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on a stop that will also feature talks on a trade deal he says hurts U.S. workers.

The second leg of his five-nation Asia trip includes a visit with U.S. troops, a joint press briefing with President Moon Jae-in and an address to South Koreas parliament. In contrast to Trumps warm relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his dealings with Moon got off to a rocky start due to differences over trade and dialogue with North Korea.

Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman, Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning. We will figure it all out!

Trump and Moon are likely to show a united front against Kim, even while underlying tensions remain. South Korea hosts more than 28,000 U.S. troops and relies on the alliance to deter a North Korean attack.

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Donald Trump stands with Japan, denounces North Korean aggression

Far East trip a crucial test for a president looking to reassure Asian allies

Pyongyangs accelerated missile and nuclear weapons program  and a war of words between Trump and Kim  have ratcheted up tensions in North Asia to the highest level in decades. Nowhere is that tension felt more acutely than in Seoul, with a metropolitan area of more than 25 million people and a location in striking range of the regime.

Trump wont visit the demilitarized zone dividing South Korea and North Korea during his trip, a senior administration official said last week, describing it as a cliche. Except for George H.W. Bush, who visited the fortified border as vice president, all of Trumps predecessors since Ronald Reagan have made the trip.

While Trump has threatened military action to stop Kim from acquiring the ability to strike the U.S. with a nuclear weapon, Moon has sought to reassure South Koreans that another war wont break out. The South Korean leader wants to take the drivers seat when it comes to the Korean Peninsula, including a quicker timetable on the U.S. military transferring operational control to his nation in wartime.

Former U.S. ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow told Bloomberg TV that Trump will have a lot more heavy lifting to do with than he did with Abe, who has backed the U.S. presidents hard line on Pyongyang.

This visit is a challenge for the president to persuade Moon Jae-in that we need to take a tough line but that he is leaving the door open ultimately to negotiations, Vershbow said from Washington. Hopefully the president can convince president Moon were not going to rush into any military confrontation with the North, and were trying to use the pressure to get them give up their programs.

The U.S. has been considering whether to return North Korea to a list of state sponsors of terror, and Trump has signalled a decision will be announced soon. The nuclear threat is one of the biggest geopolitical challenges for his administration, and one of Trumps major goals on his Asia visit is co-ordinating a response by the U.S., South Korea, Japan and China.

While the U.S. and South Korea look for ways to respond to North Korea, the question of the five-year-old trade deal known as Korus also hangs over talks between Trump and Moon. Trump has called the accord a job killer that costs the U.S. $40 billion a year, and has threatened to withdraw if South Korea doesnt agree to terms that reduce Americas growing trade deficit with the country.

South Korea is the U.S.s seventh-largest trading partner, while the U.S. is South Koreas second-biggest partner after China. U.S. figures indicate its goods deficit with South Korea was $27.7 billion last year. Efforts to narrow the gap will probably focus heavily on the auto industry, meaning the administration may push to increase the number of American-made cars that can be sold in South Korea.

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PARISTen people suspected of using encrypted social networks to prepare a possible attack were arrested Tuesday during counterterrorism operations in France and Switzerland aimed at clarifying details of the alleged plot, according to French officials.

A 23-year-old Colombian woman and 27-year-old Swiss man, both targets in a Swiss investigation of Daesh, also known as ISIS, were among the suspects detained.

Counterterrorism investigators detained nine people between the ages of 18 and 65 in France and one person in Switzerland, according to a French judicial official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, would not provide details about their identities.

The suspects were being questioned following searches of properties in the Paris suburbs and in southeastern France. Some of the suspects previously had been flagged for alleged Islamic radicalization, according to the judicial official and a French police official. Two are brothers, the officials said.

The Swiss suspect, who was among those arrested in France, allegedly had ties to a 13-year-old who was arrested earlier on suspicion of plotting a knife attack, the judicial official said.

The mayor of the French Riviera city of Nice, Christian Estrosi, thanked police for the arrests. His office said Estrosi was speaking with Frances interior minister about the investigation, but neither City Hall nor the judicial official would confirm reports that the suspected attack plot targeted Nice.

The city remains scarred after the July 2016 truck attack that killed 86 people watching a Bastille Day fireworks display from a seaside promenade.

A French security official said the alleged plot did not appear to be fully developed but authorities acted Tuesday out of concern that the group was moving toward action.

In parallel to the Swiss investigation, French authorities opened a probe in July focused on suspicious activity by a person in Switzerland using the encrypted Telegram network, according to the French judicial official. The suspect, based in Switzerland, had communicated with people in France on social networks about unspecified violent acts, the official said.

Among the French towns targeted in the operation were Aix-en-Provence in southern France and Menton on the Mediterranean coast, as well as Paris suburbs, according to a French security official.

The office of Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said the arrest there followed searches of buildings in the French-speaking Vaud and Neuchatel regions of western Switzerland.

The Swiss investigation originally targeted a 27-year-old Swiss man and was more recently extended to include the Colombian woman, neither of whom was identified by name. Laubers office said the woman was expected to remain in custody until she appears before a court.

The arrests came days after a new counterterrorism law took effect in France. The law replaces a state of emergency that had been in place since the deadly Paris attacks.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb appeared to downplay the arrests, telling reporters during a visit to Germany on Tuesday that, in a relatively habitual way, we arrest a certain number of individuals who appear that they could be dangerous.

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ABU DHABIStepping into the Louvre Abu Dhabi, one of the first artworks a visitor sees is a two-headed Neolithic statue from Jordan, one of the oldest known in human history.

That duality  looking back and toward the future, encompassing both East and West  is a theme that extends throughout the new museum, which is opening to the public on Saturday after a decade of delays and questions over labourers rights.

The conservative mores of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates thats more buttoned-up than freewheeling Dubai, can be seen in the relative absence of pieces depicting nudity. Still, artwork at the new Louvre offers a brief history of the world and its major religions, not shying away from Judaism in a country that officially does not recognize Israel.

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Here at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, weve accomplished history, Mohamed Khalifa al-Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said at a ceremony for journalists on Monday. This museum is a lot more than just a museum.

The modernist museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, sits under a honeycombed dome of eight layers of Arab-style geometric shapes.

It draws the lapping waters of the Persian Gulf into its outer corridors, allowing individual beams of light that pass through the roof to strike the surface and cast dancing reflections across the white walls. At night, light inside pours out like tiny little stars from a salt shaker against the citys skyline.

I imagine this metaphor of the sky, cosmic, cosmographic, with a random system like the stars itself, Nouvel told The Associated Press. I imagine that with not a lot of lighting, just a little bit to create a kind of rain of light.

That rain has been a long time coming in this desert country, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Authorities first announced the Louvre Abu Dhabi project in 2007 as Dubai feverishly built the world tallest building and other wonders.

Today, much of Saadiyat Island, envisioned as a cultural district anchored by the museum, is still empty. A planned Middle East outpost of the Guggenheim remains unbuilt, with just a poured foundation on the salt flood plain.

Part of the reason is the drop in global energy prices from over $100 (U.S.) a barrel in 2014 to around $30 in early 2016. Officials in Abu Dhabi have not disclosed how much it cost to build the museum.

What is known is that Abu Dhabi agreed to pay France $525 million for the use of the Louvre name for the next 30 years and six months, plus another $750 million to hire French managers to oversee the 300 loaned works of art. A centre at Paris Louvre now bears the name of the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which was also part of the deal.

During construction, the project faced intense criticism over conditions faced by labourers, who faced low pay, long hours and hot conditions. A worker was killed in an accident in 2015 while another died of natural causes in 2016, according to Abu Dhabi authorities.

Hundreds working on projects on the island, including the Louvre, also were deported or lost their work visas for launching strikes over their conditions, according to according to a 2015 Human Rights Watch report. Labour strikes are illegal in the UAE.

Jean-Luc Martinez, the president-director of the Louvre in Paris, contends the museum spoke very frankly about labourer conditions. He described the museum as a bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe.

We are not a European museum, he told the AP. Its a place to see the world from Abu Dhabi.

That begins in the first gallery, where the floor bears an outline of the UAE with the names of different world cities in Arabic, China, English and Hindi. Different cultures face each other in exhibits: for example, a French suit of armour is positioned to look directly across from a Japanese warriors outfit.

The museum also makes a point to put the worlds religions side by side.

In one exhibit, a Jewish funerary stele from France in 1250 sits next to a Tunisian Muslims funerary steel and a Christian archbishops stone epitaph from Tyre, Lebanon. A painted French stone statue of Virgin and Child stands by a section of a Syrian Quran dating to around 1250, open to a page recounting the night during the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims believe the holy book was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

In a darkened room, a page from the Blue Quran, one of the oldest ever found, sits near a Gothic Bible, Buddhist sutras and a Torah from Yemen dating to 1498.

In a Middle East still torn by religious and sectarian conflict, whether between Sunni and Shiite or Israelis and the Palestinians, simply putting them side by side is a major statement.

By addressing their message to all humanity without distinction, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam transcended local cultural characteristics and deeply transformed ancient societies, one placard reads. These religions shared with Judaism the concept of monotheism but diverged on the subjects such as the representation of the divine.

Nudity, however, is only lightly represented, either in bare breasts on an Italian dish or nude bronze ballerina statuettes by Edgar Degas, seemingly dancing in the line of sight of James McNeill Whistlers famed painting of his mother. Whistlers painting joins a womans portrait on wood by Leonardo da Vinci, two works by Pablo Picasso and a hot-pink Andy Warhol image of an electric chair.

For now at least, the museums exhibit ends with an installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei called A Foundation of Light, an illuminated work of steel and glass that recalls the museums gleam at night.

5 pieces of art you should see at the Louvre Abu Dhabi

As the Louvre Abu Dhabi opens its doors to the public on Saturday, here are five pieces of art out of the 620 on display you should look out for that show the breadth of the new museum:

Monumental Statue with Two Heads

This plaster statue, dating to around 6,500 B.C. and discovered in Ain Ghazal, Jordan, is one of the oldest known in human history. Its among the earliest large-scale representations of human form. The settlement in which it was found, spread across 30 acres (12 hectares) along the Zarqa River, was one of the largest known Neolithic settlements in the Near East.

Page of the Blue Quran

The page, from one of the oldest-ever-found Qurans, sits in a darkened room near a Gothic Bible, Buddhist sutras and a Torah from Yemen. Its part of the museums theme of showing whats universal among peoples of the world. The Blue Quran dates from around 900 and was discovered in North Africa.

Portrait of a Woman, called La Belle Ferronniere

This is one of some 15 pieces of art known to exist today from the Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci. Dating to around 1495, the painting is thought to be of Lucrezia Crivelli, a mistress of the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza. The clothes the woman is wearing, her position and the smoothness of the painting all reflect the style of the Renaissance.

The Saint-Lazare Station

This Claude Monet painting from 1877 came during the Industrial Revolution. Monet, known as the father of Impressionism, often painted railway stations, modern life and urban landscapes during this period. His signature brush strokes and the effects of colour can be seen in it.

Fountain of Light

The Louvre Abu Dhabi commissioned this chandelier-inspired installation from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. The 7-meter (23-foot) piece of art is made of stainless steel and glass. Its inspired by the Tatlin Tower, a utopian project that was meant to be built in Russia in 1919 but never was.

The Associated Press

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SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFU.S. President Donald Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, telling him the weapons hes acquiring are not making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger.

In a speech delivered hours after he aborted a visit to the heavily fortified Korean demilitarized zone due to bad weather, Trump called on all nations to join forces to isolate the brutal regime of North Korea  to deny it any form of support, supply, or acceptance.

Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us. And do not try us, he told South Korean lawmakers. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

Trump had been scheduled to make the unannounced early morning trip to the DMZ amid heightened tensions with North Korea over its nuclear program.

The Marine One presidential helicopter left Seoul at daybreak and flew most of the way to the DMZ but was forced to turn back just five minutes out due to poor weather conditions. Reporters travelling in a separate helicopter as part of the presidents envoy saw fog through the windows, and weather reports from near the heavily fortified border showed misting conditions and visibility below one mile. Pilots, officials said, could not see the other helicopters in the air.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was disappointed he couldnt make the trip. I think hes pretty frustrated, she told reporters. It was obviously something he wanted to do.

Before he left for Asia, a White House official had ruled out a DMZ visit for Trump, claiming the president didnt have time on his schedule and that DMZ visits have become a little cliche.

But Sanders said the visit had been planned well before Trumps departure for Asia. The trip was kept secret for security reasons, she said.

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Trump had been scheduled to make the visit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who travelled separately and landed about a 20-minute drive from the DMZ. Sanders said the military and the U.S. Secret Service had deemed that landing would not be safe, and Trump deferred to them.

After returning to Seoul, administration officials had hoped they might be able to wait out the bad weather and make a second landing attempt. At the U.S. Armys Yongsan Garrison landing zone, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Sanders frequently glanced up at the clouds to see if the sky was clearing. But time would not allow it.

The aborted visit came hours before Trump addressed the South Korean National Assembly before closing out his two-day visit to the nation and heading to his next stop, Beijing.

Visiting the border that has separated the North and South for 64 years has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Koreas ever-escalating aggression. Every American president since Ronald Reagan, save for George H.W. Bush, has made the trip, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

The attempted visit was scheduled for a day after Trump made a striking shift in tone for a president, who for months has issued increasingly dire threats to answer any hostile North Korean action with fire and fury. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would totally destroy the nation, if necessary, and has derided Kim as little Rocket Man.

But on Tuesday, his first day on the Korean Peninsula, Trump signalled a willingness to negotiate as he urged Pyongyang to come to the table and make a deal. He also hed seen a lot of progress in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world, Trump said at a news conference with Moon. I do see certain movement. He also sounded an optimistic note on disagreements with the North, saying confidently, if vaguely: Ultimately, itll all work out.

Ever the showman, Trump had teased that he had a surprise in store, saying at a Tuesday evening banquet that he had an exciting day planned Wednesday  for many reasons that people will find out. He did not elaborate on what turned out to be the aborted trip to the DMZ.

North Korea has fired more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months. Analysts caution against reading too much into the pause.

Theres no public sign of any diplomatic progress between Washington and Pyongyang. U.S. officials say the back channel between the State Department and the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York remains intact, but contacts have not been substantive other than achieving the release of American college student Otto Warmbier in June. He died days after his repatriation to the U.S.

Still, Trumps conciliatory comments would be welcome in South Korea, where both the government and the wider population have been unnerved by the presidents threats against the North.

Trump did note the United States military options, mentioning that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region. But he added that we hope to God we never have to use the arsenal. And he accused Kim of threatening millions and millions of lives, so needlessly.

Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the presidents visit would be a turning point in the standoff with North Korea.

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called truce village bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between the North and South.

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MOSCOWA Russian lawyer who met with U.S. President Donald Trumps oldest son last year says he indicated that a law targeting Russia could be re-examined if his father won the election and asked her for written evidence that illegal proceeds went to Hillary Clintons campaign.

The lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, said in a 2 -hour interview in Moscow that she would tell these and other things to the Senate Judiciary Committee on condition that her answers be made public, something it hasnt agreed to. She has received scores of questions from the committee, which is investigating possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. Veselnitskaya said shes also ready  if asked  to testify to special counsel Robert Mueller.

Her June 9, 2016, encounter with Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign manager Paul Manafort in New York plays a key role in allegations that the campaign worked with Russia to defeat Clinton.

Read more: One year in, Donald Trumps approval rating is far lower than any president in 7 decades of polling

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Manafort and Gates plead not guilty on Trump-Russia probe charges. Third aide pleads guilty to lying to FBI

Veselnitskaya said she went to New York to show Trump campaign officials that major Democratic donors had evaded U.S. taxes and to lobby against the so-called Magnitsky law that punishes Russian officials for the murder of a Russian tax accountant who accused the Kremlin of corruption.

Looking ahead, if we come to power, we can return to this issue and think what to do about it, Trump Jr. said of the 2012 law, she recalled. I understand our side may have messed up, but itll take a long time to get to the bottom of it, he added, according to her.

Veselnitskaya also said Trump Jr. requested financial documents showing that money that allegedly evaded U.S. taxes had gone to Clintons campaign. She didnt have any and described the 20-minute meeting as a failure.

A lawyer for Trump Jr., Alan Futerfas, said the presidents son had no comment about the interview, the first time Veselnitskaya has offered details about what was discussed at Trump Tower in Manhattan. In the past, Trump Jr. has said that he had wasted his time seeing the lawyer because she provided no useful information.

A Russian-American lobbyist says he attended a June 2016 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump's son, marking another shift in the account of a discussion that was billed as part of a Russian government effort to help Trump's campaign. (The Associated Press)

The meeting took place after British publicist Rob Goldstone contacted Trump Jr. on behalf of Veselnitskaya to request it, describing her as a Russian government lawyer who had information and documents that would incriminate Clinton.

This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump, Goldstone wrote in an email to Trump Jr.

If its what you say I love it especially later in the summer, Trump Jr. replied almost immediately.

Veselnitskaya says she told the presidents son she had information that Clintons campaign may have received some of almost $1 billion the wealthy Ziff brothers gained from Russian investments that allegedly evaded U.S. taxes.

She says she was acting in a private capacity and not as a Russian government representative. But there is evidence of an official imprimatur: She brought to the meeting a four-page talking-points memorandum in English that contained very similar information to a document she had provided to the office of Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika in 2015, both of which were obtained by Bloomberg News. Alexander Kurennoy, the spokesman for the prosecutor generals office, declined to comment.

In April last year, Veselnitskaya took part in a meeting with a visiting congressional delegation headed by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican with close ties to Russia, that was attended by a senior prosecution official. There she raised the allegations about the Ziff brothers money. President Vladimir Putin has recently made the same argument.

Donald Trump Jr. defended his meeting with a Kremlin-connected lawyer on Fox News Channel's Hannity. The younger Trump said he was looking for information on Hillary Clinton, and that no useful information was offered. (The Associated Press)

Veselnitskaya is defending a Russian businessman in the U.S. on a money-laundering case related to the Magnitsky law. It was settled out of court this year without an admission of guilt.

This law, which Veselnitskaya has been campaigning against, targets Russian officials in retaliation for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, a tax accountant who worked for U.S.-born fund manager William Browder. His Hermitage Capital was once the biggest foreign-portfolio investor in Russia. Ziff Brothers Investments LLC invested in Russia with Browder using offshore entities, Veselnitskaya has said.

Magnitsky died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after uncovering what he said was a tax fraud that diverted $230 million of Russian state funds into the pockets of a handful of civil servants. The 2012 U.S. law named after him incensed the Kremlin, which then banned adoptions from Russia to the U.S., further straining ties between Washington and Moscow.

Ziff Brothers Investments has contributed to Republicans and Democrats since the 2012 election cycle, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. It gave between $50,000 and $100,000 to the Clinton Global Initiative and made modest donations to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

A spokesman for the Ziff family said it had no comment.

In the interview, Veselnitskaya said she sent her memo to Goldstone in advance so Trump Jr. could familiarize himself with the issues, but he seemed not to have done so. When she began laying out the case against the Ziffs, she said that he asked: This money the Ziffs got from Russia, do you have any financial documents showing that this money went to Clintons campaign?

She didnt and the meeting quickly fell apart. Kushner left after a few minutes and Manafort appeared to have fallen asleep. The meeting was a failure; none of us understood what the point of it had been, Veselnitskaya said, adding she had no further contacts with the Trump campaign.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has sent her more than 90 questions concerning the meeting, asking whether she knows Putin, Manafort and Kushner, and requesting information about Russian hacking and interference, she said. That I definitely dont have! the lawyer said. I made up my mind a long time ago: My testimony must be honest, full and public.

Taylor Foy, a Grassley spokesman, said, We are encouraged that she is planning to co-operate and look forward to receiving the information. He wouldnt comment on whether the committee would comply with her request to make her answers public.

Congressional investigators prefer not to release their private interviews and documents in the middle of an investigation. Theres nothing, however, that prevents Veselnitskaya from releasing whatever she wants on her own.

Veselnitskaya and the Russian businessman shes representing in the New York case, Denis Katsyv, recently asked for permission to enter the U.S. to attend a hearing in the case against his company, Prevezon Holdings Ltd. Prevezon still hasnt paid a $5.9 million settlement to the U.S. because under the terms of the out-of-court agreement it committed to transfer the funds only after the Netherlands released 3 million euros ($3.5 million) belonging to it that remain frozen.

The Dutch authorities unfroze the money at the U.S.s request on Oct. 10 but froze it again because of a separate money-laundering investigation in the Netherlands, according to U.S. court filings. Prevezon said the Netherlands started the investigation in response to a complaint from Browder.

On Nov. 3, U.S. District Judge William Pauley rejected Prevezons request to order the federal government to allow Veselnitskaya and Katsyv into the U.S. to attend a hearing on Nov. 9 sought by prosecutors, who may file a request to enforce the terms of the agreement.

Without strong proof that the governments denial was made irrationally or in bad faith, the judge said there is no basis for him to interfere with a decision that sits squarely within the purview of the Executive Branch. Veselnitskaya and Katsyv have now asked to testify by phone or video.

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SEOULU.S. President Donald Trump says tougher gun laws would not have prevented a mass shooting at a south Texas church, arguing that more restrictions might have led to more casualties.

Trump spoke at a news conference in South Korea Tuesday where he was asked about extreme vetting for gun purchases. Trump said: If you did what youre suggesting, there would have been no difference three days ago and you might not have had that very brave person who happens to have a gun or a rifle in his trunk.

As he did following last months Las Vegas massacre of 58 people, Trump pushed back against the question, calling it a situation that probably shouldnt be discussed too much and noted that he was in the heart of South Korea.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

Trump added that if the Good Samaritan didnt have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead.

Authorities say Devin Patrick Kelley fired at least 450 rounds of ammunition at worshippers in Sundays attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

Trumps more muted response to gun violence contrasts with his swift call for legislative and military action following the Oct. 31 truck attack in New York City. Within hours of a rental truck ramming through a crowded bicycle path and into a school bus, Trump called for Congress to immediately repeal the diversity visa lottery program that suspect Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbekistan citizen, used to enter the country in 2010.

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We need to go get him: Texas man describes 145-km/h chase, gun battle with church shooter

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After the Las Vegas shooting, Trump and aides said it was inappropriate to consider a policy response while people were still grieving. Despite days later suggesting openness to outlawing the bump stock device that allowed Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock to fire at near-automatic rates, the Trump administration has shown no signs of urgency.

Trump, who supported gun control before reversing his position to enter the Republican presidential primary, courted the National Rifle Associations endorsement in 2016. Earlier this year he became the first president in three decades to speak at the gun groups annual convention.

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After weeks of trying to look tough on rich tax avoiders, the Trudeau government got walloped this week with revelations about wealthy Liberal fundraisers  notably the Bronfman family  stashing millions in offshore tax havens.

The dramatic leaks from the Paradise Papers have exposed a world where the rich manage to store much of their wealth offshore, either legally or illegally, beyond the reach of national tax authorities.

With Canadian tax authorities unable or unwilling to collect an estimated $8 billion a year in revenue because of tax havens, the familiar political refrain we cant afford it  heard whenever requests are made to fund vital public programs  starts to ring hollow.

The Paradise Papers have made tax avoidance by the rich suddenly a hot, politically charged topic, after years when it attracted little more than envious glances from those in the business world.

Certainly the Bronfmans have long been known in business circles for dexterity in reducing their taxes  all the way back to the 1940s when they established a complex web of trusts allowing control to pass tax-free from generation to generation, in apparent defiance of Canadian tax law.

The Bronfmans were also reported to be the family behind a controversial 1991 tax gimmick under which $2 billion from a family trust was transferred out of the country without taxes being paid.

The auditor-general suggested the federal government may have shown favouritism in granting the family advance approval to use the gimmick, saving them a stunning $700 million in Canadian taxes.

Certainly, if the family was the Bronfmans, as widely reported, they had exceptional political connections through their longtime political fixer Leo Kolber.

The Paradise Papers reveal how the wealthy stash money in offshore accounts. Among the names in the records with some connection to offshore accounts are former Canadian prime ministers Brian Mulroney, Paul Martin and Jean Chretien. (The Canadian Press)

Kolber, prominent in the news this week for his involvement with the Bronfmans in a tax haven trust, has long managed the Bronfman fortune  a role thats allowed him to become wealthy and powerful himself by being (in his own words) the Bronfmans boy.

For decades, Kolber has also cultivated the familys close political ties to Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney, who was prime minister at the time of the 1991 tax gimmick approval.

In a 2010 interview for a book I was writing, Kolber described to me the close connections he (and the Bronfmans) had to Mulroney, after donating $100,000 to his 1983 leadership campaign.

Kolber also explained the key role he played in overcoming anti-Mulroney resistance within the Conservative party that threatened to block Mulroneys rise to power. Particularly fierce in that resistance was prominent Toronto lawyer Eddie Goodman.

Mulroney asked Kolber to use his influence to win over Goodman  something Kolber was well positioned to do, since Goodman was the lawyer for the Bronfmans Cadillac Fairview Corporation, over which Kolber presided.

At Mulroneys request, Kolber phoned Goodman and got him to agree to meet Mulroney. Kolber then flew Mulroney to Toronto on the company jet for lunch with Goodman in Kolbers private dining room at Cadillac Fairview. By the time Kolber joined them for coffee after lunch, Goodman had abandoned his resistance, paving the way for Mulroney to go on to win the Conservative leadership.

Favours like that are rarely forgotten by politicians, particularly someone like Mulroney, who famously said, Ya dance with the one who brung ya.

Kolber also explained how his influence with Jean Chretien later helped him reduce capital gains taxes  a move that benefited wealthy Canadians, including the Bronfmans and himself.

By then a senator (appointed by Pierre Trudeau), Kolber was intent on reducing capital gains taxes but, he told me, this was not a priority for Chretien  indeed it was the furthest thing from his mind.

At Kolbers request, Chretien elevated him to chair the Senate banking committee, where he pushed for the capital gains tax cut. Before the 2000 budget, Kolber urged a meeting of the Liberal caucus to support his proposed tax cut. Kolber recalled that after he spoke, Chretien advised the caucus to listen to Leo on this.

At that same caucus meeting, Kolber recalled, Finance Minister Paul Martin expressed reservations, saying the public would see the tax cut as a sop to the fat cats.

Still, the tax cut made it into the budget, which Kolber attributes to Chretien. It certainly turned out to be a sop to the fat cats, since half of all capital gains are received by the top 1 per cent. From 2000 to 2010, the top 1 per cent was saved a massive $7.9 billion in taxes  largely due to the diligent efforts of the Bronfmans boy.

Linda McQuaig is the co-author, with Neil Brooks, of The Trouble with Billionaires.

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Two new flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport mark another historic first Boeing Co.'s (BA) - Get Free Report 787 -- apparently they are first commercial flights between the East Coast of the U.S. and interior China.

The flights from Chengdu and Chongqing to JFK embody the U.S.-China strategy of Hainan Airlines, which relies on the 787 to open new routes between secondary markets.

Historically, U.S.-China service had been limited to the coastal cities of Beijing and Shanghai. United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) - Get Free Report broke the mold in June 2014, when it used a 787-8 to begin San Francisco-Chengdu service, the first commercial route from the U.S. West Coast to interior China.

The 787 Dreamliner, first delivered to Japanese carrier ANA in 2011, enabled routes that were not previously operated because only bigger aircraft had sufficient range. Those aircraft provided too much capacity for new, undeveloped routes.

"Our strategy has been to link cities that have not had service before," said Joel Chusid, U.S. executive director for Hainan. "We fly Seattle-Beijing but not New York-Beijing; we fly LA to Chengdu but not [to] Shanghai, and San Jose is the Bay Area [airport] for us."

In 2015, Hainan, the fourth-largest Chinese carrier and the largest privately held Chinese carrier, began Beijing-San Jose service; in 2016, it began Changsha-LAX, the only flight from interior China to LAX, as well as Beijing-Las Vegas.

Chusid noted that the term "secondary" cities is something of a misnomer for Chengdu, which has a population around 15 million; Chongqing, which has 30 million; and for Boston, the center of an area of about 5 million. But the U.S.-China bilateral aviation treaty makes the distinction and restricts service to primary destinations, particularly the congested airports of Beijing and Shanghai.

A new Beijing airport will open in 2019, but Chusid said even that may not provide sufficient capacity given the slot constraints. (Slots are assigned takeoff and landing times). "You're very tight in Beijing and Shanghai with gates and slots," he said. "There's a big slot issue for domestic flights, and we don't want to put in more international flights in Beijing with nothing to connect to."

Hainan now has 12 U.S. routes including: Seattle to Beijing and Shanghai; Boston to Beijing and Shanghai; Chicago to Beijing; San Jose to Beijing; Las Vegas to Beijing and Los Angeles to Changsha, Chengdu and Chongqing. It also flies Beijing-Calgary and Beijing-Toronto.

"We started with Seattle in 2008 and Seattle is now our largest U.S. market," Chusid said.

The carrier began Chongqing-JFK service on Oct. 20 and Chengdu-JFK on Oct. 26. Each flight will operate twice weekly. At 7,573 miles and 14 hours, Chongqing-JFK is the longest flight in Hainan's system.

For New York service, Hainan uses both the 787-8, which seats 213 passengers in two classes, and the 787-9, which seats either 289 or 292 in two different configurations.

"The 787-8 and the 787-9 are our workhorses between China and the U.S," Chusid said. "We use both. We don't have any of the mega-widebodies."

Hainan's fleet of 191 aircraft includes 143 Boeing 737s; the widebody fleet consists of 23 Boeing 787s (including a dozen 787-9s, with 22 on order), 22 Airbus A330s and four 767s. The A330s "can do West Coast, but not beyond that," Chusid said. "It is used on European routes [although] we have started to put the 787 on Moscow and Tel Aviv and other places -- now that we have enough to go around."

Not surprisingly, most Hainan seats are sold in China. China point-of-sale ranges from between 55% to 60% to about 90% on the Las Vegas flight.

"People come not just for gaming," Chusid said. "They have gaming in Macau. But this is a younger crowd, the millennials of China. They come and rent RVs and drive to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, and they go to the shows and restaurants."

Two things could help Hainan's future U.S. growth: the arrival of more 787s -- it has 22 on order -- and additional liberalization of the bilateral aviation agreement.

Chusid meets regularly with U.S. airports; he has talked to about 30. Among them are Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Chusid called it "very interesting," partially because the U.S. headquarters of the Chinese manufacturing company Lenovo is nearby. "We've talked to them for several years now and they're doing some runway adjustments to handle larger aircraft," he said.

"There is a long list of cities very anxious to have service from China," Chusid said. "We take these proposals very seriously. Las Vegas is one we never thought of five or 10 years ago, but they talked to us every year and made a good case."

Now, travel star Samantha Brown has the tips you need to save on your next flight:

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This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Deal talk again dominated the early trading hours this week as a blockbuster tech deal came to fruition and another big name media merger was leaked.

But the chatter may have overshadowed news coming out of the Middle East that could have implications not only for the region but also for a host of stocks and industries and some other big developments in the semi industry.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - Get Free Report and Intel Corp. (INTC) - Get Free Report have agreed to partner on a PC chip, which will use an Intel processor and an AMD graphics unit. Investors don't have to worry about it impacting AMD's new Ryzen chip, as the company has already said it will not affect that product.

While the new chip is a boon for PC lovers, the partnership could also be a sign that the two companies see teaming up as a necessity to take on the new bully on the block, Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) - Get Free Report .

Nvidia has some of the best gaming chips, which can be seen in the Nintendo (NTDOY) - Get Free Report Switch platform. AMD is in the Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) - Get Free Report Xbox and Sony Corp. undefined Playstation.

That said, it's hard to knock Intel right now. The stock is on a monster run, up 17% over the past month after reporting a strong quarter and it is currently digesting its acquisition of Mobileye, a move that will help the company take on Nvidia in self-driving cars.

Global investors were left with more questions than answers on Monday as news of an unprecedented series of events in Saudi Arabia over the weekend could either be a path towards its emergence as an open and international economy or a signal that its young, ambitious crown prince is tightening his grip on power in the oil rich Kingdom.

Oil shot up, and investors grew wary that the Kingdom Holding Co., the firm controlled by arrested Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal, may unwind. Not so, however, as the company said it will continue normal operations of its business. The holding company owns stock in a number of U.S. firms including Citigroup Inc. (C) - Get Free Report , Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Get Free Report and 21st Century Fox Corp. (FOXA) - Get Free Report , Accor SA and Energy Recovery Inc. (ERII) - Get Free Report .

Of course, mergers remained the talk of the tow on Monday, as Broadcom Inc.'s (AVGO) - Get Free Report $130 billion bid for Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) - Get Free Report finally hit the wires and rumors percolated that Walt Disney Co. (DIS) - Get Free Report may consider an acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The prize wouldn't be the television networks but rather the film studio. Boy, the race for content is really on, huh?

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Photo of the day: Can 3M continue its run?

Lots of big name stocks to talk about today. Lots of movement in the tech arena and in oil stocks. But one company that no one seems to be talking about is 3M Co. (MMM) - Get Free Report , the St. Paul, Minn., industrial company that has seen its stock rocket 30% year-to-date, outpacing the broader moves in the S&P 500 and Dow over that same time. Today, over on our sister publication Real Money, we examine whether the company can continue its run. Founded in 1902 as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., 3M has grown from a small mining company to a sprawling international conglomerate that counts more 60,000 products its own. Above is a woman using the 'tell-it-to' machine, which utilizes Scotch sound recording tape, a 3M brand, to take window shoppers' orders. The woman is in the Lewis & Conger department store in New York City. The machine allows a shopper to order any item in the display by depositing a quarter in the machine, naming the item and giving his or her name and address. Orders are delivered the following morning.

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Thanksgiving travel: What to expect at the Indianapolis airport

Thanksgiving at the Indianapolis International Airport will be defined by inflated prices, nearly pre-pandemic crowds and competitive seat booking.
We all know how it goes. First, a hotshot security researcher finds a flaw in the Android OS. Then, he or she communicates it to Google, which patches it as soon as possible.

(Image credit: Image credit: Palto/Shutterstock)

Finally, Google relays this information to phone manufacturers, who proceed to sit on it for weeks or months  or do absolutely nothing at all, leaving users completely vulnerable. This pattern has repeated yet again, this time with a complicated but widespread set of software flaws involving Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chips, which are found on many of the Qualcomm mobile chipsets used on millions of phones.

What to Do

If you have a Google Pixel, Pixel 2, Nexus 5x, Nexus 6P, or indeed any other handset sold directly by Google and still receiving security patches, apply the November Android security patch as soon as you receive it. (The November patch also fixes the KRACK vulnerability, which is unrelated to those discussed in this story.)

If you have a phone made by another manufacturer, we can't tell you whether it uses a Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chip, and if so, whether it is susceptible to these new flaws. But it would be best to apple the Android November patch as soon as you receive it, whenever your phone maker decides to push it out.

MORE: Best Android Antivirus Apps

Scotty Bauer, a developer and bug-hunter, discovered the six vulnerabilities, which he documented in a blog post yesterday (Nov. 6) entitled "Please Stop Naming Vulnerabilities."

"In today's world everyone knows that a security vulnerability isn't really a security vulnerability unless it has been given a name other than a CVE, a Hype Krew has been hired to promote it, a blog post has been written for it, and a Blakhat talk is delivered," he posited.

Out of respect for Bauer's wishes, we'll simply refer to the bugs he discovered as Qualcomm Atheros vulnerabilities, since they affect the qcacld driver for Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chips. Qualcomm Atheros chips enable the Wi-Fi on Googles Pixel and Nexus phones, as well as many other Android handsets.

Its not easy to find a comprehensive list of how many phones use those particular Wi-Fi chips, but if Google uses them, you can imagine that a lot of other high-end phone manufacturers do the same. Some diligent Googling reveals that Qualcomm's current line of Snapdragon chips, found on dozens of high-end Android phones including Google's Pixel and Pixel 2, includes Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chipsets, although we can't tell exactly which driver each model uses.

Unless you have a pretty good understanding of Android kernel memory and Wi-Fi drivers, Bauer's post is pretty dense reading. In broad terms: The Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi driver runs on 691,000 lines of code. Bauer poked at this code until he found a few holes. Because it's possible to access the Android kernel (the deepest level of the OS) through the flaws, an attacker could gain complete control of a victim's phone.

If you have a Pixel or Nexus phone, there's good news: Google has already released patches for the issue in question. To apply the patches, all you have to do is update your system software in the Settings menu. (Or boot up your phone and wait a few minutes; Android phones download security updates automatically, unless you tell them not to.)

If you don't have a Pixel or Nexus phone, the news is a little harder to parse. It's not easy to determine whether any given phone has a qcacld Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi driver. Furthermore, even though Google will communicate this information to other phone manufacturers and wireless carriers, each company's process for patching Android is a little different. You could get a patch tomorrow  or never.

Your best bet would be to keep your phone updated and stay away from unsecured Wi-Fi networks. While this isn't a 100 percent guarantee of safety, very few hackers would take the time and effort necessary to leverage an extremely complicated attack over a home Wi-Fi network equipped with proper security protocols.

If theres any big lesson here, it's that Android  as versatile and efficient as it is  combines a lot of disparate elements from many different manufacturers and programmers, even in its flagship phones. Pick at it long enough, and you're bound to find a vulnerability. Whether anyone exploits that vulnerability is one fair question. Whether every Android manufacturer deigns to patch it is another.

Best Android Antivirus Apps
[UPDATED Oct. 2, 2018 with new changes to how Google handles the development and implementation of Chrome extensions. This story was originally published on Nov. 7, 2017.]



Google's Chrome browser has been praised for continuously upgrading its own security. Chrome OS, which is based on the browser, is one of the safest operating systems in widespread use. So, then, why is Google doing such a poor job of screening Chrome extensions?

(Image credit: We assume all these extensions are safe. Credit: Mark Spoonauer/Tom's Guide)

At least half a dozen malicious Chrome extensions have been discovered in the past few months, most coming from the official Chrome Web Store.

Some loaded adware and took users to sleazy websites. Others stole personal data or used victims' computers to "mine" cryptocurrencies. Somehow, they all got through Google's mostly automated screening process, and in most cases, even the best antivirus software won't be able to stop them.

If Google lets this continue, the Chrome Web Store, and Chrome in general, could end up as riddled with malware as Android, whose Google Play marketplace also has an automated app-screening process of questionable efficiency. And if the Chrome browser falls, then so does Chrome OS, which millions of schoolkids use on their Chromebooks. Google needs to fix this problem now.

'A joke' and 'a wreck'

"The current malware detection on the Chrome Web Store is a joke," wrote Danish computer-science student Maxime Kjaer (opens in new tab) in a recent blog post. "Currently, all it takes to get around it is to download the payload on installation rather than shipping with it. This has been the case for years now, and it doesn't seem like Google is doing much about it."

Kjaer was writing about a Chrome extension that pretended to verify the user's age so he or she could view porn, but actually stole authentication tokens for social-media sites. If you log into Facebook with that malicious extension loaded, it can steal your Facebook token and take over your Facebook page.

This past week, Lawrence Abrams (opens in new tab) at Bleeping Computer wrote about an image-downloading Chrome extension that loaded adware into the browser and took users to various sleazy websites.

Abrams reported the extension to the Chrome developers, but on Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, two days after Abrams published his piece, the extension was still in the Chrome Webstore. (It's since been taken down.)

"It is starting to become more and more common for unwanted and malicious extensions to be uploaded to the store and not be removed for quite a while," Abrams noted.

On Ghacks.net in late September, Martin Brinkmann (opens in new tab) was more blunt as he wrote about a Chrome extension that supposedly made your browsing safer from malware, but in fact secretly ran a cryptocurrency miner.

"Google's automatic verification system for Chrome extension uploads to the official Chrome Web Store is a wreck," Brinkmann wrote.

A URL-shortening Chrome extension also ran a cryptocurrency miner, software engineer Alessandro Polidori (opens in new tab) noted in a Medium posting Oct. 14, adding that "the spread of malware through Chrome extensions seems to be an increasingly widespread problem."

On the blog of the SANS Internet Storm Center on Oct. 27, Brazilian security researcher Renato Marinho (opens in new tab) detailed how a fake WhatsApp installer quite brazenly installed a Chrome extension that stole data that a user entered into online form fields.

The extension was not in the Chrome Web Store, but the malware easily disabled Chrome's restrictions so that non-Web Store software could be installed.

Google knows, but is that enough?

We contacted Google about this recurring problem, and a Google spokeswoman pointed us to a recent posting (opens in new tab) on the official Chromium developer blog regarding a phony AdBlock Plus extension. (Chromium is the open-source browser underpinning Chrome, and most Chrome software development actually takes place in Chromium.)

"We [want] to acknowledge that we know the issue spans beyond this single app," the posting said. "We can't go into details publicly about solutions we are currently considering (so as to not expose information that could be used by attackers to evade our abuse fighting methodologies), but we wanted to let the community know that we are working on it, as we continually strive to improve our protection and keep users safe from malicious Chrome Extensions and Apps."

It's nice that Google is aware there's a problem with Chrome Web Store malware, but it's been aware of the problem for at least 5 years. The Google spokeswoman also directed us to an academic paper published by Google researchers in mid-2015 entitled "Trends and Lessons from Three Years Fighting Malicious Extensions (opens in new tab)."

In the paper, the researchers say they had removed 9,523 malicious extensions from the Chrome Web Store from 2012 to 2015. That's admirable, but those extensions should never have made it into the store in the first place.

Is it impossible to keep malware out of an app store or an extension store? Perhaps, but Apple has come close to pulling it off  the number of known incidents involving malicious apps found in the iOS App Store over the past decade has not yet reached double digits.

How to fix this (hint  it costs money)

There is a simple way to solve this problem, but it's slow and expensive. Google needs to have humans manually run and review every single Chrome Web Store extension, rather than have machines sort out the bad-looking ones, let the rest go live and rely on bad user reviews to flag any further problems. Human app review is what Mozilla does with Firefox's extension repository, and what Apple does with iOS apps.

Implementing human review of every extension might greatly reduce the number of extensions that get approved every day for the Chrome Web Store. It might make some developers grumble. It will cost Google a lot to hire more extension testers. But the alternative is to let the Chrome malware problem get worse  and to threaten the market shares of Chrome and Chrome OS, and the security of millions of users.

"Fix the Chrome Webstore," Kjaer wrote. "It's one of the largest single security threats to the web right now."



UPDATE: Even as the abuse of Chrome extensions continues, Google is finally doing something about this problem. In the summer of 2018, it began to forbid "in-line" links (opens in new tab) that installed Chrome extensions immediately; those links now have to go to the extension's Chrome Web Store page so the user can learn more about it first.

On Oct. 2, 2018, Google announced several new restrictions on Chrome extensions (opens in new tab).

 "Obfuscated" code, i.e. code that's deliberately hard for humans to read, is banned immediately.

 An extension's permissions will be limited to those necessary for its stated purposes.

 Later in October with Chrome 70, users will be able to limit an extension's abilities to specific websites rather than all websites.

 All Chrome extension developers will be required to implement two-factor authentication on their Google developer accounts to prevent unauthorized changes.

We don't know how much of an effect these restrictions will have on malicious extensions, but the Chromium blog post noted that 70 percent of malicious or ethically dubious extensions used obfuscated code. We'd still prefer to see humans checking each new Chrome extension before it's pushed out into the wild.

Best Antivirus Software
Dave Westfall, Derek Bedke and Terri McBride will join the board of directors of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce following a recent vote of chamber membership. Amy Christopherson, incumbent candidate and current board chair, was also re-elected for a second, three-year term.

Christopherson, Westfall, Bedke and McBride will attend a chamber board of directors retreat in November. They will be installed to their new positions on Feb. 1 during the Annual Chamber Banquet at the Burley Best Western Plus Inn & Convention Center. The Chamber has a total of 12 members on its board of directors, six representing Cassia County and six represent Minidoka County.

We are fortunate to have such an outstanding group of new board members, said Kyla Sawyer, president and CEO of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce. The chamber membership and community will be the recipients of their positive leadership.

Representing Cassia County

Amy Christopherson

Christopherson is the director of the College of Southern Idaho Mini-Cassia Center in Burley. She was elected to the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2014 and was elected chairwoman of the board for 2017-18.

Christopherson is a graduate of the Chambers Mini-Cassia Leadership program and has served on the executive board of the CSI chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges. She is married to Don Christopherson and they have five children. They have lived in the area for 21 years and reside in Cassia County.

Dave Westfall

Westfall is a licensed certified public accountant and is a partner with his brother, Steve, in the firm Westfall & Westfall, CPAs, which was founded by their father Don in 1959. He is the chairman of the Idaho State Board of Accountancy.

Since 1988 he has served as treasurer of the local chapter of The American Red Cross, president of the Burley Rotary Club, president of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Mini-Cassia Economic Development Commission, and chairman of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization.

He was born and raised in Burley, graduated from Burley High School and lives in Cassia County. He is married to Dayna (Orton) Westfall and has two sons, Michael and Nicholas.

Representing Minidoka County

Terri McBride

McBride is the branch manager for First American Title Company in Burley. She is a city councilwoman for the City of Acequia and a member of the Mini-Cassia Chamber Ambassadors committee where she has served as president, vice president and treasurer. McBride has served in numerous annual charitable community events.

She has lived in the Mini-Cassia area all her life, attended schools in Rupert and graduated from Minico High School. She enjoys traveling and camping with her sweetheart, Mark, and has two children and 10 grandchildren.

Derek Bedke

Bedke is the plant manager for Performix Nutrition in Rupert. He has previously held several management and supply chain positions, such as serving as the director of supply management for Hilex Poly in Hartsville, S.C. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management as well as an MBA from Brigham Young University.

Bedke is a native to the Mini-Cassia area and grew up on a cattle ranch in Oakley. He and his wife, Molly, live in Burley and have two children, Caleb and Maggie.
Underway in Abuja: The 4th, and last, meeting of the Continental Free Trade Area technical working groups

Underway in Lusaka: 1st African Union Symposium on Special Economic Zones and Industrial Development. Inter alia, the symposum will collect ideas for the development of an Africa SEZ Network and an AU-China SEZ study tour programme.

The AfDB is hosting an African pension funds roundtable (7-8 November). @mfw4a update: On Day 1, AfDB Group focuses on identifying recent trends, regulatory frameworks and investment portfolio

@SimnHess: Happening now  Tanzania DTISU validation workshop: bringing private sector, government and donors around a common set of trade priorities. Tanzania DTIS looks at accelerating development through tourism - a sector that generated $2.2bn in revenue; 467000 direct and 1.3m indirect jobs!

Diarise: 2017 PIDA Week (10-14 December, Walvis Bay) on the theme Enhancing trade and economic transformation through regional infrastructure development

Special update on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (UNCTAD)

The new ISDS cases in 2017 were commenced against 32 countries. Five countries and economies  Bahrain, Benin, Iraq, Kuwait and Taiwan Province of China  faced their first (known) ISDS claims. Developed-country investors brought about two thirds of the 35 known cases. Looking at the overall outcomes of some 530 cases concluded as of 31 July 2017, about one third were decided in favour of the State and one quarter in favour of the investor (the remaining cases were settled, discontinued or decided in favour of neither party). On average, a successful claimant was awarded some $522m, corresponding to about 40% of the amount claimed. Claimants alleged breaches of fair and equitable treatment in about 80% of ISDS cases for which such information was available, followed by indirect expropriation with 75%.

Formulating bankable aid for trade projects in Africa: guidance document (ATPC/UNECA)

The guide is not meant to be a blueprint (pdf), nor is it meant to be exhaustive. It aims to enable the systematic analysis of the constraints to trade for countries or regions, the identification of needs, and the formulation of project and programme proposals that are bankable and ready to be presented to development partners for funding under the broad umbrella of AfT. The audience is wide, ranging from those preparing project proposals and concept notes (potential beneficiaries, development partners, consultants, etc.) to those reviewing and approving project proposals (the funders).

Nairobi faults Dar hostile trade actions (Business Day)

Kenya has formally protested to Tanzania over what Nairobi terms as a policy shift that condones hostile actions against Kenyan citizens and their business interests. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Political and Diplomatic Secretary Tom Amollo criticised Dar es Salaams decision to burn chicks imported from Kenya as well as auctioning of animals from Kenyan herders, without involving authorities in Nairobi, saying such actions risk soiling historical relations between the countries. The move followed the summoning of Tanzanian High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Pindi Hazara Chana, by Kenyan officials to protest what they called Tanzanias unilateral actions on issues affecting the two countries. Kenya/Tanzania relations are longstanding, rich and complex and should not be jeopardised by a hardening of positions over minor issues that can be easily resolved through candid and open dialogue, Mr Amollo told the Tanzanian envoy during a lengthy meeting in Nairobi. There may be need to urgently convene the Kenya/Tanzania Joint Border Commissioners/Administrators Committee Meeting, (Ujirani Mwema), to address emerging cross border issues.

Kenya: Tea exports to top markets fall 17% in quarter three (Business Daily)

Tea exports to Kenyas major markets in the year to September dropped 17% compared with corresponding period in 2016 with some top buyers registering significant cuts. Statistics from the Tea Directorate indicate the volume of exports fell to 320 million kgs, from 387 kgs last year. The September report shows the total volume exported to the UK and Egypt dropped 39% and 14% respectively as the drought bit. Egypt is the second largest buyer followed by UK at number three. Pakistan is the top buyer. Tea was shipped to 39 export destinations compared with 41 markets for the same period in 2016. Pakistan led with 9.91 million kgs, accounting for 28% of the total volume.

EAC border posts for full operations next January (Tanzania Daily News)

All OSBPs along borders separating the East African countries will be fully operational by next January 2018, an official at the EAC Secretariat has confirmed. The East African region has identified 15 border posts in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania for conversion from two-stop border posts into single premises entity, or OSBPs, to facilitate movement of people and goods across the region. An official with the EAC Secretariat confirmed here yesterday that two mapped OSBPs in Longido, Tanzania and Kajiado in Kenya are scheduled for official launch by President John Magufuli. Others posts like the Na manga border however still lack installation of modern equipment for speedy and smooth clearance. Ten years after the project initiation, works on 12 OSBPs are complete, with one on the final stage while two others scheduled for completion and full operations by early 2018, according to Senior Public Relations Officer with EAC Secretariat Simon Owaka.

The Moroto Dialogue: Combating cross-border corruption (UNDP Ethiopia)

During the long dry seasons, the cattle keeping people of Karamoja will cross over into Kenya looking for water and pasture for their animals. The same is true for their brothers from the Turkana region of Kenya. This may sometimes result into conflict over the scarce water and pasture. This is one of the challenges that East Africas porous borders face. With globalisation, borders are now more open allowing easier movement of people, goods and capital among other things. While this is great for trade, border control authorities also have to deal with the challenges it comes with which include human and drug trafficking and illicit flow of firearms linked to terrorist and extremist groups.

Nigeria trade and development postings:

(i) Note: President Buhari will present the 2018 budget today

(ii) Kemi Adeosun, Nigerias finance minister: Nigeria is not an oil economy. Descriptions of Nigerias economy often include such phrases as Africas largest oil producer and the oil rich African nation. But, oil economies are typically characterised by low population densities and abundant oil resources. Typical of such descriptions are Saudi Arabia, with a 10 million barrels of oil per day output and 30 million people. Kuwait, with 2.7 million barrels of oil per day, has four million people. And Qatar, with 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, has 2.5 million people. These economies pursued an economic model that was built around a large government dependent almost entirely on oil revenue for funding its programmes and activities. Such economies could afford to have low, or in some cases, no domestic revenue mobilisation, in the form of taxes. Tax to GDP ratios of less than 10%, against the OECD average of 34.6%, could be justified, especially in the era of high oil prices. For over three decades, Nigeria pursued this model. But, things have been changing, with the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, propelled into office under the mantra of change. That clamour for change, in the areas of good governance, security and economy, coincided with the collapse of global oil prices and a consequent huge deficit in government revenues.

(iii) Financial Times special report: Investing in Nigeria

(iv) Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission launches Compendium of Investment Incentives. The Compendium is a compilation of tax, tariff, export and sector based incentives, approved by Federal Government of Nigeria and supported by various legislation. NIPC, through the Compendium (pdf), aims to provide existing and new investors relevant information on available incentives with the overall objective of promoting new and incremental investments in Nigeria. The Compendium is based on the 2016 Fiscal Policy which cuts across all industries and sectors. However, this first edition covers the following sectors: Agriculture/Agro-allied, Solid minerals, Manufacturing, Tourism/hospitality, Oil and gas.

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry: profiled recent resources. (i) Sahel Capital presentation on Nigerias agriculture sector, value chain (pdf); (ii) Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development presentation (pdf), (iii) LCCI Forum on EU-ECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreement (pdf); (iv) LCCI Oil Producers Trade Section: costs of Nigerias oil and gas projects higher by 100%

Nigerian telcos support removal of roaming charges across ECOWAS (Punch)

The Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria says elimination of call roaming charges in the ECOWAS sub region will drive more traffic for Nigerian telco operators. The President of the association, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, while speaking with our correspondent, said the plan would reduce the practice of not using Nigerian network lines when people travelled to other African countries.

Trade finance: Afreximbank Guarantee Programme launched

The AFGAP programme, which offers a variety of credit enhancement solution to clients in Africa, is part of Exim-plus, a broad strategy developed by Afreximbank to position itself as a comprehensive trade facilitation and financing solution centre in Africa. Under Exim-plus, Afreximbank is offering a broad array of instruments that are often associated with export credit agencies and other specialized trade and development finance institutions, thereby differentiating itself from normal commercial banks and development financial institutions. Afreximbanks Executive Vice President in charge of Business Development and Corporate Banking, Amr Kamel, said AFGAP would bring additionality to Africa, by mobilizing financing that would otherwise not have been possible, to support the economic development of the continent

Tanzania Economic Update: Raising the watermark in Tanzanias growth and poverty reduction picture (World Bank)

This example illustrates one of the key challenges of water resource management: the need for proactively managing trade-offs in water use across many different stakeholders. Water is a multifaceted resource, critical not only to human welfare and the environment, but also for a countrys economic fortunes. It is against this backdrop that the latest Tanzania Economic Update describes the urgent need for better water resource management to ensure that water does not put a brake on Tanzanias development.

Poor policy slowing Kenyas ICT sector as neighbours take lead (The Standard)

Today, much of the traction witnessed in the last seven years has slowed to a crawl. Growth in Kenyas ICT sector has petered out and the country is now struggling to attract fresh technology financing and prove its competitiveness amidst competition from new emerging markets such as Rwanda and Ethiopia. A recent report looking into startup financing in the region found that local e-health startups barely managed to take two per cent of Sh1.9 billion in funding that went to the sector in the last three years. At face value, the numbers paint the picture of an industry that is doing well.

IMFs Abebe Aemro Selassie: Sustaining high growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (IMF)

As Lant Pritchett has noted, the development process occurs across a number of dimensions; political, administrative, economic and social. And Africa has seen progress across each of these dimensions to varying degrees. On the political front, an increasing number of countries have moved from unconstrained leaders to systems with more checks and balances. In some cases, we are home to some of the worlds most boisterous democracies. Administratively, many countries now have reasonably independent central banks, are able to provide basic services and regulatory and judicial frameworks are developing. By no means are these political and administrative institutions ideal, but they are no longer as inimical to growth as they used to be. And playing off this, weve seen many more episodes of sustained growth accelerations, replacing the episodes of boom and bust. Since 1990, three quarters of the countries in the region have registered at least 10 years of uninterrupted growth, and over one-third of the countries have registered 20 years or more of uninterrupted growth. This has occurred alongside much improved human development outcomes.

A preview of the World Banks Innovating Bureaucracy conference, starting tomorrow

Although we may think of bureaucrats as a largely entrenched old guard, the dataset shows otherwise. In fact, the mean age of public sector employees is a mere 41 years old, just 5 years older than the private sector average (36). In the developing world, public sector workers are actually younger, on average, than public servants in high-income countries. For example, in Ethiopia, public servants are generally around 35 years old, while their equivalents in the US are over 44 years old. Overall, lower-income public servants are about 2 years younger across the globe. [The author: Daniel Walker]
Writing in the Pacific Standard, Greg Rosalky asks Why do we still commute? Why, in this age of internet and computers, do we still go to offices? He discusses Norman Macrae of the Economist, writing in 1975 about the impact of computers on the office.

Once workers could communicate with their colleagues through instant messages and video chat, he reasoned, there would be little coherent purpose to trudge long distances to work side by side in centrally located office spaces. As companies recognized how much cheaper remote employees would be, the computer would, in effect, kill the officeand with that our whole way of living would change. "Telecommunications," Macrae wrote, "will alter society's patterns more profoundly than the previous and smaller transport revolutions of the railway and automobile have done."



Playtime, Jaques Tati/Screen captureIn 1985, at the dawn of the portable phone age, The Harvard Business Review wrote that Your office is where you are, noting that without a cord on your phone, you could work from anywhere. I have been joking for years that with everything now capable of running on your phone, today your office is in your pants. We have been discussing this issue since we started; we all work from home, and have long been convinced that it is greener, healthier, but also critical to getting people out of cars, reducing CO2 emissions and eliminating congestion. So why do so many people still have to go to the office?

 Steelcase

Rosalky claims that "Social science points to the importance of face-to-face interaction for worker productivity." He points to studies showing that teams working together are more productive. "Being physically close helps us bond, show emotions, problem solve, and spontaneously come up with ideas."

Evidently email or Skype are not good enough, according to psychologist Jeremy Bailenson, interviewed by Rosalsky.

Most scholars who study this area, he says, are in agreement that a significant amount of information is conveyed non-verbally. Many of these non-verbal channels, like body language, facial expressions, and eye movements, are lost with email, instant messaging, and even Skype. This is especially the case when meetings involve multiple people.



Johnsons' Wax offices, Frank Lloyd Wright/CC BY 2.0

Honestly, after reading all the recent #metoo stories about office harassment and abuse of power, I think we have all had a bit too much body language and non-verbal channels. In fact, if you look at the history of offices, it is a history of abuse- the guys in the offices around the perimeter, the women in the steno pool in the middle. Mad Men was more of a documentary than a drama; the men got a telephone and an office; the women a typewriter and a file cabinet and a whole lot of unwanted attention.

Now the office, particularly in tech, is mostly young men in giant playgrounds and again, there is far too much non-verbal channelling and body language. As for the few women around, forty percent of American women say they have experienced unwanted sexual attention or coercion at work. A little more working from home might be helpful.

 Gizmodo

Bailenson suggests that the Next Big Thing is Virtual Reality.

When it comes to creating a virtual office so good it could eliminate the need to commute, Bailenson says, the Holy Grail is achieving what is known by psychologists as "social presence." That's the state of mind in VR in which users are able to experience digital avatars of people as if theyre actual people.



But maybe not. First of all, you can have too much information, too much social presence. We run TreeHugger over Skype and tried using video, and found in the end chat work best, with a voice only meeting next up. That way I don't have to worry about what I am wearing and the state of my hair. But Bailenson thinks we need more:

"If we can nail what I call 'the virtual handshake,' the subtle, non-verbal pattern of eye-contact, interpersonal distance, posture, and other critical nuances of group conversations," he says, "then we finally have a chance to put the commute in our rear-view mirror."



I am not convinced. As Jerry Useem writes in the Atlantic, in jobs are about personal productivity- how many sales you close, how many words I write, then really, whether one works from home or not doesn't matter.

But other types of work hinge on what might be called collaborative efficiencythe speed at which a group successfully solves a problem. And distance seems to drag collaborative efficiency down. Why? The short answer is that collaboration requires communication. And the communications technology offering the fastest, cheapest, and highest-bandwidth connection isfor the moment, anywaystill the office.



But how many of those kinds of jobs are there really? I suspect not that many. It is more likely that the traditional office is just running on inertia, and that many of the young people working close to each other in that collaborative offices are actually texting each other because they prefer it to talking.

So back to Greg Rosalky's question Why to we still commute? Because our boss made us do it.
"There are 8 of us going to Blue Hole/Secert Falls."

Keep in mind that it is about a 2 hr drive., one way (about 4 hr. round trip), from Montego Bay to the Irie Blue Hole.

"Hiring a taxi all day"

For eight people one taxi will not do as it is normally a small car that holds at most 4 people plus the driver. You will need a second taxi or a driver with a van to take you to the Irie Blue Hole. For a van you should get a price quotation from several tour companies before you book.
We Canadians get shafted on roaming charges so I always buy a local sim when I travel.

First the phone must be unlocked. Other SIMs won't work on our phones unless you unlock the phone.

To unlock the phone google cell phone unlock and select a well reviewed service. That typically takes anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks to get the code to unlock.

Sadly even if you buy the phone outright, Canadian telecom providers lock your cell phone to their network. You can get your carrier to unlock it too but it will cost you more e.g. Rogers charges $50 :) Some of the other services usually cost anywhere from $12-34.

I use Skype app on my phone. Can text and make voice calls. To other Skype accounts for free and to non-skype phone numbers for a small charge.

A lot of people use Whatsapp as well. Just be aware Whatsapp is affiliated with FaceBook and will take all your contacts off your phone book and upload to their servers. For what nefarious purpose they don't disclose.
Hello, Guys!

It's been only two years since our last trip to Australia with my girlfriend (now future wife) and we are currently thinking about another one. (honeymoon) :)

In August 2015 we visited the eastern coast - Sydney, Brisbane, Port Douglas, Cairns and the region. (2 weeks)

This time we will have some more time, around 18-19 full days and want to see different parts of the country during the Aussie summer - sometime in December.

Our plan is to Fly into Perth and then fly out of Melbourne with an open jaw ticket from Europe. And this is all, which we have planned for now - the period, the fly in city and the fly out city. All in between is to be discussed, but the information here and on the internet in general is so much, that I don't know where to start. Some main points, which we have:

1. Road trip from Perth to Esperance - Are 6-7 days enough? Should we take a one-way rental or drive back to Perth and catch our next flight from there? Looking for the cheaper option. Also - are there some other options for a trip out of Perth? I chose Esperance, since from what I read on the internet the beaches there are great and also the Pink lake looks very different and interesting thing to see.

2. What should we include for the rest of the days after we fly into Melbourne. We don't want to spend much time in the city, just to see the highlights. The Great Ocean Road is a must. Will we have enough time to include Tasmania ? I suppose if I fit in Tasmania, then Adelaide will be out of the question...

I would like to start with these two questions and then work our way further. Preferably, we would like to feel and see more diverse nature (not only beaches for example) That is why I want to include Tasmania, because I feel it will be somewhat different down there.

During our first trip we saw the GBR, the Daitree Rainforest and the cities (Brisbane and Sydney), which was a great expirience. For this trip I fell like 1 full day for Perth and 1-2 for Melbourne will be enough. The rest we would like to spend in small towns, exploring the nature etc.

Hopefully you understand my point and I'm looking forward to your suggestions!

Edited: 5 years ago
Hi, I am on vacation in Australia at the moment, and my time here allows me to either visit Byron Bay or Magnetic Island on my way up to Cairns.

I have booked a cruise on Whitsundays for November 16th, so I am a little locked there. The options I have is to either do a two-day trip to Fraser Island from Brisbane, then Whitsundays, take a bus to Magnetic Island, and then Cairns. Or I could go to Byron Bay for 3/4 days this weekend, Whitsundays, fly back and do a three-day tour tour to Fraser Island, then fly from Brisbane to Cairns.

If it wasn't for that I have already booked my Whitsunday-cruise it would have been a lot easier, but because of that I am not able to travel to Noosa and do Fraser Island from there, so I have to do it from Brisbane since I have already paid for accomodation here in Gold Coast and would like to stay here until Saturday.

I think that it makes more sense to do take the bus and keep going north from Whistundays, but it would also be nice to visit Byron Bay and to have three days at Fraser Island (especially since I am travelling all the way from Brisbane). I don't mind going back and forward as long as I am flying.

So which one do you think is better? Byron Bay or Magnetic Island. Or rather, which one would I regret least not going to?
Be aware of the weather limitations of FNQ at that time of year. It usually means high humidity and an afternoon downpour, but it could mean a Cyclone - so make sure this part of your trip can be flexible.

If you want actual beach holiday, you should be considering the Sunshine Coast just north of Brisbane (where you can visit Australia Zoo if you like).

With two weeks, you can visit 3 destinations - Sydney, Cairns/PD and then Sunshine Coast. Look at flying in to Sydney and out of Brisbane to save doubling back.

There is so much wonderful land based stuff to do in the PD region - you may or may not have time for a day trip to Kuranda via the Skyrail - it depends what else takes your fancy.

Hire a car for PD and Sunshine Coast - you won't want a car in Sydney.

Make sure you book your accom asap - Sydney and Sunshine Coast will be very heavily booked by now.

Cheers.
Hi,

I am currently planning to visit New york with my R B1/B2 visa which was basically sponsored by my company for a business trip earlier this year. I am traveling from india to New york and have indian passport.

I have following questions:

1. Am i supposed to travel with this visa considering it was sponsored by my company for a business trip?

2. I dont have any friend or relatives in US currently and i am planning to stay in Manhattan. Do i need to carry any invitation letter to port of entry or just hotel booking is enough? If invitation letter is mandatory to enter US, how can i get it considering i dont have relatives or friends in US.

3. How much minimum money should i keep in my account[in INR], so that i dont face any issue at port of entry to enter new york for a month?

4. Which Travel medical insaurance scheme should i go for 1 week travel. I a getting lot of options on net so confused. I am 28 years old.

5. What all doc is needed to carry for the tourist purpose apart from tickets ,passport, insaurance and hotel booking? Or it is enough
Most AIs are located in Guanacaste province. Some other places may offer lodges that offer half or full board Pkgs and may have a pool, but it is not quite a traditional AI experience typical in some other vacation destinations.

For the start of your research, consider this Destinations Summary - https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/costa-rica-destinations-summary-guide/ ,

Suggested1-2 wk itineraries - https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/itineraries/ .,

CR Travelling Options / transportation - ,

Weather and availability in March- https://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/best-time/march/ .

Note that Easter 2018 is at the very end of March, and this holiday and the week prior will be very busy in CR. Prices are at premium, beaches are busy, etc.

Re budget - see How Much Does It Cost? - https://costa-rica-guide.com/practical/budget/how-much-does-costa-rica-cost/ .

You can choose places that offer some cooking facilities to make some of your meals, as well as look for hotels where at least breakfast is included, when you eat out, there are sodas - small local places where you can usually get tasty inexpensive meals vs touristy places. If you research where to eat, it is not going to be that expensive. What is expensive, is guided tours. If you just pay entrance fees to national parks, and possibly hire a guide only sometimes, it is not too bad.

In general, Caribbean coast might be less expensive that Pacific, incl. Manuel Antonio / Quepos area.

If you go to Cahuita, for ex., there is a great small national park, admission is by donation (in comparison, to enter MA park, foreigners pay US$16 pp), you can swim inside the park, see wildlife, etc. We stayed in Cahuita, liked S. Caribbean, returned back there the next yr. See

https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/cahuita/ and https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com - the last one is a great site with everything you need to know about S. Caribbean.

Much depends on the length of your vacation.
Hi there

I'd be so glad of any pointers: we are looking to take our kids travelling next June and July, maybe also August, and are looking particularly at Costa Rica and Bali.. (clearly quite different locations). Ideally we'd not move around more than every 4 or 5 nights, and have a blend of some quite cheap, some quite eco-lodge, the odd place with kid-specific facilities, a calm beach (if we can find one), maybe a splash out as well.. Basically we always were backpackers, but we'd love this trip to really delight our children and be based round them and what they need / would be excited about.

With CRica, it would be amazing to have any steers on:

*do you think the rain will matter much / at all?

*are the kids maybe a bit young to get the most out of the cloud forest (they are quite energetic and tall, but still I guess 3 or 4km hike MAX)?

*are there any more specific tips? places to stay? or not to miss?

Thank you so much,

Rebecca
We were at Arenal mid to end Aug. this yr. Out of the 3 full days by the volcano we had a clear view of the volcano for most of one day. The morning were chilly and foggy / rainy, and the other days there was some sun and some rain. But we still enjoyed the beauty of the area. It rains a lot in Arenal. Most tours will probably continue, except for ziplining, which might stop in case if lighting. Have appropriate footwear, rain ponchos/jackets, smth with long sleeves in case it gets chilly at night, repellent, and you will be fine.

We saw some wildlife in Arenal, incl. monkeys, coatis, Toucan, etc., but not as much as in S. Caribbean.

August is turtle season in Tortuguero (boat access only), where there are wildlife canal tours and turtle tours. Then you can continue South to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, or Manzanillo. See https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com for more info on that area and, if interested in my review of Cahuita NP, see .

We also saw sloths and monkeys in Manuel Antonio park and near our accommodations between the park and Quepos in Aug., but it was crowded and too touristy for us.

In 2 wks, you can do SJO - to Arenal - to Tortuguero - to Cahuita, etc, then back to SJO. Depending on your flight times, you might need the first and/or last night close to SJO.

Posa trails have been closed for some time now due to recent activity. Who knows if it will reopen by Aug.

Edited: 5 years ago
I got 6GB for 300,000 dong. I went to several booths and the prices were pretty much the same. Thought the info I got said it was a 2GB regular package with and extra 4GB bonus.

So I did a little more digging - my phone showed that I did use 6GB of data, but 5.9GB was used by the tethering hotspot which I did use (for my laptop and also a second phone). However I looked at my laptop browsing history and there was nothing that would have used a significant amount of data (facebook, TA, email). I think the culprit must have been my old phone - I'm thinking there could have been app updates and syncing of data.....though 6GB still sounds crazy. I have heard that some companies charge a surplus for tethering, so maybe they calculate the data differently. I also used my hotspot in Thailand for 10 days (I was staying with a friend who did not have wifi) . In 10 days of tethering and regular browsing I went through 4BG. So 6GB in a few hours makes no sense to me (gaming or video other than the odd news clip)
I'm from Los Angeles, and I will be going to Vietnam at the beginning of January. I will be flying in from Thailand to Vietnam, since I will be visiting Thailand first. I'm just a bit confused about the whole visa process. From what I understand, these are the main methods, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING:

1) Visit the Vietnam Embassy (in San Francisco or Washington DC) in person to get the visa, or mail in an application to the embassy with my passport and application

2) Visa on Arrival: Go through an online agency, fill out some information and pick up the visa when I arrive in Vietnam. From what I understand, I will not have to part with my passport, however, I cannot get the Visa on Arrival through the embassy.

3) E-visa: Get a printed visa from online, this method is fairly new. This way, I will not have to part with my passport.

I would prefer to not send in my passport anywhere, and living in Los Angeles, I can't go to visit the embassies. I originally wanted to do Visa on Arrival, but I was reading on a website that leisure tourism is not allowed under Visa on Arrival. I also read that some websites for Visa on Arrival are scams. Maybe the E-visa is a good option.

- Anyways, I'm just wondering, what is the most recommended method?

- Can you recommend non-scam sites for Visa on Arrival and E-visa?

Any other input is gladly appreciated.

Thank You.
I love Hue and generally I would say it is a mistake to miss this beautiful and historical city. However, as JoeLeicester mentioned above, it is the height of rainy season there in September. I was in Hue in September 2016 for three days and witnessed a deluge like I had never seen before in my 52 years of existence. Having said that, it still made the trip worthwhile. The food in Hue is outstanding. I also found it pleasurable to just walk around the city, as I didn't see many other tourists there (except at the attractions themselves). I think it would be hard to do both Hoi An and Hue (even though it's only a 3-4 drive between each) and still adequately see each city as well as doing Saigon.

I also recommend Phnom Penh, though it sometimes gets short shrift from fellow travelers. If you're aware of the history of Cambodia, especially what happened there in the 1970s and 1980s, then Phnom Penh seems like a must. It's also got a decent archaeological museum, the Royal Palace as well as handful of interesting pagodas. It's about a six-hour drive between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap so consider that when making your final itinerary.

So as suggested above, do a bit more research about each place you've proposed and then decide what to do. Remember, the more places you visit, the more time you'll spend in transit and the less time you'll have to enjoy each place.
2. Spring arrives in Hokkaido from early May after sakura season. Snow would be thawing in Hokkaido in April.

3. Better skip Biei+Furano as it'll be covered in snow. All other locations in your itin are served by public transports, especially in Sapporo and Otaru where there is no need to drive.
Not sure where to ask this so trying here first.Mother & daughter - we don't drive in the USA. Doing 10 days in Vegas (yes we love Vegas!) then wish to head somewhere else within the USA that we can enjoy. We've cruised from LA, done a camping trip in the Joshua Tree National Park, gone to New York & Washington - all of which we loved. Looking to go in May - have flexibility with dates.

We enjoy being active (Mum is 73), friendly & outgoing (so a tour would work), not big foodies, and would like to keep it around $2k for a week or so.

Any and all suggestions welcomed - or if there's a better place to post this, then by all means let me know! Cheers!
Hey everyone, new member, long time browser,

My wife and I are planning to take the kids up to NYC for a long weekend just prior to Christmas so they can check out all of the sights. Like virtually every other tourist heading in Manhattan at Christmastime we want to be in the mid-town (34th-59th St. and 3rd-9th Ave.) area. Our kids are 5, 6 and 11 so we will be able to get around as needed.

Been scouring this site and others (oyster.com; mommypoppins.com; timeout.com, etc.) looking for hotels that offer "Holiday Packages" or similar themes for families with kids.

For example, I was able to find that The Peninsula, NYC has a "Nights Before Christmas" Package (http://newyork.peninsula.com/en/special-offers/nights-before-christmas-kids-package). [hopefully posting that link is allowed] which sounds perfect except for the fact that it is $1,145/night -- about double what I'd like to spend.

Curious if anyone knows of some more local sources which may have culled through this type of information and placed it in a single location. There are a lot of hotels in this area and checking out each one is tedious.

Thanks,

Mark
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BURLEY  A jury trial for the owner of a Burley cattle company on the Cassia County District Court that was on the docket for Nov. 8 has been reset to March.

Allen Reed Ward is charged with two felony counts of grand theft after police say Ward and Little Moo Cattle Company failed to deliver cattle to a Texas company.

A jury trial in the case is now set at 8:30 a.m. March 7.

Owners of Primera Beef of Texas told detectives Ward had previously sent them truckloads of calves.

On the last shipment, they said, Ward loaded 168 calves onto a truck and they wired $83,993.40 to Wards bank. After the money transfer Ward was told by the brand inspector to unload the truck so it could be inspected.

The Texas company said Ward never returned the cattle to the truck and told them he was not going to send the calves until they paid an outstanding bill for $41,459.60.

The owners said there were no outstanding bills.
- Kenya has officially complained to Tanzania following drastic measures Dar es Salaam took against Kenyans

- Tanzania has burned more that 6,000 chicks and also auctioned more than 1,000 cattle confiscated from Kenyans

- The chicks had been illegally imported from Kenya while the cattle were impounded from Kenyan herders who had crossed over to graze in Tanzania

Kenya has reacted angrily following hostility to Kenyans by the government of Tanzania.

The protest comes after the John Magufuli government burned thousands of live chicks exported to Tanzania from Kenya.

Tanzania has also auctioned more than 1,000 heads of cattle confiscated from Kenyan herders.

Magufuli has warned he will confiscate more cattle from Kenya.Photo:Citizen TV.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Tanzania is not grazing grounds for neighbours - Magufuli warns Kenyans

This has forced Kenyan foreign affairs officials to summon the Tanzania High Commissioner Pindi Chana in attempt to get to the bottom of the matter.

Kenya-Tanzania relations are longstanding, rich and complex and should not be jeorpadised by a hardening of positions over minor issues that can be easily resolved through candid and open dialogue, Kenya's Foreign Affairs Political and Diplomatic Secretary Tom Amollo is quoted as having told Pindi during the meeting in Nairobi.

READ ALSO: Relatives,politicians flock Lee Funeral Home after Nyeri governor's death (photos)

The Magufuli government torched 6,400 chicks which were confiscated on the Tanzania side of the two countrys border after being illegally imported there.

The chicks belonged to a local business woman who was also arrested.

READ ALSO: Eye-witness recounts what transpired moments before the accident that killed Nyeri Governor

This sparked angry reactions from animal enthusiasts from both countries but Tanzania defended itself saying it did that to prevent any case of Bird Flu.

At the same time,Dar es Salaam also sold off 1,325 head of cattle confiscated from Kenyan herders who were arrested illegally grazing in the country.

READ ALSO: Do not be selfish, think about workers in your boycott - Atwoli tells Raila

Owners of the cows who are Kenyans are still held in Tanzanian cells as tension builds between the two countries.

Meet Uhuru Kenyatta's former nursery school teacher.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
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Russian-backed militants launched 13 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas in last day.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

"The enemy continues to violate ceasefire, using heavy weaponry. Over the past day, illegal armed groups violated the ceasefire 13 times. The Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire on the enemy 8 times. As a result of fighting, no casualties were reported," the statement reads.

In Donetsk direction, illegal armed formations used weapons on infantry fighting vehicles to shell Ukrainian positions in Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk).

In Mariupol direction, ATO troops came under 120mm mortar fire outside Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk) and 82mm mortar fire near Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk). In addition, militants opened fire from anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns on the outskirts of Krasnohorivka (29 km west of Donetsk).

In Luhansk direction, positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine came under mortar fire outside Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk). The enemy also fired grenade launchers near Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk) and Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk).

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Ukraine will present the advanced BTR-4E armoured personnel carrier at the Asian Defense & Security 2017 exhibition in Bangkok.

"New design bureaus have recently opened in Ukraine and have been already working. The country is ready to present the new BTR-4E armoured personnel carrier, which was improved based on test results, at the international exhibition," Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak wrote on Facebook.

The minister noted he would meet in Bangkok with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand General Prawit Wongsuwon and Commander of the Royal Thai Defence Forces General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan. "I informed my Thai colleague about the security situation in Ukraine and the ongoing reforms in the Ukrainian army and the military-industrial complex. I also invited my Thai colleague to visit Ukraine and see for himself the changes taking place in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We are willing to cooperate in the military-industrial field and other issues of bilateral activity," the minister wrote.

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Kyiv police have reinforced security measures in the center of the city. A total of 2,000 law enforcers maintain public order in the government quarter, Kyiv police wrote on Facebook.

Due to the scheduled mass rallies, 2,000 police officers and servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine will maintain public order in the government quarter in Kyiv. Depending on the operational situation, the number of law enforcers may change, reads the report.

As Ukrinform earlier reported, the mass rallies outside the building of the Verkhovna Rada started on October 17. The protesters demand the adoption of bills on the abolition of parliamentary immunity, on an anti-corruption court, on amendments to the election legislation, on presidents impeachment.

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No Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of hostilities in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a press briefing on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Good news - no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of combat actions over the last day, Motuzianyk said.

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In January-September of 2017, the volume of exports of Ukrainian meat products increased by almost 1.5 times  from USD 271 million to USD 397 million, compared to the corresponding period of 2016.

Deputy Director of the National Research Center 'Institute of Agrarian Economics' Mykola Puhachov announced this.

According to him, there is a positive tendency of increase in volumes of export of meat and offal thanks to the ongoing wide geographic diversification and consolidation in new markets after the loss of the Russian market.

"In 2015 Russia was the main importer of Ukrainian meat and by-products, but in 2017 there were more supplies to the markets of Europe and Asia," he said.

For nine months of 2017, Egypt (17.1%), the Netherlands (14.3%), Iraq (8.8%), Belarus (8.4%) and Azerbaijan (7.6%) bought the most of all domestic meat products.

Hong Kong, Germany, Georgia and Kazakhstan are also among major importers.

For three quarters of 2017, the export to these countries made about 74% of the total value of Ukrainian meat sold abroad, Mykola Puhachov noted.

ish
Turkish company Solaray Renewable Energy expands its market and is considering the possibility of implementing projects to produce "clean" energy in Ukraine.

The State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine informed this after a meeting between head of the agency Serhiy Savchuk and the general director of the Turkish company.

In addition to solar energy, the Turkish investors are interested in other projects, including the installation of biogas plants, biothermal power plants and so on.

During the talks, the head of the State Energy Efficiency Agency has announced that Ukraine has significant resources, favorable legislative base, as well as high demand for projects on the production of heat and electricity from "clean" energy sources.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to cooperate. The agency will provide the company with detailed information on legislative conditions and opportunities for implementing "green" projects in various regions of the country. The Turkish entrepreneurs will also get acquainted with potential projects on the UAMAP Interactive Map.

ish
Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Ilmi Umerov is convinced that the official recognition of the autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people by Ukraine will provide additional arguments for the regain of Crimea.

He said this in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda portal.

"The right to self-determination is the inalienable right of any people ... In Crimea, there should be at least the Crimean Tatars' autonomy," Umerov said.

He stressed that demands for autonomy do not mean separation from Ukraine.

In addition, Umerov has recalled that the status of Crimean Tatars as the indigenous people of Crimea and Ukraine was determined by a decree that is not a legislative act.

"Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a law on the status of the Crimean Tatar people as the indigenous people of Ukraine," the deputy head of the Mejlis said.

In his opinion, if the corresponding amendment to the Constitution is adopted, this will give Ukraine additional arguments for the regain of the occupied peninsula.

ish
United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker denies a scenario of turning the situation in Donbas into an indefinite conflict.

Volker said this at a briefing at the U.S. Department of State, Voice of America reports.

"They [Russians] could very well decide just to try to dig in, as theyve done with Abkhazia or South Ossetia or Transnistria. They could do it in eastern Ukraine. But they know that the costs to doing that will be very high... And the alternative is for Russia to withdraw and facilitate a deployment of a UN peacekeeping force which creates peace for everybody and allows Minsk implementation to go forward. That would be the other scenario," Volker said.

At the same time, he denied a scenario of indefinite conflict. "I dont think anyone wants a Cyprus solution  which is a  I dont know how many years weve been peacekeeping in Cyprus now, and I dont think Ukraine wants that. They obviously want to restore the territory to Ukrainian sovereignty, and as a result, they have a high incentive to get on with implementing the Minsk agreements," the US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations noted.

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The Ukrainian side explained in NATO the advantages of the language article of the new law on education for children of national minorities.

Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Lilia Hrynevych said this after a meeting with the ambassadors of the NATO countries in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"It seems to me that we were able to explain that we do not restrict the rights of children of national minorities, but expand them," the minister said.

She said that the representatives of the NATO countries during the discussion expressed different opinions.

"There are those who support our position, there are those who doubt, there are those who heard our arguments and changed their point of view. It is hard to say whether the ambassador of Hungary has changed his point of view. He expressed dissatisfaction over the law and said that it restricted the rights of the Hungarian minority," Hrynevych said.

"Our task is that the children of national minorities are able to freely speak their native language and at the same time be free to speak Ukrainian," the minister stressed.

According to her, there is such opportunity in the study of the languages of the European Union in Ukraine.

"This is what I explained to the ambassadors of the NATO member countries," Hrynevych added.

ish
The transcript of a briefing by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker held a briefing for journalists at the State Department on Friday, November 3. The U.S. diplomat spoke about his vision of the situation in eastern Ukraine, the results of the work already done and outlined further directions of efforts. Ukrinform publishes in full the transcript of Volker's briefing.

MR GREENAN: So I think Ambassador Volker has some opening comments that hell make, and then well jump right in to the questions. And got 30 minutes or so, maybe. So well just kick it off with you, Ambassador.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Right. And this is on the record.

MR GREENAN: This is on the record, and were ready to go.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Okay. Well, it is great to be here, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to update all of you on what has happened now in the last three months and a bit since I was appointed to work on Ukraine issues for the U.S., and basically say I think weve seen a lot of movement, activity, some of it positive. And so I think its worth taking stock of where we are and what some of the next steps might be.

Let me start out by emphasizing that this is still a hot war. Its an active conflict. Ten thousand plus people have been killed; over 2 million displaced persons. It goes on night and day. There are ceasefire violations every night, multiple ceasefire violations, and they recently ticked up again a little bit. There was a lull in September after a renewed effort at a ceasefire, it died down, and its ticked back up again. As we go into the winter, there are obvious concerns that people have on the humanitarian front, make sure that people have access to everything they need to survive well through the winter, which is not so easy because of the conflict.

And just imagine a Ukrainian soldier on average dies every three days, and in their own country, fighting to defend their own country. So imagine if that were in any other country  your home, and your soldiers are fighting on your own territory to protect the country. Its just  its an extraordinary strain, and it is a conflict that really does need to be put to rest.

So what have we done? So weve gotten the U.S. very much engaged in the diplomacy around the Minsk agreement and seeing  and pressing forward to implementation. The problem over years has been kind of a circular argument where the Russian side is saying the Ukrainians are not implementing the political steps required under Minsk  things like amnesty and special status for eastern Ukrainian regions and elections. Ukrainians are saying were very happy to do those things if we can, but we cant because we dont have access to the territory, there is no ceasefire, there is no end to violence, theyre completely occupied; how can we do this as a physical, practical matter? And then in addition to that, its very difficult to get these things voted through the parliament in Ukraine when theres a war going on in your territory and steps have not been taken to end the war.

So very, very difficult. What we have tried to do, then, as the U.S., is try to address that problem of a stalemate. And the way that we have discussed it is to first off recognize that Russia says that it does support the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty through the Minsk agreements. Thats part of the Minsk agreements; Russia supports that. Russia also says that its concern is the safety and well-being of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine. If you look at Ukraine and you travel around and you talk with people  and Ive done that, but anybody can do that  there are millions and millions of Russian-speaking people, they live all over Ukraine, and theyre fine. The only place where Russian-speaking people are facing difficulties is where the Russian forces are, which is in the occupied portions in the east. So  and thats because theres a conflict going on. And so those people are at risk, not any  not only Russian-speaking, people generally.

So if thats a concern for Russia, then its something that we would agree on or could potentially agree on, and if the ultimate goal is the restoration of these territories to Ukrainian sovereignty, thats also something that we agree on. So weve been trying to build on that and see whether it would be possible to create the conditions for a peacekeeping force, a UN-mandated peacekeeping force, to control the territory in eastern Ukraine. That would allow trust from both sides to be redeveloped  trust in the international UN force, at least  and that would create the opportunity for Ukraine to go forward with Minsk implementation steps such as holding elections, which it currently cant do. So thats what we would like to get to.

Weve had a lot of diplomatic activity coordinating among Germany and France, which lead the Normandy process on this; the U.S.; the UK and Sweden, which are both sitting on the Security Council right now; Ukraine, of course  were not going to do anything over their heads, its their country, and so weve been in very close coordination  had five visits to Kyiv since July. So weve pulled this together very well. Ive had two meetings with my Russian counterpart, Vladislav Surkov; seems to be a very smart, very serious interlocutor. Well see if we can make progress. And Ill have a third meeting with him in Belgrade around the 13th of November.

And what wed like to do  and I should add one more thing: So after my first meeting with Mr. Surkov, it was interesting to see that Russia went to the UN and proposed a UN protection force for eastern Ukraine. Now, the Russian proposal was only on the line of conflict and only to protect the OSCE monitors. But, of course, thats what Russias position has always been, so its not a surprise thats what theyre proposing. Whats interesting is they went to the UN to propose anything at all and to have a UN presence in eastern Ukraine which otherwise is something that had not been supported before.

So it was an interesting initiative from Russia, and weve engaged then in discussions about that both with Ukraine, France, Germany, et cetera, as well as with Russia, and the thing wed like to see is whether that initiative can be developed further, because for a peacekeeping force to be effective, it would really need to control the entire contested area, to be responsible for the cantonment and the monitoring of heavy weapons, and to control the Ukrainian side of the Ukraine-Russia border. And if those things could happen, it could truly control security, you wouldnt have a worry about the safety of Russian-speaking people or anybody  Ukrainian-speaking people, or anyone else, for that matter  with a peacekeeping force there, and that would be a way forward to then get back on track with Minsk implementation, which is the objective here.

And so thats what were exploring. We are not in agreement on this yet. Well find out. As I said, my next meeting with Mr. Surkov will be in Belgrade in a couple of weeks. But there are  theres been a lot of activity since July, and that activity is at least some reason for encouragement and we hope to continue to build on it.

So I will pause there and I would be delighted to answer any other comments, questions, et cetera, that you have.

MR GREENAN: Some questions. How about start with Nick?

QUESTION: Nick Wadhams from Bloomberg. Do you think that Russia is being a sort of trustworthy and honest interlocutor in this, or  I mean, is it your sense that they genuinely want to see this resolved, or are they interested in just prolonging this, dragging it out as long as possible to sort of make gains for themselves? I mean, when you speak with Surkov, do you feel like youre sort of  this is a dialogue of trust and that you both want to get to the same objective but youre getting sort of stalled on the details, or are there bigger issues with trust happening here?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, I guess Im not that sentimental about it  (laughter)  is that its not about trust or not trust. Its about what could we agree to do or not do. And there I find that the Russians seem to be seriously exploring the option. It doesnt mean theyre committed to it, doesnt mean theyve made a decision. They could very well decide just to try to dig in, as theyve done with Abkhazia or South Ossetia or Transnistria. They could do it in eastern Ukraine. But they know that the costs to doing that will be very high. Itll continue to cement a more unified, more nationalist, more Western-oriented Ukraine; itll keep sanctions in place, because sanctions are there until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented; there are the costs of the military operation itself and the costs of civilian administration. There is the reputation to Russia of having invaded and taken territory from Ukraine. So there are a lot of costs that Russia is paying, which I think theyre conscious of. And its a choice for Russia, what do they want to do. They know thats an option. Its not a great option, but its an option, and they could do it.

Alternatively, if they want to get out, there are ways to do that. And thats what exploring a peacekeeping force and a peacekeeping option can entail, and we would be happy to help. We want to see this resolved. We want to  from the beginning when Secretary Tillerson first announced my appointment, he said the U.S. objectives are the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the safety and security of all Ukrainian citizens regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion. And that stands. Thats all were trying to do, and its actually things where I think we could agree with Russia. So if we can get the steps right, there are possibilities.

MR GREENAN: Francesco from AFP.

QUESTION: Francesco for AFP. You said you  that Russia went to the UN with this proposal after your first meeting. There was a second. You will soon have a third. Have you already noticed some evolution, flexibility from them, on this  the mandate of this peacekeeping force?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yes.

QUESTION: Or for the moment its stalled?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yes, yes. Its always good to talk. Its always good to have face-to-face meetings and discuss things. What were concerned about, as I mentioned, are: access to the entire conflict area  not just the line of contact but the contested area; cantonment and monitoring of heavy weapons; and the border. Russia appears to be concerned about linking a UN peacekeeping option to existing mechanisms, the Minsk agreements and their implementation, the Normandy process, and the mandate for the OSCE monitoring mission. Well, when you look at the mandate for the monitors, they have the authority to be in that entire contested area, just that theyre physically prevented from doing so right now because they get shot at, but they have that in their mandate.

So theres actually, when you talk it through, theres some common grounds that, well, that is an area. And this came up in a phone conversation between Chancellor Merkel and President Putin where she was raising this issue about having access to the entire area. And he was saying well, the SMM has that in its mandate already, and if the UN force is there to protect the OSCE, then they would be where the OSCE can be. So there is some possibility there.

And that would also be true of the border. The OSCE has it in its mandate that it can be throughout the area, which would mean up to and including the border. Its prevented from doing so now, and it only gets temporary access to two locations. Thats not sufficient to actually control the border, but building on these existing mandates and developing a UN peacekeeping role that would be robust, then there perhaps is some common ground. So its worth exploring further. Thats where we are.

MR GREENAN: Dmitry from TASS.

QUESTION: Ambassador, can I ask you about the rebel part of the equation? You never said anything about the rebels. It looks as if the big powers are simply trying to negotiate between themselves over their heads. And despite U.S. Government desire to paint it in a brushstroke as a war between Russia and Ukraine, this is pretty much an internal strife. It has began as one, and its still pretty much the one. What about fostering a meaningful dialogue between Kyiv and the rebels?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, I disagree with your premise. Its not an internal strife. Its not an ethnic conflict; its not an indigenous conflict. It is one where on the eastern side you have 100 percent Russian command and control of whats happening there, and on the Ukrainian side obviously its Ukraine, and nothing is decided. There are obviously people hired to work in the military operation, to work in the civilian administration, the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk peoples republics, people hired to do that. But this is Russian-directed, and so the relevant interlocutor here is Russia. And as I said, I think theres reasons why we may actually be able to make progress, but I think thats the relevant thing.

There is, of course, and let me state this clearly, in the Minsk mechanisms the Trilateral Contact Group, which is Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE. Thats the trilateral. And in those meetings representatives of the so-called separatists are present. So there are opportunities for those people to be present in the Minsk process, but the leadership of this is Russia and the decision making is Russia, and the only way well actually have a resolution is if we are in agreement with Russia.

MR GREENAN: Conor, ABC.

QUESTION: Thank you for doing this, Ambassador. This push towards peacekeeping troops in the region, does that then preclude U.S. lethal weapons to the Ukrainian Government? And has a decision been made either way on that?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, first off, this discussion of a peacekeeping option where you put in a UN peacekeeping force is a idea aimed at creating security and pushing ahead the Minsk implementation, the Minsk agreements implementation. But that stands on its own. It is a  it is an important concept.

The other concept that youre raising is Ukraines self-defense. Every country under the UN Charter Article 51 has the right to self-defense. Ukraine has been facing a conflict on its own territory for the last three years. It produces a lot of weapons itself and has been  and done actually a very credible job of rebuilding its military after it was very badly beaten in 2014. It has rebuilt very substantially; its in good shape. And I think it is a reasonable thing for a country to defend itself, and its also reasonable for others to help countries defend themselves as well. So I think theyre just separate  separate conversations.

But what I led off with is this degree of  I dont want to say that  degree of movement and a positive approach right now on developing an option for peacekeeping to see whether that can really help resolve the conflict, restore the territory, protect people, and get us to full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

QUESTION: So if  so has a decision been made either way?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: I dont have anything new on that. Youve seen a lot of the discussion already, and I dont have anything new to say on that.

MR GREENAN: Matt.

QUESTION: Have you guys  you guys have  already have told the Russians what youre wanting to see out of the peacekeeping force?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yes.

QUESTION: So are you hoping to get  its been presented to them. Are you hoping to get an answer from Surkov when --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, Im hoping that when we meet in November we can have a detailed, serious conversation about that. So the sequence here is we kicked around ideas; Russia took the first step and took the initiative in proposing a UN Security Council resolution. Its obviously what  reflecting the Russian going-in position, of course. And we have then discussed with Ukraine, discussed with France and Germany and others, and fleshed out okay, heres what we think this would need to be to be effective.

I had an initial conversation with Surkov about that in October, and this is  gets to the earlier question we had. It was useful to do that because then I got a much better understanding of what some of the Russian concerns are and what some of the ones theyre not as concerned about. So that gave us some guidance as to  or guidance. It gave us a perspective on how to develop this idea further, which I spent the last few weeks doing with Ukraine, France, Germany, and others. And well be getting back to the Russians now with some concrete suggestions.

QUESTION: Oh okay. So concrete suggestions on those areas, cantonment --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yes.

QUESTION: But the general ones they already know, right?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, they knew it in concept, but we havent gone to them and said okay, now here is  having heard you, having taken what your concerns are and about linkage to existing mandates, Minsk, SMM support, weve taken that on board and tried to fit these things together, and well be coming back with some ideas.

QUESTION: All right. So youre not expecting him to come to  youre not expecting to show up and him say all right, lets go, or no, this is done?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: No, I think we need a further conversation.

QUESTION: All right. And then the only other thing is --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: But itll be on a much more specific level.

QUESTION: Right, okay. And then this is kind of just out of the blue, but Im just wondering given all that weve seen happening here this week. And that is: Has whats going on here with the Mueller investigation and the Manafort indictments, does that have any impact at all on your dealings with Ukraine, the Ukrainian --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: It hasnt had an impact. What I will say  and I was traveling last week; I was in Sweden, I was in Germany, I was in Ukraine  it gets noticed. Its on everybodys radar. But what Ive been doing is just staying on task. The  I know its out there, I know youre interested in it, theres a lot to talk and read about, but --

QUESTION: Youre talking about the people that youre dealing with?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yeah. Oh yeah, everybody, everybody.

QUESTION: Right.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: General public, journalists, officials, you cant miss it. Its --

QUESTION: Right.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: -- bigger than an elephant in a room. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: But you dont think its caused a distraction --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: But  no. But what I do is I say, Look, heres where we are, heres the question that we need to address. What do you think? How do we put it together? And its actually  weve been able to do quite a bit just by staying on point.

MR GREENAN: Tatiana, RIA Novosti.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you very much for doing this. Tatiana Kalmykova with RIA Novosti news agency. I have a follow-up question on this resolution, Russian initiative. Do you know if Ukraine is preparing their own draft of resolution? Because it was some rumor, some news circulated in September.

And second question: You  just going back and forth from Kiev to Washington, and do you have any plans of meeting the representative from these areas, Donbas and Lugansk, in the future? Is it possible at all?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yeah. So Ukraine  its a couple of years ago  brought up the idea of a UN peacekeeping force in eastern Ukraine. At that time, Russia was not ready to explore that. When Russia then presented its ideas for a protection force in September, Ukraine was ready to come forward with its own proposal.

But since weve had some developments, discussions, getting the United States more engaged in this overall, discussions with the Russians directly about this, the Russians took the initiative to suggest something. We have discussed all this with Ukraine as well, and said, Look, lets not come up with competing resolutions. Lets try to have a discussion about principles; about what an effective peacekeeping force needs to do, and see if we can actually reach some agreement, rather than getting into competing drafting exercises.

And so thats where we are. Were at a discussion of the principles and the elements that would need to be in a future UN Security Council resolution. And if we can all agree, that would be the best way forward, so were not competing drafts like that.

MR GREENAN: Paul, Wall Street Journal --

QUESTION: And on the meeting  possible meeting, or if  if youre --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, as I said, the decision-maker here is Russia and I think thats where I need to be dedicating the U.S. effort, is to engaging directly with Russia. If we resolve this, if we have peace, if we have safety for all the people in eastern Ukraine  Russian-speaking people and Ukrainian-speaking people and anyone else who is there  and we have the implementation of the Minsk agreements, and sovereignty is then restored to Ukraine, I would love to visit both Luhansk and Donetsk at that point and see that these territories are being rehabilitated.

QUESTION: Careful, because --

MR GREENAN: Paul, Wall Street Journal --

QUESTION: -- if youre successful with doing that, they might make you the new Syria envoy. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Can you tell us what the Russian sticking points are? There was some  I think there was some issue where they only wanted a peacekeeping force if Russians were involved in that peacekeeping force; is that off the table at this point?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: No one has said that to me.

QUESTION: Okay.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: No one has said that to me.

QUESTION: And  all right.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: I would think that its important to have an impartial peacekeeping force.

QUESTION: But what are their sticking points? What are the issues that they are bringing up that are prevent  you have said --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well --

QUESTION: -- what the U.S. wants to see, but what are their issues?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yeah. Well, as I said, the thing that came up from the meeting that we had in October was existing frameworks  Minsk, Normandy, OSCE monitors  and part of Minsk, there is a degree of sequencing that is in Minsk. Its not clear; theres no clarity to timelines. Its all just laid on a piece of paper with no timelines. But seeing political steps from the Ukrainian side is important to them.

So for example, the fact that Ukraine renewed the law on special status for eastern Ukraine on October 6th, I believe it was, that was an important step because that was a political step from the Ukrainian side to show that they are committed to that special status when it can be implemented. So I think its  those things are whats been important to Russia.

Itll be interesting at the next meeting to see if theres any other things that come up specifically, but until now, thats about what its been, and then well have our next meeting in November.

QUESTION: Do you have any concerns that Russia might see a UN peacekeeping force as a way to actually secure the area for itself?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well --

QUESTION: Without having to expend resources and money?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Look, I think its a binary choice for Russia. Would it like to create another frozen conflict, occupied territory, like Abkhazia or South Ossetia or Transnistria, which as I said carries with it very high costs, but its doable. If they want to, they will, but its a very high-cost enterprise and sad too, because you hate to see this conflict between Russia and Ukraine continue, you hate to see Russian soldiers being killed. Its terrible. So hopefully we can avoid that.

And the alternative is for Russia to withdraw and facilitate a deployment of a UN peacekeeping force which creates peace for everybody and allows Minsk implementation to go forward. That would be the other scenario. I dont see a scenario where this becomes indefinite, certainly not from an international community position. I dont think anyone wants a Cyprus solution  (laughter)  which is a  I dont know how many years weve been peacekeeping in Cyprus now, and I dont think Ukraine wants that. They obviously want to restore the territory to Ukrainian sovereignty, and as a result, they have a high incentive to get on with implementing the Minsk agreements.

MR GREENAN: Abbie, NBC.

QUESTION: Hi, Abigail Williams with NBC. I wondered  you talked about there being a relatively peaceful month in September, then an increase in violations around the same time as Russias coming forward with this proposal of a UN peacekeeping group. Wondered what  if there was any contradiction in that increase in violations --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yeah. So --

QUESTION: -- and why now --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Okay.

QUESTION: -- that theyre choosing to come forward with this after the conflict going on for so long?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yeah. So let me get the sequence right so that its there. So I met with Mr. Surkov on August 24th. On September 5th, Russia proposed a UN protection force for OSCE monitors on the line of conflict. Around September 1st through a phone call of the Normandy format  I think it was the 1st  President Putin, Merkel, Poroshenko, Macron, they agreed on a back-to-school ceasefire which was intended to reduce levels of violence at the beginning of the school year and is  lets get back and get on track again.

That did have an impact. It did reduce levels of violence probably by three-fourths for a couple of weeks. And then it has ticked back up and two weeks ago was a particularly bad week, including a lot of fire from heavy weapons. Its been kind of zigzagging around. It is still at lower levels than it was at the beginning of the year. February was a very bad month, for instance. But it is up from where it was in September.

When you talk to the OSCE monitors, they say that they  they often see patterns like this. They see them partly for political reasons, they see them partly related to troop rotations, they see them partly related to weather. So theres a whole lot of potential explanations. If you think about the timing that we laid out, you had the Normandy call, you had this agreement on a back-to-school ceasefire, you had the Russian dropping of a draft resolution, youve had engagement on that since, and youve had a slow uptick in the last two weeks of levels of ceasefire violations. Im not sure what the reason for that would be other than it is an ongoing conflict and people are still there, people are still firing snipers, mortars, and theres responses to that from the Ukrainian side, and so it happens. And thats the tragedy of this, is that  thats why wed like to really get a lasting solution, a real ceasefire, a separation of forces, a cantonment of heavy weapons, and an area security peacekeeping force that allows the violence to stop and political steps to go ahead.

MR GREENAN: Dave Clarke, AFP. I think thats our last question.

QUESTION: Hi, Dave Clarke, AFP. Apologies if this was dealt with before I came in. I came in a little bit late. Since Ive come in, though, Ive only heard about Luhansk and Donetsk. Is  does Crimea figure in this at all?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Well, thats a great question, and thank you for bringing it up. The principle here is the same, that you have Russia invading and occupying territory. In the case of Crimea, it has also claimed to annex that territory. So we view these the same way: dont recognize any of that and will not recognize any of that.

If we have a chance to make progress on one of the conflict areas, eastern Ukraine  and thats the one that the Minsk agreements are meant to address  then we should make progress. Why  lets not hold back because of Crimea, but that doesnt change our approach concerning Crimea either. We dont accept the occupation and annexation of that.

And the Minsk agreements are from 2014. That created the Normandy process. Thats the diplomatic effort that Ive been asked to get engaged in, so thats why Im talking about that. But the overall U.S. position is unchanged on this.

QUESTION: But part of your process when youre dealing with Luhansk and Donetsk is that there will be sanctions relief if the Russians cooperate. Can they have sanctions relief if Crimea remains --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Yes. There are sanctions that are related to Russias claimed annexation of Crimea, and there are also sanctions that relate to non-implementation of the Minsk agreements. There are also sanctions in place for other reasons, like Magnitsky, for example. When we talk about sanctions relief here, we are talking about those sanctions that have been put in place as a result of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the failure to implement the Minsk agreements. And if they are fully implemented, then there would be sanctions relief commensurate with that. Those sanctions put in place would then be in a position to be lifted. And thats a coordinated position by both the U.S. and the EU.

MR GREENAN: Thank you, Ambassador Volker. (Inaudible) very much.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Thank you.

QUESTION: Do you know, though  I mean, maybe this is better put to Treasury or someone  that if there is  if they do get relief under the stuff for the east, will there really be  will they see any benefit from that given the fact that theyre so heavily sanctioned under the other  under the others?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: My understanding is that Minsk-related sanctions are significant, and so I think they would come --

QUESTION: But theyre not  they dont come underneath the broader  the Crimea ones?

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: No.

QUESTION: So --

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: No, the  what happened  and were going back in time to 2014  is no one really believed that Crimea was going to happen. And then when they did it, there was still a measure of disbelief, and so there were sanctions, but they didnt go whole hog. And then when they did it a second time, then the sanctions were more severe. And so now, getting the Minsk-related sanctions lifted after full implementation of the Minsk agreements, I think, would be significant.

All right.

MR GREENAN: Terrific. Thank you, everybody.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Thank you.

QUESTION: Thank you.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER: Thanks.
The European Parliament expects Ukraine to make progress in implementing a number of important reforms.

Chairman of the European Parliament's delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Dariusz Rosati said this at the Ukrainian World Congress forum in Brussels on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I want to name the areas where the reforms are being delayed. These are judicial reform, anti-corruption institutional principles, in particular, the anti-corruption court, land reform, privatization of state-owned enterprises. These areas need progress. Otherwise, there will be no investments that are necessary for rapid development," the MEP said.

He added that the reform progress in these areas was ineffective.

At the same time, Rosati noted that the European Union should provide Ukraine with larger scope of security assistance, particularly, in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

In turn, Head of "Support Group for Ukraine" at the European Commission Peter Wagner expressed the conviction that the international community, in particular the EU, should expand its assistance to Ukraine.

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The Council of Europe and the European Union will present in Kyiv the results of projects for Ukraine to support the reform of the penitentiary system, media freedom and fight against corruption.

Ukrinform learned this from the press service of the Council of Europe.

"Five special projects were implemented in Ukraine under the Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) program in 2015-2017, which focused on strengthening of human rights standards, supporting of the penitentiary system reforms, freedom of the media, fight against corruption and free and fair elections," the Council of Europe reported.

The total budget of these projects is 3.2 million euros, the funding is provided by the EU and the Council of Europe, the practical implementation is made by the Council of Europe.

In addition to these projects, Ukraine also participates in the implementation of 14 regional initiatives that cover all the countries of the Eastern Partnership.

The presentation will take place on November 10.

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The European Union believes that the Ukrainian leadership should not isolate the people in the uncontrolled territories in Donbas.

Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service Thomas Mayr-Harting said this at the Ukrainian World Congress forum in Brussels on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I believe it is very important to note in this context that the residents of eastern Ukraine should not be isolated. It remains a challenge for the Ukrainian leadership to win the hearts and minds of people who found themselves in very difficult circumstances, including the territories that are not controlled by the government now," said the representative of the European External Action Service.

He noted that all the parties must fulfill their obligations as a prerequisite for settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine.

Mayr-Harting also criticized Russia, saying it violates human rights in the uncontrolled territories, particularly in Crimea.

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PAUL  A man was shot early Saturday in Paul, but police have released little information.

Court records on a drug bust indicated the shooting occurred in the living room at the home, 130 N. 500 W., but it contained no further details.

Minidoka County Sheriff Eric Snarr said a 23-year-old Rupert man was shot and taken by air ambulance to a Boise hospital.

Snarr said the sheriffs office responded to the residence at 2:54 a.m.

The person that was shot is still alive, Minidoka County Prosecutor Lance Stevenson said. We cant release any more details because the case is still under investigation.

Later that day, police arrested several people on drug trafficking charges.

The drug cases were sealed by the court on Monday, Snarr said.

Peoples lives are in danger, he said.

Adolfo Lopez-Mata, 26, Gabriela Martinez-Esteban, 22, and Emmanuel Garza, 23, were all charged with one felony count of drug trafficking after officers found just more than a pound of methamphetamine and stolen guns at the home later that day.

Martinez-Esteban and Garza were both set for arraignment in Minidoka County Magistrate Court on Monday. Court documents for Lopez-Mata were sealed and could not be accessed by the Times-News.

Court records that were sealed Monday say officers arrived at the residence at 8:20 p.m. and a deputy saw through a window Lopez-Mata and Garza run through the house toward a second door.

When the deputy announced they were from the sheriffs office, the two men turned around and slammed the door, and the deputy saw the two men running through the house toward the other door.

Garza left through the other door and tried to run into a field when an officer cut him off and ordered him to the ground.

Inside the house on the kitchen table police found a black digital scale with a large amount of crystal substance on it. There was also a knife and clear baggies and a spoon with white residue.

There was also packaging material on the table coated with grease or oil. The officer said when drugs are packaged for transport they are coated with grease and prevent detection.

Another bag of crystal substance was open and the substance spilled all over the kitchen counter, like it had been dropped, police said.

There was also a trail of the substance leading from the kitchen into the living room and to the door. The substance was also scattered on the couch.

Deputies reported finding two baggies of methamphetamine weighing about an ounce in Lopez-Matas sweatshirt pocket and two bundles of cash totaling $4,920 in his pants pockets.

Martinez-Esteban told police that she was in the country illegally and that she is an addict. She had $400 in her pants pocket, police said. Lopez-Mata was also in the country illegally, police said.

Police also reported finding a Ruger .380 caliber pistol that was stolen out of Pocatello in September and a Springfield .45 caliber pistol stolen in Buhl in October along with a .22 caliber rifle that had an unreadable serial number.

Police also recovered two ledgers that had names and addresses alongside of amounts recorded in them.
Relatives of Pavlo Hryb have been allowed to attend the court hearing, which will be held in Krasnodar on November 7.

Father of detained Ukrainian, Ihor Hryb, said this in a commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The pre-trial restriction for Pavlo will be considered at tomorrows court hearing in form of videoconference," he said.

According to him, the hearing will begin at 9:30 am. The relatives of Pavlo Hryb were allowed to attend the hearing. The consul of Ukraine will be also present.

When asked about the health status of his son, Ihor Hryb noted that "there is no positive change in health status because Pavlo has not been allowed to take the needed medicines."

As reported, on September 4, 2017, former border guard Ihor Hryb issued an appeal regarding the disappearance of his son. On August 24, 2017, Pavlo Hryb was illegally detained on Belarusian territory and subsequently transferred to Russia, probably with the participation of FSB officers. A court in Krasnodar extended Hryb's arrest until January 4, 2018.

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Fifty-seven political prisoners are currently held in Russian-occupied Crimea, chairman of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Eskender Bariyev has said.

According to Crimea.Realities, he noted that new detentions were reported on the peninsula after Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz were transferred to Turkey.

Ukraine's First Deputy Minister for Information Policy Emine Dzhaparova noted that it was necessary to provide information about political prisoners held in Crimea and Russia.

"More than 50 symbols of resistance in the annexed Crimea are people who are under trial or are serving their sentences in political cases, and it is important to inform [the public] about these cases and other cases of violations of rights and freedoms in Crimea," she said.

Dzhaparova added that 100 children were now left on the peninsula without support from parents who were victims of repression.

After Russian annexation Crimea saw more frequent searches in the homes and offices of independent journalists, public activists, activists of the Crimean Tatar national movement, members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as Crimean Muslims suspected of having links to the Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization banned in Russia.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the persecution of Ukrainian citizens in the annexed Crimea and called for a cessation of pressure on them.

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The second Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) Congress will be held in Kharkiv on November 8-10.

Natalia Kufterina, the Chairperson of the Council of Young Scientists at Kharkiv Regional State Administration, said this at a press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The congress is held under the patronage of Chairperson of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yulia Svitlychna, who is the initiator of its conduction in Kharkiv. The congress participants represent various directions of science, including physics, biology, medicine .The main goal of the congress is the communication of young scientists with the world's leading scientists: Evan Eichler - Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, Daniel Pauly - biologist who is studying human impacts on global fisheries and is the principal investigator at the Sea Around Us Project (Canada), Marcus Fischer Professor of Food Chemistry at the University of Hamburg," Kufterina said.

She also added that lectures and discussions with the participation of scientists will take place at four Kharkiv universities: Karazin National University, National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, National University of Pharmacy and National Medical University

The opening session will be held at Premier Palace Hotel Kharkiv on November 8, the closing session  at Karazin National University on November 10.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that Pavlo Hryb, who is illegally held in Russia, requires assistance and Ukraine demands that Russia grant Ukrainian doctors the access to the detainee.

"We demand that Russia provide Ukrainian doctors with access to Pavlo Hryb. This person needs assistance, and they are abusing him, disdaining his health and life," the minister wrote on Twitter.

Klimkin also said that Ukraine had asked the EU and G7 to send their representatives to a hearing of the Hryb case in Russia: "I have urgently asked the EU and G7 to send their representatives to the trial of Hryb tomorrow. The world should see the Russian pseudo-justice in action."

As reported, on November 7, a court will select a measure of restraint for Hryb in a videoconference on November 7. The detainee's relatives were allowed to attend the court hearing.

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Three international cultural and educational centers have been established at Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv: the Ukrainian-Arabian Center, the Ukrainian-Turkish Center, and the Ukrainian-Asian Center, Kharkiv Regional State Administration reports.

"The opening of the centers enables foreign students to get acquainted with the Ukrainian culture and traditions, and they will also help them in socializing, solving any issues related to studying and living in Ukraine," the Kharkiv Regional State Administration informed.

During the opening ceremonies, representatives of foreign communities and consulates noted the importance of creating relevant centers that allow foreign students to feel a part of the Motherland and solve their problems.

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TWIN FALLS  The state Department of Labor hopes to bring together veterans and employers looking to hire them.

Twin Falls Veteran-hiring Event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Magic Valley Department of Labor Office, 420 Falls Ave., Twin Falls. The goal is to hire 100 veterans who have served the nation and are ready to share their skills with Idaho employers.

The plan is to:

Give Idaho employers the opportunity to hire from a talented pool of veterans.

Post a list of participating employers and their website links on a Department of Labor web page.

Include employers job listings on the Department of Labors Vet Call  a regional email distribution list for Idaho veterans  at no cost.

To participate, register at http://bit.ly/2y9RZyr.

More information: call Johnny Moreno at 208-735-2500, ext. 3643 or Johnny.Moreno@labor.idaho.gov.
In recent weeks, Cambodia has come in for strong criticism from the United States, the European Union and Japan after the government launched its harshest crackdown on the political opposition, independent media and civil society in many years.

The Cambodian People Party (CPP) government and the courts are moving to ban the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) following the arrest of its leader, Kem Sokha, on treason charges in late September. Many CNRP members have fled Cambodia. Western countries demand his release and warn that the 2018 general elections will not be recognized as democratic without opposition participation.

The downside occurs against the background of Cambodias ever-closer relationship with China. Its political support and investment for Prime Minister Hun Sens government has grown strong in recent years. In turn, Cambodia has backed China in international affairs, such as Beijings disputed claims in the South China Sea, while Phnom Penh seems to be abandoning the human-rights promoting donor countries on which it long relied.

In late September, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhon attended the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York, during which he fended off international criticism of his government. On the sidelines of the assembly, VOA reporter Sok Khemara interviewed the minister about the recent domestic and international developments.

Question: Greetings. It is an honor for VOA to have an exclusive interview with Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhon who has just released a statement to the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York, touching upon the Cambodian political situation and international issues. Greetings, Senior Minister.

Answer: Greetings.

Q: Thank you for giving VOA this interview. I have listened to your statement on human rights, international issues, democracy in Cambodia and other issues in the UN General Assembly. First, could you tell us about Cambodias stance on human rights and democracy that you raised at the UN, and in which you appeared to criticize some powerful countries?

A: Yes, thank you for the question. In my statement, on behalf of the Cambodian government, we focus on two important things. First, it relates to international issues; second, it relates to human rights and democracy in Cambodia as you have observed. In terms of international issues, we focus on our cooperation with the international community to achieve the UNs Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and to address climate change.

For sensitive international issues, we assert our firm stance on counter-terrorism, North Korea, and UN peacekeeping missions, which has been Cambodias major achievement so far.

Related to Cambodias internal affairs, it is required that we raise them. Let me adjust it a bit, (the statement) is not criticism. We just called on some major powers to evaluate human rights issues in Cambodia fairly because they have only a one-sided view of Cambodia without taking in the accounts from all fronts. The fact is that the Cambodian government abides by the law as enforced in the nation, particularly in terms of maintaining peace, stability and protecting the nations sovereignty against foreign intrusion into its internal affairs.

Q: You mention taking into account all fronts. What does this mean for human rights and democracy in Cambodia on the international stage?

A: Evaluation from all fronts means that one should not conduct a one-sided assessment, as you could see with the recent developments in Cambodia in the case of the arrest of Kem Sokha, the closure of NDI (a U.S.-funded National Democratic Institute), The Cambodia Daily and many radio stations. This has all to do with law enforcement.

Let me stress that, before we reached this point, Cambodia has embarked on a stable and peaceful path. We had commune elections that were properly organized and conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Many nations and observers have acknowledged this, except some countries who dare not say that it was free, fair and credible. Thats all. The word free is accurate and the word fair is to indicate all political parties have participated.

That is why we can say that the election result is credible because all political parties accepted the result. Hence, we paved the way toward the national elections in 2018. In the meantime, the government also needs to carry out the law properly. Previously, we drafted and the National Assembly had voted in the laws, but these were not implemented in full.

Some people and NGOs do not obey the law, and I have raised instances of people not obeying the law with the ambassadors. For example, in Cambodia, there were three big English-language newspapers: The Cambodia Daily, The Phnom Penh Post, and The Khmer Times. The Phnom Penh Post and Khmer Times pay tax. They obey the law. Why should The Cambodia Daily get away with (not paying tax)? Thats impossible. There are a lot of radio stations in Cambodia. Most of them comply with the agreement with the Ministry of Information. However, some radio stations do not, so we have to take legal action.

The case of Kem Sokhas arrest is purely enforcement of the law. We can talk about that later. I just want to state that its a serious case that could affect peace, security, public order and stability as a whole because it is related to treason and collusion with a foreign government to topple a legally elected government. Any act that aims to topple a government that is formed through an election is a crime. Moreover, collusion with foreign governments to oust the government and drag the country into turmoil or civil war is a serious act of treason in which the perpetrator shall be incarcerated in accordance with the law. This is stated in Article 80 of the Constitution, Article 443 of the Criminal Code and Article 12 of the Law on Lawmakers.

Q: After Kem Sokhas arrest there have been calls for justice from the U.S. and the E.U. There is also domestic criticism of the government, saying it is cracking down and preventing fair participation in the 2018 elections. What is your response to this?

A: Only the court can provide justice for Kem Sokha isnt it? Kem Sokha committed an (alleged) crime and the accusation didnt come out of the blue. Kem Sokha himself admitted his action in the video seen by everyone. Even though the video was shot in 2013, the leak occurred September 2, 2017. The leak came out around 6 p.m. that day and was published all over social media in the country.

The government pinpointed [the crime] and held talks on this matter. Thus, the arrest was not under the call of any single individual. There was a discussion among legal experts and it was found that there is misconduct. But there is a possibility of reactions from overseas claiming the arrest of an opposition leader is an act to curb the participation of the opposition party by the government.

To avoid any confusion, at 10 am on Sunday, September 3, I held a talk with the ambassadors to explain the cause of the Kem Sokhas arrest. The ambassadors heard this explanation, despite their subsequent reaction thereafter. Thats the reason why I asked them to look at the issue from all angles, not just from one side, because we acted in accordance with the law.

I never forget the help those countries have provided for Cambodia. Thank you for the development aid, the cooperation, and the trade exchange that have contributed to Cambodias development so far. They taught us to adopt the law. For instance, after the (2017) commune election, the EU provided some advice to improve the next years elections. It is a good thing that they want the elections to be better. We responded to them. The important thing is that they gave us advice with the aim to achieve free, fair and credible elections. However, why do they support somebody with the color-revolution mentality? This revolution aims to seek (political) change outside of the legal boundaries of the election.

These two approaches do not correspond at all  there are a formal stance and a shady one (among donor countries). That is why I appeal that we respect one another. I respect you, you respect me. That is not respecting on an individual basis, but respect for Cambodias sovereignty and independence, and no interference with the nations internal affairs.

There is nobody telling Kem Sokha to publicly admit what he did (alleged treason). Who incited him to say that? He said it by his own will. he said that the U.S. hired him to do this and that. They told him to do things and he just did so. They told him to withdraw himself from politics (in the past), he did just that, then they told him to go back into politics, he obeyed. What does this mean? This means that he is an instrument of a major power that wants regime change through an undemocratic method.

Q: Has there been any talk with the U.S. concerning Kem Sokha arrest? Do you think the U.S. is behind Kem Sokhas treason charges, will there be any lawsuit filed involving allegations against the US or any country?

A: Formally, we never make an accusation that the US is behind it. We base everything on the words coming out of Kem Sokhas own mouth. Most importantly, the case is meant to protect Cambodias sovereignty and the nations hard-won peace, stability, and prosperity. As you know, we have achieved development a yearly average of 7.7 percent (GDP growth) in the last 20 years. What we should focus on is to explain the latest development to the U.S., with which there is somehow political tensions. It has been tense, with different proposed measures thrown back and forth.

Please allow me to shed some light on our relation with the U.S. The U.S.-Cambodia relation has been on a smooth path for the past five years. We have good cooperation in economics and trade. The (annual) trade exchange with the U.S. is up to $3.2 billion, of which the export to the U.S. is worth $2.8 billion - previously, the U.S. export was just $400 million.

Besides good trade relations and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, we also improved (in the State Departments annual Human Trafficking Report), moving from Tier Two Watch list to Tier Two, meaning that were no longer under observation. This is good when you consider Thailand is at lower tier than us.

In landmine eradication and UN peacekeeping effort, we received training from the U.S. to improve the capability of our peacekeeping forces. In terms of enhancing people relations, the Peace Corps has played an important role. For improving bilateral relations, I have talked with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia Patrick Murphy and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon. I also met with Mrs. Susan Thornton, Acting Assistant Secretary of State For East Asian and Pacific Affairs. We know that the U.S. appointed a lot of people in an acting role. They are yet to appoint them formally. However, those people work with us formally. Thus, we held talks with them to search for ways to improve the matter and to explore the causes behind the issues.

So far, the differences are related to the three judicial cases that I have raised, all related to the U.S.: (the closing of) The Cambodia Daily because it is an American newspaper, (expelling) NDI, a U.S. institution for political parties, and the arrest of Kem Sokha, which is related to collusion with the U.S. However, unless the court passes the verdict, we cannot conclude anything. I would like to leave this matter to the court.

There is also another case (of political differences) regarding forcibly sending Cambodians back to their home country under the U.S. Repatriation Program, which is in fact deportation. In 2002, the US and Cambodia signed a MoU related to sending Cambodians, whose U.S. prison sentence has ended, back to Cambodia. We received more than 500 people between 2002 and 2017.

Until last year, we reconsidered and proposed to the U.S. that the MoU should be amended on humanitarian and sympathetic grounds. Why? First, because they already served their prison term; normally, in the U.S. if their conviction ends they are out of the prison and have full freedom again. But when theyre sent back to Cambodia after their term is finished, most of them are not familiar with or do not know the country. Second, it is about permanent family separation. This is the most serious issue because those people already have spouses and parents. Once they are sent back to Cambodia, they are detached from their family permanently.

Q: Going back to opposition leader Kem Sokha, can you say if he can participate in the 2018 elections?

A: Currently, Kem Sokha is already under allegation. He has seven lawyers working out his case for him. In the future, this has to go through an appeals court process. I cannot say in detail because this is the work of the court. Let the court decide on this.

If it is found that the allegation is false, he will be free. If the allegation is true, he will be held accountable. In the latter case, I think there is only one choice for the CNRP: Kem Sokha has to resign and the party needs to elect a new leader for the upcoming 2018 elections.

Q: When you came to join the UN Assembly, there was a protest by Cambodians abroad who called for the release of Kem Sokha. Nearby, there was also one protest against Myanmar (for rights violations against the Rohingya Muslims). What is your thought on such protests occurring in front the UN?

A: These are two different issues, we cannot make a comparison. The issue of Myanmar is related to ethnic conflict inside the country. In our case, it is simply a legal issue. I have already explained you the law.

Article 443 of the Criminal Code and Article 80 of the Constitution acknowledge the immunity of a lawmaker except in the case of criminal charges. And this is definitely a criminal charge. The lawmakers immunity, nor the time and place of arrest, matter in case of such a charge. Some people criticized that he was arrested at his house in the middle of the night. No, once there is an obvious criminal charge, the authority and the prosecutor went to Kem Sokhas house and arrested him right away. This is in accordance with the law in Cambodia.

The law is there to protect, adopt and enforce the rule of law in Cambodia. Because this is a serious issue, we need to protect the sovereignty, territory, and independence of the nation against foreign intrusion. I want to state there can always be a case of treason in any country. In the U.S., they have a law on espionage and criminal law in which there are articles related to treason. The law clearly states its purpose: to protect against foreign intrusion in the U.S.

A major power like the U.S. still have laws against foreign intrusion. And small countries like us, if we do not have such law, what will happen to us? Thus, how can Kem Sokha participate in the upcoming elections?

Q: When there is a protest, the people show dissatisfaction. Does this mean that they will have difficulty traveling to Cambodia since theyre engaged in Kem Sokhas case? Is there a guarantee that addresses the concern for their freedom of movement?

A: Holding the protest outside the country is their right. This is freedom of expression and we should respect that. They showed their opinion and were dissatisfied with our action, and we explained back to them. Like in my case, I decided to meet with you for an interview with VOA in order to explain the stance of the government concerning the action taken against Kem Sokha, as well as other issues arisen recently.

Q: Eight lawmakers from the two major political parties in the US who are dealing with affairs related to Cambodia issued a joint statement on the political situation. Some are calling for aid suspension to Cambodia because of Khem Sokhas arrest. How is this issue being dealt with or explained?

A: In terms of this, we are preparing a response from the National Assembly because it is the work of Cambodian lawmakers to respond back to the American lawmakers. The Cambodian government, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the government spokesman, the National Assembly, the court, the Ministry of Justice and myself have also given a lot of responses so far.

So, like I mentioned in the first place, please review the issue from all angles. When they give out suggestions, I listen. However, when the Cambodian government does the same, they should listen as well.

Q: The 2018 elections will be highly important and civil society organizations will want to monitor its results. But if some are facing government allegations of tax evasion, as have been leveled against them, how can they observe and ensure elections are free and fair?

A: Freedom of expression and freedom to observe (elections) will be kept intact. But I appeal for this: do not commit any illegal activities. Why do they bother raising the tax issues as a burning concern for civil society? I have already raised the example of The Cambodia Daily. When the Phnom Penh Post and Khmer Times pay taxes, why doesnt The Cambodia Daily? Some people spoke of the imminent closure of an independent newspaper.

First, concerning the use of phrase imminent closure, let me clarify that this was not the case. The Cambodia Daily was informed that tax was due to be paid that was compounded for the past 10 years. If taken into account their establishment in 1993, which was 23 or 24 years ago, the amount would have been even being bigger than this. However, the Law on Taxation is limited to collecting tax for just 10 years past. This is the lightest tax evaluation on their business income that amounted to $6.3 million for the past 10 years. Why dont they pay?

Secondly, concerning the use of the word independent, can this word be used to justify the right to evade tax? Nobody can just declare themselves independent and not pay tax; independence does not mean free of taxation. Well, maybe they are independent, but they are doing business because The Cambodia Daily has advertisements all over the place. They also sell their newspapers. They are not a non-profit organization, they are a profit-seeking organization. That is why they should pay tax in accordance with their income.

Those who should pay tax shall do likewise, those who should register (as an NGO) shall do likewise. They should be hurry to register and reach a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In the case of NDI (National Democratic Institute), before there was Law on Associations and NGOs, they never registered and never had a MoU with the Foreign Ministry as required. International NGOs should reach a MoU with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. They failed to register neither before, nor after the adoption of the law. They did wrong in this case.

Q: You might have seen through Facebook criticism of the registration for civil society organizations, unions or NDI. NDI explained they filed an application almost a year ago but never got the green light. Other civil society organizations said the government didnt offer its acceptance. When they filed an application, it seemed any NGOs that are critical of the government are likely not to receive licenses. What is your response?

A: Not at all. There are thousands of NGOs that registered properly because in Cambodia there are more than 4.000 NGOs. Most of them registered properly. They didnt have any problem with that. Those who complained are usually tainted themselves because in the law there is a point requiring verification of the source of funding, and those NGOs get secret funding from overseas. As a matter of fact, we know about this. Thus, those organizations would have complained of this and that. As long as they abide by the law, they will have full rights to do activities in Cambodia.

Q: At the next ASEAN summit, there will be many leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump. Will there be a talk with the U.S. president about the rising tension between Cambodia and the US when Prime Minister Hun Sen takes part in the summit? Is there any plan to do so?

A: I have no knowledge of the plans so far. However, as usual, when the U.S. president takes part in the ASEAN summit, he has little time to meet bilaterally with the member countries.

First, it depends on the will of the U.S. President, this is an American prerogative. Secondly, we hope that gradually, based on the spirit of my meeting with Mrs. Susan Thornton yesterday, we will try to restore the relation to what it was before.

Q: Is there any assurance from Susan Thornton? Is there a time frame as to when a solution can be found? For instance, the case of sending Cambodian-Americans to Cambodia, how long will that take to resolve? Can the U.S. confirm that?

A: There are two issues concerning this. I also told Susan Thornton about this yesterday. It seems that I am in a difficult situation in terms of this. If I accept the conditions with the U.S., the Cambodian-American community will blame me because they have asked the Cambodian government no to take back Cambodian whose sentence has ended. If we do not, they (the U.S.) will impose sanctions. So this does not just affect an individual.

If we are insistent in this case, it will affect the visa application for university students and Cambodians who wish to visit their relatives in the U.S. as well as businessmen. Thus, I have to choose between the two. We seek to solve the issue in an easy manner as much as possible. Now we are waiting for the green light from the US as to when Cambodia can interview those 26 people (to be deported). Then, we will send our officials right away.

Therefore, it is a sign showing that Cambodia does not suspend or put an end to the repatriation program. This means that putting in place (U.S.) visa sanctions would have no grounds anymore, and the program on seeking the remnants of US soldiers missing in Cambodia can also resume. This will ease the relation between the two countries. We will resolve other issues gradually together. I cant say how long it will take. However, in the near future, the U.S. will inform us when Cambodian officials can interview those 26 people.

Q: There are also statements of concern coming from the E.U. I want to know about the E.U.s Everything But Arms policy (granting preferential market access to Cambodian exports). How is the situation now with the E.U. releasing statements on the recent developments in Cambodia?

A: During the meeting of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva recently, they listed 26 nations that have issues regarding human rights and democracy. Cambodia is not among those nations. The EU criticizing Cambodia is one thing, Cambodias relation with the EU is another, even though sometimes these two issues can interrelate due to the influence of the EU parliament and the European Commission in serious cases.

However, like I mentioned, Cambodia is not among the 26 nations that are considered to have human rights issues. We tried to explain to make the E.U. understand that what we did is according to the law, while press freedom, freedom of speech and political freedom are not affected. Those who do not violate the law still have full rights to carry out political activities. Only politicians with legal issues and engaged in court cases will not have such rights.

Q: What about claims that the government has shifted toward China more than any other Asian nation lately and there are concerns for the return of a China-backed regime like the Khmer Rouge. What is your response to that?

A: I dont see any relation between the two questions because the Khmer Rouge regime already ended, and we are not talking about this further. Theres a possibility of civil war since some politicians embrace incitement and discrimination mentality, and want falsify border maps with the neighboring countries, causing confusion among the people. This could cause internal friction.

However, good relation with China is beneficial to Cambodia and her people because it is a mutual relation that serves the interests of the two nations. We have received a lot of aids and investment from China. China has invested in dams and provided cooperation aid. Six of our seven dam projects are under Chinese supervision with some form of aids, some loans, and there are some other joint ventures between Cambodian and Chinese firms.

Roads and bridges build through grants by China have helped improve the livelihoods of the people because it makes it easy to commute and transport goods across provinces. This has all served the interests of Cambodia. And this does not make Cambodia a satellite of China because we hold a firm stance on independent politics and neutrality. We are a neutral country. Thus, we hold on to this position. I dont understand why Cambodia is accused of that (not being neutral), especially when those accusers are in fact dragging Cambodia towards the U.S. It makes no sense, in this case, to point the finger to Cambodias good relation with China.

Nonetheless, we do want good relation with all parties based on respect and equality. I understand that equality is limited in this sense due to the influence of major powers in the relation. This is true. But at least there should be respect for each nations sovereignty and independence.

Q: About the Cambodia-China relation and the establishment of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which has caused friction among ASEAN members. What is Cambodias current position on this?

A: The South China Sea dispute took another hit with the verdict from the Permanent Court of Arbitration accepting the Philippines complaint filed against China.

But first, we are a neutral country, we do not take sides nor interfere in any countrys affairs. Secondly, we are not a claimant country of the sovereignty in the South China Sea region. Thirdly, we will try to maintain peace and interests of ASEAN as a whole. We see that the South China Sea dispute and the case related to Permanent Court of Arbitration concerns only the Philippines and China as we have learned in the summit four months ago.

President Rodrigo Duterte also stated that the issue was not between ASEAN and China, but between the Philippines and China. He said the issue was not a burning topic in the summit. Cambodias firm is to maintain peace and stability of the regions status quo. Thus, we do not take sides.

So we need to make sure that the Declaration of the Code of Conduct is fully implemented and issue a declaration concerning the South China Sea. We need to agree to relieve the tension and prevent conflicts from arising in the region.

We should establish a hotline among the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member countries and China on top of the Code of Conduct, in case we come across unexpected issues. We also need to exercise restraint in accordance with the Code of Conduct so as to avoid confusion. Eight months ago, we also agreed to implement the Code of Conduct for South China Sea. Cambodias stance is supporting a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute. We say yes to solidarity in ASEAN and no to taking side with any country that is involved in the dispute. Our stance is simple. That is seeking peaceful resolution in compliance with the law.

Q: In the reports and comments of ASEAN officials, there is no specific reference as to which entity or court should deal with the South China Sea dispute. Can Cambodia shed some light on this?

A: This depends on the parties involved in the issue. As I have mentioned, this dispute is not between China and ASEAN. It is a dispute between one country and another, between China and the Philippines or Brunei or Vietnam. But its not a dispute between China and ASEAN. It is not necessary for ASEAN to include those issues in its formal agenda because the issue has nothing to do with ASEAN.

Q: On the matter of North Korea, the government released statements concerning its missile tests. What can you say about this issue?

A: We are concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Let me clarify that there is a North Korea issue and Korean Peninsula issue because if we talk about an issue concerning the Korean Peninsula, it involves with other parties in the region. North Korea is one party, but not a sole one.

In terms of Korean Peninsula issue, the situation has worsened recently because there are acts of aggression from the parties involved in the conflict. As you have learned, Cambodia has a relation with North Korea because Prince Norodom Sihanouk had a special relation with the North Korean President Kim Il Sung.

Since then we have maintained that relation. However, because North Korea has been behaving out of line, as a UN member, Cambodia needs to remind North Korea that it needs to abide by the resolutions set by the UN.

There are now tougher resolutions slapped on North Korea with trade suspension and a clamp down on businesses that provide funding for North Korea missile program. Despite good relations with North Korea, Cambodia released two statements separately in 2016 and two more this year related to North Koreas missile launches and nuclear tests.

So we reaffirmed our stance with North Korea. If they want to be our friend, they should respect the decisions of the UN Security Council, the decision of the UN member countries and the international community, and they should abandon their nuclear program.

We think that what happened is due to back-and-forth provocation. The U.S. and South Korea have also increased their military drills. This has caused concerns for North Korea which then pushes the nuclear program. In such a cycle the situation is bound to worsen.

When Cambodia releases a statement, we want North Korea to abide by UN Security Council resolutions and do its duty. Second, we call for all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that causes tension to rise because if war broke out, it would not only affect the two countries in conflict but the region and the world as a whole. We also call for the consideration of a proposal by China and Russia termed double free, which proposes a suspension of North Koreas nuclear program and a suspension or reduction of military drills of the South Korea and the U.S.

In the meantime, we also support the Berlin Initiative as raised by South Korean President Moon Jae-In during his trip to Berlin, which aims to pave the way for peace negotiations between the two Koreas.

Q: Could there be a suspension or reduction of North Korean trade with Cambodia and untying the relationship between the two countries?

A: Honestly speaking, we have declined proposals from North Korea for the exchange visit by senior government officials. Cambodia has declined visit invites for the Foreign Minister, the National Assembly President, the Foreign Vice-Minister, the director and so on to show that they have to abide by the UN resolution before we get a chance to restore the relation.

If we accept their proposal, it means that Cambodia violates the UN resolution. Concerning business activities, we have also done some research related to North Korean economic activities in Cambodia in order to take appropriate action.

Q: In terms of Cambodian migrant workers going to Thailand and South Korea, is there any new agreement or measure to better provide passports or expedite their visa applications?

A: In South Korea we do not have any problems (with unregistered immigration) because South Korea is far away and there are no other channels to go there as in the case of Thailand. Thus, they need to have proper documents which means they need to have passport and visa. That way, they will have the rights to work right away once they are in South Korea.

However, there are few illegal cases that involve some workers having an informal contract with another Korean company when their formal contract ends with the current company. We advised migrant workers to abide by the law in the foreign country and ensure their safety and legality as not to have any trouble with authority.

But there are cases of migrant workers listening to middlemen when they are seeking work in Thailand. So the middlemen take advantage of the migrant workers. In some cases, the migrant workers get scammed. Apart from a few cases of scams, there is still another burning concern we are trying to address. That is the legal documentation of the workers. In this case, we have launched a campaign to provide more than 200,000 passports to the migrant workers.

It is somehow difficult to inform and distribute the passports when migrant workers return (from Thailand) to their provinces. That is why we need to register their names (at the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand) to know where they work so that we can bring the passports to them. This way we can also identity Cambodian migrant workers who are working illegally in Thailand.

Travel documents, particular passports, are our focus for the migrant workers. We have deployed many immigration officers, even at the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand. The parking space was renovated and air conditioning was installed to serve migrant workers who came to fill up work application in Thailand. We are doing our best to make sure they are working legally so as not to be exploited. That is why we are trying to protect and facilitate for them. They can come to the embassy at any time whenever they have a problem.

Q: How far is the cooperation with Thailand on this? Because it seems some issues in Thailand are not communicated with Cambodia or migrant workers. Then we see the rapid expulsion of the workers sometimes.

A: We held a lot of discussions from the officer level up to ministerial level. I myself have also held a lot of talks with Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai to raise the issues of our migrant workers. But normally the Foreign Affairs Ministry is not the one that deals with migrant workers completely. We only help facilitate the paperwork. More importantly, its the job of the Ministries of Labor and Thai immigration officials.

There are also proposals for cooperation and facilitation, and I have appealed to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha. Prime Minister Hun Sen has also raised the issue with the Thai Prime Minister when Prayut paid a visit to Cambodia on September 7. Lately, there have been discussions to facilitate the migrant workers as much as possible to prevent their exploitation in Thailand.

We have also discussed the use of firearms against illegal loggers because in Cambodia some people are cheated into cutting illegal timber in Thai territory and bringing the logs back into Cambodia (and getting shot by authorities). So we call for more cooperation in this field to avoid the loss of life of our people, despite their wrongdoing.

Q: As were getting to the end of the interview, I want to hear your position on terrorism and climate change. What role has Cambodia played in this context?

A: For terrorism, we condemn any act of terrorism because we cannot accept the killing of any innocent life. We also acknowledge that no country is free from terrorist threats, though Cambodia has yet to see a terrorist act taking place.

We are fully prepared for any act of terrorism. We need to address terrorism. That is to address the cause of terrorism, the cause related to social inequity, discrimination and religious persecution and hatred. But all religions can co-exist in Cambodia.

This is the policy of Prime Minister Hun Sen who supports different religions: Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism alike. Another issue we need to address is the financing of terrorism since any terrorist act needs funding. When we can cut the funding we can prevent terrorism.

Another point to take into account is the event that took place in Marawi in the Philippines, which showed that terrorists were seeking to establish a base in Southeast Asia. Thus, all the ASEAN member countries are joining hands to prevent any terrorist acts from happening as in the case of Syria and Iraq.

In terms of climate change, we already signed the Paris Climate Accord. The parliament also approved the treaty early this year. We are wholeheartedly willing to take part in addressing climate change as Cambodia also bears its effects. In addition, we have taken action to contribute to the fight against climate change with the international community.

Q: Lastly, do you have any words for fellow Cambodians from here in New York City?

A: Pchum Ben has just ended recently. I dont have a lot of words, but I would like Cambodians living in the U.S., as well as in other nations, to carefully observe the situation in Cambodia by seeing thing from all angles before making any allegation.

Let me take this chance to wish all Cambodian people wellness and strength, success in all of their work and happiness in their family.

Q: Thank you, Mr. Senior Minister for talking to VOA after your statement at the UN National Assembly. Thank you for spending your time with us. Good-bye.

A: Good bye.


The head of a labor rights group who helped organize the funeral for slain political commentator Kem Ley has denied claims made in a legal complaint against the events organizers that they embezzled funds meant for the funeral.

Moeun Tola, executive director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights, told the Phnom Penh Municipal Court that the allegations were false and called for the case, filed by the members of the Cambodian Youth Party (CYP), to be dismissed.

He told reporters outside the court on Tuesday that the committee in charge of organizing the funeral was not in charge of the funding, noting that the allegations lodged by the CYP did not specify an amount of money allegedly stolen from the funds, into which many ordinary Cambodians donated.

The accusation is false and I will not comment on the intentions of the plaintiff, he said. It is up to the people to decide.

Ly Sophanna, a court spokesman, said in a message to reporters: The court will proceed with the case accordingly.

Kem Ley was shot at a gas station in Phnom Penh in July last year in what many believe was a political assassination in response to his vehement criticism of corruption and abuses of Cambodias political, business and military elite.

A large-scale funeral was held shortly afterward in Phnom Penh, followed by a separate funeral in his hometown in Takeo province some months later.

Pich Sros, a CYP leader, filed a lawsuit claiming corruption in the use of funds for the funeral -- which was not a state-funded event -- on September 8.

However, Bou Rachana, Leys widow, said the money donated for the funeral had either been spent on proceedings or not touched.

Soeung Sen Karona, a rights worker with local group Adhoc, said he suspected the lawsuit was filed so that the CYP and Sros could gain favor with the government and public notoriety.

Generally, politicians do whatever it takes to gain his or her popularity, he said. However, it does not gain him any popularity but rather undermines his popularity. There will be no support, just criticism.

Along with Tola, the lawsuit accuses Pa Nguon Teang, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media and Venerable Buth Buntenh, founder of the Independent Monks Network.
The gunman who slaughtered 26 people and wounded at least 20 more Sunday morning at a church in a small south Texas town had a troubled past that included several months of military imprisonment. But as VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reports, an error by the Air Force may have allowed him to obtain the weapons used in the attack.
The Trump administration is unique in that some officials continue to ask for more evidence that humans are contributing to a warming planet. This, despite a government report issued last week that concludes that human activity is the primary cause of a warming planet. But if that report isn't proof enough, there are places on the planet, like Mongolia, where climate change is visibly destroying entire landscapes. VOA's Kevin Enochs reports.
Since 1981, the U.S. Air Force has been presenting the Lance P. Sijan Award to individuals who demonstrate the highest qualities of leadership in the Air Force and in their lives. It is one of the most prestigious awards given by the Air Force.It's name honors the bravery of an Air Force pilot who was shot down in 1967 during the Vietnam War -- Lance P. Sijan. VOA's Nikoleta Ilic has the story on this Veteran's Day holiday.
The U.S. Air Force is investigating why the Texas church gunman's domestic violence conviction that got him jailed and thrown out of the service was not properly entered into the FBI database.

If it had been, Devin Kelley would have been stopped from legally buying an assault rifle and may not have murdered 26 people Sunday in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs.

WATCH: Who was the Texas shooter?

Kelley was an airman from 2010 until 2014. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says he was court-martialed in 2012 for beating his wife and stepson. He received a bad conduct discharge, reduction in rank and military prison time.For reasons that are unclear, the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations did not properly follow Pentagon rules and provide the information to the FBI for its National Criminal Information Center database.

The Air Force has ordered a review of the Kelley case and says it will ensure all such cases are reported.

The FBI agent in charge of the investigation in Texas, Christopher Combs, says there was nothing in its system that prohibited Kelley from getting the weapons when a background check was carried out.

Kelley passed a federal background check, but the state of Texas denied him a permit to carry a gun.

President Donald Trump, speaking in South Korea Tuesday, said "extreme vetting" on gun purchases would not have made any difference in preventing the massacre.

"And you might not have had that very brave person who happened to have a rifle in his truck go out and shoot him and hit him and neutralize him," Trump said, referencing an armed bystander who confronted Kelly outside the church.

At a Monday night news conference, the FBI's Combs refused to say Kelley's name, saying he does not want to glorify him. Combs would only call him "the gunman."

Combs said "horrific" is too weak a word to describe the scene inside the First Baptist church. Twenty-six people were killed; 20 were wounded.

Texas public safety official Freeman Martin said as of Monday evening, 10 of the victims are in the hospital in critical condition and four in serious condition.

The youngest fatality was 18 months old. A pregnant woman was also killed.

Domestic dispute

Martin, who also refused to use Kelley's name, said the gunman came to the church with a purpose and a mission.

A domestic dispute with his in-laws appeared to have been behind the killings. Kelley is said to have sent "threatening texts" to his mother-in-law, who did not attend Sunday's service.

"This was not racially motivated ... wasn't over religious beliefs. There was a domestic situation going on within the family and in-laws," Martin said.

Kelley was dressed in black and wore a skull mask. He opened fire outside the church with a Ruger 556 assault rifle and kept shooting when he went inside the building. He was confronted by a church neighbor who was armed with his own rifle. Kelley fled the scene with the neighbor in pursuit, soon joined by police.

The chase ended when Kelley crashed his car and shot himself in the head. He died at the scene. Martin said he had two other bullet wounds from the neighbor.

Kelley telephoned his father as he sped from the church, telling him that he had been shot and does not expect to survive.

Kelley fired a total of 450 rounds of ammunition at the church.

Governor, president respond

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS News, "It's clear this is a person who had violent tendencies, who had challenges. Someone who was a powder keg waiting to go off."

The deadly mayhem in Texas came a month after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, when a man named Stephen Paddock opened fire on a country music show in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding about 500. Paddock shot from his 32nd floor hotel room and killed himself as police zeroed in. Investigators are looking for a motive.

WATCH: Trump on Texas Church Shooting

U.S. President Donald Trump, traveling in Asia on a five-nation trip, said the Texas shooting "isn't a guns situation" but "a mental health problem at the highest level. It's a very, very sad event." He said the shooter was "a very deranged individual."

Trump ordered U.S. flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-staff through Thursday.

WATCH: Texas shooting reactions

"We cannot put into words, the pain and grief we all feel and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost the ones they so dearly loved. Our hearts are broken," the president said.Marie Ann Montgomery, the church's Sunday school director, said people in the congregation knew Kelley. While none of the victims has been publicly identified, First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy told U.S. news networks that his 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Renee Pomeroy, is among the deceased. Pomeroy was in Oklahoma at the time of the shooting but returned to Sutherland Springs.

He said all of the people killed Sunday were close friends. Pomeroy also said he wants the world to know his daughter "was one very beautiful, special child."
A week after his release from immigration detention, Mohammed Gaber found a home at a halfway house in New Jersey.

He was one of five undocumented immigrants living at the Lighthouse run by First Friends, an immigrant advocacy group, which also helps residents find housing and jobs. All five were seeking asylum in the United States.

Gaber was seeking safety. I came here, and I said, If I stay here in the jail, thats good for me, he told VOA.

Flags line the mantle over the living room fireplace, representing everyone who has lived in the halfway home. The walls are decorated with art work done by former residents.

A sign at the houses front door says This is a place of sanctuary. No trespassing. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) agents are not authorized to enter premises.

Afraid to go home

At Lighthouse, everyone cleans, cooks and works to pay for court fees while their cases are pending.

To Gaber, cleaning the backyard, watering the grass, and raking and sweeping leaves are more than chores, they mean freedom.

Gaber asked for U.S. asylum in 2015 when he claimed his wifes family threatened to kill him after he was unfaithful to his spouse. His case was denied, and Gaber voluntarily traveled back to Egypt.

But in February, he was tortured and assaulted after his neighbor learned he was having a relationship with a transgender woman.

They catch me and they bring to the police station. They whip me there. They beat me up too much, Gaber said.

He said the beating was so severe he felt like he was in a Deep sleep. I dont know, like a coma.

Gaber escaped. Gathering a few belongings, his passport, and some money. He fled to the U.S. Once he arrived, he requested asylum. He was taken to the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey where he was detained for almost nine months.

Seeking safety

Like the residents at Lighthouse, any foreign national can file an asylum claim regardless of immigration status. Asylum seekers must prove they have a credible fear of returning to their home country.

The United States offers asylum or protection to people who are forced to flee their own countries because of persecution due to race, religion, nationality or political opinion.

Asylum seekers must apply within one year from the date of last arrival or show proof of an "exceptional" change based on extraordinary circumstances.

In June, the Associated Press reported about 70,000 asylum seekers, were being held at family detention centers. AP reported they are placed in a "highly intrusive intensive supervision program as they await court hearings on whether they can stay in the U.S." They are allowed out if they post a bond that ensures they will show up for court hearings.

The Trump administration released enforcement priorities last week that included tightening standards in the U.S. asylum system.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has claimed the current asylum system is "subject to rampant abuse and fraud" and he called for tighter rules for people seeking asylum in the United States.

Sessions said current policies allow applicants to take advantage of a "broken" court system that is backlogged by about 600,000 cases nationwide, although not all of them are asylum cases.

Gaber is no longer a court case. And he is no longer at Lighthouse. He was granted asylum and has left to begin his new life as an American.

I want stay here with peace. Peace inside me.  Thats it. I am feeling that here in America, Gaber said.
A bomb-and-gun attack on the headquarters of a private Afghan television station in Kabul Tuesday left at least four people dead and more than 20 wounded.

Islamic State claimed it plotted the assault against Shamshad TV in the city.

Witnesses said the morning attack began with a suspected suicide bombing, enabling other assailants to storm the facility.

Three more explosions were also heard during the siege which lasted several hours before Afghan security forces gunned down the attackers.

The broadcaster suspended its programing and resumed it, saying the attack on Shamshad TV has ended.

An employee at the station told VOA at least 20 wounded people, mostly employees at the station, have been taken to hospitals in the Afghan capital.

WATCH: Eyewitness describes attack

Television footage showed members of Afghan forces Crisis Response Unit surrounding and trying to enter the building while exchanging heavy gunfire with attackers.

The Taliban insurgency swiftly denied its involvement.

Abed Ehsas, the stations news director, told the Afghan TOLO channel the attackers threw hand grenades, killing at least one security guard and wounding several others before, "shooting at anyone in their sight.

It was an attack on the media and on the peoples voice. It was not the first attack and probably it will not be the last attack [on media], Ehsas said.

Head of Shamshad TV Fazal Karim Fazal told VOA he doesn't think the channel was targeted for any particular reason. "I dont know any specific reason that we should be targeted. The enemy is using all means to shut down any program that gives hope to our people, he said, via Skype.

Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), an independent watchdog defending and promoting freedom of expression in the country, condemned the attack as a brazen assault on the Afghan media.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg while speaking at the alliances headquarters in Brussels described as unacceptable the attack on the Afghan TV station, saying it underlines the importance of supporting the country to fight terrorists and insurgents.

The attack we saw this morning was yet another example of brutal and horrendous attacks against civilians. The attack has now ended and it was the Afghan security forces that were able to stop it and it shows that the Afghan security forces, they are professionals they are committed and they have the capability to respond when the insurgents are attacking, Stoltenberg noted.

Afghanistan is on the list of countries considered most dangerous for journalists and media workers. A Taliban suicide bomber in 2016 killed seven members of TOLO, Afghanistans largest private television station.

Meanwhile,United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Tuesday civilian casualties in attacks on religious worship places and leaders, primarily from the minority Shiite Muslim community, have increased in the country in the last two years.

The mission recorded more than 260 fatalities and 572 wounded in the violence since the beginning of 2016, nearly double the figure for the previous seven years.

Two suicide bombings of mosques last month killed at least 72 people in Afghanistan. The deadliest strike was at a crowded Shiite worship place in Kabul, leaving 57 people dead.

Islamic State claimed responsibly for that attack.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looked poised on Monday for a stunning political comeback, as his rightist bloc claimed victory in an election in Sicily that puts it in pole position for a national vote due by next May.

The regional Sicilian ballot, held on Sunday, was seen as a dry run for the nationwide election, with many of the island's problems reflecting those of the country as a whole - high unemployment, a debt mountain and sluggish economic growth.

An influx of migrants, many of whom arrive in Sicily after being rescued in the Mediterranean, was also a key issue.

With 93 percent of the votes counted, a center-right bloc backed by the four-times prime minister was running more than 5 percentage points ahead of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, with the center left, which governs at the national level, a distant third.

"Sicily, just as I asked, has chosen the path of real, serious, constructive change, based on honesty, competence and experience," the 81-year-old said in a video posted on Facebook.

Nello Musumeci, the center right's candidate for governor of the island, had 39.9 percent of the vote, while the 5-Star's Giancarlo Cancelleri had 34.6 percent. The center left's Fabrizio Micari was lagging on 18.5 percent.

The result puts Berlusconi back on the political map after years of sex scandals and graft allegations which seemed to have reduced the billionaire media mogul to a spent force.

Berlusconi cannot run for office due to a 2013 tax fraud conviction. But he hopes the European Court of Human Rights overturns this ban when it reviews his case later this year -- which would pave the way for a possible national challenge.

He returned to the fray after open heart surgery last year and campaigned actively in Sicily. Even if the courts deny him the chance to run, he would be an influential figure should the center right capture power again nationally.

The result on the island deals a stinging blow to another former prime minister, Matteo Renzi, head of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), which is locked in feuding with erstwhile leftist partners.

After a raft of vote setbacks in recent years, Renzi has many critics inside the PD who may now try to mount a challenge to his leadership.

Defiant in its defeat, the anti-system 5-Star Movement vowed to reach national government next year, and its leader Luigi Di Maio declared the PD "politically dead."

Opinion polls suggest the center right will win next year's national vote, but a recent change to the electoral law is likely to stop any one bloc winning an absolute majority of seats, resulting in political gridlock.

'A winning model'

Sicily is traditionally a center-right stronghold which was poached by the PD in 2012 thanks to splits in the conservative bloc. This time, Berlusconi reunited the coalition behind a widely respected leader with a far-right background.

Berlusconi's allies, the Brothers of Italy and the Northern League, reaped rewards with anti-immigrant campaigns, suggesting this will remain high on the agenda for the national vote.

"From Sicily we will demonstrate that this is a winning model that can triumph at a national level," said Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party which is the junior partner in the centre-right alliance.

The center-left government has moved this year to shut down the flow of migrants from Libya after more than 600,000, mainly Africans, reached Italy over the past four years.

But the issue has dented support for the center left, which has further damaged itself by falling prey to ferocious schisms.

The maverick 5-Star, founded by comedian Beppe Grillo, had campaigned relentlessly for months in Sicily, looking to take charge of its first region after a string of successes in municipal ballots in recent years, including in Rome and Turin.

Di Maio said the party had been penalized in Sicily by low turnout - a record of fewer than half of those eligible cast a vote, showing flagging interest in politics in Italy following years of economic downturn.

"In two or three months I think many of those who abstained will regret not going to vote," Di Maio said, insisting that if turnout had been 3 or 4 points higher it could have tilted the result in the movement's favor.

Despite losing to the centre right, the 5-Star Movement's result was a leap from 2012, when its candidate won only 18 percent of the vote in the regional polls.

Investors are worried 5-Star might win control of the country. The party bases its appeal mainly on a campaign against corruption and vested interests in Italy, but it has pulled back from a pledge to hold a referendum on continued membership of the euro.

Markets were little changed on Monday.
Osama bin Laden's son, Hamza, is calling for followers to "rise in rebellion ... against the agents of the Americans" and "to incite the masses ... until the preparations are complete & the masses are ready for an uprising."

He also is calling on Muslims to "take revenge on the Americans" for killing his father, the founder of al-Qaida.

Hamza, said to be about 28, made the comments in a speech released Tuesday by al-Qaida's as-Sahab Media Foundation.

Hamza told followers he rejected democracy, saying "freedom cannot be earned with worthless pieces of paper cast inside a ballot box."

The release of the speech came just a few days after the CIA released a video of Hamza's wedding as part of a massive trove of documents recovered during the 2011 raid in Pakistan that killed his father.

Prior to the release from the CIA, the public had seen only photos of Hamza as a child.
Saudi Arabia is more aggressively confronting its rival Iran on multiple fronts. It's a policy that risks sharpening several conflicts in the Middle East, even though so far it has failed to score any successes in stemming Tehran's influence.



The bolder steps are largely seen as the work of the son of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consolidated his power. Under his leadership, the kingdom has shown a readiness to shake up the region, launching a military campaign in Yemen against rebels its sees as Iranian proxies and sparking a confrontation with Qatar in part over ties with Tehran.



Still, Iran has been able to use wars in Iraq and Syria to build a bridge of alliances stretching from its border to the Mediterranean.



The question is whether the Saudis will push even harder against Iran  and what will happen if they do. So far, the kingdom's policies appear to have the full support of U.S. President Donald Trump.



The past weekend saw dramatic developments connected to the kingdom that intensified regional tensions:



- Yemeni rebels fired a missile targeting the international airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supplying the missile, saying that could be "considered an act of war." The missile was intercepted by air defenses, but it was the deepest rebel strike in Saudi territory since the Yemen war began in 2015.



- Saudi Arabia seems to have acted to wreck Lebanon's government that includes Iran's powerful ally, Hezbollah. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Saudi ally, announced his surprise resignation in Riyadh, believed to be at the Saudis' prompting.



- Crown Prince Mohammed appeared to strengthen his power at home. There were a series of arrests of princes and senior figures in what was billed as a crackdown on corruption but was widely seen as a purge of potential rivals and critics.



How Saudi policies are affecting different countries of the Middle East:



Direct Confrontation with Iran?



Though Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to respond over the Yemeni missile, it is unlikely to take direct military action against Iran.



The kingdom's military is already tied down in the Yemen war, with its warplanes leading the air campaign there and troops on the border. Iran's military is larger and more battle-hardened than Saudi Arabia's, but the kingdom has far more advanced weaponry bought from the U.S. and Europe in the past decade. It has a strong ally in the United Arab Emirates, which also has built a large military.



Direct military action would risk huge destabilization in the Gulf and beyond, disrupting oil shipments vital to Saudi Arabia and its allies. The kingdom is unlikely to act without a green light from Washington, where the policy has been to avoid direct confrontation with Iran.



That leaves them squaring off in proxy battles for power in the region.



Yemen



The war in the impoverished nation on Saudi Arabia's southern border has been a quagmire for the kingdom. In 2015, a coalition of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other allies began a campaign against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who they say are tools of Iran.



This prevented the Houthis and their allies from overrunning Yemen and preserved a hold in the south. But the coalition has been unable to push the rebels farther back, leaving them in control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north.



The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and pushed millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine. It also has drained Saudi resources at a time of already lower oil prices. Saudi troops have largely stayed out, relying instead on airstrikes. The crown prince has said a ground invasion would cost too many Saudi lives.



The Houthis' missile launch increased tensions, and Saudi Arabia responded by intensifying its blockade of Yemen, raising fears an already dire humanitarian situation will get worse.



A Houthi-linked army spokesman said the rebels will continue to target Saudi airports and also threatened to hit the UAE. That seems unlikely, since Dubai is one of Iran's top trading partners and home to a significant number of Iranians and Iranian businesses.



Iran has backed the Houthi rebels, but denies arming them. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif dismissed Riyadh's accusations over the missile, saying Saudi Arabia blames Iran for the consequences of the kingdom's own "wars of aggression, regional bullying, destabilizing behavior and risky provocations."



Neither side seems willing or able to escalate the fight, leaving a debilitating stalemate. But the missile strike underscores the potential for the conflict to grow beyond Yemen's borders.



Lebanon



Hariri's resignation was widely seen as a Saudi move against Hezbollah, the Shiite political group and guerrilla force that is Iran's powerful arm in Lebanon and Syria.



In doing so, the Saudis demonstrated an ability to sabotage Lebanese politics, wrecking the compromise government led by Hariri that the kingdom saw as too close to Iran.



But it's difficult to see what Saudi Arabia gained otherwise.



Hezbollah still dominates Lebanon, and nothing will shake that anytime soon. No Sunni militia or political group has the same clout, and few Sunnis want to risk a destabilizing fight with Hezbollah. The Saudi intervention only made many Lebanese, including some Hariri supporters, resent the kingdom, fearing it will upset the delicate power-sharing structure among Lebanon's Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and other communities. The country will probably be stuck without an effective government  or a weak, provisional one.



Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi criticized it as a U.S.-Israeli-Saudi plot to cause tension in Lebanon.



The fear is that Saudi Arabia will push the situation further somehow to try to set back Hezbollah. That could potentially destabilize Lebanon, which saw bloody clashes between the guerrilla force and Sunni rivals in the mid-2000s.



Prominent Saudi minister Thamer al-Sabhan was quoted as blaming Iran for the instability and saying the kingdom will now treat Lebanon "as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia due to the aggression of Hezbollah."



Syria



After six years of war in Syria, Iran and its ally President Bashar Assad are prevailing over mainly Sunni rebels, many of them backed by Saudi Arabia.



Iran has intensified its influence in Syria, with its own forces and fighters from Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias battling alongside Assad's troops. Iran's direct intervention and Russia's air campaign rescued Assad and turned the tide in his favor, recapturing large stretches of territory.



As international pressure on Assad to step down recedes, Saudi Arabia's effort to push Iran out of Syria has crumbled.



Still, the kingdom is trying to hold influence in the mainly Sunni areas that remain out of Assad's hands. Saudi warplanes helped in the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State group. A Saudi envoy recently went to the Syrian city of Raqqa, newly retaken from IS, to discuss a Saudi role in reconstruction.



Qatar



Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut relations with neighboring Qatar in June over the tiny Gulf state's ties with Iran and its support of Islamist groups.



The diplomatic rift has played out to Iran's advantage. When Saudi Arabia and the UAE barred Qatari aircraft from their airspace, Qatar used Iranian airspace. When Saudi Arabia sealed Qatar's only land border, it looked toward Iran and Turkey to fill the gap.



Despite repeated efforts by Washington to encourage dialogue and resolve the standoff, the Saudis and Emiratis demand a number of concessions from Qatar, many of which Qatar has rejected.



Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Maggie Michael in Cairo, Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is facing calls to resign after saying recently that a British-Iranian woman currently jailed in Iran had been training journalists when she was arrested. Boris Johnson has since said he "could have chosen his words more carefully."

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 as she tried to return home to Britain after a vacation to visit her parents.

Iranian authorities have never revealed the exact charges against Zaghari-Ratcliffe, but earlier this year sentenced her to jail for five years, purportedly on grounds of national security.'

The website of the Iranian judiciary Monday published an article quoting Johnson, saying the foreign secretary's statement "has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin."



The Reuters news agency reports that after Johnson made the controversial remarks, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was brought back to court in Iran and accused by a judge of "spreading propaganda against the regime."



Johnson's remark that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been in Iran "teaching people journalism" was made before a parliamentary committee last week.



Zaghari-Ratcliffe's employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, says that is false, and fears Iran will use Johnson's words to justify extending her sentence.



"We have not seen any progress in Nazanin's situation, and the situation is that now they want to double her sentence. This is unimaginable that she would do 10 years without being a culprit of anything," said Monique Villa, the CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, where Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked as a project manager.



Johnson has since spoken to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on the telephone and said that the earlier remarks "could form no justifiable basis for further action in this case." Johnson said he plans to travel to Tehran in the coming weeks to discuss the case.

The incident sparked a heated exchange in the British parliament Tuesday as Johnson faced opposition calls to step down.

"How about the foreign secretary himself show a bit of personal responsibility and admit that a job like this, where your words hold gravity and your actions have consequences, is simply not the job for him," opposition Labor MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry told lawmakers.



Johnson accused his rival of trying to create political capital out of the incident.



"She can choose to blame, to heap blame, on to the British Foreign Office that is trying to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and in so doing, she deflects blame, she deflects accountability from those who are truly responsible for holding that mother in jail, and that is the Iranian regime."



The foreign secretary added the British government had "no doubt" Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was on vacation.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been separated from her two-year-old daughter, who is now being cared for by her grandparents. Zaghari-Ratcliffe is still only able to see her child for strictly limited periods. She has been held in solitary confinement and her health is reported to be deteriorating.



Despite the setbacks, her family and supporters say they still have hope that she will be released before Christmas.
Chipmaker Broadcom made an unsolicited $103 billion bid for Qualcomm on Monday, setting the stage for a major takeover battle as it looks to dominate the fast-growing market for semiconductors used in mobile phones.

Qualcomm said it would review the proposal. The San Diego-based company is inclined to reject the bid as too low and fraught with risk that regulators may reject it or take too long to approve it, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

A Broadcom-Qualcomm deal would create a dominant company in the market for supplying chips used in the 1.5 billion or so smartphones expected to be sold around the world this year. It would raise the stakes for Intel Corp, which has been diversifying from its stronghold in computers into smartphone technology by supplying modem chips to Apple.

Qualcomm shareholders would get $60 in cash and $10 per share in Broadcom shares in a deal, according to Broadcom's proposal. Including debt, the transaction is worth $130 billion.

GBH Insight analyst Daniel Ives said bullish investors were hoping for $75 to $80 per share.

"Now it's a game of high-stakes poker for both sides," he said.

Shares of Qualcomm, whose chips allow phones to connect to wireless data networks, traded above $70 as recently as December 2016 and topped $80 in 2014.

Qualcomm's shares were up 2 percent at $63.09 at mid-afternoon, suggesting investors were skeptical a deal would happen.

Broadcom shares fell 0.3 after hitting a record high of $281.80.

Regulatory scrutiny

Qualcomm's largest market is the so-called modem chips that allow phones to use mobile data plans, but it also sells connectivity chips for automobiles that handle "infotainment" systems and wireless electric vehicle charging. Qualcomm provides chips to carrier networks to deliver broadband and mobile data.

Any deal struck between the two companies would face intense regulatory scrutiny. A big hurdle would be getting regulatory approval in China, on which both Qualcomm and Broadcom rely on to make money.

China is set to look at any deal closely after U.S. regulators blocked a flurry of chip deals by Chinese firms due to security concerns, thwarting the Asian country's attempt to become self-reliant in chip manufacturing.

Broadcom could spin out Qualcomm's licensing arm, QTL, to get regulatory approval and funding for the deal, raising as much at $25 billion from a sale, Nomura Instinet analyst Romit Shah suggested.

Broadcom had $5.25 billion in cash and cash equivalent as of July 30. Qualcomm had $35.03 billion as of Sept. 24.

Broadcom said BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley have advised it they are highly confident that they will be able to arrange the necessary debt financing for the proposed transaction.

The company has also got a commitment letter for $5 billion in financing from private equity Silver Lake Partners, an existing Broadcom investor.

Vulnerable Qualcomm

Broadcom approached Qualcomm last year to discuss a potential combination, but did not contact Qualcomm prior to unveiling its $70 per share offer Monday, according to sources.

Qualcomm is more vulnerable to a takeover now because its shares have been held down by a patent dispute with key customer Apple, as well as concerns that it may have to raise a $38 billion bid for NXP Semiconductors NV that it made last year.

Broadcom, Qualcomm and NXP together would have control over modems, Wi-Fi, GPS and near-field communications chips, a strong position that could concern customers such as Apple and Samsung Electronics because of the bargaining power such a combined company could have to raise prices. However, a combined company would also likely have a lower cost base and the flexibility to cut prices.

Broadcom said its proposal stands irrespective of whether Qualcomm's acquisition of NXP goes through or not.

Qualcomm's entire 10-member board is up for re-election this spring, and Broadcom could seize on the Dec. 7 nomination deadline to put forward its own slate.

Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan, who turned a small, scrappy chipmaker into a $100-billion company based in Singapore and the United States, told Reuters he would not rule out a proxy fight.

"We are well advised and know what our options are, and we have not eliminated any of those options," said Tan, who has pulled off a string of deals over the past decade. "We have a very strong desire to work with Qualcomm to reach a mutually beneficial deal."

Tan added that if Broadcom acquires Qualcomm which in turn has acquired NXP, the combined company's net debt could be in the range of $90 billion.

Two Qualcomm directors, Anthony Vinciquerra and Mark McLaughlin, have been aligned with activist hedge fund Jana Partners LLC, which pushed for a shakeup of the company two years ago. Jeffrey Henderson, another Qualcomm board director, was added last year as a compromise candidate.

Apple, as a key customer, could pose a risk to the deal, said Karl Ackerman, an analyst at Cowen.

Tan told Reuters that Broadcom taking over Qualcomm would improve relations with Apple: "We believe we can be very constructive in resolving these issues and resetting relationships."

Broadcom plans to move its headquarters solely to the United States, which would allow it to avoid review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign ownership of U.S. assets.

Broadcom's offer represents a premium of 27.6 percent to Qualcomm's closing price of $54.84 on Thursday, a day before media reports of a potential deal pushed up the company's shares.
When Koutu Saimon's son, Wheener, was born almost four months premature and "as small as a mouse," friends and relatives in Chad turned to the new mother and, with sidelong glances and in hushed voices, whispered to her to get rid of the baby.

"They told me: 'You need to take him to the river, do an exorcism ritual, leave him there. He's cursed, it's a snake child'," Saimon told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"They would kill a child like that," she added incredulously, looking at her son.

Wheener, now a lively eight-year-old, squealed with delight upon seeing his teacher, Adoumkidjim Naiban, who founded Chad's only school for children with learning disabilities, the CESER Center, almost 20 years ago.

Children with disabilities are often neglected across central Africa, where many believe their condition is caused by curses, supernatural forces or as a punishment.

The CESER Center in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, only stays open by combining education with social entrepreneurship.

Almost half of Chad's 14 million population live below the poverty line and more than 10 percent of children die before their fifth birthday, the charity Save the Children says.

Sales from furniture and leather goods produced by the CESER Center's 80-plus students, as well as vegetables, eggs and cattle from its farm on the city's outskirts, help keep it running.

"Sometimes the pupils also take food they grow home to feed their families," said Naiban, who waives school fees of about 70,000 CFA francs ($125) a year for the poorest families.

Chad, the world's third least-developed country, is also weighed down by drought and floods, conflict with the militant group Boko Haram and some 400,000 refugees fleeing the Lake Chad basin, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Government resources are hard-stretched and a domestic law which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities is not effectively enforced, experts say.

Nor has Chad has ratified the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which requires governments to promote, protect and ensure human rights for disabled people.

It falls mostly to charities to provide for those with special needs, who often lack basic equipment like corrective glasses or wheelchairs.

'Snake Children'

Negative beliefs about disability are common in rural communities across the world.

This is partly due to the low levels of education - in Chad, over 90 percent of people cannot read - and because information on the medical causes of disability is not widely available, experts say.

In Chad and other countries in the region, children with disabilities are sometimes called 'snake children' because they often find movement difficult, meaning they crawl on the ground for longer than other children.

Like snakes, they are regarded as troublesome, and often killed or abandoned in forests or near river-beds where they are believed to turn back into serpents.

"If they don't throw them out, they hide them," said Naiban, who was inspired to start the school after seeing his young disabled niece suffering.

"I wanted to do something to help her," he said, sitting among stacks of papers, books and musical instruments in his cramped office.

When Naiban realized there was no trained teacher for mentally disabled children in the whole of Chad, he decided to train himself.

A Swiss foundation catering to people with special needs, Les Perce-Neige, hosted him for three months and then provided money to buy land for the school.

But running costs, including salaries for six of his 11 staff who are not paid by the government, proved a challenge.

"Many centers of this type all over the world are forced to close because they run out of funding," said Koundja Mayoubila, Chad's program manager for Reach for Change, a Swedish charity which provided entrepreneurial funding and training for Naiban.

Pupils learn sewing, masonry, furniture production and farming in workshops inside the school and on its farm.

After they graduate, they use their skills to earn money, often as tailors, carpenters and on construction sites.

"One even plays in a local orchestra," said Naiban, who has also set up parents' groups supporting more than 2,000 children with learning difficulties across the vast central African country.

"We explain to the community: 'No, it's a congenital malfunction, the cause is biological  it's malnutrition, maybe malaria, meningitis,'" he said.

"We explain that it's not evil spirits, they're not 'snake children.'"

For Saimon, the center serves as a lifeline, enabling her to hold down a job in a restaurant while Wheener is at school.

"It's not easy for us, the mothers especially," she said, adding that her husband left soon after their son was born. "But with this education, he has a chance to make something of his life."

($1 = 560.0000 CFA francs)
Italian authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 23 trafficked Nigerian women on smugglers' boats in the Mediterranean Sea as possible victims of homicide. The International Organization for Migration reports their bodies were found Monday near the Italian port of Salerno.

The International Organization for Migration reports 402 migrants, most from West Africa, were rescued Sunday in four different operations along the central Mediterranean route. It says they, along with the remains of more than 20 women, were brought to the Italian city of Salerno.

In one of the most dramatic operations, the IOM reports a sinking rubber dinghy was found in time to save the lives of 64 people, among the estimated 140 people on board. Among the bodies recovered were those of 23 Nigerian women and girls. The corpses of three other Nigerian women were retrieved from an inflatable boat in another operation.

IOM spokesman, Joel Millman, told VOA the 23 Nigerian women likely were victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

What is curious is that they are all from Nigeria, as far as we know. They are all women, a few of them are even under-age women, and we do not have any information or any evidence to discuss now that indicates a homicide. It is just that they, the fact that they all come from one group and it is a group that has been terribly victimized in sex trafficking for the last few years, lends suspicion that there could be a crime involved in their deaths, not just accidental, which is also a crime, he said.

Millman said the prefect of Salerno has decided to open an investigation to determine the circumstances of the deaths. He said the Italian authorities are performing autopsies on the bodies.

Over the past four days, the IOM reports that rescue operations on the central Mediterranean route saved the lives of more than 2,560 migrants. It said 34 bodies were recovered, with an estimated 50 missing at sea.
KIMBERLY  Kimberly residents: The school district is looking for your input on elementary school attendance zones.

Its holding tours Saturday of its new elementary school  under construction now and slated for completion in June 2018  and theres a community meeting Nov. 16 to seek input on zones, the new schools name, colors and mascot.

Its the first time Kimberly will have school attendance zones. A second elementary school campus opening next fall means students will be divided among the two schools. School officials are also developing policies about how in and out-of-district transfers will be handled.

Superintendent Luke Schroeder said Monday he wants to encourage community members to weigh in.

We want them to be empowered with knowledge, he said. Its just very important that they attend these meetings and ask questions. The last thing we want to do is make decisions in isolation.

Schroeder declined Monday to share details about the recommendations  including what the elementary school boundaries may be  saying he wants to wait until the community meeting.

After gathering input this month, school trustees are slated to make a decision during a Dec. 20 meeting.

Construction on the $10.7 million school has been underway since spring. The 50,000-square-foot building will help alleviate overcrowding, since the existing elementary school has more than 900 students.

Then, remodeling will begin on the existing elementary school.

The new 10-acre campus is at the corner of Polk Street West and Emerald Drive North, east of Ballards Way subdivision.

The new school will be paid for using a $14 million bond voters approved in May 2016. Construction is on time and budget, Schroeder said Monday.

At a community meeting Nov. 16, recommendations from an approximately 15-member transition committee  which includes community members, school employees and school trustees  will be presented about elementary school attendance boundaries, school name, colors and mascot.

The committee has met since April. It looked at data about where current elementary schoolers live and where future growth may occur.

Another big factor: Looking at where socioeconomically disadvantaged students live and making sure theyre not all in one school building.

The committee didnt use computer mapping software, but drew boundaries manually. It went through class lists and placed each student in school boundary.

It tried using computer software a couple of times, Schroeder said, but found it wasnt always accurate.

The group also created two community surveys about a school name, colors and mascot. It received about 600 responses each time. The survey didnt ask for feedback on school boundaries.

The committee presented recommendations to the school board in mid-October and met in a work session Thursday with the board to discuss the recommendations further.

Schroeder said: Now the board would like to hear from the patrons about how they feel about the recommendations.
NATO needs to establish a new regional base for protecting the North Atlantic against increased Russian naval strength, a senior alliance general said on Monday, as allies consider the next step in a military build-up reminiscent of the Cold War.

General Petr Pavel, head of NATO's military committee, will help put the case to allied defense ministers this week for a new planning and strategy base to be located in a chosen NATO ally and focused on keeping Atlantic shipping lanes safe from enemy submarines. It would be the first such expansion in two decades after NATO sharply cut back its commands in 2011.

"If we look at the growing capabilities of countries like Russia and China, with a global reach, it is quite obvious that maritime lines of communication have to be protected," Pavel, a Czech army general, told Reuters in an interview.

"We observe increased Russian naval activity in the Arctic in the northern Atlantic ... We also assess that for any future crisis, the reinforcement of Europe and free lines of communication will be vital for European security," Pavel said.

If approved, the new North Atlantic Command would survey a vast area and, in the event of any potential conflict with Russia, have the task of making sea lanes safe for U.S reinforcements to Europe.

Strong in symbolism, the decision is unlikely to revive a much larger Cold War-era Atlantic Command that was disbanded in 2002, but it would broaden NATO's new deterrent against Russia.

Despite NATO's cooperation with Moscow in the Balkans after a 1997 pact formalized friendly ties, the alliance sees the Kremlin's incursions in Georgia and eastern Ukraine and its seizure of Crimea as unacceptable breaches of international law.

Pavel described Russia as a "potential threat," while the West was alarmed by Moscow's war games in September that massed tens of thousands of troops and may have tested electronic warfare tools on Latvia, NATO officials say.

Since Russia's 2014 Crimea annexation, NATO has sought to reassure its Baltic allies by sending troops to the Baltics, Poland and the Black Sea, setting up a network of NATO outposts, holding more exercises and preparing a rapid response force, including air, maritime and special operations components.

The United States have also returned tanks and troops to Europe after a long drawdown at the end of the Cold War.

Russia condemns the moves as an aggressive strategy on its frontiers that threatens to destabilize eastern Europe.

Logistics, Costs

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will join other allied defense ministers on Wednesday and Thursday to decide whether to approve the North Atlantic Command, as well as a logistics command to focus on moving troops more quickly across Europe.

With renewed purpose since Russia's annexation of Crimea, NATO allies are broadly in favor of the two commands. Many are keen to lock in U.S. support given President Donald Trump's early doubts about the alliance he now says he strongly backs.

Pavel cautioned that cost is likely to be an issue for NATO governments and said there were no shortcuts in deterrence.

"I believe we are now out of the realm of doing more with less. We simply have to understand that wherever we want to do more, there will be resource implications," Pavel said.

The alliance is being asked by Trump to do more in Afghanistan, in fighting Islamist militants and to stop migrants from the Middle East and North Africa reaching Europe.

Many European NATO nations are still struggling to meet an alliance goal by 2024 to spend two percent of economic output on defense every year.

"We can call it modernization, we can call it adaptation. We simply have to adapt to a new reality," Pavel said.
Egypt's leader said in a television interview that he does not favor amending constitutional provisions that bar the president from staying in office beyond two, four-year terms.

General-turned-president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was elected to office in 2014, a year after he led the military's ouster of Egypt's first freely elected civilian but divisive president, Mohamed Morsi of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. He has strongly suggested he would seek a second term in office in elections next year, but he has yet to make a formal announcement.

El-Sissi's comments, made in an interview with CNBC television that aired late Monday, were his first to publicly detail his thoughts on the constitutional clause limiting to two the number of terms that presidents can serve. Loyal lawmakers and media celebrities have in recent months been calling for the constitution to be amended to make presidential terms longer than four years.

They argued that the existing four-year terms were not long enough to allow el-Sissi to implement his ambitious plans to overhaul the economy, upgrade the country's infrastructure and crush an insurgency by Islamic militants.

"I am with preserving the (clause on) two, four-year terms and not change it," he said. "We will not interfere with it."

But el-Sissi appeared to give himself some leeway, using his hallmark phrase of "the people's will" as the deciding factor on who gets to be president. "I am not in favor of amending the constitution in this period," he said.

"It does not suit me as a president to stay one day (in office) against the Egyptian people's will," he said. "This is not just talk for television, these are values I embrace and principles I am keen on. A president who respects his people and his principles will not stay one day against the will of his people."

El-Sissi's critics see him as a populist who, together with large segments of the media loyal to him, tirelessly projects an image of protector of the people and a safe pair of hands at a time when the region is mired in turmoil and the country struggling to contain an Islamic insurgency.

His government, critics say, has consistently trampled on the constitution, a 2014 charter that provides iron-clad guarantees for freedoms and human rights. Egypt's police are operating with impunity and a series of laws enacted under el-Sissi have placed draconian restrictions on civil society groups, freedom of expression and political activism.

The state media operates as a mouthpiece of the government, while privately owned television networks and newspapers have been taken over by businessmen loyal to el-Sissi.

Egypt has been ruled by men of military background like el-Sissi for all but two years since a group of young officers seized power in a 1952 coup that toppled the monarchy. His military predecessors ran the country as outright dictators, or autocrats hiding behind a facade of a democratic system. He, however, insists that Egypt has changed since a 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak and that he is working to establish a "civilian and democratic" state.

El-Sissi's comments to CNBC surfaced just hours after a prominent rights lawyer declared he would run against el-Sissi in next year's elections, a move unlikely to pose a serious challenge to the incumbent but which would provide a test for his popularity at a time of economic hardship and an ongoing crackdown on dissent.

"Egypt is in crisis after four years of rule by Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi," Khaled Ali, the lawyer, told a news conference Monday to announce his candidacy. "We have the right to have democratic elections ... (but) we are expecting a crackdown and repression."
Indiana's county prosecutors remain vehemently opposed to any form of marijuana legalization and insist the plant "is not medicine" amid a push by a conservative state lawmaker to have it recognized as such.

The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys argues, in a letter to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb's administration, that.any type of marijuana legalization would come with grave consequences The letter, dated last week, was publicly released Monday.

"Reports abound of efforts to legalize marijuana in the state of Indiana," wrote David N. Powell, the association's executive secretary. "We respectfully ask the [administration] to formally oppose the legalization of marijuana in any form, for any purpose."

It came as state Representative Jim Lucas  a media-savvy politician better known for his outspoken opposition to gun restrictions  said he would "100 percent full-throttle" pursue medical marijuana legislation.

The libertarian-leaning lawmaker from Seymour faces long odds during the session beginning in January, but the fact that a Republican is so vocally pushing the measure marks a significant change.

Reached Tuesday for comment on the prosecutors' letter, Lucas said: "The gloves are off." Holcomb's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Legalization common

Although federal law still considers marijuana illegal, more than half of U.S. states, including some conservative ones, have legalized medical marijuana for the treatment of certain conditions.

"We got 29 states that are ahead of us, that have shown the benefits," Lucas said. "Can it be abused? Sure, anything can be abused. But since we know this can save lives, why do we want to continue to risk the quality of life, or the well-being of innocent people, just because some might go out there and abuse it?"

He suggested medical marijuana could provide an alternative to addictive painkillers.

The prosecutors association disagrees. It also says those who argue that marijuana can be used as medicine are relying on "half-truths and anecdotal evidence." But that's at odds with scientific studies that have found marijuana can treat chronic pain and ease nausea from chemotherapy, among other medical issues.

A federal advisory panel said in a January report that there were likely medical benefits to marijuana, but also potential risks that needed to be researched more.

Powell said in his letter that a Food and Drug Administration review was the only "legally recognized procedure for bringing safe and effective medications to the American public."

"To date, the FDA has not found marijuana to be either safe or effective medicine for any condition," he added.

Last year, Indiana took baby steps toward adopting medical marijuana after Holcomb signed a law allowing those with a form of epilepsy to use cannabidiol, often referred to as CBD, which is derived from pot plants but lacks psychoactive properties.

The prosecutors association opposed the measure.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that she had asked an ethics board to review whether two of her supporters who are Iowa government officials violated any laws by working on the side as agents of Saudi Arabia.

Reynolds said that, regardless of the outcome of the review, lawmakers should change state law next year to ban Iowa's public servants from moonlighting for foreign governments.

The governor's comments came amid scrutiny of Kim and Connie Schmett, a married couple who hold important state appointments and recently hosted a Reynolds campaign fundraiser.

Disclosure filings show the Schmetts' consulting firm collected $101,500 from a Saudi Arabia-funded public relations campaign against a new law allowing victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to sue the kingdom. The Schmetts were involved in recruiting veterans  some who later claimed they were misled into participating  to warn Congress that the law would have unintended consequences for military personnel overseas. Their work went from October 2016 through March.

Former Governor Terry Branstad appointed Connie and Kim Schmett to state boards when Reynolds was lieutenant governor. Connie Schmett is on the Health Facilities Council, which reviews plans for hospitals and nursing homes. She's also a trustee of the Iowa Cultural Trust Board, which awards grants. Her husband is chairman of the three-member Employment Appeal Board, which rules on appeals of disputes over unemployment benefits for government employees and other matters.

Connie Schmett, unlike her husband, failed to list her work in the consulting firm on her recent personal financial disclosure form required for executive branch officials, calling that an "oversight on my part.'' She also asked a veteran who became aware of her work as a foreign agent last February not to discuss the matter on Facebook because she could get in "BIG trouble.''

Board position missing

Kim Schmett may have issues of his own. He listed his occupation as a "consultant'' when he registered as a foreign agent; he did not include his role as an $80,000-per-year administrative law judge whose board receives 96 percent of its budget from the federal government. He doesn't appear to have reported donations he made to Branstad's campaign and GOP groups during the period when he was a foreign agent as required by the law. He told Bleeding Heartland, a blog that covers Iowa politics, on Monday that his lawyers were reviewing the donations and "we'll file an amended return if they feel that that's legally required.''

Connie Schmett hung up on a reporter Tuesday. Kim Schmett's phone rang unanswered.

Reynolds said she wanted to see the findings of a review by the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board before deciding whether to take additional steps, such as calling for their resignations or returning a $100 donation the couple recently gave her campaign.

The governor said she was unaware of their foreign work when she attended the fundraiser and disagreed with the Schmetts' opposition to the law. She noted the Schmetts don't serve at her pleasure since they've been confirmed for terms that last until 2019, 2020 and 2021.

"Legally, we don't know if they have done anything wrong. That's why we have asked a third party to review that and report back,'' Reynolds said.

She said the couple might be benefiting from a "loophole'' in Iowa's conflict-of-interest laws, which don't address work as a foreign agent. She said lawmakers should ban such work to "eliminate this happening moving forward.''

Any official who "knowingly and intentionally'' violates Iowa's personal financial disclosure law can be convicted of a misdemeanor and removed from office. Ethics board director Megan Tooker said it's more likely that Connie Schmett would simply be asked to amend her disclosure to list her consulting.

"Our main mission is to make sure that people are in compliance,'' Tooker said.
Iran is denying claims from the Saudi Arabian crown prince that Iran committed a direct military aggression against Riyadh when Yemeni rebels launched a missile at a Saudi airport.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while speaking Tuesday with British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, called the allegations by Saudi Arabia contrary to reality and dangerous.

Earlier, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also speaking with Johnson, accused its archrival of potentially committing an "act of war" after the Saudis intercepted the missile fired Saturday at King Khalid International Airport.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying the Houthi rebels with the missiles used to attack the airport. Iran denies arming the rebels and claims it had nothing to do with the attack.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Iran of violating two separate U.N. resolutions for allegedly providing missiles to the Houthi rebels and said the United States would not "turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law."

Saudi Arabias announcement confirms once again the Iranian regimes complete disregard for its international obligations, she said.

The Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis says it has the "right to respond to blatant military aggression" by Iran.

"Iranian interventions in the region are detrimental to the security of neighboring countries and affect international peace and security," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Twitter.

In response to the missile attack, Saudi Arabia said Monday it would temporarily shut down Yemeni land and sea facilities, and airports, intensifying its blockade of Yemen.

A coalition statement says "vulnerabilities in the current inspection procedures" allow ballistic missiles and other military equipment to reach the Houthis.

Although officials say the closures are temporary, they did not say how long they would last.

The United Nations says it is concerned about how to get desperately-needed food and medicine to suffering Yemenis. Two scheduled humanitarian aid flights to Yemen were grounded Monday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) blasted the decision to block Yemeni borders and said it could impact the delivery of critical medical supplies to 27 million Yemenis.

Insulin cannot wait at a shuttered border since it must be kept refrigerated. Without a quick solution to the closure, the humanitarian consequences will be dire, ICRCs regional director for the Middle East, Robert Mardini, said in a statement.

The Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital of Sana'a in 2014, forcing the internationally-recognized president, Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, to flee to Riyadh. He later returned to set up his government in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden.

Saudi-led airstrikes aimed at driving out the Houthis have obliterated entire neighborhoods and killed more than 8,000 civilians.

Extremist groups, including al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, have taken advantage of the political vacuum in Yemen to set up militant camps.

Yemen is one of the world's most impoverished countries and there appears to be little hope for its distressed civilians.

U.N. officials estimate 80 percent of Yemenis lack food, fresh water and medicine on top of a cholera epidemic.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasimi denies Irans alleged connection to al-Qaida, and calls the claim an empty media whirlwind by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Officials said such claims are a shameless attempt to falsify 9/11 records by the CIA.

Qasimis statement followed the recent release by the CIA of documents that were seized at Osama bin Ladens house in Pakistani city of Abbottabad where he was killed in a U.S. raid in 2011. Among the 470,000 files released was a 19-page document written in Arabic by an unidentified al-Qaida figure detailing the history of a relationship between Iran and al-Qaida.

The document says Iran would assist and finance any entity willing to attack U.S. targets anywhere in the world as long as Irans interference was kept anonymous.

Al-Qaida members were reportedly offered financial support and training in Hezbollah Shi'ite Militia camps in Lebanon. The released document was seized with various files including letters, videos, audio files and other materials. The CIA said making these documents public aids transparency and improves public understanding of al-Qaida and its former leader.

This is not the first time Iran has been accused of secret dealings with al-Qaida.

In his remarks about Iran in October, President Donald Trump said: Iranian proxies provided training to operatives who were later involved in al-Qaidas bombing of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Trump added that Osama bin Laden's son was one of the high-level terrorists harbored by Iran in the wake of 9/11 attacks.

In a speech on the Nov. 4 anniversary of US embassy seizure of 1981, Irans leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country will never accept being bullied by the Americans.

The American presidents foolish remarks against our people show the depth of Americas hostility towards the entire Iranian nation, Khamenei said in a televised speech. America is the number one enemy of our nation.

The release of these documents stirred a raft of responses by Iranian officials denying the information in the released files.

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, tweeted after the release of the documents A record low for the reach of petrodollars: CIA & FDD fake news w/selective al-Qaida docs re: Iran cant whitewash role of US allies in 9/11. Fars News Agency, a media platform close to the government, said CIA published cherry picked documents about al-Qaida and it is a part of a plan to increase the pressure on Iran.

Sara Masoumi a Tehran based political analyst says: This is a new psychological war by Trump and an attempt to disgrace Iran when Iran is showing its promise to fight terror in the region. The released documents also contain a letter sent from bin Laden to Khamenei demanding the release of his family members arrested by Iranian security.
His political career appeared to have been wrecked half a decade ago by sex and Mafia-linked corruption scandals, and in June he underwent open heart surgery, but to the amazement of Italy, 81-year-old Silvio Berlusconi is forging an improbable comeback thats enraging his foes and delighting his followers.

The latest way station on the unlikely political resurrection of Il Cavaliere (The Knight), as he is nicknamed, came Monday when his candidate for the governorship of Sicily trounced the nominee of Italys ruling center-left Democratic Party, or PD, and handsomely beat the candidate of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which until recently was the the odds-on favorite to win nationwide parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

The octogenarian television and property magnate campaigned actively in the Sicilian regional election, emphasizing his re-emergence as a force in the countrys politics, to the horror of his many enemies. They thought the four-time Italian prime minister had been vanquished for good in 2011 when his fourth government ended ignominiously amid allegations of bribery, sex with a minor and infamous so-called "bunga-bunga" parties (orgies) with prostitutes.

Sicily, just as I asked, has chosen the path of real, serious, constructive change, based on honesty, competence and experience, Berlusconi said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Berlusconi treated the Sicily campaign as a rehearsal for next Mays nationwide polls, promoting himself as an elder statesman with the skills and background to be able to shape a governing coalition to replace the center-lefts, which is mired in bitter feuding.

The leader of the anti-establishment M5S, Luigi Di Maio, declared Monday his party is still on track to be the senior partner in any coalition next year and declared the PD politically dead.

He framed also what will become a key part in the M5Ss election message next year, namely that it is the only political group capable of stopping Il Cavaliere. We are the only alternative to Silvio Berlusconi, said Di Maio at a news conference. The PD is not a credible competitor, he added.

For all of Di Maio's bravado, though, the result Monday was a major disappointment for the M5S, which campaigned for months in Sicily, eager to repeat a string of successes in municipal ballots in Rome and Turin. In 2012, a strong showing in Sicily for the anti-establishment movement presaged wider successes the following year across Italy, but as the populist mood has abated across Europe, M5S has found the going much tougher.

Opinion polls, and the Sicily win, suggest the center-right may well be on course to win next years national vote or at least be the dominant political force. "The political cartel that wins in Sicily is the same that would win in almost all the electoral colleges of the north, if we were to vote tomorrow," noted commentator Stefano Folli in the leftist La Repubblica newspaper.

A new complex electoral law will likely prevent any single political bloc securing an absolute majority of seats next May, but the likely resulting negotiations will play to Berlusconis strengths, argue his aides. The most likely result will be a coalition that has the PD, or elements of it, as the junior coalition partner.

The increasingly predicted electoral success next year for Berlusconis Forza Italia party and right-wing allies the Northern League and the Brothers of Italy doesn't guarantee Il Cavaliere will become prime minister.

In 2013, he was convicted of tax fraud and in 2015 a court in Naples found him guilty of bribing a senator to switch factions, precipitating the collapse of the government of Romano Prodi in 2008. His conviction carries a ban from holding public offense until 2019, although later this year, a European court will review his appeal seeking to overturn the ban.

The 81-year-old, as leader of Forza Italia, will be the force behind any center-right-led coalition government, say his aides.

The biggest danger for Berlusconis comeback may not rest with the voters, but with the courts.

His re-emergence is goading activist judges and prosecutors, who have long been his most bitter political foes, to review old cases against him that were never formally filed or to redouble their efforts on new cases.

In 2015, a court in the coastal town of Bari called him as a witness in the prosecution of seven defendants accused of procuring prostitutes for his bunga bunga sex parties. Milanese prosecutors are still investigating allegations that Berlusconi bribed key witnesses.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Tuesday that the Fed's effectiveness critically depends on the nation's confidence that the central bank is acting only in the public's interest.

Yellen said it is important for Fed officials to "demonstrate our ethical standards in ways that leave little room for doubt."

Yellen's remarks came at a ceremony where she and former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke were honored with this year's Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government, named for the late Illinois senator. Yellen and Bernanke were recognized for their efforts to increase transparency at the historically secretive Federal Reserve.

Yellen's comments were her first public remarks since President Donald Trump announced last week that he was bypassing her and nominating Fed board member Jerome Powell as the next Fed chairman.

Yellen did not mention her status at the Fed or the current state of the economy in her brief remarks. While her four-year term as Fed chairman ends Feb. 3, her term as a Fed board member does not end until early 2024. Yellen has so far remained mum about whether she will stay on the seven-member board after her term as chairman ends.

In her remarks, Yellen noted that in addition to having a long and distinguished career in Congress, Douglas had established high ethical standards early in his political career. She said in 1939 he became one of the first public officials in America to publish a full accounting of his personal finances.

"He believed that the public's trust was so fundamental to the effectiveness of government that such steps were appropriate," Yellen said. "As a senator, he continued to publish his finances and observed strict limits on the value of personal gifts he received from those seeking benefits from him as a public official."

Yellen said he campaigned for legislation that ultimately led to the widespread requirement of financial disclosure and limits on public officials accepting gifts.
During his stop in Tokyo this week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave U.S. President Donald Trump a white hat that said: "Donald & Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater." And one way Abe is seeking to do that is by trying to get the United States to support a renewed Japanese push to promote its "Partnership for Quality Infrastructure" as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Analysts are closely watching if Japan's Prime Minister will succeed in his plans to enlist the U.S., Australia, and India in his program.

An important step will be a political decision, which is expected when officials of these countries meet on November 13-14 under the banner of US-Japan-India-Australia quadrilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the upcoming East Asia Summit in the Philippines. The four countries have revived the quadrilateral dialogue after a decade-long hiatus.

News of the dialogue has put Beijing on the defensive, with the Chinese foreign ministry expressing hope that the dialogue is not used for "targeting or damaging a third party's interest." And the new infrastructure competition has surfaced at a time when China's Communist Party took the unexpected step of enshrining the BRI in the party constitution.

Analysts said Japan may be echoing a concern which is widely shared by the three other countries, and to some extent by European countries, about many of the world's major infrastructure projects, like seaports and airports, being controlled by Chinese companies who try to win maintenance contracts after completing the construction work.

Providing choices

Japan wants to ensure that countries have alternatives to Chinese-led infrastructure initiatives and that the regional economic architecture does not become excessively China-centric, Andrew Small, a senior transatlantic fellow with the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund told VOA.

But aside from trying to ensure that the region does not become hard-wired to Chinese standards and Chinese firms, there is also a concern to avoid a situation in which countries economic dependence translates into undesirable political or security choices, he said.

Nippon Export and Investment Insurance and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will be signing a memorandum this week with the US-based Overseas Private Investment Corporation, to jointly finance projects in different sectors, including energy, according to Japans Nikkei Asian Review. The collaboration is looking closely at a solar project in Jordan which is being backed by Mitsui & Co., and U.S. energy provider AES.

Japan has certainly doubled down on its engagement, particularly in Southeast Asia, but I think it is easy to forget that Japan has been building infrastructure in this region for quite some time, said Jonathan Hillman, Director of Reconnecting Asia project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

I see this partnership for quality infrastructure as sort of, in part a response (from Japan) for belt and road, but it really is doubling down on what has been a historic commitment already, he said.

Analysts have already noted that the fear of Chinese dominance in Asia is what prompted Abe to offer $24 billion in aid to the Philippines. The money will go partly go into infrastructure projects like building rapid transit, bridges, and improvements to a container port in the countrys third largest city, Cebu.

Some analysts think China is far ahead in the infrastructure game and Japan cannot offer much competition.

Belt and Road (projects) are about picking up smaller, less developed countries first. Those countries are more likely to get into China's orbit than the U.S. and gravitate towards Japan's, I would imagine. So they should have some successes but I imagine they would pale in comparison to the Chinese effort, said Andrew Polk, co-founder of research firm Trivium/China.

US role

Trump's Asian tour may throw up some indications about the extent to which the U.S. will go in backing the Japanese effort. American companies connected to the construction business have not had much of an opportunity to participate in China's BRI and might expect a piece of the action in Tokyo's plan.

The U.S. is in the process of thinking through its own plans to provide alternative offers to the BRI and that will require closer cooperation with the other major economic powers, most obviously Japan and the Europeans, Hillman said.

What is delaying U.S. involvement is the fact that it has yet to readjust its trade strategy after its withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and various internal debates to resolve its own financing streams, Hillman said. Several governments, including South Korea, India, Australia and the European Union, are also rethinking their connectivity agenda, he said.

China's commitment

An important question is whether China is worried about this move.

Discussing the quadrilateral dialogue, Lian Degui, a professor at Shanghai International Studies University, said in an article in state-controlled Global Times, "If the US, Japan, Australia, and India can coordinate and support infrastructure construction and economic development of Indo-Pacific countries, they are more than welcome. But if they try to incorporate values into economic issues and display prejudice and hostility toward other countries, they will not bring stability to the region.

Beijing is expected to make an all-out bid to fight competition in the crucial area of infrastructure because the BRI is China's conduit for exporting surplus capacity in industries like steel and cement.

Putting the Belt and Road in the party charter clearly underscores the intended longevity of the initiative, Hillman said. This does, however, raise the pressure on China to deliver."
Just when many Kenyans thought they had seen the end of the country's long election season, three petitions to contest the process were filed with the Supreme Court ahead of a Monday night deadline. The petitions target all sides in the presidential election controversy  the electoral commission, opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Former lawmaker Harun Mwau filed a petition against the electoral commission, known as the IEBC, as well as its chairman and President Kenyatta. Mwau is challenging the validity of the October 26 re-run presidential election, which he argues was held in violation of Supreme Court directions, the Constitution and relevant electoral laws.

The Institute for Democratic Governance, an NGO, filed one against several officials in the opposition NASA coalition, including leader Raila Odinga, for engaging in what it called a "carefully choreographed scheme to derail, undermine, and subvert the fresh election as announced by the Supreme Court."

The IDG also accused the opposition of setting unreasonable demands for the electoral commission to meet.

In addition, Khelef Khalifa, chairman of the group Mombasa-based Muslims for Human Rights, filed a petition against the IEBC and its chairman, as well as Kenyatta and the NASA coalition. Khalifa filed jointly with Njonjo Mue, Kenya's chairman of the International Commission of Jurists.

"We filed this petition because there were a lot of irregularities in the last election and this election," said Khalifa. "When [the] Supreme Court made a ruling, and stated there were irregularities, because the procedures were not followed, and the Supreme Court was very categorical that elections is not an event, it's a process. Now, in this election, the process also was not followed. So it compelled us to go to court because we felt this election was not going to be free and fair."

Petition: No 'fresh poll'

Kenya's Supreme Court annulled the August presidential poll due to what it called "irregularities and illegalities" in the IEBC's transmission of results, and ordered the body to conduct fresh polls within 60 days.

In the joint petition, Khalifa and Mue accuse the IEBC of not conducting a fresh election per the Constitution and electoral laws, of failing to meet the general principle of universal suffrage, and of failing to hold elections free from violence and intimidation.

Khalifa, however, says he and Mue also want the opposition to explain why supporters disrupted polling in four opposition stronghold areas where the IEBC was unable to conduct the voting exercise.

"NASA did not try to prevent its voters not to disrupt the voting," said Khalifa. "This is an area where we also want NASA to come in and explain. Because this is a major thing, you see?

President Kenyatta won a landslide victory in the re-run election, as most Odinga supporters heeded a call to boycott the vote.

Kenya's Supreme Court has until November 14 to rule on the three petitions. If the election results are upheld, Kenyatta will be inaugurated for a second term on November 28.
TWIN FALLS  More than 500 people have already cast their votes in elections happening around Twin Falls County.

Thats slightly higher than whats typical for early voting in city elections. The county also mailed out 147 absentee ballots. But thats still only a small portion of the 27,590 Twin Falls County residents who will be eligible to vote in this election.

Voters who live in cities and taxing districts around the state will hit the polls today to select their representatives in local government. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Twin Falls County Clerk Kristina Glascock said many of those who voted early were poll workers. She expects the county will have overall low turnout of eligible voters.

In 2015, voter turnout in Twin Falls County was 19 percent  up from the 2013 elections, when only 12 percent of voters cast ballots.

In Twin Falls city, voter turnout in 2015 was 16 percent, but smaller cities had larger turnouts; more than 30 percent in Castleford, Hansen, Hollister and Kimberly.

If you werent one of the early voters, heres what you need to know before you head to the polls:

Can I register to vote

at my polling place?

If you have never registered to vote but are eligible to, you can register at a polling place on Election Day.

You will need to bring your drivers license number or provide the last four digits of a Social Security number. Eligible voters must also be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old or older and be a resident in the state and county for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

Proof of residence can be a valid Idaho drivers license or identification card, or any document with a valid address in the precinct combined with picture identification. Students can use a current student ID (with their picture) from a post-secondary school in the state, combined with a current student fee statement that includes the students valid address in the precinct.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?





Everyone who intends to vote should bring identification to the polling place. This can be a valid Idaho drivers license or ID card issued by the Idaho Department of Transportation; a passport or ID card issued by an agency of the federal government; a tribal ID card that includes a photograph; or a student ID card that has a photograph and is issued by a high school or accredited institution of higher education in Idaho; or a license to carry concealed weapons.

If they dont have any of those on them, and they are already registered, they can sign an affidavit, Glascock said.

Where is my polling location?





Your precinct is listed on the letter you received when you registered to vote. If youre not sure where your precincts voting location is, you can check at idahovotes.gov or call your county clerks office.

The county clerk can also tell you if your registration information is up-to-date and if youre eligible to vote in this election, since it affects only residents of cities and certain taxing districts.

Here are the phone numbers for county clerks offices in south-central Idaho:

Blaine County: 208-788-5505

Camas County: 208-764-2242

Cassia County: 208-878-5231

Gooding County: 208-934-4841

Jerome County: 208-644-2714

Lincoln County: 208-886-7641, ext. 101

Minidoka County: 208-436-7111

Twin Falls County: 208-736-4004

I forgot to mail in my absentee ballot. Can I still vote?





Absentee ballots have to be brought in to your county clerks office before polls close on Election Day. So even if you end up being in town, you cant bring it directly to your polling place or try to vote there.

If you already requested an absentee ballot, that is your ballot, Glascock said.

What are the races?





If you havent kept up with local coverage, many counties have sample ballots along with election information on their websites. You can also find a Times-News voters guide at Magicvalley.com or by purchasing the Oct. 29 paper.

If I dont like any of the candidates in a race, can I write one in?





Technically, yes. But unless its one of the few people who filed to be write-in candidates in a specific race, then youre wasting your time.

All of the Mickey Mouses and Donald Ducks that we get are not counted, Twin Falls County Elections Director Valerie Varadi said.

Where will the results be posted?





Keep an eye on coverage for south-central Idaho elections at Magicvalley.com.
In a new twist in the saga of Lebanon's prime minister who resigned over the weekend from Saudi Arabia, Saad Hariri's office said he visited the United Arab Emirates briefly on Tuesday for a meeting with a top official before returning to the kingdom.

Much is unknown about Hariri's unexpected resignation, which stunned the Lebanese, threw its government into disarray and prompted a frenzy of speculation.

One of the rumors is that Hariri has been under house arrest in Saudi Arabia, or in some way forced to do the Saudis' bidding. His brief visit to the UAE could appear to dispel that, except that the Gulf federation is a close Saudi ally - the two countries have been spearheading a war in Yemen since 2015 against the country's Shiite rebels who are backed by Iran.

Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan met Hariri and tweeted a photo, saying they discussed brotherly ties and the situation in Lebanon, without elaborating. Hariri's office also said the two discussed the situation in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sent its harshest threat to the Lebanese government, dominated by the Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah, accusing it of declaring war against the kingdom through support that Hezbollah allegedly provides to Yemen's rebels.

Saudi Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan said the situation was very sensitive and worrying and that the Saudi patience over Hezbollah was running thin.

The Party of Satan has become a tool of killing and terrorism for the kingdom, he told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV, a play on Hezbollah's name, which in Arabic means the Party of God.

Both Hezbollah and the Houthis, as Yemen's Shi'ite rebels are known, have denied any role by the Lebanese group in the war in the Arabian Peninsula country.

The Party of Satan is represented in the Lebanese government and the government should be aware of such dangers, Sabhan said. The Lebanese government will be dealt with as a government that has declared war against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Sabhan added that the Lebanese people should be aware of the dangers before we reach a point of no return.

In Lebanon, President Michel Aoun held consultations Tuesday with leading politicians over the crisis. Aoun has not called for consultations with parliamentary blocs on the formation of a new Cabinet, saying he will wait until Hariri returns home so that he can hear from him in person about the reasons that made him resign.

Credit ratings agency Moody's warned that Hariri's resignation threatens to disrupt the fragile political balance in place. It added that a drawn-out political stalemate less than a month after the government passed its first budget since 2005 would undermine recent institutional improvements and expose the banking system to a loss in confidence.

Lebanon's banking sector is the backbone of Lebanon's economy, with assets at $213.4 billion at end-September, according to Byblos Bank, one of the country's largest lenders.

Moody's said any loss of confidence in the banking system or in the stability of Lebanon's institutions, leading to a significant slowdown in private sector deposit inflows or outright outflows, would be credit negative.
Senior Mexican diplomats on Monday condemned the upcoming execution of a Mexican inmate on death row in Texas, calling his sentence "illegal" and vowing to exhaust all possible efforts to prevent him from being killed later this week.

In a news conference in Mexico City, Carlos Sada, Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America, told reporters that Texas prosecutors did not follow due process in the case of Ruben Cardenas, who was sentenced to death for raping and killing his 15-year-old cousin in 1997.

"From the start, there has been a failure, and from our perspective, this is an illegal act," Sada said.

The planned execution comes as relations between Mexico and the United States are at a low, hurt by U.S. President Donald Trump's vows to build a wall along the Mexican border, and his threats to end the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Cardenas, who is due to die on Wednesday, was not given the chance to speak with consular officials in contravention of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Sada said.

He added Mexico would look to stay the execution by seeking to overturn how Cardenas' confession was obtained, while also looking to exonerate him with up-to-date DNA testing.

There are currently two separate appeals under way and Mexico is willing to take Cardenas' case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary, Sada added.

Mexico does not have the death penalty and opposes it, regularly clashing with the United States when Mexican nationals are set to be executed on U.S. soil. Sada said 54 Mexicans were currently facing U.S. death sentences.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ruled in 2004 that the United States had violated international law by failing to inform 51 Mexicans now on death row of their right to consular assistance, and said the cases should be reviewed.

Alejandro Alday, a legal adviser to the Mexican government, said Cardenas was one of the 51 covered by the ICJ ruling, and accused Texas of breaching the Vienna convention in failing to advise Cardenas of his right to consular assistance.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Taliban bases in Pakistan pose a big challenge to efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Stoltenberg told reporters Tuesday at the alliances headquarters in Brussels that he regularly raises the issue in meetings with Pakistani leaders and will continue to do so.

We have to address the big challenge that [the] Taliban, the insurgents are working also out of bases in Pakistan. And we have raised that several times. It is extremely important that all countries in the region support efforts of the Afghan national unity government and that no country provide any kind of sanctuary for the terrorists, said the NATO chief.

Stoltenberg insisted if regional countries deny sanctuaries to insurgents the fight against the Taliban and terrorist groups in Afghanistan will gain so much.

He spoke just hours after a top Pakistani Foreign Ministry official again rejected allegations terrorists are operating out of her country.

Pakistan denies presence of safe havens

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while briefing a parliamentary committed on foreign affairs said Islamabad told Washington in recent high-level bilateral talks that all areas in Pakistan have been cleared of terrorists.

Janjua reiterated Pakistani forces will take immediate action if the United States provides actionable intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the country. She went on to assert terrorists are operating not out of Pakistan, but from across the Afghan border.

"In Afghanistan, 45 percent of the country is not under government control, which is why the Haqqani network and other terror groups do not need a safe haven in Pakistan," Janjua said.

NATO to boost support for Afghanistan

Stoltenberg reiterated NATO will continue and strengthen its financial and military training support to Afghanistan, saying the number of foreign troops in the country will be increased from currently around 13,000 to a new level of around 16,000 troops.

We will not go back in combat operations but we need to strengthen the train and assist and advise mission, the Resolute Support mission, to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a clear message to the Taliban, to the insurgents that they will not win on the battleground, asserted Stoltenberg.

The only way the Taliban can achieve anything, he noted, is by sitting down at the negotiating table and be part of a peaceful negotiated political solution to the Afghan war.

The Islamist insurgency, however, has refused to engage in talks until all foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan. The Taliban has instead intensified its attacks against Afghan security forces, particularly since U.S. President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for breaking the military stalemate in Afghanistan.

Insurgent attacks on Afghan forces have killed hundreds of army and police personnel in recent weeks.
Nordic countries agreed on Monday to step up defense cooperation and exchange more air surveillance information because they are worried about Russia's increasing military activity.

The countries have increased defense spending and cooperation with each other and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

"The ... situation is a common concern for the Nordic countries ... We aim at strengthening our national defense and finding cooperation to better address security concerns," Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto told a news conference.

It followed a meeting with his Swedish, Danish and Norwegian counterparts and a representative from Iceland.

He said the agreement to exchange more air surveillance data would contribute "positively to situational awareness" as well as flight safety. The Nordic countries have accused Russia of repeatedly violating their airspace in the past few years.

The countries also agreed to cooperate on procurement and said they planned to use a common Nordic combat uniform.

"We see an aggressive Russia that is building up its forces, renewing its materials, having new missiles in Kaliningrad ... That is the new picture in our part of the world," said Danish Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen Kaliningrad lies between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Other ministers said Russia did not pose a current threat.

The Baltic sea region is a zone of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West. Russia has increased its military capability in its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad and criticized NATO for stationing anti-missile shields in eastern Europe.

Norway, Denmark and Iceland are NATO members, while Sweden and Finland - which shares an 833-mile (1,340-km) border with Russia - have remained militarily non-aligned.

Finland said last week it was planning large-scale military drills with the Nordics, the United States and other allies as early as 2020.

The ministers will meet in Helsinki on Tuesday with a Northern Group that includes Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will also join the meeting.
Puerto Rico has suffered such extensive devastation from Hurricane Maria that its recovery will fail unless the island gets more help from the Trump administration and Congress, the head of a federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico's finances said Tuesday.

Natalie Jaresko, executive director of the federal control board, told Congress that the U.S. territory needs emergency and restoration funds on an unprecedented scale to restore housing, water and electric power.

While conditions have improved since the Sept. 20 storm, nearly 60 percent of the island is without electricity, thousands remain in shelters and tens of thousands of houses do not have roofs, Jaresko said. The installation of temporary tarps will not be completed for months, she added.

Without unprecedented levels of help from the United States government, the recovery we were planning for will fail, Jaresko said.

Puerto Rican authorities have estimated the island suffered $45 billion to $95 billion in damage in the September storm, which virtually destroyed the island's power grid and other infrastructure. So far, Congress has approved nearly $5 billion in aid.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said he was disappointed that the head of Puerto Rico's power authority did not testify as scheduled Tuesday. Ricardo Ramos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, had been expected to answer questions about a canceled a $300 million contract to a tiny Montana company from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinkes hometown.

Whitefish Energy Holdings had just two employees when the hurricane struck, but nonetheless was selected to help rebuild the island's electrical system.

Ramos moved to cancel the contract Oct. 29 amid bipartisan criticism from members of Congress and a request by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello to void the deal.

The utilitys chairman, Ernesto Sgroi, said in a letter that Ramos was needed in Puerto Rico to oversee restoration efforts. Having him off the island for the three days required to come to Washington, D.C., would undoubtedly disrupt our restoration efforts, Sgroi said.

Bishop said it was unfortunate that Ramos bailed on the committee, but promised that lawmakers will pursue questions about the Whitefish contract. The deal includes several weird elements, such as high hourly payments for truck drivers and other workers and a clause that prohibits review of labor rates, Bishop said.

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz  an outspoken critic of the Whitefish contract and the Trump administration's response to the storm  also declined to testify.

Bishop, who visited the island last month, said restoring the power grid is paramount to solve immediate emergency needs in Puerto Rico.

Former Air Force Col. Noel Zamot, named to oversee power restoration, said he had no estimate for when work would be completed, although other officials have said power will not be fully restored until next year.

The power authority declared bankruptcy before the storm, and Bishop said a long history of severe mismanagement, inadequate maintenance and political cronyism have exacerbated the islands problems.

Tuesdays hearing was not intended to ascribe blame or browbeat or play politics, Bishop said. The goal isnt to shame for shames sake. The goal is to fix problems and help people.

Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, defended the Trump administrations response and said the severity of the storm has made recovery difficult.

More than 100,000 Puerto Ricans have left the island since the storm hit, with most settling in states such as Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Rights advocates at home and abroad are calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to use his first presidential visit to China to address the country's deteriorating human rights situation.

Advocates are calling for the release of Liu Xia, the widow of the late Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, and many other Chinese political prisoners including four rights lawyers who are either awaiting trial or verdicts. They are also calling for the release of a Taiwanese rights activist detained in China for more than 230 days.

Failing to do so, they warn, will only worsen the situation Chinese rights defenders face. Room for dissent and alternative views in China has been shrinking rapidly since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.

Deteriorating rights conditions

The international environment, in which few leaders are willing to stand up for human rights internationally and particularly in relations to China, has emboldened the Chinese government even further in undermining human rights at home, Maya Wang, China researcher of Human Rights Watch, told VOA.

The most recent case that has gained the attention of rights advocates is the criminal detention of lawyer Li Yuhan. Li has been missing since early last month and officially charged with picking quarrels and provoking troubles in late October by the Public Security Bureau in Shenyang, Liaoning province, according to Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group.

Its not clear if she will be able to hire a lawyer of her own choosing. And her family has also been denied any visits to her in prison.

Shenyang authorities have made various attempts to revenge her as she used to report the polices malpractices. It is apparent to us that both power abuses and malfeasances form part of the case, the Hong Kong-based rights group said in a written statement.

Retaliation by authorities

Li, 60, suffers from hypertension and has a heart condition. But despite that, she has taken up a series of sensitive cases including that of lawyer Wang Yu, one of the main targets of a massive nationwide crackdown on lawyers in China that began over two years ago. She has also taken on other religious freedom cases as well as the case of a wronged police officer in Anhui.

Rights advocates believe her decision to take on Wang Yus case is the main reason behind her detention.

It may be related to her legal representation for Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu that maybe a possibility as a retaliation against her by the authorities after she had visited the Wangs in Mongolia, said Patrick Poon, China Researcher at Amnesty International, calling on the international society, including President Trump, to address Lis case as well as other rights violation cases in China.

Amnesty International joined other international rights groups as well as 85 Chinese lawyers and citizens to call for the immediate release of Li while expressing concerns over her health and the possible use of torture against her.

Shaky trade relations

However, rights advocates at home and abroad said the chance that President Trump will criticize Chinas human rights records is slim as he, like many other world leaders, is likely to put more emphasis on trade relations with China.

But true progress in trade, some argue, is dependent on advances in human rights.

Itll be a sad thing if [trade] cooperation with China is prioritized before [the improvement of] human rights. I believe human rights pave the core foundation for the worlds development. Without [the protection of] human rights, any such economic cooperation wont be sustainable, said Ou Biaofeng, a rights activist from Human province.

Under the banner of "America First" the Trump administration has pledged not to interfere in other countries domestic politics and that is sending a worrying signal, one analysts worry may heighten authoritarianism in the region.

International calls

United Nations human rights experts have urged Hong Kong to uphold the fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly before the court heard a final appeal of Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, who were granted bail on Oct 24, against their respective jail sentences of six months and eight months.

The top court in Hong Kong on Tuesday decided to grant a bid by Wong and Law to appeal their prison terms in a hearing to be scheduled in January.

In Taiwan, various non-governmental organizations gathered in Taipei on Tuesday to voice their support for the Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-che, whom China has detained since late March, pending a verdict.

Lin Hsiu-hsin, Taiwan Association of University Professors president, told the Associated Press that "China not only didn't respect international regulations and human rights, but also didn't care about its own laws because it has detained a Taiwanese citizen," who hasn't been freed yet.

Free Liu Xia

Meanwhile, last week, more than 50 internationally-celebrated writers, artists and supporters of PEN America, including Chimamanda Achibie, Margaret Atwood, and Khaled Hosseini, issued a written petition urging China to end all restrictions and surveillance imposed on Liu Xia, saying the only reason for her detention is her connection to her deceased husband.

The writers further called upon President Trump to seek the release of Liu, who was last seen in an online video in late August.

Also, international rights groups are concerned that thousands of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities are being held in re-education camps, which are now formally referred to as Professional Education Schools, without contact with their families under a policy designed to counter extremism in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang, according to local officials.




A host of pro-Western candidates met Tuesday's deadline to run for Czech president, seeking to unseat incumbent Milos Zeman, who has leaned toward Russia and China.

Czech presidents wield limited day-to-day power but have large informal influence and play a key role in forming governments  now underway following elections last month.

The winner of the January presidential election will fuel or tame euroskepticism that has taken hold despite the country's economic success and stability since joining NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Zeman, 73, former Social Democrat leader and prime minister, is one of the major figures in the country's recent history, along with predecessors Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus.

He remains the favorite to win a second five-year term according to bookmakers, despite limited public appearances in recent months due to diabetes and difficulty walking.

So far the most serious rival to Zeman is Jiri Drahos, a chemist and former chief of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who is running as an independent.

Candidate provides contrast

Drahos, 68, is pro-EU and pro-NATO with a reserved and sober manner, a contrast to Zeman, who has a reputation for swiping out at media and opponents.

"If Drahos wins, it would mean a pro-Western, pro-European course," said political analyst Josef Mlejnek Jr.

"Under Zeman, our politicians have often had to remind foreign partners that it is the government and not the president who is in charge of foreign policy, and that does not make a good impression, especially if there is such an East-West discord between the two lines."

Zeman took a sharp anti-EU turn when he took Russia's line in the Ukraine conflict and opposed EU sanctions. He also has adopted a sharply anti-immigration stance and said Islam was "anti-civilization."

Another pro-Western contestant is Michal Horacek, 65, founder of betting firm Fortuna, which he sold in 2004.

Former center-right prime minister Mirek Topolanek, whose cabinet collapsed during the country's EU presidency in 2009, also joined the race at the last minute. Topolanek's former right-hand man, Marek Dalik, started a five-year jail sentence on Monday for corruption in army procurement while Topolanek was in office.

In a poll published Monday, Zeman led with 34 percent, followed by Drahos at 22 and Horacek at 13 percent. Another poll on Tuesday gave Drahos a 51-49 edge over Zeman in a hypothetical runoff.
Voters in the U.S. state of Virginia will elect a new governor Tuesday, one of a number of state and local elections that could provide an early indication of how the electorate views President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

Most polls show a tight race between Republican Ed Gillespie and Democratic Lt. Governor Ralph Northam in Virginia, a swing state.

Elsewhere, New Jersey's unpopular Republican governor, Chris Christie, will be succeeded by Republican Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno or Democrat Phil Murphy, who holds wide leads over Guadagno in most polls.

Tuesday's balloting is important as the Republican and Democratic parties try to gain momentum before next year's mid-term elections. Democrats hope their candidates will be victorious after not winning any special congressional elections against Republican opponents this year. Republicans are hoping wins will help soothe intra-party bickering between Trump and key congressional Republicans.

Trump has enthusiastically endorsed Gillespie, although the candidate has kept the president at a distance. Trump is the first president since Richard Nixon, who served from 1969 to 1974, not to campaign in Virginias governors race.

Trump, who is on a 12-day five nation trip to Asia, vouched for Gillespie in a series of tweets Tuesday. He started with attacks on Gillespies opponent and said Gillespie would neutralize MS-13, an international crime gang.

"Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. Hes weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment...."

Virginias bitterly fought governors race has been more racially charged than past contests in recent memory. Gillespie has tried to endear himself to Trumps supporters with political advertisements on immigration and Confederate statues.

Northam has attempted to link Gillespie with the white supremacists who rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia this summer in support of Confederate monuments.

In New Jersey, Murphy, who served as President Barack Obamas ambassador to Germany, has vowed to limit Trumps influence in the state. Murphy has touted a liberal agenda that includes raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, increasing taxes on millionaires, boosting funding schools and legalizing marijuana.

Guadagno has tried to distance herself from Trump and Christie, a challenging task since she served as Christies top deputy for eight years. Guadagno has campaigned on cutting the states property taxes and ending sanctuary cities, which limit cooperation with the federal government to enforce immigration laws.

In local races, polls suggest Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York and Marty Walsh in Boston will easily win re-election. Mayors will also be chosen in Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Detroit, Michigan and Seattle, Washington.

In Utah, Republican John Curtis, a fervent Trump supporter, is expected to win the congressional seat vacated by John Chaffetz.
Africa's mobile internet connections are set to double in the next five years, a study showed on Monday, thanks to affordable smartphones and the roll-out of high-speed networks.

A report by research and consulting firm Ovum in London estimates that mobile broadband connections will rise from 419 million at the end of this year to 1.07 billion by the end of 2022.

"Data connectivity is growing strongly in Africa, and there are also good prospects on the continent in areas such as digital media, mobile financial services, and the Internet of Things," said Matthew Reed, Practice Leader Middle East and Africa at Ovum.

"But as Africa's TMT market becomes more convergent and complex, service providers are under increasing pressure to make the transition from being providers of communications services, and to become providers of digital services."

Mobile phone operators such as MTN Group, Orange and Bharti Airtel are investing heavily in high-speed networks to meet demand from users who are increasingly using phones for everything from paying their bills to streaming videos and surfing the internet.
Syria on Tuesday announced its intentions to sign on to the Paris Climate Agreement during talks in Bonn, Germany.



Syria's representative at the talks, M. Wadah Katmawi, said the country passed a law last month declaring its decision to join the accord.



"I'd like to assure you that the Arab Syrian Republic supports the implementation of the Paris accord in order to achieve global objectives and reflect the principles of justice and joint responsibilities that are assigned according to the capacity of each signatory," he said.



Further, Katmawi called on developed countries to "fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities" in helping developing countries with technical and financial support.



"Countries that are entering a post-war recovery period, such as mine, need to be recognized as a priority when it comes to reconstruction and reorganizing climate and the environment," he said.



Until Tuesday, Syria had been the only member of the United Nations not to sign onto the accord. Nicaragua, which held out because it said the agreement didn't do enough to combat climate change, signed on last month.

US and climate pact



Numerous media reports have suggested the move by Syria would leave the United States as the only country in the world not party to the agreement, but this isn't exactly the case.



Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump announced intentions to pull the U.S. out of the deal on the basis that it does not serve U.S. interests. However, the terms of the agreement clearly state that no country can formally withdraw until three years after its entry into force, which occurred on November 4, 2016.



Even then  should Trump follow through with stated plans to leave the agreement  it would still take another year to fully withdraw, which means the earliest the U.S. could officially leave the agreement is one day after the 2020 election.



The climate agreement was signed by 196 nations in 2015 with the stated goal of keeping global temperatures "well below" 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.



Trump has hammered the deal, saying it would cost the U.S. more than 6 million jobs and more than $3 trillion in lost GDP while boosting the economies of rival countries China and India.



In October, the Trump administration said it would withdraw "unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favorable for our country."



World leaders have signaled they are unwilling to renegotiate the deal. French President Emmanuel Macron, during his address to the U.N. General Assembly in September, said, "The door will always remain open" should Trump change his mind, but noted "we won't go back."
Devin Patrick Kelley, the gunman who killed 26 people at a Texas Baptist church, suffered three gunshot wounds, including a self-inflicted shot to the head, Texas authorities said Monday.

Kelley, 26, was also shot in the leg and torso by an armed citizen, said Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety, citing autopsy results. Kelley was found dead in his vehicle.

A day after the deadliest shooting in Texas history, the US Air Force and Department of Defense said they are probing how records of a domestic violence conviction the gunman received while in the Air Force -- which would have disqualified him owning a firearm under federal law -- were handled.

The US Air Force acknowledged it did not appropriately relay Kelley's court martial conviction for domestic assault to civilian law enforcement, as required, preventing it from showing up in a federal database that licensed gun dealers must check before someone can buy a firearm.

"Initial information indicates that Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations," an Air Force statement said.

There was nothing in the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System that indicated Kelley should be barred from owning a firearm, said Christopher Combs, the special agent in charge of the bureau's San Antonio division.

A federal law enforcement official told CNN that federal authorities have found no records they were notified of the conviction.

"Somebody ... really dropped the ball in this case and there's 26 dead people now," Don Christensen, the former Air Force chief prosecutor when Kelley was sentenced, said.

Kelley served at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

He was court-martialed in 2012 for assault on his spouse and assault on their child, according to Stefanek. He served a year in confinement, received a bad conduct discharge and had his rank reduced, she said.

Authorities: Gunman went to the church 'with a purpose'

Kelley killed his grandmother-in-law during the attack, multiple friends of the woman told CNN.

The gunman was obsessed with a domestic dispute, and had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law. He texted her as recently as Sunday morning, not long before he carried out the mass shooting, authorities said.

"We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in-law, who attends this church," Martin said.

"There are many ways that he could have taken care of the mother-in-law without coming with 15 loaded magazines and an assault rifle to a church," Martin said. "I think he came here with a purpose and a mission."

But Kelley's mother-in-law was not inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs when Kelley sprayed the congregation with gunfire. The unborn child

The gunman's grandmother-in-law, Lula White, was the grandmother of Kelley's wife and often volunteered at the church, according to friends and her Facebook profile.

The friends asked not to be named as the family has decided to not speak to the media about White's death at this time, though a few have posted on social media

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the massacre "the largest mass shooting" in the state's history.

Latest developments

I n August, 2014, Kelley was arrested on an animal cruelty charge, a misdemeanor offense, in El Paso County, Colorado, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. A witness said Kelley punched a dog with a closed fist, grabbed it by the neck and dragged the animal, officials said. Kelley, who was living in a Colorado Springs RV park at the time, denied the account. He was issued a summons but did not spend any time in jail for the offense.

n August, 2014, Kelley was arrested on an animal cruelty charge, a misdemeanor offense, in El Paso County, Colorado, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. A witness said Kelley punched a dog with a closed fist, grabbed it by the neck and dragged the animal, officials said. Kelley, who was living in a Colorado Springs RV park at the time, denied the account. He was issued a summons but did not spend any time in jail for the offense. Before the shooting, authorities say Kelley looked suspicious at a nearby gas station. "He was obviously suspicious to others based on the way he was dressed in all black," Martin said. He said Kelley also had a black mask with a white, skull-type face on it, but it was unclear whether he was wearing the mask at the gas station. Kelley was wearing a ballistic vest with a plate on the front, Martin said.

Ten of the 20 people wounded remain in critical condition Monday, authorities said. And virtually no one at the church was left unscathed, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said. "I think nearly everyone had some type of injury," the sheriff told reporters Monday.

After Kelley left the church, he was confronted and shot by an armed resident, Stephen Willeford. After Kelley was shot, he called his father, telling him he didn't think he was going to make it, Martin said. That's when Kelley shot himself.

It was not immediately clear whether Kelley died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound or from being shot by the resident. "However, investigators found evidence at the scene that indicates the subject may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Martin said.

Investigators have reviewed video footage from inside the church, Martin said.

Texas school district superintendents said the Floresville Independent School District lost two students, while three others were injured. One student was killed and three others injured from the La Vernia Independent School District. "It's devastating. It's very difficult for the families our staff members are just so upset and these children are their children," Floresville Superintendent Sherri Bays said, tearing up.

Who were the victims?

The pastor of the church was out of town when the shooting occurred, but his daughter, 14-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy, was at the Sunday morning service and was killed, her mother Sherri Pomeroy said.

"We lost more than Belle yesterday, and the one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement is the fact that Belle was surrounded by her church family that she loved fiercely, and vice versa," Sherri Pomeroy said.

The church's visiting pastor was also among the dead, Sheriff Tackitt said. A family member identified the visiting pastor as Bryan Holcombe.

In all, eight members of the Holcombe family spanning three generations, including a pregnant woman and three of her children, were killed, said Ron Scott, the visiting pastor's first cousin said.

Many of the victims have not been publicly identified, pending notification of family members.

Who was the shooter?

Kelley was involved in "multiple occasions of domestic abuse" against his wife and stepson, Christensen said.

"During this time, he would often be physically violent with his son," Christensen said, adding that Kelley "violently" shook the child.

The child "suffered fractures, had a subdural hematoma," Christensen said.

Kelley "admitted to, out of anger, pushing his son down and injuring him," Christensen said. The gunman was charged after he confessed to the committing the offenses, according to Christensen.

In April 2016, Kelley purchased the Ruger AR-556 rifle he allegedly used in the shooting from a store in San Antonio, Texas, a law enforcement official said. Kelley passed a background check conducted as required for the purchase, the law enforcement official said.

At one point, the shooter tried to get a license to carry a gun in Texas but was denied by the state, Abbott said, citing the director of Texas' Department of Public Safety.

"So how was it that he was able to get a gun? By all the facts that we seem to know, he was not supposed to have access to a gun," Abbott said. "So how did this happen?"

How the attack unfolded

The gunman was first spotted at a Valero gas station across the street from the church at about 11:20 a.m. (12:20 p.m. ET).

He drove across the street, got out and began firing even before he entered the church, Martin said.

David Flores told CNN that his father saw the shooter.

"My dad saw the gunman run into the church building and then he heard shots and saw people running," Flores told CNN. "People covered in blood and screaming. It was pandemonium everywhere."

As the shooter left the church, a local resident used his own rifle to engage him, Martin said. The gunman dropped his weapon and fled.

Johnnie Langendorff said he was driving to his girlfriend's house when he saw the shootout between the shooter and the armed resident.

The gunman took off in a Ford Explorer, Langendorff told CNN affiliate KSAT.

The resident "briefed me quickly on what had just happened and said we had to get him, and so that's what I did," Langendorff said.

They gave chase in his truck and called police. As they sped after him, Langendorff said, the shooter "eventually lost control on his own and went off into the ditch" in neighboring Guadalupe County.

"The gentleman that was with me got out and rested his rifle on my hood and kept it aimed at him [shooter], telling him to get out. There was no movement, there was none of that. I just know his brake lights were going on and off, so he might've been unconscious from the crash or something like that. I'm not sure."

Law enforcement later found the suspect dead of a gunshot wound inside his vehicle.

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said multiple weapons were found in the shooter's car. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are involved in the investigation.

The grief and support

Hours after the shooting, residents of Sutherland Springs hugged one another, held candles and sang hymns in a vigil Sunday night. Abbott attended the event, in which faith leaders offered words of solace and prayers.

Sutherland Springs is the kind of place where "everybody knows everybody," said Gloria Rodriguez Ximenez, who attended the vigil.

"This is a small, Christian town, a very small community," she said. "Everybody's united. Everybody's so close to everybody."

She knows the First Baptist Church's pastor and his family, including their daughter who died.

"I can feel the pain everybody's going through. There's so much hurt for a small town," Ximenez said.

Others echoed the feeling of shock and heartache.

"My heart is broken," Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr. told CNN. "We never think where it can happen, and it does happen. It doesn't matter where you're at. In a small community, real quiet and everything, and look at this."

Twenty-three people died inside the church, which has a small sanctuary with wooden pews and red carpeting. Two died outside the church, and one at the hospital.

The wounded are being treated at three hospitals including the Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville, University Hospital and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

CNN's Amanda Watts, Madison Park, Joe Sterling, Andrea Diaz, Amanda Watts, Alanne Orjoux, Ed Lavandera, Gustavo Valdes, Emily Smith, Sheena Jones, Shawn Nottingham, Konstantin Toropin and Evan Perez contributed to this report
A former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign has acknowledged in testimony to Congress that he had contact with a high-level Russian official while on a trip to Russia last year, according to a transcript released Monday.

Carter Page, an unpaid adviser who left the campaign before Trump was elected, told the House intelligence committee last week that he "briefly said hello to'' Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich when he traveled to Russia for a speech. Under repeated questions about the contact - which he had at times denied in the past - Page said that he had spoken to Dvorkovich after his July 2016 speech at Moscow's New Economic School.

"It was a very brief interaction. It was some nice pleasantries. I cannot recall the precise words I said, but it was sort of best wishes, and, you know, that's about it,'' Page said in response to several questions about the contact.

The testimony was part of the committee's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether it is linked to Trump's campaign. Page's trip raised questions just as the FBI began its counterintelligence investigation into the Russian meddling in the summer of 2016, and he has offered contradictory accounts about whom he met there - at one point telling The Associated Press that he hadn't met with Dvorkovich. But his testimony on Thursday was under oath.

Page was interviewed in March for several hours as part of the FBI probe, before special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to take it over. Page wouldn't answer questions about his contact with Mueller.

The House panel released the transcript as part of its agreement with Page, who was subpoenaed by the committee in early October. Page said repeatedly that he didn't want to testify behind closed doors.

Page told the panel he had informed some members of the Trump campaign about the trip, including then-Sen. Jeff Sessions. He said he mentioned in passing to Sessions, who is now attorney general, that he was preparing to visit Russia and Sessions "had no reaction whatsoever.''

The testimony could raise more questions about the extent of Sessions' knowledge about interactions between Trump campaign aides and Russians. Sessions recused himself from overseeing an investigation into the Trump campaign in March after acknowledging two previously undisclosed conversations with former Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the campaign. Since then, Sessions has downplayed his own knowledge about communications between campaign aides and Russian officials and intermediaries.

Page has insisted - and continued to insist in the interview - that the trip was personal and not campaign related.

However, the committee produced an email during the interview in which Page wrote to campaign officials and asked them to let him know "if you have any reservations or thoughts on how you'd prefer me to focus these remarks,'' apparently referring to the speech he was giving in Moscow.

He also suggested that Trump take his place at the speech - a suggestion that appeared to go nowhere.

In a statement prepared for the committee, Page insisted that he had no personal information that the Russian government or anyone affiliated with it played any role in the 2016 presidential campaign. He said he was not approached by anyone during the trip who led him to believe they were planning to interfere in the election.

Under questioning at the hearing, Page depicted himself as an unpaid member of a campaign foreign policy team that met infrequently and provided him with no direct access to Trump.

"I have never met him in my life,'' Page said of Trump. "I've been in a lot of meetings with him, and I've learned a lot from him, but never actually met him face to face.''

Page said he had no direct relationship with the Russian government, though he conceded that he may have spoken with different Russian government officials over the years.

At another point in the interview, Page was asked about his relationship with George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser whose guilty pleas to lying to the FBI about his foreign contacts was unsealed last week.

Page said he had "very limited'' interaction with Papadopoulos and suggested that the last time he had seen him was in June 2016 at a dinner he said was organized by Sessions, who at the time was a prominent Trump campaign aide and supporter.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the committee's top Democrat, pressured Page on what he suggested were inconsistencies in his testimony and past statements.

He noted how Page told the committee that he had met only one Russian government official during his July 2016 trip to Russia, and yet had told campaign officials in email that he had received valuable insights from legislators and senior members of the Russian presidential administration.

"Are you being honest in your testimony?'' Schiff asked. "Because it doesn't seem possible for both to be true.''

Page said the insights he was referring to were based on materials he had read in the press, "similar to my listening to President Trump in the various speeches that I heard of his.''
Not far from the First Baptist Church, where a shooting rampage Sunday claimed 26 lives and altered scores of others' futures, scenes of generosity and compassion unfolded on Tuesday.

Jaime Rios set up a red canopy, under which he offered free tacos, sodas and water he'd brought from his restaurant in San Antonio, about 55 kilometers to the northwest.

"There aren't a lot of [food] choices around here, so I imagined that bringing some food and drinks would be a little help," Rios said. The unincorporated, rural community of 600 is served by only the church, a gas station and post office.

Rios brought napolitos  fried prickly pear cactus  and other "pure Mexican food. We have chorizo tacos with eggs, ham and cheese.  People are already liking the nopalitos."

The food was available to anyone on site  primarily the scores of journalists, as well as law enforcement, other visitors and community members.

Donna Watkins aimed to deliver solace. Founder of the Homicide Survivors Support Group, she came from the Gulf Coast city of Corpus Christi, setting up a table laden with teddy bears representing the youngest victims. At least a dozen of those killed were minors, according to the Wilson County sheriff.

"We drove up this morning to be here for anyone in the community  if they've lost someone or just need someone to talk to," said Watkins, 67, who brought her daughter. They came to offer grief counseling and advice.

"We provide services we wish no one had to use," Watkins added. She said she'd started the group 28 years ago, not long after her brother "was beaten to death and left by the highway near Nashville, Tenn."

Former church leader visits

Mark Collins, the former First Baptist associate pastor, arrived to offer solace to the community.

"The darkness came to Sutherland Springs and it took away many lights," Collins said of the people who were killed. He added that he'd visited some of those who were wounded and hospitalized in San Antonio. "We thought that we would encourage them, but they encouraged us."

The show of support "from all over Texas, literally from around the world, has been an incredible experience and gives us hope for humanity," Collins added.

Community members will need continued support, said Mary Beth Fisk, who directs the Ecumenical Center in San Antonio.

"It has been so devastating," she said, noting that "the grieving process is just beginning for these families. They've expressed an overwhelming sadness and continued shock, and they wonder what comes next. They know they have to plan funerals. "

The Texas Attorney General's Office will help cover funeral expenses, drawing from a crime victim compensation fund, local district attorney Audrey Lewis said.
Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump as he ran for president last year, told campaign aides he had gained "incredible insights" from Russian lawmakers and "senior members" of President Vladimir Putin's administration when he made a trip to Moscow in the midst of the U.S. election.



Page wrote in a July 2016 email to Trump campaign aides that Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich "expressed strong support for Mr. Trump and a desire to work together toward devising better solutions in response to a vast range of current international problems," according to a transcript of more than six hours of testimony Page gave last week before a House of Representatives committee investigating Russian interference in the U.S. election.



Asked about the email, Page told lawmakers he did not mean that he had met with officials, but rather had learned of their views in local media, from scholars in Russia and at a public speech given by Dvorkovich at a conference where Page was also speaking.Page said he had a "brief hello" with Dvorkovich.



Page's Russian contacts have become one focus of congressional investigations into what the U.S. intelligence community concluded was a campaign led by Putin to undermine U.S. democracy and help Trump win.

In addition, special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting a criminal probe of the Russian meddling in the campaign and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing James Comey, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, when he was heading the agency's Russia investigation before Mueller, over Trump's objections, was appointed to take over the probe.



Another Trump foreign affairs adviser, George Papadopoulos, last month pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with Russian interests and his communications with Trump campaign aides.Papadopoulos has been cooperating with investigators in their months-long probe.



The lead Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Adam Schiff, said Page's public remarks prior to his appearance before the panel that his trip to Moscow was as a private citizen were undercut by his congressional testimony.



"He sends a memo saying that in a private conversation basically that I had with the deputy prime minister and others in the presidential administration and member of the Duma, I gained important insights and outreach that I want to share with the campaign," Schiff said, "completely at odds with what he had been saying publicly."



Schiff called the Russian links to Papadopoulos and Page two parallel efforts by the Trump campaign to make contacts with Russian interests.



"You have them both reporting back to the campaign, you have the campaign deceiving the public about their knowledge of these things," Schiff said."So I hardly think that these are coincidental."



The House Intelligence panel, in a closed-door session on Tuesday, is questioning Keith Schiller, Trump's former head of Oval Office operations, until he left in September.



Lawmakers are expected to ask Schiller what he knows about Trump's 2013 trip to Moscow and a 35-page dossier that a former British intelligence officer wrote about Trump's behavior on the trip to visit the Miss Universe pageant.



Research for the dossier, which Trump has derided, was funded by the campaign of Trump's 2016 opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee.
South Koreans lined the streets leading to the presidential Blue House in Seoul to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump, while some came out to protest the American leader and his tough rhetoric on North Korea.

An excited crowd of South Koreans greeted U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday for his first visit to Seoul, waving American and South Korean flags, singing the Star Spangled Banner, and chanting U-S-A!

Some celebrated Trumps tough rhetoric on stopping North Koreas nuclear and missile threats, while others came out to show support for the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

One banner held up with a character of Trump read in English Bomb the North Korea! Other signs said Bomb on Kim Jong Un & His Gangsters!, Please dont Withdraw the U.S. Army, and Welcome to Korea Trump!

I came here to welcome the president of the nation that is our ally and blood brother and helped South Korea during the Korean War, said 75-year-old Jeong Soon-Il. I must come here as President Trump is supporting South Korea under threat from North Korea.

One group of demonstrators held photos of Trump and former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was jailed on corruption and bribery charges.

The reason why I am here today is to welcome President Trump and to ask him to release President Park Geun-hye from prison,  said 56-year-old Kim Min-hyang.

The group of more than 100 marched toward Gwanghwamun Square, where anti-Trump protesters gathered. But they were stopped by police at the corner of the intersection, resulting in some shoving and yelling.

Police blocked off the square from pedestrian traffic to control the crowd and surrounded the protesters with buses to block what officials saw as a potentially embarrassing scene as Trumps motorcade drove past.

A small group protested Trumps visit across from the Gwanghwamun gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, with slogans, prayers, and speeches against the U.S. military presence in South Korea.

The same tough talk on the North that has won the U.S. leader praise among many in South Korea has fueled concern and anger among others.

Protesters on Tuesday held signs and banners reading START PEACE TALK!, NO! WAR, and denouncing the U.S. THAAD missile defense system recently deployed to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks.

One man held a placard reading "Dotard Trump, Stop Nuke War Provocation!" "Dotard" refers to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's insult to Trump after he threatened in his September United Nations speech to "totally destroy" North Korea if the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies.

I think President Trump is a person who is creating tension on the Korean peninsula, said 50-year-old Kim Jong-hee, a resident of Seongju where the THAAD has been deployed. If he wants peace in the world as a president of the most powerful nation, he should come out for negotiation for unconditional talks with North Korea. And I would like him to clarify that there will be no war on the Korean peninsula, she added.

A few anti-Trump protesters clashed verbally with police, and engaged in some minor shoving, but most were peaceful.

Seoul police were out in full force for Trumps visit and protests were more restricted than during past visits by state leaders, South Korean media reported.

The number of police and demonstrators dwindled into the evening.

Despite the protests, the vast majority of South Korean demonstrators on the streets Tuesday welcomed the leader of a nation that, in the eyes of many here, has helped ensure peace in South Korea for decades and, they hope, for decades to come.
President Donald Trump shed his fiery rhetoric toward North Korea on Tuesday instead delivering a message of resolve and optimism to South Korea, saying he believes "ultimately, it'll all work out" when it comes to Pyongyang's nuclear threat.

After a full day of meetings and public appearances with President Moon Jae-in in Seoul, Trump said diplomatic progress has been made to diffuse heightened tensions in the region.

May freedom and peace flourish on this peninsula, said Trump at a state dinner. "Together our nations will remind the world of the boundless potential of societies that choose freedom over tyranny." He added, "we will make things beautiful, especially the aspiration of your people."

President Moon said "the peace of my country" is under threat, but added the longtime alliance between the U.S. and Republic of Korea comes with an "overwhelming superiority of power" that "will eventually make North Korea cease its reckless provocations and make North Korea come out for dialogue for denuclearization."

War must not break out again on the Korean Peninsula, said Moon.

Trump's words marked a striking departure from the tone of his tweets in recent weeks suggesting talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear crisis were "a waste of time."

The increasingly fiery rhetoric from the U.S. and North Korea leaders raised concerns about a potential nuclear confrontation on the Korean peninsula.

WATCH: South Koreans Welcome Trump to Seoul



Earlier, Trump said Washington and Seoul are working together for a peaceful resolution to the situation with North Korea and added "I believe it makes sense for North Korea to do the right thing" by coming to the negotiating table. But he also said the U.S. "stands prepared to defend itself and its allies using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities if need be."



During a joint news conference, Trump and Moon said it is unacceptable for any nation to help arm and finance the regime of Kim Jong Un. Trump added North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile weapons program posed a "worldwide threat that requires worldwide action."

Trump said the United States and South Korea cannot allow Pyongyang "to threaten all that we have built" since the Korean War six decades ago.

Trump and his wife Melania arrived in Seoul earlier Tuesday, beginning their two-day visit with a trip to Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base located about 100 kilometers from the demilitarized border separating communist North and democratic South.

During a meeting with military commanders, Trump told reporters the situation with Pyongyang "will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out."

Later in the day, President Moon told his U.S. counterpart during talks at the presidential Blue House he hoped his visit will serve as a "turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue" and relieve the "anxiety" among South Koreans about the situation.

Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, told VOA's Victor Beattie there is little daylight between the two countries on North Korea, despite Trump's bellicose rhetoric and Moon's insistence on diplomacy plus sanctions.

"I think where the real problem is that when the U.S. tries to get a trilateral Japan-Korea-America relationship going, particularly in the military sphere, there's really a limit to how far that will go, or [how far] President Moon will let it go," said Newsham.

Tokyo visit



During his first stop in Tokyo earlier this week, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed that "all options are on the table" when it comes to dealing with North Korea.

Abe, at a news conference with Trump at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, said Monday there is no point in dialogue for the sake of dialogue with North Korea and the time has come to exert maximum pressure on Pyongyang.



A nearly three-year war on the Korean peninsula in the early 1950s ended in a stalemate that pitted the United States, South Korea and the United Nations against North Korea, which was backed by forces from China and the Soviet Union.

No peace treaty was signed and the Korean peninsula has remained divided ever since.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a move by Saudi Arabia's future king that tightened his grip on power through the arrests of royals, ministers and investors in an anti-corruption purge.

The endorsement cemented a U.S.-Saudi relationship that has improved dramatically under Trump's presidency, partly because of both leaders' vision of confronting Riyadh's arch-rival Iran more aggressively in the region.

Trump tweeted on Monday that he had "great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia" following the mass arrests - the biggest such purge of the kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history.

Trump also tweeted that "they know exactly what they are doing," adding: "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years."

The purge was the latest in a series of dramatic steps by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MbS as he is commonly referred to in Western circles, to assert Saudi influence internationally and amass more power for himself at home.

A U.S. official who declined to be named told Reuters that MbS "has become the primary driver of Saudi policy-making. He has moved aggressively to sideline opponents, concentrate decision-making authority, and establish himself as the undisputed heir to the al Saud legacy."

"He seeks to reinvigorate the public's confidence in the Saudi monarchy by diversifying the economy, loosening religious restrictions, and carrying out wide ranging social reforms," the official said.

'Impressive Feat'

Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the president's senior adviser, who has cultivated a close relationship with MbS, recently returned from Saudi Arabia, fueling speculation on whether he may have had wind of MbS' plans.

The White House said at the time the trip was reported that it was within the context of Kushner's efforts on Israeli-Palestinian peace conversations.

Among those arrested were billionaire investor Al-Waleed bin Talal, who is one of the kingdom's most prominent businessmen and whose investments in companies like Twitter make him the most recognized Saudi name on Wall Street.

"It's an impressive feat to have basically neutered virtually all of the sources of potential opposition, dissent rivalry, whether it's religious, media, political, military," said Rob Malley, vice president for policy of the International Crisis Group.

"On the other hand... it's always risky to make too many enemies at the same time. It's not clear how those enemies can react," said Malley, a former senior adviser on Middle East affairs under President Barack Obama.

Also detained was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdom's tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne.

A former senior U.S. intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guard's loyalties, MbS could face a backlash.

"I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion."

Anti-Iranian Confrontation

U.S.-Saudi ties had been strained under Obama, who Riyadh felt considered their alliance less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.

But the Trump administration has vowed to confront Iran much more aggressively in the region, where it shares the Saudi view that Tehran is fomenting instability via a number of proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen among other countries. Tehran denies the allegations.

Events in Saudi Arabia in recent days appeared to open the prospect for a sharper confrontation with Iran and its proxies.

Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of what it called aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah.

Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, announcing his resignation from Riyadh and blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech.

Also on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from warring Yemen over the capital, Riyadh.

The Pentagon praised Saudi Arabia for "exposing" Iran's role in Yemen and Tehran's provision of missile systems to Houthi militia fighting there.

"Between that (Hariri's resignation) and the missile launch on Riyadh ... the coincidence of those two does mean that the prospect of some escalation, some strike either against Hezbollah or against Iran or against both is more likely, certainly than it was a few days ago," Malley told Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump says stricter gun laws in the country would not have prevented a gunman from killing 26 people in a massacre at a Texas church and possibly would have kept a bystander from confronting the shooter.

Trump, in South Korea on a five-nation Asian trip, said Tuesday if there were increased vetting of gun buyers in the United States "you might not have had that very brave person who happened to have a gun or a rifle in his truck go out and shoot him, and hit him and neutralize him."

WATCH: Trump Rules Out 'Extreme Vetting' on Gun Buyers

Asked if he was considering any new gun control policies in the aftermath of the second major mass killing in the U.S. in five weeks, Trump said, "I mean, you look at the city with the strongest gun laws in our nation, is Chicago, and Chicago is a disaster. It's a total disaster. Just remember, if this man did not have a gun or rifle, you'd be talking about a much worse situation in the great state of Texas.

"And I can only say this: If he did not have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead," Trump said. "So that is the way I feel about it. Not going to help."

Air Force probe

Trump made his remarks as the U.S. Air Force investigates why the 2012 domestic violence conviction of the shooter, 26-year-old Devin Kelley, was not properly entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's database that would have stopped him from legally buying the rifle he used in Sunday's attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

The Air Force had court-martialed Kelley for beating his wife and stepson. He was convicted, sentenced to 12 months in prison, discharged from the military for bad conduct, and handed a reduction in rank. At one point in his confinement, Kelley escaped from a psychiatric hospital in New Mexico, but was picked up by police in neighboring Texas.

WATCH: Who Was the Texas Shooter?

The FBI agent in charge of the investigation in Texas, Christopher Combs, told reporters that Kelley's cellphone has been sent to an FBI laboratory in Virginia for examination, but that so far, because of encryption, investigators have been unable to crack it open to determine whether Kelley made contact with anyone else about the shooting or left any trail of information that he was about to launch the attack.

He declined to name the brand of Kelley's phone so as to not let "bad guys" know how they might possibly be able to hide their criminal activities.

At an earlier news conference Monday, Combs said there was nothing in its data system that prohibited Kelley from buying weapons when a background check was carried out. Kelley passed a federal background check, but the state of Texas denied him a permit to carry a gun.

Combs refused to say Kelley's name, saying he did not want to glorify him. Combs would only call him "the gunman." Combs said "horrific" is too weak a word to describe the scene inside the First Baptist church. In addition to the 26 killed, 20 others were wounded.

Texas public safety official Freeman Martin said as of Tuesday, 10 of the victims remain in a hospital in critical condition.

The youngest fatality was 18 months old. A pregnant woman was also killed.

Domestic dispute

Martin, who also refused to use the gunman's name, said the shooter came to the church with a purpose and a mission.

Investigators say they believe a domestic dispute with his in-laws appeared to have been behind the killings. Kelley sent "threatening texts" to his mother-in-law before the shooting, investigators said, but she was not at Sunday's service.

"He was upset with the mother-in-law, but beyond that I can't comment," Martin said.

"This was not racially motivated ... wasnt over religious beliefs. There was a domestic situation going on within the family and in-laws, Martin said.

Kelley was dressed in black and wore a skull mask. He opened fire outside the church with a Ruger 556 assault rifle and kept shooting when he went inside the building.

He was confronted by a church neighbor, Stephen Willeford, who was armed with his own rifle. Kelley fled the scene, with Willeford in pursuit in a high-speed chase in the truck of a man, Johnnie Langendorff, who happened to drive by as the mayhem unfolded. They were soon joined by police.

Willeford told a Texas television station, "He saw me and I saw him. I was standing behind the pickup truck for cover. It was surreal to me that it could be happening. I could not believe it."

Willeford exchanged gunfire with Kelley. "I know I hit him. I don't know where I hit him," Willeford said.

The chase ended when Kelley crashed his car and shot himself in the head. He died at the scene. Martin said he had two other bullet wounds from the shots fired by Willeford.

The gunman telephoned his father as he sped from the church, telling him that he had been shot and did not expect to survive.

Kelley fired a total of 450 rounds at the church, authorities said.

Governor responds

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS News, "It's clear this is a person who had violent tendencies, who had challenges. Someone who was a powder keg waiting to go off."

The deadly mayhem in Texas came a month after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, when a man named Stephen Paddock opened fire on a country music show in Las Vegas, killing 58 and wounding about 500. Paddock shot from his 32nd floor hotel room and killed himself as police zeroed in. Investigators are still looking for a motive.

Marie Ann Montgomery, the church's Sunday school director, said people in the congregation knew the gunman. Among those killed was a grandmother of Kelley's wife.
U.S. President Donald Trump says North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile weapons program poses a "worldwide threat that requires worldwide action," and criticized countries that support the regime of Kim Jong Un.

"It is unacceptable that nations would help arm and finance this increasingly dangerous regime. As we work together to resolve this problem using all available tools short of military action the United States stands prepared to defend itself and its allies using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities if need be," Trump said Tuesday at a joint news conference with his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, at Seoul's presidential Blue House residence.

The U.S. president said the two nations cannot allow Pyongyang "to threaten all that we have built" since the two sides fought side-by-side in the Korean War over six decades ago. He accused the North Korean leader of "threatening millions and millions of innocent lives so needlessly."

"I believe it makes sense for North Korea to do the right thing" by coming to the negotiating table, Trump said, adding Washington and Seoul are working together for a peaceful resolution to the situation with North Korea.

WATCH: South Koreans Welcome Trump to Seoul

Trump and his wife Melania arrived in Seoul earlier Tuesday, beginning their two-day visit with a trip to Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base located about 100 kilometers from the demilitarized border separating communist North and democratic South.

During a meeting with military commanders, Trump told reporters the situation with Pyongyang "will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out."

Later in the day, President Moon told his U.S. counterpart during talks at the presidential Blue House he hoped his visit will serve as a "turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue" and relieve the "anxiety" among South Koreans about the situation.

Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, told VOA's Victor Beattie there is little daylight between the two countries on North Korea, despite Trump's bellicose rhetoric and Moon's insistence on diplomacy plus sanctions.

"I think where the real problem is that when the U.S. tries to get a trilateral Japan-Korea-America relationship going, particularly in the military sphere, there's really a limit to how far that will go, or [how far] President Moon will let it go," said Newsham.

During his first stop in Tokyo earlier this week, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed that "all options are on the table" when it comes to dealing with North Korea.

Abe, at a news conference with Trump at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, said Monday there is no point in dialogue for the sake of dialogue with North Korea and the time has come to exert maximum pressure on Pyongyang.

Abe and Trump, following a second day of meetings, confirmed that North Korea has been the dominant topic of their discussions.

The U.S. president called Pyongyangs pursuit of placing a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile a threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability.

Trump repeated that the era of strategic patience in dealing with Pyongyang is over.

Some say my rhetoric is strong, but look whats happened with weak rhetoric over the last 25 years, the president said, criticizing the approaches of previous U.S. administrations. But he declined to answer a Japanese reporters question about whether he is prepared to go to war with North Korea.

The president was also asked about what fresh message he has for Kim Jong Un; the Reuters news agency reporter noting Trumps response to a VOA question on Air Force One on the way to Japan in which he referred to the North Korean people as industrious and warm.

Trump also said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he has belittled as Little Rocket Man, should send back to Japan any surviving Japanese abducted by North Korean agents over decades.

It would be a tremendous signal, said Trump. The start of something very special.

Abe revealed during the joint news conference that on Tuesday he will announce his country will freeze assets of nearly three dozen North Korean groups and individuals.

The unilateral measures follow enhanced sanctions on North Korea placed by the U.S. Treasury Department and the United Nations.

Trump, in a pair of public pronouncements in Tokyo on Monday said he expects Japan will purchase massive amounts of American military equipment and some of it will enable Japan to shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky.

A nearly three-year war on the Korean peninsula in the early 1950s ended in a stalemate that pitted the United States, South Korea and the United Nations against North Korea, which was backed by forces from China and the Soviet Union.

No peace treaty was signed and the Korean peninsula has remained divided ever since.

North Korea makes frequent claims that the United States is seeking to reignite full-scale conflict.

State media in Pyongyang on Monday, referring to Trump, said that no one can predict when the lunatic old man of the White House, lost to senses, will start a nuclear war against North Korea.

North Korea says the situation strongly requires the country to bolster its nuclear deterrent and the U.S. should not expect us to make any changes.
The United Nations is calling for an immediate halt to the Saudi Arabian coalition's blockade of life-saving commercial goods into Yemen. The coalition closed all land, sea and air ports in Yemen following a ballistic missile launch by Yemen's Houthi rebels near Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, Saturday.



The United Nations reports humanitarian operations in Yemen are blocked because of the port closures. U.N. Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Spokesman Jens Laerke said food, medicine and fuel are not allowed to enter Yemen, making life more difficult for millions of people in this war-torn country.



For example, he reported that fuel prices have jumped 60 percent overnight in some parts of the country. He said the price of cooking gas has doubled and long lines of cars are queuing at gas stations.



"We are very concerned about the likely rapid negative impact of the closure of Yemen entry points on the already dire humanitarian situation in the country where seven million people are fighting against famine-like conditions... and rely completely on humanitarian aid to survive," he said.



If the supply pipeline comes to a halt, Laerke warned food insecurity will deepen and Yemen will be facing a greater humanitarian crisis.



"Between 80 and 90 percent of food imports are coming in through these ports prior to the crisis," he added. "If these channels  these lifelines  are not kept open, it is catastrophic for people who already, in what we have already labelled the world's worst humanitarian crisis at the moment."



The Saudi Arabian coalition began an intensive campaign of air strikes against the Houthi rebels in support of the Yemeni government in March 2015. Since then, the United Nations reports more than 14,000 civilian casualties. These include nearly 5,300 people killed and almost 8,900 injured.



The United Nations adds the actual number of civilian deaths and injuries is likely to be far higher.
The United Nations Security Council urged the Myanmar government on Monday to "ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state," where violence has forced more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee the Buddhist-majority Asian country.

The United Nations has denounced the violence during the past 10 weeks as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. The Myanmar government has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing.

To appease council veto powers Russia and China, Britain and France dropped a push for the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the situation and the 15-member body instead unanimously agreed on a formal statement.

The council expressed "grave concern over reports of human rights violations and abuses in Rakhine State, including by the Myanmar security forces, in particular against persons belonging to the Rohingya community."

"The Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine State, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law, and to take immediate steps in accordance with their obligations and commitments to respect human rights," it said.

Myanmar has been stung by international criticism for the way its security forces responded to attacks by Rohingya militants on 30 security posts. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25.

"The Security Council stresses the primary responsibility of the Government of Myanmar to protect its population including through respect for the rule of law and the respect, promotion and protection of human rights," the statement said.

It stressed the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and "in this regard, the Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to cooperate with all relevant United Nations bodies, mechanisms and instruments."

Myanmar has refused entry to a U.N. panel that was tasked with investigating allegations of abuses after a smaller military counteroffensive launched in October 2016.

Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has pledged accountability for rights abuses and says Myanmar will accept back refugees who can prove they were residents of Myanmar.

The Security Council said it was alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine state and warned that the increasing number of refugees "has a destabilizing impact in the region."

The council demanded that the Myanmar government allow immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian aid and media access. It asked U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report back in 30 days on the situation.
Colleges and universities continue to struggle with serving low-income and first generation students.

While 60 percent of the wealthiest students complete their studies and graduate, only about 16 percent of low-income college students graduate, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Michigan State University and 10 other public-research universities have committed to improving graduation rates for all students, calling it the biggest problem facing American higher education.

The University Innovation Alliance was formed to share information and help 68,000 more students at its member institutions to graduate by 2025. The alliances goal is for at least half of those students being low-income.

Participating schools include Oregon State University, University of California-Riverside, Arizona State University, University of Texas-Austin, University of Kansas, Iowa State University, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Georgia State University and University of Central Florida.

After three years, the schools report the number of graduates has increased by more than 7,200. This includes a nearly 25 percent increase in the number of low-income graduates.

One of the key successes comes from a computer program that Georgia State University in Atlanta was using.

The program reviews how students progress, and notifies advisors when a student shows signs of making mistakes or facing difficulty in their study programs. Then, advisors can reach out to help students before these problems grow.

At MSU, the computer program made a huge difference, said Kristen Renn, a professor of higher education at MSU.

If Im an academic advisor in chemistry and if one of my students drops calculus in the middle of a semester ... advising it was very difficult, she told VOA. But currently, that student dropping a class would send an alert to the adviser, who then can contact the student and say, Why did you drop the class? Did you know this is required? ... Can we talk about whats going on?

MSU took it a step further and examined how it communicated with its students. The administration discovered that students often overlooked important email because it was buried among too many other messages. The school greatly reduced its emails to students.

The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas quickly began doing the same, says DeAngela Burns-Wallace, an administrator of undergraduate studies.

In return, KU shared information about its successful work-study programs with the alliance. KU paid undergraduates for research work to help support them financially and develop an early interest in research. Several other schools began to do the same.

Burns-Wallace says the sharing of information between institutions makes the alliance program so successful.

I have colleagues that are in financial aid or ... student affairs or ... research who can pick up the phone and have a colleague at 11 other institutions give immediate feedback on a project or ... understand how the others have done it and maybe identify ... other opportunities, she told VOA.

Bridget Burns, the executive director for the UIA, says change does not come quickly to many colleges and universities, especially large, public ones. But they need to change how they evaluate how much they help low-income students, she said.

How well you do for low-income students has not historically been ... highlighted. ... We know that progress is possible, that we can do better. But we need to actually create ... rewards to highlight this kind of behavior.

Burns said she hopes sharing the successes of the UIA schools will help other public and private institutions. She wants other schools to create partnerships, and devise more improvements for college students.

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A U.S. decision to cut funding for a demining program in Cambodia threatens to further worsen a feud between Phnom Penh and Washington.

On Tuesday, it emerged through local media reports the U.S. had decided to discontinue annual funding in 2018, worth about $2 million, to clear explosive remnants of war in Cambodia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly responded to the surprise decision by declaring he will stump to raise the money, according to a senior Cambodian demining official.

No public explanation has been given for the cut, and both the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), the final recipient of the funding, and Norwegian Peoples Aid, which administer the money, say they do not know why the funding has been discontinued.

CMAC Director General Heng Ratana said he had no warning of any cut to the funding before he received notification Monday about the decision. The money covered the salaries of about 300 staffers, many of whom were deminers.

I dont know what the real dispute [is]. We just present the facts and we work together; they never indicated any dispute that we have had, but suddenly they cut the aid, he said.

But we are very lucky that the government, the head, the prime minister, granted approval that he will maintain our operation as usual so that means it has no impact on our operation, he said, adding that funds for the rest of this year had not been affected.

The United States had a moral obligation to deal with the legacy of its bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam war, he added.

Ruling Cambodian People's Party spokesman Sok Eysan told VOA he was unaware of the cut, which seemed peculiar to him.

I think that its an issue which we see that its not normal. So, no matter what we answer, it will still be not normal, he said.

Norwegian People's Aid country director Aksel Steen-Nilsen said he, too, had been unaware about the reasons for the cut.

I mean, of course, there is a lot of rhetoric between Cambodia and the U.S. right now, he said. But ... I dont see any specific objective related to this because its the end of the grant cycle, and then of course, its up to the donor if they have funds and interest to continue or not.

Steen-Nilsen said cooperation had been good thus far over the three years the grant had been running and there was no indication of any special reason it would stop.

In an email, the deputy spokesman of the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh, David Josar, said demining remained at the top of the State Department's assistance priorities, but he did not address the specific reason for the cut.

We will use 2018 resources to put in place a world-class removal program targeting U.S.-origin UXO [unexploded ordnance] in eastern Cambodia, he wrote. UXO experts have proposed that the United States devote more attention to clearing such UXO, in addition to our support for clearing the more lethal Chinese, Vietnamese, and Soviet land mines in western Cambodia.

Next years funding would be opened up to competitive bidding with requests for proposals  prepared in consultation with the Cambodian government  to be released this year, he wrote without providing any further details.

For months, Cambodia has accused the U.S. of fomenting a color revolution  a conspiracy plot it has used as the grounds to jail the countrys opposition leader, Kem Sokha, and justify moves to dissolve his party.

They have seized on the continuing impacts of unexploded ordinance left over from the U.S.s massive illegal bombing campaign during the Vietnam war  a line of attack only bolstered by news of the cut to CMAC funding.

Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy, said the embassy reports he had read also did not seem to be specific about the reasoning for the cut.

So we dont really know the reason why the funding was cut so far, and its sheer speculation on Hun Sens part and political opportunism on his part to make that linkage, he said.

Any retaliatory action by the U.S. in response to the decimation of Cambodias opposition party would have been made up front, he said.

Theres an expression, between conspiracy and cock-up, you always go for conspiracy, and that seems to be what the Cambodians are doing, and until I see a better explanation, Im saying its just a bureaucratic decision probably made in Washington and passed through without much thinking, he said.

Josar said the U.S. had spent more than $131 million on the remediation of explosive remnants of war in Cambodia.

In recent years, the main focus of that funding has been on U.S.-dropped unexploded ordnance left in Cambodia's east. Some experts have complained this diverts resources away from more harmful explosive remnants in the west.
The United States has denounced Venezuela after its pro-government constitutional assembly declared opposition leader Freddy Guevara was no longer immune from prosecution when he sought refuge in the Chilean ambassadors home in Caracas.

Guevara released a video saying he does not regret calling for disobedience after Mondays constitutional assembly unanimous vote. The vote was expected after the supreme court Friday prohibited Guevara from leaving Venezuela and accused him of inciting unrest and other crimes.

Guevara, the second highest ranked member of the opposition-controlled congress, helped lead this years deadly protests against President Nicolas Maduro.

"By attempting to strip the democratically elected National Assembly's Vice President and opposition leader Freddy Guevara of his parliamentary immunity and barring him from leaving the country, the regime is pursuing yet another extreme measure to close the democratic space in Venezuela, criminalize dissent and control information," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday.

The case against Guevara has led to increased concern of another crackdown on Maduros opponents and leaves the opposition with fewer leaders to confront the president.

Guevara entered the Chilean ambassadors residence on Saturday and requested protection, according to the Chilean government.

Guevara could be Venezuelas highest-profile politician to seek exile in recent years.
A U.S. district judge again declined to ease bail conditions for President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates on Monday, saying they still needed to provide more financial information.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she was concerned about some of the $12 million in assets that Manafort had offered as security to get the court to lift house arrest and allow him to stop wearing an electronic monitoring device.

Manafort and Gates have pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential collusion with Trump associates.

They are charged with conspiring to launder money, conspiracy against the United States and failing to register as foreign agents of Ukraine's former pro-Russian government.

Jackson said she was especially worried about life insurance policies Manafort had offered as part of an effort to secure better bail conditions.

The policies, valued at about $4.5 million, are held in trust and in his wife's name. But having a relative serving as a surety, or a guarantor of the policy, Jackson said, "is very problematic." Anyone serving in this capacity needs to provide details about their assets and liabilities, she said.

Life insurance policies held in trust tend to have many restrictions and can also be subject to asset forfeiture in the case of a conviction, the judge said.

"A lot of these details need to be nailed down," she said.

Manafort properties

Prosecutors also say they are not yet satisfied they have enough details on how to value Manafort's properties, including a condo he has in Trump Tower, the president's signature building in New York.

Manafort, a longtime Republican operative, ran Trump's presidential campaign for several months last year.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied meddling in the election.

Trump has denied collusion between his associates and Russia, calling the investigations a witch hunt.

The judge last week also denied requests from Manafort and Gates for an easing of their bail conditions.

Jackson did grant a request from Gates to be allowed to leave his Virginia home on Tuesday to vote.

On Monday, the judge said she is not very likely to grant any requests for the freedom to travel internationally and is inclined to require the pair to stay in the Washington area for work, unless such trips are cleared in advance.

Currently, Manafort has promised to pay $10 million and Gates $5 million if they fail to appear for future court appearances.

Manafort is seeking permission to travel to New York where he has clients, as well as Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where his attorney Kevin Downing said he has a telecommunications business involving secure and "virtually indestructible" cellphones.

A spokesman for Manafort could not immediately provide details on the business when asked by Reuters on Monday.

The judge also held off on setting a future trial date, and ordered the parties to return for a status hearing on Dec. 11.
President Robert Mugabe on Monday sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of being disloyal, among many other issues. Critics say First Lady Grace Mugabe is expected to replace Mnangagwa, who was widely regarded as Mugabe's likely successor. (WATCH AND SHARE ..)
Former Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa says a military coup cannot be ruled out in Zimbabwe as some members of the Zimbabwe National Army are not happy about the sacking of former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Dabengwa, who is also leader of the opposition Zapu party, said it is likely that most Zimbabweans can back this move as they are tired of President Robert Mugabes rule.

The former ZIPRA military intelligence supremo noted that there could be bloodshed if there was a military coup in the southern African nation that has been ruled by Mr. Mugabe since independence from British rule in 1980.

Dabengwa, who was speaking after he launched the Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation in Bulawayo, said its unfortunate that Zimbabweans believe that a military coup can be the best way of removing the president and his party from power.

His views were echoed by former ZIPRA combatant Retired Colonel Baster Magwizi, who said the coup could be sparked by the sacking of one of the army generals.

Magwizi said a coup would fix Zimbabwes socio-economic and political problems if the army handed over power to civilians in the shortest possible time through free and fair general elections.

There are fears in Zimbabwe that Mr. Mnangagwas sacking may spark an internal strife in Zimbabwe with indications that the former vice president enjoys a lot of support from members of the army and former freedom fighters.

But political observers like Nkosikathi Moyo of the Zimbabwe Organisation for Youth in Politics and Claris Madhuku of the Platform for Youth Development said it is unlikely that the army would stage a coup.

ZNA commander General Constantino Chiwenga once told a radio station that the national armys does not meddle in Zimbabwes political processes as it was only interested in ensuring that Zimbabwes constitution is respected by those in power.
A former lawmaker filed a petition at Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday challenging President Uhuru Kenyattas victory in last months presidential election in a last minute move that opens the door to legal scrutiny of the vote.

Harun Mwau filed the petition hours before a Monday deadline set by the constitution expired. Earlier in the day, a coalition of civil society groups said they were being targeted by the government in an effort to head off potential legal cases.

The Supreme Court has until Nov. 14 to rule on election petitions. If it upholds the result, Kenyatta will be sworn in on Nov. 28.

Kenyatta came to power in 2013 and won a second and final term in August, defeating opposition leader Raila Odinga by 1.4 million votes. The Supreme Court nullified the vote citing procedural irregularities and ordered a second election.

Odinga did not contest the repeat vote on Oct. 26 saying it would be unfair because the election commission had failed to implement reforms. Kenyatta won with 98 percent of the vote, though opposition supporters staged a boycott and prevented polls from opening in the west of the country.

Organizations face audits

Kenya is a regional hub for trade, diplomacy and security and its prolonged election season has disrupted its economy.

Rights groups said on Monday the government was trying to prevent them from lodging cases challenging the Oct. 26 result.

The government's NGO Board, which monitors civil society organizations, summoned three groups for an audit on Monday,

they said.

It is not a coincidence that the NGO Board has decided to come after these organizations. All three have been instrumental in calling for free, fair, and credible elections, said a statement from Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu, a coalition of civil society groups that monitored the election.

The name means My Vote My Voice in Kiswahili.

The three organizations, Katiba Institute, Muslims for Human Rights and Inuka Trust, belong to the coalition. The head of Muslims for Human Rights said he had planned to file a court challenge.

Monitors dispute result

Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu deployed 2,000 monitors for last month's vote and said it found multiple cases where results from polling stations differed from results on the forms posted on the election portal.

They are trying to attack everywhere to see who is preparing to go to court so that they stop it, Tom Oketch, secretary general for the Coalition for Constitutional Implementation, told a news conference.

Calls to Fazul Mohamed, the NGO Board's executive director, went unanswered. Mwenda Njoka, a spokesman for the interior ministry, under which the board falls, said only Mohamed could comment.

In a separate case, another organization filed a case against the opposition, seeking to hold them liable for losses incurred because of their demonstrations.
Zimbabwe on Monday witnessed the dismissal of yet another vice president, once regarded as a strong successor to President Robert Mugabe.

Emmerson Mnangagwa follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Joice Mujuru, who was similarly dismissed in 2014.

Mnangagwa has been embroiled in allegations of factionalism and disloyalty. Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo delivered the news of his dismissal, to the media.

His Excellency the President, R.G. Mugabe has exercised his powers to relieve honorable Vice President, E.D. Mnangagwa, of his position as vice president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, with immediate effect.

Khaya Moyo cited traits of disloyalty, disrespect and deceitfulness, among the reasons for Mnangagwas dismissal. Until recently, Mnangagwa had been considered a leading candidate to succeed President Mugabe once he leaves office.

Mnangagwas journey to his dismissal closely resembles that of his predecessor, Joice Mujuru, who was dogged by rumors of corruption and plotting to overthrow the government, before being publicly called upon by First Lady Grace Mugabe to step down or face dismissal.

Indications of Mnangagwas pending dismissal became evident over the weekend, when President Mugabe, while addressing party supporters at a Presidential Youth Interface Rally in Bulawayo, angrily questioned if he had failed in picking Mnangagwa as vice president and declared hed drop him, if that turned out to be the case.

At the same rally, Mrs. Mugabe cranked up the pressure on Mr. Mnangagwa, accusing him of organizing people to boo her while she addressed a rally, and a day later, labelling him a liquidator, who has had an eye on her husbands seat since independence, in 1980.

"In 1980 Mnangagwa tried to topple the president through a coup  I'm speaking from my previous position, I have the evidence, he actually tried to wrestle power from the president. He has actually taken the president for granted for too long. For too long. The president is a very patient man."

Many anticipated that Mnangagwas ouster would come at the partys hastily-called Extraordinary Congress in December, so news of Mnangagwas dismissal Monday, caught many by surprise.

Constitutional experts said the move was legal because vice presidents in Zimbabwe are appointed by the president, not elected as running mates.

Lovemore Madhuku, who is a constitutional lawyer and leader of the opposition, National Constitutional Assembly, said, From the time they organized their [party] constitution, they chose one center of power. Whatever Mugabe does is what works. So there is no need for a meeting. Mugabe simply does whatever he wants in that party."

President Mugabes lawyer, Terence Hussein, noted that in government you sit at the pleasure of the president, the vice presidents. Remember these are the first vice presidents in terms of the constitution, they are not the second vice presidents. After the next election, the presidents are going to direct elections, they will be elected by the people. But these vice presidents were appointed. And because they were appointed, they can as the president wishes, be disappointed.

With Mnangagwa now out of the way, many question who will replace the 75-year-old former intelligence chief. Many believe the seat will go to Mrs. Mugabe following a push from the Womens League that she heads, to amend the constitution to allow for a woman in the presidium. Several Zanu-PF groups, including the women and youth, have already backed Mrs. Mugabe.

But political analyst, Professor Siphamandla Zondi, says this could backfire for the party.

"The appointment of Grace Mugabe might unite the forces that are militating against the current, the G40 for example and it might unite Mnangagwa with Joyce Mujuru, with Chris Mutsvangwa, with the war veterans and all the forces that are influential for a long time in Zanu-PF, now will exist from outside Zanu-PF and challenge Zanu-PF from outside.

Mnangagwa, nicknamed 'Ngwena' (Crocodile), has seen his political stock plummet in the last few months, on accusations by party rivals that he was plotting to get Mugabe to step down in his favor. He denies the accusation.
President Trump holds an example of what a new tax form may look like. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Columnist

The GOP tax bill is something that only President Trump could love. And his love for it would be huge.

There are at least five separate parts of the House legislation  which I call a tax cut bill because it sure isnt tax reform  that will benefit Trump and his family. I originally had only three, which I called the Trump Tax Trifecta, but then my Washington Post colleagues sent me two others. So now Trump has a five-fecta.

We cant calculate how much Trump would benefit from the House bill because he has refused to release his tax returns. But we can take an educated guess of how much he and his family stand to gain. Which is a helluvalot.

But rather than just calling out the bills flaws, Ill depart from form and make some modest suggestions about how the Senate can modify it to sharply reduce the benefits the likes of Trump would gain from the legislation as it now stands, and possibly help middle- and upper-middle-class taxpayers in the process.

The first  and most obvious  piece of the Trumps five-fecta would come from repeal of the estate tax. This would save his family more than $1 billion if hes worth, say, $3 billion. If he were really worth the $10 billion-plus that he claimed during the campaign, which Im sure hes not, it would save his heirs more than $4 billion. But even $1 billion is a lot of money. How does anyone other than Trumps heirs benefit from the estate not paying that money?

[The good news on the tax plan? No terrible news about 401(k)s]

The second piece of the five-fecta would come from repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. At least, I think it would. The AMT was created in 1969 to stop a handful of rich, tax-dodging people from paying no federal income tax at all. But over the years, the AMT hasnt been adjusted properly, and it has morphed into a monstrosity that ensnares millions of middle-income and upper-middle-income people, including me, who have plain-vanilla tax returns with no tax shelters or other games, but pay high real estate taxes and state income taxes.

Trump may be paying a substantial AMT. His 2005 federal tax return, which became public earlier this year after tax writer David Cay Johnston got his hands on it, showed Trump paying $37.1 million of income tax, of which $31.8 million was attributable to the AMT.

If Trump has been paying AMT since 2005  who knows?  eliminating it could save him a lot of money.

Now, we come to the third leg: reducing the rate that passive investors in certain kinds of pass-through entities would pay to 25 percent from the current 39.6 percent. (For details of what passive investors and pass-through entities are, consult your local tax expert.)

We dont know how much Trump collects in such income, which has become passive for him since he put his children in charge of his enterprises rather than running them himself. But given that he seems to have stakes in at least 500 pass-through entities, it looks like reducing his rate to 25 percent from 39.6 percent would save him a ton of money.

[How the GOP could repeal the estate tax  and rip off 99.8 percent of us]

Then there are the two legs that my colleagues found:

The first involves Section 3301 of the proposed legislation. This limits the deductions businesses can take for interest payments  but theres a special and better deal for real estate businesses. Which, of course, is the Trump family business.

The second, in Section 3303, repeals like-kind exchanges, a prominent loophole  but has a special and better deal for commercial real estate.

And now, rather than discussing all the problems I have with the House bill, such as the way it trashes taxpayers in my home state of New Jersey and other Democratic bastions and the heartless way it wipes out deductions for people with very high medical bills, Ill confine myself to making two suggestions that would make this bill much less pro-Trump and far more pro-average person.

First, adjust the AMT so that it applies only to people with at least $1 million of income, as opposed to the current system in which you can have $50,000 of income  about the national average  and get stuck in the AMT.

Second, if you feel the estate tax is unjust  I dont feel that way, but I understand why some people would be angry at seeing the after-tax wealth theyve piled up during their lifetimes taxed at 40 percent  double the amount exempt from the estate tax to $12 million a person and $24 million a couple.

[The Business 101 lesson that stumps Trump still]

I dont like that, but I can live with it. That would eliminate the tax for many people who started with nothing and earned their way up, paying taxes as they went, but would keep the tax for people such as Trumps family that inherit 10- and 11-digit fortunes on which little income tax, if any, has been paid.

Look, if we have to have a tax-cut bill  I dont think we need one, but thats a story for another day  we should at least make sure of one thing. To wit: that the leader of our country and his family dont get billions in tax breaks at the expense of millions of middle-class people whose taxes will go up so the Trumps taxes can go down.

The Trump tax five-fecta makes me angry, because I dont see any reason that my family should be subsidizing Trumps family.

Regardless of whether you revere Trump or revile him, this presidential money-grubbing should make you angry, too.

Read more:

Trumps most enduring  and unbefitting  trait

Hey, Dems, a better tax plan isnt going to write itself

The middle class doesnt want a tax cut. It wants better government.
Former columnist

Over the past several weeks, Ive heard endless variations of this question: Why did it take so long for Harvey Weinstein to be revealed as a sexual predator?

With the publication Monday night of a remarkable story by Ronan Farrow in the New Yorker, there is less reason to speculate.

In breathtaking detail, Farrow shows just how far the Hollywood mogul was willing to go to shut down the allegations of his sexual abuse over many decades.

Farrow reports how Weinstein used a network of lawyers and spies  including former Mossad agents working undercover  to track women and reporters. It was a desperate, aggressive and, thankfully, failed effort.

"It's 'Gaslight' meets 'Spotlight' meets 'All the President's Men,' " was Hollywood writer Jake Fogelnest's assessment of Farrow's latest story.

David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, told me that the 29-year-old Farrow has the qualities he looks for in an investigative reporter  including relentless drive, or what he termed obsession in the best sense.

And, Remnick said, Farrow offers a rare quality: Huge compassion, sympathy and patience with those whose stories he wanted to tell. On occasions when he observed Farrow interacting with accusers, Remnick said, it was really quite moving.

Farrow's reporting makes it clearer than ever how much credit must go not only to the women who came forward, willing to have their names used, but also to the New York Times, as well as the New Yorker, for withstanding the heat. The Times's Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey broke their history-making story Oct. 5; Farrow's initial report in the New Yorker plowed new ground Oct. 10.

In this latest piece, Farrow, through access to a wide array of documents and many interviews, described Weinsteins agents of intimidation.

Two private investigators . . . using false identities, met with the actress Rose McGowan, who eventually publicly accused Weinstein of rape, to extract information from her. One of the investigators pretended to be a womens rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan, Farrow wrote.

The same operative, using a different identity and suggesting that she had information on Weinstein, met twice with a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press.

Later, Weinstein sicced his lawyers on news organizations, trying to prevent publication of negative stories. The role of prominent lawyer David Boies, who worked for Weinstein while repeatedly serving as outside counsel to the Times, is an unsavory subplot.

Farrows road to this triumphant moment hasnt been smooth. He started the reporting while working for NBC, but the network claims it didnt believe the story was solid enough. He took it to the New Yorker, where he developed it further.

Its obvious now that NBC passed up not only a story that would be a blockbuster but also one that had a crucial social purpose. (Nor is it the first time that the network has pulled its punches. It was The Washington Post that last year revealed the now-infamous Access Hollywood tape on which Donald Trump bragged about groping women, scooping NBC on its own material.)

Farrow, a Yale Law School graduate and former MSNBC host, has his own family history with alleged sexual assault.

Along with his mother, actress Mia Farrow, he has supported his older sister Dylan in her accusations against their father, director Woody Allen. She says she recalls her fathers frequent inappropriate touching and, at age 7, an instance of molestation.

Allen has vehemently denied the charges, and in 1993, a Connecticut prosecutor decided not to bring charges, though reportedly acknowledging that there may have been probable cause to do so. Allen has been married for many years to a sibling of Ronans and Dylans, Soon-Yi Previn.

These days, Ronan Farrow regrets advising Dylan to keep quiet.

"I was for many years one of the people around a victim of sexual assault, saying, 'Why bother coming forward more? What will it achieve? It's just going to bring shame and trouble, and he's a powerful guy,' " Farrow told Stephen Colbert last week.

On Tuesday, I asked Farrow by phone how much his family background had motivated this new reporting.

Theres no factual link between the two, he said, but indirectly, his family experience was integral to making sure that his reporting was deep and meticulous.

I have been part of a family where weve had to grapple with the complex cost-benefit analysis of making public accusations, he said.

For a long time, he told me, I said it was better to move forward  dont let this cast a shadow.

But as his sister decided to take her accusations against Allen public in 2014, I realized I was wrong. I realized the healing value of the truth.

No matter what the motivation behind Farrows reporting, it is deeply impressive.

The wonder about exposing Weinstein should no longer be why it took so long. The wonder is that  under this kind of immense pressure  the revelations happened at all.

For more by Margaret Sullivan visit wapo.st/sullivan
Dear Readers: The change in seasons is the perfect time to consider your home and look for ways to save money on your energy bills. Here are some hints to help:

 Inspections are critical. The heating and cooling systems and filters should be looked at by your heating and air-conditioning company.

 Windows are a big source of air leakage, and a foam sealant can fill in cracks. This could be a do-it-yourself project with some ideas from the home-improvement center.

 Check your refrigerator, too. Run the vacuum hose attachment over the rear coils, and keep the bottom dust-free. Wipe out the gasket and check for cracks, too.

These hints will help keep your home energy-efficient for the cold winter months ahead. Check with your utility company for even more ideas.

Dear Heloise: Homeowners should make sure their address is easily visible from the street. I have had to call friends to ensure I was at the correct house because the house number was not visible at night.

This could be a potentially dangerous situation if an emergency response vehicle (e.g., ambulance, police, fire company) had to take extra time to find your address.

Beatrice G., Hazleton, Pa.

Beatrice G.: Check with your city government to see what it recommends, and for hints on painting your house number on the curb.

Dear Heloise: I enjoy your column. Whenever I buy an article of clothing with an extra button included, I write a description of the article and the month and year I bought it on the price tag, and staple it to the little bag containing the button.

I keep all of these in a box. Every year or two, I go through the box and pull any buttons for articles to go to donation. This method also helps me find the extra button I need quickly.

Karen D. in San Antonio

Karen D. in San Antonio: Great attention to detail!

Dear Heloise: I wanted to do something special for my beloved mother when she passed away; silk flowers fade quickly.

I found twinkling solar lights, and I thought this was the perfect thing to put by her headstone. The twinkling of the lights in the evening made a joyful sight.

Helen J., Columbus, Ohio

Helen J.: My condolences on the loss of your precious mom, Helen. Moms are the best. Readers, how do you honor your parents who have passed on?

Dear Heloise: Why do people call and not leave a message? I may just be in the yard, with the dog outside or in the shower. Please leave me a message!

A Reader, Youngstown, Ohio

Dear Heloise: Every time I get a safety pin from the dry cleaners, I store it in a little tin that once held breath mints. You never know when youll need a safety pin, and it recycles both the pin and the tin.

Nell F., Ellsworth, Maine

Heloises column appears six days a week at

washingtonpost.com/advice

. Send a hint to

Heloise

, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, or email it to

Heloise@Heloise.com

.
Lipitor(atorvastain calcium) tablets made by Pfizer and distributed by Parke-Davis are seen November 30, 2011 in Washington, DC. Pfizer's patent on the best-selling drug of all-time, the cholesterol-lowering medication Lipitor, expired on November 30, 2011, opening the path to generic competitors for America's most popular medication. Lipitor came on the market in 1997, and has raked in some $100 billion for Pfizer even in a crowded market that includes various other cholesterol-lowering statins, many of which have already gone generic. In the United States, anti-cholesterol drugs account for 255 million prescriptions a year, and about nine million people are taking Lipitor. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

A D.C. Council member is pushing a plan to allow individuals to donate many prescription drugs for use by needy patients.

The proposal sponsored by Brandon T. Todd (D-Ward 4) is for a two-year pilot program in which individuals, health-care facilities and pharmaceutical companies would be permitted to donate unused but unexpired prescription drugs that the D.C. Department of Health would store and redistribute based on requests from health-care workers.

Narcotics would not be eligible for donations under Todds bill.

I meet with about 400 seniors every month, and Ive heard from a number of them about the fact that prescription drugs can be a huge financial burden for them because of the co-pays required even of those who have Medicare, Medicaid or private health coverage, Todd said.

As the bill is written, it is unclear whether donors would be able to take a tax deduction for their donations, but Todds office said that provision may be considered later. A person receiving the donated drugs also may be charged a small fee to offset the Health Departments costs for managing the program.



Councilmember Brandon T. Todd at a May hearing. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Maryland, Virginia and approximately 36 other states have enacted laws to establish drug donation programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, nearly half of those states programs are not operational, and many that are up and running remain small, according to a March report by the group.

After a decade, the programs in Virginia have few participating clinics, and Marylands program runs through only three pharmacies in poor, rural areas, according to state health providers.

The proposal from Todd, which would have to be voted out of the councils Committee on Health to get to the full council, faces some opposition from the citys pharmacy and health experts.

At an Oct. 25 committee hearing, they testified the program could be burdensome and perhaps more expensive than existing free and discounted District programs, if the fees associated with managing donations drove up costs.

Todd and the other council member at the hearing, committee chairman Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), appeared skeptical of the claims by D.C. Pharmacy Board Chair Daphne Bernard and Shauna White, a program manager in pharmaceutical control within the Health Department.

Gray asked several times about the potential safety concerns about the program. But Todd said after the hearing that the committee plans to work closely with both agencies to design a pilot program that addresses their concerns.

Deena Speights-Napata, the executive director of Marylands Board of Pharmacy, oversees that states decade-old program, which she said serves a low-income, rural population that greatly needs assistance.

In about the last two years, the program has refocused from 13 pharmacies to three locally owned pharmacies in Aberdeen, Arnold and Cambridge.

Several years worth of reports on the program show it has faced challenges enrolling participating pharmacies because of shortages in pharmacy staff to oversee donations and the absence of tax incentives.

But while the program has constricted, local pharmacies have been better at building the close relationships needed to provide care to the communities, Speights-Napata said, especially now that the Maryland system allows for redistribution of donated controlled substances.

Speights-Napata said the board hasnt seen a reduction in use of the program despite the recent changes and that it remains effective in serving rural areas. One of the three pharmacies saw about 250 people benefit in 2016, and about $50,000 in prescription drugs were donated, she said.

Virginias drug donation program, by comparison, is largely without a pulse.

The Virginia Board of Pharmacy is responsible for licensing pharmacies in the state but does not collect data on the drug donation program, said a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

The program is in limited use among the states free clinics, said Linda Wilkinson, the executive director for the Virginia Association of Free Clinics.

One participating outlet is the Arlington Free Clinic. Donated drugs represent less than 0.5 percent of inventory there, and are usually drugs that the clinic can find elsewhere, said Jody Steiner Kelly, the director of clinical administration.

Of the 60 free clinics that make up her network, there are eight that participate to any extent with the state program, Wilkinson said.

With 99 percent of the networks patients uninsured and suffering from chronic illnesses, Wilkinson said that donations  which cant guarantee a clinic gets a consistent supply of the medications it needs  can only help in providing a bridge dose, to support a patient just long enough to be able to find a steady source.

Cross Over Healthcare Ministry, a free clinic in Richmond, sees about six donations a week, said chief executive Julie Bilodeau. The drugs typically donated are insulin and anticoagulants that treat blood clots, and they can be useful, Bilodeau said.

It doesnt take a lot of donations to save a lot, especially if it is [a drug] they cant afford, she said. But she agreed with other Virginia health-care workers that donated drugs they receive and dispense are essentially negligible in their overall operation.

But gauging benefits to patients is only way to look at the impact. Medications often are donated by families who have had loved ones pass away, and it makes them feel good to do something positive, several clinic workers said.

The fact that so many states have set up programs shows that barriers to creating one in the District are not insurmountable, Todd said.

Anita Bonds (D-At Large), who joined Todd in sponsoring the bill, said she, too, backs a pilot program and believes it can help us to serve residents who often have to choose between purchasing prescription drugs and purchasing other necessities. She said it could be done with accurate labeling and sealing of medications and proper safeguards.

If the pilot program shows the idea isnt feasible in the District, Todd said, thats fine, but he said he wants the information from a test-run of a program to drive that decision.

I dont buy that we cant institute something, he said.
THE DISTRICT

Infant found unhurt

in stolen vehicle

D.C. police are looking for a young man who stole a car with a 1-year-old child inside Monday morning. Police said that the car was abandoned about a mile away and that the baby was found safe inside.

The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Monroe Street NE in the Brookland neighborhood.

Dustin Sternbeck, a police spokesman, said the adult driver parked and went inside a store to cash a check. Sternbeck said the woman left the car running and the baby inside.

Police said a male teenager stole the car and apparently left it in the 1600 block of W Street NE.

Sternbeck said police suspect the thief did not realize a baby was in the car.

 Peter Hermann

Police: Man said hell kill all white officers

A man who reportedly came to Washington to kill all white police at the White House was taken into custody Monday across the street from the heavily guarded compound, the Secret Service said.

According to the Secret Service, Michael Arega, of Dallas, was found about 4:05 p.m. on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, near Lafayette Square. He was arrested and charged with making threats, the Secret Service said, and he was not armed.

The Secret Service said it was notified about 2:55 p.m. to be on the lookout for Arega, and it began searching for him.

The president is on a trip around Asia and is not in the White House.

A spokesman for the Montgomery County police said they were told by Aregas former wife that his Facebook page said he was going to Washington with the intention of killing all white police at the White House.

 Martin Weil

Northeast D.C. man is slain in Petworth

A 35-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday evening in Northwest Washingtons Petworth neighborhood, according to D.C. police.

Juan Nelson Roberts of Northeast Washington was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting about 6:10 p.m. in the 900 block of Shepherd Street NW.

 Peter Hermann

MARYLAND

Driver is killed after car hits bus head-on

A Maryland man was killed when he drove his car across the centerline of a road in Prince Georges County and hit a bus head-on, authorities said.

Marcus Moore, 44, of Crofton died in the crash Friday. The incident happened about 8:10 p.m. in the 400 block of Ritchie Road, not far from Central Avenue in Capitol Heights.

 Dana Hedgpeth

VIRGINIA

Loaded gun found in carry-on bag

Travelers still try to board aircraft with loaded weapons in their carry-on bags.

On Thursday, a Manassas man was charged with trying to bring a loaded gun through a security checkpoint at Reagan National Airport.

Carl H. Berry II, 36, tried to go through the security checkpoint at Terminal A with a loaded 9mm handgun in his carry-on bag, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

A TSA officer spotted the gun as it passed through an X-ray machine. TSA contacted MWAA police, who confiscated the gun. TSA said the gun was loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber.

Berry was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon in an airport terminal.

 Dana Hedgpeth
D.C. firefighters used ladders to rescue several occupants of a second-floor apartment during an early Tuesday blaze in Southeast Washington, officials said.

One person suffered minor injuries and the American Red Cross was helped at least five others displaced from the apartment in the 100 block of Xenia Street SE, near Washington Highlands.

The fire department said on Twitter that the fire broke out about 4 a.m. A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Police tape do not cross. Shallow depth of field image taken of yellow law enforcement line with police car and lights in the background. (iStock)

A house fire last week that claimed the lives of two men has been ruled arson, Prince Georges County authorities said Tuesday.

Prince Georges police detectives are handling the investigation into the fire, which started about 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 2 in a vacant house in the 6300 block of Foote Street in Seat Pleasant.

Firefighters found the two men inside the home as they worked to put out the flames, police said.

The state medical examiner reported that the men died of smoke inhalation, though the exact manner of death has not been determined, police said.

Authorities have identified the men who died Tuesday but are awaiting notifications to their families before releasing their names, police said.

Detectives are working to determine who set the fire.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 301-772-4925 or 866-411-TIPS (8477).
Montgomery County police on Tuesday at the scene of a homicide in the White Oak section of Silver Spring. (Dan Morse/The Washington Post)

A 50-year-old man was in custody Tuesday morning after he called police and told them that he had killed his girlfriend inside their Montgomery County home, authorities said.

Authorities said they received a call from the suspect about 6:45 a.m. He said that he had killed his girlfriend and that he was outside the home. When officers arrived in the 11000 block of Bradbury Manor Court in the White Oak area of Silver Spring, they found him and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified by police as 50-year-old Anthony Miguel Strong.

The woman, 43-year-old Chaunya Michalyn Blackwell, was found dead inside the home. Police said she suffered what appeared to be trauma to her body. Her body was taken to the medical examiners office in Baltimore to determine an exact cause of death, officials said.



Anthony Miguel Strong (Montgomery County Police)

The homicide remains under investigation. Police asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 240-773-5070.
A man who reportedly came to Washington to kill all white police at the White House was taken into custody Monday across the street from the heavily guarded compound, the Secret Service said.

According to the Secret Service, Michael Arega, 37, of Irving, Texas, was found about 4:05 p.m. on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, near Lafayette Square. He was arrested and taken to a D.C. police station. Charges are pending, the Secret Service said Monday evening.

Authorities said Tuesday that Arega did not have any weapons in his possession when he was arrested.

He is charged with a federal offense of making threats using interstate communications. Federal magistrate judge G. Michael Harvey ordered Arega held pending a detention hearing set for Nov. 13 and ordered him to undergo a mental health screening.

The Secret Service said it was notified about 2:55 p.m. to be on the lookout for Arega, and began searching for him.

The president is on a trip to Asia and is not in the White House.

A spokesman for the Montgomery County police said they were told by Aregas former wife that his Facebook page said he was going to Washington with the intention of killing all white police at the White House. Officer Rick Goodale, the spokesman, said county police understood the man to be 37.

Goodale said Facebook indicated the man was staying at a motel in Silver Spring. Police found his room there empty and notified the Secret Service, Goodale said.
D.C. police announced Tuesday the identity of the third and final suspect accused in the fatal shooting a 17-year-old college-bound student who was struck by a stray bullet in August in Northeast Washington.

Authorities said they are seeking James Mayfield, 18, in an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the death of Jamahri Sydnor.

The teenager was struck in the head as she drove along the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue NE. Police said she was an unintended victim when at least two men fired shots at a group standing across the street on the afternoon of Aug. 10. She died two days after she was shot.

[College-bound student hit by stray bullet dies]

Two other suspects have been arrested, but prosecutors said at a court hearing Monday that neither is thought to be the person who fired the fatal shot. Police had said they were looking for three people in the shooting, which was sparked by a neighborhood dispute.



James Mayfield, 18, is wanted in the killing of Jamahri Sydnor in August, D.C. police said. (D.C. police)

The two other suspects have been identified as Philip Carlos McDaniel, 21, and Robert Moses, 18.

[Suspects in killing of teen appear in court as police seek third man]

McDaniel, who is charged with assault with intent to kill, told authorities that he drove two friends to the street to confront a man they were angry with, according to court papers. By McDaniels account, he did not fire a weapon but the two other men did.

A prosecutor said at that hearing that Moses fired a .40-caliber handgun; Jamahri was struck with a bullet from a .45-caliber handgun.

Jamahri, the daughter of a longtime D.C. police detective, had graduated from Wilson High School. She was days from enrolling as a freshman at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee when she was shot.
Members of Code Pink protest before U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions testifies before a Senate Judiciary oversight hearing on the Justice Department on Capitol Hill, on Oct. 18. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

District prosecutors have decided to give up pursuing a criminal case against an activist who was arrested after laughing during Attorney General Jeff Sessionss Senate confirmation hearing in January.

The decision was quietly entered into the record Monday, nearly four months after the chief judge of the D.C. Superior Court threw out a jury conviction for Desiree Fairooz in May on two misdemeanor charges of unlawful conduct on Capitol grounds.

A retrial was set for November for the 61-year-old woman, who could have faced up to six months in jail.

But prosecutors dropped the case one week ahead of the planned court date. The U.S. attorneys office typically does not discuss charging decisions, and has no comment on the decision to dismiss this particular case, according to a statement issued by the offices spokesman, Bill Miller.

Samuel A. Bogash, Fairoozs attorney, described his client as happy and relieved.

Bogash said that the dropped charges came as a surprise and that he was given no explanation. He said he had talked to the prosecutor on Friday to prepare for the upcoming trial.

I would have liked to have an outright victory and a not-guilty verdict, he said. But he added, My client is no longer facing criminal prosecution, and thats a win for her.

Fairooz had attended Sessionss confirmation hearing on Jan. 10 along with about two dozen members from Code Pink, a progressive activist group that regularly protests at Congress. Fairooz laughed moments after Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) stated that Sessionss record of treating all Americans equally under the law is clear and well-documented.

[Judge throws out verdict against woman who laughed at attorney general]

Prosecutors described Fairoozs outburst  actually two  this way: Fairooz let out aloud [sic] burst of laughter, followed by a second louder burst of laughter, according to a government filing.

The document says that Fairooz grew loud and more disruptive as police led her out of the Kennedy Caucus Room, eventually halting the confirmation hearing.

Jurors who convicted Fairooz in May told HuffPost that they based their decision on the defendant's outburst after she had laughed. Her group's co-founder said there would have been no outburst had police not wrongfully arrested her for laughing.

Chief Judge Robert E. Morin ruled in July that the jury that convicted Fairooz overstepped. HuffPost reported that Morin ruled that prosecutors improperly argued that laughter alone was enough for a conviction.
Five accused members of an armed robbery crew were ordered held in jail Monday as court documents revealed how brazenly they were said to have hit commercial sites in two Maryland counties just north of Washington.

Theyd go in and take over, said Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery County police spokesman.

Their string of robberies came to a dramatic end Friday afternoon on the Capital Beltway, according to police accounts.

With police in pursuit, the suspects white van crashed. Three men bailed out. One was struck and killed by a police car in the chase. Two others, police said, fled on foot and were caught when officers ran after them. Two other suspects stayed in the van, where police said they were apprehended.

Going back to at least Sept. 22, the crew allegedly robbed a gas station, a check-cashing business, a post office and possibly a food truck, according to the court documents. They used handguns, a sawed-off shotgun and a Tec-9 assault-style pistol, police said, and often wore masks. In the Sept. 22 heist, shortly before noon at an Exxon station on Veirs Mill Road northwest of Wheaton, they forced an employee to open a safe and allegedly stole $120,000, according to court records.

The robbers described to police were fast  in and out of the businesses in four minutes. On the day the suspects were arrested, police allege they had tried to hit two check-cashing businesses in the span of 20 minutes.

Detectives caught the suspects by setting up stakeouts near check-cashing businesses that might be targeted.

At one point on the day they were captured, according to court records, the robbery crew caught some luck when they slipped by a detective on surveillance duty who had left his unmarked vehicle to take a quick bathroom break. The crews fortune didnt last long, though, with another surveillance team spotting them about five miles away, records show.

The five suspects  Juan R. Ramirez-Delgado, 34; Miguel A. Ayala-Rivera, 23; Marcio Roney Avila-Castro, 21; Yeruin J. Romero-Rivera, 21; and Edwin Geovanny Zelaya-Ramirez, 17  all were charged with armed robbery. Zelaya-Ramirez was charged as an adult. Records state their most recent addresses were in Maryland and Virginia.

Montgomery County District Judge John Moffett on Monday ordered the five defendants to remain in the county jail on no-bond status. According to jail officials and attorneys in the case, immigration agents have filed detainers against four of the suspects  Ramirez-Delgado, Ayala-Rivera, Avila-Castro and Romero-Rivera  an indication they may be subject to deportation. Federal officials could not immediately provide the mens immigration status.

In court Monday, Montgomery County public defender Haley Etchison requested that Zelaya-Ramirez  the 17-year-old  be given a bond that would allow his release pending further court action. She noted his age, that he had never before been arrested and that he had been working for his familys business. This is exactly the kind of person for whom a charge like this would scare him straight, she said.

She and a colleague also represented the other four defendants. The attorneys did not detail what defenses they may put forward, which is not uncommon at proceedings so soon after charges are filed.

According to arrest records in the cases, the crews alleged holdups date at least to the robbery of the Exxon station. In that incident, four masked people with handguns and a shotgun entered the business, with one going behind the cashiers counter.

One employee was ordered to empty the cash register. Another was ordered to open a safe. Four perpetrators ran out and got into a waiting silver Chrysler 300, according to court records.

Montgomery County police released video of that robbery.

On Oct. 19, according to police, five men entered through the front door of a post office in Brandywine, Md., with weapons that included a Tec-9. They jumped over a counter, got access to a workroom floor and forced one of the employees to open a safe, according to court records. They left with $2,197 in cash, a $120 money order, 293 blank money orders and a computer, court records state. A witness and video surveillance spotted a white Chevrolet cargo van believed to have been used in the robbery.

In the wake of the robberies, Montgomery County detectives set up stakeouts at businesses they thought might be targeted.

On Friday, an officer was posted across the street from a check-cashing business along Georgia Avenue in downtown Wheaton. At 11:30 a.m., he saw a white van pull up next to the business, remain for a few minutes and drive off. With no robbery committed, the detective continued watching for about an hour, according to court records.

At 12:32 p.m., the detective left his vehicle to take a bathroom break.

The crew struck moments later, rushing into the business armed and leaving with $236, police later charged. The robbers fled, and police were called. Officers responded with sirens wailing just as the detective was walking back from his bathroom break.

The officer was running a solo stakeout, according to police, as detectives tried to extend manpower across multiple locations.

Twenty minutes later, a detective on surveillance about five miles away  in the Long Branch area near Prince Georges County  spotted a white van and a Chrysler 300 near a check-cashing business.

The men never went in, instead driving off in different directions, police said.

As an undercover officer trailed the van, it went onto the Capital Beltway. The van appeared to be ready to exit in Prince Georges County but instead sped up and stayed on the Beltway, where it crashed into a car on the shoulder. The driver and two occupants bailed out, according to police.

The driver, identified as Juan Carlos Gomez, 37, was struck by a police car. Officers performed lifesaving measures, Starks said, but Gomez died at the scene. The officer, Sgt. William Thomas, was placed on paid administrative leave while the collision remains under investigation, as is protocol in such incidents.

Detectives caught up with the Chrysler later in Rockville and took the driver  Ayala-Rivera  into custody, police say.

Police charged the five suspects with armed robbery in connection with the robbery at the Cash Depot store on Georgia Avenue, according to court records. One of the five, Ayala-Rivera, also was charged in connection with the Exxon robbery.

In court Monday, Montgomery Assistant States Attorney Patrick Mays said the crew was responsible for a string of commercial armed robberies, including the robbery at the post office.
D.C. prosecutors investigating the August fatal shooting of a 17-year-old, college-bound student said they are confident two men arrested in the case were involved in the incident, but that a third suspect, who remains at large, fired the deadly shot.

Jamahri Sydnor was shot in the head as she drove through Northeast Washington on Aug. 10. Authorities said she was an unintended target, caught in gunfire sparked by a neighborhood dispute.

Police have arrested two men in the shooting, 21-year-old Philip Carlos McDaniel and 18-year-old Robert Moses, and are looking for the third suspect.

McDaniel, who is charged with assault with intent to kill, told authorities that on that summer day he drove his friends to confront a man they were angry with, but did not fire a weapon himself, according to court papers.

At a hearing Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Sines told a judge that, by McDaniels account, Moses fired a .40-caliber handgun and the third man fired a .45-caliber weapon. Jamahri, authorities said, was struck in the head by a bullet from a .45-caliber handgun.

Sines argued that Moses, who she said fired at least six rounds, is also responsible for the teens death.

The fact that his bullets did not kill Jamahri does not excuse him from her murder. He is still guilty, Sines said.

The daughter of a longtime D.C. police detective, Jamahri had graduated from Wilson High School and was just 10 days away from enrolling as a freshman at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee when she was shot about 3:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue NE while driving a younger relative home.

[District man arrested in fatal shooting of college-bound student]

McDaniel told prosecutors that he and his two friends had gotten into a beef with a member of a rival neighborhood gang the day before and decided to return to the area the next day to retaliate, court papers say.

After testimony from D.C. police homicide detective Philip McHugh about details of the shooting, Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo determined there was enough evidence linking Moses to the shooting and ordered him to remain in the D.C. jail until trial. Moses is charged with first-degree murder. McDaniel, who also remains in the jail, was not at the hearing.

Jamahris family, including her parents, wiped away tears during the proceeding. On the other side of the courtroom were about three rows of Mosess friends and family.



Jamahri Sydnor, 17, was fatally shot in the head by a stray bullet as she passed through a Northeast Washington intersection in August. (A-Mee Barnes/AMee Barnes)

[Hundreds of mourners gather to celebrate life of perfect daughter]

Mosess attorney, Kevin McCants, stressed that McDaniel was the only witness who links Moses to the incident. McCants also asked the judge to release his client to home detention in the care of his father, who McCants said was a federal police officer in Maryland. The judge declined.

The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 20.
The woman and her toddler son were headed down a flight of stairs in a glittering office and retail center on the Northern edge of the District on Monday, but apparently were not moving fast enough to suit the needs of two people behind them.

The two who came after them were thieves, who had taken shirts and jeans from a store in the building, the Chevy Chase Pavilion, the D.C. police said.

As the thieves fled, according to a police report, they pushed the woman down the steps. The child also fell down the steps, the report said.

The woman suffered a swollen foot and a possibly broken ankle, in the 5 p.m. incident, the report said. The 2-year-olds chin was gashed and he received stitches. His mouth was bleeding internally, and teeth may have been broken, according to the report.

One person was arrested about a block from the incident, the police said. A second arrest was made by two people who were either store or building employees.

Eight items of merchandise were taken from the H&M store at the Pavilion, with a total value of $175.92, the report said.

They said one of those arrested was charged with second degree theft, and the other with shoplifting. Both were charged with assault and cruelty to children, the police said.

According to the report, the items items taken were four pairs of jeans, three shirts and a pink hoodie.
The national spotlight swung to Virginia on Tuesday as voters came out for the countrys first swing-state test of how candidates of both parties will combat, embrace or finesse President Donald Trumps fierce populism one year after it propelled him into the White House.

Virginians woke to a cold, wet election day having endured an increasingly negative campaign that many said left them exhausted and dismayed. Rain fell steadily in the northern, more populous part of the state and was not expected to taper significantly before polls closed at 7 p.m.

Trump himself weighed in repeatedly during the day on behalf of GOP nominee Ed Gillespie, a long-time establishment Republican who distanced himself from the president personally while adopting some of his culture war stylings late in the campaign. In television ads, Gillespie slammed Democrat Ralph Northam as soft on crime and the Salvadoran gang MS-13, an attack Trump repeated by Twitter from Asia:

"Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia," Trump wrote on Twitter. If the Republican wins, Trump said, "MS-13 and crime will be gone."

Preliminary exit poll results show just over 4 in 10 Virginia voters approving of President Trump's job performance, a bit higher than some pre-election polls but still underwater, with a majority of voters disapproving. Roughly half of voters say Trump is "not a factor" in their vote, but among the remainder, about twice as many say they intend to "express opposition" to Trump as "express support." That margin is similar to a Post-Schar School poll earlier this fall.

1 of 41 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The scene during the Virginia elections View Photos Voters in Virginia elected Democrat Ralph Northam over Republican Ed Gillespie as the next governor. Caption Voters in Virginia elected Democrat Ralph Northam over Republican Ed Gillespie as the next governor. Astrid Riecken Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Trump recorded a robo-call received in some voters homes late Monday and into Tuesday. Northam is weak on crime, weak on immigration, and as your lieutenant governor, Northam has driven your economy right into a ditch, and he didnt even show up to the most important meetings, the president, according to a transcript obtained by Politico.

"The voicemail was very Trump," said Marvin McFeaters, 72, who had saved the call on his flip phone and played it again just after voting for Gillespie in Falls Church. The retired Vietnam War veteran wants to curb illegal immigration, though he is a "big believer in legal immigration" and is married to a naturalized citizen. He had not seen Gillespie ads that linked Northam to MS-13 and pedophilia.

Former President Barack Obama also recorded a robo-call on Northams behalf and campaigned in Richmond for him last month, the most prominent of several high-profile African American Democrats who have stumped for the Democrat, including Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.) and Kamala D. Harris (Calif.).

Democrats have appeared to have an edge over Republicans in party identification among Virginia voters, according to preliminary exit poll results. Just under 4 in 10 voters identified as Democrats while just over 3 in 10 identified as Republicans.

Voters brought competing outrages to the polls. A backlash against Gillespie ads seemed to have inspired some Democratic voters to turn out for Northam. But many Gillespie supporters said they were likewise offended by a pro-Northam ad from the group Latino Victory Fund that depicted a Gillespie supporter in a truck chasing minority children.

The president got me here at six in the morning, said Drew Bendon, 53, of Arlington. The stay-at-home father said he was disappointed by Gillespies campaign, in particular the MS-13 ads which seemed to equate illegal immigrants with violent criminals.

Especially after Charlottesville, its dangerous to conflate gang activity and the way a person looks, he said.

[Heres a rundown of the issues in the governors race]

Yani Portillo, 50, voted in a gubernatorial race for the first time, supporting the Democratic ticket.

I wanted the Republicans out, said Portillo, of Springfield. Its not right for the country to have this environment where theres hate, where theres just a lot of negative one-against-the-other type of thing . . . I thought I should do my part to put my little grain of salt.

Margaret Patterson, 29, a lawyer from Arlington, said Gillespies campaign convinced her to vote Democratic.

The negative advertising influenced me to vote, probably in the opposite way it intended me to, she said.

But Pattersons husband, Hunter Patterson, 29, was turned off by the other negative ad: the Latino Victory Fund campaigns spot against Gillespie.

I wanted to send a clear message that not all Republicans are racists, he said.

Michelle Villado, 44, a government contractor from Arlington, said she, too, felt compelled to vote against Northam because he didnt speak against the Latino Victory Fund ad.

I wasnt going to come vote, said Villado, a libertarian who did not vote in 2016, but I felt the need to vote for the other guy.

Both campaigns struggled to navigate a political landscape that has been transformed in the age of Trump. Gillespie, a former head of the Republican National Committee, was pushed far out of his establishment comfort zone by a surprisingly strong challenge in the GOP primary by hard-right Trumpian candidate Corey Stewart, the chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

Northam, a low-key former Army doctor and current lieutenant governor, ran an appeal to the traditional Democratic coalition even as the party remains roiled by progressive voters who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential race and former Congressman Tom Perriello in the gubernatorial primary.

Many voters said Tuesday they were not enthusiastic about either candidate.

As usual I had to vote against someone, said Bill Miller ,67, a retired federal government employee from Arlington. Against Gillespie because I have familiarity with the Republican machine and hes still part of it.

At Fairview Elementary School in Fairfax Station, Philip Barry voted for Gillespie and Republicans down the ballot but decried the tone of the campaign on both sides.

I dont like the hate speech thats in our commercials, said the marketing and business majore at Northern Virginia Community College who turned 21 on election day.

He was one voter who went with the GOP in part over his lingering distaste for Democratic standard bearer Hilary Clinton. Others considered this vote a referendum on Trump.

We have to get rid of Trump and the best way to do that is at the local level, said

Robyn Kamerling, a 60-year-old self-employed contractor from Ashburn.

[Interested in Virginias governors race? Join our Facebook group]

Across the state, the attacks and retorts played out in voters mind as the prepared to cast their ballots. Robert Kinsler, 33, a business owner in Alexandria, was also incensed by the Latino Victory Fund ad.

I thought the ad was very despicable and pushed me over the edge. It played to the common refrain from the left that the right is evil, Kinsler said as he finished voting at Alexandria Fire Station #204. Its just very low.

Kinsler's vote for Gillespie was driven in part by his opposition to sanctuary cities.

Barbara Cottman, 73, a retired nurse and Trump supporter, said the same.

I believe in Make America First, said Cottman, who is African American and lives in Woodbridge. Sanctuary cities, she said, are spitting in the presidents face.

[In the race to turn out voters, a historic push]

Virginia does not have any sanctuary cities, and Northam has said he opposes them.

Some minority voters, meanwhile, expressed the same fears that the Latino Victory Fund ad invoked.

We have children, and we want to raise them in a place where they feel safe and secure, said Ridaa Chippa, who voted in Arlington. She and her husband, Hamaad, who now live in Fairfax, said they worry that anti-Muslim bias could increase if Gillespie wins.

Jose Marquez, 54, voted in Woodbridge with his American-born son, a 23-year-old college student. Marquez, who works in construction and lives in Woodbridge, came to the United States when he was 18, fleeing El Salvadors brutal civil war. He became a citizen in 1995 and said he has voted ever since.

He said he is deeply concerned about racism in Virginia and discrimination against immigrants. By alienating Latinos and immigrants, he said, the Republican Party is contributing to its own demise.

Its breaking them, he said.

Kamran Atabaki, 69, disagreed. The Falls Church voter and real estate broker, who immigrated from Iran in 1970, said he was not living in the United States to be a socialist or a communist.

Atabaki, who campaigned for Trump last year, said he appreciated Gillespies commitment to cracking down on gang violence.

All I want is to punish the bad people and the criminals, Atabaki said. I have a six-month old granddaughter, and I want the world to be a better place for her.

Virginias gubernatorial election is typically a low-turnout event. But while rain may keep some home, there are indicators that this matchup is drawing more voters than usual for an off-year contest.

Several poll workers in Northern Virginia said they were seeing heavier morning traffic than they did four years ago.

We have a lot of early voters, said Allyn Hammel, the chief election officer at West Springfield High School. This is busier than I expected it to be.

At Kerrydale Elementary School in Woodbridge, poll chief David Ogbonlowo said 470 of 3,397 registered voters had cast their ballots by 11 a.m.

Some elections we never had half of that, by that hour, he said.

The election has set a record for absentee voting. The more than 147,000 absentee votes cast as of Friday night were the most for a nonpresidential year in Virginia history.

A record amount of money has been spent on the three statewide contests for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, and both Democrats and Republicans say their volunteers have doubled or tripled the number of home visits, phone calls and text messaging to get voters to turn out, compared with the 2013 governors race.

Northam and the Democrats are concentrating on a deep-blue urban crescent that runs from Northern Virginia to Richmond and Hampton Roads and has been key to Democratic wins for statewide offices since 2009.

[Rick Gates, charged in Mueller probe, gets permission to vote in Virginia]

Gillespie has been courting Republicans in white rural Southwest and Southside Virginia but also needs to peel away moderates and independents. He particularly needs votes in Northern Virginia, where he lives, to overcome Northams built-in advantage with Democrats in the most populous part of the state.

African American voters are an important bloc for Democrats and have been pivotal in their ability to win statewide elections. Northam comes from Hampton Roads, home to a large African American population, and is backed by scores of black elected officials statewide, relationships that he cultivated over 10 years as a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor.

[African Americans may be key to a Democratic victory]

Still, a misstep earlier this month by the Northam campaign  it omitted Justin Fairfax, the African American Democrat running for lieutenant governor, from some campaign literature funded by a union that endorsed Northam but not Fairfax  sparked criticism that the Democrats were taking the black vote for granted.

In eastern Henrico County, however, where Democrats have targeted African American voters, poll workers said turnout so far was about average.

Angela Canty, 49, said she was not enthusiastic about this years candidates but felt motivated to vote in opposition to Trump.

I just feel like he has cast such a negative on the Republican Party, said Canty, a health-care worker. Its the worst its ever been.

Gillespie, a former lobbyist, chairman of the Republican National Committee and White House counselor to President George W. Bush, nearly beat Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2014, and he emerged from that contest with newfound stature and name recognition. But running for governor this year, Gillespie nearly lost the June GOP primary to Corey A. Stewart, who ran a surprisingly strong campaign in the Trump mold in which he celebrated Confederate statues and called for a crackdown on illegal immigration.

[Gillespie ad tries to tie Northam to MS-13 gang violence]

After the primary, Gillespie struggled for months to strike the right posture toward Trump. He tried to avoid reacting to the daily barrage of Trump controversies, often bypassing the mainstream media in favor of controlled appearances before friendly groups he could later trumpet on social media. He reacted gingerly last month when the president tweeted an endorsement.

But from his initial emphasis on the economy and taxes, Gillespie steered toward cultural issues such as illegal immigration and Confederate statues  a strategy that polling suggests helped him firm up support among conservatives.

[To become Virginia governor in Trumps America, Gillespie embraces culture wars]

Carol Fox, 67, said she worried Gillespie didnt do enough.

He shouldve gone to Corey Stewart, buried the hatchet and got Corey to go out and get the Trump voters, the Republican activist said before voting in Prince William County.

Libertarian Cliff Hyra is also on the ballot, but he has been registering in the low single digits.

Voters will also choose between Fairfax and Republican state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel for lieutenant governor, and between Republican John Adams and Democratic incumbent Mark Herring for attorney general.

Besides the statewide races, all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are on the ballot. A record number of Democrats are running, including a record number of women.

Republicans have a 66-34 advantage in the House; Democrats would need to flip 17 seats to win control. They are focusing their efforts on 17 legislative districts represented by Republicans but carried by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton last fall. Still, many of those districts are in exurbs where minorities and millennials vote Democratic in presidential races but historically dont show up for state races the following year.

Of all the delegate races, the contest that has attracted national attention is in Prince William County, where Democrat Danica Roem, a transgender woman and former journalist, is challenging conservative GOP Del. Bob Marshall, the sponsor of unsuccessful legislation that would require transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender at birth. Marshall, who refers to Roem as he, has refused to debate her. Clinton carried his district by 14 points in 2016.

[Marshall, a culture warrior, fights to defend the laws of nature]

Another race that has received wide attention is in Southwest Virginia between Republican incumbent Joseph Yost and Democrat Chris Hurst, a former news anchor whose girlfriend, reporter Alison Parker, was fatally shot in 2015 on live television.

Polls close at 7 p.m.

steve.hendrix@washpost.com

Patricia Sullivan, Rachel Chason, Sarah Gibson, Kristen Griffith, Antonio Olivo, Maria Sacchetti, Gregory S. Schneider, Shira Stein, Laura Vozzella and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.
Rick Gates walks to his car after a bond hearing at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, DC, USA, 06 November 2017. Gates, a business associate of Paul Manafort, is facing charges stemming from special council Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (Thew/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock)

Rick Gates, a senior aide for Donald Trump's presidential campaign who was indicted as part of the special counsel's Russia investigation, received permission from a federal judge to leave house arrest on Tuesday in order to vote in Virginia's high-stakes election.

The Richmond resident's request comes after GOP gubernatorial contender Ed Gillespie has spent weeks pounding his Democratic rival in campaign commercials for his support for Gov. Terry McAuliffe's order that restored voting rights to felons, including a sex offender who completed his sentence and was re-arrested, but not convicted, on child pornography charges.

The campaign of Democrat Ralph Northam, who is locked in a neck and neck race with Gillespie for the governors mansion, accused Gillespie of hypocrisy because he didnt speak out against Gates request after criticizing the restoration of rights to a person charged with a notorious crime.

If Ed Gillespie believes his fellow consultant, Rick Gates, should be allowed to vote after being charged with conspiracy against the United States, he proves once again he has no principles and no belief in what he campaigns on, said Northam campaign spokesman David Turner.

Turner said the campaign doesnt object to Gates receiving permission to vote, only what it calls hypocrisy from the Gillespie campaign.

Aides to Gillespie declined to comment.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted Gates permission to vote, provided he informs pre-trial services about the location of his polling place and the time he planned to cast his ballot.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

Matt Zapotowsky contributed to this report.
Voters go to the polls Tuesday to select the next governor of Virginia, a decision that observers around the country are closely watching for larger meaning about the political landscape in the era of President Trump.

Republican Ed Gillespie faces off against Democrat Ralph Northam in a neck-and-neck race to the governors mansion. Gillespie, a former lobbyist and longtime GOP strategist, and Northam, a pediatric neurologist who is the sitting lieutenant governor, both said they were focused on state issues. But Trump and national divides over culture and racism deeply permeated their campaigns.

A win by Northam would be a major boost nationally for Democrats eager to be seen as rebuilding their party and charting a course back to power.

A victory by Gillespie, on the other hand, would demoralize Democrats, show that Trump is not a liability in swing states and provide a template for other Republicans in 2018. A win would almost certainly give Republicans full control of the state government, and the next governor will oversee redistricting, which could cement that control for years.

[A historic push to turn out voters in Virginia]

Libertarian Cliff Hyra is also on the ballot but is drawing in the low single digits in polls.

Several fundamentals are in Northams favor: Virginia almost always elects a governor of the opposite party from the president, and Trump is deeply unpopular in the state.

But Gillespie, an establishment Republican of the stripe typically reviled by populists who support Trump, has made inroads among Trump voters by attacking illegal immigration and vowing to protect Confederate monuments. From Asia on Monday, the president tweeted, The state of Virginia economy, under Democrat rule, has been terrible. If you vote Ed Gillespie tomorrow, it will come roaring back!

Virginia has a 3.7 percent unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the country. But the states recovery from the 2008 recession has been uneven.

[As Gillespie adopts Trumpian tactics in Virginia, Bannon credits Corey Stewart]

The results Tuesday will hinge on turnout, which has been slipping steadily in Virginias off-year gubernatorial elections from a high of 61.1 percent in 1993 to just 43 percent in 2013.

But this year may be different. The contest has set a record for absentee voting, with more than 147,000 absentee votes cast as of Friday night.

[Virginias economy explains growing political divide]

Both Republicans and Democrats report a doubling or tripling of the efforts of campaign workers to reach voters and urge them to cast ballots, when compared against four years ago.

The campaigns are also on track to spend a record amount of money in the statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, much of it coming from groups outside Virginia battling for a win with national implications.

Voters will also choose between Republican state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel and Democrat Justin Fairfax for lieutenant governor and between Republican John Adams and Democratic incumbent Mark Herring for attorney general.

In addition, all 100 House of Delegates seats are on the ballot.

[Democrats make big push in House of Delegates races]

And voters in Arlington will choose candidates for the county and school boards.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must bring a photo ID, and it can be used up to one year after expiration. Acceptable forms include: Virginia drivers license, Virginia DMV-issued photo identification, U.S. passport, employer-issued photo ID, student photo ID issued by a school, college or university in Virginia, other U.S. or Virginia government-issued ID, tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID, and the Virginia Voter photo ID card.

Those without an ID can go to the nearest voter registration office to get a free voter photo ID, even on Election Day. People who appear at polling places without acceptable photo ID can vote with a provisional ballot.
Sutherland Springs, Tex., resident Kevin Langdon owns about 50 guns. In the small town, he said, Everyone has everyone elses back, and guns are how we keep one another safe. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

Many of this small town's residents had just learned, mostly by word of mouth, the names of the people slain or wounded at the First Baptist Church, and the horror unleashed by a gunman was too fresh for anyone to process fully. But one thing was emphatically clear Monday: These Texans weren't about to embrace gun control.

This is a place where people carry firearms as routinely as they wear boots. They carry them out of sight, tucked in a waistband or in a pocket like a billfold. Or they carry them openly.

There are lots of guns in the community. Most people own guns in Texas, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said Monday. But guns dont kill people, people kill people.

The gun rights community has long had a favorite saying: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. What happened Sunday offered for that community a resounding echo of their belief. A local man  described by officials as our Texas hero  who lives near First Baptist grabbed his own weapon and shot gunman Devin Patrick Kelley outside the church, forcing him to flee.



Media gather near the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Tex. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

[Texas church gunman had threatened his mother-in-law, who attended services there, officials say]

Then the man, along with another resident, got in a vehicle and chased Kelley at high speeds. Kelley was found dead in his vehicle on the side of a road about 10 miles from the church. He had been hit twice  in the leg and the torso  and also had a self-inflected gunshot wound, according to his autopsy. The resident who shot Kelley did not answer his door, and a sheriffs deputy said the family did not want people on the property.

The second resident, Johnnie Langendorff, described his actions as act now, ask questions later.

What some people were saying Monday was that the massacre could have been stopped sooner had the worshipers in the church been carrying. The attack could signal that a change is needed, said Brandy Johnson, 68, an evangelical minister who moved to Sutherland Springs a few months ago. Even in a church service in a one-stoplight town, someone should be tapped to be on the lookout for trouble, she said.

I think there should be some designated watchers and some designated firearm carriers, she said.

Johnson said she worked for many years for the Department of Homeland Security and was trained to be observant: Look for the weird. Look for twitches. Look for nervousness.

[The Air Force says it failed to follow procedures, allowing Texas church shooter to obtain firearms]



Two of Kevin Langfords guns sit under his hat at his home in Sutherland Springs. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post)

Pastor A.T. Tor, 39, brought a group of worshipers from San Antonio, about 40 minutes away, and he saw this as a spiritual crisis rather than one involving powerful firearms.

I dont think this is a gun issue. I think it is a condition-of-the-heart issue, he said. If this was a gun issue, youd have this way more. Think about how many people around here have guns. It is the person behind the gun.

Resident Mike Jordan, 50, has a tattoo on the right side of his lower leg that he said embodies everything he stands for: two smoking 1847 Colt Walkers beneath a state of Texas, colored red, white and blue.

For rural Texans like Jordan, who grew up around guns, the weapons are not just symbols of self-reliance, theyre a way of life.

At any given time, you might see me with an AR-15 on my shoulder walking in my neighborhood, said Jordan, who estimated that he owns about 20 guns.

While the majority of Sutherland Springs residents dont take advantage of the states liberal open-carry law, residents said, most people do carry concealed weapons, and most households own at least one weapon and usually several more. Seeing high-caliber weapons out in the open, especially if the muzzle is pointed down and the gun is strapped to the owners shoulder, doesnt cause alarm.

Hearing multiple shots fired in town is more likely to bring to mind hunting, rather than a gunman on a killing spree. A day after the church massacre involving an assault-style rifle, residents said their resolve to carry those weapons had only strengthened.

What happened in that church should show everybody that its not a gun problem, its a people problem, said Jordan, whose grandson was nearly shot by Kelley. A screwdriver in the hands of the wrong person can be a deadly weapon.

[Death sweeps across 3 generations of a single family gathered at Texas church]

Kevin Langdon doesnt carry a screwdriver, but its not unusual to find the retired 62-year-old teacher carrying multiple guns  usually small arms he uses to kill rattlesnakes and copperheads. At home, on the south side of Sutherland Springs, Langdon owns about 50 weapons, ranging from Civil War-era antiques to modern guns, such as an AK-47, which he uses to kill wild hogs that wander onto his 10-acre property and destroy his crops. Without an assault rifle, a charging hog can be deadly, he said.

Its people, however  not snakes or wild hogs  that locals worry about most. Langdons neighbors, who have formed an unofficial watch program, all own rifles, he said. They use the scopes to monitor one anothers properties in case a stranger approaches  a constant concern because of the traffic that passes through town along Highway 87, bringing big-city strangers from nearby San Antonio, he said.

If someone were to hit a woman at a gas station, thered be 20 men on top of him beating a new lesson into him, he said. Everyone has everyone elses back, and guns are how we keep one another safe.

But it was a man with local ties, not a stranger, who ended up being the greatest danger to the community Sunday  a man who shouldnt have been allowed to purchase guns in the first place because of a domestic-assault conviction while he was in the military. It was the lack of guns in that church, Langdon and other locals said, that put Sutherland Springs residents at risk.

If everyone was armed with a gun in that church, how many people wouldve been killed? he said. Probably zero.

Authorities revealed that Kelley had been in the midst of a domestic dispute with relatives, including his mother-in-law, who has worshiped at First Baptist but was not present Sunday. The method of the attack seemed to draw inspiration from other recent mass shootings. Kelley dressed in pseudo-commando clothes: all-black tactical gear and a mask. He chose a soft target: people effectively trapped in a confined space. He used a semiautomatic rifle.

Rick Schultz, 58, who retired from the military, said: You pass a bunch of laws  who is going to obey those laws? Law-abiding citizens. . . . We just need to harden up soft targets. Having someone in there with a concealed weapon.

Sutherland Springs is a town nowhere in particular, with a single blinking light at the main crossroads. The land here is wide open under a big sky. Theres no downtown to speak of, just a string of businesses, including a Dollar General, a Valero gas station with a convenience store, and the post office.

Most of the people in town Monday were strangers  the media, law enforcement personnel, people from the Red Cross or the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, and so on. A forest of cameras had arisen a block from First Baptist. Makeshift tents, erected overnight by authorities, extended from the front of the church, creating a crime-scene zone out of sight of overhead helicopters or drones.

INCIDENT AHEAD declared a road sign at the edge of town. Religious pilgrims had arrived, coming from far away to pray at the scene of the massacre.

The grieving families found shelter and comfort a mile up a country road, far from the media scrum, at a church guarded by sheriffs deputies.
WASHINGTON

Home connementfor Manafort, Gates

Former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and business associate Rick Gates will remain under home confinement and electronic GPS monitoring until they work out a deal to disclose assets and secure a bond package for their release, a federal judge said at a hearing Monday.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of Washington added that in any deal, she was inclined to end home confinement but not to permit the men to travel internationally and would await further details reached in talks between the parties before issuing a ruling.

If financial arrangements are made that are satisfactory to the government, I am inclined to impose a less restrictive regime, Jackson said, but added that were going to have to wait for consideration of further information.

Jackson said she was also considering ordering the men to stay away from transportation facilities, meet a curfew and continue under electronic GPS monitoring. Jackson set a Dec. 11 hearing to schedule the trial, which could come as early as April.

Legal teams for Manafort and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III sparred in weekend court pleadings over the full extent and disclosure of Manaforts assets.

Manafort, 68, and Gates, 45, pleaded not guilty Oct. 31 in the first criminal allegations in Muellers investigation of Russian influence in U.S. political affairs. The pair are charged with money laundering, making false statements in federal lobbying registration statements and other offenses in connection with their work advising a Russia-friendly political party in Ukraine.

 Spencer S. Hsu

NEW JERSEY

Robert Menendez trial now in jurys hands

A federal jury in Newark began deliberating Monday on whether Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) misused his office to help a donor and friends business and personal interests.

In his closing argument Monday, Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell said the New Jersey Democrats deep and abiding friendship with co-defendant Salomon Melgen destroys every single one of the charges against them.

Over the course of nine weeks, jurors have heard evidence about private jet flights, a luxury hotel stay and other gifts prosecutors say add up to a corrupt bargain between the two men. Defense lawyers have argued the relationship between the two men was based on a close personal friendship, not influence-peddling.

Not one document, not one email hints at a corrupt agreement, Lowell told the jury during his three-hour presentation. You should expect and demand more from the government when they have the burden to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutor Peter Koski argued in his rebuttal that defense lawyers have used sleight of hand to get the jury to shift focus away from a greedy doctor and a corrupt politician.

Menendez allegedly accepted a Paris hotel stay, political donations and trips on Melgens private plane in exchange for helping Melgen get U.S. visas for his girlfriends, intervening in the doctors $8.9 million dispute with Medicare, and trying to preserve Melgens port interests in the Dominican Republic.

 Alan Maimon

FLORIDA

FSU suspends its fraternities, sororities

Florida State University has indefinitely suspended its fraternities and sororities after the alcohol-related death of a freshman pledge and cocaine charges against a member of another fraternity.

University President John Thrasher didnt say Monday how long the suspensions will last. He has also banned alcohol at events of recognized student organizations.

Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi, died Friday after he was found unresponsive following a party. The university suspended the fraternity after Coffeys death.

On Monday, Phi Delta Theta member Garrett John Marcy, 20, was charged with the sale and trafficking of cocaine.

 Associated Press

INDIANA

Chief wants ofcersin June shooting red

Indianapolis police chief has suspended two officers over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist and has recommended they be fired.

Chief Bryan Roach took the actions Monday against Michal Dinnsen and Carlton Howard in connection with the June 29 death of Aaron Bailey. Roach recommended their dismissals to the Civilian Police Merit Board.

A special prosecutor announced last week that the officers would not face criminal charges. Authorities have said Bailey, 45, pulled over for a traffic stop but suddenly drove off and later crashed. The officers approached Baileys vehicle and fired. An autopsy found that four bullets hit Bailey in the back.

 Associated Press
MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, the Saudi crown prince known for his bold and sometimes reckless steps to transform his country and its place in the Middle East, has staged his biggest coup yet. On Saturday, 11 princes and three dozen other senior officials and big businessmen were arrested on his orders, including the commander of the national guard, the economy minister and Saudi Arabia's leading international financier. Though they are reportedly being held in luxury hotels, Saudi media are describing them as "traitors," an ominous sign of what may be in store.

As if that were not enough for one weekend, the 32-year-old prince flexed Saudi muscles across the region. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a client, announced his resignation on a Saudi television channel, triggering a crisis with Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which was part of his coalition. The Saudis then declared a blockade of Yemeni airspace and borders after blaming the Tehran-allied Houthi movement for a missile attack on Riyadh's airport. On Monday, Prince Salman abruptly summoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been negotiating a political pact with the Hamas movement.

The sweeping initiatives appeared aimed at consolidating the power of an emerging ruler who is poised to succeed his 81-year-old father, King Salman, and to double down on Saudi Arabia's challenge to Shiite Iran. The young prince appears to have the full support of President Trump and senior advisers such as Jared Kushner, who visited Riyadh and conferred at length with the crown prince only days before the crackdown. If so, it's a risky bet.

His Western supporters imagine that Prince Salman is concentrating power so as to lead his deeply conservative, oil-producing country on a forced march to modernity. Prince Salman has announced plans to welcome foreign investment to the country and to sell shares in the state oil company; Saudi women were recently told they would soon be allowed to drive. A wave of arrests in September swept up many conservative clerics.

Yet Prince Salman's resort to heavy-handed tactics and ill-judged adventures could easily undermine hopes for progressive reform and destabilize the kingdom. He is arresting not just hidebound Islamic clerics but liberal journalists and human rights activists who ought to be his natural allies. His jailing of globally prominent businessmen such as Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a major investor in companies such as Apple, Twitter and Lyft, could spook the foreign investors he says he wants to attract.

Most seriously, the war the young prince launched in Yemen in 2015 has become a quagmire and fuels what is probably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The Saudi-led boycott of Qatar has introduced a rift among Sunni-ruled Persian Gulf states, to Irans advantage, and it too has produced a stalemate. Mr. Hariris resignation will likely have the effect of strengthening rather than weakening Hezbollahs hold over Lebanon.

To the extent it backs Prince Salmans gambles, the Trump administration is needlessly risking U.S. equities in the Middle East. Rather than indulge the young ruler, it ought to be pushing to curb his excesses, both at home and abroad.
Columnist

In the run-up to the 2016 election, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) dismissed the possibility that Donald Trump's popularity with rural and working-class voters spelled trouble for the Democratic ticket. "For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia," he proclaimed, reflecting the prevailing attitude within the party establishment. "And you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin."

One year after the election, it's not clear that Democrats have learned their lesson. Many have deluded themselves into believing that Russian interference, and not the party's abysmal failure to win over the working class, was the primary culprit in Hillary Clinton's crushing defeat. Clinton herself has pointed fingers at Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former FBI director James B. Comey, while mocking former vice president Joe Biden's suggestion that her campaign did not offer a vision for the middle class. But even as Democratic leaders have cleared the wreckage and begun to rebuild, there has not been a full and honest reckoning with what actually happened in 2016 or how the party can avoid the same outcome in the 2018 midterms.

In the absence of an official inquiry, a group of Democratic and progressive activists last week published "Autopsy: The Democratic Party in Crisis." While the 33-page report covers a range of issues, it offers a particularly harsh indictment of the party's self-defeating attempts to simultaneously please its billionaire backers and the working-class voters who make up the Democratic base. "Corporate domination over the party's agenda  and, perhaps more importantly, the perception of corporate control over the party's agenda  rendered the Democrats' messaging on economic issues ideologically rudderless and resulted in a decline in support among working-class people across racial lines," the autopsy states. "We live in a time of unrest and justified cynicism towards those in power; Democrats will not win if they continue to bring a wonk knife to a populist gunfight."

Also last week, former Democratic National Committee interim chair Donna Brazile alleged that Clinton's campaign was effectively given partial control of the DNC in a joint fundraising agreement (JFA) signed months before the primaries began. Brazile's account has been disputed, but no one denies the underlying reality that disastrous mismanagement left the party desperate for cash. The JFA was also a product of a campaign finance system that is rotten to the core, as these agreements are often a way for parties to evade limits on individual campaign contributions. Ultimately, the controversy is a useful reminder that the DNC needs to act boldly to ensure that its primaries are more transparent and democratic. Without real reform, including the elimination of so-called superdelegates, the party will remain open to charges of "rigging" elections in the future.

Despite these reminders of the party's ongoing failures, the past year has provided some reasons for hope. Since the election, it has been inspiring to watch members of a new generation find their voices and provide the bold leadership that Democrats desperately need. Progressive organizations including Our Revolution, Indivisible, the Working Families Party and People's Action have kept activists across the country engaged and mobilized. Women have sustained the incredible energy that fueled the historic Women's March in January, with thousands of potential female candidates expressing interest in running for office. Under the national radar, progressive populist candidates, many of them inspired by the Sanders campaign, have prevailed in state and local elections.

Amid the chaos in Washington, there have been a few positive developments in Congress as well. Progressive stalwarts in both chambers are ascendant. On core economic issues, the party establishment is slowly moving to the left. "Medicare for All" is now supported by an unprecedented number of Democratic lawmakers, including a number of likely contenders for the 2020 nomination. In addition, party leaders have indicated that reining in powerful corporate monopolies will be central to their platform in next year's midterms, an important step toward leveling the playing field for American workers and consumers.

Yet, if they hope to avoid a repeat of the bludgeoning they suffered in 2016, Democrats will have to work harder to establish a clear, compelling vision of what they are for beyond opposition to Trump. They have to build and expand a cross-class, cross-racial coalition of voters in every part of the country. They have to demonstrate, through action, that they care more about defending the interests of workers than rewarding big donors or winning over supposedly moderate Republicans who have burned them in the past. Trumps plutocratic agenda is a massive betrayal of the working-class voters who once believed he would fight for them. But it would be a tragic mistake for Democrats to assume, as they did a year ago, that Trumps shortcomings alone will carry them to victory.

Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvel's archive or follow her on Twitter.
Contributing columnist

Before any tax bill passes, new sources of revenue will have to be found. Senate deficit hawks must be satisfied, and crucial interest groups opposed to the House bill because of its assault on homeownership preferences  real estate agents and home builders  need to be converted from enemies to allies. Passage will require retaining the codes existing treatment of homeownership, as well as seriousness about the countrys ocean of red ink. And that means more revenue from somewhere.

There are three potential sources of that revenue. All should appear in the Senates version of tax reform.

First, dump Obamacare's individual mandate. As proposed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) last week and seconded by President Trump and a growing number of legislators, this would save the government between $300 billion and $400 billion over the next decade and also set the stage for significant health-care reform next year.

Only Republicans who fear Democratic demagoguery on the issue will hesitate. They shouldnt. The mandate is a massive intrusion on individual freedom that should come, if ever, from states in control of their own health-care systems, not from the federal government. Republicans have been arguing against a federal mandate since the first day of the Obamacare debate. They can kill off the mandate and advance tax reform at the same time.

Second, raise the gas tax. The obvious connection between the gas tax and its uses makes this the most palatable of old revenue sources to increase, especially as the prospect of new infrastructure spending looms. Serious students of federalism know the GOP has always been in favor of "internal improvements," as infrastructure was known in Lincoln's time. Finding the money should begin with a significant hike in the fees charged motorists using the most ubiquitous of infrastructure: the roads.

The third, new available source of revenue is very similar to the gas tax, in that it would be more fee than tax: a surcharge on every residential delivery of purchased goods as the vibrant new economy disrupts the old retail sector and booms across the planet.

A 5 percent delivery fee, collected by the merchant making the sale, would not be nearly as regressive as a broad sales tax (and may even be progressive). It would certainly tap into a volcano of revenue flowing into new-economy companies that have used the existing infrastructure of roads, rails and airports to build vast fortunes.

Such a delivery fee would be similar to fees assessed on airline and train tickets. It would actually be a new economy user fee. Thats got to have bipartisan appeal, while brick-and-mortar establishments would cheer any small tax-code recognition that the sales taxes their customers have paid for decades provided much of the infrastructure now being used to disrupt, if not completely destroy, them.

There's also a case to be made for a new income-tax bracket for the very, very wealthy and a tax on very, very large estates, in this Citizens United era where billionaire self-funding is becoming a new political force on both left and right, one unanticipated by the Founding Fathers. Starting that discussion makes sense, but figuring out the correct rates and thresholds cannot be jammed into the time available.

Tax reform is widely understood to be urgently necessary to keep the United States competitive in the global economy, and the first draft of the bill has 90-plus percent support in the GOP House Caucus. A similar bill will have similar levels of support in the GOP Senate Caucus. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told me on MSNBC on Saturday, his "guess is once we've demonstrated we have 50 votes and could pass it without them, that we might get a few Democrats."

A successful tax bill would be a huge win for the overall economy, as well as for companies that want to remain headquartered in the United States and their employees, for the Republican Party generally and for Trump, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and McConnell specifically. All that stands in the way are a handful of Republican senators, the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders. States with high income taxes have lost their battle for subsidies from low-tax states. But penalizing homeownership across all states is a galvanizing issue for the opposition.

So raise revenue to pay for preserving homeowning incentives and to rebuild and expand the infrastructure of the new economy  roads, bridges, ports, rails and airports  being hard-pressed by millions of new deliveries, and to address the demands of deficit hawks. Get it done and then move on to the repeal of sequestration on the Pentagon, immigration reform, infrastructure spending and Round Two of health care.
Columnist

"Thoughts and prayers" are fine. Locking arms "through the tears and the sadness," as President Trump prescribed, is all well and good. But none of this does a damn thing to stop, or even slow, the carnage.

On Sunday, in Sutherland Springs, Tex., a disturbed and angry man with a military-style semiautomatic assault rifle opened fire at the First Baptist Church during services, killing 26 people. It was the worst church shooting in modern U.S. history. Think about that: We've seen enough mass killings at houses of worship that we can rank them in order.

Why did he do it? We may never be certain; the assailant, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, is dead. But we can say with certainty how he did such an unspeakable thing: with a gun designed for warfare, a weapon that has no business in civilian hands.

Ive written this column before, and I will have tragic occasion to write it again. I dont care about that. Ill keep writing it because we cannot become inured to this horrific gun violence. We cannot allow mass killings to become normalized, even though they happen with increasing and numbing frequency. We can accept the loss of life on the battlefield as the price of freedom but not senseless murder in the church pews.

Now begins the sophistry from apologists for the gun lobby. First they will feign outrage that anyone would politicize such a tragedy by seeking ways to prevent such a thing from happening again. Then the National Rifle Associations water carriers will choose some gun- control proposal and crow about how that specific measure could not have prevented this specific massacre. Therefore, they will argue, we must do nothing at all.

If all else fails, the complicit enablers of horrific gun violence  and thats what they are  will rush to get in front of the discussion and lead it astray, as the NRA did after Las Vegas by encouraging debate about bump stocks. Yes, those accessories allow a gunman to fire more rapidly. But a standard AR-15-style rifle is plenty rapid enough. What kills are the high-speed, large-caliber rounds that tear through flesh, bone and brain as if they were tissue paper. But the NRA doesnt want us to focus on the gun or the ammunition, because then even strong supporters of the Second Amendment might begin asking inconvenient questions.

Chief among them: Why do we make it easier to amass an arsenal of weapons of war than to get a drivers license or register to vote?

The guns most often used in these mass shootings are variations on rifles designed for soldiers to carry into combat. They are not optimized for killing rabbits or deer, but for killing people. They have no business in civilian hands.

The gun lobby claims it is impossible to distinguish between assault weapons and other firearms, but that is preposterous. Of course a distinction can be made. Perhaps Kelley would have embarked on his rampage anyway wielding a shotgun, but he would have had to reload frequently and likely would have been able to kill far fewer people.

Large-capacity magazines are also unnecessary for hunting or target shooting. How do you define whats large-capacity and what isnt? Just do it. Pick a reasonable number and write it into the law.

It goes without saying that there should be universal background checks for purchasing firearms. But there should also be enforcement mechanisms, with teeth, to make sure that dealers do not sell weapons to individuals banned from obtaining them. And just as there is a mandatory, comprehensive registry of automobiles, there should be such a registry for firearms and ammunition.

To those who spend part of each day scanning the skies for black helicopters, I say relax; the government already knows who you are, where you live, what you drive and how much money you earn. If you're on Facebook, you're probably telling the whole world much more. A week ago, Kelley posted a photo of his assault rifle.

I hear you sighing that none of this, realistically, is going to happen. I respond: But it should.

The United States is alone among advanced countries in having gun policies that facilitate, rather than obstruct, deadly rampages such as Kelleys. The Supreme Court has made clear in its rulings that the Second Amendment permits reasonable gun-control measures. This crisis is political, not constitutional.

You and I have the power to elect leaders who will reduce gun violence. The blood of innocents is on our hands.

Read more from Eugene Robinson's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A.
Oklahoma state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, a Democrat, won a special election in September, in a district that is 60 percent Republican, by presenting himself as a political outsider. (Nick Oxford/For The Washington Post)

The newest state legislator in Oklahoma leaned over his bathroom sink, teasing his tousled hair to get that John F. Kennedy bouffant. The blue suit came from J.C. Penney and fit snugly; the tie was tied tight.

My hair keeps standing up because Im already sweating so much, said Jacob Rosecrants, a 39-year-old single father. When you go campaigning, no one expects you to look like this. But when you win, everyone expects you to look like this.

A month before, he was a middle school geography teacher driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser with no air conditioning, knocking on doors at the end of a hot Oklahoma summer. Now, he is the poster boy for a national party desperate to rebuild its bench.

Rosecrants is a Democrat who won in a district that is 60 percent Republican. He is one of three Democrats who have won GOP legislative districts in Oklahoma special elections in the months since President Trump won 65 percent of the vote in one of the countrys most conservative states.



Rep. Jacob Rosecrants shows off his lucky socks after taking his oath of office in September. (Nick Oxford/For The Washington Post)

National Democratic Party leaders have rejoiced over these victories  along with five other recent wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida in districts that had voted for Trump  as evidence that the chaotic presidency may be creating opportunities for Democrats to capture more seats in next years state and congressional elections. A beacon of hope, said Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the partys strategy arm for legislative races.

Yet the path to victory still seems muddy. Internal party tensions have been on display in recent days before the release of an explosive tell-all book by former chairwoman Donna Brazile, and polls have tightened ahead of Tuesdays nationally watched gubernatorial election in Virginia, where the Democrat has waged a largely anti-Trump campaign.

In Oklahoma, success didnt come when candidates simply rejected Trump. These candidates won after embracing elements of his playbook, capitalizing on the widespread distrust of traditional politics to persuade voters to give newcomers a chance.

Rosecrants, like Trump, pitched himself as an anti-politician, an outsider who could shake up an old-boy institution filled with backslapping, privilege and corruption. As Oklahoma struggles to fund public services and records some of the worst education statistics in the country, Rosecrants used his career experience to illustrate how he could help solve the states biggest crisis.

Elect a Teacher was his slogan, and the blue signs he staked in peoples lawns in the Oklahoma City suburbs had a pencil in the logo. He knocked on doors and told of his overcrowded classroom of 42, so sweaty they called it the rhinos butt, and how other teachers have cleared out closets to find space to educate special-needs students.

It wasnt until you read the fine print that you could tell Rosecrants was, in fact, a Democrat.

For some voters, backing Trump in 2016 and then supporting a Democratic state House candidate was perfectly logical. I voted for Trump because hes an outsider, and I voted for Jacob because hes an outsider, said Sean Keith, 34, a sales manager who lives in Rosecrantss district. Maybe theyll get the job done.

During President Barack Obama's term, conservatives successfully captured voter dissatisfaction, with Democrats losing more than 900 state legislative seats over those eight years.

Oklahoma typifies the GOP domination. Even after this year's special elections, Republicans have 39 of 48 seats in the Senate and 71 of 101 in the House. The governor is a Republican, as well.

But the majority party is drawing scrutiny in the state as it navigates budget problems and political scandal.

In 2014, the state reduced taxes on oil and gas production  the main source of government revenue  from 7 percent to 2 percent in hopes of attracting more companies to drill. The timing wasnt great. Oil and gas prices were going down and fewer companies wanted to drill, Democrats and Republicans said, resulting in less money coming into state coffers.

Going into the 2017 budget season, the state was estimated to be short $868 million. The legislature is still in a special session because lawmakers cant agree on how to balance the budget. And the results were showing, in Rosecrantss suburb of Norman and the nearby country town of Noble.

Chunks of a local bridge fell off when a truck zoomed under it, because the bridge was so old. Road improvement projects along the main street were delayed because there wasnt enough money to finish them. Potholes went untended because the state couldnt hire enough workers to fill them quickly.

The chief concern among voters was education. Per-student funding in Oklahoma had decreased by 26 percent since 2008, faster than in any other state, and teacher pay ranked among the nations lowest. One out of five counties were so cash-strapped, they reduced instruction to four days a week. Teachers hadnt received raises since the Great Recession.

So grave was the concern about education that close to two dozen teachers ran for the legislature in 2016, almost all of them Democrats. But Trump's coattails proved too much for the Democrats to overcome, and only one of the teachers won that year.

Greg Treat (R), the state Senate majority leader, said those results are more indicative of the national mood than recent Democratic wins in special elections  particularly given the circumstances that led to those victories. Among them: One state senator was found in a hotel room with drugs and an underage sex worker; a state representative was accused of sexually harassing legislative aides.

Treat called the scandals inexcusable but added that we live in a fallen world with sinful men and women, regardless of what profession.

Still, Treat noted, enthusiasm for Trump remains high. At the state fair, minutes away from the Capitol, the county Republican Partys booth in the event hall bustled as fair-goers posed with cardboard cutouts of Trump and first lady Melania Trump, and glad-handed with gubernatorial candidates. A man in a tie-dyed shirt walked up to one of the candidates, Gary Jones, and asked, Where are the Democrats? Tucked in a smaller, quieter section on the other side of the hall, the booth was so hidden from view that Jones couldnt find it.

Considering the scandals, local Democrats made a larger, more philosophical argument about the nature of man and power. The scandals were about more than just Republicans behaving badly, said Karen Gaddis, a retired teacher from Tulsa who won one of the special elections.

When a single party has all the power, she said, its members begin to think they are immune. And the system becomes corrupted.

I heard a Republican legislator say, We have a mandate from the people, and I thought, What people?  Gaddis said. I didnt even get a chance to vote because no Democrats even filed for any of the offices. We need voices.

Of the 2,100 votes cast, Gaddis beat her Republican opponent by 95 votes. One of the greatest moments of her life, she said, was attending her election night celebration, which she had called a victory party only because of her campaigns quixotic hope.

I was going to go in and thank everybody and, you know, give this wonderful speech, Gaddis said. And I walked in the room, and I just blurted out, We won! And the room exploded.

The victory surprised Gaddis, but the party's leaders say it was a product of a fresh focus among them. Democrats here sought a new purpose after the 2016 elections and elected 24-year-old Anna Langthorn as the state's full-time party chairwoman. Langthorn said she was heartbroken after Hillary Clinton's loss. She said she thought about joining a militant protest group but wanted to try a more old-fashioned way of changing democracy.

The Democratic Party moved away from its original purpose here, she said. It became more of a social club than a place to strategize to win elections. We had to do it as a way to resist Trump.

Rosecrants emphasized that he was just a little guy trying to make a difference. He wasnt always an activist. His first foray into politics came when he attended a teacher rally outside the Capitol in 2014. There were more than 30,000 out that afternoon, he said, but they could not get an audience with the governor or arrange a meeting with any major GOP leaders.

There was one politician whom he did grow to admire, though. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who challenged Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, captured his attention by emphasizing the importance of small contributions to tackle big problems. Wouldnt it be funny if we ran for office? a friend of his joked. But Rosecrants did not think he was joking.

No Democrat had won a House seat in the district since 1995, so Rosecrants started a Facebook page and began fundraising. He got fellow supporters of the Sanders campaign to knock on doors and spread his message. He thought he got a sign from the political gods when he received his first contribution.

Twenty-seven dollars, he recalled, an homage to the average contribution to the Sanders campaign.

He was one of the teachers who ran in 2016 and lost to the incumbent, by 20 percentage points. When the incumbent quit the job, Rosecrants began going door to door again. The day before his September election, Rosecrants said, he and his team knocked on 2,432 doors.

I started believing in myself and started believing that we had a real chance, he said.

One of those doors belonged to Keith, the 34-year-old from Noble. In a community where many longtime residents know one another, he considered Rosecrants a friend.

Keith said he found Democrats on the national level to be out of touch  more concerned about schools being named after Confederate soldiers than the children within those halls. He didnt believe in special treatment, and he wondered why it was so hard for Republicans to raise the low taxes on oil and gas corporations while parents had to beg companies for private donations to supply their children with textbooks.

The government understands whats happening, but I dont think theyre working on it, Keith said. People here just hated Obama. I wasnt a fan of him, either, but things were getting better when he left. There was so much division in the federal government, nothing could get done  and nothing can get done here, either.

He typically voted the party line, but Keith thought his state, much like his country, was at a crossroads.

So this time, he chose a Democrat. Hes not sure hed do so again.
Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to President Trumps campaign whose visit to Moscow during the election has drawn scrutiny, sent an email to fellow Trump aides during his trip describing a private conversation with a senior Russian official who spoke favorably of the Republican candidate, according to records released late Monday by congressional investigators.

Page also wrote that he had been provided incredible insights and outreach by Russian lawmakers and senior members of Russian President Vladimir Putins administration during the trip.

The email appeared to contradict earlier statements by Page, who had said he had only exchanged brief greetings with the senior Russian official, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, after he delivered a speech at a Russian university.

In his July 2016 note, Page wrote that Dvorkovich had expressed strong support for Mr. Trump and a desire to work together toward devising better solutions in response to a vast range of current international problems.

Pages email was read aloud by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) when Page met behind closed doors last week with the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 president election. The committee released the transcript of the seven-hour session late Monday.



Carter Page, former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, speaks to reporters after testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 2 in Washington. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Confronted with his email, Page told the committee that he had not meant that he met with any officials but rather that he had learned of their views about the U.S. election from local media and scholars. He maintained that his interaction with Dvorkovich consisted of a brief greeting, and that he had learned his views on the campaign while listening to Dvorkovichs public address. Page told the committee that he had not worked with the Russians to hack emails or otherwise influence the election.

In a statement Monday, Schiff said that Page had failed to produce the email to the committee before his interview, despite receiving a subpoena for documents.

Page is one of a number of Trump associates whose contacts with Russians before the election are emerging as important factors in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

Another adviser, George Papadopoulos, pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal agents about Russian contacts during the campaign.

The transcript shows Page, a Navy veteran who worked for a time in Moscow as an energy consultant, was at times combative and evasive in response to committee questions.

[At least nine people in Trumps orbit had contact with Russians during campaign and transition]

Asked about his email indicating he had discussed Trumps campaign in a private conversation with a Russian official, Page responded to The Washington Post via text message: That is complete misinformation and/or misinterpretation.

Im working on my lawsuit tonight that will get to the bottom of the real interference in the 2016 election, by the [United States government]. Ive played this nonsensical game long enough and am not interested in this latest round tonight, he said.

Page requested that the committee make the transcript of his remarks public.

Pages testimony shows that a number of Trump campaign officials were aware of his plans to travel to Moscow before he left  and that he updated others on his return.

He told the committee that he informed then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), then a key Trump supporter and now attorney general, and said he probably had told national campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis before leaving and definitely did so on his return.

A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment; Cloviss attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

In one email to fellow campaign aides, Page suggested that Trump perhaps take his place and travel to Moscow to raise the temperature a little bit and, in another, he asked how campaign officials would prefer me to focus his remarks.

He said he was unaware at the time that Papadopoulos was making similar proposals for Trump to travel to Russia, though he acknowledged he had received some of Papadopouloss emails about Russia.

Page sent the email describing his interaction with Dvorkovich in Moscow to campaign aide J.D. Gordon, as well as a different campaign aide.

Gordon said he does not recall the email but that he had discouraged Page from going to Moscow. Its important to remember that Carter Page and George Papadopoulos were peripheral members of a relatively peripheral advisory committee, he said.

Trump has said he does not recall ever speaking to Page.

Pages July 2016 trip to Moscow drew attention during the campaign, particularly after WikiLeaks released emails that had been hacked from the Democratic National Committee a few weeks later and Russia became a controversial campaign topic.

With his Russia ties under scrutiny, Page said in September 2016 that he was taking a leave from the campaign.

Later, it emerged that the FBI had obtained a secret court order to monitor Pages communications during the summer of 2016.

[FBI obtained FISA warrant to monitor Trump adviser Carter Page]

In numerous public interviews, Page has always denied he met with other Russian officials, notably with Igor Sechin, a Putin associate.

A former British intelligence agent, working on behalf of Democrats, alleged in a dossier compiled before the election and published in January that Page had met with both men.

Questioned by the committee, Page again denied meeting Sechin  but acknowledged he had met with other officials who work for Rosneft, the company Sechin leads, including the head of investor relations.

Pages Russian contacts did not end on his return from Moscow. At the Republican National Convention, Page told the committee that he spoke with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the subject of U.S. sanctions on Russia may have briefly come up in some context. He said he did not recall any discussion of hacked emails there.

And Page told the committee about another foreign trip he took during the campaign, a long weekend he spent in Budapest where he said he met with Hungarys ambassador to the United States and other Hungarian officials. He said he discussed foreign policy things with the ambassador and that he had some general discussions of U.S.-Russia relations with her and other Hungarian officials  though he could recall few specifics.

He also told the committee about a second trip to Moscow he took in December 2016 and said that he met with Russian and Kazakh nationals in London that same month.

Tom Hamburger and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
A resident passes the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Tex., on Nov. 6, 2017. The church was the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history. (Eric Gay/AP)

The massacre that killed more than two dozen people at a Texas church on Sunday isnt likely to jump-start attempts on Capitol Hill to enact fresh legislation addressing gun violence or mental health, according to lawmakers in both parties.

Coming just a month after the mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people, Congress hasnt even made good yet on bipartisan resolve to address an obscure element of that attack. Remember bump stocks?

Instead, the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., seemed to only further coarsen the tone surrounding a decades-long fight over gun rights in the United States.

"No one is safe so long as Congress chooses to do absolutely nothing in the face of this epidemic," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a vocal advocate for gun control, said in a scathing statement hours after the shooting. "The time is now for Congress to shed its cowardly cover and do something."

But just steps from the church crime scene on Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) assailed the news media and Democrats for immediately seeking legislative solutions to the latest outbreak of gun violence.



Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif.) speaks during a news conference about gun control legislation at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 4, 2017. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

It is an unfortunate thing that the immediate place the media goes after any tragedy, after any murder, is politicizing it. We dont need politics right now, he told reporters at a news conference.

Noting that a terrorism suspect used a rented truck last week to kill eight people along a New York City bike path, Cruz added, Evil is evil is evil and will use the weaponry that is available.

Although Democrats and some Republicans have introduced dozens of proposals this year to address gun violence, there is no bill poised for consideration in a House or Senate committee or scheduled for an up-or-down vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signaled Monday that there are no immediate plans to take up legislation to address gun violence.

Its hard to envision a foolproof way to prevent individual outrages by evil people, he told reporters in Kentucky. Echoing Cruz, McConnell noted that last week in New York, you had a person who figured out he could kill people by driving his automobile up on the sidewalk. Its a very, very challenging thing.

Aides to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) declined to comment, referring reporters to the House Judiciary Committee. A senior committee aide would say only that the panel is in touch with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI about the shooting.

ATF is also set to brief Judiciary Committee members this week on the use of bump stocks, aides said.



Rep. Carlos Curbelo R-Fla.), far right, speaks alongside House GOP leaders at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 24, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Congress seemed to get closer than it has in many years last month, when the Las Vegas shooting brought attention to bump stocks, an obscure device used to accelerate gunfire on some weapons used in the massacre. In subsequent days, Republicans especially expressed alarm about how such an unknown accessory could cause such widespread violence. Lawmakers in both parties quickly agreed that steps should be taken to regulate their use.

The National Rifle Association, usually mum in the wake of mass shootings, said it supported restricting access to bump stocks. So did the Trump administration. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a longtime advocate for gun restrictions, unveiled a plan to restrict the sale and use of bump stocks that was quickly co-sponsored by more than 30 Democratic senators. In the House, Republicans and Democrats quickly banded around a similar idea.

We are continuing to work on this, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said. He co-sponsored a bipartisan plan to restrict bump stocks with Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), who didnt return requests for comment Monday.

But bump stock legislation has stalled as ATF is reviewing a 2010 ruling that authorized their sale.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a close ally of House GOP leaders, said Monday that lawmakers should wait for more information on the Texas shooting before rushing to judgment.

The first thing we need to know is know a little bit more about this, Cole said in an interview.

If it turns out he broke existing laws, Cole added, adding new laws, would not likely be an effective countermeasure. Rather, focusing on enforcing laws on the books would be preferable.

Cole said the issue of bump stocks should be solved in the executive branch. The quickest fix is to reverse the administrative decision allowing the devices, he said.

But Moulton disputed that, saying that any Republican who tries to put this on the administration is only doing that because he or she is scared of the NRA.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), who chairs a gun violence prevention task force for House Democrats, said Monday that hes hopeful that a bipartisan background-check bill he unveiled last week with Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) could pick up traction.

The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act would expand the existing background-check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including weapons sold at gun shows, online and in classified ads. But the bill would leave open exceptions for transfers between friends and family.

There is no single law that can put an end to mass shootings or gun violence, but there are certainly proactive steps we can take to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill, King said in a statement. Background checks, he added, keep guns out of the hands of people we all agree shouldnt have guns.

Thompson noted that a similar version of his bill with King they introduced last year had at least 188 co-sponsors in both parties. He ruled out a new push by Democrats to use procedural tactics to force votes on such bills or to stage another sit-in on the House floor as some Democrats did last year in a bid to force votes.

We need the majority party to screw up some courage and start working with these issues, Thompson said. The push to enact changes has been a solo effort ever since Sandy Hook  the 2012 shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that left 28 people dead.

Read more at PowerPost
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson prompted an outcry last week with his assertion that a British charity worker serving the past 18 months in prison in Iran was not just visiting the country on holiday as she claimed but in fact training journalists in Tehran.

That is enough to get someone in big trouble in the Islamic republic. The womans family and employer swore that it was not true.

Johnson was grilled over his remarks in Parliament on Tuesday but refused to apologize. He conceded that he "could have been clearer" when he said last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "simply teaching people journalism" in Tehran. The husband of the 37-year-old mother and dual British-Iranian citizen denied that and said Johnson's assertion endangered his wife.

Johnson, a Conservative, came under withering criticism by detractors in the Labour Party who said that the flamboyant secretary had been reckless again and that his remarks last week could lead the Iranians to extend Zaghari-Ratcliffes sentence, as her husband has charged.

We can only hope no lasting damage was done as a result of his blunder, said Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary during the session in Parliament. She charged that Johnson had imperiled a British national abroad.



British Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in an undated photo. (Family photo/Reuters)

Thornberry went on to call for Johnsons resignation, asking, How many more times does this need to happen before Prime Minister Theresa May decides enough is enough?

Thornberry said that if May lacks the strength or authority to fire Johnson, how about the foreign secretary himself shows a bit of personal responsibility and admits that a job like this, where your words hold gravity and your actions have consequences, it is simply not the job for him?

Johnson, the mop-haired former London mayor and zealous Brexiteer, has come under criticism before for his shoot-from-the-hip style of speaking, which his supporters find clever and endearing  Boris being Boris  and his critics view as tired and buffoonish.

British media report that Johnson is scheduled to fly to Washington this week to meet with senators in Congress and to defend the Iran nuclear deal. President Trump announced recently that he would not certify Iran's compliance with the accord  a position that Britain disagrees with.

An Iranian court in 2016 sentenced Zaghari-Ratcliffe to five years in Iran's notorious Evin prison for attempting a "soft overthrow" of the government  a charge rights groups have slammed as politically motivated. Her young daughter was taken from her and lives now with relatives in Iran.

In October, authorities charged her with new, unspecified crimes that could mean an additional 16 years in prison.

She was summoned to court again Saturday, when the presiding judge accused her of "spreading propaganda against the regime."

A branch of Irans judiciary on Sunday published an article that said Johnsons statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

Johnsons comments shed new light on her case, the article said.

Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, called the courts treatment of Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has spent time in solitary confinement, unjust and inhumane.

Iran has detained and imprisoned a number of dual nationals, including Iranian Americans.

Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian spent 543 days in prison in Iran after he was arrested and convicted of espionage. He was released in January 2016 as part of a prisoner swap linked to the start of the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Johnson pushed back against his critics, saying they were seeking to blame him and the Conservative government for actions taken by the Iranians.

Theres no connection whatsoever between my remarks last week and the legal proceedings in Tehran, he said.

Put the responsibility where it truly lies, Johnson said, with the Tehran regime.

The Foreign Office said that Johnson telephoned Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday to discuss the case of Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested while visiting the country with her daughter last year.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and her employer say that she was on vacation in Iran when she was detained.

In his remarks Tuesday, Johnson said Zarif informed him that developments in the Zaghari-Ratcliffe case had nothing to do with his remarks.

Johnson said he would visit Iran in the coming weeks and planned to highlight the case with the Tehran government. He called negotiations for the rapid release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe sensitive and ongoing.

Monique Villa, chief executive of Zaghari-Ratcliffes employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, issued a statement calling for Johnson to correct his serious mistake about her training journalists in Iran.

Like Richard Ratcliffe, her husband, Villa said, I see a direct correlation between this statement by Boris Johnson, who rightly condemned the treatment that Nazanin has received in Iran, and the fact that Nazanin was brought once again into court on Saturday 4 November, and accused of spreading propaganda against the regime. 

Cunningham reported from Istanbul.

Read more

Irans top diplomat says the U.S.-Saudi relationship is hazardous to regional health

Irans hard-liners use Trumps rhetoric to target rivals at home

Why every other country in the Iran nuclear deal is standing by it

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A suicide attack by the Islamic State against one of Afghanistan's most popular Pashto-language TV stations killed at least two people in the heart of the capital on Tuesday.

The bomber detonated his explosives at the gates of the building, killing one security guard, while one of the three assailants slipped into the compound and killed an employee. At least 20 people were injured in the attack.

The militants, who wore police uniforms, battled for three hours with security forces, forcing the station to halt its broadcast and filling Kabul with the sound of gunfire and explosions. Shamshad TV was back on the air within hours, however, with one presenter appearing with bandaged hands.

The Islamic State claimed the assault through its online Amaq News Agency.

[After a bloody week in Afghanistan, elected officials seek answers from Ghani]

It was the latest attack on Kabul, once largely untouched by the violence racking the rest of the country but now a frequent target. Attacks by the Taliban and the Islamic State have claimed 250 lives across Afghanistan in the past month alone.

The majority of our colleagues managed to flee, Shamshad TV director Abid Ehsas said in an interview with another station. The number of wounded is high. Some were hurt by glass; some threw themselves off the building.

He called it an attack on freedom of the press, adding that the station had not received any threats preceding the violence.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul condemned the attack, calling it a terroristic act against free press.

Various media outlets  often accused by extremists of broadcasting racy music and other content they deem inappropriate  have come under attack by militants in recent years in Afghanistan.

The deadliest attack occurred two years ago when a suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying employees of the popular Tolo TV, killing more than 12. The Taliban said the attack was intended to avenge accusations by the station that the groups fighters had raped women during its assault on the northern city of Kunduz.

Like most local media, Shamshad TV airs anti-Taliban and anti-Islamic State public-service announcements.

The attack comes amid an escalation and expansion of violence in the country 16 years after Afghan forces backed by U.S. airstrikes overthrew the Taliban government.

[Afghan president, U.S. general vow ambitious air war to defeat Taliban]

Separately on Tuesday, U.S. forces in the country announced that their investigation found no evidence that civilians were killed during airstrikes in Kunduz province last week.

Over the weekend, lawmakers from the region alleged that dozens of civilians, including women and children, had died in a joint U.S.-Afghan operation.

The USFOR-A investigation was conducted independently and concluded that there were no civilian casualties. Specifically, no hospitals or clinics in the local area indicated treatment of people with wounds from armed conflict, the U.S. forces said in a statement.

The conflicting reports of civilian deaths also prompted the Afghan government to launch an investigation. A spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Dawlat Waziri, earlier said the initial government probe showed that one civilian was killed and five were wounded.

Read more:

Boy in suicide vest kills at least 7 in attack on Kabul diplomatic enclave

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan kill more than 70 amid peace talks push

Anger and sorrow grip Kabul after devastating bombing in diplomatic zone

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A fine and exquisite pair of famille-rose cups from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) will go on auction at Sotheby's London for an estimated 1.8 million pounds. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A pair of cups dating back to the time of Yongzheng, a Chinese emperor from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) who died in 1735, are estimated to fetch around 1.8 million pounds ($2.4million) when they go up for auction at Sotheby's London on Wednesday.

They once belonged to one of the 20th century's most renowned collectors and dealers of Chinese art, Edward T Chow, and have been sold before by Sotheby's, in 1974, 2001, and 2004.

Sotheby's said Chow's expert knowledge of Chinese arts, his high esthetic standards and his relentless demand for quality made him one of the favorite addresses for major collectors, including King Gustav of Sweden and Barbara Hutton.

Chow began his study and collection of Chinese art in Shanghai at an early age, before moving to Hong Kong in the late 1940s, and eventually to Switzerland in 1967.

"The cups are absolutely fantastic, beautiful paintings with the typical famille-rose," said Robert Bradlow, head of Chinese works of art at the auction house. "There are no other cups like this known, there is a similar pair in Cologne, but they're not exactly the same and the quality isn't quite like these."

The Edward T Chow collection remains one of the most coveted provenances for a piece of Chinese art, according to the auction house.

Other highlights of the sale include a large 12-panel coromandel screen, with both sides featuring elaborate carvings. While the front depicts 100 birds courting a phoenix, the reverse has a long dedicatory inscription.

"It's very unusual that you get screens over three and a half meters high and often coromandel screens were made for European export, this was actually made for Chinese taste," Bradlow said.

The Qing Dynasty screen dating to 1693 had been in a French noble collection.

A rare white-glazed lotus vase is also expected to cause a stir among bidders. The porcelain vase from the Qianlong period (1736-95) of the Qing Dynasty has a price tag of 600,000 pounds.

And for the first time, Sotheby's will have a St George Street Sale of Chinese art, featuring lower-value items and smaller collections of quality and interest.

Henry Howard-Sneyd, Sotheby's chairman of Asian Art, Europe and Americas, said: "In separating important Chinese art into a stand-alone auction, we have put together a tightly-curated, highly-focused selection of some 120 lots."

The St George Street Sale will be held on Friday.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions will appear before the House Judiciary Committee next week and Democrats said Tuesday they plan to grill him about statements he has made that appear inconsistent with court filings in the special counsels probe on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Sessions, who was a senior national security adviser to the Trump campaign, at his confirmation hearing in January stated he had no communications with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is examining, among other things, whether any members of the Trump team coordinated with the Russians to help Trump win the White House.

When it was later revealed that Sessions had met at least twice with the Russian ambassador, he then said the meetings were not about substantive campaign matters. That, too, was later contradicted.

Last month at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sessions said he had no communications with the Russians, and he was not aware of anyone else [in the campaign] who did.

Then last week, a federal judge in D.C. unsealed court documents against former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos that appeared to contradict Sessions's claims. One court document  part of the first set of charges filed by Mueller in the Russia probe  showed that in March 2016 Papadopoulos attended a national security meeting in Washington with Trump and other foreign policy advisers in which he said he had "connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and [Russia] President Vladimir Putin." Sessions was at the meeting.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty on Oct. 5 to making false statements to the FBI.

When you appear before our committee, we intend to ask you about these inconsistencies, the panels 17 Democrats said in a letter sent to Sessions on Tuesday.

[Read the letter from House Judiciary Democrats to Sessions]

The court documents also stated that Papadopoulos was in regular touch with several senior campaign officials who determined that the campaigns interaction with the Russian government should be confined to someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.

The Democrats stated in their letter that officials at the highest level in the campaign knew about Mr. Papadopoulos interactions with Russian officials . . . and hoped to hide those interactions from the public.

Such facts, they said, appear to contradict your sworn testimony on several occasions.

A Sessions spokeswoman declined to comment on the March meeting with Trump and Papadopoulos. But a person familiar with Sessionss recollections said that people who remember the conversation believed that Papadopoulos was proposing an idea of using his Russian contacts to try to set up a meeting between Trump and Putin, which was immediately rejected by then-Senator Sessions.

Separately, records released Monday by the House Intelligence Committee showed that another Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, Carter Page, met with a senior Russian official in Moscow in July 2016 and described his trip as providing "incredible insights and outreach" by Russian lawmakers and "senior members" of Putin's administration.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the Page disclosures.

[Carter Page email at odds with past comments on Russia]

Next Tuesdays oversight hearing comes nine months after Sessions was confirmed, a delay that has frustrated the panels Democrats, who have accused the Republican majority of ignoring the issue of Russian interference in the 2016 election and focusing instead on what they call red herring issues such as the now-closed investigation into Hillary Clintons emails.

The House Judiciary Committee has shamefully abandoned its oversight responsibilities, committee member Rep. Theodore E. Deutch (D-Fla.) said at an unrelated hearing last week. He said that following the unveiling of Muellers first indictments last week, the committee did absolutely nothing.

The panels pursuit of the FBIs handling of the Clinton email investigation, he said, amounted to scapegoating in an effort to change the subject.

But an aide for the GOP majority took issue with Deutchs characterization.

The House Judiciary Committee is committed to allowing special counsel Muellers investigation to proceed without intervention so that it can independently and thoroughly unearth all the facts, said the aide, who was not authorized to speak for the record. The committee is also committed to getting answers to questions we asked last year that are seemingly not being investigated by special counsel Mueller.

The Democrats also complained that they had sent more than 40 letters requesting information of administration officials on a range of matters, and to date have received no replies. The topics included former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynns communications with Russian officials; reports that Trump planned to rework a program to counter violent extremism in a manner that would target Muslim Americans; and Sessionss participation in Trumps decision to fire the FBI director, James B. Comey, in May.

The hearing next Tuesday is the committees first with Sessions since he was confirmed in February. By contrast, President George W. Bushs attorney general, Michael Mukasey testified three months after taking office. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., appointed by President Barack Obama, testified four months into his tenure.

According to Democratic aides, every attorney general in recent history testified before the panel in their first six months in office, except Sessions.

Sari Horwitz contributed to this report.
ISTANBUL  The International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday it was unable to get clearance to ship chlorine tablets used to prevent cholera from Saudi Arabia into Yemen, where a massive outbreak of the disease has affected more than 900,000 people.

Saudi Arabia announced Monday it was temporarily closing all of Yemens ground, sea and airports in retaliation for a missile strike on the Saudi capital carried out last week by a rebel group in Yemen. The Saudi government had vowed it would take into consideration the delivery of humanitarian aid supplies.

The United Nations on Tuesday urged the Saudi authorities to reopen the air and sea ports, fearing the blockade would sharply exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in a country that has suffered through more than two years of a civil war, according to Reuters news agency.

In addition to the cholera epidemic, roughly 7 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine, aid workers said.

The blockade was part of the continuing fallout from an escalating confrontation between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran that has reverberated across the Middle East in recent days, but landed especially hard on Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country.



Women are treated for suspected cholera infection at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on June 29, 2017. (Hani Mohammed/Associated Press)

After the missile strike on Saturday, Saudi officials said Iran had manufactured the projectile and smuggled it to the Yemeni rebel group, known as the Houthis. Iran denied any role in the attack.

Independent analysts say while Iran and its allies have provided financial support, advice and light arms to the Houthis during the war, intercepted shipments have not included heavy weapons like ballistic missiles.

In addition to the blockade, a Saudi-led military coalition has stepped up its bombing campaign in Yemen since the missile strike, according to local reports.

[What the royal purge means for Saudi Arabia  and its oil]

A spokeswoman for the Red Cross, Iolanda Jaquemet, said the shipment of chlorine tablets, while not huge, "was critical," given the scale of the cholera outbreak. She also expressed concern about a shipment of 50,000 vials of insulin for treating diabetes that were being shipped to the southern Yemeni port of Aden and due to arrive next week.

There are currently no movements in and out of Yemen. Given how fragile the country is, and the way the conflict is being waged, any additional restrictions on imports can have catastrophic effect, she said.

A report released Tuesday by the New York-based Human Rights Watch said the rebel missile attack, on the international airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, was "most likely a war crime."

The report also criticized the Saudi-led coalition, which it said had "delayed and diverted fuel takers, closed a critical port and stopped lifesaving goods from reaching the population" during the war.

"While warring parties may impose blockades during an armed conflict, a blockade is unlawful if it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying the population goods indispensable for its survival." The report added the Houthis and their allies had also "violated international legal obligations to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians and significantly harmed the civilian population."

An aid official who works on Yemen said despite the constant problem of humanitarian access during the conflict, the blockade announced by the Saudi coalition this week was worse than previous closures.

"It's a full sealing," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid offending the coalition. "If it doesn't get resolved in the coming days then we're already looking at a disaster."

Read more:

Saudis accuse Iran of possible act of war as regional tensions rise

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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WSU MBA Students Give to Homeless Hospice as Part of Philanthropic Leadership Course

November 7, 2017

OGDEN, Utah  A Master of Business Administration degree usually focuses on how to earn money, but students in Weber State Universitys leadership course learned how to give money away  effectively and for impact.

Michael Vaughan, an economics professor in the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics, donated funds for three teams of MBA students to identify, select and contribute $1,000 each to a nonprofit organization. Groups gave money to The Inn Between, which provides end-of-life hospice care to Salt Lakes homeless men and women. They also selected Seager Memorial Clinic in the Ogden Rescue Mission, and Ogdens YCC Family Crisis Center.

As we went through the process of selecting and interviewing these charities, I was able to see all the good things they are doing, said Shawn Bell, WSU MBA student. I learned how much more we could all be doing to help and realized, Wow! I havent been thinking about others enough.

YCC development manager Kathi Dysert, student Madison Elliott, executive director Julee Smith

As former WSU provost and now director of the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality, Vaughan has long championed civic engagement. He wants students to learn about the responsibility of philanthropic leadership.

One of the things people engaged in philanthropy say is, Its hard to give away money, Vaughan explained. What they mean by that is its hard to make decisions about where your money is going to have the greatest impact.

As part of the assignment, students had to formulate assessment criteria, which included taking a close look at data from various charities. They discovered quickly that large charities make tremendous contributions but use a greater percentage of donations to cover administrative costs. Smaller charities dont track their spending as carefully but demonstrate incredible service.

Thats what attracted one of the MBA groups to select the Seager Memorial Clinic in the Ogden Rescue Mission, which serves the homeless, indigent and poor of Northern Utah. What impressed MBA student Marcio Da Silva was that the clinic spends 99 percent of its donations directly on clients. Theres virtually no overhead.

Da Silva, who founded and volunteers as the financial director for a nonprofit that promotes higher education in his native country, Brazil, took the class to understand how nonprofit organizations function in the United States.

MBA student Jared Pehrson and Kristiina Rodriguez,

Inn Between donation coordinator

We are in a different country, different culture, different language, different needs, but what connects nonprofits is the mission and how they help those who are in need sometimes where government programs are not able to reach, Da Silva said. I see it is very important to have this kind of organization that will help people who are not getting outreach from other programs.

Vaughan advised students to consider both depth and breadth: Does the charity provide limited services to a great number of clients, or does it offer extensive services to fewer people?

He also challenged teams to investigate sustainability, specifically whether the organization could leverage $1,000 to attract additional funding.

By engaging in this project, students were able to learn and reflect about their own leadership ability, Vaughan said. As business leaders, they are going to interact with others, make assessments, form and share opinions. They will have to listen to others to eventually reach a consensus.

After investigation and assessment, the third MBA group selected the YCC Family Crisis Center that helps individuals dealing with domestic violence and rape. The center is open 24/7 to women and children.

Shawn Bell said learning leadership through philanthropy was an incredible experience, the outcome of which is that, with his group, he gave away $1,000, and with his family, he plans to begin volunteering time during the holidays at a local charity.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

For photos, visit the following links:

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WSU Awards 2017 Hinckley, Collaboration Winners

November 7, 2017

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University economics professor Doris Geide Stevenson has been named the 2017 John S. Hinckley Fellow, and WSUs Arts Learning Collaborative has been honored with the 2017 Exemplary Collaboration Award. The awards will be presented at a luncheon Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballroom.

Hinckley Award

Economics professor Doris Geide Stevenson focuses her teaching on global macroeconomics, international finance, money and banking. A native of Germany, Stevenson holds the degree of Diplom-Volkswirt from the Julius Maximilian University of Wurzburg. She earned her Ph.D. in economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

As chair of WSUs economics department for nine years, Stevenson helped develop a two plus two curriculum with Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) where SHNU students take courses in Shanghai during their freshman and sophomore years and at Weber State during their junior and senior years. They complete the same courses at WSU required of any other international economics major. The program was so successful, it expanded to include students from Koreas Woongji Accounting and Tax College.

In the fall 2017 semester, 41 Chinese and Korean students are taking classes through the International Economics program at WSU. A total of 154 students from SHNU and 40 from Woongji have graduated from the program and have continued on to jobs with companies such as Goldman Sachs.

In addition to international collaboration, Stevenson regularly leads students on study abroad trips to Europe to experience the culture and learn about international business and economics.

Doris has been a consistent advocate for increased internationalization, said Jeff Steagall, dean of the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics. Her contacts in Europe have allowed her to get our MBA students into top government agencies, such as the European Central Bank and influential for-profit companies, including various German car manufacturers.

Stevenson is also heavily involved in supporting faculty at Weber State and is currently serving her second term as the chair of Faculty Senate.

Collaboration Award

Approximately 40,000 students in Ogden, Weber and Davis school districts have benefitted from the Weber State University Arts Learning Collaborative since its creation in 2013. For efforts to bring arts to Utah classrooms, the collaborative was honored with the 2017 Exemplary Collaboration Award.

The collaborative has a two-prong approach: teach teachers how to incorporate the arts in all their classroom curriculum and reach students with inspiring arts programs.

The collaborative is housed in both the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities and the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education. The collaborative, which now provides enhanced art education to 76 elementary schools in the WSU service area, supports the statewide Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.

The collaborative also hosts an annual Arts Integration Conference at WSU, as well as traveling workshops that help hundreds of classroom teachers learn to integrate the arts with other core content areas, including math, science and English. Teachers who have attended the conference have commented on the excitement and energy arts integration brings to problem-solving in all subjects.

It is both an honor and a privilege for me to continue Beverley Taylor Sorensons great legacy of support for arts education in Utah, said Tamara Goldbogen, the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair for Arts Learning at WSU. We are grateful to be part of the network of universities across the state in support of arts integration. We know firsthand the more we can engage the curiosity and imagination of students through the arts, the more motivated they are to learn.

Under the direction of Goldbogen; Monica Pendergast, program coordinator; and Erinne Roundy, program assistant, the collaborative actively partners with Cathy Jensen, Utah State Board of Education, and Lisa Cluff, Art Works for Kids. The WSU advisory committee is comprised of Vincent Bates, teacher education assistant professor; Dianna Huxhold, art education assistant professor; Jenny Kokai, performing arts associate professor; Louise Moulding, teacher education professor; Thom Priest, music professor; Jack Rasmussen, Moyes College of Education dean; Amanda Sowerby, dance professor; Scott Sprenger, Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities dean; and Kathleen Stevenson, visual arts professor.

The Arts Collaborative offers trainings throughout the year, including two upcoming in November.

WSUs Fall Elementary Arts Conference  Nov.10, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Movement & Mathematics: Thinking with Your Feet (Grades 3-6)  Nov. 30, 4:45- 6:45 p.m.

For more information about the collaborative, visit wsuartslearning.com.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

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Opinion

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This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Teva Harrison goes in for an MRI. Its 3:45 a.m.; those machines whir and hum around the clock in Toronto. Shes sucked into the tube and when she opens her eyes, the eager, open face of Dora the Explorer grins at her from the too-close ceiling of the device. She imagines how terrible it would be to be a child in an MRI. Then she smiles at the thought of someone awkwardly reaching into the machine to put up stickers, just to make it a little less scary.

David P. Leonard photo Teva Harrison - author of the graphic memoir In-Between Days - a memoir about living with cancer.

That scene is from Harrisons 2016 graphic memoir In-Between Days: A Memoir About Living With Cancer. At 37, she was diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer. Harrison is an artist, so, in order to process whats happening in her body  and all the messy, complicated feelings that come with finding out you are going to die  she put ink to paper. Those drawings became a critically acclaimed book.

Now 41, Harrison is still living with cancer. She saw the publication of In-Between Days, which was shortlisted for the Governor Generals Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Then she saw her 40th birthday. And this weekend, she will see her first exhibition open at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Curated by WAG director and CEO Stephen Borys, In-Between Days, which opens Saturday and runs until Jan. 13, features 40 ink-on-paper illustrations from the book. This will be first time Harrisons work has been exhibited in an art gallery this size.

Pages from In-Between Days - a memoir about living with cancer by author Teva Harrison

Oh man. Its pretty amazing, she says from Toronto. Harrison has one of those mellifluous voices and shes just as sparkling over the phone as she is on the page. Ive had artwork in small galleries in the past, but never anything even somewhat comparing to the WAG.

She and her husband David were visiting the gallery when they were in Winnipeg. David knows Borys and wanted to say hello. He asked me if the work had ever been shown, she recalls. He said to me, One of the things that matters to me with the WAG is being a place within the community that can encourage important conversations. He saw showing my work as a way to encourage important conversations. And Im just so excited, both because of the work  its very exciting to me as an artist  and because I really look for ways to encourage conversations around metastatic breast cancer anywhere I can.

Since the books release, Harrison has had plenty of occasion to do exactly that. Its not hard to understand why In-Between Days has resonated with so many people; its a gorgeous memoir, unflinching in both its honesty and its hopefulness. Through short comics and text, Harrison delves into difficult subjects: how atheism sits at odds with having Stage IV cancer, the loss of her independence, the scaling back of her dreams.

The thoughts that kept her awake at night, and the pain that cant always be seen.

The book is also often darkly funny, such as this exchange from a section on small talk. Q: So what do you do? A: I have cancer. Mostly, I do that.

Its just been like a gift to me, she says of the response to the book. I started making these drawings as a way of coping, myself. Through an iterative process of reaching a wider and wider audience, Ive found myself in dialogue with people  mostly people living with cancer who have had an earlier-stage cancer or have a family member with cancer, but not exclusively. Ive had people reach out to me living with chronic pain or another disease that has been rendered chronic or terminal. Depression is another thing, because the things I talk about in the book, about finding yourself in a really dark place and the finding a way to move forward with joy, its actually universal, right?

Refreshingly, Harrison does not adopt the tone of a cancer cheerleader, waving fistfuls of pink ribbons like pompoms. Rather, its her willingness to get real  and to be vulnerable  that makes her work so relatable. Living with cancer is not easy, and no amount of pink swaddling is going to make it so, she says.

Its a thing that challenges you. You have to look into yourself and say, What am I capable of? Part of that means wringing the most out of each day  but part of that also means being permissive with ourselves and say, I need to rest today. And thats OK. Thats also part of living my best life. Self-compassion, she says, is something shes still learning.

Although Harrisons work has become public, it was, for a time, exceedingly private. For almost a whole year, no one outside of Harrisons intimate circle knew she was sick. I went through a lot of emotional work to get to a point where I was even making these drawings, where I was dealing with the really dark, painful emotions that came from having a terminal illness and trying to figure out: what is my life now? I was working through my own emotions by making these little one-page stories.

She shared her drawings with friends who were also grappling with metastatic breast cancer diagnoses, and they insisted that she share them. She started a blog, and it wasnt long before her drawings were picked up by The Walrus magazine. And then House of Anansi Press contacted her, saying she had the beginnings of a book.

It all happened really fast. It was my first book. It was my first time drawing comics. It was my first time having cancer, she says, laughing. Harrison was told in the initial meeting with her publisher that a book would take two to three years. I said, Funny thing, the median survival for my cancer is two to three years. Can we speed that up at all?

Eleven months after that first meeting, Harrison was holding a finished copy of In-Between Days in her hands. And the months since her diagnosis have turned into years. Harrison is still living with cancer, but shes still living. Shes working on a bunch of new projects  including two more books, one comic, one prose. Playwright Jordan Tannahill also tapped her to be the principal illustrator for Draw Me Close, a virtual-reality project co-produced by the National Film Board and the National Theatre in London that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

As for her health, she says she feels good right now. A new biopsy revealed that the course of her disease had changed, and her treatment now involves chemo  and losing her hair  which is a change from the book.

I feel like Ive been given this gift of potential, she says. Maybe Ill get a number of more years out of this treatment, and maybe by then theyll have figured out another way to extend life by the time I need it. I have more time.

Harrison has what she calls realistic hope.

Im not letting myself hope that, Oh, tomorrow my cancer will be cured, she says. My hope is that theyll find some way to render it chronic. That they can stop it where it is. Where it is is not great, but its workable.

And I really love living, she adds with a laugh. Its the best.

Teva Harrison will be at the Winnipeg Art Gallery for an artist talk Sunday at 2 p.m.

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @JenZoratti

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 06/11/2017 (1836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

First, they shut off the gas line at the site of the explosion. Then, they looked for missing body parts.

As the attempted-murder trial continues for a man accused of mailing explosive packages, Winnipeg Police Service bomb squad officers recounted their duties in the aftermath of a blast that seriously injured lawyer Maria Mitousis in July 2015.

Rommel Vianzon, Marc Levesque and Cory Wiles testified Monday in front of provincial court Judge Tracey Lord about their involvement in the investigation that resulted in the arrest of Guido Amsel.

Amsel, 51, is charged with five counts of attempted murder and several explosives-related charges after three packages were mailed to his ex-wife and lawyers who worked on the couples divorce proceedings.

On July 3, 2015, after Mitousis lost her hand in an explosion at a River Avenue law office, bomb unit officers suited up in heavy protective gear and, as per the request of paramedics, went into the building to retrieve any salvageable body parts, Const. Vianzon testified.

There was nothing we could identify, he said.

They went in to the building a second time  and the parking lot  to check for any other explosives and clear the perimeter of the crime scene. A third time, they went in without protective suits to make sure they hadnt missed anything while wearing the restrictive head gear. The checks had to be done before the building could be declared safe for any other police officers to enter, court heard.

Bomb unit members were in the process of checking out a suspicious car that was parked near the law office when information came through the investigators that that vehicle wasnt involved, Levesque said. The vehicle belonged to Mitousiss spouse and a box on the seat turned out to be full of pastries.

All three officers were cross-examined by defence lawyer Saheel Zaman about the precautions they took before they entered the building each time, including whether they tested their gear for explosive material before going in (they didnt) and whether they wore gloves (they did).

Amsels defence team has repeatedly questioned police about the possibility of evidence contamination in this case.

The trio was the latest in a lineup of WPS and RCMP bomb unit officers who have testified since Amsels trial began hearing from witnesses in late October. Later this week, Judge Lord is set to hear from civilian witnesses, including employees from Canada Post and the Petersen King Law Corp.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
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This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba bill that seeks to spell out protections for health-care professionals who refuse to participate in a medically assisted death would make vulnerable patients more vulnerable, say opponents of Bill 34.

Not so, argued half a dozen Manitoban doctors who stood to speak in favour of the Medical Assistance in Dying (Protection for Health Professionals and Others) Act at the standing committee on legislative affairs Monday night.

Bill 34 is the right thing to do, said Dr. Randy Goossen, a family doctor and psychiatrist of Mennonite heritage. It sends a message that we respect all people, those who choose MAID (medical assistance in dying) and those who follow their conscience.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Health Minister Kevin Goertzen questions a presenter during The Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs hearing on matters concerning Bill 34 - The Medical Assistance in Dying (Protection for Health Professionals and Others) Act at the MB Legislature Monday.

Central to Monday nights discussion was the question of whether Health Minister Kelvin Goertzens bill would impede a persons right to access medical assistance in dying.

That has to do in part with the wording of the bill, which in some respects reiterates federal law that already indicates no person is to be compelled to participate in a medically assisted death.

Under Bill 34, a health-care professional cannot be compelled to provide or aid in the provision of medical assistance in dying. Under the bill, professional regulatory bodies also cannot discipline a health-care provider for refusing to participate.

The bill is too ambiguous, argued Cory Ruf of Dying with Dignity Canada.

If interpreted broadly, this provision could suggest that physicians have absolutely no obligation to ensure that patients in their care have access to the compassionate treatment that they seek, and to which they have a right, he told the committee via telephone.

In the most dramatic scenarios, this legislation could even communicate to objecting clinicians that they do not have to do the bare minimum that the College (of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba) expects of them.

Dr. Alewyn Vorster, past-president of the college and chair of its working group on the provision of assisted dying in the province, agreed the wording of the bill is too broad.

Our primary concern is health-care providers may misconstrue Bill 34 as giving those who conscientiously object the right to refuse to provide patients with timely access to a resource that will provide accurate information about MAID, or to abandon their patients who wish to explore MAID.

Many of the doctors who spoke in favour of Bill 34 told the committee they agreed with the colleges approach to MAID so far, especially when compared with Ontarios approach.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario passed a policy requiring all of its doctors who conscientiously object to provide an effective referral. That means a doctor must refer their patient in a timely manner to a non-objecting, available and accessible physician, nurse practitioner or agency. Currently in Manitoba, health-care providers who do not wish to be involved in medically assisted deaths are only required to provide a phone number or similar point of contact to patients who want it.

I think weve hit the right balance on the issue of referral, Goertzen told the Free Press shortly before the committee hearings began. I dont think that (Bill 34) changes that balance I dont think it takes anything away from those who are seeking access.

Goertzen said hes received upwards of 14,000 letters from Manitobans in support of the bill. Its not meant to circumvent the policies Vorsters working group engineered, he said, but rather to guard against future college leaders possibly changing them.

This bill, we believe, holds that balance for the future, Goertzen told Vorster in response to his request in committee that the government amend it.

That balance would mean not requiring that health-care providers refer patients seeking information about assisted dying to someone who can provide it beyond offering up a phone number or similar point of contact.

Thats key, Larry Worthen of the Coalition for Healthcare and Conscience said, because his members see a referral as part of the process.

Participation includes providing MAID, assisting in the provision of it or making arrangements for the patient to receive it as in a referral, he said. A referral is a recommendation that the patient under our care should access this procedure it is a denial of our solemn responsibilities to God.

Worthen rejected scenarios put forward by Ruf in which a person is too sick or impaired by illness to act when simply given a phone number or a point of contact. There are always family members or friends or other health-care providers or care co-ordinators who can assist, he said.

We should not force a patient to prolong their life against their will, Worthen said, but it is also not right that we should be forced to participate in the death of a patient that goes against the very reason we became doctors and nurses in the first place.

Bill 34 still needs to progress through the report stage, concurrence and third reading to become law. It has to do this before the end of this legislative session on Thursday. Health critic Andrew Swan said the bill has the support of the NDP caucus, despite earlier concerns that it makes no mention of patient rights.

jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 06/11/2017 (1836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The question has plagued a Manitoba family for the past three years: what happened to Colten Pratt?

Members of the missing mans family made an emotional plea to the public Monday, saying they believe someone has information that will lead them to a resolution.

Wed hoped wed have gotten a lot more answers earlier. The best I can describe it is suspended grief, said Jacqueline Daniels, Pratts aunt.

Colten Pratt was last seen downtown at the Marlborough Hotel on Nov. 6, 2014. (Winnipeg Free Press files)

Not having those answers to lead us to find Colten has been quite difficult. We feel someone knows something about Coltens missing case. Were pleading and praying for that person, or those persons, to come forward.

Pratt, 26, was last seen downtown at the Marlborough Hotel on Nov. 6, 2014.

Police believe video surveillance of a bus shelter at the corner of Main Street and Redwood Avenue from Nov. 7 between 12:20 a.m. and 1:45 a.m., captured images of Pratt with two other individuals.

Its not clear whether Pratt knew the other individuals, or whether an altercation occurred.

Without sound on the video I could not tell you what the nature of their encounter was, but video footage does likely place him at the scene with at least two other people, Winnipeg Police Service Const. Tammy Skrabek said.

Police are not releasing the video footage, or descriptions of the individuals on it, in the hopes a witness will come forward to confirm what took place. Police fear a witnesss account could be changed if they were to release the information prematurely.

Pratt, a two-spirited man originally from Long Plain First Nation, had been staying in Winnipeg with family and friends. He had been looking for work while volunteering at a number of organizations hoping it would lead to full-time employment.

According to his aunt, the morning he went missing, Pratts mother messaged him, saying, Im worried about you.

Pratt responded: I know. It was the last communication the two had.

Family members said Pratt had no history of disappearing for any period of time.

Weve been asked by city police if perhaps he was suicidal. What weve gathered, what weve talked about, is that wasnt the case for Colten. He was job searching. He had plans to do some things out of province. He was actively looking for a job and volunteering around the city, Daniels said.

He was in a good state of mind. Nothing came up as being a possibility that he took off or was suicidal.

Jacqueline Daniels (right), Colten's aunt, comforts his mother Lydia Pratt as the family issued a plea for information Monday on the man's disappearance. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Investigators have yet to determine whether the case should be dealt with as a homicide, although they havent ruled it out as a possibility. They hope reminding the public of his disappearance, as well as putting out calls for new information, will help move the case forward.

If officers felt this was a dead end, we wouldnt be standing here today. We are hopeful that with this additional information there will be some witnesses coming forward. This is a lead were following up on. Its a lead we have currently that wed like to pursue, Skrabek said.

At Mondays news conference, police said video footage of the bus shelter was obtained not long after Pratts disappearance, but could not say where it came from or when they identified Pratt as being in it.

In an effort to keep his memory alive, family members went to the bus shelter Sunday afternoon, tying neckties to it  symbolizing his ties to family  in order to help raise awareness about his case. On Monday afternoon, a community feast was held at Thunderbird House.

We never shut the door. We still have hope. Until we get confirmation that hes not here, we still have hope. Thats what we need to carry in our hearts. We still carry hope and thats whats keeping us going, Daniels said.

Police are asking anyone with information about Pratts disappearance, or anyone who recalls seeing activity at the bus stop the morning of Nov. 7, 2014, to contact them.

Pratt is described as an Indigenous man, 5-foot-10, roughly 160 pounds with a thin build, short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown plaid jacket and blue jeans.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There is a common theme to the emails Free Press readers send to the City of Winnipeg website, addressed to Mayor Brian Bowman and CCd to me.

Ive tried writing the mayor and have never received a reply from him, retired Winnipeg Transit operator George Morrison said in an email.

Morrison is almost 60, but long before driving a city bus for more than 30 years, he was a sea cadet. His message to the mayor goes back to that life experience and an issue thats become a sensitive subject for Morrison and other Transit operators:

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Retired transit driver George Morrison is pressing city hall to follow the lead of other Canadian cities and offer free bus rides tor veterans on Nov. 11.

Dear Mr. Bowman. Once again as Remembrance Day approaches, I find it embarrassing that Winnipeg Transit will not be allowing free rides for veterans. Many cities across Canada are offering veterans and, in some cases, their traveling companions, free rides on their transit systems on Nov. 11. Some cities (Ottawa, in particular) are even offering free rides for the entire Veterans Week.

Morrison acknowledged Winnipeg offers some parking perks for veterans; however, Remembrance Day street parking is free to all. Obviously, it bothered him when he was behind the wheel of a bus and opened the door to veterans who were supposed to have their fare ready on Remembrance Day  and it still bothers him even after leaving the job.

His message to Bowman, written out of frustration, listed some of the other cities that have climbed on board the Nov. 11 transit free-ride salute to Canadas veterans and in some cases, extended it to serving military and their families.

In 2006, as the Toronto Transit Commission was approving complimentary rides for military veterans and peacekeepers, it undertook a survey to see what other cities were doing. The TTC discovered Vancouver, Ottawa and various municipal transit services in the Greater Toronto Area were granting free rides on Remembrance Day, some including companions and still-serving members.

That was more than a decade ago.

Halifax has joined the club. Edmonton, too.

Two years ago, just before Remembrance Day, Calgary city council approved free rides for veterans. Not surprisingly, it was a unanimous vote.

At the time, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi spoke with Calgary Transit operators to gauge the moves potential impact. They were not fussed about it any way, he later told reporters.

Nenshi referenced the fare-free Remembrance Day in Halifax that extends to both veterans and current military personnel who show up in uniform or who present a military ID when boarding transit. Accompanying family members also ride free in the Nova Scotia capital.

In Calgary, they dispensed with an official test for identifying who is eligible, instead adopting the honour system to honour Canadas veterans.

I think well just trust them, the mayor said. If theyre in uniform and theyre wearing a poppy, I think the operator can just make that call.

The Calgary city councillor who introduced the motion explained why he did it: This is not my idea, Sean Chu said. Someone smarter than me on Twitter asked me: Hey, maybe we should do this. And I thought, Oh, thats a great idea.

In other words, hes a politician who got the message, listened and responded.

Morrison said his idea for Winnipeg wasnt listened to or even acknowledged  and so he reached out to the Free Press.

Maybe this is something you might be interested in helping us get something done and offer a free ride to the veterans that have done so much for us, he wrote. Why is it that we can let anyone that doesnt want to pay a fare ride for free, but we insist that a veteran pay his way?

Morrison was referring to the common practice  sanctioned by Winnipeg Transit  of operators not risking a confrontation over someone getting on the bus and not having the fare or simply refusing to pay.

On Monday morning, I emailed the city and asked why it hasnt extended the same courtesy so many other cities have. It seems a small gift of respect that even Winnipegs two largest taxi services  Unicity and Duffys  have been offering free rides for veterans travelling to a Remembrance Day service and home again for the last two years. And they will again Saturday.

As of deadline, I was still waiting for a response from the City of Winnipeg. But by then, I already had an answer from someone else.

A still-employeed Transit operator (a pal of Morrisons), called to say he had asked the same question years ago, when Sam Katz was mayor. And as he recalled, the response was straightforward.

Too costly and too complicated.

Too costly? Tell that to the families of the fallen and wounded warriors.

The bus driver said, over the years, he and other like-minded operators have developed their own way of showing veterans the respect the city hasnt. They cover the fare box when they recognize a veteran boarding the bus.

Then, as if an explanation is needed, they tell him or her why: Youve already paid.

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
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THE health-care debate reached a new level Monday, when Premier Brian Pallister accused NDP Leader Wab Kinew of being a scaredy-cat over the Manitoba governments recent overhaul of the system.

Unlike the former NDP government, Pallister said, repeating a frequent refrain, the Tories have the courage to make the changes necessary.

Hes a scaredy-cat, and he wants to see no changes occur, Pallister said.

And of the NDP in general, the premier said: Theyre scared, and they say its too scary.

Kinew said later while the term may not have been unparliamentary, it was unbecoming a premier.

The NDP continued hammering away at changes to the health-care system Monday at the legislature.

Despite Pallisters promises no front-line worker would lose a job, Kinew said, the NDP is talking to a nurse who has been laid off and cant find another job. The NDP would not identify the nurse or where she worked, though Kinew asked Pallister whether employees can speak out about changes without fear of retaliation.

He didnt get an answer; Pallister responded by continuing to scoff at the previous NDP government having broken a health-care system the Tories are now fixing.

Kinew and NDP health critic Andrew Swan pointed to what they said are nursing cuts at the Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, and the closing of the EMS station in the community of Boissevain.

This is a real issue, affecting real people, Swan said.

Kinew told reporters Riverviews chronic-care ward is going from four nurses to one nurse, two licensed practical nurses, and one health-care aide.

Pallister told the legislature Kinew is posing bizarre questions intended to frighten front-line workers and patients.

The premier said he will do everything he can to help health-care workers displaced by changes to the system.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said closing the EMS station in Boissevain isnt the whole story  the province is adding 20 paramedics in western Manitoba.

The concerns and challenges that Im hearing now that are happening in Westman are happening under the current system, nothing has changed, and the current system hasnt worked for quite a long time in Westman.

When it comes to EMS, there have been significant gaps and people have been waiting a long time, Goertzen said in an interview.

He said he expects to announce the hiring of additional paramedics in the near future.

Im less concerned about stations because stations dont respond to people, paramedics respond to people, the health minister said.

Goertzen said the province is geo-posting in Westman  ambulances are parked where they are most likely to get a call, and when they get called out, another ambulance moves in to take their spot.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.cajane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 06/11/2017 (1836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he wants the best of both worlds by including both private and public sectors in the handling of legalized marijuana.

Nevertheless, he was talking up the attractions of the private sector a lot more than the public Monday.

The premier will release details of the governments request for proposals today. However, he repeated warnings Monday that gangs will not simply go away when cannabis becomes legal in Canada on July 1.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is dropping strong hints that the private sector will be involved in the distribution of marijuana when recreational use is legalized next year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister in Winnipeg on Saturday, July 29, 2017.

The illegal gangs want to keep supplying the product thats been making them a lot of money, Pallister told reporters. They know how to adapt. The competition isnt going to go away.

Meanwhile, Manitobans will today be getting a pretty good percentile of the idea the government has for handling legal pot, the premier said.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries  the Crown corporation in charge of gambling and alcohol in the province  has said it filed an expression of interest in the production, distribution, and sale of pot, and public-sector unions support handling it publicly.

However, Pallister said hes not impressed that Ontario handed legal cannabis over to an offshoot of its liquor control board.

The public sector has things to offer, he said. However, The private sector is probably where you want to go if you want to take your family out to dinner, not a government cafeteria. We do have an indication there is a great deal of response from Manitoba companies, companies around the country.

We have a vibrant private sector here in Manitoba that can deliver a competitive product at a competitive price, he said. We have to have a system that offers users a product that is safe.

Legal pot must be a good product and kept out of the hands of minors, but offered at a low price to undercut gangs, Pallister said.

If you have a high-priced product, people wont buy it, he said. We have to offer a high-quality product to people who want to buy it, at a competitive price.

Last week, Pallister revealed hes told cabinet ministers and senior civil servants to declare any possible conflicts of interest they may have on legal pot, and recuse themselves from the process.

On Monday, Pallister wouldnt say if anyone had done so because he was uncertain if hed be breaching privacy rules.

Meanwhile, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said hed like to see the age for buying legal pot set as high as possible.

Ive heard from medical professionals that age 25 would be ideal, said Kinew. A higher age of majority makes sense on cannabis.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister will use the public sector to oversee legalized recreational cannabis and the private sector to sell it.

Pallister told a news conference Tuesday afternoon the Manitoba Liquor and Gaming Authority will regulate the purchase, storage, distribution and retail sale of cannabis.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries will secure and track the supply of cannabis.

The private sector will sell legal pot in stores that are not to be in proximity to places in which alcohol is sold.

It allows the public and private sectors to both do what they do best, Pallister said.

The deadline to submit proposals is Dec. 22.

We are committed to a highly-competitive retail market, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen told a news conference.

Retail sales will begin July 2, the day after cannabis is expected to become legal in Canada, Pedersen said.

Pallister said Manitobans main priorities are health and safety, and keeping gangs out of the pot business.

Attorney General Heather Stefanson (from left), Premier Brian Pallister, and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announce a hybrid model for distribution and retail sales of cannabis in Manitoba. (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)

Available evidence suggests, however, that gangs actually play a relatively small role in black market cannabis production in Canada. In its submission to the federal task force on cannabis legalization, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition wrote the majority of those in the industry tend to be non-violent and have minimal, if any, involvement with other criminal activities.

A publicly regulated private sales model is more likely to avoid a black market, as long as the regulations arent too restrictive with respect to the offerings that the private sector will put forward, said Neil Boyd, a professor of criminology at Simon Fraser University and one of the authors of the CDPC submission.

One of the benefits of the private model is that youre going to have greater access than you would, for example, in Ontario. And accessibility is a key issue, if you dont have adequate access the black market is going to continue, Boyd said Tuesday.

MLL will not be part of the competition for retail, either now or after cannabis is legal, Pallister said. The government wants people to put their offers forward without worrying about competing with the government or its Crowns, he said.

That would be asking people to put capital at risk, he said. We want stores that are able to grow.

Pharmacies will not have any kind of inside track, Pallister said  he prefers a variety of store owners rather than chains.

The best model would have access to within a 30-minute drive for 90 per cent of the population, he said.

Attorney General Heather Stefanson (left) and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen (right) acknowledged having used marijuana in the past. Premier Brian Pallister (centre) said he "prefers beer." (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)

Pallister said cabinet has not yet discussed taxes, but he expected cannabis would be subject to provincial sales tax. The government wants to ensure it undercuts black market prices, he noted.

Justice Minister Heather Stefanson and other provincial justice ministers are considering rules around advertising legal pot, the premier said. Manitoba has not yet set an age of majority for purchasing from retail stores.

In question period, NDP Leader Wab Kinew and justice critic Nahanni Fontaine pushed the Tories to specify how the government will recover from the private stores the costs of addiction and mental-health counselling for users. They demanded assurances pot stores would be nowhere near schools and would not be located in residential neighbourhoods, and asked whether consumption in public would be restricted.

Instead of answering, Stefanson repeatedly criticized Fontaine for not supporting the justice ministers Cannabis Harm Prevention Act when she had the chance.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont told reporters medical marijuana should be sold only in pharmacies.

Its still a little vague. The basic structure seems OK, he said.

Lamont said anyone who makes a financial contribution to the provincial Conservatives should be precluded from owning a retail store, and suggested that whether parents could allow their children to consume pot in their own home should be examined.

Liberal MP Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief who is helping shepherd along the federal cannabis legislation, said Tuesday Finance Canada is working with Manitobas finance ministry to set a price that wont be undercut by the black market, but not cheap enough to entice young people.

Blair said the price must be designed to ensure that there are revenues available so that taxpayers are not burdened unnecessarily with the infrastructure and the administration and the enforcement that will need to take place, in order to make the system work.

Manitoba Government and General Employees Union president Michelle Gawronsky said Tuesday Manitobans want a public system.

The MGEU has commissioned public polling that shows an overwhelming majority of Manitobans want this controlled substance to be sold in public stores rather than private, she said.

Manitobas announcement was well-received by the private sector.

Its a great announcement, said Chief Christian Sinclair of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, which is an investor in National Access Cannabis, a chain of medical cannabis access clinics with aspirations to sell cannabis on a retail basis after legalization.

We look forward to the RFP, to submit and become part of this industry as it goes forward, and recognizing the fact that the federal government said that First Nations will play a role in this industry, in whatever fashion that may be, said Sinclair.

We think its a pretty well thought-out approach, and its pretty clear the Manitoba government did their homework on this file, said Derek Ogden, president of National Access Cannabis, which will apply to be a pot retailer here.

John Arbuthnot, CEO of Manitoba-based licensed marijuana producer Delta 9 Cannabis, said his company will be teaming up with larger player Canopy Growth Corporation to submit a retail sales proposal to the Manitoba government.

 with files from Dylan Robertson

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

solomon.israel@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 06/11/2017 (1836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Teachers Society will file charter challenges and civil lawsuits if Winnipeg School Division carries through with a plan to allow seizure and search of staff and student cellphones.

Any division that would endorse this kind of policy would invoke strong opposition from the Manitoba Teachers Society and face a myriad of legal problems including charter challenges, civil suits for violation of personal rights and grievances for violation of employment rights, MTS president Norm Gould said Monday afternoon.

Trustee Mark Wasyliw plans to table a notice of motion at Monday evenings board meeting proposing a massive overhaul of the divisions search policies.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston A Pokemon appears on a smartphone playing Pokemon Go. A Winnipeg school board trustee is calling for clearer rules about when public school students and staff can have their cell phones seized and searched.

It includes what Wasyliw, a criminal defence lawyer, believes would be an unprecedented section allowing school administrators to seize and search cellphones of both students and staff.

The policy would be written to be compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said Wasyliw, who pointed out that students and staff are not compelled to bring a cellphone into the school, and should expect a lower level of privacy there than elsewhere.

A notice of motion is not debatable when it is tabled. It would go to debate and a vote at the next regular board meeting on Nov. 20.

Education Minister Ian Wishart agreed Monday with Wasyliws contention that the Public Schools Act allows the division to make such policy changes without needing the ministers consent.

We presume the division will have legal advice as it develops policy in these areas. Its too early to comment further, Wishart said.

Gould warned WSD to tread carefully.

Teachers, students and others dont give up their fundamental rights to privacy and security of person by walking into a school. An employer has no legal or moral right to search the private property of a student or a teacher without their consent, he said.

A school division is answerable under the Charter of Rights Freedoms. Search and seizure of personal private property would be a gross violation of the Charter. Searching a private cellular phone or any private personal property is an exercise of power conducted by the police and strictly monitored by the courts. Employers, including school divisions, have no authority to use those powers.

Seizing a cellphone to be searched constitutes theft, Gould said.

The police do not have the authority to force someone to unlock their private cellular phone, nor would a school division, he said. Any policies being considered by a school division must be reasonable, cant be inconsistent with the collective agreement, and must follow long-established legal principles from the Supreme Court of Canada regarding management, personal and employment rights.

If Wasyliw gets support for his proposal on Nov. 20, he said a board committee would hold public hearings about the issue so the community could decide how robust the division can be around privacy.

Given the issues surrounding cyber bullying, online harassment, etc. and privacy concerns around CCTV cameras and where they are installed and who has access to the footage, it was my belief in bringing this motion that a comprehensive policy outlines what staff can and cant do and conversely what are the privacy rights of students and staff in our schools, he said.

If the motion passes, part of the policy review will include a jurisdictional scan to see if there is any guidance from other school boards; however, I suspect we are going to be the first school division to examine these type of issues and the privacy rights of students and staff in our school in a comprehensive and explicit way.

However, if a search led to charges being laid under the Youth Criminal Justice Act or the Criminal Code, the reasonableness of the search could be a matter for the courts to decide.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the last session of the Manitoba Legislature, MLA Steven Fletcher introduced a private members bill legislating conflict-of-interest rules for elected members and their families aimed at updating and tightening the rather limited rules legislated in 1987.

Conflict of interest is becoming a much more central issue for governments and governance. More and more Canadian business people and people of wealth are seeking elected office. Theres nothing wrong with this. Although government is not a business, many of the sound principles of management from the business world ought to apply to the management of government.

But since our elected government has the mandate to set the rules for the tax regime, environmental and labour standards, subsidy programs and countless other actions that can affect business and wealth in general, one can see that a government official in position to influence these rules might be tempted to influence them to his or her financial benefit.

Thats not to say such a temptation applies only to business owners or the wealthy  conflict of interest is an issue for all bureaucrats and politicians  but it should be admitted the potential benefit for officials of modest means is somewhat limited.

The recent controversy related to whether or not the assets of Canadas minister of finance ought to have been placed in a blind trust is just the most recent example of potential conflict of interest. Apparently, federal ethics commissioner Mary Dawson advised Finance Minister Bill Morneau the law did not require it. Faced with the same set of facts, Canadians less sophisticated than the highly paid ethics commissioner might have said, Bill, its not required by law, but you would be well advised to do it.

Why? Well, heres a legal definition of conflict of interest: A situation in which a public official or fiduciary who, contrary to the obligation and absolute duty to act for the benefit of the public or a designated individual, exploits the relationship for personal benefit, typically pecuniary.

Actually, this definition describes the execution of a conflict of interest. A person can have such a conflict but not act upon it. In fact, proving such action can be difficult; therefore, the perception of a conflict of interest can lead to the assumption, perhaps impossible to prove or disprove, that youve acted upon it.

Lets take a hypothetical example: say a government official has sole responsibility for awarding a lucrative government contract; further, that one of the persons seeking this contract enters into a perfectly legal private business transaction that substantially benefits that official; and finally, that the contract seeker in question gets the contract.

Can we say there is a connection between these events? Can we say the official used his or her position of public trust for personal gain? Actually, we cant. That would require us to read the minds of the individuals involved; to uncover the mens rea, as the lawyers say  the guilty mind. Nonetheless, just as we could prove no guilt, neither could we prove innocence. Doubt would linger. So the best way to deal with such situations is to define them in advance, prescribe means by which the conflict can be eliminated and, if it cant, disqualifying the conflictee from public office, and do so by law. In the above hypothetical case, it would be a matter of making that specific action illegal.

Potential conflicting interests abound, and it is not a simple matter to determine those serious enough to warrant the attention of legislators. A senior government official is responsible for negotiating benefits offered to a particular business to locate in Manitoba, and a few months after the completion of the negotiations, accepts a senior position with that company. A distinct aroma, but was there quid pro quo? What about municipal government, where there are often strong overt and covert ties between local politicians and development interests?

What about our senators, free to pursue full-time outside business interests, while pontificating on legislation that can affect those interests? What about recently retired elected officials, hired by companies in the belief they retain influence with their recent government colleagues to be used on the companys behalf? (Occasionally, in a delightful irony, an unexpected change in government turns the prize catch into a lame duck.) On the Prairies, at least, ministers of agriculture tend to be farmers. They regularly bring matters to cabinet that affect agriculture, often in a financially beneficial way. Their own operations may well benefit. Should they recuse themselves from those discussions? What about blind trusts? They would appear to be a way to avoid conflict for an investment portfolio, but if, as a politician, I put my widget manufacturing business in a blind trust, its still going to be manufacturing widgets when I retire from politics. The answers to these questions are not obvious.

The point is the vast majority of Canadians believe public officials ought not to use their positions of trust for personal benefit; that the opportunities for such mischief are legion; and that we need a much more sophisticated effort aimed at defining and prohibiting conflict of interest than simply belly-aching about the recent error in judgment by Morneau.

Norman Brandson was deputy minister of the former Manitoba departments of environment, water stewardship and conservation from 1990 to 2006.
Conference addresses rising waters on Virginias military installations

Defending our coasts: William Wrobel, director of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, spoke about sea rise and Wallops Island, off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Photo by David F. Morrill

Defending our coasts: Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Seapower & Projection Forces Subcommittee, gave a lunchtime talk titled, "Implementing the Policy Framework to Secure our Readiness at the Federal Level." Photo by David F. Morrill

Defending our coasts: A panel consisting of retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ann Phillips; Maureen Sullivan, deputy assistant secretary of defense for environment, safety and occupational health; retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. David Titley; and retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bob Barnes discussed "National Security and Policy Issues: What is Needed to Further Develop Resiliency Measures?" Photo by David F. Morrill

Defending our coasts: Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ann Phillips moderated a panel during the conference and introduced the documentary film, "Tidewater," the previous evening. Photo by David F. Morrill Photo - of - Hide Caption

Its kind of hard to take off if the tarmac has water on it.

That was an observation of Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Seapower & Projection Forces Subcommittee, during William & Mary Law Schools fifth annual Virginia Coastal Policy Center Conference, Defending Our Coasts: Ensuring Military Readiness and Economic Viability as Waters Rise.

Held on Friday, Oct. 27, the day-long conference brought federal, state and local officials, and a large number of military leaders, to William & Mary to discuss ways of protecting Virginias military installations  and the entire Virginia coastline  from flooding.

Wittmans tarmac comment referred to the increasing proclivity of water to rise and cover the runways at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.

On average, about nine days a year, the base is affected by recurrent flooding, Wittman said. The same at Norfolk Naval facility where we have to make sure that sailors can get back and forth to their ships either for training or for deployment.

With those problems always in focus, panelists and guest speakers discussed the threats that flooding poses to Department of Defense (DoD) facilities, DoDs efforts to develop resilience measures and the policy framework necessary to secure readiness.

Also discussed were challenges posed by recurrent flooding for local governments and the private sector, and collaborative solutions being implemented to address these challenges.

In his opening remarks, William & Mary President Taylor Reveley reinforced the effect of rising water on both the military and Virginias overall economy.

William & Mary cares about the military; we also care very much about the health and welfare of Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole, Reveley said. Failure to effectively defend the coast of Hampton Roads, if it led to the forced departure of the military bases located here, would be a severe blow to the economic and social fabric not just of Hampton Roads, but all of Virginia.

Hosting the proceedings, Elizabeth Andrews, director of William & Mary Law Schools Virginia Coastal Policy Center, felt that the subject of the conference was timely during a busy tropical storm season in the South Atlantic. She also mentioned that the conference was held two days before the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy.

That storm alone had damages estimated at $50 billion, and after that we had Harvey and Irma and Maria, Andrews said. All you have to do is think of the damage that was wrought in Houston, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Florida to realize how timely this topic is.

In order to deal with resilience, Andrews said Virginia needs to plan ahead for more than just tropical storms and hurricanes.

We have the land sinking from subsidence, and we have the waters rising and we have extreme weather, and sometimes inadequate storm water systems, Andrews said. It takes planning ahead, it takes implementation authority, and it takes funding.

Wittman went on to argue for a hand-in-hand approach between military bases and localities that employ resources to the maximum utility possible.

There are opportunities to leverage private dollars with those of local, state and federal levels to do even more, he said.

In addition to Wittman and Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward 87 (who introduced Wittman), the event included several guest speakers: Dr. Jane Smith, Army senior research scientist for hydrodynamic phenomenon; Curtis Brown, Virginia deputy secretary of public safety & homeland security; retired U.S. Army Col. Keith Morrow, deputy commander of the 633rd Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis; William Wrobel, director of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility; and Carlos Hopkins, Virginia secretary of veterans and defense affairs.

Panels included: The Current State of DoD Resilience Programs and What We've Learned (Moderator: retired U.S. Army Col. Paul Olsen, P.E., director of programs and partnerships for the Old Dominion University research office); National Security and Policy Issues: What is Needed to Further Develop Resiliency Measures? (Moderator: retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ann Phillips); Opportunities Presented by Recurrent Flooding (Moderator: Del. Chris Stolle, 83rd District, Virginia House of Delegates); and Collaborative Solutions" (Moderator: retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley, executive director of the Hampton Roads Military & Federal Facilities Alliance).

The conference unofficially began the previous evening at Williamsburgs Kimball Theatre when the Coastal Policy Center hosted a screening of "Tidewater: Water is Rising, Land is Sinking, but the Military is Here to Stay." The documentary was produced and directed by Roger Sorkin, and was introduced by Rear Admiral Ann Phillips (who appears in the movie). Mark Nevitt, Sharswood Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and retired commander of the U.S. Navy JAG Corps, and the Del. Monty Mason, member of the Virginia Senate from the 1st District, also made remarks before the film.

The Fifth Annual Virginia Coastal Policy Center Conference was sponsored by Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Environmental Endowment, W&M's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Sealevelrise.org, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission.
Reports from local officials and Afghan legislators have exposed mass civilian casualties in an offensive carried out last weekend by US and Afghan puppet forces in northern Kunduz province.

Some reports have put the death toll from the bombing raids in the Char Dara district at over 60, with women and children among the victims.

The Pentagon acknowledged that US forces had carried out an operation in Kunduz province, issuing its standard response, asserting that it takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and is investigating the reports.

The area of the attacks was west of the provincial capital of Kunduz, in a rural district where the Taliban has long maintained control.

According to the News International, Pakistans largest English language daily, Afghan security forces surrounded the three villages where the air strikes had taken placeEssa Khil, Qatl-e Aam and Uzbek Bazarpreventing relatives from collecting the bodies of their loved ones and interfering with any attempt to discover the precise death toll.

Khosh Mohammad Nasratyar, a provincial council member, gave an estimate of 55 civilians killed, while an Afghan aid worker in the area said the dead numbered at least 40. Others said that more than 60 had died.

President Ashraf Ghani has made no comment on the slaughter in Kunduz. His predecessor, Hamid Karzai, however, strongly condemned the air strikes, demanding an investigation and the prosecution of those responsible. Karzai, who left the presidential palace three years ago, has been strongly critical of the escalating US war in Afghanistan, accusing Washington of wanting to prolong the bloodshed in Afghanistan as a means of pursuing its own strategic interests in the region.

The latest air strikes were among the most intense in recent months, rattling windows in Kunduz city, which in 2015 was the scene of one of the bloodiest aerial massacres carried out by the US military in the course of its 16-year-old war in Afghanistan. In October of that year, a US AC-130U gunship carried out a protracted attack on a Doctors Without Borders medical center that left 42 dead, 33 missing and 30 wounded amid ghastly scenes of patients burning to death in their hospital beds.

Since US President Donald Trump announced a new Afghanistan strategy in August, ceding to the military brass the authority to set troop levels and guaranteeing the Pentagon the necessary tools and rules of engagement to escalate what is now Americas longest war, there has been a marked intensification of the bloodletting that has claimed at least 175,000 Afghan lives and turned millions into refugees.

This has come mainly as a result of intensified air strikes. In its October report on civilian casualties, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that the number of civilians dying as a result of bombs and missiles dropped on the country from US and Afghan government aircraft had soared by 52 percent during the first nine months of 2017, compared to the same period last year.

The Pentagon is also increasing troop levels in the country, reportedly sending at least 3,000 more soldiers and Marines, bringing the official strength of the US occupation force to roughly 15,000. According to a recently disclosed Pentagon report, the US is now spending some $3.2 billion a month on the Afghanistan war, with that figure expected to rise along with the ongoing escalation.

The CIA is also reportedly expanding its role in the Afghan war, seeking authorization to initiate its own drone strikes inside Afghanistanpreviously it had been restricted to cross-border missile strikes against Pakistanand to organize hunt and kill militias to carry out assassinations and massacres in Taliban-held areas of the country.

In the midst of the US escalation, a prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally requested judicial authorization to open an investigation into war crimes carried out in connection with the protracted US war in Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan has been the subject of a preliminary examination by the ICC for over a decade, during which countless crimes have been carried out against the Afghan people. Both Washington and its puppet government in Kabul have strongly opposed the courts moving forward toward any investigation and potential charges.

Among charges that the prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, intends to pursue are that the CIA and the US military, along with the Afghan security forces, engaged in the systematic torture of detainees as a matter of state policy.

A Preliminary Examination Report issued last year charged that the US intelligence agency and the Pentagon resorted to techniques amounting to the commission of the war crimes of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity and rape. It specifically cited the cases of 61 individual detainees subjected to torture on Afghan territory between 2003 and 2014 by the US military, as well as those of 21 detainees of the CIA who were tortured, abused and raped both in Afghanistan and at CIA black sites in Poland, Romania and Lithuania.

The ICC prosecutors office stressed that these crimes were not the abuses of a few isolated individuals, but rather were carried out in pursuit of US objectives in the conflict in Afghanistan.

Since its foundation in 2000, the US has refused to participate in the ICC, out of justifiable fear that US civilian and military officials could end up in the dock for crimes carried out by the Pentagon and the CIA in the multiple US wars and interventions waged in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and beyond. Legislation passed in 2002, the American Service Members Protection Act (dubbed the Hague Invasion Act), bars any cooperation from Washington on charges brought against US war criminals and authorizes the US president to employ military force to rescue any American military or intelligence personnel detained by ICC prosecutors.

The Obama administration also imposed upon Washingtons Afghan puppet regime a 2014 Status of Forces Agreement that bars any transfer of Americans accused of war crimes to any international tribunal, granting Washington sole jurisdiction over its own personnel operating in Afghanistan.

While Obama defended the CIA torturers who operated under the Bush administration, Trump has publicly declared his support for waterboarding and other forms of torture. While there has been no official US reaction to the ICC prosecutors request for authorization to pursue an investigation, it is clear that Washington will do everything it can to suppress such a probe.
Against the backdrop of US aggression against North Korea, NATO is intensifying its preparations for war with Russia, the worlds second largest nuclear power. A report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel (Issue 43/2017) based on a secret NATO document indicates how far plans for war have progressed. The news magazine concludes: In plain language: NATO is preparing for a possible war with Russia.

In the document entitled Progress report on the Alliances Enhanced Deterrence and Defence Disposition, leading military figures call for a major boost to military capabilities in order to conduct a so-called Major Joint Operation Plus. The abstruse terminology in fact stands for a war involving the main military organisations of all NATO countries, i.e. hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Der Spiegel notes: The period of the peace dividend is past, the command structures of the Cold War are returning.

The secret report states that NATO must be able to quickly strengthen one or more threatened allies, underpin peace and wartime deterrence, and support allies in the event of an attack. The mobilisation of the necessary troops requires robust military logistics and capabilities. The lines of communication would have to extend from North America to the eastern and southern borders of the NATO Alliance.

The report notes that in particular, when relocating large-scale military units to Eastern Europe, NATO is insufficiently prepared, due to the reduction and increased demands of flexibility of the armed forces for foreign missions. In the field of logistics, the risks involved in rapid reinforcement is considerable. The alliance lacks low loaders for tanks and rail cars to move heavy equipment to the front. The infrastructure is not designed for the heavy battle tank of the German Army the 2Leopard 2.

The core of the NATO paper is the demand for two new battlegroups comprising 2,000 troops.

The first of these units is based on the example of the Cold War Supreme Allied Command, which was to ensure the transfer of troops and supplies across the Atlantic for war in Europe. According to high-ranking NATO military officers the sea route could prove to be an Achilles heel for replenishment in cases of emergency, Spiegel writes. In the secret meetings of the central command, analysts warned that Russia is able to manoeuvre its submarines in the Atlantic Ocean largely unobserved. Based on the current command structure, NATO convoys in the Atlantic are defenceless.

The establishment of such a command unit would involve a massive militarisation of the North Atlantic. This is illustrated by a look at its historical precedent.

Up to its dissolution in 2003, the Striking Fleet Atlantic constituted the core of the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic. This included up to four aircraft carrier battle groups, two anti-submarine commandos, an amphibious unit for landing operations and 22,000 sailors. The purpose of this major federation was to maintain the supremacy of the seas between North America and Europe.

A second command unit known as Rear Area Operation Command is planned to organise the distribution of war supplies across Europe. According to Der Spiege l, its main task would be to plan and secure logistics between Central Europe and the eastern member states.In reality the unit represents the renaissance of the mobilisation concept of the Cold War.

In plain language: the remit of the new battlegroup is to organise the deployment of large-scale contingents of troops at the Russian border and prepare an attack on Russia. Preparations are already in full swing and Berlinthe location of the command in Germanyis playing a key role. According to Der Spiegel talks between high-ranking US military officers and German officers had already taken place at the beginning of October, shortly after the federal election.

The first telephone conversation between German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) and her American counterpart James Mad Dog Mattis also centred on setting up the new command unit. This means that Germany, which has been engaged in a massive military build up for the past three years now and is seeking to increase its military presence in NATO, will become even more centrally involved in NATOs preparations for war with Russia.

Der Spiegel comments Domestically, the project would probably be unproblematic even in a possible Jamaica coalition with the Greens, because Germany would not provide combat troops, but only staff soldiers This is confirmed by the aggressive rhetoric used by the Greens against Russia and the conduct of the exploratory talks for a Jamaica coalition, which has made clear there are only tactical differences between the various parties.

A decision on the establishment of new command structures is expected at the meeting of NATO defence ministers on 8 and 9 November in Brusselsdespite increasing tensions within the NATO alliance.

The NATO secret report and the report in Der Spiegel both justify the preparations for a war, which would threaten millions of lives, as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. This turns reality on its head. There is nothing progressive about the Putin regime, and its own military policy increases the danger of war. But the real aggressors in Eastern Europe are the US and western powers. The United States has been systematically encircling and attempting to subjugate Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union 25 years ago, and in February 2014, both Washington and the German government supported a right-wing coup against the pro-Russian Yanukovych government in Ukraine.

The depiction of Russia as an aggressive superpower waiting for the chance to take over all of Eastern Europe, has been used by the imperialist powers to justify the deployment of NATO troops at the Russian border. In 2014/15, NATO increased its Rapid Reaction Force to 40,000 soldiers. Its so-called spearhead comprises four multinational battlegroups with 1,000 soldiers stationed in each of the three Baltic States and Poland, led by Great Britain, Canada, Germany and the US.

The secret report now calls for a further increase in size of these battlegroups. There is insufficient assurance that the NATO Response Force will be able to react quickly and sustainably when necessary. Der Spiegel makes clear that what is contemplated is not merely a reaction to Russian aggression but rather active preparations for war with Moscow. The magazine concludes hardly anyone expects that Russia could actually attack a NATO country.
In its first fortnight in office, the newly installed Labour-led government has made clear that it will advance a program of nationalism, anti-Chinese xenophobia and support for US warmongering.

The right-wing populist New Zealand First, which received only 7.2 percent of the vote, but held the balance of power, decided on October 19four weeks after the electionto form a coalition government with Labour and the Greens rather than the conservative National Party.

Labour rewarded NZ First leader Winston Peters with the positions of foreign minister and deputy prime minister. NZ First deputy Ron Mark is the new governments defense minister. The right-wing party ran a Trump-like campaign focused on scapegoating Asian immigrants for the deepening social and economic crisis.

Labour and NZ First have criticised capitalism, reflecting acute nervousness in the ruling elite over growing working class hostility towards the entire social order, which has produced record inequality. Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated: If you have hundreds of thousands of children living in homes without enough to survive, thats a blatant failure.

Labour is seeking to give itself a progressive veneer with meagre promises, such as a four dollar increase to the minimum wage by 2021grossly inadequate given the soaring cost of living. Visiting Australia over the weekend, Ardern made a much-publicised offer to take 150 refugees from the detention centre on Manus Island. Canberra rejected the proposal.

The media, the trade unions and pseudo-left groups, are all promoting illusions in the Labour-Greens-NZ First coalition in order to trap the working class behind a capitalist government that will accelerate the assault on living standards, attack immigrants, and prepare for war.

While in opposition, Labour and NZ First repeatedly scapegoated foreigners, especially Chinese immigrants, who make up about 4 percent of the New Zealand population, for the housing crisis, low wages and other social problems. The government intends to cut migrant and foreign student numbers by up to 30,000 a year, or 40 percent.

The first item on Labours legislative agenda is to ban foreigners from buying houses. Calculated to stoke xenophobia, the ban will do nothing to address rising homelessness. Rents and house prices have soared due to rampant speculation, overwhelmingly by local investors. There is an estimated shortage of 71,000 houses and more than 33,000 unoccupied homes in Auckland alone.

Labours anti-Chinese campaign is closely connected with moves to align the country more openly with US warmongering. The Trump administration, escalating policies put in place by Obama, has demanded that US allies fully support the US military throughout the Asia-Pacific, in preparation for war against North Korea and China.

Following the NZ election, and before a government had been formed, US ambassador Scott Brown publicly intervened to stress the countrys importance as a US ally. Brown attacked the National government for describing Trumps threat to annihilate North Korea as not helpful.

NZ First has endorsed a report by the US government-funded Wilson Center calling for an investigation into Chinese interference in New Zealand politics. The party has also demanded an inquiry into National Party MP Jian Yang, who is being witch-hunted as a Chinese agent because he taught English to Chinese military intelligence cadets more than 20 years ago.

While distancing New Zealand from China, the countrys second-largest trading partner, Labour and NZ First have agreed to reopen trade negotiations with Russia, which were cancelled following the 2014 US-backed coup in Ukraine and the subsequent annexation of Crimea by the Putin regime. The New Zealand Herald commented that thawing relations with Russia would position New Zealand alongside the Trump administration.

In another accommodation to Washington, the NZ First-Labour coalition agreement criticised the National government for co-sponsoring a United Nations Security Council resolution last year condemning Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Trump vehemently opposed the resolution. The Jerusalem Post noted that Peters and Mark are long-standing members of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel group.

Pro-Labour commentator Chris Trotter told RadioLIVE on November 2 that Mark was exactly the sort of person you want to have as your Minister of Defence: someone who actually knows what its like to be in a fight.

Mark is a former NZ Army officer and also served, during the late 1980s, in the special forces of Oman, an absolute monarchy allied with the US. In April and June last year, he attacked the government for failing to equip the military to prepare for war and deter Chinas growing presence in the Pacific. The NZ ruling elite relies on US imperialism to support its own predatory, neo-colonial domination over much of the Pacific, where it views China as an unwanted interloper.

Marks first action as minster on October 29 was to personally observe the biennial Southern Katipo military exercise, involving over 2,000 troops from New Zealand, Australia, the US and other countries. The nations largest military exercise, Southern Katipo is designed to prepare troops to intervene in a Pacific island country to suppress civil unrest.

Three days later, in a speech to the Returned and Services Association, Mark attacked journalists who have never worn the uniform, for criticising military operations. This was an apparent response to the book Hit and Run, which exposed how the Defence Force and the National government covered up the role of elite NZ forces in a massacre of civilians in Afghanistan.

Mark also said he would visit Iraq as fast as we can. Labour has reassured Australia and the US that it will keep more than 100 troops in Iraq, having ditched any pretence of opposing the war there.

The military will be aggressively promoted among young people. Labour and NZ First have agreed that the Defence Forces Limited Service Volunteer program for young jobseekers aged 17 to 25 will double in size, from 800 to 1,600 recruits per year. NZ First has repeatedly called for unemployed youth to undergo military training.

The government plans to build a new museum to glorify the World War II Maori Battalion, a contingent of 3,600 soldiers that fought in North Africa, Greece and Italy. The unit is lauded by the Maori nationalist Mana Party as one of the feared military units in the war.

During a NZ First press conference on October 25, the party glorified Apirana Ngata, the Maori politician whose face appears on New Zealands $50 banknote. Ngata supported the Labour governments efforts in WWII to enlist young Maori.

Peters hailed Ngata for telling young Maori soldiers going off to their death that thats the price of being equal in New Zealand. NZ First Regional Development Minister Shane Jones added: Thats the narrative that should be built into the Maori identity of New Zealand  Its going to be elevated.

These nakedly pro-war statements should be taken as a clear warning. The ruling elite is prepared to drag a new generation into even more devastating wars, demanding that they pay the price of citizenship by fighting and dying. The pro-imperialist liberals and pseudo-left groups supporting the right-wing, Labour-led government are seeking to cover up the immense dangers facing the working class.
Two more men have come forward accusing Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct, telling PEOPLE that Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp alleging that Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances towards him when he was just 14 inspired them to go public, too.

A representative for the 58-year-old House of Cards star told PEOPLE that Spacey is is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.

Kris Nixon, a 30-year-old bartender from Belfast, Northern Ireland, says he was working at the Lounge34 cocktail bar in the Waterloo district of London, where Spacey frequented while serving as artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre. (The bar has since closed.)

Nixon says he was invited to a party at Spaceys apartment with a female friend in June 2007. There, he says, Spacey plonked himself down in the seat next to me, stared at me for a few seconds in a really weird way, while Im sitting thinking Kevin Spacey is sitting on the sofa next to me. Thats weird. How has this happened?'

Then he looked back towards my friend and said to me Is that your girlfriend? I made the sort of universal hand signal for yes and no, and he reached over and grabbed my d through my jeans and said I can blow you better than her,' he alleges. He had only been there for three maybe four seconds. I was just stunned by the whole thing. I didnt reply. I didnt say s. I just stood up, went over to her and said, Look, weve got to go, and we left. There were between a dozen to 20 other people there  a lot of people. Youd think that people working in that theatre would know what he did.

Kris Nixon

A spokesperson for the Old Vic previously said in a statement that no complaints were made against him.

I was completely bewildered. I didnt walk away thinking, Ive just been sexually assaulted. It was more a case of That was an incredibly weird thing to happen. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I came to realize He just grabbed my d-. That just really happened. What the hell do I do with this information?' Nixon says.

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As for why he didnt report Spacey to the police, Nixon says, It was my word against his, and who is going to believe me? I didnt know if anyone else saw him. Plus, everyone else at the party was either a friend or colleague of his.

A couple weeks later, Nixon says he was in Lounge34s basement stockroom: I heard some footsteps on the wooden stairs behind me. I glanced back and it was Spacey.

He reached forward and grabbed my belt waistband and my trousers. He mumbled something about, Sorry about last week. I can make it up to you. I burst him off and charged past him. I went upstairs thinking, This is my place of work. I cant cause a huge scene. And this is Kevin Spacey. A lot of the bars business is based on VIP customers. So it just cant happen.'

Why go public now, in an interview with The Sun?

I just brushed it off as some drunk guy did something inappropriate. It just happened to be Kevin Spacey. Whether he misinterpreted something, I dont know, Nixon tells PEOPLE. Last week when I saw Anthony Rapp speak out, I thought, No its not that. Its a series of behavior. Hes a predator. Its not just an incident. I believe he thinks that he could get away with things  or thought that he could get away with things  because of who he was. And you know what? He did.

Anthony Rapp

Former Marine Mark Ebenhoch experienced a similar revelation, deciding to tell Buzzfeed how Spaceys assistant allegedly asked him to engage in a sexual act with the actor on the set of the 1995 movie Outbreak, on which he was a military adviser and had a small role. (A representative for Warner Bros. had no comment for Buzzfeed.)

Within minutes of Buzzfeed breaking the story on Rapp I thought, Oh my God. Im not the only one,  Ebenhoch, 58, tells PEOPLE. Then you have the cavalcade and entire rush of memories. I went right back to the moment of that incident and thought Im not the only one. Oh my God. Im vindicated. And I wasnt the only one that sat there and said, This is creepy. Or had all those feelings of violation, indignation. Ive read a lot of the feedback from people saying, Well why didnt they come forward [when it happened]? And I want to scream. People need to be in somebody elses shoes before you react to what people do years later on these kind of things.

This was something I carried around for 23 years. I went on with my life, and at that point in my life I was still closeted. I was still in the military. I could have lost my military career, and it did hurt my film career when I did the article with the New York Times three years later, says Ebenhoch, who came out as gay in a 1996 Times story.

He adds that the alleged incidents have nothing to do with the victims sexuality.

Gay, straight, male, female. It makes no difference, he says. This is about behavior and when people in power abuse that relationship or that stature they have to gain things from other people. Its disgusting.

As Nixon, the U.K. bartender, tells PEOPLE, I owe Anthony Rapp a beer.

After Rapps account was published in Buzzfeed, Spacey issued a statement saying he doesnt remember the alleged incident, apologizing for for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior and announcing, I choose now to live as a gay man.

More than a dozen other men have now come forward with their own allegations of sexual misconduct by Spacey, including actor Roberto Cavazos, Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss son Harry and eight House of Cards employees.

(Spaceys lawyer has yet to respond to any of the new accusations, but Netflix, the streaming service that airs the political drama, has since dumped the actor from the network.)
A 5-year-old boy who lost his stepmother, step-sister and half-sister in Sunday mornings mass shooting that killed 26 and injured 20 is in critical condition, family members tell PEOPLE.

Rylan Ward is receiving treatment at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, after he was shot five times by a gunman who opened fire at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, where his family are regular parishioners.

The shooter, identified as 26-year-old Devin Kelley, a former Air Force member, was dressed in all-black tactical gear with a ballistics vest when he began firing from outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs around 11:30 a.m. local time, during a service.

Rylans stepmother, Joann, and her daughters, Brooke Ward, 5, and 7-year-old Emily Garza, were killed in the attack, the states deadliest mass shooting in modern history.

His father, Chris Ward, is very devastated, according to Chris Wards uncle, Gary Zwicke, adding, Stuff like that doesnt happen in Sutherland Springs.

Rylans uncle, Phillip Ward, tells PEOPLE Ryan had surgery Sunday night and is going back into surgery Monday afternoon. He says the family is optimistic Rylan will survive but says he may be in the hospital for months and will have to relearn how to walk after breaking bones in his leg.

Zwicke started a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral expenses and Wards cousin Heather Bradley, launched another GoFundMe page to help with hospital bills.

Rylans eldest sister, 9, who was also at the church during the attack, had a bullet graze off her glasses but survived the shooting, Zwicke says.

She wrote that Ryland is on a breathing tube looking to make it but [its] going to be a long journey, and that he was shot once in the elbow, twice in the stomach and twice in the leg.

 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.

The 26 fatal victims ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old, Texas officials announced Monday morning at a press conference.

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Among the dead are the pastors 14-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old aspiring NICU nurse. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims and wont do so until relatives of all are notified.

When the gunman exited the church, a local resident engaged him in gunfire, authorities said. The gunman dropped his weapon and fled, with the local resident in pursuit.

A brief chase ensued into neighboring Guadalupe County, Texas, where the shooter was later found dead in his vehicle. It is unclear if he was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound or a gunshot wound he received while exchanging fire with the local resident, authorities said.

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute, and that the shooter had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the church. There is no terrorism investigation in connection with the shooting.

An Air Force spokeswoman tells PEOPLE that the shooter served at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, working in logistics readiness. He was stationed there from 2010 until he was discharged in 2014, following a 2012 court-martial on accusations he assaulted his spouse and their child, the spokeswoman says.
Malcolm Graham still remembers the shock when he learned that his beloved sister had been shot and killed at a church in South Carolina two years ago, in a massacre of nine black churchgoers by a white gunman.

So he says he understands the experiences of those who lost loved ones in Sunday mornings mass shooting at a Texas church, which killed at least 26.

I know exactly what theyre going through, Graham tells PEOPLE. Shock, confusion, disappointment, struggling with faith, some of them may be. Dealing with the death of a family member in such a public way  this is someone dying in the worst of circumstances and it makes it that much worse.

Grahams sister, 54-year-old Cynthia Hurd, was one of nine people killed in June 2015, during a Bible study class inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

While the shooters motives appear to differ  Charleston shooter Dylann Roof is a self-professed white supremacist while the Texas shooter was motivated in part by a domestic dispute with his wifes family  the fact that both attacks were in a house of worship demonstrates a glaring lack of humanity, Graham says.

Even the church is not a sacred place to escape domestic terrorism, he says.

Graham says his sister thought of church as a haven: Its the place where she felt the most safe  and also the most welcoming. For her to be killed there, its heartbreaking.

Outraged anew that other families are now suffering motivates Graham, 53, to push for legislative action and to lead a movement that we have to do something in this country.

 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.

Cynthia Hurd

From left: Bailey LeJeaune, 17, and David Betancourt, 18, hold candles during a vigil in Sutherland Springs, Texas, for the victims of a deadly shooting at the First Baptist Church on Sunday,

Graham, a former North Carolina state senator and city council member, says, We really have to go to Washington and tell our leaders to get their heads out of the sand.

Possible solutions, he says, are to close loopholes allowing guns to be purchased without background checks and to limit the number of bullets that guns can fire, among other methods to shore up weak gun laws, he says. (It remains unclear how the Texas church shooter purchased his firearms, though authorities have said he had multiple.)

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Speaking about the massacre of a country concert crowd in Las Vegas last month, a few weeks before the Texas church shooting, Graham says, You shouldnt have the right to buy a semi-automatic weapon that converts to an automatic weapon that shoots 60 people in two minutes.

Graham says the fact that Kelley is dead allows families to avoid at least one wrenching aspect.

Now, Graham says, its time for action.

It brings back to me, Here we go again  whether as a country we are going to do something about it other than thoughts and prayers.
In the past week, two women have publicly accused Dustin Hoffman of sexual harassment, allegations which have renewed interest in Meryl Streeps nearly-four-decade-old claim that her Kramer vs. Kramer co-star introduced himself by grabbing her breast. Slate tracked down a Time article from 1979  the year the film came out  in which Streep recalls auditioning for a play Hoffman was directing. He came up to me and said, Im Dustin  burp  Hoffman, and he put his hand on my breast, the actress told Time. What an obnoxious pig, I thought.

Read More: Dustin Hoffman Accused of Sexual Harassment by TV Producer Wendy Riss Gatsiounis

Per Jeff Lenburgs 2001 bookDustin Hoffman: Hollywoods Antihero, the play was All Over Town, which debuted on Broadway in late 1974, when Streep was 25. Later that decade, the actors notoriously battled on Robert Bensons Kramer vs. Kramer set, where they played divorcing parents. In Vanity Fair-excerptedHer Again: Becoming Meryl Streep, author Michael Schulman wrote that Hoffman escalated their fight scenes by slapping Streep and taunting her about her recently deceased boyfriend, John Cazale.

In the piece, film executive Richard Fischoff remembered that Streep went absolutely white, with author Schulman writing that she had done her work and thought through the part. And if Dustin wanted to use Method techniques like emotional recall, he should use them on himself. Not her.

Kramer vs. Kramer eventually won Best Picture, plus Oscars for Hoffman, Streep, and Benson.

Hoffman, now 80, was previously accused of sexually harassing writers Wendy Riss Gatsiounis  who says in 1991, Hoffman invited her to his hotel after inquiring, Have you ever been intimate with a man over 40?  and Anna Graham Hunter. While Graham Hunter was a 17-year-old intern on Hoffmans TV movie Death of a Salesman (1985), she wrote in The Hollywood Reporter that Hoffman groped her repeatedly and dictated mealtime orders such as Your left breast, and A hard-boiled eggand a soft-boiled clitoris.

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Read More: Michelle Pfeiffer Calls Sexual Harassment a Systemic Problem in Hollywood  Watch

Currently starring in The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) on Netflix, Hoffman made his first public appearance following Gatsiounis and Graham Hunters charges on Nov. 5, presenting a Hollywood Film Award to Adam Sandler, his onscreen son in that film and 2014s The Cobbler. Los Angeles Times film writer Amy Kaufman tweeted that Hoffman did not take the opportunity to address the accusations.

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Johnnie Langendorff was driving to his girlfriends house on Sunday morning when he saw two men exchanging gunfire outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

One of those men was reportedly 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, who had just moments before opened fire on a group of worshipers at the church, killing at least 26 people and injuring 20.

The other man was a neighbor, whom Langendorff, 27, didnt know and who was also carrying a rifle.

The two men were coming out and they started exchanging gunfire. From there, the gunman took off, Langendorff tells PEOPLE. The other gentleman who was trying to stop him jumped into [my] vehicle and he said, We gotta get him, and I said, Lets go. We blew through this intersection and chased him until he lost control of his vehicle.

The goal, Langendorff says, was to get this guy. You dont shoot up anywhere and get away with it.

Hero who helped chase down Texas church shooter: "It's just one of those things. Act now, ask questions later." https://t.co/2audBQh7Ku pic.twitter.com/2QnH5Oib6K  Good Morning America (@GMA) November 6, 2017

With Langendorff behind the wheel, the men pursued the gunman until his vehicle stopped, Langendorff says.

We blew through this intersection going about 90-95 [mph]  I was trying to keep up with the other guy [the shooter] until finally he lost control of his vehicle at that time I parked my vehicle, he says. We both got out, took refuge behind my truck.

The other gentleman jumped out immediately. He turned his rifle onto the gunman and told him to get out, Langendorff recalls. There was no movement at the time traffic was coming around. I went to direct traffic just in case there was crossfire. After that police showed up.

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 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.

The shooter was found dead in his vehicle in Guadalupe County, Texas, not far from the site of his attack, Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a Sunday news conference.

It is unclear if the gunman was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound or a gunshot wound he received while exchanging fire with the resident, Martin said.

The victims ages, including those killed and those injured, range from 5 to 72 years old, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt also said during the news conference. Names of the victims have yet to be formally released as investigators continue to process the scene.

Langendorff says he has not seen the passenger with him who pursued the gunman since the shooting.

I hope the families and the people affected by this can sleep a little easier knowing that this man is not breathing anymore and not hurting anyone else, he says.
Its Peggy Sulahian vs. virtually everyone else on the cast at the groups final dinner in Iceland.

Dont mess with Peggy Sulahian. Or, maybe do?

The Real Housewives of Orange County casts trip to Iceland comes to a confusing conclusion on Monday night, and ET has your exclusive first look at what just might be the hardest to follow Housewives argument of all time.

The ladies are gathered at a Viking-themed restaurant -- think Medieval Times, but Icelandic and on a much smaller scale -- and all hell breaks loose when Peggy shows up late. Kelly Dodd attempts to apologize to Peggy if she did anything to offend her the night before, when the women had an emotionally charged drunken night together in Shannon Beadors hotel room. Peggy wont accept the apology, though, and Kelly storms off.

A couple years ago, I decided that I had to take anger management classes and they teach you to walk away and not engage, Kelly explains in her confessional. So, I am implementing these tools, so I dont get in a fist fight with Peggy.

RHOC Star Tamra Judge on Reconnecting With Vicki Gunvalson in Iceland -- and Why It Didnt Last (Exclusive)

Then, out of nowhere, Peggy pulls out her phone to play back a video she took during the groups drunken night. Meghan King Edmonds asks Peggy what exactly shes trying to show on her phone, so Peggy plays it again.

Meghan, your baby was crying really bad in the room for 10 minutes, she announces, shocking the entire group.

Did you time it? Meghan spouts back. Because I do!  Why are you talking about my baby crying? No, no, no, no! What are you talking about?!

You, stop! Shannon shouts, as Peggy continues to criticize Meghans parenting.

First, it was Kelly criticizing Meghan as a mother and now Peggy Sulahian is taking her turn? Shannon asks in her confessional. You dont have any idea what youre talking about.

She doesnt have a video of the baby crying, Lydia McLaughlin whispers to Shannon after taking another look at the clip on Peggys phone, only adding to the confusion.

How dare she, Shannon mutters.

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RHOC Star Meghan King Edmonds Says She Wants 5 More Kids! (Exclusive)

Peggy has a hard time expressing herself, Lydia notes in her testimonial. She never shouldve started her whole conversation with the women showing the videotape or that Meghans a bad mom. She shouldve just said, You guys hurt my feelings. Let me tell you how.

Last month, Peggy opened up to ET about being pushed to her limit while in Iceland, which explains her behavior.

I set people in place, because Im not one to shut up, Peggy shared. Go ahead, think youre going to walk away from me. Go ahead ... once you keep touching me, you know, Ive given you that leeway, its not going to happen. And Ill put you in a position that you dont even know how to get out of.

For more with the reality star, check out the video below. The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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Kevin Spacey has gone silent on some of his closest friends following allegations of sexual misconduct, a source tells ET.

After actor Anthony Rapp claimed to BuzzFeed News that the House of Cards star had acted inappropriately towards him when he was 14 years old, others have also accused the 58-year-old star of misconduct. Through his lawyer, Spacey has denied the allegations.

He has not been communicating with people in his inner circle since, our source says. Hes been MIA, even from those closest to him. He realizes how terrible this is and he knows the chances of him getting good work in this town again are very slim.

WATCH: Netflix Parts Ways With Kevin Spacey, 'Will Not Be Involved' With 'House of Cards' If Actor Stays On

Meanwhile, TriStar Pictures has pulled Spaceys film, All the Money in the World, from its closing slot at AFI Fest on Nov. 16.

All the Money in the World is a superb film and more than worthy of its place of honor in the AFI Fest, the company said in a statement to ET on Monday. But given the current allegations surrounding one of its actors and out of respect for those impacted, it would be inappropriate to celebrate at a gala at this difficult time. Accordingly, the film will be withdrawn.



The statement continued with an explanation of why the movie would still open in theaters as scheduled on Dec. 22.

A film is not the work of one person, the statement continues. There are over 800 other actors, writers, artists, craftspeople and crew who worked tirelessly and ethically on this film, some for years, including one of cinemas master directors. It would be a gross injustice to punish all of them for the wrongdoings of one supporting actor in the film."

NEWS: Richard Dreyfuss' Son Harry Claims Kevin Spacey Groped Him When He Was 18

The news comes after House of Cards production company, Media Rights Capital, announced that Spacey had been suspended from the series, while broadcaster Netflix confirmed they would, not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey."

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On Thursday, Spaceys rep at the time announced that the actor was now taking time for evaluation and treatment."

See more on the allegations against Spacey in the video below.

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The Kardashian matriarch also opened up about how Kim's children will react to their new sibling.

Kris Jenner is only getting better with age.

The Kardashian matriarch turned 62 on Sunday, and received a few adorable shout-outs from her famous daughters.

Kim Instagrammed a photo of the two in matching blonde 'dos, calling Kris her "best friend."

"Happy Birthday to my best friend @krisjenner. Couldnt have asked for a better mom!" Kim wrote. "Literally dont know how you do it and manage us all and be the best grandma and have the best outlook on life! Im so grateful for you!!! Love you so much!"



Kris Jenner Plays Coy With Daughters Pregnancies, Talks Splitting $150 Million Between Her Kids

Khloe also shared a few fierce photos of Kris.

"Happy birthday mama!! You truly are a super hero in my eyes," Khloe wrote. "Everything that you do, all the people you take care of and make sure are ok daily, the boss moves you make! I can't fathom how you do it all and still manage to look so f**king fabulous! If I get to be an ounce of who you are then I will be proud of myself!! I love you madly mom! Today and everyday you are Queen of the world  bring on the martinis."

Meanwhile, Kourtney shared a photo of Kris clearly living her best life in a bikini.

"Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother who is the perfect example of what it means to be living life to the fullest," she wrote. "You take each moment and make it a memory. Thank you for teaching me and my sisters how to be the women that we are today and the true value of family. With all my heart, love you madly."

Kris thanked her fans for all their birthday messages on her big day, and teased Sunday night's episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, in which she visits Cleveland, Ohio. Kris traveled to Cleveland to see Khloe and her boyfriend Tristan Thompson, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Thank you for all of your sweet and thoughtful birthday messages!! Wishing all of you a beautiful Sunday," Kris Instagrammed. "Can't wait to celebrate with a brand new episode of #KUWTK tonight!! This week, I'm visiting @khloekardashian in Cleveland!  #family #love."

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ET spoke to Kris last month, when she gushed about Thompson, and revealed that Khloe now lives most of the time in Cleveland.

Watch below:

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Republican Sen. Rand Paul has 5 rib fractures after allegedly being assaulted by a neighbor at his home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, according to multiple reports.

According to CNN, Kentucky State Troopers say that Pauls neighbor, anesthesiologist and pain specialist Rene Boucher, intentionally assaulted the onetime presidential candidate. They also added that Boucher admitted going onto Pauls property and tackling him. A motive for the alleged assault has not yet been determined.

The Associated Press reported that a senior staffer for the senator said his rib fractures include three displaced fractures and bruised lungs. Senior adviser Doug Stafford also told CNN that displaced rib fractures can lead to life-threatening injuries such as pneumonia, internal bleeding, laceration of internal organs and lung contusions.

Pauls staff further told the network that they are unsure when Paul will be able to return to Washington: This type of injury is caused by high velocity severe force. It is not clear exactly how soon he will return to work, as the pain is considerable as is the difficulty in getting around, including flying.?

PEOPLEs calls to the Kentucky State Police were not immediately returned.

On Sunday morning, the senator addressed the alleged assault on Twitter.

?Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Fridays unfortunate event, Paul wrote. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Fridays unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) November 5, 2017

A spokesperson for the Warren County Jail told PEOPLE that Boucher is currently facing 4th degree minor assault charges, but as CNN reported, assaulting a member of Congress is a federal crime, which could lead to more severe charges.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the Warren County Jail also confirmed that Boucher was released from jail on Saturday on a $7,500 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Thursday.

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, Boucher is the inventor of the Therm-a-Vest, a cloth vest designed to relieve back pain.
Stephen Willeford and Johnny Langendorff seemed to be two of just a few people in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs, Texas, who did not know each other.

Now less than 48 hours since they first met, they are forever bonded by both tragedy and their own heroic actions.

The two men have both been hailed for their roles in pursuing Devin Patrick Kelley, the gunman responsible for Sundays mass shooting inside First Baptist Church, which killed at least 26 people.

Johnny Langendorff (left) and Stephen Willeford

On Monday night, the men embraced as the town came together to hold a candlelight vigil for those lost in Sundays massacre.

Willeford, 55, lived near the church and after his daughter alerted him to the shooting, he grabbed his rifle and ran to the building barefoot.

Every time I heard a shot, I knew that that probably represented a life. I was scared to death, Willeford said of the shooter, in his first interview to the Arkansas-based news outlet KHOG, following the tragedy.

I was scared for me, he said. I was scared for every one of them. I was scared for my own family, who live less than a block away.

 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.

Nonetheless, Willeford sprung into action.

He saw me and I saw him. I was standing behind a pickup truck for cover. I know I hit him. He got into his vehicle, and he fired another couple rounds through his side window. When the window dropped, I fired another round at him again, Willeford said of the gunman.

As the shooter pulled away in his car, Willeford stopped a nearby pickup truck to ask the driver, Langendorff, for help.

The pair proceeded to follow the gunman and called 911 during their chase.

The other gentleman who was trying to stop him jumped into [my] vehicle and he said, We gotta get him, and I said, Lets go. We blew through this intersection and chased him until he lost control of his vehicle, Langendorff told PEOPLE.

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With Langendorff behind the wheel, they pursued the gunman until the shooter lost control and crashed.

We blew through this intersection going about 90-95 [mph]  I was trying to keep up with the other guy [the shooter] until finally, he lost control of his vehicle at [the same] time I parked my vehicle, Langendorff said.

We both got out, took refuge behind my truck. [Willeford] jumped out immediately. He turned his rifle onto the gunman and told him to get out, Langendorff recalled. There was no movement at the time, traffic was coming around. I went to direct traffic just in case there was crossfire. After that, police showed up.

The brief pursuit concluded in neighboring Guadalupe County, Texas, where the shooter was later found dead in his vehicle.

Two of the bullets fired by Willeford hit Kelley in the leg and torso before Kelley shot himself in the head, authorities said during a Monday news briefing.
Melania Trump spent her second day in Tokyo learning about Japanese calligraphy with a group of elementary school students.

The first lady visited Kyobashi Tsukiji Elementary School with Japan's First Lady, Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The first ladies were welcomed by the 300 students with a school song before Melania posed for photos and slapped high-fives with the young children.

Melania definitely stole our hearts, once again, with her ensemble of choice -- a navy blue Dior cape dress from the French brand's Fall 2016 collection. The timeless look came complete with a tonal belt that cinched at her waist and showcased her fit figure, dramatic sleeves and a hemline that hit just below her knees.

She polished off her look with a pair of her signature stilettos in a similar dark blue hue. While her ensemble was strictly the first lady's aesthetic, she mixed up her hairstyle by opting for a low chignon bun instead of her usual blowout.

RELATED: Melania Trump's outfits as FLOTUS:



The fuss-free style kept her luscious locks out of her face as she participated in a calligraphy class with the students. Melania wrote the first kanji character for the Japanese word for "peace," as Akie wrote the second letter.

Just a day before, the two first ladies visited the Mikimoto Pearl flagship store in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza shopping district. Melania donned a statement coat by Fendi, a leather pencil skirt by Herve Pierre and her favorite sky-high Manolo Blahnik BB pumps. The striped applique coat featured autumnal-inspired hues as well as neutrals like black, white and beige.

For more on Melania's stunning sartorial show in Asia, check out the slideshow above.
It's a fashion showdown in Japan!

Melania Trump attended a state banquet in Tokyo wearing a striking red Valentino dress, but she may have been upstaged by White House communications director Hope Hicks who opted for a chic tuxedo for the glamorous event.

The first lady chose a traditional, floor-length number for the glitzy occasion that she paired with shoes of the same hue. She kept her low chignon bun hairstyle from earlier in the day, while adding a slightly darker shade of pink to match her dramatic look.

Meanwhile, Hope surprised the crowd with a tailored black suit, a traditional white tuxedo shirt and an oversized black bow tie. The 29-year-old completed her look with a statement-making pink color on her lips, a smokey eye and her tresses in a simple blown out style. See her look below:



Hope Hicks in Japan

Reuters

The dinner was hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo to mark President Trump's visit. Hope and Melania are both traveling with the president for his 12-day trip around Asia, which will also see him visit South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

RELATED: Melania Trump's outfits as FLOTUS:



Earlier in the day, Melania dazzled in a navy blue Dior number while visiting a group of elementary school kids. She, alongside the prime minister's wife, participated in a fun calligraphy class with the schoolchildren. The first lady was greeted with a warm welcome from the students, evident by the adorable photos above of Melania and the children together.

For more on the first couple's trip to Asia, watch the slideshow above.

Get Melania's red Valentino look for less:


Bali's white sand beaches would have been lost on this particlar couple - This content is subject to copyright.

A plane bound for Bali from Doha was forced to make an unscheduled stop at Chennai after a woman became disruptive when she discovered mid-flight her husband was having an affair.

The Iranian couple, flying with their child, were en route to Denpasar for a holiday at the popular Indonesian island when the woman allegedly used the thumb of her sleeping husband to unlock his phone, where she found evidence of his infidelity.

Sources said the woman, who was reportedly intoxicated, became unruly. Despite efforts from the crew to calm her down the pilot requested the Qatar Airways flight divert to Chennai, India.

An official at the Central Industry Security Force told the Times of India that the flight deck asked Chennai for permission to divert due to an unruly passenger.

The woman and her husband, along with their child, were offloaded and the flight departed for Bali, the official added.

The Qatar Airways flight landed at Denpasar a few hours late Credit: Getty

It is understood the family were kept in a detention centre as they did not have Indian visas.

The family spent the day at Chennai airport and was sent to Kuala Lumpur by a Batik Air flight for further travel to Doha, the official said, adding that no police action was taken.

The plane approaches Chennai Credit: FlightRadar24.com

Data from plane-tracking website FlightRadar24 shows that the plane began its descent into Chennai just before leaving the east coast of India, which would have likely seen the flight continue across the Indian Ocean onto Denpasar.

The flight took off from Chennai within a few hours and landed in Bali just over two hours late.

Ridiculous reasons for flight delays and plane turnarounds

A spokesperson for Qatar Airways declined to comment in respect of passenger privacy.
A story about Winona Ryders experience with bullies as a preteen has surfaced, and its badass. In the now viral anecdote, Ryder recalls getting revenge on a tormenter.

I was wearing an old Salvation Army shop boys suit, the actress recalls. As I went to the bathroom I heard people saying, Hey, f***** [a homophobic slur]. They slammed my head into a locker. I fell to the ground and they started to kick the s*** out of me. I had to have stitches. Sickeningly, Ryder was the one who got punished for the horrific act. The school kicked me out, not the bullies.

Actress Winona Ryder was targeted by bullies at school because of her short hair and mens clothing. (Photos: Getty Images; Elliot Tebele via Instagram)

That little girl with her own unique style went on to become a famous actress, whos at a high point right now thanks to the Netflix hit Stranger Things. That in itself is revenge enough  yet it gets better.

Years later, I went to a coffee shop and I ran into one of the girls whod kicked me, and she said, Winona, Winona, can I have your autograph? And I said, Do you remember me? Remember in seventh grade you beat up that kid? And she said, Kind of. And I said, That was me. Go f*** yourself.

Mic drop.

Over the weekend, a movie aficionado tweeted the story, and its received more than 489,000 likes and 150,000 retweets so far.

We tracked down the source of the story. Its detailed in a biography of the actress by Nigel Goodall. According to the book, this happened on her third day of seventh grade at Petalumas Kenilworth Junior High. I think they thought I was a gay boy, she offered, according to the book. At the time Ryder had cropped hair and wore boys clothing in the spirit of the old gangster movies that possessed her at the time. In 2013, the actress mentioned that she got picked on quite often for her short hair, which was inspired by the film Bugsy Malone.

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Even after she pointed out to the bullies that she was a girl, they kept harassing her. The book says she ended up with fractured ribs and six stitches in her head. When one of those boys girlfriends requested an autograph years later, and Ryder asked her if she remembered the little boy who was beaten up, the girl said, Oh, that f*****? Ryder then corrected the woman and refused her an autograph.

Back then Ryder was a target, and at first, her fame only made it worse. Ryder was just 17 when she starred in Beetlejuice as the iconic character of Lydia. I remember thinking, Ooh, [Beetlejuice] is like the number-one movie. This is going to make things great at school, she told Marie Claire UK in October 2017. But it made things worse. They called me a witch.

Bets are those bullies feel pretty stupid now.

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Andrew Coffey was in the process of pledging Pi Kappa Phi when he was found unconscious Friday morning (Nov. 3), a mile from the school.

By Camille Augustin

Shortly before the start of Florida State Universitys Parents Weekend, the school placed a ban on fraternities and sororities following the death of a student, USA Today reports.

Andrew Coffey was in the process of pledging Pi Kappa Phi when he was found unconscious Friday morning (Nov. 3), a mile from the school. The 20-year-old was last seen at a house party the night before. Coffeys death also prompted the university to ban alcohol at campus events.

I want to send a serious message, I really do. Weve got a serious problem, President John Thrasher said. Twenty-two percent of the schools 7,588-student population make up the Greek community, the site notes.

According to the Associated Press, Coffeys death was alcohol-related while another 20-year-old student, Garrett John Marcy, was charged with cocaine dealing and trafficking.

All of our student organizations  Greek organizations and the other recognized student organizations on campus  must step up, Thrasher stated. They will have to participate in the solution.

This post Florida State University Places Ban On Fraternities, Sororities Following Students Death first appeared on Vibe.
Italian police have launched an investigation after the bodies of 26 teenage girls were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea Sunday.

The girls, ranging in age from 14-18 years old, are thought to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria trying to reach Europe via a notoriously treacherous route from Libya, CNN reported.

RELATED: See mugshots from an earlier human trafficking sting this year



Investigators are trying to discover whether the girls were tortured or sexually abused, Lorena Ciccotti, the head of police in Salerno, told the outlet. Autopsies were scheduled to be performed Tuesday.

The girls' bodies were recovered by a Spanish navy ship conducting rescue operations in the area. According to Ciccotti, aid workers saw survivors clinging on to the remains of a vessel as the girls' bodies floated in the water nearby.

SEE ALSO: FBI rescues more than 80 children in nationwide human trafficking sting

The rescue mission was one of several operations carried out in the region over the weekend. In total, authorities brought aboard 400 people. Among the teens were 90 women, 52 minors, and a week-old infant.

Libya has become a well-known port for human traffickers with smuggling operations reportedly going widely unchecked considering the country's lack of a central government system.

RELATED: Human trafficking in India


UPDATE: 12:40 p.m.  Ed Westwick flatly denied having raped actress Kristina Cohen in a message posted to Twitter and Instagram on Tuesday.

I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape, he wrote.

PREVIOUSLY:

Actress Kristina Cohen said in a lengthy Facebook post shared Monday that Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick raped her three years ago.

Cohen, 27, said that she met Westwick, 30, through her boyfriend at the time, a producer who goes unnamed in the post. The incident occurred when the couple went over to actors house one night, she wrote.

Cohen was taken aback when Westwick allegedly suggested we should all fuck, but her boyfriend convinced her to stay for dinner to avoid making their host uncomfortable. At Westwicks suggestion, Cohen said she then retired to the guest room for a nap while her boyfriend tried to smooth things over.

So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong, Cohen wrote. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to fuck me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldnt speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.

It was a nightmare, and the days following werent any better, she added.

A representative for Westwick did not immediately return HuffPosts request for comment.

Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester film scenes for "Gossip Girl" in 2012. (Photo: David Krieger/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)

Cohen said that her boyfriend blamed her for the assault and cautioned against speaking out against Westwick for the sake of her career.

Over the years, she has appeared in a handful of minor roles in projects including Californication and The Middle, as well as the web series Ladies Like Us. Westwick rose to fame on the hit CW soap playing bad boy Chuck Bass, a character with his own history of sexual assault. He now stars on the BBC Two series White Gold.

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Cohen said the wave of sexual assault allegations leveled against powerful men in Hollywood pushed her to come forward with her story now. She hopes to change the public perception of men like Westwick and encourage other victims of sexual assault never to blame themselves.

Im sickened to see men like Ed respected in such a public way. Interviewed by prestigious platforms such as the Oxford Union Society at Oxford University, where he was honored as one of their People who Shape our World, Cohen wrote. How does this end? Men like Ed using fame and power to rape and intimidate but then continue through the world collecting accolades.

I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters, she concluded.

Read Cohens full post on Facebook.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

Also on HuffPost

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 13: Dwayne Johnson, Lauren Hashian and daughter Jasmine Johnson attend a ceremony honoring him with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/ WireImage)

WESTWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 13: Will Smith and Jaden Smith attend the Premiere Of Netflix's 'Bright' at Regency Village Theatre on December 13, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Annette Bening (L) and Warren Beatty attend the Museum of the Moving Image Salute to Annette Bening at 583 Park Avenue on December 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Alec Baldwin (L) and Colin Kaepernick attend Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts Annual Ripple Of Hope Awards Dinner on December 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Ripple Of Hope Awards)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 12: Actress Rebel Wilson arrives for the premiere of Universal Pictures' 'Pitch Perfect 3' held at The Dolby Theater on December 12, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 12: Actress Hailee Steinfeld arrives for the Premiere Of Universal Pictures' 'Pitch Perfect 3' held at The Dolby Theater on December 12, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Nick Jonas, Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, and Kevin Hart attend the premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle' on December 11, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Sienna Miller attends the New York premiere of 'Phantom Thread' After Party at Harold Pratt House on December 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Actors Sharon Stone, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Bell and Alfre Woodard attend Moet & Chandon Toasts The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon )

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron attend 'The Greatest Showman' World Premiere aboard the Queen Mary 2 at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on December 8, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 07: Gal Gadot attends the 2017 GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont on December 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for GQ)

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Zac Efron seen at Capital Radio Studios on December 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Jennifer Aniston is seen at 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on December 05, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 07: Cate Blanchett attends the IWC Photocall on day two of the 14th annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 7, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for DIFF,)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 06: Demi Lovato attends Refinery29 29Rooms Los Angeles: Turn It Into Art at ROW DTLA on December 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 06: Janelle Monae attends Refinery29 29Rooms Los Angeles: Turn It Into Art at ROW DTLA on December 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 06: Sterling K. Brown (L) and Kathryn Hahn at The Hollywood Reporter's 26th Annual Women In Entertainment Breakfast presented in partnership with FIJI Water at Milk Studios on December 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for FIJI Water)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 06: Angelina Jolie speaks onstage at The Hollywood Reporter's 2017 Women In Entertainment Breakfast at Milk Studios on December 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Actress Jennifer Lawrence attends The Hollywood Reporter 2017 Women In Entertainment Breakfast, on December 6, 2017, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACON (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 05: Actor Ashley Judd speaks onstage at The Paley Center for Media on December 5, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Sebastian Stan, Craig Gillespie, Allison Janney, Steven Rogers, Bryan Unkeless, Tonya Harding, Ricky Russert and Margot Robbie attend NEON and 30WEST Present the Los Angeles Premiere of 'I, Tonya' Supported By Svedka on December 5, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for NEON)

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Diane Kruger discusses 'In The Fade' with the Build Series at Build Studio on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/WireImage)

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 04: Actress Jessica Chastain attends 'Molly's Game' Madrid premiere at Callao Cinema on December 4, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Cuadra/WireImage)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - DECEMBER 03: Actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis arrive at the 2018 Breakthrough Prize at NASA Ames Research Center on December 3, 2017 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images,)

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 04: Reese Witherspoon (R) and Ava Phillippe attend Molly R. Stern X Sarah Chloe Jewelry Collaboration Launch Dinner on December 4, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Sarah Chloe Jewelry)

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 04: Chris Pratt is seen at 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' on December 04, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG017/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 03: Julianne Hough attends The Trevor Project's 2017 TrevorLIVE LA on December 3, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/ WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Armie Hammer and Saoirse Ronan poses with her award at the 2017 Gotham Awards sponsored by Greater Ft. Lauderdale Tourism at Cipriani, Wall Street on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman attend the GreenSlate Greenroom at The 2017 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for GreenSlate)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Robert Pattinson and James Franco attend IFP's 27th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Actor Timothee Chalamet is seen Downtown on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce the engagement of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017 in London, England. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been a couple officially since November 2016 and are due to marry in Spring 2018. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 27: Actress Jessica Chastain attrends the press conference for 'The Zookeeper's Wife' at Roppongi Hills on November 27, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage)

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Katy Perry performs during her 'Witness' tour at SAP Center on November 14, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Actors Jane Krakowski and Maya Rudolph attend FOX's 'A Christmas Story Live!' Lighting Event featuring the leg lamp at The Grove on November 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

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Airbnb is recruiting San Francisco's largest landlord to allow tenants to offer their apartments as short-term rentals. In return for Veritas Investments serving up five of its buildings, Airbnb will give it a cut of the nightly revenue (10 percent, according to the San Francisco Chronicle), as part of the incentives it launched a year ago.

The two make for strange bedfellows, considering the fraught relationship between landlords and the short-term rental service. Earlier this year, Airbnb was sued by a Denver-based real estate firm for "helping tenants breach their leases." Meanwhile, New York has even fined tenants for posting short-term listings, under the new regulations it passed last year (a law Airbnb tried to block, before settling with the state).

Veritas, which owns over 5,000 units in San Francisco, is initially piloting the program on roughly 100 apartments. To lend a helping hand, Airbnb is enlisting Pillow, a startup that will help manage the short-term listings. But, removing housing from the rental market (and serving it up to tourists) is bound to be contentious in a city where rent prices are already among the highest in the US.

Then again, Airbnb's relationship with its hometown has been far from smooth. It took a turn for the better in May, however, when the company settled a lawsuit with the city over a rule that levied fines on hosts that don't register their units. Under the settlement, Airbnb will create a new registration system for hosts on its website in early 2018.
Chip maker Broadcom (AVGO) is gearing up for a hostile takeover battle for its competitor Qualcomm (QCOM), in a move one antitrust expert said seems pretty audacious in light of recent legal issues.

In recent months, Qualcomm has been fighting litigation with Apple (AAPL) on multiple fronts, as well as an antitrust lawsuit from the FTC. Both the FTC and Apple accuse Qualcomm of exploiting its dominant position over certain semiconductors to hit cellphone makers with outrageous patent royalties and to stifle competition.

Hock E. Tan, CEO of Broadcom, speaks after U.S. President Donald Trump delivered remarks about the situation of the job market, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Admittedly, trying to buy Qualcomm right now seems pretty audacious, said Christopher Sagers, a professor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and an expert on antitrust law.

A bid to acquire a firm already under antitrust scrutiny

Sagers added: Its bad enough that Broadcom is trying to acquire a firm in what at least superficially looks like a big, horizontal merger [a merger between competitors] while the target firm is itself actively defending accusations that it is already monopolizing similar products.

The agency leveling those accusations against Qualcomm, the FTC, is likely the same one that will review Broadcoms bid to take the company over since it typically does merger review in chip-maker deals, according to Sagers.

Basically, two teams of lawyers within FTC, who are friends and work together, will on the one hand be waging courtroom war insisting that Qualcomm is a menace, Sagers said, and on the other hand be required to keep an open mind about whether that same firm can combine with a big horizontal competitor.

Despite Broadcoms purported audacity, Sagers said he does not believe this is the kind of merger that the FTC would block outright  nor does Sagers believe the FTC suit must be resolved before a deal can go through. A few things will need to happen before this deal comes to fruition, though.

An unfriendly deal has to turn into a friendly one

Broadcoms $103 billion bid for Qualcomm was an unsolicited offer, and its one that the latter company plans to fend off on the grounds that it undervalues the company. Qualcomm will argue to shareholders that a deal will likely face scrutiny from regulators and could lead to a fight with the companys board, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Story continues

If this remains a hostile deal, then Qualcomm  like any unwilling target  would be likely to whisper into regulators ears about why the deal would be anticompetitive, according to George Hay, a professor at Cornell Law School and a leading antitrust expert.

Its very, very difficult to succeed with a hostile takeover, he said.

So, how does one company turn its hostile takeover target into a willing one?

Most of the time theres an amount of money which will turn it into a friendly deal, Hay told Yahoo Finance. Theres certainly an amount of money which will make Qualcomm willing to be taken over.

Whether thats an amount of money that Broadcom is willing to pay is another matter. Assuming Broadcom does warm relations with Qualcomm, the two competitors may need to agree to some concessions to get the FTC to sign off on the deal.

Specifically, regulators may try to identify areas where the two companies overlap. If they each have a big enough share in those areas, then regulators may require them to divest those parts of the business before a deal can go through, explained Herb Hovenkamp, another antitrust expert and a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.

In the meantime, Broadcom is wasting no time cozying up to the White House. Just last week, President Donald Trump announced that the Singapore-based company was relocating its home address to the U.S. As Sagers noted, the Qualcomm deal was surely in the works at that point.

Erin Fuchs is deputy managing editor at Yahoo Finance.

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A local man who shot at the Texas church shooter before giving chase to the gunman has spoken about the experience.

Stephen Willeford, a resident of Sunderland Springs, told Arkansas news station 40/29 that he was at home when his daughter came to his bedroom and told him that she heard gunshots coming from the First Baptist Church nearby.

I kept hearing the shots, one after another, very rapid shots  just pop pop pop pop and I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they werent just random shots, Willeford said.

A former NRA instructor, Willeford decided to load his rifle while his daughter scouted the situation outside. She told him that he saw a man in black tactical gear firing at the church. So Willeford, without even putting on his shoes, grabbed his firearm and ran across the street to the church to the confront the shooter.

He saw me and I saw him, Willeford said. I was standing behind a pickup truck for cover. The pair exchanged gunfire.

I know I hit him, Willeford said. He got into his vehicle, and he fired another couple rounds through his side window. When the window dropped, I fired another round at him again.

The gunman, later identified as 26-year-old former Air Force member Devin Kelley, decided to flee the scene and speed down the highway.

Willeford spotted Johnnie Langendorff in his pickup truck at a stop sign. He ran over and asked him for help.

That guy just shot up the Baptist church. We need to stop him, Willeford told the driver.

I was strictly just acting on whats the right thing to do, Langendorff told reporters earlier Monday, according to the Associated Press.

As they drove after the Kelley the pair called 911 to give a description of the assailant. Eventually, they caught up to Kelleys truck, who under pressure hit a road sign and flipped his truck into a ditch.

Willeford cautiously exited his truck and yelled, get out of the truck, get out of the truck, but did not see any movement, he said. Police later arrived to the scene. They believe Kelley opted to commit suicide.

Willeford said that hes not a hero. I think my God, my Lord protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done, he said.

When the dust had settled, officials revealed that Kelley killed 26 people in the rampage, the largest mass shooting in Texas history.
Sarah Rothberg is obsessed with the bright-red silicone sponge she bought at Sur La Table. As a sponge, it's worthless -- it's too flimsy to be abrasive, and you can forget about it absorbing liquid -- but when you rub its tiny bristles together the sound is strangely familiar. It's the sound of shaving a giant's leg.

Your Hands Are Feet was made possible through funding from the Engadget Alternate Realities grant program, established in May 2017. It will debut, along with four other prize-winning immersive-media projects, at the Engadget Experience on November 14th, 2017. For more information about the Engadget Experience, the grant program and the grantees, visit our events page, and click here to buy your ticket to the event before they run out.

That particular auditory cue isn't exactly universal, but it is central to Your Hands Are Feet, a new interactive virtual-reality experience from Rothberg, a lecturer at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and Amelia Winger-Bearskin, the director of IDEA New Rochelle, a nonprofit immersive-technology incubator in New York. The project, which engages users in a set of oddball scenarios, enlists psychedelic environments, generative music and interaction design to create new ways of talking about complex feelings. Those scenarios range from controlling your mind as if it were a Rube Goldberg machine, picking up your eyes when they've literally popped out of your head and, of course, shaving a giant's leg.

When I first met the pair in their Bushwick, Brooklyn, apartment late last month, Rothberg struggled to find the words to describe a feeling that is now burned into my memory.

"So shaving a giant's leg, it's the same as sort of like a sisisiphy- sisy- sisiphy? Sisyphin? Sisyphean ... ? Sisisyphean? That sounds crazy. That can't be right," she said.

"It's a syphilis task," she surrendered, laughing. "Shaving a giant's leg sort of encapsulates this feeling of this thing that you just have to do all the time and it sucks but it's a means to an end. You know, the feeling of like, 'I want to get this thing done. I want to have this smooth, nice shaved leg. But you always have to constantly be doing it."

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In Your Hands Are Feet, users get stuck in a Sisyphean loop when they, perched on a giant's foot, attempt to shave its leg with an outsize razor only for the hair to sprout up again (sound effects courtesy of Rothberg's silicone sponge). Their work is so surreal and seemingly complex that I repeatedly found myself asking, "How the hell do they come up with this stuff?" But after two days immersed in their world, it all began to make sense. When you talk to them, the mundane is magical, language is fluid and Greek mythology is just one verbal stumble from an STD. Life with them is just one big trippy play on words.

When you slide on the Rift and slip your hands into a pair of Oculus controllers to experience Your Hands Are Feet, you're immediately transported to a world that falls somewhere between the playfulness of Gumby and something far more sinister. The colors are bright and vibrant, the figures are at once familiar and entirely unknown. In the opening sequence, you're presented with a half-carton of eggs, which, using your controllers, you're encouraged to throw against a wall. The yolk of each egg acts as a portal, transporting you to a unique alternate universe where your actions control the narrative and the soundtrack. The vision is so unique, so singular, that it's hard to believe it came from the minds of two people who barely knew each other until just a few months ago.

From their platform sneakers to the way they talk about virtual reality, Rothberg and Winger-Bearskin complement each other so thoroughly you'd think they'd been working together for years. They met as grad students in the equipment room at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) in 2015. They ran in the same circles and attended the same parties, but it was the actress Alysia Reiner (Orange Is the New Black) who ultimately brought them together.

Reiner's latest film project, Egg, which costars Christina Hendricks and Anna Camp, tells the story of a conceptual artist looking to conceive a child through unconventional means. In a pivotal scene, Reiner attempts to walk Hendricks (also an artist) through a VR experience she's been working on.

Instead of just alluding to her character's work, Reiner wanted to create something that would complement the film that audiences could also experience. She reached out to Winger-Bearskin, who immediately thought of Rothberg. The collaboration, which began in earnest this summer, has been anything but conventional. With the kernel of the scene from Egg, the pair started brainstorming about "moments when you virtually give someone a piece of your life," as Winger-Bearskin puts it.

"Very frequently we prototype those kinds of experiences with sayings or with metaphors," she said. "So I can say, 'I walked into that room and my stomach just dropped,' or 'It was so loud that I felt like my ears were bleeding' or 'I looked at him and my eyes almost popped outta my head I was so surprised.' We have these things, like, she knows my eyes didn't really pop outta my head, or my stomach wasn't tied in actual knots, but she can get a sense of what that feels like in her body, and she can prototype that experience in her in an empathetic response."

With the idea of recreating complex emotional experiences in place, they did what creative collaborators do in 2017: They started dumping links in a Google Doc. What they collected is an odd assortment of references that only make sense once you step inside their world. There are the works of conceptual artist Sol Lewitt, concept art from Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune, clips from the film The Holy Mountain, a fuzzy My Little Pony, pictures of marshmallows and paintings by Judy Chicago. There are slides dedicated to physics and movements, environments and metaphors. And then there are the dildos.

"I'm pretty sure Amelia was the person who started the vibrator folder, but it was not a taboo subject at all for us," Sarah said. "We had come up with this scene, 'Everything Has Vibes.' And then we were like, 'Oh, the controllers can vibrate like a vibrator! We have to use vibrator imagery.' It was obvious. It was just obvious what we needed to do."

Vibrators aside, the ease of their collaboration is clear in their work. The final product, illustrated by Sarah's friend Niv Bavarsky, with sound design and music by their boyfriends, Eamon O'Connor and Yotam Mann, translates feelings of anxiety, confusion and frustration into playful, unestablished metaphors that just make sense.
WASHINGTON  An organization advocating female representation wants to expose and combat sexism and misogyny faced by women in public office with a new video campaign.

The Womens Media Center video campaign, launched Tuesday to coincide with Election Day, features stories from eight women  Democrats and Republicans  who have run for public office. They describe verbal and physical threats they faced as candidates, as well as scrutiny of their physical appearance and voices, and lament that such attacks often discourage women from entering politics.

Its not accidental that in the year 2017, still 75 percent of the people who hold office in this country are men, Wendy Davis (D), a former Texas state senator and gubernatorial candidate, says in the video. Its very purposeful.

Davis entered the national spotlight in 2013, when she held an 11-hour filibuster protesting a Texas bill that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. As her career advanced, critics called her abortion Barbie and made posters that featured her head attached to the body of a Barbie doll with a plastic baby in her belly.

It made me drop out of the race, Kim Weaver, former Democratic challenger to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), says in the video, referring to a series of death threats she received earlier this year.

Maryland state Del. Angela Angel (D) was called a dumb bitch, and says even online threats could become real.

Their intent is to try to intimidate you. Their intent is to cause fear, Angel says in the video.

When you have a legislative body that is mostly made up of white males, is that really representative of our good, old US of A? I dont think so, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) says in the video.

The campaign starts on the eve of the anniversary of the 2016 presidential election, in which sexism and misogyny played an outsized role. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has said gender contributed to her loss to President Donald Trump, and has spoken and written about attacks against her, often launched by Trump himself.

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Over the last year, Clintons loss has motivated more women to become politically active and to run for office.

But on a more basic level, the women featured in the video encourage people to raise awareness about the sexism and harassment women face.

What we need to do to change this, really, is to call it out when we see it happening, Davis says in the video.

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Hillary Clinton Says Misogyny Played A Part In Her Loss. She's Right.

Also on HuffPost

1909

Two Garment Workers Picketing, circa 1909.

1912

America suffragette parade in New York circa 1912.

1912

Mrs Raymond Robbins and a group of women suffragists in front of the Coliseum at the time of the Republican National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 1912. The Coliseum was located at 1513 South Wabash Avenue. Robbins is holding a pennant that reads: 'Votes for women.' From the Chicago Daily News collection.

1913

Members of the National American Woman Suffrage Association marching with a banner which publicizes their '1000 branches organized in 38 states' at the New York Suffragette Parade on May 3, 1913.

1918

Suffragettes hold up banner in front of a building that has an architrave sign of the National Woman's Party circa 1918.

1919

Lucy Branham, Suffragette, at Rally, Washington DC, USA, circa 1919.

1920

Boston women pickets are centering their drive to prevent the export of coal to that England on Sep. 22, 1920. Three of the women pickets are shown patrolling the waterfront in East Boston. The picketing is designed, the leaders said, to thwart the effort of Lloyd George to import 150,000,000 tons of coal from America to England thus breaking the strike of British Coal Miners.

1937

American police use tear gas against women pickets at the Newton Steel Company, Monroe, Michigan on June 10, 1937.

1935

Unemployed, single women protesting the job placement of married women before themselves at the Emergency Relief Administration headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts June 24, 1935.

1938

Over three thousand Spanish American women, representing 20,000 members of the united Committees of Spanish Women in America arrived by special train in Washington today to publicize the plight of Spain's women and children and urge our government to revoke the embargo government of Spain circa 1938. Photo shows the sympathizers marching to the State Department and the white House with hopes of seeing the president and the Secretary of State. In the background can be seen the Capitol.

1946

To protest against the rising prices, the GI's widows demonstrate on 5th Avenue, 1946 in New York City, United States.

1946

Retail strike against Sears by clerks in Chicago, Illinois, USA, circa 1946.

1947

Employees of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios picket in a conga line before the dance studio offices today, May 7 in protest against Murray's alleged refusal to recognize Local 16, United Office and Professional Workers of America, CIO in New York on May 7, 1947.

1949

Two housewives in gay blue bonnets, Mrs. J.C. Alicoate (L) of Miami, and Mrs. Arthur Hebb, Jr. of Baltimore, add their bit towards the fight for repeal of the tax on oleomargarine. They parade with their signs near the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 1949.

1951

American housewives demonstrate against the high price of meat, on March 14, 1951 in the streets of Philadelphia.

1954

Negro delegates from several states parade with signs in front of the White House to protest the mob slaying of four negroes in Georgia recently in Washington, D.C circa 1954. The picketers were mostly women and they carried on their demonstration in an orderly manner, letting their signs tell their story.

Circa 1960s

Picture shows people picketing outside of the White House in protest of the US involvement with Cuba. The woman in the foreground is holding a sign plainly stating her point, 'Don't invade Cuba'. Undated photo circa 1960s.

1961

A group of women outside the Russian Mission to the United Nations in New York City protest the testing of nuclear arms on Nov. 1, 1961. They are part of the Women's Strike for Peace, a one-day demonstration by American women in many cities throughout the United States.

1963

A full length portrait of a woman holding up a poster and demonstrating outside a Police Station, Gwynn Oak, Maryland, July 1, 1963.

1963

African American woman being carried to police patrol wagon during demonstration in Brooklyn, New York circa 1963.

1965

Denver members of Women's League for International Peace and Freedom display sing of protest, photo left. They're Mrs. John Gilmore, left, and Mrs. Caswell Silver on Dec 10, 1965.

1965

Alabama State troopers 'frisk' Negro youths arrested during demonstrations here prior to boarding them on buses. More than 130 were arrested in Marion, AL on Feb. 5, 1965.

1965

The House of Representatives met today to affirm seating of its Mississippi members, as Civil Rights demonstrators massed in silent support of their claim that the State's elections were illegal because blacks were barred from the polls August 17, 1965. Three members of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party's contestants for the state's five seats hold a telegram from Speaker John McCormick granting them permission to take seats on the House floor during the debate. They are, left to right: Fannie Lou Hamer, Victoria Gray, and Annie Devine.

1967

Demonstrators representing the 'Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam,' jam to the barred main gate of the White House today in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 1967. The group was led by Mrs. Martin Luther King (center) and Dr. Benjamin Spock (glasses, directly behind Mrs. King), who read a statement denouncing the Administration policies in Vietnam.

1967

Carrying graphically illustrated anti-Vietnamese war posters, members of the 'Women's Strike for Peace' push their way to the doors of the Pentagon Building on Feb. 16, 1967. The main doors of the building were locked for 30 minutes, as the women stormed the doors in an effort to gain entrance. This photo is a close-up of the group.

1967

In the Boston Marathon, one of two women running in the normally all-male-race, Kathy Switzer, (261) of Syracuse, New York, is being hassled by BAA Marathon Director Bill Cloney, as he attempted to stop her from competing on April 19, 1967. The dark-haired girl did not show up for the physical examination required of all starters, (had she appeared at the starting line, she would never have been allowed to compete). she remained in the race, but was never seen near the finish line.

1968

Two older women making peace signs during anti-Vietnam war march on April 27, 1968.

1968

Several women protesters burn what they say are draft cards belonging to friend in a demonstration at the Federal court today in support of Dr. Benjamin Spock. Spock and three others were convicted in Boston Tuesday of conspiring to counsel young men to evade the draft. June 20, 1968.

1968

Women hold up signs demanding equal rights during a demonstration for women's liberation, New York City, circa 1968.

1969

A young American woman holds up a sign as she protests for women's rights in front of the Federal Trade Commission headquarters while policemen look on during Richard Nixon's inauguration weekend, Washington, DC, January 18-21, 1969. Her sign reads 'Judge women as people not as wives.'

1969

A woman emerges from a crowd of peace demonstrators making peace signs and singing for peace at a demonstration against the Vietnamese War circa 1969.

1969

A group of young women have arms interlocked as they hold a metal pipe and protest the Vietnam War at Fort Dix, a major transshipment point for American soldiers, Fort Dix, New Jersey, October 12, 1969.

1969

Students march with anti-war placards on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley, California, 1969.

1969

A woman at a rally in support of the Black Panthers, holding copies of The Black Panther newspaper, New Haven, CT, November, 1969.

Circa 1970s

A lone woman stands on a corner protesting unequal pay for women in an unidentified section of Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1970s.

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A set of leaked documents from offshore law firm Appleby has revealed that Apple stashed $250 billion in Jersey, a tiny island off the coast of France known for being a tax haven. The tech titan apparently secretly moved its pile of overseas profits to the island after the US and various European governments cracked down on the tax strategy it's been employing since the 1980's. Apple used to rely on an arrangement called the "double Irish," which took advantage of Ireland's business-friendly tax policies. The company created Irish subsidiaries and attributed billions of dollars of profits made outside the US to them. It then avoided paying large amounts of taxes in the country by making it appear that the subsidiaries were being operated from California. In the US, such a scheme works, because the government allows taxes on income produced by multinational corporations' foreign units to be deferred indefinitely. In 2013, however, Apple faced inquiries from a US Senate committee that lambasted the company for exploiting a system that saved it billions of dollars in taxes. A year later, the European Union investigated Apple's activities in Ireland and ordered the company to pay $14.5 billion in back taxes. That's the same year Apple first emailed Appleby asking about possible alternative arrangements. Based on the documents leaked as part of Paradise Papers, Apple asked the Bermuda-based law firm what different offshore jurisdictions, including the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, have to offer. When Ireland changed its tax laws in 2015, it gave companies operating out of the country the right to continue with their arrangements until December 2020. That gave Apple enough time to begin processing the change in residency of its two biggest Irish subsidiaries to Jersey, which eliminated corporate taxes (sans some exceptions) in 2008, with Appleby's help. Why is this such a big deal? Well, Apple said 70 percent of its profits come from outside the US, yet its foreign tax rates typically fall between two to five percent only. In the US, it would have paid a 35 percent tax rate on those profits. Republican senator John McCain once said: Apple, however, defended its practices and its decision, insisting that the move "did not reduce [its] tax payments in any country." It said it decided to hold overseas cash in Jersey, "specifically to ensure that tax obligations and payments to the US were not reduced." Apple explained that it "paid billions of dollars in US tax" to establish its Jersey subsidiary, and that it gets no tax benefit from the change. The company also boasted that it's the biggest taxpayer in the world, and its "worldwide effective tax rate is 24.6 percent, higher than average for US multinationals." The tech giant also promised to comply with any change in the tax system for multinational corporations in the US in case the administration's tax reform plan goes through. The current proposal suggests cutting multinational companies' taxes to 20 percent from 35 percent, though it will also impose minimum taxes on all foreign earnings and will no longer defer taxes earned by businesses' foreign divisions. Part of Cupertino's statement reads:

"Apple claims to be the largest US corporate taxpayer, but by sheer size and scale it is also among America's largest tax avoiders... [It] should not be shifting its profits overseas to avoid the payment of US tax, purposefully depriving the American people of revenue."
Apple is in the spotlight following reports that it found a tax haven in the English channel island of Jersey to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes after an EU crackdown on Irelands rules began in 2013. Yahoo Finance's Alexis Christoforous and editor-in-chief Andy Serwer discuss whether lowering the corporate tax rate to 20% from 35% under the GOP tax bill will be enough to bring some of that money back to the US.
After a mix-up at the border, an Egyptian Police Band is sent to a remote village in the middle of the Israeli desert. With no bus until morning and no hotel in sight, these unlikely travelers are taken in by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways. "The Band's Visit" celebrates the deeply human ways music, longing and laughter can connect us all. Ari'el Stachel, who received a Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his role, stops by to discuss the musical.
By Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that his remarks about a jailed aid worker in Iran could have been clearer, after opponents said his comments might provoke the Islamic Republic to hand the dual national a longer jail term.

As Prime Minister Theresa May heads towards a 2019 EU divorce that will shape Britain's prosperity and global influence for generations, her minority government has stumbled into several controversies that risk undermining her remaining authority.

In the latest misstep, Johnson came under pressure to retract remarks made on Nov. 1 that Iranian-British aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been teaching people journalism before her arrest in April 2016.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, said Johnson's comment was incorrect, while opposition British lawmakers said the remarks could land the aid worker a longer term in jail.

Johnson called Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday to discuss the case, and made clear that he had been seeking to make the point that he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, a spokesman said.

"The UK government has no doubt that she was on holiday in Iran when she was arrested last year and that was the sole purpose of her visit," Johnson told parliament.

"My point was that I disagreed with the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that I wanted to lend any credence to Iranian allegations that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity," he said.

"I accept that my remarks could have been clearer in that respect and I am glad to provide this clarification."

Johnson said he would travel to Iran in the coming weeks and discuss all consular issues there, and would try to meet Zaghari-Ratcliffe while there.

May's spokesman expressed confidence in Johnson, adding that the "he was doing a good job".

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Monique Villa, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO, said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was a project manager in the media development team. Villa said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not a journalist and had never trained journalists in Iran.

"We welcome UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnsons clarification of his comments," Villa said. "Its time now for the Foreign Secretary to meet Nazanin in jail."

SHAMBOLIC GOVERNMENT?

Johnson is not the only one distracted.

At the weekend, May's deputy, Damian Green, denied an allegation made in The Sunday Times newspaper that police found pornography on one of his computers in the Houses of Parliament in 2008.

On Monday, international development minister Priti Patel apologized for failing to disclose meetings with senior Israeli officials during a private holiday.

Besides her government's sometimes contradictory signals on Brexit, May has faced criticism from opponents for her handling of other issues: from a deadly apartment block fire in June to a sexual harassment scandal in parliament that prompted Michael Fallon, her loyal defence secretary, to resign.

"In my lifetime, I have never experienced a British government which seems to be so shambolic," said Simon Hix, a professor of political science at the London School of Economics.

"They are in the midst of one of the greatest challenges of the last 50 years  Brexit  and they have sexual harassment scandals in parliament, the Paradise Papers and then now on top of that the behaviour of Mays ministers."

On Tuesday, Johnson came under pressure from opponents to retract his comments about Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year jail sentence after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment.

She was brought again into court on Saturday, three days after Johnson's remarks, and accused by a judge of "spreading propaganda against the regime".

The British Foreign Office quoted Zarif as saying that Johnson's comments had nothing to do with the weekend court appearance.

The charges against Zaghari-Ratcliffe were denied by her family and the Foundation, a charity organisation that operates independently of Reuters News.

"By suggesting Nazanin was in Iran teaching people journalism, Boris Johnson has endangered the cause to secure her release," Tulip Siddiq, a lawmaker for the opposition Labour Party, said.

(Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Santiago (AFP) - Chile is prepared to grant political asylum to a Venezuelan opposition lawmaker who sought refuge at its embassy in Caracas claiming that his safety was in danger, the foreign minister said Monday.

Venezuela's government is locked in a vicious political fight with the opposition, which dismisses President Nicolas Maduro as a leftist dictator who has gutted the oil-rich and economically ailing country's democracy.

Freddy Guevara, the opposition-held National Assembly's number two official, sought refuge at Chile's embassy in Caracas on Saturday, a day after the pro-government Supreme Court stripped him of his immunity and said he would be prosecuted on charges punishable by a decade in prison.

Chile has taken in Guevara as a guest "for humanitarian reasons and in light of international law," Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz told reporters.

And Chile is willing to grant the 31-year-old political asylum, but he has not requested it so far, the minister said.

The prominent opposition leader is one of several Venezuelans who have sought protection at the embassy in recent months.

They include four judges who sought protection at Chile's embassy in Caracas, escaped to Colombia and then made their way to Santiago, Chile, where they asked for political asylum.

On Friday, Venezuela's top court announced the suspension of Guevara's immunity to enable him to be tried for crimes of "association, persistent public instigation and the use of an adolescent to commit crimes," without specifying the date of the alleged misdeeds.

The country's Constituent Assembly, which governs crisis-stricken Venezuela with absolute power and replaced the congress where Guevara had a seat, summoned him "urgently" for a meeting on whether to confirm lifting his immunity.

The pro-government Constituent Assembly is investigating the lawmaker in connection with mass protests against the embattled Maduro that left 125 dead between April and July.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive for a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 8, 2017. (Photo: Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

When President Trump lands in China on Wednesday, the world will witness a rare spectacle. The leaders of the worlds two most powerful nations will meet against the impressive backdrop of a military honor guard, a formal banquet and other set pieces in what Chinese officials are touting as a state visit-plus. Trump has displayed a soft spot for such official pomp and pageantry, and few countries do it better than China. On a personal level, Trump and President Xi Jinping already established a warm chemistry when the Chinese leader visited Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.

Behind the lavish ceremonies and smiling photo ops, however, the issues confronting Xi and Trump  from North Koreas accelerated nuclear weapons program to a yawning trade imbalance  are deadly serious. For many years, a central challenge in geopolitics has been U.S. efforts as a status-quo superpower to peacefully integrate a rising China into the rules-based international order, predicated on free trade and freedom from intimidation. As the creator and guarantor of that post-World War II order, the U.S. has long enjoyed the worlds No. 1 economy, its only superpower military, and a globe-spanning architecture of alliances that has been the envy of its adversaries for nearly a century.

By promoting a transactional America First foreign policy and rejecting multilateral free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Trump administration has abandoned the critical free-trade pillar of U.S. strategy, sowing confusion and anxiety among our Asian allies. Meanwhile, fresh from a party congress that has made him the most powerful Chinese leader in decades, Xi is eager to step in with a $1 trillion One Belt, One Road infrastructure investment initiative designed to draw Asian neighbors into Beijings orbit. In that sense, it will be hard not to view the Trump-Xi meeting as a symbolic passing of the torch of Asian dominance from the former to the latter.

After President Trump killed TPP, there was real resentment among senior Asian officials who felt they had wasted seven years negotiating that trade pact, and had now been discredited with their own constituencies for the compromises they made, former Defense Secretary William Cohen, now chief of the Cohen Group strategic consulting firm, said in an interview. Meanwhile, a senior Chinese official personally told me Beijing was glad Trump killed the pact, because they saw a real opportunity to become not just a regional power, but a world economic and military power. So the Chinese are looking like the grand strategists now.

Mathew Goodman is a senior adviser for Asian economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and previously was the White House coordinator for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The decision to withdraw from TPP was an unforced error that really set back our position in the region, he said. At a time when traditional U.S. allies in Asia are questioning the Trump administrations commitment to the region, he noted, Xi is giving speeches at economic forums such as Davos this year, claiming the mantle of leadership on globalization and free trade. To add insult to injury, One Belt, One Road steals a page from the strategic playbook of the U.S., best illustrated by Americas postwar Marshall Plan for the rebuilding of Europe that helped cement the bedrock Western alliance.

With its investment in roads and ports across the region under the Belt and Road initiative, China is stressing their intent to show new leadership in the region in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from TPP, said Goodman, speaking at a recent CSIS briefing on the Trump trip. So the withdrawal from TPP left a big vacuum. The region is now looking for something from President Trump to fill that vacuum, or otherwise I think China and others are going to move in.

The strategic dimension of trade is often underestimated relative to military strength, but in truth the two go hand in hand. The American idea that free trade, security and the mutual prosperity they bring would be the foundation of U.S. alliances was perhaps best articulated by President Harry Truman. A key architect of the post-World War II international order, Truman was present at the creation of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and NATO. The military alliance was necessary to strengthen freedom-loving nations against the dangers of aggression, Truman said in his 1949 inaugural address. In addition, we must carry out our plans for reducing the barriers to world trade and increasing its volume. Economic recovery and peace itself depend on increased world trade.

Russias President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the Roundtable Summit Phase One Sessions of Belt and Road Forum at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake on May 15, 2017, in Beijing. (Photo: Lintao Zhang/Pool/Getty Images)

The symbiotic relationship between trade and security in what author Robert Kagan has called The World America Made resulted in the U.S. today having treaties and other security agreements with nearly three-quarters of the countries in the world, backed by the deployment overseas of nearly 250,000 U.S. service members. The economic value of those commitments in the form of increased trade and prosperity was made clear in a recent report by the Rand Corporation. Using decades of data and correlating U.S. security agreements, overseas troop deployments and global trade numbers, Rand researchers found clear evidence that those overseas commitments do indeed strengthen trade between America and other countries, likely worth tens of billions of dollars every year.

Military strategists will tell you the converse is also true: Rejecting multilateral trade agreements or erecting protectionist barriers erodes the logic behind U.S. security alliances and overseas troop deployments.

The United States, China and Russia are in a competition every day for global market share in terms of trade, influence and military power, and every day there are winners and losers in that competition, said a senior U.S. military official, speaking on background. In that sense, the administrations rejection of TPP was a win for China and a loss for the United States, because it did create a vacuum that Beijing is trying to fill. So my message to our political leaders is we need some other trade and economic agreements to anchor our military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, because those trade relationships are what we are there to underwrite. Without them, our security ties make less sense.

Certainly the close interplay of trade and security is not lost on other major powers and potential adversaries. When Ukraine was poised to reject Russian President Vladimir Putins proposed Eurasian Economic Union in favor of the European Union in 2014, pulling it out of Moscows economic orbit, Russian troops interceded by annexing Crimea by force and invading eastern Ukraine. Putin chose to risk international condemnation and sanctions, and a frozen conflict on its border, rather than have a neighbor joined to the West with economic ties that would almost certainly lead to closer security cooperation.

Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative follows similar logic. With $1 trillion as an enticement, Beijing is drawing its neighbors into ever-closer trade and economic relationships that have significant security dimensions. As part of that effort, Beijing is largely funding a $5.5 billion railway linking Thailands industrial eastern seaboard with southern China. Not coincidentally, Thailand has agreed to buy $500 million worth of Chinese submarines, tanks and helicopters. That makes the Thai military and a venerable U.S. ally  dependent on China for military parts and upgrades, opening the door to more cooperation with the Peoples Liberation Army.

China is also building a port in Sri Lanka, and is seeking permission to build another in Bangladesh, potentially giving the Chinese navy a dominant posture in the Indian Ocean. A $1 billion Chinese investment in a Pakistani port will similarly give Chinas navy access to an Indian Ocean anchorage managed by a state-backed Chinese company with a 40-year contract. Beijing has funded pipelines carrying oil and natural gas from Myanmar to southern China, and it is negotiating final permission to build a $7.3 billion ocean port there that will give the Chinese navy coveted access to the Indian Ocean. Recently, Beijing even stepped in to arrange a peace conference between the Myanmar government and two rebel insurgent groups, adopting the role of peacemaker that has traditionally been played by the U.S. Perhaps not surprisingly, Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has visited Beijing twice since assuming power, while declining an invitation to visit Washington. Even the Philippines, a venerable U.S. ally and treaty partner that has had major disputes with China over islands that both nations claim, publicly realigned itself with Beijing after signing $13.5 billion worth of trade deals last year.

Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the welcome ceremony for the Belt and Road Forum at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake, north of Beijing, on May 15, 2017. (Photo: Kenzaburo Fukuhara/KYODONEWS/POOL)

On the extended tour through Asia, Trump is expected to tout the administrations vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, with U.S. officials focused on reducing trade imbalances through bilateral agreements. That approach is off to a rocky start after Trump called the current U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea horrible and threatened to terminate it in September in the midst of a crisis over North Koreas nuclear tests and missile launches.

The Trump administrations Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision and approach to trade thus raises fundamental, unanswered questions about U.S. strategy in the region. How do you have a free and open Indo-Pacific if you dont have a concept for free and open trade in the Indo-Pacific? asked Michael Green, who served as senior director for Asia on the National Security Council for Bush 43, and is senior vice president for Asia at CSIS. The administrations answer is theyre going to push for an America First approach to trade relations, an approach that prioritizes reducing bilateral trade deficits. Its a somewhat zero-sum view of economic relations, he said, and a step back from the venerable U.S. policy of integrating more countries into a free and open trading system, making them stakeholders. And that has friends and allies in the region a bit perplexed.

_____

James Kitfield is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

_____

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As Americans, gun violence touches us all in different ways. For some, it might be something we hear about on the news but never experience directly, and for others, it can cost us loved ones or cause fear in our day-to-day lives. For Chvrches leader and recent US resident Lauren Mayberry, these recurring stories hit her on a personal level because she had one strike her hometown while growing up in Scotland. The event was called Dunblane Massacre and resulted in the deaths of 16 children at a local school, though Mayberry was not attending at the time. In a video posted to Twitter, Mayberry notes that the incident resulted in major changes to the UK gun laws at that time, and is calling for the US to do the same following yesterdays horrific Sutherland Springs church shooting in Texas.

You cant stop everything bad from happening in the world, you cant take away peoples impulse to do things like this, she said in the video, before adding, but, you can restrict their access to resources that would allow them to murder on a much bigger scale. In the clip, Mayberry calls out Donald Trumps focus on mental health in the wake of the shooting and politicians like Mike Pence who take money from the NRA and gun lobby. As she notes: Prayers are not what stopped more atrocities like Dunblane from happening in the United Kingdom. Gun control did.

Check out the powerful video from the Chvrches frontperson above.
Photo credit: USS Fitzgerald launching a SM-3 ballistic missile interceptor. / Getty

From Popular Mechanics

President Donald Trump called on Japan to buy more defensive weapons from the United States in order to protect itself from North Korean missiles. The President claimed that the purchase of ballistic missile defenses would make Japan more safe, and that Japan could shoot down Pyongyang's missiles. The truth is a lot more complicated.

"[Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe] will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of a lot of military equipment from the United States," Trump stated in Japan. Trump made the remarks in Tokyo in the first leg of his five nation, thirteen day tour of Asia.

Trump described Japanese purchases of American defense equipment as a win-win for both countries. "It's a lot of jobs for us, and a lot of safety for Japan, and other countries that are likewise purchasing military equipment from us," The Los Angeles Times quoted Trump as saying. For his part Abe reportedly agreed, noting that his country already buys a lot of U.S. equipment but that Japan should "enhance our defense capability."

The remarks come on the heels of Trump's comments stating he could not understand how Japan, a nation of "samurai warriors" in his words, did not shoot down North Korean missiles overflying its territory.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton

Japan, a key U.S. defense ally since 1961, routinely buys the best U.S. military equipment it can afford. There are several reasons for this, one being that U.S. military equipment often is the best in the world. Another reason is to improve interoperability between the two militaries. If the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces and the U.S. Navy use the same missiles, radars, and communications gear, it's easier for the two navies, language barrier aside, to work together. Thirdly, it increases Japan's political pull and status in the United States.

In recent years, Japan has purchased the Aegis Combat System for warships, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and Patriot missile system from the United States. Japan's missile defense system, the most advanced in the world after the U.S., consists of the Aegis Combat System and the SM-3 ballistic missile interceptor, the latter jointly developed by the two countries, and Patriot.

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In practice, Aegis and SM-3 provide so-called "midcourse defense," intercepting enemy warheads traveling through space after separating from their missile/rocket. Any warheads that get through the midcourse defense are ideally shot down by Patriot PAC-3, a short-range ballistic missile derivative of the original Patriot missile. Together, the two systems provided a layered defense system.

Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Alexander Perrien

Recently, Japan's leaderships have pondered improving the country's defenses with a new system called Aegis Ashore. While Japan's current Aegis missile intercept system is based on its fleet of six Kongo and Atago-class guided missile destroyers, Aegis Ashore is a land-based system that doesn't rely on ships. Properly spaced across Japan, two Aegis Ashore locations equipped with SM-3 interceptors can defend most of the country. Against missiles directly targeted against Japanese territory, the system should be pretty effective. Since it's never been tested in combat, nobody really knows.

Could Japan shoot down North Korean missiles overflying its territory? Probably not. North Korea's missiles were not aimed at Japan but rather at an empty patch of ocean outside Japan's missile defense coverage range. Shooting down a ballistic missile as it whizzes by going somewhere else is typically not achievable. The aiming point for the incoming warhead must typically be within range of the missile defenses for a successful intercept to take place. This also makes it unlikely Aegis Ashore could shoot down overflying missiles.

Japan has made great strides in building its ballistic missile defenses. While Aegis Ashore and similar systems can help Japan in case of an actual missile attack, there's little the country can do to stop overflights, with the possible exception of stationing its destroyer fleet in the middle of the Pacific and hoping it gets lucky. And the Pacific is a big ocean.

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Minneapolis (AFP) - Question marks again cloud US-Cuban relations, but one element of engagement is moving ahead -- a joint youth orchestra, which aims to build both musical and personal connections.

In an initiative that emerged after the Minnesota Orchestra's landmark trip to Havana in 2015, four students from Cuba this month traveled to the midwestern city of Minneapolis to study in the inaugural Cuban American Youth Orchestra Academy.

The Cubans, who study in Havana but often lack more advanced training and their own instruments, learn under experienced performers in Minnesota -- and as people they find common ground.

"I believe that music is like an ambassador between the two nations. Personal interests aren't put first; it's just the music," Adriel David Rodriguez Laza, a 21-year-old cellist who was part of the group, told AFP by telephone from Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Orchestra played Havana shortly after then president Barack Obama moved to end a half-century of tension with the communist island. Tensions have crept back up under Obama's successor Donald Trump, who has questioned reconciliation.

During the visit, Cuban and US musicians together played Mendelssohn's "Octet." Hoping to make the exchange two-way, the Cuban musicians in turn performed a folk composition from the island.

The musicians from the two countries hope to play together next year as a chamber group before a goal of creating a full-sized Cuban American Youth Orchestra, made up of high school-age students, which would tour in 2019.

"We want to find musical phrases together and share musical, emotional feelings together," said Osmo Vanska, the Finnish conductor who is music director of the Minnesota Orchestra.

"There is no politics in music. That's one of the great things. We can come together without any negative baggage from history," he said.

- Gift of instruments -

The four Cuban musicians came together after discovering Puccini on YouTube, creating what they called the Crisantemi Quartet after the opera master's elegiac piece.

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Rodriguez would play at his university and on a cello on loan from his aunt but never had his own instrument -- until now.

He and another student -- his sister, violist Adriana Deborah Rodriguez Laza -- were presented their own instruments after donations collected by Rena Kraut, executive director of the Cuban American Youth Orchestra.

"I was very happy and very moved. I was almost speechless," he said. To buy a cello in Cuba, he said, "you would need months or even years" of salary.

To Rodriguez, the prospect of working as a classical musician is daunting in Cuba, a country with a rich musical heritage but more identified with jazz, salsa and African-influenced rhythms.

"Yes, you can live from music, but not from classical music -- from more modern Cuban music you play in the streets," he said.

"It's difficult being a classical musician in Cuba because it's not what the public wants most," he said.

He called the time in Minnesota "magnificent," saying he was able to witness a different experience.

"American musicians have another way of seeing music. They have other opportunities," he said.

- Different feeling for music -

Kraut became aware of the potential for mutual learning when she headed to Havana with the Minnesota Orchestra, the first trip there by a major US classical ensemble in 15 years.

The orchestra had practiced a Cuban piece and in one section had to clap out the rhythm. The audience of young people was baffled at the Americans' musical sense.

"Every single student stopped and looked at us and they said, like, 'What are they doing?" Kraut said.

"Their sense of innate emotional connection to the music is much more advanced than with American students in general," she said.

"American musicians, we play much more by the book, and they play by the heart," she said.

The students entered the United States relatively easily, with Washington making exceptions for artists even when its embargo on Cuba was tightest, and corporations have supported the project.

But with the Trump administration scaling back the US presence in Cuba in response to mysterious sonic attacks on US diplomats, the Minnesota Orchestra increasingly expects Cuban musicians to travel to third countries to arrange their US visas.

Kraut, who fondly recalls traveling as a youth to Russia when the Soviet Union was collapsing, vowed to persevere no matter the political uncertainties.

"This is art diplomacy in action and it only benefits the people of both countries. They have a lot to learn."
Comedian Dave Chappelle joined Ride With Norman Reedus for a cruise from Charleston, South Carolina to Savannah, Georgia. Which seems far, but not for a seasoned biker like Chappelle. Chappelle started riding motorcycles in 2007. He described his riding prowess by saying, "I'm the guy that rides like 40 miles with his blinker on." They stopped along the way to enjoy various tasks, like oystering and of course oyster eating. They also stopped by Penn Center, one of the first schools for freed slaves. Which was particularly special for Chappelle because his great-grandfather was a state legislator in South Carolina during the Reconstruction. They finished the trip with Chappelle performing stand-up comedy in Savannah. The comedy wrapped up his routine by saying, "If you're a person that got some tolerance in you or a person that got some understanding beyond yourself, then let it out. Let's change the world."
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) says its time for legislative action  not silence  after Sundays mass shooting at a church in rural Texas.

Lieu on Monday walked out of a moment of silence in the House of Representatives chamber meant to memorialize the 26 people killed and 20 wounded in the gunmans attack.

Lieu instead called on Congress to pass progressive gun safety measures that might prevent a future massacre.

Im heartbroken about the children and adults that were killed in the worst mass shooting in Texas history this Sunday, Lieu said in a Facebook video posted to his account from Capitol Hill.

My colleagues right now are doing a moment of silence, Lieu continued. I respect their right to do that and I myself have participated in many of them, but I cant do this again. ... I will not be silent.

Lieu said he had participated in too many moments of silence, noting that three of the worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history have occurred since he was elected to Congress less than three years ago.

On Sunday, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, a former Air Force member court-martialed for domestic violence, opened fire on First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs with an assault-style rifle. The massacre was the fifth-deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Roughly a month earlier, a gunman shooting into a sea of Las Vegas concertgoers from a 32nd-floor hotel room killed 58 people, the worst mass shooting in modern history. He used semiautomatic rifles outfitted with devices called bump stocks to fire hundreds of rounds per minute.

Lieu on Monday urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would ban assault rifles and bump stocks, as well as mandate a universal background check system for gun purchases  a measure supported by the majority of Americans.

We need to pass gun safety legislation now, Lieu said. We cannot be silent. We need to act now.

Most Republican lawmakers have continued to reject Democratic calls for tighter gun safety measures.

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President Donald Trump claimed Monday that stronger background checks for firearm purchases could have led to hundreds more dead during Sundays mass shooting, because Kelley was shot and pursued by a rifle-toting bystander.

Trump on civilian who intervened in Texas shooting: If he didnt have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more. pic.twitter.com/K67H8HpF9J  CNN (@CNN) November 7, 2017

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story misstated the military branch in which Kelley served. He was in the Air Force, not the Marines.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
In Virginias gubernatorial race on Tuesday, the Democratic Party has a chance to score its first major political win since President Donald Trumps election.

Many Democrats worry, however, that the party is going to blow what once seemed like a made-to-order opportunity.

A victory for Democrat Ralph Northam, the current lieutenant governor, would provide the restive party a much-needed dose of optimism. But the consequences of a win by Republican Ed Gillespie, an inveterate Beltway power broker, would have reverberations far beyond Tuesday.

It would signal to Republicans, once wary of Trumps toxicity, that wielding his brand of right-wing populism is a winning strategy  even in a state with a popular Democratic governor that Hillary Clinton carried by a 5-percentage-point margin in the 2016 presidential election.

It will be incredibly demoralizing, said Yasmin Taeb, a Virginia Democratic National Committee member who has been volunteering for Northams campaign.

Taeb, who organized many of the Washington-based protests against Trumps ban on travel from majority-Muslim countries, frets that a Northam loss could dull the enthusiasm of many of the people inspired to become politically active by the presidents election.

If they feel as though theyve been showing up since January, and it ends up not paying off on Nov. 7, Im worried that well see a lot of folks dropping off, she said.

And that could hurt Democrats in other states in the 2018 midterm elections, in which the party hopes that anti-Trump fervor will propel it to gains.

Democrat Ralph Northam hopes to avoid a demoralizing loss for his party in Virginia's gubernatorial election on Tuesday. Polling suggests the race is very close. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

If Northam loses, it will not be because of a lack of investment from state and national Democrats. His campaign had raised nearly $34 million as of the end of October, including some $7 million from the Democratic Governors Association. Gillespie, by contrast, had raised $24.5 million, of which some $10 million came from the Republican Governors Association.

The DNC also spent $1.5 million to help elect Northam and other Democratic candidates in the state. The Republican National Committee has spent $5 million to boost Republicans up and down the ballot.

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The net result is a race where Northam and Gillespie are neck-and-neck. In RealClearPolitics average of major polls, Northam leads by 3.3 percentage points  a sum within the margin of statistical error in most surveys.

Rather than suggesting a clear favorite in the race, the polling underscores a high level of uncertainty ahead of Tuesdays results. Recent surveys have shown wildly disparate figures  one poll showed a 17-point lead for the Democrat, another an 8-point advantage for his rival. Reasons for the disparity likely include differences in methodology and in estimates of who is likely to turn out.

Every statewide candidate officially runs independently in Virginia. But Northam is part of a de facto joint Democratic ticket with Justin Fairfax, running for lieutenant governor, and Attorney General Mark Herring, who is up for re-election. If elected, Fairfax, a 38-year-old attorney from the Washington suburb of Annandale, would be Virginias second black statewide elected official. (The first, Democrat Douglas Wilder, served as governor from 1990-1994.)

Former President Barack Obama spoke at a campaign rally for Ralph Northam in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo: JIM WATSON/Getty Images)

As a candidate, Northam, a 58-year-old pediatric neurologist, has emphasized his all-American biography and career. Born and raised on Virginias rural Eastern Shore, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and worked as an Army doctor during Operation Desert Storm before building a successful medical practice in the Hampton Roads region of southeast Virginia.

Northam has a long history as a moderate Democrat. He has admitted to voting for George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections  votes he has said he regrets and attributes to his political inattentiveness at the time. As a state senator in 2009, Northam flirted with switching parties, and during his 2011 re-election bid, he described health care as a privilege.

Northams past stances and initial reluctance to make the race a referendum on Trump prompted a robust primary challenge from former Rep. Tom Perriello. Perriellos backers included Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), as well as Our Revolution, the legacy organization from Sanders presidential campaign. Northam, who had the support of virtually every elected Democrat in Virginia, responded by revving up his anti-Trump rhetoric and tacking to the left on several economic issues. He ended up handily defeating Perriello in June.

In the general election, Northam has run on a relatively mainstream Democratic platform, including protecting womens reproductive rights, using Affordable Care Act funds to expand Medicaid in the state, continuing to restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences and increasing public education funding. He has touted the states strong economic performance under his and Gov. Terry McAuliffes leadership. And he has proposed providing free tuition for two years of community college or trade school in high-demand fields like information technology and health care, so long as the people who get their degrees commit to a year of public service of some kind.

Perhaps most of all, Northam has sought to appeal to widespread disdain for Trump in Virginia  where, according to one recent poll, just 34 percent of residents approve of the job the president is doing.

But at times, Northam has appeared to be straining to appease all sides of the political spectrum. He puzzled observers with an ad promising that if Trump, the man Northam once called a narcissistic maniac, is helping Virginia, Ill work with him. And last week, he said that as governor he would sign legisation banning sanctuary cities  municipalities that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. His comment dismayed progressives, and prompted one group to call his stance gutless and racist.

The flap shifted scarce media and activist attention to an internecine dispute in the final days before the election, and prompted hand-wringing about whether Northam was a strong candidate.

If Northam loses, the progressive left says, Perriello would have won because he would have run as a progressive populist and thats what the base of Democratic Party is yearning for right now, said Quentin Kidd, a political science professor at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

Ed Gillespie survived a tougher-than-expected primary challenge to emerge as the Republican gubernatorial nominee in Virginia. (Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Gillespie, 56, a former RNC chairman and longtime corporate lobbyist who grew up in New Jersey, personifies the kind of pro-business establishment Republican who is increasingly rare in national politics. As a GOP official and onetime White House aide to George W. Bush, Gillespie pushed the party to become more welcoming to people of color and backed comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Right-wing populist and Trump campaign veteran Corey Stewart waged a nasty primary challenge against Gillespie fueled largely by promises to crack down on undocumented immigrants and safeguard Virginias Confederate monuments and heritage. Stewart even adopted a Trump-like epithet for Gillespie, deriding him as Establishment Ed. Gillespie ultimately prevailed, but by a shockingly close margin of just one percentage point.

Gillespie responded to the near-fatal populist challenge by doing his utmost to shore up the rural right-wing base that turned out for Stewart.

On the campaign trail, Gillespie has stuck to traditional, fiscally conservative Republican talking points. The heart of his platform is a proposal to cut Virginia income taxes by 10 percent across the board, one of several policies he argues will jump-start the states economic growth.

But on the airwaves, Gillespie has launched a scorched-earth campaign to paint Northam as an enabler of sexual predators and gangs of undocumented immigrants. In ads rife with racial overtones that began in September, Gillespie argued that policies embraced by his opponent have allowed the El Salvadoran gang MS-13 to run amok in Virginia.

Gillespies ads also have said that Northam, as governor, would try to strip Virginia of its Confederate history  something the Republican stresses he wont do.

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In final days of election, @EdWGillespie joins @realDonaldTrump in attacking athletes' right to free expression. Stand against hate. Vote. pic.twitter.com/gGFBdHhpyI  Latino Victory (@latinovictoryus) November 3, 2017

Given Gillespies decision to pander to Virginias white-resentment-fueled right wing, a victory for him will again show Republicans that racial fear-mongering is a winning electoral strategy, said Kidd, the political science professor.

Ironically, Republicans have criticized Democrats for two decades at least for running identity political campaigns, but Republicans ran what has by and large been an identity politics campaign with a little economic populism mixed in, Kidd said. If Gillespie wins it might mark another front in the culture wars in which Republicans embrace white identity politics.

Indeed, other Republican candidates across the country are attacking Democrats by tying their policies to gang violence.

A Gillespie victory would almost certainly magnify that effect because it would occur in Virginia, the place where [Trump] lost, said Christian Dorsey, a Democrat on the Arlington County, Virginia, board of supervisors.

Vice President Mike Pence joined fellow Republican Ed Gillespie at a rally in Abingdon, Virginia, on Oct. 14, 2017. Gillespie decided not to invite President Donald Trump to campaign for him. (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

Of course, the most concrete impact of a Republican victory would be in the Old Dominion State itself, where McAuliffe has stood as a self-described brick wall between Virginians and the socially conservative policies of the Republican-controlled legislature  particularly efforts to curb womens reproductive rights. He has vetoed more bills than any governor in Virginias history, stymieing legislation that would have defunded Planned Parenthood, restricted voting rights and expanded access to handguns.

For Virginia Democrats, their neighboring state of North Carolina, where a Republican governor passed an infamous bathroom bill barring transgender residents from using the public restrooms of their choice, offers a frightening look at what life under unified GOP control could look like. (Following the election of a Democratic governor last year, the state repealed the law.)

I look at North Carolina and everything thats happened there and I say, There but by the grace of God goes Virginia, said Atima Omara, president of the Young Democrats of America and a DNC member.

In addition, a Democratic loss at the top of the ticket would likely extinguish all hope of making major gains in the Virginia House of Delegates (no state Senate seats are on the ballot). Democrats, who recruited their largest number of House candidates in recent memory, are running in 17 GOP-held districts where Clinton won in 2016. Winning all 17 seats, though unlikely, would hand them control of the legislative chamber.

Even a narrower victory for Northam than had been hoped for could limit the Democratic pickups, said Taeb, the Northam volunteer.

If Democrats can pick up 6 to 8 seats, I would count it as a success, she said.

But the implications of a Gillespie win extend well beyond the single four-year term to which he would be limited. During his last year in office in 2021, after the 2020 census, Gillespie would have the power to sign legislation redrawing Virginias congressional and state legislative districts for another decade.

And partisan gerrymandering is a Gillespie specialty. He helped oversee the GOPs nationwide push to win control of state legislatures for the express purpose of redrawing political boundaries after the 2010 census to benefit the party. The severely gerrymandered districts that came out of that effort have handed Republicans nearly an unshakable hold on the U.S. House of Representatives and resulted in a net gain of hundreds of state legislative seats.

A Democratic governor could, by contrast, veto a Virginia redistricting plan offered by the Republicans and use the bully pulpit to inveigh against efforts to unduly favor the GOP, Dorsey said.

Omara of the Young Democrats of America remains optimistic that Virginias increasingly diverse demographics, disapproval of Trump and significantly stronger turnout in the primary bode well for Northam. But some people forget that Virginia is still a swing state that elected a Republican governor as recently as 2009, she added.

We are a good reflection of what the country looks like, Omara said. We are a purple state. We have to fight for every vote.

Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed reporting.

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Kathy Tran, Danica Roem and Manka Dhingra. (Photos: You Tube/Facebook)

WASHINGTON  A Maine ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. More than a dozen contested seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. A lone Washington state Senate seat. Mayoral elections in Charlotte and Fayetteville, N.C.  and also in Albuquerque, N.M., Syracuse, N.Y., and St. Petersburg, Fla.

These are just some of the contests national Democrats will be watching Tuesday night after what an array of groups describes as the most intense and coordinated national effort to elect Democrats to down-ballot state and local offices in modern party history.

The Democratic National Committee, whose chair, Tom Perez, has sought to revive Howard Dean-style investments in state parties in nonpresidential election years, has been sending money to state parties to help get out the vote in mayoral elections.

This is the first time the DNC has made investments in mayoral and down-ballot races. Our investments are unprecedented for the DNC, said Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson for the national Democratic group. The DNC last week announced investments in the state parties in New Hampshire, Florida, New York, North Carolina and New Mexico, with the goal of boosting voting numbers in mayoral contests.

Karina Smith holds her son, Kyler, 2, as she fills out her ballot at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)

In Virginia, said Singh, 33 different outside groups are doing work, in addition to the Democratic committees and individual campaigns.

Among them is a group called Sister District, which was founded by a group of women who met on Facebook the day after the 2016 election. Its funneled the energy and fundraising power of 25,000 volunteers across the country into 13 House of Delegates contests in Virginia and the Washington state contest, raising more than $350,000 for them and banking more than 100,000 calls. A Democratic win in Washington would flip control of the chamber, giving Democrats control of all three branches of Washington state government and painting the Pacific states from Canada to Mexico a line of unbroken blue.

Also on the ground in Virginia are a new, Trump-era group called Flippable, which focuses on flipping seats in state legislatures; the resistance movement group Indivisible, and Bernie Sanders Our Revolution. They are working side by side with more established groups, such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL, SEIU and a host of other labor unions, and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC).

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The DLCC has raised a record $10 million since President Trump was elected  a more than 450 percent increase from 2016. It says it has knocked on more than a million doors to turn out voters for the Virginia House of Delegates contests, more than doubling last years efforts in the state.

Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, greets supporters before voting at his polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)

The most closely watched contest Tuesday is the governors race in Virginia, where final polls continued to show a narrow lead for Democrat Ralph Northam over Republican Ed Gillespie in the race to replace departing Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Virginia political experts point out that while the state has trended blue in statewide elections, it is still very much a purple state, where Democratic wins are often narrow and hard-fought. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner beat Gillespie in 2014 with a 0.8 percent margin. McAuliffe won election in 2013 with a 2.6 percent margin over Republican Kenneth Cuccinelli. By all accounts from those doing on-the-ground-organizing, the result of todays gubernatorial election is also likely to be tight.

But below the radar, say grassroots organizers, Northams effort is being aided by the intensive get-out-the-vote organizing for the freshly competitive House of Delegates races. This year, 88 of the 100 districts will see head-to-head contests featuring Democrats, compared to 29 districts in 2015. Democrats currently hold only 34 seats.

In some ways, the House of Delegates [fight] may carry the top of the ticket, said Lyzz Schwegler, co-founder and director of communications of the Sister District Project. There are some split-ticket voters in Virginia, but by and large, if someone is motivated enough to vote all the way down ballot, theyre going to be motivated enough to vote for the top of the ticket.

Carolyn Fiddler, the political editor at Daily Kos and former communications director for the DLCC, is predicting a five-to-eight seat pickup for Democrats in the Virginia house, where Republicans currently hold a substantial majority and would need to lose 17 seats for the chamber to flip from red to blue. Thanks to redistricting, that will be hard to overcome, no matter how strong the blue wave is this year. Mara Sloan, a spokesperson for the DLCC, is predicting an up to eight seat gain. Catherine Vaughan, founder of Flippable, is predicting a gain of at least five seats.

Even in big wave years, you dont see 17 seats flipping, said Vaughan, noting that 97 percent of incumbents win re-election in Virginia and only two of the target seats are open contests.

But the small number of predicted pick-ups belies the extent of the organizing and fundraising going on. The combination of an expanded field and focused national attention has led to a boom in small-donor enthusiasm for the Virginia House of Delegates candidates, with three times as many donations of $100 or less going to them than in 2015 and eight times as many as in 2009. And its 13 times as many grassroots donors as Republican candidates mobilized this year, said Vaughn.

Notably, many of the leading figures on the left doing work in the down-ballot space are female. So are the candidates. In Virginia, a record 43 women are running for House of Delegates seats. In Washington states 45th Senate district, where there is a special election today, both candidates seeking the open seat  the Republican, Jinyoung Lee Englund, and the Democrat, Manka Dhingra  are female. The race there is neck and neck.

Ben Bostwick, a campaign volunteer for the Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, sets up an inflatable Trump chicken at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)

The new Democratic effort to contest every race possible, even in the face of daunting odds, has extended all the way to Georgia, where nine state legislatives seats are on the ballot in special elections Tuesday  and all are being contested. Last year, 83 percent of state legislative seats in Georgia were uncontested.

During the Obama years, the Democratic Partys hold on state and local offices underwent a sharp deterioration as the national party stopped investing in local party-building, and gerrymandering gave Republicans an advantage in state legislatures, as well as in Congress, in major states like Virginia and Pennsylvania. Democrats have lost more than 900 state legislative seats across the country since 2009, and now hold only 43 percent of its 7,383 state legislative seats. Democrats held a majority of those seats when President Barack Obama took office.

In Virginia, two of the most high-profile races are in the 13th district in northern Virginia, where the incumbent of more than two decades, staunch social conservative Republican Del. Robert Marshall, is being challenged by Democrat Danica Roem, the first transgender candidate to run for office in the state. In southwest Virginias 12th district, near Blacksburg, Democratic challenger Chris Hurst, whose reporter girlfriend was shot and killed on live television in 2015, is taking on incumbent Republican Joseph Yost.

The 2nd, 41st and 32nd districts will also be ones to watch. The DLCC is keeping tabs on 16 seats in Virginia  13 of which are currently held by Republicans  and 10 seats in the New Jersey state Senate and assembly, where it is hoping to expand the existing Democratic majorities and add up to six seats.

When the dust clears, the extraordinary coordinated campaign in Virginia could provide a model for other states in 2018, showing the power of an approach that runs the length and breadth of the ticket. And in many ways, the state is perfect territory for a test run between old and new groups, because of Virginias loose campaign finance laws, which allow a level of coordination between campaigns and committees and outside groups not possible in many other states.

While the groups may not be able to work as closely together in future, what they learned this year will stay with them.

So, too, they hope, will the candidates who were recruited, most of whom are likely to lose their contests on Tuesday night. Retaking the Virginia House of Delegates will be a battle that could take several more election cycles, Fiddler predicted, but if this years first-time candidates run again in 2019 and 2021, when they are better known, and sharper, the Virginia Democrats may finally have a chance.

I Voted stickers set out at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)

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US President Donald Trump (L) and first lady Melania Trump (R) arrive at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul - AFP

Donald Trump has called on North Korea to make a deal on the eve of a visit to China where Pyongyangs military build-up and trade will be on the agenda.

In a shift from his usually combative tone towards the rogue state, Mr Trump said diplomacy could be an option in dealing with the Norths military provocations.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Mr Trump said, at a joint press conference with Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, in Seoul.

Mr Trump also praised Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, for being very helpful on the North Korea issue and appeared to indicate that China could unveil fresh measures to confront Pyongyang, saying: "We'll find out how helpful soon.

The US president will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for what could be the trickiest leg of his mammoth five-nation Asian tour.

He wants to press Chinese leaders on what he considers to be unfair trading practices, but is also seeking tougher action from China in reining in North Koreas nuclear programme.

China has traditionally been the Norths only diplomatic ally and a key trading partner.

Under pressure from the US, it suspended coal imports and enforced UN sanctions in key industries earlier this year.

But China remains an economic lifeline for Kim Jong-uns regime as it supplies most of its energy.

Calls for oil sanctions now certain to grow louder. https://t.co/U3lvtU5q8m  Neil Connor (@neilaconnor) September 3, 2017

"China's trying very hard to solve the problem with North Korea, Mr Trump added.

"If we get China, if we get Russia ... we think that things will happen and they could happen very quickly.

Observers believe that China is becoming increasingly frustrated with Pyongyangs provocations after Kims regime carried out a series missile tests and detonated what it claimed to be a hydrogen bomb earlier this year.

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Paul Haenle, who served on the National Security Council under George W Bush and Barack Obama, said he expected that China might impose additional punishments on Pyongyang during Mr Trumps visit, but he doubted whether it would be the result of US pressure.

He said: At this point, it is not pressure from the US that will change Beijings calculus, but actions by Pyongyang that impinge on Chinas sovereignty or threaten the credibility of the Communist Party of China.

It also appears highly unlikely that Beijing would be receptive to pressure from Mr Trump on trade.

Washington said ahead of the trip that the US President will send a clear message for China to stop undermining US companies by giving state support to its own firms.

But a tough stance from Mr Trump during his trip would infuriate Chinese leaders who are busy rolling out a state visit-plus for the US leader.

Instead of criticising his hosts, an editorial in the state-run China Daily newspaper said, Trump should seek to promote cooperation.

Protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump hold placards while waiting for Trump's motorcade to pass by in central Seoul Credit: Reuters

The commentary, which is titled cooperation would benefit US more than blame game, said Mr Trumps claim that the US was at a disadvantage because of a huge trade imbalance between the two counties was misleading.

Trump's lambasting of the US' trade partners and his vows that under his administration the theft of American prosperity will end play well with the crowd.and no doubt they will serve to distract attention from his troubles at home, it said.

But they do nothing to help revitalise the US economy.

Mr Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday at Beijings Forbidden City, the former imperial palace for Chinas dynastic rulers, the Global Times newspaper said.

A notice on the website of the major tourist attraction said it would be closed due to an important event.

The highly choreographed event  which is also expected to involve the families of both leaders - will be followed by an official welcome ceremony on Thursday.

Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said Mr Xi and Mr Trump will also have informal get-togethers during the visit.

Mr Trump said he had "developed a friendship" with Mr Xi when the pair met at the US presidents Florida resort in April.

Many Chinese are curious about Mr Trump and his family, particularly his daughter, Ivanka, who is not travelling to China.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides guidance on a nuclear weapons program in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency Credit: Reuters

North Korea was a major issue during the first stage of Mr Trumps 11-day Asian tour, which saw him visit Japan until Tuesday and then South Korea.

Mr Haenle, who is also the director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Centre for Global Policy in Beijing, said Pyongyangs military build-up was also expected to be on the agenda in China.

The stakes are high for Trump when he visits China, said Mr Haenle.

Not only are the issues some of the most important on the US foreign policy and economic agenda  namely North Korea and Chinese trade practices  but the visit also represents Trumps greatest moment of leverage with Xi.

But observers generally believe that apart from a series of trade deals, little will be announced or decided during the visit.

Mr Trump is expected to stay at the St. Regis Hotel in central Beijing. Police had cordoned off the roads around the hotel, while some of the local businesses appeared to be closed.

Meanwhile Mr Trump was served a fermented soy sauce during his South Korea trip which was 360 years old  a century older than America itself.

The sauce accompanied a beef rib dish served in a four-course meal at the presidential Blue House in honour of Mr Trump's visit.

Additional reporting by Christine Wei.
The lawyer says she was not operating in a official capacity during the meeting: Getty Images

A Russian lawyer says that Donald Trump Jr told her during the 2016 campaign that his fathers potential administration could review laws that target Russia if she gave them evidence that Hillary Clintons campaign had received illegally-sourced funds.

Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Kremlin-linked lawyer, says that she sent a memo to the Trump campaign before a June 9 meeting that informed the Americans she had evidence that major Democratic donors had evaded US taxes on income made in Russia, and had passed along those savings to Ms Clintons campaign.

Team Trump, apparently eager for any dirt they could find on Ms Clinton, appeared to offer up a reward for the information.

Looking ahead, if we come to power, we can return to this issue and think what to do about it, Ms Veselnitskaya told Bloomberg that Mr Trump Jr. had told her of the 2012 Magnitsky law, she recalled. I understand our side may have messed up, but itll take a long time to get to the bottom of it, he added, according to her

But, the meeting quickly derailed after Ms Veselnitskaya couldnt provide written financial records that the Clinton campaign had received funds from the billionaire Ziff brothers, who she had alleged were evading taxes.

The suggestion that the Trump administration would take a look at the Magnitsky law, which targets Russian officials financially, in exchange for dirt from the Kremlin is the latest development in a saga that many see as one of the strongest examples of potential collusion between the Trump administration and Russia in the 2016 election.

The meeting was set up after British publicist Rob Goldstone sent an email to Mr Trump Jr on behalf of Ms Veselnitskaya, and promising that the lawyer had documents that could incriminate Ms Clinton.

This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its governments support for Mr Trump, Mr Goldstone wrote in that email.

Mr Trump Jr, who has released these emails publicly, responded enthusiastically at the prospect of getting dirt on Ms Clinton, even if Mr Goldstone had explicitly said the information was coming as a part of Russias preference for one American candidate over another.

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If its what you say I love it especially later in the summer, Mr Trump Jr responded.

Ms Veselnitskaya says that she was acting in a private capacity during her meeting with Mr Trump Jr, then campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. But, the four page memo was structured similarly to a list of talking points written by Russian government sources, according to Bloomberg, which reviewed the documents.

Mr Manafort was one of the first recipients of an indictment passed down by special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election.

Mr Trump Jr and Mr Kushner say they did nothing wrong, and did not collude with the Russian government during the 2016 campaign.
Pictures have emerged showing deposed Saudi Arabian princes and ministers sleeping on the floor of the Ritz-Carlton. Billionaire investor Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was among those arrested.

Its plush carpets and glittering chandeliers are fit for a prince, but for several senior Saudi royals the ballroom of the Riyadh Ritz Carlton is a gilded cage.

Video footage emerged on Tuesday showing how the luxury hotel has been turned into a bizarre prison camp where some of the country's richest and most powerful individuals are reduced to sleeping in blankets on the floor.

Some 49 members of the Saudi elite including 11 princes are facing charges of money laundering, bribery, extortion, and abuse of public office after being rounded up in an extraordinary series of arrests in the early hours of Sunday morning in an anti-corruption purge.

The arrests sent shock waves through the country and have been interpreted by some as a purge of rivals to Mohammed bin Salman, the 32-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

There is no jail for royals, said a Saudi businessman with ties to the government.

The purge is one thing, but a prince cannot be seen imprisoning fellow princes along with common criminals. Choosing that hotel it is a sign to the world: Mohammed bin Salman is in charge and no one is too rich to be brought down. The palace can become a prison."

The Saudi information ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that there was "no truth" in rumours circulating online that another prince, Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd, a son of the late king Fahd, had been killed resisting arrest on Saturday night.

Two weeks ago the hotel played host to a conference in which Mohammed bin Salman announced his plans for sweeping reforms across the kingdom, dubbed Davos in the desert and widely attended by foreign dignitaries and leading business figures.

Its reluctant guests this week include some of the Kingdom's wealthiest individuals. The 11 princes alone are worth a combined $73 billion (56 billion).

US President Donald Trump receives the Order of Abdulaziz al-Saud medal from Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh on May 20, 2017Credit: AFP

They include Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of investment firm Kingdom Holding and owner of London's Savoy hotel; Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar, founder of Al Tayyar Travel; and Amr al-Dabbagh, chairman of builder Red Sea International.

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Stocks in all three companies, which have issued statements saying they continue to operate as normal, plunged between 9 and 10 per cent on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabian banks have frozen more than 1,200 accounts belonging to individuals and companies as part of the purge, according to Reuters.

Saudi authorities have said assets found to have been obtained illegally may be seized by the state. It is not clear how long the princes will be held there.

The hotel, which charges 242 a night for a standard double room, asked guests to leave on Monday, citing "unforeseen circumstances out of the hotel management's control".

The hotel's website shows that it is block booked until December 16.

The crackdown may prove popular with the Saudi public, said Jane Kinnenmont of Chatham House, a London think-tank.

"It is a purge that is likely to be pretty popular. Corruption is a real issue in Saudi Arabia and one that people are genuinely angry about," she said.

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing....

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

Donald Trump, the US president, who has backed Prince Salman's hardline stance on Iran, appeared to publicly endorse the crackdown. Writing on Twitter, he said he had "great confidence" in the Crown Prince and his father, King Salman.

"They know exactly what they are doing," he tweeted. "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years."

The purge comes amid spiralling tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which it has blamed for arming Houthi rebels in Yemen who fired a ballistic missile towards Riyadh on Saturday night.

The crown prince on Tuesday called the attack, which was intercepted by Saudi missile defences, "direct military aggression by the Iranian regime and may be considered an act of war."

Iran, which supports the Houthi rebels but denies arming them, said it had nothing to do with the attack. The Saudi government announced a blockade of all air land and sea entry to Yemen, where it is fighting on the government side in a two-year-old civil war, in the aftermath of the attack.

Aid agencies and the United Nations have been forced to suspend deliveries of humanitarian aid to the war torn country as a result.

The exchange came after the prime minister of Lebanon resigned during a visit to Riyadh in what was widely seen as the opening of a new front in the region-wide confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh.

Saad al-Hariri stepped down on Saturday in a televised address in which he accused Iran of meddling in the region and possibly plotting to assassinate him.

Iran denied the allegations and accused the US and Saudi Arabia of forcing Mr Hariri to resign in order to "create tension" in Lebanon.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, warned on Tuesday that the mounting tension between Saudi Arabia, Iran and their respective allies and proxies is "extremely dangerous."

Speaking in Washington, she said European officials would like to see both sides calm their rhetoric and seek a "minimum of common ground" on which to build peace.

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For the Duchess of Cambridge, if it aint broke, dont fix it isnt just a saying. Its a lifestyle.

The royal formerly known as Kate Middleton attended a foundation gala at Kensington Palace on Tuesday wearing a floor-length lace black Diane Von Furstenberg gown that will look awfully familiar to any Kate enthusiast.

Kate attended a gala dinner for the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families on Tuesday. (Photo: WPA Pool via Getty Images)

Thats because its the same dress she wore in 2014 to the Royal Variety Performance in London, when she was also pregnant, then with Princess Charlotte.

(Photo: Zak Hussein via Getty Images)

So what, youre thinking. She repeated an outfit. Thats not news! But bear with us. It seems that black lace is the duchess foolproof special occasion material of choice.

Here she is wearing a black lace dress during an event at the Natural History Museum in London in December 2013.

(Photo: Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)

Here she is again during a charity gala for SportsAid in November 2013.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

(Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)

Oh, look! Its another little lace black dress from a trip to New York City in December 2014.

(Photo: James Devaney via Getty Images)

And here shes wearing what looks like the shorter version of her DVF gown during the Annual Festival of Remembrance in London in 2015.

(Photo: Chris Jackson via Getty Images)

Lace is a staple in Kates wardrobe  shes also worn lace dresses in green, beige and pink  but we think its safe to say she has an ultimate favorite.

Related...

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
CAIRO (Reuters) - President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that Egypt is not considering taking any measures against Hezbollah despite Saudi Arabia's call for sanctions against the Lebanese Shi'ite political and military group.

Saudi Arabia, main backer of Egypt, has said Hezbollah should be disarmed and kept out of the Lebanese government.

"The subject is not about taking on or not taking on, the subject is about the status of the fragile stability in the region in light of the unrest facing the region," Sisi told CNBC in an interview when asked if Egypt would consider its own measures against Hezbollah.

"The region cannot support more turmoil," he said.

Riyadh blames Hezbollah for the resignation of Lebanon's preeminent Sunni politician, accusing it of hijacking Lebanese politics. But Saudi Arabia is also criticised Lebanon as a whole, saying it too has declared war on the kingdom.

The resignation on Saturday of Saudi-allied Lebanese prime minister Saad al-Hariri, announced from Riyadh and blamed on Iran and Hezbollah, is seen by many as the first step in a Saudi intervention in Lebanese politics.

Sisi told Lebanon's speaker of parliament on Sunday Egypt is opposed to any interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.

"The president expressed Egypt's interest in preserving security and stability in Lebanon ...and affirmed the importance of avoiding all forms of sectarian and religious tensions or violence, and its opposition to attempted interference in Lebanon's internal affairs," Sisi's office said in a statement after he met Speaker Nabih Berri in Cairo.

"It's up to the Lebanese to reach the political settlement of their choice," the statement said.

Sisi came to power when as military commander he led the overthrow of former President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests. Saudi Arabia backed the move and subsequently showered Egypt with aid.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
A pregnant mother-of-five was killed in the Texas church shooting alongside seven members of her family.

Crystal Holcombe, 36, was one of the 26 people killed by a gunman at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday.

Her daughters Emily and Megan and son Greg were also killed in the shooting.

Crystal Holcombe and her husband, John, who survived the shooting (Picture: Facebook)

Her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Karla, 58, and Bryan Holcombe, 60, were also shot dead. Their son, 36-year-old Marc Daniel Holcombe  Crystals brother-in-law  was also killed along with his 18-month-old daughter Noah.

She was the youngest victim of the mass shooting.

Associate Pastor Bryan Holcombe was leading the service in place of Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who was out of town on Sunday.

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Crystals husband, John Holcombe, 39, survived the shooting along with their daughter, Evelyn. They were treated in hospital but have since been released. Their other child, Philip, was not at the church on Sunday.

A GoFundMe page set up by Crystals friend, Brooke Morales, has raised more than $37,000 for the family.

Crystals five children were from her first marriage to Peter Hill, who died aged 30 in 2011 from a heart attack.

Crystal and John married in 2012 (Picture: Facebook)

Crystals cousin, Nick Uhlig, told the Houston Chronicle: She doesnt even drink, smoke or nothing.

She just takes care of kids, she raises goats and makes homemade cheese. That kind of thing.

They dont go out dancing or anything like that. Theyre real old-fashioned, down-to-earth.

FBI agents inspect the area around the church (Picture: PA)

Julius Kepper, who lives close to the church, told the Associated Press: She was starting her life all over again. Thats a crying shame.

Story continues

Crystals aunt, Michele Hill, told the AP that her husband John suffered shrapnel wounds in the shooting and her daughter Evelyn was grazed by bullets, but both were discharged from hospital on Monday.

Ms Hill said Crystal was due to give birth in early April.

They had actually just found out, she said. They didnt think it was possible so this was just a miracle baby.

A vigil was held for the victims of the shooting (Picture: PA)

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, was able to buy weapons because the US Air Force, where he served, failed to report his previous conviction for domestic violence.

Kelley was found guilty of assault in an Air Force court-martial in 2012 for abusing his wife and her child and was given 12 months confinement followed by a bad-conduct discharge in 2014.

That same year, authorities said, he bought the first of four weapons.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes like assault should be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.
Swag, especially good swag, can be important. That's where Swag.com comes in. The company, which launched 15 months ago, aims to be a way for companies to get quality swag to help people rep their brands.

"People think of swag as junk, but it shouldn't be," Swag co-founder Jeremy Parker told TechCrunch. "It could be an amazing marketing tool if it's built right."

Swag.com offers products like water bottles, umbrellas, shirts, jackets, USB drives, bags and other items from brands like Patagonia and Case Logic. Once you pick the product, you upload your designs, specify how many you want printed and then wait for Swag to send you the production mock-up for approval.

Standard production time takes about 15 days, while priority production takes 10 days and costs a bit more. Production doesn't start until the customer has approved the mock-up. Because Swag works directly with the manufacturer and vendor, it doesn't have to hold any inventory.

"We're like Barney's but without the inventory," Parker said.

Swag currently has about 1,000 customers, including the likes of Facebook, Evernote, WeWork and Waze. With WeWork, Swag is integrated into the co-working space's app for services, and is currently the No. 1 service for office needs.

"We love Swag.com because we know that every time we make an order it's going to come out perfect!" WeWork Account Coordinator Casey Cadden said in a statement. "Every product on Swag.com has been vetted and tested and they only offer top quality products. Also, it's insanely easy to use."

Since starting the company, Swag has done more than $1 million in sales. What differentiates Swag from the likes of CustomInk and other competitors, Parker said, is its attention to detail and ease of use. For example, Parker pointed out that Swag guarantees each brand's colors will be spot on, Pantone-matched. Though, CustomInk also seems to do the same thing.

Swag, which recently completed Techstars Chicago, has raised about $800,000 in seed funding. Parker says the company is in the process of closing a round of $1 million.
By Angela Moon

(Reuters) - An 18-month-old child, a pregnant mother of five and three generations of one family were among the victims of a gunman who opened fire in a church in a rural Texas community on Sunday, killing at least 26 people.

The attack ranks as the fifth deadliest by a single gunman in the United States.

The following are descriptions of some of the victims, who were identified by family members and friends in media interviews and social media posts:

HOLCOMBE FAMILY

One couple, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, lost eight extended family members, they told the Washington Post.

Bryan Holcombe, an associate pastor of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs where the shooting took place, was killed in the gunfire. His wife, Karla, was also killed.

Bryan and Karlas son, Marc Daniel Holcombe, was killed with his infant child, Noah.

Another son, John Holcombe, survived, but his wife, Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, died along with her unborn child and three of her children - Emily, Megan and Greg.

A GoFundMe page created for the Holcombe family has raised nearly $430,000 in the past day.

JOANN WARD

Joann Ward and her two daughters, Brooke, 5, and Emily, 7, also died in the mass shooting.

Ward's uncle, John Alexander, wrote on Facebook that she was "such a wonderful mother whose whole life was her children and family."

During the attack, Ward was "shielding (her) babies from the shooter," Vonda Greek Smith, a friend, said on Facebook.

Joann's 5-year-old son Ryland was shot four times and flown by helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio where he underwent surgery, according to the Dallas Morning News. Her 9-year-old daughter, Rihanna, survived.

ANNABELLE POMEROY

Annabelle Pomeroy, 14, was among the first victims to be identified. Her father, Frank Pomeroy, the pastor of First Baptist, and his wife, were out of town at the time of the shooting.

Annabelle's uncle, Scott Pomeroy, posted a tribute on Facebook, saying Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more.

Story continues

RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, THERESA RODRIGUEZ

Richard Rodriguez and his wife Theresa also died. Richard's daughter, Regina, told reporters her father attended church every Sunday and was always the center of attention.

The couple married in 2006 and were "amazing people" who loved their church and working in their garden, the daughter said.

She added that the loss of their grandfather had deeply affected her five children. "The oldest ones, they are the ones that are taking it hard," she told CNN.

LULA WOICINSKI WHITE

Lula Woicinski White, 71, was the gunman's grandmother-in-law, according to CNN, citing multiple friends.

White's niece Amy Backus wrote on Facebook: "I have no doubt where she is right now. She is in Heaven laying her crowns and jewels at the feet of Jesus and celebrating." Backus added: "I love and will miss you Aunt Lula Woicinski White.

TARA ELYSE MCNULTY

Tara Elyse McNulty was at the church on Sunday with her two children. She died but her children survived the attack, according to a GoFundMe page created by Amy Woodall who called McNulty, "a great employee."

"She was conscientious, engaging, and always willing to do the little things. She was a sweet, kind and loving woman, mother and daughter and will be greatly missed by many," Woodall wrote.

ROBERT CORRIGAN, SHANI CORRIGAN

A couple from Michigan, Robert Corrigan and his wife, Shani, were killed, according to the Clare County Director of Veterans' Services.

"This is a huge tragedy, not only for the family, for this small town," Renee Haley, director of Veterans Services for Clare County, said in a statement.

The couple, who graduated from Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, lived in Floresville, Texas, according to reports.

HALEY KRUEGER

Haley Krueger was "a beautiful, vibrant, 16 year old girl, and was excited about the bright future ahead of her. She loved babies, and had dreams of becoming a NICU nurse," Tasha Niemann Wiatrek, a family friend, wrote on a GoFundMe page created for Krueger.

"In her mothers words, 'Haley loved life and was the most dramatic person,'" Wiatrek wrote.

Krueger's GoFundMe page raised more than $17,000 in the last 23 hours.

R. SCOTT MARSHALL, KAREN MARSHALL

A deeply religious couple, R. Scott Marshall and Karen Marshall, met while serving at North Carolinas Seymour Johnson Air Force Base more than 32 years ago, his sister, Holly Hannum, told reporters.

They lasted, Hannum said. They had kids, they traveled. They had a love that lasted over time.

DENNIS JOHNSON, SARA JOHNSON

Dennis Johnson and his wife Sara were among those killed, his sister Sue Harris said on Facebook.

"Found out my brother Dennis and Sara was found inside the church. God called them home together," she wrote.

"Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for all who lost loved ones. I do find comfort knowing Dennis and Sara are with the Lord."

(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Tom Brown, Lisa Shumaker and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Justin Rozier grew up never knowing his father, an Army first lieutenant who was killed in action in Iraq when Justin was just nine months old. So you can imagine his surprise last month when, on his 15th birthday, he received as a gift the same 1999 Toyota Celica convertible his dad once drove but had been offloaded all those years ago.

How his mother found the car is a tale of luck, the power of social media and the goodwill of strangers eager to help out the family of a fallen veteran.

Jonathan David Rozier was killed by an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade in Baghdad on July 19, 2003, leaving behind his newborn son and his wife, Jessica Johns. Soon after, she was able to forfeit the loan and return the car to Toyota to help pay for Justin's daycare. Life, as it does, went on.

But as his birthday approached, Justin told his mom he'd love to one day have any car that his father once owned. "Just knowing that he had it, it's a whole lot different than just any other thing, really," he told CBS News.

In August, his mother found the old car's registration and figured she had to try to find the car, as improbable as it seemed. So she turned to Facebook, posting the car's VIN along with photos of the actual car, her son and his late father, adding "If you facebookers could work your magic and help me find it, it would be an amazing present for his 16th birthday if it hasn't become a tin can by now."

Her Facebook network obliged, doing sleuth work and quickly establishing that the car was in fact still in use and had last been registered in June in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Five days after her post, Johns had an update for her friends: "We've been in contact with the owner and he's selling us the car for Justin!!! He said he really loves the little car but he knows it will mean more to Justin.

"My faith in humanity is strong today."

From there, Johns heard from a Utah nonprofit organization called Follow The Flag, which set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help her buy back the car and pay for repairs. The organization also tapped students at Brigham Young to redo the upholstery on the car's tattered seats. "It's what we do, it's something we do in hopes of inspiring others," Kyle Fox, the organization's founder, told NBC News. He drove it to Justin's home in Moore, Texas, for his 15th birthday (a year ahead of the hoped-for surprise).

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"It's a link to the past for him," Johns said. "It's a big thing for me too. I never got to see him come home. So that just one moment right there was  I think I needed that."

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Fallen soldiers 1999 Toyota Celica found, brought to son's 15th birthday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:15:00 EST.
The groom pulled off a musical feat. (Photo: Kurtela Video Productions)

A video of a groom surprising his bride with an old-school song involving more than a dozen family members is going viral.

Ali Gilmartin, 28, was involved in all the planning of her Oct. 28 wedding to Tyler Davis, 31, at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, Calif. So when her new husband suddenly hopped onstage with all the men in their families  in the middle of the reception dinner  she got nervous. I was like, Whats going on? I dont want any surprises on my wedding day! Gilmartin tells Yahoo Lifestyle. But once our families got onstage, I knew  my family is very musical.

Surprise at our final wedding of the year! Check out what these guys did for the bride! #kurtelavideo Follow along on Instagram @kurtelavideo Posted by Kurtela Video Productions on Friday, November 3, 2017

After a short introduction from Gilmartins Uncle Joe, who said, Its important, so important, that you know we would do anything for you, including this, the men broke out in the 1948 song Once in Love With Amy, written by Frank Loesser.

Once in love with Ali, sang the men, subbing in the brides name. Always in love with Ali/Ever and ever fascinated by her/Sets your heart on fire to stay. 

The video was shot by Kurtela Video Productions in Palo Alto, Calif., and was a collaboration by Davis and Gilmartins uncles, brothers, grandfather, and other extended family members. But it was my nana Maurines idea, says Gilmartin. Singing is an old tradition in my family  at my parents wedding 35 years ago, my dad sang Honey Bun to my mom, although he forgot the lyrics halfway through.

The bride adds that although she was completely surprised, she knew something was up. During our wedding week, Tyler fibbed about where he was, she says. One night said he was getting a drink. And my parents said they had a business meeting at their house so I wouldnt come over.

The performance was a hit and only required two or three practice sessions. The couple from San Mateo, Calif., is currently on their honeymoon in Mexico. Tylers family went all in on this, says Gilmartin. It was really special.

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Wendell Melton shot his teenage son: Henderson Police Department

A father allegedly shot dead his gay teenage son over his sexual orientation.

Giovanni Melton, 14, had reportedly argued with Wendell Melton, about having a boyfriend.

Sonja Jones, the victims foster mother, told the KSNV news channel that he hated the fact that his son was gay.

I'm sure that inside of his mind, he would rather have a dead son than a gay son, she said after the 2 November shooting at their home in Henderson, Nevada.

Police were called to the teenagers apartment over a domestic disturbance and found the boy in critical condition.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.Police said the teenager lived in the apartment alone.

Ms Jones said 54-year-old Mr Melton had previously pulled out a gun on the teenager after finding him with his boyfriend.

14-year old Giovanni Melton is the teen police say was shot by his father.@News3LV pic.twitter.com/dTnli6mGWg  Antonio Castelan (@AntonioNews3LV) November 3, 2017

Giovanni was abused physically and mentally and spiritually for many, many years, she said.

Mr Melton was charged with open murder, child abuse and prohibited person possessing a firearm.
Florida Blue, the states largest health insurer, will no longer cover OxyContin as the nation faces an opioid epidemic that has been declared a public health emergency.

The insurer will stop covering the drug beginning Jan. 1 in an effort to stem the abuse of the popular painkiller, the Miami Herald reports. President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in October as overdose deaths have reached record numbers. Instead of OxyContin, a brand name for oxycodone, Florida Blue will cover Xtampza ER, an extended-release version.

Most physicians, most plans have had a hands-off approach for a number of years, and we see where we are now, Scott McClelland, Florida Blues vice president of commercial and specialty pharmacy, told the Miami Herald. We think its time for more people, including physicians in our community, the nurses, even the families to take a more proactive approach in trying to manage this epidemic.

More than 90 Americans die every day of opioid overdoses as a result of misuse and abuse of drugs. Xtampza ER is considered an abuse deterrent because its capsule cannot be crushed or chewed in an effort to manipulate the drug to make it easier to inject or snort.

Florida Blue is not the first to stop coverage for OxyContin. Cigna, one of the countrys largest health care insurers, announced in October that it would stop covering the drug on most of its plans in favor of Xtampza ER.

Purdue Pharma, the company that manufactures OxyContin, is facing a number of lawsuits claiming deceptive marketing practices have fueled abuse. Among the states suing the pharmaceutical manufacturer are Washington, Louisiana and New Jersey.

The company denies the allegations and has said that both OxyContin and Xtampza ER have abuse-deterring designs.

Unfortunately, Cignas decision limits the tools prescribers can use to help address the opioid crisis as both products are formulated with properties designed to deter abuse, a company spokesperson told CNBC.

Story continues

The company gave a similar statement to the Miami Herald regarding Florida Blues coverage change.

Also on HuffPost

Because Most Americans Are Unenthusiastic About It

Only 7 percent of Americans think the United States is winning the war on drugs, and few Americans are interested in throwing down more money to try to win, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released in 2012.

Because The U.S. Won't Control The Flow Of Guns Into Latin America

Mexican authorities seized almost 70,000 weapons of U.S. origin from 2007 to 2011. In 2004, the U.S. Congress declined to renew a 10-year ban on the sale of assault weapons. They quickly became the guns of choice for Mexican drug cartels. Some 60,000 people have died in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a military assault on the cartels in 2006.

Because The United States Leads The Hemisphere In Drug Consumption

Americans have the highest rate of illegal drug consumption in the world, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Because The U.S. Ignores Latin American Calls For A Rethinking Of Drug Policy

Several current and former Latin American presidents, like Fernando Henrique Cardoso, have urged the United States to rethink its failed war on drugs, to no avail.

Because Of The Fast And Furious Scandal

In an attempt to track guns as they moved across the U.S.-Mexico border, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms allowed smugglers to purchase weapons. The ATF lost track of the guns and they wound up in the hands of drug cartels -- even as far south as Colombia.

Because American Politicians Refuse To Candidly Lead A Debate On Reforming Our Laws

Though the subject of marijuana legalization regularly ranks among the most popular at the digital town halls President Obama takes part in, he declines to address the issue or give it a thoughtful answer. Incidentally, a younger Obama supported marijuana decriminalization and a rethinking of the drug war.

Because The U.S. Tortures Detainees In Cuba

Almost 800 prisoners accused of terrorism have have been held at the U.S. military prison of Guantanamo, Cuba, where they are detained indefinitely without facing trial. The United States has drawn international criticism from human rights defenders for subjecting the detainees there to torture and other cruel treatment. The Cuban government opposes hosting the U.S. naval base on its soil.

Because The U.S. Has The World's Largest Prison Population

The United States has the world's largest prison population by far -- largely fed by the war on drugs -- at 500 per 100,000 people.

Because The U.S. Jails Undocumented Immigrants Guilty Of Civil Violations

Because the United States imprisons roughly 400,000 immigrants each year on civil violations.

Because The Border Patrol Kills Kids Who Throw Rocks

The U.S. Border Patrol has come under fire for killing minors who were throwing rocks.

Because The U.S. Recognized An Illegal Government In Venezuela

When opponents of leftwing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez briefly ousted him in 2002, the United States not only failed to condemn the coup, it praised the coup leaders.

Because U.S. Extradition Undermines Justice In Colombia

When Colombia demobilized the largest rightwing paramilitary organization in 2006, if offered lenient sentences to those who would offer details on the atrocities the AUC committed. But rather than facing justice in their home country, Colombia has extradited several paramilitary leaders to the United States to face drug trafficking charges -- marking it harder for people like Bela Henriquez to find out the details surrounding the murders of their loved ones. "More than anger, I feel powerless," Henriquez, whose father, Julio, was kidnapped and killed on the orders of one defendant, told ProPublica. "We don't know what they are negotiating, what conditions they are living under. What guarantee of justice do we have?"

Because The U.S. Helped Create Today's Cartels

The U.S funded the Guatemalan military during the 1960s and 1970s anti-insurgency war, despite awareness of widespread human rights violations. Among the recipients of U.S military funding and training were the Kaibiles, a special force unit responsible for several massacres. Former Kaibiles have joined the ranks of the Zetas drug cartel.

Because The U.S. Backed An Argentine Military Dictatorship That Killed 30,000 People

The rightwing military dictatorship that took over Argentina in 1976 "disappeared" some 30,000 people, according to estimates by several human rights organizations. They subjected countless others to sadistic forms of torture and stole dozens of babies from mothers they jailed and murdered. The military junta carried out the so-called "Dirty War" with the full knowledge and support of the Nixon administration.

Because The U.S. Helped Topple The Democratically Elected Government Of Salvador Allende

When it became clear that socialist Salvador Allende would likely win the presidency in Chile, U.S. President Richard Nixon told the CIA to "make the economy scream" in order to "prevent Allende from coming to power or to unseat him," according to the National Security Archive. Augusto Pinochet overthrew Allende in a bloody coup on Sept. 11, 1973, torturing and disappearing thousands of his political rivals with the backing of the U.S. government.

Because the U.S. Backed A Military Coup In Brazil In 1964

The Brazilian military overthrew the democratically elected government of Joao Goulart in 1964, with the enthusiastic support of President Lyndon Johnson, ushering in two decades of repressive government.

Because The U.S. Funded A Terrorist Group In Nicaragua

The Reagan administration funded the Contra rebels against the Marxist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Regarded by many as terrorists, the Contras murdered, tortured and raped civilians. When human rights organizations reported on the crimes, the Reagan administration accused them of working on behalf of the Sandinistas.

Because The U.S. Helped Finance Atrocities In Colombia

Through Plan Colombia, the U.S. has pumped over $6 billion into Colombia's military and intelligence service since 2002. The intelligence service has been disbanded for spying on the Supreme Court and carrying out smear campaigns against the justices, as well as journalists, members of Congress and human rights activists. The military faces numerous allegations of human rights abuse, including the practice of killing non-combatants from poor neighborhoods and dressing them up as guerrillas to inflate enemy casualty statistics.

Because The U.S. Maintains A Trade Embargo Against Cuba Despite Opposition From The Entire World

For 21 years, the U.N. has condemned the U.S. embargo against Cuba and for 21 years the United States has ignored it. Some 188 nations voted against the embargo this year, with only the U.S. itself, Israel, Palau opposing.

Because The U.S. Engineered A Coup Against The Democratically Elected Government Of Guatemala In 1954

At the behest of United Fruit Company, a U.S. corporation with extensive holdings in Central America, the CIA helped engineer the overthrow of the Guatemalan government in 1954, ushering in decades of civil war that resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives.

Because The U.S. Backed The Salvadoran Military As It Committed Atrocities In The 1980s

El Salvador's military committed atrocities throughout the 1980s with U.S. funding.

Because The U.S. Invaded Haiti and Occupied It For Almost 20 Years

Woodrow Wilson ordered the Marines to invade and occupy Haiti in 1915 after the assassination of the Haitian president. The troops didn't leave until 1934.

Because The U.S. Invaded Haiti Again In 1994

One invasion wasn't good enough. The U.S. military returned in 1994.

Because The U.S. Trained Military Leaders Who Committed Atrocities In Latin America

The School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Georgia, trained soldiers and generals responsible for massacres and torture of tens of thousands of Latin Americans, according to Al Jazeera.

Because The U.S. Backed Dictator Rafael Trujillo

Rafael Trujillo Sr. (Photo by Hank Walker//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Because The U.S. Invaded Cuba And Undermined The Island's Independence

The so-called "Spanish-American War" began in 1868 with the first of a series of three wars for Cuban independence. In 1898, the U.S. got involved, invading Cuba and occupying the island after forcing Spain to give it. The United States then forced Cuba to accept the odious Platt Amendent to its Constitution, which allowed the United States to intervene in the country militarily and established the U.S. military base at Guantanamo.

Because The U.S. Colonized Puerto Rico

As long as you're invading Cuba, why not take Puerto Rico as well? The United States invaded in 1898 and the island remains a U.S. territory today.

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Paris (AFP) - The French government said Tuesday that it probably would not be able to keep its 2025 deadline for reducing the proportion of electricity generated from nuclear to 50 percent, an admission which angered ecologists.

Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot admitted it "will be difficult to keep to the 2025 calendar without relaunching energy from fossil fuels".

In 2015, the previous Socialist-dominated parliament passed a law obliging the government to reduce the proportion of electricity generated from nuclear to 50 percent by 2025 compared with around 75 percent now.

But "if we want to keep that date of 2025... it will be detrimental to our climate objectives" and hamper the programme of closures of coal-fired power stations.

Greenpeace swiftly urged Hulot to rethink, saying "it's not by backing nuclear that the fight against climate change will be speeded up".

President Emanuel Macron has said he wants France to take the lead as a major world economy switching away from fossil fuels -- and the nuclear industry -- into renewable sources.

In its climate plan announced in July his centrist government foresees the end of carbon-fuelled electricity production by 2022.

Hulot said it would take some time to come up with a new "realistic date" from bringing nuclear down to 50 percent as planned, saying later that he was working within the 2030-2035 range.

The Climate Action group said it regretted the "retreat" while the anti-nuclear group Reseau Sortir said any such back-pedalling would be "unacceptable".
Bamako (AFP) - France has sent high-level representatives to talk to the Malian government after a French anti-terror raid killed Malian troops held by the jihadists.

Defence Minister Tiena Coulibaly met on October 31 with the French ambassador and the commander of France's military force in Mali, according to a ministry communique received by AFP on Monday.

They discussed a night-time operation on October 23-24 "in which Malian troops, held by the terrorists, were killed," it said.

On October 26, French military headquarters announced that 15 jihadists had been killed.

But on Sunday, a Malian military source said 11 soldiers who had been captured between July 2016 and March 2017 had died in the operation.

Following Tuesday's meeting, the commander of the French forces said the operation had targeted a "terrorist training camp", and "at no moment" was the presence of Malian soldiers established.

In a statement he said: "At no time was the presence of Malian soldiers - captured or enlisted by the terrorist group - detected on the site."

The operation "took out 15 terrorists, one of whom turned out to be a lieutenant".

The incident occurred near Abeibara, in the northeastern Kidal region, in an attack on a group affiliated to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a jihadist organisation better known by its French acronym of AQMI, according to the French statement.

Fighter jets and helicopters backed the operation, it said.

The accidental deaths come at a time when France is stepping up its anti-terror activity in the Sahel.

France has a 4,000-man anti-terrorist force, called Barkhane, in northern Mali and is supporting a five-nation force, the so-called G5 Sahel, to buttress security across the sprawling region south of the Sahara.

A senior Malian defence ministry official, requesting anonymity, said on Tuesday: "Our soldiers who were prisoners of the jihadists were definitely killed during the French anti-terrorist operation in northern Mali."

According to the Malian communique, the French envoys explained in the October 31 meeting that the operation aimed at destroying the training camp but "upstream reconnaissance was not able to determine the presence of Malian soldiers".
London (AFP) - Fugitive Croatian business mogul Ivica Todoric was arrested in London on Tuesday on a European warrant issued by authorities in Zagreb, British police said.

The 66-year-old boss of indebted Balkan food and retail giant Agrokor is the prime suspect in an ongoing probe into alleged abuse of trust, forging of official documents and failure to keep proper business records at the company.

Agrokor, the largest employer in a region with high unemployment, has run up debts estimated to total 5.4 billion euros ($6.2 billion) through aggressive expansion and expensive borrowing.

Croatia's government in April named a crisis manager to lead a restructuring process at the firm, whose revenues account for 15 percent of the EU state's gross domestic product (GDP).

The company has around 60,000 employees, two-thirds of whom are in Croatia.

Another 14 other people, including Todoric's two sons and other former top executives at the company, are suspected in the scandal.

Todoric is due to appear in a London court later on Tuesday.
In Sony Pictures Animation's "The Star," a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told  the first Christmas. Join actor Gina Rodriguez who voices the character of "Mary" in the film.
The CEO of Googles Jigsaw project, which studies the implications of technology on geopolitics, detailed how social media has impacted political revolution.

Speaking at the 2017 Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday, Jigsaw CEO Jared Cohen explained that the sudden proliferation of individual voices and increased visibility of popular movements has led to a signal to noise challenge that confuses both governments and revolutions.

This is very confusing to governments

Now that many people have multiple email accounts, phone numbers, and internet personas, Cohen explained, this is very confusing to governments. Furthermore, the whole process of movement making changes as movements used to begin in private now unfold in public.

Cohen added that while modern movements can gain momentum quickly, they often lack consistent leadership over time.

Revolutions are now easier to start, but theyre a lot harder to finish, Cohen said. And theyre a lot harder to finish because the accelerated pace of movement making is, in some respects, slowing down leadership development at the grassroots level. Which is why we get all of these sort of unlikely leaders or just these leaderless movements altogether.

A member of the Occupy movement plays his guitar while resting on the steps of Federal Hall near the New York Stock Exchange in New York, April 16, 2012. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Theres not a lot else that they agree on

Cohen added that technology raises the expectations of any revolution, but the movement can collapse on itself if rapid scale is achieved without a corresponding consensus of what to do in the medium and long term.

Its very easy for large numbers of people to organize around the lowest common denominator, which is often whats something we dont like  a particular leader in many cases, Cohen said. And then it turns out after that, theres not a lot else that they agree on. And this represents one of the seminal challenges that weve learned from this past decade.

Consequently, as seen during Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring, viral movements can eventually be co-opted, disrupted, or generally overcome by the (often more powerful) party that is being protested.

Story continues

READ MORE:

What tech companies can do  within reason  to combat terrorism

Benioff: Companies like Facebook and Twitter must take full responsibility for what theyve created

Terrorism experts: Heres how tech companies should see the problem
The CEO of Googles Jigsaw project, which studies technologys impacts geopolitics, told the 2017 Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, that we have entered an era that is more complex than the bipolar world of the Cold War, the unipolar world of the post-Cold War era, and the multipolar post-9/11 era.

Theres no longer such thing as cyberspace, Cohen argued. Theres now just one international system and it has a physical front and it has a digital front  All the physical world challenges that weve known for decades and centuries are now spilling over online and have a digital manifestation.

Both a physical and cyber domain

Consequently, Cohen argued, the way that state power works has changed as government influence has become multidimensional.

Its always been the case that economics, politics, and the military determines which states are powerful and which are not, Cohen said. These attributes remain the same except the powerful states are going to be the ones that can project influence in those areas in both a physical and cyber domain.

Israeli soldiers work on laptops as they take part in a cyber security training course, called a Hackathon, at iNT Institute of Technology and Innovation, at a high-tech park in Beersheba, southern Israel August 28, 2017. Picture taken August 28, 2017.

Countries with robust technological ecosystems like the US and China have an initial advantage in these circumstances. However, according to Cohen, countries like Russia, which, in a world that was purely physical, was, for all intents and purposes, a declining power, [have] now been able to resurrect a lot of its Cold War tactics in a world thats as much digital as it is physical.

Furthermore, adversarial nationals like North Korea and Iran are now willing and able to deploy some of the most nefarious cyber tactics around the world, which again, give them disproportionate influence. At the same time, Cohen added, smaller countries such as Israel and Estonia are able to punch way above their physical weight and size and project extraordinary influence in the international system.

Every country is going to have two foreign policies

Cohen noted that if the world is hybrid, every country is going to have two foreign policies. Theyre going to have one for the physical side of the world and one for the digital side of the world. And by the way, theyre not always going to be consistent.

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He used the relationship between the U.S. and China as an example.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago state in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

In the physical world, the two countries are sort of frenemies and have a complex relationship but it functions and it works, Cohen said. If you look at the digital relationship between the two governments, its more adversarial, kinetic, and war-like.

The question then becomes, according to Cohen: How do we navigate the contradictory foreign policies that states practice towards one another?

READ MORE:

Google Jigsaw CEO: Revolutions are now easier to start but a lot harder to finish

Why its hard to trust the U.S. on Russias alleged Kaspersky espionage

Why leaked NSA hacking tools are not like Tomahawk missiles
Firearm-related deaths rose for the second-straight year in 2016, largely due to spikes in gun violence in major cities like Chicago, newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

In 2016, there were more than 38,000 gun-related deaths in the U.S.  4,000 more than 2015, the new CDC report on preliminary mortality data shows. Most gun-related deaths  about two-thirds in America are suicides, but an Associated Press analysis of FBI data shows there were about 11,000 gun-related homicides in 2016, up from 9,600 in 2015. The increase in gun-related deaths follows a nearly 15-year period of relative stasis.

The fact that we are seeing increases in the firearm-related deaths after a long period where it has been stable is concerning, Bob Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the CDCs Center for Health Statistics, told the New York Times. Fortune reported last week that the mortality data also showed an increase in drug-overdose deaths, largely do to the ongoing opioid epidemic.

In the wake of Sundays mass shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland, statistics on guns and gun-related deaths are bound to come up as the nation yet again struggles to understand what led to the deaths of 26 people, including children as young as 18-months-old, and how to keep future events like this from occurring.

Less than 24 hours after the Texas shooting, the all-too-familiar pattern has already begun to unfold. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have offered their condolences to the families and prayers to those recovering. Many Democrats immediately began demanding gun-safety measures, and President Donald Trump said the shooting was prompted by a mental health situation, and wasnt about firearms.

We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries, Trump said. But this isnt a guns situation.

Trumps statement comes after he rescinded a rule that would have made it more difficult for the mentally ill to buy weapons earlier this year. The Department of Health and Human Services also says that only 3-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Thats not to say mental illness is not a factor. About 90% of those who die as a result of suicide experience some type of mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and access to firearms is listed among the groups risk factors for suicide.
After Texas church gunman Devin Kelley entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Sunday and opened fire, he was chased by two civilians through the tiny Texas town.

Read: Pastor Spoke Lovingly of Daughter in Sermon Taped Before She Was Killed in Church

Kelley, 26, fired numerous shots on unsuspecting parishioners during their morning service at about 11:30 a.m., killing 26 and leaving 20 others injured.

Stephen Willeford, 55, shot and wounded the gunman outside the church, but as Kelley jumped into his car to flee, Willeford and Johnnie Langendorff, who was just passing by his in truck at the time, gave chase.

Langendorff retraced the route of that high-speed pursuit for Inside Edition.

Langendorff said that Willeford jumped into his truck and said the man he had just shot was behind the massacre at the church.

I said, Lets go! Langendorff recalled to Inside Edition. I tried to maintain between 90-95 miles an hour because this guy was just going relentless and that is when he hit the guardrail on the opposite side of the road, lost control of his vehicle, hit the bar ditch. Once he hit the bar ditch, I came to a complete stop.

Read: Trump Says Texas Shooting 'Isn't a Guns Situation,' Points to Mental Health of Shooter

The two men, who were in contact with police during the chase, guarded Kelleys vehicle until authorities arrived on the scene minutes later.

Kelley was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound behind the wheel of his vehicle.

Related Articles:
Two men are being hailed as heroes after stopping a gunman as he carried out a mass shooting that left more than two dozen people dead at a rural Texas church on Sunday.

Devin Kelley, 26, entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs at about 11:30 a.m. and opened fire on unsuspecting parishioners during their morning service, killing 26 and leaving 20 more injured.

The victims range in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

Read: Texas Church Massacre Is Fifth-Deadliest Shooting in America's History

As Kelley, who was dressed in all black tactical gear, exited the church, Stephen Willeford, a local resident, grabbed his own rifle and confronted Kelley after being told by his daughter that the church was under attack.

Willeford, 55, and Kelley exchanged gunfire and Willeford shot Kelley in his side through a gap in the gunman's body armor, police said.

At about the same time, Johnnie Langedorff happened to be driving by.

I pulled up on the intersection and I saw the shooter coming from the cars that were parked right outside the church, Langedorff told KSAT. His vehicle was parked, door open, engine running  and him and the neighbor right across the street were coming out at about the same time, exchanging fire.

As Kelley dropped his assault rifle and jumped into his SUV to flee, Willeford briefed Langedorff on what was happening.

The gentleman with the rifle came to my truck as the shooter took off and he briefed me quickly and said we had to get him and that's what I did, Langedorff said.

The two men jumped into Langedorffs truck and chased Kelley onto Highway 539 at speeds of nearly 100 mph before the gunman shot himself and crashed, according to police.

"He just, it's like he just gave up. He went off into the ditch, hit a haybail from what I could see, and then he just never moved after that. He didn't get out. He didn't try anything. Nothing, he said.

The two men, who were in contact with police during the chase, guarded Kelleys vehicle until authorities arrived on the scene minutes later.

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Read: 18-Month-Old Among 26 Killed at Texas Church After Gunman Had Row With Mother-in-Law: Authorities

Langedorff said that he was just acting on instinct.

"He just hurt so many people and he just affected so many peoples' lives," Langedorff said. "Why wouldn't you want to take him down?"

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By Suzannah Gonzales

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois man who served 10 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of armed robbery and who was not granted a pardon by then-Indiana Governor Mike Pence sued four Indiana police officers and the city that employed them on Monday, alleging they fabricated evidence and coerced witnesses.

Keith Cooper, 50, of Country Club Hills, Illinois, was imprisoned for a 1996 armed robbery in Elkhart, Indiana, but was set free in 2006 after his co-defendant's conviction was overturned.

In February 2017, more than a decade after he was set free, he was granted a pardon by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. It was the first gubernatorial pardon based on actual innocence in Indiana history, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division.

Pence, who is now U.S. vice president, had declined to make a decision on the request for a pardon based on innocence, because he said that Cooper needed to exhaust the judicial process first, Cooper's lawyer, Elliot Slosar, said.

Monday's lawsuit claims that the four Elkhart officers fabricated evidence and coerced witnesses to falsely identify Cooper in the crime, Slosar said by telephone.

Those constitutional violations were a result of training the officers received at Elkhart Police Department, Slosar said.

The officers named as defendants in the lawsuit were Steve Rezutko, Edward Windbigler, Steven Ambrose and Tom Cutler.

Elkhart city attorney Vlado Vranjes declined comment on the lawsuit, saying he had not seen it. A representative for police, which now employs Windbigler as chief, could not be reached. The other officers are now retired. Ambrose and Rezutko declined to comment, and efforts to reach Cutler and Windbigler were not immediately successful.

The defendants caused Cooper to suffer physical harm and emotional distress during his 10-year incarceration, the lawsuit said. Cooper seeks compensatory damages, legal fees and other relief.

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Juries in similar cases have been awarded between $1 million and $2 million for each year of wrongful incarceration, Slosar said.

"We're looking to get Keith enough compensation so that he can rebuild his life and to ensure that this never happens again," he said.

In 2007, Cooper's co-defendant in the armed robbery, Christopher Parish, who was also wrongly convicted and whose criminal case was dismissed, filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against Rezutko, Ambrose, Cutler and the city of Elkhart, the lawsuit said.

The city of Elkhart settled with Parish for $4.9 million, Vranjes said.

(Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
If you are considering a destination wedding or simply a celebration with European vibes, then this Italian shoot will totally seal the deal. Held at Villa Sola Cabiati on the shores of Lake Como, it pairs 18th century opulence with wildly romantic details planned by Italian Weddings and Events, lush florals by Dario Benvenuti and images captured by Jacqui Cole. Get inspired by la dolce vita with the full gallery here!

This editorial took place at the stunning Villa Sola Cabiati along the shores of Tremezzo, Lake Como. The Villa has recently opened its' doors to the guests of Grand Hotel Tremezzo and now offers the opportunity for couples to wed within its' 18th century opulence. Stepping inside of the Villa truly takes you back in time as you glance around the original fresco covered walls and endless Italian art that lines the corridors. Unsurprisingly, the Villa was the main source of inspiration for this shoot. Dusty blues and soft peach tones were pulled from the fresco wall coverings and created a romantic setting for the shoot. To be sure we maintained the quintessential Italian beauty of Villa Sola, original pieces were included in the tablescape. The stunning cream and blue upholstered chairs are original to the Villa and even the plates feature the Serbelloni family crest. Dario Benvenuti created a stunning scene with the floral design. Endless vines and florals drape over sheet music, candelabras and organic fruit. Our couple spent the day getting ready together in a suite overlooking the Como waters, standing on the incredible floral-lined steps for the ceremony and sailing away on a vintage boat as Mr&Mrs. Every image is set in breathtaking beauty but we really wanted to go beyond the scenery and capture the feeling that one gets when they're in Lake Como. This small part of the world captures the heart of each person who is lucky enough to visit and to be able to say 'i do' in such a setting would simply be magic.

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Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Wedding Planning: Italian Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Dario Benvenuti & Viviana Mioranza | Cake: Qualcosa di Dolce | Stationary: cutandpastelab | Makeup: NICHA | Hair: Alessandra De Vito | Grooms' Attire: Black Carpet by Gai Mattiolo | Venue: Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Bridal Gown: Nicole Spose | Bridal Shoes + Tiara: Nicole Spose | Grooms' Accessories: Alessandra Vallone | Tableware and Rentals: Design Solutions
WASHINGTON  How does it feel to have played some small part in a Kremlin-directed influence operation aimed at the heart of American democracy?

Wow, Bill Swales Sr., a 65-year old retiree who lives in Michigan, wrote to HuffPost in a direct message on Twitter. Im Amazed I never would have realized that was influenced by Russia.

He added: Oh boy I guess that means I colluded with Russia dont tell MUELLER  Lol.

On Aug. 18, Swales bashed out a reply to a tweet from a Lila Hernandez, tweeting under the handle @lilaastrs. By outward appearances, Hernandez was a full-lipped model type with a taste for polka dots and extreme conservative politics. But according to Twitter, she was really the creation of the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm working on behalf of the Russian government.

Every day, millions of people are mad online, screaming their opinions about politics, sports, race and celebrities at strangers on Twitter. Many of those people are real people, and they really are mad. But some of those people, it turns out, have assumed a false identity solely in the interest of making and keeping people mad. This was the apparent aim of the Internet Research Agency during the 2016 election.

On Wednesday, the Democrats of the House Intelligence Committee released a list of nearly 3,000 Twitter accounts that Twitter identified as having links to the St. Petersburg-based troll farm  including @lilaastrs.

Most of the false accounts appear to be operated by real people taking on a false identity online, a practice known as sockpuppeting. Some took on the identity of conservatives who loved guns, God and Donald Trump. Some posed as liberals, sharing memes of Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. There were Russian-linked Twitter accounts posing as prominent Black Lives Matters activists  and others portraying the group as cop-killers. Some of the trolls preached tolerance for immigrants and minorities  others warned about encroaching Sharia law.

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It appears that a large number of these accounts simply shared links and retweeted more well-known accounts, but others obtained larger followings and actually interacted with people on Twitter. The president has personally thanked one of the Russian-linked accounts, and his former national security adviser followed and retweeted several of the sock puppets. Several media outlets, including this one, wrote stories based on tweets from Russia-linked Twitter accounts.

In a series of hearings this week, Twitter representatives told lawmakers that they had taken the matter seriously, and had aggressively shut down accounts operated out of the Russian troll farm. Twitters efforts to clean up its platform have not been without error. Already, we know that one account Twitter identified as a creation of Russian trolls belonged to an American who is he who claimed to be online.

HuffPost searched hundreds of the alleged troll accounts and reached out to several dozen Twitter users who shared, retweeted, liked or interacted with tweets sent by the Russian sock puppet accounts. Most of the people who responded said they had no idea they had been swept up in a foreign influence operation until HuffPost notified them.

In a series of direct messages with us, Swales, who tweets under the handle @westlandwilly, seemed bemused. Its easy to see how he mightve seen Hernandez as something of a kindred spirit. Swales lists #StandWithTrump, #MAGA, and #DRAINTHEDEEPSTATE in his Twitter bio. The sock puppet was, per her bio, a Proud Texas Deplorable#MAGA New to Twitter to support President Trump.

The Hypocrites R coming out of the walls like cockroaches we need 2 SMASH THEM like the BUGS THEY R RAID #MAGA #IStandWithTrump& ALWAYS WILL, Swales tweeted in response to a now-unavailable tweet by Hernandez on Aug. 18. He told HuffPost, I believe that was a response 2 leaks coming out of the White House at that Time!

Swales didnt think he was at all influenced by the Russian trolls, and didnt think Russia had affected the election at all. The only ones this might affect is the millennials, he told HuffPost. They might believe some of the propaganda anyone else thats been around awhile knows Russia has been trying to interfere with us for 50 plus YEARS NOTHING NEW.



He did, however, concede that the Hernandez tweet did catch my eye Enuff that I had 2 comment about it BUT it never influenced me in anyway 2 believe R POTUS colluded with Russia.

(How can we be sure that Swales himself is not a sock puppet? We cant! But Swales provided his name, age and place of residence, all of which matched public records. Not every Twitter user contacted by HuffPost was willing to disclose identifying information.)

@MatriarchAthena, a Twitter user who shares LGBTQ rights content, told HuffPost, A lot of bots are easy to spot, but some are a lot more convincing. Ive been duped by some and so have many others and it is frustrating.

@MatriarchAthena responded to a pro-LGBTQ rights account named @LGBTuni in August 2016. The New York Times named that account a fake in an early October story, and it was included on the intelligence committees list.

This is what happens when someone tries to infiltrate or pose as a certain group and people start following and retweeting that account because the things they post seem to resonate with the group they are targeting, said @MatriarchAthena, who declined to provide a real name.

Matt Manzella, a 34-year old caregiver in Illinois, took part in the #IfIWereACop hashtag campaign that a sock puppet account called @worldofhashtags originally started. RT, a Russian state-owned media outlet, wrote about the hashtag in a story titled Twitter uses #IfIWereACop hashtag to take jabs at law enforcement.

I remember that hashtag, Manzella told HuffPost. Its the type of thing youd think would have started from a Black Lives Matter account. He said that its easier to spot trolls when its just a single account.  A trending hashtag, however, much harder to suss out.

Manzella, who identifies as politically progressive, said it was hard to come to grips with getting caught up in the Russian influence campaign. It does kind of piss me off, he said in a phone interview.

Like Swales, most of the people HuffPost communicated with didnt think that they were personally influenced or affected by their interactions with the fake accounts.

Im Black and was not influenced by the trolls, @Jax6655, a Twitter user who shared posts from @gloed_up and two other fake Black Lives Matter accounts, @4mysquad and @nj_blacknews, told HuffPost. Those who started spouting anti-Dem or anti-Hillary I muted or blocked. I figured they were getting paid so f- them.

Even those who are concerned about Russias interference in last years presidential election say they did not fall for the ploy.

Oh wow, thats really crazy! Russian involvement in the 2016 election is definitely undeniable!! @princ3sska3 told HuffPost in a direct message. Asked if she was influenced by the fake accounts, she said, I dont think so, I dont even remeber interacting with that bot.

Twitter user @Trill_Kontrol, who identified himself as Mitchell Marcel, was surprised when HuffPost informed him that he had interacted with the fake @gloed_up account.

Wow thats crazy, @Trill_Kontrol wrote in a direct message. You can kind of tell bots sometimes by there ridiculous ass names they have but i definitely didnt think gloed_up was a bot. Its all honestly wild to me.

When asked if he thought the fake accounts like @gloed_up had any influence in the election or otherwise, @Trill_Kontrol said, honestly i wouldnt necessarily say influence more like rile up and frustrate.

The Russian influence operation was boosted by targets who were already primed to get mad online and jump at the bait they offered.

I think people be too into socials, like i was, and thats what the trolls want is those people so theyll reply and fuel the flame, @Trill_Kontrol said. Its all just a game to trolls. Say the most offensive shit you can so they can get a response. The sooner people just ignore it, thats when niggas win. Well not win but, ya know.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
NASA

We recently bade farewell to the Cassini spacecraft, which after 13 years of faithfully orbiting Saturn and its moons was directed to plunge into the giant planets atmosphere. The reason for the grand finale was to guard against the possibility that Cassini might crash into one of Saturns moons  in particular Enceladus.

With its curtain of geysers and internal ocean, Enceladus is unique. As a result, this small, icy moon is currently regarded as a potential host for life, and so no chance was taken that it might become contaminated by the Cassini spacecraft. Now new research, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests this ocean has existed within Enceladus for a very long time  possibly long enough to create the conditions to develop life.

The geysers are plumes of salty water-ice mixed with traces of carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane and other hydrocarbons that erupt along cracks in Enceladus south polar region. It was because of these geysers that scientists could work out that Enceladus must have an ocean below its icy crust and that the ocean is active (convecting). A subsequent observation that hydrogen was present in the plumes led to an additional conclusion, that hydrothermal activity  chemical reactions due to the interaction of water and rock  was taking place. But what scientists have failed to explain is what heat source could be powering this activity.

As more observations of the location of the plumes were made, the mystery of the missing heat source increased. The geysers are associated with features known as tiger stripes  a set of four, parallel depressions, about 100km long and 500m deep. The temperature of the stripes is higher than that of the rest of the icy crust, so it was assumed that they must be cracks in the ice. There are almost no impact craters in the tiger stripes region, so it must be very young, of the order of a million-years-old. Any model that purported to explain the heat source had also to account for its focused nature  the ocean is global, but why is only the south polar region active?

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NASA

For several years, scientists have favoured the explanation of tidal heating  a result of interactions between planetary-sized bodies. For instance tidal interaction with our own moon is responsible for the ebb and flow of water on Earth. Enceladus is in orbital resonance with the similar-sized moon Dione, which affects the shape of Enceladus orbit around Saturn. The effect, however, is insufficient to account for the power required to keep the geysers active  calculated to be in the order of 5GW. This would be sufficient power for a city the size of Chicago.

Porous core

Researchers came a step closer to solving the puzzle when they looked at the internal structure of Enceladus. The moon has a density low enough to imply mainly ice with a small, rocky core. This observation has been known for many years, ever since the Voyager 2 mission took the first images of Enceladus and determined its radius, so allowing its volume to be calculated. The gravitational tug of Enceladus on Cassini allowed the moons mass to be estimated, giving a value for the density of the body. Gravity measurements by Cassini showed that the core also had a low density which could be interpreted as the core being porous, with the pores filled with ice.

NASA

The new series of calculations fills the cores pores with water, rather than ice, from which the authors show that tidal forces associated with the pore water are more than sufficient to explain how Enceladus heat is generated. The model is impressive because it is so thorough  considering not just the porosity of the core, but its permeability (how easily fluids can move through it) and how strong it is (will it shatter or flex as fluids run through it?). The researchers apply similar detail to the fluid, with consideration of its viscosity (how runny it is), temperature and composition, as well as its convective properties (how well can it transport heat).

Taking all these parameters together and assigning either known or conservatively assessed values to them results in a fearsome complex of equations. Fortunately, the authors (or, at least, their computer software) can solve the equations to produce an elegant model of heat flow within Enceladus.

The authors create a 3D picture of where and how heat from tidal movements within the pore spaces is transferred to the sub-surface ocean. They find that heat dissipation from the core is not homogeneous, but appears as a series of interlinked, narrow upwellings where temperatures are in excess of 363K (85C), with hotspots mainly at the south pole. Because the heat sources are so focussed, there would be increased hydrothermal activity associated with them  explaining the hydrogen in the plumes.

The final exciting observation that comes from the model is that the amount of heat produced by the internal tide is sufficient to maintain Enceladus subsurface ocean for billions of years. Prior to this, it was thought that if the heat source for a global sub-surface ocean had been radioactive decay, the ocean would freeze in a few million years, which is why tidal forces were suggested as a potential heat source. But again, there were problems with such a model, requiring changes in Enceladus orbit  and even so, an ocean would be, at best, transient.

This immediately leads to another set of questions: what does this imply for life on Enceladus? A warm global ocean with a lifetime of several billion years would be a great place for life to get going - it only took about 640m years for life to evolve from microbe to mammal on Earth. Unfortunately, though, Enceladus itself may be quite young: a recent paper proposed that the moon might only have formed about 100m years ago  is that a sufficiently long interval for life to have got going?

Possibly  life seems to have got going on Earth within a few hundred million years of its formation under much more severe circumstances of impact bombardment. Although it took a further 3,500m years or so to get to the dramatic expansion of life. Maybe it is the future that is looking bright for Enceladus  if Enceladus ocean has the potential to last for billions of years, then could a similar evolutionary sequence to that on Earth take place in the darkened depths of an Enceladen ocean? Perhaps no future dwarf planet of the apes  but what price a mermaid?

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Monica Grady receives funding from the STFC, the UK Space Agency and the EU Horizon 2020 Programme. She is a Fellow of the Natural History Musuem and a Trustee of Lunar Mission One.
There seems to be a general consensus in Washington that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans ongoing purge of princes and businessmen  including the wealthiest of them all, the business mogul and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal  is motivated by his determination to consolidate his power, well before his father, King Salman, passes from the scene. He is in this regard a latter-day Adonijah, who had himself crowned king while his father King David was alive. And, like Adonijah, Mohammed bin Salman has made some very powerful enemies in the process. Unlike that Biblical figure, however, he has his fathers support and has taken care to arrest anyone who might threaten his drive to preeminence.

Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior advisor, was in Riyadh again only recently. It was his third trip to Saudi Arabia since Trump took office. He again met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom he appears to have established a close personal relationship. It should therefore come as no surprise that Trump, who shares the young crown princes antipathy toward Iran, has commented favorably on the recent developments in Riyadh.

It is said of Donald Trump that he has undermined Americas credibility with its allies. That may be the case in Europe, and perhaps in parts of Asia, though not in Japan or India. But it is certainly not the case in the Middle East. Tensions with Turkey and Egypt emanate primarily from the U.S. Congress, not from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Relations with Israel are better than they have been since the day former President Barack Obama took office. The same can be said of U.S. relations with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates or, for that matter, Bahrain and Morocco. The force that unites them all is Iran, whose support for instability throughout the region received a financial fillip from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action  that is, the Iran nuclear deal.

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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may or may not be a true reformer. His record on that score is not unequivocal. But he is determined to halt the expansion of Iranian influence, which now really does manifest itself as the Shiite crescent about which Jordans King Abdullah II forewarned over a decade ago. The crown prince recognizes that his countrys worst nightmare is slowly materializing: Iran is supplying the Houthi rebels to its south and dominates neighboring Iraq to its north. It foments instability in Bahrain and could well do the same in Saudi Arabias Shiite-majority Eastern Province. And if that were not enough, Irans influence is entrenched in Damascus and Beirut. It is particularly for that reason the Saudis forced their ally Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, to resign his office while on a visit to the Kingdom.

Mohammed bin Salman may or may not have recently visited Tel Aviv, where Israels Defense Ministry is located. But even if he never set foot in the HaKirya complex, there is little doubt that he has authorized ever closer relations with the Israelis, who view the Iranian threat exactly as he does. And the crown prince is not the only one Jared Kushner has been speaking to: Trump has given his son-in-law overall leadership on the peace process between Israel and the Arabs, and he is reportedly a welcome guest in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office.

Given Kushners role, did Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signal his plans when Kushner last met with him  and did Kushner then inform his father-in-law? And if so, how far will Washington, or more precisely, the White House, go to back up the Saudis if their confrontation with Iran gets hot? Or will Israel serve as Trumps proxy? With this president, this crown prince, and the current prime minister of Israel, anything is possible.
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry reflects on the success of the Iran deal during an event at Chatham House: Getty

The collapse of the Iran nuclear deal will leave the world a much more dangerous place, drastically weakening the chances of an accommodation with North Korea, and raising the spectre of violent conflicts breaking out, John Kerry has warned.

The former US Secretary of State has been meeting European leaders in an a concerted attempt to save the landmark agreement in the face of Donald Trumps threats to tear it up. The President has been claiming, against all evidence, that Tehran was not fulfilling its side of the bargain and has failed to uphold the spirit of the deal.

The crisis comes at a particularly volatile time in the Middle East; with Saudi Arabia in a state of flux with mass arrests, including members of the royal family, rockets being fired into the Kingdom from Yemen, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, resigning because, he claims, he feared for his life while the Saudis and Iranians accused each other of destabilising the country.

Mr Kerry, who played a key role in securing the accord between Iran and international powers, said: It is important to note the simple things, the Iran nuclear deal is working, it is doing precisely what it was set up to do. President Trumps decision to decertify the Iran deal made no reference to any fact whatsoever. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Authority) has confirmed Irans compliance no less than eight times.

I heard Mr Trump say theres a violation of the spirit of the Iran deal. There is no spirit of the deal. What we have is a deal focused on the nuclear questions. And it is delivering. The idea of violation has simply been pulled out of the sky, there is no scientific bases, no evidence that would demerit certification.

Mr Kerry, who served with distinction in Vietnam with the US Navy, receiving the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, stressed the need to ensure that peace prevails. Mr Trump, a Vietnam draft dodger, has repeatedly threatened war on those he considers to be Americas enemies.

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Touching the Remembrance Day poppy on the lapel of his jacket, Mr Kerry stated: We wear these for a reason. We wear these to remind us of the need to exhaust all diplomatic efforts. We wear these to remember how mistakes, stupidity and absurdity can lead to so many deaths.

Speaking at the Chatham House think tank in London, the former Secretary of State recalled how the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, urged Barack Obama to bomb Iran. After you bomb a country you give them reason to want a weapon. The Iran deal makes Israel safer, the security people in Israel know that. Bombing Iran would not have stopped Iran developing a bomb, the deal does.

Mr Kerry continued: We all know what the world would have looked like without a deal with Iran. We knew Iran was maybe two months from a nuclear break-out. Under the deal we have cradle to grave visibility on every ounce of uranium, the situation has never been more transparent.

The world with the deal falling apart, he held, would not look so good. Tehran acquiring nuclear weaponry, he said, will have a ripple effect with a nuclear arms race in the Middle East further destabilising an already volatile region and have wider consequences. The agreement acts as an example to North Korea and ensures the region is safer. Throwing it away would undermine US credibility, he said.

The British diplomat Baroness Cathy Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also a leading player in the Iran negotiations, recalled: The North Koreans were always interested in the Iran negotiations, they used to turn up to where the meetings were being held. If the US pulls out now it will send a message to the world that it cannot keep to its commitments.

Baroness Ashton pointed out the sheer effort that took place under extremely difficult circumstances, often with the international powers locked in confrontation between themselves while presenting a united front to Iran. Russia backed sanctions on Iran when we were sanctioning Russia on Ukraine, she noted.

Mr Kerry commented that it was crucial that Russia and China are kept on board rather than being distanced by the US jettisoning the deal. Russia has never got enough credit for the 30 million people who died fighting fascism in the Second World War. Vladimir Putin, he added, had an important role to perform in countering instability.

Mr Kerrys parting words for Donald Trump were: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to their own facts.
After starting his show saying his thoughts are with the people of Sundays mass shooting in Texas that left 26 churchgoers dead, John Oliver kicked off Last Week Tonight with a probe of the weeks biggest headline involving Donald Trump, statues of whom will inevitably be erected and then, one day, taken down in a storm of controversy.

Dominating the week was Mondays bombshell: first charges in Rob Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the election.

Yes its finally happening! Oliver said gleefully. In a 31-page indictment, Trumps former campaign chair Paul Manafort, and Manaforts business partner Rick Gates are charged with hiding tens of millions of dollar they received from a pro-Russian Ukranian political party, by hiding their work, funneling more than $75M to unreported foreign bank accounts, laundering the cash, and lying to the IRS and Justice Department.

Trump must be furious with them, not so much for the part where they allegedly lied to the government, but where they pretended to have less money than did, Oliver speculated, noting their alleged actions violated the tenets of whatever sticky back issue of F*ckable Yacht magazine Trump considers his code of ethics.

How does Donald Trump fit into this?

To hear him tell it, he doesnt. Trump noted the indictments cover alleged incidents from years ago before Manafort became part of his campaign, campaign, tweeting, Why arent Crooked Hillary and the Dems the focusAlso there is NO COLLUSION.

That argument means one of two things. Either Trump did a background check, discovered the suspicious activity, and didnt care, or he didnt so much as Google the name Manafort before hiring him, because everybody knows Manafort is dodgy, Oliver said, having repped strongmen and dictators around the world, including some with close ties to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

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Meanwhile, Manafort may been gone before election, but Muellers team says Gates had nearly 55 bank accounts, helped run Trumps inaugural committee, and has been a frequent White House visitor.

The big question, Oliver said, Did Trump know all of this and not care? Or did he know none of it because hes incompetent. In other words: is Trump smart enough to be evil?

Mondays biggest revelation may have been the guilty plea from George Papadopoulos, who admitted to lying to the FBI. Muellers camp revealed Papadopoulos told Team Trump he had Russian contacts claiming to have dirt on Hillary Clinton, to which a member of the team responded encouraging him to pursue the contact, and that he had done great work.

It speaks to the stupidity of the people involved that so many of them left written records of potential criminal action. Its like if, during Watergate, we had an email chain of Howard Hunt saying About to break in! and Nixon replying, Noice!, Oliver described.

One of Papadopouloss former professors described him as zealous and a bit simple in re his having thought one of his sources was Putins niece; she is not.

Yes we are now living in a world where the top New York Times headline could conceivably be Shades McCool Got Catfished by a Fake Putin Niece, Oliver snarked.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Papadopoulos, calling him a low level volunteer, though he had previously been recorded telling WaPo that Papadopoulos was an excellent guy, and posted to Instagram a photo of Papadopoulos sitting with him at a national security meeting during the campaign.

And White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders scoffed that Trump has thousands of photos of himself taken with millions of people. Which gave Oliver a too-good-to-resist cheap-shot chance to show photos of Trump with OJ Simpson and with Harvey Weinstein.

Trump, meanwhile, has said he does not remember much about that meeting, undercutting his frequent boast of having one of the great memories of all time.

Trump is playing the Trump cardusing his own incompetence as a defense, insisting he did not know anything about the people he should have known these things about. Its Trumps signature move.

And, it may work, Oliver cautioned. Because the counter-argument is that Trump is a meticulous man who makes strategic decisions, fully aware of the consequences of his actions. And thats a very tough case to make.

Still, Oliver urged America not to accept the Trump Card.

Wed be saying this guy is too dumb to really understand what he is doing, so I guess we have no choice but to let him keep being President, Oliver warned.

Please, lets not do that.

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London (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called his Iranian counterpart on Tuesday in a bid to clarify remarks which left him accused of jeopardising the case of a British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran.

Johnson faced calls to quit after telling a parliamentary committee last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran when she was arrested for alleged sedition last year -- a comment her employer and her family said was wrong and insisted he correct.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, appeared in court on Saturday to face further charges, first brought in October, that carry a 16-year jail term.

The Iranian judiciary issued an online article on Sunday saying Johnson's comments proved that she was not on holiday, as her family said, backing the justification for new charges.

In the call with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Johnson said the suggestion that his remarks shed new light on the case was absolutely untrue.

"The UK government has no doubt that she was on holiday in Iran when she was arrested last year and that was the sole purpose of her visit," Johnson told parliament.

"My point was that I disagreed with the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that I wanted to lend any credence to Iranian allegations that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity.

"I accept that my remarks could have been clearer in that respect."

Johnson called for a "swift solution" to the case and said he would visit Iran in the coming weeks.

Zarif told Johnson that the weekend developments in the case against her were not related to his remarks, the foreign secretary said.

Johnson did not apologise but said he was "sorry" if the words had been "so taken out of context and so misconstrued" as to cause anxiety for Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family.

An Iranian foreign affairs ministry spokesman said: "Mr Zarif confirmed that the case was in the hands of the judiciary but from a humanitarian point of view, the minister is pursuing the case with the judicial authorities."

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- Months in solitary confinement -

Afterwards, her husband Richard Ratcliffe said London needed to protect his wife "which means not just expressing concern and offering supportive noises, but make a clear statement that she's innocent".

"I've become increasingly critical and would like the Foreign Office to be clearly standing up for Nazanin," he told BBC television.

He said she had been kept in solitary confinement for months but now got an hour a week of telephone time.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager for the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), the media organisation's philanthropic arm, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3 last year after visiting family with her daughter, Gabriella, who was born in Britain and is now three-years old.

Gabriella's British passport was confiscated and she is now living with her grandparents in Iran.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards accused her of having taken part in the "sedition movement" of protests that followed the disputed 2009 re-election of then hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe denies the charges.

She is serving a five-year jail sentence in Tehran but last month was presented with extra charges carrying a possible 16-year prison term, her employers said.

TRF said those charges were that she had joined organisations specifically working to overthrow the regime, referring to her media charity work in London, and that she once attended a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy in Britain's capital.

TRF chief executive Monique Villa welcomed Johnson's clarification.

"Nazanin has never trained journalists in Iran," she said.

"It's time now for the foreign secretary to meet Nazanin in jail, as he proposed last week, and to bring her back home."

Emily Thornberry, foreign affairs spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour Party, had written to Johnson urging him to quit if his actions had damaged Zaghari-Ratcliffe's prospects of freedom.

In an angry blast at Thornberry in parliament, Johnson shouted that by blaming him she was "deflecting blame, accountability and responsibility from where it truly lies -- which is with the Iranian regime".

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said the premier still had "full confidence" in Johnson.

"The foreign secretary is doing a good job and working hard to represent Britain's interests abroad," she said.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway blasted renewed criticism about politicians failure to enact stricter gun controls in the wake of the Texas church shooting, saying its disrespectful to the dead.

Conway was responding to a question on Fox News Fox & Friends on Monday about tweets by comedian and TV personality Chelsea Handler in the wake of the Sunday shooting at a Sutherland Springs Baptist church that killed 26 people, half of them children.

Innocent people go to church on Sunday to honor their God and ... get shot [and] killed, Handler tweeted. What country? America. Why? Republicans. She also complained that the government watches these mass shootings and does nothing.

Innocent people go to church on Sunday to honor their God, and while doing so, get shot in killed. What country? America. Why? Republicans.  Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) November 5, 2017

I don't know how these poor people are supposed to accept that their government watches these mass shootings and does nothing. It's so sick.  Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) November 6, 2017

Conway said she was sorry that we even have to show her Twitter comments and called them so beyond any type of reasonable response that anyone should have. She complained: People are taking to Twitter in the comfort of their very luxurious lives, pointing fingers.

In a dig at Handler and apparently others clamoring for increased gun controls, Conway said that the rush to judgment, particularly by people who just see politics and Trump derangement in every single thing they do, it doesnt help the victims, and its disrespectful to the dead.

Conway said she was very happy President Trump is our commander in chief and our leader ... because, unfortunately, every president has to help heal the nation at different times, different tragedies.

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Dismissing gun control concerns as politicizing the deadly attack at the Texas church appeared to be a GOP talking point Monday. When Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was asked by a reporter about gun control during an appearance in Sutherland Springs on Monday, he responded that it was unfortunate that the media was politicizing the killings.

We dont need politics right now, Cruz said in a CNN video of his appearance. In New York, we saw a terror attack with a truck. Evil is evil, and will use the weaponry that is available.

You know, it is an unfortunate thing that the immediate place the media goes after any tragedy, after any murder, is politicizing it. We dont need politics right now. You know, I would note in New York we saw a terror attack just this week with a truck. Evil is evil is evil, and will use the weaponry that is available.

Donald Trump said on Monday that the church attack wasnt a guns situation but a mental health problem at the highest level.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the shooting was evidence that more church members should arm themselves for protection. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

Related Coverage

Texas Church Shooting Followed 'Domestic Situation' With Gunman

Texas Shooting Once Again Proves Trump's Double Standard On Mass Shootings

At Least 26 Dead In Shooting At Texas Baptist Church

Half The People Killed In The Texas Shooting Were Children

Sutherland Springs Church Shooting: How You Can Help

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Nairobi (AFP) - A former Kenyan lawmaker and businessman on Monday filed a petition challenging a presidential election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta, in the latest legal battle to hit the drawn-out poll process.

The former MP, John Harun Mwau, wants the Supreme Court to annul the October 26 election re-run, which was called after the court overturned the results of an initial poll on August 8 in a historical decision.

He contests the inclusion of a minor candidate in the presidential re-run who had been declared bankrupt, and argues that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should have conducted fresh nominations ahead of the vote, according to court documents.

Kenya was plunged into crisis after the opposition contested the August 8 vote, which the Supreme Court annulled citing widespread "irregularities and illegalities".

A fresh poll was ordered and held on October 26. However opposition leader Raila Odinga boycotted the vote on the grounds that sufficient reforms to ensure a credible election had not been carried out.

Kenyatta won the vote with 98 percent in the absence of his main rival. Turnout was a mere 38.8 percent.

The deadline to challenge the election is midnight (2100 GMT) on Monday.

Observers expect a flurry of legal battles after a petition to delay the election on the eve of the vote could not go ahead as the Supreme Court could not reach a quorum.

Kenyatta himself conceded his victory was "likely to once again be subjected to a constitutional test through our courts", adding he would submit to such a process "no matter its outcomes."

Odinga vowed the election "must not stand". It is unclear if his opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) will file its own petition.

The coalition has formed a "resistance" wing which has called for economic boycotts of certain companies and has said it will hold protests and other forms of civil disobedience.
By Duncan Miriri and Linda Muriuki NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Tuesday he wants an interim government to run the country for six months while the constitution is reviewed to curb the president's authority. Odinga told Reuters in an interview that he was open to talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta over a constitutional review aimed at lowering the risk of violence from minority groups who feel excluded from power. Kenyatta was re-elected with 98 percent of the vote on Oct. 26 after Odinga boycotted the election, saying it would not be fair. The repeat presidential vote followed an election in August, which Kenyatta also won but which was nullified by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds. Odinga's supporters have repeatedly protested against the results, and at least 51 people have been killed in the turmoil since August, generating an atmosphere of uncertainty in East Africa's richest economy. "A pure presidential system enhances ethnicity because each community believes that they are not safe unless their man is at the top," Odinga said in the interview in his office. Three of Kenya's presidents since independence from Britain in 1963 have been from the Kikuyu ethnic group and one has been from the Kalenjin group, although there are 44 recognized ethnic groups in the nation. The current president is a Kikuyu and his deputy is a Kalenjin, and many of Odinga's supporters, who are largely drawn from other ethnic groups, say they feel excluded from power. The 2010 constitution devolved some power and money to Kenya's 47 counties, spreading the opportunities for power and political patronage. But most of the budget and the power is still in the hands of the central government, something Odinga wants to change. "We had a new constitution that we enacted in 2010; we think that now it is time to revisit it," he said. A constitutional review could strengthen institutions like the election board and cut down the powers of the presidency, he said. "We think that maybe six months will be required to carry out all these changes that we need in this country." Odinga served as prime minister in a coalition government that was crafted in 2008 after two months of violence following a disputed election killed 1,200 people. After the Oct. 26 election, Odinga's opposition alliance called for civil disobedience, including protests and a boycott of products and services by firms friendly to Kenyatta's government, to force reforms. The opposition did not challenge Kenyatta's Oct. 26 victory at the Supreme Court and there has been no protest action, but voter and rights activists lodged cases on Monday. The court has 14 days to review them. (Editing by Katharine Houreld and Mark Heinrich)
London (AFP) - Former Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday warned the US Congress that it would be "extraordinarily dangerous" for it to reject the Iran nuclear deal that he helped broker.

President Donald Trump last month decertified Iran's compliance with the 2015 agreement, but stopped short of scrapping the deal outright, instead handing the issue over to Congress.

Kerry told the Chatham House international affairs think tank in London that the decision "was clearly made without relevance to any fact whatsoever" and criticised the involvement of Congress.

"It's been flipped over to the Congress with instructions, you guys fix it.

"How the US Congress, which wasn't part of the negotiations, which isn't certified to be part of the negotiations, fixes an agreement which is working is beyond me," he added.

"What President Trump regrettably has done by his invective against the deal, he's polluted the pool in a way that whatever Congress does is going to be interpreted as their effort to kill the deal through the back door."

Congress was given 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions that were lifted in return for Tehran abandoning its nuclear ambitions.

Kerry said there was a "great danger" that Congress could act unilaterally to alter the deal, narrowing Iran's room for manoeuvre and "creating a downward spiral that becomes extraordinarily dangerous."

"It would be a gigantic, historic mistake when dealing with nuclear weapons to allow anyone's politics to get in the way and break apart an agreement that is preventing a country from pursuing a nuclear weapon," he added.

Opponents of the deal claim that it does not go far enough to prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon, and point to Iran's recent missile launches.
Hillary Clinton; a protester dressed as Donald Duck outside a rally for presidential candidate Donald Trump in Dimondale, Mich., in 2016; and Donna Brazile; detail, a portion of the cover of Braziles new book. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Andrew Harnik/AP, Gerald Herbert/AP, Paul Marotta/Getty Images, Hachette Book Group )

Hillary Clinton personally approved a plan to have demonstrators in Donald Duck costumes disrupt campaign rallies for Donald Trump  a stunt that triggered an angry confrontation between then Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile and the top lawyer for the Clinton campaign, according to Braziles new book, which is being published Tuesday.

Brazile writes that she became enraged at what she considered the idiocy of the Clinton Donald Duck project, concluding that it would confirm the Trump campaigns contention that the Democrats were paying protesters to infiltrate the GOP candidates rallies.

She was later told, she writes, that the idea for the Donald Duck impersonators came from Clinton herself, who was assured by a friend that the idea was a lot funnier than an alternative proposal to have activists dressed as Uncle Sam trolling the Trump campaign.

Brazile writes that she told one of her top aides Kill the damn duck! after she learned that the Clinton campaign and the DNC were using Donald Duck at Trump campaign rallies. Kill the f ing duck, goddammit!

The story of the duck dustup is one of the stranger incidents revealed by Brazile in her blistering, tell-all book: Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.

In August 2016, a protester in a Donald Duck costume rides an escalator in the Trump Tower in Manhattan, as part of a political stunt to draw attention to the decision by the Republican presidential candidate not to release his tax returns. (Photo: Justin Lane/Epa/REX/Shutterstock)

This was only one example of what Brazile describes as her repeated behind-the-scenes clashes with top officials of the Clinton campaign. They created tensions that, as the Washington Post first reported over the weekend, prompted Brazile at one point to consider starting a process to replace Clinton at the top of the ticket with then Vice President Joe Biden, because she feared that the campaign was not being truthful about the state of the candidates health.

It was widely reported in the summer of 2016 that activists dressed in Donald Duck costumes were showing up at Trump campaign rallies and Trump Tower, seeking to draw attention to the GOP candidates refusal to release his tax returns.

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The issue attracted even more attention when right-wing activist James OKeefe released an undercover video in which Robert Creamer, head of Democracy Partners, an advocacy group working with the DNC, can be heard attributing the stunt to Clinton.

It was the candidate, Hillary Clinton, the future president of the United States, who wanted ducks on the ground. So, by God, we will get ducks on the ground, Creamer says to a colleague in the video. He quickly adds: Dont repeat that to anybody. (The Clinton campaign later acknowledged that Clinton was aware of the stunt but said it was not her idea.)

What was not known at the time was the turmoil it caused among top Democratic Party and Clinton campaign officials. Brazile writes that, aside from her concerns that the stunt would backfire and play into Trumps hands, she fielded complaints from senior executives at ABC News that their parent company, Disney Corp., objected to the unauthorized use of one of the companys iconic cartoon symbols and that it could lead to a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Clinton campaign  as well as the cancellation of a Hollywood fundraiser that the chief of Disney was throwing for Clinton.

Brazile writes that she was so upset about the Donald Duck costumes that it brought out a dark side of her personality she calls Delores.

Im slow to anger, very slow, but once I am angry, get out of Delores way, Brazile writes. She called Marc Elias, the senior lawyer for the Clinton campaign, and told him that I had heard from ABC and Disney about the duck and he had to kill it.

The duck is the intellectual property of Disney, Brazile told Elias, on her account. They could sue us, OK? Do you want that story out there? Hillarys about to go to California to raise money, and shes going to see Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, who is holding this fundraiser, and this is coming from him. What do you want to do? Have him cancel the fundraiser? I know you all want that money. So get rid of the fing duck!

An activist self-styled DJ Quacker holds a sign accusing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump of ducking on the release of his tax forms. He and other protesters gathered in front of the Trump International Hotel on the day it opened in Washington, D.C., in September 2016. (Photo: Jeff Malet/Newscom via ZUMA Press)

Donna, this was Hillarys decision to use the duck, Brazile says Elias responded. She continues: He explained a close friend had suggested it to Hillary and she thought it was a great idea. Apparently, someone wanted to use Uncle Sam but Hillarys friend vetoed that, saying a duck was a lot funnier.

Was he kidding? Brazile continues. He was not. What a brilliant decision! Can someone get this message to her? Is she the only one who can kill the damn duck?

Brazile writes that the message did get through. By noon of that day, Elias had killed the duck protests once and for all, and Brazile was able to enjoy her breakfast the next day with executives of the NBA.

Elias did not respond to a request for comment about Braziles account. Neither did a spokesman for Hillary Clinton. In response to Braziles overall account, more than 100 former Clinton campaign staffers released a letter stating in part: We do not recognize the campaign she portrays in the book. The letter does not explicitly address the duck episode.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Lewis Hamilton was able to save money importing a private jet from Canada - Getty Images North America

The Labour Party were accused of hypocrisyin their response to the Paradise Papers leaks as it emerged that they rent their headquarters from an offshore trust.

In the second day of revelations, which come predominately from a hack of law firm Appleby, the rich and famous faced further questions over their complex financial dealings.

Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One champion and one of the world's richest sportsmen, was accused of avoiding European taxes through a leasing businesses from which he rented his private jet back to himself.

And three stars of the hit BBC sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys were revealed to have diverted more than 2million into an offshore tax-avoidance scheme.

The offshore investments of the Queen's private estate were revealed in the Paradise Papers Credit: AFP

British lawyer James OToole - who described himself in emails as a "tax alchemist - set up structures designed to help the wealthy hide their money, including a loophole for paying public school fees whilst operating within the law.

Apple, the world's most profitable firm, was also accused of shopping around for a tax haven and moving their offshore cash reserve to the Channel Island of Jersey when controversial practices in Ireland were cracked down upon in 2013.

The company insisted it remained the world's largest taxpayer with 26bn in corporation tax over the past three years and the move had not reduced their payments in any country.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, both condemned what they described as "massive tax avoidance" exposed in the leak.

Mr Corbyn even suggested that the Queen should apologise and be investigated for allowing her advisers at the Duchy of Lancaster to put around 10m in offshore investments.

He said Anyone that is putting money into tax havens in order to avoid taxation in Britain, and obviously investigations have to take place, should do two things - not just apologise for it but also recognise what it does to our society.

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If a very wealthy person wants to avoid taxation in Britain, and therefore put money into a tax haven somewhere, who loses? Schools, hospitals, housing, all those public services lose and the rest of the population has to pay to cover up the deficit created by that."

Mr McDonnell echoed his sentiments when he called for a full public inquiry into the leaks, and went further saying that he would introduce a "withholding tax".

He continued: "There are a lot of these companies that have contracts with our Government so we are paying them money and that money is then going into tax havens. I would like to end those companies who are engaged in tax avoidance having public contracts."

Paradise Papers | Who is involved?

It later emerged that the lease on Labour's eight-floor headquarters, thought to be worth nearly one million pounds a year, is paid by the party to The West End of London Property Trust (WELPUT), a fund registered in Jersey.

Schroders, the Jersey based company who manage the Trust, said tax is paid on the rent before it is put into trust and when their investors take profits they have to pay tax on it in their home country.

It has previously been revealed that Mr McDonnell received an income of 14,421 from his Westminster City Council pension which is also invested in a Guernsey trust.

Jacob Rees-Mogg said that Labour had fundamentally misunderstood offshore trusts, in which he invests, as tax on the income was paid when the money was brought back into the UK.

"They are in the awful position of being both hypocritical and not very bright," he said.

"It is classic socialism, a case of do as I say and not as I do."

A Labour spokesperson said the party received "no benefit as a result of the financial arrangements of the building owner" and added: "We remain committed to changing the current tax environment and to tackling tax avoidance.

In brief | What is a tax haven?

In a second day of revelations Hamilton was said to have been refunded 3.3m in VAT when he imported his 16.5m red Bombardier aircraft into England from Canada in 2013 through the Isle of Man.

The jet was bought by his British Virgin Islands company, it was then leased to an Isle of Man company set up by Appleby who then leased it to a UK jet chartering company, who then leased it to Mr Hamilton and his team.

There is no suggestion that Hamilton was directly involved in creating the scheme used for his jet and he told the BBC that he asked a tax barrister to check it and was told it was lawful.

The Isle of Man government has reviewed its schemes and found no evidence of wrongdoing but has nonetheless asked the Treasury to investigate.

Patrick Houlihan and Martin and Fiona Delany were also implicated in offshore schemes as it emerged that they put their fees from a production company owned by Brendan O'Carroll, the creator and star Mrs Brown's Boys and Mrs Delany's father, into companies that they controlled in Mauritius which then repaid them in loans.

The three actors were introduced to the scheme by English accountant Roy Lyness, who first drew headlines in 2012 for running the scheme which helped comedian Jimmy Carr avoid paying more than 3m on his earnings.

The three could not be contacted for comment but Mr Houlihan, who plays Dermot, had seemed confused over the scheme and told the Irish Times that he had not intended to avoid tax but simply control when he got the money and paid the tax on it.

He said he was contacted by the BBC's Panorama about the scheme, adding: "I was surprised and I hung up. Afterwards I had to Google tax avoidance to see what it meant.

The documents are said to show that Mr Lyness inroduced them to tax advice firm Aston Court, which operated legal offshore trusts and companies which helped reduce tax liabilities.

Aston Court was in turn part run by Mr O'Toole, who helped his clients set up offshore cell companies where they lost technical control of their money but signed up as "investment advisers" who could control how money was spent.

Tax havens

Mark Faulkner, a banker, and his wife, award winning war photographer Harriet Logan, were caught up in a complicated web of investments, the documents are said to show.

In a move that is not illegal, they transferred millions of investments including cash, stocks and shares, a yacht and a portfolio of pictures to companies in Mauritius called Babington PCC.

They then advised on a number of investments including a classic car, a London flat and a wine collection.

They are now reviewing the arrangements and if any tax is required by HMRC it will be paid, their lawyers have said.

Our clients have now commenced dialogue with HMRC to review the arrangements that their previous advisers had recommended, the lawyer told the Guardian.

Some of Aston Court's clients also required access to money for school fees and therefore the Educational Purpose Trust (EPT) was set up in Mauritius which offered to pay for scholarships for children in need of help.

About | Appleby

Most applications came from Aston Court clients whose children were already attending the top private schools and they were then asked to make a charitable contribution to the trust, which would be tax deductible and would cover their children's fees.

Mr O'Toole and Aston Court did not respond to request for comments.

Appleby has said in a statement: There is no evidence of wrongdoing either on the part of ourselves or our clients.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Saad al-Hariri, who quit as Lebanese Prime Minister in a weekend broadcast from Saudi Arabia, has been held under house arrest in the kingdom, a pro-Hezbollah daily said on Tuesday citing unnamed sources. Hariri's office and Saudi-owned media said he flew to the UAE, a Saudi ally and fellow Gulf monarchy, on Tuesday. Aides to Hariri, Lebanon's most influential Sunni politician and a close Saudi ally, have denied claims that he was detained. Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar, which is aligned with the Shi'ite militant group and political movement Hezbollah, said Hariri "was placed under house arrest hours after arriving in Riyadh last Friday" and had remained in detention since. On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir dismissed as "nonsense" allegations that the kingdom forced Hariri to resign, and said he was free to leave at any time. Speculation in Lebanon over Hariri's status continued even after Saudi media showed him meeting with King Salman and reported him leaving for the UAE. Hariri's resignation has thrust Lebanon back onto the frontline of the rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran that has also wrought upheaval in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain. The coalition government, which Hariri's shock resignation collapsed, included Iran-backed Hezbollah. His declaration came as Saudi Arabia undertook an anti-corruption purge in which royals, ministers and investors have been arrested as the putative next king tightens his grip on power. In a dramatic escalation of the crisis, Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war because of aggression by Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah accused Riyadh last week of forcing Hariri to step down, and said there were "legitimate questions" over whether he had been detained. The al-Akhbar newspaper said that a Saudi security team had been supervising Hariri, citing unnamed sources close to him. The prime minister, whose family made their fortune in the Saudi construction industry, had very limited access to his phones, it said on Tuesday. Fouad Siniora, a former prime minister and senior member of Hariri's political party, said Hariri would return to Lebanon. (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Tom Perry; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Brussels (AFP) - Luxembourg, following a broader EU and global trend, took another step on Tuesday towards legalising medical marijuana by announcing plans for a two-year pilot project.

The plan, which must be approved by parliament, would allow authorities to determine how many people in the tiny duchy will use medical marijuana and under what conditions.

Health minister Lydia Mutsch told a press conference that the government aims to limit marijuana use to people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses.

"This must be an exception in a controlled and secure setting," Mutsch said as she introduced the proposed legislative changes.

The authority to prescribe such treatment "should be limited to certain specialists like oncologists, neurologists and internists," the minister added.

Health and social security ministers also plan to discuss terms and conditions for reimbursing patients who use the drug.

Mutsch intends to present amendments to the draft governing medicinal use of drugs by year-end.

The draft will then go before parliament for debate and a vote. The pilot project would start after the new law is adopted, probably in 2018.

Since 2012, Luxembourg has authorised the use of medicines with cannabis ingredients, but not raw forms of marijuana.

The health ministry's drugs advisor Alain Origer warned that visitors will have to be aware of their own country's laws if they enter Luxembourg for medical marijuana prescriptions and return home to use it.

Some 177,000 workers from neighbouring countries daily enter Luxembourg, a country of 590,000 people.

Neighbouring France bans marijuana use, but Germany recently legalised it for medical purposes. Belgium tolerates limited personal marijuana use even if they have no medical reason.
Helsinki (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday that he supported a diplomatic solution for the Syria conflict, as America and its partners look beyond the defeat of the Islamic State group in the war-torn nation.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his arrival for talks in Finland on Monday, Mattis said intelligence assessments -- based primarily on the numbers of jihadists who have surrendered, deserted or been wounded -- showed that "the whole bottom was dropping out" of IS.

He said he supported a UN-backed effort in Geneva, which has run in parallel to a Russian and Iranian-led process, to reach a diplomatic solution.

"Basically, we are trying to get this into the diplomatic mode so we can sort this out and make certain that minorities, whoever they are, are not subject to what we've seen" under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The fight against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria is not over, but they have sustained a string of major defeats and lost most of the territory they once held.

US allies are anxious for clear guidance from Washington about its plans in Syria once the Islamic State group is crushed.

Mattis's arrival in Finland kicked of a week of talks with regional allies and NATO partners that will focus on security issues including IS and Russia's increased military assertiveness.

He will head to NATO headquarters in Brussels later in the week.

Mattis's Helsinki visit also spotlights the workings of the so-called Northern Group, a little-known forum of 12 European nations that focuses on the continent's military and security challenges, particularly those coming from the east.

The trip "is an opportunity to reiterate that we stand by our friends' democracies, NATO and otherwise in Europe, if any nation including Russia seeks to undermine the rules-based international order," Mattis said.

"We do have a lot of shared values about sovereignty," he added.

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Though Finland and Sweden are not NATO members, they cooperate closely with the 28-member alliance.

Moscow frequently sends warplanes into the skies around the Baltics and Europe remains anxious about Russia's military intentions, especially after the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The Northern Group comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Britain.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Senior Mexican diplomats on Monday condemned the upcoming execution of a Mexican inmate on death row in Texas, calling his sentence "illegal" and vowing to exhaust all possible efforts to prevent him from being killed later this week. In a news conference in Mexico City, Carlos Sada, Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America, told reporters that Texas prosecutors did not follow due process in the case of Ruben Cardenas, who was sentenced to death for raping and killing his 15-year-old cousin in 1997. "From the start, there has been a failure, and from our perspective, this is an illegal act," Sada said. The planned execution comes as relations between Mexico and the United States are at a low, hurt by U.S. President Donald Trump's vows to build a wall along the Mexican border, and his threats to end the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Cardenas, who is due to die on Wednesday, was not given the chance to speak with consular officials in contravention of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Sada said. He added Mexico would look to stay the execution by seeking to overturn how Cardenas' confession was obtained, while also looking to exonerate him with up-to-date DNA testing. There are currently two separate appeals under way and Mexico is willing to take Cardenas' case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary, Sada added. Mexico does not have the death penalty and opposes it, regularly clashing with the United States when Mexican nationals are set to be executed on U.S. soil. Sada said 54 Mexicans were currently facing U.S. death sentences. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ruled in 2004 that the United States had violated international law by failing to inform 51 Mexicans now on death row of their right to consular assistance, and said the cases should be reviewed. Alejandro Alday, a legal advisor to the Mexican government, said Cardenas was one of the 51 covered by the ICJ ruling, and accused Texas of breaching the Vienna convention in failing to advise Cardenas of his right to consular assistance. (Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Sandra Stojanovic

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas man who saw a local exchanging gunfire with the assailant who had just massacred 26 people at a small town church said he had no hesitation in pursuing the gunman because he needed to be stopped.

"That's it. I mean that's the bottom line, he needed to be stopped," Johnnie Langendorff told Reuters TV. "He was stopped and he's not going to hurt anyone else ever again."

Langendorff was driving his pickup truck in Sutherland Springs on Sunday when he saw a local man, Stephen Willeford, trading rifle fire with a black-clad stranger who had just emerged from the First Baptist Church.

"He jumped in my truck and said 'He just shot up the church, we got to get him' and I said 'OK, let's go,'" Langendorff said of his rapid words with Willeford.

"And so from there we blew through this intersection and he started going about 90-95 (miles per hour) (145-153 km per hour) keeping up with this guy," Langendorff said.

At the time, neither of them knew they were chasing Devin Kelley, 26, an Air Force veteran who police say put on tactical gear, a ballistic vest and skull-like mask to carry out the most deadly mass shooting in the modern history of Texas.

The pursuit lasted about 10-12 minutes, Langendorff said. Then Kelley lost control and crashed into a ditch. They stopped too and Willeford trained his rifle on the disabled vehicle, Langendorff added, but the gunman never emerged.

Willeford's cousin Ken Leonard told CNN that Willeford shot Kelley where there was a gap in his vest.

"Stephen is the best shot that I know," Leonard told CNN. "He without armor and barefooted ran into the fire and put his own life at risk, took return fire and fired accurately three times. That's an amazing accomplishment, especially for a man who has, who was never in the military."

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Freeman Martin, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, described Willeford as a good Samaritan and a "Texas hero."

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Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt also hailed Willeford for grabbing his gun and responding to the danger.

"He didn't have to come out," Tackitt told Reuters. "He could have stayed at his house."

(Reporting by Sandra Stojanovic in Sutherland Springs, Texas; Additional reporting by Andrew Hay in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Lisa Shumaker)
Rome (AFP) - Five migrants including a young child died Monday as result of a "violent, reckless" and "illegal" intervention by Libya's coastguard in a rescue in international waters, a German charity group said.

Sea Watch, one of several NGOs which operate search-and-rescue boats in the Mediterranean, said the lives had been lost needlessly because of heavy handed tactics of a coastguard being trained and financed by the European Union.

The German charity said its boat Sea-Watch 3 had been sent early Monday to the aid of a sinking dinghy by Italy's coastguard and had arrived at the scene around the same time as a Libyan patrol boat.

According to the NGO, the Libyans began "beating and threatening" the migrants on the stricken boat, provoking panic that caused some to fall overboard.

The patrol boat then tried to move off with people still clinging to its sides, prompting the intervention of an Italian navy helicopter to try to calm the situation.

"Probably, nobody would have had to die today if only we had the possibility to operate reasonably in a calm environment," said Sea Watch head of mission Johannes Bayer.

"These deaths have to be blamed on the Libyan coast guards who have obstructed a safe rescue with their brutal behaviour," he added.

"European governments finally have to draw conclusions from this incident and stop the collaboration with the Libyan coastguard."

Sea Watch said the rescue had taken place 30 nautical miles north of tripoli, well outside Libyan territorial waters.

In response, the Libyan coastguard accused Sea Watch of causing "panic and confusion" among the migrants.

"They all wanted to reach the ship of the German NGO," spokesman General Ayoub Qassem said.

"Even those who had been rescued and were on the coastguard's boat jumped in the water to try and reach the Sea Watch boat, which refused orders to leave the area," he said.

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The Libyan vessel took an unknown number of migrants back to the North African state while 58 survivors were on board the Sea-Watch 3.

European efforts to beef up the Libyan coastguard have been cited as one reason for a sharp fall in the number of migrants leaving Libya for Italy on traffickers' boats since mid-July.

However, there have been signs of a pick-up in activity off Libya since the start of November.

Some 2,500 migrants have been rescued and brought to Italy so far this month, along with the bodies of 26 mainly Nigerian women recovered at the weekend.
Twenty-six people were killed Sunday when a gunman opened fire inside a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. More than 20 people were wounded, 10 of whom are still in critical condition, authorities said Monday.

The mass shooting is among the deadliest in modern U.S. history. These statistics illustrate the devastation of the attack:

The youngest victim of the Texas shooting was 18 months old

The 26 people who were killed on Sunday ranged from 18 months to 77 years years old, law enforcement officials said Monday. Several children are among the victims and those still in critical condition.

8 members of one family were killed in the attack

Eight members of the Holcombe family were killed in the South Texas rampage  including associate church pastor Bryan Holcombe, his wife, son, pregnant daughter-in-law and four of his grandchildren, according to ABC News.

Crystal Holcombe, the pregnant daughter-in-law, died with three of her children. Her other two children and her husband survived and are in the hospital, CNN reported.

The Columbine shooting is no longer among the 10 deadliest U.S. shootings

Thirteen people were killed and more than 20 were wounded in a shooting on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado a devastating massacre that no longer falls among the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history. At the time, the Columbine shooting shifted the conversation about school safety and sparked heated gun control debates in Congress. Gunmen at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 later claimed to be influenced by the Columbine shooters.

Two of the five deadliest shootings took place in the past two months

Just over a month before Devin Kelley opened fire at the small church in Sutherland Springs, a gunman killed 58 people and injured more than 500 at a Las Vegas music festival on Oct. 1. The two incidents are among the five deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history.

Gun-related deaths in the U.S. continue to rise

Gun-related homicides increased from 9,600 in 2015 to 11,000 in 2016, according to a recent Associated Press analysis of FBI data. And the firearm death rate rose to 12 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016  an increase from 11 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015, according to recently released data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nutella has changed its recipe, and chocolate-spread devotees have flocked to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Italian manufacturer Ferrero (which counts Nutella as one its confectionary brands) has confirmed that the change to the spread makes it lighter and contains more sugar.

Chocolate-spread fanatics are less than impressed with Nutellas revamped recipe. (Photo: Getty Images)

According to the BBC, the new formula contains 8.7 percent powdered skim milk (compared with the previous quantity of 7.5 percent) and that sugar content has increased from 55.9 percent to 56.3 percent.

The decision has divided Nutella fans across the globe, and many have posted on social media threatening to boycott the brand, using the hashtag #NutellaGate.

OMG!! They are changing the recipe of #Nutella !!! NOOOOOOOO HOW DARE THEY!! Leave the sugar & coco alone!!! pic.twitter.com/TjN8Xeb60E  Gemma Byrne (@XGemma_ByrneX) November 7, 2017

If the rumors of #Nutella changing their recipe are true, I am boycotting them. pic.twitter.com/583I7virnR  Gian WHAAAAAA..? (@Talchy) November 6, 2017

Nutella have changed the recipe! Whyyy! If it aint broke dont fix it! #NutellaGate pic.twitter.com/lGhKTyv5ni  Impression (@MyImpression_) November 7, 2017

Are we gonna talk about how Nutella has changed its recipe and now looks and tastes different or ??? #notokay  Jennifer (@jenniferanne89) November 7, 2017

Yet despite customer concerns, the chocolate giant has reassured the public that the product hasnt changed much.

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In a statement, Ferrero announced, The quality  and all other aspects of Nutella remain the same. The company has yet to say why the recipe has changed.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren decided Sunday was a good time to talk about Texas and firearms after a gunman killed at least 26 people during a church service in the state. But at least one Texan was quick to shut that argument down.

On Sunday morning, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire on people gathered at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs with a Ruger assault-type rifle, killing at least 26, including multiple children, and injuring 20 more before fleeing after exchanging shots with another resident who had a rifle, the Washington Post reported. Kelley was later found dead from what officials believe was a self-inflicted gunshot.

After the mass shooting  the fifth worst in modern U.S. history  outcry ensued over the need for stricter gun laws, as Texas has some of the most lax in the nation. But Lahren was not part of that outcry.

If you think its wise to lecture Texans on gun laws, Im guessing you havent spent much time in Texas.  Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) November 6, 2017

Brandon Friedman, a former Obama administration official with the Department of Housing and Urban Development whos now a Dallas resident, responded to Lahren, saying that he is a Texan, a gun owner and a believer in the need for policy change.

Hi. Gun owner here. Also a former gun user. I live in Texas. Our gun laws are counterproductive. Try to not speak for an entire state. https://t.co/Mcf2U58sNn  Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) November 6, 2017

He noted that the good guy with a gun legend is often nothing but a selfish hero fantasy.

Being the good guy with a gun is a selfish hero fantasy for so many "sheepdogs." It's not about keeping the flock safe.  Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) November 6, 2017

If it were, they'd be focused instead on policy solutions that would stop mass killings before they occur. Like restricting access to guns.  Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) November 6, 2017

Lahren later tweeted that there was no public push for a truck ban following the Halloween attack in New York City that killed eight people.

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Didnt hear liberals asking for a truck ban after last weeks terror attack,yet they think stripping away our gun rights is the answer now.  Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) November 6, 2017

Kelley lived in New Braunfels, Texas, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, He was a member of the U.S. Air Force until a bad conduct discharge in 2014; in 2012, he had been court marshaled for assaulting his spouse and child.

According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Kelley was denied a license to carry a gun.

So how was it that he was able to get a gun? By all the facts that we seem to know, he was not supposed to have access to a gun, Abbott said, per CNN. So how did this happen?

Also on HuffPost

Law enforcement officials investigate a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Members of the Wilson County Sheriff's Office stand just inside a taped-off area near the First Baptist Church.

Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church following a shooting on Nov. 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church.

A sign at the First Baptist Church.

Law enforcement officials continue their investigation at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.

A gunman killed 26 people at the church and wounded many more when he opened fire during a Sunday service.

View of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.

A woman and her children take part in a vigil for victims of a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs.

Michaun Johnson attends a candlelight vigil.

Danny Barker, his wife Tomie and grandson Gage attend a candlelight vigil after a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church.

Sofia Martinez, 9, attends a candlelight vigil after a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church.

Bailey Lejeaune and David Betancourt attend a candlelight vigil after a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church.

Local residents take part in a vigil for victims of a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Members of the Democratic Left Front, various trade unions and NGO's protest outside parliament ahead of South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene's 2015 budget speech to parliament in the National Assembly, Cape Town, 25 February 2015. Minister Nene delivered his first budget in his new capacity and announced hikes in both tax and fuel levies as a way of funding the 1.2 Trillion Rand budget.

A former president of the United Nations general assembly creates an offshore trust that gets a lucrative airport contract in Uganda, benefitting both him and his daughter. An opposition figure in Zambia is listed as director in an overseas company that has interests in mining and nickel exploration. And the brother of Ghanas former president is the head of a company that does consulting for the west African nations oil and gas development.

These are some of the revelations from Africa documented in the Paradise Papers, a global investigation into the offshore transactions of some of the worlds biggest corporations and wealthiest people. The cache of secret records was leaked from Appleby, a Bermuda-based law firm that provides legal advice to business elites. Together, the 13.4 million documents shed light on the top end of the world of offshore finance, and how the politically powerful take advantage of the system, deal in corruption and bribery, and avoid paying taxes.

The leaked documents also show how multinationals, who are often accused of plundering national resources, continue to gain access in Africa. For instance, at the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Paradise Papers show that the mining multinational Glencore gave the Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler a $45 million loan if he secured a mining contract from the government. Gertler was previously mentioned in a UN report for giving money to the DRC government to buy weapons and finance its war in exchange for a monopoly on the countrys diamonds. In Burkina Faso, Glencore protested after officials sought $29 million in unpaid taxes and penalties, eventually paying only $1.5 million.

According to the papers, Nigerias current central bank governor Godwin Emefiele, then a top executive at Zenith Bank and his boss, Jim Ovia, were involved in an 11 million ($14.5 million) VAT avoidance scheme by buying luxury jets for the bank through an offshore company.

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African oligarchs and elite businesspeople have often extracted wealth from their nations and stored it outside the continentoften going abroad to get education, medical treatment, and vacations. And while having offshore companies and trusts does not imply wrongdoing, it raises issues about fairness, ethical dealings, and conflict of interest. It also raises an important question about growing inequality, and how the burden of taxation has shifted towards the middle and low-income people instead of rich corporations.

Bukola Saraki  Nigeria. The head of Nigerias senate, Saraki was the director of Tenia Limited, a company established in the Cayman Islands in 2001. Saraki was previously investigated for using public funds to acquire private property, after which a tribunal dismissed charges against him. Saraki said the case against him was politically motivated and told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) that there was nothing unlawful in the ownership of offshore companies.

Ibrahim Mahama  Ghana. Ibrahim is the brother of the former president of Ghana, John Mahama. As the head of the private engineering firm Engineers & Planners, Ibrahim is under investigation by Ghanas economic and organized crimes office for issuing dud checks. In 2013, representatives of Mahama contacted Appleby to create offshore companies that would provide consulting in the oil and gas industry besides real estate. Appleby listed the company as high risk given Ibrahims relationship with the then-president and allegations that the government was repaying the companys multimillion-dollar loan. A company representative has declined any wrongdoing.

Sam Kahamba Kutesa  Uganda. Kutesa has been the foreign minister of Uganda for 12 years now, and was president of the UN general assembly during its 2014-2015 session. In 2012, he created the Obuyonza Discretionary Trust in the Seychelles; his daughter, Ishta, also listed as a beneficial owner as well as a future recipient of money from the trust. The company provided consulting and airport services in Uganda, and Kutesa also provided ground-handling services at Ugandas Entebbe airport through his other company Enhas. Kutesa told Appleby that the purpose of the trust was to separate his government income from his personal assets and belongings.

Kutesa says he has nothing to hide and told the Daily Monitor newspaper in Uganda that he established the companies, but I have never done anything with it at all. I told Appleby to close it many years ago.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  Liberia. Applebys files show that Liberias president was listed as a director of a Bermuda-based financial company up until 2012. Songhai Financial Holdings is a subsidiary of Databank, a financial services firm where Sirleaf served as a director before she became president. Stephen D. Cashin, a board member of Databank, says that Sirleaf resigned from the company before her election, but her leave was not effected until 2012 due to an administrative oversight in Bermuda.

Sally Kosgei  Kenya. Kosgei served as both a cabinet minister and member of parliament in Kenya. Kosgei owned Zonrisa, a company registered in the Isle of Man under the name Aisha Limited. Zonrisa owned a $1 million apartment in central London near Harrods department store in 2001, when she began work as the cabinet secretary in the office of the president. Kosgei defended the purchase saying there was no relation whatsoever between the purchase and date of her work. She also told ICIJ that she acted on her lawyers advice.

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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is defending his call for prayers after a gunman killed 26 people in a Texas church on Sunday.

Ryan and other politicians have been criticized for offering thoughts and prayers instead of legislative action to reduce gun violence. But on Monday night, Ryan told Fox News host Laura Ingraham:

Its disappointing, its sad, and this is what youll get from the far secular left. People who do not have faith dont understand faith, I guess Id have to say. And it is the right thing to do is to pray in moments like this, because you know what? Prayer works. And I know you believe that, and I believe that and when you hear the secular left doing this thing, its no wonder you have so much polarization and disunity in this country when people think like that.

Sending thoughts and prayers on social media has become a way for both religious and secular people to grieve after national tragedies.

For religious people in particular, prayer is an important form of worship and a way to ask God for guidance and intervention.

Especially after great personal sorrow, faith helps people to cling to hope. The Rev. Frank Pomeroy, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, lost his 14-year-old daughter and at least 25 other church members in Sundays mass shooting. He told reporters on Monday that he has decided to lean into the Lord.

I dont understand, but I know my God does, Pomeroy said.

But it is one thing for Pomeroy to lean into his faith after the shooting at his church, and something completely different for Ryan to offer prayers without action  especially after reportedly receiving more than $170,000 in contributions from gun rights groups in 2016.

In a statement, Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a group representing more than 70 Episcopal bishops, said that Christians are called to pray after the tragic shooting in Texas, but that prayer should also be accompanied by deep introspection about whether we are complicit in the evils we deplore.

Story continues

In the wake of the heartbreaking shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, we find ourselves both calling people to prayer, and wishing that the word did not come so readily to the lips of elected leaders who are quick to speak, but take no action on behalf of public safety, the bishops said. Each of us has a role to play in our repentance. Elected representatives bear the responsibility of passing legislation that protects our citizenry. If our representatives are not up to this responsibility, we must replace them. In the meantime, however, we ask that in honor of our many murdered dead, elected leaders who behave as though successive episode of mass slaughter are simply the price our nation pays for freedom stop the reflexive and corrosive repetition of the phrase thoughts and prayers.

One does not offer prayers in lieu of demonstrating political courage, but rather in preparation.

See Ryan and Ingrahams full discussion in the clip above.

This article has been updated with comments from Rev. Frank Pomeroy and Bishops United Against Gun Violence.

Related...

Half The People Killed In The Texas Shooting Were Children

Texas Shooting Once Again Proves Trump's Double Standard On Mass Shootings

Celebrities Show Anger After Texas Shooting

James Corden Highlights A Disturbing Trend In The Wake Of The Texas Church Shooting

Also on HuffPost

Haley Krueger, 16, was among those killed in the shooting. Krueger's mother, Charlene Marie Uhl, said that her daughter dreamed of being a neonatal nurse.



"She was a vibrant 16-year-old that loved life," Uhl told CNN.



A GoFundMe page has been set up by family friend to help Uhl handle the financial burden of losing her daughter.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Sydney (AFP) - A Papua New Guinea court Tuesday rejected a refugee's appeal to restore water, electricity and food supplies to a shuttered Australian detention camp where hundreds of men have barricaded themselves in.

The remote camp on Manus Island -- one of two offshore centres that holds asylum-seekers who try to reach Australia by boat -- was closed a week ago after the PNG Supreme Court ruled last year that it was unconstitutional.

But some 600 men have refused to leave despite having no basic services, saying they feared locals outside would be hostile.

One refugee, Iranian Behrouz Boochani, sought an injunction to restore water, power and food supplies, but his application was rejected.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Salamo Injia said in his judgement that there was "no real good reason why they should not voluntarily move" to three transition facilities.

Injia said while some constitutional rights may have been breached when the services were withdrawn, the refugees had "brought those upon themselves" by refusing to leave the camp.

Boochani's lawyer Ben Lomai told AFP he would appeal the decision.

Boochani, speaking on behalf of the refugees in the camp, said the court ruling showed "how we are forgotten people and there is no justice for us".

"We are used to the court decisions going against us", he told AFP.

He added that depriving refugees of basic services was "completely against humanity".

Australia's harsh immigration policy against boatpeople, which Canberra says is necessary to stop deaths at sea, has been widely criticised by the United Nations and human rights advocates.

Asylum-seekers are sent to Manus and Nauru, but the camps' conditions have been slammed by human rights groups, which have also campaigned to have them shut amid reports of widespread abuse, self-harm and mental health problems.

Amnesty International said Tuesday the court decision "jeopardises lives".

Story continues

"The decision is an abhorrent attack on the right to life," the group's Pacific researcher Kate Schuetze said in a statement.

"If authorities don't act immediately, there is a real risk that the situation will catastrophically deteriorate."

There were rallies in several cities over the weekend against the detention of the refugees, with protesters calling for them to be brought to Australia instead.

Canberra has strongly rejected calls to move the refugees to Australia and instead has tried to resettle them in third countries, including the United States.

But so far just 54 refugees have been accepted by Washington, with 24 flown to the US in September, under a deal struck with former US president Barack Obama and bitterly criticised by his successor Donald Trump.
A Pennsylvania man was arrested after police say he murdered his female friend when she rejected his marriage proposal, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Christopher Tucker, 34, has been charged with murder and criminal homicide for allegedly killing 19-year-old Tara Serino, who was last seen by her family early on the morning of October 30.

According to local police, Tucker asked Serino to marry him at his home in Berks County, Pennsylvania, sometime between Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon.

Photo: Champaign County Sheriff's Office

Serino rejected the proposal, stating that she was still sleeping with other men. The victim then allegedly made an off-hand comment that Tucker should "just kill her."

Police say Tucker flew into a fit of rage, choking Serino, snapping her neck, poking her eyes out and beating her with a hatchet until she died.

The suspect then wrapped the teen's body in a rug inside his house and fled to Illinois, where he was detained at a rest stop after he was caught attempting to break into a farmer's combine on Halloween.

NBC Philadelphia reports that Tucker confessed to murdering Serino after he was arrested, which led detectives to find her body in his home. He is currently being held in an Illinois jail.
Just one day after arriving in Japan for a 12-day trip across Asia, President Trump was briefed on yet another mass shooting that had happened on U.S. soil: the rampage in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in which 26 people were killed after a gunman opened fire on a church.

This is the third time within five weeks that Trump had to comfort a nation in the midst of a national tragedy. The shooting occurred just days after a terrorist attack in New York City killed eight people and injured a dozen more, and a little over a month after a gunman opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas, killed over 58 people and injured over 500.

The Presidents response to the tragedy in Texas echoed his reaction to the shooting in Las Vegas, where he offered condolences to the victims and stressed the importance of national unity, rather than his response to the New York City attack, where he immediately began calling for immigration policy changes after the suspect was identified.

News of the shooting began to break Sunday afternoon, at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern. At 3:06 P.M., Trump tweeted: May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.

At 5:54 P.M. Eastern  which was Monday morning in Japan  Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump had been continuously briefed on the shooting and had spoken with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends and families affected. May God comfort them all in this time of tragedy, Sanders says in a statement.

Approximately three hours later, the White House issues an official statement from Trump thanking first responders, calling for national unity, and pledging assistance for the investigation.

We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel, and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost the ones they loved. Our hearts are broken. But in dark times such as these, Americans do what we do best: we pull together. We join hands. We lock arms. And through the tears and the sadness, we stand strong, Trump says in the statement.

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The White House also issues a presidential proclamation honoring the victims of the shooting.

Trump subsequently addresses the shooting in remarks to U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo, reiterating the sentiments expressed in the White House statement. Our hearts are broken, but in dark times  and these are dark times  such as these, Americans do what they do best: We pull together. We join hands, we lock arms, and through the tears and through the sadness, we stand strong  oh, so strong, he says.

By this point after the New York City attack just days earlier, Trump had already said on Twitter that he had implemented policy changes, asking the Department of Homeland Security to intensify extreme vetting procedures after the suspect was identified as an immigrant from Uzbekistan. When a reporter tried to ask Trump about gun control policy after this event, according to a pool report, White House aides asked the media to leave.

But Trump held a joint news conference Monday morning with Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, less than 24 hours after the attack, where a question about the shooting and possible gun control measures inevitably came up. He told reporters that mental health is the issue at hand, and that the gunman, who authorities have identified as 26-year-old Devin Kelley, was a very deranged individual.

We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries. But this isnt a guns situation. I mean, we could go into it, but its a little bit soon to go into it, Trump continued. But, fortunately, somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise it would have been  as bad it was, it would have been much worse.
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The federally appointed oversight board that manages Puerto Rico's finances asked Congress on Tuesday for backing in its fight with the island's governor over who should take charge of limping efforts to restore electric power after Hurricane Maria.

The board suggested that Congress make billions in federal aid expected to flow to Puerto Rico contingent on allowing it to name a new management team for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the island's bankrupt utility.

The idea, presented to lawmakers on the House Natural Resources Committee during a hearing, was quickly rebuked by a top aide to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, who said the board had overstepped its authority.

Power shortages affecting hospitals, schools and businesses have prompted as many as 100,000 Puerto Ricans to flee for the mainland - a level of migration that could further hobble the local economy. As of Monday - more than six weeks after the storm hit - 42 percent of the bankrupt island's electricity had been restored.

Last month, the oversight board moved to appoint retired Air Force Colonel Noel Zamot to run PREPA, a move being fought in court by Rossello and bondholders.

Given the urgency of restoring electric power, Natalie Jaresko, the board's executive director, asked lawmakers to clarify that the board has the authority to appoint Zamot, and suggested that federal aid be made contingent on it.

Jaresko said the price tag for rebuilding the storm-battered island - home to 3.4 million Americans - was as high as $100 billion.

Congress is expected to weigh another request for tens of billions in disaster aid for Puerto Rico and other hurricane-hit regions before the end of the year.

"We would appreciate a legislative affirmation of those [authorities], and/or conditioning of appropriations on those powers as you see fit," Jaresko told lawmakers.

She also said federal loans provided to the cash-strapped island government to help it with payroll should include a "formalized mechanism" linking the liquidity relief to a new fiscal plan being developed by the board.

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Christian Sobrino, a top aide to Rossello, said in an interview after the hearing that it was "beyond the pale" for Jaresko to ask for more power in the midst of an emergency.

"If a similar action or similar words were drawn in the case of Florida or Texas or Louisiana or any other state, there would be outrage," Sobrino said, naming states that have recently experienced natural disasters.

Rossello is set to appear before the same panel on Nov. 14.

Committee Chairman Rob Bishop told reporters that he would not yet sketch out the steps Congress might take.

"I want to do that which I can do quickly and effectively so I can give them the clarification so they can go forward," he said.

WHITEFISH CONTRACT

Lawmakers had planned to grill Ricardo Ramos, PREPA's executive director, at the hearing. But on Monday night, the utility said he was too busy to attend.

The House committee has asked PREPA to explain the circumstances surrounding the awarding of a $300 million contract to Whitefish Energy Holdings, a small Montana company that had been hired to rebuild the island's power grid.

The contract has since been terminated.

While PREPA officials were not present, lawmakers nonetheless lashed out against the utility, with some calling for ending its monopoly on the island.

Calling it "a vehicle for political patronage for decades," Democratic Representative Darren Soto said: "It has exhibited gross incompetence by overseeing a declining grid, approved a no-bid insider Whitefish contract and it's been mired in debt. PREPA is failing the Puerto Rican people."

Soto, who represents a central Florida district with a large Puerto Rican population, called on Puerto Rican authorities to work with the oversight board "to break up PREPA's failing monopoly" and establish regional entities to provide electricity.

Jaresko weighed in, prompted by Soto, saying, "a state-owned monopoly does not work."

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Tom Brown and Chizu Nomiyama)
By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations and Red Cross on Tuesday urged the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen to re-open an aid lifeline to bring imported food and medicine into the country.

It is estimatd that seven million people are facing famine there.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country to stem the flow of arms from Iran.

The Saudis and their allies say the Houthis get weapons from their arch-foe, Iran. Iran denies the charges and blames the conflict in Yemen on Riyadh.

The U.N. Security Council is due to meet on Wednesday, at the request of Sweden, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Yemen, diplomats said in New York.

"We call for all air and sea ports to remain open to ensure food, fuel and medicines can enter the country," Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs said in Geneva.

He said humanitarian operations are currently "blocked" because air and sea ports in Yemen are closed,

The Saudi-led coalition has told the world body to "inform all commercial vessels at Hodeidah and Saleef ports to leave", Laerke said, referring to Red Sea ports controlled by the Houthis.

The price of fuel jumped 60 percent "overnight" in Yemen and the price of cooking gas doubled, he said. "This is an access problem of colossal dimensions right now."

SUPPLY LINES

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) joined the call.

"Food, medicine and other essential supplies are critical for the survival of 27 million Yemenis already weakened by a conflict now in its third year," Robert Mardini, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement.

The ICRC said that a shipment of chlorine tablets to prevent cholera did not get clearance at Yemen's northern border. It voiced fears for 50,000 vials of insulin for diabetics due to be delivered by next week, which require constant refrigeration.

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ICRC spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet said that a ship carrying 500 metric tonnes of rice, which arrived in Hodeidah port in October after a three-month trip from Pakistan, had to leave the port last week without offloading because the ship's crane had broken.

The port itself lacks adequate cranes after repeated coalition bombing.

Rupert Colville, U.N. human rights spokesman, said it would study whether the blockade amounted to "collective punishment", banned under international law, but hoped that it would be temporary.

Attacks in Yemen over the past week that have killed dozens of civilians, including children, at markets and homes, he said.

These included at least nine air strikes on the Houthi-held city of Sanaa since Saturday, when a missile was fired from Yemen towards the Saudi capital of Riyadh, he said.

A cholera epidemic has caused 908,702 suspected cases and 2,194 deaths since the outbreak began in April, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called for increased aid to Yemen, citing alarm at the latest U.N. report. "No one will be able to say later, particularly with respect to Yemen, that they didnt know what was happening.

(Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York and Andrea Shalal in Berlin; editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
Melania Trumps calligraphy is receiving an entertaining reworking, courtesy of Reddit users.

The U.S. first lady joined her Japanese counterpart, Akie Abe, for a fourth-grade calligraphy class at the Kyobashi Tsukiji Elementary School in Tokyo on Monday.

Trump wrote the first character of the word peace, while Abe did the second. They then posed for this snap:

U.S. first lady Melania Trump and Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, write the word "peace" in Japanese. (Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The picture soon came to the attention of Reddit users who reimagined the pairs efforts in a Photoshop battle.

One joker even tweaked the characters to read Help me in Japanese:

Heres a sampling of the other responses so far:

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Disturbing reports have emerged from North Korea stating that the country's nuclear program has had a crippling effect on nationals who live near a major testing site.

The Research Association of Vision of North Korea spoke with 21 defectors from Kilju, a town near the Punngye-ri nuclear test site where six tests have been conducted, according to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

The group painted an extremely bleak picture of the current state of the region, claiming that about 80 percent of trees planted in the city die and that all of their underground wells have run dry due to nuclear activity.

"I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there," one defector told the paper.

Another defector who fled the country in 2010 said that North Korean authorities provided no warning before the nuclear tests and no protection afterward

"During the first nuclear test (October of 2006) and second one (May of 2009), only family members of soldiers were evacuated to underground shafts," the defector recalled. "Ordinary people were completely unaware of the tests."

"I personally saw corpses floating down the river with their limbs severed," one added.

SEE: Satellite photos of Punngye- ri:

During the bombshell interview, the defectors also alleged that people who live near the site have been banned from hospitals in the capital, Pyongyang.

"Kilju locals who made appointments in a large hospital in Pyongyang were not allowed to enter the capital after the sixth nuclear test," one defector admitted.

The group also claimed that anyone caught boarding trains with samples of soil, water or leaves were arrested and sent to prison camps, in an effort to keep the state of Kilju under wraps.
White supremacist Richard Spencer came off looking like a supreme idiot during an interview with a black British journalist.

Gary Younge, editor-at-large for The Guardian, interviewed Spencer for Angry, White And American, a documentary airing Thursday night on the British network Channel 4.

In the clip below, Younge makes no secret that he is conflicted about interviewing the white supremacist, and considers the term alt-right to be just a new word for fascism.

However, he chose to talk with Spencer as Spencer and people like him credit themselves with providing the intellectual underpinnings for the Trump revolution.

Younge interviewed Spencer in Mississippi in a car park, surrounded by what he described in an article for the Guardian as an entourage of adoring bigots.

Spencer, who appeared surprised to discover his interviewer was a black man, attempted to justify why Africans have benefited from their experience with white supremacy.

Spoiler alert: He didnt come across well.

Younge: So slavery was good for them?

Spencer: Look, they benefited from being in a different nation than their own. No doubt. How can you deny that.

Younge: Its such a ridiculous notion that people forcibly removed from their homes and taken to this country to work for nothing for a couple of centuries  and that benefited them?

The topic later turned to Trump, who Spencer said didnt share his ideal of the ethno-state but did feel some sense of loss that we are losing our nations, here in the United States, in Britain [and] across the world.

Younge did not agree, saying, Im not losing my nation. Im British.

Spencer then tried to shade the truth by claiming, Of course youre not losing your nation because youre winning the demographic battle.

Why am I winning? Younge said. Im living in the place of my birth. Just like you.

Spencer smirked. But thats not really your home.

Younge replied, You dont get to tell me where my home is.

Story continues

Spencer pushed more. But you know its not your real home. ... Your ancestors didnt build it.

Sorry! Listen, my ancestors built it tenfold  and werent paid for it! Younge said.

Spencer then argued that Younges argument was like saying African-Americans built the United States.

They did! Younge snapped back. They literally built the White House.

Because we made them, Spencer retorted.

Younge asked Spencer, And youre proud of that?

Spencer conceded that slavery had bad consequences, but, the fact is, yes, I am ultimately proud of it. Im proud of slavery.

After another brief exchange, Younge decided the interview was over and told Spencer, Youre a ridiculous person.

Watch the whole interview below:

On a personal journey across white America, writer Gary Younge came face to face with alt-right leader Richard Spencer @Channel4 Thurs 10pm pic.twitter.com/25f0gHWmjO  Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 7, 2017

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Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost in a remote location outside Gainesville, Florida on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost in a remote location outside Gainesville, Florida, on Oct. 18.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost.

Eli Moseley, leader of Identity Ebropa, speaks during an interview with Richard Spencer and HuffPost.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost on Oct. 18.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost.

Richard Spencer speaks during an interview with HuffPost in a remote location outside Gainesville, Florida.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday he hoped that an international Syrian peace congress would take place in the near future. The Russian-sponsored Syrian peace congress scheduled for Nov. 18 was postponed after objections by Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said over the weekend. Asked whether the congress was postponed, Lavrov told a briefing that the date had not been officially announced. He added that he hoped that the United Nations would support holding the congress. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova)
Salesforce and Google inked a deal today that could provide easier integration between Salesforce tools and Google's G Suite and Google Analytics. It also named Google as a preferred cloud provider for its core services as part of its international infrastructure expansion.

The preferred provider part might sound familiar because in May, 2016, Salesforce signed a similar deal with AWS with Salesforce naming AWS... wait for it... yes, a preferred cloud provider, one which also had an eye on international infrastructure expansion.

I suppose there's nothing to prevent Salesforce from having two international preferred providers, and AWS remains a Salesforce partner, but it could leave them feeling a bit on the outside looking in today. Microsoft might be feeling it, as well, because part of the deal with Google makes G Suite, Salesforce's preferred email and productivity provider. Of course, Salesforce continues to have integrations with Outlook and Office 365, but the company could be sending Microsoft a message here.

You may recall that Microsoft and Salesforce made friends in 2014 when the two companies announced they were going to have similarly large integration plans. You can tell it was a big day because Satya Nadella and Marc Benioff were smiling and happy.

Photo: Marc Benioff

Nadella even came to Dreamforce, Salesforce's customer extravaganza the following year, but things began to sour when Microsoft began to move in on Salesforce's territory with the release of Dynamics 365 integrated cloud platform in July, 2016. Then the following September, it won the HP, Inc. CRM business from Salesforce (and bragged about it). Salesforce tried unsuccessfully to get regulators to block the $26 billion deal to buy LinkedIn. The two companies are still working together, but it seems the relationship might have cooled a bit.

And perhaps the end result of all that tit for tat was Salesforce bought Quip last year for $750 million to bring its own collaboration tools to the Salesforce platform -- and decided to build a warmer relationship with AWS and Google.

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Several tools are available today, including Salesforce Lightning connectors for GMail and Google Sheets along with Quip Live Apps for Google Drive and Google Calendar. Live Apps, which were announced just this morning, provide live connectors for two-way updating between the apps and Quip. The companies also announced Salesforce Hangout Meets, which integrates Salesforce CRM data inside Google Hangouts Meet spaces.

As for the analytics part, Constellation Research founder and principal analyst Ray Wang says this is about Salesforce battling Adobe for its analytics business. Adobe Analytics and the Adobe Experience Cloud are both rivals of Salesforce marketing and analytics tools, and by teaming up with Google, Salesforce hopes to boost the analytics part of the business.

Today, Google is looking to move into the enterprise benefits from all of the political wrangling by becoming a preferred partner, whatever that entails. It also gains some of the enterprise credibility it is craving by virtue of its relationship with Salesforce, a proven enterprise software vendor, as it tries to push Google Cloud Platform deeper inside large companies.

The deal is clearly a win for both sides, and while the other players involved aren't exactly losers as they remain Salesforce partners, Google is the belle of the ball, at least for today.
Saudi border guards keep watch along the border with Yemen in the al-Khubah area - AFP

Saudi Arabia said it was shutting all land, sea and air borders with Yemen after accusing Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of a missile attack on its capital, as tensions escalated between the kingdom and Tehran.

Saudi accused Iran of war crimes on Monday after ballistic missile reportedly fired by the Shia rebels from Yemen hit near Riyadh's international airport.

It was the first attempted missile strike by the rebels to reach Riyadh and threaten air traffic, underscoring the growing threat posed by the conflict on Saudi Arabia's southern border.

"The kingdom reserves the right to respond in a timely manner to the hostile actions of the Iranian regime," Adel al-Jubeir, Saudis foreign minister, warned.

Tensions have been rising between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shia Iran, who are opposed in disputes and conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen and Syria to Qatar and Lebanon.

Late on Sunday a helicopter carrying a prince and several senior Saudi officials crashed in Asir province near the Yemen border.

Buthaina Muhammad Mansour, believed to be aged four or five, is rescued from the site of a Saudi-led air strike that killed eight family members in Sanaa, Yemen Credit: Reuters

Prince Mansour bin Moqren, the deputy governor of Asir and son of a former crown prince deposed by King Salman, was killed.

It was not know what caused the crash, although some Saudi observers pointed to the auspicious timing. Middle East Eye quoted sources as saying Prince Moqren had been attempting to flee the country.

The Houthi have not claimed responsibility as of yet.

The crash came after a weekend of major political upheaval in the kingdom dubbed the night of long knives, which saw a sweeping purge of at least 38 princes, ministers, senior officials, and businessmen.

The highest-profile royal caught in the sweep is Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, an outspoken billionaire royal with investments in Western companies including the Savoy Hotel in London.

The arrested officials, who are accused of corruption, are believed to be being held in the five-star Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Story continues

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is one of those members of the establishment caught in a purge Credit: Reuters

Critics say that 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is attempting to wipe out the old guard, whom he sees as a threat to his rule before his eventual rise to the throne.

Domestically the crown prince has taken a tough stance on those opposing his modernising reforms, while abroad his hawkish foreign policy has seen ratcheted tensions with archrival Iran.

Saudis attorney general hinted there was more to come, describing the weekend developments as phase one.

"Cynics calling it a power grab but actually power had been already consolidated," said Ali Shihabi, director of the Washington-based Arabia Foundation who is close to the establishment.

"This is about reshaping elite behaviour by picking high profile symbols. (Its) message is that house cleaning starts at the top."

Donald Trump, whose administration has grown close to Saudi Arabia over their shared objective to limit Iranian influence in the region, threw his support behind the monarchy's plans for reform.

The statement said that Mr Trump had sent a message of support for the king and crown princes wider plans, in the context of the American-backed effort to fight extremism.

Who rules Saudi Arabia?

It was the second major episode in the past two days in which Iran was accused of trying to destabilise the region, after Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon said on Saturday that he was quitting his post due to interference from Tehran.

Mr Hariri, Lebanon's most influential Sunni politician and a close Saudi ally, said Iran was meddling in the countrys affairs through allied Shia group Hizbollah.

The resignation could stoke tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims and return Beirut to paralysis in government.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidated his control over Saudi Arabias political system and foreign policy over the weekend in a series of orchestrated moves that included ordering the arrests of prominent officials and businessmen.

The first step came on midday Saturday, when Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri unexpectedly announced his resignation in a speech delivered from Riyadh. Hariri, a longtime client of Saudi Arabia, warned about assassination plots targeting him and said that Irans hands in the region will be cut off. Hariri, whose family owns a massive Saudi construction firm, had presided over a national unity government that included Hezbollah, Irans foremost ally in the country.

The Saudis are all-in in this business of rolling back Iranian influence, said Randa Slim, the director of the Track II Dialogues Initiative at the Middle East Institute. Their approach [in Lebanon] is going to be head-on confrontation by whatever means they have  political and financial.

Saudi officials had recently made clear they sought to confront Iran and its allies across the Arab world. In May, Mohammed bin Salman ruled out any dialogue with Iran, saying that Saudi Arabia will work so that the battle is on their side, inside Iran. Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan seemed to echo that stance last week, when he said that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah should be toppled from power, promising astonishing developments in the days to come.

The next day, the minister posted on Twitter that he had concluded a long and fruitful meeting with Hariri.

Hariris move has thrown Lebanese politics into flux. President Michel Aoun, an ally of Hezbollah, said that he would not accept the resignation until Hariri returns to the country. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, meanwhile, said that Hariris decision had been imposed by Saudi Arabia, and that his party had not sought the prime ministers exit. Why was Hariri not allowed to return to Lebanon to announce the resignation from here? he asked.

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Nasrallahs comments were meant to link Hariris departure to the arrest of dozens of Saudi princes and influential military officers, politicians, and businessmen in a purported anti-corruption sweep. The wave of arrests cemented Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans control over the kingdoms security institutions and threatened to bring down some of its most prominent businessmen.

There was no evidence that Hariri, who also holds Saudi citizenship, was caught up in the arrests, and on Sunday evening he posted a photograph of himself meeting with the new Saudi ambassador to Lebanon.

The most politically powerful figure to lose his job over the weekend was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, the son of former King Abdullah and a former candidate for the throne himself, who was removed from his post as head of the Saudi Arabian National Guard by royal decree. Prince Miteb was the last member of Abdullahs branch of the family to maintain a top government post, and his removal gives Crown Prince Mohammed an opportunity to extend his control to all of the countrys security branches.

The new anti-corruption committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meanwhile, targeted business figures with well-established relationships both inside and outside the kingdom. They include billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, the chairman of Kingdom Holding Co. and major investor in companies such as Twitter and Citigroup, and Bakr bin Ladin, the chairman of the construction conglomerate Saudi Binladin Group.

The arrested figures are reportedly being held in Riyadhs Ritz Carlton hotel.

Mohammed bin Salman is trying to make people understand that this is no longer business as usual, because if it remains business as usual, there is no way that he will ever be able to succeed with Vision 2030, said Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University, referring to the crown princes reform agenda, which includes diversifying the countrys economy and reforming the public sector. And I think theres a real realization that, for him to succeed, he has to crack the whip.

In doing so, however, the crown prince is consolidating his own power to a degree that Saudi Arabia has not seen in generations. Recent Saudi monarchs, Haykel said, had tried to build consensus among all the branches of the royal family  and in doing so, had created an unwieldy system that was at times incapable of making decisions.

Mohammed bin Salman is returning Saudi Arabia to the consolidated power dynamics of Ibn Saud, the first Saudi king, according to Haykel.

The difference, however, is that the current crown prince has a full, modern state  with all its instruments of power and coercion and efficiency  at his disposal, which the first king didnt have, he said. In effect, he and his father are the most powerful kings Saudi Arabia has ever seen.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's crown prince said Iran's supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of "direct military aggression" that could be an act of war, state media reported on Tuesday. Prince Mohammed bin Salman's comments were published after Saudi air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile that Saudi Arabia said was fired toward Riyadh on Saturday by the Iran-allied Houthi militia, which controls large parts of neighboring Yemen. Saudi-led forces, which back the internationally-recognized government, have been targeting the Houthis in a war which has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in one of the region's poorest countries. The supply of rockets to the Houthi movement could "constitute an act of war against the kingdom," state news agency SPA on Tuesday quoted Prince Salman as saying in a call with British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson. Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as "destructive and provocative" and "slanders". In reaction to the missile, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country. The United Nations on Tuesday called on the coalition to re-open an aid lifeline into Yemen, saying food and medicine imports were vital for 7 million people facing famine. "The situation is catastrophic in Yemen, it is the worst food crisis we are looking at today," Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told a briefing in Geneva. The missile launch was "most likely a war crime" Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday but also urged Saudi Arabia against restricting aid access to Yemen, where the United Nations estimates nearly 900,000 people are infected with cholera. "This unlawful attack is no justification for Saudi Arabia to exacerbate Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe by further restricting aid and access to the country," it said. The coalition said aid workers and humanitarian supplies would continue to be able to access and exit Yemen despite the temporary closure of ports but the United Nations said it was not given approval for two scheduled humanitarian flights on Monday. The United Nations and international aid organizations have repeatedly criticized the coalition for blocking aid access, especially to northern Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition has been targeting the Houthis since they seized parts of Yemen in 2015, including the capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee and seek help from neighboring Saudi Arabia. In an interview with CNN television on Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused the armed Lebanese Hezbollah group of firing the missile at Riyadh from Houthi-held territory. "With regards to the missile...that was launched on Saudi territory, it was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen." He said the missile was similar to one launched in July at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and was manufactured in Iran, disassembled and smuggled into Yemen, then reassembled by the operatives of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah, "then it was launched into Saudi Arabia." (Reporting by Sylvia Westall and Rania El Gamal in Dubai and Tom Perry in Beirut and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg/William Maclean)
On Late Night, Seth Meyers took a break from criticizing Donald Trumps political dealings to urge voters of New York City to vote for Trump for mayor. Meyers explained: Heres the thing. If Donald Trump gets enough votes for mayor of New York City and actually wins the election, I think we can convince him thats a better job than president.

Meyers has been an outspoken critic of Trumps, but this time he advocated for Trump to be in office. In order to lure Trump away from the White House, Meyers said that the job of mayor sounds easier and more fun than the job of president. Trump could evade questions about Puerto Rico and Russia and focus on things like the Mets.

Meyers pleaded, So tomorrow on Election Day, lets all come together and make Trump New York again.

Watch: Late Night with Seth Meyers fires back at Kevin Spacey statement

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SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will immediately start talks with the United States on developing the Asian nation's military capabilities, including deploying the latest surveillance assets, the South's presidential office said on Tuesday.

The pact was made during a summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, Blue House spokesman Yoon Young-chan told a news briefing.

The leaders also agreed to continue joint three-way efforts with Japan for practical responses to North Korean threats, he added.

(Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
"It was surreal to me": Stephen Willeford, the man who shot the Texas church gunman, describes his experience https://t.co/DYea03zUpz  CNN (@CNN) November 7, 2017

The man credited with firing the shots that chased off the gunman who killed 26 people in a Texas church on Sunday is speaking out.

And Stephen Willeford wants people to remain focused on the victims.

All I want to stress today is the people in that church, theyre friends of mine, theyre family, Willeford told 40/29 News, an ABC-affiliated station in Arkansas.

He said:

And every time I heard a shot I knew that that probably represented a life. I was scared to death. I was. I was scared for me. I was scared for everyone of them, and I was scared for my own family that just lived less than a block away.

Willeford said he grabbed his rifle from a safe and ran barefoot to the church when his daughter told him about the shooting. Once there, he confronted 26-year-old gunman Devin Patrick Kelley and the two traded gunfire.

I know I hit him, Willeford said.

When Kelley fled the scene, Willeford flagged down a pickup truck belonging to local resident Johnnie Langendorff.

The gentleman with the rifle came to my truck as the shooter took off, and he briefed me quickly on what had just happened, and said that we had to get him and so thats what I did, Langendorff told KSAT.

Langendorff said the chase eventually reached speeds of 95 mph. En route, the pair of good Samaritans contacted 911 to update authorities on the direction the gunman was heading.

During the pursuit, Kelley reportedly made his own call.

The suspect used his cellphone, notified his father that he had been shot and didnt think he was going to make it, Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety told NBC News.

The chase ended when Kelleys vehicle flipped into a ditch.

Story continues

Its like he just gave up, Langendorff told KSAT. He just kind of went off in the ditch, hit a hay bale from what I could see and then he just never moved after that.

Police said Kelley was found dead with three gunshot wounds: two likely from Willeford and a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Despite the gunfight and pursuit, Willeford insisted that he was not a hero.

Im no hero. I am not, he told 40/29 News. I think my God, my Lord, protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done and I just wish I couldve gotten there faster.

Read Willefords full interview here.

Sundays shooting was the deadliest in Texas history and the fifth-deadliest in recent U.S. history.

Also on HuffPost

Haley Krueger, 16, was among those killed in the shooting. Krueger's mother, Charlene Marie Uhl, said that her daughter dreamed of being a neonatal nurse.



"She was a vibrant 16-year-old that loved life," Uhl told CNN.



A GoFundMe page has been set up by family friend to help Uhl handle the financial burden of losing her daughter.

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Underdog Suzuki is one of the more mysterious Japanese brands. Rarely talked about, or indeed self-promoted, it quietly sold nearly 3 million vehicles worldwide in 2016 (alongside sister brand Maruti), and Suzuki has made some intriguingly original cars in recent years. Take the cute-but-tough Ignis city car SUV or the boxy-but-compact Hustler minivan, plus quite a few more.



Autoblog took the chance to catch up with the automaker's relatively new head of design, Akira Kamio, at the recent 2017 Tokyo Motor Show to discuss Suzuki latest e-Survivor SUV Concept, plus his personal inspirations.



The 54-year-old Kamio  whose design back catalog includes the concept and production Splash city car and second-generation Vitara small SUV, among others  says the beach-buggy-on-steroids show car "imagines a 2030 autonomous car with electric motors within each wheel on a ladder frame."



That's a long way out in conceptual terms, as some of the vehicle's futuristic details suggest  rim sections that change color from green to blue according to mode aren't strictly necessary  but there is solid functional thinking to some of its more outlandish elements. Case in point, the see-through doors  long a staple of concept-car design from Italian masters such as Giugiaro and others  have been rendered here in a forward-thinking way.



"When in autonomous mode the door glass goes opaque for privacy," Kamio said. "But when in off-road mode, the door glass automatically clears again so the driver can see the obstacles around it to help maneuver over rough terrain. This feature works on the model; it's a serious concept."



As to the most relevant element of the e-Survivor's design for nearer-term vehicles, Kamio points to the five vertical slots with the Suzuki "S" logo in front of the center slot. A familiar design cue of the classic Jimny SUV, here this graphic is illuminated and set behind a black-tinted perspex-like cover.



Kamio would not be drawn on when the next version of that long-running vehicle would arrive. But given that the third-generation version of the Jimny has been in production since 1998, the mark 4 is long overdue  even by the standards of Jimny's long manufacturing cycles  and is widely expected to arrive in 2018, taking proportional and design detail cues from the e-Survivor.



%Slideshow-776954%



Kamio definitely didn't want to divulge any more information about future Suzuki products, but he did concede to wishing that he had designed the very first Jimny  which dates to 1970  along with having a great respect for the design of the Citroen DS, too.



In terms of other individual designers he admires, this golden-age era of car design also offers inspiration. He's a big fan of Italian heavyweight car designer Marcello Gandini, who was behind the legendary 1966 Lamborghini Miura supercar, 1970s Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Countach, plus countless others.



"Any of his Lamborghinis" are perfect, according to Kamio.



Related Video:



Suzuki design chief discusses Tokyo e-Survivor SUV concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 17:07:00 EST.
Santubong (Malaysia) (AFP) - Taking aim with a traditional Borneo blowpipe, Britain's Prince Charles gave a royal puff and shot a sharpened wooden dart into a target as he tried out the weapon during a visit to the island on Monday.

Charles, heir to the British throne, and his wife Camilla met tribal leaders, enjoyed a raft ride and watched traditional dance on their trip to the vast, jungle-clad island during a tour of Malaysia, part of an 11-day swing through Asia.

The royal couple visited the "Cultural Village" in Malaysia's Sarawak state, an outdoor museum that showcases traditional dwellings and ways of live of the area's many different ethnic groups.

The blowpipe was traditionally used by tribes on Borneo to fire poison-tipped darts at animals or human enemies, although modern guns have largely replaced the old weapons.

Charles, dressed in a light suit, striped shirt and tie, closed one eye and appeared to be concentrating hard as he puffed through the lengthy wooden blowpipe which was balanced on the branch of a tree.

He had some success with the fearsome weapon, hitting the target with his arrow.

The couple were ferried round on a wooden raft on a lake at the museum, which sits on the Santubong Peninsula, with a roof to protect them from the tropical sun, against a backdrop of dense jungle.

Charles met the heads of some of the area's tribes, and he and Camilla also watched a dance by performers in multi-coloured tribal costumes and elaborate headdresses.

Borneo, the world's third largest island, is shared between Malaysia, Indonesia and the tiny sultanate of Brunei.

The couple have already visited Singapore and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on the tour, which is aimed at strengthening ties ahead of a Commonwealth Summit in Britain next year.

They will head to Penang in northern Malaysia Tuesday, which was hit by deadly floods at the weekend, before ending the tour in India.
Esmeralda, is that you? Instagram user bbyg6rls uncanny resemblance to Disneys The Hunchback of Notre Dame character is hard to ignore. The self-dubbed Indian girl shared a photo of herself with a purple headband and gold accessories, which is just what the animated character wears. Her followers couldnt help but compare her appearance to that of Esmeralda.

The internet says this teen is Esmeralda in real life. (Photo: Instagram bbyg6rl/Disney)

Bbyg6rl has nearly 280,000 Instagram followers, a sizable chunk of whom noticed the teens resemblance to Esmeralda. Her photo quickly racked up nearly 30,000 likes and 200 comments, with one commenter noting, You look exactly like Esmeralda. With the hoops and the hair and all. Another one added, Esmeralda vibes, you look so much like her.

Y'all can sit here and tell me Disney Princesses ain't real all y'all want but. pic.twitter.com/K2O3fD4YJB  boujee but broke (@okaybitchdoyou) October 16, 2017

Even without the similar accessories, the teen still resembles the Disney character, with her long, dark hair and striking green eyes making her the perfect real-life Esmeralda.

this reminds me of my nature era contacts from @ttd_eye A post shared by indian girl (@bbyg6rl) on Nov 6, 2017 at 8:33pm PST

Bbyg6rl, who did not respond to requests for comment from Yahoo Lifestyle, is not the only one online who resembles a Disney character. Ollie Mei, 21, lives in Florida and looks a bit like Moana (albeit on purpose).

Anna Faith, 21, went viral in 2014 when she posed next to a poster of Queen Elsa of Arendelle from Frozen, and the internet went wild with her crazy similarity.

Sorry, had to A post shared by Anna Faith (@annafaithxoxo) on Mar 22, 2014 at 2:57pm PDT

Here she is dressed up as Elsa.

Story continues

Olaf!!! A post shared by Anna Faith (@annafaithxoxo) on May 31, 2014 at 1:03pm PDT

New York-based model Olayinka Mia Noel not only resembles one Disney princess but can pass as two: Jasmine and Pocahontas. She first shared a photo of herself dressed up as Princess Jasmine, which was her Halloween costume of last year.

Guess who!? #princessjasmine @mianik.co #Guyanese A post shared by Olayinka Mia Noel (@olay.mia) on Oct 31, 2016 at 5:57pm PDT

This year, she transformed into a real-life Pocahontas.

Can you paint with alllll thee colors oof theeee wiiiind? A post shared by Olayinka Mia Noel (@olay.mia) on Oct 31, 2017 at 12:21pm PDT

Wow girl you are just beautiful, wrote a commenter. You look like Pocahontas then you look like Jasmine of Aladdin.

Looking for my Kocoum #ifrozemybuttoff #pocahontas A post shared by Olayinka Mia Noel (@olay.mia) on Oct 31, 2017 at 2:29pm PDT

These ladies prove that Disney magic can happen in real life.

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The residents of New Braunfels, where Texas church shooter Devin Patrick Kelley lived, are happy to talk about their quiet neighbourhood. Few had seen the 26-year-old around before his rampage that left 26 dead and 20 injured, but one thing did jump out to some  the morning gunfire.

Everybody around here is pretty much to themselves... Quiet, neighbour Robin Gonzales told The Independent. But Ms Gonzaless father, Robert, said he had noticed something unsettling recently.

Every morning when I would go out to the front of my house ... I could hear a lot of gunfire in that direction. It felt like it was next door, he said.

Mr Gonzales said the gunfire would start as early as 8am, and occasionally sounded like it was coming from an assault rifle.

It just kept going on, Mr Gonzales recalled. He would go crazy all the way to 12pm. I thought it was target practice.

Authorities are still trying to pin down an exact motive for the mass shooting, which happened about 35 miles away from New Braunfels, at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Officials say the attack may have stemmed from a domestic situation within the Kelley family, rather than a racial or religious motivation.

The street where the Kelleys live is usually quiet. Its what Texans call a farm to market road  a country road located just outside the city limits. Kelleys home sits atop a winding, paved road that is largely obscured by trees. On Monday afternoon it was also surrounded by several sheriff's cars parked outside. Some of the properties nearby are vacant, while others house small farms with roosters and horses.

Neighbour Denie Woods said she, too, had heard gunshots in the area, but that it never surprised her. Opening the door to her one-story house tucked away in the woods, she said: You hear gunshots all the time out here in the boonies.

But Ms Gonzales, who moved to the area with her parents in 1992, said the neighbourhood is changing.

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When I was a kid it was quiet," she said. "We only had one Walmart, one small HEB supermarket ... Eventually its going to become a metroplex area like Dallas Fort Worth."

Ms Gonzales is concerned about all the people moving into the area  "mainly from California," she says  and worries that there won't be enough water to go around. The shooting, however, hasnt affected her thoughts on the neighbourhood.

There are people that will do these things," she said. "You dont expect it, you dont know who they are.

Authorities struggled at first to find a link between Kelley's home in suburban New Braunfels and the 400-person town he terrorised on Sunday. Now, they belief they've found one in his in-laws, who are members of the Sutherland Springs church.

Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law before the shooting.

There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws, Mr Martin said. The mother-in-law attended the church ... she had received threatening text messages from him.

But Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the family members were not in the church during Kelley's attack.

I heard that [the in-laws] attended church from time to time, he said. Not on a regular basis.

Summit Vacation Resort, where Kelley worked before the mass shooting (Emily Shugerman/The Independent)

Employees at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels, where Kelley worked as a security guard, said they never expected this kind of violence from their co-worker.

Manager Claudia Varjabedian told The Independent that Kelley had worked at the resort  which consists of about a dozen cabins and an RV campground  for five weeks before the shooting.

We hardly saw him," she said. "We dont know a doggone thing about him.

Kelley usually worked the morning shift, from 4am to 12pm. He would pick up his list of duties each morning, Ms Varjabedian said, and make his rounds quietly. Her only complaint was that Kelley seemed almost too focused  he rarely cracked a smile.

He wasnt very personable," noted Theresa Reed, who works in the resort reservation office. "He was very quiet."

But neither woman said they suspected Kelley to be capable of violence. Asked if she saw anything that would have foreshadowed the attack, Ms Varjabedian said: "There was nothing".

Outside the office, on the wooded, rural road where the resort sits, a red-and-white banner hung near the entrance.

"Now hiring," it read.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco affirmed on Monday that his country backs and remains deeply committed to engaging in the dynamic initiated by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres regarding the Sahara issue.

In his speech made to the Nation on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Green March, the Moroccan Sovereign also renewed the North African Kingdoms commitment to collaborating with the UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy, while recalling Moroccos red lines in this regard.

No solution is possible to the Sahara question other than within the framework of Moroccos full sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative, which has been declared serious and credible by the international community, explained the King in his speech.

Drawing lessons from past experience, the problem does not lie so much in finding a solution as determining the process that produces it; for this reason, all the parties that have concocted this dispute must fully shoulder their responsibility in order for a final solution to be reached, stressed the Sovereign, making reference to Algerias involvement in this artificial regional dispute.

He also said that the UN Security Council is the only international body tasked with overseeing the settlement process, rejecting any transgression or attempt to infringe on Moroccos legitimate rights or its interests.

The Moroccan Sovereign also rejected any obsolete proposals designed to divert the settlement process from the set terms of reference, or to introduce or impose other issues which are dealt with by other relevant bodies.

But, we will not sit by and wait for the desired solution to be found. Instead, we will press ahead with our endeavors to promote development in our southern regions and offer our populations their freedom and dignity.

The king went on to day that Morocco will continue to apply the development model specifically designed for these regions and seek, in parallel, to implement the advanced regionalization plan, which will enable the inhabitants of the region to run their own affairs democratically and to contribute to its development.

The projects I have launched, and those to follow, will turn the Moroccan Sahara into an integrated economic hub that will enable the region to play its role as a link between Morocco and countries further down in Africa. It will also serve to connect the countries of the region, explained the Monarch.

This development model is not just about the economy. It is an integrated societal project aimed at ensuring human fulfillment, preserving peoples dignity and making sure man is front and center in the development process, added the Sovereign.

He also said this development model lays special emphasis on the preservation of the Saharan cultural heritage due to the importance of heritage for the people of the region.

I therefore care deeply about the Hassani culture and see to it that it is properly showcased, by providing the cultural amenities and facilities required, promoting artistic initiatives and events, and honoring the men and women involved in culture, creativity and the arts, underlined King Mohammed VI.

He also said that he is interested in promoting all the components making a unified Moroccan identity, noting that there is no difference between any of the cultural and linguistic characteristics across Moroccos regions  in the Sahara or the Sousse region, in the Rif region, the Atlas Mountains or the eastern part of the country.

However, caring about the local cultural heritage does not mean promoting intolerance or reclusiveness, nor should it be a pretext to foster extremism or separatism, warned the Monarch, calling for the promotion of the local heritage as a means to show Moroccos cultural diversity and its pride of all the components of Moroccan national identity, in a country which fosters unity among its regions.

It is our collective duty to safeguard this national cultural heritage, to preserve its components and to promote communication and interplay between those constituents while being open to universal values, to other civilizations and to the knowledge and communication-based world, added the King in his speech.
Update, 11:07 a.m., Nov. 7, 2017: Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced late Monday, Nov. 6, that more than 5,300 Nicaraguan immigrants living and working legally in the United States since 1999 will lose their Temporary Protected Status and work permits on January 5, 2019. Duke said conditions caused by a devastating hurricane that hit Central America in late 1998 no longer justify TPS, which protects immigrants from deportation. Duke said Homeland Security hasnt yet decided whether to end TPS for more than 86,000 Honduran immigrants also protected from deportation since 1999. Absent a decision, Hondurans were automatically given a six-month extension Monday that lasts through July 5, 2018. But Duke warned that the Hondurans TPS could also ultimately be terminated with an appropriate delay. Because of the difficulty immigrants here for two decades now face, Duke called on Congress to enact a permanent solution for this inherently permanent program. CASA, a national immigrant rights group, denounced the decisions, warning that families with children who are U.S. citizens will be destroyed as TPS holders are discarded. The UNITE HERE labor union called Homeland Securitys actions astounding cruelty and a stain on American history that will forcibly tear people from their U.S.-born children, jobs, businesses and homes.

Juan Cortez of Maryland owns his own trucking business  hes almost paid off the $50,000 loan he took to start it  and he holds county contracts to plow snow every winter just outside Washington, D.C. After nearly a quarter of a century here, the Salvadoran immigrant is also the proud owner of a home, and he pays tens of thousands of dollars in annual taxes. He has a daughter in college and a son in high school whos in the ROTC, the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

My son wants to serve this country, said Cortez, 47, who lives just miles from the nations capital. But what If I cant be here anymore?"

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Cortez has plenty of reason to worry. In a matter of months, the Trump Administration could turn this entrepreneur and dad and hundreds of thousands of others into instant undocumented immigrants, no longer allowed to live and work here legally. With the stroke of a pen, the Department of Homeland Security could either end  or extend  a quasi-legal state known as Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, that Cortez and 263,280 other Salvadorans already in the United States were granted way back in 2001. But no one knows quite whats going to happen next. Earthquakes that devastated El Salvador in 2001 were the rationale for the U.S. to initially provide such status to Salvadoran immigrants who were already here, and who mostly arrived illegally. They had to pass background checks and other vetting to receive TPS status, and they must repeat that vetting every 18 months, and pay for it themselves.

The majority of the Salvadorans who were in the United States in 2001 had fled Central America to escape poverty and the violence of a brutal Cold War-era armed conflict in the 1980s and 1990s in which the U.S. was heavily involved.

The TPS designation that brought these Salvadorans out of the shadows was also provided to others as the result of natural disasters; about 5,350 Nicaraguans and 86,180 Hondurans have had TPS since 1999 because of a massive hurricane that caused widespread destruction. More than 58,700 Haitians have had TPS since 2010 because of unprecedented earthquake damage. Many of those who enjoy TPS have been in the U.S. for years, and have built businesses and had children, just like Juan Cortez. Their stays have been extended again and again by both Republican and Democratic administrations.

But the day of reckoning may have arrived. The Trump Administration has already issued a warning that Haitians could lose TPS for good in January after a six-month extension that began in June. Later today, Hondurans and Nicaraguans will learn if they could also face a deadline in the near future (see update). Salvadorans are anxious about an announcement about their fate that could come in March. If TPS is terminated, more than 300,000 people will lose protection from deportation and also forfeit the work permits theyve been paying to obtain every 18 months for many years.

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They will face desperate choices, as a result. Juan Cortez and thousands like him will have to choose between returning to countries that remain dysfunctional and dangerous, or slipping into the shadows in cities like Washington, Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Houston and trying to evade deportation. And theyll have to decide what to do with hundreds of thousands of their children who are U.S. citizens because they were born here.

I dont think Trump really understands whats at stake. These folks have been here so long, you just cant be so heartless, said Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco who has written about Americas love-hate history with immigrants. It would be a bombshell overnight for all those people to be declared undocumented, Hing said.

Unwinding TPS

TPS has historically protected foreign nationals from deportation because U.S. officials have determined that a country reeling from war, a health emergency or a natural disaster would be unable to absorb returnees safely and without chaos. U.S. national interests in not contributing to instability in foreign countries is also a factor.

Officials can renew TPS status for immigrants, or they can end it if they determine that conditions in a particular country have sufficiently improved. Since the TPS framework was created by Congress in 1990, some foreign nationals have seen their TPS status end. Bipartisan support from Republican and Democratic administrations has helped nationals from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti retain TPS.

But the message seemed to change last May, when then-Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly announced that Haitians granted TPS in 2010 would benefit from only a limited extension of six months, from July into January. Although Kelly didnt say TPS would definitively end in January for Haitians, he urged the immigrants to use the six months to obtain travel documents and arrange for their ultimate departure from the United States.

Now Hondurans and Nicaraguans whove been living here under TPS since 1999 are anxiously waiting a decision on their fate, and Salvadorans know theyre next (see update).

Tyler Houlton, acting press secretary for Homeland Security, said late last week that we are not able to comment because no decision has been made regarding TPS status for Nicaragua and Honduras. Staff at the Department of State, which makes TPS recommendations to Homeland Security, also declined to comment. The Washington Post reported Friday, however, that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently wrote to Homeland Security, opining that conditions in Central America and Haiti that originally triggered TPS no longer supported providing protected status.

Those with Temporary Protected Status have no official path to apply to transition to legal permanent residency  a green card  no matter how long they have been here, or what they have accomplished.

Some powerful voices are dissatisfied with the duration of TPS designations. Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued in a letter to Homeland Security last week that TPS has been extended so often that TPS immigrants are filling jobs that could be opened to Americans.

I hope you will explore and pursue these long overdue opportunities to return populations of otherwise unauthorized immigrants to their homes, where they can be of most use, Grassley wrote. He asked if data used to request TPS designation could later be used to locate people for removal once TPS has ended.

But a rare coalition of strange bedfellows have united in opposing the end of TPS designation. Members of Congress in regions with large numbers of TPS immigrants  including Florida Republicans  are urging the administration to consider the consequences of subjecting so many employed, taxpaying immigrants to deportation. Churches and labor unions have chimed in as well.

On Oct. 30, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Homeland Security acknowledging that TPS is intended to be temporary, but also imploring the administration to seek a realistic solution.

The reality is these individuals have now lived and worked in communities across this nation for in some cases nearly two decades now. We urge you to extend the current TPS designations and to work with Congress on a more permanent resolution to the status of these TPS beneficiaries, the Chamber wrote.

The loss of employment authorization for these populations would adversely impact several key industries where TPS recipients make up a significant amount of the workforce. These industries include construction, food processing, hospitality, and home healthcare services.

Labor unions and the Chamber, often at odds, both argue that there would be labor shortages if TPS holders were stripped of work permits, costing businesses cash and eliminating contributions immigrant workers make to Social Security and Medicare.

'Clocks ticking away'

Maria Elena Durazo, general vice president of the UNITE HERE labor union, said, Our immigrant workers who keep the hospitality industry highly profitable and are key to the economic health of cities like Orlando, Miami, New York City and L.A.

Recently, at All Souls Church in Washington, D.C., Dina Paredes, a union housekeeper at a luxury hotel who has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years, 16 of them under TPS, wept as she described the anxiety she and other TPS recipients are suffering.

Related: Where did Temporary Protected Status recipients immigrate from?

We feel like clocks ticking away, yes or no, yes or no, the Salvadoran mother of two U.S. citizen kids, 13 and 16, said. My children ask me, Mommy are they going to deport you? Mommy, we dont want to go to El Salvador. If I return to El Salvador with my children, they wont know what to do. I fear theyd be killed, raped.

The 50-year-old was in Washington to visit congressional staff members as part of a national effort by labor unions, churches and businesses to try to preserve TPS or persuade Congress to find a solution.

Activists with UNITE HERE said they were dismayed that many congressional staff seemed unaware of the predicament that TPS holders face. Hill staff were more familiar with Deferred Action for Childhood immigrants, a separate temporary status that a limited group of people brought here illegally as children were given under President Obama. Trump ended DACA and urged Congress to find a legislative solution so DACA holders could stay.

Paredes also complained that immigrants are up against hostility stemming from a widespread impression that they dont pay taxes or contribute enough to local economies. TPS holders who work on the books, as many do, pay into Social Security, among other regular requirements, but are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

We are not a burden to the government, Paredes said, tears spilling down her cheeks. We pay our taxes We pay our own medical insurance. We are honorable people. We are not criminals.

Bill Hing, the immigration lawyer in San Francisco, said the presence of Central Americans here is a legacy of controversial American involvement in a variety of Central American conflicts.

Honduras and El Salvador are struggling today with some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Justice systems are weak. Good-paying jobs are scarce. And gangs that were born in Los Angeles  and exported back to Central America  engage in forced recruitment and extortion affecting businesses and vulnerable targets that include families who receive money from U.S. relatives. About one in every five Salvadorans now lives in the United States.

In Pennsylvania, TPS recipient Karla Alvarado, who arrived from El Salvador when she was 9 with her parents, is a 29-year-old home health-care nurse who supervises care for 55 clients, from babies to disabled and the elderly. Its definitely stressing me out, she said in perfect English. The United States is her home, she said. Where do I go from here?

My co-workers ask me all the time why I cant just get citizenship. Alvarado is married to a U.S. citizen, but she could face a 10-year bar, minimum, preventing her from living in the United States, if her spouse tries to sponsor her for a green card.

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Homeland Security officials said they dont have data readily available breaking down where TPS recipients live in the United States. But the left-leaning Center for American Progress analyzed U.S. Census data and estimated that the region with highest concentration of Salvadoran TPS holders is the Washington, D.C. metro area, with about 32, 360 recipients, followed by Los Angeles with 30,415.

Im so nervous I cant even think about what I would do if I lose TPS, said a 60-year-old Honduran who cleans buildings  including a U.S. government office  and who asked not to be identified. For 13 years, the Virginia resident has cleaned the federal building, a job requiring a special ID, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. She then cleans a private building from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Shes been here for 20 years  sending money to a son back in Honduras  and spent thousands of dollars on lawyers who failed to get her permanent residency, despite her marriage to a man with a green card.

For Carlo Sanchez, who represents Marylands 47B district in the state House of Delegates, these stories sound painfully familiar. He knows lots of people who own homes and businesses  like trucker Juan Cortez  and whose kids are thriving in school. My parents came here illegally to get away from that civil war, Sanchez said. But they were able to legalize when Congress approved and President Reagan signed an amnesty in 1986 as part of an immigration reform package.

Those with TPS dont have the same opportunity. But they dont want to leave. And ultimately, many wont.

The cold hard truth, Sanchez said, is if they end TPS youre not going to have a bunch of people crowding into the airport to leave. Lots of people will figure out a way to disappear into the shadows.

This story is part of Accountability. The latest investigations about waste, fraud, corruption, abuse and mismanagement. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

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Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
It's unclear whether Tiffany & Co. is trolling or fishing for press, but they're definitely succeeding with the latter.

The luxury company unleashed a line of needlessly expensive everyday objects, appropriately named Everyday Objects. While ridiculously expensive pants and needlessly flashy objects have become somewhat of a mocking trend on the internet recently, Tiffany & Co. has pushed the envelope with this one.

SEE ALSO: Moncler is selling a dog parka and boy is it expensive

The line is described on the company's website as a collection that "transforms utilitarian items into handcrafted works of art." It features a $1,500 Sterling silver coffee can, a $9,000 ball of yarn, and $350 straw.

Image: tiffany and co

Image: Tiffany & Co

Image: tiffany & co

But it doesn't end there  the company has released dozens of totally normal products that nobody needs at totally exorbitant prices. There's a $375 ice cream scoop, a $300 silver yo-yo, and even a $600 Band-Aid box, which will definitely make the Band-Aids heal your wounds faster.

Of course, they slapped these normal objects with Sterling silver, putting "the signature Tiffany Blue hue of this designs enamel accent" on some.

The sad part: Rich people will actually shell out money for this stuff.

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fvideo uploaders%2fdistribution thumb%2fimage%2f82756%2f76aee357 f655 4dce b452 920fd81e0a99

Every editorial product is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our journalism.
Lome (AFP) - Togo's government on Monday said it was working towards talks with its political opponents after more than two months of protests calling for President Faure Gnassingbe's resignation.

The first of three protests this week begins on Tuesday, stoking fears of a repeat of violence between opposition supporters, police and the military in the capital, Lome, and elsewhere.

But industry and tourism minister Yaovi Attigbe Ihou said the government was "taking the necessary measures for the opening of a dialogue in Lome with all of Togo's political class".

In a statement read on national television, he said it was hoped "that all this will lead the political parties concerned to act with the greatest restraint and responsibility and to work for the national interest by the safeguarding of peace and national cohesion".

At least 16 people have been killed across the country since late August when the first protests began, to restart a longstanding opposition push for a limit of two five-year terms on the presidential mandate.

Gnassingbe has been president since 2005, when he took over from his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years.

In recent days, the government has appeared more conciliatory and has lifted restrictions on weekday protests and proposed having rights groups as observers during demonstrations to keep trouble at bay.

France, the former colonial power, is one of a number of countries to have expressed concern about the clashes, as well as the use of plain-clothes militia alongside the security services.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has urged dialogue between the two sides.

On Monday, Togo's government said it was keen to preserve the right to protest and to restore calm by finding a "credible and durable solution to the question of political reforms".

To that end, it said it would "take the necessary measures to release 42 people arrested, tried and found guilty by various courts over recent violent demonstrations".
Even before Sundays shooting at a small Baptist church in Texas, the Trump Administration was moving ahead with efforts to train houses of worship on emergency security procedures, including active shooter situations.

Now, an Administration official says hell be working even harder to train religious leaders on how to secure their members and property.

A gunman shot and killed 26 people at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, east of San Antonio on Sunday. Victims included children, a pregnant woman and the pastors 14-year-old daughter. Some 20 others were wounded.

This is a wing of American evangelicalism that is deeply hurting right now, Jamie Johnson, the director of the Department of Homeland Securitys Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships office told TIME Sunday hours after the shooting.

In the past four months, Johnson said his team has collaborated with religious groups on more than a dozen efforts to improve security, but he has plans for more.

We are going to be a whole lot busier in the months and years to come when it comes to safety and security for houses of worship, he says. This issue will now come to the forefront of the religious conversation in America.

Security for houses of worship has been a top priority for Johnson since former Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, now White House chief of staff, appointed him to the post in April. Johnson, previously a conservative radio talk show host, had been Trumps Iowa coalition director and before then had worked for Rick Perrys presidential campaign.

Johnson says that in recent months his office has been experiencing an increased level of concern from every faith tradition nationwide.

I directed my staff to scale it up, Johnson told TIME in late August of his security efforts. This center needed to be part of more conferences, more strategic meetings, more meetings with mayors, county officials, county supervisors, governors offices, state offices of emergency management.

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This year, Johnson has spoken at the National Association of Church Facilities Managers conference in Nashville, the National Church Safety and Security Conference in San Diego, and the Inaugural Church Safety Conference in Florida, hosted by Trinity Security Allies.

We teach pastors and church executives to teach their members to be aware that not everyone who steps onto a church property has worship on their mind, Johnson told TIME in August.

After the shooting, he said his department would look to do more.

We are doing everything we can to provide information and practical assistance, Johnson says. President Trump is aware of the Department of Homeland Securitys commitment to protecting Americas faith groups when they worship.

The security effort began during the Obama Administration. After the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012, the Obama White House directed the federal agencies to develop active shooter trainings, and schools and houses of worship were of particular concern. David Myers, the then-director for the DHS Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, worked to tailor the trainings for religious communities. His team visited half a dozen cities for on-site trainings and held webinar sessions for hundreds of religious leaders of various faith communities.

It also served the purpose of creating relationships between faith leaders and first responders, Myers says.

T.D. Jakes megachurch, The Potters House in Dallas, partnered with Myers team for trainings in 2015. Jakes preached at President Barack Obamas 2009 inauguration private church service.

Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas who preached at Trumps inaugural private church service in January, says his staff has worked with DHS to complete a safety assessment several months ago. Large churches like mine have done this, but smaller churches are less likely to do this under the mistaken assumption that they are not as big of a target as we are, Jeffress says. Frankly, they may be a bigger target.

Jeffress church of 13,000 members has paid security officers at every service, both uniformed and plain-clothed, as well as volunteer security team. His church no longer allows worshippers to carry backpacks of any kind. But it does still allow them to carry arms.

It would be unthinkable in a state like Texas not to allow it, Jeffress says. We think that is safer.
President Donald Trump on Monday evening appeared to support an ongoing purge of officials in Saudi Arabia, saying on Twitter the countrys leaders knew exactly what they are doing and suggesting that those arrested had deserved their punishments.

Saudi Arabia has arrested dozens of the countrys richest and most powerful men over the past three days, including 11 princes, four ministers and more than a dozen former ministers. The shocking actions were ordered directly by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in what has been called a consolidation of power by the favorite son of Saudi King Salman and the heir to the throne.

Trump, in the midst of his 12-day trip to Asia, tweeted that he had great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and suggested that those ensnared in the spate of arrests had been milking their country for years.

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

....Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

The arrests, conducted without any formal charges or legal processes according to The New York Times, were ordered during a supposed crackdown on corruption. Those detained include billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the worlds richest men and a prominent investor who owns or has owned major stakes in Apple, Twitter and Citigroup. Prince Miteb bin Abdullah was also arrested and removed as minister in charge of the Saudi national guard, the last branch of the countrys armed forces not yet under control of the crown prince.

It is the coup de grace of the old system, Chas W. Freeman, a former United States ambassador, told the Times. Gone. All power has now been concentrated in the hands of Mohammed bin Salman.

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As HuffPosts Akbar Shahid Ahmed notes, Trumps lawyer in charge of the ongoing Russia probe, Ty Cobb, previously represented Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, which could cause some awkwardness between the White House and the Saudi government in light of the recent arrests.

Trump himself has close ties to the country and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Last month, the presidents son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner conducted a secret visit to the kingdom and reportedly spent time with the crown prince, according to The Washington Post and Politico. The president has also been urging King Salman to list the state-run oil company, Saudi Aramco, on the New York Stock Exchange.

Important to the United States! he tweeted last week.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Washington (AFP) - A second foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump's presidential campaign has admitted to contacts with Russian officials during last year's election and to having proposed that Trump travel to Russia during the campaign.

Former investment banker and Russia expert Carter Page told the House Intelligence Committee last week that he had "brief" contact with a Russian deputy prime minister, Arkady Dvorkovich, during a "private" trip to Moscow in July 2016, according to a transcript of his testimony released late Monday.

Page also said that he had proposed in May 2016 that Donald Trump travel to Russia to meet officials and make a speech.

That was the same month that another foreign policy advisor, George Papadopoulos, also suggested a Trump Moscow visit, according to court documents last week.

The Page testimony added to the mounting evidence of numerous contacts between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia in 2016 just at the time Moscow was mounting a hacking and disinformation operation aimed and boosting Trump's chances to win the White House.

The House committee and its Senate counterpart, along with a justice department special prosecutor, are investigating whether the campaign colluded with the Russians in any way to help defeat then-front-runner Hillary Clinton.

- Parallels to Papadopoulos -

Page told the committee in a closed-door hearing last Thursday that he was an unpaid volunteer on Trump's initial foreign policy advisory team, never met or spoke directly to Trump, and had no inappropriate contacts in Russia.

But in questioning he admitted contacts with Dvorkovich, other officials, businessmen and senior academics while in the country on trips in July and December.

He said he had told Jeff Sessions, now US attorney general but at the time in 2016 the leader of the foreign policy team, that he was planning the Moscow trip to lecture at a university which invited him.

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Upon returning, he suggested to senior campaign officials in an email that he had done more than that.

"I'll send you guys a readout soon regarding some incredible insights and outreach I received from a few Russian legislators and senior members of the presidential administration here," he wrote.

Page's Russia contacts paralleled those of Papadopoulos, who, according to the FBI, wrote a number of emails to senior Trump campaign officials between March and September last year about his own Russian contacts and proposed Trump travel to Moscow.

Nothing came of either proposal, and White House officials say both Page and Papadopoulos were insignificant aides on the campaign with few responsibilities or input.

Last week Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his Russia contacts during 2016.

In his testimony, Page strongly downplayed his role on the campaign. He told the committee that he never "met" Trump, and had never spoken to him "directly".

But he also said he had "been in a lot of meetings with him (Trump), and I've learned a lot from him."

Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and an associate are under house arrest on charges including conspiracy to launder money, linked to the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into allegations that the campaign colluded with Russia.
By Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick and Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of U.S. military power to stop any attack, but in a more conciliatory appeal than ever before he urged Pyongyang to "make a deal" to end the nuclear standoff. Speaking on North Korea's doorstep during a visit to Seoul, Trump said that while "we hope to God" not to have to resort to the use of full U.S. military might, he was ready to do whatever was necessary to prevent the "North Korean dictator" from threatening millions of lives. "We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built," Trump said after talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has supported diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang. But at times taking a more measured, less confrontational tone, Trump also urged North Korea to "do the right thing" and added that: "I do see some movement," though he declined to elaborate. "It really makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Moon. Despite Trump's renewed threats against North Korea, it was a far cry from the more strident approach he has pursued in recent months, including his previous dismissal of any diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang as a waste of time. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made clear, however, that he has little interest in negotiations, at least until he has developed a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. Landing earlier at Osan Air Base outside Seoul, the president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began a 24-hour visit that could aggravate tension with North Korea. He then flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base in the country, and met U.S. and South Korean troops, along with Moon. The White House billed Trump's trip as intended to demonstrate U.S. resolve over a hardline approach to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats. But many in the region had expressed fear that any further bellicose rhetoric by Trump toward Pyongyang could increase the potential for a devastating military conflict. TRUMP PRAISE FOR MOON Trump praised Moon for "great cooperation" despite differences in the past over how to confront North Korea and over a trade pact between the United States and South Korea. At the news conference, the leaders said they had agreed to renegotiate the trade agreement in a timely fashion. In formal talks after an elaborate welcoming ceremony outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Moon told Trump he hoped his visit would relieve some of South Koreans' anxiety over North Korea. Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions and an exchange of insults between Trump and Kim have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency. At the news conference, Trump said Pyongyang must understand the "unparalleled strength" that Washington had at its disposal. He cited three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups that are converging on the Western Pacific for exercises as well as a nuclear submarine he said was also in position. Trump has rattled some U.S. allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States and by deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission. Kim responded by calling Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard. Trump's senior aides privately have since urged him to avoid "personalizing" the conflict any further, U.S. officials say. On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump toured the sprawling Camp Humphreys garrison, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea, and met commanders and troops. The base visit gave him a first-hand view of the massive military assets the United States has in place in South Korea, but it also could serve as a reminder of the cost in U.S. military lives  as well as the potential massive South Korean civilian losses  if the current crisis spirals into war. "MAY YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE" Trump wrapped up his first day with a dinner hosted at the Blue House, dining on grilled sole, beef ribs and chocolate cake while being serenaded by a K-pop singer with an orchestra in the background. "Mr President, may your dreams come true," Trump said to Moon, raising his glass in a toast. North Korea has not conducted a missile test for 53 days, the longest such lull in testing this year. North Korean state media has not commented on Trump's arrival in the South. South Koreas spy agency said last week that North Korea may be preparing another missile test, raising speculation that such a launch could be timed for Trumps trip to the region. U.S. officials have said privately that intercepting a test missile is among options under consideration, though there is disagreement within the administration about the risks. Trump had previously criticized Moon over his support for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang  something the U.S. president once called appeasement  but both leaders used Tuesday's news conference to stress common ground. Moon urged maximum pressure from sanctions against North Korea to force it to negotiate abandonment of its nuclear program, something Pyongyang says it will never give up. Several hundred supporters and protesters lined the streets of downtown Seoul as Trumps motorcade passed by en route to the Blue House, waving flags and posters, with some saying, No Trump, No War, Yes Peace, while others cheered, Trump! Trump! Trump will deliver a speech on Wednesday to South Korea's National Assembly expected to focus heavily on his North Korea policy, which has stressed sanctions and military pressure instead of diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. The North accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. Washington denies any such intention. (This version of the story was refiled to add dropped "Trump" in third-from-last paragraph) (Additional reporting by Soyoung Kim, James Pearson, Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Nick Macfie)
By Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick and Christine Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of U.S. military power to stop any attack, but in a more conciliatory appeal than ever before he urged Pyongyang to "make a deal" to end the nuclear standoff.

Speaking on North Korea's doorstep during a visit to Seoul, Trump said that while "we hope to God" not to have to resort to the use of full U.S. military might, he was ready to do whatever was necessary to prevent the "North Korean dictator" from threatening millions of lives.

"We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built," Trump said after talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has supported diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang.

But at times taking a more measured, less confrontational tone, Trump also urged North Korea to "do the right thing" and added that: "I do see some movement," though he declined to elaborate.

"It really makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Moon.

Despite Trump's renewed threats against North Korea, it was a far cry from the more strident approach he has pursued in recent months, including his previous dismissal of any diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang as a waste of time.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made clear, however, that he has little interest in negotiations, at least until he has developed a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

Landing earlier at Osan Air Base outside Seoul, the president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began a 24-hour visit that could aggravate tension with North Korea.

He then flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base in the country, and met U.S. and South Korean troops, along with Moon.

Story continues

The White House billed Trump's trip as intended to demonstrate U.S. resolve over a hardline approach to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

But many in the region had expressed fear that any further bellicose rhetoric by Trump toward Pyongyang could increase the potential for a devastating military conflict.

TRUMP PRAISE FOR MOON

Trump praised Moon for "great cooperation" despite differences in the past over how to confront North Korea and over a trade pact between the United States and South Korea.

At the news conference, the leaders said they had agreed to renegotiate the trade agreement in a timely fashion.

In formal talks after an elaborate welcoming ceremony outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Moon told Trump he hoped his visit would relieve some of South Koreans' anxiety over North Korea.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions and an exchange of insults between Trump and Kim have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

At the news conference, Trump said Pyongyang must understand the "unparalleled strength" that Washington had at its disposal.

He cited three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups that are converging on the Western Pacific for exercises as well as a nuclear submarine he said was also in position.

Trump has rattled some U.S. allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States and by deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission.

Kim responded by calling Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard.

Trump's senior aides privately have since urged him to avoid "personalizing" the conflict any further, U.S. officials say.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump toured the sprawling Camp Humphreys garrison, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea, and met commanders and troops.

The base visit gave him a first-hand view of the massive military assets the United States has in place in South Korea, but it also could serve as a reminder of the cost in U.S. military lives  as well as the potential massive South Korean civilian losses  if the current crisis spirals into war.

"MAY YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE"

Trump wrapped up his first day with a dinner hosted at the Blue House, dining on grilled sole, beef ribs and chocolate cake while being serenaded by a K-pop singer with an orchestra in the background.

"Mr President, may your dreams come true," Trump said to Moon, raising his glass in a toast.

North Korea has not conducted a missile test for 53 days, the longest such lull in testing this year. North Korean state media has not commented on Trump's arrival in the South.

South Koreas spy agency said last week that North Korea may be preparing another missile test, raising speculation that such a launch could be timed for Trumps trip to the region.

U.S. officials have said privately that intercepting a test missile is among options under consideration, though there is disagreement within the administration about the risks.

Trump had previously criticized Moon over his support for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang  something the U.S. president once called appeasement  but both leaders used Tuesday's news conference to stress common ground.

Moon urged maximum pressure from sanctions against North Korea to force it to negotiate abandonment of its nuclear program, something Pyongyang says it will never give up.

Several hundred supporters and protesters lined the streets of downtown Seoul as Trumps motorcade passed by en route to the Blue House, waving flags and posters, with some saying, No Trump, No War, Yes Peace, while others cheered, Trump! Trump!

Trump will deliver a speech on Wednesday to South Korea's National Assembly expected to focus heavily on his North Korea policy, which has stressed sanctions and military pressure instead of diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

The North accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. Washington denies any such intention.

(Additional reporting by Soyoung Kim, James Pearson, Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Nick Macfie)
President Mahmoud Abbas made Monday unplanned trip to Riyadh leading Palestinians to wonder if their leader is also resigning from office few days after Lebanese former Prime Minister Saad Hariri surprisingly announced his resignation from the Saudi capital.

The President of the Palestinian Authority flew to Riyadh from Egypts Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai following a meeting with Egyptian President Al-Sisi.

Abbas is set to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman in the wake of wave of arrests in the Kingdom and few days after Saad Hariri, former Lebanese Prime Minister announced in a speech on a Saudi official media that he was stepping down as countrys Premier.

Abbass visit reported by some media as a summons led to reactions of on social media with several Palestinians wondering whether Abbas would hand over his resignation too.

Others wondered in which hotel he will be locked up in reference to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where 11 princes and 38 top officials and businessmen were detained after their arrest over the week-end.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have backed last month reconciliation deal between Abbass Fatah and the Gaza movement of Hamas backed by Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a welcome dinner at Tokyo's Akasaka Palace on Nov. 6, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool)

WASHINGTON  Lower trade barriers. Better protections for intellectual property. More banking transparency.

Those were some of the provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, negotiated by the Obama administration, that Donald Trump bashed on the campaign trail and then withdrew from days after becoming president.

Ten months later, as Trump heads to Vietnam during his trip to Asia, the White House says it is hoping to achieve these goals: Lower trade barriers. Better protections for intellectual property. More banking transparency.

The contradiction exemplifies the muddled U.S. policy that is sending mixed signals to trading partners and already encouraging European nations to jump in and fill the void.

If youre suggesting that theres hypocrisy in the Trump administration, thats not really new, said Jared Bernstein, once the top economic adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden. Theres always been a tension in the administration between the status quo group and those that are more protectionist. One of those two groups tends to prevail at any given time, depending on whats in the news and what the president is tweeting.

Senior Trump administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, defended the move as consistent with Trumps desire to have multiple, one-on-one trade deals with countries, rather than a single agreement like TPP, which included a dozen nations.

[Trumps] own experience before he was in politics gave him a very firm conviction that on a bilateral basis, he would be able to achieve higher standards and better terms for American workers and for American business, one official said.

In any event, a second administration official said, TPP was never going to be ratified: I think that many lose sight that TPP was not supported by the Congress, and, in its form, it was not going to pass the U.S. Congress.

At the heart of the issue is Trumps apparent unfamiliarity with international trade, despite frequent claims that he understands it because of his many business interests. Both during the campaign and now as president, Trump has repeatedly conflated the trade deficit with the budget deficit, and has suggested that trade imbalances are by their very nature always bad for Americans.

Story continues

His public statements seem to reflect some pretty basic lack of understanding, said Scott Lincicome, a trade lawyer affiliated with the Cato Institute who is also a lecturer at Duke University. Lets just say his public statements are clearly out of the mainstream.

Bernstein, who wound up opposing TPP because of some of its provisions, had a similar view. Im sure hes never cracked open a trade agreement. In fairness, few people have, he said.

He certainly doesnt understand the mechanics or the economics of trade, Bernstein continued, though he added that Trump did understand  better than other candidates in both parties  how an anti-trade message would resonate with voters who feel left behind by globalization.

Key to Trumps campaign message on the topic was that U.S. trade agreements  be they with multiple countries such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico or bilateral agreements with just a single nation  were all badly negotiated and that he could do a better job.

For decades, Trump has railed against foreign trade, accusing other countries of taking advantage the United States by stealing American jobs. Mainstream experts from both political parties believe that increased international trade does result in U.S. job losses in some areas, but that increased exports in other areas and cheaper consumer goods make up for it.

The generally abstract topic became a focus of last years campaign because of former President Barack Obamas push to ratify the TPP, which his White House spent five years negotiating and which included Canada and Mexico as well as Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan. Obama argued that trade among those nations was happening anyway, and that TPP would establish fair rules for all the participating countries, including enforceable labor and environmental standards that currently do not exist.

So far, though, Trumps campaign bluster has led to little progress. He has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if he cannot renegotiate better terms, but has not yet reached any deal. His talk about entering a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom cannot move until that nation has ironed out its terms of departure from the European Union following last years Brexit vote. And Trumps attempts to forge a free trade agreement with Japan do not appear to be getting anywhere.

To the contrary, Japan and other signatories to the TPP seem to be more interested in continuing ahead with that agreement, minus the United States  which would hurt U.S. farmers and manufacturers hoping to win easier access to markets in South America, Southeast Asia and East Asia, including Japan.

At the same time, as the United States pulls inward, Britain and the EU nations seem eager to step in and take Americas place as preferred trading partners with those regions.

If the U.S. withdraws from international and multilateral trade agreements, this creates opportunities for Europe, said Werner Hoyer, president of the European Investment Bank. Im sure the EU would love to deepen its trade relations with NAFTA partners, for example  countries like Mexico, Canada and the Pacific Rim nations  and I believe it will seek to do so if the U.S. offers them an opportunity by stepping back.

The EU has been extremely aggressive. They are trying to get deals quickly, Lincicome said. They understand the competitive advantages that can be achieved.

Trade experts arent surprised that Trump so readily used trade to his advantage during the campaign. Through the years, Democratic and Republican politicians alike have railed against imports that cost American workers their jobs. Those anti-NAFTA, anti-TPP messages were heard during the presidential campaign in both parties.

You can criticize trade on a bumper sticker. It takes a paragraph to explain it, said Michael Froman, the U.S. trade representative under Obama who was in charge of negotiating the TPP agreement.

Lincicome said the Rust Belt has lost more jobs to automation and new factories in the American South than to cheap labor overseas, but that its much easier to blame foreign trade than the other two factors.

You dont see people campaigning against robots. You dont see people campaigning against interstate trade, he said. A lot of the blame should fall on politicians, on union leaders, on CEOs who blame their mistakes on foreigners.

Lincicome says Trumps strategy of opting for bilateral deals with 11 countries over a single agreement that includes them all is unworkable, given the complexities of these negotiations.

Trumps background might make him think he could get his way dealing with one country at a time, Lincicome said, but crafting a set of rules for nations to use to deal with each other is very different from writing a single deal between two entities. None of those things apply to the world of real estate or reality TV or whatever, Lincicome said.

In fact, the U.S. has already tried negotiating a series of one-on-one deals with other countries under former President George W. Bushs strategy of competitive liberalization. That effort stalled when Congress grew weary of voting on trade  never popular for members  and just stopped taking the agreements up.

It ended up being a political failure, Lincicome said. Trade votes are politically toxic. Politicians hate taking them.

For Froman, a particular irony of the new White Houses trade strategy is that the one element thats actually moving  an effort to renegotiate portions of NAFTA  is mainly trying to replicate provisions that were already included in TPP, which both Canada and Mexico are party to.

Theres about a 95 percent overlap between the administrations stated negotiating objectives and TPP, Froman said about the NAFTA renegotiations. But its the last 5 percent that will make or break it.

With the United States abandoning TPP, Froman added, Chinas efforts to forge regional agreements to its own benefit will dominate Southeast Asia and the Pacific. If we dont write the rules in global trade, China will. And they are, Froman said.

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Stock markets are struggling to continue their all-time highs, as investors prepare for more earnings reports. Meanwhile, President Trump is in Seoul to encourage North Korea to come to the negotiation table before heading to China. Yahoo Finances Alexis Christoforous, Editor-in-Chief Andy Serwer, Jared Blikre and Seana Smith discuss the big stories of the day.

Todays topics:

Texas gunman had history of violence

Trump asks North Korea to help create peace deal

Trump to visit China Wednesday

Crude oil soars to two-year high, above $57/bbl.

Snap earnings after the bell

Bitcoins meteoric rise

Apple uses Channel Island of Jersey to avoid billions in taxes

Google and Salesforce form cloud partnership

Weight Watchers flexes its muscles on Q3 EPS & revenue beat

Red Robin plunges on Q3 profit miss, fast food regains popularity

Microsoft debuts Xbox One X, competes with Switch & PlayStation

Disney held talks with 21st Century Fox to buy assets

Weinstein hired spies to investigate accusers, journalists: New Yorker

Starbucks to open first US location of Italys Princi Bakery in Seattle

TWITTER POLL:

What excites you most about a possible deal between Disney and 21st Century Fox?

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U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as they depart for Seoul, at U.S. Air Force Yokota base in Fussa, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan, November 7, 2017.

For US defense contractors, Donald Trump might be looking like a salesman-in-chief right about now. In the space of two days, Trump has urged the leaders of Japan and South Korea, as well as the US Congress, to spend heavily on the expensive systems offered by the likes of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeings defense divisionall in the name of defending against North Korea.

Yesterday while in Japan, the first stop in a trip through Asia, Trump held a joint press conference with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, whom he urged to buy US military equipment as protection against North Korea. Doing so, he noted, would also create American jobs and help address the USs trade deficit with Japan, the second-highest behind only China.

One of the things I think is very important is the prime minister is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should, he said. Its a lot of jobs for us and a lot of safety for Japan. Trump mentioned F-35 fighter jets, missiles, and missile-defense systems.

Abe, for his part, seemed open to the idea, and indeed Japan has ordered such items from the US before. Like Trump, he takes a hard-line position on North Korea, which helped him emerge victorious from a recent snap election in Japan.

Also yesterday, Trump asked US lawmakers for an additional $4 billion to spend on missile defense to counter the North Korea threat.

This request supports additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners, he wrote in a letter to Congress. Trump had originally requested $9.9 billion for missile defense for the year ending Sept. 30, 2018.

Leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives Armed Services Committees said they welcomed the request.

Story continues

Today, Trump traveled to South Korea. In a press conference, he said that South Korea had agreed to order billions of dollars of military equipment, and drew the connection again to jobs for Americans.

Trump: South Korea will be ordering "billions of dollars" worth of military equipment from the U.S., creating jobs for Americans  Anna Fifield (@annafifield) November 7, 2017

Trump also boasted about the quality of US military gear while in both countries. We make the greatest military equipment in the world, he said in Japan. Theres nothing close.

Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news.

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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish prosecutor has issued detention warrants for 53 active sergeants over alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating last year's attempted coup, state media said on Tuesday. Twenty of the suspects have so far been detained in the operation across 12 provinces, state run Anadolu Agency said. Thirty-three other soldiers were currently being sought, it said. The interior ministry said on Monday that nearly 700 people had been detained over the previous week on allegations of ties to what Ankara calls the "Gulenist Terror Group". Some 50,000 people have been arrested since the failed putsch in July and around 150,000 dismissed or suspended, including soldiers, police, teachers and public servants, over alleged links with the movement of U.S-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup. Rights groups and some Western allies fear President Tayyip Erdogan is using the coup as a pretext to stifle dissent. The government argues the crackdown is necessary due to the gravity of the coup attempt, which killed 240 people on July 15, 2016. (Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by David Dolan)
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States accused Iran on Tuesday of supplying Yemen's Houthi rebels with a missile that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July and called for the United Nations to hold Tehran accountable for violating two U.N. Security Council resolutions. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said information released by Saudi Arabia showed the missile fired in July was an Iranian Qiam, which she described as "a type of weapon that had not been present in Yemen before the conflict." Saudi-led forces, which back the government in neighboring Yemen, have been targeting the Iran-allied Houthis in a more than two-year war. Saudi Arabia's crown prince on Tuesday described Iran's supply of rockets to the Houthis as "direct military aggression" that could be an act of war. Haley said that by providing weapons to the Houthis, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had violated two U.N. resolutions on Yemen and Iran. She said a missile shot down over Saudi Arabia on Saturday "may also be of Iranian origin." "We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations," Haley said. It was not immediately clear what action the United States was calling for. Under a U.N. resolution that enshrines the Iran nuclear deal with world powers, Tehran is prohibited from supplying, selling or transferring weapons outside the country unless approved in advance by the U.N. Security Council. A separate U.N. resolution on Yemen bans the supply of weapons to Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, two Houthi commanders, Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, his son, and "those acting on their behalf or at their direction." The United States could propose people or entities to be blacklisted by the Security Council's Yemen sanctions committee, a move that would need consensus approval by the 15-members. Or it could put forward a new Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Iran. To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia. A senior Iranian official, speaking in Paris on condition of anonymity, dismissed as "very childish" the accusations that Iran has transferred missiles to Yemen. "Is it possible from a military point of view to send a very long missile to Yemen when all the ships surrounding Yemen are very much alert to intercept any shipments of arms to Yemen?" the official said. "The Saudis and their supporters know this is a fake story that Iran has sent missiles to Yemen." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, additional reporting by John Irish in Paris; Editing by Susan Thomas and David Gregorio)
The U.S. now stands alone, as the only country opposed to the Paris Climate Agreement.

At the U.N. climate talks in Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday, a delegate from Syria reportedly announced that the country intends to join the Paris Agreement. If the country follows through on that promise, it would leave the U.S. isolated as the only nation that has rejected the pact and intends to withdraw from the treaty.

The agreement went into effect in November 2016, and seeks to limit the severity of global warming.

SEE ALSO: Major federal climate report rebuts everything Trump administration has said about climate change

On June 1, President Donald Trump announced that he intends to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, unless his administration could somehow negotiate a deal that was "more fair" to the country. Other parties to the agreement have rejected the notion of further negotiations on the agreement's core provisions, especially since its emissions targets are voluntary.

However, under the terms of the treaty, the earliest the U.S. can formally withdraw is the day after the 2020 presidential election, given a provision in the agreement requiring a three-year waiting period for withdrawal from when the treaty enters into force, as well as a one-year withdrawal process.

President Donald J. Trump makes a statement regarding the Paris Climate Agreement.

Image: REX/Shutterstock

Nicaragua and Syria had both been treaty holdouts, though for different reasons. Nicaragua objected to the agreement on the grounds that it is not ambitious enough, while Syria has been mired in the grips of a bloody civil war. However, Nicaragua joined the pact last month, and with Syria's newly expected participation, that means that for a time, every country will be a party to the agreement.

Then, assuming Trump follows through on his decision, the U.S. will become the world's turd in the proverbial climate diplomacy punch bowl, starting in 2020.

As if it wasnt already crystal clear, every single other country in the world is moving forward together to tackle the climate crisis, while Donald Trump has isolated the United States on the world stage in an embarrassing and dangerous position," Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune, said in a statement.

Story continues

Under former president Barack Obama, the U.S. was a key player in ensuring the success of the negotiations that led to the Paris Agreement in 2015, and a cheerleader for it to enter into force in November 2016. However, the Trump administration has brought climate denial into the highest levels of government, from Scott Pruitt's Environmental Protection Agency to Rick Perry's Energy Department, with officials denying the fundamental science tying greenhouse gas emissions to global warming.

An exhaustive federal climate science report released on Nov. 3 found that human activities are responsible for at least 93 percent of the observed global warming from 1951 to 2010.

Leading causes of modern-day climate change.

Image: National Climate Assessment 2017.

As the second-largest emitter in the world and a leader in clean technology research and development, what the U.S. does on climate change will have huge ramifications worldwide.

Research published last week shows that the world is currently on course to experience between 2.9 to 3.4 degrees Celsius, or 5.2 to 6.1 degrees Fahrenheit, of warming by 2100, which is well above the Paris target of limiting global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels.

Diplomats currently meeting in Bonn, including a U.S. delegation representing the Trump administration, are wrestling with how to ratchet up the level of ambition when it comes to the emissions cuts each country has pledged.

That is an even more difficult task to accomplish without the U.S., but some observers think the country's newfound isolation could at least encourage U.S. diplomats to be more constructive than expected at the outset of the negotiations.

With Syria on board, now the entire world is resolutely committed to advancing climate action  all save one country," Paula Caballero, who directs the climate program at the nonpartisan World Resources Institute, said in a statement.

"This should make the Trump administration pause and reflect on their ill-advised announcement about withdrawing from the Paris Agreement."
(This October 31 story was corrected to remove reference to bus driver probably having sleep apnea in paragraph 5 after NTSB says chairman misspoke)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal safety board on Tuesday blamed a deadly 2016 bus crash in California on two sleepy drivers and criticized the Trump administration for dropping a proposal requiring commercial drivers to be screened for sleep apnea.

A tour bus crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer on a Southern California highway before dawn in October 2016, killing 13 people and injuring 30, including the bus driver, in one of the deadliest highway crashes in recent years.

"We are tired of seeing commercial drivers being tired," National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt said Tuesday at a hearing on the crash. "It is predictable and preventable and taking lives."

Traffic had been rerouted because of utility work and the truck driver failed to resume driving after traffic began moving. The NTSB said the truck driver had likely fallen asleep.

The truck driver suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnea while the bus driver had undiagnosed diabetes, the NTSB said. The board said the bus driver failed to avoid the crash because of fatigue.

The bus was traveling west on Interstate 10, returning from a trip to a casino, when the crash occurred near Palm Springs, a city about 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles.

Sleep apnea, often undiagnosed, is characterized by shallow or interrupted breathing during sleep and can leave sufferers fatigued, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The Obama administration had been considering requiring truck drivers and railroad engineers to be screened for sleep apnea, but the Trump administration scrapped the effort in August.

Sumwalt said it was "unacceptable" that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had dropped the rulemaking and a "slap in the face to transportation safety."

Story continues

The truck driver, Bruce Guilford, 51, of Georgia was charged this month with 13 counts of vehicular manslaughter after police said he fell asleep before the crash. He likely did not sleep at all in the 24 hours before the crash and regularly violated maximum driving regulations, prosecutors said.

The NTSB also criticized the California Department of Transportation's lack of planning for rerouting traffic and called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require a secondary door for emergency use in buses.

The NTSB has said sleep apnea has been the probable cause of 10 highway and rail accidents investigated by the agency in the past 17 years.

Engineers in two recent New York commuter train crashes suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnea, NTSB said, including a New Jersey Transit train crash in Hoboken, New Jersey, in September 2016, killing one and injuring more than 100. In January, a Long Island Rail Road train crashed, injuring more than 100 people.

The NTSB makes safety recommendations but cannot impose new regulations.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio and Susan Thomas)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday demanded the Saudi-led coalition lift a blockade that has prevented aid deliveries from reaching Yemen where some seven million people are at risk of famine.

"The blockade of ports, airports, of land routes has had a tremendously negative impact on a situation that is already catastrophic," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"All parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, through all ports and airports," he said.

Relief supplies have been blocked since the coalition sealed off Yemen's borders on Monday in response to a missile attack by Yemen's Huthi rebels that was intercepted near the Riyadh airport.

Two UN humanitarian flights into Yemen have been on hold since Monday.

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million Yemenis in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine and cholera causing more than 2,000 deaths.

The Security Council is set to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Yemen on Wednesday following a request from Sweden, which said it was concerned that the situation was worsening.

"We cannot allow the world to lose attention and we must do all we can to help alleviate the suffering," said Swedish Deputy Ambassador Carl Skau.

UN aid chief Mark Lowcock is to brief the council on his recent visit to Yemen.

The United Nations has had contacts with Saudi officials in New York and in Riyadh, UN officials said.

- Prices going up -

In Geneva, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office made an urgent appeal for maintaining the flow of aid.

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in ... the world's worst humanitarian crisis," said Jens Laerke.

"Fuel, food and medicine imports must continue to enter the country," Laerke said. "This is an access problem of colossal dimensions."

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The coalition has asked the United Nations to clear ships from the port of Hodeidah, an important hub for the delivery of aid, according to UN officials.

As a result of the border closures, fuel prices have jumped by up to 60 percent and cooking gas prices have doubled, Laerke said.

"Any further shocks to imports of food and fuel may reverse recent successes in mitigating the threat of famine," warned Dujarric.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

Last month, the United Nations put the coalition on its blacklist for killing and maiming 683 children during the conflict last year and for carrying out 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals.

The UN's rights office said 5,295 civilians had been killed in Yemen since the coalition offensive began, and 8,873 have been injured.
Iranian-British woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe already severing a five year prison term in Iran is likely to face additional five years in jail after British foreign secretary Boris Johnson said she was a journalist at the time of her arrest.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was brought back in court Saturday in Teheran for another hearing on charges of spreading propaganda against the regime, her husband Richard Ratcliffe indicated on Monday.

The new development came after Boris Johnson told Foreign Affairs Select Committee last week that the 38-year old woman working for Thomson Reuters Foundation had been training journalists at the time of her arrest in 2016.

If you look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it, at the very limit, Johnson said after slamming for the Zaghari-Raticliffes detention.

The comments believed untrue sparked condemnations from the 38-year old womans family, her employer and the British politicians.

Richard Ratcliffe demanded that the Foreign Secretary correct his statement noting that his wife never travelled to Iran for work purpose, but for vacation with her toddler daughter.

Thomson Reuters Foundation also rejected Johnsons comments.

She is not a journalist and has never trained journalists at the Thompson Reuters Foundation, where she is project manager in my Media Development Team, said Monique Villa, CEO of the foundation.

While criticizing the Iranian case against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Foreign Secretary sought to explain that even the most extreme set of unproven Iranian allegations against her were insufficient reason for her detention and treatment, it said.
United flight 747 made history Tuesday morning.

The flight from San Francisco to Honolulu was the final flight on the airline's last Boeing 747 aircraft. It all came fill circle after the first commercial flight departed on the same route on June 23, 1970  47 years ago.

SEE ALSO: Today marks the last flight 666 bound for HEL on Friday the 13th. Would you take it?

This wasn't just any old takeoff  it was an homage to the '70s with the flight crew decked out in original uniforms and even the ticket jackets throwing it back a few decades.

Welcome to the 70s! Its a  in SFO as employees get ready to board the Friend Ship to HNL! #BeingUnited #UA747Farewell pic.twitter.com/td60P0ESri  We Are United (@weareunited) November 7, 2017

A send off like no other - we're here with @United to celebrate their 47 years flying the 747 & its final passenger flight #UA747Farewell pic.twitter.com/ipJTONQswN  Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) November 7, 2017

Known as the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 passenger jet is slowing down  a lot. In the U.S., United and Delta have retired the last of the 747-400s this year, marking the end of an era.

The newer version of the 747, known as the 747-800, failed to attract any U.S. passenger airlines, and is mainly being sold to freight carriers.

United is auctioning off parts of the historic plane in honor of the retirement. Bids using United frequent flyer miles are still open for the altimeter, tail number, an oxygen pressure indicator, and other plane hardware.

The final flight is in the air after departing at 11 a.m. and expected to make it to Hawaii this afternoon where the farewell festivities will continue.

Farewell, Queen of the Skies.

UPDATE Nov. 7, 6:19 p.m. PT: When United flight 747 arrived in Honolulu the aircraft got lei'd, in a true Hawaii welcome.

#UA747Farewell landed in Honolulu and promptly got leid, in Grand Hawaiian tradition. A post shared by Sean Lewis (@seanlewiswgn) on Nov 7, 2017 at 5:50pm PST
New York (AFP) - A US judge has ordered at least two years in prison for rapper Meek Mill for violating probation, a surprisingly harsh verdict that stunned the hip-hop world.

Mill, whose most recent album "Wins and Losses" reached number three on the US album chart this year, was sentenced over a case dating from when the 30-year-old was a teenager.

Raised by his mother in Philadelphia after his father was killed, the rapper born as Robert Williams was put on probation after a 2008 arrest on drug and gun possession charges.

At a hearing Monday, Judge Genece E. Brinkley ordered a prison term of two to four years over the long-running case, with eligibility for parole after two years.

Brinkley, according to media reports from the court room, pointed to violations of parole including scheduling concerts in violation of her orders.

He was also freshly arrested after a scuffle in March at the St. Louis airport.

"I gave you break after break, and you basically just thumbed your nose at this court," Brinkley told Mill, according to local newspaper site philly.com.

The report said the sentence triggered audible gasps, with prosecutors not having recommended any prison time.

Mill was quoted as pleading for mercy with the judge, saying, "I'm human. I'm not perfect."

The sentence drew outrage from several fellow African American celebrities who said that prison time was disproportionate.

Rap mogul Jay-Z late Monday wrote on Facebook that the sentence was "unjust and heavy-handed."

"We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career," Jay-Z wrote.

Comedian and fellow Philadelphia native Kevin Hart urged Mill to "stay strong," writing on Instagram: "God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers."

Besides his music, Mill is known for his two-year relationship with leading female rapper Nicki Minaj which ended earlier this year.

He also entered a public feud with chart-topper Drake, accusing him of not writing his own raps.
Sherpa Capital co-founder Shervin Pishevar has filed a lawsuit against Definers Public Affairs, a Republican opposition research firm that he believes is being paid to spread rumors about him.

The Uber investor and Hyperloop One co-founder is accusing former Mitt Romney presidential campaign manager Matthew Rhoades and his business partner, Joseph Pounder, of aiming to convince reporters of "false and disparaging statements." There's a list of alleged misstatements, including that Pishevar is an agent of the Russian government and that he settled a sexual assault claim in London.

According to the lawsuit, Pishevar believes "defendants have been retained by competitors or other business adversaries of Mr. Pishevar to orchestrate and implement a malicious smear campaign, apparently designed to incite false, defamatory, and highly damaging chatter and gossip about Mr. Pishevar amongst reporters and strategically targeted individuals in Mr. Pishevar's professional and personal networks, such as investors in Uber."

The suit acknowledges that it is not illegal to conduct factual research, but is instead accusing Definers of slander, "in the hopes that false facts find their way to reporters and ultimately to the public."

Tim Miller, who's listed as a partner at Definers, called the claims "delusional," in a tweet:

Mr Pishevar's claims are delusional. Definers has never engaged in any of the actions in his complaint nor done any work with regards to him https://t.co/Hx0O3IpVxy  Tim Miller (@Timodc) November 7, 2017

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Miller emailed us the following statement. "Mr. Pishevar's accusations against Definers are completely false. His claims are delusional, we have never engaged in any of the actions he outlined in his complaint, and Definers has never done any work with regards to Mr. Pishevar."

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Pishevar's lawsuit cites a Recode story from earlier this year, which talks about Definers Public Affairs setting up shop in Oakland. According to the story, Definers' mission is "to arm companies with ammunition to attack their corporate rivals, sway their government overseers and shape the publics opinion on controversial issues."

On its website, Definers says it "helps corporations, trade associations, political campaigns and issue-based clients run smarter campaigns using cutting-edge research and communications strategies and tactics."

It's not clear why Pishevar believes that he's been the target of Definers. But he has been a vocal supporter of Democrats, including former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He hosted a Clinton fundraiser with actor George Clooney at his home in San Francisco last year.

Pishevar, who previously served on Uber's board of advisors, recently filed a motion to intervene in Benchmark Capital's lawsuit against co-founder Travis Kalanick. The case later moved to arbitration.
If the $29 million in television ads told the whole story, the race for Virginia Governor has come down to a career lobbyist who wants to build new monuments to the Confederacy running against a spineless doofus who hugs child pornographers and immigrants in the country illegally.

To say the lone competitive contest this Election Day has raced to the bottom would be an insult to, well, the bottom. The mudslinging deserves every ounce of condemnation heaped on the spurious and specious attacks. Media buyers in both parties put the sum spent on the air last week alone north of $7 million, and strategists lament how two serious candidates made themselves into cartoons.

And yet there are signs it may be the model heading into next years races, when a third of the Senate and the full House will be on ballots. That is why consultants from Miami to Monterey are watching what happens on Tuesday very closely, and 27 Republicans have announced they will retire from the House rather than run next year, compared to the seven Democrats who have done so.

Will the fear-based campaign messaging of former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie prevail? Or will the incumbent Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northams pitch that the GOP is a party of corrupt bigots come out on top?

Regardless of the outcome Tuesday, winners will be in short supply.

Virginia should be a gimme for Democrats. It was the only Southern state that Hillary Clinton won last year. (The fact her vice presidential pick, Tim Kaine, is a beloved Senator and former Governor who counts his father-in-law as political royalty in the commonwealth didnt hurt.) Demographics are trending in ways that should boost Democrats oddscollege-educated, moderate, suburban and minority voters are flocking to the state. In 1992, the states electorate was 87% white, according to exit polls. That number fell to 67% last year. And in nine of the last 10 elections, the party that wins the White House loses the Governors office the following year.

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Republicans chose to fight back. Hard. Looking at survey data from Virginia, they saw Donald Trump carried male voters, those age 45 and over, white voters of both genders, those without a college degree and married voters. Using Trumps performance as a baseline, Gillespie started eyeing a message that appealed to the anxieties in his state, where 35% of votes in the 2016 exit polls said immigrants hurt the country and 21% said minorities were favored over non-minorities. The white-shoe lobbyist transformed himself into a culture warrior.

In the process, the Republican Party dragged itself through the muck in an attempt to replicate Trumps grievance-based campaign. The campaign took a detour to debate the merits of sanctuary cities, locales where undocumented immigrants can avoid deportation. (Virginia, it should be noted, already has a law barring them, but that didnt quiet the criticism from the Gillespie camp.) At the same time, Republicans promised to defend Confederate statues, which became a flash point when white supremacists marched through the streets of Charlottesville, Va. Ads featuring violent gang members seemed to be on a never-ending loop.

The Democrats, meanwhile, surrendered the moral high ground by joining the Republicans in campaigning from the gutter. One independent group featured young minorities being tailed by a white man in a pickup truck flying a Confederate flag and displaying a Gillespie bumper sticker. The implication was that Gillespies campaign was fueled by hate and violence. Northams campaign fared little better when it left his running mate  an African American  off campaign pamphlets at the behest of unions.

All the while, the party spilled into a messy feud from last years nominating race, thanks to a juicy tell-all from interim Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile. This is why we cant have nice things, one Democratic insider with long ties to Hillary Clinton mused on Monday, the eve of Braziles book release.

Public and private polls are scattershot; either Northam is up 17 points or down 8. Pollsters say the race has tightened in recent weeks, as ad spending broke in Gillespies favor for the first time since August. Pollsters have routinely over-estimated Democratic enthusiasm in the state, and in recent weeks spent hours trying to refine their projections about who would actually show up.

Democrats didnt get much help from outside factors, though. Liberal groups denounced Northam for saying he does not support sanctuary cities, even after refusing to vote on such a ban earlier this year. (His campaign says he wasnt going to vote to ban something that does not exist.) The group that grew out of Howard Deans 2004 campaign un-endorsed Northam, and the organization that came from Bernie Sanders campaign last year refused to help him after its preferred candidate lost in the Democratic primary.

That rift on the Left has Republicans more optimistic than theyve been in months about winning on Tuesday. The ire directed at Northam over sanctuary cities  again, which do not exist in Virginia  could have deep cuts among progressive activists, liberal younger voters and minority residents. Its why former President Obama, former Attorney General Eric Holder and Kaine were trying to help Northam; without a unified Democratic voting coalition, Democrats odds get tough.

Democrats, meanwhile, have their own reasons to grin heading into Election Day. Democrats knocked on more than 580,000 doors last weekend alone, polls have shown Northam ahead in most surveys and Gillespie has proven to be a better strategist than candidate. (Gillespie ran for the Senate in 2014 and narrowly lost. He has not become a more natural politician, his consultants acknowledge.) One analysis of early voting and absentee voting had unmarried women, minorities and young voters casting ballots in greater numbers than in 2013 and accounting for an increased share of the electorate.

Finally, there is the President himself. Democrats have done their best to tie Trump to Gillespie, even though the Presidents involvement was limited to supportive tweets. The current Governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, urged voters to cast ballots against Northam as a protests against Donald Trump-style politics.

The disconnect between Trump and Gillespie didnt quite matter. Gillespie is The Swamp personified. A former lobbyist, Republican National Committee chairman and White House counselor, Gillespie played the inside game for years  and profited from it. Now, he was trying to pick up the message of Trumps anti-Washington campaign.

The stakes for the outcome are high for Virginians, whose lives in countrys 12th most populous state can be shaped on issues as varied as health care, voting rights and how congressional districts are drawn after the 2020 census. Virginias economy is roughly the size of Iran, Thailand or Belgium. Outside its borders, the Virginia race will offer a valuable  if limited  window into Americas politics in the Trump era.

The elections on Tuesday will be the first statewide tests since Trumps election last year and are a proving ground for whether his brand of rage can be sustained or repelled.
The third report in a series of bombshell New Yorker pieces about Harvey Weinstein delves into the extent to which the disgraced producer attempted to discredit his accusers and the journalists seeking to report on their stories. It also reveals how his lawyers crusade to keep the allegations quiet went so far that it may have placed his firm  of which is he a partner  into a serious ethical quandary.

Weinstein went about hiring private security agencies to collect information on women and journalists, Ronan Farrow reported for the magazine. For example, two private investigators faked their identities  one pretended to be a womens rights activist  to meet with actress Rose McGowan, who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment in a New York Times piece published on Oct. 5. Their conversations were secretly reported, the magazine alleges.

And David Boies, one of Weinsteins lawyers, personally signed the contracts with one such agency, Black Cube, to stop the publication of certain allegations in The New York Times.

Yet his law firm Boies Schiller and Flexner, which had drummed several contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars with Black Cube, was simultaneously representing the Times in a libel suit, according to Farrow.

We learned today that the law firm of Boies Schiller and Flexner secretly worked to stop our reporting on Harvey Weinstein at the same time as the firms lawyers were representing us in other matters, the newspaper said in a statement released Monday. We consider this intolerable conduct, a grave betrayal of trust, and a breach of the basic professional standards that all lawyers are required to observe. It is inexcusable and we will be pursuing appropriate remedies.

David McCraw, The Times deputy general counsel, didnt elaborate to the paper on what those remedies could be.

I think that what they owe us is an explanation of what actually happened, he said. We need to know much more.

Boies confirmed to The New Yorker that his firm contracted with and paid two different security agencies and that investigators from one of them sent him reports (which got passed on to Weinstein).

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He denied personally selecting the firms or telling the investigators specifically what to do.

We should not have been contracting with and paying investigators that we did not select and direct, he told the magazine. At the time, it seemed a reasonable accommodation for a client, but it was not thought through, and that was my mistake. It was a mistake at the time.

Yet he claimed that he warned his client against threatening journalists and news outlets.

The only way the story could be stopped was by convincing the Times that there was no rape, he said of his advice to Weinstein. If evidence could be uncovered to convince the Times the charges should not be published, I did not believe, and do not believe, that that would be averse to the Times interest.

Boies Schiller and Flexner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also on HuffPost

Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd told the New York Times that Harvey Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked her if he could give her a massage or if she wanted to watch him shower.



She told the Times that she thought, How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow told the New York Times that Weinstein touched her inappropriately.



I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, she said, noting that when Weinstein found out she told her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt, "I thought he was going to fire me."

Angelina Jolie

I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did, Angelina Jolie told the New York Times. This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet told Variety that she had heard rumors of Weinstein's behavior for years.



"I had hoped that these kind of stories were just made up rumours, maybe we have all been naive," she said. "And it makes me so angry. There must be no tolerance of this degrading, vile treatment of women in ANY workplace anywhere in the world.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep told HuffPost that the women who came forward about Weinstein's behavior are "heroes."



The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," she said in a statement.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan has been vocal about the scandal since the New York Times published its bombshell report on Weinstein's alleged misconduct. McGowan, the Times said, was one of several women with whom Weinstein reached a financial settlement following the alleged abuse.



After The Weinstein Company fired Harvey, the actress and director called on the rest of the studio's board to resign.



"They knew," she said in a tweet. "They funded. They advised. They covered up. They must be exposed. They must resign."

Ben Affleck

"I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades," Ben Affleck posted on Twitter. "The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick."



Actress Rose McGowan denounced Affleck for implying that he didn't know of the abuse before this week, saying that the pair had previously discussed Weinstein's treatment of her.



"You lie," she tweeted.

Lena Dunham

'Girls' co-creator and star Lena Dunham penned an op-ed for the New York Times calling on more men to speak out against Weinstein and others like him.



"Abuse, threats and coercion have been the norm for so many women trying to do business or make art," she wrote. "Mr. Weinstein may be the most powerful man in Hollywood to be revealed as a predator, but hes certainly not the only one who has been allowed to run wild. His behavior, silently co-signed for decades by employees and collaborators, is a microcosm of what has been happening in Hollywood since always and of what workplace harassment looks like for women everywhere."

George Clooney

In an interview with The Daily Beast, George Clooney said that, for decades, he'd heard rumors about Weinstein, but dismissed them as gossip. Calling Weinstein's behavior "disturbing" and "indefensible," Clooney said he had no idea of the severity of the accusations.



"A good bunch of people that I know would say, Yeah, Harveys a dog or Harveys chasing girls, but again, this is a very different kind of thing," the actor told the Daily Beast. "This is harassment on a very high level. And theres an argument that everyone is complicit in it. I suppose the argument would be that its not just about Hollywood, but about all of usthat every time you see someone using their power and influence to take advantage of someone without power and influence and you dont speak up, youre complicit. And theres no question about that."

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy Award for "Silver Linings Playbook," which The Weinstein Company distributed. She called the alleged harassment "inexcusable and absolutely upsetting."



"I worked with Harvey five years ago, and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting," Lawrence said in a statement. "My heart goes out to all of the women affected by these gross actions. And I want to thank them for their bravery to come forward."

Hillary Clinton

Weinstein was a major Democratic Party benefactor, having donated to or raised money for a host of candidates, including Hillary Clinton.



Clinton said that she "was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior."

Barack and Michelle Obama

Weinstein visited the White House multiple times while Obama was in office after having raised huge funds for his presidential campaign. Earlier this year, Malia Obama also reportedly worked for the Weinstein Company.



"Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein," the Obamas said in a statement. "Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture -- including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect -- so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future."

Judi Dench

Judi Dench, who won an Oscar for her performance in the Weinstein-backed "Shakespeare in Love" and was nominated for two other films under his wing, denounced the alleged abuse.



"Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out," she said in a statement.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio worked with Weinstein on blockbuster films like Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Django Unchained.



"There is no excuse for sexual harrassment or sexual assault-- no matter who you are and no matter what profession," DiCarpio said in a Facebook Post. "I applaud the strength and courage of the women who came forward and made their voices heard."

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain has been one of the most outspoken critics of Weinstein and of Hollywood's complicity since The New York Times published its damning report.



"I was warned from the beginning" about Weinstein, she said in a tweet. "The stories were everywhere. To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again."

Julianne Moore

Moore, who starred in the Weinstein-backed film "A Single Man," tweeted that "coming forward about sexual abuse and coercion is scary and women have nothing to be gained personally by doing so. But through their bravery we move forward as a culture, and I thank them. Stand with @AshleyJudd @rosemcgowan and others."

Colin Firth

Calling Weinstein a "frightening man to stand up to," Colin Firth told The Guardian that reading about the allegations gave him "a feeling of nausea."



It must have been terrifying for these women to step up and call him out. And horrifying to be subjected to that kind of harassment. I applaud their courage."

Tamron Hall

Its a womans worst nightmare to be in a situation where you believe someone more powerful has control over your life, former "Today" show host Tamron Hall told HuffPost. She called the allegations against Weinstein "horrifying."

Blake Lively

Blake Lively spoke out against Weinstein in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.



The actress said that she was unaware of the abuse but admitted that "it's devastating to hear."



"It's important that women are furious right now. It's important that there is an uprising. It's important that we don't stand for this and that we don't focus on one or two or three or four stories. It's important that we focus on humanity in general and say, 'This is unacceptable.'"

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts gave a statement to People, saying, A corrupt, powerful man wields his influence to abuse and manipulate women. Weve heard this infuriating, heartbreaking story countless times before. And now here we go again. I stand firm in the hope that we will finally come together as a society to stand up against this kind of predatory behavior, to help victims find their voices and their healing, and to stop it once and for all."

Ryan Gosling

I want to add my voice of support for the women who have had the courage to speak out against Harvey Weinstein, Gosling wrote in a note on Twitter. Like most people in Hollywood, I have worked with him and Im deeply disappointed in myself for being so oblivious to these devastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse. He is emblematic of a systemic problem. Men should stand with women and work together until there is real accountability and change.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Beijing (AFP) - Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have one thing in common -- they both want to make their nations great again. But while China's leader is on the rise, the US president arrives in Beijing laden down with heavy baggage.

Xi will roll out the red carpet for Trump when his five-nation Asia tour takes him to China on Wednesday, bringing the leaders of the world's top-two economies together for the third time this year.

While Trump has made a show of his dominance over other world figures with his notoriously firm handshake, Xi has been determinedly strengthening his grip on power at home.

Chinese vice foreign minister Zheng Zeguang said last week that the visit "will have special significance", vowing to make it "historic".

The two leaders profess to have struck up a friendship since their first meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April, even as they tussle over trade and how to handle North Korea.

They also share a similar aspirational nationalism: Trump wants to "make American great again" while Xi has sworn to realise the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".

Xi, however, has undergone what even Trump has described as an "extraordinary elevation", saying "some people might call him the king of China".

Trump's visit is the first by a head of state since Xi's name was engraved in the Communist Party's constitution last month -- rendering him China's most powerful leader since Chairman Mao Zedong.

The US president, on the other hand, is in an increasingly tenuous position with the lowest approval rating for a president in seven decades, and dogged by a probe into his election campaign's possible collusion with Russia.

"The financial crisis of 2009 and then this teeming disarray of the Trump White House have all added to a Chinese confidence and even arrogance that at last their moment has come," Orville Schell, an expert on US-China relations at the Asia Society, told AFP.

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Xi is "ginned up on Chinese wealth and power, and it will disincline him to make compromises."

- 'Flatter and cajole' -

China has promised to treat Trump to a "state-visit plus" -- an extra dose of pomp and circumstance for the billionaire real estate developer.

Beijing is expected to roll out a military honour guard, formal banquet, and billions of dollars of trade deals.

For Trump, "winning is everything in life. He hasn't had many wins. If he can bring home a win with China... this would be incredibly meaningful to him," Schell said.

But, he added, "Xi could really take him if he's not careful."

The elaborate stagecraft is intended to stop Trump from lashing out at China over a wide range of contentious issues, from their gaping trade deficit to Beijing's ties to North Korea.

"For Xi it's about his own image and trying to flatter and cajole Trump to play nice with China," said Ely Ratner, a China expert at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations.

So far, the strategy appears to be working: the virulent anti-China rhetoric of Trump's campaign has given way to effusive praise for Xi.

"I like him a lot. I call him a friend. He considers me a friend. With that being said, he represents China, I represent the United States," Trump said on Monday in Tokyo.

While Chinese officials say the two men enjoy "a sound personal friendship", the more sober Xi has been comparatively reserved in his compliments.

"Right now, Trump is relatively friendly to China, but at the end of the day he's a businessman," said Hu Xingdou, a Beijing-based expert on Chinese politics.

"If you look at the past, it's possible that he could suddenly show another face."

- 'One step back' -

Still, China is less worried about the visit than in their first meeting on Trump's turf at Mar-a-Lago, said Xu Guoqi, an expert on international affairs at the University of Hong Kong.

"At that time, the Chinese were nervous and worried about the new administration," he said, but there has since been "a reversal of fortune."

"Xi's position is substantially enhanced... Trump's position seems to be weaker day by day."

Even so, Beijing-based Hu warned the Chinese president needs to be careful not to let his nation's increasing strength go to his head.

"Right now, America is in the strategic position of taking 'two steps forward, one step back," he said.

But Washington "is still completely leading the world. China is still not on the same order of magnitude."
Adobe likes to talk about its public cloud partnerships with Microsoft and others, but it doesn't often talk about its private cloud strategy. It's no secret that there are plenty of good reasons for using a private data center and Adobe manages a few of these around the globe. For most businesses, opting for a private cloud comes down to cost, but for Adobe's Advertising Cloud, which previously flirted with the likes of AWS, moving back to a private cloud mostly came down to performance.

The Adobe Advertising Cloud as a brand is a relatively new concept for the company, though the actual product has been around for quite a long time. It's the company's service for helping brands manage and optimize advertising spend across channels. The service manages over $3.5 billion in annual ad spend from the likes of Allstate, Ford, MGM and Southwest Airlines, but to get those ads in front of the right eyeballs, it has to make billions of real-time pricing decisions per day to ensure that its users win the right advertising bids.

To build this private cloud, the Adobe team opted for using OpenStack, the massive open source project that's building the equivalent of an AWS for businesses that want to manage their own clouds inside their own data centers.

Ten years ago, Adobe started betting on public cloud, but Nicolas Brousse, Adobe's director for operations engineering for the Advertising Cloud, tells me that the team always faced challenges with regard to latency. "The only way to beat the market was to go private cloud," he told me. By 2013, the team started evaluating its options in earnest.

This was before OpenStack became the de facto standard for private clouds, so everything from Eucalyptus to VMWare and CloudStack was on the table. "We ended up with OpenStack because we liked the modular approach that's close to the Linux philosophy," said Brousse. "We could take the pieces we care about and build around that." He also added, though, that the decision wasn't just about OpenStack itself, "it was about what we're trying to accomplish."

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In 2016, Adobe acquired the video ad company TubeMogul and with that, it gained even more OpenStack expertise. TubeMogul's Joseph Sandoval, for example, was previously the director of cloud platform engineering at Lithium, where he made an early bet on the technology ("A lot of people who made that early decision didn't come out unscathed," he rightly noted). Once at Adobe, Sandoval spearheaded the adoption of OpenStack for the Advertising Cloud under the code name "Cloud Mogul."

Brousse tells me that the team's move to OpenStack improved raw compute performance by 3x over AWS. "Now, the bottleneck isn't compute but the network edge," he said. He and Sandoval also noted that a lot of the tooling around the OpenStack project is now far more mature and that the latest releases have been extremely stable.

Today, about 90 percent of the Advertising Cloud's real-time bidding processes run on OpenStack and the plan is to move to 100 percent very soon. That's over 100,000 compute cores and growing, which makes this one of the larger OpenStack deployments.

The team is still placing some workloads on the public cloud, though, and is looking at how it can make cloud bursting a reality for its services. Not all parts of the Advertising Cloud are all that latency constraint, for example, but Sandoval also told me that he wants the public cloud to be available to him so he can quickly stand up a cluster for overflow compute from the private cloud. In a private cloud, after all, you don't get the seemingly unlimited compute resources that the large public clouds can provide.

Currently, the team that manages this part of Adobe's private cloud consists of only four engineers. That speaks to how easy it is to manage this service, but it also means that all of the engineers involved here need to be able to do each other's jobs if necessary. Sandoval notes that this means the team has to automate as much as possible -- and for this, too, the tooling is now in place.

Adobe's use case is, of course, a bit of an edge case, given that the Advertising Cloud has some pretty clear constraints. Still, Adobe isn't the only company that is making similar decisions, whether it's because running 24/7 workloads tends to get rather expensive on public clouds like AWS, Azure or the Google Cloud Platform, or whether these public clouds can't offer the kind of dependable performance characteristics that some workloads simply demand.
US President Monday showed support to Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salmans fight against corruption in which dozens of princes, businessmen, government officials were detained over the week-end.

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing, Trump wrote on Twitter on the way on his Asian tour.

Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!

The White House has been silent over the purge in the kingdom which saw 11 princes and 38 individuals composed of top officials and business being locked up in Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

The arrestees among whom Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one the kingdoms and the worlds richest men, took place few moment after the establishment of an anti-graft commission headed by the 32-year old Crown Prince.

The US President since May has entrenched his strong support for King Salmans rule and sided with the Crown Prince in the race for kingship after former Crown Prince Mohamed bin Nayef was sidelined as rightful heir of the throne should king Salam die or abdicate.

Trumps comments came few hours after he urged the Saudi authorities to list the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. on the New York Stock Exchange during a phone call between the world leaders, Bloomberg notes.

Trump also according to a Saudi whistleblower using the Twitter handle Mujtahidd received $1 billion during his May visit to the kingdom.

Mujtahidd who could not disclose his sources and details noted that a boat linked to Trump organization anchored in port of Jeddah and was filled with $1 billion in cash and other personal gifts.
Riyadh (AFP) - The United States called Tuesday for international action to hold Iran to account after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of "direct military aggression" over a Yemeni rebel missile attack near Riyadh.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels also threatened to attack ports and airports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, escalating a crisis between Riyadh and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince had accused Iran of supplying missiles to the Huthis, which he said "could be considered as an act of war".

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif retorted that "the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that Iran had supplied a missile to the Huthis that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July, and referred to Riyadh's claim that the weapon used on Saturday "may also be of Iranian origin".

"By providing these types of weapons to the Huthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," Haley said.

"We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations."

Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposing sides in wars and power struggles from Yemen to Syria.

Soaring tensions between the key oil producers pushed crude closer to two-year highs on Tuesday and spooked Gulf markets.

Europe's top diplomat Federica Mogherini warned the mounting tension was "extremely dangerous", and urged Riyadh and Tehran to seek a "minimum of common ground" on which to build peace.

"I know that this is not the wind that is blowing as the majority voice in the world of today," Mogherini told reporters at the EU mission in Washington.

"But allow me to bring a little bit of wisdom as the European voice in a world that seems to go completely crazy here: It's dangerous."

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Saturday's attack showed that despite a more than two-year Saudi-led bombing campaign and blockade, the Huthis retain missiles capable of striking targets deep inside the kingdom.

The rebels' warned that they considered Saudi and UAE "airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance" as legitimate targets.

"We will not stand idly by -- we will seek more radical means to prevent both the tightening of the blockade and all acts aimed at starving and humiliating the people of Yemen," the Huthis' political office said.

The missile, intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh international airport, was the first to reach the Saudi capital and underscored the growing fallout for Saudi Arabia and its UAE ally from their involvement in neighbouring Yemen.

The two are the major powers in a coalition that has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

Since Saturday's attack, the coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen, blocking UN-supervised aid deliveries despite urgent appeals from the world body.

The coalition said it aimed to fill gaps in inspection procedures that enable "smuggling of missiles and military equipment" to the rebels.

- 'Catastrophic' blockade -

But the blocking of aid threatens some seven million people already on the brink of famine.

The UN urged the coalition to lift the blockade as soon as possible.

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in... the world's worst humanitarian crisis," said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) in Geneva.

OCHA said the coalition had also asked it to clear ships from the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida, a key entry point for UN aid.

Laerke said fuel prices in rebel-held areas had jumped by up to 60 percent and cooking gas prices had doubled.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also urgently called for humanitarian access to be restored.

"Humanitarian supply lines to Yemen must remain open," said Robert Mardini, who heads ICRC's Near and Middle East operations.

"Food, medicine and other essential supplies are critical for the survival of 27 million Yemenis already weakened by a conflict now in its third year."

Saudi Arabia is also embroiled in the biggest purge of the kingdom's elite in its modern history.

Dozens of high-profile figures including princes, ministers and billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal were swept up in the weekend purge -- just after the creation of an anti-graft commission headed by Prince Mohammed.

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The Balfour Declaration wasnt like a bolt out of the blue. It wasnt by some miraculous Jewish power, nor Jewish capital. To understand it, we must look at the wider historical background.

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It was the end of World War I. Those days were characterized primarily by the dissolution of empires and the regrowth of the national idea. And at the end of every imperial era, the result is another wave of national liberation. The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, created new nation states. Borders were moved.

The national liberation, almost every national liberation, exacted a heavy toll. Populations were relocated, usually forcibly, to give the idea of national liberation some substance.

It didnt end there. The dissolution of the Soviet Union also led to the establishment of a series of nation states. The dissolution of Yugoslavia, a multinational state, led to the establishment of seven national entitiesas well as to wide-scale ethnic cleansings.

Palestinians in Gaza protest Balfour Declaration on its 100th anniversary. The claim that the Palestinian residents were ignored is groundless (Photo: AP)

Several months before the Balfour Declaration, French Foreign Ministry official Jules Cambon sent a letter to Zionist leader Nahum Sokolow, stating that it would be a deed of justice and of reparation to assist, by the protection of the Allied Powers, in the renaissance of the Jewish nationality in that Land from which the people of Israel were exiled so many centuries ago. Britain had coordinated with France and the United States before making the declaration.

Two months after the Balfour Declaration, US President Woodrow Wilson issued his Fourteen Points, which were linked by the right to self-determination. In other worlds, recognizing the right of each community that had been under imperial rule to independence, freedom and sovereignty. The idea of national liberation and of a nation state is an anti-imperial idea. Its true that in the current era, the post-national and anti-national voices are echoing again, even in little Israel, but these voices appear to suffer from a weak historical memory.

Zionism was a national movement, one of many, which jumped on the bandwagon of the same idea, just like the top representatives of the Arab world sought sovereignty and independence based on the same idea. Unlike other people, who were a national minority under a give territory, the Jews were a national minority under many states and empires.

There was one moment in history, immediately after the Balfour Declaration, when the Jewish nationality and Arab nationality even shared joint interests. This was reflected in the FaisalWeizmann Agreement, which was signed in 1919. In an article published just a few days ago, Prof. Efraim Karsh elaborates on the Arab and Muslim acceptance of the Balfour Declaration and the Jewish nationality idea. Even Talaat Pasha, one of the rulers of the declining Ottoman Empire, which turned into the Turkish nation state, expressed support for the Jewish right to a national home in Palestine.

The main argument presented by the Balfour Declaration opponents is that it ignores the national aspirations of the areas residents. Thats inaccurate. First of all, the Balfour Declaration itself forbids causing them any harm. Second, their national aspirations were honored as part of the Arab state which the Arab leaders those days, including Emir Faisal, wanted to establish on most parts of the Middle East.

Five years after the Balfour Declaration, after it had already been adopted by the League of Nations, another decision was made, to establish another entityTransjordanon lands governed by the British mandate that were allotted to the Jewish state.

Another partition took place in 1947, and the western side of the Jordan River was divided between the Jewish Yishuv and Palestines Arab residents. Their national right was honored. It was implemented in all neighboring states. This recognition applied also to those who later became Palestinian.

But the Arab world itself prevented the implementation of this right. The lands were in its possession. There was no occupation. Yet no Palestinian state was created from 1949 to 1967. So the claim that Palestines residents were ignored is groundless.

Its true that there was a Nakba. Palestinians fled and were expelled. It happened in almost every national conflict, and it happened to the Palestinians also because of the Arab rejection of any compromise, especially the Partition Plan.

The claims of injustice suffered by Palestines Arab residents because of the Balfour Declaration should be looked into on the background of the reality and norms in the first half of the 20th century. Hundreds of millions of people have gained national liberation and independence, and tens of millions experienced some kind of Nakba, including the Jewish Nakba of Jews in Arab countries. The historical context shouldnt prevent a solution to the conflict. On the contrary, it will put the conflict in its real place.
Yitzhak Molcho, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy on diplomatic matters, is the close associate who was detained for questioning earlier this week as part of the submarine affair, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday morning.

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David Shimron , Molcho's partner and Netanyahu's attorney, was also detained earlier this week, and the two were confronted with state witness Miki Ganor on Monday.

The police are investigating suspicions of corruption surrounding the procurement of submarines and patrol ships for Israel's Navy from German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp, a deal mediated by Ganor, who was represented by Shimron

Yitzhak Molcho (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Molcho's lawyer, Zvi Agmon, said in response to the allegations against his client that "He was an envoy for many years, and never took care of his own interests, only those of the country. He has no connection to the submarine affair."

Molcho, 72, maintains he and Shimron are innocent and believe the allegations against them are another attempt to harm Netanyahu.

The two are among the senior partners in the E.S.Shimron, I.Molcho, Persky & Co. law firm, which has been representing the Netanyahu family for many years.

Molcho further maintains that he had no hand in the submarine deal, and that he and Shimron kept their affairs completely separate, with one not knowing about the other's sensitive missions on behalf of the prime minister.

Shimron has been serving as Netanyahu's personal consigliere and has been entrusted with the Netanyahu family's personal legal affairs.

Molcho has been Netanyahu's diplomatic envoy since his first term in 1996. He has negotiated on behalf of the prime minister, primarily with the Palestinians, the United States, Turkey and Egypt.

The two are close personal friends of the Netanyahu family and also have familial ties to the prime ministerShimron is Netanyahu's second cousin and Molcho is married to Shimron's sister.

'Israel's citizens will greatly appreciate your contribution'

In July, Attorney Shahar Ben-Meir asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to bar Molcho from continuing to work as Netanyahu's special envoy, claiming his continued employment under the prime minister constitutes a conflict of interest due to his work ties with Shimron.

This led Molcho to unexpectedly announce his resignation two weeks ago after 11 years of service.

"I request that you discharge me from my position, which I have been filling on your request for several years on a volunteer basis," Molcho wrote in his resignation letter to the prime minister. "I thank you for allowing me to serve the country."

Officially, Molcho explained he felt he's done enough and has already asked Netanyahu to resign his post a year ago, but close associates said Molcho also did not wish to go under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

Netanyahu accepted Molcho's resignation and in his response letter briefly described the special relationship between them.

Molcho, right, with the Netanyahu couple (Photo: Moshe Milner/GPO)

"I do not need to list the sensitive and important policy tasks you've done," Netanyahu lauded Molcho. "You did it with a rare combination of talent, experience and comprehensive knowledge of the issues. It is not yet time to reveal all your actions, but I am sure that when that moment comes, the citizens of Israel will greatly appreciate your contribution."

Molcho, Netanyahu's closest confidant on diplomatic matters, is also considered a moderating influence the prime minister and encouraged him to pursue a peace process.

But he also made quite a few enemies in the Foreign Ministry, the Mossad, the Shin Bet and the National Security Council. Netanyahu would send Molcho on various sensitive diplomatic missions, while the relevant bodies would only learn about it after the fact. Among others, Molcho had clashes with the former national security adviser Uzi Arad and the late Mossad director Meir Dagan.

Molcho did earn trust in Washington, with many in the American administration valuing his discretion when entrusted with confidential information.

Molcho and Shimron's law firm reportedly more than doubled in size thanks to their ties with Netanyahu, though close associates deny such reports, with one saying "The firm only lost from it. Rather than investing all of his time in the firm, Attorney Molcho invested a lot of hours representing the country."

Molcho declined official positions

In the past, Netanyahu wanted to appoint Molcho to a variety of official roles, including the attorney general, the justice minister, the chairman of the Israel Electric Corporation and the chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Officebut Molcho refused all of these offers.

Molcho worked on a volunteer basis and received no pay from the state, but did receive an expense account. He had an office in the PMO, from which he often worked.

He was invited to Cabinet meetings and to all of the small closed forums of government. Netanyahu even sent him to brief Cabinet members of sensitive issues quite a few times.

Molcho, at the head of the table on the left, with Palestinian negotiator Erekat, left, and members of the Quartet (Photo: AFP)

In recent years, Molcho has also been sent on secret missions.

Yedioth Ahronoth reports in July that one such mission was in Germany. Among other things, Molcho conveyed to the Germans that Israel was willing to forego a clause included in every agreement it makes with a foreign government barring the seller from selling the same weapons to other countries in the Middle East to ensure its qualitative edge remains.

This allowed Germany to sell Egypt four Type 209 submarines, which were built by ThyssenKrupp and are similar to the ones Israel bought.

Netanyahu apparently failed to update then-defense minister Moshe Ya'alon on the matter, and the latter only learned of the deal between Germany and Egypt after the fact.

In Netanyahu's third government, the prime minister appointed Molcho to head the negotiating team for peace talks with the Palestinians alongside then-justice minister Tzipi Livni. The two clashedMolcho believed in signing an agreement on principles, while Livni sought a final-status agreement.

The two also came head to head when Livni offered the Palestinians to build in Area C of the West Bankwhich is under Israeli controland claimed she was not authorized by Netanyahu to make such proposals.

Molcho, left, with then-Israeli peace negotiator Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat ((Photo: GPO))

Among Molcho's public achievements are the talks to release IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, in which he was involved alongside former Mossad official David Meidan; the talks to release Israeli-American citizen Ilan Grapel, who was arrested in Egypt on false espionage charges; facilitating Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's visit to Israel in July 2016, the first visit of an Egyptian foreign minister in nine years; and the talks to release Bedouin Israeli citizen Ouda Tarabin after 15 years in Egyptian prison in return for the release of six Egyptian prisoners.

Netanyahu first sent Molcho on a diplomatic mission soon after he was first elected prime minister in 1996. Molcho was sent to talk to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza. He was then sent on another meeting in Ramallah, equipped with a letter from Netanyahu that said "This is a man I have full confidence in, and I am convinced that when you get to know him, you too would have full trust in him."
President Reuven Rivlin expressed his categorical support of a united Spain during a state dinner hosted by King Flipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Monday evening.

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"Spain for us is one country, and His Majesty the King is the symbol of that unity. All of the citizens of Spain are dear to us, and we hope and pray that all conflicts will be solved by peaceful measures," Rivlin said.

Israel's first official response to the crisis in the region of Catalonia came after a month of silence, with the Foreign Ministry failing to condemn Catalonia's declaration of independence from Spain as Madrid had demanded.

Queen Letizia, President Rivlin, King Felipe and Nechama Rivlin (Photo: AP)

"Israel and Spain share longstanding, strong and friendly relations, rooted in our common historical heritage and shared democratic values. Israel hopes that the internal crisis in Spain will be resolved quickly and peacefully and through broad national consensus," the statement said.

President Rivlin, his wife and Spain's king and queen greet guests (: ")

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The Spanish King Felipe VI welcomed the guests at the state dinner in Hebrew, saying "Bruchim Habaim" and spoke of the close ties between Spain and Israel.

"We recognize Israel's legitimate aspirations for peace and security, and hope your country will live in harmony with its neighbors and develop its ties with the European Union. Israel will find in Spain a partner, an ally, a faithful and committed friend," the king said.

Rivlin and King Felipe enter the state dinner followed by Nechama Rivlin with Queen Letizia (Photo: Haim Zach/GPO)

In his own remarks, President Rivlin spoke of the Sephardic heritage he experienced while growing up. "The memories that are ingrained in me were always Israeli, Jerusalemite, and Spanish at the same time," he said.

"And I am not unique in this way. Spain represents roots, Spain is both a beloved and painful memory. To visit here, is like a visit home. As His Majesty your father said in his historic speech, Spain is not nostalgia but a home, a place where it should not need to be said that Jews should feel at home'. Spain is a cornerstone of our identity and precisely because of this it is forbidden for Spain to represent only the past, heritage, and nostalgia. The alliance between Israel and Spain must be an alliance of the present, an alliance of the future," Rivlin continued.

Rivlin raises a glass with Spain's Queen Letizia (Photo: AP)

The president also reminisced about King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia's visit to Israel in 2011, before the king ascended to the throne.

"Some years afterward, you signed the national law enabling Jews of Spanish origin to apply for Spanish citizenship. In doing so, you expressed your appreciation for one of the important bridges between Israel and Spain, this is the Jewish community of Spain today," Rivlin told the king.

"In the now 31 years of our diplomatic relations, strong and broad bilateral relations have been established, encompassing a wide range of fields, from tourism and trade, through to science and culture, security and policing," the Israeli president said.

"Our current visit is an expression of our mutual commitment to the strong ties between our countries. Together with us is an extensive business delegation composed of leading Israeli companies boasting advanced technologies, technologies aimed at improving the world, and they see Spain as an important and friendly market. We also intend to sign new cooperation agreements with your prime minister," he continued.

Rivlin speaking at the state dinner (Photo: Haim Zach/GPO)

"I see the great potential for growth in our cooperation, and it is so important to deepen the connections that will lead to productive partnerships," Rivlin added, and finished by quoting in Ladino: "Our common path has a glorious past, and a future that can be as exciting, fascinating, and glorious. May God grant us life so that we may see wonders."

King Felipe VI spoke of the tradition linking the two nations. "The tradition that binds us to each other is greater than us in its depth and meaning. This is the legacy of the Jews of Spain, which represents the Golden Age of Jewish culture, a culture that has been preserved for hundreds of years in the language and customs of so many Sephardic Jews throughout the world," he said.

Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia greet Rivlin and wife Nechama (Photo: Haim Zach/GPO)

"Our democratic Spain, founded on a heritage of cultural diversity, is today returning to its historical ties with the Jewish people. In this regard, we will never forget the festive ceremony at the Royal Palace in which we stand today, two years ago, on the occasion of the approval of the law granting Spanish citizenship to Jews of Spanish origin, and the renewed historical meeting that resulted from it. As I said then, 'how I missed you,' the Jewish-Spanish people, the Jewish people our friends," the king added.

King Felipe also talked about Spain's fight against anti-Semitism. "I proudly stress the position of Spain at the forefront of the fight against anti-Semitism, which includes important public diplomacy initiatives such as the Spain-Israel Center, important political achievements such as 'Holocaust Remembrance and the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity Day' marked annually, and similarly, the emphasis of education about Jewish issues, and legislative achievements such as the legal definition of hate crime," he said.
Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says he believes a solution can reached to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and that the Israeli public can be persuaded into signing a peace agreement, according to an interview published Tuesday in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

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We are trying, together with all sides who can contribute their part to this issue. The United States is the main world power that can steer the peace process toward a better future, the Egyptian president said during the interview with the Arabic London-based international newspaper on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (Photo: AFP)

Asked whether the Hamas terror movement has changed following the reconciliation agreement recently signed with the Palestinian Authority, al-Sisi extolled the virtues of agreement.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO)

The reconciliation is an essential and important matter for the Palestinian people. We encouraged and brokered the reconciliation efforts. We believe this is in the interests of the Palestinians, he stated, before explaining why the region was in desperate need of peace.

We hope that the results of the reconciliation will serve the path to peace. The region is in need of peace because its absence has cost the region a high price and is draining its energy.

40 years since Sadat visited Jerusalem

Echoing the sentiments of the Egyptian president, Hazem Khairat, Egypts ambassador to Israel, also urged the Israeli public to continue to be loyal to the forging of peace and security in the entire region.

Speaking during an interview at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and the Foreign Ministry a conference held in Bar Illan University to mark 40 years since the historic visit paid by the former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem, Khairat called on his listeners to strive for peace.

We must grant security and stability to Israel and the Palestinians, he said, pointing out that the reconciliation of Palestinian factions is an important milestone paved on the path toward future peace talks between the two warring sides.

Hazem Khairat (Photo: Yoni Reif )

These efforts must be accompanied by the public and the Israeli academic sphere must lay the groundwork toward reconciliation, he said.

Khairat went on to say that terror, incitement and settlements in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank all constituted impediments to a successful peace process.

We must see the wisdom of the statesmen who agreed to go against the odds in order to bring about peace and stability for the countries and the region. In Egypt we learned that we need a statesman and not a politician to make peace, Khairat concluded.
An IDF soldier was lightly injured on Tuesday in a training accident at a base in the Jordan Valley.

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He was airlifted to a hospital and was in stable condition.

The IDF will investigate the incident, the reasons for which are yet unclear.

In late September, two IDF soldiersSecond Lieutenant Avshalom Armoni, 22, of Beit Horon and Sergeant Avinoam Cohen, 22, of Jerusalemwere killed in a training accident in the Golan Heights when a self-propelled cannon overturned into a ditch. Two other soldiers were seriously injured in the accident while another two were in light condition.

In early September, a soldier was seriously injured when a grenade exploded near him during training at the Artillery Corps' training base at Shivta, in the southern Negev. The military police opened an investigation into the incident. It was also decided to stop using grenades during training until the end of the initial investigation.
Likud MK Oren Hazan got into yet another exchange of insults at the Knesset on Tuesday, this time with Zionist Union MK Michal Biran, with her calling him a "pimp" and him making the implication she was a prostitute.

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The Knesset's Finance Committee was discussing a legislation proposal that would obligate the KKL-JNF to give 80 percent of its earnings to the state.

During the discussion, Hazan interrupted Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria, calling out "I'd teach you a few things."

Opposition member Biran decided to interfere, telling Hazan that Azaria "would do just fine without the skills of managing a casino in Burgas."

Biran was referring to a Channel 2 News expose that claimed that while Hazan was managing a casino in Burgas, Bulgaria, he supplied high-rolling guests with prostitutes and used hard drugs.

"I wouldn't let you be a dealer," Hazan responded.

"Pimp, it's a disgrace you're in the Knesset," Biran said.

"Do you want to fill out a job form? No one would look at you anyway," the Likud MK shot back.

MK Oren Hazan and MK Michal Biran (Photos: Yoav Dudkevitch, Ohad Zwigenberg)

Azaria and fellow Kulanu MK Merav Ben-Ari asked Finance Committee Chairman MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) to have Hazan removed from the room.

Hazan later filed a complaint with the Knesset's Ethics Committee against Biran for calling him a "pimp."

Biran also filed a complaint with the Ethics Committee, saying the "belittling and sexist treatment by MK Hazan constitutes sexual harassments in all senses. I expect the committee to treat this incident severely and take the necessary steps to punish the Knesset member and deter against another such incident."

The government approved a self-sponsored bill proposal on Tuesday that would require Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) to hand over to the state 80 percent of its earnings every year to fund national infrastructure projects.

Ministers Uri Ariel and Haim Katz voted against the legislation, while Minister Ayelet Shaked abstained.

The bill then went to the Finance Committee for further discussion, where Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich criticized the government decision, accusing Finance Minister Kahlon of "eliminating KKL-JNF and mortgaging its earnings to his election (campaign)."

Smotrich asserted that the latest version of the bill "in practice nationalizes KKL-JNF and its earnings. It entirely subjects KKL-JNF to the tenders law and determines 80 percent of its earnings every year will go to the Treasury. The new bill even determines KKL-JNF's money would go directly into the state budget and not to national projects as was the case in the previous version."

The Bayit Yehudi MK threatened he would "do whatever is in my power to stop this madness."

Meanwhile, MK Dov Khenin (Joint List) called to "nationalize KKL-JNF."

In a Facebook post, Khenin asked: "Why do we need a private body that makes billions off public land, and close associates (of KKL-JNF leadership) go to town on it? Why do we need a company that makes billions and doesn't pay taxes? Why do we need a body that discriminates between Jewish and Arab citizens?"
President Reuven Rivlin urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and the Spanish government to denounce the international campaign to boycott, divest and sanction Israel (also known as the BDS movement) during his State Visit to Spain on Tuesday. Roughly 20 pro-Palestinian protestors stood outside the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, calling out "murderer" and "free Palestine" while he visited.

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Alluding to Spain's internal battle over Catalonia's bid for independence, Rivlin seemed to state Israel's allegiance is with Spain. "Spain is one country for us, and the problems it faces these days are internal." He added that "Our relations with all the citizens of Spain are dear to us, and we pray that the current challenge will be solved through understanding."

Rivlin expressed his wish that just as Israel is supporting the Spanish government in its attempt to quash the current Catalan push for independence, the Spanish government would reciprocate by standing up to the BDS campaign against Israel, which, as Rivlin noted, is "infected with anti-Semitic elements."

Rivlin at the Spanish Parliament (Photo: Itamar Eichner)

Catalan leadership responded to Rivlin's statement by lambasting him for apparently siding with Spain.

Also attending Rivlin's meeting with Rajoy was Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel, who accompanied Rivlin as part of his official delegation.

He asked Rajoy to promote legislation to prevent similar steps in the future, adding, "It is allowed, of course, to protestbut it cannot be allowed to cross the border into boycotts."

Rivlin stated Israel would be pleased to see Spain change its voting pattern in international fora so it expresses the two countries' positive relationship. "Decisions are made in international fora that undermine integrity and intelligent thought."

"I would warmly remind you," said Rivlin. "That the King of Spain is also known as the King of Jerusalem, and to come to UNESCO and say that there is no connection between Jerusalem and the Jewish people is not only ignorance, it is an affront to intellectual integrity. So I would request that you ensure that you are not taking part in decisions that result from unrelated political struggles."

With the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Israel and Spain, Rivlin thanked Rajoy for his warm welcome and expressed his appreciation for the cooperation in the various fields between Israel and Spain. He stressed that Israel held a sincere desire to preserve and deepen existing ties both in security and in the fields of economy and innovation. "The secret of our relationship rests on a strong bond not only between states, but also between peoples," said the President. "The historical family roots of many Israelis are planted here."

Pro-Palestinian protest outside parliament (Photo: Itamar Eichner)

He additionally expressed his condolences over the terror attack that struck Spain last August, and stressed that the entire free world must join forces to ensure the eradication of terrorism. "Terrorism and religious extremism are a global threat that affects all of us. Unfortunately, we have experience in facing this, and are ready to contribute by all means at our disposal to combat this phenomenon."

Both leaders went on to discuss the regional situation in the Middle East. Rivlin stressed that Iran was serving as a subversive factor, leading to the establishment of a Shiite axis in Syria and across the entire Middle East, in an attempt to exploit the crises in the region. "Israel is closely following the increasing Iranian presence in Syria and is operating according to the clear red lines we have defined," said Rivlin, stressing that "the terror Iran exports is a threat to the entire world."

On the issue of the nuclear deal, Rivlin told Rajoy that Israel and the West should not allow a country like Iran, which supports terrorism and has made calls at the UN to destroy Israel, to have nuclear capabilities.

"We must work together to prevent this at all costs. The current agreement does not benefit Israel or Europe, and even endangers the security and stability of the region."

Rivlin added that were the agreement not to change, "It must be ensured, that all the clauses of the agreement be strictly adhered to, and even improved for the day after it expires."

Rivlin stressed that while "Israel will know how to defend itself," it is imperative that "anyone who supported the agreement with Iran ensure that its leaders receive the necessary warnings both through sanctions and additional measures."

The two also discussed relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and the situation in Gaza. Rivlin stressed that the State of Israel expects the return of the fallen IDF soldiers and the Israeli civilians held by terror group turned political party Hamas.

"Hamas in Gaza is violating Israeli sovereignty by building attack tunnels that cross Israeli territory with the aim of harming Israeli civilians in a way that Israel will not be able to leave unanswered.

He added that at the same time, Israel was working to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, but that unfortunately Hamas was diverting resources intended to rehabilitate Gaza's civilian population for use in its military apparatus, in what is a cynical exploitation of civilians for terrorist activities.

After the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed by the Israeli and Spanish ambassadors, thus renewing the historic agreement signed between the two countries in 1987. The agreement mentions cooperation in various fields as well as mutual understandings in issues of education, culture, science, and scholarships for students and lecturers. The agreement also included a declaration of intent to work together on education against racism and anti-Semitism as well as on Holocaust education.
Age, they say, is just a number, but while Africas cultural setting traditionally makes room for men to marry women who are younger than they are, the same cannot be said women who date younger men.

READ ALSO: 5 Ghanaian celebs who were once teachers

In recent times, however, changes in perspectives have given some people the opportunity to settle with persons, irrespective of differences in ages.

YEN.com.gh brings you a list of female celebrities who are dating younger men.

1. John and Theresa Kuffuor

The former president of Ghana married Theresa in 1962.

He was born on 8th December 1938 and would therefore turn 79 years in December 2017.

Theresa Kufuor was born on 25th October 1937.

John and Theresa Kufuor

2. Van Vicker and Adjoa Vicker

Van Vicker has known his wife for 22 years though they were married 13 years ago.

He was born on August 1st, 1977, and is therefore 40 years.

His wife, Adwoa, is also 40 years.

She was born on 24th January 1977.

She is older than Van by 7 months.

Van and Adwoa Vicker

READ ALSO: Stonebwoy buys $500,000 Trasacco mansion for his wife

3. Captain Planet and Uche Ofodile

Capatin Planet, born Jeff Sylvanus Dodji, married Uche Ofodile in the year 2014.

The leader of 4X4, a music group married the former Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone Ghana in a private ceremony in Accra.

YEN has been unable to independently confirm their ages. However, we understand that Uche is older than Captain Planet.

4. Medikal and Sister Deborah

Medikal, the Too Risky hit maker, was born on 5th of April, 1992.

He is therefore 25 years of age. Deborah Vanessa was born on August 25, 1984; therefore she turned 33 this year.

Their age difference is therefore 8 years.

Medikal and Sister Deborah

5. Nana Ama McBrown and Maxwell Mensah

Nana Ama McBrown was born on 15th of August 1973; she therefore turned 44 years 3 months ago.

Her husband, according to checks by YEN, was born on 3rd of August,1983, making him 34 years old.

He is therefore 10 years younger than his wife.

Nana Ama McBrown and Maxwell Mensah

READ ALSO: I do it in the kitchen, bathroom - Shatta Michy opens up on her wild 'atopa' skills in new video

Share your views on this with us in the comments section below.

Do you have any stories to share with YEN? Get featured! We are available on Facebook

Source: YEN.com.gh
The trial took place at Stanford Hospital and was sponsored by Alkahest, a privately held biotechnology company headquartered in San Carlos, California. Alkahest holds intellectual property associated with the treatment regimen. Wyss-Coray, a co-founder of the company and chair of its scientific advisory board, continues to work full-time at Stanford. He was not involved in the clinical study.

The trial proceeded in two stages. In the first stage, nine participants with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease were given four weekly infusions either of plasma  the liquid, cell-free part of blood  obtained from donors 18-30 years old, or of placebo (a saline solution). Neither the participants nor those administering the infusions knew which of the two infusions any given participant was getting. Then, after a six-week washout period, the regimens were reversed: Those initially receiving plasma got four weekly infusions of placebo, and vice versa.

Our enthusiasm concerning these findings needs to be tempered by the fact that this was a small trial.

Those participants served as their own controls, said Sha.

Multiple tests and questionnaires to ascertain mood, cognition and functional ability of the participants were administered to either participants or their caregivers before and after the first four-week infusion period, and again before and after the second four-week infusion period.

The total time elapsing between a participants first and final visits, including a preliminary screening and a final visit, approached six months. The participants needed to make nearly a dozen round trips to Stanford, accompanied by their caregivers. So, to reduce the travel burden, the investigators decided to modify the design for their next group of nine participants. These newcomers all received young-donor plasma infusions, and they and their caregivers, as well as the administrators, all knew it. This change cut the time between the first and final visits to 10-12 weeks for the second group of participants, and required commensurately fewer trips. These participants, like the first group, received the full battery of mood, cognition and functional-ability assessments.

Only a single, minor instance of a trial-related adverse event  excessive itching  occurred. Sha said this wasnt entirely unanticipated, as it can arise as a side effect of the infusion of any blood product. Another participant had a stroke, but this was considered unrelated to the treatment; the participant had received only four infusions of saline and, furthermore, had suffered the stroke at the end of the ensuing washout period, during which no infusions of any kind were administered.

Improvements in functional ability

An analysis of assessments once all participants had been treated showed no significant changes in participants mood or their performance on tests of cognition involving tasks such as memorizing lists or recalling recent events, Sha said. These kinds of changes are typically observed only in clinical trials whose durations exceed one year, she added, so the absence of an effect here wasnt particularly unanticipated.

But on two of three different assessments of functional ability, participants showed statistically significant improvement  this, despite the trials small size.

That was surprising, to me, said Sha. The trial wasnt powered to show efficacy.

At first, the investigators suspected that the report of improvements in functional ability might have been driven by the second group of participants, who along with their caregivers and the investigators themselves knew they were getting plasma; this could perhaps predispose caregivers to optimistic reporting. But examination of the data indicated that, to the contrary, it was the first group of participants  who had no idea whether they were getting plasma or placebo  who showed the most improvement in functional ability after receiving plasma infusions.

Our enthusiasm concerning these findings needs to be tempered by the fact that this was a small trial, Sha said. But these results certainly warrant further study.

Alkahest has stated in a news release that based on the safety profile and signals of efficacy seen in the PLASMA trial, it is planning to advance the clinical development of a next-generation, proprietary plasma-derived product for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimers disease.

Im excited to see that giving repeated infusions of plasma to elderly people with Alzheimers disease is safe and that we can move forward to larger studies, Wyss-Coray said. But Im also realistic enough to know that it is very easy to cure diseases in small animals and a million times more difficult in humans.
King Mohammed VI has voiced Moroccos commitment to the new dynamic wanted by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and to cooperate with his personal envoy to reach a final settlement to the Sahara issue, calling on those who created this artificial conflict to shoulder their full responsibility to solve it.

Morocco remains committed to engaging in the current dynamic wished for by His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, and to collaborating with his Personal Envoy, King Mohammed VI said in a speech he delivered Monday evening on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Green March, that enabled Morocco to recover peacefully its southern provinces from Spain.

King Mohammed VI made it clear however that, for Morocco to remain committed to this dynamic, it is necessary to adhere to the related firmly established principles and terms of reference on which the Moroccan position is based.

The Monarch recalled in this vein that Morocco rejects categorically any solution to the Sahara question other than within the framework of Moroccos full sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative, which has been declared serious and credible by the international community.

The Monarch also stressed the need to draw lessons from past experience, explaining that the problem is not so much finding a solution as determining the process that produces it. For this reason, all the parties that have concocted this dispute must fully shoulder their responsibility in order for a final solution to be reached, he said.

Part of the principles on which the Moroccan position is based, the King underlined the need to ensure full compliance with the terms of reference adopted by the UN Security Council when addressing this artificial regional dispute, for the Security Council is the only international body tasked with overseeing the settlement process.

The Monarch went on to voice his Kingdoms outright rejection of any transgression or attempt to infringe on Moroccos legitimate rights or its best interests, and its rejection of any obsolete proposals designed to divert the settlement process from the set terms of reference, or to introduce or impose other issues which are dealt with by other relevant bodies.

King Mohammed VI who recalled some landmark events in the liberation process of the Sahara provinces from Spanish dominion, said that Morocco is about to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the speech given by his grandfather, late King Mohammed V, at Mhamid al-Ghizlan.

The historic speech at Mhamid al-Ghizlan confirmed a basic fact which no one can deny, namely the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the Moroccan peoples unwavering commitment to their land, the Monarch said, recalling that this speech was delivered (in 1958) immediately after Moroccos independence and before the Sahara issue was tabled at the United Nations in 1963.

The speech was delivered at a time when no claims had been put forward regarding the liberation of the Sahara, except for Moroccos legitimate demands and even before Algeria became independent, King Mohammed VI said. He added that his grandfather reiterated Moroccos historical and legal rights in respect of the Sahara, when he solemnly and publicly declared to the representatives of the Sahrawi tribal sheikhs, who swore allegiance (beia) to him, that he would continue to work to recover the Sahara, in keeping with Moroccos historical rights and in accordance with the will of the regions inhabitants.

Regarding the situation in the Southern provinces, King Mohammed made it clear that we will not sit by and wait for the desired solution to be found. Instead, we will press ahead with our endeavors to promote development in our southern regions and offer our populations there freedom and dignity.

In this regard, the Sovereign went on to say, we shall continue to apply the development model specifically designed for these regions and seek, in parallel, to implement the advanced regionalization plan, which will enable the inhabitants of the region to run their own affairs democratically and to contribute to its development.

The projects I have launched, and those to follow, will turn the Moroccan Sahara into an integrated economic hub that will enable the region to play its role as a link between Morocco and countries further down in Africa. It will also serve to connect the countries of the region, explained the Monarch.

This development model is not just about the economy. It is an integrated societal project aimed at ensuring human fulfillment, preserving peoples dignity and making sure man is front and center in the development process, added King Mohammed VI.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday fired his long-time Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the battle of succession intensified in the southern African nation.

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was removed from office with immediate effect, the government said in a statement.

The 93-year-old president has recently accused Mnangagwa of plotting to oust him. Mnangagwas removal follows fierce dispute between him and the first lady Grace Mugabe.

Now, the road has been opened for Zimbabwes first lady Grace Mugabe to take over from her husband Robert. Earlier on Monday, the Zanu-PF youth league called for Mrs Mugabe to be made Vice-President.

Zimbabwe gained independence from British rule in 1980 and Mugabe has ruled the country ever since. The longest-serving president on the African continent wants to run again in elections in 2018.

In April, Zimbabwean former freedom fighters reportedly said they would rather vote for a stick if Mngangagwa failed to succeed Mugabe.

Mnangagwa, nicknamed the Crocodile had been vice president since 2014 when his predecessor, Joice Mujuru, was fired for allegedly plotting to oust Mugabe.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean economy continues to struggle, with many young people having difficulty finding steady work.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that Mauritania, Senegal, Seychelles and Guinea have applied to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), to promote more responsible and sustainable fisheries.

The multi-stakeholder initiative according to the Bank, aims to increase transparency and participation in fisheries governance.

For the four countries, this accession is expected to boost investment through the publication of fisheries sector information.

The AfDB Group is helping its regional members gain the maximum benefit from their fisheries resources, particularly through initiatives promoted by the African Natural Resources Centre (ANRC).

An independent evaluation is expected to validate Mauritania, Senegal, Seychelles and Guineas candidacy.

According to Greenpeace, poor government communication and coordination is hurting Africas ability to combat illegal fishing, costing it billions of dollars each year in the process.

Last year, the NGO documented a number of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing practices off the coast of Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone.

Countries such as Senegal, Sierra Leone and Mauritania are missing out on vital income because of the masses of fish taken from their waters, it said.

The region loses an estimated $2.3 billion annually to illegal fishing, according to a recent study by Frontiers in Marine Science.
Mysterious cluster of a rare, deadly childhood brain tumor that has cropped up in one Mississippi town could be tied to Hurricane Katrina

A very rare form of a fatal childhood brain tumor has mysteriously cropped up in a small Mississippi community, afflicting at least three kids since 2009 and puzzling medical investigators who only now think they may have a link.

As reported by the U.K.s Daily Mail, Sophia Myers, 7, was the latest child diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, in Ocean Springs, a town of about 18,000 that was affected by both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Following Sophias diagnosis, more and more parents are beginning to question whether the two environmental factors have somehow created the DIPG cluster, a cancer that so far has no known survivors.

The Daily Mail notes further:

Cancer clusters form in areas polluted with toxic chemicals, and all of the children were diagnosed after Hurricane Katrina.

This tumor impacts only 300 to 400 children a year in the United States  making Ocean Springs rare surge in cases highly unusual.

Before doctors found her terminal tumor, Sophia began experiencing vomiting her parents could not link to any specific condition as well as a wobbly gait.

I had a healthy child, said Angel Myers in an interview with the Mail Online. We just had everything going right in our lives. Then we woke up one morning and it wasnt right anymore.

DIPG kills nine of 10 of its victims within 18 months, experts say. The disease has left Sophia in hospice care following radiation therapy and steroids, which were unable to slow down the growth of the tumor.

Angel Myers said that her daughter was at first told by medical personnel she was experiencing flu-like symptoms. However, a subsequent MRI performed a week after that initial diagnosis displayed a large tumor on her brain stem, making it inoperable. At that point, doctors told her family that she only had about 12 months to live and that the tumor would only continue to spread.

The Daily Mail reports that DIPG is an aggressive cancer that most often forms at the base of the brain, in the glial tissue which functions as support and protection for the brains neurons.

There is no known cure for the disease, though, in some instances, radiation therapy is believed to delay spread of the tumor for about six-to-nine months.

Sophias mother said the family made the decision to not tell her that she had cancer and was terminal.

We made an informed decision to not call it cancer, she said. We call it stupid tumor.

Angel said she made the decision to withhold the real story from her daughter after she consulted with doctors and medical staff including therapists.

Treatment with radiation did not stop the spread of the tumor, and the steroids  which were given to her in an attempt to reduce swelling of her brain  had an adverse effect on her body, causing her face to swell.

I hate the steroids, said Angel. They are a necessary evil, but theyre awful. They change everything about her.

Sophia is beautiful. But she went from being this dancer and vibrant child to all swollen.

Shes now bound to a bed and a chair because she can no longer walk or speak. (Related: Childhood cancer treatments cause permanent damage to childrens hearts.)

The first known child in Ocean Springs to be diagnosed with DIPG was another Sophia  Sophia Mohler. Her diagnosis came in 2009 when she, too, was seven years old after her parents noticed some subtle changes in her behavior and health.

Her eyes began to shift so doctors recommended she get corrective glasses. They didnt help and a subsequent MRI revealed her tumor. She died a year after her diagnosis.

The second case involved Jaxon Schoenberg; he was six when diagnosed, and died a month short of his seventh birthday.

Its not yet clear what is causing the cluster, but natural disasters like hurricanes are known to impact people long-term with a type of bacteria and various diseases that populate the waters left behind. That means youngsters in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, among other places, could be in danger of seeing these clusters develop in the coming years after the latest deadly storm season.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Science.NaturalNews.com

Submit a correction >>
BTK: "Orient Express" of the 21st century

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the New Silk Road project on a more global scale, will be held tomorrow, Oct. 30.The importance and scale of this project is evidenced by the fact that the opening ceremony of the BTK and the dispatch of the first freight train will be attended by the leaders of a number of countries that will somehow be involved in the transportation along this corridor. In particular, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the high-ranking officials of Kazakhstan, Georgia, China, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will arrive for the BTK inauguration.The project, which will connect the railways of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey for the first time, was launched in 2007 with the signing of an intergovernmental agreement among the three countries and a year later, on July 24, 2008, the Turkish section of the road was laid in Turkey. The project envisaged the complete reconstruction of the railroad in Azerbaijan and Georgia from Marabda to Akhalkalaki and the construction of a completely new infrastructure in the Akhalkalaki-Kars.Azerbaijan acted as the main ideologist and initiator in this large-scale project. The country took over the financing of the project on the territory of Georgia and provided a loan of $775 million. The project is financed by the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, according to the decree of the President of Azerbaijan "On Implementing the Activities of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Project" dated February 21, 2007. The neighboring state received $640.3 million.Many forces were interested in failure of the project and constantly pointed to the protracted nature of the project, but one should not forget that the construction of the Turkish and Georgian parts of the BTK rail line was conducted in the highlands.This required certain technical solutions in terms of safety and speed of the movement of trains, as well as work under difficult meteorological conditions. Here, the most important thing was not to rush, but to create the safest, most favorable route for cargo and passengers, and the countries participating in the project did quite right.Carriers from China, Central Asia and Europe particularly expected the opening of BTK and will now be rewarded for patience, because the terms of transportation of goods, for example, from China to Europe, will be reduced from 40-45 to 12-15 days, and transportation costs for the supply of petroleum products and dry cargo to the Turkish market will noticeably decrease.A freight train of 82 containers loaded with grain, which will be honored to run along the BTK first, departed from Kazakhstan's Kostanay a few days ago and reached the Kuryk port on the Caspian the day before. Its final destination will be the Mersin port in Turkey, meanwhile Kazakhstan has already begun the formation of the second coal train for delivery to Romania.The administrations of the railway agencies of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey have already agreed and presented the tariff policy to the senders of the goods. For example, the cost of delivering goods along the Baku-Kars route will be $ 37.98 per ton, $ 2,279 per wagon, $ 529 per one 40-foot container. More details on the tariffs along the corridor can be found here.In general, at the first stage, it is planned to transport up to five million tons of cargo per year and about one million passengers per year. Passenger traffic is expected to start in 2018. For these purposes, Azerbaijan Railways purchased 30 comfortable sleeping cars from the Swiss manufacturer Stadler and 10 locomotives from the French Alstom.The BTK railway can also be used to supply liquefied gas to Turkey from the Caspian countries, oil products from Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and, of course, container shipments from China. This shows the involvement of other countries in the project.In addition to the construction of the railway itself, a number of infrastructure facilities have been and will be built in the future: a logistic center in Kars, a replacement point for wheel sets from gauge 1,520 to gauge 1,435 in Akhalkalaki, two large reception points for freight cars and depots there. It is also planned to create a coal storage warehouse, as well as a large terminal for transshipping oil, oil products and liquefied gas, after which it will be possible to talk about an increase in the volume of freight traffic to 15 million tons per year.BTK in the future will be an important part in terms of connecting the railways of Europe and Asia via the Marmara railway tunnel running under the Bosphorus and will thus become a true "Orient Express" of the 21st century.
New Mayor says bonuses are needed for encouragement

By Messenger Staff

The new Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze, says that bonuses are needed to encourage employees, but everything has its limits.It is important for employees to be encouraged in their work, Kaladze said.I welcome the bonus system. An employer should have an opportunity to encourage the people in their office if they work better than others, Kaladze said.The new mayor stated this in response to a draft bill being discussed in Parliament.The bill regulates payments for public servants and sets salary supplements and money awards for exceptional civil servants.No one says that a bonus system is bad and it must be scrapped.However, it has always been a problem in Georgia that public servants, especially those taking high posts, took bonuses and salary supplements more than their monthly salaries.There are cases when heads or deputies of some departments take more money through their salaries and supplements, equal to Prime Ministers salary.Unfortunately, a large number of public employees still believe that they came to power to benefit themselves.Consequently, Georgia is in need of a law that will clearly regulate the issue and ensure the fair distribution of bonuses.If a bonus is awarded, people should know why a particular employee was given additional budgetary money.
@alextdaugherty

Donna Brazile isnt a fan of tropical pink-painted walls, apparently.

The former Democratic National Committee chairwoman has spent the past five days tearing into Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultzs DNC leadership and organizational skills ahead of the release of her new book, Hacks, on Tuesday, one year after Donald Trumps victory.

Brazile blasted the Weston Democrats choice to paint the walls of her DNC office tropical pink and a host of perks associated with the leadership role, like a Chevrolet Tahoe fully staffed with a personal entourage  including an assistant known as a body woman  according to an advance copy of Braziles book obtained by the Washington Post.

According to Brazile, the DNC was dependent on Hillary Clintons campaign cash for survival and Wasserman Schultz was more than willing to let the Clinton campaign pay most of the DNCs debt in exchange for a measure of control within the party organization, which is supposed to remain an impartial umbrella organization for all Democratic presidential candidates.

Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination, repeatedly charged that the DNC under Wasserman Schultz was rigged in favor of Clinton.

Debbie was not a good manager, Brazile said in a book excerpt published by Politico . She hadnt been very interested in controlling the party she let Clintons headquarters in Brooklyn do as it desired so she didnt have to inform the party officers how bad the situation was.

Wasserman Schultz declined to address the specific criticisms levied by Brazile in an emailed statement.

It was a tremendous honor to be asked by President Obama to serve as chair of the DNC, Wasserman Schultz said. I am proud of the work our team did to support Democrats up and down the ballot in the 2016 election and to re-elect the President in 2012. With Donald Trump in the White House, Democrats must stay focused on enacting a progressive agenda to protect our citizens, our values and our democracy and remain united towards our goal of electing Democratic congressional majorities in 2018.

Read more here.
For the first time in a year, Rubio stood in front of a crowd at a plumbing equipment warehouse in northern Virginia, a well-heeled part of the country that overwhelmingly supported him over Donald Trump during last years Republican presidential primary.

But as Rubio emerged to stump for gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie with Christian rock music blaring, a protester grabbed the microphone from Gillespie and demanded an end to immigrant deportations. Rubio stood off to the edge, displaying no visible emotion as the crowd shouted and grabbed the protesters sign as she was escorted off stage.

That was perfect, the timing, because I havent given a campaign speech in about a year so Im a little rusty, I needed some warmup time, Rubio said.

Rubio then began a speech that avoided certain hot-button social issues, like keeping Confederate statues in place that have galvanized some Republicans in certain parts of the country since Trumps election. Instead, he talked mostly about jobs, though he did wade into his signature issue, Latin America, as he referenced the violent MS-13 gang, a frequent Trump villain with roots in El Salvador.

I dont want to get in the middle of all these fights ... but I got to say it, I come from a community that itself has been impacted by ... gang violence, Rubio said.

Staying out of intraparty fights while building goodwill across wide swaths of the Republican Party is Rubios clear strategy heading into the 2018 elections, as the one-time and maybe-again presidential contender copes with a president who has low approval ratings and a resurgent GOP populist wing that is willing to cause trouble within the ranks.

Trump-inspired figures like Breitbart editor and former White House adviser Steve Bannon are engaging in open warfare with establishment-minded figures like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and two sitting Republican senators targeted by Bannon have already decided not to seek reelection in 2018.

But as Bannon and his disciples attack Republicans for failing to fully embrace Trumps populist-oriented message, Rubio has stayed largely out of the fray. Rubio doesnt have any plans to endorse Alabama judge Roy Moore, a Republican running for an open U.S. Senate seat who once declared that a Muslim should never serve in Congress. And Rubio was also relatively mum on the decision by GOP Sen. Jeff Flake, a harsh Trump critic, to retire after campaigning for him in Arizona less than two weeks before his announcement.

I have disagreements with the White House and I have been able to address some of them privately and a couple of them more publicly, whether it was the initial response in Puerto Rico or some of the foreign policy issues in different parts of the world, Rubio said. But my view is this: 95 percent of what is going to happen to me today, I cannot control. What I can control is how I react to what happens. And what Ive chosen to do more than ever is focus like a laser on the things I can control and get done.

North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and an ally of Bannons, praised Rubios work on Capitol Hill one year into his second term.

He gets no criticisms from me, Meadows said. Actually, were working very closely on the child tax credit that hes working with Ivanka [Trump]. I think hes doing a great job on that. I think he has an idea that it needs to be higher than what it is.

Read more here.
@PatriciaMazzei

Ahead of President Donald Trump's Asia trip, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio asked Trump to challenge the Chinese government on human rights -- including on its support of the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"Even though the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has lost international legitimacy and engaged in a crackdown against pro-democracy activists that has claimed over 130 lives, China, along with Russia, continues to provide the regime with financial support," Rubio wrote Trump. "We therefore urge you to press the Chinese government to stop giving economic lifelines to the failing Maduro regime."

The Oct. 31 letter, which also raised several other issues in addition to Venezuela, was signed by Rubio and Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican. The two lawmakers co-chair the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, an independent U.S. government agency that monitors human rights and rule of law matters in China.

"You have sought to build a strong personal relationship with President Xi [Jinping]  in part, to increase cooperation to counter North Korean nuclear proliferation  but we encourage you also to develop a long-term strategy for challenging the Chinese government to abide by its international commitments, adhere to universal standards, and embrace the rule of law," they wrote. "Such a strategy is critical to advancing American geopolitical, security, economic, and human rights interests, and will further the Chinese people's desire for peace, freedom, and justice."

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday.
A hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear Saturday near Pendroy, according Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

A 69-year-old man was pheasant hunting with a bird dog on a farm about two miles southeast of Pendroy along the Rocky Mountain Front.

A female grizzly was in willows with three cubs along an irrigation canal when it charged the hunter's dog. The man yelled at the bear, and it turned and charged him.

The man shot once in the air with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to a release from FWP, but the bear continued to charge. The man then shot the bear twice  once in the chest and once in the face. The bear was about 10 feet from the hunter for the final shot.

The bear returned to the willows, where the cubs had stayed. Sunday morning, FWP officials found the bear dead in the willow patch. The cubs were gone.

The sow was 9 years old and weighed about 500 pounds.

FWP warned that hunters need to be aware of bears near mountainous areas, especially in areas near water. The agency recommends hunters carry bear spray, which statistically offers better protection from charging bears than a firearm.

In Montana, bear country can be anywhere in the western half of the state and beyond. This year grizzly bears have shown up in places they havent been for decades, maybe even more than a century  Highwood and Big Belt Mountains for instance.

In recent years, when grizzlies have wandered out onto the prairie away from the Rocky Mountain Front, they've followed streams and river bottoms, including the Sun, Teton and Marias rivers.

In October, grizzly tracks were found on a ranch east of Cody.
Two fast-growing technology companies in downtown Missoula have applied for state grants to create more than 100 high-paying jobs over the next two years.

Advanced Technology Group, a technology consulting business with a large Missoula Solutions Center, has 110 employees statewide and recently applied for a Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund grant to create 50 new jobs over the next two years.

LumenAd, a fast-growing digital marketing agency headquartered in the Florence Building in downtown Missoula, has a pending application with the Montana Department of Commerce to create 62 new jobs over the next two years.

Nicole Rush, the grants manager for the Missoula Economic Partnership, spoke to the Missoula City Council last week and detailed a long list of companies in town that have applied for the grants. The money comes from the states coal severance tax, and the businesses can get reimbursed for up to $7,500 for each job created, as long as they pay at least 170 percent of the state minimum wage. To get the top award, each job has to pay the Missoula County median wage, which is $18.50 per hour.

Since the program was created in 2005, Missoula has leveraged more job creation funds (than other Montana city), Rush said.

Rush listed many other companies that have submitted applications, including:

Consumer Direct Care Network, a company that provides in-home health care services, has an active award to create 46 new jobs.

OnXmaps, a hunting map technology company, has an active award for 16 new jobs in Missoula and 16 in Bozeman.

Orbital Shift, which creates time management software for businesses, has an active award for 16 jobs in Missoula and 16 in Bozeman.

Audience Awards, a company that created a crowd-sourced video platform content solution, has an active award for eight jobs.

Synema Studios, a company that produces video content like science YouTube shows or commercials, recently was awarded a grant to create nine jobs.

Tomis, a company that makes digital marketing software focused on small recreation-tourism businesses, was awarded a grant to create 19 jobs.

Tru-Home Montana, a manufacturing company that is proposing to build sustainably-built, manufactured homes indoors, was awarded a grant to create six jobs.

Two other companies  Montana Distillery, which creates craft vodkas in Missoula, and Adelos Inc., a company that builds fiber optic systems  have been awarded business planning grants to help them come up with things like a sales distribution strategy.

Rush said shes confident that the two larger applications from LumenAd and ATG will be accepted.

Ive never had an application turned down, she said.

Companies only get reimbursed after they create the jobs, and Rush said companies rarely fail to come through with the jobs unless something unexpected happens with the company.

James Grunke said the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund is only a minuscule part states overall budget. He said several economic development programs are set to expire in 2019.

The Department of Commerce is looking at a strategy to get those reauthorized, he said. It may be they all go away. Theyre in real jeopardy to be going away in the next legislative session, which would severely limit our ability to reward companies.

According to Emilie Saunders, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Commerce, the state awarded nearly $3.3 million to Montana businesses through the BSTF in fiscal year 2017. That program is not expiring in 2019 she said. Some programs such as the Montana Technology Innovation Partnerships, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Export Trade, Certified Regional Development Corporations and Small Business Development Centers do sunset in 2019, but the BSTF is not one of them.

"Montana has very few incentives to begin with,'' Grunke said. "One of the areas that is always under attack would be (Tax Increment Financing) or (Urban Renewal Districts). But they are under real threat.

Grunke said that two manufacturing companies currently are evaluating whether to locate to Missoula and invest $420 million in new plant facilities, which would create hundreds of new jobs.

That would represent "a fairly significant capital investment, he said. That number has been revised up based on recent discussions.

He also said a technology company visited last week to evaluate whether to locate a customer service center here. He showed the council a graph that listed the potential economic impacts of all the companies that are thinking about starting new operations here.

We have more companies in the queue now than normal, he said. Its usually around four or five and this represents eight.
BOZEMAN  U.S. Senate candidate Troy Downing paid non-resident taxes and referred to California as "home" on social media during the same period when authorities allege he illegally purchased Montana resident hunting or fishing licenses, according to an investigation.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigation began in December 2013 when the Department of Revenue notified wardens that Downing was believed to have illegally purchased resident licenses, according to The Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The Republican has pleaded not guilty to nine misdemeanor violations in a case pending in state District Court in Gallatin County.

If he's found guilty, the businessman from Big Sky likely would be exposed to criticism from opponents as an out-of-state interloper. His campaign said Tuesday that Downing was a full-time Montana resident throughout the period at issue.

Downing filed income taxes as a non-resident during at least two years when he bought resident hunting or fishing licenses, 2013 and 2014, according to an affidavit in a search warrant application submitted by a state game warden in April.

He paid his taxes as a full-year Montana resident in 2015, the affidavit said.

Authorities say Downing illegally bought licenses each year from 2011 to 2016, illegally loaned an elk license to another hunter, and helped his adult son obtain a 2015 Montana resident license even though the son had a California driver's license.

A person must live in Montana for 180 days prior to buying a resident hunting and fishing license. The person also must register a vehicle in Montana, file state income tax returns as a resident and not possess or apply for any residential hunting, fishing or trapping privileges in another state.

Investigators characterized Downing's time in Montana as "seasonal at best" based on postings to a personal blog titled "Troy's World-Random Rants and Related Run-On Retarded Rhetoric," in which Downing mentioned spending time with family in his Montana vacation home and returning home to California.

He's among at least five Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester next fall. Downing's campaign chair is Lola Zinke, wife of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a former Montana congressman. The candidate tweeted a photo of himself last week posing with two of President Donald Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Jr., at what his campaign said was a private reception in the Judith Basin area during a hunting trip by the Trumps.

Campaign manager Kevin Gardner told The Associated Press that Downing has been a full-time Montana resident since 2009. It "makes no sense" for Downing to skirt the law, Gardner said, to avoid paying non-resident license fees at the same time he was paying tens of thousands of dollars to support Montana fishing trips for veterans.

"We also cannot fathom the corruption of the judicial system that is taking place where details of this case are being leaked to the press before Troy is being afforded due process in the court of law," Gardner said in an emailed statement. He added that the state wildlife agency was on a "witch hunt" against the candidate.

The warrant cited by the Chronicle newspaper had been unsealed by Judge John Brown last month at the request of the County Attorney's office, which asked for the document to be made public after Downing was charged in July.

Gardner declined to elaborate on what corruption might have taken place.

But he suggested it was part of an orchestrated attack by Tester allies and pointed out that Brown was appointed in 2005 by former Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat. Gardner declined to provide tax records or other documents to corroborate the claim that Downing has been in Montana full time since 2009.

Downing still has property in California, Gardner said.
PABLO  Before leaving a community dinner on a recent night, Kaci Ducharme, 18, walked down the hall of Two Eagle River School to Kathy Tapias classroom. She reached to a top shelf, pulled down an incomplete star quilt and paced the room as she held it to her chest with wrapped arms.

Youre not taking it home now, are you? Tapia asked.

No, I just wanted to hug it, Ducharme said of the project she's worked on for three years as a gift for her mom.

Ducharme is one of about 120 students at Two Eagle River School, which started in 1974 as a GED program based in Dixon, about 25 miles away. More than 40 years ago, Clarice King, Joe MacDonald and other members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes decided that if the schools currently serving the next generation were failing to see all students through to graduation and on to college or stable careers, they would make it happen themselves.

One result of the landmark community effort was the establishment of the alternative high school, which now sits off U.S. Highway 93 in a building that opened in 1989. It serves students in grades 8 and up, focusing heavily on Salish and Kootenai culture lessons in addition to academic core classes, as a way to strengthen student identity and build teens confidence.

It is run by the tribes with additional oversight from the federal Bureau of Indian Education, the Montana Office of Public Instruction and a national accrediting agency. As a tribal school, it receives no money from the state and federal funding is, by comparison, limited.

Superintendent Rodney Bird, who taught at the school for about 20 years, said many teachers and staff members have worked there for decades, largely because of the family atmosphere.

They could make more money going anywhere else, but they choose to stay here, which is a testament to them. They want to be here, he said. Cheryl Morigeau has been here 39 years. Kathy Tapia, 36 years.  Our language teacher, DJ Piapot, is a former graduate. He has a family now and came back to teach Salish language.

Bird, who is Blackfeet but married into a CSKT family, said many of the teens at the school are the second or third generation of their family to attend. Most students are CSKT members, although not all are. Some have been white, others are CSKT descendants, and some have been members of other tribes, he said. Students are bused to the school from communities across the Flathead Indian Reservation, which spans about 75 miles from corner to corner.

Bird said the cornerstone of the school is culture and language.

We use that as a way to build kids up, he said. They have Indian Ed for All in public school, and they might have a Native American week or month or day. Here, its every day.

Several students said lessons about their heritage are among their favorite things about the school.

We get to drum and sing. We get to make projects, make pouches, Lawrence Mahkuk, 15, said. Its a good school.

Josh Crumley, 15, emphasized the importance of the Salish class.

We dont have Spanish, French or any of those. We feel like its not what we should be teaching. Salish and Kootenai are losing their language almost every day, so they feel like teaching kids about their culture and their language is more important than teaching them some language almost everybody can speak, he said.

He said Two Eagle River is the best school Ive ever been to, in large part because of the welcoming atmosphere free of the kinds of cliques and racism, overt or subtle, that he saw when he attended public school in Polson.

Ive been bullied all throughout, from kindergarten to part of my high school years. This is more of a friendly place, Crumley said, noting he is transgender and besides some minor confusion, has felt like his peers and teachers are trying to understand more and more.

Like Crumley, many of the students who choose to attend Two Eagle River faced challenges in area public schools, including bullying, delinquency or falling behind academically. Some have unsettled home lives or have faced minor criminal charges, such as for drug use.

This is a hard school, but theyre just kids like the kids down the street, Tapia said. They just have seen and done a whole lot more than we ever experienced in our lives. They just want to be accepted and they just want somebody to care about what they do and how they are that day.

Tapia's home cultures class is one way the school reinforces students Native American identity, connects them to the broader community and sets them up for little successes that can build confidence to take on larger challenges.

Making a star quilt is a yearlong project and results in something that becomes a prized family possession. Students also make moccasins or ribbon dresses they can wear for traditional community and school dances.

For them, its an accomplishment to actually get something done. It gives them a purpose, she said. A big part of their school year is here. Friends help them quilt, or the staff members. Parents come in and help. Theres something about it that ties into your personal life.

Another way the school builds a support network around students is with family night dinners held about once a month for students, siblings, parents and other community members. The school usually pairs the meals with a workshop or lesson for the families, such as helping older students fill out federal financial aid forms for college.

We want everyone to feel a part of this school, that they have a place, that its their school, he said. Its a good time for the kids to share with their parents and the community what theyre doing.

At one such dinner last month, families lined the wall of the cafeteria and main lobby, waiting for a plate of barbecued pork, mashed potatoes, green beans and punch prepared by students earlier that day. The room buzzed with conversation, then quieted for a presentation about how to minimize the impacts of historical trauma, and then erupted with cheers as numbers were read from raffle tickets and winners picked up prizes. On one wall behind the tables leaned several tall frames filled with students' star quilts-in-progress.

As families left for home and staff began to gather trash bags, Ducharme turned toward Tapias room.

She confided to Tapia that she was struggling to balance schoolwork with personal challenges. They also talked about the traditional crafts she has started and stopped each time life got in the way, and then started again. The teacher reassured her they would be there waiting for her to finish them whenever she was ready.

As Ducharme walked out the door, Tapia asked, Well see you?

Yeah, the teen said. See you.
The researchers also noticed other important environmental issues that could be solved with just a little community effort. Baling twine, for instance, is a favorite material on osprey nests, but the birds get tangled up in it and many die.

We could have a positive impact regionally by just cleaning up baling twine on our land, Domenech says, and then we wouldnt have birds swinging from their nests. Whats going on with raptors is a reflection of whats happening with the ecosystem as a whole.

Just add water

Ospreys are found on every continent except Antarctica. And in many places in western Montana, Greene says, youre almost guaranteed to be just a few miles from an osprey nest at any given time. That makes them the perfect ambassadors for education.

They are the most tolerant raptor of any raptor species, Greene says. Just add water and youve got osprey.

Over the past 10 years, the Montana Osprey Project has taken tens of thousands of people out to see osprey nests as part of its educational mission. Another educational effort is Wings Over Water, which is funded through the Montana NASA Space Grant Consortium and managed by researcher and educator Jenelle Dowling at the Montana Natural History Center. It involves bringing scientists into the classrooms and working with teachers to create STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lessons based around the topic of ospreys.

In June, five middle school teachers were invited to UM for an intensive five-day training workshop where they learned about osprey biology, the physics of flight, GPS technology and the Environmental Biogeochemistry Lab. As experts in their own field, the teachers thought about how to apply what they learned.

Every day we worked on the curriculum, Dowling says. And the teachers figured out how to present these lessons in classrooms, but they also worked with experts to get an idea of how they can incorporate this research into their lessons.

A few weeks ago, after taking the workshop, Seeley Lake teacher Patti Bartlett spotted a new osprey nest on the top of a utility pole in town.

I called the power company and they said theyd have to tear the nest down, she says. And I thought, What a perfect opportunity.

Bartlett plans to work with the Montana Osprey Project and the Missoula Electric Co-op to have her students build a platform so the nest can be moved from the dangerous spot on the power lines and closer to their classroom.

I can hardly wait, Bartlett excitedly says. You couldnt ask for a more perfect learning opportunity for the kids. When kids invest in the place they live, then they become better stewards of the land. And thats my goal.

World Wide Web

In 2011, Greene and his colleagues set up a camera at the Hellgate Canyon nest. They wired it through Riverside Health Care Center, whose elderly clients enjoyed watching the osprey from their window and a live feed in the lobby. Iris and her mate, Stanley, had a successful brood of chicks that year, and everything was looking good for them.

A couple of years after launching the camera, Greene started getting checks in the mail that added up to thousands of dollars. Each check was made out to the osprey project in honor of a woman named Peggy Taylor-Miles, who Greene didnt know. He discovered she was a bird lover from Oregon who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. During her long hours of treatment, she became a huge fan of the Hellgate osprey cam. When she died in 2013, Taylor-Miles family asked people to remember her by donating to the Montana Osprey Project.

When I started getting all this money, I phoned her husband, Greene says. I said, We dont have a way to support student researchers working on the project. Would you mind if we make a special account in Peggys name to support students? He said, Let me think about it  Yes!

Taylor-Miles never got to visit Missoula, but her family came out to the osprey nest after her death to accept a plaque dedicated to her. Later that year, when Iris and Stanley hatched two chicks, they were named Taylor and Miles in her honor.

The past three years have been tough on Iris. She and her mate, Stanley, lost their eggs to a hailstorm in 2015. The next year, Stanley didnt return to the nest, which created some sadness in the osprey cam community. Ospreys mate for life, which means he probably didnt survive. Iris ended up pairing with a new mate, Louis. Most recently, Louis and Iris lost their chicks this past spring after difficult fishing conditions led to their starvation. It was hard on everyone, but Greene used the opportunity to talk with osprey fans about the challenges wildlife face.

Making connections

The 2014 announcement that the new Missoula College Building would be constructed along the river off East Broadway was exciting for a lot of people, but for Greene it was cause for concern. Designs for the building showed it would butt up against the osprey nest. Greene immediately called then-UM President Royce Engstrom and insisted they go to lunch.

I bought him a sandwich and a coffee and took him over to the site, Greene says. I said, Congratulations. Youre going to build a building here, so you have to know about this osprey nest.

He told Engstrom about the osprey cam and its millions of fans. He talked about the two UM Foundation accounts where people from all over the world donate money to the project. He told him about the students who come to UM each year to participate in osprey research. That same day, Engstrom made an executive decision: Missoula College would be built on the other side of the lot, giving the osprey nest wider berth.

That was a big win for the project, but there were still challenges ahead. The building of the college itself had the potential to disrupt Iris and Stanleys lives and drive them away, so the project required a company that would be sensitive to the birds. UM chose Jackson Contracting for the job. Builders arent used to considering birds  they have important timelines to meet  but eventually they were fully on board.

On top of their timeline, in their construction war room, they had written Iris and Louiss timetable, too: when they would return to the nest, their courtship and egg-laying times, Greene says. And they built their construction timeline around the birds so they wouldnt be disturbed. And so, even though there was an empty osprey nest 200 yards away that they could have gone to during the construction, they didnt abandon this nest. They stayed. And that is really special.

As the building neared completion, Greene approached Missoula College Dean Shannon OBrien. He knew it was important that the college, now also overlooking the nest, be invested in the osprey. He also had ideas for how the college could integrate the osprey into their studies.

Fortunately, OBrien is an osprey fan and a proponent of progressive education. She recalls living near an osprey nest when she was a child and learning from her dad about them. That curiosity, she says, is part of the reason she was already eager to meet with Greene. She gave him a small office on the third floor of the building, where he could observe the nest.

The conversations about how Missoula College might incorporate osprey research have been fruitful. The nursing program is interested in the way osprey could help students understand the human health impacts of mercury. And Greene is hoping to get welding and micro-electronic students to help build osprey perches fitted with digital scales for weighing the birds and the fish the birds bring back to the nest. In addition, computer technology and marketing classes could work on projects involving the webcam.

That camera creates worldwide awareness of Missoula and Missoula College, OBrien says. But it also helps our students and faculty think of the world around them. We need connectedness in our society. And this is a phenomenal way to be connected.

Greene also collaborated with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, to upgrade to a high-definition fiber-optic camera, which they now run through the computer system at Missoula College. The labs bird-cam project leader, Charles Eldermire, a UM graduate, flew to Missoula to help set it up.

Erick is a great spokesperson and really an empathetic person to the community, Eldermire says. The combination of his ability to talk about the science but also to connect with people has made it a really impactful camera.

Recently, a new coffee-table book about the project, called The Call of the Osprey by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and photographer Bill Mu~noz, won a prestigious award for the best STEM book for middle school and high school kids in the world. These kinds of successes prove something Greene is certain of: Osprey inspire people. He hopes one day that the curriculum and research the Montana Osprey Project develops will make its way to places around the world for everyone to engage with.

After all, theres plenty of osprey to go around.
Following a national search, Mount St. Marys University has hired Boyd Creasman, Ph.D., as provost, effective in January 2018. He will provide the leadership and advocacy necessary for continued enhancement of the Mounts outstanding faculty and academic programs.

Creasman, who currently is provost of West Virginia Wesleyan University, will serve as the chief academic officer of the Mount, acting as the principal champion for innovative vision, leadership, and direction for the university and its academic programs.

We are excited to have Boyd join our Mount community, said President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. Student success is our top priority in our just-released strategic plan, and I am confident that he will help lead our academic program to an even higher level of excellence. We look forward to Boyd helping lead Mount St. Marys University into the future.

I am incredibly pleased to join the Mount community, Creasman said. This university offers a rich tradition and history, excellent programs and extremely talented and dedicated faculty. The Mount has an exciting future, and I am honored to be given an opportunity to play a role in its continuing success.

Creasman joins the Mount at an important time as momentum builds from a series of leadership and academic successes, including a 24 percent increase in freshman enrollment; approval of a strategic plan; the introduction of four academic programs (cybersecurity, politics/philosophy/economics, entrepreneurship, and forensic accounting); articulation agreements in cybersecurity and biology with Frederick Community College; and the awarding of Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grants to three recent graduates. As the Mount launches searches for two academic deans, Trainor and Creasman will build a team of top academic leaders.

Creasmans four years as West Virginia Wesleyans provost resulted in considerable progress in assessing student learning and aiding faculty in becoming more effective in their teaching. He helped develop a profitable graduate program in nursing and co-wrote a grant proposal that resulted in a $10 million five-year Title III grant focused on improving student success and student engagement. Prior to becoming chief academic officer, Creasman held a number of administrative roles at West Virginia Wesleyan, including service as English department chair, director of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities and founder and director of the first-year seminar program.

Earlier in his career, Creasman enjoyed a career as an English professor at West Virginia Wesleyan, teaching a range of literature and writing classes. He has published articles and presented conference papers on writers as diverse as Anton Chekhov, Graham Greene and Jayne Anne Phillips. Building upon research informed by his teaching of Appalachian literature, Creasman in 2016 published Writing West Virginia, the first study of literature from the Mountain State to analyze multiple authors.

Creasman holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in English from Florida State University.

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TUESDAY, NOV. 7

AT THE LIBRARY

Evening story time at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St., starts at 6:30 p.m. in the children's room. The subject is turkeys, and youngsters will listen to books, sing songs, and do an activity. All ages are welcome. Details: Cathy at 406-723-3361.
A man suspected of raping an 8-year-old in her Billings home in 1987 will go to trial after allegedly going undetected for decades while another man spent years in prison for the crime.

On Friday, Judge Mary Jane Knisely denied a defense motion to dismiss charges against Ronald Dwight Tipton and set the case for trial on Dec. 11.

Jimmy Ray Bromgard was convicted in the case in 1987 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. DNA testing exonerated him in 2002, after he had served 15 years.

Tipton did not surface as the new suspect until 2014, when DNA samples he gave as part of a drug possession charge in Meagher County made a hit on the rape evidence entered in a DNA database. Tipton was charged with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent in 2015.

Tiptons attorney had asked for the charges to be dismissed, citing the five-year statute of limitations in effect when the crime was committed. He also said a state law on DNA evidence leveraged by prosecutors conflicts with a 2003 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that barred the use of new, and more expansive, laws regarding when a person can be charged from applying retroactively.

But Knisely ruled that the Tipton case is different from the Supreme Court case in question, Stogner v. California. Thats because it entails DNA evidence that was not available previously, and there was no delay in reporting by victims.

Knisely also found that the state DNA law, passed in 2007, was intended to apply retroactively in order to prosecute cold cases, and that failing to apply the state law retroactively would be a manifest injustice.

The move is a win for Linda Glantz, the victim of the 1987 rape. In an interview with a Lee Montana reporter earlier this year, Glantz said it was infuriating that despite DNA evidence pointing to Tipton, he could go unpunished.

Its been 30 years since she was raped.

Its just ridiculous, you know? Its just too long for somebody to be out who hasnt paid for his crime in any way, shape, or form, she said.

Tipton has been living in White Sulphur Springs. He has also lived outside Montana in the years since the 1987 rape, according to the judges Friday filing in the case.

In addition to the drug possession conviction from 2014, Tipton was convicted of theft in Yellowstone County in 1988.
LIBBY  Libby High School history teacher Jeff Gruber saw the black smoke filling the air Sunday afternoon on the southeastern edge of town.

He remembers hoping desperately that it wasnt coming from the building that housed the towns last lumber milling operation.

The whole town could see the smoke, Gruber said. It was very visible. I think we were all thinking that, Oh gosh, thats in the direction of the mill.

As I drove there and saw what was on fire, my heart just sank, he said. That mill offered some of the best paying jobs in town. Some of my former students worked there. Jobs like that are such a rarity here now.

It wasnt always like that.

Before big corporations bought out the milling operation in Libby and split its timberlands from the mill, the wood products industry employed more than 1,600 and was an economic driver for a community surrounded by forest.

From our very beginnings, logging and milling were our towns identity, said Gruber, a Libby native who has spent the past 29 years teaching history at Libby High School, where everyone is proud to be called a Logger. What burned down yesterday was the last vestige of that heritage.

Gruber said fires are always tragic. But, he said, in Libby sometimes it feels like youre living a bad poker hand where you just get one bad card after another bad card after another bad card.

The fire was first spotted at about 2 p.m. Sunday at the SK Fingerjoint Inc. mill site. Both of the buildings that burned were used in the companys manufacturing process, which glues together a series of short boards to create heavy beams that can measure 40 feet or more.

Lincoln County Undersheriff Brandon Huff said Monday morning the investigation into the cause of the fire would have to wait until the area cools sufficiently enough for investigators to safely to be able to access it.

There was a lot of processed timber and wood on the site, Huff said. The fire burned very hot. The buildings were total losses.

A total of 24 Libby volunteer firefighters responded to the blaze. Some spent up to 18 hours on the scene. One firefighter was treated at the fire for a burn on his hand.

The main building was originally constructed in 1944 to make Pres-to-Logs, made from compressed wood shavings, sawdust and chips.

It was a neat old building, said Gruber, whose family worked at the mill. It was built using big, heavy wood beams. That was the way they built things back then. It was one of the reasons it burned so badly.

The mill site can trace its history back to 1914 when the family-operated J. Neils Lumber Company came out West looking for new opportunities after running out of logs in Minnesota.

They wanted to do things right from the very beginning, Gruber said. They were pioneers in sustainable yield harvesting. They were very progressive and community-oriented. They were kind of like the Daddy Warbucks of Libby during its glory days.

In 1957, the family sold its operation to the New York-based St. Regis Paper. That company kept on members of the Neils family, and Libbys mill continued to be an economic driver for the community.

At its height in the 1960s, it was pretty doggone big and very diversified, Gruber said. It made lumber and plywood and even made a chemical additive from bleaching out western larch that was used a thickening agent as a substitute for gum arabic.

The mill provided electricity to the community and many likely used the Pres-to-Logs to heat their homes.

Libby was pretty independent, Gruber said. Electricity from the outside didnt get here until the 1960s.

The last manufacturing operation St. Regis added was the finger joint plant in 1972. It focused on gluing short boards together to make something longer that builders could use.

The beginning of the end for Libbys logging and milling heritage came in 1984 when Champion International purchased the operation.

Champion ran a very monetized operation that was looking to make a quick dollar, Gruber said. Sustained yield went out the window. They shut down a lot of things at the mill. The death knell sounded in 1993 when Champion sold its timber lands to Plum Creek and its mill complex to Stimson.

Stimson shut down everything but the plywood and fingerjoint plants. All the logs that were cut were trucked to Plum Creek mills. In 2002, Stimson closed the plywood mill. The finger joint plant closed a couple years later.

It reopened as SK Fingerjoint in 2014 under the direction of a former Stimson employee and millwright, Dan Kneller. The new plant employed about 20 people.

The finger jointer that was operating before the fire was kind of unique, Gruber said. They were making beams that were up to 40-foot long. Kneller is a mechanical genius. A lot the machinery that was being used in that building he built himself. He is one of those can-do, ingenious types of people.

Beyond that, there is no one nicer than Dan Kneller, he said. He worked down there Saturday and Sundays just to keep it going. This fire just marks another chapter of tragedy of a history thats become our story.

Gruber said that probably everyone of his generation who grew up in Libby had a connection somehow to the mill. His mother worked as a secretary there. His stepfather was a manager.

Its been part of my family forever, he said. I just hate to see another piece of it go away.
+What a frenzy the Trump years have been. (Yes, I know it's been less than a year, but it seems like years with all he's already packed into his months in office.) It runs the entire range, from strange to deranged. The distractions blur. On any given week, we bounce from indictments in the special counsel's Russia election-theft investigation that hit pretty close to home -- "home" being the White House -- to a terror attack in New York City, to POTUS fleeing the country to inflict whatever damage or embarrassment he can in Asia.

No one in his right mind believes that Donald Trump or his henchmen and henchwomen engineered the deadly New York ISIS outrage as a way to deflect attention from the pile of self-inflicted wounds, but the Trumpsters do enough of that on their own.

Even retired Gen. John Kelly, who was brought in to rescue the over-their-heads administration from drowning in embarrassment, has demonstrated that his outlook also is noxiously embarrassing. He's Donald Trump with the military bearing that Trump definitely does not have.

He certainly demonstrated that he has Trump's racist understanding of history. How else can we describe his take on the Civil War, that it was caused by the "lack of an ability to compromise"? Compromise what, Gen. Kelly? Slavery? That stain on America that still lingers in the form of widespread bigotry today? Kelly's take on Robert E. Lee is similarly foul -- that Lee was honorably fighting for his state because the states' rights cause was the real reason the South wanted to secede from the Union. His view reflects not only his boss's but also that of generations of bigots who have twisted the Confederacy into a "just cause" as opposed to the treason it was. The states' right that was being defended was the right to enslave human beings of color. The "compromise" that Kelly seems to idealize would have been an agreement to just enslave some of those human beings. That displays the thinking of a racist. If the special counsel were investigating that evil, the chief of staff would be a target.

As bizarre as that is, the current "compromise" being sought is the tax plan that Donald Trump and the Republicans are trying to jam down our throats. No matter how they gussy it up, it will allow the rich to share less of their wealth with society. They insist on calling it "reform," but if that's how they view it, they should be sent to reform school. It's really a half-baked way to allow their wealthy patrons to share less of their pie.

As for the terror attack in New York, Trump reacted in his usual ways: finger-pointing, taking shots at immigration and the legal system, and suggesting that the alleged perpetrator should be sent to the Guantanamo Bay military prison, remedies he gleefully acknowledged would not be "politically correct." How about constitutionally correct, Mr. President?

Among the targets of his finger-pointing is an immigration policy that had been sponsored decades ago by now-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who pointed right back. They're both from NYC, so one can only imagine which digit they were using. As for Schumer, he can always be counted on to utter the pithy sound bite, particularly when he's pithed off, and he didn't disappoint. Taking aim at the president's Twitter habits during his inevitable on-camera event, Schumer (or his writers) came up with this gem: The president should "stop tweeting and start leading."

Maybe what the president should do is remember that his authoritarian powers are limited, that he's only POTUS, not AUTOCRATUS, even though he and the people he's installed obviously savor the politics of destruction. They've created a nation that many fear is headed to another civil war.

(c) 2017 Bob Franken

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Nearly 2 million acres of public land in Montana are landlocked and inaccessible for public use, including 724,000 acres because the public cannot cross corners and 1,231,000 acres fully landlocked by private lands. Several additional millions of acres of public land are made effectively inaccessible for lack of reasonable access across private lands.

Private landowners that block access to public land enjoy the exclusive use of and unfairly benefit from the recreational and resource values of those public lands. Most federal and state lands are open to hunting, fishing, and general recreation. But the public cannot enjoy these benefits if they cannot access the land. Most state and federal lands are open to grazing, timber, outfitting, and other special use permits. But if others have no access to these lands, they cannot fairly compete for permits. And, if public land and wildlife managers cannot access public lands, they cannot effectively manage those lands and resources.

Private landowners rightfully defend their fundamental right to acquire and protect private property, including the right to deny public access without just compensation and due process of law. But, a persons inalienable right to pursue, possess, and protect property, like all other rights, is constrained by the responsibility not to infringe upon others rights or cause injury to other persons or the commonwealth.

Federal and state law provides for the acquiring of rights-of-way for public use with just compensation and due process (MCA 70-30), however, the government has rarely exercised its power of eminent domain to create public rights-of-way to landlocked public lands. Other attempts to resolve access issues like Montana FWPs Block Management, Unlocking Public Lands Program, and the non-governmental efforts of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Public Lands/Water Access Association, and others have certainly helped. Still, millions of acres of public land remain inaccessible.

We the people should respect private property rights. But landowners should not abuse that respect and right by blocking reasonable access to public lands and unfairly benefiting from the exclusive control of public land and resources.
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch is caring for nearly 600 kids, but only 65 were living on the sprawling campus in Billings last week. The other children and teens receive YBGRs help in their schools, their homes, or foster homes. Its that big group of kids who would be hurt first and worst if the state cuts its budget.

Youth in-home care and targeted case management are on the chopping block, even though they are key to helping emotionally disturbed youth stay safe in their own homes.

YBGR, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, serves Montana through community offices in Dillon, Livingston, Lewistown, and Billings. Those services include 32 school-based treatment teams in Billings, Laurel, and other Montana public schools.

Kids on the campus west of Billings suffer serious illnesses, including major depression and PTSD resulting from abuse. Many have engaged in self-harm, such as cutting or suicide attempts. About half have chemical dependencies or are at high risk for addiction.

The vast majority of YBGR services are provided through Medicaid. The fiscal year began with zero rate increases for Medicaid mental health care. YGBR and other Montana health care providers already were struggling to pay salaries that will recruit and retain professional staff.

Medicaid does not cover our costs, YBGR Chief Executive Officer Mike Chavers said in an interview last week. Our donors and foundation help.

Starting and resuming childrens mental health care isnt like flipping a light switch on and off. If disturbed youth are cut off from treatment, they will regress; they may need a higher level of treatment because they couldnt access the less expensive care when they needed it. If in-home work with parents and dysfunctional families suddenly ceases, problems will grow.

Most cuts are focused on low-cost services that serve a lot of people and divert them from higher cost care, hospitals and juvenile detention, Chavers said. Cutting down in this area doesnt save money, it drives costs elsewhere. Lets figure out ways to drive kids to better outcomes and bring kids home.

Of course, the state needs to control the costs of its high-end kids mental health care, too. Its currently paying $327 a day for residential treatment, but that rate, which doesnt fully cover costs of care, is under the budget axe, too.

DPHHS Director Sheila Hogan and division heads are open to thinking creatively, Chavers said. The challenge is there is so much noise in the system, nobody knows whats going to happen. Theres no easy way to make 10 percent budget cuts.

The state absolutely can improve the system. Montana public health officials should work with in-state residential treatment centers to send fewer troubled kids out of state for care. Montana needs to invest enough in community-based services to prevent kids from deteriorating till they need to be hospitalized. DPHHS must step up engagement of providers, clients and their parents to plan better, more cost-effective services. But none of this will save the general fund the $100 million DPHHS could lose this biennium to balance the state budget.

As Chavers said, There are ways we can improve the system, but it takes time.
MUSCATINE  After wrapping up a $4.8 million resurfacing project last year, the Muscatine Municipal Airport has obtained a state grant to continue its improvements.

The airport's runway reconstruction project included repairs to damaged pavement, plus improvements to signs and drainage. The Federal Aviation Administration funded 90 percent of the work, with the city of Muscatine paying for the rest.

The improved runway opened this past summer, but Airport Administrator and Community Development Coordinator Adam Thompson is continuing to plan for the future.

Thompson said in a previous interview a state airport security grant has helped fund a $25,000 project to replace analog cameras with digital ones, and another state grant is funding most of a $176,000 project to upgrade the airport's fuel facility.

Most recently, though, the airport won grants from the Iowa Department of Transportation's Department of Aviation to support the completion of the second phase of its hangar apron expansion. The state will fund 85 percent of the $239,400 project, with a local match covering the other 15 percent, or nearly $36,000. Another $150,000 grant will pay for the construction of a hangar building.

The Muscatine Airport, Thompson said, currently has 20 city-owned aircraft T-hangars that are rented by individuals, businesses and other pilots. There are currently 18 pilots on a waiting list, and since 2008, he said demand for hangars at the airport has remained high.

"There's a high need for hangars at our airport and having space or an area for individuals to hangar aircraft is important," Thompson said. "Otherwise they're going to Davenport or other area airports."

Thompson said the Muscatine Municipal Airport is one of three airports in Iowa to be given state funding to construct more hangars.

"This doesn't get us all the way to where we want to be, but it allows us to build some and to start progressing to building more in the future," he said.

The grant, he said, will allow the airport to build two new box hangars, which could each be shared by two aircraft. Then, work will begin on the airport's fourth row of hangars, which Thompson hopes will include 12 new units.

"We're hoping to develop a partnership and partner with another development firm to do construction simultaneously and complete the whole row at the same time," he said. "That would be privately financed."

In the next five years, Thompson hopes the airport will build an additional 24 hangar units and finally be able to meet demand.

"One thing with the construction of these hangars, is it's not just a space for aircraft, but we will be able to generate revenue from leasing hangar space," he said. "If everything goes as we are planning, it will allow the airport to operate self-sufficiently."

In order for the airport to balance its budget, the city of Muscatine provides a general fund subsidy each year. The highest subsidy in recent years was in 2010, when the city offered more than $89,000 from its general fund, according to the budget.

Thompson said that number has been declining each year, with the city providing around a $40,000 subsidy in the past few years.

"The hangar project and the future fuel project would bring the airport to being self-sufficient," Thompson said. "We've got plenty of space and additional space if individuals want to build their own hangar, there are opportunities for that. And same thing for corporations and businesses looking into expanding, we are available to accommodate those."

Thompson hopes construction of the Muscatine Airport's new hangars will begin within the next year.
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
A longtime client recently called me with a few questions about his website, which was old and dated, and included poor-quality images and indifferent content.

1. Do I really need to spend more money to make my site look better and work more efficiently on mobile devices?

Are you kidding? The answer is a big YES.

If you think mobile is just a trend, its time to crawl out of Sleepy Hollow.

Mobile is the way business gets done  its the way 60 percent of users access information and the way people qualify purchases.

As a marketer and a business owner, youre a stakeholder; you absolutely want to optimize everything that drives revenue.

Here are a few statistics that substantiate the need for an attractive, seamless mobile experience:

Mobile internet usage surpassed desktop in 2014.

70 percent of mobile searches lead to an online action within an hour.

80 percent of local searches performed on mobile phones convert into transactions.

In the case of my client, his website is essentially his only marketing tool; he needs to step up and spend some money on it.

It doesnt have to win design awards, but it needs to look professional, have high-quality images, well-written content and smart navigation.

A website says a lot about you  that you can organize information and create a quality, client-facing product.

In many cases, your website is the first  and last  thing a potential client is going to see.

2. Can I make part of my website mobile-friendly so that I dont have to spend as much time and money optimizing my entire site?

Your website is either mobile-friendly or it isnt.

If you do a Google search for mobile-friendly test tool a field will appear where you can input your website URL. The result will indicate how mobile-friendly your website is.

Something else to think about: If your site is excessively slow and takes a long time to load, it may be time to rethink it. Impatient users wont wait  theyll find another provider.

3. Should I try to optimize my mobile website myself or outsource it?

If youre a business owner, youve got a full plate, and becoming an SEO/optimization expert is not the best use of your time.

Becoming more knowledgeable about SEO strategies is always advisable, but this is definitely something you want to outsource.

SEO is not a quick fix

People often dont understand that there is no simple solution for increasing your SEO value or Google authority.

Your website is one component, but keep in mind that a static website is not going to do you any favors.

You need to be updating it with fresh content, and the best way to do this is with regular blog posts.

Your focus needs to be on building a comprehensive web presence and that includes regular social media posts with quality content and great images, reviews on Yelp and other applications and probably some pay-per-click advertising.

Its a multichannel effort that requires commitment and perseverance for sustained results.
Q: I have been working as a contractor for a pet-sitting business. I have not been paid in full for a couple of jobs. Each time I followed up, I heard one excuse after another about why I did not receive payment. After calling several times and going by the office I was finally paid most of what I was owed, but the company still owes me about $100. I am not sure what I can do as a part-time contract worker to receive payment. The company has also not been paying other contractors. Should I let it go or pursue it?

A: If you were a direct employee, you could file a complaint to recover unpaid wages with the federal Labor Department or your states labor agency. However, for independent contractors like you, pursuing debts is generally a do-it-yourself prospectunless you work in New York City, where the Freelance Isnt Free Act took effect in May. The act establishes protections for freelance workers, including a process for filing complaints for nonpayment or retaliation with the citys Office of Labor Policy and Standards.

Outside New York City, you can consult a lawyer or file in small claims court, but you might well question whether chasing down 100 bucks is worth the money and time investmentnot to mention the risk of harming your relationship with your current or future clients. No one could blame you if you decided to quietly swallow your loss and move on.

But in addition to pragmatism and profit, lets talk about principle. The company you work for presumably doesnt let its clients ignore invoices. If you intend to keep working for the same client, repeatedly accepting less than your agreed-on rate weakens your market value and negotiating power. Finally, while $100 may not seem worth the effort for you alone, what happens when you multiply it by the number of other contractors getting stiffed? Organizing a collective effort with your fellow critter caretakers could make the process more cost-effectiveand make your complaints harder for your client to ignore.

Although I try to avoid plugging specific services or companies, I think your first and easiest step is to join Freelancers Union (freelancersunion.org), a nonprofit that supports and advocates for freelance workers nationwide and was a key player behind New Yorks Freelance Isnt Free Act. Freelancers Union offers a client nonpayment tool kit for members, including a checklist to help you gather proof of what you are owed, a guide to filing in small claims court, sample contract language, and an app to connect you with legal consultants. All of this helpful guidance is included with your free membership.
The Napa Valley Film Festival, celebrating film, food and wine, has these culinary events on the schedule for Nov. 8-12.

Culinary Demonstrations

At this years Culinary Theater at the Napa Valley Vintners Theater at the CIA at Copia in Napa, directors, subjects and actors are paired with local CIA and guest chefs and wine experts. The audience will try samples and wine pairings at all demos.

Wednesday, Nov. 8.

 34 p.m. : Wine Spectator Senior Editor MaryAnn Worobiec, CIA Chef Sandy Sauter, and Robin Akhurst show how to prepare for a flavorful movie-watching experience.

Thursday, Nov. 9,

 11 a.m. to noon: Cooking at Home with Lou Diamond Phillips, star of La Bamba; Courage Under Fire, and The 33.

12 p.m.: Finding the Beauty in the Rot: Chef and star of Fermented, Ed Lee tastes through some fine wine, with MaryAnn Worobiec of Wine Spectator and winemaker Robin Akhurst.

 3  4 p.m.: Not Your Typical Brussels Sprouts: Whole Foods chef ambassador Melissa makes Kimchi Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Friday, Nov. 11

 11 a.m. to noon: Breaking Down the Fine Line: Join the filmmakers and cast of A Fine Line and CIA chefs as they discuss the history of women commanding the kitchen and what it means to be a female chef.

1-3 p.m.: Knife Skills & Life Skills: The film Knife Skills shows what it takes to build a world-class French restaurant in Cleveland, with almost the entire staff made up of men and women just out of prison. Join the Knife Skills filmmakers and folks behind San Francisco restaurant Cala for a demonstration.

 3-4 p.m.: Italys Iconic Reds: Sommelier and author David Lynch leads a tasting of Italys greatest red wines.

Saturday, Nov. 12

11 a.m. to noon: Not Wasted: Snout to Tail with Chris Cosentino: Cosentino leads a snout to tail breakdown about cutting waste and feeding the hungry.

1-2 p.m.: A Fish, an Olive, and a Bottle of Hangar 1 Walk into a Bar: Filmmakers from Caviar Dreams discuss the delicate balance between the demand and sustainability of this coveted delicacy.

3-4 p.m.: Mastering Blind Tasting: Ian Cauble, a Master Sommelier and star of the film SOMM, leads a blind tasting of 6 classic wines.

Sunday, Nov. 13

11 a.m. to noon: Sushi and a Blindfold: Sushi chef Jake Rand and director of Blind Sushi presents a new kind of blind tasting.

1- 2 p.m.: Wine Break! Have a Stella Artois My Friend: Matthew Jacob, Cicerone, teams up with CIA Chef Josh Anderson to pair Stella with food you might not expect to go so well with beer.

3-4 p.m. : Lets Eat Some Bugs Everybody! Filmmakers of our creepy-crawliest documentary of the fest, The Gateway Bug, and CIA Chef Hilary Sullivan dive deep into the reality of the culinary wave that is bug eating.

Afternoon wine tastings

The CIA at Copia, Napa, and the Farmstead Wine Pavilion in St. Helena will hold tastings from 3 to 5 p.m. on different themes. NVFFs afternoon wine experiences are open for all passholders to attend.

At the CIA:

 Thursday, Nov. 9: 90 PT+ Wines

 Friday, Nov. 10: Rose All Day

 Saturday, Nov. 11: The Rutherford Dust Society

 Sunday, Nov. 12: MAVA (Mexican American Vintners Association)

Farmstead Wine Pavilion in St. Helena:

Thursday, Nov. 9: NextGen

Friday, Nov. 10: The Rutherford Dust Society

Saturday, Nov. 11: Artisan Pavilion

Sunday, Nov. 12: Artisan Pavilion

Special Events

 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and Thursday, Nov. 9

Varietys 10 to Taste, presented by Food Network and Cooking Channel at the CIA at Copia, Napa

Ten chefs showcase their fresh spin on dishes inspired by iconic film scenes. Invited participants include Bay Area chefs who are focused on presenting pop-up style experiences, rather than establishing themselves in brick and mortar locations. A distinguished panel of celebrity chefs, filmmakers and actors will sample the dishes (along with all attending guests), and then dish about personal favorites, the latest culinary trends and the role of food in film. Special guests this year include television host Jaymee Sire (Iron Chef Showdown, Beat Bobby Flay, Food Network Star, ESPN SportsCenter); and actors Austin Stowell (Battle of the Sexes) and David Arquette (Amanda and Jack Go Glamping). Dishes will be paired with Stella Artois and select wines Vintage Wine Estates. This event is limited to Patron Circle passholders, Pass Plus holders with a $25 ticket, and invited guests.

For information or to buy passes, visit NapaValleyFilmFest.org or call 707-226-7500. Join the conversation online by following NVFF on various multimedia channels including Facebook, Twitter,Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
BERKELEY -- Berkeley police today released photographs of a woman who they believe was involved in fights at a "No to Marxism" rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park on Aug. 27.

Berkeley police said the photographs they released today are a follow-up to photos they released last Thursday. Those photographs, they said, depicted "suspects who were wanted in connection with felonious assaults" that allegedly occurred at the rally, which was organized by conservative activist Amber Cummings, who's known as "Based Tranny."

Police said several people who attended the rally were punched, kicked, and struck with improvised weapons.

Berkeley police said the photographs released today show the female suspect without her mask so they are again asking people with information about the suspects' identities or crimes to call their homicide unit at (510) 981-4794.

Police arrested 13 people on Aug. 27 at the "No to Marxism" rally at Civic Center Park and at a separate demonstration called the "Rally Against Hate" that took place a few blocks away at Oxford and Addison streets on the West Crescent lawn at the University of California at Berkeley. Large crowds were present at both rallies.

Berkeley police said, "We remain focused on taking enforcement action when practical and appropriate before, during and after events."
Its not by accident that Jeff Denham, David Valadao, Devin Nunes, Ed Royce, Mimi Walters, Darrell Issa, Dana Rohrabacher and Steve Knight, all California Republicans now in Congress, have survived and thrived through multiple terms in spite of frequent indicators that they were endangered in their very disparate districts.

Democrats downplay this political and personal reality this fall, as they gear up for hotly contested primary contests where the prize is the opportunity to take on one of those Republicans.

The assumption among most Democrats is that because of sometimes-looney behavior and words by President Trump, next fall will see many, many Democratic victories, perhaps enough for them to take back the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010, when Republicans won a sweeping majority.

The GOP margin now stands at 241 members to 194, after Democrats gained six seats in 2016, still falling 47 shy of taking over. That means Democrats must flip 24 seats next year to regain control of the House, and they see most of those eight sometimes embattled California Republicans as ripe for the ousting.

The have no such illusions about this states six other Republicans in Congress: the likes of Tom McClintock, Paul Cook, Doug LaMalfa, Kevin McCarthy, Ken Calvert and Duncan Hunter all appear safe from any sudden Democratic storm because they represent essentially rock-ribbed Republican districts. Not even their votes to kill Obamacare  the Affordable Care Act whose health insurance covers many thousands in their districts  are enough to threaten any of them.

But things seem different in those other eight districts, one reason why multiple hopefuls have risen up in almost all those places in hopes of taking on long-established incumbents like Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Democrat Hillary Clinton carried his 39th District straddling parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties in 2016, putting a target on Royces back for the first time in many years.

Rohrabachers coastal Orange County district was also long considered safely Republican, but his reputation as Russian President Vladimir Putins favorite congressman renders him unusually vulnerable next year. Still, Rohrabacher has often won with very large margins, and the several Democrats seeking to take him on next November would be foolish to assume hes a lame duck.

The same for Issa, whose district covering parts of northern San Diego County and southern Orange County was long a safe GOP area. True, he won reelection by just 1,600 votes last year, the smallest margin of any Republican in Congress, but his car-alarm fortune has provided all the funds hes needed to repel threats once he took them seriously. Issa, reputedly the richest man in Congress, is clearly scared. Yes, he voted to repeal Obamacare, along with all his California colleagues, but he also plumped for a plan of his own offering all Americans the same health insurance options open to members of Congress.

Hes moderated other of his stances lately, too, becoming more of a physical presence in his district than hes perhaps ever been.

Meanwhile, the huge Latino pluralities in the Central Valley districts of Denham, Nunes and Valadao have never seriously threatened any of them, but could this time because of their health care votes. Nunes, the committee chairman, also could be dogged by his forced recusal from the House Intelligence Committees investigation into Russian involvement in Trumps 2016 campaign.

And Knight, a narrow winner last time in his Palmdale-Santa Clarita district, will face at least as formidable a challenge next year as in his last campaign, itself a close call, even though its uncertain who will be his runoff opponent.

Each of these races is different, but all have the common theme of voters possibly wanting to crimp Trumps power, while other voters will not forgive the incumbents for their health care votes.

Still, every one of these Republicans has faced concerted opposition before, and none has lost yet. If Democrats assume they can easily oust any or all of them, they could be in for a surprise and another national defeat.
St. Helena panel to discuss local human sex trafficking

Soroptimist International of St. Helena will host Elle Snow, founder of Game Over, a nonprofit created to raise awareness of human sex trafficking in local communities from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9 at the St. Helena High School Performing Arts Center, 1401 Grayson Ave.

Snow, a human sex trafficking survivor recognized by members of the United States Congress for her advocacy work on behalf of women and girls everywhere, will discuss the many ways human sex trafficking takes hold in a community and what can be done to fight it.

Following her presentation, Snow will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Doris Gentry, Napa City Council member and human trafficking activist. Others on the panel include Napa County Sheriff John Robertson, District Attorney Allison Haley, St. Helena Police Chief William Imboden and Judy Durham, NEWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Services official. A Sacramento representative from 3Strands Global Foundation, a non-profit set up to combat human sex trafficking, will also be among the panelists.

Audience questions will be taken from the floor.

This event, which is being hosted by Soroptimist International of St. Helena, is open to the public and free of charge. Due to sensitive subject matter, parents are advised to use discretion when bringing children and teens. No RSVP necessary, though space limited.
Award-winning Irish author Colm Toibin was 12 years old the summer his father died  a defining event that would shape him as a writer.

Shortly after his fathers death, Toibin developed a stammer, a hesitation that would drift in and out of his voice until he eventually learned to control it on his own.

Writing, on the other hand, freed him. And quietly observing the world around him came easily. In that way, Toibin grew to become the sort of kid who remembered everything, he said in a 2014 interview in Londons Daily Telegraph newspaper.

I remember what shop was where, I remember what grave was where, I remember who said what to who  I stored that up, he related in the interview.

Toibin (his name is pronounced toe-BEAN) began writing poetry and stories shortly after his father died, when he fell into the habit of writing every day, mostly long-hand with disposable pens.

Following graduation from University College Dublin, Toibin moved to Barcelona, where he taught English for three years. Later, he returned to Ireland to work in journalism, eventually rising to become the editor of Magill, Irelands current affairs magazine. After leaving the magazine in 1985, Toibin traveled in Africa and South America, where he never stopped writing.

He would go on to earn international acclaim as a versatile novelist, short story writer, playwright, journalist, poet and screenwriter.

Toibin will bring his experiences and insights to Emory Nov. 12-14 to deliver the Richard Ellmann Lectures in Modern Literature, where hell address the theme of Writers and Their Fathers: Wilde, Yeats and Joyce.

It promises to be an engaging series as seen through the authors unique lens, says Geraldine Higgins, an associate professor of English at Emory who specializes in 20th-century Irish literature and culture, and co-directs the Ellmann Lectures with Ron Schuchard, Emory professor of English emeritus.

Toibin has long been fascinated by the idea of familial inheritance, Higgins says. One of his collections of essays is called New Ways to Kill your Mother: Writers and their Families. In one chapter, he compares the writing of James Baldwin and Barack Obama, men who grew up without fathers and learned to make it up as they went along.

The themes of identity and family, loss and grief, home and exile permeate his work, she says, and speak to diverse readers everywhere.

Celebrating literature, language and wit

Established to honor Richard Ellmann, Emorys first Robert W. Woodruff Professor, and launched in 1988 by the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney, the Ellmann Lectures have emerged as one of Americas most prestigious literary lecture series.

For nearly 30 years, the series has drawn a distinguished roster of international authors, including David Lodge, A.S. Byatt, Salman Rushdie, Mario Vargas Llosa, Umberto Eco, Margaret Atwood and songwriter Paul Simon.

All of this years lectures will take place at Emorys Glenn Memorial Auditorium, including:

Sunday, Nov. 12

5 p.m., Sir William Wilde: An Eminent Victorian in Ireland

Monday, Nov. 13

8 p.m., John Butler Yeats in Exile: Why Should Not Old Men Be Mad?

Tuesday, Nov. 14

4 p.m., John Stanislaus Joyce & Dublin: Old Father, Old Artificer"

8 p.m., Reading and signing (Three book limit per person)

Fittingly, Ellmann also served as the distinguished biographer of literary luminaries Wilde, Yeats and Joyce, the three writers under investigation in Toibins lectures, notes Higgins.

Ellmanns biography of Joyce is considered one of the masterpieces of the 20th century and his life of Oscar Wilde won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, the year after his death, she says. So it seems very timely that Toibin is returning to these fascinating fathers and sons in the 29th year of the Ellmann lectures.

Toibin will reflect the grand Ellmann tradition of being able to lecture on serious literature to a general audience in beautiful language, with much sparkle, humor and wit, and with an extraordinary ability to re-vivify artistic sensibilities and literary histories for his audience, predicts Schuchard.

A writer noted for artful restraint, rich detail

Considered among the top voices in modern Irish literature, Toibin is a master of many genres who writes and speaks with an air of casual erudition, according to Higgins.

A prize-winning novelist, short-story writer, dramatist and critic, his works have been translated into more than 30 languages. He is the author of nine novels, including "The Master" (2004) and "Brooklyn" (2009), which was later made into an Academy Award-nominated film in 2015. He is also a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books and a contributing editor at the London Review of Books.

Toibin has been shortlisted three times for the Man Booker Prize, won the IMPAC Dublin International Literary prize, and the Broadway adaptation of his book, "The Testament of Mary," was nominated for a Tony Award for best play in 2013.

Higgins quotes Cambridge classicist Mary Beards description of Toibins most recent novel, "House of Names" (2017), as an almost unfaultable combination of artful restraint and wonderfully observed detail  an excellent description of all his work, she says.

Toibin is currently Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and was appointed Chancellor of Liverpool University earlier this year.

Tickets are free, but required for all events. For more information or to secure tickets, visit here.
On Saturday, Nov. 11, hundreds of Emory students, alumni, staff, faculty, family members and friends will join in a day of volunteering in communities around the world.

Emory Cares International Service Day is a partnership between the Emory Alumni Association (EAA) and Volunteer Emory, a program housed in Emory Campus Life that seeks to promote social justice through self-examination and service.

It is always a pleasure to collaborate with student groups on campus, says Ariane ODea, director of global alumni relations for the Emory Alumni Association. They are the future of the alumni association. Serving humanity is at the heart of Emorys mission, and getting students involved early on will only make it more likely for them to carry it on post-graduation, to the benefit of their new communities.

Students may sign up through Volunteer Emory to help these organizations on Emory Cares Day:

Gaia Gardens, a community garden

Center for Pan Asian Community Services

International Womens House

NAMES Project Foundation

Lifeline Animal Project

Atlanta Hospitality House, short-term lodging for patients and families in treatment at Atlanta-area hospitals

International Rescue Committee

Kittredge Park

South Fork Conservancy

Literacy Action

Wylde Center, a center for education, greenspaces and community-building

WonderRoot, a community arts center

Sagamore Hills Elementary School

Clarkston Community Center

Emory student volunteers will gather at McDonough Field on at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 11; bagels and coffee will be served, followed by transportation to project sites. All volunteers and project leads will receive Emory Cares T-shirts.

Oxford College alumni and students will volunteer for the Newton County Foster Care program by packing toiletries into shoeboxes for Newton County Foster children. Oxford College alumni and students will volunteer to help the Newton County Foster Care program by packing toiletries, school supplies and small gifts into shoeboxes for foster children and youth. Tammy Camfield 89Ox 91C, senior director of alumni relations, brought the day of service to Oxford 13 years ago. This year, volunteers will also make holiday stockings filled with toiletries and gifts for veterans. Amanda Arrendale, Lorri Alston Anderson 97Ox 99C, and sophomore Vidushi Gupta serve as volunteer coordinators. In addition to the foster care support, volunteers with Oxford Athletics and the Center for Healthful Living will help clear Oxfords Nature Trail in cooperation with Eloise Carter 78G 83G, professor of biology.

Caring in Atlanta and around the world

Like the Oxford project, many local Emory Cares projects will give students and alumni the opportunity to work together, building connections while serving others.

Through the EAA's Emory Cares International Service Day website, interested alumni can sign up for 16 trips in the Atlanta area, often combining efforts with students with shared interests, such as the Emory Muslim Alumni and the Muslim Students Association working together at the Wylde Center, or the Emory Alumni Environmental Network, Emory Climate Analysis and Solutions Team, and Greeks Go Green joining forces to work at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials.

Alumni can also sign up through the EAA for dozens of Emory Cares projects happening across the country and around the world.

This year, for example, volunteers in New Jersey can join project leaders Jodi Sydell Rosenzweig 80C and Charlie Rosenzweig 80C 80G at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center's "Full Circle" event in Peapack. The annual event showcases art created by artists at Matheny, a hospital and school for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.

International projects are happening in Spain, Lebanon, Shanghai and beyond, according to Lizzie Boyer, marketing specialist at EAA.



These include Emory alumni, family and friends in Spain gathering to serve breakfast to over 350 homeless people at Comedor Ave Maria in downtown Madrid. Meanwhile, Emory Cares volunteers in Lebanon will work with Ouzville, a project that brings color and street art to the Beirut neighborhoods of Ouzai, Burj Hammoud and Cola.

And Emory alumni in Shanghai will volunteer with Shanghai Healing Home, a nonprofit foster home assisting local Chinese Childrens Welfare Institutes by providing pre- and post-surgical care to abandoned babies born with surgically correctable issues.

Emory Cares was founded by Renelda Mack 83C, a former Emory Alumni Board president, in 2003 and has become a favorite annual tradition.
On Nov. 2, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced their tax-reform bill  HR 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act  which would rewrite the tax code for the first time in more than 30 years.

In anticipation of the bill's release, Emory University President Claire E. Sterk sent a letter Oct. 31 to Georgia's representatives in the U.S. Senate and U.S. Houseof Representativesoutlining how possible tax reform measures could impact the university.

Several potential reforms, including changes to endowments, charitable contributions and educational assistance, "would have a deleterious effect on Emory's students, employees and patients," Sterk noted.

After reviewing the legislation that was released on Thursday,Emory is engaging with lawmakers on the negative impact to ourstudents and the university as a whole, according to Cameron Taylor, vice president for government affairs. Additional provisions of concerninclude taxing student tuition benefits and eliminating the student loan interest deduction, as well as changes to tax-exempt bond financing mechanisms.

"Emory will continue to express our belief that tax reform should not come at the expense of students pursuing the goal of higher education," Taylor says.

The House is expected to quickly mark up the legislation. A version of the bill has not yet been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Tax-reform measures will ultimately have to be passed in both chambers, with differences reconciled by a conference committee, before being sent to the president's desk, Taylor notes.

On Monday, Sterk discussed Emory's concerns about the tax-reform bill in a phone call with Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who serves on the Senate Committee on Finance, which will craft the Senate version of the bill.

Along with individual advocacy, Emory is also working very closely with other Georgia institutions of higher education, as well as national higher education associations, toeducatelawmakers on the impact of tax-reform proposals on colleges and universities.

Here is the full text of President Sterk's Oct. 31 letter:

As president of Emory University, I write to share with you the impact of potential tax reform measures on our institution, which employs over 35,000 Georgians and is the second largest employer in Metro Atlanta. A number of the potential reforms, and in particular the proposals outlined below, would have a deleterious effect on Emory's students, employees, and patients.

Endowments

One vital tool in Emory's financial toolkit is our endowment. Over 1,900 donor-designated funding pools compose our endowment, and due to both contractual limitations and restrictions imposed under state law, Emory may use those funds only for the donor's intended purpose. As a large academic health center, Emory's endowment includes funds for both the educational and healthcare enterprises, including funds not only for student financial aid, but also for patient care, clinical research, faculty chairs, and undergraduate programs, among others. While some of the endowment funds are "unrestricted," in the sense that they were given without a specific donor intention, the vast majority of endowment pools are "restricted," in that Emory is constrained in expending those funds to fulfill the donor's intention.

Our endowment, like that of other non-profits, helps Emory remain committed to its mission to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity. Any effort to impede in the management of such an instrument, such as an excise tax or mandatory payout, will severely undercut our ability to fulfill donor wishes and ensure the endowment 's longevity and integrity.

Charitable contributions

Core to the success of advancing Emory's mission is our ability to raise money through charitable donations. These donations come from various donors for a myriad of reasons. Some donors may give simply because they are alumni; some may give toward a specific initiative, such as providing financial aid for talented undergraduates or for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder at the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program. Reasons motivating donors are varied, though donors give to create positive change. Charitable donations are critical to how Emory and other non-profits not only conduct business and raise money, but also advance societal goals.

Altering the treatment of charitable donations could have a chilling effect on giving to all nonprofits, including research institutions like Emory. A proposal to limit deductions to charitable contributions made in excess of two percent of a donor's adjusted gross income, may not pose a barrier to principal gifts donors, but it could have a deleterious effect on a donor pipeline.

Likewise, an increase in the standard deduction, without some mechanism such as a universal charitable deduction, would affect the vast majority of taxpayers who would then have no incentive to make charitable contributions. Major giving begins with small annual gifts, and younger donors who no longer itemize because of an increase in the standard deduction would no longer have a tax incentive to donate money to charitable organizations.

These financing mechanisms are core to the fabric of Emory University' s business, but are, by no means, the only ways in which many of the proposed tax reform measures could negatively impact Emory and other institutions of higher education in Georgia. Our ability to retain faculty and staff is strengthened by the benefits we can provide, including Section 127 employer-provided educational assistance, which allows Emory to provide up to a set amount in tax-free tuition assistance at the graduate or undergraduate level for its employees, and Section 117(d) qualified tuition reductions, which allows Emory to provide tax-free undergraduate-level tuition waivers to its employees and their dependents. These provisions are particularly important in recruiting and retaining faculty and staff, and they offer employees a unique path to continuing education for themselves and their dependents.

Changes affecting charitable giving and endowments, as well as those affecting educational assistance, will significantly impact the limited means of revenue used to support our students, patients, and staff. Thank you for taking these issues into consideration during the upcoming tax reform conversation. Please do not hesitate to call on me if Emory can ever be of assistance to you.

Sincerely,

Claire E. Sterk

President

Emory University
FBI agents search for evidence near the church where a mass shooting occurred in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the US, Nov 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

HOUSTON - "There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws," Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters outside the church in Sutherland Springs, about 65 km east of San Antonio.

He said that the suspect, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, sent threatening text to his mother-in-law in the morning before launching the shooting attack.

"The mother-in-law attended the church. We know he sent threatening ... that she had received threatening text messages from him."

"The domestic situation will continue to be thoroughly investigated. This was not racially motivated," Martin said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that at least 26 people were killed after the gunman opened fire at the church in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 residents.

The attack in the church was the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history, he added.

The lone gunman, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, drove up to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs at around 11:30 am (1730 GMT) on Sunday and started firing inside.

As he left the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged with the suspect, Martin said.

The gunman, 26, was later found dead nearby in his car, apparently of a gunshot wound, after he fled the scene.

Sutherland Springs is an unincorporated community located on the old Spanish land grant of Manuel Tarin in northern Wilson County. According to the Handbook of Texas, the population was 362 in 2000.
- U.S. President Trump sells weapons to help Japan shoot down North Korean missiles.





- Trump wants to counter the dangerous aggressions from North Korea.





- Japan willing to shoot down missiles if necessary.

U.S. president Donald Trump has agreed a weapons deal with Japan in a bid to help the country defend itself from the "dangerous aggressions" from the North Korean regime.





Trump while speaking with the Japanese Prime Minister Abe, stated that once the final batch of weapons are delivered, Japan would be able to "blow North Korean missiles from the sky".





"He (Abe) will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States," Trump said, referring to the North Korean missiles. "The prime minister is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should. And we make the best military equipment by far."





Abe, for his part, said Tokyo would shoot down missiles "if necessary".





Trump was replying to a question that was posed to Abe - namely how he would respond to a quote from Trump from a recent interview in which he said Japan was a "samurai" nation and should have shot down the North Korean missiles.





"Most importantly, we're working to counter the dangerous aggressions of the regime in North Korea," Trump said, calling Pyongyang's nuclear tests and recent launches of ballistic missiles over Japan "a threat to the civilized world and to international peace and stability".





"Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. But look what's happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years. Look where we are right now," he added.





Abe, with whom Trump has bonded through multiple summits and phone calls, repeated at the same news conference that Japan backed Trump's stance that "all options" are on the table, saying it was time to exert maximum pressure on North Korea and the two countries were "100 percent" together on the issue.





Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying, in response to Abe's comments, said that the North Korean "situation" was "already extremely complex, sensitive and weak".





"We hope that under the present circumstances, all sides' words and actions can help reduce tensions and reestablish mutual trust and getting the North Korean nuclear issue back on the correct track of dialogue and negotiations," she said.
Daily Egyptian earns top online collegiate award

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University Carbondales student-produced newspaper, earned the online Pacemaker award at the National College Media Convention in Dallas.

The newspaper received the award Oct. 28 at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association National College Media Convention. The Daily Egyptian was recognized earlier this year as one of 25 online news and magazine sites in the Online Pacemaker competition. ACP is the nations largest and oldest national membership association for college student media, according to the organizations website. The organization initially received 105 entries from colleges and universities.

Its an honor for our staff, and really shows how much a small, dedicated group can achieve, Eric Fidler, the newspapers faculty managing editor said. Fidler noted that Gary Lundgren, associate director of Associated Collegiate Press said in a news release announcing the finalists: Today's best online sites are platforms for rich multimedia storytelling. Deep and diverse coverage with strong engagement and interactivity distinguish the best student-produced sites.

Interestingly, the award came 101 years to the day of the Daily Egyptians original publication on Oct. 28, 1916. The newspaper is now printed once a week but operates daily online at dailyegyptian.com/

In addition to the Daily Egyptians award, four students also earned awards:
American Airlines safety risk analyst, alumnus to keynote aviation banquet

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A two-degree alumnus from Southern Illinois University Carbondales nationally recognized aviation program is the featured speaker at the annual aviation banquet at 7 p.m. Nov. 10.

Andrew Cohler, a senior analyst for safety risk management with American Airlines in Dallas, Texas, earned his aviation management degree from SIU in 2013 and a masters degree in aviation administration in 2015.

The banquet is from 7 to 9:30 p.m., in Student Ballrooms C and D. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a small reception taking place at 6 p.m. The banquet is open to the public; organizers expect about 300 people to attend. The Aviation Management Society, a registered student organization, sponsors the event.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the banquet or career fair earlier in the day. For more information, contact Dalton Thompson, president, Aviation Management Society, at 630/877-1996 or dthomps96@siu.edu.

Tickets are $30 apiece for the public and $10 for students and alumni. Aviation Management Society members and students leaders are free.

American Airlines will be catering first-class meals, Dalton Thompson, AMS president, and a senior in the aviation management and flight program. At least five of the airlines top executives will be there to network with students, including the base chief pilot for American at Chicagos OHare International Airport, and the director within the airline's flight service food and beverage organization, Thompson said.

In addition, the annual aviation career fair is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Transportation Education Center multipurpose room. Information about banquet and career fair is at www.amssalukis.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 01:56:10|Editor: yan

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THE HAGUE, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 Dutch small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) attended "China Business Week", an annual event organized by a network of Dutch economic government institutions on Monday.

Jaap Smit, governor of the Province of Zuid-Holland, said opening the event that his province is planning a new economic and trade mission to China in May next year. Since taking the post in 2014, the governor has visited China three times.

"The cooperation between the Netherlands and China is mutual-benefiting. It enables us to better address the challenges facing the humanity, climate change, global food supply, and urban sustainable development in particular. Work together to innovate, we can play an important role in these fields," said Jaap Smit.

The openness and the inclusiveness advocated last month at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will inject new opportunity for business cooperation, said Smit.

Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken said the Dutch business world faces a historical opportunity as China develops and transforms, opens up and works together with the world via the Belt and Road Initiative.

"In 2017, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries, the Dutch exports to China are expected to exceed 10 billion U.S. dollars for the first time; and Dutch companies invested in more than 3,200 projects in China," Wu told the entrepreneurs looking to expand their international business and build overseas relations.

"China Business Week" is organized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and supported by the Dutch economic government network in China.

Apart from the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates-Generals in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Chongqing, there are 6 NBSOs (or Netherlands Business Support Offices) in Dalian, Jinan, Qingdao, Nanjing, Chengdu and Wuhan.

In the coming days, a delegation of the economic government network will travel to four Dutch cities for talks with local companies around industries such as environmental protection, horticulture and smart cities.
Iran on Monday denies involvement in Yemen missile attack on Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua Photo)

TEHRAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed the allegations that Tehran was behind a recent missile attack on Riyadh, Press TV reported.

The allegations are "destructive, irresponsible, provocative and baseless," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said.

On Monday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-allied Shiite Houthis said in a statement that Iran was to blame for a Yemeni missile strike on Riyadh on Saturday.

Qasemi said that the Yemenis had showed an "independent" reaction to Saudi attacks, and their reaction is not rooted in another country's measures or provocations.

He said that Iran had no means of transferring missiles to Yemen, and that missiles used by Yemeni militants belonged to themselves and they had only increased their range.

He urged the Saudi officials to stop leveling "unfounded" accusations against others and carrying out attacks on innocent and defenseless Yemeni people as soon as possible.

Following a missile strike from neighboring Yemen on Saturday, Saudi Arabia ramped up threats against Iran, saying there would be a response "in the appropriate time and manner."

Saudi Arabia is leading a mostly Arab military coalition to fight Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015 in a bid to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was ousted by Houthis in September 2014.

Houthis have been controlling much of Yemen's north by force, including the capital Sanaa since 2014.

The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced over 3 million, according to humanitarian agencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 02:46:24|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Iraqi President Fuad Masoum said Monday that Polish enterprises were welcome in Iraq and his country needed partners to rebuild its infrastructure.

"We thank Poland for its part in the reconstruction of Iraq, for its help in fighting terrorism from our country," Masoum told a joint press conference after meeting with Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.

Masoum, on a two-day visit to Poland, said Polish soldiers had helped in the fight against the Islamic State.

"They (Polish troops) have made a huge sacrifice. You have made a major contribution to the struggle against the Islamic State. Iraq has gone through a very difficult time, but we have managed to succeed in this struggle," the Iraqi president said.

Asked about Poland's stand on the conflict between Iraq's Kurds and the country's government, Duda said the most essential thing was that Iraq possessed its system and its own constitution. Poland fully supported Iraq's territorial integrity and political cohesion, he said.

"These are the boundaries within which, in our belief, Iraqi-Kurdish relations should be upheld, based on dialogue," Duda said.

According to the Polish president's top aide Krzysztof Szczerski, in the first seven months of 2017, bilateral trade between Poland and Iraq rose 40 percent year on year. Two-way trade stood at 500 million U.S. dollars in 2016, official data showed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 03:06:32|Editor: yan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- France has said that it will support efforts to restart the Cyprus negotiations once the Republic of Cyprus decides to relaunch the process, a statement by the island's presidential office said on Monday.

"Progress must be made and France ... can play its role and get involved deeper if you ask us to do so," French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly told Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades during talks in Paris.

Anastasiades paid a one day working visit in Paris for talks with Macron which centered on the Cyprus issue, bilateral relations and military cooperation, the future of Europe and Euro-Turkish relations, according to the statement.

The latest round of negotiations to end the partition of Cyprus collapsed in July at the Swiss mountain resort of Crans Montana despite efforts by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reconcile the two sides on security issues.

Macron said there were strong defense ties between Cyprus and France, noting that French navy vessels paid more than 40 visits to Cyprus.

He added that once a military base on the south shores of Cyprus is upgraded, this cooperation will be extended, the statement said.

Macron also said the French government supports the presence in Cyprus of Total Energy Company, which said it has scheduled to soon start natural gas exploration in Cyprus's offshore exclusive economic.

Anastasiades thanked Macron for the support by France on the Cyprus issue as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and promised that steps will be taken to widen defense cooperation between the two countries.

French ships and planes make use of both naval and air facilities in Cyprus in operations in the Middle East.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 03:21:39|Editor: liuxin

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FBI agents search for evidence near the church where a mass shooting occurred in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the United States , Nov. 6, 2017. "Domestic situation" was involved in a rural Texas church shooting during which a gunman with an assault rifle killed at least 26 people during Sunday services, a Texas law enforcement official confirmed Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)

HOUSTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- "There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws," Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters outside the church in Sutherland Springs, about 65 km east of San Antonio.

He said that the suspect, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, sent threatening text to his mother-in-law in the morning before launching the shooting attack.

"The mother-in-law attended the church. We know he sent threatening ... that she had received threatening text messages from him."

"The domestic situation will continue to be thoroughly investigated. This was not racially motivated," Martin said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that at least 26 people were killed after the gunman opened fire at the church in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 residents.

The attack in the church was the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history, he added.

The lone gunman, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, drove up to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs at around 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) on Sunday and started firing inside.

As he left the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged with the suspect, Martin said.

The gunman, 26, was later found dead nearby in his car, apparently of a gunshot wound, after he fled the scene.

Sutherland Springs is an unincorporated community located on the old Spanish land grant of Manuel Tarin in northern Wilson County. According to the Handbook of Texas, the population was 362 in 2000.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 07:22:58|Editor: liuxin

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HELSINKI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Defense cooperation between the five Nordic countries took a step forward on Monday as they signed a document on the exchange of air surveillance data.

Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto said the document would improve situation awareness in peace time and also enhance flight safety.

Niinisto noted that in the northern areas of Finland, Sweden and Norway, the air forces of the three Nordic countries carry out cross-border training almost weekly.

Besides Niinisto, the signatories of the agreement were his counterparts Claus Hjort Frediksen from Denmark, Frank Bakke-Jensen from Norway and Peter Hultqvist of Sweden. A civil servant signed on behalf of Iceland.

In addition, the chairmanship of the Nordic defense cooperation (Nordeco) will transfer to Norway from now on. The newly appointed Norwegian defense minister Frank Bakke-Jensen looked forward to enhanced cooperation between Finland and Sweden and the Nordic NATO members.

"Nordic cooperation is not an alternative to the NATO alliance though," he underlined.

Nordic military cooperation will soon bring in unified outfit as well. Niinisto said the plan to introduce similar combat outfit for all Nordic infantry was progressing and would start functioning sometime next year.

Joint purchases will be adopted, partially for saving cost. The textile designs could be different in every country. In Finland, at least the current uniforms introduced in 2005 would remain in use for off duty and festive occasions.

Among the five Nordic countries, Iceland, Denmark, Norway are NATO members, whereas Sweden and Finland are outside the alliance but maintaining close partnership with it.

Visiting U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis did not attend the gathering of the five Nordic countries, but is meeting on Tuesday with Finnish Defense Minister Niinisto and Swedish Defense Minister Hultqvist together.

Matti Pesu, a researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, told Finnish news agency STT that the tripartite meeting on Tuesday will be the first of its kind and more of such meetings are expected to come in the future.

Niinisto also said that the tripartite encounter is practical as the three countries have attended same exercises. The major Swedish operation "Aurora" have seen units from Finland and the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 07:38:02|Editor: liuxin

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BRASILIA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, the largest in South America, will host the 13th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) for Latin Forum on March 13-15, 2018.

The commitment to host the event, one of the most important on the Latin American calender, was announced on Monday by Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin and the city's mayor Joao Doria.

They also confirmed their attendance to the main WEF event, together with Brazilian President Michel Temer, next January in Davos, Switzerland.

This will mark the first time the forum takes place in Brazil since 2011, when it was held in Rio de Janeiro. The event will witness the participation of 750 leaders from around the world.

Next year's event will focus on three topics: the encouragement of responsible leadership and agile governance, the guarantee of economic progress for all and the potential improvements of the fourth industrial revolution.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 09:03:15|Editor: liuxin

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan late on Monday confirmed that a diplomatic official of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Afghanistan's eastern Jalalabad city was shot dead at a shop near his residence by assailants riding a motor bike.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the Afghan Charge d'Affaires to the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest against this heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators of this act of violence should be apprehended and brought to justice, the Foreign Ministry said.

The foreign secretary asked for foolproof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan, a statement said.

The Afghan Charge d'Affaires expressed condolences on behalf of his government, assured provision of security to Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan, and will bring to justice the perpetrators of this terrorist act, the statement said.

The statement said the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the killing of the diplomatic official.

"The president and the prime minister in separate messages, strongly condemned this heinous act and conveyed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family," the statement said.

Afghan ambassador to Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal condemned the incident and said he had asked officials in Jalalabad to extend help to Pakistani officials.

"As soon as I heard about the tragic killing of an official of Pakistan Consulate General in Jalalabad, I called to ask our relevant officials in Jalalabad to extend full support in this tragic and unfortunate incident," Zakhilwal said.

"I also conveyed my deepest sympathies and condolences to both the Counsel General in Jalalabad and also to the Pak MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Islamabad," the Afghan envoy said in the statement posted on Twitter.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 09:08:17|Editor: liuxin

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CANBERRA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- An Australian Senator has called on the nation's electoral body to make ineligible dual citizens repay public funding they received for their election campaigns.

Cory Bernardi, leader of the Australian Conservatives party, on Tuesday announced that he would pursue the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) over whether ineligible candidates, including those who weren't successful but affected the outcome, should be entitled to public funding.

Under Section 44 (i) of the Australian Constitution, any person holding a citizenship of a country other than Australia is ineligible to run for parliament.

The citizenship saga has engulfed Australian politics for the last two months, threatening the government of Prime Minister (PM) Malcolm Turnbull and seeing five parliamentarians, including Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, disqualified from their positions.

The AEC provides funding to any candidate running for federal parliament so as to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity of being elected.

"It's not just people who were successful with questions marks over them, but any endorsed candidate," Bernardi told the Guardian on Tuesday.

"Any candidate who has received public funding or directed preferences that have affected political outcomes need to face the same levels of scrutiny."

"We have quite literally opened Pandora's box. I will be seeking advice from the Australian Electoral Commission."

On Monday, Turnbull announced that every remaining parliamentarian would have 21 days to disclose their citizenship status.

He said that anyone who provided incorrect or falsified documents would be undertaking "a serious breach of privilege" and face "very dramatic" political consequences.

Turnbull on Tuesday arrived in Joyce's former seat of New England in New South Wales (NSW) where Joyce is contesting a by-election.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 09:18:20|Editor: liuxin

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CANBERRA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has dismissed claims that he could be disqualified from parliament on account of his citizenship.

It was revealed in October that Frydenberg's mother, Erika Strausz, fled Hungary following World War II but Frydenberg said she was stateless upon her arrival in Australia.

However, an investigation published by News Limited on Tuesday found that Strausz "arrived in Australia using a valid passport" and "the immigration report was unclear about whether the family was travelling on Hungarian passports or some other form of valid travel documents for those displaced during World War II."

If his mother held Hungarian citizenship it would be passed on to Frydenberg at birth. Under Section 44 (i) of the Australian Constitution, anyone who is a citizen of a country other than Australia is ineligible to be elected to parliament.

Frydenberg is the latest politician to be caught up in the citizenship saga which has seen Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Barnaby Joyce along with four Senators disqualified from parliament.

The environment minister on Tuesday re-affirmed his previous statement that questioning his citizenship status was "absurd."

"There is a clear reference to statelessness on my mother's official documentation upon her arrival in Australia with her family," he said in a statement.

"Neither I nor my mother have ever sought Hungarian citizenship."

Tanya Plibersek, a senior member of the Opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP), has defended Frydenberg, saying pursuing his mother's status was "a bridge too far."

"We are actually getting into pretty disturbing territory now," she said when Frydenberg's eligibility was first questioned.

"I mean, these people, like many millions, fled the Holocaust and I really do think that we're going a bridge too far when we start to pursue people in these circumstances."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 09:23:21|Editor: liuxin

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HANOI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Damrey has killed 44 people and left 19 others missing after hitting Vietnam's central and central highlands regions last Saturday, the country's Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said on Tuesday.

The dead victims included 27 in central Khanh Hoa province, four in central Quang Ngai province, three in central Binh Dinh province, three in central highlands Lam Dong province, one in central Phu Yen province, one in central highlands Kon Tum province, one in central highlands Dak Lak province and four whose places of birth have not been reported.

Among 19 missing people, the committee said, there were nine crew members of cargo ships which either were damaged or sank in Binh Dinh's Quy Nhon city due to strong waves and winds.

Damrey has also sank or damaged a total of 1,286 ships and boats in the affected provinces.

Da Nang city, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week from Nov. 6-11, has faced rain over the past four days.

According to the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the municipal authorities have put forth three scenarios in which the city will have to respond to the typhoon, floods and high waves, even tsunamis to help ensure safety and security of the APEC week with the participation of some 10,000 delegates, 2,000 chief executive officers of leading firms in APEC economies, and 3,000 reporters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 09:49:31|Editor: liuxin

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Delegates of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) attend a press conference after the fourth ABAC meeting 2017 in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Nov. 6, 2017. ABAC concluded its fourth meeting on Monday, with business leaders expressing belief that the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative will improve the regional connectivity, one of the 20 proposals ABAC has made to the APEC economic leaders in a report to promote regional integration and remove trade barriers including protectionism. (Xinhua/Li Peng)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 11:58:50|Editor: liuxin

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Florida State University on Monday indefinitely banned fraternities and sororities after a freshman's alcohol-related death.

"This pause is needed to review and reflect on the loss of a young life and to implement serious changes," John Thrasher, the university's president, said.

The move came after freshman Andrew Coffey was found unresponsive during a pledge at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and died later.

This is the third death related to improper activities in fraternities and sororities in U.S. universities this year.

In February, Timothy Piazza was killed due to hazing in the Pennsylvania State University. In September, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver was killed in Louisiana State University in similar circumstances.

Both schools have temporarily banned Greek life on campus -- the trend of joining a club, which is extremely popular among students and almost a necessity.

Fraternities and sororities are selective social organizations composed mostly of undergraduate students. Most have torturous pledging processes for new members, during which hazing activities, such as sleep deprivation, spanking and physical exercises, are enforced. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 12:03:52|Editor: Jiaxin

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Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin speaks at a press conference in Sutherland Springs, the United States, on Nov. 6, 2017. At least 26 people were killed and many others wounded in Texas' deadliest shooting Sunday morning at a church in Sutherland Springs. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

HOUSTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Authorities confirmed Monday that 15 magazines were recovered from the Texas church where at least 26 people were killed in a deadly shooting Sunday morning.

During a press conference outside the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin said law enforcement collected hundreds of shell casings. Fifteen magazines with 30 rounds each were emptied by the gunman.

Martin also confirmed that the gunman sustained three gunshot wounds, two from an armed local citizen in the leg and torso, and a third "self-inflicted" gunshot wound to the head.

The authorities were hoping to finish the evidence collection process by the night and begin trajectory analysis the following day.

U.S. Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek told media that the Air Force didn't report the shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI, leaving the door open for him to buy weapons.

The man was identified as Devin Kelley from New Braunfels, a city about 50 km north of Sutherland Springs.

Kelley received a bad-conduct discharge from the U.S. Air Force for assaulting his wife and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial. He served in Logistics Readiness at the Holloman Air Force Base in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge, Stefanek told media earlier.

At least 26 people, including an infant and a pregnant woman, were killed in the worst shooting incident in Texas history, with 10 injured victims still in critical conditions, authorities said.

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church. Kelley walked in around 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) on Sunday and opened fire on the crowd of people.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 12:33:58|Editor: Yamei

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Roads are closed by local police near the church where 26 people were killed in Sutherland Springs in the U.S. state of Texas on Nov. 5, 2017. At least 26 people were killed after a gunman opened fire at a church during Sunday services in Sutherland Springs in the U.S. state of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yan Bo)

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- With so many U.S. mass shootings, it begs the question of whether there's a crisis among white males -- the demographic that has carried out the vast majority of mass murders in recent decades.

This weekend saw a mass shooting in a church in the state of Texas. While details are still pouring in, authorities said a gunman entered the church and shot dead over two dozen people.

The shooter, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, fits the profile of most mass shooters in the United States -- white, male and troubled.

"There is a crisis of white males in the United States," Brookings Institution senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

"Those in the working class are feeling under siege and economically have not done well," West said. "Many live in areas that are not thriving, and this generates a lot of anger and resentment. If they are not doing well, they look for targets for their resentment and take it out on other people."

Some criminologists attribute this to a sense of economic competition from other demographics, as well as a sense among many in this group that they are slowly being sidelined.

In a Washington Post interview, famed criminologist and Northeastern University professor James Alan Fox said American white males "often complain that their job was taken by blacks or Mexicans or Jews. They feel that a well-paid job is their birthright. It's a blow to their psyche when they lose that."

The past decade has seen a plethora of U.S. jobs shipped overseas, leaving many white, working class males not only jobless, but with dim prospects for the future. Many have become addicted to hard drugs in recent years, and many feel hopeless.

According to Mother Jones, a news magazine, there have been 70 mass shootings nationwide since 1982, and 44 of the shooters were white males.

A 2013 University of Washington study examined the disproportionately high number of mass shootings perpetrated by white men in the United States, and found a link between a sense of entitlement among the group and the desire to get revenge against those they feel have wronged them.

Despite an ongoing public debate over gun control, that issue is unlikely to be solved anytime soon, experts said.

Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that there does not seem to be any solution on the horizon.

"What I can say with certainty, based on my area of expertise, is that in an environment where gun ownership and gun control have become aspects of political orthodoxy for Republican and Democrats, solutions will remain few and far between," Mahaffee said.

"In many ways, it is more lucrative -- financially and electorally -- for each side to gin up their base on this issue, rather than look at compromise solutions," Mahaffee said.

Democrats often cite what they say is a need for more gun laws as their go-to solution, even though in this weekend's case gun laws were already in place.

The shooter was ineligible to purchase a firearm under current gun laws since he had been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force. Those with such a record are not allowed to buy guns, but the record didn't show up in his background check, and he was able to purchase firearms regardless, U.S. media reported.

At the same time, Republicans are often unwilling to budge on simple measures that, if implemented, might save lives.

The weekend's mass shooting followed the most deadly mass shooting in U.S. history, which was carried out in Las Vegas on Oct. 1 by an inveterate gambler who fit the profile of a frustrated and angry white male.

The Vegas killings claimed 58 victims and wounded more than 500, when Stephen Paddock, said to be on a losing spree, opened fire on a crowd at a country music concert from a 32-floor hotel room.

The right to bear arms, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, is seen as sacred in many rural communities in America's heartland.

Many firearms advocates are opposed to even the most basic gun control legislation, viewing that as a slippery slope that would eventually result in infringement of their constitutional rights.

Others, however, view measures such as stricter background checks as simply logical, in order to prevent those with a history of violence or mental illness from obtaining firearms. Gun control advocates also believe that military assault-style weapons should be either banned or face stricter regulations.

Experts note that there are no easy solutions, but that stricter background checks could help keep automatic rifles and military-grade ammunition out of the hands of those with a history of violence or mental instability.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 12:33:59|Editor: liuxin

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Live streaming video online has become increasingly popular in China, however, some people worry that it may lead to problems including privacy leaks.

According to a survey conducted by China Youth Daily, 78.4 percent of the 2,001 people interviewed worried about the risk of privacy leaks when they were involved in live streams.

Zhang Lin, a university student, previously appeared in live streams hosted by others.

"One of my friends was live streaming about freshmen at the beginning of the new semester. He suddenly turned the camera on me and introduced me to the audience," Zhang said, "I was so embarrassed to be involved."

According to the survey, over 40 percent of those interviewed have appeared in other people's live streams.

"The audience may be able to obtain my personal information, like my name, address or phone number, if they have my picture. That's why I don't want to take part," Zhang said.

However, some people said they would be happy to be invited to join live streams.

"I will join in a live stream if someone invites me and actively interact with audience," said Yue Xiaobo, who also hosts his own live streams.

However, only 21 percent of the people interviewed said that they would be happy take part in a live stream after someone turns the camera on them, according to the survey. Over 70 percent said they would refuse to take part.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 12:44:02|Editor: liuxin

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LONDON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- British Arts Minister John Glen Monday put a temporary export bar on a rare annotated copy of a book by Shakespeare's venerable rival Ben Jonson to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

The rare copy of "The Silent Woman", a comedy first performed in 1609, faces the risk of going overseas unless a buyer can be found in the next few months to match the recommended price of 63,000 U.S. dollars.

Samuel Pepys, a famous English diarist, described "The Silent Woman" as "the best comedy that ever was wrote".

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) is hailed as the most important writer of the English Renaissance after William Shakespeare, having lived and worked in an age of great social change that produced some of the finest works of English literature.

A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the extraordinarily rare volume is the only known example of a document showing how a play by Ben Jonson was prepared for performance.

"This volume occupies a unique place among surviving materials because of the nature and range of its annotations, including stage directions,details of props, and textual corrections, which collectively do not fall into any category previously known to scholars of seventeenth-century theater," she said.

"The volume is of outstanding interest to the study of English theatrical history," she added.

Glen hoped that the book could be kept in Britain to enrich the study of English theatrical history and learn more about the performances of Jonson's work.

DCMS advisors recommended the export bar.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 12:54:04|Editor: Yamei

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Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2017, shows a Security Council meeting on the situation in Myanmar, at the UN headquarters in New York. The Security Council on Monday demanded an end to the "excessive use of military force" in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the creation of conditions for the safe return of refugees who have fled into neighboring Bangladesh. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

by William M. Reilly

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday issued a presidential statement both complimenting and criticizing Myanmar for its action and inaction in its violence-wracked Rakhine State and gave the government a month to get its act together.

In response, Myanmar's representative to the United Nations Hau Do Suan complained that the statement put undue political pressure on his country.

More than 600,000 ethnic Muslim Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh in a little over two months from northern Rakhine State following deadly rebel attacks on security posts on Aug. 25 which touched off retribution. The full extent of the violence remains unknown because of the government's restriction on visits to the region.

Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi of Italy, this month's president of the council, read out the 1,300-word statement at a formal session, the first statement on Myanmar in 10 years.

While such an official statement reflects the consensus of the 15 council members, it does not hold the weight of international law like a resolution does.

The statement strongly condemned attacks against the Myanmar security forces carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Aug. 25, then expressed "grave concern" over the government response, the alleged burning of villages and threats to villagers to flee, among others.

The council said the government's primary responsibility is protection of Myanmar's population, citizens or not.

It called for reform in Myanmar's security and justice sectors and urged the government to work with Bangladesh and the UN to allow the voluntary return of refugees to their homes, on the basis of an Oct. 24 memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

The panel welcomed a "union enterprise mechanism" for humanitarian assistance, resettlement and development in Rakhine.

It recommended the government ensure the mechanism supported such return and allow UN agencies full access, urging governments and all humanitarian partners to pay special attention to the needs of women, particularly survivors of sexual violence.

The council also welcomed the Myanmar government's public support for recommendations by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and called for their full implementation.

It urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to consider appointing a special advisor on Myanmar.

But Hau Do Suan expressed serious concern over the statement, which he said would not help resolve the issue as it placed undue political pressure on Myanmar.

The ambassador said the Aug. 25 ARSA attacks involved unspecified foreign militants fighting beside the rebels.

Since those late August attacks and the alleged retribution, more than 600,000 Rohingyas fled in fear of death or mutilation to refuge in make-shift camps in neighboring Bangladesh, UN officials said. Some fled by land, others in leaky boats over an inlet of the Bay of Bengal.

Eventually the UN refugee agency UNHCR and other humanitarian groups with the aid of the government of Bangladesh were able to organize camps in the Cox's Bazar region. The largest is Kutupalong, which now has an extension where new refugees are being sent.

In the last two weeks, 4,000 refugees entered Bangladesh while four people drowned in a shipwreck while fleeing, officials said.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund said it feared disease hitting the untold numbers of malnourished youngsters in the camps.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 13:09:08|Editor: Xiang Bo

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KIEV, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a unique and impressive model of success that will benefit the world, Ukrainian experts said ahead of the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution.

The 1917 revolution spread socialist ideas across the globe and paved the way for the development of socialism in China, they said.

Though it started on Nov. 17, the milepost movement gets its name from the fact that the date was Oct. 25 according to the old Russian calendar.

Andrey Buzarov, a leading Ukrainian political observer and oriental studies scholar, told Xinhua that socialism with Chinese characteristics was established by adapting scientific socialist ideas to China's reality.

"During the most important and most crucial period of its history -- in the 70s and 80s... -- China managed to preserve the best features of socialism, while integrating the free market (concept)," Buzarov said.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is very different from any other socialist systems, he stressed.

"In China, there is a completely different situation. China's reforms of the political, economic and social system have brought positive changes and made China's economy the second largest in the world," Buzarov said.

He was echoed by Vladimir Volya, an international relations expert at the Ukrainian Institute for Analysis and Management of Policy, who said China's triumph is a natural result of reforms and the opening-up policy. Initiated decades ago, they are advancing now.

"China's success... is impressive. China has risen from the bottom of the economic, political and social development to (a) leading position in the world as a result of continued systematic and pragmatic reforms," Volya said.

Socialist ideas, which envisage peaceful development and common prosperity, are reflected in China's foreign policy, he said.

"Chinese foreign policy is peaceful, pragmatic, based on respect for national identity and traditions," the analyst remarked.

Sergiy Koshevoi from the Foreign Policy and International Security Department at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, said socialism with Chinese characteristics was benefiting the whole world.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of a community of shared future for all humankind are of crucial importance for the global society, he said, calling China's unique development path workable and an example for other countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative is focused on creating infrastructure and linking Asia with Europe and Africa for greater trade and people-to-people contacts. It comprises the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 13:44:33|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Builders work at the resettlement site of Daguo Village of Riwoqe County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 5, 2017. A total of 342 villagers from 60 impoverished households in Daguo Village are expected to move into their new houses by the end of this month. (Xinhua/Liu Hongming)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 13:34:14|Editor: Liu

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) welcomes visiting U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on Nov. 6, 2017. (Xinhua)

TOKYO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up a three-day visit to Japan on Tuesday, during which he reconfirmed the U.S. alliance with Japan while taking aim at Japan's "massive" trade surplus with the United States.

While the visiting president accused that trade with Japan is "not fair and not open" and dismissed again the idea of rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal which Japan has been keen to push forward, it revealed once again the significant rifts on trade and economic issues between the two alliances, local analysts said.

In view of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections next year, the world's largest economy is expected to exert more pressure on Japan regarding trade issues, raising strong concerns on Japan's part, local analysts said.

JAPAN RELUCTANT TO MOVE TOWARDS FTA

"The United States has suffered massive trade deficits with Japan for many, many years, almost 70 billion (U.S. dollars) annually," Trump remarked at a consortium of U.S. and Japanese business leaders before holding a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday.

However, he expressed willingness to "come up with trade deals and trade concepts that are going to be fair to both countries," though stopping short of saying what deals or concepts he has in mind.

Jin Jianmin, a senior fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo, said that while the United States is pushing for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan, Japan is trying its best to avoid such talks due to concerns that it would be put into a disadvantageous negotiating position.

"Japan is concerned that it would be forced to make concessions beyond the ones it had agreed to during the 12-nation TPP talks, especially in sensitive sectors such as agriculture," Jin said.

But on the other hand, Japan is also concerned that if it sticks to its own economic interests, its security relationship with the United States would be sabotaged, Jin added.

"In other words, as long as Japan still relies on the security commitments made by the United States for its defense, it would be impossible for Japan to have an equal' negotiation with the United States on economic issues, and that's why Japan preferred multilateral frameworks such as the TPP," said Jin.

Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP deal soon after its inauguration on ground that it would hurt the U.S. interests, and as the U.S. midterm elections are coming, it is expected to exert more pressure on Japan on trade and economic issues, said Jin, adding that it would be only a matter of time for Japan to concede and start talks on the FTA.

During the summit meeting between Abe and Trump on Monday, the two sides agreed to leave discussions on bilateral trade and investment issues to the high-level economic dialogue overseen by Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Vice President Mike Pence, local media quoted government officials as saying.

Trump's remarks and the economic rifts between Japan and the United States. have been stirring concerns in Japan.

Tetsuro Fukuyama, Secretary General of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), said that he can not accept Trump's remarks and that the Japanese market has a high visibility, adding that Abe should make an explanation to the parliament about Trump's demands on trade issues.

Atsushi Oshima, secretary general of the Party of Hope, said that he felt "uneasy about the economic talks between the two countries," and called upon the government not to compromise easily to the demands of the United States.

Hiroshi Onishi, a professor of economics at Keio University in Tokyo, said the U.S. manufacturing industry has been "becoming weak" and it was not a problem that just occurred under the Trump administration.

He said that Japan should lower its expectations on the U.S. market and try to enhance economic cooperation with emerging economies, which, in the meantime, would also "hep reducing Japan's political and security dependance on the United States."

STAGNANT TPP

During his visit, Trump once again dismissed the idea of the U.S. rejoining the TPP, saying on Monday that the (TPP) free trade agreement "was not the right idea."

Meanwhile, Japan and 10 other remaining signatories are preparing to strike a deal to make the TPP come into force without the United States on the fringes of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam later this week.

Despite Japan's efforts, however, analysts said that the TPP without the United States is not the one that Japan originally expected to benefit from and gives a heavy blow to the Japanese government which has been keen to push forward the trade deal.

"The U.S. economy accounts for some 65 percent of the combined GDP of the original 12 TPP nations, and the TPP without the United States has lost much of its attraction to Japan in sense of economic gains," said Jin.

"What's more, Japan joined the original TPP not only to benefit from trade, but also to take advantage of the trade and investment rules established through the TPP under the U.S. dominance and push for creating a global economic and security order favorable to Japan," said Jin.

Jin said that Japan had been hoping to bring the United States back on board by freezing some TPP terms to make the TPP 11 come into force first, but Trump's refusal revealed once again the significant rift between the two countries on their economic policies.

"It's worth noting what card Japan could play next in the gaming with the United States on trade policies," said Jin.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 14:09:22|Editor: Jiaxin

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U.S. President Donald Trump (R Center) and his wife Melania Trump (L Center) arrive at the Osan Air Base in South Korea Nov. 7, 2017. (Xinhua)

SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in personally greeted U.S. President Donald Trump at a U.S. military base in South Korea on Tuesday as the U.S. leader began his two-day state visit to the country.

Trump, on the second stop of his 12-day Asian tour, landed around noon at the Osan Air Base outside of the capital Seoul and was greeted by Kang Kyung-hwa, the foreign minister of South Korea.

Then he flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a newly renovated U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, about 40 km south of Seoul, where President Moon personally greeted Trump at the base.

Local media outlets described it as an exceptional protocol toward Trump as Moon was originally planned to welcome the U.S. leader at his office, the Blue House in Seoul.

The two leaders had a lunch together with service members of both South Korea and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at Camp Humphreys, which is seen as the world's largest overseas army base of the U.S. military.

South Korea's government reportedly contributed to over 90 percent of 10.7 billion U.S. dollars of costs to construct the U.S. base.

President Moon told the service members that they are the cornerstone and future for the South Korea-U.S. alliance, asking them to build peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia together.

"Today is a very historic day," Moon said in a live broadcast offered online by the Blue House. The president noted that Tuesday marked the first day in history the leaders of South Korea and the United States visited the U.S. military base together to pat the service members of the allies on the back.

Trump was briefed on security situations on the Korean Peninsula, and flew by helicopter to hold a summit meeting with Moon at the Blue House.

Moon separately flew by chopper to his office in Seoul.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 14:09:23|Editor: Xiang Bo

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by Xinhua writer Gao Lu

HOUSTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-China economic collaboration has strengthened the bilateral relationship between the two world powers, American businessman and investor Neil Bush, son of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, said.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Neil Bush, who is also a younger brother of former President George W. Bush, stressed the role of economic partnership in the strengthened level of U.S.-China bilateral relations.

"I think the economy has brought these two great countries together," he said. "Economic relations and ties, business to business, are the cement that glues the countries' collaborations. I think there are so many ways that we can collaborate."

Like a ripple effect, Sino-U.S. collaboration not only benefits the two countries, but improves global sustainable development and prosperity.

"My dad has always said that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world," Neil Bush said. "And these two countries, as strong as we are, must collaborate in helping solve great global challenges that lay ahead of us."

Neil Bush is chairman of the George H.W. Bush China-U.S. Relations Conference initiated by his father in 2003, which annually convenes leaders of the two countries to cooperate on issues of global importance.

Because of his family's China connections, he paid his first visit there more than 30 years ago. Today, he travels to China on business almost every month. From his vantage point of watching China's phenomenal growth in the past three decades, he is working to strengthen the bonds even more.

"China and the United States must find ways to join forces, to lock arms, to do good for the world, to combat the challenges that we face," he said.

Bush acknowledged that there are political sensitivities in certain areas on each side, but said maintaining close contact on all levels is the way to ensure that that bilateral relations remain on the right track.

"We need government-to-government collaborations," he said. "We need people-to-people exchanges. And all these things help put roots into the ground so that when political winds blow, the relationship stays strong."

Born and raised in the southern state of Texas, Bush is proud of his home town with world-leading energy and medical industries as well as space center.

As one of the key industries in Texas, the energy sector provides a steady bridge for Chinese companies to invest and do businesses. He referred to the flourishing shale oil development to say that Chinese companies can learn and practice in Texas before bringing innovative technology and know-how back to China.

"In West Texas there are a number of Chinese companies that I know of that are learning from the operators in that part of the world ... how to develop and extract oil from shale and gas from shale, which may have application back home in China," he said.

In addition to traditional oil and gas industries, China is an ardent proponent of clean and renewable energy, particularly solar and wind energy. Bush said both countries can learn from each other and benefit from cross-border trade, which "really does deepen the relationship."

Healthcare is another area. "There's a growing need in China for a higher quality healthcare and more healthcare for people," he said.

Houston in Texas, the fourth largest U.S. city, is home to the world's largest medical center, and first-rate medical schools and research centers.

Bush said the technological advances developed in Houston are applicable in China, while technologies developed in China can be helpful for American doctors and medicine makers.

"There's going to be more cross-border collaboration and sharing of best practices in a range of different areas," he said.

Bush welcomed Chinese investors to explore the opportunities in Houston.

"I encourage Chinese investors to jump on Air China's direct flight from Beijing to Houston -- you can get here in 13 hours," he said. "We're a very warm and welcoming diverse city, and the state is very open to Chinese investment."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 14:19:25|Editor: liuxin

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by Tao Jun, Le Yanna

DA NANG, Vietnam, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- World leaders' interaction with the international business community at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit is expected to lead to waves of new investment and new opportunities in many countries, a Vietnamese official stated.

It is expected to "create a boost for institutional reform, and the formation of investment and startup waves in many countries, including Vietnam," Vu Tien Loc, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and chairman of the 2017 APEC CEO Summit, told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

During the APEC Leaders' Week, taking place from Monday to Saturday in Vietnam's central Da Nang city, the VCCI will host the Vietnam Business Summit and the APEC CEO Summit.

The APEC CEO Summit, slated to take place from Wednesday to Friday, will be a dialogue forum between leaders of the most dynamic economies in the world and more than 2,000 CEOs from leading companies in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

"The APEC CEO Summit this year will be an important occasion for enterprises and leaders of economies to discuss the future of the global economy and measures to reform as well as forge and broaden connections to promote prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world," the Vietnamese official said.

"I expect all 21 APEC member economies and international financial organizations such as the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to join hands to bolster growth through broadened and deepened economic cooperation and stronger integration in the Asia-Pacific region," Loc said.

On trade and investment, Loc expected that APEC economies and international organizations would put forth feasible initiatives and measures to achieve the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment by 2020 against a background of rising protectionism.

"I hope that APEC will maintain the regional connectivity momentum under the framework of agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and look forward to forming the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)," the Vietnamese official said.

Not only bringing about trade and investment results, the APEC Year 2017 will surely help enhance political trust, friendship and mutual understanding among members both bilaterally and multilaterally with all participants looking forward to the goal of further building a peaceful, stable, progressive and prosperous Asia-Pacific community, the official said.

"In addition, I hope more international friends will get to know a dynamic Vietnam which is conducting strong reforms and actively integrating itself into the region and the world, and has great potential for development," Loc added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:04:38|Editor: Yang Yi

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM) formally opened here on Tuesday under the theme "Smart Cities, Smart Nations."

CIKM is a premier forum for research on topics of information retrieval, data management and knowledge management. This is the first time for the conference to be held in Singapore.

The conference highlights technologies and insights that materialize the "Smart Cities, Smart Nations" vision shared by many urban areas around the world, and serves to bring together international and Singapore technology providers and seekers to explore technology and business collaboration opportunities through open innovation, according to the organizers.

Authors from around the world submitted papers, with China contributing almost 1,400 authors as the largest source of paper authors, said Marianne Winslett with the University of Illinois, one of the organizers.

Over 730 attendees have registered for the conference, making the conference the biggest CIKM ever held outside the United States, she said.

Meanwhile, the attendees to the conference are from over 40 countries and areas, with China ranking the first with over 160 attendees.

Lim Ee Peng, professor at Singapore Management University and co-general chair of CIKM 2017, told Xinhua that in recent years, the fast growth of China's IT industry and academic research in big data, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence has led to a surge of interest in top conferences focusing on these research areas.

"It is therefore not surprising that CIKM, a leading conference in these areas, attracted a large group of Chinese participants," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:09:42|Editor: Yang Yi

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Trade between Malaysia and China's Hong Kong is set to increase following the signing of ASEAN-Hong Kong free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to be concluded this week at the earliest, said Malaysian Prime Minister's department minister Wee Ka Siong on Tuesday.

"Malaysia's trade with Hong Kong is more on the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector. The trade performance has been encouraging. The signing of FTA will certainly boost the trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN, including Malaysia," Wee told the media at the sideline after delivering his speech at "In StyleHong Kong" symposium in Malaysia's capital.

Wee, who expects the FTA to be in force from Jan. 1, 2019 once it is ratified, added the FTA will benefit Malaysian traders as under the FTA, Malaysia will abolish import duties on certain trade goods and streamline the import regulations with those of the World Trade Organization.

According to Malaysia's International Trade Industry, Hong Kong is currently one of the major export markets for Malaysia. In September, Malaysia's exports to Hong Kong surged 41 percent year-on-year to 4.58 billion ringgit (1.08 billion U.S. dollars).

"Our trade relationship with Hong Kong has been going from strength to strength. Moving forward, we will continue to cultivate our bilateral relationship with Hong Kong," Wee said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Chairman Vincent Lo Hong-shui noted that the relationship between Malaysia and Hong Kong is taking on new significance with the anticipated FTA between Hong Kong and ASEAN to be signed soon.

"The pace is a momentous one as the world's focus now falls on Asia to drive economic growth," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:24:47|Editor: Jiaxin

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer said Monday that he will keep on working to get the social security reform approved, even if Brazilian society opposes it.

In a meeting with coalition leaders, Temer said reforming the social security system is an urgent matter.

"The social security reform is not mine, (it) is not a personal matter, it is a shared subject, of the government. If, in a certain moment, society does not want it, media does not want it, and (also) the parliament, which naturally echoes the voices of the society, so be it. I will keep on working for it, because I am certain of its importance," he said.

The president said the social security reform will be an important ending for a series of reforms his government has launched, and will help curb unemployment and increase government investments.

However, the controversial reform has met with criticism even inside Temer's large coalition, making it harder for it to be approved in a timely fashion, especially this year, as the government hopes.

While the government says the reform will help tackle a huge deficit in the social security system, ensuring that the next generations are able to collect their retirement pensions, the opposition holds that the calculations showing a deficit in the system are fraudulent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:34:50|Editor: Jiaxin

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TOKYO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A serial killer dubbed Japan's "black widow" was given a death sentence on Tuesday for murders of three men including her husband and attempting murder of another.

The Kyoto District Court sentenced 70-year-old Chisako Kakehi to death, who had been accused of killing her husband and two lovers by tricking them into drinking cyanide so as to get insurance money and inherit their assets.

"It was a heinous crime driven by greed for money. The death sentence cannot be avoided even after fully taking into account dementia and other factors," Presiding Judge Ayako Nakagawa was quoted as saying in the ruling.

The defense lawyers had tried to acquit Kakehi, arguing that there was not enough physical evidence and that Kakehi could not be held responsible for her dementia.

The court, however, stressed that Kakehi did not suffer dementia when she committed the last crime in December 2013.

The defense lawyers said they will appeal the ruling to a higher court.

Kakehi was first arrested in November 2014 in Kyoto Prefecture and was indicted a month later on suspicion of murdering her husband Isao, with cyanide. The couple had been married for just one month when Isao was fatally poisoned.

Kakehi was later indicted in connection with the death of a couple of her lovers.

According to media reports, Kakehi started her first marriage at the age of 24 and founded a fabric printing company. Following the death of her first husband in 1994, however, her company went bankrupt and her house was put up for sale.

Kakehi later registered herself with a number of matchmaking services, where she specified that she was looking for men owning land or property, having no children, elderly and living alone.

Kakehi allegedly received around 1 billion yen in insurance and other payouts from assets over ten years, following the deaths of four of her late partners, including Isao and a host of other lovers.

The woman used the inheritance to buy risky stocks and also invested in dodgy real estate, the reports said, adding that she had lost most of her acquired wealth and got into debt on ill-advised investments.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:34:51|Editor: Yang Yi

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by Xinhua writer Xiong Maoling

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- At a factory in Changchun, a city in northeast China, state-of-the-art subway cars are being manufactured for Boston's orange line. When these are delivered in December, they will become the first Chinese subway cars to land in the U.S. market.

The deal signed three years ago between their manufacturer, Changchun Railway Vehicles of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), and the buyer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is a clear demonstration of the enhanced high-tech cooperation between China and the United States in recent years.

The CRRC holds the intellectual property rights to the carriages which have met the strict U.S. standards in technology, localization and law, and can ensure passenger safety in case of trains colliding at a speed of 40 km per hour.

"These 'next-generation vehicles' will be the backbone of our heavy rail fleet for many years to come," said Jerry Polcari, chief procurement officer for MBTA.

China today possesses the core technology for almost all advanced rail transportation equipment in the world, and the average cost of high-speed railways built by Chinese companies is about half of that by foreign counterparts, while the construction efficiency is much higher, said Ding Rongjun, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Beijing.

Later, car parts will be manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, where a CRRC assembly factory was built in September 2015. It will start operating in 2018, creating at least 150 jobs.

Following the first order in Boston, CRRC bagged other contracts from other overseas markets including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London.

The CRRC case is just one example of China's fast-growing high-end manufacturing industry going places. China has made remarkable breakthroughs in cutting-edge technology innovation, and its high-end manufacturing industry, maintaining rapid growth, is eyeing overseas cooperation.

"China has advanced very much in its science and engineering side. It's been good, but getting better... It's very impressive, like no place else in the world," said C. D. Mote, Jr., president of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. "So this (U.S.-China) cooperation will be a great benefit not just to China, (and) the United States, but to the world."

New energy is another area where China and the United States have been increasing their cooperation.

Shanghai GM, a joint venture of China's SAIC Motor and U.S. automaker General Motors, had announced its strategy of launching a new "Made in China" new energy vehicle (NEV) model every year from 2016 to 2020, with the range covering different hybrids and pure electric models.

U.S. electric car maker Tesla was recently reported as holding talks with the Shanghai local government on the possibility of setting up a factory there to serve the Chinese market better.

Some foreign companies are planning to invest in China or adjust their businesses because they fancy the "blue ocean" of China's growing consumption, said Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research department under China's Ministry of Commerce.

From January to September, 424,000 NEVs were made in China, a growth rate of 40.2 percent, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The number of NEVs sold in this period was 398,000, indicating 37.7 percent growth.

The Chinese market growth is also exciting for U.S. aerospace giant Boeing, as China's fleet size is expected to grow at a pace faster than the world average. Almost 20 percent of the global demand for new aircraft will be from airlines based in China, Boeing's annual China Current Market Outlook released in September said.

The plane maker set China's expected aircraft demand 6.3 percent higher than last year's forecast. More than 50 percent of all commercial jetliners operating in China are Boeings, according to the company.

China has a finger in the components of every current Boeing commercial plane. Over 9,000 Boeing aircraft fly around the world with China-built parts and components.

China's continuous economic growth, significant investment in infrastructure, growing middle class and evolving airline business models support Boeing's long-term outlook, said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The scientific and technological cooperation between China and the United States dates back to 1979 when the China-U.S. Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was signed. Under the accord, the two countries have since reached nearly 50 inter-agency agreements and jointly supported thousands of cooperation programs.

China and the United States agreed to renew their wide-ranging ties in scientific and technological cooperation, according to an agreement in the action plan of the first China-U.S. Social, People-to-People Dialogue held in Washington, D.C. On Sept. 28.

With U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled to visit China on Nov. 8-10, his first state visit to China, it is anticipated that there will be further bilateral high-tech cooperation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:39:53|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Xinhua writers Gao Pan, Yan Liang

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States could seek cooperation in areas of infrastructure investment, cybersecurity and educational exchanges to keep the bilateral relationship on a positive track, a leading U.S. expert has said.

Under the Obama administration, cooperation on climate change between China and the United States "was very positive," said Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), a Washington D.C.-based think tank.

"It allowed not only China and the U.S. to do some good in the world but to have a positive agenda together," Posen told Xinhua in a recent interview.

However, for the Trump administration, climate change is no longer a priority issue. The two countries have to find other positive things to work together to help anchor China-U.S. relations in the years ahead, the expert said.

"I would like to think maybe here is where the cultural stuff comes in," Posen said, suggesting the two countries could "build up educational exchanges" and get that back on track.

Meanwhile, there is more common ground between the United States and China in cybersecurity nowadays.

"China has interests in cybersecurity like the U.S. does, and the U.S., after what's happened with Facebook and others during our election, I think is more sympathetic to regulating some of these entities the way China already does," he said.

As the world's two largest economies, the United States and China also share a common interest in infrastructure investment. The Trump administration has pledged to upgrade U.S. aging infrastructure, while China has proposed the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road Initiative) to strengthen regional inter-connectivity through infrastructure development.

"There is a general need in the world for more infrastructure investment," Posen said, adding it is "a good idea" for China and the United States to cooperate in areas of infrastructure spending and multilateral development banks.

In terms of the four high-level dialogue mechanisms established between China and the United States in April, Posen said it signals the continuity of the formal dialogue process, which is more important than what is in the tracks.

"It meant that the leaders from China and U.S. would get together, have an agenda peaceful, and be in regular contact," he said, adding "we can hope for something good" as long as there is a formal dialogue process.

While the U.S. and Chinese business communities have called for the two governments to resume negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, Posen said that is not a priority for the Trump administration, which has wrongly focused on the bilateral trade deficits.

However, "it's in the U.S. interests" to have a bilateral investment treaty with China, he noted, expressing regret that both sides were unable to conclude a deal under the previous U.S. administration.

In terms of steel overcapacity, Posen said it is a global issue and "not so much a U.S.-China issue," as the Obama administration had already taken actions to protect the U.S. steel industry from Chinese imports.

Currently, the United States basically imports almost no steel from China and the U.S. industry faces competition from South Korea, India and Europe.

"So what we really need is a global solution to take down the amount of steel overcapacity around the world," he said.

Speaking of the recently-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Posen said he was "watching very carefully what President Xi and what the party Congress chose to emphasize and the sort of broad picture of a modernized socialist economy."

In his view, it was "very wise" for China to elevate the Belt and Road Initiative to a principled long-term policy, place emphasis on domestic financial stability, and talk more broadly about people's well-being including environment rather than specific numerical growth targets.

Compared with most Westerners, Posen said experts at the PIIE have recently been optimistic on China's economy.

"In 2015 and 2016, we kept telling people it's (China's economy) not going to crash, growth is stronger, the financial system is not that fragile, and that was right," he said.

But he also pointed out that China has problems of a slowdown in productivity growth and a waste of capital in the less productive state-owned enterprises, particularly in some old industries.

"The share of credit in the last two or three years going to the state-owned enterprises has been going up, and the share going to the private sector is going down again. This is not dangerous but it's wasteful," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 15:44:56|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era offers new insights into the improvement of the global governance system, international politicians and analysts said in reading signals from the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

China, under the leadership of the CPC, endorses the common values of the whole mankind, including peace, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and advocates a world truly shared by all where international affairs are jointly managed, the world order is jointly built, and economic and social progress are shared.

HOLD FAST TO THE CONCEPT OF A WORLD SHARED BY ALL

China champions the development of "a community with a shared future for mankind", which has been widely accepted by the international community and become an important consensus of global governance.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke highly of Xi's innovative concept of promoting the establishment of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lord Tu'ivakano, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga and former prime minister, said China's impressive feat is an inspiration to developing countries including Tonga.

China has over the past five years set its own independent course governed by a policy of development-for-all, said Michael Steger, president of the Bay Area Chapter of the International Schiller Institute. He attributed China's achievements to the strong Chinese leadership. His organization is a global political and economic think tank with headquarters in Germany and the United States.

Steger noted that China's willingness to blaze its own pathway, with an orientation to share the means of development, has now become a stabilizing factor for the world.

With great strength comes great responsibility, and Xi has already displayed that responsibility, said Sourabh Gupta, a senior policy analyst at the Institute for China-America Studies, a Washington-based independent think tank.

IMPROVE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

As China gradually steps up onto the stage to take part in global governance, international observers have recognized it as a responsible stakeholder.

Speaking on China's international leadership, Maksym Savrasov, head of the secretariat of Ukraine's ruling party Petro Poroshenko Bloc "Solidarity", said the achievements are vividly represented by the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road Initiative), which was put forward by Xi in 2013.

The initiative envisions reviving the ancient overland and maritime silk trade routes that connect Asia with Europe and Africa, boosting inter-connectivity, trade and people-to-people links.

"We are convinced that this global initiative has an enormous potential. Today more than 65 countries are united around this idea," or more than 60 percent of the world's population, the Ukrainian lawmaker said.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said: "The Belt and Road Initiative has been proved to be effective in addressing problems facing mankind. The government and people of Pakistan are willing to work together with the Chinese people to build a global community with a shared future."

The Belt and Road Initiative "should be able to produce global public goods. I think it can be," said Harvard professor Joseph Nye.

Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk said the initiative is a good instrument to promote win-win cooperation and equal partnership around the globe.

"China firmly adheres to the policy of non-interference. It does not impose its lifestyle upon others, but promotes cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative is the vivid confirmation to this," Kravchuk said.

As dozens of countries have joined the initiative, China has become "a major center of attraction" for all the people who wish to achieve development, said Mahmoud Raya, director of the "China in Arab Eyes" news website in Lebanon.

PUT FORWARD CHINA SOLUTION TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Over the years, China's proposals, ranging from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, created to complement multilateral financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, to the strengthening of multilateral institutions such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have provided alternative solutions to major issues in global development, said Xulio Rios, director of the Spanish Observatory of Chinese Politics.

When the world faces uncertainties arising from persistent economic problems and serious disputes, China takes on greater global responsibilities, and China's growing role in global affairs means a larger presence of emerging economies and developing countries in global governance, Rios said.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said Xi's strategic thinking maps out a bright future for the Chinese people and consolidates the foundation of world peace.

China's success can provide other countries with inspiring experience in pursuing their own development and in promoting global peace and prosperity.

"Over the past five years, China has shown potential it has to the entire world," said South Korean ambassador to China Noh Young-min, noting that Beijing has also begun to turn into a key player in the international community for world peace.

"Most of the countries admire the Chinese experience," Raya from Lebanon added. "That's why China will always be an inspiration for all the countries looking for peace, security and advancement."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 16:00:00|Editor: Yang Yi

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SANYA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's cruise industry will continue to enjoy a remarkable growth trend for at least the next decade, industry experts said at the 12th China Cruise Shipping Conference being held in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

Sun Chengming, vice president of China Merchants Group, said that China's cruise industry is facing a golden growth opportunity as Chinese consumers are shifting from spending on products to services.

There has been extremely fast growth in the Chinese cruise market, but its market penetration is still low.

For example, in the economically well-off provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where people have more disposable income to spend on international travel, only 0.2 percent of residents currently take cruises, while in Europe that figure is 3 percent. This shows huge potential for growth in the cruise industry, Sun said.

"Chinese people are expected to make 10 million cruise trips annually by 2026," said Wu Qiang, general manager of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

Zheng Weihang, executive vice president with China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association, pointed out that it will not only be a golden decade for the cruise industry but also for the whole industrial chain including ship building.

China has become the world's second largest source of cruise passengers. Last year, China's 11 major ports saw more than 4.5 million inbound and outbound cruise trips, up 84 percent year on year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 16:20:05|Editor: Jiaxin

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DA NANG, Vietnam, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) Vietnam will continue to promote international integration, focus on macro--economic stability, job creation and sustainable development, and attract more investment into the country, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Tuesday.

Phuc made the remarks in his speech at the Vietnam Business Summit, one of a series of events during the annual Asia--Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week.

Vietnam is working to remain a potential and reliable trade partner to international business communities, said the prime minister.

In 2017, the country's GDP growth is expected to reach 6.7 percent, said Phuc.

Rapidly growing household income and the expanding middle class have changed the consumption pattern of Vietnam, providing new opportunities for international investors, he said.

Phuc highlighted Vietnam's young population, with more than 60 percent of them under the age of 35, noting that well--known foreign smart phone brands including those from China are popular among the youth. A strong customer base with high internet penetration rate and large number of mobile users also creates opportunity for potential investors, said the prime minister.

Held under the theme "Vietnam: We Mean Business," the Vietnam Business Summit gathered over 2,000 participants from home and abroad to share corporate experiences, explore market potentials, and exchange ideas on regional economic issues.

The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and related meetings are held in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang from Nov. 6-11, with leaders from the bloc's 21 members expected to meet on Nov.10-11.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 16:30:09|Editor: Yang Yi

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by Xinhua writer Chen Shilei

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday starts his first official trip to China putting trade issues high on his agenda, one thing he should bear in mind is that the two countries need to cooperate to resolve their trade disputes.

No one can deny that the current China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is a win-win for both sides.

China and the United States are now each other's largest trading partner.

China purchased 165 million U.S. dollars in goods and services from the United States in 2015 and this figure is still increasing, according to a report released by the U.S.-China Business Council in January.

China-U.S. trade relations have supported roughly 2.6 million jobs in the United States, the report said.

However, the fact that the U.S. economy has benefited from the China-U.S. trade relations has been overlooked by some U.S. politicians, who focus only on the trade deficit.

But the U.S. trade deficit with China, referring only to trade in goods, has been exaggerated. The trade in services is in surplus.

In 2016, the U.S. trade deficit in goods with China was 347 billion U.S. dollars. However, China did not gain as much as the figures showed.

China is currently at the low-end of the global industrial chain and has not benefited much from processing industries. But the products that are processed in China and exported overseas are counted as China's exports.

If calculated through the value-added approach instead of the existing rules of origin in trade, the U.S. trade deficit with China will be only half of the current volume, the U.S.-China Business Council said.

Secondly, the United States has benefited a lot in international trade despite its trade deficit in goods.

If Washington wants a trade surplus in goods, it must invest substantially in domestic manufacturing to produce goods. Other countries such as China have advantages in labor-intensive industries compared with the United States.

Therefore, the United States has a great amount of investment abroad including in China, and the products manufactured under U.S. overseas investment projects that it imports have greatly spurred domestic consumption.

"U.S. assets abroad tend to be very high return ... whereas foreign investment into the U.S. is in Treasury bonds. So the income from the American assets is way bigger than from the liabilities -- if you look at it that way, the capital account is structurally in surplus -- you can't have a trade surplus as well," Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors, told CNBC.

In fact, the Unites States also has trade deficits with Japan, Germany, Canada and Mexico. So will Washington launch trade wars with those countries?

It is believed that if the U.S. trade in goods shows surplus some day, it would indicate the United States has not performed well in capital operation and overseas investment, a scenario Washington probably does not want to see.

It is advisable that the trade disputes between China and the United States be resolved through bilateral trade negotiations within the framework of the World Trade Organization instead of unilateral sanctions.

After all, the long-term stability of the China-U.S. economic and trade relations -- the ballast stone of bilateral ties -- benefits both.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 16:50:12|Editor: Yang Yi

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KUNMING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- In Xizhou, a small town in southwest China's Yunnan Province, workers use chopsticks to move curds making rushan, a kind of cheese, while visitors look on.

The Linden Center is run by Brian Linden, an American. Visitors from China and abroad can get to know the Bai people, who make up the majority of the local populace.

"Even though I am a foreigner, I have always dreamed of finding a way to learn, share and discover Chinese culture," Linden said. "The Linden Center allows me to do just that."

The center helps preserve local traditions such as the Torch Festival and the Rice Transplanting Festival.

Linden's journey in China started in 1984 when he was a carpet cleaner in the United States before a friend invited him to China, where he played several roles in films, worked as a photographer, and traveled widely.

He returned to the United States and, in 2004, sold his house, and brought his wife and two sons back to China to embark on a two-year odyssey across the country.

"My sons needed to study, so hotels and trains became classrooms," Linden said.

When train tickets were hard to come by, they bought standing-room-only tickets, he said.

"We just wanted to show the kids how important it is to chase dreams and how their parents can make their dreams come true."

From the northwest to the far south, the Linden family voted whether to stay in any given place or move on and eventually settled in Xizhou. The town is close to Erhai Lake and Cang Mountain, making it a "land of idyllic beauty," as Chinese writer Lao She put it in his book about Yunnan.

What captured Linden's attention in Xizhou was the Yang family compound, a building with the distinctive features of Bai architecture. It was built in 1948 and put under nationally protection in 2001. Linden wanted to turn the compound into a boutique hotel and after four years of negotiations with the local government, he was given permission.

Instead of using a professional architect, the Lindens decided to renovate the building themselves.

"Just the cost of fire safety measures and rewiring exceeded one million yuan (151,000 U.S. dollars)," Linden said.

During the renovation, he spent half his time at the construction site, and the other half in the village, talking to people, making friends and explaining what he was doing.

"If the Linden Center really wants to be part of Xizhou, the support of local people is very important," he said.

About 100 people were involved in the renovation and the center now employs about 50.

"We could keep the ball rolling with just half of them actually, but I want to help local employment," he said.

In 2008, after almost nine months of work, the Linden Center opened with the structure of the original compound and delicate wood carvings intact.

From the very beginning, the center was more of a place of cultural exchange than just a hotel. When it opened, Linden invited dozens of foreign painters to work there.

Years later, the center has evolved into five big courtyards, and 16 guests rooms. Besides accommodation and catering, visitors can take part in all kinds of cultural activities, textile dyeing and cookery lessons.

One of the courtyards has become a place of education, receiving student groups from around the world. He has set up connections with Yale, Stanford and China's Fudan University.

"In the Linden Center, I have found my way to learn, share and explore Chinese culture," Linden said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:10:23|Editor: Liangyu

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LONDON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A new era for under-used railways in Britain was announced Monday with plans for many to be adopted by local communities.

It's a reverse of a strategy in the 1970s when many of the country's railways were closed as part of what was a government strategy known as the Beeching Axe.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said a multi-million dollars scheme will allow local communities to adopt under-used stations and rail lines across England and Wales.

Nearly 60 schemes around Britain have already helped to revive and reshape more than 80 routes and stations, thanks to volunteers, community engagement and funding from the government and train operators.

The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) represents over 80 community rail lines across Britain, with more than 1,000 train stations adopted by local community groups.

The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to build on the success of the scheme by launching an updated community rail strategy, with funding available for successful projects and ideas. The plan is to see the scheme expanded and replicated on a wider scale across the country.

Maynard said, "We have seen communities pulling together to breathe new life into railway lines and stations and we want to build on that success. This forms a key part of the investment the government is making in the railways, the biggest since the Victorian era."

More than 3,200 volunteers are already working at rescued railway stations and community railway lines in England and Wales.

The new strategy for England and Wales is the first since 2007, and will be launched in spring next year following the end of the public consultation in January.

Nik Scholfield from ACoRP said, "Passenger numbers from stations where there is community involvement increased by 2.8 percent last year, which is higher than the national growth in number."

"We have found that when stations are adopted and cared for by community groups they attract more passengers," he said.

"As well as looking after stations, and making them more attractive, we have seen station buildings finding new leases of life. Some have become cafes, barber shops, self-catering accommodation, with one station toilet has even become an art gallery. This initiative is a great way to generate interest in our stations which are architectural gems in the community," he added.

The Beeching Report called for 9,700 km of railway to be cut along with the closure of 2,363 train stations, many little-used services in rural areas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:10:25|Editor: Yang Yi

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Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2017 shows Angus cows at Bill's farm in Omaha, the United States. Though it is the home of U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Omaha was little known to Chinese a few months ago. But now this city in the midwestern Nebraska state is poised to become a household name in China since its Greater Omaha Packing company sent about 40 boxes of its products to China on June 14, soon days after the United States and China reached a deal to re-open Chinese markets for U.S. beef as part of their 100-day action plan to boost bilateral economic cooperation. (Xinhua/Han Fang)

by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Han Fang, Zhang Zhihuan

OMAHA, the United States, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Though it is the home of U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Omaha was little known to Chinese a few months ago.

But now this city in the midwestern Nebraska state is poised to become a household name in China since its Greater Omaha Packing company sent about 40 boxes of its products to China on June 14, soon days after the United States and China reached a deal to re-open Chinese markets for U.S. beef as part of their 100-day action plan to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

That was the first export of U.S. beef to China in more than 13 years. China banned U.S. beef in December 2003 after the mad cow disease struck U.S. cattle. Before the ban, the United States used to be China's top foreign supplier of beef.

SECRET OF BEING NUMBER ONE

"The secret is to be very lucky," chuckled Henry Davis, the third-generation chief executive officer of the nearly century-old Greater Omaha, in response to Xinhua's question how it shot past the "big four" in the United States -- Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef -- and became the first to export beef to China after the hiatus.

The grey-haired CEO attributed the success to the hard work of the staff: "We would not have been the first company to get our beef into China if everybody in this plant, all 1,150, weren't doing their job properly."

When the company saw a possibility that China could resume the beef trade, everyone worked round the clock and made calls to the industry people to find out what they needed to do.

"It takes a lot of work," he emphasized. "We need to be compliant to all the regulations and standards of China. We need to prove ourselves... and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the inspection services of China."

Fortunately the company has rich experience in developing new markets. It was the first U.S. company to ship beef to Japan when Tokyo re-admitted American meat packers.

"The fact that at that time we were already exporting to 68 countries (meant) we (had) met a lot of those criteria that the Chinese government wanted to be part of their import program," he added. "We export to more than twice as many countries as other beef packing companies."

Beef exports to China must come from cattle that are under 30 months, are born in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, and can be traced back to a U.S. birth farm or first U.S. port of entry. The meat must be free from residues of growth promotants, feed additives and other chemical compounds prohibited by Chinese law.

Testing occurs at the point of arrival. If a shipment were to include a prohibited substance, it would be rejected and returned to the United States or destroyed.

INNOVATION PAYS OFF

Greater Omaha was founded by Davis' grandfather, who got his start in the cattle business in 1920. Unlike many other large meatpackers, which have relocated outside Omaha's traditional stockyards districts into the rural Midwest, Greater Omaha has stayed where it was, said Davis, who joined the company in 1973.

With an estimated annual sales of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars, Greater Omaha has been called a "small giant" among U.S. beef producers by Forbes. Today the company slaughters 2,400 heads of cattle a day, and about one-fifth of its sales are exports to nearly 70 countries.

Self-funding, innovation, dedication to food safety and high-end products are factors that have helped Greater Omaha ride out the storm for decades, according to Davis. Also, the plant is "perfectly situated" in the "center of the highest quality cattle" in the United States.

The company has invested heavily in food safety equipment. A lot of those are proprietary. Greater Omaha has either developed them or is operating them in a special way.

According to executive vice president Angelo Fili, a butcher-turned businessman, Greater Omaha is the only major packer to sell individually cut fresh steaks directly to consumers, as opposed to frozen cuts.

The company guarantees a 30-day refrigerated shelf life, thanks to a new type of "skin-packed" air-tight packaging increasingly used in meat retailing. A QR code on the package lets customers see when it was packed and by which date they should eat or freeze it.

The packing plant uses a system of cameras and computers to grade beef, and takes its direct-to-consumer product from the top 20 percent of its prime cuts.

Davis, who has a computer science degree, wrote the software to process all the plant's data and is now heavily involved in the robotic control cold storage facility to be completed in six or seven months.

"It will add a lot to our ability to deliver individual boxes and track each box and load up 10 trucks sequentially," he said.

BOOSTING LOCAL ECONOMY

The China market for Great Omaha is "still in the development stage", but the second largest importer of beef in the world means a lot to the company as well as Nebraska and the U.S. economy as a whole, given China's rapidly expanding middle class.

"We like the fact that it stimulates the economy. The cattle-consume-grain agriculture market is a very big part of the Midwest economy and it's good for them," he said.

There is a strong demand from China since the imports resumed and the company has hired a Mandarin-speaking analyst to help handle the overwhelming number of calls and email inquiries from China.

"China is the world's fastest-growing beef import market," Joe Schuele, vice president of communications at the U.S. Meat Export Federation, told local media. "It has grown tenfold in the last five to six years."

China currently imports an estimated 2.6 billion U.S. dollars of beef annually.

Beef exports will complement Nebraska's current success in the Chinese marketplace with soybeans, distillers' products and pork, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said.

Nebraska's share of worldwide U.S. beef exports has grown steadily over the past decade, going from less than 4 percent in 2005 to more than 18 percent in 2016, according to the Department of Agriculture.

"We raise what we consider very high quality product that we hopefully can put into the Chinese market," Bill Pellett, who runs a cattle feedlot about one hour's drive from Greater Omaha, told Xinhua. "It's something that we've been working on for 20 years or more to make it a better product."

Pellett added that it costs more to produce beef according to China's specifications but it is worthwhile doing so. He has sold cattle free of artificial hormones to Greater Omaha for years.

"I think it's good for all of us to understand each other and to share the resources that we have available. Each country ... has different resources, they need to trade to make the world a better place," Pellett said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:25:32|Editor: Liangyu

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KIEV, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China is playing an increasingly important role in global affairs, while the world needs to learn from Chinese President Xi Jinping's love of the people, said Ukrainian presidential advisor Igor Gryniv.

"Everyone understands that China is moving towards world leadership," the advisor to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a recent interview with Chinese reporters following the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Noting that China's development has made itself a key global player and created new opportunities for common development of all countries, Gryniv recalled Xi's attendance at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos in January, saying that China formed the agenda of the forum.

"A non-European country was a key topic of the European-held forum. And the keynote speaker ... at the European forum was the Chinese leader," said Gryniv, who is also a lawmaker and one of the most influential political scientists in Ukraine.

Moreover, the Ukrainian politician stressed that China's global influence goes beyond economy and politics, as the Chinese culture, including ancient wisdom, is also becoming more and more popular.

He said he personally is a big fan of "The Art of War" written by ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu and, as campaign manager, he used the philosophy in that book in Poroshenko's presidential race.

Ukraine, he said, wants to take advantages of the opportunities stemming from China's development and stands ready to share its own with China.

"Our gates are open to China and its European strategy," he said, "Ukraine is a good starting point for entering Europe."

Given China's current success, the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, a goal highlighted at the 19th CPC National Congress, is absolutely achievable, said the Ukrainian lawmaker.

China's inspiring domestic aspirations and increasing international influence are based on China's domestic achievements, which were ensured by the strong and wise Chinese leadership, he added.

"I know the biography of Chinese President Xi Jinping. I know the challenges that he had to go through during his life. This allows him to better understand his people and be a part of his nation," Gryniv said.

"We can learn from him that every leader should love his people, understand his people and breathe the same air as his people," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:35:34|Editor: Liangyu

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by Xinhua writer Yang Shilong

NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- As General Electric (GE)'s second largest market after the United States, China will remain the most relevant growth market in the future for the multinational enterprise, Rachel Duan, president and CEO of GE China, has told Xinhua.

The key reasons, or "mega-needs," Duan explained on Monday, are as follows: Firstly, China is the largest global power market and is expected to grow at an annual rate of nearly five percent to 2020, all while moving towards clean energy and natural gas.

Secondly, China is currently the world's second largest global healthcare market, with demand only expected to grow as the number of people above 65 years old will hit 170 million by 2020.

Thirdly, in the aviation market, one-third of purchases needed for aircraft made by Boeing and Airbus stem from China; and driven by urbanization, China is expected to become the largest aviation market globally in terms of passenger flow within 10 to 15 years. All three of these sectors are key areas that the GE is focusing on -- power, healthcare, and aviation.

The final mega-need, of Chinese companies going global, is an area that the GE also remains well-positioned to address, through partnerships with Chinese enterprises.

THREE KEY INITIATIVES FOR ADAPTING CHINESE MARKET

Duan, who took over as CEO of GE China at the end of 2014, has since pinpointed three key initiatives that guide the coming years of strategic development for all of the company's businesses -- localization, partnership and digitalization, to better serve the world's largest infrastructure market.

In terms of localization, GE China has been investing in people, processes and technologies throughout the value chain so that it can design, manufacture and service products closer to customers, she said, "This goes beyond market and sales localization, to product R&D, manufacturing and product services."

The GE is the largest healthcare equipment manufacturer in China, and China is a key manufacturing base for the GE: one third of the GE's ultrasound probes, half of its MRIs, and two thirds of its CTs sold globally are manufactured in the Chinese cities of Wuxi, Tianjin and Beijing respectively.

Furthermore, the GE opened an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Tianjin (its first outside the United States), and established its Asia Headquarters for Global Operations in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, the GE's partnerships with Chinese EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) have evolved "beyond merely being a supplier," to leveraging its own global network of technology and local market expertise to help win projects side-by-side with Chinese enterprises along the Belt and Road, she said.

"The GE believes that the only way to achieve growth in China is to grow together with our Chinese customers. This is why we launched our 'China for the World' strategy, committed to building sustainable long-term partnerships with China's national champions to assist them in winning both at home and abroad as they take on the global marketplace," she said.

To date, the GE has partnered with over 30 Chinese EPC companies in more than 70 markets across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe. In partnering with Chinese companies, the GE has also formed joint ventures such as AVIAGE (with AVIC), which delivers technologies, product solutions and services in avionics, both in China and globally through the GE's global network.

Meanwhile, the GE's LEAP-1C engine, a state-of-the-art jet engine developed through CFM International, was selected as the only Western engine for COMAC's C919 - C919, China's first large aircraft.

In terms of digitalization, the GE, as the world's leading digital industrial company, with a global footprint and depth of localized capabilities in China, is partnering with customers and helping them win both in China and worldwide by connecting machines, software and data analytics to unlock industrial productivity, Duan said.

The GE opened the Shanghai Digital Foundry, where customers can work side-by-side with a foundry and domain expert to create a strategic business case as well as a customized plan for digital transformation.

"Meanwhile, this week, we are signing several significant commercial deals with our Chinese partners as part of President Donald Trump's first visit to China," Duan added, "They further cement our partnerships with important Chinese customers, while supporting jobs and growth in both the United States and China."

TRUMP'S CHINA VISIT TO DEFINE U.S.-CHINA TIES

"This is the first official visit that Trump is making to China as president of the United States," Duan pointed out, "We expect that the outcome of the visit will very much define bilateral relations for the next few years."

Headquartered in Boston in the northeastern U.S. state of Massachusetts, the GE was one of the first multinational enterprises to enter the Chinese market over a century ago.

At the GE, and at many Chinese and foreign enterprises doing business globally, everyone agrees that the Chinese and American economies are "so closely intertwined" that "engagement and cooperation, when it comes to trade, are the only way forward," Duan said.

As a global company with operations in 180 countries across the world, "we have seen the benefits of international trade and cooperation both for ourselves and for our Chinese partners, which is why we hope that Trump's visit will bring an ever-stronger relationship between the United States and China going forward," she said.

For the future development of the U.S.-China relations, Duan suggested the two great powers have to "look for common ground and create win-win situations, just as we do with our Chinese partners here."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:40:37|Editor: Yang Yi

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Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Oct. 31, 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming participation of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and state visit to Vietnam will show the world the rich content of neighborhood diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, Hong Xiaoyong told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Le Yanna)

HANOI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming attendance to the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and state visit to Vietnam will show the world the rich content of neighborhood diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong told Xinhua here recently.

During his visit, Xi will speak at the APEC CEO summit, attend a meeting between APEC economic leaders and ASEAN leaders, and meet leaders of other APEC economies.

The Vietnamese side had expressed many times its expectations to hear "China's voice" and "China's solutions", considering them the most important factors to the success of the APEC summit, Hong said.

In current world, the opportunities and challenges of economic globalization coexist. Under this circumstance, the status, importance and influence of China have become increasingly outstanding.

All participating sides are thus eager to hear the Chinese leader's ideas and vision on major international affairs, global governance and APEC economic cooperation, he said.

Talking about Xi's state visit to Vietnam, the ambassador said it will push the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to develop more steadily and healthily.

China and Vietnam are neighboring countries with complementary economies, Hong said, thus further deepening their mutually beneficial cooperation enjoys huge potential.

The two countries have also made progress on the strategic alignment of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle", injecting strong impetus to bilateral cooperation in the future, Hong noted.

On bilateral trade, China has been Vietnam's biggest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, with this year's trade value expected to breach 100 billion U.S. dollars, according to him.

The two countries have also been actively cooperating in various other fields including infrastructure, energy, tourism and transportation, the official added.

The spirit of "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners" was put forward by China based on the traditional friendship between the two countries, reflecting the unique and rich content of the Sino-Vietnamese ties, the Chinese ambassador said.

China and Vietnam, two socialist countries under the leadership of the communist parties, shoulder the historical responsibility of strengthening party building, constructing modern countries and working for the well-being of the two peoples, said Hong.

Thus remaining true to the original aspiration and keeping the mission firmly in mind as well as upholding the spirit of "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners" are in the interest of the two sides, Hong said.

China and Vietnam should strengthen exchanges on party and country governing ideas and practices, promote each party's governing ability, adhere to the sense of community of common destiny, eye each other's development and achievements as its own opportunities so as to further broaden mutual cooperation and serve the common development of the two countries, he suggested.

The two countries should also exam and handle the existing disagreements and problems between the two countries with a strategic and long-term vision, grasp the right direction of development of bilateral ties, nurture the friendly ties between the two countries in a bid to serve the long-term interests of the two countries and the two peoples, Hong added.

Looking into the future, the Chinese ambassador said, China and Vietnam have room and potential for further promotion of cooperation in fields such as politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and defense.

He said President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will hold talks and meet with Vietnamese party and state leaders during his visit to the country.

The leaders of the two countries will have in-depth talks on promoting the relations between the two countries under the new circumstances, the Chinese ambassador said.

"It is of great significance for the leaders of the two countries to strengthen the top-level design and jointly work on the blueprint of the future development," Hong told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 17:45:38|Editor: Liangyu

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DHAKA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five children were killed when a quarry collapsed on them on Tuesday morning in Bangladesh's Sylhet district, some 241 km northeast of capital Dhaka.

The incident took place at about 7:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) when some children went to collect stones at a river quarry site before school in order to earn some money for their families, the district's Additional Superintendent of Police Md Shamsul Alam Sarker told Xinhua over the phone.

The river quarry site has recently dried up, exposing many stones on its bed. Suddenly a huge chunk of soil quarry from the river bank collapsed, burying the children.

"Five bodies have already been recovered and they are all 12-13 years of ages," Sarker said.

Another child is still missing, local policemen and people are still searching, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:00:45|Editor: Jiaxin

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SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that U.S. trade deficit with South Korea will be brought down as the amount of military equipment, which South Korea will order from the United States, will be increased "very substantially."

Trump, on the second stop of his lengthy Asian tour, arrived in South Korea around noon, visiting Camp Humphreys, a newly renovated U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, about 40 km south of Seoul.

"You'll be buying a lot of our military equipment. There's nobody that comes close whether it's the planes, missiles, ships and anything you wanna talk about," said Trump during an expanded summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, attended by top-level government officials from both sides.

The U.S. leader repeatedly appreciated the South Korean "big purchase orders" for U.S. military weapons, according to a local TV footage showing Trump's introductory remarks before the expanded summit.

The South Korean president greeted the U.S. leader at the base, an unscheduled greeting which was called by local media outlets an "exceptional" protocol toward Trump.

They had a lunch together with service members of both South Korea and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at Camp Humphreys, which is seen as the world's largest overseas army base of the U.S. military.

Local media reports speculated that the base visit aimed to show South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defense.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:05:49|Editor: Jiaxin

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A fugitive suspected of embezzlement and corporate bribery returned to China Tuesday to turn himself in, according to the Communist Party of China's disciplinary authority.

He Jian, a former manager of a real estate company in the Hebei Port Group, fled to Canada in September 2010, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

He was numbered 68th on China's top 100 fugitives listed in an Interpol Red Notice and is the 49th to return so far.

The money involved in He's case was frozen after he fled and will be confiscated if He is found guilty at trial, the CCDI said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:10:52|Editor: Yang Yi

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TIRANA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Albania should follow attentively the new stage of China's development after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Albanian Ambassador to China Selim Belortaja.

In an interview with Albanian Daily News released on Monday, he said the landmark CPC meeting has demonstrated the potential of China as a state, an economy, a model of the social system and even as a military force.

"Since the very first day of the opening of the congress, Mr. Xi reflected an unprecedented pride and self-security, which had not been seen for many decades," Belortaja said of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Noting that the meeting set great, ambitious and long-term objectives for China's future development, the ambassador said, "We should take such events very seriously."

In particular, he suggested that Albania give full play to its role in the China-proposed initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative) and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and introduce concrete projects that are suitable for Albania-China cooperation.

Belortaja became Albania's ambassador to China earlier this year. He used to serve as minister of industry and trade and deputy foreign minister among others.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:15:53|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. economic ties once again came under the global spotlight ahead of an upcoming meeting between leaders of the two countries in Beijing.

U.S. President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday, the first head of state to visit the country since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. His meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to promote bilateral exchange between the world's two largest economies.

Despite disputes and frictions, China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation has expanded steadily and generated huge benefits for people of both sides. Here are some facts and figures about China-U.S. economic ties:

-- In the first three quarters of the year, bilateral trade increased 13.7 percent year on year to 422.64 billion U.S. dollars. China's exports to the United States grew 11.5 percent, outpaced by a nearly-20-percent expansion in imports from the latter.

-- China has become the largest trade partner of the United States, while the U.S. is China's second largest. Bilateral trade surged to 519.6 billion dollars in 2016 from 2.5 billion dollars in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic ties.

-- China receives 26 percent of U.S.-exported Boeing aircraft, 56 percent of its soy beans, 16 percent of its automobiles, 15 percent of its farm produce, and 15 percent of its integrated circuits.

-- As the two countries are balancing their economies, the structure of bilateral trade is improving. Over the past decade, U.S. exports to China increased 11 percent annually on average, while China's exports to the United States only rose 6.6 percent.

-- Although China still sees a trade surplus with the United States, it does not mean China benefits while the United States loses. About 40 percent of the trade surplus is actually generated by U.S. companies in China. Trade with China helps each American family save 850 dollars every year. In 2015, bilateral trade and mutual investment created 2.6 million jobs for the United States.

-- The United States has maintained a service trade surplus with China, which surged more than 30-fold from 2006 to 2016. Meanwhile, bilateral service trade only tripled. The United States raked in 52.3 billion dollars from service trade with China in 2016, making the biggest contribution to China's service trade deficit.

-- Two-way investment between China and the United States was also robust. Non-financial investment from Chinese businesses in the U.S. totaled nearly 50 billion dollars by the end of 2016, while U.S. companies had invested nearly 80 billion dollars in 67,000 projects in China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:20:55|Editor: Jiaxin

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RIYADH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday accused Iran of direct military aggression against his country, Al Arabiya local news reported.

The Crown Prince said that the aggression was in a form of supply of missiles to the Houthi militia in Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi militia in Yemen said dangerous escalation came because of Iranian support after Saudi air defenses intercepted the ballistic missile heading toward Riyadh.

The Crown Prince highlighted the aggression in a phone call with the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson who condemned the Houthi missile launch.

The Crown Prince told Johnson that the Iran's involvement in providing Houthi militias with missiles is a direct and a military aggression by Tehran and amounts to being viewed as an act of war against the kingdom.

Johnson and the Crown Prince also discussed regional and international developments during the phone call, the report added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:20:57|Editor: Yang Yi

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by Xinhua writers Yan Liang, Zhu Dongyang

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has provided an unprecedented and historic opportunity for the future development of China-U.S. relations, said Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai.

In an interview with Xinhua ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to China, the first foreign head of state to visit China after the landmark CPC meeting, Cui pointed out that the trip comes at an important moment.

That is because the CPC congress, which took place in Beijing on Oct. 18-24, not only drew a blueprint for China's development, but also offered a historic opportunity for China to develop its foreign relations, including relationship with the United States, said the ambassador.

China's sustainable development helps stabilize the world amid a group of challenges and facilitates the settlement of global issues, noted Cui, who also highlighted China's commitment to peaceful development, win-win cooperation and opening-up as well as its proposals for the development of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Those ideas and visions, added the ambassador, enable China and the United States to better understand each other's strategic intentions and push forward bilateral relations in a right course.

The upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, their third encounter this year, will provide a chance for the two top leaders to chart the course for long-term development of bilateral relations, Cui said.

The two countries are expected to take Trump's visit as an opportunity to advance the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, and promote a new type of international relations, so as to contribute to creating a better future for mankind, he said.

With so many challenges ahead, the world's two largest economies are well advised to learn lessons from the history, reject the old-time zero-sum competition, and engage in a new type of relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Cui said.

He noted that the two sides have jointly helped pull the world out of the international financial crisis, and have carried out close coordination within the framework of such multilateral mechanisms as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Group of 20, and deep-going collaboration in combating climate change and terrorism.

The world wishes Beijing and Washington to further boost their cooperation and shoulder their due responsibilities to settle the world's challenges and strengthen global governance, Cui added.

"History has proved that cooperation accords with the interests of both China and the United States," he said, calling for joint efforts to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Noting that China's engagement to embrace the world both changes itself and influences the world, he said China's endeavors to build itself into a stronger country will pull China and the rest of the world closer than ever, and inject fresh vigor into China-U.S. relations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:25:59|Editor: Jiaxin

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MANDERA, Kenya, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan police officer is missing after suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked and burnt two police vehicles escorting a commuter bus in Mandera country on Monday evening.

A senior police officer confirmed on Tuesday that the vehicles with 12 police officers on board had been ambushed by militants in Dabacity area, Mandera County, which borders Somalia.

"The rescue team comprising of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and police officers have successfully evacuated 11 officers from the scene and unable to trace one who is said to have made a communication to the station from his hideout," said the officer who declined to be named.

He said the vehicles with 12 officers were escorting a commuter bus to Mandera when they were hit by rocket propelled grenades. A firearm is also missing amid speculations the terrorists escaped with it.

Another officer was injured during the ambush as the militants moved to burn the vehicles before escaping.

Efforts to locate the missing officer is ongoing.

The police officer said no passenger in the bus was affected as the ambush happened when the vehicle had passed the scene.

The officer said the attack came after a lull of three months during which no incident was reported.

Al-Shabaab militants, which have been mounting cross-border attacks in Mandera, are said to be grouping in the area. It has become difficult to attack them due to heavy rains.

Al-Shabaab has vowed to attack Kenya after the east African nation sent troops into southern Somalia in 2011 to help flush out the insurgents blamed for kidnappings of tourists.

Kenya now has more than 4,000 troops in the 22,000-strong African Union force in Somalia helping the United Nations-backed government battle Al-Shabaab, which is allied to the Al-Qaida terror network.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:36:02|Editor: Jiaxin

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JUBA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian agency in South Sudan on Tuesday expressed concerns about the hiking of work permit fees for foreigners and a recent government order giving expatriates a month to obtain work permits.

Ian Ridley, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in South Sudan, said the new work permit fees and other fees enacted in September will make it even more costly for aid organizations, both national and international, to deliver much-needed aid to people in need.

"OCHA affirms that humanitarian organizations working in South Sudan must uphold the laws of the country; however the uneven and sometimes unpredictable implementation of the law sometimes presents challenges to NGOs and other partners," Ridley told Xinhua.

South Sudan's relief agency said on Monday that it identified more than 1,000 illegal expatriates working with humanitarian organizations in the east African nation, and has given them a one-month ultimatum to acquire work permits or face the law.

A letter, addressed to UNOCHA dated Nov. 2 by the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), made public the names of the individuals and the organizations they work for, and ordered them to obtain work permits by Dec. 4.

In March, South Sudan increased work permit fees for foreign workers from 100 U.S. dollars to 10,000 dollars for professional/business class, 2,000 dollars for blue collar jobs and 1,000 dollars for casual laborers.

The South Sudanese finance ministry said at the time that the hiked fee would raise vital revenue for the cash-strapped government to fund its activities.

But the fee hike prompted an outcry from humanitarian agencies who described it as a way of restricting work of foreign aid workers in the war-torn nation, forcing the government to suspend the policy the following month.

The Ministry of Labor and Public Service late October announced the revised annual work permit rates for foreigners ranging from 500 to 4,000 dollars.

Under the new fee structure, consultants and managers will pay 4,000 dollars, professionals charged 3,000 dollars and technicians 2,000 dollars. The directive does not affect members of the diplomatic corps.

Skilled workers will pay 1,000 dollars and casual laborers will be charged 500 dollars, and defaulters will be charged an extra 200 dollars in fines.

OCHA condemned making public names of aid workers who are alleged to be without work permits, adding that preliminary data suggest that names on the list include former staff, visitors, and staff who have in fact applied for or possess a permit.

Ridley said the humanitarian community in South Sudan would cooperate with the government to ensure all staff are in possession of the required work permit.

"Information about NGO staff members is confidential and should not be published without their consent. We therefore urge the RRC to remove any such information from public domain," Ridley added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:36:03|Editor: Yang Yi

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by Xinhua writers Zhu Dongyang, Xie E

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's first state visit to China on Thursday, a top U.S. trade leader, who has been doing business with China for more than three decades, has pointed out the many opportunities for cooperation between the businesses of the two countries, especially given China's rapid development and the United States suffering stagnation in some sectors.

Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, gave an example from his own experience to illustrate what he meant.

When he first went to China and took a train from Beijing to Jinan, a city in eastern Shandong Province, the journey would take anything from nine to 12 hours. That was in 1979. But when he did the same trip recently, it took less than two hours.

"But the trip from Washington to New York (three hours by train) has been the same over my entire life," he rued.

Orlins is a strong advocate of Chinese cooperation in U.S. infrastructure, especially given the Trump administration's 1 trillion U.S. dollar investment in infrastructure.

U.S. "DESPERATE" FOR INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT

Currently living in New York, he sees a "desperate need" for investment in infrastructure.

"I think China's experience in building its own infrastructure over the last decades has given it relevant experience and technology that would be applicable to our railways, subways, bridges, tunnels," the veteran official said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

The high-speed northeast rail corridor between Washington and Boston, for instance, can be built with Chinese technology and capital. "I think that would be hugely successful," he said.

In an earlier interview with Xinhua, Orlins said U.S. companies should engage with their Chinese counterparts outside China under the Belt and Road Initiative, calling the initiative to enhance trade, infrastructure and people-to-people links between Asia, Europe and Africa "tremendously beneficial" for the world and for the United States.

The Belt and Road, proposed in 2013, is building an overland Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that will revive and expand the old Silk Roads that nurtured trade between Asia and the outside world in the past..

Since U.S. services and equipment in many areas have world advantages, Orlins advocated that Chinese companies, that serve as overall contractor for a project, should partner with major American companies such as General Electric or construction and project management firm Bechtel.

BOOMING PARTNERSHIP IN GREEN DEVELOPMENT

Orlins also envisioned China-U.S. cooperation on green development, possibly "the private sector of the United States working with the private sector in China and, to some degree, the Chinese government."

He disagreed with the U.S. government's insular stance that "we have given up too much in sacrificing things for the world, and ... need to take care of our home first."

"I personally don't agree with that," he emphasized.

Despite a cagey government, U.S. businesses, however, he added, remain committed to green development.

"So actually business coalitions and NGO coalitions will play a much greater role in the next three and a half years than they did previously, because (then) the U.S. government was leading," he said.

"Now U.S. businesses and NGOs all recognize that China is making enormous strides in this area, and ... in the environmental area ... cooperating with China is a great thing."

He pointed out the two main reasons for that. First, China was a huge market, and second, the Chinese government had recognized the importance of environmental protection.

"So people in the United States, NGOs and businesses recognize that President Xi Jinping's commitment to a beautiful China, to an environmentally sustainable China, is something good for the world, good for the Chinese people, and good for American business," he said.

(Xinhua reporters Gao Pan, Hu Yousong in Washington also contributed to the story)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:46:07|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc. has been in the media spotlight in the past few weeks for something still uncertain: whether, and when, it will build its first car factory in China.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke of a "rough target of start of production in about three years" on the company's plan for a China plant in a conference call with analysts last week, following reports of it having talks with the local government on building a factory in Shanghai.

Nothing is final yet, but one thing is certain: however Tesla's plan turns out, China is unlikely to slow down its drive to open wider to foreign investors.

"We always welcome foreign investment, especially in high-tech, energy-saving and environmental protection as well as strategic emerging industries," Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng said when commenting on Tesla's progress.

A report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held last month made clear that "China will not close its door to the world, and it will only become more and more open."

Those words are gradually being turned into actions.

The government has confirmed that a plan is being forged to build a free trade port in Shanghai.

The first China International Import Expo has been slated for Nov. 5 to Nov. 10 this year in Shanghai, a move expected to help more foreign goods enter the Chinese market.

Next year, a negative list approach to market entry, which states sectors and businesses that are off limits to foreign investment, will be expanded nationwide.

The Shanghai free trade port, for one thing, will "become a new landmark for China's opening up," said Zhang Yugui, a professor of economics at Shanghai International Studies University.

He expects the free trade port to lead to prosperity in offshore finance and offshore trade, and embed China into the global high-end value chain.

To emulate other successful forerunners in the world, the Shanghai free trade port should "have little restrictions on the category, prices and quantities of goods imported and exported," said Yin Chen, a researcher of free trade zones at Fudan University.

He also listed unrestricted flow of capital, zero tariffs on most goods traded and free market entry to most industries by foreign investment.

China is already the world's top exporter and second largest importer. It is expected to import goods worth 8 trillion U.S. dollars and attract 600 billion dollars of foreign investment in the next five years, Chinese leaders have said.

The upcoming import expo, which will gather companies from more than 100 countries and regions, will help foreign manufacturers grab a bigger slice of China's booming consumption market.

"The decision to hold this expo shows China's sincere wish to open up its market and its sense of responsibility as a big country to push for economic globalization," Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying told a press conference last week.

Foreign firms are taking the opportunity of an opener Chinese economy. SAIC-GM, a joint venture between China's SAIC Motor and General Motors of the United States, said it has continued exploring and achieved fast growth in new businesses in addition to auto manufacturing, including auto finance and financial leasing in the country.

"Many of these involve cross-sector business development and cannot do without an open, fair market environment," said Julian Blissett, executive vice president of SAIC-GM. "It is based on the judgment that our environment keeps improving that we show full confidence in the following market exploration."

Paul Rawlinson, global chair of international law firm Baker McKenzie, noticed marked progress in the opening up of China's capital market. While the process still needs to evolve, he said, "the growth trajectory is impressive already."

Recent years have seen the launch of stock trading links between the mainland and Hong Kong as well as a Shanghai-Hong Kong bond connect program to give foreign investors greater access to the capital market.

There is more to do, especially in opening the service sector, which means more tax preferences and lower market thresholds for foreign-provided services, said Bai Ming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

"China is catching up and going ahead, even taking the lead in some respects, while some previous forerunners now seem to be walking backwards [in opening up their economies]," Bai said.

Protectionism, especially in trade, remains a threat to the global economic recovery. In the period between mid-October 2016 and mid-May 2017, the Group of 20 economies applied 42 new trade-restrictive measures, an average of six measures per month, according to the World Trade Organization.

"China stands firm in pushing for economic globalization, but it can hardly do so on its own," Bai said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:56:10|Editor: Jiaxin

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GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Five Afghan civilians were injured after a roadside mine went off in eastern province of Ghazni, a local official said Tuesday.

The incident happened on Monday afternoon, leaving five civilians wounded, after a tricycle they were riding in, hit a roadside mine in Dehyak district of the province, provincial government spokesman Aref Noori told Xinhua.

"The landmine was planted by the Taliban to target security forces in Roozi Kala village of the district," said the official, but no comments had so far been made by the Taliban on the report.

Anti-government armed groups often plant mines along the roads to target government forces, but mostly take lives of civilians.

More than 2,640 civilians were killed and over 5,370 others injured in conflict-related incidents in first nine months of the year, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 18:56:11|Editor: Jiaxin

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Photo taken on Nov. 7, 2017 shows the headquarters of a local TV channel station under attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. At least two people were killed and three others wounded when an explosion and ensuing gunfire rocked the local TV channel station in Kabul on Tuesday, witnesses and sources said. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

KABUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 21 others wounded in a terrorist attack against a local TV channel station in Kabul on Tuesday, authorities said.

The incident occurred in the morning after two terrorists attacked Shamshad TV, a private Pashto language channel, in Chaman-e-Huzuri neighborhood, a security source told Xinhua anonymously near the site.

The killed included a security guard, a female worker of the TV station and two attackers, the source said.

The attackers, who were disguised in police uniform, took refuge in a building inside the facility and exchanged fire with Crisis Response Unit (CRU) forces, Special Operation, who arrived shortly after the attack.

The CRU also rescued scores of journalists and media workers during a three-hour gunfight.

Among those injured were several media workers and four personnel of fire department of Kabul police.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of any official statement.

Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), an independent media safety group, have strongly condemned the incident.

Media outlets and journalists frequently come under attack in the militancy-hit country as 10 Afghan journalists and media workers have been killed in the first half of the year, according to AJSC.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 19:26:17|Editor: Jiaxin

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KABUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday expressed deep concerns over increasing attacks on the religious places and leaders, the UNAMA said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the mission released a special report documenting a sharp increase in attacks against places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers, including attacks on Shiite Muslim worship places and congregations, the statement read.

"Since 1 Jan. 2016, UNAMA has recorded 833 civilian casualties (261 killed and 572 injured) in 42 attacks targeting places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers. Civilian casualties from these types of attacks since the beginning of 2016 represent nearly double the cumulative total documented between 2009 and 2015," the statement said citing the report.

"Respect the law, stop targeting worshippers and religious leaders," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, was quoted as saying.

Yamamoto commended the recent efforts of the Afghan government to protect places of worship and urged the government "to take all necessary measures to protect all Afghans, especially those vulnerable to sectarian attacks, to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief and to worship in safety."

The report also called on anti-government elements to immediately cease targeting worshippers and religious leaders.

More than 2,640 civilians were killed and over 5,370 others injured in conflict-related incidents in first nine months of the year, according to figures released by the UNAMA.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 19:41:22|Editor: Jiaxin

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RABAT, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's King Mohammed VI has started tour to Gulf countries on Tuesday, Morocco's official MAP news agency reported.

MAP news agency said that the king has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a friendship and working visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to statement from Morocco's king office, the king will also visit Qatar on Sunday. Gulf crisis is expected to top the king's tour agenda.

The king is accompanied during this visit by an official delegation composed of three of his advisors as well as minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 19:41:24|Editor: Jiaxin

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KAMPALA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Health experts and scientists from Uganda, Kenya and the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting in eastern Uganda to discuss ways of combating the deadly Marburg virus disease.

The experts meeting in Kapchorwa district, the epicenter of the current outbreak in Uganda, will share knowledge on Marburg prevention mechanisms and develop common plans for cross-border surveillance.

Henry Mwebesa, acting director general of health services at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said in a statement that the meeting serves as a platform for sharing surveillance data, epidemiological and other related information on the highly fatal virus outbreak reported in the Kween and Kapchorwa districts.

Uganda's ministry of health on Friday said it traced a traditional healer who traveled to West Pokot in neighboring Kenya after getting into contact with the second confirmed case of Marburg in Kween.

There are currently six cumulative cases, including three deaths, two confirmed, one probable and three suspected, since the outbreak was first reported last month.

Marburg is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever, according to the WHO.

According to the global health body, the illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly with severe headache and malaise.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 19:46:26|Editor: Jiaxin

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel's three millionth tourist this year landed in Israel on Tuesday, a new all-time record for incoming tourism in Israel.

Ioana Isac from Romania is accompanied by her partner, Mihai Georgescu, tourist number 3,000,001.

"This is a special day and an historic milestone as we break the 3-million-tourist barrier and set a new all-time record," said Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who welcomed the couple in the arrival hall in Ben Gurion airport.

Israel is expected to end this year with about 3.5 million tourists, an all-time record and an increase of tens of percent on previous years, according to the Tourism Ministry.

Since the beginning of 2017, tourism has become one of the most significant economic engines in the Israeli economy and revenue from incoming tourism stands at about NIS 17 billion (about 4.9 billion US dollars), said the minister.

The leading source countries for incoming tourism are the United States, Russia, France, Germany and Britain since the beginning of this year, sources from the ministry said.

The ministry placed a strategic emphasis on incoming tourism from China, with sharp increase over the previous year, the ministry said.

Figures from the ministry show that the number of tourists totaled 2.71 million during the first nine months of this year, up 23 percent compared with the same period of 2016.

Tourists from China to Israel totaled 87,400 during the January-September period, an increase of 51 percent from a year ago.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 19:46:27|Editor: Yang Yi

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by Nemanja Cabric, Wang Huijuan

BELGRADE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Remarkable results of the socialism with Chinese characteristics set an example to follow, a senior Serbian official said.

Commenting on the 100th anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, which marked the first rise of a communist party to power, Aleksandar Vulin, president of the Movement of Socialists of Serbia and president of a minor partner in the ruling coalition of Serbia, Vulin reflected on the "system error" of capitalism, breakup of the former Yugoslavia and success of China's governance ideology.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Vulin, who is also the Serbian defense minister, said that the economic crisis the world has experienced revealed the system flaw of capitalism in the West.

It is very hard for capitalism to explain the injustice as a system in the world, while only 3 percent of the people in the world control 97 percent of the wealth, he said. "That system error cannot be repaired until we change capitalism as such," Vulin proposed.

He believed that all countries should maintain their identities and distinctive cultures during the process of globalization.

"If we want to change our planet on a global scale for the better, we must be a part of the globalization process, but not without maintaining our differences, and the idea -- what we want from this change," Vulin warned.

On China's development, he said that China has achieved remarkable results in only a couple of decades, which, he believed, should be learned from.

"We all admire Chinese socialism. You persist in your strong ideological presence among the masses of the people, and the Chinese communists know that the nation can be developed only when it is sovereign, independent and free," Vulin explained.

He said that the Communist Party of China is "not led by the political fashion," and instead, it conforms with the best interests of the Chinese people. "Ideology made by the people and for the people -- that is something that we can learn from the Communist Party of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Chinese socialism has led to a path of its own success, and in the meantime, according to Vulin, it contributes to the world. "When you see something so successful, a party and an ideology working for the people with such results -- this sets an example for one to follow," Vulin pointed out.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:01:33|Editor: Jiaxin

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ANKARA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. and Turkey have resumed visa processes on a limited basis, which is seen as a positive development, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara Esenboga Airport ahead of his visit to Washington, Yildirim hopes to improve ties between the two countries.

Turkish Prime Minister denied giving any assurances to U.S. mission staff in Turkey, saying that Turkey is a state of law and negotiation of such requests would violate those principles.

Both countries on Monday partially resumed visa services after a month-long row over Turkish staffer of a U.S. mission arrested.

Yildirim noted that there are Turkish nationals detained in the U.S. and vice versa, and hoped that the U.S. pays attention to Turkey's concerns during their prosecution.

Yildirim said the Syria and Iraq issues and requests regarding the Gulenists issue and coming steps will top the agenda in his visit.

He urged the U.S. judiciary to take immediate steps to extradite Fetullah Gulen, the U.S.-based preacher, who is blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a failed coup attempt on July 15 , 2016.

Ankara has long sought the extradition of Fetullah Gulen and complained of the U.S. dragging its feet on the request.

It will be Yildirim's first visit to the U.S. as prime minister. He will meet with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at White House during his four-day visit, according to Turkish Prime Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:31:44|Editor: Yang Yi

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TAIPEI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's exports continued to grow in October but at a much slower pace due to a high comparison base, the island's finance authority said Tuesday.

The island's exports grew 3 percent year on year in October, the smallest growth in the last 13 months mainly due to a high base from 2016 when shipments spiked due to delays caused by a typhoon in September.

Autumn holidays at the beginning of the month reduced the number of working days, contributing to the weak result.

October exports volume of 27.5 billion U.S. dollars is a record high for the month, according to the authority.

Exports of electronic components continued to surpass 10 billion dollars in October after a record high registered in September.

Exports to Chinese mainland and Hong Kong grew by 4.9 percent year on year. Exports to Europe expanded 7.1 percent, while exports to the U.S. inched up 0.6 percent. Exports to Japan fell 6 percent.

The finance authority expects exports in November and December to continue to grow moderately and achieve double-digit growth for the whole year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:31:45|Editor: Jiaxin

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PARIS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Anti-terror units on Tuesday detained seven individuals in Paris suburbs and southeastern Alpes-Maritime region, a local daily reported.

The suspects, aged between 18 and 65 years, were arrested in Alpes-Maritimes, Saint-Denis and Val de Marne.

Some of the detainees, including several converted to Islam, have been already on police watchlist for radicalization, the daily Le Parisien reported.

According to the report, they planned an assault in southern city of Nice, where a truck driver rammed into the crowd killing 86 people in 2016.

The anti-terrorism raid was part of an investigation launched May for "criminal terrorist conspiracy," it added.

French police have foiled 11 terrorist assaults during the January-September period, according to official data.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:36:46|Editor: Jiaxin

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union Election Observation Mission was launched here on Tuesday for the parliamentary and provincial elections of Nepal slated for Nov. 26 and Dec. 7 this year respectively.

The mission was formally launched by Chief Observer Zeljana Zovko, who is a member of the European Parliament from Croatia. The European Union was invited to deploy the mission to observe the elections.

The mission will comprise more than 100 observers including experts on political, electoral and legal issues.

"The elections mark an important stage in Nepal's democratic development, and I hope that our presence will contribute to an inclusive and transparent electoral process," Zeljana Zovko said at a press conference Tuesday.

Over the last two days, Zovko held rounds of meetings with the Election Commission of Nepal, government officials, as well as representatives of various political parties.

During its observation and assessment, the mission will oversee legal framework and its implementation, work of election administration, campaign activities, conduct of media, role of state institutions and civil society, voting, counting and tabulation among others.

Zovko further informed that 38 long-term observers have already been deployed across the country to observe electoral preparations and the campaign.

According to the mission, EU observers adhere to a strict code of conduct for international election observers that require they maintain strict neutrality and impartiality in the course of their work and do not interfere in the electoral process.

The EU mission will publish a preliminary statement right after the second and final phase of election and a comprehensive final report including recommendations for future elections. The mission will remain in Nepal until the completion of the electoral process.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:56:59|Editor: Jiaxin

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JAKARTA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Shipment of Indonesia's pearl overseas rose 43 percent to 8.47 million U.S. dollars from January to September from a year ago as cultivation technic has been improved, an official said Tuesday.

Indonesia has a great potential to boost production and exportation of the commodity as size of the country's waters currently being used for the cultivation of pearl is still small, senior official at the fishery and maritime ministry Nilanto Perbowo said.

China's Hong Kong and Japan are the biggest buyers of our pearl export, he said.

However, the official reminded that waste and contaminated waters could hamper quality of pearl outputs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 20:57:00|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's reform on value-added tax (VAT) has reduced taxes for enterprises by more than 1 trillion yuan (about 150.6 billion U.S. dollars) since its nationwide launch in May last year.

By the end of September this year, the reform saved 1.06 trillion yuan of taxes for business owners, which replaced business taxes with VAT to cut tax burdens and improve the business environment, according to the State Administration of Taxation (SAT).

As the most significant tax overhaul for two decades, the VAT reform is a key part of China's supply-side economic reforms. It was first piloted in Shanghai in 2012 and expanded nationwide in May 2016.

The expansion of VAT reform has not only resulted in massive tax cuts, but also encouraged the development of the service sector, supported manufacturing upgrades and stimulated consumption, the SAT said.

"The VAT reform has made China's division of labor more professional amid the ongoing globalization, which in turn spurred the development of the modern service industry," said Lin Jiang, deputy head of a free-trade zone research institute at Sun Yat-sen University.

China is counting on services, particularly high value-added services in finance and technology, to lessen the economy's traditional reliance on heavy industry and investment.

In a move to further the reform, the State Council approved at an executive meeting held last week a draft on abolishing the provisional regulation on business tax and on revising the provisional regulation on VAT.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:02:03|Editor: Jiaxin

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BANGKOK, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand planned to stimulate its domestic consumption by encouraging people nationwide to go shopping in exchange for a tax rebate.

The cabinet under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved on Tuesday an interim measure to stimulate the domestic consumption by providing a maximum of 15,000 baht (about 441 U.S. dollars) in tax rebate for the purchases of goods and services from Nov. 11 to Dec. 3, said Nattapon Jatusripitak, adviser to a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.

Shoppers will have their yearly personal income tax deducted by a maximum of 15,000 baht for the goods and services which are to be purchased only during that specific period of time.

The government's income tax revenue is expected to drop by about 2 billion baht due to the measure which is primarily designed to stimulate the domestic consumption toward the end of the year, Nattapon said.

However, the purchase of certain goods will not be subject to such tax rebate, including alcoholic beverages, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, gasoline, LPG and natural gas, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:07:06|Editor: Jiaxin

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BANGKOK, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Royal Crematorium of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej has drawn more than 200,000 visitors since opening to the public on Nov. 2, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn was quoted by local media as saying Tuesday.

The deputy minister who is in charge of tourism said visitors totaled over 202,000 in the first five days of its opening, adding that the overall number of visitors by the end of November is expected to top 3 million.

He said the government would consider whether to extend the exhibition on the royal crematorium which is currently scheduled to end on Nov. 30, given the public's huge level of interest in seeing the magnificent site.

The royal crematorium stands in the center of Sanam Luang, a square in front of Bangkok's Grand Palace. The glittering cremation complex, also known as an architecture of heaven, embodies the highest of Thai arts, with delicate towers adorned with images from mythology and the life of the late king, who passed away on Oct. 13, 2016, after seven decades on the throne.

People flock to see the splendid building and other items built by masters of arts across the country for the much-beloved late king.

Visitors are divided into eight groups of 300 and given 45 minutes to an hour to tour the site. Strict screening is still in force as it was at the royal cremation ceremony late last month. Enditem
Chinese police escort Li Huabo (C), the second suspect from China's "100 most wanted economic fugitives" list, upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, May 9, 2015. Li was repatriated as part of operation Sky Net campaign,which aims to return fugitives for trial. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

VIENNA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is in favor of developing a guideline document to serve as a reference for states formulating a legal instrument dedicated to asset recovery, China's assistant foreign minister Qian Hongshan said here on Monday.

During the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Qian called for deeper international cooperation in anti-corruption efforts.

He noted asset recovery is an important mechanism established by the Convention and states have the obligations to provide each other with the most extensive cooperation and assistance in line with the requirements of the Convention.

However, he said there remain considerable difficulties when it comes to cooperation on asset recovery due to differences in legal systems and other constraints among states.

"The Chinese government is in favor of developing a guideline document to serve as a reference for states or formulating a legal instrument dedicated to asset recovery so as to enable new progress to be made steadily in building the asset recovery mechanism," Qian said.

He said China has three proposals to strength the joint global effort to boost anti-corruption efforts -- to jointly discuss the fight against corruption based on equality and mutual benefits while taking into account the interests of all parties; to jointly build the anti-corruption mechanism by strengthening the role of the Convention and overcoming the institutional differences; and to jointly share the benefit of the fight against corruption through deepening international cooperation.

Qian said China attaches great importance to the fight against corruption. Particularly over the past five years, a series of measures had been taken to improve the anti-corruption legal and regulatory systems, and as a result the anti-corruption campaign is being consolidated and continues to build up.

China, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, has been drawn into a serious nationwide fight against corruption and engaged in purifying the political environment.

As the anti-corruption storm intensifies across China, efforts are spread abroad to chase back the corrupt suspects on the run around the world. To this end, China launched operations such as "Sky Net" and "Fox Hunt" to hunt corruption suspects who have fled overseas.

The office in charge of fugitive repatriation and asset recovery under the central anti-corruption coordination group said since it was established three years ago, more than 3,000 people who had escaped overseas had returned or been repatriated from 90 countries and regions, including 541 CPC and government workers.

Over 9 billion yuan (1.35 billion U.S. dollars) has been recovered, according to figures released in June of 2017.

At the G20 Hangzhou Summit in September 2016, international leaders endorsed the High Level Principles on Cooperation on Persons Sought for Corruption and Asset Recovery, and the 2017-2018 Anti-corruption Action Plan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:17:09|Editor: Jiaxin

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Garment and footwear industry, Cambodia's largest foreign exchange earner, has seen a 6.9 percent increase in exports in the first half of 2017, according to the data released by the Ministry of Labor on Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian country exported apparel and footwear products in equivalent to 3.73 billion U.S. dollars during the January-June period this year, up 6.9 percent from 3.49 billion U.S. dollars over the same period last year, the data said.

Garment and footwear items accounted for over 70 percent of the country's total exports, and key markets for the products are European countries and the United States.

Labor Minister Ith Samheng said the continued growth was thanks to buyers' confidence in product quality and labor conditions in Cambodia.

"The buyers are satisfied with garment and footwear products exported from Cambodia because we make those products with proper respect for working conditions and with no labor exploitation," he said, adding that moreover, the manufacturers always delivered products on schedule.

The garment and footwear industry consists of some 1,100 factories, employing more than 740,000 workers, and the monthly minimum wage for a worker is 153 U.S. dollars in 2017 and will be raised to 170 U.S. dollars in 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:27:13|Editor: Jiaxin

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ABUJA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Security operatives shot dead two female suicide bombers, while two others blew themselves up in a failed attempt to sneak into Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri early Tuesday, the police said.

Six local farmers were wounded following the blast in Tomsu Ngamdu, a community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the capital of the northern Borno State, said Victor Isuku, a spokesman for the police.

The suicide bombers were accosted by security personnel, causing two of them to prematurely detonate their improvised explosive devices while the rest were quickly shot dead as they attempted to flee.

Isuku said the wounded farmers had been taken to a government hospital for treatment.

Early last week, two fleeing Boko Haram fighters were killed following a gun battle with government forces in the same part of Borno.

Nigeria has made considerable gains against the terror group, dislodging Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, the group's largest training camp in the country, early this year.

Boko Haram has been blamed for the death of more than 20,000 people and displacing of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since 2009.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:34:28|Editor: Yang Yi

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Children from local kindergarten and members of a local dragon dance team perform to celebrate the Beginning of Winter at an activity center in Qingcaowu Village of Changxing County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2017. The activity center aiming to enrich villagers' cultural life was officially put into use on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:37:16|Editor: Yang Yi

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Yu Zhengsheng (3rd R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with a Taiwan lawmakers delegation led by Yao Eng-chi (4th R) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 7, 2017.(Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng has called for better exchanges for people from across the Taiwan Strait.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks on Tuesday when meeting a Taiwan lawmakers delegation, led by Yao Eng-chi.

"The two sides of the Strait need to work together to improve the platform for exchanges between representatives of the public to reinforce public support for the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties," Yu said.

He stressed the importance of adhering to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and jointly opposing separatist activities in any form, while calling for deeper economic and cultural exchanges across the Strait.

Over the past eight years there had been 14 meetings between mainland political advisors and Taiwan lawmakers, Yu said, hoping that more grassroots representatives and young people would join in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:37:17|Editor: Jiaxin

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TIRANA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and the United States will fully support Albania's institutions in its fight against organized crime and corruption, EU and U.S. diplomats said Tuesday.

EU Ambassador Romana Vlahutin and U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu made such pledge at a conference organized by Albanian ministry of interior to launch a fresh operation named "Power of Law" aimed at stepping up efforts and advancing fight against crime in Albania.

Fatmir Xhafaj, Albanian interior minister, said that Albania would soon set up a Task Force to ensure the success of "Power of Law" operation.

In this framework, he said that the United States would provide their assistance.

"We will establish a Task Force, including Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) experts as well," Xhafaj told reporters.

On his part, the U.S. ambassador to Tirana said that the United States endorsed the establishment of Albania's new institutions SPAK (Specialized Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime) and BKH (National Investigation Bureau).

According to Lu, FBI came to Albania to engage in the fight against crime.

"We expect this aggressive plan of the government of Albania to end with the arrest of some "big fish" earlier next year and this success to continue in 2018 with SPAK and BKH. Our international partners expect such a thing too," the U.S. diplomat said.

Meanwhile, the EU ambassador stressed that everyone was equal before the law in all European Union countries and same situation must exist even in Albania.

Albanian interior ministry also published a report in the framework of the newly launched operation where it informed that only in 2017 authorities here had identified and seized 35 million euros (40 million U.S. dollars) generated from illegal activities.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:42:19|Editor: ZD

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday that Beijing is willing to join Berlin in promoting bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

Li made the remarks in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two heads of government spoke highly of the new progress the two sides have achieved over the past year in bilateral ties and cooperation.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries and Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to Germany where he also attended the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, said Li.

He also noted that the annual meeting between the Chinese premier and the German chancellor has also been fruitful, adding that the two countries have maintained fine communication and coordination over regional and international affairs.

Li said China would like to maintain high-level exchanges with the German side, and ensure the new round of China-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultation a success so as to promote bilateral cooperation to a deeper, broader and higher level.

Beijing welcomes businesses of all nations, including those from Germany, to expand their investment in China, and conduct technology and knowledge cooperation, Li said.

He added that the Chinese government is willing to create a business environment that treats Chinese and foreign enterprises equally so that they can compete fairly, and to create the conditions for them to expand their business based on market-oriented principles, and conduct mutually-beneficial cooperation.

For her part, Merkel said both Germany and China are committed to promoting bilateral ties, adding that her country is willing to keep up with the high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, strengthen their communication and coordination, get the preparations for the new round of the inter-governmental consultation started as soon as possible, and deepen trade cooperation for mutual benefits.
Photo taken on Nov. 5 shows pedestrians crossing a road with traffic lights in Bujumbura. (Xinhua/Evrard Ngendakumana)

by Lyu Tianran and Apollinaire Niyirora

BUJUMBURA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- At a busy street corner in Burundian capital Bujumbura, cars and pedestrians were waiting for the newly installed traffic lights to turn from red to green, a sight that has been absent in the small African country for a long time.

Traffic lights in Burundi stopped functioning due to a lack of repair mechanism less than one year after being installed in 1999, Burundian traffic police chief Roger Bankibigwira told Xinhua in an interview.

Many pedestrians do not know when to cross the road as traffic lights are a new sight for them, he said.

Funded by the African Development Bank, STECOL Corporation, a Chinese firm focusing on engineering and construction works, started installing traffic lights at 19 street corners across Bujumbura in May. All of the traffic lights, made in China, have been put to use since August.

To minimize the impact on traffic, workers assembled light posts, signal lights and other components of the traffic lights at the company's compound before they started installation at street corners, according to Hu Jianjun, the site manager.

The workers only had to connect the post and the base and then plugged them in at the installation site, which largely reduced installation time on streets, he said.

"Traffic lights restored discipline among drivers. Drivers from the countryside or foreigners freshly coming to Bujumbura were facing challenges to drive in Bujumbura," said minibus driver Gerard Bizabityo.

"Only those who didn't fear anything could easily drive in Bujumbura," he said, adding that many drivers are now enjoying the respect of traffic rules thanks to the traffic lights.

"I am sure that accidents have reduced during these weeks when the traffic lights started working. They also reduce traffic jams and disorders," said, Onesphore Rukere, a 34-year-old motorbike taxi driver.

A campaign of explaining how traffic lights work also started recently to target all users of roads, according to the police chief.

The traffic lights have already shown their ability to reduce traffic jams and accidents, Burundian minister of transport Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

The government no longer need to deploy police officers at major road junctions thanks to the traffic lights, he said.

"The work done by the Chinese company so far is great. We highly appreciated what has already been achieved," said the minister.

According to him, the government is negotiating with the African Development Bank to allow Burundi to use the remaining fund in the installation of traffic lights at 16 more places in the capital. The traffic lights might be extended to other major towns if the funding is available, he said.

"Burundi and China have strong and traditional relations. Projects carried out by Chinese companies in Burundi are well done," he told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:52:22|Editor: Jiaxin

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MADRID, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Chamber of Commerce has revised down its economic predictions for this year and next due to the Catalan crisis, according to the chamber's November forecasts published on Tuesday.

It said Spain would grow by 3.0 percent this year, 0.1 percent less than its previous forecast, and would grow by 2.4 percent in 2018, 0.4 percent less than it had previously predicted in June.

The chamber pointed out that the political crisis in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia was one of the main reasons the forecast was revised down, warning that it might revise them down again if instability remains.

The chamber forecast a worse performance of private consumption and the external sector due to a slowdown in world trade as well as lower investments, which would explain the lower growth predicted for 2018.

The chamber said that exports would grow by four percent year-on-year in 2018, as opposed to the six percent previously predicted, imports would grow by three percent, down from the the 5.5 percent previously predicted, while investment would grow by 3.6 percent as opposed to the four percent.

The drop in forecasts is in line with those of the Spanish government, which predicted a 2.3-percent growth for 2018, below the 2.6 percent previously predicted.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 21:57:24|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The construction of cross-border infrastructure that unites the Russian Far East and Northeast China are of great significance for bilateral trade, Alexander Galushka, Minister of Development of the Russian Far East, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Speaking about Russia's neighborhood with China, Galushka quoted a Chinese proverb: "A close neighbor is better than a distant relative."

However, he noted that a "door" is necessary between the neighbors to realize the potential in trade.

"Therefore, the construction of a cross-border infrastructure, bridges and checkpoints serves as an important direction for integration to take place," he said.

The minister is a member of the delegation that visited China with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to attend the 22nd China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting last week.

According to Galushka, China-Russia Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye railway bridge will be completed in the first half of 2018 and Heihe-Blagoveshchensk highway bridge will be delivered in 2019.

Galushka said the more cross-border infrastructure linking, the greater the opportunities for increasing the flow of goods between the Russian Far East and China.

The district registered a trade volume of over 6 billion U.S. dollars with China in 2016, accounting for 25 percent of its total foreign trade volume.

To further promote cross-border trade, the minister stressed the need for consistent implementation of a policy of greater openness and the creation of favorable conditions for trade between the two countries.

With the Far East free port system, efficient and convenient 24-hour customs clearance service is now available. China's export freight to Russia via the Far East port have increased three fold in volume this year according to Russian statistics.

Galushka also expressed his support for the development of electronic commerce between Russia and China.

The creation of favorable conditions, the development of appropriate infrastructure and the support of new forms and methods of trade, all of these together work for one goal -- increasing trade between Russia and China, the minister said.

As for the difficulties and obstacles in Sino-Russian cooperation in the development of the Far East, the minister called them "pleasant chores".

"I do not see any fundamental difficulties, these are all the working issues that we have been dealing with and will continue to deal," he said.

The minister also expects the present electronic visa system to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit the Far East, noting its simplicity and convenience.

"A Chinese citizen, sitting at home, visits a special Foreign Ministry website, fills in the application form, receives a response within 4 days, he only has to buy a ticket and fly to Vladivostok for eight days," Galushka said.

According to the minister, from Jan. 1, tourists can fly to Kamchatka or Sakhalin after obtaining an e-visa. Plans are underway to expand the simplified visa regime to other Far Eastern regions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:12:30|Editor: Jiaxin

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Tuesday briefed Addis Ababa-based foreign envoys on the current state of affairs and conflicts witnessed in the east African country.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu said the recent clashes in Oromia and Ethiopian Somali regional states were instigated by rent-seeking groups who wanted to take advantage of minor conflicts and that the government has been working to dismantle wrongdoings along the two regional states border.

The border conflict resulted in killings and substantial displacement of civilians and illegal protests occurred in at least eight towns of the Oromia region, causing the death of eight people in Shashemene and Borena areas, Gebeyehu said.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission is investigating the causes of deaths and alleged abuses as a result of the reported clashes, the minister said.

"Once the investigation of the Commission is completed, the government will take action in accordance with relevant laws of the state on perpetrators of the recent killings and displacement," Gebeyehu said.

Noting the various efforts that were made to assist the displaced people, Gebeyehu said that the rehabilitation program has been given due emphasis by the Ethiopian government.

He said the Oromia regional state has taken measures against offenders who targeted civilians.

Gebeyehu also noted that the government move to devalue the Ethiopian birr by 15 percent is to promote the east African country's exports sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:22:36|Editor: Jiaxin

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TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran has called for cooperation with Pakistan to help establish peace and security in Afghanistan, Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

Iran's Defense Minister, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, urging closer interaction between the two Muslim neighbors to ensure regional stability.

Iran and Pakistan's synergy could help the Afghan government to end a crisis that has engulfed the country for years, Hatami said.

Iran's principled policy is a respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of regional nations, he said.

Bajwa said that fighting against terrorism and establishing security along the common borders with Tehran are among Islamabad's priorities in the military sphere.

He also stressed the need for Muslim unity and concerted action by regional nations to ensure sustainable security and stability.

Bajwa arrived in Tehran on Sunday evening for an official visit, and was received by Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri in a formal ceremony on Monday morning.

Bajwa has also held meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:27:38|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) --- Greece on Tuesday condemned the ballistic missile attack on Saudi Arabia's international airport on Saturday as a "flagrant violation of international law."

"We strongly condemn the November 4 missile attack against Saudi Arabia's capital. This action undermines the regional and international security and is a flagrant violation of international law," read an e-mailed Greek foreign ministry statement.

Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels fired a long-range missile on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday night, Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Saudi government admitted that a Houthi missile targeted the capital Riyadh, saying the missile fell and exploded north of the airport, according to Saudi-run Al-Arabiya satellite TV. It said there were no casualties reported.

This is the latest in a series of missile attacks by Houthis from Yemen towards Saudi cities since Saudi intervened in the Yemeni war more than two and a half years ago.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:32:40|Editor: yan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A house owner who alerted Cypriot police about the presence of two burglars at his residence did so from thousands of kilometers away, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

He said the burglars entered the house of a Russian man in the western city of Paphos on Monday night when he was abroad.

But the alarm system notified him about the break in and he watched in real time as the burglars ransacked his home.

"We received a telephone call from the house owner, who was abroad, telling us two people were stealing things from his house. We immediately dispatched a patrol car to the area," the police spokesman said.

The burglars saw the police approaching and jumped over the fence, trying to hide in nearby underground tombs of an ancient necropolis that contain hundreds of burial chambers cut in the rock.

But the police gave chase on foot and managed to apprehend them.

The suspects, two men from Georgia who had been in Cyprus illegally, were remanded in custody by a court on Tuesday, pending further investigations.

The local Paphos Police said they suspected them of having been involved in similar style burglaries of uninhabited houses in tourist areas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:32:42|Editor: yan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Police in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi have foiled a drug-smuggling attempt and seized over five tones of drugs during an operation on Monday night, local Urdu media reported on Tuesday.

According to the media reports, police conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Manghupir area of the city and stopped a mini truck.

"The mini truck was carrying 274 cartons with 5,000 kilograms of drugs worth more than 200 million rupees (around 2 million U.S. dollars)," said a senior police officer of the area, adding that the drugs were being smuggled to Karachi.

Police said that the driver of the truck managed to flee from the scene and raids are being carried out in the area to arrest the suspect and his accomplices.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:32:43|Editor: yan

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CAPE TOWN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The succession battle within the African National Congress (ANC) heated up on Tuesday as the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) criticized Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for pronouncing his "winning team" to lead the governing party.

While the ANCYL respects the rights of Ramaphosa as enshrined in the ANC constitution, his pronouncement of the so-called "winning team" exposes his lack of respect to the organizational processes and procedures, ANCYL national spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

The ANC will hold its elective conference next month to elect its president to succeed incumbent President Jacob Zuma. Once elected, the new ANC president will automatically become the country's head of state if the ANC wins the 2019 general elections.

On Sunday, Ramaphosa, a presidential hopeful, announced his "winning team" for the election campaign, choosing Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor as his deputy.

His move caused a stir within the ANC.

According to the ANC's constitution, preferred candidates are nominated by ANC members at ANC branch general meetings (BGMs).

Ramaphosa's behavior undermines the current process of the ANC BGMs, Mkhize said.

By pronouncing his so-called "winning team," Ramaphosa demonstrated his hunger to lead at all costs even if his utterances can cause the disunity of the organization, said Mkhize.

Mkhize urged Ramaphosa to desist from using such divisive language of "winning team" in the ANC.

The people whom Ramaphosa mentioned as his "winning team" must also distance themselves from such a divisive title, Mkhize said.

The ANCYL has announced support for former African Union Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to became the ANC's next president. The rivalry between Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma has reportedly led to internal fighting among ANC factions.

On Monday, the ANC Women's League (ANCWL) said it would not allow the ANC to split, irrespective of who becomes the ANC's next president.

ANCWL Secretary General Meokgo Matuba said her organization will persuade ANC members to elect leaders that will be unapologetic and fearless in championing radical economic transformation.

The ANCWL is a staunch supporter of Dlamini-Zuma, who is widely believed to lean toward a more aggressive form of radical socio-economic transformation.
A boy sits on a grave at Konyo Konyo burial ground in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Nov. 5, 2017. The graveyard has become a comfort zone to thousands of people who flocked to the capital before or after the East African country gained independence in 2011 and ended up with nowhere to live. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

by Julius Gale

JUBA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The cemetery, situated at Konyo Konyo, in the heart of Juba, was meant to be the resting place for residents who've passed away in the South Sudanese capital.

However, the graveyard has become a comfort zone to thousands of people who flocked to the capital before or after the east African country gained independence in 2011 and ended up with nowhere to live.

"I used to fear staying with dead people, but because I have nowhere to go, I have become a friend of our departed brothers and sisters for all these years," 45-year-old Raymondo Modi told Xinhua.

Modi, a father of 10 children, ended up seeking shelter at the burial ground after he was evicted from a rental house on the outskirt of Juba. He had failed to meet the cost.

Originally from Terekeka, an area 50 miles outside Juba, Modi moved his family to the capital hoping that new opportunities would come his way.

To his astonishment, things did not work out and he was left with no option other than seeking refuge in the graveyard.

"I have named this cemetery St. Mary village to help me remember the church I used to pray in, in my village in Terekeka," Modi said.

Peddling firewood to earn a living, the self-styled leader of about 3,000 residents of the graveyard said he makes between 50 and 100 South Sudanese pounds (between 0.3 and 0.6 U.S. dollars) a day.

With a biting economic crisis, he and his family are forced to take one simple meal a day, Modi said.

"We can't afford to buy meat and fish because everything is expensive," Modi said.

Lack of clean water and inadequate medical and education services make it even harder for Modi and his community.

"Life has become more difficult for the community compared to the early days when I settled here," he said.

Like Modi, many people who moved to Juba from neighboring areas have ended up in the graveyard under similar circumstances.

James Legge, a father of 12, has spent 14 years at the cemetery after retiring from the army. Legge said the government has failed to pay his retirement package and he was no longer working.

South Sudan is engulfed in a civil war that began in December 2013, killing tens of thousands displacing millions of others.

According to aid organizations operating in the African nation, 6 million people, or half the population of South Sudan, is severely food insecure.

Thousands have flocked to the capital from the hinterlands, expecting to find a little relief but have to end up hustling for life.

"This place is bad. There are a lot of diseases. People are dying every day but since I don't have anywhere to go, I have decided that I die here and join my brothers," said 24-year-old Maria Poni, who has spent 12 years at the burial ground.

"The government is free to take my children out of this place, but I'm not leaving because this is my home," said the mother of four.

Poni is but one example of South Sudanese citizens bearing the brunt of a four-year old conflict that has caused one of the world's fastest-growing humanitarian crises.

"If the government can reason that they have people suffering in Juba, then I'm hopeful that one day I will go home and live a decent live with my children in the village," said 70-year-old Evelyna Kaku, another graveyard dweller. "But with what is happening now, I don't think I will ever see home."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:42:45|Editor: yan

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LONDON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A minister in the Welsh Assembly was found dead Tuesday, just days after being suspended by the Labour Party over allegations of improper personal conduct.

North Wales Police said in a statement that the body of Welsh Assembly Member Carl Sargeant was discovered after police were called at 11:30 a.m. local time to an address in Connah's Quay, a small town in North Wales.

Police Supt Mark Pierce said Sargeant's family have been informed and police are supporting the family.

Pierce said: "North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner. The family request that their privacy is respected at this sad time."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the death was "deeply shocking news".

In a statement, Sargeant's family said they were "devastated beyond words" at the loss of "the glue that bound us together".

The Daily Post newspaper in Wales said Welsh Assembly business in Cardiff was put on hold after the news broke.

The newspaper reported that the Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones revealed Monday that Sargeant was to be investigated over a "number of alleged incidents with women".

It reported that Sargeant has said in a statement Friday that he had met with the First Minister and been informed that allegations had been made about his personal conduct.

Sargeant said on Friday: "The details of the allegations have yet to be disclosed to me. I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.

"Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from cabinet today. I look forward to returning to government once my name has been cleared. I won't be commenting further at this stage."

Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local assembly member. He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd (Welsh Assembly)."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:52:47|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday urged European Union for more efforts to facilitate banking ties between EU countries and Iran, Tasnim news agency reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said the European countries have not made enough efforts to persuade their banks to work with Iran.

He called for more steps on the issue in the face of U.S. fresh pressures, stressing the consequences for the possible U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Iran's Financial Tribune daily reported on Monday that a number of Iranian banks have declared their interest in opening branches in Belgium.

The announcement was made by Gholamhossein Shafei, the head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, during a meeting with a visiting Belgian delegation.

"The most important requirements for both countries' businesses are banking and insurance ties that have registered slight improvements after Iran's nuclear deal in July 2015, and those are not enough," Shafei said.

After over two years of Iran's deal with the world powers, the Islamic republic said it has not been able to enjoy the fruits of the accord due to the U.S. continuous "hostile" acts frightening the international investors and financial institutions.

The deal, which terminated the disputes over Iran's controversial dimension of nuclear activities, puts the country at the path of financial sanctions relief.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that the United States could not formally certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear accord. Washington has also demanded inspections of Iran's military sites, which Tehran has rejected.

He has called the Iran nuclear deal, reached during former President Barack Obama administration, "an embarrassment" for the United States and has called for renegotiations over some parts of it.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:52:49|Editor: yan

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by Eric J. Lyman

FAVIGNANA, Italy, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Greening the Islands, a four-year-old conference that seeks to highlight and help resolve some of the environmental challenges faced by the worlds more than 500,000 islands, will split into three separate events starting next year including one that focuses on the Asia-Pacific region.

The conference was first held in 2014 on the Italian island of Pantelleria. Since then, it moved around Europe -- the second edition was held on the island of Malta, followed by the Spain's Canary Islands last year -- before returning to the island of Favignana for the Nov. 3-4 conference this year.

Greening the Islands focuses on specific challenges islands face, whether it is access to fresh water, the impacts of tourism and migration, transportation to and on the islands, energy generation, and efficiency.

Gianni Chianetta, the event's founder, told Xinhua that in 2018 the event will split into three, with the original event being reduced in focus to European issues and two others -- one for the Asia-Pacific region and one focusing on the Caribbean -- will be launched.

"There's a demand for more events in other parts of the world to make it easier for participants to attend and for regional players to compare notes and network," Chianetta said in an interview.

The details of the 2018 events -- including the specific dates or the host islands -- have not yet been finalized, Chianetta said.

The keynote speaker of this year's event was Italian Minister Plenipotentiary Paolo Serbi, director general for globalization and global issues in Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his remarks to participants, Serbi noted that "the theme of sustainable development is increasingly at the heart of national and international debates."

"This is a theme that concerns every territory and community," Serbi said. "But it has a particular significance for island territories, especially small islands."

Serbi also called for "greater and more focused attention to the significant and multiple challenges islands face."

In order to shed light on some of those challenges, organizers held sessions on a variety of issues including desalinization of seawater, ways to use renewable energy and batteries to help propel people and merchandise to islands and to move around them, and ways in to help turn the tide of migrants from a problem to an asset.

"Good planning can help turn the arrival of migrants in Italy and Greece and elsewhere into benefits employed in agriculture and in other areas," Konstantina Toli, an Athens, Greece-based senior program official with the Global Water Partnership said in one session.

Chianetta told Xinhua the full program for the full 2018 set of meetings will be unveiled by early 2018, with the Asia-Pacific session likely to take place after the other two, most likely in November.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 22:52:50|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) on Tuesday asked Kenyans to ignore an ongoing boycott of services of leading mobile phone firm, Safaricom, called by the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA).

NASA leader Raila Odinga has accused Safaricom, which has over 28 million customers, of working with the ruling Jubilee party to defeat electoral justice in the Aug. 8 and Oct. 26 presidential elections.

Odinga and other leaders in the coalition have since last week been leading their supporters in a boycott of the company's products and services, and those of edible oil processor Bidco and milk maker Brookside.

"We would like to urge Kenyans to take advantage of the choices of services available in the ICT market without undue pressure from anyone," said CA director-general Francis Wangusi in a statement. "We call on leaders across the political spectrum to avoid making statements that may dampen investment climate in the country."

The boycott would hurt job creation and ultimately lead to job losses thus affecting the economy, Wangusi said.

"We want consumers in the ICT sector to exercise their freedom of choice of services and service providers and create an enabling environment for further investment in the sector to spur economic growth," he said.

It has taken years of hard work for the businesses being vilified to reach where they are, Wangusi said.

Safaricom, besides voice services, also offers mobile money and data services. It is the market leader in the east African nation.

Opposition supporters have in the last few days been migrating to Safaricom's rival Airtel following the boycott call.

Kenya's ICT sector has created about 2 million jobs both formally and informally and is one of the main drivers of the economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:07:53|Editor: yan

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VILNIUS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian authorities must put all efforts necessary into stopping the emigration growth in the country, Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Tuesday.

"Primarily, we must do everything we can in order to make local people stay here, build their lives here, give births to kids. These are the main things," Skvernelis said in an interview with local radio broadcaster Lrt.lt.

However, he stopped short of supporting the idea that more foreigners, despite their working qualifications, should be invited to come and stay in the Baltic country that is facing demographic challenges.

Preliminary statistical data show that from January to September this year, 47,030 Lithuanians emigrated, compared to 50,300 over the whole of last year, local media reported.

Addressing the question of who will carry the tax burden in the country in the event that the number of residents continues to decrease, Skvernelis said "we can't measure just by taxpaying".

"All Europe, particularly Western Europe, is facing a shortage of human resources. However, we can't measure just by taxpaying, by human resources, in order to welcome everybody who wants to come," Skvernelis said.

He pointed to the government program which lists 27 professions of highly-skilled workers for which the entrance and issuance of work permits in Lithuania has been recently simplified.

"If we see that there is a critical situation in certain economic sectors, we will add a few more professions to the list," Skvernelis noted.

In a separate interview with TV broadcaster LRT on Monday, Skvernelis said economic reasons were the main reasons behind the large-scale emigration phenomenon.

"Despite the growing economy, people might think and believe that it will be easier to achieve some results abroad, such as save money for a house, accumulate investments in business, to raise a family. It is no secret that some people emigrate due to certain social injustice, problems of the education system, or simply in search for happiness elsewhere," Lithuania's head of government said.

Lithuania's employer's organizations, including the leading Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), repeatedly warned about the lack of workers in the country.

Robertas Dargis, president of LPK, was quoted as saying earlier that outsourcing workers from third countries is a necessity and the government will be forced to address the issue.

"We are still losing one percent of the population each year," Dargis was quoted as saying in LPK in a statement released in June.

Meanwhile, a private survey commissioned by Citadele Bank and published in July showed that 46 percent of Lithuanian business representatives suggested that large-scale and unabating emigration posed the largest social risk to the country's future development.

Nearly 700,000 residents have left Lithuania since 1990. Due to emigration and other negative demographic trends, Lithuania's population decreased in this period from 3.7 million to 2.8 million.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:07:54|Editor: yan

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KIEV, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A child was killed while two others were injured when an unexploded shell went off in eastern Ukraine's conflict-hit Donetsk city, local media reported on Tuesday.

The incident, which marked the first conflict-related death among children since the beginning of the fresh ceasefire on Aug. 25, occurred late Sunday when children were playing with the shell in the schoolyard, said DAN news agency.

The 10-year-old boy was killed on the spot, while two other children of the same age were injured and hospitalized. Their wounds are said to be not life-threatening.

The conflict between the government troops and pro-independence rebels began in eastern Ukraine in April 2014. So far, it has left about 700,000 hectares of land in the area contaminated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance.

In wake of the incident, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has called on the conflicting sides to observe the ceasefire to prevent further scattering of unexploded ordnance in residential areas.
Stage set for candid talks, positive results starting on Wednesday

Beijing and Washington are expected to build a greater environment of consensus and boost mutual understanding on hot topics including trade and Korean Peninsula nuclear issues during US President Donald Trump's visit, which starts on Wednesday, analysts said.

Trump's first state visit to China, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, marks the first visit of a head of state since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month. The congress elected the new CPC Central Committee and drew the blueprint for the nation's development in coming decades.

Beijing has sent positive signals in recent days of being ready to exchange views with Washington on major issues in a candid manner amid the efforts of the world's two largest economies to reach more consensus and control disagreements.

Zheng Zeguang, vice-foreign minister, said that the economic teams of both sides are keeping in close contact in preparation for the visit to push for resolution of problems in economic and trade areas in a constructive manner.

The economies of the two nations are complementary - the US has a deficit with China in goods trade but a surplus in service trade, he said, adding that the two sides will make more progress in economic relations as long as they uphold the principle of mutual benefit.

Representatives from about 40 companies are expected to accompany Trump to China and sign deals for billions of dollars in US investments, according to Bloomberg. Chinese investment would bring new jobs to hurricane-ravaged areas in Texas and the US Virgin Islands, said the report.

The US should increase its exports and investment to China to address the issue of unbalanced trade, rather than restricting imports from China, because a trade war would result in losses on both sides, Zheng told reporters at a news briefing.

The two countries have common interests in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the region, he said, while calling on all sides to avoid activities or remarks that may lead to an escalation of tension.

Jin Yong, deputy head of the School of International Studies at the Communication University of China, said that the visit will boost mutual political trust as it provides opportunities for the US president to better understand China's policies under the new era.

The personal friendship between Xi and Trump is also expected to be a positive factor for bilateral ties given that the two leaders have maintained close and frequent contacts in the past months over major global and regional issues, he said.
Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2017 shows Angus cows at Bill's farm in Omaha, the United States. (Xinhua/Han Fang)

by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Han Fang, Zhang Zhihuan

OMAHA, the United States, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Though it is the home of U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Omaha was little known to Chinese a few months ago.

But now this city in the midwestern Nebraska state is poised to become a household name in China since its Greater Omaha Packing company sent about 40 boxes of its products to China on June 14, soon days after the United States and China reached a deal to re-open Chinese markets for U.S. beef as part of their 100-day action plan to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

That was the first export of U.S. beef to China in more than 13 years. China banned U.S. beef in December 2003 after the mad cow disease struck U.S. cattle. Before the ban, the United States used to be China's top foreign supplier of beef.

SECRET OF BEING NUMBER ONE

"The secret is to be very lucky," chuckled Henry Davis, the third-generation chief executive officer of the nearly century-old Greater Omaha, in response to Xinhua's question how it shot past the "big four" in the United States -- Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef -- and became the first to export beef to China after the hiatus.

The grey-haired CEO attributed the success to the hard work of the staff: "We would not have been the first company to get our beef into China if everybody in this plant, all 1,150, weren't doing their job properly."

When the company saw a possibility that China could resume the beef trade, everyone worked round the clock and made calls to the industry people to find out what they needed to do.

"It takes a lot of work," he emphasized. "We need to be compliant to all the regulations and standards of China. We need to prove ourselves... and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the inspection services of China."

Fortunately the company has rich experience in developing new markets. It was the first U.S. company to ship beef to Japan when Tokyo re-admitted American meat packers.

"The fact that at that time we were already exporting to 68 countries (meant) we (had) met a lot of those criteria that the Chinese government wanted to be part of their import program," he added. "We export to more than twice as many countries as other beef packing companies."

Beef exports to China must come from cattle that are under 30 months, are born in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, and can be traced back to a U.S. birth farm or first U.S. port of entry. The meat must be free from residues of growth promotants, feed additives and other chemical compounds prohibited by Chinese law.

Testing occurs at the point of arrival. If a shipment were to include a prohibited substance, it would be rejected and returned to the United States or destroyed.

INNOVATION PAYS OFF

Greater Omaha was founded by Davis' grandfather, who got his start in the cattle business in 1920. Unlike many other large meatpackers, which have relocated outside Omaha's traditional stockyards districts into the rural Midwest, Greater Omaha has stayed where it was, said Davis, who joined the company in 1973.

With an estimated annual sales of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars, Greater Omaha has been called a "small giant" among U.S. beef producers by Forbes. Today the company slaughters 2,400 heads of cattle a day, and about one-fifth of its sales are exports to nearly 70 countries.

Self-funding, innovation, dedication to food safety and high-end products are factors that have helped Greater Omaha ride out the storm for decades, according to Davis. Also, the plant is "perfectly situated" in the "center of the highest quality cattle" in the United States.

The company has invested heavily in food safety equipment. A lot of those are proprietary. Greater Omaha has either developed them or is operating them in a special way.

According to executive vice president Angelo Fili, a butcher-turned businessman, Greater Omaha is the only major packer to sell individually cut fresh steaks directly to consumers, as opposed to frozen cuts.

The company guarantees a 30-day refrigerated shelf life, thanks to a new type of "skin-packed" air-tight packaging increasingly used in meat retailing. A QR code on the package lets customers see when it was packed and by which date they should eat or freeze it.

The packing plant uses a system of cameras and computers to grade beef, and takes its direct-to-consumer product from the top 20 percent of its prime cuts.

Davis, who has a computer science degree, wrote the software to process all the plant's data and is now heavily involved in the robotic control cold storage facility to be completed in six or seven months.

"It will add a lot to our ability to deliver individual boxes and track each box and load up 10 trucks sequentially," he said.

BOOSTING LOCAL ECONOMY

The China market for Great Omaha is "still in the development stage", but the second largest importer of beef in the world means a lot to the company as well as Nebraska and the U.S. economy as a whole, given China's rapidly expanding middle class.

"We like the fact that it stimulates the economy. The cattle-consume-grain agriculture market is a very big part of the Midwest economy and it's good for them," he said.

There is a strong demand from China since the imports resumed and the company has hired a Mandarin-speaking analyst to help handle the overwhelming number of calls and email inquiries from China.

"China is the world's fastest-growing beef import market," Joe Schuele, vice president of communications at the U.S. Meat Export Federation, told local media. "It has grown tenfold in the last five to six years."

China currently imports an estimated 2.6 billion U.S. dollars of beef annually.

Beef exports will complement Nebraska's current success in the Chinese marketplace with soybeans, distillers' products and pork, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said.

Nebraska's share of worldwide U.S. beef exports has grown steadily over the past decade, going from less than 4 percent in 2005 to more than 18 percent in 2016, according to the Department of Agriculture.

"We raise what we consider very high quality product that we hopefully can put into the Chinese market," Bill Pellett, who runs a cattle feedlot about one hour's drive from Greater Omaha, told Xinhua. "It's something that we've been working on for 20 years or more to make it a better product."

Pellett added that it costs more to produce beef according to China's specifications but it is worthwhile doing so. He has sold cattle free of artificial hormones to Greater Omaha for years.

"I think it's good for all of us to understand each other and to share the resources that we have available. Each country ... has different resources, they need to trade to make the world a better place," Pellett said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:12:56|Editor: yan

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BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- NATO defense ministers will agree the basis for a revision of the command structure at their quarterly meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the gathering, Stoltenberg said the Allied command structure is NATO's "backbone", which ensures it can continue to provide deterrence and defense at home, and project stability abroad.

The changes to the command structure will include "a new command to help protect sea lines of communication between North America and Europe, and another command to improve the movement of troops and equipment within Europe," he said.

"Our ability to move forces is essential to deterrence and collective defense," added NATO chief.

The revised NATO command structure will also take into account the Alliance's response to cyber threats.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:17:59|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian lawmaker described the recent resignation of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri as a mistake and blamed it on Saudi Arabia, Financial Tribune daily reported on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia has always tried to foment religious and sectarian disputes in Lebanon, which aggravates the country's internal affairs, said Kamal Dehqani Firouzabadi, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

Saudi Arabia wants to weaken "the resistance axis" against Israel in the region, because it fears that the successes achieved by resistance groups in Syria and Lebanon can become "a pan-Arab model" threatening the absolute monarchies in the region, Firouzabadi was quoted as saying.

On Saturday, Hariri announced his resignation claiming that it stemmed from a "rejection of Iran's political over-extension in the region."

"I declare my resignation from the premiership of the Lebanese government, with certainty that the will of the Lebanese is strong," Hariri said in an unexpected move in a televised statement he read from the Saudi capital Riyadh.

His country "would be able to overcome political influence exerted by internal and external forces," he said, adding that the "Islamic Republic (of Iran) has a desire to destroy the Arab world and has boasted of its control over the decisions of Arab capitals."

"Iran's hand would be cut off," Hariri said, adding that "Lebanon would not play a role in destabilizing the region."

He also implicated Lebanese Hezbollah Shiite group in what he views as Iran's race to regional domination.

Accordingly, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the resignation of Hariri is aimed to create tension in Lebanon and the region.

"Mr. Hariri's sudden resignation and the announcement of his resignation in another country is regretful and at the same time surprising," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement.

"It shows Hariri is playing in a field prepared by those who wish ill for the region, and the winner of this game is both Arab countries and the Zionist regime (of Israel) whose survival is contingent upon tension in regional Muslim countries," Qasemi said.

At a time when the life of the so-called Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the region is coming to an end, efforts should be made to calm the situation and to fix the damage by terrorists trained and sponsored by the United States and its regional allies, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:18:00|Editor: yan

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of China on Tuesday started its operations in Pakistan by opening its first branch in the country's southern port city of Karachi.

The launching ceremony was held in Islamabad, and it was attended by the Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, Zhao Lijian, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, businessmen and officials.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Pakistani president said it is a memorable event in the everlasting friendship between Pakistan and China, the two iron brothers.

The president hoped that operations by Bank of China in Pakistan will further speed up the pace of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, adding "this will lead to further improvement in national growth rate, and the business community will be in a better financial position to avail facilities."

Promising to provide full support to the Bank of China, Hussain said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has created attractive opportunities in the banking field in Pakistan so that this sector could play its role in providing the required resources for promoting commercial activities and developing infrastructure.

On the occasion, Zhao Lijian hailed the selfless dedication and hard work of the Chinese and Pakistani peoples, which helped China and Pakistan make remarkable achievements in economic construction and development.

He said Pakistan's economy was picking up quickly and the opening of Bank of China marked the confidence of Chinese corporate sector in Pakistan's economic situation.

Zhao believed that with the active efforts of the group of the Karachi Branch, Bank of China would continue to expand its business scale and enhance its business coverage, so as to serve its customers in China and Pakistan.

This is the second Chinese bank which started its operations in Pakistan. Earlier, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China opened two branches in Karachi and Islamabad.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:23:03|Editor: yan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The visit by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to Paris and his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday has proved to be a turning point in relations between the two countries, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Tuesday.

Christodoulides singled out the issues of energy and defense, as well as France's support for the re-launching of the Cyprus reunification negotiations once the Cypriot government makes a request.

Christodoulides said it was particularly important that Macron said that the French government was behind energy giant Total, which is scheduled to start drilling in a block in the Cypriot exclusive offshore economic zone early in 2018.

Anastasiades said in an interview published in the French daily Le Figaro on Tuesday that Total would move ahead with plans to drill in Block 6.

Italian Eni was awarded the right in December 2016 to be operator of Block 6 with a 50-percent stake in partnership with Total.

Christodoulides also said the French navy was interested in making more use of naval facilities in Cyprus, once the Mari naval base on the south coast of Cyprus was upgraded.

He added that the Cypriot government was planning big improvements of the port facilities there.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:38:11|Editor: yan

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RAMALLAH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Fatah party's official spokesperson Nasser Al-Qudwa said Tuesday that Israel's interventions into Gaza's factions arms and security issue are "unacceptable, unrealistic and inapplicable."

He further criticized Israel for it's "dangerous and qualitative" settlement activities and procedures in support of settlers in Hebron, saying it would lead to destroying the status quo.

In his press briefing, he told journalists that Israel imposed measures and policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, including escalated settlement projects and the attempt to create a governing body for Jewish settlers in Hebron's old city, and legalizing it's measures in the West Bank is "very dangerous, and comes part of Israel's fascist and anti-democratic actions."

Al-Qudwa warned that this undermines the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and may lead to violence.

He also accused Israel of attempting to hinder the national reconciliation deal by calling for disarming the factions.

"Disarming happens either as a result of war or a political arrangement," he said, but "Israel waged three wars against Gaza and was not able to disarm the political factions."

He considered the Israeli demand an "unacceptable intervention."

With regards to the peace process, he affirmed that there will be no changes made to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative so that there would be no normalization with Arab states before ending the occupation over Palestinian territory.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:38:12|Editor: yan

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RIGA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian government on Tuesday rejected a proposal to merge the Baltic country's two leading telecommunication companies, Latvian Economics Minister Arvils Aseradens said.

The Latvian government owns shares in both companies, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT) and Lattelecom landline operator, but so does Scandinavia's Telia Company, which recently warned that it might sell off its stake in LMT and Lattelecom if Latvia rejected the merger plan.

The decision to reject the telecommunication companies' merger was taken at a closed cabinet sitting after the National Alliance, the right-wing partner in Latvia's tripartite center-right coalition, objected to merging the partly state-owned telecom companies.

Roberts Zile, a leading member of the National Alliance, said on Monday he had not heard any sound arguments to support the merger of LMT and Lattelecom.

Aseradens indicated that the government on Tuesday took a political decision contrary to the Economics Ministry's advice to start talks with Telia Company, which offered Latvia a 51 percent stake in the joint company that would be established by merging LMT and Lattelecom.

He added Latvia would continue talks with Telia Company on further cooperation to ensure the telecommunication companies' further operations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:43:13|Editor: yan

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ABU DHABI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan received here on Tuesday Saad Hariri, Lebanon's outgoing prime minister, to discuss the "brotherly relations between the two countries," UAE state news agency WAM reported.

Sheikh Mohamed, also the deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces, discussed with Hariri also the current developments in Lebanon and the region.

The crown prince reaffirmed that the UAE stands by Lebanon "in all of the regional challenges" it currently faces, which impede the development of the nation and threaten the safety and security of its people.

Sheikh Mohamed wished Hariri all the success in his endeavors to ensure that Lebanon overcomes its current ordeals, as Hariri expressed his "happiness" for the meeting, and conveyed his appreciation to the UAE leadership, which has supported Lebanon in various circumstances to strengthen its unity and ensure its security.

Hariri announced his resignation on Saturday, claiming that it stemmed from a "rejection of Iran's political over-extension in the region."

He stressed that the "country would be able to overcome political influence exerted by internal and external forces."

Hariri blasted Iran's interference in the region, arguing that the "Islamic Republic has a desire to destroy the Arab world and has boasted of its control over the decisions of Arab capitals."
An exhausted Rohingya refugee boy sleeps on the ground after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border while being detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) near Inani beach in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

by William M. Reilly

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday issued a presidential statement both complimenting and criticizing Myanmar for its action and inaction in its violence-wracked Rakhine State and gave the government a month to get its act together.

In response, Myanmar's representative to the United Nations Hau Do Suan complained that the statement put undue political pressure on his country.

More than 600,000 ethnic Muslim Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh in a little over two months from northern Rakhine State following deadly rebel attacks on security posts on Aug. 25 which touched off retribution. The full extent of the violence remains unknown because of the government's restriction on visits to the region.

Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi of Italy, this month's president of the council, read out the 1,300-word statement at a formal session, the first statement on Myanmar in 10 years.

While such an official statement reflects the consensus of the 15 council members, it does not hold the weight of international law like a resolution does.

The statement strongly condemned attacks against the Myanmar security forces carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Aug. 25, then expressed "grave concern" over the government response, the alleged burning of villages and threats to villagers to flee, among others.

The council said the government's primary responsibility is protection of Myanmar's population, citizens or not.

It called for reform in Myanmar's security and justice sectors and urged the government to work with Bangladesh and the UN to allow the voluntary return of refugees to their homes, on the basis of an Oct. 24 memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

The panel welcomed a "union enterprise mechanism" for humanitarian assistance, resettlement and development in Rakhine.

It recommended the government ensure the mechanism supported such return and allow UN agencies full access, urging governments and all humanitarian partners to pay special attention to the needs of women, particularly survivors of sexual violence.

The council also welcomed the Myanmar government's public support for recommendations by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and called for their full implementation.

It urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to consider appointing a special advisor on Myanmar.

But Hau Do Suan expressed serious concern over the statement, which he said would not help resolve the issue as it placed undue political pressure on Myanmar.

The ambassador said the Aug. 25 ARSA attacks involved unspecified foreign militants fighting beside the rebels.

Since those late August attacks and the alleged retribution, more than 600,000 Rohingyas fled in fear of death or mutilation to refuge in make-shift camps in neighboring Bangladesh, UN officials said. Some fled by land, others in leaky boats over an inlet of the Bay of Bengal.

Eventually the UN refugee agency UNHCR and other humanitarian groups with the aid of the government of Bangladesh were able to organize camps in the Cox's Bazar region. The largest is Kutupalong, which now has an extension where new refugees are being sent.

In the last two weeks, 4,000 refugees entered Bangladesh while four people drowned in a shipwreck while fleeing, officials said.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund said it feared disease hitting the untold numbers of malnourished youngsters in the camps.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:48:15|Editor: yan

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MAPUTO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship, Peace Ark, arrived on Tuesday morning in Maputo, capital of Mozambique, starting an eight-day humanitarian mission of providing free medical services to local residents.

Led by Task Group Commander Guan Bailin, the Peace Ark team has traversed 35 countries and regions since commissioned in 2008, delivering free medical help where they arrived.

"We have treated more than 30,000 patients from different countries and implemented 166 cases of surgery and the ship is regarded as 'the ship of peace, life and friendship,'" the commander said on a reception held in the conference room of the ship.

With eight operation rooms, seven healthcare offices, one medical helicopter and 300 beds on board, the Peace Ark ship has a total area of 4,000 square meters. The healthcare service will be provided by a total of 115 professionals, 60 percent of whom have senior titles.

Agueda Duarte, the director of the Health Department from Mozambique's National Defense Ministry welcomed the visit.

"I am happy to be here today and I believe that this visit will strengthen cooperation between the two countries' armed forces and cooperation in the medical and health fields between Mozambique and China," said the director.

During the eight-day visit, the team will use the ship as the main platform to perform medical services and meanwhile, medical experts will be dispatched to Mozambique's military hospital for joint medical treatment and medical exchange activities.

This is the second time that the Chinese naval vessels have visited Mozambique since the year 2012 when the 10th naval escort fleet of China visited Maputo.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:48:16|Editor: yan

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HONG KONG, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Secretary for justice of the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) started visit to Malaysia on Tuesday with a delegation of legal professionals to promote Hong Kong's ties with the southeast Asian country, especially in cooperation on international legal services.

Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen led a delegation comprising some 30 legal and dispute resolution professionals to Kuala Lumpur, with an aim to "foster stronger ties between the two places" and to "promote Hong Kong's international legal and dispute resolution services," the HKSAR government's Department of Justice said.

Yuen began the visit by addressing the opening ceremony of a symposium organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and attended by over 1,000 participants.

"Building on the flourishing relation between Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and related Investment Agreement will be signed very soon," Yuen said at the opening ceremony.

"Not only will the FTA provide an appropriate platform to further enhance the flow of trade and investment between Hong Kong and ASEAN, it will further strengthen Hong Kong's role as the 'facilitator' for mainland businesses to go global and overseas enterprises to enter the mega mainland market," he pointed out.

He added that the FTA with ASEAN, together with the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, "will provide better access for ASEAN companies, including Malaysian companies, to the Chinese mainland market, as well as to the opportunities made possible by the Belt and Road Initiative."

In his opening remarks at a thematic session of the symposium in the afternoon on legal risk management, Yuen said that Hong Kong is not just the ideal bridge between the Chinese mainland and Malaysia, but also well placed to provide a wide range of professional services to facilitate Malaysian businesses in grasping emerging opportunities as projects contemplated under the Belt and Road Initiative unfold.

Highlighting the importance of legal risk management in modern business practice, Yuen said that with a robust legal regime, Hong Kong is ready and able to serve as an international and yet neutral legal risk management and dispute resolution hub.

The secretary and representatives of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution delegation will meet with relevant Malaysian officials to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and visit the arbitration center in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday before concluding the visit and returning to Hong Kong.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:53:20|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday pledged commitment to continue promoting bilateral ties which have existed over the years.

Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba, in remarks delivered after he held private talks with visiting DRC Minister of foreign affairs and regional integration in charge of Congolese from abroad Emmanuel Ilunga Ngoie Kasongo, said the two countries have enjoyed brotherly relationship over the years as they shared the longest border between them.

He said the ties between the two countries were so tight that anything that affects either of the two countries affects the other as well.

According to the Zambian minister, the two ministers discussed, among other things the need to waive visa requirements in order to ease the movement of people and goods.

He further said the two countries discussed the influx of DRC asylum seekers who were being kept at Kenani Transit Center in Nchelenge district in Luapula province, with the Zambian minister saying the government was concerned with the political instability in the DRC.

DRC, he said, was Zambia's biggest trading partner in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and that any instability in that country affects trade between the two countries.

For his part, the DRC minister thanked Zambia for being an all-weather partner and pledged his government's commitment to ensure that the cooperation was enhanced.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-07 23:58:21|Editor: yan

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VIENTIANE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to Lao People's Democratic Republic is widely believed to benefit the development of both countries, Lao News Agency (KPL) Director General Sounthone Khanthavong said Tuesday.

Xi will pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos from Nov. 12 to 14, at the invitation of Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, and Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos.

"We consider the coming visit to Laos by President Xi Jinping as a significant and meaningful landmark for cooperation and strengthening traditional solidarity, and the long, stable and lasting strategic partnership between Laos and China," Sounthone said.

He noted that the strategic partnership between the two countries will be strengthened in line with the four-good principles - good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners - established by the two countries, highlighting the inspirations of the Lao and Chinese people.

"The coming visit will represent mutual trust and understanding as well as mutual assistance and support," said the director general, adding that the Lao media is currently focused on the coming visit of the Chinese leader in addition to regular reports on China.

Sounthone also mentioned other growing areas of bilateral ties, including trade, the growing investment of Chinese companies in Laos and China's role in boosting economic growth and development in the country. Sounthone expects more Chinese visitors as the country has just launched its "Visit Laos Year 2018" campaign.

Aimed at promoting tourism and preserving the country's unique traditional culture, "Visit Laos Year 2018" will consist of tourism activities in Laos, including festivals in various provinces across the country, and activities overseas promoting travel to Laos.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:13:25|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations are underway to transfer the crude oil from Iraq's Kirkuk fields to Iran instead of sending it to the Turkish city of Ceyhan, local media reported Tuesday.

"Should the Kurdistan Regional Government fail to reach an agreement with the central government in Baghdad on oil export policy, the transfer of Kirkuk crude to Iran will be feasible," Hamid Hosseini, secretary-general of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, was quoted by Financial Tribune daily as saying.

The move will possibly be implemented under a possible swap agreement or in return for Iran's engineering services, Hosseini said.

Following the Kurdistan region's independence vote in late September, Baghdad has taken steps to bring oil exports under federal control, calling on other countries to deal exclusively with the central government regarding oil trade.

Comprehensive surveys are being conducted to determine whether it is financially and technically feasible to transfer Iraq's crude oil to Iran, Hosseini said.

"If crude oil transfer venture from Kirkuk is launched, close to 650,000 barrels of oil can be delivered to Iran per day," Hosseini said.

He said that it is very likely that a pipeline will be constructed to send oil from Iraq's Basra port to Iran's Abadan port.

"We can also provide them with engineering services to complete their energy and power projects in return for transferring crude to Iran," he said.

Although Iraq and Iran are rivals in the global oil market, they can collaborate on oil projects as they share a large number of massive hydrocarbon reserves, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:18:27|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A fragile peace in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region is at risk sliding as militants resumed a threat for renewed hostilities and bombings of oil installations in the region.

Last year, attacks by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group, reduced the country's output to the lowest in more than two decades.

These attacks by the NDA crippled Nigeria's oil production and export operations, pushing output to more than a 21-year low, forcing Nigeria to lose its status as Africa's top oil producer.

On Friday, the militant group, which halted attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region, in 2016, following various appeals from the Niger Delta leaders, had renounced the ceasefire.

The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo, disowned the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who are intermediaries between it and the government.

The PANDEF is led by the former Federal Commissioner for Information, Edwin Clark, who had also appealed to the group to maintain the existing peace.

The militant group has launched several attacks on international oil facilities in southern Nigeria as part of its campaign to get what it calls a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth to local people.

In a quick reaction, the Nigerian government has appealed to militants in the oil rich Niger Delta region to reconsider its threat for renewed hostilities and bombings of oil installations in the region.

Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Victor Ndoma-Egba, in a statement reaching Xinhua on Tuesday appealed to the group to tow the path toward a peaceful resolution of all contentious issues.

He urged the group to sheathe their swords and also advised that violence will lead nowhere but aggravate the situation.

Ndoma-Egba stressed that the damage done would be felt by the region that is already overstretched and earnestly needs rapid development.

Also, the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), Paul Boroh urged members of the militant group to maintain the existing peace in the region.

The planned resumption of hostilities would be devastating to the nation's economy, he added, noting that violence sometimes may have cleared away obstructions quickly, but it never had proved to be creative.

The presidential aide said peace could only be achieved by understanding and not by force.

He, however, advised the group to make a difference and halt the violence that would devastate the nation's economy.

The coordinator appealed to the group to adopt dialogue instead of violence.

Boroh lauded the group for the ceasefire five months ago and appealed it should be sustained no matter their grievances.

The presidential aide appealed to the group not to blow up pipelines and oil installations in the region; adding that it would be an economic sabotage against the nation.

The Nigerian government offered amnesty to gunmen in June 2009 in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, urging them to lay down their weapons by Oct. 4, 2009 in a bid to end the unrest which has cost the African top oil exporter billions of dollars in revenue.

Over 8,000 Nigerian armed youths gave up their weapons and embraced the amnesty offered by the Nigerian government in the most concerted effort yet to end years of fighting in the oil-rich producing region.

The Niger Delta is an unstable area where inter-ethnic clashes are commonplace. Access to oil revenue is the trigger for the violence. Over 300 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed after paying a ransom.

Attacks and bunkering on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta have cut Nigeria's output by around a fifth in recent years, helping push world oil prices to record highs since the beginning of 2006.

The unrest in the region has forced many international firms to flee the area. The government has mobilized the Nigerian army and coast guard in an anti-banditry operation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:23:31|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday reiterated the importance of supporting the United Nations road map to the elections in Libya next year.

Le Drian made his remarks in a telephone conversation with the Libyan UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, discussing the current development in Libya and issues of mutual interest, according to the PM's media office.

"Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the importance of continuing efforts to find consensus ground within the framework of the road map presented by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Ghassan Salame, leading to presidential and parliamentary elections next year," the office said.

"The French foreign minister praised the efforts of the prime minister to achieve security and stability in Libya, stressing support of his vision that the solution to the crisis lies in the elections," the office added.

The head of the Libyan Higher National Commission of Elections, Imad Al-Sayah, told Xinhua on Monday he plans to sign an agreement with the UN to support the commission in organizing the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya.

The commander of the eastern-based army, General Khalifa Haftar, agreed with Serraj in July in Paris to ceasefire and hold presidential and legislative elections in 2018.

UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, proposed a road map for Libya in September that includes amendment of the current UN-sponsored political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference for all of Libya's political factions, adopting a constitution and election of a president and a parliament. The action plan is aimed at ending the current political crisis of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:33:35|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan eastern-based House of Representatives, or the parliament, on Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire in Warshaffana area in western Libya.

"The parliament agreed on Tuesday to assign its dialogue committee to communicate with the army and the interim government and demand an immediate cease-fire in Warshaffana," said parliament spokesman Abdullah Bilhag.

Bilhag also pointed that the parliament agreed, in a session on Tuesday, to "follow up the file of wanted persons in Warshaffana in a security manner by the competent security services and the Libyan Armed Forces."

The city of Aziziya, 30 km south of the capital Tripoli, has been witnessing military operations since last week by the forces of the UN-backed government to "eliminate crime in the area," a statement said.

The forces took control of the southern suburb of the city, forcing rival militants in the area to retreat further into the city, a military told Xinhua on Monday.

Prime Minister Fayez Serraj stressed keenness to work to spare the area of armed confrontations.

An armed group allied with the Government of National Accord in Tripoli, known as Tripoli Rebels Battalion, the largest military force of the government, expressed willingness to participate in any military actions in western Libya.

The eastern-based army warned of the continued attack by the forces of the Serraj's government on army sites and headquarters in Aziziya.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:38:38|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Tuesday published the draft law on supervision to solicit public opinion.

The draft of the National Supervision Law will be open for public comment on the National People's Congress website until Dec. 6.

The draft has made clear regulations on China's new detention system, which will replace the "shuanggui" system.

Shuanggui was an intra-party disciplinary practice that required a member of the Communist Party of China being investigated to cooperate with questioning at a set time and place. The practice was monitored by Party disciplinary officials, but its largely informal process caused tricky legal issues.

The new detention system will safeguard the rights of those under investigation with several measures.

The draft says family members of detainees or the organizations they work for must receive a timely notice of the detention, usually within 24 hours, and the date and length of the interrogation must be specified to ensure the safety of detainees.

The detention organizations have to provide food, ensure rest and provide medical service to detainees, according to the draft.

The draft also points out that detainees will be able to offset the term of detention against future penalties.

The draft forbids any supervisory body or investigators to insult or maltreat detainees, and the inquiry process must be videotaped.

Supervisory commissions will be set up across the country by the People's Congresses at national, provincial, city and county-levels within their jurisdiction to supervise those exercising public power.

The commissions will be in charge of three major duties: supervision, investigation and punishment.

In January, China started a pilot for the new supervision system in Beijing, as well as Shanxi and Zhejiang provinces, including establishing supervisory commissions and practicing the new detention system.

The pilot has had strong results. And the reform ensures that supervision covers everyone in the public sector who holds power.

In the first eight months of the year, a total of 183 people were detained by supervision commissions in the three pilot areas.

Since the reform, the number of people under supervision rose from 210,000 to 997,000 in Beijing, from 785,000 to 1.315 million in Shanxi, and from 383,000 to 701,000 in Zhejiang.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:38:39|Editor: yan

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ZAGREB, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Croatian police confirmed on Tuesday that it had received notification about the arrest of Agrokor founder Ivica Todoric in London, Croatian news agency Hina reported.

Days after he was put on Europol's list of Europe's most wanted fugitives, the founder of Croatia's biggest private food and retail company surrendered himself to British police.

Croatian authorities are investigating Todoric for suspected corruption, forgery of administrative documents, and fraud.

Agrokor is the biggest private company in Croatia and biggest retail chain in the region. In January, it was hit by a heavy debt crisis, after which the government intervened and took over the management. Later financial analysis revealed murky dealings and hidden debts, so the State Prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation of the former management.

Todoric claims he is innocent. During the past few weeks, he regularly communicated with the public through his blog where he wrote that the state had illegally taken over the management of his company and had done a huge damage to the company. He insisted this was a politically-motivated case against him.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic commented on the arrest of Todoric, saying he didn't want to speculate when he would be extradited to Croatia.

"Todoric has rights as a defendant and I believe he will use them so I do not want to speculate on time frames," the prime minister said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:43:41|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that the victories of the Syrian army in the war on terror saved the country from fragmentation, according to state news agency SANA.

Assad made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The president stressed that the war waged by the Syrian army is not only on the terror groups but also on the attempts to use terror groups to split Syria.

The military victories constituted "a decisive blow that has brought down the schemes of fragmentation and the goals of the terrorism and its backers."

Both sides also said that the escalation in the "aggression" by some regional and international countries on Iran is caused in part by the defeat of the terror groups in Syria.

The resigning Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whose party in Lebanon supports the insurgency against Assad, said in his resignation speech from Riyadh that the Iranian hands in the region will be cut off.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 00:53:44|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's health minister urged the private sector to boost participation in development of the country's medical tourism sector, Tehran Times daily reported on Tuesday.

"The Ministry of Health supports medical tourism sector that is directed by the private sector based on competitive prices," Hassan Qazizadeh-Hashemi said in an address to a medical tourism conference in the Iranian capital Tehran.

"Unfortunately, the country is far less developed in the field of medical tourism, and improving such services will be carried out by the private sector's assistance," Qazizadeh-Hashemi was quoted as saying.

"If we want health tourism to flourish, we need to trigger the private sector to become more vigorous in this regard while competition must be in terms of service quality and cheaper prices. There are many patients who care about the costs of medical services," he said.

The Ministry of Health welcomes prospects of attracting foreign patients with competitive tariffs, he stressed.

Besides, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on the sidelines of the conference that tourists who travel to Iran to receive medical services will be charged half the regular visa issuance fee.

"Medical tourists and their companions can also travel back and forth to Iran during the course of treatment," Qashqavi said.

Last year, some 30,000 visas were issued for medical tourists who travelled to Iran, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:08:46|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The China Coast Guard and the Philippines Coast Guard met in Beijing Tuesday to exchange ideas on cooperation and matters of mutual concern.

This is the first meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Committee on Maritime Cooperation established this February by the Chinese and Philippine coast guards to enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation.

The meeting was in implementation of a memorandum of understanding between the two coast guards on the establishment of the committee, which was signed in October last year witnessed by the presidents of China and the Philippines.

At the committee meeting, the two sides believed that developing friendly cooperative relations between coast guards of the two countries can help safeguard security and order at sea in this region and complies with the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples.

The two sides agreed to focus on cooperation like information exchange and capacity building in cracking down on cross-border maritime crimes, and in drug control as well as search and rescue at the sea.

It was also agreed that Coast Guard ships of the two countries will visit each other and conduct joint exercises in the first half of next year.

The committee is scheduled to hold its second meeting in Guangdong Province, south China, in the first half of 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:23:50|Editor: yan

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TALLINN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Space Agency (ESA) informal space ministerial meeting on Tuesday focused on the evolutions of the European Earth Observation Program Copernicus beyond 2020.

Estonian Minister for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Urve Palo said the meeting aimed to provide strategic input for the future of the Copernicus program and to pave the way for the negotiations on the next EU budgetary period.

Discussion focused on, among other things, how to foster space entrepreneurship based on the Copernicus satellite data by involving private-sector investments in a more active way, according to a press release.

Palo said due to the growing interest and enhanced investments from the private sector, speed and flexibility are becoming increasingly important factors in global competition.

"We want to emphasize that space data is something in which all member states and businesses, regardless of their size, can join in on. The more we create opportunities for the smart use of space data both in the private and public sectors, the more jobs and investments will be made in the areas and regions that have not yet had this experience," she noted.

The Copernicus program, with EU investments in 2014-2020 totaling 4.3 billion euros (4.98 billion U.S. dollars), is one of the two largest EU space programs providing valuable data from land, sea, and the atmosphere for better public services and business opportunities, said the press release.

Meanwhile, European Space Week from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9 was organized by the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU in cooperation with the European Commission.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:23:52|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The negotiations for the creation of a new German government entered a new phase on Tuesday as the Greens start making concessions on their climate goals promised during the election campaign.

Representatives of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Greens (Gruene) have signaled their willingness to compromise on Monday to overcome the current impasse in official talks for a "Jamaica" coalition which is labelled for their party colors,

Green party leader Cem Oezdemir on Tuesday waived his party's demand to ban new gasoline and diesel fuelled cars by 2030. The Greens had previously refused to join the government without the deadline for combustion engines in the coalition agreement.

The three parties involved in the negotiations plan to present the interim results on Friday, CDU parliamentarian Michael Grosse-Broemer told press on Tuesday. The coalition negotiations are slowed down by the parties differing positions, especially concerning immigration and climate protection.

The Green party's concessions were met with criticism from members of CDU and CSU who have previously refused the implementation of a deadline concerning combustion engines.

Head of the Bundestag group of CSU parliamentarians Alexander Dobrindt told newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Tuesday that "abandoning nonsensical deadlines" were "not a compromise," since the issue was "never really up for debate." Dobrindt urged all parties involved to find answers and solutions instead of "piling up questions."

Members of the Green Party also signalled their willingness to compromise on the ban of coal power plants by 2030. Party chairwomen Simone Peter told newspaper Rheinische Post that it did not matter "whether the last coal power plant will be shut down in 2030 or 2032." The party now focused on reducing CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990.

In exchange for the concessions on fossil fuels combustion, head of the Green parliamentary fraction Anton Hofreiter urged the members of FDP and CDU/CSU to also make compromises in favor of Green party goals including the treatment of refugees in Germany.

"Especially concerning the automotive industry," the Greens would not accept the "cronyism of the past," Hofreiter told public broadcaster ZDF.

Frank Sitta, vice-chairman of the FDP parliamentary group, welcomed the offer of compromise by the Greens, announcing similar concessions to be made by his party. "We want to approach the matter carefully," Sitta told public broadcaster MDR.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:28:53|Editor: yan

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GENEVA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) launched new guidelines on Tuesday on the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals, urging farmers and the food industry to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in otherwise healthy animals.

The guidelines recommend an overall reduction in the use of all classes of medically-important antibiotics in food-producing animals, including complete restriction of these antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention without diagnosis.

Healthy animals should only receive antibiotics to prevent disease if it has been diagnosed in other animals in the same flock, herd, or fish population. If possible, sick animals should be tested to determine the most effective and prudent antibiotic to treat their specific infection, according to the WHO.

The new version of guidelines aims to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics that are important for human medicine by reducing their unnecessary use in animals.

Since 2005, the WHO has published a list of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine that is regularly revised. The list groups all antibiotics currently used in humans and animals into three categories -- "important", "highly important" and "critically important" -- based on their importance to human medicine. The overall objective is to encourage prudent use to slow down antimicrobial resistance and preserve the effectiveness of the most critical antibiotics for medicine.

The new guidelines recommend that antibiotics used in animals should be selected from among those that are the least important to human health, and not from those classified as "critically important", as the latter is often the last line or one of limited treatments available for serious bacterial infections in humans.

"A lack of effective antibiotics is as serious a security threat as a sudden and deadly disease outbreak," says WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Strong, sustained action across all sectors is vital if we are to turn back the tide of antimicrobial resistance and keep the world safe."

As consumers are also driving the demand for meat raised without the routine use of antibiotics, actions have already been taken in many parts of the world to reduce the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. For instance, the European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics for growth promotion in 2006.

The WHO also recommends improving hygiene, better use of vaccination, and changes in animal housing and husbandry practices as alternatives to using antibiotics in animals for disease prevention.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:38:57|Editor: ZD

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Photo taken on June 23, 2017 shows a Tibetan antelope in Nagqu, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

BERLIN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Syrian representatives at the 23rd United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 23) in Bonn have announced that their country will belatedly join the Paris Climate Accord, German media dpa and Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

The secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said it was not yet able to confirm media reports.

The decision would leave Washington isolated as the only state registered by the United Nations (UN) not to ratify the treaty. The Trump administration intends to formally leave the Paris Climate Accord by the year 2020.

The Paris treaty obliges its signatories to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in an attempt to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

In order to draw attention to the acute threat of rising sea levels, this year's COP is presided over by the Pacific island nation of Fiji whilst technically being hosted by Germany. The key objective of the two-week conference is to formulate uniform standards for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions with a view to the objectives agreed to in Paris.

Syria was unable to participate in the 2015 conference which first witnessed the entry of states into the Paris Climate Accord due to its simultaneously raging civil war and UN sanctions against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad.

France is organizing another multilateral climate summit in Paris which will take place on the second anniversary of the original conference, Dec. 12. A spokesperson for French President Emmanuel Macron said that U.S. President Donald Trump was "not invited so far".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:38:58|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Germany signed a grant and technical aid agreement with Jordan worth 276 million euros to support the Arab kingdom in various areas.

The agreement increases Germany's overall aid to Jordan to 577 million euros this year, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said in a statement on Tuesday.

The minister said with this volume of grants, Germany becomes the second largest donor to Jordan.

The minister added that the new aid deal also includes soft loans which will support several development projects and help support Syrian refugees.

The deal will support projects in fields of water, energy, environment, sanitation, technical education and job creation, said the minister.

The minister stressed the importance of the German aid to Jordan, especially since the kingdom hosts over 1.3 million Syrian refugees.

"We highly appreciate Germany's aid to Jordan which plays a key role in reducing the impact on Jordan and helping the country improve services to host communities too," the minister said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 01:54:01|Editor: yan

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VILNIUS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania will apply to the U.S. government to purchase at least 200 armored all terrain vehicles for its armed forces, announced the Lithuanian defense ministry on Tuesday.

According to the announcement, the Lithuanian Defense Resource Council is interested in the possibility to purchase light combat tactical all-terrain vehicles (L-ATV) manufactured by Oshkosh Defence.

"We recognized the L-ATV as the best efficiency-price ratio and decided to open negotiations on procurement of these armored all-terrain vehicles," Raimundas Karoblis, Lithuanian defense minister, was quoted in the announcement by the country's Defense Ministry.

Lithuania plans to make the purchase, with the first deliveries foreseen as of 2021.

Currently, Lithuanian armed forces use HMMWV, commonly known as the Humvee, and Toyota Land Cruiser 200 armored all-terrain vehicles.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry states that L-ATV's "are an important element of the army mechanization" supplementing the country's early acquisition of German manufactured armored fighting vehicles Boxer.

Last year, Lithuania signed a contract to buy 88 Boxers. The deal worth nearly 386 million euros (447 million U.S. dollars) is the largest acquisition in the Baltic country's history.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 02:04:03|Editor: yan

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DEAD SEA, Jordan, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- International scientists and policymakers gathered Tuesday at the World Science Forum 2017 in Jordan, calling for utilizing science to address pressing challenges and make peace.

The forum was inaugurated by Jordan's King Abdullah II with the presence of 3,000 scientists, policymakers, Nobel laureates, academicians and investors.

Participants stressed the key role played by science in making peace, as the forum is themed "Science for Peace."

The four-day forum for this year seeks to highlight the role of science in building and fostering a culture of peace at all levels and for all parts of society.

In a speech at the opening of the forum, Hungarian President Janos Ader noted that the focus of this year's forum, food security, water and energy, are fundamental to security.

Stressing the key role of science in addressing challenges, he indicated that nowadays 2 billion people have no access to safe drinking water, and 4 billion have no access to adequate sanitation.

By 2050, two-thirds of humanity will live in cities. It is impossible to maintain and operate cities without sufficient energy, said the Hungarian president, calling on the attendees and scientists to explore the role of science in addressing these challenges.

Jordanian Princess Sumaya, chair of the forum and president of the Royal Scientific Society that is organizing this year's forum, underlined the significance of the event and the wide participation from representatives from across the world.

"We must leave aside our fears and prejudices, and we must vow to create a future that is worthy of our human spirit," she added.

Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, said the role played by science to make peace was fundamental and pivotal. "Science can create wealth, science can create prosperity. These are both key to peace," said Kaku.

Science, he said, is an essential player in empowering the powerless. It is for the benefit of all mankind.

In the absence of science, a vacuum is created, which can be used by demagogues to spread fear, unwanted ideologies and ignorance, Kaku added.

Laszlo Lovasz, president of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, said at the opening of the forum that Jordan plays a vital role in the promotion of sciences at all levels.

Noting that sciences can play a role in ending divisions, Lovasz called on all scientists from across the globe to work together for peace.

Scientists and heads of international science bodies said sciences were the key to address the challenges in today's world including climate change, water, nuclear power plants and food security.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 02:09:04|Editor: yan

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MANDERA, Kenya, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security officers have launched a manhunt for Al-Shabaab militants who on Monday attacked and burnt two police vehicles escorting a commuter bus in Mandera county.

Mandera South Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Bundotich said the militants sprayed bullets on two police land-cruisers escorting passenger service buses en-route from Nairobi to Mandera.

"Security officers are still pursuing the attackers who had ambushed the passenger bus en route to Mandera from Nairobi. No arrest has been made," Bundotich said.

He said the Monday attack in Dabacity area, Mandera County which borders Somalia, left no casualties after police in the escort engaged the militants in a gun battle.

"We can account for all our officers and passengers in the two bus convoy and the burnt land cruisers but our men are on the ground pursuing the invaders," Bundotich.

He confirmed the Islamist militants crossed over the porous border with Somalia barely five kilometers from the Mandera-Nairobi road.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said security chiefs in the region have laid elaborate measures to lead the area of the attackers.

The area has borne the brunt of Al-Shabaab attacks in the past after the militants' ambushed police and military vehicles burning them to ashes by planting improvised explosive devices on the sandy road.

Ex-Mandera Governor Ali Roba's security vehicles were attacked early this year by an improvised explosive device planted by the militants killing five bodyguards before crossing the border.

The Al-Shabaab have changed tactics and resorted to abductions and using improvised explosive devices to carry out attacks in parts of Coast region and northeastern Kenya, according to police.

Kenya continues to suffer several attacks as terrorists change tuck to beat heightened security and carry on with their heinous acts undetected.

In the recent past, there have been numerous attacks involving landmines, grenades, or other explosive devices in northeast Kenya.

Most of these attacks occurred in northeastern Kenya, mainly in Lamu in the coastal region, Dadaab, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties in northeastern region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 02:14:06|Editor: yan

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BUDAPEST, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The management of the Hungarian Operetta Theater fired Miklos Gabor Kerenyi, the theater's artistic director, here on Tuesday with immediate effect, after an actor of the theater said he had been abused by him back in 1994.

"The management of the Hungarian Operetta Theater has dismissed artistic director Miklos Gabor Kerenyi, who demanded his retirement, with immediate effect, following the specific event surfaced on Monday evening," the theater announced on its official site.

Actor Akos Maros declared on ATV television Monday night that Kerenyi locked him in a room and beat him on the bare buttocks with a coat hanger. Maros was only 18 years old then.

Kerenyi posted an apology Tuesday on his Facebook page but did not deny the accusations.

He is the second well-known theater director to be dismissed in Hungary recently because of allegations of abuse or sexual harassment. On October 27, director of Vigszinhaz, Laszlo Marton, was sacked after several accusations from women.
Photo taken on June 23, 2017 shows a Tibetan antelope in Nagqu, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

BERLIN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Syrian representatives at the 23rd United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 23) in Bonn have announced that their country will belatedly join the Paris Climate Accord, German media dpa and Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

The secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said it was not yet able to confirm media reports.

The decision would leave Washington isolated as the only state registered by the United Nations (UN) not to ratify the treaty. The Trump administration intends to formally leave the Paris Climate Accord by the year 2020.

The Paris treaty obliges its signatories to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in an attempt to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

In order to draw attention to the acute threat of rising sea levels, this year's COP is presided over by the Pacific island nation of Fiji whilst technically being hosted by Germany. The key objective of the two-week conference is to formulate uniform standards for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions with a view to the objectives agreed to in Paris.

Syria was unable to participate in the 2015 conference which first witnessed the entry of states into the Paris Climate Accord due to its simultaneously raging civil war and UN sanctions against the government of President Bashar Al-Assad.

France is organizing another multilateral climate summit in Paris which will take place on the second anniversary of the original conference, Dec. 12. A spokesperson for French President Emmanuel Macron said that U.S. President Donald Trump was "not invited so far".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 02:59:18|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov.7 (Xinhua) -- Youth unemployment is behind the unrest that rocked Ethiopia in 2016 and still simmers to this day, Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome said on Tuesday.

Answering to local and international reporters' questions at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Mulatu acknowledged Ethiopia's youth who make up about 70 percent of Ethiopia's estimated 100 million population want a better standard of living and stable employment.

"The Ethiopian government has already invested 400 million U.S. dollars in a revolving fund which will be made available to budding young entrepreneurs and is building industrial parks to employ the hundreds of thousands of fresh graduates annually," he said.

Ethiopia is building or has commissioned more than a dozen industrial parks across the country which it hopes will give job opportunities to the youth while earning much needed foreign currency to the country from exports.

The president pointed out that the East African country already has around 50 private and state owned universities, graduating hundreds of thousands of graduates annually and has enrolled 30 million students at primary and secondary schools.

"In addition to the job opportunities the government is facilitating, it is also giving multifaceted assistance to Ethiopia's private sector to help ease Ethiopia's youth employment challenges," said Mulatu.

Ethiopia was rocked by unrest in 2016 in various parts of the country led mainly by disgruntled youth that led to the deaths of around 700 people.

Since then, the Ethiopian government has stressed improving governance and creating stable employment opportunities for the youth to answer their economic demands.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 02:59:19|Editor: yan

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People wave Spanish national flags in a march with the slogan "Enough and let's recover the sensibility" to defend the Spanish constitution and the unity of Spain in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Juan Carlos Rojas)

BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Catalan entrepreneurs gathered at the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday to oppose the separatist movement of the ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.

"Political instability means economic instability," said Carlos Rivadulla, member of the Catalan Entrepreneurs association.

The group's president Joseph Bou said he considers the independence of Catalonia as a "big mistake".

"Catalans must be saved from separatism," said Bou, who qualifies Puigdemont's movement as "selfish and stupid" from an economic point of view.

"If separatist win elections on Dec. 21, this would be a tragedy. There would be a company exodus of thousands of entrepreneurs. For this reason, I think that our workers, which are a numerous fundamental part of our society, are going to be scared about possible delocalization and other issues affecting their working conditions," he told Xinhua.

According to Rivadulla, foreign investments have dropped by 10.2 percent during the second semester whereas they increased by 12.8 percent on a national level. About 2,000 companies have also transferred their headquarters to other regions in Spain, he added.

"For the moment, some of these companies are transferring only the executives but this is for us a clear warning that in the worst scenario they could move completely including the productions," Rivadulla said.

The Barcelona cars dealers association reported last month a sales loss of around 25 to 30 percent. "This crisis is going to affect Catalonia but also Spain," Rivadulla said.

Even as entrepreneurs denounced the Catalan separatist movement, 200 Catalan mayors were protesting against the Spanish central government in Brussels on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 03:24:29|Editor: yan

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HELSINKI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A tripartite meeting between U.S., Finnish and Swedish defense officials convened on Tuesday in Helsinki, and Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto said the next tripartite meeting would take place next spring.

Tuesday's meeting, gathering Niinisto, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist, was the first of its kind between the three countries at ministerial level. Analysts believed it would signal closer defense cooperation between the U.S. and the two Nordics.

Niinisto said the three-party meetings would not replace bilateral U.S.-Finland cooperative institutions. Niinisto said the new type of meetings is practically useful for the U.S. as Finland and Sweden are both in the EU but outside NATO. "It is useful to speak with both at the same time."

Concluding his visit to Finland, Mattis said on Tuesday the U.S. and Finland had "shared appreciation of the security situation" in Northern Europe. Mattis praised the Finnish defense forces not only for their tactical abilities but also for their ethics.

Asked to elaborate on the ethics issues, Niinisto said it referred to the experience from Finnish forces in peace keeping operations over the years.

On Tuesday, Niinisto invited the U.S. to participate in an envisioned major military exercise in Finland in 2020. Niinisto said it was not an official invitation as a final decision on the exercise had not been taken.

The aim of the would-be exercise in Finland has been described as "training for being able to receive assistance from foreign forces". Mattis gave no direct answer to the Finnish request, but Finnish national broadcaster Yle quoted sources as saying the U.S. would be taking part as long as schedule is suitable.

Niinisto gave no answer when asked whether the U.S. would be allowed to use Patriot missiles in Finland or not.

The 2020 plan was also discussed in the NATO Northern Group meeting on Tuesday. Niinisto told media, however, that acceptance of European participation would also depend on what kind of input would be offered. "We cannot take everything," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 03:29:30|Editor: yan

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HELSINKI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A trial began in Helsinki on Tuesday against three Finnish men accused of preparing to go to the Middle East as foreign fighters.

They would have joined Katiibat al-Muhajir, a militant group involved in the war in Syria. Prosecutor Jukka-Mikko Hamalainen considered it a terrorist organization.

The prosecution said the men had purchased a Landrover car and equipment including sharpshooter clothing. They had left for Syria although they did not reach their destination. The court may end up defining whether planning to be a foreign fighter in the Mideast is criminal.

Two of the men also faced charges of economic crimes for financing their operations. They had amassed around 200,000 euros (231,647 U.S. dollars).

Finnish media reported that one of the crucial issues was whether the court would define the Katiibat al-Muhajir a terrorist organization or a "legal participant" of the war in Syria. Finnish law does not criminalize the preparation of war crimes.

The alleged terrorism related crimes took place between 2012 and 2014. The trial will continue until late November.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi prepares to erect a national flag in Al-Qaim on November 5, 2017, after troops retook the border town from Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. (AFP PHOTO)

BAGHDAD, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday warned Europe and regional countries of a serious terrorist threat, asserting that the Iraqi forces will continue fighting Islamic State (IS) militants even if they attack from neighboring Syria.

"I warn of a serious terrorist threat, Europe and the countries of the region are not safe from it," Abadi said in a televised press conference after his weekly cabinet meeting without giving further details about the threat or who is behind it.

As for the fighting against the IS militant group, Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, said that he ordered the Iraqi forces "to fight back their attacks on Iraqi areas even if they come from the Syrian territory."

Abadi's comment came after he raised the Iraqi flag on Husaibah border crossing with Syria on Sunday, just two days after he announced the full liberation of the city of al-Qaim near the border with Syria from the extremist IS militants.

The troops also are taking positions outside the remaining city of Rawa, about 80 km east of al-Qaim, and are preparing to storm the city and to clear the nearby vast rural areas and desert in north of the Euphrates River.

Abadi said "any force targets the Iraqi forces will not be safe in Iraq," confirming that "the federal will reach to everyone all of the country."

His comments came as a warning to the Kurdish forces not to clash with the Iraqi forces or open fire on the federal troops in the disputed areas claimed by Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Tensions have been running high between Baghdad and the region of Kurdistan after the Kurds held a controversial referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 04:44:56|Editor: yan

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's national oil company Petrobras announced Tuesday it was offloading its Nigerian subsidiary as part of a massive divestment program.

In a statement, Petrobras said that the Nigerian subsidiary, Petrobras Oil & Gas B.V. (POGBV), was being fully sold. Petrobras owns 50 percent of it, BTG Pactual E&P B.V. holds 40 percent and Helios Investment Partners owns the remaining 10 percent.

Petrobras has been embroiled in scandal since the revelation of a vast corruption ring involving its executives, business partners and government officials that embezzled billions of dollars over a decade.

The subsidiary participates in two Nigerian oilfields, Akpo and Agbami, operated by French oil giant Total, producing a total of 368,000 barrels a day.

"POGBV's liquid reserves total approximately 204 million barrels, and the current production is about 48,000 barrels per day, with the expectation of reaching around 75,000 barrels per day by 2019," read the Petrobras statement.

As a way to clear its staggering debts and begin to restore its reputation, Petrobras is seeking to divest assets and gather around 21 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 05:05:00|Editor: yan

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SANTIAGO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chile's health minister, Carmen Castillo, announced Tuesday that the government is preparing a law to regulate the storage of stem cells.

This matter has become a hot topic in the country after one private clinic storing stem cells in Santiago went bankrupt, exposing a stark lack of legislation for the industry.

In a statement, Castillo said that the health ministry and the Institute of Public Health are working on regulation to govern how such stem cell banks operate.

Castillo explained that while this stem cell bank had sanitary approval, it was "not regulated," adding that the topic of stem cells required more supervision.

It is estimated that nine stem cell banks in the country have served at least 45,000 clients but doctors have warned that the lack of legislation is allowing the proliferation of sham treatments.

A few months ago, the director of cellular therapy at the Las Condes Clinic, Rodrigo Mardones, said the treatments offered by these banks are not proven and unpublished in scientific journals, meaning that "it is unknown what could happen."

However, the head of Chile's National Medicine Agency, Pamela Milla, has commented that stem cell therapies are new around the world, and that "the norms are still being built."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 05:10:03|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Trust in bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.S. is so eroded that the two NATO allies could be subject to deeper diplomatic disputes although Ankara and Washington recently have taken steps to restore a visa crisis, experts said.

"Bilateral ties are in such bad state. Therefore Turkey and the United States have faced another crisis about the statements, while trying to resolve the visa crisis. That's all because of the mutual distrust," Deniz Zeyrek, daily Hurriyet commentator said.

Zeyrek was referring to mutual statements made by the Turkish Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara on Monday to announce resumption of visa services for citizens on limited base.

The Turkey-U.S. visa row was sparked on Oct. 8, when the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced the suspension of non-immigrant visa services to Turkish nationals, following the arrest of a local employee at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Ankara.

Turkey will resume processing visa applications at its diplomatic missions in the U.S. on a "limited basis," Turkey's Embassy in Washington announced on its Twitter account late Monday, short after the embassy issued a new statement challenging the U.S. Embassy announcement, which said the Turkish government provided assurances about the safety of staff at its missions there.

The Turkish Embassy then stated that Ankara has not given any assurances regarding ongoing jurisdiction files.

Resumption of visa services came on the eve of a four-day visit to the U.S. by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim during which he is set to meet with Vice President Mike Pence at the White House, signaling a tentative improvement and easing a nearly month-long visa row in bilateral ties.

Turkish-U.S. relations are facing many ups and downs in recent years, with the latest of them erupted after the arrest of U.S. Istanbul Consulate local employee Metin Topuz on Oct. 4 over espionage charges and alleged links to the group of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

U.S. administration responded with suspension of visa facilities in Turkey, while Ankara retaliated the move in the same way.

The new administration of President Donald Trump was initially seen by Turkey as an opportunity to reset relations with its NATO ally, which had soured under former President Barack Obama's tenure. The hopes were nourished when Trump called the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in April after his victory in a referendum that granted the Turkish leader sweeping powers.

However, spring weather in ties short-lived as the new U.S. administration boosted its support to the Syrian Kurds who are fighting the Islamic State (IS), angering Ankara who sees the People's Protection Units as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Turkey is also disappointed by Washington's refusal to extradite Gulen, frustrated by the U.S. detention of a Turkish-Iranian businessman and a Turkish state bank official for alleged involvement in a sanctions-busting scheme to sell gold to Iran.

Tension escalated when federal prosecutors in New York indicted former Turkish Economic Minister Zafer Caglayan and three other Turkish citizens in September on charges of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The U.S. media speculated that Erdogan and some of his family members may be implicated as suspects in the ongoing U.S. court case.

Washington sees the detainees, including Andrew Brunson, a U.S. pastor who was arrested in Turkey over alleged links to Gulen Movement, are used by Ankara as bargaining chips.

The Turkish President Erdogan said the pastor would be released only if the U.S. extradites Gulen.

The meeting between Pence and Yildirim on Thursday is very crucial in order to heal jeopardized ties between Ankara and Washington, journalist Zeyrek said, stressing that the two officials have positive manner that could mend the ties before the situation reaches damage beyond repair.

Zeyrek resembled the state of deterioration of Turkish-U.S. ties to "last exit before the bridge."

He recalled developments in Saudi Arabia where arrest orders were made by a panel Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud which signals a massive transition in oil-rich country and said the region is "reshaped."

"The U.S. started to perceive Saudi Arabia as its new moderate Islam partner in the region and gives signals that it may abandon Turkey," he stated.

Turkey and the United States haven't been the best of allies for decades, eventually U.S. power and influence ranks as the top threat by 72 percent of Turks, according to Pew Research Center.

It is very difficult to see the visa incident as merely an ephemeral illness in bilateral relations, burka Kuntay, the President of Center for American Studies at Bahcesehir University, told Xinhua.

Kuntay also said that any other issues could be source of a new crisis.

The alliance between two NATO members is questioned since early 2000s, Kuntay said, referring their partnership within Western block since Cold War.

The expert said one should question where the common interests of Turkey and the United States is heading to and if there is sufficient "mortar" anymore to keep on this alliance.

"It is possible that they are still members of a common camp" in the world, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 05:25:06|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Ambassador to Tripoli Ahmet Aydin Dogan on Tuesday said that work is continuing to open a Turkish consulate in the eastern Libya city of Benghazi.

Dogan made his remark during a meeting with Aburrahman Swehli, head of the Libyan Higher Council of the State, in the capital Tripoli, where the two officials discussed issues of mutual interest, according to the media office of the council.

"Ambassador Dogan informed Swehli of a package of new measures to facilitate granting of Turkish entry visas to Libyan citizens in Tripoli and Misurata, stressing that work is continuing to open a Turkish consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi," the office said.

"The Turkish ambassador also announced that two advanced medical centers will soon be opened in the cities of Misurata and Al-Baida, after Turkish companies finish equipping them," the office added.

Dogan also held a meeting on Monday with the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Lotfi Maghrabi in Tripoli.

Maghrabi said the meeting "discussed the kidnapping of Turkish engineers in Obari."

"Kidnapping foreign engineers working on the largest power plant in Libya harmed Libyans primarily because the plant provides services to all Libyans across the country," Maghrabi said, expressing hope to "overcome this problem."

The ambassador said that such incidents do not represent the values and principles of the Libyan people, and will not affect the relations between Libya and Turkey, pointing out that "the Turkish company will continue to perform its work and complete it on time."

Unknown gunmen a few days ago kidnapped four foreign engineers, three Turks and a German working for the Turkish ENKA Teknik company in a power plant in the southern Libyan city of Obari.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 05:35:09|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNHCR) reported Tuesday that a recent mission in Tanganyika in southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) found more than 70,000 displaced people by renewed violence.

Priority needs include food security, health, education, shelter and protection, the report said.

"Humanitarian assistance to this area has been limited. Underfunding has had a significant impact on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the DRC this year as the Humanitarian Response Plan is only 42 percent funded and on track to be the lowest level in a decade," the report added.

Across the DRC, more than 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes this year, bringing the total number of internally displaced people to 3.9 million, the largest number of any country on the African continent. Across the country, more than 8.5 million people need humanitarian assistance.

UNHCR is increasingly concerned by escalating displacement in several key regions of the DRC. With widespread militia activities, unrest and violence affecting many areas, the risk of further displacement is high, the report said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 05:50:13|Editor: Yang Yi

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Workers put granny smith apples into trays on a packing line at a packing house of Auvil Fruit Company in Wenatchee, Washington State, the United States, on Nov. 3, 2017. Wenatchee, known in the United States as the "Apple Capital," might not be a familiar name for the Chinese people, but the red delicious, gala, granny smith and many more apple species the city produces have already been very popular among Chinese consumers. China has become one of Auvil's biggest overseas markets for its apples and cherries in recent years since the company learned about the B2C platform Tmall. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

By Xinhua Writers Xu Xingtang, Wang Wen

WENATCHEE, the United States, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- In an apple orchard owned by Auvil Fruit Company in northwestern U.S. city of Wenatchee, a dozen workers were picking the best Granny Smith apples that will reach Chinese consumers in less than three weeks.

Wenatchee, known in the U.S. as the "Apple Capital," might not be a familiar name for the Chinese, but the red delicious, gala, granny smith and many more apple species the city produces have already been very popular among Chinese consumers.

China has become one of Auvil's biggest overseas markets for its apples and cherries in recent years since the company learned about the B2C platform Tmall.

Take the granny smith apples for example, they will be sent to the processing factory for selection, packaging and inspection, before being shipped through ocean freight to importers in China. Importers will then repackage the apples and sell them both online and offline.

"We view China as a huge opportunity for our fruit," said Chris McCarthy, CEO of Auvil.

Partly thanks to Tmall, Auvil now has strong brand recognition in China with the Gee Whiz yellow box varieties, the company' s premium products.

"Chinese consumers value high quality fruit and flavor, which is something we strive to grow and provide," McCarthy said, adding that the company can always accommodate Chinese consumers' needs.

Auvil is a member of Washington Apple Commission which promotes the state's apple products to 25 countries around the world. Every apple Auvil produces has the label of "Washington state apple."

The commission now has 1260 member growers around the state and many packaging and shipping companies. It has been promoting the apples from its member growers through Tmall since November 2013.

The sales volume of Washington state apples on Tmall grew more than 100 percent every year ever since, according to the commission.

During Tmall's Singles' Day sale event in 2015, more than one million gala apples from Washington state were sold in just 24 hours. Thanks to the convenient e-commerce platform, the state's various kinds of apple products have been known to the Chinese market.

"They (our members) are very excited about the opportunities that e-commerce offers to our industry," said Rebecca Lyons, international marketing director of the commission.

She said about two million cartons of apples are shipped to China each year, with each carton weighing approximately 18 kilograms. It accounts for about six percent of the apples produced in Washington state every year.

"China has become one of the top five markets for Washington apples," said Lyons, who added that the commission hopes to expand the Chinese market further in the future.

Auvil has an ambitious plan for China market in the next five years. McCarthy said the company is developing eight varieties at the moment, some of which will be available in China in the next three to five years.

Apart from apples, Auvil's cherry business in China is also booming. The company has seen tremendous increase in its cherry sale volume in recent years, and its rainier cherries are gaining popularity with its rich flavor.

"Cherry is highly seasoned, when our domestic market is saturated with the fruit, the Chinese market becomes critical to divert our huge output," said Bin Zhang, export sales manager of Auvil.

Likewise, Stemilt Growers, another big fruit company in Wenatchee, is also eyeing the Chinese market.

Having exported cherries to China for more than a decade, the company wants to seize the opportunity e-commerce has brought to sell their apples to China as well.

Cherries are one of Chinese consumers' favorite imported fruit on Tmall. Cherry growers from U.S. states of Oregon, Utah, Montana and Idaho have also been selling cherries to China in recent years.

Keith Hu, international program director of Northwest Cherry Growers, said about 10 percent of the cherries produced by growers the commission represents are sold to Chinese consumers.

"China has become the largest overseas market for our cherries," Hu said proudly.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 06:00:17|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday demanded action from the United Nations after an Iranian missile was reportedly used by Houthi forces in Yemen in an attack against Saudi Arabia.

In a press release, the U.S. mission to the United Nations said that Saudi Arabia recently released information regarding a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia in July 2017.

"The information shows that the missile was an Iranian Qiam -- a type of weapon that had not been present in Yemen before the conflict, constituting violations of UN Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2231," said the press release.

It encouraged the United Nations and international partners to "take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations."

It also noted Saudi Arabia's claim that it intercepted a separate Houthi-launched missile, shot down over Riyadh on Nov. 4, that may also be of Iranian origin.

"Saudi Arabia's announcement confirms once again the Iranian regime's complete disregard for its international obligations. By providing these types of weapons to the Houthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was quoted as saying in the press release.

"We encourage the release of any information that will help to hold Iran accountable for its support of violence and terrorism in the region and the world. The United States is committed to containing Iran's destabilizing actions and will not turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law by the Iranian regime," said Haley.

Yemen is in civil war since 2015 between Sanaa-based Houthi forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and forces loyal to the government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, based in Aden. A Saudi-led coalition uses airstrikes to support the Hadi government.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 06:05:20|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Syria's presidential political adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban, said on Tuesday that her country will not allow the targeting of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, Damascus key ally in the war on the ultra-radical rebel groups.

In an interview with al-Mayadeen TV, Shaaban said Damascus will not allow unilateral targeting of Hezbollah because "we share the same fate."

Her comments came against the backdrop of the escalation by the Saudi Arabia and the resigning Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who said in his resignation speech from Riyadh that the Iranian hands in the region will be cut off, referring to Hezbollah.

Also, Saudi Gulf affairs minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the Lebanese government would "be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia" because of what he described as aggression by Hezbollah.

In her interview, Shabaan said the "Saudi intimidation is similar to the Israeli one, and Saudi Arabia will not be able to destabilize Lebanon."

The Syrian official stressed that the security of both Lebanon and Syria is mutual, considering the declared resignation of Hariri from Saudi Arabia is "inappropriate."

She also pointed out to the cooperation between Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah, saying such cooperation is important for all sides.

For his part, President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that the escalation in the stances against Iran and Hezbollah is the result of the defeat of foreign-backed terror groups in Syria.

The Syrian government has for long accused Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states of supporting the terror-designated groups in Syria.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 06:20:25|Editor: yan

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BRUSSELS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union member states will hopefully reach a new VAT rules agreement by the end of this year which aims to facilitate cross-border e-commerce, EU officials said on Tuesday.

EU finance ministers gathered in Brussels for their monthly meeting on Tuesday and discussed improved VAT rules to help facilitate e-commerce and online businesses.

"We need new rules to adapt our VAT system to the digital era", said Toomas Toniste, Minister for Finance of Estonia, which currently holds the Council presidency.

The ministers have not reached a political agreement on VAT e-commerce package yet. "We regret that ministers could not reach a political agreement on VAT e-commerce package today. But good progress was made and hopefully the deal can be sealed at the December ECOFIN," European Commission vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue, said at the press conference.

The new VAT proposals are aimed at making it easier to buy and sell goods and services online. They are part of the EU's 'digital single market' strategy. The aim is also to improve the collection of VAT on digital services.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-08 06:45:30|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Reiterating the need to bring to justice the killers of two UN experts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Security Council on Tuesday urged the country's authorities to continue cooperating with investigations into the incident.

The experts, Michael Sharp of the United States and Zaida Catalan of Sweden, were abducted in DRC on March 12. Their remains were found outside the city of Kananga in the DRC's Kasai-Central province by UN peacekeepers two weeks later.

In a statement read out by Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi of Italy, which holds the Council's presidency for November, the 15-member body also encouraged the Group of Experts, of which Sharp and Catalan were members, to consider issues related to illicit financial activity, including money laundering operations, supporting the activities of armed groups and criminal networks involved in destabilizing activities in the African nation.

Also in the statement, the Security Council warned against attacks on the UN Mission in the country, UN entities, and their associated personnel, including the Group of Experts, and reiterated its readiness to designate individuals and groups responsible for attacks for sanctions.
An American worker picks Granny Smith apples in an apple orchard of Auvil Fruit Company in Wenatchee of Washington State, the United States, Nov. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/ Wang Ying)

By Xinhua Writers Xu Xingtang, Wang Wen

WENATCHEE, the United States, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- In an apple orchard owned by Auvil Fruit Company in northwestern U.S. city of Wenatchee, a dozen workers were picking the best Granny Smith apples that will reach Chinese consumers in less than three weeks.

Wenatchee, known in the United States as the "Apple Capital," might not be a familiar name for the Chinese, but the red delicious, gala, granny smith and many more apple species the city produces have already been very popular among Chinese consumers.

China has become one of Auvil's biggest overseas markets for its apples and cherries in recent years since the company learned about the B2C platform Tmall.

An American worker transports containers full of Granny Smith apples at an apple orchard of Auvil Fruit Company in Wenatchee of Washington State, the United States, Nov. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Take the granny smith apples for example, they will be sent to the processing factory for selection, packaging and inspection, before being shipped through ocean freight to importers in China. Importers will then repackage the apples and sell them both online and offline.

"We view China as a huge opportunity for our fruit," said Chris McCarthy, CEO of Auvil.

Partly thanks to Tmall, Auvil now has strong brand recognition in China with the Gee Whiz yellow box varieties, the company' s premium products.

"Chinese consumers value high quality fruit and flavor, which is something we strive to grow and provide," McCarthy said, adding that the company can always accommodate Chinese consumers' needs.

Auvil is a member of Washington Apple Commission which promotes the state's apple products to 25 countries around the world. Every apple Auvil produces has the label of "Washington state apple."

The commission now has 1,260 member growers around the state and many packaging and shipping companies. It has been promoting the apples from its member growers through Tmall since November 2013.

American workers put Granny Smith apples into trays on the packing line at the packing house of Auvil Fruit Company in Wenatchee of Washington State, the United States, Nov. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/ Wang Ying)

The sales volume of Washington state apples on Tmall grew more than 100 percent every year ever since, according to the commission.

During Tmall's Singles' Day sale event in 2015, more than 1 million gala apples from Washington state were sold in just 24 hours. Thanks to the convenient e-commerce platform, the state's various kinds of apple products have been known to the Chinese market.

"They (our members) are very excited about the opportunities that e-commerce offers to our industry," said Rebecca Lyons, international marketing director of the commission.

She said about 2 million cartons of apples are shipped to China each year, with each carton weighing approximately 18 kilograms. It accounts for about six percent of the apples produced in Washington state every year.

"China has become one of the top five markets for Washington apples," said Lyons, who added that the commission hopes to expand the Chinese market further in the future.

Granny Smith apples are processed on the packing line at the packing house of Auvil Fruit Company in Wenatchee of Washington State, the United States, Nov. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/ Wang Ying)

Auvil has an ambitious plan for China market in the next five years. McCarthy said the company is developing eight varieties at the moment, some of which will be available in China in the next three to five years.

Apart from apples, Auvil's cherry business in China is also booming. The company has seen tremendous increase in its cherry sale volume in recent years, and its rainier cherries are gaining popularity with its rich flavor.

"Cherry is highly seasoned, when our domestic market is saturated with the fruit, the Chinese market becomes critical to divert our huge output," said Bin Zhang, export sales manager of Auvil.

Likewise, Stemilt Growers, another big fruit company in Wenatchee, is also eyeing the Chinese market.

Having exported cherries to China for more than a decade, the company wants to seize the opportunity e-commerce has brought to sell their apples to China as well.

Cherries are one of Chinese consumers' favorite imported fruit on Tmall. Cherry growers from U.S. states of Oregon, Utah, Montana and Idaho have also been selling cherries to China in recent years.

Keith Hu, international program director of Northwest Cherry Growers, said about 10 percent of the cherries produced by growers the commission represents are sold to Chinese consumers.

"China has become the largest overseas market for our cherries," Hu said proudly.
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Vodacom (News - Alert) has signed an agreement to test Nokias 5G solutions. The service provider is doing this in an effort to pioneer 5G service in South Africa.





"This collaboration comes at a time when we have a firm mandate from the Vodacom Board to propel Vodacom Group to become a leading digital company, explained Vodacom Group CTO Andries Delport. It is my firm belief that the adoption of 5G will help us to deliver against some of the digital technologies in areas such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and the Internet of Things. Quite crucially, Africa is in the middle of a mobile connectivity boom, and as such, 5G will help us to deliver faster internet speeds to our almost 70 million customers across the Group."

The initial focus of the companies will be Ultra-HD and virtual reality video. These services will leverage the broadband and ultra-low latency capabilities that 5G connectivity will deliver. Energy, health care, manufacturing, media, mining, and transportation applications will also be areas of focus for this 5G collaboration.

photo courtesy of Pixabay

Nokias (News - Alert) Bell Labs Consulting will assist Vodacom to identify where, when, and how to implement 5G on its network. And Nokia will educate and enable Vodacom to test a variety of 5G solutions including its AirGile Cloud-native Core, AirScale Radio Access, MIMO adaptive antennas, Mobile Anyhaul transport, and Multi-Access Edge Computing solutions.

We have defined a technology path that allows operators to transition to 5G at their own pace, said Rajen Naidoo, head of the Vodacom South Africa customer team at Nokia. Working with Vodacom, we can help it identify how 5G can support growth in the country and the steps it should take in its own transition to best meet individual subscriber and enterprise needs.

Edited by Mandi Nowitz
The bodies 26 women were unloaded in a procession of black bags on to the dock of Salerno. The deceased women, believed to be Nigerian in origin, were recovered by the Spanish ship Cantabria as part of operation Sophia, an EU anti-trafficking force.

Most of the women, aged in large part between 14 and 18, were drowned when the rubber boat carrying 64 sank on Friday while crossing the Mediterranean. The other three victims were collected as part of other operations and transferred the Cantabria as it headed to Salerno to turn over the bodies to the Italian authorities. 375 rescued migrants were also brought to Salerno, originating from sub-Saharan Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Senegal: 90 of them women, eight of them pregnant; and 54, children.

An investigation into the deaths of the women has been launched by Salermo prosecutors who believe there is a possibility that sexual violence played a role in the death of these women. Public prosecutor Luca Masini has arranged the external examination of the bodies with emphasises on toxicology and evidence of rape. The bodies were frozen onboard the Cantabria in order to preserve evidence that may have been lost during the journey to the coast. Full autopsies are expected to be completed at the Salerno morgue within the week.

Police have detained 7 people for questioning including two men of Libyan and Egyptian origin who are believed to be the captains of the vessel. Salernos prefect Salvatore Malfi has expressed doubts that the women were being trafficked into sex slavery, as he said the sex trafficking routes are different. Loading women onto a boat is too risky.

The traffickers would not do it as they could lose all their goods, as they describe them, in one fell swoop. While women are statistically at more risk during this kind of migration, it is far beyond the 5 to 6 death rate of men to women crossing the Mediterranean.
Ukegbu said that the commission had been working with the International Organisation for Migration, National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant organisations in receiving the deportees.

She said, From February to the first week of this month of November, we have received about 3,480 young Nigerian deportees from Libya.

These young Nigerians, mostly girls from age 14, were received in different weeks during the period.

We have found out that the IOM, European Union (EU), Dutch and Swiss governments are involved in the deportation of these Nigerians from Libya.

She said that some of the young people returned with pregnancy.

According to her, there are more than 12,000 young Nigerians in prisons or stranded in different parts of Libya.

Ukegbu expressed worry at the situation.

She said that the commission was working to ensure durable integration of the deportees into the Nigerian society.

The commission believes that it is not enough to receive these young Nigerians; it is important that they are urgently given the needed mentoring, training and rehabilitation.

My federal commissioner is really working at ensuring that durable solutions are sustained, she said.
A gunman shot dead at least 26 worshippers during Sunday morning services at a Baptist church in Texas, news media reported.

The gunman was killed after a short chase, CNN reported, quoting a sheriffs office spokesman in Guadalupe County. It was unclear whether the shooter died from a police bullet or at his own hand.

The worshippers were killed at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio, reports said.

Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr. told AFP there were multiple fatalities and multiple people wounded, but he could not officially confirm the number.

With details rapidly unfolding, some unnamed officials were quoted in media reports citing tolls as high as 27 dead and 20 or more wounded.

The shooter reportedly walked into the church shortly before noon  at a morning service that witnesses said was normally attended by some 50 people  and opened fire. A two-year-old was among the wounded, the Dallas Morning News website reported.

A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center in nearby Floresville told Fox News that we have accepted a number of patients from the shooting. She gave no number.

 Federal agents arriving 

A witness working at a gas station across the street said he heard at least 20 shots being fired in quick succession, CNN reported. Others nearby said the shooter appeared to have reloaded more than once.

Emergency personnel rushed to the scene, and some victims were evacuated by helicopter. Police formed a perimeter around the area, and tearful relatives and neighbors stood outside it, nervously awaiting news from inside the traditional, white-frame church.

Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were heading to Sutherland Springs, a town of about 400, those agencies said.

President Donald Trump, who is in Japan on the first stop of a tour of Asian countries, tweeted: May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott offered his condolences.

Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response, he tweeted, promising more details soon.

The shooting comes just over a month after a gunman in Las Vegas, firing down from a hotel room, killed 58 people and wounded hundreds attending an outdoor concert.

And it came just over two years after a white supremacist, Dylann Roof, entered a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot nine people to death.
These insinuations are false, destructive, irresponsible and, above all, provocative, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi, according to Iranian media.

Instead of further aggravating the situation with such absurd allegations, the Saudis should help through diplomatic channels to end violence in Yemen, Ghassemi said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif said: the Saudis are acting like hooligans in the region, are making the region unsafe and then end up trying to blame Iran for their dangerous policy.

Tehrans Defence Ministry and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard also denied any involvement in the missile attack.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman had earlier accused Iran of carrying out direct military

aggression against Saudi Arabia, accusing Tehran of supplying Yemens Houthi rebels, against whom Riyadh is

fighting, with missiles.

On Saturday, a missile was fired across the border from Yemen towards the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The crown prince stressed that the involvement of the Iranian regime in supplying its Houthi militias with missiles is considered a direct military aggression, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

In remarks during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, he said the missile attack could amount to an act of war against the kingdom, SPA added.

On Sunday, the Saudi-led alliance fighting the Houthi rebels said it closed all Yemeni ports, prompting national carrier Yemen Airways to halt all flights from Aden and Seiyun airports, the only two functioning airports in the country, after failing to get permits to operate.

Yemen has been locked in a devastating power struggle between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran- allied Houthis since the rebels took over the Yemeni capital Sanaa in late 2014.

The conflict has intensified since March 2015, when the Houthis first advanced on Aden, prompting Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies to start an air campaign against the Shiite group.
Four days after the declaration of an end to the ceasefire on oil and gas facilities by the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has warned that personnel of the Nigerian Navy are battle ready, as always, to counter threats by militants, kidnappers, sea pirates, sea rovers and other maritime criminals.

Vice Admiral Ibas made the remark during a chat with journalists on Monday at the Naval School of Engineering, Sapele, Delta State.

Obviously discountenancing last Fridays threats by NDA to resume lethal attacks on the nations economic assets, Ibas said Nigerians should be rest assured that the navy was always battle-ready to curtail criminality in the Niger Delta.

Threats by NDA, threats by kidnappers, threats by sea robbers, sea pirates, threats by all criminals, of course, are threats that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have a responsibility towards containing.

We do not wait until a threat comes from a particular group before the navy acts, so that we do is to protect lives and properties.

Any threat, especially against the nations asset or nations individuals is taken seriously and the Nigerian navy will continue to do that which it has to do to protect the assets and properties of Nigeria.

I think its the navys responsibility to secure the maritime territory of Nigeria as well as bad waters, he noted.

The naval boss recalled the feat his men achieved through strategic deployment of personnel and military hardwares at the peak of previous hostilities in the creeks of the region.

Speaking on the choke-points regime introduced to curtail criminality in the waterways, the CNS confirmed that houseboats and military hardware have been deployed along coastlines and the operation was yielding tremendous dividends.

Youll recall that at the height of the sea robberies and vandalism of the nations critical assets, especially those caused by vandals, the navy had to deploy a strategy of choke-points regime and if you know what the maritime environment looks like, basically it could be thousands of creeks and estuaries that empty into the Atlantic Ocean, these roads provide access to criminal elements.

What we have attempted to do was to put in place these measures to ensure that we confine the movement of these criminals.

I want to believe that our strategy has yielded a lot of results. This, of course, is confirmed by the IOCs who have also been able to have increased and enhanced oil production levels.

Ours is to ensure we carry out measures that will reduce criminality in the maritime environment, he disclosed.

On piracy, the naval boss said the navy was doing quite a lot to ensure that security was provided for those who do legitimate businesses in the maritime environment of the country.

He noted further that with the choke-point regime, the presence of the navy was diligently tailored towards reducing challenges at the sea, adding that the navys presence has reduced the incidences of pirates at sea.
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King Mohammed VI delivered a speech on the occasion of the 42 anniversary of the Green March in which he reiterated firm commitment to safeguarding Moroccos territorial integrity in keeping with an unshakable covenant binding the Throne and the people together.

In his speech, the Monarch shed light on milestones in the process of retrieving Moroccos southern provinces, the Sahara, from Spanish colonialism, pointing out that Morocco will celebrate, in a few weeks, the 60th anniversary of the speech given by his grandfather, late King Mohammed V, at Mhamid al-Ghizlan which confirmed a basic fact which no one can deny, namely the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the Moroccan peoples unwavering commitment to their land.

When late King Mohammed V gave his historic speech in the Saharan village of Mhamid al-Ghizlan, no claims had been put forward regarding the liberation of the Sahara, except for Moroccos legitimate demands, said the Monarch, recalling that back then, Algeria- which has nurtured the separatist thesis- was still under the yoke of French colonialism.

King Mohammed Vs speech reiterated Moroccos historical and legal rights in respect of the Sahara, when he solemnly and publicly declared to the representatives of the Sahrawi tribal sheikhs, who swore allegiance (beia) to him, that he would continue to work to recover the Sahara, in keeping with Moroccos historical rights and in accordance with the will of the regions inhabitants, said the Monarch.

In keeping with a solemn promise, King Mohammed VI said that he continues to uphold the same commitment to make sure our citizens in those territories are honored, promote development in the region, free our brothers and sisters in the camps and ensure those territories are fully integrated into the motherland.
King Mohammed VI arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (November 7) for a friendly and working visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The Monarch will also pay an official visit to Qatar as of next Sunday (Nov. 12), said the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery in a statement.

During the visit, the Monarch will also attend the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum to take place on Wednesday.

The royal visit is taking place at a time Qatar is in a standoff with its Gulf neighbors, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, plus Egypt.

Since the outbreak of the crisis, when the four countries severed their relations with Qatar over its alleged support of terrorism, and sidelining with Iran, King Mohammed VI maintained close and continuous contact with different parties and Morocco expressed its willingness to mediate to defuse the crisis.

A statement released then by the Moroccan foreign Ministry had pointed out that King Mohammed VI called on all parties to show restraint and wisdom in order to defuse tension and overcome the crisis with a view to finding a lasting settlement to the causes that have led to the current situation in line with the spirit that has always characterized the GCC.

Morocco, which remains closely linked to Gulf countries in all fields despite geographic distance, is very concerned with this crisis although it is not directly involved in it, the statement had said, noting that the North African Kingdom has adopted a constructive neutrality which does not confine it to a passive observation of a disturbing escalation between brotherly countries.
The speech delivered by King Mohammed VI Monday as Morocco was celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the Green march is a masterly history lesson addressed to Algeria and to all those who believe in Algerias whims and propaganda.

King Mohammed VI did not create facts nor did he refer to legends. He mentioned established historical facts.

Immediately after Morocco gained its independence from France, King Mohammed VIs grandfather, the late King Mohammed V, on a visit to the southern village of Mhamid al-Ghizlan in 1958, reiterated Moroccos historical and legal rights over the Sahara.

The Late King solemnly and publicly declared to the representatives of the Sahrawi tribal sheikhs, who swore allegiance (beia) to him, that he would continue to work to recover the Sahara, in keeping with Moroccos historical rights and in accordance with the will of the regions inhabitants, King Mohammed VI recalled.

The historic speech at Mhamid al-Ghizlan is highly significant for several reasons. Not only does it represent a milestone in the completion of our territorial integrity, but it also confirmed a basic fact, which no one can deny, namely the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the Moroccan peoples unwavering commitment to their land, the Monarch underlined, before supporting his remarks with other undeniable arguments, showing that the Sahara conflict was artificially created by Algeria to serve its own hegemony dreams.

He recalled in this connection that Morocco, through the voice of its late king, claimed its historical rights over the Sahara before it tabled the question at the United Nations in 1963. Morocco claimed its legitimate rights over its Southern provinces, at a time when no claims had been put forward regarding the liberation of the Sahara, except for Moroccos legitimate demands. Morocco claimed its historical rights over the Sahara even before Algeria became independent.

Actually, at the time of Mohammed Vs speech at Mhamid al-Ghizlan, Morocco was backing Algerias independence struggle and supplying it with arms and ammunition. Hopefully, this years Green March speech will bring Algerian rulers back in time and remind them of what Morocco did for its eastern neighbor.

For King Mohammed VI, his grandfathers speech, pronounced in those circumstances, needs no further comment; nor can anyone dispute its credibility. It conveys more than just a commitment; in fact, it epitomizes the covenant that binds the Throne and the people.

The Mhamid al-Ghizlan speech also confirms that the Sahara had always been Moroccan before the artificial dispute over the territory was fabricated.

To sum it all up, King Mohammed VI said solemnly The Sahara will remain Moroccan until God inherits the land  whatever sacrifices may be required and renewed his pledge to make every effort to defend our territorial integrity and to enable our people in the Sahara to lead a free, dignified life.
The development model adopted by Morocco in the southern provinces attaches utmost importance to safeguarding the cultural and civilizational aspects of the Sahara as part of a national undertaking aiming at preserving all the constituents of Moroccan identity, said King Mohammed VI in a speech to the nation marking the 42nd anniversary of the Green March.

The development model, which was ushered by late King Hassan II to bridge the gap between the southern provinces and other Moroccan regions, was bolstered under the reign of King Mohammed VI with large-scale projects in the economic, social and cultural fields.

This development model is not just about the economy. It is an integrated societal project aimed at ensuring human fulfilment, preserving peoples dignity and making sure man is front and center in the development process, said the King in the speech.

He went on to say that this model lays special emphasis on the preservation of the Saharan cultural heritage. I know personally how much that heritage means to the people of the region.

Therefore, the king said that he cares deeply about the Hassani culture, which stands for the culture of the southern provinces.

The King also stressed that the Saharan culture needs to be showcased properly by providing the cultural amenities and facilities required, promoting artistic initiatives and events, and honoring the men and women involved in culture, creativity and the arts.

The promotion of the culture of the Sahara is part of an endeavor to promoting all components of the Moroccan identity, said the king, adding that there is no difference between any of the cultural and linguistic characteristics across Moroccos regions  in the Sahara or the Sousse region, in the Rif region, the Atlas mountains or the eastern part of the country.

The King also deemed that preserving local cultural heritage does not mean promoting intolerance or reclusiveness, nor should it be a pretext to foster extremism or separatism.

Rather, promoting the local heritage is a means whereby we show how proud we are of our cultural diversity and of all the components of our national identity, in a country which fosters unity among its regions, he said.

Therefore, showcasing and preserving the national cultural heritage is a collective duty aiming at promoting communication and interplay between the constituents of this heritage while being open to universal values, to other civilizations and to the knowledge and communication-based world, the king underscored.
Virginia Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, is both his partys past and its future. A former chairman of the Republican National Committee during the Bush era, he has molded himself to its new Trump-era identity even as the former President Bush (and his father) have recoiled in disgust. Hes closed an enthusiasm gap by rallying around the Trump agenda, Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist and avatar of Republican populism, told the New York Times recently. And I think the big lesson for Tuesday is that, in Gillespies case, Trumpism without Trump can show the way forward.

The anointment of a person who was once a quintessentially Bushian Republican as the avatar of the new Trumpist party might seem puzzling. The connective tissue between Gillespies old and new identity is his work as a lobbyist, in which capacity Gillespie served in the interregnum. Gillespie has altered his political style  ditching his previous pleas for liberalized immigration for nativist demagoguery  without altering his vision of governing. Trumpism is ethno-nationalist politics in service of a domestic policy dictated by lobbyists. In that sense Gillespie is the quintessential Trumpist.

A primary source of confusion about the nature of Trumpism is the candidates identification as a political outsider who would drain the swamp. Campaign journalists and some voters understood this to mean that Trump would launch attacks on entrenched business interests in Washington. The slogan turns out not to mean this at all. By swamp Trump and his supporters mean any source of opposition to the president  Democrats, Robert Mueller, federal regulations, the news media. Draining the swamp means handing Trump untrammeled power.

It certainly does not mean clearing out lobbyists. The Republican government has been a bonanza for the influence industry, which has filled the Executive branch at every level. The Department of Education is now run by lobbyists who worked for the for-profit college industry, the Department of Agriculture by lobbyists for agribusiness, the Departments of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency by fossil-fuel lobbyists, and on and on. During the eight years of the Obama administration, business lobbyists often found the gates to the White House closed tight. They are open now under President Donald Trump, reports Reuters.

Meanwhile, Republicans are increasingly uninhibited about describing their own agenda as payback for the donor class. Representative Chris Collins pleads for the passage of tax cuts: My donors are basically saying, Get it done or dont ever call me again. This used to be the kind of motivation elected officials would go to great lengths to obscure.

It is striking how tightly Republicans have focused their agenda upon protecting not free markets or small government but the interests of owners of existing wealth. The overwhelming first-order effect of the Republican tax cut is to confer a windfall benefit on people who own and control business. The elimination of the estate tax, combined with the preservation of the loophole allowing capital gains to escape taxation when passed on to heirs, will facilitate the amassing of intergenerational dynasties. As Catherine Rampell points out, its treatment of pass-through income would create special benefits for people who passively own businesses, rather than those who actively create or expand them.

For a Republican, Trumps rhetoric is strikingly devoid of soaring rhetoric about dynamism and economic openness. He presents his economic agenda as a triumph of the force of his own personality. (The reason our stock market is so successful is because of me. Ive always been great with money, he told reporters.)

The Russia scandal has revealed, among other things, the deep personal and ideological affinities between Trumps philosophy and Vladimir Putins. The two presidents share not only a wide array of business relationships among their inner circles, but a shared vision of how the economy works. They have similar arrangements of mutual protection with their countrys economic elite. They both see wealth as a tool of foreign-policy domination, and place special importance on the role of natural-resource extraction. Their buddies stash their hidden wealth in the same offshore locales. Neither has any illusions about disentangling wealth from political power.

Gillespies triumph is that he has demonstrated the vacuity of the economic component of Trumps formula. A politician who can play the right ethno-nationalist chords does not need even the pretense of outsider authenticity in order to qualify as a populist; one can actually go straight from a career as a Washington lobbyist to a populist. He has proven that the Republican Party can embrace its Trump-era identity without any alteration of its domestic-policy formula. He has proven that cynicism runs deeper than anybody suspected. Just as Bannon says, Gillespie has shown the way forward.
Choose your own implausible explanation. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Depending on who youre talking to in Kentucky, Washington, a TV studio in New York, or certain fringe internet enclaves, mysterious events ranging from mundane to nefarious may have resulted in a United States senator having five of his ribs broken and dislocated by his next-door neighbor on Friday.

Rand Pauls injuries were sustained in the late afternoon when he reportedly got down off his lawnmower on his property in Rivergreen, a gated community in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where hes lived since the mid-1990s.

The ophthalmologist and junior senator, of slight build and deaf in one ear, was, according to the New York Times, wearing noise-canceling earmuffs.

This allowed his neighbor of 13 years, a retired anesthesiologist named Rene Boucher, to charge him and tackle him to the ground, breaking and dislocating his ribs and bruising his lungs. Boucher was charged with assault and released on $7,500 bail.

When the Republican senator will return to D.C. remains an open question, Doug Stafford, his senior adviser, said on Sunday. He noted that the severe pain prevented much movement, never mind air travel. And as for the altercation itself? It is a pending, serious criminal matter involving state and federal authorities, he told New York in a statement. We wont have any further comment at this time.

According to voter registration records, Boucher is a Democrat. And on social media, hes reportedly vocalized his opposition to President Donald Trump  a fact that prompted immediate speculation that his assault of Paul was ideologically motivated; Paul sparred often with Trump throughout the Republican primary, but hes broadly supported his agenda in Washington.

They know hes really leading the tax cuts, leading killing Obamacare, oh my God, Alex Jones told his audience over the weekend, following the news. Jones is a conspiracy theorist and the host of Infowars, and before he supported Trump during the presidential campaign, he endorsed Paul. The senator and his father  the libertarian icon, congressman, and frequent presidential candidate Ron Paul  were guests on Infowars over the years.

Jones said that basically, early reports indicated the assault was the work of antifa, although the reports said no such thing.

Our security and the police department dont wanna get into this, but this is exactly the kinda stuff that these cowards engage in, he added.

But Matthew J. Baker, an attorney for Boucher, said Monday, in a statement provided to New York, The unfortunate occurrence of November 3rd has absolutely nothing to do with eithers politics or political agendas.

Instead, Baker called it, a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial.

But what kind of trivial dispute could send you hurtling into a federal lawmaker, snapping his bones?

On Fox News, host Shep Smith implied something was amiss.

Smells like a skunk in the chicken house, but I havent seen the skunk, he said, after a reporter explained that information regarding the incident had been slow to emerge. Initially, reports said Paul sustained minor injuries. But by Monday, we learned his recovery could take months.

A neighbor reached by phone Monday evening told New York that although such violence isnt common in Rivergreen that Im aware of, the incident wasnt a big deal. Its just a  it was just a fight, the neighbor said, before adding, I really dont have any information for you.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that a different neighbor claimed Paul and Boucher have a long-running dispute over grass clippings and leaves blown on each others lawns.

Rivergreen, as advertised in real estate listings and video tours, is one of those pristine Stepford neighborhoods where hardly a blade of grass is out of place.

According to a 2014 profile of Paul in The New Yorker, the rulebook for homeowners in Rivergreen is 21 pages long. It stipulates, among other things, that certain types of swimming pools and gravel driveways, clotheslines, and piles of firewood visible to neighbors, are banned, and homes built within its confines must be a minimum of 3,000 square feet, consisting of only brick, stone, or stucco.

The Times reported that Paul grows pumpkins on his property, composts and has shown little interest for neighborhood regulations. Rivergreens developer, a local named Jim Skaggs, repeatedly hung up the phone on this reporter but told the Times that Paul and Boucher both had strong opinions, and a little different ones about what property rights mean.

He added, They just couldnt get along. I think it had very little to do with Democrat or Republican politics.

That could be true, or Alex Jones could be right, or there could be some other wild explanation. I aint ever wanted to slug a man who I wasnt in love with, one Twitter user mused. Like, five whole ribs? Thats real love.
Northam supporters at a campaign event on October 19, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

While many are still dealing with PTSD-like symptoms from watching the results come in a year ago, another Election Day is upon us. This time, no one is arguing that this is the most significant election of our lifetime, but there are a number of races across the country on Tuesday that will have a significant impact on the political landscape as we head into the 2018 midterms. There are also initiatives on the ballot that could have huge consequences, like opening the door for voters to accept Obamacares Medicaid expansion against their governors wishes. Heres a look at the races to watch on Tuesday night.

Virginia Governors Race: A Preview of 2018?

Northam gets some high-profile assistance at a rally on October 19, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Ralph Northam, Virginias Democratic lieutenant governor, was once expected to easily defeat Republican Ed Gillespie, a former lobbyist and White House adviser to George W. Bush whos never held office before, in Virginias gubernatorial race. Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the state by 5.3 points last November, and since then, Democrats have been overperforming (though not actually winning) in special elections nationwide. Plus, even before Trump was elected, the party controlling the White House tended to lose in Virginia gubernatorial races.

But in recent weeks the race has tightened, leaving Democrats worried that they they may see a replay of Clintons loss on Tuesday. While most polls still have Northam in the lead, on election eve, his lead over Gillespie was down to 3.3 percent in RealClearPolitics polling averages.

Gillespie has gone on the offensive, embracing Trumpian cultural issues, though he was once known for urging his party to appeal to minority voters. Gillespie has vowed to preserve Confederate monuments, attacked incumbent Governor Terry McAuliffe for restoring felons rights, and criticized Northam for voting against a bill to make sanctuary cities illegal. Though Virginia does not actually have sanctuary cities, his ads used that issue to attempt to tie Northam to fears of MS-13 gang violence.

Meanwhile, the Democratic side has been plagued by internecine disputes (Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders backed former Representative Tom Perriello in the primary) and accusations that despite massive support from national Democrats, Northam is running a lackluster campaign  much like Clinton.

While the national implications of the race will be limited if Northam wins, a Gillespie upset would leave Democrats with major fears heading into the 2018 midterms. Aside from the electoral consequences of Republicans taking full control of another state government, it would show that even a longtime creature of the Swamp like Gillespie can win local races by adopting Trumpian themes.

Christies Disappointing Legacy

Democrat Phil Murphy speaks at a rally on October 19, 2017, in Newark, New Jersey. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Though it seems to be working in Virginia, turning to the right on immigration isnt doing much good for New Jersey lieutenant governor Kim Guadagno. The Republican gubernatorial candidate is doubly disadvantaged; President Trump is unpopular in New Jersey and current Governor Chris Christie is really unpopular. (The Republican governors approval ratings were in the teens even before he relaxed on a beach that was closed to the public due to a government shutdown.)

The Democratic candidate, former U.S. ambassador to Germany and Wall Street executive Phil Murphy, has consistently had a double-digit lead in the polls, and hes currently ahead by 14.4 percent in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

The entire New Jersey legislature is up for reelection, too, and it looks like Democrats will hold onto their fairly large majority. Barring some wild upset, it seems that when Christie exits New Jersey politics, the state will become one of the rare Democratic trifectas, with Dems controlling the executive branch and both chambers in the legislature.

A Test for Utahs New Political Party

Representative Jason Chaffetz wanted to spend the next few years investigating the countrys first female president, but like many, he saw his dreams crushed on November 8, 2016. Chaffetz abruptly announced he was retiring from Congress to be a Fox News commentator last summer, and on Tuesday, theres an election in Utahs Third Congressional District to fill his seat.

Republican John Curtis, the mayor of Provo, is almost certain to win the race in the deeply red district. A poll last month gave him a 27-point lead over Democratic challenger Kathie Allen, a physician who has never sought elected office before. But it will be interesting to see how Jim Bennett, of the newly formed party United Utah, fares in the race. Bennett, the son of the late Senator Bob Bennett, sued to get on the ballot and reached the minimum 6 percent threshold to qualify for the congressional debates.

While Trump won Utah, thanks in part to his unpopularity with Mormons, 27 percent of the state voted for independent Evan McMullin. United Utah was formed over the summer for disaffected Republicans and Democrats.

Washingtons Super-High-Stakes State Senate Race

While the race for a single state Senate seat in the Seattle suburbs usually wouldnt draw national attention, it does when the outcome will determine what party controls Washingtons state legislature.

Washington has a Democratic governor and the party controls the state House of Representatives. Republicans effectively have a one-seat majority in the Senate because one conservative Democrat caucuses with the GOP. A seat opened up when a Republican state senator passed away earlier this year.

National political organizations and wealthy donors like former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg have poured at least $6 million into the race between Democrat Manka Dhingra and Republican Jinyoung Lee, making it the most expensive legislative race in the states history.

In addition to making Washington the seventh state in the country where Democrats control all levels of government (compared to the 26 states held by Republicans), a win by Dhingra would give Democrats complete control of the state governments all along the West Coast.

The Push to Turn Virginias House of Delegates Blue

While the gubernatorial race is the main attraction, Democrats across the country are also keeping an eye on Virginias House of Delegates. Democrats have been winning statewide elections in the purple state since 2009, but Republicans still hold 66 of the 100 seats in the House of Delegates. Clinton won 17 Republican-held districts in Virginia, and most of those races are very competitive. Democrats are expected to gain at least a few seats, and if they can pick up five to ten seats it will be an encouraging sign for Democrats looking to take back the U.S. House in 2018.

Maine Voters May Give 80,000 People Health Coverage

Donna Wall and her daughter Ashleigh, 21, at their home in Maine. Wall cares for three of her adult children who have autism, including Ashleigh. She was cut off from Medicaid after her twin boys turned 18. Photo: Portland Press Herald/Press Herald via Getty Images

Maine governor Paul LePage has blocked efforts to expand Medicaid in the state under the Affordable Care Act five times, but on Tuesday, voters may overrule him. A ballot initiative will let Mainers decide whether to make Medicaid available to anyone living below 133 percent of the federal poverty line, which would give about 80,000 people access to coverage.

As Vox notes, expanding Medicaid tends to poll well, but there isnt much polling on what Mainers might do. Plus, there may still be ways for LePage to fight against the expansion. But if it passes, Maine will be the first state to expand Medicaid via ballot initiative and it could inspire other states to try to do the same.

New York Considers a Con Con

Senator Robert Kennedy at the opening of the last State Constitutional Convention in Albany in 1967. Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

By law, every 20 years New Yorkers are given an opportunity to consider whether to hold a state constitutional convention or a Con Con. If passed, delegates would be elected to meet in spring of 2019 and decide what changes, if any, should be made to New Yorks constitution, which hasnt been updated since 1938. Any amendments the delegates come up with would have to be approved by the voters.

As the Village Voice explains, the issue doesnt split along party lines. Many of those in favor of the convention have specific issues theyre hoping to see enshrined in state law, from abortion rights to term limits for all state lawmakers. But opponents  most notably the states major unions  warn that it could also provide an opportunity to weaken labor protections, or invite meddling from right-wing billionaires like the Koch brothers and the Mercers.

Voters rejected a convention in 1997, and its chances arent looking great this time around. A recent poll from Siena College found 57 percent of respondents plan to vote no on the convention, and only 25 percent plan to vote yes.

Mayor de Blasio Looks to the Future

Mayor de Blasio campaigns with Senator Sanders in Manhattan on October 30, 2017. Photo: Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Back in 2013, Bill de Blasio was elected mayor of New York in a landslide, beating Republican Joe Lhota by 49 points. Four years later, the Democratic mayor appears poised for another massive win, though a recent poll had him leading GOP state assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis by a comparatively measly 42 percentage points.

So whats at stake for de Blasio in a race hes sure to win (unless, perhaps, he hugs President Trump in the middle of Fifth Avenue on Tuesday)? As David Freedlander writes, hes already proven that a mayor of New York can be aggressively left-wing without the city reverting back to someplace that looks like the soundstage for a gritty 70s film remake. Now hes hoping that another landslide can make him viable on the national stage once more. If he wins big, there will likely be new whispers about running for higher office in 2020  though historically, the presidential ambitions of New Yorks mayors have always fizzled.

De Blasio already seems more focused on President Trump than his little-known mayoral rivals.

We will stand up to Donald Trump every single day, he said, while campaigning with Senator Bernie Sanders. So long as hes in the White House, this city cannot be as fair as it needs to be unless we take him on.

Hes certainly not the only one who will be thinking about what Tuesdays results mean for the wider effort to resist the Trump administration.
New York Magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary with this enormous volume published by Simon & Schuster. Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: Fifty Years of New York aims to tell the story of the capital of the world, as seen in the pages of the magazine that shares its name. Over those five decades, the city went from broke to rich, from busted-down to gleaming, through three blackouts, two terror attacks, and one real-estate boom that never seems to end. This huge, joyous, visually kaleidoscopic tour through history is now on sale, and if we may be so bold, we think youll enjoy it very much. Oh, and its cover unfolds into a poster-size, five-decade, 400-item Approval Matrix for the ages:

Below is a quick peek. (But at $40 on Amazon for 432 pages, plus eight double foldout spreads, we think  and others agree  it might be worth just buying it for yourselves, or giving it as a gift to any magazine nerd or city lover you know.)

19691970: The magazine covered social dynamics with verbal and visual wit. Milton Glaser, New Yorks co-founder and first design director, recently remarked that the punch line on the Notes on the Paralyzed Generation cover came from a joke hed been telling since he was a kid. As for the liberated-woman bodybuilder, this picture was made before Photoshop: Glaser remembers that the two models (one for the face, another for the arm) stood close in the studio, and that the woman flopped her hair over his shoulder to hide the joinery.

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1971: Ms. was born in our pages. In 1971, Gloria Steinemone of New Yorks two original political columnists, the other being Jimmy Breslinwas looking to start a magazine covering the womens movement. Clay Felker, New Yorks founding editor, agreed to run a 30-page sampler of the new magazines stories bound into the year-end issue of New York. The package (which sold out on newsstands) included the stories reprinted on this gatefold spread, including I Want a Wife, by Judy Syfers, a classic thats still taught in womens-studies classes.

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1976: The dance floor lit up. Nik Cohns story Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night sold to the movies the week it was published, becoming Saturday Night Fever the following year. John Travoltas look owed more to James McMullans paintings than to Cohns text (which, the writer admitted two decades later, was mostly fabricated).

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1969 and 2012: The magazine discovered Brooklyn  and then declared it over. In that first cover story, Pete Hamill wrote with astonishment that the neighborhood in which hed grown up, a working-class dump known as Park Slope, was being repopulated by youngish, Manhattanish families. He happily reported that the best brownstones could be had for considerably less than they cost in Manhattan: about $30,000.

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1980: We coined a word. Gael Greene, the magazines longtime restaurant critic, was the first person to use the word foodies, in the issue of June 2 that year. It eventually became so ubiquitous and so heavily leaned upon that the magazines copy desk banned it for a while.

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1982: Fashion and art hooked up. Anna Wintour  New Yorks fashion editor in the early 1980s, before she went to Vogue and international fame  says that this was her favorite story for us, a feature in which painters were commissioned to produce art that harmonized with the clothes on view. This backdrop is by Alex Katz, who last month drew New Yorks three 50th-anniversary covers.

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20162017: We covered artists old and young. Kara Walker appeared in the magazine shortly after making her majestically powerful Sugar Sphinx sculpture on the Brooklyn waterfront. In that same issue, we celebrated I. M. Pei, the last of the great modernist architects, to mark his 100th birthday.

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.
The president of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Dr Dorothy Okello, has expressed concern over the increasing number of engineers leaving the profession for other fields.

Speaking at Makerere University last week, Okello said while about 600 engineers are licensed to practice, they need more training to make them relevant in the labour market.

If you look closely, 13 of the 26 objects of the National Development Plan that will lead us to a middle-income status country have an engineering input, Dr Okello said.

So, our main concern is how we train engineering students so they can reach international industry standards. We need to study how our products are assimilated in the industry.

She raised her concerns during the launch of a three-month review of programmes at the college of Engineering, Design Art and Technology (Cedat) that attracted engineering experts from countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan.

The launch also saw experts from the British Royal Academy of Engineering joining their counterparts from Makerere, Busitema, Ndejje and Uganda Christian universities.

Okello said there is need to have all fourth-year students projects based on industry problems so that institutions adopt a problem-solving approach to teaching.

Cedat principal Dr Henry Alinaitwe was also concerned about the current training of engineers.

The number of engineering graduates has increased from 40 to 600 per year over the last 20 years, Alinaitwe said.

[However] many engineers are not hands-on and many others have transferred to sales and marketing rather than innovation.

Okello, also a senior lecturer in computer engineering, disclosed that training of students will improve further with support from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) and Uganda National Roads Authority.

The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding with Makerere University to help train its engineering students.

Unra has offered us an opportunity that for every contract awarded, 30 per cent of engineers on the projects must be Ugandan, she said. I dont know if we can raise the number the engineers needed but the challenge is onto us now.

justuslyatuu08@gmail.com
For the many years Makerere University has offered PhD training, most learners have always been trained individually for atleast six to 10 years.

That system takes a heavy toll on both the students and supervisors but that may soon be history, writes CHRISTOPHER TUSIIME.

A German organization, Gerda Henkel Stiftung, has given Shs 6 billion to the college of Humanities and Social Sciences (Chuss) to pilot a cohort system where PhD students are admitted as a group to study under a particular theme and even share classes, but with different areas of specialization.

According to Prof Edward Kirumira, the principal at Chuss, the challenge with the old system has been the very long time students spend on training that ranges between six and 10 years.

PhD students under the cohort system attend classes at Makerere University last week

What we are doing now, with the support of Gerda Henkel Stiftung, is to move single PhD training to cohort PhD training. So, instead of admitting one student, and having that one student have one supervisor for all that time, we are to meet at least 10 PhD students at the same time, Kirumira said.

This, Kirumira says, is meant to overcome challenges that come with admitting a single student who studies alone compared to group training.

When admitted as a cohort, we give them provisional admission at the same time, give them supervisors and co-supervisors at the same time and move them together, even when they are in their respective disciplines. Because they are a cohort, they look out for one another, they have colleagues and they will not be alone, Kirumira adds.

He notes that a special training for supervisors of the cohort system has already been completed and they are good to go.

He says that with a cohort of 10 students, the coordinator alone can ensure the admission is done on time because Makerere used to assume that PhD training was for staff members who were aware of the the admission process.

However, he explains that the trend is changing as students admitted nowadays are not part of their staff and are oblivious of the system, a reason some take four years to get full registration.

But with the cohort system, Prof Kirumira is hopeful that all lazy supervisors will be compelled to work hard as a group, something that calls for fulfillment of an obligation for everyone.

Currently, 10 students have already been admitted on a cohort system and are expected to graduate in three years or at least submit their dissertations during this time.

These lucky 10 are Charles Kinyera Okeny, Abudul Mahajubu, Betty Nangira, Igns Fedeo, Perpetua Arinaitwe, Deogratius K. Kannamwangi, Patrick Lugwiri Okombo, Robinah Seruga Nakabo, May Namuddu and Zaid Ssekitto.

Kirumira says these students are all benefiting from the funding to participate in the pilot study. The positions were advertised and successful students chosen.

This particular funding insists that we also get students from the region like from Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, among others. Last time, we got 64 applications for 10 slots. Thats how competitive it was. But we also proved to the donor that there is serious need for PhD training, he says.

Meanwhile, Prof David Owiny, one of the trainers of PhD supervisors for the cohort system, says despite the various challenges in PhD supervision, such as underfunding, there should be professionalism.

As a supervisor, you are supposed to detect plagiarism, urge students to attend conferences and avoid unethical conduct, Owiny says.

He observes that supervisors must also have the ability to guide students on non-academic issues that would affect their studies. He cited a student who left for Canada because her husband had also shifted there, and has since never returned. Owiny says such students need prompt guidance.

According to the Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, since the university started offering PhD training in the early 1990s, the number of intakes has been steadily growing. He says the number has jumped from less than 10 students in the 1990s to over 100 students to date.

According to statistics, the college of Health Sciences (CHS) currently produces the biggest number of PhD graduates while law school sits at the bottom.

For instance, during this years graduation, CHS had 19 PhD graduands followed by Chuss with 10 while law school had one.

Kirumira notes that even though a cohort system seems to be the best, many may be hindered by funding challenges. He, however, says that the university will keep lobbying for scholarships and grants to admit more students for this system.



TEAMWORK

For Zaid Ssekitto, one of the beneficiaries, since they started their studies on September 22, 2017, he has experienced teamwork that he never expected.

We are having a shared problem-solving approach. For example, if I come up with my proposal, problem statement, or anything, I can give it to my colleagues to read through, we panel beat it and at least we get direction, Ssekitto says.

He adds that the beauty with this system is that they get extensive ideas and are not limited to a few as the case would be if it was an individual student.

Robinah Nakabo previously went through a system where you study alone when she was pursuing her masters degree and she understands the challenges therein.

You find challenges like in selecting a topic, objective, and several other problems, Nakabo says. But when you know that you are not alone in the journey, it relieves you of the burden. We have means of communicating with one another, we share information, we guide one another and we comfort one another; it is like a family.

For now, Prof Kirumira says this is just a pilot study; but if it works, it would be recommended for adoption at Makerere University.



tusiime.chris20@gmail.com
Police in Fort Portal have arrested Joram Bintamanya, the councillor representing South Division in Fort Portal municipality, for inciting violence.



Bintamanya was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at Summit hotel in Fort Portal town by plain-clothed detectives led by David Tumusiime, the head of electoral and political crimes department at Fort Portal police station.



Rwenzori regional police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe says that last week, while at a consultative meeting at Buhinga playgrounds and on different radio stations in Fort Portal, Bintamanya uttered abusive words against President Yoweri Museveni.

Joram Bintamanya

Tumushabe also said that at the same rally, Bintamanya incited people of Tooro against some leaders who support the proposed removal of the presidential age limit from the Constitution. She adds that before his arrest, police had been collecting evidence such as recordings.



Tumushabe did not divulge details on the specific statements that were uttered by Bintamanya.



However, a source at Fort Portal police, who preferred anonymity, told URN that police received complaints from Adolf Mwesige, the minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs and Peace Mutuuzo, the state minister for Culture over insults traded against them by Bintamanya.



The source says that the two ministers also accused Bintamanya of inciting people to attack them and their relatives for blindly supporting the age limit removal. The source further adds that the arrest of Bintamanya follows a security meeting chaired by Kabarole resident district commissioner Stephen Asiimwe this morning. The source says that the utterances by Bintamanya were discussed in the meeting.



In one of the recordings circulating on social media, Bintamanya says Museveni's ministers act as if they "do not reason" and lack "substance" by blindly supporting lifting of the age limit to allow Museveni to seek for another term.

He said only "fools" can serve in Museveni's government. He added that Museveni's ministers have not brought any value to the country but instead enjoy the perks that come with being a minister. He said Mutuuzo brought a passion fruits project to her area instead of industries that would employ the many jobless youths.

"Museveni can tell them to sleep in a latrine and they will blindly do so", he said.

He said as a retirement package, Museveni should be given a Shs 1 billion moving toilet, with several ambulances and doctors to look after him because 35 years in power is more than enough.

He said Museveni "should have mercy" and leave power when his term ends in 2021.
A mutual interaction between Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Kampala traders is set to increase, thanks to a new management system.

Previously, this interaction was largely restricted to audit visits at traders premises, enforcement on failure to comply and the occasional assistance obtained by visiting URA offices.

To change that, and ensure benefits for taxpayers and URA, the Domestic Taxes (DT) department recently introduced the Block Management System (BMS).

In this system, the central business district and nearby areas were divided into 13 blocks, each of which is demarcated by streets and key buildings in Kampala Metropolitan and surrounding areas.

Each block was allocated a supervisor and a number of staff depending on the size and level of economic activity in the block.

Explaining the strategy, DT Commissioner, Henry Saka, said it involved the segmentation of small taxpayers according to their defined geographic locations, which are called blocks.

In these blocks, a team of tax officers is assigned to systematically manage tax compliance of each taxpayer on a day-to-day basis. The blocks are fairly small and will enable tax officers to undertake door-to-door visits to all businesses, Saka said.

BMS is part of the continuous effort to bridge the gap between taxpayers and URA.

We must purpose to better understand our clients business and then tailor solutions that are better matched to meet these needs, Saka noted.

We must provide better services to our clients, better returns filing services, better assessments, better payment services and handle their queries expeditiously.

The Block Management System commenced on August 1, 2017 and is being piloted in Kampala Metropolitan, according to Saka. Thereafter, it will be rolled out to other regions of the country.

Phase one of the BMS covers stretches to city suburbs namely Bukesa, Mengo, Kamwokya, Jinja Road, Lugogo and all areas within that boundary. They include Kitante, Kisenyi, Kololo, Nakasero, the central business district and Kikuubo, a busy trading hub in so-called downtown Kampala.

Easing provision of taxpayer services, which will include tax advice and intensive taxpayer education (seminars/workshops) on the rights and obligations of taxpayers in the designated blocks are among the benefits to taxpayers.

Based on the know-your-customer concept, we will seek to know all taxpayer activities taking place in each block in order to identify taxpayers needs and gather valuable information so that equitable and correct tax assessments can be made, Saka explained.

On the other hand, URA would be able to identify and register all eligible taxpayers operating on a block and undertake tax compliance checks to establish the nature of business.

Other benefits to URA are ensuring that taxpayers comply with tax obligations, due dates and all tax laws. The BMS is additionally expected to facilitate seamless transition to the use of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) since there will be close monitoring of all taxpayers within a block.

According to Saka, it is part of internal efficiencies meant to boost the departments performance. World over, as international trade, which is vulnerable to external pressures declines, countries are focusing more on domestic taxes, and Uganda is no exception.

Last financial year 2016/17, Domestic Taxes collected a total of Shs 7.4 trillion, an excellent performance the department wants to sustain over the coming years.

BMS comes on the heels of other activities meant to ease compliance and ultimately ensure efficiency.

These include opening up offices in rapidly growing centres such as Kyaliwajala  close to Namugongo  and Nansana in Kampala, Kyotera  along the Masaka-Mutukula highway  and Ibanda in western Uganda. In the pipeline is an office in Nateete, a rapidly expanding and busy Kampala suburb.



The writer works with Uganda Revenue Authoritys Public & Corporate Affairs division.
Despite recent reforms in the existing law, Uganda continues to be a high-risk theatre for money laundering, a report by the Finance Intelligence Authority (FIA) has said.

The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment report tabled before cabinet on August 4, says the country suffers from a low money laundering combating ability.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act defines money laundering as the process of turning illegitimately obtained property into seemingly legitimate property and it includes concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of the proceeds of crime and any activity which constitutes a crime.

The national risk assessment report says there are system flaws diminishing Ugandas capacity to fight money laundering.

The [money laundering tracking] system being relatively new, it is not yet implemented effectively. Capacity issues [combined with the risk of financial integrity issues] affect, to different degrees, the ability of stakeholders to prevent and repress money laundering and terrorist financing in an effective manner, the report notes.

Sydney Asubo, the FIA executive director, told The Observer in an interview recently that: the report was approved by cabinet in August but [is] not yet available to everyone.

The FIAs findings were compiled from open and classified information sources, including bank accounts and transactions in the financial services sector. In 2013, Uganda enacted the Anti-Money Laundering Act to fight drug trafficking, corruption, terrorism and tax evasion.

Between 2014 and 2016, only three money laundering related cases were taken to court out of those reported to the Crime Intelligence and Investigations Directorate, CIID, according to information at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Most of the reported cases, however, are largely based on suspicion and do not got to full trial. In 2015, United Bank for Africa reported a Shs 5bn suspicious transaction.

Eighteen people were charged in the Anti-Corruption court in relation to this transaction. But the report notes that the charge was withdrawn by the DPP for lack of adequate evidence to convict the accused.

Other transactions involving billions of shillings were reported by KCB Bank (U) Ltd, Diamond Trust Bank and Post Bank Uganda Ltd. All investigations have stalled for over two years due to lack of evidence or inefficient system capacity.

Customers queue up in KCB bank

In court, the DPP has also not secured a single conviction, the report says. In one ongoing court case, the accused, operating in a commercial bank, were supposed to honour transactions by their clients using debit cards. But they instead allegedly used their positions to break the law.

It was discovered that they were performing transactions which could not have been on behalf of the customers as various cards were being used simultaneously in different jurisdictions, the report notes.

In another case, the accused persons authorised withdrawals from accounts of people who were not the authorised signatories to these accounts. They then obtained the assistance of other individuals to assist in laundering the stolen funds.

For the third case, the accused persons are said to have been selling shares of their mother company and remitting the funds to their personal accounts instead of the company account.



BANK SECTOR LAXITY

Laxity within the banking sector to comply with the anti-money laundering law is one major loophole. That there are no administrative sanctions, provided under the Financial Institutions Act, 2004 and the Financial Institutions (Anti-Money Laundering) Regulation, 2010, to allow BoU to impose sanctions on financial institutions compounds the problem.

In one reported case, a private bank had not set up an automated system to monitor and report suspicious transactions as required by section 126 (2) [of the Financial Institutions Act and BOU circular referenced EDS.306.2 dated February 27, 2013.

Although this noncompliance was discovered in November 2015 by the central bank, it only penalised the defaulting bank with a fine of Shs 2,000,000, which was not commensurate with the value of money involved.

The Mutual Evaluator Report (ESAAMLG) 2015, which reviewed the fines levied for noncompliance with the AML regulation were considered not commensurate with the risks posed by the weaknesses identified, the report notes.

BOU also imposed low penalties on a bank which ignored its directive to freeze an account linked to money laundering.

 the bank defied the BOU directive to freeze accounts belonging to M/S XX International and M/S Holdings Limited whose accounts were frozen in November 2012  this was established in September 2015 - the bank was penalised Shs 20,000,000.

Such low fines, which are usually levied quietly, seem to encourage noncompliance with the AML Act. Other material elements such as the widespread use of cash, the informal economy, the only very recently introduced national ID system and porous borders increase the countrys vulnerability.



THREAT SITUATION

The reports threat analysis considered offences from two aspects. The first aspect was the domestic threat, and the external threat, which has a transnational character such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling and wildlife offences.

Real estate, lawyers, dealers in precious metals and stones and some types of financial institutions present the highest risk to money laundering.

The foreign countries threat analysis indicates that transactions emanating from Kenya, India, China, DRC and South Sudan pose a great risk to Uganda. The report indicates that the overall threat of terrorist financing is medium high.

Terrorist threats are mainly external, emanating from the region Of the terrorist groups operating from within the region - Allied Democratic Forces, the Lords Resistance Army, Al -Shabab, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda and ISIL - the ones that pose the highest risk to Uganda are: the Al-Shabab, the ADF and the LRA...The volume of terrorist financing is estimated at $100 million-total for all terrorist groups in the region, the report reads.

Terrorist funding is channelled through banks and invested in real estate. Main funding sources for terrorism include extortion, misuse of non-profit organisations, remittances, natural resources/wildlife crimes, ransoms, piracy and trade.



skakaire@observer.ug
As the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee enters its second week of scrutinizing Igara West MP Raphael Magyezis private members bill that seeks to remove presidential age limits, leader of the opposition Peoples Development Party (PDP) Abed Bwanika wants the highly divisive issue put to a referendum vote.

From across the country, reports are pouring in that a significant proportion of the population is telling members of parliament, who are presently consulting them, that they oppose the amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution.

The article says that a presidential aspirant must be between 35 and 75 years of age. The general view is that, if amended, nothing would stop the incumbent at State House from bidding to extend his 35 years in office  which many feel is enough.

The sitting president is 73 years of age and would be locked out of re-election in 2021 by the constitutional 75-year upper age cap if the article is not scrapped by the proposed amendment.

Raphael Magyezi tables his age limit bill in parliament recently

Two weeks ago, Bwanikas petition to have the question taken to Ugandans was approved by Electoral Commission chairman Justice Simon Byabakama. He now has to collect 1.5 million signatures to satisfy the requirements necessary to cause a referendum vote on whether or not the presidential age limits should be lifted.

Section 11 of the Referendum and Other Provisions Act 2005 stipulates that a referendum shall be held if a petition is made in writing, in the case of a national referendum, by a registered voter and in the case of a referendum in a particular part of Uganda, by a voter registered in that part of Uganda.

Part (b) of this section says that the petition has to be supported, in the case of a national referendum, by at least one tenth of the total registered voters from at least one third of the districts of Uganda; and in sub-clause (ii) in the case of a referendum in a particular part of Uganda, by at least one third of the total registered voters in that part of Uganda.

The referendum law operationalised Article 225(1) of the constitution, which directed that parliament shall by law make provisions for the right of citizens to demand the holding by the Electoral Commission of a referendum, whether national or in any particular part of Uganda, on any issue.

It adds in sub-article (3) that where a referendum is held, the result shall be binding on all organs and agencies of the state and on all persons and organisations in Uganda.

A national referendum was last held in 2005 in which Ugandans were asked whether the country should revert to a multi-party political system of government after years of being under the unwieldy, some say oppressive, broad-based Movement.

Although the opposition flatly refused to participate in the plebiscite, arguing that you cannot ask people to vote on their inherent human right to freely associate, Ugandans overwhelmingly voted for political pluralism, kicking out the dubious Article 269 from the constitution that had proscribed political party activity.



A NONSTARTER

But opinion is divided. Some political observers think Bwanikas cause is a nonstarter. Those opposed say the three-time losing presidential candidate is either playing into President Musevenis hands, or could actually be the unwitting tool of Museveni himself in what they consider to be a suspicious undertaking.

I dont know why Abed Bwanikas proposal is similar to one that Museveni has not put on the table, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, opposition chief whip and FDC spokesperson, said in a weekend interview.

Those in the know say that Museveni has looked at three options on how to lift the age limits. The first option was to go through parliament where his National Resistance Movement party enjoys an overwhelming majority.

But with several of its MPs speaking against the amendment of Article 102(b), the idea of a referendum has reportedly been thought about as a fall-back choice.

And if that does not look like an appealing enough prospect, somebody could go to court seeking a declaration that the provision is discriminatory, inconsistent with the constitution and, therefore, null and void.

However, Bwanika told this newspaper on November 4 that although he has also heard that Museveni had considered the referendum as an alternative, he nevertheless feared to see it through because the population is vehemently opposed to his moves.

I have heard that notion but he didnt do it. He looked at all the options and saw that it was parliament where he had the best go. The fact that he feared to go to the referendum as his first priority means that it is our best bet to have the people express themselves, Bwanika said.

The complication for Bwanika, though, is whether elections can be a means through which the people can freely and fairly express themselves.

His critics point at the recent history of elections held under the NRM, which they say have never been free or fair. How then can one guarantee that the referendum result will not be tinkered with?

Indeed, opposition kingpin Dr Kizza Besigye said as much a few weeks ago when religious leaders also proposed a referendum. He said all elections in Uganda, for as long as Musevenis future is on the line, will be skewed in his favour and a referendum wouldnt be different.

Ssemujju agreed with Besigyes assessment, saying if Ugandans were allowed to choose in a truly free and fair environment, a referendum would have been the best way to decide the age limits question. Unfortunately, the reality is anything but.

You go into an election well knowing that it is going to be rigged. Its not that we fear elections, but we fear rigged elections and thats why we keep demanding for [electoral and political] reforms and I hope one day they will happen, Ssemujju said.

Ssemujju Nganda fears that results of the referendum will be rigged

Asuman Basalirwa, leader of the Justice Forum party, goes further to add that in the current setup, there is no guarantee that what people will decide is what will prevail.



CROCODILE TERRITORY

You cannot fight a crocodile in water because that is its territory. Musevenis territory at the moment is the electoral process; he will deliberately manipulate the results, Basalirwa said.

Museveni is dying to be president of this country for life. I dont want in any way to undermine Bwanikas efforts but I want to engage him on how he intends to deal with the historical challenges that we contend with; a biased Electoral Commission, biased security system and generally an unlevelled playing field and related challenges, Basalirwa said.

Forever the optimist, Bwanika wonders how Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and other opposition MPs managed to beat the biased system to win.

He said the opposition should consolidate the small gains they have made and the support they enjoy to go full blast in the referendum.

I have similar reservations on the way the Electoral Commission conducts elections in this country. But we are not going to live in fear forever because of these reservations. Out of the same electoral management we have also had a few successful cases. We are going to rely on those best practices to ensure that we win amidst a bad election, Bwanika said.



Who has the power?

The other one million dollar question is whether actually Article 102(b) which is not an entrenched provision can be subjected to a referendum.

In a recent interview, Prof George Wilson Kanyeihamba, a retired Supreme court judge and constitutional expert, said Ugandans have the constitutional right to hold a referendum on anything. But Basalirwa, who is an accomplished lawyer in his own right, has a contrary view.

The results of a referendum only serve propaganda value; they will not be binding because that responsibility constitutionally was vested in MPs, Basalirwa said.

What we should be doing is to engage our MPs in all manner and form to persuade them to vote against this bill.

Residents attending an age limit consultation rally in Kireka recently

Bwanika is not sure the current crop of MPs can be trusted to do the right thing even with evidence that their constituents have rejected the bill.

We have fears that even in parliament there are few genuine members who will reject the bill. We have heard voices which are determined to disregard the voices of the people. The best way is to go for a referendum so that the voices of Ugandans will be expressed individually, Bwanika said.

Like Kanyeihamba, Bwanika believes that articles 1 and 255 of the constitution allow Ugandans to have a say on how they should be governed.

People of Uganda can demand for a referendum on any issue important to them. We are reaching out to friends; to civil society and everybody who wishes the people of Uganda well and I hope we shall succeed.

For now, the government deputy spokesman, Col Shaban Bantariza, was non-committal when asked to comment, saying the PDP leader is free to exercise his rights.

Government has no say because that is Bwanikas democratic right. This matter is between him and the Electoral Commission, Bantariza said.

Speaking to The Observer, Rogers Mulindwa, a spokesman for the NRM, said as a party they are law-abiding and will support whatever the people of Uganda decide.

We are going through the consultation exercise even when we are so much aware that we have the numbers in parliament to do the work as regards the age limit bill, he said when interviewed for this piece.

So, if that [referendum] is the wish of parliament and majority of our people, we cant object to that. If anything, we have even more numbers on the ground to achieve our victory, Mulindwa said.

Thing is those numbers Mulindwa refers to seem to be speaking a completely different language.



bakerbatte@observer.ug
The medical workers strike, which started yesterday immediately affected hundreds of patients in government hospitals with many either going unattended to or sent away by staff.

Uganda Medical Association members are protesting low salaries and shortages of essential supplies like gloves. An entry-level doctor earns about Shs 1.1 million while a senior doctor earns Shs 3.4 million. The group wants this increased to Shs 8.5 million and Shs 45 million, respectively.

The Observer visited two public hospitals around the city yesterday and found many patients stranded. At Mulago hospitals department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which is currently hosted at Kawempe, many pregnant women admitted the day before were asked to get out of the wards and advised to seek attention from private hospitals.

Those who had come ready to deliver simply camped outside the hospital with no sense of direction and no one to handle them.

I will not leave this place for a private clinic. I will stay here and deliver from this compound. If I die, my death will be on government and its heartless health workers, Justine Namiro, an expectant mother, told The Observer yesterday.

Nursing assistants we talked to said they couldnt handle the situation alone and said it was better for the patients to leave.

Look at all those women, some are about to deliver and we cannot keep them here because it is not safe; so, am I wrong if I tell them to leave the wards and find nearby private clinics? a medical assistant said.

She said all senior doctors heeded the strike call and that the hospital remained manned by support staff, a few assistants, interns from abroad and those from Makerere University.

Gloria Aseru, who had a new baby boy a week ago, is worried about the childs health. She had come to seek medical guidance only to be told she couldnt find it there.

They are just tossing me around from one empty office to another. What is wrong with our government? Why does it find money to fund age limit consultations and it cant find money to take care of its citizens health? Aseru said before breaking down in tears.

While some patients do not blame the doctors for the strike, they believe that they should have been more considerate.

They, like you journalists and police officers, should not even think about striking because their work is a matter of life and death. When they strike, they sentence some people to death, a patient said.

By the time of our visit, there were allegations that two women had died due to lack of medical attention. The Observer couldnt independently verify this since the hospital administration was also away.

In the China-Uganda Friendship hospital at Naguru that was not so crowded, a few medical workers were on duty but they handpicked only patients deemed to be emergency cases to attend to.
An escalation in hostilities against members of parliament who support the lifting of presidential age limits is forcing some to either cut back their countryside consultative meetings or make public commitments to abide by the wishes of their constituents not to support the proposed amendment.

In response, Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa has revealed that security personnel in every district have been ordered to ensure that whoever is holding a consultative meeting, whether for or against the bill, is protected.

Hooligans who are targeting people and defying the principles of democracy should be held responsible and netted by security personnel, she told The Observer on Monday.

We have more than 117 districts and we are receiving isolated cases which should not scare people. We are hearing from just a few cases where MPs have been attacked. If we go on with sensitising people and reminding them of the principles of democracy, people will settle down, she added.

NRM's Moses Balyeku addressing journalists after his consultation meeting in Jinja

The latest victim in the constituency attacks by voters outraged at what is believed to be a betrayal of public trust was Anthony Okello (Kioga). Okello is reportedly hospitalized after he was hit with a brick in the face during a meeting at Muntu sub-county headquarters in Amolator district over the weekend.

After 31 years at the helm, the emerging public view is that many Ugandans oppose President Musevenis bid to stay on after the next election in 2021 when he will not be eligible to run for office being above the 75-year age cap.

When parliament broke off to allow MPs to return home and consult local constituents (October 25 to November 8) on the Constitution (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2017, the ruling party may not have anticipated the intensity of the public mood.

The party response following a late October parliamentary caucus meeting addressed by the president was to tell MPs to only appear before a carefully selected group of NRM cadres. This does not seem to be stemming the tide.

According to eyewitnesses, Okellos woes began after he failed to turn up with Doreen Amule, the district woman representative. The charged crowd demanded to know her whereabouts, saying she had betrayed their trust.

They also accused the two MPs of bribing locals to say they support the amendment. Armed with stones and sticks, the residents barred Okello from addressing them, forcing police to whisk him into the sub- county offices. This infuriated the residents who started throwing stones at the office, prompting police to fire bullets in the air to disperse the residents.

As police tried to get him away, he was hit with a brick. Okello was rushed to Amolatar health center IV. It is not clear whether Amules absence was related to the baptism of fire she received during the Independence day celebrations last month when she tried to preach the gospel of age limit removal.

Then, residents charged the podium and grabbed the microphone, forcing police to rescue her. Police has since beefed up her security. Other MPs who have faced similar reaction include Nelson Lufafa (Butembe) and Loy Katali (Jinja Woman).

Katali was slapped by a voter at Mafubira primary school where they had gone to consult on the age limit bill and both had to be rescued by police from a stone-throwing crowd.

Buwekula MP Rtd Major Joseph Kakooza was also accosted by voters in Kitenga sub-county who forced him to vacate a consultative meeting he had convened in the area.

No less a personality than General Moses Ali, first deputy prime minister and Adjumani West MP, was this week attacked by some youths at Mijale primary school, who stormed a rally he was addressing with placards carrying messages opposing the removal of the age limit.

He tried to square off with them but they shouted him down, forcing him to walk away in frustration. Late last week, the state minister for disaster preparedness and refugees, Musa Ecweru, was accused by constituents of duplicitously using student lists to create the erroneous impression that Amuria supports President Musevenis wishes to lift age limits.

This was even after the minister reportedly ensured that his audience, in a relatively small hall, was restricted to those thought to be regime cadres.



NRM caucus responds

During the NRM caucus meeting last month, Nankabirwa suggested that MPs hold consultation meetings with small groups of people.

Ruth Nankabirwa kneels to greet Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda as Gen Moses Ali, who was recently attacked looks on

In the Monday interview, Nankabirwa acknowledged that while she advised the MPs to interact with small groups, it was not a one-size-fits-all arrangement, given that constituencies vary in size. Regarding the attacked MPs, Nankabirwa revealed that she has only received a report regarding Okello, which was sent to her by Amule.

We are more than 300 NRM MPs. If every MP was being attacked, you would have seen it in the media. The opposition, through their malicious propaganda, talk about us to create a situation about attacks in constituencies, which is not true. I hear people on FM talk shows quoting my case as one of those who is facing hostility, which is absolutely rubbish, she said.

She also dismissed reports that several NRM legislators, including herself, face hostility in their constituency. Nankabirwa was reportedly booed during the burial of Dr Abel Rwendeire, former National Planning Authority (NPA) deputy chairman, last month.

Nankabirwa had reportedly accused Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, chairperson of the Kigezi Inter-Religious Council, of being at the forefront of fighting age limit removal, prompting boos from mourners. In her Kiboga district constituency, other reports say the government chief whip faced strong opposition at a meeting she had called. Nankabirwa, however, denies this.

People want to scare others to say since Chief Whip has faced it rough, things are not okay. It is not true at all. In my own district, the council has only two people who said they oppose it. The rest backed me up. I am holding my first consultative meeting on Friday so those reports are false, she said.

Elsewhere, some NRM MPs have got their constituents nod of approval to support the age limit bill. James Waluswaka (Bunyole West) said all his consultative meetings were a success.

I had no issues. Actually, my people gave me three cocks; one for President Museveni; Rebecca Kadaga [speaker of parliament] and myself to urge us to continue with the good work, Waluswaka said

Michael Timuzigu (Kajara) said his people nudged him nicely not to support the amendment. Information minister and Kamwenge MP Frank Tumwebaze held peaceful consultative meetings in his constituent last week, while Aston Kajara (Mwenge South) got the full backing from the Kyenjojo district council to back the age limit removal.

Gerald Rwemulikya (Ntoroko) was also given the nod of approval by his district council. At a consultative meeting at St Phillips church community center last week Margaret Aleper (Kotido Woman) got the green light to back the age limit bill.

MPs who faced hostility

 James Kakooza

 Godfrey Kiwanda

 Judith Nabakooba

 Anthony Okello

 Doreen Amule

 Gen. Moses Ali

 Margaret Mbeiza

 Nelson Lufafa

 Joy Katali

 Rtd Major Joseph Kakooza

 Moses Walyomu

 Simeo Nsubuga

 Ibrahim Abiriga

 Caroline Kamusiime

 Nathan Igeme Nabeta

 Connie Galiwango

 Jacqueline Aol

 Sarah Opendi

 Amelia Kyambadde

 Pamela Kamugo

eyotaru@gmail.com
Ruling NRM party chiefs hope to use Shs 5.5 billion in one week to build wide countryside support for Igara West MP Raphael Magyezis private members bill.

Several party leaders who sit on either the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the second highest decision-making organ, or its subordinate National Executive Council (NEC), are traversing the country, urging Ugandans to support the Magyezi bill, which largely seeks to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution and scrap the 35 and 75-year age limits for presidential candidates.

According to a press release issued on November 5 by the NRM secretariat communications officer Rogers Mulindwa, the campaign, which began on Monday, November 6, was sanctioned by party chairman, President Museveni.

He has already deployed his senior cadres to take lead of the exercise that will last not more than seven working days, Mulindwa said.

Pro age limit removal supporters on a boat in Mayuge

The country was zoned into 17 sub-regions. First National Vice Chairman Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo has taken charge of greater Masaka, an opposition stronghold.

The sub-region is home to Vice President Edward Ssekandi; Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries minister Vincent Ssempijja and Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa.

The opposition Democratic Party won in all constituencies in Masaka with the exception of Ssekandis Bukoto Central. The opposition holds much sway in Bukomansimbi, Kyotera and Kalungu districts  all areas vehemently opposed to the bill.

Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, a free-thinking NRM member, campaigned against the amendment to great effect in Sembabule. The NRM is, however, optimistic that Kigongo will reverse the oppositions gains in the sub-region.

Elsewhere, deputy secretary general Richard Todwong has been allocated Acholi sub-region while the partys Treasurer Rose Namayanja, CEC member Godfrey Nyakana and the director for Finance and Administration at the NRM secretariat Hassan Galiwango are combing Kampala.

Minister without Portfolio Abdul Nadduli was sent to Greater Luweero and Mukono while Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa is in the Greater Mubende area.

Mathias Kasamba goes to wider Mpigi where nearly all MPs, with the exception of Gomba, have said they will vote against the bill.

Hudu Oleru and Nasur Gaddafi; the controversial chair of the partys youth league, are the CEC members sent to West Nile while Sam Engola and Lydia Wanyoto are in Lango, another volatile sub-region.

NRM supporters in Bukoto South show support for age limit removal during VP Edward Ssekandi's consultation meeting

Former Moroto Municipality MP and CEC member, Simon Peter Aleper, once a harsh critic of the bill, is in Karamoja selling the draft legislation together with Gabriel Kato.

Second Deputy Prime Minister Ali Kirunda Kivejinja and former Kigulu South MP Milton Muwuma are in Busoga while former Minister Mike Mukula is in Bukedi sub-region.

Sebei and Elgon sub-regions were assigned to Dominic Gidudu while deputy Treasurer Dr Kenneth Omona is in Teso.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire and NRM lawyer Oscar Kihika are in Bunyoro.

Ugandas Ambassador to Burundi Maj Gen Matayo Kyaligonza, also a harsh critic of the bill, was surprisingly sent to the Rwenzori sub-region in the company of Robert Rukaari, the chairman of the Entrepreneurs league.

Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi and James Tweheyo are in Ankole while Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda is in charge of Kigezi.

During the October 27 meeting attended by more than 600 NEC members at State House Entebbe, Ibrahim Kitatta, the vice chairman of the youth league, urged the president to release cash.

If you want to increase productivity without increasing the acreage, you have to apply fertilisers, Kitatta reportedly said amid cheers.

The vice chairman of the NRM district chairpersons Twaha Ssonko said they need money to hold district conferences, rallies and for a massive media campaign.

The party has five organs namely, youths, women, veterans, entrepreneurs and the elderly. Each reportedly presented a budget of Shs 3 billion.

A reportedly shocked Museveni directed the NRM secretariat to harmonise the budgets, leading to the slashing from Shs 15 billion to Shs 5.5 billion.



sadabkk@observer.ug
When President Museveni met representatives of medical workers at State House last week, he reportedly sounded a clear warning: he would declare a state of emergency and arrest them if they went on strike.

On Tuesday, the doctors defied him  taking industrial action under their umbrella body, Uganda Medical Association (UMA).

A siege mentality is creeping around the government since medical workers are not the only civil servants currently protesting against poor pay. Public prosecutors under their umbrella Uganda Association of Prosecutors (UAP) have, for the second time this year, laid down their tools.

Patients stranded at Mulago hospital yesterday

Don Wanyama, the senior presidential press secretary, told The Observer yesterday that the bottom line was the resource envelope.

We need to look at the bigger picture. What impact, for instance the demand for salary increment, will have on the economy, Wanyama said.

He said government was aware that traditional civil servants  doctors, teachers, etcetera  earn much less than those working in commissions and newer state agencies.

These are issues that the long-awaited salary review commission is expected to point out. In 2015, a report written by parliaments committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises revealed glaring salary and remuneration disparities in and across entities.

It is not clear whether salaries are determined by the level of academic qualification, size of the budget or contribution to the treasury, the report said.

Wanyama said the salary review commission is expected to produce its report this month which will help government have a clear sense of how much it needs to enhance civil service pay.

And government has already demonstrated that it can do it with the teachers. Government has gradually increased their salaries to the level it had promised, Wanyama said, adding that government is already paying Shs 4 trillion annually in salaries.

Yet to some workers, government promises sound like a broken record. Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda was booed when he went to try to convince health workers not to go on strike.

One government employee told The Observer It [government] has money. Every day they tell us they are broke but within a second they can find funds to facilitate parliamentarians to go for the so-called [presidential age limit] consultations.

Government last month secured Shs 13 billion,which was handed out to members of parliament to consult voters on the proposal to amend Article 102(b), which caps the age for one to stand for president at 35 and 75 years.

If the status quo stays, President Museveni will not be eligible to stand again in 2021. The amendment has been seen mainly as intended to benefit him.

Government has been accused of spending too much on bloated public administration and partisan politics. For example, residential district commissioners and their many deputies are said to be an unnecessary burden on the treasury since they essentially duplicate the official functions of the local government structures.

New districts, usually announced by Museveni during campaigns, are seen as another waste of resources which could go towards enhancing remuneration of civil servants.

Last October when the health workers issued their warning of a looming strike, their leader Dr Ekwaro Obuku said they had waited since 1996 to have their working conditions improved [as promised by the government] but all in vain.

Next month, the Uganda Judicial Officers Association is expected to resume a sit-down strike after government failed to meet its promise for cars and salary restructuring.

Godfrey Kaweesa, the president of UJOA, told The Observer yesterday: We have not been told exactly about whats contained in the so-called harmonised pay structure.

Solomon Muyita, the judiciarys senior communications officer, said nothing much has been achieved since the strike was suspended in August.

Ever since they issued that letter, nothing has been done, Muyita said, referring to Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafiires letter in which he was committing government to improve the welfare of judicial officers.



WHAT THEY WANT

Medical workers want an intern doctor to earn a gross monthly salary of Shs 8.5 million from the current Shs 960,000.

A medical officer or teaching assistant to be paid Shs 15 million and be given a two-bedroom house and a 2.5cc vehicle.

A senior consultant doctor or professor must be the highest-paid health worker with a gross salary of Shs 48 million plus allowances.

He/she should also be given a five-bedroom house, 4.0cc vehicle, and three domestic workers. Currently, a senior consultant doctor earns about Shs 3.4 million, a consultant Shs 2.6 million, and a medical officer Shs1.1 million. Government has said it cant afford to meet their demands for now.



PROSECUTORS

Prosecutors say they handle complicated cases like terrorism, corruption and murder yet their salary package is less than what a tea girl at Kampala Capital City Authority earns.

Prosecutors under DPP presently earn a minimum gross salary of Shs 644, 963 with the highest ranking officer, the Senior Principal State Attorney, grossing a monthly pay of Shs 2.1 million.

They want the lowest-ranking officer to earn Shs 3.5 million and the highest to earn Shs 6.2 million.They also want tax exemption on their salaries, professional allowances and allowances for serving in hard-to-reach areas, among others.



JUDICIAL OFFICERS

When UJOA postponed their strike in August, they warned of another stay-away in December if the government does meet its side of the bargain.

Two weeks to December, government has not come through.Judicial officers want an increase to Shs 95 billion per year on salaries of judicial officials alone, up from the current Shs 14 billion.

An empty court room

Currently, the chief justice earns Shs 20 million; deputy chief justice Shs 18 million and the principal judge Shs 10 million. Supreme court judges earn Shs 9.6 million.

A judge of the Court of Appeal/Constitutional court gets Shs 9.3 million. A High court judge earns Shs 9 million. Grade II magistrates earn Shs 737, 837; senior grade II magistrates Shs 860, 810; principal magistrate grade II Shs 1.2 million; magistrate grade I Shs 1.5 million; and principal magistrate grade I Shs 2.1 million.

A senior principal magistrate grade I gets Shs 2.2m, chief magistrate Shs 2.4m, assistant registrar Shs 3.1m and chief registrar Shs 4.8m.

UJOA proposes that a chief justice earns Shs 55 million, his deputy Shs 53 million, principal judge Shs 50 million, justices of the Supreme court (who are seven) Shs 34 million, justices of the Court of Appeal (who are 13) Shs 33 million, High court judges (who are 47) Shs 31 million.

The lowest officer, the senior principal magistrate grade II, should earn Shs 12.6 million. Other demands include housing, transport and security allowance.



amwesigwa@observer.ug
The recent story about the URA seizure of counterfeit currency notes worth Shs 189m at the Busia border was significant in many ways.

First, it gave a clear indication that there is demand for counterfeit money in Uganda, which explains why the culprits could risk importing it. Second, the demand for counterfeit money is channeled through the uncontrolled growth of mobile money transaction whose value is now in excess of Shs 15 trillion.

Despite its strong economic attributes, the mobile money platform in Uganda today provides the weakest link in our financial system. It provides the easiest entry point for fake money.

Many unbanked Ugandans who cannot take advantage of the high precision and sophisticated note-sorting machines that banks use to protect customers against fake money are suffering every day without recourse.

When Ugandans receive fake money which they cannot detect from some mobile money agents who exploit a system wanting in rigorous risk and compliance safeguards coupled with an unreliable consumer protection mechanism, they are beside themselves with misery.

The dearth of a national payment system, inadequacies of the Bank of Uganda mobile money regulations 2013 and the mis-regulated role of telecoms as financial service providers of mobile money only help to compound the matter.

Apart from counterfeit money, other scams are thriving on the mobile money platform because of poor regulation. To appreciate the endemic level of the problem, you need to check out the New Vision stories in October 2017 alone under the following titles:

 Government officials conned in new mobile money scam, October 19.

 Mobile money scam, MTN to assist conned customers, October 21.

 Legislators fault Bank of Uganda over mobile money transactions, October 25.

 MPs question safety of mobile money transactions, October 27.

Counterfeiting of any product is very dangerous but doing it with money must rank very high. I agree with Oscar Zach when he writes in his article titled The importance of money published on June 24, 2014 that money dictaates the flow of human living in the modern world. Without money, life is often difficult and painful.

We should be very concerned that if money which dictates the flow of life can be counterfeited, what else cannot be.

What will happen if currency note detectors which are supposed to detect fake notes are also counterfeited?

It is already very difficult and painful for Ugandans to find work and earn a decent income. That their meager income can be lost to counterfeit currency notes smuggled across our porous borders must call for emergency action.

The commendable effort by URA in impounding the counterfeit money must not be stymied by inaction from our financial regulators.

Fred Muwema,

Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs,

Anti-Counterfeit Network Africa.



Private sector is a viable solution to unemployment



The youth in Uganda constitute about 75 per cent of the population, and many of them are unemployed. The phenomenon of job scarcity is experienced in most African countries. In Uganda, there are about three million government jobs in a population of 36 million people.

The mindset of youths being employed by the government is unsustainable. The private sector in most developed countries offers a big chuck of jobs compared to the government.

Therefore, attracting investors to Uganda is one of the ways youths can get employed. The unemployment problem today cant be blamed on the current government but, rather, the previous ones that never paid much attention to the private sector.

Let us understand our situation and collectively find a solution to the prevailing levels of job scarcity, bearing in mind the rapid population growth.

I call upon Ugandans to support government initiatives such as Operation Wealth Creation, universal primary and secondary education. The government should also continue inviting more investors.

Investors will rejuvenate our technical skills, reduce the unemployment problem and strengthen our economic base through paying taxes.



Morris Twongeirwe,

Kampala.



Nurture children to say no to sex



I have been following the war of words between those in support of provision of contraceptives to teenagers and those against it.

Those in support of giving contraceptives to children overlook two fundamentals about sex. First, it takes two people  a male and a female  for pregnancy to occur. What interventions have been put in place to deter the males from having irresponsible sex?

Secondly, pregnancy is only one of the outcomes of sexual intercourse. There are many others which include intimacy, regret (later in life), and sexually transmitted infections and diseases. And while pregnancy can only happen once, the other outcomes can occur at every intercourse; outcomes no child should be exposed to.

A 15-year-old girl is just a child. As adults, we should not run away from our responsibilities and massage our shame in finding unhealthy, quick-fix solutions to symptoms of a generation that has abdicated their parenting responsibilities to schools, social media and television.

It is not right to introduce young girls to drugs as powerful as contraceptives when there is a far better and healthier option: saying no to sex until marriage.

Reagan Turakira,

Kampala.



Try rotational presidency



The ongoing gridlock in Kenyas politics has further given credence to the periodical rotational presidency system.

We may choose to pretend but the fact remains that in multi-ethnic countries ruled by unscrupulous and nepotistic governments, every tribal grouping desires that one of its own must be at the helm.

This can be proved by the unquestioning voting pattern of Kikuyus and their Kalenjin allies in Kenya against others. It is also one of the reasons why President Museveni scores close to 100 per cent in his home area.



Kabonge Kennedy,

kabongek@yahoo.co.uk.





letters@observer.ug
Senior Pakistani official shot dead in Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Unidentified gunmen on Monday shot dead a senior Pakistani official at the countrys consulate in Afghanistans eastern Jalalabad city, Pakistan embassy in Kabul said.



Two gunmen riding a motorcycle sprayed bullets at Nayyar Iqbal Rana, assistant private secretary at the Pakistani consulate, outside his residence in the evening.

The gunmen fled after the incident. No group has claimed responsibility of the attack so far.



Giving details of the incident, an embassy official told media by phone that Rana came under attack at 6:15 pm local time as he reached home from the consulate. He received several bullets and died at the scene, he said.



There had been serious threats to Pakistani embassy and consulate officials in Afghanistan and we had taken up the issue with the Afghan authorities. We had called for enhanced security of our staffers in Kabul embassy and at the consulates, he said.



The consulate general and other officials shifted the body to a local hospital for autopsy, the official said. We have asked for autopsy as soon as possible to shift the body to Pakistan, he said.



The 52 year old Rana leaves behind a widow and five children. He hailed from Sialkot and was working in the consulates visa section.



Afghan ambassador in Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal condemned the incident and said he had asked officials in Jalalabad to extend help to the Pakistani officials. As soon as I heard about the tragic killing of an official of Pakistans Consulate General in Jalalabad, I called our relevant officials in Jalalabad to extend full support on this tragic and unfortunate incident, ambassador Zakhilwal said. I also conveyed my deepest sympathies and condolences to both the Counsel General in Jalalabad and also to the Pak MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Islamabad, the Afghan envoy said in a statement posted on Twitter.



Spokesman for Nangarhar governor, of which Jalalabad is the capital, Attaullah Khogyani, said in reported comments that the Pakistani official had gone outside the designated area without letting the foreign affairs department know. He was killed on way back to home.



Afghan officials said they are investigating.



The foreign ministry confirmed the incident and said the diplomatic official of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad was shot dead at a shop near his residence by assailants riding a motor bike.



Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned Afghan Charge dAffaires to the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest over the heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators of violence should be apprehended and brought to justice.



The Foreign Secretary demanded foolproof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan.



The Afghan Charge dAffaires expressed condolences on behalf of his government and assured provision of security to Pakistani diplomats and Missions in Afghanistan besides bring to justice the perpetrators of the terrorist act, a Foreign Office statement said.



In June this year, two diplomatic officials of the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad had been kidnapped while returning to Pakistan by road. Both officials were freed after nearly 12 days in captivity.



The president and the prime minister in their separate messages strongly condemned the heinous act and conveyed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family.
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
When Vogue lauded 20 / 20: The Studio Museum of Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art as the most important art show in America, they guaranteed a critical response. Setting aside the hyperbole, the magazine established race as the context for viewing and thinking about the exhibition, stating that as monuments to Confederate generals come crashing down in the South, and white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and those who champion their values keep a terrifying grip on the media, the exhibition offers a dialogue on the importance of art during times of political and social change. Amanda Hunt, former associate curator at the Studio Museum even called it an unprecedented exhibition about America and its current state, about its history and the complexity of that history, and especially how it has specifically impacted communities of color over time, while the Carnegies curator Eric Crosby was more measured, writing that the show (which runs through Dec. 31) couldnt possibly cover all aspects of todays national conversation.

What started as a simple premise, combining selections from the collections of two very different museumsone encyclopedic with an emphasis on art of our times and the other dedicated to artists of African descenthad been blown up into something else. The curators brought together works made in the last 100 years by 40 artists, 20 from each museum, and arranged them in six categories: A More Perfect Union about democratic ideals, Working Thought about histories of labor and economics, American Landscape about social and physical landscapes, Documenting Black Life, Shrine for the Spirit about spiritual introspections, and Forms of Resistance. Whew. Painting a picture with such a wide brush might have made sense because of the diverse works available from each museum, but no exhibition can cover so much territory, and 20 / 20 can seem confusing, distracting from the pure pleasure of seeing work by so many people of color in the Carnegie at one time.

Crosby and Hunt opened the exhibition with a small, unassuming painting by a self-taught artist. Horace Pippins Abe Lincolns First Book (1944) features the future president in a white shirt reaching into a dark background for a book, an image they feel is full of hope, perhaps signaled by the single candle. The president who liberated the slaves is shown as an educated man, reaching for knowledge that perhaps led him to reassess the practice of owning, buying, and selling human beings as he sought to reinforce or reinstate the more perfect union promised in the constitution and referenced by the curators as the starting point for the show.

Coming after World War II, Pippins painting seems much more enigmatic, perhaps suggesting that emancipation was difficult to achieve and that 80 years later, there was still serious racial inequality in the country. The artist himself served in the first world war, suffering serious injury to his right arm and most likely experiencing the mistreatment of black soldiers by the American military. In his last series of paintings, The Holy Mountain (1944-46), he situated a peaceable kingdom inspired arrangement of animals in a landscape, but this calm is fractured by the crosses, soldiers, and lynchings hiding in the dark background. Perhaps that contrast between peace and war is also the underlying theme of Pippins portrait, a reality check about promises made and the difficulty and slow pace of change. Even the curators echo this disappointment by referencing Barack Obamas 2008 speech about race when he reused the idea of a hoped for more perfect union.

A similar ambiguity and questioning characterize the brilliant photograph by Gordon Parks of a black mans head silhouetted against a light background as it emerges from a manhole in a deserted location. Part of a 1952 essay for LIFE to illustrate the bestselling Invisible Man by his friend Ralph Ellison, Emerging Man, Harlem, NY, refers to a scene cut from the book in which the black protagonist escapes from a hospital through underground tunnels. As a single image, removed from that context, it gains new meanings; the man could be one of many invisible city workers, perhaps part of the great migration. Is he emerging from the nether regions, pulling himself up by his own strength or is he holding on for dear life, about to slip back down into the darkness? Is this a sign of respect for honest work or a reference to Ellisons view of Harlem, a cultural capital within a city of culture, as the scene and symbol of the Negros perpetual alienation in the land of his birth. Perhaps the answer can be found in the nearby work of Glenn Ligon that contains a repeated stenciling of a phrase written by Jean Genet about blacks in America: They are the ink that gives the white page a meaning. Changing Genets pronoun to we, Ligon presents a proud and powerful voice.

The two works by Pippin and Parks placed at the beginning of the exhibition were made only six years apart, at a time when segregation was still in place and the civil rights act was more than a decade away. The U.S. was in the throes of the red scare with McCarthys activities dominating the news. Concentrating on searching out communist spies, the Wisconsin senator questioned very few Negroes because, in fact, few were in positions of power. Langston Hughes, a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, a renowned poet, and a social activist, was one of the few called to testify. Starting his remarks with I was born a Negro, Hughes went on to speak about things denied him because of his race. In his poem I Too, written in the 1920s, Hughes, like Ligon, asserts his identity as an American, writing that despite racism, he too can sing America, and he too [is] America.

The layered, and at times ambiguous, ideas raised by works like these continue throughout the exhibition, and there is a lot of star power here with some of the best African American artists. A grouping of cold, hard, industrial sculptures that speak about the lynching of black men by Melvin Edwards sit uncomfortably beside the tar-covered faces of black prisoners by Titus Kaphar; Kori Newkirks beaded curtain inspired by Venus and Serena Williams hair can be compared to the augmented ads for black hair products by Ellen Gallagher or the conceptual work of Lorna Simpson. The photographs of James Van Der Zee, Teenie Harris, Zoe Straus, Collier Schor, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Lyle Ashton Harris offer a range of subjects and intentions, though it might have been nice to see them all in one place in the galleries. The artist list, including a few works by white artists, is impressive, almost making us forget the absence of figures such as Betye or Allison Saar, Faith Ringgold or Wangechi Mutu.

There is a powerful piece by Kara Walker from the Carnegies collection that is rarely seen for conservation reasons. Walker, a mature artist sure of herself and her mediums, brave and courageous in her beliefs, has become a lightning rod for any representation of race, both praised and criticized by African Americans while practically universally loved by white viewers. These prints, part of a larger series, mimic her silhouette work; the simplicity of the black on white imagery is direct and pointed, like a concrete illustration of Ligons black ink giving the expansive white field meaning. The horror of slavery cannot be escaped, the four incidents building the evidence, witnessing the travails as we read and fill in her narrative. Her title, Emancipation Approximation hints that while emancipation was proclaimed, perhaps it wasnt fully achieved, and we are still fighting injustice and inequality even while we struggle to deal with the embarrassing history of slavery in our country.

In a recent review of Walkers work at a New York gallery, Jerry Saltz claims that one of the works on view in the show there is perhaps the best painting about America. Just adding that word, perhaps, admits the possibility of other opinions and changing ideas over time, unlike Vogues bombastic headline. While it is a challenging and engaging exhibition, and hopefully just the beginning of adding representation of, about, and by people of color to the Carnegies collection, 20/20 is not only not the most important art show in America right now, it wasnt even the best show about race in Pittsburgh when it opened. That honor belonged to Oaths and Epithets: Works by Sonya Clark at the Society for Contemporary Craft, even though it is probably unfair to compare a one-person show with a group exhibition limited to works owned by two museums, with a few additions from private collections. But for all of its faults, the Carnegies exhibition is a giant step in the right direction. It reinforces their purchase of a work by the acclaimed master of narrative painting, Kerry James Marshall. His black-skinned protagonist stands in a museum, signaling not only a presence but a sense of belonging.

Any discussion of race is fraught with so many difficulties that it can be practically impossible to utter a single word, but the Carnegie has given visibility to artists whose work has rarely been seen in Pittsburgh. In Saltzs review of the Kara Walker show, he quotes James Baldwin who once said no true account really of black life can be held, can be contained, in the American vocabulary. 20 / 20 makes a case for the possibility of developing a visual vocabulary that at least attempts to do exactly that.
Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread. Studs Terkel

When my friend Sara asks me to work a catering gig, a hipster-ish wedding in a rehabbed church called The Union Project, I say, I am so in, and she says, Really? as if she expected me to say no.

Its been years since Ive done restaurant work of any kind and I miss it. My first jobs were in kitchens and restaurants and, eventually, on airplanes, but Ive spent the past 17 years writing books and teaching writing to college students.

It still feels awkward and embarrassing to say writer and college professor, though that is what I am and I love what I do. My students are sweet and earnest. Many of them are working-class, first-generation college students as I was. I could do without academic politics and academics that speak through their noses as if their giant brains have squashed their sinuses, but I know my luck.

Some days, I feel like I smuggled myself in and stuck, a wad of gum under my nice professorial desk. I worry people will out me. Imposter syndrome, magazines call it, but its not a real syndrome because many people have it.

Lots of us worry over our rightful place in the world.

* * *

The pitcher cries for water to carry, the author Marge Piercy wrote, and the person for work that is real.

The work I do is sedentary, head-based, abstract, and I sometimes worry about my own usefulness. I miss other kinds of jobsconcrete, physical work, the kind where you can see a measurable, tangible result. Paint walls blue and, at the end of the day, you have a room the color of the sky. Dust a room and a small bit of the world is orderly, all sunlight and lemons.

Teaching and writing are useful, too, but they can feel weightless. It can take years to know if youre doing any good or not.

This catering job is different.

Youre going to love her meatballs, Sara says about the caterer.

The caterers specialty is lamb-and-feta meatballs. Lamb-and- feta meatballs are neither abstract nor weightless. They are simple and delicious, unless youre vegetarian, in which case the caterer also makes a lovely and cruelty-free bruschetta.

Sara and I will serve said meatballs and bruschetta on silver trays to wedding guests, who will dab their lips with cocktail napkins and take seconds and thirds, and Sara and I will smile and the guests will smile and everyone will go off happy into the night, amen.

To be of use, Marge Piercy would call this kind of exchange.

* * *

Marge Piercy was born in Detroit to a working-class family. She was the first in her family to graduate college, and one of the first writers I loved. Marge Piercy wrote about women I knew and recognized, though she lives in Wellfleet, Mass. now. Wellfleet is known for its oysters and Noam Chomsky. Its the kind of place where summer is a verb.

But years ago, working-class Marge Piercy taught me that even though writing can feel frivolous, its useful because it helps us stick around a while.

Our work is to say: remember, she said. Remember us. Remember me.

As long as people read, she said, everyone we love survives.

Its a romantic thought and one I pass to my students because I want it to be true.

* * *

Raised with physical work, I know enough not to romanticize it. Raised with physical work, I have a hard time seeing what I do for a living as real.

Its only work if it shows in your hands, my grandmother Ethel used to say. Then shed look at my handssmooth, long-fingered, foreignand frown.

* * *

You dont know what work is, the poet Phil Levine wrote. I think he was talking to himself and to me and to everyone like us, toopeople who grew up one way and then, through luck or hard work or both, ended up somewhere else.

Phil Levine went from working in Detroit at Chevrolet and Cadillac to sneaking into the University of Iowa and studying with Robert Lowell and John Berryman. He went from earning a mail-order masters degree to finishing his MFA at Iowa, the best writing program in the country. He ended up teaching at universities for the rest of his lifeStanford and NYU and Columbia and Princeton and Berkeley among them.

All that time, he never stopped writing about work or workers. Some critics mocked him for that, even after he won the National Book Award, even after he was named Poet Laureate. They said his poems had too many working people in them. They said he worked hard at reminding everyone hed been a peasant.

Thats the cost, maybe, of straddling worlds.

* * *

Would you give me one reason why I should consider this poetry? the critic Helen Vendler said about Phil Levines work.

She didnt like that his poems included things like lunch pails and salami sandwiches. Helen Vendler liked poems that were more Keats-ian. She called Phil Levine kitschy, another Rod McKuen. He called her elitist and deaf to poetry.

* * *

My father, the millworker, used to say, Dont be like me. Dont work with your hands.

The story goes, when my parents first visited me in the orphanage, my father took a look at one-year-old me and said, This ones smart. I can see it in her eyes. Shell go to college.

My parents adopted me shortly after that, and my father made his prediction come true. His hard work paid for my tuition. It paid my rent and it paid for books. Sometimes it paid my bar tab.

When my father was angry with me, hed say, Little Miss College, his worst insult.

Hed say, I have more brains in my ass than you have in your head. I dont need college to tell me that.

Hed say, You think youre too good for this? meaning the life he gave me, which wasnt the life Id been born into, which wasnt my own life at all.

* * *

A picture of Phil Levine hangs in my living room.

A picture of my father hangs there, too.

Theyre the last things I see when I leave my house in the morning and the first things I see when I get home.

Remember where you came from, my father would say.

* * *

As an adopted person, remembering where I came from is difficult. I dont understand roots. Ive always wanted to belong, but I pride myself in not belonging. Both desires are sincere. Both make me feel a little lost.

* * *

I look forward to the catering gig for all the reasons Ive mentioned, and a big one I havent.

I need the money.

A catering job means cash in hand. It means tips in an envelope. Taxes are coming due and our bathtub leaks and my kids need new shoes and expect some kind of summer vacation. Lately Ive been eyeballing our roof and begging it not to leak and our gutters to hold out one more year.

My professor job doesnt pay what my students think it pays. My students think Im rich. They expect me to take them to dinner at the end of the semester. They expect pizzas.

Sometimes I buy pizzas. I buy doughnuts. I bake bread and feed it to my students in class. I buy my students books. I put my love for them on credit cards.

I lie to my husband about how much Im spending.

I lie to myself about how much Im spending.

My husband says, Stop buying your students love, but I dont think thats what Im doing.

Im embarrassed not to make what my students think I make, as if my salary is a reflection of the kind of education theyre getting. Im embarrassed not to make what my students think I make, as if my salary is a reflection of my own failures.

Sometimes, when my students ask for advice about graduate schools, theyll say, Im going to be a writer and an English professor, like you, and I say, Thats great. Lets look at back-up plans, too.

I tell them not to pay for graduate school. I tell them to be sure they get scholarships, assistantships. I tell them not to take out any more loans.

I dont talk much about how adjunct professor salaries are much worse than my own and how an adjunct could make more as a greeter at Wal-Mart.

I dont tell them about my husband, who went to graduate school for writing like me and ended up in his 40s with three published novels, going back for another masters, in social work because there were no professor jobs for him. I dont say that my salary after 17 years as a college professor is just a little more than I would be making if Id stayed in my previous job with the airlines.

Flight attendants have flight benefits, so they fly for free.

Flight attendants have nice layovers in hotels I cant afford anymore.

Id have to calculate that.

* * *

It turns out the bride whose wedding Ill be working is a former student.

Stacys not only a former student; shes one of my best former students. Years ago, she finished a novel as her senior project. The novel was a good draft about a lovely and smart small-town girl who has a pregnancy scare that leads her to ditch her guitar-strumming slacker boyfriend and follow her dreams to become a famous novelist.

The novel showed promise, though Stacy didnt publish it after graduation.

The world keeps getting in the way, she told me the first few times we ran into each other and I asked about her writing. After a while, when I saw her, I stopped asking about writing because it seemed to make her feel awful to answer.

Stacy used to babysit my kids when they were very young and I had to teach night classes. Shes a teacher herself, now, elementary school kids, and Im sure shes wonderful and loved, though I know more about her from Facebook than from real life because we havent seen each other in a while, because she has been replaced by other students, and I have been replaced by everything in her life.

Is it going to be weird? Sara wants to know when I mention that the bride is my former student, and it didnt occur to me that it might be.

* * *

I believe in the universe and serendipity.

I imagine the surprise on my former students face. I imagine what it would be like to have your former writing professor dole you some meatballs.

I see myself all in black, my apron covered in frosting from slicing wedding cake, everything about me sticky. I see myself bagging trash that sloshes into my sensible shoes. I smell like cold chicken marsala and grease and sweat.

I believe in the dignity of all work.

I believe in the dignity of hard work most of all.

I love hard work most of all.

And then I think, yep, it might be weird.

* * *

Its weird.

During set-up at the wedding, Sara tells the caterer that the bride is my former student, that Im a professor and a writer.

The caterer, Amy, freezes into a smile.

But I was a flight attendant for seven years, I say. You should see me pour coffee in turbulence, and make like the ground is shaking.

In the airlines, we never say turbulence. We say, rough air. Its important to downplay things, but Ive forgotten that.

Sara got me this gig because Im her friend, because were neighbors. We talk about money. We understand bills. Sara vouched for me as a worker.

Amy the caterer doesnt know me at all.

I can feel Amy looking me over, dubious. Professor, writer. It sounds bad. The liberal elite, Fox News calls people like me.

Amys wondering, I think, why Im here, if I know how to work, if I will work.

Amy is wondering how much slack shell have to pick up when I try to slither out.

* * *

Writing is hard work and bad for the health, E.B. White said, but writing and teaching are not the same as restaurant work. Theyre not the same as my fathers days in the mill, the work that made it possible for me to become a writer and a teacher.

Graphite dust is bad for your health. Molten metal that melts skin and bone is bad for your health. Machines that catch on wedding rings and take fingers are bad for your health.

I want to tell Amy I was raised on work, but she looks at me like were on a reality show and Im the weakest link.

Instead I say, Im excited. Thank you! What can I do first? and her smile unfreezes a little.

She points me to the set-up room, to a line of sternos waiting to be lit, to a stack of aluminum trays waiting to be filled.

She says, kindly, Well, welcome aboard.

* * *

When Stacy makes her entrance, Amy says to me, You should stand up front so the bride can see you.

Amy turns out to be a lovely persona Buddhist in a T-shirt and black stretch pants, the most Zen of anyone who has ever done restaurant work, meaning she does not yell at people. She suggests.

Like, Maybe youd like to cut that bread, and The bride will want to see you, and Maybe scootch forward a little.

I scootch. I make myself visible. I feel like looking for a fire escape, a way out, and I feel like blowing the bride a kiss.

Stacy, the bride in her lovely dress, moves toward where Im standing. Her hair is long and curled and she looks beautiful and grown, bathed in the rainbow light that pours through the stained glass windows. Instead of a veil, she wears a golden crown that weaves across her forehead like Grecian laurel.

* * *

Remember Keats poem Ode on a Grecian Urn, truth and beauty, beauty and truth?

Critics hated that poem, the way it was based on an ordinary object, a vase of all things, and Keats died thinking it was terrible and inconsequential, and then years later Helen Vendler, who hated the salami and lunch pails in Phil Levines poems, would love Keats urn so much shed build her reputation on it.

Its hard, maybe, to see the value of things in real time.

* * *

When Stacy finally sees me, I give a little wave. She looks confused. Then shocked. Then embarrassed. Then happy. Then shocked and happy and embarrassed and confused, all those emotions circling each other, figures on a vase that never connect.

* * *

I go back to the kitchen. I load up a tray with meatballs. I raise the tray above my head, the way Ive known how to for years.

I am proud of my muscle memory. I am proud of my balance and skill.

I put on a smile.

Its a good smile, practiced but sincere.

It says, Welcome.

It says, Im here to serve.

* * *

When I teach, I always bring my students a little something. A candy bowl. Some brownies or cookies Ive made. The bread I mentioned.

My students have needs that are bigger than I can imagine.

I have needs that are bigger than they can imagine.

After a good meal, you can forgive anyone, Oscar Wilde said.

I give my students food not to buy their love, but because I need their forgiveness for failing them; for the inevitability that the world will be too much; for the fact that I know this and encourage them to be writers despite it.

I want to invite my students into my life and hold them there.

I am afraid of the weight of this, so we stick to snacks.

I know I will fail everyone and be sorry for it.

Heres something small and sweet.

Maybe youll write about this someday.

Maybe youll remember me for this.

* * *

Sometimes Sara and I talk about opening a business together in Trafford, our hometown. They recently built a new police station and put the old one up for sale. Sara and I dream about buying it. Wed turn it into a cafe called The Clink, a place where people could come and sit a while. Sara makes beautiful cookies and pastries. I know some things about coffee. Our logo would be a coffee cup run along prison bars. Wed have coupons that would look like speeding tickets and our decor would be black-and-white stripes. Wed go full on with the incarceration theme. Our espresso would be called Mug Shots and our slogan would be, Coffee so good, youll be here for life. Wed have a house band that would do covers of Folsom Prison Blues and I Fought the Law and Bang Bang (I Shot My Baby Down).

We could really do this, Sara says, and we both imagine it. We drive by the station again and again. We park and walk around the building. We hold up our hands like picture frames. Inside the old police station, there are holding cells. We would leave them as is. Business people could reserve the cells the way they reserve private meeting rooms at Panera.

We would book The Clinks cells by the hour. If people want, we could lock them inside.

It would be something people would pay extra for, to be trapped like that.

* * *

Most of us have jobs that are too small for our dreams, Studs Terkel said.

Heres the thing about dreamsthey can make a person disgruntled. Dreaming is a costly pastime.

Sara checked out how much wed need to buy The Clink. Just around 20, she says, meaning $20,000.

Dream too much and the world can seem sadder and more ridiculous than it is. Dream too much and you can give up on the small good things the world can offer.

Be satisfied, my father said, his key to happiness.

I never knew my father to be happy.

$20,000 might as well be Mars.

* * *

At Stacys wedding, I pass meatballs. I pass bruschetta. Everything is delicious and beautiful. My feet hurt like they do not when I sit behind my desk. My back hurts and theres a twinge in my neck thats different from the twinge I get when Im at my computer too long.

The more I serve, the more I realize there are other former students here, lots of them. Stacy has invited a half dozen or so of the people who graduated with her. Each of my former students looks shocked and, maybe, horrified when I lean over and offer appetizers.

Oh my God, one says.

What are you doing here? another one, James, says, like he just caught me dumpster diving.

I say, What, this? and gesture to my tray of meatballs. I love this. I say, This is the first time Ive done it in a while. I say, The moneys good.

When I laugh, it sounds forced.

* * *

I balance my tray of meatballs on one hand and reach down to give James a hug. James is thin and pale as ever, his arms and legs jutting like pipe cleaners beneath his black suit.

James was my student over 10 years ago. He was artsy, an activist, always working for this or that cause. He worked with Stacy on the school literary magazine and he wore black all the time, but by black I mean band T-shirts, never a suit. James wore his hair in dreads and had his eyebrows pierced. Today his eyebrows are clear of studs, but his hair is still in dreads, though the dreads look somehow coiffed. When he hugs me, I feel something heavy on his wrists, gold cufflinks.

I bring the tray of meatballs between us and offer him some, then I remember he was a vegetarian and probably still is.

I say, Sorry, and he says, No worries.

Two boys are with him, one on each side. Theyre around my daughters age, 10 and 12, maybe. The boys snag the meatballs James passed on. The boys are handsome, with long wavy rich-kid hair. Theyre both in suits with bow ties. The suits look expensive. The bow ties are hand-tied, not cheats. James introduces them as his stepsons. It takes me a minute to let that register.

Jamesa father to two boys who look like they summer in the Hamptons. It seems impossible. But cufflinks are impossible, too.

He says, Lifes crazy, right?

He says, Oh, this is my wife, Carol.

I hadnt noticed Carol until now, maybe because shes been ignoring our exchange. Her body is turned at an angle, away from James and her sons. Carol has expensive blonde hair, highlights in every buttery shade of gold. Her dress looks like something Coco Chanel would like. She is wearing a brooch.

James tries twice to introduce us, but Carol will not look at me. James seems embarrassed by this, so I try to cover. I offer the wife a meatball. I give her a smile. She puts up her left hand to wave me off.

* * *

When I was a flight attendant, there were stories of celebrities who sent their assistants to board the plane first. Lucille Ball was legendary.

Ms. Ball does not speak to the hired help, her assistant would say.

Do not look Ms. Ball in the eye, her assistant would say. Direct any questions for Ms. Ball to me.

James wife looks like Im taking in too much air and making it hard for her to breathe.

I say I have to get back to work.

James says, Well catch up later. He says, Its good to see you, even so, and shrugs.

Later, when I come to pick up trash, Carol the wife will pretend Im invisible.

* * *

I feel bad that my former students seem embarrassed that Im serving them, but I dont consider what it means until later. The work is nonstopplating salads, serving, clearing, main course, cake. Sara and I make plans to go out for drinks when our nights over to celebrate. I love the way my body feelstired, in motion. I love how it makes it hard to analyze anything too much.

* * *

When I think about serving my students, I realize its always been like this between us.

Heres a meatball. Heres bruschetta.

Heres a book of poems. Heres a book of stories.

Have you written something beautiful and true?

Send it to me.

* * *

At the end of the night, the bride and groom are very drunk. They are beautiful and young and emotional. The groom comes back to the kitchen twice to tip us, again and again. I hug the bride and pretend I have not been twice-tipped. She tells me she wants to get back to her novel. We make plans to get together to talk about that soon, though I know we probably wont.

All my co-workers count out their cash on the steel prep table.

They are happy about the extra tips.

I am, too.
The following are happenings in Congress made by Rep. Elise Stefaink, R-Willsboro:

Voting to protect Medicare

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, voted in support of H.R. 849, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017, according to a news release.

Stefanik cosponsored the bipartisan legislation in an effort to eliminate the Obamacare Independent Payment Advisory Board. According to the news release the IPAB has the authority to alter Medicare policy that could reduce seniors access to health care. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 307-111.

The Independent Payment Advisory Board is an ill-conceived part of Obamacare that puts unelected bureaucrats in charge of Medicare decisions, said Rep. Stefanik. The government should not stand between seniors and their doctors, and I am pleased to vote in support of this bipartisan bill to protect Medicare.

Addressing the House

Congresswoman Stefanik addressed the House on Friday in support of the Championing Healthy Kids Act which funds . This bipartisan legislation funds CHIP.

Watch the video below to listen to her statement:

Congressmembers reintroduce broadband funding plan

Representatives Elise Stefanik, Mark Pocan, Cheri Bustos, Jared Huffman and Hal Rogers joined together to reintroduce the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act, according to a news release.

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate earlier this year.

According to the news release, the bipartisan bill would award grant funding to rural broadband projects in high-need in combination with the current loan funding available through USDAs Rural Utilities Service.

Broadband is critical infrastructure in a 21st century economy so that our North Country businesses can compete around the globe, said Rep. Stefanik. Broadband access is also important to ensuring our children have access to the educational resources they need to succeed. This important legislation would provide greater resources to build this 21st Century infrastructure in the North Country and in rural areas across our nation. I am pleased to join Congressman Pocan to introduce this bipartisan legislation in the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this effort.
CAMBRIDGE  The health teacher at the center of a controversy at the school will be back in the classroom Thursday, according to a letter posted on the district website.

A letter signed by both Superintendent Vince Canini and Principal Catherine Gross informs parents of Jacqueline Halls students that she will be returning to school Thursday after being put on a paid leave of absence last week.

Hall was suspended while the district investigated a 42-page handout regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. The packet was given out by a representative of the Pride Center of the Capital Region during a visit to seventh- and 10th-grade classes.

While the letter pointed out the subject matter and topics are all in accordance with the New York state required health curriculum, it acknowledged parents concerns that some of the material was not age-appropriate.

The letter says the school is taking three steps to ensure transparent communication between the health teacher and parents.

The school administration will monitor the class curriculum, including the supporting materials being used.

Hall has been instructed to send weekly updates to students and families, regarding topics for the upcoming week, and to post the information on her school webpage.

This is to ensure that parents are aware of topics being discussed so they can support such instruction at home in whatever manner they choose, the letter reads.

Permission forms will be sent home at least one week in advance whenever any films with a rating of PG or higher are going to be shown.

At the end of the letter, the two administrators say they welcome feedback and parental support.

Originally, the presenter from the Pride Center was scheduled for a second day, but that visit was canceled.
One of the Democratic challengers to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik on Tuesday called for the federal government to intervene and halt Saratoga & North Creek Railways storage of out-of-service rail tanker cars on its line in Essex County.

Katie Wilson of Keene asked the Surface Transportation Board to investigate the situation and potentially return the line to local control.

In a news release, she called the cars a blight on the North Country, a danger to our communities, a harm to local small businesses and a betrayal by the government officials who never should have let this happen in the first place.

The Adirondack Park is not a junkyard, and the residents of the North Country deserve a voice in determining how our land is treated and protected, Wilson was quoted as saying.

Wilson also called on Stefanik, R-Willsboro, to break her silence on the issue.

Stefanik has not publicly commented on the issue, but a spokesman for the congresswoman said in an email Tuesday that their "office has been in touch with state representatives to clarify DEC and Adirondack Park Agency jurisdiction over this issue. Our office has also already been in contact with the Department of Transportation to begin preparing a formal inquiry on the matter so that we can work to resolve the situation."

SNCR has put about 50 cleaned tank cars on its line in Minerva. The company owns the 22-mile stretch between North Creek and Tahawus, the location of former mines and quarries.

The company says it has the right to store cars on its line, and may bring up to 2,000 there as a means to bring in revenue and cover the costs of maintenance on the line.

Environmental groups have vigorously opposed the plan to put the cars in the state Forest Preserve indefinitely, and two state agencies have indicated they are looking into the legality of storing cars. But so far, no action has been taken to halt SNCR.

The railway leases tracks from Warren County and the town of Corinth, between Saratoga Springs and North Creek, running tourist and freight trains on that stretch of line. It bought the long-shuttered rail line to the north of North Creek in 2012, hoping to remove tons of stone from Tahawus.

Wilson is seeking the Democratic line in a crowded field against Don Boyajian of Cambridge, Tanya Boone of Granville, Patrick Nelson of Stillwater, Emily Martz of Saranac Lake, Ron Kim of Queensbury and Tedra Cobb of Canton.
MALTA  A Schroon Lake man has been arrested for the theft of hundreds of dollars in "Red Bull" energy drinks from supermarkets in Saratoga County after State Police took to social media to publicize the case.

Donald J. Gendron III, 32, was charged with four misdemeanor counts of petit larceny for thefts of hundreds of dollars worth of Red Bull from supermarkets in Malta and Clifton Park earlier this year, according to State Police.

State Police hadn't been able to generate any significant leads until this week after troopers released surveillance video images of the thief, and Gendron turned himself in when a friend confronted him about the publicity, according to State Police.

Gendron was released pending prosecution in court.
Editor's Note: O'Keefe's criminal history was corrected.

Joel OKeefe, the felon and accused sex offender whose escape from police touched off a massive manhunt 23 years ago, is scheduled to be released from state prison later this month.

OKeefe is to be released from Five Points Correctional Facility in central New York on Nov. 25, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website.

We received a notice last night that he is being released later this month, Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said.

The notice indicates he is being released to 383 Broadway in Fort Edward, which is the address for the Washington County Municipal Center, and the county Department of Social Services.

It is common for prison inmates who are considered indigent to be released to the assistance of their local Department of Social Services, which locates temporary housing for them, typically at an area motel.

He will be supervised by parole officers, but will not have to register as a sex offender because a sex charge filed against him was dropped.

Police said they understood the Argyle native planned to return to Argyle when a residence that was acceptable to his parole officer was found.

Murphys office shared the state notice of release with other law enforcement agencies around the region late Monday.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said his office also received the state notice, and because of concerns that were expressed by law enforcement, was looking into OKeefes release status.

I have requested some information from DOCCS, Jordan said.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision acknowledged OKeefes release could come at Nov. 25 at the earliest. The agency would not say whether a residence approved by parole staff had been located for him.

OKeefe, 57, escaped from State Police in September 1994 as he was being transported back to jail from a court appearance, resulting in a massive manhunt. He had been arrested weeks earlier for a sexual assault and burglary in Saratoga County.

He remained on the lam for 13 days before he was caught at a Subway sandwich shop in Bennington, Vermont, when a clerk recognized him as the notorious escapee.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to felony counts of burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and escape. A sodomy charge was dropped as part of a plea deal.

The DOCCS website indicated that OKeefe was being conditionally released and not paroled. Inmates become eligible for conditional release when they serve two-thirds of their sentence without disciplinary issues.

OKeefe, though, had a number of major disciplinary issues in prison, including at least three contraband-related escape attempts. He has been denied parole on at least three occasions.

He was prosecuted twice in 2000 for possessing items including a grappling hook, handmade rope and a device to pick locks at Clinton Correctional Facility, which prison officials contended were to be used for an escape try.

OKeefe also was charged in 2001 after he somehow came into possession of a toy gun painted black while in Southport Correctional Facility, and pointed it at corrections officers who were transporting him. They disarmed him.

He pleaded guilty in three different prison cases and received an additional 4 1/2 to 9 years in prison on top of the 10- to 20-year term he received for the 1994 sexual assault and escape.

DOCCS said that history behind bars did have an effect on his conditional release eligibility.

OKeefes disciplinary infractions while in DOCCS custody did result in a delay of his conditional release date, a spokesperson for the agency wrote in an email.

In all, he will have served more than 23 years in jail or prison, of a 14 1/2- to 29-year prison term, when he comes up for release.

OKeefe had an extensive criminal record, including at least one felony conviction, before his 1994 arrests.
Explorer club

invites youth

WHITEHALL  A meeting for those interested in a fire service Explorer club will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company Inc., 161 Main St.

Whitehall Fire operated an Explorer Post 48 from 1981 to 2000. Since the inception of the fire companys Junior Fire Academy program, many youth are over the age limit for fire camp, but still want to serve the community with the fire company.

The Exploring program is a great bridge from elementary student to membership in the fire service. Youth start at fourth grade in the Junior Fire Academy program and then move on to the Exploring program and eventually enter the fire service as junior members at age 16. Junior members attain senior membership at age 18.

Fire Service Explorers is a division of the Boy Scouts of America made up of boys and girls ages 14 to 18 who train with and are sponsored by local fire departments to learn basic firefighting and first-aid skills.

South High

board to meet

SOUTH GLENS FALLS  South Glens Falls school district is holding a special school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the high school library with an anticipated executive session on the superintendent search process.

Submit events

for Veterans Day

GLENS FALLS  The Post-Star is putting together a listing of Veterans Day events. If you have an event planned, please send information to Bill Toscano at btoscano@poststar.com by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Editor:

Former President George W. Bush should have followed his fathers footsteps. Do not comment on other presidents policies. I have totally lost respect for him and his family. I know Jeb Bush is married to a lovely Columbian lady. She is an American. We are happy to have Americans from any part of the world join us legally. I am the first generation from France; bless my fathers family for coming to America.

Does the former president think we do not want legal immigrants in our country? Of course, yes, legal immigrants. The former president comes from a rich family and does not have to worry about paying his bills. It is so easy to give away other peoples money.

Our children and future generations are burdened with paying for illegals housing, food, health, education, etc. Americans are kindhearted people and want to help our needy Americans first. I will no longer donate and support the George W. Bush Library.

Nationalism is good when we take care of our own. We have so many poor Americans and veterans who need our help. If that is nationalism, I am for it.

Maggie Alitz, Newcomb
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
The Scott County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a Monday night robbery at a Mount Joy gas station.

A 911 call came in at 9:01 p.m. regarding a robbery at the station located at 21010 Brady Street.

Scott County Sheriff's deputies, Eldridge police, Davenport police and members of the Iowa State Patrol responded to the scene.

Law officers searched the area for a male suspect who had fled the store prior to police arrival. The suspect was not located during the search. No one is currently in custody regarding this incident.

A BP/Amoco employee did sustain minor injuries during the robbery.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Scott County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division.
Court documents from the lawsuit against United Neighbors continue to raise more questions about the agency prior to the termination of former Executive Director Ida Johnson.

A hearing for partial summary judgement in a lawsuit filed against the Davenport agency by Johnson and three other former employees is scheduled next week, but deposition transcripts and affidavits admitted into record allege more instances of wrongdoing, including excessive reimbursements, diverting food from a food bank and issuing grant funds to relatives.

Johnson and fellow plaintiffs Theresa Fuller, Patricia Williams and Tonya Williams are attempting to recover unpaid wages, compensation and benefits after they were fired in September last year.

In Tonya Williams' suit, she also has alleged a breach of her contract as an independent contractor and negligence by then-Deputy Director Evelyn Nelson and the board.

In regards to Tonya Williams assertion that she was an independent contractor, the plaintiffs have submitted an executed agreement from June 6, 2016, that outlines her duties as a consultant.

Board President Frank Berka, however, provided a copy of the bylaws that state the board authorizes the hiring of other employees, which it did not in Williams' case.

The lawsuit also includes defamation charges against Nelson for comments she made to the agency's board of directors prior to their dismissal.

In her deposition, Nelson testified that she didn't think she had told the board that any of the four members had done something wrong.

Nelson had been hired by the board in June as its deputy director with the intention of her succeeding Johnson, who was set to retire at the end of the year.

The board terminated the four employees after finding instances of money being misappropriated with regards to the agency's tenant-based rental assistance program and the miscoding of $30,000 in expenditures.

With Johnson's firing, Nelson was named executive director and sought a meeting with the Iowa Finance Authority over concerns about previous mismanagement.

Less than one month after the four employees' dismissal, the agency suspended to its rental assistance program. Further investigation by the Finance Authority led it to demand the agency to payback $235,600 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funding in March for not following federal rules and regulations.

While United Neighbors appealed the decision, Finance Authority Communications Director Ashley Jared said attorneys for both parties are still in discussion and no decision has been made about a settlement.

The affidavits, which serve as evidence in the summary judgement ruling, include certifications to the Iowa Finance Authority from Tonya Williams that tenants were eligible for rental assistance funds when they were not.

Despite the lawsuit alleging the agency's problems resulted from mismanagement by Nelson, all certifications and approval for rent reimbursements came under Johnson's leadership.

Berka's affidavit, which included a number of supporting exhibits, also includes the results of a few recent investigations by the agency's attorney that he said show additional mismanagement of funds.

The affidavit stated that the agency was reimbursing Johnson for supplemental health insurance that had already been paid. Checks from 2015 and 2016 amount to $1,811.16.

Berka also included an exhibit he said supported the conclusion that Johnson and Patricia Williams "secured grant funds for a relative and that relative's husband to which these persons were not entitled to receive."

Following the terminations, more troubles followed United Neighbors.

Berka said, on Sept. 26, 2016, United Neighbors' office was vandalized and some records were either destroyed or removed, including an entire filing cabinet.

The following day during its board meeting, inventory of its food pantry room led to more allegations of impropriety.

Because the pantry contained food that was spoiled and more than two years old, Berka wrote that "Johnson, assisted by the other plaintiffs, had been picking up substantial quantities of food from several food banks each month, indicative that donated food to support UNI's charitable purposes was being diverted from UNI for private use."

Subsequently, Berka wrote that food bank list was found in Patricia Williams' office in addition to a large meat order dated Sept. 22, yet no meat was in the agency's inventory.

Also missing from United Neighbor's offices were computers donated by Deere & Co.

A message to Scott County Attorney Mike Walton asking whether there is an investigation into these allegations has not been returned.

"The agency and board of directors were grateful for Ida's service and dedication to the organization over the past years, but as new board members were appointed, it became clear that the line between agency property and personal property had become blurred," Berka said in a Monday interview with the Quad-City Times. "The agency saw necessary to separate itself from the former director and her relatives and close friends. It is unfortunate that this has become such a public battle because this agency has unsuccessfully attempted to protect the reputation of Dr. Johnson in the community despite the harm that her action have caused for the agency."

Anthony Bribriesco, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said while he was awaiting additional documentation from United Neighbors, he was confident in the merits of the case.

"We've asked them to turn over certain documents and we're still waiting on that," Bribriesco said. "We're moving forward and we're confident that as more information comes forward, it will restore the reputation of Ida Johnson and my clients. What's important is what Evelyn Nelson testified under oath and that she said she never accused Ida or any of my clients of wrongdoing."

A hearing on the partial summary judgement is scheduled for Nov. 16 at the Scott County Courthouse.
Courtney Groharing giggled and looked on in disbelief at the red 1999 Dodge Ram truck that Moline Police Officer Patrick Moody parked in front of her workplace.

I dont even know what to say, the 27-year-old Groharing said of her new truck. This is the nicest thing anyones ever done for me. Its crazy.

The new set of wheels is something her family desperately needs.

She had lent her car to a co-worker, who wrecked it. Her husband, Jacob, then got an older car from someone in the family.

That literally lasted about a month, she said.

Groharing said she now has to walk 25 blocks to her job at Dutch Way Cleaners in Moline. It also was difficult to get around with her two young daughters without a car.

I have to get my 9-month-old in for a doctors appointment and was trying to figure out how I was going to get here there, and now I can do that.

The new truck, she said, gets me and my girls where we need to do  its perfect.

Being able to help out Groharing and her family is something that made Moody happy.

Shes such a sweet girl, Moody said. Im just as happy as she is. I know how terribly bad they needed it. It makes me happy, too.

Its something hes done before. Moody last year bought a used car to a woman whose own vehicle had been totaled in an accident in an effort to pay it forward.

He said last year that he made a commitment to himself that he would do something big for someone who he knew could never pay him back at least once a year.

I didnt know for sure that it was going to be the car, but I knew it was going to be something big, he said Monday.

He put out a call for nominations on his Facebook page and received stories of families struggling without transportation. Groharings name was one he was familiar with.

Moody said she used to work as a clerk at a 7-Eleven gas station, where officers often go to buy coffee.

Groharing was always kind and friendly, he said. One thing that also caught Moodys eye, he said, was that she wore a Blue Lives Matter bracelet.

When we were going through our hard times with the negative narrative that was out there with police, I remember you wore that bracelet every day at the 7-Eleven and faithfully wore it for months until you left, he told Groharing on Monday. That meant a lot to me and that played a part as far as doing this for you.

Groharing said she had first seen her mother wear the bracelet and asked her to get her one, too. She said Monday that she didnt realize the impact that it made on the officers.

Moody said he got the truck pretty cheap from a good friend who was looking for a new truck before moving to the Netherlands.

He put in a new exhaust, replaced the tires, filled up the gas tank, and covered the registration fees. His friend, Tim Clifton, owner of an American Family Insurance agency in Moline, also sponsored a policy that would insure the truck through the end of the year.

Im looking at something, a really bigger project than this, especially with all the nominations I got sent to me, I know there are a lot of families that are in desperate need of transportation right now, he said. My goal is to work with a dealership and make something really cool happen before Christmas.

Groharing said she hopes one day to be able to pay it forward like Moody.

I just dont know what to do that would top this, she said. This is awesome.
The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention will host an International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day from 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, in the community room at Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th St., Rock Island.

Refreshments will be served. For more information and to reserve a seat, call Crystal Crayne at 309-292-0395 or Valerie Rumler at 309-230-4539.

Grief counselors will speak at the event, where the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention video, "The Family Journey" will be shown.
Democrats are the problem. Republicans are the problem.

In the U.S., political parties are the problem.

Copious amounts of ink have been spilled opining about the general erosion of trust among Americans in the institutions that have long served them and defended their basic rights. Bureaucrats get a raw deal from the public. By and large, civil servants at all levels go about their days ethically and with a belief in their mission. This is true for both your local code enforcement officer and a scientist with Environmental Protection Agency.

Red tape isn't rotting America's belief in its systems.

Last week, Politico published excerpts from a book written by former Democratic National Committee interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile. In it, Brazile expressed shock with just how much power Hillary Clinton's campaign held over the DNC's operation long before she became the party's nominee. Brazile claimed Clinton's campaign seized control about a year before she actually won the Democratic nomination for president.

DNC's finances were a hot mess, Brazile wrote. The party was buried in debt, much of it dating back to President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election bid. Clinton's campaign offered the DNC a lifeline. But it required signing on the dotted line, essentially forcing the party to agree to rules that turned the Democratic primary into a coronation.

The options were Clinton or bust.

Party Chairman Keith Ellison kicked out a statement essentially confirming Brazile's version of events and calling for reform. Others griped about "re-litigating" the bruising contest between Clinton and left-wing Sen. Bernie Sanders so close to 2018's midterms, but also expressed concern about Brazile's allegations.

My career has sent me to some of the most partisan states in the country. Royal blue New York and its abnormally high taxes. Crimson red Idaho and its unwillingness to fund its schools. Illinois and its Democratic coalition of Chicago attorneys and unions. Iowa and its odd Republican caucus of regulation averse farmers, so-called values voters and affluent business owners who just don't like paying taxes.

I've watched Democrats drive states into the ground to keep unions happy. And I've seen Republican tax policy eat a state like gangrene.

Any government dominated by a single party fails. One must only look at Illinois' pension mess and Iowa's foundering privatization of Medicaid to see what one-party dominance looks like.

Is there any question that President Hillary Clinton would be up on impeachment charges if she pulled half the stunts President Donald Trump has? Just this past week, Trump publicly leaned on the Justice Department to investigate his former political rival. More evidence of previously undisclosed contacts by Trump's inner circle with Russian operatives came to light. And Trump's spokeswoman promoted his businesses from the White House lectern. Each of these would have been a scandal a year ago. Partisan tribalism is Trump's only cover.

Odd thing is, more parties might be the answer.

Anyone who knows me is keenly aware of my affinity for British politics, which, I admit are far from ideal. But in the U.K. a slew of parties tends to moderate discourse. Sure, Brits have the big two, Conservatives and Labour. But parties such as the Scottish Nationalists, Liberal Democrats and U.K. Unionists maintain viable blocs in the House of Commons and, therefore, wield real power. In 2010, former Prime Minister David Cameron, a Conservative, doesn't build his ruling majority if not for a coalition formed with the Lib Dems.

In the U.S., there are just two legitimate choices, thanks to a flawed primary process that Brazile's account only serves to highlight. And, too often, neither offers much of anything to the free-thinking voter who wants ideas. No, institutions exist solely to promulgate and enhance their power. So tribalism is encouraged. Districts are gerrymandered. Party operatives rail like fire-and-brimstone preachers. Radical bases are fed red meat while the rest of us are but passive observers.

What's to trust?
SIOUX FALLS | A Minnesota man involved in a crash in South Dakota that killed two people has been charged with vehicular homicide.

Authorities allege 39-year-old Joshua Vortherms, of Adrian, Minn., caused a crash in the early morning hours of July 1 on Interstate 90 west of Brandon when he lost control of his vehicle and it went into the wrong lane.

The crash killed 38-year-old Anna Mason and 44-year-old Shannon Fischer. Both were from Sioux Falls.

Vortherms faces two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular battery, drunken driving, reckless driving and speeding. The Argus Leader reports he appeared in court Monday. It wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney, or when he might enter pleas.
Hunters from around the country returned to rural Nebraska on Oct. 28-29 to partake in a coveted outdoor tradition  the upland bird hunting season opener.

Overall, hunter success on the opening weekend was slightly lower than 2016, but hunter success for pheasants was highest in the southwest and northwest regions. Good quail numbers were reported throughout the southern half of Nebraska but very few hunters were targeting bobwhites.

On opening day, most areas experienced cooler morning temperatures in the teens and low-20s, which provided good hunting conditions for those afield. Hunting activity declined Saturday afternoon as warmer conditions prevailed. Temperatures reached the 70s on Sunday.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff and conservation officers made contact with 1,445 hunters. These hunters harvested 523 pheasants and 143 quail. An additional 615 hunters were encountered on pheasant-release sites occurring on 14 wildlife management areas (WMAs). These hunters bagged 298 pheasants. More than 80 percent of roosters harvested on release sites were released birds.

John Laux, Game and Parks upland habitat and access program manager, said it is too early to draw conclusions on what the slightly lower hunter success means. Lower success could suggest we had limited production this year, but we really wont know until the rest of the crops are out, he said.

Reports indicate the 2017 delayed crop harvest left an abundance of cover on the landscape, which proved challenging for upland hunters on opening weekend. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraskas corn harvest as of Oct. 29 was 45 percent complete, well behind the five-year average of 67 percent. According to producers, harvest is delayed due to precipitation in late September and early October. In some parts of the state, high winds have caused stalk breakage and ear loss, which contributes to a slower harvest.

According to Laux, unharvested crops provide excellent escape cover for pheasants and enhance their ability to elude hunters. It allows the birds to spread out on the landscape and is nearly impossible to hunt, he said. This clearly had an impact hunter success this past weekend.

Pheasant hunting opportunities and hunter success are expected to improve significantly once harvest is complete.

The following is a report of opening-weekend hunting activity in our region:

Northwest  Most hunters reported seeing good numbers of pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse but very little progress had been made on corn harvest in the Panhandle. Some unharvested sorghum and sunflower fields also remained standing. Throughout the region, conservation officers contacted 200 hunters, who harvested 92 pheasants. Overall, hunting pressure in the Panhandle was relatively low and most hunters were observed hunting public lands, including WMAs and OFW properties.

Pheasant, quail and prairie grouse seasons continue through Jan. 31. Permits can be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. | Two service members walk through the front doors of the Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility, one on two legs, the other on four. They proceed down a well-lit corridor, boots squeaking and claws clicking on the recently waxed floor to the exam room. The veterinarian walks in with her white coat and clip board to conduct her checkup. After the visit, all is good and the whiskered warrior receives a well-deserved treat.

The Ellsworth VFTs primary mission is to ensure Military Working Dogs, or any other government owned animals, are ready to deploy around the world; anytime-anywhere. This starts by making sure MWDs are healthy and prepared to fulfill mission essential tasks.

Our primary responsibility is to ensure the MWDs on base are healthy and fit for service, said Army Capt. Casey Barwell, the officer in charge of the Ellsworth Veterinary Section. We have to be certain the dogs are able to carry out commands given by handlers and the only way to do that is to keep our dogs in good shape. Our second responsibility is taking care of privately owned animals living with families in base housing.

In order to confirm MWDs are ready for deployments they have to be evaluated and cleared. This also means the veterinary clinic team needs to be ready to travel anywhere in the world at any time.

We most certainly deploy in this career field, Barwell said. The Army sets up hospitals in combat areas for the dogs working in deployed locations to have a place to be treated. We also go to places where we want to build relations with communities abroad and make a presence to teach them how to take care of their animals.

As well as working with animals, members of the veterinary clinic visit to other agencies on base to educate the community on pet care. They talk about food, health, treatment options, and how much fun a pet can really be.

We try to touch on a lot of things we do for the community and how we contribute to the mission, Barwell said. We like to go to the Child Development Center and talk to children about the best practices with pets so they can learn how to care for animals. We also go to other places on base and talk about what we offer as far as surgeries, dental procedures, sick calls and wellness exams.

The soldiers and civilians working at the VFT also deal with controlling animal food on base to determine it is safe for consumption. They have to certify that it does not contain pathogens or other harmful substances.

We do audits on food to verify the MWDs can eat it and not get sick, Barwell said.

Barwell continued saying also travel to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana to take care of their dogs too.

The VTF personnel ensure service members pets are also cleared to go overseas if need be to make certain they are free of rabies and other diseases before they are allowed to go.

My family and I are going overseas next year so we have to be completely sure our cats are cleared to go to my next assignment, said Tech. Sgt. Todd Livingston, an electrical power production technician assigned to the 28th Civil Engineering Squadron. Im happy the veterinary clinic here on base is able to help us bring our pets with us.

For Army Sgt. Margot Coakley, an animal care specialist assigned to the Ellsworth Veterinary Clinic, working at the veterinary clinic is fulfilling in multiple ways. The soldiers and civilians at VFT ensure the mission gets accomplished and help pets belonging to base community members

I love it because I get to help people and play with animals when they come in, Coakley said. I enjoy everyone I work with, and this has been a great clinic to work at. The clients we work with are fantastic.

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the Army come from all sorts of backgrounds. They may have gone to college, worked at zoos or some just love animals. They go to dangerous locations to ensure furry defenders are taken care of just as well as their human companions.
The Sturgis Big Read will share the Veteran's Day Celebration with VFW Post 2730 and American Legion Meade Post 33 at the Sturgis Veteran's Club, 868 Main Street, on Nov. 11.

Join in celebrating Veteran's Day with individuals who earned it as officials with the Sturgis Big Read conclude their nine weeks of exploring The Things They Carried and the effects of war wherever in the world it happens.

The ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. South Dakota Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs Larry Zimmerman will address the assembly following the opening announcements and introductions.

At 11:11, the group will venture out-of-doors to fire a rifle volley in honor of the day.

A chili feed will follow with a free will offering to cover expenses.

The High Plains Western Heritage Center, 825 Heritage Drive, Spearfish, will also host their Veterans Day Event on Saturday, Nov. 11, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There will be a live concert by The Potter Family at 2 p.m. Suggested Donation: $10. Proceeds will be shared with the Spearfish Veteran's Monument.

The Ramblin Rangers, with Special Guest Trevine, will perform at the High Plains Western Heritage Center on Sunday, Nov. 19 starting at 2 p.m. Concert is presented by "High Plains Live" a production of Western Sky Media.

The Ramblin' Rangers are from Hot Springs and they offer some of the most smoothly rendered cowboy music in the southern Black Hills. Whether covering old western standards or performing original music, they offer a well crafted blend of vocal and guitar sounds for the enjoyment of their audiences.

Tickets: $12.50/Individual, $20/Couple ($10 each), 17-under: $5. Seating is limited. Tickets call: 605.642.9378 OR online at HighPlainsLive.org
A government agencys recent decision to cut off Medicare and Medicaid payments to the Indian Health Service hospital in Pine Ridge was motivated by the case of a patient who died the day after being brought to the hospitals emergency department, according to documents released to the Journal.

The documents, released Monday, say the diabetic male patient was brought to the hospital by ambulance at 12:22 p.m. Oct. 16 with high blood sugar.

He is moaning but denies pain at this time, says a quote in the documents from the hospital's triage assessment. He is difficult to understand what he is saying, his mouth and gums are dry and there is dried blood on his tongue.

A review conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that the hospital inaccurately assessed the patients Emergency Severity Index level. This allegedly led to an inaccurate determination of the severity of the patients condition, which in turn resulted in delays in the patients medical screening exam, all of which postponed appropriate emergency care and treatment.

About 4 hours after being admitted, the patient was transferred to another hospital, which is not named in the documents. The patient underwent surgery at that other hospital the next day, Oct. 17, where he was diagnosed with extensive small bowel ischemia and necrosis. The patient died sometime that day.

In a Nov. 6 letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Michael Toedt, chief medical officer for the Indian Health Service, defended the hospitals actions and said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services omitted significant details from the review of the case.

The patients condition was improved on arrival to the tertiary care center due to the actions and treatment initiated at Pine Ridge Hospital, Toedt wrote. Many factors could contribute to the patients outcome, including comorbidities and care in another facility, and it is not possible to draw a direct conclusion from the care received at Pine Ridge Hospital to the patients ultimate outcome.

Comorbidities are the presence of additional diseases or disorders with a primary disease or disorder.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a notice Friday that the hospitals participation in the federal Medicare program will end Nov. 18. That means the hospital will no longer be able to bill the government for services provided to Medicare-enrolled patients, and Medicaid payments will also be cut off.

Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation are provided with health care by the federal government pursuant to longstanding treaties and court decisions. The Indian Health Service has funding from Congress to provide that care, but the IHS obtains additional funding by enrolling qualifying Native American patients in Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health-care insurance program for people ages 65 and over and for the disabled. Medicaid is a federal-state program that helps pay for health care for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and for low-income families with children.

The Pine Ridge hospital has suffered negative inspection findings in the past and has recently been bound by the terms of an improvement agreement that it struck with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in April 2016. The hospital was inspected for compliance with that agreement April 24-27 of this year, when violations of four Medicare standards were found. A re-inspection July 24-27 found a violation of one standard.

Another re-inspection  this one described in the documents as unannounced  was conducted Oct. 17-19, and violations of one standard were found. According to language in Toedts letter, the findings associated with the diabetic patient who died were the basis of a finding of immediate jeopardy for the facility, resulting in the impending termination of the hospitals participation in Medicare.

A letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the hospital says the hospital may request a hearing before an administrative law judge with the Departmental Appeals Board of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The deadline to file a request is 60 days from the receipt of the Nov. 3 letter.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also said in its notice of termination for the Pine Ridge hospital that the federal agency is "closely monitoring the relocation of Medicare and Medicaid patients to other facilities."
Joe Kiedrowski and his elk hunting buddies have long known the risks of hunting in the Tom Miner Basin area, just north of Yellowstone National Park in the Paradise Valley.

"It was inevitable that one of us would run into a bear," he said.

Unfortunately, that happened to him Sunday morning as he was trailing an injured bull that he'd shot and hit the night before.

"I went back the next day to retrieve him," he said.

As he hiked downhill in 5 inches of fresh snow that muffled his approach, a grizzly stepped out from behind some bushes only 30 yards away.

"He saw me and instantly was coming right at me," Kiedrowski, 28, said. "I just saw his canines coming at me. They were an inch long."

To blunt the rush Kiedrowski threw his right arm up in front of his face. The bear chomped down on his wrist and forearm and also scratched the side of his face.

"I don't remember him being on me," Kiedrowski said, but at some point he had fallen down.

Fearing the bear might attack again, he began to roll onto his stomach to protect his vital organs and also grabbed his bear spray. Playing dead, it was so quiet that he could hear the bear huffing.

"It was cool and crazy at the same time," he said. "Then he tried coming at me again."

Kiedrowski discharged his bear spray, hitting himself and everything around him at the same time. The bear backed off and Kiedrowski moved to grab his rifle.

"I didn't want to go for round three," he said.

But the bear had disappeared. Kiedrowski said it was like the bear was nipping at him to let him know that the elk was his.

"It wasn't like he was out to eat me," he said. "He just wanted to protect the elk."

"The later in the year it gets, they're a touch easier going," said Kevin Frey, a bear management specialist for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "He's pretty darn lucky it wasn't worse."

The attack occurred on the Rock Creek side, north of Tom Miner Basin and close to where a woman was attacked and injured by a grizzly in September in a similar situation.

Leaving the site of the attack, Kiedrowski hiked up the ridge, stopping to phone his brother and let him know what had happened and where he would reach the nearest road so someone could pick him up. Then his phone died.

Kiedrowski wrapped a compression strap around his wrist to try and stop the bleeding. By then his right pant leg was soaked with blood and he was leaving a red trail in the fresh snow as he hiked.

"It wasn't bleeding bad. It wasn't a Tarantino movie," he added, referring to director Quentin Tarantino, who's known for gory, slow-motion shootouts.

"Apparently I picked the most treacherous way down to the road," he said, so he stopped, drank some water and tried to calm down. "I couldn't parkour through the rocks with a broken wrist," he joked, referring to the sport that involves running, jumping and climbing.

After negotiating around the rocks a ranch hand picked him up and drove him to the highway where his brother and friends were waiting to drive him to the Livingston hospital.

He said the drive seemed to take forever because that's when the pain grew worse. In Livingston the staff cleaned the wound, dressed it and sent him on to Billings Clinic for further treatment.

His wrist had suffered broken cartilage, broken bones and rearranged some others, dislocating it. For now the wounded wrist is in a temporary cast and Kiedrowski is swallowing lots of antibiotics to prevent infection along with a few pain pills to ease the throbbing. Next week he'll go in for surgery to have the bones wired into place.

Although he's a roofer by trade, Kiedrowski isn't worried about the injury keeping him from work. The doctor told him he should regain full use of the wrist but may suffer from arthritis in his old age.

As to whether he'll go out elk hunting again this season, Kiedrowski was more uncertain.

"I think my wife may have something to say about that," he said with a laugh. "At this point, I'm not too worried about it. I'm not going to stop hunting, though."

Since the encounter was not predatory, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials will take no action to trap or kill the bear, but they warned hunters to remember that grizzlies have not yet denned. The agency received a report of bears still active in the Madison Valley this past weekend, as well, and a bird hunter along the Rocky Mountain Front shot and killed a charging grizzly Saturday.

Consequently, hunters should take precautions to ensure no bears are in the area by looking for tracks, making noise if possible or by hunting in groups.
Congratulations on your victory @realDonaldTrump. As our President, Columba and I will pray for you in the days and months to come.
Gov. Steve Bullock summoned the Legislature to return to Helena for a special session Monday to plug holes in the state budget. But the governors proposals to fill those gaps are not without criticism from some key players.

For the past two months, the governors office and a Republican-dominated Legislature have volleyed over how to come up with $228 million to make up for a shortfall in revenues and the most expensive wildfire season in state history.

Bullocks pitch to lawmakers splits the shortfall into thirds and calls for raising $75.1 million from temporary tax increases and another $76.5 million from fund transfers and other legislation. The final third of the potential solution would be Bullock-imposed cuts targeting most state agencies and totaling $76.6 million.

The session will convene Monday with committee hearings on the proposals, followed by the whole Legislature meeting Tuesday. Bullocks office said it is hopeful the session could adjourn Wednesday or Thursday.

I believe we are moving towards a reasonable and responsible compromise, Bullock said in a press conference held in the governors reception room at a gathering of state employees, lobbyists and media. "I anticipate a quick and productive session. As with many compromises reached here in our states capitol, not everyone will get everything they want in this proposal.

Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, a Republican from Culbertson, was less optimistic.

Lets be clear here. The governor expects the Legislature to raise taxes on hardworking Montanans before any effort to reduce non-essential services has been made, Knudsen said in a press release. There is a distinct lack of leadership from the executive branch, but my caucus will do what needs to be done to address the budget head-on while doing what Montanans elected us to do  keeping in mind the taxpayers and those who utilize government services.

Bullock on Monday released a list of cuts he would make to nearly every state agency to generate his third of the proposal. It was a severely pared-down version of reductions he proposed at the start of October that would have trimmed agencies by 10 percent of their general fund budget to make up the $228 million shortfall with cuts alone.

Mondays list included $76.6 million of reductions and greatly lowered the burden on the three agencies that make up about 85 percent of general fund spending  the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Corrections and the state university system.

Cuts will reduce the DPHHS budget by 4.7 percent, or $49.2 million. Thats less than half of the $105 million in state general fund reductions that were proposed in October.

Programs that had been on the chopping block in the earlier cuts, such as early childhood intervention for children ages 0-3 who are behind in meeting developmental benchmarks, were spared. But a corresponding program for youth ages 3-21 will be eliminated.

Other cuts will include ending the funding for Second Chance homes, which provides housing for teen parents in Billings, Helena and Missoula.

Offices of Public Assistance will close in Chinook, Choteau, Columbus, Cut Bank, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Glendive, Malta, Red Lodge, Shelby, Sidney, Forsyth, Conrad, Big Timber, Plentywood, Fort Benton, Roundup, Thompson Falls and Livingston.

Other cuts will reduce the amount of money for targeted case management and some Medicaid reimbursements and services.

DPHHS Director Sheila Hogan said Monday the lower level of cuts will have the least impact possible.

From a long list of painful choices, we do believe the governor's plan put forward today will have the least impact possible to the thousands of Montanans our agency serves as solutions are found to balance the budget, Hogan said.

The new cuts do not touch the Office of the Public Defender, which under earlier proposals would have seen a $6.4 million reduction and the end of contract attorneys, who handle a large number of cases.

The Department of Corrections will see just a 1.1 percent cut, or about $4.4 million.

The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, which includes the states public higher education institutions, was mostly spared. Its budget would have been cut $44 million under the previous proposal but now it will see just $4.5 million in reductions. The Office of Public Instruction will be reduced by 2 percent, or a total of $1.6 million.

Smaller agencies and departments, like the Commissioner of Political Practices and Department of Commerce, will be cut the full 10 percent. But their budgets are just fractions of the larger divisions.

On the revenue-generating side, the largest proposed temporary tax would be a 3 percent management fee charged to certain State Fund accounts with over $1 billion in assets. State Fund is a quasi-government, quasi-private entity that runs the workers' compensation system in Montana. The fee would generate $29.7 million over the biennium.

Laurence Hubbard, president of Montana State Fund, said Monday he has "serious concerns" about the $29.7 million impact and the legality of the proposal.

State law says premiums and other money paid into the fund must be used only for operations and obligations of the fund. Money may not be transferred by the Legislature to other funds.

"That gives me the legal concern with the apparent management fee," Hubbard said. "It's got some very serious legal infirmities and I think that causes me the most concern."

About 25,000 businesses around the state pay into the State Fund to provide workers' compensation insurance to their employees. Hubbard said the 3 percent management fee would equate to a tax on those businesses. State Fund assets by law are managed by the Board of Investments.

"The policy holders that pay the premium are the ultimate owners of the assets of the company," he said.

Hubbard said the governor's office had not discussed the proposal with him before Monday's announcement. The State Fund has been tapped by the Legislature, creating issues with liabilities for claims from before 1990, something many have been critical of. In 2003, a law was passed restricting the fund's use, which Hubbard said some may not remember.

"That was a long time ago. We've had a lot of turnover. Memories can be short."

The governor's office said State Fund has nearly $1.5 billion in investments at the Board of Investments, and the fee would be charged on anything over $1 billion.

Assets have grown by $150 million since Bullock took office and more than $500 million since 2009.

"For the State of Montana, as the largest customer of the Montana State Fund, it only makes sense that when we run into difficult times, the taxpayers get some of their investment back," a spokesperson for the governor said.

Other temporary tax increases in the proposal would increase the tax charged on hotels, campgrounds and other accommodations by 3 percent and increase the tax on rental cars by 6 percent. The current tax on accommodations is 7 percent, with 3 percent going to the general fund; and 6 percent on rental cars.

Montana is trying to dig out of a budget hole after lagging revenues came in $75 million less than expected at the end of the last fiscal year in June. The governors budget director, Dan Villa, has predicted revenues to continue to come in lower than the projections on which the Legislature built the state budget, which would lead to an additional shortfall over the next two years.

That hole got even deeper during a fire season in which more than 1 million acres burned, leaving the state with an additional $75 million firefighting tab. The last special session was called by former Gov. Brian Schweitzer in September 2007 to pay for firefighting costs.

Absent from Bullocks proposal was finding a way to pull roughly $32 million out of an account the state has paid into and is administered by CoreCivic, the company that operates Crossroads Correctional, a private prison in Shelby.

Since 1999, the state has paid $9.17 per prisoner per day into a fund under a contract that expires in August 2019. At the end of the contract, the money  now about $32 million  could be used toward the purchase of the facility if the state chooses to do so.

Republicans last week said CoreCivic had offered Bullock the money in the account as a way to help balance the budget if he would extend the contract

Several Republicans have said they would not work with Bullock on raising revenues or transferring funds if the prison was not a part of the pitch. Bullock's office said last week a formal offer had not been made.

A statement Monday from House Minority Leader Jenny Eck, a Democrat from Helena, criticized any prison deal.

"Now is not the time to try to negotiate multimillion dollar sweetheart deals; it is the time to focus on what is best for all Montanans," Eck said. "We hope that the Republican majority will put politics aside and help Democrats and the Governor find a fiscally responsible, bipartisan solution to the budget shortfall."
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and fine-art photographer Miguel Gandert shows his work highlighting his mestizaje heritage, and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas. Runs through 12/29.

Querer means to want, to desire, to be in a place, with its people. In folk terminology, querencia is such a place, the center space of desire, the root of belonging and yearning to belong, that vicinity where you first beheld the light. Querencia, in collective terms, is homeland. ~Enrique Lamadrid, Nuevo Mexico Profundo

Miguel Gandert tells stories. He tells stories of his homeland, New Mexico (and beyond), its people and the cultural practices that distinguish communities from each other while simultaneously revealing their kinship. You will have to form your own words, however. Ganderts stories are told through penetrating, black and white photos. A primary focus of his work is his own mestizaje heritage and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas.

Miguel Gandert, a native of Espanola, NM, is an award-winning documentary and fine-art photographer and filmmaker. His photographs have been shown in galleries and museums throughout the world and are in numerous public collections including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Museum of American History and Art at the Smithsonian.

Querencia: Rituals of the Rio Arriba opens Friday, October 6 at the New Mexico Humanities Council, 4115 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque. An artists reception will be 6:00 pm  8:00 pm with an artist's discussion at 7:00 pm. The exhibit closes December 29, 2017.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Chinese delegation came here in Nepal to study the preliminary study of railway network has begun study form today.

A level e 23-member team led by Zheng Jian, the deputy director (Vice-Minister) of National Railway Administration of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Kathmandu on Monday, to conduct a preliminary study on the development of railway networks in the country.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly has said that it has officially started its works from today.

EU EOM organized a press conference in Kathmandu on Tuesday to inform about the work. Chief Observer Zeljana Zovko said in the conference that getting chance to observe the upcoming elections would be a great pleasure to the EU EOM.

It is a great opportunity to have been given this opportunity to lead the EU Election Observation Mission to Nepal, Chief Observer Zeljana Zovko said.
(ehudlaniado.com) - In mid-2016, De Beers and the government of Namibia announced a landmark 10-year agreement on diamond beneficiation, the longest agreement since the partnership was formed in 1994. Under the new deal, Namdeb will make 15% of its run-of-mine production available to a government-owned, independent sales company called Namib Desert Diamonds Pty Ltd. Namib will offer its diamonds to 11 local manufacturers polishing in the country. Each company is allocated up to $15 million worth of rough diamonds annually. Because of their alluvial source, Namibian diamonds have amongst the highest average value anywhere in the world. This means that local cutters have an advantage over manufacturers in other countries, such as South Africa, where only large, high-value diamonds can be cut profitably due to the countrys relatively higher wages. However, the touted benefits of these efforts have yet to materialize. In some cases, local cutters are choosing to forgo their local supply, or buy and sell to the secondary market, which means that many Namibian diamonds are not being cut locally. Despite warnings by the government to curb the practice, and cut off supply such companies, it remains common. Estimates suggest that as few as three to five companies still polish diamonds in Namibia.
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 Two notable summary reversals from SCOTUS after circuits failed, yet again, to properly follow AEDPA | Main | A number of executions in a number of states generating a number of notable stories and commentary 

November 6, 2017

NAAUSA and six other law enforcement groups write to Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, per the attached letter.

Last week I blogged here about a letter sent to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of the Federal Public and Community Defenders to urge passage of legislation to reform federal mandatory sentencing laws. Today I received a copy of a quite different letter also sent to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee this time coming from the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and six other law enforcement groups. Here is how the letter, which can be downloaded below, gets started:

We write to express the opposition of the undersigned organizations to the recently-introduced Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017 (S. 1917). We represent federal, state and local law enforcement officers, agents and prosecutors responsible for the investigation and prosecution of drug traffickers and other violent offenders involved in the distribution and sale of dangerous drugs. The public safety of our communities across the nation would be negatively impacted by this legislation. The legislation undermines mandatory minimum penalties for drug trafficking and weakens the tools that law enforcement authorities need to enforce the law, prosecute criminals and dismantle domestic and international drug trafficking organizations. The legislation authorizes the early release of thousands of previously convicted armed career criminals, serial violent criminals, and repeat drug traffickers. And it will make it more difficult for law enforcement to pursue the most culpable drug dealers and secure their cooperation to pursue others in drug distribution rings and networks, domestic and international. The bill would undermine law enforcement investigatory efforts by giving serious criminals the best of both worlds: less sentencing exposure and the choice to not cooperate with law enforcement in further investigatory efforts. This is not the time for the Congress to consider changes like these that will impair the ability of law enforcement to take serious drug traffickers off the street. Violent crime across America continues to grow, and a raging heroin and opioid abuse epidemic shows no sign of ebbing. For the second year in a row, violent crime increased across the United States, according to FBI annual crime data. Homicides increased by 8.6%, with cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Kansas City, Missouri witnessing massive increases in their homicide rates. Meanwhile, a national epidemic of overdose deaths, caused largely by heroin and opioid drug abuse, ravages the country. No state is immune from the deadly consequences. Over 47,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014, an all-time high. In 2015 that number rose to 50,000; last year it continued to skyrocket to 64,000 people. Daily drug overdose deaths, including those from heroin use, exceed those caused by auto accidents. Download LE Groups Ltr re S 1917 Nov02-2017

November 6, 2017 at 04:24 PM | Permalink

Comments

These are the views of people on the street.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 6, 2017 7:18:19 PM

So what have these dumbf--ks been doing for 40 years because nothing they are proposing to continue or that hasn't already been in place for at least 30 of those 40 yrs. has appeared to be working. Jailing our way out of the problems has been shown not to be most effective direction to date. Time to think and emerge out of the box these troglodyte public servants have codified in our present judicial system.

Posted by: Rick | Nov 6, 2017 7:37:07 PM

You filthy, heartless, sub human, piece of shit lawyers had the church mass murderer over and over. You dirty scum loosed him to kill babies, instead of killing him first.

This massacre is 100% the fault of this filthy traitor lawyer profession. Then you allowed this felon to buy guns and body armor.

Only a neighbor, a civilian, was able to stop him. Only neighbors chased him at 95 mph. No doubt, you low life scum are thinking of what claims could be made against the neighbors.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 6, 2017 9:28:27 PM

Post a comment
 A number of executions in a number of states generating a number of notable stories and commentary | Main | "Criminal Justice and the Mattering of Lives" 

November 7, 2017

Prez Trump promises "crime will be gone" if Virginians elect the right governor

The politics of crime and punishment are always notable, and the President of the United States today through Twitter added to this always dynamic tale. Specifically, in this 2017 Election Day tweet, Prez Trump makes a bold claim (with my emphasis added) about the impact of the GOP candidate for Gov in Virginia: "EdWGillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone." Wow, that is quite a promise, and one I do not recall Prez Trump even making for his own tenure in office.

This new Washington Post article, headlined "Trump plays crime card for Virginia GOP as bitter race for governor highlights political rifts," provides more of the context and contents of the President's tweets in this arena. Here is how the article starts:

President Trump weighed in on Virginias hotly contested race for governor Tuesday, underscoring the importance of an election seen as a test of his popularity and its possible impact on state-level politics around the country. Trump urged voters to support Republican Ed Gillespie over Democrat Ralph Northam, the states sitting lieutenant governor. Gillespie, a longtime establishment Republican, has embraced the culturally divisive aspects of Trumps agenda, while Northam has presented himself as a bulwark against Trump. Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia, Trump wrote on Twitter, echoing Gillespie ads tying Northam to violence committed by the gang MS-13. If the Republican wins, Trump said, MS-13 and crime will be gone. Polls show Gillespie and Northam are running neck and neck. They are competing to replace Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who is prevented by state law from seeking a second consecutive term.

November 7, 2017 at 10:47 AM | Permalink

Comments

The sole feature shared by all low crime jurisdiction is public self help. Criminals fear the neighbors far more than they do the police.

Posted by: David Behar | Nov 7, 2017 5:23:13 PM

Looks like our great president called it again. NOT his pick even after his retarded statements still got trumpted lol

Posted by: Rodsmith3510 | Nov 8, 2017 9:40:40 AM

Post a comment
SIOUX CITY | Passengers from Sioux Gateway Airport will have an additional flight to Dallas to choose from when making travel plans.

American Airlines will add a second round-trip flight from Sioux City to its hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from Feb. 15 through March 3.

It is the third time in the past three months that American, the only carrier at Sioux Gateway, has announced additional seasonal flights to Dallas-Fort Worth. Second daily flights to Dallas will take place Nov. 20-28 and Dec. 23-Jan. 5.

"It is great to see that American is offering the additional Dallas-Fort Worth flight again in February. Having two flights per day to American's international hub in Dallas-Fort Worth is truly an upgrade in service, allowing business and leisure travelers to have options when they fly," Darrell Jesse, president of the Sioux Gateway Airport Board of Trustees, said in a news release.

In a previous interview with the Journal, Jesse said that if enough local travelers support the additional flights, American would consider making the second flight out of Sioux City a permanent addition.

The additional flight will depart Sioux City at 5:20 a.m. and arrive in Dallas at 7:38 a.m. The return flight departs Dallas at 8:55 p.m. and arrives in Sioux City at 10:57 p.m.

American, which started flying between Sioux City and Dallas in May 2016, also offers two daily flights between Sioux Gateway and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
STORM LAKE, Iowa | A Buena Vista University student has been charged with brandishing a knife and assaulting another student Monday inside a university residence hall.

Alissa Good, 20, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was charged with going armed with intent, two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, assault and disorderly conduct.

Storm Lake Police were dispatched to meet with the victim at 10 p.m. Monday at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center's emergency room. According to police, the victim told officers he owed Good money and she confronted and threatened him with a knife in White Hall. The victim said Good physically assaulted him several times and threw the knife at him, hitting him in the leg.

The victim told police he was not injured, but went to the emergency room to be examined because of a pre-existing medical condition.

Police found Good outside Grand Hall on the Buena Vista campus and took her into custody without incident. University security officers found the knife believed to be used in the incident in a men's restroom in White Hall.
SIOUX CITY | Northwest Iowans will cast ballots for City Council members and, in some cities, for mayor during statewide city elections Tuesday.

In Sioux City, six candidates are vying for three open seats on the City Council. Incumbents Pete Groetken, Alex Watters and Dan Moore are running against challengers Denny Quinn, Jake Jungers and Doug Waples.

Voters can cast their ballots at one of 13 voting centers in Sioux City from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Sergeant Bluff voters will decide a contested race for mayor Tuesday, with incumbent Jon Winkel running against current City Councilwoman Nicole Cleveland.

Sergeant Bluff voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Sergeant Bluff Community Center, 903 Topaz Drive.

Polls are also open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Moville, Iowa. The remaining Woodbury County cities holding elections have polls open from noon to 8 p.m.

People who have requested and received an absentee ballot but not mailed it in can vote in one of two ways Tuesday. They can either bring it to the Woodbury County Auditor's Office to submit the ballot in person or visit one of the voting centers to "surrender" their absentee ballot and vote at the voting center.

Residents cannot vote in person at the courthouse Tuesday.

Other Northwest Iowa cities have varying polling hours based on precinct. Check with your local county auditor to see when yours are open.
Todays top picks from our online calendar. Find more events at siouxcityjournal.com/calendar.

Heroes Game Trophy Viewing

The Heroes Trophy will be at the South Sioux City Hy-Vee, 2501 Cornhusker Drive, for pictures and viewing 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to the trophy, there will be a drawing and customers may enter to win four tickets to the Heroes Game on Friday, Nov. 24, in Lincoln.

Thunder Down Under

The Ultimate Girls' Night OUTBACK with Australia's Thunder From Down Under, 8 to 10 p.m. in the WinnaVegas event center, 1500 330th St., Sloan, Iowa. Advance general admission tickets are $20 or book a VIP Reserved Table of eight at $160. Call 712-428-7117 or visit winnavegas.com for more information.

Endless Loop

Yun Shin, an assistant professor of art at Northwestern College, will display her work in the colleges Te Paske Gallery, 101 Seventh St. SW, in Orange City, Iowa. Shins exhibit, titled Endless Loop, features drawings created by tracing her fathers and mothers signatures thousands of times layering them into abstract patterns that suggest an infinite space. Visit www.nwciowa.edu for more information.
VERMILLION, S.D. | When asked about her military history, Angela Miller smiles and makes this introduction: "I'm an Army brat, Army soldier, Army wife, Army mom."

She ends the salutation with this: "Army proud."

The former Angela Tronson was 17 years old and a senior in high school in Everett, Washington, in 1985, when she asked for her parents' permission to enlist in the Army.

"My dad (Donald Tronson) was a Vietnam veteran, and in the Army for 25 years," Miller said. "I wanted to join because of the challenge and that sense of pride my family had for military service."

Her mother, Lena Tronson, agreed and signed on. Her parents, now of Shelby, Montana, were stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, at the time, where Donald Tronson served.

Miller enlisted in December 1985. She was graduated from high school six months later and headed to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She then traveled to the Defense Language Institute for training in the German language, a role she chose based, in part, upon her childhood experiences while living in Germany while her father was serving the Army.

At the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California, Miller became immersed in a nine-month intensive study of the language while training as a soldier. She also met another soldier, Stan Miller, who was training in German, during the first week of her schooling in Monterrey. "We knew two weeks after we met that someday we'd be getting married," she said.

The couple dated for 3 months before exchanging vows on Jan. 24, 1987.

Stan concluded his training in March 1987 and shipped to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a pit stop on his way to Germany.

Angela, meantime, ended her training in Monterrey in the summer of 1987 and reported to Goodfellow Air Force Base at San Angelo, Texas, for advance individual training. "I was to be intercepting radio traffic from East Germany," she said.

A short time later, Stan broke his back in a jump. Angela recalled getting the call about his accident, immediately fearing death or paralysis. By the grace of God, she said, doctors expected Stan to make a full recovery.

After his discharge from the hospital, Stan was placed on convalescent leave for three weeks. "And during that time," Angela said, "I got pregnant with our oldest son."

The military presented Angela with an option: She had orders for northern Germany that would have her separated from her husband; or, she could end her active duty component and be placed on inactive ready reserve and, thus, continue her eight-year enlistment.

"I got out (of active duty) to be with Stan in Germany and our oldest son, Anthony, was born on May 14, 1988," she said.

Angela stayed home and raised their son as Stan served the U.S. Army and was deployed multiple times as tensions leading to Operation Desert Storm heightened. The couple had a second son, Timothy, on Dec. 30, 1991.

Angela and their two young sons moved back to the U.S. in July 1993, first to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and then to Fort Carson, Colorado, in 1994, when she was pregnant with their third son, Kristofer, who was born Jan. 6, 1995.

"We spent six years at Fort Carson and I'm proud that during that time I became very involved in the Family Support Group, which worked to support families," she said, indicating that the work there helped solidify blueprints for what came to be Family Readiness Groups across the U.S.

Stan, a Green Beret, sought an ROTC assignment for his final tour of duty. He earned one and was sent to the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, not far from his native Arlington, South Dakota.

"We figured we'd be close to his home in retirement," she said. "As an Army brat, I could make due wherever we lived."

Seventeen years ago, Stan began directing the ROTC program at USD. He retired in 2004, concluding his 24-year tenure with the Army. He now serves as the veterans representative for the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation. Angela manages the USD Barnes & Noble bookstore, a role she's held for 11 years.

The couple has since seen all three sons enlist. Timothy was 17 and a senior in high school when, like his mother, he sought his parents' signatures, allowing him to enlist.

"I guess I'm a hypocrite, but I didn't sign," Angela said. "I was afraid and the world was different in 2009."

Timothy turned 18 on Dec. 30, 2009, and joined the U.S. Army one month later. He eventually was assigned to the same unit in Afghanistan that Angela's father had served with in Vietnam.

Their youngest son, Kristofer, joined the Army right out of high school. Anthony, their oldest, earned a degree from USD and two master's degrees before enlisting in the Army. At one point, Angela said, all three sons were training in different programs at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Kristofer remains in the Army, the only family member at this time serving his country. He's training at Fort Bragg in the hopes to become a Green Beret, like this father.

When Timothy left for Afghanistan, Angela asked her mother-in-law how she felt when Stan, her son, left for duty overseas. "She told me she had faith in him, faith in his training and faith in God," Angela recalled, saying the message stayed with her as Timothy fought against the forces of terrorism.

And while Angela remembered speaking to her husband once per month during one deployment in Bosnia, for example, communication with son Timothy was much more frequent, which aided in her role as an "Army mom."

"My grandmother told me that she didn't know where my dad was when he got hurt in Vietnam," Angela Miller said. "While a call now might last only five minutes, I'm blessed to have it."

She said she and Stan, who've now been married 31 years, remain ever grateful for their sons' service and the roles they fill now, both as soldiers and students chasing advanced degrees.

"We're proud of all our children and their accomplishments," the former Army brat and Army soldier said. "Especially when they've followed our footsteps."
There has been much debate over the proposed tax cuts even before the framework had been published. The salient point of this discussion seems to orbit around how the government will pay for these cuts and who should benefit most. Allow me to provide clarity to this issue.

The government pays for nothing; it is the taxpayer who funds the government and its reckless spending. The debate should center on how much longer We the people will allow this irresponsible spending and redistribution of wealth to remain unabated before we take the power of the purse back from Congress. Or, perhaps we should debate on how much longer 46 percent of the population will continue to pay no net income tax yet receive a tax refund."

I am reminded of a quote by Thomas Jefferson: The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not.

Some very visionary and profound thought from a founding father of whom the liberals have demonized as a horrible racist and someone unfit to be honored by history. - Edward Ferris, Sioux City
ALTA, Iowa | For some time, the Almighty was calling Kim Dewey to the ministry. She resisted the divine calls at first, but after a while she surrendered to the request.

Perhaps it's a sort of "divine comedy," then, that Dewey, a Missouri native who now lives in Alta, would go on to become the lead pastor of a parish of four churches -- only seven years into the job she wasn't sure she'd take.

Dewey is the lead pastor of the Schaller United Methodist Church, Alta United Methodist Church, Silver Creek United Methodist Church and Peterson United Methodist Church -- also known as the PASS (Peterson, Alta, Schaller, Silver Creek) Parish. She was appointed to this position on July 1, the day the newly linked churches became a parish.

Before that, the Silver Creek and Peterson churches were independent (albeit with part-time pastors), while Alta and Schaller were united with Dewey at the helm.

Her job as the leader of the new parish is all the more surprising given all the other jobs she's held down over the years -- she referred to the ministry as her "32nd career."

"I have been a waitress, I've been a childcare provider, I've worked in nursing homes, I've worked with children with disabilities," she said. "I have been in insurance, I have been in jewelry sales. I worked at Walmart as a customer service person for five years."

And now, she oversees worship services for four churches, with a collective 130 or so regular attendees.

'All congregations are aging'

Is it hard to be a pastor for four different churches?

"On a good day," Dewey said.

Rural churches throughout the land are faced with the problems Dewey sees in her flocks -- fewer and fewer people in the pews.

"Everything else about northwest Iowa has changed -- we have less farms, we have less schools, we have less central hubs of business and our demographics have changed completely," she said. "So the church is having to change, and although the basic tenets are the same, the way we do church might have to change, in that there's less folks to go around."

That means there is less of a need for full-time pastors to serve each and every church, which is why congregations share pastors, like Dewey and her co-pastor, Kristin Boysen.

Every Sunday, Dewey takes the pulpit at two of the four churches, while Boysen takes the other two.

The sermons and other worship materials they use are essentially the same from one congregation to the next.

Now that the four churches -- still more or less independent, but sharing a pastor -- are united in a parish, Dewey and Boysen have been working to get the churches to socialize with one another.

"Our goal is to create community between the four churches," Boysen said.

While the Peterson and Silver Creek churches have retained a fair contingent of younger congregants -- as much as 25 percent under 40 -- older folks are the rule, while younger parishioners are the exception.

"In northwest Iowa, all congregations are aging," Dewey said.

There are congregants less than 50 years old, Dewey said, but they seek out a different kind of religious experience than their elder peers.

"The folks under 50 are more interested in outreach and mission, and feeding folks -- physically feeding folks, as well as spiritually -- building a house, cleaning up a ditch, or going on a mission trip to Haiti," she said. "Versus sitting in worship on Sunday morning."

So the people Dewey and Boysen see in worship on Sunday mornings are a bit more advanced in years.

"We see the older folks are dying, so we're losing them, and the younger folks get confirmed and don't come back, so we lose on both ends," Boysen said.

Nowhere in the parish is this more stark than in Schaller, where a typical Sunday sees about 12 congregants. At one time, the church saw 35 or 40 per week.

In any church, a decline like that means some tough questions will be on the table.

"Once you probably hit about 20, you're always thinking, 'What do we do to prolong this -- and when have we prolonged it too long?'" Dewey said. "When is God saying there's some place else for you to do ministry besides right here? You can sustain a church with 10 to 20 in worship on Sunday, but how well are you doing ministry outside the walls? Because church is about what we're doing for all God's kids, not just the ones that are right inside our church."

It's a thorny situation -- and the Schaller church building itself (designed to hold closer to 100 congregants) is growing old, so what offering and donations come from the 12 or so attendees is earmarked for maintenance and upkeep.

But to move the flock to a new home could be crushing for some, so they have to explore all options.

"You've grown up in this church, your parents were married in the church, you were baptized in the church, you were confirmed in the church, your children were baptized and confirmed in the church, they're getting married in the church," Dewey said.

"The church isn't the building, but that's hard to realize," Boysen said.

Coming together

One of the ironic things about small churches with poor attendance is how many people are technically registered as members of the church. Between the four churches, there are probably 400 people registered as members.

"Membership (at Schaller) is about 110," she said. "Some of those people, of course, are in nursing homes, some have maybe moved to be closer to family, or some have moved for job opportunities and they're still just on the rolls, and some might even be going to other churches."

But trying to do outreach, essential though it may be, is no small task for a pastor of four churches.

"Ministry is a full-time job, as in 24/7, 365," Dewey said. That means her time has to be used wisely.

"Most of the folks that I serve, they would rather me spend two hours with them at a potluck dinner, and really get to know them and hear the story of what their grandbaby did at the concert this week, than they would like to see me in a meeting somewhere," she said.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.



David Henry Hiergesell, 54, of St. Leonard, MD passed away on November 4, 2017 at Haymarket Medical Center. Born November 4, 1963 in Hackensack, NJ, he was the son of the late Richard Hiergesell and Doris (Dicke) Hiergesell. Dave was an accomplished Computer Programmer, Vice President of New Media Solutions, with an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor's in Psychiatry.



Dave was a lover of all things red, red wine, red meat, redheads, and of course the Redskins. Dave loved traveling, spending time with close friends, and rooting on the Huskers. To know him is to love him. He was always willing to share his knowledge and good intentions; the world will be a quieter place for his friends and family. It will be hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember.



Dave is survived by his wife, Sarah; daughters, Blake and Perri; brother, Robert; and step-children, Nicholas, Courtney and Jacqueline. He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Doris Hiergesell and brother Richard.



Family will receive friends on Thursday, November 9, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Rausch Funeral Home, 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD 20657. Inurnment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. We ask that you sport your Burgundy and Gold in honor of Dave's memory.



A reception will follow at the Pavilion at Solomons Landing, 1000 Half Hitch Way, Solomons, MD 20688. All are welcome to join us. In lieu of flowers, we will be accepting donations for his daughters' college funds. Any amount is greatly appreciated. https://www.youcaring.com/blakeandperrihiergesell-1001192. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home.
Aaron Ballard, 33, of Prince Frederick Nicholas Gegor, 30, of Chesapeake Beach Rachel Pitcher, 28, of Broomes Island Previous Next

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: During the week of October 30 through November 5, deputies responded to 1,244 calls for service throughout the community.TRESPASS: On November 2, Deputy Boerum responded to the 7-Eleven located at 15 N Solomons Island Road for a trespass complaint. Deputy Boerum arrived on scene to make contact with the subject later identified as, who was currently being detained by an off duty deputy. Deputy Boerum confirmed the trespass order with Emergency Communications, and placed Ballard into custody. Ballard was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Trespass: Private Property.CDS: On November 2, Deputies responded to the Prince Frederick WAWA for the report of possible CDS activity. Deputy DeFelice responded on scene and located the vehicle matching the description provided by Emergency Communications. Deputy DeFelice observed the vehicle leave the parking lot at a high rate of speed, and failed to stop at the stop sign. It was also confirmed, the registration plates displayed on the vehicle belonged to a different vehicle. Deputy DeFelice initiated a traffic stop, making contact with the driver identified as, and the passenger as. Deputy Wilson was on scene and per formed a K9 scan of the vehicle which revealed a positive alert for narcotics. A search of the vehicle and persons was conducted revealing narcotics and paraphernalia. Deputy Boerum placed Gegor under arrest and transported him to the Calvert County Detention Center where he was charged with CDS: Possesion-not marijuana (Oxycodone), CDS: Possession with intent to Distribute: Narcotics, and CDS: Possession Paraphernalia. Deputy Wilson placed Pitcher under arrest and transported her to the Calvert County Detention Center where she was charged with CDS: Possession with intent to Distribute: Narcotics and CDS: Possession-not marijuana (Oxycodone).Burglary 17-57836: On November 2, Deputy Sampson responded to Yardley Drive, Prince Frederick for the report of a burglary. The victim stated when they arrived home, they noticed the gate on their side fence had been opened along with the back shed door. A search was conducted of the residence and shed with negative results for any stolen items. However, the victim stated the ladder found leaning on the shed door, was usually inside the shed.Burglary 17-57851: On November 2, Deputy Barger responded to Alta Drive, Sunderland for the report of a burglary. The victim stated that unknown suspect(s) had broken into their shed. The victim stated the suspect(s) had cut and removed the Tumbler combination lock and stole a 100ft extension cord from inside the shed. The victim also noticed multiple items around the back porch of the residence that did not belong to them including red plastic gas cans, a red bolt cutter, black plastic funnel, black bucket, and various copper and steel pipe fittings in the woods behind the residence. The value of the stolen property is $65.Theft 17-57206: On October 30, Deputy R. Evans responded to Caudles Way, Saint Leonard for the report of a theft from vehicle. The victim stated that sometime between October 29th at 4:00pm and October 30th at 7:30am an unknown suspect(s) entered their unlocked vehicle, stealing a backpack leaf blower and a foldout hedge trimmer. The value of the stolen property is $750.Theft 17-57519: On October 31, Deputy Hardesty responded to Clay Hammond Road, Prince Frederick for the report of a theft from vehicle. The victim stated sometime between October 30th at 3:30pm and October 31st at 8:00am an unknown suspect(s) entered two vehicles in the driveway, removing items out of each vehicle. The items included a bag containing multiple leather jackets, a tiara, a spring jacket, and a box with leftovers containing funnel cake fries. The value of the stolen property is $650.Theft 17-57857: On November 2, Deputy Sampson responded to the Calvert County Sheriff's Office for the report of a theft. The victim stated on October 24th their UPS package containing a TomTom 5.0 Touchscreen GPS was stolen from their front porch of their residence located on Childress Trail, Lusby. The value of the stolen property is $150.Damaged Property 17-57306: On October 30, Deputy R. Evans responded to Olivet Road, Lusby for the report of damaged property. The victim stated that sometime between October 27th at 4:00pm and October 28th at 8:50am an unknown suspect(s) intentionally damaged the weather stripping of their vehicle. The estimated damaged property is $25.Damaged Property 17-58158: On November 4, Deputy Locke responded to Beach Drive, Chesapeake Beach for the report of damaged property. The victim stated sometime between November 3rd at 11:00pm and November 4th at 8:00am unknown suspect(s) struck their vehicle with a BB gun leaving dents in the door and shattering the right rear window of their vehicle. The estimated damaged property is $500.
File photo: Orbital ATK Cygnus preparing for rendezvous with the ISS. NASA

Orbital ATKs eighth commercial cargo mission is set to launch to the International Space Station at 7:36 a.m. EST Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo craft will blast off from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, with over 7,000 pounds of food, supplies and research gear.

Two astronauts will be inside the cupola commanding the Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture Cygnus when it arrives Monday at 5:40 a.m. Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli will capture Cygnus, dubbed the SS Gene Cernan, assisted by Commander Randy Bresnik. Cygnus will deliver numerous advanced science experiments exploring a wide variety of subjects including communication and navigation, microbiology, animal biology and plant biology.

Meanwhile, the orbiting Expedition 53 crew members continued investigating biology and robotics in microgravity.

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei collected and stowed saliva samples today that will be analyzed later for a study on the human immune system and metabolism. Bresnik took panoramic photographs inside the Kibo laboratory module to prepare for the upcoming Astrobee experiment. Astrobee consists of three free-flying, cube-shaped robots that will be tested for their ability to assist astronauts and ground controllers.

On-Orbit Status Report

MBSU transfer and installation: On Friday, ground controllers attempted to transfer the recently repaired spare Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) through the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock (A/L) and install it on its stowage location on External Stowage Platform 2 (ESP2). The JEM A/L outer door opened as commanded, but the slide table did not respond to ground commanding via the Airlock Control & Display Unit- Remote Control (ACDU-RC). The crew was able to command the slide table (bypassing the ACDU-RC) to extend outside on Saturday. Robotics operations proceeded nominally after that and the MBSU was installed in its stowage location.

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock: After the MBSU transfer over the weekend, the JEM A/L was repressurized and the slide table was brought into the JEM. The JEM ORU Transfer Interface (JOTI) was removed and Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) was installed in preparation for upcoming an upcoming NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) deployment series.

Microbial Tracking-2: Over the weekend and today, a 52S crewmember took saliva samples to support the Microbial Tracking-2 investigation. The Microbial Tracking series-2 continues the monitoring of the types of microbes that are present on the International Space Station (ISS). It seeks to catalog and characterize potential disease-causing microorganisms aboard the ISS. Crew samples from pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight times in addition to environmental samples from ISS surface and air locations will be collected to analyze any associations between the microbial content of the samples, as well as potential health effects.

Lighting Effects: A 52S crewmember conducted the second half of a two week long Sleep Shift session by tracking his daily sleep patterns and wakefulness. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance.

Astrobee JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) Mapping: To develop a programing map of the ISS, today the crew configured digital camera equipment, used a light meter to measure lighting, and took photos that will make a panorama of the interior of the JPM. Astrobee is set to arrive on the ISS in Spring 2018, and consists of three self-contained, free flying robots and a docking station for use inside the ISS. The robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity to assist astronauts with routine chores, and give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling, logistics management, and accommodate up to three investigations.

Multi-Omics Sample Collections: This morning, a 52S crewmember collected saliva samples and completed a questionnaire for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics experiment. The samples will be placed into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Multi-omics analysis of human microbial-metabolic cross-talk in the space ecosystem (Multi-Omics) investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts immune function, by combining the data obtained from the measurements of changes in the gut microbiological composition, metabolites profiles, and the immune system.

Airway Monitoring Overview and Setup: The crew reviewed reference material and gathered hardware to support tomorrows Airway Monitoring session. With dust particles present in the International Space Station atmosphere, Airway Monitoring studies the occurrence and indicators of airway inflammation in crewmembers, using ultra-sensitive gas analyzers to analyze exhaled air. This helps to highlight any health impacts and to maintain crewmember well-being on future human spaceflight missions, especially longer-duration missions to the Moon and Mars for example, where crewmembers will have to be more self-sufficient in highlighting and avoiding such conditions.

Biological Experiment Laboratory (BioLab) Exchange Door Inspection: The crew checked the commanding capability of the BioLab experiment container exchange door. The BioLab is a multiuser research facility located in the European Columbus laboratory. The facility is used to perform space biology experiments on microorganisms, cells, tissue cultures, small plants, and small invertebrates. BioLab allows scientists to gain a better understanding of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on biological organisms.

Orbital-ATK 8 (OA-8) On-board Training (OBT): In preparation for OA-8 berth, currently planned for November 13, the USOS crew conducted Robotic On-Board Trainer (ROBoT) OBT with support from ground teams. The crew reviewed capture procedure, mission profile overview, rendezvous crew procedures and interfaces for monitoring/commanding Cygnus. They also practiced a 30 meter approach and 2 Capture Point hold runs.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry  Subject

Multi Omics Saliva Operations

Multi Omics Saliva sample MELFI Insertion

Multi Omics Question

Microbial Tracking-2 Body Sample Collection

Microbial Tracking-2 Sample MELFI Retrieval Insert

JEM Airlock Press

Biolab Inc EC Exch Door Inspection

MELFI 3 Ice Brick Insert 2

JEM Airlock Leak Check

Node 2 Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) R&R Review/Big Picture Words

PMM Rack Front Cleanup  Part 2

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side

Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) Swap

In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) JOTI Removal

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis

PMM1D1 Cleanup

IV Fluid Priming Demonstration Two

MPEP Installation to JEM Airlock Slide Table

MPEP Installation to JEM Airlock Slide Table Support

JEM System Laptop Terminal Reboot

Node 2 IFM-N2 RPCM-GTHR (RPCM) R&R Equipment Gather

ISL Interface Panel Foam Cover Taping

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side

PMM1P2 Behind RSP Cleanup

MELFI 1 TDR Battery Swap

Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Water Sample

Earth Imagery from ISS Crew Preference Target Operations

PROBOY. Document review and equipment gathering

Astrobee JPM Mapping

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) in Columbus

??? maintenance

Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Initiation

Polar Desiccant Swap

Environmental Health System (EHS)  Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Extended Maintenance

Big Picture Words Read

Airway Monitoring Hardware Location

ISS HAM Service Module Pass

Airway Monitoring Kit Consolidation

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record

On-board Training (OBT) Cygnus Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session 1

Exercise Data Downlink via OCA

N1 Nadir Hatch to Unlatch Hardstop

Node 2 Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) R&R Review Conference

Toggle MVIS to HDD1

Completed Task List Activities

Crew Support LAN (CSL) 1 client reload

ESA PAO Message MIUR Differenze

ESA PAO Message Wikipedia

Disposable In-Suit Drink Bag Lot Number Inventory

Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow

Photo/TV Go Pro Questionnaire

Plug in Plan Inverter Swap

PMM1D1 Cleanup

PMM1P2 Behind RSP Cleanup

VEG-03 Plant Pillow Water

Wanted Poster: (0-96 in-oz) Trq Driver, 1/4 Drive

KTO Replace

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

JEM A/L pressurization

Astrobee Support

LAB CCAA Switchover Support

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Tuesday, 11/07: EMU Water Vent Line R&R, N2 IMV Reconfig, Cygnus OBT, Airway Monitoring

Wednesday, 11/08: Airlock RPCM R&R, Airway Monitoring

Thursday, 11/09: Lab CDRA Maintenance, IWIS TAA R&R, ITCS FSS Refill

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status

Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  On

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Standby

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Full Up

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Off
Jupiter's Aurorae NASA

Jupiters intense northern and southern lights, or auroras, behave independently of each other according to a new study using NASAs Chandra X-ray and ESAs XMM-Newton observatories.

Using XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray observations from March 2007 and May and June 2016, a team of researchers produced maps of Jupiters X-ray emissions (shown in inset) and identified an X-ray hot spot at each pole. Each hot spot can cover an area equal to about half the surface of the Earth.

The team found that the hot spots had very different characteristics. The X-ray emission at Jupiters south pole consistently pulsed every 11 minutes, but the X-rays seen from the north pole were erratic, increasing and decreasing in brightness  seemingly independent of the emission from the south pole.

This makes Jupiter particularly puzzling. X-ray auroras have never been detected from our solar systems other gas giants, including Saturn. Jupiter is also unlike Earth, where the auroras on our planets north and south poles generally mirror each other because the magnetic fields are similar.

To understand how Jupiter produces its X-ray auroras, the team of researchers plans to combine new and upcoming X-ray data from Chandra and XMM-Newton with information from NASAs Juno mission, which is currently in orbit around the planet. If scientists can connect the X-ray activity with physical changes observed simultaneously with Juno, they may be able to determine the process that generates the Jovian auroras and by association X-ray auroras at other planets.

One theory that the X-ray and Juno observations may help to prove or disprove is that Jupiters X-ray auroras are caused by interactions at the boundary between Jupiters magnetic field, which is generated by electrical currents in the planets interior, and the solar wind, a high-speed flow of particles streaming from the Sun. The interactions between the solar wind and Jupiters magnetic field can cause the latter to vibrate and produce magnetic waves. Charged particles can surf these waves and gain energy. Collisions of these particles with Jupiters atmosphere produce the bright flashes of X-rays observed by Chandra and XMM-Newton. Within this theory the 11-minute interval would represent the time for a wave to travel along one of Jupiters magnetic field lines.

The difference in behavior between the Jovian north and south poles may be caused by the difference in visibility of the two poles. Because the magnetic field of Jupiter is tilted, we are able to see much more of the northern aurora than the southern aurora. Therefore for the north pole we may be able to observe regions where the magnetic field connects to more than one location, with several different travel times, while for the south pole we can only observe regions where the magnetic field connects to one location. This would cause the behavior of the north pole to appear erratic compared to the south pole.

A larger question is how does Jupiter give the particles in its magnetosphere (the realm controlled by Jupiters magnetic field) the huge energies needed to make X-rays? Some of the X-ray emission observed with Chandra can only be produced if Jupiter accelerates oxygen ions to such high energies that when they violently collide with the atmosphere all eight of their electrons are torn off. Scientists hope to determine what impact these particles, which crash into the planets poles at thousands of kilometers per second, have on the planet itself. Do these high-energy particles affect the Jovian weather and the chemical composition of its atmosphere? Can they explain the anomalously high temperatures found in certain places in Jupiters atmosphere? These are the questions that Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Juno may be able to help answer in the future.

Reference: The Independent Pulsations of Jupiters Northern and Southern X-ray Auroras, William R. Dunn (University College London) et al., 2017 Oct. 30, Nature Astronomy [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0262-6].

NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program for NASAs Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, controls Chandras science and flight operations.
Enceladus NASA

Heat from friction could power hydrothermal activity on Saturns moon Enceladus for billions of years if the moon has a highly porous core, according to a new modeling study by European and U.S. researchers working on NASAs Cassini mission.

The study, published today in the journal Nature Astronomy, helps resolve a question scientists have grappled with for a decade: Where does the energy to power the extraordinary geologic activity on Enceladus come from?

Cassini found that Enceladus sprays towering, geyser-like jets of water vapor and icy particles, including simple organics, from warm fractures near its south pole. Additional investigation revealed the moon has a global ocean beneath its icy crust, from which the jets are venting into space. Multiple lines of evidence from Cassini indicate that hydrothermal activity  hot water interacting chemically with rock  is taking place on the seafloor.

One of those lines was the detection of tiny rock grains inferred to be the product of hydrothermal chemistry taking place at temperatures of at least 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 degrees Celsius). The amount of energy required to produce these temperatures is more than scientists think could be provided by decay of radioactive elements in the interior.

Where Enceladus gets the sustained power to remain active has always been a bit of a mystery, but weve now considered in greater detail how the structure and composition of the moons rocky core could play a key role in generating the necessary energy, said the studys lead author, Gael Choblet from the University of Nantes in France.

Choblet and co-authors found that a loose, rocky core with 20 to 30 percent empty space would do the trick. Their simulations show that as Enceladus orbits Saturn, rocks in the porous core flex and rub together, generating heat. The loose interior also allows water from the ocean to percolate deep down, where it heats up, then rises, interacting chemically with the rocks. The models show this activity should be at a maximum at the moons poles. Plumes of the warm, mineral-laden water gush from the seafloor and travel upward, thinning the moons ice shell from beneath to only half a mile to 3 miles (1 to 5 kilometers) at the south pole. (The average global thickness of the ice is thought to be about 12 to 16 miles, or 20 to 25 kilometers.) And this same water is then expelled into space through fractures in the ice.

The study is the first to explain several key characteristics of Enceladus observed by Cassini: the global ocean, internal heating, thinner ice at the south pole, and hydrothermal activity. It doesnt explain why the north and south poles are so different though. Unlike the tortured, geologically fresh landscape of the south, Enceladus northern extremes are heavily cratered and ancient. The authors note that if the ice shell was slightly thinner in the south to begin with, it would lead to runaway heating there over time.

The researchers estimate that, over time (between 25 and 250 million years), the entire volume of Enceladus ocean passes through the moons core. This is estimated to be an amount of water equal to two percent of the volume of Earths oceans.

Flexing of Enceladus icy crust due to the tidal pull of Saturn had previously been considered as a heat source, but models showed this would not produce enough sustained power. The ocean in Enceladus would have frozen within 30 million years. Although past studies modeled how tidal friction could generate heat in the moons core, they made simpler assumptions or simulated the moon in only two dimensions. The new study ramped up the complexity of the model and simulated Enceladus in 3-D.

Although the Cassini science team had suspected for years that a porous core might play an important role in the mystery of Enceladus warm interior, this study brings together several more recent lines of evidence in a very elegant way, according to NASAs Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker at the agencys Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This powerful research makes use of newer details  namely that the ocean is global and has hydrothermal activity  that we just didnt have until the past couple of years. Its an insight that the mission needed time to build, one discovery upon another, she said.

Launched in 1997, the Cassini spacecraft orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017. Cassini made numerous dramatic discoveries, including the surprising activity on Enceladus and liquid methane seas on Saturns largest moon, Titan. Cassini ended its journey with a dramatic plunge into Saturns atmosphere on Sept. 15, 2017, returning unique science data until it lost contact with Earth.

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASAs Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter.
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Big news out of little Helsingborg, Swedenjust across the bridge from Copenhagenwhere Koppi Coffee Roasters, the venerable pioneers of Scandinavian coffee culture, have announced the impending closure of its one and only cafe. Koppis shop will stop serving December 20th.

Koppi announced the news via Instagram:

But its not all doom and gloom. Sprudge spoke with Koppi co-founder Anne Lunell a few weeks before this announcement, and she shared more with us about why the cafe is closing, and what to expect next from Koppi as a wholesale roaster.

Annewere sad to learn that Koppi will be closing its cafe. Can you tell us anymore about why you and Charles (Nystrand, Koppi co-founder) made this decision?

Wellit is not a big deal in some ways, but in another way I guess it is. Weve been one of hte founders of the specialty coffee industry in Scandinavia, but a year ago or so Charles and I started thinking about it as we separated the roastery from the cafe. It proved hard to be as focused as we wanted on our main business, which is roasting, not the cafe.

The reason were doing it now, especially for myself, is that Ive felt detached from the roasting, and I havent even been able to do one day a week at the roastery, which is what I feel really passionate about. I do all the green buying. I just want to refocus and move ahead; were trying to make smart choices without having to get bigger or sell out. We want people to remember Koppi as something really cool and really nice where they had a positive experience, and now its time for us to just refocus and work closer to the wholesale family now instead, and develop the online business.

Its hard to explain but  I feel like the coffee shop is holding us back. And when I say that its not that we want to grow the company, necessarily, but we just want to be better, and we want to take the roasting as far as we can.

How many wholesale clients do you currently work with?

There are a lot of rotating ones, but its about a hundred or a hundred and fifty or so, all across Europe and in Asia as well, plus a couple in Canada. I think our goal at the end of the day is to work longterm with likeminded businesses and keep stable relationships. A lot of the accounts we have are good friends as well. Were trying to create something that is a bit more sustainable in a lot of aspects, and not have to, you know, chase new accounts and without being able to give good customer service. We prefer doing it more organically.

Is this about freeing up more time to focus on this part of the business?

Potentially. I think it will also be be easier to travel to origin, though Ive been traveling the last couple of years a lot. Time is not really the concern. Its more that we kind of want to just work differently, in a way thats going to be better for our clients but also better for us.

Is the need for a cafe model less important these days for coffee brands like Koppi? With global distribution and online shipping and origin travel and so on, maybe the move towards wholesale-only will happen more?

Maybe its a terrible concept? Maybe its the new trend? The cafe has been essential for us, both financially and also branding wise, because in the start we were relying on the sales in the cafe to kind of back up the roastery and keep the company liquid. But now I thinkor at least, I hopethat our brand is strong enough that people think of it when they think of Koppi they think of good quality and it stands on it own.

Helsingborg is a very small city, a very small market. It would be different in Copenhagen or London or New York. Last year was our best year for our business, the best year since we opened. Were not going out of business. Its more that the coffee shop doesnt generate very much compared to the growing roastery, and thats where our head and heart is now.

What will become of the space?

Most likely Brewski, our neighbors at the roastery, will take over and do a beer and natural wine bar. And theyll serve Koppi at it in one form or the other.

Whats the last day for the cafe?

30th of December.

Thank you.

Jordan Michelman is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Jordan Michelman on Sprudge.
In a repeat of last weeks opening day feature, Petrossian AS scored a win in the $18,000 headliner giving driver Russ Foster his second of three winners Monday at Dover Downs.

Foster, winner of the DSOA Rising Star award early this year, notched a three-bagger including a 40-1 shot, late in the program.

In the feature race, he guided Petrossian AS, a four-year-old gelding by SJs Caviar-Elegant Dame, trained by his father and owned by his veteran horseman grandfather, Arty Foster, to his second straight victory lifting his seasonal earnings to $31,515. Trust Fund Baby (Art Stafford, Jr.), who also won a co-feature last week, finished second. Race favourite Common Parlance (Corey Callahan) held on for third.

Three races later, Foster hustled 40-1 shot Don Marines Dedododo Dedadadada from off the pace to grind down Teggers Hanover (Stafford, Jr.) who appeared on the way to victory. It was a second win for trainer Kyle Moore. American First (Jeff Fout) took the show money.

Art Stafford, Jr. joined the longshot parade driving Jody Lee Cahalls Fire In The Belly to a 38-1 win from post 8 for trainer Trevor Stafford. The Real Artist-Fire in The Sky gelding raced with a claiming tag for the first time. Rock On Precious (Foster) was runner-up. Stone Fire Hanover (Ross Wolfenden) finished third.

Russ Foster had three winners, Art Stafford, Jr. and Tony Morgan had two with trainer Kyle Moore adding a double.

Tuesday is feature trot day and an excellent octet of square gaiter meet in the $25,000 Open led Celebrity Pegasus, Wind Of The North and newcomer DWs NY Yank.

(Dover Downs)
It was quite a night for young trainer Maggie Audley on Monday night (November 6), as Gold Star Mysti, a graduate of the Florida stakes program over the past two seasons, earned her Summa Cum Laude honours as a four-year-old at Pompano Park with a thrilling 1:52.4 win for her 23-year-old driver, James Yoder.

And less than a half hour later, the Audley-Yoder combo teamed up again for a win with Gator Boy  his first win in almost four years.

Gold Star Mysti, a daughter of Mysticism, earned the closest of decisions over the late-charging A Wish For Wings, driven by Rick Plano. The margin of victory was a scant nose. The pocket-sitting Sterling Electra, with John MacDonald in the bike, finished third, two lengths back. Goldstar Rockette was fourth after having emerged with the lead at the opening marker in :27 before having taken the field through subsequent fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.1.

Mysti, who left from Post 9, was hustled away from the gate along with several others and settled in mid-pack around the opening turn. On the backside, she rushed up first over, engaged Goldstar Rockette in battle around the final bend, took command straightening away for home, and just held on.

Trainer Maggie Audley was ecstatic with Mysti's win, remarking, "It was her first start here off of a qualifier and I didn't know what to expect since she hadn't seen pari-mutuel competition since September. I was really pleased with her performance but it sure was a close one.

"I told Edgar (trainer Clarke of A Wish For Wings) that I was lucky that his mare didn't sneeze at the wire!"

As the 2-1 favourite, Gold Star Mysti paid $6.00 to win.

Roughly 16 minutes later, the six-year-old Gator Boy went behind the starting gate in a non-winners of two pari-mutuel races event and roared by his competition in deep stretch to score in 1:55.2 for his first win since December 4, 2013 at Balmoral Park.

The gelded son of Duneside Perch, who is trained by Maggie for Dale Witcher II of Tatum, Texas, left with a bit of alacrity. Driver Yoder searched for a decent spot, found one in fourth as the early fractions were hot -- :28.2 and :56.4 -- and then sat chilly past the third station in 1:25.4. He then fanned widest of all in the lane for the win which measured one and a quarter lengths over Bro Hanover (driven by Mickey McNichol). Danza (Ray Vizzi) finished third after having loomed boldly turning for home.

Come On Red was fourth while the 2-5 favourite, Decent Sawyer, finished fifth.

The clocking was a new lifetime mark for Gator Boy. Trainer Maggie Audley said, "We met Mr. Witcher (owner) when he bought a broodmare from us out of the Delaware sale the February after dad (Tom) passed.

"We kept in contact and, in conversation, we learned about Gator Boy, who was a large two-year-old that had a lot of heart and tried hard, but had a lot of soreness issues.

"Instead of pushing him as a three-year-old, Mr. Witcher decided to bring him back home to Texas, fatten him up and work on his soreness issues.

"In order to earn his keep, Gator Boy started racing on the 'under saddle' circuit in Texas and Louisiana where they race under saddle with hobbles on a quarter-mile straightaway  usually only two at a time.

"Earlier this year, Mr. Witcher thought that Gator Boy deserved another chance, so, about five months ago, he brought Gator Boy to us and he came along well so we decided that he was worth the investment to get him back to the races.

"He hadn't won in several years (almost four) and he's still learning how to get around the turns, but he has a great attitude and he is happy doing his job."

Gator Boy's mark, prior to his Monday night win, was in a Springfield qualifier as a two-year-old  1:56.2

Gator Boy was 7-2 on the morning line, but he went off as the 8-1 third choice and returned $18.00 to his faithful.

Trainer Maggie Audley, by the way, whose stable consists of mostly Florida-bred stakes horses, now has a .481 UTR. Her average was over .500 in 2016.

As she says, "I learned by lessons well because my dad taught me well!"

Racing will continue at Pompano Park on Tuesday night with over $100,000 up for grabs as the FSBOA Stallion Stakes continues.

Post time is 7:20 p.m.

(Pompano Park)
Apologetics Curriculum Defends Against Secular Attacks on Middle School Minds

Contact: Tom Griffin, 770-597-2654, tjgconsult@aol.com

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- In the old days, universities were blamed for rattling the faith of believers. More recently, it was observed that people are leaving the faith already in high school. But now, research shows that by high school, 84% of youth have doubts about their Christian faith.

Within Christian circles, one of the conventional answers to this is known as 'Christian apologetics,' the formal defense of the Christian faith. But with so many doubting the faith as early as junior high and middle school, why isn't there any apologetics curriculum directed at that age group?

There wasn't--until now.

Into the gap has stepped experienced Christian apologist, Tom Griffin. Heavily involved in Georgia's Ratio Christi chapters and long-time Christian educator at his church, Griffin knew that apologetics is needed for all ages. However, he could find nothing for 5th thru 8th graders. Sensing the need, he buckled down and produced "Apologetics for Tweens."

Due to be officially released in January of 2018, there has already been intense interest in the curriculum. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, and homeschooling parents alike have examined Griffin's materials and declared, "This is exactly what I have been looking for, but there is nothing available." Why all the fuss?

As Griffin explains, "The need for apologetics has moved downstream even to elementary school. The kids are smarter now than ever before, and with the pervasive influence of the internet and accelerating secular attacks, questions about Christianity and other religions form far earlier."

The curriculum is published through Athanatos Publishing Group, a Christian apologetics ministry that has been actively addressing the sudden rise in the religiously unaffiliated (so-called 'religious nones') for almost ten years.

Athanatos Ministry's Executive Director, Dr. Anthony Horvath, says, "We welcome the opportunity to fill a void with this curriculum. Given the importance of the family in transmitting the faith, we are making sure that churches aren't the only people who know about 'Apologetics for Tweens.' Parents and grandparents will welcome Griffin's awareness that they are on the front line to promoting the faith."

Tom Griffin's "Apologetics for Tweens" will be officially released on January 15, 2018, but a pre-release promotion is making it available at 25% off through the Athanatos website.

Learn more by visiting Griffin's website at www.resurgensconsulting.com.

Tom Griffin is available for interviews at tjgconsult@aol.com or 770-597-2654.
Making the Case for Catholicism

Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- During the year which marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic convert Trent Horn has written what will no doubt be the modern-day handbook on responding to Protestant objections to the Catholic faith in his THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM: Answers to Classic and Contemporary Protestant Objections.Not since Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism, published in 1988, has there been such a comprehensive defense of the Catholic faith. While Keating's book was instrumental in Horn's own conversion to Catholicism, the thirty years since its publication has seen more sophisticated arguments from Protestant scholars and apologetics that needed to be answered, which is exactly what Horn puts forth in THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM.Written for an educated layperson, Horn defends the Catholic faith in a way that is rigorous, comprehensive and accessible. THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM addresses arguments for Protestantism by early Reformers like Luther and Calvin as well as contemporary defenders of Protestantism like Norm Geisler and R.C. Sproul. He even touches on certain Protestant arguments that support Catholic teaching.The book is divided up into the four main areas of serious disagreement between the Catholic Church and Protestantism, and Horn thoroughly argues for the position of the Catholic Church in all of them: By Whose Authority? What is the Church? How am I Saved? And What is the Body of Christ?THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM is the most up-to-date and complete work on answering Protestant arguments against the Catholic Church, and will not only help Catholics become strong in their faith but open new avenues for Protestants to put the tenets of their own faith to the test."It's hard to imagine how any non-Catholic could read THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM and not feel almost compelled to swim the Tiber  that's how strong, and how winsome, Horn's arguments are," said Karl Keating, author of Catholicism and Fundamentalism.For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Trent Horn, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.
Judicial Watch Sues Justice Department for Communications about Former FBI Director Comey's Controversial Senate Testimony

Did Mueller Coordinate with Comey on Anti-Trump Testimony

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Judicial Watch announced it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records of communications relating to former FBI Director James Comey's controversial testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-02316)).

Judicial Watch sued after the Justice Department failed to respond to an August 14, 2017, FOIA request seeking:

All records of communications between the Department of Justice and former FBI Director James Comey prior to and regarding Comey's testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on June 8, 2017.

Fox News reported : "A source close to James Comey tells Fox News the former FBI director's Senate testimony has been 'closely coordinated' with Robert Mueller, whom the Justice Department appointed as special counsel to oversee the Russia investigation."

On June 8, 2017, Comey gave testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in which he admitted : "I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter [for The New York Times]. I didn't do it myself for a variety of reasons, but I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel."

In his testimony Comey detailed multiple conversations with President Trump. Comey confirmed he told President Trump three times that he was not a target of investigation and testified about President Trump's firing of him.

On May 16, 2017, The New York Times reported that it received a leaked memorandum from former Director Comey detailing a conversation between President Trump and Comey regarding the FBI's investigation of potential Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election.

here, Judicial Watch is pursuing numerous additional FOIA lawsuits (see here here , and here ) relating to former Director Comey's memoranda and FBI exit records.

Judicial Watch also sent Acting FBI Director Andrew G. McCabe a warning letter concerning the FBI's legal responsibility under the Federal Records Act (FRA) to recover records, including memos Comey subsequently leaked to the media, unlawfully removed from the Bureau by former Director James Comey.

"Mr. Comey may have violated the law in leaking these memos to the media," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It would be a scandal if Comey coordinated his Senate testimony with Mr. Mueller's special counsel office. That we have had to sue in federal court speaks volumes."
In the final days of the Soviet Union, an old witticism about truth (pravda) went something like this: In the United States, they tell you everything, but you know nothing. In the USSR, they tell you nothing, but you know everything.

Who would ever be nostalgic for the old Soviet Union, where truth was what the official government mouthpiece told you it was and everything else was a lie meant to undermine the state? Whoever that might be, he or she would feel at home in the now totally neocon-ized U.S. , where the old mainstream media marches in lockstep with a dysfunctional federal bureaucracy to aggressively limit freedom of speech and label anything that contradicts its ideological view of reality as enemy propaganda.

From 1918 until its demise in 1991, Pravda was the official newspaper of the Soviet Unions Communist Party. But most Americans would be surprised to learn that The New York Times has been operating for decades as the U.S. governments Pravda without anyone being the wiser.

Now the truth-war rages between such old mainstream media outlets as The New York Times and any news operation or website that challenges its version of the truth.

We were drawn into this battle by a recent New York Times obituary for our dearest Afghan friend, Sima Wali, who fled the violent Marxist coup in 1978 that kicked off the U.S.-backed rise of Islamic extremism and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Considering that the Times maintains that the alternative media is filled with false news and Russian propaganda, we were shocked to find many claims in Simas obituary that contained American Cold War propaganda about Afghanistan that has long since been debunked. One particularly outrageous example was the claim that in 1978, gender apartheid was imposed by the Communists and then by the Taliban.

Apparently, The New York Times believes it can turn day to night by blaming communists for introducing gender apartheid, a term adapted (from the South African apartheid regime) in 1996 to draw the publics attention to the cruelty and human rights abuses imposed by the Taliban on the women of Afghanistan. The communists did not impose it after their takeover in 1978. In fact, the opposite was true. As Sima stated in the introduction to our book,  Invisible History: Afghanistans Untold Story , The draconian Taliban rule stripped women of their basic human rights. Their edicts against women in Afghanistan led to an introduction of a new form of violence termed gender apartheid.  In reality, a major cause for the growth of the resistance to the communists in the more tradition-bound countryside was the forced education of women and girls and the forced removal of the veil. Nor is it understood in the West that many Afghan rulers in the past attempted these reforms with some level of success.

As David B. Edwards writes in his book,  Before Taliban , there is a direct line between these and other reforms to the reforms mandated by King Amanullah after 1919. He writes, The transformations that he [Amanullah] sought to bring about before his overthrow in 1929 were in many respects forerunners of those of the Marxists and were particularly revealing of the problems they later encountered.

An accurate picture of what was done by the communists during their rule in the early 1980s can be read in Jonathan Steeles 2003 Guardian article, titled  Red Kabul revisited , in which he compares the U.S. occupation of Kabul in 2003 with Soviet-occupied Kabul of the 1980s:

In 1981, Kabuls two campuses thronged with women students, as well as men. Most went around without even a headscarf. Hundreds went off to Soviet universities to study engineering, agronomy and medicine. The banqueting hall of the Kabul hotel pulsated most nights to the excitement of wedding parties. The markets thrived. Caravans of painted lorries rolled up from Pakistan, bringing Japanese TV sets, video recorders, cameras and music centres. The Russians did nothing to stop this vibrant private enterprise.

Prior to 9/11, Laili Helms , a spokeswoman for and defender of the Taliban and niece to former CIA Director Richard Helms, went so far as to suggest that educating women was a communist plot, claiming that any Afghan woman who could read had to be a communist, because only the communists had educated women. After the American invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, Wali was outraged by this Taliban mentality, which she saw creeping into the American-installed Afghan leadership with the blessing of the American government. In an address to the Global Citizens Circle in Boston in 2003, she stated her objections: [A]s an Afghan and an American, I will testify to you that the argument against womens rights is neither Afghan nor Islamic!

Thirty-four years ago in May, I stood before the irate Afghan press officer for the communist government in Kabul as he threw a copy of The New York Times onto his desk. Have you read this? he demanded, pointing to an article by Leslie Gelb, titled  U.S. Said to Increase Arms Aid For Afghan Rebels. What Gelb, the former Jimmy Carter administrations assistant secretary of state, had disclosed had angered the Foreign Ministrys press secretary, Roshan Rowan, and he was holding me, an American, responsible. Why are you doing this to us? he shouted. What is it we have done to you, to deserve this invasion?

I didnt need to rely on The New York Times to tell me what was going on in Afghanistan. As the first American journalist to risk the wrath of the Ronald Reagan administration, with its newly installed neoconservative foreign policy, by bringing a news crew to Kabul in 1981, I was one of only a handful of Americans who knew the score. The United States was backing Muslim guerrillas who were burning down schools specifically for girls and killing local officials, whether they were communist or not. The Gelb article made clear that in collaboration with the Saudis, Egyptians, Chinese, Iranians and Pakistanis, the bleeders inside the Reagan administration were upping the ante in order to draw more and more Soviet troops into Afghanistan, while at the same time claiming to pursue a negotiated settlement to the war. It was not obvious from the Gelb article how the United States could be escalating a conflict while negotiating a settlement at the same time in Afghanistan in 1983. Also missing from the article was any indication that the administrations policy was a fundamental contradiction.

In the spring of 1983, we had invited Roger Fisher, director of the Harvard Negotiation Project, to return with us to Kabul to unwrap the riddle of why the United Nations negotiations were getting nowhere. Contracted to ABCs Nightline, Fisher met with the Kremlins chief Afghan specialist, who had flown down from Moscow and told him point blank, We want to get out. Give us six months to save face, and well leave the Afghans to solve their own problems. Upon his return, Fisher expected his discovery would be greeted with relief. Instead he found that negotiated settlement was only a fig leaf for escalating the war. The mainstream media were just beginning to ramp up a propaganda campaign, which would become known as Charlie Wilsons War , to drive support for keeping the Soviets pinned down in their own Vietnam while bleeding Walis Afghanistan to death.

The American people expect the full story from their free press, and the Constitution demands that the press serve the people and not the bureaucracy. The New York Times needs to get its mission straight, lest it sacrifice its credibility to the very thing it claims to stand against. Left-wing Afghan communists cannot be magically transformed into right-wing Pakistani Taliban. The United States is not the Soviet Union, and The New York Times should stop behaving as if it is Pravda.












Heres the daily update about the enhanced volcanic activity around the world.

Warning issued amid seismic activity from Mt. Lokon, Alert up as Mayon shows abnormal behavior, Four Dutch tourists and guide treated for injuries after Arenal Volcano rescue, among others

Warning issued amid seismic activity from Mt. Lokon

Amid increased volcanic activity at Mount Lokon in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, officials have raised the alert level for the volcano to waspada (Level II). Consequently, residents and visitors arent allowed from coming within a 1.5-kilometer radius from the crater.

The tremors from Mt. Lokon suggest that gas and magma are migrating, which means pressure has been accumulating. This intense seismic activity could be followed by an eruption.

Alert up as Mayon shows abnormal behavior

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level of Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 1, after 25 volcanic earthquakes  91 over the past 2 days  and a higher-than-normal sulfur-dioxide (SO2) emission were recorded on Monday.

Four Dutch tourists and guide treated for injuries after Arenal Volcano rescue

The tourists were injured by a rockslide while they were hiking in one of the canyons near the volcanic crater.

The first [tourists] rescued had various injuries; one of them had a broken collarbone and arm, and the last tourist had a leg injury and various bruises. Hikes onto the volcano is forbidden due to safety reasons.

Visitors are not allowed within 4 kilometers from the crater, due to volcanic activity and rough terrain. The Dutch tourists were in this off limits area. They are now in private clinics in La Fortuna.

Volcano Popocatepetl continues spewing ash on nearby towns

57 explosions per day at Sabancaya volcano in Peru

Explosive activity during this week has increased, averaging 57 explosions a day, with eruptive columns of gas and ash reaching a maximum height of about 3800 m above the crater. Earthquakes related to fluid movements (Long Period type) continues, while those indicating magma rising (type Hybrids) are decreasing.

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We all know that Oklahoma faces a dramatic increase in earthquakes linked to fracking for oil and gas.

Now it seems that scientists at the Oklahoma Geological Survey were pressured not to publicly connect this surge in earthquakes with oil and gas activity as testified by the states former seismologist, Dr. Austin Holland.

In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) had to change its map of the US earthquake risk zones adding areas with induced, or human-caused earthquake.

While the fracking earthquakes are rising continuously, scientists at the Oklahoma Geological Survey have been harrassed not to reveal publicly the connection between the states dramatic increase in earthquakes and oil and gas fracking activities:

Dr. Holland was deposed October 11 in New Mexico, where he now works for the U.S. Geological Survey. He is a potential witness in a lawsuit filed over damages caused by the 2011 Prague earthquake (Jennifer Lin Cooper v. New Dominion LLC et al).

A blog post published last month by the plaintiffs law firm provided highlights of Dr. Hollands eight-hour deposition, but Monday News 9 gained access to the entire transcript.

Holland left the Oklahoma Geological Survey  and Oklahoma  in 2015, five and a half years after taking what he claimed was his dream job. Oklahoma first began seeing an increase in seismicity late in 2009, and Holland led the states scientific response to the quakes as they continued to increase at an alarming rate.

This video shows all M3+ earthquakes in Oklahoma from June 9, 2008 to February 25, 2017 and demonstrates the dramatic increase of induced seismicity in Oklahoma since 2009:

As Oklahomas State Seismologist, Holland became the face of the earthquake issue, doing media interviews and often taking criticism from those who felt the state was ignoring other research that suggested oil and gas activity was causing the temblors.

In the deposition, Holland acknowledged he dealt with political pressures that other scientists didnt; he said the final straw for him was being told by Larry Grillot, then the Dean of OUs Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, that a peer-reviewed journal article he co-authored on induced seismicity was unacceptable.

According to the transcript, Holland testified: I was just disappointed and devastated and, you know, it was one of those moments in life, you dont have many, where you wish you would have recorded a conversation, because I did not expect the conversation to go where it went, and it was just really disappointingit was sort of like realizing that I could no longer be a scientist in an environment that I thought was my perfect job.

In response to previous stories suggesting Holland had been pressured not to link Oklahomas earthquakes with oil and gas, OU officials have insisted that Holland had total academic freedom to pursue the science.

Hollands testimony suggests otherwise indicated that was not actually true.

[Dean Grillot and OGS Director Randy Keller] helped me with presentations, theyd take a look and change  for the public, change wording and that sort of thing. They would tell me that they had gotten a bunch of calls, complaints, after Id give a news conference about some earthquake or something, and theyd say they had gotten a lot of complaints and that we need to really watch how we say things and that, you know, we have to make sure that were accurate. And, of course, thats the one thing I always made sure I was when I was speaking to the press. But I also had points where the dean of the college [Grillot] asked to see my presentations to scientific meetings and would then wordsmith my presentations for scientific meetings, as well as at one point was asked to withdraw an abstract from a scientific meeting in Arkansas because the topic was earthquakes triggered by hydraulic fracture.

Holland recalled a time when Keller and Grillot asked him to update them on the latest research and what it was suggesting about the cause of the earthquakes. He said he told them that, scientifically, you couldnt rule out either possibilitythat the quakes were induced or natural.

And then that got turned into a statement saying that the earthquakes were naturally-occurring earthquakes Holland testified.

With regard to a frequently cited meeting, Dr. Holland was called to with OU President David Boren and Continental CEO Harold Hamm, Holland offered this:

Well, the president of the university expressed to me that I had complete academic freedom, but that as part of being an employee of the state survey, I also have a need to listen to, you know, the people within the oil and gas industry. And so, Harold Hamm expressed to me that I had to be careful of the way in which I say things, that hydraulic fracturing is critical to the states economy in Oklahoma, and that me publicly stating that earthquakes can be caused by hydraulic fracturing was  you know, could be misleading, and that he was nervous about the war on fossil fuels at the time.

News 9 reached out to OU for a response to Hollands testimony. Rowdy Gilbert, Senior Associate Vice President for Public Affairs, said, We have not seen the full deposition and cannot respond to the limited information provided.

As mentioned previously, Gilbert continued, scientists at the University of Oklahoma are empowered to pursue their research without any undue interference. In 2015, Dr. Holland was quoted in a media report as saying, We have the academic freedoms necessary for university employees doing research. The groundbreaking research provided by the Oklahoma Geological Survey has aided the publics understanding of the increased seismicity affecting Oklahoma over the last several years.

Meanwhile the USGS earthquake damage forecast for Oklahoma is increasing every year but nobody seems to want stop fracking!

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With one day left to vote, turnout for Tuesdays general election hit 24.3 percent in Cowlitz County Monday.

Since ballots were mailed out on Oct. 20, turnout has steadily increased after lagging behind historical trends during the first week of voting.

The county appears to be on track to match its off-year election average of roughly 33 percent, said Carolyn Fundingsland, the county elections manager and newly appointed county auditor.

Im hoping to exceed 30 percent, she told The Daily News Monday.

Tuesday is the last day to vote in Washington. Ballots must be mailed out in time to get a Nov. 7 postmark or put in ballot boxes by 8 p.m.

Turnout is critical to the Longview School Districts effort to pass a $121.6 million bond to rebuild and revamp schools. The measure needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass, but it also needs at least 8,009 people in the district to cast ballots or a minimum of 4,806 yes votes to be legally valid.

With one more day remaining, a little over 6,600 Longview School District voters  or 25 percent  had cast ballots, according to county election officials. The outcome may not be clear Tuesday night, though Fundingsland is optimistic enough ballots will be cast to validate the bond election.

Im fairly confident that they will get the minimum yes and also meet the minimum turnout,

Fundingsland said she expects 5,000 and 6,000 additional ballots to come in countywide Tuesday, with roughly 2,500 coming in the morning.

Election workers will do the first of two pickups around 10 a.m. Ballot boxes will be locked at 8 p.m. sharp and a final pickup will happen around 9 p.m., Fundingsland said.

Fundingsland said final return numbers likely wont be available until noon Wednesday.

Because election day typically gets the largest number of ballot returns, election workers usually break the vote-counting into two days. Fundingsland said her team members will do everything they can to get votes counted as quickly as possible.

Well try to make every effort to make sure we get everything collected and signature-verified and ready for the opening board on Wednesday so that we get those final counts into the districts, especially since were looking at kind of a gray area on validating these bonds, she said.

But depending on how close the vote shakes out, final results could even take until Thursday, she said.

She also added: We never want to keep people hanging or waiting on results. Well work late if we can and get them all done.

While Longview voters could still be waiting to for final results on Wednesday, Kalama residents should have a better idea of whether the citys $2.2 million bond measure will pass.

In addition to 60 percent support, the measure also needs 529 people to vote on it. More than 600 people have already done so, according to Mondays ballot count.

Election workers will also have their hands full reviewing write-in votes for Tom Merz, the citys longshot mayoral candidate. Merz officially declared his write-in candidacy with the county elections office in August but later suspended his campaign due to questions about his eligibility to hold office if elected. But hes continued to participate in online voter forums and says he will serve if hes elected if no one challenges his eligibility in court.

Election workers scan ballots in batches of 100 and have to stop when they encounter a write-in vote.

Any time you have a write-in, you have to determine whether its a registered voter or if its Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck  a character like that, Fundingsland said.

The Cowlitz County Elections Office will stay open until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Registered voters who have not yet received a ballot should contact the elections office, Fundingsland said.

Getting a ballot is very simple, she said. We can email it to them, we can fax it to them. Wherever theyre at, we want them to get a ballot and get it returned.
As Breanne Leigh choked on her own blood from a gunshot wound to her face, unable to speak, she hastily scribbled a bloody note identifying Brent Luyster as the shooter.

The note was a key piece of physical evidence presented to the jury Monday in Luysters triple aggravated murder trial in Clark County Superior Court.

Luyster is accused of fatally shooting Joseph Mark LaMar, 38; LaMars partner, Janell Renee Knight, 43; and Leighs partner, Zachary David Thompson, 36, on July 15, 2016, at LaMars home southeast of Woodland. Leigh was the only survivor.

About a dozen witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecutions case Monday, including Clark County sheriffs Deputy Bryce Smith, who said he met with Leigh at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver after she was shot.

Smith testified that Leigh was sitting upright, suffering a gunshot wound to her face, when she was wheeled into the trauma unit on a gurney. Doctors immediately began working on her injuries.

He wanted to get some information from Leigh, he said, but she couldnt speak. She was responding to his questions with head nods and gestures, however. And she eventually began writing down her answers on scraps of paper and a tissue box.

Smith described being amazingly impressed by Leighs level of focus and attention, despite her injuries. He said she didnt appear to be confused, intoxicated or impaired.

An emergency room doctor testified earlier in the day that Leigh had a blood-alcohol level of 0.109 when she arrived at the hospital.

Smith said that he felt he had a brief window of time to ask Leigh questions, because doctors wanted to recline her and start treating her injuries.

He first asked Leigh yes-or-no questions, to which she responded by nodding. Then she was given a marker, he said.

Smith asked her if anyone else was shot. She wrote that LaMar and Thompson may be injured. She indicated that she was outside when she was shot and lost consciousness. She wrote that Thompson is the father of her children, and she wanted someone to check on their children.

She wrote that she heard shots before she was shot. She asked if Thompson had been shot, and asked about her children again, Smith testified.

At one point, Leigh wrote, Blood going down back throat now. Might be from leaning forward. On another piece of paper she wrote, 2 men?

She also wrote what appeared to be her height and weight, and medications she was taking. Smith said those answers were given in response to doctors.

Smith eventually asked Leigh if LaMar shot her. Leigh shook her head no. He then asked her if she knew who shot her, and she shook her head yes, he testified. Leigh wrote down Luysters name, though she misspelled his last name. The deputy then asked if Luyster was still at the scene. And Leigh wrote she was pretty sure he had left, he said.

On cross-examination, the defense pointed out that Leigh was responding to multiple questions from different people, and theres no record of the questions Smith asked. He was purely going off his memory.

When questioned by the prosecution again, Smith said he did not have Luysters name before he started interviewing Leigh; she provided his name. He said he then shared Luysters name over the police radio as the shooting suspect.

Luysters trial resumes today as the prosecutions case continues.
Editors note: Todays editorials originally appeared in The Columbian and The Olympian. Editorial content from other publications 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.

Ideally, Congress is a place where big ideas are discussed and debated before compromises are crafted. Neither party has a monopoly on smart solutions. So, while it is a good sign that lawmakers are seeking improvements to forest management, the Resilient Federal Forests Act that passed the House of Representatives last week requires additional work.

The bill represents an attempt to reconfigure funding for wildfire prevention and suppression. At issue is the longtime practice of fire borrowing, in which funds earmarked for prevention are used to put out fires. This creates a cycle in which lax prevention leads to more intense fires.

While the Resilient Federal Forests Act passed the House  Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, voted in favor  it appears to have little chance of passing the Senate and being signed by President Trump. From the Democratic view, Washington Sen. Patty Murray said, What I wont support is legislation that not only fails to establish long-term solutions, but would also upend our bedrock environmental laws in the process.

Among the issues is a provision that would refer federal Endangered Species Act lawsuits to arbitration in lieu of a courtroom. This attempt to undermine the law should be rejected; subterfuge should not be equated with action.

Despite the shortcomings of the Resilient Federal Forests Act, lawmakers must continue to seek compromise. As wildfire season annually reminds us in Washington, funding for forest management and wildfire prevention is a pressing issue.

Legislature lax on sexual harassment

Stories of sexual harassment at the Washington state Capitol are coming out of the shadows. In the last week, several news stories were published about lawmakers sexual actions toward other legislators, staff or lobbyists that long had been kept hidden  by victims and friends of the suspects.

The stories date as far back as 2009 and span several years. Recent revelations about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein  whose sexual assaults led dozens of women to come forward and tell their stories  helped end this longtime silence at the Legislature.

Washingtons was the fifth statehouse where misconduct by males was recounted in recent weeks.

In one of a spate of stories, Washington House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, acknowledged for the first time that former Democratic lawmaker Jim Jacks of Vancouver resigned his seat in 2011 amid sexual harassment allegations. Sullivan confirmed this during an interview with The Olympian, News Tribune and Northwest News Network. House leaders told a different story at the time.

The Associated Press also reported on four women coming forward to tell about unwanted kissing and touching by former Olympia representative Brendan Williams, a Democrat, who left the Legislature after 2010 and now runs a healthcare association in New Hampshire.

Samantha Kersul, who works for the campaign arm of state Senate Democrats, told of Williams shoving his tongue down her throat as she went to use a restroom in a downtown Olympia club in 2009. Between jobs, worried about her future and distrustful of the Legislature, Kersul said she didnt report it.

Jessica Bateman, a former legislative aide who serves on the Olympia City Council, said she received unwanted touching during a dinner with Williams in 2015  and later a kiss  at a time she was running for council. He knew I wanted an endorsement, Bateman told The AP. He was using his political power to manipulate me.

In an email, Williams said he did not commit harassment in the workplace, but he apologized for instances outside of work that caused pain.

The years-long dam of silence about past sexual harassment at the Capitol finally broke on Tuesday with a news story from Olympia-based Austin Jenkins of Northwest News Network and reporter Walker Orenstein of The Olympian and News Tribune. The reporters initially talked to nine women about the Legislatures workplace climate. The reported abuse included unwanted kisses on the mouth, touching on legs or grabbed buttocks.

Only two women agreed to be identified. They were former lobbyist Nicole Grant, who now works for the King County Labor Council, and former representative Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle.

But it took six years after Jacks resigned for Democrats Sullivan to confirm during an interview that Jacks, who had told The Columbian at the time he resigned due to alcoholism, actually quit after an aides harassment complaint. Sullivan said the harassment details were withheld to protect the woman who had worked for Jacks.

This refusal by House or Senate leaders to disclose records or complaints runs deeper than one case. Earlier this year, The Associated Press and other news organizations (which include owners of The News Tribune and The Olympian) went to court to challenge lawmakers claim that they can withhold records such as disciplinary reports, calendars and emails.

As President Trumps past actions suggest, there are no guarantees that speaking up about harassment can make a difference.

But the breaking news of the past week shows that a few women finally feel confident enough they can speak the truth about public figures  even if years after the fact  and be believed.

Our Legislature now must move decisively to create a healthier workplace culture. Democratic Sen. Karen Keiser of Kent already says she will push to exempt settled sexual harassment and assault cases from secrecy or gag rule agreements.

But more training for legislators and legislative employees is also needed. An outside consultants review already under way was another good idea. It is also essential that women and men can trust that when they step forward they are heard and their complaints are taken seriously.

And women in the workplace, especially younger and vulnerable women, must understand that harassment is not their fault.

It is only a hope at this point that our larger society is at a tipping point on sexual harassment  or that men who transgress in this way will promptly stop doing it.
Thumbs down

In a recent Saturday Thumbs, the Daily News rails against abusive government power and politics over policy in Washington. This publication could not be more ludicrously wrong.

The thumbs down should have gone to Judge Warnings bizarre and suspect ruling in the case of the aquatic lands sublease denial. DNRs decision was well-reasoned and clearly not arbitrary. It was an appropriate use of discretion, and was in accordance with the law.

If you want an example of a truly arbitrary and capricious decision, look no farther than the countys fatally flawed and biased testimony in support of the coal terminal.

During a break in the serious proceedings at the hearing, I noticed county officials talking and joking with Millennium supporters, while ignoring the majority of the audience who were in opposition to the project. One has to wonder, how much money has traveled from Millenniums coffers to the pocket books of county officials.

The thumbs down belong to the people willing to throw Cowlitz County under a bus for a quick buck.

Andy Zahn

Toutle

A smelly problem

I found the editorial Its a Wonderful Life appropriate this Thanksgiving season.

I have lived here many years, and at the top of my list would be my wonderful family, neighbors, friends, and the people here. I love the lake, this beautiful fall, area churches, and so many things.

But it has been very hard this year for area people to enjoy items the editor mentioned. Others and myself do not live close to the mills, but we endure terrible mill odors inside and outside of our homes that make us sick. Nearly daily this last month, for hours straight, we get either the mill sewer wastewater stench or a pungent stench. My house often stinks like a sewer. I hear mill odors get very bad inside the hospital. At times, people wake to this and also the loud noise. I know people missing work ill from this.

It has been a horrible month and a very stinky spring and summer.

Please care about local health and report odors to Ecology at 1-360-407-6355. Leave a message during off-hours.

Donna Dishman

Longview

Principles matter

In a recent letter to the editor, we saw what has become typical of politics, a personal attack to the exclusion of substance. The letter was presumptive, imputing motivations (pejorative, of course) that the writer could not possibly know, especially considering that he has never talked to me.

The claim that I am furthering my own agenda by endorsing Tom Merz, gives pause to question the writer what my agenda might be. All we are told is that it is to satisfy my own needs; what are they? We are left to imagine.

The writer also claims that I have not visited Kalama since my election to commissioner: false, I live in the city of Kalama; I walk to the post office, to the police station; I gave a talk at the Kalama Chamber of Commerce, held at the port offices; I even attended a Kalama city council meeting, this last being disappointing. But, I remind everyone that I work for the people of the county, not just for any one group, even my home city. Principles matter.

We can do better, than this, councilman Ciancibelli.

Arne Mortensen

Kalama

Tale of two Harveys

Are Harvey Weinstein and Harvey Wallbanger related?

Don Fuesler

Longview
SAN DIEGO  Hillary Clinton is so thoughtful. As busy as she is peddling a book that blames her election loss on everyone but herself  including members of her own party  the 2016 Democratic nominee still makes time to worry about others.

And lately, she has been worried about, of all things, her chief nemesis: the GOP.

There are a lot of things that I worry about, she recently told ABC News. This is actually on my list, of what I worry about. The Republican Party is imploding.

The former Goldwater girl insists she is not alone in reaching this conclusion.

Weve seen in the last week, weve seen Bob Corker, weve seen Jeff Flake ... there are a lot of other people in the Republican Party who feel exactly the same way.

Neither Sen. Flake nor Sen. Corker are seeking re-election, and so they can speak freely. Both have been critical of President Trump and his policies, and theyve been hammered for their defiance on Fox News and conservative talk radio.

Clinton thinks the implosion stems from the fact that the GOP has purged the moderates and been taken over by extremists.

It is becoming a far-right, captive party to ideological religious and commercial interests, she said.

No argument. Clinton is spot-on when she talks about what has become of the Republican Party in the Trump Era.

But imagine how much more effective her criticism would be if some of it were aimed at her own party, and  even better  at herself. When she talks about the Republican Party being at the mercy of its financial backers and a cabal of leaders who ... maintain power for themselves and those who are like-minded, she could just as easily be talking about the Democratic Party. The two parties are twinsies.

Of course, Clinton wont admit that she and her husband, and all the shady dealings in Clinton World dating back to the 1970s, have hurt the Democratic Party. But its true.

Thats what made Clintons comments about how the Republicans are imploding so surreal. Apparently, she is much better at self-deflection than she is at self-reflection. Does she honestly not see that her own party is also coming apart?

Take a peek behind the Democratic curtain, and youll see its a mess back there: The elites have left behind the working-class. The white ethnics who helped put the Democratic Party on the map in the 20th Century cant see any common cause with the Latino and Asian immigrants who will help define the 21st Century. Democrats havent even started the homework assignment they were given a year ago when Trump vanquished Clinton; instead of coming up with an economic message to win back the disaffected white Democrats in Rust Belt states who put Trump in the Oval Office, Democratic leaders have bet the farm on Special Counsel Robert Mueller III and Russia, Russia, Russia.

Hillary has only made the mess worse. Not only did her campaign conspire with the Democratic National Committee to short-circuit Bernie Sanders, she had the gall to write a book in which she blamed Sanders for creating the impression that she was dishonest and untrustworthy. Not only did she alienate  or at least fail to inspire  Latinos, youth, and African-Americans, she then blamed them for not turning out to vote for her.

Then you have the scandals. Just as Democrats want the country to focus on Muellers 12-count indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, they have to contend with questions about why the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee may have paid for a yet unsubstantiated dossier alleging immoral and improper behavior by Trump. And there are fresh accusations from within her own party that the Democratic primary was rigged by the Clinton campaign against Bernie Sanders.

About all this, the Democratic Party would like Clinton to say, well, nothing. But she wont be ignored, or keep quiet. It was vintage Hillary who told attendees at the annual Womens Media Awards that she doesnt intend to be silenced.

Republicans have to be delighted to hear that, and Democrats must be filled with angst.

It makes you wonder: Whose side is Hillary really on? You know the answer: Hillarys.

Instead of constantly demonizing Trump, the Democratic Party needs to confront the real threat. Heres a hint: She is wearing a pantsuit.
'State to help try killers of Khaled Mosharraf'



Prime Minister's Political Adviser HT Imam on Tuesday said the state would extend necessary cooperation to try the killers of Sector Commander Major General Khaled Mosharraf, Bir Uttam. "A murder case should be filed maintaining proper procedures. We will extend our cooperation to this end," he told a reminiscence meeting arranged marking the "Freedom Fighter-Soldier Killing Day" at Jatiya Press Club conference lounge here.

Major General Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttam Smrity Parishad organised the discussion addressed by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque as the chief discussant.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, Security Expert Major General (retd) AK Mohammad Ali Shikder, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command Council former vice-chairman Ismat Qadir Gama, freedom fighter Mohammed Monirul Haque, Ekattor TV Chief Editor and Managing Director Mozammel Haque Babu and Suchinta Foundation Chairperson Mohammad A Arafat, among others, addressed the function as the special guests.

Smriti Parishad Chairman Salma Khaled, also wife of Khaled Mosharraf, chaired the function while Baby Mosharraf, daughter of Khaled Mosharraf, delivered the welcome speech.

Addressing the event, Mozammel Haque said Khaled Mosharraf laid down his life to establish the spirit of Liberation War and to thwart the conspiracy to make the country imbued with Pakistani ideology. He said the assassination of Bangabandhu, killings of four national leaders and Khaled Mosharraf were tied to a same thread.

"Those, who could not accept the independence of the country, carried out the August 15 carnage, killings of four national leaders on November 3 and November 7 killings," he added.
10 fishermen abducted by robbers from Sundarbans

Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna.:

At least 10 fishermen were abducted from Dhanghara Canal area of Kalagachhia River in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans on Monday.

One of the fishermen who managed to escape from the spot said, on Monday morning, some fishermen went for fishing in Dhanghara canal of the river Kalagachhia in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans. All on a sudden, a forest robber gang named "Jonab Bahini" swooped on them, beat them ruthlessly and abducted at least 10 fishermen on demand o ransom.

The fishermen who managed to flee from the spot of abduction told the matter to the journalists on Monday evening.

The abducted persons are- Abdul Karim, son of Abdus Gafur, Tonmoy Mollick, son of Goyeswar Mollick, Imrul Gazi, son of Afsar Gazi, Selim Gazi, son of Foni Gazi, Dalim Gazi, son of Halim Gazi, Monirul Islam, son of late Noor Ali Gazi, Abdus Samad Gazi, son of Abdul Khalek Gazi, Abdur Rahman, son of Surat Ali, Mujibar Gazi, son of Sakat Gazi and Rahman Gazi, son of Zindar Gazi. Firoj Ahmed, Ex- UP member of Gabura Union, quoting the family members of the abducted fishermen, ascertained the matter of abduction to the journalists.Belal Hossain, Burigoalini Forest station Officer said, We have heard the news of fishermen abduction. However, nobody has given allegation in this regard, he added.

It is mention in this connection that on September 20 & 21, 2017, at least 25 fishermen were abducted by two forest robber gangs in two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) from two different places of the East Sundarbans. Members of Coast Guard had conducted operation for rescuing the abducted fishermen during that period. Some fishermen who managed to escape from the spot said, on Tuesday dawn some fishermen went for fishing at Nolbunia Horintana area in Swaronkhola upazila. All on sudden, a forest robber gang named Baro Bhai Bahini swooped on them, beat them mercilessly, looted taka and rice and abducted at least 20 fishermen on demand of ransom. Residents of the abducted fishermen are at Rosulpur village in the Upazila, said a fishermen. However, the injured fishermen took treatment from Upazila Health Complex.

On the other hand, on Wednesday morning, some fishermen went for fishing at Tambulbunia area in Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans. Suddenly, another forest robber gang named Sumon Bahini attacked the fishermen, demanded extortion and abducted 5 fishermen. Residents of the abducted fishermen are at Sonatala village of the Upazila. said a fish trader.

Lt. Abdullah Al Mahmud Hossain, Operation officer of Mongla West Zone Coastguard said, after hearing the news of the abduction of the fishermen, two teams of the Coastguard already started operations with a view to rescue the abducted fishermen. It is also mentionable in this connection that earlier, from August11 to 15 ( In 5 days) at least 30 fishermen were abducted by an unidentified forest robber gang from the same area while only four fishermen could be rescued.

Besides, at least 10 fishermen were abducted from the west Sundarbans on August 7,2017 (Monday) in Swarankhola upazila area of Bagerhat district by an unidentified armed forest robber on demand of ransom. The pirate gang also gave a cell phone number to other fishermen and asked to meet up their demanded ransom, otherwise they would be killed, the bandits threatened. For this reason the people who are dependable upon the Sundarbans, are in great anxieties and fear of death, sources said.

Some returned fishermen and victimized persons said, some fishermen went for fishing at dead night on Sunday at Horintana and Kalamula rivers in the west Sundarbans. They were busy in fishing. All on a sudden, an unidentified forest robber gang along with sharp weapons swooped on them and beat them mercilessly. Thereafter, on demand of ransom, the pirate gang abducted 10 fishermen from 10 boats.

Names of seven abducted persons were learnt. They are- Ali Hossain Munshi, son of Shajahan Munshi, hailed from village Sonatala in Swarankhola upazila, Lal Mia Gazi, son of Somed Gazi of village North Rajapur, Ziarul Molla, son of Ishaq Molla of village Panirghat, Shahidul Islam, son of Nanna Matubbar of Sonatala, Delwar Hossain, son of Jalal Molla of village Khuriakhali and Masud Mia, son of Mosharaf Hossain of village Tafalbari in the same upazila.

During that period Lt. Commander Md. Fariduzzaman, operation commander of Coastguard's Mongla Zone had said that operation by the members of the coastguard was started from Monday morning after being informed the matter of abduction of the fishermen and efforts for rescuing the abducted fishermen have been going on, he added. Besides, five special teams of coastguard are still conducting operations inn the Sundarbans area, Lt. Fariduzzaman further said.

It is mentionable in this connection that ten fishermen were again abducted by forest robbers from the Sundarbans by a forest robber gang named Robiul Bahini from the river Mathabhanga, goalkhali area in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district.

During that period, three person's identification was learnt and the three others acquaintance could not be ascertained still.

Those who were abducted at that time are-Abdus Salam Sardar,35, son of late Abdul Sardar, Ramjan Ali, 40, son of late Azimuddin, resident of village Parshekhali in Shyamnagar upazila and Niranjan Mondol of village Keoratala in the same upazila.

One of the fishermen who managed to escape from the spot told this correspondent that the fishermen went to Goalkhali area with a view to fishing on Wednesday morning. All on a sudden, a forest gang named "Robiul Bahini" attacked on them and abducted at least five fishermen.

However, due to repeated abduction of fishermen by the different pirate gangs who are still active in the Sundarbans, the forest-depended persons are in fear and they can not go to fishing to maintain their families.




Pakistan welcomes US mediation in easing tension with India

Pakistan, however, has opposed to give a bigger role to India in Afghanistan.

PTI, Islamabad :

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif today said his country will welcome the US' mediation in easing tensions with India but is opposed to President Donald Trump's proposal to give a bigger role to New Delhi in war-torn Afghanistan.

Addressing the media after the fourth round of Pakistan-US Track-II diplomatic talks here, Mr Asif said giving more role to India in Afghanistan would result in more chaos there.

President Trump had sought bigger role for India in his new South Asia policy, but Pakistan is against giving India an expanded role in Afghanistan.

The minister said that the US has assured Pakistan that New Delhi's role in Afghanistan will be limited to economic assistance only.

"Pakistan welcomes mediation by the United States in easing its ties with India as Pakistan has always opted for comprehensive dialogue for peaceful neighbourhood," he said addressing the US-Pakistan Bilateral Dialogue - 'Convergence amid Divergence: Identifying Pathways to Cooperation in a Challenging Environment'.

India has maintained that there is no role for a third party in resolving the Kashmir issue which Pakistan says is the "core issue" in the Indo-Pak relations.

He also said that Afghanistan should deal with the issue of terrorists safe havens which are used to launch attack in Pakistan.

The minister also emphasised that SAARC should be made active and steps be taken for promotion of regional trade as the region has long been suffering due to instability in Afghanistan.

Mr Asif said Pakistan's effective counter-terrorism efforts have dismantled the surge of terrorist networks. He said that with self defence and self-interest being our first priority, we are fully committed to protect the sovereignty of our motherland.

Mr Asif said Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used against any other country. In the era of challenging and complex international relations, states should focus on long-term partnerships and cooperation, he said.

The minister said Pakistan has also reached out to other regional countries and regional fora like SAARC in its efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

Stressing that intelligence sharing is imperative for improving border management with Afghanistan, Mr Asif said that the US should share timely intelligence and Pakistan will take action.

"With peace and stability in Afghanistan as our ultimate goal, we have been and are ready to extend every possible cooperation to achieve that end," he said.

Mr Asif also said it is unfair to blame Pakistan for whatever ails Afghanistan today as his country has eliminated terrorism from its soil after great sacrifices and now there are no terrorist safe havens here.

Talking to media, the minister said differences in Pak-US bilateral relations were only misperceptions which are being put aside by continued dialogue.

He said that the recent high-level exchanges between the two countries have cleared the air and "we look forward to confidence building to achieve the goal of peace in the region".
100 friendly centres set up to make Rohingya children happy

A Correspondent :



One hundred children-friendly centres have been set up at Kutupalang in Ukhia Upazila of the district with a view to helping Rohingya children to bring them out of their mental trauma which they experienced in Myanmar.

The centres have become crowded places with the presence of thousands of children.

Sources said there are 60 per cent of children among the six-lakh Rohingyas fled from Myanmar after being tortured by the army of the country. And they all are mentally shocked. To improve their mental condition, the centres have been set up there.

United Nation's Children Affairs organisation Unicef is working there with Bangladesh Government.

The children-friendly centres remain open from 9am to 4pm every day, and it is open for all-aged children. They can visit the centres anytime.

Rahman, a Rohingya boy, said I come here every day; I can play here and spend wonder time.

Another baby Shamim said, "We play ludu here, draw pictures and sing songs.

After a spot visit at a centre at Gulshan Hill of Kutupalang in Ukhia, it was found that 50 Rohingya children are playing and singing at a room of 30/40 feet width. It seemed the place is the kingdom of children.

Rohingya girl Muhsena said, "I visit the place every day and stay for two/three hours. I feel better to come here."

Sumaiya, a supervisor of the centre, said, "We do not ask the children about the Arakan state nor we want to know their past, we just like to keep them cheerful."

Communication Specialist of Unicef Faria Selim said, there are many steps to bring the mentally-shocked children in normalcy; the first step is playing and doing cultural activities; with this they can forget their unbearable memories.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali Hossain said it's a big achievement of Bangladesh Government to bring smile on the face of Rohingya children again, who experienced the atrocities by Myanmar army.

"Our government has taken some initiatives for the Rohingya children, and as part of the initiatives, the Children-Friendly Centres have been set up," he added.
Pre-regn of pvt Hajj pilgrims ends

Staff Reporter :

Pre-registration of private management Hajj pilgrims for the year 2018 ended on Monday.

"Now, the Hajj pilgrims can be registered under the government management system only. The pre-registration programme will remain open till December 31," said Anwar Hossain, the Senior Information officer of the Religion Affairs Ministry.

The Senior Information Officer said, there is no more chance of pre- registration for the pilgrims under the private management. He said, "According to the quota, in total 1,27,158 Bangladeshi can perform Hajj in 2018. Among them 10,000 will be under the government management and rest 1,17,158 pilgrims will go under private management system."

"But so far 1,78,000 pilgrims entered their names in the pre-registration list under private quota till last Monday.

In this situation, the extra registered people will have to wait for the Hajj pilgrims of 2019," the Senior Information Officer said.

The Hajj may be performed around August 20, next year, according to the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Officials said, the final registrations of the pilgrims may start after signing the deal with Saudi Arabia on January 14 next year.

They said that the Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matiur Rahman


Cameroon`s Dy.Speaker Emilia elected CPA Chairperson

Staff Reporter :

Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Deputy Speaker of National Assembly of Cameroon, has been elected Chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for three years.

CPA Secretary General Akbar Khan announced the results of the vote on Tuesday.

The CPA member countries cast their votes in the General Assembly of the 63rd CPC at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka. Lifaka got 107 votes out of 192 votes, while her nearest candidate Niki Rattle, Speaker of Cook Islands Pacific, bagged 70 votes. Shirly M Osborne, MLA of Monserrat got 15 votes.

Interestingly, there was no male candidate in the election.

Supporters of newly elected CPA Chairperson, Lifaka burst into joy after announcement of the election result by dancing and singing in their country languages.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad, was the first Bangladeshi elected CPA Chairperson in 2014.

The eight-day annual conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) began on November 1 with more than 550 delegates from 144 national and provincial parliaments from 44 countries. The conference ends tomorrow.


Trump urges N Korea to `come to table` over nuclear issue

US President Donald Trump has urged North Korea to "come to the table" and discuss giving up its nuclear weapons.

Striking a different tone from previous fiery rhetoric, he said he "hoped to God" he did not have to use the US military against Pyongyang.

Mr Trump was speaking at a press conference with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Seoul, as part of his tour of Asia.

The US leader has previously threatened "fire and fury" against Pyongyang.

He is on a five-nation tour of Asia, where North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been high on his agenda.

At a press conference, Mr Trump and Mr Moon reiterated their call for the North to denuclearise, with Mr Trump saying it "makes sense for North Korea to come to the table", and to "do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world".

Though the US had deployed a significant military presence in the region, he said he "hoped to God" he would not have to use it against North Korea.

The two leaders also called on China and Russia to put pressure on Pyongyang, and said they were lifting the limit on South Korean missile payloads, which they had agreed to do in September.

Mr Trump also said that South Korea would be ordering "billions of dollars" in military equipment from the US, which he said would reduce their trade deficit.

It was unclear if a deal was already struck, but Mr Moon said they had agreed to "begin consultations on acquisitions" that would enhance South Korea's defence capabilities.

Mr Trump had earlier tweeted that "massive military and energy orders" from Japan were also happening, and claimed on Monday that Japan could shoot down Pyongyang's missiles with US equipment.

Japan's leader Shinzo Abe said earlier that he was considering it.

Though the US president will only spend about 24 hours in South Korea, it is perhaps the most symbolic stop in his Asian tour, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Seoul.

The trip is designed to bolster the military alliance that has long protected South Korea, and strength in unity is the message they want to send to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un just across the border, says our correspondent.

But the two leaders also have their differences. Mr Trump has previously accused Mr Moon's government of trying to appease the North.

He has also previously criticised the free trade agreement between the US and South Korea, and has made clear he wants to re-negotiate its terms.

Mr Trump, during the press conference, said the deal had been "quite unsuccessful" for the US, and that the two countries were going to "pursue a much better deal".

Protests against Mr Trump, as well as counter-rallies welcoming him, have been held in Seoul and elsewhere.

Many in South Korea are hoping that Mr Trump will not repeat his strong rhetoric against North Korea, which many here regard as unnecessary and incendiary, says our correspondent. Mr Trump will be going to China, Vietnam and the Philippines in the coming week.
2nd Saudi prince dead in 24 hours?

IndiaToday.in :

Hours after the death of Mansour Bin Muqrin, son of former crown prince Muqrin al-Saud, Twitter is abuzz with the reports of death of yet another Saudi prince.

The Arabic Al Ithad News later quoted a Saudi Royal Court release saying that the Saudi royal family mourned the death of the prince who died at 44. It however did not cite a reason for the death.

Prince Aziz (44) was the youngest son of King Fahd and was reportedly arrested on Sunday.

The news of the arrest and a subsequent gunfight came from various sources and earlier reports suggested that Abdul Aziz was hospitalised. The al-Masdar news network first reported the news of his death and later removed it.

The rumours of death began doing the rounds after few verified accounts broke the news.

Meanwhile, other reports said that Aziz was killed in a gunfight while allegedly resisting arrest.

A report on TheDuran website however did not mention a gunfight but only said 'died during an attempted arrest'.

A Saudi prince has died in a helicopter crash near the border of Yemen on Sunday afternoon.

Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin, a member of the House of Saud and son of former crown prince Prince Muqrin al-Saud, was the appointed Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Mansour Bin Muqrin was also the governor of Asir, a southern province in Saudi Arabia. Muqrin was traveling with several other government officials who were also killed in the crash, state TV Ekhbariya reported.

The helicopter crash came after Saudi Arabia arrested nearly a dozen princes, and several other former and current officials in a crackdown by the government's new anti-corruption committee on Saturday night.

Among those arrested is Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the richest people on the planet and a major investor in marquee brands of the world.
Mission remains unfulfilled

DCCs fail to evict hawkers from footpaths

Sanwar Hossain :

The traditional 'hustle and bustle' centering footpath business at Motijheel, Paltan, Gulistan and other areas in the capital has returned to the previous state, though the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) carried out eviction drives on several times in the recent past.

Then the pavements of the areas were seen free from footpath vendors helping easy movement of pedestrians as well as vehicles on roads in those areas.

But nowadays, it seems the DSCC's mission has totally failed. Now pedestrians often struggle to walk on the footpaths, as those always remain occupied by enormous makeshift shops, vendors and hawkers, thanks to the authorities concerned for showing tolerance to such illegal trading.

The footpath grabbers are still doing their business in full vigour as if they have returned to their heavens, despite the DSCC's eviction drives and rehabilitation programmes.

While visiting the city's Gulistan, Paltan, Motijheel and New Market areas, this correspondent found that hawkers once evicted by the DSCC returned to their old places. Officials of DSCC looked helpless when contacted and said that they were still looking for sustainable strategies to solve the problem.

Chief Executive Officer of DSCC Khan Md Billal said, they are trying to keep footpaths free of vendors but in vain. DSCC has taken different initiatives like holiday markets, rehabilitation programme to send hawkers in the foreign countries with jobs, but getting cool response from them. We are looking for more sustainable strategies to rehabilitate hawkers of the city.

"DSCC is keen to keep footpaths free, everyday evicting hawkers from footpaths, but eviction is not sustaining in the long run, they are coming back again," said Khan Md Billal.

"There are politically backed people, middle men associated with the business. Besides, there are pressures against evection without rehabilitation from different human rights group, NGOs and left political parties. Still we are continuing eviction drive and it is a continuous process," Billal mentioned.

"DSCC lacks adequate workforce to do so. It is our duty to evict hawkers but it is law enforcer's responsibility to keep illegal grabbers out of there after eviction," he added.

Nesar Hossain, a private company employee told The New Nation that it is difficult to move smoothly through the footpaths because a very narrow space left for pedestrians to move.

"Makeshift shops have grabbed maximum space displaying their products in the footpaths especially in the commercial areas. So pedestrians choose to walk by the roads to reach their destiny rather footpaths," he said.

Razzak Mollah, a fruit seller at Gulistan said there is no alternative available for them without doing makeshift shops on the footpath.

"We earn our bread by doing this business here, if we are evicted from here, there are no way for us to survive," Razzak said.

Monir Hossain, an eye-glass seller at Paltan area said also the same thing, adding we pay regular donation to the local political leaders as well as the law enforcers to run our business on footpath.

"We need to survive and do the business. If authority rehabilitates us we will go there but we cannot survive if we get evicted from here," Monir said

DSCC on January 11 2017 after a meeting with pro-government vendors' leaders, law enforcers and other public officials announced that it would not allow any vendor in Gulistan and its adjacent areas during office hours.

Over a thousand of vendors under the banner of Hawkers Somonnoy Parishad protested eviction and demanded a stop to the eviction drive without prior rehabilitation.

According to the announcement, vendors will only be allowed at Gulistan after 6:30pm on weekdays.

But the vendors said that they would get hardly any customer in the evening, especially in the winter.

While contacted, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Estate Officer Aminul Islam told The New Nation that they evict vendors during development works and vendors come back again when development works ends.

"We have not taken any eviction drive to evict vendors from DNCC footpaths yet and decision should come from the board meeting to do so," Aminul Islam mentioned.

"DSCC took the eviction programme, there is no recent plan to evict such shops from the DNCC footpaths," he added.


Atrocities must end unconditionally

CPA seeks urgent global action to save Rohingyas

Staff Reporter :

The member states of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on Tuesday urged the international community to take immediate action to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

It also condemned the atrocities, oppression, ethnic cleansing, displacement and all other gross violations of human rights, including the loss of innocent lives of Rohingya people in Rakhine, Myanmar by its security forces.

The CPA also urged Myanmar to stop the violence and practice of ethnic cleansing in Rakhine immediately, unconditionally and indefinitely, and to ensure the sustainable return of all the forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh and other countries to their home in Myanmar at the earliest.

The CPA adopted a consensus and issued a statement in this regard during concluding session of the 63rd general assembly at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.

The participants in the conference have reached the consensus on issuance of the statement only, as it could not pass any resolution on Rohingya crisis.

To pass a resolution, a notice will have to be submitted at least 60 days before beginning of the conference as per the rules of CPA, its outgoing Chairperson Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said today.




Hariri`s resignation a new threat to Lebanon's stability

The sudden resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has opened the gate way to a new chaotic situation in the region at a time Lebanon was enjoying relative stability when the sectarian civil war in Syria and Iraq and the short lived Islamic State left hundreds and thousands of people killed and both the countries almost grounded to ashes.







But as the Syrian war is apparently closing to an end with the defeat of the Sunni rebels; who wanted to free the country from the despotic regime of President Bashar- al-Assad -- a Shiite ruling the country inheriting as a family dynasty, Sunni majority Lebanon now seems to be entering into the fray.







It is increasingly facing new challenge from powerful Shiite group Hezbullah; which is now apparently blamed for new attempt to dominate the Sunni majority in Lebanon.







The resignation of Hariri; as he announced it from Saudi capital Riyadh on Friday; thus risks exacerbating sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. Many fear the country may be facing difficulty now to pick up a new prime minister. Lebanon has a Sunni prime minister and Christian president. Speaker of the parliament comes from the Shiite community.







Saad Hariri, as a Sunni replaced his father Rafiq Hariri as prime minister of Lebanon following his assassination in Beirut in 2005 who was also killed in a similarly polarized situation. Saad Hariri was so far the most popular leader in a three way power sharing arrangement between Christians, Sunnis and Shiites political establishments. As he resins he blamed Iran and its local protege Hezbullah for conspiracy to kill him for what he said for strengthening Shiite control over the country's fragile political establishments. "Iran was sowing strife, destruction and ruin wherever it went" he said and he accused it of a "deep hatred for the Arab nation". Iran backfired saying there was no such conspiracy. Hariri is acting on advise of Saudi Arabia, Israel and the USA to challenge Iranian influence in the region.

As the blame game is picking up, it appears the Saudi-Iran rivalry is entering into a new phase of confrontation as Saudi Arabia is blaming Iran for proxy war in Yemen on its southern border and for tension in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia lost its bid in Iraq and Syria as savior of the Sunni population and the bitterness is only growing as the USA is playing its hands from behind to use Saudi Arabia in its fight against Iran in the region.







It appears Saudi Arabia is largely acting in support of the US strategy along with Israel; which in turn is strengthening Iran's response to expand its control over the region. This is a complex situation for Saudi Arabia as the USA is pushing it towards Israel that many Muslims in the world don't want to see.







Meanwhile the massive purse in Saudi royal family on alleged corruption charges is creating further volatility in the kingdom as people are keeping watch how the new Saudi leadership will handle situation at home and also in Lebanon when it is already overburdened with war in Yemen.







The emerging situation in Lebanon remind many the memory of a long civil war that Christian and Muslims fought in the 1970s with huge loss of life and suffering to its people.







Walid Jumblatt, the leader of Lebanon's Druze minority, said Lebanon is too weak to bear the consequences of Hariri's resignation as he feared serious political and economic fallout from it. "We cannot afford to fight the Iranians from Lebanon," he told Reuters calling for compromise with Hezbollah and laying emphasis on Saudi-Iranian dialogue to bring out the region from the brink of a new war.


Case against 7 colleges Submission of probe report now on Dec 5

Court Correspondent :

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka on Tuesday deferred the submission of the investigation report in the case filed against the students of seven colleges, affiliated to Dhaka University, to December 5.

Magistrate Golam Nabi of the CMM Court passed the order as the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case did not submit the concerned report yesterday. Earlier, November 7 was the date for submission of the report.

In the morning of July 20, the students of seven Dhaka University affiliated colleges demonstrated at Shahbagh demanding the date of their final examination. On the occasion, the striking students reportedly attacked the police, who were trying to maintain law and discipline.

Consequently, police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells on the striking students. There were chasing and counter-chasing between the law-enforcers and the students which led to the injuries of a number of students including Titumir College student Siddiqur Rahman. His both eyes were damaged due to teargas-shell hurled at him allegedly from very close distance.

The following day, Sub-Inspector Md Mazhar of Shahbagh Police Station lodged a case with police station accusing 1200 unknown people on the charges of interrupting police, who were performing their duties, attack on them, attempt to kill them and for conducting terrorist activities on them.


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.
A group of advocates for the poor and homeless is planning a meeting this Thursday to talk about the state's current budget and its impact on social service agencies.

The Sparrow Coalition is hosting the In-Service on Advocacy to discuss the current status of the state budget, potential solutions to get social services adequately funded, and how local organizations can best advocate for their needs.

The Sparrow Coalition is a group of community partners addressing issues of homelessness and poverty in Southern Illinois. The coalition includes volunteers from social service agencies, faith communities, education and law enforcement and those who are retired, among others.

The meeting runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at First Christian Church, 306 W. Monroe St. in Carbondale. Lunch will be provided. The public is welcome. The featured speaker is Alex Wiesendanger of the Responsible Budget Coalition.

For more information, contact The Sparrow Coalition at info@sparrowcoalition.org.

 The Southern
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps to turn into major transport hub by participating in a number of international projects aimed at creating various transport routes.

The North-South corridor is one of such projects and Azerbaijan has already prepared the entire infrastructure on its territory to realize this transport route.

The volume of cargo transportation at the existing section of the international North-South transport corridor is forecasted at the level of 1.5-2 million tons in 2018, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Igbal Huseynov told journalists at a briefing in Baku on November 7.

He noted that the Azerbaijani section of the corridor from Astara to the Iranian border and the bridge over the Astarachay River are completely ready to be commissioned.

Meanwhile, railroad bed has been laid from the bridge to the terminal in Irans Astara. In this direction the work continues, said Huseynov.

Official opening of four terminals for container, general cargo, transported by universal rolling stock, oil and grain cargoes is planned. It is also expected to open the connecting branch on the Iranian territory in late December, he added.

At the first stage, it is planned to limit to two terminals - container and general cargo, the deputy chairman noted.

The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo per year through the corridor and over 10 million tons of cargo in the future.

Along with making a great contribution to the diversification of Azerbaijan's economy the project is expected to turn the country into a major transport hub.

The project, which is considered to be a strategically important and advantageous in terms of time of transit cargo transportation, is also expected to bring great economic benefits. This corridor, part of which will pass along the western coast of the Caspian Sea, from Russia to Iran through Azerbaijan enjoys several advantages compared to the others, such as Suez Canal-the Mediterranean Sea-Northern Europe and the Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Russia-Northern Europe routes.

Meanwhile, Huseynov noted that the next meeting of the working group on development of the western direction of the international North-South railway corridor can be held in India.

He said that recently, at an informal meeting of representatives of railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Belarus, the idea was put forward to hold the upcoming meetings outside of the four countries with the participation of shipping companies and importers.

This is not only about India, but also about the countries of Scandinavia, Northern Europe. If our experts support this idea, then we will add it in the protocol, but there is no such decision so far, added Huseynov.
By Trend





CAPAGO company will deal with French visa issuance from November 7, the French embassy in Baku said on November 6.

The company will operate at the following address: 609 J. Jabbarli Str., Globus Center.

From that date, this company will replace TLS, which previously dealt with French visa issuance.

The French visa issuance center managed by CAPAGO will be open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 (GMT+4).

The new visa center will appoint meetings, answer visa-related questions, receive citizens, accept visa applications, etc.

To appoint a meeting in the new visa center, one needs to visit the website: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/az , then appoint meetings at CAPAGO website https://fr-az.capago.eu/

E-mail : [email protected] , phone: 012 310 0710

Thus, visa applications will not be accepted in the visa department of the embassy, except those of holders of Azerbaijani official and diplomatic passports, from Nov. 7, 2017.

Visa applications for the citizens of Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Luxembourg will also be considered in a new visa center managed by CAPAGO.
By Azernews









By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition of the Chinese contemporary artists entitled "Constellation" has opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony.

Addressing the event, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alakbarov thanked those who contributed to the project, including Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan Wei Jinghua and the embassy staff. He stressed that the exhibition features about 40 works by 20 artists and sculptors.

Each of the art pieces displayed at the exhibition is unique. We have long wanted to present our guests the Chinese art at the Heydar Aliyev Center. Finally, we have such an opportunity, he added.

Alakbarov stressed that the center implements a number of projects with a young collector. He then invited Collector John Dodeland, and the exhibition's curator Ami Barak to the stage.

Dodeland hailed the magnificence of the Center. He underlined his support for the new generation Chinese artists.

This building differs all over the world not only with its beautiful architecture, but also with the quality of the exhibitions organized here. I have been supporting the new generation Chinese artists for years. I highly appreciate that we are here and we have the opportunity to present an exhibition. These artists are among the most talented artists, and innovators of their time. They brought their own worldview into the strong avant-garde works, which differ with its tremendous creative style and are a kind of challenge to the previous generation, he said.

Noting the special cooperation with the curator of the exhibition Ami Barak, the collector also stressed that art is boundless and unites many people.

From the point of view of the long history of the Silk Road, these contacts between the Heydar Aliyev Center and young artists are really important, since a completely new Silk Road is being built on the site of the fusion of ancient traditions and modernity. I hope that you will appreciate the Constellation, which presents the work of new artists. Each of the participating artists is part of this constellation. Speaking about constellation, I mean these young people who tomorrow will become great stars of the world of art. With their power, worldview, they will become part of the global movement, said Dodeland.

He stressed that the exhibition will lay a foundation for further development of cooperation between Shanghai, Beijing and Baku.

The collector expressed his hope that Azerbaijani artists will also be invited to Beijing, and thanked for the support provided in the organization of the exhibition.

Speaking at the ceremony, curator of the project Ami Barak, who is the organizer of a number of exhibitions in France and other countries, expressed his satisfaction with being in the Heydar Aliyev Center.

We dreamed of bringing this exhibition to Baku. Finally, today our dream has come true. This is a traveling exhibition, and this means that we will move along this path, continuing to stride in this direction. In fact, this exhibition is part of our major project. As for certain trade relations, it is not exclusively about trade in goods, but also cultural exchange, he said.

The event also featured performance of Chinese folk dances.

The visitors then viewed the exhibition, which will run until February 1, 2018.




















By Trend



President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Afghanistans Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi on November 7.

Noting that there are strong partnership relations between the two countries, the head of state said the bilateral cooperation already covers a number of areas, including such an important sphere as political dialogue. Stressing the importance of the meetings between the heads of state in developing bilateral ties, President Ilham Aliyev recalled President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani`s visit to Azerbaijan and their meetings at various international events. The head of state expressed hope that the agreements reached during the high-level meetings and negotiations will be fully implemented.

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan supports Afghanistan, President Ilham Aliyev underlined the significance of Azerbaijani servicemen`s active participation in the peacekeeping mission and logistic supply in Afghanistan. The head of state also noted the importance of expanding cooperation in investment and economic fields.

Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi extended greetings of Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to the head of state. The minister said the Afghan leadership and people hail Azerbaijan`s support for the country. He mentioned that the main goal of his visit is to discuss the issues related to the implementation of agreements.

The head of state thanked for the greetings of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, and asked the minister to extend his greetings to the Afghan President.

The sides also exchanged views over prospects of cooperation between the two countries.
















By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The U.S. continues its support in finding a way to a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told reporters on November 7.

The ambassador said recently he was in Washington, where he met with the new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Andrew Schofer and discussed with him possible measures of promoting the settlement process.

Schofer has previously noted that while there are obviously many difficult issues to discuss, he believes firmly that a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible, provided leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia demonstrate the political will necessary to bring peace to this region.

For the peaceful settlement of the conflict, we continue to assist the leaders of the leading countries, Cekuta said.

Touching upon the recent meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Geneva, the ambassador said that this is a very positive step and such steps should continue, and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs continue to work in this direction.

After the meeting in Geneva, the Minsk Group reported that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to take measures to intensify the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to take additional steps to reduce tensions along the frontline.

"There is a work underway on meeting with foreign ministers, trying to keep the process moving ahead to realize a peaceful settlement to the conflict, Cekuta noted.

The U.S., along with Russia and France, is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
The UAE Cabinet, presided over by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the federal budget for the years 2018-2021 with a total of Dh201.1 billion ($54.7 billion), of which Dh51.4 billion ($13.9 billion) is for 2018 with a zero deficit, reported state news agency Wam.

The approval came during the extraordinary session held at the Sharjah International Book Fair on Tuesday.

The increases in the financial allocations for 2018 compared to the financial allocations for the previous budget period (2014-2016) were approximately 12 per cent, 5 per cent, 6 per cent respectively, which indicate the strength of the national economy and sustainable financial resources in addition to providing liquidity to finance all economic and social development initiatives in the country, it stated.



Sheikh Mohammed asserted that the federal government, led by the President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continues to achieve the happiness of its people and to ensure a secure and a decent life for them.



"All strategies and budget plans are invested in the service of the UAE society in the first place, and we will spare no efforts in providing all the requirements for our people's happiness and well-being. The UAE people are our most valuable asset," stated the Prime Minister at the meeting.



The budget focused primarily on utilising resources to achieve the highest degree of prosperity and well-being of the citizens and residents as a priority, underlining education, healthcare and community wellbeing as key pillars for the development of the society, said the report.



The federal budget for the 2018 fiscal year was distributed across various sectors. The social development and social benefits sector saw Dh26.3 billion earmarked for social development programmes, that is 43.5 per cent of the total budget, of which Dh10.4 billion were allocated for general education and higher education totaling 17.1 per cent of the overall budget, and Dh4.5 billion allocated to the health sector, 7.4 per cent of the total budget.



The government affairs sector was allocated Dh22.1 billion (around 36.5 per cent of the total budget). A total of Dh3.5 billion was assigned to federal projects implemented by federal agencies.



The cabinet adopted the 2018 budget with zero deficit, where in both the revenues and the estimated expenditure are set at 51.4 billion, said the Wam report.



This is in line with governments objective to improve the efficiency of financial planning and its implementation to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, it added.



The Ministry of Finance worked in co-ordination with all ministries and federal entities to ensure that their development plans and programmes are by the federal financial strategy, and with the objectives of the Government of the Future.





Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance reaffirmed that the full support of Sheikh Khalifa has served as a catalyst for the comprehensive development of the country, as he has continued to champion the cause social good, prosperity and happiness for the people of the UAE.



The minister also highlighted that the citizens of the UAE were among the happiest and most prosperous populations in the Arab world, noting that the general federal budget during these years has contributed to significant achievements, which reflect the vision and astute guidance of the wise leadership.



Sheikh Hamdan said Sheikh Mohammed was the driving force behind innovation and excellence in the country's method in preparing the general budget and government accounts.



"This is reflected in the increase in the financial allocations in the state budget to finance existing and future projects, which confirms the strength and robustness of the economic structure of the countryme to implement all projects according to approved strategic plans," he added.



During its session, the cabinet also adopted the restructuring of the Ministerial Council for Development, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.



The cabinet also adopted the federal decree-Law No. 08 of 2017 on Value Added Tax to be implemented at the beginning of January 2018, as well as a number of resolutions and initiatives on the agenda and approved a number of international treaties.



Later Sheikh Mohammed toured the Sharjah International Book Fair, with Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
Malaysian engineering and construction company Eversendai said its wholly owned subsidiary Eversendai Offshore RMC in the UAE, has been awarded an offshore fabrication contract for a major project of state oil giant Saudi Aramco.

Eversendai Offshore won this contract through Italian oil and gas industry contractor Saipem, which is one of the long-term agreement engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractors for Saudi Aramco.



This project win makes it the first Malaysian company to be working on a Saudi Aramco offshore fabrication project, said the company in its statement.



Eversendai Offshore also recently won key 9com certification from Saudi Aramco that allows it to execute the oil giant's projects which are only open to prequalified and approved companies who fulfil its highly stringent requirements, it stated.



With this certification, the Malaysian groups fabrication yard in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, becomes a pre-qualified vendor for fabrication and construction of offshore platforms and jackets for Saudi Aramco.



Eversendai Offshore expects this to be the first of many more projects to come its way from Saudi Aramco which is projected to invest more than $300 billion over the next 10 years, said a senior official.



Despite the current oil and gas market sentiment, Saudi Aramco has awarded $5 billion worth of projects from 2016 to date.



"As the number of fabrication yards in the Middle East with Saudi Aramco certification is limited, Eversendai has a high potential in increasing its bid conversion rate bidding through the long-term agreement (LTA) EPC contractors or through Saudi Aramco itself directly," stated Narish Nathan, the chief executive of Eversendai Offshore



Eversendai Offshore, he stated, managed to receive the 9com certification mainly due to the extensive quality and safety requirements the group has placed in its Ras Al Khaimah yard, and having highly experienced and qualified personnel to execute projects there.



Eversendai Group managing director AK Nathan said its 200,000-sq-m offshore unit at Ras Al Khaimah was the jewel in the crown of the group, which was capable of fabricating and loading out heavy structures such as offshore jackets, platforms and process modules into the water directly.



A relatively young player in the oil and gas industry, the Eversendai unit boasts an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of fabricated materials.



"The Ras Al Khaimah facility is only 2.5 years old and to receive this highly sought-after certification is indeed a feat we are proud of," remarked Nathan.



Eversendai is the pioneer company from Malaysia to have received this coveted certification and to be awarded a major fabrication project for Saudi Aramco in a relatively short time upon the certification, is on its own, a worthwhile merit for us, he added.

Eversendai Group has landed new projects worth RM180 million ($42.4 million) including 13 gantry structures project in Doha; a mixed-use development project which comprises of commercial, retail cultural and entertainment areas in Doha; a bank headquarters building in Dubai; as well as jackets for Saipem in Saudi Arabia.



With this Saudi Aramco project win, total value of Eversendai's projects for this year has risen to RM1.56 billion ($368 million).-TradeArabia News Service
UAEs Ministry of Education and Germany-based technology company Siemens have announced software licenses for five universities in the country, valued at 100 million euros ($116 million) in total.



The partnership between the Ministry of Education and Siemens comes on the back of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between both parties last year. The grant seeks to advance digital skills in the country to support its economic diversification goals, underscoring Siemens contribution to the Year of Giving in 2017.



The license handover was made during a signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi, attended by Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the UAEs Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, and Joe Kaeser, president and CEO of Siemens AG.



As the UAE transitions to a competitive, knowledge economy, building the skills of the future among UAE nationals is a top priority. The software grant from Siemens is a significant contribution to enhancing local digital skills, as they become increasingly essential for the development of this country and the jobs of tomorrow, said Dr Al Falasi. We extend our gratitude to Siemens, a trusted private sector partner of the Ministry of Education, for their generosity and commitment during the Year of Giving.



Following an open call for submissions of compelling ideas that illustrated how universities would use the companys Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software, the Ministry of Education selected UAE University, Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Rochester Institute of Technology.



Students and faculty at these universities can use the software for academic and institutional purposes to develop the required skills to drive the countrys digital transformation.



During the Year of Giving in the UAE, private companies are inspired to engage in activities that reflect the spirit of generosity and bring benefits to the community. We believe this is a natural desire; to give back to society and support the countrys long-term aspirations for a sustainable knowledge economy, said Joe Kaeser.



Siemens software grant will stimulate research activity among higher education institutions, encourage talent development among UAE nationals in digitalization and innovation, and support alignment between academia and industry.



PLM is a leading innovative software that has been a key component of globally-significant projects such as the Mars Rover Curiosity, the Maserati Ghibli car, and the Solar Impulse aircraft which flew around the world without using any fuel.



The software allows companies to manage this information throughout the entire lifecycle of a product efficiently and cost-effectively, from ideation, design and manufacture, through service and disposal.  TradeArabia News Service
A Qatari food processing company will be importing cows from Germany and Australia by mid-2018 as part of plans to build a farm in Qatar with the aim of supplying 45 per cent of the local markets dairy needs, said an official.



The farm will be built on a 500,000-sq-m area equipped with the highest technology for milk production, Mohamed Ali Al-Kuwari, business development manager, Gulf Food Production, was quoted as saying in a Gulf Times report.



Al-Kuwari added that they have already started this project and hope to finish it in the middle of next year.
Mobily, a leading telecom provider in Saudi Arabia, has awarded Ericsson a modernization contract to upgrade its access network in the western region of the kingdom, deploying the latest features of the Ericsson Radio System.



The contract includes the Ericsson Baseband 52- and 66-series and mobile backhaul equipment such as the Ericsson MINI-LINK and Ericsson Router 6000 series. The products will allow Mobily to expand network coverage and improve capacity, and thus enhance end-user experience with high-quality differentiated services.



Mobily will also benefit from the minimal footprint and reduced power consumption of the Ericsson Radio System.



Ericsson will introduce advanced technologies such as FDD/TDD convergence, 4x4 MIMO, multi-band carrier aggregation, and enable greater spectrum flexibility and migration between GSM, WCDMA, and LTE by implementing the Ericsson Shared Carrier solution. These enhancements will also prepare Mobilys network for Internet of Things and 5G.



Ahmed Aboudoma, Mobily chief executive officer, Mobily, said: This agreement with Ericsson is in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and its objectives that fall within developing the Telecom and IT sector, in addition to preparing best-provided services to customers that comply with its new strategy RISE. This includes a concept that raises the level of provided services to customers by using the latest telecom technologies.



The current Mobily network is competitive on the sector level, and the new collaboration will enable Mobily to increase its network performance, which benefits customers as they will enjoy unprecedented services. The agreement took more than six months to come to light, as we wanted to ensure that the plans complied with the rapid developments in the telecom technology. We also wanted to exploit future technologies with a highly efficient contractual framework, he added.



Rafiah Ibrahim, head of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, said: Our relationship with Mobily goes back to 2005. We have helped build Mobilys network across Saudi Arabia and will continue to provide leading solutions to address their needs, making the network ready for 5G and Internet of Things. The overall benefits of the modernized network will extend to offering enhanced experiences to Mobilys subscribers.



Saudi Arabia is one of the leading countries in terms of mobile data growth and it was more than100 per cent in 2015. As the volume of mobile data traffic continues to increase, Mobily has embraced Ericssons new solutions to make optimal use of the spectrum and network resources.  TradeArabia News Service
UK-based Parker Design Group, a leading British creative industries company, has announced plans to set up its new office in Dubai, UAE, to offer greater support to the multinational clientele.



Established in 1995, Parker delivers strategic multi-channel solutions to varied sectors such as pharmaceutical, healthcare, education, fintech, professional services, construction, utilities, leisure, travel, medical and retail from its offices in London, Manchester and Cambridge.



The office in Dubai is its first station outside the UK and is aimed at helping the group leverage the emirates advantages as a hub for creativity, innovation and global expansion.



The continuing partnership between Dubai Investment Development Agency, Dubai FDI, an agency of Dubai Economy, and the British Centres of Business, BCB, a UK government initiative, in investment promotion and business advisory, has seen another well-known British brand entering the increasingly competitive design, advertising and digital media sector in Dubai.



"We are delighted to welcome Parker Design Group to Dubai and we are confident it would be a valuable addition to the creative talent and business innovations promoted by Dubai," remarked Khalid Al Boom, the deputy CEO of Dubai FDI.



"It is an increasingly competitive field in Dubai with home-grown and multinational brands vying for glory. Parker enhances the diversity of creative solutions available in Dubai and reaffirms the opportunities present in Dubai for brands and enterprises to grow and expand," he added.



Terming the move to Dubai a 'natural progression' Dan Kendrew, the director, Parker Design Group UK (Dubai Branch) said: "We have been creating memorable designs for our clients in the UK and globally for over two decades."



"We could not have chosen a more exciting place than Dubai to launch our international office and we look forward to putting our blend of strategy and delivery into practice, and cannot wait to see the results," he stated.



Susie Isaacson, the business operations manager of BCB, said: "Parker is the sixth British creative industries company that we have welcomed into the BCB Incubator, further showing the strong UAE demand for UK expertise in the sector."



"Parker comes with an enviable portfolio of experience, clients and success and we are pleased to be supporting their journey into the UAE, particularly in Dubai," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
UAEs Emirates Transport (ET) has launched the final phase of testing for the first battery electric school bus in the region.



The 45-seater bus has been manufactured in close cooperation with the Shanghai Sunwin Bus Cooperation, in one of the first projects of its kind worldwide, reported Wam, the Emirates official news agency.



Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mohammed Abdullah Al Jarman, general manager of the Emirates Transport, said, "The launch of a Zero Emission school bus comes as part of our efforts to achieve the vision of the government for a green economy and puts the UAE in the forefront of such initiatives, regionally and globally."



Al Jarman explained that the bus will operate in accordance with the specifications and regulations of school transport in force in the country, pointing out that the application of these specifications represented the largest challenge during the manufacturing phase during which specialists from ET conducted three field visits to the factory floor in China to inspect the production line and ensure the application of all UAE specifications.



Ajit Kumar, COO of Commercial, Transport and Electrical for Al Naboodah Group Enterprises, said: "Al Naboodah Group Enterprises is very proud to be associated with the project, and we are fully geared to provide the necessary support together with our principal, Shanghai Sunwin Bus Corporation."
Japans Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced Synaptic Business Automation, a new industrial automation and control business concept.



Based on the ideals expressed in the Synaptic Business Automation concept, Yokogawa will help companies achieve a transformation in how they conduct their business, said a statement from the company.



Nowadays manufacturers face a variety of challenges which includes volatile shifts in the prices of crude oil and other raw materials and stiffening environmental and safety regulations to structural changes in their industries. To remain competitive, they must have the agility to adapt quickly to change, it said.



To guide its efforts to assist companies in meeting such challenges, Yokogawa adheres to a vision statement that reads, Through Process Co-Innovation, Yokogawa creates new value with its clients for a brighter future. We help companies improve efficiency and profitability by getting their various business units to work together more effectively and by eliminating barriers that impede the flow of information and goods throughout the supply chain and between companies, it added.



As the Internet of Things gains traction, a digitalisation of processes is underway whereby the use of big data and artificial intelligence is yielding valuable insights needed to make business decisions.



The Synaptic Business Automation concept clearly expresses Yokogawas commitment to using the latest information technologies and its decades of experience with plant management and industrial processes, portfolio of automation solutions, and consulting expertise to help its customers transform their businesses.



The automation concept takes its name from the synapse, a structure in the nervous system that plays a role in the transfer of signals to other parts of the human body. Synaptic Business Automation expresses an ideal state for a business whereby the synthesising of data, systems, organisations, knowledge, and supply chains adds value and strengthens competitiveness.



The linked data on manufacturing processes, plant operations, human resources, and supply chains can be organised, integrated, controlled, broken down, and analysed to yield insightful decisions at various levels in the organisation, from operations in the field to corporate management.



Ways in which Synaptic Business Automation creates corporate value for our customers: Resilient operation - adapt more flexibly to changes in such areas as health, safety, security and the environment (HSSE), organisational optimisation, and regulatory compliance; Optimised production -

optimise the total expenditure (Totex) components of capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (Opex) over the entire lifecycle of a plant, and improve reliability. Also, directly create value by solving issues and optimising operations throughout a supply chain, thereby enhancing productivity and profitability; Business innovation - work with specific customers to create new business models that foster manufacturing excellence by such means as supplying cloud-based services that drive collaboration with their customers and suppliers and to introduce environmentally friendly manufacturing practices that are essential for a sustainable society.



Yokogawa has many years of experience in working with operational technology (OT). By combining its in-depth knowledge of plant management, operations, industries, and processes, its portfolio of automation and other information technology solutions, and its consulting expertise, the company is uniquely positioned to create new value. Working together with its customers based on the co-innovating tomorrow corporate brand slogan, Yokogawa is committed to helping them achieve the ideals expressed in its Synaptic Business Automation concept, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
US energy production, equipment and services companies competing for oil and gas business in the Middle East and around the world will look to strengthen trade, innovation and workforce partnerships with buyers and influencers attending the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) 2017, November 13-16 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The annual event, the regions largest and most diversified oil & gas business gathering, is expected to draw some 100,000 trade professionals from 135 countries, including 2,200 exhibitors. Chief among them, the United States will present 180-plus exhibitors, among the largest international contingents at the show.

The centerpiece of the American national effort is the new 3,000 sq m USA Partnership Pavilion, organized by Kallman Worldwide, Inc, in coordination with numerous government agencies, including the departments of Commerce and State. The 2017 show is Kallmans eighth consecutive edition organizing Americans at Adipec and first under the new USA Partnership Pavilion banner, which President and CEO Tom Kallman says, reflects a global trend.

Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork, said Kallman. The new USA Partnership Pavilion sharpens our focus on helping advance Americas national interests and security by building stronger relationships with our international customers. Many of our exhibitors  from publicly traded stalwarts to small- and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs] with fewer than 500 employees  already have significant business partnerships and operations in the region. In the years to come, many more will.

Located prominently in Halls 7 and 8, the Pavilion is a full-service business destination: an efficient location for buyers to meet more US suppliers, an on-site operations center for American exhibitors to maximize their exposure and impact at the show, and a networking hub for all to share ideas and insights.

The 112 exhibitors in the Pavilion represent 23 states, all looking to generate new business and create more jobs back home by growing exports, expanding in-region operations and/or recruiting overseas partners to establish or participate in US-based operations. Five Pavilion exhibitors are new to market, 22 are new to the show.

Notably, the state of Louisiana, exhibiting as LAGCOE, has organized its own state-branded pavilion  featuring state-based co-exhibitors  within the larger US space.

In addition to space on site, USA Partnership Pavilion exhibitors are featured in Kallmans online Adipec Visitor Zone at kallman.com/adipec-2017. The Visitor Zone features a centerpiece searchable Pavilion directory, plus interactive tools to help trade professionals around the world plan ahead and follow up, even if they cant go to the show.

To heighten awareness and interest in Pavilion exhibitors, Kallman is introducing new content and thought-leadership initiatives at the show to inform and inspire the exhibitor-visitor conversation:

 On his first trip to the UAE, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, Col. Al Worden, USAF-Ret., will make his first ever appearance at Adipec 2017 as a guest of Kallman Worldwide in partnership with show organizers dmg events. Among his many personal appearances during the week, Worden will be a featured speaker at the shows Middle East Petroleum Club on Wednesday, November 15, and he will address the Young Adipec FORUM on Thursday, November 16.

 The Newsstand, an on-site information center adjacent to the Meeting Point Exhibitors Lounge, features a live, scrolling display of real-time show and market headlines on a centerpiece flat-screen monitor, flanked by take-away publications from the industrys top publishers.

In addition to these conversation starters, Kallman will promote exhibitors with its Ask America on-site advocacy campaign during the show. The message will be placed prominently around the USA Partnership Pavilion, integrated into hospitality and VIP events during the show, advertised in show daily publications and highlighted in social media (follow on Twitter @kallmanEWC).

The United States is one of the biggest international exhibitors at Adipec because its one of the world's biggest industry suppliers, but thats no guarantee buyers will look to work with American companies over others, said Kallman. As the organizer of the USA Partnership Pavilion, we have a responsibility to advocate not only for our exhibitors, but for our nation in this highly competitive global marketplace.

We want every show visitor to Ask America, and to be confident that we are listening, he said. There should be no question that the United States oil & gas industry is committed to international trade and investment. We bring smart technologies and ideas to the table, and we have the most skilled professionals ready to do the work.

The following companies invite media to learn more about the new products and services theyll be exhibiting at Adipec 2017:

Booth #7413  University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Top Quality MBA  100 per cent Online Nine High-Demand Options. Tuition Includes Books. Start Today!

Boost your career today. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers an MBA online program designed for working professionals.

Gain an edge on your competition with UL Lafayette's accelerated online MBA program. This program will not only give you fundamental business knowledge in finance, analytics, economics and marketing, but also the leadership skills to advance in management positions. Offering nine high-demand options, choose the 100 per cent online general MBA or an MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Management, Health Care Administration, Hospitality Management, Human Resources Management, Project Management, or Sales Leadership.

TARGET SECTORS: Human Resources, Project Management, Global Management

CONTACT: Rose Honegger, Director, Office of International Affairs, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA, +1-337-482-6610; [email protected]

Booth #7340  CIRCOR

CIRCOR | HOKE Solves Industry-Wide Tube and Fitting Assembly Problems with Highly Advanced Gyrolok XP Tube Connection System

Technological advances bring new features previously unavailable in the market

CIRCOR has announced that HOKE, a CIRCOR brand, has launched the new Gyrolok XP product family that offers enhanced technology that significantly improves the installation assembly process, leading to a safer and more reliable tube fitting connection. The Gyrolok XP fitting is designed to grip heavier wall tubes, which increases working pressures by up to 80 per cent over conventional tube fittings.

TARGET SECTORS: Offshore Platforms, Upstream, Safety

Booth #7412  FBV, Inc.

Ball Valve TAT Test and Approved

Eight class 600 metal seat ball valve passed the Shell Type Acceptance Test.

TARGET SECTORS: Valve, Oil and Gas, Petrochemical

Booth #7470  Cambium Networks

Cambium Networks Manufactures the One-Millionth PMP 450 Wireless Broadband Module

Cambium Networks, a leading global provider of wireless networking solutions, today announced a manufacturing milestone in shipping the one-millionth PMP 450 wireless broadband module.

Launched in September 2012, the PMP 450 system has continuously evolved to provide industry-leading throughput performance, spectral efficiency, and capacity, thus enabling network operators to profitably extend their networks geographically and in user density while meeting the ever-growing demand for data capacity.

TARGET SECTORS: IIOT, Wireless communications

Booth #7434  Canrig Drilling Technology

Canrig, Global Drilling Equipment Manufacturer, Continues to Expand in MENA Region

Canrig is the global provider of technologically advanced drilling equipment and services. We pioneered the use of top drives in the Mena region and are currently expanding our presence to meet the continuously increasing customer demand in the region. Our 17,000 sf facility in Jebel Ali offers repair and recertification capability as well as spare parts. Our field technicians are available to meet any demand in the region within the shortest amount of time.

TARGET SECTORS: Drilling, Equipment Manufacturing, Technology

Booth #7321  Franks International

Frank's International Opens State-of-the-Art Facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

On Wednesday, August 23, 2017, Frank's International [NYSE: FI] welcomed guests, including many top customers and vendors, to the grand opening of our new KSA operations base.

After more than two decades of operations in KSA, Franks Rawabi was proud to open the doors to a new state-of-the-art operations facility in Dammam in August 2017. Constructed on 15,000 square meters of land, the new facility consists of three purpose-built workshops, offices, a fully equipped training room, a prayer room and a parking area.

TARGET SECTORS: Drilling, Completions, Well Construction

Booth #7432  OFI Testing Equipment

New Partnership Secures Global Distribution for Salunda's Drilling Fluids Tester

A new partnership will see USbased OFI Testing Equipment handle global distribution for monitoring specialists Salunda Limiteds handheld drilling fluid measurement instrument, MudChecker. The move comes as Salunda is seeing increasing demand for MudChecker  the first handheld instrument of its type  from oil and gas sector contractors, and is part of a wider sales drive and global push for its range of analyzers and sensors.

TARGET SECTORS: Drilling Fluids Testing Laboratory Testing, Drilling Fluids Field Testing

Booth #8253  ARDCO

ARDCO Articulating Multi-Purpose Truck (AMT)

Tackles Countless Off-Road Applications

ARDCO has introduced its new Articulating Multipurpose Trucks (AMT) featuring a modular back-end platform that offers the flexibility to customize the vehicle to suit any work environment, from urban construction projects to extreme off-road jobsites. The new AMT 400 and AMT 600 can operate under a variety of configurations, including bare chassis, flatbed, water tank, fuel tank, dump bed, service and lube station, utility bed, personal carrier, pipe trailer or drill.

TARGET SECTORS: Off-Road Transport, Drilling, Pipe Handling

Booth #8462  CLARCOR

New Parker-CLARCOR Clearcurrent PRO SP+ Filter Leads the Way in Protecting Gas Turbines in Dusty Environments

CLARCOR Industrial Air (a Parker Hannifin company), today announces the release of its new clearcurrent PRO SP+ cartridge filter at the Adipec show. Designed and manufactured specifically for gas turbines in the Middle East, the PRO SP+ filter sets a new standard for gas turbine protection in the region through superior dust-holding capacity and pulse-ability.

TARGET SECTORS: Filtration, Gas Turbines, Maintenance

CONTACT: Dan Burch, Marketing Manager, CLARCOR Industrial Air (a Parker Hannifin Company), Overland Park, KS, +1-816-313-4765; [email protected]

Booth #7357  Polyguard

Polyguard Approaching 25 Consecutive Years of Sales Growth

Polyguard Products Inc, a Texas-based manufacturer of protective coatings, is pleased to announce that 2017 will mark the companies 25th consecutive year of sales expansion.

TARGET SECTORS: Distribution, Engineers, Contractors

Booth #8463  TIMET

Industry-Leading Capabilities to Manufacture 9 5/8" Diameter OCTG

Operators need more corrosion resistance, stronger and larger diameter tubing to meet the challenges of developing increasingly sour and high temperature gas wells. PCC Energy Group has leading materials & manufacturing capabilities to supply CRA OCTG in sizes 9 5/8" OD and greater in range 3 to 45 feet. The PCC Energy Group brings together the metallurgical experience of Special Metals with the advanced manufacturing capabilities of Schulz to supply world class tube products.

TARGET SECTORS: Gas Wells

Booth #8256  Industrial Training Consultants, Inc.

Industrial Training Consultants Establishes Abu Dhabi Office

We are pleased to announce that Industrial Training Consultants has established a branch office in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. We have 36 years experience in the development of "competency-based" e-learning programs that incorporate the latest in technology (mobile-based and web-based training, 3-D immersive virtual environments, simulations, animations, virtual labs, and gaming) combined with the highest instructional design quality and in-depth, customized content development.

TARGET SECTORS: Production, Maintenance, Process Plants

Booth #7356  GP:50

GP:50 Releases New Model 120 Compact High Pressure and High Temperature Transducer

Highly compact and corrosion-resistant high pressure/high temperature transducer for ease of installation within challenging exploration environments, particularly where space is at a premium. Designed to withstand high shock and vibration inputs, with further inclusion of an optional temperature output for expanded measurement capabilities.

 Rated to +400F (+204C) and 30K PSI (2,068 BAR)

 Compact design,  diameter

 Welded, hermetic construction

 Pressure and temperature outputs

 10mV/V output

 Titanium or Iconel wetted materials

 Custom design available

TARGET SECTORS: Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, MWD and LWD tools, Wellhead Monitoring

Booth #7636  UltraTech International

Leader in US Spill Containment Branching Out into Middle East

UltraTech International, Inc., the leaders in spill containment, is making a concerted effort to increase their brand recognition and sales in the Middle East.

The company has a broad offering (400+ products), but one category is already quite popular.

Our Ultra-Containment Berm line is generating a lot of interest in this region, especially in oil and gas said Tim McGrath, UltraTechs Global Sales Director. The Berms are spill containment pools for vehicles and other equipment.

TARGET SECTOR: Drilling, safety, spill response

Booth #7471  RR Valve, Inc.

New X12000 Automated Reset Relief Valve

Fully Automated Reset Relief options up to 10,000 PSI set pressure!

The longevity and reliability RR Valve is known for has been fully automated reducing manpower cost and downtime! Fully customizable to accommodate virtually any application or regulatory requirement. Optional WIRELESS Key Fob controls up to 8 valves at once.

TARGET SECTORS: Drilling, Pumps, Upstream

Booth #7411  Nightstick

New Nightstick XPP-5422GMX X-Series Intrinsically Safe Dual-Light Flashlight

Leads 3AA Category at Whopping 285 Lumens and two integrated magnets for convenience.

Globally certified at 210 Lumens, this Class I Division 1, Zone 0, ATEX certified flashlight with secondary LED floodlight emits a combined 285 lumens for 10 hours.

Bayco Products Inc., a Texas, USA based leader in professional grade safety rated lighting products today announced the new Nightstick X-Series XPP-5422GMX Intrinsically Safe Dual-Light Flashlight with Dual-Magnets. Rated at Class I, Division 1, Zone 0 Intrinsically Safe with cETLus, ATEX and IECEx global certifications, the new Nightstick XPP-5422GMX ushers in a new era of high lumen performance lighting for those who work in hazardous environments where explosive gases and dusts may be present.

TARGET SECTORS: Safety, Petrochemical, Hazardous Environment

Booth #7315  Apollo Security Access Control

Apollo Security Access Control Showcases New Energy Industry Solutions at Adipec 2017

Apollo Security Access Control, based in Newport Beach, CA will be returning to Adipec this year and will be showcasing a new range of solutions for oil & gas sites. New products include enhanced support for site security, mustering, fatigue management and HR integrations. Web and Android based apps now allow faster and more economical overview of worker security and health and safety situation.

TARGET SECTORS: Security, HSE, Human Resources

CONTACT: Ramsey Burns, Business Development, Apollo Security Access Control, Newport Beach, CA, +1-949-852-8178; [email protected]

ABOUT KALLMAN WORLDWIDE, INC.

Export with purpose. Exhibit with confidence. Kallman Worldwide is an export marketing advocate focused on helping the United States of America and its leading businesses capitalize on international trade shows and events to grow their share of global markets. Our flagship USA Partnership Pavilion programs cover all the details of creating and presenting a professional business environment to buyers,

enabling exhibitors, clients and partners to make the most of their event opportunities, cultivate meaningful business relationships and account for a more measurable return on their export marketing investment.

Since 1963, Kallman has helped more than 10,000 companies, associations and government agencies stand out at nearly 1,000 industry and professional events in 46 countries. The company is a strategic partner of the US Department of Commerce, a proud recipient of the Presidents E Award, and in 2016 was honored to receive the AmCham Abu Dhabi Falcon Award for its organization-wide commitment to building sustainable business relationships between the US and the UAE. Kallman is a member of the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and supports the Chambers mission to foster economic growth, educational advancement and mutual respect between the US and the MENA region. For more information visit www.kallman.com. -- Tradearabia News Service
About 19 per cent of mobile handsets sold in the world are counterfeits and the number has been growing in recent years, according to a recent study by OECD.



Africa and other emerging markets have long been the primary market for fake mobiles. Counterfeit phones account for 10-30 per cent of the total handsets sold in sub-Saharan African countries, and can go up to 60 per cent in worst case scenarios.



In Tanzania, it has been estimated that 40 per cent of the 35 million mobile users use a counterfeit handset. In Nigeria, the largest mobile market in Africa, surveys have found that more than 15 million, or over 10 per cent of its mobile subscriber base, use fake handsets. In India this use of counterfeit handsets is growing by a shocking 12 per cent per annum.



Due to the growth of e-commerce platforms such as Ebay, Amazon and Alibaba, it has become easy for this counterfeit mobile sector to become global. These e-commerce platforms have partly made the fake mobiles easily available at a fraction of the price for the original items, anywhere in the world.



Research conducted by the Intellectual Property Office of EU (EUIPO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) revealed that counterfeiting has impacted on smartphone sales by an estimated 184 million units valued at 45.3 ($52) billion, or 12.9 per cent of the total smartphone sales.



These sales losses have a domino effect - in the EU, US and Latin America markets, the losses accounted for more than 4 billion each, in Africa  1 billion, the Arab States 2 billion and in China more than 16 billion.



This economic loss has not only affected the IPR owner sales but has also international governments lose the additional revenues gathered through value-added tax and corporate income tax.



Governments are making demands on mobile service providers to help stop the sale of counterfeit mobiles and help to recoup lost tax revenues.



In Kenya, the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) was introduced by the National Commission of Communications (CCK) in 2011, to register and control all fake and sub-standard mobile communications accessories.



More than 1.5 million Kenyan fake phones were switched off by mobile operators in October 2012, in an operation where all agreed to comply with a government directive. A joint memorandum of understanding was signed in and the Commission of Communication of Kenya agreed to pay financial compensation for any losses incurred.



Mobile service providers implemented the switch-off of the handsets, which were identified by their invalid IMEI code. Other countries have followed Kenyas example. Tanzanias Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) announced an inauguration of a Central Equipment Identity Register in 2016, followed by a plan to switch off all fake and substandard phones.







Shutting off counterfeit handsets without warning, made many people angry as the sudden loss of connectivity made life difficult, stopped business and even put people in danger. Many people bought their devices in good faith and had paid a small fortune for them, and the impromptu cut-off didnt feel fair to them.



It is almost impossible for the average consumer to spot a fake handset, especially if the design is convincing. Spotting a fake mobile phone requires a level of technical knowledge that most people do not have.



Counterfeit handsets cause money losses for IPR owners and the distributors of legitimate devices, and a loss of tax income for governments. Counterfeit phones are not durable and can cause high radiation and contain harmful levels of dangerous elements such as lead.



As they are made out of cheaper elements and not subject to safety standards, these fake phones can easily explode; have inoperable speakers, low-resolution cameras and slow or old processors that result in a poor network connection.



Device management technology can now provide operators with several ways to handle device shutdowns so that it respects the customer relationship and has the potential to turn the situation into a fruitful customer engagement.



Some automatic device detection solutions can enable operators in real-time and identify who owns a fake mobile, through their IMEI code. Based on this information, customer engagement solutions can deliver these users several personalized information messages to inform them about their fake device and about the potential risks of carrying one.



These messages can be automated, in advance of the shutdown to give customers enough time to buy a legitimate handset. Operators can turn this into an upsell opportunity and send the affected subscribers discounted handset offers.



This technology enables a graceful device shutdown so as not to put customers in a dangerous position. All fake handsets would first lose mobile data connectivity and only after a certain time period, would the voice and SMS services be switched off, leaving only the emergency number in use.



Because of real-time detection and automated and targeted customer engagement capabilities, each fake mobile owner can be handled differently as they appear on a network, and avoid mass-shutdowns, which can ruin customer satisfaction and damage the operator brand.



In the open letter, Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba, said law enforcement has been too lax and that Chinese authorities should raise maximum prison sentences and other penalties to deter illegal counterfeit handset makers.



The only way forward is to punish mobile counterfeiters and traffickers, is by hitting them where it hurts  their pockets. And, instead of punishing the handset owners by mass switch-offs they should be turned into legitimate device users by using fake device detection and personalized customer engagement  so the telecom industry can win.



About the Author:



Magnus Moller Petersen is EVP of Sales and Marketing at Sicap since January. He has more than 11 years of telecom sector experience. Before joining Sicap, Magnus led the sales and marketing departments at Mobilethink and Tweakker. Earlier in his career, he worked as entrepreneur in his own start-up and as an independent technical consultant.
Building on the success of the initial phase of their partnership, Emirates and flydubai today announced 16 additional destinations to which Emirates passengers will be able travel on a single ticket.



The new, expanded network now includes sought-after destinations such as Zanzibar, Kathmandu and Kilimanjaro.



Travellers can book on Emirates.com, through Emirates Contact Centres, or via travel agents for travel commencing from 8 November 2017.



Emirates president, Sir Tim Clark said: We are thrilled with the positive response from travellers. Nearly 14,000 sectors have been ticketed during the first week of operation, surpassing our expectations. We have witnessed strong demand for travel from Europe and the United States to South Asian destinations."



"This partnership is an unprecedented opportunity for both airlines to unleash the combined power of their networks, offering travellers greater choice and flexibility when planning their trips. We want to make exploring the world as friendly and as convenient as possible.



Flydubai chief executive officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith said: The many benefits of Dubais international aviation hub have been recognised by travellers who have already shown that they are keen to explore the world together. Todays announcement will allow them to discover another 16 destinations as well as enjoy the unique personality of each airline.



New codeshare destinations:

 Bratislava (Slovakia)

 Chittagong (Bangladesh)

 Djibouti (Djibouti)

 Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

 Hargeisa (Somalia)

 Istanbul  Sabiha Gokcen (Turkey)

 Kathmandu (Nepal)

 Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

 Mattala Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka)

 Makhachkala (Russia)

 Podgorica (Montenegro)

 Sylhet (Bangladesh)

 Ufa (Russia)

 Voronezh (Russia)

 Yerevan (Armenia)

 Zanzibar (Tanzania)



Emirates and flydubai will continue to offer a travel experience reflective of each others brand. For bookings under the codeshare, Emirates passengers will receive complimentary meals and the Emirates checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in both Business and Economy.



Connecting via Dubais ultra-modern hub offers a smooth transfer experience and under the partnership, passengers will benefit from a reduced minimum connection time (MCT) between Emirates home in Terminal 3 and flydubais in Terminal 2 of 120 minutes.



More benefits for frequent flyers

Emirates Skywards members can earn Skywards miles and Skywards Tier Miles on codeshare flights as per the existing Skywards mileage programme.



In addition to the Emirates free checked baggage allowance, Skywards Premium members can also enjoy their extra checked baggage allowances of 20kg (Platinum members), 16kg (Gold members) and 12kg (Silver members) on codeshare flights operated by flydubai.



Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members travelling on codeshare flights can access flydubais Business Check-in counters and receive priority tags.



Further benefits for members of each airlines frequent flyer and loyalty programmes will be announced in due course. - TradeArabia News Service


Shell Aviation, a unit of UK-based Royal Dutch Shell, has signed a fuelling concession agreement to operate the new into-plane and fuel farm facilities as the sole jet fuel supplier at Salalah International Airport in Oman.



Shell Aviation now supplies jet fuel at the two largest airports in the country  Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL).



We see significant potential in Salalah and we aim to support their growth by providing our extensive expertise in fuel supply, said Anne Anderson, vice president Shell Aviation, said during the signing ceremony. We are pleased to add Salalah to our global network as we also mark 55 years of operations in Oman.



Salalah International Airport was expanded in 2015 to enable it to serve 1 million passengers per year as part of Omans strategy to further develop the area as a tourist destination. The airport has also been designed to allow for further expansion that could enable it to cater for up to six million passengers annually.



Salim Awadh Said Al Yafaey, general manager, Salalah International Airport, said: Shell Aviations operational and safety capabilities were decisive factors for us. Efficiency and supply security will be key in achieving our ambitious vision for the airport and Salalah. We believe Shell Aviation is the right choice to help us get there.



Shell Aviation customers at Salalah will benefit from fuel supply security backed by Shells integrated supply chain; product quality assurance via Shells Fuel Quality Assurance System; professional account management providing a single focal point for fuel requirements across Shells global network; and access to local expertise by leveraging Shell's aviation experience in Oman.  TradeArabia News Service
Best Stand Design was won this year by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ME200, ME201 and ME204), for a space that successfully blends old and new. Features include a woman weaving a carpet and a virtual reality buggy ride for visitors to try.



It really shows the breadth of the country, said Exhibition News senior reporter Nicola Macdonald. No matter what angle you approached from there was something to see. The stand was also functional with a good business area, the judges felt.



The Greek National Tourism Organisations revamped stand (EU1200, EU1250) won Best for Business. It is modern, with a good mix of networking and meeting spaces where you can sit and have a one-to-one, said Intuitive Design director Russell Smith. There is a good layout with space to mingle and have drinks and also booths with dividers that still feel approachable.



Best New Stand was won by DMC company AC Group (GV655) who the judges felt had made good use of limited space. It is contemporary in design, quite boutique and tactile, said Smith. Macdonald added, it is inviting as its very open and looked quite welcoming.



A giant stooping over a bench to provide a fun selfie opportunity won Tourism Ireland (UK1400) the accolade Best Stand Feature. Its a feature that has relevance, pointed out Tourism Research and Marketing partner Bill Richards, as a mock up of part of famous attraction the Giants Causeway lies underfoot.



We find Europe often assumes we know the country, so stands can look very similar to each other, so Ireland here is trying to do something different, said Beryl Preuschmann of Triporganiser.net.



Simplicity proved the winning ingredient for Fortymee Ltd (TT237), which won this years Best Stand Within the Travel Tech Show.



The companys products include a new smart wristband which alerts people on excursions that they are due back and tells the tour guide who is missing, their contact details and picture. The stand displays the gadgets and also runs a video showing the system in action.



With technology stands its usually hard to see what they do, said Preuschmann. As a tour guide, if I was on a cruise ship where we had to have them out and back within two hours, Id use it, she added. - TradeArabia News Service
The Boy Scouts are credited with an often repeated rule about camping: always leave the site in better shape than you found it.

That same ethos applies to the much trickier and more expensive Western dilemma of maintaining the sage brush speckled habitat that an imperiled bird needs to survive.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it was accepting public comment on revising or removing the Boy Scout approach, or net conservation gain, from its mitigation policies.

Its an Obama-era concept that lies beneath more than 90 land management plans in the West that govern sage grouse conservation.

At the least, operations like mining or ranching in areas that state and federal partners have decided are key to the birds survival are supposed to be balanced by repairs somewhere else.

But the federal rulebook, as it stands today, goes further. Damage should be offset with improvement.

Some in the oil and gas industries would be supportive of removing the net gain provision in federal language, which they say has been unclear and misapplied since its addition. Others see the Boy Scout rule as a move forward in conservation, a field where losing ground, particularly for sage grouse, is the norm.

***

Wyoming is on the front line of sage grouses survival. The Cowboy State is home to nearly 40 percent of the birds population, and its budget is dependent on continual revenue from energy industries.

Net gain has been a thorny topic in the sage grouse debates from the get-go, but its a dry story compared to some of the more controversial changes to sage grouse protections on the table today.

The Interior Department has opened up sage grouse management plans for a number of revisions that would have real and immediate consequences on the ground, including allowing some states to focus on numbers instead of habitat when conserving the grouse or adjusting boundaries around protected habitats. Some figures, like Gov. Matt Mead, have cautioned against extensive changes to the management plans, arguing that they offer long term certainty for the bird and industry.

The conservation language, by contrast, is part of a framework that supports the management plans. The immediate consequences of removing it are unclear, experts say.

However, in a year of uncertainty for federal sage grouse plans, not all are concerned by the notion of a review.

Net gain should be looked at, said Bob Budd, chairman of the Sage Grouse Implementation Team.

There were no limits, if you will, on what it meant, Budd said.

By contrast, Wyoming has a clear framework for mitigation that an operator knows from the start, he said. The states goal is to make habitat whole after disruptions, Budd said.

The federal provision is ripe for abuse, he said.

If its open ended, that leads to the horror stories that you hear about, where it turns into extracting money for no visible purpose, Budd said.

Esther Wagner, vice president of public lands for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, related a Wyoming operators experience of a two-year delay on a project largely due to the question of how to meet the net gain goal for disturbed sage grouse habitat.

Not even the federal agencies that enforce this rule can readily define what it means, Wagner said.

The way we see it is that it hasnt been defined in a manner that anyone can explain and quantify, she said. Its a concept thats already been inconsistently applied across BLM field offices.

***

Conservationists see the Boy Scout provision much differently, and removing it pulls the rug out from underneath the sage grouse strategy, they say.

The federal plans that are under review, which are largely based on Wyomings own strategies, already leave some 80 percent of the birds habitat unprotected, explained Brian Rutledge, conservation policy and strategy adviser for the National Audubon Society.

That was the trade off with development that conservationists like Rutledge, a member of the states sage grouse management team, made peace with after nearly a decade of working with industry, agriculture, state and federal officials.

Net conservation gain isnt something anybody is getting, he said.

The plans cant work if even the protected areas are disturbed, he said.

Mary Flanderka, spokeswoman for the Wyoming Outdoor Council, echoed a similar view.

Setting a high bar for mitigation in the protected areas makes up for widespread losses to conservation goals over decades, she said.

There is always more people, more land loss, more land converted to agriculture, she said. Nobody is making new habitat. You might be able to restore it, but youre not gaining anything. Youre just replacing what you took.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comment until Jan. 5.
LANDER  Beverly Paddleford carved the clay veil of a towering Virgin Mary statue. The sculptors small metal loop tool scraped off small clumps of the clay, which she collected in her hand.

Soon, it would be ready to cast at Eagle Bronze, the family foundry she co-founded with her husband, Monte.

A couple dozen artisans worked in the Lander foundry to turn hundreds of artists clay sculptures into bronze or steel pieces.

Some are small, like the golden microphones the foundry casts each year for awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Others are large outdoor monuments, like a 27-foot horse currently standing in the shop by Arturo Di Modica  who gained his fame for the iconic bull sculpture on Wall Street in New York City.

Eagle Bronze is one of the largest monument-producing foundries in the country, foundry manager Ed Hooper said. Local artists as well as the internationally-known cast their work at the foundry before the sculptures are placed around the world.

But it didnt start off that way. The Paddlefords started a small foundry in 1985 to cast sculptures by Beverlys father, artist Bud Boller. Their daughter and son-in-law have since joined and helped expand the business into an art marketing group with services including helping artists find and place projects.

We thought we would never have more than just a handful of employees, Paddleford said. Its a very difficult kind of business and requires a lot of hard work and commitment and integrity.

Clay to bronze

Paddlefords Mary sculpture is bound for a church in Coronado, California. But before it makes the trip, it will be transformed from clay into a bronze that can withstand outdoor elements.

Workers throughout the foundry worked on sculptures in a variety of stages, from molding artists clay pieces to the final coating of their bronze surfaces.

Were on the manufacturing side of the art world, foundry manager Ed Hooper said. Hes worked every step in the process since he started working at the foundry 17 years ago, and has managed the shop for about the last decade.

The casting begins with an artists original clay sculpture. Then workers at the foundry begin making the mold around it. First they paint the clay with layers of silicone then surround it with a plaster mold.

An employee worked on several pieces in the mold room, including two by University of Boise art professor Ben Victor, whos also the only living artist to have two pieces in the national sculpture hall in Washington, D.C., Hooper said.

In the wax pouring room, another worker slowly poured molten wax inside the molds. After the mold is removed, the workers are left with a wax replica of the sculpture.

Artisans called wax chasers then set to work with sculpting tools to remove the seam lines from the mold, patch any holes and sometimes attach parts so the piece looks as close as possible to the original clay work, Hooper said.

Then the wax pieces move to another room where workers dip them in a rotating tank of white colloidal silica slurry, followed by coat of fine sand. That process must be repeated nine to 13 times to build the material into a shell that can withstand molten metal. Its a long process  the pieces have to dry for at least 2.5 hours between dips.

Next, the shells are moved to the furnace room and heated to about 1,300 degrees for about 45 minutes to create the hard ceramic shell that can withstand molten metal.

Meanwhile, crew members tend to the molten bronze or steel that will create the final version of the pieces. The metal is heated to about 2,100 degrees and poured into the ceramic shells.

The shells crack as they cool, emitting a sharp popping noise. A crew member hammers off the shell to reveal the metal sculpture inside.

Then the pieces are sandblasted clean and finished in the patina room, where any colors the artist chooses are applied before a final layer of sealant.

In the monument room, where workers assemble larger sculptures, workers prepared a moose statue bound for Minnesota. The 27-foot horse rose above them, still in its clay stage and yet to be molded.

Monuments are created the same as smaller pieces, but molded and cast in sections to then welded together as one piece.

Every single part is critical to the end product, Paddleford said.

Artistic variety

The largest monument produced by the foundry is the 37-foot-tall The Equestrian in El Paso, Texas. The piece by John Houser is the worlds largest equestrian statue, or at least was in 2006. Hooper hasnt heard of one larger since, he said.

Another one of the larger projects out of the foundry features a full herd of bronze cattle representing a cattle drive going into Texas, Hooper said. The artist sculpted 10 original cattle, and the foundry crews adjusted details and positions so the 70-plus individual animals look different, Hooper said. The work now decorates the Pioneer Plaza in Dallas, Texas.

Other notable pieces out of the foundry include dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

A 6-foot-tall Airedale dog statue sat in a crate, ready for shipment to a new dog food plant in Nebraska.

Although much of the foundrys work is from elsewhere, Wyoming artists also use the foundry. A sculpture of a grandfather and grandson hunting together, titled Memories, by Wyoming artist Vic Payne was cast at the foundry and stands at a Cabellas in Buda, Texas. A smaller version is on display in the foundrys gallery that greets visitors at the front door.

Many pieces from the foundry can be found around Lander, including a veterans memorial depicting a World War II soldier. The face is that of Chance Phelps, a Wyoming U.S. Marine killed in Iraq in 2004. The Marines father, John Phelps, started sculpting the piece before his son was deployed, and it stands outside the towns courthouse, Hooper said. Successful local artists, like Ben Foster and Sandy Scott, also use the facility.

Paddleford herself started sculpting about 20 years ago.

I just always felt like I could do it, she said. But I was working on everybody elses work, and finally I had an opportunity to try it myself.

Now more than 50 of her monuments stand around the world. She focuses on Christian art, and has done some wildlife as well, she said.

Shes enjoyed seeing the family foundry grow for more than three decades and connecting with countless people through the artwork cast in the Wyoming town.

Its been hard work, but the rewards have been great  to see work that weve cast all over the county and across oceans, she said.
A man was airlifted to Denver for medical treatment on Oct. 29, after a fight at a Casper bar.

A bartender told police Alvaro Proa, born in 1995, pulled a knife on a bouncer at The Gaslight Social.

The bartender initially thought that Proa had stabbed the bouncer, Lucas Sanchez. Court documents indicate that Proa had dropped the knife instead.

The bartender told police that Sanchez choked the male out or submitted him somehow. Proa was described as lying on the ground, motionless.

Proa was taken to Wyoming Medical Center before being airlifted to Denver for further medical treatment, according to the documents.

Proa told police while at the hospital that he had a knife but did not remember brandishing it during the fight, according to the documents.

The documents indicate that a manager at the bar provided surveillance video for police to review.

Casper Police Sgt. Mike Ogden said no arrests had been made in relation to the incident.

Ogden declined to comment on the medical status of Proa or Sanchez, citing the confidentiality of medical records.

Gaslight Social Co-Owner Matt Galloway declined to comment Tuesday when reached by phone.

A Spanish-language online fundraiser asked for help with Proas medical expenses and listed his condition as critical.
The Natrona County School District has no current plan to close its rural schools despite rumors to the contrary, an official said Monday. The move is, however, one of several options the district has examined broadly should state cuts become much more significant than they are now.

For months, the districts administration has been working on preparing for the worst-case scenario. After it approved a trimmed-down budget in July, the school board wanted to know: Should the state cut $350 million or more from Wyomings schools  which find themselves in a significant funding shortfall  how would Natrona County shoulder its share of the cut?

A reduction of that size would be a roughly $48.5 million blow, which would constitute about 25 percent of the districts funds.

Thats where the rural school closure discussion comes into play. Michael Jennings, the executive director of human services at the district, explained that the planning has included looking at how much could be saved by closing those schools; by cutting the districts staff by 10 percent or 20 percent; slashing salaries and benefits; instituting pay-for-play policies for some activities; and dropping to a four-day school week.

The rural schools identified by officials are Alcova Elementary, Midwest School, Poison Spider, Red Creek Elementary and Powder River Elementary.

To be clear, the district has no recommendation to close those schools. No board or administrator committee is considering it beyond an exercise in broad preparation. There are no meetings scheduled to discuss it. The committee that recommended the closure of Frontier Middle and Mountain View, Willard and University Park elementary schools has not presented any new proposals to the board, Jennings said.

Indeed, even if the district were to face a $48.5 million cut, its not certain what strategy officials would pursue to make up the money. The closing of the rural schools is one potential strategy the district is examining now should more drastic measures become necessary.

There was not one option endorsed, not one option where they said, Hey, go do this one, Jennings said of the boards response to the potential cuts.

Still, theres anxiety in the community about school closures. Rumors about the shuttering of the rural schools exploded on Facebook over the weekend. That concern came less than two weeks after the school board voted to close three elementary schools and a middle school.

That decision, in turn, came less than five months after Grant Elementary closed, felled by similar financial constraints.

After the most recent closings  which officials have said will save the district more than $2 million a year  several board members have expressed strong opposition to closing any more schools.

Jennings said those closures were influenced by the districts significant excess capacity. At the start of this school year, there were nearly a thousand empty elementary seats. That has largely been addressed, he said, so for now, theres not a need to close schools because of too many empty spots.

We believe that with this recent round of closures, that (the district) is right-sized, he said.

But, he stressed, there were factors outside of Natrona Countys control. Right now, the district is working to absorb the $12 million it lost in recent years as a result of state cuts and falling enrollment. The board has already cut about $4 million and will have to cut at least that much in each of the next two years.

Thats the number for now. But, officials have said, theres a chance that number could grow: The Legislature is currently in the process of examining its education system, a task known as recalibration that could result in changes to the amount of state funding each district receives.

Even if that broad examination doesnt decrease funding levels, theres the chance that the Legislature as a whole could institute other cuts  as theyve done in the past two legislative sessions.

Late last month, Superintendent Steve Hopkins and other officials presented to the school board several strategies that could be deployed should that cut become a reality. They told the board that closing the rural schools could provide the district a savings of $5.8 million a year.

Not one of those is being advanced right now because were continuing down the path of our $12 million reduction, Jennings said. However  and Ill put that big ol however stamp on it  depending on what comes out of recalibration and the Legislature, depending on what that looks like, we may be going to work on that $12 million target ... all the way up to where we have to take a full $48.5 million out of our budget.

Are we out of the woods? he continued. I dont know what theyre going to do. So we have the path for the 12 (million dollar cut), but what happens if we get the 25 percent reduction? These are some of the options that wed have to give to the board.
After 23 years in business, Hydra is closing the doors of its downtown Tucson boutique.

Margo Susco, who co-owns Hydra with her brother, Joe, announced on Facebook that the boutiques eye-grabbing window displays will go dark on Dec. 31 and invited Tucsonans to stop by and take advantage of a liquidation sale.

It is with a heavy heart and excitement about the next chapter that we announce the closing of Hydra, Margo Susco wrote on Facebook, thanking her family, her manager, the city of Tucson, Downtown Tucson Partnership, Tucson police, her landlord and the community for a good run. I am overcome with love and gratitude when I reflect on the last 23 years downtown. ... I am a lucky girl, it is simply time to move on to the next life experience.

The decision to close the iconic store at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Congress Street has not changed Suscos attitude about downtown Tucson as she urged the community to support the area and small businesses, and to shop local.

Hydra, a retro clothing boutique, opened at 145 E. Congress St. on Nov. 4, 1994, as Hydra Leather and More, selling alternative styles of leather and vinyl clothing.

The store would later change its focus, selling an eclectic mix of Western wear and vintage and retro styles from the 1940s, 50s, and 80s.

While the wares inside of the boutique lured many shoppers in, about five years ago, Joe Susco took it upon himself to ramp up the curb appeal, designing window displays that stopped passersby in their tracks.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Nov. 7 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
A power outage that shut off runway lights and affected more than 15 flights at Tucson International Airport Friday night was caused by a construction mishap, the Tucson Airport Authority said Monday.

The outage occurred at about 7:30 p.m. Friday and power wasnt restored until about 10 p.m.

Fifteen incoming flights were affected, including five diverted to Phoenix before taking off and landing in Tucson, and one outbound flight was delayed, airport officials said.

The lights on a secondary runway in use at the time went out when a metal part on an underground circuit box was dislodged during nighttime runway repaving operations on TIAs main runway, Tucson Airport Authority spokeswoman Jessie Butler said.

Because TIAs main runway was being repaved, flight operations were being conducted on the airports crosswind runway, known as 3/21 for its compass bearings.

While they were repaving, it dislodged a handhold and it got into the power cable and damaged the electrical circuits that supported the lights on runway 3/21, which was the runway that was in use at the time, Butler said.

The airport has backup generators, but the location of the cable outage on the aging power loop that serves the runway lights prevented their immediate use, Butler said

Airport officials determined it would be quicker to finish up some minor paving work on the main runway and reopen it, though it took some time to move construction equipment and workers and to inspect the runway for debris before opening it, she said.

So it doesnt happen again, for the immediate future construction crews have adopted new procedures for paving that should eliminate that issue from happening, Butler said.

Longer-term, additional redundant power sources are included in a larger airfield safety enhancement project, now in the planning stages, she added.

Airports are supposed to have backup power systems for their airfield lighting systems that kick in automatically within seconds of an outage of a primary power source, according to Federal Aviation Administration rules.

FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the agency is aware of the TIA outage and is looking into it, referring other questions to Tucson airport officials.

One scheduled Friday evening departure from TIA, a Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas, was delayed during the outage before eventually taking off, Butler said.

American Airlines canceled one flight from Phoenix, and a United Airlines flight that was diverted to Phoenix arrived in Tucson the next morning, Butler said.
The Second Amendment of the Constitution, in the words of Justice Joseph Story, has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them.

Yet, the recent Texas slaughter of 26 innocent people cannot be allowed to continue! Again, in the words of Justice Story, How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our national bill of rights.

Francis Saitta

Downtown
It's long overdue for the people to put a stop to rich people buying government. I highly support the idea of banning dark money in all elections in Arizona. I am in hopes that Terry Goddard's attempt to put it on the ballot is successful. I'm sick of unknown entities financing our elections while we wind up with the disgusting government that results from it. The Russian involvement in our past presidential election is more than enough evidence to prove Americans need to begin to reclaim their rights to elect good people, not stooges for rich, out-of-state people. Money in politics is killing our democracy.
Re: Nov. 6 letter to the editor: Free Market Needs Big Government.

The writer uses the shameful term Robber Barons to describe the great capitalists of the 1800's and early 1900's. These were the first men of wealth who didnt rob anybody. Until they came along, there was nobody to rob! The great capitalists CREATED wealth, a concept that those of the Marxist mind-set cant seem to grasp.

From Marx comes the idea that mines, factories, oil wells, and other means of production are just there, like mountains are there, and lakes and forests. The capitalist is one who is best at stealing these means of productionthe You-didnt-build-that fallacy gone mad.

The real Robber Barons have been the politicians whoby uncountable regulations coupled with out-of-control spendingsap our economy and steal not just our wealth, but our freedoms.

Jim Douthit

West side
Re: the Nov. 5 guest column "Trump is right to ask if we're willing to stand up for Western civilization."

Trump didn't write the speech, and if you were somehow able to interview him on the subject, I doubt he could tell you what was in it. Don't expect a coherent policy response that aligns with it. Columnist Diego Rivera focuses on external threats, saying Trump is not wrong to suggest that Westerners ought to protect and preserve Western civilization. But he makes no mention of internal threats. Is Western civilization threatened more by ISIS and "other civilizations" or by its own inability to create policies that most reasonable people favor?

He mentions Manchester, Barcelona and Nice, but says nothing about Orlando, Las Vegas and now San Antonio. Nor does he mention the threat posed when large numbers of people believe in loopy conspiracy theories  some promoted by the president himself. Western civilization itself has a mixed history at best, spawning two disastrous world wars killing untold millions of people. Gandhi was once asked what he thought of Western civilization. He said he thought it would be a good idea.

Vern Lamplot

North side
From William Buckley to Allan Bloom to Rush Limbaugh, the right has long accused liberals of embracing moral relativism  the view that in ethical matters there exists no truth. According to the critique, liberals live-and-let-live attitude on a variety of issues, from abortion to euthanasia to drug legalization, has been underpinned by this belief that in moral issues no choice can be considered right or wrong.

The resulting inability to condemn one stance and praise another, so goes the charge, has been detrimental to the moral fabric of the nation.

In light of this longstanding critique of relativism, its been odd to see Republicans in recent days embrace the doctrine in their defense of chief of staff John Kellys remarks about slavery and the Civil War. Asked to comment about the controversy over the removal of Confederate statues, Kelly replied: It was always loyalty to state first back in those days. Now its different today. But the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War. And men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had to make their stand.

The moral relativist nature of these remarks could not be clearer. One tenet of moral relativism is that moral judgments are conditioned by their historical and cultural circumstances, and so cannot be judged outside of those circumstances. By contrast, for the moral absolutist, moral judgments are true in all times and places.

The Christian who believes that homosexuality is immoral does not think that its widespread practice in Greek and Roman society made it morally justified, nor does he conclude that the fact that an individual may have chosen homosexual behavior in good conscience relieves him from moral blame.

By contrast for Kelly and his defenders, the fact that advocates of slavery were acting on behalf of a dominant value scheme of the time (loyalty) and doing so in good conscience absolves them of moral censure. In other words, the moral judgment that is universally accepted as true today  that those who advocate slavery are moral monsters  is, according to this position, false when applied to those who advocated for slavery during the Civil War.

This, as I have already pointed out, is the definition of moral relativism.

Actually, this newfound moral relativism on the right is a natural extension of another doctrine it has embraced, what might be called epistemological relativism. Whereas moral relativism declares there is no truth in the ethical realm, epistemological relativism states that there exists no truth in the factual realm, and can be seen in everything from Donald Trumps ability to assert patently false claims such as that he saw thousands of people in New Jersey cheering after 9/11 to Kellyanne Conways world of alternative facts.

Now, I have no objection with the rights embrace of moral relativism. The fact that philosophers are still arguing about it some 2,500 years after Protagoras first espoused it demonstrates the doctrines staying power. But it seems not asking too much to insist it be consistent.

If holding a belief in good conscience is morally exculpatory, as in the case of those who advocated for slavery during the Civil War, this should save from condemnation those who support abortion rights in good conscience and a whole list of other moral positions that Republicans disagree with. Such a stance would not only assure logical coherence. It would go a long way to calming down the atmosphere that created the controversy over Kellys remarks in the first place.
Sunday, November 5, 2017, saw yet another entry into America's growing list of gun-related atrocities. This one follows close on the heels of the Las Vegas shootings where 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on the audience of a country music concert, killing over 50 and wounding up to 500 innocent people.

Sunday's attack took place at The First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas. The shooter, a white male aged 27, opened fire inside the church killing 26 of the congregation and wounding many more.

President trump, who is currently in the early stages of his tour of Asia, was quick to offer his support to victims and to thank the first responders who treated victims at the scene.

May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017

US gun laws

Once again, the issue of America's gun laws has reared its head. The National Rifle Association ( NRA) is a staunch and vocal supporter of the POTUS and has donated huge sums to Trump's campaign funds in his lead-up to the election. The second amendment, the right to bear arms, is trotted out every time there is another gun related crime of this magnitude, and in one extreme suggestion, the Attorney General of Texas proposed that one way of solving the problem of mass shootings like this would be for everyone to bring their guns to church.

TX Attorney General on Fox News says only way to stop mass shootings like this is for more people to bring their guns to church with them. pic.twitter.com/LVPqEu5ntY  Angelo Carusone (@GoAngelo) November 5, 2017

Trump's response

The POTUS refused once again to address the issue of gun crime saying that this is not an issue of gun crime but of 'mental health'.

Speaking here in Tokyo, Trump says now is not the time to talk about guns. Mental health is your issue here pic.twitter.com/ebBmOchDct  Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) November 6, 2017

Time after time the seriousness of the gun problem in America is brushed under the carpet. Trump dodged reporter's questions after the Stephen Paddock shooting by saying that now was not the time to look into US gun law.

Trump on Texas shooting and gun control: "It's a little bit soon to go into it." (He said this after Vegas shooting too)  Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 6, 2017

If now is not the time, then when will be the time? This attack was not perpetrated by a Muslim who had a grudge against the US, this was perpetrated by a young, white, US, male who took Bible classes at his local church and served in the US Air Force. Nothing in his past suggested that he would ever be capable of an act such as this.

But if this is indeed a mental health issue. So, what can be done to prevent it happening again? For one, Trump is attempting to dismantle Obamacare which offered affordable healthcare to thousands of Americans who would otherwise not have access to health insurance.

This included addressing issues of mental health.

It would appear that Trump, once again, as he did after the Las Vegas shootings, will be burying his head in the sand over US gun laws and placing the blame on mental health rather than addressing the real problem.
During the general election, Jeremy Corbyn spoke about the super-rich no longer being able to get away with having Offshore Trusts or companies. Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) he reasserted this mantra saying if a Labour Government comes to power he would go after those involved in tax evasion.

In his speech, he said a Labour government under his watch would tackle "a super-rich elite that holds taxation and the rest of us in contempt". With the release of the 'Paradise Papers,' it has shone a light on who owns what and where.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell speaking earlier said Theresa May had questions to ask over former Tory Treasurer Lord Ashcroft. Lord Ashcroft has donated millions to the Tory cause and McDonnell highlighted the alleged tax avoidance by the Tory Peer.

Lord Ashcroft gave up his non-dom status, although, allegedly, he still retains non-dom tax status in Belize.

It has been estimated that one offshore trust generating money for the peer was worth over 300 million alone.

BBC, Suddeutsche Zeitung and others investigate

The BBC, Suddeutsche Zeitung and others in the world of media have been conducting an investigation into the super-rich. It has shone a revealing light on the lives of these people, whether they be world leaders, businessmen or celebs.

It is indeed a very murky world just as the previously released 'Panama Papers' showed.

People like former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were implicated as were others in this report.

Lord Ashcroft's spokesman Alan Kilkenny told The Guardian the Tory Peer had done nothing wrong. Theresa May possibly worried by the Paradise papers said she supported the fact that the super-rich should pay their fair share.

However, when pressed further she refused to comment on the subject.

Corbyn to set up a new force in HMRC

If and when Mr Corbyn becomes the next occupant of No 10, he said he would set up a new force to deal with tax avoidance. It would be a force working within HMRC that would investigate suspected individuals and bring them to book if the evidence existed.

Corbyn in his speech to the CBI also said there was real public anger and consternation over this issue. People who work every day God sends to put food on the table and keep the lights on have right to be angry over this.

It is understandable they would be as Mr Corbyn said on Twitter there appeared to be one law for the super-rich and one law for the rest of the working population.
The British government are in a lot of trouble, as usual  this time, theyve landed themselves in hot water for doing nothing about the rich people avoiding taxes that was revealed by the release of the Paradise Papers. See, there are all of these offshore tax havens, which multinationals and billionaires can use in order to avoid paying the proper taxes, because the richer you are, the more money you have to give to the taxman, and they dont like that.

This tax avoidance by the wealthy, untouchable haves as revealed by the leak of the so-called Paradise Papers has international ramifications, which is why a lot of people are mad about it, but British Prime Minister Theresa May is refusing to let the scandal go to the stage of a public inquiry or open registers.

Those would be the proper steps to take in order to get justice, but rich people are immune to the law, apparently, and the Conservative Party will do anything to keep it that way.

Biggest tax scandal of this generation

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has described the leak of the Paradise Papers as the biggest tax scandal of this generation. Hes been demanding a public inquiry into the matter as the House of Commons was going insane yesterday, but May still refuses to do anything. Mays indifference to the matter has caused outrage in Westminster, Washington, and Brexit hub Brussels.

Officials in these cities are also ticked off at the list of rich people identified by the glorious Paradise Papers as having used these tax havens to avoid the system: the Queen, Wilbur Ross, Donald Trumps Secretary of Commerce, and the closest political partners of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Queen in particular is infuriating, because her entire income comes from our tax money, so for her to avoid tax when she is given millions of the taxpayers pounds for doing absolutely nothing every year is extremely cheeky.

May is still talking a big game when it comes to the flurry of questions about the Paradise Papers that have been thrown at her at the House of Commons.

She is saying that she wants there to be a greater transparency when it comes to tax avoidance and the 1% getting away with murder. She also said that her Cabinet would like the British people to pay the tax thats due. However, her lack of action has been a source of anger by many, since shes not going to launch a public inquiry and shes not going to open up registers for dodgy shell corporations and shady family trusts.

The Democrats in Washington are outraged

Officials from the left-leaning, equal opportunity supporting US political party, the Democratic Party, have been kicking off about the Paradise Papers. While the Republican Party love the idea of the 1% and the 99%, the Democrats are calling for the business dealings of Wilbur Ross to be investigated, since hes in the Presidents administration and the leaked documents show that he has ties to the son-in-law of a certain Mr. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.

Bernie Sanders, the guy who lost the Democratic nomination in last years Presidential election thanks to an unjust system within the party and would be the President of the United States right now if there was any justice in the world, is furious about the revelations that came to light in the Paradise Papers.

He called it an international oligarchy as there are just a handful of billionaires who own and control a significant part of the global economy. Sanders called for President Trumps tax adjustments to be put on hold until a full investigation into the tax havens described in the Paradise Papers is conducted.
Hollywood has become a hive of sexual assault and harassment recently, as men and women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein, James Toback, Kevin Spacey, and many more. Now, following that, more women have been opening up about Sexual Harassment within Parliament, leading to an equally scandalous situation in Westminster.

May and Corbyn have unexpectedly united

Prime Minister Theresa May has been in talks with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (her Hillary Clinton) and the Scottish National Partys Westminster-based leader, Iain Blackford, and they have reached an important step forward in resolving the unacceptable frequency of sexual harassment within Parliament.

There is now a new grievance procedure in place for staff, who now have new HR representatives they can talk to face-to-face following any such incidents. There is also an independent grievance process in place.

The union of May and Corbyn is unexpected, given their past contentions and the intense rivalry they shared during the general election campaign earlier this year. But they have now come across a common enemy and they are joining forces to tackle it.
It turns out that not only kids benefit from Halloween. Animals at the Warren Peace Sanctuary in Lake County, Canada will be feasting for around a month on pumpkins, after many local residents donated their holiday jack-o'-lanterns. These abandoned or unwanted former pets are in pumpkin heaven right about now.

Generous Halloween donations to animal shelter

The Warren Peace Sanctuary is home to around 650 unwanted or discarded family pets, including rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, hedgehogs, birds, and pot-bellied pigs. The majority are now enjoying chowing down on around 300 jack-o'-lanterns donated by kind locals, with the only exception being the ferrets.

Antoinette Monod, the owner of the shelter, reckons she doesnt know why, but the ferrets just dont seem to be interested in the free and abundant Halloween feast. However, Monod did tell The Daily Courier on Sunday (Nov. 5) that its no problem, as it just makes more food for the other furry and feathered residents.

This year saw the second appeal to residents to donate their left-over pumpkins following the Halloween holiday, but it turns out they received around double the number that came in last year. Monod said she believes people want to see their jack-o'-lanterns going to a good cause, rather than just throwing them out.

Shelter started with a couple of bunnies

Monod started the Warren Peace Sanctuary around 10 years ago, which is located at the Swiss Village Resort, belonging to her family, at Wood Lake.

She started with just a couple of bunnies but now has around 300 rabbits residing at the animal shelter.

She said she initially started with just the rabbits, but she was concerned that residents might call her the crazy bunny lady, so she extended the scope of the sanctuary, taking in other abandoned pets, saying she is now certifiably crazy! Now there is a grand total of around 650 animals of various species in house.

Obviously, with so many animals, monthly feeding costs are high at about $1,200 and on top of this, veterinarian bills can pile up too. The shelter is a registered non-profit organization, running entirely on donations, and has six official volunteers and several others who help out on occasion. Launching the drive to attract leftover pumpkins from the Halloween holidays has certainly been a huge help, but they are still seeking help in the form of food and other items, listed on their official website. The shelter is also selling an impressive Boys with Buns 2018 calendar, which is sure to impress the ladies!
While Donald Trump is a member of the Republican Party, he's not been shy about calling out members on his own side when he sees fit. After first targeting Bob Corker on Twitter, the senator from Tennessee decided to responded, much to the chagrin of the president.

Trump on Corker

Not long after Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president in the Republican primary back in June 2015, members of the party were quick to keep their distance from the former host of "The Apprentice." Throughout the primary and later the general election, more establishment members of the GOP appeared uncomfortable with Trump leading the party into the future.

Following Trump's win over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last November, those who had reservations about Trump were forced to fall in line. However, Republican Sen. Bob Corker has not been one to hold back his thoughts in regards to Trump and the White House due to giving his notice that he would be retiring from Congress at the end of his term. With Corker increasing his criticism of Trump as of late, the president hit back at the senator during a series of tweets. Corker later replied, which resulted in the president firing back once again on October 8.

Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

On Sunday morning, Donald Trump took to Twitter and accused Bob Corker of retiring only after he allegedly "begged" the president for his endorsement.

The commander in chief went on to blame Corker for voting for the Iran deal, which Trump has been highly critical of, before stating that he "didn't have the guts to run" for his re-election. Responding to Trump, Corker compared the White House to an "adult daycare center."

President Trump's claim that Republican Sen. Bob Corker "begged" him for an endorsement is false, two sources say https://t.co/vxyladsJXL pic.twitter.com/IObML4ixCU  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 8, 2017

Just hours later and Donald Trump went back on the attack with another tweet.

"Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it," Trump wrote. Not stopping there, Trump continued, tweeting, "We need Health Care, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!"

Moving forward

As Donald Trump continues his war of words with Bob Corker, the president has many other issues facing him in the White House.

The president has been unable to convince enough Republicans to approve his plans for health care and tax reform, while the rift between the United States and North Korea hangs in the balance of uncertainty. Trump's inability to move the chain on major issues has resulted in a historically low approval rating with the American people, which has dropped to just 35 percent in the latest polls.
Over the weekend, Donald Trump left the United States to kick off a 12-day trip to various countries in Asia. After sending out multiple tweets on the matter, the president's critics wasted no time firing back.

Trump on Twitter

Once it became apparent that Donald Trump was going to be a serious candidate for president, many questioned how he would handle to the job on the world stage. During the 2016 presidential election, Trump would often cause controversy with his questionable campaign style and rhetoric, which included lashing out at the mainstream media, his political opponents, Hollywood celebrities, and other world leaders.

Once the former host of "The Apprentice" locked in the presidency with a win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November, reality set in that a new brand era of politics was entering the White House. In the 10 months that's he's been in office, Trump has been surrounded by a constant stream of scandal and drama, ranging from a wide variety of issues, including the ongoing investigation into whether or not Russia hacked the general election in his favor. In addition to issues at home, Trump has caused trouble around the world, including his war of words with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. With trouble not far behind, Trump took off on his longest trip to date over the weekend, where he landed first in Tokyo.

As seen on his Twitter account on November 6, Trump appeared to be pleased with how his trip has been going so far.

My visit to Japan and friendship with PM Abe will yield many benefits, for our great Country. Massive military & energy orders happening+++!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

Taking to Twitter on Monday night, Donald Trump decided to give an update on how his foreign trip to Asia has started off.

"My visit to Japan and friendship with PM Abe will yield many benefits, for our great Country. Massive military & energy orders happening+++!" Trump tweeted out.

Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman. We will figure it all out!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

"Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman," Donald Trump posted, before stating, "We will figure it all out!" "I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," he went on to wrote, while adding, "Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!"

....Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

Critics respond

Not long after Donald Trump sent out his round of tweets about his time so far in Asia, those who oppose the president spoke out.

"Really, we would a more graceful, dignified, and worthy nation if you stayed away," Howard Forman tweeted.

It's so evident that you colluded with Putin. It's also ridiculous that you plan on meeting him again without ever signing the sanctions bill into effect. Congress put in on your desk over a month ago to be signed.  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) November 6, 2017

What kind of shady deal did you send Jared to make on his secret trip?  B. Shurtz (@sewer__rat) November 7, 2017

Same to you. You're terribly harsh, worse than Harvey Weinstein. I don't care how many people have faith in you, you've done EVIL things!!  Gabgirl12000 (@gabgirl12000) November 7, 2017

"What do you plan to talk to Putin about?

Do you plan on having a third party attend as well or will it be secret?" one tweet asked in reference to the planned meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. "I would like to apologize to President Moon for having to endure Trump! Most of us voted against him. Trump does not represent who we are!" another tweet stated.

If the Japanese people like you so much maybe theyll just let you stay there! That would make America great again!  David (@David75219951) November 6, 2017

So is Trump himself! Milking America's hard workers for years! But I guess the Saudi King paid Billions to Trump so he is cool! #Pathetic!!!  Yehya Asker (@YehyaAsker) November 7, 2017

"Kind of like you have been doing here for years!?" an additional tweet stated, in response to Donald Trump's tweet about other countries "milking" Saudi Arabia.

"If the Japanese people like you so much maybe theyll just let you stay there! That would make America great again!" yet another Twitter user wrote. As more replies were posted to the president's feed, it became apparent that many Americans were not going to hold back their thoughts at anytime in the near future.
Kentucky GOP Senator Rand Paul's attacker, Rene Boucher, 59, worked with Paul when they both were practicing physicians in Kentucky before Paul was elected to the United States Senate. The Kentucky Senator was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and was re-elected in 2016. Mr. Paul's injuries, first thought to be nothing more than a bruised face and injured rib, have turned out to be quite serious. In addition to five rib fractures, the two-term Senator also sustained lung contusions. His injuries are problematic enough that it still is unknown when he will be able to return to work in Washington, D.C..

The attack

The attack occurred last Friday while Paul was mowing his lawn in Bowling Green, Ky.. Allegedly, Mr. Boucher approached Paul from behind and tackled him, causing him to sustain the aforementioned injuries. Although the exact motive for the attack still is unknown, it allegedly emanated from a longtime personal dispute between the two men and was "trivial." The Capitol Police are investigating the attack because attacking a member of Congress, even for personal reasons, is a federal crime. However, if the attack turns out to be politically motivated, which is highly doubtful, the consequences for Boucher could be a lot more serious.

How is it measured?

The question that arises is: How does one determine if the attack was personal or a federal crime?

The answer lies in what was said and what was happening at the time the incident occurred. If, in fact, Boucher said something personal to Paul when attacking him, or did not say anything at all, then most likely the attack will be prosecuted as a personal matter. If, on the other hand, it turns out that Boucher said something about Paul's role as a Senator, or made a comment about Paul's positions on the issues, then the attack most likely will be addressed as a federal crime.

If the latter scenario comes to fruition, then Boucher will be looking at some serious prison time.

Doug Stafford, Rand Paul's senior adviser, discussed the fact that the attack is very serious and that it warrants investigation by both state and federal authorities. Stafford stated, It is a pending, serious criminal matter involving state and federal authorities.

We wont have any further comments at this time, according to ABC News on Monday.

Twitter reaction against Boucher

Overall, Twitter reactions to the news that Paul had sustained multiple, serious injuries in the attack were against Boucher.

EaglePundit stated that Boucher's attack constituted "attempted murder."

Alleged unhinged liberal Rene Boucher was Rand Paul attacker. 4 broken ribs from blind side attack. Attempted MURDER https://t.co/cdUU3P92H7  EaglePundit  (@RealEagleBites) November 6, 2017

Harry Enten stated that the attack on Paul "should be a big story:"

I know we got limited news attention/scope, but I think this Rand Paul attack should be a big story...  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) November 6, 2017

Breezus Chrima Edition called the attack upon Paul "especially heinous:"

No one should be assaulted, but this attack on Rand Paul, one of the most important politicians of our time is especially heinous  BreezusChrimaEdition (@braedon_welsh) November 4, 2017

TruckMyAd stated that Paul does free surgery on third world kids and that it is "inexcusable" to attack him:

"Rand Paul" does eye surgery on third world kids for free. He also is NOT right wing, but libertarian. It is inexcusable to attack him.  TruckMyAd (@truckvegas) November 4, 2017

Jean Grey 2017 stated that "violence is never acceptable against anyone:"

Violence is NEVER acceptable against anyone. We must argue policies, not attack. Wishing @RandPaul the best, despite our disagreements. pic.twitter.com/wjHv5jx5B2  Jean Grey 2017 (@2017_grey) November 4, 2017

Trump's self-pardon

In the meantime, GOP President Donald Trump is researching ways to pardon himself should it become necessary.

So far, three members of the Trump Team have been indicted, one of whom has pleaded guilty already. More indictments are on the way, and the likelihood of an attempt by Trump to pardon himself is drawing closer day by day.
Patrick Hannon, Ruben Ramirez Cardenas, Jack Gordon Green, and Alva Campbell, Jr., have three things in common. Each man is a convicted murderer condemned to die by lethal injection unless his lawyer sways the United States Supreme Court to grant a stay of execution this month. Another man who is slated to die is Scott Raymond Dozier, who stands apart from the rest. Dozier volunteered for execution.

Even though Dozier expressed his death wish to Nevada Judge Jennifer Togliatti, he has his defenders, including the ACLU. Much ado has been made of his pending execution scheduled for November 14.

Today, the Nevada Attorney Generals office is expected to inform Judge Togliatti how the state plans to proceed.

Flaws in carrying out capital punishment even when condemned inmate volunteers

Throughout the country, news organizations have covered what may prove to flaws in delivering capital punishment in the execution chamber at Ely State Prison in eight days. Not only has the death drug cocktail never been administered in the United States, but the states Chief Medical Officer resigned at 8:30 AM on November 1, according to USA Today. Under the states law, the Chief Medical Officer has the legal mandate to advise the Department of Corrections on executions.

What is the state to do? Thats the question Judge Togliatti wants to know today in Clark County District Court.

Dr. John DiMuro was doing as the law required when the state decided on its lethal injection protocol: the sedative diazepam, the painkiller fentanyl, and the anesthetic cisatracurium. Enter, the ACLU, challenging the first-time use of the death cocktail designated for Dozier.

Judge cited reasons killer could tout to rescind death wish

Please bear in mind that Dozier is mentally competent and has been evaluated. Judge Togliatti made sure of that before signing his death warrant. Dozier was found capable of making the determination to die by lethal injection. The judge even discussed with Dozier the possibility of a painful process when the death drugs are administered.

She didnt stop there. The judge was also straightforward with him about some botched executions.

No matter what the judge cited, as reasons for Dozier to possibly reconsider and rescind his desire to die, the condemned inmate repeatedly informed Judge Togliatti that his resolve remains unswerving. That the lethal injection protocol may cause Dozier to suffocate to death has prompted the ACLU to challenge the convicted killers execution, as the Reno Gazette-Journal has reported.

Dozier is not unlike his counterpart-killers scheduled for execution. They each have their defense teams who are set to pose legal challenges in an effort to spare their lives. After all, that is their job. They are not going to relent until absolutely all hope is lost.

Carrying out capital punishment is truth in sentencing

Where America has it wrong is people making the demand to sanitize and abolish the death penalty. There are valid reasons, not even barbaric ones, for the final act that fulfills truth in sentencing. It is a guarantee that convicted murderers will not walk out a revolving door free to kill yet again.

Lets look at Torrance C. Epps, for instance. Like convicted killer Alva Campbell, Jr., Epps is from Ohio. What sets them apart is that Epps murdered three people in 1973, he was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison, but was paroled in 14 years and escaped one month later. After he lived as a fugitive for eight years, he was sent back to prison and was paroled again in 2003.

On January 19, Epps murdered again. He has killed four people. In return, he was sentenced on October 30 to serve another 18 years in prison. How many people is one person allowed to murder? How many years will he really serve on his current sentence before he is free to kill again? These are legitimate questions that people are raising.

Killers provided the basis for executions

While death penalty opponents and killers defenders concern themselves with trying to spare murderers lives, it is the lives they took that concern capital punishment proponents. The condemned inmates gave society the reason to carry out the sentencing. The crimes they committed go against the imaginable for most people.

While the ACLU is focused on whether Dozier suffers death by suffocation, lets not forget that he not only murdered two men, he dismembered them. He volunteered to die by lethal injection. That people want to stand in his way of fulfilling the destiny he decided is something that is angering people who have survived the murders of their loved ones.

Death penalty holds killers accountable

Conrad Durante, for instance, founded the Facebook group Advocates for the Death Penalty for Those that Murder. His take on the death penalty is that is what makes killers accountable for their actions. As Durante asked rhetorically, To not punish the guilty is that the same as punishing the innocent!!!

Durante, whose son was murdered, is enjoined by additional parents whose relatives were murdered.

Tom Johnson, for example, responded to news about Dozier and the ACLUs stance. Johnson stated, Cruel and unusual punishment is what my wife and myself have had to go through since my son was murdered.

His son was Nicholas Johnson. He was 23-years-old when he was murdered in Bowman, ND. He said, I am sick of our justice system right now. His sons killers were caught in August 2016. The jury trial isnt set to commence until February 2018.

Parents surviving murdered children have their say on the legal system

Debby Pilkerton Adkins is also surviving a son who was murdered. She stated that she doesnt want others to live the life of the Parent of a murdered child. She further conveyed how many parents who have experienced such a traumatic loss feel.

Yes were angry. We are also sad, depressed, sleep-deprived insomniacs, alcoholics, drug addicts, over eaters, bulimics, and whatever other dysfunctional thing you can think of.

Survivors of homicide Victims believe that the legal system has failed them. Durante noted, The murderer becomes the new victim. He stated that the laws do not allow the murderer to be harmed in any way whatsoever.

Even when cases make news, and when executions are pending, it is not the victims who are remembered first. It is the killers. It is the murderers names and faces put before the public, though it is often possible to share photos of the victims. It is easier to feel for someone whose face is seen and remembered.

Durante summarized that murderers must not suffer like their victims. They must be respected. It is a sad day in America, he stated, adding that laws passed in regard to capital punishment have incensed America.

Scott Raymond Dozier told Judge Togliatti repeatedly that he wants to die by lethal injection. He is competent to make that decision. Why make him suffer, languishing in prison a moment longer than he wants  or deserves?
South Sutherland, Texas has become the latest victim in what is becoming a commonplace act of violence across America. The First Baptist Church of South Sutherland suffered the latest tragedy resulting from an unstable and mentally deranged man. 26 lives, ranging from 8 months old and up were lost this time. The ability of these individuals to obtain weapons in America is the devastating issue our country faces.

There is a history of mentally ill mass shooters

As I began to research this story, I came to the realization that America has a dark and ugly problem.

In America, we do not handle the Mentally Ill correctly, nor do we keep track of these individuals who find it necessary to solve their problems through mass shootings. Almost every shooter in recent history has had some record of mental illness or crimes that should have disallowed them from obtaining weapons. However, in America, we can't even stop those who can't buy a weapon from finding them. We have a serious black market issue in our country that makes it easy for anyone with money and the right connection to find a weapon for ownership. The weapon used most often is the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Devin Kelly had a history. He had previously been arrested for domestic violence and for beating a dog.

Devin had previously been court-martialed by the Air Force for fracturing his baby stepson's skull and physically abusing his first wife, Tessa. In 2014, in Colorado Springs, Colorado he was arrested for animal cruelty after chasing a dog down and beating it with his fists. He was simply able to pay a fine to avoid jail time for that matter.

In Texas, he had a small history of driving infractions.

The information on Devin Kelly's past ties into a larger problem facing America today. Mental illness has seemed to sky-rocket across the country, as these mass killings become more prevalent.

What can America do about its mentally deranged, violent citizens?

Every time there is a mass shooting people argue that we need more gun control laws.

Unfortunately, these folks are not considering the fact that guns aren't what kill, just as the massive amount of auto accident deaths are not caused by cars. The mentally ill are what the problem is across America. Even as a Democrat myself, I do not resonate that we need more gun laws. What we need is a database of previously violent and abusive citizens that can be used to keep guns out of their hands. It has come time for our Congress to have a serious conversation about how to handle these mentally deranged individuals.

The Devin Kelly's of America are too numerous to count, and they find ways to get their weapons. The black market of gun sales in America needs to be challenged. The ATF is not doing their job correctly.

Also, these mentally ill citizens need to be housed and monitored. Of course, this is a problem around the world, but America seems to be leading the way in mass killings. There is something to say for the countries such as Australia that have put stricter gun laws in place. Their shootings have decreased. I am not sure that countries like Australia face America's dilemma of the black market and the mentally ill. However, something must be done to ease the pain we are feeling today, and every day, innocent lives are lost.
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has sent a clear message that the old way of doing business and trying to keep Saudi Arabia under wraps are over. The prince, who is only 32, is one of the modern educated men in the Kingdom. He has a clear view of making the Saudi nation break the shackles that have bound it. He wants to go forward, but he has realized that he cannot have his own way in case he did not break the power of the princes who ran the country almost like a fiefdom.

According to the New York Times, he has ordered the arrest of 38 prominent businessmen, including 11 princes.

This was nothing short of a coup and took his opponents by surprise. There is a possibility that he acted to forestall a coup against him.

Crown prince

The Crown Prince is also deputy prime minister and minister of defense. His elevation as the heir apparent did give rise to some resistance and rumors are that the top royal princes who met were not in favor. Saudi Arabia has been ruled like a medieval kingdom, where the son continued to hold the position his father held. The late King Abdullah headed the National Guard for decades, and his son Miteb bin Abdullah took over once he passed away. The kingdom has many such examples.

Breaking fiefdom

Crown Prince Mohammed has broken this fiefdom and in a lightning move, consolidated his power.

His first move resulted in the removal of Prince Miteb, who was head of the head of the National Guard. He was the son of the last king and a powerful figure. In another move, billionaire international investor Alwaleed bin Talal was arrested. All the arrested persons are being kept in five-star hotels and forbidden to leave the country.

Al Jazeera News commented on this.

The future

Crown Prince Mohammed must be complimented for his actions. He has spoken of a more modern Saudi Arabia and has said that he wanted a moderate form of Islam, which is open to the world and other religions. He has also given many rights to women, that for decades were never considered.

But political liberalization is not on the cards. Many have been arrested for what may seem trivial offenses against the monarchy.

The message is unambiguous that he wants an absolute monarchy so that he can mold Saudi Arabia the way he wants it. It will take a few years to assess whether he was successful. However, there is a fly in the appointment as the prince seems to have missed an important point, that in the 21st century, absolute monarchy is an anachronism.
Workers package finished products at a plant of Dow AgroSciences, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical, in Nantong, Jiangsu province. Dow Chemical has hinged its growth prospects in China on the country's Belt and Road Initiative. HUANG ZHE/XINHUA

Dow Chemical, the world's second largest chemical company, has hinged its growth prospects in China to the country's Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative is attracting more and more foreign companies to follow the "go west" trend by opening plants and offices in inland regions and Dow does not want to be left behind. The US firm plans to start commercial production from its new unit in Chengdu, Sichuan province by the middle of next year, according to a top company official.

"Belt and Road is extremely exciting. It will open up new markets And I think it will bring tremendous innovation, tremendous growth to the western part of China," Jim McIlvenny, president of Dow Asia-Pacific, told China Daily.

According to McIlvenny, the coating materials plant that is being set up in Chengdu will generate annual sales of 600 million yuan ($90.6 million), when in full capacity. In addition to the Chengdu plant, Dow is also evaluating other opportunities in the western regions.

"What is happening with the Belt and Road is that they are going to solve logistics issues, so we are putting the infrastructure in place. Economic development will automatically come," he said.

A report jointly published by Baker McKenzie and Silk Road Associates earlier stated that new Belt and Road Initiative-related projects could generate value of more than $350 billion over the next five years.

McIlvenny believes that the ongoing fourth industrial revolution would need the chemical industry to be more adaptive and innovative.

For example, Dow's cooperation with Chinese bicycle-sharing brand Mobike for developing a new innovative tire represents how rapidly the market is developing.

"If you and I were working on a new product development 20 years ago in Dow, that process will take one to two years we can often do in three weeks (now), and that is the speed companies like Mobike want to operate. Twelve months is a lifetime to them, and they want it in three weeks," said McIlvenny, adding that Dow has to change its processes and capability to get done what was needed to be done in a short time frame.

Dow's cooperation with Mobike started in November 2016 and the two sides developed and commercialized the polyurethane tire solutions in June. To date, the solution has already been used in about 2 million bikes.

According to Dow, compared to traditional polyurethane insert tires, the pure polyurethane solid tire solution helps reduce overall weight by up to 30 percent.

The sharing economy is taking shape in China by collaboration with a variety of businesses that range from shared bikes, shared power banks, shared cars, to shared books and shared gym capsules. The market size of the shared economy has surged 76.4 percent to 3.9 trillion yuan in 2016, said a report from China E-Commerce Research Center. Its promising outlook has attracted a wide range of enterprises and investment.

Dow's 600 scientists in its Shanghai R&D center are its largest team outside the US, and it has been doing global research in China for Dow around the world.

The company's China operations witnessed a volume growth of over 10 percent last year and China remained the US firm's second largest international market.
CAIRO -- Egypt on Monday reaffirmed its support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, while calling for increased Chinese investment in the most populous Arab country.

"Egypt supports the Belt and Road Initiative that connects China with the world's continents through massive networks of land and sea routes," Ibrahim Mahlab, Egyptian president's assistant for strategic and national projects, told a forum in Cairo.

Describing the China-Egypt ties as "strong, unique and sustainable," Mahlab, also a former prime minister, expected the initiative to "restructure the traditional models of world trade."

Egyptian and Chinese officials, businessmen, representatives of financial and economic institutions as well as a delegation from the Communist Party of China on Monday attended the forum, entitled "Belt and Road... Together for Better Future."

The participants at the forum, co-organized by Sharaf Foundation for Sustainable Development and the Chinese embassy in Cairo, discussed ways to boost China-Egypt economic, trade and cultural relations and the available investment opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative, officially called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims at building trade and infrastructure networks along the ancient trade routes to link Asia with Africa and Europe.

"Being a central point between Africa and Asia, Egypt is also a focal axis of Arab and African trade," Mahlab said, highlighting the significance of Egypt's strategic location for the Belt and Road Initiative.

He noted that Egypt has carried out massive infrastructure projects over the past three years that have greatly upgraded the country's energy supplies and road networks which could help future investors in the country.

Egypt has shown keen interest in joining the Belt and Road Initiative at a time when it is undertaking an ambitious economic reform.

Cairo hosted in April the first round of the annual Belt and Road Industrial and Commercial Conference, under the slogan of "Egypt ... Your Gateway to BRICA," referring to the Belt and Road Industrial and Commercial Alliance.

The conference was attended by some 150 Egyptian businessmen and 160 others from the BRICA states, in addition to major financial institutions including China Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, African Development Bank and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Egypt also sent a high-profile ministerial delegation to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that was held in mid-May in Beijing.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, head of Sharaf Foundation for Sustainable Development and chairman of the forum, said that Egypt has distinguished potentials to contribute to the success of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Egypt has a unique geographic location that makes it a main meeting point between the east and west, and the south and north through its Suez Canal corridor that it currently develops to become a pioneering economic and industrial zone rather than just a key waterway that connects different parts of the world," Sharaf told the forum.

He said that the 60-year-old China-Egypt relationship is "a model of successful and distinguished ties between two influential countries in their regions, referring to the elevation of the bilateral ties to the level of "comprehensive strategic partnership."

Sharaf said the forum will shed light on the Egyptian and Chinese experiences in development and construction, while serving as a platform to exchange expertise and explore the investment opportunities in various fields in Egypt.

He also hailed the participation of Chinese companies in some mega projects in Egypt, including the construction of a new administrative capital city and the development of the electricity and energy sector, in addition to their projects in the field of transport.

China's TEDA corporation, one of the oldest and largest industrial developers of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), is currently developing an industrial zone of 7.23 sq km in Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast, whose first phase was already completed and has attracted 68 enterprises in different fields of production.

Wang Xiufeng, head of the Chinese delegation, described the forum as "an important measure to promote cooperation between China and Egypt through civil society channels."

"Egypt has a strategic location, which is a very obvious advantage that makes it a natural partner of China in the Belt and Road Initiative," Wang told the forum.

"The Belt and Road Initiative provides a key platform for China and Egypt to share advantages, achieve common development, and promote cooperation between the two countries," Wang added.
BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent condolences to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on a deadly shooting in Texas, which left 27 people dead and injured at least 20 others.

In his message of condolences, Xi expressed his deep sorrow to the innocent victims, extended sincere sympathy to the injured and the families of the victims, and wished the injured a quick recovery.

The deadly shooting attack happened on Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, about 35 km southeast of San Antonio, Texas.
Leaders of the 16 nations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will meet for the first time since 2012 at the 12th East Asia Summit in Manila next week, which Premier Li Keqiang will attend, a senior official said.

Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, said China will support the leading role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the proposed free trade agreement talks and for their successful conclusion at an early date.

The 16 leaders will evaluate progress and exchange views on negotiations, which are at a crucial stage, he said.

The meeting was proposed by ASEAN and the Philippines, this year's ASEAN chair, he said. China continues to support the role RCEP can play in regional development and prosperity.

Li will attend a series of high-level meetings in the Philippines from Nov 12 to 16, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Sunday.

Li will also attend the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, and the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting.

Chen Xiaodong, assistant foreign minister, said China and ASEAN will formulate a China-ASEAN 2030 vision.

From January to July, trade between China and ASEAN increased 14.5 percent year-on-year, making China ASEAN's biggest trade partner for eight consecutive years.

Some 30 agreements will be signed at the China-ASEAN leaders' meetings in areas such as connectivity, food safety, poverty alleviation and anti-corruption. It also will be the first trip by a Chinese premier to the Philippines in 10 years, Chen said. Li will hold talks with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Chen said. They will also attend ceremonies for several infrastructure projects that China subsidized.

Chen said that China and ASEAN are both pressing ahead consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and expect to announce positive progress during the meetings.
Workers install wiring in an electric bus at a BYD factory in Lancaster, California, in September 2016. ZHANG CHAOQUN/XINHUA Treaty would provide protection for both countries' investment

Despite US President Donald Trump's lambasting of a variety of trade deals, experts believe that a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between China and the United States could still be concluded in the coming years.

China and the US accelerated BIT negotiations in the last two years of the Obama administration, but still fell short of reaching an agreement.

Colin Grabow, a policy analyst at Washington-based Cato Institute, said the good news was that US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer has not shut the door on the BIT, but indicated that there were still some issues to clear up before moving on to a BIT.

"So they can move on these issues maybe the US and China can get the BIT done by the end of Trump's four years," Grabow told China Daily ahead of Trump's trip to Asia. "That would be nice to see."

Asked at his confirmation hearing in March whether the Trump administration would pursue negotiations with China for a BIT, Lighthizer said the Trump administration places a high priority on utilizing a broad range of tools to ensure that China treats the US, US exports and US companies fairly with respect to trade and investment.

"We will be reviewing the full range of potential tools, including the US-China bilateral investment treaty negotiation, to assess the best path for the administration to achieve this objective," he said.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the US-China Business Council (USCBC) in June that a BIT with China is on the Trump administration's agenda, even though it is not a top priority.

The Trump administration, after withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has been busy renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS, as well as reexamining other trade deals which Trump described as "horrible" or a "disaster".

Mireya Solis and David Dollar of the Brookings Institution noted in an Asia economic policy paper that it would not be easy to reach a BIT with China, but continuing the negotiations was important.

Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said Trump should support the BIT because he prefers a bilateral deal, saying "it is a good deal for America".

In the past years, the USCBC, which represents more than 200 US companies, has called on both the Obama and the Trump administrations to conclude a BIT with China.

A BIT would provide protection for both countries' foreign investment. While US companies would gain greater access to the Chinese market, especially in the services sector, the growing number of Chinese investors would also enjoy fair treatment in the US.
A train conductor checks cargo boxes that are being transported by bullet train in Jinan, Shandong province, during last November's Singles Day shopping spree. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's railway department will start a new service to speed up the movement of goods during the upcoming Singles Day online shopping spree, in answer to the growing demand for logistics services.

From Nov 11 to 20, the railway department will provide "storage to storage" service to e-commerce businesses and express delivery companies, according to a statement released by China Railway Corp, the national railway operator, on Monday.

Railways usually provide "station to station" service, transporting goods from one station to another.

Singles Day, which falls on Nov 11, is the world's largest online shopping festival. Last year, e-commerce giant Alibaba's retail platform, Tmall, received 657 million orders on Nov 11 worth a total of more than 120 billion yuan ($17.6 billion).

The online shopping spree challenges delivery services. Customers have complained in the past that the deliveries were delayed.

To answer the growing demand, a fast service will be provided by the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway this year, with a promise to deliver goods to customers in 10 hours.

The service will rely on the "Fuxing" bullet train that runs 350 kilometers per hour and has reduced travel time between Beijing and Shanghai to four and a half hours. The company called the service the fastest express delivery service in China.

A bullet train on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway will form a long-term partnership with e-commerce and delivery companies to transport goods, the company said.

CRC will also set up special storage spaces to facilitate transport services for the shopping spree.

The company launched the service for Singles Day last year. Some 170 bullet trains were used for express deliveries from Nov 11 to 20 last year, stopping at 505 cities. As with last year, services including same-day arrival, next morning arrival and arrival in one day will be offered.

Last year, the railway department carried out bullet train express deliveries in cities having stops along the high-speed lines.

Across China, 505 cities have stops along high-speed railways, including big cities and rural areas.

China has the world's most extensive high-speed rail network, with 22,000 km of track currently in use.

The total length of China's high-speed rail will reach 38,000 km by 2025, and 45,000 km by 2030, according to a plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission in July last year.
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Workers install wiring in an electric bus at a BYD factory in Lancaster, California, in September 2016. Zhang Chaoqun / Xinhua

Despite US President Donald Trump's lambasting of a variety of trade deals, experts believe that a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between China and the United States could still be concluded in the coming years.

China and the US accelerated BIT negotiations in the last two years of the Obama administration but still fell short of reaching an agreement.

Colin Grabow, a policy analyst at Washington-based Cato Institute, said the good news was that US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer has not shut the door on the BIT, but indicated that there were still some issues to clear up before moving on to a BIT.

"So they can move on these issues maybe the US and China can get the BIT done by the end of Trump's four years," Grabow told China Daily ahead of Trump's trip to Asia. "That would be nice to see."

Asked at his confirmation hearing in March whether the Trump administration would pursue negotiations with China for a BIT, Lighthizer said the Trump administration places a high priority on utilizing a broad range of tools to ensure that China treats the US, its exports and companies fairly with respect to trade and investment.

"We will be reviewing the full range of potential tools, including the US-China bilateral investment treaty negotiation, to assess the best path for the administration to achieve this objective," he said.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the US-China Business Council (USCBC) in June that a BIT with China is on the Trump administration's agenda, even though it isn't a top priority.

The Trump administration, after withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has been busy renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS, as well as re-examining other trade deals that Trump described as "horrible" or a "disaster".

Mireya Solis, David Dollar and Jonathan Stromseth of the Brookings Institution noted in an Asia economic policy paper for Trump's trip that it would not be easy to reach a BIT with China, but continuing the negotiations was important.

In past years, the USCBC, which represents more than 200 US companies doing business in China, has called on both the Obama and the Trump administrations to conclude a BIT with China.

A BIT would provide protection for both countries' foreign investment. While US companies would gain greater access to the Chinese market, especially in the services sector, the growing number of Chinese investors would also enjoy fair treatment in the US.

According to a report by New York-based Rhodium Group and the National Committee on US-China Relations, the annual growth of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the US averaged 32 percent from 2010 to 2015. In 2016, it jumped to $46 billion, a 200 percent increase from the previous record in 2015.

The report shows that Chinese-owned companies directly employ 141,000 American workers. The numbers for indirect employment are estimated in the tens of thousands.

US governors and mayors have shown great enthusiasm for wooing Chinese investors. But politicians in Washington often politicize Chinese FDI.

In a press briefing on Oct 30 on Trump's trip to China, Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai complained that the US often uses unspecified national security as an excuse to block Chinese investment. "Is this going from opening up towards going backward?" he asked.

Cui's concerns are widely shared. Daniel Rosen and Thilo Hanemann of the Rhodium Group, which monitors Chinese FDI in the US, wrote in a report on Nov 3 that deal risk is magnified by the complex political mix that has been stirred up in Washington.

The report said businesses are reporting with increasing frustration that the national security reviews at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency panel that reviews the national security implications of foreign investments, are taking much longer than before, with the greatest impact on Chinese investors.

Meanwhile, the US Congress is considering new legislation to increase CFIUS scrutiny and expand its scope, in response to perceived security risks related to Chinese high-tech investments.

Lawmakers leading this effort, including John Cornyn, a US senator from Texas, intend to introduce bills for debate in the coming weeks, according to the Rhodium report.

"The economic nationalists who shaped the messages which got Trump elected are highly allergic to Chinese FDI, no matter how private and low-tech," the report said.

In its annual report to Congress published in September, CFIUS said Chinese deals made up 29 percent of the 143 transactions it reviewed in 2015, the highest number among all nations.

On Sept 13, Trump issued an executive order blocking investment firm Canyon Bridge Capital, which involves Chinese investors, from acquiring US firm Lattice Semiconductor Corp out of concerns for national security.

The case marked the fourth time in 30 years that a US president has blocked a transaction out of national security concerns. All four cases have involved Chinese investors.

Rosen and Thiloman of Rhodium said that in their upcoming meetings, Trump and Xi could help clear up some of the uncertainties and re-establish a positive momentum for two-way FDI flow.

"Chinese FDI should be welcomed," said Grabow. "There is legitimate national concern, but unfortunately in this country, we also have a history of using national security as a cover for protectionism."

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
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It is said that children are a gift from God. But giving birth to a baby and providing proper care for him or her is another matter.

Do you believe that a couple under thirty years old from Ha Noi has over five children at present?

Nguyen Thi Hong and her husband, who reside in Ha Nois outlying district of Quoc Oai, have eight children. The oldest child is 12 years old while the youngest one is less than a month.

She said she doesnt have any bad feelings or morning sickness during her pregnancies. The increasing size of her belly made her think she was gaining weight; she often hasnt discovered her pregnancies until she is five or eight months along.

It might be my destiny, Hong said, adding that the couple had discussed contraceptive methods, but she always got pregnant during breastfeeding time.

Contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices are not suitable for her, she said.

The couple thought they couldnt have more children after Hong had one part of an ovary cut off, but she got pregnant after the surgery. On average, she gives birth to a baby every 18 months.

When the parents go to work, the seven children have to take care themselves. o Thi Dung, the oldest child, who was born in 2006, picks up the children from kindergarten and does housework like cooking meals and cleaning the house.

Vegetable and rice are the familys regular food, as they dont have enough money to buy fish and meat.

The family depends on the fathers work at a construction site with a monthly salary of VN3 million (US$132).

As one of the poorest families in the commune, Hong had to ask her mother-in-law take care of her baby so she could go back to work 10 days after giving birth.

Hong said the couple is considering male sterilization in an effort to stop the endless circle of poverty for the family.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietjet will give away 500,000 tickets priced from only zero ong from November 8-10 and November 14-16 to welcome the most beautiful festival season of the year.

The promotional tickets will be available from noon to 2pm on the website, www.vietjetair.com, and will be applicable on all international routes to Seoul and Busan in South Korea, Kaoshiung, Taipei, Taichung and Tainan in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Yangon in Myanmar and Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

The flights will run from December 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018, excepting for the HCM City-Chiang Mai route, which will be officially operational from December 12, 2017, and the HCM City-Phuket route from December 15, 2017.

The current period is considered as the ideal travelling season, with cool and dry weather and is suitable for entertaining activities, outdoor excursions, while the travel cost is also lower, as compared to the summer vacation time, Vietjet officials said. They added that it is also a rare opportunity for tourists to combine sightseeing with shopping, spiritual tourism or relaxation in the year.  VNS
HA NOI  Ministries have approved the restructuring plans of additional state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with the latest including the Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services One Member Limited Liability Company (Mobifone) and the Vietnam Post Corporation (VNPost), in line with the Governments SOE restructuring action plan.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) concluded that Mobifone would be fully equitised in 2018, while VNPost would not be listed in the foreseeable future.

Other SOEs including the Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and the Viet Nam Multimedia Corporation (VTC) are in line to complete equitisation by 2019.

For the first 10 months of 2017, the Prime Minister had approved the restructuring plans of the Viet Nam Electricity Group and a number of enterprises under the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group in need of restructuring, equitising and liquidating for the period from 2017 to 2020.

The Ministry of Transport also announced their approval of the plan to restructure for the Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation and the Northern Maritime Safety Assurance Corporation before 2020.

According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), SOEs are actively promoting their equitization process, as they have received reports of four units approved by the competent authorities for equitisation in October 2017 alone.

In the first 10 months of 2017, there have been 38 enterprises approved for equitisation, at a total actual value of VN81 trillion (US$3.6 billion), of which the actual value of State capital in these enterprises is VN20.9 trillion ($930 million).

Under the equitisation plan approved by competent authorities, the State intends to retain VN12.6 trillion ($560 million), leaving strategic investors VN7.9 trillion ($351.5 million), private shareholders VN220 billion ($9.8 million) and the rest for open auction in these 38 enterprises.

By 2020, SOEs restructuring and renewal will be completed on the basis of Decision No 58/2016/Q-TTg signed by the Prime Minister, indicating 137 SOEs to be equitised, along with the decided amount of State capital withdrawal from these enterprises.

The State still holds 81 per cent of total shares across all SOEs, leaving the level of private investors involvement at only 9.5 per cent, as compared to the desired 16.7 per cent, with strategic investors participation at an even lower level of 7.3 per cent, not even half the designated level of 15.8 per cent, according to reports from the State Securities Commission.

The Governments action plan for further restructuring, renovation and enhancement of SOEs effectiveness sets out to improve SOEs performance on the basis of modern technology, innovative capacity, governance in accordance with international standards, and to mobilize, allocate and effectively use social resources, preserve and develop State capital so that SOEs can maintain their key positions as an important driving force of the economy, contributing to the development of Viet Nams socio-economic progress.

Reports from the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) shows that the burden of national debts, accumulated through State firms outstanding loans, would continue to slow growth, necessitating the urgent restructuring of SOEs.

The MoF has also asked the Government and responsible departments and localities to consider disciplinary action against the leadership of companies that are dragging their feet on completing listing procedures, under Circular 36/2017/TT-BTC.

The disciplinary actions would range from demotions, transfers, salary cuts to more serious criminal charges. The threat of severe action has prompted several companies to hasten their listing procedures. Officials expect a spate of companies being listed in the second half of the year.  VNS
It is critical for export processing zones (EPZs) and industrial zones (IZs) in HCM City to renovate towards high-technology and green development to help enhance the southern citys economic growth quality.  Photo ttipc.vn

HA NOI  It is critical for export processing zones (EPZs) and industrial zones (IZs) in HCM City to renovate towards high-technology and green development to help enhance the southern citys economic growth quality.

Despite rapid development since 1991 when the first EPZ  Tan Thuan  was founded, planning of EPZs and IZs in the southern city had problems, including a lack of links among zones, experts said.

Expert Nguyen Van Kich said that HCM City used to lead the country in developing EPZs and IZs but was losing its crown.

For example, the city now has 17 EPZs and IZs in operation with a total area of more than 2,570 hectares while the southern city of Binh Duong, which started developing EPZs and IZs later, has 36 zones with area of more than 10,200 hectares.

In addition, most projects in HCM Citys EPZs and IZs are small scale and just about 10 per cent have advanced technologies.

Nguyen Trong Hoai, Vice Principal of University of Economics, HCM City, said that EPZs and IZs in the southern city had not established close links between firms and the parts-supplying industry.

In addition, infrastructure, especially transport and water supply and drainage systems, were heavily overloaded.

All these problems required EPZs and IZs in HCM City to renovate their strategies to keep and attract investors.

According to Nguyen Hoang Nang, Head of HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority (Hepza), the southern city plans to make existing zones green, clean and hi-tech IZs by 2025 and develop new hi-tech IZs and zones for the parts-supplying industry.

Priority will be given to existing investors in hi-tech development, industry 4.0 technologies and the parts-supplying industry.

Experts said that EPZs and IZs needed to enhance links with each other and with other zones in the southern region.

Duong Minh Tam, Hepzas Deputy Head, said that besides attracting foreign direct investment, EPZs and IZs need mechanisms to encourage investment from domestic companies in the parts-supplying industry.

With the citys land running out, it was critical to improve the efficiency of land use to lower land leases, Tam said.

Atsuo Hanami, general director of Renasas Viet Nam, told Viet Nam News Agency that Viet Nam was regarded as an attractive destination for investment, especially HCM City. However, to attract large-scale and hi-tech investments, the city needs to prepare human resources with knowledge and skills meeting investors demand.

The city also needs to hasten the administrative reform, improving the transport infrastructure system and logistics services.

By 2020, the southern city plans increase the number of EPZs and IZs to 23 with a total area of 6,000 hectares.  VNS
Viet Nam wants to enhance co-operation with international organisations to promote the development of agricultural co-operatives, especially in supporting market access and management capacity.  Photo tapchithue.com.vn

HCM CITY  Viet Nam wants to enhance co-operation with international organisations to promote the development of agricultural co-operatives, especially in supporting market access and management capacity, participants said at a seminar in HCM City on Monday.

ang Van Thanh, vice director of Co-operative Development Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said Viet Nams legal framework for co-operative development had contributed to increasing the number of co-operatives and their improvement in scale, technology and markets.

As of the end of last year, the country had 19,569 co-operatives with more than 6.25 million members. Of these, 10,726 were agricultural co-operatives.

But agricultural co-operatives are facing difficulties, including a shortage of capital, lack of consultancy from staff and post-harvest preservation systems, and weak linkages among farmers, co-operatives and enterprises.

There was also limited management capacity among co-operatives leaders, according to Thanh.

Most of the co-operatives supply inputs to household farmers production, and only 12 per cent of co-operatives were active in processing and consumption of farm produce, while many operate moderately, which has not brought about practical benefits for members. Some are on the verge of dissolution.

Tran Thanh Nam, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that agricultural co-operatives needed to learn from local and international experience to enable them to improve their performance and build new co-operative models to serve their members better and help them face challenges in the market.

In the past, Vietnamese and international organisations have had good co-operation in developing agricultural co-operatives, he said.

Through the seminar, the ministry wanted to provide international organisations with more information about agricultural co-operative development in Viet Nam and at the same time to enhance co-operation with them, he said.

JongHa Bae, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Viet Nam, said: Viet Nam agriculture has demonstrated remarkable growth in terms of production in the last three decades, but farmers income is still low. So right now, we should focus more on how to improve farmers livelihood.

Co-operatives provide an opportunity for small-scale farmers to improve their productivity, add value to their produce, and increase their access to national and international markets, Bae said.

Nguyen Ngoc bao, President of Viet Nam Co-operative Alliance (VCA), proposed that the ILO, FAO, UNDP, JICA and other international organisations sponsor advise the VCA to improve its communication capacity, modernise its information system, its investment and trade promotion centre, and train human resources in the co-operative sector and others.

The importance of co-operatives is especially significant in the context of restructuring of agriculture and new rural construction, Le uc Thinh, vice director of Department of Co-operative Economics and Rural Development, said.

The country targets having 20,000 agricultural co-operatives by 2020, of which 15,000 operate efficiently.

About 50-60 per cent of farmer households are members of agricultural co-operatives, with at least 1,000 safe agricultural product chains by then.

He also listed eight priority missions in agricultural co-operative development, including raising awareness of the role, effective model of co-operatives, improving policies for agricultural co-operative development, and providing training and capacity building.

Promoting linkages in the value chain, transferring science technology, and strengthening capacity of financial management and capital mobilisation are also considered important.

The sector wants to co-operate with international organisations to promote the development of agricultural co-operatives, according to Thinh.

At the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed to form the Network of Agricultural Co-operative Development Partners (NETCOOP) to promote the development of agricultural co-operatives, sustainable economic growth and the prosperity of the agricultural sector in Viet Nam.

The main partners in NETCOOP are: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the VCA, the School of Management for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Co-operative Economics and Rural Development, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO, the German Agency for Development Co-operation (GIZ) and Canadian Co-operation Society for International Development (Socodevi), together with many other Vietnamese and international organsiations.

The seminar was organised by MARD, GIZ and Bayer Viet Nam in the framework of the Better Rice Initiative Asia.  VNS
HA NOI  The Governments Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform (ACAPR) has proposed a number of measures to reduce procedures and expenses for enterprises.

The council has requested the State to continue cutting, reducing and simplifying specialised inspection procedures and business conditions. The State should review and reduce charges for transport, logistics, use of infrastructure and public services and facilities in the areas of land border gates and seaports in some localities which have border gates.

It should continue to reduce and simplify administrative procedures in general, and reduce rates or abolish certain unnecessary charges.

According to the council, the state needs to study, abolish and simplify procedures relating to business registration stipulated in the Decree 78/2015 on registration of enterprises and to change of business license.

The state should study and simplify requirements in the process of seeking approvals for developing projects.

It needs to study and adjust regulations on the period of contributing charter capital from shareholders/investors as stipulated in the Law on Enterprises. At present, the period is 90 days from the date of issuance of the certificate of business registration. However, as most banks have strict regulations on risk management, many enterprises do not meet this requirement for 90 days to open direct investment and capital contribution accounts.  VNS
HA NOI  Alibaba group Chairman Jack Ma said yesterday that deep-seated hesitation among Vietnamese consumers could hamper mobile payment development in the country.

Addressing the Vietnam Electronic Payment Forum 2017 (VEPF) in the capital city, the Chinese tycoon said the rate of cash transactions in Viet Nam was too high, despite the huge potential to develop e-commerce in the country, given its young and active population.

He said people keeping cash in their wallets increases chances of cheating, corruption and pick-pocketing. If people dont use wallets, the cutpurse will be jobless.

Instead of using cash, consumers can use mobile phones equipped with anthropometric technology, Ma said, adding that such transactions would be safe and any fraud easy to detect.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue said at the forum that in the context of globalisation and integration, mobile payment was an obvious trend, and that no one wants to be left behind.

It is a trend that can bring many benefits to the people, enterprises and the State, he said.

Hue said that implementing digital technology solutions has helped many countries in the world achieve breakthroughs in promoting financial inclusion, enabling people from all walks of life to access financial and banking services.

Digital technology helps remove spatial, time and geographic barriers, allowing credit institutions to offer products and services at a lower cost, and facilitating consumers access, he said.

Hue said he agreed with the Alibaba Chairman that mobile payment would also improve transparency in economic activities.

Viet Nam will soon see an explosion in mobile payment, he predicted, saying the Government supported and was strongly committed to creating favourable conditions for mobile payment development in Viet Nam. This would help, in part, to reach the target of reducing cash transactions to below 10 per cent by 2020, he said.

Solid foundation

According to the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV)s Payment Department, Viet Nam has good foundations to popularise the mobile payment method, thanks to easy availability of telecommunications services and the high rate of mobile phone use.

So far, there are 130 million mobile phone subscriptions in Viet Nam, and 41.8 million of them use 3G to access the Internet. More than half the Vietnamese population uses smart phones, and the number is expected to increase to 80 million by 2020.

The department also notes that there are 41 commercial banks nationwide offering mobile payment services and their transaction value has been increasing strongly. In the first nine months of this year, there were 90 million mobile payment transactions worth VN423 trillion (US$18.8 billion), an increase of 93 per cent and 139 per cent, respectively, over 2016 figures.

Hue said that to address challenges in developing mobile payment, the Government will regularly hold dialogues with the business community as well as domestic and foreign financial institutions to figure out barriers and seek timely solutions.

The Government will also complete a legal framework and build action programmes to promote e-commerce application in general and mobile payment services in particular, he said.

The Deputy PM asked ministries and other agencies to study the possibility of e-payment application in informal economic sectors. These sectors need to be better managed to avoid tax losses, he said.

SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh said that the central bank has been encouraging commercial banks to apply advanced technologies in banking operations in general and payment activities in particular.

This will expand consumers ability to access modern banking products and services, which will help improve the business efficiency and governance capacity of credit institutions, he said.

Fintech development

Anh also said that the SBV has established a steering board of financial technology (Fintech) development to give the Government advice on legal frameworks and facilitate the operation of Fintech businesses.

Can Van Luc, director of training with the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam, said that the Government needs to build a customer authentication infrastructure based on anthropometric data to support payment service providers in verifying customers information.

The VEPF, titled "Mobile Payment - a factor to promote non-cash economy" was organised by e-newspaper VnExpress and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) under the leadership of the State Bank of Viet Nam.  VNS

Box:

PM meets Alibaba Chairman

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Monday for Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of the Chinese Alibaba Group, who is in Viet Nam to attend the Vietnam E-Payment Forum.

Jack Ma told the PM that his visit aims to study Viet Nams e-commerce situation, including co-operation opportunities with Vietnamese partners.

He said the potential for e-commerce development in Viet Nam was huge as the country had a young and active population.

He expressed his interest in Viet Nams five-year (2016-20) master plan for e-commerce development, which targets having 30 per cent of the population conducting e-commerce transactions by 2020.

To achieve this goal, Jack Ma proposed policies that hasten non-cash payments, including e-payments with smart phones, as well as speeding up the processing of logistics service procedures.

Acknowledging the guests proposals, PM Phuc asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider them and boost co-operation with the Alibaba group.

He asked Alibaba to open a Viet Nam store to introduce Vietnamese products to consumers in China, co-operate with Vietnamese partners in providing e-commerce training, and help micro-enterprises and people gain access to e-commerce.

He said he hoped to receive assistance and investment from Jack Ma and the Alibaba Group for start-ups in Viet Nam.

Jack Ma said that he endorsed the creation of a Viet Nam store for Alibaba products and services, and that he will work to increase co-operation towards developing e-commerce in Viet Nam.  VNS
HCM City  The three highest floors of Bitexco Tower in HCM City will house the Heineken museum from now to the end of the year.

Visitors will pay VN250,000 (US$11) to enter the museum to learn about the development process of the Holland beer brand through The World of Heineken exhibition, which has interactive technology.

The exhibition includes explanations about the beermaking process, advertising videos, and the companys brand name development, which has 250 breweries and drink products sold in 179 countries.

In Viet Nam, Heineken has a total of six plants, located in the central provinces of Quang Nam, a Nang, the southern provinces of Tien Giang and Ba Ria  Vung Tau; and HCM City and Ha Noi.

Each year, Heineken contributes 0.75 per cent to national GDP. It has created 200,000 jobs in Viet Nam. -- VNS
HA NOI  Ha Noi has called for investments from Finland in water supply, renewable energy, waste treatment and smart-city solutions.

Speaking at a working session on Monday with Petri Peltonen, under-secretary of state at the Finland Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Nguyen The Hung, deputy chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee, said that the co-operation between the two countries and of Ha Noi with major cities of Finland had brought about many good results.

Highly appreciating Finlands support in clean water supply since the 1990s, Hung said that the Mai Dich clean water plant built by Finland was still one of the best clean water plants in Ha Noi, which had contributed significantly to the development of the capital city.

However, with a rising population, now at around 10 million, clean water supply has become a pressing issue for Ha Noi.

The capital city was focusing its resources to ensure adequate water supply for citizens with an aim of reaching an average capacity of 180 litres per head per day. At the same time, the city was moving to stop the exploitation of underground water and the transfer to the use of surface water.

Ha Noi always welcomes investors with a capacity in providing effective water supply solutions, especially from Finland, Hung said.

In renewable energy, the capital city expected to receive investments in treating waste into energy.

It was estimated that around 6,000-8,000 tonnes of waste was disposed daily in the capital city but the waste was mainly treated by landfill.

Ha Noi is actively calling for investments in treating waste, using modern technologies to convert waste into electricity, which might be connected to the national power grid.

Besides, Ha Noi was taking initial steps to develop into a smart city and this was also a potential investment sector for Finnish investors.

According to Peltonen, Ha Noi and Finland had significant opportunities to boost co-operation. With experiences in the fields of energy and environment, Finnish businesses were willing to share experiences and become important partners of Ha Noi.  VNS
A NANG  Themed Viet Nam: We Mean Business, the first-ever Viet Nam Business Summit, a highlight of the 25th APEC Leaders Week, opened at the Ariyana Conference Centre on Tuesday with the participation of more than 2,000 delegates, representing local and foreign business leaders.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered the opening speech in which he highlighted the determination of the Vietnamese Government to develop the country into a trustworthy and potential trade partner of the world business community.

I would like to extend the warmest welcome to the Viet Nam Business Summit, one of the many activities and events associated with this years APEC Summit, being held in a Nang City and ancient Hoi An Town, built in the 17th century by merchant fleets from Japan, China, India and other European countries, thus laying the foundation for open trade for hundreds of years, PM Phuc said.

The Prime Minister provided delegates with the latest information and outlook of the Vietnamese economy according to analyses and surveys of various world economic organisations.

Reports from the World Bank Group pointed out that Viet Nams economic transition over the past 30 years has been of significant importance in the process of implementing worldwide transformative economic policies, as evident through high GDP growth rates and increased personal income, the PM said.

Besides this, the World Economic Forum ranked Viet Nam 55 out of 137 countries in 2017, having climbed 20 positions in the past 30 years, with market scale reaching 31 out of 137.

In 10 years since Viet Nam joined the WTO, the countrys export and import turnover has increased four times, reaching over US$400 billion, almost 175 per cent of GDP," the PM said.

More than 2,000 business leaders attend the event on Tuesday in a Nang.  VNA/VNS Photo

He also highlighted Viet Nam as a destination for international investors, with great efforts to improve the investment environment, attracting more than 4,200 foreign direct investment projects from 120 countries and territories, with capital equal to $310 billion and 155 per cent of national GDP, currently being undertaken in the country.

Agreeing with the Prime Minister, Dr Philipp Rosler, head of Regional and Government Engagement and member of the managing board of the World Economic Forum, highly appreciated the recent improvement of Viet Nams business competitiveness.

Viet Nam made a huge stride last year of five ranks and in the last five years of 20 ranks. So we will see a great business environment and a great economic future for Viet Nam, Dr Philipp Rosle said.

The delegates also had an opportunity to discuss issues of concern with four speakers -- PM Phuc, Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc, Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region of the World Bank Victoria Kwakwa and Dr Philipp Rosler.

The conference will feature six discussion sessions with the following topics -- smart agriculture; financial services for development; healthcare and education; and infrastructure connectivity; as well as SMEs, start-up and innovation; and special economic zones and tourism potential.

The one-day event, organised by VCCI, aims to provide information to the business community about investment potential in various fields in Viet Nam.  VNS
Viet Nam Business Summit 2017

Viet Nam: Integration, Dynamic Reform and Comprehensive Development

Madam Victoria Kwakwa, World Banks Vice President for East Asia  Pacific,

Mr. Philipp Rosler, Managing Director, World Economic Forum,

Excellencies Ambassadors, Heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Viet Nam,

Vietnamese and foreign experts, investors and businessmen,,

On behalf of the Government of Viet Nam, I would like to convey warmest welcome to all distinguished delegates and guests attending the Viet Nam Business Summit on the occasion of the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders Week. May I extend my warmest greetings to all distinguished guests and delegations, representatives from organizations and enterprises, experts and investors Vietnamese and international alike.

Along with many APEC events and activities, the Viet Nam Business Summit is held in Da Nang and the ancient town of Hoi An - a vibrant trading post dating back to the early 17th century that received merchant fleets from Japan, China, India and Europe, laying the foundation for the development of trade relations for the past many hundred years. Today Viet Nam is still working hard to improve ourselves, to continue to be a potential and reliable trade partner to the international business communities and other countries. According to AmCham Singapore in September 2017, 56% of businesses surveyed has considered Viet Nam their best trade partner.

A report by the World Bank (WB) has pointed out that Viet Nams economic transformation during the last 30 years is deeply significant. With the implementation of profound economic reforms that resulted in high GDP growth of average 7%/per year, the peoples income has accordingly increased. In 2017, GDP growth is expected to reach 6.7% and we have set the target of 6.5 to 7% between 2016 and 2020. The average income per capita in Viet Nam has increased to $2,300 (or $6,800 on a purchasing power parity basis).

According to WBs Report 2035 released in 2016, at present the middle class accounts for about 10% of Viet Nams population, and is expected to increase to 50% by 2035. This has helped boost the demand of the economy and create many better jobs. Not only in the domestic market, Viet Nam has also step by step partaken in the value chains and production networks within the APEC region and the world. Rapidly growing income and the expanding middle class have changed in the consumption pattern of the economy, thus opening new opportunities for investors and move ahead with the new trend.

Viet Nam has shown its dynamism by its active international integration and strong support for global free trade. We have signed and joined 12 free trade agreements (FTAs) and are negotiating an additional four, including those with 18 partners who are APEC economies.

Ten years after our accession to WTO, Viet Nams export-import turnover in 2017 has quadrupled to more than $400 billion, equivalent to 170% of GDP. We are making effort to substantially improve the business and investment environment. At present, there are more than 24,200 FDI projects hailing from 120 countries and territories in operation in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital exceeding $310 billion or 155% of GDP . Among them, FDI capital from APEC economies alone amounts to $250 billion, accounting for nearly 80% total FDI capital into Viet Nam over the past three decades. Many leading economic groups from APEC economies have selected Viet Nam to develop their regional production hubs for their global value chain.

According to prestigious international organizations as well as many entrepreneurs and investors, the competitiveness of and the business environment in Viet Nam have been substantially improved. The World Economic Forum (WEF)s ranked Viet Nams Global Competitive Index (GCI 2017-2018) 55th out of 137 countries, jumping 20 ranks over five years. Vietnams market size ranks 31st out of 137. According to the WB in a report published 31 October 2017, Viet Nams 2018 Doing Business ranking is 68th out of 190 countries, an increase of 14 ranks compared to the previous year (ASEAN 5 Group). The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published their 2017 Global Innovation Index report in May 2017, which showed that Viet Nam advanced to rank 47h among 127 countries and economies, a 12-rank jump.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Viet Nam today has a population of almost 95 million, a young population structure with more than 60% under 35 and an income rapidly rising, especially among the burgeoning middle class. On average between 2007 and 2016, the final consumption of the household sector accounts for 67.3% of GDP and increased by 16% per year. Domestic consumption has become an important driver for Vietnamese economic growth in addition to the export sector. This growing income has made Viet Nam ever more attractive to consumer goods producers, especially well-known foreign brands. Apple, Samsung, LG and Sony smartphones are quite popular in Viet Nam, while such brands as Chinas Huawei and Oppo, with comparable design and functions, are also selected by the youths.

Viet Nam has 52 million internet users, accounting for 54% of the population., ranking fifth in the Asia-Pacific in terms of internet access after China, India, Japan and Indonesia. With 55% of its people having smartphones, it is projected that by 2020, Viet Nam will be among the leading countries in the region in terms of mobile users. This is both an important foundation and a major opportunity for potential investors to market their products and services to the vast potential customer base in Viet Nam.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The results that Viet Nam has achieved until now is an important encouragement for us to remain confident and steadfast to grow stronger in the years to come. We are determined to build an action-oriented, enabling government in service of the people and businesses. We will accelerate international integration. We will continue to pay due attention to macro-economic stability, institutional and legal policy reform, sustainable development, job creation and income raising for the people

In the coming years, we will focus on the following solutions:

First, we will continue to improve the legal, institutional and policy frameworks, promote the rule of law, encourage private sectors development, strengthen state governance capacity, maintain macroeconomic stability towards sustainable growth, ensure social progress, and help the low-income group catch up with middle-income and better-off groups. The entrepreneurial spirit to enrich oneself is key to keep the dynamism of the active circle between the growth of the middle class and economic growth.

We will focus on investing into infrastructure connecting the urban areas to the countryside, mountainous regions and remote areas. Viet Nam pays great attention to the development of the healthcare and education system, reduce the income gap while improving the social welfare network to protect disadvantaged and vulnerable groups from negative shocks.

Second, foster the start-up and innovation economy through the commitment to assist and enable the incubation and realization of start-up ideas. Viet Nam pledges to protect innovative ideas and new inventions in the start-up economy and will ensure intellectual property rights within the framework of the Intellectual Property Law as well as within the FTAs that Viet Nam is party to. The dynamism of the economy, an open internet policy and the enabling conditions for doing business are creating major opportunities for start-up entrepreneurs in Viet Nam. We wish to call on investors to participate, and hope there will be more start-ups and venture funds operating in Viet Nam to further encourage the strong start-up spirit in our country.

Third, carry out tax reforms towards greater competitiveness for the economy, with an aim for the OECDs high standards for transparency, fairness and efficiency. Presently Viet Nams corporate income tax is at 20% and will be reduced to 15 to 17% according to the upcoming tax reform timetable support the business community. Apart from the competitive tax rate, Viet Nam also puts in place many tax incentives for investors in priority areas such as high-tech industries, supporting industries, high-tech agri-business and labour-intensive industries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the vision for the next decade, Viet Nam aims to become a dynamic, innovation-based economy. The Viet Nam Business Summit today has 6 thematic sessions on agriculture, finance, education and health, infrastructure, special economic zones, start-ups, and innovation. These will generate multiple opportunities for cooperation and investment in Viet Nam, and we shall work together towards the theme of APEC 2017 - Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future for the Asia-Pacific, for peace, stability, integration, dynamic development and prosperity

May the 2017 Viet Nam Business Summit be a great success!

Thank you./.
HCM CITY  Vietnamese-American fashion designer Phuong Mys latest collection, Hoa Thuy Tien (Narcissus Flower), will attend the 5th Arab Fashion Week (AFW) at the City Walk in Dubai next week.

Her collection features 30 designs in pink, white and pastel using quality silk, lace and linen. Her show will appear on the catwalk on November 17.

The AFW is organised by the Arab Fashion Council, which organises the New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week.

The five-day event will open on November 15, featuring the latest collections by veteran and young fashion designers and popular brand names in the region.

Born in HCM City, My moved to live in the US when she was 13 years old.

She graduated from the Academy of Art University in California and Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

She began her career after winning the top prizes at two prestigious contests, Are You Runway Ready and Discarded to Divine Project, launched in New York and San Francisco in 2010.

She has worked for key fashion magazines such as Elle, Harpers Bazaar and Vogue.

In 2013, My returned to her home city to develop her business by launching her own brand Phuong My.

She quickly rose to fame after her brand Phuong My was invited to collaborate with Bulgari at their store opening in March 2013 in Ha Noi.

She later opened her flagship store in HCM City.

Her brands fabric production is entirely outsourced to select partners in Paris, Milan and Hong Kong, thus providing the optimum blend of both materials and exclusivity that has proven to be her goal:

Being a part of the global fashion scene, I dont create fashion, I create dreams, she said.

My has attended leading fashion events at home and abroad, including the Viet Nam Fashion Week, Tokyo Fashion Fuse and New York Fashion Week.

She has collaborated with dozens of boutiques stores, stylists and magazines in the Americas and Europe, such as My Beautiful Dressing from Paris, Club Magazine in Venezuela, Vogue-UK and Vogue-Italia to expand her brand.

Her shops in District 1 and 3 offer more than a hundred eye-catching designs and accessories for women and have been well received by both Vietnamese and foreign customers. VNS
HA NOI  The wartime experiences of Viet Nam in different places are depicted truthfully and vividly in the sketches of painter Tran Huy Oanh.

His book Wartime Sketches  Everlasting Devotion was released yesterday in Ha Noi, bringing wartime memories to readers.

The book includes 189 sketches by the painter, who took note of war scenes from 1965 to 1973 in Truong Son trail, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Central Highlands battlefields.

Le Trong Lan, chairman of the Art Council for Paintings, the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association, remarked that these paintings reflect an unforgettable period of time.

It seems that I can meet in person again the old men at Ham Rong Bridge, militia girls, mothers of the Van Kieu ethnic group, and myself in a tough but beautiful afternoon in Truong Son range with a burnt trail and bomb craters, he said.

These war scenes were beautifully sketched with gentle light colours, yet still revealed a very strong sentiment and vibration in the soul of this talented painter. He simply depicted life exactly as it was.

Painter Tran Huy Oanh releases the book Wartime Sketches  Everlasting Devotion.  VNS Photo Minh Thu

Vi Kien Thanh, head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, said Oanh is among the greatest painters of the war and an important contributor to Viet Nams art scene.

One of the most impressive paintings by Oanh is Ham Rong Bridge, said Thanh. It seemed painter Oanh naturally has a sense of his generations duty: living and painting the wartime, in all of its aspects.

Oanh said he stayed near Ham Rong bridge for one month to paint workers and young volunteers fixing the bridge and railroads with the determination not to let the US bombs destroy the bridge and block the road.

From that day to many years later, I completed a lacquer painting called Ham Rong Bridge, which received the top prize in the annual National Fine Arts Exhibition in 1976, Oanh said.

Luong Xuan oan, deputy director of the Viet Nam National Fine Arts, said Oanhs sketches then  now historical paintings in the archives - became fossils out of the lava of war, where generations of Vietnamese came to the front, lived their lives and died. But their souls seem to surround us still, with the streams, mountains and trees.

These memories do not only belong to the painter himself but also to the next generations as ever-burning flames, an invaluable treasure of Viet Nam, he said.

Oanh was born in 1937. He is known for his great devotion to Vietnamese fine arts as a painter who travelled to many battlefields to document the wartime. He is also a lecturer who has taught many famous painters of Viet Nam during 15 years working at the Viet Nam University of Fine Arts.  VNS
PARIS  The 39-year-old owner of a storied lakeside inn in the French Alps was on Monday crowned Frances chef of the year by the Gault & Millau gastronomic guide.

Jean Sulpice won the coveted award a year after taking over LAuberge du Pere Bise, a century-old hotel on the shores of Lake Annecy which has played host to the likes of Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Richard Nixon.

Gault & Millaus owner Come de Cherisey praised Sulpice for his lightning rise through the rarefied world of French cuisine.

"He is working his way up a high mountain pass," he said.

On his website Sulpice describes his food as being "filled with the riches of the mountains" where he grew up.

His menu gives pride of place to regional products, such as venison, brown trout and Beaufort cheese.

Sulpice ran a two-star Michelin restaurant in Val Thorens ski resort  Europes highest  before snapping up the property on Lake Annecy, 100 kilometres to the north, in 2016.

After a facelift costing several million euros the stately Auberge reopened to the public in May.

Among the other winners of Gault & Millaus 2018 awards were 32-year-old Cedric Grolet of the five-star Le Meurice hotel in Paris, named the countrys top pastry chef.

Born in the Loire region to a truck driver father and hairdresser mother Grolet has gained a huge following on Instagram for his colourful, fruity creations.

Gault & Millau publishes an annual guide of 3,800 eateries across France, over two-thirds of which offer dishes costing under 30 euros (US$35).

It is less well-known than the Michelin guide, whose stars are seen as a sort of culinary holy grail.  AFP
HA NOI  Communist Party of China General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Viet Nam on November 12 and 13.

Xi Jinpings State visit to Viet Nam and his attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting marks his first trip abroad after the 19th CPC National Congress.

During his stay in Viet Nam, Xi will meet with Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, President Tran ai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Chair of the National Assembly of Viet Nam, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

The leaders will discuss many issues including governance, development strategies, economic co-operation and cultural exchanges.  VNS
HA NOI  United States President Donald Trump will travel to Ha Noi, Viet Nam on November 11, on an official visit and hold talks with President Tran ai Quang and other senior Vietnamese leaders.

President Trumps visit will mark the third consecutive year Viet Nam and the US have organised high-level official visits to either country. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the US in 2015 and 2017 respectively, and the then President Barack Obama visited Viet Nam last year.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang (R) receives US Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink in Ha Noi on Monday.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  President Tran ai Quang hosted receptions for the newly accredited ambassadors from the US, Nigeria and Greece in Ha Noi on Monday.

Welcoming US Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink, President Quang said Vietnamese agencies are gearing up for US President Donald Trumps State visit to Viet Nam along with his participation in the APEC Economic Leaders Week 2017, which is taking place in the central city of a Nang, from November 4-11.

The President urged the two sides to increase effective cooperation mechanisms and expand exchanges among officials, departments and localities as well as promote policy, defence-security dialogues, and cooperation in education and culture.

He praised US efforts to clean toxic chemicals at a Nang airport and asked the country to provide more assistance in the field.

He said Viet Nam highly values American assistance in ensuring aviation and navigation freedom, security and safety in the region, he noted.

Ambassador Kritenbrink said he wants to promote the Viet Nam-US comprehensive partnership during his working tenure.

At a meeting with Nigerias Ambassador Francis Efeduma and Greek Ambassador Ioannis Raptakis, the President affirmed Viet Nams consistent policy of developing friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Nigeria and Greece.

He said he hoped Viet Nam and these two countries will maintain high-level delegation visits and increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges while developing more effective measures to boost cooperation in economics, trade and investment on par with their sound political ties.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  Asia-Pacific is being presented with new growth and integration opportunities thanks to deepened globalization and the fourth industrial revolution, according to Vietnamese President Tran ai Quang.

The President was writing in an article published by Vietnam News Agency yesterday as the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting (CSOM) that kick-started the 2017APEC Economic Leaders Week in a Nang opened the same day.

The increasing interdependence and connectivity in the region as well as the need to address global challenges will also open up new opportunities for member economies to foster co-operation and integration, he wrote.

Quang asserted that while regional and global economic recovery is firming, given slowing international economic integration, mid-term and long-term risks, rising protectionism, widening development gaps and emerging traditional as well as non-traditional security challenges, the regional security and development environment has become more uncertain and unpredictable.

In addition to the challenges, there are also new opportunities.

Building on its achievements, APEC is now in an excellent position to contribute to maintaining Asia - Pacifics role as a driver for global economic growth and integration. Key APEC members will continue to be the worlds leading economic, trade and technological centres in the coming decades, the head of the Vietnamese State wrote.

With more than 150 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements that APEC members are party to, including efforts toward the eventual establishment of a Free Trade Area of the Asia - Pacific (FTAAP), the region will have vast potential in markets, technology and financial resources, Quang continued.

He also wrote that APEC enjoys favourable conditions to bring into play its role in a multi-layered international landscape thanks to its flexible, non-binding and voluntary principles, thus enabling member economies to reach a common voice and consensus, even on issues where differences remain.

These statements were reinforced by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, who said at CSOM yesterday that this year presented difficulties and opportunities for APEC co-operation.

But the good thing is that even facing such difficulties, we have managed to secure many important results, such as maintaining the momentum of co-operation and reaching convergences on a wide range of issues to boost this years priorities and support other ongoing APEC works, he said.

We have greatly benefited from the active engagement and contributions of all member economies and other stakeholders to advance this APEC process in our designed direction, he added.

Son noted that the CSOM delegates have supported the two initiatives proposed by Viet Nam in the opening session: human resource development in the digital age and an action plan for promoting inclusive development in the economic, financial and social spheres.

The consensus and support that APEC member economies have given to Viet Nams two most important initiatives today show that these issues are common concerns, he told local media after the morning session yesterday.

Several delegates who spoke to the Viet Nam News on the sidelines of the meeting expressed support for a number of initiatives to be submitted to ministers and leaders at the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday.

We should establish an agenda with strategies on what we can do together to help the region continue to be the main driver in realising Bogor Goals in terms of trade and investment, said Ivan Pomaleu, a delegate from Papua New Guinea, which will host APEC 2018.

Our ministers will be strongly supporting mechanisms focusing on the post-2020 Agenda, and we should look at how to support SMEs connect with the global market. In terms of policies next year, we recognise that the agenda needs to continue to have a multi-year focus and seek new ideas, Pomaleu said.

Shiu Raj, Director Programmes and Initiatives of the Pacific Islands Forum, said: The very reason why APEC exists is to support integration. We will be learning from their experiences. Its also a great opportunity for us to share our experiences and see how we can move forward in terms of economic integration.

Head of Peru SOM Raul Salazar appreciated Viet Nams contributions in hosting the APEC Summit his year.

Viet Nam has done a very good job, very good leadership this year. This year is a year when a lot of important discussions occur, what APEC will look like after 2020. We hosted the APEC last year, and we are so honoured and happy that Viet Nam has continued, Salazar said.

Echoing Perus view, delegate Michael Hsu from Chinese Taipeis Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he was thankful to the government and people of Viet Nam for the preparations done for the APEC Leaders Week.

For this year, there is an initiative called Financial, Economic and Social Inclusion, which is part of our agenda. It is initiated by Viet Nam, and I think it is a good initiative, he said.VNS
HCM CITY  Though illegal sand mining is rampant in the Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) area in the Mekong province of An Giang, provincial authorities said they are unable to catch any of the miners red-handed.

On October 27 in An Giang Province, a 7,000sq.m pit was found at the foot of Ngoa Long Son Mountain and four men were shovelling sand from the pit into a truck in plain public view.

The vehicle later went to Ba Chuc town in Tri Ton District behind an escorting truck.

In the town, many other trucks could be seen carrying sand for selling to construction sites in the district. Authorities have clarified they have not issued a single licence to mine sand in the area.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported that 10 illegal sand mines with a total area of some 50,000sq.m were found at the foot of Ngoa Long Son Mountain.

The three biggest are near the monument of the National Liberation Front of An Giang Province in Tri Ton District. They measure 25,000sq.m and are 10 metres deep.

The illegal miners have in fact put up sentry boxes along the road leading to the mining sites.

At one of three illegal mines, two large excavators were shovelling sand into three large trucks.

When strangers are spotted, the miners warn each other by phone, immediately switch off the excavators engines and flee with the trucks.

A local resident named at said these mines have been operating for three years, selling dozens of truckloads of sand every day to construction sites in Tri Ton District.

The owner of a construction site on Road 955B said he buys sand from two locals, one of them a former chairman of the Le Tri Commune Peoples Committee.

Local residents said the two men operate several illegal sand mines in the communes of Luong Phi and Le Tri and Ba Chuc Town and have 14 trucks to transport the sand around the district to sell.

Sand mining in Tinh Bien District

In Tinh Bien District too there is illegal sand mining, but it is less brazen than in Tri Ton, with the miners operating in the dead of night, finishing by early morning.

Local authorities said a man named Nam operates several sand mines in the district and has several trucks carrying sand from the foot of Cam Mountain (in An Hao Commune) and Ngu Ho Son Mountain (in An Phu Commune).

The trucks include one with a false number plate, they said.

On October 27 Tuoi Tre found one of the trucks leaving Nha Ban town at midnight, and heading to an illegal mine at the foot of Ngu Ho Son guarded by a sentry box. There were guards to warn strangers off while 10 men were shovelling sand into two trucks.

Nguyen Van Duong, secretary of the An Phu Commune Party Committee, said while local officials are waiting for licences to be issued by higher authorities to mine sand near Bay Nui Mountain, illegal miners are working at night.

All sand mining at Ngu Ho Son is illegal. However, commune authorities find it hard to catch them red-handed because the sand is mined at night and the illegal miners keep close watch.  VNS
CM CITY  While housing developers in HCM City are looking for occupants for over 15,000 apartments they have built, city authorities are saying more such apartments are needed to resettle people moved out of their houses for various reasons.

o Phi Hung, director of the Department of Construction, said 15,000 more apartments are needed for people moved out of areas along the citys canals.

Around 57,000 households have been evicted.

According to district authorities, some 42,000 of them have been paid compensation while the remaining 15,000 need assistance from the relocation land fund.

The city also requires apartments for relocating residents living in 474 degraded tenements that need to be renovated, but Hung said the city faces a shortage of funds and land for the purpose.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the HCM City Real Estate Association, said a lot of land is needed for these projects and for the citys urban renovation and development programme.

Developers fear over supply

Many real estate developers say there are too many unoccupied relocation apartments already.

The new residential area in Binh Chanh District was built to relocate over 2,000 families affected by the renovation and upgrade to the Tan Hoa  Lo Gom Canal in Binh Tan and Tan Phu districts. The new area has attracted few tenants.

A manager of the New Thu Thiem Urban Area project in District 2 said the city plans to build 10,529 apartments and 2,290 house foundations, both for relocation, but people have registered for only 3,200 apartments and some 1,000 houses.

But the relocation projects have already begun to deteriorate. At the New Thu Thiem Urban Area for instance, infrastructure is worsening while its parks have been overrun by weeds.

Hung revealed that city authorities plan to sell most of the relocation apartments and foundations in District 2 to real estate firms.

The spokesman for a HCM City-based real estate company that had built relocation apartments in District 2 under the build-transfer (BT) form, said HCM City does not lack lands or relocation apartments, only policies to make life peaceful for relocating residents.

According to HoREAs Chau, relocation apartments must be built in areas with good infrastructure, while authorities must also consider the livelihoods available for people moving in there.

The relocations areas must be near schools, health centres and peoples workplaces, he said.

Authorities should not force residents to relocate to places Government agencies want, only to areas they want to.. VNS
The failure to detect cancer early, compounded by the lack of insurance for such detection, has led to a high cancer death rate in Viet Nam.  Photo baobaohiemxahoi.vn

HA NOI  The failure to detect cancer early, compounded by the lack of insurance for such detection, has led to a high cancer death rate in Viet Nam, experts say.

As many as 70 per cent of cancer cases in Viet Nam are detected in the late stages, making it very difficult and costly to treat most of them, they said at an international conference last weekend.

Each year, more than 126,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed in the country, and as many as 94,000 die of the disease.

Many domestic and international health experts attended the conference, Cancer control: current situation and solutions, which was jointly organised by the Health Ministry and K Hospital in Ha Noi.

Prof. Dr. Le Quang Cuong, Deputy Minister of Health, said that cancer was becoming a heavy burden in countries all over the world, especially poor countries and developing countries with low and medium incomes.

Prof. Tran Van Thuan, Director of the K Hospital in Ha Noi, noted in the country for its specialization in cancer treatment, said: With cancer, the sooner the detection, the simpler the treatment. Late detection leads to prolonged and often ineffective treatment. This is the main reason why the cancer cure rate in our country is low in comparison with developed countries.

Too late

Nguyen Thi D, 50, a resident of Phuc Tho District in Ha Noi said that when her husband felt some pain in his right ribs and decided to go to see the doctor, he was informed that he was suffering from last stage liver cancer.

He was treated at the hospital, but died after just six months, she added.

Another resident of the capital city, Phan Thi L, 56, said her husband had coughed a lot and taken antibiotics for a long time until he felt serious chest pain and went to the hospital for examination. Doctors told him that he had last stage lung cancer. He too lived for just six months after the disease was detected.

Apart from the feeling of life collapsing around them as they receive the news of a loved one being seriously sick, the thought that treatment might not save the persons life makes things even more painful and difficult to bear.

Said D: "I couldnt give up treatment for him, even though I knew my husband might not live long enough. The treatment was very expensive, costing my family hundreds of millions of ong, but my husband still died in pain."

This is why cancer is a nightmare for people today. Cancer is accompanied by pain, misery, costs and death.

No insurance

Assoc. Prof. Tran Van Thuan noted that most cancers can be completely cured now if they are detected early.

For example, when breast cancer is detected at the first stage, the success rate is 95 per cent, the second stage, 70 to 75 per cent and the third stage, 65 per cent; but the fourth stage, just five per cent.

The problem now is that the early detection of cancer isnt covered by health insurance.

Thuan said hoped that in the coming time, insurance plans would pay for early examination for some cancers such as breast, cervix, liver and gastrointestinal cancers.

If early examination is done nationwide, it will help increase the rate of early detection as well as cancer cure, he said.

There is no mention of insurance coverage for cancer detection in the Prime Minister-approved 10-year national strategy on cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma and other non-communicable diseases.

The strategy envisions that by 2025, 100 per cent of provincial and city administrations will use local funds to implement anti-cancer programmes; and that 70 per cent of adults will have a better understanding of the disease and its socio-economic impacts.

From 2015 to 2025, the strategy targets a 30 per cent reduction in the adult smoking rate, a reduction in youth smoking rate to 3.6 per cent; and a 10 per cent reduction in adult alcohol consumption. It also says that by 2025, early detection of certain cancers will rise to 40 per cent.  VNS
The National Assemblys Judicial Committee urged the Government to complete mechanisms and regulations to monitor citizens income, especially public servants with a focus on improving transparency and accountability. VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  The National Assemblys Judicial Committee urged the Government to complete mechanisms and regulations to monitor citizens income, especially public servants with a focus on improving transparency and accountability.

This recommendation was among many suggestions made by NA deputies to fight rampant corruption in Viet Nam during the NA meeting yesterday in Ha Noi.

Chairwoman of the committee Le Thi Nga said while the number of public servants who reported their assets in 2017 was large, few were properly reviewed.

Of the more than 1.1 million asset disclosure forms only 77 were checked, Nga cited a committee report, making asset disclosures largely ineffective as a counter-corruption measure. The report also recommended that disciplinary measures be taken against those who lie or hide their assets.

On the other hand, she said the fact that several high-profile corruption cases have been investigated in recent years highlighted the Governments efforts in the fight on corruption.

Minister of public security To Lam said criminal activities are getting more complex with criminal syndicates and interest groups working under the disguise of businesses, sometimes with the help of corrupt public servants, making investigation a challenge for law enforcement forces.

During 2017, 854 cases were investigated with nearly 1,500 individuals prosecuted for corruption crimes and misuse of power, some 20 per cent more than in 2016, according to a report presented to the NA by Lam.

The judicial committee, however, mentioned several shortcomings in the fight against corruption. Nga said the committees view is that the number of cases being investigated is only a fraction of corruption cases, asset recovery was ineffective and in several instances, criminals were able to flee.

She stressed the importance of transparency when hiring and promoting public servants. She cited a number of instances in which nepotism resulted in unqualified and incompetent officials being promoted to important posts, sparking public outrage and undermining efforts to fight corruption.

The committee advised the Government to severely punish those in charge of corrupted officials and mismanaged offices to reflect the losses they cause to society.

Disciplinary actions were taken against only 39 heads of offices where corruption was revealed in 2017, according to a Government report.

Assets recovery

In the afternoon session, NA deputies discussed problems that hinder the countrys ability to prevent and fight corruption.

Deputy Mai Thi Phuong Hoa, a permanent member of the NAs judicial committee said that while asset recovery is crucial in the fight against corruption, the recovery rate is low.

In a ten-year report submitted to the committee, the damage caused by corruption was estimated to exceed US$2.6 billions and 400 hectares of land. Of which, only 7.82 per cent of the money and 54.7 per cent of the land were recovered.

Asset recovery is an important measure of how effective our fight against corruption is. Its also a top priority to recover from the damage it caused to country and society, she said.

Deputy Nguyen Van Hien urged the government to step up its efforts to recover assets. He cited two major cases: Vinashin and Vinalines in which only a fraction of the damage, which was estimated to be millions of dollars, were recovered.

Law enforcement offices must make it a top priority to recover as much as possible, Hien said.

They also questioned the countrys audit and inspectorate offices responsbility for their failure to detect wrongdoings in economic enterprises and failure to report unusually high-value assets that belong to government officials.

Deputies also called for law enforcement agencies to take decisive, timely steps to monitor the flow of assets during investigations to stop corrupted officials from moving illegal gains. While on the topic, they stressed the importance of making investments in infrastructure to limit the use of cash in society to help prevent crimes such as tax evasion, money laundering and corruption.

On judicial reform, deputies raised questions in regards to the countrys justice system.

Instead of being a symbol of justice, deputies said wrongful convictions in recent years, incompetent judges and slow responses from judicial offices have hurt the Peoples Court reputation.

They called for the Government to take steps to improve the competence of justice officials, to invest in local facilities and judicial processes to restore the peoples faith in the court.  VNS
As universities become financially independent, ethnic minority students enrolled in special majors may suffer tuition fee increases when their instituions impose fee levels higher than the Governments ceiling.  Photo baogialai.com.vn

HA NOI  As universities become financially independent, ethnic minority students enrolled in special majors may suffer tuition fee increases when their instituions impose fee levels higher than the Governments ceiling.

As universities come under financial pressure, some of them charge slightly higher tuition fees for some special majors, if they are financially independent and able to do so, said Tran Van Top, vice director of Ha Noi University of Science and Technology (HUST). Special majors are those offered exclusively in Viet Nam, focused on the countrys issues, including majors dedicated to the countrys ethnic groups.

Ethnic Minority Culture is Viet Nams exclusive major which researches the countrys social conditions. However, as students are mostly from ethnic minority groups, charging the maximum tuition fee will place a burden on them, Nguyen Thi Viet Huong, vice director of Ha Noi University of Culture (HUC) told the newspaper Tien Phong ( the Vanguard).

A 2015 Government resolution says that the tuition ceiling at financially independent universities will be about VN5 million ($220) per month by the 2020 to 2021 school year, which could increase financial pressure on poor students.

Huong confirmed that the university plans to raise tuition, as allowed by the resolution. The university benefits from this policy since we can invest into scientific research and training courses for lectures. However, it is necessary that we consider students common condition for a proper plan, Huong said.

Facing financial pressures, third-year student Vang Thi Denh from ien Bien Province, enrolled in the Faculty of Ethnic Minority Culture at HUC, considered dropping out of school.

I paid VN4 million (US$175) then VN9 million ($395) for my first and second semesters at university, respectively. At that time, I did not know whether I could continue pursuing my studies since tuition fees will increase year by year, she said.

Fortunately, she is entitled to a tuition exemption with all her school fees covered by the Government from the second year because she belongs to an ethnic minority group. Without the policy, I would have not gone to school due to financial difficulties, she added.

From the same province and studying the same major as Denh, however, second-year student Cao Thuy Linh of HUC does not enjoy the policy of tuition fee exemption as she is not from an ethnic minority group. The tuition fee keeps increasing as regulated, so I do not know if I can continue, she said.

Nguyen Anh Cuong, dean of the Faculty of Ethnic Minority Culture, said the number of new students enrolling in the faculty has declined for two years. There are more and more students asking to drop out because of family conditions, said Cuong.

According to him, most students of the faculty are from ethnic minority groups. Therefore, tuition fee increases will affect their studying opportunities.

Except for special cases, our students can commonly enjoy the reduction of 30 to 70 per cent. Tuition fee increases can lead to a rising dropout rate, he added.

To solve the problem, HUC has requested assistance policies for the special majors. Plans to help students who enroll in special majors with financial aid, proposed by the university and Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, have been approved by the Government.  VNS
HA NOI  Forty-six labour export companies have had their licences revoked, according to a report by the Department of Overseas Labour (DoLaB), under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Of the firms, 19 are based in Ha Noi, 10 in HCM City, while the rest are headquartered in the northern city of Hai Phong, the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Nam.

A DoLab representative said most of the revocations were due to changes in operation scale, or the companies are no longer involved in labour export.

However, some companies had their licences revoked due to violations of the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers (issued in 2006) such as sending workers overseas without signing labour supply contracts and allowing other individuals and organisations to use their licences to illegally recruit workers and collect fees, among others.

Despite having their licences revoked, according to the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers, these companies still have to fulfill their responsibilities in the labour supply contracts as long as contracts remain valid.

The companies also are obliged to report to the DoLab on the number of active contracts, the number of labourers working overseas, the number of workers recruited for overseas jobs and plans for active contracts.

There are currently 290 active labour export companies throughout Viet Nam.

Labour export policies aim to fight unemployment at home and bring economic benefits, but the service has been sullied with negative issues, including low awareness of laws of workers and recruitment agencies, illegal residence of workers in host countries, as well as scams and fraudulent recruitment activities.  VNS
HA TINH  A young woman for the first time has been elected village chief of a Chut ethnic minority group, the highest honour in their society, in central Ha Tinh Provinces Huong Lien Commune.

She is now attempting to eradicate backward customs such as cousin marriage and improve reproductive health for local women.

At the age of 28, Ho Thi Kien never thought she would become the village leader.

According to the Chut ethnic minorities customs, the village chief must be an old experienced man who was proficient in hunting and gathering and respected by villagers. If the chief becomes too unhealthy to lead the villagers, he appoints another elder in his family.

Things changed when villagers decided to alter how they chose their leader in 2015. Thanks to support from Lien Communes Peoples Committee and the provincial border soldiers in Rao Tre Village, the villagers held an election for the position.

Kien was among few people in the village who attended school. She was talented and had the respect of villagers, leading to her victory in the voting.

In her first days in her new position, Kien told the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper that she felt resistance when trying to change the old habits of local people.

Chut people used to live in the forest in Huong Khe District until border guards helped them settle down in Rao Tre Village in 2001. Currently, more than 40 Chut ethnic minority households are living across nearly 400 hectares in the village.

However, Chut people continued to marry with their relatives or give birth in the forest to protect their customs.

Kien said many people disagreed with eradicating the old habits. They also doubted new riceplanting and cattle-raising techniques. They were furious when she encouraged women to give birth at hospitals and asked ill people to get treated at hospitals.

Kien was said to have betrayed the villages traditional customs. She was even asked to resign.

People thought that all the diseases were caused by the forest ghost, and they hired a man who they called master to help them take the ghost away and save ill people, she said.

Previously, village chiefs hired the master in July as a way of wishing a peaceful year for the villagers.

Kien said she was upset by the deaths of new-born babies who suffered from weak health due to cousin marriage, or the deaths of both mother and baby due to severe infection when giving birth in the forest.

There was only one way Kien could win her people over: farming.

Kien, together with the support of a village-based team, focused on agricultural production. By applying cultivating and raising techniques, she had bumper crops, bigger and healthier chickens and pigs.

She introduced new techniques to local people, and went to every house in the village to wake people up to work in the fields. Now, local living conditions are remarkably improved and Kien is in charge of taking ill people and pregnant women to hospitals for proper treatment.

What the young village chief most wants to change is the custom of cousin marriage.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Sam, Chief of border soldiers of Ban Giang said that it was difficult to explain the impacts of cousin marriage to local people.

Therefore, the village-based team was set up to as a matchmaker service for young people between Chut minorities and the Kinh and Ruc ethnicities.

Kien said more activities should be done to increase the exchange between Chut people and other people.

I hope that I could do more to gradually change the mindset of the villagers, she said.  VNS
By Hoai Nam

A NANG  a Nang City resident Mai Nguyen Cong Thuan, 20, was inspired by road-trip adventures with friends in remote mountainous areas in Viet Nam to design the first made-in-Viet Nam multi-purpose jacketa jacket, sleeping bag and packpackfor off-road trekkers and people in flood-affected areas.

Thuan and his five-member team (C-TEK team), comprised of friends and fellow students at his citys Economics College, began manufacturing the jacket with domestic material and design this March. The jacket won first prize at the a Nang Startup Runway 2017, with the award of a four-week training course at Irelands Cork Institute of Technology.

Thuan, a third-year student in the commerce faculty of the a Nang Economics College, was the only representative of a Nang and one of 17 Vietnamese young people participating in the 2017 APEC Voices of the Future  a forum for youths from APECs 21 economies  in a Nang city on November 6-11th.

Its a great honour for me representing a Nang at APEC in my home town. Our team, three members from our college and two others of Duy Tan and Architect Colleges in a Nang, took three months to debut the SleepJ for competition at the a Nang Startup Runway 2017, Thuan told the Viet Nam News at the sidelines of the APEC Voices of the Future.

I and Ly Thu Uyen spent time designing and cutting the cloth, while others worked on different sections of the jacket, he said.

The a Nang-born student said devising a design to contain the other functions of the jacket was especially time-consuming.

He said adventure-seekers traveling on motorbikes often take tents, sleeping bags and packs with them for long trips. Carrying heavy luggage on their bikes is inconvenient.

Mai Nguyen Cong Thuan, 20, from a Nang City, joins the APEC Voices of the Future event. He and his friends designed the first made-in-Viet Nam multi-purpose jacket (SleepJ)  a jacket, sleeping bag and pack  for off-road trippers and residents living in flood-stricken areas in central Viet Nam.  VNS Photo Cong Thanh

The first sample of the SleepJ, which costs around VN500,000 (US$22) and is made with local material, is quite reasonable for off-road trippers, but it may be expensive to poor people living in remote mountainous areas and flood-vulnerable villages.

We witnessed residents suffering from homelessness and a lack of facilities when their homes were washed away by floods during the rainy and storm season in central Viet Nam. That tragedy urged us to make the cheaper SleepJ for disaster victims, Thuan said.

And the APEC Voices of the Future is a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas with investors about mass producing multi-purpose jackets for poor people in the disaster-stricken areas in Viet Nam and other countries, he said.

Uyen, a member of the C-TEK team, who did not join the APEC event, said the SleepJ is very convenient for backpackers, homeless people, night ship workers and flood affected residents.

Currently, the C-TEK team has been embedding a small anti-mosquito device into the jacket and other products on the base of the SleepJ.

In addition to developing the multi-purpose jacket, Thuan has also developed a tour-guide programme, a Nang Free Walking Tour, which provides foreign tourists visiting a Nang with local guides.

The programme aims at creating opportunities for young students to practice English communication, while promoting the hospitality of a Nang and central Viet Nam to tourists.

Statistics from the National Tourism Administration of Viet Nam revealed that backpacker and off-road trippers accounted for 18.4 per cent of revenue from the countrys tourism.

Thuan hopes the APEC Voices of the Future event will help his product grow, and he is excited that a Nang has launched its own business incubator campaign for young people seeking chances to develop ideas into entrepreneurial products.

His said the SleepJ has just been completed as a prototype, and it needs more work before it can be sold in Viet Nam and foreign markets.  VNS
THUA THIEN- HUE  Continuous heavy rains have worsened the inundation due to heavy floods that occurred on Sunday morning in central Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Water covered almost all roads connecting the districts with National Highway No. 1A, which opened to traffic late Monday afternoon when water receded following the nearly two-day inundation.

According to the local Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Rescue, the death toll due to the flood in the province was nine, including two children swept away by the sudden, strong current while their parents were rushing to save household items and were not keeping an eye on their kids.

Residents in the province blamed power plants located at the upper parts of two local main rivers of Huong and Bo for the unannounced release of water into the rivers. However, the responsibility for this fell on district and commune authorities, as last Friday, local newspaper had carried related announcements.

Residents in Quang ien Commute on a self-made banana boat to shop for necessities during the flood.  VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

At around 7am in Sunday morning, swift flooding occurred in entire residential areas in the basins of the rivers within 30 minutes, including municipal Hue City. Residents were unable to save their goods due to the high water level, which some said was as high as the historic flood in 1999 in the locality.

Hoang Ngoc e, a resident of Huong Tra Districts Tu Ha Township, said the flood was so swift that the water later reached the mark of the 1999 flood peak on his home wall. It took about 10 minutes to rise to half of the motorbike height and prevented tens of customers at my eatery from leaving after their breakfast, he said.

Nguyen Thi Phuong, a resident of Phong iens Phong An Commune, said she was surprised at the rising speed at which the water level rose, inundating and damaging her refrigerator and washing machine.

The Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Rescue reported that 17,588 houses were inundated around the province, with water level inside the houses at 0.2-0.8m. Strong currents also resulted in intrusion of seawater at the mouth of the Thuan An sea, resulting in erosion along the 10km coastline.

A commuter on a flooded road in Quang ien District.  VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

Meanwhile, blackouts occurred in the province from Sunday morning to Monday afternoon, which continue today in lowland areas in Quang ien, Huong Tra, Phu Vang and Phu Loc districts. All schools and public offices remained closed on Monday.

No estimated loss report has been made yet, but those who suffered most are fish breeders on Bo River. Hundreds of tonnes of fish died as they could not survive in the yellowish dark floodwater.

River water remains at alarming levels of two and three and is expected to rise further due to heavy rainfall, forecast to continue by Wednesday.

Authorities of local power reservoirs warned of more release of water following visits by local Party Secretary Le Truong Luu to local irrigation and power reservoirs, where he asked for more release of water to save reservoirs from breaking.  VNS
HA NOI  Hoang Thi Minh Ho, 104, wife of patriotic businessman Trinh Van Bo, passed away on Sunday.

The couple had donated 5,147 tael of gold (6,862 ounces) to the interim Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam in 1945.

At that time, the amount of gold that Ho and her husband donated had nearly doubled the Governments treasury.

Additionally, Ho and Bo also received a delegation of the interim Government, who travelled from the Viet Bac war zone to their house at No 48 Hang Ngang Street, Ha Noi, to lead the nations August Revolution 1945. But at that time, the couple did not know the delegation, including President Ho Chi Minh and senior officials of the Government.

President Ho Chi Minh had compiled the Declaration of Independence to establish the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam in 1945 at the house.

Later, Ho and her husband also donated their house at No 48 Hang Ngang Street to the Government as a revolutionary historical relic site.

Ho married Bo in 1932 and they inherited a silk store called Phuc Loi from her husbands parents  one of the major silk stores in the country at that time.

Therefore, the couple provided almost all the clothes that officials wore during the Independence Day in 1945.

Ho and Bo were awarded the Order of Independence, first class, from the State for their contribution to the State.

Bo passed away in 1988. In 2014, the Ministry of Finance published a book "Trinh Van Bo and his contribution to the national revolutions finance sector" on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Hos birthday.  VNS
IEN BIEN  The ien Bien Province Border Guards, in co-ordination with the Laos Phongsaly Provinces Security Headquarter, during the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed a complex heroin trafficking ring.

Thanks to an information exchange with the Phongsaly Provinces Security Headquarter and reports from local residents, the border guards are in the know about the work of several heroin traffickers in Muong Khoa District in Phongsaly Province.

The main heroin traffickers were Thao In, 55, from Muong Khoa District, and Thao Tua, 34, from Bun Tay District. They are considered the main men responsible for the heroin transporting ring from Udom Xay, Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces to Phongsaly Province. They gave instructions to a number of accomplices in all the northern provinces of Laos.

After collecting enough evidence, last Tuesday, the ien Bien Province Border Guards decided to set up a trap together with the Phongsaly Provinces Security Headquarter to catch the culprits in the act.

For one month, the police followed all the activities of the two main traffickers, and discovered that Thao was in direct, regular contact with Thao Senh, 28, from Udom Xay Provinces Muong Na District. The police said that Senh was the heroin supplier for In and decided to catch the two.

The police caught In and Senh, red-handed, exchanging money and heroin at a hotel in Muong Khoa District. Objects of evidence included 90,000 tablets of ecstasy and 3 million Lao kip (US$360).

In and Senh admitted to the police that they had worked along with several people from Viet Nam to transport the heroin to be sold in Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport has rejected the proposal to increase toll fee at the Build-Operation-Transfer (BOT) Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll collection station.

After turning down the proposal, the Transport Ministry said on Monday the adjustment of toll fee would be considered when the company completes the projects financial balances, solves problems related to toll taxes and adjusts the BOT contract of National Highway 2 (the transition section in Vinh Yen City of Vinh Phuc Province) as per regulations.

Previously, the investor, Vietracimex 8 Company, had submited to the ministry a proposal with two options to increase toll tax at the Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll collection station.

The first option was to collect fee for 19 years, starting from Janurary 2018, with rate increasing to VN25,000 (US$1.1) from the current rate of VN10,000 (0.44 US cent).

The toll fee would continue to increase up to three times from 2021 to 2024, and up to 3.5 times to 2030.

The second option was that toll fee collection would continue for 17 years, with rate increasing to VN30,000 (US$1.32) from VN10,000 (0.44 US cent) by 2020. Subsequently, the fee would be increased to four times by 2030.

The Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll collection station was set up as per the ministrys decision in 1997, and then in 2009 was transfered to the Vietracimex 8 Company for collecting fee to refund investment capital of the BOT project on the transition section on National Highway 2 in Vinh Yen City of Vinh Phuc Province.  VNS
HCM CITY Quality assurance to uplift higher education will ensure a country has a highly qualified workforce, Assoc Prof Nantana Gajaseni, acting chairwoman of the ASEAN University Network - Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), has said.

Speaking at an international workshop in HCM City on Monday, she said quality assurance forces universities to switch to interactive instruction.

They need to change to respond to industry 4.0 due to disruptive technologies, providing learners with the skills and abilities to respond to the changes and make them creative and innovative with life-long learning competences, she explained.

A university is considered an adaptive social system where people co-operate to achieve a common purpose.

The AUN-QA strives to enhance global recognition for higher education in ASEAN member countries, she added.

Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Hoi Nghia, vice president of the Viet Nam National University-HCM City, said quality assurance is mandatory for every institution.

It is not only for external assessment activities but also regular activities aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of institutions, he said.

Accreditation results are used for investment and supervision of institutions, he added.

Now 72 institutions are evaluated externally, and 88 of their programmes are assessed by international agencies.

Dr Nguyen Quoc Chinh, director of the Centre for Educational Testing and Quality Assessment at Viet Nam National University-HCM City, said Viet Nam has eight universities whose programmes are assessed by the AUN-QA.

They include the Viet Nam National University in Ha Noi, Ha Noi University of Public Health, HCM City University of Technology and Education, Can Tho University, Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, Chinh said.

The Viet Nam National University- HCM City has the largest number of programmes  34  followed by the Viet Nam National University in Ha Noi.

In 2009 the university had its first three programmes assessed by the AUN-QA.

Nghia told Viet Nam News: The AUN-QA helps universities improve the quality of their training programmes based on its standards.

Universities which have their programmes assessed by the AUN-QA are more easily trusted by enterprises and can collaborate with universities in other countries to exchange students, he said.

The ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint underlines the need for the free movement of businesspeople, skilled labour and talent as a key element in achieving greater economic integration within ASEAN, he added.

The ASEAN University Network is an independent organisation established in 1995 to promote human resource development in Southeast Asian nations and their partners and enhance recognition for the regions higher education.

The AUN-QA network is a group of chief quality officers appointed by the AUN member universities to co-ordinate activities to achieve the mission of harmonising educational standards and improving the academic quality of universities in the region.

Until this year the ANU-QA has assessed 293 programmes for universities.

The workshop on Higher Education Programme Assessment- ASEAN Integration was held by the Center for EducationAccreditation at Viet Nam National University-HCM City. VNS
TOLEDO  Cora Okonskis neighbor Monday took the stand for the second time as the retrial started for Tait O. Purk in connection with Okonskis 2000 disappearance in Tama.

Neighbor Ricky Jo Sanchez told the court Okonski, then 23, had been arguing with Purk, Okonskis fiance, on April 16, 2000, and was afraid of him.

She was very frightened. She had asked me to leave the windows open, she had asked me to keep an eye on the house. She said if I heard any screaming to call police right away, that she thought Tait might kill her, said Sanchez. She said she made up an excuse about borrowing a vacuum to enter the home Purk and Okonski shared and later walked with her dog past the house.

She didnt notice anything unusual that night, but Okonski wasnt home the following day.

Okonski disappeared that night in April 2000, and Purk would later tell police she left for the store to buy cigarettes and never returned. Okonskis remains have never been found. Authorities argue she is dead because she never sought to reunite with her young child or claim disability benefits she had been receiving.

A grand jury indicted Purk, now 51, on a charge of first-degree murder in 2016. A jury found him guilty following his first trial in May. A former cellmate testified Purk confessed to killing Okonski with a choke slam, hiding her body in a bathroom closet overnight and then burying her in a remote location.

Judge Mitchell Turner, who presided over the first trial, overturned the verdict in August and ordered a new trial, ruling the jurys verdict was contrary to the evidence. Purk waived his right to a jury for the retrial, and the case was assigned to Judge Ian Thornhill for a bench trial.

During opening arguments Monday, Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren said Purk is behind Okonskis death.

There is only one truth in this case, and the states position is that the one truth is Tait Purk murdered his fiance, Cora Okonski. She is dead. This is not a case about a missing person or anything like that, this is a case about murder, Heeren said.

Defense attorney Aaron Siebrecht called the allegations in Heerens opening statements made up and called the states case speculation and conjecture about a man who is universally disliked, especially by a sheriff who decided to revive a closed missing persons case and has transformed it to what it is today  an expensive, frivolous wild goose chase.

He characterized Okonski as a rolling stone who moved from Chicago to Tama and then returned to Chicago. He said she had been planning to attend a 4-20 party  a drug festival in an Illinois field scheduled for April 20  and had been spotted after her disappearance.

Siebrecht also said the father of Okonskis child wanted her back in Chicago and had made threats against her and Purk. He noted Purk was the only person to report Okonski missing.
WATERLOO  A Traer woman is facing drug and other charges in connection with a high-speed chase through Black Hawk County on Monday night.

Jade Lynne Wanatee, 20, was arrested for felony eluding, possession of meth with intent to deliver, violation of the drug tax stamp act and possession of marijuana. She was also detained on a probation violation warrant in connection with a 2015 robbery of pizza delivery driver. Her bond was set at $36,000.

The passenger, 21-year-old Djanea Nacole Wilson-Thurmond of Evansdale, was detained on a probation violation warrant stemming from a misdemeanor theft case.

The chase lasted 34 minutes and reached speeds of 100 mph in a 55 mph zone, and after the pursuit ended, officers found bags of drugs and a scale in the vehicle.

According to Black Hawk County sheriffs deputies, the case started around 8 p.m. Monday when an Evansdale police officer noticed a person with outstanding warrants in a white Chevrolet Impala. The car didnt pull over, and the pursuit headed through north east Black Hawk County and then down toward Gilbertville before the driver took Highway 20 back into Evansdale.

Waterloo police placed Stop Sticks at the River Forest Road exit, but the vehicle kept going for several miles after that, entering a Waterloo neighborhood as the tires deflated and peeled off the rims. The car eventually took to yards but quit behind a house in the area of Idaho Street and Dearborn Avenue.

No injuries were reported.
MASON CITY  A man considered to be a witness in the deaths of two people found in a Mason City home Tuesday is in custody, police said Tuesday afternoon.

The Mason City Police Department announced Codie Matz, 25, of Mason City, had been taken into custody about 3 p.m.

Police as of Tuesday afternoon have not charged him with a crime, but said he was wanted as a material witness in an ongoing situation.

Two bodies were discovered during a welfare check of a home in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest about 7:43 a.m., the department said in a news release Tuesday morning. Police have not identified the people who died.

Police asked for publics help in locating Matz, who had not been seen since 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Matz was taken into custody in Bondurant, KCCI-TV reported Tuesday afternoon. Bondurant, in Polk County, is a northeastern suburb of Des Moines.

He was believed to have been heading to Cedar Falls, Police Chief Jeff Olson confirmed. Matz had contacts in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area, Olson said, but his department didnt have any contact with him Tuesday.

Matz, who was being transported back to Cerro Gordo County, lived in the single-story blue house in southwest Mason City, according to court documents.

A neighbor confirmed the home is owned by an older married couple. Police havent identified the people found dead in the house.

Letha Markwardt has lived in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest since the mid-1960s. She said she has talked to the couple in passing, who she said were always very nice.

Markwardt also met Matz, who she said was cordial to her.

She said it was tragic and shocking to hear what happened in her neighborhood.

This area has had its difficulties, but you just dont think this would happen, Markwardt said late Tuesday morning.

She woke up around 5 a.m., and noticed police activity at her neighbors around 7 or 7:30 a.m., she said.
CEDAR FALLS  There were no fireworks as the Cedar Falls City Council voted 4-3 to ban the discharge of fireworks in the city Monday night.

However, some officials said they fully expect there will be fireworks discharged in the city, legally or not.

Council members passed a fireworks ban ordinance with no public discussion and no council debate. Mayor Jim Brown was a little surprised at the lack of discussion, but said, There was plenty of discussion to move it to this point where we are tonight over the past several months.

I think itll still be open for reconsideration later, Brown added. The council will look at it to see how it goes, the total ban, through New Years and the next Fourth of July. If folks are expecting it to be real quiet next July 4, they might be a little surprised. But for now, it is what it is. Its a ban.

Council member Frank Darrah initially voted for an outright ban, then moved to reconsider that action Aug. 21, saying more study was needed. However, Darrah cast the swing vote Oct. 2 for a total ban, saying he voted his conscience after hearing additional discussion. He voted for the ban again Monday night.

I really liked the idea of the ban, he said. Ive consistently heard both from within my ward and throughout the community that a ban is good. Im perfectly OK with it.

I anticipate people will continue to shoot off fireworks just like they have the last 78 years, with or without a ban, Darrah added, Im always open to revisiting it but I wouldnt want to do it until weve had a couple of times to try it, over the upcoming New Years and July 4 holiday seasons.

The Legislature legalized the sale and use of consumer fireworks this year, allowing them to be shot off on private property from June 1 through July 8 and again from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3. Cities can further restrict their discharge but not their sale.

Council members Dave Wieland, Mark Miller and John Runchey joined Darrah in voting for the ban, citing concerns about flying debris and disruption to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and others.

Council members Tom Blanford, Susan deBuhr and Nick Taiber voted against the ban. They supported a limited period for legally discharging fireworks.

The ordinance requires council approval on two more readings at the next two council meetings before final adoption.

In other business, council members approved a site plan for a proposed $11 million public safety building to house police and fire services at the existing site of the citys south fire station, at South Main Street and Bluebell Road.

Some design concerns were expressed by the developers of the Pinnacle Prairie area where the building would be located, but Community Development Director Stephanie Houk Sheetz and City Attorney Kevin Rogers indicated sufficient progress had been made with them to allow the project to proceed.

A public hearing on building plans will be Nov. 20.

Also, council members heard pleas from some citizens to hire more full-time firefighters. Retired Cedar Falls Fire Capt. Sharon Regenold said five firefighters should be hired to replace those who have recently left.

Public Safety Director Jeff Olson repeated the citys position that the city can bring more trained personnel to a fire scene with a combination of career firefighters, cross-trained public safety officers and paid-on-call city staff.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Combat veteran Sen. Joni Ernst said her experience in Kuwait and Iraq didnt prepare her for what she experienced on a fact-finding trip to a naval flight station.

It was a terrifying experience for me. Ill be honest about that, said Ernst Tuesday about participating in flight training exercises at Naval Station Norfolk. In 2015, she retired after 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel.

Ernst rode along as a Navy pilot practiced landing an F-18 Super Hornet on an aircraft carrier.

Ernst made the trip over the past weekend to gain more information in support of her amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. It would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide quarterly updates on the progress of the Navys Physiological Episode Team and their efforts to combat physiological episodes in jets.

According to the Navy, physiological episodes occur when aircrew experience a decrease in performance due to the cabin pressure fluctuations, contamination of breathing air or other factors.

The experience changed her mind about reports of students refusing to fly because of the physiological effects of supersonic flight.

When I heard reports of students refusing to fly it was like, Shame on them, Ernst told reporters on a conference call. However, after going through oxygen deprivation simulations and the flights, the chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee said she understands it is a very real thing.

To learn what pilots sometimes experience, Ernst donned an oxygen mask, and her oxygen level was reduced to simulate hypoxia  a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

My face got hot and flushed. My fingers started tingling and got numb. My legs started tingling. It was very hard to concentrate, Ernst said. It was horrible.

She experienced nothing like that while leading the Iowa Army National Guard 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait and southern Iraq and serving as a protection detail outside Camp Arifjan in Kuwait in 2003 and 2004.

Sandstorms were the worst thing ... and then you just pulled over on the side of the road, Ernst said with a laugh.

Her experience put the physiological effects in perspective.

One. Im not an aviator, but to be flying a high-dollar jet at supersonic speed to go through an episode like that and know how to respond to that and land safely or get to a point where you can get the appropriate level of oxygen, it was a very good demonstration, Ernst said.

Learning how to prevent hypoxia and how to deal with it are important for the safety of pilots, as well as the very expensive jets they fly, Ernst said.

So, one, if we can save a life, and, two, if we can save the equipment, we have to do it, she said.

It was important to experience the physiological impact firsthand, Ernst said, so she can tell others this is a very real issue and weve got to get it fixed.

Were going to stay on top of this until we find a fix, Ernst said, adding she believes all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee support her amendment.
WATERLOO  To make way for a new grocery store on the citys east side, families at one House of Hope facility are preparing to move into temporary housing.

The organization is currently run out of two older homes on Walnut Street, an eight-plex at 222 Walnut St. that was acquired by city of Waterloo  which plans to tear it down for the All In Grocers supermarket  and a duplex at 306 Walnut St.

In March, the organization is scheduled to expand to the former Ross Christensen dentistry office at 845 W. Fourth St., but the timeline has been moved up to beat the winter ground freeze.

Original thought was wed stay here until we moved, said Karin Rowe, executive director of House of Hope. But after securing proper housing, the families at 222 Walnut St. are moving. We werent just going to move them without everything we needed, she said.

House of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for single homeless mothers, will move into Ridgeway Place this week.

On Monday, about five volunteers helped families prepare. Rowe said the organization is in desperate need of volunteers to help with the move this week.

Rowe said the agencys new location, in the Church Row Neighborhood, will help the program serve more families.

The program, established in 1995, will grow from 10 apartments to 15 with more flexibility for different family sizes. Volunteers are helping to renovate the building, donated by the Christensen family.

The other House of Hope location at 306 Walnut St., which houses mothers with four or more children, will be renovated into housing for a new prevention program within the organization. The program will serve young women aging out of foster care as they graduate from high school. Rowe is hoping that facility will be ready by June 1.

We want to avoid anybody becoming homeless during that transition time, Rowe said. All of a sudden they have to be adults really fast. They dont necessarily have that support system around them. ... We want to prevent them from ever going down the street to our other programs.

An advisory committee is collaborating with other agencies in the area, including Iowa After Care and Transition Specialists, according to Rowe.

The space will serve up to five young women. Details are being worked out by the committee, including which areas and age ranges will be served, Rowe said.

We want to make sure its open enough to bring our kids back home, but make sure we are serving this county first and foremost, she said of children who may have had to move to other counties for foster care but wish to return to the Waterloo area.
The carnage started even before the gunman entered the church.

It was a gorgeous day in Sutherland Springs, and worshipers at First Baptist Church were singing the praises of Christ. Suddenly, the joyous prayers were drowned out by screams of terror.

"Out of nowhere, shots started coming through the windows," said David Brown, whose mother was sitting in the back pew. "Windows broke out. Shots were flying."

The gunman started unloading his 450 rounds of ammo from outside, targeting the congregation of about 50 people.

Then came the killer -- dressed in tactical gear and armed with an assault rifle as he stormed in through the front door of the small Texas church.

Roseanne Solis was sitting near the entrance.

"Everybody started screaming, yelling," Solis told CNN affiliate KSAT. "Everybody got down, crawling under wherever they could hide. He was shooting hard."

Solis dropped to the ground but was struck in the left arm. "I could feel the gunshots. I saw them on the carpet," she said. "I could see the gunshots coming down."

Brown said his mother recalled the gunman walking up and down the aisles several times.

"She stayed on the ground the whole time -- never saw him, just saw his boots as he walked around the church," Brown said.

At one point, the shooting stopped. From the ground, Solis saw a man's feet walk by and thought maybe the police had arrived.

But it was the killer, walking pew by pew, looking for more survivors to shoot.

"Everybody was saying, 'Be quiet! it's him, it's him!'" Solis said.

Not everyone could keep quiet. Young children in the church couldn't stop crying, said Solis' husband, Joaquin Ramirez. So the gunman found the children and shot them point-blank.

As the massacre continued, Ramirez made eye contact with Annabelle Pomeroy -- the 14-year-old daughter of the church's pastor. She was crying for help, Ramirez told KSAT.

Realizing Annabelle might get shot, Ramirez motioned with his finger for stay quiet. It didn't work. Annabelle was killed.

The gunman eventually made his way to the back pew, where Brown's mother was hiding, "and started shooting the lady next to her multiple times," Brown said.

Brown's mother was certain she would be next, "and her life was about to end."

"Then somebody with a gun showed up at the front of the church (and) caught the shooter's attention," Brown said. "And he left, and that was the end of the ordeal."

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office arrived four minutes after the first 911 call, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

By the end of the massacre, 26 people were dead, including eight members of the same family and the gunman's own grandmother-in-law.

Ramirez and Solis survived by playing dead.
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[contentcards url=https://tradworker.org/2017/11/korean-war-ii/]

We imposed crippling sanctions on a mountainous and rocky nation with poor soil thats necessarily a food importer, then pitch hysterical propaganda to our own citizenry about the maniacal Kim Jong-il starving his own people. Weve consistently said and demonstrated that were waiting for a single crack in their military defense infrastructure to invade and conquer their country, then mock them for their outsized military expenditures. Finally, weve established a clear precedent of only menacing non-aligned nations that dont have a nuclear repellant, then accuse the DPRK of planning to blow up the world for scrambling around in top secret mountainside tunnels to develop the one thing that can truly guarantee that theyll be safe.

Read More. https://tradworker.org/2017/11/korean-war-ii/

You might not like what it says, but I think it is fairly accurate

America, please leave North Korea alone. They just want peace and quiet to live life their way, not our way

WtR
Madrid and Berlin-based architecture firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos will present Estonia's new Arvo Part Centre with a new exhibition - called TABULA - at the Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin, which will open to the public on December 8 and will be on view until January 16, 2018. The Arvo Part Centre is currently under construction and will be the new home for the legacy of the distinguished Estonian composer Arvo Part.

The centre is located in Laulasmaa, 35 km from Tallinn, on a peninsula with a magnificent natural surrounding within a pine forest near the sea. Core of the Arvo Part Centre will be the archive, which brings together the entire creative heritage of the composer, providing a research and learning environment for cultural education.

The exhibition presents a visual-acoustic installation which captures the atmosphere of the Arvo Part Centre, while visitors can listen to Arvo Parts composition "Tabula rasa".

Areal view. Image  Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos

The Estonian Arvo Part is regarded as one of the most important living composers of new music. With the aim of creating opportunities for preserving and researching the creative heritage of the composer in his native land, and in the context of the Estonian language, Arvo Part and his family founded the Arvo Part Centre 2010 in Laulasmaa.

Interior view. Image  Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos

With the chosen structure of a geometric pattern, originated in a repeated pentagonal form, the architects want to keep alive and interpret in architectural terms the creative legacy of Arvo Part means to find a balance between the intimacy of his musical compositions and the powerful beauty of the Estonian landscape. The Arvo Part Centre is planned to be opened to the public in autumn 2018, the year that Estonia celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The exhibition presents the new building for the Arvo Part Centre that is designed by the Spanish architects Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano / Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. The Centre covers an area of 2350 m2 and will accommodate the archive, a library, a 150-seat chamber hall, an exhibition area, a video hall, and classrooms for cultural education as well as employees work spaces.

Frontal view. Image  Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos

The exhibition installation will convey the atmosphere of the Arvo Part Centre. The defining elements of the building will be displayed resting on a figurative plane in which shape, rhythm and transparency will become distinct parts of the conceptual presentation, in order to give an in-depth view of the project. Arvo Part's music will surround the visitors as they walk among the exhibited pieces.

Study model. Image  Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos

Dr. h.c. Kristin Feireiss, Aedes, Berlin, Michel Part, Chairman of the Arvo Part Centre Board, Laulasmaa, Anu Kivilo, Managing Director of Arvo Part Centre, Laulamaa, Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano, principals of Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos will be speaking at the opening of the exhibition.

Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos was founded in 1985 by Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano and have offices in Madrid and Berlin. They are recipients of the 2007 National Prize for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and the 2010 Nike Prize issued by the Bund Deutscher Architekten (BDA), as well as the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2010), the Piranesi Prix de Rome (2011), the European Museum of the Year Award (2012), the Hannes Meyer Prize (2012), AIA Honorary Fellowship (2015) and the Alvar Aalto Medal in 2015.

The presentation will be in english. More info can be seen from here. You can register for this event by replying this email: [email protected]

Top image: Observation tower. Image  Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos

> via Aedes Architecture Forum
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined members of the Columbiana County Drug Task Force in East Liverpool today to announce details of a 756-count indictment filed against 100 people in connection with a large-scale fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, and cocaine trafficking ring.

Authorities began serving arrest warrants as part of "Operation Big Oak" (Breaking Into Gangs/Opiate Addiction Knockdown) on Monday.

According to investigators, those accused of trafficking drugs as part of the drug trafficking organization are allegedly responsible for funneling the equivalent of approximately 1 million potentially fatal doses of carfentanil and approximately 350,000 potentially fatal doses of fentanyl into Columbiana County alone.

The amount of fentanyl and carfentanil that this drug trafficking organization allegedly brought to this area was enough to kill every single person in Columbiana County, plus every man, woman, and child in 11 other nearby counties, said Attorney General DeWine. During the course of this investigation, an East Liverpool officer came in contact with a small amount of fentanyl and nearly died. That is how dangerous these drugs are, and that is why those charged as part of this investigation must be held accountable.

The drug trafficking ring is alleged to have primarily operated between Cuyahoga and Columbiana counties since 2014. Three Cuyahoga County men, who are the alleged ringleaders of the operation, are accused of operating the drug ring as part of the Down the Way criminal street gang. The men are all facing multiple charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl and the trafficking of heroin and/or cocaine.

A fourth Cuyahoga County man, who was also identified as an alleged ringleader of the organization, is accused of trafficking carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as part of the drug operation.

According to investigators, the four suspects allegedly sold the drugs to dozens of mid-level traffickers who then sold the drugs across Columbiana County.

A total of 51 alleged mid-level traffickers from Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Tuscarawas, and Mahoning counties are also facing one or more charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, or cocaine.

Nine of the aforementioned suspects are charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree, which carries a mandatory 11-year prison sentence upon conviction.

A full list of trafficking suspects in custody as of noon today can be found on the Attorney General's website.

Forty-five lower-level suspects were also indicted after investigators found that they allegedly contributed to the actions of the drug trafficking organization.

Two suspects are charged with felony assault for allegedly exposing East Liverpool Police Officer Chris Green to fentanyl during a May 2017 traffic stop conducted as part of the investigation into this drug trafficking ring. Officer Green survived the exposure after being revived with four doses of naloxone.

The Columbiana County Drug Task Force and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation special agents working as part of Attorney General DeWine's Heroin Unit investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by special prosecutors with Attorney General DeWine's Heroin Unit and Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron.

The Columbiana County Drug Task Force is led by the Columbiana County Sheriffs Office and includes investigators from the Columbiana Police Department, East Liverpool Police Department, East Palestine Police Department, Lisbon Police Department, Liverpool Township Police Department, Salem Police Department, and Columbiana County Prosecutors Office.

In total, the 756-count indictment lists one or more of the following charges: engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participating in a criminal gang, aggravated trafficking in drugs (fentanyl, carfentanil, or oxycodone), aggravated trafficking in heroin, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in heroin in the vicinity of a school, aggravated trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, attempted trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in the vicinity of a juvenile, trafficking in marijuana, assault, corrupting another with drugs, having weapons under disability, permitting drug abuse, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs.

Authorities with the U.S. Marshals Service and Hancock County (W.Va.) Sheriff's Office are assisting with serving arrest warrants on the 100 suspects charged as part of the investigation.

Attorney General DeWine created the Heroin Unit in 2013. The unit is made up of authorities from the Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Special Prosecutions Section, and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission who focus on assisting local authorities with investigating and prosecuting high-level drug traffickers in Ohio. The unit also includes education and outreach specialists from the Attorney Generals Office.

Local law enforcement agencies interested in receiving assistance from the Attorney Generals Heroin Unit should call 855-BCI-OHIO.
Nov 7, 2017 | By Benedict

Pennsylvania 3D printing company 3DFacture has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new Weaver 3D printer, a stereolithography (SLA) laser 3D printer with an F-theta lens and 50-micron laser spot. The resin 3D printer is available at an early bird price of $999.

Since the arrival of Formlabs on the desktop 3D printing scene, the number of affordable resin 3D printers has skyrocketed, and the SLA/DLP revolution doesnt look like slowing down. Its latest recruit is the 3DFacture Weaver, a printer with an F-theta lens thats being billed as the first desktop 3D printer with a 50-micron laser spot.

According to 3DFacture, there are two big problems in the current stereolithography landscape. The first of these SLA problems concerns a lack of optical lenses that can guarantee a uniformly sized laser spot in a large print area. The lack of such a lens, 3DFacture says, produces an elliptical or diffused laser spot at the edges of the build area, which hampers printing resolution and the stability of a 3D printed part.

The other problem relates to distortion in either a DLP projected image or a laser galvanometer optical path. In both DLP and SLA desktop 3D printers, this distortion can lead to printing inaccuracies.

The best way to tackle both of these problems? Introduce an F-theta lens to the setup, according to 3DFacture.

Its not a foreign concept in the world of 3D printing. Renishaws AM400 powder bed 3D printer, for example, uses an F-theta lens. But machines like the AM400 are much more expensive than Kickstarter-funded desktop 3D printers, since they are required to produce complex metal parts for industrial applications.

By sticking an F-theta lens in the Weaver, 3DFacture essentially introduces a new trick to the consumer-level SLA party. Whereas existing SLA printers use galvo mirrors to direct their lasers, the Weaver uses a multi-element lens assembly that focuses an incident beam onto a flat plane.

The Weavers F-theta lens has a focal length that varies with the angle at which the beam enters the lensing element, which keeps the laser beams waist diameter constant.

"You dont get this kind of guarantee in other 3D printers," 3DFacture says. "Some printers list a 70- or 140-micron laser spot size, which might be true right at the center, but will be far-off at the edge, 3DFacture adds. That's why a well-known SLA laser printer claims a 140-micron average laser spot size.

3DFacture says a non-uniform laser spot size can have knock-on negative effects, such as making the light intensity non-uniform, which consequently leads to print failures caused by low light intensity at edges.

The F-theta lens provides a focused 50-micron round spot profile at very wide angles, increasing light uniformity and enhancing the surface smoothness of printed parts, says 3DFacture.

What all this adds up to is some promising 3D printing specs. A 405nm UV laser is used to cure the 3D printing resin, with an X-Y resolution of 50 m and 25 m along the Z axis. A high-end linear rail means users can even squeeze out 10 m layers on the Z axis if needed.

The build volume of the Weaver SLA 3D printer is 150 x 150 x 190 mm, and the printer has been tested for applications including art design, jewelry casting, and dental prints.

The company has also developed a range of 3D printable resins for use with the Weaver. The resin tank of the Weaver 3D printer has a Teflon film coated on top of the PDMS layer, which could prevent heat-induced clouding problems.

Those interested in getting hold of a Weaver SLA 3D printer will have to stump up $999 (without F-theta lens) or $1,499 (with F-theta lens) via Kickstarter, a price that includes the 3D printer itself, 500 ml of resin, and a starter kit. Other more expensive packages include things like an extra build platform and Fixer3D repair tool.

3DFacture has raised over $20,000 of its $50,000 goal, and estimated delivery for most packages is Jan-Feb 2018.

Posted in 3D Printer

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Nov 7, 2017 | By Julia

If youre already feeling a case of the winter blues, fret not. Starting February 1st, Times Square will be even more bedazzled, thanks to a new public art installation by design team Aranda\Lasch and Marcelo Coehlo. Window to the Heart will see the worlds largest lens installed at Father Duffy Square, between 46th and 47th Streets, in a glimmering celebration of love in Times Square. Just announced as the winning entry of the 10th annual Times Square Valentine Heart Design Competition, the massive heart-shaped Fresnel lens was 3D printed by Formlabs, and will remain on view for the entire month of February.

In one of the worlds most Instagrammed places, filled with cameras of all shapes and sizes, Window to the Heart places the worlds largest lens in the center of Times Square, said Times Square Arts in a statement. Not just any lens, the giant Fresnel lens measures 12 feet in diameter, and was designed together with 3D printing giant Formlabs. The idea is to both distort and capture the reflective image of Times Square, drawing visitors towards the heart-shaped center window through the optical bending of light. Passers-by will have the opportunity to look through the window or snap themselves in front of it, essentially completing the loop between the lens of the eye and the lens of the camera.

Selfie talk aside, the gargantuan 3D printed lens is a design feat in and of itself. Whereas traditional lens-making relies on methods of casting and cutting glass in addition to endless polishing, Window to the Heart will leverage the latest 3D printing technology to craft an entirely new type of reflective structure. Each segment of the 12-foot lens will be 3D printed at a high resolution by Formlabs in clear resin. By using 3D printing resin in place of traditional glass, Window to the Heart aims to subvert our antiquated methods of lens-making, effectively inviting the public to reimagine how to see and be seen in the world. What youll see when you look through that heart-shaped window, Times Square hopes, will be love at first sight.

Named as the winner of the 10th annual Times Square Valentine Heart Design Competition, Window to the Heart clearly follows the competitions mandate to celebrate Love in Times Square in February. Up against some of the top architecture and design firms, the unique installation was jointly designed by acclaimed New York and Tucson-based studio Aranda\Lasch and Brazilian-American computational designer and MIT grad Marcelo Coehlo. Previous competition winners include Sterotank, Collective-LOK, The Office for Creative Research, Young Projects, and Situ Studio.

Window to the heart will be officially unveiled at 11 a.m. on February 1, 2018 at Father Duffy Square, New York. Visitors will have until the end of February to snap themselves with the installation, where they can experience a whole new way to capture the look of love.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Just below Cesar Chavez Street, where Mission Street and Valencia Street meet, lies one of San Francisco's most vibrant micro-hoods.

This tiny triangle sits at the very base of Bernal Heights, right under Noe Valley. Looking at it on a map, you'll notice something a bit peculiarit looks like the Mission is sticking its tongue at you; hence its name. (Mission La Lengua translates to tongue of the Mission). There has been much debate over whether this little nook lies in Mission, Bernal or Noe, but for long-time residents, it's decidedly and affectionately Mission la Lengua. Dig in a little deeper and you'll see that the area is bustling with affordable bars, diverse cuisines, and culture. Here are some of the best spots:

Mission La Lengua sits under the Mission and in-between Bernal and Noe.

El Rio

A staple of San Francisco's queer culture, El Rio is a quintessential dive bar located just past Cesar Chavez Street. A true staple in the neighborhood, this welcoming bar features a large outdoor patio, indoor event space, and your classic bar + pool table / shuffleboard combo. Depending on the day, you can find salsa dancing, ping pong tables outside, shoulder-to-shoulder dance parties (notably by Swagger Like Us), or even movie nights. Sure, El Rio is a popular spot, but it deserves any recognition it gets. // 1pm to 2am, 3158 Mission St., elriosf.com

BIG(b)ANG DJ's at El Rio (Courtesy of The Groovement)

Virgil's Sea Room

Sharing a wall with El Rio, Virgil's is an intimate, tamer venue perfect for grabbing a pitcher of margaritas or cocktail. Its dark atmosphere presents a nice juxtaposition against its vibrant back patio filled with picnic tables and heaters. Virgil's feels like El Rio's older, calmer brother and has helped turn this corner of Mission Street into a vibrant night scene. Virgil's is also host to a slew of events, often for good causes within the city. // 4pm to 2am, 3152 Mission St., virgilssf.com

Relax with a margarita at Virgil's (Courtesy of Virgil's Sea Room)

CoffeeShop



The best coffee you will ever have in San Francisco isn't at a big chain or a fancy spot. Instead, it's at an unassuming hole-in-the-wall called CoffeeShop. Run by a husband and wife duo, this tiny nook holds around ten people at a time and doesn't take itself seriously (the workers take pride in their musical choices and know you by name). However, they are deliberate in making you a killer cup of coffee. // 6:30am to 5pm, 3139 Mission St.

Here's one of the owners, Wilson. (Courtesy of CoffeeShop)

Coco's Ramen / Crazy Sushi



Can't decide between sushi or ramen? You don't have to. This eatery is actually two restaurants. On one side, Crazy Sushi impresses with fresh, creative rolls. On the other, Coco's Ramen serves some of San Francisco's richest tonkatsu and curry ramen. Open for lunch and dinner, Coco's is probably the standout attraction of the two. When you go, get the deep fried egg with your bowl of noodles and be prepared to leave chockablock with food baby. // 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm (closed Tuesdays), 3319 Mission St., cocoramen.com

Spicy decadence at Coco's Ramen (Courtesy of Mike Lin via Zagat)

Secession Art and Design

This little gallery, tucked in between taquerias and dive bars, should not be missed. Secession Art and Design encapsulates San Franciscan culture with everything from sweatshirts to knick-knacks, large paintings to photographs. Nearly everything inside is locally produced. As a bonus, it's also an event space. If you see something going on inside, don't be afraid to step in and browse. // 12pm to 7pm (closed Mondays), 3235 Mission St., secessionsf.com

There's always lots on display. (Courtesy of Secession)

Pizza Hacker



If thin crust pizza prepared fresh daily is your thing, then you're going to love Pizza Hacker. Founded by a gastrome who sold pies from his truck at Dolores Park, the pizzeria has matured into a family-friendly neighborhood staple. With a rotating selection of seasonal pizzas and communal dining at picnic tables, this establishment bustles every night for good reason. // 5pm to 10pm (closed Mondays), 3299 Mission St., thepizzahacker.com

A rotating selection of seasonal pizzas. (Courtesy of StoreyPhotography)

Mitchell's Ice Cream



Mitchell's has been around since 1953 and they haven't changed a thing since opening day. The little shop has not only the creamiest frozen delights around, but also a wide selection of exotic, fruity flavors. There's no way to go wrong at Mitchell's and you'll be more than tempted to grab a gallon to take home. // 11am to 11pm, 688 San Jose Ave., mitchellsicecream.com
Resolute Energy Corp (NYSE:REN) is an independent oil and gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and gas properties in the Delaware Basin portion of the Permian Basin of west Texas. For more information, visit http://www.resoluteenergy.com

The Company routinely posts important information about the Company under the Investor Relations section of its website. The Company's common stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "REN."
Shell Aviation today announced the signing of a fuelling concession agreement to operate the new into-plane and fuel farm facilities as the sole jet fuel supplier at Salalah International Airport in Oman.





Shell Aviation now supplies jet fuel at the two largest airports in the country  Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL).



We see significant potential in Salalah and we aim to support their growth by providing our extensive expertise in fuel supply Anne Anderson, Vice President Shell Aviation, said during the signing ceremony. We are pleased to add Salalah to our global network as we also mark 55 years of operations in Oman.



Salalah International Airport was expanded in 2015 to enable it to serve 1 million passengers per year as part of Omans strategy to further develop the area as a tourist destination. The airport has also been designed to allow for further expansion that could enable it to cater for up to 6 million passengers annually.



Salim Awadh Said Al Yafaey, General Manager, Salalah International Airport, said: Shell Aviations operational and safety capabilities were decisive factors for us. Efficiency and supply security will be key in achieving our ambitious vision for the airport and Salalah. We believe Shell Aviation is the right choice to help us get there.



Shell Aviation customers at Salalah will benefit from fuel supply security backed by Shells integrated supply chain; product quality assurance via Shells Fuel Quality Assurance System; professional account management providing a single focal point for fuel requirements across Shells global network; and access to local expertise by leveraging Shell's aviation experience in Oman.
President al-Sisi Monday vowed to remain faithful to Egypts two-term presidential tenure should he win next year elections at time prominent critics are jailed or forced into exile.

Speaking in interview with US CNBC aired on Monday, al-Sisi who came to power in 2014 did not say he will run again next year also marking the end of his term.

Im with preserving two four year terms and not to change it, he said.

Im not for any amendments to be made to the constitution in this period, he added.

The former army general first came to power after overthrowing Egypts first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

He has led the country with an iron hand muzzling over 60,000 critics and human rights activists. Many of them have been handed jail sentences in mass trails while hundreds of them have gone into exile.

His main critical group, the Muslim Brotherhood has been banned with its top leaders including President Morsi locked up over several charges.

Even though he did not indicate to run next year, his supporters who control the parliament have suggested constitutional reforms to allow him stay in power for a lengthy period.

Monday, Khaled Ali , a lawyer who soared to prominence after challenging the Egyptian governments last year decision to transfer the two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia announced his candidacy for March to April 2018 elections.

Ali announced his candidacy at press conference in capital Cairo indicating that Egypt was a deep crisis.

Ali is yet to fight against the judiciary which pressed a three-month jail term against him for public indecency after he was accused of making a vulgar hand gesture outside a Cairo courthouse in January when he scored a legal victory over Mr. al-Sisi in the islands case.

He is expected to face the judiciary on Wednesday in an appeal. He can be disqualified from the race he losses the case.
President Robert Mugabe Monday sacked countrys Vice-President Mnangagwa accused by his wife of plotting a coup against him, a move analysts believe is maneuvered to prepare Grace Mugabe for the pinnacle.

Emmerson Mnangagwa was fired over several accusations including disloyalty in the execution of his duties, the announcement by the information minister, Simon Khaya Moyo.

Mnangagwas sacking also came following a Sunday rally of ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Zanu-PF in capital Harare at which First Lady Grace Mugabe indicated he told her husband that should leave your position for me after accusing the Vice President of plotting to topple the 93-old President.

Mugabe himself on Saturday at a rally in the countrys second city of Bulawayo said he was prepared to dismiss Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwas downfall started following his removal from the cabinet as Justice Minister in the cabinet reshuffle weeks ago after a demand by Grace and Zanu PF Secretary for Youths, Kudzanai Chipanga.

The Monday move rolls out the red carpet for Grace to became the second most important figure in the Southern African country as the ruling party heads towards a internal constitutional reform next month allowing a woman to be appointed to its top body.

Mnangagwa, 73, a longstanding Mugabes comrade is viewed as the person to replace the Zimbabwean leader who has been running country since 1980.

Believed to enjoy the support of the military and of veterans, the former Vice President joins the long list former Mugabes allies who are now part of a coalition of alliance.

Former Vice President, Joice Mujuru, sacked in 2014 in similar circumstances is part of the alliance which also includes former Finance Minister Tendai Biti and ex-Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe has been selected as Zanu-PF candidate for year presidential elections.
Everyone with little intelligence in economy have agreed that demonetisation was the biggest demon faced by Indians for centuries as it killed hundreds of innocent Indian citizens, crippled the economy, rose hunger and poverty, small scale industries got closed, no jobs etc; less you talk about it less the agony. Only the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his BJP and its supporters still call it a mega success, because they are on denial mode. This decision was taken mainly to win Uttar Pradesh elections. Demonetisation has benefited the ruling party by trashing the economy of opposition. But if you look at the common mans interest you will see where India is heading.

No doubt, BJP had a landslide victory in a key state soon after the move to ban 86 per cent of the nations cash, though consequent data show that the economic shock has slowed growth and investment in Asias No. 3 economy. Rafts of economic data since the note ban decision have signalled that $2 trillion economy was hurt by the cash crackdown, raising fears that the economic growth stalled. Growth in the quarter ended March 2017 slowed to 6.1 per cent from a year earlier. It expanded 7 per cent pace in the previous quarter. Add the fact that 98.96 per cent of the high-value notes returned to the banking system, and it would seem that illicit money did find its way back into the system. The argument of fake notes too seems to have held up a bit. In FY17, fake notes detected rose 20 per cent from the previous fiscal figure but what was telling is that fake pieces of Rs 1000 detected rose a massive 79 per cent. But even then, the total detection is less than 1 per cent of the total currency pieces in circulation. Already, fake pieces of the new Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes have been detected. Which brings us to whether demonetisation cleaned up businesses or individual performance? It is very hard to convince because there is no guarantee that the new notes wont be used to store illicit money, they are already 50 per cent of total currency in circulation.

If you look at RBI report that tells a different story. It says that illegal notes worth 15.28tn rupees ($242bn) had been deposited in banks up to June 30. This basically means that almost 99 per cent of the demonetised money was deposited into banks. Hence, almost all the black money held in the form of cash also made it back into the banks and wasnt really destroyed, as had been hoped. The conventional explanation for this is that most people who had black money found other people, who did not have black money, to deposit their savings into the banking system for them, again this might have happened in few cases but largely this claim goes just as rant. As far as detecting forged currency is concerned, nothing much seems to have happened on this front either. Data from the RBI annual report tells us that the total number of fake Rs 500 (old series) and Rs 1,000 notes detected between April 2016 and March 2017 was 573,891. The total number of notes withdrawn stood at 24.02bn. This basically means that as a proportion, the counterfeit notes identified between April 2016 and March 2017 represent close to 0 per cent of the withdrawn notes.

One year ago the total number of counterfeit Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes detected stood at 404,794. And this happened without any demonetisation. Hence, demonetisation has failed in its major objectives. The government has, however, snubbed the idea that banned money that has come back into the banks has escaped inspection. A much-cited figure is the Income Tax departments monitoring of 13 lakh accounts, with suspicious deposits during demonetisation totalling Rs 2.9 lakh crore. It is, however, unclear how much of that will be discovered as illicit funds, and by when. RBI data for the entire financial year (2016-17) shows a higher amount that is Rs 43 crore fake currencies detected. That still works out to only 0.0002 per cent of all demonetised currency. In Jammu and Kashmir, terror incidents rose 38 per cent after demonetisation, the deaths of civilians climbed 2500 per cent, and 2 per cent more security personnel were killed. In Naxal affected states, terror incidents and deaths of civilians fell by about 45 per cent after the note ban, but the number of security personnel killed rose by 82 per cent.

If you take a glance on page 195 of this years Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) annual report, it has the answer to the question many Indians have been asking for close to 10 months. As per the RBI data, its safe to say that demonetisation has been a failure of epic proportions. On November 8 last year, the Modi government decided to demonetise Rs 500 ($7; 6) and Rs 1,000 notes, which were worth Rs 15.44tn in total. The idea was to target both fake currency and black money, or unaccounted wealth, as the Prime Minister told the nation. This was backed up by the government press release accompanying the decision.

Black money is essentially the money that has been earned but on which taxes havent been paid. Indians have deposited nearly all the currency bills voided by Prime Minister, knocking the central banks profit and dealing a blow to his drive to unearth unaccounted wealth. Banks have received Rs 15.28 trillion ($239 billion), or 99 per cent of the currency invalidated, if you believe the Reserve Bank of Indias annual report. The government had initially estimated about Rs 5 trillion wouldnt be declared following the sudden move on November 9, indicating that this was cash stashed away illegally to avoid tax. The cash ban prompted the central bank to print new currency, reducing its profit and cutting annual surplus payout to the government by half. Supporters of the cash ban saw the action as a battle against the rich who salt away their wealth without paying taxes. But the decision has not hit them much. One who suffered is common men who were law abiding and average revenue gainers.

If you remember, one year ago PM Modi made an emotive ground on demonetisation. He shed tears, he went melodramatic stating Give me 50 days, and then punish me if I am wrong  this statement was headline of all newspapers and primetime debate on news channels. The entire saga was more than a daily-soap. Irony is that, people have very short memory. Today no one recalls all that PM tricked. Modi has kept on hopping from acche din to new India digital India and so on. He flopped many ways, but neither voters nor opponents ever questioned the accountability. Meanwhile PM Modi too has learnt never to involve with his opponents; never to conduct press conference or never answer the questions. He just sets the schema and an ill-fated opposition and toothless media try to keep it up.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Stepping up pressure on Myanmar, the UN Security Council has asked the country to end its military campaign in Rakhine state and ensure the safe return of Muslim Rohingya refugees driven from their homes.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-membered powerful wing of the UN also demanded safe, unhindered access for its agencies and their partners to provide humanitarian assistance.

The Council instead unanimously agreed on a formal statement. It is only for the third time in nearly a decade that the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on Myanmar.

As a result of the alleged atrocities by security forces in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, more than 600,000 individuals, vast majority of whom are Rohingya Muslims, have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The unrest in troubled Rakhine state began after deadly attacks on police stations across the state, blamed on a newly emerged militant group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).

Scores of people were killed in the ensuing military crackdown, and there are widespread allegations of villages being burned and Rohingya being driven out.

The military in Myanmar says its operations are aimed at rooting out militants, and has repeatedly denied targeting civilians. Survivors, witnesses and refugees have contested this.

Stressing the importance of holding to account those responsible for human rights abuses and violations, the Security Council statement called for the Government of Myanmar to co-operate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Through the statement read out by its President for the month of November, Sebastiano Cardi from Italy, the Council urged Myanmar to support the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced people and refugees to their homes in Rakhine State.

It commended the efforts undertaken by Bangladesh, with the assistance of the United Nations, their partners and other nongovernmental organisations, to provide safety, shelter, and humanitarian assistance to those who have fled the violence.

The humanitarian situation remains desperate, Jonathan Allen, Britains Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN told reporters after the presidential statement on Myanmar.
Maharashtras minister of state for Finance, Rural Development, Deepak Kesarkar belongs to Shiv Sena, represents the Sawantwadi Assembly Constituency and a member of the 13th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. This guardian minister of Sindhudurg district also prefers the role of a social worker than ruling a state. He spoke about the work done by him for improving law and order in the state, addressing cyber crime issues and welfare of the police department with our Editor-in-Chief Vaidehi Taman.

What is your comment about recent law and order situation in Maharashtra?

We are trying our best to improve the law and order in the state. One of the most important development is the introduction of technology such as CCTV, CCTN systems all over and online FIR filing. Secondly, prevention measures were not effectively used previously, but now action is taken against anyone possessing criminal background.

To prevent cyber crimes, we have started centres all over Maharashtra. Each district has a cyber crime branch inter connected with each other. Our responsibility is not only to maintain the law and order but also to educate people.

People belonging to which religion is more involved in committing crimes?

We are the part of the government and theres no particular religion responsible for any crime. I believe areas where poverty is extreme, are the soft targets.

Cyber-crime rate has doubled as compared to the past but police are unable to resolve them effectively. What steps you are taking to address this issue?

Recently, we have connected all the districts in Maharashtra with cyber labs and youll see the results in coming months. However, our limitations in operating come in case of international sites as we cannot block them immediately. We are advancing our systems and the situation is better now as were having alliance with different countries.

After so many awareness initiatives, why havent the crime rate in rural areas declined yet?

Now, we see a major sense of awareness in women as many of them are coming forward to register complaint. People move around very safely in Mumbai at night. Such law and order can be seen only in Maharashtra and nowhere else in the country. But, there are other crimes like illicit liquor and we are trying to crack down those areas from where the crime emerges.In the recent past, extortion cases or underworld activities have surfaced. Is there any plan to tackle these crimes?

People are afraid to complain in such cases. They have to come forward and show some courage to lodge complaints. Once a case gets registered, others too will come forward to complain.

Have you taken any step to combat stress of police force?

We have a target to build one lakh more houses for the police. They will be offered loans to purchase their own homes. To save their travelling time and give them more comfort, another major initiative, thats in its designing stage, is to give hostel accommodations near police stations with every modern facility. Police personnel will mandatorily have to undergo regular medical check-up.

When will eight hour work days become a reality for police personnel?

Experiment of this system has already started in certain police stations. But, we have a police force of only two lakh people and thats insufficient. When they join duty they make their mind ready that they are sacrificing their lives for their country.

Looking at the geographical condition of the state there is shortage of man power in police department

We are constantly recruiting additional personnel. There is immense financial strain on the state. Still certain departments (like police dept) are given the liberty to employ people and district level recruitment is in progress.

When you first took over this ministry, what was the very first challenge that came to your mind?

In regulations and security, Maharashtra is No.1 in India. But, thats not sufficient as same system must be effectively implemented in rural areas too. Mumbai is covered with CCTV network that helps in identifying criminals. But rural areas lack that facility. One main constraint is that we are a huge state though we stand first for imparting quality training of our police forces. Ten percent of the district planning committee fund will be allotted for CCTV installation project in rural areas.

Recently, few members from your party said that theyre happy with the Fadnavis government and theyll be joining BJP.

Practically this will never happen. In politics, baby cry of members is very common to get leaders attention. Though sometimes, there are some internal fights amongst members as well.

Why did you quit NCP?

I left NCP as I was fighting against its criminal element. Right from the beginning I was with Congress. After it split, many of the Maharashtra politicians remained with NCP. I always made it very clear to my party that I will not work with criminal elements. I am a social worker as I dont have any political background. As a social worker, I joined politics because I felt this is the platform to deliver justice to people.

BJP has inducted several candidates possessing criminal background. Whats your thought on that?

BJP needs to think if they want to accept such corrupt people in the party. The Sangh Parivar, from which BJP emerges as a political party, originally belongs to Konkan. They created a platform for good people with Hindu ideology. Konkan is a land where BJPs history lies, if that land creates criminals, it is unjustified. If BJP wants to shield corrupt leaders we will have to again fight against it.

So, which party is 100 per cent clean right now?

I believe, BJP came to come power due to Narendra Modis charisma and Anna Hazares anti-corruption campaign. People lost faith in Congress party due to its involvement in corruption. They expect BJP to be a non-corrupt party and the Prime Minister has called for  zero tolerance to corruption. Onus lies on state leaders to implement what our PM has promised the nation.

What do you think about Uddhav Thackerays leadership?

Uddhav Thackeray is a real fighter. He has chosen the maximum number of MLAs which didnt exist even during Shiv Senas reign. He has an ability to fight. I joined Sena only because this party always stood by the poor. Bal Thackeray employed the local people in various corporations.

What do you want advice common men on security measures?

The number of eve teasers getting arrested has increased significantly in the state. I want people to keep faith on the police department, contact them whenever any difficulty strikes or else approach us. We have also launched an app with panic button for women safety but only around 56000 people have subscribed to it.

Where can we see you after five years?

I want to remain a social worker. An ordinary person like me cannot have a dream to become Maharashtras Chief Minister. We are organising a program in two districts of Maharashtra  Sindhudurg and Chandrapur, where steps are being taken to increase the per capita income for every sector including agriculture. If it becomes successful we can replicate the same in the entire state.
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Four of Alabama's representatives in Congress are urging the Trump Administration to take action on steel imports.

Reps. Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne and Terri Sewell have signed their names to a letter, along with 68 other members of Congress, asking Trump to release a report dealing with the impact of steel imports on national security. The letter was signed by members of both parties who are among the Congressional Steel Caucus.

The letter, dated Oct. 26, deals with an expected report on whether steel imports threaten national security, pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. U.S. steel producers have been lobbying for action by Trump, whether through protection acts or increasing infrastructure spending, to undo some of the lasting effects of the recession and globalization on the steel industry.

The letter urges the Trump Administration to release the report and take action. Steel imports were up 21 percent over last year through the first six months of 2017, they say, and the world market is glutted with 700 million metric tons of global steel.

In the letter, the representatives say more than 3 million tons of steel was brought into the U.S. just in September. It urges action to stop "this unfair trade so that American steelworkers can continue to make American steel that supports our military, critical infrastructure, and the livelihoods of innumerable American families."

"As you highlighted when you initiated this investigation, and as the Steel Caucus well knows, the domestic industry has suffered greatly at the hands of global steel overcapacity and unfair trade," the letter states. "Yet, our conventional trade laws, while offering some relief, have failed to keep up with these illicit, and indeed destructive, practices."
The University of Alabama School of Law has received a $1.5 million gift to fund a Constitutional law chair and point the way to a center for constitutional studies.

The gift was given by Florida attorney, land owner and investor Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. of Sarasota, Fla. His father, Hugh Culverhouse Sr., is a 1947 graduate of the law school.

The gift will establish the Hugh F. Culverhouse, Jr. Chair in Constitutional Law and will serve as a foundation for a center for constitutional studies, the school announced. Culverhouse said the gift came from his love of the Constitution and his respect for law school dean Mark E. Brandon's devotion "to the study and teaching of the U.S. Constitution."

"My love comes from being a trial lawyer since 1975 and seeing the document live in my work as a federal prosecutor and as a federal criminal defense attorney," Culverhouse said. "As I matured, I realized the importance of the Constitution in providing checks and balances in governing this nation. This document is ever moving in its interpretation and yet never moving in its principles."

Culverhouse has donated more than $7 million to The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, and more than $2.5 million to the Crimson Tide Foundation.
CVS will begin offering next-day prescription deliveries in the new year, the pharmacy chain announced Monday. Nationwide next-day delivery will start in early 2018 with residents in some cities - Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco - eligible for same-day delivery within hours of orders, CVS said. Outside of the same-day delivery cities, CVS customers can receive next-day deliveries for prescriptions and select over-the counter products. The items will be in tamper-proof packaging.

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Lee Roop | lroop@al.com

President Trump, currently on his second day in Japan as part of an Asian tour, made remarks about Japanese automakers that had more than a few scratching their heads: "Try building your cars in the United States instead of shipping them over. Is that possible to ask? That's not rude. Is that rude? I don't think so." According to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Japanese automakers have 24 manufacturing plants and 43 research and development facilities in 20 U.S. states. Roughly three out of four Japanese cars sold in the U.S. last year were built in North America, including Mexico and Canada.

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker

An Alabama Supreme Court ruling on a Birmingham construction project could leave city councils across the state with a little less wiggle room in zoning decisions - and possibly subject developers to additional delays while even the most minor changes are considered. (Image courtesy of BL Harbert)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Redline Steel Founder and CEO Colin Wayne Erwin is a 28-year-old self-described "serial entrepreneur" who says that past failures fueled his current success. Hard-won focus helped him build Huntsville-based Redline into one of the largest customized steel manufacturers in the United States, specializing in home decor steel pieces. (Contributed by Redline Steel)

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Lawrence Specker | lspecker@al.com

Entrepreneurs, executives, founders and advocates are among the 30 honorees in This is Alabama's 2017 class of Women Who Shape the State. From the mouth of Mobile Bay to the shoals of north Alabama, these mothers and daughters, CEOs and community leaders, are making a difference in a wide variety of fields including conservation, LGBTQ acceptance, healthcare and education.

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Walt Disney Co. held talks in recent weeks to buy most of 21st Century Fox Inc., which would have given the entertainment giant control of another studio and TV production assets, according to a CNBC report. But the two sides aren't talking now and the negotiations may not go anywhere. Fox and Disney shares both rose after the news. (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Lucasfilm Ltd. /Courtesy Everett Collection)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

No one disputes the need for the projects in Shelby County and Mobile, but State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) says a lot of Alabama's economic future is also riding on Madison County. And growth there faces a bottleneck on I-565, which Orr says needs widening. "It's imperative that it gets done and gets done in the next five years," Orr said last week. "It's that important." (Lee Roop/lroop@al.com)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Former University of Alabama Athletic Director Bill Battle, sports medicine giant James Andrews and Birmingham Barons and BASS owner Don Logan are among the six newest inductees into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame. Also being inducted on Thursday will be Charles E. Adair of Montgomery, Dorothy Davidson of Huntsville and Birmingham's John D. Johns. Shown: John Johns (University of Alabama)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Kyle Murphy, the owner of Pelham-based Murphy Home Builders, was named the Jerry Kyser Builder of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Alabama. Murphy has served two terms as president for the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders and is currently serving on the HBAA's executive committee as a presidential appointee. Murphy, right, is shown accepting the award from 2017 HBAA President Dan Taylor. (HBAA)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones released a new TV campaign ad on Monday, focusing on his pledge to help "fix" the problems in health care while attacking Republican opponent Roy Moore. Jones also said he opposes abolishing the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, but said there are problems within the national health care law that need to be repaired. Jones, right, is shown during an appearance Huntsville, accompanied by Huntsville cardiologist David Drenning. (Paul Gattis/pgattis@al.com)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has signed on to an effort that would allow states to collect sales taxes from internet retailers that do not have physical presences within their borders. South Dakota legislators passed a law last year requiring collection a tax from online retailers, but it was struck down by the State Supreme Court. South Dakota is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, with Marshall and Attorneys General from 34 other states and the District of Columbia filing a friend-of-the-court brief for the sales tax collection efforts. (AP image)

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Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Thousands of people came out for the 10th annual Oyster Cook-Off at The Hangout in Gulf Shores on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 4. The outdoor oyster festival at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico pits dozens of restaurants against each other for the best oyster in several categories. Alabama restaurants from Birmingham, Mobile, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach competed along with teams from Mississippi and Louisiana restaurants served up oysters grilled and raw. (Brian Kelly | BKelly@AL.com)
So what are Alabama's chances of landing the coveted $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda plant? A recent survey of site consultants may yield some more clues.

Development Counsellors International (DCI) conducted the poll, which gathered responses from 69 consultants. The results were based on an earlier report from the Wall Street Journal, which named 11 states as being in the running for the manufacturing plant. Alabama was among those mentioned.

In August Toyota and Mazda announced they will build a manufacturing plant in the U.S., which is expected to create as many as 4,000 jobs. The plant is projected to be operational by 2021.

Alabama placed fifth in the survey, gathering six votes. That put it behind Texas at the top with 15 votes, North Carolina with 14 and South Carolina with 9.

Indiana got seven votes, but since then, Indiana economic development officials have confirmed it is no longer one of the candidates. It is believed that the plant will land somewhere among four Southern states.

What else did the consultants say? According to the DCI blog, the Southern states were favorites because they already had auto plants and supply chain networks, as well as a Toyota presence in the state. That's good for Alabama, but makes North Carolina's presence a mystery, since it doesn't have a Toyota plant.

Alabama also shows up on the list because of its reputation nationally for supply chains, infrastructure, workforce and workforce training programs and competitive incentives. Toyota and Mazda reportedly want an incentive package of at least $1 billion to get the sought-after factory.

The wild card may be politics. As Dean Barber of Barber Advisors said, the plant may land in a state without a major auto manufacturer as a way of getting more clout.

"They feel that they can have more influence, not just on local and state politics," Barber said. "When you're a big fish in a little pond, you get your way more often, and people will...Those states and those communities will cater more to your desires, your wants and needs."
Fatjona* was previously named in this article but has since been released. She requested anonymity so that she is not discriminated while seeking employment.

Bedfordshire, United Kingdom  On the wall at the visitors reception room at the Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre, a row of clocks display the time in various countries around the world.

But for many of those detained here, time seems to stands still.

Yarls Wood is located one hour north of London, at the back of an industrial estate in rural Bedfordshire between a drone manufacturer and a pet crematorium. At first glance, it resembles a motel. Surprisingly clean and modern, the centre had a facelift in 2002 after most of the building was reduced to a smoking ruin after a riot by inmates.

To visit a detainee (or resident, to use the parlance of the authorities), one has to surrender all possessions and submit to an airport-security-style pat-down.

This room is the nicest place in the centre, but they don't want you to see what happens behind the scenes. by - Fatjona*, inmate

Current detainee Fatjona  not her real name  spoke to Al Jazeera in the bright, spacious visiting room. Wall-length windows on one side let in a view of a small playground with some jarring murals of grinning farm animals.

This room is the nicest place in the centre, but they dont want you to see what happens behind the scenes, said Fatjona. When you are having lunch in the canteen, you see sick girls passing out and its hard to eat your food after that. The guards dont believe them though: They say they are just acting.

Fatjona, 37, holds a masters degree in maths from a university in her native Kosovo. Her story, like those of most of the inmates, is long and complex. After fleeing a violent and abusive marriage, leaving behind her two young children, she claimed asylum in Britain on the day her tourist visa expired.

Her husband was continuing to make death threats against her. After presenting herself to the Home Office, she was given a 15-minute interview and promptly escorted in a caged van to Yarls Wood, where she has remained for more than 100 days.

I wasnt living here illegally, she said. I walked into the office myself with evidence to back up my case. But the authorities here dont see you as a human, just a number.

Detainees end up released, not deported

The UK is one of the few countries in the world that does not impose limits on the amount of time that asylum seekers can be detained. This means that migrants from countries where safe return is not guaranteed, such as Somalia, or those with disputed nationality can be held for years. According to the Ministry of Justices own figures, it can cost the British taxpayer about 3,000 pounds ($5,000) a month to hold a detainee. Yet most detainees end up being released, not deported. In 2013, only 25 percent of those in Yarls Wood were removed from the UK. And figures show the longer a detainee is held, the more likely they are to be released, instead of deported.





Sally Henfield, a spokesperson for the UKs Home Office, defended the detention policy, saying it is determined to crack down on immigration offenders. We will help those who wish to leave voluntarily, but will enforce the removal of those who refuse.

Detention is used sparingly and in limited circumstances  When we do detain people, it is for the minimum time necessary, and the majority of individuals are held for less than two months.

Yarls Wood houses mostly female detainees, some of whom are pregnant. The Home Office has stated that pregnant women must only be detained in exceptional circumstances, but in practise, this policy is virtually ignored. Fatjona is now 21 weeks pregnant, but has lost six kilos since arriving and is beginning to fear for her mental health.

Theresa Schleicher is a caseworker for the charity Medical Justice, the only organisation that sends doctors into detention centres  although its staff can only advise detainees, not treat or prescribe medicine for them. We see a lot of people that have been tortured, raped or trafficked, she said. Many suffer PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder], and the sounds of the wardens keys and the closing of the cell doors can bring all of these memories to the surface.

The system is set up in a way that makes it difficult for people to be up-front about things when they disclose traumatic events. Detention works like an inverse care system, whereby the most vulnerable are failed the most, because their vulnerability means that they cant get help.

Human rights groups have expressed concern that serious medical complaints are dismissed. In 2010, Jimmy Mubenga, distraught over his deportation, died screaming in front of terrified tourists aboard a British Airways jet as three detention security guards piled on top of him. They now stand accused of manslaughter. In March, Alois Dvorzac, an 84-year-old Canadian man travelling to Slovenia to reconnect with his long-lost daughter, passed through London to catch a connecting flight. He was detained, and died in handcuffs two weeks later in a nearby detention centre. An investigation is under way. Last month, Christine Case, a 40-year-old Jamaican woman, died from cardiac arrest at Yarls Wood after reportedly being denied medical attention.

With Yarls Woods unsavoury reputation of widespread hunger strikes, women detained months into their pregnancy, serious mental health issues unaddressed and unexplained deaths, this understandably attracted the attention of Rashida Majoo, the UNs special rapporteur on violence against women. Last week during a visit to the UK, Majoos staff received a call from someone in the highest levels of the Home Office, denying her access to the facility.

Part of the governments anti-immigration stance

David Ramsbotham, the countrys former chief prison inspector, has visited every immigration and removal centre in the UK, and many overseas. He is concerned about the number of foreign criminals who, after serving their sentence in prison, are then sent to detention centres pending deportation.

These people, who are disaffected ex-prisoners, infect the whole atmosphere and the conduct of the immigration and detention centre, he told Al Jazeera. When I investigated disturbances, these former offenders who shouldnt have even been there in the first place were at the heart of them. The public are not being told the whole story.

People in here look at me and ask, 'What are you doing in here?'... This is politics, I'm sure of it. I'm just being used as part of the government's anti-immigration stance. by - Ricky Zahui, 27

Ricky Zahui, 27, came to the UK as an eight-year-old boy to join his father. Speaking over the phone from the noisy Brook House detention centre, he explained how he did not get on with his family and ended up being raised by the social services department. Zahui got in trouble with gangs and drugs and landed in prison.

After serving his sentence, he was surprised to be sent to a detention centre pending deportation.

When I arrived here, all my family had British passports and the Home Office gave me indefinite leave to remain, said Zahui. So I just assumed that I was legal.

Despite being born in Ivory Coast in West Africa, Zahui speaks with a thick London accent, incongruous in the detention centre. He will be deported to a country he barely knows, does not speak the nations language, nor has any relatives there: Zahuis family all fled following the countrys civil war.

People in here look at me and ask, What are you doing in here? But I say, Im just like you, man, although compared to them Ive been in this country longer than anyone else. This is politics, Im sure of it. Im just being used as part of the governments anti-immigration stance.

Home Office spokeswoman Henfield said: All detention is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it only lasts as long as it continues to be justified and necessary. However, we have a duty to protect the public from those who pose a risk of harm and in particular those who have committed serious criminal offences.

I feel hopeless

Those inside detention centres are often confused as to who runs them, since the British government subcontracts control to private companies. Yarls Wood is managed by Serco, a UK-based company whose record has lately been called into question. In 2013, the firm was forced to return more than 100m pounds ($168m) to the British government after charging it for providing electronic tagging for prisoners who were either dead or in jail. Two staff members at Yarls Wood were sacked for engaging in sexual activity with a detainee.

Fatjonas detention makes it challenging for her to make the necessary calls and emails to gather evidence to bolster her case. Instead, she concentrates on surviving the unpleasantness of her incarceration.

Friendship is the most important thing inside here, said Fatjona. We talk until the morning sometimes, laughing and crying together. I feel hopeless. I dont want to think about returning to Kosovo under threat of death, but being released from here will be like a second birth.

Follow Andrew Connelly on Twitter: @connellyandrew


Opposition parties say PM Modis decision to ban high denomination notes was anti-people and harmed the economy.

New Delhi, India  Opposition parties in India have called for street protests to mark one year since the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned high denomination banknotes in a stated attempt to target undeclared black money and fight corruption.

At least 18 opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, will mark the anniversary as a Black Day, accusing the government of harming the countrys economy with its policies.

Demonetisation achieved nothing. Hence, we are observing November 8 as a Black Day, said Palaniappan Chidambaram, former finance minister of the Congress party, which ruled between 2004 and 2014.

Demonetisation was illegal. It violated many laws and cases are pending before the Supreme Court, he told Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Modi personally led the shock move on November 8 last year to outlaw 86 percent of the cash in circulation, making the announcement via a televised address.

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The old tenders of 500 ($7.73) and 1,000 rupees ($15.45) became illegal within hours of Modis announcement.

Indians only had months to exchange the old notes for new ones.

Demonetisation was illegal. It violated many laws and cases are pending before the Supreme Court by Palaniappan Chidambaram, former finance minister of the Congress party

The government expected that a large amount of black money would not make it back, and therefore would be wiped from the system.

But the Reserve Bank of India said in August that 99 percent of the estimated $242bn in high-currency bills were returned, leading to questions regarding the efficacy of the exercise.

Chidambaram said that there were suspicions that demonetisation was a device to help people with unaccounted, or black, money to convert it into accounted white money.

Subhasini Ali, a Politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the project was a cruel attack on the people of this country.

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The left parties, including Alis CPI (M), have joined the protest.

This was the most devious, dishonest and anti-people step that any government could have taken, Ali told Al Jazeera. The day the people fully understand what this note ban was all about, I think there will not be much future for the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] any more.

The ruling party has defended its move, saying the main aims of demonetisation  fighting corruption and black money  have been achieved.

There are many successes of demonetisation, said Nalin Kohli, spokesperson for the ruling BJP, as he began to list them. Encouraging people to go cashless, [boosting] tax compliance and simultaneously identifying suspicious accounts and transactions that will enable boost future tax collection while taking action against the guilty.

Chaos and queues

The decision, which was widely criticised by economists and media at home and abroad, caused utter chaos as people spent months lining up to swap old notes for new.

As the prime minister asked Indians to be patient, many faced hunger and even death. According to reports, about 100 people, mostly elderly, died of exhaustion while waiting in bank queues across the country.

But in what could be interpreted as continued support for the prime minister, the right-wing ruling party won elections in the politically key state of Uttar Pradesh in March by riding on Modis high popularity.

Even as criticism mounts, the defiant premier insists he will not relent in his avowed fight for the poor against the rich.

A few people who faced the heat of demonetisation are still complaining and are planning to observe November 8 [with protests]. The Congress cannot scare me by burning my effigies, the Indian Prime Minister said on Sunday.

My fight against corruption will not stop, he declared as people applauded at an election campaign rally in the northern Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

A year later, official data around demonetisation is still sketchy. The central bank says it is still verifying the returned notes.

Indias cash-dependent unorganised sector  which forms more than 80 percent of the economy  suffered badly, leading to factory closures and job losses.

For small businesses in the rural areas, it is practically impossible to make payments digitally, when both power outages and lack of internet connectivity hampers work by HP Yadav, president of National Capital Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry

President of the National Capital Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HP Yadav, says micro and small industries have suffered a lot during and after the shock move with most firms downsizing by an average of around 20 percent.

He also argued against forcing digitisation for small businesses  a key government goal.

One year after this was announced, our view is that a company or an individual must have freedom to choose cash or digital mode of payment. For small businesses in the rural areas, it is practically impossible to make payments digitally, when both power outages and lack of internet connectivity hampers work, Yadav told Al Jazeera.

Before the governments planned celebrations, an Indian minister, Jayant Sinha, on Monday described the note ban as a resounding success.

When revolutionary changes take place, it takes years, decades, or even centuries before the effect of such transformations can be studied and commented upon, he wrote in the Indian daily, Mint.

No real data

Economists have questioned the governments claims.

We have no real data on whether the tax base has actually expanded beyond the trend increase that was already occurring before the move, said Jayati Ghosh, professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

There are many areas and parts of the economy that have still not recovered even to pre-demonetisation levels of activity, she said.

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Reetika Khera, an economist also based in New Delhi, said the government was not clear about what it wanted to achieve.

Whether it was a measure against corruption, or to expand the tax base, or to increase digitisation by reducing reliance on cash, none of these objectives required demonetisation, she said.

These objectives could have been better achieved through other reform measures, she explained, such as strengthening the tax authorities and taking action against defaulters.

Demonetisation hurt the economy in the short run [and possibly in the longer run as well], and caused unnecessary hardship, especially to ordinary citizens, Khera told Al Jazeera.

Spillover slowdown from the note ban saw an immediate fall in gross domestic product (GDP). Growth slid to a three-year low in the last quarter of 2016.

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A Reuters poll in October said a majority of economists believe Indias economy will likely grow at its slowest pace in four years this fiscal year, particularly because of the disruptive effect of demonetisation.

None of the three declared objectives of demonetisation  stamping out black money, ending corruption and ending counterfeiting  has been achieved, said Chidambaram, the former finance minister of the Congress party.

The decline in GDP from 7.0 percent [in the third quarter of last year] to 5.7 [in the first quarter of this year] has cost the economy 100,000 crore ($15.45 billion) in a period of six months. The annualised cost will be higher.

Millions of jobs in the informal sector were lost. Daily wage earners were pushed into penury and devastated.

But Prime Minister Modi remains unfazed by the criticism.

On Sunday, he boasted that 300,000 companies have shut down after demonetisation and a probe into the financial dealings of 5,000 such firms revealed massive fraud.

Indias opposition parties have failed to mount a credible challenge to Prime Minister Modi since he came to power in a 2014 landslide vote.

With events such as the Black Day protests on November 8, opposition parties are attempting to shift the narrative from a clash of personalities  where Modi is a clear winner  to a debate about the government policies.
Hariris resignation gives Israel a chance to benefit from the Saudi-Iranian divide, analysts say.

The resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri earlier this week has given Israel an opportunity to exploit the regional divide and to work on forming an Israeli-Arab alliance in the event of a military confrontation with Lebanon, political analysts say.

In his statement from the Saudi capital Riyadh, Hariri blamed his resignation on what he called Iranian meddling in Lebanese affairs through the formers backing of Hezbollah, a movement with a military wing based in southern Lebanon.

Irans arm [Hezbollah]  has managed to impose a fait accompli on Lebanon through the power of its weapons in the last few decades, Hariri said in his televised speech on Saturday. They have built a state within a state.

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I say to Iran and its allies  you have lost in your efforts to meddle in the affairs of the Arab world, he continued, adding that the region will rise again and the hands that you have wickedly extended into it will be cut off. His language echoed Saudi rhetoric against Iran.

Shortly after the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, calling the resignation a wake-up call to the international community to take action against Iranian aggression.

He also accused Iran of trying to turn Syria into a second Lebanon, in reference to Hezbollahs expanding influence in Syria, where it is fighting alongside the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

Netanyahu added that Hezbollahs empowerment endangers not only Israel but the entire Middle East.

Arab-Israeli alliance

Speaking at Chatham House in London on Friday prior to Hariris resignation, Netanyahu said that Israel was working very hard to establish an alliance with the modern Sunni states to counter Iran, according to the AFP news agency.

Hariris move gives Israel an opportunity to exploit the Saudi-Iranian divide and to boast of an Arab-Israeli alliance in the face of Iran, political analysts say.

Israel benefits from an escalation in any Arab conflict. Now, with Hariris resignation, it is betting on an alliance to confront Iran, Kassem Kassir, a Beirut-based analyst with close ties to Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera.

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They are pleased with Hariris resignation because he headed a government with Hezbollah members. They believe that his resignation strips away from Hezbollahs legitimacy in the government.

On Sunday, during an interview with the BBC network, Netanyahu jumped on the bandwagon of anti-Iranian rhetoric, saying: When Israelis and the Arabs, all the Arabs and the Israelis, agree on one thing, people should pay attention. We should stop this Iranian takeover.

Another war?

Many observers have equated Hariris resignation with an imminent Israeli attack on Lebanon  a fear that has become entrenched since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The discourse of another war has only intensified since the war in Syria began in 2011.

While fighting alongside Syrian government forces and other Iranian-backed groups, Hezbollah has gained an unprecedented level of tactical experience and weaponry, analysts note.

In response to Hezbollahs growing role, Israel has carried out systematic attacks against the group and the Syrian military. Netanyahu has accused Iran of turning Syria into a base of military entrenchment and wanting to use Syria and Lebanon as war fronts against its declared goal to eradicate Israel.

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Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst on Israel and Palestine for the International Crisis Group think-tank, said that Israels fear of an underground missile factory built by Iran in southern Lebanon could spark an armed conflict.

Hariris resignation may make Hezbollah feel there are less domestic challenges to taking a risk vis-a-vis Israel in terms of taking forward the construction of such an underground factory, Zalzberg told Al Jazeera.

In addition, he said, growing Saudi-Iranian tensions may make it more difficult for Hezbollah and Israel to constrict an Israeli strike on such construction from becoming a full-fledged war  a war both parties know will exact a dramatic toll from their societies and civic infrastructures.

In 2006, Hezbollah shocked the region when it managed to overwhelm Israels ground invasion of southern Lebanon and strike military and civilian targets. Hezbollahs rocket attacks caused sizeable damage and resulted in the death of an estimated 159 Israelis, including 43 civilians, which undermined internal Israeli support for the war.

For Lebanon, Israels bombing campaign devastated the souths infrastructure and led to the deaths of more than 1,100 Lebanese, the majority of whom were civilians.

But despite the intensifying discourse over the possibility of another war, some believe the prospect is far-fetched.

Khalil Shaheen, a Ramallah-based political analyst, says that Israel cannot face Hezbollah on its own and would need the support of other Arab states in the event of another war.

The turnout of the last war, coupled with Hezbollahs metamorphosis over the years, means that a war would be a miscalculation on Israels part, Shaheen said, pointing to the groups influential role in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.

They cannot ensure a win.
Two men chose opposing sides in the events 1917. Their decisions changed forever the lives of their families.

My grandfather was a terrorist, says Anton Antonovich Antonov-Ovseenko matter-of-factly. Sitting in his small office in central Moscow, the journalist and academic pulls out photos from the family archive and recounts the adventures of his grandfather, radical activist Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko.

He was plotting terrorist attacks. In 1906, he was sentenced to death for it. He was arrested when he opened fire on a bunch of gendarme officers. He shot at them with two hands, like a cowboy, pa pa, says Antonov-Ovseenko as he imitates the shooting with his two index fingers.

At around the same time that Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko was still sitting in jail awaiting the firing squad, Nikolay Lvov, a prominent liberal politician, was attending the last sessions of Russias first State Duma, which Tsar Nicholas II was about to dissolve. Lvov was a member of a political movement within the Russian gentry that was pressuring the Tsar to pass a constitution  something that did not endear him to the royal court.

[My great-great grandfather] was asked to become the prime minister, but Nicholas II refused because his ideas were too liberal, says British-Russian entrepreneur David Henderson-Stewart. Lvov believed that political reforms were badly needed in Russia and that, in order to avoid chaos, they ought to come from the top, he explains.

In 1917, as revolutionary spirit engulfed Russia, Ovseenko, who had earlier escaped from prison, and Lvov played prominent roles in the tumultuous events of that year.

On October 25 (new style November 7), they stood on opposing sides of the political conflict. That day Ovseenko led the storming of the Winter Palace, the seat of the provisional government, while Lvov and his three sons sought to join the anti-Bolshevik forces  known as the White Army  that had mobilised south of Moscow.

One hundred years after the October Revolution, the descendants of the two men still live with the consequences of their political choices. Like many Russians, they struggle with the legacy of 1917: one as an intellectual and opposition politician, the other as a businessman and owner of two Soviet watch brands.

The legacy of a professional revolutionary

Ovseenko, who described his occupation as professional revolutionary when questioned, was born in 1883  two years after radicals assassinated Tsar Alexander II (the grandfather of Nicholas II). His revolutionary ideology emerged early on and he left his home unwilling to accept his familys tsarist views.

In the aftermath of the October Revolution, he was at the forefront of the new regime-building efforts and regularly joined the Bolshevik leadership for meetings.

While studying the archives for his book The Bolsheviks, Ovseenkos grandson discovered an interesting detail in the minutes of those meetings. On at least two occasions a question was raised about the issue of democratic elections  something the Bolsheviks had paid lip service to prior to their takeover. According to the minutes of the meetings, the second time no one even bothered to answer the man who had brought up the topic.

That man was not my grandfather, says Ovseenko, the grandson. It was Stalin. The guy really didnt know what was going on. He had no idea that the Bolsheviks had taken power not to then pass it on to someone else.

Unlike the young Stalin, Vladimir Ovseenko was under no illusions about what imposing Soviet power would entail. In 1919, he led the Bolshevik forces south to crush the newly proclaimed Ukrainian state and its independence-seeking government.

He occupied various positions within the new regime, including minister of defence and justice, and member of the Cheka leadership (the secret police structure that preceded the NKVD and the KGB).

The fact that Ovseenko participated in the first wave of repressions the Bolsheviks unleashed on their opponents and ordinary people is something his grandson has had to come to terms with.

I respect my grandfather but condemn Bolshevism, he says. My father, too, was very critical of his father and what he did.

In 1938, like many Bolsheviks who led the Revolution, Ovseenko fell victim to the Stalinist repressions. Stalin had, by then, learned to destroy his political enemies even before they had the chance to become such. According to his grandson, Ovseenkos last words before the firing squad were: I was a Bolshevik and I remain a Bolshevik.

Two years after his execution, his 18-year-old son Anton Vladimirovich, was arrested. The son of an enemy of the people, he spent 13 years in and out of gulags. He was released in 1953 and rehabilitated, or acquitted, in 1956, after Stalins death.

He did not receive his full civil rights until 1964 and so was banned from returning to Moscow until then. As a result, his son Anton Antonovich was born in Tambov, a small town 450km south of the capital.

That also makes me politically repressed, says Ovseenko with a chuckle.

His father, who provoked the Soviet authorities with his articles and books on the Stalinist gulags and repressions was regularly harassed and occasionally arrested. Once the regime collapsed, he headed the union of organisations of victims of political repressions and founded a museum dedicated to the history of the gulags.

Ovseenko studied journalism at Moscow State University and later pursued two PhD degrees, working on topics related to his grandfathers work and Bolshevism. He has also been active in the Russian opposition, as a commentator and member of opposition party Yabloko.

Although he speaks with endearment about his grandfather, he passionately criticises the Soviet regime that his grandfather helped establish.

He believes Russias monarchy could have been preserved and transformed into a democracy, as happened to monarchies in parts of Western Europe.

He sees a continuity between the regime established in 1917 and the current political culture.

I do feel some kind of responsibility for what is going on because the type of regime we have right now is all the result of 1917, he reflects. To this day we cannot assess 1917 because it still hasnt ended. Because everything continues.

He believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is the product of the repressive Soviet culture.

Putin served in East Germany, you know, he was a secret agent, surrounded by enemies, he says. He doesnt know anything beyond that and when he became what he became, he took all this along with him and realised it  now there are enemies everywhere. He created enemies even where there werent any.

As a young journalist in the 1990s, Ovseenko had a chance encounter with Putin. At that time, he would often go to St Petersburg to join discussions with other journalists and intellectuals at the Press Club. He noticed a short man who would occasionally take the place of St Petersburgs mayor Anatoly Sobchak.

I asked [colleagues], who is that guy? They said, its the former bodyguard of Sobchak, dont pay attention to him, he says. It was Putin. And I indeed didnt pay attention to him, he recalls with a laugh.

Luxury watches from Soviet times

Lvov stayed with the White Army until the very end, losing two of his sons in the civil war that followed the revolutions of 1917.

He was always with the White Army [although] he was too old to fight. He was the ideologist of the White Army, says Henderson-Stewart, his great-great-grandson.

In 1920, along with the remaining members of his family, Lvov boarded a ship from a port in Crimea, just as the Bolsheviks were about to storm the Peninsula.

The only member of the extended family who chose to remain in Russia after the October Revolution was killed during the Stalinist repressions in 1936. During World War II, that relatives wife was arrested, while preparing to evacuate from Leningrad (St Petersburg), leaving behind three orphans who had to beg for food on the streets in order to survive.

Lvovs decision to board the ship to Istanbul may have saved his family from a similar fate, but it also condemned them to a life in exile that lasted for three generations.

When you come from a White Russian [family], [the Revolution] is a tragedy. They lost everything  so they try to keep, in a nearly extremist way, [any] link to Russia, says Henderson-Stewart.

Born to an English father and a Russian mother, he grew up in England and France in a tightknit White Russian community. His grandmother (Lvovs granddaughter) made sure he spoke Russian, went to Orthodox Church and knew how to sing old Russian songs. It was she who took him on his first visit to Moscow in 1988.

I had no idea that I will return to Russia, [as] it was occupied by the Soviets, he says.

Fifteen years later, as the countrys economy was picking up, fueled by high oil prices, and a Russian middle class was emerging, Henderson-Stewart decided to return looking to start a luxury brand business.

He soon found what he was looking for: the Raketa-Petrodvorets factory, founded almost 300 years ago by Peter the Great to produce luxury items and stone carvings. After the October Revolution, its workers produced the stones for Lenins Mausoleum on the Red Square and the five Soviet ruby stars on the towers of the Kremlin. In 1945, upon orders from Stalin, they started producing watches.

Henderson-Stewart acquired two Soviet watch brands: Pobeda (victory) which was established by Stalin to commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II and Raketa (rocket), which was introduced to mark Yuri Gagarins journey into space.

But this is where his family history made things tricky; the idea of a descendant of a White Russian family acquiring two watch brands heavy with Soviet symbolism was problematic. But he found a way to justify it to himself.

Even if someone hates the Soviet Union and Lenin and Stalin, like I do, [one] can still adhere to these two ideas: Gagarin and pobeda [victory]. So thats how we kind of made peace with the history of these brands, he says. It was decided, however, that no Soviet political symbolism would be used in the design of the watches.

But when Henderson-Stewart and his team planned to release a watch to mark the centenary of the revolution, history and politics once again came into play. The designer of the watch is Prince Rostislav Romanov, a descendant of one of Nicholas IIs nephews and member of the board of directors of the company.

All my White Russian friends are like, are you mad or what, how can you do a watch in celebration of the Russian revolution? says Henderson-Stewart. Its more in memory of all the people who suffered [because of the revolution].

For him, business has been good in Russia. The walls of his central Moscow office are covered in photos of famous Russians wearing his watches.

Now we have the prime minister [Dmitry Medvedev] wearing a Raketa watch. Putin has been given a few Raketa watches by people but we dont have a photo of him wearing it, says Henderson-Stewart proudly.

Despite not having a Russian passport, he has settled well in the country. His wife, also of White Russian descent, and French-born children joined him in Moscow a few years ago.

The reason why Im happy to live here is because I more or less agree with everything that is going on in Russia, he explains. Generally, I agree with what Putin does, internationally [and] in Russia.

In his opinion, Western criticism of Russia is exaggerated. If you stay away from politics, you have total freedom to do and think what you want, he says.

What does the Revolution mean to Russians today?

Just like Ovseenko and Henderson-Stewart, many Russians have struggled with the impact and legacy of the October Revolution, and the regime it created. At its centenary, Russian society seems divided over the events of 100 years ago.

A national survey conducted in April by independent polling agency Levada Centre showed that some 48 percent of respondents thought that the Revolution played a positive role in Russian history; 31 percent said it was negative and 21 percent could not answer the question. Yet 46 percent of respondents said the Bolshevik takeover was illegal and 49 percent also thought that the events of 1917 caused serious damage to Russian culture.

The Russian government has been economical in its comments on the Revolution. Putin has called it a tragedy and has accused Lenin of being responsible for the disintegration of the Soviet Union: He set up a nuclear bomb under the building called Russia and it collapsed. We did not need a world revolution, he said in a speech in 2016.

According to historian Nikita Sokolov, the Kremlin is reluctant to talk about the events of 1917 because they are highly problematic in the current political climate.

We have the highest cost of living in Europe and the government is not really trying to pursue social equality; accessible public health care and good quality education are being destroyed. In such circumstances the [social justice and equality] slogans of the 1917 Revolution are very inconvenient, he says.

This year, Russia witnessed a wave of anti-government protests prompted by accusations of corruption against high-level state officials. The most recent rally in October saw thousands demanding political change and fair elections. Sokolov says that the government is fearful of a coloured revolution taking place in Russia, following the example of those in Ukraine and Georgia in the early 2000s.

But there is one more reason why the Russian authorities avoid 1917, he says: It simply doesnt fit into the national mythology they are promoting.

During the Soviet era, the October Revolution was the main foundational myth the regime used in its nation-building efforts, Sokolov explains. In the early 2000s, Putin introduced a different one: the Russian victory in World War II.

We are the nation which defeated the West, note, not Nazi Germany, but the West as a whole. And fascism today is everything that the Russian authorities are fighting against, Sokolov elaborates. The rallying point is the victory, the war is not important, the tragedy and horror of war are not mentioned.

In his opinion, the problem with the current political leadership of the country is that they view history not as valuable experience, but as a subject of pride and material for patriotic upbringing.

Anything that is not suitable for patriotic upbringing from the point of view of the authorities is purged from the public consciousness, he says.

And so it happened with Russias Revolution.

Follow Mariya Petkova on Twitter: @mkpetkova
In late October, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation was set to vote on the Greater Jerusalem Bill. If it had passed, it would have been presented before the Knesset floor for several readings, before a vote on whether or not to legislate it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that he would support it, giving it serious political force and backing. The vote has now been postponed following requests for clarification on various aspects of the bill from the US administration.

The bill, as suggested by its title, would expand the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem to include four major illegal settlements and many more smaller ones under the municipal jurisdiction of Jerusalem. The settlements, Maale Adumim, Givat Zeev, Betar Illit and Efrat, are part of the Gush Etzion settlement block that stretches from Jerusalem to Hebron. Although legislators claim that these areas will not be under full Israeli sovereignty, this move would certainly amount to de facto annexation.

This is part and parcel of a facts on the ground strategy Israel has been pursuing since 1967, when it occupied the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights, annexing East Jerusalem and declaring the whole of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Israeli settlement building in the territories occupied in 1967 is undeniably illegal under international law which forbids the transfer of the occupying powers population into territories it has acquired during war or conflict. However, as of today, no Israeli government has ceased its expansion in the West Bank and the population of illegal settlers today is well over half a million.

The bill's supporters are motivated by an Israeli obsession with demographics. by

The annexation of East Jerusalem is also unequivocally recognised as unlawful. Under the two-state framework, East Jerusalem would constitute the capital of a Palestinian State and its colonisation is continuously condemned by much of the international community. Yet this has had little effecti and today there are over 200,000 Israeli settlers living in East Jerusalem, with demolitions of Palestinian homes and appropriation of Palestinian land being a daily occurrence.

The bills supporters are motivated by an Israeli obsession with demographics. Their idea is to ensure that Jewish Israelis maintain a dominant majority in every part of historic Palestine.

In Jerusalem, this approach is specifically being used to counter the international discourse that the city belongs both to Palestinians and Israelis and to assert that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of the Jewish people. Minister of Transport and Intelligence Israel Katz who has been heavily promoting the bill, stated that this was a move to ensure a Jewish majority in the city.

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Indeed, the proposed bill will also exclude the Palestinian neighbourhoods of Kufr Aqab, Shuafat refugee camp and Anata that currently exist beyond the separation wall. Placing them under a submunicipality, it would remove them from the census and statistically reduce the Palestinian population of Greater Jerusalem by 100,000.

Beyond the gerrymandering, this bill would yet again make a clear statement that international law does not apply to Israel.

For Palestinians, this is simply a continuation of their lived reality of an accelerating settler colonial project. Palestinians in East Jerusalem are already subjected to an oppressive regime in which they are considered permanent residents but not citizens.

Their status as residents is dependent on whether or not they can prove that their centre of life is in Jerusalem. This means that they are at constant risk of having their residency permits revoked, not to mention the denial of citizenship and therefore full rights. The potential repercussions for residents of the Palestinian neighbourhoods that will be downgraded to sub-municipalities are not clear, but should the bill pass, the situation for them would undoubtedly worsen.

It is not surprising that Israel is attempting to annex more land in the West Bank. Perhaps what is surprising however, is the continuous demand by the international community that Palestinians put their faith in international law, its institutions and processes. Israel continuously flouts international law with no repercussions or sanctions. Indeed, the word sanctions can barely be whispered in diplomatic and policy circles before accusations of bias towards Israel are made.

The question for Palestinians thus remains: How far is too far? The West Bank has been under belligerent occupation for over 50 years, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have been annexed for just as long, Gaza has been placed under a crippling siege for more than 10 years, while the refugees have been in exile for nearly seven decades and the Palestinian citizens of Israel continue to be subjected to systematic oppression. Palestinians reached too far a long time ago; it is time for the international community to catch up.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Muslim scholars should work to make the Muslim community strong again, says Yusuf al-Qaradawi, head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, in a scientific conference titled: The pledge of the learned in the constants of Islam in Istanbul on Monday.

Islam has spread from the Arabian Peninsula to China, from the Samarkand to the Indian peninsula, Asia and Europe in a short time. Now it is our duty to restore the glory of the nation of Islam (Ummah) back to the level of those days, back to the days where the Muslims were rulers of the world. This is our promise to the Ummah said al-Qaradawi.

The 5th Meeting of IUMS Board of Trustees was attended by al-Qaradawi as well as Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, Selim Argun, and other scholars from across the globe.

The scholars discussed the conflicts in the Islamic world and the role of Muslim scholars in solving these problems, calling for an awakening of the Muslim community.

Al-Qaradawi said the scholars had to work to make the Muslim community strong again.

If we would summarize the message of Prophet Muhammad in one word, we would say it is mercy. Mercy for all creation, he said, adding scholars who bear the message of Islam should pave the way for the Ummah and move it forward.

In the closing declaration, the union expressed its appreciation of the progress since its inception, calling for the continuation of the academic, scientific, awareness-raising and innovative message for the Islamic community.
Analysts and ex-US intelligence operatives warn of regional instability in wake of crown princes power consolidation.

Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is risking political and regional instability by dismantling a decades-old system of consensus rule, analysts, including ex-top US intelligence officers, have told Al Jazeera.

Since replacing his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef in June as first in line to succeed King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the 32-year-old has embarked on a campaign to consolidate power, taking on rivals within the Saudi royal family and religious activists.

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In September, Saudi police arrested dozens of religious figures, including Islamic preachers Salman al-Awdah and Awad al-Qarni, who remain behind bars.

However, the heir to the thrones most ambitious move came late on Saturday when he fired senior ministers and had dozens of the countrys richest men detained, ostensibly on the grounds of combatting corruption.

They included his cousin and one of the worlds richest men, Alwaleed bin Talal; at least 11 other princes; four ministers; and several more ex-ministers.





Waleed al-Ibrahim, chairman of the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC), one of the regions largest media companies, and construction magnate, Bakr Binladin of the Saudi Binladin group, were also detained.

Confusion also surrounds the whereabouts of Mohammed bin Salmans predecessor as crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, who has not been seen publicly since June and is rumoured to be under house arrest.

One-man regime

The targeting of Saudi Arabias long-standing elite represents a shift from family rule to a more authoritarian style of governance based around one man, according to Durham University academic Christopher Davidson.

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Going after such big fish is intended by MBS and his allies in Abu Dhabi as a signal of MBS newly-established sultanistic powers, he said, using the widely-used acronym for Mohammed bin Salman and referring to his close ties to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates.

By going after the richest, whether fellow princes or media moguls and construction magnates, MBS is demonstrating that nobody is outside his control, as he is now at the top of a more authoritarian, one-man regime, with the old consensus-based, dynastic monarchy of the past century having effectively collapsed at some point earlier this year.

Analysts said this weeks purge by Mohammed bin Salman could potentially alienate members of the wider Al Saud family at a time when the country struggles to balance its finances amid sustained low oil prices.

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Bruce Riedel, a 30-year CIA veteran and director of the Brookings Intelligence Project, shared some of Davidsons assessment, describing the mass arrests as unprecedented.

Royal family politics are traditionally consensual with great emphasis on preserving decorum and honour, even for failed ministers, he said, predicting that the breaking of the traditional Saudi consensus-based model of rule would lead to disorder within the country.

There will be much discontent behind the scenes in the family, and the Kingdom is headed for instability.

Perfect storm

The breakdown of consensus rule could have wider implications both at home and abroad, particularly in terms of the Saudi relationship with its regional rival, Iran, according to former US intelligence operatives.

Since Mohammed bin Salmans elevation to defence minister and deputy crown prince in 2015, and later to crown prince, Riyadh has taken on a more aggressive foreign policy stance towards Tehran.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia went to war against Houthi rebels in Yemen, believed to be backed by Iran. In early 2016, it announced the severing of diplomatic ties with Iran.

Amid rising regional tensions, Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday accused Iran of what could be considered an act of war, blaming Tehran for supplying the Houthi group with a missile that was fired towards Riyadh but was intercepted by Saudi air defence forces.

Iran has rejected the Saudi accusation as malicious, irresponsible, destructive and provocative.

Domestically, the crown prince has promised a raft of social and economic reforms, including a partial public share offering in Aramco, the state-owned oil company, and the end to a ban on women driving in the kingdom.

He also launched Vision 2030, a reform plan seeking to reduce the reliance of Saudi Arabias economy on oil and instead develop the countrys tourism, health and education sectors.

Robert Richer, former associate deputy director of operations of the CIA, told Al Jazeera the events of the past week marked a significant break with the traditional methods of decision making in the country.





While praising the crown princes plan for modernisation, Richer, who was stationed in a number of Middle Eastern countries, said Mohammed bin Salmans rise could contribute to an increased possibility of war with Iran, which he called worrisome.

Having consolidated power, and without moderating influences around him to temper Saudi foreign policy, the young prince could look to settle old scores with Iran once and for all, he argued.

This is the perfect storm for [Mohammed] bin Salman, where you have Saudi Arabia, the US and Israel, which view Iran as the greatest threat in the region, said Richer.

US President Donald Trump, who praised Mohammed bin Salman and his father in the wake of the recent wave of detentions, has repeatedly accused Iran of supporting terrorism and exporting violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East.

World needs stable Saudi Arabia

Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have existed for decades, dating back to the 1979 Iranian revolution, which turned the former into an Islamic republic.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab states have accused the Iranians of wanting to overthrow their governments and export the revolution since.

Former CIA officer Bob Baer credited the Saudi royal familys consensus-based approach to rule for preventing a war with Iran up until now, warning Mohammed bin Salmans purge made the countrys future stability less certain.

The Al Saud [ruling family of Saudi Arabia] have survived all these years, thanks to a remarkable and unbreakable consensus among their ranks and has avoided war with Iran, said Baer.

No one wants to see a war in the region especially given that Iran is not a small country, is an economic power, has its own clear identity and has the support of its population, he added.

The world needs a stable and predictable Saudi Arabia.

Follow Ali Younes @Ali_reports and Shafik Mandhai @ShafikFM on Twitter
Baltimore officer who drove police van in which Freddie Gray was found fatally hurt cleared of 21 administrative charges

A Baltimore police officer has been found not guilty of nearly two dozen administrative charges related to the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, local media reported, in a case that set off large-scale protests across the city.

The officer, Caesar Goodson Jr, was acquitted of 21 administrative charges on Tuesday by a trial board composed entirely of law enforcement officials, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The charges included neglecting his duty and making false statements to investigators, the newspaper reported.

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Goodson will be allowed to remain in the police force, according to the Sun.

This is a vindication of this officer, Sean Malone, one of Goodsons attorneys, said after the verdict was read.

This is a tragic accident that happened, and were sorry for the loss of Mr. Gray, but were glad that our client is not going to be the face of this incident.

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Gray, 25, suffered severe injuries to his spinal cord after he was arrested and placed into the back of a police van in Baltimore in April 2015. He was not placed in a seat belt.

Gray had reportedly complained about breathing difficulties and then fell into a coma. He died a week later.

According to an autopsy, Gray suffered a high-energy injury that was most likely caused when the police van suddenly slowed down.

He had been taken into custody for carrying an illegal switchblade.

No officer has been convicted in the death of Freddie Gray. Look back at the brutal arrest that led to his death: https://t.co/Td05TnKA0d  AJ+ (@ajplus) November 7, 2017

Appalling yet predictable decision

Monique Dixon, deputy director of policy at the Thurgood Marshall Institute in New York, said the decision to acquit Goodson was appalling yet predictable given the composition of the trial board.

As long as the city lets law enforcement police themselves in lieu of meaningful civilian oversight, these proceedings will not result in accountability and will fail to strengthen community trust, Dixon wrote in a statement on Twitter.

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She said the organisations thoughts and prayers were with Grays family and friends as they are forced to continually relive the trauma of his death.

Goodson had been found not guilty of all charges at a criminal trial last year, including second-degree depraved-heart murder, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Two Baltimore police officers were also acquitted alongside Goodson, while three others had the criminal charges against them dropped, according to the Associated Press.

Two of the officers still face administrative charges, the Sun reported.

Black Lives Matter

Grays death was one of several police killings of African Americans, which have set off widespread protests across the United States under the banner Black Lives Matter.

Most recently, anti-police brutality protests have taken place in St Louis, Missouri after a white police officer was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a 24-year-old black man.

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Several demonstrations were held in the wake of the not guilty verdict in mid-September, with police being accused of attacking and indiscriminately arresting protesters.

Many highlight the disproportionate number of black Americans killed by police as part of a broader trend of racial discrimination in the countrys justice system.

According to The Guardian newspapers The Counted database, at least 1,093 people were killed by police in the United States in 2016.

Nearly a quarter of those killed were African Americans, although the group accounts for roughly 12 percent of the total US population.

Watchdog group The Sentencing Project said African American men are six times more likely to be jailed than white men.

Mapping Police Violence, another watchdog group, says that 99 percent of police officers who used deadly force in 2015 were not convicted of a crime.
Recent study finds that country is getting hotter and drier faster than previously anticipated.

Water shortages in Jordan are likely to get far worse over the coming years, according to a recent study by Stanford University.

The researchers said that, in the absence of international climate policy action, the country could receive 30 percent less rainfall by 2100 and annual temperatures could increase by 4.5 Celsius.

This would double the number and duration of droughts when compared with the 1981-2010 period, raising concerns in a country already dealing with water shortages.

The study reinforces a warning issued by the World Bank in August when it named Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco and Syria as the countries in the Middle East and North Africa that will experience significantly increased water stress driven by climate change.

In its report, the World Bank described the region as the global hotspot of unsustainable water use.

Currently, the reservoirs in Jordan are at a record low  only one-fifth full  and the vital winter rains are becoming increasingly erratic.

There seems little respite for the country, which draws 160 percent more water from the ground than is replenished by nature.

But despite its importance, there is little incentive to conserve the precious resource. The use of water irrigation remains heavily subsidised, and wastage is a major issue.

More than half of Jordans water is used for agriculture, which produces only a small share of the local food supply. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of the water supply is lost due to misuse or theft.

The subsidy also means that some farmers grow water-intensive crops such as bananas and tomatoes.

The government is cracking down on illegal water use and has announced a slight increase in price, but Ali Subah, assistant secretary-general in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, says the country views desalination as the answer to its water issues.

The trouble is that solutions often depend on cross-border cooperation. Jordans flagship Red Sea desalination project, for example, has faced repeated delays, most recently because of a regional diplomatic crisis that led to a scaling back of cross-border contacts since the summer.

Until a solution is found, the fear is that the water crisis in Jordan will only get worse.
Beijing seen as Pyongyangs closest ally and most important trade partner, but how much influence does it really have?

Shanghai, China  A trade deficit that US President Donald Trump has called embarrassing and the increasing threat posed by North Korea will be atop the agenda on his first official visit to Beijing on Wednesday.

Trump has embarked on a 12-day trip to the Asia-Pacific and will arrive in China just two weeks after the end of the 19th Communist Party congress, which saw President Xi Jinping consolidate his power.

Describing Trumps tour as a historic opportunity, Chinas ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, said the state visit-plus will include a banquet, a military honour guard, and other special arrangements. While the Chinese government is expected to give Trump lavish treatment, many Chinese are less excited about his visit.

Lots of Chinese people dont like Trump, and he doesnt like us, Zhang Xing, a 24-year-old woman who works for a Spanish trading company and is originally from Xian, home of Chinas famous terracotta army and capital of Shaanxi province in central China, told Al Jazeera.

Zhang and many others interviewed by Al Jazeera vividly recalled Trumps anti-China rhetoric during the presidential campaign, but also said they believed overall relations between the two world powers will continue to improve, partly because the US now relies on Chinas support to rein in North Korea  one of the main reasons for the talks.

Reining in Kim





On Tuesday in South Korea, Trump made rare conciliatory comments towards the North, inviting officials to come to the table to negotiate over its nuclear weapons. However, he also underscored the US unparalleled military strength that he would unleash if need be.

Earlier this year, Pyongyangs nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests led the UN Security Council to unanimously approve two rounds of sanctions. So far, Chinas support has proven vital for the council, but also for North Korea.

Beijing is traditionally seen as the pariah states closest ally and its most important trade partner. In 2016, 90 percent of Pyongyangs trade was with China, but the nuclear and missile tests have angered its neighbour.

China has made clear if America starts the war, they will stand by North Korea  but not if North Korea starts it, said Alexander Gillespie, a senior lecturer in international law at New Zealands Waikato University.

Some experts believe that Xi is the key to solving the crisis  the only one Kim, who has had some of his closest allies and family members assassinated, will listen to. Others, however, say Xis influence is overrated.

Xi is  in my opinion  the most powerful man in the world, but I doubt that means much to Kim, Gillespie said. Regardless of whether Kim listens to Xi, Trump will need Chinas support if he wants to ramp up UN sanctions.

Ambassador Cui said the country was taking measures to implement the recent set of sanctions, despite high costs for China itself. In September, Chinas imports from North Korea dropped by about 38 percent compared to August.

But Cui also underlined that solving the issue wasnt up to China.

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It is clear that if only China is making efforts, while others are doing things that could lead to escalation of tensions, this issue would not be solved, and it would become even more difficult, and the end result would hurt everybodys interest, he said.

Trump previously threatened to unleash fire and fury and to totally destroy North Korea.

Many Chinese seem to agree with their ambassador to the US, saying despite Trumps hopes, the key to solving the issue does not lie with China.

We can try to influence North Korea a little bit, but in the end it comes down to the US, said Deng Xianchuan, a 31-year-old chemical engineer from southwest Chinas Sichuan province.

The issue was created by the US and North Korea, he said, while China was merely an outsider.

Rectifying trade practices

White House staff have said Trump will address his countrys deficit with the worlds second-largest economy.

Before his departure, Trump described the trade deficit with China as through the roof saying it was so big and bad that its embarrassing saying what the number is.

The US trade deficit for goods totaled $347bn last year. China also holds about one-third of the US global debt.

The US and other countries have frequently accused China of unfair trade practices, such as high import tariffs that have put Chinese companies at an advantage.

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China is now the worlds second-largest consumer market after the US, and its rapidly growing and increasingly wealthy middle class is eager to buy western goods.

Last week, Chinas Commerce Ministry already showed a sign of goodwill when it announced it will lower tariffs on consumer products and improve import financing.

Chinas foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying defended the countrys trade surplus at a daily briefing in Beijing, saying it was an unintentional result of the way the world economy works.

We have never intentionally pursued a trade surplus. The current pattern of Chinas trade cooperation with other countries, including the US, is determined by the market, Hua said.

She added China was willing to talk about the surplus to ensure the sound and steady growth of bilateral trade and economic ties.

Ruigang Zheng, who works in real estate in Beijing and studied at Penn State, said he expects the meetings trade talks to be more productive than those focused on North Korea.

Trump respects money, the 46-year-old said. For this meeting, he will bring a lot of businessmen and theyll close a lot of deals, and the US will get a lot of money. Trump will be happy, said Zheng.

Follow Denise Hruby on Twitter: @nisnis
A look at the differences and similarities between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union.

I am very pleased to know that the GCC summit is happening, after having pushed for a resumption of that for quite some months now, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said on December 4, in advance of the 38th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit hosted by Kuwait on December 5.

It is a very positive sign Mogherini added.

The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six countries in the Arabian Peninsula, which, like the European Union (EU) aims at fostering political and economic ties between the member states.

Al Jazeera examines the differences and similarities between the two.

Why was it founded?

GCC

Composed of six Arab Gulf member states  the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait  the GCC is bound by shared history, geography and borders.

It was created in 1976 and its charter signed in 1981, with an aim to generate integration and inter-connection among member states.

The GCC charter establishes the basic objectives of cooperation in the areas of economic and financial affairs, commerce, customs and communications, education and culture, social and health affairs, information and tourism, legislative and administrative affairs, and science and technology.

EU

The EU is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 28 member states, created with the aim of ending the frequent conflicts between neighbours that led to World War II.

The fundamental purpose of the EU is to promote better social, political and economic harmony among its nations.

The Maastricht Treaty in 1992 created the EU.

Who leads it?

GCC

The Supreme Council is the supreme authority, consisting of the heads of member states. Its presidency rotates among member states.

In recent decades, the secretary-general post has been held by Kuwaits Abdullah Yaagoub Bichara (May 1981  April 1993), the UAEs Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qassimi (April 1993  April 1996), Saudi Arabias Jamil Ibrahim al-Hejailan (April 1996  March 2002), Qatars Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya (April 2002  March 2011), and Bahrains Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani (April 2011).

EU

The main institutions of the EU are each headed by a president.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani was elected by members of the European Parliament; European Council President Donald Tusk was appointed by EU leaders; and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was appointed by national leaders with the approval of the European Parliament.

Where is it based?

GCC

The GCCs headquarters are located in Riyadh, but meetings can be held in any of the six countries.

The GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre is located in Bahrain.

EU

The EUs institutional framework takes seven institutions into consideration.

The European Parliament is located in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, France; the European Council, Council of the European Union, and European Commission are in Brussels; the Court of Justice of the European Union is in Luxembourg; the European Central Bank is in Frankfurt, Germany; and the Court of Auditors is in Luxembourg.

How does it work?

GCC

The GCC meets once a year for its regular session and can hold extraordinary sessions at the request of any member, if this is seconded by another member.

The secretary-general, selected by the Supreme Council, is responsible for preparing special studies relating to cooperation, coordination, planning and programming for common action. Eight assistant secretary-generals deal with political, economic, military, security, humanitarian, environmental, legal, media and cultural affairs, along with information, finance, dialogue and negotiations.

The GCCs defence planning council coordinates military cooperation between members.

After the Supreme Council, the Dispute Settlement Commission is the most important organ. It is constituted by the Supreme Council for any dispute arising out of interpretations of the charter.

The Ministerial Council, composed of the foreign minister of each member state, is in charge of formulating policies and making recommendations to promote cooperation among member states.

EU

The Treaty of the European Union refers to seven EU institutions, several of which are responsible for drafting policies and taking decisions.

In addition, the Court of Justice is responsible for ensuring that community law is observed, while the Central Bank works to maintain price stability and the Court of Auditors examines revenue and expenditures.

How are disputes solved?

GCC

The GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre was launched in 1995, with the aim to promote arbitration and dispute resolution procedures among GCC members.

The centre  which is based in Bahrain, but considered independent from all of the six member states  does not administer a high volume of cases.

Politically, there is an absence of mechanisms to resolve disputes between member states in cases of disagreements, Al Jazeeras Centre for Studies has noted.

No institutional activities or structures have yet been created to follow up on the implementation of resolutions taken at past GCC summits.

A 2014 diplomatic rift involving Saudia Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar did not escalate after Kuwait stepped in to mediate.

Since June 2017, Qatar has been blockaded by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, after failing to acquiesce to a list of demands that included shutting down Qatar-based Al Jazeera.

EU

The Commission must be aware of new situations or problems developing in Europe and assess whether EU legislation is the best way to deal with them.

The Commission is in touch with various groups, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions. It also takes into account the opinions of national parliaments, governments and the public.
Rights groups say the provinces Bill 62 violates the constitutional rights of Muslim women who wear the niqab.

Canadian human rights and civil liberty groups have launched a constitutional challenge of a recent law that bans face coverings in the province of Quebec, a measure they argue violates the rights of Muslim women who wear a full face covering.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association filed a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court against parts of the law, known as Bill 62, on Tuesday.

The lawsuit is asking the court to order a stay to block the laws implementation across the province.

Warda Naili, a Muslim woman in Quebec who wears a niqab, a full face covering which usually leaves the area around the eyes uncovered, is named in the legal challenge.

Its a big thing. Its stressful, its scary, but at the same time, its essential that it gets done because this law must be suspended, Naili, whose legal name is Marie-Michelle Lacoste, told Al Jazeera over the phone from Montreal.

She said she agreed to put her name forward because Bill 62 is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

A lot of women would like to do it, but theyre scared, Naili said.

Someone had to do it.

Quebecs Minister of Justice, Stephanie Vallee, defended the law on Tuesday, saying it was justified in the free and democratic society that is Quebec.

The debate will take place in front of the courts, Vallee told reporters.

Religious neutrality

Bill 62, which was passed last month in the Quebec legislature, forces public employees to uncover their faces when administering services.

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Members of the public are also obliged to uncover their faces to receive services, including in municipalities across the province and on public transportation.

Quebec has justified the law as part of a long-standing effort to enshrine religious neutrality into law in the French-speaking province.

Last month, Vallee said the law was about being able to identify people.

These are common-sense rules that will apply, she said.

But critics and civil rights groups say it unfairly targets Muslim women who wear the niqab.

This bill is not neutral whatsoever and it has nothing to do with state religious neutrality, said Razia Hamidi, the Montreal representative of the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

Hamidi told Al Jazeera that Bill 62 is discriminatory and violates the rights of Muslim women under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

They hold these religious beliefs and have the constitutional right to do so, Hamidi added.

An injustice

Public protests against Bill 62 have taken place across Montreal in recent weeks, including demonstrators who have taken public transit, or lined up along a popular bus route, while covering their faces.

As it stands, Muslim women will have to unveil their faces when boarding public buses or metros and during the delivery of public services, including during a doctors visit or in a classroom.

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A few dozen Muslim women are believed to wear a full face veil in the province.

This bill doesnt further state neutrality; it undermines it, by targeting some of the most vulnerable, said Cara Zwible, the acting general counsel at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, during a press conference on Tuesday morning.

We believe that people in Canada have basic rights to religious freedom, equality and the liberty to move around society and go about our daily lives without unreasonable and unnecessary intrusions from the state, Zwible said.

Naili said she hoped the legal challenge would suspend Bill 62s implementation across the province.

This law is an injustice, she said.

It sends the message to intolerant people that they have a right to be intolerant.
One killed as gunmen enter TV station in the Afghan capital after detonating explosives at gate.

At least one security guard was killed as fighters stormed a private television station in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

An employee at Shamshad TV told TOLOnews on Tuesday that the attackers, who were wearing police uniforms, entered the stations building after detonating explosives at the gate.

Afghan resilience: This anchor got injured on the Islamic State attack on Shamshad TV, now he is back on his show, discussing the attack. pic.twitter.com/Sb5h0nb5yW  Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) November 7, 2017

Gunfire was heard from the scene, while security forces and ambulances rushed to the area, TOLOnews reported.

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The gunmen barricaded themselves inside the TV station. They [threw] projectiles, grenades and rockets from inside, said Al Jazeeras Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul.

Police confirmed that one security guard was killed.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The Taliban denied it was behind the attack, in a tweet.

Our correspondent said the siege, which lasted more than one hour, was now over.

Journalists face an increasing threat in Afghanistan. In May, at least six journalists were killed in an attack on a television and radio station in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

At least 13 journalists were killed in 2016  the deadliest in years, Al Jazeeras Glasse said.
In the Turkish city of Antalya, delegates from 190 countries gathered to discuss safety concerns and challenges faced by humanitarian workers and volunteers in the field.

The General Assembly of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) began on November 6.

The evolving nature of conflict and disaster zones, access to affected people, and funding were also deliberated.

But the long-standing question of whether humanitarian aid is helping to prolong conflicts such as those in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, remains.

Al Jazeera spoke with Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Al Jazeera: What challenges do you face and how will you overcome them?

Peter Maurer: In todays conflicts, there are of course multiple challenges in accessing besieged areas and populations we cant reach. The first and foremost challenge is access to security for humanitarian workers.

This relates to existing or non-existing neutral and impartial space for humanitarian action but instead what we see today is an increase in what we call politicisation of the humanitarian space.

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That is when state and non-state armed actors enter humanitarian space trying to manipulate humanitarian work, humanitarian workers, and health workers. They do not respect the neutrality of hospitals and traditional humanitarian work but instead try to make them an instrument in warfare.

This is a big preoccupation for an organisation like ICRC, which is basically designed to be the front line operator of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

Al Jazeera: But are you impartial? Local committees have been criticised in various parts of the world for only providing aid to where state or non-state actors allow them 

Maurer: We need to engage with all parties in a conflict, so we have to have access to all sides to explain what we are doing. At the end of the day, we have to be accountable to those who have political power on the ground, and accountability means transparency on what exactly we are doing.

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We need to explain that what we are doing is needs based and not policy based and does not have a political bias. And this needs much more, which is very frankly the reason why ICRC was founded 150 years ago.

In conflicts, its very difficult for the Red Cross or Red Crescent to be on both sides of the front line. Its much easier for the ICRC as the international component of the movement to try to negotiate that space in order to recreate the space.

But again, this means that ICRC will engage with all sides to negotiate, to make our people on the ground more aware so that we better know the actor so that we can talk to them.

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Sometimes it is the civil society  the people on the ground  who defend us, because they talk to the fighters and are able to rein them in in certain circumstances.

So there is a multiplicity of activities that we are entertaining and that we are changing a little bit the way we are working even the big challenges that we are facing.

Al Jazeera: How would you respond to the criticism that the use of humanitarian work as a weapon of war has helped authoritarian governments remain in power?

Maurer: When the ICRC was founded in the 19th century, this was exactly the debate the organisation faced. The criticism that we generated as an organisation was that we would prolong war instead of abolishing it. I think today we are more aware of the situation.

We cant escape the humanitarian imperative of helping people survive in the most difficult circumstances. We cant really defend ourselves when governments and non-state armed groups manipulate our humanitarian work.

We can't escape the humanitarian imperative of helping people survive in the most difficult circumstances by

What we can do is to work well on the ground and to do what is needed and not allow ourselves to be manipulated in a way that results in people misinterpreting and misrepresenting our humanitarian work.

I have a good conscience when I see what we are doing. We are still doing the very minimum of saving lives, stabilising people, and bringing people together. Thats classical humanitarianism. People are very critical when they say we are prolonging war, we let ourselves be manipulated.

At the end of the day we know thats what happens in war. But look at the facts, and the facts say we are saving lives of people.

Maurer: At the ICRC, we are the ones who are responsible for the security of our own staff members and for the volunteers in the movement. I think we do a lot of training and offer a lot of support for the families of volunteers or workers who have been killed.

It is a tragedy that we have seen unfolding by the totalitarian way warfare has evolved that resulted in more and more our colleagues being victims of attacks.

Health workers and hospitals are victims of attacks. And it challenges us not only in our education but also in how we respond to some of those crises.

It puts us in front of a dilemma every day. Do we look for the maximum security of our people or do we go into a context in order to save lives of civilians? Its a dilemma which is with us each and every day which forces us to take hard and critical decisions.

Al Jazeera: Conflicts are expanding and impartial space is shrinking. What are your fears for the years to come and is there any hope?

Maurer: ICRC statistics show that violations of international humanitarian law are being carried out almost equally by state and non-state actors in the largest conflicts of the world.

We have to stop the politicised incursions into humanitarian spaces and this will come when political actors understand the enormous cost their manipulation and politicisation of humanitarian space has.

I fear we will continue with the dynamic of war and violence, but I am a little bit hopeful when I look at our dialogue with state and non-state armed groups. I think there is a rising awareness that it cant go on as it has gone on over the last couple of years, particularly in the Middle East, and that we have to change course.

The change of behaviour comes with respect for international humanitarian law, which has been disregarded by many as outdated.
Caught between the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq, Iraqs Christians worry about the future of their home.

Many Christians are uncertain about their future in Iraq after government forces, with the help of Shia militia, retook most of the disputed territories in Iraq controlled by the Kurds.

Kurdish forces had controlled these areas since they pushed ISIL out in 2014. A recent Kurdish referendum on separation from Iraq spurred the central government to military action, and now Christians in Al Qosh arent sure what the future holds.

Al Qosh remains under Kurdish control, but its inhabitants fear the possibility of losing their homeland and are continuing to look for ways to survive between two competing governments.

Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker reports from Al Qosh in the Nineveh plains, northern Iraq.
Parents say police stormed primary school and arrested teachers because of schools refusal to adopt Israeli curriculum.

Occupied East Jerusalem  Teachers and parents have decried a raid on a school by Israeli forces that resulted in the arrests of the schools deputy principal and three teachers.

Israeli police entered the Zahwa al-Quds kindergarten and primary school in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina on Monday and made the arrests because staff refused to follow Israels education standard, according to school staff.

Israel is attempting to force our school to adopt the Israeli education curriculum, Ziad al-Shamali, head of the schools parent committee, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday. We are refusing this. So they decided to raid our school and scare our children.

Local teacher Ola Nini told Al Jazeera several unarmed and plain-clothed Israeli police officers and officials from Israels Jerusalem municipality entered the school during the first class of the morning. Zahwa al-Quds is a private school with about 90 students between the ages of three and nine.

Officers searched all the classrooms and demanded the identity cards of each teacher, Nini said, adding they then wrote down their names and made photocopies of their IDs.

Shamali said the officers also confiscated phones and deleted footage of the incident on the schools surveillance cameras. The students were so frightened that at least one child urinated on herself, Nini added.

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The officers began to question the students about the books they were reading and took pictures of the books, Nini explained. The officers then made their way to the principals office, broke in, and confiscated teacher salaries and school papers in the drawers of the principals desk, she said.

During the raid, the schools deputy principal and three teachers were taken into Israeli custody. They were released later on Monday.

Rachel Greenspan, spokeswoman for the local government, said the Jerusalem municipality was not involved in the incident and denied there was a raid on the school. There was a dispute between the teachers and the principal regarding salaries, she told Al Jazeera.

An Israeli police spokesperson did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

Scared to go to school

Monday was not the first time Zahwa al-Quds school was targeted by Israeli security forces. According to Nini, two armed Israeli police officers also stormed and searched the school in September.

The school received an Israeli permit when it was established about a year ago, according to Shamali. However in July, Israel allegedly revoked the license after staff refused to start teaching the Israeli curriculum, forcing the school to obtain a Palestinian permit from the al-Waqf Islamic Trust.

Shamali said Israels targeting of Zahwa al-Quds was part of its plan to coerce Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem into teaching the Israeli curriculum.

They dont want anything Palestinian left. They want all of our schools to be for Israelis, he said. So they will keep making it difficult for our children to learn.

Tahseen Elayyan, head of the monitoring and documentation department at the Palestinian human rights NGO al-Haq, agreed saying there have been constant attempts by Israel to impose its education system on Palestinian schools.

Israels goal is to suppress the Palestinian narrative, especially since the curriculum does not mention the atrocities committed against Palestinians in 1948 and other historical facts that are linked to Palestinian history on this land, Elayyan said.

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Shamali said Palestinian students have unwittingly become victims of Israels violent policies towards Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem.

These raids make the children scared to go to school, he said, noting families are becoming afraid to send their children to schools that teach the Palestinian curriculum.

If children are seeing police raid their schools and arrest their teachers, they will think that school is a bad and unsafe place, said Shamali.

They would never behave like this in front of Israeli children.
Hariris resignation in Riyadh shows Saudi will no longer accommodate Irans influence in Lebanon, analysts say.

Recent developments in Saudi Arabia  including the sacking and detention of senior ministers and princes, and the televised resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri from Riyadh  come in the context of a regional power play by Saudi against Iran, analysts say.

Hariris resignation occurred just hours before dozens of Saudi princes, ministers, businessmen and religious scholars were arrested under orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In announcing his decision to step down, Hariri, who heads the Sunni-majority Future Movement party, blamed interference in Lebanon by Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Al Jazeera explores who the key players are and how the situation reached this point.

What is Hariris connection to Saudi Arabia?

Hariris business and political links to Saudi Arabia stretch back to his father, Rafik Hariri, a business tycoon and former prime minister who was assassinated in 2005, a year after resigning his premiership.

Saad Hariri inherited his fathers business across the kingdom, including partnerships and financial ties with some of the princes included in the purge, said Ibrahim Halawi, a lecturer in contemporary Middle East politics at the Royal Holloway University in London.

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The government in Riyadh wanted to kill two birds with one stone, Halawi told Al Jazeera  consolidating power locally, which required moving Hariri to Riyadh and allegedly  according to some Lebanese local reports  taking over his assets  [while] simultaneously attempting to shake Hezbollahs comfortable seat in Hariris unity government.

Hariris prime ministership lasted barely a year after a prolonged political deadlock left Lebanon without a president for more than two years and without a parliament for 11 months.

The government was an unusual national unity coalition of pro- and anti-Syria government parties, including Hezbollah and Hariris Future Movement.

But this underscored for Saudi Arabia the dangers of a coalition composed of parties with opposing interests, particularly when Hezbollah appeared to hold the most sway. Hezbollah has embroiled itself in Syrias civil war as a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assad, alongside international allies Russia and Iran.

What is behind the anti-Hezbollah sentiment?

Hariri accused Iran of fomenting disorder and destruction and meddling in the internal affairs of Lebanon and other Arab states. He described Hezbollah as Irans arm in Lebanon, noting: They have built a state within a state.

Hariris resignation speech echoed a tweet by Saudi Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan, who had met Hariri a few days earlier. In his tweet, Sabhan said: The hands of treachery and aggression must be amputated  a reference to Hezbollah and Iran.

Lebanon after [Hariris] resignation will not be like it was before, he tweeted on Monday. It will not accept being used as a platform to spring terrorism onto our countries. It is up to their leaders to decide whether they want to be a peaceful or terrorist state.

Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera that Hariris resignation from Riyadh was a clear sign that Saudi Arabia is no longer willing to accommodate Iranian influence in Lebanon.





The announcement of the resignation from Riyadh sends the message that Saad Hariri is firmly aligned with Saudi Arabia, making his resignation more of an episode in the Saudi-Iranian rivalry than an internal Lebanese affair, she said.

Khatib noted that Hariris position in a government with Hezbollah representatives was not sustainable.

Instead of being able to stand up to Irans interests from within the government, he was becoming increasingly closer to accommodating those interests, she said.

What will happen to Lebanons government?

In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah rejected claims of Iranian meddling and said the decision was Saudi-imposed. He went on to denounce the tone and text of Hariris speech and questioned the motive behind the surprise resignation.

In light of Hariris resignation, the current national unity government is likely to fall, leaving the country facing an indefinite period of political vacuum, Khatib said. Being one of the countrys strongest political parties, Hezbollah is still a tool for realising Iranian interests in the region, she added.

Firas Maksad, deputy executive director of Arabia Foundation, told Al Jazeera that as the dominant power in Lebanon, Hezbollah has the most to lose and would rather remain focused on their fight in Syria.

One plausible scenario has Lebanon limping along with a caretaker government, unable to form a new cabinet without securing the approval of Hariris Future Movement, he said.

Though there is little doubt that Saudi Arabia enjoys significant influence in Lebanon, there are also domestic factors, he said.





Hariri entered into a coalition government with Hezbollah on the basis of a political compromise, which steadily eroded over the past year, Maksad said.

Instead, Hariris continuation in government came to provide political cover for Hezbollahs activities, including its deepening military involvements in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, regular verbal assaults against Saudi Arabia, and its recent pressuring of the Lebanese government to restore diplomatic ties with the Assad regime.

Who has the regional advantage?

Irans influence in the region has significantly increased over the past few years, particularly in the context of limiting the expansion and influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS). In Iraq, Iranian-backed Shia-dominated paramilitaries known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces have been dubbed as the countrys second  and stronger  army.

In Yemen, Saudi remains deadlocked in a war waged since March 2015 against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been fighting against the Saudi-backed central government.

The Saudis are clearly stepping up their zero-sum rivalry with Iran throughout the region, Ali Vaez, an Iran expert with the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera. Iran has had the upper hand so far in the competition over regional influence, but the Saudis are hoping that the Trump administration would tilt the balance in their favour.

One example of that, Halawi noted, is the US attempt to increase pressure on Hezbollah.

The US is trying to tease Hezbollahs high ground through its recent wave of sanctions against its funders and members, and pressuring the Lebanese financial establishment to fully comply with the sanctions strategy, he said.

Who is leading the charge in Saudi?

Khatib noted that the recent upheaval in Saudi Arabia aims to consolidate the authority of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, empowering him to set the countrys foreign policy agenda.

The 32-year-old heads Saudis new anti-corruption committee, aimed at identifying offences, crimes, and persons and entities involved in cases of public corruption, with the power to issue arrest warrants, impose travel bans, freeze accounts and track funds and assets.

The probe, which has purged Saudi royals, senior ministers and businessmen, appears to be widening, while it remains unclear whether Hariri will return to Lebanon.

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Over the past year, Mohammed bin Salman has become the ultimate decision-maker for the kingdoms military, foreign, economic and social policies, championing his Vision 2030 plan, which includes subsidy cuts, tax hikes and sales of state assets.

According to Luciano Zaccara, a Gulf politics researcher at Qatar University, the events of the past few days are a testament to Mohammed bin Salmans ability to lead the fight against Iran and its allies.

The coincidence with the internal changes in Saudi proves that the succession towards Mohammed bin Salman is approaching, and that Saudi needs to make sure that nobody will challenge the legitimacy of Mohammed bin Salman as the new ruler, neither internally nor regionally, Zaccara said.

For that, proving that Saudi has leverage in other countries, such as Lebanon, and that they can prevent the Iranian influence to extend there is an asset for Mohammed bin Salman, to demonstrate his external power, which is coupled internally with the fact that he is eliminating any possible internal challenge to his authority once the transition is done.

Follow Linah Alsaafin @LinahAlsaafin and Farah Najjar @NajjarF91 on Twitter
Cities are looking for ways to strengthen their defences against prospective flooding, and they are turning to the Netherlands for answers.

World leaders and scientists are meeting in Germany for COP23, the annual UN climate change conference. It comes as many parts of the world are feeling the effects of rising sea levels, extreme weather and floods.

Cities are looking for ways to strengthen their defences against prospective flooding, and they are turning to the Netherlands for answers.

Al Jazeeras Laurence Lee reports from Rotterdam.
As Google celebrates this traditional Thai dish today, we show how it is prepared and explore its origins.

Pad Thai is a classic Thai dish consisting of stir-fried rice noodles, and it is commonly served as street food.

Today, Google is celebrating the plate with an animated doodle, while exploring the history behind it.

What is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is a Thai dish of stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, vegetables and tofu in a sauce of tamarind, fish, dried shrimp, garlic, red chilli pepper and sugar.

Some of the ingredients are provided on the side as condiments, including red chilli pepper, lime wedges and peanuts.

There is also a vegetarian version that could substitute soy sauce for fish sauce, and omit the shrimp.

Pad Thai is a signature dish of Bangkok street food and is sold in small Thai villages.

Where does it come from?

Its origins are difficult to trace, but many believe it was introduced by Chinese traders and evolved to reflect traditional Thai flavours.

Other believe it is a dish of Vietnamese origin.

World War II and Pad Thai

During the second world war, the country faced a shortage of rice, but rice noodles were not hard to find, presenting a cheap and filling option.

Noodles mixed with vegetables and proteins such as shrimp provided a balanced, nutritious meal.

The Thai government, under Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram, promoted the dish, helping to develop part of the countrys identity.

Pad Thai has become one of the countrys national dishes.

How do you prepare it?

Many recipes are available; this is one of the most popular:

In a pan, heat 1/4 cup of oil over medium heat.

Add onions and garlic, and saute until you can smell their fragrance.

Add chicken and fry until it is cooked and browned. Remove chicken from the pan.

In the same pan, add tofu, lemon juice, sugar, soy sauce and water; stir.

When it boils, add the noodles and stir.

When the noodles are soft, move them to the edge of the pan, making a space on the side. Add two tablespoons of oil. Break eggs and add to hot oil.

Stir the white and yolk well. When they are well mixed, stir with the noodles. When the egg is well cooked, add the chicken and mix with the noodles.

Add the garlic and scallions, saute quickly and remove from flame.

Serve onto plates with lime wedges and sprinkle with a handful of chopped salted peanuts.

In Pictures
Mondays announcement affects 2,500 Nicaraguans, but grants temporary reprieve to Hondurans who fear they will be next.

The Trump administration eliminated temporary legal residency and deportation relief for thousands of immigrants from Nicaragua.

The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke late on Monday, will affect 2,500 Nicaraguans who have legally lived and worked in the country for nearly two decades.

Duke said that Nicaraguan recipients of Temporary Protection Status (TPS) will remain protected under the visa for another 14 months, until the programme is officially terminated on January 5, 2019.

They will then have to seek alternative ways to gain legal status or prepare to forcibly return to Nicaragua, according to the government memo.

While the move was expected by many, the Nicaraguans affected still find Mondays announcement shocking, and worry about the prospect of potentially having to return home.

I am shocked that my government did absolutely nothing to protect us from the elimination of TPS, Bernan Vusto, a TPS holder since 1990, said.

The 50-year-old, who is originally from Leon, Nicaragua and now lives and works in Washington, DC, said there is a job shortage in his home country that would make it difficult and expensive to return.

TPS is a form of temporary legal residency established in the Immigration Act of 1990 that provides worker visas to more than 300,00 immigrants from 10 countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other circumstances that make it potentially dangerous for them to return to home.

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Immigration officials regularly decide whether to renew the programme every six to 18 months for each country.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) eliminated the provision for Nicaraguans after determining they no longer needed relief from substantial but temporary conditions caused by the hurricane that ravaged the Central American country nearly 20 years ago.

Under TPS, immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua were granted temporary protected status in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch killed more than 10,000 people and severely damaged infrastructure in both countries.

On Monday, DHS determined that Nicaraguan TPS holders can now return home and said that the Nicaraguan government will adequately handle their return. The department added that the Nicaraguan government had not requested that the programme be extended.

Hondurans fear theyre next

The Trump administrations plans to create more stringent immigration policies may determine whether the provision is renewed for other countries like El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras.

On Monday, the DHS Duke said the administration needed more time to determine whether to renew the visa for Hondurans, saying it will extend the programme until July of next year.

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Last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the conditions in Central America and Haiti no longer justify the need for protections under TPS in a letter to DHS.

The elimination of TPS protection for these groups would affect hundreds of thousands of people.

According to one study, Haitians, Salvadorans and Hondurans comprise the three largest TPS holders and together have a total of 273,000 children who were born in the US and have American citizenship.

While spared on Monday, Honduran TPS recipients say the extension just draws out the fear that their permits will not be renewed.

Guisell Martinez Flores, a TPS holder from Honduras who has worked as a janitor in Los Angeles, California for more than 18 years, said the announcement does not constitute good news.

I have never been so uneasy as I am now, Flores told Al Jazeera.

We have had to renew our work permits constantly but it is different under this administration, she said.

They think we are criminals, and the uncertainty is just so overwhelming.

DHS has called on Congress to enact a permanent solution to resolve the seemingly imminent elimination of TPS in the memo and give options to the thousands of immigrations that are losing or may eventually lose these protections.

But for the 2,500 Nicaraguans, including Vusto, their time in the US may be coming to an end.

It is possible that Congress might take action in the next 14 months and gives us reprieve, Vusto said.

But after the shock of yesterdays announcement, its difficult for me to think about what will come next.
Welsh minister Carl Sargeant was removed from the Labour Party after allegations of incidents with women.

A sacked Welsh minister of UKs Labour Party has been found dead, just days after he was removed from the cabinet amid allegations of misconduct.

Carl Sargeant was relieved from his duties as Wales cabinet secretary for communities and children on Friday and was under a party investigation.

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The 49-year-old father of two died on Tuesday morning in the Welsh town of Connahs Quay, North Wales police confirmed.

We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him, said a family statement.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn offered his condolences to Sargeants family.

Im deeply shocked to hear of the terrible news about Carl Sargeant. My thoughts and profound sympathy are with his family and friends, he said on his Twitter page.

Local press and social media users are speculating it was a possible suicide case.

I'm deeply shocked to hear of the terrible news about Carl Sargeant. My thoughts and profound sympathy are with his family and friends.  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 7, 2017

But superintendent Mark Pierce said that the North Wales police are not treating the death as suspicious.

The Welsh Labour Party sacked Sargeant and launched an investigation against him over a number of alleged incidents with women.

Sargeant had urged an urgent independent investigation into the claims to clear his name.

Utterly shocked at news regarding Carl Sargeant. Thinking of his family and friends at this awful time.  Stephen Doughty MP (@SDoughtyMP) November 7, 2017

Shocked and saddened to hear about Carl Sargeant. Always friendly and enthusiastic to help whenever I met him. Thoughts with his family.  David Daniels  BLACK LIVES MATTER (@David_R_Daniels) November 7, 2017

I am shocked and horrified by this terrible news. Carl Sargeant was a gentle giant who will be missed across the party divide.  Neil Hamilton MS/AS (@NeilUKIP) November 7, 2017

Following his death, politicians and fellow party members paid their tributes and expressed their shock at the news.

He was a powerful voice for working people and Wales This is a tragedy beyond words, said Tom Watson, deputy Labour leader.

Sargeant had served as a minister in the Welsh government for eight years.

On the same day of his dismissal, another Labour Party MP Kelvin Hopkins was also suspended allegations of sexual harassment.
Activists and local media say at least 30 Yemenis, including women and children, were killed in raids in north Yemen.

At least 30 Yemenis, including women and children, were killed in a series of Saudi-led air strikes in north Yemen, activists and local media said.

Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a pro-Houthi activist, told Al Jazeera at least 16 air strikes targeted the village of Hiran in Hajjah province on Tuesday, killing 30 people, including a family of 10.

Quoting local residents, Bukhaiti said the raids started shortly after midnight, targeting the home of Sheikh Hamdi, a Houthi loyalist, killing him and his family.

The strikes reportedly continued until 5pm local time (14:00 GMT). According to Bukhaiti, the devastation prevented relatives and rescue workers from retrieving the bodies of the dead.

Al Masirah, a TV channel run by the Houthis  a group of rebels who control Hajjah province, the capital, Sanaa, as well as other parts of central Yemen  said 10 paramedics were also killed.

It published photos on Twitter and its website showing a bombed-out vehicle and dead children.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claims.

Yemen has been torn apart by conflict since 2014, when Houthi rebels, allied with troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, captured large expanses of the country, including Sanaa.

A coalition of Arab countries assembled by Saudi Arabia launched an air campaign against the rebels in March 2015, to try to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power.

Since then, more than 10,000 people have been killed, millions were forced from their homes, and the country has been facing severe famine and a deadly cholera outbreak.
Crown prince accuses Iran of direct military aggression as kingdom seeks to curb Iranian influence across the region.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of direct military aggression through the Houthi rebels in Yemen, firing another warning shot at the Islamic Republic.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi heir apparent, was referring to the missile fired over the weekend at Riyadh from Yemen in pointing the finger at Iran for supplying the weapon.

Iran has dismissed the accusation, reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday, as contrary to reality. The Houthis have given warning that Saudi and UAE airports could be their next firing targets.

The Islamic Republic supports the Shia Houthi rebels but denies arming them.

However, the current crisis extends far beyond Yemen: Saudi Arabia has made clear it wants to curb Iranian influence not just in the Arabian Peninsula but across the region.

Iran has proxies across the Middle East; in Iraq, it controls paramilitary forces that are stronger than the state.

In Yemen, Saudi Arabia is in a quagmire, unable to defeat the Houthi rebels.

In Syria, it has the Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah fighters supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

And in Lebanon, the resignation of Saad Hariri, the prime minister, on Saturday while on a visit to Riyadh has thrown that country into fresh political turmoil.

Hariri has not returned to Lebanon since his announcement.

Instead, he has travelled to Abu Dhabi, a Saudi ally in the anti-Iranian camp, for talks on the escalating political crisis back home.

Saudi Arabia is at odds with the Lebanese government after backing the resignation of Hariri, but curbing Hezbollahs influence and power will not be easy.

Hezbollah is not just an armed group, but a political party with strong popular support. And in recent years, it has extended its influence beyond Lebanons borders.

Hezbollahs decision to send troops to fight alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces has long been an issue of concern among some Lebanese factions.

But it has strenuously resisted calls to disarm and to withdraw from Syria.

Iran has now secured a land corridor stretching from Tehran through Iraq and Syria all the way to Lebanon, a country in which Saudi Arabia hopes to change the balance of power.

It is not clear what action Saudi Arabia will take, but the kingdom, which has classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation, is now using stronger language and is threatening action.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, George Alam, a political analyst, said: Saudi Arabia, through its threats, want the Lebanese government and people to finish off Hezbollah. It is an invitation to civil war.

There is a new front  Saudi, Israeli and the US  against Iran.

Iranian daily warned

Against this background, Iranian media said on Tuesday the governments press supervisory board had put Kayhan newspaper on notice after it ran a headline saying Dubai was the next target for Yemens Houthi rebels.

The front-page headline ran on Monday, two days after the missile fired by the Houthis was intercepted near Riyadhs international airport.

The semi-official ISNA news agency reported the supervisory boards action, saying the auditors felt the headline was contrary to Irans interests and national security.

A Saudi-led military coalition went to war with the Houthi rebels in March 2015 after they seized the capital, Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition has intensified its Yemen embargo after the missile incident, which could further limit access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Arabian Peninsula country, which has been devastated by more than two years of conflict.





The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians, driven three million people from their homes, and left millions of Yemenis without basic necessities.

Yemens main international airport, in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, has been closed since August 2016 by order of the coalition.

The rebel-held north has largely relied on the Red Sea port of Hodeida, which is controlled by the Houthis, for delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid and fuel supplies.

A full blockade of the port would cut off a crucial lifeline for the Houthis, as well as millions of civilians.
Saudi Gulf affairs minister says Iran-backed group Hezbollah has committed acts of aggression against the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has accused the Lebanese government of declaring war against it because of Hezbollahs aggression, further escalating an already tense situation threatening to destabilise Lebanon.

The risk of an open-ended political crisis has loomed large over Lebanons fragile stability since Saudi-allied Saad Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, blaming Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah for sowing strife in the region.

The unexpected move has also stoked fears of an escalation in the regional divide between Iran and the Gulf states, primarily Saudi Arabia, with Lebanon on the front lines.

Thamer al-Sabhan, the Saudi minister for Gulf affairs, said on Monday that Lebanons government would be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia because of what he described as acts of aggression committed by Hezbollah.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, Sabhan said Hezbollah was involved in every terrorist act that threatened Saudi Arabia.

The Lebanese must choose between peace or aligning with Hezbollah, he added, without offering any details about what action Riyadh might take against Beirut.

There was no immediate response from Lebanon.

Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr, reporting from Lebanons capital, Beirut, said the strong language used by Saudi officials was described by some analysts as unprecedented.

People are concerned  [by] the very tough rhetoric, she said.

Two camps

Hariri, a Sunni politician and longtime ally of the Gulf Kingdom, announced his resignation from the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

His decision brought down Lebanons coalition government, which included members of Hezbollah.

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Lebanon is divided into two similar [camps], political analyst Khaldoun El Charif told Al Jazeera.

One is pro-Iran and the other is pro-Saudi, which means if things get worse it could lead to a confrontation between the two parties like what happened [in the past], he added.

That is why we need to find a solution.

But the constitutional process to appoint a new prime minister has been put on hold, with Lebanons Justice Minister Salim Jreissati saying there will be no action taken until Hariri returns from Saudi Arabia.

We have been told by the president that we wont take any decision before knowing the circumstances of Hariris resignation from the prime minister himself, Jreissati told reporters.

Al Jazeeras Khodr said it will be hard to find a political figure to replace Hariri.

According to Lebanons power-sharing deal, he must be a Sunni Muslim, and if internal stability is to be maintained he must be a consensual figure able to bring the rival parties together, added Khodr.

Clearly, the political crisis has now worsened and people are worried that its going to be a prolonged political paralysis in the country.





In a televised speech announcing his decision to step down, Hariri said he believed he faced threats to his life.

He also called out Iran for sowing disorder and destruction in Lebanon, and criticised Hezbollah, which has members in government and parliament as well as an armed wing, for building a state within a state.

I say to Iran and its allies  you have lost in your efforts to meddle in the affairs of the Arab world, Hariri said, adding that the region will rise again and the hands that you have wickedly extended into it will be cut off.

In response, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday called Hariris resignation a Saudi-imposed decision.

It was not our wish for Hariri to resign, he said in a televised appearance on the Hezbollah-owned Al Manar TV.

Even if he was forced to resign, the way in which it was executed does not reflect Hariris way in dealing with things, Nasrallah added, questioning the text of Hariris speech broadcast during his visit to Riyadh.

In his interview with Al Arabiya on Monday, Saudis Sabhan rejected that the Kingdom had forced Hariri to resign.

Talk about Hariri being pushed to resign is a lie and aims at distracting the Lebanese people, he said.
Prime Minister Saad Hariris abrupt resignation over the weekend was bizarre even by the often twisted standards of Lebanese politics. He made the surprise announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned TV station.

Stunned Lebanese are convinced Saudi Arabia, Hariris longtime ally, forced him to step down to effectively wreck the prime ministers delicate compromise government with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

In doing so, the kingdom throws Lebanon into potential turmoil, forcing the small nation to become a new front in the regional fight for supremacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The move comes at a time when Iran and its allies are seen to have won the proxy war against some of the Saudi-backed forces in neighbouring Syria.

Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been intensifying its confrontation with Shia powerhouse Iran. The two camps support rival sides in countries across the region, worsening conflicts in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

Each also has its proxies in Lebanon, but in recent years, Lebanese parties have intently tried  largely successfully  to prevent those tensions from blowing up into full-scale violence in a country still haunted by memories from its own 1975-1990 civil war.

Shia Hezbollah dominates Lebanon, but it has sought not to provoke the Sunni community, which in turn has avoided crossing the armed group.

The fear among some Lebanese now is that Saudi Arabia will upset that balance, trying to compensate for its losses in proxy wars elsewhere.

In Syria, Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed fighters allied with the Syrian regime have recaptured large areas and are working to take a much-prized land corridor stretching from Tehran to the Mediterranean through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has been stuck in a fruitless war in Yemen against Iranian-backed Shia rebels, and a Saudi bid to isolate Qatar has failed to achieve its goals.

Saudi fingerprints were seen all over Hariris resignation on Saturday.

Hariri appeared on Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV in a recorded video from an undisclosed location, haltingly delivering a statement in which he accused Iran of meddling in Arab affairs and the Iran-backed Hezbollah of holding Lebanon hostage.

Irans arms in the region will be cut off, he said, adding that he felt compelled to resign and that his life was endangered.
The British government is struggling to contain a series of scandals that threaten to further weaken Prime Minister Theresa Mays leadership.

The British government is struggling to contain a series of scandals that threaten to further weaken the leadership of Prime Minister Theresa May.

Several members of her party have been accused of sexual harassment.

A top minister is accused of holding secret meetings with Israel.

And the countrys Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is under fire for inaccurate comments he made about a British woman currently in jail in Iran.

Al Jazeeras Neave Barker reports from London.
Egypts president promises to stick to the constitutional limit of two four-year terms.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he will stick to the constitution and not seek a third time as Egypts president, as he promised that elections will take place in March or April next year.

It doesnt suit me as a president to stay one more day against the will of the Egyptians. This is not talk for TV, those are principles I embrace and am keen on, he told CNBC over the weekend.

The interview was broadcast online late on Monday.

Under the constitution, Egyptian presidents can only renew a four-year term once  meaning a maximum eight years in office.

In February, pro-Sisi MP Ismail Nasreddin bid to extend the presidential term to six years, but withdrew the proposal several months later.

There is no president who will sit in the chair without the will of the Egyptian people, Sisi told CNBC. We will not interfere with [the constitution]  I am with preserving two four-year terms.

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Sisi came to power after the 2013 removal of democratically-elected Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

A former minister of defence and commander of the armed forces, Sisi has previously sidestepped questions relating to his political ambitions.

In an interview with Slate magazine in the run-up to the 2014 election, Sisi refused to answer whether he would run for the presidency.

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After failing to answer the question Are you going to run? a first time, Sisi responded on the second occasion: You just cant believe that there are people who dont aspire for authority.

In the end, he did run and won a landslide victory in the 2014 election, securing more than 90 percent of votes cast.

The constitution was drafted after Morsis removal, with the assembly eager to limit presidential powers.

Under previous administrations, the constitution allowed for an indefinite number of terms.

Hosni Mubarak, who was famously toppled in the 2011 uprising, spent 30 years in power.
In a striking shift of tone, President Donald Trump abandoned his aggressive rhetoric towards North Korea on Tuesday, signaling a willingness to negotiate as he urged Pyongyang to come to the table and make a deal.

Trump, in his first day on the Korean Peninsula, again pushed Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, but sidelined apocalyptic threats for an optimistic note, saying confidently, if vaguely, that ultimately, itll all work out. And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy.

It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world, Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in. I do see certain movement.

Trump said he has seen a lot of progress in dealing with North Korea, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

Trump also underlined the US military options, noting that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region. But he said we hope to God we never have to use the arsenal.

And at an evening banquet, Trump teased about an exciting day tomorrow for many reasons that people will find out. He did not elaborate.

During his first day in South Korea, Trump at least temporarily lowered the temperature on his previously incendiary language about the North. There were no threats of unleashing fire and fury on North Korea, as Trump previously warned.

But he did decree that Kim is threatening millions and millions of lives, so needlessly and highlighted one of the central missions of his first, lengthy Asia trip: To enlist many nations in the region, including China and Russia, to cut off Pyongyangs economic lifeblood and pressure it into giving up its nuclear programme.

Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the presidents visit would be a moment of inflection in the standoff with North Korea, adding that the two leaders had agreed to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue in a peaceful manner that would bring permanent peace to the peninsula.

I know that you have put this issue at the top of your security agenda, said Moon. So I hope that your visit to Korea and to the Asia Pacific region will serve as an opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety that the Korean people have due to North Koreas provocations, and also serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

When presidents travel overseas, every word is parsed and every action studied. That scrutiny will be intensified in South Korea, Trumps second stop on his lengthy Asia trip, where he will try to reassure Seoul while risking antagonizing Pyongyang. Though Trump has defended his inflammatory rhetoric against North Korea, he shied away from it Tuesday while in range of Pyongyangs missiles.

But he did bemoan that previous administrations had not handled Pyongyang, saying: Now is not the right time to be dealing with this but its what I got.

He began his day in South Korea with a visit to Camp Humphreys, a joint US-Korean military base, but even as he walked among the weapons of war, he struck a hopeful note, saying: It always works out.

Much like he did on his visit to Japan, Trump indicated he would place the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit. He praised South Korea for significant purchases of American military equipment and urged the two nations to have a more equitable trade relationship. Moon said the two agreed on lifting the warhead payload limits on South Korean ballistic missiles and cooperating on strengthening South Koreas defence capabilities through the acquisition or development of advanced weapons systems.

Trump also pushed his economic agenda, saying the current US-Korea trade agreement was not successful and not very good for the United States. But he said that he had a terrific meeting scheduled on trade, adding, hopefully thatll start working out and working out so that we create lots of jobs in the United States, which is one of the very important reasons Im here.

At Camp Humphreys, Trump shook hands with American and Korean service members and sat with troops for lunch in a large mess hall. US and South Korean officials have said the base visit was meant to underscore the countries ties and South Koreas commitment to contributing to its own defence.

But Trump was expected to skip the customary trip to the demilitarized zone separating north and south, a pilgrimage made by every US president except one since Ronald Reagan, as a demonstration of solidarity with the South. Trump has not ruled out a military attack, and he backed up his strong words about North Korea by sending a budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday for $4bn to support additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners.

North Korea has tested more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months.

The other question looming over the visit is Trumps relationship with Moon, with whom he does not nearly share the close friendship he has with Abe.

Trump and Moon agree on the need to pressure the North with sanctions and other deterrence measures. But Trump has repeatedly insisted that all military options are on the table and suggested that Moon was being too lenient on the North. Moon, meanwhile, favors dialogue as the best strategy for defusing the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash that could cause enormous casualties in South Korea.

But Moon played the gracious host Tuesday. Following the example set by Japan and other countries that have welcomed Trump with lavish greetings, Moon rolled out an elaborate arrival ceremony featuring colourful costumes and flags at South Koreas stately presidential residence, known as the Blue House. And he made a point of saluting the recent gains of the US stock market, a favorite Trump talking point, and congratulating the president a day before the one-year anniversary of his election.

Trump smiled broadly.
US president backs move seen as effort by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power.

US President Donald Trump has praised Saudi Arabias leaders after the dismissal of a number of senior ministers and the detention of princes, in what the kingdom is calling an anti-corruption investigation.

The purge and detentions, which began on Saturday, are widely seen as an effort by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to assert his influence within the country.

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing, Trump said in a post on Twitter on Monday.

Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!

His tweets came days after Trump urged Saudi Arabia to list the state-owned oil giant Aramcos shares in the United States.

I want them to strongly consider the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ, or frankly anybody else located in this country, Trump during his flight to Japans capital, Tokyo, for the start of his Asian tour.

Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange. Important to the United States!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2017

Back in May, the Saudi capital of Riyadh was the first foreign destination Trump visited since taking office in January, a move seen by analysts as signalling that his administration acknowledges the kingdom as a crucial US strategic partner.

On Sunday, the White House said that Trump spoke to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, thanking him for military purchases and asking him to strongly consider listing Aramco on a US stock exchange.

Meanwhile, Trumps son-in-law and political adviser, Jared Kushner, recently returned to the US from a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met officials. Washington said his visit was meant to bolster Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

High-profile detentions

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire businessman who owns the investment firm Kingdom Holding, was among those held over the weekend, according to state media.

Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar, a board member of Saudi Arabias biggest travel company, was also reportedly on the list.

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The senior ministers who were sacked included Prince Mitaab bin Abdullah, the head of the National Guard, and Adel Faqih, the economy minister, state media reported.

In a statement on the official Saudi news agency, SPA, King Salman alluded to the exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to illicitly accrue money.

Saudi authorities have also reportedly frozen bank accounts of targeted individuals and drawn up a no-fly list.

The Saudi shake-up comes just months after King Salman replaced his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, with his son as the kingdoms crown prince.

Mohammed bin Salman has been responsible for pushing through a number of changes both at home and abroad since he became first in line to the Saudi crown.
Members of the persecuted community are still struggling to recover from years of brutal assault by ISIL fighters.

Khanke camp, northern Iraq  Wahda cannot sleep. During the day, she and her husband are busy caring for their 10 daughters and two sons inside Khanke camp for displaced Iraqis, located in the countrys north. It is at night that the memories come.

I stay awake just thinking, and Im so angry I cant sleep, Wahda, 41, told Al Jazeera. I want to take revenge for my daughters.

Her family, who are Yazidi, lived until 2014 in Sinjar, where they owned a house, a car and a small business. The area was home to around 400,000 followers of the ancient Yazidi religion before it was stormed by fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in August 2014.

ISIL fighters systematically murdered Yazidi men and elderly residents, and captured and enslaved women and children. The UN estimated that around 3,000 were murdered and 6,000 taken captive.

Our neighbours were Sunni Muslims and they told ISIS where to find us, said Wahda, who did not provide a last name. They wanted girls and they knew that we had so many girls.

Her family was taken into captivity, with the exception of her eldest daughter, Almas, who was visiting relatives. She was shot in the back of the head as she tried to escape.

Harrowing journey

Locked in a room, Wahda and her daughters witnessed the rape and murder of other women held captive. They were held in terrible conditions, regularly beaten and forced to convert to Islam. After two months, they escaped with the help of a friend who had learned of their captivity. After returning to Sinjar, Wahda managed to find her husband, who had survived ISILs massacre.

Sinjar was destroyed. After a harrowing journey across the mountain, stepping over the corpses and shallow mass graves that littered the ground, the family made it to the relative safety of Khanke camp. As Wadha recounts these events, her five-year-old daughter begins to cry.

The mass murder and enslavement of Yazidis in Iraq drew international attention. France, Germany, Canada and Australia offered asylum, while international NGOs channelled funding towards the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Yazidis. But despite this, many have struggled to recover.

We have had no psychological or physical support, Wahda said. I tried several NGOs, but either they didnt believe me that we were held in captivity, or they said that it was only two months, which is nothing, or that we werent eligible because we were not raped. But my daughters backs were black from bruises, and we have seen a lot.

Khider Domle, a Yazidi researcher, academic and activist based in Dohuk, told Al Jazeera that while members of the Yazidi community have been offered basic supports, it is not for the long term.

Our psychological, social and religious identity has been destroyed, Domle said. People are living all over the place, and they dont know what the future is. There have been no initiatives from the Iraqi government to help the displaced people return back to Sinjar; no national reconciliation process; no attempt to rebuild ruined infrastructure.

With local and international attention diverted to the ongoing battle against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, local activists say that the momentum behind an organised aid response for Yazidis appears to have dissipated. In the meantime, people within the Yazidi community are working to help each other.

Domle, who runs a womens centre and has been gathering testimonies from victims, is also helping to rescue the women and children who remain enslaved.

We dont know where they have been taken, so the genocide is ongoing, he said, noting that part of his role is to gather information, which he then passes on to rescuers on the ground in ISIL-controlled areas. Always, non-stop, we are working, looking, cooperating.

Sexual slavery

Many Yazidi activists have overcome enormous tragedy themselves. Adiba Qasim was 19 when ISIL stormed Sinjar. Along with her parents and three siblings, she escaped just 15 minutes before fighters began taking hostages.

Of her extended family, 70 people went missing; a few have returned, but the majority are either in captivity or mass graves.

Qasim and her family fled to a refugee camp in Turkey, where she noticed a lack of translators for Kurmanji, the Kurdish dialect that most Yazidis speak. She also noticed that survivors of ISILs sexual slavery often emerged from interviews with journalists or NGO workers even more distressed than when they started.

They were being asked things like, How many times were you raped?' Qasim said. I decided to learn English so I could work with women.

Qasim had never been to school, as infrastructure in Sinjar was severely lacking even before the 2014 crisis, but she had an aptitude for languages. She found scraps of paper in bins and sometimes used old cigarette packets to practise writing English words. Within months, she could speak well enough to translate for NGO workers in the camp.

After a year, she decided to return to northern Iraq to help bring the stories of Yazidi women to the world. She now works as a fixer and translator for journalists and human rights organisations.

Its hard to work on your own story, but I think this is the right place for me, Qasim said. It has been three years, and everybody knows what happened to Yazidis. Most of these women have told their stories 100 times, but they never received any help.

When Wahda and her family found a base in Khanke camp, she embarked on a mission to find her eldest daughters body. Someone had told her where Almas had been buried in a shallow grave. Against all odds, Wahda eventually found it, identifying her daughters clothes and long black hair. She was able to give her daughter the proper burial rites, but the memory still haunts her.

A few months later, Wahdas daughter, Inas, signed up to fight with an all-female, all-Yazidi Peshmerga unit. Now 17, she spends a third of each month on the front lines. Her camouflage fatigues are hung prominently inside the rudimentary brick structure where the family now lives.

Its good to be active, and to be a fighter, Inas told Al Jazeera. Its better to do something than nothing. I am fighting to avenge my sister and all the girls who are still in captivity.

The reporting for this article was supported by a Media Fellowship through the initiative on Religion and the Global Framing of Gender Violence, Center for the Study of Social Difference at Columbia University.
Officials tell AP ban prompted by enmity between Hadi and UAE, which is part of Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen war.

Saudi Arabia has barred Yemens president, along with his sons, ministers and military officials, from returning home for months, Yemeni officials told The Associated Press.

The officials said the ban was prompted by enmity between President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi and the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels and has come to dominate southern Yemen, the portion of the country not under rebel control.

Hadi and much of his government have been in the Saudi capital Riyadh for most of the war.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the two main pillars of the coalition, which is ostensibly defending Hadis government and is battling the Shia rebels, known as Houthis.

The coalition has waged an air campaign against the rebels since 2015, and the UAE has a strong military presence in southern Yemen  but the Houthis still control the north.

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Saudi Arabia intensified its blockade on Yemen on Sunday, closing land crossings and all traffic to Yemens air and sea ports. A UN agency warned ships to depart Houthi-controlled ports, and flights to the only functioning airports in southern Yemen were cancelled.

As night fell, prices of fuel hiked in Sanaa, with some petrol stations closed, and drivers queued to fill their tanks, fearing worsening fuel shortage.

The coalition move came after the Houthis fired a missile towards Riyadh, their deepest strike into the Kingdom.

A form of house arrest

Hadis inability to get back to southern Yemen underscores the presidents loss of authority  even in the south that is nominally under his administration.

Since Hadi left Yemen in February, he has repeatedly sent written requests to Saudi King Salman asking to return. None were processed, said a Yemeni security commander.

In August, Hadi even went to Riyadh airport, planning to return to his temporary capital, Aden, in southern Yemen  but he was turned back from the airport, the commander said.

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Two other Yemeni officials confirmed that Hadi, his sons and several ministers with him in Riyadh have been prevented from going to Yemen. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the situation.

The Saudis have imposed a form of house arrest on them, the commander said. When Hadi asks to go, they respond its not safe for him to return as there are plotters who want to take his life and Saudis fear for his life.

Coalition Spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malaki referred any questions related to Hadi to his own office and government.

Attempts to reach Yemens foreign minister and government spokesman were unsuccessful.

Initially, the passports of several of Hadis officials were seized  though not Hadis  the commander said.

They were given their passports back but they still cannot leave, he said.

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Hadis situation mirrors that of his predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh, the powerful former president who was removed in 2011 and then joined ranks with the Houthis to take over the capital Sanaa in 2014.

Their alliance appeared to fray this year, amid reports the Houthis have put Saleh under house arrest.

Hadis weakening has gone hand-in-hand with the UAEs growing power in southern Yemen.

The Gulf nation has trained, financed and armed militias in Yemen that only answer to it, set up prisons, and created a security establishment parallel to Hadis government.

An AP investigation in the summer documented 18 secret prisons run by the UAE or its allies, where former prisoners said torture was widespread. The UAE denied the allegations and says all security forces are under Hadis authority.

The Emiratis distrust Hadi, accusing him of corruption and opposing his alliance with the Islah Party, Yemens branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the three officials and a politician close to Hadi.

In an attempt to move against UAE, Hadi held a meeting on November 2 to discuss a cabinet reshuffle to push out Emirati-backed members, but so far there have been no results from the meeting. The commander said Hadi is reluctant to defy Saudi Arabia because he doesnt want to lose the Saudis.

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Meanwhile, the coalition blamed Iran for Saturdays Houthi missile strike towards Riyadh, saying it could be considered as an act of war. Iran supports the Houthis but has denied arming them and said it had nothing to do with the missile launches. The Houthis have said their missiles are locally produced.

The coalitions intensified closure could further limit access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Arab worlds poorest country, which has been devastated by more than two years of conflict.

The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians, driven three million people from their homes, and left millions of Yemenis without basic necessities.

Yemens main international airport, in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, has been closed since August 2016 by order of the coalition. The rebel-held north has largely relied on the Red Sea port of Hodeida, which is controlled by the Houthis, for delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid and fuel supplies. A full blockade of the port would cut off a crucial lifeline for the Houthis, as well as millions of civilians.

As night fell, Sanaa residents said that several gas stations were shut down, while port officials said that ships heading to the port were ordered to leave.

All vessels must immediately leave holding area, read an email sent by a UN agency in charge of giving clearance to ships docking in the Yemeni ports of Hodeida and nearby Salef.
Trip comes a day after two sides partially resumed issuing visas in each others capital in a step to solve crisis.

The Turkish prime minister will visit the United States, one day after Ankara and Washington resumed issuing visas to each others citizens on a limited basis.

Binali Yildirims trip is a further sign that the ongoing diplomatic dispute between the two allies is easing.

Yildirim is expected to land in Washington, DC, on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet Mike Pence, US vice president, shortly after his arrival.

They are set to discuss the visa dispute, which was triggered by the arrest of a US embassy employee last month, and the extradition of Fethullah Gulen  a US-based self-exiled religious leader accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 2016 attempted coup in Turkey.

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The limited reissuing of visas between the United States and Turkey  can be seen as a positive development, Yildirim said before he left the Turkish capital.

This is important

Kani Torun, a senior MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), told Al Jazeera that the talks are expected to focus on mending ties between the two allies.

The prime minister is taking a large legal team with him in order to strengthen the case for Gulens extradition during his visit, said Torun, who is also the deputy chairman of parliaments foreign affairs committee.

However, the main topic of this visit will be improving the mutual relations between the two allies. It is not possible for the two countries to sustain this sort of tension for a long time. The relations will have to be normalised, he told Al Jazeera.

The prime minister has not publicly spoken much about the dispute with the US since the beginning of it. This is important.

Last month, Washington cancelled visa appointments of Turks amid concerns over the security of the US mission and personnel.

The move was in response to Turkeys detention of a Turkish citizen working for the US consulate in Istanbul.

Ankara reciprocated by freezing e-visas and visas on arrival for US citizens hours later the same day.

Resumption of visas

Late on Monday, the US embassy in Turkey announced the limited resumption of non-immigrant visas for Turkish nationals, adding that Washington received assurances that there were no additional local employees of the mission under investigation.

According to the statement, Ankara assured the US that no local embassy staff would be detained or arrested for performing their official duties.

Shortly after, the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC, said that it was also resuming issuing visas to US citizens on a limited basis, but refuted the US claim that Ankara gave such assurances.

Turkey is a state of law and our government cannot provide any assurances regarding files that are subject of ongoing processes, the Turkish embassy said.

The statement also said that the embassy personnel in question was investigated not because of his official duties, but because of very serious charges against him.
Local law enforcement is collecting non-perishable food during the start of November until next Monday.

Collection boxes in Gainesville Police Detectives Division, UF Police, Santa Fe College Police, Alachua County Sheriff's Office Department of the Jail and Alachua Police offices were put out on Wednesday by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives as part of a drive called Strike Out Hunger, Alena Lawson, the president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Florida chapter, wrote in an email.

The food collected will be given to local food banks and pantries and distributed to needy families directly at Alachua County Fairgrounds, Lawson said.

We are hoping that the community will realize the importance of helping to fill the pantries and food banks with much needed food as we approach a time of year when pantries experience empty shelves, Lawson said.

The last drive was held in 2015 and raised over 84,000 pounds of nonperishable food and 11,000 pounds of turkey for families in need, according to NOBLEs website.

Santa Fe Police Chief Ed Book said NOBLE reached out to them through a member, Captain Ryan Woods, who is on their police force.

Food access is a basic necessity, and any efforts we as a community can do to reduce food insecurities are worthwhile, Book said.

Matthew Larison, Santa Fe computer science freshman, gave up four cans of baked beans, which were in his pantry because he stocked up before Hurricane Irma.

I'm not using it, so why not give it up to someone who will? the 18-year-old said.

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Florida State University suspended all of its fraternities and sororities Monday after a student died at an off-campus party and, in a separate incident, another student was arrested on drug-related charges.

The suspension terms include fraternity and sororities being unable to hold events to recruit new members, council or chapter meetings and other chapter-organized events, according to a news release from FSU. Members will be able to remain residents of their organizations house and have meal service. In addition to suspending Greek life indefinitely, FSU President John Thrasher announced an alcohol ban at all events held by the universitys student organizations.

For this suspension to end, there will need to be a new normal for Greek Life at the university, Thrasher said in a news release. There must be a new culture, and our students must be full participants in creating it.

When asked if UF has a similar plan for its Greek life, UF spokesperson Janine Sikes said she was unsure.

Who knows, Sikes said. The bottom line is we need to check in with Student Affairs.

Garrett J. Marcy, a 20-year-old member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at FSU, was arrested Monday for the sale and trafficking of cocaine after FSU police officers searched his apartment.

Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old pledge of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at FSU, died Friday morning after first responders found him unresponsive and were unable to revive him. Although the details of his death are still unknown, investigators collected liquor bottles from the house porch as evidence, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

When reached for comment Monday afternoon, Todd Shelton, the assistant executive director of communication for Pi Kappa Phi, said in an emailed statement that the Beta Eta Chapter at FSU suspended all operations. He said national leaders told all FSU chapter members to cooperate with their universitys investigation.

UFs Pi Kappa Phi chapter did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

In an email statement Monday night, Sikes said the UF administration was saddened to hear about Coffeys death.

We respect and commend President Thrashers decision to do everything in his power to prevent another student death, Sikes wrote.

Thrasher said in his news release that FSU is trying to mitigate high-risk behaviors through university programs which encourage students to report hazing. Theyre also trying to educate students on substance abuse.

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Like most universities, we worry about alcohol and drug abuse and other dangerous behaviors, and we are doing all we can to educate our students, Thrasher said.

Sikes said she thinks binge drinking is generally the cause of issues on college campuses, and UF has worked to address that in the past 10 years.

When Bernie Machen served as UFs president from 2004 to 2014, a series of deaths all related to alcohol struck the university, Sikes said. She said Machen took a strong stance against alcohol abuse, but she is unaware if he ever considered suspending Greek organizations.

She said UF President Kent Fuchs has furthered Machens initiatives, such as the Community Alcohol Coalition, which holds periodic meetings with Fuchs, local bar owners, beer distributors and others to discuss ways to end binge drinking and underage drinking.

Alcohol use and abuse on college campuses around the country, and in Gainesville, has taken far too many lives, Sikes wrote in an email. There is still work to do, and we will continue to focus on this issue.
The City of Gainesville is now facing a lawsuit over its ban on weapons, including tasers, knives and mace, during white supremacist Richard Spencers appearance at UF.

Pro-gun nonprofit Florida Carry Inc. filed the suit Oct. 20 and argued the city acted outside its authority in banning weapons in downtown Gainesville and the designated areas near where Spencer spoke at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Florida Carry, represented by Jacksonville attorney Eric J. Friday, claims the city is superseded by the Florida Legislature in regulating possession of weapons by people who own a state-authorized concealed carry license, according to the lawsuit. The group argues when Gov. Rick Scott declared a countywide state of emergency ahead of Spencers speaking event, only he or the state could then implement a weapons ban, not the city.

Defendants know, or should know, that they are without authority to regulate the bearing of arms, as only the Legislature may regulate the bearing of arms, the lawsuit reads, citing the Florida Constitution.

The group who filed doesnt seek money but a declaration of wrongdoing by the city, according to the suit. Florida Carry is also directing the suit toward City Manager Anthony Lyons, who drafted the citys emergency orders in the days leading up to Spencers appearance.

City officials declined to comment, saying the litigation is still pending.

Florida Carry filed a similar lawsuit in October of 2013 against the University of North Florida when former student Alexandria Lainez argued she had the right to leave a firearm in her car on campus.

The First District Court of Appeal ruled that while UNF could ban weapons inside a class or sporting event, it could not withhold individuals from keeping firearms close by, such as in a parked car, The Florida Times Union reported.

The group argues the order prevents its members, who live in, work in, travel through, or visit the City of Gainesville, from exercising their constitutional right, according to the lawsuit.

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Tyjah Eady debated with members of Young Americans for Freedom on the first day of the clubs annual Freedom Week.

Eady, 22, had an hour-long dialogue with several members of the conservative group during their Thank a Veteran event on Turlington Plaza on Monday. The events focus was to show support for police officers and veterans by having passersby sign cards, said Austin Carroll, the organizations recruiting chair.

Carroll, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore, said the organization wanted to use one of the cards to thank University Police for their work keeping UF students safe during Richard Spencers speech on Oct. 19. The other card was meant for military veterans.

Eady, a UF African American studies senior, declined to sign the card for police officers but did sign a card for veterans. She said African-Americans are systematically oppressed by police, which is why she didnt sign a card for the officers.

She said having the discussion with others who do not share her views was a good experience.

I think thats a problem with Americans. We dont take the time to hear out the other side, Eady said.

Before parting ways, Eady gave one of the club members a book titled, They Cant Kill Us All, by Wesley Lowery.

Carroll said he was happy they could engage in civil discussion and he hopes the rest of the weeks events will create an opportunity for dialogue and for people to share their views.

Victor Santos, the Young Americans for Freedom secretary, said about 40 people signed cards. The club has other events planned for the rest of the week, including a speaker discussing abortion and feminism and the creation and destruction of a representation of the Berlin Wall.

Carroll said the main goal of Mondays event was to show appreciation for service members before Veterans Day.

The ultimate role of the government is to ensure our rights and our safety, and thats what police officers and veterans do, Carroll said.

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In a collaborative effort to improve reading, writing, and social skills of Ethiopian students, the U.S. government is supporting a local social enterprise in the production of the Tsehai Loves Learning educational TV series. The Tsehai Loves Learning episodes are part of USAIDs comprehensive effort to support the Ministry of Educations Grade 1-4 reading curriculum []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
On 1 November 2017, the Department for International Development (DFID) marked the launch of a new 45 million programme to fight malaria in Uganda over the next 5 years. The programme will avert at least 11,056 deaths of children under 5 and prevent 989,000 malaria cases, contributing to the UK governments priority on tackling preventable []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
November 4th has come and gone. The country is still in chaos. Fighting continues in most urban areas. The 1st Transgender Mechanized Division has taken Washington and the black Antifa flag flies over the ruins of the Capitol. Donald Trump has fled in a private jet seeking asylum in Dubai, while Pence has been captured by the Peoples Army. My name has appeared on a list of tools of the oppressors who must report for evaluation. Wait someones knocking at the door theyre all wearing Guy Fawkes masks now theyre kicking in it in.

Actually, thats not happening at all, even though something similar was promised for last Saturday by both Antifa and various conservative commentators. To put it simply, Antifa, RefuseFascism, RESIST!, the John Brown Clubs, and assorted other organs of national liberation set November 4th as the date of a national uprising to overthrow the Trump administration and liberate the entire country from capitalist-patriarchal-white supremacist domination. It was supposed to develop into open civil war between the progressive forces and the forces of reaction, with the outcome undoubtedly that guaranteed by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Castro, and company. The planning for the operation began last summer, and the left sounded quite serious about it, going so far as to buy an entire NYT page to call out the proles. This past week activities were scaled back to twenty cities, but it still sounded awfully impressive.

And then the 4th rolled around and nothing. Three hundred marchers in Times Square. A few dozen in the Bay Area. A scattering of others here and there But apart from that bupkus.

I was frankly taken aback. I expected something. A cop car turned over, a limo or two burnt, a couple acres of plate glass smashed, at the very least. But the Peoples Revolution was a complete washout. A bust. The mountain has labored  here is your mouse. (Oh, somebody assaulted Rand Paul on Friday, but if this was intended to kick off hostilities in Kentucky, with the guy expecting rescue by his comrades on Saturday morning, then hes still waiting.)

In the wake of this, it seems that Antifa can take its place in the left-wing tar pits along with the SDS, CISPES, ANSWER, Occupy, and all the other undergrad revos who vowed but failed to bring down the rude capitalist monolith known as the United States.

But that doesnt leave us high and dry with nothing to discuss. Because the hard left were not the only ones involved in this debacle. A large number of conservative commentators and websites also bought into this. The general tone was RIP, THE UNITED STATES: JULY 4, 1776  NOVEMBER 4, 2017 or AMERICA  WE HARDLY KNEW YE or CIVIL WAR, NOVEMBER 4th. The accompanying prose usually made it sound like the Revelation of St. John the Divine combined with the Zombie Apocalypse combined with Battle: Los Angeles.

The left in this country can never depend on a broad-based movement. It simply isnt there. Most Americans are not interested. So they have turned to a rarified variant of Lenins vanguard strategy (which Fidel Castro called the foco). A small group of woke radicals acts for the proletariat, striking down the capitalist structure and then acting as a leadership cadre to construct the new society on behalf of the proles (See the Bolshevik coup for details).

How can such a vanishingly small group challenge a whole society? Through the wasp strategy. If you let a single wasp into a room full of people, it is likely to cause utter chaos, particularly if somebody gets stung. Trying to get away, somebody smashes into somebody else, who bangs into a table, who knocks a vase against the wall where the water splatters an electrical plug, which shorts out the electricity, which causes a fire, etc. etc. All this caused by one little wasp.

Thats the strategy of the CPUSA, the Movement, Occupy, and now Antifa. It follows that anyone who aids Antifa in spreading panic and dismay is, inadvertently or otherwise, working with them, helping put the strategy into effect by getting people wrought up about something that can scarcely affect them. Accessories before the fact, to use legal phraseology.

There are some elements of the left, exactly who will likely forever be unknown, who have carefully studied their opposition, from accepted center-right figures to people who sleep while hanging from the ceiling, and know exactly how we work and how many of us can be manipulated.

You see this daily in the comment threads. No matter what the topic, some lefty always appears out of nowhere to attempt to derail the discussion of the issue at hand. Hell sometimes work through insult, sometimes through misdirection. There are always one or more commentators who take him up on it, dragging in others until eventually the entire thread has lost its way and everybody is arguing whether Trump is 62 or 63. Its absurd, its idiotic, and it works just about every time. (My favorite example involved a column dealing with an Obama contradiction that might have caused him serious problems if it went public. As the discussion got rolling, a kid showed up claiming that he and his family were being held hostage in Phoenix, with the police refusing to respond. Within seconds the thread was in total chaos as readers promised to contact the cops or call people they knew in Phoenix, tried to get the address from the kid," etc. Needless to say, the actual topic was utterly forgotten. At no point did anybody sit back and ask, Why the hell is a kid in trouble contacting AT?)

This works on the larger stage as well. The activist left knows that there exist people on our side of the fence who are not serious. Who are into it to generate clicks, to manipulate others, to make a name for themselves. They know who they are, and exactly what buttons to push. The old communist term for this is transmission belt: somebody who can be used to get the message to places it would otherwise never penetrate. The left plays this crowd like violins, using them to get carefully-tailored information payloads to the hysterical, the ill-informed, the emotionally and mentally unbalanced, and to people sincerely frightened that something horrible may be happening to the country. The result is panic, uproar, wasted time, wasted energy, and wasted money.

The military term for this is force multiplier, any factor that increases the effectiveness of combat forces. Aerial refueling was a force multiplier during the Cold War, increasing the effectiveness of the U.S. Air Force by a factor of ten or more. Using refueling, USAF air assets could easily outdeploy, outfly, and outmaneuver the Soviets, who did not adapt the technique. Today, its often applied to advanced communications and networking technology. All too often, the conservative internet acts as a force multiplier for the left, lending a far greater impact to a couple thousand goofs standing in the street wearing masks than they logically should have. (I name no names because theres no point in going from the general to the particular  thats not the intent here.)

Theres only one way to control this, and it will never be more than a partial solution at best. You cant police it, you cant oversee it, you cant stay ahead of it. The sole remedy is to encourage a greater sense of responsibility among both readers and writers.

Writers:

Dont write about something as idiotic as Antifa as if the velociraptors are coming down the street.

Double-check your research, and your sources.

Examine your motives.

Ask yourself, Who does this hurt  who does this help? before putting something up. I dont think any of us wants to be in the position of helping the left, God forbid.

Readers:

If you see something that sounds over the top, chances are that it is. Google (here, if not in all cases), is your friend. The beauty of the infowave is that you can always check. You can check anything, no matter what it is. No matter how opaque or esoteric, somebody somewhere has analyzed it. The info is out there, riding the servers. Look it up. Track it down.

Learn who is dependable, who has good info, and who is a crap artist. It doesnt take much in the way of research to find this out.

For both: conspiracy theories are usually bullshit, either completely or to a large extent. There are rules on how to identify bogus conspiracy theories. Learn them and apply them.

And finally: anything you hear from the left is bogus. That you can bank on.

Who the hell wants to act as a shill for the left? Particularly a left made up of kids dressed up as ninjas.
Donald Trump is in South Korea today. All focus, of course, is on whether Trump and recently-elected Korean president Moon Jae-in will present a unified position against North Korean aggression. Or let me restate that in words that make sense within the current zeitgeist: "a unified position on how to avoid an escalation of tensions with North Korea."

In our worldwide progressive paradigm, suggesting that the problem to be solved here is the threat posed by a tyrannical rogue state's immoral behavior is considered inflammatory. Rather, we are all supposed to pretend that North Korea is "a sovereign state" with "legitimate concerns about being threatened by the U.S. military presence in Asia," and that its outrageous provocations, unprovoked violence, and frequent promises to annihilate its democratic enemies are merely "understandable responses to its increased global isolation."

Demonstrators reacting to Trump's visit

(Even many conservatives of the libertarian bent are wont to ask, "How would you feel if your neighbors were all discussing how to end your regime?" -- as though rationalizing a killing machine's sensitivities were anything but a moral absurdity.)

As for President Moon, a progressive appeaser in the mold of his old ally and boss, Roh Moo-hyun (of North-South "Sunshine Policy" fame), he may be a tough sell on taking a stronger stand against North Korea. He would likely accept the inevitable if necessary, however, especially since Japan has already signed on to America's "all options on the table" position, and since China has remained largely aloof from the situation so far.

But President Moon probably will have to be dragged to a harder stance by events -- a bizarre thing to have to say about the president of a nation that is technically at war with a communist madhouse dictatorship that tore his own country in half, has starved and enslaved millions of his countrymen, and has carried out repeated acts of murderous aggression against the South in recent years, in addition to its constant threats of all-out attack. Talk about Stockholm Syndrome.

But the depth of the moral problem facing this world -- in which most governments, media voices, and academics are progressive in their underlying principles and perspective -- may be seen in the sheer silliness with which people speak of what might cause an "escalation of hostilities" with North Korea. Here is a perfect example, from Professor Koo Kab-woo at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. (Imagine the political perspective likely to prevail at a university with such a name.)

Addressing the concern that Trump might say or do something careless or bombastic during his South Korean trip, Professor Koo says, "If Trump says anything that can provoke North Korea, it could send military tensions soaring again."

Right. North Korea is calm and trying to restore a peaceful coexistence. But what if Trump goes and blows it with a stupid remark?

You see, the tensions, whatever might have caused them (who can say?), have settled recently, but if they rise again due to Trump's rhetoric during his visit to Seoul, then the resulting danger will be on America's head for having "provoked" it.

This is a classic moral equivalency argument (and an excellent preview of exactly how China will respond if an armed conflict begins on the Korean peninsula): "Both sides need to calm down. If Nation A (the world's oldest republic and traditional leader of the free world) causes things to escalate again by speaking too harshly, then Nation B (a bloody tyranny starving its own broken people and threatening the world with nuclear war) cannot be held solely responsible for the resulting rise in tensions."

This is the same argument used for decades to frame the Cold War as a battle between "two noble experiments," rather than between good and evil. It is the same argument used to equate the pro-Palestinian efforts by much of the Middle East (along with the UN and Europe and most of academia and the North American left) to wipe Israel off the map, to Israeli efforts to push back in defense of a nation the size of New Jersey.

Moral equivalency in international relations -- "both sides are to blame," or "both sides have understandable concerns" -- is the last refuge of the morally bankrupt. In this case, expressing peevishness that somehow Donald Trump's words might provoke North Korean hostilities is a convenient way of implying that North Korea is not inherently, essentially hostile to begin with, but rather that any hostility they display is merely a response to outside instigation. Thus, a tyranny is falsely portrayed as an equal participant in difficult diplomacy, rather than a victim of its own obsession with power and destruction. This in turn creates an aura of legitimacy around one of the most illegitimate regimes of modern times.

I myself have been critical of Trump's often careless rhetoric on North Korea, but my concern has always been that by speaking too cavalierly, Trump risks tipping his administration's hand unnecessarily, or painting himself into a strategic corner with Obama-like "red lines." My concerns, in other words, are related to American interests, not North Korea's "feelings." Under no circumstances would I ever suggest Trump's words or actions were to blame for North Korea's behavior.

Similarly, appeasers like Moon Jae-in, who has used moral equivalency arguments against his own nation and yet has somehow been elected president under the guise of a "champion of the people" -- reminiscent of Barack Obama in that regard, both in policy and in manner -- exacerbate a national tragedy by emboldening a dictatorship. But by no means would I suggest such appeasers are to blame for the murderous aspirations of Kim Jong-un's illegitimate regime.

North Korea is a brutal dictatorship with fantasies of eventually uniting the Korean peninsula under their communist bloodlust regime. They, and they alone, are to blame for their aggression; their aggression is not a response to anything, but rather their regime's raison d'etre.

Progressives constantly use moral equivalency arguments and moral relativism to obscure the crimes committed in the name of their death cult ideology. They have thereby obliterated an extremely proper and reasonable category of political discourse: illegitimate power.

In this age, any tyranny that survives long enough to become stable in its authority, or that exists as a protectorate of a bigger tyranny, is regarded as "sovereign," in the sense of unassailable. The UN exists largely to reinforce and defend the "right" of unjust regimes to exist unchallenged, or to set strict limits on the conditions in which such regimes may be confronted by the so-called "international community."

North Korea, under its current and permanent government, is not a sovereign nation. It is an illegitimate tyrannical regime, a state governed by men without even a pretense of concern for the well-being of their trampled population, which exists not at all as citizens, but rather as slaves, without any modicum or memory of self-determination or self-ownership.

To legitimize that regime by worrying about whether Donald Trump might say something to "raise tensions" is to miss the point. Tensions are permanent and unavoidable when a tyranny feels its power threatened. But tyrannies deserve to feel their power threatened, and in fact they always will. As Plato taught us long ago, the tyrannical man is the most frightened man in the world, for he lives in the knowledge that his power is not deserved, and that everyone hates him for it. He cannot sleep at night, because he cannot even trust his own guards, or his own brother.

But today, we are told not to speak too loudly, lest we disturb the tyrant's sleep and make him angry, as if we would be to blame if our would-be killer's anger were roused. Thus, progressives defend one of their own -- an extreme and ridiculous one to be sure, but one of them nonetheless -- with moral equivalency arguments.

There is no equivalency here. North Korea's hostilities are their essence, not a product of outside provocation, real or imagined. Anything they do will be on their own heads, as will any destruction that gets unleashed upon them due to their actions. Theirs is a regime that has no moral legitimacy, and hence, while no one is obliged to do anything about that, neither does anyone owe their rule, their aspirations, or their tender feelings any respect.

The only moral considerations that have any weight in this issue are related to whether annihilating Kim's national death camp -- inherently justifiable -- is worth the risk it may bring to the lives of other nations' citizens.

Daren Jonescu lives in South Korea where he writes about politics, philosophy, education, and the decline of civilization at http://darenjonescu.com/.
Another bloody massacre, and the very people who just last week criticized Trump for "politicizing" a tragedy, this week, on behalf of gun control, are politicizing a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

The problem for liberals is that their rationale for gun control is diametrically opposed to the arguments they typically present for policies concerning provocative social issues.

Leftists are proud of providing government-funded accoutrements for things like underage sex and drug abuse. The liberal argument has always been that teens are going to fornicate and drug addicts are going to abuse drugs anyway, so why not keep adolescents and HIV-prone junkies "safe" by handing out condoms and clean hypodermic needles?

Lest we forget, it was Barack Obama who granted a genocidal regime access to nuclear power because he believed that Iran was going to get it anyway  so Obama decided to limit the terrorist state by providing the ayatollah with the means to destroy Israel.

Liberal logic has always been that the law can't control human behavior; people are going to do what they're going to do whether it's legal or not. That sort of "they're going to do it anyway" reasoning is what the left uses to justify legalizing marijuana, providing welfare to able-bodied individuals who refuse to work, and decriminalizing the millions of intruders who slipped across the border into America illegally.

The truth is that the occult mantra "do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" is the philosophical ideology committed progressives adhere to. Yet when it comes to the Second Amendment, leftist logic controverts what progressives espouse for most social policies.

Take, for instance, abortion. Liberals believe that abortion must never be banned because, if it is, women determined to kill their offspring will utilize wire hangers and seek out back-alley facilities. Despite the fact that partial-birth abortion is illegal in many states, in 2012, more than 6,000 determined women submitted their doomed children to late-term abortionists who operated slaughterhouses like the one overseen by convicted West Philadelphia murderer Kermit Gosnell.

In other words, liberals believe that if an individual wants to do something bad enough, nothing will stop him. With that in mind, left-leaning Democrats have successfully advanced a progressive agenda by promoting "safe" promiscuity, "safe" debauchery, "safe" illegal immigration, and "safe" eradication of human life.

Yet when it comes to the subject of guns, these same liberals argue against what they've spent half a century attempting to persuade Americans is true. The Democrat contingency, most of whom reject God and justify policies that take the lives of 3,000 unborn babies a day, are now sanctimoniously citing "God's wisdom" to find "concrete steps" to slowly disarm Americans of legally obtained firearms.

Meanwhile, the reasoning behind limiting the Second Amendment contradicts the logic liberals use to defend a law that results in mass killings on a much larger scale.

The anti-gun left zealously argues that if the government places restrictions on an established constitutional right, corrupt individuals like Devin Patrick Kelley will magically choose to tell the truth on background checks and thereby, via good citizenry, thwart his plans to use a Ruger AR-556 rifle in a church.

This sort of thinking doesn't make sense. Either it's human nature to seek out illicit means to fulfill an illegal desire, or laws are successful at stopping nefarious behavior. Liberals can't have it both ways. If leftists believe that women will seek out illegal abortions, then why don't leftists believe that shooters with ill intent will seek out illegal guns?

Then again, while blaming the NRA for the bloodbath at First Baptist Church, these are the same people blind to the fact that for eight years, a former president demonized Christians, calling them xenophobic Bible-thumping and gun-toting bitter clingers.

Either way, if liberals eventually succeed at manipulating Americans into rejecting the Second Amendment, those determined to do damage will undoubtedly ignore any formal decree and procure "back-alley" guns. Evil perpetrators may even venture south to acquire weapons bestowed on drug cartels via the largesse of former attorney general Eric Holder and his gun-running cohort, Obama.

However, if smuggling fails to deliver, and back-alley gun deals don't work out, the Devin Kelleys of the world can fulfill liberal predictions and abort their victims with wire hangers. If hangers are in short supply, the depraved can smother country music concertgoers with government-issued condoms or skewer ordinary Americans with hypodermic needles provided by liberals who  except for when it comes to firearms  understand that laws have never stopped evil people from doing evil things.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com.
November 7 marks a century since the founding of one of the most murderous tyrannies in human history. Russia's communist empire was an appalling failure in every way, yet we often see the hammer and sickle, the symbol of the Soviet Union, carried on college campuses and at protests around the country. Communism still holds sway among a significant part of the U.S. population.

In 1917, Russia was ruled by a powerful tsar. But in the preceding decades, reformers had been chipping away at the feudal system, which was all Russia had ever known. More democratic and free-market ideas were taking hold. Most of the peasant masses, however, were still impoverished, and millions of Russian men were being used as cannon fodder in World War I. The process of change accelerated in March 1917, when reformers forced the tsar to cede power.

Elections were planned for a democratic assembly, the Duma.

The Bolsheviks, however, had been agitating and organizing an alternative to the democratic reformers. Led by Vladimir Lenin, this group of communists staged a coup on Nov. 7, 1917.

What followed was not an open society with economic opportunity and democratic institutions, much less a workers' paradise. Far from it. The communists could not sustain an economy. The regime engineered a catastrophic famine deliberately to starve to death millions of small farmers, who, the communists feared, could resist the regime's confiscation of their land. Millions more innocent people were murdered by firing squads or worked to death in the Gulag slave labor camps.

The Soviet Union was the first modern totalitarian regime. Private life and private enterprise were forbidden. Everything was political. Spies were everywhere, watching for any deviation from dogma in thought or deed. From its inception to its 1991 demise, the Soviet regime murdered 50 million individuals, according to the best estimates. Other communist regimes established, abetted, or inspired by the Soviet Union  in China, Cambodia, North Korea  brought the body count as high as 150 million.

In the United States today, the media rightly deplore and ostracize bigoted brutes who march under the swastika. When Antifa thugs parade under the hammer and sickle and do violence to peaceful demonstrators, however, they are commonly given a chorus of approval or at least tolerance among the nation's elites, who profess to disagree with their tactics while honoring their intentions: achievement of "social justice," which translates to socialism under ironhanded rule by elites.

Three insights help explain this morally sick phenomenon.

First, communism is a collectivist ideology. It puts the group  in this case, the so-called proletariat of downtrodden workers  ahead of the individual, and it characterizes all social life as a war between rich and poor. The individual is routinely sacrificed for the good of society, often fatally. Whereas, historically, Americans defended free association among individuals  family, friends, social organizations, and other components of civil society  today, many reject the nation's founding principle of free association and individual liberty and actively work to undermine all groups not created by the state.

Second, communism contains a strong element of envy. Instead of wanting to allow everyone to proper, communism and its little brother, socialism, works to pull down those who already prosper. "Take from the one percent!" they shout. Or the 10 percent. Or the 20 percent. Never mind that allowing people to retain their wealth creates greater wealth that benefits everybody, resulting in the most prosperous society the world has ever known. Instead, a large class of privileged ingrates enjoys the riches created by others even as their ugly, angry, tear-it-down envy, combined with collectivist dogma, drives their denunciations of the creators of the system, their guilt-tripping against productive individuals, and their condemnation of entire ethnic groups for their "shameful" history of productive virtues. These malcontents share the motives of the Marxists, who, a century ago, sought to destroy not only feudal oligarchs, but also entrepreneurial wealth-creators.

A third insight is that a long-term communist strategy is in full operation in this country. Italian communist Antonio Gramsci in the early twentieth century explained the importance of taking over a nation's culture to prepare the ground for political revolution. In the 1960s, the German red Rudi Dutschke called this the "long march through the institutions." Individuals who accept collectivist principles gradually become the politicians, entertainers, teachers, educators, lawyers, media moguls, and journalists who mold the culture and spread their values throughout society, strengthening their efforts by suppressing freedom of speech whenever they have the power to do so. Within a few generations, a country is ripe for a collectivist revolution.

Today, the United States is not in danger of becoming another Soviet Union. Yet cultural elites are steadily spreading the premise that we all owe allegiance first and foremost to one another, not to those whom we value and who enhance our flourishing, such as family and friends. This ultimately puts government at the head of everything, with claims that its activities represent some "general will" about the good of society. There is no private life. Everything is political.

On the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Soviet tyranny, it is crucial that those of us who still live by American values  individual liberty, self-reliance, voluntary assistance to others, and limited government  understand the significance of some of our countrymen not abhorring the hammer and sickle as they do the swastika. We must devise our own "long march through the institutions" to preserve the values that make America great by allowing each individual to achieve his own greatness.

Edward Hudgins is research director for The Heartland Institute. In the last years of the Soviet regime, he helped organize and run free-market reform conferences behind the Iron Curtain.

For further reading:

Edward Hudgins, " Eastern Europe 20 Years Later ," December 24, 2009.

Edward Hudgins, "The Berlin Wall Then and Now," November 5, 2009.
There has been a bombshell revelation in the documents supplied by the FBI to Congress that reference the decision of former director James Comey not to prosecute Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information.

An earlier draft of Comey's statement, which purports to explain why he was not recommending Clinton be put on trial, accused her of "gross negligence" in handling classified info.

But the final draft substituted "gross negligence" for "extremely careless." Why the phrase was changed and who changed it are vital questions to determine if there was political interference in the decision not to prosecute Clinton.

The Hill:

The draft, written weeks before the announcement of no charges, was described by multiple sources who saw the document both before and after it was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee this past weekend. "There is evidence to support a conclusion that Secretary Clinton, and others, used the email server in a manner that was grossly negligent with respect to the handling of classified information," reads the statement, one of Comey's earliest drafts from May 2, 2016. The sources who had seen the early draft, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the draft statement was subsequently changed in red-line edits on or around June 10 to conclude that the handling of 110 emails containing classified information that were transmitted by Clinton and her aides over her insecure personal email server was "extremely careless." The documents turned over to Congress do not indicate who recommended the key wording changes, the sources said. Many legal experts have explained that the statute requires "gross negligence" in handling classified info  a phrase that was removed in the final draft.

The documents may be silent about who might have influenced the change, but sources told The Hill that it was three high level FBI officials involved in the alteration.

Conservative Review:

Sources that spoke to The Hill claimed that at least three top FBI officials were involved in changing the language of Comey's statement, including Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, General Counsel James Baker, and chief of staff Jim Rybicki. Those names should raise eyebrows. McCabe was the former acting director of the FBI after Comey's firing and his wife came under scrutiny for previously undisclosed ties to the Clintons. Rybicki  as Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called attention to in August  was one of the FBI officials interviewed by the Office of Special Counsel who suggested the investigators in charge of the Clinton case had predetermined what the outcome was going to be. As for Baker, a confidant of James Comey, he is reportedly the subject of a Department of Justice criminal investigation for allegedly leaking classified national security information to the media. In short, of the three top FBI officials that had a hand in watering down Comey's statement, one has Clinton ties, one suggested that the fix was in to let Hillary Clinton off the hook, and one is under investigation for criminally leaking information to the media to undermine the Trump administration. When Comey went public with the final version of his statement, he blasted Hillary Clinton, building a strong case against her. Then, surprising everyone, he declared he would not recommend criminal charges be filed against her. Comey would subsequently justify his decision by claiming that no "reasonable prosecutor" would bring a case against Clinton. As he told Congress in sworn testimony: "I know the Department of Justice, I know no reasonable prosecutor would bring this case. I know a lot of my former friends are out there saying they would. I wonder where they were in the last 40 years, because I'd like to see the cases they brought on gross negligence. Nobody would, nobody did."

McCabe's wife ran unsuccessfully for the Virginia state Senate while receiving more than $450,000 from a PAC controlled by Clinton crony and current Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe. McCabe failed to disclose this connection on his financial disclosure form.

Does this sound like political interference to you?

Comey has plausible (sort of) deniability because his point wasn't so much that Clinton negligently handled classified info; it's that no Justice Department prosecutor would follow through and prosecute a case like this.

Is that true?

Some legal scholars have argued Comey's analysis of the law was correct, citing a 1941 Supreme Court ruling saying the gross negligence statute was not constitutionally vague as long as prosecutors showed there was "intent or reason to believe that the information to be obtained is to be used to the injury of the United States." But other scholars noted that prosecutions have been brought since the 1941 case in the military courts where intent wasn't required.

It's clear that Comey, at the urging of his advisers, placed his thumb on the scale to prevent any chance of a prosecution in the Clinton case. He can't claim he wasn't aware of what leaving out "gross negligence" would mean. In fact, he admitted as much in his congressional testimony.

Justice is supposed to be blind. The fact that Clinton was running for president should not have influenced Comey's decision. But it did. And whether it was politics or not, Comey must be held accountable for creating a separate legal standard for Hillary Clinton, who was not prosecuted for crimes that have sent others to jail.
For the past few days I have had to re-examine many assumptions concerning what the Holocaust means to liberal Jews as a result of Larry David's monologue on Saturday Night Live. As I viewed his monologue over and over, it seemed to resonate with a message that should be entitled "Why it's time for Jews to get over the Holocaust," or even "Now is the time that Jews move on and stop making the Holocaust the most pivotal event in Jewish history."

In his Saturday Night Live monologue, David said: "I've always been obsessed with women, and I've always wondered: if I'd grown up in Poland when Hitler came to power and was sent to a concentration camp, would I still be checking out women in the camp? I think I would. Of course, the problem is, there are no good opening lines in a concentration camp. 'How's it going? They treating you OK? You know, if we ever get out of here, I'd love to take you out for some latkes.'" I am surprised that he didn't conclude his monologue with "The Shoah must go on."

The liberal Jewish mindset seems to support the idea that the Holocaust was far from the first incident of a dominant power killing those deemed "inferior" on trumped up charges. As far as Holocaust jokesters are concerned, mankind has been perpetrating atrocities on mankind for centuries. They seem genuinely puzzled as to why Holocaust jokes elicit what they consider an overreaction. Why, they ask, should joking about a historical event or questioning the propriety of Larry David's jokes about hitting on women in a concentration camp even be considered a lapse in judgement or an affront to the many Holocaust survivors still with us?

Historical events, as earth-shattering and history-ending as they seem at the time, eventually fade from the forefront of public consciousness and become memory. When Holocaust survivors are around, and when there is no more opportunity to let children and educators hear firsthand testimony of the Holocaust, will the Holocaust be just another event studied in world history classes? Will all of the effort that has gone into recording testimonies of the Holocaust be enough to preserve historical memory in terms of the magnitude and uniqueness of the Holocaust?

There are few historical events that have undergone greater scrutiny and preservation. Perhaps we can even acknowledge that we've done enough to ensure that the Holocaust can never be forgotten. In a moral world, in a world that differentiates between good and evil, right and wrong, this kind of preservation of historical memory would probably suffice. However, today, in the age of globalization, in which everything is viewed through the prism of cultural relativism, facts and evidence are not enough. The enemies of the Jews and of Israel not only claim that the Jews exaggerate and that the Holocaust was made up so as to justify the establishment of the State of Israel, but falsely claim that Israel itself is implementing a holocaust against the Arabs living within Judea and Samaria.

Jewish comedians who belittle or "move beyond" the systematic attempt to exterminate the Jewish race seventy years ago cannot possibly fathom the significance and importance of the establishment of the State of Israel. The Jewish people made a conscious effort to rebuild out of the ashes of the Holocaust. Those who regard the Holocaust as just another unfortunate event cannot be depended on to understand that for modern Israel, in order to deal with existential threats, Israel must do whatever is necessary so that "never again" will not become an empty slogan.

Those who publicly joke about the Holocaust should be the first to be reminded of what the Holocaust was really all about. In The Lost, A Search for Six of Six Million, David Mendelsohn describes in detail the core horror of Nazi action in collaboration with locals in Bolechow, Poland, September 1942:

The story of Mrs. Grynberg was a horrible episode. The Ukrainians and Germans, who had broken into her house, found her giving birth. The weeping entreaties of bystanders didn't help and she was taken from her home in a nightshirt and dragged into the square in front of the town hall. There, she was dragged onto a dumpster in the yard of the town hall with a crowd of Ukrainians present, who cracked jokes and jeered and watched the pain of childbirth as she gave birth to a child. The child was immediately torn from her arms along with its umbilical cord and thrown - It was trampled by the crowd and she was stood on her feet as blood poured out of her. She stood that way for a few hours by the wall of the town hall, afterwards she went with all the others to the train station where they loaded her into a carriage in a train to Belzec.

The enormity of the Holocaust, with the majority of European Jewry systematically murdered, is a singular event that defies comparison in the last millennium.

In retrospect, the Holocaust compels Jews to confront their own Jewishness. After such unspeakable events as the one described above, every Jew must look inside himself and consider: Hitler tried to exterminate my people, and the world stood by in silence. Will I, through apathy and indifference, or by using one-liners and comic monologues on national TV, become a partner to Hitler? Or will my life convey a testimony to the glory of the Jewish people and its resurrection from the ashes of the Holocaust?

The writer, a 25-year veteran of the IDF, served as a field mental health officer and commander of the Central Psychiatric Military Clinic for Reserve Soldiers at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring from active duty, he provides consultancy services to NGOs implementing psycho-trauma and psycho-education programs to communities in the North and South of Israel and is a former strategic adviser to the chief foreign envoy of Judea and Samaria. Contact: medconf@netvision.net.il.
The U.S. Navy scandal known as "Fat Leonard" has expanded to include investigations into the corruption of 60 admirals.

The scandal stems from the activities of a Malaysian contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, who bribed dozens of officers with fancy parties, expensive gifts, and prostitutes in exchange for classified information that helped him win Navy contracts.

So far, 440 officers and enlisted men have been caught up in the scandal.

The Hill:

The Justice Department has already filed criminal charges against 28 people, including two admirals. Francis has pleaded guilty to bribing Navy officials and defrauding the government of more than $35 million, and is awaiting sentencing. The 60 current and retired admirals now under investigation are about twice as many as Navy officials said were under investigation last year, according to the Post. The Navy's caseload has grown as the Justice Department has handed it cases that can't be prosecuted in civilian court but may be offenses in the military justice system, the Post reported. The Navy has so far charged five people with crimes under military law, according to the Post, which cited charging documents. None of them were admirals. The Navy has also concluded that 230 people under review were not guilty of misconduct, a Navy official told the Post. Many attended dinners or accepted gifts from Francis, but the Navy found there were extenuating circumstances that excused their actions, according to the Post. Meanwhile, 40 cases of people violating ethics rules or other regulations have been handled administratively, meaning punishment did not involve criminal charges, the Post added. In many cases, the military's statutes of limitations prevented the Navy from taking tougher action, according to the Post. For most felonies, the statute of limitations is five years. The oldest incident reviewed so far was from 1992, while most happened between 2004 and 2010, the Navy official told the Post.

Some might consider this behavior  parties, prostitutes, and accepting gifts  as little more than business as usual. Perhaps some discipline is required, but criminal charges?

Bu all means, yes. This is a dark stain on the Navy and easily one of the biggest scandals in U.S. military history. Vox explains what Francis was able to accomplish by bribing naval officers.

As the Washington Post reports, the Singapore-based Francis bribed officers of the Navy's Seventh Fleet  the service's largest fleet that operates in Asia  with gifts like prostitutes, money, and vacations while they docked in his ports from Russia to Australia. In exchange, Francis received classified information  including warship and submarine movements  and sensitive contracting developments.

Francis would use that privileged information to get US ships to dock in ports his company controlled. Once there, he would overcharge for "fuel, tugboats, barges, food, water, and sewage removal," the Washington Post reported last year.

This went on for at least a decade until Francis was arrested in a sting operation on September 16, 2013, that spanned three states and seven countries in order to arrest other suspects and obtain relevant files.

Francis did have some help to do his work, though. His four associates recruited Navy officers as moles for the company and submitted fraudulent invoices, according to the Post. They have also pleaded guilty to charges ranging from fraud to conspiracy to defraud the United States.

This kind of scandalous behavior is probably a lot more common than we might believe. The Navy has dozens of ports of call around the world, most run by local companies like Mr. Francis's. Since the contractor has exclusive rights to service U.S. ships, these agreements are extremely lucrative.

Doing business with corrupt companies is a fact of life overseas, and the Navy isn't at all different. But this scandal goes far beyond the kind of mutual back-scratching that is tolerated. Naval officers were bribed to give up classified information and knowingly took part in a scheme to defraud the government. If convicted, they should go to jail.

What's worrisome is the violation of ethics that was apparently commonplace. That's a problem that must be addressed by the Naval Academy, who is supposed to graduate officers with a strong sense of duty and ethics.
Today is the 100th anniversary of Russia's Great October Revolution, one of the defining events of the 20th century. The most salient thing about it is that no one wants to celebrate it in Russia.

Russians endured communism for more than 70 years until rejecting it utterly in 1990. Given the numbers of leftists in the West who adore socialism, shouldn't this be big news?

It goes to show how little the existing left really knows about what happened in that country. Communism there was a horrible failure, as it has been everywhere it has been tried. It brought material, intellectual and worst of ll, spiritual, poverty onto what had been one of Europe's great nations, the fastest-growing and and most promising upcomer of the time. The Bolshevik takeover ended that and brought a horrific civil war, created a man-made famine, and exchanged real progress for an all-powerful state. It was a police state where neighbor spied upon neighbor, Christianity was shut down and largely banned, Jews were persecuted, and more than a hundred million people, in Russia and beyond, were killed. Millions of Russians, and others, fled their homelands, sometimes as huddled refugees over borders, sometimes in leaky boats, sometimes across crossbow-shot wires over the Berlin Wall. Walls (and Gulags) were ubiquitous in Russia. Like the Mongol invasion, the October Revolution held Russia, and all its 14 empire states back. At the same time, communism unleashed war and strife throughout the rest of the world.

That's a vast and memorable legacy, and mercifully enough recognized by Russians as nothing to celebrate.

As Yuri Maltsev, one of Russia's great economic reformers of the Gorbachev era, has pointed out, not even Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to celebrate it. The Russian president has some authoritarian tendencies, and might be expected to play along to communist fantasies of past glories, such as its propagandists might project, but he's not a fool, and he's having none of it. He writes:

Russian President Vladimir Putin would like to ignore the Bolshevik Revolution, which marks its 100th anniversary this month. Putin reportedly told his advisers that it would be unnecessary to commemorate the occasion. He knows betterit is nothing to be proud of.

The Moscow Times reports an indifferent reaction on the streets of Russia:

President Vladimir Putin has called the collapse of the Soviet Union the geopolitical catastrophe of the century. But speaking about the revolution he has said, We know well the consequences that these great upheavals can bring. Celebrations on the centenary, Nov. 7, are expected to be muted. Instead, the country officially celebrated Unity Day on Nov. 4  which Putin instituted in 2005 to replace the Soviet holiday. Interviews with Russians at Pushkinskaya Square in central Moscow on Monday painted a similarly confused picture. Some of those questioned wished the nation would officially observe the centennial. Some are happy that the event will go largely unnoticed. And some simply dont care.

The reality is, Russians endured this virulent religious-level variety of socialism for more than 70 years. They know it better than anyone. And frankly, their refusal to celebrate it ought to be big news, a major story. It says more about socialism and communism, as it is practiced by experts and believers than anyone.

It barely registers a mention much of anywhere in the mainstream press.
Why is anyone surprised that the Russians want their Cuba back? According to a new report, the Russians see Cuba again as a strategic "in your eyes to the U.S." location:

RUSSIA should reopen its military base in Cuba, in the backyard of the United States, two key supporters of Vladimir Putin have demanded. Such a move would massively ramp up tensions between Washington and Moscow at a time when relations are already at their worst since the Cold War.

The key real estate in Cuba is Lourdes, a base that the USSR opened near Havana in 1962, about the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For a long time, it was the USSR's largest foreign facility of its kind. The base was closed in 2002, but Russia wants to open it up again.

We remember the Russian navy ship that went to Cuba around the time of President Obama's visit.

What exactly is Mr. Putin trying to do here?

From a military standpoint, the Lourdes facility has limited value. In other words, there are no missiles or bombers in Cuba ready to attack the U.S. Therefore, Lourdes would be vulnerable to a U.S. retaliation or pre-emptive attack. My guess is that the Russians understand that.

But from a symbolic standpoint, the value is huge. It projects Russian power near the U.S.

The Obama years left us with Russia and China showing a lot of interest in Cuba. It's not a coincidence, but rather a conclusion by Moscow and Beijing that President Obama would accept it, as well as he accepted Chinese islands in the Pacific.

What should President Trump do? Make it clear that we are not happy with it and be willing to punish Russia and China for their actions. In both cases, I would start with trade arrangements and hold both countries accountable.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
After a meeting with South Korean president Moon Jae-in, Donald Trump said he believes there has been "a lot of progress" in resolving the situation with North Korea, citing the "unparalleled strength" of the U.S. in realizing "movement" on the part of North Korea.

The president didn't say what that movement was, but it was certainly the most optimistic statement on the crisis in many months.

CNN:

"Yes, I think we're making a lot of progress. Yes, we're showing great strength. I think they understand we have unparalleled strength. There has never been strength like it," Trump said. "I do see certain movement, yes." The comments marked the first time Trump has signaled US efforts to counter the North Korean threat are yielding positive results. And while he did not signal the military option had left the table, Trump on Tuesday leaned more heavily into his hopes for a diplomatic solution rather than the issuance of threats of military action. Trump credited his previous bellicose rhetoric and US military strength in the region for the "movement" he says he is seeing, but went a step further Tuesday to distance himself from any desire to resolve the North Korean threat through military means. "We have many things happening that we hope, we hope -- in fact, I'll go a step further -- we hope to God we never have to use," Trump said. Trump added that he hopes North Korea will "come to the table," though he declined to say whether he would be open to direct talks. The comments came on the third day of his swing through Asia that took him to Seoul on Tuesday after first stopping in Japan, both visits aimed in part at shoring up key US allies in the face of North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Trump again stressed the urgency of curbing North Korea's advances on Tuesday, saying "it's time to act with urgency and with great determination." And speaking on the eve of his first visit to China, Trump called specifically on the North Korean neighbor as well as Russia to "demand an end to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "North Korea is a worldwide threat that requires worldwide action," he said.

Trump is not softening his position on North Korea one bit. The change in tone was almost certainly due to the sensibilities of South Korea, specifically its president, who has said numerous times he prefers diplomacy to war. In fact, President Moon has been pushing talks with North Korea for months.

Trump mentioning the help of China and Russia was diplomatic, but I'm sure he's been told there's little more they can do. Both countries are on board with sanctions. China, especially, as North Korea's biggest trading partner, has leveled its own sanctions against Kim that actually hurt its own economy.

But North Korea isn't called the "Hermit Kingdom" for nothing. Its national identity is tied up in the idea that its can go it alone. Anything they need, they can either make themselves or do without. Sanctions only strengthen their resolve not to give in. Kim doesn't care how many people are suffering, starving, freezing, or dying. As long as the army and the elites are comfortable, that's all that matters.

But the survival of his regime is paramount, which makes Trump's threats all too real. I'm sure he's asked himself what good retaliating after an American attack will be if it still means the end of his regime. So far, China has refused to support regime change. But the more Kim plays his nuclear card, the closer China gets to giving up on Kim, making regime change a primary goal of any military action against North Korea.
(ANSA) - Rome, November 7 - Rome was the world's 12th most-visited city in 2016, one of four Italian cities in Euromonitor's top 100 city destinations ranking presented on Tuesday at the World Travel Market event in London.

Italy's most-visited cities also included Milan in 27th position, followed by Venice in 38th and Florence in 44th, according to the ranking drafted by the leading market research provider.

Hong Kong conquered the top spot with 26.5 million visitors in 2016, followed by Bangkok and London.

Although no Italian city won one of the top 10 spots and Rome received less than half of London's international arrivals, Italy was the European country with the highest number of cities in the ranking.

The other top 10 most-visited city destinations included Singapore in fourth position, followed by Macau, Dubai, Paris, New York, Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur.

London was the European city most visited by international tourists with 19.8 million arrivals last year, the only British city among the 100 top destinations.

Spain's Barcelona, which ranked 23rd and Madrid 39th, attracted a little over 12 million visitors.

In France, Paris and Nice (in 93rd position) attracted 16 million international visitors.

Wouter Geerts, a travel analyst with Euromonitor International, said that "terror attacks in the Middle East and North Africa, in particular in Tunisia and Egypt, as well as in European cities like Paris and Barcelona, have favored the rising number of arrivals in destinations with similar offers, like Greece and Italy".

According to Euromonitor, tourism in Italy will continue to rise with a total of over 60 million international arrivals expected by 2022.

International visitors in Rome are expected to exceed 10 million by 2020, Euromonitor said.

"Italy is one of the most-visited countries in the world by international tourists", said Geerts.

"The number of arrivals in Italian cities is constantly rising as they offer a unique mix of art, wine and food, culture, nature and architecture that attracts tourists from around the world".

"However, the success of a destination also depends on other factors like infrastructures, economic appeal, new technologies and security", he said.


(ANSA) - Rome, November 7 - The Bank of Italy warned against making U-turns on reform of Italy's pension system as it reported to parliament on Tuesday on the 2018 budget bill. "The long-term sustainability of the public finances depend to a large degree on the pension reforms introduced in the past, which ensure manageable expenditure dynamics despite the aging of the population," Bank of Italy Deputy Director General told the budget committees of the Lower House and the Senate.

"It is important not to take steps back". Trade unions are lobbying the government to postpone an increase in the retirement age to 67, which is due to kick in in 2019, saying heavy jobs should be exempted.


PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday and Thursday will undertake his first state visit to the Gulf. The aim of the diplomatic mission will be the inauguration of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, the new 'museum city' promoted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) designed by Jean Nouvel which will open its doors after 10 years of work on the city's island.

The first museum of its kind in the Arab world, it will showcase masterworks from all over the world and will be covered by a giant dome of 180 meters covered by 8,000 metallic stars.

Macron will then travel to Dubai. Anti-terrorism and economic partnerships will be among the issues on the agenda of the visit.
Jordan: conference to tackle energy, population challanges

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, NOVEMBER 7 - Several thousand scientists and businessmen from around the world on Tuesday converged on the Dead Sea to take part in an international conference to tackle major issues facing the world including renewable energy, poverty and science advancement.



King Abdullah inaugurated the session and tweeted about his pleasure to hosting the forum, which organizers hope would help set up a path towards tackling major issues facing the world such as rapid growth of population. Scientists, including Nobel Lauriates and political leaders take part in the Science Forum.



The 4-day Forum will include key sessions on topics including the right to an education that unlocks opportunities in the world of today. Delegates will also examine the challenges and opportunities of the digital age, and the role science must play in making our planet resilient and resource aware.



Jordanian official says event has the full support of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will be attended by several Nobel Laureates and senior government representatives from around the world. The WSF National Task Force is comprised of Jordan's representatives from science, research and academia, and includes Ms. Costanza Farina, UNESCO representative, Amman, H.E. Dr. Omar Al Razzaz, Minister of Education, Jordan, and H.E.



Prof. Adel Tweissi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Jordan amongst many others. (ANSAmed).




SACE allocates 100mn for new infrastructure in Istanbul Credit line to Metropolitan Municipality for construction work

(ANSAmed) - ROME, NOVEMBER 7 - Italian export credit agency SACE has granted funding worth 100 million euros, provided by Intesa San Paolo Group and ING A.S., to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Imm), the biggest of 30 metropolitan municipality and Turkey's main economic and financial hub.



The credit line, insurance-financial group CdP said, will contribute to funding the investment plan worth 2.75 billion euros of Imm for the construction of infrastructure in the city of Istanbul, including the subway line Eminonu-Alibeykoy.



The Turkish market, the statement said, is a priority for Italian exports, which in 2016 reached 9.6 billion euros and, according to SACE forecasts, are expected to grow on average 3.8% a year until 2020.



In order to help Italian exporters obtain contracts, SACE over the coming weeks will organize in Milan a meeting between Imm managers and Italian companies, in particular small and medium-sized firms, interested in operating with the Turkish counterpart. (ANSAmed).




BRUSSELS - Two hundred pro-independence mayors from Catalonia arrived in Brussels on Tuesday "to make their voice heard in the heart of Europe", show their support for deposed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and call for "the liberation of the political prisoners". During the demonstration outside European Commission headquarters in Palazzo Berlaymont organised by the Association of Pro-independence Municipalities (AMI) the mayors chanted 'freedom' and sang the Catalan anthem Els segadors. They were joined by a small number of local supporters and Catalan MEPs.

Meanwhile, around 100 Spanish unionist supporters held a counter-demonstration on the other side of the square under close police surveillance. "We want Europe to listen and become aware of what is going on," said AMI President and mayor of Vilanova i la Geltru, Neus Lloveras. "Catalonia has 948 municipalities and over 700 belong to AMI," said Green MEP Josep Maria Terricabras. "We are demonstrating here to show that we are in favour of Europe even if Europe is not in our favour, and this is surprising, incredible. It is in favour of the banks, of money, but not of its citizens. This was not the original idea of Europe, let's hope it changes."
ISTANBUL - Turkish authorities on Tuesday stopped 220 migrants and refugees who were trying to cross the border with the EU or to enter the country illegally, security sources said. The sources said that the migrants included 71 Syrians as well as Afghans, Palestinians and Egyptians who were apprehended in the north-western province of Edirne as they were attempting to reach Greece and Bulgaria.

An additional 151 migrants without regular documents were blocked by officers in Van, in eastern Turkey.

Last week, according to data provided by the Turkish interior ministry, a total of 3,670 migrants were apprehended, including 943 who were intercepted at sea.


BRUSSELS - European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker on Tuesday spoke about the Catalan crisis in an interview with Belgian Flemish television Vrt, saying he ''does not believe'' that the Spanish government ''violates the rule of law: it is those who don't respect the constitution that break the law''.

Jucnker was speaking on the day in which some 200 mayors from the Spanish region met in Brussels to defend their separatist stance.

''What is occurring in Catalonia is not a European affair'', Juncker also said, expressing ''confidence'' in the Spanish and Belgian judiciary.

''The European Commission has taken a cautious position - he added - that perhaps wasn't appreciated by everybody, but the EU is a Union based on the rules of law that need to be respected''.


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The new, expanded network now includes sought-after destinations such as Zanzibar, Kathmandu and Kilimanjaro.

Travellers can book on Emirates.com, through Emirates Contact Centres, or via travel agents for travel commencing from 8 November 2017.

Emirates President, Sir Tim Clark said: We are thrilled with the positive response from travellers. Nearly 14,000 sectors have been ticketed during the first week of operation, surpassing our expectations. We have witnessed strong demand for travel from Europe and the United States to South Asian destinations."

"This partnership is an unprecedented opportunity for both airlines to unleash the combined power of their networks, offering travellers greater choice and flexibility when planning their trips. We want to make exploring the world as friendly and as convenient as possible.

Flydubai chief executive officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith said: The many benefits of Dubais international aviation hub have been recognised by travellers who have already shown that they are keen to explore the world together. Todays announcement will allow them to discover another 16 destinations as well as enjoy the unique personality of each airline.
Shell Aviation now supplies jet fuel at the two largest airports in the country  Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL).

We see significant potential in Salalah and we aim to support their growth by providing our extensive expertise in fuel supply said Anne Anderson, vice president Shell Aviation. We are pleased to add Salalah to our global network as we also mark 55 years of operations in Oman.

Salalah International Airport was expanded in 2015 to enable it to serve one million passengers per year as part of Omans strategy to further develop the area as a tourist destination. The airport has also been designed to allow for further expansion that could enable it to cater for up to six million passengers annually.

Salim Awadh Said Al Yafaey, general manager, Salalah International Airport, said: Shell Aviations operational and safety capabilities were decisive factors for us. Efficiency and supply security will be key in achieving our ambitious vision for the airport and Salalah. We believe Shell Aviation is the right choice to help us get there.




The Agency highlighted its efforts to encourage STEM education scientific research among students, especially in the early stages of their education.



During the conference, Dr Fatima Al Aydaroos, Space Science Senior Specialist at the UAE Space Agency, gave a presentation highlighting the progress achieved in the UAE space sector, as well as the projects, companies, and research centres under its umbrella.



Dr Al Aydaroos briefed attendees on the Agencys regional and global footprint, highlighting its prominent projects and initiatives, alongside its global partnerships, sector investments and on the leading roles women play within the Agency and wider UAE space sector.



Dr Al Aydaroos also commended the involvement of youth groups in national development and the key role they play in the UAEs future, especially in the space sector. She went on to discuss how the Space Agency worked with governmental authorities and educational institutions to incorporate space science into curriculums and how the Agency promoted specialised space publications, including a range of books, magazines and newsletters.



The Agencys Space Science Senior Specialist then stressed the importance of interactive and activity-based learning that inspires students and motivates them to pursue careers in science-related subjects. This, according to Dr Al Aydaroos, includes educational tours to local and international scientific and astronomical centres, launching scientific competitions such as UAE Genes in Space, organizing summer camps and astronomical observation events and most importantly, scholarships and training opportunities to encourage outstanding students to complete their studies in space science and astronomy.



Dr Al Aydaroos called upon academic institutions, universities and schools to enhance methods of teaching scientific subjects by organising training courses for school teachers in university labs, encouraging students to carry out scientific experiments with the support of their professors, launching scientific competitions to encourage students to apply what they have learned and organizing workshops with leading scientists, engineers, astronauts and entrepreneurs.



Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, said: "Attracting and training UAE nationals to become pioneers in space science, encouraging and supporting scientific research and innovation in the UAE, and promoting the development of specialized space skills among professionals are a part of the Agencys strategic plans. We are making significant progress in this direction through the implementation of various educational and awareness initiatives that target students during the early stages of their education, and continue through to their time at university.
Partnership will allow smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, in process enhancing safety and security.

Offerings will also be taken by both the companies to car manufacturers globally for integration with vehicle systems.

New Delhi: Ride hailing app Ola on Tuesday announced a global partnership with tech giant Microsoft for building a new-age 'connected vehicle platform' for car manufacturers worldwide.

Under the partnership, Ola will use Microsoft cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and productivity tools to enhance rider experience as well as for predictive maintenance of the cars.

The offerings will also be taken by both the companies to car manufacturers globally for integration with vehicle systems.

"There are synergies... The two companies working together can accelerate the future of mobility, especially in India and beyond," Ola co-founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal said at the India Today Conclave Next 2017.

Aggarwal, who was sharing the dais with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, outlined the broad contours of the alliance that would also harness the power of new technologies like AI and Internet of Things. Microsoft will be a preferred cloud provider and its Azure cloud platform will be used to power Ola's existing connected car platform - Ola Play.

Ola Play will leverage Microsoft's AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance, and provide auto manufacturers with custom digital experiences for their customers.

Ola Play customers will be able to use productivity tools like Office 365 and Skype for business during their rides.

Besides, the partnership will allow smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, in the process enhancing safety and security.

"Todays car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we are focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers," said Nadella, who is currently on a two-day visit to India.
Shares of Reliance Communications were trading 0.95 per cent higher at Rs 16 on BSE.

New Delhi: Debt-laden Reliance Communications on Tuesday said it is renegotiating the tower business deal with all interested parties, including Brookfield Infrastructure Group.

In December last year, Reliance Communications had inked binding agreements to sell 51 per cent stake in its tower business to Canada-based Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners for Rs 11,000 crore but the deal fell through after the company called off its merger with Aircel.

"The deal with Brookfield Infrastructure Group for tower transaction was condition precedent based on the demerger of wireless division of the company with Aircel, which was called off by the company and Aircel on mutual consent on October 1, 2017," Reliance Communications said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "In view of above, the company is renegotiating the tower transactions with all the interested parties including Brookfield Infrastructure Group".

Shares of Reliance Communications were trading 0.95 per cent higher at Rs 16 on BSE.
They are seen firing some extremely heavy-duty weapons as they fight the terrorists and sneak in some time to romance in exotic locales.

Mumbai: Salman Khan's last experiment of sorts in 'Tubelight' didn't pay rich dividends, but he is back to his more familiar territory of the masala film with 'Tiger Zinda Hai.'

Like his career, Salman's popular character of an Indian spy Tiger is back and back with a bang. This time, he is tasked with the mammoth responsibility of rescuing 25 nurses held hostage by a terror outfit in Iraq.

His partner from the first instalment, Katrina Kaif, a Pakistani spy accompanies him in the mission.

The spy pair is then seen firing some extremely heavy-duty weapons as they fight the terrorists and even sneak in some time to romance in exotic locales, as they set to accomplish their mission.

Performing stunts from a snowboard, quad bike, car or horse, Salman is impressive even while mouthing cliched dialogues like 'dum hai to mujhe rok ke dikha' or 'shikaar sab karte hai, par Tiger se behtar shikhar koi nai kar sakta.'

The high-octane action sequences and some scenes of explosions are the highlights of the trailer.

Along with Salman and Katrina, others like Angad Bedi and Girish Karnad can also be seen in the trailer.

Tiger Zinda Hai, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, releases on 22 December.

Watch the trailer here:
The ex-couple was seen hanging out at Shah Rukh Khans birthday party, looking quite comfortable.

Ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahin ho sakte, went the Mohnish Bahl line from the film Maine Pyar Kiya. But the industry has time and again proved this wrong. For instance, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were not just comfortable around each other in public, but also worked in two films after breaking up.

Keeping in line with the thought are two young stars  Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The two have also decided to stay friends, after their alleged relationship went kaput, but arent going out of their way for it. While the two actors seemed comfortable in each others presence last week at Shah Rukh Khans party at his Alibaug farmhouse, Alia even went to see Sidharths film Ittefaq at a Mumbai multiplex.

Alia is a very sensible actress. She knows that if there is a good project that comes up that requires them to star opposite each other, she will pick it up and work like a true professional. This generation is very different from the actors of yore who did not want to get into an uncomfortable situation. Times have changed and so have these young stars, informs a trade source.

 Sanskriti Media
The story also alleged that the agents were asked to collect information on actress Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of rape.

Los Angeles: It seems like Harvey Weinstein went to great lengths to silence those who accused him of sexual assault allegations.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a detailed piece in a leading U.S. publication claimed how Weinstein hired private security agencies, to retrieve information on women to stop the allegations from going public.

The story also alleged that the agents were asked to collect information on actress Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of rape, and finding out details about her forthcoming book.

It's claimed McGowan was approached in May 2017 by a woman posing as an employee from a London-based wealth-management firm, who it's believed was actually working for an intelligence company and attempting to extract information about her Weinstein accusations.

Weinstein also used several other private security firms to investigate those who threatened to expose him.

Over the course of twelve months, Weinstein had the agencies compile psychological profiles on dozens of targets that often focused on their personal or sexual histories.

However, the agencies named in the piece have declined to comment on the work it did for Weinstein, but insists it always operates "in full compliance with the law of any jurisdiction in which it operates."

It should be noted that, the Oscar-winning producer has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 50 women.

The allegations documented decades of alleged sexual misconduct and sexual assault with many actresses, which includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Lea Seydoux and Kate Beckinsale.

Weinstein's spokesman has previously said, "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
Taking questions from journalists, Kamal expressed the hope that he would be the change that people of Tamil Nadu have been

Chennai: Ringing in his 63rd birthday in true filmy style, Tamil film icon Kamal Haasan on Tuesday declared that he had already taken the plunge into politics. However, he kept up the suspense on the name of his political party, its agenda, and launch date saying things are being worked out slowly and steadily.

At an event called to make a special announcement, Kamal arrived on the dais an hour late owing to traffic and rains and declared that the launch of maiam-whistle, a digital platform would enable the common man to air his grievances about any issue that irks him. Kamal also declared his intention is to tour the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu sometime in the New Year and that he would launch his party after the tour.

Taking questions from journalists, Kamal expressed the hope that he would be the change that people of Tamil Nadu have been

yearning for and suggested that his political party may not be up and running before the local body polls and gave enough hints that his target was Assembly elections, scheduled only for 2021.

I am already here. I am holding discussions with various experts on the whole thing, Kamal said. You cant give birth to a child immediately after getting pregnant. And I cant name it without knowing whether it is a boy or a girl. I am in talks with experts to lay a strong foundation, the actor stated at the event.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and routinely objects to top Indian officials' visit to the area.

China had on Monday objected to Sitharaman's first visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday and Sunday, saying her tour of the 'disputed area' was not conducive to peace in the region. (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday dismissed China's objection to Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the defence minister goes to areas across the country where troops are deployed.

Rawat said the defence minister meets soldiers to understand various issues and such trips are always a source of motivation for the armed forces.

China had on Monday objected to Sitharaman's first visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday and Sunday, saying her tour of the "disputed area" was not conducive to peace in the region.

Read: China irked at Nirmala Sitharamans Arunachal border visit

"Defence Minister visits troops in forward areas to meet them in person, to understand various issues which might be engulfing them. I think visits by the defence minister are always a source of motivation," Rawat said on the sidelines of an event here.

He said the defence minister visits areas where Indian troops are deployed. "After all it is the ministry of defence which is providing support to us," he said.

Sitharaman on Sunday visited forward army posts in the remote Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China to take stock of defence preparedness.

"As to Indian Defence Minister visit to Arunachal Pradesh, you must be very clear about China's position," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing yesterday.

"There is a dispute on the eastern section of the China- India boundary. So this visit by the Indian side to the disputed area is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the relevant region," she said in a response to a question.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and routinely objects to top Indian officials' visit to the area.

On the reported killing of a nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar during an encounter in Pulwama in Kashmir last night, the Army chief said the aim of the security forces was to contain terrorism.

"It doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else," he said adding the aim of the forces was to neutralise terrorists irrespective of where they came from.

Asked about the recovery of an M4 rifle during the ecounter, Gen Rawat said it made it clear that terrorists were getting support from across the border.

M4 rifles were used by NATO forces in their operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One of two foreign militants killed in the Pulwama encounter Monday night is believed to be a nephew of Azhar.
J&Ks director general of police Shesh Paul Vaid confirmed the killing of the Army jawan and three militants.

The police said that the identity of slain militants is being ascertained. (Photo: Representational/PTI)

Srinagar: Three militants and an Army jawan were killed and a civilian injured in a fire fight in Aglar Kandi village of Jammu and Kashmirs southern Pulwama district on Monday evening.

The slain Army jawan has been identified as Sham Sunder and the injured civilian is Tariq Ahmed Bhat. J&Ks director general of police Shesh Paul Vaid confirmed the killing of the Army jawan and three militants.

The J&K police in a tweet late Monday night said that the militants were involved in the sneak attack carried out by them at a naka police party in Pulwamas Rajpora area on Sunday. One policeman senior-grade constable Abdus Salaam was killed and another Munir Ahmed injured in this attack.

The police said that the identity of slain militants is being ascertained. Earlier while confirming the death of the Army jawan, SSP Pulwama Mohammad Aslam had told a local news agency GNS that he was injured during the encounter and was rushed to the Armys 92-Base Hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed.

While the police said the civilian was injured when caught in crossfire, the locals alleged that he was shot at by the security forces deliberately as intense protests erupted in the area soon after the encounter began. Internet services in Pulwama have been withdrawn in view of growing tensions, a report said.

Police sources said that the J&K polices counter-insurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) along with the Armys 44 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Aglar Kandi after learning about the presence of militants in the village. Soon a fire fight broke out between the militants holed up inside a private house and the security forces, the official said.

In a similar clash, two Army soldiers and a militant were killed in Pulwamas Samboora, Pampore last week. Two other militants who were trapped in the area escaped, however.

Meanwhile, clashes have taken place between security forces and surging crowds in Brakapora area of neighbouring Anantnag district after a convoy of the CRPF was targeted by a mob with stones on Mondat afternnoon.

The reports said that the CRPF jawans came down of their vehicles and fired teargas canisters to push the stone-pelters, triggering clashes.
'Twelve people, including six women, died on the spot while a child succumbed to injuries in hospital,' a top police official said.

The family of a labourer and some other residents of Sejawada village in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district were returning home from Dholka near Ahmedabad when the mishap took place around 3 am, an official said. (Photo: File | Representational)

Anand (Gujarat): At least 13 people were killed and eight others injured when their jeep rammed into a stationary truck on the Ahmedabad-Indore Highway in Kheda district in the early hours on Tuesday, the police said.

The family of a labourer and some other residents of Sejawada village in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district were returning home from Dholka near Ahmedabad when the mishap took place around 3 am, an official said.

"The jeep in which they were travelling collided with the stationary truck on Ahmedabad-Indore Highway near Kathlal town of Kheda district," Kathlal police station's sub-inspector A G Rathod said.

"Twelve people, including six women, died on the spot while a child succumbed to injuries in hospital," the SI said.

The deceased also included the jeep's driver, he said.

The eight injured persons have been taken to a hospital in Kathlal, Rathod said.

There were 25 people in total, including the driver, in the jeep when the accident occurred, he said.
The 22-year-old woman was sent to a state-run shelter after her brother alleged that she was forcibly converted to Islam and married.

The woman's counsel objected to her being kept at the shelter and contended that as she was a major, she should be free to exercise her will. (Photo: Representational/File)

Jaipur: It was happy ending for Payal alias Aarifa whose case was identical to Keralas Hadiya. The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday accepted her right as an adult and allowed her to go wherever she wanted to. And, the 22-year old girl told the court that she wanted to live with her husband Faiz Modi.

Payals brother Chirag had filed a habeas corpus in the Rajasthan High Court last week accusing the police of not registering his FIR against Faiz whom he accused of kidnapping and blackmailing her sister into forcefully marrying him.

Chirag claimed that her marriage certificate was also fake. His lawyers said Payals marriage was a case of love Jihad and the police were not paying attention to growing number of such incidents.

Even the court was not convinced with the marriage certificate produced by Payal alias Aarifas husband and in-laws.

The division bench of Justice Gopal Krishna Vyas and Justice Manoj Garg commented if religious conversions could be recognised on the basis of affidavits on a stamp paper of mere Rs 10. "In this way, tomorrow, even I could address myself as Gopal Mohammad," the court had remarked while asking the state government if there was any law governing conversions.

However, Payal reiterated her statement, which she gave in the court last week, that she had married Faiz on her will and wished to go to her husbands house. When the judges asked her if she was under any pressure, influence or threat, she categorically denied. She was then allowed to go with her husband under police protection.

Interestingly, her family on Tuesday admitted that Payal and her husband Faiz were childhood friends. "They used to study together in school, now what can one do about that," said her father, Narpat Singhvi, who was disappointed with her daughters decision.

Tension prevailed outside the high curt after the order. Activists of right wing organisations gathered in large numbers and raised slogans against Aarifa being allowed to go with her husband. They misbehaved with her lawyers, who asked the court to provide him protection.

The lawyers association also protested manhandling with a senior lawyer and went on strike.

The case coincides with the controversy over Hadiya, a 24-year-old Kerala woman born Akhila Ashokan, who had converted to Islam and married a Muslim. Her marriage has been challenged in court by her father, who alleged that it was a form of recruitment by ISIS in Kerala. The high court had annulled the marriage in May this year and sent her to her fathers custody.

Her husband had moved the Supreme Court, which in August ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the alleged forced conversion of Akhila.

However, last month a new apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra observed if the case warranted an NIA probe and also raised questions about on the high court order.
Jaitley hits back, recalls 2G, coal scams; nationwide Opposition stir today.

New Delhi/Ahmedabad: The Congress fielded former Prime Minister and economist Manmohan Singh to take on the ruling NDA on the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation. As Dr Singh attacked the government over the disastrous and reckless decision, saying it had lowered the growth rate and hit employment generation, finance minister Arun Jaitely moved in to quickly defend the historic move, claiming that demonetisation has met its objective of reducing cash in the economy and dealing a body blow to black money.

The Opposition parties, meanwhile, plan to hit the streets on Wednesday to protest against demonetisation. Though almost all Opposition parties plan to join in the protest, a decision has been taken to hold agitations on separate platforms. The BJP, on the other hand, will counter the move by celebrating the first anniversary of the financial decision as anti-black money.

The Congress has made the twin issues of demonetisation and GST as a poll plank in Gujarat, which goes to polls on December 9 and 14, and hence the decision to hold Dr Singhs press conference and interaction with businessmen in Ahmedabad.

At the media interaction, Dr Singh belted out some hard economic facts and said that for growth to now measure up to the 10-year average of the United Progressive Alliance government, led by him, the economy will have to grow at 10.6 per cent in the NDAs fifth year in power.

The former PM said though he would be happy if this happens, he did not think it can. He also attacked the government over demonetisation and the way GST was implemented.

Dr Singh said that demonetisation was clearly not the way to end the menace of tax evasion and black money. He added: Demonetisation has proved to be a mere blister to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped. I repeat, this was an organised loot and legalised plunder.

It is worrying that growth has been falling for several quarters, sliding to 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2017-18, he said.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Singh said that Mr Modi tends to exaggerate what he will do in the future. He (the Prime Minister) was recently quoted in the press as saying that India will become a developed country by 2022. I would be the happiest person in the world if he can deliver that. But is he really aware of what it implies?

He also questioned Mr Modis bullet train project, calling it an exercise in vanity, and condemned attempts to label as anti-national all voices of dissent on the project.

The former PM said: By questioning bullet trains, does one become anti-development? Does questioning GST and demonetisation make one a tax evader?

Taking on Dr Singh for his criticism, Mr Jaitley described demonetisation decision as an economic exercise which had an ethical and a moral rationale behind it. He said organised loot was the CWG scam, 2G scam and irregularties in allocation of coal blocks under the UPA government as he hit back at the Congress, saying: The Congress and the BJP have a different viewpoint on what is ethical, as the formers primary objective is to serve the family while for the latter, it is to serve the nation.

He said the note ban decision led to a larger formal economy, cleaner economy and bigger tax base and asserted that the government strongly stands by its decision a year after it made the historic announcement, marking an watershed moment for the economy.

Mr Jaitley also asked the former PM to compare pre-2014 and post-2014 reputation of the Indian economy. He also listed out measures taken by the government to curb black money and corruption and said Mr Modi had undertaken a transformation of economy with structural reforms.

Anti-black money drive is an ethical drive. Anti-black money step is a moral step. What is ethically and morally correct has to be politically correct, he said. Mr Jaitley said that after coming to power, the BJP believed that it was most urgent to shake up the status quo.

Excessive cash transaction was leading to tax evasion and honest tax payers suffered double whammy as they ended up paying taxes for evaders too, he added.

He said that while demonetisation is not a solution to all problems, it has changed the agenda, ushering in a less-cash economy, increasing numbers of tax assesses and squeezing terror funding. Data mining has led to identification of 1.8 million bank account holders with disproportionate income, he said.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad joined Mr Jaitley in attacking Dr Singh for terming demonetisation as organised loot. The former Prime Minister seems to be reading scripts written by someone else, just like Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, said Mr Prasad. Manmohan Singhji has said that note ban was a dacoity. This is not Manmohan Singhjis language, he added.

Almost all Opposition parties including the Congress, TMC and the Left plan to hold rallies across the country to protest demonetisation on Wednesday.

Trinamul Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also hit out at the government, saying demonetisation was a big scam.
Gujarat will witness a two-phase election on December 9 and 14.

New Delhi: Launching the BJPs Gujarat Gaurav Mahasampark Abhiyan from his former Assembly constituency Naranpura on Tuesday, BJP president Amit Shah was greeted with flower petals and blessings by residents as he went door to door. Mr Shah, now a Rajya Sabha member, visited the residents and handed over pamphlets highlighting the achievements of the BJP-ruled Gujarat government and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, and also a personal letter by Mr Modi to voters in his home state.

Gujarat will witness a two-phase election on December 9 and 14. The BJP, that has ruled the state for over two decades, is confident that it will retain power despite the Congress highlighting faults in its development model.

Before launching the campaign, Mr Shah offered prayers at Ambaji temple, where the BJP cadre and supporters were heard shouting Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Though Mr Shah was accompanied by security personnel, it did not deter enthusiastic teenagers from clicking selfies with him. Mr Shah also got blessings of elders, who wished him and the BJP success. Some even had complaints and grievances for the BJP president, which he promised would be sorted out.

Mr Shah had started his political career as a booth in-charge of Naranpura and had quit as an MLA from this constituency after his debut in Parliaments Upper House in August this year. The Mahasampark Abhiyan will see senior leaders from the state as well as Central ministers participating in this six-day campaign that will end on November 12.

Besides Mr Shah, chief minister Vijay Rupani also took part in the campaign in his hometown Rajkot. Former CM Anandiben Patel participated in Ghatlodia, which she now respresents in the Assembly. Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel also joined in the campaign in Mahesana. Some of the Central ministers who will take part in the campaign are Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, J.P. Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd), Mansukhbhai Mandaviya and Prakash Javadekar, among others.
Vietnam is also an important member of Asean and is gearing up to receive US President Donald Trump in Hanoi.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj with the Vietnamese ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh (right) and others during a photo session after delivering an address on Asean-India partnership in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi all set to visit the Philippines soon to strengthen Indias engagement with Asean (Association of South-east Asian nations) as well as to attend the East Asia Summit, Vietnamese ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh on Tuesday evening pitched for more Indo-Asean engagement, hailing India as Vietnams brother.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club in the national capital, the envoy also confirmed that the Vietnamese Prime Minister will represent his country at the Special Asean-India Summit and Republic Day celebrations in January at which India is expected to host leaders from all 10 ASEAN nations in honour of the completion of 25 years of Indo-ASEAN engagement and partnership. Vietnam, like India, has fought a border war with China earlier and remains wary of the Chinese dragons moves in the South China Sea (SCS) since it has a maritime territorial dispute with China in the region. Vietnam is also an important member of Asean and is gearing up to receive US President Donald Trump in Hanoi.

Asked about the situation in his countrys vicinity especially in the context of Vietnams territorial dispute with China, Mr Thanh said, There are problems in the South China Sea ... it is quite complicated. We have to defend (our) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and our islands. Acknowledging the powerful Chinese presence in the region, he said, China is a big neighbour ... We have the same problem as India. But he quickly added, There is no other way other than having dialogue. We should not move towards situations of conflict.

He pointed out that ASEAN is in talks with China on the way forward to resolve disputes in the SCS.

Describing his countrys deep relationship with India, the Vietnamese envoy said, We are like two brothers more than friends ... Our relationship is now better than ever, free from any problem. It is as clear as a sky without clouds. The envoy also said he was happy that the Sino-Indian military face-off at Doklam (in Bhutanese territory) had ended peacefully without any serious conflict.

However, Mr. Thanh was circumspect and cautious in his reaction to a proposed Japanese move to establish a quadrilateral with India, the US and Australia on issues in the Asia-Pacific region, indicating that there was nothing wrong if it is not aimed at any country. But he was clear that Vietnam will not join any bloc as it is not good for Vietnam. The envoy also welcomed the ongoing Indian participation in oil and gas exploration in Vietnamese waters. He also mentioned the high-level exchanges with India.

On his countrys ties with the US with which it fought a bitter war that ended in the defeat of the Americans in 1975, he said Vietnam has a good relationship with the US which is getting better.

With India gearing up to receive 10 ASEAN Heads of State/Government for next years Republic Day parade, New Delhi is currently in the thick of efforts to coordinate the visit of the top dignitaries from the 10 ASEAN nations. ASEAN comprises 10 nations-Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The Indian Government had recently stated, The relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our foreign policy and the foundation of our Act East Policy. The up-gradation of the relationship into a Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural progression to the ground covered since India became a Sectoral Partner of the ASEAN in 1992, Dialogue Partner in 1996 and Summit Level Partner in 2002. There are, in total, 30 Dialogue Mechanisms between India and ASEAN, cutting across various sectors.

India and ASEAN are observing 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership throughout 2017 by undertaking a wide range of activities, both in India and through our Missions in ASEAN Member States ... The Look East Policy has today matured into a dynamic and action oriented Act East Policy, New Delhi had asserted recently.
The nun was raped at the convent on March 14, 2015 where the six persons barged in for committing dacoity.

Nuns take part in a rally in Kolkata on Monday to protest against the rape of 71-year-old nun. (Photo: PTI)

Kolkata: A city court on Tuesday convicted a Bangladeshi man for raping a septuagenarian nun in West Bengal's Ranaghat town during a dacoity at a convent in 2015.

Additional Sessions Judge Kumkum Sinha termed the incident as a matter of shame in a state where Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa had worked for the people.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Wednesday.

Noting that the charge of gangrape was not established, the judge said only Nazrul Islam was found guilty of rape.

Five accused, including Nazrul Islam, were found guilty of dacoity at the convent. A sixth person -- Gopal Sarkar was found guilty of harbouring the five criminals at his residence.

All the six were also found guilty of criminal conspiracy for committing dacoity at the convent in Ranaghat, an otherwise quiet town about 80 km from here, in Nadia district bordering Bangladesh.

Other than Nazrul Islam and Gopal Sarkar, the other four persons found guilty are Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh and Khaledar Rahman.

Apart from Gopal Sarkar, the five others are Bangladeshis and cases against them under Foreigners' Act are pending before another court.

The nun was raped at the convent on March 14, 2015 where the six persons barged in for committing dacoity.

They had decamped with cash from the safe of the convent. One accused is absconding.

The trial was shifted from a court in Ranaghat to the Kolkata Sessions court in May 2016 by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the nun.

The nun, who had relocated to Delhi following the incident, had sought transfer of the case to Kolkata stating that she feared for her safety as the accused allegedly had strong links in Ranaghat.

The prosecution charged all the accused with gangrape, dacoity and criminal conspiracy among others.
One of the juvenile accused lured victim on the pretext of offering a ride on his bicycle and took her to a secluded place, a top cop said.

Sister of victim alerted their parents after she could not find the 7-yr-old girl; she was later found at the spot of crime, police officials said. (Photo: File | Representational)

New Delhi: Two juveniles had been apprehended for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl when she had gone to attend nature's call to a public toilet in outer Delhi's Kanjhawla, the police said on Monday.

The incident was reported on Saturday.

The victim and her elder sister had gone to a public toilet in the area. While her sister went inside the washroom, the victim was waiting outside, said a Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) official.

One of the juvenile accused lured her on the pretext of offering her a ride on his bicycle and took her to a secluded place, where the other juvenile was waiting, he added.

The duo then allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, the official said.

The sister of the victim alerted their parents after she could not find the seven-year-old girl. She was subsequently found at the spot where she was allegedly raped by the duo.

The police were informed about the incident and subsequently, the two accused were apprehended.

The girl is currently admitted to the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital. The police said her private parts were bleeding.

Last week, a one-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man in the presence of his two children in outer Delhi's Aman Vihar. The accused was subsequently arrested.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal visited the Kanjhawla rape victim at the hospital. "Visited 7 year old gang rape survivor. She underwent a serious operation. Comp heartbroken. Fed up of child rapes in capital! (sic)," she later wrote on Twitter.

The DCW chief also expressed concern about the security of women in the national capital. "1.5 year old girl is still recuperating from the trauma of rape and surgery. Now a 7 year old brutally gang raped. What's wrong with Delhi? Haven't slept properly since I saw 1.5 year old rape survivor. Her eyes haunt me. Nw 7 yr old girls eyes will haunt! Who will ans dere ques? (sic)," she wrote in a series of tweets.
Prime Minister during his visit, also met Dayalu Ammal, the ailing wife of the DMK chief.

Modi being welcomed by M. K. Stalin and party leader Kanimozhi on his arrival to visit M. Karunanidhi, in Chennai. (Photo: PTI )

Chennai: Marking a healthy change in Tamil Nadu politics, which is beset with personal rivalry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met ailing DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, a staunch ally of the Congress, at his Gopalapuram residence here to enquire about his health.

The meeting, termed a courtesy call, is bound to set off intense political speculation about the parties coming together as both sides displayed great warmth during the 20 minutes that Mr Modi spent with Mr Karunanidhi.

However, in an attempt to clarify that the meeting has nothing to do with politics, the DMK announced that its cadre should wear black bands on Wednesday as planned earlier to mark the first anniversary of demonetisation, a pet policy of Mr Modi.

Prime Minister during his visit, also met Dayalu Ammal, the ailing wife of the DMK chief.
Companies forged bills to assist Sanjay Jain in laundering Rs 600 crore.

Mumbai: Following the arrest of the former director of Hindmata Gold cinema Sanjay Jain in import remittance fraud to the tune of Rs 600 crore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now summoned directors of five Hong Kong-based companies. These companies issued forged receipts and bills to project that the import of diamonds was taking place.

The ED officials said that the accused directors are Indians based in Mumbai, and the remittance money was sent to those companies as a part of pre and post-import payments. The remittances were made through submission of forged bills of entry and invoices to the bank.

These companies are shown as gem companies on the letterheads of the forged receipts which were used to project that trade was carried out with Jain and Vijay Kothari, the kingpin in the scam.

These persons assisted in laundering the money that was diverted to Hong Kong by showing it as payments to their companies in lieu of import of diamonds. But there was no purchase, and hence the bills are fake, said an ED officer.

The four directors are stated to be the crucial link in the case. The ED has sent them summons seeking documents pertaining to the bank deposits.

The money trail is key to the investigation, and these persons will help in identifying the route taken transfer Rs 600 crore that is parked in at least 14 bank accounts in Hong Kong. The ED is in the process of sending a Letters Rogatory (LR) to Hong Kong seeking details of the money trail.

Meanwhile, the proclamation process of Kothari began in a special prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has begun. The court asked him to appear before the judiciary by November 13. Authorities suspect that Kothari is holed up in Hong Kong, where most of the scam money was forwarded.

Kothari is one of the main accused in the Enforcement Directorates alleged Rs 600 crore remittance fraud case in which the ED also arrested Sanjay Jain in late October.

The agency has arrested three persons in all in the case including Jain, Anil Chokhara and Saurav Pandit. The officials are yet to identify the ownership of the money, around Rs 600 crore, that made way to Hong Kong in the form of import remittances.
Police in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai recovered several crores of old currency after November 8.

The seizure of demonetised notes has been highest in Thane, where the police registered 39 cases in which Rs 15 crores worth currency notes were seized.

Mumbai: After Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were banned on November 8 last year by the Centre to flush out unaccounted wealth, the police in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai seized demonetised cash worth Rs 40.68 crore in 78 cases.

The seizure of demonetised notes has been highest in Thane, where the police registered 39 cases in which Rs 15 crores worth currency notes were seized.

N. Thackrey, a police inspector with the Thane crime branchs Unit-1, said, Within a year after demonetisation we have registered more than 30 cases. Most of the seizures took placed based on tip-off pertaining to the likelihood of exchange of banned currency. We have been vigilant post demonetisation to nab corrupt people, most of whom wanted to exchange currencies on commission ratio of 60-40 per cent. We have detained a bank employee too, who was involved in exchange of old notes with new ones. Within two months after demonetisation, we registered maximum cases.

The second highest number of cases were registered by the Mumbai police who seized Rs 18.78 crore from the financial capital in around 27 cases.

Deepak Devraj, Mumbai police spokesperson, said, In the past one year since the demonetisation of currency notes was announced, there have been seizures of worth Rs 18.78 crore in Mumbai. All the cases have been transferred to the Income Tax department for further investigation.

DCP Devraj also added, The IT department is finding out the source of that cash after the culprits were arrested by Mumbai police.

The Navi Mumbai police meanwhile have registered 12 cases of demonetised currency seizure involving Rs 6.90 crore.
Wont have to pay stamp duty, registration fee for another 15 yrs.

The proposal entails exemption in stamp duty and no charging of registration fees for first purchase and lease in SEZs.

Mumbai: The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to extend the 10-year tax relief period granted to Maharashtras Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by another 15 years. The proposal entails exemption in stamp duty and no charging of registration fees for first purchase and lease in SEZs. The states 28 SEZs that are currently operational will benefit due to the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (Mihan), a pet project of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The state government introduced the SEZ policy on October 12 2001, after which the Centre, in 2005, enacted the SEZ Act. The Centre approved the Mihan SEZ in May 2007; and as per the state governments decision, tax relief in the stamp duty and registration fees were to last for 10 years. So in the case of Mihan, the tax holiday ended in May this year. There hadnt been much response to the Mihan SEZ from industry during the previous governments regime. Mr Fadnavis, however, has made many efforts to bring in good investment in Mihan, with Baba Ramdevs orange city also being planned for the site.

In a bid to attract investment from industries in the states SEZs, the industry department had proposed that their tax holiday be extended to 25 years from 10, which received the state Cabinets approval. It will apply from the date of the Central governments sanction to the SEZ.

The government will take review on this matter after every 5 years.

As per the industry department, SEZs help in overall economic development and employment generation. The department cited the example of Punes Hinjewadi SEZ. The ready reckoner (RR) rate of land was Rs 9,44,000 per hectare and after the SEZ was founded it increased up to Rs 2,01,58, 000 per hectare, it stated in a note. These SEZs helped in increasing state and countrys revenue and exports as well, the note read. So to boost investment and attract industry, department proposed to extend tax relief for 15 more years.
The development comes in the backdrop of growing hostility between the BJP and Sena.

A cloud of instability hovers over the horizon in Maharashtra politics, as highly placed sources have revealed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met recently in Mumbai to discuss the states political situation.

The development comes in the backdrop of growing hostility between the BJP and Sena, which has sparked talks of new possibilities in terms of government formation in the state.

The sources claimed Mr Thackeray  who visited the Maratha strongman at the latter's Mumbai residence a few days ago, along with his partys Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut  had asked Mr Pawar about the likely stand of the NCP if Sena should decide to withdraw from the BJP-led state government. Mr Pawar allegedly told Mr Thackeray that the Sena should first withdraw its support and only then he would make his stand clear.

Mr Thackeray, who has been slamming the BJP regularly over governance issues, is also believed to have frankly told Mr Pawar that he is not satisfied with the governments work.

When contacted by The Asian Age on Tuesday, Mr Pawar admitted that he had met Mr Thackeray but denied that any political talks took place between them. It is true that I met Uddhav and Sanjay Raut. But there was no political discussion. I had a cordial relationship with Uddhavs father, which is well known. I have met Uddhav many times before this, said Mr Pawar. He added, Sena looks disturbed over its alliance with BJP, I could sense that.

Asked how the NCP would react to the Sena withdrawing support to the state government, the veteran leader said his party had publicly made its stand clear on the issue. Praful Patel yesterday said that NCP would not help the BJP or Sena in any case. Theres no question about it. We are quite clear on the issue, said Mr Pawar.

Despite attempts by The Asian Age, Mr Thackeray did not speak on the issue. However, a senior leader said the party might make its stand clear on Wednesday.
Boriska Kipriyanovich has confounded experts with his knowledge of outer space for nearly 20 years.

Boriska, from Volgograd, claims to have lived on a 'war-ravaged' Mars, which suffered from a nuclear catastrophe in the distant past. (Photo: Youtube Screengrab/ Project Camelot)

In a bizarre incident, a Russian man who has baffled scientists since birth claims that he lived on Mars before being reborn on Earth.

The 20-year-old Boriska Mipriyanovich has confounded experts with his knowledge of outer space.

According to his parents, Boriska was able to speak months after he was born and would often discuss subjects that they had never taught him, like alien civilisations.

As a toddler, he amazed his doctors by being able to read, write and draw by the age of two.

His mother, who is a doctor herself, says that the first indication that he is special came weeks after his birth when he could hold his own head up unassisted.

Boriska, from Volgograd, claims to have lived on a 'war-ravaged' Mars, which suffered from a nuclear catastrophe in the distant past.

According to him, the Martians who measure about seven-feet tall still live underground on the Red Planet and breathe in carbon dioxide.

Boriska further adds that they are immortal and stop aging when they are 35-years-old and are also technologically advanced and capable of interstellar travel.

As a schoolboy, Boriska explained how the Martians had a strong connection to the ancient Egyptians on Earth and how he had once visited the planet as a pilot.

Boriska further said that the life on Earth will change dramatically when the Great Sphinx monument in Giza is unlocked adding that the opening mechanism is hidden behind an ear.
The absence of a recognised Opposition of course doesnt mean the erosion of the Oppositions political space or that it has become irrelevant.

Today, November 8, 2017, is being observed by various Opposition parties as a Black Day in protest over the demonetisation move exactly a year ago. Nationwide protests are being held on the first anniversary of demonetisation not only to highlight its disastrous effect on the Indian economy, but also as part of an attempt to forge Opposition unity against a bullying government that has little respect for divergent views, and prefers to impose draconian steps like demonetisation and ill-conceived ones like GST on the people without wider consultation.

A strong Opposition is essential for the proper functioning of any democracy, and its indeed a matter of great concern that due to the lack of numbers, the current Lok Sabha doesnt even have a recognised Opposition. This, however, is not for the first time. To be a recognised Opposition, a political party needs to have at least 10 per cent of the total number of seats in the Lower House. From 1950 to 1977, there was no recognised Opposition because none of the Opposition parties managed to get the prerequisite number of seats. Similar was the case from 1980 to 1989, during the seventh and eight Lok Sabha, when there was no formal Opposition.

The absence of a recognised Opposition of course doesnt mean the erosion of the Oppositions political space or that it has become irrelevant. Various parties individually and collectively raise their voice against the governments policies and conduct. Just before the 1977 general election, various parties with diverse ideologies and glaring mutual contradictions came together with the single aim of defeating Indira Gandhi and formed the Janata Party. Parties like the Bharatiya Lok Dal of Chaudhury Charan Singh, the Swatantra Party, the Socialist Party of Raj Narain and George Fernandes and the Jan Sangh dissolved their separate identities and formed the new party. It was a historic moment in Indias political history as the new party won the election and formed the first non-Congress government in post-Independent India.

Not just forming alli-ances for elections, parties in the Opposition join hands on specific policy issues to oppose the government. During UPA-1, for example, the BJP and the Left, from opposite ends of the political spectrum, united to oppose the US civil nuclear deal and attack the government. This despite the fact that the Left was earlier supporting the government from outside, and withdrew support over this issue, though the government survived.

Parliament as an institution is collectively responsible for acting as a watchdog over the executive. Though it is becoming rare, there are even instances in the past where members from the treasury benches had opposed and criticised the government. So even in the absence of a political party as the recognised Opposition, there is enough political space within the Indian parliamentary system to accommodate Opposition voices. However, there is no denying that whether in the form of a single party playing the role of major Oppo-sition, or various parties raising their voice over a specific policy issue, the role of a strong Opposition is a mandatory prerequisite for the proper working of parliamentary democracy.

It is ultimately the voice of the people that matters in democracy, and there are several instances where the peoples views have forced the government to drop a proposed law, roll back a policy or enact a new law. Outside the formal political spectrum, acti-vists and the general population have participated in several movements to voice their opinion and protest against certain policies. The Chipko movement and Narmada Bachao Andolan, different ethno-cultural and linguistic movements, students protests, the agitation for special status and reservations; and many other type of protests that may or may not have the indirect backing of political parties have often surfaced. Unless violent, disruptive and secessionist in nature, these protests are an integral part of democracy. In recent years, the Anna Hazare movement led to the enactment of the Lokpal Act. The widespread protests that followed the horrific Nirb-haya gangrape case in Delhi in December 2012 led to major changes in the criminal law in 2013. Now, even within the narrow Opposition space and a concerted attempt by ruling party circles to suppress dissent, citizens find ways to express their unhappiness through novel protest methods like award wapasi led by artistes and intellectuals, and hugely successful events like Not in My Name organised and attended by hundreds of ordinary citizens.

The media, the fourth pillar of democracy, is supposed to play an active role as a watchdog and critic of the government. However, instead of standing up for citizens, many media groups and journalists are now acting as agents of the government. Instead of questioning the government, they question the legitimacy of Opposition demands. In this context, the social media has come to play a significant role, offering a platform for political activists and citizens to voice their opinion and criticise the government. That too is not without peril as any vehement critic of the policies and conduct of the ruling side is inevitably trolled, abused, intimated, and sometimes even physically arrested. In November 2016, an RTI activist in Madhya Pradesh landed in jail for criticising demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Just a few days ago, a man was arrested in Tamil Nadu on a BJP leaders complaint for allegedly criticising Mr Modi in a private chat!

The right to debate, dissent and disagree are among the most basic principles of democracy. There is now a legitimate concern about rising intolerance and the increasingly narrower space for dissent. But Indian democracy is strong and resilient enough to overthrow any autocratic regime that attempts to control and intimidate its critics. One shouldnt forget that outside the political class, the media or social media space, there is a huge silent majority which doesnt necessarily or vociferously voice their opinions or criticise the government, but when the time comes to excercise their right to vote, they act decisively.
A further mystery is who the hackers were and why they did it.

The Trump Organization denied the domain names were ever compromised. But a review of internet records by the AP and cybersecurity experts shows otherwise.

Four years ago, well before the furor over allegations Moscow meddled in the 2016 election that put Donald Trump in the White House, at least 195 web addresses belonging to Trump, his family or his business empire were hijacked by hackers possibly operating out of Russia, The Associated Press has learned.

The Trump Organization denied the domain names were ever compromised. But a review of internet records by the AP and cybersecurity experts shows otherwise. And it was not until this past week, after the Trump camp was asked about it by the AP, that the last of the tampered-with addresses were repaired.

After the hack, computer users who visited the Trump-related addresses were unwittingly redirected to servers in St. Petersburg, Russia, that cybersecurity experts said contained malicious software commonly used to steal passwords or hold files for ransom. Whether anyone fell victim to such tactics is unclear.

A further mystery is who the hackers were and why they did it.

The discovery represents a new twist in the Russian hacking story, which up to now has focused mostly on what U.S. intelligence officials say was a campaign by the Kremlin to try to undermine Democrat Hillary Clinton's candidacy and benefit Trump's.

It is not known whether the hackers who tampered with the Trump addresses are the same ones who stole Democratic officials' emails and embarrassed the party in the heat of the campaign last year. Nor is it clear whether the hackers were acting on behalf of the Russian government.

The affected addresses, or domain names, included donaldtrump.org, donaldtrumpexecutiveoffice.com, donaldtrumprealty.com and barrontrump.com. They were compromised in two waves of attacks in August and September 2013, according to the review of internet records.

The attacks took place as Trump was preparing to travel to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant, which was held on Nov. 9, 2013, at a property owned by a wealthy Russian real estate developer.

Many of the addresses were not being used by Trump. Businesses and public figures commonly buy addresses for possible future use or to prevent them from falling into the hands of rivals or enemies. The Trump Organization and its affiliates own at least 3,300 in all.

According to security experts, the hackers hijacked the addresses by penetrating and altering the domain registration records housed at GoDaddy.com, a seller of web addresses.

Accounts at GoDaddy, like at any site that requires a user name and password, are often subject to malicious messages known as phishing attacks, which are designed to trick people to reveal that personal information to hackers.

Computer users who entered or clicked on one of those Trump addresses probably would have had no idea they were redirected to servers in Russia.

Within days after the AP asked the Trump Organization about the tampering, the affected web addresses were all corrected.

The White House referred questions to the Trump Organization. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.

GoDaddy spokesman Nick Fuller said the company had no breaches of its system in 2013 and has measures in place to monitor for malicious activity. Fuller would not discuss any customers in particular.

Some cybersecurity experts said there is an outside chance the tampering was a probe - an attempt to test security for an eventual effort to gather information on Trump or his business dealings. But those experts were only guessing.

There was no evidence the hackers ultimately broke into server computers at the Trump Organization or other Trump interests.

"This is beyond me," said Paul Vixie, CEO of the San Mateo, California-based internet security company Farsight Security Inc. "I have simply never seen a benefit accrue from an attack of this kind. I'm at loss, unless it's a demonstration of capabilities."

Vixie said the Trump Organization's apparent failure to detect what was happening probably suggests inadequate cybersecurity at the company.

"There's no way something like this could go by in the Bloomberg empire without this being seen," Vixie said.
Shooter succumbs to a self-inflicted gunshot during exchange of gunfire.

A candlelight vigil being observed at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (Photo: AFP)

Sutherland Springs (Texas): A gunman opened fire inside a Baptist church in the US state of Texas, killing at least 27 people, including the pastors 14-year-old daughter, officials said on Monday.

The incident, which left at least 20 other people injured, occurred on Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs in Wilson County where a man in full gear barged into the church and began shooting paris-hioners. The gunman was killed in the aftermath, the local media quoted police as saying, although it is not sure if the deputies killed the shooter or he took his own life.

President Donald Trump said the nation was living through dark times but guns were not to blame for Sundays carnage, which came just five weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

I think that mental health is your problem here, said the US President, speaking in Tokyo as part of his Asia tour. This was a very  based on preliminary reports  a very deranged individual.

This isnt a guns situation, Mr Trump insisted, calling it a mental health problem at the highest level.

The victims, who ranged in age from five to 72, were gunned down at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a rural community of some 400 people 50 km southeast of San Antonio.

The gunman, widely identified as Devin Kelley, 26, was described by authorities as a young white male who was found dead in his vehicle after being confronted by a local resident.

The Air Force said Kelley served at a base in New Mexico starting in 2010 before being court-martialed in 2012 for allegedly assaulting his wife and child. He was sentenced to 12 months in confinement.
Trump also pressed Japan to lower its trade deficit with the United States and buy more US military hardware.

US First Lady Melania Trump poses with 4th graders at the Kyobashi Tsukiji elementary school in Tokyo. (Photo: AFP)

Tokyo: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the US weaponry needed for doing so, suggesting Tokyo take a stance it has avoided until now.

North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the US mainland. It has fired two missiles over Japan.

Mr Trump, speaking after a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, repeated his mantra the era of strategic patience with North Korea was over, and said the two countries were working to counter the dangerous aggressions.

Mr Trump also pressed Japan to lower its trade deficit with the United States and buy more US military hardware.

He (Abe) will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States, Mr Trump said, referring to the North Korean missiles. The Prime Minister is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should. And we make the best military equipment by far.

Mr Abe, for his part, said Tokyo would shoot down missiles if necessary.

Mr Trump was replying to a question that was posed to Mr Abe  namely how he would respond to a quote from Mr Trump from a recent interview in which he said Japan was a samurai nation and should have shot down the North Korean missiles.

Japans policy is that it would only shoot down a missile if it were falling on Japanese territory or if it were judged to pose an existential threat to Japan because it was aimed at a US target.

The US President is on the second day of a 12-day Asian trip that is focusing on North Koreas nuclear missile programmes and trade.

Most importantly, were working to counter the dangerous aggressions of the regime in North Korea, Mr Trump said, calling Pyongyangs nuclear tests and recent launches of ballistic missiles over Japan a threat to the civilized world and to international peace and stability.

Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. But look whats happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years. Look where we are right now, he added.  Reuters

North Koreas recent actions have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

The U.S. leader, who will visit South Korea on the trip, has rattled some allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States and with his dismissal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a rocket man on a suicide mission.

Abe, with whom Trump has bonded through multiple summits and phone calls, repeated at the same news conference that Japan backed Trumps stance that all options are on the table, saying it was time to exert maximum pressure on North Korea and the two countries were 100 percent together on the issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying, in response to Abes comments, said that the North Korean situation was already extremely complex, sensitive and weak.

We hope that under the present circumstances, all sides words and actions can help reduce tensions and reestablish mutual trust and getting the North Korean nuclear issue back on the correct track of dialogue and negotiations, she said.

Trump said he was committed to achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade and wants to work with Japan on this issue.

America is also committed to improving our economic relationship with Japan, Trump said. As president, Im committed to achieving fair, free, and reciprocal trading relationship. We seek equal and reliable access for American exports to Japans markets in order to eliminate our chronic trade imbalances and deficits with Japan.

Earlier, speaking to Japanese and U.S. business executives, Trump praised Japan for buying U.S. military hardware.

But he added that many millions of cars are sold by Japan into the United States, whereas virtually no cars go from the United States into Japan.

Japan had a $69 billion trade surplus with the United States last year, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The United States was Japans second biggest trade partner after China, while Japan was the United States fourth largest goods export market in 2016.

Japanese officials have countered U.S. trade complaints by noting Tokyo accounts for a much smaller slice of the U.S. deficit than in the past, while Chinas imbalance is bigger.

In a second round of economic talks in Washington last month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso, who doubles as deputy premier, failed to bridge differences on trade issues.

The two sides are at odds over how to frame future trade talks, with Tokyo pushing back against U.S. calls to discuss a bilateral free trade agreement.

Trump also said earlier that an Indo-Pacific trade framework would produce more in trade that the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact pushed by his predecessor but which he announced Washington would abandon soon after he took office.

The 11 remaining nations in the TPP, to which Japans Abe is firmly committed, are edging closer to sealing a comprehensive free trade pact without the United States.

Trump met Emperor Akihito, exchanging a handshake and nodding, before his lunch and talks with Abe.
Sharif appeared before the Accountability Court Islamabad along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohmmad Safdar.

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London. (Photo: AP File)

Islamabad: Pakistans ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday appeared before an anti-graft court to face trial in corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal that forced him to resign.

Sharif, 67, appeared before the Accountability Court Islamabad along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Mohmmad Safdar.

Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London.

He resigned as prime minister in July after the countrys Supreme Court disqualified him over undeclared income.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

The Accountability Court is considering the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which last week ordered the trial judge, Muhammad Bashir, to hear again a plea by Sharif that all three cases against him should be clubbed together.

The trial court on October 19 rejected an application by Sharif that since all three cases deal with assets beyond means, so they should be taken up as a single case.

The decision was challenged in the IHC which referred the case to the Accountability Court with an order to hear it again. The court on the previous hearing on November 3 had briefly taken up the application.

Sharif was indicted in absence in three corruption cases. Maryam and Safdar have been indicted in one case with him, while the court is proceeding separately against his two sons Husain and Hasan who are co-accused in three cases.

The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of his sons from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

The cases are based on the July 28 disqualification verdict of the Supreme Court and to launch three corruption cases against him, his family, and one case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the countrys most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since then. If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Sharifs family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.
Searches are still underway in the Paris suburbs and in southeastern France.

The operations were part of an investigation opened in July focused on suspicious activity by a person in Switzerland using the Telegram network, according to a French judicial official. (Representational Image | AP)

Paris: Ten people suspected of using encrypted social networks to prepare a possible attack were arrested Tuesday in counterterrorism operations in France and Switzerland, according to French officials.

Searches are still underway in the Paris suburbs and in southeastern France.

The operations were part of an investigation opened in July focused on suspicious activity by a person in Switzerland using the Telegram network, according to a French judicial official.

Counterterrorism investigators detained nine people in France and one in Switzerland in operations aimed at clarifying details of the suspected plot, the official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, would not provide details about their identities.

The Swiss-based chief suspect had communicated with people in France on social networks about unspecified violent acts, the official said. A French security official said the suspected plot did not appear to be fully developed but authorities acted Tuesday out of concern that the group was moving toward action.

Among towns targeted in the operation were Aix-en-Provence in southern France and Menton on the Mediterranean coast as well as Paris suburbs, according to the security official.

The operation comes days after a new counterterrorism law came into effect to replace a state of emergency that had been in place since deadly attacks in Paris two years ago.
Returns to the former jihadist stronghold in Syria have begun. The first phase concerns the eastern district of Al-Meshleb, cleansed of explosives left by the militiamen. Land reclamation work continues. In recent days, several civilian deaths due to detonation of mines.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Hundreds of civilians have returned to the war-torn neighborhoods in Raqqa, Syria, for years strongholds of the Islamic State (IS, former Isis). According to sources from the US-led coalition, the protagonist of the massive bombings that hit the area, this is the first big wave of re-entry since the beginning of the de-mining operations of explosives left by the jihadists.

On October 17, the Caliphate militias lost control of what their bastion was for a long time in Syria at the end of long months of battle against the Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS). Tens of thousands of people have abandoned the city for the offensive, reducing Raqqa to a "ghost town" of destroyed buildings.

In a popular note at these times by FDS leaders, hundreds of families have "returned to al-Meshleb", the eastern district of the city. "They were able to return to their homes," he adds, "after expert teams have completed the demolition of the entire district by explosives left indiscriminately in civilian houses by the SI."

Al-Meshleb is the first district of Raqqa to see the return of residents since the citys "liberation from Daesh", the Arabic acronym for IS. Following the flight of militia, Arab-Kurdish forces sealed off the area to carry out land reclamation.

In recent days there have been cases of civilians who have violated the entry ban and have died in the explosion of mines.

The de- mining and reconstruction work is coordinated by the Raqqa Municipal Council, a provisional administrative body chosen by the FDS leaders and located outside the city. Some residents have come back, Omar Alloush, one of the members of the Council, said, "but the city has not yet been completely cleared from mines."

At the peak of its expansion, the Islamic State controlled about half of the territories of Syria and Iraq, although it was mostly desert areas. Today in Syria some small ramparts scattered in the Euphrates Valley remain in their hands. In nearby Iraq they were defeated at a military level, but local fighter cells still remain active.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow is among the few voices that seek to deepen the historical causes of the October Revolution, 100 years after its inception. In general, the Russians prefer the soap-opera of historical re-enactments full of intrigues and love affairs of the Tsarist past. The Russian soul polluted by the Western Enlightenment.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Today, November 7, is the anniversary of the October Revolution, the dramatic and apocalyptic event that changed the history of Russia and, to a large extent, that of the entire world. After a year of strenuous debates and embarrassed revelations, Russia has finally succeeded in burying the ghost that haunts its nights and blurs its future horizon.

It could be said that the heated debate surrounding the jubilee year in the country concerned the vacuous movie "Matilda", which is in reality little more than a cinematic transposition of soap opera cliches, with costume reconstructions of court intrigues and love stories of the bygone past. From the Tudors to the Borgias of Western TV series, following the historical re-enactments broadcast on a daily basis on TV screens, Russians are anxious to reclaim their history after so much Soviet censorship. And they like to see the reproductions of the Norman Varangian conquests, the cruelties of Ivan the Terrible, and the amphibious doubts of Boris Godunov, to once again witness the vicissitudes of the Romanov Tsar, the great Peter I to the many women of power of the eighteenth century, known as "the century of lovers", especially those of Catherine the Great.

Instead, the revolution and the grim communist regime, even though continually diminished in its magnitude, does not excite the fancy of the spectator. And the more in-depth reflections of gossip, such as those of the few philosophers or religious leaders, certainly not politicians, have fallen amid general indifference.

The pseudomorphosis of the Russian soul

Only the Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev), the moral guide of post-communism, has again tried in recent days to recall the reasons that led Russia to deny its own history and, in his opinion, its vocation. Addressing the people after a liturgy in the cathedral of the Assumption at the Kremlin, the head of the Russian Church observed that "in the political situation of 100 years ago, unless we are conditioned by ideological perspectives, we can see and understand many things. The beginning of national diseases that led to that catastrophe must not be traced back to one or five or ten years earlier, but to at least 200 years before that again, and perhaps even more, when the spiritual foundations of the life of our highest level of society, the so-called elite, began to crumble. " The patriarch wanted to reiterate the classical thesis of orthodox public discourse that all began with the "pseudomorphosis" of the Russian soul, as theologian Georgij Florovskij said after the revolution.

The true Christian vocation of Russia was ruined by the infiltration of Western influences, the Scholastic school first followed by Enlightenment philosophies, when "people sold their souls and their own reason to what came from outside without any critical spirit, transforming and re-introducing their own faith, their own vision of the world, their own outlook on things under the influence of these ideas." The bearers of this infection, the ruling class to which Kirill refers, would not be so much politicians or aristocrats, but the so-called intelligentsia, the "traitorous" intellectuals who misled the people from the straight path.

This judgment recalls the reflections of Russian-post-revolutionary religious philosophers such as Berdjaev and Bulgakov, Frank and Losskij and many others who embarked in 1922 on the so-called "ship of philosophers", which created the great culture of Russian emigration to France and throughout the whole world. In Italy, for example, the poet and philosopher Vyacheslav Ivanov, a disciple of Vladimir Solovev, converted to Catholicism to testify to the need to breathe with the "two lungs" of Eastern and Western Christianity and defeat enlightened secularism in all its dimensions.

The same patriarch Kirill finally admitted that the Church has been reduced to silence in these two centuries not only by communist persecution, but also by the modern mentality that wants to confine it to the inner sphere of consciousness. According to Kirill, "even today there are certain powers in society that do not want the Church to proclaim the truth to its people ... they tell us: go into your churches and close the doors, and you can do what you like there."
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by Pierre Balanian

Mohammed bin Salman wants all the power and to gain it he is waging war against everything and against everyone. Added to the external wars - Syria, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, Hezbollah - are internal ones among the Saud. Illustrious arrests of 11 princes, 38 ministers and businessmen for corruption: all allies of the late King Abdallah or rivals to the throne. Among the allies of Mohammed bin Salman: Donald Trump and Israel.

Riyadh (AsiaNews) - The "Monarchy of Silence" - as Saudi Arabia once called it - is increasingly raising its voice and approaching the throne of the generation of its grandchildren, its a voice of war: Syria, Yemen , threats against Qatar, Iran and Lebanon Hezbollah. For four days, it turns out that there is also an internal war among the Al Saud.

"The Night of the Devils of Fear": This is the storm that has swept up 11 princes, 38 ministers and businessmen for corruption, by the Supreme Organ for the Fight against Corruption, created by King Salman just two hours before the arrests. The Body is chaired by the heir to the throne Mohammad Bin Salman (Mbs). The arrests mainly affected Mbs' political rivals and even those richer than him, with immediate freezes and seizure of bank accounts even before any court hearing. The arrests have also involved people close to the deceased sovereign and key characters of the Saudi and Panarabi press. Among them: Prince Al Walid Ben Talal, owner of the Rotana TV network; Sheikh Walid Al Ibrahim, owner of the MBC network; Saleh Kamel, owner of the TV network ART. Apparently, the heir to the throne intends to eliminate any contradictory voice and concentrate all the media power in his own hands, especially with the control of pan-Arabian TV Al Arabiya.

After receiving power from his father, who named him the heir to the throne, Mbs is now taking the power of the press, and with the anti-corruption campaign, the arrest of major investors and the freezing of their capitals, he has become the undisputed master of economic power. According to Saleh Al Zahrani, a Saudi writer, "King Salman has begun the Saudi Arab Spring against corruption in the country." But these words do little to convince internal and international public opinion.

Among the arrested are other illustrious names: Prince Fahd, former Deputy Minister of Defence; Prince Trki, former Prince of the Riyadh Region; Khaled El Tweijri, former head of the Royal Chancellery; Adel Fakih Minister of Planning; Ibrahim Assaf, former Minister of Finance; Abdallah Al Sultan, Chief of the Naval Forces; Bakr Bin Laden, owner of Bin Laden Industries; Mohammad Al Tobeishi former head of the royal protocol in the Royal Chancery; Prince Trki ben Nasser, former Minister of the environment, and many others whose names have not yet been revealed.

One of the most insidious rivals arrested on October 4 last is Prince Meteb Ben Abdallah Ben Abdelaziz, the third son of late King Abdallah, head of the National Guard. He could somehow hinder Mbs rise to the throne, claiming another possible rival, his paternal uncle. According to trustworthy sources, Prince Ahmad Bin Abdelaziz, brother of the current Salman king, has been under house arrest for four days under the orders of the heir to the throne.

To ascend the throne, Mbs needed two consents: that of the royal family and that of the Wahabites, the two lungs of the Saudi kingdom. His distancing from the Wahhabites - done with gentleness, appointing a woman ambassador, allowing women to drive, etc. - and the arrest of opponents within the royal family show that the future young king has chosen to impose his will at all costs, against everything and everyone. The press that is still free is wondering on whose leverage he is counting if he loses the support of the Royal family and religious authorities; where is his strength coming from that makes him so certain of his revolution.

Going deeper into the reasons for the arrests, one may note that his cousin Prince Al Walid Ben Talal, whose fortune is estimated at about $ 18 billion, is also due to Al Walid's support for Mohammad Ben Nayef Abdelaziz Al Saud, a former heir to the throne, vice president of the Council of Ministers and former interior minister, removed from power and put under house arrest.

Walid Ben Talal had publicly asked Mbs to release his cousin Mohammad Ben Nayef. In addition, he refused to finance and invest in Neom, the future city that the new heir to the throne wants to build. On Dec. 11, 2015, the billionaire also insulted Donlad Trump, declaring his opposition to Trumps candidacy and calling him a disgrace for the United States". Trump responded to him, saying, "That idot will not be able to control me." The war between the two continued in 2016 when Trump accused Prince Al Walid of being one of Fox News's owners.

Saudi Dweish, chairman of Saudi Telecommunications Corporation, the largest mobile and internet provider in the UK, is among the illustrious arrested, seized in five-star hotels.

Two days ago, an "accident" occurred in the southwest of the kingdom: the helicopter carrying Prince Mansur Ben Mokren ben Abdelaziz and some of Azir's principals spectacularly crashed. Some murmur that they were trying to escape the country.

It is now a real purge of opponents: two heads of the Mityar and Otaibeh tribes, faithful to the late sovereign Abdallah, have been banned from leaving the country.

Grazia Bitar, a Lebanese TV reporter, compared Mbs to Nero, ready to burn Saudi Arabia with internal struggles, war against Iran and riots in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Trump has taken to Twitter with for blessings for the king and the heir to the throne, who "know what he is doing".

The tenth television channel in Israel revealed yesterday that the Israeli foreign ministry has ordered Israeli embassies to support Saudi Arabia and focus on the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to press charges against Hezbollah. Disastrous and unsuccessful wars: for three years in Yemen, Bahrain, Syria; threats to Qatar, Lebanon and Iran. All these wars serve to distract attention from true inner war for the throne, or - as the Lebanese journalist says - is there an underlying aim to ignite everything?
by Sumon Corraya

A protest was held yesterday to remember the attack of November 2016 when police and Muslims looted houses and seized lands belonging to tribal Christians. Investigations have led to three arrests, but the accused are out on bail.

Gaibandha (AsiaNews)  A year after a violent attack by police against Santal Christians in Gaibandha district over a land dispute, the victims still live in terror of fresh violence.

Since then, the latter have not been able to go back to their homes and have not their seized property returned.

To keep alive the memory of what happened a year, the Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddher Sangram Committee organised a protest in Gobindaganj, scene of the attack, drawing some 1,500 tribal Santals, most of them Christian.

On 6 November 2016, a group of police agents and a crowd of Muslims attacked local Christians, mostly ethnic Santal Catholics, over a land dispute.

The clash caused the death of three Christians and the wounding of about 30 people, including nine agents.

Some witnesses said the police had arrest warrants for about 300 Santals, who fled to avoid incarceration. Others defended themselves with bows and arrows, wounding some agents. Tribal homes were searched and looted.

Sebastian Hembrom, a Catholic Santal who is a member of the Mariampur Church, spoke to AsiaNews about the incident.

"Criminals attacked us with the help of the police and seized our lands, he said. A year later, the police have not yet completed their investigation. We see no progress, and we are worried. We have demanded justice and our land restored. We also want security."

Fr Shimson Marandi, also an ethnic Santal and parish priest in Mariampur, noted that Christians are concerned "because we are persecuted. We did not get justice, much less our lands back. We live in fear."

The greatest concern, he added, "stems from the fact that if we do not get justice, the attackers could be encouraged to carry out more attacks."

The priest said that more than 1,500 huts were burnt and the properties of the residents stolen.

Investigations have led to charges against 33 people, including a local politician and chairman of the sub-district of Sapmara Union. However, only three people were arrested, then released on bail.

According to Anwar Hossian Migha, a police officer, the reason behind the delay is due to "the time needed to investigate. The victims were unable to provide adequate evidence."
by Wang Zhicheng

The doses intended to vaccinate against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. Drugs sold by state-owned firms before verifying their effectiveness. Corruption in the world of medicine

Beijing (AsiaNews) - More than 650,000 doses of vaccines to be administered to children are ineffective and for this reason they have been withdrawn by the National Institute for Food and Drug Control, which warns that they are not, however, harmful to health.

The recalled vaccines were supposed to immunize against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DFT). Dft doses were withdrawn from Shandong, Hebei, and Chongqing Province.

During some test inspections, the Institute acknowledged that the vaccines did not work properly. According to Xinhua some vaccines have already been shipped and used. The authorities are investigating the incident to see who the perpetrators are. The State Institute has provided an emergency telephone number to give information to relatives who have given the vaccine to their children.

China began to vaccinate children against DFT in the 1970s and has almost eradicated these three diseases.

It is unclear how the doses were distributed before the Institute checks. The vaccines were produced by two companies: Changchun Changsheng Biotech, which sold them to the Government Control Center for Disease Prevention and Control; and a Wuhan Institute, which is part of a state pharmaceutical firm.

China has been fighting against corruption in the world of medicine for decades. The same head of the National Health Institute has been involved with convictions for having licensed medicines that are then found to be ineffective or harmful. In recent years there have also been scandals linked to HIV-infected blood donations, but government offices guaranteed quality.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - God's initiative is gratuitous, salvation is gratuitous, thus we should not miss the opportunity to feel: you can regain the feeling of loving but if you lose the feeling of being loved, you lose everything said Pope Francis at Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta. He was commenting on the Gospel of Luke (14: 15-24) in which Jesus narrates a parable to advise those inviting guests to their homes to invite those who cannot repay them.

A man - the parable goes  was hosting a great dinner and invited many people. The first invited did not want to go because they did not care about the dinner, the people or the Lord's invitation: they were caught up in their own interests, which were greater than the invitation. Some had bought five pairs of oxen, others a field, others still had married. In essence, the Pope pointed out, they wondered what they could earn from the invitation. They were "busy" like the man who made stores to accumulate his belongings but died that night. They were attached to their own interests so much that this leads them to a "slavery of the Spirit", that is, to being "incapable of understanding the gratuity of the invitation."

"And if you do not understand the gratuity of God's invitation," warned Francis, "nothing is understood. God's initiative is gratuitous. But to go to this banquet what do you have to pay? But, the entry ticket is you have to be sick, to be poor, a sinner ... These (so) let you in, this is the entry ticket: to be needy both in body and soul. But, for the need for healing, care, love ... ".

There are, then, two attitudes: on the one hand God does not pay anything and then tells the servant to gather the poor, crippled, good and bad: this is a gratuitous "no limit," God "extends to everyone. " On the other hand, the attitude of the first guests who do not understand the gratuity. Like the older brother of the Prodigal Son, who does not want to go to the banquet arranged by his father for his brother who had left: he does not understand. "'But he has spent all the money, spent his inheritance, has vices, sins, you are celebrating him? And I am a Catholic, practical, I go to Mass every Sunday, do things, nothing for me? ' He does not understand the gratuity of salvation, he thinks salvation is the fruit of 'I pay and you save me'. Pay with this, with this, with this ... No, salvation is free!. " If you do not understand the dynamics of gratuity then you do not understand anything. Salvation is a gift of God to which one responds with another gift, the gift of ones heart. "

Those who think about their own interests, the Pope said, when they hear about gifts, they know they have to do but immediately think of "exchange": "I will make this gift", and he then "on another occasion, will make me another ". The Lord, on the other hand, "does not ask for anything in return": "Only love, fidelity, as He is love and He is faithful." "Salvation is not bought, you simply enter the banquet". "Blessed are those who will take food in the Kingdom of God": this is salvation.

Those who, however, are not willing to enter the banquet, "feel safe", "save themselves from the banquet": "they have lost the sense of gratuity, the sense of love." "They lost a bigger and more beautiful thing still and this is very bad: they have lost the ability to feel loved."

"And when you lose - I do not say the ability to love, because that can be regained - the ability to feel loved there is no hope, you've lost everything. It makes us think of the writing in the door of Dante's Inferno: 'Abandon all Hope', you've lost everything. We must think of this in front of the Lord: 'Because I tell you, I want my house to be filled.' This great Lord, who is so loving, wants to fill His house free of charge. Let us ask the Lord to save us from losing the ability to feel loved."
North Korean threat on agenda in meetings with leaders in Japan, South Korea, China. But also the balance of trade. Attempts to encircle Chinese economic power in talks with Hanoi and Manila. Overcoming the Asia-Pacific area, which now becomes "Indo-Pacific".

Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - US President Donald Trump arrived in Japan yesterday on his first international trip that will take him to several Asian countries: Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Danang (Vietnam) and Manila.

The theme is the security of the Far East, with the growing threats of North Korea, but also the attempt to balance trade with the Asia-Pacific countries. Already on his arrival in Tokyo, Trump outlined these two issues. Speaking to the military at Yokota Air Force, west of the Japanese capital, in a clear reference to North Korea and its chief Kim Jong-un, he said that "no one, no dictator, no regime, no nation should underestimate ... American resolve ". Today, however, speaking to a group of US and Japanese entrepreneurs, he pointed out that "for many years, the US has suffered a massive trade deficit with Japan."

Since the beginning of his presidential mandate, Trump has abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which regulates trade in the Asia Pacific region and wants to pursue new state-by-state agreements.

The US has a $ 69 billion trade deficit with Japan. Trump wants to press for reduced levies on American agricultural products and cars are. At the same time, he wants Japanese car companies to transfer part of their production to the United States.

Trump will have to tackle the issue of the balance of trade balance with South Korea, with which the US has a deficit of 28 billion. He would like to renegotiate the Free Trade Agreement signed with Seoul in 2012, which liberalized more than 90% of the products traded between the two countries.

But the problem is most acute with China. Trump often called the US trade deficit to Beijing "horrible" and "embarrassing", which currently stands at about $ 347 billion. In the past Trump threatened to apply up to 45% levies on Chinese products and launched an investigation into the possible dumping of Chinese steel (which has been undercutting through overproduction and state aid) and the non-defense of intellectual property.

The threat of North Korea is also a commercial issue, pushing Japan and South Korea to arm themselves. Already at the beginning of his mandate, Trump had said that Seoul and Tokyo had to spend more on their military security while leaning on friendship with the US.

In September Trump promised both to offer "a substantial increase in" sophisticated military equipment.

On this aspect, Tokyo and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are ready to increase military spending and prefer a tough line to Pyongyang, but Seoul and President Moon Jae-in prefer to leave space for dialogue while resisting full deployment of the Thaad anti-missile system (made in Usa).

The United States and Donald Trump continue to accuse China of "not doing enough" to block the Pyongyang nuclear program, even though Beijing has adhered to the latest series of sanctions against the Norths dictatorship.

According to analysts, US pressure on Beijing and military friendship with South Korea and Japan also have another purpose: to contain the expansion of Chinese power. This is also why the US presidents itinerary takes in Vietnam and the Philippines, which with China opened a dispute over sovereignty over the islands of the South China Sea. But Beijing's economic power and the promise of involving many Asian countries in the Belt and Road Initiative casts some doubts over Vietnam and the Philippines continuing to establish a strategic alliance with the United States.

Tomorrow Trump will be in Seoul and November 8 in China. On the 10, he will be in Danang (Vietnam) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (Apec), and then Hanoi. Almost to relativizing Chinese expansion, the White House tends to talk about the "Indo-Pacific" region and no-longer of the "Asia-Pacific" opening up to the other Asian giant.

On November 12, Trump will arrive in Manila for talks with President Rodrigo Duterte and attend the ASEAN summit (Association of South East Asian Nations).
Limits on the payload of South Korean ballistic missiles have been lifted. Seoul can now buy nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons. Still, Moon reiterates his commitment to diplomacy, noting that There must never be another war on the Korean Peninsula. In Seoul, anti- and pro-Trump protests take place.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Yonhap)  South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump met at the presidential palace in Seoul today.

During their talks, the two leaders agreed to remove the limit on the payload of South Korean ballistic missiles and discuss Seoul's introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons with the aim of discouraging North Korean provocations. Elsewhere, in the South Korean capital protesters stage rallies in support and against the US president.

Highlighting the good relationship with South Korea and his intention to boost its defence, Trump said he did not wish to use force against North Korea but will if necessary.

For his part, Moon stressed that the purpose of new weapons is to deter North Korean provocations, but noted that There must never be another war on the Korean Peninsula.

For South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, military options are just a deterrent. "A resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue must be pursued in a peaceful, diplomatic manner."

During the summit, the two presidents also discussed changes to the US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which according to Trump harms the United States.

South Koreas purchase of US military equipment will bring the trade deficit down, which is very important to our people, Trump said.

In Seoul, Trumps visit was met by hundreds of protesters who rallied against his presence.

In Gwanghwamun Square, activists blamed Trump and his aggressive rhetoric for the regional instability on the Korean peninsula.

Some religious leaders also marched to protest against the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

South Koreas Catholic Church too has spoken out against the arms race caused by growing tensions.

Other groups, including some Protestant churches, praised Trump's visit and the alliance between the two countries.
Photo via Raysonho/Wikimedia

Avis Budget Group has reported revenue of $2.8 billion, a company record, for its third quarter 2017, a 4% growth compared to Q3 2016. This is primarily due to a 5% increase in overall rental days from summer demand.

In the third quarter, Avis Budget reported adjusted earnings of $482 million, a 3% growth compared to the prior year, and an adjusted net income of $260 million, an increase of 15%, according to the company.

For the Americas (North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean), revenue growth resulted from a 1% increase in volume and a 2% increase in time and mileage revenue per day  partially offset by lower ancillary revenue, according to the company. Per-unit fleet costs increased 5% in the quarter, which was partially offset by a 1% improvement in utilization.

In the Americas, adjusted earnings decreased 1% in third quarter. Avis Budget estimates that the hurricanes negatively impacted revenue by $5 million and adjusted earnings by about $15 million due to the loss of revenue from business disruption and property damage, according to the company.

"We had a record third quarter with both pricing and utilization improving in the Americas, strong volume growth partially offset by lower pricing in our international segment, and a relentless focus on cost reduction globally," said Larry De Shon, Avis Budget Groups president and CEO.

"During the quarter, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria caused massive devastation across large parts of the United States and Puerto Rico, and I am proud of our teams who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our employees and their families, as well as their work to move vehicles to the affected areas to support our customers and the relief agencies, added De Shon. As a consequence of the hurricanes, we have updated our full year outlook to reflect the impact of the operational disruption we faced during the quarter."

For the full-year 2017, Avis Budget expects that full-year revenue will increase $8.8 billion to $8.9 billion. Adjusted earnings are predicted to be $725 million to $745 million, according to the company.
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New details are emerging about the Texas shooter who killed 26 people and wounded more than a dozen others.

Officials: Devin Patrick Kelley sent threatening texts to mother-in-law

Kelley described as 'regular guy' by neighbors

Officials say attack appears domestic

Officials: Kelley killed himself

SEE BELOW: The First Baptist Church attack and the two men who went after Devin Kelley 

SEE BELOW: Wounded recovering in the aftermath of Sutherland Springs shooting 

For the last decade, the shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, lived next door to his parents off a rural road in a small city about 30 miles north of San Antonio.

Some of the neighbors who knew the 26-year-old man say they never expected this.

"Nothing abnormal. Regular guy. I mean, the only thing unusual across the street is we hear a lot of gunfire, a lot of times at night," Mark Moravitz said.

Kelley was treated at a mental health center in New Mexico and briefly escaped in 2012.

An El Paso, Texas, police incident report says Kelley was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base when he was caught trying to bring firearms onto the base.



Spectrum News are also learning that the Texas church shooter was once arrested for animal cruelty in Colorado.

On Monday night, the Air Force admitted to not reporting the shooter's history of domestic violence to the FBI as required by the Pentagon, which could have prevented Kelley from getting firearms.

Investigators said he bought four guns in the past few years, two in Colorado, and two in Texas.

Investigators also revealed that Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist but did not attend services on Sunday, before the attack, and that sheriffs deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at his home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife.

Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for a 2012 assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull.

While in the military, Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and her child and had served a year of confinement after a court-martial. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes such as assault should be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

Stefanek said the service is launching a review of its handling of the case and taking a comprehensive look at its databases to ensure other cases have been reported correctly.

A few months before he received the bad-conduct discharge, sheriffs deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend. People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

In 2014, he was also charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in Colorado after a neighbor reported him for beating a dog. Kelley initially refused to speak with officers about the incident.

He denied abusing the animal but complied with an order to pay almost $370 in restitution. He was also the focus of a protective order issued in Colorado in 2015.

The massacre appeared to stem from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated, Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said. He did not elaborate.

The First Baptist Church attack and the two men who went after Devin Kelley

On Sunday, Kelley pulled into a gas station across from the church, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio. He crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, Martin said.

As he left, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident  later identified as Stephen Willeford  who had grabbed his own rifle and exchanged fire with Kelley.

Willeford had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. The armed resident asked to get in Langendorffs truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

He jumped in my truck and said, He just shot up the church. We need to go get him. And I said Lets go, Langendorff said.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph. Willeford told Arkansas TV stations KHBS/KHOG that he kept a 911 operator advised of the situation during the chase. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed.

Willeford walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the attacker did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Langendorff said.

The 26-year-old shooter also used his cellphone to tell his father he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

Kelley was dead in his vehicle. He had three gunshot wounds  two from where the armed man hit him in the leg and the torso and the third self-inflicted wound to the head, authorities said.

Wounded recovering in the aftermath of Sutherland Springs shooting

Twenty people were wounded in the shooting and many of them have serious injuries.

University Hospital staff began receiving multiple people Sunday morning from Sutherland Springs after the shooting at the First Baptist Church.

Nine patients were transported by EMS and medic helicopters; four of those patients are children and five are adults.

One child died from his or her injuries at the hospital. Now two children and one adult remains in critical condition.

Now two children remain in critical conditions and one adult as well.

Another eight people (six adults and two children) were taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center.

At least one patient is in Floresville and is in stable condition.

The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Some people believe its in a greyhounds blood to race. Others argue the dogs are dying on Florida's race tracks, and it's long past time the races were stopped.

If passed, amendment would end racing over 3-year-period

Derby Lane had no comment on proposed legislation

Since 2013, 65 greyhounds have died at Derby Lane



Florida state senator Tom Lee (R-Brandon) recently filed a constitutional amendment that would phase out greyhound racing over a three-year time period.

"Theres a lot of inhumanity and cruelty going on in that industry, not all breeders and tracks are responsible for that," Lee said. "But a lot of states in America have banned dog racing. It also has the added benefit of saving Florida several million dollars -- we actually lose money, net to tax revenue, from dog racing here in our state."



Carey Theil, Executive Director of greyhound advocate organization Grey2K USA calls the proposal historic.

"All across the state, greyhounds are enduring lives of confinement," Theil said. "Theyre suffering serious injuries and theyre dying on the track and its time that this industry is phased out."



Since 2013, 65 greyhounds have died at Derby Lane and 38 greyhounds have died at Sanford Orlando Kennel Club, Theil continued. This is an industry that causes the death of young dogs. Derby Lane is, in fact, the state leader when it comes to greyhound deaths.

Derby Lane had no comment on Senator Lee's proposal. However, in a 2016 story about greyhound deaths, they issued the following statement.

Only a very small percentage of greyhounds are injured. An even smaller percentage are actually lost due to injuries that cut short the career of these beautiful athletes.

Greyhounds are not forced to run, they love to run. Derby Lane is one of the safest tracks in the country, and we strive to maintain it so these athletes can do what they love.

Sanford Orlando Kennel Club released the following statement in response to Lees proposal.

"Were still in the process of reviewing, but jeopardizing an industry that generates 3,000 jobs, $11 million in tax revenues and is responsible for 8,000 greyhounds in Florida needs to be examined closely without input from individuals that have no involvement for the care of greyhounds in Florida." - Mitch Cohen, General Manager

To read the full text of the proposed amendment, visit www.flcrc.gov.
Tampa Theatre is closed for six weeks to complete the first phase of its $6 million restoration project.

Facility getting new seats, carpet, concessions

Tampa Theatre will reopen at end of December

Commemorative set of red seats can be purchased



Crews on Monday started removing the 1,410 seats installed in the mid-1970s.

"The number one complaint we have gotten for years and years and years has been, 'Oh my goodness, your seats, your seats are terrible,'" Tampa Theatre President and CEO John Bell said. "So they are being demolished."

Crews are also putting in new carpet, a new main drape and a brand new concessions stand. All have been designed to mimic the original 1926 look.

"Everything that happens here, contemporary and classical events, they have the sense of authenticity and history that is in this building, and they are enhanced because of the way this building is. So enhancing the authenticity is what this project is all about," Bell said.

The lobby will be repainted and redecorated by Evergreen Architectural Arts from New York City. The firm has looked at old photographs and completed forensic studies to match everything as closely as possible to the original theater.

"The responsibility and task of bringing back the original color scheme, the stylistic painting that was done, all the original stencils and where they were placed, all those type of things is very crucial," Jed Ellis with Evergreen Architectural Arts said.

The theater will also be getting some infrastructure and technological upgrades.

It will reopen at the end of December, and in the meantime the Holiday Classics Movie Series will take place as free screenings in Curtis Hixon Park as part of the Tampa Downtown Partnership's Winter Village event.

Those interested in buying a commemorative set of red seats can contact Schiller's Salvage at (813) 443-4644.
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Update, 11/7/17: Chief Melvin denied the allegations that he ordered Boneau to pass over white job applicants.

He told BeaumontEnterprise.com on Tuesday that while he cannot comment on pending litigation, that claim in the suit is "100 percent untrue," and said he "would never direct any employee to do that."

Original Story, 11/6/17: A Port Arthur Police officer named in an affidavit that led to an internal investigation this past spring has sued the department, alleging that he was forced to resign and accusing the chief of defamation.

In a petition filed in Jefferson County on Friday, Kristopher Boneau called the affidavit that accused five officers of wrongdoing "retaliatory and egregious and slanderous" and said Chief Patrick Melvin failed to investigate the allegations before putting him on leave. He is the third officer to sue the department following the accusations and investigation.

Boneau was one of five officers put on leave after being named in an affidavit by another officer, who alleged violations of the Texas Penal Code Sections on obstruction or retaliation, failure to report a felony, misuse of official information and official oppression.

The city of Port Arthur issued statements about the investigation and said unnamed officers were put on leave. Those officers were later identified by City Council member Willie "Bae" Lewis.

Boneau alleges in the suit that the department "maliciously published false, defamatory statements of fact about Plaintiff and was negligent and malicious in determining whether the states were true."

Attorney Alfonso Kennard, Jr. wrote in the petition that Boneau met with the investigator handling the situation and explained his actions related to the allegations in the affidavit but that he was put on leave and humiliated before the investigation was over.

Boneau argues in the suit that the administrative leave and city statement about the decision were out of line with department precedents.

"As the Internal Affairs Commander, Mr. Boneau had investigated numerous and varied types of cases involving officers, such as charges of excessive use of force and once when a prisoner accused two officers of sexual assault while she was in custody," Kennard wrote. "Despite the seriousness of these charges, at no time were any of the officers involved placed on leave nor were press releases issued" until the investigation was complete. "As such, it is undeniable that the press release issued was meant to single out and to deliberately harm Mr. Boneau and his colleagues."

The petition also alleges that Melvin ordered Boneau to "pass over the white applicants" to the department and to "essentially discriminate against non-minority applicants," which Boneau said made him "leery of Chief Melvin's questionable leadership ability."

The suit seeks damages for "loss of reputation and character," mental anguish and loss of earnings from PAPD and his personal business, conducting narcotics inspections at refineries, which he said was damaged.

Deputy Chief Raymond Clark, who was also named in the affidavit, sued PAPD in August, alleging he was forced out in retaliation for reporting wrongdoing to the Jefferson County District Attorney.

Clark retired in February, the day before the department announced the investigation. He claimed in the suit that Melvin made his work environment hostile and conspired to remove him.

PAPD Officer Det. Elie Van Horn, who wrote the affidavit, filed suit against the city in August, claiming he was retaliated against for writing the report.

The Port Arthur Police Association, the local affiliate of a statewide police union, held a vote of no confidence in the administration.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
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Port Arthur ISD superintendent Mark Porterie told the Senate Education Committee on Monday that it is "absolutely impossible" for the district to return to normal this year after Tropical Storm Harvey.

He and eight other superintendents testified at a hearing in Houston, asking the state for leniency in academic ratings and outlining ongoing problems in storm-affected districts.

Porterie said PAISD expects to have to pay for many of its own repairs, saying FEMA was "not as generous as they were in Hurricanes Rita and Ike."

"We talk about insurance, we talk about FEMA, but I'm telling you, a lot of that is coming from the district when it comes down to it," he said.

Most of the district's meetings with FEMA have been about the requirements for procurement procedures, not about financial aid, he said.

Two of the district's buildings, Adams Elementary and the district administration building, are closed, but Porterie said the scope of damage is far greater.

During Rita and Ike, "the roofs and fronts of homes were gone, but we put a blue tarp on and moved forward," he said. When they returned to schools after the water from Harvey had drained, "it appeared to be OK, and then two weeks later, here comes the mold, the floors coming up, the carpet buckling."

"Even now, we're finding things," he said. "Every day, we find something new."

In addition to repairing damage to facilities, PAISD spent money to clean up and prepare two gyms and a cafeteria at Thomas Jefferson Middle School to be used as shelters by city residents for more than two weeks after the storm.

Porterie said he argued with city officials about moving the evacuees before school started in September and credited Education Commissioner Mike Morath with helping get evacuees moved to tents set up at the Civic Center.

Like other administrators Monday, and superintendents at the House Public Education Committee last month, Porterie spoke about displacement.

The district has 500 fewer students enrolled this fall than last year, which he attributed to the storm, while others lost homes and are commuting from hotels and other temporary homes. Some teachers are commuting from Orange County and as far away as Houston, he said.

"There is no way we can move forward in a normal mindset after dealing with Hurricane Harvey. It is absolutely impossible," he said, asking for "compassion" in this year's academic accountability ratings.

All of Port Arthur ISD's campuses met standard in 2016-17, a major accomplishment for the district, which had been in danger of being taken over by the state if Memorial High School's rating didn't improve in the next year.

Without help from the state, the district's ratings could be at risk this year, Porterie said. He and several other administrators asked for changes to the annual state testing requirements.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
A child stands next to a barbed wire fence along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border in Maungdaw township, northern Rakhine state, Oct. 10, 2017.

A border guard commander in southeastern Bangladesh said Tuesday he had received no reports about a group of men firing across the frontier at four policemen in Maungdaw, a township in Myanmars Rakhine state, over the weekend.

Unidentified men fired more than 30 shots at the Myanmar officers from a hill in Bangladesh, about 300 feet from the border fence, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews.

Police and the group exchanged gun fire, and one of the officers returned to Aung Thabyay police station on a motorbike to get reinforcements, RFA reported, citing information from the online journal The Irrawaddy. More than 20 officers traveled to the scene and rescued the three police during the incident on Sunday night.

If any such incident occurs, as per protocol, the Myanmar side would inform us. In this case, we have received no such information from the other side. So there is no question of investigating it, Col. M.M. Anisur Rahman, a sector commander for the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) in Coxs Bazar district, told BenarNews.

Maj. Ruhul Amin, a commander with Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion who is based in the southeastern district, also said he had no information about a cross-border shooting.

Earlier, Myanmar Border Guard Police said they had filed a complaint with their Bangladeshi counterparts, RFA reported.

An armed group fired from the Bangladesh side, but nobody was injured, Rakhine state police officer Aung Myat Moe said. We cant say which group they are from. We heard that three armed men were arrested at a security post in Bangladesh.

During the past two months, Coxs Bazar has borne the brunt of an unprecedented and ongoing influx of Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled an outbreak of violence in Rakhine state.

On the other side of the border, Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine were at the epicenter of alleged killings, rapes, massive acts of arson and other atrocities targeting Rohingya during a military crackdown launched in late August. It followed deadly raids on Aug. 25 against police outposts blamed on Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgents.

At bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar last month in Naypyidaw, the Burmese side handed Bangladeshi officials a list of 500 suspected ARSA members who allegedly were hiding out on the other side of the border, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews last week.

In Rakhine, state government spokesman Min Aung linked Sundays incident to a deadly attack in Daingnet, Rakhine, in late October, and the Aug. 25 raids that led to the crackdown and an exodus of more than 600,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh.

I think they are related, he said.

Commonwealth Parliamentarians issue call

Meanwhile in Dhaka, the 52 nations that make up the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) wrapped up an annual conference by jointly demanding international action to resolve the humanitarian crisis around the plight of the Rohingya, a stateless people.

In a statement on Tuesday, the member-nations called on Myanmar to stop the violence and practice of ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine state immediately, unconditionally and indefinitely, and to ensure the sustainable return of all displaced Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh and other countries to within the shortest possible time.

The statement praised Bangladesh for opening its borders to the uprooted Rohingya and for helping to provide them with shelter, food, water and medical attention.

Tushar Tohin in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, and Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka contributed to this report.
The Philippines wrested Marawi city from Islamic State-linked militants after a hard-fought, five-month battle, but IS remains a threat that can be contained only through greater cross-border cooperation, the new presidential spokesman told BenarNews on Tuesday.

The Philippines initially played down the threat posed by the extremist group in the southern city and in a battle with government forces that left more than 1,000 people dead, according to Harry Roque, a human rights lawyer who recently became spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte.

We were surprised, that the fight to reclaim Marawi lasted as long as it did, Roque said in an interview.

I think the president has said that he was surprised that they were able to engage troops in firefights for as long as they did and that they had as much ammunition stockpiled as they did, he told BenarNews.

Pushing the last militants out from Marawi came with the realization that Southeast Asian countries, which include mostly Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia, needed to increase regional cooperation in face of the threat, Roque said. He warned that extremists were likely to strike in places with lax security.

Although the government declared the battle over on Oct. 23, saying that the main leaders on the IS side had been killed, dozens of enemy holdouts have engaged the military in skirmishes in recent days.

We are finally in control of Marawi. However, the menace of modern-day terrorism will persist, Roque said. There has been a liberation of Marawi in the sense that we have retaken control, so, in that sense, weve won.

But the menace of IS will persist not just in the region, but worldwide, he added.

I do not know if it is accurate to say that it is spreading, but its still here in the Philippines, in Europe and in Asia. Its all over, Roque said, stressing that stronger cooperation among Southeast Asian governments was needed to counter the threat.

He said the battle also underscored how the United States was still an indispensable ally to the Philippines in the fight against terrorism.

President Duterte looks forward to closer ties with the United States, Roque said. He has acknowledged the assistance of the U.S. government in the war in Marawi, even as he hasnt changed his position that he has pivoted to Asia.

Duterte was forced to accept military intelligence help from the United States  its long-time ally  when the battle began in late May.

He earlier threatened to expel American troops who regularly undertake training visits to the south after Washington had criticized his administrations bloody war on illegal drugs.

Duterte has not criticized the U.S. lately and has sought to rekindle ties with Washington after President Donald Trump took office in January, Roque observed. Both presidents are expected to meet in Manila this month when the Philippines hosts Southeast Asian and other leaders for a summit.

Emphasis on rebuilding Marawi

The battle started in late May, when Abu Sayyaf Group militant leader Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged leader of IS in Southeast Asia, led hundreds of his men in attacking Marawi, a predominantly Muslim city of 200,000 people.

He was aided by brothers Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, who deployed their own fighters to reinforce Hapilon. Several fighters from Southeast Asia and the Middle East also joined the battle, which was advertised in pro-IS social media sites as a fight for a new caliphate in the region.

After first playing down the threat, Duterte acknowledged the government had underestimated the militant threat in Marawi, the biggest security challenge to confront any Philippine government in recent history.

Since declaring the battle over, the government is looking to reconstruct Marawi into a modern city, a long-term endeavor that could take years.

The emphasis now is on the rebuilding of homes, so they can go back and resume normal lives, Roque said. The president has promised to rebuild Marawi to make it one of the most prosperous cities not just in Mindanao, as the whole country.
Philippine provincial police chief Raul Supiter (left) talks to Gov. Pax Mangudadatu (wearing red shirt) about dozens of rifles and pistols seized during an anti-terrorist sweep in southern Sultan Kudarat province, Nov. 4, 2017.

Police seized dozens of firearms and arrested two retired soldiers and seven others during an anti-terrorist sweep in the southern Philippines over the weekend, as security forces pursued pro-Islamic State (IS) militants, officials said Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Raul Supiter, the provincial police chief, said officers confiscated about 50 assorted firearms, ammunition and explosives from the suspects during a raid on Saturday in Sultan Kudarat province, about 166 km (103 miles) south of Marawi city.

Troops and police have been placed on heightened alert in Mindanao, the countrys third-largest island and home to various armed groups, including small gangs considered an offshoot of IS-backed militants who were behind a five-month battle with government forces in Marawi.

Mindanao remains under military rule, which has not been lifted by President Rodrigo Duterte despite his government declaring an end to the Marawi battle last month that had left more than a thousand people dead.

Among those arrested were former Army sergeants Rufino Lama and Rodolfo Ecija, Supiter said.

"It could be noted that Ecija was monitored to be possessing assorted high-powered firearms and seen roaming around with armed bodyguards, Supiter said.

He said investigators were looking into reports that the two could have connections with IS-linked militants in the region.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared the Marawi clashes over, after troops killed the leader of IS in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, last month.

The fighting ended with 930 militants, 165 police and soldiers and 47 civilians dead, in what has been described by officials as the biggest violence perpetrated by an armed group in recent years.
Government troops keep watch near bombed-out buildings in the southern Philippine city of Marawi days after the military declared the fighting against Islamic State-inspired Muslim militants over, Oct. 25, 2017.

Philippine security forces killed at least nine more pro-Islamic State (IS) extremists during the weekend in Marawi, officials said Monday, as confusion arose over the national police chiefs statement that a Malaysian may have taken over leading the militants.

The nine were killed in daylong clashes on Sunday during clearing operations focused on stragglers in the main battle area, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters.

The fresh clashes occurred two weeks after the government declared an end to a five-month battle that has killed 930 militants, 165 soldiers and policemen and 47 civilians  the countrys biggest casualty figures in years.

Clearing operations are focused on the remaining areas of Marawi believed to hold terrorist stragglers fighting for survival and hiding out in the hope of escaping the main battle area, Padilla said.

The AFP also denies that the remaining stragglers will be able to influence the overall security situation of the once besieged city, he said, referring to the Philippine armed forces by its acronym.

Padilla said that contrary to police pronouncements that the stragglers are headed by Amin Baco, the military strongly believes that the group is now leaderless and without direction.

Baco is believed to have been among those killed in Marawi recently. Bacos remains are now the subject of an ongoing aggressive search, he said.

Among those killed in the latest gun battles was Ibrahim Maute (alias Abu Jamil), who was a cousin of brothers Abdullah and Omarkhayam Maute, the leaders of a gang that backed Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged IS leader in Southeast Asia.

These nine stragglers are believed to be part of the remaining Maute-IS terrorists who attacked the city, said Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the local Joint Task Force Ranao.

The deaths of these nine terrorists were a result of fierce fighting from early dawn Sunday until late afternoon, he said. Government troops are still on the lookout for more possible terrorists-stragglers in the main battle area.

Clashes erupted on May 23 when government forces moved to arrest Hapilon, who was on the FBIs most-wanted list. Security forces were surprised when they encountered a strong enemy contingent, including fighters from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Isnilon was killed along with Omarkhayam in mid-October, while Abdullah was believed killed earlier.

Mahmud Ahmad, a Malaysian university professor who allegedly bankrolled the Marawi attack, was subsequently believed killed, leaving a power vacuum as the remaining militants sought to escape from Marawi.

Indonesian woman arrested

Also on Sunday, police arrested Minhati Madrais, the Indonesian widow of Omarkhayam, and seized bomb-making equipment from her home.

Another Indonesian militant, Ilham Syahputra, 23, was arrested last week, and during interrogation told police that he believed Baco had assumed leadership of the remaining fighters.

National police chief Ronald dela Rosa earlier told reporters intelligence reports stated Baco survived and assumed leadership of the militants.

We received report that Amin Baco has replaced Isnilon Hapilon. Amin Baco is the leader, not just of the remaining Maute gang but as an emir of Southeast Asia ISIS, dela Rosa told reporters, using the Islamic States other name.

Previously, the military said Baco was believed to be among the 42 people killed when the gunmen made their last stand last week.

Meanwhile, Indonesian counterterrorism investigators said they would depart on Tuesday to interview Ilham and Minhati, the two Indonesians arrested in the southern Philippines.

Densus 88 will delve into the data and will soon go to the Philippines. The sooner, the better. They leave tomorrow, police spokesman Setyo Wasisto told reporters in Jakarta Monday, referring to the nations elite anti-terror squad.

Setyo said authorities were investigating the extent to which West Java native Minhati was involved in terrorism.

We cannot speculate, it has to be based on evidence. The team must be careful. Its being handled and explored, he said.

Asked how many Indonesians had joined the militants in Marawi, Setyo said it was difficult to estimate because they dont report their departures.

In June, when asked about Indonesians in Marawi, he had told BenarNews, Four people have died in Marawi and 22 are still in the southern Philippines. We dont know their condition.

Tia Asmara in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Media Advisory, November 6, 2017

Contact: Michael Saul, (303) 915-8308, msaul@biologicaldiversity.org

BLM to Face Criticism at Cheyenne Hearing on Sage Grouse Conservation Plans

Trump Administration Aims to Weaken Protections for Imperiled Bird

CHEYENNE, Wyo. Conservationists attending public hearings in Cheyenne this week will blast federal plans to weaken protections for the greater sage grouse. The Bureau of Land Management is holding a series of meetings across the west, including two in Wyoming, to get public input on the Trump administrations review of protections for the imperiled bird.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is expected to recommend reducing protections to allow more fossil fuel development, mining and livestock grazing in the imperiled birds habitat across 10 western states. Earlier this month, Zinke formally launched a federal review of conservation plans approved in 2015 by a blue-ribbon panel of sage-grouse experts.

The meager sage grouse conservation plans were a compromise that included concessions to the fossil fuel industry, said Michael Saul, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. These conservation plans fell short and sage grouse populations continue to decline. Public lands provide habitat thats crucial to their recovery. But greater sage grouse extinction may well be part of Zinkes legacy.

BLM is holding public meetings in seven western states on the sage grouse conversation plans. Here are the Wyoming meeting details:

Cheyenne

Where: The Little America Hotel and Conference Center, 2800 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne

When: 4  7 p.m. today

Pinedale

Where: BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine St., Pinedale

When: 4  7 p.m. Wednesday

People can submit public comments to the BLM by email or on their website. The last day to submit comments is Nov. 27. Go to http://bit.ly/GRSGplanning or email BLM_sagegrouseplanning@blm.gov
For Immediate Release, November 7, 2017 Contact: Stephanie Kurose, (203) 524-0562, skurose@biologicaldiversity.org U.S. Senate Urged to Reject Kathleen Hartnett White for Key Environmental Post WASHINGTON Nearly 50 environmental organizations today urged the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to reject President Trumps nomination of Kathleen Hartnett White as the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. The Senate committee will hold a hearing tomorrow morning on the nomination. If confirmed, Hartnett White would coordinate science, energy and environmental policy across all federal agencies. She would also oversee environmental reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects. Todays letter from 47 groups notes that Ms. White has been a demagogic opponent of the Endangered Species Act, opposing protections for critically imperiled animals and plants in Texas. The letter points out that she has built her career aligning herself with the fossil fuel industry and favoring big corporations and special interests over the health of the public and the environment. White is yet another Trump nominee for an environmental protection office who fanatically opposes protecting the environment, said Stephanie Kurose, endangered species policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. She has attacked protections for endangered golden-cheeked warblers in Texas and has no qualms about letting wildlife go extinct to help special interests make more money. In this post she could do incredible harm to our nations natural heritage. In her current position at the Texas Public Policy Foundation  a conservative think tank that has received huge donations from fossil fuel interests that include Koch Industries, ExxonMobil and Chevron  White has worked to undermine the Endangered Species Act. She has also argued there is a moral case for expanding fossil fuel development regardless of carbon dioxide emissions and claimed that there is a connection between the abolition of slavery and humanitys first widespread use of energy from fossil fuels. To confirm White for one of the highest environmental posts in our government would be deeply irresponsible, said Kurose. Senate Republicans shouldnt rubber-stamp an industry puppet for such an important job.
For Immediate Release, November 6, 2017 Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, (510) 844-7108, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org Republican House Bill Pushes Opening Arctic Ocean to Offshore Drilling Legislation Would Gut Federal Protection of Public Lands, Oceans WASHINGTON The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a legislative hearing Tuesday on a bill that would gut critical federal protections against reckless oil drilling on Americas public lands and oceans. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), seeks to drastically expand offshore and onshore oil drilling and fracking, as well as offshore wind development. The Accessing Strategic Resources Offshore Act would rescind Obama administration rules protecting portions of the Arctic Ocean from offshore drilling, fast track seismic oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, and end the presidents ability to create marine national monuments. Bishops bill also includes provisions from the Opportunity for the Nation and State to Harness Onshore Resources Act (ONSHORE Act), which would authorize states to regulate and issue oil and gas drilling permits on public lands. On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a markup on H.R. 4239, introduced by Rep. Steve Scalise (R- La.), which includes similar language to Bishops bill. Bishops bill is a truly shocking attack on our governments ability to protect Americas public lands and oceans from dangerous drilling, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. It gives Big Oil virtually everything it wants, but ordinary Americans would just get more oil spills and climate disruption. Opening the Arctic for drilling would destroy this vulnerable ecosystem and push polar bears and bowhead whales toward extinction. Bishops bill would emphasize state control and minimize federal regulations and rules. It would redirect revenue that traditionally goes back to the federal government to Alaska, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The bill would also revoke the presidents authority to create and preserve marine national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906. It also establishes offshore wind lease sales and studies in numerous areas including California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The ONSHORE Act would give states sole authority to issue drilling permits for federal oil and gas development on public lands. It would exempt more than 113 million acres of oil and gas leasing areas from the landmark National Environmental Policy Act, which requires public engagement and scientific evaluation of harms to water, wildlife, the climate and public health. It would also prevent enforcement of federal regulation and guidance for fracking on public lands. Extending bad ideas from the ONSHORE Act to our precious oceans is a recipe for disaster for whales, the fishing industry, and coastal communities, said Sakashita. Whether its public land or oceans, these areas are part of our natural heritage and should be protected rather than given to the oil and gas industry. In the first 10 months of the 115th Congress, Republicans have introduced more than 80 bills that attack public lands, weaken environmental safeguards on those lands or turn over control to states and local governments. These attacks go against the wishes of most Americans, since the vast majority of voters across political parties support protecting and maintaining forests, national parks, monuments and other public lands and waters.
For Immediate Release, November 6, 2017 Contact: Stuart Wilcox, WildEarth Guardians, (720) 507-1969, swilcox@wildearthguardians.org

Matthew Bishop, Western Environmental Law Center, (406) 324-8011, bishop@westernlaw.org

Collette Adkins, Center for Biological Diversity, (651) 955-3821, cadkins@biologicaldiversity.org, Feds Stop Using M-44 Cyanide Bombs, Other Cruel Tools to Kill Colorado Wildlife Wildlife Services Pauses Participation in Controversial Predator Control Plans Pending New Review DENVER In response to a lawsuit from wildlife groups, the USDAs Wildlife Services in Colorado has agreed to temporarily halt the use of M-44s  deadly cyanide capsules employed to kill animals  while it completes a new environmental analysis. The case, brought by WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity in April, includes a challenge to the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs involvement in Colorado Parks and Wildlifes controversial plans to kill cougars and bears in a scientifically unsupported attempt to boost mule deer populations. Todays agreement is the latest step in ensuring the federal government and the state of Colorado follow the law and the best science in managing wildlife, said Stuart Wilcox, staff attorney for WildEarth Guardians. Ending the use of dangerous sodium cyanide bombs, traps and snares in Colorado makes our public lands safer for people and wildlife. Under todays stay of the lawsuit, Wildlife Services is required to complete a new environmental assessment by Aug. 1, 2018. According to the agreement, Wildlife Services will not use or fund the use of M-44 sodium cyanide capsules on public lands in Colorado. It will also not participate in, fund or authorize the hunting or trapping of black bears or mountain lions to study the effects on ungulate populations. And Wildlife Services will not deploy or use traps or snares that violate Colorado Constitutional Amendment 14, pending the release of the new analysis. This agreement represents a sign of good faith moving forward to do the right thing when it comes to Colorado's wildlife and ecosystems, said Matthew Bishop with the Western Environmental Law Center. Its a big swing to go from deciding to ignore the best available science to halting potentially harmful wildlife killing while improving the science. In December 2016, Colorado Parks and Wildlife approved two highly controversial plans to kill large numbers of black bears and mountain lions to assess the impacts on mule deer populations. The plans charge Wildlife Services with carrying out much of the killing using public funds. Wildlife Services involvement in the experiment lacks proper review as demanded by federal law. Were thrilled that Colorado wildlife are getting a break from Wildlife Services deadly work, said Collette Adkins, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. The additional analysis spurred by our lawsuit will reveal that Wildlife Services wildlife killing is scientifically unsound, ineffective and cruel. Together, the Piceance Basin Predator Management Plan and Upper Arkansas River Predator Management Plan would kill between 15 and 45 mountain lions and 30 to 75 bears over three years in a 500-square miles west of Meeker and Rifle, Colorado, as well as over half of the mountain lions in a 2,370-square-mile area in the south-central part of the state. The Piceance Basin plan calls for using Wildlife Services to deploy cage traps, culvert traps and foot snares to capture mountain lions and bears, which would then be shot. Colorados wildlife agency ignored overwhelming public opposition  including the advice of the states own leading scientists  in deciding to proceed with the killing. The state is also refusing to disclose how many animals it and Wildlife Services have killed thus far under the plans. Under todays agreement, Wildlife Services will no longer participate in the bear and cougar killing, at least until the new analysis is released. The organizations are represented by attorneys Matt Bishop and John Mellgren of the Western Environmental Law Center and Stuart Wilcox of WildEarth Guardians.
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Four inspiring journalists from Cameroon, Mexico, Thailand, and Yemen, will be honoured with the Committee to Protect Journalists' 2017 International Press Freedom Awards, an annual recognition of courageous journalism.

 rawpixe via 123RF

The awardees have covered the news at great risk, including retribution from political leaders, and two have had to flee their homes because of death threats.

One of the awardees has been in prison for over three years for reporting on attacks carried out by an extremist group; another was detained twice by military officials and charged with sedition.

Award Winners include: Ahmed Abba, a correspondent for Radio France Internationales Hausa service imprisoned in Cameroon; Patricia Mayorga, a correspondent for the Mexico City-based newsmagazine Proceso; Pravit Rojanaphruk, a critical reporter and press freedom advocate in Thailand; and Afrah Nasser, a Yemeni independent reporter and blogger who lives in exile.

CPJ will also present broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff, the managing editor of PBS NewsHour, with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award for her work in advancing press freedom and strengthening the role of women journalists worldwide.

CPJ presents the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award annually to an individual who has shown extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom. Originally the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award, it was renamed in 2017 to honour the veteran journalist and former CPJ board member who died in late 2016.

The 27th Annual International Press Freedom Awards Dinner takes place on November 15, 2017 in New York. The dinner will be hosted by Christiane Amanpour, chief international correspondent for CNN and CPJ senior advisor. The 2017 dinner chairman is David Rhodes, president of CBS News.
How are people coping in this new connected world? A global study from Viacom looks at The Next Normal: Rise of Resilience among consumers, including those from Nigeria and South Africa, and how brands should respond.

The Next Normal: Rise of Resilience was presented at the annual conference of the Pan African Market Research Organisation (PAMRO) earlier this year and is currently being updated and circulated by Viacom, which directed the study, to present insights into consumer behaviour for 2017 and 2018. It was presented at PAMRO by Giuliana Dias, head of research and insights at Viacom International Media Networks Africa.

The Viacom global consumer insights team conducted the consumer research in 180 different countries and in 40 different languages. Since 2012 when they first conducted the study, there have been many elections globally, natural disasters and terror attacks, which impacted on the results of the study released this year.

In 2012 people were most concerned about the economy, following on the global recession. In 2017 the economy still personally impacts people most, but terror attacks and concerns about the rise of terrorism have risen by 40% globally everywhere since 2012, with the exception of China. This is due in the main because of Chinas censorship of media. But at the heart of this research is that people feel less safe globally  37% in 2017 compared with 31% in 2012.

In South Africa, 61% of people feel less safe in 2017 compared to 48% in 2012; while in Nigeria, 48% of people feel less safe compared with five years ago in 2012, when only 12% of people felt unsafe.

Does this mean its all doom and gloom? asked Dias. In fact, in South Africa, peoples happiness quotient has actually risen since 2012 from 74% to 78% of people who are happy. Although in Nigeria, happiness has decreased from 87% to 73% of those surveyed, which is in line with global averages.

But globally, people are more happy than stressed, and this is where the rise of resilience comes in, explained Dias. Because really, what we are seeing, is people are showing a real rise of resilience and are finding new ways of coping in a world in which we feel less safe.

Globally, 32% of people are stressed, in South Africa it is 26% and 16% in Nigeria.

She referenced the commercial by Jose Cuervo: Last Days as an example of the kind of resilience that people display when faced with adversity  with the help of Elvis and the tequila of course.

Building resilience

Dias said there are four coping mechanisms that people around the global have identified, that is making them more resilient:

1. Standing up to uncertainty: 71% of people believe they are coping: in Nigeria 85% and in South Africa 74% say they are coping. Things they do to help bolster their happiness quotient are:

Listen to music

Spending time with loved ones

Watch TV

Sleep

Read a book

In SA and Nigeria, praying is seen as a stress reliever too

71% of Nigerians and South Africans also dance alone in their rooms and over 80% agree that music inspires

Humour is also very important and helps people to cope and achieve things in life  64% of South Africans believe this and 74% of Nigerians agree, which is in line with the global average.

2. Staying grounded: Behind the positivity is a hard edged realism. The world isnt perfect and theres less trust in people and institutions, said Dias. People trust their mom the most and trust government the least. But trust in everything else has declined in South Africa: religious leaders (-45%), doctors (-37%), themselves and their own judgment (-32%), grandparents (-32%), best friends (-24%), police (-21%). Nigerians have similar issues and there too, they trust mom the most, and grandparents and teachers have dropped the most in trust (-59%), fathers (-42%) and doctors (-40%).

3. Enjoying the moment: This is really about people moving away from material things and what it is that makes them happy, explained Dias. There has been a notable shift from the material to experiential and the conclusion is that happiness is more about time and how you spend it. These are the top five sources of happiness recorded globally:

Spending time with family

Spending time with friends

Time for fun and relaxation (up from 2012)

Going on holiday (up from 2012)

Being successful (down from 2012)

Having plenty of money (down from 2012).

It seems as if people are moving more to experiences than things that define them. What has moved up in the rankings is faith and listening to music. In Nigeria, being successful is also still key, as is faith, and helping people in their community and creating something for others to love.

When it comes to defining success, theres been a shift from superficial markets to deeper connections, friendship circles and relationships; while superficial markers like looking good and driving a nice car have moved down in the hierarchy of happiness, Dias said.

4. Coming together: Social media is defining people, uniting them in tragedy, added Dias. We wanted to see how social networks had changed since 2012. Peoples total context of social media has changed fundamentally. There is significant growth in peoples networks globally. The online world is helping shift peoples views on the world. This aligns with people becoming more active in their communities, doing things that synergise and unite people. This is reflected in peoples openness towards others. There is a stronger sense of unity through wider networks, a desire to express solidarity when tragedy hits  people are demonstrating resilience in a world increasingly seen as less safe.

Slimefest

How should brands respond?

Those four strategies combined are what people are using to cope with the world around us, Dias reiterated. The question now, is how should brands respond? Its pretty intuitive, said Dias. The implications are:

1. Standing up to uncertainty It is important now, more than ever before, to make people feel. Shows like Breaking Bad and This is Us do it well, said Dias. Brands also need to tap into the emotion of music and brands like Suburu use music to get to the heart of their consumers, with the tagline: Love, its what makes a Suburu a Suburu.

2. Staying grounded Be reflective of the real world and humour is a good way to deliver those emotions. Do not mask or minimise the complexities or imperfections of the world. People are acknowledging the world and themselves as they really are (the bad and the good). The Daily Show and comedians like Amy Schumer are real about these imperfections in our world, explained Dias. She cited the Under Armour commercial. Its what you do in the dark that puts you in the light. Under Armour #Ruleyourself.

3. Enjoying the moment Experiences and deep connections are valued over material things. Provide people with the opportunity to participate in experiences (especially with friends and family), like the Nickelodeon's SlimeFest, brought to South Africa by uShaka Marine World.

 Vadim Georgiev via 123RF

4. Coming together Caring goes beyond immediate circles, theres more that unites than divides people. Brands need to demonstrate solidarity and unity. Engage people to make a difference. Often people want to provide support, they just dont know how, added Dias. The Human Family, shot on an iPhone, was one commercial that got it right: #ShotoniPhone.
LAGOS, Nigeria - Afri Reviews , the first movie review platform in Africa with a focus on all African movies, has called for collaboration to showcase and crowdsource the best African-made movies to a local and global audience.

Co-founder of the platform, Anita Abada made this call on Monday afternoon in Lagos when she explained what the platform was about. She explained that Afri Reviews was borne out of the desire to create a platform where movies made on the continent and its actors can be celebrated and evaluated.

In her words: The West have Rotten Tomatoes, Imdb, Variety, Metacritic and a host of other review platforms that showcase the best and worst of Hollywood. Africa has none of these. Does this mean that there are no exceptional movies made in Africa? Are we saying Africa has no brilliant actors? What Afri Reviews wants to do is to expose these movies. We want to bring out the best of Africa and show to the world.

James Ogunjimi, co-founder also chipped in. Look, Africa has Nollywood which is second in the world. We have Ghallywood, Joziwood, Lolliwood, Wakaliwood, Ugawood, Somaliwood and a host of movie industries churning out movies every day. We want to showcase these movies. We want Africans and the world to know of these movies beyond their individual countries and to review them right here on our platform. Short films, documentaries, animations, we want to show them to the world.

We want Africans and the world to know of these movies beyond their individual countries and to review them right here on our platform.

He then made the call for collaboration. We want people who can go to the cinemas in their countries and write honest reviews. What about TV series? With the number of shows airing daily, you have to wonder why no one is talking about them. We want to do this.

Abada concluded by inviting reviewers and those enthusiastic about the African movie industry and who can write from an African perspective to send a mail to the platform. In whatever capacity, send us a mail and well respond. This is an African project and we are confident that there are enough willing Africans to execute it.

Visit AfriReviews.com.
CNN International Commercial's (CNNIC) launch of its 'Go There Media Fund' provides travel and tourism expertise to distressed destinations and countries recovering from natural disasters.

The initiative, announced by Rani Raad, president of CNNIC at a gala dinner, ahead of World Travel Market London, which was attended by over 100 ministers and travel and tourism CEOs, will work closely with a number of countries every year, starting in 2018, to draw on CNNICs expertise in nation branding to provide pro-bono consultancy, strategic direction and CNN airtime and inventory for campaigns that help recover national identity and build their tourism brand on the world stage.

paulbr75 - Ocean Debris, Hurricane Irma via Pixabay

CNNs launch event opened World Travel Market by celebrating the achievements of the guest of honour, outgoing UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai. Rifai will join Raad, international tourism and development advisor Anita Mendiratta, and other industry luminaries and experts on the advisory board of CNNs Go There Media Fund.

This is the latest step in CNNs far-reaching commitment to the travel and tourism sector. Over the last ten years, CNN TASK (Tourism Advertising Solutions Knowledge) Group has worked directly with over 100 countries around the world to create impactful and strategic nation branding solutions and campaigns beyond traditional advertising. This has led to many award-winning campaigns from CNNICs branded content studio, Create, and a close partnership with the UNWTO.

We have seen consistently over the years that strategic travel and tourism campaigns have the power to transform a nations stature, its prospects and people. In honour of Dr Taleb Rifais vision, passion and commitment to the tourism sector, CNNs Go There Media Fund will focus on helping those countries at the start of the journey to rebuild and re-invent their nation brand as a tourism destination. We look forward to working with Dr Rifai and drawing on our expertise to really make a difference, said Raad.

I am honoured to accept the invitation to join the board of this new initiative. CNNs Go There Media Fund will provide support to those nations that aspire to reach their full potential. I look forward to continuing my close work with CNN to elevate the prospects of nations and bring new destinations and experiences to travellers worldwide, said Rifai.
At the end of October, Facebook broke the news that it planned to introduce a new advertising feature that would lead to any paid posts run by brands becoming readily visible to anyone who visited the page. What this effectively means is the end of the concept known as 'dark posts', which allowed brands to choose not to publish specific pieces of content organically to their page, but instead, only promote them to a highly specific audience via paid budget amplification.

Dr Ewoudt Cloete

Although the change comes as a direct response from Facebook to combat unfair paid political tactics on social media channels (read more about this here: https://goo.gl/dQhRXB), the change has a far-reaching impact for all brands that have made a home for themselves on the platform.

The most obvious impact is that brands that use the platform's paid features will be forced to make certain aspects of their paid media strategy and approach visible to not only the public, but competitors as well. More specifically, brands will no longer be able to keep their paid media targeting and content strategies on Facebook confidential, with anyone now being able to view and critically assess this information freely.

The change is therefore a double-edge sword for advertisers, as although they will be able to freely view their competitors' advertising strategies, their own strategies on the platform will be just as exposed.

This creates an interesting conundrum for brands: do they hold back on Facebook advertising spend and move spend over to other platforms where advertising information is not as public? Considering the potential reach and comparatively low cost of advertising on Facebook, this is not a strategy that can be easily recommended.

Instead of moving completely away from Facebook advertising, there is merit in considering using Facebook mainly for ad campaigns that target the organisation's broader or more obvious audience groups. Advertisers can then use other social media platforms such as LinkedIn to administer more niche and tactical advertising campaigns that could potentially lead to the divulging of key strategic advantages if their approach would become known to competitors. Using this approach, brands can continue to utilise the impressive advertising options and competitive pricing of Facebook without it leading to giving their competitors insight into key and differentiating advertising strategies.

The strategy however only remains feasible as long as other social media platforms do not follow suit, and considering that Twitter is planning a similar feature to that of Facebook, it might not be long before brands that rely on social paid advertising to push digital KPIs have no choice but to reveal all of their advertising strategies to whomever would like to see them.

The availability of more advertising data on Facebook also presents an opportunity for third-party analytics software, such as Unmetric, Sprout Social and Fanpage Karma, to provide more detailed predictive insights into competitors' social media strategies. Although this data will now be available manually, there is an opportunity here to collate and group the data in a way that could lead to further market and competitor insights.

No matter how brands choose to react and adapt to these recent changes by Facebook, one thing is certain: it presents brands with a valuable opportunity that if utilised correctly, can help create competitive advantages not previously possible.




According to a statement released in Geneva on Friday by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), specialised boats and machinery are trying to extract the vast quantities of 'nurdles' (raw plastic pellets) floating in the Durban harbour following a cargo spill by container ship MSC Susanna in October.

A shipping container lies submerged in Durban harbour after the October 10 storm: Photo: Salt Fishing South Africa

Teams of workers have been deployed along a 200km stretch of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline to painstakingly sieve the sand by hand in search of nurdles that have been washing up on beaches over the past two weeks.

According to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), two 40-foot containers fell off the vessel into port waters during a severe storm which wreaked havoc in Durban on 10 October.

They each contained 990 bags of low and high density polyethylene (plastic pellets) packed in 25kg bags. The total tonnage lost is estimated to be 49 tonnes, said DEA spokesman Zolile Nqayi.

The containers, were subsequently located on the seabed and retrieved, said Nqayi, but by then the bags had already leaked millions of nurdles that are now polluting the East Coast.

Nqayi said the plastic pellets in their raw stage are not toxic, but once released into the marine environment they attract harmful substances (pathogens) that can have negative impacts on marine species including seabirds and turtles which mistake the pellets for food.

In its statement, MSC said that although the spill was undisputedly due to a natural phenomenon of extraordinary magnitude for which MSC is not at fault, MSC has taken over the clean-up of the harbour in recent days in order to expedite the process.

As a global marine company we have deep knowledge of how to tackle such situations and we have strong relationships with experts in the field, said MSCs global public relations manager, Giles Broom.

Broom said the MSC was grateful to the members of the public who acted as first responders and helped with the initial stages of the clean-up, before the owner of the cargo of plastic pellets, the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) appointed a specialist company, Drizit Environmental, to clean 200km of beaches.

For its part, MSC also moved swiftly to engage an experienced global salvage and emergency response company, Resolve Marine Group, led by industry-leading expert Nick Sloane, said Broom.

But the response was not clearly quick enough to contain the pollution, resulting in widespread public outcry about beaches now spoiled with plastic pellets.

Broom said MSC did not expect South African taxpayers to foot the bill for the clean-up. MSC also continues to cooperate with Transnet National Ports Authority and all the parties involved in the clean-up are in daily contact, said Broom.

This Ocean Watch story was produced for GroundUp by www.rovingreporters.co.za working in association with the Human Elephant Foundation.
During the next SA Shiraz workshop on 14 November at Kronenburg, Paarl, South Africa's makers, tasters and growers of Shiraz will benefit from the experience of Alexandre Schmitt, an internationally renowned guru on olfaction.

Alexandre Schmitt

SA Shiraz was established in 2008 to serve this niche of the wine industry and for their 10th technical workshop, they have succeeded in obtaining the services of Schmitt who consults for some of the largest and most prominent wine producers globally. It will be the first time that South Africans can benefit from his expertise.

Schmitt has been training winemakers on olfactory perception for 15 years through his business Wine & Flavors. After working in the perfume industry in Paris he returned to Bordeaux and was coaxed into applying his particular skills in the wine industry.

The rest of the jam-packed programme includes a myriad of invaluable discussions centring on this noble cultivar: Dr Jose-Luis Aleixandre Tudo will address the issue of predicting a red wines ageability, while a panel discussion and tasting of wines from the 1980s and 1990s will serve to determine whether Shiraz matures well. Attendees will have the chance to taste and discuss the sensory analysis of the twelve winning wines of the 2017 Shiraz SA Challenge.

In addition, attendees will be able to taste, under the guidance of Dr Andy Roediger, gold medallist wines from Syrah du Monde 2017.

Shiraz SA thanks its sponsor, Vinventions, for enabling the industry to take leaps into the future of winemaking.
The Cape Town grain elevator, originally built by the government in Table Bay Harbour over 90 years ago, has recently opened as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). Over R500m was spent on renovating the space which opened with 80 gallery spaces.

Zeitz MOCAA. More images here

In 1995, when I filmed the loading of the last ship with grain in the harbour, it was clear that the grain elevator was nearing the end of its working life. The structure  described in 1923 as a grey towering slab of concrete  posed a clear challenge to the Cape Town Waterfronts retail, commercial and residential mix.

Much of the publicity around the creation of the museum plays into the colonialist narrative of a soulless place in Africa, discovered and represented by Europeans for the greater good. This is unfortunate and an unfair reflection of the attitudes of the major players involved in the project.

The reason for arguing this is that the elevator wasnt just a big empty concrete building, waiting to be discovered. Its cultural and historical significance go far beyond the invariably repeated line that it was once the tallest building in Cape Town.

So why did the Waterfront go to so much trouble and expense to reuse it? Why didnt they simply demolish it, and build something new? The answer lies in the cultural and heritage significance embodied in the elevator, in the materiality of the original concrete structure; the qualities of the geometric forms created by the array of circular and star-shaped storage silos; and the many scars and callouses of a long and hard, working life.

A rich history

Visible as a landmark, from the city and the sea, at 57m tall, the elevator was the most visible symbol of the industrial heritage of the docks, and of the importance of grain in South Africas economy. The grain elevator wasnt a pretty building in the conventional sense. But in demonstrating the relationship between architectural form and function, it had an aesthetic and architectural importance closely linked to International Modern Movement architecture.

Archaeological research combined with archival research revealed that the elevator was part of a networked industrial landscape of elevators that stretched more than 1,500km across the country. These were overlaid onto a railway network on which its existence depended.

The 1920s saw the South African government developing the agricultural sector as an export industry to support white commercial farmers. Its aim was to reduce the number of rural unemployed poor whites. Parallel initiatives included increasing state involvement in the manufacturing economy, and massive investment in infrastructure, particularly the railways, and state corporations.

A bulk handling system was essential if South Africas maize exports were to be increased. So in 1923 the South African Railways and Harbours Administration was given the task of building grain elevators in Cape Town and Durban. Another 34 smaller elevators were also planned for the commercial grain producing areas. Farmers delivered grain into their local elevator, from where it was railed to port elevators in Cape Town and Durban for export. Cape Town elevators role in this was to continue for almost 80 years.

Demolition averted

The question posed by my doctoral thesis (UCT) was whether such a place could  or even should  be conserved within the broad framework of sustainable development.

In 2000, as the elevator prepared to close, I persuaded the Waterfront to commission South Africas first conservation plan for a working, 20th century, industrial building. Each element of the site was photographed, mapped and inventoried. Its function and significance were discussed, then proposals were put forward for future conservation or otherwise.

These proposals, later incorporated into a doctoral thesis, persuaded the heritage authorities and the City of Cape Town, to rule against demolition. The conservation plan was debated within various liaison and design committees, but regrettably was never taken to a full public participation process.

Nonetheless, as the threat of demolition receded, the question of what to do with the elevator remained. An economically sustainable new use for it had to be found. At the time, the Waterfront rejected suggestions of art galleries and museums. It argued that South Africa had neither the demographics, nor the interest in art to sustain such a project.

A decade after closure, with the Waterfront under new ownership and management, a different set of views emerged. There was an understanding that the grain elevator was a heritage asset. There was also an acknowledgement that even if it could never pay for itself, it could add value to any development around it. The elevator now became the centrepiece for a new Silo Precinct.

In early 2012 Thomas Heatherwick, London-based designer and architect, presented ideas for the adaptation and reuse of the grain elevator. Heatherwick worked closely with the authentic qualities of the building, and the cultural significance detailed in the original conservation plan.

His scheme was exciting and imaginative. It avoided many of the pitfalls encountered by previous silo conversions. Most importantly, the overall form and proportions of the principal structures would be retained without significant compromise.

As the Waterfront prepared to implement Heatherwicks scheme, artefacts were identified for retention in situ, storage for possible reinstatement or reuse, or disposal.

Whats not visible

Sadly the historical significance of the elevator will be largely invisible and incomprehensible for many visitors. I believe this can still be addressed. For example, theres the opportunity for a technical explanation of the workings of the building, and its operation. And theres an opportunity to explore the socio-political and economic aspects of the elevator, and its place in broader South African history.

From a heritage perspective, the transformation of Cape Towns grain elevator delivers an innovative and creative solution to retaining and reusing industrial heritage sites. It also validates an archaeological approach to working with complex industrial sites.
Euromonitor International has released the 2017 edition of the Top 100 City Destinations Ranking at the World Travel Market (WTM) London. The report incorporates WTM Global Travel Trends to provide insight on how cities are at the forefront of tourism growth and innovation and how travel trends are borne out of the opportunities and challenges that cities face.

According to the report, Hong Kong holds the title of most visited city in the world for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Bangkok and London, which represents the most visited city in Europe and the only European city in the top ten ranking, along with Paris.

Source: Euromonitor International

The top ten most visited cities in Middle and Africa

Johannesburg is the only sub-Saharan Africa city in the top 100, with tourism considered a pillar of its economic growth strategy. The citys Smart Access Programme aims to give free Wi-Fi to all in the city by 2020. 300MB of free Wi-Fi per day is already available at bus stations and theatres.

Dubai is by far the largest destination in the MEA region, but Saudi Arabia has three cities in the top ranking.

The Top Ten Middle East and African Cities are:

1. Dubai

2. Mecca

3. Johannesburg

4. Riyadh

5. Dammam City

6. Cairo

7. Doha

8. Jerusalem

9. Tel Aviv

10. Marrakech

Report highlights:

 While the Middle East continues to face wars and border disputes, Africa is looking to do the reverse: opening borders and enhancing collaboration.

 Lodging performs well in the region, mainly driven by the United Arab Emirates. Budget hotels are the standout performers, although South Africa and Kenya are expected to register strong growth in luxury hotels as sub-Saharan Africa continues to be popular with luxury travellers.

 South Africa has been identified by short-term rentals platform Airbnb as a key market to enter Africa, and the country is expected to see growth of 32% in 2017.

 Ghana is one of the countries giving its full backing to the Agenda 2063 aims. Ghana started to offer visas upon arrival for all African Union member states in 2016, and visa-free travel for 17 countries.

Felix Lipov via 123RF

Africa looking beyond borders to shape travel

The key African emerging trend highlighted by the report is Looking Beyond Borders: Opening borders when others close theirs.

African leaders are seeing travel and tourism as a way to boost the economic prosperity of the continent. The African Union outlines its plans towards seamless borders in the Agenda 2063 policy document. To this end, the African passport was launched in July 2016, allowing holders to travel visa-free to all 53 member states.

Dr Wouter Geerts, Senior Travel Analyst at Euromonitor International, comments: While there is a very long and hard road ahead, the intention of making travel easier for Africans is a very positive one. With strong increases in population numbers and disposable incomes expected over the coming decades, it is important for African governments and tourism boards to stop focusing solely on attracting long-haul travellers from the US and Europe and instead look at their closer neighbours. In stark contrast to the US and Europe, where there are increasing calls for stronger border controls and barring certain travellers from entry, African leaders are seeing travel and tourism as a way to boost the economic prosperity of the continent.
Marriott International has further strengthened its presence in Kenya with the announcement of the opening of its second hotel Four Points by Sheraton. The hotel is situated in the main complex of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, within easy reach from major highways and overlooks the famous Nairobi National Park, the World's Wildlife Capital.

Source: Marriott International

Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport is a great addition to our East Africa portfolio and strengthens our rapidly growing presence in the region, said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. As a gateway city into the continent, Nairobi is a natural travel hub. We are confident that with its blend of stylish comfort and genuine service at an honest value, the hotel will meet the rising demand for high-calibre lodging in this fast-growing market and soon emerge as a leading choice among business and leisure travellers.

Authentic locale

The all-new 172 room Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport, features spacious and modern rooms including suites. It also offers dining options including an all-day dining, a lobby cafe and a rooftop bar and grill, Tazama.

Source: Marriott International

With spectacular views of the Nairobi National Park on one side and the airport runway on the other, Tazama offers guests a sense of authentic locale through food, music and art. An imposing artwork by renowned Kenyan graffiti artist, Bankslave, reflecting the pulse of Nairobi takes centre stage.

Guests can also experience the brands Best Brews programme featuring a local craft pilsner created especially for the hotel in collaboration with the well-known Big Five Breweries.

The hotel offers the brands defining touches, including the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, complimentary bottled water in all rooms, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and an energising breakfast with fresh coffee that helps guests start the day right. Other facilities include a rooftop pool, a state of the art fitness centre and a modest spa. With 3,500 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, the hotel is an ideal venue for meetings and events. It also provides a complimentary shuttle to the airport terminal throughout the day.

Source: Marriott International

Four Points growth

Four Points has proven to be a global hit with its distinctive identity and ability to meet the increasing demands of the modern, everyday traveller. The brand is experiencing incredible growth momentum having recently crossed the 200th hotel milestone globally. In East Africa alone, the brand debuted in Kenya earlier this year with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, Hurlingham followed by its recent foray into Tanzania with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Arusha, The Arusha Hotel. It is now gearing up to open Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam, New Africa Hotel in the next couple of months.
Thebe Tourism Group CEO Jerry Mabena has revealed new major tourism projects in iconic locations set to transform South African tourism and which visitors to the country can look forward to, during World Travel Market (WTM) London. Mabena announced the key tourism projects the company will be undertaking at a breakfast attended by global tourism leaders.

Jerry Mabena

Thebe Tourism Group is making huge strides for the South African international and domestic tourism sectors through sustainable tourism and innovative development. The projects Mabena introduced, which will form part of TTGs expanding portfolio includes:

The Mandela Presidential Centre - Johannesburg

The Mandela Presidential Boutique Hotel is housed in a former residence of South Africas first black president, and global icon, Nelson Mandela, and according to Mabena "its going to be slightly different to your boutique niche hotels and conference centres."

This nine-bedroomed upmarket property will provide a holistically five-star experience, with conference facilities and a fine dining restaurant, that will be a retreat for high-end business travellers, the diplomatic corps and leisure travellers from around the world.

The development showcases the economic potential and sustainability of refurbishing the Nelson Mandela property in Johannesburg. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a key stakeholder in this development, as the property owners, and the hotel will provide an experience inspired by Madibas life and times while he resided and worked at the property.

This project is expected to be ready for business in 2019.

The Kruger Shalati Development - Skukuza, Kruger National Park

This new development aims to redefine travel and hospitality, offering a truly unique and extravagant experience. Located in the heart of the Kruger National Park where the railway line ends at Skukuza, the Kruger Shalati luxury accommodation will be housed in a restored train  the first mode of transport for guests in the park.

Celso FLORES via Wikimedia Commons

The train will be permanently located on top of the iconic Selati bridge, giving visitors unparalleled views of the park and the Sabie River, and will provide guests with an old-world rail travel experience. There will be a lounge carriage and deck with the most sought-after vantage point over the river for added luxury.

"What makes it special is that you have a hotel with a river running under it. The way weve designed it is that you have a great view of the river and of the animals coming to drink. We think we have a number of things that are quite unique and iconic in the style and design," says Mabena.

The name Shalati has its origins in the history of chief warrior Shalati, and as such, the development will pay homage to its African history, both in design and ethos. The surrounding community will have equity in the project, and locals will be empowered through world-class training, to help deliver a unique and luxurious African travel experience.

The Blyde Community Project

Mpumalangas Panorama Route is set to see new iconic tourism opportunities in the region of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve through the newly signed MOU between Thebe Tourism Group and the Land Claimant Communities of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

The idea is to keep visitors in the area for longer by providing two crucial missing aspects: exciting and iconic attractions that everyone wants to experience, and accommodation for groups close to activities on offer.

The hope is to build a sky-walk at Gods Window, a cable car at the Three Rondavels, to upgrade and manage the facilities at Bourkes Luck Potholes, and build a hotel to service the area.

Other Mpumalanga developments

A hive of developments within the province, within proximity to Kruger National Park, includes a proposed 36-room boutique riverside hotel, a 200-bed family-focussed hotel, wildlife-based activities, dining, retail space and a hub of hospitality services including a staff housing project which is in great demand in this area.

The proposed developments will contribute to the upliftment of the community in this area by ways of revenue income shared with partnered communities. Furthermore, a development of this nature will not only create job opportunities where they are so desperately needed, but also create opportunities for people from the surrounding communities to receive training and further their careers beyond the products in this immediate precinct.

These projects will not only impact the international tourism community but assist in boosting the domestic tourism sector  a key focus area for Thebe Tourism Group. Mabena said the combined projects within and around the Kruger National Park will add great value to South Africas tourism economy, as well as to the people living in the park.

We are extremely excited at tackling truly unique projects in iconic destinations in South Africa. We believe the countrys tourism potential has only just been tickled, and by creating products which enhance the scenic beauty and global political importance, more people will be enticed to explore tourism offerings in SA, he says.

Thebe Tourism Group invests in the development of iconic tourism attractions or destinations that benefit people, and transform the sector  benefitting both sustainable tourism as well as the communities where the projects are based. All projects use locally-sourced resources and community partnerships.
The #DataMustFall campaign has prompted the government to investigate data prices and the expiry dates of data bundles, led by the Independent Communications Authority of SA and the Competition Commission.

"At least in the Cell C network, we've seen our sites improve in terms of throughput by between 70% and 100% on a compound annual basis over the past few years," Pasley said in an interview on Friday.

"So we're close to doubling the amount of capacity that we're able to provide to customers every year - and that's even with the capex constraints that we've had over the past 12 months."

Pasley said that with customers' data usage rising 70% a year, data revenue growth was "in the order of 30% per annum", and this was higher than that of Cell C's competitors.

"When you've got usage increases at that level and revenue increases at a significantly lower level, you are going to see unitary price reductions in per megabyte costs. And if you carry on increasing network capacity at the kind of magnitude we're seeing at the moment, then you can see pricing coming down very significantly further," he said.

Historically, capacity expansions had given rise to price reductions, he said.

Imtiaz Suliman, portfolio manager at Sentio Capital, was sceptical about data rates "plummeting anytime soon".

He said: "I think out-of-bundle rates will come down, but in-bundle rates are probably not going to fall much.

"If you look at it from the network operator side, the big overriding factor is the constraint in terms of spectrum, which means they have to spend a lot on capex - MTN and Vodacom are spending between R8bn and R11bn each."

Cell C had spent very little on capital expenditure over the past 12 months, during which Blue Label acquired a 45% stake in the company, with Net1 taking 15%.

This was partly because equipment vendors were unwilling to supply equipment for the network until the company's future was more certain. Pasley said Cell C's plans to spend R2.5bn a year on capex in the future were based on current projections, and the figure could be increased if partnerships were forged with Blue Label and Net 1 that resulted in more subscribers.

While the company would spend less than larger rivals MTN and Vodacom, capex "is very much focused in our core coverage areas, which is a relatively smaller geographic area, and outside those areas, we use the Vodacom network for roaming".

Suliman said Cell C's share of industry revenue, currently at 12%, had room to grow.

"I think they want to get to around 16%-17% revenue market share over the next three to four years.

"It will take hard work, but given the increased capex and marketing spend and content that they are pushing out, that should help. It won't be easy, but it's possible."
The NEC/XON ICT Summit 2017 kicked off on Monday, 6 November 2017 at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West. Keynote speakers included the likes of Carel Coetzee, CEO of XON and Hironobu Kurosaki, president and CEO of NEC Europe, among others.

Coetzee welcomed delegates to the sixth annual event, which was also a celebration of XON's 21st birthday. He gave a quick overview of the company and its history as well as its secret to success which, among other things, include a strong focus on long-term customer relationships, making a real effort to understand its customers' business, and its culture. He says that as a systems integrator, XON's biggest asset is its people.

Preparing delegates for the jam-packed day ahead, Coetzee touched on the theme of the day, 'Getting physical with cyber', as he zoomed in on the topic of smart cities. "I believe we need safe cities before smart cities," he said.

"What excites me is not the fact that we can offer world-class cyber and or physical security solutions, but our focus. There is a very interesting spot where the cyber world and the physical world meets and at this point, there's no one on this continent playing in that space. So today we want to share a lot with you on what we can achieve in this interesting space," he said.

Kurosaki took the stage after Coetzee with his presentation titled 'NEC and XON will make Africa smarter and safer'.

No security, no economic growth

He elaborated on the cybersecurity threat challenges in sub-Saharan Africa and says that if there is no security, there is no economic growth. He cited Colombia and Indonesia as two examples - pointing out that between 2003-2014, as security went up, so did the GDP.

He expanded on NEC's ICT-based social and infrastructure solutions which range from sea to space, and how the company has been doing business in Africa for 53 years - having supplied solutions to 53 out of the 54 countries thus far.

According to Kurosaki, NEC's biometrics solutions - fingerprint and facial recognition identification - is number one globally when you take in to account accuracy, speed, and reliability. It supplied South Africa with the national ID system which uses fingerprint identification, and Nigeria with its state ID system which uses fingerprint identification as well as facial recognition. In fact, the company helps governments around the world to process more than 850 million unique identities (i.e. 10% of the world's population).

Aerobridge CCTV

He explained how useful biometrics solutions are - especially in airports. As an example, he used NEC's Aerobridge (housed in movable gate ramps which connect gates to planes and allows passengers to enter and exit planes indoors).

As the passengers walk to passport control, the Aerobridge's CCTV solution captures 30-40 photos per person, performs accurate face matching, identifies asylum seekers by flight and origin, stores data for extended periods of time, assures 100% detection of all faces, and has achieved 90% + verification rates. So if, for example, there is a terrorist on the plane, security will know immediately, even before the person reaches passport control.

He says that NEC has already supplied this solution to many airports around the world.

From monitoring the behaviour of persons involved in system operations to protecting data flow and processing, integrated surveillance of real-world and cyber system operations, Kurosaki says NEC's advanced technologies underpins total security.
Sean S. Fitzgerald has been appointed as Maersk Container Industry's (MCI) new chief executive officer to lead the A.P. Moller - Maersk's Transport & Logistics division in its development of refrigerated and dry containers effective 1 January 2018.

As CEO of Maersk Container Industry, Fitzgerald will assume overall responsibility for the strategic direction and the entire operations of the company including its more than 5,000 employees in three container manufacturing plants in Chile and China and its R&D centre in Denmark.

Since 2014, Fitzgerald has acted as president at Joy Global China, part of the Japanese manufacturing company Komatsu Mining Corp, successfully leading a footprint of eight plants in China. Prior to this, he was Regional Vice President of Joy Mining Machinery, responsible for 13 plants in the Americas.

He has also held executive positions over the course of almost 10 years at General Electric.

Says Soren Toft, chairman of the Maersk Container Industry Advisory Board: We are very pleased to welcome him to lead Maersk Container Industry in its next level of development.

Seans proven track record driving production intensive businesses to profitability and market leadership makes him the ideal leader to spearhead Maersk Container Industry towards further market expansion, technology development and efficient operations.

I look forward to leveraging my experience in heavy equipment manufacturing to build on the companys strong position in the market," says Fitzgerald.
Nations that adopted the Paris Agreement with champagne two years ago regroup this week amid grim omens of climate peril and with an anxious eye on Donald Trump's America.

The November 6-17 meeting in Bonn, Germany, is the first for UN climate envoys since the US president announced he will extricate Washington from the deal, carefully crafted over many years and helped over the finish line by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

In a year marked by severe flooding in Asia, drought in Africa and an exceptional North American hurricane season, Washington's position "remains unchanged", a state department official said.

"The United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is eligible to do so".

This can officially happen no sooner than November 4, 2020.

In the meantime, the world's biggest historical greenhouse gas polluter will send a delegation "to represent US interests" at the 23rd round of annual UN talks, with Fiji as president, in the former German capital.

According to Fiji's top negotiator Nazhat Shameem Khan, veteran US envoys have expressed the intention to continue to "take part constructively".

"We should not entertain the US as a destructive force in Bonn," warned Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid, which lobbies for poor country interests at the two-decades old UN process.

"Since they have already announced their decision to withdraw, they shouldn't be actively influencing an agreement they don't intend to be party to," he told AFP.

A total of 195 nations agreed in the French capital in 2015 to limit average global warming caused by greenhouse gases from fossil-fuel burning to under 2C over pre-industrial levels, and to 1.5C if possible. The 1C mark has already been passed.

Countries, including the United States, made non-binding pledges of emissions cuts in support of the goal, though scientists say the shortfall is still far too great.

The talks open days after the UN's environment organ, UNEP, warned that current pledges sentence the world to a 3C-warmer future, fuelling heatwaves, superstorms, drought, and sea level rise.

Warned UNEP head Eric Solheim, "we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future." Costa Rica's environment minister Edgar Gutierrez-Espeleta, president of the UN Environment Assembly, said the Paris Agreement may have boosted climate action, but "momentum is clearly faltering".

"We face a stark choice: up our ambition or suffer the consequences," he said this week.

Some 20,000 people are due to attend the 23rd UN "Conference of Parties" or COP23, with UN chief Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, California governor Jerry Brown, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, and actor-turned governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expected among them.

This year's conference is the first with a small island developing state as president.

The gathering is expected to be quite technical in nature. It is meant to design common rules for countries to weigh the adequacy of their individual and common greenhouse gas pledges, and to ramp these up to get closer to the 2C target.

"Given the American decision," the conference will also "be an important political moment for countries to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement," said former French negotiator Laurence Toubiana who now heads the Europe Climate Foundation, an NGO.

"It will be important to listen to the statements of governments... to see that countries are still committed, that there is no rowing back," she told AFP.

Since the pact was adopted two years ago, the Palestinian Authority and more recently Nicaragua, have joined the pack.

Now, "the only country that is with the US (outside of the agreement) is Syria," said Adow. "That tells you the direction of travel."

Many hope the Fijian presidency will breathe new life into a process that has struggled to focus ever since the election last November of Trump, who has described climate change as a "hoax".

"We (Fiji) bring to the negotiations the sense of urgency that comes from living in the Pacific and seeing at first hand the impact of climate change on our people," said Khan.

"So it is that urgency that we infuse in the discussions in Bonn."

Bonn police have so far been notified of about a dozen marches planned for the duration of the conference, starting with an estimated 10,000 green activists taking to city's streets on Saturday.

Source: AFP
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a.k.a. Bobi Wine. Ugandans seem prepared to chase out U.S.-backed dictator Museveni should he desecrate the constitution one more time.

A dynamic and revitalizing political wind of change is blowing across Uganda, which will likely sweep away Gen. Yoweri Museveni and his neo-colonial cronies who are hell-bent on marginalizing, oppressing and excluding the great majority of citizens from enjoying the fruits of self-determination that our forefathers and foremothers sacrificed so much for in the period from 1945 to the 1960s.



It must be remembered that African nationalists fought hard for the rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in December 1948, precisely because they were denied those rights by European colonial powers that were committed to the social ideology of racism. It was an ideology that maintained that Africans were lesser human beings not entitled to the rights proclaimed as universal.



Foremost among the rights contained in UDHR are: right to freedom of opinion and expression, which includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.



Another fundamental right is the right for everyone to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.



After attainment of juridical independence in the early 1960s, the first generation of African nationalist leaders attempted as best as they could in the context of the international political environment of the period to create enabling conditions for the enjoyment of those rights by citizens.



But all over Africa in the past four decades, neo-colonial regimes have made a mockery of the right of self-determination, and have brutally rolled back the gains of the first decade of decolonization through greed and corruption.



Because the cancer of corruption and neo-colonialism has spread all over the continent, the wind of change in Uganda follows a trend of clarion calls by Africans whose rights to life of dignity have been betrayed by despotic rulers across the continent: from Kenya to Togo, Cameroon to the so-called Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burkina Faso to Zimbabwe.



To redeem the promise of self-determination for which so many sacrificed in the 1960s, this generation of Africans have discarded fear and instead embraced an affirmative faith that is far more potent than the terror techniques the various corrupt regimes use to maintain themselves in power.



However, unlike in the other parts of Africa, the wind of change in Uganda is being propelled largely by the exuberance of youthful leaders, who are imbued with a positive sense of national patriotism and moral outrage. Arguably the most prominent of the young leaders in Uganda is the creative genius and Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a.k.a Bobi Wine.



Three inter-related issues of critical importance to the welfare of the great majority of Ugandans have catapulted young leaders to the forefront of the political struggles for the future and destiny of the resource-blessed country.



The first is Gen. Yoweri Musevenis self-centered manipulation of the constitution to permit him to enjoy unlimited despotic powers and tenure, as if the country is his fiefdom for the benefits of his extended clan. The chilling reality is that if Gen. Museveni amends the constitution to remove the age-75 ceiling for presidential candidates (he will be at least 77 by the 2021 elections) it would pave the way for continuation of a debilitating form of internal colonialism.



The second is amendment to provisions of land statute, which would essentially legalize land grabbing by Gen. Museveni for primitive accumulation of his cronies and for the enrichment of his already wealthy foreign patrons, while consigning indigenous people who are rightful owners of ancestral land to the vagaries of capitalist privatization. Removing land sovereignty from owners of ancestral land would not only deprive common people of their principal means of livelihood, but would also condemn them to permanent servitude.



The third issue is the socio-political exclusion and economic injustice suffered by the majority of young people who are not connected to the corrupt politico-military ruling elites of the country.



It has been in the context of these issues and struggles that a new crop of dynamic leaders, whose patience had been abused and exhausted by unworthy rulers, burst onto the political landscape like lightning bolt.



A refreshing and uplifting thing about the new brand of leaders, who appear not to be burdened by antiquated provincial animosities but weighed down by the current stifling corruption and unconscionable oppression by those in power, is that in its determination to liberate the country from dictatorship and misrule, it has adopted ecumenical approach, very much akin to Freedom and Unity Fronts (FUF) strategic forte.



The engagement of young people in leadership positions to free Uganda from feudalistic and neo-colonial tyranny has become an imperative for three major reasons. First, Uganda has the worlds youngest population, with over 78 percent below 30 years. Second, young people bear the weight of economic injustice disproportionately. About 85 percent of the youth in Uganda are unemployed or underemployed. Third, although the misrule in Uganda jeopardizes the future of the country in general, it compromises the future of youth specifically.



I use the phrase ecumenical rather than simply inclusive approach to describe the method and strategy adopted by the youthful leaders to suggest that if harnessed properly, the strategy and method have the potential to provide socio-political transformation that is informed by spiritual qualities beyond the fetish of materialism.



The ecumenical approach can be detected in the methods of mobilizing and in the grammar of discourse the leadership has thus far used effectively. The approach is perhaps poignantly captured in, and illustrated by, Bobi Wines latest democratic liberation song titled, freedom; and in his short movie, A call for action.



In the remainder of this article I highlight from a historical perspective two major merits of the ecumenical approach exemplified by Bob Wine and suggest why it is bound to succeed and trump Musevenis approach informed by militarism, violence, sub-ethnic chauvinism and exclusion.



The first reason why ecumenical approach is a winning formula is related to the issue of means and ends. In the history of the world, violence, which Gen. Museveni often uses gratuitously, has never provided durable solution to any problem; at best, it simply freezes outstanding problems.



In the struggle for democracy, it cannot be overemphasized that because democracy as a concept and a system of governance is meaningful only when informed by ethical values, it cannot be achieved by means that are unethical. Certainly, militarism is antithetical to democracy; and no country has ever democratized without renouncing militarism.



Because democracy depends for its flowering on empathy among citizens and on ethical inter-relations and procedures of governance, Gen. Museveni and his sub-ethnic clique who are apostles of militarism as means to conquer and maintain state power could and can not serve as midwives to democracy in the country.



A plain truth of the matter is that the singular and most fundamental failing of President Museveni is that he has been devoid of ethical values and understanding. His inability to understand the critical importance of ethical approach to politics can be traced to his sojourn at Dar-Es-Salaam University in the late 1960s when be became infatuated with violence and the utilization of means of destruction to acquire power regardless of the circumstances.



As a student at Dar-Es-Salaam University he wrote an essay on Franz Fanon and violence, which betrays lack of contextual and critical understanding of Fanons theories. Nonetheless, his superficial rendering of Fanon, combined with his inability to use the strength of his arguments to persuade others, may have led him to champion violence as the means of revolutionary change.



It is apparent that it is Gen. Musevenis lack of confidence in his persuasive powers that has often led him to coerce and bribe when he cannot win an argument. In other words, it is Gen. Musevenis weakness rather than strength that has compelled him to rely on violence, venal patronage and corrupting bribery as means to achieve his ends of maintaining powers.



Hence, although for public relations purposes in the 1980s he used the rhetoric of democracy to attract support in progressive circles, it is apparent that he utilized it without any comprehension of its ethical principles and foundations. He therefore manipulated the term as long as he was not required to meet its demands.



Understandingly, because he attained state power as an apostle of violence, he could never translate the rhetoric of democracy he espoused as a guerrilla fighter into practice. His current bribery and intimidation of parliamentarians to change the presidential age limit in the Constitution so that he can serve as president for life is the latest example of his lack of understanding of the ethical values and principles that inform democracy and the rule of law.



What is now abundantly clear is that he usurped power simply to maintain it by violent means. But the violence he has used for more than 31 years has now not only lost its efficiency, but has also generated a counter logic, which might end up placing the lives of his extended clan in jeopardy.



To save his extended clan, if not the country, Gen. Museveni should heed the call to allow a peaceful transfer of power, before it is too late. The only safe and win-win way to achieve this is through the ecumenical approach championed by Bobi Wine and his young comrades. This is so because ecumenical approach has transcendental moral appeal that can bring out the better angels in people. As such, it can serve as an effective antidote to the raw politics of militarism and divide-and-rule that Museveni has habitually and lethally used to fragment and impoverish the country. It would certainly minimize possibilities of unnecessary bloodshed in the country.



The second reason why ecumenical approach employed by Bobi Wine and his comrades is superior to, and more appealing than, the crude chauvinistic and exclusivist approach by President Museveni is that in a multiethnic country like Uganda, it can inspire people to work together in solidarity on the basis of equal treatment of all citizens.



In this, Bobi Wine and his comrades can draw on the rich heritage of struggles by our forefathers and foremothers who in the post-World War II period after 1945 until the mid 1960s patched up their petty differences to present a formidable common front against British colonial imperialism that had excluded them from enjoyment of rights. It was because of a similar ecumenical approach that Uganda witnessed unprecedented social peace and unity, economic growth and expansion of social amenities and opportunities that enhanced the welfare of Ugandans during the first decade of juridical independence.



This can be contrasted with the approach of sub-ethnic chauvinism and exclusion utilized by Gen. Museveni and his acolytes, which have put the country in a perilous state of socio-political fragmentation. Here, we can draw lessons from recent Ugandan history, if we are to avoid certain pitfalls.



It is apparent that the problems that now bedevil the country can be traced to the methods and means Museveni, as a guerrilla leader, employed to mobilize for the usurpation of state power.



Despite the enormous misinformation and historical revisionism promoted by Museveni and his public relations mercenaries that he embarked on guerrilla war in the 1980s for democracy and national liberation, the plain historical facts tell a starkly different story.



It must be remembered that Museveni embarked on his guerrilla warfare in 1980 after losing to his brother in law and now his foreign minister, Sam Kutesa in a democratically conducted election in which he was Vice Chairman of the Military Commission that supervised the elections. For purpose of historical record, it should be noted that Sam Kutesa represented the Democratic Party (DP) of Uganda and not the Uganda Peoples Congress that was declared the overall winner.



With his ambition frustrated and aware that he did not have widespread political following in the country, Gen. Museveni turned to the manipulation of ethno-linguistic factors to mobilize people to follow him in the bush. He did this by demonizing northerners and fanning antipathies against people from that region; and focused his venom on people from Acholi and from Teso in particular. His use of ethno-linguistic chauvinism has been a distinctive hallmark of his divide-and-rule strategy to gain and maintain power.



It is therefore not surprising that once in power, he revealed his naked pathological prejudice by treating people from Acholi and Teso not as citizens with rights but as conquered subjects for collective punishment if not elimination. One tragic result of his policy has been the fragmentation of people along socio-linguistic lines. It is this fragmentation that the ecumenical approach by Bobi Wine and his young comrades is repudiating. It is an approach that holds great prospects of inspiring solidarity among Ugandans from all regions of the country.



As young people take up their duty to provide dynamic leadership in the struggle to free Uganda from more than 31 years of feudal-like and neo-colonial misrule, arbitrary power and injustice gains momentum, citizens and friends of the country must have the courage to patch up petty difference and demonstrate solidarity with one another.



It is clear that the redemption of the promise of Uganda in particular and of Africa in general, lies in an ecumenical approach to the common problems that have dimmed the prospects for the realization of our collective dignity and for the flowering of democratic pluralism and unity in Africa.



With the future on a balance, it is incumbent upon all reasonable and fair-minded people to sharpen political consciousness to recognize that we are closely bound together by the web of history, human suffering and aspiration.



Uganda's liberation through this ecumenical approach could signal an effective approach for other Africans suffering under neo-colonial dictatorship.

Professor Amii Omara-Otunnu, Chairman

Freedom and Unity Front (FUF) of Uganda






Our journey began in the early morning at Yangon Central Railway Station, the downtown terminus for railway lines from all across the country. An Upper Class ticket from Yangon to Kyaiktiyo set us back 2400 kyat each, which got us padded seats and footrests for the nearly six-hour train ride. We sped through the small towns and green fields outside of Yangon and the neighbouring Bago Region, making a few prolonged stops along the way, before the distant hills of Mon State appeared on the horizon.

Mon State lies between Bago Region to the north, Tanintharyi Region to the south, Kayin State to the east, and the Andaman Sea to the west. Named after the Mon, the predominant people group in the state and the founders of the earliest civilizations in Myanmar, the region was once dominated by large city-states that extended their influence across much of Upper and Lower Burma. The First Anglo-Burmese War in the early 19th century brought the region into the fold of the British Empire, where it remained until Burmese independence in 1948. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is located at the northern tip of the state, close to the border with Bago Region.

Once at Kyaiktiyo, we piled into the back of a small truck for 500 kyat each and settled in for the ten-minute drive into the town of Kinpun, at the base of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. The town seems to serve no other purpose than to be a gathering point for travelers heading up to the summit, and we paid another 2000 kyat each to squeeze into a retrofitted dump truck with at least 40 other passengers. For the next 30 to 40 minutes, the crowded vehicle went full bore up the hill, deftly navigating the hairpin turns and steep inclines just feet away from dropping off into the forested ridges below.

There are limited hotel and guesthouse options at the top of the hill, and weended up getting a single room for the five of us at the Kyaik Hto Hotel. The room was quite modest for the price we were paying, but it was only a 15-minute walk to the pagoda, and we split the cost five ways  just under 25,000 kyat each. We had to pay another 6,000 kyat for a foreigners entry pass, good for unlimited entry for the next two days.

It was late afternoon by the time we began making our way towards the pagoda, joining the monks in their dark red robes, the porters carrying stretchers and woven baskets back and forth, the pilgrims of all ages, and the occasional tourist or two. Our path took us past the ramshackle stores and restaurants that lined the main thoroughfare, until we reached the main gate and a set of stone stairs, where we were instructed to remove our footwear.

A wide square opened up in front of us at the top of the staircase, humming with human activity. Snack vendors called out their wares as groups of pilgrims staked out valuable floor space and set up blankets and rugs for their overnight stay. Tour guides wended their way through the crowds, chattering away at their camera-wielding clients, while kneeling worshipers burnt incense and lit candles on a narrow shelf facing the pagoda.

The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda itself was a beautiful sight, the gold leaf-covered boulder gleaming in the rays of the setting sun. Kyaiktiyo is a Mon phrase meaning pagoda upon a hermits head, based on the legend of the pagodas origins. Taik Tha was a local hermit who lived contemporaneously with the Buddha. Upon meeting the hermit, the Buddha decided to give him a strand of his hair. The hermit then gifted the strand of hair to a king, who agreed to keep the hair underneath a boulder shaped like the hermits head. The legend goes on to tell how such a boulder was found at the bottom of the sea secured in its current position on Mt. Kyaiktiyo.

A group of men stood on the shadowy ledge behind the pagoda that evening, touching the boulder and applying gold leaf and leaving small offerings. It should be noted that direct access to the pagoda is limited to men only, though the walkways around and beneath the boulder were filled with men and women meditating and chanting towards Golden Rock.

Su Swe Zin, a university student at the Yangon Institute of Economics, was one of the many devotees that made the journey with her family from Yangon to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda earlier that day. My younger sister has a holiday today, so we decided to come, she said, adding that this was her fourth visit to the pagoda.

The five of us lingered at the pagoda, taking photos and enjoying the cool mountain air until the sun had fully set behind the distant purple hills. Lamps at the base of the pagoda lit up the boulder in a blaze of artificial light, as pilgrims continued to pour into the square. In the semi-darkness, families and extended groups of travelers sat together and shared meals, while young couples held hands and took selfies in the moonlight.

After a fitful night of sleep, the kind you get when you share two single beds with five people, we were back at the pagoda to watch the sunrise. It was a much different scene from the night before, as many of the pilgrims in the square had packed up and left in the early hours. After making a quick loop of the complex, we found a quiet platform away from the square, looking east towards the Dawna Hills. The morning sky was now filled with hues of rose and gold, and we watched as the sunlight slowly filled in the misty valleys below. When the sun had fully emerged from the edge of the world, we descended the mountain and began our journey back to Yangon.

Transportation

Train from Yangon to Kyaiktiyo: 2400 kyat for Upper Class

Truck from Kyaiktiyo to Kinpun: 500 kyat

Truck from Kinpun to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: 2000 kyat

Bus from Kinpun to Yangon (Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station): 5000 kyat

Accommodation

1 night at KyaikHto Hotel: 123,386 kyat (divided among 5 guests)

Permit

2-day foreigner entry to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: 6000 kyat

Food

Expect around 2500 kyat per dish
Reportedly, the four agreed points were said to be from 1 to 4 and the points from 5 to 8 would be thrashed out in the upcoming September official seventh meeting after the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and government have consulted their respective leadership in details.

Although there has been a little confusion as to whether the UNFC amendment proposal to the NCA is 8 or 9 points, the reality is just 8, as the point number 9 merely said that As soon as the above said points are in agreement, the NCA would be signed.

To refresh our memories let us again look at the said 8-point UNFC amendment proposal. They are:

Bilateral ceasefire agreement between the government-military and the UNFC;

To build a federal union with result achieved from 21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC);

Agreement of tripartite dialogue composition;

Drafting and promulgation of constitutional law based on the outcome of 21CPC;

Advance agreement on Military Codes of Conduct (CoC) and monitoring on Terms of Reference (ToR);

Formation of military Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) with representatives from government, EAOs and international figures acceptable to both parties;

Formation of a neutral, enforcement tribunal for NCA involving domestic and international law experts and judges that are acceptable to both parties; and

Developmental projects to be tackled according to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), in cooperation with the public and the EAOs. (Source: UNFC Documentation)

Naturally, hopes were high for the government and as well the UNFC negotiators as half of the UNFC proposal could be agreed upon and that the enthusiastic optimism, especially from the governments side, that the other half would be easily overcome at the next meeting in September, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Khu Oo Reh, head of the DPN at the end of the meeting said: I could say that we are getting extremely near to participate equally and seriously together in our works. As we are not in a position to decide all things on our own, we would like to request the citizens to have understanding on this.

He probably meant to say that that the DPN has to consult with its leadership and also, the cooperation of the Tatmadaw is needed to implement the agreed points.

He went on to explain the nature of the peace process has to go step-by-step and that they are hoping to achieve peace as soon as possible through mutual cooperation by all stakeholders.

Earlier on the eve of the sixth official meeting, Khu Oo Reh, regarding the UNFCs proposal that if some of the points are not in agreement, it should be construed as there is no agreement, stressed: We heard what the media are reporting. Some said there are two, three or one point left (to agree). No matter how points are left to be discussed, even if one is left it is like all the eight points are not in agreement.

It seems Khu Oo Reh has taken a leaf out of the Geneva Accords of 24 November 2013 between Iran and 5+1 Powers regarding the nuclear case of Iran, where the reference to the phrase Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, was made at the beginning and the end of the document and since then becoming a standard usage in all earnest treaty deliberations.

Tun Zaw, secretary of Arakan National Council (ANC) and member of the UNFCs DPN also echoed the same sentiment regarding the four points agreement of the UNFCs proposal, he said: Only if all eight points are thrashed out we could reach the stage of signing (the NCA) and still need to try and labor more on it, according to the interview by Mon News Agency of August 12.

He also make a point that the Tatmadaw or the Military has no interest, political will and advancing the closely connected trust-building whatsoever. He further said that the National League for Democracy (NLD) regime is enthusiastic and has full commitment for political settlement but the Tatmadaw is still clinging to the old institutional mechanism that it has represented for decades.

The government spokesperson Zaw Htay just merely confirmed the meetings progress saying: Half of the points were generally agreed upon as a result of the sixth round of talks. Discussion concerning the other half must be presented to the leaders of both sides for a final decision.

Chair of the governments National Reconciliation and Peace Center Tin Myo Win said he, hope[s] for a pathway through the peace process to appear, by fulfilling the points of the discussions with UNFC as much as we can after presenting to the government, reported The Irrawaddy on August 11.

If we can pass this point, the peace process will not stop or move backwards. It will keep going forward, toward peace, he added.

Outlook and Perspective

Regardless of the prevailing optimistic view that the remaining four points of UNFC proposal could be thrashed out leading to the signing of the NCA, lack of political will and trust-building from the part of the Tatmadaw might hinder real progress on the ground, as Tun Zaw has correctly pointed out.

With this in mind, let us look at the issues tied to the UNFCs NCA amendment proposal of bilateral ceasefire; establishment of a federal union; tripartite composition; constitutional amendment; international involvement in JMC; formation of a neutral, mediation and enforcement tribunal for dispute arising from NCA implementation; and resources management.

Bilateral ceasefire is, in fact, not just between the Tatmadaw and the UNFC, as the former meant to say that ceasefire with only the NCA signatory EAOs, while the latter understood it to be nationwide declaration of ceasefire, implying that every corner of the country must be covered by the ceasefire agreement.

Concerning the establishment of a federal union with the result or outcomes from 21CPC, the Tatmadaw notion of federalism is tied to its self-drawn 2008 constitution which is neither federal nor democratic.

The tripartite composition participation mode at all level of political negotiations, so far as the UNFC is concerned, would be: government, Tatmadaw, parliament; EAOs; and political parties. The previous participation in Union Peace Conference (UPC)  now renamed Union Peace Conference  21st Century Panglon (UPC-21CP)  were counted seven parties with 700 participants. It is still not clear if the Tatmadaw and the government have agreed to the UNFCs mode of composition.

Constitutional amendment, actually rewriting anew by making use of the outcomes from 21CPC, would be accepted by the Tatmadaw is unclear, as it always maintain that it would protect the military-drafted 2008 constitution, which is in no way a federalism, with all its might.

The CoC, ToR and troops relocation still could not be completed and some already formed state-level JMC were unable to stop the ceasefire breakdown happening very often between the NCA signatory Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and the Tatmadaw.

International involvement in the JMC and NCA mediation-enforcement roles have always been rejected by the Tatmadaw, arguing that it is a problem between brethren and outsiders should not be involved, and is highly unlikely this proposal could sail through easily, even though a clause in the NCA doesnt rule out such an arrangement.

Indeed, in the NCA a paragraph 12(c), signed between the 8 EAOs and the government on 15 October 2015, said: We shall jointly decide on the basis of mutual agreement, the role of representatives from foreign governments and international organizations that are involved in the ongoing peace process, either as observers, advisors or to provide necessary technical assistance at different levels of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee.

As for the resources management, including international humanitarian aids to be administered in cooperation between the concerned EAOs of the area and the government, with the consent of the people could be easily ironed out, if all the other proposal points could be worked out.

To sum up, the above mentioned points have to be adjusted and agreed upon if the UNFC is to sign the NCA and eventually participate in the next upcoming 21CPC. It wont do just to repeatedly push for the UNFC to sign the NCA without accommodating its proposal.

Thus, it would do all parties good if there could be a compromise on the UNFC proposal in the upcoming seventh official meeting, as this would demonstrate a desire to be equal and stimulate trust-building that has been in deficit all along. This, in turn, could even encourage the Panghsang alliance or Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) to rethink its policy of only to meet the government as a group and not separately.

At the end of the day, it will all depend on if the NLD and the Tatmadaw would be able to communicate on the same wavelength, especially where all-inclusiveness, national reconciliation, achieving and instilling peace for the benefit of the people and country are concerned.
As a member of one of Myanmars minority ethnic groups, I bring a unique perspective to a narrative otherwise dominated by Burman voices. I am ethnically Mon and was raised in Mon State. What I offer here are my own observation based on what I consider an objective assessment of the human conflict and humanitarian crisis that has befallen the country. I argue that this clash of racial and cultural values can only be addressed thorough personal liberty, security and human dignity for all people, regardless of race and gender.

At issue is racial discrimination, which many observers have asserted has progressed to the point of ethnic cleansing. Western media have reported that organizations like the United Nations have called the situation in Rakhine a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, in violation of international norms of human rights. Amnesty International has called the situation genocide, a charge that the Myanmar government vehemently denies.

The international media have been consistent in covering the enormous outflow of refugees into Bangladesh. The cover story on the October 2 edition of TIME Magazine entitled Myanmars Shame by Elizabeth Dias is one such example, featuring a cover picture of refugees desperately crossing the border. The Myanmar local press, especially Online TV, Radio and Social media has focused much more on the victims of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), especially those of other minority ethnic groups.

A clash of racial identity and values:

The situation has been made even more murky by conflicting accounts in local, national and international media. Even the terminology is different. International media refer to the Muslim population as Rohingya (as do those people), while the Tatmadaw and the Myanmar press call them Bengali or Muslims in Rhakine state. What is abundantly clear, though, is that the loss of lives, displacement of communities and destruction of property is enormous and beyond the scope of local or national humanitarian capabilities. I believe that Myanmars political writers and reporters have a responsibility to further investigation both ARSA and the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) if justice and security is to be established for people of all races and religions. That half a million people were displaced in one week is not a question of political or racial values, but basic human security and welfare.

Not only in Rhakine but throughout the country, Myanmar is a long way from meeting the standards laid out under the International Bill of Human Rights. The rights and freedoms that Myanmars peoples demand will not be realized unless a concerted effort is made to address the economic, social and cultural realities of Myanmars diverse communities. In fact, the question of social and cultural rights has never been addressed by the political establishment, but has been used instead as a wedge to maintain power.

Historical context:

The current crisis erupted when, on August 25, ARSA members attacked local police stations in the Maungdaw district of Rhakine state, killing at least eleven people. The news shocked the nation and the world. It is clear that the Tatmadaw and the NLD government failed to act on intelligence that it allegedly had about the attack.

Government security force responded with a heavy hand and killed more than three hundred people it claimed were ARSA militants. However the Tatmadaw responded with only an overwhelming military action, at the expense of dealing with the underlying communal tensions and humanitarian crisis. Many Burman people unconditionally applauded the action taken by the Tatmadaw and police to defend local people but were seemingly indifferent to the widespread allegations of abuse. The declaration of a security zone by the Tatmadaw denied reporters access to the crisis area and reduced much of the reporting from inside Myanmar to rumors.

Cyclical violence has been a part of Myanmar and Rhakine society for over two hundred years. The Arakan (Rakhine) Mrohaung dynasty, which would be the last, was destroyed by royal Burmese soldiers in 1785. Not long after, the British invaded and after the first Anglo-Burmese war from 1824 to 1826, occupied Rhakine.

Following the collapse of the Mrohaung dynasty, many Arakan people fled to India and into the Burmese heartland, but many other immigrants, especially from India, arrived to work in agricultural labor. The movement of peoples and the stoking of tensions between them was an integral part of the British colonial model, then operated by the East India Company (EIC). The EIC had vast commercial interest in colonial Burma and was happy to exploit local tensions for profit.

This clash of racial and cultural identity with political values among Myanmars races, major and minor, has been present since before independence. But the years of military rule between 1962 and 2010 only served to inflame tensions. For a long time, assimilation and Burmanization were the vigorously pursued policies of the Burman-dominated military regimes, not just in Rhakine, but throughout the country. For example, to be registered or enrolled in a hospital or school, children must have Burmese names. The government also tried to destroy ethnic languages by preventing their use in schools.

Addressing racial harmony:

With the advent of a semi-democratic government in Myanmar, we are in a critical moment. While many hoped that democracy would bring freedom and development for the country, those goals seem challenged by the communal acrimony affecting Myanmars peoples, indigenous and immigrant alike (especially in Chin, Rhakine and Shan States). Social security, personal safety and human welfare must be placed ahead of political and racial identity in any society for people to live without fear regardless of race, religion and ethnicity. The military-dominated social, cultural and political establishment must be reexamined through the lenses of social justice, personal liberty and universal application of the rule of law. A participatory and responsive peace should be the central agenda of the NLD government and ethnic leaders, even in spite of the agenda established by the military-dictated 2008 constitution. Stakeholders to the peace process must widen its scope to include racial and communal tensions that otherwise only see an outlet in violence.

The fifty million people of Myanmar share the same water, land, climate and environment, so we all need to share the common burden of responsibility for our own cultural and national heritage. The only way that humans can co-exist in peace, is for all minority cultures to be protected and celebrated, and all people given real avenues for political participation. That is the only way for a nation of diverse races, religions and cultural practices to exist without discrimination based on race, gender and faith.

Human rights is a reasonable framework for the world, but it can sometimes ignore the complexities of human society. Where we must be clear though, is in rejecting racial violence anywhere and towards anyone on earth. It is a moral and political responsibility of everyone in power and privilege. Myanmars history is filled with ugly chapters. Let us not let the same be our future.
The 8th of August 1988 is remembered for the nationwide protests and crackdown which followed. Troops opened fire on civilians, estimates put the number of people killed at more than three thousand, some as high as ten thousand. Thousands more were arrested.

In summaries of the history of Burma, the 88 uprising is always mentioned, but the focus is on what happened in Rangoon. Rarely do uprisings or crackdowns in ethnic areas receive much attention in summaries of Burmas history.

Thousands of Rohingya were killed in operation Dragon King by the Burmese military in 1978, and quarter of a million Rohingya fled the country.

In 1984 a renewed military offensive in Karen State by the Burmese military killed hundreds of civilians and drove thousands out of the country, beginning the refugee crises on the Thailand Burma border that continues to this day.

The Rohingya were again targeted in 1991 and 1992, and again hundreds, if not thousands, were killed and hundreds of thousands fled Burma.

Another largely forgotten crackdown happened in the Irrawaddy Delta in 1991.

What became known as the Bogalay Crisis began in October 1991 when a Tatmadaw military patrol came across Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) soldiers who were infiltrating the area hoping to start an uprising against the military dictatorship. The Burmese Army flooded the area with troops, and horrific human rights violations were committed against civilians in the process of crushing the uprising before it even began.

Even today, there are few accounts of what happened during this time. Eye witnesses I have interviewed describe how whole villages were rounded up and placed in camps under arrest. Some estimates are that 800-1,000 were killed, but others claim it was more than that. Some local villagers say there were mass graves with hundreds of bodies in each.

In interviews I have collected and reports from the Karen Human Rights Group, eye witnesses describe torture, executions, rape and mass looting by the Burmese military.

In one case a son was forced to rape his mother before they were both shot. Men and women were hung from trees by their arms and fires lit underneath them. Young men were tied up and soldiers used knives to cut the skin off their arms and legs.

Mass stabbings and throat cutting of villagers took place, with people being forced to dig their own graves before being killed. Villagers were beaten to death, bayonetted, stabbed, shot, burned and drowned. Women were gang-raped in front of their parents, family and other villagers.

One villager described how Burmese Army soldiers skewered his father from the anus to the mouth with a sharpened bamboo pole. Villagers were bombed by ships at sea, by planes and by helicopters. Whole villages were destroyed. Soldiers looted anything of value, including food, leading to hunger and sickness in the months that followed.

These human rights violations are very familiar from more recent United Nations reports of Burmese Army actions against the Rohingya in the past year, and from what has been happening in Shan and Kachin states. Impunity for past human rights violations enables these abuses to continue.

The increased military presence following the suppression of the Bogalay uprising led to further human rights violations, including regular beatings, rape, use of forced (slave) labour, confiscation of land and demands for produce.

Accorded to reports at the time, the military claimed 275 enemy combatants had been killed, 13 arrested and 3 surrendered. No-one believes these figures.

It is possible that some of the information given by those describing what happened around Bogalay in 1991 is exaggerated, although it is consistent with the behaviour of the Burmese military in other areas. Questions about what really happened are all the more reason for a proper investigation.

The wounds of the Bogalay massacres may be buried but they are not healed. Aung San Suu Kyi appears to be willing to forgive and forget, or at least ignore the past, for what she sees as a greater good of building better relations with the military. For many of those who went through such horrific experiences, they dont see how there can be genuine change in the future without even acknowledging the horrific events of the past. They want truth, they want official acknowledgement of what happened. Many would like to go further and see those responsible face justice.

The Bogalay massacres are as much a part of Burmas history as the 88 uprising. It may not have had the same nationwide political repercussions, but as with the 88 uprising, it is too significant an event to pass by year after year with no investigation having happened, no justice, and no official acknowledgement or commemoration for those who were killed.





by Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, and this article was published on Karen Information Center (or Karen News)




HYDERABAD (PTI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to double the launch frequency of satellites built by it by scaling up outsourcing to industry to meet growing demand, officials said.



Mylswamy Annadurai, the director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), the prime agency for realising satellites for the Indian space programme, said ISRO now launches nine to 10 spacecraft built by it per year.



"Requirements have gone up. We also have to fill up the backlog. We are targeting to double the launch frequency to 18 per year from 2018-19," Annadurai told PTI.



He said ISRO's experience with the industry has been reasonably good, and vendors are "very enthusiastic" in increasing their contribution in the space programme.



According to ISRO, the participation of the industry in realisation of space systems such as spacecraft, launch vehicles, establishment and operations of ground support systems and facilities, and implementation of application programmes for the benefit of end users have been steadily growing.



ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the space agency does as much activity as possible with the industry.



"Wherever it's possible to get the things done through the industry, we are doing and it will only increase in the coming days because we need to do more frequent activities.



There will be an increase in the usage of industry for the activities," he told PTI.



The chairman said 80 per cent of work relating to launch vehicles (rockets) is done by the industry, whose contribution in building of satellites is in the range of 30 to 35 per cent.



"Effort will be to keep increasing it. Finally, (eventually) we feel (only) eight to ten per cent of activities will have to be done within the organisation (and the rest outsourced to industry)," he said.



"Depending on the capability of the industry to take up more and more job (work), it will be done, and as they become more and more capable, the activities will shift to them," he said.



The ISRO, Kiran Kumar said, is also looking at the possibility of building a PSLV in a joint venture with a set of industry partners by 2020-21.



"Processes are on. We have to go through a number of clearances...submitting to the government and getting clearances. We are working on that," he said.



He said ISRO is addressing to resolve bottlenecks in increasing the launch frequency of satellites.



"If we have to do 12 to 18 launches per year, progressively we will see what's limiting that and then work on it. Right now, second (launch) vehicle (rocket) assembly building is what is causing that, and that's getting ready and by the end of this year, it should become operational," he added.



ISRO has been associated with more than 500 small, medium and large-scale industries while implementing various space programmes. So far it has transferred about 300 technologies to Indian industries for commercialisation.




An internet imagery.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has begun a six-day visit to France to explore new avenues of cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.



Admiral Lanba will meet French Defence Minister Florence Parly and will hold talks with Chief of Defence Staff General Francois Lecointre and Chief of French Navy Admiral Christophe Prazuck, the Navy said in a statement on Monday.



"The visit aims to consolidate cooperation between the armed forces of both India and France and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation," it said.



Admiral Lanba, during his November 5-10 visit, will also visit the French Airbase at Landivisiau where he will be briefed on the operational employability of the Rafale aircraft by the French Air Force.



In September last year, India had signed an Euro 7.87- billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal with the French government for the purchase of 36 Rafale twin-engine fighter jets.



The supply of Rafale jets is scheduled to start from September, 2019.



Admiral Lanba's visit to France comes 10 days after the French defence minister visited India during which both sides had decided to expand their military cooperation in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region, besides resolving to further ramp up the overall defence and security ties.



Admiral Lanba is also the chairman of the powerful chiefs of staff committee (CoSC) which comprises the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs.



He will also be visiting the Maritime Prefectures at Brest and Cherbourg, and the French submarine facility at Cherbourg.



Defence and security ties between India and France have witnessed an upward trajectory in the last few years.



The two countries established a strategic partnership in 1998, enhancing bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defence, nuclear energy and space.



The Indian Navy cooperates with the French Navy on many issues, which include operational interactions such as the Varuna series of bilateral exercises.



French shipbuilding major Naval Group, formerly DCNS, is part of the Indian Navy's project P 75 under which six Scorpene submarines are being made in India with the transfer of technology from the French firm.



Warships from Indian Navy have been regularly visiting ports at France.




Crab Nebula & Pulsar. Photo: NASA/ESA

NEW DELHI (PTI): Astrosat, India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, has accomplished the extremely strenuous job of X-ray polarisation, putting up a strong challenge to prevailing theories of high energy radiation from pulsars.



In a paper published in the reputed journal 'Nature Astronomy', a team of Indian astronomers has documented the results of their 18-month study of the Crab Pulsar in the Taurus constellation and measured the variations of polarisation as this highly-magnetised neutron star spins around 30 times every second.



Scientists and astronomers, who participated in the project hail from the country's top scientific institutes -- the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai; the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bengaluru; The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune; and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.



A pulsar is a celestial body, believed to be made up on neutrons, and rotates 30 times per second. Even though they are comparatively tiny in size, they have mass more than that of the entire Sun, and hence are known as compact objects.



Having an extremely large mass condensed in a very small volume, these objects possess extremely strong gravitational and magnetic fields, both approximately trillion times that on the Earth.



"They are known to be sources of intense X-ray radiation, electromagnetic waves similar to light but having ten to hundred thousand times higher energy, which carries vital clues to understand them as well as the physical processes responsible for the radiation," the IUCAA said in a statement.



Astronomers have extensively studied various properties of this radiation to piece together a complete picture of compact objects and their immediate surroundings.



However, the puzzle often remains incomplete due to the missing information about the elusive properties of X-rays known as polarisation.



X-ray polarisation measurement is so difficult that so far the only reliable measurement obtained worldwide is for the pulsar in the Crab Nebula - the ghostly remains of a massive stellar explosion known as supernova, observed in 1054 AD.



The scientists using data from the CZT (Cadmium Zinc Telluride) imager instrument of the Astrosat satellite, launched in September, 2015, have performed the most sensitive measurement of X-ray polarisation of the Crab Pulsar, the rotating neutron star which is the main energy source of the nebula.



"These measurements have, for the first time, enabled the study of polarisation at different rotation phases of the pulsar," the statement added.



It has been observed that the polarisation is varying the most in the off-pulse duration when no contribution from the pulsar is expected, which poses a serious challenge to most of the current theories of how this object produces X-rays, the statement said.




An internet imagery.

SHILLONG (PTI): The Indian Army and its Bangladesh counterpart have begun their week-long joint training exercise at the Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi cantonment of Meghalaya.



The Indo-Bangladesh exercise, the seventh such joint training exercise, is held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year to build and promote positive relations between the two Armies in view of an "emerging threat from transnational terrorism".



General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen AS Bedi, yesterday inaugurated the joint exercise 'SAMPRITI' in which 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army were participating.



In his speech, Lt Gen Bedi welcomed the foreign contingent and briefed them on the week-long exercise, an Army spokesperson, Lt Col Suneet Newton, said in a statement.



"The Indian Army believes that the joint Army exercise is a signal that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and are united in countering this menace," the statement said.



The exercise also aims to enhance inter-operability between the two nations and enrich from each other s experience while carrying out counter insurgency/ counter terrorist operations, the statement said.


WOW air, Icelands low-cost airline, has announced fares from Dublin to JFK Airport New York, via Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, from as low as 129.99 one way.

The airline will begin flying to JFK in spring 2018, with the inaugural flight departing on 26 April. Flights will operate from Dublin to JFK, via Rekjyvik, seven days a week.

JFK will be the second WOW air route to the Big Apple. Today, the airline also announced it will increase the number of weekly flights on its DublinNew York Newark route to thirteen from 29 May 2018.

Announcing the new route, Skuli Mogensen, founder and CEO of WOW air, said: Since launching our Newark route last year, weve seen increasing demand from our Irish passengers looking for more ways to travel to the East Coast. Our new route to JFK does just that.

JFK joins our growing network of North American destinations and will give Irish passengers a new, convenient way to explore the sights and sounds of the Big Apple at an affordable cost.

WOW airs expansion to JFK follows the success of the airlines transatlantic services from Dublin to ten North American destinations. The airline currently flies to New York (Newark), Boston, Washington, D.C., Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

Earlier this year, the airline announced five new routes from Ireland to Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St Louis and Dallas all commencing in 2018.

The special price of 129.99* to JFK will be available on selected flights for travel between April-June 2018 and September-October 2018.

For more information on flights to Iceland and North America please visit wowair.ie
Today 200 jobs were announced as MetLife celebrated the official opening of a new Global Technology Campus in Galway. Approximately 200 skilled IT professionals are set to be emplyed at the campus when at full capacity.

In attendance at the celebration were the Tanaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD; Michael DArcy, Minister of State with Responsibility for Financial Services & Insurance and other dignitaries.A number of MetLife executive leaders from around the globe also visited the facility in Galway to mark this historic occasion.

"Our new Global Technology Campus in Galway will be a dynamic center of change, and it will be at the heart of creating the digital solutions that will transform how our customers interact with us every day around the globe," said Marty Lippert, Executive Vice President and Head of MetLife Global Technology and Operations.

"We look forward to deepening our roots in Galway and Ireland, where we have found a business-friendly environment and a deep talent pool of skilled workers."

MetLife already have an office in Dublin and with the addition of the Galway campus they will employ 500 people in Ireland.

Speaking at the office opening, Michel Khalaf, President of MetLife US and EMEA also noted, "Just as we have done in Dublin, we look forward to growing our workforce here in Galway in the coming years and contributing fully to the local community.

"Today is confirmation of our strong and successful link with Ireland and represents a vote of confidence in that relationship into the future."

An Tanaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD, said, "This is an extremely exciting project, and the Irish Government is very pleased that our ongoing work in driving competitiveness and providing quality skills is paying dividends in attracting cutting-edge projects like this.

"This development will see a further 200 people employed in Ireland and we look forward to our continued fruitful relationship with MetLife in both its Galway and Dublin operations, well into the future."

CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan said: "The opening of this new Global Technology Campus is a significant step for MetLife, represents a substantial investment by the company and demonstrates very clear commitment to Galway and the West Region. It shows too that Galway has both the required skills for global companies such as MetLife to establish and grow here and the property solutions they need. I wish MetLife all future success in Galway."
The country is facing a "cancer epidemic" with rising numbers of people being diagnosed with the disease, a leading health charity has warned.

Unless the health system is properly equipped to deal with the increase, the ability to deliver the best outcomes for patients will diminish, the Irish Cancer Society has said.

Although there is an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with cancer, more sufferers than ever before are winning the battle against the disease, the organisation added.

According to the National Cancer Registry's annual report more than 40,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with cancer or a related tumour each year.

While about 9,000 people are dying from the disease annually, figures from the report show that there are more than 165,000 cancer survivors in Ireland.

Donal Buggy, head of services and advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society, said the rates of cancer per 100,000 people in Ireland appear to be stabilising.

He warned however that because of the growing and ageing population, the number of people in Ireland being diagnosed with the disease continues to rise.

He added: "As such, we are facing into a cancer epidemic. If our health system is not properly equipped to deal with this, our ability to deliver the best outcomes for patients will diminish.

"It is hugely welcome to see that more people are surviving cancer.

"This is largely due to better treatments and earlier diagnosis through screening and greater public awareness of symptoms."

Mr Buggy stressed the importance of a National Cancer Strategy, which includes increasing the proportion of cancers diagnosed at an earlier stage so that more lives can be saved.

He said the strategy should also offer cancer survivors a treatment summary and care plan to better communicate and co-ordinate survivorship care.

"This vision requires investment to make it a reality. The Government needs to ensure that resources are frontloaded and made available early in the strategy to ensure its recommendations are fully implemented," he added.

Mr Buggy also stressed that four out of 10 cancer cases are preventable by making simple lifestyle choices, as outlined in the European Code Against Cancer.

He has urged everyone to visit the website cancer.ie/europeancode to find out how to reduce their risk.
Let Me Tell You is a new bespoke podcast series from



Hosts Daniel McConnell and Paul Hosford take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players involved.


A Cork soldier who was given the anti-malarial drug Lariam for an overseas tour of duty in Chad has told the High Court he had nightmares, was feeling agitated and had persistent headaches.

Father of three Anthony Cole (51) said things got worse when he returned home from his overseas tour of duty.

Anthony Cole who served for 33 years in the Defence Forces has sued the State claiming he has not felt normal since his five months tour of duty in Chad in 2009.

In evidence Mr Cole told the court it was a dry mission in Chad, the heat was unbearable and the camp was  more or less in the middle of nowhere.

He said he wasnt sleeping and was a bit agitated ,

I put it down to the conditions in a Chad, he said,

Mr Cole who was a Sergeant in the supply group while in Chad said in a questionnaire which was part a repatriation medical he said yes when it asked the question if he had a significant adverse reaction to Lariam.

He said he he was having nightmares most nights and was agitated. He told the court that up until then he was fairly easy going but he would just snap at people and "was very cranky altogether".

He said once he got home from Chad in early 2010, it seemed to get "worse and worse."

"That whole yar is a blur," he added.

Anthony Cole, Duneoin, Carrigaline, Cork has sued the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General after he was given Lariam, also known as Mefloquine for two weeks before he travelled, while on his tour of duty and for a number of weeks on his return home from Chad.

He has claimed that when he arrived in Chad his sleep became very disturbed and for no obvious reason he became unhappy and exceedingly irritable. He has claimed he felt so bad in himself that after three weeks he seriously considered returning home but persisted with the five month tour of duty.

He has further claimed he has never felt normal since then and his life has been thrown in to complete dissaray and he suffers nightmares, headaches, mood swings and depression.

He alleges there was an alleged failure to adequately warn members of the Defence Forces including himself of the side effects of the anti malarial drug Lariam and an alleged failure to warn him of the dangers and risks associated the medication.

The claims are denied and it is contended there was an alleged delay in bringing the proceedings.

Mr Cole who has since left the Army had 33 years service including three tours overseas to the Lebanon.

The case before Ms Justice OHanlon continues.
A woman in her 80s has died in a house fire in Cork city.

It happened at a house on the Model Farm Road at around 9.20pm last night.

It is understood passersby alerted the authorities after seeing smoke coming from the house.

Three units of Cork city fire service attended the scene and remained there until after midnight, Gardai and an ambulance also attended.

The woman's body was recovered and she was the only person in the house at the time.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination and a post mortem is to be carried out later today at Cork University Hospital.

Gardai do not believe the fire to be suspicious at the moment.
A legal row has erupted over the contents of a victim impact statement in the sentencing of TV fitness instructor Francis Usanga who was found guilty of attacking his former partner.

Mother-of-two Emma Murphy had already told a court she was punched in the face in front of their children when she confronted Usanga about cheating.

However, his lawyer objected to her victim impact statement today branding it outlandish as well as utterly prejudicial and untrue.

Usanga a 31-year-old Dubliner and former Today show fitness expert denied assault causing harm to fitness blogger Emma Murphy during a row outside his former workplace at FX Fitness gym in Santry in north Dublin on July 3, 2015.

Usanga, with an address at Lanesboro, Finglas, was found guilty last month after he went on trial before Judge Bryan Smyth at the Dublin District Court

The court was told she was punched in the face and left with a black eye after she confronted him.

Judge Smyth did not accept the 510 fitness instructors self-defence claim that he pushed her away because he was in fear of her or the argument that this was justifiable force. Usanga had also told the court he was surprised by her injuries which he thought was make-up.

Sentencing was adjourned until today to allow Ms Murphy prepare a victim impact statement in writing. However, defence solicitor Michael Hanahoe, who had been furnished with a copy, told Judge Smyth it indicated matters that should not have been in it and which he said were totally, utterly prejudicial and untrue.

The prosecution said Ms Murphy had been provided with guidelines and her statement outlined the effects of the attack. Judge Smyth remarked that the first line of the second paragraph seemed to refer to something else and there had to be adherence to guidelines.

He said he was concerned with the matter before the court and nothing else.

A victim impact statement could not be used to bring in other matters that may well be relevant to their relationship, but the court has to deal with what is before the court, and it is in relation to that offence and that offence only, he said.

Mr Hanahoe, defending, said he had a problem with a prosecution suggestion that Ms Murphy could give more specific oral evidence instead. He said the document furnished to the court was deliberately prejudicial.

Emma Murphy.

Judge Smyth said he was not happy to read it and he disregarded the written statement.

The defence solicitor said: It is unusual that anyone would have to cross examine a victim impact statement but the document attempted to be put before the court is so outlandish I would have to look at whether it is appropriate to do that. There are matters in that that absolutely alter the courts view, not just in the findings but in the nature of the case.

He said the court was in a difficult situation and the State should look at whether it can proceed.

Judge Smyth adjourned the case for two weeks. He said a victim impact statement was not a carte blanche to go into every aspect, however, he also said Ms Murphy could give oral evidence.

Following the attack, she made a video about her ordeal which went viral on the internet and she appeared on ITV's Loose Women.

If she hadn't spoken out she would have remained in an abusive relationship with Usanga, she had said during the trial.

In evidence, Ms Murphy said Usanga was the father of her two young children and they had been in a relationship for three-and-a-half years which she described as really bad, toxic.

On the day, she went with her children in the car to the gym to talk to him about their relationship and his cheating, she said.

She asked him if there was a girl in the gym and he said no, she told the court. She said there was a loads of verbal abuse and he had told her to f*** off after she asked for his phone.

Francis Usanga.

She told the court there had been a crazy amount of cheating going on and she wanted to call one of his friends to ask him if Usanga had been with him over the previous Fathers Day weekend.

She said she needed to get to the bottom of it because it was not fair on me, it was not fair on my children.

She said at the gym he gave her a phone and she went outside with it and she claimed she discovered more cheating.

I said, you cheated on me again, she told the court. She said she was disgusted and threw the phone in his direction and he then punched her in the face. He straight up punched me with his hand, his fist, she said.

She told the court she was hit on her left eye and was utterly distraught. She said her children, then aged six months and 18 months, were in the car.

She told Judge Smyth her former partner said you broke my f***ing phone and as he went to pick it up she got in her car and drove away. Her eye was swelling and going red at the time, she recalled. She said she put ice on it and her brother took photos of her injuries.

She rejected several claims put to her by the defence: that during an earlier meeting that day at the Ikea car park she was confrontational and angry, forced Usanga to leave in his car, that she sped after him in her own car with her children on board and tried to cut him off at the gates.

It was put to her that he had been a celebrity and she later broke into his Facebook account telling his 10,000 followers she had been assaulted by him and that was the type of person he was. She agreed that she shared a video.

The defence suggested this was an attempt to destroy him but she replied, it was my attempt to get out of an abusive relationship, if I had not I would probably still be there.

Sharing a story can help other women, she said.

In the witness box she had held up a photo of her injuries and had said, This is me, this is my black eye.

In evidence, the fitness instructor claimed he was in fear for his life of Ms Murphy. I used my hands to push her away, I didnt know what she was going to do," he claimed.

A former BScene model, he also appeared in Jennifer Maguires dating series, One Night Stand, in 2010.

He told the trial that at the time of the incident he had not reached the pinnacle of his career and was not yet worldwide but just a local health and fitness guy in Ireland.

I pushed her to stop attacking me, he claimed.

He also said he thought her injuries were make up.
European Finance Ministers are today expected to publish a blacklist of territories accused of facilitating tax avoidance and tax evasion.

The ministers, including Paschal Donohoe, are meeting in Brussels today and will be discussing the fallout from the so-called Paradise Papers.

One of the revelations was that Apple moved a multi-billion euro tax avoidance scheme from Ireland to Jersey, after the government announced it was closing tax loopholes here.

CEO of Oxfam Ireland Jim Clarken, says the Finance Minister needs to take a tougher line on stamping out tax havens.

He said: "So we need Minister Donoghue to commit Ireland to much more robust oversight of the system and stronger initiatives to stamp out the use of tax havens by any company, whether they be based here or elsewhere.
Gardai in Dublin have renewed their appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 16-year-old Jason Collins.

Jason was last seen in the Ballyfermot area of Dublin on October 24.
Irish expats and emigrants are set to step up their campaign to have voting rights extended to citizens living abroad.

While on his final State visit to the US in March this year, the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny pledged to hold a referendum on the issue.

Mr Kenny made the promise based on the 2013 Constitutional Convention recommendation that all citizens living at home and abroad should be given the right to vote in presidential elections.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mary Hickman, a second generation Irish woman and chair of the 'Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad' (VICA) campaign group said citizens living outside the State should be allowed to vote in all elections and referenda.

"Only citizens," she said. "We are not saying the whole Irish Diaspora which is often said to be 70 million."

"Obviously within that 70 million you might have say three million or three-point-something million citizens - and that is made up of people who have left Ireland and people like myself [who are second generation Irish]."

She said extending voting rights would bring Ireland in line with around 130 other countries around the world that have already done so.

She said her campaign understands the fears of those who believe home vote could be swamped by the millions of citizens living outside the country.

"I think that is a really justifiable fear," she said. "But we think Ireland should follow Italy and France and Portugal's example and have external constituencies."

In French general elections there are 12 constituencies reserved for citizens living aboard - with, for example, those living in Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltics all voting for one government representative.

Italy meanwhile has four overseas constituencies, divided by geographical location.

Ms Hickman's campaign believes designating a certain number of TDs as representatives of the emigrant vote would ensure the wishes of people living in Ireland would not be over overrun by those living abroad.
By Ann O'Loughlin

A Limerick man described by a judge as "a veteran of the criminal justice system", has failed in his latest legal challenge to his jailing for two months for drunk and dangerous driving.

Mervin White (aged 36), Mallow Street, Limerick, last year lost a challenge to a District Court judge's decision to jail him in his absence for the offence after he failed to turn up in court for the third time.

He appealed and the Court of Appeal also rejected the challenge.

On August 8 last, he was brought to Mountjoy Prison to serve his sentence but his lawyer made an application to the High Court two days later for an inquiry into the lawfulness of his detention under Article 40 of the Constitution. He was released pending the hearing of that inquiry.

Mr Justice Seamus Noonan rejected the challenge saying White had not demonstrated any fundamental error in the re-issued warrant jailing him.

He had claimed the re-issued warrant was invalid, failed to show jurisdiction on its face, was unsigned and did not indicate the identity of the author.

Mr Justice Noonan adjourned until next week further orders in the case after noting that Mr White was still on bail.

The two-month sentence was originally imposed on him in December 2014 after he had twice not turned up in the District Court for his case on the charges he previously pleaded guilty to. The judge accepted explanations that his partner was having a baby on the first occasion, and that his sister was seriously ill on the second.

He was warned by the judge to turn up on the next adjourned date but failed to do so because, the court was told, he had missed the bus.

He was jailed in his absence after the court heard he had 35 previous convictions including one for a prior drink driving offence.

He brought his first High Court challenge last year claiming he should have been arrested and brought to court before sentence was imposed.

Mr Justice Max Barrett, who rejected that challenge, said he could have got a later bus because sentencing had been put back to the afternoon to facilitate him.

Mr Justice Barrett also said Mr White was a veteran of the criminal justice system and the reason given for not turning up in court was "almost whimsical".

It was well established law that the the State should not have to engage in "a game of 'catch me if you can'", the judge said.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by a former school teacher concerning the constitutionality of his proposed prosecution on charges of gross indecency against a male pupil over a two year period from 1978-80, allegedly beginning when the boy was aged almost 16.

The court granted leave to appeal on the issue whether consent of both parties is an essential ingredient of the offence of gross indecency under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885.

While Section 11 was repealed in 1993, the DPP says he is still entitled to bring prosecutions under it for historic offences committed before 1993.

In a published determination, a five judge Supreme Court said it will hear an appeal by the former teacher against the Court of Appeals dismissal of his challenge over his proposed prosecution.

An arguable point of law arose from the COA finding that Section 11 encompassed both consensual and non-consensual activity, it said.

The question of whether or not consent is a necessary ingredient of the offence that must be proved by the prosecution "is very much in dispute", it said.

The correct resolution of that issue was of "general public importance" because the DPP says he is entitled to use Section 11 for historic offences committed before its repeal, it said.

The issue may also be of direct relevance to the charges against the applicant in terms of the ingredients of the offence, the treatment of the complainants evidence (since he was over the age of criminal responsibility) and the appropriate sentence if convicted.

If the court finds consent of both parties is an essential ingredient of the offence, it will decide whether the man has the necessary legal standing to challenge the constitutionality of Section 11 and, if so, will rule whether or not Section 11 is constitutional.

The former teacher denies he committed offences contrary to Section 11 between November 1978 and June 1980, when he was a school teacher, against a then pupil aged between fifteen years and eleven months and seventeen years and six months.

The DPP has said no charge will be proceeded with where the complainant had reached the age of seventeen.

The Supreme Court said the alleged acts would have constituted criminal offences between 1978 to 1980 whether or not the complainant consented. In the absence of consent, the applicant would also be prosecutable today on charges of buggery and indecent assault in respect of those acts committed at that time, it said.

There was no doubt the alleged activity, if entered into today, would constitute serious offences under the legislation that replaced Section 11 in 1993 or provisions enacted in 2006, it also said. However, the question in this case was whether it is in accordance with the Constitution to prosecute the applicant with gross indecency under Section 11 of the 1885 Act.

In 1984, the Irish Supreme Court dismissed a challenge by Senator David Norris to the constitutionality of Section 11 but the provision was found contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights in two judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
A civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan push for secession from Spain wants all of Catalonias separatist political parties to run in a pro-independence coalition in regional elections on December 21.

Assemblea Nacional Catalana is calling for the coalition to include jailed separatist activists and members of the deposed Catalan cabinet as candidates.
Catalonia's ousted leader has vowed to prolong the fight for independence from Spain and urged the European Union (EU) to speak out over the jailing of Catalan officials in a rebellion case.

Carles Puigdemont's comments came at a campaign-style rally in Belgium's capital attended by about 200 mayors from Catalonia who greeted the deposed president with chants of "president" and "freedom".

The mayors raised their walking sticks, a symbol of mayoral power in Spain, in the air at the end of his speech and the crowd sang the Catalan anthem.

"We will never renounce this ideal of a country, of this notion of democracy," Mr Puigdemont told the mayors, gathered in a central Brussels art museum.

Flanked by four associates who fled Spain with him, Mr Puigdemont challenged the Spanish authorities and international community to accept the results of a snap Catalan election on December 21 if separatists win.

Mr Puigdemont and his colleagues could face 30 years in jail in Spain on charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement if Belgian justice authorities agree to extradite them.

Nine former Catalan government members have already been sent to jail in Spain. One of them was released on bail during the investigation.

Mr Puigdemont also challenged the EU to make its voice heard.

"Is this the Europe you want, is this the Europe you want to build, with a democratically-elected government in jail?" he said before a group of mayors held up big letters spelling "Help Catalonia".

The leaders of all the EU's main institutions are party allies of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

They have refused to criticise his government and only reacted very cautiously to police violence during the October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia.

Hours earlier, Mr Puigdemont told Catalan public radio that there is an "absolute disconnect between the interests of the people and the European elites", and that Catalonia's problem is an "issue of human rights that requires maximum attention".

Mr Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly implementing a strategy to secede from Spain. His next hearing before a Belgian court is on November 17.

Catalan independence is now the second cause of concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment and ahead of corruption, according to the latest government-run poll.

Before the illegal independence referendum that deepened the political crisis, the issue was only ninth in the ranking of concerns by the CIS survey.

Spanish central authorities are now in direct control of the north-eastern region, where the early election next month is shaping into a tight race between separatist and pro-union forces.

The civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan bid for secession from Spain called for the region's separatist political parties to run in a "unified pro-independence ticket".

In a statement, Assemblea Nacional Catalana said such a joint coalition should include jailed separatist activists and the members of the deposed Catalan Cabinet as candidates.

The parties have until midnight to register an interest in forming coalitions.

AP
US President Donald Trump has signalled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons programme, urging Pyongyang to "come to the table" and "make a deal".

In a notable shift from his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea, Mr Trump took a more optimistic tone in South Korea on Tuesday, suggesting "ultimately, it'll all work out".

And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Mr Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in.

"I do see certain movement."

Mr Trump said he has seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with North Korea though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

Mr Trump also underlined the United States' military options, noting that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region.

But he said "we hope to God we never have to use" the military options.

During his first day in South Korea, Mr Trump lowered the temperature on his previously incendiary language about North Korea.

There were no threats of unleashing "fire and fury" on the North, as Mr Trump previously warned, nor did the president revive his derisive nickname for North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un, Little Rocket Man.

But he did decree that the dictator is "threatening millions and millions of lives, so needlessly" and highlighted one of the central missions of his first lengthy Asia trip: to enlist many nations in the region, including China and Russia, to cut off Pyongyang's economic lifeblood and pressure it into giving up its nuclear programme.

Mr Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Mr Trump, said he hoped the president's visit would be a moment of inflection in the stand-off with North Korea and said the two leaders had "agreed to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue in peaceful manner" that would "bring permanent peace" to the peninsula.

"I know that you have put this issue at the top of your security agenda," said Mr Moon.

"So I hope that your visit to Korea and to the Asia Pacific region will serve as an opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety that the Korean people have due to North Korea's provocations and also serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue."

When presidents travel overseas, every word is parsed and every action studied.

He began with a visit to Camp Humphreys, a joint US-Korean military base, but even as he walked among the weapons of war, he struck a hopeful note, saying: "it always works out".

Much like he did in his visit to Japan, Mr Trump indicated he would place the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit.

He praised South Korea for significant purchases of American military equipment and urged the two nations to have more equitable trade relationship.

Mr Moon said the two agreed on lifting the warhead payload limits on South Korean ballistic missiles and cooperating on strengthening South Korea's defence capabilities through the acquisition or development of advanced weapons systems.

AP
Update 5.12pm:

A connection has emerged between the gunman and a Texas church where 26 people were killed as police described the victims as "defenceless people".

A gunman dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside the small church before killing people aged between five and 72 in the state's worst ever such atrocity.

Once the shooting started on Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, there was probably "no way" for congregants to escape, said Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr.

About 20 others were wounded.

"He just walked down the centre aisle, turned around and my understanding was shooting on his way back out," said Mr Tackitt, who said the gunman also carried a handgun but that he did not know if it was fired.

Mr Tackitt described the scene as "terrible."

"It's unbelievable to see children, men and women, laying there. Defenceless people," he said.

Mr Tackitt told CNN the gunman's former in-laws attended services at the church "from time to time" but were not in attendance on Sunday.

The gunman has been identified by officials as Devin Kelley.

The news emerges as Reuters report that the gunman had sent threatening texts to his former mother-in-law.

There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws, Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters.

Texas church gunman sent threatening texts to in-laws, officials say https://t.co/5WgCspbwhJ  Reuters (@Reuters) November 6, 2017

The gunman crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, said Freeman Martin, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, where an 11am service was scheduled.

As he left, the gunman was confronted by an armed resident who "grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect", Mr Martin said.

A short time later, the suspect was found dead in his vehicle at the county border.

Federal agents, including ATF investigators and the FBI's evidence collection team, swarmed the small rural community of just hundreds of residents.

Several weapons were found inside the vehicle and Mr Martin said it was unclear if the attacker died of a self-inflicted wound or if he was shot by the resident who confronted him.

Mr Martin said 23 of the dead were found in the church, two were found outside and one died after being taken to a hospital.

The man who confronted Kelley had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who told KSAT TV that he was driving past the church as the shooting happened.

Among those killed was the church pastor's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were both out of town when the attack occurred, Sherri Pomeroy wrote in a text message.

"We lost our 14-year-old daughter today and many friends," she wrote.

"Neither of us has made it back into town yet to personally see the devastation.

"I am at the Charlotte airport trying to get home as soon as I can."

Church member Nick Uhlig, 34, who was not at Sunday's service, said his cousin, who was eight months pregnant, and her in-laws were among those killed.

He later told the Houston Chronicle three of his cousin's children also were killed.

President Donald Trump, who was in Japan, called the shooting an "act of evil", later calling the gunman "a very deranged individual".

Two sheriff's vans were parked outside the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the address listed for Kelley on the rural, western outskirts of New Braunfels, north of San Antonio.

Ryan Albers, 16, who lives across the road, said he heard intensifying gunfire coming from that direction in recent days.

"It was definitely not just a shotgun or someone hunting," Ryan said.

"It was someone using automatic weapon fire."

The church has posted videos of its Sunday services on a YouTube channel, raising the possibility that the shooting was captured on video.

Texas governor Greg Abbott said the attack was the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

It came on the eighth anniversary of a shooting at Texas' Fort Hood, where 13 people were killed and 31 others wounded by a former US Army major.

The previous deadliest mass shooting in Texas had been a 1991 attack in Killeen, when a mentally disturbed man crashed his pickup vehicle through a restaurant window at lunchtime and started shooting people, killing 23 and injuring more than 20 others.

The University of Texas was the site of one of the most infamous mass shootings in modern American history, when US Marine sniper Charles Whitman climbed the Austin campus' clock tower in 1966 and began firing on stunned people below, killing 13 and wounding nearly three dozen others.

He had killed his wife and mother before heading to the tower, one victim died a week later and medical examiners eventually attributed a 17th death to Whitman in 2001.

AP

Update 2.12pm: Texas shooter had been discharged from Air Force over alleged domestic violence

The man identified as the gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church was discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child, according to an Air Force spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, said Devin Kelley served 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial.

He ultimately received a bad conduct discharge and reduction in rank.

Neighbours of the gunman said they had heard gunfire in days leading up to the atrocity.

Church shooter killed himself after vehicle chase, sheriff tells CBS https://t.co/90plgIE9sN pic.twitter.com/z54ecZ8Anm  Reuters (@Reuters) November 6, 2017

Ms Stefanek said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014.

His job was responsible for moving passengers, cargo and personal property in military transportation.

Authorities did not announce his name at a news conference on the shooting, saying only that the suspect was a white male in his 20s.But a US official and a law enforcement official identified Kelley as the person who opened fire on Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding about 20 others.

Kelley is reported to have lived in a San Antonio suburb and does not appear to be linked to an organised terrorist groups.

Texas church shooter, that left at least 20 dead, has been identified as white terrorist Devin Kelley: https://t.co/oYF5xkGkO3 pic.twitter.com/5HVRX8bHzs  The Root (@TheRoot) November 6, 2017

The official said investigators are looking at social media posts Kelley may have made in the days before Sunday's attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 style semi-automatic weapon.

An address listed in online records as belonging to Kelley is located in New Braunfels, Texas, just outside San Antonio and about 35 miles from Sutherland Springs.

At the address listed for Kelley in New Braunfels, two sheriff's vans were parked outside and police officers stood at the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the property.

Neighbours said that they heard intense gunfire coming from the direction of the address listed for Kelley in recent days.

"It's really loud. At first I thought someone was blasting," said Ryan Albers, 16, who lives across the road.

"It had to be coming from somewhere pretty close.

"It was definitely not just a shotgun or someone hunting.

"It was someone using automatic weapon fire."

A person matching Kelley's name and date of birth also registered in 2014 to vote in Colorado, with an address listed in Colorado Springs, home of the US Air Force Academy.

The Colorado Secretary of State's office lists his registration now as inactive.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin, the gunman arrived at a Valero petrol station near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs at around 11.20am on Sunday.

He was dressed in black, wearing tactical gear and a ballistic vest.

He crossed the street to the church, left his vehicle and started firing a Ruger AR assault-type rifle at the church.

Then he entered the church and fired.

The suspect was found dead in his vehicle near the border between Wilson and Guadalupe counties.

AP

Johnnie Langendorff is being hailed as a hero after he joined the chase of Devin Patrick Kelly as he raced down a Texas Highway soon after Kelly shot up a church on Sunday. pic courtesy of KSAT12 news

Update 12.15pm: Men who gave chase to Texas shooter hailed as heroes

Two men are being hailed as heroes for pursuing the gunman suspected of killing at least 26 people at a Texas church.

Johnnie Langendorff told local media that he chased Devin Kelley after witnessing him exchange fire with an armed neighbour.

He said the pair then helped authorities track him down.

"He just hurt so many people .. why wouldn't you want to take him down. I was on the phone with dispatch the entire time and gave them the direction he was going."

Update - 9.55am: Sheriff reveals no way for church congregation to escape once the shooting started.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe D Tackitt Jr, whose territory includes Sutherland Springs, said there was probably "no way" for the church congregation to escape once the shooting started.

"He just walked down the centre aisle, turned around and my understanding was shooting on his way back out," said Mr Tackitt.

He said the gunman also carried a handgun but that he did not know if it was fired.

The sheriff described the scene as "terrible" and said: "It's unbelievable to see children, men and women, laying there. Defenceless people."

The victims included multiple family members and tight-knit neighbours ranging in age from five to 72 years old.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses Texas shooting from Japan. Via: @ReutersTV pic.twitter.com/J6UFDC0wtj  Reuters (@Reuters) November 6, 2017

Update - 8.25am: Donald Trump has said the mass shooting at a Texas church "isn't a guns situation"

Donald Trump has said the mass shooting at a Texas church "isn't a guns situation," but is a "mental health problem at the highest level".

The president spoke after a man killed 26 people and wounded at least 16 others in what the governor called the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history.

Devin Kelley, the man authorities have identified as the gunman, was discharged from the Air Force several years ago for allegedly assaulting his spouse and a child.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that Kelley served 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial. He ultimately received a bad conduct discharge and reduction in rank.

She said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014. He was responsible for moving passengers, cargo and personal property in military transportation.

As Kelley left the scene, authorities said he was confronted by an armed resident who engaged the suspect, who later was found dead in his vehicle.

While no officials have publicly questioned Kelley's mental health, Mr Trump said that "is your problem here" when asked about the shooting as he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint news conference in Tokyo.

"This was a very, based on preliminary reports, a very deranged individual. A lot of problems over a long period of time," Mr Trump said.

"We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries. But this isn't a guns situation," the president said.

Mr Trump first tweeted that he was monitoring the situation from Japan.

He later described the shooting as an "act of evil" during remarks to a gathering of American and Japanese business executives.

Mr Trump said "fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction otherwise it (wouldn't) have been as bad as it was, it would have been much worse."

"But this is a mental health problem at the highest level. It's a very, very sad event."

Earlier: A man opened fire inside a church in a small South Texas community yesterday, killing 26 people

A man opened fire inside a church in a small South Texas community yesterday, killing 26 people and wounding about 20 others in what the governor called the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history.

Officials did not identify the attacker during a news conference last night, but two other officials - one a US official and one in law enforcement - who were briefed on the investigation identified him as Devin Kelley.

The US official said Kelley lived in a San Antonio suburb and does not appear to be linked to organised terrorist groups. The official said investigators are looking at social media posts Kelley may have made in the days before yesterday's attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.

At the news conference, Freeman Martin, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the attacker was dressed all in black, wearing tactical gear and a ballistic vest, when he arrived at a gas station across from the First Baptist Church at around 11.20am local time.

He crossed the street and started firing a Ruger AR rifle at the church, and continued after entering the building. As he left, he was confronted by an armed resident who chased him. A short time later, the suspect was found dead in his vehicle at the county line, Mr Martin said.

The exact circumstances of his death are unclear. There were several weapons inside the vehicle.

Mr Martin said investigators were not ready to discuss a possible motive for the attack. He said the dead ranged in age from five to 72 years old. Twenty-three were found dead in the church, two were found outside and one died after being taken to a hospital.

Federal law enforcement swarmed the small community 30 miles south-east of San Antonio after the attack to offer assistance, including ATF investigators and members of the FBI's evidence collection team.

Among those killed was the 14-year-old daughter of the church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, and his wife, Sherri. Sherri Pomeroy wrote in a text message to the AP that she and her husband were out of town in two different states when the attack occurred.

"We lost our 14 year old daughter today and many friends," she wrote. "Neither of us have made it back into town yet to personally see the devastation. I am at the charlotte airport trying to get home as soon as i can."

The wounded were taken to hospitals. Video on KSAT television showed first responders taking a stretcher from the church to a waiting AirLife helicopter. Eight victims were taken by medical helicopter to the Brooke Army Medical Center, the military hospital said.

Megan Posey, a spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Centre, which is in Floresville and about 10 miles from the church, said "multiple" victims were being treated for gunshot wounds.

Alena Berlanga, a Floresville resident who was monitoring the chaos on a police scanner and in Facebook community groups, said everyone knows everyone else in the sparsely populated county. Sutherland Springs has only a few hundred residents.

"This is horrific for our tiny little tight-knit town," said Alena Berlanga. "Everybody's going to be affected and everybody knows someone who's affected," she said.

President Donald Trump tweeted from Japan, where is his on an Asian trip, that he was monitoring the situation. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the shooting an "evil act."

AP
US president Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea, beginning a two-day visit centred on pressuring the nation's neighbour to the north to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Trump has repeatedly struck a hard line against Pyongyang and South Korea will be warily watching him as he is poised to deliver bellicose warnings in the shadow of the North Korea.

The president refused to rule out eventual military action against the north and exhorted dictator Kim Jong Un to stop weapons testing, calling the recent launches of missiles over American allies like Japan "a threat to the civilised world and international peace and stability".

"We will not stand for that," Mr Trump said at a Monday news conference with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. "The era of strategic patience is over. Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years."

As part of his Asia tour, Mr Trump will visit South Korea, where he will forgo the customary trip to the demilitarised zone separating north and south - a pilgrimage made by every US presidents except one since Ronald Reagan as a demonstration of solidarity with the South. Instead, Mr Trump planned to visit Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul.

US and South Korean officials have said the base visit is meant to underscore the countries' ties and South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defence. Burden-sharing is a theme Mr Trump has stressed ever since his presidential campaign.

Mr Trump and South Korea's liberal President Moon Jae-in agree on the need to pressure the North with sanctions and other deterrence measures. But Mr Trump has warned of unleashing "fire and fury", threatened to "totally destroy" the North, if necessary, and repeatedly insisted that all options are on the table.

Mr Moon, meanwhile, flavors dialogue as the best strategy for defusing the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash that could cause enormous casualties in South Korea.

Mr Trump backed up his strong words about North Korea by sending a budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday for four billion dollars to support "additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners".

And as he departed for South Korea, he tweeted that Mr Moon is "a fine gentleman", adding, "We will figure it all out!"

On a personal level, Mr Trump and Mr Moon have not developed the same close rapport as Mr Trump has with Mr Abe or even China's Xi Jinping.

Part of Mr Moon's mission during the visit will likely be to strengthen his personal ties with Mr Trump, said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution.

"Now poor President Moon is playing catch-up ball because everyone acknowledges that he's not bonding quite as much with Donald Trump as the rest of the region," said Mr O'Hanlon.

He said Mr Moon could face pressure "to deliver a stronger relationship" whereas "in most other parts of the world, people are trying to keep their distance from Donald Trump."

Mr Trump will spend Tuesday in meetings with Mr Moon, hold a joint press conference and be feted at a state dinner.

Trade also is expected to be a major topic of discussion. Mr Trump has considered pulling out of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, blaming it for the US-South Korea trade deficit.
US President Donald Trump has urged North Korea to "make a deal" to rein in its nuclear weapons programme.

During a trip to neighbouring South Korea, Mr Trump said he had seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Mr Trump said at a news conference with South Korean president Moon Jae-in.

"I do see certain movement."

Mr Trump was winding down his visit to Seoul on Wednesday with an address to South Korea's National Assembly, where he was expected to outline his view of dangers posed by the North's nuclear weapons programme.

The next stop on his five-nation Asian tour is Beijing, where he will press China to constrict the North's economic lifeblood.

Mr Trump also teased he had a surprise in store for Wednesday, saying at a Tuesday-evening banquet that he had an "exciting day" planned "for many reasons that people will find out".

The president sounded an optimistic note on disagreements with the North, saying confidently, if vaguely: "Ultimately, it'll all work out."

North Korea has fired off more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months, with analysts urging caution against reading too much into the pause.

There is no public sign of any diplomatic progress between Washington and Pyongyang.

US officials say the back channel between the State Department and the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York remains intact, but contacts have not been substantive other than achieving the release of American college student Otto Warmbier in June. He died days after his repatriation to the US.

Mr Trump did note the United States' military options, mentioning that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region.

He said "we hope to God we never have to use" the arsenal.

Mr Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the president's visit would be a turning point in the stand-off with North Korea.

The president began his day with a visit to Camp Humphreys, a joint US-Korean military base where he shook hands with American and Korean service members, and ate lunch with troops in a large mess hall.

When he leaves South Korea, Mr Trump flies to Beijing for what the White House sees as the centrepiece of his trip.

China is North Korea's largest trade partner and Mr Trump is expected to press its leaders to curtail their dealings with Pyongyang and to expel North Korean workers from its borders.

Mr Trump has praised China for adopting tough United Nations sanctions against North Korea but has urged it to do more.

AP
Latest News On-time property sale settlements hit new heights Almost 90% finalised on first scheduled date, says PEXA

Regional hotspots record sharp falls in value, new data shows Value declines have become more geographically broad-based over the three months to October

They do not believe the offer represents adequate value

Those accepting the bid may miss out on a higher offer

Those accepting will not benefit from future growth in the firm

The board of Western Australian bank Goldfields Money has called upon shareholders to reject an acquisition offer by non-bank lender Firstmac, slamming the bid as inadequate and opportunistic.With acceptance of the offer requiring action as stated in the original bidders statement, shareholders have been advised to do nothing with respect to their shares. The banks directors have cited the following reasons for rejecting the offer:As well as the strategic value attached to Goldfields Moneys ADI licence, the offer price represents a premium of 12% to the closing price of the firms shares as of 13 October.Your directors believe the strategic value of the ADI licence and the synergies this would provide to a range of potential bidders including Firstmac should be reflected in the premium paid by any bidder, the board wrote in a Targets Statement released on the ASX on Friday (3 November).Goldfields hired an independent expert which concluded that the offer of $1.12 cash per share was not fair and not reasonable instead valuing the companys shares at between $1.27 and $1.39 per share.With the offer remaining open until 1 December, Firstmac has the ability to increase its offer price up until the last five days of this period.At present, Goldfields three largest shareholders (excluding Firstmac) own 41% of the shares in the firm and have confirmed that they are not accepting the offer at its current price.If Firstmac obtains at least 90% of all shares in Goldfields, it will gain the right of compulsory acquisition of all remaining shares. The non-bank will also seek to delist Goldfields from the ASX at the conclusion of the acquisition.Australian Broker has reached out to Firstmac for further comment but failed to obtain a reply prior to print.
A 24-year-old man is facing a slew of felony charges for illegal straw purchase of 21 guns at gun stores, almost exclusively in Bucks County. Leonard Truesdale was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, on 21 counts each of making false statements on firearm purchase forms, criminal conspiracy to make false statements on firearm purchase forms and selling or transferring...
Kent Blaxill has opened its new 3,500 sq ft store on Erica Road, Stacey Bushes Trading Centre in Milton Keynes.

The family firm has over 175 years' experience in working with both professional and DIY home markets, and provides a wide range of decorating products. The Mayor of Milton Keynes, David Hopkins, joined the Kent Blaxill team to officially cut the ribbon.

The new branch continues the Kent Blaxill tradition of supplying some of the industry's finest names. This includes an extensive range of paints and related products, with a strong focus on designer paints including Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Paint and Paper Library, Mylands, Designers Guild, Fired Earth and Zoffany, as well as trusted trade brands such as Dulux, Crown and Armstead. Professionals can also enjoy a daily decorative materials delivery service.

Simon Blaxill, Managing Director of Kent Blaxill, said: The new Milton Keynes branch is a great location for us and the next logical step when extending our branch network. Kent Blaxill always wants to open branches where the community is vibrant and growing.

Tony Altieri, Manager of the new Milton Keynes branch, added: "We are excited to be creating four new jobs initially with two full-time and two part-time posts. Kent Blaxill always looks to employ the very best staff for every branch as our industry knowledge is what sets our service apart."

While the merchants products are aimed at the decorating professional, it also wants to attract a discerning retail customer to the branch who is looking to source the best products for their home.

Simon continued: Our staff have a superb understanding of what today's customers need and offer expert advice on products and services, including brush-out boards to help customers decide on the perfect colour.

It is really important for us to continue the ethos of our family firm which focuses heavily on building relationships with customers by offering service, quality and value, and we look forward to building a strong relationship with Milton Keynes.

Picture caption: The new Kent Blaxill branch is located on the Stacey Bushes Trading Centre in Milton Keynes.
India's largest motorcycle exporter is looking forward to close the current financial year with a 4 per cent jump in domestic motorcycle market share. is targeting a 23 per cent market share by the end of FY18, from its existing standing at 19 per cent. At the sideline of an event to demonstrate the 15,600-km journey covered by Bajaj Dominar, Eric Vas, President, Motorcycle business, expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory.
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Crayon Data, a portfolio company of Jungle Ventures, has raised undisclosed money from Infosys co-founder Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan.

Crayon Data, a big data company, said that the investment is part of Crayon's Series A2 round of funding. Previous investors include Jungle Ventures, Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata, Mitsui & Co Ltd among others.
The Rajasthan High Court has stayed any further action on a limestone mine allotment after the Sajjan Jindal-owned sued the state government over an allegedly botched auction.
Anil Ambanis announced on Monday it had entered into an agreement with Veecon Media & Television Ltd (VMTL) to sell the equity shares of its non-core DTH business.
surged by 16.42 per cent on Tuesday. The stock price rose to Rs 1,915.55 a share, up by Rs 270.20 a day after it reported that the net profit doubled to Rs 25.85 crore for the quarter ended September 2017.
The today announced that primary schools would be closed tomorrow in view of deteriorating air pollution conditions in the city.

Moreover, all schools have been asked to stop outdoor activities, including morning assemblies, Deputy Chief Minister said.

"Primary schools in Delhi, including private ones, will remain closed tomorrow. We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and a further decision on the measures will be taken on Thursday," he told reporters.

The has also issued a health advisory for high risk people, including children, the elderly and those suffering from asthma and heart ailments.

"We appeal to the people of to avoid morning and evening walks," he said.

The situation following the alarming pollution levels in the city was reviewed by Chief Minister at a meeting with officials, including those from Health and Environment department.

The combination of smoke from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and moisture turned Delhi into a "gas chamber" today, prompting the Supreme Court mandated green body EPCA to announce a series of preventive measures, including a four- fold hike in parking fees and slashing of Metro fares in off- peak hours.

The smog brought down visibility levels, affecting flight and train operations. The heavy air permeated living rooms and even underground Metro stations.

The air quality index was in the 'severe' category -- with a score of 448 in a scale of 500 -- category for the second time this year.

Earlier, Diwali fireworks had triggered peak pollution levels on October 20.
The terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad on Tuesday confirmed that three terrorists who were gunned down by the security forces yesterday in an encounter in Pulwama district's Aglar Kandi village of Jammu and Kashmir included Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and outfit's divisional commander.

"Three militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and outfit's divisional commander," a JeM spokesman told in a statement.

The JeM spokesman identified Masood Azhar's nephew as commander Talha Rasheed.

He said two other terrorists who were killed in the encounter include Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai, a non-local Waseem, a resident of Drubgam, Pulwama.

Meanwhile, one security personnel Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh lost his life in yesterday's encounter.

A civilian was also got injured in the gunfight.

Two AK-47s and a pistol were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Troops of 182 battalion and 183 battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were carrying out a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the region, when the encounter broke out.
Marketing and finance have pipped consulting as the preferred sector and profile this year for summer internships at some of the top business schools, including the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) centres that have wrapped up summer placements for the year.
The beating that ended Pehlu Khans life was televised nationwide. Cell phone video captured a group of men punching and slinging Khan around the middle of a road in north India, stomping on him and then slamming the 55-year-old farmer down on concrete as he begged for mercy.
After almost a week, schools resumed in Chennai on Tuesday but heavy rains started again in many parts of the city.
Eighteen months after the famous Panama Papers leak, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) leaked another massive trove of financial data  Paradise Paperson Sunday. The leak contains 13.4 million secret documents of financial transactions from two leading offshore firms in secret tax havens  Bermudas Appleby and Singapores Asiaciti Trust.
Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has accused the Congress of having a hand in the Tehelka sting 'Operation West End', which led to then Defence Minister George Fernandes' resignation and that when UPA was in power, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had asked then Finance Minister P Chidambram to ensure that Tehelka's alleged financiers are not treated in an "unfair" or "unjust" manner.

The author has made these claims in her memoir, 'Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life'. The book hints at the links between Gandhi and the Tehelka news portal, particularly in the Tehelka sting 'Operation Westend.'

"I included the letter in my book to show the truth behind accusations against me that I met with wrong people and assured them of my help in exchange for money. The wrong people were fake. Neither did I give them any assurances, nor asked and received any money. I have been going to court for nine years for the wrong allegations," Jaitly told ANI.

Meanwhile, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to register a case against Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the basis of letters revealed by former Samata Party President Jaya Jaitly, which were purportedly written by Gandhi to former finance minister P Chidambaram.

"CBI can register a case in the preventional corruption act because she(Sonia Gandhi) wrote the letter under the official title of the chairman of the Advisory Council and ED can file a case of money laundering. Both Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh are equally culpable because they had assisted in the commission of the crime," he said.

The former Union Minister claimed that he had released a similar letter two years ago, but nobody took it seriously at that time.

"I had released a similar letter two years ago, which was written by Sonia Gandhi, the then chairman of the advisory council to Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India to save Tejpal (former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine) from all the cases that were piled on by the NDA govt," Swamy said.

Jaitly referred to the ongoing nine-year-long corruption case against her, wherein the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet alleging that she had accepted a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in 2001. She was alleged to have accepted the money in exchange for persuading former defence minister George Fernandes to award the contract of hand-held thermal imagers to a company named West End International.

The case was registered on the basis of a sting, 'Operation Westend,' conducted by news portal Tehelka in 2000, purportedly exposing alleged corruption in defence deals.

There are, in total, three letters enclosed in the book. They are - a letter by Tehelka directors and a letter by Tehelka Financiers - First Global Directors addressed to Gandhi and the third letter from Gandhi to Chidambaram on behalf of Tehelka and its financiers. The book further hints that Sonia tried to convince Chidambaram to shield the Tehelka financiers.

"I positioned the letter in such a way to show that a letter was written to someone who is even above the prime minister, who then wrote to the finance minister relating their problem, and immediately the problem was solved. This is the reality unlike the allegations against me which are fake," Jaitly said, and added, "to save a person, who paid Tehelka to conduct a sting operation, there must be some connection."

The letter was written merely months after the UPA formed the government, and Sonia Gandhi declined the post of the prime minister, which was passed on to Dr Manmohan Singh.

"Without having any official post in the government, Sonia Gandhi writing letter to the finance minister shows how much power she held," Jaitly said, and added, "Unlike the usual delay in official matters, an action was taken within five days. They were so energetic. Was this the only work they had after coming in the Centre?"

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari reacted to the entire controversy and said "Tehelka" was targeted by the NDA-BJP government for exposing the dirty dealings of their associates.

"In 2001, a news portal called Tehelka carried out a sting, in which they exposed the dirty dealings of a number of eminences associated with the NDA-BJP government, including the then BJP President Bangaru Laxman. He was caught on candid camera taking money for allegedly doing favours in a defence deal. Subsequently, the NDA-BJP govt came down like a tonne of bricks on that news portal," Tewari claimed.

The former Union Minister alleged that the news portal was hounded by the NDA government, due to which the UPA government was forced to intervene.

"It was the classical case of shooting the messenger rather than listening to the message. Exactly in the manner in which today the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income-Tax department is being abused by this government against its political opponents. In fact, a commissioner inquiry was constituted that got nowhere and on the other hand, a news organisation which had done its legitimate duty was hounded to the ground. Under those circumstances, an intervention with the right intent for the freedom of speech and expression was done at that point of time to ensure that vendetta and witch hunt comes to an end," Tewari said.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday came down hard on the Narendra Modi governments key policy measures over the past one year, saying while was a monumental blunder, it was followed up by a badly designed and hastily implemented GST.
A high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) is slated to visit India between November 21 and 28 to reportedly inspect the quality of the aquaculture products here by visiting the harbours and processing factories located in the country.

There is widespread speculation that the EU is considering a ban, citing quality issues, especially the presence of antibiotics in Indian shipments. EU is the third largest market for India accounting for about 18 per cent of the country's valued at $5.7 billion.
Indian companies raised 40 per cent less in foreign currency loans this year till date at $13.5 billion against $23.6 billion in the same period of 2016.


A year since of high-value currency notes, the income-tax (I-T) department has identified 80,000 actionable cases (people) who deposited cash of over Rs 10 lakh each in bank accounts but have no tax profile.
Scientists in Punjab feel that the central governments ambitious goal of doubling farmers incomes by 2022 could be difficult to achieve in the state because of the high productivity levels of wheat and rice and an extremely high cropping intensity, almost 204 per cent, that makes diversification to other crops challenging.
The US-India Business Council (USIBC) may become part of talks on totalisation that is a bone of contention between India and its largest export partner, the US, newly elected President Nisha Desai Biswal has said.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment(Independent Charge), Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar met the representative of all Central Trade Unions in Shram Shakti Bhawan on 7th November 2017 to discuss the issues raised in 12 Point Charter Demand of CTUOs. The meeting was attended by representatives of major Central Trade Unions including BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC and NFITU as well as Secretary, Labour and Employment Mrs. Sathiyavathy and other the senior officers of the Ministry. 12 Point Charter Demand of CTUOs inter alia raises issues of minimum wages, price rise, unemployment, disinvestment, universal social security, compulsory registration of trade unions, increase in minimum pension under EPFO and strict compliance and enforcement of labour laws. The Minister said that the Government has highest regard for the consultative process and he is committed to uphold it. He referred to the calls for nation-wide demonstrations on 9th-10th and 17th November by the CTUOs and BMS respectively and appealed the Trade Unions to rather engage in the constructive discussions on each of the issue raised by them. .

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Minister said that the Government and the Ministry of Labour and Employment has consistently and continuously taken pro-labour decisions and initiatives. He talked about initiatives like simultaneous increase in Minimum wages, the provision for National Floor Level Minimum wages in the proposed Labour Code on Wages. The Bonus Amendment Act, the decision to enhance Minimum pension to Rs. 1000/- as well as the other initiatives taken by other Ministries. .

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Trade Union representatives primarily demanded the Government to address the issues of enhancing Minimum Pension to Rs. 3000/- as well as Minimum Wages. They also talked at length about the issues related to enforcement of labour laws, and social security for unorganized workers including growing contractualization. .

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A presentation was also made by the Ministry to present an updated status on the 12 demands raised by the CTUOs. .

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Addressing the Media persons the Minister expressed hope that the talks with the Trade Union Representatives was positive and it was done in a cordial atmosphere. He appealed to the Trade Unions to call off the proposed Dharna. .

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Ltd made an unsolicited $105 billion takeover bid for Qualcomm Inc., the chip industrys boldest bet yet that size will equal strength at a time of technological upheaval.
General Electric Co is weighing options for its aircraft leasing operations, including the sale of all or part of the business, as Chief Executive John Flannery searches for new divestitures, according to people familiar with the matter.
I really believe that it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and to make a deal thats good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world: Donald Trump
Saturday, November 4, was an extraordinary day: it witnessed three developments which, taken together, suggest a major escalation in the armed conflict in West Asia is in the offing, even as the region is already groaning under the violence of bloody wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, in which half a million people have been killed and several million have been displaced.
Described as being "Mr Everything", a "hothead", and "young and brash", Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is back in the news as the supposed driving force behind a wide-sweeping purge in the desert kingdom that started on Sunday.
Chinese leaders have long sought to present themselves as equals to American presidents. Xi Jinping has wanted something more: a special relationship that sets China apart, as the other great power in an emerging bipolar world.
Chinese leaders have long sought to present themselves as equals to American presidents. has wanted something more: A special relationship that sets China apart, as the other great power in an emerging bipolar world.
KIOCL, State Trading Corporation of India (STC India), Hindustan Copper and MMTC are four public sector undertaking (PSU) stocks that have rallied more than 60% in past one month on back of huge volumes.
HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company today raised Rs 2,322 crore from anchor investors, ahead of its initial public offer tomorrow.

Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek, Norwegian fund Norges, Kuwait Investment, T Rowe Price, Fidelity, Blackrock and JP Morgan are among the anchor investors, according to a regulatory filing.

The shares have been allocated at the upper price band of Rs 290 apiece.

The company's executive committee and the promoter selling shareholders in consultation with the manager to the offer have finalised allocation of 80,068,600 shares to anchor investors, the filing submitted to the NSE said.

Price band for the offer has been fixed at Rs 275-290 per share.

The public issue comprises sale of 1,91,246,050 equity shares, amounting to 9.55 per cent stake, by HDFC Ltd and up to 1,08,581,768 scrips, or 5.42 per cent, holding by Standard Life Mauritius.

At present, HDFC owns 61.41 per cent stake in HDFC Standard Life and Standard Life has about 34.86 per cent stake, while the remaining is with employees and PremjiInvest.
(MFs) have bettered their participation in shareholder resolutions but are still hesitant to take on India Inc.


Shares of information technology (IT) companies were in focus with the Nifty IT index hitting 52-week high, while the sector giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) trading close to its record high on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).



At 10:13 am, Nifty IT index, the largest gainer among sectoral indices, was up 2% at 11,143, as compared to 0.16% decline in the benchmark Nifty 50 index. IT index hit an intra-day high of 11,159, its highest level since August 12, 2016.



TCS, too, hit 52-week high of Rs 2,768, up 4% on the NSE in intra-day trade. The stock is 2.4% away from its all-time high of Rs 2,834 touched on October 7, 2014 in intra-day trade.



HCL Technologies, Infosys, Wipro and Tech Mahindra were up in the range of 1% to 3%, in otherwise subdued market.



TCS, in past one-month, has outperformed the market by gaining 13% after the company posted above expectation results on the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) and net profit fronts. On comparison, the Nifty 50 index was up 6% during the same period.
In yet another horrific incident, actress Kristina Cohen has recently revealed the "dark time in my life," when 'Gossip Girls' star Ed Westwick raped her three years back at his house.

The 28-year-old actor alleged in her Facebook post that she met Westwick for the first time when she visited the 30-year-old actor's apartment with her then- boyfriend who was friends with him.

She said she wanted to leave after the Wivked City' star made some sexual comments, but stayed back at his place as her producer boyfriend did not want to make the "White Gold" actor feel awkward.

The post read, "The last month has been incredibly difficult. Like so many women I too have a story of sexual assault, and the outpouring of stories have been both triggering and emotionally exhausting. I've gone back and forth over and over again, unsure if I should speak up. If I could speak. And if so, will I be heard?"

"I was sexually assaulted three years ago. It was a dark time in my life. My mom was dying of cancer and I didn't have the support system or time to process and deal with the aftermath of the rape. I buried my pain and guilt to make space for the onslaught that came after my mom's death, just three months later," she added.

"Even now, I grapple with feelings of guilt. Unfounded worry that in some way I was to blame. I don't know where these feelings come from. Social conditioning that everything is always the woman's fault? That a man's inability to keep himself off of our bodies is somehow because of us, not him?" she expressed.

"I've grown considerably in the three years since my assault, so to revisit is painful. To dig in and relive this night in order to accurately share the events, feels like a continued violation. My stomach is in knots, scared as hell to share this publicly, as even fully reconciling with myself has been a tough process," she stated.

"I was briefly dating a producer who was friends with the actor Ed Westwick. It was this producer who brought me up to Ed's house where I met Ed for the first time. I wanted to leave when Ed suggested "we should all fuck". But the producer didn't want to make Ed feel awkward by leaving. Ed insisted we stay for dinner. I said I was tired and wanted to leave, trying to get out of what was already an uncomfortable situation. Ed suggested I nap in the guest bedroom. The producer said we would stay for just another 20 more minutes to smooth everything over, and then we could leave," she added.

"So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to fuck me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me," she said.

While adding the actress said, "I now realize the ways in which these men in power prey on women, and how this tactic is used so frequently in our industry, and surely, in many others. I'm sickened to see men like Ed respected in such a public way. Interviewed by prestigious platforms such as the Oxford Union Society at Oxford University, where he was honored as one of their "People who Shape our World."

In the end, the actress concluded that men like Ed use fame and power to rape and then continue through the world collecting accolades.

"I hope my coming forward will help others to know that they are not alone, that they are not to blame, and it is not their fault. Just as the other women and men coming forward have helped me to realize the same. I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters," she wrote.

Cohen's allegations come to light after several Hollywood men like Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein have been accused of sexual assault against multiple men and women.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amnesty International has called upon authorities in Pakistan to immediately end enforced disappearances.

Alarmed by reports it has received on enforced disappearances, particularly of activists in southwestern province of Balochistan, Amnesty International called Islamabad to carry out independent and effective investigations to determine the fate of all missing people.

It asked the Pakistan authorities to either release the person in their custody or charge them with a recognisable criminal offence.

Amnesty International said that anyone reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility for enforced disappearances must be held to account through fair trials.

While some of the people reported to have been disappeared have been returned home over recent days, there are credible reports that others are still missing.

It emphasised that enforced disappearances are a blight on Pakistan's human rights record, with hundreds and possibly thousands of cases reported across the country over the past several years. Victims of enforced disappearances are at considerable risk of torture and other ill-treatment and even death. To date, not a single perpetrator of the crime has been brought to justice, it added.

The Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances received nearly 300 cases of alleged enforced disappearances from August to October 2017, by far the largest number during a three month period in recent years.

After its last visit to Pakistan, in 2012, the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances noted that there is "a climate of impunity in Pakistan with regard to enforced disappearances, and the authorities are not sufficiently dedicated to investigate cases of enforced disappearances and hold the perpetrators accountable." Amnesty International notes that this situation has not improved over the past five years.

Pakistan's authorities must publicly condemn enforced disappearances, recognize enforced disappearances as a distinct and autonomous offence, and call for an end to this cruel and inhumane practice. Pakistan has, thus far, failed to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance - a glaring omission that casts an unflattering light on the country's claims to be committed to the highest human rights standards.

The UN Human Rights Committee - the treaty-monitory body that oversees how states implement and comply with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - took note of Pakistan's record on enforced disappearances and recommended that the country: "Criminalise enforced disappearances and put an end to the practice of enforced disappearances and secret detention," and "Ensure that all allegations of enforced disappearance and extra judicial killings are promptly and thoroughly investigated; all perpetrators are prosecuted and punished with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crimes".

On October 16, Pakistan became one of 15 states elected by the UN General Assembly to serve as members of the UN Human Rights Council from January 2018 to December 2020. In its election pledge, Pakistan said it is "firmly resolved to uphold, promote and safeguard universal human rights and fundamental freedoms for all."

For that claim to be taken seriously, and for Pakistan to fulfil "the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights" expected of all Council members, it must make ending enforced disappearances a priority and hold all suspected perpetrators, including military and intelligence personnel - to account, through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.

Once confined to the restive territories of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Baluchistan, enforced disappearances have spread to other parts of the country, including urban centres and major cities. In early January 2017, five human rights defenders were abducted from the capital Islamabad and parts of Punjab province. Four of the defenders returned to their homes between 27 and 29 January. Two of the defenders have since said that they were threatened, intimidated and tortured by people they believed to belong to military intelligence.

After the last Universal Periodic Review in 2012, Pakistan's government made a commitment to take "effective measures against enforced disappearances" and to "combat impunity for all those who attack human rights defenders". Later this month, when Pakistan's human rights record is subject to scrutiny again, the government must finally take urgent steps to turn those commitments into reality.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Belgium's King Philippe has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday.

Earlier today, Belgium's Royal Couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here.

Belgium's King also met President Ram Nath Kovind in the presence of Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Belgium's King said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here."

"Been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time we are here for a state visit and we hope to improve very good contacts that already exist because I think in today's globalise there's a lot we can do together," he added.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday.

This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country, following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

"The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence," a press release by Ministry of External Affairs stated.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion .

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Belgium's Royal Couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on Tuesday received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here.

Belgium's King met President Ram Nath Kovind in the presence of Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Belgium's King said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here."

"Been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time we are here for a state visit and we hope to improve very good contacts that already exist because I think in today's globalise there's a lot we can do together," he added.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday.

This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

"The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence," a press release by Ministry of External Affairs stated.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion .

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A week after the arrest of Tamil Nadu cartoonist Bala, a regional journalist, Mani, said that the former faced legal actions just for exposing the inactivity of the Kasidharmam's District Collector.

"When the inactivity of the DC was exposed by cartoonist Bala, it provoked them and he filed a case that the cartoon demeaned himself," Mani said.

Mani elaborated the sequences that led to Bala's arrest and said, "The incident begins in Tirunelveli district. In every village, giving interest is exploiting and pushes poor people to death. In a village called Kasidharmam, a family along with small children burned themselves in front of the collector office but no action was taken".

"When the inactivity of the DC was exposed by cartoonist Bala, through a cartoon showing these authorities naked protecting themselves while watching the family burn, it provoked them. The cartoon demeaned him but the burning of the poor people, the chronic disease of interest did not," he added.

He further stressed that even though the DC has a right to file a case, it is not needed to arrest the person if he is not supposed to run away or damage the witnesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to register a case against Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the basis of letters revealed by former Samata Party President Jaya Jaitly, which were purportedly written by Gandhi to former finance minister P. Chidambaram.

"CBI can register a case in the preventional corruption act because she(Sonia Gandhi) wrote the letter under the official title of the chairman of the Advisory Council and ED can file a case of money laundering. Both Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh are equally culpable because they had assisted in the commission of the crime," he said.

The former Union Minister claimed that he had released a similar letter two years ago, but nobody took it seriously at that time.

"I had released a similar letter two years ago, which was written by Sonia Gandhi, the then chairman of the advisory council to Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India to save Tejpal (former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine) from all the cases that were piled on by the NDA govt," Swamy said.

"It was a total open brazen interference. At that stage, nobody took it seriously. I supposed that people didn't go deep into the issue since it was me, a politician releasing those letters. I am glad now that the letter addressed to Chidambaram is in a new form," he added.

Author Jaya Jaitly, through a series of letters in her memoir due to be released on Tuesday, suggested that the UPA-led government in 2004, and particularly Gandhi was involved in facilitating the framing of corruption charges against her.

The book hints at the links between Gandhi and the Tehelka news portal, particularly in the Tehelka sting 'Operation Westend.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least six Naxals, including one woman rebel, were on Tuesday gunned down in two encounters with the security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district as part of "Operation Prahaar-2".

Nine weapons were also recovered from the Naxals killed in Abujmarh area of the district.

Addressing the media, special director general of police DM Awasthi informed, "Operation Prahaar-2 was taken into action in Dhurbeda forest. Naxals were allegedly tasked with collecting ration for ultras, arranging a meeting of villagers, spreading Maoist propaganda and planting IEDs to harm security forces".

"Over 2,000 security personnel, including officers from Chhatisgarh Police's Special Task Force(STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA team, were deployed in insurgency-hit areas of Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur," he added.

He also mentioned that as part of the operation, it was the first time that the joint forces were out in Dhurbeda forest.

Awasthi continued that after a gun-battle between them and the rebels, the body of a woman Naxalite was recovered with weapons, adding that later in the afternoon, five more Naxals were killed in another encounter.

"Two 303 rifles, five 315 bore rifles, one 12 bore gun and a pistol were recovered after the two encounters," he stated further.

Awasthi also claimed that the latest incident adds up to the number of total 63 Naxals killed this year, of which 42 were carrying cash reward on their heads.

Last month, seven Naxals were arrested along with a firearm and some explosives in Narayanpur, an insurgency-hit area in the state.

The Chhatisgarh Police had launched 'Operation Prahaar' in June this year to tackle Naxals in sensitive areas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese drug lords have topped in the supply of opioid type of drugs across the Unites States of America (USA), said a report.

Radio France Internationale (RFI) recently reported that President Donald Trump declared national public health emergencies twice this year because of the opioid menace.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, China is the supplier of almost the entire source of opioid type drugs, the main one being Fentanyl.

Fentanyl is around ten times stronger than Heroin. Fentanyl is illegally made and used as a recreational drug, often disguised as other medication or mixed with heroin, leading to thousands of overdose deaths from 2000 to 2017. Deaths have also resulted from improper medical use.

Proven records show that at least 12 Chinese drug companies have had online commercials claiming they could export Fentanyl to the United States and Canada for USD 2,750 per kilogram.

Most of the Chinese Fentanyl was first shipped to Mexico and then smuggled into the United States.

The Chinese supplied all of the opioid drugs that a recently captured New York 34-person drug dealership retailed.

In fact, all drug cartels that were cracked down upon this year, sourced their opioid drugs from China. The latest illegal marijuana-planting group arrested in California after the state's legalisation of Marijuana was Chinese and Chinese sources funded the group.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Season's first fog disrupted flight operation at Delhi airport as at least four flights from different airlines went around on Tuesday due to low visibility.

According to sources, as of now four flights from different airlines went around at Delhi airport as the pilots couldn't approach accurate landing path due to thick fog.

Meanwhile, 12 trains from the capital are also running late due to decreased visibility.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ali Raza, who claimed to be the last prince of the royal house of Oudh, was found dead at his Malcha Mahal near the forest area in Delhi's Chanakyapuri.

"There is no electricity or water here. He fell ill after his dogs died. His mother and sisters died several years ago," a forest official told ANI.

The Mahal is hidden under the thick flora deep inside the central ridge along the Sardar Patel Marg.

According to reports in 1985, Raza had shifted into the Mahal with his mother, Begum Wilayat Mahal, the child of the Nawab of Awadh or Oudh, his sibling princess Sakina, 11 labrador dogs, and a few servants.

The family had huge palaces. They lost their luck, but not their sense of power. Hence, somewhere in the 1970s, the Begum decided to take an action.

She sheltered herself in the First Class Waiting Room of the Delhi Railway Station together with her young son and daughter, seven servants, and a collection of huge and attractive Persian carpets.

After a few years, the government offered her a home at the Malcha Mahal. The place had no electricity or running water, no doors or windows. Yet the Begum decided to stay in the Mahal.

She hung a metal sign outside: "Entry restricted. Cautious of hound dogs. Proclamation: Intruders shall be gundown."

The Begum allegedly committed suicide in 1993 at the age of 62 by drinking a mixture laced with crushed diamond.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gunmen stormed a television station in Afghanistan, leaving at least one person dead and three others injured.

According to Tolo News, the attack started in the morning when a suicide bomber reportedly detonated a bomb.

Two or three gunmen then stormed the building of Shamshad TV.

A Shamshad TV employee said attackers have entered their compound and added that gunshots could be heard.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and ambulances were rushed to the spot.

Afghan insurgent group Taliban has denied of any involvement in the attack.

Further details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said the body of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew, Talha Rasheed, will be handed over to the militant outfit soon.

"It was an excellent operation, nicely coordinated between the police, the army and the CRPF. I am thankful that for the first time they have owned up that he is the nephew of Masood Azhar. We will ask them (the JeM) to collect the body because they have accepted him as one of their own," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Munir Khan said while addressing a press conference.

The terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has confirmed that the three terrorists gunned down by the security forces yesterday in an encounter in Pulwama district's Aglar Kandi village included Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and the outfit's divisional commander.

"Three militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and outfit's divisional commander," a JeM spokesman said in a statement.

He said the two other terrorists who were killed in the encounter included Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam, Pulwama.

One security personnel Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh lost his life in yesterday's encounter.

A civilian was also got injured in the gunfight.

Two AK-47s and a pistol were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Troops of 182 battalion and 183 battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the region when the encounter broke out.

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Looks like actress Kriti Kharbanda had a whale of a time while shooting for her upcoming family entertainer Bollywood flick 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana'.

According to a source, while shooting for a song sequence on the set, Kriti decided to treat the crew with handmade jalebis.

The source said, "It was an impromptu decision on Kriti's part as she decided to make jalebis by her own, which was later served to the crew during lunch time."

The 29-year-old actress said, "Making jalebi can be quite tricky and I've discovered while making it."

"It was a lovely experience making jalebis on the set and though it wasn't in shape, people enjoyed relishing it," she added.

The movie, which also featuring Rajkummar Rao, has been shot across several real locations in North India, and has the backdrop of marriage.

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The Maharashtra government is considering indemnifying bankers in infrastructure project funding, said a top state government official at a panel discussion during day two of FICCI-IBA (Indian Banks' Association) Annual Banking Conference- FIBAC 2017.

Ashish Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Public Works Department , Govt of Maharashtra, said, "With huge infrastructure projects underway in Maharashtra, the state government is looking at restructuring its funding model so that bankers who are willing to fund projects will be covered by the government. This will form part of the agreement that they sign with the developers."

Singh felt that while the state is ready to deliver, it will need developers, bankers and lawyers to get together to make it happen successfully. He observed that a lot of infrastructure projects are funded by NBFCs with a short-term view.

The session, titled 'Infrastructure Finance 2.0 and Future of Development Funding', was moderated by Ashish Garg, Partner and Director, Boston Consulting Group. Other panelists included M.S. Mahabaleshwara, MD and CEO, Karnataka Bank, Venkat Nageswar Chalasani, DMD - Global Markets, State Bank of India, Ajay Mahajan, Head, Wholesale Banking, IDFC Bank; Madhu Terdal, Group CFO, GMR Group.

"Infrastructure is becoming bigger, varied and complex," declared Garg in his opening remarks.

Setting the tone for the discussion, he asked the panelists whether the finance space has enough bandwidth for private and risk capital.

In the wake of a number of policy initiatives by the government, he asked whether the financial sector is ready with products and structures that can address and take advantage of the changes in policy. He also wondered how to "make sure what we are investing in today is future-ready."

Mahabaleshwara described Infrastructure 2.0 as a national asset. He called upon the banking community to learn from the bottlenecks of version 1.0. He pointed out that there are now new avenues for funding infrastructure projects over the next 30-40 years.

He suggested that just as ECGC regulates export credit, the government should consider instituting an Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Corporation (ICGC). This will encourage banks to "be more adventurous." This is especially since there are good opportunities, but bankers are not in a position to take responsibility.

Chalasani reminded the house that State Bank of India has a presence in every component of infrastructure projects.

"Rupee loans, foreign currency loans, rupee bonds, dollar bonds are all within its ambit."

He informed that they have a subsidiary that prepares projects, guides and syndicates loans. They are also working on credit enhancement of companies.

"It is important to understand what problems the sector has faced," was the view of Mahajan.

He called upon the industry to learn from its mistakes.

"The effective and meticulous execution will inspire confidence in lenders. Currently, a lot of capital is locked up in stalled projects. There are moves to release that capital in the next 12-24 months through new instrumentalities," he said.

Terdal agreed that the opportunities are huge, but they are also fraught with challenges, and he wondered how many corporates can take on these challenges.

"The answer is not so encouraging," he lamented. "The opportunities are there, but what is important is to prepare ourselves to face them."

Issues such as unnecessary bureaucracy, lack of clarity in the clauses, and non-availability of land must be addressed. He pointed out that developers are forced to go to NBFCs because of the several restrictions in procurement of bank finances. Some of these issues can only be addressed by the government. If the regulations are simplified, developers and investors can take reasonable commercial risks.

The panelists interacted with the audience during the session, making it both lively and interactive.

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his remark on brining reservation in the private sector and urged the state chief to not make hollow promises and pitch the idea to its ally ruling at the Centre.

Mayawati averred that Nitish Kumar is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) so if the latter is concerned about the backward section he should work towards implementation of the idea.

"From the very beginning BSP is in favour of reservation of the backward class in the Private sector. Bihar government rather than making such remark should just ask the Center for reservation and make sure it is done. They are sitting in power, from whom are they demanding this? They themselves are in power," Mayawati said.

Earlier on Monday, Nitish Kumar batted for reservation in the private sector and said there should be a debate on this issue at the level.

"It's my opinion that there must be reservation in the private sector too. There must be a debate on this at the level," the Bihar Chief Minister said.

Presently, the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Class (OBCs) and physically handicapped persons are entitled to reservation in educational institutions and government jobs.

Last week, the Bihar cabinet approved a proposal to bring outsourced government jobs within the ambit of reservation.

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Microland, India's leading Hybrid IT infrastructure service provider, today announced the appointment of Robert (Bob) Wysocki, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Based out of Atlanta, US, Bob will guide the company's technology and services strategy as it embarks on the next phase of growth.

"Bob will provide Microland the technology leadership and be responsible for enhancing our IT infrastructure services in the areas of Cloud, Digital Transformation and Software Defined Networks. As CTO of Microland, he will steer our technology direction, drive innovation and incubate emerging technologies. Bob's deep understanding of the end-user organizations will enable us to bring innovative solutions and services for global customers," said Pradeep Kar Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Microland Limited.

Commenting on his appointment as CTO, Bob said, "Microland is well positioned with core capabilities across Cloud, Datacenter, Digital services, Networks and Security. I am excited with the immense possibilities to shape Microland's entry as a formidable next-gen services player of the future. I look forward to working with our customers to drive value and deepen our relationships."

Bob is a seasoned IT evangelist with 30 years of industry experience, gained both at Fortune 20 as well as start-up organizations. During his 16 years at General Electric (GE), he has driven strong results in numerous disciplines of procurement, product management, engineering, operations and financial management. Prior to GE, Bob also held technology and engineering leadership roles at Pilot Network Services and AT&T. A recognized industry leader, he most recently co-chaired the ONUG Hybrid Cloud Working Group.

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Milind Soman's birthday selfie with girlfriend Ankita Konwar had social media buzzing but his latest Instagram post is proof he is least perturbed by all the 'fuss'.

The model-turned-actor, who is holidaying in Norway, posted more pictures with Konwar that show he doesn't care about the trolls over his alleged age difference with his girlfriend.

For the unversed, the 'Ironman' celebrated his 52nd birthday in Tromso, basking in the glory of Northern Lights. He had shared a selfie with Ankita to thank the fans for their love.

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Mumbai witnessed the highest number of launches at over 19,400 new residential units till September 2017.

Out of the total launches in Mumbai, affordable housing sector had a share of close to 10000 units, registering a rise of 300 percent over same time last year; all this in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Housing for All by 2022" initiative, which is proving to be a booster dose for real estate industry players.

To add to this, the interest subvention scheme in home loans taken for buying affordable homes which was announced in this budget, opened doors for many middle-class aspirant home - buyers.

In the first nine months of 2017, the affordable housing sector has witnessed a surge of over 27 percent in new units launched in the top eight cities in India. This year, two major developments impacted real-estate sector - RERA and GST.

The preparedness of the industry was palpable with a number of RERA Registrations taking place in Mumbai and MMR, thus leading the industry towards transparency and organisation.

"The market is looking up with the positive festive season when developers are receiving a good number of enquiries. There's festive mood in the market, thus demand is picking up starting Diwali season. If things go the way sales are picking up, we may even reach our peak in another six months. The focus being on affordable housing, we aim to work towards providing a home for every Mumbaikar besides making Mumbai a world-class city with our Clean and Green City initiative," said president CREDAI - MCHI, Mayur Shah.

During January-September 2017, the supply of affordable homes increased to 26,081 from 20,485 houses in the corresponding period last year. Among these new launches, almost 40 percent of affordable housing projects were launched in Mumbai, followed by Kolkata and Pune.

The real estate sector is one of the most globally recognised sectors. In India, real estate is the second largest employer after agriculture and is slated to grow by 30 percent over the next decade. The Indian real estate market is expected to touch USD 180 billion by 2020. The housing sector alone contributes approx. Eight percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the period FY 2008-2020, the market size of this sector is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.2 percent. Retail, hospitality and commercial real estate are also growing significantly, providing the much-needed infrastructure for India's growing needs.

The Government's decision to include the middle-income group category in the flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), or housing-for-all scheme, would change the market dynamics. For the first time any Government has recognised middle class as potential customers, thus the demand from MIG is going to be much more than EWS and LIG.

Under CLSS, NHB has already disbursed over 1000 Cr till date. Under PMAY, GOI has so far sanctioned projects worth over 25000 crore which works out to over a million homes.

Looking at the figures, real-estate industry is a huge opportunity for India and developers across are putting their might to make this "Miracle" happen.

Taking cognizance of the scenario, CREDAI - MCHI is bringing a host of property and housing finance options in its - MAHA Property Expo to be held from November 16 -19, 2017 at MMRDA Grounds, BKC, Mumbai. Leading real-estate brands are displaying their RERA registered properties along with interesting housing finance options and other services by leading Banks and HFCs.

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A cloud telephony startup MyOperator has launched a new product for stock brokers to become SEBI compliant within 15 minutes without any hardware and software installation.

MyOperator will provide its key features of call recording and SMS documentation to stockbrokers.

To prevent unauthorized trading activities, markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has directed stock brokers to compulsorily keep record of orders placed by clients from January 1, 2018.

"Post decision of SEBI regulation it is imperative for stockbroker to get hold of solution which brings transparency in the trading process. This regulation will further bring in strength to the stock market trading. MyOperator is the only platform that supports both the mobile and IVR recordings along with SMS documentation on the cloud," said CEO MyOperator, Ankit Jain.

"Key players in the stock market viz. SAS Online, SIC Stocks and Services, MCX Clues, Trustline Commodities are already using MyOperator," he added.

There are over 35 thousand stockbrokers and sub stock brokers in India.

By deploying MyOperator, efficiency among the stockbrokers will increase to manage and handle calls during peak trading hours.

MyOperator will serve as public cloud telephony to stockbrokers and will ensure to provide data security with strict administration rights to archive data.

It allows users to set up IVR systems, re-marketing, call routing and access to daily call reports.

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Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday arrived at an accountability court in Islamabad for a hearing in connection with the corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the Dawn news, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Captain Safdar are also expected to arrive at the court.

Last Thursday, the court adjourned the hearing against ousted Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law.

On Friday, Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Haris filed a fresh application before the court requesting it to club the three accountability references against him.

The accountability court judge during Friday's hearing said that he would have to review the IHC's orders before he provided a detailed response on the matter.

The court did not receive the IHC's order and subsequently decided to adjourn the hearing.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had asked the NAB to file references against the Sharif family in connection with their Avenfield and other properties on July 28 and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

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App-based transport aggregator Ola on Tuesday announced its strategic partnership with Microsoft, thereby choosing the latter as its preferred cloud provider.

With Microsoft Azure powering Ola Play, the company's connected car platform aims to transform driver and passenger experiences with vehicle diagnostics, improved in-car productivity, advanced navigation, predictive maintenance of vehicles and more.

Both companies will collaborate to take this platform to car manufacturers globally, to integrate with vehicle systems.

Under this deal, Ola Play will leverage Microsoft AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance; passenger experiences with cloud-based infotainment and productivity; and provide auto manufacturers with custom digital experiences for their customers.

Ola Play customers will be able to use productivity tools such as Office 365 and Skype for Business, as well as voice-assisted controls built using Microsoft Cognitive Services and bot framework, in-car during their rides.

The advanced telematics platform will transform the car into a high-performing, intelligent vehicle, capable of assessing fuel efficiency, engine performance, and driver performance.

However, it will also enable smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, enhancing safety and security while creating new models and opportunities.

"Today's car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we're focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers. The combination of Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and our AI platform with Ola Play will deliver new customer experiences and opportunities across the automotive ecosystem," said Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella who is on an official visit to India.

"Globally, the auto industry is experiencing a seismic shift as the definition of automobiles is increasingly changing from gas-powered vehicles to technology-packed, connected devices. With Ola Play, we have already set the tone for connected vehicles in India; together with Microsoft, we can make the new platform available to a larger, global audience and unlock futuristic experiences for customers worldwide," added co-founder and CEO Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal.

The platform is designed to continually collect, analyse, and learn from high volumes of data and user behaviour. This will allow for customised offerings to shape the nature of services and models, such as usage-based insurance, amongst others.

Microsoft and Ola also plan to build superior safety features and advanced driver assistance services, as well.

With advanced telematics, productivity tools and intelligent cloud integrations as part of this partnership, Ola and Microsoft are together building the future of connected vehicles.

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At least 13 people were killed and nine others got injured after a truck collided with a bus in Ahmedabad-Indore highway on Monday.

This horrific accident took place near Kathlal area of Kheda district of Gujarat.

The injured people have been rushed to the nearby hospital.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. A police case has been registered in the regard.

Further details are awaited.

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The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday apprehended four fishermen, hailing from Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai, with one boat near Delft Island.

The fishermen were taken to Kankesanthurai Naval camp in Sri Lanka for interrogation.

Earlier on October 21, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended four fishermen and seized one boat belonging to Thangachimadam, a central part of Rameswaram.

The fishermen were apprehended near Kachadeevu Island.

Earlier in October, eight fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, while they were fishing near the Delft Island.

The fishermen belonged to Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram.

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Procurement plays a vital role in the growth & success of any enterprise or organisation. Efficient procurement begins with the procurement department of any large organisation having ready access to a reliable and dynamically updated pool of business-ready suppliers of all products and services.

The most common challenge faced by a procurement official is the case of redundant data of registered suppliers - with expired credentials or contact details that may invariably cause delays in procurement and ultimately, the loss of goodwill and for the supplier.

The Joint Supplier Registration System (JSRS), Oman's national procurement system for the entire Oil & Gas Industry, is a major success story addressing such challenges for over three years now. The Mandate by Oman's Ministry of Oil & Gas to implement a national level common and credible supplier pool for all its 19 Oil & Gas operators in 2014, greatly helped overcome complex challenges in terms of supplier management and compliance with the Government's In-Country Value (ICV) benefits to deserving national companies.

Procurement Challenges faced by the Oman O&G industry pre-2014:

Operators managed their own pool of suppliers. When viewed from a national level, massive effort duplication was seen within the overall Oil & Gas Industry.

Procurement divisions faced counterproductive challenges in terms of supplier monopoly, owing to prolonged engagement with a limited pool of suppliers.

Suppliers on the other hand, had to keep updating their details individually with each Operator. In most cases, they lost opportunities from other operators.

Attracting best of breed suppliers from all over the world to stay connected online and deliver proactive services to Oman's Oil & Gas Industry.

Lack of Supplier Credibility Assessment and due diligence processes.

The Joint Suppliers Registration & Certification System (JSRS) of Oman was the result of a quest to find a solution to these multi-layered procurement challenges faced by the Oil & Gas industry. On behalf of the Oman Ministry of Oil & Gas and Oman's 19 Oil & Gas Operators, Business Gateways International LLC (businessgateways) - an Omani company providing national level ITES solutions, created and implemented the 'Joint Suppliers Registration System' (JSRS) on its flagship portal www.businessgateways.com which addressed all these challenges in detail.

The "Single Window" JSRS Registration & Certification of Suppliers (Omani & International) was made mandatory since 2014 by the Ministry of Oil & Gas, Oman and connected JSRS Certified Suppliers to ALL Operators in Oman. It also brought together all the stakeholders in the Oil & Gas industry onto a single online procurement platform. The key companies utilising the JSRS Certified Suppliers include the 19 Oil and Gas operators viz., Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), BP British Petroleum (BP), DNO, CCED, Occidental of Oman (OXY), Oman LNG, Daleel Petroleum, ORPIC, Oman Oil Exploration and Production (OOCEP), MOL Group, MEDCO Energi, Masirah Oil Ltd, Hydrocarbon Finder, Qarat Al Milh Petroleum, Oman Lasso E&P, Petrogas, Petrotel, ARA Petroleum and Oman Gas Company (OGC).

Today the success of the JSRS has seen its expansion from Oil & Gas to Other Industries. The Non-Oil & Gas Industry group known as the 'JSRS Buyers Community' consists of major organizations with large procurement spend, who are presently using the JSRS Certified supplier's pool for their procurement.

The JSRS with its current and dynamically updated supplier data and monitoring mechanism enables all the 19 Operators and the Buyers Community to select suppliers based on various eligibility criteria, and to propagate tenders to them. It also enabled them to easily search & identify eligible Omani SME companies for allocation of Oman Ministry of O&G In-Country Value (ICV) benefits.

Operators and Buyers plan to use many other high-end features like e-Procurement, Tendering & Contracts Management to manage the publishing of tenders and track awards of contracts all the way to the last sub-contractor who executes his scope of work.

A vital and fundamental component of the JSRS is the Oman National Business Framework (NBF). A powerful B2B stimulation platform by itself, the NBF promotes beneficial partnerships beyond geographies enabling new business opportunities/project consortiums amongst its suppliers.

JSRS Suppliers now have access to GCC-Wide Tenders from across many industries, delivered directly to their NBF dashboard.

Of special significance are two recent strategic initiatives by businessgateways that holds global promise for procurement and international partnerships in the region: -

-Expansion of the NBF & JSRS platforms across the GCC, (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman): -

-For suppliers from India and the world over who are Oman JSRS Certified, this could mean easier and more efficient access to business opportunities in the entire GCC Region.

Launch of the 'Connect Oman' Initiative: -

A strategic platform on the NBF showcasing the entire business ecosystem of Oman including Ministries, Embassies and international trade bodies for the benefit of international JSRS Certified Suppliers to tap into and connect with these Omani business entities for first-hand information on establishing their business in Oman.

Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded 'Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition' 'WETEX' -2017, Dubai, Business Gateways International LLC CEO Hemant Murkoth said, "The JSRS has now evolved into a major procurement system across all industry verticals with many thousands of suppliers from across the world connected to Oman, and from there to over 80 countries worldwide. This is a good opportunity for Indian businesses to identify new potential in markets across Oman, GCC and the whole world.

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Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that terrorism was a global concern that demands international attention and cooperation.

Naidu made the remarks during his meeting with King Philippe of Belgium, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The visiting dignitary agreed that terror was a major global challenge, while appreciating India's support to Belgium in the hour of crisis when terrorism stuck their country.

Vice President Naidu also suggested that India believes in an early conclusion of negotiation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism at the United Nations and King Philippe expressed support to India's view in this regard.

Naidu said that India and Belgium today are two vibrant democracies and share several ideals and principles.

He further said that democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, independent judiciary, free press and protection of human rights are fundamental values through which our societies are held together.

"Belgian academicians have made notable contribution to the advancement of Indian language studies, particularly Hindi and Sanskrit, in India and Belgium," he added.

He also expressed his happiness that the King would inaugurate the exhibition on contribution of Indian soldiers in the First World War and also release a coffee table publication, "India in Flanders Fields".

He added that this would be a tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.

The Vice President said that India, today, is an attractive business destination for Belgian businesses and would encourage Belgium Small and Medium Enterprises to explore tie-ups with Indian Start Ups.

He further said that India's 100 Smart Cities initiative is aimed at harnessing the economic potential of urban centres.

Naidu said that Belgian companies with expertise in urban transportation solutions, energy efficient technologies, smart citizen services, sanitation and waste management will find many business opportunities in India.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday.

This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country, following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

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The man who shot dead 26 people at a Texas church carried out the attack after a "domestic situation" with his mother-in-law, it has been revealed.

According to the officials, 26-year-old Devin Kelley opened fire on the church attended by his mother-in-law after he sent "threatening" text messages to her, the Independent reported.

Freeman Martin, the regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said, "This was not racially motivated, it wasn't over religious beliefs. There was a domestic situation going on with the family and in-laws."

"We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in-law, who attends this church," Martin added.

The U.S. officials said that he was not legally permitted to own the weapons.

According to the reports, Kelly possessed three guns.

At least 26 people were killed and several others were injured in a mass shooting incident at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

The youngest victim of Sunday's shooting was an 18-month-old baby and the oldest one being 77-year-old.

After a brief chase, the law enforcement found the suspect dead of a gunshot wound inside his vehicle. Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that the authorities were not sure if the wound was self-inflicted or the result of the resident who fired on the suspect.

Kelley, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, was court-martialled in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child, the reports said.

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All the bhai fans, the wait is finally over.

The much awaited trailer of Salman Khan-starrer 'Tiger Zinda Hai' has finally been unveiled and it is surely going to make fans feel the adrenaline rush.

The makers released the trailer for the sequel of 2012s 'Ek Tha Tiger' on YouTube.

The trailer opens with terrorists capturing a bus of 25 nurses. The nurses are held hostage in Iraq by an evil dictator. With what looks like an impossible task, the Indian government gives this responsibility to save the nurses to 'Tiger' played by Salman Khan.

Salman has to save nurses caught by Iraq's terror king and in the task, he meets Katrina Kaif. And just like any other Salman's movie, this too has a dialogue, which can become the dialogue of the years.

In one scene of the trailer, Salman says, "Shikaar toh sab karte hai lekin Tiger se behtar shikaar koi nahi karta."

The trailer is filled with a lot of action sequences and it will give you a feeling of Matt Damon's 'The Bourne' series or Vin Diesel's 'XXX' series.

The background score is gripping and makes you ready to prepare for the war.

The trailer is engaging and promises a thrilling time at the theatres. The action sequences seem to be well-choreographed and on the par with the Hollywood flicks.

The film, which has Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif coming back together onscreen after five years, is helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar. The flick will hit the theaters on December 22.

(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.)
United States President Donald Trump arrived in South Korean capital Seoul on Tuesday on a two-day official visit.

According to CNN, President Trump's arrival in South Korea was accompanied by a major show of force in the Pacific Ocean.

As per the report, the U.S. Navy said that in the coming days, they will be conducting a mock battle in waters in the region.

The North Korean government termed the announcement as a direct provocative action that could "ignite another Korean War."

"Nobody knows when and how the 'war maniac' Trump will ignite the 'wick of war," Pyongyang said, referring to the presence of American naval carriers in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula.

Yesterday, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with 14 family members of those Japanese kidnapped by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s at the State Guest House in Tokyo's Akasaka district.

Later in the day, President Trump told reporters that he had heard "very, very sad" stories about the victims and assured, "We will work with Prime Minister Abe on trying to get them back to their loved ones."

President Trump also underscored America's "solidarity" with Japan against "the North Korean menace," at a joint news conference with PM Abe.

Japan was President Trump's first stop of his five-nation tour of Asia.

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Two men have been arrested for allegedly misbehaving and robbing a British couple in Bihar's Pandarak.

As per Matthew (the British national), the incident occurred at a time the couple was campaigning at the bank of river Ganga.

The miscreants armed with weapon and sticks tried to rob the couple.

"We somehow managed to cross the river with the help of the boat and went in to the nearby village, from where we called Police for help," Matthew said.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said belongings of the couple have been recovered from the possession of the two accused.

"The men were arrested within two hours. A speedy trial will be done and it will be seen that such incidents do not recur," Maharaj said.

This incident came days after a Swiss couple was assaulted in Uttar Pradesh.

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At least two school students were killed and 21 others injured after a car ploughed into a school classroom in south-west Sydney on Tuesday.

According to the The Canberra Times, ambulance service officials said 16 of its vehicles were called to the "scene of carnage" at the Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre.

There were 24 children in the classroom at the time of the mishap.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said police did not believe the incident was intentional.

"We're not looking at this as an intentional act. It is a crash investigation," he said.

Police has arrested the 52-year-old female driver and charged her with two counts of dangerous driving.

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New research aims to shed light on how immune systems can evolve resistance to parasites.

A study solves the enigma of how species can adapt and change their immune system to cope with new parasitic threats -- whilst at the same time showing little or no evolutionary change in critical immune function over millions of years.

The findings help to explain why we humans have some immune genes that are almost identical to those of chimpanzees.

Scientists from UEA and Dalhousie University studied how Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) adapt to survive by studying their immune genes, known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex or MHC genes.

They found that guppies fine-tune these genes in each location, enabling them to adapt and survive in many different and extreme environments. Despite this adaptation, genes maintained critical function of tens of millions of years.

The discovery could improve scientists' understanding of how related species can adapt and change their immune system to cope with new threats from parasites while simultaneously sharing similar function.

Dr Jackie Lighten from UEA led the study. He said: "Guppies are a small, colourful fish native to South America, Trinidad and Tobago. They are a fantastic model for researching the ecology and evolution of vertebrates.

"MHC genes are an important line of defence in the immune system in vertebrates, including humans. Because parasites evolve quicker than their vertebrate hosts, immune genes need to be highly diverse to keep up with parasites and prevent infections.

"MHC genes produce protein structures that are on the external surface of cells. These genes are diverse and so produce an array of proteins, each of which presents a specific part of a parasite or pathogen that has attempted to infect the body. The specific shape of the protein dictates which parasites it can recognize, and signals to the immune system to prevent infection."

The study looked at MHC genetic variation in 59 guppy populations across Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, and Hawaii. The authors found hundreds of different immune variants, but these so called 'alleles' appear to be clustered in a smaller number of functional groups or 'supertypes'.

Prof van Oosterhout, also from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said: "Each supertype protects the host against a specific group of parasites, and these supertypes were common across populations, and species, irrespective of the location.

"However, the alleles that make up a supertype track the rapid evolution of the parasites, and they too are evolving rapidly. These alleles are largely specific to each population, and they help in the 'fine-tuning' of the immune response to the specific (local) parasites that attack the host in that population."

Before this study, scientists debated how these immune genes can evolve rapidly (which is necessary to keep up with the fast-evolving parasites), whilst also showing little or no evolutionary change in their function over millions of years, as observed between humans and chimpanzees. This study resolves that debate.

Prof Bentzen from Dalhousie University said: "Although this study focused on MHC genes in vertebrates, the evolutionary dynamics described in it likely apply to other gene families, for example resistance genes and those which prevent self-fertilization in plants (self-incompatibility loci) that are caught up in their own evolutionary races."

Dr Lighten added: "It is an important step forward in understanding the evolutionary genetics of the immune system, and can help explain some of the puzzling observations observed in previous studies of many other organisms."

The study has been published in Nature Communications.

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Baloch Organisation (WBO) has announced to launch the second phase of its human rights campaign in London against abduction of women and children in Balochistan.

WBO took to twitter to make the announcement.

"Despite Pakistan's utmost efforts to suppress the voice of the Baloch people in London , the WBO is glad to announce it has launched the second phase of its human rights campaign, all around the great city of London," WBO tweeted.

Representative of Balochistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Mehran Marri on twitter said, "I fully supported the Geneva #FreeBaluchistan Campaign and totally endorse the current #FreeBalochistan Campaign in London." Adding that "Since voices are being crushed in Balochistan the Baloch have a right to raise their voice for freedom at the international level."

An anti-Pakistan protest was held by Baloch parties at 10 Downing street in London against abduction of women and children in Balochistan on Sunday.

WBO, Baloch National Movement (BNM), Baloch Students' Organisation-Azad (BSO-A) and Sindhi Congress (WSC) took part in the protest and highlighted gross human rights violations committed in Balochistan by Pakistan.

The protesters were seen carrying banners and placards, urging rights groups to act against Pakistan for carrying out atrocities over Baloch people.

"Raise your voice against the abduction of innocent Baloch women and children by Pakistan army," a banner read.

Protesters shouted slogans with placards in their hands that read: "Pakistan carrying genocide" and "stop abducting Baloch women and children."

Last week, a Washington-based organisation urged international bodies to help set free an abducted Baloch leader's wife and daughter from the captivity of Pakistani security forces.

Washington-based American Friends of Balochistan (AFB) has appealed to the United Nations, US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, International Service for Human Rights and other international bodies to step in to free four women and three babies from the illegal captivity of the Pakistan security forces.

Fazila Baloch, wife of Balochistan freedom leader Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch and his adopted daughter Popal Jan, four; Fazila's friend Bibi Salma and her one-and-half years old son named Irfan; Ayaal and her two-years-old daughter Zairak and a fourth woman Gohar Jan, were abducted on October 30 from Quetta.

At least 8,000 Baloch are still victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan while 1500 such victims were killed and dumped, according to human rights organisations.

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There is a notable turnaround in the mining sector with the mineral auction scenario set to reach a 10 per cent growth and fetch at least INR 1 lakh crore by the end of the current fiscal year, said Mr Arun Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Mines.

Mr Arun Kumar said that realism is setting in the sector and there is a need to speed up exploration. The new National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP) may add further to growth rate, he added. States are also willing to invest, he noted.

Mr Kumar announced that Government is working on an appropriate framework of Mineral asset auction process and giving impetus to the private sector in mineral exploration.

With the creation of National Mineral Exploration Trust (MET) and the National Aero Geo-physical Mapping, Government is mapping 8.2 lakh sq mt geographical potential area, for which the tenders and Expressions of Interest are already published in phases, he further added.

Mr N K Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines said, "There is enough material available and therefore there is no rationale for price controls.

As far as major minerals are concerned, India is a net exporting country and shall continue in this regard. Practicing transparency should be the key," he added.

Mr Sunil Duggal, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Mining and CEO Hindustan Zinc Ltd reiterated industry expectations to promote exploration and optimize natural resources. He stressed forging the right balance between infrastructure and technology. With the Government revisiting the National Mineral Policy and promoting off-shore exploration, India can look beyond the slow growth rate in mining to more empowerment by 2030, he added.

Mr S K Chowdhary, Vice Chairman- South East Asia Centre, World Mining Congress & Former Chairman, Coal India Ltd highlighted the need for strengthening the drilling mechanism of an entity engaged in exploration so that the pace of discovery of minerals is expedited and time-bound.

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ASSOCHAM has advocated giving adequate time to the industrial consumers to migrate from the furnace oil and pet coke to gas-based to save the livelihood of over 25 Lakhs workers in the national capital region (NCR).

It is estimated that about 1,000 units directly and nearly 10,000 allied units have been severely impacted by the ban on the use of petcoke and furnace oil from November 1, say the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The industries that are directly affected are in all segments i.e. large, medium and small are textiles, rubber, sugar, steel, paper, packaging, forging, agro based industries etc. NCR is the major hub of export of garments and auto components. With the closure of textile processing factories, the supply of fabric to these exporters will also be discontinued, resulting in extinction of this trade from this region.

Similarly, sugar, paper, rubber, agro based industries will also not be able to sustain their business because of sharp increase in cost of fuel, as a result of ban on use of pet coke & furnace oil.

There are no clear guidelines regarding emission of pollutants such as SO2 and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx). Earlier, the Supreme Court of India had directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to formulate the norms for SO2 and NOx for the industry by 30th June, 2017.

Interestingly out of all the fuels used, pet coke is being labelled as a polluting fuel only because of higher Sulphur content and it is alleged that it emits SO2, which pollutes the environment. However, as per the latest report form CPCB, the SO2 level in the entire NCR region including Delhi are well within the prescribed limits.

Other than SO2 levels, PM 10 & PM 2.5 levels in the gases emitted by the use of pet coke, are also well within prescribed limits.

As per EPCA (Environment Pollution Control Authority) in PM10 and PM2.5 the main polluting particles, the industrial contribution is only 11% whereas the major contributors are Road Dust (38%), Vehicular pollution (20%), Domestic Source (12%) and others.

It is imperative that adequate time be given to the industries to set up their process to meet the new norms laid down by the ministry.

Therefore, the ban needs to be lifted to save the industry as well as prevent lakhs of workers being rendered jobless, said the industry chamber.

The only alternative to furnace oil and pet coke is natural gas which is nearly four times more expensive and this the industry cannot afford in this competitive environment and poor economic scenario. The industries are already under tremendous stress after the implementation of GST and the ban on use of Pet Coke will prove to be the final nail in the coffin. Over 25 lakh workers will be rendered jobless in Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Panipat, Sonipat & Noida alone.

As per earlier order of 2nd May by the Supreme court, according to ASSOCHAM the industries are already in the process of procuring &commissioning the wet scrubbers& other pollution control technologies to bring down the emission levels of SO2 within the norms prescribed by CPCB &Ministry of Environment. The industry is committed to maintain a cleaner & pollution free environment.

It is also to be considered that during the Diwali holidays, most of the industries were closed from 19th to 22nd October,17& were not using pet coke. Even at that time the air pollution level increased in these days, due to burning of fire crackers, vehicular pollution & stubble burning, which is an indication that the other factors are having a much bigger impact on deteriorating the air quality.

There has been no action by the Government authorities to control the dust pollution; while they are trying to control stubble burning but they are facing resistance from the farmers. But on the contrary the industry is always agreeing to fully comply with the norms as and when laid down, yet they have been punished.

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Bharat Heavy Electricals lost 5.26% to Rs 93.70 at 15:14 IST on BSE, with the stock extending intraday slide after the company announced Q2 September 2017 earnings.

The result was announced during market hours today, 7 November 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 355.36 points or 1.05% at 33,375.83.

On the BSE, 43.51 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against average daily volumes of 7.66 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 100.70 and a low of Rs 92.25 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 121.77 on 25 April 2017 and a 52-week low of Rs 77.43 on 27 December 2016.

The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 6 November 2017, advancing 16.49% compared with the Sensex's 6.03% rise. The stock had also outperformed the market over the past one quarter, gaining 7.82% as against the Sensex's 4.35% rise. The scrip had, however, underperformed the market over the past one year, advancing 9.97% as against the Sensex's 23.67% rise.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 734.28 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.

Bharat Heavy Electricals' (Bhel) net profit rose 5.88% to Rs 115.42 crore on 5.83% decline in net sales to Rs 6168.36 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q2 September 2016.

Bhel is an integrated power plant equipment manufacturer and one of the largest engineering and manufacturing companies of its kind in India engaged in the design, engineering, manufacture, construction, testing, commissioning and servicing of a wide range of products and services for core sectors of the economy. The Government of India holds 63.06% stake in Bhel (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 September 2017).

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At meeting held on 06 November 2017

The Board of Tata Chemicals at its meeting held on 06 November 2017 has considered and accepted the recommendations of the Committee of Directors for sale, disposal and transfer of Phosphatic Fertilisers business, and the trading business comprising of bulk fertilisers and non-bulk fertilisers (Phosphatic Business), by way of a slump sale, on a going concern basis, by the Company to IRC Agrochemicals (IRC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Indorama Holdings BV, Netherlands (part of Indorama Corporation, Singapore Indorama) on the terms and conditions laid down in the Business Transfer Agreement (BTA).

The transaction would involve transfer of Haldia Plant, Trading Business of bulk and nonbulk fertilisers along with immovable, movable properties, working capital and product brands but excluding outstanding subsidy amounts.

The lump sum consideration for the transfer of the Phosphatic Business of the Company by way of a slump sale is Rs. 375 crore, subject to certain adjustments after closing, as agreed between the parties in terms of the BTA.

The Board of Directors also approved the execution of definitive agreements between the Company, IRC and Indorama Holdings BV, Netherlands for the sale and transfer of the Phosphatic Business from the Company to IRC pursuant to the BTA and subject to satisfaction of conditions precedent and all regulatory and other approvals as may be required, including the approval of the shareholders under Section 180(1)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013.

This divestment by Tata Chemicals is in line with the strategic direction of the Company to focus on Speciality Chemical and Food businesses, while maintaining leadership in Inorganic chemicals and exiting the fertiliser business.

The speciality chemical portfolio of the Company includes Sodium Bicarbonate business, Agrochemicals through its subsidiary, Rallis India in addition to the planned investments in the greenfield sites in Nellore for Nutraceuticals and in Dahej for the HD Silica business. The Food business of the Company includes the Pulses, Spices under Tata Sampann brand in addition to the market leading edible salt brand, Tata Salt.

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The Solvent Extractors' Association of India has compiled the export data for export of oilmeals for the month of October 2017. The export during October 2017 is provisionally reported at 73,863 tons compared to 103,640 tons in October 2016 i.e. down by 29%. The overall export of oilmeals during April - October 2017 provisionally reported at 1,358,651 tons compared to 698,169 tons during the same period of last year i.e. Up by 95%.

In last four months the export of oilmeals improved compared to the previous year, thanks to good monsoon, better oilseeds production and price parity. In percentage terms export showing improvement, but still it is lower compared to earlier years, which can be seen from the below table.

It may be also noted that India faced drought years during 2014-15 and 2015-16, which lead to lower production of oilseeds which affected export of oilmeals to a lowest level, however with good monsoon last year, export revived to some extent.

Germany, Vietnam, South Korea & Europe - Major Importers of Oilmeals:-

During April - Oct., 2017 oilmeal imported by Vietnam from India reported at 230,432 tons compared to 160,912 tons; consisting of 16,978 tons of soybean meal, 34,751 tons of rapeseed meal and 178,703 tons of De-oiled Rice Bran Extraction. South Korea imported 427,126 tons compared to 385,301 tons; consisting 158,992 tons of rapeseed meal, 246,321 tons of castor meal and 21,813 tons of soybean meal. Bangladesh imported 108,002 tons compared to 14,016 tons; consisting 35,057 tons of rapeseed meal, 3,609 tons of De-oiled Rice Bran Extractions and 69,336 tons of soybean meal. Thailand imported 78,161 tons compared to 2,097 tons; consisting 58,628 tons of rapeseed meal, 9,454 tons of De-oiled Rice Bran Extractions and 10,079 tons of soybean meal. European countries were the major importer of Indian Soybean Meal. France imported 74,177; consisting 69,605 tons of soybean meal and 4,572 tons of Castor meal and rest of European countries imported 134,153 tons of oilmeals.

Port-wise Export : April - October 2017

The export from Kandla is reported at 694,336 tons (51%), followed by Mumbai including JNPT handled 205,674 tons (15%), Mundra handled 132,063 tons (10%) and Kolkata handled 194,758 tons (14%).

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For 82 percent of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) CIOs digital business has led to a greater capacity for change and a more open mindset in their IT organization, according to Gartner, Inc.'s annual survey of CIOs. On average, EMEA CIOs have increased the amount of time they spend on business leadership up from 30 percent three years ago to 41 percent today. This indicates that as digital transformation accelerates, the role of the CIO is changing.

"While IT delivery is still a responsibility of the CIO, achieving revenue growth and developing digital transformation were identified most often as top business priorities for organizations in 2018. If CIOs want to remain relevant, they need to align their activities with the business priorities of their organizations," said Andy Rowsell-Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner.

Twenty-six percent of the CIO respondents in EMEA said they expect their jobs to become more business-oriented, and 22 percent expect a greater focus on analytics. They identified business intelligence and analytics (26 percent) and digitalization (17 percent) as technology areas that will help their businesses differentiate themselves and succeed.

The 2018 Gartner CIO Agenda Survey gathered data from a record 3,160 CIO respondents in 98 countries and all major industries, representing approximately $13 trillion in revenue/public sector budget and $277 billion in IT spending. 1,069 CIO respondents were from the EMEA region.

Digital Business Is Changing the CIO's Job

"'Digital' is here and is mainstream," said Mr. Rowsell-Jones. "CIOs are moving from experimentation to scaling their digital business initiatives." In this context, the challenge for CIOs is to grow these initiatives to deliver economies of scale and scope. The survey revealed that 29 percent of the CIO respondents in EMEA are designing digital initiatives, 29 percent are delivering them, 15 percent are scaling them and 4 percent are at the "harvesting" stage.

Some CIOs in EMEA are struggling to scale their digital business initiatives. The survey revealed that the biggest barrier is culture. Forty-eight percent of EMEA CIOs identified "culture" as the biggest hurdle to scaling up from the initial phases of digital business transformation.

"Culture is not specifically labeled," said Mr.

Rowsell-Jones. "You can't change what you don't make explicit. Start by clearly articulating why change is required from a business point of view, then delve into what specifically will change."

The CIO Role Is Widening

Adoption of digital technology is increasingly forcing the role of the CIO to widen. Forty-six percent of the EMEA CIO respondents are in charge of the digital transformation within their organization, and 41 percent are responsible for innovation. Furthermore, many of EMEA CIOs said their organization has already deployed, or is experimenting with, digital security (76 percent), the Internet of Things (39 percent) and artificial intelligence (28 percent).

Putting in Place the Right Digital Team Structures

CIOs have a number of ways in which to develop digital business in their organization. The survey found that in EMEA, 47 percent of the CIO respondents have a dedicated digital business team. It also revealed that few of these teams (16 percent) are made up of IT associates only. For 47 percent of CIOs their digital business team will run as a separate digital team that reports to business unit leaders or to the CEO directly, and for 23 percent of them that team will report directly to the CIO.

"Your role as a CIO is transforming in light of the accelerating adoption of digital business and the fast pace of technological innovation," concluded Mr. Rowsell-Jones. "It no longer suffices just to be responsible for IT delivery, and it is of paramount importance to address broader business objectives as well. The time has come to master your new role as a business executive."

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Himachal Futuristic Communications was locked at 5% upper circuit at Rs 31.80 at 9:40 IST on BSE after the company announced bagging an order worth around Rs 1248 crore from Bharat Sanchar Nigam, New Delhi for defence communication network.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 6 November 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 81.35 points or 0.24% at 33,812.54. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 26.51 points or 0.16% at 16,816.30, underperforming the Sensex.

On the BSE, 23.44 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far as against average daily volume of 37.9 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock was locked at a high of Rs 31.80 so far during the day. The stock had hit a low of Rs 31.35 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 35.95 on 18 September 2017. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 11.09 on 22 November 2016.

The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 6 November 2017, gaining 14.56% compared with 6.03% gains in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in the past one quarter, jumping 79.29% as against Sensex's 4.35% rise. The scrip had also outperformed the market in the past one year, surging 111.3% as against Sensex's 23.67% rise.

The mid-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 123.94 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

The scope of the work includes installation of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) equipments on pan India basis for the defence forces under network for spectrum programme. The order value for material and services is around Rs 935 crore and around Rs 313 crore for annual maintenance contract.

The turnkey project has to be commissioned within fifteen months. Thereafter, company has to provide warranty support for three years and annual maintenance services for seven years after warranty.

The company will announce its Q2 results today, 7 November 2017. Himachal Futuristic Communications' net profit dropped 44.5% to Rs 25.63 crore on 65.9% rise in net sales to Rs 836.01 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

Himachal Futuristic Communications is a leading telecom infrastructure developer, system integrator and manufacturer of high-end telecom equipment and optical fibre cables.

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A Financing Agreement for IBRD loan of US$ 119 million (equivalent) for the Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence & Equity (OHEPEE) Project was signed with the World Bank here today. The Financing Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare (Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs) on behalf of Government of India and Mr. Hisham A. Abdo Kahin, Acting Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank. A Project Agreement was also signed by Mr.

G. V. V. Sarma, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha and Mr. Hisham A. Abdo Kahin, Acting Country Director, World Bank. The Objective of the project is to improve the quality of 'students' equitable access to selected institutions and enhance governance of the higher education system in Odisha.

Project Component : Result Areas are (I) Improved quality of and students' equitable access to selected institutions of higher education : Institutional Development Plan (IDP) Grants (performance -based Financing (II) Enhanced governance of the higher education system: (i)Improvement of governance in colleges (ii)Improvement of financial and procurement management and accounting in all government and government-aided colleges.

The closing date for the project is 30th November, 2022.

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On 14 November 2017

Lykis will hold a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company on 14 November 2017, to consider & approve, inter alia the Un-audited Financial Results of the Company for the quarter and half year ended 30th September, 2017 apart from other businesses.

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Rajasthan Police arrest director on 02 November 2017

Pincon Lifestyle announced that the whole time director of the Company Monoranjan Roy has been arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police from Bengaluru on 02 November 2017.

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Two people were killed and three others wounded when an explosion and ensuing gunfire rocked a TV station in Kabul on Tuesday.

At least four gunmen were involved in the attack at the Shamshad TV headquarters in Chaman-e-Huzuri neighbourhood in Police District 8 of the city, a security source told Xinhua news agency.

Witnesses said the attackers, disguised in police uniforms, threw grenades and fired guns as they entered the building, the BBC reported.

"One attacker detonated his explosive vest at the first gate of the building, paving the way for the second group of gunmen to enter the facility. The Crisis Response Unit (CRU) forces arrived at the site shortly after the attack and they launched a counter-attack to eliminate the terrorists," the security source said.

Hashmat Istankzai, a reporter for Shamshad TV, who managed to escape told that the BBC the attackers were still inside the building (around 1 p.m.) with gunfire being heard.

"Some of my colleagues were killed and injured. I managed to escape."

According to the initial information, one attacker and one security guard were killed and three people were injured. But the number of casualties may change as the gunfire was still continuing, the source told Xinhua.

Security personnel were trying to regain control of the building. Shamshad TV quickly went off air after the attack began. More than 100 employees are thought to be inside the building.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

--IANS

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At least four persons, including two attackers, were killed and 20 injured in an attack on a television station here on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the morning after two terrorists, disguised as police officers, attacked Shamshad TV, a private Pashto language channel, in Chaman-e-Huzuri neighbourhood. The attackers lobbed grenades before storming the building, the Afghan reported.

The Islamic State through its Amaq News Agency said it carried out the attack in which a security guard, a female worker of the TV station and two attackers were killed, Tolo News reported.

Afghan special forces had to blast their way through a concrete wall protecting the station to enter the site. The assault ended after a three-hour shootout inside the Shamshad TV building.

The TV station's news director Abid Ehsas said the staff had been in their offices when the attackers entered the building wearing police uniforms.

"They threw hand grenades at our security guards." The attackers then stormed news offices and started shooting at anyone in their sight, said Ehsas. He said most of the TV station's staff escaped, even by jumping out of the windows.

"This is an attack on freedom of but they cannot silence us," he said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, an independent safety group, strongly condemned the incident.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the group was not involved in the attack.

In May, a group of armed men attacked the National Radio Television station in Afghanistan's Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern Nangarhar province, during which the three attackers and two civilians were killed.

A week ago, at least three people were killed in an attack in the diplomatic area of Kabul where several embassies and government offices are located.

--IANS

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There has been an over 40 per cent increase in bilateral trade between India and Vietnam in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year, Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh said on Tuesday.

He added that this growth was "much higher" than growth in Vietnam's bilateral trade with any other country and also made India one of the top ten trading partners of Vietnam.

"There has been significant improvement in bilateral relations especially in the last one year. Economic relations have improved significantly especially in trade and investment fronts," Ton Sinh Thanh said during a talk on India-Vietnam relations at the Foreign Correspondents' Club here.

"During the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade has reached $5.6 billion as per our data. According to Indian data from the Commerce and Trade Ministry, it is even higher at $6.26 billion," he said.

The Ambassador said that at this rate, the bilateral trade would cross the $10 billion mark this year itself.

"We also hope to achieve the target of reaching the $15 billion by 2020, a target set by our leaders," he added.

He said India was also now one of the top ten trading partners of Vietnam and also ranked 15 among all foreign investors in the country.

"There has been progress in investment as well with 36 new Indian projects started in first ten months of this year worth a total of $182 million," Sinh Thanh said.

He added that India was one of the closest friends of Vietnam and the two countries shared good relations on other fronts as well including tourism, diplomatic ties as well as politics.

"Our relation with India is now better than ever, and free from any problem," he said.

Vietnam and India are celebrating 2017 as Friendship Year which marks the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relation and 10 years of strategic partnership, he said.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister is expected to visit India in January when he would also attend the Republic Day celebrations.

--IANS

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Scientists have found that a 70-year-old malaria drug can block immune cells in the liver so nanoparticles can arrive at their intended tumour site, overcoming a significant hurdle of targeted drug delivery.

Many cancer patients do not respond to chemotherapy because the drugs never reach the cancer cells.

Even in nanomedicine, only about one per cent of a dose of nanoparticles will successfully arrive at the intended tumour site, while the rest are filtered out by the immune cells of the liver and spleen.

However, using the drug chloroquine not only increased the circulation of nanoparticles in the body, but also reduced the body's filtration of nanoparticles, as well as improved drug delivery to breast tumours, the researchers said.

The research, led by Mauro Ferrari, nanoscientist at the Houston Methodist Research Institute in the US, showed that chloroquine interfered with immune cells called macrophages, which are used by the body to identify microscopic foreign objects and destroy them.

For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team injected mice with chloroquine and followed it by an injection of nanoparticles.

Chloroquine decreased the macrophages' ability to clean up the nanoparticles.

The findings are significant because the nanoparticles not only remained in circulation, but also accumulated in mouse tumours, as well as in the lungs of healthy mice, suggesting that the approach also may enhance treatment for lung diseases, the researchers noted.

Chloroquine was invented in the 1940s for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Since it mildly suppresses the immune system, the drug is also used in some autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

--IANS

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Bonn, Nov 7 (IANS/MAP) Africa remains at the heart of Morocco's climate action, the country's State Secretary for Sustainable Development, Nezha El Ouafi, said at the 23rd session of the annual UN Climate Change Conference, which kicked off on Monday in Bonn.

Morocco's participation in the meet backs up the tangible results achieved during the country's presidency of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), she told MAP.

Ouafi added that Morocco acted as the mouthpiece of Africa in climate negotiations at this conference.

This participation is part of the guidelines laid down by COP22, which is centred on "the African role and the African identity", Ouafi pointed out.

She noted that at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, three important committees were set up: one for the Sahel region, a second for the island states and a third one for the region of the Congo Basin.

"Morocco has an offer, a project and advocacy skills that will strengthen this dynamic. Today there is no time to lose. We must prepare for the post-2020 period and have plans based on nationally determined contributions for African countries," she noted.

At the Bonn conference, Ouafi said that countries will seek to advance efforts to operationalise the Paris Agreement in terms of fund-raising, capacity-building and support, particularly for vulnerable and developing countries.

--IANS/MAP

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A bilateral agreement in the IT sector between India and the US would benefit many sectors, including defence and aerospace, said a top official of an American advisory services firm on Tuesday.

"A bilateral US-India IT sector agreement will benefit many sectors such as defence, aerospace, banking, science and technology, infrastructure and flow of people," said The Stern Group Chairwoman Paula Stern, at the two-day conference on 'Unlocking US-India Trade Potential', organised by the US Consulate General with the Atlantic Council.

The Washington-based Stern Group provides advisory services in business and government strategy. Its services include broker connections with governments, resolving commercial disputes and developing political and economic policy campaigns.

Stern, a former chairperson of the US International Trade Commission, also asked India to take the lead in the sectoral focus to strengthen a bilateral US-India trade presence in the Indo-Pacific region, as this would allow India to serve its grander strategic and economic objectives.

"In doing so, India will be handing the US a step up that will help it regain American geostrategic leadership," she said

With North America accounting for about 60 per cent of the $150-billion Indian software services and IT product exports annually and iun view of the inter-linkages between the two nations in IT, e-commerce and cyber security, Stern said the sectoral agreement would facilitate a grander convergence and reinforce security capacity and inter-operability.

"The proposal has merit geo-strategically, economically, and politically. Addressing tariffs and regulatory issues will benefit trade for both nations," she said.

US Consul General Robert Burgess, Infosys co-founder and Chairman Nandan Nilekani and Atlantic Council Director Bharath Gopalaswamy attended the conference.

--IANS

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With the Trump administration sticking to its stand on rescinding climate protection actions, American organisations on Tuesday announced to counter the fossil fuel agenda and to hold US states, cities, businesses and the public accountable to commitments to climate action.

The US groups comprising community and grassroots leaders announced the formation of a platform named "US People's Delegation" at COP23 here.

The platform includes youth, indigenous people, frontline communities, advocates and policymakers who have come to Bonn with organisations from across the United States.

They have come together to show what climate leadership should look like during the 23rd annual climate change talks of the parties or COP23 at the UN Climate Change Conference.

The People's Delegation and the organisations involved are taking action to protect communities and isolate the US administration by demanding a fossil-free future and real climate action at the local level.

Other prominent demands include a just and equitable transition to 100 per cent renewable energy in all cities and states.

"I have seen climate change-fuelled floods destroy lives and livelihoods where my family is from India. In southern India, thousands of farmers have committed suicide because of drought," Varshini Prakash of SustainUS and Sunrise Movement said.

"Within my lifetime, my home in the States could be underwater if we do nothing to stop climate change. No one should have to live in fear of losing the people that they love or the places that they come from," Prakash added.

The two-week climate change talks with the attendance of officials of 197 nations and thousands of non-state actors opened here on Monday with a commitment to go ahead of the 2015 Paris Agreement pledges to counter climate change.

In his inaugural remarks, Fiji President Frank Bainimarama, who is chairing the COP23, said there was a need to keep the climate action commitments in full and not back away from them.

COP23, coming just two years after the landmark adoption of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, will also further fuel momentum among cities, states, regions, territories, business and civil society in support of national climate action plans.

In June, US President Donald Trump announced his administration's intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, throwing into doubt its role at UN climate talks and related bodies like the Green Climate Fund.

At COP23, attention will turn to whether the US and its allies will continue to advance an agenda focused mainly on mitigation, carbon markets and transparency of action, while neglecting or foot-dragging on other key issues such as adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology transfer, capacity building, transparency of support and compliance.

--IANS

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Celebrated TV journalist Barkha Dutt has signed a book deal with Juggernaut and will be writing a book on Indian in the last two decades.

Titled "Power", it will tell the twinned stories of the changing fortunes of the Congress Party and the rise of the BJP through the men and women who shaped the events.

"Barkha Dutt has had a ringside view of the changing face of Indian in the last two decades and is also a brilliant narrator and storyteller. We believe this will be one of the most gripping accounts of modern India," said Juggernaut Publisher Chikki Sarkar.

Focused on the growing mobile usage in India, Juggernaut has, to a large extent, redefined reading and writing for the digital age as it engages with both a serious reading audience and a new mobile audience. Its other authors include Twinkle Khanna, Arundhati Roy, William Dalrymple, Hardik Patel, Sunny Leone, Rujuta Diwekar, Husain Haqqani, Svetlana Alexievich, Rajdeep Sardesai, Rajat Gupta, Kanhaiya Kumar, Sourav Ganguly and Pankaj Mishra.

"I've been wanting to tell this story for many years now, and am excited to work with the dynamic Juggernaut Books," Barkha Dutt said.

Barkha Dutt has been a prominent figure in broadcast journalism for over 20 years and has won many awards including a Padma Shri. This is her first book with the publishing house and it is scheduled for late 2018.

--IANS

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China on Tuesday denounced as "gas and speculation" the reports about the US and Japan teaming up to ensure "free and open" Indo-Pacific region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said media reports, especially "Japanese, about such partnership between Japan and the US to contain China are gas and speculation".

US President Donald Trump, who is visiting Asia, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed Indo-Pacific region as Washington wants Tokyo, New Delhi, and Canberra to join a dialogue in the region.

Last Sunday, a US official said that instead of the term Asia-Pacific, Washington would like to use the phrase Indo-Pacific because it "captures the importance of India's rise".

"We have indeed noted that recently this concept has been mentioned many times," Hua said when asked about such arrangements was to counter China in Indo-Pacific region and its Belt and Road Initiative.

Describing the Indo-Pacific as the dynamic region which has the biggest potential in the world, she said stability and peace is of great significance to bring prosperity in the region.

Indo-Pacific region includes the Indian Ocean and some part of the South China Sea.

--IANS

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Global corporate giants are investing hugely in water security and management with a three-fold rise in just one year, an annual water report said on Tuesday. They committed to $23.4 billion of investment in water projects in 2017 alone.

In India too, companies are spending heavily to mitigate the risk of water supply with Tata Steel $38 million, ITC along with MNCs like Diageo, L'Oreal and Symrise AG also reporting spends in millions.

The report, 'A turning tide: Tracking corporate action on water security', published by non-profit environmental disclosure platform CDP, analyses water data from 742 of the world's largest companies, including Nestle, Burberry and Kellogg's.

It finds escalating boardroom engagement in water issues. The report highlights growing accountability and performance in water management with a 40 per cent increase in disclosure since 2016 and a 193 per cent increase in the number of companies featured on the CDP water A List.

The US (13), Japan (12) and Britain (nine) are the three countries with the most companies on the water A List.

Companies committed to $23.4 billion of investment in water projects in 2017 such as desalination plants, reclaiming waste water or improved irrigation to avoid droughts across 1,000 projects in 91 countries.

The report says the energy sector continues to be the biggest laggard, with 101 out of the 138 energy companies asked to disclose failed to do so.

Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell are among those companies persistently failing to reveal water data to investors via CDP.

Seven companies including Diageo (Britain), Colgate Palmolive (US) and Nestle (Switzerland) are now putting a higher price on water internally to reflect its increasing business cost.

"From Bangladesh to Peru and the US, climate risks - and in particular water risks - have been very real in 2017," an official statement quoting CDP's water scoring partner and South Pole Group CEP Renat Heuberger said.

"South Pole Group believes companies need to continue to improve their understanding, management, and transparency of water risks, in order to help inform better decision making. Together with CDP, we are committed to delivering a water-secure world."

Companies in India increasingly report that both quality and quantity issues are constraining their business, CDP India Director Damandeep Singh told IANS.

"With uncertainty in monsoon rains and declining water availability many companies have stepped up water conservation efforts in close collaborations with stakeholders in their watersheds and river basins.

"However, many more initiatives are required which include incorporating the true value of water into their core business strategy," he said.

In total, 4,653 companies were asked to report to CDP on their water activities in 2017, with a 44 per cent response rate.

--IANS

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A court here on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking filing of another FIR adding sedition charges over an incident of alleged anti-national sloganeering at Ramjas College of Delhi University, stating the authenticity of video footage provided by the complainant was not clear.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra said the complainant had relied upon "unauthenticated audio-video footage" obtained from the social media.

The court observed that the Delhi Police had already lodged an FIR in the incident.

Hearing a criminal complaint from advocate Vivek Garg, who alleged that "massive anti-national slogans" were raised by the members of Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) and the Students Federation of India (SFI) at a Ramjas College event, the court said no purpose would be served by filing another FIR, as it would lead to the unproductive exercise of duplicating the proceedings.

"The fact that authenticity of the audio-video footage in question is not clear and it is obtained from unknown social media sources, is admitted by the complainant as well as in the action taken report," the court said.

"In these peculiar circumstances, when the authenticity of the audio-video footage is doubtful, its sources unknown and the complainant himself is unable to vouch for its credibility, it will be premature to issue any direction for addition of sedition charges."

However, the court granted liberty to the probe agency to adopt an appropriate course of action in case sufficient and concrete evidence surfaces regarding charges of sedition as the investigation is on and the forensic lab reports are still awaited.

The Delhi Police had told the court that it had received raw video footage from various news channels of the incident and were examining students and teachers to identify who allegedly raised anti-national slogans at Ramjas College.

Police earlier said the authenticity of video footage provided by the complainant was not clear as it had been obtained from unknown social network and media websites and "apparently looks doctored".

On February 21, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had gathered at the college and raised slogans to protest against an event in which JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid were invited.

On February 22, the ABVP activists clashed with the AISA and SFI students, which left several students and teachers injured.

--IANS

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The DMK will organise protests as part of the Opposition's "Black Day" campaign on Wednesday against the Centre's demonetisation decision, notwithstanding speculation that the BJP was cosying up to the regional party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call on the ailing DMK President M. Karunanidhi.

M.K. Stalin, DMK's Working President, left for Madurai to participate in a protest there while his sister Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha member, will be present in Coimbatore.

The party called off the protests only in rain-affected Chennai and other coastal districts but decided to go ahead with it in other districts.

The DMK in a statement urged traders, workers and others affected by demonetisation to wear black badges on Wednesday.

Modi's meeting with Karunanidhi on Monday had sparked speculation that the two parties may be on a path of reconciliation with reports even saying the party had called off the anti-demonetisation protests.

--IANS

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DowDuPont, world's largest chemical company, will have the headquarters of its agriculture division in Hyderabad, a Telangana minister said on Tuesday.

Telangana's Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao said that the company's decision was conveyed by James C. Collins, Chief Operating Officer, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont during a meeting here on Tuesday.

DowDuPont, formed in August after merger of Dow Chemical and science and technology company DuPont, also chose Hyderabad as its South Asia headquarters.

The Minister said the company will also explore possibility of exporting seeds to other countries.

During the meeting with the Minister on Tuesday, Collins was accompanied by Krysta Harden, External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont and other officials.

They said the company had significant presence in Telangana. The Minister shared the innovative RICH platform created by the Telangana government and about the upcoming Seed Park project highlighting their efforts towards making Telangana the seed bowl of India.

In 2014, DuPont had opened its newest multi-crop research centre (MCRC) here to bring innovation to multiple crops that are grown locally thereby improving the productivity of Indian farmers.

Spreading over more than 100 acres, MCRC is engaged in corn, rice, millet, mustard and cotton hybrid seeds development catering to the farmers in the Indian subcontinent.

Harden spoke about how worldwide, women play a critical role in agriculture. They also discussed about a conference on women in agriculture.

--IANS

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Egyptian rights lawyer Khaled Ali has announced that he will challenge President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in the 2018 elections, a media report said.

"We decided today to start our campaign in preparation for my candidacy in the presidential elections," Xinhua news agency quoted Ali as saying at a press conference on Monday.

"We will strive to snatch guarantees for the integrity of the presidential elections."

The lawyer was in September sentenced to three months in jail due to a case related to a reportedly rude and obscene hand gesture he made after a court order, which he has already appealed, but it still raises a possibility for his disqualification as a presidential candidate.

Ali was among the leading figures, who opposed Egypt's handover of the two controversial Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

The rights lawyer ran for President in 2012 elections.

--IANS

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Auchan, one of France's leading retail groups, has announced that it would open several shops without checkout counters in China by the year-end, a media report said.

"The operation of Auchan Minute is very simple and intuitive. To enter, the customer uses the application WeChat. At the entrance, it scans a code that opens him the doors of this automated shop and identifies it," Xinhua news agency quoted Auchan as saying in a statement.

After scanning the products, they are automatically added to a virtual cart. The customer takes the products after paying them via Wechat Pay or AliPay and validating them by the mobile, the company added.

Founded in 1961 by Gerard Mulliez, Auchan is France's second largest retail group after Carrefour.

--IANS

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Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly hired private investigators to collect information about the women who accused him of sexual misconduct and reporters who were investigating his past.

According to an article in The New Yorker magazine, the producer employed Black Cube, which is run mostly by former officers of Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies. He also hired Kroll, a popular corporate-intelligence company, reports deadline.com.

Private investigators from Black Cube met actress Rose McGowan, who has been on the forefront of Weinstein scandal, accusing him of rape.

The article by Ronan Farrow, who wrote on the October 10 expose on Weinstein, reports that one of the investigators posed as a women's rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan.

That same investigator met a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press. In addition, Weinstein directed journalists to interview women and they would report back to him with details.

Attorney David Boies confirmed that his firm paid Black Cube and Kroll and that the investigators sent him reports which he gave to Weinstein.

Boies also signed the contract to attempt to uncover information that would block the New York Times story that ignited the Weinstein scandal.

Weinstein spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister said in a statement to The New Yorker: "It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time."

--IANS

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Keen on producing 2,000 doctors every year to meet the shortage of health specialists, the Haryana government has decided to set up a medical college in every district of the state, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday.

Haryana has a total of 22 districts.

Khattar said the state needs more doctors so that proper medical facilities could reach more people, especially in the rural areas.

He also said that doctors have to sometimes work round-the-clock and it was stressful.

"The state government is continuously working to meet the requirement of doctors and it could only be achieved by setting up new medical colleges," the Chief Minister said.

He said that a medical health insurance scheme was also being finalised to ensure that the poor did not face any difficulty in getting treatment at hospitals.

--IANS

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Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL), which is looking to quadruple copper ore production, is preparing tenders to appoint mining development operator to reopen Rakha mine and develop the new Chapri-Sideshwar mine at the Singhbhum copper belt in eastern India, a top company official said on Tuesday.

"We are in the process of preparing tenders to appoint a mining development operator for Rakha mine and adjoining mine of Chapri-Sideshwar," company Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Sharma said here.

The company is planning to reopen the closed underground Rakha mine and to develop Chapri- Sideshwar mine which would be the greenfield project, he said.

The miner embarked on the expansion drive to quadruple copper ore production from its current level of 3.4 million tonnes per annum to 12.4 million tonnes per annum in the next five years, he said.

HCL on Tuesday said its Board of Directors at its meeting on Friday will consider the proposal to increase the borrowing limits from the bank consortium or other banks.

--IANS

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Hundreds of women dancers and other artistes staged a protest against the district authorities at the Sonepur cattle fair on Tuesday for the delay in providing licences to theatres, police said.

"They shouted slogans against the district administration and blamed them for delay in giving licences," a district police officer said, adding that the protesters demanded licences saying it is connected to their livelihood.

The theatre shows are a main attraction at the month-long fair which kicked-off last Thursday. This year, eight theatres have been set up at the fair in Bihar's Saran district.

The women, who have come from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kanpur and Lucknow, said that they have been waiting for the last five days for licences.

According to a theatre owner, more than 500 women dancers and artistes have arrived from different parts of the country to perform at theatres.

He said the district administration has delayed the licences despite repeated requests. "These women and other artistes earn their livelihood from this," he said.

District Magistrate Harihar Prasad said there is no ban on theatres at the fair but the administration has decided to ensure no vulgar dances are performed. "We will not allow vulgar dances at theatres."

Saran Superintendent of Police, Har Kishore Rai, said the delay was due to the vulgar posters pasted by the theatres to attract people, particularly the youth.

In the past, vulgar dances by scantily-clad women forced the authorities to suspend the licences of theatres at the cattle fair. The theatre are known for objectionable dance shows, vulgarity and semi-nude dancers.

The Sonepur cattle fair, considered Asia's largest such fair, is held annually, beginning on Kartik Poornima, at Sonepur in Saran district, about 30 km from Patna.

The fair ground is an extensive 500 acres of land near the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak rivers.

--IANS

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Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, who has been roped in as brand ambassador of food and beverages franchise management company IchakDana, says he is a huge promoter of health and fitness.

"I am a huge proponent of health and fitness and I take pride in being part of IchakDana. I chose this food chain as an investment choice based on the consideration that it is in sync with my philosophy of having healthy, hygienic and convenient food," Vivek said in a statement.

The actor has made a strategic investment in IchakDana LLP as well.

IchakDana aims at making available convenience food that is commercially prepared optimizing ease of food consumption through the food and beverage channel. This is both effortless and quick to serve.

"We are delighted to bring Vivek on board as the flagbearer of our brand and as an investor. His ideology as a fitness enthusiast with a passion for healthy food perfectly matches our line of thought and business philosophy. Vivek has a huge fan following and we look forward to his mass brand appeal for conveying our message," said Sonya Chowdhry, Director, Ichakdana.

The brand announced their collaboration with two quick-serve-restaurants -- Cafe Udupi Ruchi and Chicken Xpress with exclusive franchise rights.

--IANS

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India on Tuesday successfully test-fired its indigenous subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay, which failed its last test in December 2015, an official statement said.

In a major achievement, the first indigenously-designed and developed Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms, was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range here in Odisha.

The test took place after the error, that led to the failure of its fourth trial in December last year, were rectified, said the statement.

The missile has the capability to loiter and cruise at 0.7 Mach, at altitudes as low as 100 metres. The flight test achieved all the mission objectives completely from lift-off till the final splash, boosting the confidence of all scientists associated with the trial, it added.

The missile took-off in the programmed manner and all critical operations including launch phase, booster deployment, engine start, wing deployment and other operational parameters demonstrated through autonomous way point navigation.

The guidance, control and navigation system of the missile is configured around the indigenously designed Ring Laser Gyroscope nd MEMS based Inertial Navigation System along with GPS system.

"The missile majestically cruised for a total time duration of 50 minutes, achieving the range of 647 km. The missile was tracked with the help of ground based radars and other parameters were monitored by indigenous telemetry stations developed by DRDO," the statement said.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hailed the success of DRDO scientists and complimented them for this inspired achievement. She was optimistic that this successful trial would take India to the select league of nations for possessing this complex technology and sub-sonic cruise missile capability.

DRDO Chairman S. Christopher, DG, Aero, C.P. Ramanarayanan, along with other senior DRDO scientists and user representatives from Army witnessed the momentous launch and congratulated the team Nirbhay for making DRDO proud for the long awaited achievement.

Nirbhay's December 2016 trial was aborted half-way as the missile changed its targeted course. It had to be destroyed within minutes of taking off amid a threat that the missile could hit land.

The 750-1,000 km-long range missile's first test on March 12, 2013 failed as it fell after 20 minutes of flight. The second on October 17, 2014 was, however, successful.

The third test on October 16, 2015 saw the missile nose-dive after covering 128 km in the Bay of Bengal.

With the capability to strike deep into enemy territory, Nirbhay has been designed and developed by the DRDO at its aeronautics R&D laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment based in Bengaluru.

The cruise missile is powered by a solid rocket motor booster developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory and is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system indigenously developed by Research Centre Imarat.

Nirbhay is able to pick out a target among multiple targets and attack it, can go around a target and re-engage it. It can fly at different altitudes ranging from 500 metres to 4 km above ground and can fly at tree level to avoid detection by radar.

--IANS

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday rejected former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's charge that demonetisation was "organised loot" and said there was an ethical and moral rationale behind the decision which gave a "new direction" to the economy.

Defending the government's decision to demonetise high value currency notes last year as "historic" Jaitley also said that demonetisation cannot be a one-stop solution to clean up all corruption.

Addressing the media on the eve of the first anniversary of the note ban decision, Jaitley said there was a policy paralysis during the 10 years of UPA rule and they did not even take a single decision to curb corruption while Prime Minister Narendra Modi made structural reforms and took decisions which changed the scenario.

"It is surprising that an economic exercise behind which there is ethical and moral rationale is being described as loot. An anti-black money drive is an ethical drive and anti-black money step is a moral step. What is morally and ethically correct has to be politically correct," he said.

He said that loot is something that happened in 2G, CWG and coal block allocation scams.

"I feel that even on the matter of ethics our vision and Congress' vision are different. Their primary object is to serve the family and our primary object is to serve the nation. Even on these, preliminarily we may not be able to agree," he said.

Jaitley was responding to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's criticism in Ahmedabad on Tuesday that the "twin blow" of demonetisation and the "badly-designed" and "hastily-implemented" Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a "complete disaster" for India's economy.

Manmohan Singh, in his address to small businessmen and traders, said the move was a "black day for our economy and indeed for our democracy".

"All that Dr. Singh is to do is to compare the relative credibility of Indian economy internationally pre 2014 and post 2014. Pre 2014 you are being considered as an economy impacted by a policy paralysis where the alphabet 'I' was being threatened to be knocked off out of the BRICKS. You were off the global radar," he said, adding that many international agencies today praise the kind and quality of reforms India is making.

Jaitley said that if India wanted to be a developed nation then a less-cash economy, a formal economy and a cleaner economy is a must.

Dubbing the demonetisation decision as historic, he said the highly criticised decision of note ban was not a one-step solution to curb corruption.

"Demonetisation is not a one-stop solution to end corruption. It cannot be, but it did change the agenda. And that changed agenda is that we should go towards less-cash economy. Individual tax payers' number has increased, digital transactions have gone up and terror funding has squeezed," Jaitley said.

The Finance Minister said he was "more than satisfied" with the new direction the economy is moving in.

"We at BJP believe that for the nation's economy and its future, it was necessary to change the status quo. Domination of cash in any economy, especially having 86 per cent of currency as high denomination notes, and excessive cash transactions lead to tax evasion. In such cases the taxpayers have to bear the burden of the evaders too," Jaitley said.

He said it is unjust that resources meant for the country's development and welfare of the poor should be kept in rich people's coffers. He said that though corruption will not end even in a less-cash system it will become difficult to indulge in corruption.

He said that demonetisation was definitely a watershed movement and one of its important objectives was to make India a less cash economy and thereby reduce the flow of black money in the system.

--IANS

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The Japanese government on Tuesday approved the extension of unilateral sanctions against North Korea coinciding, two days after US President Donald Trump's visit to Tokyo as part of his five-nation Asia tour.

The sanctions freeze the assets of nine companies and 26 individuals for links with North Korea, including those based in China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Libya, government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga said in a press conference.

The Japanese government took the decision after observing that the unilateral sanctions it had approved on August 25 and the resolution adopted by the United Nations in September after North Korea conducted its most powerful nuclear test, have had little effect, Efe news quoted Suga as saying.

Describing North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes as serious and imminent threats to the region, the spokesperson said Japan will not accept such behaviour.

The Kim Jong-un regime has continued its provocations, ignoring repeated warnings by the international community, Suga said.

In addition to the nuclear test on September 3, North Korea also launched a missile that flew over northern Japan on September 15.

The extension of the sanctions, which already affect a total of 84 entities and 108 individuals, was mentioned by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a joint press conference with President Trump on Monday, in which the two presented a united front against North Korea and promised to apply "maximum pressure" on it to force it to abandon its weapons' programmes.

Japan's decision to adopt additional sanctions against North Korea coincides with Trump's visit to the region to move together with the US in implementing unilateral measures aimed at cutting off funds that could be used for Pyongyang's weapons programs, according to Suga.

South Korea, where the US president arrived on Tuesday, also announced a day earlier the activation of new unilateral sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear and missile programmes.

--IANS

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Short of announcing the launch of his political party, actor Kamal Haasan indicated on Tuesday that he may come up with its name by next January and sought to project that he was not anti-Hindu nor did he want to deliberately hurt their sentiments.

Addressing a press conference on his 63rd birthday here, he announced the launch of an app #KH with several links like "maiamwhistle" (centre whistle) and "theditheerpomvaa" (let us search and resolve). It will act as a digital platform for people to complain and interact with him.

"I plan to undertake a tour of Tamil Nadu to reach out to people. The dates will be announced later," Kamal said at an hour-long media interaction, which was marked by his trademark replies in riddles.

In his opening statement, Kamal said people would be asking him questions as to when he would launch the party about which he has been speaking, and answered saying: "A lot of prepatory work is being done. I am consulting experts and friends and will make the announcement at the appropriate time.

"Why should I announce a party separately as I am already there."

Answering one of the questions, he said like one of the links to his digital platform, he would be neither be going "left nor right".

Asked about the perception that he was anti-Hindu in view of his recent statements, Kamal sought to suggest that he was only talking about Hindu extremism and not Hindu terrorism.

"I am not starting a party to hurt Hindus. I come from a Hindu family and I do not want to lose the affection of my family first. I am not trying to hurt Hindus but when mistakes are done, I will speak about it.

"I am only talking reality when I speak of violence. All Hindus should understand and discuss. Nobody should indulge in such violence. It applies to Hindus and Muslims. When I say extreme, it doesn't mean terror. But there is violence," he said.

To another question about Hindutva elements attacking him, Kamal said: "I only spoke truth. If punishment is given for that, I am ready to accept it."

He was apparently referring to threats to his life from some Hindutva organisations after his recent statement slamming Hindu extremism.

"I have friends and relatives in all communities, though some people are calling me anti-Hindu. I have moved away from my Brahmin moorings. It is a search. There is no pride or shame in it. I am being called an atheist by believers but I am a rationalist."

Explaining why he was not in a position to give details of his political plans, he said he was looking at larger goals and a longer time.

"You have to give me time for coming out with a manifesto, a name. I am working on the structural part of it. I am in no hurry, there is no need to hurry, I need your support," he said.

Talking about the app, he said the name was derived from the Ashoka Chakra which is a virtuous cycle that has become a vicious circle. He wanted people to be whistleblowers.

"Tomorrow, I may also get some political responsibility and the whistle should be blown against me too. Even I should be questioned," he asserted.

Asked how he would keep away tainted people and money from his organisation, Kamal said he was working on such things too. He added that even in his film career, there has been no black money.

He said already people, especially the poor, have contributed Rs 30 crore to the kitty of his fans' association, which is audited.

Kamal visited a medical camp earlier in the day.

--IANS

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Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, has checked into a rehab centre in the Arizona desert to receive treatment for sex addiction.

The luxury $36,000-a-month clinic is popular among celebrities and has treated stars such as Tiger Woods, Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss and Selena Gomez, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Last week, it was reported that alleged serial assaulter Harvey Weinstein was also seeking treatment at the Meadows clinic. He was seen in disguise at a local eatery in Phoenix.

It is believed that the "American Beauty" actor, 58, who has been accused of sexually abusing or harassing a string of men in allegations dating back years, arrived in the centre in Wickenburg towards the end of last week.

"Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment," his representatives said in a statement.

The clinic claims to have the best sex addiction treatment programme in the US.

Spacey, who came out as gay after the first allegation against him emerged, will be able to take part in horse riding, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture and "mindfulness meditation" at the clinic.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The continuing Paradise Papers expose by the Indian Express newspaper has found that the business group with the largest number of offshore entities in Bermuda law firm Appleby's records is the Khemka family of the SUN group.

Apart from the Khemkas, a fresh set of stories from the probe of 13.4 million leaked documents from Appleby and Singapore's Asiaciti pertain to Indian and Indian-origin individuals and corporates ranging from the Hindujas to the Caparo Group and Dayanidhi Maran to Karti Chidambaram -- apart from a clutch of media firms.

The cache, named "Paradise Papers", was obtained by German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and probed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) -- in partnership with 96 news organisations.

The papers provide an insight into "tax havens across the world which help the global rich and powerful, including from India, to move their money abroad", the report said.

Records investigated by The Indian Express show that the Khemka family "has registered nearly 100 entities mostly in the British Virgin Islands and New Jersey".

The group is headed by patriarch Nand Lal Khemka, 82, who is shown as beneficiary or "officer" for 17 of these entities. One son, Shiv Vikram, is the "officer" of 104 offshore entities and another, Uday Harsh, of 102 entities.

Interestingly, Shiv Vikram, who is vice chairman of the Gurgaon-based SUN Group, claims to be close to the Russian establishment and has been mentioned in news reports as seeking to emerge as a key intermediary in India-Russian defence deals. His group has widespread interests in Russia, especially in the brewing, energy, mining, aerospace and infrastructure sectors.

According to the Express report, Appleby has listed Khemka, along with his two sons and their flagship foundation -- The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation -- as PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons).

The report says that records of "risk rating" lists show that "Appleby mentioned the reasons why the Khemka family has been assessed as 'high risk' or 'medium risk' among its clients, at least until 2014. At a meeting in March 2009, many objections or observations were made by Appleby related to as many as 47 entries for Nand Lal Khemka and his entities".

In one instance, the report says, there is an entry that records how Khemka has "the potential of purchasing a yacht".

Other key findings, from records examined by The Indian Express, are:

-- A 600,000 pound "distribution" to University of Pennsylvania with a request from Appleby for Khemka and the representative of the Khemka trust to provide a "detailed report" on how the funds were used.

-- A 2007 remittance of $18 million to Khemka for purchase of a property in India. Appleby sought valuation reports, reports from lawyers and copies of the tax advice. A separate compliance report mentions the purchase of apartments in Qatar with a clarification that the purchase was done from personal funds of the family.

-- A query regarding the transfer of EUR 2.4 million for the "purchase of art". Appleby officials are asked to contact the art company and confirm the price.

-- A $4.34 million payment made by the trust to the Public Health Foundation of India with a note to determine who controls the charity. Later, a note states that this payment was not made and would not be made from this "structure".

There are also payment reminders sent by Appleby to the SUN Capital Partner Group and the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation. One reminder dated December 15, 2015, lists 13 payments totalling 65,800 pounds due to Appleby.

Khemka still serves as chairman of Indag Rubber Ltd, a company listed in India with a market capitalisation of over Rs 550 crore. It had revenues of Rs 183.9 crore in the year to March 31, 2017, as against Rs 253 crore in the previous year.

Reached for a response, Khemka has been quoted as saying: "My sons Shiv and Uday have been NRIs for over 35 years. SUN Group is a private investment group which was founded by them over 30 years ago and has been working across the globe since that time. SUN has made many separate investments using specific corporate vehicles over these years. As a global group owned by shareholders who have been NRIs since well before incorporation of the group, the question of RBI permissions, etc., with respect to the establishment and jurisdiction of the group does not arise."

He said that the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation was a supporter of philanthropic causes, but is not "involved in the purchase of properties and art. Any such purchases have been made with personal funds".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A warehouse on the banks of Hooghly river here caught fire on Tuesday evening and the fire services were trying to prevent it from spreading, a fire service official said. No injuries were reported so far.

"A major fire broke out in a warehouse at the Armenian ghat around 7.46 p.m. on Tuesday. Primarily, it seemed a plenty of inflammable materials were stored in it. The exact reason of fire could not be comprehended yet," the official said,

The official said there was a high possibility of fire spreading to other adjacent establishments and 20 fire tenders were working for almost one and a half hours to douse the blaze.

"No injuries are reported so far," the official said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sounding alarm bells, The Global Nutrition Report 2017 says India faces a serious challenge stemming from both under-nutrition and obesity leading to various health, social and economic problems.

Among 140 countries, including India, the GNR-2017 found "significant burdens" of key forms of malnutrition as indicators of the broad trends, the findings released here on Tuesday said.

These include: Childhood stunting affecting 38 per cent children under-five years of age of 155 million worldwide; 21 per cent of under-fives defined as "wasted" or "severely wasted", implying they are underweight for their height, comprising 52 million children.

More than 51 per cent of women of reproductive age suffer from anaemia and more than 22 per cent of adult women are obese or overweight, besides one-third of all women affected worldwide with no country on track to meet global targets.

While India has made some headway in addressing the problem of under-five stunting, it has lagged in tackling anaemic women and is off-the-mark in achieving targets to reduce adult obesity and diabetes.

"India's government is recognising that the country cannot afford inaction on nutrition, but the road ahead is going to be long.

"The GNR-2017 highlights (what) needs to be tackled as part of its national nutrition strategy," said the report.

At the global level, nutrition is recognised as key in enabling sustainable development, according to Corinna Hawkes, co-chair of the GNR's Independent Expert Group and Director, Centre for Food Policy at City, University London.

"We will not achieve any of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030 unless there is a critical change in our response to malnutrition in all its forms, and action throughout the goals to tackle the many causes of malnutrition," said Hawkes.

The GNR-2017 calls for nutrition to be placed at the heart of efforts to end poverty, fight disease, raise educational standards and combat climate change.

"A well-nourished child is one-third more likely to escape poverty, learn better in school, be healthier and grow into productive contributors to their economies," said Jessica Fanzo, GNR co-chair and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Global Food and Agriculture Policy and Ethics at John Hopkins University.

The GNR says that overweight and obesity are on the increase in almost every country, with two billion of the world's seven billion now falling in this category. Less than one per cent of this problem will be tackled by 2025.

In India, 16 per cent of adult men and 22 per cent adult women are overweight, says GNR-2017.

A vast majority -- 88 per cent -- of countries studied, face a serious burden of two or three forms of malnutrition which could have a damaging impact on broader global development efforts.

Though rates of under-nutrition in children are decreasing globally with recent gains in some countries, it is not quick enough to meet the internationally agreed nutrition goals, including the SDGA target to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, said GNR-2017.

Donor funding for nutrition increased by just two per cent in 2015 to $867 million, representing a slight fall in the overall percentage of global aid, against the need for tripling it to $70 billion over 10 years to tackle childhood stunting, wasting and anaemia, and increase breastfeeding rates.

Towards this end, the Global Nutrition Summit 2017, held in Milan, Italy, earlier this week saw new commitments of billions of dollars to achieve nutrition targets, including a pledge of $50 million for five years by the Tata Trusts, Mumbai.

"Historically, maternal anaemia and child under-nutrition have been viewed as separate problems to obesity and non-communicable diseases, but the reality is they are intimately connected and driven by inequalities everywhere in the world.

"Governments and their partners need to tackle them holistically," said Fanzo.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar was among three militants killed in an overnight gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. A US-made M4 carbine used by NATO forces was recovered from the slain militants, pointing to complicity between militants and the Pakistan army, police said.

Talha Rasheed, nephew of Azhar, was among the three militants killed in the gunfight with security forces in Aglar village of Pulwama district, according to a JeM statement given to local news agency GNS.

IGP zone, Muneer Khan said: "We will ask Pakistan to collect the body of Masood Azhar's nephew as JeM has owned it. The matter will be taken up through proper channels."

Besides the three militants, soldier Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was killed in the gun battle.

Two other soldiers and a civilian were also injured in the operation.

Addressing a media conference in Srinagar with senior officers of the army and paramilitary forces, Muneer Khan said: "A US-made M4 carbine rifle was recovered from the Jaish-e-Muhammad militants killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Pulwama district.

"The recovery of the US made carbine shows the complicity between JeM and Pakistan."

Maj. Gen. B.S. Raju, commander of the Rashtriya Rifles' Victor Force, told the media conference, "This US made M4 carbine is presently with a lot of armies with the NATO.

"This is used by the special forces of Pakistan Army, so we have a reason to believe that this weapon was given by Pakistan Army to JeM cadres."

The Jaish militants had attacked a police check post in Rajpora on Saturday.

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, personnel of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, the hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with security forces to disrupt the operation against the hiding militants.

In New Delhi, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said the recovery of an assault rifle used by NATO forces in Afghanistan with the killed Jaish terrorists showed that they were getting support from across the border, in a reference to Pakistan.

"Operations are going on. As I said, the operations will continue. If any terrorists carry out activities that put the life and property of our citizens at risk, if they target any building, police station or army, they are troubling the citizens. Our attempt would be to neutralise whoever is involved in terror activities," General Rawat said on the sidelines of an event.

"Whether it is the nephew of Maulana Masood or anyone else, we are concerned only with finishing terror. We are not concerned what is their religion or other things," he said.

Along with Rasheed, two more terrorists - Mehmood Bhai, a foreign terrorist, and Wasim Ahmed Ganai, a local terrorist were killed.

Among the items recovered from the terrorists, were M4 carbines, a shorter and lighter variant of the American origin M-16 A2 assault rifle. The seizure comes days after a picture of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was circulated on social media holding another variant of the M-16 rifle.

The American origin gun is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, and questions have been raised how it reached the terrorists.

Asked about the presence of the weapon with the terrorists, Rawat said: "You can see sometime back this weapon was shown in media that they (terrorists) have this weapon. It shows they are getting support across the border."

The forces also recovered AK-74 rifles, pistols, and matrix sheets from the terrorists.

Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in agreed on Tuesday to completely remove the limit on the payload of Seoul's ballistic missiles, a move aimed at building up their joint deterrence against provocative North Korea.

The agreement came at a meeting between the two leaders at the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae as Trump arrived here earlier in the day on a state visit, becoming the first US President to do so in 25 years.

"The heads of South Korea and the US reached a final agreement on removing the limit on missile payloads," Moon said in a joint press conference with the US President, Yonhap news agency reported.

The leaders also agreed to expand the rotational deployment of US strategic assets to South Korea and its surrounding areas.

"We also agreed to immediately begin negotiations on South Korea's development and acquisition of the most advanced military surveillance assets," he added.

Moon said he and the US leader reaffirmed their resolve to peacefully end the North Korean nuclear standoff. They, however, stressed the importance of having what they called "overwhelming" strength over North Korea.

In coming days, three US aircraft carriers, accompanied by guided-missile destroyers and submarines, will be conducting a mock battle in the waters in the region, said the US Navy.

"We are showing great strength and I think they (North Korea) understand we have unparalleled strength. We sent three of the largest aircraft carriers in the world (to the Korean Peninsula) and a nuclear submarine is also positioned," Trump said.

"We hope to God we never have to use the military strength the US has on the Korean Peninsula."

"With that being said, I really believe it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and people of the world," Trump said.

The US President said his country and South Korea will continue to work together to defend what they have worked so hard to build.

"We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built. We have built it very much together and we are very proud of it, also together," he said.

Trump's trip to the country came about two months after the North staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on September 3.

The US leader urged all countries, including China and Russia, to faithfully implement UN Security Council resolutions aimed at punishing and isolating the communist state.

"All nations must implement UN Security Council regulations and cease trade and business entirely with North Korea. It is unacceptable that nations would help arm and finance an increasingly dangerous regime," he said.

Before the talks, the presidential office conducted an official welcoming ceremony for Trump. The two leaders then inspected a 300-member honour guard.

Trump said trade issues will be high on the agenda. "We have a terrific meeting scheduled on trade in a little while with President Moon and his representatives," he said while meeting US troops at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek.

Camp Humphreys, located 70 km south of Seoul, was the first stop in Trump's trip to the country. He was joined at the base by Moon for lunch with South Korean and US service members there.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his five-nation tour through Asia.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in on Tuesday urged Pyongyang to "come to the table" and discuss giving up its nuclear weapons as "it is the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world".

Striking a different note from the previous fiery rhetoric, the US President said he "hoped to God" he did not have to use the US military against Pyongyang.

Trump was speaking at a joint press conference with Moon at the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. He arrived here earlier in the day on a state visit, becoming the first US President to do so in 25 years, Yonhap news agency reported.

He is on a five-nation tour of Asia, where North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been high on his agenda.

Both the leaders reiterated their call for the North to denuclearise, with Trump saying it "makes sense for North Korea to come to the table", and to "do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world".

Moon said he and the US leader reaffirmed their resolve to peacefully end the North Korean nuclear standoff. They, however, stressed the importance of having what they called "overwhelming" strength over North Korea.

In the coming days, three US aircraft carriers, accompanied by guided-missile destroyers and submarines, will be conducting a mock battle in the waters in the region, said the US Navy.

"We are showing great strength and I think they (North Korea) understand we have unparalleled strength. We sent three of the largest aircraft carriers in the world (to the Korean Peninsula) and a nuclear submarine is also positioned," Trump said.

"We hope to God we never have to use the military strength the US has on the Korean Peninsula."

The US President said his country and South Korea will continue to work together to defend what they have worked so hard to build.

"We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built. We have built it very much together and we are very proud of it, also together," he said.

Trump's trip to the country came about two months after the North staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on September 3.

The US leader urged all countries, including China and Russia, to faithfully implement UN Security Council resolutions aimed at punishing and isolating the communist state.

"All nations must implement UN Security Council regulations and cease trade and business entirely with North Korea. It is unacceptable that nations would help arm and finance an increasingly dangerous regime," he said.

Trump and Moon also agreed to completely remove the limit on the payload of Seoul's ballistic missiles and discuss Seoul's introduction of nuclear-powered submarines as well as other advanced weapons, officials said.

"The heads of South Korea and the US reached a final agreement on removing the limit on missile payloads," Moon said in the press conference.

The leaders also agreed to expand the rotational deployment of US strategic assets to South Korea and its surrounding areas.

The Moon-Trump summit also discussed trade issues as the US leader has long insisted on the need to narrow his country's trade deficit with South Korea.

"We have the greatest military equipment in the world and South Korea will be ordering billions of dollars of that equipment, which for them makes a lot of sense and for us means jobs and reducing our trade deficit with South Korea," Trump said.

Later speaking at a state dinner for Trump, Moon reiterated the need for overwhelming power to deter North Korean provocations. "There must never be another war on the Korean Peninsula. In that sense, the US is being a great help to us," he said.

Trump celebrated the Korea-US alliance, calling it a "deep and enduring" relationship. On Wednesday, he is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has stressed that the "sovereignty of Morocco on the Sahara is complete and undiminished" and ruled out any solution to the issue outside the parameter.

In his address on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Green March, he said there can be no solution to the Sahara question "other than within the framework of Morocco's full sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative, which has been declared serious and credible by the international community".

He also said that "Morocco remains committed to engaging in the current dynamic wished for" by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and to collaborating with his Personal Envoy, "while keeping in mind the need to adhere to the related firmly established principles and terms of reference on which the Moroccan position is based", according to a press release.

He also sent messages to the UN Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, as well as to the Polisario and Algeria, on the issue.

Ahmed Noureddine, a specialist in Saharan affairs, said the monarch's speech had set four parameters for the negotiations. These include that "there is no solution to the issue outside the sovereignty of Morocco on the Sahara is complete and undiminished" adding that "any solution must be under the sovereignty of Morocco, whatever its name changes, whether regional or advanced self or other".

On the King's assertion that the Sahara will remain Moroccan at all costs of sacrifices, Noureddine explained that it is "a phrase repeated in all the King's speeches concerning the Sahara, a renewal of the King's commitment to preserve the unity of the homeland and its territorial integrity and the entire Maghreb.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has strongly condemned the "cowardly" missile attack that targeted Saudi Arabia from Yemen.

"I want to express to you, on the behalf of the Moroccan people and myself, my strong condemnation and total rejection towards this cowardly act of aggression that tried to undermine the integrity of your country and the security of its citizens," Xinhua news agency quoted the Moroccan King as saying in a message to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

He reiterated Morocco's solidarity with Saudi and its full support for all the measures it undertakes in order to preserve its security and stability.

The King also vowed his country's total commitment to the duty of Arab solidarity to defend the sovereignty of Yemen, its national unity and territorial integrity.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The NIA on Tuesday said it had taken over the case wherein Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight was diverted to Ahmedabad on October 30 following a security threat.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said the case was taken over by the agency as Gujarat Police registered the case under the anti-hijacking law and arrested Birju Kishore Salla, a Mumbai-based diamond businessman.

The flight 9W-339, with 122 passengers, including seven crew, made an emergency landing at the Ahmedabad airport after a letter warning about a hijack and bomb threat was discovered in the plane's toilet.

The pilot had alerted the Ahmedabad airport authorities about the threat letter, reported to be in Urdu and English.

The plane was taken to a remote bay at Ahmedabad airport and all passengers disembarked and screened. It was later cleared for take-off.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taking serious note of an attack on students at the NIT-Imphal campus, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday spoke to his Manipuri counterpart N. Biren Singh and requested him to ensure the safety and security of students hailing from his state.

He also urged Singh to take action against the accused, who had attacked and beaten up the students on Monday at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Imphal.

Nitish Kumar requested a high level probe into the incident, an official in the Chief Minister's office here said.

Bihar Police chief P.K. Thakur also spoke to Manipur Director General of Police L.M. Khote and requested him to initiate action.

A group of students were injured on Monday when locals barged into the NIT campus and beat them up. Some injured Bihari students had then sought the help of the state government.

--IANS

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A year into demonetisation, the opposition and the government on Tuesday exchanged verbal blows over the action with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling it disastrous while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rejected the charge saying there was an ethical and moral rationale behind the decision which had given a "new direction" to the economy.

Jaitley, however, acknowledged that the "benefits may not be immediately visible" but would make future generations proud.

Fielded by the party in poll-bound Gujarat, Manmohan Singh said the measure had failed its ostensible purpose of curbing wealth accumulated through tax evasion as it was known by now that none of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met.

"The fact that more more than 99 per cent of the (spiked) currency came back into the banking system has punctured the government's claim. There are also widespread reports of the rich converting their black money into white while the poor have undergone immense suffering," he said, "invoking the memory of more than a hundred people who lost their lives last year in the wake of the demonetisation".

Calling the withdrawing of 86 per cent of legal tender in one single stroke as undemocratic and a coercive move, the former Prime Minister said "the demonetisation was clearly not the solution" to end the menace of black money and tax evasion in India.

"Demonetisation has proved to be a mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped," he said, again calling it "an organised loot and legalised plunder".

He said while the demonetisation had reduced economic growth to 5.7 per cent, it was still "bound to be a gross underestimate as the pain of the informal sector is not adequately captured in the calculation of the GDP".

What was even more tragic, he said, is the fact that none of the lessons from this "monumental blunder" has been learnt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Instead of providing relief to the poor and the marginalized farmers, traders and small and medium businesses, the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST".

Manmohan Singh said if anyone had benefited from the "twin blow -- a complete disaster for our economy" it was China whose imports to India have grown by a whopping 23 per cent in just one year.

He questioned the rationale behind the anti-nationalistic slur thrown on those who criticize Modi and the NDA government. "This attitude of suspecting everyone to be a thief or anti-national, the low-level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse and has real consequences for how we relate to one another as citizens. Political leaders must stick to the high end."

Hours after the former Prime Minister's speech, Finance Minister Jaitley strongly defended the economic reforms calling note ban a "watershed moment in the history of the Indian economy".

"The next generation will view the post November 2016 national economic development with a great sense of pride as it has provided them a fair and honest system to live in," he said in his Facebook post.

The Finance Minister said one of the important objectives of demonetisation was "to make India a less-cash economy and thereby reduce the flow of black money in the system".

While Prime Minister Modi did not mention about the aim to reduce cash transactions in his November 8 speech last year, the government, however, later said the note ban was also aimed at to make India a less-cash economy.

Jaitley took a dig at Manmohann Singh, saying "anti-black money drive is (an) ethical drive, a moral step and what is morally and ethically correct has to be politically correct".

He said the BJP believed that economic status quo needed to be shaken up to end corruption. "Less cash in the system may not end corruption but makes corruption difficult," he said, claiming terror funding had been "squeezed" after demonetisation.



"Demonetisation is not a one-stop solution to end corruption. It cannot be, but it did change the agenda. And that changed agenda is that we should go towards less-cash economy. Individual tax payers' number has increased, digital transactions have gone up and terror funding has squeezed," Jaitley elaborated.

The central government also came under a sharp attack from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who changed the display picture of her Twitter account to black in a protest against note ban. She has instructed Trinamool Congress workers to observe "Black Day" on Thursday to mark its first anniversary.

"Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved," Banerjee said.

She said demonetisation was not to combat black money but was aimed at to "convert black money into white money for vested interests of the political party in power".

In a harsh criticism against the move, she branded it as a "devil act" and said the Indian economy has been "ruined".

(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 confirmed that a diplomatic official of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Afghanistan's eastern Jalalabad city was shot dead at a shop near his residence.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the Afghan Charge d'Affaires to the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest against this heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators of this act of violence should be apprehended and brought to justice, the Foreign Ministry said, Xinhua news agency reported.

He asked for foolproof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan.

Expressing condolences on behalf of his government, the Afghan Charge d'Affaires assured provision of security to Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan and promised to bring to justice the perpetrators of this terrorist act.

The statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said the Pakistan Government strongly condemns the diplomatic official's killing.

"The President and the Prime Minister in separate messages strongly condemned this heinous act and conveyed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Model-actress Paris Jackson has apologised for an "insensitive" tweet about death that she posted before she got to know about the Texas church shooting.

The daughter of late Michael Jackson apologised after she tweeted "why the f**k do people keep dying" -- prior to learning of the shooting during which a gunman with an assault rifle killed at least 26 people during Sunday services, reports dailymail.co.uk.

After her initial post, Paris wrote: "Whoa just now hearing about Texas, and realised how insensitive to the families my last tweet must seem...To clarify, that was about a friend."

"My heart is with everyone affected and in pain during this tragic time," she added.

The Texas attack took place on Sunday morning in Sutherland Springs, a small town some 45 km southeast of San Antonio city.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A passenger and the staff of IndiGo airline were involved in an altercation at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here but a compromise was reached between the two sides, police said on Tuesday.

Though police said they had received a call about an altercation, recorded footage run on news channels showed airline passenger Rajeev Katiyal and a few officials shoving each other over a bus ride inside the airport on October 15.

Katiyal, who arrived from Chennai, was waiting for the bus inside the airport when the incident happened.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia said a compromise was arrived at between Katiyal and IndiGo staff Jubi Thomas.

The airline later apologised to Katiyal and said strict action has been taken against the erring employee.

"We acknowledge the unpleasant experience our passenger went through, while engaging with our staff at the Delhi airport. Our apologies as this does not reflect our culture.

"Under the code of conduct violation, this incident was investigated and stern action taken against the staff," a statement from IndiGo read.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said police had busted a terror module and arrested four persons, including a gangster lodged in Nabha jail, to solve most cases of targeted killings in the border state since January 2016.

Punjab was rocked by the murder of at least nine right-wing, other religious leaders in the past two years, including the sensational killing of senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd).

Three arrested suspects are Jimmy Singh of Jammu, who returned to India from the United Kingdom after spending many years there and picked up a week ago from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport; Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national apprehended in Jalandhar; and Dharmender alias Guggni, a gangster from Meharban in Ludhiana, who was supplying weapons to the killers, and currently lodged in Nabha jail.

The Chief Minister told the media here that the identity of the fourth arrested suspect, the main shooter in various cases, could not be revealed as he was caught on Tuesday afternoon and his interrogation was on.

Amarinder Singh said a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbances and destabilise the state, hatched by the Inter-Services Intelligence in Pakistan and other countries, had been exposed with the arrests.

"Though the Punjab government handed over Gagneja murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, our police cracked this case too with the latest busting of the terror module, the eighth such module to be smashed since the Congress government took charge in March 2017," the Chief Minister said.

"Last month's murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain has also been solved with these arrests, which have been linked to most cases of targeted killings in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since January 2016," he said.

Amarinder Singh said the questioning of the accused revealed they were trained abroad and were using encrypted mobile software and apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries.

"The ISI is always looking to disturb the country's peace and to radicalise the youth," he said.

He said the probe pointed out that targeted killings were aimed at fanning communal disturbances to further the ISI's anti-India game plan.

Director General of Police Suresh Arora said more such incidents in the future could not be completely ruled out, adding that police was fully geared up to face all situations.

The DGP said similar weapons were used in the killing of Durga Das and Gagneja in Jalandhar, as was in the Amit Sharma case in Ludhiana, as also in February 2017 Khanna killings of Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and his son; July 2017 Ludhiana killing of Christian Pastor Sultan Masih; and last month's Ludhiana murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain.

"In fact, similar weapons -- standard 9mm, .32 bore and .30 bore pistols -- were also used in the Ludhiana RSS 'shakha' attack case of January 2016 and Amit Arora murder case of February 2016," the DGP said.

--IANS

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Surat in Gujarat on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the government's demonetisation decision, which the party is observing as "Black Day".

In what will be his second visit this month, Gandhi will hold informal meetings with industry representatives and workers during the day, according to the party.

The Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

The party said Gandhi will have interaction with traders at Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium, Adajan Gam in Surat and later be part of candlelight vigil near Vivekanand Statue in Chowk Bazar, Surat.

His visit comes after senior party leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in Ahmedabad on Tuesday where he addressed a large crowd of businesspersons against demonetisation and GST.

The Congress party will observe November 8 as "Black Day" with country-wide protests against demonetisation with the theme "Bhugat Raha hai desh" (the country is suffering).

After Surat, Gandhi is likely to visit North Gujarat from November 9 to 11.

He had visited the poll-bound state twice in October.

--IANS

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A court here on Tuesday pronounced one of the six accused guilty of rape in the sensational Ranaghat nun rape case, while convicting all the six of criminal conspiracy and dacoity.

The city sessions court would announce the quantum of punishment for all the six on Wednesday.

"We collected all the scientific evidence and witnesses and produced the charge sheet against six people. The charge has been proved in the court today (on Tuesday) and the quantum of punishment would be declared tomorrow. We are satisfied with the result. We want maximum punishment for all the accused," said an officer from the state CID that has been probing the case.

In March 2015, a 72-year-old nun was raped inside a missionary school in Nadia district's Ranaghat. The criminals also took away cash and other belongings from the institute.

The CID, which took charge of the case, arrested six persons in the crime, while one accused is still absconding.

The government counsel welcomed the court's verdict and said they would seek the maximum punishment for the six convicts.

"The court has convicted all the six accused of criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B) and dacoity (IPC 395) while the charges of rape have been proved against one of the accused, Nazrul Islam. Therefore, there is provision of life imprisonment for all six if the quantum of punishment is highest. We will argue for maximum punishment when the quantum is announced on Wednesday," said counsel Anindyakishor Raut said.

Counsel of the accused, however, claimed they have successfully argued the case as the charge of gang rape has not been proved.

"The prime charge of gang raping the nun has been scrapped. We will look into the allegations of robbery against the accused persons in future," said defence counsel Fajle Ahmed Khan.

--IANS

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Human rights groups in Taiwan on Tuesday urged US President Donald Trump, a day before his China visit, to demand the release of Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che detained in Beijing since March.

The groups organised a meeting with the press in which they repeated their call for the discharge of Lee, whose case was tried by a court in Hunan with the sentence expected to come out soon, reports Efe news.

Lee, who was arrested on arrival from Macau in March, confessed to criticising the Communist Party of China and spreading propaganda on Western democracy during the trial which Taiwanese activists described as staged.

"Although the sentences of similar cases usually take less than three months, this time it may take longer so that it does not coincide with Trump's visit to China," Chairman of Strategic Studies at Tamkang University, Li Da-jung told Efe.

Human rights activists in Taiwan believe that Lee can be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years or a maximum of a life sentence in prison.

Both Lee's wife and the rights groups launched an international campaign for Lee's release that even received backing from US congressmen and parliamentarians of the European Union.

Lee was an employee of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and is a professor at a community college and a volunteer in the non-profit group Covenant Watch in Taipei.

--IANS

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South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook will serve homemade traditional refreshments to US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump during teatime after they arrive here on Tuesday.

President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to have tea with Trump right after their summit talks along with their wives, at Sanchunjae, a wooden traditional Korean house inside Cheong Wa Dae (presidential office), reports Yonhap News Agency.

The refreshments for the reception are reportedly chocolate-coated dried persimmons, called "gotgam" and herb tea, dubbed "Serene Morning of PyeongChang".

PyeongChang is an hill station in South Korea and venue for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

To make gotgam, Kim personally picked the persimmons from trees inside Cheong Wa Dae weeks ago, and hung them to dry.

In Korea, gotgam, which requires more than a month to make, is traditionally used as a refreshment or as an ingredient in other foods.

Kim made "gotgam ssam" by stuffing walnuts into dried persimmons and then coating them with chocolate.

Meanwhile, the police have beefed up security at the US Embassy in Seoul, as well as on roads leading to the Cheong Wa Dae.

Iron fences were set up around Gwanghwamun Plaza across from the U.S. Embassy, and a larger number of police personnel were deployed around the mission, as some liberal civic groups have vowed to hold rallies opposing Trump's visit at the plaza.

Officials said they will allow civic groups to hold lawful rallies inside the iron fences at the plaza, but plan to keep protests under control around the time Trump's motorcade passes through the area.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his trip.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.

--IANS

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There are gunfights, there's horse riding, there's muscle game, mind game, punches and punchlines -- the trailer of Salman Khan's "Tiger Zinda Hai" shows that the superstar, along with Katrina Kaif, is back with a vengeance to delight his fans and give a message of peace.

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the movie brings back the "Ek Tha Tiger" on screen couple Salman and Katrina.

"There are many hunters, but no one can hunt like Tiger," says one of the punchlines in the action-packed trailer, launched on Tuesday.

The story of the film revolves around a mission to rescue 25 Indian nurses who are kidnapped by the world's most deadly terrorist organisation headed by Abu Usman in Iraq. Interestingly, in this film, Indian agent Tiger and Pakistani spy Zoya work together to release the hostages.

In a pertinent statement, Katrina's Zoya says: "Our mission is not just to save these 25 nurses, but to tell the world, we stand for peace".

For Salman, message-based cinema seems to be the way to go now, as he did the same with "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and "Tubelight".

The trailer of "Tiger Zinda Hai" looks quite promising not only for Salman's fans, but also for the audience who love watching action-packed war films. With its stunts, visual effects and exotic locations, the film, which has been shot across five countries, seems to have a lot to offer.

However, the hostage plot reminds of Akshay Kumar's "Airlift".

During the launch of the trailer here at the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studio on Tuesday, Zafar was asked if he feels the pressure to deliver the best in one of the most anticipated films of the year.

He said: "Yes, there is a pressure on me because it is a successful franchise and I have worked with Salman Khan in 'Sultan', and we succeeded. So even people have a high expectation. The story is based on a real-life incident, and it's an impactful story. Let's just hope that this Christmas, we can all have a great time in the theatre."

Asked about Salman and Katrina's chemistry in the film, Zafar said: "It's different from the first one. It is not a love story between Katrina and Salman but two people on a mission to stand for peace. This film has more action and the story is realistic and topical, that we can all relate with."

Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film also features Angad Bedi and Girish Karnad. It is releasing on December 22.

--IANS

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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has accused Iran of an act of "direct military aggression" by supplying missiles to rebels in Yemen for carrying out a missile strike on the Saudi capital.

This "may be considered an act of war", the state media quoted the prince as telling UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in a telephone conversation, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

The missile was fired from Yemen on Saturday by the Houthis, a rebel group with ties to Iran that has been battling a Saudi-led military coalition.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that Saudi Arabia's "wars of aggression" and "regional bullying" were threatening the Middle East.

According to reports, Houthi rebels had fired a Burkan H2 ballistic missile at King Khaled International Airport, about 850 kilometre from the Yemeni border and 11 kilometre north-east of Riyadh, last week.

Saudi media reported that missile defences intercepted the missile in flight, but that some of its fragments fell inside the airport area. No casualties were reported.

Human Rights Watch said the launch of an indiscriminate missile at a predominantly civilian airport was an apparent war crime.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday that in his telephone call with Prince Mohammed, Johnson had "expressed his condemnation of launching a ballistic missile by Houthi coup militias" and affirmed "Britain's stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting security threats".

"For his part, the crown prince stressed that the involvement of the Iranian regime in supplying its Houthi militias with missiles is considered a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime and may be considered an act of war against the kingdom," it added.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told CNN on Monday that Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, an Iranian proxy, was also involved.

"It was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen," he said.

--IANS

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday claimed it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised notes during its probe into the Kashmir terror funding case.

"We have seized demonetised currency of face value Rs 36,34,78,500 and arrested nine persons in this connection in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case," the NIA said.

However, details of the seizure were not known immediately or whether the arrests included separatist leaders and Kashmiri businessmen who are in Tihar Jail on charges of terror funding.

The claim came amid opposition claims that the November 8, 2016 decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes (almost 86 per cent of the currency in circulation) had made no significant impact on curbing terrorism and its financing from across the border.

--IANS

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An Indian Army soldier and three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed overnight in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Tuesday.

Sham Sunder of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was killed in the gun battle in Aglar village with the militants who belonged "to the same group" who attacked a police check-post in Rajpora on Saturday.

Two other soldiers and a civilian were also injured in the operation that has now ended, police said. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, troops of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with the security forces to disrupt the terror operation.

Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, said a police spokesman.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.

The injured were sent to hospital. Identification of the dead bodies was underway.

--IANS

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Actress Ellen Pompeo says writer-director James Toback once asked her to get naked in a movie.

"I actually did have a situation with James Toback where I kind of told him to go f**k himself," usatoday.com quoted Pompeo as saying.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star recalled: "It was held in a public place and I brought a man -- my friend Tony. And he didn't like that at all. And I could tell that. I could tell instantly that he was, like, no good.

"The minute my friend left, he asked me if I would get naked in a movie. And I was like, 'Really, dude? My friend has been missing all of 30 seconds and now you say that?' I kind of laughed in his face."

The publication also requested for a comment from Toback's last-known representatives, who said they do not work with him. No other publicist, agent or attorney could be identified.

Toback has been accused of sexual harassment or assault by approximately 40 women, often inviting them to his apartment or hotel rooms under the guise of private auditions. The accusations began with an expose in the Los Angeles Times last month.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected the need for a debate on tougher laws regarding possession of arms and said more restrictions might have left hundreds more dead in the .

Trump - referring to a Sutherland Springs (Texas) resident who, with his own gun, confronted the attacker -- said if he didn't have the gun and had he not shot at the shooter, the number of victims could have been in the hundreds.

A total of 26 people were killed and some 20 wounded on Sunday during a service at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs after a man opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle.

"If he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead, so that's the way I feel about it," the US President said here while replying to questions about gun control in the wake of the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

He said the city with the strongest gun laws was Chicago and that it was "a disaster", Efe news reported.

The US President, who is on a state visit to South Korea, held a joint press conference alongside his counterpart Moon Jae-in, where he again defended his stance over arms.

Trump had said a day earlier in Tokyo that the shooting occurred due to a mental health problem at the highest level and not because of arms.

The church suspect was identified as Devin Kelley, a 26-year-old former service member, who was expelled from the Air Force for misconduct and who committed suicide after being shot by a resident, Stephen Willeford.
US President Donald Trump left Japan on Tuesday for South Korea, the second stop on his five-nation tour through Asia.

Trump will meet his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Seoul to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, Efe news reported.

Pyongyang has conducted a series of nuclear tests this year that has escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula. It also lead to UN sanctions and increasingly hostile rhetoric from Trump.

The Air Force One, took off from the Yokota US Air Base near Tokyo around 10 a.m. It will land at the Osan US Air Base, west of Seoul.

Trump is scheduled to have lunch with US troops deployed there.

On Monday in Tokyo, Trump said that "the era of strategic patience is over" with regards to North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his trip.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.

--IANS

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Raising the political temperatures, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday revealed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray recently met him and they discussed the need for an "alliance of like-minded parties" in the country.

"Uddhav, accompanied by (party leader) Sanjay Raut, met me at my Mumbai residence 10 days ago," Pawar told media persons on the sidelines of the ongoing two-day brainstorming session of NCP at a luxury resort in Karjat here.

"We also discussed the need for an alliance of all like-minded parties in the country," he said, indicating the parties opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party policies.

"I felt that he (Thackeray) is not keen on continuing with the (BJP) alliance in the state, but they did not indicate whether they would withdraw support. However, in case, it (Shiv Sena) leaves the government, we shall not be available to bail them (BJP) out," Pawar said, burying all speculation on this count.

He said the NCPs' stand is clear - it will not go to support anybody though it has always stood for joining hands with like-minded parties, but said that there was no discussion with Thackeray on this issue.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik later told IANS that the Sena is dissatisfied with its alliance with BJP at the centre and in Maharashtra, but it has yet to take a stand on whether it will continue or walk out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

However, despite the political waves Pawar's statements created, the Shiv Sena maintained a studded silence.

The already strained relations between the BJP-Sena came under severe pressures last month after former Chief Minister Narayan Rane left Congress and launched his own "Maharashtra Swabhimaan Party", which joined the NDA as a prelude to Rane's induction as a cabinet minister in an expected reshuffle to be carried out by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Pawar's revelation comes a day after senior NCP leader Praful Patel said at the 'Chintan Shibir' that Pawar could be in the race for Prime Minister after the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

However, in his characteristic style, the elder statesman advised the party leaders to "banish the idea of him becoming the PM" and instead work hard on building and expanding the NCP.

Incidentally, five days ago, Thackeray and his son Aditya had called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who appreciated supported the Sena stance of criticizing the BJP as "doing the right thing."

Earlier on Tuesday, Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray penned a severe critique of the BJP in a blog in which he termed the intent behind the demonetization exercise as "dubious", and one which had failed the hopes of the people and even the country.

--IANS

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The UN Security Council has issued a presidential statement on Myanmar complimenting and criticising the country over its stance on the Rohingya crisis and it also gave the government a month to "get its act together".

Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi of Italy, this month's UNSC president, read out the 1,300-word statement at a formal session on Monday, the first such statement on Myanmar in 10 years, reports Xinhua news agency.

It strongly condemned attacks against the Myanmar security forces carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on August 25, then expressed "grave concern" over the government's response, the alleged burning of villages and threats to villagers to flee, among others.

The council said the government's primary responsibility is protection of Myanmar's population, citizens or not.

It called for reform in Myanmar's security and justice sectors and urged the government to work with Bangladesh and the UN to allow the voluntary return of refugees to their homes, on the basis of an October 24 memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

The panel welcomed a "union enterprise mechanism" for humanitarian assistance, resettlement and development in Rakhine.

It recommended the government ensure the mechanism supported such return and allow UN agencies full access, urging governments and all humanitarian partners to pay special attention to the needs of women, particularly survivors of sexual violence.

The council also welcomed the Myanmar government's public support for recommendations by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and called for their full implementation.

It urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to consider appointing a special advisor on Myanmar.

Since the August attacks,over 604,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh. Some fled by land, others in boats over an inlet of the Bay of Bengal.

In the last two weeks, 4,000 refugees entered Bangladesh while four people drowned in a shipwreck while fleeing, officials said.

--IANS

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The US has begun to accept non-immigrant visa applications in Turkey on a limited basis, the US Embassy in Ankara said.

The US embassy confirmed in a statement on Monday that it received "initial high-level assurances" from the Turkish Government that there are no additional local employees of the US mission in Turkey under investigation, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Turkish authorities will inform the US Government in advance if the Government of Turkey intends to detain or arrest a member of our local staff in the future," read the statement.

"Based on these preliminary assurances, we believe the security posture has improved sufficiently to allow for the resumption of the limited visa services in Turkey."

The Embassy said the US continues to have serious concerns about the existing cases against its citizens arrested under the state of emergency and the US officials would continue to engage with their Turkish counterparts to seek a satisfactory resolution.

The move came on the evening of a four-day visit to the US by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim during which he is set to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence at the White House, signaling a tentative improvement in the ongoing diplomatic rift between the two countries.

The visa row was sparked on October 8 when the US Embassy in Ankara announced the suspension of non-immigrant visa services to Turkish nationals, following the arrest of a local employee at the US Consulate in Istanbul, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Ankara.

--IANS

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After lying low for three years, veteran actress and former Member of Parliament M. Vijayashanti is set to become active in as she called on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday.

Congress party leader incharge of party affairs in Telangana R. C. Kuntia and state party chief Uttam Kumar Reddy were also present during the meeting.

Vijayashanti told Rahul that she will work for the victory of the party in 2019 elections. Party sources said she may get an important responsibility in the organisation.

The actress-turned-politician was away from active since her defeat in 2014 elections.

"Lady Amitabh", the nickname she earned for her action roles in Telugu films, had joined Congress on the eve of 2014 elections after she was suspended from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for anti-party activities.

Vijayashanti began her political career with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1997 and served as General Secretary of the party's women's wing. She quit BJP in 2005 to float a separate outfit to fight for separate statehood to Telangana.

She later merged "Talli Telangana" with TRS and was elected to Lok Sabha from Medak constituency in 2009.

--IANS

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Security personnel at the Raja Bhoj Airport here on Tuesday recovered four cartridges from the handbag of a woman, who was travelling to Mumbai by an Air India flight, police said.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel later handed over the woman local Gandhi Nagar Police Station.

"The woman was travelling by a morning flight of Air India to Mumbai. On suspicion, the CISF personnel conducted a search on her and found four cartridges in her handbag. The woman was unable to explain the reason for carrying the cartridges," Kuldeep Khatri, the police station incharge, told IANS.

According to him, since the woman did not have any arms licence, a case has been registered against her.

"She is a trainer in the insurance sector," Khatri added.

The woman said she was travelling by air for the first time and did not know that she could not carry the cartridges, which belonged to her grandfather living in Mumbai. Her grandfather is in Mumbai Police, according to her.

--IANS

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Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir said that the country has zero tolerance towards corruption and extremism and dismissed speculation that the shock arrests of princes and ministers amounted to a grab of power by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the media reported.

Saudi Arabia has a "zero tolerance policy on terrorism" and now, also "a zero tolerance policy on corruption," al-Jubeir told CNN in an interview on Monday night.

"I assure you that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes very, very seriously the issue of corruption, waste, and mismanagement.

"There is a reason why everybody was brought in or detained and will be questioned and will be investigated and these have to do with the commission. I'm sure when the investigations are complete that people will know what the reasons are."

Al-Jubeir said the arrests made on November 4 were in line with Saudi Arabia's plans to diversify the economy and modernise society by 2030 and achieve economic growth, rejecting suggestions that the detentions could put off potential investors.

"We want investors to have confidence in our system... We want companies to know that when they come to compete in Saudi Arabia they will compete fair and square with any other company and not be subject to people using their influence or their position in order to extract better deals."

The arrests were made following the formation of an anti-corruption committee headed by the Crown Prince.

The detainees include 11 Saudi princes and several other ministers.

In regard to the failed ballistic missile attack on Riyadh's international airport also on November 4, al-Jubeir told CNN that it was as an "act of war by Iran" and will "respond in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time".

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for firing the projectile which was intercepted by Saudi defence forces before it hit the ground.

"It was an Iranian missile, launched by Hezbollah, from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen.

"We see this as an act of war... Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps," he told CNN.

"This is a very, very hostile act... We have been extending our hand to Iran since 1979 in friendship, and what we get back is death and destruction."

On Monday, Saudi Arabia closed its ports and borders with Yemen to stop Iranian penetration into the country.

He insisted however that humanitarian aid would still make it through to the millions of people suffering from malnutrition and cholera brought on by the years-long war between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.

"Our objective is to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance in Yemen, but do it in such a way that Iran and its militias and its proxies cannot use that access in order to smuggle weapons and technology that can be re-assembled into missiles in Yemen, that will then be used against us and against the Yemeni people," the minister added.

--IANS

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For the second year in a row, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Suddeutsche Zeitung, Munich, have run an expose that shows how companies across the world use offshore entities to avoid paying taxes. Paradise Papers, as it is being called, is the largest ever leak of such financial data  at 13.4 million files, it is bigger than last years Panama Papers expose. This time the records pertain to two firms  Bermudas Appleby and Singapores Asiaciti  and show how 19 tax havens have been used by the global elite to trick tax officials in different countries. Just like last time, there are several prominent names of personalities and firms that figure in the  in fact, there are 714 Indian names. Apart from tax evasion, details also point to possible conflicts of interest as well as incomplete disclosures.
The weekend purge in West Asias most stable regime adds an additional element of unpredictability and instability to a region that is still suffering the political dislocation and human rights crises of the Syrian civil war and the fight against the . The official explanation for the arrest of 11 princes, including the well-known Al Waleed bin Talal, a billionaire with extensive business interests in the US and Europe, and the sacking of another who headed the House of Sauds praetorian guard plus dozens of businessmen and officials should not be taken at face value. As China has shown, anti-corruption drives can be a convenient alibi for consolidating personal power. There is no reason to suppose the ambitious 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, having overthrown his cousin Mohammad bin Nayef in June, is any different. Nor has the purge been peaceful; at least two princely challengers have died in mysterious circumstances.
While the Narendra Modi government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have prepared to celebrate the first anniversary of note ban as anti-black money day, the Opposition has plans to mark it as black day and dhokha divas (day of betrayal). Union ministers will fan out to address public meetings in cities across the country on Wednesday. There could be some interesting face-offs in states run by non-BJP governments.
On Monday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he backed reservations in the private sector. His call comes on the heels of the Bihar government providing for reservation in services that the state government outsources to contractors. In 2016, the Bihar government had announced 35 per cent reservation to women in state police jobs and also implemented 50 per cent reservation in judicial services.
Ten people were arrested in an anti- terror operation in France and Switzerland today including a Swiss man linked to a foiled knife attack by a French teenager, sources close to the probe said.

A 27-year-old Swiss man arrested in France was in contact with a 14-year-old French boy who was "about to carry out the attack," one of the sources said.

The teenager was arrested in the Paris region on June 20 and charged by an anti-terror judge, the sources said.

A photo of the boy holding a paper vowing his allegiance to the Islamic State group was found on social media, they added.

The Swiss man was "particularly active on social networks... and he had contacts with individuals living in France with whom he notably discussed violent actions," a judicial source said.

Nine suspects were arrested in southern France and the Paris region and were aged between 18 and 65, the sources said, adding that most were known to the authorities.

The suspects exchanged "disturbing remarks" on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, they said, adding that investigators were seeking to "determine what they were plotting".

A 23-year-old Colombian woman was arrested in Switzerland, while those arrested in France included two brothers who were known to have been radicalised, the sources said.

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Police seized nearly "13 tonnes of beef" from two trucks and arrested three persons in this connection, an official said today.

The meat was being transported to Mumbai and a group of persons was escorting it in a four-wheeler. The police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the vehicles yesterday at a check post in Bhiwandi taluka here, Padgha police station inspector Bhaskar Pukale said.

The police seized the meat and arrested one of the truck drivers and two cleaners. The other truck driver and occupants of the escorting vehicle managed to escape, he said.

The police said the meat was later sent for testing to a local laboratory which confirmed that it was beef.

The three arrested persons were booked under IPC sections 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995, the police official said.

They were later produced in a court which remanded them in police custody till tomorrow, he said.

The Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act bans the slaughter of bulls and bullocks, besides cows.

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The Kolkata Police has arrested two persons in connection with a suspected case of dowry from the city's Phoolbagan area after a woman died of burn injuries at a hospital here, police said today.

Pinky Mallik (32) was admitted to the M R Bangur hospital last week with burns and she succumbed to her injuries yesterday, the police said.

Pinky's parents alleged that their daughter was set on fire by her husband and in-laws for failing to meet their dowry demands, a senior police officer said.

Pinky's husband Sajan Mallik and Rajkumar, her father-in-law, were arrested on charges of dowry, a senior police officer said.

Sajan had claimed that his wife was cooking on a stove when it exploded and her clothes caught fire, the officer said.

Dilip Mallik, the woman's father, a resident of Bihar's Begusarai, had lodged a complaint with the Phoolbagan police station accusing her in-laws of murdering his daughter following which the arrests were made yesterday, the officer added.

The couple got married around six years ago and the alleged torture for dowry started soon after that, her father alleged in his complaint, he said.

"We are investigating the matter and will take necessary action against those who will be found guilty," the investigating officer said.

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A special court here, hearing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, cancelled a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against a senior official of the Delhi Police after he appeared before it today.

The court had issued the warrant against Manishi Chandra, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Special Cell of Delhi Police, for his non-appearance before it.

"The court cancelled the NBW after he (Chandra) appeared before it today," Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Special Judge G A Sanap also took Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and a key plotter of the 26/11 attack, Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal's Pakistani passport, national ID card and another green-coloured card into the court's custody from the staff of the Patiala House court in New Delhi.

The documents issued by the government of Pakistan had the name of Riyasat Ali Khusi Mohammed against Jundal's photograph.

Meanwhile, Pankaj Bharti, a Patiala House court staff, informed the city court that certain documents related to the case were with the Delhi High Court and that he needed to apply there for copies.

Judge Sanap directed him to apply to the high court and get the documents by Monday.

"From Monday, I will start a day-to-day trial in the case. By Friday, you give me the schedule (of hearing)," he told the investigating officer.

Meanwhile, Jundal told the court that before it examined Chandra, he needed certain documents from Delhi. Chandra was the one who had arrested Jundal.

Last month, the Delhi Police ACP was summoned by the court for recording his evidence in the case.

A native of Beed district in Maharashtra, Jundal was interrogated after he was brought here from Delhi, where he was arrested following his deportation from Saudi Arabia in June, 2012.

The chargesheet submitted against him contains the details of Jundal's training in Pakistan, preparations ahead of 26/11, the LeT hierarchy, the precise role played by those involved in the terror attack etc.

According to Jundal's confession, LeT training camps enjoyed the full support of the locals, federal police and paramilitary organisations in Pakistan.

As per the chargesheet, after fleeing Maharashtra, Jundal entered Bangladesh in May 2006, where he was received by an ISI agent. He then used a boarding pass issued against a fictitious name to take a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight to Pakistan.

Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley was in 2016 examined as a witness in the case. He had deposed through a video link from the US.

The Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008 had left 166 people dead and many more injured.

The prime accused in the case, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, a Pakistani national, was caught alive by the police. He was subsequently tried in a court here and executed.

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A special court today sentenced three persons to death for raping a 30-year-old woman and killing her along with her minor son during a robbery in December 2012.

The Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (SC/ST) special court here also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on each of the three convicts under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and SC/ST Act.

The three were booked in December 2012 in Udhyognagar police station of the city on charges of robbery, gang rape and murder.

Special SC/ST court judge Girish Kumar Agrawal convicted Kapil alias Anna, Imran alias Dillhi Wala, both residents of Udhyognagar area of Kota city, and Tipu alias Sultan alias Aabeed of Tonk district, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Kamal Kant Sharma said here.

They were awarded death penalty under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention), the SPP said.

The three convicts are about 22 to 25 years old, he added.

The court also sentenced the three to 10 years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of them for rape.

They were also handed down seven years imprisonment under IPC section 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), the SPP said.

The three were also sentenced to life imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000 under SC/ST Act.

It was alleged that the three men broke into the house of Shiva Koli at night and looted jewellery, cash and other items. They gang raped Shiva's wife who was sleeping with her minor son in the room, the special public prosecutor said.

The three convicts then shot the woman and her son and escaped after placing the minor sons body ina box, he added.

Udhyognagar police had on December 6, 2012 lodged a case in this connection under various sections of IPC, SC/ST Act and Arms Act, and following the investigation, arrested the three who are still in jail as they were not granted the bail.

A total 35 witnesses were produced and 130 documents were submitted to the court during the trial, the SPP added.

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The 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of Sikhism, was celebrated here with an evening of divine classical music.

Guru Nanak Jayanti also known as Gurpurab and Prakash Utsav marks the birthday of the first Sikh Guru Guru Nanak. It is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated by Hindus also with equal fervour.

This year November 4 was marked as Guru Nanak Jayanti.

"It's a universal message and a message of global importance," said Navtej Singh Sarna, Indian Ambassador to the US, during a panel discussion ahead of the music performance by The Raj Academy Conservatoire.

The Indian-American Congressman from Illinois, Ro Khanna, was among those who attended the escalating musical concert along with the Singaporean Ambassador to the US.

Organised by the Indian Embassy in association with the Asian Cultural History Programme of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, a large number of Sikhs from in and around Washington and several from across the country gathered here yesterday to celebrate the 350th years of the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh.

Sarna, who is considered as an authority on Sikhism, said the 10th Guru was a person as "accomplished" and "multi- talented" whose preaching has universal relevance and acceptance.

"His message, his story, his work is far too important to be contained so to speak to one community, or one state or one country. It's a universal message and a message of global importance," Sarna said.

Eminent Sikh scholars also participated in panel discussions on "Guru Gobind Singh and his legacy" with presentations by Paul Michael Taylor, Nikky-Gurinder Kaur Singh, Jasvir Kaur Rababan, Sonia Dhami, Cristin McNight Sethi and Surinder Singh.

Prof Nikky-Guninder K Singh, Crawford Family Professor at Colby College in Maine, said Sikhs have come a long way indeed in the US.

"Centuries earlier, the 10th Sikh Guru, born in 1666 in Patna had kindled the fire of freedom in our hearts and minds," she said as she shared with the audience the "four freedom fires" he ignited.

The message of the 10th Guru, she asserted, is very much relevant to the present times. "Indeed, it is universal," Kaur Singh said.

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Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters, in the third such detention this month.

The fishermen from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district were arrested on the charge of poaching fish near Neduntheevu along the Sri Lankan coast, District Assistant Director of Fisheries Kumaresan said.

Their boat was also impounded and they were taken to Kangesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka, he added.

With this, a total of 25 fishermen from the state have been detained by the Lankan Navy this month.

Earlier, eight fishermen from Nagapattinam district were arrested on November 5 while 13 others from Pudukottai on November 2 on the charge of poaching fish in Sri Lankan waters.

Three mechanised boats of the Nagapattinam fishermen had been seized.

The state government last month urged the Centre to take steps to secure the release of 54 fishermen and 140 fishing boats in the custody of Sri Lanka as of then.

Expressing concern over the recurring detentions, Chief Minister K Palaniswami in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him to take up "the alarming and frequent abduction" of the state fishermen in "their traditional waters" with highest authorities in Sri Lankan government.

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Fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 9.70 lakh have been sized from along the India- Bangladesh border in West Bengla's Malda district, the BSF today said.

A senior officer of the border guarding force said Iqramul Seikh (50), a resident of Kaliachak in Malda, has also been apprehended by them after fake notes were allegedly seized from him yesterday night.

Seikh, he said, was nabbed as part of a special operation planned by the Border Security Force to check the fake Indian currency notes (FICN) menace along the Indo-Bangla border.

"A total of 485 fake notes of Rs 2,000 were seized from Seikh. The face value of the seized currency is Rs 9.70 lakh," he said.

The man has been handed over to the local police, he said.

The BSF, in the area of the south Bengal frontier, has seized FICN of the face value of Rs 53.56 lakh and has apprehended seven smugglers this year, he said.

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The Madras High Court has said that the Aadhaar number is necessary to file Income Tax returns and dismissed a plea seeking exemption from quoting it, a week after it allowed a woman to file her without mentioning it.

Petitioner Thiagarajan Kumararaja sought a direction for permitting him to file his for the assessment year 2017-18 either manually or through the appropriate e-filing facility without insisting on quoting the Aadhaar number.

The order comes a week after the same judge - T S Sivagnanam - allowed the woman to file her without quoting the Aadhaar number or Aadhaar enrolment number.

The judge had passed the interim order on a plea by Preethi Mohan.

The woman's counsel had move the court relying on a Supreme Court ruling in a case in which it had imposed a partial stay on the operation of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which mandates linkage of Aadhaar with I-T returns.

Citing the supreme court order in the Binoy Viswam vs Union of India case, Justice Sivagnanam, who dismissed the petition yesterday, said the apex court had rejected the contention that since enrolment under the Aadhaar Act is voluntary, it cannot be made compulsory under the Income Tax Act.

The judge said on a reading of the judgement rendered in the case, it would clearly show that the apex court has not stayed the "proviso to sub-section (2) of Section 139AA of the Act" and the partial stay would be applicable only to facilitate the other transactions, which are mentioned in rule 114B, where PAN is to be quoted in all documents.

"Therefore, to state that the partial stay granted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court would endure to the benefit of the petitioner even for filing income tax returns is a plea, which is not sustainable and is liable to be rejected," the judge said.

The judge said it has also been held that the purpose behind the Act namely the Income Tax Act, 1961 is entirely different, the purpose being to curb black money, money laundering and tax evasion, among others.

It has been further held that for achieving such objects if parliament chooses to make the provision mandatory under the Act, the competence of parliament cannot be questioned: "on the ground that it is impermissible only because under the Aadhaar Act, the provision is a directory in nature."



The apex court also held that it is the prerogative of Parliament to make a particular provision directory in one statute and mandatory/compulsory in the other and that by itself cannot be a ground to question the competence of the legislature, the judge said.

On October 31, the court had issued an interim direction to the I-T department to permit the woman to file her returns for the assessment year 2017-18 either manually or through appropriate e-filing facility without insisting for Aadhaar number. It also posted the matter to December 18 for the I-T department to file its counter.
The body of a Pakistani diplomatic staffer who was shot dead by unidentified assailants Afghanistan's Jalalabad city, arrived here today, a day after Islamabad lodged a strong protest with Kabul over the incident.

Afghanistan handed over the body of Nayyar Iqbal Rana to Pakistani authorities at the Torkham border near Peshawar, from where it was sent to Islamabad for funeral and last rites, officials said.

The 52-year-old Rana was shot dead by two bike-borne unknown assailants at a shop near his residence yesterday. He is survived by his widow and five children.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack and Afghan officials were still clueless about the motive of the murder, Pakistani officials said.

Pakistan strongly condemned the killing of Rana who serving at its Consulate General in Jalalabad.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif urged the Afghan government to take urgent steps to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the safety and security of Pakistan's diplomatic personnel and its missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a statement, issued late yesterday, the FO said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the Afghan Charge dAffair's to lodge a strong protest against this heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators should be apprehended and brought to justice.

The Foreign Secretary asked for fool proof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan, the FO said.

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A man was arrested within 48 hours of robbing a cab driver of his vehicle after the Delhi Police identified him from a picture that was posted on Facebook by his accomplice.

Ola driver Chandra Pal told police that he was on his way home on the intervening night of November 4 and 5 in southeast Delhi when two people stopped his car and asked him to drop them in Gurgaon.

When he refused, the two men took out knives, snatched the keys of his car and fled with it, the police said.

Pal immediately informed the police about the incident. Within a few minutes, the police received another information about a car accident near Goyla Dairy traffic signal.

When the police reached the spot, it turned out to the same car which was robbed from Pal and an injured man, identified as Ashish Danda (22), was found in it. Danda, who was one of the robbers, was rushed to a hospital but could not be saved, a police official said.

The official said but there was no trace of his partner.

Later, during the search the police came across Danda's Facebook profile. However, they were surprised to see that Danda had put someone else's photo instead of his own for his profile picture, the official said.

The person in the profile picture was identified as Ravinder alias Nanhe -- the other robber -- the official, who was privy to the probe, said.

Ravinder (20) was soon tracked down and arrested yesterday from Gurgaon, the official said.

Ravinder had earlier been arrested by the Gurgaon Police in connection with the rape of a minor. He had also spent six months in the Bhondsi Jail, Gurgaon.

The police said Ravinder and Danda were also in contact with gangster Sonu Dagar.

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Paints and coatings firm AkzoNobel India today said it will sell its specialty chemicals business as a going concern to an affiliate of the AkzoNobel Group for Rs 320 crore.

The transaction is subject to shareholders' approval.

The business includes the Mahad manufacturing facility for polymer chemistry range of products, the company said, adding that the business also handles a trading portfolio in polymer and surface chemistry products sourced from other units of AkzoNobel.

Besides, about 80 employees, currently working with the business, will transfer under the deal.

"The total consideration to be received from this sale will be Rs 3,200 million, subject to adjustment for working capital and for an economic effective date of January 1 2018, the company said in a statement.

AkzoNobel NV announced in April 2017 its intention to separate specialty chemicals business from paints and coatings business to create two focused and separate businesses.

"The Board of Directors believes it will be in the best interest of the shareholders, concerned employees and customers that the India Specialty Chemicals Business is also divested to the said specialty chemicals global entity or its affiliate," the company said.

The transaction is likely to be completed by March 31, 2018, after obtaining the requisite approvals.

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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba today said that it has used drones to deliver packages over water for the first time.

Three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying six boxes of passionfruit with a combined weight of around 12 kilograms flew from Putian in China's eastern Fujian Province to nearby Meizhou Island on October 31, the company said in a statement.

Flying into a strong wind, the drones took nine minutes to make the five-kms crossing. Each drone can carry up to seven kilograms, state-run Xinhua agency reported, citing the statement.

The drones were jointly developed by Alibaba's delivery arm Cainiao Network, the company's rural shopping platform Rural Taobao, and a domestic technology firm.

Zeng Jinmei, an online store owner based on the island, said the drone delivery service will cut the transportation time by half and save logistic costs.

Alibaba has prepared extra drones ahead of the upcoming November 11 "Singles' Day" shopping festival.

The day, which can be compared to Black Friday in the US, became a shopping festival in China after Alibaba launched a major promotional campaign in 2009.

Alibaba plans to use drones to deliver high value-added products such as fresh food and medical supplies over water in the future.

Using drones to deliver packages has increased in recent years.

Another Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com started conducting trial deliveries using drones in 2016. Smaller drones are being used in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province and Suqian, Jiangsu Province.

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Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today dismissed China's objection to Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the defence minister goes to areas across the country where troops are deployed.

Rawat said the defence minister meets soldiers to understand various issues and such trips are always a source of motivation for the armed forces.

China had yesterday objected to Sitharaman's first visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday and Sunday, saying her tour of the "disputed area" was not conducive to peace in the region.

"Defence Minister visits troops in forward areas to meet them in person, to understand various issues which might be engulfing them. I think visits by the defence minister are always a source of motivation," Rawat said on the sidelines of an event here.

He said the defence minister visits areas where Indian troops are deployed. "After all it is the ministry of defence which is providing support to us," he said.

Sitharaman on Sunday visited forward army posts in the remote Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China to take stock of defence preparedness.

"As to Indian Defence Minister visit to Arunachal Pradesh, you must be very clear about China's position," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing yesterday.

"There is a dispute on the eastern section of the China- India boundary. So this visit by the Indian side to the disputed area is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the relevant region," she said in a response to a question.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and routinely objects to top Indian officials' visit to the area.

On the reported killing of a nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar during an encounter in Pulwama in Kashmir last night, the Army chief said the aim of the security forces was to contain terrorism.

"It doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else," he said adding the aim of the forces was to neutralise terrorists irrespective of where they came from.

Asked about the recovery of an M4 rifle during the ecounter, Gen Rawat said it made it clear that terrorists were getting support from across the border.

M4 rifles were used by NATO forces in their operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One of two foreign militants killed in the Pulwama encounter last night is believed to be a nephew of Azhar.

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The Army today paid floral tributes to Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh, who lost his life in an encounter in which three militants including two foreigners were killed in south Kashmir's Pulwama district yesterday.

The Army paid tributes to its comrade who made the supreme sacrifice during counter terrorist operation in Pulwama, an spokesman said here.

He said that in a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment, Corps Commander, Chinar Corps, Lt Gen J S Sandhu, and all ranks paid homage to the martyr on behalf of a proud nation.

In a show of solidarity, the Army spokesman said, officials and representatives of the state government and other security agencies, including inspector general of Jammu and Kashmir police Munir Khan, joined in paying their respects to the martyr.

Singh, (30), sustained bullet injury during the fierce operation at Kandi Aglar in Pulwama district yesterday.

He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to the Army's 92 base hospital here, but succumbed to the injuries, the spokesman said.

Singh had joined Army in 2004 and hailed from village Shaujana Rani located in Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh.

The slain sepoy is survived by his wife, two daughters and a three-year-old son.

The mortal remains of the martyr were flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be laid to rest with full military honours, the spokesman said.

In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and remains committed to their dignity and well being, he said.

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Net profit of banks during the second quarter declined by 17.8 per cent as a result of fall in other income coupled with slower growth in interest income, CARE Ratings said in a report.

The study takes into account 23 banks. Of this, 13 are private banks and 10 public sector lenders that announced their results on or before November 6, 2017.

However, the decline in net profit was restricted by lower growth in provisions made by the banking sector along with keeping a check on their operating expenses, it said.

Net profit growth for private banks turned around while it fell for public sector banks, it added.

The review is in the backdrop of slowdown in deposit and credit growth, reduction in base rate, repo rate, marginal cost of fund based lending rate (MCLR) and term deposit rate.

Bank credit grew by 2.1 per cent during April-September compared to 3.4 per cent growth recorded in the comparable period last year.

On a year-on-year basis too growth in credit was around 6.9 per cent, lower than 10.1 per cent last year.

Of the 23 banks analysed, total of 9 banks have NPA ratio ranging between 1-5 per cent, 6 between 5-10 per cent, 5 between 10-15 per cent, 2 in the range of 15-20 per cent and 1 bank in the range of 20-25 per cent.

Among PSBs, IDBI Bank has the highest NPA ratio at 24.9 per cent, followed by UCO bank (19.7 per cent), Central Bank of India (17.2 per cent), Punjab National Bank and Andhra Bank at around 13 per cent, it added.

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The recent decision by China to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, as a global terrorist, is doing "material harm" to its ties with India, top American experts said today.

Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.

"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washingtons stronger rhetoric against Pakistans support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistans benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UNs list of banned terror outfits.

Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15- nation UN Security Council to put a hold on Indias application.

The other 14 members supported New Delhis bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.
The BJP and the Congress-led opposition will face off over demonetisation tomorrow when the ruling party observes 'anti-black money day' and the latter a 'black day' to mark the first anniversary of the announcement of the exercise by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP leaders, including many Union ministers, will fan out across the country to highlight the "benefits" of demonetisation. on the first anniversary of the exercise.

Calling the measure "anti-people", the Congress and several opposition parties will hold protests against note ban in several parts of the country.

Unfazed by the opposition criticism, the BJP has claimed deminetisation led to a cleaner economy.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ananth Kumar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Suresh Prabhu and Smriti Irani will speak to the media in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow respectively tomorrow.

Prakash Javadekar will address a press conference in Bengaluru and Piyush Goyal in Ahmedabad. Union minister Jayant Sinha has also been drafted for the exercise, sources said. BJP chief Amit Shah will be in Gujarat.

Turning up the heat on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government hit corruption and black money hard, making the opposition party angry.

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The opposition BJP today staged a walkout from the Telangana Legislative Assembly, alleging that the ruling TRS government has neglected employment issues.

Speaker S Madhusudanachary proceeded with the Question Hour (as per decision of Business Advisory Committee) and BJP members, who were standing, raised slogans.

State Industries Minister K T Rama Rao said the state government is ready for a debate on the issue.

The Speaker appealed to the BJP members to resume their seats.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari also appealed to the BJP members to cooperate in running the House properly as it was decided that adjournment motions would be taken up after the Question Hour.

BJP's youth wing (BJYM) called for a 'Chalo Assembly' protest today on providing employment to the youth.

Noting that the issue has come to his notice, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said it did not look good as BJP members stood up though routine business continued.

He urged the BJP members to return to their seats.

BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said he agreed with what the Chief Minister said.

He, however, announced walkout by his party members in protest against the alleged "delay and negligence" on the part of the state government in addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi took exception to a BJP member allegedly trying to "snatch and pull" mike from another member.

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French satirical weekly has said it is pressing charges after receiving fresh death threats against staffers over a cartoon of the Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan who faces rape allegations.

The provocative magazine, which suffered a deadly jihadist attack in 2015 after publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, depicted Ramadan with a huge erection in its edition last Wednesday, saying: "I am the sixth pillar of Islam."



The Swiss academic, an Oxford professor and conservative Islamic intellectual in France, has been accused of rape by two women after the Harvey Weinstein scandal unleashed a wave of sexual abuse accusations worldwide.

Ramadan, 55, has furiously denied the accusations as a "campaign of lies launched by my adversaries".

"Rape," reads the caption on Charlie Hebdo's cover. "The defence of Tariq Ramadan."



Yesterday the Paris prosecutor's office opened a police enquiry into the death threat claim, a judicial source said.

That enquiry will look into "written death threats" and "public glorification of an act of terrorism," the source said.

Laurent "Riss" Sourisseau, the magazine's editor, said the threats and hate mail had "never really stopped" after the January 2015 jihadist attack in which 12 people were gunned down at its offices.

"Sometimes there are peaks when we receive explicit death threats on social media -- this has been the case once again," he told Europe 1 radio.

"It's always difficult to know if these are serious threats or not, but as a principle, we take them seriously and press charges."



The shooting at was claimed by Al-Qaeda, with the jihadists notably seeking to punish the staunchly atheist magazine for printing cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, forbidden in Islam.

The attack was the first in a wave of jihadist attacks in France over the past two years that have left more than 240 people dead.

has continued to court controversy since the attack, notably with cartoons after the Barcelona attack and that made light of an Italian earthquake that killed nearly 300 people.

The five pillars of Islam are the five basic practices obligatory for believers: faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

A minority of Sunni scholars considers jihad -- or holy struggle, which can have different meanings -- to be the sixth pillar of Islam.
China's repeated move to block efforts at the UN to list Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist "grievously undermines" its narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism and is harming its ties with India, top US experts said today.

Last week, China for the fourth time had blocked a bid at the UN by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favour to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of the Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

During their summit in China this year, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa named Pakistan-based terror groups like the LeT and the JeM were for causing violence in the region.

They also asserted that those responsible for committing, organising or supporting terror acts must be held accountable.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.

"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York said.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow said.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washingtons stronger rhetoric against Pakistans support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadits that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistans benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande said. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UNs list of banned terror outfits.

Last March, China was the only member in the 15-nation UN Security Council to put a hold on Indias application.

The other 14 members supported New Delhis bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.

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China is pulling out all the stops to give a "state visit-plus" welcome to US President Donald Trump when he arrives here tomorrow on his maiden trip as Beijing seeks to avert any semblance of friction with America.

Projected by officials as a defining moment in China-US ties, Trump's visit is taking place in the "new era" of Xi Jinping, who commenced his second tenure less than a fortnight ago as the most powerful leader of the country after Mao Zedong.

China and the US are working to ensure President Trump's state visit becomes a "historic success", Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang told the official media.

Using this opportunity, Chinese President Xi and Trump will have strategic communication on significant issues of common concern to build a new consensus, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and promote bilateral relations in all spheres, Zheng said.

He said China would provide a "state visit-plus" experience for Trump and his family.

"Apart from the red-carpet ceremony, formal talks and a banquet, President Xi and his US counterpart will have some informal get-togethers," Zheng said.

Trump to get 'state visit-plus', experience in China," state-run Global Times reported, stating there is "tremendous public curiosity" over the visit.

Representatives from about 40 top companies are expected to accompany Trump to China and sign deals worth billions of dollars for US investments, another state-run newspaper China Daily reported.

The talks between Xi and Trump will define the course of the ties between the world's top two economies in the "new era" headed by Chinese President Xi, official agency Xinhua quoted officials as saying that



Trump, who will be first world leader to visit China after Xi kicked off his second term, has also acknowledged Xi's powerful status saying he is the 'king of China'.

"A 'state visit-plus' refers to arrangements that could show the personal relationship between the two presidents and place...that can help the US president have a better understanding of Chinese history and culture," Wu Xinbo, director of Fudan University's Centre for American Studies in Shanghai, told the Global Times.

The two Presidents are expected to visit China's historic place, the Forbidden City adjacent to the iconic Tiananmen Square.

"The visit will be different from routine arrangements and there will be surprises," Ni Feng, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, said.

Many Chinese are concerned about the future of bilateral ties, and how the two countries will interact over North Korea's nuclear and missile programme, An Gang, a senior research fellow at the Pangoal Institution, a Beijing-based think tank, said.

The visit has also attracted wide public attention.

The public expressed their views online, asking whether Trump will visit the Great Wall or open an account on Sina Weibo, the Chinese Twitter-like platform.

The hashtag "Trump's visit to China" had received more than two million page views on Weibo so far.

Xi and Trump spent over seven hours together in April at the US president's Mar-a-Lago estate in the US state of Florida where the two leaders worked out a 100-day plan to boost economic cooperation.

After a deal to reopen the Chinese markets to the US for beef in July, American beef is back on China's menu. China says the action plan has produced some tangible results.

Ahead of his visit, Trump has said the massive trade deficit in bilateral trade is a shame, and has been putting pressure on China to open the Chinese markets more for US products and firms.

US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated USD 648.2 billion in 2016 in which China had a lion's share with about USD 478.9 billion exports. The US exports to China stood at USD 169.3 billion, according to US trade figures.

Trump is also putting pressure on Xi to press China's close ally North Korea to give up the nuclear and missile programme which has become a major threat to US.

The two leaders will also discuss major issues of common concern, Zheng said, noting that the meeting is of great significance to Sino-US relations and to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Also expected to figure in Trump-Xi discussion is the US' new South Asia policy which is piling pressure on Pakistan, China's all-weather ally, to dismantle terror safe havens.

China is also apprehensive about the US trying to work out a quadrilateral with India, Japan and Australia.

Japan has proposed the four countries to work out a new Silk Road plan to counter China's ambitious and multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

The US has been accusing China of violating international rules and norms by laying claims on the disputed South and East China seas.

China claims sovereignty on almost all of the South China Sea (SCS) which is disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

China has also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in East China Sea and resorted to aggressive patrols in the last two years.

The US calls the dominance of China over the SCS a threat to national interest in freedom of navigation.

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A robot made in China has cleared a national-level qualification test for doctors in the country and obtained a high score.

The robot, co-developed by leading Chinese tech firm iFlytek and Tsinghua University, has achieved a score of 456, higher than the national pass mark of 360, the health and family planning commission in Anhui Province said.

This year, around 530,000 people across the country took the examination in August. The National Medical Examination Center released the pass mark for the written test yesterday.

Watched by examination supervisors, the robot answered the same test paper at the same time as its human counterparts in a designated test room without internet access or signal. The whole process was recorded to prevent cheating, according to iFlytek.

The test showed the robot has mastered self-learning and problem solving abilities to a degree. It will be used to assist doctors in clinical diagnosis and will see patients in hospitals, residential communities and homes in the future, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

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Winning the Chitrakoot Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh has become a prestige issue for the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in the state as it will be held a day after the first anniversary of demonetisation and ahead of the crucial Gujarat polls.

The bypoll, scheduled to be held on November 9, was necessitated in the Assembly segment due to the death of its Congress MLA, Prem Singh.

The counting of votes will be taken up on November 12.

Singh had won the Chitrakoot seat thrice -- in 1998, 2003 and 2013. In 2008, he had lost to the BJP's Surendra Singh Gaharwar.

During campaigning, both the BJP and the Congress had fielded their top guns such as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh.

While the Congress has fielded Nilanshu Chaturvedi in the bypoll, the saffron party has given ticket to Shankar Dayal Tripathi. Both will be contesting the Assembly election for the first time.

Ajay Singh claimed that the BJP had already conceded defeat in the bypoll on "moral grounds".

"The chief minister camped in the constituency for three days in the last phase of the campaigning not for canvassing, but to manage the polls by hook or by crook," he alleged.

Accusing Chouhan of "luring" and "threatening" the voters in the constituency, Singh said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) in this regard.

Refuting the Congress' allegations, BJP's Chitrakoot poll campaign in-charge Vishnudutt Sharma told PTI that it was the opposition party which contested elections by luring voters.

"The BJP is contesting the election on the plank of the development and hard work it has done on the ground. The Congress is desperate as it has always contested polls on the basis of liquor and money power. This strategy has now failed as the people have seen the true face of the grand old party," he said.

Sharma claimed that the BJP would win the bypoll with a huge margin, riding on the popularity of Chouhan.

While senior Congress leaders such as Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia, state party chief Arun Yadav campaigned for the party candidate, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and state BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan were the star campaigners for the saffron party in Chitrakoot.

According to the EC, over two lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise at 257 booths in the constituency.

"In the Chitrakoot bypoll, 1.98 lakh voters, including 1.06 lakh male and 91,730 female voters, are eligible to cast their votes," an EC official had said.

He had also said that VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines would be used at all the polling booths.

Besides Tripathi and Chaturvedi, 10 Independent candidates are also in the fray.

The high-decibel campaign for the bypoll came to an end this evening.

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The West Bengal CID today interrogated expelled CPI(M) leader Ritabrata Banerjee for almost six hours in a case related to an alleged physical relationship with a woman on the promise of marriage.

Banerjee, who had been evading the CID for nearly a month, arrived at its headquarters here at around 12.30 pm to be questioned by the sleuths, a senior officer of the agency said.

"During the interrogation, Banerjee was asked about his involvement in the case and his relationship with the complainant. We are going through his answers, which will be verified as per requirements," he added.

Banerjee was asked to come to the CID office tomorrow as well.

"I have told them whatever I had to say. I will cooperate with the CID in every possible way. I will be coming to meet the investigating officers here tomorrow," the expelled CPI(M) leader told reporters outside the CID headquarters.

The woman, a resident of Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, had lodged a complaint at the Balurghat police station last month, alleging that Banerjee had established a physical relationship with her at his New Delhi residence.

The matter has also been referred to the Delhi Police.

The Left party had recently expelled Banerjee, who was a Rajya Sabha MP, for "gross anti-party activities" and breaking its discipline.

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A special TADA court today directed the Mumbai police to consider prosecuting the police officials, who allowed a woman to be with 1993 blasts convict Mustafa Dossa when he was being taken to Gujarat last year.

Dossa died of cardiac arrest at the J J Hospital in Mumbai on June 28 this year, days after he was convicted for his role in the Mumbai serial blasts case.

"In addition to the departmental enquiry, the joint commissioner of police (Law and order) shall independently consider prosecuting them," special TADA court judge G A Sanap said.

The court had ordered an inquiry after a tabloid reported that the police had allowed a woman to travel with Dossa to Porbandar. The erring policemen were indicted in the departmental inquiry.

CBI counsel Deepak Salvi had argued that the conduct of the police officials attracted penal provisions under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. He had said the woman concerned should also be prosecuted under the relevant sections of the IPC.

Observing that Dossa could have even gone absconding, the court said in such cases, the escort party should be extra cautious, but in this case, they were extra lenient.

Meanwhile, Salvi today submitted the final list of the deceased and injured in the 1993 blasts in the court.

The court asked the registrar to forward the list to the office of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and directed the DLSA to process and decide on the compensation claims as early as possible.

The court also directed the CBI to help the DLSA in deciding the claims and report to the court every month.

Judge Sanap had pronounced the sentence in the case on September 7.

A special TADA court had, in June, convicted six persons, including mastermind Mustafa Dossa and Abu Salem, in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, 24 years after the attacks left 257 people dead in the country's financial capital.

It, however, let off accused Abdul Quayyum, for want of evidence against him. This was the second leg of the trial.

All the seven accused were facing multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India and murder.

The court, on June 16, had convicted six accused in the case. The trial of Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Karimullah Khan, Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan, Riyaz Siddiqui, Tahir Merchant and Abdul Quayyum was separated from the main case as they were arrested subsequently.

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A 22-year-old woman, who was sent to a state-run shelter last week after her brother alleged that she was forcibly converted to Islam and married, today went back to her husband after the Rajasthan High Court set her free.

The woman Payal Singhvi alias Aarifa Modi was produced in the court during the hearing of the case and refused to go to the Nari Niketan, the counsel for her brother, Gokulesh Bohra, said.

The woman's counsel objected to her being kept at the shelter and contended that as she was a major, she should be free to exercise her will.

"The court asked her and she said she did not wish to go to Nari Niketan. The court said she was free after which she preferred to go with her husband (Faiz Modi)," Bohra said.

Meanwhile, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Rajesh Panwar submitted documents pertaining to conversion provisions in the state as directed by the court.

The court then listed the matter for hearing tomorrow.

Pulling up the state police over its handling of the case, the high court had last Wednesday directed it to register an FIR and submit a report after the woman's brother claimed that it was an instance of 'love jihad'.

A bench of justices GK Vyas and MK Garg had directed the state government to file a reply clarifying the legal provisions pertaining to religious conversion in the state.

Hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman's brother, the bench had expressed anger over the "negligence" of the police, which allegedly refused to file an FIR on her family's complaint.

The court questioned as to how the police could assume that the girl's conversion was legal "just by way of an affidavit over a stamp paper of Rs 10", when there was no provision in law in this regard.

In his petition, the brother claimed that Faiz Modi had been harassing his sister for long and abducted her while she was going to college.

She was made to sign some papers by him and fake marriage documents were prepared, he alleged.

When the family members could not find her, they approached the police which refused to file an FIR stating that Faiz Modi had already produced proof of marriage and an affidavit of religious conversion by the woman dated April 14, the brother had alleged.

He alleged that she was blackmailed by the accused with objectionable pictures and forced to convert to Islam and marry him.

"This is a clear case of 'love jihad' and over half a dozen such cases have already been reported in the city in the past some time due to the disinterest shown by the police in investigating these cases," the petitioner's lawyer Gokulesh Bohra had said.

The court had directed that the woman be sent to Nari Niketan (women shelter) for seven days and instructed the police to ensure that no one meets her there.

Police had filed an FIR on the direction of the court.

The matter came in the backdrop of the controversy over a case of a Kerala Hindu woman, who had converted to Islam before marrying a Muslim man, Shafin Jahan.

The Kerala High Court had annulled his marriage and described it as an instance of 'love jihad', which was challenged by Jahan.

It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge.

Ashokan K M, the father of the woman, had alleged that there was a "well-oiled systematic mechanism" for conversion and Islamic radicalisation.

Jahan had on September 20 approached the apex court seeking recall of its August 16 order directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case.

The matter is now before the apex court.

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The Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that the police was "duty-bound" to register FIRs in cases of cognisable offences.

It was responding to a PIL seeking guidelines for police in handling complaints of rape in love affairs turned sour.

At the same time, the government also said that while the amended rape laws make it clear that if an adult woman engages voluntarily in a physical relationship even where she has been promised marriage, the same will not constitute the offence of rape.

The public interest litigation (PIL) had also sought that the police be directed to refrain from registering an FIR in cases where a woman alleges rape on the ground of a false promise of marriage.

However, in an affidavit filed in compliance with the high court's order, the state home department submitted that every police official was "duty-bound" to register an FIR and conduct preliminary investigations on the receipt of information of a cognisable offence.

While the amended rape laws in the country make it clear that if an adult woman engages voluntarily in a physical relationship even in such cases where she has been promised marriage, the same will not constitute the offence of rape, the state further submitted in the affidavit.

However, when such allegations are made and a complaint or FIR registered, it remains for the police to inquire into whether such consent was voluntary, or if it had been obtained by "falsely inducing the woman to believe that the accused would marry her," the affidavit reads.

"A fine balance needs to be found between the rights of the complainant and the need to protect a manifestly innocent person from the travails of an investigation and trial," it said.

"However, in view of the legal position, it is clear that when any information regarding the commission of a cognisable offence is received, the police officer concerned is duty- bound to register an FIR and conduct an investigation," the affidavit further said.

If at a later date, it is concluded that no offence has been committed or that the allegations are not true, then such officer is under an obligation to disclose the same to the court, it said.

"In view of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is not possible to issue guidelines to an investigating officer to abstain from registering an FIR in certain cases," the affidavit mentioned.

The state, however, also said that if the high court still feels the need for any guidelines to the police, it could issue the same or direct that they be framed by the authorities concerned.

The submissions came while the court was hearing a writ petition and another PIL seeking guidelines for the police in cases where a woman has consensual sexual intercourse with a man and then alleges rape after the relationship goes awry, or if the man goes back on his promise to marry her.

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A Delhi court today rejected a plea to direct the police to lodge another FIR on an incident of alleged anti-national sloganeering at the Ramjas College here by some students' groups in February this year.

It also made sharp observations over a video footage of the alleged incident produced in the court, saying the complainant had relied upon an "unauthenticated audio-video footage" obtained from the social media.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra said there was already an FIR into the incident and there was no need for "duplication".

He also refused to direct the police to add the charge of sedition in the existing FIR in the case as sought by the complainant.

"Arguments heard. Record perused...Serious allegations of seditious sloganeering by unknown persons have been made. Complaint is relying upon an unauthenticated audio-video footage stated to be obtained by him from social media wherein the alleged seditious slogans have been recorded.

"The fact that authenticity of the audio-video footage in question is not clear and it is obtained from unknown social media sources, is admitted by complainant as well as in action taken report," the magistrate said while dismissing the plea of advocate Vivek Garg.

The Ramjas college case involved the slogan-shouting and a clash between students owing allegiance to the ABVP and Left student bodies like AISA and SFI.

On February 21, members of the RSS student wing ABVP had gathered outside the college and shouted slogans in protest against a seminar for which JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid were invited.

The court noted that during the arguments it was informed that raw footages of the incident have been obtained and sent for forensic scrutiny.

"In these peculiar circumstances, when the authenticity of the audio-video footage is doubtful, its sources unknown and the complainant himself is unable to vouch for its credibility, it will be premature to issue any direction for addition of sedition charges," the court said.

It, however, said the probe agency is at liberty to adopt appropriate course of action in case sufficient and concrete evidence surfaces regarding charges of sedition, noting that the investigation in the matter was going on, witnesses were being examined and the FSL results were awaited.

"Accordingly, as an FIR is already registered and investigation is already continuing in respect of the allegations made by complainant and as well as other persons. Therefore, no purpose will be served by the registration of a separate FIR.

"It will lead to unproductive exercise of duplicating the proceedings. Accordingly, the application under section 156(3) CrPC is dismissed being infructuous," the court said.

The court noted that as per the action taken report of the police, an enquiry committee comprising Joint Commissioner of Police and two Deputy Commissioners of Police, was already examining witnesses and appreciating evidence.

It further said that an FIR has already been registered at Maurice Nagar police station under various sections of the IPC including obstructing public servant in discharge of duty, rioting, unlawful assembly and assaulting public servant.

"From the facts it is clear that incidents of February 21 and 22 are interconnected and no purpose will be served by duplicating FIRs, especially when the police is admittedly investigating the incidents in another FIR," it said.

The court had earlier warned Garg against mixing this incident with the JNU case in which sedition charge was slapped against some students. In February 2016, JNU had hogged the limelight after the arrest of its student leaders, including then JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

In the Ramjas college incident, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members allegedly pelted stones, vandalised the venue and disrupted the seminar.

The next day violent clashes had broken out between the students of All India Students Association (AISA) and Students Federation of India (SFI) and the ABVP students, which left several of them and three teachers injured.

The police had on August 3 submitted an action taken report in the matter saying it was examining students and teachers to identify the culprits involved in the clashes.

In the report, the police had said they had lodged an FIR at the Maurice Nagar police station on February 22 for the alleged offences or rioting and obstruction, causing hurt and assault to deter public servant from discharging duty.

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A man, who shot dead a Delhi University student in 2011 after she snubbed his advances, was today sentenced to life imprisonment by a city court.

Additional Sessions Judge Vivek Kumar Gulia awarded the jail term to Vijay Saini for shooting dead 21-year-old Radhika Tanwar, a second year student, near a foot-over bridge outside Ramlal Anand College near Dhaula Kuan here.

He was held guilty of murder under the IPC and provisions of Arms Act for illegally possessing and using firearm.

According to the police, Saini was in love with Tanwar and used to stalk her. When she rejected him, he shot her dead to take revenge.

Three other men - Tabrez Ahmed, Shekh Shekhu and Asraf Ali - were also involved in the incident which took place on March 8, 2011.

They were convicted under section 212 (harbouring a criminal) of the IPC and under Arms Act and awarded varying jail terms by the court, said Inspector Balram, the Investigating Officer in the case.

Saini had shot her in her stomach and fled from the spot, the police had said, adding that the victim was taken to Safdurjung Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

The incident had caused outrage in the city and raised questions over the law and order situation in the capital.

Angry over the murder, a large number of students in Delhi University south campus had staged a demonstration against the lack of security for students.

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The Communist Party of India has demanded that the government release white papers on its probe into the Panama and Paradise Papers to expose Indian black money holders.

The party also said the Supreme Court should institute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter.

"The CPI demands that the government release white papers about the enquiry along with the names of Panama leaks and Paradise Papers. The Supreme Court should institute an SIT to enquire into the black money in foreign banks," party general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said in a statement.

The government said yesterday a multi-agency group probing the Panama Papers leak would also take "swift action" on the Paradise Papers on financial holdings abroad that list a number of Indian entities.

The CPI expressed its disappointment with the probe and said that "even after 18 months no progress has been made".

The party, which had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a white paper be issued on the Panama Papers leak, said, "The release of the list of black money holders by the Paradise Papers including 714 Indian nationals exposed the bankruptcy of the Indian government sponsored investigations into black money."



Reddy accused the government of "defending some VVIP black money holders from getting exposed by not releasing their names and keeping them as top secret in sealed covers".

He said Prime minister Modi was "now busy recruiting a Saradha Chit Fund scam accused" after the "grand elevation of (BS) Yeddyurappa, the tainted leader of Karnataka", in an apparent reference to Saradha scam accused Mukul Roy who left the Trinamool Congress to join the BJP last week.

The Paradise Papers relate to an investigation into offshore and banking assets of individuals and entities carried out by the Indian Express in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

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David Castaneda is all set to feature in the comedy "We Are Unsatisfied", a co-production by Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz.

The actor will be joined by Schwartz in the movie, which is Matt Ratner's directorial debut, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film chronicles the story about an unlikely friendship between a struggling stand-up comedian from LA, played by Schwartz, who is forced to return home to Eastern Long Island, and a charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist portrayed by Crystal.

While Castaneda will play the role of Ruis, the amiable security guard who aspires to be a police officer boyfriend of Schwartz's onscreen sister.

"Kevin Can Wait" fame Peter Hoare has penned the script.

The shooting begins in New York this month.

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As a cloud of smog hung in Delhi's air today, a number of Delhi University colleges recorded thin attendance with a majority of students preferring to stay indoors.

Final year student Srivedant Kar said only 15 out of the 50 students in his class turned up.

"Till the air quality becomes normal, I will skip classes as I have breathing issues," he said.

A student of Maitreyi College claimed no one showed up in some classes in off-campus colleges.

A professor of Rajdhani College, Rajesh Jha, said around 30 per cent of the students were absent during his lectures.

Simran Sharma of Daulat Ram College said a few classes were cancelled due to thin attendance.

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The position of Delhi is different from other states and the elected government is under an obligation to apprise the Lieutenant Governor about policy decisions, the said today.

While hearing pleas on who enjoyed supremacy in governing the capital, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra referred to provisions of the Constitution, the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business of the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi Rules and said there was "some kind of wall" which distinguished Delhi from others.

"Unlike other states, if you (Delhi government) take a policy decision, then you have to intimate the Lieutenant Governor (LG). You are bound to intimate the LG, but you cannot say that the LG has to concur. This is the range," the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said.

On the issue of concurrence, the top court said there was no need for "fundamental concurrence" of LG in every aspect and there should be "real good reason" in case of difference of opinion over the decision of the government.

It said a balance needed to be maintained between the powers of the LG and the Chief Minister and the council of ministers. Every file is not required to be placed before the LG, but only those which are mentioned in the Transaction of Business rules.

The bench, during the day-long hearing, also referred to provision 23 of the Transaction of Business rules and said in certain cases like in matters of peace and tranquility of the capital, the issue "shall essentially be submitted to the LG through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister before issuing any orders thereon".

Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, arguing for AAP government, said "as a responsible government, we cannot contest it".

He, however, said the constitutional schemes be given the widest interpretation and they cannot be interpreted to defeat what is intrinsic to the Preamble.

On the issue of mandatory "aid and advice" of the council of ministers to the LG, the senior lawyer said it was "not a permission to interfere".

Referring to Article 239AA which deals with Delhi, he said supremacy of Parliament on law-making was not being questioned, but theory of separation of powers was also a key to participatory democracy, which has to be considered.

The court said in case of difference of opinion with regard to a law made by Delhi assembly, the LG has the power to refer it to the President for a decision and sub-article 4 of Article 239AA provides that pending decision, the LG can pass an interim order if necessary.

The counsel for Delhi government said the elected government has powers to undertake executive functions.

"It is not permissible that the Lieutenant Governor use residuary powers to take primacy and, moreover, the overriding powers cannot be vested with the LG," Subramanium said.

As far as legislative powers of Delhi are concerned there was no issue with regard to supremacy of Parliament which can make laws on subjects specified in state and the concurrent list of the Constitution, the bench said.

Subramanium alleged that the LG demands files and issues directive to all officers to follow his instructions, rather than those of the elected Chief Minister.

"Then what is the purpose of having a CM? You can't have two executive dice for ruling one state," he said.

The bench observed that constitutional provisions suggest that the LG has power in all such subjects which are not in the purview of state legislature.

"There cannot be problem with this but there cannot be a scheme of things to circumvent everything. Proviso provides for harmonisation of powers to enable governance by democratically elected government," Subramanium said.

He said the LG calls for files and overrides decisions of the government without informing the minister of the concerned department. "There is need to act in harmony not to circumvent the decision of government," he added.

To this, the bench said it was never contemplated by the Constitution makers that one man's concurrence was needed for every aspect though over-riding powers were given to LG.

Subramnium asked in matters relating purely to welfare measures like opening of primary health centres or a school or a night shelter, does the government need the LG's concurrence.

"IAS-IPS officers are from All India Services. Does that mean they won't listen to the CM and council of ministers," he said, adding transfer orders are passed by LG.

"Cabinet does not need concurrence of LG every time. Power to call for any file by LG is residuary and needs to be exercised in exceptional cases," he said.

He cited the 2001 Parliament attack case and said if the action of Delhi government endangered an institution of national importance, then in such case the LG can take a call.

The arguments remained inconclusive and the senior advocate will resume them tomorrow.
The Delhi government is "free" to do aerial sprinkling of water if it thinks the move is the most cost-effective measure to contain dust pollution in the city, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said today.

Vardhan's comment came days after Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain wrote to him requesting the Centre to sprinkle water from choppers or any other aircraft to settle dust, a major source of air pollution in the city.

Referring to media reports that the Centre did not agree to the AAP government's demand for sprinkling of water from helicopter, Vardhan said his ministry has already responded to the request.

"The ministry (environment) has also asked the state government to examine cost-effectiveness of the measure vis- a-vis other simpler measures such as mechanised/vacuum sweeping of roads, blacktopping of dusty roads and road shoulders, etc.," an official statement quoted the minister as saying.

It also said, "However, he (Vardhan) said that if the government of Delhi thought that sprinkling water through helicopter was the most cost-effective measure, it was free to do so."



In his letter last month, Hussain asked Vardhan that the city government was ready to bear the expenses that would entail any such exercise using its air ambience fund, a corpus created out of Rs 25 paisa cess on every litre of diesel sold in Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed that the AAP government has not received any response with regard to its recent request to do aerial sprinkling of water.

Sisodia also demanded that the Centre intervene on the issue of crop burning by neighbouring states which leads to worsening of air quality in the city.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said that the Delhi government wrote letters to adjoining states in August urging them to take steps to check crop burning.

"Delhi govt wrote letters to adjoining states in Aug urging them to take steps to check crop burning (sic)," he tweeted.

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With the air quality in Delhi getting worse, the CISF today ordered issuance of over 9,000 face masks for its personnel deployed to guard the IGI Airport, the Delhi Metro and other government ministries and installations here.

A senior officer of the paramilitary force said CISF Director General (DG) O P Singh has ordered for the issuance of the masks so that the men and women of the force out in the open, could better combat the severe toxic smog.

"While 2,000 protective face masks are being issued immediately, 7,000 more will be sent to all the units in Delhi in the next few hours," he said.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary force under the Union home ministry, is tasked to guard the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, the Delhi Metro and a number of government departments and ministries in the capital region.

A blanket of thick haze enveloped Delhi this morning, as pollution levels breached the permissible standards by multiple times.

The rapid fall in air quality and visibility began last evening itself as moisture combined with pollutants shrouded the city in a thick cover of haze.

By 10 am today, the (CPCB) recorded 'severe' air quality, meaning the intensity of pollution was extreme.

The force had undertaken a similar measure last year too in November when a toxic smog engulfed Delhi.
Four allegedly drunk teenagers returning from Murthal in Haryana today got injured after their car rammed into a road divider in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area, police said.

Eyewitnesses said the car appeared to have lost control and rammed the divider, leaving the four injured, one of them critically, according to the police.

A doctor who was passing from the accident spot helped the boys -- all aged between 18 and 19 -- and also alerted the police, an official said.

The teenagers are suspected to have been in an inebriated condition when the accident occurred, he said, adding the police have seized their car and recovered beer bottles from it.

According to the official, the four were returning from Murthal after having the famed-paranthas of the Haryana town, over 50 km off Delhi.

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Civil bodies and students here have urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to ensure an impartial CBI inquiry into the mysterious death of 22-year-old Manipuri youth Pravish Chanam in Greater Noida in September, a statement issued by a local organisation said today.

The members of People's Action Committee, a panel formed by locals here to seek justice for Chanam, said in its statement the case has been hanging in balance for the past two months but there seems to be no progress yet.

Chanam had gone to Greater Noida to attend a musical concert on September 8 and went missing thereafter.

A missing report was filed the day after by his brother Ravikanta at Knowledge Park police station in Gautam Budh Nagar district of UP.

Four days later, on September 13, his body was allegedly cremated by authorities at Dr. BR Ambedkar Rao Hospital in the district without notifying family members.

"It has been almost two months since the incident occurred at Greater Noida but till date we have no proper knowledge on how the 22-year-old youth died," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla today said she will write to her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Ram Naik to expedite the investigation.

The death of the youth triggered massive protest, both in his hometown Imphal and the national capital.

Biren had deputed Additional DGP Pramod Asthana to assist UP police and take a first-hand account of the investigation. He also met his UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath on September 27 to discuss the matter.

Adityanath had assured a fair investigation into Chanam's death and welcomed the proposal of handing over the case to an independent investigating agency.

Five police personnel were suspended by Noida police for dereliction of duty in connection with the case.

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To mark the first anniversary of demonetisation, the government has announced various competitions like essay writing and artwork in a bid to spread awareness among public about the benefits of note ban.

The move is aimed at driving public participation in a fight against corruption and black money in creative ways.

"This will help create awareness and also motivate further action in this fight for the nation's future," a mygov.in website notification said.

It also said the November 8, 2016, will go down in history as a golden lettered day for India.

"On this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, a revolutionary step in fighting the menace of black money and corruption. In an unprecedented display of Jan Bhagidari, 125 crore Indians stood shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister in this fight for India's bright future," it said.

It has invited public to send their entries for essay competition highlighting fight against corruption and black money, and some ideas to further strengthen the participative nature of the battle while artwork should capture the spirit.

Entries for the video should emphasise both achievements as well as the collective nature of the fight and motivate them further to continue to be part of the vigil. Poem should be such that it can be composed into anthem, it said.

The last date for sending entries is November 30.

For each categories, the winner will get Rs 2 lakh while second and third prize winner will get Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively.

There would also be five consolation prizes of Rs 25,000 each.

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Dhampur Sugar Mills today posted 64.69 per cent jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 60.51 crore for the second quarter of this fiscal on strong sales.

Its net profit stood at Rs 36.74 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Total income increased to Rs 806.83 crore in the July- September period of 2017-18 from Rs 699.64 crore in the year- ago period.

Expenses too remained higher at Rs 719.84 crore as against Rs 639.19 crore in the year-ago period.

The Delhi-based company, however, made it clear that its revenue from operations for the said quarter are inclusive of GST and cannot be compared with the year-ago period.

Shares of the company fell 4.36 per cent to settle at Rs 295.30 a piece on BSE today.

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Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zaffar is ready with his next project "Tiger Zinda Hai" but says the film wasn't written as a sequel to "Ek Tha Tiger".

"Ek Tha Tiger", released in 2012, was directed by Kabir Khan and featured Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif as agents.

The second installment of the action-drama is helmed by Ali, who previously directed "Sultan".

"When I wrote this film, it wasn't like a sequel. I first wrote the story and felt it was worth telling. I thought since it's about two agents - and we already had a film about two agents with Salman and Katrina - I'll merge these two in this story so that it becomes a story of two characters which people already know," Ali told reporters here.

He was speaking at the trailer launch of "Tiger Zinda Hai".

The director said he feels tremendous pressure to take the franchise ahead.

"There's a lot of pressure. Obviously, it's such a big film with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. It's a big franchise and I did 'Sultan' with Salman, so there's an added baggage," he said.

The film chronicles the story of two agents on a mission to rescue 25 Indian nurses taken hostage in Iraq by a terrorist organisation.

Ali said they have based the film on a true story but have fictionalised it a lot.

"When they (Salman and Katrina) heard about the story and I told them about the rescue mission what happened in those ten days when the nurses were captured they both felt excited. It's a completely fictional account, it's a fictional film which we have written around the event, how these two get those nurses back," he said.

Ali said the sequel is very different from "Ek Tha Tiger", which was more romantic.

"It's very different from the first part. The first one was romantic, whereas this one is about a mission. In 'Ek Tha Tiger', you saw them (Salman Katrina) as lovers, here you'll see them as agents. The action is more real and gritty. We have spoken about relevant things in today's times which are affecting us," he said.

This is Ali's second film with both Salman and Katrina after "Sultan" and "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan", respectively.

The director said it was easy to convince both of them as they "reacted very strongly to the story of the film."



"The equation is the same. Somewhere it's a good a relationship. We have worked together very well. He is such a big superstar and there is a certain way people like to present him, perceive him," he said when asked about his equation with Salman.

"I think somewhere between him and me, we have the understanding that I kind of look at him in the way that people want to look at him - as the quintessential hero. He is not a superman, he is real yet at the same time he can do what we want him to do," the filmmaker said.

The film is scheduled to release on December 22.

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Medical services in Rajasthan remained crippled today as the strike by doctors entered the second day.

The government has invited core committee members of the All Rajasthan State In Service Doctors Association for talks today.

Government doctors went on indefinite mass leave yesterday in support of their demands including better pay and separate cadre.

Services of private hospitals and Army doctors are being taken to tackle the crisis.

Health minister Kalicharan Saraf has invited doctors for talks today.

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Doctors in the national capital have advised residents to avoid stepping out or indulging in outdoor activities during the early morning and evening hours in view of "severe" levels of air pollution in the city.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, a renowened pulmonologist, termed the situation a "public health emergency" and stressed the need for initiating a movement to protect the environment.

He advised the elderly, children and patients with respiratory and cardiac problems to avoid strenuous activity, which leads to inhalation of greater volumes of minute pollutants, early in the morning or late in the evening.

"Pollutants get trapped closer to the ground when the temperature is low and there being no wind, it is in its peak, especially in the early morning and late evening hours.

"It is better to go out when it's bright and sunny," he said.

Associate Professor of pulmonary medicine at AIIMS Dr Karan Madan said lungs of the elderly and children are less capable of handling such high levels of pollutants and thus they develop breathing difficulty.

"And, it is not not just limited to lungs. It can also affect the cardio-vascular system and the brain," he said.

Professor and head of pulmonary medicine at Safdarjang Hospital Dr J C Suri said inhalation of air toxins causes infections and swelling of the airway.

"The immediate effects are cough, throat infections and pneumonia, but one can also develop lung cancer," the doctor said.

"Also, when pollution levels rise, the condition of those suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthama worsens," he said.

Meanwhile, a number of schools in Delhi suspended outdoor activities and advised parents to ensure their children wear masks.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also asked his deputy Manish Sisodia to consider shutting schools for a few days after the air quality dropped to the "severe" category on the air quality index in Delhi.

Dr Guleria said there is not enough data on the efficacy of masks and stressed the need for initiating a movement to protect the environment.

"Masks are not very helpful as a lot of air can get inside from the sides. Also, they are tightly sealed and children and eldery find them very uncomfortable to use.

He suggested implementing long-term measures and said the use of nasal filters or air purifiers can provide short-term relief only.

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Actor Mark Hamill has said that his character of Luke Skywalker in the upcoming film "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" has not switched over to the dark side.

The 66-year-old actor, who reprises the iconic role in the latest installment of the popular sci-fi franchise, believes that the fundamental personality of Skywalker remains the same.

Talking to Disney Insider, the actor said, "Luke has lost confidence in his ability to make good choices. It haunts him to the core. But he hasn't gone to the dark side. This isn't an evil version of him. But it's still an incarnation of the character I never expected. It has pulled me out of my comfort zone. It's a real challenge."



"Actually, I don't think Luke's fundamental personality has changed, except that he is older and his life experiences have shaped his outlook the same way they do for all of us," Hamill added.

The film also features John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis and marks Carrie Fisher's last performance.

"The Last Jedi" opens in the theatres on December 15.

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The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) staged a demonstration outside the vice- chancellor's office today, raising several demands including the formation of governing bodies in 28 colleges funded by the Delhi government.

"More than a year has passed and the 28 DU colleges aided/maintained by the Delhi government await formation of Governing Bodies. DUTA appeals to the Delhi government and varsity to end this stand-off and quickly resolve the issue," DUTA president Rajib Ray said in a statement.

The Delhi government had in July ordered a freeze on funding of 28 Delhi University colleges -- that are either fully or partially funded by it -- following the varsity's failure to appoint governing bodies.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia charged Delhi University (DU) with attempting to "stall" the formation of governing bodies in 28 colleges funded by it, hurting the interests of teachers and students.

They also demand immediate announcement of interview for ad-hoc teachers and release of pensions.

Regarding other demands, Ray said, "The teachers of Delhi University are facing a situation of zero promotions because of the retrospective implementation of API system and this causes serious demotivation."



The DUTA submitted a memorandum to the VC on this.

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British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned that the human race will perish on Earth as growing population and massive power consumption would turn the planet into a sizzling fireball in less than 600 years.

To ensure the survival of our species for another million years, humans must "boldly go where no one has gone before," Hawking said.

Our planet will turn into a ball of fire because of our soaring energy consumption as the population soars, the world renowned scientist said in a video appearance at the Tencent WE Summit in Beijing.

Hawking appealed to investors to back his plans to travel to the closest star outside the solar system, with the hope that a habitable planet might be orbiting it, 'The Sun' reported.

Alpha Centauri is one of the closest stars to our solar system, located four billion light-years away. Scientists believe that it may host planets that could foster life, just like Earth.

Hawking is backing Breakthrough Starshot, a venture to reach this system within two decades using a tiny aircraft that could travel at the speed of light.

"Such a system could reach Mars in less than an hour, or reach Pluto in days, pass Voyager in under a week and reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years," said Hawking.

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The European Union Election Observation Mission was today officially launched to monitor the general and provincial polls in Nepal which are scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

Around 100 election observers from member countries of the European Union (EU) have been deployed to oversee the polls in the Himalayan nation, an official said.

"It is a great privilege to have been given this opportunity to lead the EU Election Observation Mission to Nepal," Chief Observer Zeljana Zovko, a member of the European Parliament from Croatia told a press conference here.

"The elections scheduled on November 26 and December 7 mark an important stage in Nepal's democratic development and I very much hope that our presence will contribute to an inclusive and transparent electoral process," she remarked.

The EU deployed a 38 member long-term election observers across the country today, who will observe the electoral preparations and the campaign throughout the country.

The mission also dispatched a core team of 10 election analysts that will be based in Kathmandu. The mission will be informed by 20 short-term observers, who will observe the election day proceedings.

Another of its 24 short-term observers will arrive to observe the second election day on December 7.

"The EU Election Observation Team will also be joined by a seven member parliamentary delegation from the European Union as well as diplomats from European countries' missions in Nepal," said a press release issued by the EUEOM.

The mandate of the EU EOM is to observe all aspects of the electoral process and to assess the extent to which the elections are in compliance with the law of Nepal, as well as with international and regional commitments for democratic elections to which the country is a signatory, according to Zovko.

The EU has allocated 3.5 million euro for the entire election observation process.

The general and provincial elections in Nepal were declared on August 21 and are seen as the final step in the Himalayan nation's post-war transition to a federal democracy



The Maoists have dominated Nepal's politics for more than 20 years after waging a decade-long insurgency against government forces that claimed more than 16,000 lives



The civil war in Nepal came to an end in 2006.

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Close on the heels of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accusing China of predatory economics, experts here have sought increased collaboration between India, the US, and Japan aimed at providing alternative developmental efforts to countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The US, India, and Japan can offer alternative options for economic connectivity that can compete and possibly even cooperate with China's Belt and Road Initiative, where appropriate," said Manpreet Singh Anand, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia in the previous Obama administration.

Now a distinguished professor of practice at the prestigious National Defence University, Anand said each of these countries India, Japan and US -- can bring various resources and expertise in the forms of private sector investment, clear and transparent rules of commerce, experience with large infrastructure projects, technology and innovative approaches that can create game changing effects.

"Given that we have committed to a global order based on fairness and growth for all, we have a foundation of shared values to build upon," Anand said in his address to a Congressional reception organised by the Global Partnership Foundation, as a precursor to the Global Partnership Summit to be held in New Delhi from December 11 to 14.

Ken Weinstein, president of the prestigious Hudson Institute, said India-US-Japan trilateral has been a major focus of the work of the top American think-tank.

"The subject of US-India-Japan trilateral relations is one near and dear to our hearts at Hudson Institute," he said.

Hudson Institute, he said, was the first to hold a conference on US-Japan-India trilateral relationship in Tokyo in 2006 and the keynote speaker at that point was none other than the then Japanese Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is now the popular prime minister of Japan.

In his keynote address then, Abe talked about the need to grow closer US-Japan-India ties "to work together more closely not just in the area of trade and development but also on security policies to meet the challenge of a rising China and the various challenges that pose and the need to promote a rules-based order and stable rise of China and a rules-based Asia Pacific region open to trade," Weinstein said.

"And in fact, as we look at it, the very strong possibility of a US-Japan-India trilateral at some point in the near future, it is also quite likely that the Australians will come on board with this notion of a trilateral. The relationship is growing deeper by the day," he said.

Having just returned from Tokyo last week, Weinstein said he met with senior Japanese officials "who were quite excited about the increased Japan-India defence trade and the increased defence cooperation that is going on between our three nations," he said.

Japanese officials, he said, "see it as fundamental to the future of the Indo-Pacific region, a vision that President Donald Trump is outlining on his trip through Asia now".

Vibhav Kant Upadhyay, chairman of India Centre Foundation spoke about alternative model of development, which he insisted the three countries need to adopt and collaborate on.

Satu Limaye from the East West Centre said Trump is carrying on from his predecessors on one-core continuity which is building US-Japan-India trilateral relations.

Optimistic about the structural requirement for this relationship, Limaye said whatever political changes occur in Tokyo, Delhi or Washington DC, the underlying driver of this relationship is going to continue.

"The fact that you have the third, second and tenth largest populations and the first, third and ninth largest economies - likely to get higher on the economic range as India grows - and democracies, is simply a symbolic and substantive reason that these three countries should cooperate. And the fact that they didn't so much before is again somewhat surprising," he said.

"It can't be emphasised enough as we have challengers such as Russia and China to the international rules and law- based order, that we have countries like Japan, the US, and India working together to uphold a rules-based international system," he said.

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Counting virtues of total prohibition, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the families which were "n verge of ruin" earlier under impact of alcohol are prospering now.

"Women, elderly, all are happy. Those families which were on the verge of ruin earlier under impact of alcohol are now prospering. Those who were earlier addicted to alcohol are also glad to have kicked the habit", he said after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of a nearly 200 buildings of police department.

Kumar highlighted the role played by the police in enforcing liquor ban imposed in the state since April last year, saying "if the officials stay vigilant, prohibition will be strictly complied with".

Underscoring his government's commitment to "rule of law", the Chief Minister said "the police, besides other wings of the government and the judiciary, have a very important role to play in this".

"Our government believes in neither protecting anybody nor implicating anyone. Anybody involved in a crime has to face action in accordance with the law of the land. This should also be the approach of the police", Kumar said.

"The government, on its part, will provide all necessary assistance to the police, be it regarding funds, vehicles, weapons or uniforms", he said.

The Chief Minister also issued directions for expeditious completion of a Police Academy at Rajgir in Nalanda district, calling it his "dream project".

The function was held at the Chief Minister's secretariat where a number of top officials including Bihar DGP P K Thakur, Principal Secretary (Home) Amir Subhani and the CM's Principal Secretary Chanchal Kumar were also present.

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A 57-year-old French national, who is the trustee of a renowned school in suburban Andheri, was arrested today, five months after he allegedly sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl inside the school premises, the police said.

Brillant Patrcik Mauris was arrested following the intervention of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), five months after a case was registered against him at MIDC police station.

He was produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till November 14, a police official said.

Mauris is the trustee of the international school in Andheri, he said, adding that the woman class teacher of the minor girl allegedly assisted him in the crime and was made a co-accused in the case.

The victim's lawyer S Balakrishnan said the accused was booked under section 376 (punishment for rape) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on May 18.

"Since no action was taken by the police, we filed an application before the MSCPCR. After studying the case, the commission maintained that it was a fit case for arrest and directed police to take necessary action," he said.

Balakrishnan alleged that the minor girl was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions with the help of the woman class teacher.

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'Padmavati' is facing fresh trouble in Rajasthan as film distributors have said that they will not buy its distribution rights unless a controversy surrounding the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed movie is resolved.

Starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the film is slated for release on December 1.

Various Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, have threatened to disrupt the screening of the movie, accusing Bhansali of "distorting" historical facts.

"Karni Sena and other Rajput community leaders are protesting against the film over alleged distortion of historical facts. We are also against the distortion of historical facts and will purchase the distribution rights only after the controversy is settled," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor, told PTI.

"Let them reach an amicable solution, then only we will purchase the rights of the film," he said.

Another distributor, Sanjay Chatar, said that the film- maker and those objecting to the film should settle the controversy first.

"There should be no distortion of historical facts in the film," he said.

There are over 300 screens in the state.

Rajasthan BJP MLA Diya Kumari too joined in the chorus against the film.

"I will not allow any distortion of the valiant history of Rajasthan & Sacrifice of its people in fighting barbarians by movie #Padmavati," Diya Kumari, who hails from the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, said on Twitter.

Bhansali has been facing trouble since the beginning as the sets of the movie were vandalised and the director was slapped by some members of the Karni Sena in the beginning of this year.

The set of the movie was again vandalised in Kolhapur, with the miscreants burning the costumes in March this year.

Bhansali and his team have repeatedly assured that there are no romantic scenes between 'Rani Padmavati', played by Deepika Padukone, and Alauddin Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh.

"There is no romantic scene or dream sequence between #Padmavati & #AlauddinKhilji in @FilmPadmavati," Shoba Sant, CEO Bhansali Productions tweeted recently.

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With emphasis on safer mobility, the World Road Meeting with India as the host country will see experts recommending steps to reduce road fatalities besides unveiling of apps like one for star-rating of highways, the organisers said today.

Over 1,000 global road safety experts, professionals, companies and government organisations will take part in the 18th World Road Meeting (WRM) 'Crossroads-WRM 2017' from November 14-17 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.

Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the global road meet being held in India for the first time by the Geneva-based International Road Federation (IRF).

The WRM 2017 will focus on the theme of 'Safer Roads and Smart Mobility: The Engines of Economic Growth'.

"Global experts will come out with recommendations for safer roads and minimising accidents. IRAP (the International Road Assessment Programme), an umbrella programme for Road Assessment Programmes (RAPs) worldwide, will also unveil its app for star rating of highways," IRF Chairman K K Kapila said.

IRF Crossroads-WRM is the global platform to facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas among pioneers, businesses and organisations as also to connect high-tech companies, leading experts in the field and governments, making mobility a positive reality for everyone, Kapila said.

"The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has extended its support to WRM2017," he said.

The government is a signatory to the UN Decade of Action for road safety to achieve 50 per cent reduction in road deaths in the country by 2020.

The deliberations at the conference will focus on finding sustainable solutions for managing increased vehicular traffic, pollution and safety related issues.

The major highlight of WRM 2017 will be an exhibition showcasing state-of-the-art technologies on road safety and traffic regulations including control systems, communication and navigation devices, driver training systems, Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and others.

The participants include Anne Berner, Minister of Transport, Finland; Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Canada; Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog and R C Bhargava, Non-Executive Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, among others.

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Actor Kristina Cohen has accused



"Gossip Girl" star Ed Westwick of raping her three years ago.

In a lengthy Facebook post Cohen alleged that the rape occurred at Westwick's apartment.

Cohen said she met Westwick for the first time when she visited the 30-year-old actor's apartment with her then- boyfriend who was friends with him.

She said she wanted to leave after Westwick made some sexual comments, but stayed



back as her producer boyfriend did not want to make the "White Gold" actor feel awkward.

"I said I was tired and wanted to leave, trying to get out of what was already an uncomfortable situation. Ed suggested I nap in the guest bedroom. The producer said we would stay for just another 20 more minutes to smooth everything over, and then we could leave.

"So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me... I told him to stop, but he was strong," she said.

"I was paralysed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me," Cohen wrote.

The "Ladies Like Us" actor said the producer she went with, put the blame on her, "telling me I was an active participant. Telling me that I can't say anything because Ed will have people come after me, destroy me, and that I could forget about an acting career."



"... I now realise the ways in which these men in power prey on women, and how this tactic is used so frequently in our industry, and surely, in many others," she added.

Cohen said she feels "sickened" to see "men like Ed respected in such a public way."



The actor said she hopes her coming forward will help other to know they are not alone and are not to blame.

"Just as the other women and men coming forward have helped me to realise the same. I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters," she wrote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union minister Maneka Gandhi today launched a portal to help women lodge complaints online about sexual harassment at work.

The online complaint management system 'SHe-box' (sexual harassment electronic box) will be hosted on the website of the ministry of women and child development.

A cell under the ministry will look into every complaint filed online and share it with the concerned organisation's internal complaints committee (ICC), which is a mandatory requirement under the law.

Complainants will also be able to monitor the status of an inquiry by the ICC.

The ministry had earlier launched a web page for government employees, which has now been extended to women in the private sector, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi told reporters.

Under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, it is compulsory for any organisation with 10 or more employees to set up an internal complaints committee for addressing complaints of sexual harassment.

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The government has notified the third protocol between India and New Zealand for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

The protocol updates the existing framework of exchange of tax related information to latest international standard which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the two countries and will also enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes, a finance ministry statement said.

The protocol entered into force in India on September 7, 2017, and has been notified in the official gazette on November 2, 2017, it added.

The convention between the two countries came into force in December 1986 and was amended through a first protocol in 1997 and a second protocol in 2000.

Subsequently, India proposed to further amend the convention through a third protocol to update the exchange of information article as per the international standard and insert an article on assistance in the collection of taxes.

Accordingly, negotiations were held with New Zealand and an agreement was reached on third protocol.

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The Haryana government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a training institute of the Art of Living Foundation today to help jail inmates to maintain and improve their health and reduce physical and mental stress.

"The state government signed the MoU with Vyakti Vikas Kendra India...in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal and founder of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar," according to an official statement here.

Director General (Prisons) K P Singh signed the MoU on behalf of the state government.

R K Sapra, apex member of Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), Haryana, signed the agreement on behalf of the institute.

K P Singh said that as per the MoU, yoga, meditation and other programmes would be conducted with the help of VVKI for the welfare of prisoners on regular basis in all the prisons of the state.

No fee would be charged for conducting these programmes, he added.

According to him, it has been observed that prisoners who are under-trial or are convicted remain in great physical and mental stress due to various reasons.

The situation results in mental depression and diseases as well. To alleviate this situation, yoga, meditation and other therapies are extremely helpful, he said.

He said that VVKI conduct various courses of the Art of Living Foundation and has been conducting 'PRISON SMART' (Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training) courses for prisoners successfully all over the world.

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The Delhi High Court today asked the Tihar jail authorities to produce the minutes of meeting of the Sentence Review Board in which former Congress youth leader Sushil Kumar Sharma's plea for premature release was taken up for consideration.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued the direction on Sharma's plea, who is serving life imprisonment for murdering his wife Naina Sahni and throwing her body in a restaurant's tandoor here.

The court also sought the convict's latest nominal roll from the Tihar Jail Superintendent.

Sharma's counsel Sumeet Verma and Amit Sahni moved the court for premature release, claiming that their client has spent over 25 years in jail, which is the maximum prescribed punishment as per the Sentence Review Board guidelines.

The counsel submitted that the years also include four years in remission earned over the period of imprisonment.

They also sought parole till the time the Board decided his plea for premature release.

Taking note of this, the court asked the authorities to produce the details of Board's proceedings held recently.

It was of the view that there should not be a "pick and choose" criteria.

In September 2015, twenty years after he was sent to jail for the murder of his wife, Sharma was released on unconditional parole till a final decision on his release was taken.

Now 56, Sharma had shot his wife Naina Sahni to death in 1995 objecting to her alleged relationship with a male friend. He had then chopped her body into pieces and attempted to burn it in a restaurant's oven.

Popularly known as the tandoor murder case, it is one of the landmark cases in India in which DNA evidence and a second autopsy were used to establish the guilt of the accused.

The convict's counsel told the court that a Supreme Court bench in 2013 had commuted the death penalty awarded to Sharma to life imprisonment and held that the crime committed by Sharma was "not a crime against society" but a murder arising out of a "strained personal relationship".

The top court had also held that there was a possibility of Sharma's rehabilitation, the counsel said.

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The high-octane campaign for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections marked by acrimonious exchanges between the two contenders for power--the state's ruling Congress and main opposition BJP--ended today.

Though the BJP announced Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial face just a week ago, the saffron party's campaign was virtually spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lacerated the Congress over corruption, while Rahul Gandhi mounted a spirited counteroffensive, targeting the Centre over note ban and the GST.

BJP president and its master strategist Amit Shah, besides a host of Union ministers and top leaders from both sides criss-crossed the state.

The 73-year-old Dhumal, a two-term chief minister, is seeking to thwart the Congress's chief ministerial candidate Virbhadra Singh's record seventh shot at power.

Singh, 83, the tallest Congress leader in the state, is facing graft cases and is locked in a bitter feud with state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu whose ouster he sought but failed to ensure ahead of the elections.

The old Congress warhorse also has to contend with the possible anti-incumbency.

Internal squabble may cast a shadow on the Congress's chances of storming back to power despite the party reposing faith in Singh to bail it out at a time when it has been facing a string of electoral reverses.

The BJP organised 197 rallies while Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh alone addressed 200 meetings across the state for the Congress during the past two and a half months.

Prime Minister Modi addressed seven meetings, Amit Shah six, Rahul Gandhi three, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh three and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke at seven public meetings.

There are 337 candidates left in the field after the death of a candidate in Badsar constituency while a BJP rebel in Chamba retired in favour of the party candidate.

Significantly, Himachal Pradesh goes to polls a day after the first anniversary of the Centre's demonetisation decision. While the Congress and some other opposition parties are observing November 8 as 'black day', the BJP had declared it would celebrate it as 'anti-black money day'.

Modi and other BJP leaders repeatedly targeted Virbhadra Singh and his government for alleged corruption.

Addressing a rally on Sunday, Modi claimed that the hill state needed to be freed of 5 Mafias - 'Mining Mafia', 'Forest Mafia', 'Drug Mafia', 'Tender Mafia' and 'Transfer Mafia'.

A combative Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice president, hit back a day later during his public meetings and accused Modi of speaking selectively on corruption while also asking where the jobs promised by the BJP had gone.

Gandhi also lambasted the government over the manner in which the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was rolled-out.

"We will completely change the GST after coming to power in 2019 to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by it," he asserted while addressing poll rallies at Paonta Sahib, Chamba and Nagrota yesterday.

Apart from Modi's charm, the BJP also tried to cash in on the charisma of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. High-profile BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and J P Nadda, who hails from the state, sought to swing the electorate in the saffron party's favour.

While the battle for the state may be tough, the going is likely to be easy for Virbhadra Singh from the Arki seat where he faces greenhorn Rattan Singh Pal of the BJP in a four- cornered contest.

Leader of opposition Dhumal is pitted against Rajinder Rana (Congress) in a five-cornered fight in Sujanpur.

Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh is making his electoral debut from Shimla (Rural) constituency where he is facing a stiff challenge from Pramod Sharma, a former protege of his father now contesting as the BJP nominee.

Another contest that would be keenly watched is for the Mandi seat where former Union minister Sukhram's son Anil Sharma is contesting as the BJP candidate. Anil Sharma quit the Congress in the run up to the elections.

State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti is facing Satpal Singh Raizada of the Congress in a five-cornered contest in Una, while state Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu is pitted against sitting BJP MLA Vijay Agnihotri in a six-way fight in Nadaun.

About a dozen rebels of both the parties are also in the fray, trying to spoil the chances of official nominees.

The counting of votes would be taken upon December 18.

The Congress and BJP are contesting all 68 seats, CPI(M) has fielded 14 candidates while 187 candidates of small parties and independents are also in the fray.

As per the latest photo electoral rolls, there are 50,25,941 electors including 25,68,761 male, 24,57,166 female, 14 third gender electors.

As many as 7,521 polling booths have been set up which include 983 that have been declared vulnerable and 399 declared critical. A highest 297 vulnerable polling stations are in the Kangra district.

The Kaa polling station in Kinnaur has the lowest number of eight votes while the highest poll stations of Hikkim, situated at a height of 15,000 feet, has 134 voters.

Besides 40,000 police and security men, 65 companies of para military forces have reached the state for ensuring free and peaceful polling, Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpender Rajput said.

Sullah Assembly constituency in Kangra has the highest number of 96,145 electors while tribal Lahaul and Spiti constituency has lowest number of 23,231 electors.

There are 19 women candidates in the arena with six candidates fielded by BJP and three by Congress.

Independent India's first voter, 101-year-old Shyam Singh Negi, would be casting his vote in the fifteenth Assembly poll in a row at Kalpa polling booth in Kinnaur Tribal constituency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stricter rules are in place now for the approval process of resolution plans submitted under the insolvency law, wherein an applicant's antecedents and credit worthiness will be checked.

The amendments related to the corporate persons resolution process has been made amid rising number of cases being filed under the insolvency law and concerns in certain quarters on whether the promoter of a company under the insolvency process can submit a resolution plan.

"Now prior to approval of a resolution plan, the resolution applicants, including promoters, will be put to a stringent test with respect to their credit worthiness and credibility," an official release said today.

It is now clear that even promoters can submit resolution plan provided they are subject to strict disclosure requirements under the revised norms.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended the regulations to ensure that as part of due diligence before approving a resolution plan, "the antecedents, credit worthiness and credibility of a resolution applicant, including promoters" would be considered by the committee of creditors.

Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, which is implemented by the IBBI, any resolution plan has to be cleared by the committee of creditors. The resolution process is to be completed within 180 days and the deadline could be extended.

Once an application is admitted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Code, then an insolvency resolution professional is appointed who would take care of the company concerned during the whole process.

The revised regulations make it incumbent upon the resolution professional to ensure that the plan presented contains relevant details to assess credibility of the resolution applicants, the release said.

The resolution applicants' details in terms of "convictions, disqualifications, criminal proceedings, categorisation as wilful defaulter as per RBI guidelines, debarment imposed by Sebi, if any," would have to be disclosed.

Information about any transaction with the corporate debtor in the last two years should also be furnished.

Further, the resolution professional has to submit details in respect of transactions, if any, that pertain to preferential, undervalued, extortionate credit or fraudulent transactions under the Code.

With these changes, the "resolution applicants, including promoters, are put to a stringent test with respect to their credit worthiness and credibility", the release said.

The amendments to the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Resolution Process, 2016 impose a greater responsibility on resolution professionals and the committee of creditors in discharging their duties, it added.

The Code became operational in December last year and it provides for a market-determined and time-bound insolvency resolution process.

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Observing that the recent increase in India's ease of doing business ranking by the World Bank was long overdue, a top Indian American economist today said the country as a place for business is a lot more attractive than its ranking suggests.

Investors usually go where the environment is the best and not where the World Bank collects its data, Arvind Panagariya, professor at the prestigious Columbia University, told PTI in an interview.

"Our best investment destinations do significantly better than the latter," said the former vice chairman of NITI Aayog.

"I have often said that India as a place to do business is a lot more attractive than the World Bank ranking suggests. This is because the bank collects its data in Delhi and Mumbai, not in the states with the best business environment such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat," he said.

Panagariya was responding to a question on the latest annual report of the World Bank on ease of doing business.

India registered an impressive 30-point jump in one year, registering the best performance among emerging economies.

"This (increase in ranking) was overdue. The government had made a large number of improvements that did not get included last year. I am delighted this has been rectified in the 2018 rankings," Panagariya said.

The single most important factor, for this he said, has been the focused effort by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to "cajole" the relevant entities into making improvements to the ease of doing business in areas covered by the World Bank survey.

The DIPP created a detailed checklist of items and saw to it that the entities involved do the needful, noted the economist who headed NITI Aayog from January 2015 to August 2017.

"From NITI, we helped the DIPP where we could, particularly in getting the states on board," he said, adding that frankly, this is the area in which the credit must go largely to DIPP.

Panagariya said he has known for some time that the processes were undergoing improvement continuously after the present government came to office.

But the recognition of this fact by a major international financial institution sends a very important signal, he said.

"As you must know, the western press has been slow to recognise the improvements in governance that have taken place in India in the last three years. Hopefully, the jump in the rankings will go some distance towards convincing foreign investors that India is fast changing as a place to do business," he hoped.

Based on the series of reforms that have been going on for quite some time now, the economist exuded confidence in further improvement in India's ranking next year.

"Not only can India improve its ranking, it will do so. Many improvements already in place have not been included in the 2018 rankings due to usual lags between implementation and their recognition. Inclusion of these change alone would give India another boost in the 2019 rankings," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now set the target of India's ranking in ease of doing business in the top 50. This he said is achievable, but one should not underestimate the difficulties.

"The prime minister always thinks big. At the time, he moots these big ideas, they seem unachievable. But he makes them achievable," he said.

"Today, reaching into the top 50 looks a lot more within our gasp, though we should not underestimate the difficulty: as we climb up, the slope gets steeper and steeper since we are competing against better and better performing countries," Panagariya told PTI.

Responding to a question, Panagariya said there are several areas where there is considerable scope for improvement. Prominent among them being registration of properties, enforcement of contracts, starting a business, construction permits and trading across borders.

"Each of these areas has its own multiple pain points that must be addressed using the DIPP checklist approach," he said.

India, he asserted, is already looking a lot better than in May 2014.

"The growth rate during the last three full financial years has averaged 7.5 per cent compared with 5.9 per cent during the last two years of the UPA. By May 2019, we will see further improvement," Panagariya said.

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India today conducted a flight test of its indigenously designed and developed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile 'Nirbhay', which can carry warheads of up to 300 kg, from a test range at Chandipur along the Odisha coast.

This was the fifth experimental test of the homegrown missile system.

Defence scientists are hopeful of a flawless trial this time. Out of four earlier trials since its maiden launch in 2013, only one was successful.

The state-of-the-art sleek cruise missile took off from a specially designed launcher from the launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, near here, at about 11.20 AM, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

All initial critical operations of the trial such as blast of the sophisticated missile are successful as it moved up in its trajectory, a DRDO scientist said soon after the launch of the missile.

The data is being retrieved from tracking systems for a detailed assessment, he said.

Powered by a solid rocket motor booster developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), the missile has an operational range of 1000 km.

'Nirbhay' missile can travel with a turbofan or turbojet engine and is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system indigenously developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the DRDO sources said.

After the missile achieves designated altitude and velocity, the booster motor is separated and the engine automatically switches on taking further propulsion, said a DRDO scientist associated with the project.

He said "mid-way in its flight, the missiles wing opens up by the commands generated by the sophisticated onboard computer for stabilising the flight path."



All along its trajectories from lift off to splash down, the missile is to be tracked with the help of ground-based radars and IAF aircraft.

The health parameters of the vehicle are being monitored by indigenous telemetry stations by a team of professionals from DRDO's ITR and LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment).

The two-stage missile is 6 metre long, 0.52 metre wide with a wing span of 2.7 metre. It can carry a warhead of 200 kg to 300 kg at a speed of 0.6 to 0.7 Mach. Its launch weight is about 1500 kg, the sources said.

A senior scientist hoped the missile would deliver the desired result this time.

"After a thorough review some changes have been incorporated in the missile system and we hope it will deliver the desired result," said the senior scientist.

The maiden test flight of 'Nirbhay' held on March 12, 2013 had to be terminated midway for safety reasons due to malfunction of a component. However, the second launch on October 17, 2014 was successful, he said.

In the next trial conducted on October 16, 2015, the missile deviated from its path after covering 128 km.

The last test flight held on December 21, 2016 had to be aborted after 700 seconds of its test flight as it deviated from its designated path. All these trials were conducted from the same base at Chandipur ITR.
India is facing a serious burden of of malnutrition as well as obesity, according to a global report which shows that while half the country's women suffer from anaemia, at least 22 per cent of adult women are overweight.

The Global Nutrition Report 2017, which looked at 140 countries including India, found 'significant burdens' of three important forms of malnutrition used as an indicator of broader trends.

These include childhood stunting, anaemia in women of reproductive age, and overweight adult women.

Latest figures show that 38 per cent of children under five are affected by stunting - children too short for their age due to lack of nutrients, suffering irreversible damage to brain capacity.

About 21 per cent of children under 5 are defined as 'wasted' or 'severely wasted' - meaning they do not weigh enough for their height.

Over half of women of reproductive age - 51 per cent - suffer from anaemia - a serious condition that can have long term health impacts for mother and child.

More than 22 per cent of adult women are overweight, a rising concern as women are disproportionately affected by the global obesity epidemic, according to the report.

While the country has shown some progress in addressing under-5 stunting, it has made no progress or presents worse outcomes in the percentage of reproductive-age women with anaemia, and is off course in terms of reaching targets for reducing adult obesity and diabetes, the report said.

"The Global Nutrition Report highlights that the double burden of undernutrition and obesity needs to be tackled as part of India's national nutrition strategy," said Purnima Menon, independent expert on the Global Nutrition Report.

"For undernutrition, especially, major efforts are needed to close the inequality gap," said Menon, Senior Research Fellow in the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)'s South Asia Office in New Delhi.

The Global Nutrition Report 2017 calls for nutrition to be placed at the heart of efforts to end poverty, fight disease, raise educational standards and tackle climate change.

"We know that a well-nourished child is one third more likely to escape poverty," said Jessica Fanzo, Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the US.

"They will learn better in school, be healthier and grow into productive contributors to their economies. Good nutrition provides the brainpower, the 'grey matter infrastructure' to build the economies of the future," said Fanzo, also the Global Nutrition Report Co-Chair.

The report also found that 88 per cent of countries studied face a serious burden of two or three forms of malnutrition.

It highlights the damaging impact this burden is having on broader global development efforts.

The report found that overweight and obesity are on the rise in almost every country, with two billion of the world's seven billion people now overweight or obese and a less than one per cent chance of meeting the global target of halting the rise in obesity and diabetes by 2025.

In India, 16 per cent of adult men and 22 per cent of adult women are overweight.

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Indian Americans have raised USD 2.4 million to carry out public health work in India.

Raised at the second annual gala of WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF) in New York over the weekend, organisers of the event said USD 2 million of this was donated by Chirag Patel, co-CEO and chairman, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, and his family.

This donation will go towards the soon-to-be established WHEELS India Niswarth (WIN) Foundation, which will be based out of the IIT-Gandhinagar and Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar campuses.

The foundation will work on core areas of water and sanitation and maternal and child health groups.

At its inaugural gala last year WGF had raised USD 200,000.

"The increase in donations this year demonstrates that donors see the urgency of the issues faced and that WGF is a dedicated partner in alleviating issues faced by rural areas. We are deeply gratified by the generous donations of attendees, sponsors and raffle and auction prize donors," said Suresh Shenoy, president, WGF.

With a vision to use "technology to enable philanthropy," WGF provides funds to develop Clean Drinking Water Plants (CDWP) in remote villages to alleviate health issues related to poor-quality drinking water, a media release said.

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A 39-year-old Indian engineer has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison in the US for providing material support to al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki and plotting from his cell to kill a judge who oversaw his trial.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad pleaded guilty in July to charges of conspiracy to provide and conceal material support or resources to terrorists and solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

Following his arrest on terrorism charges, Mohammad tried to orchestrate the killing of the judge presiding over his case, US District Judge Jack Zouhary, from his prison cell, prosecutors said.

"For those who wish to harm the United States and support terrorists, whether in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, or right here in Toledo, these decades of prison serve as an important reminder that America's law enforcement will pursue justice across the globe," US Attorney Justin Herdman said in a statement yesterday.

"He threatened the safety of our citizens, a judge and the independent judiciary. Now he is being held accountable."



Mohammad's attorneys argued in their sentencing memo that the inmate he spoke to in jail was "extremely manipulative and totally unreliable." However, the attorneys admitted the risk of Mohammad being convicted at trial was too great, so they reached a plea agreement.

His plea agreement also calls for him to be deported after he finishes serving his sentence, which US District Judge Edmund Sargus ordered, cleveland.com reported.

Mohammad was arrested in 2015 along with his brother, Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad, and brothers Asif Ahmed Salim and Sultane Room Salim. The other three men have pleaded not guilty in the case.

The four men are accused of conspiring to gather money and equipment to provide support to al-Awlaki, the late American-born, radical Muslim cleric whose English language videos and blog posts inspired a number of Western recruits to al-Qaeda, as well as acts of terrorism, federal prosecutors said.

Mohammad, born in the United Arab Emirates, travelled in 2009 with two other people to Yemen in an attempt to meet with Awlaki, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2011. He was unable to find Awlaki, so he instead gave USD 22,000 to one of the cleric's associates, prosecutors said.

Mohammad studied engineering at Ohio State University from 2002 to 2004. He and his brother, also a citizen of India, married US citizens.

In 2016, while awaiting trial in his terrorism case, Mohammad told another inmate at the Lucas County Corrections Center that he wanted Zouhary kidnapped and was willing to pay USD 15,000 to make it happen. The inmate introduced Mohammad to an undercover FBI agent.

Mohammad's wife gave the agent a USD 1,000 down payment.

The agent met with Mohammad's wife again and said he needed the rest of the money. He showed Mohammad's wife a picture he said was Zouhary's dead body, according to court filings.

Mohammad "continued to advocate the killing of other government officials" after he believed Zouhary was dead, prosecutors said in a sentencing memo. This included former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and former attorney general Alberto Gonzales, the memo states.

His wife was not charged.

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Indians who had to migrate to several parts of the globe as indentured labourers showed a remarkable resilience and became successful despite enduring many hardships, India's top diplomat in Silicon Valley has said.

Referring to the hardships that the indentured labourers faced in their months-long journeys by sea, India's Consul General in San Francisco Venkatesan Ashok said the lack of medical, food and living conditions were no different from slavery.

Despite the hardships, the indentured Indian labourers showed a remarkable resilience and became successful, he said at an event marking the centenary of the abolition of indentured labour from India to Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean.

In his keynote address to the "Girimityas: History of Struggle, Present Status and Future Potential of Indentured Indian Diaspora" organised by the Foundation for Indian and Indian Diaspora Studies, Ashok also said that the Indian government was "actively engaged" with its large diaspora spread across the globe.

Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP) general secretary Shyam Parande termed the journey of this diaspora as a journey from struggle to a success.

Noting that the migration started when the British needed workers after the end of slavery in around 1840s, Parande said the recruiter tricked Indians into this system, promising gold in the land of Sri Rama (Surinam) but in reality exploited them as bondage workers.

Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Parishad said the former Prime Minister in his first pravasi Bharatiya day address had said that every Indian who went outside India carried a small Indian within them.

"Similarly this Indian diaspora who are also called as Girimityas also carried India's culture in the form of Tulsi Ramanaya, Hindi language, food and practices," he said.

Ex-Consul General of Fiji Narayan Raju said that the Fijian Indian community was proud of their heritage and India.

He emphasised that the Indian government should do more efforts to connect better with the diaspora countries and people.

The Indian indenture system was a system of indenture, a form of debt bondage. As many as 3.5 million Indians were transported to various colonies of European powers to provide labour, mainly for sugar plantations.

It started from the end of slavery in 1833 and continued until 1920. This resulted in the development of large Indian diaspora.

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The Indian Oil Company's subsidiary in Sri Lanka has dismissed as "mischievous and factually incorrect" the allegations that it was responsible for the fuel shortage in the island nation.

The Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) yesterday received flak for the fuel shortage after motorists lined up in long queues at petrol stations.

The company denied any responsibility to the ongoing petroleum crisis.

"As a reliable distributor of petroleum products in Sri Lanka over many years, LIOC is making all efforts to assist in the early resolution of this problem. However, attempts by some to blame LIOC for causing the shortage are mischievous and factually incorrect, and we categorically reject such allegations," the LIOC said in a statement.

The LIOC said it catered to only 16 per cent of the Sri Lankan market, while the remaining 84 per cent relied on Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) supplies.

"Thus, large shortages across the country can only be caused by disruption in supplies of CPC (the Sri Lankan government petroleum entity)," the statement said.

"It may be noted that LIOC has adequate stocks...and normal daily diesel sales of 775 MT is continuously happening from all our sheds across the country. It is total misrepresentation of facts that diesel is not being sold by LIOC sheds," the statement said.

The LIOC is a professionally managed subsidiary of Fortune 500 Global company, and plans its product requirement well in advance and maintains necessary stocks, the statement added.

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An Indian-origin pharmacist in the UK has gone on trial this week for killing his elderly father by injecting him with a lethal dose of morphine at their home in Surrey, south-east England.

Bipin Desai has denied the murder charge but admitted to assisting his 85-year-old father, Dhirajlal Desai, commit suicide because he had been depressed and wanted to end his life.

But prosecutor William Boyce told Guildford Crown Court yesterday that it was his intention to disguise the death as natural but came forward with the assisted suicide claim only when it emerged that a post-mortem would be conducted on his father's body and the lethal drugs in his bloodstream would be revealed.

"He knew when he went to work (the next day) that his father was dead. You have to consider what kind of actor he is," Boyce told the court.

The 59-year-old pharmacist admitted giving his father a fruit smoothie containing morphine and later injecting him with a lethal dose of insulin in August 2015. He has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft relating to stealing the two drugs from his workplace, Vaughan James Chemist in Farnham.

The post-mortem examination on his father revealed he had 1,038mg of free morphine per litre of blood in his system when he died.

Boyce told the court that there was no evidence to support Desai's claims about helping to fulfil his father's wishes to die.

"He suffered no debilitating or disabling symptoms. He was not, on the face of it, near death despite his advancing years," he told the jury.

The court was told how Desai had even made breakfast for his father the next day to disguise the killing as a natural death. He called the 999 emergency number and said he had just come home and noticed his father's curtains were closed and the breakfast had remained untouched.

"It was the start of a whole series of protracted lies told by this defendant," the prosecution said.

A few days later, accompanied by his wife Dipti and sons Samir and Nichil, Desai went into a police station to claim that he had assisted his father commit suicide because he had wanted to be "reunited" with his late wife and dog.

"He said over the past four or five days his father had talked about ending his life, about wanting to 'go upstairs' which he took to mean heaven," the prosecution said.

Desai's trial is ongoing at Guildford Crown Court and is expected to conclude by next week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian Army and its Bangladesh counterpart have begun their week-long joint training exercise at the Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi cantonment of Meghalaya.

The Indo-Bangladesh exercise, the seventh such joint training exercise, is held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year to build and promote positive relations between the two Armies in view of an "emerging threat from transnational terrorism".

General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen AS Bedi, yesterday inaugurated the joint exercise 'SAMPRITI' in which 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army were participating.

In his speech, Lt Gen Bedi welcomed the foreign contingent and briefed them on the week-long exercise, an Army spokesperson, Lt Col Suneet Newton, said in a statement.

"The Indian Army believes that the joint Army exercise is a signal that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and are united in countering this menace," the statement said.

The exercise also aims to enhance inter-operability between the two nations and enrich from each others experience while carrying out counter insurgency/ counter terrorist operations, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Software major Infosys is opening an innovation hub in Indiana and would hire 2,000 people for it, with plans to set up many more such hubs in the U.S., Infosys Non-executive Chairman Nandan Nilekani said today.

"We are working closely with the Indiana government and hiring people locally both from universities as well as experienced people," he said.

Nilekani said Infosys was using its infrastructure in capacity building for future.

"This is just a part of many innovation hubs that Infosys will be opening in the US. We are talking to many of the states," he said.

Nilekani saw a huge potential in the business relationship between U.S. and India in the wake of new start-ups emerging in the country.

He was addressing a two-day trade meet 'Unlocking U.S.- -India Trade Potential",organised by the US Consulate General, Chennai, in association with Atlantic Council South Asia Center.

Nilekani said the challenge before companies like Infosys was to get people to be up-to-date on current technology, current development and how they learn the latest.

Nilekani, the first chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India that implemented the Aadhaar project, said Microsoft has integrated its Skype video interaction facility with Aadhaar to verify the identity of callers from India.

He said many companies are using Systems Applications and Products (SAP), which they combine with their products to create better solutions.

"To give you a few examples, Microsoft has Skype,which is a video thing. And Skype has been integrated byMicrosoft into the Aadhaar system."



"So if somebody wants to interview somebody and you want to make sure that thecandidate is a genuine person, then you can do an Aadhaarauthentication on Skype to verify that he is the realcandidate.

So this is an example of how a U.S. company hascombined their SAP for Window and Skype with Aadhaar SAP," he said.

Elaborating further, he said the digital infrastructure India has created is very sophisticated, giving every Indian resident a digital identity.

He added that India has reached an era where every individual would have a bank account.

"When everybody has a bank account, a mobile phone and everybody has a digital identity, then that allows you to do all kinds of things in delivering services to a billion peoplein a very effortless way on their phones."



"They can receive and send money from their phones. They can sign contracts on their phones," said Nilekani.

Steps for unlocking the US-India trade potential would be explored by American, Indian and international businesses with trade experts at the meet.

Around 100 conference attendees will explore the economic partnership between the U.S. and India, factors that pose impediments to growth and potential solutions at the conference.

The trade conference would address themes, including ease of doing business, expanding defence cooperation and energy cooperation, US Consulate General, Chennai, said.

The conference would enable conversation and collaboration among key stakeholders, thought leaders and policymakers, the Consulate said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran today dismissed accusations by Saudi Arabia's crown prince that it had launched a "direct military aggression" after a missile fired by Tehran-backed Yemeni rebels was intercepted near Riyadh.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, speaking by phone with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, said "the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality and dangerous", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Zarif also slammed "provocative actions by the Saudi government in the region", spokesman Bahram Ghassemi added.

Huthi rebels in Yemen, the targets of a two-year Saudi- led bombing campaign, fired a missile Saturday that was intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh international airport.

The attack sparked a bitter war of words between Sunni- ruled Saudi Arabia and its top regional rival, predominantly Shiite Iran.

"The involvement of Iran in supplying missiles to the Huthis is a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying.

This "could be considered an act of war," he said.

Riyadh has accused Tehran of supplying the Shiite rebel group with arms, but a senior Iranian official on Monday rejected such accusations.

"It is very childish to say that Iran has sent missiles to Yemen," the official said, requesting anonymity.

He said ships in the surrounding waters were on high alert and ready to intercept such deliveries.

"The Saudis and their supporters know that this is a faked story," he said.

Since Saturday's missile attack, the Saudi-led coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen, blocking even United Nations-supervised relief supplies despite urgent appeals from the world body.

"The best thing to do for Saudis is not try to fish in troubled waters, just to be honest and say that ok, it's time to end the conflict" in Yemen, the Iranian official said.

He added that Tehran would support "any genuine dialogue" between Yemenis.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

More than 8,650 people have been killed in Yemen since the start of the intervention.

Repeated attempts to bring about a negotiated settlement to the conflict have failed, including a series of UN-backed peace talks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three militants, including Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and another 'commander' from the group, were gunned down by security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Tuesday.

A US-made M4 rifle used by Pakistani Army special forces was recovered following the encounter, which took place yesterday and is being described as a "breakthrough".

An Army soldier was also killed in the fierce gunbattle in Aglar area last night and two AK-47 rifles recovered.

The killed militants have been identified as Mehmood Bhai, the so-called divisional commander of Jaish in the south, Tallah Rashid, Masood Azhar's nephew, and Wasim Ahmed Ganie.

While the first two were in the category of 'most wanted' militants carrying a cash reward, the third was a local and had joined militancy in May this year, top officials from the police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said at a press conference here.

A Jaish spokesperson identifying himself as Hassan Shah sent a statement to local news agencies claiming that one of the slain militants was Tallah Rashid, nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar.

Inspector General (Kashmir Range) Munir Khan thanked the militant outfit for acknowledging the identity of the killed militant and said the state police would like to request Pakistan to claim the body of the two foreign militants.

I am thankful that for the first time they have owned a Pakistani militant, that yes, he is nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar. Now, we will take up the matter through proper channels and we will very firmly request... please claim the body and take it because they have owned it, he said.

Major General B S Raju, who heads Victor Force and is responsible for security in south Kashmir and parts of Budgam and Bandipore, said Pakistans special forces use M4 carbine rifles and it is likely that they supplied the weapon to the JeM.

The weapon is mostly used by the US Army in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

M4 Carbine is a US-made weapon, presently with a lot of armies in NATO and it is also with the Special Forces of the Pakistan Army. So we have reason to believe that this particular weapon was given by the Pakistan Army to the JeM cadre. This clearly shows the complicity between the JeM and Pakistan and its nefarious designs in Kashmir," he said.

The army commander said it was the first time that a US- made weapon was recovered in Kashmir.

He added that there were reports that 10 such rifles were brought by terrorists who infiltrated from across the border recently.

While the number of militants has not come down, the level or quality of militancy in Kashmir definitely has come down, Raju said.

The quality of people who are joining is definitely being compromised and the relative level of peace that is there in the environment is ensuring that the government is able to function better... That is an important development, he said.

According to him, the presence of JeM militants in the Valley is an indication that Pakistan thinks the "capacity and the propensity" of Hizbul Mujahideen to survive has reduced.

My understanding is that there is too much relationship between this and radicalisation... This void is being filled by JeM... So, this fundamentally tells me that the Valley wants peace and to get back to normalcy but is not being permitted by Pakistan, he said.

Kashmir IG Khan said police would launch a thorough investigation to ascertain how such a weapon reached the hands of militants.

The matter will have to be taken thorough different channels, with concerned embassies," he said.

He said there are about 16-20 more JeM militants in the Valley.

In his view, displaying the pictures of new weapons on social media was a part of the psychological war by militants.

Commenting on stone-pelting, CRPF Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan said people should understand that there is a limit to everything.

Yesterday, after a gap, we noticed a lot of stone- pelting. It started from Pulwama and continued till where the operation was taking place. We would like to reiterate that we are fully capable of facing these situations."

Masood Azhar was released along with two other terrorists -- Sheikh Omar and Mushtaq Zargar -- in exchange for passengers of IC-814 Indian Airlines plane, which was hijacked and taken to Kandahar on December 31, 1999. He later formed Jaish-e-Mohammed, believed to be responsible for many terror incidents, including the 2001 attack on Parliament.

India has been making diplomatic efforts to list Azhar as a global terrorist under the UN anti-terror law but the process has been blocked by China.

(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 school education department is considering establishing a separate mechanism for dealing with requests for transfer on grounds such as health, marriage or security, an official spokesman said today.

The department, through an order issued by education secretary Farooq Ahmad Shah, has also asked the officials concerned not to clear any such transfer without the approval of the competent authority till the new mechanism is in place.

"It is enjoined upon the directors of school education of Jammu and Kashmir valley and all the chief education officers not to effect any transfer of teachers, masters and lecturers within their respective provinces, districts and zones in any case on any ground henceforth at their own level without the prior approval of the competent authority," the order read.

The spokesman clarified that the order is limited to transfers made on specific requests, and that for all other general transfer cases, decisions will be made as per the existing policy.

"In respect of requests of transfer made on specific grounds like security, health or marriage, a separate mechanism is under consideration of the school education department and will be notified shortly," the spokesman said quoting the order.

At a meeting with officials of the school education department yesterday, Education Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari asked them to fill up vacant post in the education department expeditiously. Bukhari also discussed issues related to development aspects of the education sector, the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today reported 0.2 per cent increase in retail sales at 46,418 units in October compared to the same month last year.

Jaguar retail sales were down 14.3 per cent at 12,336 vehicles in October compared to October 2016, primarily reflecting lower sales of the Jaguar XE.

The company said the results reflect growing sales of the Range Rover Velar and the new Discovery model.

Retail sales in October were up year-on-year in markets such as China. However, markets such as the UK, North America and Europe witnessed decline in sales, JLR said in a statement.

Besides, the company saw lower sales of the Range Rover and Range Sport in advance of the 18 model year refresh, including PHEV models, as well as the Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar XE.

Land Rover sales went up by 6.8 per cent to 34,082 units in October, compared to same month last year, led by the introduction of the Range Rover Velar and new Land Rover Discovery.

"It is pleasing to see our global sales have been maintained year on year in October, despite facing increasingly challenging conditions in our key UK, US and European markets," Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director Andy Goss said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today that a situation of "job scarcity" has arisen in the country as the economy has reached a "sad state" due to demonetisation and GST.

Kejriwal's remarks come a day before opposition parties observe the first anniversary of demonetisation as "Black Day" tomorrow.

Addressing a traders' meet on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) here, the chief minister also demanded that the Centre abolish 28 and 18 per cent tax slabs in the new tax regime and said only the 12 per cent slab should exist on every item.

"A situation of job scarcity has arisen as economy is in a sad state and recession has taken place. Everybody is saying that the two reasons behind this are demonetisation and GST in the last two years," Kejriwal said.

While interacting with traders at 'GST Market Support Committees' organised by the Delhi government, he asked market associations to create WhatsApp groups in their respective areas to share their concerns which would later be raised in the GST Council meeting by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

"We don't want closure of trades due to the GST in Delhi. I ask you (traders) to approach the government if we can do something for you. The Deputy CM will raise all your issues in GST Council meeting," he also said.

"I ask the central government that there should only be 12 per cent tax slab. Out of 12 per cent, central and states can share six-six per cent on every item," he said.

Alleging complexity in the GST structure, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the issue of traders should be addressed immediately.

"There is a lot of complexity in GST. If it is not removed, deteriorating situation would arise," Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of the three terrorists gunned down by security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district is believed to be the son of Abdul Rauf, the key conspirator behind the 1999 hijacking of an Air India plane and brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, a senior Union home ministry official said today.

A US-made M4 rifle used by Pakistani Army's special forces was recovered following the encounter yesterday, and is being described as a "breakthrough".

An Army soldier was also killed in the fierce gunbattle in Aglar area and two AK-47 rifles were recovered.

The killed militants have been identified as Mehmood Bhai, the so-called divisional commander of Jaish in the south; Tallah Rashid, Masood Azhar's nephew; and Wasim Ahmed Ganie.

While the first two were in the category of 'most wanted' militants carrying cash rewards, the third was a local and had joined militancy in May this year, top officials from the police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said at a press conference in Srinagar.

A Jaish spokesperson identifying himself as Hassan Shah sent a statement to local agencies claiming that one of the slain militants was Tallah Rashid, the nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar.

Inspector General (Kashmir Range) Munir Khan thanked the militant outfit for acknowledging the identity of the killed militant, and said the state police would like to request Pakistan to claim the body of the two foreign militants.

"I am thankful that for the first time they have owned a Pakistani militant, that 'yes, he is nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar'. Now, we will take up the matter through proper channels and we will very firmly request... please claim the body and take it because they have owned it," he said.

Azhar was one of the three militants released by the Centre in exchange for passengers of the Indian Airlines plane hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan in December, 1999.

The senior home ministry official said in Delhi that Tallah Rashid is understood to have infiltrated into India about four months ago with a group of 15 others.

Major General B S Raju, who heads Victor Force and is responsible for security in south Kashmir and parts of Budgam and Bandipore, said Pakistan's special forces use M4 carbine rifles and it is likely that they supplied the weapon to the JeM.

The weapon is mostly used by the US Army in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"M4 Carbine is a US-made weapon, presently with a lot of armies in NATO and it is also with the Special Forces of the Pakistan Army. So we have reason to believe that this particular weapon was given by the Pakistan Army to the JeM cadre. This clearly shows the complicity between the JeM and Pakistan and its nefarious designs in Kashmir," he said.

The army commander said it was the first time that a US- made weapon was recovered in Kashmir.

He added that there were reports that 10 such rifles were brought by terrorists who infiltrated from across the border recently.

While the number of militants has not come down, the level or quality of militancy in Kashmir "definitely has come down", Raju said.

"The quality of people who are joining is definitely being compromised and the relative level of peace that is there in the environment is ensuring that the government is able to function better... That is an important development," he said.

According to him, the presence of JeM militants in the valley is an indication that Pakistan thinks the "capacity and the propensity" of the Hizbul Mujahideen to survive has reduced.

"My understanding is that there is too much relationship between this and radicalisation... This void is being filled by JeM... So, this fundamentally tells me that the Valley wants peace and to get back to normalcy but is not being permitted by Pakistan," he said.

Kashmir IG Khan said police would launch a thorough investigation to ascertain how such a weapon reached the hands of militants.

"The matter will have to be taken through different channels, with embassies concerned," he said.

He said there are about 16-20 more JeM militants in the valley.

In his view, displaying the pictures of new weapons on social media was a part of the psychological war by militants.

Commenting on stone pelting, CRPF Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan said people should understand that there is a limit to everything.

"Yesterday, after a gap, we noticed a lot of stone pelting. It started from Pulwama and continued till where the operation was taking place. We would like to reiterate that we are fully capable of facing these situations."



After his release along with two other terrorists -- Sheikh Omar and Mushtaq Zargar, Maulana Masood Azhar formed Jaish-e-Mohammed, believed to be responsible for many terror incidents, including the 2001 attack on Parliament.

India has been making diplomatic efforts to list Azhar as a global terrorist under the UN anti-terror law, but the process has been blocked by China.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ways to boost defence cooperation between India and Kazakhstan were discussed at a meeting today between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Deputy Defence Minister of the Central Asian country.

Mukhtarov also met Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and discussed about enhancing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, officials said.

Enhancing bilateral defence cooperation was the focus of the two meetings, they said.

Indian and Kazakh armies on November 2 began a 14-day joint exercise in Himachal Pradesh to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange skills and experience.

It is the second joint military exercise between the two countries. The first edition of "Prabal Dostyk" was held in Kazakhstan in 2016.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A city court today convicted a Bangladeshi man for raping a septuagenarian nun in West Bengal's Ranaghat town during a dacoity at a convent in 2015.

Additional Sessions Judge Kumkum Sinha termed the incident as a matter of shame in a state where Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa had worked for the people.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced tomorrow.

Noting that the charge of gangrape was not established, the judge said only Nazrul Islam was found guilty of rape.

Five accused, including Nazrul Islam, were found guilty of dacoity at the convent. A sixth person -- Gopal Sarkar was found guilty of harbouring the five criminals at his residence.

All the six were also found guilty of criminal conspiracy for committing dacoity at the convent in Ranaghat, an otherwise quiet town about 80 km from here, in Nadia district bordering Bangladesh.

Other than Nazrul Islam and Gopal Sarkar, the other four persons found guilty are Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh and Khaledar Rahman.

Apart from Gopal Sarkar, the five others are Bangladeshis and cases against them under Foreigners' Act are pending before another court.

The nun was raped at the convent on March 14, 2015 where the six persons barged in for committing dacoity.

They had decamped with cash from the safe of the convent.

One accused is absconding.

The trial was shifted from a court in Ranaghat to the Kolkata Sessions court in May 2016 by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the nun.

The nun, who had relocated to Delhi following the incident, had sought transfer of the case to Kolkata stating that she feared for her safety as the accused allegedly had strong links in Ranaghat.

The prosecution charged all the accused with gangrape, dacoity and criminal conspiracy among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) today refuted National Commission for Women chairperson in- charge Rekha Sharma's remarks on forced conversion, saying it was part of an effort to show the state "in poor light".

"There are no forced conversions in Kerala," KWC chairperson M C Josephine said, rejecting Sharma's statement that women were being forcibly converted in Kerala under threat of blackmail and "many types of lures".

Sharma made the remarks after meeting Hadiya, a 24-year- old woman whose marriage with a Muslim man is at the centre of a nationwide controversy, and some girls allegedly forced to convert, here yesterday.

Josephine said the NCW chief had made the remarks without understanding the real situation in Kerala.

"The NCW chairperson in-charge made such a statement as part of an effort to show Kerala in poor light at a national level," she alleged.

Sharma claimed that some girls who met her told her how they were "manipulated" and how "forced conversions" took place.

"Many types of lures, many other threatenings, blackmailing, all types of things are happening. This is not one small thing which we are reading in Delhi.... But this is getting serious," she told reporters here after meeting girls.

After meeting Hadiya, Sharma said the issue of alleged "forced conversion" of girls in Kerala is getting serious.

The NCW chief met Hadiya at her family home in Vaikom in Kottayam district, a week after the Supreme Court directed her father to produce her before it on November 27.

The court is hearing an appeal by Shafin Jahan, challenging the annulment of their marriage by the Kerala High Court, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country.

The Kerala High Court had annulled it after her parents argued he was a radicalised person and sent her to their custody.

There had been complaints from Muslim bodies in Kerala that the 24-year-old woman's rights were being violated after being confined to her home.

"I just met Akhila - Hadiya. NCW was concerned about her well-being. She is in good health, she has not been beaten up or anything, she is eating her food and she was smiling, she was happy," Sharma said, adding there were no security issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The "last prince of Awadh" was found dead on September 2 in Delhi's 'Malcha Mahal', police said.

Under ordinary circumstances, that would have conveyed the story, followed by a brief obituary narrating his lavish life and times.

But the story of Ali Raza, known as Cyrus, is no ordinary tale.

So, it can be rewritten thus:



The "last prince of Awadh", who lived in abject penury, was found dead on September 2 in Delhi's 'Malcha Mahal', a Tughlak-era hunting lodge, tucked deep inside a patch of forest, overrun by moss and disrepair.

He was the last surviving member of a family that traced its lineage to the royals of Awadh - a claim that was never verified.

The of the death was broken by a section of the media yesterday, over two months after a team of police officers found him lying motionless inside the derelict 14th century structure.

He had been staying here since 1985, after his imperious mother Begum Wilayat Mahal, who allegedly swallowed crushed diamonds to death in the early '90s, forced the then Union government to provide them with accommodation behoving their royal antecedents.

She claimed she was a direct descendant of the kings of Awadh, who were known for opulence and luxury.

Armed with an unparallelled sense of entitlement, the Begum started camping in a first class waiting room of the New Delhi Railway Station in the '70s, demanding recognition for the sacrifice made by her family during the 1857 war of independence, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Sometime in 1985, the Begum and her two children - Cyrus and his sister Sakina - moved into the lodge, which was then known as 'Bistadari ruins'.

Old pictures show the Begum posing in regal attire inside the lodge, its beds covered in Persian carpets and table holding expensive porcelain crockery.

"She hung a metal sign outside: Entry restricted. Cautious of hound dogs. Proclamation: Intruders shall be gundown (sic)," the BBC reported.

Subsequently, the place came to be known as 'Malcha Mahal' for its close proximity to Malcha Marg, which houses the Delhi elite including diplomats, businessmen and authors.

The family chose a life of isolation and notorious hostility such as letting loose a pack of ferocious dogs on outsiders who came knocking as they zealously guarded their royal status and studiously avoided the commoner.

Foreign correspondents posted to New Delhi were treated somewhat better.

"Ordinariness is not just a crime, it is a sin," Sakina had declared to a reporter, the BBC reported, adding how the prince once dismissed the Mughals as "common as dirt".

However, over the years, the bloodhounds perished, as did the Begum and her daughter.

And now Cyrus.

"The body of the prince was found on September 2. There were some contact numbers found from the spot but none of them could be reached. We waited for 72 hours for anyone to come and claim the body but no one came.

"We sought help from the Delhi Waqf Board and he was buried near Delhi Gate on September 5. A post-mortem was carried out and it said that he died due to natural causes. No foul play was found. A detailed autopsy report is awaited," a senior police officer said.

The tenth and last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, ruled Awadh for nine years till 1856, and died near Kolkata in 1887.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Days after announcing his shock resignation in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri today visited Abu Dhabi, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Hariri announced his resignation on Saturday in a televised speech from Riyadh.

He said he feared for his life and accused Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of taking over his country and destabilising the broader region.

Hariri's announcement from Riyadh, which coincided with a Saudi purge of princes, ministers and a top businessman, sparked speculation in Lebanon that he quit under duress and was subject to Saudi movement restrictions.

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar even suggested he was being held "hostage" in Saudi Arabia.

Today the official WAM agency of the United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally, reported Hariri had met Sheikh Mohammed.

The UAE strongman assured him of his country's "support" for Lebanon "in the face of regional challenges and interferences in its affairs".

His departure sparked concerns of a political crisis in Lebanon as Saudi Arabia and Iran face off over Yemen.

Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday Hariri's resignation had been "imposed" by Saudi Arabia.

"It was not his intention, not his wish and not his decision" to quit, Nasrallah said in a televised address.

"We did not seek this resignation," said Nasrallah, whose powerful movement has participated in Hariri's government for almost a year.

The Hezbollah leader also questioned why Hariri gave his resignation speech from Saudi Arabia.

"Is he at home? Will they let him return? These are legitimate concerns," he said, referring to a purge of princes, ministers and businessmen in Saudi Arabia in an anti-corruption operation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With large infrastructure projects worth trillions underway in the state, Maharashtra is looking at revamping its funding model, so that bankers funding such projects will be covered by government, a senior state official said.

"Maharashtra is considering indemnifying bankers, who fund infrastructure projects. This will form part of the agreement that they sign with the developers," state PWD principal secretary Ashish Kumar Singh told a panel discussion at the Ficci-organised national banking summit here.

Noting that a lot of infrastructure projects are funded by the NBFCs with a short-term view, Singh underlined the need for long-term funding.

The official did not elaborate as the plan is yet to be approved by the state cabinet.

The state is on capex spree with Mumbai alone having over Rs 1 trillion investments in metro lines (seven underway), a new international airport worth Rs 18,000 crore (being developed by the GVK Group that also runs the city airport along with Cidco).

That apart, the government is also working on the over Rs 18,000-crore Mumbai-Trans-Harbour Link that will connect the eastern periphery of the city with JNPT and Panvel, and a Rs 15,000-core coastal road project on the western waterfront, among others.

The state is also planning an elevated fast line on the local train line between CST and Panvel.

It is also building an expressway between Mumbai and Nagpur at an investment of over Rs 46,000 crore apart from an airport and metro in the state's second largest city Pune.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A major fire broke out at a godown near Armenian Ghat on Strand Road in the central part of the city tonight.

Fire brigade sources said 20 fire tenders rushed to the spot to put off the blaze which broke out at around 8 pm.

The fire was suspected to have been caused by barrels of diesel kept in an godown owned by Kolkata Port Trust, the sources said.

There was no report of any casualty or injury in the blaze.

The sources said there was no information about anyone being trapped inside the godown.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and the entire area has been cordoned off and traffic movement on Strand Road has been diverted.

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Vedanta Group's Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) today said that the mining sector, which is aiming to contribute 7-8 per cent to the GDP, has the potential to create 25 million jobs in the country.

"The mining sector aspires to contribute 7-8 per cent to India's GDP and if this happens, India would realise a GDP of 9 per cent in the coming years. This is expected to create at least 25 million jobs, directly and indirectly," HZL CEO Sunil Duggal told PTI.

The country, he said, has seen continuous decline in the share of mining sector in GDP and that is holding the GDP growth.

Over the last 10 years, the contribution of mining sector to GDP has been stagnant to nearly 1.2 per cent, which is highly alarming, Duggal noted.

Mining sector grew at a CAGR of 7.3 per cent in the last decade compared to 22 per cent in China in the same period.

The sector in India, Duggal said, employs a smaller percentage of the population, just about 0.3 per cent. While in South Africa it is 3.8 per cent, 1.4 per cent in Chile and 0.7 per cent in China.

Employment in the Indian mining sector has grown at a rate of three per cent per annum over the last 10 years, he added.

"In 2012, mining sector accounted for about 3 million direct jobs and additional 8 million indirectly. The mining sector constituted 3.4 per cent of India's GDP in 1992-93, which declined to three per cent in 1999-2000 and further to 2.3 per cent in 2009-10," Duggal said.

Every one per cent increase in the growth rate of mining sector results in 1.2-1.4 per cent increment in the growth rate of industrial production and correspondingly increase of 0.3 per cent in the growth rate of India's GDP, he said.

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The ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today slammed the NDA government at the Centre for demonetisation and said the move broke the backbone of the country's economy.

A statement issued by the MPCC said November 8, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations, would be observed as 'Black Day' by the Indian National Congress (INC).

The PM had claimed that note ban would stop black money and clandestine funding of extremists, but none of that happened, it said.

"Rather, the move led to the deaths of over a hundred people, closure of thousands of small industrial units and resulted in the economic slowdown," the statement alleged.

The state unit of the Congress also alleged that the BJP leaders had prior knowledge about the government's intention and deposited huge amount of money in banks before November 8.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgiums King Philippe today held talks to strengthen bilateral ties.

Ahead of the meeting with Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary, who arrived here on Sunday on a week-long trip, his first state visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

Modi and the Belgian king, who is accompanied by six ministers and a high powered business delegation comprising CEOs of 86 Belgian companies, held talks in Hyderabad House.

India is Belgiums second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU, according to official data.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion. While exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.

"Swaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit will further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.

Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, were accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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The 2008 Mumbai terror attack has tarnished Pakistan's image internationally and done an "irreparable damage" to the Kashmir cause, former foreign secretary of Pakistan Riaz Mohammad Khan has said.

The terror attacks in November left 166 people dead and many more injured. Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive and was tried in a court before being hanged in a jail in India.

"Besides tarnishing Pakistan's image, the attacks also did an irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause," the Dawn quoted Khan as saying.

He was addressing a gathering at the Kashmir Day event held at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Sunday, the report said, adding that India's blaming of Pakistan for the attacks did hurt Islamabad's image in the world capitals.

Ambassador Touqir Hussain, another senior former Pakistani diplomat, who now teaches diplomacy at the Georgetown University, emphasised the need to provide political and moral support to the Kashmiri struggle.

Hussain said that as US' interests brought Washington closer to New Delhi.

"Kashmir has become a victim of the geo-politics of the region," he said.

Hussain also referred to a recent statement by America's UN envoy Nikki Haley in which she said the Washington had asked India to keep an eye on Pakistan.

Hussain said that Haley was trying to diminish Pakistan's influence to help India suppress the Kashmiri struggle.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhary alleged that the Indian government was using brutal violence to suppress the Kashmiri freedom movement.

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Nagaland's famous Hornbill Festival that lasts for 10 days will be celebrated at the picturesque Naga Heritage village, Kisama, from December 1, officials of the state tourism department said.

The festival is an annual tourism promotional event of the state government, jointly organised by the Tourism and Art and Culture Departments, to showcase the rich traditional heritage and colourful culture of the Naga people.

Kisama have been declared as 'plastic-free zone', Joint Secretary of Tourism Department M Shayung Phom yesterday said.

The joint secretary also asked the tribal 'hohos' to propagate and ensure that no plastic is used during the ten days of festivities.

Kisama is about 12 km from the state capital.

This year, the use of plastic and polythene, including packaged drinking water, will be prohibited, Tourism Department Joint Director Akhale Vizol said.

Nearly 600 artistes from 17 tribes will take part in daily cultural performances, an official of the Art and Culture said.

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NATO will boost its training mission in Afghanistan by 3,000 troops, chief Jens Stoltenberg said today as Kabul reeled from the latest deadly attack on civilians.

Around half the new troops will come from the United States, and the overall size of NATO's training and support mission in the unrest-hit country will increase from 13,000 to 16,000, he said.

Speaking a day before NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels, Stoltenberg said the alliance would boost its presence "to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a clear message to Taliban to the insurgents that they will not win on the battleground".

"There will be more troops. Current level is around 13,000, the new level will be around 16,000... so far indications are roughly half US,half non-US," he added.

But Stoltenberg insisted there would be no return to combat operations.

"We are focusing on training the Afghan special operations forces, which have proven so key in the fight against the insurgents," he said.

The Taliban, ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001, have been resurgent since NATO ended combat operations in 2014, and the Islamic State group are also stepping up attacks.

Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed Shamshad TV station in Kabul today, killing one person and wounding two dozen others in an attack claimed by IS.

Stoltenberg said there will also be more help to develop the Afghan air force. Over 16 years of war in Afghanistan, air strikes have proved a potent weapon against the Taliban.

The decision to boost numbers will be formally approved by the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels tomorrow and on Thursday.

US ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said last month that Washington would ask other alliance members to contribute around 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan.

This was to add to the roughly 3,000 US troops who are already dispatched to train and advise the country's security forces under President Donald Trump's new Afghan strategy.

Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan in August, reversing his previous position advocating US withdrawal after military leaders convinced him that pulling out of America's longest war would be worse than remaining.

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NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam, arrested for alleged massive irregularities in the state government-run Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (ASDC), today levelled a number of allegations against the Arthur Road jail officials in the special ACB court.

Kadam, who was arrested in 2015, told special ACB judge G A Sanap that the jail authorities charged him around Rs 30,000 for serving tea twice a day.

He said that sometimes, when an inmate got food from home, the jail officials diverted it to other prisoners and they had to pay Rs 50,000 for it.

"Even for providing a mattress, they charge about Rs 50,000," Kadam told the court.

He alleged that the jail officials, in connivance with the medical officers, had come up with a new scheme called the "jail to bail".

"Under this scheme, the medical officers will make a medical record for an inmate so that he gets bail from the court on health grounds. For this, they charge up to Rs 1 crore," Kadam told the court.

He alleged that the officials charged the inmates if they wanted to keep them in a particular barrack, which mainly housed inmates accused in cheating cases, as "they get a better treatment there for money".

He claimed that the jail officials had agreed to offer him better barracks, but asked him not speak about it to anyone.

He also alleged that the Byculla jail authorities had made false allegations against him, so that he could be transferred to some other jail.

Kadam claimed that the CCTV image would speak for itself as he had never misbehaved with anyone in the jail.

He alleged that even when inmate Manju Shette died, the next day the jail officials cleared the jail as soon possible.

Shette (45) had died at the J J Hospital on June 23 after being allegedly beaten up by the Byculla jail officials and staff as she "failed" to account for two eggs and five loaves of bread, which were distributed by her among the inmates, the police had said.

Shette's death had sparked protests in the prison with over 200 prisoners, including the accused in the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani Mukerjea, being booked for rioting.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today described India's biggest-ever note ban a year ago as a watershed moment in the country's economic history, saying it has provided the next generation with a fair and honest system to live in.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the decision to invalidate 86 per cent of the currency in circulation, Jaitley said the move has met its objective of reducing cash in the economy, ending anonymity of cash, bringing in more individuals in the tax net and dealing a body blow to black money.

In a 1,843 word blog, 'A Year After Demonetisation', he said that November 8, 2016 "signifies the resolve of this Government to cure the country from 'dreaded disease of black money'."



"November 8, 2016 would be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of Indian economy," he said. "In an overall analysis, it would not be wrong to say that country has moved on to a much cleaner, transparent and honest financial system."



The benefits may not yet be visible to some people, he said, adding that the next generation will view the post- November, 2016 economic development with a great sense of pride as it has provided them a fair and honest system to live in.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 last year announced the demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to combat corruption, black money, terrorism and fake currency.

Of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore worth of notes withdrawn from the circulation, Rs 15.28 lakh crore had been deposited back as on June 30, 2017. Currency worth Rs 17.77 lakh crore was in circulation on November 8 last year.

Jaitley said that post the note ban, the currency in circulation is less by Rs 3.89 lakh crore, which has met the objective of less cash economy so as to reduce the flow of black money in the system.

"With the return of Rs 15.28 lakh crore in the formal banking system, almost entire cash holding of the economy now has an address. It is no more anonymous," he said, adding that from this inflow, the suspicious transactions under the radar range from Rs 1.6 lakh crore to Rs 1.7 lakh crore.

The tax administration and other enforcement agencies are using big data analytics to crack down on suspicious transactions, he said.

Undisclosed income admitted and detected, taken together, amounts to Rs 29,213 crore, which is close to 18 per cent of the amount involved in suspicious transactions, he said.

Also, he added, the removal of anonymity with currency has led to 56 lakh new individual tax payers filing returns this year till August 5, self-assessment tax (voluntary payment by tax payers at the time of filing return) paid by non-corporate entities increased by 34.25 per cent.

With increase in tax base and bringing back undisclosed income into the formal economy, the amount of Advance Tax paid by non-corporate tax payers during the current year has also increased by about 42 per cent, Jaitley said.

"The leads gathered due to data collected during demonetisation period have led to identification of 2.97 lakh suspect shell companies," he said, adding that 2.24 lakh companies have been de-registered.

Further actions were taken to stop operations of bank accounts of these struck off companies. Actions are also being taken for freezing their bank accounts and debarring their directors from being on board of any company.

Jaitley said that out of the struck off companies, 28,088 had deposited and withdrawn Rs 10,200 crore from 49,910 bank accounts from November 9, 2016 till the date of being struck off.

Simultaneously, Income Tax Department has taken action against more than 1,150 shell companies which were used as conduits by over 22,000 beneficiaries to launder more than Rs 13,300 crore.

Also, SEBI has introduced a Graded Surveillance Measure at stock exchanges.

The Finance Minister said demonetisation appears to have led to an acceleration in the financialisation of savings.

"In parallel, there is a shift towards greater formalisation of the economy in the near term aided by the introduction of Good and Services Tax (GST)," he said.

Jaitley said demonetisation also led to a big leap in digital payments. As many as 110 crore transactions, valued at around Rs 3.3 lakh crore -- and another 240 crore transactions, valued at Rs 3.3 lakh crore -- were carried out through credit cards and debit cards respectively.

The value of transactions for debit and credit cards, in contrast, was Rs 1.6 lakh crore and Rs 2.4 lakh crore respectively during 2015-16.

The value of transactions with pre-paid instruments has also increased.

With higher level of formalisation, workers have got social security benefits as reflected in large increase in opening of bank accounts for workers, enrolment in EPF and ESIC.

"The reduction in incidences of stone pelting, protests in J&K and naxal activities in LWE affected districts are also attributed to the impact of demonetisation as these miscreants have run out of cash," he said. "Their access to fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) was also restricted.

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A senior BJP leader today dismissed any political significance in Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on the DMK supremo M Karunanidhi in Chennai and described it as a courtesy call.

As the prime minister of the country, Modi wanted to meet the ailing Karunanidhi during his visit to Chennai yesterday and pay his respects and also to enquire about his health condition. That was what happened, Union Minister of state Pon Radha Krishnan told reporters here.

Modi even invited Karunanidhi to his house in New Delhi, Radhakrishnan, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the meeting said in response to a question.

"It has become a practice now to attach significance to even such meetings, where the prime minister has expressed heartfelt wishes...one can see how Modi was moved on seeing Karunanidhi...it was a moving meeting. One should see only that," he said.

Modi met the 93-year old leader, who is wheelchair-bound, at his residence in Gopalapuram here, taking time-off during his one-day visit to the city yesterday during which he attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of Tamil daily Dina Thanthi.

It was the first meeting between the two leaders after Modi became the prime minister in May 2014.

The DMK has also indicated that not much should be read in the meeting between the two and that it was a courtesy call.

Party working president M K Stalin said Modi did not come with any political intentions to meet his father and did not talk politics.

Modi only enquired about Kalaignar's (Karunandhi) health, he said adding only the media was thinking that there was a political angle to the meeting.

Radhakrishnan said the BJP wanted to emerge as the prime political party of Tamil Nadu before the next elections and it was working hard in that direction.

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Days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the premises of various music companies here, the officials said they are recording the statement of the CEO of Sony Music.

"We are recording the statement of Sony Music CEO Shridhar Sunramanian," an ED official said today.

The searches were conducted last week in connection with the non-payment of royalties worth hundreds of crores to lyricists and song writers.

Till now the agency has recorded the statements of top honchos of T-Series and Universal.

In May this year, the agency had recorded the statement of lyricist Javed Akhtar in connection with a money laundering probe case involving an umbrella body of artistes.

Officials had said Akhtar is a complainant in the case and the agency is also questioning him for information and details of the matter.

The famous lyricist is the chairman of the board of directors of the the Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRSL), which is accused of not paying the dues of its member lyricists and song writers.

The ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the IPRS and the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) in March 2015 on the basis of criminal complaints and police FIRs alleging "gross irregularities" in its affairs.

The PPL is a copy right society for sound track recording companies and it also issues licences to the users of sound or music recordings for public performance on behalf of member music companies.

It exclusively holds public performance and radio broadcasting rights for over five lakh songs in the country.

The agency had last year attached assets worth Rs 13 crore of the PPL and mutual funds worth Rs 70.17 crore of the IPRS in this case.

During the course of the probe, the ED had earlier said it was found that the office-bearers of the IPRS had assigned their rights to issue user licences and collect royalties to the PPL on the basis of revenue sharing.

However, in connivance with the IPRS and M/S Select Media Holding Pvt Ltd (SMHPL), the PPL indulged in criminal conspiracy and cheating, and revenue due to the IPRS was not paid to them, it had said.

"Investigations reveal that Rs 13.04 crore was thus retained fraudulently by the PPL which led to non-payment of royalties to the members of the IPRS who are music writers, composers, directors among others.

"It was alleged that as the IPRS and the PPL are dominated by music companies, rights of literary work owners like lyricists and music composers are being undermined and the IPRS is not collecting and distributing their due royalties," the ED had said.

The IPRS collects royalties on public performances of songs and music from consumers like restaurants, radio stations, television channels among others and distributes royalties so collected among lyricists, composers (music directors) and publishers (music companies) in the ratio of 20:30:50 (up to June 21, 2012) and in the ratio of 25:25:50 thereafter.

The affairs of the IPRS are managed by a governing council comprising directors, some prominent names in the music industry, and representatives of popular music companies in the country.

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Russia was not concerned over the growing Indo-US ties, but had apprehensions over Washington's "agenda" as it "does not look constructive" for Moscow, Russian envoy Nikolay Kudashev said today.

He said the Indo-Russia relations had a huge potential for a further expansion, considering the level of cooperation the two countries had seen in different areas in the past.

Seeking to assuage India's concerns over the growing engagements between Pakistan and Russia, Kudashev asserted that Moscow's relations with New Delhi were "second to none".

"The majority of the glorious track of bilateral cooperation -- be it military, space, nuclear -- goes back to the 60s and 70s. So, it is a long-established tradition. Instead of saying exhausted, I would rather use the word undersized or too short for the present potential of the India-Russia (relations)," he said.

The Russian envoy was responding to a question on whether the existing model of the India-Russia relations had exhausted itself.

Kudashev said the two countries were working on new avenues and dimensions of cooperation.

He was speaking at an event at the Vivekananda Foundation, where a report titled '70th Anniversary of India- Russia Relations: New Horizons of Privileged Partnership' was released.

India's relations with the US have bettered over the last few years and the latter is one of the major defence partners of New Delhi. Russia also remains a vital partner of India in strategic sectors. The two countries jointly held the first ever tri-services military exercise in Russia last month.

Asked about Russia's apprehensions about the growing India-US cooperation, particularly in the defence sector, the envoy said, "As regards the relationship with the US, it is not exactly the Indian side where our concern lies, but it is mostly on the other side, the side of the United States, whose agenda does not look positive, constructive for us, as of today at least."



He expressed hope that this would change in the near future and the three countries would work together for the Eurasian community.

India too has expressed concern over Russia's growing ties with Pakistan, especially after a two-week-long military exercise between the defence forces of the two countries in September.

Kudashev said countering terrorism was the substance of the relationship between Russia and Pakistan.

"The crux is very clear, it cannot be equated with our relationship with India, which is a privileged and strategic partnership and is second to none...as far as the level of confidence, trust is concerned," the Russian envoy said.

Asked about Russia's position on One Belt One Road, Kudashev evaded a direct reply, but said Moscow was in favour of an understanding between China and India on the issue.

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The Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of the Odisha police today "ruled out" the rape of a minor tribal girl in Koraput district as alleged by the victim.

"As per the doctors' opinion, there is no such evidence of gangrape or rape of the minor girl," Additional Director General (ADG, HRPC) Mahendra Pratap told PTI over phone from Cuttack.

He said, "I have discussed the matter with all the medical experts treating the girl at Kunduli, Jeypore in Koraput district and at the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampur during the course of the investigation."



Pratap had yesterday submitted the HRPC's probe report on the alleged rape case of the minor girl before the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

"The girl's statement is inconsistent. She is changing her statement every day," the ADG said.

"I had submitted the investigation report, along with the doctors' version, to the OHRC yesterday," Pratap said, adding that the document was likely to be made public on November 10.

The ADG's statement has given a new twist to the alleged gangrape case.

A case was lodged after the minor girl had, on October 10, alleged that she was raped by four persons who were wearing a combat uniform.

Though the girl had claimed that she was raped by four security personnel in uniform, Odisha DGP R P Sharma today said, "Medical and scientific experts were engaged to find out the truth. During the course of the investigation, the movement of the security forces, who were allegedly involved in the case, could not be established."



The alleged gangrape of the tribal girl had sparked a statewide hue and cry with the opposition parties staging protests, demanding justice for the poor girl.

The locals of Koraput had blocked National Highway-26, connecting Jeypore and Visakhapatnam, on October 11, a day after the incident was reported.

Activist Rutuparna Mohanty, who visited the girl at the hospital, said, "It is not possible for a 14-year-old tribal girl to mislead the police. We demand a judicial probe into the incident."



Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP), Koraput, K V Singh, at a press conference in Koraput, said, "As per the medical reports given by a team of doctors, chemical examination tests and police investigation, the detailed report is contradictory to the victim's first statement of gangrape.

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One of the infiltrators killed near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Kashmir was a local resident who was returning home after 27 years, claimed his relatives.

Security forces on Sunday foiled an infiltration attempt by the Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) near the LoC, killing Moazzam Din Chara and one more militant.

"One of the persons killed near the LoC was my uncle," said Mahmood Chara, a resident of Madya village in Kamalkote area of Uri.

Moazzam, along with his wife and younger brother, had crossed to Pakistan occupied Kashmir in 1990 after militancy escalated in the area. He had three sons and four daughters, Chara said.

Chara said he came to know about Moazzam's death from his niece who called him from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir last night and requested him to claim the body.

"She asked us to bury him at our ancestral graveyard. I request the district administration to allow us to take the body so that we can perform his last rites," Chara said.

SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain said they had no claimant for the bodies of the slain infiltrators.

"Even if there is a claimant, we will go for a DNA test. If the test establishes the relation, we will hand over the body to them," he added.

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A farmers' association here has sought a hike in compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)and urged the peasants to refrain from committing suicide or torching paddy fields due to crop loss.

The representatives of All India Kishan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, an apex body of seven Left and two independent associations in the state, met chief minister Naveen Patnaik last night, urging him to request the Centre for a revision in the NDRF compensation rates for farmers hit by natural calamities.

"We have drawn attention of the chief minister to the fact that compensation doled out for crop loss owing to drought and pest attack is inadequate. While a farmer spends Rs 20,000 for cultivating paddy over one acre land, he gets only Rs 2,720 as compensation under NDRF. This must be revised," said Suresh Panigrahi of Odisha Krushak Sabha (OKS).

Panigrahi argued that the compensation rate for farmers has remained unchanged for several years even as the price of raw materials increased manifold.

Stating that the farmers should be given adequate compensation to make up for their losses, the AIKSCC appealed to the peasants not to take any drastic step or set fire to their fields.

"We demand Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for the family members of farmers who have committed suicide and land for those who have no homes," said Asish Kanungo of All India Kishan Sabha.

The AIKSCC also sought a farm loan waiver and interest-free loans for all farmers in Odisha.

"The association wants the government to hold awareness campaigns across the state to prevent farmers from torching their crops or committing suicide," Panigrahi added.

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A 12-year-old Pakistani boy was apprehended by a patrolling team of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jaisalmer, BSF officials said today.

Identified as Asif Haji, the youth during interrogation claimed he had crossed the international border while grazing camels, they said.

He was held on Monday and was handed over to Pakistan rangers after flag meeting, they added.

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Model-actor Paris Jackson has apologised for her "insensitive" tweet in the wake of a mass shooting in Texas in which 26 people were killed.

"Why the f**k do people keep dying," the 19-year-old actor had posted on Twitter before the shooting incident in Texas.

The actor, however, apologised for her "insensitive" tweet and clarified that it was not related to the shooting incident.

"Whoa just now hearing about Texas, and realised how insensitive to the families my last tweet must seem... to clarify, that was about a friend," wrote Jackson.

"My heart is with everyone affected and in pain during this tragic time," she added.

A court-martialled former US Air Force airman armed with a powerful assault rifle sprayed bullets on worshippers at a Sunday service at a rural church in Texas, killing at least 26 people, including 12-14 children in the latest gun-related massacre to shock the country.

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The Punjab police today claimed to have solved most of the cases of targeted killings, including the shooting of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja last year, with the arrest of four persons.

Addressing a press conference this evening, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed that a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbance and destabilise the state was hatched by the ISI.

Though the Punjab government had handed over the case of the killing of RSS state vice president Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja to the CBI, the state police had cracked the case with the busting of a latest terror module, the eighth such module to be busted since the Congress came to power in the state, he said.

Citing the police probe and interrogation of suspects, the chief minister said the killing of another RSS leader, Ravinder Gosain, last month, had also been solved with these arrests, which had been linked to most of the cases of targeted killings in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since January last year.

Those arrested include a gangster, Dharmendra alias Guggni, lodged in Nabha jail, further endorsing the suspicions of a growing nexus between radicals and gangsters, the chief minister revealed.

He said the interrogation of the four conspirators showed that they had met and been trained at various places abroad and had been using encrypted mobile software and apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries.

"The ISI was always looking to disturb the country's peace and radicalise the youth," said the chief minister in response to a question and asserted that the state government would not allow the peace and harmony of Punjab to be disrupted.

He said it was evident from the investigations that the targeted killings were aimed at fanning communal disturbance to further ISI's "anti-India" gameplan since there were strong "indications" of an active involvement of Pakistani intelligence operatives based on Pakistani and foreign soil.

Three of the suspects have been identified as Jimmy Singh (a Jammu resident who recently returned to India from the UK after spending many years there, and was picked up a week ago from Delhi's IGI airport), Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi (a UK national who got married last month and was apprehended from Jalandhar), Dharmender alias Guggni (a gangster from Meharban in Ludhiana who allegedly supplied weapons to the killers.

The fourth accused, who was allegedly the main shooter in various cases, was caught this afternoon and details of him could not be disclosed at this juncture as his interrogation was still continuing, said the chief minister, adding that the police had both forensic and ballistic evidence against him.

The police were on top of the cases, Singh said, adding that he had directed the DGP to work out a system of awards and rewards for the police team that had busted this module and for future too.

While he could not completely rule out such incidents in the future in view of Punjab being a border state, with international conspirators working against it, DGP Suresh Arora assured the people of the state that they were in safe hands of the Punjab police.

The DGP attributed the success in busting the terror module to the team effort of the intelligence and counter- intelligence wings as well as the district police of Batala and Moga.

The team consisted of IG Intelligence Amit Prasad, DIG Counter-Intelligence Ranbir Khatra, SSP Moga Ranjit Singh, SSP Batala Opinderjit Ghuman, SP Rajinder Singh, SP Wazir Singh, DSPs Sulakhan Singh and Sarabjit Singh, Inspector Kikar Singh and ASI Haripal.

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The Press Council of India (PCI) has asked for a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the arrest of a freelance cartoonist for allegedly depicting Chief minister K Palaniswami in an obscene manner, the council said in release today.

The PCI said it has "noted with concern" reports of the arrest of G Bala by the Tamil Nadu police.

"Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, the (PCI) Chairman has directed the government of Tamil Nadu through the Chief Secretary, the Secretary (Home), the Director General of Police to file a reply statement and a report on the facts of the case," the council said in the release.

Bala was released on bail yesterday, a day after he was arrested in Chennai for allegedly depicting Palaniswami in an obscene manner, in a caricature on a recent incident of a couple setting its two kids on fire before committing self- immolation due to usury.

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A Kolkata-bound GoAir flight from here landed in Kolkata today under emergency conditions related to a "bomb threat", which was later declared a hoax.

Official sources said flight G8-127 landed at the Kolkata airport around 9:30 pm after the pilot informed the ground authorities about a bomb threat.

The plane was taken to an isolated bay at the airport after which regular security procedures were followed, they said.

A bomb threat assessment committee later declared the threat as hoax, officials said.

More details are awaited, they said.

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Punjab National Bank, which has exposure to nine accounts under insolvency process, hopes that the five steel accounts in the list will be resolved within the stipulated time-frame as there is good interest from potential bidders for those assets.

In June, the Reserve Bank had asked banks to refer 12 large stressed accounts--Bhushan Steel, Essar Steel, Bhushan Power & Steel, Monnet Ispat, Electrosteel Steels, Lanco Infra, Alok Industries, Amtek Auto, Era Infra, Jypaee Infratech, ABG Shipyard and Jyoti Structures--to the NCLT for insolvency. Of these, PNB has exposure to nine.

"Of the nine accounts we have exposure to, we expect five steel accounts will get resolved (outside NCLT). We're getting a number of bidders for each of them. So, the chances are that they will be resolved," MD and CEO Sunil Mehta told reporters here today.

Of the second list of 28 stressed accounts, which RBI had asked banks to resolve by December 13, the second largest state-run lender has exposure of Rs 6,500 crore in 20 accounts, he said.

The RBI has asked banks to resolve these accounts by December 13, failing which these accounts will have to be referred to National Company Law Tribunla by December 31.

Mehta, who was here for a post-earnings analyst meet, sees only 30 per cent of the stressed accounts from these 20 accounts, will be resolved before December 13.

"I don't expect more than 30 per cent will get resolved before December 13 and the rest may have to go to the NCLT. But, even if I consider that 100 per cent won't be resolved, my incremental provisioning requirement is only Rs 800 crore and I've got adequate profit cushions to do that," he said.

Asked whether PNB is concerned over the existing promoters of the defaulting companies that are facing insolvency proceedings and are up for sale, bidding for their businesses, he said promoters cannot be denied from participating in the bidding as per the law.

Mehta said if the promoter along with any other investor is able to give highest bid, the lenders will give preference to that.

"Suppose, we have Rs 40,000 crore exposure to a unit and the liquidation value is pegged at Rs 10,000 crore, and if we get bids from others at the liquidation value, but the promoter brings in new investors and offers Rs 25,000 crore, then, as a lender we'll definitely go with the highest bidder. We'll go by net present value," Mehta explained.

Though he was quick to add that no creditor would like to continue with the same promoter, he said participation of the promoter is equally necessary in maintaining the asset during the intervening period and also to create a threat to the bidders that if they did not bid properly then valuation of the asset can be affected.

Executive director K V Brahmaji Rao said no defaulters or existing borrower is capable of bidding alone today.

"He will be getting some joint venture partner or an investor/s and only then he will be able to bid. I don't think a defaulter bids just like others," Rao said.

Mehta further said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has fast-tracked the decision-making processes, given legal immunity to bankers for their decision and has also put pressure on promoters to come out with a resolution plan as otherwise they can lose control.

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As Delhi recorded a sharp dip in its air quality today, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought an appointment with Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, which was denied as the latter was in Germany to attend a climate change summit.

A government official said the chief minister wanted to discuss with the Union minister the possible emergency measures required to bring down high pollution level.

"The chief minister has sought time from Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. However, his (Vardhan) office replied that he is not available and is out (of country). A meeting would be possible only on November 9," the official said.

He alleged that the Delhi government has not received any response from Vardhan as yet for its recent request for aerial sprinkling of water to tackle dust pollution.

Vardhan is currently in Bonn city of Germany to attend the UN Climate Change Conference.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has called a meeting with senior officials of environment, health and education departments to take a decision on closure of schools due to high pollution level.

Kejriwal said that the national capital has become a a "gas chamber" with a thick haze blanketing the city as pollution levels breached permissible standards by multiple times.

"Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states," Kejriwal tweeted.

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President Ram Nath Kovind will launch the third phase of Rs 1.55 lakh crore Bihar agriculture roadmap (2017-22) on November 9 to give further fillip to the integrated growth of farm sector.

"President Ram Nath Kovind will launch the third phase of Bihar agriculture roadmap for next five years (2017-22) at Bapu hall of Samrat Ashok International Convention Centre here in the state capital on November 9," Bihar Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar told reporters here.

This will be Kovind's first Bihar visit after being elected as President in July last. Kovind was Bihar Governor before being elected as the President of India.

The Bihar cabinet on October 3 this year had given its nod for an ambitious Rs 1.55 lakh crore "agriculture road map" for bringing out "rainbow revolution" in agriculture in next five years.

The main objective of the roadmap is to "ensure at least one Bihari dish on the plate of every Indian", Kumar said adding that execution of the road map will also help attaining desired objectives of food security, nutrition, inclusive development and increase in farmers income.

The road map includes programmes by as many as 12 departments, including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Pisciculture, Revenue and Land Reforms, Water Resources, Power and Food Processing.

The state government has planned to improve infrastructure particularly in the rural areas to provide necessary back up for success of the ambitious agricultural plan, Kumar said, adding that as part of this it has been decided to link villages having population of 250 and above with pucca (metallic) road.

The roadmap intends to set up vegetable processing units at PACS/Vyapar Mandal and cold chain with marketing facility, agriculture minister said adding that the productivity has to be increased from current 69.06 tonnes per hectare to 90 tonnes per hectare besides setting the sugar recovery rate of 13 per cent.

The state government intends to increase its food grain storage capacity to 21.29 lakh MT from current 13 lakh MT, he said adding that power would be supplied to farm land through a separate and dedicated agri feeder.

The government has made significant improvement in agriculture sector following the implementation of two agri roadmaps in the past.

The first roadmap for agriculture sector was chalked out in 2008 which came to an end in March 2012. The Rs 1.49 lakh crore second agri roadmap was launched by the then President Pranab Mukherjee on October 3, 2012.

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Primary schools would be closed in Delhi tomorrow in view of the deteriorating quality of air in the city, the government today said, asserting that the administration was ready to take a slew of measures to tackle the problem.

It may reintroduce its odd-even scheme to regulate vehicular movement, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. Under the formula, odd and even numbered vehicles ply on alternate days.

As a thick haze hung over Delhi, leaving people gasping for breath, Sisodia said the Delhi government had also asked all schools to stop outdoor activities, including morning assemblies.

"Primary schools in Delhi, including private ones, will remain closed tomorrow. We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and a further decision on the measures will be taken on Thursday," he told reporters here.

The decision for school closure was taken after the government received reports from authorities concerned that the PM10 level was recorded at 436 -- air quality described by Sisodia as "close to severe" -- at 4.30 pm today.

The government has also issued a health advisory for high risk people, including children, the elderly and those suffering from asthma or heart ailments.

"We appeal to the people of Delhi to avoid morning and evening walks," he said.

The situation following the alarming pollution levels in the city was reviewed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a meeting with senior officials, including those from the Health and Environment departments.

"If we technically see, the situation is not severe as yet. If PM10 reaches 500 ug/m3, the situation is then called severe. We can say that the air pollution level is close to severe," the deputy chief minister said, adding that the situation was "visually worse".

Sisodia also said if the situation worsened, the government was ready to go ahead with measures for a Graded Action Plan - banning the entry of trucks, a ban on construction and reintroducing the odd-even formula for vehicular movement.

Sisodia said the government had also advised citizens not to burn dry leaves, crop residue, wood, coal etc.

"The use of car pooling and public transport has been advised to the people apart from other measures to be taken," he said.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has also issued a circular to schools about the closure.

"In the light of the deteriorating air quality in the city, classes nursery to fifth in all government, government aided, private, MCD, NDMC, DCB and unrecognised schools will remain closed tomorrow.

"All outdoor activities will remain suspended for students of classes 6 to 12. All teachers, however, shall attend school as usual. Teachers of primary classes will utilise this time in academic work and planning," it added.

The combination of smoke from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and moisture turned Delhi into a "gas chamber" today, prompting the Supreme Court mandated green body EPCA to announce a series of preventive measures, including a four- fold hike in parking fees and slashing of Metro fares in off- peak hours.

The smog brought down visibility levels, affecting flight and train operations. The heavy air permeated living rooms and even underground Metro stations.

The air quality index was in the "severe" category -- with a score of 448 in a scale of 500 -- for the second time this year.

Diwali fireworks had increased pollution levels on October 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Puerto Rico's population is set to decrease by 14 per cent to 2.9 million inhabitants by 2019 due to an exodus of residents fleeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September, a study has found.

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York estimated in a report released last month that about 114,000 to 213,000 Puerto Rican residents will leave the island annually "as a result of Hurricane Maria."



Between 2017 and 2019, the US territory stands to lose 470,335 residents, it added.

"In the decade prior to Hurricane Maria, net migration from Puerto Rico to the United States amounted to approximately half a million, which represented a loss of ten percent of the island's population," said report authors Edwin Melendez and Jennifer Hinojosa.

"In other words, Puerto Rico will lose the same population in a span of a couple of years after Hurricane Maria as the island lost during a prior decade of economic stagnation."



Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans have fled to the mainland since Maria struck on September 20, devastating the island, just two weeks after Hurricane Irma tore through the Caribbean.

The vast majority went to Florida and New York, which already had around one million Puerto Ricans each. Around 700,000 Puerto Ricans live in New York City.

Overall, there are five million Puerto Ricans on the US mainland, compared to 3.4 million on the island.

Melendez and Hinojosa estimate that between 40,000 and 82,000 people will migrate to Florida each year from Puerto Rico.

That figured has already been topped, with a Florida emergency management official telling AFP that more than 134,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since October 3 through the international airports of Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

But it's unclear how many are moving to Florida permanently compared to how many are simply visiting temporarily.

The move is one of the biggest obstacles to recovery for the island, which has been beset by financial hardship.

"The population decrease in Puerto Rico... has multiple economic repercussions for the island," Jorge Duany, an anthropologist at Florida International University who specializes in Puerto Rican migration, said in an interview.

As of Monday, only 42 percent of Puerto Rican customers had electricity on the island, which went dark after Maria.

At least 51 people died because of the storm, according to official figures, while the local press speaks of dozens of people who have disappeared.

Some 2,600 people still live in shelters.

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Controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi, arrested in a money laundering case, today claimed before a Delhi court that he was getting threats from alleged gangster Neeraj Bawana inside the Tihar Jail here, where they are both lodged.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj sought a response from the jail authorities by November 10 after Qureshi moved an application in this regard.

"I have been shifted from general ward to high-risk ward where dreaded criminal, including those accused of rape and terrorism, are lodged, where I received threat from Bawana through his associate who is also lodged in the same jail," he told the court, while adding that his family members have also received threats.

Qureshi was recently chargesheeted by the ED in a money laundering case, which alleged that he had extorted Rs 7.5 crore from two businessmen, Pradeep Koneru and Satish Sana, by using the names of former CBI directors and promising to help them in CBI cases against them.

The ED had alleged that Qureshi was involved in hawala transactions through Delhi-based hawala operators.

The meat exporter is also being probed by the Income Tax Department for alleged tax evasion.

Bawana, on the other hand, has been charge sheeted in various cases, including offences punishable under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said the BJP government in the state is looking at a target to disburse interest-free loans worth Rs 75,000 crore to farmers in its five-year tenure.

She said that interest-free loans worth Rs 57,000 crore have already been disbursed among farmers in the last three- and-a-half years in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of agri-tech meet 'GRAM' here, Raje said the government distributed close to Rs 57,000 crore as interest-free loans in the last three-and-a- half years.

She said the government will make a record by distributing interest-free loans worth Rs 75,000 crore in five years. Raje added that the former Congress government distributed interest-free loans worth Rs 25,000 crore in five years.

Union Minister of State for agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Rajasthan is the leading state to implement PM crop insurance scheme.

He said the state government is working in the direction to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.

While highlighting the potential of the agriculture sector in the state, Raje said there is potential of agri- tourism in the state and farmers should take its benefits.

She suggested that farmers should grow medicinal plants along with traditional crops.

She said the MoUs signed during the event in the field of horticulture, biogas, agro-processing will help farmers.

Farmers from the Udaipur division, agriculture experts and companies are participating in the event.

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For the sixth time, former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe, official sources said.

The wife of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad was last month given a fresh date for today to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case.

It was immediately not clear if the central probe agency will give her a fresh date to appear before it or take some other steps such as moving court.

It may also be possible that the agency may record her statement at its office in Bihar's capital Patna.

The ED had registered a case against Lalu Prasad, his family members and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on the CBI FIR.

The CBI FIR has alleged that Lalu Prasad during his tenure as the railway minister handed over the maintenance of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels to a company in 2004 after receiving a bribe in the form of a prime plot of land in Patna through a 'benami' company owned by Sarla Gupta, the wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former Union minister.

Earlier this month, Rabri's son and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav had skipped appearing before the ED and he has now been summoned to appear before the ED on November 13.

While Tejashwi has been once grilled by the ED for over nine hours in connection with the case, Rabri has skipped the ED summonses six times.

The sources said Rabri had informed the agency earlier about her ill-health and 'Chhath Pooja' as reasons for non- appearance.

In July, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR and conducted multiple searches on the properties of Lalu Prasad, who is also a former Bihar chief minister, and others.

The CBI also recently recorded the statements of Tejashwi and Lalu Prasad in the case.

The ED is investigating the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated by the accused, purportedly through shell companies, according to officials.

The CBI FIR also names Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar (both directors of Sujata Hotels), Delight Marketing company, now known as Lara Projects, and the then IRCTC managing director P K Goel.

The CBI FIR was registered on July 5 in connection with favours allegedly extended to Sujata Hotels in awarding a contract for the upkeep of the hotels in Ranchi and Puri and receiving premium land as 'quid pro quo'.

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After a day's respite, rains lashed parts of the city and its neighbourhood today even as schools reopened after a week-long holiday.

Sharp showers were reported in parts of the city such as Mylapore, Royapettah and Mandaiveli and Tambaram and Chengalpattu in neighbouring Kancheepuram district.

Rains also lashed parts of Tiruvallur district.

The weather office has forecast more showers with heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in southern Tamil Nadu and Karaikkal in neighbouring Puducherry today.

Light to moderate rain was likely in the city and its neighbourhood, it said.

Schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts which remained closed since October 31 in the wake of torrential rains reopened today.

Several parts of the state, especially coastal areas, have been receiving intermittent rains since the onset of the north east monsoon on October 27.

Parts of the city and suburbs in low-lying areas have been hit by water-logging after couple of heavy spells last week.

Several southern districts such as Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Cuddalore have also been experiencing heavy rains since last week.

However, there was a lull in rain activity here in the past two days with brief spells in some areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his one-day visit to the city yesterday, has assured all help from the Centre to the state to meet the situation.

The state government has sought Rs 1,500 crore central assistance for rain-relief efforts and permanent solution to water-logging problem faced in the city suburbs.

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On a day Manmohan Singh attacked the BJP-led central government over demonetisation, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani raked up the "coal scam" and accused the former prime minister as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhi of having an "anti-Gujarat" mindset.

In a series of tweets, he also sought an apology from Singh over the "policy paralysis, development stagnation and rampant corruption during the 10 years of the UPA rule" and for "stalling work on the Narmada Dam for 10 years".

Campaigning for his party in poll-bound Gujarat, Singh today described demonetisation as a "reckless step" and reiterated that the scrapping of high-value currency notes was an "organised loot and a legalised plunder".

Taking on the former PM, Rupani said Singh, as an economist, should have supported the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which "benefits every Indian".

He alleged that then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was the subject of a "witch hunt during the 10 years of the UPA rule, which used the full might of the state machinery" against him.

Rupani accused Singh of making "zero effort" in improving the "ease of doing business ranking of India and helping the MSME sector".

"Will Dr Manmohan Singh apologise for policy paralysis, development stagnation, and rampant corruption during 10 years of UPA (sic)?" the CM asked in a tweet.

"Being an economist shouldn't Dr Manmohan Singh have supported GST, which benefits every Indian? Why do Dr Manmohan Singh, Smt Sonia Gandhi and UPA have an anti-Gujarat mindset (sic)?" he questioned in another tweet.

"Dr Singh, please apologise to people of Gujarat for stalling work on Narmada Dam for 10 years. What sinister notices guided you?" he wrote on the microblogging website.

The chief minister alleged that for 10 years, the UPA used the full might of the state machinery and subjected then Gujarat chief minister Modi to a witchhunt and added that being an economist, one would have expected Singh to make the business environment easier, but the UPA made it tougher.

"As the PM of the most corrupt government in India's history, shouldn't Dr Singh apologise to 125 crore Indians (sic)?" Rupani asked.

"Dr Manmohan Singh, as a minister concerned, were you complicit or complacent in the coal scam? Dr Singh, we know silence is your way but you could at least have spoken when crores of rupees left India as black money in your term (sic)," he said.

The chief minister also sought to know whether the UPA undertook even a single measure to bring back the black money stashed abroad.

"Whose corrupt deeds were you protecting for ten years as Prime Minister, we ask Dr Singh (sic)," Rupani said in another tweet.

"Is it not true that the UPA government was actively considering handing over Sir Creek to Pakistan?" he asked.

The BJP leader alleged that it was the UPA which committed an organised loot and plunder for 10 years and said that If the Congress-led regime thought about the country and not one family, things would have been different.

"Congress leaders come to Gujarat and remember Sardar Patel during polls. People of Gujarat will never believe their empty words (sic)," he said.

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With changing ecosystem and increasing awareness of digital payments, Samsung Pay, the mobile payments service of South Korean handset maker, has seen an addition of 1 million users in over a month.

Samsung Pay was launched in the country in March this year and India features in the top three countries among the 20 nations for Samsung Pay globally in terms of users, behind South Korea and Russia.

"On September 12 we had announced that we had 1.5 million users of Samsung Pay. Now we have an additional 1 million users in the last one-and-half months. The user growth has been significant," Samsung India Director Commercialization Group (Product Planning) Sanjay Razdan told reporters here.

Samsung Pay is available for users of devices like Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 plus, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy J7 Max and Galaxy J7 Pro, among others and allows users to just tap and pay using the debit/credit cards and wallets stored on their mobile devices.

During the launch Samsung Pay was available through 10 models and has expanded it to 26 models since then.

According to industry estimates the overall mobile phone market in India is pegged at Rs 1 lakh crore for 2017, with Samsung commanding a market share of 47 per cent at the end of September 30.

Samsung witnessed a growth of 40 per cent in terms of value during the festive season this year for its handset sales.

It has 17 partners on board, including 10 banks and is in talks with a couple of more banks for pay service.

Razdan, who heads the Samsung Pay business in India, said some of the other countries are trying to implement some of India's model like bank to bank transfer.

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Senior Congress leaders are likely to meet the Patidar quota agitation spearhead, Hardik Patel, in Ahmedabad tomorrow to discuss modalities of providing reservation to the community, a precondition set by the young leader for supporting the party in the coming Assembly polls.

According to Congress sources, former Union minister Kapil Sibal will lead the Congress team.

The Congress is trying to woo all those disgruntled with the BJP government to stitch an alliance in its bid to oust the saffron outfit from power in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The Patidars have been demanding that the Congress make its stand clear on how it plans to provide reservation to them without crossing the 50 per cent upper limit on quota fixed by the Supreme Court.

The Congress is working out the modalities of provide reservation to the Patidars under the OBC category, a condition set by 24-year-old Hardik Patel for extending his community's support to the party.

Sibal was not available for comments.

Sibal has met some Congress leaders from the state on Sunday.

Hardik Patel has said that he would support the Congress in the Assembly election due next month, only if the party committed itself to allotting quota in education and government jobs to his community under the OBC category.

He had set a deadline of November 7 for the Congress to make its stand clear on the issue.

Former Gujarat Congress chief Siddharth Patel has said that the Congress high-command was likely to take a call on the issue of reservation for Patels soon.

"We have discussed various alternatives during today's meeting (with Sibal). By tomorrow, the party high command is expected to take a call on those suggestions (about giving reservations to Patels), following which, we will engage in discussions with Hardik Patel," he said earlier.

Hardik Patel (24), the face of the quota stir, recently met Congress's Gujarat affairs in-charge Ashok Gehlot to discuss the quota demand.

The issue of OBC quota for Patels remained unresolved during a meeting between Patidar representatives and state Congress leaders on October 30.

Trying to do a balancing act, the Congress had promised to offer reservation in jobs and education to the Patidars under the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) category, but not in the other backward class (OBC) group as demanded by the community.

The party is trying to wean away the Patidars from the ruling BJP in the state. The community is believed to be a loyal vote bank of the saffron party and its numerical strength can tilt the scales in elections.

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The benchmark BSE Sensex retreated from early record highs in late morning deals on bouts of profit-booking mainly in energy, oil&gas, consumer durables, realty, telecom and banks and financials stocks.

The Sensex dropped by 104.21 points to 33,626.98 as RIL, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and SBI fell up to 2.47 per cent.

Barring IT and teck sectors, the market witnessed profit-booking on record highs led by index heavyweights like Reliance industries which lost over 2 per cent, as investors focused on corporate earnings and developments related to PSUs.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 33,781.01 and surged to all-time high at 33,865.95.

The index fell to a low of 33,582.38 as profit booking emerged. It was quoting at 33,626.98 at 1045 hrs, showing a loss of 104.21 points, or 0.31 per cent.

The broader NSE Nifty was also slipped below the key 10,450-level, losing 35.65 points to 10,416.15, or 0.34 per cent.

Major losers were Reliance 2.40 pct, Asian Paint 1.55 pct, Bharti Airtl 1.36 pct, ICICI Bank 1.23 pct, PowerGrid 1.09 pct and Axis Bank 1.01 pct.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 576.27 crore yesterday, as per provisional data released by stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 263.84 crore.

Asian markets were trading higher after Wall Street rose and turmoil in Saudi Arabia sent crude prices to two-year highs.

US stocks rose moderately yesterday, helping the three main stock benchmarks to close at all-time highs.

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BJP president Amit Shah today inaugurated the party's six-day 'Gujarat Gaurav Maha-Sampark Abhiyan' ahead of the next month's Assembly polls by knocking on voters' doors with a message of development.

Through the door-to-door campaign, the ruling party, which is yet to declare candidates for the upcoming elections, plans to reach out to voters under 50,000-odd booths in the state.

Shah launched the campaign from Naranpura constituency, from where he was an MLA earlier, after offering prayers at the Goddess Ambaji Temple on Sola road area.

He visited around 10 residential societies, including Parasnagar, as part of the campaign.

Amid beating of drums, the Rajya Sabha member, along with a large number of BJP workers interacted with residents, went inside some houses, asked about their well-being and requested them to vote for the BJP in the coming elections.

The people were seen welcoming the BJP chief, who was their MLA since 1998 but had resigned from the post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha a few months back.

Shah along with other party workers distributed copies of a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to voters in every house where they campaigned.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, former chief minister Anandiben Patel and other BJP leaders also launched the door-to-door campaign from different parts of the state.

Rupani campaigned in Gandhigram area of his Rajkot-2 constituency, while Patel campaigned in her Gathlodia constituency of Ahmedabad city.

The party's senior leaders as well as booth-level workers interacted with voters under various booths across the state.

The exercise is aimed at telling people about what the BJP has done for the state's development.

The polling for the two-phase elections in the state will take place on December 9 and 14 and votes will be counted on December 18.

Several Union ministers - Smriti Irani, J P Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, V K Singh, Mansukh Mandaviya and Prakash Javadekar - would also visit Gujarat during the drive and interact with voters at their designated places, Gujarat BJP spokesperson I K Jadeja yesterday said.

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A Pakistani anti-graft court today adjourned till tomorrow the hearing of corruption cases against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif who appeared before it to face trial in the Panama Papers scandal.

Sharif, 67, appeared before the Accountability Court Islamabad along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Mohmmad Safdar.

Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London.

He resigned as prime minister in July after the country's Supreme Court disqualified him over undeclared income.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

The Accountability Court today considered the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which last week ordered the trial judge to hear again a plea by Sharif that all three cases against him should be clubbed together.

During the hearing, Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris argued that since all three cases deal with assets beyond means and and most of the witnesses are same, so the references should be taken as one.

NAB lawyer Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi pleaded that all three cases should be treated separately.

After hearing both sides, the judge reserved the decision, which he is expected to announce tomorrow, according to a court official.

Sharif and his his daughter and son-in-law were asked to appear in the court when it will announce the judgment.

Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb told media that Sharif was not running from the law but "facing trial".

The trial court on October 19 rejected an application by Sharif that since all three cases deal with assets beyond means, so they should be taken up as a single case.

The decision was challenged in the IHC which referred the case to the Accountability Court with an order to hear it again. The court on the previous hearing on November 3 had briefly taken up the application.

Sharif was indicted in absence in three corruption cases. Maryam and Safdar have been indicted in one case with him, while the court is proceeding separately against his two sons Husain and Hasan who are co-accused in three cases.

The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of his sons from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

The cases are based on the July 28 disqualification verdict of the Supreme Court and to launch three corruption cases against him, his family, and one case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the country's most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since then. If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Sharif's family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's Supreme Court today said the disqualification of prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "uncontroversial" as it issued a detailed verdict rejecting review petitions filed by the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case.

The apex court had issued a short-order on September 15 rejecting the review petitions of the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the July 28 verdict.

Sharif, 67, had to step down after he was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

In its detailed verdict, the apex court observed that no error has been identified in the Panama case, which could be reviewed and the accountability court is free to make a decision on the basis of nature of evidence, Geo TV reported.

"The facts about disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister were uncontroversial," the apex court observed in its verdict, maintaining that it could not be said the decision surprised Sharif.

It said the trial court has the authority to reject weak evidence.

"The accountability court is free to review evidence in accordance with the law," the 23-page verdict stated.

The directions to finish the trial in six months are not meant for influencing the trial court, but for early completion of the trial.

The court also addressed the appointment of a Supreme Court judge to supervise the trial. It said that appointing a supervising judge is not a new thing; the measure is taken to avoid any negligence during the trial.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Commenting on the apex court's verdict, Sharif's daughter and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said that the law and justice are embarrassed.

"That's exactly how minority brings a bad name to the majority! Victim is not Nawaz Sharif but justice itself!," she said.

"This decision could only be under immense pressure otherwise such travesty of justice is unimaginable," she said in a series of tweets.

Referring to the inclusion of her name, she alleged she was being avenged as she spoke up against injustice.

Maryam said it was vendetta as before her name was not included in the verdict issued earlier.

She further said that this was the sixth decision in the same case and added that the decision was given on the same day when those who lost politically to Sharif were asked to file a petition which could not be heard in the court.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the country's most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since the July 28 verdict.

Sharif's family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union government will help IIT Chennai for creating a Centre of Excellence which will troubleshoot various issues that arise during the current spate of development of ports and rivers.

Union minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari today announced the appointment IIT Chennai for creating Centre of Excellence.

The minister was in Goa to chair the meeting to review various developmental works undertaken by his ministry.

The minister recalled that IIT Chennai had assisted the ministry during its work to have alternate channel at Haldia port saving Rs 200-250 crore annually.

"We had a channel at Haldia port where we used to spend annually Rs 4,500 crore for dredging annually. Then we decided that we can as well have alternate channel which will save us Rs 200-250 crore annually.

"We gave this work to Chennai IIT who worked on this project with the help of a foreign construction company," the minister said.

After this experience, he said the ministry has decided to establish centre of excellence in IIT Chennai for providing technical support.

"We have converted 111 rivers into inland waterways where we have began the work like dredging. During this entire process we find some issues which are related to marine engineering. IIT Chennai will provide solution for these problems may they be in the ocean, rivers or ports," he said.

The minister announced that the union government will give a grant to the tune of Rs 75 to Rs 100 crore to IIT Chennai to set up Centre of Excellence.

"As a part of this centre, IIT Chennai will also study the existing projects and work out the maintenance and schedules for dredging and other activities resulting in cost cutting," he said.

Stating about the decisions taken during the review meeting, Gadkari said the ministry has decided that each port will have its own business development team.

"For the first time the private sectors were participating in the meeting. India is the fastest growing economy. It has been decided that each of the port will have business development team which will work for increasing profits of the port by working with cargo and also tourism sectors," the minister added.

The meeting also decided to have focus on creating Liquid Cargo Handling facility.

"We have been importing petroleum products and also edible oil. We are proposing dry ports for it. In Maharashtra itself there will be four dry ports at Aurangabad, Vidarbha, Nashik and Sangli," he added.

The ministersaid on lines with the 34 logistic parks planned by the National Highway Authority, we have also decided to have similar parks in the ports.

These parks will be planned at Chennai, Paradeep and Vizag.

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Six suspected Maoist rebels, including a woman, were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in the forests of insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh today, a top police official said.

Nine firearms, including two 303 rifles, and a cache of Maoist-related material, were recovered after the operations that took place in the core areas of Ambhujmad, a den of naxalites, the official said.

Addressing a press conference this evening, Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi said five ultras were eliminated by the security forces in Pinka village, while a woman cadre was gunned down in Dhurbeda forest.

A joint team of Chhattisgarh Police's Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), involving around 2,000 personnel, were engaged in the operation codenamed 'Prahaar-2' in the core areas dominated by Maoists across Bastar since yesterday, he said.

Bastar region comprises seven districts of Chhattisgarh.

As part of the operation, a joint team led by Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Soni was carrying out a combing operation in the forests of Abhujmad today.

The patrol came under heavy fire by naxalites near Dhurbeda, triggering a gun-battle. After the firing stopped, the body of a woman naxalite was recovered with weapons, Awasthi said.

Later in the afternoon, five Maoist rebels were killed in another exchange of fire with the security forces near Pinka, he said.

Two 303 rifles, five 315 bore rifles, one 12 bore gun and a pistol were recovered after the two encounters, he added.

The slain naxalites are yet to be identified, he said, adding the combing operation was still underway and conclude tomorrow.

Awasthi claimed with today's encounters 63 naxals have been killed in separate encounters with security forces so far this year in Chhattisgarh.

Security forces also busted some naxal camps andrecovered huge quantities of explosives and material used for making firearms in Sukma forest bordering Telangana today, he said.

In June this year, the Chhattisgarh police had launched 'Operation Prahaar', during which it claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on Maoists in Sukma district.

However, the body of only one suspected Maoist was recovered during that operation.

The SDGP said following the success of Operation Prahaar, its sequel has been launched across Bastar.

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Thick smog, mainly caused by stubble burning, continued to envelop parts of Punjab and neighbouring Haryana today affecting normal life.

The MeT Department said the situation was unlikely to improve over the next two days as winds were calm and rains unlikely during the next few days.

The smog even caused fatal accidents at some places in the two states during the past few days.

"The situation is not changing as the winds are calm and no rains are predicted over the next few days, which is resulting in heavy concentration of pollutants in the air," Chandigarh MeT Department, Director, Surinder Paul told PTI.

Data provided by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said that Air Quality Index of Ludhiana (313), Mandi-Gobindgarh (328) and Amritsar (215) today was "poor" to "very poor".

Over 3,000 cases of stubble-burning have been recorded in Patiala district alone so far by the PPCB through the remote-sensing technique.

"The level of pollutants in the atmosphere at many places in Punjab continues to be quite high," PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said today.

Pannu said the PPCB continues to make efforts to create awareness among farmers against stubble-burning.

MeT Director Paul said visibility reduced considerably today due to smog at places including in Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Ludhiana in Punjab and at Kaithal, Karnal, Rohtak, Hisar and Bhiwani districts in Haryana.

Reports reaching here said that attendance in schools at many places in Punjab and Haryana had fallen during the past one week.

At many places, traffic on the main roads and highways moved slowly as visibility was low.

In Haryana, the Pollution Control Board has started a statewide campaign to generate awareness among farmers.

State Environment Minister Vipul Goel has appealed to farmers to not burn the crop remains.

Cases have been filed against 227 farmers who were caught by the Pollution Control Board, he said. Apart from this, 454 farmers were also imposed fines for stubble burning.

Many farmers in Haryana and the neighbouring Punjab, however, have continued with the practice, leading to health risks, causing damage to environment and adversely affecting the soil health.

Both the Haryana and Punjab governments have imposed a ban on burning of paddy residue and the erring farmers can also be prosecuted by the authorities.

In the last few years it has been noted that when stubble is burned in the two leading agrarian states, the pollutants enter Delhi, adversely affecting the air quality in the national capital.

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A spat between an Iranian couple mid-air forced a Bali-bound international flight to make an unscheduled landing here recently, airport officials said.

The incident happened on November 4 when the couple entered into an argument mid-air, with no amount of efforts by the flight crew to broker peace between them yielding fruit.

Subsequently, the pilot of the international airline sought permission to make an unscheduled stopover at Chennai and later offloaded the couple along with their child before resuming the journey to Bali in Indonesia, the officials said.

Immigration officials here kept the family at a room in the airport and later put them on a flight to Singapore.

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Gaten Matarazzo realised that "Stranger Things" had become popular when he, along with co- stars Caleb McLaughlin and Millie Bobby Brown, was called to sing onstage during the Emmy awards.

"Well, I kind of realised the show was hit when we were invited to sing at the Emmys. And we were gonna pass out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And also when we got to go on Jimmy Fallon's show," Matarazzo said in a transcript provided by Netflix.

The 15-year-old actor said he always liked making people laugh and the show, currently in its second season, gave him a chance to do just that.

"It feels great to know that I'm making people happy. Because that's really what I love to do. I've always said that I like making people laugh more than anything. Whenever I make a joke, and I make someone who's upset laugh, I feel like my whole day's complete," he said.

Talking about his experience of coming back to show for the second season, Matarazzo said it felt like a "big family reunion".

"It was great. To go back into production felt like going back home, kind of. It felt amazing. And, to get to show Sadie (Sink) the ways of the kids. It kind of felt like it was a big family reunion. Seeing everyone.

"And not just the kids, the adults. It was great seeing Winona (Ryder) and David (Harbour). And it was great meeting Sean (Astin) and Paul (Reiser) who are new members of the cast. And Dacre (Montgomery), who's also a new member of the cast. It was a very exciting meeting them," he said.

The actor described the show as a "masterpiece" and also praised the show runners The Duffer Brothers (Matt and Ross) and Shawn Levy.

"They are geniuses. All three of them. I really do believe that. The Duffers made this masterpiece. And it's amazing working with Shawn," said Matarazzo.

Like his character in the show, Matarazzo also has cleidocranial dysplasia, a condition which affects development of the teeth and bones.

The child actor has started an organisation named CCD Smile, that aims to help people with the condition.

"Especially now that I'm in the show, it gives me a platform to start speaking out on what I believe in. I just started an organisation called CCD Smiles. It is to help people with cleidocranial dysplasia.

"It's, to raise money to help people fix their dental problems. To know that this is helping me raise awareness for that condition, makes me feel very good. And to know that people who wouldn't normally afford this, now get to with this organisation," said Matarazzo.

"Stranger Things 2" premiered on Netflix on October 27.

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Stubble burning is the "main villain" behind the severe level of pollution in Delhi and the neighbouring areas, the Delhi High Court said today, as it asked the AAP government and the neighbouring states what steps they have taken to address the issue.

A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva said October to January was a "critical period" when the air quality in Delhi is poor due to the weather conditions.

Stubble burning during this period acted as the "trigger" or is the "main villain" which leads the situation to deteriorate, it said.

"This becomes critical at this time. It (air quality) is already loaded (with dust), but stubble burning is the trigger. It becomes the main villain," the court said, adding that besides stubble burning, dust and construction debris also contribute towards the poor air quality.

While bringing stubble burning to a complete halt "will take time", the governments should at least try to enforce the regulations like mitigating construction dust generation, which can be done easily.

It asked the Delhi government what preventive measures it has taken to address the problem of dust.

The bench was hearing a PIL initiated by it in 2015 on the issue of poor air quality in the national capital.

Senior advocate Kailash Vasdev, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, told the court that its orders were not being complied with and therefore, it was time that action is taken against the concerned officials.

The Centre, represented by advocate Ajay Digpaul, told the bench the Environment Ministry has held meetings with all stakeholders and the issue of stubble burning was reviewed.

It also submitted that it was monitoring the burning of agricultural waste through satellite imagery provided by the respective state governments.

The Punjab government, meanwhile, has filed an affidavit before the court, claiming it has prohibited indiscriminate burning of agricultural waste in the entire state. It also said it was complying with all the directions issued by the court in its September 22 order.

The court, thereafter, asked the Delhi government and the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to place before it the steps taken by them to comply with the order of September 22 and listed the matter for further hearing on November 13.

The high court on September 22 had issued a slew of directions to the four neighbouring states to stop stubble burning, saying "we cannot have another gas chamber situation".

Apart from that the court had also directed them to "strictly" implement "in letter and spirit" the notifications issued by their respective governments under the Air Pollution Act banning such activity.

It had ordered them to direct all the companies and public sector undertakings involved in power generation, board and rough paper manufacture, cement production and others, to collect the crop residue from farmers in exchange of money as part of their corporate social responsibility.

If the companies do this, then the states or the Centre would not have to spend on prevention of stubble burning, the bench had said.

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The deadlock between in-service doctors, who went on mass leave yesterday, and the Rajasthan government, continued as medical services remained paralysed for the second consecutive day today.

State Health Minister Kali Charan Saraf and officials held a meeting with the agitating doctors tonight but the meeting ended with no result.

In-service government doctors went on mass leave yesterday in support of their 33 demands.

"Our doors are always open for talks. The doctors will have to come on the table to talk. The government has made alternative arrangements and we will not let patients suffer," Saraf told reporters after the meeting.

Members of the core committee of the all Rajasthan state in-service doctors association were present at the meeting.

The doctors have 33 demands, including a separate cadre and related with pay grade.

Principal secretary health Veenu Gupta said some of the demands were pertaining to finance department and are pending with it.

She said the agitating doctors were adamant and wanted assurance over those demands also which was not under the health department's jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, medical services remained affected across the state and the government made alternative arrangements to handle the situation.

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The gunman who killed 26 people at a church in the US state of Texas had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in- law, according to authorities which said the shooting was not racially or religiously motivated.

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, wearing black tactical-style gear walked into the church and started firing from an assault rifle just after the Sunday morning service began at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

Texas law enforcement officials said that the shooting was not racially or religiously motivated, rather it was connected to a "domestic situation going on within [his extended] family, which wouldn't be a first for him".

"We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in- law, who attends this church," Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety said, adding that the court- martialled former US Air Force airman had a history of sending her threatening texts.

But his mother-in-law was not inside the church when Kelley sprayed bullets on worshippers.

However, the gunman's grandmother-in-law was present at the church when Kelley stormed in from the backdoor, firing all the way to the front and firing on his way back out of the church, authorities said.

He reloaded several times. He killed his grandmother-in- law during the attack, friends of the woman told the media.

Authorities, however, also believe that the shooting was not a case in which suspect went to the church looking for his relatives but ended up killing many others.

"He was there to kill everybody. He is a mass killer of children and people ... he is a horrible monster," a source familiar with the matter told ABC .

The ages of the deceased range from 18 months to 77 years, authorities said.

Eight members of a family, including a pregnant woman and a 17-month-old girl, were among 26 people killed in the massacre. The Holcombes lost family members across three generations.

Among the dead were 12 to 14 children. The church's pastor Frank Pomeroy's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was also among the dead.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the slaughter "the largest mass shooting" in the state's history and ordered flags across the state to fly at half-staff.

Evidence show that the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and multiple weapons were found in the vehicle, authorities said.

Kelley was previously a member of the US Air Force and served at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge.

He was court-martialled in 2012 for assault on his spouse and their child, according to Stefanek. He served a year in confinement and received a bad conduct discharge. His rank was also reduced.

He also ran into trouble with the law as a civilian, according to court records, which indicate he was cited for misdemeanor cruelty to animals in August 2014.

Recently, he was fired from a brief stint as a water park security guard this summer, his former employer said.

His most recent job was as a night security guard at an RV park in New Braunfels. The manager said that he started working there six weeks ago, and he left early on Saturday, saying that he had a headache.

He never went to work on Sunday, the day of the shooting.

Kelley also used his cellphone to tell his father that he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and three other IAS officers today appeared in the Madras High Court following its directive on a contempt plea over failure by authorities concerned to reconvey the land acquired by the government for a project.

A division bench comprising justices K K Sasidharan and P Velmurugan said it ordered their appearance only to apprise the chief secretary and others about the sorry state of affairs wherein government officials were not carrying out orders of the high court.

The contempt petition was filed by A B Somu and 11 others seeking action against officials concerned for their failure to implement an earlier court order directing re-conveyance of their land in Koyambedu here acquired by the government for the wholesale vegetable and fruits market.

The high court ordered the re-conveyance of the land as it had not been utilised for the purpose for which it was acquired. The order was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

However, the authorities did not reconvey the land following which the contempt plea was filed.

Holding that the contempt petition was a "classic example" of how the state was flouting court orders, the bench had yesterday asked the chief secretary and others to appear before it.

The then Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, incumbent S Krishnan and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Member-Secretary Vijaya Rajkumar were the other officials who appeared before the bench today.

Justice Sasidharan asked the chief secretary whether she was aware of contempt petitions against government officials filed in the court.

She said in the present petition the land acquired for the market project had been put to use for construction of other government buildings.

She said the land of similar value would be provided to the petitioners in alternative places.

The bench then directed the chief sSecretary to file an affidavit with regard to allotment of alternative land and adjourned the matter.

During earlier hearing, the bench warned that such non-compliance of a judicial order which was confirmed by the apex court would lead to litigants banking on extra constitutional authorities to redress their grievances rather that approaching courts.

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Top officials of the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission today appeared before the Madras High Court in connection with a contempt plea by the opposition DMK against them for not complying with a court order on holding local body elections.

State Election Commissioner M Malik Ferozh Khan and its secretary S Rajasekar appeared before the division bench of justices M Sathyanarayanan and N Seshasayee.

A L Somayaji, counsel for SEC, sought for dispensation of further appearance of the two officials in the contempt matter, which was objected to by DMK's counsel P Wilson.

Wilson submitted that the SEC was deliberately postponing the civic polls. The dispensation of their personal appearance was not a matter of right and also not automatic.

Till the disposal of the contempt petition, they should continue to appear before the court, he submitted.

The matter relates to the contempt petition filed by the DMK, represented by its organisation Secretary R S Bharathi, seeking to punish the officials for not complying with the orders of the high court which had earlier directed that the polls be completed by November 17.

In its September 4 order, the court had directed the SEC to issue the notification for the polls on September 18 and complete the entire process by November 17.

The bench recorded the submissions and posted the matter to November 10 to decide on the plea to dispense with the personal appearance of the SEC officials.

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The Mamata Banerjee government has written to the Centre, highlighting the "suffering" of small industries due to the "hurried" implementation of the GST, a West Bengal secretariat source said today.

In a letter addressed to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra pointed out the hardship of small traders, particularly those involved in the handlooms sector, the source told PTI.

Mitra said in Surat alone, around 90,000 out of the seven lakh handlooms were "sold at throwaway prices".

The minister said prices of most commodities have gone up after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, adding to the discontent among people.

The source said Mitra has also apprised Jaitley about the grievances of bigger traders, arising out of the "complexity in return-filing under the GST", in the letter.

As a result, the filing of returns has dropped from 80 per cent in July to 60 per cent in August, Mitra claimed.

Mitra added that the frequent changes in the GST regulations has made it difficult to format the same online, pushing back the system to the pre-Value Added Tax (VAT) era.

The state finance minister said post implementation of the new tax regime, many household consumer items have fallen under the high 28 per cent tax bracket.

Apart from cigarettes and other tobacco items, the 28 per cent bracket should be changed to 18 per cent, he said in the letter, according to the source.

Consumer items presently under the 18 per cent tax bracket should be brought under 12 per cent, Mitra said in the communication to Jaitley.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had yesterday slammed the Centre, terming the GST as a "Great Selfish Tax to harass people and finish the economy".

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A 32-year-old tribal woman was allegedly made to carry her husband on her shoulders for nearly two kms across Khedi village in this district of Madhya Pradesh as a 'punishment' for 'running away' with another tribal man.

A video of the incident, which occurred on Sunday, in which the woman was purportedly seen carrying a man on her shoulders and also being beaten up by him and other villagers, has gone viral.

Police have booked six persons on the complaint lodged by the woman and arrested four of them, Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chnadra Jain said today.

Another police officer said the woman's husband had filed a complaint with the Pitol Police stating that his wife had "eloped" with a tribal man on October 28.

However, she was "brought back" to the village, dominated by Bhil community, after a "mediation" on November 4, said Pitol police post in-charge Naveen Pathak.

The officer said the woman was allegedly beaten up by her husband and some villagers before she was forced to carry him on her shoulders across the entire village for "two kms".

On the basis of the complaint lodged by the woman, the police booked six persons, including her brother-in-law and father-in-law.

"We have booked six persons under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) , 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC," Pathak said.

He said further investigation is underway.

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President Donald Trump today said "extreme vetting" for gun ownership in the US would not have averted the Texas church massacre and asserted that there would have been "hundreds more dead" in the incident if gun laws were stricter.

A court-martialled former US Air Force airman armed with a powerful assault rifle opened fire on worshippers at a Sunday service at a rural church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 20 others, once again triggering a heated national debate on the need for stricter gun control laws.

Trump's latest comments came during a joint press conference in Seoul alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in when a reporter asked the US president if he would consider "extreme vetting" not only for people entering the US but as well as "for people trying to buy a gun."



Trump appeared annoyed at the question and wondered if it was an appropriate question while he was on a visit to South Korea.

But he went on to say that extreme vetting would have made no difference in Sunday's mass shooting, and would have prevented the "brave person who happened to have a gun in his truck and shoot him, and hit him and neutralise him."



Trump was referring to Stephen Willeford, a plumber, who managed to shoot the gunman Devin Kelley before jumping in another man's vehicle to chase him down.

"I can only say this, if he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead you would've hundreds more dead," the US president added.

Trump yesterday said the mass shooting at the church was the result of a "mental health problems at the highest level" and called the killer a "very deranged individual."



About 40 per cent of Americans say they own a gun or live in a household with one, according to a 2017 survey, and the rate of murder or manslaughter by firearm in the US is the highest in the developed world.

There were more than 11,000 deaths as a result of murder or manslaughter involving a firearm in 2016.

Since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in June 2016, there have been 555 mass shootings as the FBI defines them: four or more people shot at once. Approximately 689 people have been killed, and nearly 2,700 wounded, CBS reported.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the most powerful special interest lobby groups in the US, is opposed to all forms of gun control and argues that more guns make the country safer.

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Reviewing American forces along the Korean peninsula, President Donald Trump met with US and South Korean military leaders today at the start of a two-day visit centred on pressuring the north to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump has repeatedly struck a hard line against Pyongyang and South Korea was warily watching Trump as he was poised to deliver bellicose warnings in the shadow of the North Korea.

Shortly after arriving in South Korea, Trump travelled by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, where he briefly addressed the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit.

Speaking before an operational briefing at the base, Trump said he would be meeting with generals about North Korea, declaring: "Ultimately it will all work out. Because it always works out. It has to work out."



The president also said he had a "terrific" meeting scheduled on trade, adding, "hopefully that'll start working out and working out so that we create lots of jobs in the United States, which is one of the very important reasons I'm here."



Trump also sat with troops for lunch in a large mess hall. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in was also seated at the table. "Good food," Trump told reporters as he chatted with US and Korean service members.

US and South Korean officials have said the base visit was meant to underscore the countries' ties and South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defence. Burden-sharing is a theme Trump has stressed ever since his presidential campaign.

South Korea is the second stop on Trump's five country Asian tour.

In Japan, he refused to rule out eventual military action against the north and exhorted dictator Kim Jong Un to stop weapons testing, calling the recent launches of missiles over American allies like Japan "a threat to the civilised world and international peace and stability."



Trump is skipping the customary trip to the demilitarised zone separating north and south, a pilgrimage made by every US president except one since Ronald Reagan as a demonstration of solidarity with the South.

A senior administration recently dubbed the border trip as "a bit of a cliche" and several other members of the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, have visited the DMZ this year. And the White House believes that Trump has already made his support of South Korea crystal clear.

Trump and Moon agree on the need to pressure the North with sanctions and other deterrence measures. But Trump has warned of unleashing "fire and fury," threatened to "totally destroy" the North, if necessary, and repeatedly insisted that all options are on the table.

Moon, meanwhile, favours dialogue as the best strategy for defusing the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash that could cause enormous casualties in South Korea.

Trump backed up his strong words about North Korea by sending a budget request to Capitol Hill yesterday for USD 4 billion to support "additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners."



And as he departed for South Korea, he tweeted that Moon is "a fine gentleman," adding, "We will figure it all out!"



On a personal level, Trump and Moon have not developed the same close rapport as Trump has with Abe or even China's Xi Jinping.

Part of Moon's mission during the visit will likely be to strengthen his personal ties with Trump, said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution.

"Now poor President Moon is playing catch-up ball because everyone acknowledges that he's not bonding quite as much with Donald Trump as the rest of the region," said O'Hanlon.

He said Moon could face pressure "to deliver a stronger relationship" whereas "in most other parts of the world, people are trying to keep their distance from Donald Trump."



Trump will spend today in meetings with Moon, hold a joint press conference and be feted at a state dinner.

Trade also is expected to be a major topic of discussion: Trump has considered pulling out of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, also known as KORUS, blaming it for the US-South Korea trade deficit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh today said the "twin blow" of demonetisation and the GST was a "complete disaster" for the country's economy and chided the Modi government for not having learnt "any lessons" from what he called the "monumental blunder."



Escalating the Congress offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of the first anniversary of the ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, Singh also tore into the government over the ambitious bullet train project, calling it an "exercise in vanity." India's first high speed rail project will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Singh said he is repeating what he said earlier that demonetisation was an "organised loot and legalised plunder." He also called it a "reckless step" and a "disastrous policy" which failed to achieve its stated objectives and said the Goods and Services Tax(GST) was "hastily implemented."



With Gujarat headed for Assembly polls next month, the Congress fielded 85-year-old Singh, an accomplished economist, at a party event to take on Modi in his home state. The gathering comprised mostly those representing small and medium businesses who are up in arms against the continued difficulties faced by them over GST issues.

Singh later addressed a conference where he said Modi's plan of doubling farmers' income by 2022 would end up as poll 'jumla'(rhetoric).

Stating that "bravado and drama are poor substitute for courage with conviction and the ability to execute well", Singh told the party event that demonetisation and GST have sown a "deep-rooted fear of tax terrorism" among the business community.

Singh said "demonetisation was clearly not the way to end the menace of tax evasion and black money."



"Demonetisation has proved to be a mere blister to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped. I repeat, this was an organised loot and legalised plunder," the former prime minister said.

At the function organised by the Congress, Singh said that Modi should have taken inspiration from two of the "greatest Gujaratis the world has seen -- Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel."



"Good governance involves both head and heart. It pains me to say that the Union government has completely failed to do its duty on both fronts," he said.

"Think of the human impact from this lost growth -- the lost jobs, the youth whose opportunities have vanished, the businesses which had to shut down and the entrepreneurs whose drive to succeed has turned into discouraged disappointment," he said.

"What is even more tragic is that none of the lessons from this monumental blunder have been learnt by the government," Singh rued.

"Instead of providing relief, as I had requested in Parliament, to the poor and marginalised, farmers, traders, and the small and medium businesses, who suffered the brunt of demonetisation, the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST," he further said.

This "twin blow" was a "complete disaster" for the economy, he said.

"Did the prime minister stop to consider the wisdom of the Mahatma when asking the RBI governor to sign on the dotted line or while implementing GST in haste?" Singh said, adding that Modi failed to take into account the impact these two policies had on the informal sector and jobs.

"If the prime minister had paid attention to Mahatma Gandhi's talisman, the poor of India would not have suffered the way they did," he said, adding tha Modi also failed to take inspiration from Sardar Patel.

"When undertaking the endeavour of 'One Nation, One Tax', if the prime minister had taken inspiration from Patel's resolve and attention to detail, the outcome today would have been very different. Bravado and drama are poor substitute for courage with conviction and the ability to execute well."



Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had in September laid the foundation stone for India's first high speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

"The bullet train project, launched with much fanfare, is sadly an exercise in vanity and will not benefit either 6.5 crore Gujaratis or the nation," Singh said.

"Rs 88,000 crore through a soft loan may seem like easy money, but it still needs to be repaid to the Japanese. Gujarati entrepreneurs know very well that if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is not," he said.

The government should have rather focused on the existing passenger rail network, the Congress veteran said.

"At a time when the economy has slowed down considerably, despite favourable global macroeconomic conditions, the fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of businesses to invest," Singh said. "As you know, the growth in private investment is at a 25-year low. This is terrible for India's economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump has tweeted energetically throughout his Asian tour so far, but in China he will likely be one of a select few to skirt the country's ban on his cherished website.

The Twitter-happy president has fired off a slew of posts -- on both domestic and international issues -- since he started his trip in Japan and moved on to South Korea today.

But when he lands in China tomorrow, Trump will enter the so-called "Great Firewall" of online censorship that monitors people's internet habits and blocks websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google.

Chinese can face fines or even jail time for unfavourable social media posts. Authorities have further tightened internet controls in recent months, shutting down celebrity gossip blogs and probing platforms for "obscenity".

Asked whether Trump -- who will get red-carpet treatment during his state visit -- would be able to tweet, Chinese vice foreign minister Zheng Zeguang told reporters: "How President Trump communicates with the outside is not something you need to worry about."



Trump, who has used an iPhone for Twitter posts, could use some options available to people in China to evade the Great Firewall -- though US presidents in any case travel with their own sophisticated communications systems.

Web users can circumvent the firewall if they download a virtual private network (VPN) -- software that allows people to surf the internet as if they were using a server in another country.

But Beijing mandated in January that all developers must obtain government licences to offer VPN software, raising concern it might ban them outright.

Foreign visitors can also access banned websites with their phones if they are in roaming mode -- but only because the authorities currently allow it, according to experts.

Trump should be able to use roaming "but it depends on the policy of the (Chinese) government. If they chose not to allow you to (use roaming) then they can do it," James Gong, a Chinese cyber law expert at Herbert Smith Freehills law firm, told AFP.

"But if you're the president you should be able to do it. Donald Trump cannot live without Twitter," Gong said.

Mobile devices on roaming in China still use the local telecom service infrastructure, which raises privacy and security questions.

Charlie Smith, co-founder of the anti-censorship group Greatfire.org, said phones using data or virtual private networks (VPNs) are "generally" safe from hacking but it depends on the phone, user settings and other factors.

"As you know, every day in China, almost all mobile phone use is monitored and tens of thousands of people are under close watch," he told AFP.

"US officials should be well trained and prepared for travelling overseas and for maintaining secure communications, as the Chinese leadership are when they travel overseas."



Trump could also use an alternative temporary phone as another way to avoid the risk of compromising his smartphone in a country which is often accused of hacking.

While Trump will likely find ways around the firewall, Chinese people face increasingly stringent controls over what they can do, say and see on the internet.

Chinese internet users face three years in prison for writing defamatory messages that are re-posted 500 times under a law passed in 2013. Web users can be jailed if offending posts are viewed more than 5,000 times.

New rules policing content were imposed this year and several of the country's biggest tech firms were fined for failing to remove illegal online content such as pornography and violence.

China has its own version of Twitter, Weibo, which boasts more than 300 million monthly active users.

Weibo users mostly sounded lukewarm about Trump's upcoming visit: One posted a chart showing heavy pollution levels in Beijing and asked if Trump would regret leaving the Paris climate pact.

But people must be wary of what they write.

Last year, a man who wrote a Weibo post critical of China's decades-old land reform policies on a local traffic police account was sentenced to a year in prison, reports said.

Another man, Qiao Mu, a former professor of international political communications in Beijing, recently moved to the United States after being targeted for his social media commentary.

He said authorities closed over 100 of his Weibo accounts and 17 of his accounts on the WeChat messaging service.

"There is no place for me to publish inside China's firewall," Qiao told AFP, explaining that he had tried to start new accounts after each was shut down.

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Two drug peddlers have been arrested from Muchipara area here and over 70 gm of heroin was seized from their possession, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid yesterday and arrested the duo from a hide-out at B B Ganguly Street under Muchipara police station limits, a senior Kolkata Police official said.

Heroin of around 73 gm, with a market value of about Rs 70,000, was seized, he added.

The duo have been remanded to police custody till Thursday.

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met him recently but did not indicate if his party would pull out of the BJP-led government amid a growing rift in the ruling BJP-Sena alliance.

Pawar told the state NCP's two-day brainstorming session at Karjat in the neighbouring Raigad district which concluded today that Uddhav Thackeray and Sena MP Sanjay Raut met him in Mumbai last week.

"In our meeting, they did not look satisfied (with the BJP-led government in Maharashtra) but they did not say if they are going to pull out," Pawar told reporters.

Pawar said it did not matter to his party even if the Sena pulled out of the government.

"Our stance is clear. We (NCP) aren't going to help anyone in this process," Pawar said.

Asked if the Sena were to offer a "helping hand" to NCP, the Maratha leader said, "We are not available to anyone for help."



"If the time comes, we will have discussion with like-minded parties," Pawar, whose party was in power in Maharashtra with the Congress for 15 years, said.

Pawar's remarks came days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Sena of playing the role of the opposition despite being in the government in the state and at Centre.

Addressing party workers at the chintan baithak, Pawar alleged: "Authoritarianism on the rise at the Centre. There have been curbs on people's basic rights and democratic values".

The NCP chief also targeted the Fadnavis government over its advertisement campaign on farm loan waiver and other welfare schemes.

"In the last few days we saw advertisement saying 'I am the beneficiary' (of the government schemes). Now we should come out with an advertisement saying 'we are insulted' by the government which made public their (the cultivators') debt position to the world through the advertisement," Pawar said.

"Farmers are being insulted in the name of loan waiver," the veteran politician said, claiming farmer suicides were on the rise.

The NCP leader said the agrarian economy was in danger as the government did not have a policy for agricultural produce.

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Prime Minister Theresa May has directed the UK Cabinet Office to look at how the country's ministerial code of conduct can be tightened in the wake of one of her minister's meetings in Israel not being disclosed through the usual channels.

Priti Patel, minister for international development, had issued a formal apology yesterday for holding undisclosed meetings during a holiday visit to Israel.

Downing Street said the premier had accepted her apology and considered the matter closed.

However, it emerged today that May has called for a review of the ministerial code of conduct to prevent a similar situation arising in future.

"The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to look at how the code can be made clearer and tightened," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Ministers are required to tell the UK Foreign Office when they are conducting official business overseas, but a BBC report had claimed last week that British diplomats in Israel were not informedabout Patel's meetings which included a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other political figures as well as charity organisations.

Opposition parties had called for Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin member of May's Cabinet, to resign as minister in charge of the Department for International Development (DfID) and the country's aid budget if it emerges that she breached the ministerial code of conduct.

"In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be misread, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it," Patel said in her apology statement.

Downing Street has also been forced to deny that her meetings in the country had led to any change of political stance on the region.

"There hasn't been any change in policy resulting from that. There is no UK financial support for the Israeli army," a Downing Street spokesperson said after it emerged that in the wake of her visit in August, Patel had discussed potentially providing some of Britain's aid money to Israel's armed forces which run field hospitals in the Golan Heights area.

Britain does not officially recognise Israeli occupation of the area and DfID was reportedly advised against any such move.

The issue of undisclosed meetings also found its way to the House of Commons today in the form of an urgent question from the opposition, where Patel's minister of state for the Middle East, Alastair Burt, defended his boss' actions as she is on a visit to Africa this week.

"The meetings were not particularly secret...If I had gone to Israel, I would have wanted a schedule like this," he told MPs.

The issue has only added to May's woes amid the sexual misconduct scandal that has engulfed UK parliamentarians which has already lost her a key Cabinet ally, Michael Fallon, who stepped down as defence minister last week.

Another senior Cabinet minister, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is also in the eye of a storm after he made comments which have left a British citizen, NazaninZaghari-Ratcliffe, imprisoned in Iran facing a sentence twice as long as it currently is.

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The UN today urged the Saudi-led coalition to end a blockade which has halted the flow of humanitarian supplies into Yemen, further threatening some seven million people facing famine-like conditions.

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in what we have already called the world's worst humanitarian crisis," a spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian office OCHA, Jens Laerke, told reporters in Geneva.

Relief supplies into Yemen have been blocked since the coalition sealed off the country's borders following a missile attack last weekend by Yemen's Huthi rebels that was intercepted near Riyadh airport.

"Fuel food and medicine imports must continue to enter the country," Laerke said. "This is an access problem of colossal dimensions".

In the immediate aftermath of the blockade, fuel prices have jumped up to 60 per cent and cooking gas prices have doubled, the UN spokesman added.

OCHA is in talks with the coalition to restore access as soon as possible, Laerke said.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

Last month, the United Nations put the coalition on its blacklist for killing and maiming 683 children during the conflict in 2016 and for carrying out 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals.

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Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a temporary check post in the restive northwest Pakistan, killing two policemen, an official has said.

The gunmen riding a car were asked to stop by the police as their vehicle came near the Shago Naka check post in Mardan district bordering Malakand agency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yesterday, but responded by opening fire at the security officials, the police official said.

He said one of the policeman died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injures at the hospital.

After the firing incident, the police officers reached the spot and launched a search operation to nab the killers, the officer said.

The police had set up the temporary check-post after receiving prior information of a bid to smuggle narcotics into the area.

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Stepping up pressure on Myanmar, the UN Security Council has asked the country to end its military campaign in Rakhine state and ensure the safe return of Muslim Rohingya refugees driven from their homes.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-membered powerful wing of the UN also demanded safe, unhindered access for its agencies and their partners to provide humanitarian assistance.

Britain and France dropped a push for the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the situation to appease council veto power China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta.

The Council instead unanimously agreed on a formal statement. It is only for the third time in nearly a decade that the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on Myanmar.

As a result of the alleged atrocities by security forces in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, more than 600,000 individuals, vast majority of whom are Rohingya Muslims, have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The unrest in troubled Rakhine state began after deadly attacks on police stations across the state, blamed on a newly emerged militant group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).

Scores of people were killed in the ensuing military crackdown, and there are widespread allegations of villages being burned and Rohingya being driven out.

The military in Myanmar says its operations are aimed at rooting out militants, and has repeatedly denied targeting civilians. Survivors, witnesses and refugees have contested this.

Stressing the importance of holding to account those responsible for human rights abuses and violations, the Security Council statement called for the Government of Myanmar to co-operate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Through the statement read out by its President for the month of November, Sebastiano Cardi from Italy, the Council urged Myanmar to support the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced people and refugees to their homes in Rakhine State.

It commended the efforts undertaken by Bangladesh, with the assistance of the United Nations, their partners and other nongovernmental organisations, to provide safety, shelter, and humanitarian assistance to those who have fled the violence.

"The humanitarian situation remains desperate," Jonathan Allen, Britains Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN told reporters after the presidential statement on Myanmar.

Britain has repeatedly called on the Myanmar security forces to protect all civilians and act now to stop the violence and allow humanitarian aid to urgently reach all those who need it, he said.

"We are encouraged to see State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi making important steps forward, including establishing a domestic body to deliver humanitarian and development assistance in Rakhine although this cannot substitute for UN agencies and making efforts to promote interfaith and inter-communal harmony, including a recent visit to northern Rakhine," he added.

Allen said Britain will be watching closely to ensure that the Burmese security forces do not attempt to frustrate these efforts.

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After showcasing Uttar Pradesh before the US companies as an investment-friendly state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said it was everyone's duty to welcome entrepreneurs to the state.

"Not only the government, but every citizen is responsible for making the state attractive for investors," Adityanath said at a programme organised here by HCL Foundation.

"Being the largest state of India, Uttar Pradesh is also the biggest market in the country, and hence, all must join hands to make the state investment-friendly," he said.

The chief minister lauded the efforts of HCL Foundation for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme 'Samuday'.

Adityanath said the company has taken up many important social projects in the state to make people self-reliant.

The chief minister said it was necessary to make people aware of various schemes launched by the government so that they could take benefit.

'Samuday' is a rural development initiative to create model villages.

"We feel that through the 'Samuday' model, we will be able to develop a blueprint that is sustainable, scalable and replicable throughout the world," HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra said.

Adityanath recently met representatives of more than two dozen US companies exploring investment opportunities in the state and assured them his government's commitment to providing an investor-friendly environment.

Led by Boeing, the delegation that included major US firms such as Facebook, Adobe, Coca Cola, Mastercard, Monsanto, Uber, Honeywell, P&G, Oracle and GE Health and Cargill has shown keen interest in investing in the state.

During his Mauritius tour, the chief minister met NRIs and explored possibilities for investment in Uttar Pradesh.

He apprised them of the steps taken by his government to facilitate investors in the state and the measures taken in this regard.

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The United States today accused Iran of supplying a missile to Yemeni rebels that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July and called for an international response.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Riyadh had released information showing that the missile was an Iranian Qiam and that this weapon was not present in Yemen before the conflict.

"By providing these types of weapons to the Huthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," Haley said in a statement.

"We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations."



There was no US request however for the council to hold a meeting on the missile attacks.

The accusations came amid heightened tensions after the Huthis fired a missile that was intercepted near Riyadh.

Haley said that missile may also be of Iranian origin.

The United States "will not turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law by the Iranian regime," she said.

Haley, a strong voice on foreign policy in the US administration, has repeatedly called on the UN Security Council to take a tougher stance toward Iran.

Haley has accused Iran of illegal arms deals and military support in Yemen, Lebanon and Syria.

A Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

The coalition said it had shot down on July 27 a missile fired by the Huthis close to Mecca, a month before the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

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The gunman who killed 26 people at a church in Texas could buy weapons because the US Air Force did not submit his criminal history to the FBI as required by military rules, authorities have said.

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, wearing black tactical-style gear walked into the church and started firing from an assault rifle just after the Sunday morning service began at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

Kelley was previously a member of the US Air Force and served at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. He was court-martialled in 2012 for assault on his spouse and their child.

An Air Force officer failed to enter Kelley's domestic violence court-martial into a national database that would have barred him from buying weapons, NBC said.

Top Air Force brass ordered a full review of how the service handled Kelley's conviction at a general court-martial in 2012, Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the Air Force, said in a statement.

Kelley's name should have been entered in the National Criminal Information Center, Stefanek said, but the Special Investigations Office at Holloman failed to transmit the domestic violence charges.

That would have alerted whoever sold Kelley his weapons that he was ineligible to own firearms under the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment, which bars anyone convicted of domestic violence even misdemeanors from getting access to guns.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, have ordered a "complete review of the Kelley case" by the service's inspector general, Stefanek said.

The Air Force will also review its databases to make sure that records in other cases have been reported correctly and it has asked the Pentagon to review records and procedures across the Defence Department, she said.

Evidence show that Kelley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and multiple weapons were found in the vehicle.

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Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the 9thAgrovision Summit in Nagpur on November 10.

As per an official release issued today, the Vice President will land at the airport here at 3.30 pm on Friday and will proceed for the event scheduled at 4 P.M. He is scheduled to leave for Bhubaneshwar at 6:45 P.M on the same day.

The three-day summit will be held at the Reshimbagh ground here.

According to organisers, a mega agri expo and free workshops for farmers will be held during the summit, besides a livestock demo and a conference on allied agriculture.

A business expert panel discussion will also be held on 'Surplus Management and Special Workshops on Current/Important Agri Related Topics.

"The major attraction of the 9th Agrovision will be the Mega Exhibitionwhich brings together a wide array of participants from corporate, the Central and state governments, PSUs, NGOs, R&D organisations, and educational and financial institutes," organisers said while addressing a press conference today.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hansraj Ahir, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar will attend the inauguration function.

Agriculture ministers of various states are also expected to attend the three-day summit.

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Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will be among the 10 ASEAN leaders who will be chief guests at India's Republic Day celebrations next year.

According to official sources, 10 ASEAN leaders have been invited for the Republic Day celebrations, and almost all of them have confirmed their participation.

"25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations is being marked. And invitations were sent by the Indian government to all ASEAN leaders for the Republic Day function. And, I can confirm that our prime minister will be attending it in January," Vietnam's Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh told reporters here.

The envoy said the prime minister would also be attending the special India-ASEAN Summit during his visit.

Hailing the bilateral ties, Thanh said, "India and Vietnam are like two brothers."



"Our (India-Vietnam) relations are now better than ever. Our relations with India is free from any problem, always as clear as the sky without any cloud," he said.

India and ASEAN are observing 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of summit level interaction and five years of strategic partnership throughout 2017 by undertaking a wide range of activities, both in India and through missions in ASEAN member states, which would culminate in a commemorative summit on the theme "Shared Values, Common Destiny".

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian states -- Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei -- which promotes regional cooperation.

"We (India and Vietnam) are two reliable partners," the envoy said.

Thanh said Chief Justice of Vietnam would be visiting India from November 26-29 and its deputy prime minister would pay a bilateral visit in July next year.

A troupe of Vietnamese artistes will be arriving in India later this month to participate in a cultural festival in Ahmedabad. Then they will travel to Chennai and Delhi, where they will perform at the India International Trade Fair.

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Vigilance sleuths today arrested an employee of the revenue department on graft charge from Purnea district, a Vigilance department release said.

Sleuths of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau caught one Abdul Rahman - an employee posted with Banmankhi block-cum-circle office in Purnea district- red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 for issuing rent receipt for land, it said.

One Gajendra Yadav, a resident of Chandpur Bhagaha village under Banmankhi block of Purnea district, had lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Investigation Bureau that the revenue employee was demanding a bribe of Rs 35,000 for issuing a rent receipt for land, the release said.

The allegations were found to be correct during the verification carried out by the Bureau, it said.

A flying squad team was constituted under Deputy Superintendent of Police Vimalendu Kumar Verma who raided and caught Abdul Rahman- a revenue employee with Banmankhi circle office- red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 from a private office located in front of Banmankhi Sub-Divisional office.

Altogether 70 persons have been arrested in 64 trap cases laid out by the Bureau so far in 2017.

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Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly hired private investigators, including ex-Mossad operatives, to dig background information on women and journalists in an attempt to stop allegations against him from becoming public.

In a new expose on Weinstein in The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow has detailed the length Weinstein allegedly went to silence accusers.

Weinstein hired Kroll, one of the world's largest corporate-intelligence companies, and Black Cube, an enterprise run largely by former officers of Mossad, the Israeli secret service, and other Israeli intelligence agencies, the article stated.

"Two private investigators from Black Cube, using false identities, met with the actress Rose McGowan, who eventually publicly accused Weinstein of rape, to extract information from her. One of the investigators pretended to be a women's- rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan.

"... The explicit goal of the investigations, laid out in one contract with Black Cube, signed in July, was to stop the publication of the abuse allegations against Weinstein that eventually emerged in the New York Times and The New Yorker."



One of the investigators posed as a women's rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan, according to the report.

The woman was a former officer in the Israeli defence forces and also met a New York Times journalist, who was working on a Weinstein story, under a different name, The New Yorker claims. Both McGowan and the journalist identified the woman.

Weinstein also enlisted the help of journalists to recover information against the women accusing him of sexual misconduct.

"One of them was Dylan Howard, the chief content officer of American Media Inc. which is the publisher of the National Enquirer and Howard also oversaw a television-production agreement with Weinstein, which has since been terminated," the article claimed.

Howard, in a statement to the magazine, said he split the two roles and resisted Weinstein's repeated efforts get favourable stories published.

Weinstein's spokesperson, Sallie Hofmeister, denied the report in a statement to The New Yorker, "It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time."



Weinstein, one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, has fallen from grace after the New York Times and The New Yorker detailed nearly 30 years of sexual harassment allegations against him.

More than 70 women, including stars such as Gywneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Luptia Nyong'o, have come forward to allege Weinstein of sexual misconduct since the articles came out.

A spokesman for Weinstein has denied allegations of "non-consensual sex".

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A Labour party Assembly Member of the UK's devolved Welsh government was found dead today, days after he was sacked and placed under investigation over allegations about his personal conduct by a number of women.

Carl Sargeant is understood to have committed suicide after North Wales Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

The 49-year-old had been sacked as the Welsh cabinet secretary for communities and children last Friday after allegations about inappropriate behaviour were passed to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones.

North Wales Police Superintendent Mark Pierce said the force had been called this morning to a report that a man's body had been found at an address in Connah's Quay, Flintshire, Wales.

"North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner," he said.

The exact cause of death will be known once the coroner makes a statement.

"This is terrible and deeply shocking . My thoughts and profound sympathy are with Carl's family, friends and colleagues," Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

Sargeant, the Welsh Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside, said last week that he had met the First Minister and been told that allegations had been made against him. He was suspended from party membership "while an investigation into allegations received takes place", the Welsh government said.

The politician, who was married with two children, had called for an urgent investigation to clear his name.

A family statement described Sargeant as a "much loved husband, father and friend".

"He wasn't simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. We are devastated beyond words," the statement said.

First Minister Jones had said yesterday that he had heard of a number of alleged incidents with women, and felt he had no choice but to refer the matter to the party.

"Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local assembly member," Jones said in a statement.

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When the horrors of the Second world war left thousands of Polish children orphaned in 1924, Jam Saheb Maharaja of Nawanagar, a princely state in Gujarat, welcomed them with warmth and offered them shelter.

He built a camp near the Balachadi seaside estate, where the children not only regained their physical strength, but also rediscovered their lost childhoods.

To document this lesser known story of benevolence, Polish director Tomas Stankiewicz is making a documentary that offers to tell the extraordinary story of the Second World War children refugee camp in Gujarat.

Titled, "Brave Brunch in India", the story is being told through the perspective of two children -- an 11-year-old Polish boy and the nine-year-old daughter of the Maharaja.

The narrative is based on the first-hand accounts of an 80-year-old Polish man, who was around 17 when he spent his days in the Maharaja's camp.

"This was in the middle of the war. The children who came to India recovered from whatever they went through in Russia.

"There was a school for them, they sang and danced and were given full freedom to practise their own religion," Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska, one of the producers of the film, said.

Szumowska added that building the film around a single person's narrative ensured it was short yet impactful.

The creators have decided to make the film in an online interactive format.

"We want children to use it as an educational tool," she said.

The production also takes into account the period after the war was over, and the children had grown up.

In 1945, when Poland was on its way to become a communist country controlled by the Soviets, the country wanted its children to be sent back.

But, many of them were unwilling to leave India. So, the Maharaja decided to adopt them.

"The children stayed in India for 5 years. Whosover was under 18 at that time was adopted by the Maharaja, a polish priest and a British officer.

"They adopted nearly 200 kids," Szumowska said.

The documentary takes from an earlier film "BraveBunch: The Uprising through Children's Eyes", which was about the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.

It talked about the 63-day-long heroic struggle to liberate Warsaw, the Polish capital, from Nazi Germany occupation during the Second World War.

"Brave Brunch in India" is scheduled to be launched in October 2018.

The project will also include a book, which is expected to be translated in Hindi and other regional languages.

Szumowska said it was one of the greatest stories of that time as it cemented warm relations between Europeans and Indians.

"It is an important event of the history because a lot of Europeans needed help and India extended them support. It showcases the beautiful character and spirit of the people here.

"But unfortunately it was kept as a secret in Poland due to communism. And when we came to India we realised it was not well known here either. I think it is important to talk about it at least now," she said.

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Why has Delhi University not constructed a campus in the Najafgarh area in Southwest Delhi despite getting land for it 28 years ago?



This question was today posed by the Delhi High Court to the varsity and the Centre.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said it was a serious issue that despite the earmarking and allotment of land, the campus has not yet been constructed.

The court issued notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Delhi government and the varsity seeking their stands on the PIL by December 19, the next date of hearing.

The issue was brought to the court's attention through a PIL filed by the Najafgarh Senior Citizens Association which has claimed that the youths of the area do not have easy access to quality education and have to commute long distances to North and South Campuses of the university for it.

The association has sought directions to the varsity and the two governments to set up colleges and a campus in the area.

The bench said a college campus was "badly needed" in the area and directed the Delhi government to inform it about the status of the allotted land.

The petition has also sought setting up of a committee to look into establishing colleges and campus in village Roshanpura of Najafgarh in South West Delhi where the land was allotted to DU.

According to the petitioner association, the land was given on lease in 1989 for 99 years, but till date only a boundary wall has been built around it.

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Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal today resolved to work non-stop till November 14 to ensure death penalty to child rapists within six months.

Maliwal said she has appealed to the Union home minister, Delhi chief minister, lieutenant governor and police commissioner to hold a meeting before Children's Day to prepare a plan for the same.

The DCW in a statement said the panel had been urging the Centre for the last two years to set up a high-level committee on the issue.

"Despite dozens of letters and meetings, it has not been done," she rued.

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The Jamshedpur campus of XLRI-Xavier School of Management will host in December its first international meet on the use and benefits of assessment centre method in selection and promotion of candidates.

The Centre for Human Resource Development (HRD) of the premiere B-school will arrange for a two-day conference on December 9 and 10 and include two segments - 'in-person' event for Asian participants and 'virtual' sessions for those abroad, an XLRI statement said here today.

The conference, to be chaired by HRD centre head Professor R.K. Premarajan and Professor Emeritus of Colorado State University George Thornton III, would deliberate on the benefits of assessment, diagnostic and development centre methods, the statement said.

Elaborating on the agenda, Premarajan said, the assessment centre method is used by organisations all over the world in both private and public sectors in selection, promotion and actual skill development areas.

"In a changing corporate world, the main goal of the human resource management is to achieve competitive advantage by strategic allocation of qualified personnel.... It is therefore imperative for organisations to search for more accurate forms of assessing talent and supporting their development," he said.

Several Indian researchers will share their study results and experiences at the conference, the statement added.

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By Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union states will on Tuesday bring forward a discussion on plans for a tax havens' blacklists after newly leaked documents revealed investments by wealthy individuals and institutions around the globe, officials said.

The subject's inclusion on the monthly meeting's agenda of EU finance ministers came after weekend media reports citing the "Paradise Papers", a trove of financial documents leaked mostly from Appleby, a prominent offshore law firm.

The documents were obtained by Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and some media outlets. has not independently verified them. Appleby was not immediately available for comment.

The latest revelations "put renewed emphasis on the work the European Commission is doing to fight tax avoidance", the vice president of the EU's executive arm, Valdis Dombrovskis, told reporters on Monday.

EU countries had planned for months to reach an agreement on a blacklist for tax havens by the end of this year. The new revelations prompted the discussion to be brought forward, EU officials said, but no final decision was expected on Tuesday.

The EU has discussed several measures to crack down on tax avoidance, including following the "Panama Papers", a release by the ICIJ last year which chronicled a shadowy world of offshore holdings and hidden wealth.

Measures proposed by the European Commission include an EU-wide list of tax havens meant to discourage the rerouting of profits made in the EU to tax-free or low-tax countries.

At the moment, each EU state has its own list of jurisdictions that are seen as less cooperative on tax matters. Criteria to define a tax haven vary greatly among EU states and some of them omit any jurisdictions in their national blacklists.

ONE-COUNTRY LIST?

An EU-wide blacklist is believed to carry more weight. Jurisdictions included in the list could be subject to sanctions if they did not cooperate.

"It's time that we agree and publish a blacklist on tax havens," EU tax commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters, calling for a "credible" list and "adequate sanctions" when serious breaches are unveiled.

There are no details yet of the type of sanctions that could be imposed, although being on the blacklist in itself could discourage individuals and companies from putting money in those jurisdictions.

Moscovici added that the EU blacklist should be more ambitious than the existing list of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a global group of mostly rich nations that has so far been leading the fight against tax avoidance.

The OECD list of non-cooperative jurisdictions on tax transparency includes to date only Trinidad and Tobago.

Two EU officials told a "dialogue" was ongoing with some jurisdictions around the world to make sure they would abide by the criteria set by the EU on tax transparency.

Last year, the European Commission identified 81 countries and jurisdictions that had a higher chance of facilitating tax avoidance and could have been included in the blacklist if they did not cooperate.

Some EU countries remain sceptical about the blacklist and are themselves under scrutiny for unfair tax competition.

Smaller EU states, like Luxembourg, Malta and Ireland, attract firms with lower corporate taxes. Some have been sanctioned for deals with multinationals that slashed their tax bills, reducing revenues in other EU states.

To win over their resistance, the proposed EU blacklist would apply only to non-EU countries. Also, states which charge no corporate taxes will not be automatically considered tax havens, under a preliminary deal reached by EU finance ministers last year.

On tax matters the EU can take decisions only with the unanimous backing of its 28 member states, unless extraordinary procedures are launched - an option never tested so far.

To reduce the appeal of tax havens, Brussels has also proposed the setting up of public registries that would show the real owners of companies, which are often hidden by frontmen in shell firms in offshore jurisdictions.

It has also proposed compulsory reporting by large multinational firms of profits made and taxes paid in each state where they operate, in a bid to show how much of their revenues are booked in low-tax countries.

(Additional reporting by Peter Maushagen; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg/Mark Heinrich)

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By Amanda Cooper

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil eased on Tuesday, after having posted its largest gain in six weeks the previous day, while tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran, just as the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power.

Brent crude futures were down 32 cents at $63.95 a barrel by 1250 GMT, having closed 3.5 percent higher on Monday, marking the biggest percentage gain in about six weeks.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 10 cents at $57.25 a barrel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to shore up his power base with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, which an official described as part of "phase one" of a crackdown.

More tellingly, tensions escalated between OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran and it was this, more than the purge, that rattled the oil market, analysts said.

"Saudi Arabia is really going all-in again against Iran and that is for me more the focus than the domestic issue," Petromatrix strategist Olivier Jakob said.

"On the one hand, it increases the global geopolitical risk level, but it also increases the difficulty of keeping consensus within OPEC."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day together with 10 other nations including Russia until March 2018.

OPEC meets later this month and has been widely expected to extend the deal.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday it was closing all Yemeni air, sea and land crossings after a missile was fired towards Riyadh at the weekend.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they see Iran as responsible for the Yemen conflict and, on Monday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country reserves the right to respond to Iran's "hostile actions".

"The combined oil production of these two OPEC nations is close to 14 million bpd. When they stare at each other from very close proximity it is not surprising to see oil prices rally," PVM Oil Associates Tamas Varga said.

Even a distant threat of disruption to Middle East crude supplies from any conflict is likely to support the price, but with money managers now sitting on a record bullish bet on Brent, discord within OPEC could force their hand.

"What's happening in Saudi Arabia does not change the strategic energy priorities of the Saudis and the market is likely to dismiss this noise," UBS said in a note.

"If tensions in Yemen do not escalate, Brent prices will soon return to below $60, probably after the November OPEC meeting, which we expect to be unambitious."

(Additional reporting by Jane Chung in SEOUL and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)

(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.)
By Julia Simon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil settled lower on Tuesday after rising to the highest since July 2015 the previous day, while tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power.

Brent crude futures settled down 58 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $63.69 a barrel, having climbed 3.5 percent on Monday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $57.20 a barrel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to shore up his power base with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, which an official described as part of "phase one" of a crackdown.

More tellingly, tensions escalated between OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran, which analysts said did more to rattle the market than the prince's purge.

"Saudi Arabia is really going all-in again against Iran and that is, for me, more the focus than the domestic issue," Petromatrix strategist Olivier Jakob said.

"On the one hand, it increases the global geopolitical risk level, but it also increases the difficulty of keeping consensus within OPEC."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) together with 10 other nations including Russia until March 2018.

OPEC meets at the end of this month and has been widely expected to extend the deal.

"That idea that the extension is going to be a done deal is still adding buoyancy in the market," said Gene McGillian, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

The producers are in the process of inviting other countries to the Nov. 30 meeting, OPEC's Mohammad Barkindo told reporters on Tuesday, with a view to joining the deal. He declined to name the countries concerned.

Brazil has rejected an informal effort by Saudi Arabia to coax Latin America's top oil producer into joining OPEC-led production cuts aimed at boosting prices that have been hit by oversupply, a Brazilian official said.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday that it was closing all Yemeni air, sea and land crossings after a missile was fired towards Riyadh at the weekend.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they see Iran as responsible for the Yemen conflict and on Monday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country reserves the right to respond to Iran's "hostile actions."

The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast domestic crude oil production in 2018 to rise by more than previously expected.

In its monthly short-term energy outlook, the agency forecast that U.S. crude oil output will rise by 720,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.95 million bpd in 2018. Last month, it expected a 680,000 bpd year-over-year increase to 9.92 million bpd.

U.S. crude stocks fell last week as refineries increased output, while gasoline inventories increased and distillate stocks drew, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday.

Crude inventories fell 1.6 million barrels in the week to Nov. 3, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 2.9 million barrels.

U.S crude oil and refined product inventories were seen falling for a second straight week, an extended poll showed on Tuesday.

(Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London, Jane Chung in Seoul and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by David Goodman and Chris Reese)

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By S.Anuradha

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A Qatari investor plans to sell a 5 percent stake in top Indian telecoms carrier Bharti Airtel Ltd on Wednesday for about 95 billion rupees ($1.46 billion), adding to the Gulf nation's recent stake sales in foreign companies.

Three Pillars Pte Ltd, an affiliate of the Qatar Foundation, has put up for sale through stock market transactions about 199.9 million shares in Bharti Airtel in a price range of 473-490 rupees each, according to a deal term sheet.

The price range is a discount of 4.7-8 percent to Bharti Airtel's Tuesday closing price, but far higher than the 340 rupees Three Pillars paid for it in 2013.

The stake sale comes after other Qatari companies, including its sovereign wealth fund, have been cutting stakes in foreign companies and raising cash to withstand pressure on its economy, which has been hit by economic sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt since early June.

The Gulf countries cut diplomatic and transport ties with Doha on June 5, accusing it of backing terrorism, a charge which Doha denies.

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, has responded to the crisis by pumping billions of dollars into local banks to shore up their deposits.

It has also reduced its stake in upscale jeweller Tiffany & Co, Russian energy giant Rosneft and Swiss bank Credit Suisse.

Indian telecom stocks, including Bharti Airtel, have also gained on signs of an end to a bruising price war and hopes that industry consolidation will benefit established players.

Bharti Airtel shares fell 3.4 percent to close at 514.35 rupees ahead of the on Tuesday, but are still up more than 68 percent in 2017.

A spokesman for the Bharti Group declined to comment.

Rashed Fahad Al-Noaimi, chief executive officer of investments at Qatar Foundation, is on Bharti Airtel's board.

UBS is the handling the planned share sale, according to the term sheet.

($1 = 64.9900 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by S. Anuradha of IFR, Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Sankalp Phartiyal in Mumbai, Writing by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Louise Heavens)

(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.)
By S.Anuradha

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A Qatari investor plans to sell a 5 percent stake in top Indian telecoms carrier Bharti Airtel Ltd on Friday for about 95 billion rupees ($1.46 billion), adding to the Gulf nation's recent stake sales in foreign companies.

Three Pillars Pte Ltd, an affiliate of the Qatar Foundation, has put up for sale through stock market transactions about 199.9 million shares in Bharti Airtel in a price range of 473-490 rupees each, according to a deal term sheet.

The price range is a discount of 4.7-8 percent to Bharti Airtel's Tuesday closing price, but far higher than the 340 rupees Three Pillars paid for it in 2013.

The stake sale comes after other Qatari companies, including its sovereign wealth fund, have been cutting stakes in foreign companies and raising cash to withstand pressure on its economy, which has been hit by economic sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt since early June.

The Gulf countries cut diplomatic and transport ties with Doha on June 5, accusing it of backing terrorism, a charge which Doha denies.

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, has responded to the crisis by pumping billions of dollars into local banks to shore up their deposits.

It has also reduced its stake in upscale jeweller Tiffany & Co, Russian energy giant Rosneft and Swiss bank Credit Suisse.

Indian telecom stocks, including Bharti Airtel, have also gained on signs of an end to a bruising price war and hopes that industry consolidation will benefit established players.

Bharti Airtel shares fell 3.4 percent to close at 514.35 rupees ahead of the on Tuesday, but are still up more than 68 percent in 2017.

A spokesman for the Bharti Group declined to comment.

Rashed Fahad Al-Noaimi, chief executive officer of investments at Qatar Foundation, is on Bharti Airtel's board.

UBS is the handling the planned share sale, according to the term sheet.

($1 = 64.9900 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by S. Anuradha of IFR, Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Sankalp Phartiyal in Mumbai; Writing by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Louise Heavens)

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Monday he probably would not keep his holdings in a shipping company with business ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and that he had fully and properly disclosed investments.

Pressed on whether he would retain the interest in Navigator Holdings, Ross told Bloomberg Television: "I've been actually selling it anyway, but that isn't because of this."

Ross, a billionaire investor who is helping to shape Republican President Donald Trump's trade policy, was criticized when several media outlets reported that he had failed to disclose that one of Navigator's clients is Russian gas and petrochemical company Sibur.

Sibur's owners include Putin's son-in-law, Kirill Shamalov, and Gennady Timchenko, a Putin associate who is subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions.

The information is based on leaked documents from offshore law firm Appleby that are part of the so-called Paradise Papers, which show details of business dealings by wealthy people and institutions ranging from Ross to Britain's Queen Elizabeth and trading firm Glencore . They were obtained by Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and some media outlets and published on Sunday.

has not independently verified the documents.

The Paradise Papers are the second release of its kind by the ICIJ, which last year published the "Panama Papers," leaked documents from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca that chronicled a shadowy world of offshore holdings and hidden wealth.

Ross said in multiple media interviews that he had fully disclosed his stake in Navigator Holdings as part of government ethics requirements.

"There was disclosure, there is no impropriety and if people draw a contrary conclusion that's because the papers have twisted the story and made it into something that it's not there," Ross told the BBC.

U.S. media said partnerships used by Ross have a 31 percent stake in Navigator Holdings, which was included in Ross' 57-page public financial disclosure report filed in December, before he officially joined the Trump administration.

Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, said Ross had deceived the public as well as lawmakers who had confirmed his appointment to Trump's Cabinet after he promised to divest holdings that posed conflicts.

Blumenthal called for an investigation and hearings.

"If he fails to present a clear and compelling explanation, he ought to resign," Blumenthal told MSNBC.

Senate Commerce Committee spokesman Frederick Hill said that Ross' interest in Navigator was disclosed to the panel, but added: "The committee expects Secretary Ross will follow the advice of his department's ethics officials should there be a determination that any holding creates a conflict of interest."

Navigator did not come up at Ross' confirmation hearing in January, but he was asked about his decision to retain an interest in Diamond S Shipping, which operates 33 petroleum product tankers.

Ross said his research showed that no ocean shipping cases had ever come before the Commerce Department. Ocean shipping is regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission, an independent agency.

But asked by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell if he would look at additional areas for possible further recusals from potential conflicts of interest, Ross replied: "I intend to be quite scrupulous about recusal in any topic where there is the slightest scintilla of a doubt."

Scrutiny of any ties between Russia and Trump administration officials has intensified with investigations into allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election campaign and potential collusion by the Trump campaign. The Kremlin has denied such meddling and Trump has denied any collusion.

Officials from Navigator could not be reached for comment.

Appleby released a statement late on Sunday saying that the release of its documents was the result of "an illegal computer hack" and not a leak.

"This was not the work of anybody who works at Appleby," the firm with offices in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and other offshore jurisdictions said. Appleby said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by David Lawder; additional reporting by Barbara Lewis, Mike Holden, Andy MacAskill and Andy Bruce in London, Katya Golubkova in Moscow, and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry and Grant McCool)

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?Aadhaar was a rushed decision by authorities, resulting from consumer rights not being focal in bureaucratic way of working in India, said Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar today. He was speaking at the India Today Conclave Next 2017.

"Consumers and consumer rights are almost never the principle focus of the public policy, especially in the digital space. It is only in recent times, with RERA for example, that consumers are getting to get real acts, real rights embedded in law," he said while delivering the keynote address on Privacy Privacy -- The Fundamental Right for the Digital Citizen.

Chandrasekhar lauded the Supreme Court for its ruling declaring privacy a fundamental right. He stated that the apex court categorising privacy as a fundamental right will help in making required changes when the time comes.

Moreover, as a Supreme Court bench is about to hear the case of Aadhaar being a threat to privacy, Chandrasekhar said, "Citizens will have an obligation to provide data to states, will have obligation to provide data to those private entities that are delivering services to them. But these entities, whether they are state or these private entities, will have clear obligations on how they collect, how they store, how they manage the above data, and how they reuse it."

Pointing security loopholes in the structure of Aadhaar under UPA government, Chandrasekhar said, "Crores of people were being onlined, their information was being onlined with kind of a canned narrative and a rush for numbers without addressing other issues relating to privacy, security and even integrity. And in many ways Aadhaar was a classic example of how a government system would push for technology in governance without addressing key bits of the ecosystem around the citizen and the consumer."

"We have about 30 crore Indians online today, and over the next maybe two, two-and-a-half, three years we expect about 80 crores Indians to come online, transforming India from being one of the largest unconnected nations in the world to becoming one of the largest online nations. And so therefore the awareness of the challenges and the problems that come along with it are increasingly coming to the fore," he said.

The Rajya Sabha MP, however, also emphasised on the still prevalent absence of proper structure in digital India. "Despite the obvious sucess of the telecom sector in having over one billion Indians connected, the basic issues around consumer rights remain," he said.

He further added, "Data privacy, and privacy in the digital world, is not an elitist issue. There is an attempt to characterise this as some kind of an elitist issue, and it is not. It becomes more and more important as more and more Indians come online and consumers do not have the adequate protection against the misuse of data or information."?
Continuing his salvo against the Modi government over its economic policies, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax for increase in India's imports from China.

"Overall, as our domestic sector is not able to cope with demand, China is benefitted from this situation. In the first half of fiscal year 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore. During the same period in fiscal 2017-18, the imports from China increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore. This unprecedented increase of imports by more than Rs 45,000 crore, which is a 23 per cent increase in a year, can be attributed largely to demonetisation and the GST," Singh said while addressing traders in Ahmedabad today.

These twin blows damaged India's medium and small manufacturing sectors and our businesses had to run to Chinese imports at the cost of Indian jobs, he added. Singh called GST a badly planned and hastily implemented tax regime, which has led it astray from the motive of making tax compliance simpler.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the note ban move, Singh launched a fresh bout of criticism against Modi government to discontinue currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. "Demonetisation has proved too be mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped. I repeat as I stated in parliament, this was organised loot and legalised plunder," Singh said.

"Black money and tax evasion are a menace that the country needs to tackle but demonetisation was clearly not the solution. It has been suggested many times in the past as one of the methods to eradicate black money, but as a responsible government we never took such a drastic measure because in our recent analysis the cost of demonetisation always exceeded the benefits very substantially," the former PM said.

"We know by now that none of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met. To promote a less cash economy coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective. The cash in circulation after one year is close to 90 per cent of the previous levels. The fact that more than 99 percent of the demonetised currency came back into the banking system has punctured the government's claims," he further added.

Singh slammed Narendra Modi government of burdening informal sector, small and medium sector entrepreneurs, and farmers with GST, and failing to shield them from the disruptive effects of demonetisation. The note-ban move will complete one year tomorrow.

"All that Dr Singh has to do is to compare the relative credibility of the India economy. Today, every international agency eulogise the kind of structural reforms India has initiated," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in retaliation to Singh's allegations.

Watch Manmohan Singh's address here:

Courtesy: Indian National Congress YouTube channel
Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, spoke at length about the impact and potential use of technology in a thriving country like ours, in a session called India - Technology and Governance, the Indian Experience at the India Today Conclave Next 2017.

Reiterating the importance of technology, the minister said that it was the need of the hour. He also added that technology was of utmost importance and needs to be taken to every sector. He added that land records need to go online as well. In fact, all land deed and documents need to be uploaded online.

Arun Jaitley says that using more technology could reduce harassment and play a powerful role in governance. "Tech as a tool in governance has a powerful role," Mr. Jaitley said.

Talking about funds, the Finance Minister said that there is demand for money but it is all lying unused in the pipeline. Technology would help the government trace that money and to decide is that money is required. "So, tech helps us detect all pilferage just by sitting in New Delhi," he commented.

He even mentioned how technology is helping post-demonetisation. "Tech has distinguished who the people are who have disproportionate wealth as compared to their returns. It is now easy to track shell firms for media as well. So for good governance, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence, data gives more insight," he mentioned.

After a year of demonetisation, the minister talked about how note ban revolutionised the way Indians use their money. "Earlier, it was not possible to buy property without some cash. Way of life was not to pay taxes. So, do we want to allow this happen? It will surely help in tax collection. The number of tax filling people is going up. Earlier it was only credit, debit or BHIM apps, but we nudged a process for greater tax compliance. Now more money is coming into the stock market and insurance firms," he further added.

The minister also spoke about Aadhar in the session and acknowledged that it was conceived by the UPA. He further said that the UPA government had no idea what to do with it and there were a lot of difference in opinions regarding the implementation. "We thought it was a wonderful idea, and that Aadhar should be linked with all government schemes. At that time, there was a great debate about subsidies, petroleum or food. So, we worked to connect all people through that idea and ended up linking three factors - people, Aadhar and mobile."

India Today Conclave Next 2017 is a day-long exhaustive technology thought leadership forum. The Finance Minister was speaking just a day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the demonetisation announcement. You can follow the live updates here .
HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of mortgage lender HDFC, opened its Rs 8,700-crore initial public offer price (IPO) today.

The IPO comprises sale of 1,91,246,050 equity shares, amounting to 9.55 per cent stake, by HDFC Ltd and up to 1,08,581,768 scrips, or 5.42 per cent, holding by Standard Life Mauritius. According to merchant banking sources, promoters are expected to get about Rs 7,500 crore from the stake dilution.

The IPO which closes on November 9 can be subscribed at a price band of Rs 275-290 per equity share.

The equity shares offered in the IPO are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE.

HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said: "The funds raised will be used by HDFC Ltd for its business purposes as the insurance arm has adequate capital needed for growth."

At present, HDFC owns 61.41 per cent stake in HDFC Standard Life and Standard Life has about 34.86 per cent stake, while the remaining is with employees and PremjiInvest.

HDFC Standard Life was established as a joint venture between HDFC and Standard Life Aberdeen plc (global investment company), initially through its wholly owned subsidiary The Standard Life Assurance Company and now through its wholly owned subsidiary, Standard Life Mauritius. The company has a pan-India presence, comprising 414 branches across India as of September 30, supported by a workforce of 16,544 full-time employees.

The global coordinators and book running lead managers of the IPO are Morgan Stanley India Company, HDFC Bank, Credit Suisse Securities (India), CLSA India and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India). The book running lead managers are Edelweiss Financial Services, Haitong Securities India, IDFC Bank, IIFL Holdings and UBS Securities India.

The insurer's solvency ratio as at March 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017 was 196.1%, 198.4%, 191.6% and 197.5%, respectively. IRDAI has prescribed a minimum 150% solvency ratio limit.The solvency ratio is derived out of the solvency margin (available solvency margin to required solvency margin) which denotes the amount by which the assets of the insurer exceed its liabilities.

The insurer had a balance sheet with total net worth of Rs 4,150 crore.

The life insurer generated profit after tax of Rs 886.92 crore and delivered a return on equity of 25.6%, return on invested capital of 40.7% and operating return on embedded value of 21.7% during fiscal 2017.

As at June 30, 2017, the firm had total assets under management (AUMs) of Rs 94,750 crore and Indian Embedded Value of Rs 13,220 crore.

We look at how brokerages have rated the issue.

GEPL Capital



GEPL Capital has a positive view on the IPO. "HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Ltd (HDFC Life) stands to gain from operating leverage. At a price to book value (P/BV) of 15.1xs of FY17 book value, we believe that HDFC Life gives a higher return on equity than its peers through its value added business model. We assign a Subscribe rating to the IPO," said the research firm in a note.

Motilal Oswal



Bokerage house Motilal Oswal is also upbeat on the prospects of the HDFC Life IPO.

"We are positive on HDFC Life for long term as life Insurance sector in India provide huge opportunities for growth. HDFC Life has delivered Premium Income / PAT growth of 14%/19% in FY13-17. Further the company has delivered strong ROEs in excess of 21% consistently for last 5 years. At upper price band, the issue is priced at P/BV of 15.2x and P/EV of 4.1x FY17 post issue. While the valuation looks higher compared to other listed financial companies (like NBFCs, Insurance and Private banks), we believe premium valuations are justified due to 1) Huge potentials for growth as Insurance in India is highly underpenetrated, 2) Strong financial performance with consistent and profitable growth, 3) Focus on customer centricity enabling growth across business cycles, 3) Consistently growing multi-channel distribution footprint and 4) Consistent and Strong ROEs. Hence we recommend SUBSCRIBE for long term investment," said the brokerage house in a research note.

ICICIdirect.com



ICICIdirect.com finds valuations reasonable on multiple factors. "At the IPO price band of Rs 275-290, the stock is available at P/IEV multiple of 4.2x H1FY18 EV of Rs 14010 crore (post issue) at the upper end of the price band. Factoring the parentage brand of 'HDFC', strong corporate governance and better than industry VNB margins along with high dividend payouts, we believe valuations are reasonable. We recommend that investors Apply to the issue. Post issue, market capitalisation is at Rs 58258 crore at the upper price band," said its research note.



Prabhudas Lilladher



Brokerage house Prabhudas Lilladher holds a positive view on HDFC Life's public offer and it expects Operating Return on Embedded Value to improve further. "At the upper end of the band at Rs290 HDFC Standard Life trades at 4.7x FY17 P/EV of Rs124.7bn and 2.8x Sep-19E P/EV which we believe is fairly valued. Growth in profitable new business, balanced product mix, better distribution channel, improved persistency and healthy return ratios makes the issue attractive for long term perspective. We recommend investors to subscribe to the issue," said analysts Vidhi Shah, R Sreesankar and Pritesh Bumb in their report.

Choice Broking

Choice Broking finds valuations aggressive but believes the firm deserves premium over its competitors.

"On the valuation front, HDFCSL is available at a P/IEV of 4.7x (to its FY17 IEV), which is aggressively priced as compared to the peers. Also considering the H1 FY18 IEV, the company is available at a P/IEV of 4.2 times as compared to 3.4 times of the peers. We are of the opinion that considering the revenue-mix, profitability, higher contribution of new business to the IEV and higher & trusted presence of HDFC brand in the domestic consumers, the premium valuation demanded by the company is justified. Thus considering the above observations, we assign a "SUBSCRIBE" rating for the issue," said the broking firm.
Microsoft chief executive officer (CEO) Satya Nadella today spoke at India Today Conclave Next 2017 where he talked about how India is using its own information technology (IT) prowess in the different sectors. He also talked about various ways in which the tech giant wants to empower common people.

As a part of the company's plan to bring businesses, governments and people together, Microsoft has partnered with cab aggregator Ola to build a new connected vehicle platform for car makers worldwide.

Ola will now use Microsoft Azure to power Ola Play, the company's existing connected car platform."Today's car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we're focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers," said Satya Nadella.

Under the partnership, Ola customers will be able to use productivity tools such as Office 365 and Skype for Business, as well as voice-assisted controls built using Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot framework, in-car during their rides. "The combination of Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and our AI platform with Ola Play will deliver new customer experiences and business opportunities across the automotive ecosystem," said Nadella.

Ola Play is the company's connected car platform for ridesharing, which will now leverage Microsoft AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance, and passenger experiences with cloud-based infotainment and productivity.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Ola, said, "Globally, the auto industry is experiencing a seismic shift as the definition of automobiles is increasingly changing from gas-powered vehicles to technology-packed, connected devices. With Ola Play, we have already set the tone for connected vehicles in India; together with Microsoft, we can make the new platform available to a larger, global audience and unlock futuristic experiences for customers worldwide."

The company claims that the new platform will transform a car into a high-performing, intelligent vehicle, capable of assessing fuel efficiency, engine performance, and driver performance. It will also enable smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, enhancing safety. The platform is designed to continually collect, analyze, and learn from high volumes of data and user behaviour. This will allow for customised offerings to shape the nature of services and business models, such as usage-based insurance, amongst others.

Ola's chief data scientist Dr Badri Raghvan said during the India Today Conclave Next 2017: As a mobility company we are interested in leveraging tech using artificaial intelligence. In our cabs we are working to get spoken Indian languages. We are interested in improving safety. We are working on drowsiness detection using AI.
Military serviceman Gevorg Hyusnunts, who was wounded in Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), is still in the military hospital in capital city Stepanakert.

November 7, 2017, 11:09 Karabakh Soldier, who was wounded in anti-tank grenade explosion, in satisfactory condition

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS:The hospital staff on Tuesday informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that he is in satisfactory condition. He has been in a patient room since the first day, and he is being administered the corresponding medical treatment.

Separately, after undergoing surgery, military serviceman Sergey Alumyan, who also was wounded on the same day, was transferred from the Stepanakert military hospital to the Ministry of Defense Central Clinical Military Hospital in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. But he is in very critical condition, and he has not regained consciousness yet.

The NKR Defense Army press service had informed that Defense Army serviceman Hrant Mangasaryan, 20, was fatally wounded, whereas servicemen Gevorg Hyusnunts and Sergey Alumyan had sustained shrapnel wounds, on November 4 at around 12:10pm, as a result of an anti-tank grenade explosion at an Artsakh defense army unit.

An investigation is underway to find out the details of this incident.
On September 25, the UN concluded the 72nd session of its General Assembly at the headquarters in New York. Over a hundred heads of state and government, as well as foreign ministers and chiefs of delegations took part in the event. For the first time in 11 years, all member and observer states of the UN addressed the General Assembly. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also delivered a speech from the high rostrum of the UN, drawing considerable interest both inside Uzbekistan and abroad. Mirziyoyev stated that his government has taken effective measures to eradicate child and forced labor, abolish exit visas, intensify dialogue with international human rights organizations, and placed law enforcement bodies under parliamentary and civil control.

BACKGROUND: President Mirziyoyev proposed the development of a UN International Convention on the Rights of Youth, a unified international legal instrument aiming to form and implement youth policy in the context of globalization. Mirziyoyev pointed out that young people are today the largest generation in the history of mankind, numbering 2 billion.

Mirziyoyev also put forward a proposal to adopt a special resolution of the General Assembly on Education and Religious Tolerance aiming to ensure religious freedom and protect the rights of believers, as well as eliminating illiteracy and ignorance.

Mirziyoyevs speech aimed to present a renewed and proactive Uzbekistan to the rest of the world; a country that will not be an outside observer of international processes, and Mirziyoyev himself as a leader undertaking uncompromising reforms for the sake of the countrys development, who will stick to the chosen path.

The focus on Central Asia was apparent in Mirziyoyevs speech, which included an appeal for the progressive development of regional cooperation. He stressed that a peaceful, economically prosperous Central Asia is the most important goal and the key task of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan, sharing borders with all Central Asian states, indeed has a strong interest in regional cooperation. Tashkent is acutely aware that neither security issues, nor challenges associated with major regional transportation, communication and energy projects can be resolved without active interaction with the countries of the region, and the promotion of regional integration.

Mirziyoyevs statement was not merely a declaration. From the first days of his presidency, President Mirziyoyev has taken decisive steps towards rapprochement with neighbors and resolving longstanding regional problems that have had a negative impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. Mirziyoyev has met with all fellow Central Asian leaders, and made state and working visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A visit to Tajikistan is planned in the near future.

Mirziyoyevs visit to Turkmenistan served to open a new page in Uzbek-Turkmen relations. The two countries concluded a Treaty on strategic partnership and agreed to open railway and automobile bridges across the Amu Darya, thus realizing an important part of the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman transportation and communication route.

Meetings between the Uzbek and Kazakh leaders have also produced unprecedented results, not least the adoption of a Joint Declaration on the further deepening of the strategic partnership and strengthening of good-neighborly relations, a Road Map for joint activities. For the first time in their history, the two countries arranged business forums resulting in the conclusion of trade contracts and investment agreements worth a total of about US$ 1.2 billion.

During the Presidents visit to Kyrgyzstan in September this year, the two states signed a Treaty on the State Border between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for the first time in 26 years. The parties agreed on the delimitation of more than 85 percent of the border, amounting to a breakthrough in the resolution of accumulated points of contention between the two countries. The agreement on delimitating most of the border with Kyrgyzstan not only serves to resolve a bilateral disputes, but removes the acute conflict potential from the entire regional agenda, lowers the risk of interethnic clashes, and contributes to an increase in the level of political trust between countries.

An important achievement was also the promotion of contacts between ordinary citizens. The work of a number of checkpoints has been resumed. On the day of its opening, five thousand people crossed over the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border through the checkpoint "Dustlik".

The whole region received a new stimulus in trade and economic cooperation. Economic turnover between Uzbekistan and the other countries of Central Asia in the first six months of 2017 grew by 13 percent.

IMPLICATIONS: The initiative of the leader of Uzbekistan to hold regular consultative meetings among the heads of Central Asian states is seen as a true breakthrough.

Firstly, Tashkent's proposal to hold regular consultative meetings among the heads of Central Asian states was in fact a timely response to the long-overdue request for regional rapprochement. All the states of the region share many common interests and feel the need to solve common problems jointly. At the same time, despite the objective need to create their own and purely regional interaction platform, the leaders of the countries of Central Asia have so far met only during bilateral visits or summits within the framework of the CIS and the SCO, as well as other international organizations and formats.

The platform proposed by Uzbekistan allows efficient coordination in solving many problematic issues on the Central Asian agenda, the settlement of which cannot be achieved unilaterally or bilaterally.

Secondly, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov stated, the initiative of the Uzbek leader does not pursue the goal of creating any supranational bodies.

Thirdly, as the foreign minister also stressed, the work of this platform is not aimed against the interests of extra-regional players. Stability in Central Asia meets the interests of all external forces. Stimulating regional cooperation opens new opportunities for the implementation of mutually beneficial regional projects in Central Asia with the participation of foreign partners.

CONCLUSIONS: Tashkent's proposal on the formation of a consultative mechanism in Central Asia for the purpose of joint discussion and working out solutions to current regional problems guarantees an increased economic potential for Central Asia, ensuring stability and sustainable development of the countries of the region, and thus the well-being of the population.

The initiative of the President of Uzbekistan will be further developed during the forthcoming high-level International Conference called Central Asia: One Past and Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Prosperity to be held under the aegis of the United Nations in Samarkand in November. At this event, the participation of foreign ministers of all countries of the region, the leadership of the UN and international organizations, as well as official representatives of many foreign countries is planned. It will be an occasion to take Central Asias development forward.

AUTHORS BIO: Eldor Aripov is Director of the Center for International Relations Studies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Image source: By kremlin.ru accessed on 11.07. 2017
Despite their attempts of rapprochement, Russia and Turkey remain politically on opposite poles as Turkeys membership in the North Atlantic alliance runs counter to Russian geopolitical interests, according to Ruben Safrastyan, the director of the National Academys Institute of Oriental Studies, Tert.am reported.

November 7, 2017, 12:52 Anti-Armenian decisions on Karabakh not in Russias interests  orientalist

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS:The expert ruled out any Russian-Turkish alliance over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) without regard to Armenia, which he said is gaining a serious significance for Russia as its only strategic ally in the region. Armenias significance for Russia is really great as they have a military base here, and also [we] remain their sole ally in the South Caucasus, he noted.

Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan is meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia next week to discuss, among other things, also the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In a speech delivered ahead of the meeting, Erdogan shared his positive expectations from the outcome, saying that the problem will be absolutely easy to solve if Putin really focuses on Karabakh.

Safrastyan said he neither expects Turkey to repeatedly raise the Karabakh issue nor sees any desire by Russia to meet the country half-way.

Russia cannot possibly allow the passage of any decision disrespecting Armenias interests because a weaker Armenia would weaken also Artsakh, and a weaker Artsakh would strengthen Azerbaijan, which would further foster Turkeys positions. That scenario offers no advantages to Russia in light of its continuing confrontation with Turkey over increasing influence in the South Caucasus, he added.

Asked whether the Turkish leaders statement is an attempt to win over Putin, Safrastyan said he sees that Erdogan often builds his diplomacy on a rhetoric not always matching his real potentials.

Being a charismatic politician, he very often uses that rhetoric inside his country to address his population or to make an impression on other countries, but he is unlikely to succeed this time, Safrastyan said, ruling out Putins possible move to succumb to Eredogans temptations.

The fact is that Russia is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, so it will continue its mission as a [peace] mediator [in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process]. And a mediators mission implies not just consideration of certain countries statements but rather fulfillment of a mission under conditions of absolute neutrality. But I believe the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have now arrived at the understanding that Azerbaijans policies are built on provocations aiming to torpedo the negotiation process, he added.

Asked to comment on the current stage of the Russian-Turkish rapprochement, Safrastyan said he thinks that the countrys policy of constantly changing conditions makes the process of building relations absolutely difficult. They all the time change and propose new conditions. Russia wishes to establish closer ties with Turkey because of the problems with the West, and thats really positive for the country. But on the other hand, we see Turkeys policy of adventures, so a serious rapprochement with such countries is practically impossible, given especially the fact that Turkey never shows signs of distancing itself from the West. They remain a NATO member and a US ally despite the United States repeated criticism of certain approaches by Turkey. I dont see strategic changes in Turkeys policies for now, he added.
| BY Ricki Green |

The race that stops the nation is just a few hours away, and everyone wants to know: Who will win the Melbourne Cup? Atomic 212 has crunched the numbers and determined the horses that are getting the most searches in the buildup to todays big race.

Atomic 212 has used all of its powers of statistical analysis to get a read on which horses are being searched for the most (in other words, the agency has used the very helpful Google suite of tools, namely Google Keyword Planner).

In the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup, the horse which has been generating the highest search volume has been Almandin, last years winner of the famous 3,200-metre Flemington event.

The runner up is Hartnell, followed by Humidor, Wicklow Brave and Bondi Beach. Next up are Johannes Vermeer, Gallante, Red Cardinal, Big Duke and Single Gaze.
The Armenian parliament holds round-table discussion on The Voice of a Woman and Women-Leaders in Politics. Perspectives of Armenia, News.am reported

November 7, 2017, 15:56 Armenian parliament discusses women's participation in politics

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS:During the event, regional research on women's representation in politics in the Eastern Partnership Countries was presented. Discussion about gender quotas followed right after.

The research was made out by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the framework of Partnership for Good Governance 2015-2016, and was first introduced in Kiev in 2016. The research especially notes the main restrictions in political representation of women, which take place in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldavia and Ukraine. Particularly in these countries women are nominated for political positions less often than men do.
| BY Ricki Green |

Three partners, Peter Brennan, Ian Bell and David Penfold, have joined forces to launch independent creative agency, Electric And Analog. Each co-founder comes from a different industry and brings something unique to the newly minted agency:

Co-founder / executive creative director, Peter Brennan (right) is the former director of innovation at Atomic 212, and has worked internationally in the UK and South Africa on both agency and client side. Co-founder / managing partner, Ian Bell (centre) has a formidable pedigree on client side  he was head of brand at Red Bull, and has held senior marketing positions at Samsung, Unilever and Nestle. Co-founder / chief financial officer, David Penfold (left) is the ex-CFO of Deutsche Bank ANZ, bringing a strong focus on business strategy, performance analysis and financial acumen to the agency.

Electric And Analog has launched in a bid to deliver world-class design and game- changing ideas that fuel growth for brave businesses.The creative agency was started with a simple belief, that companies need to put innovation and design at the centre of their business in order to future-proof themselves, stay relevant and thrive.

Electric And Analog works with companies ranging from disruptive, agile startups to global innovators. The agency has already worked on projects for Gloria Jeans Coffees, the NRL, global childrens food brand, Kiddylicious, and biometric technology startup, BioConnected, among others.

Says Brennan: Brands are doing the same thing theyve done with their marketing budget for years, and in a world thats changing faster than ever before, its imperative for these businesses to think differently, be brave, and do things theyve never done in order to get their customers attention. If you execute a big idea with the right creative, tech and innovation, youll cut through the clutter. Thats where Electric And Analog comes in.

Says Bell: With Electric And Analog weve created a unique opportunity for brands to work with an agency that sees through the lens of a brand itself, underpinned by exceptional financial guidance and top level creative consultancy that is second to none. Technology and human-centred design is shifting how consumers behave towards brands.The way people buy products and services has changed on a global scale. And innovation and creativity are at the centre of this step change.

Says Penfold: As the grey hair at Electric And Analog I have a deep-founded belief in establishing a philosophy and culture in the agency that is entirely open, honest, transparent and genuinely client-focussed.Thinking differently and driving tangible change is tough and can be uncomfortable. Electric And Analog is here to facilitate that for our clients. Innovative thinking and not being afraid to put forward our most challenging perspectives are part of the DNA of this agency. Were here to make a difference.
| BY Ricki Green |

Schools around Australia are being urged to switch to Fairtrade cotton uniforms, in a new campaign, developed by Y&R Melbourne, aimed at ensuring kids around the world get the opportunities they deserve.

The Cleanest Uniform in Australia campaign has been launched by Fairtrade Australia this week, and will see uniforms sent directly to school principals and P&C members across the country asking them to stop and consider the impact of the school uniforms they buy. It is supported by social and digital activations.

The uniforms are made with Fairtrade certified cotton, which means no matter how dirty they get, they will always be clean from child labour and unethical practices.

Says Molly Harriss Olson, CEO of Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand: The campaign is designed to highlight the choice that schools, parents and students have regarding uniforms  by simply switching to a uniform made with Fairtrade cotton they can make a positive impact on the lives of children around the world.

Says Brad Smith, group account director at Y&R Melbourne: Many schools arent aware that the uniforms currently worn by their students can mean children in the countries where the cotton is produced cant go to school at all. Now schools around the country can switch to The Cleanest Uniform in Australia to ensure kids around the world get the opportunity they deserve.

Half of Australians arent aware of the Fairtrade Mark and yet the majority of us are influenced by the important work they do  preventing child labour, paying a fair price and ensuring sustainable farming practices. Highlighting the positive impact of Fairtrade via school uniforms is a powerful way to connect with Australians.

Visit the website to learn how switching to Fairtrade uniforms can make a positive impact on the lives around the world.

Client  Fairtrade

Hannah Andersen  Public Engagement & Advocacy Manager

Kim Greenstone  Program Manager  Public Engagement & Advocacy

Amy Botta  Business Development

Cormac Sheehan  Marketing Campaigns Manager

Juno Scott-Kelly  Marketing & Digital Communications Manager

Agency  Y&R Melbourne

Jake Barrow  ECD

Carissa Finneren  Copywriter

Janice Ko  Art Director

Christine OKeefe  Senior Strategist

Brad Smith  Group Account Director

Lil Shelmerdine  Account Director

Louise Brugman  Senior Account Manager

Emma King  Producer

Photography  Thom Rigney
| BY Ricki Green |

TBWA Sydney is set to work alongside The Woolmark Company, having won a pitch to create a unique consumer campaign following a global search between agencies from New York, London and Sydney. TBWAs media partner for the pitch and the business going forward is OMD New York.

The Woolmark Company is the global authority on wool. It conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian wool on behalf of the 60,000 woolgrowers in Australia.

Natural, renewable and biodegradable, Australian Merino wool is one of the worlds most versatile fibres and the premier ingredient in luxury apparel.

In recent years, The Woolmark Company has partnered with iconic fashion brands including Raf Simons, Zegna, Tommy Hilfiger and Paul Smith on marketing campaigns.

The first campaign from TBWA Sydney is expected to launch in mid-2018 in the USA, UK, Europe, China and Japan.

Says Stuart McCullough, managing director, The Woolmark Company: The Woolmark brand is one of the worlds most iconic logos and since its creation in 1964 has been applied to more than 5 billion products worldwide. However, the meaning behind the mark resonates less with the new generation of consumers and we are setting out to change this.

We were impressed with TBWA Sydneys strong strategic thinking and look forward to collaborate with the team to position Merino wool as the fibre of choice for the millennial market.

The Woolmark Companys win was the first new business pitch led by the new TBWA Sydney leadership team of chief creative officer Andy DiLallo, new chief strategy officer Matt Springate and TBWA Australia & New Zealand CEO Paul Bradbury.

Says Bradbury: This is an incredible opportunity for us, said Paul. Wool is the most innovative and functional fibre in the world and we feel a great sense of responsibility and excitement to communicate its story to the world.
Monday, November 6, 2017 at 9:01PM

If we were honest, this is what we thought of when we heard the news. (Image courtesy of: Marvel.com)

There are reports going around claiming Disney and 21st Century Fox are currently in talks about the latter selling off most of its company to the multimedia production giant. According to CNBC, it has been happening in the past few weeks but there arent any guarantees that itll lead to a deal. They describe the talks as being on again, off again. If the deal pushes through, its said Fox will give up most of its properties except those that revolve around news and sports. It seems senior management at Fox see that they cant compete in the changing media landscape and sees Disney and its big machine capable of competing against the big internet companies that are leading the charge now (e.g. Facebook, Netflix, Google, and Amazon, to name a few).

For Disney, this deal would be advantageous as it preps its own streaming service. Theyd gain access to more movie and TV productions to add to their own streaming offering. And if youre thinking what were thinking, we might finally get that X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four crossover that weve been waiting for. (Even Ryan Reynolds is wondering what this deal could mean for his character Deadpool.) At the moment, nothing is for sure yet but were keeping our eyes out for this.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 12:51AM

Now you no longer need a third-party app to identify songs for you. Google Assistant can now name songs for you. All you need to ask is What song is this? or What song is playing? for it to answer you. Google Assistant will then pull up a card with the title of the song, the artist, release date, genre, possibly lyrics as well as links to YouTube, Google Play Music, and even Spotify. It takes a few seconds to a minute for it to work and it might not work on lesser known songsand for that you might have to rely on the likes of Shazam.

Source: The Verge
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Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on November 7 received members of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE corapporteurs Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati, press service of the government told Armenpress.

November 7, 2017, 16:21 Our relations with CoE will continue deepening  Armenian PM receives PACE co-rapporteurs

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS:The PM attached importance to the regular visits of corapporteurs to Armenia which enable to discuss the ongoing reforms in the country and the process of implementation of duties. Since its membership to the Council of Europe Armenia has been actively involved in the works of the structure and its different bodies. We highly appreciate our cooperation and thank the CoE for the expert assistance, as well as in the development of the packages of legislative reforms. I think Armenia has passed a great path on implementing these commitments the evidence of which are themonitoring results conducted by the PACE and CoE ministerial committee, Karen Karapetyan said.

The PACE co-rapporteurs agreed that Armenia has passed quite a long path in a short period of time, stating that after the pannational elections the country has entered the next stage of changes and developments.

During the meeting issues relating to the processes conditioned by constitutional reforms, electoral reforms and fight against corruption were discussed. PM Karapetyan presented the works carried out so far on this path, as well as the ongoing activities which aim at effectively and smoothly organizing the abovementioned processes. The PM noted that the anti-corruption fight is in the constant spotlight of the Armenian government, and in addition to the concrete steps to reduce the corruption risks, certain achievements were recorded also in the legislative field. The PM informed that at the moment the Armenian judicial and legal reforms 2018-2023 strategy and the action plan are being prepared.

The PM also touched upon the economic cooperation opportunities with different integration unions and countries, talked about the ongoing works aimed at improving the business environment, boosting investment activeness and attracting investments. Our main goal is to provide each investor, both local and foreign, with all the necessary conditions for their activity. We pay special attention to the business environment, we record that we have positive results over the past year, but we also know the weak points and try to eliminate them, the PM stated.

The PACE co-rapporteurs welcomed the Armenian Governments ongoing reforms in different spheres. We want to thank for two things: firstly, for a dignified and serious approach your country shows towards Syrian refugees, in particular, in terms of the flow of Diaspora-Armenians. We are grateful for that: this is an example for other peoples to follow. On behalf of the Council of Europe we want to thank you for the work the Armenian diplomats and representatives carry out in Europe, as well as your delegation to the PACE. We can assure that we will continue assisting you to keep this pace on the way of building your dreamed Armenia, Alan Meale said.

The PM thanked for the appreciation and readiness to assist and stated: Our relations with the Council of Europe will continue deepening in accordance with the commitments and political obligations assumed by us. Their unconditional implementation will contribute to expanding democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms as stable components for our security and sustainable development.
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan on November 7 received co-rapporteurs of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale, press service of the Parliament told Armenpress.

November 7, 2017, 16:39 Armenian Parliament Speaker holds meeting with PACE co-rapporteurs

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS: Ara Babloyan welcomed the PACE co-rapporteurs visit to the Parliament and talked about the ongoing processes launched in Armenia after the constitutional reforms.

Speaker Babloyan thanked the guests for the cooperation with Armenia and the activity contributing to strengthening democracy in the country.

He highlighted the role and importance of the Parliament in the context of ongoing changes in Armenia. According to him, the Parliament has always played an important role, but now its opportunities and powers are further expanding.

The PACE co-rapporteurs asked their questions to the Parliament Speaker.

The sides discussed issues relating to the recent political developments in Armenia, the electoral reforms, the implementation of the Constitution, independence of judiciary and anti-corruption fight.

Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale expressed their readiness to deepen the cooperation with Armenia.
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.

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United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said the US continues to provide support to the leaders of the two countries [Armenia and Azerbaijan] for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reported APA news agency of Azerbaijan.

November 7, 2017, 17:37 Cekuta: US continues providing support to countries for peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS: The ambassador said he has recently been in Washington and met with Andrew Schofer, the American co-chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group.

We had discussions as to how to what should be done in order to move the settlement process forward, Cekuta added. Its a sign that the United States takes it seriously that when the new administration came in, they looked at a number of positions and whether or not to continue them  and one of the ones they continued was the co-chair of the Minsk Group process.
The days are growing shorter and the nights colder, and it is likely that we are shutting our windows to block out the chill in the air. With winter and the holidays fast approaching, radon and carbon monoxide are probably not the first things on your mind. Unfortunately, these invisible, odorless gases can be a big threat to your health and safety. Luckily, now is the perfect time to take action against them, and the Cayuga County Health Department has the resources available to help.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas. It is a carcinogen, which means that it causes cancer. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon kills 21,000 people each year. Radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, so most people are unaware of its presence. It can leak into your home or apartment through cracks in your basement or slab, the dirt floor in your crawl space, or openings around your sump pump. Any home can have high radon levels. The EPA and the state Department of Health have designated Cayuga County as a high-risk radon county due to the fact that many residences have already been shown to have high levels of radon.

Exposure to radon is preventable. As radon accumulates in enclosed areas, it is of special concern during colder months when homes get little fresh air. This makes late fall and winter the best time of year to test for radon. The Cayuga County Health Department is encouraging all residents to test their homes for radon. To make this easy, we are providing free radon test kits. These kits are available for all residents of Cayuga County and can be picked up at the health department, located at 8 Dill St., Auburn. For more information on radon, you can visit the Environmental Protection Agency website at epa.gov/radon.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the other invisible, odorless gas that residents should be aware of. Carbon monoxide is released from furnaces, stoves, portable generators, gas ranges, charcoal, fireplaces and other products when they malfunction or are used improperly. When CO accumulates in a home, it can cause sickness and even death. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach vomiting, chest pain and confusion.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning is to install a battery-operated or backup CO detector in your home. Be sure to replace the batteries each spring or fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends the following:

 Maintain all fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces and generators, according to the manufacturers operation instructions and have them serviced annually by a qualified technician.

 Ensure all fuel-burning appliances are properly vented so that CO will not build up in your home, cabin or camper.

 Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris. This can cause CO to build up inside your home or cabin.

For more information on carbon monoxide, be sure to visit the CDCs website at cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm.

If you are concerned about other threats inside your home that can affect your health, you are encouraged to take advantage of the Healthy Neighborhoods Program. This program provides free carbon monoxide and smoke detectors among other health and safety items. All residents in the city of Auburn and those residing in Locke and Moravia are eligible for this program. Call the Cayuga County Health Department at (315) 253-1560 to schedule a home assessment today! The Healthy Neighborhoods Program is a grant funded by the state Department of Health and administered by the Cayuga County Health Department in collaboration with the Cayuga Community Health Network. You can visit our website at cayugacounty.us/health for more information on radon, and dont forget to like our Cayuga County Health Department Facebook page.

Let the Cayuga County Health Department help keep you and your family safe this season!
The Chinese are continuing to purchase Cadillac models in record numbers, helping the American carmaker to record its 17th month of consecutive sales growth.



Last month, Cadillac shifted 17,018 units in China, significantly more than the 13,931 vehicles it sold throughout the United States and a healthy 36.1 per cent higher than the 12,502 Cadillacs sold in China in October 2016.

In year-to-date sales, Chinese customers have purchased 141,643 models from Cadillac. By comparison, 127,777 have been sold in the United States, 4.1 per cent less than the same time period last year. By comparison, the Chinese year-to-date sales are 58.2 per cent greater, allowing China to official become Cadillacs biggest market.

In January, Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen said China could become the brands largest market within three years. Evidently, even he was unable to predict the huge spike in demand that would come from China throughout 2017.

Looking beyond China and the U.S., sales have improved in Canada, South Korea, Russia, and Japan.

PHOTO GALLERY
Forza Motorsport 7 is making a brand new car pack available to gamers, one featuring a wide variety of vehicles across multiple categories.



From off-roaders to race cars and more, this Samsung QLED TV car pack looks like it should deliver some very worthy additions to anybodys in-game garage.

Were talking a 1957 Maserati race car, a 2017 Abarth 124 Spider, a 2015 Honda Ridgeline Baja Trophy truck, Nissans famous Bluebird Super Silhouette race car from 1984, Porsches 935/78 racer, the Toyota Land Cruiser Arctic Trucks AT37 and the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

As you can see, theres a strong racing theme here, with a lot of classics on hand  something for the Abarth 124 or the Giulia QV to aspire to, we reckon.

In total, there are seven new cars, three Italian brands, three Japanese brands and one from Germany. The new car pack is available to download now.

VIDEO
The current GT2 RS is not only the range-topping version of the 991 generation, but more importantly, the fastest stock 911 ever.



However, it appears that the German company isnt satisfied, as they have been spotted testing a 911 prototype, equipped with similar aero addenda as the GT2 RS, but with an even larger rear wing  if you can call it that.

The tester was recently seen pushing hard at the Monza track, in Italy, but because the new 911 GT2 RS was presented to the world just a few months ago, we cannot say for sure what its true purpose is.

At this point, it could be just about everything, including an even more hardcore version of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, equipped with additional bits, that would allow it to be better overall than the current model that makes 690hp from a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine, and which lapped the Ring faster than the Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

We could also be looking at a new racecar, or even possible Cup or RSR variants of the next generation 911, so until the Stuttgart-based brand decides to shed some light on the case, were left scratching our heads.

So, whats your take on this prototype?

VIDEO
The Japanese car market has proven to be a really tough place for U.S. manufacturers, who have claimed that protectionist policies keep them out of the third largest car market in the world but the reality is more complicated than that.



Japanese brands account for 90 percent of the domestic car market in Japan and a big role in this is due to the special relationship between the customer and the dealer. Japanese buyers are used to having a much closer relationship with the dealer compared to the Western standards.

According to a report from the Atlantic, a dealer from a Japanese brand will build a relationship with their customers by bringing demo cars to the customers house, offer free car washes for life, handle their insurance policies and remain generally in contact with them, offering a service thats considered kind of a custom in the country.

This hospitality is what helps the Japanese automakers remain dominant in their home market and is also what baffles American dealers that arent used to provide this kind of service.

In the U.S. market the domestic brands remain dominant but with a much smaller share of the pie, with the Big Three -GM, Ford, FCA- making up 45 percent of the market and the Japanese brands accounting for 39 percent. This dynamic contributes in part to the trade imbalance between the U.S. and Japan: last year it was $68.9 billion and a large share of it came from vehicles and from automotive parts ($52.6 billion).

This has long been an issue for politicians, including Trump who said earlier this year that the Japanese make it impossible to sell cars in Japan. American carmakers also use the same line of argument, accusing Japan of protectionist policies saying that practices like requiring lengthy car inspections of foreign-made vehicles and prohibiting existing dealers from selling foreign cars have prevented non-domestic car companies from gaining a larger share of the market.

However, protectionism is not the full explanation of why Japanese customers dont buy foreign cars. For example, there are no import tariffs on cars, whereas the U.S. and EU impose 2.5 percent and 10 percent tariffs.

Instead, the problem lies in large part in the hesitance of American car dealers to invest in the kind of network that Japanese consumers have come to expect. The way Japanese consumers buy cars is very different, Deborah Elms, the executive director of the Asian Trade Center said. Yet the Americans have not invested in a dealer network to break into the market. Indeed, Ford has pulled out of Japan, where it had sold just 5,000 units annually while GM has only 28 dealerships in the country, managing to sell just 1,000 cars in 2016.

Japanese customers expect to receive services like free maintenance from their dealers and picking up their car for a check-up, performing it and then return it. This sort of dealer network is expensive to develop but also to maintain.

Not all foreign companies though struggle with Japan; imports from EU grew five percent between 2013 and 2016, with 251,115 cars while imports from the U.S. shrank by 15 percent for the same period, to 19,933 cars. Brands like Mercedes and BMW saw their sales growing by 60 percent and 23 percent respectively between 2012 and 2016.

BMW for example decided three years ago to redouble its efforts in the Japanese market, spending $675 million to refurbish its dealer network. In Japan, everything is about hospitality, Peter Kronschnabl, the CEO of BMW Group Japan and the chairperson of the European Business Councils Automotive Committee and the Japan Automobile Importers Association, said. If you are not into this, it will be very difficult to succeed in the Japanese market.

PHOTO GALLERY
On the surface, Arcadia appears to be a slice of timeless Americana, but it is no ordinary town. It lies at the center of magical and mystical lines that will make it a nexus for many battles among otherworldly creatures including trolls, aliens and wizards. Dreamworks Trollhunters, the first installment in the Tales of Arcadia trilogy, will be followed by two additional series 3 Below in 2018 and a final chapter Wizards set to debut in 2019.



Following Trollhunters, DreamWorks 3 Below will focus on two royal teenage aliens and their bodyguard who flee a surprise takeover of their home planet by an evil dictator and crash land in Arcadia. Now on the run from intergalactic bounty hunters, they struggle to blend in and adapt to the bizarre world of high school all the while attempting to repair their ship so they can return and defend their home planet.



DreamWorks Wizards brings together the three disparate worlds of trolls, aliens and wizards who have found themselves drawn to Arcadia. The final chapter of the Tales of Arcadia culminates in an apocalyptic battle for the control of magic that will ultimately determine the fate of these supernatural worlds that have now converged.

Netflix released a teaser on Monday signalling the Arcadia universe expansion:

Trollhunters has been a hit with critics and fans alike. The project won six honors at the most recent Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, more than any other individual program this year.

Below is the trailer for the upcoming season, Trollhunters Part 2, which will debut December 15 on Netflix:

Del Toro executive produces Trollhunters along with Marc Guggenheim (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow), Rodrigo Blaas (Alma), Chad Hammes (Dragons: Race to the Edge), and Christina Steinberg (Rise of the Guardians). Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman (The Lego Movie, Ninjago) serve as co-executive producers.
Photo: Contributed File photo.

The Ministry of Environment and Interior Health have issued an air quality advisory for Lavington due to high concentrations of fine particulates.

The situation is expected to persist until there is a change in current weather conditions.

A number of factors are to blame, said the ministry, pointing the finger at wood smoke, emissions from industry and pollution from vehicles.

"Fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations are currently above advisory levels," according to the advisory. "Latest PM2.5 measurements at the Lavington Baptist Church station indicate an hourly average of 29.9 micrograms per cubic metre. The average for the past 24 hours is 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre, which exceeds the provincial air quality objective of 25 micrograms per cubic metre."

Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions should postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted, said the ministry. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease.
Alanna Kelly

All of the homeless shelters in Kelowna are full and over capacity, causing a critical crisis in the city.

The Kelowna Gospel Mission was expecting half a dozen people when temperatures turned blustery last week, but more than they could handle showed up on their door steps.

We were asked if we could put a few mats down on the floor in our dining room, said Randy Benson, executive director.

Last Thursday night, 30 people showed up.

And even more came knocking.

The next night it was 37 and the last two nights we have been running 45 and 46 people, he said. There is an extreme need out there.

The Mission's outreach worker counted 18 people sleeping on the streets Sunday night.

Our facility is not set up to handle 120, 130 people all at once, he said. It is very crowded, very challenging. It is certainly not something we can sustain in the long run, he said.

Benson said what the City of Kelowna needs now is another location that can be used as an extreme weather shelter.

"This is a crisis situation, he said. I think oftentimes the homeless are unseen, unrecognized and probably forgotten, but I think this need and crisis is just as critical.
Photo: Twitter

Mounties are praising a North Vancouver resident for turning in an envelope full of cash that appears to be someone's rent.

They say the envelope marked "rent money" was found in a shopping cart at a grocery store, but they are not divulging the amount or the name of the store.

The envelope had bills of various denominations and police say the rightful owner of the money should be able to name the location of the store and the amount of money lost.

They are describing the person who turned it in as a "very honest" resident.
Photo: Contributed

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran says he's frustrated at local attitudes on climate change.

Basran made the comment after a presentation on extreme weather events in the city this year and their link to climate change.

That followed a report on the city's citizen survey, in which a lack of traffic flow was one of the biggest gripes.

Basran said he's frustrated by what he sees as a disconnect where, on one hand, the city was devastated by major flooding and a month of smoky skies, but, on the other hand, people want more roads and more traffic lanes to accommodate more vehicles.

"Does one need more of a signal than: can't go outside, basements are flooded?" asked the mayor.

"I guess that's the question I'm asking. What is it going to take for people to change their behaviour? If it's not a summer like the one we've had, then what is it going to be?"

While councils will use citizen surveys to help plan, Basran said the challenge of any council is to balance its priorities with the wants and needs of the community.

"How do we still invest in the things residents have clearly told us they want, but also invest in things science shows we clearly need and evidence shows us we clearly need? This is an age-old dilemma.

"If people are not willing to make change after the summer we've had, when will they?"

Basran said the city will continue to invest in what he calls a balanced transportation network, which includes active transportation corridors and transit infrastructure to get people out of vehicles, as well as roads.

Personally, the mayor said he has relocated to an area of town where he and his wife can both walk to work and their children are able to walk to school.

He said people need to look at themselves and ask: what can I do?

In his presentation on this year's extreme weather, planner Ross Soward said climate change is going to happen.

"This report is not meant to be negative, but it's meant to put out some of these issues to prepare us as we try to take steps to position ourselves and respond to the changes that are going to come in the next five, 10, 20 years.

"It's a significant issue that will require a significant response."
AUBURN  Sarah Stenuf is far away from Rocket City now.

Living in Auburn with her wife, Jennifer, and 3-year-old son, Gracen, the 28-year-old Army veteran is still haunted by her days at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Afghanistan.

It was nicknamed "Rocket City," "The City of Lights" and "The Bowl" due to the heavy Taliban fire it received. The base was home for Stenuf in 2010, when she was an Apache attack helicopter crew chief. Accompanied by her family in an interview on Nov. 1, she explained that she was a mechanic, making sure her "bird" was ready for missions.

The Syracuse native had wanted to serve in the military since seventh grade, and so when she suffered multiple concussions during hand-to-hand combat training between 2009 and 2010, she kept her resulting seizures quiet. She deployed from Fort Drum in Watertown to FOB Salerno, and despite looking out at "Taliban Hill" every morning, she did her job and liked it. One of two women in her line crew, Stenuf was living her dream.

Little did she know an incoming attack in Afghanistan would change her life path dramatically.

At the end of October, Stenuf officially became the owner of a limited liability company called Happy Healing 420. Based in Auburn for now, she is working to create a space where patients in the state's Medical Marijuana Program can commune and use their medications, and learn more about the health benefits of marijuana and other available resources.

Stenuf said she uses the plant herself to treat many of her health conditions, namely post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, insomnia and chronic pain. Cannabis works for Stenuf  but it was a long road to finding that out.

A month and a half away from completing her deployment, she had had a seizure down range (in a combat zone). She was transported to a hospital in Germany, unable to fly back to the states because the elevation would cause her to experience seizures.

"All I'm doing now is just figuring out how to stay in the military," she recalled. "I'm not even doing my job. My guys are still down range. They're still deployed. I'm the scumbag that's still got all my limbs, all my legs, all my eyes. I'm with a bunch of guys that are blown up and burned, and I'm here because I have seizures."

Doctors prescribed Stenuf 13 different medications. On bad days, that could mean 40 pills in 24 hours. Depressed and angry, Stenuf said she turned to alcohol and cocaine. She attempted suicide three times.

On May 31, 2013, Stenuf was discharged from the military. She checked into a Veterans Affairs center, but couldn't get into a drug treatment program. Calling around to different facilities, trying desperately to get help, a few new people entered her life and began to turn things around.

While shooting pool at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Stenuf met a World War II veteran. He was missing his legs, one arm and part of his face, and he'd have Stenuf hop on the back of his motorized scooter and take her into the woods to smoke cannabis, she said. Stenuf laughed as she remembered her friend.

Medical marijuana company expands delivery service to Cayuga County One of New York's registered medical marijuana companies will expand its home delivery servi

"That was actually my first introduction, medically wise, to cannabis," Stenuf said. "He actually helped me get off a lot of the pills I was on at the time."

The VA was also where Stenuf met Jennifer and Gracen. The mother and son would come in to visit Jennifer's uncle, and over time, Sarah and Jennifer fell in love. Gracen would fall asleep on Sarah's shoulder, and she said she was amazed at how content and happy he looked there, with her.

"What is this little thing?" she said, recalling the first time he fell asleep in her arms. "It's staying with me? This thing is cool."

During the interview on Nov. 1, Gracen looked up from his coloring book and grinned at Sarah.

"Yeah you!" she said to her son, and he laughed.

Jennifer said that at first, she was dead set against Sarah's cannabis use. But as Sarah started taking fewer pills, Jennifer said she stopped acting like a zombie.

"I think the transitions from medication to medical marijuana, it was a slow transition," Jennifer said. "I think it was something she wasn't completely aware of, the amount of change that took place when she was transitioning. I got to witness that."

Sarah, however, is deeply critical of the state's Medical Marijuana Program. She said there is no equal access to cannabis medication, and that what is available is expensive. She feels the program has been set up to fail.

Stenuf advocates for the decriminalization of cannabis and has traveled the country telling her story. She's learned what has worked and what has not in other states. She hopes to make a difference in her own state, working to start a nonprofit homestead for veterans transitioning from active duty. She wants to set up temporary housing and teach them how to grow cannabis, educate them about its health benefits and get them working, making money and contributing to society in a way beneficial to themselves and to others.

That dream is tricky, she realizes, as she works to stay within the state's legal boundaries.

"In the cannabis industry, you really walk a thin line, and you really have to make sure you're on your game and doing everything correctly," she said. "I mean, I got 420 in my name. I've got a big pot leaf as the American flag as my logo."

Stenuf laughed. Balancing the business and the advocacy, she hopes to break the stigma surrounding marijuana and eventually see the state decriminalize and legalize the organic plant that helped her get her life back. With her "bird" tattooed on her arm and her American flag pot leaf pin on her lapel, Stenuf is ready to fight her next battle  and win.
Photo: Google Street View

Officials with Tolko say the fire at the company's Lakeview sawmill operation in Williams Lake continues to smolder.

In a news release Monday evening, officials with the company say the fire, which broke out Thursday evening, had several flare-ups over the weekend and into Monday.

The fire, confined mainly to the office section of the mill, was burning between the ceiling and roof making it difficult to fight from the outside. It was not safe to access from the inside.

The fire was still smoldering Monday evening, but under control.

A preliminary assessment of damage has been complete, with structural engineers now beginning to determine the integrity of the building.

That work is expected to be done in the next few days.

The planer mill, which is in a separate building, is back up and running.

Once the site is safe and secure, Tolko says it plans to put a recovery plan in place to determine when the rest of the mill can resume operations.
Photo: CTV

Metro Vancouver residents are paying the highest gas prices in North America.

And the cost of the liquid gold is expected to rise even more.

The current average in the Lower Mainland is $1.44, but that is expected to break the $1.47 mark this weekend.

The Okanagan is not that far behind, with the pump price coming in at $1.39 despite not having the transit taxes Lower Mainland residents pay on a litre of gas.

Read more
Photo: Castanet File Photo

There were a lot of positives to come out of the latest Kelowna Citizen Survey.

That was the message Mayor Colin Basran portrayed Monday afternoon.

"Given today's social media world, it's really easy to focus on the negative things, but lets not lose sight on the fact there is a lot of good news coming out of this survey," said Basran.

"There will be people who choose to focus solely on the negative, and we know there are a lot of great things happening here."

The survey, produced every two years by Ipsos Public Affairs, gives the city a positive overall report, but Ipsos spokesperson Catherine Knaus told council there are some warning signs when it comes to social issues.

For example, it does indicate, while nearly 95 per cent say they have a good quality of life in Kelowna, a third said that quality of life has worsened since the last survey.

While traffic congestion is one of the reasons cited, the rest of the reasons indicated by more than 10 per cent of people surrounded social issues.

These include rising cost of living (18%), drugs (14%), too crowded (13%), housing affordability (12%) and increased poverty and homelessness (11%).

Knaus said social issues have become more common in other communities across the country, but indicated the concern was higher in Kelowna than in other communities.

"Given the pressures we as a council are feeling in terms of where investments should be taking place, not really any surprises per se, because I think we would agree with everything we are hearing with this survey," said Basran.

"It was previous to this survey coming out that we adjusted our council priorities because we knew social issues were very prevalent and were becoming a major concern with our residents."

Basran said the city is trying to make progress where it can but, when it comes to social and mobility issues, there are no quick, easy, or inexpensive fixes for either of the challenges. I applaud council for trying to chip away at both of those."

The mayor also applauded city staff, which continues to get high marks for overall service and courteousness.
Photo: Abbotsford Police Department Const. John Davidson

UPDATE: 1:25 p.m.

A man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of an Abbotsford police officer on Monday.

The charge against Oscar Ferdinand Arfmann, born in 1952, was laid in Abbotsford provincial court Tuesday.

Arfmann remains in custody.

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m.

Abbotsford Police department have named the police officer who died in the line of duty Monday.

Const. John Davidson worked as a police officer for 24 years and has been with the Abbotsford Police Department since 2006.

John was a dedicated police officer who devoted so much of his time to connecting with the community and helping kids, said Const. Ian MacDonald.

Const. Davidson is survived by his wife and three adult children.

ORIGINAL: 6:15 a.m.

A memorial for a police officer killed in the line of duty, Monday, is growing outside the Abbotsford Police Department headquarters.

Candles, flowers and notes are being left in tribute to the constable who was shot and killed in a confrontation over a stolen car.

Monday night, first responders lined the Brunette overpass as a procession of police vehicles filed by.

The officer, who has yet to be named, is being remembered as a hero after he died in an exchange of gunfire with a man accused of shooting at people in a parking lot.

Chief Bob Rich of the Abbotsford Police Department said officers were called about a vehicle stolen from MSA Ford, and the confrontation erupted in the parking lot of a shopping complex about 11:30 a.m.

A caller blocked the suspect's vehicle in while waiting for police to arrive.

"Unfortunately, a male suspect emerged from that vehicle and began shooting at the caller and others with a shotgun," Rich said at a news conference.

"There was an exchange of gunfire," Rich said. "The horrible part of this story, our injured APD officer was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after he arrived."

The suspect, a man in his 60s from Alberta, was apprehended at Mt. Lehman Road and Fraser Highway, and taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

"Our officers' actions today, all of them, were absolutely heroic," Rich said.

Premier John Horgan issued a statement on Twitter expressing his condolences to the family of the police officer.

"Deeply saddened to hear of the death of an Abbotsford police officer today. My heartfelt condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues," he said.

- with files from the Canadian Press.
Photo: The Canadian Press Lesley Barron Kerr looks over a signed letter from the Queen to her great-grandfather.

Lesley Barron Kerr doesn't remember the last time she saw the Victoria Cross that her great-grandfather, Colin Barron, received for heroism at the Battle of Passchendaele. But she's hoping to hold it again soon.

It has been 30 years since Kerr's father sold the military medal  the British Empire's highest award for bravery and courage on the battlefield  for $25,000 to help support himself and his only daughter.

"My grandmother may have been alive at the time when she gave it to him," Kerr says. "And then because my father was a single father raising me, he had to sell it to pay the mortgage to pay the house."

Kerr, who runs a large karate-school business in Toronto, still has the citation and box given to her great-grandfather nearly a century ago. Since her father died in 2005, she has been trying to find the medal as well.

Now it has resurfaced, and Kerr is hoping to bring it back into the family. But it won't be easy.

Barron's Victoria Cross will go up for auction next month  with the bidding expected to start around $250,000.

Barron was one of nine Canadians to receive a Victoria Cross for his actions at Passchendaele, which has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest and most controversial battles of the First World War.

On Nov. 6, 1917, the 24-year-old, who was born in Scotland but moved to Canada in 1910, managed to sneak behind the German lines and take out several machine-guns that had been holding up the Canadian attack.

The citation for Barron's Victoria Cross would later credit his actions with having "produced far-reaching results, and enabled the advance to be continued."

He died at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto in 1958.
Photo: Thinkstock.com

An Ontario backbench member of Parliament tabled a bill Monday to amend Canada's insolvency laws so they offer more protections to pension plans, post-retirement benefits and severance when a company is in deep financial trouble.

The treatment of pensions during court-supervised restructurings has been a long-simmering issue but has attracted new attention since Sears Canada sought protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act.

In addition to ending post-retirement health benefits and severance payments immediately, Sears Canada's collapse meant future pension payments could be cut if there aren't sufficient assets to make up its solvency deficit.

Scott Duvall, a New Democrat MP who represents a riding in Hamilton, Ont., said Monday in the Commons that his amendments would make changes to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act as well as the CCAA.

"We must fix the imbalances to current legislation and provide Canadian workers, retirees and their families the protection they expect and deserve," Duvall said.

Bills introduced by backbench members of Parliament seldom make it through the legislative process to become law, but some advocates for change say the Sears Canada case has tapped into widespread anger about Canada's insolvency laws.

A spokeswoman for CARP, a national group for retirees, said Monday that the retailer's bankruptcy was the impetus for a petition and email-writing campaign begun in August "but the campaign is so much more than just Sears."
Photo: Contributed View of Vernon from Davison Orchards

UPDATE: 10:44 a.m.

An air quality advisory has been issued for the Vernon area, just hours after a similar advisory for the Lavington area.

The advisory, issued by the environment ministry and Interior Health, is due to high concentrations of fine particulates which are expected to persist until there is a change in current weather conditions.

"Sources of fine particulates contributing to this air quality episode include wood smoke, emissions from industry as well as transportation," said the release.

People with chronic underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, should postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease.

ORIGINAL: 7:15 a.m.

Elevated pollution levels have prompted an air quality advisory for the Lavington area for the second day in a row.

The advisory comes from the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in collaboration with Interior Health.

The advisory is due to a high concentration of fine particulates, which are expected to persist in the area until there is a change in weather conditions.

According to the advisory, people with chronic, underlying medical conditions should postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted.

Staying indoors, and in air-conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine-particulate exposure.
Photo: CBC/Dragon's Den

A rapidly expanding tech company, buoyed by its recent success on CBCs Dragons Den, has decided to make Kelowna its second home.

Based in Vancouver, Curatio is a social health platform that brings together patients dealing with similar illnesses.

Lynda Brown-Ganzert, the companys founder and CEO, says the lifestyle of the city wasn't a significant part of her decision. Instead, she was attracted to the citys tech "cluster."

For more on the tech cluster Brown-Ganzert sees forming in the city, as well as why Dragon's Den is still interested in Curatio, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge.
Photo: The Canadian Press Former prime minister Jean Chretien

The Trudeau government's politically bruised promise to ensure "tax fairness" for the middle class took another beating Monday amid unfolding revelations about the widespread and perfectly legal practice among ultra-wealthy Canadians of harbouring cash in offshore tax havens.

Included among the 13.4 million leaked documents, dubbed the "Paradise Papers," were the names of former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien and top party fundraiser Stephen Bronfman  the mere mention of whom gave fresh ammunition for the opposition to accuse Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of leading an ethically challenged government.

Neither the Canada Revenue Agency nor any court has determined that any of the Canadians identified in the documents did anything wrong, and both Bronfman and Chretien denied any involvement in offshore tax avoidance schemes.

Still, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer branded Trudeau a hypocrite for aggressively seeking to end tax advantages for small businesses, while doing next to nothing to crack down on complicated tax haven schemes used by the super-rich.

Guy Caron, the NDP point man in the Commons, joined in the fray, accusing the CRA of always letting the "big fish" go when it comes to tax evasion.

Trudeau refused to talk about any specific cases mentioned in the documents, but vowed to investigate Canadian connections.

"We are fully committed to fighting evasion and tax avoidance. I will let individuals comment on their own situations, but in regards to the Paradise Papers, the CRA is reviewing links to Canadian entities and will take every appropriate action," he told the Commons during question period.

The details, released by members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, mark the largest-ever leak of tax haven documents involving Canadians. The documents  client records from offshore law firm Appleby, as well as some records from offshore corporate services firms Estera and Asiaciti Trust  contain the names of more than 3,000 Canadians.

According to the Toronto Star and CBC/Radio Canada, records suggest Bronfman and his family's Montreal-based investment company, Claridge Inc., were linked to an offshore trust in the Cayman Islands. The report raised questions about a complicated series of transactions involving people with Liberal party ties.

In a statement, Bronfman said he made a single loan on an arm's-length, fully commercial basis some 25 years ago to the trust that was repaid five months later, a transaction that was fully in compliance with Canadian law.

Bronfman, a close personal friend of Trudeau, said he has never funded nor used offshore trusts, and that all his Canadian trusts have paid all federal taxes on their income.
Photo: Contributed

A large crowd is expected to descend upon Lake Country council chambers tonight.

On the agenda, the proposed sale of a portion of Gable Beach in Carr's Landing.

The municipality is entertaining an offer from three adjacent property owners to sell a portion of what is know as Gable Road end for $1.34 million.

The municipality would use $1.1 million of that to pay down the $2.6 million Kelowna lent the district to help purchase the portion of the Okanagan Rail Trail that runs through Lake Country.

Lake Country claims the unmaintained portion of road right-of-way along the waterfront in the vicinity of Gable and Toby roads as nonaessential to future park planning efforts by the district.

Residents of the area disagree.

Friend's of Carr's Landing Public Beaches have been busy drumming up opposition to the sale.

To date, more than 1,300 people have signed a petition they plan to present to council.

"We are encouraging as many people to attend (the council meeting) wearing something red, to ask the council to stop the sale and to protect the whole area as a formal park for generations to come," said Cara Reed.

The group believes the property owners could erect unsightly private docks along the shoreline and remove much of the natural vegetation in the area.
The American Red Cross legacy of service to members of the military began with Clara Barton providing comfort on the battlefields of the Civil War. Since then, Red Cross staff and volunteers have served in every major military combat or conflict operation around the world. They have served as ambulance drivers, nurses, field directors, canteen, hospital, recreation workers and station managers.

Every day, across the country and around the world, more than 12,600 Red Cross volunteers devote their time and talents to fulfill the Red Cross mission of supporting our nations heroes and their families.

Here at home, through our strong network of community partners, volunteers and staff, we are able to reach every corner of the 26-county western and central New York region. I am heartened by the opportunities to engage our veterans, active military, reservists and their families.

There are more than 20 military installations and facilities in the region, including Coast Guard, Air Force and Army National Guard, as well as Navy, Army and Air Force Reserve. We have two military entrance processing stations and five VA hospitals.

Were also extremely fortunate to have more than 200 Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers in the region. Volunteers carry out 90 percent of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross, and our vital work is only possible because of them.

On Oct. 21, several SAF and other Red Cross volunteers partnered with the Cincinnatus Volunteer Fire Department to install free smoke alarms in homes throughout the community. On that same day, volunteers visited homes in the Steuben County communities of Gang Mills and Painted Post. The ongoing Home Fire Campaign helps save lives by installing free smoke alarms in homes that need them, and by educating people about home fire safety. SAF is supporting that effort in robust fashion, communicating important fire safety information throughout military-connected communities.

This past weekend, the Red Cross participated in the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo in Syracuse to extend our appreciation to veterans for their military service and to recognize their importance in our communities.

On Veterans Day, were presenting information on services available to veterans and their families at the Seneca County Stand Down event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waterloo VFW Post 6433. In Wayne County, were hosting a Military Family Salute and Reconnection Lunch at Palmyra VFW Post 6778. The event is free for all local veterans, reservists, National Guard members, active duty personnel and military families. In addition to the lunch, local military, veteran and community agencies will be represented, providing information on local resources and programs. The lunch will be preceded by the posts Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a commemoration ceremony at 1:30 p.m. to thank and honor all veterans of the Vietnam War and their families. The ceremony is open to the public and to all veterans of the armed forces.

While we have many other events on our calendar in the months ahead, its important to remember that Red Cross volunteers are there for our military 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether delivering comfort items to ill or injured service members at a military hospital, providing mental health skill-building workshops to military families, or assisting families during an emergency, its through the efforts of ordinary people that we can do extraordinary things.

We are grateful to the many individuals and families in our region who have dedicated their lives to military service, and proud of our opportunity to serve you.
Photo: C.C. Jentsch Cellars Facebook Chris and Betty Jentsch

A $100-million winery under construction in the South Okanagan has gobbled up another vineyard as it prepares to open in 2019.

Phantom Creek Estates has purchased 63 acres of vineyard from C.C. Jentsch Cellars on Olivers Golden Mile Bench.

In a Facebook post, C.C. Jentsch Cellars owners Chris and Betty Jentsch said they are looking forward to downsizing and relaxing a bit.

One neighbour has for years been saying Chris you have to start smelling the roses before you are looking at their roots, the post reads.

The winery will continue to create wine from three remaining vineyard sites near Testalinda Creek, the Black Sage Bench and in Summerland.

Chris Jentsch declined to comment further.

Phantom Creek Estates is being funded by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, and will feature a 72,000-square-foot winery on Black Sage Road with a restaurant and amphitheatre.
Photo: CTV A Kelowna man is out $2,500 after lying about how much cash he was flying with.

An elderly Kelowna man is out $2,500 after lying to a border officer about the amount of cash he was carrying on a flight out of the country.

Istvan Pesti, a 74-year-old Hungarian immigrant who has lived in Canada for 46 years, was flying to Budapest in June 2016 to purchase a home.

He flew out of Kelowna International Airport on June 14, stopping in Calgary, en route to Europe.

At the Calgary airport, Pesti told a border services officer he was carrying $8,000 in cash, but after searching his luggage, the officer found $17,651.20 CAD and $1,070 USD.

He was shocked and confused when the border officer began asking him questions, and was scared that being honest with the border officer might result in him not being able to board the plane, reads a recent judgment.

Pesti argued the money was part of his retirement savings and he was planning on putting a down payment on a house in Budapest.

Despite the claim, the officer seized the cash on the basis that he had reasonable grounds to suspect that it was proceeds of crime.

On Feb. 8, 2017, the Canada Border Services Agency determined the funds were legitimate and returned the seized cash, minus a $2,500 fine for failing to report all his cash to the officer.

Pesti applied to have the fine dismissed, arguing the penalty is too harsh and he was not aware of the rules of disclosure.

While Justice Manson had some sympathy for Pesti, he determined the fine was not unreasonable and dismissed Pesti's application.
Photo: The Canadian Press Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is warning homeowners if they fail to declare their property status by Feb. 2, they will face the city's empty homes tax plus a $250 fine.

The tax is one per cent of a home's assessed value.

It affects any property that is not a principal residence and is not occupied for six months a year.

Robertson says property owners can expect to receive instructions in the mail starting this week on how to make their declarations.

He says there is a $10,000 fine for false declarations and the city is in the process of setting up an enforcement system that will include hiring staff in the new year.

The tax is the first of its kind in Canada and is aimed at freeing up as many as 20,000 units for rent as the city's vacancy rate hovers near zero.

Robertson says the city must do everything it can to ease the housing crunch, and it's also proceeding with a plan to open 600 new units of temporary modular housing for the homeless.
Photo: Jenn Keast The third bike that Garrett Keast has had stolen from him in 2017.

An unlucky teenager who had three bikes stolen this year has received some help from the community.

Garrett Keast, 13, had a BMX and a mountain bike stolen from the garage of his Penticton home in the spring.

His mother, Jenn Keast, said the garage was closed and the thieves had entered through a locked back gate.

"I ended up finding the BMX destroyed" Jenn said. "So it was no good, he can't use it. And then his mountain bike was gone. He had bought that for his birthday with his own birthday money."

Two weeks ago, he had another mountain bike stolen from outside of McDonald's on Main Street where he had left it for about 10 minutes, according to Jenn.

Garrett had bought the third bike from a friend, and spent the summer fixing it up with money he earned working, Jenn said.

"He put all the pieces on it. New tires, everything... Out of his pocket he spent over $1,000.

"Before he even started his mountain bike, he bought his helmet to appease me, which was like a $300-dollar helmet, with his very first paycheque. He worked really hard."

The losses were devastating for Garrett, as his mother explained.

It was why she started a crowd-fundraiser on GoFundMe for her son on Thursday.

"I wanted to try and help him, but I have three kids and that's not exactly just something I can just go out and buy for him," Jenn said.

"So I thought I would see if my family and friends could help out."

And they did.

Jenn started the fundraiser with a goal to raise $1,000 for her son, and in four days more than $1,150 had been donated to Garrett's bike fund.

"It's incredible that people are willing to help out and see that a kid worked really hard and deserves to still be able to ride and not have that taken away from him.

"I think (Garrett) is in shock."

Jenn added that Double O Bikes in Osoyoos has offered Garrett to purchase one of their demo-bikes, with money he comes up with by Friday.

"If he comes up with $1,200 bucks then they're going to try and get him into the best bike for $1,200 bucks."
A downtown Auburn restaurant will soon begin serving its own beer  but its owners are no strangers to brewing.

The Copper Pig BBQ & Taproom owners Dawn and Marc Schulz said Friday that their 10 E. Genesee St. restaurant is on track to begin serving four house beers by the beginning of 2018. The Schulzes said it will be a "gypsy brewing" operation, meaning they will hire brewers to make batches of Copper Pig beer at other breweries, not one of their own.

Gypsy brewing will allow the Schulzes to avoid investing in production equipment, which would also be difficult to fit inside The Copper Pig, they said. As opposed to contract brewing  in which breweries produce batches for other, usually smaller breweries  gypsy brewers (Grimm, Evil Twin) are given access to a brewery's equipment and retain complete control over their product.

The Schulzes said they have been in touch with a few brewers and breweries in the Finger Lakes about making Copper Pig beer. And one of those breweries could be their own: Prison City Pub & Brewery. The 28 State St. brewpub could be one site of Copper Pig beer production, they said, but the Schulzes are primarily looking at facilities that are bigger than Prison City's 5-barrel system. Decorated Prison City brewer Ben Maeso also won't be directly involved in Copper Pig brewing operations, they added, but he could provide some advice and oversight.

The Copper Pig: Inside the Prison City owners' new Auburn barbecue restaurant AUBURN  Though Dawn and Marc Schulz opened Prison City Pub & Brewery in the heart of Au

The Copper Pig's four house beers will likely be a pale ale, an India pale ale, a Belgian wit and a rotating seasonal option, all selected because of how they'll complement the restaurant's food. The Schulzes will install a Crowler machine so that customers can purchase Copper Pig beers in 32-ounce cans to go, they said. The Crowlers will be available at a retail area that's taking shape in the front of the restaurant's dining room. Also for sale there will be Copper Pig barbecue sauce, merchandise like T-shirts and glasses, and takeout meals.

As the Schulzes introduce house beers to the restaurant, they're also mixing up its menu. With the arrival of a new chef from Texas, The Copper Pig will soon add more unique burger options, "adult" milkshakes with alcohol in them, and more Tex-Mex (enchiladas, burritos). The Schulzes said they're adding more of the latter in response to the popularity of their Taco Tuesday promotion.

Though it took a year and a half for their restaurant to become The Copper Pig BBQ, Taproom & Brewery, the Schulzes said they've planned the expansion since before it opened in June 2016. Given their success with craft beer at Prison City, they expect the move won't be seen as capitalizing on a trend, but continuing to grow a scene they've been a part of for years.

"We feel a lot of pride that Auburn's got this awesome culture of craft beer right now," Marc Schulz said. "We've been working on that, trying to promote craft beer in this town."
After weeks of campaigning, dozens of men and women running for elected office in the Cayuga County area will hear from voters today.

The 2017 general election features races at the county, city and town level. In the local area, that includes at least four contested races for town supervisor seats, five head-to-head battles for Cayuga County Legislature and the high-profile contest for two Auburn City Council seats. There have also been multiple write-in campaigns mounted in local elections this campaign season.

In addition to choosing candidates for municipal offices, voters will make decisions on at least three ballot propositions. Statewide ballot questions are included this year on a New York Constitutional Convention, pension forfeitures for convicted state officials and a state forest preserve land bank program. There are also local ballot questions in a handful of local communities.

Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Polling places in Cayuga County and in the towns of Elbridge and Skaneateles are the same as the last general election. For questions about where to vote in Cayuga County, call (315) 253-1285 or (315) 253-1286. In Onondaga County, call (315) 435-8683.
A woman from Auburn was found dead in Illinois Sunday in what local police have called a hit-and-run.

Tricia Hoyt, 35, died from multiple injuries after being struck by a vehicle in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook sometime between 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Hoyt is an Auburn native who graduated from Auburn High School and attended Cayuga Community College. She was living in Orland Park, Illinois, and was a mother of two children, ages 6 and 8.

According to local media reports, Hoyt was in the Bolingbrook area for a gathering with friends Saturday night. She was walking along the road when she was struck. Police were notified of an unresponsive person by the side of the road, but when they arrived at the scene, Hoyt was already dead.

Thursday, 19-year-old Eduardo Avila Jr. was charged with failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death, and failure to report the same. An arrest warrant with a bond of $500,000 has been issued by Bolingbrook police.
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Despite some great journalism, DNAinfo, owned by Joe Ricketts, reportedly never swung a profit.

Despite some great journalism, DNAinfo, owned by Joe Ricketts, reportedly never swung a profit. (Nati Harnik / AP)

The fast and furious death of DNAinfo, part of a respected but unprofitable online neighborhood news operation, raises a nagging question: Can hyperlocal news sites ever really make it?

By make it, I mean money.

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You know, the end result from selling subscriptions, advertising or something unique enough to attract paying customers and clients.

As traditional big-city newspaper and commercial broadcast industries are painfully learning, attracting and keeping business in the digital age is an increasingly difficult task. Its also proving daunting for upstart sites  like DNAinfo  which market neighborhood news and information via the vast World Wide Web.

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Its so tough to turn a buck that some suggest these hyperlocal online sites forget about making money and turn into tax-exempt, not-for-profit organizations backed by donations and community grants.

I think hyperlocal is a solvable problem  but its very, very hard, says David Card, New York-based research director for Street Fight, which follows local marketing and media trends.

The recent shutdown of DNAinfo, which will leave 119 people out of work in Chicago, New York and other cities, was accompanied by unique circumstances.

Owner Joe Ricketts dismantled his media company after its New York office unionized  a snap decision that smacks more of spite than keen, cool-headed entrepreneurial reasoning.

Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade whose family owns the Chicago Cubs, launched DNAinfo in New York City in 2009; three years later DNAinfo Chicago was started. Earlier this year, it acquired Gothamist, which had sites in five major cities.

The network had a healthy following, attracting up to 15 million visits per month. In Chicago, DNAinfo cast a needed, watchful eye on neighborhood politics, business development, crime and other events with professionalism and panache.

[ DNAinfo, Gothamist news sites shut down by billionaire Joe Ricketts after union vote ]

[ Zorn: DNAinfo was a vital building block for news ]

[ After DNAinfo shuttered, Chicago journalists pony up for drinks ]

Yet despite some great journalism, DNAinfo reportedly never swung a profit. In closing up shop, Ricketts said his company couldnt craft a successful business model and he chided New Yorks labor movement as another impediment to profitability.

Yes, one could argue that if Ricketts had been less reactionary and had given the site more time, it could have become a sustainable moneymaker. But, frankly, DNAinfos business outlook was never very promising.

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Why?

When it comes to hyperlocal news sites, getting folks to regularly pay for news and information they have enjoyed for free is tricky and may not be worth a small organizations effort.

These sites dont have a lot of readers to begin with, so even if they get 10 to 15 percent of them to subscribe, its hard to pay off, said Card.

Another obstacle is the challenge of wooing local advertising. The typical community bar, shop or restaurant is often thinly capitalized and not in a rush to spend hard-earned cash on digital ads. Meanwhile, national and regional advertisers want a big bang for their dollar. They tend to tap larger websites or social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

DNAinfo was not the only hyperlocal site coping with a tough business environment.

AOL lost $200 million to $300 million on the Patch network of community sites before giving up and selling to a private equity group a few years ago. Patch has an Illinois presence that includes Chicago neighborhoods and suburban sites. (Privately held Patch says its on pace to make money this year.)

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The once-expansive Everyblock, owned by NBC Universal, has been greatly downsized to eight metro markets, including one covering Chicago neighborhoods.

Neither site offers the depth of news coverage that DNAinfo supplied to its users. While DNAinfo had an aggressive dedicated reporting staff, Patch offers some staff news but is also highly dependent on postings from community observers. Everyblock tends to focus on free content about community events, bazaars, meetings and other happenings.

Despite the financial turmoil, there remain small entrants lusting to enter the hyperlocal news and information business. Yet faced with the prospect of limited business opportunities, theres been thought about pivoting away from the for-profit model in favor of becoming nonprofit.

Thats an intriguing idea but one with its own pitfalls and problems. Keep in mind that attracting local philanthropists or foundations can often be as challenging as winning over new advertising accounts.

In Chicago and other big markets, DNAinfo proved theres a desire for solid, important community journalism that speaks to the neighborhoods  areas that a contracting mainstream media can no longer afford to cover.

Shouldnt there be a way to tap into that demand, make money and keep the good work coming?

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roreed@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReedTribBiz
Dozens of protesters rally outside the Rock n Roll McDonald's at 600 N. Clark St. in Chicago to demand $15 per hour pay, Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Newton Ingram typically begins his workday at 5 a.m., sorting packages at a UPS plant. Four hours later, he clocks out, slips home for a nap and then starts a new shift at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where he mans a curbside check-in booth for Southwest Airlines.

This routine nets Ingram, 52, about $28,000 per year. He's been patching together these 40-hour weeks for a decade.

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He didn't think it would take this long to land a full-time position.

"One of these jobs will offer that full-time opportunity, and that's the direction I'll go," Ingram said. "I like the work. I want to stay. But doing both - it's mentally and physically draining. It's hard to get by."

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President Donald Trump often touts the "roaring" economy, and it's true the country's engine is running smoothly by some important metrics: the unemployment rate now sits at a 17-year low, and the United States just recorded its 100th straight month of job growth.

But 4.8 million Americans still report feeling stuck in a part-time job when they desire full-time work, according to Friday's jobs report, even as employers nationwide complain about labor shortages.

Before the downturn, in the first quarter of 2007, only 2.9 percent of workers identified as "involuntary" part-timers, government data show. That share surged up to 6.7 percent by March 2010 and dropped down at last year's end to 3.8 percent.

October brought more improvement, with 369,000 more Americans exiting unwanted part-time status, shrinking the percentage of involuntary part-timers to 3.4 percent. Still, the country has not returned to pre-crisis levels on this measure, which worries some economists.

"We are continuing to see this steady improvement, but there is still this slack in the labor market," said Heidi Shierholz, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.

As much as 40 percent of workers, in general, still say they would like more hours, according to an analysis of national estimates by Lonnie Golden, senior research analyst on the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"They're trying to keep up with expenses," he said. "There's college tuition, the rent, and wages are flat. Even people with 40-hour weeks are hungry for overtime."

Pay growth has stalled over the past 10 years, dropping from a 4.2 percent year-over-year boost in March 2007 to last month's dismal 2.3 percent. Economists blame the stagnation on the waning power of unions and the proliferation of lower-paid jobs (such as elder care roles) as the number of better-compensated positions (such as factory work) has declined.

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The underemployment trend is more pronounced in some Midwestern areas, Golden added. In Illinois, for example, the current number of part-timers who seek more hours - roughly 200,000 - is still double what it was before the recession.

Some employers, too, continue to "over-rely" on a part-time workforce, particularly in hospitality, retail and food, he said. That keeps staffing costs down, since companies don't have to pay benefits.

Ingram, the Florida worker juggling two jobs, figured he would have to prove himself before a full-time position opened at either company.

At UPS, which pays him about $18 an hour, package sorters can get promoted into truck-driving roles, which come with full-time hours and higher wages.

"Those jobs go to senior employees," he said. "I knew I'd have to put in time."

At the airport, the Service Employees International Union, which represents Ingram and other customer service employees, is pushing for more full-time jobs.

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So he remains hopeful. But he wishes politicians would remember workers like him.

"These full-time jobs they talk about -- a lot of the time they are low-paying jobs, like the majority of jobs I see," Ingram said. "I want the American dream I've been working toward."

After the monthly mortgage payment on the townhouse he shares with his wife, there's little cash left over for anything but groceries and gas for his 250-mile weekly commute. For his birthday next week, he might indulge in an ice cream cake.

The last time the couple splurged, Ingram said, was about six months ago, at an Italian restaurant for their 12th wedding anniversary.

"I want to be able to take my wife on dates," he said, "without worrying about the bills."
Under amendments to the Condominium Property Act that take effect Jan. 1, condo associations must give telephone numbers and email addresses of unit owners to any requesting unit owner. The requester doesn't have to state a proper purpose. (blackred / Getty Images)

Q: I am a unit owner in a condominium association and recently received a letter from the management company advising unit owners that the Illinois Condominium Property Act has been amended to allow any unit owners to request telephone and email addresses of other unit owners in the association beginning Jan. 1, 2018. Is this information correct and can unit owners opt out of providing such information?

A: Illinois House Bill 189 was adopted in 2017 and will become effective Jan. 1. The legislation revises many aspects of the Condominium Property Act; Section 19 was amended to require condominium associations to keep telephone numbers and email addresses of unit owners and provide such information to a requesting unit owner. The requester does not have to state a proper purpose.

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The legislature attempted to mitigate potential abuse of such information by allowing the board to require a written statement from the requesting unit owner noting that such information will not be used for a commercial purpose. The new language of Section 19 defines commercial as for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services.

It may be in unit owners best interest to designate a telephone number and email address they wish to be used for Section 19 requests  perhaps including a newly created email address.

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Many community association boards, unit owners and management companies have expressed concern about this new law. Some perceive it as infringing upon the privacy of unit owners who do not want to give out their telephone number or email address. Given that this legislation is now law, condominium associations must comply with it. However, individuals who are opposed should contact their elected officials demanding an opt-out amendment to this new requirement for unit owners who do not want such information provided to a requesting unit owner in their condominium association.

Q: I live in a suburban condominium association. Each unit has a designated garage parking space. Many residents are senior citizens who no longer drive, so they have been renting their garage spaces to other residents; however, our management company recently sent a letter to all unit owners that Illinois law prohibits a unit owner from renting the parking space assigned to their unit. Does Illinois have such a law?

A: There is no Illinois statute or law that specifically prohibits leasing of condominium parking spaces (or even residential units). Any restrictions on leasing a parking space would be contained in the governing documents of the association. If the declaration and bylaws do, in fact, restrict leasing of parking spaces, then the management company may have been correct that parking spaces may not be rented, but the stated basis was incorrect.

Q: I purchased a condominium unit approximately 10 years after it was constructed. Because of a recent board statement that a special assessment is imminent, I reviewed my units percentage of ownership. I noticed a significant discrepancy between mine and other units with the same square footage and view. Is there a way to have my units percentage of ownership adjusted?

A: Section 4(e) of the Condominium Property Act details how a condominium developer sets unit percentages, which is based on the value of each unit. Unit percentages are set by the initial offering price of a particular unit divided by the total value of all the initial unit offering prices. Section 4(e) goes on to state that the unit percentages cannot be amended without unanimous consent of the owners.

While square footage and a view are the primary factors in value, they may not have been the only factors considered when setting the initial value of the unit in question.

Unless the developer provides evidence of an error or omission in the original setting of the unit percentages (which is unlikely), there is no basis to conclude that the difference in unit percentages was an error just because units of similar size or view have different unit percentages. If such evidence is obtained, the board could correct the error by a declaration amendment according to Section 27(b)(1) of the Condominium Property Act, which allows two-thirds of the board to do so. However, per Section 27(b)(3), the unit owners could initiate a series of procedures to reject such board action.

CondoAdviserQuestions@lplegal.com

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Alex Gonzalez of North Richland Hills, Texas performs a bugle salute during the tribute to veterans held Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at the American Legion Post 134 in Morton Grove. ( Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press )

John Slater insisted on standing during the ceremony Sunday that was designed to honor veterans like him, despite a stranger offering him a seat.

Slater, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, said he has lived in Morton Grove since 1960. He was among the approximately two dozen people who attended the Veterans Day ceremony at the American Legion Post 134 in Morton Grove.

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"I think it's appropriate to continue the tradition and I would like to see more support for the Veterans Day event from average citizens," Slater said, with one hand on a damp bench at the event to maintain steady footing.

Ron Sheirok, a Skokie resident of nearly 50 years, serves as Morton Grove's post commander.

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"Our post is the center point of the legion, in general, and also of the village," Sheirok said.

Sheirok served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967, stationed in the United States and Munich, Germany  where he was in the signal corps.

"This year we were very fortunate," he said. "We became the largest post in Illinois."

Sheirok said the Morton Grove post has more than 1,200 members.

"They're spread all over the nation but we still are the hub," he said of the membership.

Morton Grove Historical Society President Mark V. Matz said he attended the ceremony out of gratitude for the military personnel. He did not serve in the military.

"Thank you for all that you've done," Matz said, in a shout out to veterans and those currently serving. "We appreciate it and we honor and respect you."

Joe Gesicki, a Morton Grove resident since 1968, served as chaplain during the event and was part of the rifle salute squad.

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Gesicki served in the U.S army signal corps from 1956 to 1958, he said.

"I think it's marvelous to honor our veterans in any way or form," Gesicki said.

The event's keynote speaker was Bud Jones, a 32-year Park Ridge resident.

Jones enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955 and retired 23 years later.

He's a writer and appears on television as a commercial (and union) actor. After retiring from the military in 1978, Jones worked in public relations for the McDonald's corporation, he said.

Now 83, Jones said, "it's hard to put into words," about the privilege to be a keynote speaker after many years of military service.

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"I would much rather hear their stories than telling mine," he said.

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.
Today's Google Doodle features a colorful and lively ode to pad thai, easily Thailand's most famous dish. The seven-panel illustration goes through the basic steps of the recipe, while also offering a brief history.

But as Peter Meehan, editor of the dearly departed Lucky Peach magazine, wrote in 101 Easy Asian Recipes cookbook, "The internet, as you well know, is propped up by two things: pornography and easy renditions of pad thai. Neither simulacrum is as exciting as the real thing."

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To be clear, when done right, pad thai is a fascinating mixture of stir-fried noodles in a distinct tamarind-based sauce, which tastes sweet, sour, funky, nutty and spicy. It really is a marvel. But when pad thai is done wrong, you end up with a gooey pile of sweet noodles with some peanuts tossed on top.

Sadly, my experience eating the dish around Chicago confirms that the latter is far more prevalent than the former, though a few places serve admirable versions, like Ravenswoods Aroy Thai and Rosded in Lincoln Square.

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You can see what I mean by remembering your last takeout container of pad thai and comparing that to the stunningly beautiful plate assembled by Leela Punyaratabandhu on her Thai recipe site, She Simmers. Her intense examination of the dish took her five long blog posts, 20 ingredients and a good chunk of time to complete. It's no wonder why most places don't serve a credible version.

Of course, I distinctly remember my first plate of pad thai, which was probably overly sweet and a little gloopy, but still thrilling to my younger palate.

And that's why I like to think of most pad thai as an excellent gateway dish to the wonders of Thai cuisine. Fortunately, Chicago is packed with incredible Thai restaurants, including Andy's Thai Kitchen, Rainbow Cuisine, Sticky Rice, Tac Quick and Arun's, where you can find stunningly complex curries, insanely spicy papaya salads, and some of the crunchiest and juiciest fried chicken around.

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk

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Pro wrestler Maria Kanellis-Bennett has been in Chicago the past few weeks. (Tasos Katopodis / Getty )

Longtime professional wrestler Maria Kanellis-Bennett, an Ottawa native, is house hunting west of Chicago to be closer to her family as she prepares for the birth of her first child.

Kanellis-Bennett, 35, has been in the Chicago area the past few weeks. She posted Instagram shots from Wicker Park and the Oct. 22 Bears game at Soldier Field, among other local spots.

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She announced in September that she is expecting a baby with her husband, wrestler Mike Bennett. They wed in October 2014 in Chicago and recently lived in Providence, R.I.

After briefly attending Northern Illinois University, Kanellis-Bennett began competing as a wrestler in 2005. She posed for Playboy in 2008 and was named WWE Diva of the Year in 2009.

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Kanellis-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich were contestants on the third season of The Celebrity Apprentice, which aired in 2010. President Donald Trump, then the show host, fired Kanellis-Bennett for engaging in locker room talk.

tswartz@tribpub.com

Twitter @tracyswartz

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Talk about an awkward introduction. On Conan" Monday, Stephen Colbert and Conan OBrien recalled meeting each other at the Old Town Ale House in 1993.

I met you at the Old Town Ale House in Chicago, where (comedy writer) Robert Smigel introduced us so you would hire me, said Colbert, a Northwestern University graduate who was performing at Second City at the time.

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We were scouting for talent, said O'Brien, whose show Late Night with Conan O'Brien" premiered in September 1993.

And you said to me, I do not like you, go away, Colbert said. You go to hell is what you said.

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I said, You go to hell.' And then I said, I know talent, you dont have it and youll never make it in the business, O'Brien said.

That's exactly right, Colbert said. Word for word is what he said.

Conan," which is being taped at the Apollo Theater in New York this week, airs at 10 p.m. weeknights on TBS. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs at 10:35 p.m. weeknights on CBS.

tswartz@tribpub.com

Twitter @tracyswartz

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Director Taika Waititi with Tessa Thompson (in costume as Valkyrie) on the set of "Thor: Ragnarok." (Disney-Marvel Studios)

Following a growing backlash, the Walt Disney Co. has ended its ban on the Los Angeles Times from press screenings of its movies.

"We've had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we've agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics," a Disney spokesperson said Tuesday.

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Five critics groups had blasted the studio's media blackout of the newspaper and pledged to disqualify Disney's films from awards consideration until the blackout was lifted.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and the National Society of Film Critics jointly issued the statement Tuesday morning. The Toronto Film Critics Association joined the boycott on Tuesday as well. The New York Times and filmmaker Ava Duvernay also issued statements of support on Tuesday.

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A continued boycott by critics groups and other showbusiness organizations could have had widespread consequences for Disney during awards season. Disney's contenders include its live-action "Beauty and the Beast," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," animated films "Cars 3" and "Coco," and the upcoming "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

The controversy emerged on Nov. 3 when newspaper explained that the studio's films such as "Thor: Ragnarok" were not included in its holiday movie preview because of Disney's refusal to offer advance screenings in response to a Sept. 24 story the Times published that examined the business relationship between the company's flagship California theme park, Disneyland, and the city of Anaheim.

Disney responded the same day by alleging that the Times "showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards" in its coverage of Anaheim and Disneyland.

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Just weeks after he helped open the flood gates on Harvey Weinstein, investigative reporter Ronan Farrow promised another blockbuster.

In a Friday appearance on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," Farrow said he had been working on a follow-up to his explosive New Yorker article detailing allegations that the Hollywood film mogul had sexually harassed or assaulted 13 women. His new piece, he told Colbert, would explore the "machine that was so instrumental in keeping this quiet as long as it was quiet."

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On Monday, Farrow delivered. In a 5,300-word report for the magazine, titled "Harvey Weinstein's Army of Spies," he described a shadowy and elaborate intelligence operation commissioned by Weinstein to silence his accusers and suppress stories about his alleged serial abuse of actresses and other women. Actress Rose McGowan, who ultimately accused Weinstein of rape, was among those who said she was targeted by Weinstein's cadre of private investigators.

Starting last fall, Farrow reported, Weinstein hired private security firms to gather information on McGowan and other women, as well as several journalists looking into his conduct. One of the companies was Kroll, the corporate investigations and risk consulting firm based in Manhattan. The other was Black Cube, a Tel Aviv-based intelligence firm whose leaders include former officers of Mossad, Israel's spy agency.

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Weinstein personally monitored their work, the aim of which was, in effect, to bully people out of going public with the allegations, according to Farrow. "Weinstein had the agencies 'target,' or collect information on, dozens of individuals, and compile psychological profiles that sometimes focused on their personal or sexual histories," Farrow wrote. "He also enlisted former employees from his film enterprises to join in the effort, collecting names and placing calls that, according to some sources who received them, felt intimidating."

The article says Weinstein tried to hide the effort by routing contracts with the firms through his lawyers, including the litigator David Boies, who, among other things, represented Al Gore in litigation over the 2000 presidential election and joined with lawyer Theodore Olson to get the Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. By doing so, the investigations could conceivably be protected by attorney-client privilege.

The New York Times first reported in early October that Weinstein faced sexual harassment and assault allegations stretching back nearly three decades and had reached at least eight settlements with women. Days later, the New Yorker ran Farrow's first story, which described, among other things, conversations with three women who claimed to have been raped by Weinstein. Dozens of other women have since come forward with similar claims.

Weinstein has denied allegations of nonconsensual sex. A spokeswoman told the New Yorker that he never retaliated against women for refusing his advances, and said later it was a "fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time."

Farrow's story suggests that Weinstein's intelligence-gathering operation was carried out in large part by Black Cube. The story detailed how an agent from the firm, posing as an executive of a wealth management company, had duped McGowan into meeting with her on several occasions. The woman, who called herself Diana Filip, said she was starting a women's advocacy group and asked McGowan to help launch it, according to Farrow.

In reality, the woman was a former officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, Farrow wrote, citing anonymous sources. During their meetings, the woman appeared to have surreptitiously recorded McGowan and turned over more than 100 pages of transcripts to Weinstein. Weinstein's spokesperson denied the claim.

Farrow reported that the same woman contacted other reporters investigating Weinstein but identified herself as "Anna." Cellphone numbers the woman provided McGowan have since been disconnected, and a website for the woman's purported wealth management firm has gone dark, Farrow reported.

Black Cube was founded in 2010 by two former Israeli military intelligence officers, and most of its employees come from the country's spy community. It specializes in intelligence gathering in white-collar criminal cases and litigation between large companies.

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The firm has been hired by a number of high-profile clients over the years, including one of Israel's most powerful businessmen, Nochi Dankner, who sought damaging information on his business rivals, as Haaretz reported.

"Black Cube is a different breed of investigative company," the Financial Times wrote of the firm in 2015. "It does not just gather information for its clients, the company builds a body of evidence focused on a particular lawsuit, corporate attack or threat, and is known for its tenacity."

In 2016, two Black Cube employees were arrested in Romania on suspicion that they tried to intimidate and hack the emails of the country's lead anti-corruption prosecutor. Romanian authorities claimed one of the employees had harassed people close to the prosecutor and that both tried to set up a "criminal group" aimed at "sullying" her image, the Times of Israel reported. They were released after 20 days. The company denied wrongdoing.

By Farrow's account, Weinstein's intelligence operation used similar tactics. According to the New Yorker story, Black Cube signed a contract agreeing to "provide intelligence which will help the Client's efforts to completely stop the publication of a new negative article in a leading N.Y. newspaper" and to "obtain additional content of a book which currently being written and includes harmful negative information on and about the Client."

The client was identified as Weinstein in multiple documents; the newspaper was the Times; and the book was "Brave," a forthcoming memoir by McGowan, Farrow reported.

Under the agreement, Black Cube also agreed to hire an "investigative journalist" to conduct 10 interviews a month for four months, for a fee of $40,000, according to the story. Farrow wrote: "In January, 2017, a freelance journalist called McGowan and had a lengthy conversation with her that he recorded without telling her; he subsequently communicated with Black Cube about the interviews, though he denied he was reporting back to them in a formal capacity. He contacted at least two other women with allegations against Weinstein, including the actress Annabella Sciorra, who later went public in The New Yorker with a rape allegation against Weinstein." Farrow added that the same freelancer called him and another reporter.

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Black Cube declined to comment on the story, saying it didn't discuss its clients with any third parties as a matter of policy.

Ultimately, Weinstein's efforts fell apart. More than 50 women have accused him of sexual misconduct. He has denied many of the claims.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
The passenger automobile market in China saw an upsurge of 3.4% in year-on-year sales growth in September. The SUV segment was a major driver of this growth, with its total monthly sales of 972,306 units representing year-on-year growth of 9.6% year-on-year. The SUV segment accounted for 42.3% of all passenger automobiles sold in the country in September, up 2.4 percentage points from last year.

Own brand manufacturers continued to dominate the SUV segment in September, accounting for 58.6% of all sales in the segment. Own brand SUV sales for the month totaled 570,070 units, up 9.6% year-on-year. 15 own brand manufacturers all managed to sell over 10,000 SUVs a piece. In second place were Japanese brands, whose combined SUV sales totaled 154,701 units, representing year-on-year growth of 20%. German SUV sales increased 38.7% year-on-year, totaling 98,599 units.

Meanwhile American SUV sales fell 20.6%, with only 60,096 models sold over the course of the month. Korean SUV sales decreased even more, contracting 31.8% to just 35,693 units. However that figure was nearly double the amount sold in August, thanks in large part to the strong performance of the Hyundai brand.

Compact SUVs accounted for 56.1% of all SUVs sold in the country in September. Compact SUV sales for the month totaled 545,627 units, up 7.6% year-on-year. Small SUVs totaled 209,200 units, down 3.6% year-on-year, while midsize SUV sales totaled 183,344 units, representing positive growth of 16.7% year-on-year. Fullsize SUV sales increased over fivefold, but still only accounted for 34,135 total sales.

Great Wall Motor led the SUV sales charts in September, followed by Changan Automobile, Geely Motor, SAIC-GM-Wuling, Shanghai VW, Guangqi Trumpchi, Shanghai GM, Dongfeng Nissan, Dongfeng Honda and SAIC Car.

Great Walls dominant position was undisputed once again. Second place Changan saw sales of all of its models fall other than the CS75, whose strong performance held up the manufacturer to achieve positive year-on-year sales growth . By comparison, sales of all of Geelys SUV models grew in September.

Fourth place SAIC-GM-Wuling benefited from the strong performance of the Baojun 510, whose monthly sales exceeded 40,000 units; however sales of the fellow Baojun 560 fell dramatically. Shanghai VWs sales doubled from the previous year, surpassing GAC Trumpchi to take the top five spot. Shanghai GM, behind Trumpchi, saw sales of its Buick SUVs fall, with only the Chevrolet Captiva and Cadillac models managing to achieve positive year-on-year sales growth. Overall the joint ventures sales fell 9.5% in September.

Dongfeng Nissan and Dongfeng Honda both saw their SUV sales slightly recover, totaling 39,823 units and 37,607 units respectively. Rounding out the top ten was SAICs passenger car division. The manufacturer has plans to release a variety of new models targeting different segments which may help increase its standing in the future.

The Great Wall Haval H6 was once again the months best selling SUV model; it was followed by the SAIC-GM-Wuling Baojun 510, VW Tiguan, GAC Trumpchi GS4, Changan CS75, Geely Boyue, SAIC-GM Roewe RX5, Buick Envision, Honda CR-V and Hyundai New Tucson, which overtook the Nissan X-Trail.

Despite continuing to lead the monthly sales charts, the Haval H6 saw its sales decrease a further 15.2% year-on-year, bringing its monthly total to 45,161 units. Behind it was the Baojun 510, whose sales continued to grow from the previous month, with a total of 41,031 units sold. The third place VW Tiguan was once again the months best-selling JV SUV model; its sales totaled 33,462 units, once again representing positive year-on-year growth.

In fourth was the GAC Trumpchi GS4, whose sales fell 12.1%, while behind it was the Changan CS75, whose sales increased 7.1% from the previous year and also grew a considerable amount from August.

Outside of the top five, sales of the Geely Boyue recovered slightly, while sales of the models just behind it all fell to varying degrees. The New Tucson managed to stem its losses enough to finish in the top 10 this month.
Kevin Spacey as J. Paul Getty in TriStar Pictures' "All The Money in the World." (AP)

NEW YORK  Sony Pictures is pulling the film "All the Money in the World" from the AFI Fest following the sexual misconduct allegations made against co-star Kevin Spacey.

In a statement Monday, Sony's TriStar Pictures said it was withdrawing the film because "it would be inappropriate to celebrate a gala at this difficult time." The Ridley Scott-directed film had been slated to be the festival's closing night film on November 16.

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TriStar said the film's December 22 release date remains unchanged. The company said "the film is not the work of one person" and that it would be "a gross injustice to punish" the hundreds who worked on the film for what it called "the wrongdoings of one supporting actor."

Netflix on Friday cut ties with Spacey, the star of its "House of Cards."

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
It may have been chilly in Chicago on Monday night, but inside Thalia Hall, Pilsens hipster-centric performance space that has been picking up more and more big-name comedy shows over the past few years, a heated celebration was taking place.

As comedians Ilana Glazer and Phoebe Robinson danced onto the stage holding hands  and then danced separately for an additional minute to intense cheers from the crowd (and each other)  it was tough to say whether the audience or the performers were enjoying the moment more.

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Night three of the YQY Tour! Robinson yelled triumphantly a few minutes later. (YQY, of course, being short for Yaaas Queen Yaaas, a phrase emblazoned across all of the tour merchandise).

I cant believe we got, like, our closest friends here tonight, Glazer effused with a faux-surprised grin to the sold-out crowd at the first of two shows. Its hard to schedule but we did it.

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Though they are currently touring the country for two weeks as a stand-up duo, neither Glazer nor Robinson (multihyphenates and longtime friends) is exclusively (or even primarily) known for her stand-up chops. Glazer is best known for Broad City, the popular Comedy Central television show she created and stars in with Abbi Jacobson (Chicagoan Hannibal Buress is a regular guest). Robinson is a best-selling author (You Cant Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain) and a legitimate podcast superstar, hosting Sooo Many White Guys (which is executive produced by Glazer) and co-hosting 2 Dope Queens with comedian Jessica Williams. The latter was recently picked up by HBO for four hourlong episodes.

But Monday night both performers casually worked the stage like stand-up veterans, spending 10 minutes together bantering and warming up the crowd and then flipping a coin to see who would open and who would close before each showcased around 40 solo minutes.

Though their deliveries are significantly different, both women excel at self-deprecation without wallowing in self-judgment or getting caught up in self-indulgence. And they both work with a long-form, free-ranging storytelling style, each tossing out jokes that are much more about over-sharing than over-structuring.

Theyre ready to talk in detail about their sex lives, their current partners (Glazer is married and Robinson has been dating the same man for three months) and their self-grooming habits. And theyre also ready to drop surprisingly pointed one-liners at any given moment.

Were advertised to like children, because thats what were supposed to look like, Glazer noted when discussing how the marketing differs for mens and womens razor blades (her more explicit and subversive point settling across the audience in waves).

Energetically pacing the stage in a long-sleeve white shirt and black tights, Glazer (who won the coin toss and performed first) joked about her life status (Im just a healthy 30-year-old married white lady) and what its like to own an upscale condo in gentrifying Brooklyn. After receiving a muted response to the word gentrification (and an apparent grimace from one audience member that she dwelled on for a moment), Glazer stated that Chicago is more segregated, so its more of a conversation here). She also delivered a number of one-second micro-impressions (Theyre impersonations that are very short, very complicated) ranging from Adam Sandler to Ariana Grande.

Robinson came out next, excitedly crisscrossing the stage in white shoes, black pants and a yellow T-shirt under an animal-print jacket. She spent a good deal of her set talking about her relationships, noting how she knew her current one was getting serious: I ate fried chicken in front of him the way I do with my black friends.

She also touched on Elon Musk working to reach Mars (hes only going to take other rich white men with him, she predicts), learning to drive a car at the age of 33 to avoid public transportation (because its affordable anyone can get on, she said, and most people are terrible) and her love of trashy pop culture magazines (I know I wrote a book, she said early on, but sometimes Im like, Get out of here words.)

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These two multitasking wordsmiths, both experiencing steadily rising profiles because of their personal but relatable work on projects that let them speak their mind and create exactly the type of material they want, arent likely to truly abandon words anytime soon. Both women seem genuinely excited by their current circumstances and ready to embrace the future as it comes.

Early on in the show, Glazer asked that the audience join her in the moment. So that we can be present, get your phones out now, she said, raising the energy level of the room. Get your damn pics, then lets put them on the ground and smash them!

As Glazers and Robinsons fans would say (and as the pre-show announcer encouraged the audience to chant): Yaaas queen!

Zach Freeman is a freelance writer.

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ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ZachRunsChicago

Enjoy someone else's drama A great theater city deserves a great theater critic. Enter Chris Jones. Subscribe now and get 4 weeks of full access for only 99.

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For most Americans, the Great Plains, covering a million or so square miles in the center of the continent, are a place to fly over or, maybe, drive through. This makes sense since much of the area was once known as the Great American Desert.

The average person has a fairly vague idea of what the Great Plains are and whats happened there. Even experts cant seem to agree on boundaries, producing, as R. F. Diffendal Jr. notes in Great Plains Geology, more than 50 maps with great variations.

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Theres general agreement that the areas western border is roughly the Rocky Mountains. On the south, its seen as covering all or much of Texas, and, on the north, it goes up about halfway through the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. But, on the east, some maps stretch as far as Illinois, or even Indiana. But most stop somewhere near the eastern boundaries of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Diffendals book is one of three published so far in the University of Nebraska Press Discover the Great Plains series, and, in a way, those three, plus the three more in the pipeline, are an effort to define the Great Plains by looking at the area from a variety of perspectives. (The fourth book in the series will examine Great Plains literature, and the one following will go into Great Plains politics.)

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In Great Plains Bison, Dan OBrien writes about the Great Plains as the huge expanse where, for perhaps 50,000 years, tens of millions of buffalo galloped and fed and mated. For many more recent millenniums, they lived in close interaction with their brothers, the Native Americans, in a well-balanced ecosystem.

OBrien, who prefers the more popular word buffalo to the more technically correct bison, runs a ranch where present-day buffalo live in an approximation of the old way of life prior to the invasion of Americans in the mid-19th century. For reasons of commerce and politics, the buffalo were killed off to near extinction, although with human help theyve made a comeback over the last half century or so.

The story David J. Wishart tells in Great Plains Indians is similar  about Indians roving the wide spaces and vast distances of the Great Plains for perhaps 13,500 years, and, then, with the coming of Europeans and Americans, being forced off the land into tight corners of usually poor soil.

The books on Indians and bison are tightly written works of a little more than 100 pages, but theyre packed with information that the general reader is likely to find compelling.

For instance, Wishart writes that the coming of the Europeans and Americans brought short-term benefits to the tribes in the form of horses and guns, both of which made hunting and making war much easier. But it brought long-term catastrophe because the horse destabilized the Indian way of life and because guns and other metal products became necessities, making the tribes reliant on what they could get in trade. One other catastrophic aspect was the introduction of European diseases into a population that had no built-up resistance.

OBrien notes that, despite their name, the Great Plains arent flat. In fact, he writes, The Great Plains vary in elevation by thousands of feet. There are millions and millions of depressions, cuts, watercourses, hills, ridges, buttes, and small mountain ranges.

Diffendals book on the geology of the Great Plains looks much more closely at all those outcroppings and rock formations due to volcanic activity and Ice Age glaciers. Diffendal offers a travelogue of 57 distinctive and unusually beautiful sites across the Great Plains. However, it requires the reader to have a fairly solid grounding in geologic terms and theory.

Most of his discussion of rocks left me befuddled, but I did find that many of these sites also feature rock art and sacred Indian sites as well as places with fossils of everything from dinosaurs to camels to rhinos to rabbits.

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Something to think about on my next trip over or through the Great Plains.

Patrick T. Reardon, a former Chicago Tribune reporter, is the author of eight books, including Requiem for David, a poetry collection.

By Dan OBrien

University of Nebraska Press, 111 pages, $14.95

By David J. Wishart, University of Nebraska, 147 pages, $14.95

By R. F. Diffendal Jr., University of Nebraska, 210 pages, $14.95
The South Suburban Humane Society took possession Nov. 6, 2017, of another five dogs from a property near Peotone where 48 dogs had previously been rescued from allegedly squalid conditions, according to the group's chief executive. (Lou Foglia / Chicago Tribune) (Lou Foglia / Chicago Tribune)

The South Suburban Humane Society took possession Monday of another five dogs from a property near Peotone where 48 dogs had previously been rescued from alleged squalid conditions, according to the group's chief executive.

Emily Klehm said that the society has received more than 500 inquiries from people hoping to adopt the dogs, which were removed from the property Oct. 26 and Friday.

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She said the society hoped to have the first group of about five of the "healthiest and friendliest" dogs available for adoption by Friday, with additional tentative rounds of adoptions scheduled for Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. She recommended that anyone interested in providing a home for one of the rescued dogs should follow the Humane Society's Facebook page for updates.

"Our intention is that every single one will be placed in a home for adoption," Klehm said. "We want them to go to forever homes."

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Of the initial 48 dogs rescued, one died and the remaining animals have been placed with foster volunteers for proper care and nutrition. Some of them had to first be tended to by area veterinarians, and Klehm said she was unsure whether the five additional dogs would go directly to foster homes or need to be seen by a vet.

Klehm said there was no running water in the home where the dogs were kept, and that there "was just filth and feces everywhere."

All of the dogs are small, popular breeds, including Yorkies, dachshunds, Chihuahuas and pugs, according to Klehm. She claimed the property owners were allegedly operating an illegal puppy mill and profiting from the sale of the dogs.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 6 Megan Schoenbeck, shelter manager at the South Suburban Humane Society, administers an incoming exam to several dogs that were rescued from a puppy mill in Peotone, Ill., on Nov. 6, 2017. (Lou Foglia / Chicago Tribune)

She said that there is "really a range" of conditions among the dogs, with some that are "relatively healthy" as well as a couple of animals that are paralyzed.

"Some were painfully skinny," Klehm said.

When the dogs were brought to the society in Chicago Heights and offered food, "they started fighting each other for food," Klehm said, leading staff to speculate that when food had been put out for the animals at the property where they were kept, the more dominant animals edged out the others.

Some of the dogs are as young as 31/2 weeks, several are 2 to 5 years old while some are more than 10 years old, she said.

"Everyone is at a different level of need," Klehm said of the dogs. "Some are friendly and somewhat social."

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However, there are also "a few you can't pick up, you can't touch. They're just terrified," she said.

Klehm said the Humane Society has been deluged with phone calls and emails from people interesting in adoption since Chicago-area media first reported about the rescues.

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Still, she cautioned those hoping to adopt one of the dogs that some of the animals "may never be house-trained because they always went wherever they wanted in the house" where they were kept, while others "may always be fearful of people." The younger the dog, the better the chance of them being house broken or to become more social, she said.

On Oct. 26, the Humane Society removed some dogs from the property after paramedics responding to the location discovered the conditions. At that time, staff saw the property only from the outside, but when they returned this past Friday, "we insisted on going inside the home," Klehm said.

Until learning Monday that there were additional dogs, she said the Humane Society, after the follow-up visit, believed all of the animals had been recovered. Klehm described it as "a strange situation," and that "we'll deal with it as it comes."

The home where the dogs were kept has since been declared uninhabitable by Will County officials. It was unclear whether charges will be filed against the owner of the property. A message left Monday with the Will County sheriff's police seeking comment was not returned.

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Contributing: Freelance reporter Frank Vaisvilas

mnolan@tribpub.com

Twitter @mnolan_J
Michael Roberts and Georgena Roberts were charged with first-degree murder in the starvation death of their 6-year-old boy, who authorities said weighed 17 pounds. (Jersey County States Attorney via AP)

JERSEYVILLE, Ill.  An Illinois father and stepmother are charged with first-degree murder in the starvation death of their 6-year-old boy who authorities say weighed just 17 pounds when he died last week.

Police say the boy's father, Michael Roberts, and the boy's stepmother, Georgena Roberts, deprived the boy and another child of food "as a form of punishment."

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The pair, both 42, also face a felony count of child endangerment related to the boy who died and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for their treatment of their 7-year-old son. They remained in custody Tuesday after a judge ordered their bail be set at $500,000 each.

Police were called to a hospital in the southern Illinois community of Jerseyville on Friday regarding a dead child, who, according to the Jersey County state's attorney's office, was brought to the hospital by his father.

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The couple, according to criminal complaint "knowingly and intentionally caused (the boy) to become extremely malnourished, leaving the said 6-year-old child... to starve to death." The complaint alleges the couple withheld food and nourishment on a regular and consistent basis" between December 2015 and the date of the boy's death. When he died, the boy weighed about a third of what a typical 6-year-old weighs.

Preliminary findings from an autopsy, according to police, indicate that the cause of death was "extremely malnourishment." Toxicology and other tests are pending.

Police say the boy had three siblings and two step siblings who lived with him in the family's home in Jerseyville, about 40 miles north of St. Louis. All of the surviving children were taken into protective custody by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Attorneys for Michael and Georgena Roberts did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This image posted on his Linkedin profile shows George Papadopoulos posing on a street of London. A week after the Trump campaign adviser became the unlikely face of the probe into Russian meddling in last years election, he largely remains a mystery man. (Internet/Fair use)

George Papadopoulos posted a cryptic update on his Facebook page shortly before 11 p.m. on Oct. 29.

Big day tomorrow, wrote the 30-year-old DePaul grad whod served as a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign.

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Just 12 hours later, the bombshell dropped. Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced that Papadopoulos had secretly pleaded guilty earlier to lying to the FBI about his efforts to connect the Trump camp with Russian officials who promised dirt on rival candidate Hillary Clinton.

Not only was the little-known Papadopoulos the first conviction to emerge from Muellers sweeping investigation but hed also been secretly cooperating with investigators since his arrest in July, according to the stunning guilty plea unsealed in federal court in Washington.

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But a week after Papadopoulos became the unlikely face of the probe into Russian meddling in last years election, he largely remains a mystery man. Virtually no one who knows Papadopoulos has stepped forward despite reporters from across the country trying to figure out his background and role in the Trump campaign.

Its still unclear to what extent Papadopoulos was involved with the Trump campaign or how close he was to top advisers. While the president has dismissed Papadopoulos as a young, low-level volunteer whom he barely remembers, Trump had praised him at the time he was hired as an excellent guy. And a now-infamous photo of a March 2016 meeting of campaign staff showed a stern-faced Papadopoulos sitting at a conference table just a few seats away from Trump.

In his political interactions, interviews with foreign reporters and in his online resume, Papadopoulos clearly played himself up as a confidant, referring to himself as a Trump adviser and even claiming to be a member of the president-elects foreign policy team before the inauguration in January.

Several people who had contact with Papadopoulos in the months surrounding the election told the Tribune he came across as brash and confident  if not conceited  and intent on parlaying his newfound political cachet in both social and professional settings.

A woman who dated Papadopoulos at the time described him as smart and ambitious, and said she was surprised he didnt seem put out over her negative view of Trump.

The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recently posted text conversations on Twitter shed had with Papadopoulos in which he appeared to take her razzing good-naturedly. In one chat, after Papadopoulos asked what movie she wanted to see, she fired back that his taste remains questionable because of his affiliation with the Trump campaign. Papadopoulos responded with an emoticon sticking a tongue out in jest.

Another woman who was part of the same social circle described Papadopoulos as vain to a fault. Over drinks at a fancy Chicago nightspot last year, Papadopoulos incessantly Googled news articles about himself, even passing his phone around to others at the table to prove he was a big shot in Trumps campaign, said the woman, who also did not want her name used.

The puffery continued after Trumps stunning victory. In an interview with reporters in Greece in December, a sunglasses-wearing Papadopoulos made himself out to be an important consultant to the then-president-elect.

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As his adviser, I am here to show that Mr. Trump and his new administration view Greece as a friend, and this will not change, said Papadopoulos, who was not a member of the presidents transition team.

Around the same time, Papadopoulos was spotted at a Republican fundraiser in New York, according to Russell Taub, who ran an unsuccessful bid for Congress in Rhode Island as a Republican in 2016 and spoke to Papadopoulos at the event. Taub said Papadopoulos said hed helped Trump with foreign policy and talked about international affairs and Trumps election win.

I just took what George told me with a grain of salt, Taub said. He sounded like a straight shooter when he talked to me, and I thought he was.  But now after all of this, I guess I have to wonder.

Papadopoulos, meanwhile, has dropped off the radar since the charges were announced on Oct. 30. In his LinkedIn profile, Papadopoulos lists himself as a former adviser to the Trump campaign and current independent oil, gas, and policy consultant.

No one has answered the door in repeated visits to the sprawling, 3,000-square-foot house Papadopoulos shares with his mother in Chicagos Lincoln Square neighborhood. Approached by a Tribune reporter at his office in west suburban Addison, Papadopoulos father, a doctor of internal medicine, closed the door after saying, Im not talking.

His lawyers have also declined to comment.

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But Papadopoulos has left clues on social media that he is in Chicago. On Halloween, the day after his case was made public, he tweeted a photo of a half-eaten plate of white fish and glass of red wine with the caption, Enjoying a nice meal at #Santorini restaurant, apparently a reference to the popular eatery in Greektown.

The tweet was deleted minutes later after reporters started calling the restaurant to confirm if he was there.

An excellent guy

George Demetrios Papadopoulos was born in August 1987 at Swedish Covenant Hospital on the Far North Side, just a few blocks from his current home, Cook County records show. His mother, Kate, was born in Greece and listed her hometown on her sons birth certificate as Worcester, Mass. His father, Antonios Papadopoulos, originally from northern Greece, graduated from medical school in Belgium and is an executive vice president of the United Hellenic Voters of America, according to an online biography on the groups website.

Papadopoulos lived for years in a large house on the corner of a tree-lined street in Lincolnwood, just across the border from Chicago. Neighbors in the quiet neighborhood south of Pratt Avenue  a mix of ranches, expansive two-story homes and a few pillar-adorned mansions  either said they interacted with Papadopoulos only from afar or had moved in after his family returned to the city

Records show Papadopoulos attended Niles West High School in nearby Skokie, where his only activity listed in his senior yearbook was with the schools Hellenic Club. The Tribune contacted former students from his 2005 graduating class, including several who were in the Hellenic Club with him, but none agreed to talk.

After graduating from high school, Papadopoulos attended DePaul University and majored in political science. Richard Farkas, a longtime political science professor at DePaul, said he had Papadopoulos in at least one, possibly two classes. Farkas, who specializes in Russian and Eastern European politics, said all the classes he taught at DePaul during Papadopoulos tenure wouldve centered on Russia.

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I dont remember him having an interest in Russian politics, Farkas said. He did not perform to the point of making himself known in my classes.

If Papadopoulos was active politically on DePauls campus during his time there, there is no record of it. DePaul College Republicans say he wasnt in their group, or other similar groups.

If he attended any number of the public events on campus held by conservative student organizations, he did so without official invitation or recognition, John Minster, current chairman of the DePaul College Republicans, said in an email.

Papadopoulos graduated from DePaul in 2009 and went on to earn a masters of science degree in security studies at University College London, the school confirmed to the Tribune. According to his online resume, Papadopoulos wrote his thesis in November 2010 on the deleterious effects of low governance and state capacity levels in the Middle East.

After graduate school, Papadopoulos worked overseas for a few years as a conservative think tank researcher. He became involved in national politics in late 2015 when he began working for Ben Carsons failed presidential bid while still living in London, records show. The New York Times reported that Papadopoulos had pitched himself to Carsons camp as a foreign policy expert who could raise campaign donations from the Greek-American community.

By March 2016, Papadopoulos had moved back to Chicago. As Carsons campaign fizzled, Papadopoulos joined Trumps team as a foreign policy adviser, according to court records. At the time, Trump told the Washington Post editorial board in an interview that Papadopoulos was an excellent guy, although some of his credentials were immediately questioned in political circles as exaggerated.

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On March 31, 2016, Papadopoulos attended a meeting with then-candidate Trump and members of his campaign team, including then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, who is now attorney general. At the meeting, Papadopoulos offered to act as a go-between between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to his guilty plea.

Trump, meanwhile, told reporters last week that he didnt remember much about that meeting."

"It was a very unimportant meeting," Trump said. "It took place a long time ago. Don't remember much about it."

Not a big fish

The former girlfriend said she first met Papadopoulos when he was still working for the Carson campaign. Though he talked a lot about his role as foreign policy adviser, he offered few specifics. She got the impression he was not as big a fish as he claimed to be, she said, but he was also not the low-level volunteer as described by Trump after Papadopoulos charges were unveiled.

She also said Papadopoulos was one to avoid conflict as much as possible, a possible explanation for why he seemed so easygoing about her anti-Trump views.

One photo she posted on Twitter last week showed the couple in 2016 sitting on a couch at the swanky Shay nightclub in River North, a tanned Papadopoulos in a sport coat and open shirt, resting a hand on his dates knee. The caption she wrote said: George, if you bring down the Trump presidency dinner is on me next time!! Xoxo.

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Others who spoke to the Tribune about their impressions of Papadopoulos said it was clear he wanted to remain involved in national politics, although his reach seemed more wide than deep.

Taub, 29, of Rhode Island, said only two other people at the Republican fundraiser on the East Side of Manhattan seemed to know Papadopoulos, whose business card bore only his name and contact information. Other than Trump, Papadopoulos spoke mostly about his knowledge of Greek international affairs, Taub said.

It was weird, he talked a lot about Greece, Taub said, describing the interaction as a very respectful, cordial conversation.

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Taub said he reached out to Papadopoulos in January about attending a National Governors Association meeting but never heard back.

Christopher Chamberlin, a current Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, said he messaged Papadopoulos recently after connecting with him through LinkedIn and becoming aware of his ties to the Trump campaign. Chamberlin said he thought Papadopoulos might have a place on his campaign. The two never connected.

After all this, I think I better steer clear, Chamberlin said.

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Chicago Tribunes Marissa Page and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

poconnell@chicagotribune.com

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Judge Jeffrey O'Connor responds to an objection by a defense attorney on May 21, 2014, during the third day of Nicholas Sheley's murder trial at the Rock Island County Justice Center in Rock Island, Ill. (Paul Colletti / The Dispatch)

If a judge falls asleep during a murder trial, should the defendant automatically get a new trial?

A divided Illinois Appellate Court panel recently said no; so long as the judge was not dozing through crucial evidence or motions, an inadvertent nap is harmless. We find that a judge falling asleep during a trial does not constitute  reversible error, Judge Daniel Schmidt wrote in the majority opinion.

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The decision builds on more than a century of Illinois bench nap law dating to a five-minute judicial snooze in 1899. But some critics say the latest ruling should come as a wake-up call for the standard to change.

Of course it should be automatic reversal if the judge falls asleep, said longtime criminal defense attorney Steve Greenberg. It sends an awful message to the jurors that whatever is going on is just not important.

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The appellate decision is tied to the case of spree killer Nicholas Sheley, who was on trial for four murders in Judge Jeffrey OConnors western Illinois courtroom in 2014 when the lights were dimmed so the jury could watch security camera footage on a monitor. When the presentation ended, an assistant attorney general asked that the lights be turned back on, according to the ruling. The judge didnt reply.

Judge? the defense attorney asked, according to a transcript cited in the ruling. Judge OConnor?

Judge could we get the lights back on? the assistant attorney general asked, approaching the bench.

Hmm, OConnor replied, according to a transcript. A clerk allegedly poked him awake. When it was suggested now was a good time to break for lunch, the judge agreed. Excellent time, he said.

A Whiteside County, Ill., jury later convicted Sheley of the slayings, part of a 2008 rampage in Illinois and Missouri that took the lives of eight people. Sheley, now serving a life sentence, had sought a new trial based on the judges nap. In fact, the defense team said the judge repeatedly fell asleep during the murder trial.

But at the time the judge, OConnor, denied both the request for a new trial as well as allegations that he had fallen asleep multiple times, saying only one instance had been documented and that even then he had heard the evidence.

If I was not looking at the video, that does not mean that I was not listening and hearing everything that was being said, said OConnor, who called the motion disgusting, according to a transcript cited in the appellate ruling.

The test on that is whether the judge ever lost control of the courtroom in these proceedings, and the answer to that is absolutely not.

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In its latest ruling, the states appeals court agreed, saying it had no effect on the trial, noting that the evidence against Sheley was overwhelming.

But in a sharply worded dissent, Judge Mary OBrien disagreed, citing the 1996 conviction of Israel Vargas that was thrown out after a Cook County judge left the bench during a murder trial to take a phone call from another judge.

A judge cannot be actively present on the bench when he is asleep, OBrien wrote.

OConnor did not return messages seeking comment.

Experienced trial attorneys say judicial napping is rare but sometimes happens during jury trials, when the judge serves more as referee than fact finder. While juries render their own verdicts, at bench trials a judge solely decides the case. Both Sheley and Vargas were convicted by juries and, while the cases had different outcomes on appeal, Illinois courts ultimately decided that so long as a judge was actually in the courtroom, those verdicts stand.

And it can be difficult to tell if a jurist is sleeping or just closing his or her eyes in profound contemplation. A Michigan judge told jurors who thought hed fallen asleep during a sexual assault trial that he was just leaning back in his chair, according to a 1988 appellate court ruling.

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I want to assure all of you  I never fell asleep, said the judge, who is not named in the ruling that affirmed the jurys guilty verdict. I never go to sleep  I did lean back and do try to stay in low profile.

I am not so different than other judges. Judges have been wont to fall asleep. That is not my concern. I didnt.

Illinois case law on somnolent judges dates back more than a century. In that 1899 case  which involved a Loop collision at Clark and Harrison streets between a train and a horse-drawn wagon loaded with 4 tons of hay  the Illinois Supreme Court found that the Chicago judges five-minute nap during the trial was harmless because lawyers had failed to stop testimony or rouse the sleeping jurist in a voice sufficiently loud to awake him.

Judges have dozed off or slept outright during the O.J. Simpson trial, during U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments and even during war crime trials at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, where a snoring judge reportedly slept for half an hour. Former Australian judge Ian Dodd was such an inveterate napper he was dubbed Judge Nodd and eventually resigned in disgrace. Criminal defendants and civil litigants from California to New York have complained about judges sleeping during their trials, but for the most part higher courts have upheld convictions unless defendants could show the judges were actually asleep and that their slumber hurt the defendants fair-trial rights.

An exception came earlier this year when a Kansas court ordered a new trial for a gun crimes defendant after the judge presiding over the case admitted he had nodded off  an error the appellate court found as profound as denying a defendant the right to a public trial.

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How can a sleeping judge supervise anything other than his or her dreams? the Kansas appellate panel wrote.

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Jurors are more likely to fall asleep. An Illinois appeals court ordered a new trial for a burglary defendant in 2006 after the trial judge noted that a juror was half-asleep during almost the entire proceeding. The higher court has ruled that brief juror dozing is acceptable but a juror who is inattentive for a substantial portion of a trial has been found to be unqualified to serve on the jury.

Even trial attorneys have been caught sleeping on the job. In 2001, a Texas appellate court halted the execution of a man whose attorney slept through much of his clients 1984 murder trial. The higher court said Calvin J. Burdine had been denied a fair trial because of the consistent unconsciousness of his counsel.

Unconscious counsel equates to no counsel at all, Judge Fortunato P. Benavides wrote for the majority, which awarded Burdine a new trial. Ironically, the courtroom naps may have saved his client's life. Burdine later pleaded guilty to murder, avoiding the death penalty in exchange for three life sentences in prison.

sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveSchmadeke

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It took almost 10 years, but road reconstruction has begun on a battered and bumpy stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

The delay on this and other projects citywide can be traced to state and federal budget issues, one city official said this week.

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The Chicago Department of Transportation began utility upgrades between Belmont Avenue and Addison Street this week in preparation for resurfacing the stretch of Milwaukee next spring, along with providing new street lighting, sidewalks, curb and gutter upgrades, landscaping, traffic signals and decorative LED street lights. The total project, paid for with city and federal funds, will be $7.9 million, said CDOT spokesman Michael Claffey.

Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, said at a news conference Monday that he has been advocating for the work for close to 10 years, but it was delayed by budget issues. The neighborhood, just northwest of popular Logan Square, has been seeing higher real estate values.

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CDOT Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld explained that the city has a master plan for the full reconstruction of Milwaukee Avenue in nine phases from Gale Street in Jefferson Park to Grand Avenue just west of the central business district. The Belmont-to-Addison stretch is the fourth phase and took longer to start than expected because of a wait for funding, she said. She blamed the delays on the lack of a dedicated funding stream for these projects from Springfield as well as the federal government.

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This is a great example of why its so important that we have reliable, significant funding from local, state and federal sources, she said. It has been eight years since Springfield lawmakers have passed a major capital infrastructure bill.

Scheinfeld said repaving, sidewalk repairs and parkway work, which will include the planting of about 40 trees, will begin next spring, and the project will be completed by the end of the 2018 construction season. The next part of Milwaukee scheduled for repairs is Belmont to Logan Boulevard, through Logan Square.

A similar street reconstruction project due to finish this month is Grand Avenue, which was repaired in phases from Chicago Avenue to Pulaski Road, Claffey said. Resurfacing projects were completed this year on portions of Archer, Armitage, Broadway and Central avenues and on Clark, Harrison, Morgan, State and 115th streets.

Also completed this year was construction at Damen, Elston and Fullerton avenues and Western Avenue, Belmont and Clybourn Avenue.

mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marywizchicago

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Rockford police Chief Dan O'Shea talks about the death of Rockford police Officer Jaimie Cox, 30, and another man on Nov. 5, 2017, following a scuffle during a traffic stop and a car crash two blocks away. (Lou Foglia / Chicago Tribune)

Autopsies on a Rockford police officer and a 49-year-old man killed during a traffic stop over the weekend reveal some details about how they died but leave questions about the events that led up to their deaths.

Officer Jaimie Cox, 30, died of blunt force trauma caused by a truck belonging to Eddie Patterson Jr., 49, while Patterson died of gunshot wounds and was apparently shot by Cox, according to a news release from Rockford police.

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Coxs death is now considered a homicide, the release said, without explicitly saying that homicide was an official ruling. The release did not say if Pattersons death had been ruled a homicide or accidental.

Rockford spokeswoman Kimberly Bruce said the department couldnt provide additional information on the early Sunday morning incident while Boone-Winnebago County Integrity Task Force investigates the use of force by Cox.

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Theo Glover, head of the task force, said the circumstances leading up to their deaths and the timeline of events are still unclear, but investigators hope to piece the events together with GPS information from Coxs squad car.

Over the weekend, Rockford police Chief Dan OShea said that preliminary information indicated Cox was involved in a scuffle during a traffic stop about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Cox made a traffic stop near East State Street and Dawn Avenue in Rockford before making a "brief radio transmission indicating he needed assistance," OShea said. Officers found Cox critically injured, near a single-vehicle crash about two blocks north of the initial traffic stop and Patterson dead inside the cab of a truck, authorities said.

Glover said it appears Cox may have become entangled with Pattersons truck and tossed when the vehicle struck a tree.

Cox, whose service with the Army National Guard from 2004 to 2010 included deployment to Afghanistan, had been with the Rockford Police Department for less than a year. His death came as a blow to friends and family.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 Rockford police Officer Jaimie Cox was killed early Nov. 5, 2017 while on duty in Rockford. (Rockford Police Department / HANDOUT)

Matthew Burleson, 42,worked closely with Cox in Afghanistan for nine months. He said he had seen a news story about a Rockford police officer who was killed, but he didn't realize it was Cox until his brother called to give him the news.

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It really crushed me, said Burleson, who is with the Waukegan Fire Department.

He was absolutely kind, reliable, smart, Burleson said. My hearts been heavy since I found out. I dont know if I can put it in words.

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Cox drove one of the gun trucks in Afghanistan, and Burleson, who was a sergeant first class, sat in the front passenger seat of the truck.

Burleson said he had been tasked with taking high-ranking Army officials to meet with village leaders. He took Cox with him. While Burleson was on high alert and worried something could go wrong, he spotted Cox walking around with a puppy.

He was still watching out, but he couldnt resist that puppy, Burleson said. Jaimie is so relaxed carrying the puppy around. That was him.

He described Cox as someone who enjoyed the outdoors. Cox worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources before joining the Rockford Police Department. Burleson said he believes Cox shifted toward municipal law enforcement so he could have more time fishing and hunting.

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tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com

emalagon@chicagotribune.com

[ Rockford police officer, 49-year-old man dead after Sunday morning traffic stop, car crash ]

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Office manager Natalie Battles-Reed talks about the South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, on Nov. 4, 2017. The center has been named a national treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

In its Bronzeville neighborhood, the South Side Community Arts Center is known as a space that celebrates the fine arts, and its recognized as a place where residents learn how to master their creative crafts.

But on Tuesday, the center will be named a National Treasure, a move its supporters and administrators hope will elevate its reputation far beyond the city.

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This will increase our public profile, and people who didnt know about us before will know us now, said Masequa Myers, executive director of the center. This new relationship will make available resources and give us exposure that the center deserves. We will be a bigger part of the tourism promotion, and visitors to the city will know the South Side Community Arts Center is a place you must see.

Administrators with the National Trust for Historic Preservation will appear at the handsome brick building on South Michigan Avenue to make the official announcement Tuesday morning. There, they will be joined by staff from the center, along with a collective of artists who have been touched by the organizations work.

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The South Side Community Arts Center helps to tell an important story about African-American artists at a time when segregation and racism prevented many of them from more fully contributing to the cultural life of the United States, said Stephanie Meeks, the president and CEO of the National Trust, in a released statement. The center has long been a beacon of tolerance and understanding, using art to enrich the community while serving as a welcoming place for people from all walks of life.

The arts center was founded in 1940 by a group of artists, led by Margaret Burroughs and Eldzier Cortor, that devoted its talent to capturing images of black life.

In 1941, the center was dedicated by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and it became one of nearly 100 art centers funded by the Works Progress Administration. That program employed artists and teachers during the Great Depression and allowed them to get paid for their skills.

In Chicago, in the following decades, the center was the place where now iconic and celebrated artists like Gordon Parks, Archibald Motley and William Carter honed their craft and shared their gifts with the community. Gwendolyn Brooks also worked at the center and made appearances there. For most of the artists, it was the first or only space that would exhibit their work because they were black.

The center is the only WPA art facility that is still operating in the same building, Myers and officials with the National Trust said. The center is also unique because in addition to serving as a launching pad for artists, its a space that offers dozens of classes at an affordable rate, officials said.

Other sites listed as National Treasures include the Houston Astrodome and Nashvilles Music Row.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Chicago, Illinois. Gordon Parks, seated at center, attends a painting class at the South Side Community Art Center in April 1942. (Jack Delano via the Library of Congress) - Original Credit: Library of Congress (Jack Delano / HANDOUT)

Tuesdays event opens the door for fundraising assistance from the National Trust and is one step toward the center becoming listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Myers said. Currently she is raising money to continue restoring the building, which sits on a residential block. She also wants to make the building more accessible to the disabled.

I first walked through the doors of the South Side Community Arts Center decades ago and met Dr. Margaret Burroughs and other iconic artists that were rooted here, she said. I returned because I thought it was important for this cultural beacon to remain in our community. Art is a way to uplift and affirm our youth. We are extremely proud of what we offer  were not only a gallery, we are a place to come and learn and share.

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For Tony Smith, a photographer and artist, when he moved to Chicago in 1995, the art center was the first place he visited, he said.

It was characterized as a sanctuary for artists and those who were activists, educators and people who wanted to hone their skills, he said.

Immediately Smith said he started volunteering there. Eventually, he moved on to teaching photography to high schoolers and senior citizens. And when it was time to display his work for the first time in a solo exhibition, it was the art center that made space available.

Chicago artists Amanda Williams, Jonathon Romain, Faheem Majeed, Joyce Owens and newly minted MacArthur genius Dawoud Bey have all worked with the center in some capacity.

So many artists are rooted in and connected to the center, it gives us a strong foundation, Smith said. It also gives younger artists a chance to see artists that look like them, sound like them, come from where they are from. Its a resource for people of all cultures to come learn about black art, history and race.

lbowean@chicagotribune.com

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Prosecutors say Fred Mack Jr.s conviction should encourage other adult victims to report sexual assaults that occurred years earlier when they were children. (Will County States Attorneys office)

A Bolingbrook man who sexually assaulted a girl repeatedly from 2002 through 2004 was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday.

Fred Mack Jr., 65, was a family friend and pastor who assaulted the girl, now in her 20s, on multiple occasions between September 2002 and July 2004, Will County States Attorney James Glasgow said. The crimes occurred when the girl was around the age of 12.

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She reported the assault to Bolingbrook police in 2016, while working in a dance production that dealt with sexual abuse.

This woman showed remarkable courage coming forward years after she was assaulted by this predator, Glasgow said in a prepared statement.

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The victim testified that Mack molested her on as many as 100 occasions when the two were alone. Mack told investigators that hed molested the girl on fewer than 25 occasions.

A jury on Aug. 23 convicted Mack of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. On Monday, Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes imposed the sentence.

Glasgow said Macks conviction should encourage other adult victims to report sexual assaults that occurred years earlier when the victims were children.

These are often difficult cases to prove, he said. But the General Assembly has given us latitude with the statute of limitations so that predators who counted on the vulnerability and silence of their underage victims can still be held accountable.

The statute of limitations on filing child sexual assault charges, which Illinois lawmakers have extended several times, now stands at 20 years after the victim turns 18, according to the prosecutors office.

tgregory@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @tgregoryreports
An arm that washed up near Montrose Beach Tuesday morning likely belongs to Gail Peck, a 76-year-old Elgin woman whose son already has been charged in connection with her death and dismemberment, police said.

The discovery of the human limb was made around 11 a.m. in the 500 block of West Lawrence Avenue, said Officer Christine Calace, a spokeswoman for the Chicago police.

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The Cook County medical examiners office was notified, said Calace.

The arm had washed up on a ledge about 200 feet north of the Montrose Dog Beach, and was spotted by a passerby, who called 911 to report it, according to police.

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Elgin detectives were investigating in the area Tuesday afternoon, searching for additional remains.

Prosecutors maintain Brian Peck, 55 - who lived with his mother in the 700 block of Littleton Trail in Elgin - said he killed his mother after she complained he played his Jimi Hendrix music too loudly. Peck told police he stomped on his mothers head and neck, then put her in a bathtub and hacked her up, police said.

After dismembering her body, Peck placed the body parts in luggage and duffel bags and dumped them in Lake Michigan near Diversey and Montrose harbors.

Partial remains first were found Oct. 28, according to police. Those remains  a torso and parts of two legs  were found in two duffel bags by a fisherman and divers in a Lincoln Park lagoon.

Police also discovered a handsaw in the bag with the remains found in the lagoon.

Peck, 76, was reported missing the day before. An autopsy was conducted the next day, but a cause of death is still pending.

Peck was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and a single count of concealment of a homicidal death. Though the remains had not been positively identified at the time, officials said there was enough evidence to charge Peck. He is being held without bail in Cook County Jail.

Check back for details.
Claire Glass, 58, has been missing since Oct. 21, 2017. (Chicago Police Department)

Chicago police are looking for a 58-year-old woman missing from the West Rogers park neighborhood for over two weeks.

Claire Glass was last seen Oct. 21 near the 2000 block of West Arthur Avenue, according to police.

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Glass is described as white with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5-foot-4-inches in height and weighs 120 pounds.

A clothing description was not immediately available.

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Anyone with information can contact the Area North Special Victims Unit at (312) 744-8266 or call 911.
Police say a group of teenagers committed four robberies on the Far South Side in recent weeks.

In each case, two armed teens approached people who were alone and demanded purses and cellphones, Chicago police said in a community alert.

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The teenagers then jumped in a nearby getaway car driven by two other teens, police said.

The teens were described as black, between 14 and 18, standing around 5 feet and 5 inches tall and weighing 130 to 150 pounds.

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The drove a silver four-door sedan, according to police.

The two most recent of the robberies happened Monday, the first around 9:15 a.m. in the 10900 block of South Church Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood and the next around 9:40 a.m. in the 2100 block of West 98th Street in Beverly.

One person was robbed Sunday around 9:35 a.m. in the 9900 block of South Damen Avenue in Beverly, and another on Oct. 12 around 10:40 a.m. in the 9500 block of South Damen Avenue, also in Beverly.

Police ask anyone with information call Area South detectives at 312-747-8293.
President Donald Trump incorrectly asserted once again Tuesday that Chicago has "the strongest gun laws in our nation" as he argued that tougher regulations would not have stopped the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, over the weekend.

In fact, Trump told reporters in Seoul, South Korea, that hundreds more would have died in the Texas church had another man not been able to neutralize the alleged killer with a gun of his own.

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Trump made the comments when asked during a news conference whether he would entertain extreme vetting on guns in the wake of the shooting in which a gunman killed 26 people.

Look at the city with the strongest gun laws in our nation  Chicago, Trump replied. Chicago is a disaster, a total disaster. If this man did not have a gun or rifle it would have been a much worse situation in the great state of Texas.

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Chicagos reputation for strict gun laws stems from its 1982 ban on handguns. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in the District of Columbia in 2008, Chicago was the only major city left with a blanket handgun prohibition.

In 2010, the high court followed up with a ruling that specifically nullified Chicagos ban. Concealed carry of firearms was still outlawed in Chicago and throughout the state.

But two years later, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Illinois concealed carry ban as unconstitutional and the state soon after became the last in the nation to approve concealed carry.

The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which advocates for stricter gun laws, currently ranks Illinois eighth in the nation on its "Smart Gun Laws" report card. The group has criticized Illinois for not requiring registration of firearms, for not limiting the purchase of multiple firearms and for not allowing local jurisdictions to regulate firearms.

Among cities, experts say New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco have stricter gun laws on the books.

But gun rights advocates still view Illinois as having very restrictive gun laws. It is, for example, one of five states that prohibit gun owners from carrying handguns that are visible to the public, while 31 other states allow for whats known as the open carry of a firearm  no permit required  though in some cases the gun must be unloaded.

In Illinois, by law, those with concealed carry permits are prohibited from bringing firearms into schools, public parks and playgrounds, government buildings, all public transit and any building with a no gun sign or sticker clearly visible at the entrance.

Also, Illinois does not recognize out-of-state-issued concealed carry permits, so out-of-towner permit holders cant legally walk around town with a gun in their coat. But non-Illinois residents, if theyre driving through the state, can have it in the car.

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Trump has continually portrayed Chicago as having the most stringent gun regulations in the country.

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In his final debate with Hillary Clinton on Oct. 19, Trump declared, "In Chicago, which has the toughest gun laws in the United States, probably you could say by far, they have more gun violence than any other city."

He has raised the issue -- and the same claim -- often since his election.

During his news conference in Seoul, Trump appeared irritated by the question on gun control and suggested it was not appropriate to talk about in the heart of South Korea.

He then answered by saying, If we did what you are suggesting, it would have made no difference three days ago.

Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing 26 people in a church. Another man, Stephen Willeford, later grabbed his own gun and exchanged fire with Kelley outside the church. Police found Kelley dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but authorities said Willeford helped stop Kelley and called him a hero."

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Trump referred to Willeford as a brave man and said if he had not had a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead.  Its not going to help.

The Washington Post contributed.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner doesnt pass up many opportunities to bash the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, but on Monday he offered only a mild critique of how lawmakers are handling a sexual harassment scandal at the Capitol.

The issue boiled over last week while Rauner was in Israel on a trade mission, as a victim rights advocate publicly accused a Democratic senator of sexual harassment and lawmakers sniped over their yearslong failure to appoint a permanent legislative inspector general to look into ethics complaints. Late Saturday, a panel of lawmakers picked a former federal prosecutor to look into more than two dozen complaints that have been in limbo.

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Asked about that at an unrelated event Monday, Rauner said its about time the legislature had their own inspector general. They havent had one for a while. They need one in order to be able to deal with these issues. Im glad theyve pulled one in. And weve got to take every action we can."

The governor also was asked if he had taken a fresh look at the sexual harassment policies and procedures of his administration. Rauner noted that the executive branch has an inspector general and that there are very clear lines of process in place.

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Rauner also said he'd had no contact or questions from his inspector general about sexual harassment issues in his administration.

The comments were unusually tepid for a governor whose primary political strategy has been to try to brand Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan as the cause of Springfields problems.

For his part, Madigan has been trying to quickly push through a measure in response to the sexual harassment complaints, which began percolating when more than 200 people from the Illinois political scene signed onto an open letter inspired by the #MeToo social media campaign in response to widespread allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

There have been concerns, though, that the legislation Madigan proposed is more symbolic than substantive, as the current version leaves in place a one-year statute of limitations on investigating complaints. With lawmakers headed to Springfield on Tuesday for the second and final week of fall session, Democratic Senate President John Cullerton said in a statement that the first thing needed is an extension of the statute of limitations to ensure the pending complaints can be investigated.

The next step is to make sure there are clear standards in place regarding the professional conduct of members of the General Assembly and a direct and secure avenue for victims to come forward with confidence to report complaints, Cullertons statement said. I anticipate swift action to resolve these issues this week.

Lawmakers could vote as early as Tuesday on Madigans measure to explicitly prohibit sexual harassment as part of the General Assemblys code of ethics and require lawmakers and lobbyists to complete sexual harassment training. Either way, the House is scheduled to undergo such training on Wednesday, and the Senate on Thursday.

Tuesdays session also could mark the return to the Capitol of Democratic state Sen. Ira Silverstein, who was accused of sexual harassment last week by a victim rights advocate who is now running as a Republican for a Lake County House seat. Denise Rotheimer said she complained to Senate leadership about Silversteins behavior almost a year ago but was unable to get her complaint investigated.

Silverstein quickly resigned his leadership post with the Senate Democrats, but Rotheimer told the Associated Press that he should resign his Senate seat as well. Asked if Silverstein should step down, Cullerton said that was up to the lawmaker.

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The inspector general will now look at the report, and I think he would like to see what the conclusion is from the inspector general, Cullerton said. That's up to him.

Meanwhile, Chicago aldermen on Monday considered a plan to make the citys sexual harassment rules apply to elected officials, including themselves, the mayor, the city clerk and the treasurer. Currently, the citys sexual harassment code applies only to employees.

Under the new proposal, the city inspector general would be able to investigate claims of sexual harassment against officials. Based on the investigation, the Board of Ethics could fine officials $1,000 to $5,000, or seek to settle the issue with officials via a fine, discipline or such other manner as it deems appropriate.

Aldermen have had a fraught relationship with Inspector General Joe Ferguson over the past several years, at times worrying that hes been unfair to them in his investigations of wrongdoing. Ald. Carrie Austin, 34th, voiced her misgivings with Ferguson being able to initiate investigations under the new policy.

I might have to take my name off if its going to the inspector general, because according to them, everybody and their grandmother is guilty, Austin said.

The Finance Committee also will vote Wednesday on an ordinance that would levy fines up to $500 for people found to have bullied or harassed someone. Bullying is defined in the proposal as an intentional act that causes harm to others that may involve verbal harassment, threats, physical assault or stalking. Harassment includes verbal abuse, sexual advances, threats and stalking.

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RELATED

[ Victim rights advocate says state lawmaker sexually harassed her, complaint went nowhere at Capitol ]

[ Amid harassment allegation, Illinois senator loses leadership spot and a scramble to fill investigator's job ]

[ Open letter alleges rampant sexual harassment in Illinois politics ]
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle signaled her support Tuesday for an advisory referendum on whether recreational marijuana use should be made legal.

Preckwinkle, a longtime advocate for reducing the focus on the decadeslong war on drugs to concentrate more on violent crime, backs legalizing recreational marijuana in general as well as putting a referendum on the 2018 ballot, spokesman Frank Shuftan said.

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Legalization would require changing state law, something that has been proposed by Democratic lawmakers but isnt expected to surface again in Springfield until next year at the earliest.

We understand the Springfield piece will be a more lengthy and potentially complicated process, Shuftan said.

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Shuftan made his comments after Commissioners John Fritchey and Luis Arroyo Jr., both Chicago Democrats, announced they would introduce a resolution next week to put the question on the March 20 primary ballot.

After his announcement, Fritchey made the rounds of the county boardroom at an unrelated committee meeting, asking for support.

If approved by the full board, Cook County voters would be asked if they support legalization of recreational marijuana use by people age 21 and older. The advisory vote would not have the force of law. Commissioners could vote on putting the question on the ballot at their December meeting.

A longtime advocate of making recreational marijuana use legal, Fritchey pointed to the legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington. State and local governments in Illinois could expect to bring in $500 million a year in pot taxes based on those states experiences, he said.

In addition, stopping the prosecution of possession of smaller amounts of marijuana could eliminate millions of dollars in spending by the countys criminal justice system  including costs for the courts that handle the cases, the county attorneys who prosecute and defend those charged, and the jail that ends up holding the accused while they await trial.

Its about unclogging a court system that is overburdened, Fritchey said. If we can take these cases out of the court system, we will be doing a tremendous service not just to the individuals but to the court system as well.

Almost 90 percent of these cases get dismissed, doing nothing but leaving individuals with an arrest record, he added. We are wasting court resources. We are damaging lives. And we have the ability to do better.

Fritchey  a former state lawmaker  also said he hoped a successful ballot question in Cook County would spur legislators to take a vote on a potentially thorny issue during an election year in 2018.

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Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Kelly Cassidy, both of whom like Fritchey live on the citys North Side, introduced legislation in March to allow the possession of up to 28 grams of pot, or about an ounce, and to grow five plants. Their proposals call for a tax of $50 an ounce, plus the standard state 6.25 percent sales tax. Local governments like the city and county collect their own sales taxes, so they likely also would bring in more money as a result of legalization.

Based on sales of pot in Colorado, the Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy group, estimates sales in Illinois could generate between $350 million and $700 million in government revenue a year.

hdardick@chicagotribune

Twitter @ReporterHal
Democratic State Sen. Toi Hutchinson talks about her own experience with sexual harassment as the Senate prepares to pass anti-sexual harassment legislation Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

SPRINGFIELD  Lawmakers on Tuesday quickly approved a flurry of bills aimed at curbing sexual harassment in Illinois politics amid warnings that the rushed effort alone isnt enough to correct a decadeslong culture of unethical behavior toward women at the Capitol.

A somber day in Springfield saw pressure mount for the lone lawmaker whos been publicly accused of sexual harassment to resign his seat. A senator told an impassioned story of being objectified by a male colleague. And in an environment where ethics was the focus, a push was launched for a larger discussion on how the General Assembly investigates all complaints against its own.

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To try to address concerns that taking on sexual harassment will be more than a one-week effort, the House and Senate each voted to create their own task forces to take on the issue. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton cast Tuesdays votes as only a beginning.

Even so, lawmakers from both parties expressed wariness that the legislatures leadership would grow complacent and fail to take up the larger, tougher questions on ethics. Some went further and questioned the wisdom of rushing to act without taking the time to think through a plan for bringing about real change.

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What we actually need to talk about here is not a piece of legislation, its a change in culture, said Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. Well, a change in culture isnt going to happen overnight because of a piece of legislation. Its something thats going to take a very thoughtful approach, its going to take a great deal of time.

Sen. Karen McConnaughay, a Republican from St. Charles who sits on the panel that reviews reports of wrongdoing by lawmakers, said she hoped the new legislation was not just window dressing.

It really makes me suspect as to when the dust all settles and the national conversation about this is toned down, will we sincerely be aggressive in addressing sexual harassment in this state? McConnaughay said.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who mostly has stuck to the sidelines on the issue since it erupted, applauded lawmakers for taking a step in the right direction.

The scramble to enact a legislative response began last month after a group of women circulated an open letter that complained of rampant sexual harassment in Springfield. They were inspired by the #MeToo social media campaign that grew out of allegations of harassment by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The stakes were raised last week when Denise Rotheimer, a victims rights activist, publicly testified at a committee hearing that shed been harassed by state Sen. Ira Silverstein and had been unable to find anyone in a position of power to take up her complaint.

Silverstein, a Chicago Democrat, quickly lost his leadership position and the $20,649-a-year stipend that comes with it. On Tuesday, several Democratic candidates for governor called on Silverstein to resign from the Senate altogether. While he was on hand to cast his votes in favor of the anti-harassment measures, the veteran Far North Side senator had little to say.

Id love to talk to you about this, but my first conversation is going to be with the inspector general, which I hope to have as soon as possible, thank you, Silverstein told reporters, referring to a newly installed watchdog who is expected to look into the complaint filed nearly a year ago by Rotheimer.

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Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, sits on the floor of the Senate on Nov. 7, 2017, at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Making sure that the new inspector general will have the freedom to look into the 27 complaints that have accumulated at that office during the nearly three years its been vacant was the first of a trio of new laws both chambers enacted.

Lawmakers took aim at a one-year statute of limitations that applies to complaints filed with the legislative inspector generals office, which reports to a panel of lawmakers known as the Ethics Commission. For complaints that were filed since 2015, the measure will allow the new inspector general, former federal prosecutor Julie Porter, to look into the complaints even if theyre more than a year old.

A second bill, brought by Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, aims to correct a major oversight in the ethics laws that govern lawmaker and lobbyist behavior, which had not included an explicit prohibition against sexual harassment. Now sexual harassment is expressly forbidden, and violations come with a fine of $5,000. Lawmakers and lobbyists also must take yearly sexual harassment training and risk having their names publicized if they fail to do so. And the measure creates a hotline for victims to seek information about filing a sexual harassment complaint.

A third measure was the creation of a sexual harassment task force for each chamber, an idea borne out of concerns by rank-and-file lawmakers that not enough time and attention were being focused on the structural problems with the legislatures self-policing system that had allowed the situation to go on for so long.

Both panels are charged with offering recommendations by the end of 2018.

The House task force will conduct a review of the legal and social consequences of sexual discrimination and harassment in the General Assembly and private sector and make recommendations about which behaviors should be legally actionable as sexual harassment.

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It will also review best practices and whether an independent third party should be assigned to handle complaints. House Democrats and Republicans each will be able to appoint up to 20 members, and will work in conjunction with a similar task force appointed by the Senate.

The Senate group has related goals and will include 10 Democrats, 10 Republicans and four members from a statewide association working to advance civil rights.

The task forces became focal points for lawmakers who remain unsatisfied with the General Assemblys response, with many vowing to use them as a way to push for larger changes.

Republicans including Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, said they want to see a far-reaching overhaul of the legislative ethics review process, contending there are fundamental flaws in the process that for years have made harassment victims hesitant to come forward because they felt the system was stacked against them.

Wehrli proposed his own bill that would put in place many changes suggested by Tom Homer, the last full-time legislative inspector general who stepped down in 2014. Homer had put together a report in the wake of a Metra hiring scandal that shed new light onto how Speaker Madigan navigates the intersection of public business and patronage through his Southwest Side office and Capitol suite.

While no violations were found in that probe, Homer called for increased transparency of investigations into lawmakers because reports finding lawmaker misconduct are unlikely to ever see the light of day.

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Wehrlis bill also would change how lawmakers are selected for a panel that reviews reports by the inspector general. Instead of the four legislative leaders each choosing two members, panelists would be selected by a random draw. They would only serve for 60 days in an attempt to eliminate outside influence.

Last week, Madigan, speaker for more than three decades, took the unusual step of testifying on behalf of his bill in front of a panel of lawmakers. On Tuesday, he handed floor debate duties to his longtime top deputy, retiring House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie of Chicago.

So it was Currie who fielded questions about the legislation, including concerns from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that efforts to fix the culture in Springfield would continue.

I just want to clarify, said Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago, that if the work of those task forces leads us toward a different model, that we will be equipped to make that pivot, that were not jumping into repairing this thing that we know is broken and fixing it, like a car to keep it on the road for a while, but if we figure out we need a new car, were going to be prepared to do that.

Currie said the task force would be allowed to recommend a whole different procedure for dealing with sexual harassment, but noted that lawmakers ultimately would have to vote to approve such changes.

Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, commended his colleagues for taking a really good first step in just correcting a trust issue we have with Illinois taxpayers, but he, too, said more should be done because we need to restore trust in our state.

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Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, said there is a disconnect in Springfield in which people call for an end to the culture of sexual harassment but there are enough folks walking around who still dont know what it is they are not supposed to be doing.

Hutchinson told a story of when she started lobbying and was trying to land her first contract. She was at a luncheon, and the head person on this bill told me that the only reason I was there was so that we could put my beautiful black breasts on sale, she said.

Now, I was just starting out. I hadnt gone to law school yet. I had absolutely no power to speak out. I had just one client in my pocket I was trying to work. That is an example of a conversation that crosses three things: it was generational, it was racist and it was sexist.

I didnt know there was any place that I could have gone to say anything about it at the time, Hutchinson said.

Lawmakers will spend Wednesday and Thursday undergoing sexual harassment training at the Capitol.

kgeiger@chicagotribune.com

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RELATED:

[ Victim rights advocate says state lawmaker sexually harassed her, complaint went nowhere at Capitol ]

[ Rauner offers only mild critique of lawmakers' handling of sexual harassment scandal at Capitol ]

[ Editorial: Cleaning up the Capitol: Sexual harassment law is just a start ]
PHOENIX -- Arizona is joining more than two dozen other states to give convicted felons a foot in the door for employment.

In an executive order Monday, Gov. Doug Ducey directed state personnel officials to "ban the box,'' eliminating any questions on initial job applications about whether a person has a criminal record.

None of that keeps the question from coming up. But the concept, according to the governor, is to ensure that people are not eliminated from even being considered.

"This is to allow people that have paid their debt to society, who have served their time, to have some hope of a job or a career or an opportunity,'' Ducey said.

The idea is not new. The National Employment Law Project reports 29 states already have similar laws or policies in place.

NELP also says nine states have eliminated the question for private employers, something the governor's executive order does not do.

In May, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution that removed the question about prior convictions or guilty pleas from applications for county jobs.

In September, the city of Flagstaff followed suit by removing the question Have you ever been convicted of or pled guilty to an offense as an adult, including DUI and reckless driving offenses (excluding minor traffic violations)?" from its employment applications, following direction from the city council to remove questions about prior convictions.

The countys human resources department was tasked with determining which positions will still require background checks. The city will continue to conduct pre-employment background checks, which include criminal history.

Several other Arizona cities including Tucson, Tempe and Phoenix also have similar policies.

But Ducey, who has pushed for programs for years to prevent recidivism, has put something else into the new plan: Money for transportation.

Under a deal with Uber, the ride-sharing company will put up $5,000 to help people get to their job sites if public transit is not available, whether because of geography or simply the time of day. That is contingent on a dollar-for-dollar match from the state which the governor's office said will be provided out of existing funds within the Department of Corrections.

Ducey said that change in applications for jobs in state government is designed to ensure at least some of these inmates get a chance to make their case to state agencies that they're good employment prospects.

The governor said that, at some point, the question of an applicant's criminal record will become part of the job interview and screening. And he said it will be at that point when it is determined if the crime is relevant.

"We're going to continue to protect public safety,'' Ducey said. "We're going to make sure to the best of our ability we're hiring the right people and putting them in the right places.''

So, for example, none of this will affect the hiring process for the state Department of Public Safety.

But the governor said it's important to provide some options for former inmates to make a living -- options other than returning to a life of crime.

"What can we do when we're having thousands of people that are coming out of our state prisons if there's not an opportunity provided to them,'' he said. "They don't have an opportunity to do anything except make a bad decision.''

Nothing in the order affects -- or could affect -- private companies.

"I don't set policy for private employers,'' the governor said. "We're trying to lead the way in terms of examples from state government.''

Still, Ducey conceded he understands their reticence.

"I think this is something that people may not understand, people like myself that are 'law-and-order' individuals and want to see a safe community,'' he explained. "I'm hopeful that some other private sector employers will follow suit.''

Ducey said this is similar to a policy he enacted earlier this year that allows state employees at many agencies to bring their newborns to work "so they didn't have to make a decision between career and family, they could continue to have that bond.'' The governor said he has heard that some private companies are now doing the same thing.

The announcement about the application process comes as the state trotted out details for placing a new "re-entry center'' for released inmates who have committed some violation of their release conditions and otherwise would wind up back in prison.

Under Arizona law, offenders are released after serving 85 percent of their sentence. But they remain under "community supervision'' for the balance of their term.

Sometimes, a former inmate in that category fails a drug test or some other condition of release but has not committed any new crimes.

Before the re-entry center, the Department of Corrections could either ignore the violation or put the person back behind bars. Under the latter option, the person would lose a job and housing.

The centers, first proposed by Ducey in 2016, provide a place for the former inmate to spend a few weekends locked up while also getting drug counseling. But they are released during the week to keep their jobs.

An existing facility in North Phoenix -- one that provoked opposition from neighbors who were not notified first -- will be closed. Aides to the governor also said the central location is closer to employers.

And existing pre-release employment centers operated in several prisons will also be consolidated there.
Chicago billionaire and former Commerce Department secretary Penny Pritzker turns up in the Paradise Papers, a trove of records published this week by a global network of journalists examining leaked documents about offshore tax havens.

Documents show that soon after Pritzker became commerce secretary in 2013, she transferred shares in two offshore investments to a limited liability company registered in Delaware and owned by trusts for the benefit of her two children, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists said.

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A Pritzker spokesman this week declined to answer several questions from the Tribune after the Paradise Papers report was published, saying: Ms. Pritzker, in consultation with and under the review of the Office of Government Ethics during her service as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, timely complied with all of the rules and requirements promulgated by the Office of Government Ethics with respect to her divestitures and her holdings.

Pritzker complied with both the letter and the spirit of the law, spokesman Jim Hock said.

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Pritzker, 58, is a business executive and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune. Her net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $2.7 billion.

According to a letter filed at the ethics office, Pritzker agreed to divest her interests in 221 separate investments before she took the post in June 2013. Her investments included IAS Holdings Limited and Triton Container International Limited, which the consortium said were based in Bermuda.

Pritzkers interest in Triton Container was in the range of $1 million to $5 million, according to her 2013 financial disclosure report. The firm is a holding company that owns and manages subsidiaries in the container-leasing business, the disclosure report said.

Her interest in IAS Holdings was in the range of $15,000 to $50,000, according to the 2013 report. The firm owns an interest in International Asset Systems Limited, which owns transportation industry technology, the disclosure report said.

In a 2014 report she filed, Pritzker said her interest in the firms was sold on June 27, 2013  two days after her Senate confirmation  for sums in their stated dollar ranges.

Larry Noble, senior director and general counsel of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center in Washington, said when a government employee is asked to divest assets to avoid potential conflicts the best divestiture is selling the assets to an unrelated third party.

The problem is, when people put assets that theyre supposed to divest into a trust for their children or close family members, a potential for conflict still exists because theyre still interested in how those assets do, Noble saidsenior director and general counsel for the center.

Its a problem that existed in the Obama administration and it exists now  just moving assets to children or a relative doesnt clear up the potential conflicts, he said.

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The topic of offshore tax havens was raised by critics when President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Pritzker to lead the Commerce Department. Pritzker, a major Democratic donor, had been finance chair of Obamas 2008 campaign.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said at the time it was hypocritical for Obama to "overlook tax avoidance when it's convenient" while dismissing the practice as "fat cat shenanigans" when other people are involved.

At her nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Pritzker was asked about offshore investments. I am the beneficiary of offshore family trusts that were set up when I was a little girl, she said. I didn't create them. I don't direct them. I don't control them. I have asked the trustee to appoint and  remove themselves and to appoint a U.S. trustee.

But I have complied with all of the disclosure obligations, et cetera, that have been required of me in this process, she said.

Pritzker is founder and chairwoman of PSP Capital and the Pritzker Realty Group.

kskiba@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @KatherineSkiba

RELATED:

[ Paradise Papers: Leaked documents reveal financial habits of the queen and Trump officials ]

[ U2's Bono among figures named in leak of tax-haven documents ]
Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Mayor Rahm Emanuel reported receiving another $84,900 in political contributions late Monday, and the largest of the bunch was an $11,100 contribution from American Media Inc.

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American Media is the New York-based publisher of supermarket tabloids the National Enquirer, Star, Globe, Us Weekly and OK! along with health brands including Men's Fitness and Flex. The publisher's CEO is David J. Pecker, a decades-long friend and backer of Republican President Donald Trump. Pecker's public support has been unwavering, and the National Enquirer has not been shy about running favorable stories about the one-time New York real estate mogul and reality TV star-turned-president.

Pecker's relationship with Trump was drawn into the spotlight over the summer, when the president and MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski traded jabs. The television duo alleged Trump's White House threatened them with negative media coverage unless they apologized to the president on television for critical commentary, noting on air that they had been harassed by Enquirer reporters.

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Trump shot back with a tweet, slamming Scarborough and alleging, "He called me to stop a National Enquirer article. I said no! Bad show." Trump and Pecker's relationship reportedly dates back to the early 1990s, when Pecker hired Trump as an Enquirer columnist.

Federal campaign finance records show Pecker's personal political giving mostly has centered on $2,000 to $3,000 contributions to Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker among others. He's also given to Republican Orrin Hatch and Republican national campaign committees.

"The company has supported Rahm since he was a Congressman, believes in his platform and was glad to help," American Media said in a statement. As for whether Pecker personally approved the contribution, the statement said, "Mr. Pecker is the CEO of the company and he absolutely would be aware of any contributions of the like."

Records show Pecker personally contributed $3,000 to Emanuel during his Congressional days. Pecker also contributed $5,000 to Emanuel's mayoral campaign in 2010 and another $1,000 in 2014. American Media also made a then-maximum corporate contribution of $10,500 to Emanuel's mayoral campaign in 2013.

"The mayor and Mr. Pecker have known each other for over 25 years, and the contributions date back to the mayor's first campaign in 2002, which is not a surprise since two-thirds of Mr. Pecker's federal contributions have gone to Democrats," Emanuel campaign spokesman Pete Giangreco said in a statement. He did not respond to a question about whether Emanuel personally solicited the campaign contribution from Pecker. (Bill Ruthhart)

What's on tap

*Mayor Emanuel will appear at an affordable housing event in Woodlawn in the morning and at a tech company event in the West Loop in the afternoon.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner will cut the ribbon on a General Mills facility in Wilmington and hold a conference call with reporters about his Israel trade mission.

*The Illinois General Assembly is back in Springfield for the second week of its veto session, with the sexual harassment scandal the focus.

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*The Cook County Board's Finance Committee will have a hearing on the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, a big chunk of the annual budget.

*Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey will hold a news conference to announce a proposed advisory referendum about legalizing marijuana. (More below.)

*DePaul University President A. Gabriel Esteban will speak to the City Club of Chicago.

*State Reps. David Harris and Linda Chapa LaVia will hold a Springfield news conference about the effort to find photos of everyone named on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

*An Illinois Senate subcommittee will hold a hearing on factory farms following the Tribune's "Price of Pork" series.

From the notebook

*How Bill Clinton's rhetoric influenced Emanuel: Mayor Emanuel has never been shy about pointing to the important influence President Bill Clinton had on him during his time as a White House policy adviser, and on Monday, the mayor illustrated how.

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Emanuel appeared with other Clinton administration officials at a Georgetown University panel on the 25th anniversary of Clinton's election. The talk turned to whether the former president was a centrist.

"I actually think the two biggest points I would make, one is President Clinton redefined the debate, not as left versus right versus center, (but about) going forward versus going backward," Emanuel said.

The remark reflects the way Emanuel  who's renowned as a fierce partisan  prefers to frame his own leadership in Chicago. He wants to be known for making tough decisions needed to position the city to prosper in the future rather than being bogged down by political concerns.

And when an audience member asked about the possibility of raising taxes on the wealthy, Emanuel gave Clinton credit for one of the mayor's favorite rhetorical moves: deflecting questions by changing them.

"Don't take this the wrong way, I think Bill Clinton would say you have the wrong question," Emanuel said. "And what he would say to you is 'It's not about whether you raise taxes on the wealthy that defines you as a Democrat, it's about what you're going to do with those resources to make sure other people win.' And he would change the question." (John Byrne)

*New Rauner ad, old Rauner theme: Gov. Rauner is out with a new ad, showing a rusting robot with a TV-monitor face bearing an image of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan as an announcer touts the governor "fighting to destroy the Madigan machine."

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"Attacking Madigan's machine, fighting big spenders, creating jobs. Bruce Rauner, because Illinois is worth fighting for," the narrator says to close out the half-minute spot.

Its release comes as Rauner has been running an ad featuring the GOP governors of the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana trashing Illinois' job climate and their ability to benefit from it. Now, Rauner is claiming credit for bringing in "thousands of new jobs, and unemployment is down for the first time in years."

The group Illinois Working Together, which represents a coalition of unions opposed to Rauner, called the ad "full of distortions" in a thread of Twitter messages.

It said Rauner's claim of unemployment being down "for the first time in years" was "just bizarre" and "only true if you compare early 2017 to the beginning of Rauner's term." The group also said Illinois was one of the "worst performers" in the Midwest in terms of job growth since January 2015, when Rauner took office.

"Rauner desperately needs to pivot to a positive economic message ahead of '18 election. But the data simply doesn't support his claims," the group said. (Rick Pearson)

*For Ives campaign, time is of the essence: For three-term state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, time is important in trying to gather petition signatures to appear on the March ballot in a primary challenge to Rauner.

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In an email to volunteers, Ives' team offers a "pro tip" on how to get someone to sign a petition.

"Start with, 'Hi, I'm collecting signatures to get a candidate on the ballot. Are you a registered voter?' " says the email from Becky Rudolph, who lists herself as the Ives campaign's volunteer coordinator.

"You don't really have to do a sales pitch at this time, we are just trying to get as many signatures as quickly as possible! Of course, you should answer any questions the person has, but you don't need to start with a long explanation," Rudolph's email says.

Team Ives said it wants to finish its petition gathering by Thanksgiving. (Rick Pearson)

*After Clinton's loss, EMILY's List seeks to rebuild: The president of EMILY's List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, acknowledged that last year's loss by Hillary Clinton in the presidential race was a tough one for the group.

"I'll be honest with you, for a while there I wasn't sure deep down if we were going to make it," Stephanie Schriock told more than 200 people at a luncheon for the group at a downtown hotel. The event included Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, County Commissioner Bridget Gainer and state Rep. Litesa Wallace of Rockford, the running mate of Democratic governor candidate Daniel Biss.

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"This year has been a roller coaster and it took a lot for this team of mine to pick themselves up and keep going after everything that happened," Schriock said. "For a lot of our younger staff, this was their first campaign. They dreamed so big and they worked so hard and came so close. She came so close."

Shriock said that since the November 2016 election of President Donald Trump, more than 20,000 women have pledged to the group that they will seek elective office at the municipal, county, state and federal level. (Rick Pearson)

*Biss gets Arena's backing for governor: Biss is today announcing support from Ald. John Arena and Arena's 45th Ward Independent Democratic Organization.

"Daniel is the only candidate we trust to build a powerful, progressive movement in our state," Arena said in a statement. "Creating an Illinois that supports middle-class and working families is going to require a governor who can harness the power of our communities  and Daniel gets that."

Biss called the endorsements an "honor" and said Arena and "the other leaders in the 45th Ward have created a powerful roadmap for progressive reform." (Rick Pearson)

*Pot question: Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey wants to get the County Board to ask voters if recreational marijuana use should be made legal.

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To get that ball moving, he plans to introduce a resolution next week that would place the referendum on the March primary ballot in Cook County. A vote on the matter could come in December.

Fritchey, an advocate for making pot legal and taxing it, will outline the effort at a morning press conference alongside Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, activists and religious leaders. (Hal Dardick)

What we're writing

*Rauner offers only mild critique of lawmakers' handling of sexual harassment scandal at Capitol.

*Alderman rips Emanuel study for failing to address Uber driver fingerprinting.

*Emanuel police, fire training academy plan advances.

*Vietnam veterans charity dissolved after "egregious fraud," Attorney General Madigan announces.

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*Oak Park trustee closes Felony Franks, restaurant known for helping ex-offenders.

What we're reading

*As buses slow and ridership sinks, advocates look for ways to lure commuters back.

*Disney, 21st Century Fox have been in takeover talks: report.

*Cubs make qualifying offers to Jake Arrieta, Wade Davis.

Follow the money

*Democratic candidate for attorney general Sharon Fairley reported giving her campaign $100,000.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

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Beyond Chicago

*Texas shooter's motive a "domestic situation."

*Paul attacker could face upgraded charges.

*Menendez trial goes to jury.

*Fiji wants climate change urgency.
Two police officers accused of raping a teenager while she was in custody resigned on Monday, the New York Police Department said.

The two former NYPD detectives  Eddie Martins, 37, and Richard Hall, 33  are facing dozens of criminal charges and a possible $50 million lawsuit after the teenager accused them of raping her while she was handcuffed inside a police van. The indictment followed a weekslong investigation of the two former officers who, prosecutors said, pulled over a car driven by the 18-year-old, arrested her for drug possession, then took turns raping her in the back seat.

The resignation came three days before the officers were scheduled for a departmental trial, a separate proceeding from a criminal trial. During that process, officers are tried on charges of misconduct. A trial commissioner decides if they're guilty and makes recommendations to the police commissioner.

In a sharply worded statement, New York City Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said he would've immediately fired Martins and Hall if they're found guilty at the departmental trial.

"And I would have done so on behalf of every NYPD cop, because we owe the communities we serve - as well as the honest, hardworking men and women of this department - - nothing less," O'Neill said.

He also said: "When a member of the NYPD is indicted on serious charges like these, it tarnishes all of the admirable things accomplished by other, good officers every day in neighborhoods across New York City. It also stains the legacies of those who paid the ultimate price in service to New Yorkers."

John Arlia, Hall's defense attorney, said Monday that both officers jointly decided to resign to focus on the defense of their case and avoid the distraction of an administrative proceeding, which typically happens after the criminal matter is resolved.

Martins and Hall, who were members of the NYPD's Brooklyn South narcotics unit, have been charged with rape, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, official misconduct and coercion. In total, they are facing 50 charges each.

DNA recovered from the victim after a rape-kit test matched samples taken from Martins and Hall officials said. Surveillance footage also showed the teen getting out of the police van about 40 minutes after she was pulled over, prosecutors said.

The arrests and the former officers' arraignment hearing on Oct. 30 capped off weeks of serious allegations of misconduct that have been circulating in the media.

Acting district attorney Eric Gonzalez called the crimes a "flagrant betrayal of public trust" and vowed to hold the detectives accountable.

The detectives' attorneys raised doubts about the teen's account of what happened, suggesting during the court hearing that the encounter was not rape but consensual sex, The New York Times reported.

Prosecutors said the crimes occurred the night of Sept. 15, when the officers were riding in an unmarked Dodge Caravan as part of a buy-and-bust operation in South Brooklyn. The two detectives, who were in plain clothes at the time, left their post without their supervisor's permission at about 7:30 p.m. and drove to a park in Coney Island, according to the Brooklyn district attorney's office.

A little later, the officers pulled over the teen, who was with two male passengers, and found marijuana in the cup holder next to the front seat, prosecutors said. (The Washington Post generally does not identify people who are or may have been victims of sexual assault.)

They then handcuffed her and let the two passengers go before driving off with the teen in the back of the van, prosecutors said.

Before they left, the officers allegedly told the passengers to pick up their friend at the Coney Island police precinct in three hours.

While in the van, Martins called the teen's friends from his cellphone and told them not to follow the police vehicle, Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano said during the hearing, according to the Times.

As Martins sat in the back seat with the teen, he told her that he and his partner were "freaks" and asked what she would do to get herself out of trouble, prosecutors said. Martins then forced the teen to perform oral sex on him and raped her while Hall drove and watched in the rearview mirror, prosecutors said.

The teen cried and pleaded for the officer to stop, DeGaetano said in court.

The van allegedly stopped in Bay Ridge, roughly four miles from where the teen was pulled over. There, the officers switched places and Hall forced the teen to perform oral sex on him, prosecutors said.

The detectives then drove to the Coney Island precinct and dropped the teen off after ordering her not to talk about the incident, prosecutors said.

The young woman's private attorney, Michael David, said his client has filed a notice of claim against the police department, the two former officers, their supervisor and the city of New York  the first step in filing a lawsuit. She's seeking $50 million in damages, David said.

Mark Bederow, an attorney for Martins, said he was confident that the teen's allegations will be "demonstrated to be false."

"I would urge people to respect the presumption of innocence, which applies to anyone, including a police officer," Bederow said, adding, "It will become crystal clear that Eddie Martins did not engage in any rape or forcible sex attack on the young woman."

Arlia, Hall's attorney, declined to comment about the case and, instead, referred to statements he'd made in court.

Martins and Hall, who are out on bail, are scheduled to appear in court in January.
The massacre that killed more than two dozen people at a Texas church on Sunday isn't likely to jump-start attempts on Capitol Hill to enact fresh legislation addressing gun violence or mental health, according to lawmakers in both parties.

Coming just a month after the mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people, Congress hasn't even made good yet on bipartisan resolve to address an obscure element of that attack. Remember "bump stocks"?

Instead, the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, seemed to only further coarsen the tone surrounding a decades-long fight over gun rights in the United States.

"No one is safe so long as Congress chooses to do absolutely nothing in the face of this epidemic," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a vocal advocate for gun control, said in a scathing statement hours after the shooting. "The time is now for Congress to shed its cowardly cover and do something."

But just steps from the church crime scene on Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, assailed the news media and Democrats for immediately seeking legislative solutions to the latest outbreak of gun violence.

"It is an unfortunate thing that the immediate place the media goes after any tragedy, after any murder, is politicizing it. We don't need politics right now," he told reporters at a news conference.

Noting that a terrorism suspect used a rented truck last week to kill eight people along a New York City bike path, Cruz added, "Evil is evil is evil and will use the weaponry that is available."

Although Democrats and some Republicans have introduced dozens of proposals this year to address gun violence, there is no bill poised for consideration in a House or Senate committee or scheduled for an up-or-down vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., signaled Monday that there are no immediate plans to take up legislation to address gun violence.

"It's hard to envision a foolproof way to prevent individual outrages by evil people," he told reporters in Kentucky. Echoing Cruz, McConnell noted that last week in New York, "you had a person who figured out he could kill people by driving his automobile up on the sidewalk. It's a very, very challenging thing."

Aides to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., declined to comment, referring reporters to the House Judiciary Committee. A senior committee aide would say only that the panel is in touch with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI about the shooting.

ATF is also set to brief Judiciary Committee members this week on the use of bump stocks, aides said.

Congress seemed to get closer than it has in many years last month, when the Las Vegas shooting brought attention to bump stocks, an obscure device used to accelerate gunfire on some weapons used in the massacre. In subsequent days, Republicans especially expressed alarm about how such an unknown accessory could cause such widespread violence. Lawmakers in both parties quickly agreed that steps should be taken to regulate their use.

The National Rifle Association, usually mum in the wake of mass shootings, said it supported restricting access to bump stocks. So did the Trump administration. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a longtime advocate for gun restrictions, unveiled a plan to restrict the sale and use of bump stocks that was quickly co-sponsored by more than 30 Democratic senators. In the House, Republicans and Democrats quickly banded around a similar idea.

"We are continuing to work on this," Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said. He co-sponsored a bipartisan plan to restrict bump stocks with Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., who didn't return requests for comment Monday.

But bump stock legislation has stalled as ATF is reviewing a 2010 ruling that authorized their sale.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a close ally of House GOP leaders, said Monday that lawmakers should wait for more information on the Texas shooting before rushing to judgment.

"The first thing we need to know is know a little bit more about this," Cole said in an interview.

"If it turns out he broke existing laws," Cole added, "adding new laws," would not likely be an effective countermeasure. Rather, focusing on enforcing laws on the books would be preferable.

Cole said the issue of bump stocks should be solved in the executive branch. "The quickest fix is to reverse the administrative decision" allowing the devices, he said.

But Moulton disputed that, saying that "any Republican who tries to put this on the administration is only doing that because he or she is scared of the NRA."

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who chairs a gun violence prevention task force for House Democrats, said Monday that he's hopeful that a bipartisan background-check bill he unveiled last week with Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., could pick up traction.

The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act would expand the existing background-check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including weapons sold at gun shows, online and in classified ads. But the bill would leave open exceptions for transfers between friends and family.

"There is no single law that can put an end to mass shootings or gun violence, but there are certainly proactive steps we can take to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill," King said in a statement. Background checks, he added, "keep guns out of the hands of people we all agree shouldn't have guns."

Thompson noted that a similar version of his bill with King they introduced last year had at least 192 co-sponsors in both parties. He ruled out a new push by Democrats to use procedural tactics to force votes on such bills or to stage another sit-in on the House floor as some Democrats did last year in a bid to force votes.

"We need the majority party to screw up some courage and start working with these issues," Thompson said. The push to enact changes has been "a solo effort ever since Sandy Hook"  the 2012 shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that left 28 people dead.
Netflix cuts ties with Kevin Spacey, shown here in January 2013, after allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the actor. (Jemal Countess /)

Just about every day brings news of another #MeToo bombshell  and the career and life wreckage that follows.

In the last week or so, NPR top editor Michael Oreskes resigned after several women alleged that he had sexually harassed them years earlier at The New York Times. And Illinois state Sen. Ira Silverstein of Chicago lost his Democratic leadership position over a sexual harassment scandal in a Springfield statehouse known for ignoring such complaints.

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They join a rapidly growing list of the accused, including:

Prominent political journalist Mark Halperin. He lost his contract with NBC News and MSNBC; Penguin Press canceled his forthcoming book on the 2016 election; HBO pulled the plug on a project in development based on that book.

New Republic president and publisher Hamilton Fish and the magazines former literary editor, Leon Wieseltier. Fish is on a leave of absence pending an investigation; Wieseltier lost a magazine he was about to unveil and his name was removed from the masthead of The Atlantic.

Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios, resigned days after a producer publicly accused him of sexual harassment.

Knight Landesman, publisher of Artforum and a major player in the art world, resigned hours after a lawsuit was filed in New York accusing him of sexually harassing at least nine women over almost a decade.

Film director James Toback has been accused by 38 women of sexual harassment or assault.

Actor Dustin Hoffman apologized for a sexual harassment incident 32 years ago.

Entourage actor Jeremy Piven faces accusations of sexually harassing two women, which he denies.

Director Brett Ratner has been accused by six women of sexual assault or misconduct.

Three Dartmouth College professors are on paid leave while authorities investigate allegations of sexual misconduct.

New Orleans celebrity chef John Besh stepped down from the restaurant group that bears his name after more than two dozen female employees alleged theyd faced sexual harassment at the company.

And what of the man who provoked this backlash, disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein? Women continue to come forward with allegations of rape, sexual assault and groping  some dating to the 1970s. Hes lost his company, his career, his wife and, we imagine, many of his friends.

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In Hollywood, C-suites, Wall Street, Washington, Springfield  and everywhere else  the question is: Whos next?

This list of the accused is astonishing not just for its length, but for the swiftness of consequences. In the past, such abuse complaints from victims often went nowhere. The cases would drag on, then end in a whimper or a hush-money settlement.

Now, more often than not, accused offenders are frog-marched out the door. Lawyers will argue, correctly, that allegations arent proof. But many companies now act pre-emptively to shield themselves from terrible publicity and, possibly, lawsuits theyd rather not fight.

This is a bracing and welcome change from policies that allowed miscreants to escape consequences as long as there was money to be made by keeping offenders on the payroll. Were looking at you, Fox News.

Lets pause here, however, to acknowledge that not every case merits a blunderbuss.

In a recent Los Angeles Times op-ed, Cathy Young, a contributing editor of Reason, raises a provocative question: Is Weinsteining getting out of hand? She frets that many people  not just men with skeletons in the closet  fear that careers may be destroyed over minor misconduct and ambiguous transgressions.

Thats a risk. But were still early in what looks like a huge cultural shift that encourages maltreated women to come forward and reliably punishes transgressors for obnoxious and predatory behavior. Surely, more names will join the list above.

And this wont be limited to men who prey on women. More than a dozen men reportedly have accused actor Kevin Spacey of sexually harassing, assaulting or groping them. The fallout: Netflix dropped Spacey from his starring role on House of Cards.

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This moment is a warning to men (and yes, women) who arent yet powerful, who dont yet run studios, media companies, banks, hedge funds, nonprofits. Who havent climbed to the top of the legislative heap or the movie business or the art world or ...

Look at the names above. If you dont want to join them, watch how you deal with your colleagues. Those unwanted advances and worse may not be buried and forgotten, as too often in the past. They could come back to bury you  sooner than you think.

The rules of engagement are changing. Act accordingly. Or risk everything.
Families of those slain during the attack at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs worship during a memorial service at the Floresville High School football stadium in Floresville, Texas. Also pictured at right is Stephen Willeford, who chased and shot at the gunman. (Louis DeLuca / Dallas Morning News)

Mass killings like the one at a South Texas church are acts of extreme violence that defy rational explanation and simple solution. They raise demands for specific steps to be taken to ban horrors that are as indiscriminate as they are depraved.

That doesnt make this a time to mourn and shrug. America needs to deal with its propensity for gun violence. Here was another reminder.

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Tens of thousands of churches across America held worship services Sunday, but it was the First Baptist Church in tiny Sutherland Springs that came under surprise attack by a heavily armed, disgraced Air Force veteran. The 26-year-old man, wearing a ballistic vest and skull face mask, murdered 26 members of the congregation, including children. The shooter was found dead in his vehicle after being chased by two heroic civilians in a truck.

America has endured so many mass shootings that people across the country were poised immediately to add the Texas incident to the raging debate over gun rights vs. gun control. Its only been a month since Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

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Second Amendment supporters believe gun ownership is a right and guns protect. The adherents probably heard everything they needed in the incredible early news accounts from Sutherland Springs to justify their position: A church neighbor rushed to the scene with a rifle to engage the shooter, potentially saving lives. The neighbor flagged down a passing driver and they bravely took off after the gunman at 95 mph..

Gun control advocates think the country is less safe with a proliferation of guns: Assault rifles, concealed carry permits and permissive laws for firearms and ammunition contribute to the American disease of gun violence. They believe stricter controls would reduce mass shootings and carnage in Chicago and other cities.

Does either sides argument gain sway after Sutherland Springs? Well see.

The Texas rampage apparently grew out of a demonic domestic dispute: The killer had been court-martialed and sentenced to military prison for assaulting his spouse and child. He received a bad-conduct discharge. He was feuding with his former in-laws and may have targeted the Sutherland Springs church because they attended there. The shooter was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and several handguns. It wasnt clear Monday how he obtained his weapons, but the Air Force said it had failed to notify federal authorities of his conviction, which would have prevented him from purchasing firearms. The Air Force said it would investigate.

The Texas killings were incomprehensible, and the circumstances were unique. But its not tempting fate to anticipate more mass shootings. There will be more. That requires a response. The country cant accept mass carnage at churches, concerts, schools, workplaces and elsewhere as a fact of life.

What to do?

Because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to own guns, bans on specific weapons or other strict measures are not on the horizon. But there are steps Congress can take to reduce the opportunities for armed villains to kill. Among them:

Require background checks for every gun purchase, including those at gun shows and transactions between private parties.

Limit the capacity of magazine clips to, say, 10 rounds. That would force an assailant to frequently reload or switch weapons, buying time for victims to escape, good Samaritans to overtake him and law enforcement to arrive.

Ban bump stock devices that convert semi-automatic rifles into machine gun-like weapons. The Las Vegas shooter used bump stocks. In the wake of that massacre, members of Congress who support gun rights and the National Rifle Association said they were ready to consider a ban on bump stocks, thus heralding a potentially important step in the gun control debate. We havent heard much about that proposed federal ban since early October. Amid the sadness in South Texas, members of Congress have a promise to keep.

Nor is Springfield on the case. In late October, an effort to ban bump stocks and comparable devices died in the Illinois General Assembly.

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Each mass shooting in America is its own terrible story that cant be undone. The responsible perspective is to use the shock of the moment to take actions that will save lives in the future.
Speaking from South Korea on Nov. 7, President Trump incorrectly asserted once again that Chicago has "the strongest gun laws in our nation."

Asked how America should reckon with its most recent massacre-by-gun, President Donald Trump responded Tuesday with his favorite, National Rifle Association-approved trope: Chicago.

The question posed during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, involved the possibility of extreme vetting for people who want to buy guns.

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Look at the city with the strongest gun laws in our nation  Chicago, Trump said. Chicago is a disaster, a total disaster.

With all due respect, let me say this: Mr. President, keep the name of our city out of your lie-spewing mouth.

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Chicago does not have the strongest gun laws in our nation. Thats a lie. Its not a misstatement or a falsehood. Its a flat-out lie, and a cynical one at that, because its using the tragic  and, yes, disastrous  number of homicides in Chicago as a cudgel to knock down any talk of sensible gun-law reform.

Trump doesnt care about the daily carnage on our citys streets. Remember during the campaign, when he pledged he would solve everything, when he hinted of some magical police officer here who told him he knew just what to do to solve Chicagos decadeslong violence problems?

Theres no magical police officer. Trump has done nothing. Trump will do nothing. People here are not his voters, they are merely human cover in his effort to shield Americas gun cult from reality.

And that reality is this: We have 26 people  children, a pregnant woman, a pastors daughter  shot dead in a church in Texas by a man who had no business owning any firearms, much less one capable of destroying so many lives so quickly.

That reality is what should be addressed. The Air Force failed to enter the shooters past domestic violence conviction into the National Criminal Information Center database, so he managed to pass background checks when he bought his guns.

A president who gives a damn might answer a question at a news conference by saying we absolutely need to investigate this failure and make sure our system of federal background checks on gun buyers is as close to flawless as it can be.

Instead, Trump belted out every line in the NRA playbook: He suggested it was too soon to be talking about such things as gun control; he brought up Chicago to suggest that gun laws dont do any good anyway (this overlooks the well-established fact that most of the guns coming into Chicago are purchased in states with lax gun laws); and he cited the Texas man who got his own gun and fired on the shooter, saying that if that man didnt have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead.

Its the good-guy-with-a-gun line. Undoubtedly, that man who went after the shooter is a hero. But are we supposed to be OK with 26 people killed before the good-guy-with-a-gun savior arrives? (Also, no one is talking about keeping guns out of the hands of good people with clean records.)

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As far as the hundreds more dead goes, Trump has no idea what hes talking about. Hes just pulling words out of thin air to gin up a hypothetical that honors the almighty gun.

To summarize, the president of the United States responded to a reasonable question about what we should do to keep a tragedy like the one in Texas from repeating by: lying about the laws in a major American city; describing that same major American city as a disaster, something Im sure local businesses and tourism officials were delighted to hear; and fabricating a scenario in which, had it not been for that lone hero with a gun, the Texas gunman wouldve gone on to slaughter hundreds more.

That isnt leadership. Its deception, evasion and cowardice. Its fiction, and its an insult to this great city, which struggles daily with gun violence and needs sensible and compassionate help from the man who so boldly claimed he knows a Chicago cop who can fix everything.

Well await your assistance, President Trump. Until then, kindly keep the name of our city out of your mouth.

rhuppke@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RexHuppke

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RELATED:

[ Related: My son survived Sandy Hook. I want to tell him it won't happen again, but I can't. ]

[ How to help prevent the next gun massacre ]

[ Trump, pressed on gun control, says Chicago a 'total disaster' despite tough laws ]

[ Trump says Texas shooting is a problem of mental health, not guns ]
Democratic State Sen. Ira Silverstein sits on the floor of the Senate during session Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

I sound like a high school boy, says state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, in a moment of blinding clarity on the 437th page of what Im calling The Silverstein-Rotheimer Papers, a printout of 17 months worth of Facebook messages between Silverstein and victim rights advocate Denise Rotheimer.

Rotheimer released this tome to certain members of the media last week as evidence, she said, of the torment she suffered due to Silversteins unconscionable sexual harassment of her while he was sponsoring a bill that she was backing in Springfield.

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Rotheimers accusations were magnified by the current focus in the news on predatory behavior, from inappropriate to illegal, which was touched off by widespread allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. And they resulted in Silverstein losing a seat in party leadership that paid him $20,649 a year.

Fair enough, I suppose. The Silverstein-Rotheimer Papers show that the veteran North Side lawmaker engaged in an inappropriately personal relationship with a woman who personal and political propriety demanded he keep at arms length. It was an ethical failure.

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Notably, though, theres little to no evidence in the 444-page record of Silverstein, 57 and married, threatening, harassing, intimidating or propositioning Rotheimer, 45 and single. Rather, as Silverstein says, he sounds in this tome like a high school boy  goofy, smitten and awkward as he flirts with a woman who, it seems to me, coyly leads him along.

On Feb. 4, 2016, for instance, Rotheimer messaged Silverstein to tell him she was copying him on a letter related to Senate Bill 2151, the bill she was promoting in her role as the founder of Mothers on a Mission to Stop Violence, and that he had volunteered to sponsor. The following banter ensued (spelling and punctuation corrected):

Rotheimer: Anything else I can do for you?

Silverstein: I will think of something.

Rotheimer: Ha ha.

Silverstein: Are you smiling?

Rotheimer: Yes Im smiling ear to ear.

Silverstein: Job done. You never make me smile.

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Rotheimer: Wrong, you havent stopped smiling.

Silverstein: Smiling, but not at you.

Rotheimer: Now you are making me laugh.

The two liked to play a fill-in-the-blank word game, as in this Oct. 19, 2016, bit of badinage following a chat about Halloween costumes and the Cubs:

Silverstein: You are very weird.

Rotheimer: I am.

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Silverstein: I know. I read it about you.

Rotheimer: Its my weirdness that you like, and vice versa. If we were normal, we would be boring. Actually, our brains would shut down.

Silverstein: You are right. I like your weirdness and ______.

Rotheimer: My openness. Something you have to work on. I need to work on _____.

Silverstein: Picking up on hints.

Rotheimer: Ha ha. If I picked up on things, you wouldnt have to be open. Good one : )

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Silverstein: You got me.

Rotheimer: I always do.

Silverstein: You wish.

Rotheimer: I got you doesnt mean I get you.

Silverstein: Only kidding. Goodnight

Rotheimer: Goodnight.

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The double-entendres and sexual innuendo are light and juvenile.

Reading the entire document is excruciating and embarrassing rather than infuriating. Silverstein comes off more like a puppy dog than a wolf. Rotheimer, who is now running for a state House seat as a Republican, seems genuinely to like him  prolonging many of the online conversations with gentle teasing, inanities and personal questions that fall just short of intimacy.

Youre cute, she messaged him on Dec. 9, 2015. You are cuter, he responded. She replied Good comeback, and added the smile emoticon she sprinkled liberally through their exchanges.

Its difficult to square this evidence with Rotheimers accusation that Silverstein was intimidating and played mind games with her to satisfy a twisted agenda.

Senate Bill 2151, which proposed using money set aside for crime victim services to pay for attorneys for those victims, never had much of a chance, according to state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, one of its chief co-sponsors. Many powerful victims rights organizations opposed it, she said. Those resources are scarce, and opponents thought theyd be better used for housing, counseling services and so on. The bill was going nowhere.

The legislative record shows the bill flopping around from committee to committee, into subcommittee and back, like a fish dying on the deck of an anglers boat. Nothing in The Silverstein-Rotheimer Papers supports Rotheimers charge that these moves were related to shifts in Silversteins view of their personal relationship. Shes asked that the full exchange not be made public  it contains private phone numbers and information related to her clients she does not want disseminated  but I have posted a generous selection of excerpts at chicagotribune.com/zorn for your consideration.

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Is there other documentary evidence? I emailed and spoke with Rotheimer, sharing with her my view that what shes presented so far doesnt match the strong charges she has leveled at him in public statements and interviews. It looks like a sad, middle-aged crush, an unwholesome obsession that she was happy to encourage as long as she thought it would advantage her.

Rotheimer rejected my conclusion. She said that her side of the communication  everything that looks like her flirting back  prolonging post-midnight conversations with flattery, hinting at rewards he might get if the bill passed  was an act she felt she had to put on. She said she was actually repulsed by Silverstein, who declined my request for an interview, and that his continual effort to communicate with her, online, on the phone and in person, was an abuse of the power he had over my bill.

She said he did not proposition her or initiate physical contact. She did not offer any other evidence, saying she doesnt want to try this matter in the media. I pointed out that her accusations have already convicted Silverstein of predatory behavior in the court of public opinion, and the only available documentary evidence suggests that verdict was hasty.

Given what we know now  how often she encouraged him in her replies and how infrequently she moved the Facebook conversations gently back to professional matters  this does not seem like the sort of relationship we want to use to illustrate the problem of sexual harassment in Springfield or to bring down a mans life and career.

My mind remains open. Nearly a year after Rotheimers bill finally died and she filed a formal complaint against Silverstein, her charges are likely to receive a long-overdue investigatory hearing, at which other evidence and testimony will be heard. Until then, your mind should remain open as well.

ericzorn@gmail.com

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State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, and farmers talk about new legislation related to livestock confinements at the State Capitol in Springfield on March 28, 2017. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Reacting to opposition from rural communities and environmentalists, state officials at a Senate hearing Tuesday defended Illinois laws and policies regulating massive hog confinements.

As pork producers build and expand the facilities, neighboring farmers have complained their rights are being trampled while waste spills poison local streams and sickening gases ruin families' lives and property values.

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"I represent farmers in my district who say there's a problem," state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, said at Tuesday's nearly three-hour hearing.

Koehler is part of a subcommittee of three Downstate legislators reviewing livestock facility laws. In March, he introduced a set of new bills that would tighten Illinois' environmental protections, allow local citizens more input in the permitting process and give nearby residents standing to challenge the massive facilities in court.

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The hearing and Koehler's bills came in response to the Tribune's 2016 investigation, "The Price of Pork," which sparked calls for reform from lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin as well as local efforts to halt or slow the construction of new facilities. The series found that hog waste spills accounted for nearly half of the 1 million fish killed in Illinois water pollution incidents from 2005 to 2014 and impaired 67 miles of rivers and waterways during that time.

Holding thousands of pigs and sometimes producing millions of gallons of manure annually, the operations now account for well over 90 percent of Illinois' $1.5 billion in annual hog sales.

Neighboring farmers have told the Tribune that their lives and property values were ruined by gases from the giant confinements. Hog waste releases hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which can cause respiratory illness when mixed with airborne animal dander and fecal dust, public health studies have found.

But at Tuesday's hearing, state Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Warren Goetsch praised Illinois' 1996 Livestock Management Facilities Act, which has been criticized for failing to keep pace with the dramatic growth of swine confinements.

"I believe that the safeguards of the LMFA have been very effective," Goetsch testified.

It was only under persistent questioning by Koehler that state Environmental Protection Agency official David Ginder acknowledged his agency does not know how many large hog confinements exist in the state, or where many of them are located  a loophole that critics say makes it nearly impossible to monitor and regulate the factorylike operations.

At the hearing, critics cited laws and policies in surrounding agricultural states  including Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin  that offer more transparency and local control but still support a vibrant livestock industry.

"Meaningful changes are desperately needed," said Fulton County farm owner Cindy Arnett, who began campaigning against the facilities after a set of large operations arose in her rural community.

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Earlier this year, an attempt was made to build a 20,000-hog confinement near the Spoon River, but Fulton County commissioners passed a resolution urging the state to halt action on that operation and all new large confinements in the county until "there is meaningful reform" to state laws and regulations.

Defending the industry Tuesday were representatives of four family-owned livestock operations who described their tireless efforts to protect the environment and neighboring farm families  as well as the animals they raise.

"Our barns are designed to utilize the latest technology. ... We continue to improve our sustainability," said Morgan County pork producer Genny Six.

Illinois pork producers carry significant political weight in Springfield and in 2014 shot down an effort to overhaul the livestock act. They, along with other agriculture groups, argue that large livestock confinements provide jobs in rural counties as well as a market for local grain farmers, and help hold down the market price of the most widely consumed meat in the world.

"We feel like there are a lot of checks and balances that are already in place," Illinois Pork Producers Association Executive Director Jennifer Tirey told the Tribune after the hearing.

Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, an advocacy group, said the state's laws will only change when a consensus develops between pork confinement operators and the rural communities they impact. She called Tuesday's hearing a big step toward that goal.

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"Having these public discussions is really important to bringing the parties closer together," Walling said.

dyjackson@chicagotribune.com

gmarx@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @Poolcar4
From punk rockers to shoegazers to jazz astronauts, theres more than enough music variety this week to keep your concert schedule interesting.

Thursday, Nov. 9

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Fazerdaze

Schubas

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3159 N. Southport Ave. 773-525-2508

The musical project of Auckland-based Amelia Murray, the dreamy stylings of Fazerdaze garnered international praise before she even released her debut album. Released this past May, Murrays debut Morningside continued her praise and furthered exemplified her stellar songwriting. Joining Murray is the Montreal-based Common Holly, whose melodic jams complement Fazerdazes infectious shoegaze. $12. 9 p.m. Tickets: lh-st.com

Friday, Nov. 10

Kamasi Washington

Riviera Theatre

4746 N. Racine Ave. 773-275-6800

Following the cosmic trail laid out by the great Sun Ra, Kamasi Washington has ushered in his own unique style of interstellar jazz. Since 2015, when he released his fourth album, The Epic, Washington has collaborated and curated multiple projects that travel across mediums. His latest effort is a follow-up to The Epic, titled Harmony of Difference. $25. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: rivieratheatre.com

Tuesday, Nov. 14

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Flying Lotus

Riviera Theatre

4746 N. Racine Ave. 773-275-6800

Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, has been having himself a fruitious 2017 with the release of his surreal and vulgar directorial debut Kuso. He also lended his musical talents to the Blade Runner 2049 prequel short Black Out 2022. Ellisons live shows have become known for bizarreness, and with his latest tour he takes it even further. In this tour, Flying Lotus in 3D, Ellison has teamed with 3D Live to bring his virtual atmosphere into the third dimension. $32.50. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: rivieratheatre.com

White Reaper, Post Animal

Metro

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3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-4140

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

The Worlds Best American Band White Reaper returns to Chicago, and as the title of its most recent album suggests, its one of the best bands this country has to offer. Released in April of this year, White Reapers latest finds the band infusing power pop into its classic rock-influenced punk. Tagging along for the show at Metro is Chicagos very own Post Animal. Born out of the DIY scene, Post Animal has grown into the reigning champ of the ever -growing punk landscape. $15. 6 p.m. Tickets: metrochicago.com

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Joyce Manor, Wavves

Concord Music Hall

2047 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-570-4000

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The Cali-based emo punk groups come together in honor of their recent collaborative releases. Joyce Manor is considered one of the best emo bands around, and its latest release Cody furthered its continuous praise. Wavves, led by Nathan Williams, returned to its swift surf rock roots with its newest album Youre Welcome, which found the band again receiving the praise it earned in droves at the beginning of its career. $22. 5:30 p.m. Tickets: concordmusichall.com

Efrain Dorado is a RedEye freelancer.

[ Looking for more to do in Chicago? ]
When Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School teacher Meghan Yarbrough's third-graders returned from lunch on a recent afternoon, they entered a darkened classroom where they listened to a soothing recorded message.

"Take a deep breath in, hold and exhale slowly," the recording stated. "Notice how you feel. Slowly, open your eyes."

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Welcome to Yarbrough's version of a "Calm Classroom," a mindfulness program that her students practice each afternoon to try and relax, and revitalize before they begin their daily math instruction.

The mindfulness and stress reduction techniques that her students use are based on the nonprofit Learning Luster Institute's "Calm Classroom" program, which was launched in 2008 in the Chicago Public Schools.

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Since then, the "Calm Classroom" program has found a home in thousands of schools across the world, including Yarbrough's third-grade classroom at Arlington Heights School District 25.

After years of practicing yoga and experiencing its benefits  physically, mentally and emotionally  Yarbrough said she set out to deliver a mindfulness program to her 24 students in class for a variety of reasons.

"Having been a teacher for 17 years, I always strive to create a learning environment that is best for all of my students," Yarbrough said. "For some students, that means having movement breaks, and for others, a time to calm down. But I'm finding that guided meditation is showing benefits for all of the kids."

Students meditate in teacher Meghan Yarbroughs classroom at Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press )

Yarbrough said she decided to hold the brief guided meditation, which typically lasts less than five minutes, to try and make it easier for the children, and herself, to transition back to lesson plans following recess and lunch.

"It helps all of us, including me, transition from a time to play and hang out with friends, to, 'Now it's time for math,' which requires all of us to completely switch gears," Yarbrough said.

Gaby Lischett, 8, said that practicing the "Calm Classroom" mindfulness exercises in Yarbrough's classroom helps her prepare better for class in the afternoon hours.

"Once I come back into the classroom after running around at recess and lunch, it helps me calm down for math," Gaby said, adding: "I"m not a math expert, so being able to relax during 'Calm Classroom' time has helped me from getting too stressed out."

District 25 spokesman Adam Harris said that while students can choose to opt out of Yarbrough's mindfulness sessions, both students and their parents have responded enthusiastically to the program.

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"I had one student tell me they practice the 'Calm Classroom' techniques before bed because it helps them fall asleep more easily," Harris said.

kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter @kcullotta
An editorial from The Baltimore Sun:

When confronted with the second horrific mass shooting in as many months, President Donald Trump wasted no time in diverting attention from the issue at hand. Asked about the massacre of at least 26 people at a church in a tiny community near San Antonio, Mr. Trump asserted without hesitation or evidence that the shooting wasnt a guns situation but a mental health problem at the highest level. Mr. Trump is no doubt right that the killer, Devin Patrick Kelley, was deranged  by definition, anyone who opens fire on innocent churchgoers must be that  but denying the other half of the equation, Mr. Kelleys ability to wield an assault rifle capable of inflicting such damage in so short a span, is its own form of derangement.

The details that have emerged so far about Kelleys life paint a picture of a troubled man. He was convicted in a military court of assaulting his then-wife and child in 2012, spent a year in prison and received a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force. He divorced and re-married. A Colorado animal cruelty charge for alleged mistreatment of his dog was dropped, and he reportedly moved back to his parents Texas home, which is about an hour from First Baptist Church of Southerland Springs. Authorities believe his motive may have sprung from an ongoing domestic dispute  some of his in-laws attended the church. But none were apparently there when Kelley arrived clad in black tactical gear with an AR-15-type assault rifle.

The information that has emerged so far about how he got the rifle is somewhat contradictory. CNN reports that Kelley bought the gun through a store in San Antonio and passed his background check, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters that he had tried and failed to get a Texas license to carry a gun, an application process whose qualifications largely mirror those needed to pass a federal criminal background check. So how was it that he was able to get a gun? Governor Abbott said. By all the facts that we seem to know, he was not supposed to have access to a gun.

Thats not completely clear. Federal law bars people who have been dishonorably discharged from the military from buying a gun from a federally licensed firearms dealer, but Kelleys bad conduct discharge is of a different category. Federal law bars people convicted in any court of a crime that carries a possible sentence of more than a year in jail from buying a gun, but it is not entirely clear that his assault convictions and 12-month sentence would automatically disqualify him. And although President Trump managed to diagnose his mental state based on briefings he received about the situation while traveling in Japan, there is no evidence that Kelley was ever adjudicated a mental defective or committed to a mental institution, either of which would have landed him on the list of people prohibited from buying a gun.

If Kelley was eligible to buy a gun, it was only just barely. Yet even so he was able to buy not just any gun but a civilian version of a military assault rifle, designed not for hunting or self defense but combat.

The story of guns in this shooting is complicated by the fact that an as-yet unnamed neighbor got his own gun and confronted Kelley after he left the church. The two exchanged gunfire, and the neighbor reportedly wounded Kelley before engaging in a high speed chase that ended several miles later when Kelley drove into a field, dead from what local authorities say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The neighbors bravery is without question, but we should not let it divert us into the old NRA canard that we need more good guys with guns to combat the bad ones, as President Trump has already sought to do by noting fortunately someone else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction. Twenty-six innocent people are still dead. Mr. Trump is right that it could have been much worse  the presence of multiple active shooters in such a scene could easily have complicated the task of any law enforcement that arrived and put others at risk.

President Trump may never be willing to acknowledge the obvious, that the easy availability of such terrible weapons contributes to innocent death after innocent death. But the rest of us need not be so blinded to the danger posed by weapons like the one Kelley used to murder children, like the ones Stephen Paddock used to hail bullets onto concertgoers in Las Vegas, like Omar Mateen used to kill scores of people in an Orlando club, like Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik used in San Bernardino or like Adam Lanza used at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Madmen will always find ways to inflict casualties  last weeks slaughter when Sayfullo Saipov allegedly drove a rented truck onto a New York City bike path testifies to that. But assault weapons serve no purpose but to kill. We have banned them nationally before, and we should do so again.
Science-based decision-making is being threatened by an initiative being circulated by a group calling themselves Arizona For Wildlife.

The truth is, the initiative effort for the 2018 ballot is being driven by the Humane Society of the United States and, just so you know, HSUS has very little to do with humane shelters. And this new name, Arizona For Wildlife, is just one of the many aliases HSUS uses, according to the Huffington Post.

The very idea of replacing scientific wildlife management with the whims and emotions of the ballot box should disturb us all.

HSUS leader Wayne Pacelle is an avid anti-hunter whose

Lets take a look at AFW claims.

AFW claims; Each year thousands of mountain lions and bobcats are killed in Arizona.

Here are the facts. The annual harvest of mountain lions in Arizona is 250 with a stable population of 2,700. Considering a male mountain lion home range is 100 square miles and they dont tolerate other male lions in their home range and the available habitat for mountain lions in Arizona is 75,240 square miles, we have one mountain lion for every 28 square miles. Ban lion hunting and more mountain lions will have to kill other mountain lions just to survive.

The annual harvest of bobcats is 2,000 by hunters and 1,000 by trappers on private land. That is 4 percent of the Arizona population of 65,000, per a Cornell University study. A bobcat's home range is 12 square miles. And, the bobcat population in Arizona is growing.

The point is, you cannot stockpile wildlife. We tried that with deer on the North Kaibab years ago and it ended in disaster. There is only so much habitat, that habitat is shrinking and science-based management is needed now more than ever.

AFW claim; They are killed by the cruelest methods imaginable

They are referring to trapping. Trapping was banned in Arizona is 2006 but traps can still be used on private land. I am not a trapper and having heard all the horror stories years ago, I went out with a trapper. Every animal I saw in a foothold trap was asleep, every one. I saw no agony.

AFW claims; Mountain lions are chased down by hounds and shot at point-blank range.

Yes, they are and for a very good reason. Hunting lions with hounds allows the hunter to determine the sex of the lion before pulling the trigger. The goal is to protect the female lions. Using hounds makes this possible. Killing a female lion with cubs is illegal.

AFW uses the term Trophy Hunter in a disparaging way without defining it.

Mountain lions are a game animal in Arizona and it is illegal to waste the meat. And, mountain lion meat, like elk meat, deer meat, or beef, is very tasty. There are no trophy hunts for any wildlife species in Arizona.



AFW says; If a trophy hunter kills the female the kittens die a horrible death.

That is why we use hounds and the reason we have hunting seasons all designed to protect the females and it is illegal to kill a female with cubs. And there are no trophy hunts.

AFW says, Jaguars, ocelots and lynx can fall victim to these cruel methods as well

Liar, liar pants on fire, as we said when we were kids. There are no lynx in Arizona. There have been six jaguars sighted in the state since 1960 that have crossed the border from Mexico, and jaguars are federally and state protected and are not hunted or trapped.

There is usually one confirmed ocelot sighted in southern Arizona each year. Ocelots like jaguars live in Mexico. Ocelots are also protected and are not hunted or trapped.

Why is HSUS trying to sell the idea federally and state protected animals that are not hunted or trapped need even more protection?

AFW says; Because Arizona Game and Fish and the Arizona Legislature have failed to adequately protect Arizonas wild cats over the decades we call upon Arizonas voters to do it.

Another lie. The Arizona mountain lion population is stable and has been for decades. The bobcat population has increased over the decades. And, by design, the Arizona Legislature has no authority to make wildlife management decisions. That is done by wildlife biologists using scientific data.

The goal of HSUS-funded Arizonan for Wildlife is, as HSUS leader Wayne Pacelle said, If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would.

That is what this initiative effort is all about and you need to ask why is AFW trying to use emotion to achieve their mission.

Lets keep science in charge of our wildlife.
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All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week
By Alexander Chipman Koty

China is preparing a lavish welcome for US President Donald Trump, who is set to arrive in Beijing for a three-day visit beginning November 8th.

Chinas Vice Foreign Minister, Zheng Zeguang, has stated that Trump will receive a state visit-plus, and that the two countries are preparing for the visit to be a historic success. The visit will include a private tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing and an extravagant banquet, among other events.

However, while Trumps China visit will be high in pomp, most observers do not expect significant progress to be made on substantive bilateral issues.

Business Intelligence from Dezan Shira & Associates

National mood

Since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago in April, Trump has become embroiled in a series of domestic scandals  including most recently new revelations about his administrations connections to Russia  while Xi has consolidated his power and projected a more confident China.

At the 19th National Party Congress that recently wrapped up in Beijing, Xi got his name written into the Communist Party of Chinas constitution and declared a new era for China. At the Congress, he depicted a confident and more international China  one ready to take center stage in world affairs  and outlined a plan for China to become a global power by 2050.

While Xis declarations alarmed many in the US security community, many observers have remarked that the Trump administration appears to be arriving in Beijing disorganized and with no clear China strategy.

For example, William Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said that the administration had done little advance work for the visit, and as a result there might not be much discussion on structural issues.

Dispute resolutions unlikely

The Trump administration has raised numerous issues about the US relationship with China, but seems unlikely to resolve any of these disputes at the meeting.

Although Trump has at times stressed his strong rapport with Xi, he has criticized China for issues such as the bilateral trade imbalance, forced technology transfers, IP infringements, and action on North Korea, among other issues. Recent visits to China by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have laid the groundwork for the visit.

Ross has stated that the administration is looking for immediate results and tangible agreements. This suggests that China and the US may agree on some sectoral agreements  like those struck in the trade deal earlier this year that opened China to US beef  but little in the way of resolving issues, such as uneven market access.

China also has qualms with the US, including the blocking of high-tech acquisitions for security reasons and anti-dumping duties on aluminum foil.

But progress on economic issues will be difficult, especially if Trump continues to tie bilateral trade disputes with North Korea policy.

LNG deals likely

Although it does not appear that Trumps visit will produce significant results for China-US relations, US liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies could be in line for lucrative deals.

The China-US trade deal struck in May encouraged Chinese firms to purchase LNG from the US. Since then, state-owned enterprises such as Unipec have explored the feasibility of purchasing US LNG. The US business delegation accompanying Trump is reportedly filled with energy and commodities firm, with few finance and tech representatives.

China is currently the worlds third largest LNG market, and aims for LNG to constitute 10 percent of its energy consumption by 2020 and 15 percent by 2030. LNG made up about 6.6 percent of Chinas energy consumption in 2016.

China has also been on an extensive anti-pollution campaign that has seen an estimated 40 percent of factories shut down for environmental inspections and local governments drastically reducing coal consumption. Xi recently stated that China will become a leader in ecological civilization, which requires a transition away from heavily polluting coal and greater LNG consumption.

RELATED: China Bans Imports of Foreign Waste to Combat Pollution

High on spectacle but low on substance

Many experts expect the visit is set to be high on spectacle but low on substantive negotiations.

While the proceedings will be tightly scripted on Chinas side, Trump is known for his unpredictable off-the-cuff remarks, which could generate unexpected outcomes. For example, during his visit in Japan  one of the US closest allies in the region  he berated the country for unfair trade practices.

To avoid ratcheting up tensions, China may offer Trump small sectoral deals, kind words, and a lavish experience. Foreign investors looking for progress on technology transfers and investment access, however, may be disappointed.



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President Xi Jinping has appointed two new ambassadors, upon approval from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, according to a statement by the national legislature.

Wang Ke was appointed ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, replacing Lyu Youqing.
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province [File photo]

At the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted by President Xi Jinping in May of this year, many foreign observers of China were overwhelmed by the unparalleled size and scope of this development program, and a few observers questioned its long-term existence altogether.

Now, as a key result of the 19th CPC National Congress, which took place on October 18-24, the BRI has even become part of the CPC's constitution and therefore a core guideline of how China wants to rule itself in relation to its close and distant neighbors.

In late 2013, the BRI started as a loosely defined series of bilateral trade agreements and existing infrastructure projects aiming to establish and enhance trade routes from China to Europe, Africa, and to the rest of Asia. However, the new constitutional foundation highlights that the BRI has been introduced by the Chinese government to prompt a profound shift in the global order towards a new multilateralism.

To implement such ambiguous developments and foreign policy agenda, the BRI focuses on five goals within a broad framework of connectivity and collaboration: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people exchanges.

In a narrower sense, however, the BRI is a strategic infrastructure program of historic proportions, which includes the planning and delivery of scalable infrastructure for land and water transportation, power generation, telecommunication, and other core industries.

Beyond the Chinese government's initial projection of about US$1 trillion for infrastructure development, the BRI will require roughly US$6 trillion over the next 15 years to finance the infrastructure projects alongside the BRI countries. During that period, China plans to invest US$4 trillion in total.

This long term and large scale investment plan will only unfold if China's economy continues to grow at a steady rate. In addition, poorly planned and low-quality infrastructure investments can pose significant risks to entire economies and lock societies in unsustainable patterns of development.

Therefore, as described in detail in the framework paper, the authors propose eight transformation factors that have the potential to provide high-level stewardship to the BRI: (1) shared vision, (2) multilateralism, (3) project preparation facility, (4) risk mitigation, (5) sustainable development, (6) innovation, (7) cultural exchange, and (8) human-centric and future-ready infrastructure.

Today's lack of global governance has resulted in the absence of international development plans that are comparable to the scope and vision of the BRI. The BRI already involves 65 countries and accounts for 60 percent of the world's population and 33 percent of the global GDP.

China is willing to share its immense financial and industrial resources and capabilities as well as its four decades of experience with reform and opening-up. Without doubt, China also seeks to secure its own long-term development and global influence. The authors believe that the eight transformation factors can help to revive the spirit of "international cooperation" and "shared development," as emphasized by President Xi during his speech at the recent CPC National Congress.

The author is Europe Director at the Taihe Institute, Beijing/Berlin.

The entire paper was originally published at the World Economic Forum website on 24 October 2017 and can be accessed here:
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the Philippines from Nov. 12 to 16, his first overseas trip since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, will deepen friendly cooperation with the Philippines, promote China-ASEAN ties and enhance regional cooperation in East Asia, senior officials said Monday.

Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong told a press briefing that at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Li was scheduled to attend the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting and the 12th East Asia Summit. After these meetings, Li will visit the Philippines, which assumes the ASEAN presidency this year.

Meanwhile, Li will also attend the leaders' meeting on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Chen said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the 20th anniversary of 10+3 cooperation, and next year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, Chen said, adding that the cooperation in East Asia would embrace new opportunities.

He said China expected the meetings to "focus on dialogue and cooperation, expand consensus, pursue common development of mutual benefit, work jointly to address challenges in order to further push forward cooperation on economic development, culture and non-traditional security."

Chen said that Li would also brief on China's policy on cooperation in East Asia, and propose nearly 30 new initiatives to deepen practical cooperation on interconnectivity, food security, poverty reduction, tourism and anti-corruption.

Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said, "China stands ready to work with ASEAN to build an international trade and investment system that is fair, reasonable and transparent and promote the economic globalization featuring openness, inclusiveness, shared benefits, balance and win-win results."

Chen said the Philippines was China's friendly neighbor and important partner, adding that since last year, bilateral relations had witnessed positive progress.

It is also the first visit to the Philippines made by a Chinese premier in 10 years, he said, adding that the tour was expected to "advance bilateral ties in new era and promote the building of a new type of international relations as well as a community with a shared future for mankind."

During Li's stay, the premier will hold talks with Duterte, and the leaders will exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern, Chen said.

Wang said China and the Philippines had "achieved fruitful results in cooperation on trade, investment, development aid, major infrastructure projects, and people-to-people exchanges."

The two countries were expected to exchange views and sign cooperation documents on infrastructure, industrial zones and aid to the Philippines, to further promote bilateral comprehensive cooperation, he said.
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The 23rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) kicks off in Bonn on Nov. 6, 2017. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The 23rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) kicked off in Bonn on Monday with a call to adhere to the path of Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The COP 23 is tasked with mapping out a guideline for the implementation of the Paris Agreement which was agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015. The Paris Agreement aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the average temperature rise no higher than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

At the opening ceremony of the COP 23, UN climate change executive secretary, Patricia Espinosa, said: "Together with the Sustainable Development Agenda, we have a clear path forward to truly address climate change and sustainable development."

Espinosa outlined the work governments will be looking to address in Bonn. The goal, above all, is to take the next essential steps to ensure that the Paris Agreement's operating system is completed in time and that ways, as well as means to implement it, are strengthened.

The newly-elected COP 23 president, Frank Bainimarama, prime minister of Fiji, said "All over the world, vast numbers of people are suffering, bewildered by the forces against them. Our job as leaders is to respond to the suffering with all means available to us."

China's special representative on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, said at a press conference prior to the COP 23 that China hoped participants could reach a draft guideline reflecting the needs of all parties and all the key elements in the Paris agreement.

At a press conference of the Chinese delegation held in Bonn on Monday, Lu Xinming, a negotiator from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the Bonn meeting comes at a "crucial and watershed phase" both for defining implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement and also for battling the climate change across the globe.

Lu said that China had made ample preparations for the meeting and had submitted five proposals to the meeting on implementing the Paris Agreement, which has demonstrated China's "proactive attitude in participating into and guiding the global climate negotiations."

Pledging that China will play a proactive and constructive role during the COP 23, Lu told reporters that the country will also host some 30 side events during COP 23 to present China's climate policies, and achievements in coping with climate change.

German authorities expected 25,000 guests, including representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations, and 1,500 journalists, to attend the Bonn conference which will last until Nov. 17.

According to the COP 23 press release, negotiators will also address issues including checking on the progress of the delivery of 100 billion dollars of support for developing countries by 2020 and the bringing into force of the Doha Amendment of the first international emission reduction treaty, the Kyoto Protocol.
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U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed border wall between the United States and Mexico would be an environmental "disaster," a United Nations official said on Monday.

"The wall is going to be a disaster for different reasons ... and one of the ways is that it is going to be a disaster at the environmental level," John Knox, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, said at a forum on biodiversity in Mexico City.

"Biodiversity and the ecosystems don't care about political borders, they don't stop where the wall begins," Knox said after being asked of his opinion on the controversial measure.

A solid physical barrier could interfere with the movement and survival of regional species, he said. "I hope the wall will not be built."

In late October, it was reported that eight prototypes of the wall have been erected along the border between the U.S. city of San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.

The nine-meter-high walls made of concrete and other materials are purportedly to be tested to gauge their effectiveness, mainly in keeping out would-be undocumented migrants.

Building a border wall was one of the main promises Trump made during the U.S. presidential campaign last year.
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A 22-year-old man has died from injuries sustained in a rare shark attack in eastern Cuba, local media reported on Monday.

The man had been swimming at popular Guardalavaca Beach in the eastern province of Holguin when the unprecedented attack occurred, a provincial daily said, noting there are no records of similar attacks occurring in the area.

Three couples were in the water, no more than three meters from the shoreline, when the shark attacked late on Saturday night.

The other swimmers managed to scare off the shark and take the victim to an area clinic.

The patient, who arrived in critical condition and suffering from hypovolemic shock, meaning he had lost more than 20 percent of his blood supply, died before being transferred to a hospital.

The doctor who attended him, Enrique Remedios Contis, said the victim sustained a large bite on his left thigh that affected his femoral artery, the body's second largest artery after the aorta.

Guardalavaca -- one of Cuba's top five tourist resorts -- remains open, as local authorities deemed the attack to be an isolated incident.
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 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent condolences to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on a deadly shooting in Texas, which left 27 people dead and injured at least 20 others.

In his message of condolences, Xi expressed his deep sorrow to the innocent victims, extended sincere sympathy to the injured and the families of the victims, and wished the injured a quick recovery.

The deadly shooting attack happened on Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, about 35 km southeast of San Antonio, Texas.
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Beijing and Washington are expected to build a greater environment of consensus and boost mutual understanding on hot topics including trade and Korean Peninsula nuclear issues during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit, which starts on Wednesday, analysts said.

Trump's first state visit to China, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, marks the first visit of a head of state since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month. The congress elected the new CPC Central Committee and drew the blueprint for the nation's development in coming decades.

Beijing has sent positive signals in recent days of being ready to exchange views with Washington on major issues in a candid manner amid the efforts of the world's two largest economies to reach more consensus and control disagreements.

Zheng Zeguang, vice-foreign minister, said that the economic teams of both sides are keeping in close contact in preparation for the visit to push for resolution of problems in economic and trade areas in a constructive manner.

The economies of the two nations are complementary - the U.S. has a deficit with China in goods trade but a surplus in service trade, he said, adding that the two sides will make more progress in economic relations as long as they uphold the principle of mutual benefit.

Representatives from about 40 companies are expected to accompany Trump to China and sign deals for billions of dollars in U.S. investments, according to Bloomberg. Chinese investment would bring new jobs to hurricane-ravaged areas in Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said the report.

The U.S. should increase its exports and investment to China to address the issue of unbalanced trade, rather than restricting imports from China, because a trade war would result in losses on both sides, Zheng told reporters at a news briefing.

The two countries have common interests in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the region, he said, while calling on all sides to avoid activities or remarks that may lead to an escalation of tension.

Jin Yong, deputy head of the School of International Studies at the Communication University of China, said that the visit will boost mutual political trust as it provides opportunities for the US president to better understand China's policies under the new era.

The personal friendship between Xi and Trump is also expected to be a positive factor for bilateral ties given that the two leaders have maintained close and frequent contacts in the past months over major global and regional issues, he said.
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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (R, front) and vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa (L, front) attend a gathering in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Nov. 1, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday fired his deputy, vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, citing disloyalty and failure to discharge his duties in a reliable manner.

The dismissal was with immediate effect, Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo told a press conference in the capital.

"In accordance with the constitution of Zimbabwe... His Excellency President Robert Mugabe has exercised his powers to relieve Honorable Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa of his position as Vice President of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.

"It had been evident that his conduct in the discharge of his duties has been inconsistent with his official responsibilities. The VP has consistently and persistently exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability. He has also demonstrated little probity in the execution of his duties," Moyo said.

Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa as his deputy in 2014 after firing former vice president Joice Mujuru on allegations of fanning factionalism and trying to topple him.

Mnangagwa, 74, was widely speculated to be Mugabe's possible successor.

Over the weekend, a fuming Mugabe accused Mnangagwa of causing divisions in the ruling ZANU-PF party and working to topple him.

Mnangagwa is also Mugabe's deputy in ZANU-PF. His fate in the party has not yet been announced.
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Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received on Monday the resigned Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Al Arabiya local news reported.

Hariri unexpectedly resigned Saturday during a trip to Saudi Arabia, saying his life was in danger, and creating a leadership vacuum in an already politically fractured country.

He highlighted in Riyadh that he feared an assassination plot and accused Iran of meddling in the region, causing devastation and chaos.

Some analysts think that the resignation is the beginning of a U.S.- Saudi military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, Front) and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump (L, Front) take a walk to further discuss bilateral cooperation issues in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]



The China-U.S. trade relations are expected to strengthen from the upcoming state meeting, said officials and experts ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's first state visit to China.

Representatives from about 40 U.S. companies are expected to join with Trump during his China visit from Nov. 8 to 10 in what Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai called a "state visit-plus," including talks, a military honor guard and a formal banquet, and other special arrangements for the U.S. president.

"The two countries are expected to host a series of trade-related events and sign some business cooperation agreements," said Fu Ziying, China's international trade representative and vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, during a press briefing on Nov. 2 in Beijing. "We have already reached consensus on some aspects and are striving to make achievements in terms of economy and trade, as well as the next stage of China-U.S. cooperation."

Many experts agree that relations between the world's two largest economies have been on an increasingly stable path since the Trump administration took office. The two presidents have exchanged nine phone calls and held two meetings by the end of last month.

Trade and North Korea's nuclear weapons development will be the top two issues on the agenda during the summit meeting, according to U.S.-China Business Council President John Frisbie.

"American companies hope to see more concrete implementation of China's economic reforms and openings following the 19th CPC National Congress, as this would send a positive signal about China's policy direction and strengthen the U.S.-China commercial relationship at this important time," Frisbie said in an email.

President Xi Jinping has made renewed commitment to economic opening up and win-win cooperation while safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, during a recent meeting with members of the Advisory Board of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. The members include foreign and Chinese entrepreneurs, academics and former officials.

In response to the U.S. concern of imbalanced trade, Fu said that the situation is caused by the different economic structures of the U.S. and China, the different industrial distribution of the two countries, and the international division of labor.

"It also derives from the two countries' statistical systems, which inevitably contain statistical errors and have different methods of calculating entrepot trade factors," Fu also pointed out that the U.S. controls over high technology equipment sales is also an important reason for the imbalance.

Nevertheless, top-level communication between the two countries has been quite smooth, said Zheng Zeguang, China's vice foreign minister, at a Nov. 3 press briefing in Beijing.

Zheng said, "The two leaders are expected to take advantage of their meeting in Beijing to discuss issues of common interests, strengthen understanding and friendship based on the consensus made during their meetings at the Mar-a-Lago estate and the G20 summit in Hamburg this year."

China is the second largest export market for the U.S. after North America, and it is also one of the fastest-growing markets. In the past 10 years, the growth of U.S. exports to China reached 11 percent every year, which exceeded the 4 percent average growth of the total exports of the U.S. in the same period, he said.

"China-U.S. trade relations are mutually beneficial in nature and has brought huge benefits to the two countries and their people," Zheng said.

Running trade surplus is a common stage in the process of industrialization in the context of globalization, and the U.S. trade deficit with China has gradually decreased over the past years, according to a report on China-U.S. economic and trade relations issued by China's Ministry of Commerce this year.

The report also said that balancing trade requires the joint efforts of both sides: China will continue to expand imports from the U.S., while the U.S. should also relax control on its exports to China and create opportunities to expand export of high-tech products to China.

During the 19th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi said China will continue to deepen supply-side structural reform, open further to the outside, adopt more sophisticated measures to boost trade and investment facilitation, and expand market access.

Zheng said this will create more space for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the U.S. as well as with the rest of the world.

The vice foreign minister called for a global perspective and systematic approach to seeing the China-U.S. trade imbalance.
Were here today, of course, to celebrate another publication, short stories and essays collected from the time that spans nearly Paulas entire writing life. Im sure Harriet will talk about the book in a little more detail, but Im not spoiling anything by saying that the writing captures  in fictional or essay form  many of the obsessions, thoughts, emotions, and events that have occurred in the last seventeen years. Theres been lots of travel, a hurricane, celebrations, and too many deaths in the family. False River is often profound, moving, funny, disturbing. Its like the best short film festival, or the best masterclass you could ever hope for: theres a generosity throughout; as readers, were privileged to share these finely drawn moments and scenes, of a particular time and place and of every time and place,revealed to us through the most acute eyes and ears and voice. Its a book Paula is very proud of, and Im very proud that shes asked me to speak at her launch.
From: "MR.WILLIAMS ADAMS"

< williams.adams20@yahoo.com.hk >

To: undisclosed recipients: ;

Subject: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS

TRANSACTION

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:51:28 +0800 (SGT)







Dear Friend,



I am Col.Scott Williams Adams,of the U.S Army. I am on the

move to Afghanistan to Iraq as the last batch just left and

I have some packages I will love to ship to you.I really

need some one i could confide in that can receive the

packages on my behalf.Please,can you be trusted?



I know you don't know me but i meant no harm when i sent

you that note just that i don't have anyone out there

that i can talk to as i lost my parents when i was 7 so i

contacted you to help me receive the package.I got your

contact from a personality profile through the Internet

Directory. I am much in need of trust and help.



When we are in Afghanistan,I discovered several items and

boxes amongst which two contained some US dollars which

amounted to US$9.3Million,and 2 Brigs of Gold. I have moved

the package and Deposited it to a Global Bank Vault Courier

Services Monthreal Canada, and have just tracked the package

to confirm that it is in the custody of the Global Bank

Vault Courier Services.



I'm still on duty here in Afghanistan after we moved

from Iraq and if such amount of money is traced to my

account in the United States,I shall be investigated hence I

need you to assist me claim the Package/funds out from the

Global Bank Vault Courier Services. It is $9.3Million

Dollars and 2 Bricks of Gold, we would share it 70/30

percent, and you would help me invest the funds into real

estate business.



I will give you more info once I get your consent and you

agree to help me.All i need is your trust and we will get

this done.Drop me your contact details as this is urgent and

i need to update the Global Bank Vault Courier Services .



God Bless America!!!

Regards,

Col.Scott Williams Adams.

Phone:+1-424-208-1531 From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS

TRANSACTION

Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:20:31 +0800 (SGT)



DEAR

FRIEND,THANKS

FOR YOUR MAIL AND YOUR QUESTION

THEREIN.I AM

STILL IN AFGANISTAN AND I CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE TO YOU

THROUGH MY U.S PHONE NUMBER. THE PACKAGE IS IN ONE

BOX.THE

PACKAGE/FUNDS IS PRESENTLY DEPOISTED IN A SECURITY VAULT

IN MONTHREAL CANADA, AND FOR US TO ACHIEVE THIS

TRANSACTION FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO

TRAVEL TO MONTHREAL CANADA FOR THE CLAIMING OF THE

PACKAGE/FUNDS AS MY REPRESENTAIVE BUSINESS

PARTNER/BENEFICIARY.UPON

YOUR READINESS TO PROCEED TO CANADA FOR THE CLAIMING OF THE

PACKAGE, I WILL ISSUE YOU A POWER OF ATTORNEY WHICH

WILLENABLE YOU TO CLAIM THE PACKAGE AT THE GLOBAL BANK

VAULT COURIER SERVICE AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE

CANADA.PLEASE

LET ME KNOW YOUR READINESS TO TRAVEL TO CANADA FOR THE

CLAIMING OF THE PACKAGE, SO THAT I WILL FORWARD THE

POWER OF ATTORNEY TO YOU WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY,SO THAT

YOU CAN PROCEED TO

CANADA.THIS

TRANSACTION WILL ONLY COST YOU3WORKING DAYSTO

CONCLUDE UPON YOUR ARRIVAL IN MONTHREAL

CANADA.FINALLY,

I HAVE FULL TRUST IN YOU AND I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND TO

CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU FOR OUR MUTUAL

BENEFIT.FURTHERMORE,

I WILL LIKE YOU TO TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND ALSO, I

WILL LIKE TO HAVE YOUR ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER FOR EASY

COMMUNICATION.MORE

INFORMATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO YOU AS SOON AS I HEAR

FROM YOU.I

AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT

RESPONSE.THANKS

FOR YOUR

COOPERATION.YOURS

FAITHFULLY,COL.SCOTT

WILLIAMS

ADAMS. From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS

TRANSACTION

Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:05:21 +0800 (SGT)



Dear

Friend.Thanks

for your mail, However, you are going to meet with the Vault

company Agent in Canada. Based on your request here is my

USA. Phone:+1-424-208-1531 Further more sir, i will

appreciate if you can give me your full details and contact

am suposed to know whom am dealing with just as i told you

whom am i very important i need a copy of your international

passport for identification so that the Vault company will

notRelease the consignment to a wrong

person.Regards. Col.Scott

Williams

Adams From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS

TRANSACTION

Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:49:46 +0800 (SGT)



Dear

Mr.,Thanks

for your mail.I

am still in active service and i will be discharge from the

army by the end of this year

2012.Again, I

have agree to offer you 35% as you requested and also, i

want to let you know that i have mapped out 5% to cover Tax

and all the Local and International Expenses that may be

incurred in the course of this tranasction. Then, 60% will

be for

myself.According

to the Vault company Agent Mr.Fred Morris, you will be

required to go to MONTHREAL CANADA with the sum of $45,000

as to retrive the consignment from Vault Company for our

mutual

benefit.Is very

impotant that you forward your contact address, your full

name and your direct cell phone to enable me forward

it to the Vault Company Agent, in order to enable him

contact and furnish you with more

details.Finally,

let me know your readiness to go to MONTHREAL CANADA with

the above required amount for the retrive of the

consignment/funds.More

information will be communicated to you as soon as you

indicate your readiness to proceed to Canada for the

claiming of the

consignment.Thanks

for your mutual cooperation and

understanding.Yours

Faithfully,Col.Scott

Williams

Adams. From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS

TRANSACTION

Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 02:03:26 +0800 (SGT)



Dear

Mr.,Your

mail is well received and all the contents were well noted

and

understood.As

soon as you claimed the funds out from the Vault Company,

they will assist you to deposit all the funds in your name

to any bank of your choice any where in the world with the

required backup

documents.My

plan is for you to help me invest my own share into Real

Estate and Hotel Management Ventures in United

States.Once

again, I need your contact details in order to enable my

legal adviser to prepare a memorandum of understanding {MOU}

and other relevant legal documents for our mutual

benefit.Also,

is very important you furnish me with your direct cell phone

number for easy

communication.Once

again, bear in mind that you will be required to travel to

Canada with the sum of US$45,000:00 as to retrive the

consignment out from the Vault Company in Canada for our

mutual

benefit.More

information will be communicated to you as soon as i hear

from you.Thanks

for your mutual cooperation and

understanding.Yours

Partner in

Progress.Col.Scott

Williams Adams

{US.Army} From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS TRANSACTION

Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:53:41 +0800 (SGT)



Dear Mr., Thanks for your mail. I really appreciate all your advice. I need your phone number and your contact details, so i can forward it to Mr.Fred Morris the accredited Vault Company Representative in Canada, in order to enable him contact you and direct you for more details on how you will claim the consignment upon your arrival. Kindly update me as soon as you get the Canada account ready. Please i don't want the government to know about this transaction for our mutual benefit. I await to hear from you as soon as you get the Canada account ready. Thanks. Col.Scott Williams Adams. From: WILLIAMS ADAMS < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS TRANSACTION

Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:57:22 +0800 (SGT)



Dear Friend Once again, I wish to notify you that I have concluded a solid arrangement withthe agent coming to delivered the consignment to you in United States. He has accepted to convey the Consignment to you as a special delivery, The total amount inside the consignment is $9.3Million Dollars and 2 Bricks of Gold. The name of the Agent coming is Mr.James Franklin and hewill be departingCanada to Portland Oregon United States today. From there he will proceed for the Delivery of the consignment to your destination in US as my partner/Beneficiary. Note that the Agentcoming will call you on phone as soon as he arrives Portland Oregon United States. Please Note, theagent coming does not know the contains of the Consignment and please do not disclose it to him, because I have already told him that the Consignment contains film materials and Holy Bible. Theagent only accepted to convey the Consignment to you based on his relationship with my friend who works in the American embassy in Canada. Finally, you are advised to furnish us with your name in full and your contact address and phone number for easy delivery, including copy of your Int'r Passport or Drivers Linsence for identification. I look forward hearing from you ASAP to enable me forward your contact details to the agent coming for the delivery of the consignment to you. Thanks for your mutual cooperation. Yours Faithfully, Col.Scott Williams Adams {US.Army} From: "Rev.Williams Adams" < w_adamzzxx987@yahoo.com.hk >

Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS TRANSACTION

Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2017 16:24:28 +0000 (UTC)



Dear Sir



This is to notify you that we have finalized all the arrangement transferring your funds to your nominated bank account through Online Banking / Wire Transfer.



Please get back to me as soon as you receive this mail to enable us to proceed with the funds transfer.



We are very sorry for all the delay.



Thanks.



Dr.Williams Adams If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....
By Michael Sasso, Julie Johnsson, Benjamin D Katz, Bloomberg News | Nov. 07, 2017

Delta Air Lines Inc. is nearing an order for about 100 single-aisle planes, people familiar with the matter said, in a much-anticipated deal valued at as much as US$12.7 billion.

The No. 2 U.S. carrier is also seeking options to buy as many as 100 more planes as it chooses between Airbus SE's A320 family of aircraft and Boeing Co.'s 737 jetliners, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Talks are advanced and a decision, which will test Delta's strained relationship with Boeing, will probably be made before year-end, the people said.

Delta is seeking to replace 1990s-vintage McDonnell Douglas MD-90 jets -- nicknamed Mad Dogs by pilots-- as well as aging Boeing 757 and Airbus A320 aircraft. As the decision nears, the carrier has been at loggerheads with Boeing over the planemaker's U.S. trade complaint against Bombardier Inc.'s C Series. Delta is the largest buyer of the Canadian plane, which President Donald Trump's administration recently hit with import duties of about 300 percent.

The Atlanta-based airline, which has the oldest fleet among big U.S. carriers, declined to comment on the exact size or other details of the order. Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said last month that the company would choose in six to 12 months between Boeing's upgraded Max line of 737s and Airbus's newest single-aisle offering, named the A320neo for its new engine option.

Airbus agreed last month to take control of the C Series in a deal that's expected to close next year. The Toulouse, France-based planemaker declined to comment, as did Chicago-based Boeing.

Fleet Choices

Delta is considering Boeing's 737 Max 8 and bigger Max 10, along with the Airbus A320neo and larger A321neo aircraft, according to the people. The A321neo has the highest list price, at US$127 million apiece, before the discounts that are customary for aircraft purchases.

The purchase will be Delta's biggest since it lined up 50 wide-body jets from Airbus three years ago to reshape its international fleet, in a deal valued at US$14 billion at list prices. Since then, it has purchased more than 70 of the less expensive A321 narrow-body aircraft, primarily for domestic routes, in three separate transactions.

In April 2016 it ordered 75 Bombardier CS100 jets, which carry fewer passengers than the smallest Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and secured options for 50 more. That deal had a list value of $5.6 billion.

The airline's mainline fleet of 847 planes has an average age of 17 years, compared with slightly more than 10 at American Airlines Group Inc. and 14 at United Continental Holdings Inc., according to the companies' most recent annual reports.

Delta has spotlighted its ability to keep its older fleet operating, giving it a cost advantage over rivals. It generally has the best on-time arrival record among the three largest U.S. airlines in recent years.

Boeing Clash

Boeing is contending for the order despite sparring with Delta repeatedly over politics and trade in recent years. The U.S. Commerce Department imposed preliminary tariffs of about 300 percent on the C Series. Boeing had complained that Bombardier sold the planes at unfairly low prices after receiving illegal government subsidies in Canada.

Relations were already strained before that. Delta advocated barring the U.S. Export-Import Bank from financing wide-body aircraft sales to government-backed airlines. The airline also led a campaign to curb growth by three state-owned Middle Eastern carriers, which are among the largest buyers of Boeing's big twin-aisle planes.

Despite the tension, the relationship is symbiotic. Delta is among the largest customers of the 737-900ER and could curb operating costs by graduating to the Max 10. Boeing's eagerness to win orders for the plane also gives the airline leverage in its talks with Airbus.

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has emphasized his company's long, deep relationship with Delta. The trade action that could effectively kill the C Series in the U.S. wasn't meant as an affront to the Canadian government or Delta, Muilenburg said during an earnings call last month.

"Delta is a very important customer to us," he said. "We want to continue to work with them and support them for the future. So these are not actions that are targeted at customers or countries."
Xinhua | Nov. 07, 2017

State-owned Libyan Airlines has suspended flights to Sudan until further notice for technical reasons, the company said Monday.

"The company canceled all scheduled flights to Sudan until further notice due to technical problems related to flight schedule and the hours allocated for the company's aircraft in Khartoum International Airport," Libyan Airlines spokesman Mohamed Gnewa told Xinhua.

The company has informed all travelers who have previous bookings of the suspended flights, Gnewa said.

Libyan Airlines resumed flights to Sudan in November 2016 after a six-year suspension due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.

With the latest suspension, Libyan Airlines now only maintains regular international flights to Alexandria of Egypt, Amman of Jordan, Istanbul of Turkey, and Tunis of Tunisia.
A missile is launched during a long and medium-range ballistic rocket launch drill in this undated photo released by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on August 30, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Trade and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have been two constants in the tweets of the US president since he took office, so following his fractious exchanges with Kim Jong-un ahead of his first official visit to Northeast Asia, it comes as no surprise that the Korean crisis and trade have been the focus of his talks so far.

It was the case in Japan and the Republic of Korea. And it will very likely be the case in China, which is next on his itinerary.

After his war rhetoric of recent weeks, Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory and optimistic note on Tuesday in the ROK, expressing his strongest inclination yet that he was willing to deal with rising tensions with the DPRK through diplomacy, urging Pyongyang to "come to the table" and "make a deal".

But, once again, he also emphasized the military firepower the US can bring to bear.

Even from the perspective of crisis prevention, Trump should be availing himself of the opportunities presented by his visits to the three countries, and his anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to maneuver a consensus on how to deliver on the progress he says he sees. After all, as some US lawmakers noted on Saturday, "there are no good military options".

Beijing has repeatedly encouraged the United States and the DPRK to carry out direct dialogue as this is the only way to increase their understanding of each other's positions.

Pyongyang should take Trump's offer seriously. Ignoring this diplomatic olive branch, it may miss a historic opportunity for improving ties with Washington.

The restraint both Washington and Pyongyang have demonstrated so far  Trump steering clear of the Demilitarized Zone and Pyongyang not carrying out a missile or nuclear test for the longest period in recent months  is a hopeful sign that both prefer to find a peaceful solution to their predicaments.

Beijing has made relentless efforts to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, and it will continue to play a constructive role by promoting tangible moves to bring the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back to the track of political settlement at an early date.

While Trump did not elaborate on what he meant when telling US and ROK military commanders on Tuesday, "Ultimately it will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out."

We just hope he was speaking on the same wavelength as ROK President Moon Jae-in, who said he hoped Trump's visit would be a turning point in the crisis and that the two leaders had agreed to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue "in peaceful manner" that would "bring permanent peace".
British companies from the advanced engineering and automotive industries will hunt for commercial opportunities alongside Chinese partners at a major trade fair in Shanghai this week.

Rona Fairhead, the United Kingdom's minister for trade and export promotion, and Jake Berry, the minister for the Northern Powerhouse, will lead a 100-strong business delegation to the China International Industry Fair, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday.

The UK has been named "country of honor" and official partner at the fair, which will host 2,500 companies from 28 countries and regions. The fair is a flagship event for advanced manufacturing in China, covering new energy vehicles, big data, robotics, aerospace, and clean energy among other technologies.

The UK pavilion at the fair will include carmakers Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls Royce, and McLaren. In July, Jaguar Land Rover opened its first engine plant outside the UK in Changshu, Jiangsu province, as part of the company's partnership with Chinese automaker Chery.

Companies and research centers involved in future technologies, including Shadow Robotics and the Graphene Institute, will also join the UK pavilion.

" The UK exports to China are growing strongly, but its clear that there is still vast untapped demand for British goods and services in the Chinese market," Fairhead said. "The opportunities for growth are there, and we will continue to use trade missions, not only to build the UK culture of exporting, but also to help businesses of all sizes forge ties and cultivate relationships with potential buyers and investors."

Fairhead will also visit Chongqing, where she will attend the China-UK graphene standards working group to promote the UK's role in graphene research and commercialization.

Graphene is a two-dimensional material that is 200 times stronger than steel. Several UK institutions run projects exploring the materials possible commercial applications. China's interest in British research into graphene was highlighted by President Xi Jinping's visit to the National Graphene Institute in Manchester during his 2015 state visit to the UK.

Berry said several companies based in the North of England will attend the fair to demonstrate the "strengths and opportunities for investment in the region". The Northern Powerhouse is an industrial development strategy that was started by the previous Conservative government, aimed at boosting the economy and transport links in the North of England.

The UK government has indicated Chinese investment is central to its plans for the region. Last November, Chancellor Philip Hammond offered Chinese investors a portfolio of 13 projects in the north worth 5 billion pounds ($6.6 billion).
KUALA LUMPUR  Trade between Malaysia and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is set to increase following the signing of ASEAN-Hong Kong free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to be concluded this week at the earliest, said Malaysian Prime Minister's department minister Wee Ka Siong on Tuesday.

"Malaysia's trade with Hong Kong is more on the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector. The trade performance has been encouraging. The signing of FTA will certainly boost the trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN, including Malaysia," Wee told the media at the sideline after delivering his speech at "In Style Hong Kong" symposium in Malaysia's capital.

Wee, who expects the FTA to be in force from Jan 1, 2019 once it is ratified, added the FTA will benefit Malaysian traders as under the FTA, Malaysia will abolish import duties on certain trade goods and streamline the import regulations with those of the World Trade Organization.

According to Malaysia's International Trade Industry, Hong Kong is currently one of the major export markets for Malaysia. In September, Malaysia's exports to Hong Kong surged 41 percent year-on-year to 4.58 billion ringgit ($1.08 billion).

"Our trade relationship with Hong Kong has been going from strength to strength. Moving forward, we will continue to cultivate our bilateral relationship with Hong Kong," Wee said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Chairman Vincent Lo Hong-shui noted that the relationship between Malaysia and Hong Kong is taking on new significance with the anticipated FTA between Hong Kong and ASEAN to be signed soon.

"The pace is a momentous one as the world's focus now falls on Asia to drive economic growth," he added.
Agriculture sector, small businesses will receive preferential treatment

Tax incentives will be expanded in China to reduce costs for agriculture-related and small-scale businesses, encouraging bank lending to support real economy development, according to a joint announcement on Monday by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation.

Small and micro-sized enterprises, with monthly sales of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan ($3,050-$4,575), will be exempted from value-added tax from the beginning of next year until the end of 2020, the announcement said.

During the same period, those enterprises that borrow money from financial institutions need not pay the stamp tax, which usually costs 0.005 percent of the loan contracts.

In addition, financial institutions' value-added tax on their interest income from small loans to peasant households, small and micro-sized businesses, will also be removed from December this year to the end of 2019, said the announcement.

Data from the China Banking Regulatory Commission showed that by the end of June, the total outstanding loans of financial institutions to the agricultural sector reached 30 trillion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 9.9 percent. Outstanding loans to small and micro-sized enterprises stood at 28.6 trillion yuan, up by 14.7 percent from a year earlier.

Taking account of the current one-year benchmark lending rate of 4.35 percent, about 150 billion yuan or more of banks' value-added tax will be reduced per year.

These tax-cut policies, which reduce costs for small-scale businesses and the agricultural sector, reflect the government's goal of leading financial capital efficiently to better serve the development of the real economy, which has been highlighted in General Secretary Xi Jinping's report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, said Feng Qiaobin, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Finance Minister Xiao Jie recently wrote an article that described a road map to reform the current tax system into a "modern" style.

The reform will include launching a real estate tax, which requires a special law to be introduced first. The tax will be charged based on assessed values of commercial and industrial properties, as well as personal residential housing.

"Tax on the real estate construction and trading part is being considered to be reduced," according to Xiao.

The individual income tax scheme will be improved by optimizing the tax rate structure and expanding the pretax deduction subjects.

More subjects of local tax will be added into the system, including a broader pilot program that shifts water resource fees into relevant tax, and to facilitate the tax on urban construction and maintenance projects, Xiao said.
An assembly line at automobile manufacturer Foton's factory in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. CHEN XIAODONG/CHINA DAILY

China's economic growth will reach 6.8 percent year-on-year in 2017, thanks to the strong economic momentum witnessed in the first six months of the year, rebound in exports and a favorable external environment, a new report said.

The report, published by the Investment Strategy Group, a research unit of Goldman Sachs, said the country's gross domestic product is on track to clock the first uptick since 2010 in 2017.

"This would be the first, albeit modest, acceleration in annual growth since 2010," said Wang Shengzu, co-head of the ISG.

The recent growth stabilization has led to a notable rise in overseas investment in domestic fixed income products, the report said.

Overseas investment in negotiable certificate of deposits, a financial instrument trading in the interbank market, rose to $12 billion in August, said Wang.

Stronger growth momentum also helped reverse foreign exchange outflows to net inflows in August, the first such reversal in nearly three years, according to data from Goldman Sachs' Global Investment Research Division.

According to ISG estimates, the general government fiscal balance stood at2.3 percent of GDP in the first three quarters, the largest January-to-September deficit in the past decade, suggesting a very proactive fiscal policy while the monetary policy stance remained largely neutral.

The country's GDP growth continued to show resilience in the first three quarters at 6.9 percent. Final consumption accounted for 64.5 percent of the headline growth or 4.4 percentage points, with the rest coming from investment and net exports, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

"We think structural reforms, supply-side policies and more market-friendly initiatives are needed to support China's rebalancing," said Wang.

"After the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, reforms in some areas are expected to accelerate in the near term, such as State-owned enterprise reforms and financial market liberalization," he said.

"From the risk management perspective, deleveraging and strengthening financial regulation to contain systemic risks remain key focus of the government," Wang added.

China has made progress in rebalancing away from external-led growth and more service-denominated economy, while the core challenge remains an excessive reliance on debt, Zhang Longmei, International Monetary Fund's deputy resident representative in China, said at a forum hosted by International Monetary Institute of Renmin University of China.

Some key tasks in the near term include the reduction of financial sector agility and resumption of the transition to a flexible currency exchange rate, she said.

The Goldman Sachs report also forecast an accelerating global growth to a midpoint of 3.0 percent this year from 2.6 percent in 2016. But one of the potential concerns would be a disruptive trade policy by the United States.

Wei Benhua, an academic with the International Monetary Institute of Renmin University of China and former executive director for China at the IMF, said that the trade protectionism policies of the US would add uncertainties to the global economy, harm Sino-US trade ties and weaken cross-border trades in other regions.
Passengers download a QR code payment application at a metro station in Fujian province.ZHANG BIN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

China UnionPay is busy collaborating with public transportation systems nationwide to enable "tap and go" and "scan and go" entrances, a move that may propel the brand ahead of its mobile payment competitors.

The clearing services provider has lagged behind Alipay and WeChat Pay since the surge of mobile payments in 2014, but may catch up with those competitors by encouraging the use of UnionPay quick response code (QR code) payment and QuickPass, a form of near-field communication (NFC) payment.

In the first 19 cities where UnionPay pilot mobile payment applications will be used in public transportation, UnionPay provides users with comprehensive solutions including mobile phone QuickPass, bankcard QuickPass and QR code payment, said China UnionPay in a statement.

After a one-month collaboration with Guangzhou Metro, which enables commuters to use the mobile app as "tap and go", daily payments have surpassed 200,000 at the subway system in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said China UnionPay.

The service is compatible with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Huawei Pay, Mi Pay and other mobile phone payment tools, according to UnionPay.

In Shanghai, UnionPay launched a QR code payment for subway commuters in late October, and offers random discounts up to 50 yuan ($7.5) per trip to commuters on the maglev, a service that connects the city's subway system to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Shanghai has one of the world's most developed subway systems in terms of total length of subway lines427 kilometers this year. It is also one of the busiest subway systems, with daily trips exceeding 10 million.

UnionPay said it is likely that all of Shanghai subway lines will accept UnionPay mobile payments by 2018.

"Obviously, public transportation is one of the most frequent scenarios for payment. For payment users, frequency is perhaps the most persuasive factor besides discounts that will encourage them to accept and get used to a new payment tool," said Chen Jie, an analyst on consumption behavior and marketing with Shanghai Jiehua Consulting.

Payment service providers such as Alipay and WeChat Pay started with convenience stores, small restaurants and small retailers as initial payment scenarios. Billions of yuan were spent on discounts for consumers and incentives for merchants during QR code payment promotion campaigns since 2014.

China UnionPay suspended the launch of QR code payments due to "compliance concerns", according to a previous note to the media. That ended in May 2017, when the company resumed promotion of its QR code tools after the central bank launched a series of regulations on QR code payment, giving QR code payment the full green light.

"In fact, UnionPay and several banks were the first to launch QR code in China," said Xu Yang, an e-banking specialist with China CITIC Bank Corp Ltd.

"Sometimes, financial institutions must put compliance issues as top priorities," he said.

On the other side of the story, Alipay and WeChat Pay together took more than 90 percent of the share in the QR code payment sector by the second quarter of 2017, when it was a 23-trillion-yuan market. That is an overwhelmingly dominant position, according to the latest quarterly report on mobile payment in China by Analysys International, a market research and information services provider.

According to Li Chao, an analyst with iResearch, an internet information and market research provider, UnionPay's moves should be interpreted as providing "infrastructure" of the payment ecosystem.

"It is not just a payment services provider. As a clearing service provider, it has rich resources and can help banks, merchants, consumers to be better connected in a safer manner," said Li, the iResearch analyst.

According to Ge Huayong, president of UnionPay, more than 40 banks now accept UnionPay's QR code payment transactions and an additional 60 or so banks are testing their systems. More than 100 million users of online platforms such as JD.com and Meituan can also pay through UnionPay QR code when spending online. More than 2.6 million merchants accept UnionPay QR code payment.

"In fact, when mobile payment enters into a mature stage, we believe that safety, accessibility and service quality, such as smoothness of transactions, are key advantages amid competition," said UnionPay in a reply to China Daily's inquiries for comments on competition in the mobile payment sector.

"We aim at benefiting consumers, merchants and all parties involved in the payment process. We are an open platform, and we welcome alliances," UnionPay added.
Chip maker Broadcom Ltd made an unsolicited $105 billion bid for Qualcomm Inc on Monday, setting the stage for a takeover battle that could reshape the industry at the heart of mobile phone hardware.

Qualcomm said it would review the proposal but the San Diego-based company is inclined to reject the bid as too low and fraught with risk that regulators may reject it or take too long to approve it, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan, who turned a small, chipmaker into a $100 billion company based in Singapore and the United States, told Reuters he would not rule out a proxy fight to convince shareholders to replace the board and accept the offer.

"We are well advised and know what our options are, and we have not eliminated any of those options," said Tan, who has pulled off a string of deals over the past decade. "We have a very strong desire to work with Qualcomm to reach a mutually beneficial deal."

A combined Broadcom-Qualcomm would become the dominant supplier of chips used in the 1.5 billion or so smart phones expected to be sold around the world this year. It would raise the stakes for Intel Corp, which has been diversifying from its stronghold in computers into smart phone technology by supplying modem chips to Apple Inc.

Qualcomm shareholders, who have watched their investment sour over the past year in the face of a patent dispute with Apple, would get $60 in cash and $10 per share in Broadcom stock in a deal, according to Broadcom's proposal. Including debt, the transaction is worth $130 billion.

"Now it's a game of high-stakes poker for both sides," said GBH Insight analyst Daniel Ives, who believes bullish investors were hoping for $75 to $80 per share. The offer represents a premium of 27.6 percent to Qualcomm's closing price of $54.84 on Thursday.

Shares of Qualcomm, whose chips allow phones to connect to wireless data networks, traded above $70 as recently as December 2016 and topped $80 in 2014. They rose 1.1 percent to $62.52,suggesting skepticism a deal would happen.

Broadcom shares rose 1.4 percent to $277.52 after touching a record of $281.80.

Regulatory scrutiny

Any deal struck between the two companies would face intense regulatory scrutiny.

Qualcomm sells modem chips that allow phones to send data as well as communications chips for automobiles that handle "infotainment" systems and wireless electric vehicle charging.

Qualcomm provides chips to carrier networks to deliver broadband and mobile data and is also in the process of closing a $38 billion bid for automotive chipmaker NXP Semiconductors NV that it made last year.

Broadcom, Qualcomm and NXP together would have control over modems, Wi-Fi, GPS and near-field communications chips, a strong position that could concern customers such as Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd because of the bargaining power such a combined company could have to raise prices. However, a combined company would also likely have a lower cost base and the flexibility to cut prices.

Herbert Hovenkamp, who teaches antitrust at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, said that US regulators would try to ensure the deal would not lead to higher chip prices.

"Based on what I've seen, it seems unlikely to me that there's a basis for a challenge (to stop the deal)," he said.

Tan added that if Broadcom acquires Qualcomm which in turn has acquired NXP, the combined company's net debt could be in the range of $90 billion.

Broadcom said BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have advised that they are confident that they will be able to arrange the necessary financing for the proposed transaction.

Broadcom also could spin out Qualcomm's licensing arm, QTL, to get regulatory approval and funding for the deal, raising as much at $25 billion from a sale, Nomura Instinet analyst RomitShah suggested.

Broadcom had $5.25 billion in cash and cash equivalent as of July 30. Qualcomm had $35.03 billion in cash as of Sept 24.

Broadcom also got a commitment letter for $5 billion in financing from private equity Silver Lake Partners, an existing Broadcom investor.

Vulnerable Qualcomm

Qualcomm stock has fallen this year because of a patent fight with Apple, which could quit using Qualcomm chips in its phones, and concerns that it may have to raise its bid for a NXP.

If Broadcom decides to make a hostile bid, Qualcomm's governance rules would allow the rival to submit its own slate for the entire 10-member board by a Dec 7 nomination deadline.

Two Qualcomm directors, Anthony Vinciquerra and MarkMcLaughlin, have been aligned with activist hedge fund JanaPartners LLC, which pushed for a shakeup of the company two years ago. Jeffrey Henderson, another Qualcomm board director, was added last year as a compromise candidate.

Apple, as a key customer, could play a key role. Analysts say that if Broadcom can salvage the Apple relationship, it would sharply increase potential returns from the takeover.

Tan also has a history of cutting costs at acquired companies, and Charter Equity analyst Ed Snyder predicted Tan would cut away waste at Qualcomm.

Broadcom plans to move its headquarters solely to the United States, which would allow it to avoid review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign ownership of US assets.

Agencies
BEIJING -- Chinese and Australian securities regulators have signed an agreement on sharing fintech information, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said Monday.

The agreement was signed by Liu Shiyu, head of the CSRC, and Greg Medcraft, chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the CSRC said in a statement.

The two sides will share information on developments in the fintech field and relevant regulatory policies, said the CSRC, describing the agreement as having "great significance."

"The development of fintech provides vast opportunities for increasing the variety of financial services, strengthening inclusive finance and meeting investors' financial demands, but it also means new requirements and challenges for global financial market regulators," the statement said.

China's financial sector has been very open to new technologies, and the country's regulators are moving fast to catch up with the latest developments and protect market order.

In order to make strategic plans and provide policy guidance on fintech development, the country's central bank set up a fintech committee earlier this year to enhance research, planning and coordination in the field.
BANGKOK -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will provide an important engine for global growth and bring benefits to Southeast Asian countries, said former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

A strong, prosperous China will benefit the rest of the world, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which hopes to grow stronger through promoting connectivity, Abhisit told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

"I think China can play a very important role," he said. "The connectivity agenda is pretty much synonymous with the bigger picture of the Belt and Road Initiative. That's why China will be heavily involved."

Abhisit, who was Thai prime minister from 2008 to 2011, added that he believes the initiative provides a good development model at a time when people have begun to worry about globalization and trade.

The initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote trade, financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity and people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa.

The Belt and Road Initiative, said Abhisit, will spread prosperity, create opportunities and allow people to have access to the global market.

Speaking of the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Abhisit, who is also president of Thailand's Democratic Party, said he closely followed the landmark event.

What is clear from the meeting is that China and the CPC will not just rest on past successes, he said, adding that there is a clear determination to look ahead at the challenges and targets and move on to get things done.

He also noted that the CPC has both a long tradition and a set of principles that guide it and at the same time allow it to adapt to new circumstances.

"What impressed me is that you are putting three things together: vision, theory and tradition. It's all very good to have one without the others ... But what's been reflected through General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech is putting these three things together," he stressed, citing the report Xi delivered on Oct 18 at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress.

"So you are clear about where the country wants to go; you have the principles which have supported the past achievements," he added.

"What we can learn from the success of the Communist Party of China is the ability of the party to respond to the people's needs, to give back to the people, and to attach importance to party discipline," he said.
Legal framework needs to be ready before introducing China's official digital currency, head of the research institute of the central bank said during a forum held over the weekend.

Yao Qian, director-general of the Institute of Digital Money at the People's Bank of China, said supervision needs to be in place before officially introducing the currency.

"Apart from solving tech challenges, we need to build a legal framework. The key is to prevent systematic financial risks," he said.

He made the comment during the annual meeting held by Institute of Digital Finance of Peking University.

There is no specific timeline for deploying digital currency, he said.

China is actively preparing for a digital fiat currency, or official digital currency, since last year.

The government has shut down all cryptocurrency exchanges in the country.

Yao said there are a number of advantages that push the central bank to actively prepare for issuing the currency.

Deploying digital currency will be helpful to improve macroeconomic policy framework, according to Yao.

"Using digital currency helps the central bank adjust liquidity, because it is much easier to track circulation of the currency in digital format compared to normal currency," he said.

Digital currency also helps improve supervision capacity of the central bank, especially in supervising money laundering activities and tax evasion behaviors, he said.
A Chinese employee is seen at the stand of COFCO at a food exhibition in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

COFCO Corp, China's biggest foodstuff conglomerate by revenue, announced its overseas investment and management platform COFCO International has agreed to sell seed business of grain trader Nidera BV to agribusiness giant Syngenta AG on Monday.

COFCO International had completed a full takeover of the Netherlands-based grain trader in February this year.

Syngenta, on the other hand, was acquired by China National Chemical Corporation, or ChemChina, in June this year.

The move to sell the seed business of Nidera is an important step that will help COFCO International to enter into new strategy goal.

COFCO International will focus on its core businesses involving cereals, edible oils and sugars, according to news website The Paper quoting Chi Jingtao, CEO of the company. Meanwhile, Syngenta will provide a strong platform to Nidera's seed business, and the deal will be conducive to Nidera's long-term development.

However, losses racked up by Nidera, and accounting troubles exposed last year in its Latin American operations led to COFCO International wanting to divest parts of the business, according to news agency Reuters.

In 2015, President of COFCO Corp Yu Xubo said COFCO International was integrating its own business with Nidera and commodities trader Noble Group, and expected to complete their assets integration in five years to promote COFCO International to list on stock markets in 2019.

Previously, COFCO International had purchased 100 percent share of Noble Group in December of 2015.
FUZHOU -- Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced Tuesday that it has used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to deliver packages over water for the first time.

Three drones carrying a total six boxes of passionfruit with a combined weight of around 12 kilograms flew from Putian in East China's Fujian province to nearby Meizhou Island on Oct 31, the company said.

Flying into a strong wind, the drones took nine minutes to make the five-kilometer crossing. Each drone can carry up to seven kilograms.

The drones were jointly developed by Alibaba's delivery arm Cainiao Network, the company's rural shopping platform Rural Taobao, and a domestic technology firm.

Zeng Jinmei, an online store owner based on the island, said that the drone delivery service will cut the transportation time by half and save logistic costs.

Alibaba has prepared extra drones ahead of the upcoming Nov 11 "Singles Day" shopping festival.

The day, which can be compared to Black Friday in the United States, became a shopping festival in China after Alibaba launched a major promotional campaign in 2009.

Alibaba plans to use drones to deliver high value-added products such as fresh food and medical supplies over water in the future.

Using drones to deliver packages has increased in recent years. Another Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com started conducting trial deliveries using drones in 2016. Smaller drones are being used in Xi'an, Shaanxi province and Suqian, Jiangsu province.
A support staff member prepares the bed at Alibaba Xixi headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Oct 31, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

With the clock ticking, the annual Nov 11 Singles Day online shopping festival is approaching.

While for online shoppers, the festival is a true carnival, for employees working for the e-commerce giant Alibaba, which created the event, the coming days will be frantically busy and challenging.

As they did last year, Alibaba's support crew members have been preparing supplies for the company's employees this year.

Camp beds, quilts, tents, bags, food and even massage chairs the essentials that guarantee the basic comforts are being moved to Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Let's take a look at the preparations.
BEIJING  At a factory in Changchun, a city in Northeast China, state-of-the-art subway cars are being manufactured for Boston's orange line. When these are delivered in December, they will become the first Chinese subway cars to land in the US market.

The deal signed three years ago between their manufacturer, Changchun Railway Vehicles of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), and the buyer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is a clear demonstration of the enhanced high-tech cooperation between China and the United States in recent years.

The CRRC holds the intellectual property rights to the carriages which have met the strict US standards in technology, localization and law, and can ensure passenger safety in case of trains colliding at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.

"These 'next-generation vehicles' will be the backbone of our heavy rail fleet for many years to come," said Jerry Polcari, chief procurement officer for MBTA.

China today possesses the core technology for almost all advanced rail transportation equipment in the world, and the average cost of high-speed railways built by Chinese companies is about half of that by foreign counterparts, while the construction efficiency is much higher, said Ding Rongjun, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Beijing.

Later, car parts will be manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, where a CRRC assembly factory was built in September 2015. It will start operating in 2018, creating at least 150 jobs.

Following the first order in Boston, CRRC bagged other contracts from other overseas markets including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London.

The CRRC case is just one example of China's fast-growing high-end manufacturing industry going places. China has made remarkable breakthroughs in cutting-edge technology innovation, and its high-end manufacturing industry, maintaining rapid growth, is eyeing overseas cooperation.

"China has advanced very much in its science and engineering side. It's been good, but getting better... It's very impressive, like no place else in the world," said C. D. Mote Jr., president of the US National Academy of Engineering. "So this (US-China) cooperation will be a great benefit not just to China, (and) the United States, but to the world."

New energy is another area where China and the United States have been increasing their cooperation.

Shanghai GM, a joint venture of China's SAIC Motor and US automaker General Motors, had announced its strategy of launching a new "Made in China" new energy vehicle (NEV) model every year from 2016 to 2020, with the range covering different hybrids and pure electric models.

US electric car maker Tesla was recently reported as holding talks with the Shanghai local government on the possibility of setting up a factory there to serve the Chinese market better.

Some foreign companies are planning to invest in China or adjust their businesses because they fancy the "blue ocean" of China's growing consumption, said Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research department under China's Ministry of Commerce.

From January to September, 424,000 NEVs were made in China, a growth rate of 40.2 percent, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The number of NEVs sold in this period was 398,000, indicating 37.7 percent growth.

The Chinese market growth is also exciting for US aerospace giant Boeing, as China's fleet size is expected to grow at a pace faster than the world average. Almost 20 percent of the global demand for new aircraft will be from airlines based in China, Boeing's annual China Current Market Outlook released in September said.

The plane maker set China's expected aircraft demand 6.3 percent higher than last year's forecast. More than 50 percent of all commercial jetliners operating in China are Boeings, according to the company.

China has a finger in the components of every current Boeing commercial plane. Over 9,000 Boeing aircraft fly around the world with China-built parts and components.

China's continuous economic growth, significant investment in infrastructure, growing middle class and evolving airline business models support Boeing's long-term outlook, said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The scientific and technological cooperation between China and the United States dates back to 1979 when the China-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was signed. Under the accord, the two countries have since reached nearly 50 inter-agency agreements and jointly supported thousands of cooperation programs.

China and the United States agreed to renew their wide-ranging ties in scientific and technological cooperation, according to an agreement in the action plan of the first China-US Social, People-to-People Dialogue held in Washington, D.C. On Sept 28.

With US President Donald Trump scheduled to visit China on Nov 8-10, his first state visit to China, it is anticipated that there will be further bilateral high-tech cooperation.
WASHINGTON  China and the United States could seek cooperation in areas of infrastructure investment, cybersecurity and educational exchanges to keep the bilateral relationship on a positive track, a leading US expert has said.

Under the Obama administration, cooperation on climate change between China and the United States "was very positive," said Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), a Washington DC-based think tank.

"It allowed not only China and the US to do some good in the world but to have a positive agenda together," Posen told Xinhua in a recent interview.

However, for the Trump administration, climate change is no longer a priority issue. The two countries have to find other positive things to work together to help anchor China-US relations in the years ahead, the expert said.

"I would like to think maybe here is where the cultural stuff comes in," Posen said, suggesting the two countries could "build up educational exchanges" and get that back on track.

Meanwhile, there is more common ground between the United States and China in cybersecurity nowadays.

"China has interests in cybersecurity like the US does, and the US, after what's happened with Facebook and others during our election, I think is more sympathetic to regulating some of these entities the way China already does," he said.

As the world's two largest economies, the United States and China also share a common interest in infrastructure investment. The Trump administration has pledged to upgrade US aging infrastructure, while China has proposed the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road Initiative) to strengthen regional inter-connectivity through infrastructure development.

"There is a general need in the world for more infrastructure investment," Posen said, adding it is "a good idea" for China and the United States to cooperate in areas of infrastructure spending and multilateral development banks.

In terms of the four high-level dialogue mechanisms established between China and the United States in April, Posen said it signals the continuity of the formal dialogue process, which is more important than what is in the tracks.

"It meant that the leaders from China and US would get together, have an agenda peaceful, and be in regular contact," he said, adding "we can hope for something good" as long as there is a formal dialogue process.

While the US and Chinese business communities have called for the two governments to resume negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, Posen said that is not a priority for the Trump administration, which has wrongly focused on the bilateral trade deficits.

However, "it's in the US interests" to have a bilateral investment treaty with China, he noted, expressing regret that both sides were unable to conclude a deal under the previous US administration.

In terms of steel overcapacity, Posen said it is a global issue and "not so much a US-China issue," as the Obama administration had already taken actions to protect the US steel industry from Chinese imports.

Currently, the United States basically imports almost no steel from China and the US industry faces competition from South Korea, India and Europe.

"So what we really need is a global solution to take down the amount of steel overcapacity around the world," he said.

Speaking of the recently-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Posen said he was "watching very carefully what President Xi and what the party Congress chose to emphasize and the sort of broad picture of a modernized socialist economy."

In his view, it was "very wise" for China to elevate the Belt and Road Initiative to a principled long-term policy, place emphasis on domestic financial stability, and talk more broadly about people's well-being including environment rather than specific numerical growth targets.

Compared with most Westerners, Posen said experts at the PIIE have recently been optimistic on China's economy.

"In 2015 and 2016, we kept telling people it's (China's economy) not going to crash, growth is stronger, the financial system is not that fragile, and that was right," he said.

But he also pointed out that China has problems of a slowdown in productivity growth and a waste of capital in the less productive State-owned enterprises, particularly in some old industries.

"The share of credit in the last two or three years going to the State-owned enterprises has been going up, and the share going to the private sector is going down again. This is not dangerous but it's wasteful," he said.
OMAHA, the United States  Though it is the home of US billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Omaha was little known to Chinese a few months ago.

But now this city in the midwestern Nebraska state is poised to become a household name in China since its Greater Omaha Packing company sent about 40 boxes of its products to China on June 14, days after the United States and China reached a deal to re-open Chinese markets for US beef as part of their 100-day action plan to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

That was the first export of US beef to China in more than 13 years. China banned US beef in December 2003 after the mad cow disease struck US cattle. Before the ban, the United States used to be China's top foreign supplier of beef.

Secret of being number one

"The secret is to be very lucky," chuckled Henry Davis, the third-generation chief executive officer of the nearly century-old Greater Omaha, in response to Xinhua's question how it shot past the "big four" in the United States - Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef - and became the first to export beef to China after the hiatus.

The grey-haired CEO attributed the success to the hard work of the staff: "We would not have been the first company to get our beef into China if everybody in this plant, all 1,150, weren't doing their job properly."

When the company saw a possibility that China could resume the beef trade, everyone worked round the clock and made calls to the industry people to find out what they needed to do.

"It takes a lot of work," he emphasized. "We need to be compliant to all the regulations and standards of China. We need to prove ourselves... and to the US Department of Agriculture, to the inspection services of China."

Fortunately the company has rich experience in developing new markets. It was the first US company to ship beef to Japan when Tokyo re-admitted American meat packers.

"The fact that at that time we were already exporting to 68 countries (meant) we (had) met a lot of those criteria that the Chinese government wanted to be part of their import program," he added. "We export to more than twice as many countries as other beef packing companies."

Beef exports to China must come from cattle that are under 30 months, are born in the US, Canada or Mexico, and can be traced back to a US birth farm or first US port of entry. The meat must be free from residues of growth promotants, feed additives and other chemical compounds prohibited by Chinese law.

Testing occurs at the point of arrival. If a shipment were to include a prohibited substance, it would be rejected and returned to the United States or destroyed.

Innovation pays off

Greater Omaha was founded by Davis' grandfather, who got his start in the cattle business in 1920. Unlike many other large meatpackers, which have relocated outside Omaha's traditional stockyards districts into the rural Midwest, Greater Omaha has stayed where it was, said Davis, who joined the company in 1973.

With an estimated annual sales of $1.7 billion, Greater Omaha has been called a "small giant" among US beef producers by Forbes. Today the company slaughters 2,400 heads of cattle a day, and about one-fifth of its sales are exports to nearly 70 countries.

Self-funding, innovation, dedication to food safety and high-end products are factors that have helped Greater Omaha ride out the storm for decades, according to Davis. Also, the plant is "perfectly situated" in the "center of the highest quality cattle" in the United States.

The company has invested heavily in food safety equipment. A lot of those are proprietary. Greater Omaha has either developed them or is operating them in a special way.

According to executive vice president Angelo Fili, a butcher-turned businessman, Greater Omaha is the only major packer to sell individually cut fresh steaks directly to consumers, as opposed to frozen cuts.

The company guarantees a 30-day refrigerated shelf life, thanks to a new type of "skin-packed" air-tight packaging increasingly used in meat retailing. A QR code on the package lets customers see when it was packed and by which date they should eat or freeze it.

The packing plant uses a system of cameras and computers to grade beef, and takes its direct-to-consumer product from the top 20 percent of its prime cuts.

Davis, who has a computer science degree, wrote the software to process all the plant's data and is now heavily involved in the robotic control cold storage facility to be completed in six or seven months.

"It will add a lot to our ability to deliver individual boxes and track each box and load up 10 trucks sequentially," he said.

Boosting local economy

The China market for Great Omaha is "still in the development stage", but the second largest importer of beef in the world means a lot to the company as well as Nebraska and the US economy as a whole, given China's rapidly expanding middle class.

"We like the fact that it stimulates the economy. The cattle-consume-grain agriculture market is a very big part of the Midwest economy and it's good for them," he said.

There is a strong demand from China since the imports resumed and the company has hired a Mandarin-speaking analyst to help handle the overwhelming number of calls and email inquiries from China.

"China is the world's fastest-growing beef import market," Joe Schuele, vice president of communications at the US Meat Export Federation, told local media. "It has grown tenfold in the last five to six years."

China currently imports an estimated $2.6 billion of beef annually.

Beef exports will complement Nebraska's current success in the Chinese marketplace with soybeans, distillers' products and pork, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said.

Nebraska's share of worldwide US beef exports has grown steadily over the past decade, going from less than 4 percent in 2005 to more than 18 percent in 2016, according to the Department of Agriculture.

"We raise what we consider very high quality product that we hopefully can put into the Chinese market," Bill Pellett, who runs a cattle feedlot about one hour's drive from Greater Omaha, told Xinhua. "It's something that we've been working on for 20 years or more to make it a better product."

Pellett added that it costs more to produce beef according to China's specifications but it is worthwhile doing so. He has sold cattle free of artificial hormones to Greater Omaha for years.

"I think it's good for all of us to understand each other and to share the resources that we have available. Each country ... has different resources, they need to trade to make the world a better place," Pellett said.
Beijing's Shunyi district aims to build an innovative world-leading third-generation semiconductor industry cluster, officials said at the 2017 China International Forum on Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, known as IFWS, on Nov 1.

The global high-level forum was held alongside the 14th China International Forum on Solid State Lighting. It aimed to promote the development of the new semiconductor industry and integrate related sectors, technologies, personnel, finance and policies.

It was hosted by China Solid State Lighting Alliance, China Advanced Semiconductor Industry Innovation Alliance and the Shunyi district government.

The three-day forum attracted more than 50 experts from semiconductor organizations from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and Taiwan to deliver speeches and share their ideas.

Construction has already launched at Beijing's semiconductor zone, marking a new development chapter in Shunyi district, according to an official at the opening ceremony of the forum.

A total of 66.67 hectares has been earmarked for the zone. Administration departments will integrate land resources and strengthen capital support to attract social investment and deepen industry and finance cooperation, according to the local government.

Another highlight of the forum was the industry promotional fair held on Nov 3, which attracted more than 100 experts and scholars.

At the fair, local officials said that Shunyi district will provide preferential policies, high-quality services and a good environment for companies and overseas professionals to assist in the semiconductor industry's development in Beijing.

"With its unique geographical location, growing economic strength, improving public services and good environment, Shunyi is one of the most quickly developing districts in Beijing.

"Now, the district is facing a new historical opportunity. The third-generation semiconductor material industry has bright prospects and is confirmed as one of the three innovative industry clusters in Beijing," said a local official.

In recent years, many important organizations have settled in Shunyi district, one after another. In 2015, China Solid State Lighting Alliance and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission signed an agreement with Shunyi district to build a Beijing third-generation semiconductor innovation base.

China Advanced Semiconductor Industry Innovation Alliance was founded in 2015 with more than 70 member companies joining and a joint innovation incubator center, which has attracted 45 companies.

Shunyi district cooperated with Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands to establish a Chinese institute in 2016, which has started to enroll doctoral students. A total of 13 leading enterprises are due to launch major projects in Shunyi, such as Shandong Tianyue Co, Guangdong Elec-Tech International Co and China Electronics Technology Group Corp.

The district has gathered four trillion yuan ($600 million) in funds for sectors related to the semiconductor industry, including new energy vehicles, new-generation IT and aerospace, according to the local government. The funds provide a solid industrial foundation for the development of the third-generation semiconductor industry.

The district is expected to lead the third-generation semiconductor industry nationally, with an industrial scale reaching 100 billion yuan by 2025.

In the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), Shunyi district functions as an international aviation center, an innovation-driven economic district and a capital demonstration area of harmonious urban and rural coordination, focusing on national initiatives and new technology policies, such as Made in China 2025 and 2030 Projects.

Shunyi district has also made good progress as a pilot area for national intellectual property and as a demonstration zone of the opening-up of Beijing's services industry.
China will continue to work with the international community to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute its experiences and efforts to global ecological progress, President Xi Jinping said in a congratulatory letter to an intergovernmental organization's annual meeting on Monday.

The nation's actions will help lead to a better community for all and a beautiful world, Xi wrote to the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Beijing. The first intergovernmental organization established in China, now has 43 member states.

"In the past 20 years, INBAR has played a positive role in accelerating the development of global bamboo and rattan resources, promoting poverty alleviation, boosting trade in bamboo and rattan products, and facilitating sustainable development," Xi wrote in the letter.

"China will stick to its commitment to achieving harmony between humans and nature, advancing ecological conservation, pursuing green development and building a beautiful China," he wrote.

Jiang Zehui, co-chairman of the INBAR board, said bamboo and rattan benefits climate change mitigation. She said well-managed bamboo forests can sequester significantly more carbon than similar tree forests. Also, emerging technologies in biogaswhich can be produced from bamboocan supply clean power.

The Statement on Bamboo and Rattan for Green Sustainable Development and South-South Cooperation also was released at the conference. It noted that bamboo and rattan are climate-smart approaches that add value to forestry and agriculture strategies via mitigation and landscape restoration.

INBAR has played an important role in the United Nations' efforts in poverty reduction, environmental protection and the green economy, said UN Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin. In order to promote South-South and South-North cooperation, INBAR has provided answers for sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem management for millions, he said.

China has long promoted ecological restoration and the green economy. The State Forestry Administration said the country's forest coverage has risen from 8.6 percent in the 1950s to 21.66 percent last year.

"We will keep supporting the development of the bamboo and rattan industry and further strengthen cooperation with other countries for future opportunities, contributing our innovative ideas and experiences to the development of the global green economy," said Zhang Jianlong, head of the forestry administration.
Wang Nan celebrated her 25th birthday on the frozen continent of Antarctica. She didn't go there on an ordinary trip. Instead, she was one of the youngest females on the national expedition team.

Wang, who does publicity work at the Shanghai-based Polar Research Institute of China, joined a 159-day Antarctic expedition on the Chinese icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) in November 2015. It was the country's 32nd Antarctic expedition.

She said an extraordinary birthday celebration at Zhongshan Station, a Chinese scientific research base in Antarctica, will be in her mind forever.

"There was no cake there, so my colleagues made me a 'cake' with ice from the polar region that may have been in existence for hundreds and hundreds of years. They cut the ice into a heart shape and surrounded it with candles that they ferreted out of the warehouse," said Wang, who worked as a secretary collecting scientists' work records and coordinating visits by foreign scientists who were also doing Antarctic research.

"Another fellow did a magic trick with playing cards and finally showed two figures: 25 and 32, which signifies my age and that it was the 32nd national Antarctic expedition," she said.

The native of Dalian, Liaoning province, who described herself as not being emotional, said tears were pouring down her face at that moment.

"It really made me feel that we were a big family," said Wang, who was among 277 members on the 55,500 kilometer expedition.

She said she had listened to various stories shared by the scientists who had been to the region but it was still difficult to understand what the cold continent was really was like.

"I was told by scientists that they had a deep affection for Antarctica after having been there, and I wondered what kind of experience would make people fall in love with a barren place," Wang said.

After having been there, Wang said, she also developed a special affection.

"Antarctica is a place of purity. I gasped in admiration at the superb creation of nature, and it really purified and refreshed our minds," she said. "It is always changing. If you look at the sea ice from afar, the shape changes every day and it also reflects different colors with the changing sunlight and clouds."

Wang said her biggest hope after returning is to write more stories about the scientists who are dedicated to the polar expeditions, which push the boundaries of people's understanding of the unknown universe and can even be life-threatening.

When they were at Zhongshan Station, a 61-year-old scientist with the Australian national expedition team fell into a 20-meter deep crevasse.

"It was -40 C down there and the rescue was not as easy as in a usual environment. The Australian team requested help from the Chinese and Russian teams, and the veteran helicopter pilot was finally saved after four hours. But he died on the next day," Wang said.

"I used to understand the job of the scientists as one that required high tolerance of solitude, as some of them are stationed in the region all year, but after that experience, I think people should show them more respect," she said.

Wang said she would raise the issue of environmental protection in the polar region in her daily publicity work.

"Scientists who have been to both poles said the sky above the Antarctic is far more beautiful than that above the Arctic, which they believed is related to human activities in the northern hemisphere with its denser population," she said.

"The size of the market for Antarctic tourism has grown dramatically, with people's rising interest in the natural wonders, but I hope people won't harm the virgin land," she said.

Last year, more than 5,000 Chinese tourists visited the continent, accounting for 12 percent of worldwide visitors there - second only to the United States with more than 14,000 tourists, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.
HARBIN - Every day at 9 am, fisherman Zhang Peng, 32, starts a new day's work along the mighty Heilong River. He turns on his mobile phone, logs on to his livestreaming account and broadcasts his daily fishing.

"This is the Wusuli River, in China's easternmost city, and these are salmon," Zhang explains during a livestreaming session.

With both hands he holds a fishing net with a salmon in it. His wife aims a mobile phone to broadcast the catch to an appreciative online audience.

"We just caught seven salmon," Zhang says.

It was only recently that he became an online celebrity via livestreaming. In his hometown of Fuyuan, Heilongjiang province, he often hears locals scream his name in the fish market.

"I used to be an obscure person in a small town," Zhang says. "It's hard to believe that I have become an internet star."

Livestreaming is big business in China. It generates huge profits for the host websites and catapults many presenters to overnight fame.

Zhang has a huge number of followers - 869,000, almost seven times the number of residents in his hometown. The border Heilong and Wusuli rivers have an abundance of freshwater fish, including salmon and sturgeon. Locals call the city "Golden Fish Bay".

Before the livestreaming adventure, Zhang's life had always been about fishing.

"My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all fishermen on the Wusuli River," he said. "I started fishing when I was a child, and officially became a fisherman when I turned 17."

Zhang says that in the past, the job could only guarantee a "basic life". Seven years into marriage, the couple had only managed to save 40,000 yuan ($6,000).

But since the livestreaming, Zhang's life has taken a different turn. The soaring number of his followers increased his earnings, as followers who watch the broadcast often give tips on the streaming app.

For each livestreaming session, Zhang says he can make more than 1,000 yuan. He once received more than 5,000 yuan from his followers.

"I think people just love how simple and fun our life is via the camera," he says.

Sometimes Zhang also shows his followers how the locals enjoy a night of barbecue and beer after a day's fishing.

Zhang aims to please: "I just want to share the best things along the Wusuli with my followers, and I hope they will find joy in watching my broadcast."

Xinhua
Vice-Premier Wang Yang said on Monday that China will continue to fight counterfeit products, particularly fake products exported to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, to maintain a good image for products made in the country.

The reputation for counterfeit products has not been fully eradicated, and efforts still need to be made, said Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The country must continue to fight against fake products on the internet, be innovative in law enforcement, reinforce supervision of major websites and establish a supervision system both online and offline, he said.

In the future, China will reinforce cooperation between different regions, government departments and countries with a focus on major products, major areas and important links, Wang added.

The Belt and Road Initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was put forward by China in 2013.

Although problems remain, Wang said, China has accomplished much in the campaign against counterfeit products and has fostered a fertile environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

In 2016, Chinese authorities cracked more than 170,000 cases concerning intellectual property rights infringement and counterfeit products, and arrested nearly 20,000 suspects.

China launched a campaign against fake exports in 2015 to safeguard China's image.

According to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, some 900,000 fake products were confiscated and 3.73 million yuan ($562,500) in fines levied in 2015 and 2016.

The next move in the campaign is to expand the network against fake goods and reinforce inspections.

The administration said in May that it would set up an inspection network involving major export companies, their agents and after-sale maintenance centers overseas, to track and collect information on fake products. By 2020, the campaign will cover products exported to 30 percent of the world, it said.
The mainland and Taiwan should elevate cross-Straits communication and create new prospects for cross-Straits mutual understanding and economic cooperation, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said on Monday.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2017 Cross-Straits Entrepreneurs Zijin Mountain Summit, Yu said the two sides should make joint efforts to face challenges that cannot be ignored and boost the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties.

"Cross-Straits relations in the new era face new opportunities and space for development," said Yu. "We will fully implement the policies adopted by the 19th CPC National Congress and help promote the continuous development of cross-Straits relations."

The two sides should stick to the one-China policy and the 1992 Consensus, which defines the fundamental nature of the two sides and safeguards the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, said Yu.

"We firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' in any form and endorse the principle that the two sides belong to the same family," said Yu. "People of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan should work together to create a bright future for the Chinese nation."

The 2017 Cross-Straits Entrepreneurs Zijin Mountain Summit has significant meaning as it was the first important communication activity between the mainland and Taiwan held after the 19th Party Congress, he said.

The two-day summit taking place in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, ends on Tuesday. It has attracted more than 700 entrepreneurs from the mainland and Taiwan.

The summit, first held in 2008, has become an important communication bridge for companies from the mainland and Taiwan. In 2013, the two sides each set up councils dedicated to the event.

According to Yu, in the 30 years since the mainland and Taiwan resumed communication, economic cooperation between the two sides has increased more than 120 times. The mainland has become Taiwan's largest export market and investment destination outside the island.

Ding Lei, CEO of 163.com, said at the summit that companies on the two sides can learn from each other to make better products for customers around the world.
China would like to further promote cooperation with Finland in innovation, clean energy, environmental protection and occupational education, said Premier Li Keqiang on Monday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Maria Lohela, speaker of the Parliament of Finland, who is paying a visit to China from Sunday to Friday.

"The relations between our two countries have been at the forefront of the relations between China and North European countries for many years. We also are encouraged by the fact that our cooperation in various fields has been going from strength to strength," Li said.

China is willing to further cooperation with Finland in advantageous areas such as innovation and clean energy to make a brighter future, Li said.

Over the past three decades, China has achieved substantial social and economic achievements by opening-up and reform, the premier said. "In the years to come, we will continue reforms to further stimulate market vitality and social creativity, expand opening-up to boost closer ties with other countries and promote trade liberalization and investment facilitation, and realize win-win outcomes," he said.

The premier spoke positively of bilateral relations between the two countries. He said China adheres to mutual respect and equal treatment in exchanges with other countries, which is also a vital principle for the world's second-largest economy to safeguard world peace and diverse cultures.

Lohela said both countries have always respected each other. Finland would like to work with China to maintain long-term development and bring benefits to both peoples, she said.

Finland was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with New China in 1950.

Last year bilateral trade hit $6.36 billion, making China Finland's largest trading partner in Asia for 12 consecutive years.

The two countries have maintained close ties in diversified fields. Finland was also one of the founding members of the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in April 2015.

In April, the two countries announced the building of a future-oriented, new-type cooperative partnership, elevating bilateral ties to a new high. The two countries also designated 2019 as the Year for China-Finland Winter Sports, meaning joint efforts will be made to support China's hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
China has begun to upgrade its Beidou Navigation Satellite System with global-coverage capabilities through the launch of new satellites.

Two third-generation Beidou satellites, the first of their type, were lofted atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province on Sunday night and were placed in medium Earth orbit thousands of kilometers above the Earth. They will function for at least 12 years, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.

Beidou is the world's fourth navigation satellite system, following GPS in the United States, GLONASS in Russia and Galileo in the European Union.

The new-generation satellites feature better accuracy, stability and signal clarity than previous Beidou models thanks to improvements in intersatellite links, laser communication devices and atomic clocks. They will also be more compatible with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, the satellite office said in a news release.

Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the Beidou system, said development of third-generation Beidou satellites started in 2009. Scientists used five Beidou satellites launched in 2015 and 2016 to verify technologies for the third-generation models.

Xie Jun, chief engineer of the third-generation Beidou satellites at the China Academy of Space Technology, said each of the newest satellites is able to operate autonomously for at least 60 consecutive days if the ground control encounters malfunctions. This enables the network to reduce dependence on ground stations and to reduce operational costs.

By the end of 2018, China will have launched 18 third-generation Beidou satellites into space to cover all nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including the two launched on Friday, the office said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is estimated to benefit about 4.4 billion people in 65 nations, according to the government.

The Beidou system now covers nearly 30 countries involved in the initiative including Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia, the office noted.

In 2019 and 2020, China will send six third-generation Beidou satellites into medium Earth orbits, as well as three to inclined geosynchronous satellite orbits and two to geostationary orbits. Both are synchronized with the rotation of the Earth, but geostationary satellites are parked over the equator, according to gisgeography.com.

According to plans from the China Satellite Navigation Office, the network will be made up of more than 30 satellites before the end of 2020 - several now in orbit will be decommissioned by then - to give Beidou global coverage.

Twenty-seven satellites have been launched for the Beidou network, the first in 2000 and the most recent, before Sunday's launch, in June of last year. The system began providing positioning, navigation, timing and message services to civilian users in China and parts of the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012.

Beidou has acquired a great number of users in China. Most of the shared bicycles in Chinese cities now employ Beidou-based positioning services; more than 4 million taxis, long-distance buses and cargo trucks nationwide have been equipped with Beidou devices; and about 40 percent of smartphones in the Chinese market are able to access the services, according to Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office.
State Council moves to clarify policy after corporate tax is scrapped to ease burden on businesses

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has approved a revised regulation that marks a milestone in China's reform to replace corporate tax with value-added tax.

Since the 1950s, the country has taxed companies based on their revenue.

Yet after VAT was introduced on goods in 2008, businesses began to complain that the levy on services was a kind of double tax.

To ease the burden, the central government launched a reform in 2012 aimed at phasing out corporate tax and introducing VAT at each stage of the production chain. The pilot was gradually expanded, and the collection of corporate tax was scrapped in May last year.

On Oct 30, a State Council executive meeting which was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang approved a draft amendment to the tax regulation, to clarify the policy. The rule-change is expected to soon be followed by legislation.

"The decision to scrap corporate tax means China's VAT reform has been a success, with all sectors having adjusted to the new system," Liu Jianwen, a professor at Peking University Law School and specialist on tax regulation.

He added that he expects the revised regulation to fine-tune the transitional policies for certain industries.

The VAT reform was first piloted in Shanghai, starting on Jan 1, 2012, and focused only on transportation and modern services. Later that year, it was expanded to eight provincial regions, including Beijing and Jiangsu province.

The system was rolled out nationwide in August 2013, with TV and broadcasting added to the list of sectors.

Railways and telecommunications were incorporated in January 2014, and on May 1 last year, VAT was introduced to the last four sectors: construction, real estate, finance, and consumer services.

By the end of September, the reform had saved companies more than 1.6 trillion yuan ($240.9 billion) in tax, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. This includes a reduction of at least 850 billion yuan in the 12 months up to June.

Liu said introducing VAT has been the government's most important action in cutting taxes and lowering the burden on enterprises.

"One highlight of the reform is that it will help China nurture new economic drivers in the long run, lowering the pressure on tertiary industry, which will help the economy grow in a healthier and sustainable way," he said.

However, he added that the State Council will need more time to evaluate how VAT affects all sectors before the final revised regulation is released.

"Over the past 18 months, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation have issued a slew of regulations to complement the VAT reform, so that companies have something to refer to when paying their taxes," Liu said.

Zhang Bin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' National Academy of Economic Strategy, said, "Further efforts are required to make the VAT system more comprehensive and improve the fiscal distribution relationship between central and local governments."

The decision to approve the new rules last week followed a meeting chaired by the premier in September in which he stressed that the nation's tax policies must be fine-tuned.

"The process should be streamlined for taxpayers with the use of information technology. There should also be a crackdown on illegal activity, such as tax evasion," Li said, as he called for more research on a standard VAT rate.

China's tax rate structure was reduced from four tiers to three in July - now simply 6 percent, 11 percent and 17 percent - while the levy on farm produce, tap water and books was reduced from 13 percent to 11 percent.

On Oct 30, it was announced that duties on the sale of imported goods such as grains and animal feed would also be lowered from 13 percent to 11 percent, while transitional policies for other sectors remained unchanged.
An alliance of Nobel laureates is planning to establish a science lab in Xiongan New Area in Hebei province to provide a platform for scientists to make breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, according to Hebei Daily.

"We have gathered a group of Nobel laureates and young scientists who are interested in going to work in China," Richard John Roberts, who was awarded the 1993 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine and founded the Laureate Science Alliance, was quoted as saying.

Roberts visited Hebei with a delegation on Sunday as chairman of the alliance, a nonprofit organization for scientific research.

Xu Qin, governor of Hebei, welcomed Roberts and the delegation in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, and extended the province's intention to work with Nobel laureates.

"Hebei is willing to cooperate with the scientists to establish a science lab and also a science town, and to hold scientific innovation forums and issue scientific awards in Xiongan New Area," Xu said.

"We would like to gather wisdom from all around the world to help build the area into an innovation hub and a gathering place for top scientists," Xu said.

Wang Yuling, an official at the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integrated development office of the Hebei Development and Reform Commission, said: "This is another big step for the new area to develop into an innovation center with the world's wisdom."

The establishment of Xiongan New Area, about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, announced in April, is designed to facilitate the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

It was created as a major center to receive noncapital functions transferred from Beijing, including scientific research institutes, universities, financial institutes and company headquarters.

Since then, about 50 high-end companies, including Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu, have set up branches in Xiongan.

High-end and high-tech companies will be the main industry in the area, the administrative committee of Xiongan said. In the future, large data analysis and artificial intelligence are expected to be the primary driving forces of Xiongan's development.

zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn
Two J-10 aerobatic fighter jets take off at an airport in northern China on Sunday, en route to the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. [Yang Jun/For China Daily]

URUMQI - The Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force's August 1st Air Demonstration Team departed on Monday for the United Arab Emirates to take part in the Dubai Airshow, which is scheduled to run from Nov 12 to 16. The team will also visit Pakistan after the show and stage aerobatic performances in that country on Nov 20, according to the PLA Air Force.

Seven J-10 aerobatic fighter jets embarked on the trip. Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force, said the force is ready for pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in more fields with the air forces of other countries, as well as to make new contributions to peace and development.

The team has staged more than 600 aerobatic shows for delegations from 168 countries and regions. It has also visited several countries for performances, including Russia and Thailand.
Twenty-six poor counties have got rid of the poverty label following the removal of Jinggangshan, East Chinas Jiangxi province, and Lankao, Central Chinas Henan province, from the poverty list in February.

Strict procedures and standards shall be followed when removing poverty-stricken areas from the list, said Xia Gengsheng, member of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Four targets have to be met to be removed from the list. First, people living in poverty should be less than 2 percent of the total population if the area is in the central region, and less than 3 percent if they are living in the western region. Second, people mischaracterized as non-poor population should be less than 2 percent of the total population. Third, the percentage of people who have been left out of the survey must be under 2 percent. Fourth, over 90 percent residents should agree that their place has been lifted out of poverty. All the 26 counties meet the targets.

Over 760 people from seven institutions including Renmin University were entrusted to conduct a field review and assessment on these counties one by one in July and August. Over 20,000 households in total were included, or around 1,000 households per county. The whole process was supervised by 65 experts from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Southwest University, serving as a third-party assessing institution, reviewed and assessed Nanbu county, southwestern Sichuan province. We used remote sensing, compared satellite imagery of the place from 2014 to 2016 and its geographical features, said Liao Heping, the university's professor. We focused on the relatively poor area with weak infrastructure.

Thorough assessments were carried out in all the counties, including remote areas. Low-income families, people with severe diseases, and those with bad housing were all included in sampling.

Great importance was paid to people living apart from their families, people living in remote areas, immigrants, and families with no labor force. The opinions of a wide range of people were consulted during the process. Over 1,400 questionnaires were handed out to cadres in villages and around 1,000 to cadres in counties.

We will continue to consolidate what we have achieved and make sure people who have just been lifted out poverty do not return to poverty again. Besides, we will strength poverty alleviation and help the rest shake off poverty, said Zhang Gensheng, county Party secretary of Nanbu county.

After they remove the title of impoverished county, we will continue to strictly examine and assess those counties, said Yang Lian, deputy director of the poverty alleviation groups evaluation division.

China plans to lift another 100 counties out of poverty this year.
The local government in Guizhou province plans to have some of its employees work on a more flexible schedule, according to a notice released on its official website.

The trial run of the program in Qingzhen, a city in the southwestern province, was launched on November 1 and will end on May 31. The timetable gives two options for employees. Some of them can work consecutively for 22 days and rest for eight days, while some can work in cycles of 11 days and rest for four days.

According to the notice, civil servants carrying out administrative work in departments such as bureau of civil affairs and family planning office will be offered the new schedule. And these people account for more than 80 percent of all civil servants in Qingzhen.

The total number of working days in a month cannot be lower than 22.

"The adjustment aims to benefit the majority of customers who usually work during weekdays. By using this rotating schedule, we can improve efficiency by ensuring our offices are open every day except holidays," said Li Zhengfei, deputy head of the organization department of the city's CPC Committee.

According to Li, most of the officials in Qingzhen usually sacrifice their weekends in emergency cases and can't get their holidays back. So this rotation system not only benefits customers but also guarantees that civil servants can enjoy their holidays without being disturbed.

Wang Xixin, a professor of administrative law from Peking University, said, "To make sure that this reform is successfull, we should ensure that it has a good purpose achieved by reasonable means. Moreover, the adjustment should obey the existing laws."

The guideline issued by the State Council said that normally employees should work eight hours per day, thus 40 hours per week. However, enterprises or authorities of special industry or situation can adjust working hours as needed.

"Though there is still no official document related to this new schedule, three towns using the flexible timetable have already reported encouraging results," Li said.
Ma Xinyang takes care of her father. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Every day, Ma Xinyang gets up at 5 in the morning.

After cooking a well-prepared breakfast, she feeds her father through tube before going to school.

Ma, 13, a second-year junior high school student in Wudalianchi No 2 Middle School, Heilongjiang province, began to take care of her father Ma Zhenlong after he suffered a serious traffic accident three years ago.

"My father stayed in hospital for seven months," said the girl. "Fortunately, his life was saved, but the doctor told my mother and me that he would remain in a vegetative state unless there was a miracle."

"We believe there will be a miracle," she added firmly.

The accident changed the life of the whole family.

The parents' beloved daughter grew up overnight.

"I was clear that I could no longer be a flower in the greenhouse. I should help my mother who carries the heavy burden of my family," she said.

She learned to cook, tidy the room and wash clothes.

She also picked up some nursing skills from the doctors and nurses when her father was in hospital.

"My daughter provides me great help and support," said Wang Changrong, the girl's mother. "Her father is in good condition even though he hasn't regained consciousness. His face is glowing and his weight has risen from 60 kilograms to 80 after leaving hospital."

All the extra work, however, has not disrupted the girl's studies. She continues to rank top in her grade.

"My father will be unhappy if I neglected my studies because of him," she said. "Therefore I have to double my efforts to get good results, which will be the best present for him."

Whenever she has some spare time, she shares some stories of her school with her father or reads to him.

"I like to read the stories my father read to me when I was a little girl, as they remind me of the happy memories of the past. I believe the days will be back soon." No matter how hard the life is, she keeps the smile on her face.

In the end of October, Ma was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Filial Piety Juvenile" by a public service activity hosted by CCTV.

She is the only one to have won the honor in the province.
BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has appointed two new ambassadors, upon approval from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, according to a statement by the national legislature.

Wang Ke was appointed ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, replacing Lyu Youqing.

Wei Qiang was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Panama.
More than 400 government officials, experts and industry leaders in digital transformation and high technology sectors from home and abroad gathered in Shanghai on Tuesday for the Global City Informatization Forum 2017.

During the forum, officials and experts shared different perspectives on a series of issues regarding the development of informatization around the world and the construction of smart cities and communities.

"There has been a new revolution in information technology in cities around the world and they must seize the opportunity to push forward the application of digital and Internet technologies in urban governance, industrial development and upgrading public service," said Ren Zhiwu, director of the department of high-tech industry under the National Development and Reform Commission.

"That will further elevate the attractiveness and competitiveness of cities and ensure their sustainable development," he added.

The forum, which aims to promote informatization and social advancement, has been held 11 times since 2000. It is organized by a number of entities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.
He Jian, one of China's most-wanted fugitives, has returned to the country after seven years to face charges of corruption, the Party's anti-graft watchdog said on Tuesday.

The suspect, a former senior manager for a real estate company in Hebei province, fled to Canada in 2010 after being accused of bribery, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Authorities quickly froze his assets to prevent him transferring money abroad.

Interpol issued red notices  international arrest warrants  for 100 Chinese fugitives in April 2015. So far, 49 have returned from 16 countries and regions, including five from Canada.

"No matter where these fugitives are, we will try every effort to arrest them and bring them back to face justice," the CCDI said on Tuesday.
China is ready to coordinate with Germany on a new round of consultations between the two governments to enhance pragmatic planning, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

Li made the remarks during a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two leaders spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations and cooperation between China and Germany over the past year. Li said China is willing to deepen high-level exchanges with Germany and take bilateral cooperation to a higher level and a wider range of sectors.

"China welcomes efforts by businesses from around the world, including Germany, to expand their investment in China and promote technological and knowledge cooperation," Li said. He said China is ready to create a level playing field for both foreign and domestic investors, giving full play to the role of the market, and to introduce more incentives for a win-win business environment.

The two countries have maintained good communication and coordination on important global issues, Li said.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of Sino-German diplomatic relations, Li said President Xi Jinping's state visit to Germany and his attendance at the G20 Summit in Hamburg in July were great successes. This year's annual prime ministers' meeting between China and Germany, which took place in Berlin in May, also had a fruitful outcome, he said.

Merkel said China and Germany have always been committed to developing bilateral ties. She said Germany is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China to facilitate trade and enhance coordination, and to start preparing a new round of consultation between the two governments at an early date.
China sees a clean environment as the path forward toward an upgraded industrial structure

President Xi Jinping has summed up China's strategy for economic restructuring as striving for both "green mountains and gold mountains". The strategy combines environmental protection with a broad plan to restructure industry toward higher value-added manufacturing, away from the old reliance on heavy industry, resource extraction and low-tech steel and coal production.

"Given China's realities, ecological and economic developments both are of great significance because ecological development helps economic development in the long run," Xi said at the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"The country should protect the environment like one protects one's eyes and treat the environment as one treats one's life," he stressed in May at a study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Often, environmental regulations are seen as just a necessary cost for the economy. China's strategy argues that a clean environment is the path forward toward an upgraded industrial structure. Far from being a cost, environmentally friendly pol-icy is a key opportunity. In other words, it pays to be green.

New higher-tech industries will not only produce the higher-quality products demanded by China's growing middle class. The shift toward investment in environmental protection could also allow many Chinese companies to gain a first-mover advantage in many innovative products that will be needed to improve the environment worldwide.

At the May study session, Xi said: "China has made historic social and economic achievements since reform and opening-up, which the country should be proud of. Rapid development has also left the country with environmental issues that need to be remedied through great efforts. To push green development and green lifestyles, the country should adopt a new development philosophy and correctly handle the relationship between economic development and environmental protection. China should firmly reject development models that damage or destroy the environment and bid farewell to practices that boost short-term economic growth at the cost of the environment."

This is consistent with the so-called Porter hypothesis. Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School argues that strict environmental regulation triggers the discovery and introduction of cleaner technologies and environmental improvements. Cost savings can more than compensate for both the compliance costs directly attributed to new regulations and the innovation costs. In addition, innovative companies can get a leg up on international competition.

The 19th CPC National Congress made clear that the administration sees implementation of this two-pronged economic strategy as a top priority. In his report to the congress on Oct 18, Xi mentioned the environment 89 times, as counted by Bloomberg - far more than any other subject. And he tied it to industrial restructuring: "We will move Chinese industries up to the medium-high end of the global value chain and foster a number of world-class advanced manufacturing clusters."

Since at least the 1980s, China has had anti-pollution regulations and environmental protection agencies at all levels of government. But during the decades of rapid economic transformation, the economy continued to be driven by heavily polluting industries such as coal, steel, cement, construction and cars. Many factories polluted with seeming impunity, and local governments gave priority to fast GDP growth of any kind. What has changed in the past five years?

Experts and practitioners in the field of environmental protection say that the leadership and systematic emphasis of Xi is a key transformative factor.

Yang Dongning, professor of economics at the Guanghua School of Management of Peking University, says: "Previous policies with a green focus were not systematic or consistent. When the pollution issue became very prominent, there would be 'storming' campaigns. But since the Xi administration started in 2013 and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) was approved, regulation has been systematic, rather than abrupt. Environmental inspection combined with Party discipline has led to very significant results."

Indu Bhushan, director-general for East Asia of the Asian Development Bank, says: "If you look at the policies and political commitment, it's right up there. President Xi talked about it five years ago, they have all the plans and targets in place. There is a lot of financing being put into it.

"Only a few years ago, ADB's work in China was largely focused on infrastructure. Now, if you look at our country program, there is not one single infrastructure project which is included only for infrastructure. The program is all about low-carbon development, green development, support for agriculture and for social sectors like preparing for an aging population and strengthening the social protection system. It is a huge change. When I was in China recently discussing our future program with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, they gave us 10 new projects - all related to the environment, climate change and social sectors," Bhushan added.

Similarly, Li Lailai, China country director of the World Resources Institute, says: "At the national level, the state leaders make a statement to the whole country, to the whole world. They created a framework within which practitioners like us can work to reach the goal. The statements in Xi Jinping's report are very important and significant. We practitioners need those statements."

Local efforts, obstacles

Chinese local government officials were long evaluated primarily on GDP growth rates, so environmental protection often was not a high priority. But GDP measures only monetary output. It does not take into account the quality or sustainability of the output. In addition, it ignores "negative externalities" that a complete accounting should subtract from production. Bhushan, of the ADB, says that studies conclude that accounting for pollution should lower China's GDP by 6 to 13 percent.

The new environmental protection law that went into effect on Jan 1, 2015, was a huge turning point. The new law was reviewed four times by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, while the government solicited feedback from environmental law experts, government bodies, local environmental protection bureaus and the public. The law created a much more powerful enforcement bureaucracy, held officials responsible for the environment and created formal channels for public participation in environmental protection.

Previously, local environmental protection bureaus reported to the local government and were dependent on local taxes for funding. Under the new law, they report to and are funded by higher levels of government.

Follow-on regulations in May 2015 mandated that all local officials be held responsible for environmental outcomes under their control. No longer just responsible for GDP growth, their promotions depend on the outcome of an in-depth environmental responsibility audit.

Li, of the World Resources Institute, says: "The most obvious change is environmental inspection. It is very large-scale and in-depth, involving so many people and the government at so many different levels. Institutionally, the vertical reporting system of the Environmental Protection Bureau helps enforcement. The new environment law of 2015 is one of the strictest in the world. It traces responsibilities not only to polluters, but also to investors and the government officials who approved the projects. They have responsibility no matter how much time has passed. Banks also need to be very cautious - they now require disclosure of environmental information."

There are still local pressures to support existing businesses and jobs. But some officials welcome the change and are finding innovative new approaches.

Yang, of PKU, points to the city of Jieyang, in South China's Guangdong province, which is a leading center for manufacturing stainless steel products. The city has around 4,000 stainless steel companies, with over 200,000 workers. Starting in 2013, the city government and an association of the companies worked together to build a new wastewater treatment center and acid treatment center. Now, many of the smaller, undercapitalized companies have closed and the others have moved toward higher-quality products that can command prices high enough to pay for the investment.

The city has now attracted investment from more than 30 high-tech environmental protection companies from Germany and other European countries. While some workers lost their jobs, many were hired by the upgraded factories and others received retraining assistance.

Another key problem is getting provinces to cooperate with each other. For example, much electricity generated by wind or solar power is wasted because provinces don't want to buy power from another province. China has made huge investments in wind and solar power, but about 17 percent of that capacity is curtailed. That is, it is not actually used, according to Greenpeace.

In 2016, Xu Jintao, professor of economics and associate dean at the National School of Development at Peking University, carried out a high-priority project for the NDRC to get to the bottom of the problem. He found that the boundaries between provinces and other administrative regions were the root cause. "The reality is that who gets what electricity is a decision of the provincial governments. It is very hard to break this provincial/local market," he said.

Similarly, the Asian Development Bank found that reducing pollution in rivers is difficult because upstream provinces may not have the incentive to invest the kind of money needed, since the negative affects mostly afflict downstream provinces. Bhushan of the ADB says the bank is now working on a framework called "equal compensation" under which provinces would share the costs.

There is an ongoing debate about the role of State-owned versus private enterprises, and large versus small companies, in the new upgraded economy. Some see large SOEs as being in a position to reform because they can invest the capital needed for new technology. Others emphasize that incentives to the private sector are key.

Xu, of PKU, argues: "We still have huge polluting industries that receive a subsidy amounting to about 1 percent of GDP. To change the industry structure, we need to remove all the subsidies and equalize the opportunities. We have huge discrimination against the private sector and small business". Xu especially welcomed the new tax on pollution, which will be implemented in January.

The fundamental restructuring of the economy is expected to be difficult, especially in North China, where many jobs and companies were built around the old economy.

Bhushan, of the ADB, says: "People being laid off from State-owned enterprises have been adequately supported in their transition out of their jobs. For SMEs and the informal sector, no such support system exists. The workers being laid off are not old enough to retire and they are not young enough to pick up other jobs without being reskilled. Here, China has to very seriously put in place retraining and redeployment plans.

"This is easier said than done, however. The kinds of skills required for the new economy are not easily acquired. One of the challenges China faces, which also came up in President Xi's address, is the increasing inequality. These people are the poster children of inequality - people who are being left behind in the growth process."

Focus on job creation

He Lifeng, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, says the economic growth target set for 2017 is both necessary and attainable. The target is necessary because job creation is an important task, he says, adding, "According to our experience, each percentage point of GDP growth will help create about 1.7 million jobs."

Li Ganjie, minister of environmental protection, says: "We are fully aware of the problems we are facing. Coal accounts for a high proportion of the overall energy mix. We have too many commodities transported by trucks. Some companies avoid emission control measures. Some local governments are not enforcing measures from the central government."

However, he says, environmental protection does not slow economic growth. "The ministry has closely tracked economic data of provinces that have launched environmental inspection, which showed that special measures to enforce environmental law have no negative impacts on economic growth. Those provinces even showed more sound growth momentum, including improved GDP, fiscal, foreign trade and employment rates," he says.

"Instead of harming economic development, environmental protection and green development thought, as explained by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping in his report to the Party congress, will further consolidate the economic growth foundation and achieve much more sustainable development," he adds.

davidblair@chinadaily.com.cn
KIEV -- China is playing an increasingly important role in global affairs, while the world needs to learn from Chinese President Xi Jinping's love of the people, said Ukrainian presidential advisor Igor Gryniv.

"Everyone understands that China is moving towards world leadership," the advisor to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a recent interview with Chinese reporters following the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Noting that China's development has made itself a key global player and created new opportunities for common development of all countries, Gryniv recalled Xi's attendance at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos in January, saying that China formed the agenda of the forum.

"A non-European country was a key topic of the European-held forum. And the keynote speaker ... at the European forum was the Chinese leader," said Gryniv, who is also a lawmaker and one of the most influential political scientists in Ukraine.

Moreover, the Ukrainian politician stressed that China's global influence goes beyond economy and politics, as the Chinese culture, including ancient wisdom, is also becoming more and more popular.

He said he personally is a big fan of "The Art of War" written by ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu and, as campaign manager, he used the philosophy in that book in Poroshenko's presidential race.

Ukraine, he said, wants to take advantages of the opportunities stemming from China's development and stands ready to share its own with China.

"Our gates are open to China and its European strategy," he said, "Ukraine is a good starting point for entering Europe."

Given China's current success, the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, a goal highlighted at the 19th CPC National Congress, is absolutely achievable, said the Ukrainian lawmaker.

China's inspiring domestic aspirations and increasing international influence are based on China's domestic achievements, which were ensured by the strong and wise Chinese leadership, he added.

"I know the biography of Chinese President Xi Jinping. I know the challenges that he had to go through during his life. This allows him to better understand his people and be a part of his nation," Gryniv said.

"We can learn from him that every leader should love his people, understand his people and breathe the same air as his people," he added.
SANAA, Yemen - The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen closed off the land, sea and air ports to the country on Monday after a rebel-fired ballistic missile targeted Riyadh.

The coalition's statement ramps up tensions between the Sunni kingdom and its Shiite neighbor Iran, both of which have interests in Yemen's yearslong conflict. The bloodshed continued on Sunday as an Islamic State-claimed militant attack in Aden killed at least 21 people.

In a statement, the coalition accused Iran of supplying Yemen's Houthi rebels and their allies with the missile launched on Saturday toward the Saudi capital's international airport.
The China-Belgium Technology Center, a future hi-tech business center launched in Louvain-la-Neuve in June last year, is the result of a partnership between the Hubei provincial government and the Walloon government in Belgium. And the China Culture Centre in Brussels, in which the Shanghai municipal government is a major player, is strengthening cultural ties between China and the European Union through its activities and programs.

During his visit to the Czech Republic, Yuan Jiajun, governor of Zhejiang province, pushed for a cooperation project with the local government to build a logistics and business park near a major railway station not far away from Prague, while Sichuan province has already inked an agreement to build an industrial zone in the Czech Republic, which is actively participating in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

These are just some of the projects that are part of the new trend of China's provincial and regional governments taking proactive measures to intensify the country's engagement and cooperation in global projects in recent years.
The exhibition Zhongguo 2185 hosted by the Sadie Coles HQ gallery has sparked interest in contemporary Chinese art in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A British art dealer says the audience for contemporary art in China is growing fast, especially in art hubs like Beijing and Shanghai, both of which she feels are 'accessible, receptive and open'. Lin Qi reports.

British dealer Sadie Coles, 54, is recognized as a "legend" and "highflier" in the highly competitive art market. The gallery owner from London says the drive, excitement and potential she feels about Shanghai reminds her of Berlin in the 1990s.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German capital was a flourishing art market, and a gathering of galleries and international artists pushed it to the forefront of the contemporary art world.

So it is with the art market in Shanghai, which Coles describes as "solid and serious".

"Shanghai has many private institutions and initiatives that offer a variety of platforms for artists, for exhibitions and for audiences," Coles says in an email interview.

She adds the audience is "engaged and highly inquisitive".

Coles' impression is based on her experiences at West Bund Art & Design.
A portrait of US President Donald Trump is part of Serrano's America series on display in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

What does the phrase "Made in China" represent? US artist Andres Serrano tries to give an answer with a distinctly red hue in An American Perspective, his first solo show in China, which features his most recent Made in China series.

The show, which opened on Saturday at the Red Brick Art Museum, a private museum in Beijing, presents 53 large-format photographs and video works from his 16 major series, including a portrait of US President Donald Trump, shot in 2004, as part of his America series.

The New York-based artist spent about half a month in Beijing this summer producing his Made in China series, in which he shot portraits of Chinese people from all walks of life dressed in wedding gowns.

"The individuals in my works are visual symbols that I use to explore identity and cultural diversity. The wedding gowns refer to China's tradition, love and marriage, and the country's glorious past," says Serrano, adding that he has Chinese blood because his great great-grandfather was Cuban-Chinese.

He invited newly-married couples, waitresses, cooks, villagers, street cleaners, single men and women, and divorced people of different ages and social backgrounds to take part in his work on Chinese marriage.
US President Donald Trump (L, Front) speaks to the media before boarding Marine One departing the White House for Joint Base Andrews, in Washington DC, the United States, on Nov 3, 2017. Trump started his Asia trip on Friday to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. [Photo/Xinhua]

US President Donald Trump's first state visit to China is expected to improve Sino-US relations, but we should not have very high expectations from the visit.

To begin with, Trump's visit to China is part of his overall trip to Asia. His first stop was Japan, from where he flew to the Republic of Korea. And after his three-day visit to China beginning Wednesday, Trump will leave for Vietnam and the Philippines to take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, respectively. Trump's itinerary shows he is visiting Asia to win assurances from regional leaders and promote his "America First" policy in trade.

His visit to China comes two weeks after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, where General Secretary Xi Jinping announced that the country had stepped into a "New Era". The new era has seen China move closer to global center stage and thus its goal of achieving the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. Therefore, it's safe to say the Chinese economy will remain stable, and further development will create more economic opportunities.

Last year, China-US direct bilateral investment was more than $60 billion, a record high, and during the past 10 years the average annual growth rate of US exports to China was 11 percent, much higher than the average growth rate of total US exports of only 4 percent.

Whether China and the US will jointly explore potential future opportunities in such areas as infrastructure, financial services, energy, green technology, cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence depends on the two sides' good intentions and the new type of international relations.

Xi has reiterated that China will stick to its opening-up policy, and break new ground in pursuing opening-up on all fronts. However, while opening its markets further to the world, including the US, Beijing will hope Washington to accord fair treatment to Chinese companies' investments in the US, as well as ease restrictions on high-tech exports, reduce the Committee on Foreign Investment's interference, and desist from using political considerations when evaluating foreign investment.

In his report to the 19th Party Congress on Oct 18, Xi said: "China will never pursue development at the expense of others' interests, but nor will China ever give up its legitimate rights and interests. No one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interest." Accordingly, China will follow its reform and opening-up policy, and actively participate in and promote globalization.

Indeed, China wants to share its economic development dividends with the world, including the US, but it won't open its markets without conditions.

The author is a research fellow at and director of the Division of American Economic Studies at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
The 12th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair opens in grand style on Oct 30 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhu Ying/ qingdaonews.com]

The China-Belgium Technology Center, a future hi-tech business center launched in Louvain-la-Neuve in June last year, is the result of a partnership between the Hubei provincial government and the Walloon government in Belgium. And the China Culture Centre in Brussels, in which the Shanghai municipal government is a major player, is strengthening cultural ties between China and the European Union through its activities and programs.

During his visit to the Czech Republic, Yuan Jiajun, governor of Zhejiang province, pushed for a cooperation project with the local government to build a logistics and business park near a major railway station not far away from Prague, while Sichuan province has already inked an agreement to build an industrial zone in the Czech Republic, which is actively participating in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

These are just some of the projects that are part of the new trend of China's provincial and regional governments taking proactive measures to intensify the country's engagement and cooperation in global projects in recent years.

With the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, China's provinces have accelerated their efforts to connect with other parts of the world. They have cooperated with regional governments in Europe, offering timely help to strengthen private-public partnership in order to build industrial parks, business hubs or cultural centers.

One typical example is the growing number of freight trains linking China's different cities and European destinations. Now, 12 European countries, including the United Kingdom and Portugal, are linked with 34 cities in different Chinese provinces by freight trains.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows full well the importance of provincial governments' engagement in the country's economic and cultural cooperation with the rest of the world. Since last year, it has organized regular fairs and platforms to promote China's provinces and autonomous regions, especially those from the western part of the country, to the foreign embassies and international organizations in Beijing.

The ministry has even said the schedule for next year's promotion activities is already complete.

Now that the central government has decided to deepen international cooperation, it is essential for provincial governments to follow up the policy and offer services, channels and even new initiatives for businesses and investors.

The signals from the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China indicate China will continue its opening-up policy and intensify its cooperation with the rest of the world.

It is expected that in the coming two or three years, the aspirations and passions of provincial governments to deepen cooperation with foreign countries will get a more concrete shape, providing businesses with better and growing opportunities.

European countries should take this opportunity to realize the full potential of cooperation with China. To achieve better results, China and the EU should coordinate and channel their cooperation. And a more detailed guideline for cooperation would make the exercise easier.

Since many EU states have relatively small populations, they need not to explore cooperation opportunities in every province. Instead, they could pair up with one Chinese province. For example, Zhejiang, one of China's economic powerhouses could pair up with Germany, and Sichuan with Greece. In this way, cooperation can be more focused and the results realized faster.

Most of China's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have long industry chains and manufacturing capacities. They also have a strong intention to invest abroad, and their residents are keen to travel overseas.

Besides, an estimated 600 pairs of European and Chinese cities have already entered into sister partnerships. And to deepen such relations and make them more economically effective is a challenge that China and the EU have to meet together.

The author is deputy chief of China Daily European Bureau.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
An employee works at a JD.com logistic centre in Langfang, Hebei province.[Photo/Agencies]

At its recent session, the National People's Congress, the top legislature, passed a revised antitrust competition law, which stipulates that retailers will be fined up to 2 million yuan ($301,500) if they delete adverse online comments about their quality or services, or fabricate false sales figures.

This is a timely move to stop sales fraud by online retailers as Singles Day, the annual e-shopping carnival in China held on Nov 11, is approaching. Some e-tailers take advantage of the shopping festival to make profits by cheating consumers.

Consumers rely on the online comments to select their purchases and who they buy them from. However, this practice is sometimes taken advantage of by some online sellers. Deleting negative reviews and boosting the credit rankings for e-retailers has even become a gray business. Such kind of dishonesty, if not effectively addressed, seriously compromises consumers' right to know and also harms the interests of honest e-tailers. So the newly revised antitrust competition law that stipulates harsher punishments for such malpractices is expected to better safeguard consumers' interests and promote the healthy development of the country's e-commerce sector.

However, to draw up a law is one thing, to promote its enforcement to the letter is another. The relevant departments have warned of severe penalties against dishonest behavior by online retailers in the past, but the lack of any strict implementation has meant there is no deterrent against such misdeeds.

The lack of due honesty among e-tailers has been a long-term, complicated and arduous issue, and its solution hinges on the authorities' firmer determination to put a stop to it. A fine as high as 2 million yuan against violators is an unbearable price for many e-shops, but only by enforcing it will it restore the dented public confidence in e-shopping.

-YANZHAO METROPOLIS DAILY
A grandfather tells stories to his granddaughter at a library in Beijing on the International Children's Book Day, which falls on April 2 every year. [Photo by Wang Jing/Asianewsphoto]

YUZHANG SCHOOL, which described itself as a youngster behavior-correction institution in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, is embroiled in a scandal as some of its previous pupils claimed online that they were illegally beaten and shut in a small, dark room for days by the school. After probing, local authorities said the beatings did take place and they will punish those responsible. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

The school has always claimed to be following traditional Chinese culture. On the school's official website, they introduced their own programs for "training traditional Chinese culture teachers" nationwide.

The school even had a sculpture of Confucius in its yard and ordered "trainees" to bow and kneel before it every morning.

They claimed, "Modern society does not tolerate corporal punishment enough, which is part of traditional Chinese culture."

Yuzhang School was abusing traditional Chinese culture when they beat students in its name. Take Confucius whom they worship as an example. A founding figure of traditional Chinese culture, Confucius left the world hundreds of quotes about education, yet none of them advocates physical punishment. Instead, Confucius said that teaching should be a process of setting an example and letting students learn with the heart, not coercing them to learn using force.

On the basis of Confucius and other leading cultural figures, traditional Chinese culture features values that are compatible with today's world, namely tolerance, harmony and a good society. None of them has anything to do with beating or other physical punishment.

Besides abusing traditional Chinese culture, Yuzhang School and some of its staff are also suspected of breaking the law because they were reported to beat and illegally shut the students in dark rooms. Now that the school has already been shut down, we expect the local police and procuratorate to further investigate and hold accountable anyone found to have committed any wrongdoing.
Old-age support in rural areas is a great challenge. According to media reports, Pingluo county in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region plans to introduce a new land for pension scheme for local residents.

The new model not only aims to explore a new old-age support system in rural areas, but also intends to broaden the land transfer channels for rural families.

But the overall amount of collective construction land of rural residents is calculated to be as high as 20 billion hectares. If even a small part of this land is traded, there will be a huge amount of old-age support fund. The problem is that a majority of land in the farmers' hands cannot be transferred due to the laws and regulations.

According to the new arrangement, farmers give their house ownership, land for home use right, land contract and management right to the government, and they will get compensation accordingly.

To achieve the sustainability of the policy and guarantee the fairness and equality of trade, more players should be incorporated in the new "land-for-pension" model, especially private capital.
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A man pushes his motorcycle along flooded road after typhoon Damrey hits Vietnam in Hue city, Vietnam Nov 5, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

DANANG, Vietnam - The death toll from a typhoon and ensuing floods in Vietnam reached 61 on Monday and the government said some reservoirs were dangerously near capacity after persistent rain.

Typhoon Damrey tore across central Vietnam at the weekend just days before the region is due to host the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

Vietnam's Search and Rescue Committee said 61 people had been killed and 28 were recorded as missing. It said some of the victims were in vessels that capsized at sea. Others were killed in landslides. It did not give a full breakdown.

More than 2,000 homes had collapsed and more than 80,000 had been damaged, it said. Roads that had been flooded or washed away caused traffic jams across several provinces.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an emergency meeting on the disaster. Ministers said that because some dams were so full, water might need to be released to relieve pressure -potentially worsening flooding downstream.

Reuters
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela in Beijing, capital of China, Nov 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China and Finland on Monday agreed to further lift bilateral ties through pragmatic cooperation and enhancing exchanges between legislative bodies.

The pledge came as Finnish Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and held talks with Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang in Beijing.

Li told Lohela China had always adhered to a policy of mutual respect and equality, which was an important principle in safeguarding world peace and multiculturalism.

He said China was willing to enhance cooperation in the areas that Finland had advantages, such as innovation, clean energy, environmental protection and vocational education.

Lohela said Finland was ready to work with China to take a long-term perspective to develop bilateral ties.

During her talks with Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), later on Monday, Lohela was briefed by Zhang on the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Calling Finland a major Nordic country and EU member, Zhang said he hoped Finland could exert a positive influence on the development of China-EU relations.

He suggested the NPC and the Finnish Parliament intensify exchanges at various levels to enhance mutual understanding and political trust.

"The two legislatures need to create a better policy and legal environment for the economic cooperation on key areas of innovation, green development and coordinated development," Zhang said.

He also called for closer cultural exchanges and local cooperation.

Lohela said Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Finland last April consolidated and lifted bilateral ties.

"The Finnish Parliament is willing to work with the NPC to create a sound environment for bilateral cooperation in areas of economy and trade, culture, tourism, small and medium enterprises investment from a new starting point," she said.

Lohela is here for a six-day visit, which started Sunday, at the invitation of Zhang.
TOKYO - A serial killer dubbed Japan's "black widow" was given a death sentence on Tuesday for murders of three men including her husband and attempting murder of another.

The Kyoto District Court sentenced 70-year-old Chisako Kakehi to death, who had been accused of killing her husband and two lovers by tricking them into drinking cyanide so as to get insurance money and inherit their assets.

"It was a heinous crime driven by greed for money. The death sentence cannot be avoided even after fully taking into account dementia and other factors," Presiding Judge Ayako Nakagawa was quoted as saying in the ruling.

The defense lawyers had tried to acquit Kakehi, arguing that there was not enough physical evidence and that Kakehi could not be held responsible for her dementia.

The court, however, stressed that Kakehi did not suffer dementia when she committed the last crime in December 2013.

The defense lawyers said they will appeal the ruling to a higher court.

Kakehi was first arrested in November 2014 in Kyoto Prefecture and was indicted a month later on suspicion of murdering her husband Isao, with cyanide. The couple had been married for just one month when Isao was fatally poisoned.

Kakehi was later indicted in connection with the death of a couple of her lovers.

According to media reports, Kakehi started her first marriage at the age of 24 and founded a fabric printing company. Following the death of her first husband in 1994, however, her company went bankrupt and her house was put up for sale.

Kakehi later registered herself with a number of matchmaking services, where she specified that she was looking for men owning land or property, having no children, elderly and living alone.

Kakehi allegedly received around 1 billion yen in insurance and other payouts from assets over ten years, following the deaths of four of her late partners, including Isao and a host of other lovers.

The woman used the inheritance to buy risky stocks and also invested in dodgy real estate, the reports said, adding that she had lost most of her acquired wealth and got into debt on ill-advised investments.
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Michel Temer said Monday that he will keep on working to get the social security reform approved, even if Brazilian society opposes it.

In a meeting with coalition leaders, Temer said reforming the social security system is an urgent matter.

"The social security reform is not mine, (it) is not a personal matter, it is a shared subject, of the government. If, in a certain moment, society does not want it, media does not want it, and (also) the parliament, which naturally echoes the voices of the society, so be it. I will keep on working for it, because I am certain of its importance," he said.

The president said the social security reform will be an important ending for a series of reforms his government has launched, and will help curb unemployment and increase government investments.

However, the controversial reform has met with criticism even inside Temer's large coalition, making it harder for it to be approved in a timely fashion, especially this year, as the government hopes.

While the government says the reform will help tackle a huge deficit in the social security system, ensuring that the next generations are able to collect their retirement pensions, the opposition holds that the calculations showing a deficit in the system are fraudulent.
US President Donald Trump (R Center) and his wife Melania Trump (L Center) arrive at the Osan Air Base in South Korea Nov 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in personally greeted US President Donald Trump at a US military base in South Korea on Tuesday as the US leader began his two-day state visit to the country.

Trump, on the second stop of his 12-day Asian tour, landed around noon at the Osan Air Base outside of the capital Seoul and was greeted by Kang Kyung-hwa, the foreign minister of South Korea.

Then he flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a newly renovated US military base in Pyeongtaek, about 40 km south of Seoul, where President Moon personally greeted Trump at the base.

Local media outlets described it as an exceptional protocol toward Trump as Moon was originally planned to welcome the US leader at his office, the Blue House in Seoul.

The two leaders had a lunch together with service members of both South Korea and the US Forces Korea (USFK) at Camp Humphreys, which is seen as the world's largest overseas army base of the US military.

South Korea's government reportedly contributed to over 90 percent of $10.7 billion of costs to construct the US base.

President Moon told the service members that they are the cornerstone and future for the South Korea-US alliance, asking them to build peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia together.

"Today is a very historic day," Moon said in a live broadcast offered online by the Blue House. The president noted that Tuesday marked the first day in history the leaders of South Korea and the United States visited the US military base together to pat the service members of the allies on the back.

Trump was briefed on security situations on the Korean Peninsula, and flew by helicopter to hold a summit meeting with Moon at the Blue House.

Moon separately flew by chopper to his office in Seoul.
By AN BAIJIE in Beijing and ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-08 06:28

A musician teaches US students about the guzheng, or Chinese zither, during an event at the Chinese Consulate General in New York in May. Culture is just one of the areas in which China and the United States have close relations. WANG YING / XINHUA

The first state visit of US President Donald Trump to China, which starts on Wednesday, is expected to be a "historic" success with joint efforts made by the two nations, senior diplomats of both sides said.

The three-day visit will provide opportunities for President Xi Jinping and Trump to exchange in-depth views on issues that concern both sides, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

The visit is of great significance in pushing forward the steady development of Sino-US relations in the new era and promoting the prosperity of not only the Asia-Pacific region but also the world, she said.

Terry Branstad, US ambassador to China, said on Monday that the meeting between the two presidents will be helpful in resolving "thorny issues".

"There is a lot of excitement and feelings that this could be very historic and significant for the Trump-Xi meeting here," he said in a group interview, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"I think the chemistry between the two leaders is good, and that bodes well. If the two leaders can get along well and work out some of the differences, hopefully that can help the rest of us to work things out well," he said.

Hailing the frequent interaction between Xi and Trump, Branstad said that meetings between the two leaders have been helpful in addressing sticking points.

Since Trump took office in January, the two leaders have maintained close contact. They already have had two face-to-face meetings and eight phone conversations.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said last week that China will welcome Trump with arrangements constituting a "state visit-plus". Hua, the spokeswoman, declined to provide more details. Previous news reports said that Xi will invite Trump to visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City.

Earlier media reports said that a 29-company business delegation, led by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, will travel with Trump.

Branstad also said a number of memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during Trump's visit, covering manufacturing, energy and other sectors.

Trump's visit marks the first by a head of state to China after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month.

Analysts said the visit will provide good opportunities for the top leaders of both nations, especially some senior leaders newly elected after the Party's congress, to have in-depth talks over major issues concerning both sides.

Senior Chinese leaders, including Ding Xuexiang, director of the Chinese President's Office; Liu He, director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs; and State Councilor Yang Jiechi are likely to attend the meeting. All three are members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

J. Stapleton Roy, former US ambassador to China, said he hoped Trump's first visit to China would be "historic".

Roy said that if the United States is prepared to give something and China is prepared to give something there would be a good outcome.

"It takes two to tango," Roy added.

B.R. Deepak, a professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said trade and Korean Peninsula nuclear issues are believed likely to "dominate the agenda" during Trump's visit.

"I remain optimistic as regards both issues," he said, adding that the US and China will conclude some win-win trade deals conducive to enhancing the strategic trust between them.

"In fact, the consensus reached between President Trump and President Xi has been strengthened over time through frequent communication between them over the phone, and it is believed that both have developed a good chemistry and rapport," he said.
The meetings between US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, the next one scheduled for Wednesday, have been helpful in solving "thorny issues", Washington's top envoy to Beijing said on Monday.

"There is a lot of excitement and feelings that this could be very historic and significant for the Trump-Xi meeting here," US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad said on Monday, two days ahead of Trump's arrival in Beijing.

"I think the chemistry between the two leaders is good, and that bodes well. If the two leaders can get along well and work out some of the differences, hopefully that can help the rest of us to work things out well," he said in a group interview, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Since Trump took office in January, the two leaders have maintained close contact. They already have had two face-to-face meetings, eight phone conversations and multiple message-exchanges on issues of common concern, Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said last week.

Hailing the frequent interaction between Xi and Trump, Branstad said that meetings between the two leaders were helpful in addressing sticking points.

As is widely anticipated, the Korean Peninsula issue and bilateral trade would be atop Trump's agenda during his Nov 8-10 state visit to China.

Earlier media reports said that a 29-company business delegation, led by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, will travel with Trump.

Of the companies, 10 are involved in liquefied natural gas or other energy fields, increasing prospects for deals on LNG between the two economic powers, some of which already have happened.

Branstad also said a number of MOUs are expected to be signed during Trump's visit, covering manufacturing, energy and some other sectors.

"We want to advance economic cooperation and prosperity in America as well as in China," Branstad said. "We want to build on the progress and success that we already had to improve the relationship between our two countries."

Despite the US' anticipation of solving issues, including the trade deficit, Cui said Beijing is preparing for a "significant economic outcome" for Trump's visit, but cautioned that "some of the concerns will not be 100 percent or totally resolved with just one visit".

David M. Lampton, director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, said the "absolute litmus test" for Trump is to come back with something that looks good economically, which is the key to domestic politics.

"Of course, in terms of security, he's got to find a way forward on North Korea," the former president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations told China Daily.

David Dollar, a senior fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said the Korean Peninsula and trade had been the two "really key issues" at the four cabinet-level dialogues between China and the US held from June to early October, which were a prelude to the Xi-Trump summit.

"I think the two countries are cooperating pretty well on DPRK, and I think perhaps China is ready to make some opening moves on the trade side, but I wouldn't really expect anything big," Dollar said.

Dollar said that after the Party Congress, China might be ready to open up some of its financial services industries.

In his address at the opening of the landmark 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last week, Xi pledged to ease market access to services, availing the sector more to foreign companies.

Yukon Huang, former World Bank China director, said conventional economic wisdom about China is usually wrong, including claims that China was to blame for the US' huge trade deficit and job losses.

"The message for a Trump-Xi meeting will be something like this: President Trump, you are concerned about jobs in the US, you focus on bilateral trade, but in fact that's not the issue. You worry about American manufacturers investing a lot in China and leading to job losses at home, but in fact it is very little. That's not the issue," Huang told China Daily.

"The issue is that your service companies don't have as much access to China as would be sensible, sensible for the US, sensible for China," said Huang, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

But official data show that the US already had logged a trade surplus in services with China.

Last year, the US trade surplus with China in services reached $55.7 billion, which is 40 times the amount of 2006, according to the Research Report on China-US Economic and Trade Relations, released by China's Ministry of Commerce in May.

J. Stapleton Roy, former US ambassador to China, said he hoped Trump's first visit to China would be "historic". But the question is the Trump administration is in a "truly unique" situation in that a large number of key policy positions remain unfilled.

"I can tell you that the Chinese have things they're prepared to do, but they are having difficulty in advance of the trip getting any indications of what the US side will do," Roy told China Daily. "That's not good not because of a strategy of uncertainty; it's because you can't send an instruction unless you have agreement on your side, and they don't have agreement on the US side."

Roy said that if the Americans are prepared to give something, the Chinese are prepared to give something, and that would be a good outcome.

"It takes two to tango," Roy added.

huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
Beijing says deliverables aside, it is moving toward easier market access

When US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing on Wednesday, exactly a year after he was elected, he will be bringing with him key cabinet members and a delegation of top US business executives.

He will talk with President Xi Jinping on several key issues, notably the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the bilateral economic and trade relationship. And he also will be witnessing the signing of major business deals ranging from energy to agriculture.

Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador in Washington, said there will be significant "deliverables" on the economic and trade front during Trump's visit.

Those "deliverables" are expected to narrow the bilateral trade deficits, which Trump has been concerned with long before he started his presidential campaign.

Shortly before he embarked on his 11-day Asia trip, Trump described the US trade deficits with China as "horrible" and "embarrassing" while praising his good working relationship and personal relationship with President Xi.

Trade deficit

The bilateral trade deficit in 2016 hit $347 billion, according to the US Commerce Department. But according to China's General Administration of Customs, it was $251 billion, a gap of $96 billion.

The US takes in 16 percent of China's exports, making it the largest importer of Chinese products. China is the third-largest export market for both goods and services for the US. The US ran a surplus of $37.6 billion in services trade with China in 2016.

Apart from the numbers, China has argued that while it enjoys an overall surplus, the US reaps the most dividends.

A report by China's Ministry of Commerce in May showed that 59 percent of the surplus in the trade of goods is contributed by foreign-funded ventures in China, and 61 percent comes from processing trade, for which China retains meager fees.

A typical example raised is the assembly of Apple's iPhones in China. Their assembly accounts for roughly 2 percent of the phones' value. Most key components and value are supplied by companies in the US, Japan, South Korea and Germany. But in counting imports, the US uses the wholesale value.

Most economists agree that China's trade surplus with the US in the past two decades was largely due to the fact China has become the assembly line of East Asia, as companies in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan moved their production to the Chinese mainland.

As a result, the US trade deficit with China grew, but its overall trade deficit with East Asia has not changed much.

Economists believe that the bilateral trade deficit does not matter, and a trade deficit has more to do with fiscal policy. The US has been running trade deficits since the mid-1970s. In 2016, the US had trade deficits with 99 countries.

Martin Feldstein, a professor of economics at Harvard University who chaired President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisors, also noted that foreign import barriers and export subsidies are not the reason for the US trade deficit.

"The real reason is that Americans are spending more than they produce," he wrote in an article on Project Syndicate.

"The overall trade deficit is the result of the saving and investment decisions of US households and businesses. The policies of foreign governments affect only how the deficit is divided among American trade partners."

China's concerns

Cui said that China does not seek trade surpluses.

To boost the country's imports, the Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal Government will launch the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from Nov 5-10, 2018.

China also has called on the US to further remove export restrictions on high-tech products for civilian use as a way to increase fair trade and expand US exports. Much of the US export-control regime was formulated in the Cold War era and is believed to be no longer relevant in today's world.

Vice-Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang on Nov 3 expressed that the way to resolve the trade imbalance is to expand US exports to China and facilitate bilateral investment, rather than restrict US imports from China. "Both sides will lose in a trade war," he said.

While Zheng did not specify, the message is seen as reflecting China's displeasure with a US announcement in August of a Section 301 investigation into China's policies and practices on intellectual property. Section 301 under the US Trade Act of 1974 is regarded by many as outdated and inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules.

China also protested a US Commerce Department decision on Oct 27 to impose preliminary import duties on aluminum foil from China from 96.81 percent to 162.24 percent.

"It not only hurts the interests of Chinese companies but also dents the seriousness and authority of multilateral rules," said a statement posted on the Ministry of Commerce website.

China said that starting on Dec 11, 2016, 15 years after China's accession to the WTO, the US can no longer conduct anti-dumping probes against imports from China under the "analogue country methodology", calculating the value of products based on the costs of production in a third country. China has repeatedly demanded that the US fulfill its obligation to recognize China as a market economy.

On the investment front, China also has demanded fair treatment of Chinese investors in the US. Cui expressed China's dissatisfaction by saying that the US has used unspecified national security issues as an excuse to block Chinese investment in the US.

"If this is the trend, it should be a concern for us," Cui said on Oct 30.

US concerns

US officials, from Trump to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, have repeatedly talked about a fair, balanced and reciprocal trade relationship with China.

Senior White House officials expressed that progress on a range of bilateral economic issues with China has become increasingly difficult.

"We believe this reflects a slowdown and even a retreat in China's move toward a market-oriented economy," the senior official said on Oct 31 in a background briefing about Trump's Asia trip.

The official used the word "predatory" to describe China's trade and investment practices, and said Trump will continue to push China to follow through on commitment that it has made recently and also when it joined the WTO to take steps toward a more market-oriented economy.

Market access, technology transfer and intellectual property rights are some of the key issues raised by the US side over the years.

"People tend to think that China is an authoritarian country, therefore if the leader snaps fingers, things will happen," said Colin Grabow, a trade analyst at the Cato Institute.

Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution and a former Obama administration official concerned with China policy, noted the decreasing leverage on the US side, saying "China's dependence on the US market for its exports is not what it once was".

"When measured by value added, Chinese exports to the United States account for only 3 percent of its GDP. This figure will continue to decline as China's growth model becomes less export-dependent and more concentrated around domestic sources of growth," Hass wrote on the Brookings website ahead of Trump's visit.

Speaking in New York on Oct 25, Ross said the US is seeking "immediate" results and "tangible" agreements on trade with China during Trump's visit. He indicated that results on key issues such as market access, intellectual property rights and tariffs are more complex and may take longer to negotiate.

Progress

Unlike the days in the 2016 presidential campaign when Trump threatened a 45 percent punitive tariff on imports from China and to label it a currency manipulator, few people are now as worried about a trade war between the world's two largest economies as they were a year ago.

Stapleton Roy, a former US ambassador to China, Singapore and Indonesia, expressed disappointment in what he called the Trump administration's lack of a China policy after 10 months in office, saying "the policy people have not been appointed".

He said President Xi used the spring Mar-a-Lago summit in Florida to forge a personal relationship between the two men that helps to stabilize the relationship. "And that's very important," Roy said.

At Mar-a-Lago, the two sides agreed on a 100-day action plan in economic cooperation and also launched four dialogue mechanisms, including the first Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, held in Washington in July.

Despite some points of contention inside the White House on how to deal with China on trade, Roy believes both presidents want this to be a successful visit.

Cui admitted that disputes will only grow with a growing trade and investment relationship between the two countries, but he stressed that that is only small part of the economic relationship.

"These disputes should be handled in a very constructive and pragmatic manner, so it will not undermine the overall economic relationship," said Cui, adding that some issues will not be solved in one visit.

Zheng, the vice-foreign minister, dismissed the concern of a lack of economic reform in China, saying the recent 19th CPC National Congress pledged to deepen supply-side reforms, further open up to the outside world, implement high-standards trade and investment-facilitation policies and greatly reduce restrictions on market access.

"These measures will provide great opportunities for China to conduct mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with other countries, including the United States," he said.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Despite US President Donald Trump's lambasting of a variety of trade deals, experts believe that a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between China and the United States could still be concluded in the coming years.

China and the US accelerated BIT negotiations in the last two years of the Obama administration but still fell short of reaching an agreement.

Colin Grabow, a policy analyst at Washington-based Cato Institute, said the good news was that US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer has not shut the door on the BIT, but indicated that there were still some issues to clear up before moving on to a BIT.

"So they can move on these issues maybe the US and China can get the BIT done by the end of Trump's four years," Grabow told China Daily ahead of Trump's trip to Asia. "That would be nice to see."

Workers install wiring in an electric bus at a BYD factory in Lancaster, California, in September 2016. Zhang Chaoqun / Xinhua

Asked at his confirmation hearing in March whether the Trump administration would pursue negotiations with China for a BIT, Lighthizer said the Trump administration places a high priority on utilizing a broad range of tools to ensure that China treats the US, its exports and companies fairly with respect to trade and investment.

"We will be reviewing the full range of potential tools, including the US-China bilateral investment treaty negotiation, to assess the best path for the administration to achieve this objective," he said.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the US-China Business Council (USCBC) in June that a BIT with China is on the Trump administration's agenda, even though it isn't a top priority.

The Trump administration, after withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has been busy renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS, as well as re-examining other trade deals that Trump described as "horrible" or a "disaster".

Mireya Solis, David Dollar and Jonathan Stromseth of the Brookings Institution noted in an Asia economic policy paper for Trump's trip that it would not be easy to reach a BIT with China, but continuing the negotiations was important.

In past years, the USCBC, which represents more than 200 US companies doing business in China, has called on both the Obama and the Trump administrations to conclude a BIT with China.

A BIT would provide protection for both countries' foreign investment. While US companies would gain greater access to the Chinese market, especially in the services sector, the growing number of Chinese investors would also enjoy fair treatment in the US.

According to a report by New York-based Rhodium Group and the National Committee on US-China Relations, the annual growth of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the US averaged 32 percent from 2010 to 2015. In 2016, it jumped to $46 billion, a 200 percent increase from the previous record in 2015.

The report shows that Chinese-owned companies directly employ 141,000 American workers. The numbers for indirect employment are estimated in the tens of thousands.

US governors and mayors have shown great enthusiasm for wooing Chinese investors. But politicians in Washington often politicize Chinese FDI.

In a press briefing on Oct 30 on Trump's trip to China, Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai complained that the US often uses unspecified national security as an excuse to block Chinese investment. "Is this going from opening up towards going backward?" he asked.

Cui's concerns are widely shared. Daniel Rosen and Thilo Hanemann of the Rhodium Group, which monitors Chinese FDI in the US, wrote in a report on Nov 3 that deal risk is magnified by the complex political mix that has been stirred up in Washington.

The report said businesses are reporting with increasing frustration that the national security reviews at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency panel that reviews the national security implications of foreign investments, are taking much longer than before, with the greatest impact on Chinese investors.

Meanwhile, the US Congress is considering new legislation to increase CFIUS scrutiny and expand its scope, in response to perceived security risks related to Chinese high-tech investments.

Lawmakers leading this effort, including John Cornyn, a US senator from Texas, intend to introduce bills for debate in the coming weeks, according to the Rhodium report.

"The economic nationalists who shaped the messages which got Trump elected are highly allergic to Chinese FDI, no matter how private and low-tech," the report said.

In its annual report to Congress published in September, CFIUS said Chinese deals made up 29 percent of the 143 transactions it reviewed in 2015, the highest number among all nations.

On Sept 13, Trump issued an executive order blocking investment firm Canyon Bridge Capital, which involves Chinese investors, from acquiring US firm Lattice Semiconductor Corp out of concerns for national security.

The case marked the fourth time in 30 years that a US president has blocked a transaction out of national security concerns. All four cases have involved Chinese investors.

Rosen and Thiloman of Rhodium said that in their upcoming meetings, Trump and Xi could help clear up some of the uncertainties and re-establish a positive momentum for two-way FDI flow.

"Chinese FDI should be welcomed," said Grabow. "There is legitimate national concern, but unfortunately in this country, we also have a history of using national security as a cover for protectionism."

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Deciding for Christ

In the fall of 1958, Billy Graham returned to his hometown, Charlotte, North Carolina, for a five-week crusade. He was just thirty-nine years old, but he already had ten years experience preaching around the world to the largest crowds ever to hear an evangelist. By the time of the Charlotte crusade, he knew exactly what to do at the end of his half-hour sermon. With the organ softly playing the hymn Just As I Am, he closed with these words:

Im going to ask all of you in this building to get up out of your seat right now.  And say tonight, I want Christ.  I want him to fill my life. I want him to help solve my problems and forgive my sins and lift my burdens. I want him to come in and be closer than a brother. I want him to come in and help me and forgive me and cleanse me.  Im going to ask you to come right now.  Now you come, quickly.

Nearly a half-century later, an eighty-seven-year-old Graham was in Baltimore where he gave one of his last public sermons. With the piano softly playing Just As I Am, he ended by saying,

Im going to ask you to do something that weve seen thousands of people do in different parts of the world. Im going to ask you to say, I do want my life to change. I want to be certain that if I die Ill go to heaven. Im going to ask you to come and make this decision. Make certain that you know Christ as your Lord and Savior. You may want to rededicate your life. You come.

Thus, Billy Graham concluded his sermons with more or less the same words for more than sixty years. He invited his listeners to get out of their seats and come forward to show that they had made a decision for Christ.

And come forward they did. From the very beginning of his preaching, people responded to his invitation in far greater numbers than anyone expected. The very first time he ever gave an invitation he was a boy preacher in a little storefront church. Nearly a third of the one hundred people there came forward. A few years later Graham was one of several staff evangelists for Youth for Christ. Fellow evangelist Chuck Templeton noted that night after night, Graham got more results than anybody. Everyone in Youth for Christ thought that Templeton was the better preacher, but when he and Graham preached on consecutive nights in the same circumstances, Graham won the bigger response. I would get seventeen, Templeton recalled, and he would get twenty-three, or I would get two hundred and he would get three hundred.

This is the puzzle of Billy Grahams preaching. Why did so many people in so many times and places get out of their seats and come forward? Not even the biographer William Martin was able to figure it out. The reasons, he concluded, defy facile explanation. No one, including Grahams wife, ever rated him a great preacher. Critics often ridiculed his exaggerationsseventy-five percent of all movies are immoral and his oversimplificationsthe rise of the Soviet Union was masterminded by Satan himself. After Grahams 1950 crusade in Portland, Oregon, Christian Century magazine struggled to understand how such immature homiletics could prove so compelling to an audience. And nearly everyone, including Graham himself, observed that his sermons had an unmistakable sameness to them. Yet, at the end of every sermon, people streamed forward anyway. Why?

Grahams sermons over time suggest a pattern. Though the destination was a decision, the road was desire. Consider the first two paragraphs of this essay. Notice that in both those invitations Graham gave his listeners a script for a dialogue they should initiate with God. Notice especially how every sentence of the dialogue began with the words, I want. People may not have known exactly why they came to the crusade, but Graham did. They came hoping for help with some kind of problem in their lives. The purpose of his sermon was to get them see that they wanted help and wanted change. His method was to awaken desires that his listeners brought with them to the crusades, either by rousing slumbering desires or sharpening desires already astir. Having awakened desire, he would then channel it toward the only thing that would satisfy ita decision to begin a new life in Christ.

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This formula was nothing new. It had been discovered two centuries earlier by one of Americas greatest theologians, Jonathan Edwards.

Awakening Desire

Back in the 1740s, the Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards was trying to understand the revivals of religion that had happened under his own preaching and under that of the evangelist George Whitefield. After much experience and thoughtful analysis, the sharply analytic Edwards concluded that emotionsin those years called the affectionslie at the heart of true religion. The emotions, he wrote, are the spring of mens motion and actions in all matters, worldly and religious. The emotions motivate our actions by awakening and uniting our understanding and our will. One of the most important emotions is desire, and Edwards cited numerous Bible passages to demonstrate that the desire to know and live for God is the foundation of true Christian faith. He therefore reasoned that all religious practicespreaching, singing, worship, and sacramental ritualsought to appeal to the emotions, especially the emotion of desire.

In recent years, evangelical writers have given new attention to the role of desire in Christian life. The philosopher James K. A. Smiths 2009 book Desiring the Kingdom tries to move the focus of Christian education away from a preoccupation with the mind and toward inclusion of the heart. We are essentially and ultimately desiring animals, Smith argues. What we desire defines who we are and what we worship. Writing a couple of decades before Smith, the Baptist preacher John Piper rose to popularity with a book called Desiring God. The book borrowed heavily from Edwards to say that people come to Christ not through thoughts or ideas but through their desires, which he described as the things people crave. Piper argued that evangelism should not persuade people to make decisions for Christ; it should lead them to desire Christ.

But Grahamwho had named his magazine Decision and his radio program Hour of Decisionhad good reasons for emphasizing decision. When he was starting out as an evangelist in the 1940s, mass revivalism had endured two decades of hard times. In the 1920s the decline of the bigger-than-life Billy Sunday and the advent of the fictional but all-too-believable Elmer Gantry had made many Americans skeptical about evangelists. So in November 1948, during a crusade in Modesto, California, Graham called his team together and asked them to come up with a list of the ways evangelists damaged their own reputations. They immediately thought of the obvious personal sins that might bring down any religious leaderfinancial irregularity and sexual impuritybut they also thought carefully about problems particular to mass evangelism. One was inflating success, so they chose to call those who came forward at the end of the sermon inquirers rather than converts. They also determined to keep careful counts of attendance and inquirers, rely on outside counts whenever possible, and report only conservative estimates to the press. Another problem was the perception that people came forward solely because the evangelist had whipped them into an emotional frenzy. So Graham and his team resolved to limit emotionalism in their services. To put further distance between what they were doing and the taint of emotional manipulation, they adopted the term decision to describe the commitment people were making when they gave their lives to Christ. A decision did not exclude emotion, but it did emphasize that coming forward was a calm, rational, and considered choice.

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Despite downplaying emotion, Graham continued to be hit with the charge that he was manipulating peoples feelings to get them out of their seats. Whenever a Graham crusade arrived in a new city, the newspapers asked local ministers to comment. In the mid-1950s ministers frequently criticized Graham for using mass psychology and religious emotionalism. Graham became so sensitive about this that he often mentioned it when he met with the press. In 1954 he promised that there would be no mouth-foaming hysterical emotionalism at his upcoming three-month crusade in London. At the end of one sermon in Manchester, England, in 1961 he abruptly stopped and said, I have been criticized for emotional appeal, for choirs singing softly and for artificially urging people to come forward. Tonight the choir will not sing. I will just say, Come forward. And they didtwelve hundred people, much to the surprise of skeptical onlookers.

Despite his disclaimers, Graham actually had mixed feelings about emotional appeals. He knew that the main obstacle an evangelist faces is complacency, and that there is no better solvent for complacency than strong emotion. His ambivalence about emotion was never on better display than in a sermon he gave at the 1965 Houston crusade. He told the Bible story of the Philippian jailer who was so terrified by an earthquake that he threw himself at the feet of Paul and Silas, asking what he must do to be saved. Graham acknowledged that this was an emotion-driven conversion, and he praised it. The church, he said, needs more emotion:

I know that in this type of evangelistic services one of the accusations  is, Its too emotional, and we have leaned over backwards not to have any emotion.  But I believe we have made a mistake. I believe we need to feel our faith in Christ.

He then praised the emotional conversions of John Newton and Martin Luther, both occasioned by intense fear in the middle of a major thunderstorm.

But as Graham continued his sermon he was soon urging his listeners to ignore their emotions:

As you go through this world with all its storms and its trials.  keep your eyes on the Bible, keep your eyes on Christ, and you wont go wrong. Dont you follow your feelings. You follow Christ.

By the end of the sermon, however, he finally found his way back to a more balanced position. He said that belief in Christ requires commitment, and

[c]ommitment involves the mind, the emotions and the willthe whole man is involved when you come to Jesus Christ.  My mind says he must be the Son of God. My emotions watch him on the cross dying and suffering and bleeding . . . and I say . . . I could follow a man like that. But Im not really saved, Im not going to heaven until my will makes the final decision.

Late in life Graham revised his own conversion narrative along similar lines. For most of his adulthood he described his conversion like this:

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I didnt have any tears, I didnt have any emotion, I didnt hear any thunder, there was no lightning . . . I didnt feel all worked up. But right there, I made my decision for Christ. It was as simple as that.

But in his 1997 autobiography he described it more holistically:

Intellectually, I accepted Christ to the extent that I acknowledged what I knew about Him to be true. That was mental assent. Emotionally, I felt that I wanted to love Him in return for His loving me. But the final issue was whether I would turn myself over to His rule in my life.  That was the moment I made my real commitment to Jesus Christ.  I simply felt at peace.

Graham was never enough of a systematic thinker to articulate exactly how he understood the role of emotion in Christian faith, but his functional model of conversion involved a persons understanding, emotion, and will all working in concert. His framework of how one comes to faith was, in fact, not so different from that of Jonathan Edwards.

Moments of Decision

Most of the crusade audiences were churchgoers who had already made their decisions for Christ. The potential inquirers came for any number of reasonsmaybe a churchgoing friend invited them, maybe they wanted to reconnect to Christianity, maybe they wanted to see the famous evangelist, or maybe they were just curious. In many cases they could not say exactly why they came. But they came expectantly. The buildup to the crusade, the festivity and pageantry and music of the event itself, the milling crowds, and the platform filled with celebrities all generated anticipationsomething special was going to happen.

Crusades were often held in sporting venues, but the crusade transformed the venue into a sacred space. Unlike a sports contest, there was no competition, no winners and losers, no beer vendors, no cursing, no cocky young men strutting and spitting, no dancing young women in skimpy outfits. Admission was free. A crusade audience was a broader cross-section of the population than a sporting eventmore women, more older people, more children, more social classes. The very wholesomeness of the crusade created a temporary sanctuary from many of the worlds troubles and offered a glimpse of one version of what individual peace and social harmony might look like.

The crusade audience watched not a competition, but rather a string of politicians, sports heroes, well-known entertainers, and other celebrities take the stage and tell how Jesus Christ had changed their lives, while the churchgoers in the audience murmured and nodded in assent. This helped make giving ones life to Christ plausible. The audience also heard a massed choir of ordinary people and famous musicians sing songs about Jesus, songs designed for gentle emotional appeal. By the time George Beverly Shea finished his solo and sat down, the potential inquirers were prepared in heart and mind, anticipating something momentous.

Then Graham, usually wearing a simple suit, stepped alone to the microphone. Once past his earliest years, he delivered his opening greetings in such a simple and unaffected style that it proved his reputation for genuineness and sincerity. He gave no sign of cleverness or subtlety, no hint of preening or basking in attention. All the markers of holy affections that Jonathan Edwards had identified and that Graham exhibited in conversations with reporters and interviews on televisionlowliness of mind, lowliness of behavior, humbleness of heartwere now in view on the crusade platform. Potential inquirers could see it for themselves.

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Then came the sermon. The confident authority of the evangelist provided an arresting counterpoint to his personal humility. Might this man with a godly character be speaking a message from God? When he appealed to the universal myth of decline from a former golden age and combined it with national myths cherished by his audience, listeners understood that Grahams view of God in the world encompassed their own view of the world. Graham did not challenge his audience to throw out their old worldview; he merely asked them to enlarge it. When he then mixed images of national decline and crisis with images of personal failure and crisis, the open-hearted listener who trusted Graham heard a message that seemed personal. As one person who came forward at the 1962 Chicago crusade commented six years later, Billy Graham was speaking directly to me.  He knew what I was thinking and what my problem was.

All of this engaged the listeners emotions and heightened a desire for change. The possibility of changereal, long-lasting changeseemed at hand. At this crucial moment, Graham then pointed the way to change. It began, he told them, when they said, I want Christ in my life. When this made rational and emotional sense to someonewhen they desired to have Christ in their lifethen they made their decision. In that instant the listener became an inquirer, stood up, and started walking forward. It was psychologically significant, perhaps even costly. Thousands of people were watching, including friends or family. There were no histrionics. Audience members typically sat quietly, perhaps praying, sometimes singing softly to themselves. Graham himself did no pleading or weeping, typically standing in silence, head bowed, for several long minutes. Inquirers typically came forward in orderly fashion, with none of noisy displays that so often accompanied Pentecostal worship.

However, even though inquirers remained calm, they reported the decision to go forward as a deeply emotional moment. And, more often than not, the personal change they hoped for seemed really to have taken place. The crusade and its pageantry and the testimonies of the famous and the gently emotional music and the affirming audience and the humble man who spoke with the authority of a messenger of Godthey all came together and formed a powerful memory marker of the special ritual through which the inquirer had passed.

Sometimes the memory landmark matured into a family legacy. In 1996, at the final crusade Graham did in his hometown of Charlotte, the journalist Ken Garfield interviewed Nellie Roth, a mother of four. Years earlier her own mother, at that time pregnant with Nellie, came forward at a crusade. Because of that decision Nellie was raised in a Christian home and was now raising her own children in a Christian home. So Nellie went to the Charlotte stadium forty-four years later. She took in the sights and sounds, listened to the testimonies, remembered the familiar songs, and drank in the sermon. Then, with tears in her eyes, she sat and watched hundreds of people make the same pilgrimage her mother had made, testifying to their desire and their decision for a new life in Christ.

Michael S. Hamilton, vice president for programs and special initiatives at the Issachar Fund, is currently working on the book Calvin College and the Revival of Christian Learning in America (Eerdmans, forthcoming).

Adapted from Billy Graham: American Pilgrim, edited by Andrew Finstuen, Grant Wacker, and Anne Blue Wills. Copyright  2017 by Oxford University Press and published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
There were actually two attacks on Sunday, showing how violence at home often enters Gods house.

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Image: Scott Olson / Getty Images

Officials have concluded that the gunman who shot up a small Baptist church outside San Antonio on Sunday was not religiously motivated.

It may come as a surprise to know that very few attacks on houses of worship are.

Instead, the details around Devin Kelleys abusive past and ongoing feud with his in-laws point to a domestic incident causing him to target First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Local law enforcement indicated Kelleys second wife had occasionally attended the church with her family, and that the two had separated.

The suspects mother-in-law attended this church, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Freeman Martin said, according to The New York Times. We know that he had made threatening texts and we cant go into detail into that domestic situation that is continuing to be vetted and thoroughly investigated.

Though the scale of Kelleys carnage is unprecedented, his motive is all too familiar. Domestic violence rarely stays confined to the home, and has increasingly led to violence on church property. Estranged husbands make their way into church parking lots and lobbies to settle fights, take revenge, or confront their victims.

A second church shooting took place on Sunday, this one in Fresno, California, where a man shot his wife and her new boyfriend in the parking lot of a Catholic church following early morning Mass.

Year after year, domestic abuse spilloverwhen a fight at home comes to churchis one of the three most common killers at faith-based organizations, wrote church safety expert Carl Chinn for CT sister publication Church Law & Tax.

Last year, among violent attacks at houses of worship where the cause was known, 25 percent of victims were killed as a result of a domestic abuse incident, all by male attackers, according to Chinns data. The next most common motive was personal conflict, followed by robbery.

While in the Air Force five years ago, Kelley had been convicted of assaulting his first wife and breaking her infant sons skull, The Times reported.

The charges resulted in 12 months of confinement, followed by a bad conduct discharge from the service in 2014. His crimes should have prevented him from obtaining a firearm; a federal law bars anyone convicted a domestic violence misdemeanor from owning a gun.

Not all incidents of domestic violence lead to criminal charges, though; victims often keep silent out of fear of retaliation or justify their abusers behavior in hopes that they will change. The secret and shame around abuse can lead onlookersincluding church leadersto underestimate its presence in their communities. Experts recommend pastors look out for signs of domestic violence and familiarize themselves with reporting laws in their states.

A 2017 Church Law & Tax report entitled Why Domestic Violence in the Home Endangers Your Church laid out the following statistics:

About three-quarters of pastors (74%) estimate that less than 20 percent of their congregation has experienced domestic violence, according to a 2014 LifeWay Research survey for Sojourners and IMA World Health.

National prevalence rates show that 1 in 3 women (33%) and 1 in 4 men (25%) have been victims of intimate partner violence.

Almost half of Protestant pastors (45%) said their church does not have a plan in place to respond if someone says they are a victim of domestic violence, according to a 2017 LifeWay survey.

Overall, 1 in 5 incidents of violent crime in the US between 2003 and 2012 resulted from domestic violence, most commonly between spouses, exes, and partners.

Bart Barber, who pastors a small Southern Baptist congregation in northeast Texas, remarked that small churches in small towns inevitably get tangled in these incidents, though pastors may have fewer resources or staff to help mitigate the onslaught of family tension.

In a smaller church, the boundaries between family and church are thin and blurry, so family problems spill over, he wrote for CT. Working on the front lines of these sensitive issues, churches can become targets when things go wrong.

But domestic violence spans demographics. Last summer, a man committed a murder-suicide, killing his wife and himself after a church service in Chicago, and another estranged husband shot his wife while she attended a funeral at a church in Mississippi.

Domestic violence is a significant factor in mass shootings overall. A Washington Post op-ed pointed out:

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 54 percent of mass shootings involve a partner or another family member being killed. Male violence is an acute threat to American women: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that homicide is the fifth leading cause of death for women from 18 to 44, and more than half of these killings were carried out by men they knew  husbands, boyfriends, exes, or other intimate partners. How many Americans must be felled by bullets have to happen before we understand that the safety of women and children at home is not just a private matter but also essential to public safety?

Everytown found an even stronger link between domestic violence and mass shootings for incidents with ten or fewer fatalities (mass shootings are often defined as killing at least four).

Additionally, the group reported that nearly a quarter of victims of mass shootings are children. In Sutherland Springs, reports show that between 12 and 14 of the 26 people killedabout halfwere kids. Kelley killed a child as young as 18 months old, as well as a woman who was 8 months pregnant and her unborn baby.

Domestic violence raises serious concerns in the churchboth as a sin and a security risk. The vast majority of pastors (87%) believe their church would be a safe haven for domestic violence victims, according to this years LifeWay survey. Yet Christians may experience some barriers to addressing abuse in their midst.

According to Lindsey and Justin Holcomb, authors of Is It My Fault? Hope and Healing for Those Suffering Domestic Violence, women who are particularly religious are often less likely to see the violence against them as wrong. They may try to understand their suffering by believing it is Gods will or part of Gods plan for my life.

Pastors play a crucial role in stopping the cycle of violence and holding abusive men accountable for their actions, according to research presented before the Association for the Sociology of Religion in 2010 and reported by the Association of Religion Data Archives.

Faith-based intervention can be an effective method to stop violent behavior and can discredit dangerous theological ideas that abused women must be submissive and provide resources to allow the men to envision a different future, according to University of New Brunswick sociologists who studied 1,200 men in treatment for abuse. Men who received support from their pastor were more likely to complete the program.

CT previously covered why Christian women should contact police before their pastors after incidents of domestic violence, the shame of silence around spousal abuse in the church, and the stories of Christian survivors.
Cardinal Terence Cook Award Presented to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Extraordinary Commitment, Support, Leadership in Handing on the Faith with Excellence

Contact: Mike Virgintino, 914-941-7636 ext. 2219

MARYKNOLL, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers has received the 2017 Terence Cardinal Cook Award from the Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of New York in recognition of Maryknoll's leadership in Catholic education.

Photo: From left -- Ms. Ela Milewska, executive director, Youth Faith Formation, Archdiocese of New York; Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, vicar for clergy, Archdiocese of New York; Sister Joan Curtin, CND, director, Catechetical Office, Archdiocese of New York; Father Robert A. Jalbert, M.M., director, Church Engagement Division, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.

The award, named for the late Archbishop of New York who founded the Catechetical Office, attests to extraordinary commitment, support and leadership in handing on the faith with excellence. It is presented annually to catechetical leaders, clergy, parish directors and coordinators of religious education, and others directly involved in catechetical leadership.

The award was presented on Sunday, November 5, at the Maryknoll Society Center in Ossining, New York. Sister Joan Curtin, director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office, bestowed the recognition during the office's certification and recognition ceremony for more than 100 educators from the Archdiocese of New York.

"We are very grateful and blessed that the Archdiocese of New York has recognized the work of Maryknoll in spreading the Good News of Jesus,' said Father Robert Jalbert, M.M., director of Maryknoll's Church Engagement Division. "We have served in mission around the world for more than 100 years, sharing God's love and his message of peace. In the Archdiocese of New York and in dioceses across the U.S., we have conveyed these same messages through our Maryknoll and Misioneros magazines, our active participation in parishes and in our communication directly with young Catholics through various programs."

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers follow Jesus in serving the poor and others in need in more than 20 countries that include the U.S. All Catholics are called to mission through baptism and confirmation, and Maryknoll's mission education outreach in parishes and schools throughout the country engages U.S. Catholics in mission through vocations, prayer, donations and as volunteers. "Discover Your Neighbor," Maryknoll's latest interactive mission education program for Catholic youth, was introduced in Catholic middle schools and high schools this past September.
Specific Waste Industries Targeted for Enabling Last Abortion Facility in Kentucky

After victory over Stericycle, awareness campaign begins new phase  regional companies.



Contact: Mark Harrington, Executive Director, Created Equal, 614-419-9000, Mark@CreatedEqual.org



COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- In 2016, Created Equal launched #ProjectWeakLink aimed at forcing Stericycle, America's largest medical waste hauler to cease disposing of aborted fetuses for Planned Parenthood. On June 1, 2017, Stericycle disclosed (see pages four and five of the amended complaint) the cancellation of hundreds of contracts (over 400 in the past few years) with abortion facilities.

This huge development has forced Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry to take on the difficult task of finding other means to dispose of aborted babies. As evidenced by this video, many facilities are having difficulty doing so.



Recently, National Abortion Federation President and CEO, Vicki Saporta, who represents hundreds of independent abortion mills across the country, spoke on National Public Radio saying, "There are very few companies that do what Stericycle did, and when companies like Stericycle give in to the harassment of anti-choice proponents, it puts an unfair burden on abortion providers."



Saporta also said her group is "closely monitoring Created Equal's campaign."



"If abortionists are going to kill babies, they should be forced to dispose of the bodies by themselves. We will stay one step ahead of the abortion cartel."  Mark Harrington, National Director, Created Equal



Having proven the concept, we are launching phase two of #ProjectWeakLink, which is aimed at regional and local waste providers throughout the US.



Enter Specific Waste Industries.

Specific Waste Industries disposes of aborted children and the instruments used to kill them for EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville, KY and other abortion clinics in the region.

Watch VIDEO of Specific Waste picking up dead babies at the Cincinnati, OH Planned Parenthood.

We are NOW calling on Specific Waste Industries to cease disposing of aborted babies and the instruments used to kill them for Planned Parenthood and the abortion cartel.



Phase One of the awareness campaign involves contacting CEO Victor Anderson at 502-425-2770 to demand that Specific Waste stop enabling the abortion holocaust and/or sending Victor Anderson an email to request that Specific Waste stop disposing of aborted children.


The Houston man who authorities say shot a Harris County Precinct 4 deputy Sunday was charged Monday with attempted capital murder, court records show.

The officer shot  identified as Deputy Constable Justin Gay  meanwhile successfully underwent an 18-hour surgery that began early Monday morning, according to the Precinct 4 Constable's Office.

Constable Mark Herman visited Gay on Tuesday and reported that Gay was "in great spirits."

"He was wiggling his toes when I was there," Herman said over the phone Tuesday. "He was very upbeat and positive."

Herman said the constable's office hopes to set up a fundraiser for the family to cover expenses for the deputy, while he's in the hospital and not working. Herman also expects Gay to be able to return to work after he's recovered.

"We're looking forward to him coming back," he said.

Precinct 4 said in a Facebook post surgery was completed on gunshot wounds on both of Gay's legs, though it was not immediately clear Monday night if the 30-year-old officer will have any permanent injuries.

2 CHARGED: Front porch shootout ends in arrests in north Houston

"We are thankful for the many prayers and messages he has received in show of support from our citizens we serve," Precinct 4 wrote in a Facebook post. "We are grateful to the doctors and staff at Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute for their care of our Brother in Blue!"

Gay was responding to a disturbance at a home in the 9000 block of Walnut Glen Drive just before 6 p.m. Sunday. There, Constable Mark Herman said, Gay used a Taser on Constantine Argyrion, 38, after which Argyrion fell to the ground and then shot with a concealed weapon.

Argyrion was taken into custody just before 7 p.m. Sunday, and is being held on $250,000 bond. Court records show he has no previous convictions for violent crime in Harris County.

Gay was transported via LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann.

Gay has been with Precinct 4 since June 2015. He is assigned to the precinct's West District Patrol Bureau, Herman said.

Jasmine Davis contributed to this report.
Fifteen beautiful women competed for the title of Miss Lone Star Rally this weekend during an annual gathering that draws tens of thousands of bikers to the Texas island each year.

The pageant put on by First Class Models and radio personality Outlaw Dave was held on Saturday during the Lone Star Rally's 16th year.
Jennifer Hebert's journal entry for Aug. 26 reads: "At midnight, called 911."

The reason was Hurricane Harvey, which gutted Hebert's home in the Edgebrook neighborhood in Houston and destroyed most of her belongings.

Now, weeks later, Jennifer Hebert, 60, still finds herself dependent on others.

'WAITING TO GET MY LIFE BACK'

"I'm still waiting to get my life back," she said.

And she's been writing it down - every step of the way - in a notebook.

Hebert took that notebook with her to a recent town hall meeting hosted by Houston District E City Councilman Dave Martin where representatives from FEMA and city of Houston departments were on hand to speak with residents.

While informative, the discussion didn't provide enough concrete answers, she said. So much is tied up in various state and federal processes that officials' answers remain vague, Hebert said.

"It's very frustrating," she said.

Hebert registered online for FEMA services and funds, which turned out to be a plus.

Days before the forum, Hebert finally made contact with a FEMA inspector, and money was placed in her back account. But she was still waiting for an insurance adjustor.

Hebert just wants to start rebuilding her life and feels like she is in limbo.

She works in Pearland, is staying with friends in Houston.

'Basically homeless'

"I'm still basically homeless," she said.

In September 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Hebert was one of the many Houston-area volunteers at the Astrodome who distributed donations and tended to evacuees from Louisiana.

Hebert's heart had gone out to the thousands left homeless, and she was simply following her instincts to help with their recovery.

Fast forward to August and Harvey, when Hebert was on the other side of a disaster relief operation. She and her small dog were at George R. Brown being shuttled through a maze of temporary holding spaces.

Hebert's one-floor house in the Freeway Manor subdivision took in over 16 inches of water.

Like others at Martin's meeting, the big question for Hebert was whether flooding will become the new normal and if developers would continue get exemptions from restrictions to build in the area.

Horsepen Bayou had been an adequate and natural drainage system for the area but has seen much development.

"That water has nowhere to go except to flow down the street and down the concrete to residential areas," Hebert said.

Refusal to abandon her dog

Her Harvey journal entries began at George R. Brown.

"I wrote this after I was rescued, because most of the time I was holding the dog and couldn't," she said.

In the early morning hours as she watched the water rising, Hebert had to wade out with water up to her chest toward higher ground on Texas 3.

Her friend, Carol Isom, lives in a neighborhood in the same subdivision but was spared the heavy flooding.

"I didn't even realize what had happened to her until later," she said.

Hebert was transported by volunteers of Denton Fire Department who took her back over to Edgebrook in "one of those big trucks you have to have a ladder to get into" and onto Interstate 45 where they waited for another bus to pick them up. From there, it was on to Houston's Third Ward and on board another city bus until arriving at George R. Brown, where Hebert and her dog waited in the parking lot for hours until daylight.

"They finally said, 'Oh yeah, we're taking in pets now,' " Hebert said. "If you wanted to have food, you had to let your animal go, which some did."

Her stay at George R. Brown was not pleasant, she said, due what she said was a lack of organization and communication.

"It was not handled as well as the Astrodome after Katrina, and this is going to keep happening and they're going to have to make a list of what works and what doesn't work."

Hebert acknowledges that Harvey was most likely an anomaly, but she believes that if authorities are going to solve the issue of recurring flooding in the area, then a more adequate recovery and shelter-in-place scenario must devised.

"It shouldn't be a new learning experience every time we have a flood," she said.

Isom agreed. "I can understand that this was an unexpected event, and everybody was just learning as they went along, but there should definitely be more communication," she said.

Grim way to reduce clutter

Hebert still doesn't know when she will be able to start rebuilding her home, but for now, in tiny handwriting in her journal, she is documenting her Harvey experience with details, timelines, to-do lists and observations.

"It's a way for me to keep track of everything, like a directory or diary of what to do or what not to do, in what order  its anything I need it to be," she said.

Hebert said she can only hope that governments at the county, state and federal level prove as diligent.

"They should be making the lists, because if there's one thing I've learned from all this is that organization is a lost art," she said.

Hebert can still find humor in her current circumstance.

"The clutter in my house is gone," she said, laughing. "Harvey took care of that. I've got to have a sense of humor. It's either that or cry - what else are you going to do?"
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Get ready to bid.

Luxury sales agency, Concierge Auctions, is set to auction off a three-lot Kemah boathouse, which was preiously listed at $1.795 million, without reserve on Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

This four-bedroom, 5,528-square-foot home set on nearly an acre of waterfront land was built in 1992 and features an elevator to take guests from the first to the third floor.

Each of the home's levels boasts a terrace that overlooks the channel in Kemah as well as the home's boat dock.

HOMES WITH HISTORY: River Oaks homes built for iconic Houstonians

"This large contemporary home is built for relishing the sun and water-bound delights of the Gulf Coast," Concierge Auction's listing states. "While the inside is built for relaxed, easy living, the outdoor living space is ideal for lounging and hosting friends and family."

Just behind the house, directly on the water, is a dock that accommodates two 50-foot boats and a picturesque lawn that overlooks stunning water panoramas.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: New home listing is the second priciest property on the market in Houston now

"With its proximity to Clear Lake, and Galveston Bay beyond, Kemah is a pleasure boater's paradise," a Concierge Auctions representative said.

The house is also a short drive from the Kemah Boardwalk and Johnson Space Center.

"Midway between the Galveston coast and Houston, Kemah is one of the areas top vacation spots," the listing reads. "Kemah is the Karankawa Indian word for 'wind in my face,' and with its canals and waterfront, enjoying the fresh sea air by boat or by the beach is a way of life here. "
Ann Hammond was heading into her late 50s, concerned, like many men and women of a certain age, about the effects of time, particularly in the form of sagging skin around necks, jowls and eyelids. To turn back the clock, she said, she made a deal with Houston plastic surgeon Franklin Rose, who promised what is known as a "Facebook facelift" for free in exchange for using her image -- "before and after" -- to market his handiwork.

The "before" shots were soon featured on a television news show, which included Rose highlighting flaws in Hammond's appearance. Two years later, Hammond, 58, is still waiting for the "after."
Photo by Alan Warren

Early voting tallies in Fort Bend County show a dismal participation by residents so far, even with the county's $218.6 million mobility bond package on the line.

Fort Bend received 387 ballots by mail, according to online county reports. During the two-week early voting period, an additional 11,694 voters cast ballots at the polls.
In the aftermath of Sunday's massacre of more than two dozen churchgoers in the central Texas town of Sutherland Springs, Sheriff Troy Nehls is offering a safety evaluation for houses of worship in Fort Bend County.

If requested, sheriff's deputies will visit the congregation and discuss security plans with the leadership. An "active shooter response" plan also could be scheduled, officials said.
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Saturday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day in the United States. It's a day when Americans honor the men and women who came back from the field of war to start new lives.

It's less somber than Memorial Day, observed at the end of May, which is for the American troops who didn't get to come back home and drink a beer at a homecoming party or retire from their branch of service with quiet distinction.

RELATED: Learn the real meaning behind Memorial Day and its customs

That day has grown to mean a lot more as a new generation grappled with the human losses suffered in the second Iraq War.

Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day, by contrast, both honor those among us who have served or are still serving in the military.

On those days -- and of course not just those days -- we reach out to vets and current military members and thank them for wearing the uniform and facing grave danger.

Now Playing: Going from being homeless to homeowners. Video: Fox51

Memorial Day is reserved for those who can't return a smile or a salute, not to mention the families and friends who have been left behind.

Veterans Day began in 1919, proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson to commemorate World War I's Armistice Day the year before, marking the end of fighting during WWI.

Wilson's words that month:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

That great war so traumatized Americans that it was hoped that it would mark the end of war in that population's lifetime, if not for generations. Sadly, it wasn't to be.

At first, Nov. 11 was designated as a day to remember WWI vets but by the early '50s, veterans from World War II were also honored, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

RELATED: Harris County wants to provide veterans with dogs and cats

It was June 1, 1954, that Nov. 11 became a day to honor living American veterans of all wars. Soon, those who served in Korea and later, the Vietnam War would also be included.

Veterans Day is to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls on.

Here in Houston, there will be a special 9/11 Heroes Run, originally scuttled after Hurricane Harvey, and a presentation will follow at 10:00 a.m. on the steps of City Hall after the fun run.

So if you have any military veterans around you, be they friends or family, shake their hand extra firm or give them a hug.

Remember that grandfather, uncle, cousin, sister, or even mother that suited up for everyone else.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth. He is the proud grandchild of veterans of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He almost made it to the second Iraq War but his body had other plans.
Courtesy photo

Waterous Energy Fund, a private equity fund focused on the oil and gas industry, has donated $100,000 to the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) Harvey Relief Fund to assist Houston families who have been displaced from their homes by Hurricane Harvey.

The Spring Branch Independent School District estimates as many as 1,000 SBISD student and staff families were displaced by the storm. The SBEF Harvey Relief Fund was established to help families with their most pressing needs, whether it's food, clothing or supplies and fills the gaps not met by local and federal efforts.
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Katy ISD voters approved the district's latest bond issue, approving the measure 66 percent to 34 percent.

With 100 percent of votes counted in Fort Bend and Waller counties, and 84 percent counted in Harris County, the bond was passed.

Results will not be official until the vote is canvassed.

Katy ISD will now be in position to address overcrowding issues in the fast-growing district. The bond is worth $609 million.

With several of the district's schools already housing more than 3,000 students, district officials expect it to only get worse if something is not done soon. Most schools are designed to house 3,000 students. Enrollment in the district is expected to grow from about 78,000 this year to 98,000 by 2026.
Coast Guard copters saved a fisherman with a broken leg Tuesday near Freeport.

Just before 9:30 a.m., Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders overheard a municipal TV report of an injured crew member on the Lady Tina fishing boat, according to a press release.

A boatcrew rushed to the vessel about 8 miles off the coast and found a man suffering a possible concussion and broken leg.

He was rushed to emergency medical responders on shore and listed as stable condition after treatment.
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A Sugar Land man convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme to off his own family in hopes of snagging a plump $1 million inheritance is now slated for execution early next year, according to court papers filed this month.

A Fort Bend County judge on Wednesday signed the papers that could send Thomas Whitaker, who used the cover of a faked burglary to mask the murder of his mother and brother, to the Huntsville death chamber on Feb. 22.

"This is a case in which retributive justice plays no part," attorney James Rytting said late Monday. "The victim in this case is a father who does not want his child to die. It seems that this case shows that the only victim's right that counts is the right of vengeance - you don't have a right to mercy."

Just after a 2003 celebratory dinner marking his supposed graduation from Sam Houston State University - a milestone that never happened - Whitaker arranged for two friends to wait at the family home for a burglary set-up.

When the family of four returned home from the restaurant, a gunman opened fire as they walked through the door, killing 51-year-old Patricia Whitaker and 19-year-old Kevin. Only Whitaker's father survived the attack.

Afterward, as police probed the killings, Whitaker stole $10,000 from his father and fled to Mexico.

When authorities picked him up 15 months later, his father hired an attorney to argue against the capital case.

The pair of slayings came after three years of planning and at least one previous murder attempt, according to court papers.

Triggerman Chris Brashear pleaded guilty to murder a decade ago and took a life sentence, while the getaway driver - Steve Champagne - agreed to a 15-year plea deal.

But a Fort Bend jury settled on a death sentence for the mastermind behind the plot, and after more than a decade of legal battles, the condemned man lost out in the Supreme Court last month.

He does not have any pending appeals, Rytting said.

Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey declined to comment.
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SUTHERLAND SPRINGS -- Just days before the killer opened fire killing 26 church goers he walked among them.

Five days before he would gun dozens of people down, Devin Patrick Kelley showed up at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs with his children for an annual fall festival. His appearance was unexpected because of the past family troubles, but people who saw him there thought it was a sign he was turning a corner.

SURVIVOR RECALLS: Killer shot crying babies point blank

Now Playing: The front of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs could be clearly seen Tuesday as Federal and state investigators scaled back their work in and around the main sanctuary. Video: Fox7

"And they thought, 'Oh, this is good. This is progress,' " said Tambria Read, a longtime resident of Sutherland Springs who is close with Kelley's mother-in-law - whom Kelley is said to have been targeting but who was not at church that morning.

The mother-in-law, Michelle Shields, told Read she was so excited to see Kelley there voluntarily with her grandchildren.

Read said people in the church and the community saw a potential to help Kelley.

"This church is very loving, nonjudgmental and if he had had concerns or issues and spoken with the clergy - they're nonjudgmental," Read said in an interview just two blocks from where Kelley killed 26 and wounded at least another 20 people, including children as young as 18 months old. "They would have helped him deal with his issues and helped him try to get focused."

On the church's Facebook page, more than 40 photos from the event show children in costumes playing games.

"Everything is free!" said a post a few days earlier promoting the event. "Bring your kids and join us for this fun evening!"

Read said Danielle Shields, the shooter's wife, had worked at the church for years.

While there was trouble in the family, Read said she's not sure exactly what was going on.

"You keep your family business to yourself," Read said. "She probably told Pastor Frank Pomeroy, she probably discussed that with him."

Police on Monday night confirmed that there was conflict within the family but would not provide further details.

AUTOPSY RESULTS: How the gunman died

Kelley altered the lives of people in Sutherland Springs forever when on Sunday, dressed in tactical gear, the U.S. Air Force veteran opened fire on unsuspecting worshippers.

Survivors of the shooting told a San Antonio TV station that they played dead and huddled on the ground as Kelley fired.

"Everybody started screaming, yelling," Joanne Solis told KSAT-TV. "Everybody got down, under wherever they could hide."

Kelley had a history of violence, public records show. In 2012 he was court martialed for abusing this then-wife Tessa Kelley and his infant stepson, whom he admitted beating so hard he fractured the boy's skull.

Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace
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The U.S. Department of Defense -- now under scrutiny for failing to report a domestic violence conviction that could have stopped Devin Patrick Kelley from purchasing several guns used in the Texas church shooting -- reported just one domestic violence conviction to a national FBI database in all of 2016.

An FBI report of active records on the National NICS' records from December 2016 shows the Department of Defense had just one domestic violence conviction case on file. The report also shows that the DOD had not submitted any records for members barred from buying guns from dealers because of domestic violence restraining orders.

Kelley slaughtered 26 worshipers at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs southeast of San Antonio Sunday in the midst of what investigators said was a "domestic dispute" with his mother-in-law.

KILLER IN THE CONGREGATION: Sutherland Springs shooter celebrated with congregation five days before rampage

Twenty other people were injured and about half remain hospitalized. Kelley was shot twice by a church neighbor as he tried to leave the scene. The neighbor jumped in a car with another man and they chased Kelley until he crashed. He was found dead in the vehicle of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators confirmed that Kelley passed a federal background check and was allowed to buy four firearms before his shooting spree.

His prior military conviction for assaulting his wife and stepson should have precluded him from gaining clearance for the purchases, however. Kelley joined the U.S. Air Force in 2009, and in 2012 Kelley was court-martialed and pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife and stepson, earning a demotion and sentence of one year of confinement.

INVESTIGATION STYMIED: Cracking killer's cellphone slows down investigation

Such a conviction should have precluded him from being able to legally purchase a firearm, according to experts on military law.

But Monday, the U.S. Air Force acknowledged that investigators from the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations had not entered Kelley's domestic violence offense into the National Criminal Information Center database.

Officials with the Air Force said they had ordered a complete review of the Kelley case by the Air Force Office of the Inspector General, and would examine other cases to see if they had been reported correctly.

FBI Spokesman Steve Fischer said in an email that the Department of Defense  which has 1.3 million employees - regularly sends information about dishonorable discharges to NICS indices but did not say whether they send information about domestic violence.

"The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) contained no information that would have prohibited Devin Patrick Kelley from purchasing a firearm," Fischer said in an email.

He said NICS examiners check three databases: the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the Interstate Identification Index (III), and the NICS Indices.

"There was no prohibiting information regarding Kelley in any of those collections," he said. "Those domestic violence convictions would have prohibited Kelley from making firearm purchases, but the information was never received for use in any of the three databases."

Fischer said the Department of Defense submits all dishonorable discharges to the NICS Indicesm onthly for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines.

As of Oct. 31, there were 11,189 Dishonorable Discharge entries made by the Department of Defense. As of Nov. 6, there are 2,248 dishonorable discharge entries and one mental health entry from the Air Force within the NICS Indices. The Department of Defense also had one entry for a felony conviction and one for mental health, he said.

The NCIC is one of three databases - including the Interstate Identification Index and National Criminal Instant Background Check System indices - used in background checks on gun purchasers before they can legally obtain firearms.

Even if the records were properly entered into one of the three databases used to perform background checks, however, it's not guaranteed that Kelley would have been stopped before purchasing a weapon.

A 2016 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office examined domestic violence-related NICS checks from 2006 to 2015.

The GAO reviewed 59,000 cases involving domestic violence convictions and 30,000 involving protective orders, and found more than 6,700 instances where purchasers still walked away with firearms.
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Three Southeast Texas churches damaged during Hurricane Harvey asked a federal judge Tuesday to compel the government to consider them among applicants seeking funds to rebuild their sanctuaries.

In the past, Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied relief funds to houses of worship that provide community support under the constitutional separation of church and state, but an attorney for the Justice Department in Washington said via speakerphone in a Houston courtroom Tuesday that the policy the churches are challenging was not etched in stone.

READ ALSO: World Series offers escape for Harvey victims watching from home

The policy has been suspended and denials to religious groups are on hold while high-level FEMA and U.S. Department of Justice officials are reviewing it, said Kari D'Ottavio, an attorney for DOJ's federal programs branch. The Trump administration is reconsidering its stance on denying religious groups access to repair funds, she said.

Now Playing: In Liberty County, Plum Grove was arguably one of the most impacted communities from the flooding rains of Hurricane Harvey. Hundreds of residents were plucked from their rooftops after historic rains sent water into nearly every structure in the city proper, including Plum Grove Volunteer Fire Department, First Baptist Church and the City of Plum Grove office. Video: Cleveland Advocate

'Stuck in limbo'

But U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison said it didn't make sense for these churches and likely other faith-based institutions in storm-ravaged regions to wait indefinitely for the government to make up its mind. The judge denied the Justice Department's request to delay his ruling on the injunction. Ellison said he would consider the churches' request, which customarily means he will issue a ruling in a written order entered at a future date.

The three churches, Rockport First Assembly of God in Aransas County, Harvest Family Church in Harris County and Hi-Way Tabernacle in Liberty County, sued on Sept. 4, claiming the government's disaster relief policy violates the U.S. Constitution by denying faith groups the right to apply for funds.

Daniel Blomberg, an attorney for the three congregations from the religious liberty group Becket, told the judge the policy amounted to religious status discrimination given that more than $400 million of FEMA's nonprofit repair funds had already been allocated to groups with properties that were harmed during Hurricane Harvey.

"Our clients are really in the worst possible position," he said. "They can't get the funds, but they can't get the denial. They're stuck in limbo."

D'Ottavio, the government attorney, argued via speakerphone that there is no harm in putting the churches on hold.

"FEMA has stopped its policy, and it's actively reconsidering it," she said. "FEMA has not denied the plaintiffs anything. There's no irreparable harm."

Constitutional lines

After Ellison announced he would rule, he asked whether it was correct to assume that an injunction would set a precedent for religious organizations around the country. The Justice Department lawyer agreed that it would set a broad-reaching precedent.

While the government may adjust its policy, advocates of the constitutional separation of church and state see the case as straightforward.

"My understanding is they're asking for the government to fund repairs for facilities that would be used for religious services, and that crosses the constitutional line," said Alex Luchenitser, associate legal director at Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C. "The freedom of conscience of our taxpayers is violated if taxpayers are forced to support religious beliefs to which they do not subscribe."

Gabrielle Banks covers federal justice for the Houston Chronicle. You can send her tips anytime at gabrielle.banks@chron.com and follow her on Twitter.
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A woman was killed Monday evening in a Spring-area hit-and-run, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Angela Eason, 36, was crossing at about 7:40 p.m. the 18100 block of Kuykendahl when an SUV traveling in the northbound lanes hit her.

The driver of the SUV - which may have been white - sped away from the scene immediately after the impact, according to the sheriff's office.

Eason died along the road.

Local television stations report Eason was in the area that evening to attend an event at Klein ISD's Strack Middle School, off of Kuykendahl, with her husband and children.
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The victim in an attempted murder-for-hire trial that ended in 2016 is making international headlines this week.

Ramon Sosa, whose ex-wife, Maria Sosa, plotted to have him killed in the summer of 2015, is now in a new relationship, Sosa told the Daily Mail in an interview posted Tuesday.

He also shared vacation photos with the British tabloid, but said he did not wish to name the woman he is seeing.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Maria Sosa pleads guilty in husband's murder-for-hire plot

Sosa told The Courier back in 2015 that he wanted to move forward after helping police catch his ex-wife trying to hire hitmen to have her then-husband killed.

Sosa faked his own death, posing for a graphic photo session to allow undercover officers to convince Maria Sosa that they had killed her husband.

On July 20, 2015, she met the man she thought was a hitman in a parking lot, viewed the photos of her husband and paid the undercover officer for Sosa's murder.

On Oct. 11, 2016, Maria Sosa pleaded guilty to second-degree felony solicitation of murder and was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.

After the trial, Ramon Sosa told The Courier that he was looking forward to running his business with his three adult children and finding a new woman to be with, one who could "take care of me and be the right one."

"I think (the sentence) is fair for what she did," he said of his ex-wife at the end of the trial. "I'm just happy that it's over with. I've got to move on."
Now, he has a name.

More than two weeks after his body washed up on a Galveston beach, investigators have given the unidentified young boy a name: Little Jacob.

Still, authorities haven't said how he died and haven't found his family. But now, the FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for leads in the baffling case, one that's already generated "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of fruitless tips, according to Galveston police spokesman Josh Schirard.

"It's heartbreaking that no one has come forward," said Ed Michel, FBI assistant special agent in charge of Houston Division. "We believe someone out there knows something or has seen something that could help us in this investigation."

After a beach-goer first spotted the boy's naked body along the water in the 700 block of Seawall on Oct. 20, authorities couldn't match his description to any missing children. Police said the circumstances seemed suspicious, but there was no obvious trauma and authorities have still not released the medical examiner's findings - some of which are not yet complete.

As the mystery dragged on, police put out a sketch of the dead child and drew the FBI into the case. Then on Monday authorities at a news conference in Galveston released a list of possible "indicators" and behavioral clues to help identify his family.

The youngster may have disappeared as early as Oct. 18, police said, and his parents or caretakers could have explained the absence by claiming he went to stay with friends or family.

"Prior to the boy's disappearance, family members of the child may have indicated that the child caused additional stress on caregivers due to the child's health or behavioral conditions," Schirard said. The family might have unusual interest in the investigation or seem nervous or irritable, he added.

"Someone out there knows this child's family," Schirard said.

But as of now, it's not clear what country authorities should be looking in. It's unknown whether the boy came from the United States, how long he'd been in the water or how far his body might have traveled before ending up on the island shore.

Schirard said it was "absolutely" a possibility that the boy's parents may have failed to claim him over concerns about immigration status.

But police sought to give assurances about their interests in the case.

"At this point we're not concerned with the documented status of Little Jacob, of his parents, of his family," Schirard said.

"My hope is that we don't have to call him Little Jacob for long."

Authorities are putting up billboards from Texas to Kentucky to Louisiana, a technique that has sometimes yielded positive results in past cases.

But as they continue investigating the case, and as hundreds of tips keep flooding in, investigators are still pursuing it as a homicide until proven otherwise.

"We have 37 miles of beaches here in Galveston," Schirard said. "Experiencing a drowning is not something that's foreign to us. Drownings, while sad, are easy. This is extremely unusual."
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NEW BRAUNFELS - The warning signs built up over the years.

Domestic violence calls. Animal cruelty. Inappropriate comments on social media. Then threatening texts to his mother-in-law.

By the time Devin Patrick Kelley donned black tactical gear and a skull face mask and walked into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, his dark thoughts and questionable behaviors were not unfamiliar to some of those who knew him.

"He seemed weird," said a former classmate at New Braunfels High School, "but he didn't seem psychotic. It's so hard to grasp the whole thing."

Now Playing: Texas Shooting: Update Press Conference Video: Time

Kelley's slaughter of 26 worshipers at his mother-in-law's church in Sutherland Springs southeast of San Antonio on Sunday - the worst mass-shooting in modern history in Texas - came after years of violence and troubles.

THE LATEST: Officials say Air Force mistake allowed church shooter to buy guns

In recent weeks, a domestic dispute had flamed tensions, with threatening text messages preceding the shooting, police said.

"There was conflict between the families but I can't say if it was revenge or not," Freeman Martin, Texas Department of Public Safety regional director, said late Monday. "I think he came here with a purpose and a mission."

Twenty-three people were killed inside the church sanctuary; two others were killed outside and one died later at a hospital. Another 20 parishioners were injured, with about half in critical condition.

Inside the church, investigators found 15 empty, 30-round magazine cartridges, hundreds of shell casings and a Ruger AR-556 rifle.

Two handguns - a Glock 9mm and a Ruger .22-caliber - were found inside the car where Kelley died. Officials said he was shot three times - twice by a Sutherland Springs resident who joined in a high-speed chase to catch him, and a third, self-inflicted gunshot that killed him.

Law enforcement authorities continued to investigate the case and notify the next of kin of the victims. Among those killed were the 14-year-old daughter, Belle, of church Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, who were out of town and did not attend services Sunday. The mother of Kelley's mother-in-law was also killed in the sanctuary.

"We were a very close family," Sherri Pomeroy told reporters. "Now most of our church family is gone."

An awkward loner

Kelley, 26, grew up in New Braunfels north of San Antonio and graduated from New Braunfels ISD in 2009.

His classmates said he didn't fit in a particular social clique. He was quiet and awkward, a bit of a loner. Almost forgettable.

"He wasn't bad enough to stand out; he wasn't good enough to stand out," said Chris Dial, a former New Braunfels social studies teacher.

Before he graduated from high school, Kelley was a karate enthusiast and occasional skateboarder.

"To me he seemed like a normal guy," said Taylor Tribbey, who met Kelley at the West Haven of Karate in New Braunfels years ago.

He was quiet, but not an outcast.

"He didn't seem like the type back then," said a former high school classmate who asked not to be named. "He was definitely a little off - but in high school everybody has their awkward moments."

The same year Kelley graduated, he joined the U.S. Air Force, said Ann Stefanek, a USAF spokeswoman. By 2011, Kelly, then 20, had married Tessa Kaylynn Loge, according to Comal County court records.

'TYPICAL OLD TEXAS TOWN': Sutherland Springs has lived through tragedy before

It was a tumultuous period. Kelley attacked his then-wife and stepson, beating the infant so severely he fractured the boy's skull. The Air Force court-martialed Kelley, who pleaded guilty to the assaults, resulting in a demotion, a year of confinement, and ultimately, a "bad conduct" discharge.

He could have faced five years in a military prison but an Air Force jury sentenced him to a year in jail instead, said former Air Force prosecutor, retired Col. Don Christensen.

"There really is no question about his guilt," Christensen said.

Kelley and Loge divorced in 2012.

In 2013, he returned to Texas, working a short stint in the seafood department at a local H-E-B grocery in New Braunfels, company spokeswoman Dya Campos said. He quit a few months later.

"It was a very short employment," Campos said.

That same year, the Comal County Sheriff's Office investigated him as a suspect in a rape case, but no charges appeared to have been filed.

Then, in February 2014, a sheriff's deputy responded to a late-night call to Kelley's home on FM 2722 outside New Braunfels. Kelley's girlfriend, Danielle Shields, said he was threatening her, according to a Comal County sheriff's incident report.

Two months later, Kelley and Shields married.

That time, too, was fraught with violence.

Just months later, Kelley was again in court, in Colorado Springs, Colo., after being arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. Neighbors at a Colorado Springs RV park where Kelley was then living told sheriff's deputies that Kelley chased and beat a dog, according to law enforcement records.

Officers arrested Kelley for misdemeanor animal cruelty and took the animal to a veterinarian. Kelley was sentenced to deferred adjudication probation and ordered to pay $368 in restitution.

That same year, Kelley was finally discharged from the Air Force, with a "bad conduct" discharge that meant he would forfeit his veterans benefits.

His domestic violence offense, however, was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations. It might have stopped him from purchasing the weapons if it had been registered.

Building anger

In recent weeks, Kelley had resurfaced online, sending friend requests to old classmates that some women found disturbing.

He'd been living in a restored barn on an $800,000, 28-acre ranch outside New Braunfels owned by his parents. He posted pictures of hunting trophies and weapons on social media - but not enough to raise any eyebrows. He wrote about atheism and religion. Sometimes he posted about dark thoughts and depression, according to one friend.

"He'd said some weird stuff on their statuses and they were like, 'Oh, I guess he hasn't really changed,'" a former classmate said. "And then it got weirder."

Earlier this summer, Kelley spent more than a month working at Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in New Braunfels as a nighttime security guard, said Winter Prosapio, spokeswoman for the Central Texas park.

He passed a criminal background check before working at the park, Prosapio said.

"We are keeping everyone impacted by this malicious act in our thoughts and our prayers," Prosapio said.

More recently, Kelley had been hired at the Summit Vacation and RV Resort in New Braunfels, said manager Claudia Varjabedian. She said he did "security work" and was hired about a month and a half ago.

She said Kelley "seemed like a nice guy" and didn't give her any problems.

But his anger apparently continued to build with his wife's family. Details were not clear about when or how the couple may have separated, but Martin said Kelley had a "domestic situation" ongiong with his wife's family and had sent the threatening messages to his mother-in-law before the shooting.

The mother-in-law attended the Sutherland Springs church, but was not present in the Sunday service. Neither was his wife.

But even those who knew Kelley struggle to nail down a motive for the shooting, though they're loathe to give him the attention he may have wanted.

"We know it was Devin; we know he did it," one fellow New Braunfels graduate said. "He's just this weird [deleted] who shot up a church."

James Pinkerton, Andrea Zelinski, Jeremy Wallace, Paul Cobler, Rob Downing, Kelsey Bradshaw, Fares Sabawi, Joshua Fechter, Sig Christenson, Guillermo Contreras, Zeke MacCormack and J.P. Lawrence contributed to this report, which also contains material from The Associated Press.

***

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On Monday, a judge ordered a Galveston man who led a sex-trafficking ring to serve life in prison, calling him very dangerous and saying he has shown no remorse for the crimes he was convicted of in early July.

A Galveston jury returned guilty verdicts against Charles Devan Fulton Sr., 40, in July for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and four counts of sex trafficking of minors.

Three others - Charmell Latonya Potts, Dominique Warner, and Lawrence James Julian - had previously pleaded guilty for their respective roles, according to court records.

Julian, Warner and Potts were sentenced on Tuesday. Potts faces 111 months in prison, Warner is sentenced to 110 months and Julian will be in prison for 55 months.

Now Playing: A nationwide FBI sting operation resulted in the arrests of 120 child sex traffickers. 84 young victims were rescued in the sting, which involved hundreds of FBI-led agencies. Agents raided hotels, casinos, and truck stops, and targeted online forums. The operation, dubbed "Cross Country," has been conducted every year to target sex traffickers and their underage victims. Since 2007, more than 6,500 children have been rescued. Video: Vocativ

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. ordered Fulton to serve life in prison and noted Monday that while speaking on his own behalf Monday Fulton never showed any remorse nor any feeling for the harm he inflicted on his victims.

The judge said Fulton only indicated how much this has hurt him and his own family.

During the trial, the investigators said Fulton engaged in a conspiracy with the others between June 1, 2014, through April 1, 2015, in which they participated in conspiracy to recruit, entice and harbor minors to engage in sex trafficking.

Fulton was the leader of the group, according to court records.

The jury heard that the minors engaged in hundreds of commercial sex acts over the course of the conspiracy.

In addition, testimony revealed Fulton had sex with the victims knowing they were minors, according to attorneys. They also accused Fulton of providing them with drugs.

Fulton attempted to convey his innocence and that police were just out to get him.

The FBI and the Galveston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Galveston County District Attorney's Office.

Brooke A. Lewis contributed to this report.
Before heading to the polls Tuesday, voters should familiarize themselves with some of the hot button issues facing Houston.

When all of the bond requests are tallied together, Houston residents will be voting on more than $1.2 billion worth of bonds aimed at improving libraries, parks, and funding the city's police department, among other departments.
Leaders of school districts heavily affected by Hurricane Harvey told a legislative panel on Monday that they would like to see Texas' accountability and testing requirements relaxed in the wake of the disaster. They also said the storms have dealt a financial blow and that they weren't optimistic about being reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or insurance anytime soon.

The superintendents gathered for a special meeting of the Senate Education Committee at the University of Houston. The senators are considering what recommendations to make to the state for K-12 hurricane recovery efforts and how the state should provide funding to school districts that lost students and buildings after the storm.

Since Harvey, local school officials said, they've shouldered almost all of the costs of running shelters, reopening schools and accommodating students who were left homeless. And they don't anticipate much help from FEMA or their insurers.

Now Playing: Hurricane Harvey impacted 275 school districts in Texas. Video: Fox7

To offset costs associated with the storm, Houston ISD Superintendent Richard Carranza said, the district has had to spend nearly $78 million of its emergency cash. Most other speakers said their districts had dipped into reserves, too.

"In our minds we're not even looking at FEMA to help us," said Mark Porterie, superintendent of the Port Arthur ISD, just outside Beaumont. "We've given up on that."

Officials from the Dickinson and Galveston school districts said they were still fighting with FEMA and insurance adjusters over millions of dollars to cover expenses arising from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall in 2008.

Galveston ISD Trustee Anthony Brown said that even though his district was eligible for about $17 million after Ike, FEMA has refused to pay all but about $5.5 million.

"We're still going through audits, we're still going through appeals, we're still going through this circle," Brown said. "We've had generations of auditors on this."

Although the state's accountability system and standardized testing was not on the agenda, it was repeatedly brought up by superintendents and education leaders who testified.

Before the superintendents testified, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said his agency had polled Harvey-affected school districts and found that by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, school districts preferred to keep the current testing windows the same rather than move them later.

That stunned Port Aransas ISD Superintendent Mark Kemp, who helped reopen the district to students in mid-October.

"I'm on all the conference calls and meetings with our local superintendents, and we keep saying the same thing - just give us a one-year reprieve," Kemp said. "The stress of testing is huge, and on top of that, we have students who have to find their next meal, who have nowhere to lay their head at night."

Other superintendents who testified Monday said they'd rather have the state hold them harmless for their students' results than change the testing window. None spoke in favor of leaving the state's testing and accountability system in place, as is, for storm-affected districts this year.

Katy ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt said his district's accountability data has been out of whack since the late-August storm. At Mayde Creek High School, for example, Hindt said they've seen a 14 percentage-point drop in the number of students who submitted free or reduced-price lunch applications. He said that's because the district offered free meals through September, so many students who qualify didn't end up submitting applications on time.

He proposed the state give every campus and district within the federal government's disaster area an accountability ranking of "not rated  data integrity issues." Hindt said that's a designation that already exists and can be used under current law, and that it reflects the situation in Katy ISD and other Harvey-affected districts.

"Why hold districts accountable based on flawed data?" Hindt asked. "The state does not care that parents lost jobs or are living on the second story of their home. If you don't think that will have impact on accountability, let me come back a year from now and show you how it did."

The stakes of testing are high for urban districts such as the Houston and Dallas school districts.

State intervention is a possibility in both districts because they have schools receiving four or more consecutive "improvement required" ratings for low academic achievement. If any school receives a fifth straight "improvement required" rating at the end of this school year, a new state law mandates the Texas Education Agency must close the campus or take over the district's school board. Houston ISD has 10 campuses that must improve this year to avoid state intervention, the most in Texas. It's followed by San Antonio ISD (six), Waco ISD (five) and Dallas ISD (four).

Sen. Larry Taylor, chairman of the education committee, said he was trying to weigh the need to recognize what students in some of the most devastated districts have gone through with the need to make sure teachers and schools are held accountable for helping students grow.

"It's a difficult thing. There is some balance we have to reach because it can't be 'Everyone, we get a year'" without accountability or testing, Taylor said. "Some teachers and districts would take advantage and say."Oh, we don't need to do anything.'"
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS -- The Monday morning radio waves became a community meeting ground of sorts for residents still coming to grips with Texas' deadliest modern mass shooting.

San Antonio-based radio station 99.5 KISS Rocks is one of only a few stations that reaches the small town, where 26 people were killed after a gunman entered the First Baptist Church late Sunday morning. The station's headline program, the Billy Madison Show, opened its phone lines to its listeners during its 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. programming and received a flood of calls from people in the Sutherland Springs area.

"The show is known for comedy, it's known for making people laugh, it's known for distraction, but it's also very topical," said Keith Hastings, director of branding and programming for KISS.

"It's not unlike late night television and a lot of the talk shows. So, when you have something like this that hits so hard on so many levels and especially with the local community, it's irresponsible to try to go on as if nothing happened or as if a problem didn't exist, and really our job as broadcasters is to allow our listeners a voice."

Multiple callers said they were from the Sutherland Springs area, and, for a radio station that reaches people almost 100 miles in any direction of the San Antonio broadcasting station, Hastings said he couldn't be sure why so many different listeners from the affected area felt comfortable discussing their experiences.

"My best theory would be that we heard from people that are fans of the show and interact with the show on any given day or week or month, and for them to hear that we were doing what we were doing, there was probably a comfort level to that," Hastings said. "I think in this day and age too, as globalized as the world is, I think some people feel like they still don't have a voice, and if we can offer them that opportunity to grieve, to vent, to express themselves, I think people gravitate to that."

The show featured hot takes and speculation surrounding the details of the Sunday shooting.

One caller, who claimed to have direct family members that were killed in the massacre, who criticized previous people who had called for tighter gun regulations in the U.S.

paul.cobler@chron.com

twitter.com/paulcobler
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It's hard to believe that an innocent photo showing a Texas state trooper petting a kitten was snapped outside a church in Sutherland Springs where a gunman killed 26 worshipers on Sunday.

Other photos show the cat walking over broken glass and near a bouquet of flowers left for victims of Texas' worst mass shooting.

The images are among the hundreds taken that show how surreal a tragedy of this magnitude is, in a quiet town of only a few hundred people.

Of the top 10 deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, none have occurred in town with less than 20,000 residents, according to Newsweek. That changed on Sunday.

POLICE: Texas church shooter sent threatening texts to mother-in-law before attack

Now Playing: Two of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history happened within 35 days. The first was deemed the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history and happened on October 1, 2017, when gunman Stephen Paddock fatally shot 58 people and injured over 500. Then on November 5, 2017, Devin Patrick Kelly murdered 26 people at First Baptist Church in rural Texas. The shooting comes number five after the Pulse Nightclub massacre, in which were 49 killed, the Virginia Tech shooting, which claimed 32 lives, and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in which 27 were fatally shot. 18 deadly mass shooting have occurred in the U.S. over the last decade. Video: Brandpoint

A harrowing CNN statistic estimates that about 4 percent of Sutherland Springs' population was killed by Devin Kelley, a former U.S. Air Force member who was court-martialed in 2012.

To give some idea, if Houston had a mass shooting of equal proportion, the victims would number around 92,000, or 4 percent of the city's 2.3 million residents.

Unfortunately, it's clear the nationwide epidemic of gun-related massacres can happen anywhere, whether it's a city with more than half a million people like Las Vegas, or Sutherland Springs, a small town where one resident told the New York Times "everybody knew everybody."

See other scenes from the Sutherland Springs shooting above.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. -Halfway into his Saturday night rally, after telling about 200 fellow Democrats that Republicans were "crushing the dreams of the middle class," gubernatorial hopeful Phil Murphy did something no nervous candidate would dare.

He broke into song.

"Come on, come on, now, touch me, babe!" warbled Murphy, channeling Jim Morrison and shaking his hips. Democrats were running a joyful campaign, he explained: "They're trying to scare people to vote for them, and we came from the school where we're inspired to vote for people."

Come Tuesday, both parties expect Murphy, a 60-year-old former Goldman Sachs banker and ambassador, to easily defeat Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and put Democrats fully in control of New Jersey. However, New Jersey's election has become an afterthought to the barnburner races in Virginia.

But the race here is one of dozens that parties and outside groups have flooded to test messaging, show off clout, and - for Democrats - exploit the unpopularity of President Donald Trump.

In Washington, Democrats are hoping to secure control of the state Senate, and with it the entire state government. In Maine, progressives are trying to force the expansion of Medicaid coverage with a popular ballot measure. In Trump's own New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio is trying to frame an expected landslide victory as a rebuke of the president.

"The best reason to vote on November 7 is because of what happened last year on November 8," De Blasio told the congregation at the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights on Sunday morning. "Millions of people didn't vote, and they woke up that next morning to a rude awakening. Very rude. I think you know what I mean."

Virginians head to the polls on Tuesday in what's become a neck-and-neck governor's race. Several events in the homestretch have highlighted Democratic divisions and foreshadowed some of the challenges that candidates are likely to face in next year's midterms - even if Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam ultimately wins.

Virginia's Republican gubernatorial nominee, Ed Gillespie, who endorsed Trump and has adopted Trump's positions on immigration, Confederate statues and "sanctuary cities," has nearly abandoned the pretense that he is a traditional Republican in the mold of his former boss, President George W. Bush.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's election, Gillespie has decided to embrace, if not Trump, then Trumpism - enthusiastically. He has morphed into his primary opponent, Corey Stewart, a Trump cheerleader who nearly beat Gillespie in that campaign.

Gillespie, in a state that Hillary Clinton won and where Trump's net disapproval rating is in the double digits, is betting that swing voters stay home while Stewart voters rally to his side.
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Life after Tropical Storm Harvey and an Astros World Series has returned so much to normal, there are few signs it is even Election Day around the Houston region.

With voter turnout predicted to be only about 6 percent, officials expected few voters to decide whether to approve $1 billion in bonds for a pension reform plan favored by Mayor Sylvester Turner and $495 million in bonds for new spending in Houston for a host of amenities.

Among community center dance lessons and treadmill runs, the polling place at Emancipation Park was barren of voters as election night drew to a close.

This election marks the first time the parks community center is used as one, and election judge Michael Hardy, 70, cited the change of location and the consequent lack of communication about it as the reasons for low turnout.

The two precincts, 0021 and 0198, had been housed at the Young Womens College Preparatory Academy and a polling place on Elgin Street.

There were no expectations for today in terms of turnout, Hardy said  there was a slow but steady flow.

As the sky darkened and 7 p.m. drew nearer, the flow trickled to a stop. Lindsay Aston, 29, made it through the door just in time.

Aston voted in favor of all the city bonds.

Id like to see improvements made to our city, she said.

The low turnout wasn't confined to Third Ward. In Montrose, election judge Ginger Blain, 71, said fewer than 10 percent of those registered cast a ballot.

What the voters lack in quantity, they make up for in passion for the issues at hand, she said.

The people that are voting are really interested in what the propositions are, Blain said.

Most of the voters she saw Tuesday took the time to look at the sample ballot pinned to the wall; some even brought notes.

Carolyn Killgore, 71, was one of them.

I studied ahead of time, she said. So, I knew what I was doing to do already.

The pension bond especially held Killgores attention.

I think theyre needed and I think theyre something you support, Killgore said.

Even though Eric and Sabrina Castillo arrived at their polling place together, the couple -- who will celebrate their six-year anniversary Saturday -- didn't see eye to eye on each of the bond proposals.

The Castillos, who live in Montrose, voted "yes" to new bonds for public safety, health and sanitation, but disagreed on authorizing more money for parks and libraries.

ELECTION DAY: Where to vote, things you need to know and other voting essentials

Eric said the he felt uneasy about the city's willingness to issue nearly half a billion in debt for public improvement projects.

We should not issue debt for parks and libraries, he said. That kind of debt puts the city at risk for financial instability. I'm not against improvements -- I think we need alternative sources to fund them.

Sabrina disagreed, saying the bonds are investments for the city's future.

If we don't say yes now, we're saying no to the future, she said. This is our time tell the city that we want better facilities and public amenities. I think we should take advantage of the opportunity.

Zach Belis, 25, said he generally voted in favor of the propositions at his Montrose polling location. The language wasnt too heavy  he has a political science background  but Belis said he can see why a casual or less educated reader would have trouble understanding the language of some of the propositions.

I just looked up the issues and aligned them with my values, Belis said.

Voters in other cities considered issues ranging from infrastructure to school spending, along with seven state propositions. Baytown, Bellaire and Missouri City voters were electing new city council members.

Former Houston city employee Michael Halpin, 64, said he voted for on every proposition on the ballot for the first time in his life.

Mostly I vote whatever the state tells me to, Halpin said. Sylvester also said hed do something about (the pension program) and he did, so well see what happens.

Turnout was uneven around the region, sometimes spurred by local school issues more than the state propositions.

We have had better turnout than I thought we would have, Fort Bend County Elections Administrator John Oldham said.

Other polling spots around the region reported higher-than-expected results, though the differences in many cases were in the dozens and not hundreds of additional voters.

The historic Trinity Episcopal Church on Holman in Houston is a relatively new polling place for a small precinct, election judge Gwendolyn Laster said. The county is testing its iPad voting booths at the polling place which can be expected to see around 40 people per election. As of Tuesday afternoon, they'd seen 71.

"I'm surprised there have been this many people," Laster, 42, said. "Sometimes I ask myself what's wrong with this precinct, but they've really turned out today."

Oldham said officials were assessing why turnout was high in some places but low in precincts right across the street. Still, Fort Bend County was on pace for the lowest November turnout since 2011, when it had 60,000 fewer registered voters.

Oldham said officials did not attribute the dip to the effects of flooding from Hurricane Harvey, which displaced thousands. Fort Bend allows voters to go into any polling place to vote, not just within their precinct.

MUDS: MUD measures anything on Tuesday's ballot anything but clear

So, if somebody from Cinco Ranch is staying down in Rosenberg, thats no problem, Oldham said.

Election officials in Harris County did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon, but no problems were apparent at any polling places.

At many locations, things were downright calm, based on social media traffic. Most of the activity online focused on encouraging others to head to the polls.

I know this isn't a big election but y'all should vote, Space City Weather meteorologist Matt Lanza said in a tweet. We're going to have big decisions to make and this is where it begins.

Those big decisions, however, did not lead to a flurry of campaigns and mailings, outside Houstons pension bond vote and a few other matters. Oldham noted he didnt receive any mailings related to the seven state propositions, most of which have slight implications on property taxes for some homeowners.

I guess nobodys ox is being gored by these, Oldham said of the light campaigns.
AUSTIN -- Ten years after a sex-abuse scandal sparked top-to-bottom reforms in Texas' juvenile justice system, investigators are probing allegations of widespread sexual misconduct between guards and teen-aged offenders at a North Texas lockup.

A former correctional officer at the Gainesville State School, Samuel Lee Wright, was convicted in July of improper sexual activity with youths in custody, a second-degree felony, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, officials said.

Two additional correctional officers, both women, have been arrested in recent weeks on charges that they had sex with 18-year-old youths in custody or tried to. An additional arrest is expected in coming days on similar charges, officials said.

One of the arrested employees is allegedly pregnant with the a youth offender's child, reports show.

"The Texas Juvenile Justice Department takes its mandate to protect youths and communities very seriously, and has implemented new guidelines providing additional measures designed to ensure safety," an internal agency report provided to state officials about the investigation states.

"The recent arrests of these correctional officers demonstrate that our reporting mechanisms, camera footage and checks and balances are accomplishing what they were intended to accomplish. Vigilance in observing and reporting questionable behavior is a key to keeping the youth in our care safe." A copy was obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Investigators at the agency said they are focusing on how widespread the sexual activity is between staff and youths. Internal reports show most of the youth victims are age 18.

In recent days, officials confirmed they have directed that all youth transports -- on foot and in vehicles -- will be on a "never alone" basis, where two staff members must be present when moving youth. In cases where two staffers are not available, staff will wear body cameras.

Action promised

In a statement, TJJD Executive Director David Reilly pledged swift action to ensure youths are safe.

"No facility of program dealing with children and youth is immune from staff misconduct," he said. "What is critical for those responsible for operating such facilities or programs is to understand that fact and ensure proper controls and safeguards are in place to the fullest possible extent. And those safeguards need to include open reporting mechanisms and swift and competent investigations."

While agency officials insist they have stepped up training and security protections in recent months, part of reforms initiated after the 2005 sexual abuse scandal at what was then the Texas Youth Commission, reports obtained by the Chronicle show sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships been an issue at Gainesville for some time.

Opened in 1913 as a training school for girls, the 160-acre center north of Dallas has been plagued in recent years by increasing gang activity, disruptions and assaults -- the same issues faced at the rest of the state-run youth lockups.

Agency officials have blamed that on an increasing number of violent-crime offenders, thanks in part to the reforms that kept most non-violent and lower-level offenders in county-run rehabilitation and treatment programs.

A complaint logged in March 2016 alleged that a program specialist was having an inappropriate relationship with a youth. "She lets him touch her in inappropriate ways . . . she even kissed him ," according to the report.

Another complaint logged February 2017 reported a correctional officer "was having sexual relations with (a youth)up until he left and now she is having sexual relation with (another youth). They do things in the infirmary van so there is no camera evidence but it is clearly obvious."

"The is serious and needs to be investigated and stopped," the report states.

In April 2017, a grievance reported that a female supervisor at Gainesville "keeps performing oral sex on youth in the ODS van at night. She is also having youth perform oral sex on her. She paid to have the youth perform oral sex on her."

In June, a youth reported that a female correctional officer "will pay youth to watch them masturbate." A month later, a supervisor reported that a youth told him that "over the past year he had sexual contact" with two staff members, "one provided him with oral sex and the other provided sexual intercourse. He said this occurred in the vans."

On one occasion, the report states, one female staff member "watched as he was openly masturbating."

That same month, officials received a report from the parent of a youth who had recently left the lockup that "he bragged to them that he had a sexual relation with a guard at Gainesville . . . This staff wanted to co-sign a vehicle for him, and provided her drivers license and other information."

In late August, a letter to a youth was found during a dorm search, in which a female staff member "detailed the writer wanting to perform sexual acts with the youth."

Other complaints during the past year have alleged improper relationships between Gainesville staff members and youths, some of whom have left the lockup on parole.

In one filed last May, the mother of a youth complained that a female guard "is currently involved in an inappropriate relationship with her son." The guard "picks her son up from their residence on a regular basis, and has remained absent from home for as long as 3-4 days," according to one report.

The son is now 19.

"Mother states the inappropriate relationship began at the facility after her son's return to Gainesville State School after his parole was revoked in April of 2015," according to an internal report.

According to the internal reports, most of the youths involved in the sexual misconduct were ages 18 and 19.

In July, Wright, who had been correctional officer at Gainesville for just under three years, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for engaging in sexual activity with three teenagers at the lockup -- three males, ages 16, 17 and 18.

Wright was a former guard at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, who authorities later confirmed had continued working at the juvenile justice agency even after officials there discovered he had a previous history of disciplinary infractions.

His conviction, and the arrests of two additional female correctional officers in the months since, highlights what officials say what for years has been chronic issue in juvenile lockups: Sexual misconduct, in an era when teacher-student sex has reached chronic proportions in schools, in correctional facilities where sex is often used to gain power or control.

Agency officials said the Gainesville facility has "unique challenges": 36 buildings on 40 acres, which creates many pathways in and around the buildings. The center's makes it more challenging to visualize and monitor electronically than other TJJD campuses, they said.

The facility also has the second largest population of youth among the TJJD schools and secure state facilities.

Past scandal

Nonetheless, when allegations surfaced in the spring of 2005 that staff members at a state-run youth lockup in remote West Texas had regularly engaged in sexual misconduct with incarcerated youths, Texas lawmakers swiftly took action to make sure it never happened again.

As a result of the headline-grabbing scandal, the top administrators and governing board at the Texas Youth Commission were terminated, dozens of staff members were fired and faced criminal charges for sexual assault and the agency was placed in a form of receivership as sweeping reforms were put in place.

At least 10 teen-aged boys were found to have been sexually victimized at the West Texas center, among more than 750 complaints of sexual misconduct against correctional officers and other TYC employees since January 2000 -- most of which were confirmed, many of which had never been fully investigated.

The new agency implemented a "zero tolerance" policy on sexual and physical abuse at the six remaining lockups it operates that house about 1,000 teen-aged offenders, down from more than 5,000 youths at 14 facilities in 2004.

As part of the reforms, more than 9,000 cameras were installed in the agency's lockups to keen eye on staff and youths around the clock.

'Still broken'

Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who was an architect of the 2007 reforms, said the latest allegations at Gainesville come after years of reports of gang activity, assaults and disruptions at the state's youth lockups, even with all the reforms.

Based on the initial information, Whitmire said he intends to focusing on what new reforms are needed at the juvenile-justice agency are needed to ensure that the sexual activity is curbed once and for all.

"After all the reforms we made, these new reports at Gainesville are very, very troubling," he said. "Sexual abuse, high staff turnover and staff injuries, a horrible recidivism rate, gang activity -- the problems from before have continued. While the agency says the system is working, why is this level of sexual activity going on at Gainesville at all."

"I think our system is still broken."

Mike Ward is the Chronicle's Austin bureau chief. Follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Women's Hackathon: Cum femeile din regiuni pot contribui la schimbarile din comunitate, utilizand tehnologiile informationale
AKRON, Ohio - Seniors in Middlebury will have access to new, income-based housing in the heart of the Akron neighborhood, once Middlebury Commons opens its doors in spring 2019.

A project of the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp., Middlebury Commons is a three-story, 40-unit complex planned for the corner of Market and Broad streets where Solkol's furniture store once stood.

The development will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments on the top two floors, a health clinic, and retail on the ground floor, such as a restaurant, and a beauty salon or barber shop, said East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. President Grady Appleton.

With its proximity to Dave's Supermarket, the new senior development is planned to support a city-wide effort to improve residents' health by boosting walkability in Akron's neighborhoods. It also will benefit from investments made by nearby anchors University of Akron, East End Development and Summa Health.

"It's going to have a big impact and draw more draw investment to the area," Appleton said.

The $11 million project qualifies for $6 million in state tax credits and $2.25 million in U.S. HUD grants. The residential portion of the development also will quality for Akron's residential tax abatement, launched last spring, which exempts 100 percent of the property value on new residential construction for 15-years. The development will be designed by the Mota Design Group, a Testa Companies firm, and built by Welty-Testa Builders.

Middlebury Commons also will benefit from investments made by the city and its partners under an "Invest Health" initiative by Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Akron received a $60,000 grant to join other Invest Health teams to seek out ways to boost Middlebury residents' access to safe and affordable housing, places to play and exercise and quality jobs.

Under the Invest Health initiative, the city has worked with Testa Companies, Habitat for Humanity, The Well and East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. since the 2016 Middlebury Better Block.

"This project is actually considered to be our first real win, our first success," said Terry Albanese, city advisor on education, health and families.

As a result, Middlebury Commons will be designed to provide supportive services, such as making meals, light housekeeping and adequate transportation services accessible to residents. It will offer regularly scheduled activity programs and support a resident association.

In addition to supportive services, the project is planned to have a positive impact on the community through improvements to the real estate value and quality of life in the surrounding area.

"We can make a difference by bringing in some of the amenities the neighbors indicated they wanted to see at the Better Block," Albanese said.

Middlebury Commons' proximity to its neighbor, the Well Community Development Corp., will also bring benefits. The Well, located in Akron's First Presbyterian Church, is working to strengthen the challenged neighborhood by reinvesting in Middlebury's housing stock, creating jobs and strengthening the neighborhood's identity through place-making.

The Well houses Compass Coffee, which opened in February, is intended to be a place people can connect across racial, economic or social boundaries.

Middlebury will host part of the Rubber City Heritage Trail, a joint venture of the city, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, the Knight Foundation and Summit Metro Parks. The trail will begin in Middlebury near the former Goodyear campus on Market and move southeast to connect with the Towpath Trail in Kenmore along the Ohio & Erie Canal. The city also plans to donate a small, triangular park on Market Street to the development.

Construction on Middlebury Commons is expected to break ground in early 2018.

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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On election eve, several residents turned out for City Council with questions ranging from the potential budget surplus to gas aggregation to the future of the Coventry PEACE Park campus.

At least one voter planned to take answers with him to the polls Tuesday.

Gabe Schaffer, who lives across from the former Coventry school, asked where individual council members stood on the issue of turning the building over to the nonprofits that still occupy it.

He was told that, up for re-election or not, no council members have ever come out against the proposal, which was discussed in further financial detail Monday night during an executive session.

The 6-acre property is still owned by the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, which asked the city in May to take over marketing for interested developers and put the tenants on month-to-month leases in July.

That was short-lived, as council extended their leases out at least another year, held off on issuing Requests for Proposals and Qualifications from private developers and signed off on a Future Heights application for a $50,000 planning grant.

However, any details of Monday's closed-door discussion were not released and the nonprofits have expressed concern that if a deal does not materialize, they will need to start looking soon for new leases elsewhere.

The CH-UH school board has only heard the tenants' initial pitch for letting them keep the building and arts campus, with some sustainable housing proposed in unused areas. No future meetings have been scheduled yet.

Meanwhile, resident Melody Hart asked the city to work with a financial planning analyst to determine the best course for what is expected to be at least a $2 million budget surplus at the end of the year.

Noting that the city carried over about $3.8 million into this year, Hart also questioned the need to consider replacing a 20-year, 1.5-mill levy that rolls off at the end of 2017 with another tax.

While she thinks the city's "pre-funding" strategy for anticipated expenses like health care is a good idea, Hart said other "best practices" could include establishing a debt retirement fund.

Other surplus possibilities could include funding capital improvements in the Noble neighborhood north of Mayfield Road, as well as setting up a Community Development Corporation (CDC).

If the city seeks another tax levy to replace the one that's falling off, then continues to wind up with budget surpluses, "it could raise concerns among residents that the tax increases were excessive," Hart said.

City Manager Tanisha Briley said this is only the second year in a row since she started on the job in 2013 that Cleveland Heights has seen a surplus -- although three years ago, the city "broke even" after prior years of deficit spending.

"Part of our responsibility is a reasonable cash reserve, and right now we have about one month of operating expenses (around $3 million) in reserve," Briley said.

While that's an improvement from only having the equivalent of one payroll (about $1 million) in reserve, "our 'best practices' would probably be more like two months of operating expenses (over $6 million)," Briley said.

At the same time, the city also has about $2 million in a Budget Stabilization Account, or "rainy day fund," although that can only be spent under certain circumstances -- like an extra (27th) payroll in 2017, which happens about every 12th year.

"But just because we're spending less than we're taking in, it doesn't mean that we're collecting an excess of revenue," Briley said. "And we do have a five-year financial forecast in place."

Also, resident Bill Bruml told council that since the city did not renew its gas aggregation contract with Constellation Energy, he has had a hard time reaching officials at Dominion natural gas.

"I just want to know who the supplier is and what's going on without waiting for the bill at the end of the month," Bruml said.

Briley said the city is "looking for much lower rates than we were locked into" with Constellation. But a new program that lowers rates through "combined volume purchasing power" probably won't be introduced until early 2018.

In other business, Councilwoman Carol Roe announced that the Charter Review Commission will convene for its first meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

All meetings will be open to the public, with the first session providing an overview of the Charter Review process by the city's facilitator, Larry Keller. Future meetings will be held in Council Chambers.

After receiving considerable feedback, Councilman Kahlil Seren said he is proposing substantive changes to his draft legislation to regulate local civil immigration enforcement, and would like to get it on the agenda for discussion at a council meeting later this month.

Prior to the Monday (Nov. 6) regular meeting, council also met in a separate executive session with the development team on the Top of the Hill project.

No details were released there either, although officials have said the next step will be a formal development agreement with Flaherty & Collins Properties of Indianapolis, and possible construction in the second half of 2018.
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio -- U.S. Marshals on Tuesday arrested a man who is charged with murder in an East Cleveland killing.

Merlin Johnson, 22, was arrested on Nela Avenue near Noble Road in East Cleveland, the U.S. Marshals' Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force said in a news release.

Johnson and a second man are charged in the Oct. 26 shooting death of Jonathan Singletary. The 45-year-old man was found shot to death in his car on Orinoco Avenue at Manhattan Avenue, police said.

Eric Wilson, 23, of Euclid, is also charged with murder and aggravated robbery in the killing. Wilson remains in custody on $1 million bond at the Cuyahoga County Jail, records show.

Investigators believe the shooting happened after a failed armed robbery. Detectives said Johnson and Wilson tried to steal from Singletary, who sold them marijuana, police said.

Detectives have not determined whether Johnson or Wilson shot and killed Singletary, police said.

Officers were investigating a report of a man sleeping in his car when they found Singletary with a gunshot wound, authorities said.

Singletary died after paramedics took him to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

Johnson was released from prison Oct. 3 after serving a four-year sentence at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records show. He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to robbery and felonious assault charges in Cuyahoga County, records show.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section.
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The chubby guy in plaid is Erik Selvig. In this stinger, he has a short discussion with Nick Fury about one of the MCU's resident MacGuffins, the Tesseract, and we find out that he's secretly mind-controlled by Loki. Oh shit!

It's just that if this little scene is canon, it completely undermines the events of The Avengers.

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Loki isn't on Earth himself in that scene. He's ... wherever he ended up when he fell off Bifrost at the end of Thor. Loki is possessing Selvig from another dimension, which raises a question: Why did anything in The Avengers happen? That movie very specifically kicks off when Loki uses the Tesseract "from the other side" to arrive on Earth. At this point, he has a scepter that hosts the Mind Stone, which he puts to good use to possess people such as Hawkeye and ... Selvig. Before that, Selvig is completely normal, and even throws a little shade at Loki by identifying him as "Thor's brother." Why would Loki bother to ... repossess Selvig? In fact, why come to Earth at all and start poking your mind-slaves in the chest with your mind scepter if you can do that shit from afar?

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Another post-credits scene courtesy of Doctor Strange:

Here we see the esteemed doctor discussing Loki (it's almost as if the MCU doesn't have any other interesting villains) with Thor, and it becomes apparent that the trickster is considered a high-level threat to the world in sorcerer circles. If that's the case, then where the hell were the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj during Loki's invasion in the first Avengers movie? Their entire deal is to protect the Earth from threats from other dimensions, and one of the three Sanctums they use for this is in New York. You'd think that an immensely powerful Asgardian sorcerer god opening an alien-spewing portal right above one of the sites they're sworn to defend with their lives would warrant at least a few fireballs.
Cloud News

Salesforce And Google Forge Strategic 'Preferred' Partnership

Joseph Tsidulko

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Salesforce and Google locked arms tighter Monday with a new strategic partnership through which the CRM giant is naming Google Cloud Platform, a "preferred cloud provider," and Google is reciprocating by selecting Salesforce its preferred CRM.

In addition to the platform partnerships, Google's G Suite office productivity portfolio will see deeper integration with Salesforce cloud applications, including Sales and Marketing clouds, as will the Google Analytics 360 platform.

The term "preferred" doesn't indicate exclusivity, and the same status granted to Amazon Web Services in May of 2016 will continue, Ryan Aytay, executive vice president of business development at Salesforce, said at a news conference on the first day of the Dreamforce conference.

[Related: Partners Eager To Learn More At Dreamforce About Salesforce's Roadmap For Upgrading Its Einstein Intelligence Platform]

However, Google Cloud Platform will be the platform on which Salesforce plans to expand its core services into new global geographies, he said.

Tariq Shaukat, Google's president for partners and industry platforms, said a top request from Google customers has been "tighter and tighter integration with Salesforce."

The two companies had previously done "light touch integrations," but the new partnership will yield entirely co-engineered solutions, Shaukat said when joining Salesforce executives at the Salesforce conference that kicked off Monday in San Francisco.

Google's cloud division "will continue to use Salesforce as its preferred CRM provider to engage with its cloud customers in new and meaningful ways," according to a joint statement.

Mike Rosenbaum, executive vice president for CRM Apps at Salesforce, said the two companies could achieve more by directly working together than they can by interconnecting through their "API surface area."

The deal marks the first time Google has directly integrated its cloud products with another leading cloud software provider, said Bob Stutz, Salesforce's CEO for its marketing cloud and chief analytics officer.

"It's been the number-one ask of our customers to have the two integrated in a seamless way," he added.

"We view this as the best of both worlds for our mutual customers," Aytay said.

The term "preferred" means Salesforce will consider GCP "to be part of our trusted infrastructure," Aytay said. "Something our engineers can work on."

Pressed by reporters at the news conference on the relationship with AWS, Aytay said, "for the benefit of our customers, we find it necessary to find multiple technology partners."

As part of the deal, Google will offer a year of free G Suite use to new or existing Salesforce customers.

Further integrations through the partnership will include Salesforce Lightning for Gmail, placing CRM data into Google's email system, and customer interactions from Gmail directly into Salesforce. Salesforce solutions, including Quip Live Apps, will also see deeper interoperability with Google products like Sheets, Drive and Calendar.

Some of those deeper integrations should start rolling out next year.

Google cloud chief Diane Greene will join Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff for an onstage discussion Tuesday at Dreamforce.

Kai Hsiung, chief revenue officer at New York City-based Salesforce partner Silverline, said Google and Salesforce moving forward with their strategic partnership is something the systems integrator is eagerly anticipating, particularly around marketing analytics.

Silverline already has customers that its helping leverage Google analytics to deliver greater insights from the Salesforce Marketing Cloud. With the partnership, the solution provider hopes integration is more seamless and robust, Hsiung told CRN.

To see it formalized will add to the overall impact from a go-to-market perspective, he said.
Cloud News

Salesforce CEO Benioff Does AI 'My' Way, With More Customization And Data Science Powering Products

Joseph Tsidulko

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Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff introduced new Salesforce capabilities Monday that allow partners to offer clients highly customized solutions branded and geared for their unique businesses.

After spending much of his opening keynote at the 2017 Dreamforce conference roaming the aisles and talking about social issues, Benioff shifted focus to the company's new line of products that add the prefix "my" to several popular solutions.

Those include myTrailhead, myEinstein, myLightning, myIoT, and mySalesforce, which take Salesforce's evolving customization capabilities to a level at which they appear they were natively, explicitly developed for the customer.

[Related: Salesforce And Google Forge Strategic 'Preferred' Partnership]

"This platform is getting richer and deeper and more capable every day," Benioff said, adding Salesforce development and product teams focus both on the core products and creating next-generation capabilities.

Last year at Dreamforce, Salesforce introduced its Einstein artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Now, myEinstein adds functionality sought by partners, including custom AI models, bots, and a prediction builder that spits out sales projections and attrition predictions.

"Everybody knows we've got to move forward on artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, all types of data science," Benioff told Dreamforce attendees.

AI is the future of all Salesforce applications, he said. And Einstein delivers advanced data science to all users, allowing them to create smart apps "with clicks, not code," he said.

You can even get Einstein recommendations on which sessions to attend at the Dreamforce conference, he added.

Salesforce Lightning already offers a framework for developing unique user interfaces. The new myLightning solution takes that further with more dynamic components and layouts that make interfaces look entirely like they were built by the customer, not Salesforce. Customers can select custom themes, branding, colors and background images.

Salesforce has been "working really hard" to build out the Trailhead learning environment, Benioff told attendees. He said Trailhead is often the first thing customers bring up when they meet him.

"People say they wish they had their own Trailhead, with their own logo and identity, to enable their partners and customers," Salesforce's CEO said.

That's why myTrailhead is "exactly for you," he said. "Trailhead with your brand and your content."

"It is the learning cloud, it is the enablement cloud, it is the community cloud all in one," Benioff added.

With mySalesforce, partners can take customized Salesforce applications and move them almost immediately, using declarative functionality, onto a mobile phone. They simply appear as a brand app available through Google Play or the App Store.

The fourth industrial revolution is all around, Benioff said, bringing connectivity to products like motorcycles, elevators, and soda coolers.

The "my" series extends into that realm through myIoT, a rebuild of Salesforce's platform for interconnected devices that puts IoT directly into the core Salesforce environment customers are familiar with, Benioff said.

"We're going to keep giving you new functionality, new technology, three times a year, magically," Parker Harris, Salesforce co-founder, and CTO told attendees.

Whether customers choose no-code, low-code or code, it's "always going to be easy" with Salesforce, Harris said.

The "my" series continues a product development path of enabling customization of Salesforce products with minimal coding, Kai Hsiung, chief revenue officer at Silverline, a Salesforce integrator based in New York City, told CRN.

"But this iteration feels more meaningful," Hsiung said after the keynote. "As a Salesforce user, we would likely use all of them internally and recommend them to our clients."

That includes the myTrailhead customized learning paths, which Silverline will likely deploy for its own employees and clients, Hsiung told CRN.
Internet of things News

CRN Exclusive: IoT Company Globetouch Snaps Up Security Player Netsnapper

Lindsey O'Donnell

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Globetouch, an Internet of Things connectivity company, has acquired IoT security company Netsnapper as the company looks to secure its car connectivity offerings.

Riccardo Di Blasio, CEO of Oakland, Calif.-based Globetouch, told CRN that security has been top of mind for customers  particularly those in the connected car market.

The more connected cars and IoT fleets that are populating the planet, the more customers are becoming concerned about protecting the communication between the car and the server or cars and other cars, said Di Blasio. Our goal isnt to be a security company  were connectivity people  but we want a better answer when customers ask about the protocol to secure the communication layer.

[Related: Solution Providers: Business-Outcome-Based Model Key To IoT Sales Success]

Di Blasio, who said building up a channel will be an essential part of his overall strategy to scale Globetouch's business, said the acquisition would help partners jump-start conversations around security with customers.

Luxembourg-based Netsnapper provides security offerings for connected car, industrial IoT and smart city applications. The companys portfolio includes a cloud-based client-server offering comprised of key modules for security and management of IoT devices.

Terms of the deal, including price, were not disclosed.

Netsnappers security offerings will be integrated into Globetouchs flagship offerings, including connectivity product GConnect and management offering GControl, which is built on a cloud SIM scalable architecture. Globetouch also offers an IoT analytics and orchestration tool, GFusion.

We offer connectivity, fleet management and real-time analytics, and now will have GSecure functionality where clients can protect any tunnel of communication for their connected fleet, said Di Blasio. We want to have a security jacket wrapped around the connectivity layer of the devices.

Beyond securing connected cars, Di Blasio said that the acquisition of Netsnapper will help Globetouch tap into the security companys vertical market expertise to eventually expand into new markets  including industrial IoT and smart cities.

This acquisition also gives Globetouch a huge boost to open addressable markets  were open to new opportunities in industrial IoT and others beyond our focus in the automotive space, he said.

Security is key for M2M applications, and its a serious talking point for partners to bring to customers  the fact that were taking it into our road plans should show customers that its a top priority for Globetouch, said Talia Wise, associate vice president of marketing at Globetouch.
Security News

CRN Exclusive: Carbon Black Hires Microsoft Vet As Channel Chief

Michael Novinson

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Carbon Black has tapped Microsoft veteran Victor Gureghian Baez to lead its channel operations as the company looks to strengthen its international footprint and better leverage IT distribution.

Baez comes to the Waltham, Mass.-based endpoint security vendor after five-and-a-half years at Microsoft, where he worked alongside Carbon Black's recently-hired Chief Revenue Officer Thomas Hansen. Baez replaces Ken Hammond, who became Carbon Black's channel chief in December 2015 after leading the channel within Cisco's $2.5 billion security sales organization.

"There's obviously an expectation that they're going to be growing at a pretty fast pace outside of the U.S," Baez told CRN . "A channel strategy has to be global, and you have to be able to leverage the best practices from around the world."

[Related: Carbon Black Hires Former Dropbox Exec As Its First Chief Revenue Officer]

Carbon Black does more than three-quarters of its business today in the United States but believes it could achieve a 60/40 ratio between U.S. and foreign sales in the coming years through rapid growth in its Asia-Pacific, Australian, Japanese and European operations, Baez said. The company already has channel leadership in place in EMEA and APAC, Baez said, and has received positive partner feedback.

"There's a tremendous growth opportunity," Baez said.

Baez believes he is well-suited to lead Carbon Black's international expansion given his experience working in every major region of the world save for the Middle East and Africa. Carbon Black's strong community of incident responders specializing in helping end users understand the dynamics behind a particular breach should give the company a competitive advantage abroad, according to Baez.

Carbon Black should also gain a better foothold with data center infrastructure partners around the globe through a new distributor relationship inked earlier this year with Centennial, Colo.-based Arrow Electronics, Baez said.

Baez expects that most of Carbon Black's partners in North America and elsewhere will ultimately end up going through distribution, although the vendor will continue to offer certification, training and leads to its channel. Going through distributors will make it easier for solution providers to procure and bundle multiple products from a single source.

Baez will be tasked with leading channel revenue and growth as well as accelerating the company's global reseller footprint and incident response program. Carbon Black is looking to accelerate the rollout of its Predictive Security Cloud, which collects and analyzes unfiltered endpoint data to make predictions about  and protect against  future and unknown attacks.

During Baez's time at Microsoft, he spent four-and-a-half years leading the Redmond, Wash.-based vendor's SMB and midmarket channels in Latin America and less than a year spearheading worldwide distribution and indirect channel efforts. Baez spent his first three years at Microsoft working under Hansen, who served as the company's worldwide vice president of small and medium business until September 2015.

Hanson's arrival at Carbon Black played a "pretty big role" in Baez's decision to join the company three months later. Baez said he has been impressed by Hansen's solid track record at Microsoft and elsewhere, as well as his dynamic and entrepreneurial nature.

"We're in a people business," Baez said.

Before his time at Microsoft, Baez spent two years as Belkin's managing director of Latin America, four years at Netgear as a senior director of Latin America, Asia-Pacific and China, and 11 years as a managing director for Tech Data in the Americas and Europe.

Carbon Black drives more than 90 percent of all sales through the channel and has strengthened its partner portfolio with more than 75 MSSP/incident response solution providers worldwide, according to the company.
Security News

Symantec Acquires VPN Secure Software Maker SurfEasy, Strengthening Its Consumer Security Business

Steven Burke

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Symantec has added more muscle to its consumer security business unit with the acquisition of secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) maker SurfEasy in a $38.5 million deal.

SurfEasy's parent Opera Software said it is an all-cash deal with 85 percent paid at closing and the remaining 15 percent held in escrow for up to 15 months.

[Related: Symantec CEO Clark: Equifax Breach Is Driving A 'New Normal' For Identity Protection, Consumer Business Is 'Strong Growth Engine']

SurfEasy  which will become part of Symantec's Consumer Business Unit  was already an OEM provider to Symantec powering the Norton Wi-Fi VPN product.

The deal comes just one week after Symantec raised the outlook on the consumer business with projections for mid-single-digit growth rates. That's a dramatic turnaround from a year ago when Symantec's consumer business was experiencing high-single-digit or even double-digit sales declines.

Douglas Grosfield, CEO of Five Nines IT, a fast-growing Kitchener, Ontario, strategic service provider, said the deal is key to Symantec beefing up its security muscle.

"Hallelujah to Symantec for buying SurfEasy," said Grosfield. "It is not a major acquisition in the grand scheme of things, but this technology definitely makes it easier for business people to securely communicate in the midst of the widespread ubiquity of wireless services and free Wi-Fi."

Grosfield said he sees the client secure VPN technology that SurfEasy has protecting iOS, Android, Mac and Windows devices as one more sign of vendors moving to provide end-to-end integrated secure platforms.

"What we are seeing is a changing of the guard with the bigger security players providing an end-to-end unified security platform from the consumer client to the enterprise data center," he said. "In the past what we were relegated to betting on a whole bunch of different horses as we tried to build a cohesive security architecture on our own."

Grosfield said close to 50 percent of his company's revenue comes from security offerings with strong partnerships with the likes of Sophos, Webroot and Carbon Black. One of his strongest security offerings is security awareness training from KnowBe4, -- whose tagline is "Human Error. Conquered."

"It doesn't matter what security technology you have if humans drop the ball," said Grosfield. "This is using people as a human firewall. If you don't cover your bases with security awareness training, you are leaving a huge gap. It's a case of the emperor has no pants."

The current Symantec Norton Wi-Fi VPN product, which is powered by SurfEasy, has seen "strong momentum" in the wake of the KRACK vulnerability in the wifi protocol that came to light last month, said Symantec CEO Greg Clark on the company's earnings call last week. He said the spike in the VPN product was "very, very substantial" with the offering adding as much as $30 to $50 a year subscription growth rates to the standard Norton security product.
Four border-crossing species on the brink because of the Wall

MEXICAN WOLF, along with the black bear, the jaguar and the Sonoran pronghorn are amongst the major species that will result as a victim of -both- the current and the proposed Trump's Wall.

La Cronica de Chihuahua

Noviembre de 2017, 19:30 pm

Wildlands Network has published a new report, under the name "Four Species on the Brink- And the Wall that Would Push Them Towards Extinction", that remarks the potential impacts on the black bear, the Mexican wolf, the jaguar and the Sonoran pronghorn, as a result of the border wall, both the current and the psoposed one.

Following, we present the part corresponding to the Mexican wolf.

Expected effects of border wall:

 Blocking of dispersal corridors preventing genetic interchange between recovering ppulations in Mexico and the U.S., leading to populations at greater risk from local extinction.

What you need to know:

Mexican wolves are the most threatened subspecies of gray wolf in the world. Extirpated in the U.S. as a result of aggressive extermination campaigns during the last two centuries, wolves are only recovering now thanks to a binational reintroduction program. There are currently two semi-isolated populations, one in the region designated as Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) in southern Arizona and New Mexico and one in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico.

Mexican wolves, despite their smaller stature when compared to other subspecies, can still travel huge distances and are constantly seeking new territories to establish good hunting grounds and safe dens, away from human disturbance.

Whats being done:

The Mexican wolf recovery program is a binational program involving several federal and state agencies of the United States and Mexico as well as breeding centers, veterinaries and field experts. It is cemented in nearly 30 years of international collaboration and keeps a captive population as genetically diverse as possible while advancing releases into areas deemed suitable in both countries. Animals released in any given site might have been born in either country and are selected based upon to how their genetic traits contribute to the overall goals of the program. Releases in New Mexico, Arizona, Sonora and Chihuahua and the reproduction of the individuals released have resulted in an overall wild population of at least 141 individuals. The USFWS recently issued a revised Recovery Plan, which focuses on the need to establish two populations of the species one of them in Mexico potentially connected by habitat good enough to facilitate gene-flow between them. Comments from experts on this draft plan, including those submitted by Wildlands Network, call for an increase in the target number of populations and the connectivity between them.

MEXICO collaborates in the captive breeding program and in 2011 started its own reintroductions. To date it has released 41 wolves in Sonora and Chihuahua and has managed to establish a population of approximately 28 wild wolves. In 2014 a pair of released wolves in Chihuahua had a litter of five pups, marking the first wild births of the species in Mexico in more than 30 years. The pair went on to produce two more litters in subsequent years.

Mexican scientists are currently evaluating the potential for additional reintroductions in the southern Sierra Madre Occidental. The same program that compensates for cattle losses due to jaguar predation covers losses from proven wolf predations, and landowners collaborating in wolf reintroductions receive financial incentives for managing their lands for conservation.

Border Crosser

In 2016, a female was born in a breeding facility near Cananea in the state of Sonora, Mexico. She was fitted with a collar and, in October of the same year, released in the neighboring state of Chihuahua, 90 miles from the international border. Known by wolf managers as f1530, and named Sonora by wolf advocates, she then traveled north. Her collar last located her 21 miles south of the border on Valentines Day, 2017. On March 19, she was sighted in Arizona, and a week later she was captured by an Interagency Field Team in charge of the species on-the-ground management, to be taken to a breeding facility, pending a decision on her future.

Sonora showed a wild courage in traveling through the rugged terrain of the borderlands, undeterred by highways and other obstacles in her search for a family.

Whats at stake:

Recovery of such a wide-ranging species necessarily requires trans-jurisdictional collaboration as well as a foundation of goodwill and trust between partners. A recovery, decades in the making, could be more threatened than ever if limited by an impenetrable border wall resulting from a lack of long-term planning for sustainable, cross-border populations. Despite veterinarians best efforts, the best strategy to prevent genetic issues detrimental to a species survival remains establishing several wild and connected populations. With Mexican wolves already facing problems associated with their shallow gene pool, it is imperative that populations in the wild

be allowed to continue the dynamics of natural selection unimpeded by infrastructure that could preclude gene flow between packs.
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DANBURY  Despite having nearly 60,000 square feet of vacant space, Felix Charney saw something special in Lee Farm Corporate Park when his company, Summit Development, purchased the building and property for $16.9 million in 2013.

His instincts were spot on as he sold the asset late last month for $31.75 million. Lee Farm Corporate Park is a five-story, 215,649-square-foot Class A office building overlooking the airport on Wooster Heights Road.

Charney said his company, along with investment partner The Grossman Cos. of Quincy, Mass., invested more than $1 million in renovations to bring the building up to date. The improvements, along with aggressive marketing, Charney said, helped bring the occupancy rate up to 100 percent. It was 65 percent occupied when Summit purchased the building.

Summit Development and The Grossman Cos. put Lee Farm back on the market in spring 2016.

A buyer came along and saw the same thing we saw. The transaction came together smoothly, Charney said. Were very pleased with how it worked out.

The buyer was CT Property & Realty, a domestic limited-liability company that filed with the state in June of this year. Officials with CT Property & Realty could not be reached for comment. The owners are based in the New York City area.

The sale brought $396,875 to the state in conveyance fees and $79,375 to Danbury.

Certainly, to have a city commercial real estate property double in value is a good sign for the city and its property values, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said.

Lee Farm was built in 1987 and includes tenants such as Wells Fargo, Navigator Management, IQVIA (formerly IMS Health), Lenovo and Regus.

Charney said Summit Development is nimble and cost effective when responding to tenant needs. When major tenant GE Capital left the building, Summit and real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield quickly landed Wells Fargo to fill the void.

We are proud of what we accomplished with Lee Farm, Jake Grossman, president of The Grossman Cos., said. It offers a perfect example of our approach as we continue to expand our portfolio, which currently includes several properties in Connecticut and New York.

Summit Development still has a presence in the Danbury market. It recently built the development at 74 Newtown Road that includes Texas Roadhouse, AFC Urgent Care, Aspen Dental, T-Mobile and Popeyes Chicken. Popeyes is scheduled to open in a few weeks.

Charney said Summit and Grossman are actively looking for more acquisitions throughout Connecticut and New York. While Lee Farm was a relatively quick turnaround for the companies, the former Readers Digest headquarters in Chappaqua, N.Y., proved to be a more difficult task to repurpose into multitenant use.

It took us 12 years to reposition that, Charney said.

Thats why Charney speaks with caution when discussing the possibility of purchasing the Matrix Corporate Center, a 1.2 million-square-foot office park in west Danbury. Once the headquarters for Union Carbide, the building is now largely empty after losing major tenants Praxair and Boehringer Ingelheim in the last few years.

The building is now bank-owned and will be back on the market soon.

We, like many others, have looked at it and are wondering what the secret is to unlocking its potential, Charney said. Its extremely challenging to reposition that kind of an asset because of its size and location. Danbury is a small-tenant market and small tenants gets swallowed up in that building and have little identity. It will take a fresh, unique and aggressive approach.

Charney said he did not know what the new owners had in mind for Lee Farm Corporate Park.

Theres not much left to do, Charney said, referring to the recent renovation and fully leased property. Keep people happy, I guess.

The writer may be reached at cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
BRIDGEPORT  More than 10 years ago, Robert Pookie Bowens was known as the leader of a gang that tormented the citys West Side.

But now, 34-year-old Bowens faces up to 10 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty Monday to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, the Department of Justice said.

Connecticut State Police stopped a vehicle on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport on April 22, which the DOJ said was operated by Bowens. Court documents and statements made in court indicated that Bowens attempted to flee from state troopers after they found sevearl illegal items in his vehicle during a consented motor vehicle search.

In an attempt to flee, the DOJ said Bowens pulled out a 9mm handgun that troopers managed to knock from his hand. As Bowens continued to struggle with troopers, a Sport Utility Vehicle arrived at the scene. Eventually, Bowens broke free from the troopers on scene and jumped into the SUV that fled, the DOJ said.

After a multi-agency manhunt for Bowens that lasted more than two weeks, he was apprehended on May 9 on Pearl Harbor Streets without incident, police said. He has been detained since his arrest, the DOJ said.

Bowens was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal attempted assault, two counts of assaulting a police officer, reckless driving, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying weapons in a motor vehicle, possessing a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of ammunition and criminal possession of an electronic defense weapon, police said.

On Monday, Bowens pleaded guilty to one one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Federal law prohibits a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition.

A look at Bowens criminal history revealed state felony convictions for possession with intent to sell, criminal possession of a weapon and forgery.

Police said Bowens also had a prior federal conviction for which he was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison back in May 2009, followed by two years of supervised release. That sentencing came after he was convicted of possession of an assault rifle, a pistol and 62 rounds of ammunition, police said.

In June 2015, Bowens was released from federal custody.

When he is sentenced, the DOJ said Bowens faces up to 10 years in prison. If he is found guilty of violating his supervised released, he will face an additional term of imprisonment.
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HARTFORD  A 10-year battle over a Milford homeowners right to criticize renovations made to her home culminated Tuesday with a hearing before the Connecticut Supreme Court, where the six-justice panel leveled criticism on city zoning officials for apparently singling out and shutting down the protest.

In a case with First Amendment implications, Scott T. Garosshen, representing the city of Milford, said that it wasnt the content of Eileen R. Arisians three signs on her property at the corner of Bayshore Drive and Orland Street, but their size and number. But Arisians lawyer, Eileen Reynold Becker, said that even after her now-76-year-old client decreased the size of the signs to conform with city ordinances, Milford continued to claim she was in violation.

The city over-stepped its regulatory boundaries, Becker said. They overstepped their bounds. She made them smaller and that wasnt enough. She finally got tired of giving them what they demanded. She finally got so fed up she said lets take this to trial. Shes a private citizen who wanted to express her opinion on her own home.

At issue is a 1931 state law that defines advertising signage. Associate Justice Andrew J. McDonald noted that local Milford ordinances indicate there is no requirement for prior approval of temporary signs, including political, commercial and non-commercial messages.

Are real-estate signs advertising? McDonald asked Garosshen. Yes, the city attorney said. The city is drawing a distinction based on the content of signs, isnt it? McDonald replied, adding that Arisians signage did not attempt to sell goods or services, in the manner of traditional advertising.

These are not advertising signs, McDonald said. Theyre more akin to political or protest signs. He asked whether a flag would be considered signage, or whether if he painted his house red, white and blue, would it be declared a sign under the ordinance. Would you suggest that all protest signs are advertising signs?

If they are displayed publicly, yes your honor, said Garosshen, a lawyer with the private appellate firm of Horton, Dowd, Bartschi and Levesque that was hired by the City.

The case dates back to 2007, when Arisians house was elevated and a wraparound porch was completed by a local contractor. In 2010, unhappy with the work and the lack of permits  including building permits and a certificate of occupancy  that the firm promised to obtain, she put one large sign on the Orland Street side of her property and two others on the Bayshore Drive side.

I do not recommend Baybrook Remodelers, one of the signs said. Another alleged a number of lawsuits against the firm.

By July, 2011, the city ordered the signs taken down.

Garosshen told the high court that local regulations limit signs to one per street front. He also said that the size of the signs affected property values, traffic and public safety.

Whats the interest the town had in this particular case if its only an issue of size, not content? asked Justice Maria Araujo Kahn. Garosshen said that the height and number of signs clearly violated the ordinance.

Associate Justice Richard N. Palmer asked whether the case would have been different if Arisians messages supported political candidates, to which Garosshen replied that the local regulations would have to be consulted.

Under the regulations, temporary political or real-estate signs are not subject to regulations, Justice McDonald noted.

After the hearing, Becker told reporters that it seemed to her that despite what the city claimed in court, Milford is trying to limit her speech.

People need to know what they are allowed to do with their own properties or not, and how they can express their opinions, Becker said. My client feels very strongly about her free speech rights. Most people dont go to these lengths in pursuing what they want to say, but shes had to fight all along.

Garosshen declined comment after the hearing. A ruling from the high court usually takes months.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
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Virginians elected Democrat Ralph Shearer Northam to be their 73rd governor Tuesday, choosing him 54 to 45 percent over Republican Ed Gillespie in a Democratic sweep of statewide offices and a tide of victories in the House of Delegates that amounted to a rebuke of the figure who loomed over the race: President Donald Trump.

Democrats broke into tears as results came into the Northam campaign party in Fairfax City, the outcome beyond what most had dared hope. For all the fury unleashed on the Virginia races by Trump and his followers, who lit up social media and tried to define the contests in terms of Confederate statues and Hispanic street gangs, Northam had seemed an unlikely standard-bearer to fight back.

Even some fellow Democrats had criticized the 58-year-old pediatrician and Army veteran for his low-key campaign style. But in the end he won more votes than any previous Virginia governor, and it was a historic night for the party across many fronts. Voters energized by last fall's demoralizing loss by Hillary Clinton came out in large numbers to elect Democrat Justin Fairfax as lieutenant governor over Republican state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (Fauquier), making Fairfax the first African-American elected to a statewide office in Virginia since L. Douglas Wilder won as governor in 1989.

Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring was reelected over Republican challenger John Adams.

And Democrats were poised to pick up at least 14 seats in the House of Delegates after fielding a historic number of challengers, many of them women. Among them is Danica Roem, who defeated longtime Republican incumbent Robert Marshall in Prince William County to become the first openly transgender person to serve in the Virginia legislature.

Six more House seats were in play as of late Tuesday, with four of those headed for a recount. The Democrats needed to pick up 17 seats to gain control of the House of Delegates. That would be a stunning turnaround in a body where Republicans had a seemingly insurmountable 66-to-34 advantage. All 100 seats were up for election.

"In Virginia it's going to take a doctor to heal our differences, to bring unity to our people, and I'm here to let you know that the doctor is in," Northam said to ecstaticsupporters Tuesday night at George Mason University. "We need to close the wounds that divide and bring unity to Virginia. . . . Whether you voted for me or not, we are all Virginians. I hope to earn your confidence and support."

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the ultimate party cheerleader and a patron of Northam's political career, said he hadn't expected such a resounding set of victories - especially in the House of Delegates, where the prospect of regaining a majority had seemed out of reach.

"I always say you're going to get it back because you have to say that politically," McAuliffe said in an interview, "but in my mind I was thinking six to eight [seats gained] would have been a great night for the Democrats."

As he has traveled the country, McAuliffe said, the pressure from other Democrats to perform in this election has been enormous. He recalled that people would say to him through gritted teeth, "We need this."

"This, what a sparkplug," he said. "This is the revitalization of the Democratic Party in America. This isn't just about Virginia tonight."

The victors basked in the idea that they had just shown something to the nation.

"We are so excited tonight to celebrate some incredible victories, not just for the Democratic ticket, not just for the Commonwealth of Virginia, not just the United States but for the world," Fairfax said to his supporters. "The tide is turning for the political climate in this world. . . . We now have a chance to rise to the better angels of our nature, to take our country on a different, more positive course."

Gillespie, 56, was gracious in defeat, taking to the stage at a hotel outside Richmond to congratulate Northam and pledging to help the new governor in any way he could.

"I want to thank all those who voted today, on both sides," Gillespie said, his wife, ticketmates and campaign staffers standing beside him. "These million voters [who supported him] and our friends and family love our commonwealth, they love our fellow Virginians, and they love even those who disagree with them."

Gillespie never mentioned Trump during his concession speech, just as he almost never mentioned him on the campaign trail. But the president was quick to lash out Tuesday as it became clear that Gillespie was losing.

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," the president tweeted before the final tally was in, and shortly before addressing the South Korean National Assembly during his trip to Asia.

Only hours earlier, he had tweeted support for Gillespie, saying that electing "Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia." But if the Republican wins, Trump said, "MS-13 and crime will be gone." He was referring to the MS-13 street gang, which featured prominently in Gillespie ads raising fears of violence and illegal immigration.

The success of Northam and his ticket was fueled by unprecedented turnout among Democrats and liberals, who traditionally have sat out Virginia elections in nonpresidential years.

Preliminary exit poll results found 28 percent of voters identifying as liberals, up eight points from the 2013 governor's race and two points from last year, when Clinton won the state by five points. Democrats composed 41 percent of the electorate, up four points from 2013 and one point from last year.

Republicans were 31 percent of the electorate, a record low in exit polling dating to 1996.

African-Americans accounted for 21 percent of voters, according to exit poll results, identical to their share in last year's presidential election and one point higher than in 2013. In total, nonwhite voters made up 33 percent of the electorate, the same as last year but up from 28 percent in the previous governor's race.

Black voters favored Northam over Gillespie by a 73-point margin, while Hispanic voters favored Northam by 33 points.

Democrats had worked feverishly in recent weeks to court African American voters, and former president Barack Obama held a rally with the ticket in Richmond last month. Obama also recorded a robo-call that went out Monday and Tuesday to encourage people to vote.

As the national Democratic Party has wrestled with fractures in recent weeks, the Virginia party may have offered a lesson in how to move ahead. After former congressman Tom Perriello mounted a progressive challenge to Northam for the Democratic nomination and lost, he became a foot soldier for Northam in the general election.

Northam also may have benefitted from the historic number of Democrats who challenged Republican incumbents in House of Delegates races. Their presence on the ballot helped bring out voters in districts all over the state who otherwise might have had little interest in a nonpresidential election.

Republicans, on the other hand, failed for most of the year to project the same kind of unity. Gillespie ran a restrained primary race and nearly lost to rival Corey Stewart, who fully embraced Trumpian bombast and made defending Confederate statues and fighting illegal immigration into central issues.

After the primary, Stewart refused to endorse Gillespie unless the candidate adopted his hard-right agenda and style. Gillespie gradually leaned in that direction as it became clear that he needed to firm up his base, especially in rural areas, but Stewart never campaigned for him.

Instead, Stewart - who has already said he'll challenge Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine next year - made late appearances with Vogel and Adams.

The governor's race had been close in pre-election polling, and Northam had been criticized by some in his party for waging a subdued campaign at a time of high passion and sharp rhetoric. But Virginians turned out in large numbers on a day of patchy rain around the state as Northam and the Democrats relied on an increasingly efficient system for getting voters to the polls, especially in the more-populous parts of the state.

Northam's victory was propelled by white, college-educated women; voters who are concerned about health care; a robust showing among Democrats; and voters who strongly disapprove of Trump, exit polls indicated.

Gillespie ultimately failed in his attempt to walk a very fine line, working for votes in a state where his party's president was deeply unpopular. He resisted even talking about the president for much of the race, while Northam called Trump a "narcissistic maniac" and pledged to be a bulwark against his policies in Virginia.

But Gillespie made a late turn toward Trumpian tactics that seemed to energize his campaign, promising to defend Confederate heritage and airing ads that seemed to equate illegal immigrants with violent gangs.

Trump never campaigned in Virginia for Gillespie, though Vice President Mike Pence appeared with him twice.

The Trump factor drove an unusual amount of national attention toward Virginia, whose election was one of only two statewide contests in the country. The other, in New Jersey, wasn't considered competitive, so Virginia became the proxy for the painful efforts by both major parties to find their way forward in the age of Trump.

Half of the more than $50 million raised by Virginia's statewide candidates came from outside interest groups, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

---

The Washington Post's Pat Sullivan, Sarah Gibson, Rachel Chason, Antonio Olivo, Maria Sacchetti, Julie Zauzmer, Shira Stein, Jenna Portnoy, Scott Clement, Emily Guskin and Kristen Griffith contributed to this report.
November 2, 2017MOSCOW, November 2 (RAPSI)  Alleged founder of Kaula Dharma sect Sergey Kiriyenko, who stands charged with sexual assault and tortures, has been extradited from Bulgaria, Russias Prosecutor Generals Office reports via its Telegram channel on Thursday.According to prosecutors, his accomplice Tatiana Severtseva has been extradited earlier on the same charges.Investigators claim that in 2015 Kiriyenko organized a group bringing followers of the east techniques together. Adherents were to honor and implicitly obey the sect leader. Kiriyenko beat, emotionally and sexually abused the group members including children, the statement reads.
Nate Carlisle



Salt Lake Tribune

November 6, 2017

Two towns on the Utah-Arizona line have agreed to pay $350,000 to people who allege they were wrongly arrested by police loyal to a polygamous sect.The settlements noted in court records last week resolve two civil rights lawsuits against Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., and their joint police force, referred to as marshals. The towns are the longtime home of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.The settlements arrive as Arizonas police regulators are seeking to remove six of the communitys seven marshals for allegations including making false arrests, failing to investigate crimes and lying to investigators.The plaintiffs attorney in both lawsuits, Bill Walker, on Thursday said the settlements are significant victories for his clients. He also called the payouts further proof that the marshals still favor members of the FLDS and why the state of Arizona should boot them.I think it pretty much puts the last nails in the coffin of these marshals, Walker said.The lawyer for Colorado City, Jeff Matura, on Thursday said the towns were not admitting any wrongdoing. The settlements, he said, are a business decision to limit the exposure and settle the case. The money will be paid from city funds, Matura said.Seth Cooke and a company he formed, Prairie Farms LLC, will receive $200,000, according to Walker and Matura.Cooke and another man named Patrick Pipkin in 2015 obtained an agreement from the owner of an old Colorado City zoo to farm and ranch on the property.Pipkin and Cooke went to take possession of the zoo, and a third man, Andrew Chatwin went with them. The towns marshals arrived and said the three were trespassing. Pipkin and Cooke refused to leave and were arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of trespassing for the first time on Oct. 13, 2015.Four days later, Pipkin and Chatwin returned to the zoo and were arrested again. Pipkin and Chatwin settled their cases in August and received a combined $221,000.In the second lawsuit recently settled, Isaac Wyler and his girlfriend, Twila Carstens, will receive a total of $150,000. On Dec. 23, 2015, they were changing the locks on a home in Hildale where sheriffs deputies had recently served an eviction.According to the plaintiffs complaint, marshals arrived, accused Wyler and Carstens of trespassing and handcuffed and arrested them. Wyler and Carstens also accused the marshals of taking them to the Arizona side so sheriffs deputies from Utah couldnt provide assistance.The marshals have been the subject of scrutiny for years as a series of civil rights lawsuitshave made their way through the courts. Then in November of last year, Arizonas police regulators, called the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, voted to begin the process of removing six of the marshals. The marshals have remained on the job while they appeal. An appeal hearing has still not been scheduled.Matura on Thursday said the standards and training board during the summer had asked his clients for more records about past incidents involving the marshals. Matura said the marshals have thus far not provided those records.Matura explained he was trying to ascertain whether the records are part of the ongoing case against the marshals or part of a new investigation. Fact finding has ended for the current case, Matura said, and if Arizona is starting a new investigation, the marshals have a right to be informed of that before any records are provided.Were trying to figure out why, what the scope of this request is, Matura said.Jack Lane, the director of the standards and training board, on Thursday declined to specify which records he requested, but said they address issues that have been raised previously. Providing them could be beneficial to the marshals, he said.Its possible that these documents might actually clear some of these matters up that have been brought to the board, Lane said.The charges against the marshals include falsely arresting the men at the zoo. The marshals also are accused of failing to investigate crimes ranging from vandalism to child sex abuse, of lying to investigators about what names they have used over the years and whether they served on a church security force.The marshals facing discipline are Chief Jeremiah Jerry H. Darger and deputies Samuel E. Johnson, Hyrum S. Roundy, Daniel R. Barlow, Jacob L. Barlow Jr. and Daniel N. Musser.A seventh marshal, Curtis L. Cooke, resigned in 2016 rather than face discipline from the Arizona regulators. Cookes replacement is the only marshal not under suspicion.The Hildale and Colorado City marshals are certified in Utah and Arizona. Utahs police regulators in 2016 closed an investigation into the marshals with no action.Laws in the two states are different. Arizonas police board can take action against malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, according to its regulations.Utah once had similar language. Then, in 2010, the Utah Legislature changed the law to limit police discipline cases to a few specific offenses, including criminal conduct, sex on duty, and drug and alcohol problems.
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A vast holiday home big enough to house its own concert hall, a quirky take on the traditional shepherd's hut in the Scottish Highlands and an 'upside down' dwelling adapted for it's retired owners are all in the running to named house of the year by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

RIBA has compiled the longlist for the 2017 RIBA House of the Year Award - the country's most prestigious award for a new house or extension - and the jaw-dropping properties that have made it into the 'local' category are the first to be explored by Kevin McCloud on Channel 4's Grand Designs.

Making use of natural materials to fit in with their surroundings, the properties have been heavily praised by judges for their exceptionally sympathetic design.

The new series of Grand Designs: House of the Year, follows Kevin as he visits a list of modern homes tipped for the prestigious prize. Here, FEMAIL takes a look inside the first crop of contenders...

CARING WOOD

Caring Wood is built on a massive 84-acre estate near Kent, a striking collection of buildings inspired by traditional oast houses

On an enormous 84-acre estate near Kent sits the striking Caring Wood, a holiday home with distinctive red roofs that boasts its own concert hall.

It's unique design is inspired by traditional oast houses that were once used to dry hops for the nation's breweries, many of which have now been transformed into homes.

Kevin McCloud described Macdonald Wright Architects and Rural Office for Architecture's modern take on the traditional buildings as an 'oast house on steroids'.

The extraordinary house took three years to design and a further three to build.

The hidden three-storey courtyard sits in the centre of the main house - used for 'quiet contemplation' - with a statue in the centre that looks like it belongs to a museum

Covering a massive 1,443sqm of stony outcrop, it accommodates three generations of one extended family - the brief was a house they would all have a place they could come to to enjoy spending time together.

The property comprises of four individual oast houses are built around a main core, with visitors entering through a gallery and concert space that leads to a main communal living area on the lower floor, and a concealed courtyard, used for 'quiet contemplation', at the centre.

The houses divide the estate into separate parts connected by what Kevin McCloud described as 'hidden passageways' - offering each offshoot of the family privacy in their own quarters.

James Macdonald Wright told Kevin how if any of the children get lost they communicate via walkie talkies.

The red roofs are reminiscent of a oast house roofs, buildings which were constructed to dry hops for the nation's breweries, many of which have now been turned into homes

The interior decor is bright and airy to make use of the space - hallways connecting to the concert hall at the forefront of the space and leading into the living area

The four houses surround the main core and are each accessible via hidden passageways to give the extended family privacy

SHAWM HOUSE

Nestled on a farm in Northumberland, Shawm House is an perfect example of marrying the old with the new.

The 'upside down' carbon neutral farmhouse, which cost 420,000 to build, is inspired by traditional old cottages that held livestock at the bottom and living quarters on top. The bedrooms are on the ground floor, freeing up the upstairs for a spacious living area with stunning views.

It was built by Mawsham Architects using locally quarried stone and larch wood from near the Scottish border for retirees Anne and Tony Pender, and their son Richard, who was also the builder on the project.

Shawm House is one of the shortlisted properties in the 'local' category, which are inspired by the local landscape

The unconventional upside-down layout means the living quarters of the property are upstairs and take advantage of the light and stunning vista

The building sits alongside a courtyard which incorporates an old stable block now used as a plush study.

The ground floor has three bedrooms and a utility room while the top floor features an enormous open plan kitchen and living area.

The unconventional layout means the upstairs living quarters benefit from additional space and height, not to mention the inspiring vista visible from the large windows.

A double-height hallway at the entrance leads to the cosy master bedroom, and should the stairs prove too tiresome in the morning, the owners can take the lift to the first floor.

The home's exceptional environmental credentials, and the attractive way in which the new work and ancient existing farm buildings co-exist impressed the Royal Institute of British Architects judges, who said it was a 'meeting between the two, beautifully stated and composed'.

The building sits alongside the courtyard which incorporates the old stable block as a study. The ground floor has three bedrooms and a utility room with the top floor featuring an enormous open plan kitchen and living area

HILL HOUSE

Couple Anne Claxton and Mike Keys spent ten years living in their Bath bungalow before they began transforming it into the ambitious Hill House, giving themselves time to soak in the city's classic architecture for inspiration.

They finally knocked down their three-bed bungalow and rebuilt the property after getting the green light from planners, who were initially hesitant that the proposed design would jar with the nearby listed buildings.

Set on a third of an acre and built over 230sqm, the property is comprised of two blocks built from a brick that is strikingly similar to the Bath stone used elsewhere in the city.

Hill House is situated in the heart of Bath and is made from a brick that is strikingly similar to the Bath stone used in the city

Owners Anne Claxton and Mike Keys spent ten years living in the bungalow before knocking it down and rebuilding it into something more modern

The entrance hallway leads through to a study which connects one half of the building - where their two daughters live in quarters complete with their own private entrance - to the other half, which contains the master bedroom and an open plan living and kitchen area.

Adrian Neilson, senior conservation officer at the local council, was initially wary of the proposed build, but came to see how the injection of modern architecture could be achieved in a sensitive way.

'It was a sensitive site with many listed buildings, we were concerned whether or not that those developments wouldnt respect that context and actually enhance not only the setting of those buildings but also the conservation area,' he explained.

'It does prove you can deviate from classical architecture and still be successful even in a place like Bath.'

The uninterrupted line from the hallway means the garden can be seen from the entrance to the spacious family home

NO 49

Architect Stephen Davisand wife Laura Lewis-Davis, a museum curator, started the transformation of their London home by shifting its aspect by 90 degrees so that it runs parallel to the road.

Surrounded by traditional terraced houses the innovative two-bedroom at 'No 49' certainly stands out.

It is built around a central kitchen and diner, with a studio and one bedroom downstairs and a master bedroom upstairs along with a TV room, which can also be used as a guest bedroom.

Presenter Kevin McCloud explained how the couple have 'rewritten the classic layout', forgoing traditional rooms for enclosed spaces that flow into one another via a series of sliding doors and storage spaces that act as wall dividers.

Surrounded by traditional terraced houses, No 49 sits, which runs parralel to the road, stands out for all the right reasons

Every aspect of the interior is organised precision thanks to museum curator and owner Laura who likes to make use of every nook and cranny

He singles out the wooden spiral staircase that leads up to the master bedroom as his favourite part of the house.

Laura's touch is evident in the interior, which Kevin described as feeling 'very curated, with every nook and cranny used for unique decorative touches.

She explained: 'It is about having things that are not too cluttered but small collections. When you live in an old house you have nooks and crannies, so we were very conscious not to design them out because you need nooks and crannies. They have character, you can display your objects.'

Even the utility room has been organised with precision, complete with a peg board hanging with a display of tools.

The property also won praise from their neighbours, who gushed over the design. 'People are flattered that he [architect Stephen] has decided to build down our street, there is a lot of pride in that,' one said, while another added the house has 'improved our view'.

The interior is progressive, forgoing traditional rooms for spaces that flow into one another with the help of sliding doors and storage units that also serve as wall dividers

The wooden spiral staircase that leads up to the first floor master bedroom is a striking feature that was custom built for the house

The interior is all about collections of objects rather than clutter, with each element being deliberately selected and placed by the owners

FERNAIG COTTAGE

Outdoor enthusiasts Gill Scampton and Andy Barnett bought their rundown shepherd's hut in the Scottish Highlands for 100,000 four years ago.

They were so enamoured with the original building that instead of knocking it down they decided to renovate the interior and to build an updated replica to sit alongside it.

Determined to maintain the integrity of the site, they even travelled to Sweden to order a custom-painted tin roof for the new structure that would perfectly match the colour of the original building.

Together the two buildings create the beautiful Fernaig Cottage.

Fernaig Cottage is made up of the original shepherd's hut on the right, and its twin extension on the left - meticulously planned by owners and outdoor enthusiasts Gill Scampton and Andy Barnett

The interior of the cottage is a complete contrast to the exterior - modern and minimalist in the living area before it transforms in the bedrooms to become more cosy and cottage-like

Over four years the couple worked with a local builder to develop and plan the structure to stay true to its farming heritage.

RIBA said that the couple's 'gentle diligence [had] enhanced the remote corner of Scotland'.

The original hut houses three bedrooms and a bathroom while the new twin extension features an open plan living and dining area.

A wood-burning stove takes centre-stage in the living area - with the exposed chimney juxtaposed against the country views

The original shepherd's hut, left, was used as a starting point for the second structure, right, as the architects copied every measurement to make them identical

The Royal Institute of British Architecture praised the couple for their 'gentle diligence [which had] enhanced the remote corner of Scotland'

The two shortlisted contenders for the RIBA award will be announced on Grand Designs House of the Year airs tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm.
As a hard-working single mother, Claire Lee longed for some extra cash to splash out on treats for her four children.

But when her wish was granted as part of Channel 5's TV social experiment Rich House, Poor House, Claire discovered that spending money was harder than she thought.

The school finance clerk and her children left behind their cramped three-bedroom terraced house in Wolverhampton to spend a week living in a spacious mansion belonging to doctors Mahrous and Rana Alsoud and their four children in a leafy neighbourhood in the west of the city.

Along with the doctors' house, the Lees were also given the Alsouds' 3,000-a-week budget to spend - more than 17 times the 170 they typically had to live on.

Claire, who is used to having little or no money leftover from bills and groceries, was gobsmacked by the amount of money at her disposal, and decided to splurge on steak dinners, 140 worth of toys, and a 500 watch for her eldest son just to use up the cash.

Meanwhile cardiologist Mahrous and paediatrician Rana - who left Syria for the UK in 2000 in search of a better life for their four children - had to to learn to adapt to the limited space in Claire's smaller home, not to mention a diminished budget.

Claire and her four children, left to right Kiye, Jordan, Rose, and Nathan, left behind her small house for the Alsoud's palatial home in the west of Wolverhampton

The Alsoud family, Yasmin, Farah, Rana, Mahrous, Zain and Angela, had to adapt to the limited space in Claire's smaller home

Claire was thrilled with having 3,000 to spend on her family for the week, splashing out on an extravagent food shop, takeaways and gifts

Giddy at the prospect of having so much money at her disposal, Claire took her mother to the supermarket, where she splurged on 50 of fillet steak, among other luxury food items that would never normally make their way into her trolley.

Her children enjoyed a 70 takeaway feast on the first night in the Alsouds' spacious home, as well as piano lessons, horse riding and shopping sprees throughout the week.

Despite enjoying being able to treat her children, Claire became emotional at the thought of what she hasn't been able to provide on her small salary - which would pay for around half of what the Alsoud's Audi cost.

She wept watching her two youngest children play piano with the help of a tutor, after which they begged her for their own lessons.

'This is something that I would like to give them, but I can't,' Claire said.

Although Claire was impressed by her wealthy counterpart Rana's determination to work full-time while still being a hands-on mother to four with the help of her husband, she admitted she found their lives far removed from her own.

'I cannot comprehend that a job pays that much money that at the end you still have that much [left over] ... at the end.

'I'm not saying that the Alsouds haven't worked incredibly hard to get to that position they are in, but to help your children however you want and be able to do it... [it] must be lovely to give them the best start in life.'

Claire gets emotional at seeing her children learn how to the play the piano because she can't afford to pay for lessons herself

The close knit Lee family live in a three-bedroom house in Wolverhampton

A proud Claire decided to use the opportunity to reward her eldest son Jordan at his graduation with an expensive watch, which left him overwhelmed.

She also treated her youngest to toys, but admitted that even with an unlimited budget she wouldn't shower her children with gifts constantly.

'What makes me happy is seeing my children happy,' she said.

'I wouldn't treat my children every week, but if they do well in school they can pick something out and [I] will get them a reward.

'I don't think I would want to spend money on my kids for the sake of it anyway. I would want them to understand the value of money. When they grow up and they're an adult they're going to have to budget money, that's part of life.'

Meanwhile, the wealthy Alsoud family had to adjust to sharing just one bathroom between them instead of the usual four - and survive on a weekly budget of just 170.

They revealed their worries over the crime rate in their temporary neighbourhood, with Mahrous concerned to hear from local youngsters who told him they carry knives for protection.

The Alsoud Family learn that they have just 170 to live on for the entire week during the swap

The Alsoud girls, Angela, Farrah and Zain centre, taking part in band practice during swap week

It proved to be an enlightening experience for Mahrous and Rana's four daughters, who are accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle and don't bat an eyelid at spending thousands of pounds on clothes in the space of just a few months.

But they were moved to tears as they realised how their own spending compares to Claire's, who has to manage every penny carefully in order to ensure her children have enough to eat.

'I think today has made me realise that Claire must be handling her money very well, or struggling to provide her children with the things that they need and should be able to have,' said middle daughter Zain.

'I am so grateful I have been sheltered from it my whole life. I am really lucky.'

Rich House Poor House airs Thursday on Channel 5 at 9pm
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They call it the race that stops the nation, but sometimes it's the fashion that stops onlookers in their tracks.

On Tuesday morning, celebrities and punters descended on Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup 2017, and with them came a host of outfits and looks that have been planned for months.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at those who failed to impress on the field.

From Lauren Phillips and Stefania Ferrario in pink to Bec Hewitt's bizarre gothic get-up, the day featured a series of bizarre get-ups, proving that fashion can be weird as well as wonderful.

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Leading the way in the oddly-dressed stakes was Myer ambassador, Lauren Phillips, who plumped for a sheer pink lacy trouser suit, a slicked-back pony and hoop earrings - the outfit was reminiscent of something from the Eighties (pictured)

Stefania Ferrario (pictured) also chose to wear the colour of the Cup - pink - but her Mossman batwing gown failed to impress, thanks to a slightly poor cut

Elsewhere trackside, Bec Hewitt opted for a bizarre lacy gothic get-up, which was less glamorous than she might have hoped - the Sass & Bide ensemble was topped off with a MatchoSuba The Label headpiece and choker

While there were countless sartorial hits on Melbourne Cup day, there were also a few that somewhat missed the mark - leading the pack was Jodi Anasta, whose summery pink frock was ill-suited to the cooler climes on Tuesday (pictured)

Leading the way in the oddly-dressed stakes was Myer ambassador, Lauren Phillips, who plumped for a sheer pink lacy trouser suit, a slicked-back pony and hoop earrings.

The look - which was somewhat reminiscent of something from the Eighties - featured overly long sleeves and a deep neckline.

Jodi Anasta, who plumped for a summery dress and up-do, also opted for the Millennial colour of choice, but somewhat missed the mark with her dress.

While the Talulah outfit and Victoria Novak headpieces were pretty and drew some plaudits, on such a windy day many couldn't help but think the outfit might be suited to warmer climes.

Stefania Ferrario also chose to wear the colour of the Cup - pink. But her Mossman batwing gown failed to impress, thanks to a slightly poor cut.

Nadia Fairfax (pictured) also divided fashion critics, with her her Bo Peep-chic ensemble - she paired her heart-print dress with red accessories

Elsewhere trackside, international model, Robyn Lawley, also stood out, thanks to her daring outfit and eye-catching headpiece (pictured) - however, it was the model's shoes that dominated the headlines, after she wore them on Derby Day

Elsewhere trackside, Bec Hewitt opted for a bizarre lacy gothic get-up, which was less glamorous than she might have hoped.

The Sass & Bide ensemble was topped off with a MatchoSuba The Label headpiece and choker, rendering her Morticia Addams-inspired outfit a little incongruous at the Melbourne Cup.

International model, Robyn Lawley, also stood out, thanks to her daring outfit and eye-catching headpiece.

However, it was the model's shoes that dominated the headlines once again.

After she rocked the slightly unflattering same pair on Saturday at Derby Day, it seemed an unusual choice to wear the clumpy sandals again on Tuesday.

Hannah Amos (pictured) was more Dancing With The Stars than Spring Racing-ready, with her gold, metallic and tasselled mini-dress

Jessica McNamee also opted for gold, in this silky and lacy outfit with heels (pictured)

Channel Seven presenter, Edwina Bartholomew (pictured), also failed to impress, in a Toni Maticevski black V-neck top, and mustard-coloured pants from Cue

Channel Seven presenter, Edwina Bartholomew, also failed to impress, in a Toni Maticevski black V-neck top, and mustard-coloured pants from Cue.

While the top and hat from Millinery Jill were pretty, perhaps another choice of trouser would have been a better or less frumpy option.

Other celebrities including Kate Peck showcased bold and daring looks that just missed the mark in the fashion stakes - the 29-year-old appeared to channel Little Bo Peep with her tiny hat and dress combination, as did It girl, Nadia Fairfax.

Racing Royalty, Kate Waterhouse, also referenced the Melbourne Cup of yesteryear, when she rocked a pink turban like Jesinta Campbell's choice in 2012.

Racing Royalty, Kate Waterhouse (pictured left), also referenced the Melbourne Cup of yesteryear, when she rocked a pink turban like Jesinta Campbell's choice in 2012 (pictured right)

Other celebrities including Kate Peck showcased bold and daring looks that just missed the mark in the fashion stakes - the 29-year-old appeared to channel Little Bo Peep with her tiny hat and dress combination

Sally Pearson (pictured) also played it safe, but fell into the poorly-dressed list - her grey silky outfit was on the dull side

International model, Lara Stone (pictured), also jetted in for the occasion - plumping for a shocking sunshine yellow and a Great Gatsby-inspired headpiece

Model, Sahar Biniaz, plumped for a somewhat mismatched floral and polka dot dress (pictured)

Meanwhile, Hannah Amos was more Dancing With The Stars than Spring Racing-ready, with her gold, metallic and tasselled mini-dress.

International model, Lara Stone, also jetted in for the occasion - plumping for a shocking sunshine yellow and a Great Gatsby-inspired headpiece.

The 3,200-metre race kicks off at 3pm on Tuesday and is the most prestigious race of the Spring Racing season.

Attended by around 100,000 people from all over the country and watched by millions around the world, it is known as 'the race that stops the nation'.

The Melbourne Cup is also widely perceived to be one of the richest prizes in Australian sport.
When Billy Fetherston woke up on Saturday morning he was a happy, healthy, funny kid looking forward to his fifth birthday party the very next day.

But within the scope of 25 minutes Billy's parents watched as their little boy developed a cough and soon could barely breathe at all.

Billy, five, had been bitten by a tick - and it nearly killed him.

The family was just 10 minutes into their drive on the way to the Murwillumbah Show, 40 minutes away from their Northern Rivers home, when Billy began to cough.

Billy Fetherston, of Northern Rivers, had to fight for his life just a day before his fifth birthday after he had an allergic reaction to a tick

'He was immediately congested,' Billy's mum Suzy, 48, told Daily Mail Australia. 'I looked back and, at first, didn't think much of it. But it kept happening and seemed to escalate.'

Billy's father Garry pulled over to the side of the road and Suzy gave Billy a sip of water and carried him for a moment, trying to figure out what was wrong.

'He just kept on coughing and coughing, and then I noticed these raised areas of skin on his neck, back, and tummy,' she recalled.

'He started to scratch and he started to cry.'

The couple decided they should take Billy to the nearest hospital, which was 13km away.

But the family was in the middle of nowhere, and each metre felt like an eternity for Suzy and Garry as Billy's condition rapidly deteriorated.

Billy's parents Garry and Suzy were just 10 minutes into their drive on the way to the Murwillumbah Show, 40 minutes away from their home, when he began to cough

Billy began wheezing and his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. By the time the family arrived at the hospital he was going into anaphylactic shock

'It was really quite terrifying,' Suzy said. 'He began wheezing, his eyes were closing.'

'He was in his car seat but I was trying to comfort him as best as I could, trying to get him to respond to me and make sure he stayed awake.'

'Garry was really concentrating on driving while being terrified about what he was seeing in the rearview mirror.'

Only 25 minutes had passed since Billy first started to cough when the family arrived at the Murwillumbah Hospital. But he was going into anaphylactic shock.

A crowd of nurses and doctors immediately surrounded Billy as they rushed him into the emergency room, and a cannula was immediately put into his arm.

'It was the first time he really started crying,' Suzy said. 'He was extremely brave through the whole thing, but that did hurt.'

One nurse recalled that her son had a similar reaction when he was bit by a tick, and the team immediately began to search Billy - finding one on his head

The doctors then put a mask over Billy's face to give him adrenaline as a doctor and three nurses tried to figure out what could have caused such a strong reaction.

One nurse recalled that her son had a similar reaction when he was bit by a tick, and the team immediately began to search Billy - finding one on his head.

They promptly removed it, and had Billy continue to sit with the mask on his face until the adrenaline ran out.

Billy was monitored for the next four hours, and then given an EpiPen

'When we first went into the hospital, he was red, white, and blue. He didn't look like Billy,' Suzy recalled.

'It was really, really frightening. I really had to fight back tears. But he was looking to us for strength and we kept it together for him.'

Billy was monitored for the next four hours, with nurses and doctors constantly checking on him.

The family was then sent on their way with an EpiPen, as a doctor told Suzy and Garry that it had been a life-threatening situation.

'The doctor said Billy will be living with a life-threatening allergy, and that we really need to make sure that he is not bitten by a tick again,' she said.

This was the fourth time Billy had been bitten by a tick, and the family realised each time his reaction had been worse and worse.

'The first tick, there was no trouble, second tick no trouble. With the third tick, he had a tiny one in his head and his face became extremely swollen,' Suzy recalled.

'We removed it and his face went back to normal. The fourth tick was this time. His reaction to ticks has grown in intensity to become anaphylaxis.'

Suzy said it was 'surreal' to watch her little boy turn another year older just a day after such a harrowing ordeal. The family plan to now check him every day for ticks

Suzy believes that Billy contracted the tick the day before his reaction while playing on the grass outside their home, located within a banana plantation and surrounded by a rainforest.

'I'm really worried now,' Suzy said. 'We're just going to have to be really proactive and check him every day and find the tick before the reaction takes place.'

'We'll just have to be really, very vigilant.'

Billy turned five the next day, and all his friends arrived at his home to celebrate.

Suzy said it was 'surreal' to watch her little boy turn another year older just a day after such a harrowing ordeal.

'It was a pretty traumatic and terrifying ordeal,' she said. 'You just sort of wake up in the night and hug him and in the morning it's his birthday and you celebrate him that bit more.'

'It was a real joy to see him charging around with his friends, it was really, really lovely. We're so lucky and grateful he was there for his birthday.'
He's the Australian pro-wrestler dancing up a storm in Japan.

And Richard Magarey has since turned his bearded persona called Ladybeard into a lucrative career by dressing in pigtails, miniskirts and knee-high socks.

Appearing on The Morning Show, the 34-year-old, who hails from Adelaide, opened up about how he became a big hit as the bearded, cross-dressing, pro wrestler.

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Ladybeard, otherwise known as Richard Magarey, has been taking Japan by storm

Appearing on The Morning Show, the 34-year-old, who hails from Adelaide, opened up about how he became a big hit as the bearded, cross-dressing, pro wrestler

At the age of 14, Ladybeard said he had his first 'cross-dressing experience' after borrowing his sister's clothes for an event.

'I wore my big sister's school dress to a birthday party because it was hilarious at the time and it was very well received,' he said.

'So then it became a staple every time I went to a party or a rock 'n' roll show, I would wear a dress. Everyone was [screaming] "you're wearing a dress".'

But what started as a joke has since blossomed into a glittering career overseas.

'Now here we are 20 years later, and it's my career,' he said, laughing.

Ladybeard explained all his costumes are custom made.

'It's made to measure. You'd be amazed how few cross-dressers lift weights,' he said.

After becoming a big hit in Hong Kong as a cross-dressing pro wrestler, he decided to try his luck in Tokyo in October 2013 (pictured performing in Tokyo in 2009)

What started as a joke at the age of 14 has since blossomed into a glittering career overseas

Ladybeard moved to China in 2006 to kick-start his martial arts stunt career in films.

After becoming a big hit in Hong Kong as a cross-dressing pro wrestler, he decided to try his luck in Tokyo in October 2013.

'They seem to love it,' he said.

'It's fantastic actually. It's one of the biggest surprises of my whole career. When I started pro-wrestling, that was the official birth of Ladybeard.'

Ladybeard admitted he was afraid of not being a crowd pleaser with his bizarre appearance - but he has since attracted a legion of fans.

'I came out thinking "everyone's gonna hate me... I'm bigger than everybody else, I'm hairy, I speak terrible Cantonese, I'm in a dress, they're gonna hate me,' he said.

'[But] I became the most popular wrestler in Hong Kong overnight. Then moving to Japan, the Japanese then took it to a different level.'

Ladybeard is known as a pro-wrestler who would sing pop covers in heavy metal style

He then formed a band with two kawaii (or cute) girls called Ladybaby - where he would sings pop song covers in his unique heavy metal style.

Their music videos proved wildly popular among Japanese fans - but last year, Ladybeard left the group to pursue his solo career.

The Tokyo-based performer was at a meet-and-greet at the Madman Anime Festival in Melbourne over the weekend.
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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were honoured with luxurious silk shawls and garlands of sandal wood as they experienced four religions in one day.

The couple visited places of worship belonging to the Christian, Muslim, Chinese and Hindu communities in the Penang capital George Town as they celebrated the Malaysian city's diverse residents.

Strolling down what is colloquially known as the Street of Harmony, the royal couple walked from a mosque to the temples as backpackers and shop keepers stopped to capture the unannounced visit on their mobile phones.

Drummers and other musicians led the way as they walked to the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple, completed in 1833, that was ornately decorated with colourful statues and beautiful carvings of gods inside.

Prince Charles and Camilla donned traditional garlands and flowers as they visited the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Penang, Malaysia during their tour

Following tradition, Charles and Camilla removed their shoes and were given a brief tour of the place of worship before shimmering gold coloured shawls were placed around their shoulders and matching garlands draped around their necks.

Preveena Balakrishnan, a local historian and hindu, said: 'We wanted to have a fragrant garland so we chose sandal wood, flower garlands will fade and die.

'The silk shawls are given to Kings and Queens and we believe silk has the power to attract positive vibes.'

Outside the couple posed for photographs, with an impatient Camilla amusingly tapping her husband smartly on the arm to get his attention so that they could pose - probably the only woman in the world who could get away with it.

Earlier in the day the couple visited St George's Church, the oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia, a Muslim mosque where they met leaders and planted a tree, a Teochew Chinese Temple where they watched a colourful lion dance.

The visit was intended to show the religious diversity of Malaysia, showing how different faiths can live in peace and prosperity.

Following tradition, Charles and Camilla removed their shoes and were given a brief tour of the place of worship

Camilla visited the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, where she posed with two of the elaborately costumed performers. Unique to the state of Penang, Teochew puppetry and opera came to Malaysia from the Teochew people, who emigrated from China in the 19th century

The Duchess of Cornwall receives a bouquet from schoolchildren during her arrival at the Kapitan Keling Mosque in George Town, the capital of Malaysia's Penang state

The royal couple walked from a mosque to the temples as backpackers and shop keepers stopped to capture the unannounced visit on their mobile phones

The 800m road known as the Street of Harmony, reflects the migrant communities which moved to Penang during the British Administration when it was a bustling trading port.

Later Camilla visited the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, where she posed with two of the elaborately costumed performers.

Unique to the state of Penang, Teochew puppetry and opera came to Malaysia from the Teochew people, who emigrated from China in the 19th century.

Traditionally, Teochew puppetry troupes consist of nine members divided into groups of three to handle puppets, sing and play musical instruments.

The musical ensemble uses the same instruments as a regular Teochew opera troupe  gongs, drums, cymbals, dulcimer, fiddle and a traditional Chinese instrument made from coconut shells.

The puppets themselves are intricate and detailed, taking up to three weeks to make.

Camilla also happily took the starring role in an impromptu shadow puppet show, as she showed off her skills in a short play.

The 800m road known as the Street of Harmony, reflects the migrant communities which moved to Penang during the British Administration when it was a bustling trading port

The couple looked lovingly at each other as they visited places of worship belonging to the Christian, Muslim, Chinese and Hindu communities in the Penang capital George Town as they celebrated the Malaysian city's diverse residents

Camilla kept cool in a chic cream ensemble and wedged shoes while her husband looked dapper in a grey suit

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall sign the guestbook during a visit to Sarawak Cultural Village on the latest leg of their tour of the Far East

PRINCE CHARLES THANKS DIVER WHO PROTECTED WAT Prince Charles has thanked a British diver who has helped protect the wreck of a Second World War ship bearing his name from 'awful' looters. The Prince, on a visit to RAF Butterworth in Penang, said his work in quietly preventing the ship, which is Crown property, being stripped for scrap metal was 'marvellous' and 'so appreciated'. As a sign of his thanks he gave Stephen Flew, a 54-year-old petroleum engineer originally from Swansea who has voluntarily dived the wreck for 18 years, and the Malaysian Navy a signed photograph of HMS Prince of Wales in 1941 with its crew to them as a gift. Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales, where Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter, and HMS Repulse both sank off the east coast of Malaya, near Kuantan, Pahang, on December 10, 1941. Part of Force Z, it was intended to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet but instead, with no air cover, were attacked in open water and sunk by long-range torpedo bombs. Admiral Sir Tom Phillips went down with the ship, becoming the highest ranking Allied officer killed in battle in the Second World War and causing The two ships sank with 840 sailors, and now exist as war graves on the ocean floor. In recent years, they have become a target for looters who anchor small boats above them and use homemade explosives to loosen and then steal their metal. The Royal Navy wrecks are Crown property, and looked after by the Royal Malaysia Navy which cooperates with the British High Commission to protect them. They are aided by divers from company Xtreme Divers, with volunteer Mr Flew. For the last six years, when the problem of looting has become serious, Mr Flew has monitored changes and activity in the ship to report to the British High Commission, who have in turn worked with the Malaysian Navy, Air Force and coastguard to patrol the seas. The Prince, a diver and former president of the British Sub-Aqua Club, thanked volunteers and the military, telling them he appreciated their work 'trying to keep these awful people away'. 'I can't thank you enough for your fantastic work,' he said. 'It's so appreciated'. The Prince of Wales sits for a group photo with members of the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force and Navy, during a visit to Royal Malaysia Armed Forces Butterworth base in Penang, Malaysia Advertisement

Greeted by Ling Goh, founder and director of museum, and assistant director Chai Lin, the Duchess posed for a photograph with the ladies in traditional dress.

Moving inside, she was shown instruments including cymbals and drums, asking how they were made.

Told Ling Glh's family had been puppeteers for five generations, she exclaimed: 'Its a family affair.'

Directed to a table, she was shown shadow puppets and, when invited, picked one up to see how it worked.

Pauline Fan, creative director of cultural organisation Pusaka explained that the story had been adapted from the Ramayana ancient Indian folk tale Rama and Sita.

The Malaysian version tells the story of a Princess, played by the Duchess' puppet, who is kidnapped by an ogre king. Instructed by her beloved, she is eventually saved by an army of monkey warriors.

The Duchess appeared to thoroughly enjoy herself, gamely moving the puppets arms to play along.

She then moved to listen to a yang quing instrument being played and admire ornate opera headdresses, before sitting down to take in a puppet show from be professionals.

Afterwards, she was given a second try at joining in, this time with a stringed puppet.

The Prince of Wales plants a tree during a visit to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre in Kuching, Malaysia, left. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cornwall arrives at the Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, Malaysia

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall wave goodbye from Kuching International Airport in Sarawak, Malaysia, after their visit

Successfully manipulating its limbs with the string, she appeared pleased and surprised, telling onlookers: 'I could've been a puppeteer.'

The Duchess later moved to the cool shade of the China House cafe, a favourite Penang haunt for visitors including Julie Walters who became a regular while filming Indian Summers in the region.

She was shown the cafe's extraordinary selection of around 40 different cakes, before sitting down with local craftswomen to learn about their skill.

Pulling up a chair next to Lilian Tong, director of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the Duchess watched as they deftly embroidered a beaded pattern in a frame.

'It's very good,' she said. 'So impressive.

'My husband started a school for traditional arts and now it's scattered in different countries. I hope they'll have it here because it conserves there traditions. 'It's so lovely to see this, this lovely work still being done.'

Particularly taken with a pair of tiny embroidered slipper-like shoes, she told Mrs Tong: 'I love bead work, I always have it on my clothes. It's a great favourite of mine.'

Offered the chance to do some sewing of her own, she tried to do a tentative stitch before apologising for forgetting her glasses.

'I'm sorry I don't have my glasses but even if I did have them I'm not a very good sewer,' she said.

The Duchess also tried her hand at batik painting, creating the beginning of a blue flower while she asked about the coloured ink artists were using.

As her husband embarked his own programme of events focused on heritage and the environment - which included an impromptu walkabout through the islands streets - she took a moment to pause for a cup of tea at China House before an evening reception.

Later the prince visited RAF Butterworth to meet, first opened by the British in October 1941 but now controlled by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Among those he met was Squadron Leader Caroline Would, whose husband Wing Commander Colin Would, is the senior British officer there, who taught his son, Prince William, weapons training when he was in the RAF.

Squadron Leader Would, who has now retired, told Charles that she had been William's instructor in the air warfare centre at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

His brother, Prince Harry, was at the base at the same time.

She said afterwards: 'Prince William was great, really down to earth.

'He did a three day course with us that had a lot of theory and he slotted straight into it.

'He made a few jokes at his bodyguard's expense. He pinched his lunch one day and told us he didn't need it because he was getting a bit tubby. It was very funny.'

She said she had also done six months on secondment with The Prince's Trust and Charles has spotted the charity's pin badge she was wearing.

'It's an incredible charity and we have been able to replicate it here, especially with young women,' she told him.

And then in the evening, Hollywood met royalty as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Bond girl Michelle Yeoh met Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Prince Charles and Camilla met Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh as they arrived at Penangs Peranakan Mansion to attend a reception to celebrate Malaysian art and culture

The couple were at a reception to celebrate Malaysian art and culture at Penang's Peranakan Mansion

The Malaysian-born actress was introduced to the couple at a reception on the last night of their hugely successful six-day visit to her home country.

The couple were at a reception to celebrate Malaysian art and culture at Penang's Peranakan Mansion.

Built in 1894, Penang Peranakan Mansion was originally the home of Kapitan Cina (Chinese Captain) Chung Keng Kwee and is a glorious example of Malay/Chinese architecture.

Charles, in a lounge suit, and Camilla, in a while flowing Anna Valentine tunic, were greeted by owner Peter Soon and met with the chief minister and governor of Penang, before being introduced to Ms Yeoh, elegant in a pink dress and satin heels.

One guest said: 'The prince was speaking about how it was the first time he has visited this country and how much he has loved Malaysia', meanwhile, Camilla appeared to be feeling the heat, right

Eighty reception guests ranged from a diverse arts and cultural background and included Malaysian actress Tan Sri Dato' Seri and comedian Harith Iskander.

The couple were also treated to a performance on a traditional sape' stringed instrument by musician and singer Alena Murang, one of the few women in the country to play professionally.

One guest said: 'The prince was speaking about how it was the first time he has visited this country and how much he has loved Malaysia.

'He has really connected with the people he has met and has a great understanding of the issues facing us here such as deforestation.'

Prince Charles came face to face with another endangered species in the heart of the Borneo jungle yesterday - a 5ft Orangutan.

He went deep into the rainforest to see the great ape and looked on in awe as six of them came to a feeding station at the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. The prince, wearing a cream suit and tie, walked over to where one of the apes had descended.

The young adult male then reached out to the prince - who was holding a banana handed to him by one of the guides - and he stretched out his arm too. The prince has long championed the need to save the rainforest. Deforestation is one of the key reasons the Orangutans are endangered.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed a jungle adventure today as they travelled into the heart of the Borneo rainforest

Semenggoh is the biggest orangutang rehabilitation centre in the state of Sarawak, 30 km from Kuching.

Visitors can see semi-wild orangutangs that have been rescued from captivity and trained to survive in the surrounding forest reserve.

This exclusively Asian species of great apes, found in only the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, are currently facing destruction of their habitats due to logging, mining and forest fires, as well as fragmentation of their habitats by roads.

The main goal of the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is to rehabilitate wildlife captured due to prolonged captivity by humans with the objective of releasing them to the forests eventually.

Charles was briefed on the wildlife conservation work carried out by the centre, and then ushered to a special visitors' platform to view the orangutangs in their natural surroundings.

The Prince visited the orangutan feeding deck and witnessed how these animals are cared for by the centre's staff

The orangutangs at the wildlife centre are fed twice daily, and although visitors can view this from a special visitors' platform, a sighting of animals is not guaranteed as they are often able to find their own food in the surrounding forest.

Currently, there are at least 26 semi-wild orangutangs in Semenggoh in total, roaming free within a 740- hectare forest reserve.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed a jungle adventure today as they travelled into the heart of the Borneo rainforest.

The royal couple were greeted by whirling tribal dancers as they arrived at a Sarawak Cultural Village and given gifts of handmade beaded garlands.

It was the first time that either Charles or Camilla have been to Borneo - famed for its endangered orangutans - and both appeared to be delighted.

Camilla and Prince Charles posed with locals in traditional dress during a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village, where visitors are encouraged to learn through engaging with culture. The couple are on a tour of Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and India

Accompanied by the Chief Minister of Sarawak and senior managers of the cultural village, the couple were also given a tour of the area, peeking into traditional Sarawak longhouse dwellings and watching cooking and craft demonstrations.

The Sarawak Cultural Village that the couple are visiting is a 'living museum' that re-constructs and conserves the traditional lifestyle and architectural diversity of Sarawak's indigenous tribes.

The seventeen acre site rests at the foot of Mount Santubong and encourages visitors to learn through engaging with culture.

The highlight of their visit, however, was undoubtedly the Iban warrior dance.

Also known as the ngajat, it is performed accompanied by the tabohand gendang, the Ibans' traditional music.

Upon arrival at the Sarawak Cultural Village, Prince Charles and Camilla were gifted handmade beaded garlands before their tour commenced

The royal couple were greeted by whirling tribal dancers as they arrived at a Sarawak Cultural Village and given gifts of handmade beaded garlands

Prince Charles laughed with locals in traditional dress during a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village where visitors are encouraged to learn through engaging with culture

The royal couple watched local dancers in traditional dress during a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village

Prince Charles blows a dart, as Camilla looks on during a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village

Prince Charles shakes hands with locals in traditional dress during a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village

The indigenous dance has been passed down from generation to generation and is believed to have been in existence, along with the Iban tribe, since the 16th Century.

The Ngajat dance was traditionally performed by warriors on their return from battles, although it is now performed to celebrate the most important harvest festival, Gawai Dayak, and to welcome important guests to the longhouses.

Traditionally, the male dancers wear a cawat, or loincloth, and a headdress made from the tail feathers of the hornbill.

They hold a long sword in one hand and an ornately decorated shield in the other.

The indigenous dance that the tribe performed for the couple has been passed down from generation to generation and is believed to have been in existence, along with the Iban tribe, since the 16th Century

The Sarawak Cultural Village that the couple are visiting is a 'living museum' that re-constructs and conserves the traditional lifestyle

Female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a 'dress' that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving

The dance is now performed to celebrate the most important harvest festival, Gawai Dayak, and to welcome important guests to the longhouses

The Ngajat dance was traditionally performed by warriors on their return from battles

A Melanu bamboo dance was performed before the Prince and the Duchess depart in eye-catching style - on a traditional raft across a lake

Later Charles and Camilla will speak with representatives from local tribes and discuss the preservation of traditional cultures

Female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a 'dress' that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving.

The male dancers make slow movements, as though stalking the enemy, before darting forwards to attack.

The dance is performed accompanied by the music from percussion instruments including the enkeromong, bendai and canang.

Later Charles and Camilla will speak with representatives from local tribes and discuss the preservation of traditional cultures.

A Melanu bamboo dance will be performed before the Prince and the Duchess depart in eye-catching style - on a traditional raft across a lake.

The heir to the throne has helped launch the Forgotten Foods Network  a project to find long-lost and unfashionable foods to feed the world's booming population and grow in extreme temperatures.

A woman donned traditional dress ahead of the visit by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Sarawak Cultural Village

Royal approval: Prince Charles inspecting superfoods in Malaysia on Friday

It hopes to emulate the success of quinoa, once considered the 'lost crop of the Incas', before foodies rediscovered its highly nutritious properties and made it fashionable.

The scheme is now collecting forgotten recipes and testing them for their nutritional value and growing abilities in hotter weather.

During his visit to Crops of the Future, the Malaysian organisation behind the project, Charles tasted some of the recipes, including kevaru roti, a type of millet grown in arid areas of Africa and Asia.

'They're good,' he said. 'And very nutritious as well, are they?' Also on the menu were biscotti using bambara groundnut rather than almond, as well as soup, mini-burgers and quiche made from moringa, a superfood dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

More elaborate dishes included dragon fruit tortellini with turmeric yoghurt and mint oil.

One royal aide said the prince was passionate about the project, while Charles himself said that the focus on finding crops that would grow in the future was 'crucial for food security over the next 20 years'. He also praised the food project as 'impressive' as he launched it during his 11-day visit to South East Asia.

Professor Sayed Azam-Ali, of the Forgotten Foods Network, said: 'It's about collecting recipes from as many people as possible from all over the world, and learning from them.'
It's a beauty pageant like no other - with women competing to see who has got the best derriere.

And the winner of this year's Miss Bumbum has revealed how she left her husband in order to take part in the competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

After beating 13 other big-bottomed girls to pick up the coveted title, Rosie Oliveira, 28, revealed how her husband had made her choose between him and entering the beauty pageant.

However, she insisted she doesn't regret deciding to leave him to pursue her lifelong dream of being named the owner of Brazil's most beautiful bottom.

Rosie Oliveira, from Amazonas, Brazil, who was voted Miss Bumbum 2017, has revealed that she left her husband to take part in the contest

The glamorous brunette was seen showing off her derriere in a sequin thong during the final

Rosie, who burst into tears after she was announced the competition's winner at a glitzy ceremony in Sao Paulo, said: 'He told me to choose between this and him. But I'd already entered the competition without him knowing.

'It was the easiest decision I've ever made. I've dreamed of this moment since I was a child, I wasn't going to let my husband get in the way. It's still sinking in, I still can't believe it actually happened. I'm pinching myself to see if I might still wake up.'

But she added: 'I know people all over Brazil expect much from their Miss Bumbum, and I wont let them down. I want Brazil to get better, so we have health, education and security for all.

'I've also been offered a shoot in Playboy magazine, but it's not definite yet.'

Being crowned the country's Miss Bumbum means Rosie, who represents the jungle state of Amazonas and who studied journalism, will become a megastar.

Previous winners have gone on to earn millions in endorsements, appearances and magazine shoots, including last year's winner Erica Canela, who became an instant celebrity and starred in a reality show in Portugal.

Fourteen contestants took place in this year's final, strutting their stuff down the catwalk

The finalists showed off their curves in an array of skimpy ensembles as they competed for this year's crown

And the 14 women competing for the title at last night's final knew how their lives could change overnight as they each paraded their behinds in front of a panel of 12 judges.

Firstly, they walked down the catwalk wearing their choice of evening dress before showing off an array of skimpy ensembles as they danced to their choice of music.

And many left little to the imagination as they wiggled, shaked and gyrated their bottoms, which measured between 92 and 107cm round.

One candidate suddenly whipped off her bikini top, then also her bikini bottoms, to reveal just sequins covering her modesty.

Another woman, desperate to impress, got down on all fours and shook her derriere wildly to the delight of a packed floor of reporters and photographers from all over Brazil to cover what is considered one of the year's biggest events.

The infamous contest sees women competing to see who has the best derriere

One of the competitors opted for a Suicide Squad-inspired ensemble for the competition

But judge Gisele Alquas said she was looking for charisma and not just a big bottom.

She said: 'Everything has to be in proportion, to have a very big bottom you must also be tall.

'But the winner of Miss Bumbum represents the Brazilian bottom outside of Brazil, so it's not just about their bottom. They need to have charisma and have a captivating personality too, so that's what I'm looking out for.

'The bottom is Brazil's national obsession. Much more than their breasts or any other part of their body, women here take more care of their backsides.'

Jessica Lopes, a previous runner-up who was also on the judging panel, added: 'Im looking for symmetry in the bumbum. But I also want to find a woman who is really willing to wear the T-shirt and take the Brazilian bottom all around the world, so I need to see enthusiasm.

Rosie Oliveira, who was the hotly-tipped favourite going into the contest, looked delighted as she was crowned the winner

One contestant ensured to show off her assets as she danced around on the catwalk

'We pride ourselves in our bottoms. God gave nice bottoms to us Brazilians. Our Miss Bumbum is a reflection of all of us, that's why choosing a winner is such a serious task.'

The final was the climax of a four month campaign for the Miss Bumbum wannabes, who were whittled down from 27 women, each representing a Brazilian state, by a public poll in which over 17million people voted.

Many of the women went to extreme lengths to get people's attention, including posing in bikinis made from slabs of meat and tying themselves to trees to protest against the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Having a bigger and firmer bottom than the rest also means a gruelling daily routine of buttock-enhancing sessions in the gym, while some spend thousands on treatments and anti-cellulite creams and diets.

But this year's contest was also marred by scandals and allegations of dirty tricks.

Another competitor opted for an angelic costume for the final, opting for a dazzling white sequin bikini set

One contestant was seen writhing around on the catwalk as audience members watched on

Last month the competition was thrown into disarray after six contestants were found to have cheated their way to the finals by using computer software to amass thousands of extra online votes.

The women were punished by being docked of 40,000 votes each, but still made it to the final.

And after one of the women accused the contestant with the biggest bottom, Andrea Prata, of having bottom implants, she had to have her backside X-rayed to prove it was natural.

Andrea, who represents the northern state of Para, won last night's Miss Sympathy prize, a title voted by the women themselves for the contestant they liked the most.

It was after 1am when, with the performances over and the votes counted, the moment Brazil had waited for when the winner of Miss Bumbum 2017 was announced finally came.

This year's contest has been marred in controversy after some of the contestants were accused of using robots to cast votes

Six finalists, including the eventual winner (pictured), were deducted 40,000 votes each

In third and second places respectively were Jane Ferreira, representing the state of Pernambuco, and Raissa Barbosa, from the state of Acre.

Winner Rosie squealed with delight as her name was read out, before becoming overcome with emotion as she hugged and kissed her supporters, while the other women looked on behind her, barely disguising their envy and disgust.

One who didn't make the podium, Grazy Alves, representing the state of Bahia, later quipped: 'She doesn't have the Brazilian beauty. To represent the Brazilian bottom it needs to be big, with large thighs, like mine. She's too thin to be successful.'

Rosie, however, is already thinking big, including, according to her, using her title to empower women and end Brazil's machist culture.

The contestants also showed off the sensational figures in evening gowns during the contest

As she was giving interviews following her win, a drunk unidentified man came from behind and grabbed her bottom, after which she turned round and slapped him on the face.

She said: 'This is exactly what I want to fight against. Just because I'm Miss Bumbum doesn't mean they can disrespect me. I want to show women you can still have a big beautiful bottom and not be treated like an object'.

This year's competition was said to be more 'elegant' than previous years, with bums bigger than 107cm banned from the contest.

The Miss Bumbum contest has become world famous since it was launched in 2011 by journalist and entrepreneur Cacau Oliver.
A miracle baby who was born a week before the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks is believed to be one of Britain's youngest ever premature children to survive.

Flynn Parry, now 15 months old, arrived 17 weeks early weighing just 1lb 1oz when his mother Hoda Ali was just 23 weeks pregnant.

Photos of the newborn in hospital show he was barely as big as his proud mother's hand at just 11 in long, half the size of the average newborn which measures around 20 inches.

Swaddled in bubble wrap after birth, to recreate the cosy warmth of his mother's womb, Flynn, from Willesden Green, north London, faced a harrowing battle to survive.

His mother Hoda, 36, recalled: 'A doctor told me, "He's a fighter  all premature babies are". It was true. He fought every day.

Miracle baby: Flynn Parry (pictured in hospital at four weeks old in March 2016) is believed to be one of Britain's youngest ever premature children to survive

Proud: Mother Hoda has her first cuddle with Flynn, after initially struggling to bond with him. Recalling the emotional moment, Hoda said: 'I just loved it. He was wonderful'

'I didn't connect to him for about 10 days after he arrived, though. He was just so, so small. I thought he looked like an alien or a baby bird.'

Customer services executive Hoda and marketing executive Owen Parry, 25, were told at birth their son was unlikely to survive.

'Doctors said only one in six babies survived the night at his age,' Hoda explained. 'Even the one that lived only had a 50 per cent chance of surviving any further.'

Defying all odds, Flynn not only lived, he flourished  becoming a lively toddler, who now runs rings around his doting parents and has not experienced any developmental delays.

Flynn, who was originally due on 6 June 2016, was finally allowed home from hospital on June 16  still small, but healthy (pictured here on 8 June, to days after his due date)

Tiny: Swaddled in bubble wrap after birth, to recreate the cosy warmth of his mother's womb, Flynn, from Willesden Green, north London, faced a harrowing battle to survive

The only lasting effect of his premature birth has been some damage to his eyes, because of the time he spent on a ventilator as a newborn, which might mean him needing little spectacles in the future.

'It's amazing to see him now,' said his proud mother. 'He's come so, so far.'

Early arrival: Hoda's waters break at just 22 weeks

Hoda was preparing for a role in an amateur production of the play Dangerous Corner, by JD Priestly, when her waters broke at 22 weeks.

Days earlier she had returned home from a trip to the Philippines with Owen and received the all-clear at her 20-week scan at University of Central London Hospital (UCLH), with the couple told they were having a boy.

Small but strong: Photos of the newborn in hospital show he was barely as big as his proud mother's hand at just 11 in long, half the size of the average newborn which measures around 20 inches

Miracle: Flynn, now 15 months old, arrived 17 weeks early weighing just 1lb 1oz when his mother Hoda, 36, was just 23 weeks pregnant - and defied all expecations

Hoda said of her tiny arrival: 'I didn't connect to him for about 10 days after he arrived, though. He was just so, so small. I thought he looked like an alien or a baby bird'

'I was driving to rehearsals when I realised I'd forgotten my costume,' Hoda said. 'So, I returned home, but arriving at the door, something happened.

'I thought I'd wet myself, but it wasn't that. My mum, Soodi, 60, said it was my waters breaking and called 999.'

After being rushed by ambulance to UCLH, Hoda was fed steroids to strengthen her cervix and given magnesium sulphate to halt the labour.

Special delivery: Hoda's baby weighed just 1lb 1oz

But, on February 13, 2016, after a 30-minute labour, the little boy she and Owen had been so excited about arrived.

Hoda, who is still not sure what caused Flynn's premature birth, watched her newborn battle sepsis  a potentially deadly form of blood poisoning  and had two brain bleeds caused by his early arrival into the world.

Thriving: The only lasting effect of Flynn's premature birth has been some damage to his eyes, because of the time he spent on a ventilator as a newborn (seen here with doting parents Owen and Huda in hospital, March 2016)

Early arrival: Hoda had returned home from a trip to the Philippines with Owen and received the all-clear at her 20-week scan at University of Central London Hospital (UCLH), with the couple told they were having a boy - but just two weeks later Flynn arrived

Terrifying ordeal: Hoda watched her newborn battle sepsis  a potentially deadly form of blood poisoning  and had two brain bleeds caused by his early arrival into the world

He also had suspected necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious disease that occurs when the intestinal tissue becomes damaged and begins to die, which is most common in premature babies.

'Luckily, Flynn didn't have it,' said Hoda. 'But we still had plenty to worry about.'

Health concerns: Brave baby had laser eye surgery at just 13 weeks

After being taken into neo-natal intensive care after his birth, the youngster was put on a ventilator.

But he developed a common premature baby illness, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) where the retinas detach from the back of the eye.

Love: Although Hoda found it hard to bond with Flynn at first, she gradually fell in love with him - especially when she was finally able to cuddle him at a week old

At eight weeks, he was transferred to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, as he began to improve. Then, at just 13 weeks he had laser surgery on his eyes.

He also needed other gruelling operations, including one to remove a hernia at 17 weeks.

'He really is amazing': How Hoda eventually bonded with her baby

Although Hoda found it hard to bond with Flynn at first, she gradually fell in love with him - especially when she was finally able to cuddle him at a week old.

Progress: Flynn, who was originally due on 6 June 2016, was finally allowed home from hospital on June 16  still small, but healthy

'Walking out of hospital, we were so proud of our boy and everything he'd battled,' said Hoda, remembering the momentous occasion. 'He really is amazing' (Flynn is seen here in January 2017)

Gradual recovery: At eight weeks, Flynn was transferred to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, as he began to improve. Then, at just 13 weeks he had laser surgery on his eyes

Recalling the emotional moment, Hoda said: 'I just loved it. He was wonderful.'

Flynn, who was originally due on 6 June 2016, was finally allowed home from hospital on June 16  still small, but healthy.

'Walking out of hospital, we were so proud of our boy and everything he'd battled,' said Hoda. 'He really is amazing.

'It's still not clear exactly why I gave birth so early, but if I fall pregnant again I will be monitored for early labour.

'Flynn brings hope to everyone with premature babies, currently in hospital. You can get through it.'
The Belgian royals enjoyed a VIP welcome when they touched down in New Delhi on Tuesday.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who are on a seven-day state visit to India, were greeted on the red carpet by President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after arriving in the bustling capital.

The royal couple, who yesterday enjoyed a tour of the Taj Mahal, were treated to a ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential palace to mark their arrival.

King Philippe, 57, sweltered in the 29-degree heat in a dark tuxedo suit while Mathilde, 44, managed to keep her cool in a bejewelled hot pink dress.

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As part of the Belgian royal's state visit to India, the couple payed a visit to the Presidential Palace

The Vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders is welcomed by Queen Mathilde

Queen Mathilde towers over the president's wife, Savita Kovind as they meet officials at the Presidential palace

Taken on the second day of their state visit of India, Queen Mathilde wears an Indian inspired dress

The modest floor-length gown that skimmed the 44-year-old's figure was perfect for the colourful occasion.

She added a miniature clutch bag decorated in a similar pattern to her dress, and added glamour with over-sized diamond drop earrings.

Her blonde tresses were pulled back into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.

The European royals seemed over joyed to meet the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind as they shook hands.

Both couples posed and smiles to mark the special visit, with both of the women's dresses complimenting each other perfectly.

To allow her vivid dress to do the talking, she kept her make up minimal, with a slight shadow around her blue eyes.

King Philippe took his turn in scattering the rose petals at a wreath laying ceremony followed by a minute of silence

On the day that they arrived, the queen consort wore a peach lace number, a typical choice for her, who owns several near-identical styles in different hues of pink.

She paired her latest frock with patent stilettos and an impressive headpiece as she joined her husband on a visit to Rajghat, a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, where the pair paid their respects by throwing rose petals.

Standing at around 1.75m (5ft 9in), the glamorous queen towered over her Indian counterpart, First Lady Savita Kovind, who was dressed in a traditional gold and red sari.

The Belgian royals arrived in India overnight on Sunday to kick off their week-long tour of the country.

VIP treatment! The Belgian royals are greeted on the red carpet by President Ram Nath Kovind (second right) and his wife (far left), as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi (far right) after arriving in the bustling capital

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who are on a seven-day state visit to India, braved temperatures of 29 degrees when they touched down in the capital New Delhi

VIPs: The royal couple, who yesterday enjoyed a tour of the Taj Mahal, were treated to a ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential palace to mark their arrival

Mathilde paired her latest frock with patent stilettos as she joined her husband at Rajghat, a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, where the pair paid their respects by throwing rose petals

As a mark of respect, Queen Mathilde removed her stilettos as the wreath was carried in. The royals also signed the guest book after the ceremony and minute of silence at Raj Ghat

Standing to attention: King Philippe inspects a military guard of honor upon his arrival at the Indian presidential palace in New Delhi on Tuesday

Their tour aims to boost relations between the two countries, with a focus on ramping up investment and trade.

After being snapped stepping onto the tarmac in New Delhi on Sunday night, Queen Mathilde and King Philippe kicked off their schedule of engagements with a visit to one of the jewels in India's crown, the Taj Mahal, on Monday.

They looked affectionate as they posed for photographers on the bench outside the building, with the King placing a hand on Mathilde's as they sat side by side, and putting his arm around her as they stood for another shot.

Little and large: Standing at around 1.75m (5ft 9in), the glamorous queen towered over her Indian counterpart, First Lady Savita Kovind, who was dressed in gold and red

Working mum: Mathilde (second left) is mother to Princess Elisabeth, 16, Prince Gabriel, 14, Prince Emmanuel, 12, and Princess Eleonore, nine

New friends: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chats to Queen Mathilde during Tuesday's ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential Palace

Fashion favourite: The peach lace number was a typical choice for the queen consort, who owns several near-identical styles in different hues of pink

First pit stop: Queen Mathilde's photograph on the bench outside the Taj Mahal yesterday called to mind the famous picture of a solitary Diana outside the building in 1992

Queen Mathilde poses with her husband who lovingly rests a hand on her shoulder. She tenderly holds his hand and rests her head on his chest

Pretty in pink: The couple step out holding hands on their way to the Taj Mahal

Queen Mathilde visits a micro-finance project dressed in a decadent patterned dress

She shows her respects by holding her hands in prayer position as a way of greeting. She accessories her look with gold swirled earrings

She opts for an unusual choice of shoe design, giving a little bit of an edge to the traditional outfit

She even had her own portrait drawn, surrounded by stunning flowers, which she signed for the artist

Although she was accompanied by her husband on the visit, the images of the blonde queen on the famous bench inevitably calls to mind the photograph of the Princess of Wales taken in the same spot 25 years ago.

Mathilde is mother to Princess Elisabeth, 16, Prince Gabriel, 14, Prince Emmanuel, 12, and Princess Eleonore, nine.

The Belgian-born royal became queen following the abdication of her husband's father, King Albert II, in 2013.
A British relationship guru has claimed you could boost your chances of snagging a date simply by changing the colour of your winter coat.

Hayley Quinn, 30, pounded the pavement for thirty minutes in East London on a Monday afternoon wearing a bright red coat to test the theory that the colour attracts more attention.

She spent half an hour walking around to determine whether strangers on the street paid her any more attention than usual in the new shade, and the YouTube star was left stunned by the amount of men who approached her - with many going out of their way to strike up a conversation.

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Hayley Quinn took part in a social experiment to see whether wearing red would help her to attract more male attention

Hayley said she was approached by five men in 30 minutes in total - in contrast to the previous day in a different outfit, when she was not approached at all.

The 30-year-old created the video to feature on her dating advice blog and YouTube channel, which aims to help men and women broaden their concepts of traditional dating and be luckier in love.

Hayley said: 'I came up with the idea for the social experiment after hearing loads of stories about how red makes you more attractive.

'I discovered that there is lots of scientific evidence that says wearing red can make you more approachable and that it is suggestive of sexual attraction and arousal.

Hayley was approached by five different men in half an hour while wearing her vibrant outfit

The dating guru admits that she is rarely approached by men in the street and when she wore a different outfit the day before she was approached by none

'Like many women, I hardly ever get approached by men at all and I think particularly in England there is a stereotype that British men will just not approach women.

'We're a culture that is really into privacy and not interrupting people.

'It also doesn't help that the standard London dress code is usually black or grey. It can sometimes feel like you're just fading into the background.

'When you live in a big city, no one wants makes contract with each other and it can feel really isolating and hard to meet anyone.'

In the video, Hayley can be seen walking around the streets wearing bright orange high heels teamed with a vibrant red coat and it doesn't take long for men to start noticing her.

One man walked with Hayley for a few blocks so that he could keep chatting to her and even gives her a hug and kiss on the cheek

One man can be heard commenting 'beautiful!' while Hayley responds that 'it's a nice day, isn't it?' while he tells her that she is 'beautiful like the day'.

He then asks her where she's going and says that he'd like to 'get in touch' with her.

Hayley continues to attract different comments from men on the street.

One man walked with Hayley for a few blocks so that he could keep chatting to her and even gives her a hug and kiss on the cheek while asking for her phone number.

Hayley wants to inspire other women who feel as though they don't get much attention

While some viewers may perceive the onslaught of attention as sexual harassment, Hayley stressed that this was definitely not the case.

She said: 'I was really putting myself out there and deliberately courting the attention, so I never felt harassed, uncomfortable or intimidated in the slightest.

'Quite the opposite actually, I was really impressed with how well the experiment went.

'I've walked down the same streets a million times wearing different colours and I've never experienced anything like that.

'I wanted to inspire women who might feel like no men ever approach them, that they shouldn't be passive in the flirtation and dating process.

'I find it really offensive and heartbreaking when women think that finding the right guy only comes down to fate, luck or how good looking she is.

'There are so many elements of attraction other than just physical beauty.

'Body language and movement, conversation skills and personal style all play a huge role.

'I was so happy that even on a Monday afternoon, which isn't really considered a 'sexy' time, I could still turn heads and entice men just by wearing the colour red and showing confidence.'
An Indian woman who suffered horrific burns to her face and lost her vision when she was doused in acid by a scorned admirer has revealed how she found the love of her life while recovering in her hospital bed.

Pramodini Roul, was just 15 years old when a bike-borne paramilitary soldier threw acid on her face because she had rejected his marriage proposal, in an attack that left her with life-altering facial burns and blind in both eyes.

The survivor, now 25, who is lovingly called Rani - or queen - by her family, was a 10th grade student then and was returning home from taking an exam with her cousin when the 28-year-old man threw the corrosive liquid into her face.

In the years since, Rani has been in and out of hospital for various surgeries as well as treatment for the health problems that have plagued her as a result of her ordeal - including a stint in 2014 to address an infection in her legs.

It was then Rani met Saroj Kumar Sahoo, who was a friend of her nurse - and now the couple plan to wed.

Pramodini Roul, known as Rani, was blinded when she was doused in acid by a scorned admirer but has now found happiness after finding love with Saroj Kumar Sahoo (pictured together)

Rani spent four months in ICU immediately after the incident, and later spent four years bedridden at her house in Odisha in eastern India while her widowed mother took care of her alone, bandaging her wounds.

After suffering pain for almost a decade, undergoing five reconstructive surgeries including one to restore a degree of vision in her left eye, and battling with depression, Rani says she has finally found a reason to live again - her boyfriend Saroj Kumar Sahoo.

The two met while Rani was in hospital and have been living together for a year in New Delhi - and are now planning to get married.

Rani says: 'Saroj really treats me like a queen. He loves me like the way I am. He always encourages me to live life happily.

'He has become a part of me. I would not have been able to see the world today if I did not have him in my life.

Rani was just 15 when a paramilitary soldier threw acid on her face, melting it away completely and blinding both her eyes because she had rejected his marriage proposal

Rani was in hospital when she met Saroj and the pair have been living together for a year in New Delhi - and are now planning to get married

'I feel very lucky to have him. He is very understanding and is always there for me. It always feels good to be loved and be assured of having a partner who loves and recognizes the goodness in you.'

Rani and Saroj met in March 2014 at a private hospital where she was admitted for the treatment for the pus-filled infection that had ravaged her legs.

The skin from her legs was used for grafting but untimely discharge from the hospital caused infection in her half treated wounds that began secreting puss.

Doctors had told her mother that Rani would need at least four years before she can walk again.

Saroj was a friend of the nurse who was looking after Rani and was on a regular visit when he saw Rani's mother crying helplessly and extended his support.

Rani said: 'We met in March 2014 when he had come with his friends to visit the hospital. Initially we didn't speak to each other, even though he had seen me.

Saroj began visiting Rani every day in order to boost her morale when she was told she would not be able to walk for four years eventually quitting his job to care for her full time

'However, after around 15 days he started to speak to me. He would often visit the hospital.

'I believe he saw my mother and observed her and then slowly started extending helping hands. She would always come alone for my physio therapy.

'One day he heard my mother ask about my improvement and how long would it take for me to recover as my lower body had by then deteriorated. I was not even move without help, let alone stand on my feet.

'The reply wasn't very positive as the doctors said that it would take at least four years for me to be able to walk. My mother naturally broke down when she heard that. That is when Saroj consoled her and assured her that he would do everything possible to get me walking.'

The 26-year-old started visiting Rani everyday to boost her morale. He eventually quit his job and spent eight hours a day to look after Rani.

While Rani and Saroj have been accepted by their families, the two are waiting to get further reconstructive surgeries before they take the plunge

She said: 'He was extremely caring and looked after my needs. He would talk to me for hours and motivate me. It was a tough time for me when doctors had told me I would not be able to walk for four years.

'I had already lost my eyesight and the thought of being bedridden was an added woe. But Saroj did not lose hope. He would encourage me everyday, motivating me to be positive and have hopes.

'He even quit his job to meet me everyday. From 8 to 12am in the morning and 4 to 8pm in the evening, he was there with me. It had become a routine.

'Just as medication was required for the physical recovery I needed dire support and encouragement at the mental level.

'Gradually, the wounds started healing and with treatment and exercise and with his help and support I regained my confidence and now I am standing back on my feet.'

Rani had not seen Saroj until this September when she had undergone the first surgery in left eye. Yet she says she had fallen for his charms.

As their friendship got deeper and stronger, the two expressed their feelings for each other but Rani was initially sceptical of being in a relationship as she felt she was not ready for it.

Rani says that her husband-to-be wept when he confessed his feelings for her in January 2016

'It was 14th January 2016, we were in Agra where we he wept and expressed his feelings for me.

'I too had fallen for him loved him and I did tell him that. But I also knew that loving is different from entering into a relationship.

'I was not fit enough to look after myself, how could I keep others happy. So I didn't really agree then. But it was he who kept encouraging me, by telling me not to think too much.

'He assured me that there will come a day when I will not just be able to see the world and work but will also be able to make others happy. He always had my confidence,' she said.

While Rani and Saroj have been accepted by their families, the two are waiting to get further reconstructive surgeries before they take the plunge.

Rani's neck has started bending as the skin in her backbone had completely melted. She still further surges for her eyes as she is only able to see a little and needs plastic surgeries on her head as a major portion of skin is missing.

Recalling the day she had seen herself first time after the attack, Rani said: 'I felt scared of myself.

'I had not seen myself from the day of the attack to the day I went blind. I only saw myself in the mirror after my eye surgery in September this year.

'I did have some idea of what the tragedy had done to me but when I saw myself I felt extremely hurt. I was so scared of myself that I cried the whole night.

I feel very lucky to have him. He is very understanding and is always there for me

'I am hoping to get further surgeries as soon as possible. Doctors say I need at least four more surgeries.'

The surgeries are extremely expensive. Rani's mother has exhausted all her savings in the previous surgeries but have no resources to foot in the further operations.

Rani works with Chhanv Foundation, a support care for acid attack survivors that helps in arranging funds for their surgeries and rehabilitation.

'I am happy that I am able to restart my life again but it would be wonderful if I can get all the reconstructive surgeries soon.

'My mother could not arrange money for my treatment and we had to stop it midway. The delay has caused several complications and need to be addressed soon.

'I also want to do something in life, look after my sisters and then settle down with Saroj.'

Rani says her alleged attacker has not been arrested.

She said: 'I am still waiting for the day when the attacker would be arrested and put behind the bars.

'I filed a case against the man and had also received summons from the court asking for the submission of evidences. But because I was bed ridden and my mother was left alone nothing much could be done. My younger cousin was an eye witness, but there was no one to take him to the court.

'Because of all this the case was dismissed in the year 2012.'
A model who is just three foot, four inches tall, is showing the world that sexy has no height restrictions.

Two years ago, 21-year-old Dru Presta moved from Reno, Nevada, to Los Angeles so she could pursue her dream of breaking the fashion industry.

Born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, she was made to feel like an outcast in her hometown, and says she was bullied for 15 years because of her size.

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Big dreams: Two years ago, 21-year-old Dru Presta moved from Reno, Nevada, to Los Angles to pursue her dream of breaking the fashion industry

Petite: Measuring 3ft 4in, Dru was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism

Cruel: Dru says she was bullied for 15 years because of her size but now has over 10,000 followers on Instagram

Strike a pose: The fashion marketing students has defied the odds to become a model despite her diminutive stature

And while she now oozes confidence, she said it took her a long time to get there.

The fashion marketing student told Barcroft: 'The way people reacted was not the best way for a child for ever be exposed to. Reno, Nevada is really small.

'So, it's very small in diversity. They weren't quite accepting to the fact of something that was different. Something abnormal.

'They definitely rung me out really hard. They teased and they made hurtful names. I just stuck out like a sore thumb.

'When I was younger I used to deal with criticism in the worst way possible. I would completely lash out.'

Dru is the only person in her family to have been born with dwarfism, so the whole family learned how to deal with negativity together.

She said: 'In my family I am the only dwarf and all of history with my family life. So, they were, kind of, learning as I was learning through my life. They did the best they could and they did a really good job.

'They don't want to shelter me, which they usually do with a lot of Little People because they feel scared to see their own child just to go out in general.'

After graduating high school Dru decided to take the big step to home to LA for a 'freer' life.

Sister sister: Dru, pictured left with her younger sister, is the only person in her family to have been born with dwarfism, so the whole family learned how to deal with negativity together

Daddy's girl: Dru, pictured on her dad's back, says her family didn't try to shelter her as a child and that they did a really good job

Beach babe: The Instagram star says modelling has helped her feel more confident

Lights, camera, action: Dru explains that she now feels sexier in front of the camera, thanks to her new-found confidence

Speaking about her decision to get into modelling, she said: 'I decided to get in to this field because I don't want anyone else to feel like they can't express themselves like the way I did back home.

'I don't want them to feel secluded. I don't want them to feel like they have to wear what everybody else is wearing, just because that's what offered in our size. I want people to be able to feel as free as I do.

'I want my modelling photos to show that you can be sexy in any size. You can be super duper tall and six foot, four inches and you can be three foot, four inches like me and still look sexy and cute.'

Before starting a new life in LA, Dru struggled to find fashionable clothes for Little People and just got by with what she could find.

She explained: 'My fashion sense was honestly non-existent back home until I moved to Los Angeles. I did what I could at stores. I was doing my best with fixing them.

She now loves shopping and said being able to find fashionable clothes is not only 'relieving', it also allows her to 'freely express' who she is without having to worry if something fits right.

With over 10,000 followers on Instagram, Dru hopes her modelling work will encourage people of all shapes, size and backgrounds to be included in the fashion world.

Summer loving: Dru hopes she is forging a path in the fashion industry for other Little People

Acceptance: The pretty brunette says she now loves shopping since moving to LA

Picture perfect: Dru says she feels 'freer' in Los Angeles

No turning back: Dru doesn't want anyone else to feel like they couldn't express themselves

She said: 'I want everybody in the fashion world just to be accepted. I want anybody to be able to walk that runway just like anybody else - whether you see them rolling down the runway in your wheelchair or on crutches.

'I want people to be able to feel like they can do it just like anybody else. And I want the fashion world to be able to see that - we're just like everybody else.'

Since she started modelling Dru's confidence has skyrocketed and now she is using her Instagram to spread body positivity.

She said: 'Modelling has boosted my confidence a ton. I feel a lot sexier in front of the camera, it's like a different Dru that likes to be exposed. Honestly, there is just no other words, I love being in front of the camera.

She hopes the path she is forging in the fashion industry will encourage others to express their true selves.

'My advice for people with dwarfism who would love to become a model is just to do it', she added.

'I decided to get in to this field because I don't want anyone else to feel like they can't express themselves like the way I did back home. I don't want them to feel secluded. I want people to be able to feel as free as I do.'
Gretchen Carlson has become a leader in the fight against sexual harassment at work, and she wants others to know what to do if they've been abused too.

The former Fox News host, 51, discussed harassment in the workplace during an interview with the podcast host Manoush Zomorodi, before giving a Ted Talk on the topic at the TedWomen 2017 conference.

Carlson, who led the fight against the former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes last year, detailed three steps people can take if they've been sexually harassed at work, to better prepare before they come forward against their abusers.

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Speaking out: Gretchen Carlson, 51, discussed harassment in the workplace before giving a Ted Talk on the topic at the TedWomen 2017 conference last week

'First and foremost, you must contact a lawyer first, before you do anything. Even if it's a 10-minute phone conversation, because the laws are different in every state, the statutes of limitation are different,' she said during the interview last week.

'And oftentimes what happens to women is we take it, we take it, we take it, we think that it will stop, we think we can work harder to get past it and then finally one day we combust and we go and we file a complaint. And what's the problem? We don't have a plan.'

The second step in Carlon's plan of action is to 'document, document, document'.

'Write a journal,' she added. 'Everything that's happening to you. "On March 5 2015, this happened at 8:42 am and I told Ben Smith that this happened to me and Tracy Anderson witnessed it." '

She recommended keeping 'emails, texts, cards', adding: 'And here's the key: take it home. I can't tell you how many women reached out to me and said they had documented, and then when they were fired they couldn't go back to their office to get it.'

The third step recommended by Carlson is to let at least two trusted colleagues know about the sexual harassment taking place in the workplace.

'I know it's hard, but please have the bravery and courage to tell two, because as long as we're in the "He said, she said" culture, which I believe is changing - but as long as we're still there, you need witnesses,' she said.

'You need people to say, "Yes, she told me. She told me what happened." '

Carlson has penned a book, Be Fierce, about stopping harassment in the workplace, where she details nine further steps victims can take to prepare their defense.

Talk: Carlson shared her three-step action plan during an interview with the podcast host Manoush Zomorodi (left)

Advice: She recommended talking to a lawyer first and foremost, to get up-to-date information on the laws and statute of limitations that exist in the state where the harassment occurred

In her 14-minute Ted Talk, Carlson described sexual harassment in the workplace as a horrifying reality affecting millions of women even though all they want to do is go to work every day.

She pointed out it is a bi-partisan issue, affecting Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike.

'Sexual harassment, it turns out, is not about sex. It's about power, and about what somebody does to you to try and take away your power,' she told her audience.

'On July 6, 2016, I jumped off a cliff all by myself. It was the scariest moment of my life; an excruciating choice to make,' Carlson added, recounting the moment she went public with her accusations against Ailes.

'I fell into an abyss all alone, not knowing what would be below. But then, something miraculous started to happen. Thousands of women started reaching out to me to share their own stories of pain and agony and shame. They told me that I became their voicethey were voiceless. And suddenly, I realized that even in the 21st century, every woman still has a story.'

Carlson recounted how she first experience harassment at the end of her year as Miss America, in 1989, while meeting 'with a very high-ranking TV executive in New York City'.

'I thought he was helping me throughout the day, making a lot of phone calls. We went to dinner, and in the back seat of a car, he suddenly lunged on top of me and stuck his tongue down my throat,' she said. 'I didn't realize that to "get into the business"silly mehe also intended to get into my pants.'

She told the crowd of another instance that followed shortly, adding: 'And just a week later, when I was in Los Angeles meeting with a high-ranking publicist, it happened again. Again, in a car. And he took my neck in his hand, and he shoved my head so hard into his crotch, I couldn't breathe.

Epidemic: In her 14-minute Ted Talk , Carlson described sexual harassment in the workplace as a horrifying reality affecting millions of women

Past: Carlson recounted how she first experience harassment at the end of her year as Miss America, in 1989, while meeting 'with a very high-ranking TV executive in New York City'

How it began: The former Fox host (pictured left on the network) led the charge against the former network CEO Roger Ailes (pictured right in an archive photo) last year

'These are the events that suck the life out of all of your self-confidence. These are the events that, until recently, I didn't even call assault. And this is why we have so much work to do.'

Carlson showed the crowd a photo of her meeting with Donald Trump in 1988, telling the audience: 'When this picture was taken in 1988, nobody could have ever predicted where we'd be today. Me, fighting to end sexual harassment in the workplace; he, president of the United States in spite of it.'

Trump, 71, has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen of women. He and the White House have branded them liars, most recently late last month, during a meeting with press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The host urged men and women to become 'allies' instead of 'enablers', and made the case for a change in law preventing companies from putting forced arbitration clauses in their contracts. These clauses keep allegations of sexual harassment secret by forcing employees to wave their Seventh Amendment right to a civil trial by jury.

She also encouraged victims of sexual harassment to 'be fierce' and come forward against their abusers so as to build a safer, more empowering environment for future generations.

'Here's my one last plea to companies,' she added. 'Let's hire back all those women whose careers were lost because of some random jerk. Because here's what I know about women: we will not longer be underestimated, intimidated or set back; we will not be silenced by the ways of the establishment or the relics of the past. No. We will stand up and speak up and have our voices heard. We will be the women we were meant to be.'
A mother has blasted one of this year's must-have Christmas toys in a scathing online post.

Mother Ciara Umar, from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, took to Facebook to criticise the L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise, describing it as a 'waste of money'.

The 60 toy contains a collectible doll and 49 other separate gifts to unwrap, including some encased within bath bombs.

However Mrs Umar was left disappointed when she bought one for her daughter Elisa and took to Facebook to warn other parents.

Disappointed: Mother Ciara Umar shared this post revealing what was inside (right) the L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise (left), which is one of this year's must-have Christmas presents

Gift: Mrs Umar had bought the present for her daughter Elisa, pictured, but was disappointed by what she found. Fellow parents said they would think twice before buying the 60 toy

Her post has gone viral and has been shared by more than 7,000 times since it was uploaded on Friday. It has also received dozens of comments from shocked parents who said they would think twice before buying the toy for their own children.

In her post, with a 'feeling annoyed' tag, she says: 'So Elisa got the Big LOL Surprise today. I would definitely not recommend if you don't want to waste your money. The pic on the right is all you get just pre warning yas (bucket not included) [sic].'

The 59.99 Lol Surprise Big Surprise toy is supposed to contain 50 toys but mother Ciara was unimpressed by the lack of surprises

She shared the post with an image of the 'surprise' toys which included some small plastic dolls and a handful of miniature doll accessories.

Ciara later added: 'I was mortified when I saw the contents. Don't get me wrong, she was over the moon opening them and had five baths with the bath bombs, but then just went back to her iPad. The novelty wore off within 15 minutes.

'She got what was in the picture then there was five more surprises in the bath bombs. It's an absolute waste of money, it's not even a full ball either, it's only half a ball as the back is flat.'

Sought-after: The LOL Surprise comes in different sizes and ranges in price from 5.99 to the 59.99 for the 'Big Surprise', pictured. Some retailers have limited customers to one each

The LOL Surprise comes in different sizes and ranges in price from 5.99 to the 59.99 for the 'Big Surprise'.

More than half a million of the smaller LOL toys have been sold in the UK since it was launched in March and it is now the nation's best-selling toy.

The limited edition Big Surprise has proved so popular that some retailers have set a limit of one ball per customer.

However many who read Mrs Umar's post explained they would no longer be buying one for their child's Christmas.

Christine Ruddy said: 'That's disgraceful, what a disappointment...won't be getting one now.'

Kelly Sawyer added: 'I'll tell my friend, her little girl is obsessed to have one. That's terrible, and I thought the Hatchimal was a rip-off.'

But not everyone feels the same and others have commented on Ciara's post to say they'd be happy to spend the money to bring a smile to their children's faces.

Nicola Mack said: 'Oh I know they are totally not worth the money. Olivia has her heart set on this, it's all she's asked for, I'd have a really unhappy little girl on Christmas morning if Santa doesn't bring this.

'It really is a lot of money for what you get, but I would pay this just to see the smile on her face.'

A brand spokesperson said: 'LOL Surprise is currently the best selling toy in the UK and a number of other countries. Prices range from 5.99 for the LOL Tots to 59.99 for the Big Surprise.

'The LOL Big Surprise contains 50 exclusive surprises that can't be found in other LOL products which individually are valued higher than the total RRP.'
The cover for the December issue of British Vogue has been unveiled and marks the dawn of a diverse new era in the fashion world.

The highly-anticipated edition is the first under new editor Edward Enninful, who took over from Alexandra Shulman when she left the post in August after 25 years.

The striking cover, which was revealed on Tuesday night, features a close-up of Ghanaian-British model Adwoa Aboah in bright blue eye-shadow and a headscarf.

Rather than making a nod to fashion and beauty trends, the retro-esque cover makes reference to a roll call of power players in politics and the arts, including the likes of Zadie Smith, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, rapper Skepta and Salman Rushdie.

New era: The cover for the December issue of British Vogue was unveiled tonight. It features British-Ghan model Adwoa Aboah and is the first to be edited by Edward Enninful

Taking the helm: The highly-anticipated edition is the first under Enninful, pictured last month, who took over from Alexandra Shulman when she left the post in August after 25 years

Enninful was said to be planning a 'posh girl' exodus, with a view to diversify British Vogue.

The Ghanaian-born former stylist was announced as Shulman's replacement in April, after she chose to leave the magazine to pursue 'a different future'.

He is the first black, first male and first gay editor of the magazine, which has been running since 1916.

Adwoa Aboah, 25, poses in a striking retro-feel photograph for the magazine, which goes on sale this Friday.

Dynamic: The Ghanaian-British model is the first cover star under editor Edward Enninful

First choice: Adwoa Aboah looks stunning in an image taken from inside British Vogue

The model stares into the camera lens wearing glittering eye shadow and red lisptick.

Adwoa, who is of Ghanian descent, wears her hair in a pink headscarf and dons huge silver earrings.

Next to Adwoa's picture is a list of British icons, from the worlds of fashion, politics, film, television, music and publishing.

When asked about Edward Enninful's decision to select her for the cover of Enninful's first issue, she said: 'My head's going this big. Being on this cover is the biggest thing that's happened in my career.

'There is this newfound love and space for activism within fashion. I never would have dreamt in a million years that I would have young girls coming up to me at Glastonbury or on the streets of LA, New York, London, and telling me how much GurlsTalk or seeing my picture in a magazine means to them, as a woman of colour.

'I love being a mixed-race woman in 2017. I feel part of something big. Theres this understanding that were all in it together'

Respected: Alexandra Shulman edited British Vogue for 25 years before stepping down

Celebrating an institution: Shulman's final issue of the magazine was the iconic September issue and featured Kate Moss and up and coming models

The company teased the cover on Sunday with a trailer featuring behind-the-scenes clips from upcoming fashion shoots as well as words from Enninful himself.

The clip drove fashion fans wild, with many saying they couldn't wait to go out and buy the new issue.

Enninful's first cover looks very different to Shulman's last issue, which hit shelves in August.

The September issue was themed around Vogue's 'past, present and future', and featured models Nora Attal, Edie Campbell, Jean Campbell, Kate Moss and Stella Tennant.

Enninful received an OBE in 2016 for services to diversify within the fashion industry. Enninful is close friends with Naomi Campbell, who he has given a role as contributing editor

Enninful, who grew up in London as one of six children, was scouted as a model age 16 and has gone on to become one of the most famous faces in fashion, counting Naomi Campbell as a best friend. He has a penchant for partying and is regularly seen at the hottest fashion events.

The journalist was the youngest-ever fashion director for i-D magazine age 16 and has worked for Italian and American Vogue, and served as a consultant on major fashion campaigns, including Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Dolce and Gabbana.

At the helm of W Magazine, he boosted ad pages by 16 percent in 2012.

The new editor, whose mother was a seamstress, was honoured at the British Fashion Awards in 2014 with the prestigious Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, and he also won an OBE in 2016 for services to diversity within the fashion industry.

Models, and close friends to Enninful, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss have both been given roles at Vogue as contributing editors.

See the full shoot in the December issue of British Vogue, on sale Friday
A former Australian escort has hit back at critics who slammed her controversial new book on 'being financially successful in the sex industry'.

Gwyneth Montenegro, 39, who has famously slept with more than 10,000 men, has faced backlash online since publishing the book, which has been described as a 'step by step guide on how to sell sex for money'.

'Great now I have to worry about a woman trying to teach our kids to be w****s and sell their bodies,' one Twitter user wrote.

'I don't understand why you'd write such a thing. You usually have so much class,' another added.

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Gwyneth Montenegro, 39, who has famously slept with more than 10,000 men, has faced backlash online since publishing her new book on how to be a financially successful escort

But Gwyneth, who is now an expert in 'intimacy behaviourism' and an advocate for women's rights, has defended her decision to pen the book and hit back at those who have criticised her.

Controversially I opted to teach young ladies how to survive as an escort.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Gwyneth, who was paid up to $1,000 an hour to sleep with the rich and powerful, said she accepts the book is a 'controversial decision that will not sit well with all'.

'However it's a decision I did not take lightly. It's a decision that took months and included feedback from co-workers, friends and clients before I committed to the project,' she explained.

'This is why I chose to spill the beans, to tell it all. Not to write some seedy "tell-all" tale of past sexual encounters.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Gwyneth said she accepts it is a 'controversial decision that will not sit well with all'

Many have taken issue with the book and slammed Gwyneth via social media

'That's been done to death, and to be honest, I find the practice rather tacky. To betray the client-provider trust for a few extra dollars that's just not me. I like to think I have more substance.'

Gwyneth said she chose to reveal everything in a 'different way'.

'Controversially I opted to teach young ladies how to survive as an escort. Okay, to not only survive but to show her every tip and every trick needed to earn impressive amounts of money within the industry and get out,' she said.

'I opted to reveal everything I did, from startup, to operating at the highest end of the industry. I decided to write a "How To" that will arm any current escort or someone considering being an escort to survive and flourish.'

Gwyneth said she is approached by escorts 'almost weekly' and 'more and more reveal that they are disheartened, bitter, broken and financially struggling' and 'desperate'.

'Controversially I opted to teach young ladies how to survive as an escort. Okay, to not only survive but to show her every tip and every trick needed to earn impressive amounts of money,' she said

If a woman has already decided that she is going to do this line of work, nothing anyone can say will prevent her from doing it.

'They are taking unnecessary risks. They are making unwise choices. And the industry is doing what it's famous for; chewing them up and spitting them out,' Gwyneth said.

'Now girls don't go to their career guidance representative and declare, "When I grow up I want to sell my body for sex". Typically it's a choice made for a deeper, more personal reason.

'Often the decision is financially motivated or the result of something traumatic happening in their life. Either way we are dealing with human beings trying to make their life work.'

'They are taking unnecessary risks. They are making unwise choices,' Gwyneth said

Gwyneth said she simply couldn't sit back and stay quiet.

'With my much talked about 10,091 encounters behind me I don't need the knowledge any more, so I passed it on,' she said.

'I sat down and wrote The Secret Taboo  The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Being a Financially Successful Escort.

'Wow, has it got people talking. Some are saying that it's a generous thing to do, others are saying (with a few expletives) that it's irresponsible to provide someone with the tools to flourish in the sex trade.

'My opinion? If a woman is in a circumstance where she is contemplating sex work, treat her as the adult she is, give her the best knowledge possible. Reveal to her how to do the job safely, responsibly and with prosperity. Then get out and enjoy life again.'

'Some are saying that it's a generous thing to do, others are saying (with a few expletives) that it's irresponsible to provide someone with the tools to flourish in the sex trade,' she said

Gwyneth said she wrote the guide after starting work as an intimacy behaviourist.

After being approached by escorts, she realised the trade was 'chewing them up and spitting them out'.

'They are increasingly disheartened, bitter, broken and financially struggling. In an industry where it's possible to make thousands of dollars in a day (in some cases in an hour) it seemed a massive contradiction,' she said.

'It became an enormous curiosity to me. Many would find a life of orgasms and money to be alluring.

'Initially I put it down the the mental ramifications of the job. It's not uncommon for an escort to spend everything she earns in an effort to feel better about herself, but in the end, the problem was was way simpler.

'Many of these women were blindly entering the trade, allured by the money, but had little or no practical knowledge on what the reality of the trade was,' Gwyneth explained

'Many of these women were blindly entering the trade, allured by the money, but had little or no practical knowledge on what the reality of the trade was. Along with the big money comes big risks and they simply weren't prepared.'

We are not in her shoes, we don't live her reality. How can we sit back all smug and judgmental?

Gwyneth said she had 'managed to navigate the trade over 15 years' so decided to pass on the knowledge.

'I literally wrote a step-by-step guide, revealing how I made it work for me,' she said.

Gwyneth said teaching women how to make money in the sex industry is not an irresponsible decision.

'The thing is, if a woman has already decided that she is going to do this line of work, nothing anyone can say will prevent her from doing it. She's a human being, she has her reasons and her right to choose,' she said.

Not all feedback has been negative however, with some praising her for writing the book

'I have personally experienced some of the pitfalls of the industry and I've witnessed others experience the pitfalls as well.

'If someone is going to make an adult decision to do this work, then I want them to consider all of the practicalities, emotions, safety, and financial ramifications. Just as importantly, I want them to plan an exit strategy, from the start.'

Ultimately, Gwyneth, who made clear in the book that she is avidly against illegal activity on any level, says society is 'backwards' in how we deal with sex.

'I considered that I might be stepping on some toes writing this book but my heart is in the right place. In my opinion it's not society's place to judge, we are not in her shoes, we don't live her reality. How can we sit back all smug and judgmental?' She said.

'As time went on and the letters of heartfelt thanks came in from those for whom the guide is intended, I knew I did the right thing by sharing the knowledge.'

'As time went on and the letters of heartfelt thanks came in from those for whom the guide is intended, I knew I did the right thing by sharing the knowledge,' she said

Gwyneth said the biggest misconception about escorts is that it is 'easy' and that they are all 'nymphomaniacs'.

'This industry attracts people who want to make money "the easy way", but it can be a fool's paradise,' she said.

'It can suck you in and then spit you out the other end, disillusioned and regretful. Most of the clients are not celebrities and often some of them project their anger, guilt and envy onto you.

'It can be really hard on the head. I'm sure the average woman doesn't fantasise about multiple sexual liaisons with men you wouldn't give a second glance to in normal society.'

Gwyneth entered into the industry after a traumatic past which saw her drugged, taken away and gang raped leaving her feeling 'unworthy' and 'unwanted by society'

Gwyneth made headlines in 2014 when she revealed her 'secret past'.

She entered into the industry after a traumatic past which saw her drugged, taken away and gang raped leaving her feeling 'unworthy' and 'unwanted by society'.

She now devotes her time to issues regarding female empowerment and particularly focusing on women achieving their dreams and goals despite adversity.

She also pioneered the field of Intimacy Behaviorism, is a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner and developed her own methodologies involving the mind's influence on intimacy; Intimacy Programming and Intimate Profiling.

The Secret Taboo - The Ultimate Insider's Guide To Being a Financially Successful Escort, is available online.
She is well-known for her glamorous ensembles and Queen Letizia did not disappoint as she joined her husband for a royal engagement tonight.

The 45-year-old royal looked elegant in a black and white sequinned dress as she accompanied King Felipe to a dinner with the President and First Lady of Israel.

President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama were hosted by the Spanish royals at the El Pardo Palace, in Madrid, on the last night of their state visit.

Queen Letizia of Spain linked arms with the President of Israel's wife, Nechama Reuven

Queen Letizia looks up at her husband with a warm smile as they pose for photos at the event

Letizia finished her look with a pair of patent black leather heels.

Her makeup was perfect for an evening event, she wore a smokey eye that framed her deep brown eyes.

She wore a dark pink lip with a slight gloss. Her hair was pulled off her face in a middle parting.

From left to right: Israel's First Lady, Nechama, Queen Letizia, King Felipe VI and President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin at the Royal Palace of Pardo in Madrid

The mother-of-two displayed incredibly toned arms in her sleeveless sequinned dress

She showed off a pair of huge diamond drop earrings, that had a vintage feel to them

The mother-of-two showed her caring side as she walked in arm-in-arm with the wife of Israeli President, Nechama Rivlin.

The brunette beauty displayed incredibly toned arms in the dress, which had been dusted with a slight shimmer.

Letizia and her husband King Felipe organised the event in honour of Isreali President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama, who are on a three-day state visit.

Carefully stepping down, Letizia linked arms with the first lady as she made an appearance

The queen looked deep in conversation with Israel's first lady, Nechama, ahead of the dinner

Gracious as always, Letizia greeted guests with a large smile at the Royal Palace of Pardo

The group posed together in front of a large tapestry hung in the palace. Nechama looked smart in tailored suit trousers with a floral jacket and heeled boots.

King Felipe added some colour to the occasion with a navy blue suit and light blue tie.

As he towered over Letizia, she gave him an affectionate smile and the pair looked to be in high spirits during the event.

Queen Letizia kept in high spirits throughout the night, smiling and laughing with her guests
As many mothers know, breastfeeding can be difficult as it can take a strain on your body while also being difficult to squeeze into your day.

A former Australian House Rules contestant, Maddi Wright, has kept things real in an Instagram post where she explained how she weaned her youngest child.

'I wanted bub off my boobs so badly that I was ready to hear him scream and not give in,' she said in a caption of her sons Carter and Marlow.

'After reading every blog on Google and trying every bottle known to man kind, I decided this was only going to work cold turkey for me.'

A former Australian House Rules contestant, Maddi Wright, (pictured centre) has kept things real in an Instagram post where she explained how she weaned her youngest child

This is what led Maddi to buying a cheap babies bottle and some formula for her son.

The reason she chose to share her story on Instagram was due to an influx of direct messages from followers who were wanting to know her secret to getting both of her sons from breast to bottle.

'I did four days of expressing then straight to formula. I used a big fit ball and turned bub away from me sitting upright in my lap and just persisted,' Maddi said.

'I'd lightly bounce on the ball and offer him bottle. He didn't eat for about half a day then he gave in.'

'I wanted bub off my boobs so badly that I was ready to hear him scream and not give in,' she said

The reason she chose to share her story on Instagram was due to an influx of direct messages from followers who were wanting to know her secret

Of course there will be people who will pick apart her decision and how she went about it but each parent has to work out what is best for them and their children.

This doesn't mean the task came without difficulty: 'Night feeds were the hardest. Worst thing he'd do is scream until he fell asleep.

'It all lasted about five days until he was taking the bottle with no fuss.'

'I did four days of expressing then straight to formula. I used a big fit ball and turned bub away from me sitting upright in my lap and just persisted,' Maddi said

Of course there will be people who will pick apart her decision and how she went about it but each parent has to work out what is best for them and their children.

Maddi also knows that her approach might not be best for other parents and doesn't advise others to blindly follow her footsteps.

'That's my story. Not pretending to be an expert just putting it out there for those who have asked,' she explained.

As any other parent out there will know getting your children to transition isn't an easy task, so Maddi's advice has been welcomed by her followers.

Maddi also knows that her approach might not be best for other parents and doesn't advise others to blindly follow her footsteps

As any other parent out there will know getting your children to transition isn't an easy task, so Maddi's advice has been welcomed by her followers

Some are applauding what she has done and others are sharing their own similar experiences.

'I never thought I'd be in the same boat in finally going cold turkey with breastfeeding my toddler I did it and it's just over three months and I feel great about it so thanks @mrsmaddiwright for the reinsurance that it can be done,' wrote one woman.

Another woman went into detail about her own experience where she paid AUD $1200 to visit her sister in Perth so she could help wean her son.

Some are applauding what she has done and others are sharing their own similar experiences

'She stayed with him all night for the first night, she persisted and kept giving him the bottle she knew he would take it,' the woman said.

'He was hungry enough Maddi, in the morning he finally took the bottle and he has been taking it for a week now no troubles I was at my wits end with feeding I was angry, depressed and needed a break.

'I was up 10 times a night sometimes just so he could suck for comfort I was mentally drained, good on you for being so strong I couldnt do it alone Im just so thankful my sister reached out to help me.'
The Royal College of Nursing, the union hoping to launch a mass NHS nurses strike, is caught in a leadership crisis with members to hold a vote of no confidence in union leadership in a few weeks. The chaos comes just as the union is due to release the results of the largest strike action ballot in its history which could see thousands of NHS nurses walk off the job this winter over pay. But in a shock move last night, the RCN's governing body, known as the RCN Council, face being ousted as part of a fallout from an independent review into the union's poor culture. The independent report, conducted by Bruce Carr KC, was set-up following internal accusations of sexual harassment and bullying from 2018 onwards. It found that women are at risk of ' alcohol and power-related exploitation' and junior nurses were groped by senior union officials. The inquiry also highlighted a misogynistic environment in higher levels of union leadership, with 'loud and abrasive' male voices dominating the environment 'to the detriment of female colleagues'. It described the RCN Council as 'not fit for purpose'. Union bosses are also facing rising anger from members over a lack of communication over the result of the strike ballot. Some officials allegedly leaked the results of the historical ballot to national newspapers over the weekend saying the membership had voted in favour of a strike before the nurses themselves had been informed. The union is yet to formally declare the results of the vote, which marks the first time it has balloted all of its 300,000 members for strike action in its 106-year history.
Will putting babies to sleep in a simple cardboard box reduce the risk of cot death  which kills more than 200 infants under one every year in the UK?

Thats the controversial claim made by some to support a scheme where new parents are given a free baby box containing, at its most basic, a fitted mattress, cover and sheet. It could also include sleepsuits, bibs, creams, ear thermometers and toys.

The NHS in Scotland is already running such a scheme, while a handful of hospitals in England are piloting it.

Some suppliers claim that the boxes can help to reduce infant mortality rates, others wrongly state the cardboard boxes are safer than a Moses basket or cot and campaigners fear parents are being misled when there is no published research to support this.

So why are we even considering the notion of babies sleeping in boxes? The idea has been imported from Finland where, since the late thirties, all new parents have been issued with a free cardboard box for babies to sleep in  packed with clothes, nappies, a mattress and bedding.

They wanted to provide all new mothers, rich or poor, with a dry, comfortable and convenient place for their babies to sleep.

The concept originates from Finland, where new parents are given a cardboard box, which can be used as a bed, filled with baby products and a mattress

Over the following few decades, the countrys infant mortality rate dropped from the highest in Europe to one of the lowest in the world  from 65 deaths per thousand live births to just two per thousand. In England and Wales, it is 3.6 per thousand.

The baby box, it seemed, was the key, and in recent years, several companies supplying them have sprung up in the UK.

Are boxes the reason for the mortality decline?

But at around the same time as the boxes, Finland also introduced a national system of maternity and child care, which many experts believe was the real reason for the decline in deaths.

Indeed, critics argue that where modern schemes have been shown to have a benefit in terms of reduced infant mortality, this probably arises from free educational resources  such as online tuition on breastfeeding and safe sleeping positions  that parents get as part of the package.

Most baby boxes sold in the UK are 70cm long, 42cm wide and 27cm deep  though sizes vary slightly. They range in price from around 50 for a basic box to up to 400 for one packed with goodies.

Cot death charity The Lullaby Trust has raised concerns about the safety of so-called baby boxes

Earlier this year, Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave the go-ahead for around 58,000 new mothers a year to be issued with a free baby box  each one worth an estimated 160. The scheme, backed by the Royal College of Midwives, is thought to cost almost 9 million a year.

In England, at least nine NHS trusts are piloting similar projects, though the costs are being covered by the firm supplying the boxes. These include three major hospitals in London  North Middlesex University Hospital, The Whittington Hospital and Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital  as well others in Colchester, Merseyside, Berkshire and Birmingham.

Are they safer?

One of the main aims was to ensure every parent had a safe place for their baby to sleep, so they did not end up sleeping with them in their bed, which is one of the biggest risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

In SIDS, the precise cause of death is often unknown, but sleeping with parents in their bed can increase the risk 50-fold.

Putting a baby in a box seems to be safer, but theres little to suggest its any more efficient than a cot or a Moses basket. Yet, according to the British Baby Box website: It can be used as babys first bed  and experts say this element has been responsible for helping Finland achieve one of the worlds lowest infant mortality rates.

One of the firms owners recently told a local paper: It might sound odd to tell new mums to put their precious bundle in what is essentially a cardboard box, but studies have shown putting a baby to sleep in a baby box, rather than a cot or Moses basket, can help reduce the causes associated with SIDS.

A spokeswoman for British Baby Box has since told Good Health the box itself does not reduce mortality risk.

Mary Ross Davie, from the Royal College of Midwives, says although it supports the initiative, parents should not be led to believe that putting their baby in a box is any safer than a Moses basket.

The Scottish scheme is not making those claims, she adds. When you have companies also selling them, then you will get variations in how the boxes are described.

But cot death charity The Lullaby Trust now no longer allows its leaflets to be enclosed with baby boxes. It continues to recommend cots or Moses baskets as the safest place for a baby to sleep.

We need robust academic research in the UK to properly evaluate the use of baby boxes as a safe sleeping product, says Francine Bates, the charitys chief executive.

NHS England said it has no plans to follow Scotlands example of a nationwide free box scheme.
You can now track your babys health just as closely as your own from the convenience of your smart phone, but experts caution that trendy tracking gadgets may do more harm than good.

Infant tech is one of the latest trends in parenting, becoming so popular that this year's Consumer Electronics Show even includes a 'best in baby tech' competition.

Already in the running are more than 30 gadgets ranging from smart pacifiers, to onesie monitors, to biometric booties can give you constant information about your babys heart rate, body temperature, position and a minute-by-minute account of your babys sleeping habits.

Wearable tech can keep you in the know, which should help to ease the nerves of new parents, but some experts says it does exactly the opposite.

Wearable tech and advanced baby monitoring systems are the latest parenting fad, but experts warn they may do more harm than good

In January, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its recommendations for preventing sleep-related infant deaths, including advice to parents that expensive tech products are not necessarily a better way to ensure their babys safety.

The seemingly unpredictable SIDS  sudden infant death syndrome  has long haunted the nightmares and sleepless nights of new parents. Baby monitors provide some comfort, and tech companies are trying to fill in the gaps by relaying information far beyond whether your baby is crying or sound asleep.

Mimos baby activity tracker, for example, monitors a babys movement throughout the night, eventually generating a timeline of he or she slept. It even sends a push notification to parents smartphones to let them know if the baby has been still for a certain amount of time.

Its even more advanced sleep tracker is a sleep kimono that sends real-time information about the just about every detail of your babys night sleep plus live audio to your phone and, as many caregivers as you choose.

Mimo Baby's onesie (left) tracks your baby's movement, temperature, heart rate, breathing and more and sends the data to your smart phone (right)

When used with a Nest thermostat and Nest Cam, you can triangulate your baby and its every need, adjusting the room temperature if the baby is too hot or cool, and checking in on his or her movements.

In theory, this all sounds like a great way to make sure your baby is safe and sleeping while saving at least a few rare and precious moments in the comfort of your own bed.

But the AAP specifically recommended that parents not use home monitors, baby positioners and other commercial devices  none of which are approved by the FDA - that claim to help reduce the risk of SIDS.

Instead, presenting last year at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco, Dr Rachel Moon, who was lead author on the Academys official update recommendations said we know that we can keep a baby safer without spending a lot of money on home monitoring gadgets, but through simple precautionary measures.

Some technologies have drawn much more damning criticism not just for being less effective than low tech options, but for being downright dangerous.

Last month popular toymaker Mattel had to give its forthcoming baby monitor, Aristotle, the ax amid complaints from pediatricians, psychologists and politicians.

Aristotle was intended not just to track a babys behavior, but interact with him or her, singing lullabies, reading bedtime stories and all the while gathering data on the children it was watching.

The AIs opponents complained that there were too many unknowns about how it might affect a babys psychological development. Many were concerned that a baby could in fact struggle to distinguish between it and a human. In turn, some speculated that it would discourage parents from healthy social interaction with their babies.

Other forms of monitors are less human-acting, but pediatricians warn that they could have the exact opposite effects.

Dr Christopher Bonafide of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia wrote in an issue of the Journal of American Medical Association in January that there is no evidence that consumer infant physiological monitors are life-saving, and there is potential for harm if parents use to use them.

He uses popular baby monitor-maker Owlet as a cautionary tale. The company makes a sock that includes a pulse oximeter. The device is sold on the premise that it will alert a parent to any changes it thinks indicate worrisome while the baby sleeps.

These direct-to-parent advertising strategies may stimulate unnecessary fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt in parents about their abilities to keep infants safe, Dr Bonafide wrote.
It is possible that we can grow biologically younger  and they key is in our blood, according to a scientist.

The biomedical gerontologist  an aging expert  says that one day we won't die from old age or ill health  only as a result of road accidents.

That's according to Briton Aubrey de Grey, who is chief science officer and co-founder of the SENS Research Foundation in Mountain View in California.

His company is one of an increasing number of Bay Area researchers pursuing the fountain of youth  focusing on isolating a factor in blood to turn back the hands of time.

The idea is that giving the plasma of the young to the old could help to reverse the effects of ageing.

Researchers believe blood plasma could be the fountain of youth (stock photo)

And while it's a concept that calls to mind vampire lore and stories of bathing in blood, research has suggested it's not just pie in the sky.

Indeed, researchers at Stanford University, led by neuroscientist Tony Wyss-Coray, showed in a 2014 study that infusions of blood from young mice reversed cognitive and neurological impairments in old rodents.

Now biotech start-ups are racing to replicate this in humans, to achieve what we only know in science-fiction movies: eternal youth and health.

'The risk of death will remain the risk of death from causes other than aging  like being hit by a truck,' Dr de Grey told CBS SF Bay Area.

'We don't know how soon we're going to defeat aging. We should be able to keep people truly in a youthful state of health, no matter how long they live and that means the risk of death will not rise.

'Plasma transfusions are big hot property right now.'

Experiments in humans

A year after the Stanford research, biotech company Alkahest in San Carlo, California, experimented a step further in a series of trials injecting the blood plasma of 18-year-old humans into old mice.

They found that similar effects to the original study  human blood did rejuvenate both the body and brain, improving cognition and allowing them to frolic about like their younger counterparts.

Knowing that mice are biologically similar to humans, the researchers believed a similar technique could one day be used to benefit us.

WE DISAGREE: AGING IS 'MATHEMATICALLY INEVITABLE It is the holy grail for scientists, to create a future where humans can achieve everlasting life. But it will only ever be science fiction, a study suggests, as it is impossible to stop the march of time. Researchers who looked at aging have concluded there is no way out of death even with a breakthrough in drugs or treatment. The problem as we get older is that some cells become sluggish, so our bodies slow down and organs do not work properly, while other cells speed up and cause cancer. We could slow down cancer cells to stop them in their tracks, but this would probably worsen the effects of aging. Meanwhile speeding up the other sluggish cells might trigger cancer, which would out-compete them and grow into a tumour. The catch-22 was arrived at in a study by the University of Arizona, based on a new mathematical model of aging. Senior author Joanna Masel, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, said: Aging is mathematically inevitable - like, seriously inevitable. There's logically, theoretically, mathematically no way out.' Advertisement

The Alkahest team examined the brains of the treated mice, and found that they appeared to have created new cells in the hippocampus.

This process, known as neurogenesis, is thought to contribute to memory and learning, and the results now show that it can be enhanced through the injection of young human blood, New Scientist reports.

According to Sakura Minami, who was involved in the study, some of the factors that give young blood its power have now been identified  but, the team will not reveal them yet.

Combating Alzheimers

It is hoped that these findings could one day help them to develop not just anti-aging treatments  but even help people with neurological diseases.

Human trails have already begun to test this hypothesis. Last month, a Stanford University study found so-called vampire transfusions may help people with dementia.

They were shown to regain the capacity to perform basic daily tasks, such as making their own meals, paying bills and remembering to take their medications.

This is what happened when they gave 18 people with Alzheimers disease the blood plasma of 18 to 30-year-olds.

Although this was an early-stage trial, set up only to determine if such transfusions were safe, the authors were surprised by the results.

The studys principal investigator, Dr Sharon Sha, said: Our enthusiasm concerning these findings needs to be tempered by the fact that this was a small trial. But these results certainly warrant further study.
Pregnant women should eat more fish to boost the development of their children, new research suggests.

They are usually advised to steer clear of oily fish amid fears the build-up of mercury can damage the brain of babies in the womb.

But Swedish scientists, using data from nearly 39,000 mothers and their children, have found eating seafood during pregnancy only benefits children.

Children born to mothers who consumed 400g of oily fish each week while they were expecting had higher language and communication skills.

However, the researchers warned pregnant women should avoid eating anymore than this amount due to the potential effects of mercury.

Pregnant women are usually advised to steer clear of oily fish amid fears the build-up of mercury can damage the brain of babies in the womb

How was the study carried out?

For the new study, researchers obtained blood samples from a small group of 2,239 women in week 17 of gestation.

Prenatal mercury exposure was also calculated by asking all of the 38,581 women to report what they consumed halfway through their pregnancy.

Mothers then reported children's language and communications skills at age five by filling out a questionnaire.

The scientists at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, then performed a statistical analysis to assess the impact of mercury.

For mothers who ate less than 400g of seafood a week there were clear benefits, they reported in the journal Environment International.

EAT FISH TO AVOID SCHIZOPHRENIA Eating oily fish while pregnant may protect children from developing schizophrenia when they grow older, research suggested in September. In trials on mice, scientists found mice deprived of omega-3 fatty acids in the womb displayed signs of the mental health disorder as adults. The nutrient, abundant in salmon, mackerel and sardines, is already known to be good the brain - but the new study is the first to show a link to schizophrenia. Japanese researchers also discovered similar effects for pregnant mice who had a lack of omega-6, found in mayonnaise, sunflower seeds and flaxseed oil. Advertisement

Such children performed significantly better on the speech and language test, the researchers found.

They added 'maternal seafood intake during pregnancy was positively associated with the language and communication scales'.

US recommendations

Authorities in the US changed their advice in June 2014 to limit fish consumption for pregnant or breastfeeding women to no more than three servings a week.

The decision, undertaken by the Food and Drug Administration, was made in light of evidence about pollutants.

The authority issued clearer advice for pregnant women in January as to what fish they can eat safely, and which to avoid.

The guidance in the UK

The NHS encourages pregnant women to eat fish because of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

However, it says swordfish, shark and marlin should be completely avoided because of high mercury levels.

Consumption of tuna, which contains moderate levels of mercury, should be limited to two steaks a week or four cans, the NHS says.

It also says that pregnant women should also eat no more than two portions a week of oily fish such as mackerel, sardines or salmon.
A 22-year-old woman stepped on stage for the Miss Washington USA pageant this weekend proudly showing off her condition that doesn't allow her to straighten her arms, back, hands and leg.

Madeline Irwin was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition that causes curved joints and muscle weakness and stiffness.

After years of trying to conceal her disorder and blend in, she said she finally found the strength to accept and love herself through embracing her condition and surrounding herself with positive people.

Now she's used the Miss Washington pageant as a platform to speak on her condition and break the stigma of people with physical disabilities.

Madeline Irwin, 22, was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition that doesn't allow her to straighten her arms, back fingers and leg

She competed in the Miss Washington USA pageant this weekend on the platform of advocating for people with physical disabilities

The Washington State University student is passionate about advocating for people with physical disabilities because she said 'there is a strong stigma around the word ''disability'''.

Madeline said growing up she didn't want to be associated with the word and would try to blend in as 'normal' because unlike others with her condition, she doesn't use a wheelchair.

What is arthrogryposis multiplex congenita? Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) is a disease of newborns resulting in decreased flexibility of the joints. Symptoms differ drastically from person to person, including stiff joints and muscle weakness. The areas that are most likely to have lack of movement are the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees, and feet. The lack of movement, unlike many other diseases, does not get worse as time goes by. However, it is necessary to seek treatment to prevent further impediments of the joints. Advertisement

It wasn't until Madeline built her confidence and began to love herself that she realized she could use the word 'disabled' to empower herself and then find the courage to empower others.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, also known as AMC, is a disease that affects one in 3,000 infants.

There are many causes of the disease, most of which develop before birth including inadequate room in the uterus for the baby, a deformed spinal cord and central nervous system, and abnormal development of muscles.

Treatment is necessary to prevent further joint limitations and Madeline said she went to physical therapy when she was younger to build strength in those areas.

Madeline has severe scoliosis due to her AMC which causes her to suffer from restrictive lung disease, making it difficult to breath.

She underwent a spinal fusion surgery that put four metal rods and eight screws in her back when she was 12.

When she was just a baby, she had casts on both of her feet after a surgery to correct 'rocker bottom foot' or curved feet so she could walk properly.

However, she does struggle with daily tasks like lifting heavy things and walking far distances. She said her campus is very hilly, so if she has loads of books she gets tired quickly.

And though doctors have told her no further surgery will be required, she tries to stretch every day because her joints tense up easily.

Madeline took to Instagram to post pictures of her surgery scars, which she was formerly embarrassed about

Maseline has had surgeries on her hands, feet and back since she was a baby

New to pageantry, Madeline decided to enter in order to promote her platform.

In a private interview room with a panel of judges, she explained to them that she was vying for the crown to advocate for physically disabled people like herself.

She showed off her figure in a formal gown and bikini on stage in front of the audience and judges, something she had never done before.

Madeline takes to Instagram under the username 'Crooked_loves' to write about her condition and post 'body positive' images.

She posted photos of her scars and wrote: 'I used to cover up my scars. But why? My scars are freaking awesome! Why did I ever hate them? Why did I want to hide them?'

Madeline continues with positive posts though she still experiences 'bad body days' which she also documents on social media to share the truths of living with a disability.

She said she's found the strength to love her body by surrounding herself with positive people and unfollowing any social media accounts she sees as negative.

And though she may not have won the title of Miss Washington, she said she is 'not close to finished'.

Madeline told Dailymail.com that she has some things in the works that have to do with working closely with the physically disabled, though she couldn't disclose exactly what it is.

She writes on Instagram: 'I am not beautiful DESPITE my disability. In fact, in a lot of ways, I am beautiful BECAUSE of it!'

The college student says it has been her dream to be able to advocate for physically disabled people and now it appears her dreams are finally in motion.

She said of her AMC: 'It doesnt define me, but its a huge part of who I am.'
Patients' lives are being cut short because hospitals are having to ration routine operations, the NHS's financial watchdog has warned.

Jim Mackey, head of NHS Improvement, said the health service was 'juggling hand to mouth' and having to 'deprioritise' non-urgent surgery.

He said that if the NHS was not given more money in the Budget, in two weeks' time, there would have to be an 'adjustment' of what it was expected to provide.

'At some point there's going to have to be an adjustment of what the expectations are.

'We're all just juggling hand-to-mouth, none of us really feel like we've got a long-term plan.'

Jim Mackey, head of NHS Improvement, said the health service was 'juggling hand to mouth' and having to 'deprioritise' non-urgent surgery

Referring to hospitals 'deprioritising' non-urgent operations  as a way of saving money  he said: 'If you're 85 and you can't walk, we're going to shorten your life.

'That's wrong, that's not what we all want as society.'

Mr Mackey was addressing the NHS Providers annual conference in Birmingham, which represents 230 hospital, ambulance and community trusts.

Infection levels starting to rise

In a separate intervention, the chief executive of NHS Providers, warned hospital death rates and infection levels were starting to rise.

Chris Hopson also said that targets on cancer treatment, mixed sex wards and waiting times were 'starting to slip back at an increasing pace.'

Extra investment needed

He claimed the UK would need to invest an extra 900 per patient to match the healthcare spending in Germany.

IS THE NHS WASTING ITS OWN MONEY? The NHS is struggling to meet the needs of the rising, ageing population on top of having to pay for more expensive new medicines and procedures. Although the Government has recently injected more cash  an extra 8 billion was promised by 2020  healthcare leaders say this wont be enough. But the NHS has also been accused of wasting its money and figures only last week showed it was losing 1 billion to fraud. A separate analysis last month showed hospitals' inefficient operating theatres were wasting 130 million a year. Advertisement

The NHS is struggling to meet the needs of the rising, ageing population on top of having to pay for more expensive new medicines and procedures.

Although the Government has recently injected more cash  an extra 8 billion was promised by 2020  healthcare leaders say this wont be enough.

But the NHS has also been accused of wasting its money and figures only last week showed it was losing 1 billion to fraud.

A separate analysis last month showed hospitals' inefficient operating theatres were wasting 130 million a year.

How much does the UK spend on healthcare?

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the UK spends an average of 2,777 per person on healthcare each year, which is the NHS and private combined.

But Mr Hopson claimed that France spent an extra 300 per head and Germany an additional 900 per head.

He said: 'The simple point is that if we want the best care, we have to pay for it.

'We have now reached a point where it is no longer possible to meet those NHS constitutional performance standards on current funding levels.

'The the hard fought gains of the 2000s across a range of measures  for example, waiting times and single sex wards  are starting to slip back at increasing pace.'
Nearly a third of women ignored invitations to have a smear test for cancer last year, official statistics reveal.

Uptake of the English cervical screening programme is at its lowest level for 20 years, with more than 1.2million women aged 25 to 64 failing to turn up in 2016/17.

Health bosses last night urged GPs to provide more morning and evening screening appointments, in a bid to make it as easy as possible for busy women to attend.

Just 72 per cent of invited women were tested last year, down from 75.7 per cent in 2011.

And among the youngest group of 25 to 29-year-olds, just 62.1 per cent attended, according to the NHS Digital statistics.

Health bosses have urged GPs to provide more convenient appointment in a bid to raise uptake of cervical screening (stock photo)

Uptake of the test fell across every age group and in every local authority in England in the last year, the damning statistics show.

Cervical cancer affects 3,200 women a year in Britain, and kills roughly 900, but rates of the disease are projected to rise nearly 40 per cent in the next 20 years.

Screening saves thousands

Smear tests involve taking a sample of cells from the neck of the womb.

Women aged between 25 and 49 are invited for screening every three years, and when they are aged 50 to 64, every five years.

These regular tests aim to spot pre-cancerous cells which can be treated before they develop into tumours that can spread throughout the body.

The national screening programme has been credited with slashing cervical cancer rates by 44 per cent since the 1970s.

Experts think another 2,000 women would be killed by the disease every year without the programme.

The death of reality TV star Jade Goody with cervical cancer in 2009 triggered a spike in the number of women attending screening  but that effect has faltered since, with numbers gradually falling.

The smear test involves an intimate swab, which is thought to put many women off.

And if they test positive at the initial screen, they are recalled for a biopsy to confirm the result  which can be painful  which also deters women.

Younger women missing out

The Jade Goody effect has long gone,' says a cancer charity

The new data suggests that younger women, in particular, are not getting themselves tested.

A total of 4.45 million women were invited for screening in 2016/17, but only 3.18million attended.

Robert Music, chief executive of Jos Cervical Cancer Trust said: I am extremely disappointed to see these statistics, however sadly I am not surprised.

The Jade Goody effect has long gone.

We have spoken out time and time again about the need for investment and action to improve cervical screening attendance, however this is simply not happening.

We are leading busier, more mobile lives therefore these statistics must surely serve as a call to action to make the screening programme more accessible, again, something we have been saying for years.

Lack of convenient appointments

In a report released in January 2017, Jos Cervical Cancer Trust found almost 44 per cent of local authorities and 60 per cent of NHS clinical commissioning groups had not undertaken any activities to increase screening attendance in the last two years.

But Public Health England believes lack of access to convenient appointments is a major cause of declining attendance, along with embarrassment, fear and lack of awareness.

Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening at Public Health England, said: It is of real concern that fewer women, particularly younger women are not being screened, with over a third of women under 30 not taking the test.

If women are embarrassed about having the test or worried about what the test results might say, they should talk to their GP who can explain why the test is important.

Public Health England said it is encouraging GPs to consider offering a variety of appointments earlier in the morning and evening, making it easier for women to attend at a time that suits them.
The Indian government has launched an investigation into offshore assets and bank accounts of over 700 Indian individuals and entities disclosed in the Paradise Papers released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

The Indian names include Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, liquor baron businessman Vijay Mallya, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, film star Sanjay Dutt's wife Dilnashin (now known as Manyata) Union minister Jayant Sinha and Rajya Sabha MP RK Sinha.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) announced that the multi-agency group probing the Panama Papers leak will also monitor the investigations on the Paradise Papers on financial holdings abroad.

Businessman Vijay Mallya, currently living in London, was named on the list

Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia

Manyata Dutt, wife of Sanjay Dutt

It said the investigation units of the income tax department across the country have been alerted to take note of the disclosures for immediate action.

In all, 714 Indian entities and individuals figure in the list.

The Paradise Papers include nearly seven million loan agreements, financial statements, emails, trust deeds and other paperwork over nearly 50 years from inside Appleby, a well-known offshore law firm with headquarters in Bermuda.

ICIJ worked with 95 media partners globally for the investigation. The leaked documents include files from smaller, family-owned trust company Asiaciti (Singapore), and from company registries in 19 secrecy jurisdictions.

However, at the same time, the mention of names in the list does not mean wrongdoing, the body said.

CBDT, which is the apex policy-making body for the I-T department, said investigation in many cases of offshore entities is already on the fast track.

As soon as further information surfaces, swift action as per law will follow, it added.

CBDT said the government has directed that investigation in cases of Paradise Papers will be monitored by a reconstituted multi-agency group (MAG), which is headed by the CBDT chairman and has representatives from the tax body, Enforcement Directorate, RBI and Financial Intelligence Unit.

The panel will first go through details of income tax returns filed by the 714 Indian individuals and entities named in the Paradise Papers and subsequently take action, on a case-to-case basis, official sources said.

However, the CBDT said it is still to receive full details of the latest disclosures. It said the names of only a few Indians have appeared so far in the media.

The Paradise Papers relate to an investigation into offshore and banking assets of individuals and entities carried out by the Indian Express in collaboration with ICIJ.

Even the ICIJ website has not yet released the names and other particulars of all entities, it said.

The ICIJ website suggests that information will be released in phases and structured data connected to the Paradise Papers investigation will be released only in the coming weeks on its offshore leaks database, a CBDT statement said.

A senior official said notices will be issued once complicity of an individual or entity is established in these cases.

The CBDT said revelations made on Monday in the media indicate that out of 180 countries represented in the data of offshore entities held by people of different nationalities, India ranks 19th in terms of number of names.

Sun Group, founded by Nand Lal Khemka, figured as Appleby's second largest client with as many as 118 offshore entities.

Big B: At this time of my life, I seek peace

Amitabh Bachchan, also known as Big B

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has written a reflective blog post on how the media reports allegations against him and how he chooses to respond to them.

The post appeared just hours before media publications went live with the Paradise Papers leak.

The post began with a reference to recent reports that he had been served notices by Mumbai's municipal body over alleged illegal construction in the city, that the actor says he is 'yet to see'.

'If there is accusation, at times, I would prefer to correct the manner at times it is prudent to remain quiet,' he said.

'On matters such as the one in question, it shall be the agency, the system that shall resolve it not media.'

Bachchan also talks about the Bofors scandal and how the actor and his family were 'grilled, declared traitors, abused and humiliated for several years'.

He writes that 'we moved court in the United Kingdom' against a UK paper and won.

He says those who levelled allegations against him never approached the courts to 'verify or justify their allegation'.

'Almost 25 years later, one of the chief prosecutors of the country that was involved in the matter, stated through a public platform that our names were asked to be planted in the scandal,' the actor wrote.

Bachchan says when asked by the media if he would seek retribution he told them he does not 'wish to make any comment on it'.

In the blog, he writes, 'What retribution and information will I seek? Will it take away years of suffering and mental torture that we went through?'

Referring to his name in the Panama Papers, an investigation carried out by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists of which The Indian Express is a partner, Bachchan says, 'The paper has asked for reactions, for responses, for justification or not, for replies to their investigative queries.'

He writes, 'Two instant replies were given out by us, of denial and misuse of name, they were printed but the questions continued.'

Bachchan says each summons received by him has been duly answered and when required he has made personal appearances at different agency offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

The actor continues, 'Tomorrow there could be more, and the process of our cooperation shall continue.

'It is the norm, it is the law of the land, it shall be abided by.'

The post ends with Bachchan saying, 'In this age and time of my life, I seek peace and freedom from prominence.

'I do not seek headlines. I do not seek acknowledgement.'

Congress tells Modi to take action

The Congress on Monday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate action against those who feature in the Paradise Papers leak, including Union minister Jayant Sinha and BJP MP RK Sinha.

Demanding Jayant Sinha's resignation, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, 'Will the Prime Minister show the courage of conviction to hand over this entire information to the bench of Supreme Court that is looking at action against black money holders?

'Will the ''Compromised Bureau of Investigation'' (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate take action?'

Union minister Jayant Sinha (left) and BJP MP RK Sinha have been linked to offshore dealings

While Jayant Sinha explained his position through a series of tweets, RK Sinha, when confronted by the media, wrote on a piece of paper that he is on 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) for seven days for religious reasons.

In a series of tweets, Jayant Sinha said all transactions related to him that have been mentioned in the expose 'have been fully disclosed to relevant authorities through all necessary filings as required'.

According to the Indian Express report, Jayant Sinha used to be managing director of a company named Omidyar Network as well as a director of D.Light design, a company Omidyar had invested in.

The report then talks about a decision taken at D.Light to procure a loan through the company's subsidiary in Cayman Islands, an offshore tax haven. Sinha tweeted, 'These were bonafide and legal transactions undertaken on behalf of highly reputed world-leading organisations in my fiduciary role as Partner at Omidyar Network and its designated representative on the D.Light Board.'

'All these transactions have been fully disclosed to relevant authorities through all necessary filings as required,' Sinha said, adding that he severed his association with D.Light when he joined the Modi Cabinet.

'It is crucial to note that these transactions were done for d.light as an Omidyar representative, and not for any personal purpose,' he added.

RK Sinha, on the other hand, has been linked to two offshore companies via his security service firm SIS.
Amazon is shutting two Whole Foods stores in the UK  just three months after taking over the healthy grocery chain.

The internet giant, which completed its 10.7bn takeover of Whole Foods in August, plans to close branches in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, and Cheltenham.

It is understood the stores employ around 150 staff between them.

Done deal: Internet giant Amazon completed its 10.7bn takeover of Whole Foods in August

Industry insiders said the closures were probably a strategic move as neither shop could be serviced by Amazons online grocery service Amazon Fresh, which delivers to 302 postcodes across London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Steve Dresser from retail analysts Grocery Insight said: It makes perfect sense for Whole Foods to close both stores from a business standpoint, the logistics must be nonsensical. I think it marks the new age from Amazon where the balance sheet is scrutinised and sacred cows in Gloucester and Scotland arent permissible just to spread the brand.

Whole Foods, which has nine stores in the UK, claimed the move was unrelated to the Amazon merger.

A spokesman said a decision on the future of the stores will be made after the company has consulted with staff to discuss the proposal.

If they decided to close the stores the firm would work with team members to explore alternative employment opportunities, the spokesman said.

Amazon has been trying to ramp up its grocery operations in the UK and last month announced a partnership with north-of-England supermarket Booths. Under the deal hundreds of the high-end grocers products will be stocked on Amazon Fresh.

Earlier this year Amazon also placed a job advert looking to recruit a boss for UK Amazon Fresh Marketplace to aggressively expand to win new food and drink partners.

It has a growing list of independent sellers on its website that specialises in delivering high quality produce. London partners include high-end butchers Lidgates in Holland Park, Gails Artisan Bakery in Soho, and Rotherhithe specialist wholesale fishmonger, Murrays Fresh Fish.

Because of the nature of Amazons logistics business, it requires tight turnaround times and one of its main selling points is its same-day delivery option.

The takeover is potentially hazardous for the retail industry because of the sheer scale of its business. Unlike high street grocers which operate on low margins and need to keep tight controls on costs to make profits, Amazons 412bn market value means it can afford to make years of losses.
Traders are betting that the price of coffee will fall further following heavy rainfall in Brazil and bumper harvests in Honduras and Uganda.

The price of arabica coffee, the high quality bean that represents about 60 per cent of global production, has fallen by nearly 30 per cent in the past year to around $1.25 a pound.

But figures from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission show hedge funds and other speculators are betting on further falls in the coming months.

The net short position held by speculators  the difference between bets on price rises and price falls  is about the same size as the annual coffee exports of Colombia.

The numbers are amazing, said James Hearn, co-head of agriculture at commodity brokers Marex Spectron.

Traders believe the price could suddenly rise again if rains peter out in Brazil or exports are hit due to problems with roads and ports in countries that produce arabica beans.
Financial problems: Rare sold party wear to fashion-conscious young women

Rare London has gone bust leaving almost 2m in unpaid debts after the fashion retailers risky strategy of giving free clothes to celebrities failed to pay off.

The company, which went into administration in July, owes 1.6m to so-called non-preferential creditors  which includes trade creditors, customers and HMRC payments.

Former employees  who are preferential creditors  are thought to be owed 60,000. Administrators Duff & Phelps said they do not expect to pay back either group.

Rare, which sold party wear to fashion-conscious young women, was set up in 2013 by Adam Ryan and Neela Talwar.

Like its rivals Boohoo and Quiz, the firm made a name for itself by partnering with celebrities and getting them to post pictures of themselves wearing Rares clothing to their thousands of followers on social media. In its first two years of trading Rare turned over more than 1m.

But the company got into financial problems after a series of business blunders. It offered free delivery and free returns to customers, but couldnt afford the service after 50 per cent of all its items sold were sent back.

Seeking to revive its fortunes it signed a deal to produce a 250,000 exclusive line with American retailer Nasty Gal.

But Nasty Gal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy shortly after and Rare incurred a 400,000 bad debt as a result.

In August reality TV star Sam Faiers of The Only Way Is Essex fame took legal action against Rare, claiming she had not be paid for promotional work.

Duff & Phelps sold the stock to Asos, who paid 105,000 to buy and re-sell it under the Rare London name.
A hard-of-hearing girl went to Disney World to try and teach Mickey sign language - but was stunned and delighted to find out he was already an expert.

Alia Sedlacek, who is currently doing the Disney College Program at Disney World, Florida, visited the attraction for her birthday.

She spoke to Minnie about her intentions and was taken straight to Mickey - who surprised her with his impressive sign language expertise.

Alia Sedlacek, who is doing the Disney College Program at Disney World, Florida, visited the attraction for her birthday, where Mickey stunned her with his knowledge of sign language

Alia told MailOnline: 'We were at Hollywood studios for my birthday and really wanted to meet Mickey and Minnie.

'I wanted to teach him how to sign his name so if he has guests who are hard of hearing, he can make the interaction all the more magical.

'But Minnie realized we were signing and took us to meet Mickey herself and he surprises us with his knowledge of sign language! It was a magical surprise!'

The student also uses the signs to welcome deaf and hard of hearing guests at the park.

'I have been teaching various characters around Disney sign language since my program started in February,' she said.

'I really enjoy raising awareness and merging both communities together.'

Lasting between five to seven months, the Disney College Program offers students on-the-job experience at Disney parks and resorts.

Alia has been teaching various Disney characters how to sign since starting the program in February. Pictured: Alia with Minnie Mouse
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe fired his deputy yesterday as the veteran leader appeared to clear the way for his wife Grace to succeed him.

The country's government claimed vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa had been dismissed for showing 'disloyalty' and 'disrespect'.

The dramatic move came after a tense weekend for Mr Mnangagwa and Mrs Mugabe - who were seen as the leading candidates to replace the 93-year-old president.

On Saturday Mugabe openly threatened to fire the vice president, accusing him of fanning factionalism to garner support ahead of the ruling ZANU-PF party's special congress due in December, after his wife was booed at a rally.

Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe waves as she arrives to address a religious rally on Sunday. She has become increasingly active in public life in what many say is a political grooming process to help her eventually succeed her husband

She shouted back at the hecklers: 'If you have been paid to boo me, boo, go ahead... I don't care, I am powerful.'

Following the incident the president asked the crowd: 'We are denigrated and insulted in the name of Mnangagwa. Did I make a mistake in appointing him as my deputy?'

His wife responded defiantly again on Sunday by saying she was ready when the time came to succeed her husband.

Mugabe has given no indication that he will step down soon and his ZANU-PF party has already named him as its candidate for next year's presidential election.

Announcing Mr Mnangawa's dismissal yesterday information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said: 'The vice president has consistently and persistently exhibited the traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability.'

Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked yesterday

No one has yet been named to replace Mnangagwa as the government's number two and it is not thought it will happen before the party congress next month. The date for the meeting has yet to be released.

The ZANU-PF's powerful youth league quickly endorsed Grace Mugabe to replace Mnangagwa.

The organisation's leader Kudzai Chipanga said: 'We need someone who is acceptable and with unquestionable loyalty to the party and its principal, the President Comrade R. G. Mugabe.

'The only person possessing such qualities is... the first lady.'

The main opposition MDC party said that the move showed the government could not be trusted with the country's future.

A spokesman for the party said: 'ZANU-PF has been reduced to a Mugabe dynasty... We are urging Zimbabweans to join the big opposition tent and confront this collapsing dictatorship.'

Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said that Mr Mnangagwa's sacking would effectively disqualify him from the race to replace the nonagenarian head of state - leaving Mrs Mugabe in poll position.

'Two years ago it was inconceivable that Grace Mugabe would become deputy president but right now anything is possible,' he told AFP.

There is now talk of Robert Mugabe's wife Grace being named vice president after Zimbabwe's president sacked Emmerson Mnangagwa, seen as another contender to succeed the 93-year-old leader

He warned that powerful figures in Zimbabwe could seek to destabilise the ruling party in protest at the decision to remove Mr Mnangagwa, who was appointed vice president in 2014.

He took over from Joice Mujuru who was axed after Mrs Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.

Despite being widely touted as the obvious successor to the leader, Mnangagwa had been accused by Mugabe loyalists of undermining the president and fanning factionalism in the ZANU-PF.

Mnangagwa was last month stripped of his role as justice minister, in a cabinet reshuffle widely considered part of a campaign to reduce his powers and quash opposition within the government.

Grace Mugabe - 41 years younger than her husband - has become increasingly active in public life in what many say is a political grooming process to help her eventually take the top job.
A judge has sentenced a man to jail for 27 years after he was indicted for supporting terrorism and plotting to kill the federal judge originally assigned to his case.

Yahya Faroog Mohammad, an Indian Citizen, is also required to be deported at the end of his sentence, and he has to pay a fine of $25,000.

The 39-year-old was sentenced on Monday by Ohio Judge Edmund Sarugs.

Yahya Faroog Mohammad has been sentenced to 27 years after he pleaded guilty to supporting terrorism and plotting to kill Judge Jack Zouhary, who was originally assigned to his case

Mohammad is one of four men in Ohio who were accused in 2015 of working to send money to Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al Qaeda leader killed by a US drone in 2011.

The former Ohio State University engineering student was one of four who were arrested and charged with plotting to travel to Yemen to give al-Awlaki $22,000.

He pleaded guilty to those charges, and then later attempted to have the Judge Jack Zouhary, who was overseeing the case, killed.

In court he admitted to offering an undercover FBI agent $15,000 to abduct and kill Judge Zouhary.

Mohammad allegedly arranged for that payment to be made by his wife, who is a US citizen that lives in Chicago but has not been named.

She gave the agent an envelope containing a down payment of $1,000 in April 2016, according to his indictment.

The acting attorney for northern Ohio David Sierleja said in court that Mohammad is a 'dangerous criminal who deserves a long prison sentence.'

But Mohammad's attorney has said another inmate trying to reduce his own sentence drew Mohammad into the plot to kill federal Zouhary.

Three others charged along with Mohammad are still awaiting trial.
Jocelyn Wildenstein and her fashion designer fiancee Lloyd Klein have brushed aside claims of another late night fight - insisting they injured themselves having passionate sex.

The loved-up pair plan to wed next year but their 14-year romance took another wild turn Sunday morning when neighbors heard screaming coming from their apartment.

Police arrested both after they arrived at 1am to find a shattered casserole dish on the kitchen floor, bruises to Wildenstein's neck and arms and a cut to Klein's forehead.

The criminal complaint says they accused one another of inflicting the wounds but Wildenstein, 72, and 50-year-old Klein have now offered a completely different version of events.

In exclusive interviews with DailyMail.com they say it began when Klein was heating a romantic meal of beef bourguignon on the stove and the Pyrex dish suddenly exploded.

Everything's just fine: Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, 72, and fiance Lloyd Klein tell DailyMail.com they were arrested on Sunday after their rough sex - after Klein was heating a romantic meal of beef bourguignon on the stove and the Pyrex dish suddenly exploded - was mistaken for physical violence

'I burned my legs when the dish exploded and I went to the shower to put water on it,' Klein said

The Canadian-born couturier raced to the shower to wash the scalding broth off his legs where he says he slipped and fell, suffering a small cut to the forehead.

Wildenstein joined him the bathroom to check he was OK but before long the couple had moved to the bedroom and started to have sex.

They told DailyMail.com that neighbors overheard their noisy lovemaking and wrongly leapt to the conclusion that Wildenstein was being attacked.

'I burned my legs when the dish exploded and I went to the shower to put water on it,' Klein said.

'I must of made a lot of noise, I was panicking, but Jocelyn came into the bathroom to see that I was OK and one thing led to another.

'I slipped and cut my forehead because everything was very wet, but it was no big deal, a tiny cut.

'We went into the bedroom and had great, passionate sex. The neighbors probably heard all this and assumed someone was being murdered.

'A few minutes later the security came into the apartment uninvited and walked right in on us in the bedroom.

I can see why it looked like a fight with the food on the floor and the little bit of blood  but I can assure you it wasnt that,100 percent.

'None of this would have happened if the cooking pot had not exploded. I have never seen anything like it. He burned himself and when I went to help him we took a shower together,' Jocelyn told DailyMail.com

Mother-of-three Wildenstein insisted the bruises on her neck and arms referenced in the criminal complaint were completely innocent.

'Lloyd can be very passionate, he can be a little rough,' she laughed. 'That's something I enjoy otherwise I would not have been with him all this time.

'None of this would have happened if the cooking pot had not exploded. I have never seen anything like it. He burned himself and when I went to help him we took a shower together.

'The security did not want to hear any explanations. They reached their own conclusion. It was a horrible time.

Police arrived minutes later and the couple were taken to different Manhattan hospitals before being booked into jail on misdemeanor assault charges.

They were released at around 10pm Sunday evening with Wildenstein due in court later this month and Klein in December.

In August the pair announced they were engaged after he bought the 32-carat diamond engagement ring and proposed at the Versace Mansion in Miami

We waited in a cage all day for the judge to let us go, added Wildenstein. They didnt bring us a cup of tea or a coffee, it was so inelegant.

Wildenstein and Klein insist the latest incident will have no impact on planning for 2018 nuptials despite a protective order currently in place preventing them from speaking to one another.

Their relationship suffered its first major hiccup last December when Wildenstein was arrested for sinking her claws into Kleins face and scratching him with scissors in a now-notorious catfight.

The Canadian-born designer escaped by bundling her into a closet before Wildenstein called the police herself only to be arrested when they saw her partner's wounds.

Klein would face the ignominy of arrest himself just days later when police accused him of pushing Wildenstein when he went back to collect his belongings.

However the bickering pair later said the headline-grabbing tussle that saw them both thrown behind bars only made them realize how much they couldn't bear to be apart.

They were reconciled as soon as authorities dropped all charges and Klein popped the question in July, presenting Wildenstein with a 32-carat diamond engagement ring.

He will become Jocelyn's second husband, after her marriage to the late art dealer Alec Wildenstein ended in a 1999 divorce and landed her with a then-record $2.5 billion settlement.

The couple liken their ups and downs to the tumultuous romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Klein, who is about to launch a new collections for men and women as well as a perfume, added: 'The police could not wait to put handcuffs on us but this will all be dropped in a few weeks.

Neither of us have any reason to press charges. Its ridiculous.

The NYPD said officers responded at 1am Sunday to a 911 call reporting that a woman was being assaulted.

Last December, they were involved in a blazing late night argument that resulted in Wildenstein (left in court) getting arrested for scratching Klein's face and chest (right)

'Upon responding officers discovered two victims,' said a spokesperson. Victim one a 50-year-old male victim with a laceration to his forehead, EMS responded to the scene and transported him to Bellevue Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

'Police observed victim two, a 72-year-old woman with bruising to her neck and arms, EMS transported her to Cornell Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition.'

The spokesman added that both victims had since treated, released and charged with assault.

This is not their first run-in with the law as they've been arrested several times for fighting.

Last December, they were involved in a blazing late night argument that resulted in Wildenstein getting arrested for scratching Klein's face and chest.

Klein escaped by bundling her into a closet but, wrongly believing she was trapped, she called the police herself, igniting a tabloid storm in the process.

Shocked Klein would face the ignominy of arrest himself when, days later, police accused him of pushing her when he went back to collect his belongings.

The pair were banned from going within 1,000 yards of one another or communicating by phone, email or text but Wildenstein said they continued to message in secret - like 'naughty schoolchildren' in the back of class.

Authorities dropped all charges after they both insisted the incident was blown out of all proportion and they were still in love.

'The fight was just one night. It could have destroyed our relationship but it didn't,' Wildenstein said told DailyMail.com in August.

'We were not supposed to speak directly afterwards but he sent me sweet messages through friends.

'I think the police made too much out of the incident. The police officer put his fingers into my skin so deeply that he left me with a scar.

'But this is just the circle of life. Bad things happens, just like the car crash. You cannot erase them but we never change who we are.'

Back in August, the pair announced they were engaged after he bought the 32-carat diamond engagement ring and proposed at the Versace Mansion in Miami.
A Michigan man is facing charges after police found him slumped over in his car with an 18-month-old child in the back seat.

Deputies say the unnamed man was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs with the child in the car.

Police arrived at the the Gaylord EZ Mart on M-32 around 3.45pm after witnesses called police.

A Michigan man is facing charges after police found him slumped over in his car with an 18-month-old child in the back seat

Witnesses told 9&10 News that the man spent 20 minutes inside the EZ Mart's bathroom before getting into his car and passing out over the steering wheel

Witnesses told 9&10 News that the man spent 20 minutes inside the EZ Mart's bathroom before getting into his car and passing out over the steering wheel.

They say the car was running, sitting at the pump and the 18-month-old child was in it. That's when police were called.

Deputies wouldn't reveals what drugs the man was on, but said that such a scene is becoming commonplace.

'With the opioid epidemic that the whole country is facing and with having two methadone clinics in town, I do see quite a bit of operating under the influence of drugs in Otsego County,' Otsego County Deputy Joe Tath told the news station.

Deputies told 9&10 News that the 18-month-old who was in the car is doing okay, and he is currently in the custody of his grandmother. The suspect's name is being withheld until he is charged in court.

The man is expected to be charged with child endangerment as well as operating under the influence.

Witnesses say the car (pictured) was running, sitting at the pump and the 18-month-old child was in it. That's when police were called

The 18-month-old who was in the car is doing okay, and he is currently in the custody of his grandmother. The suspect, whose name is being withheld until he is charged in court, is expected to be charged with child endangerment as well as operating under the influence

That same day, employees at a Walmart in Palm Bay, Florida, found a man slumped over the wheel of his car in the parking lot.

Police could see an orange cap from a hypodermic needle in the center console area of the car as well as in his lap, according to the report.

'The needle was retrieved and the substance inside tested positive for heroin,' police said.

A search of Michael McCullough's car also produced a plastic bag with what is believed to be heroin inside of it, as well as two more needles located with tin foil with several pills.

McCullough was arrested in Palm Bay and charged with heroin possession, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
Millionaire tax avoiders are using a complicated scheme where they 'give' their wealth to offshore trusts which then pay for their luxury lifestyles.

They transfer their money to the companies and are then appointed 'investment advisers' and can keep control of the cash while technically not owning the money.

It means the wealthy clients avoid enormous tax bills because their possessions are paid for by the trusts - which are based in financial havens such as Bermuda and Mauritius.

The revelations were broadcast by the BBC's Panorama programme as part of its investigation into the 'Paradise Papers'.

Wealthy clients avoid enormous tax bills since their possessions are paid for by the trusts - which are based in financial havens such as Bermuda and Mauritius (stock photo)

The millions of leaked documents reveal the ways the rich and powerful shelter their wealth in offshore tax havens.

In one case banker Mark Faulkner and his photographer wife Harriet Logan 'advised' their offshore trust to spend 2million on a collection of fine art as well as 200,000 on fine wines which they admitted they 'might have to sample'.

They had transferred assets including a yacht, stocks and shares as well as a large portfolio of photography to Babington PCC - their offshore trust based in Mauritius.

In an email suggesting 'investment opportunities' they also advised the company to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on a classic car to 'compliment [sic]' their trust's 'existing investment in the classic yacht Leonore'

Meanwhile call centre boss Greville Crowder is said to have taken several luxury holidays disguised as 'investment trips' - including a 20,000 fortnight visit to a resort in Barbados and a weekend in St Tropez by private jet.

Call centre boss Greville Crowder, pictured, is said to have taken several luxury holidays disguised as 'investment trips'

Although dozens of companies offering such arrangements exist, one of the most prolific operators is tax lawyer James O'Toole who runs a firm called Aston Court Chambers.

According to BBC Panorama, he owns a large mansion on the Isle of Man with its own orchard and vineyard as well as acres of land.

In his spare time he can be seen driving around in his two Aston Martins, Range Rover or on the back of a Harley Davidson - all while flashing his Rolex watch.

He also has his own personal shopper who picks up birthday cards and suggests Mothers' Day presents at a cost of thousands of pounds.

Although dozens of companies offering such arrangements exist, one of the most prolific operators is lawyer James O'Toole, pictured, who runs a firm called Aston Court Chambers

But as far as the taxman is concerned he does not actually own any of it.

Mr O'Toole is said to have advised dozens of clients on how to pay as little tax as possible using his schemes.

A lawyer for Faulkner and Logan told the Guardian: 'Our clients have now commenced dialogue with HMRC to review the arrangements that their previous advisers had recommended.

'If any financial arrangement that concerns our clients does not align with changes in law or the interpretation by the courts of the law, our clients, upon obtaining professional advice, will correct the position, including any required payment of tax following an assessment by HMRC.'

The Paradise Papers reveal that the Queen's cash was secretly funnelled to the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

It also shows that Bono, members of Donald Trumps cabinet and businesses including Apple and Facebook also invested in tax havens.

Meanwhile today it also emerged that F1 champion Lewis Hamilton 'avoided' paying VAT on his 16.5million private jet.

The 32-year-old, who won his fourth world title last week, received a 3.3million refund for the Bombardier Challenger 605, which was imported into the Isle of Man.

Today it also emerged that F1 champion Lewis Hamilton 'avoided' paying VAT on his 16.5million private jet, pictured

Any private jet purchased outside the European Union is subject to 20% VAT, in order to move freely around the continent.

The stars of BBC show Mrs Brown's Boys also stand accused of piling 2million into an offshore fund in Mauritius.

The trust would then 'loan' the money back meaning that it was not subject to UK income tax.

Paddy Houlihan, who plays Agnes Brown's son Dermot, said he had to Google 'tax avoidance' after a Panorama reporter called him in October over his investment.

Mr Houlihan claims he joined the Mauritius scheme after advice from his accountant but said he 'never knew what the f*** was going on' with his money.
Young children who arrive in Britain as unaccompanied asylum seekers should get first place in the queue for schools and healthcare, a High Court judge declared yesterday.

He called on social workers to make sure that children who arrive to claim asylum without their parents or anyone else to look after them should have priority in getting medical care or NHS therapy.

Such children should also have priority for places in oversubscribed schools, Mr Justice Peter Jackson said.

The judge set out the need to give young unaccompanied asylum seekers special treatment in the NHS and the education system in a test case involving two young Afghan boys, aged nine and 10.

The two boys, identified only as J and T, are thought to come from North West Afghanistan, and arrived in the North West of England a year and four months after leaving the country.

Child migrants who arrive unaccompanied in the UK should take priority for NHS treatment and oversubscribed school places, a High Court judge has ruled. File image used

Mr Justice Jackson said that social workers were right in their case to apply for a court care order to give an unnamed local council full powers to act in place of their parents.

Older children arriving as unaccompanied asylum seekers might be given housing under less sweeping court orders, the judge said in the family court in Liverpool.

The story of the two boys  the older is thought to be the uncle of the younger was said to be 'unusual but not, sadly unprecedented.'

'It is thought that in April 2016 the children were somehow sent out of Afghanistan, whether by their mothers or another family member is not known,' Mr Justice Jackson said.

'In some way they crossed Asia and the Middle East and Europe and ended up in the refugee camp in Calais known as the Jungle on 18 August 2016, having travelled a long distance with other refugees by lorry.

'It appears that these children lived together in a tent without any adult being responsible for them for about four and a half months.

'The next that is known is that they arrived on 18 August in the North West, alone but well-dressed.'

It was not possible to investigate the boys' home because of war conditions, the judge added.

They are currently living with a Pakistani foster family with whom they have a cultural background in common. However the boys speak a different language, and their carers were anxious, he added.

Justice Peter Jackson (picture) set out the need to give young unaccompanied asylum seekers special treatment in the NHS and the education system in a test case involving two young Afghan boys, aged nine and 10.

The children, the judge said, were traumatised, missed their mothers, and were trying to adapt to an alien world.

Last month one was taken to hospital with convulsions thought to be a result of intense anxiety.

The judge ruled that the boys' future should be governed by a care order rather than the alternative 'Section 20' order which gives them free housing but means their council would have much less sweeping power over their lives.

Among advantages of a care order, he said, are that 'the children would have priority in relation to the obtaining of speciality therapy or medical care.'

Mr Justice Peter Jackson added that 'they would undoubtedly be a first call on the local authority's resources if subject to a care order, and, depending on the education legislation, qualify for priority in the allocation of educational resources.'

Social workers would also be required to pursue the children's asylum application.

Under 2006 regulations councils must give priority for places at oversubscribed schools to children who are 'looked after' by their social workers.

Department of Health rules last updated in 2015 require medical staff to promote the interests of children in care.

The judge said councils must take the case of each child on its merits but 'it will easily be seen that the advantages of a care order may particularly apply to younger children or to children with unusual or particular needs.'

Last year 3,290 unaccompanied children claimed asylum in Britain, 754 of them from Afghanistan. More than six out of 10 claimed to be 16 or 17  the age group believed to include a high proportion of older people falsely saying they are aged under 18.

Only seven in 100 unaccompanied asylum seeker children were thought to be aged under 14.
A 350-year-old map of Australia sold for $600,000 after languishing in an attic in Sweden for six decades.

The 1663 map based on the voyages of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman shows the western and northern coastlines of Australia along with the East Indies.

Southern Tasmania is also visible along with a small part of New Zealand, more than 100 years before James Cook landed in Botany Bay.

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A 350-year-old map of Australia sold for $600,000 after languishing in an attic in Sweden for six decades

The 1663 map shows the western and northern coastlines of Australia along with the East Indies with southern Tasmania is also visible along with a small part of New Zealand

The map, one of only two surviving copies, was unearthed in 2010 and sold to the National Library of Australia in 2013 where it was painstakingly restored.

Hand-drawn and badly weathered, the 1.2x1.5m wall map was created by renowned Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu and likely hung in a place of business.

Described as Australia's 'birth certificate', it was one of the first to name Australia 'Nova Hallandia', Latin for New Holland.

Its full name is Archipelagus Orientalis, sive Asiaticus (Eastern, or Asian Archipelago) and depicts extensive Dutch territories in its 17th Century heyday.

The map, one of only two surviving copies, was unearthed in 2010 and sold to the National Library of Australia in 2013 where it was painstakingly restored (pictured before restoration)

The map was based on the 1642-1643 and 1644 voyages of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman

The find was about as rare as an earlier 1659 print of the same map (pictured) that survived in a private house in Italy until it was sold for $425,000 earlier this year

Shipping routes, details of Tasman's 1642-1643 and 1644 voyages, and even ships in battle were depicted in the intricate masterwork.

'Professor Gunter Schilder, the foremost expert on Dutch cartography, describes it as possibly the most important map of the United East India Company,' the NLA said.

The find was about as rare as an earlier 1659 print of the same map that survived in a private house in Italy until it was sold for $425,000 earlier this year.

This one was in worse condition with extensive damage to its right edge and holes over Western Australia and the area around Bali, Indonesia.

Despite its immense historical significance, the NLA's version lay forgotten for six decades after antique bookseller Thulins Antikvariat went out of business in the 1950s.

The treasure's significance was not recognised until it was scooped up by a private buyer who offered it to the NLA, which paid $600,000.

Years of neglect left it in an 'exceedingly fragile state' and corroded by the green pigment used to draw it

Four years of donor-funded restoration followed, including stripping back the yellowed and brittle layers of varnish that were flaking off

Years of neglect left it in an 'exceedingly fragile state' and corroded by the green pigment used to draw it.

'Fortunately, the areas of greatest interest illuminating the story of the Dutch discovery of Australia - the mention of the first sighting of Tasmania and the text naming the continent - are intact and clearly visible,' the NLA said.

Four years of donor-funded restoration followed, including stripping back the yellowed and brittle layers of varnish that were flaking off.

Now it will be visible to the public for the first time ever as part of the NLA's Mapping Our World: Terra Incognita to Australia exhibition running until mid next year.
Parents risk losing their children if they fail drug tests under tough new laws to try and combat child abuse in parts of Australia.

In a first for the NSW, specialists will be sent into households to assess drug abuse and domestic violence in families where children are viewed as being 'at risk'.

The extreme measure, which was implemented in August, is part of a new strategy to try and reduce the amount of children ending up in state care.

Parents at risk of losing their children are being asked to undergo drug tests in child abuse hotspots across New South Wales (stock image)

The programs are intended for families at high risk of losing their kids, or who want their children returned but their case work has failed.

The drug testing strategy, called Multisystemic Therapy, aims to help families with children aged six to 17.

This program will target 100 families a year, and giving them 24 hour access to crisis experts.

Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Tamworth, Wyong and the Edgeworth and Macarthur areas will be targeted by the intensive stream.

Areas targeted under the programs Blacktown/Mt Druitt Central & Eastern Sydney/ Lakemba/ Burwood/St George Edgeworth/Mayfield/Charleston Fairfield/Bankstown Illawarra Shoalhaven district Maccarthur/Ingleburn Penrtih St Marys Wagga Wagga Coffs Harbour Dubbo Tamworth Wyong Advertisement

Under the less intensive strategy, around 800 families a year will have specialists, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, enter their home for crisis management.

Functional Family Therapy, the less intense of the programs, is for families with newborns to 17 year olds.

Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward, said the programs addressed the complex needs of families.

'We want to work with the whole family to keep them together, but to break the cycle of abuse and neglect we need to address their complex needs to make a real difference,' Ms Goward told the Daily Telegraph.

'Through our landmark child protection reform, Their Futures Matter, we are creating a system that delivers strong evidence-based programs and services based on the needs of children and their families.'
The UK is more reliant on overseas doctors and nurses than almost any other healthcare system in the developed world, according to a report.

A third of doctors and one in eight nurses were trained abroad, around twice as high as the average for other countries.

The figures were compiled by NHS Providers, which accused the Government of a 'fundamental failure' in workforce planning.

The organisation, which represents health service bosses, also warned of severe staffing gaps in all hospital departments but particularly in A&E.

A third of doctors and one in eight nurses were trained abroad, around twice as high as the average for other countries, according to a new report. File image used

A total of 13 per cent of A&E consultant posts are vacant  more than one in eight  but in the Midlands and East region this is as high as 15 per cent.

The report said that although the number of NHS staff has increased, it has not kept pace with growing demand from the rising, ageing population.

It looked at figures for recruitment among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which includes 35 of the richest industrialised nations.

The report found that the NHS imports significantly more doctors and nurses than Germany, France, Spain, Canada, the US, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Only New Zealand, Australia, Israel and Ireland are more heavily reliant on doctors and nurses trained overseas.

The figures, from 2013, showed that 28.7 per cent of UK doctors were trained abroad  compared with 9.2 per cent in France, 8.8 per cent in Germany, 2.6 per cent in the Netherlands, and an OECD average of 17.3 per cent.

'The NHS has one of the highest levels of reliance on overseas staff in the OECD,' the report said.

'The gap between the workforce that providers need and the staff they are able to recruit and retain is now unsustainable, putting patient safety and quality of care at risk.'

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'The staff and skills shortages we now see reflect a fundamental failure at national level on workforce strategy.

'We don't have enough staff with the right skills and we're asking far too much of our existing staff.

'NHS trust leaders are telling us there are no quick fixes to improve the supply of UK-trained staff, and the outlook for international recruitment is uncertain.'

The report found that the NHS imports significantly more doctors and nurses than Germany, France, Spain, Canada, the US, Sweden and the Netherlands. Only New Zealand, Australia, Israel and Ireland are more heavily reliant on doctors and nurses trained overseas. File image used

The latest figures from the General Medical Council  which regulates doctors  show that 37 per cent qualified abroad.

The most common country of origin was India followed by Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria and Ireland.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council said 15 per cent of nurses and midwives were trained abroad. Common countries of origin include the Philippines, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Figures earlier this year showed the number of EU nurses had nosedived by 96 per cent in nine months.

This was blamed on the introduction of tougher language tests in 2016, which required nurses to understand scientific papers.

The nursing watchdog has since agreed to allow nurses to take tests that are less academic.
Murder suspect Antoine Adams, 27, escaped from Marshall County Detention Center in northern Mississippi early on Sunday

A multi-state manhunt is underway for a murder suspect who broke out of prison and is branded as 'very dangerous'.

Antoine Adams, 27, was serving time in Marshall County Detention Center in northern Mississippi, Fox13Memphis reports.

Adams escaped from the jail between 1am and 1.30am on Sunday by squeezing through a cell window and crawling under a fence not outfitted with razor wire.

Surveillance video from the jail caught his escape on video, authorities say.

Police say they believe he fled to the Memphis area. He grew up around the Tennessee city.

'We consider this guy very dangerous,' Criminal Investigator Kelly McMillen told Fox13Memphis.

Police also say they believe Adams is armed.

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A multi-state manhunt is underway for Adams, who police say may have fled to the Memphis, Tennessee area

Pictured is the jail from which Adams escaped. The local sheriff said: 'Had that jailer or jailers been watching and doing what theyre paid for, they would have caught it'

Adams is six feet tall and weights 180 pounds. He has a neck tattoo and gold grills on his teeth. Police say he might have removed the grills

The jail was due to begin receiving major security upgrades the day following his escape.

Specifically, steel plates were due to be placed over cell windows, WREG reports.

The local sheriff had harsh words for the jailer on duty at the time.

'Had that jailer or jailers been watching and doing what theyre paid for, they would have caught it,' Sheriff Kenny Dickerson told WREG.

Adams has been charged with the December 2016 murder of DeAundra McNeal and is accused in two other murders, WMC Action News 5 reports.

He was apprehended by authorities in Texas this August after he went on the run.

Adams has previously served jail time for assault, aggravated robbery and domestic violence, among other convictions.

He is six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has a neck tattoo and gold grills, though police say he might have removed the latter.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.
Labour was accused of hypocrisy last night after demanding an inquiry into the Queens tax affairs  despite questions over its own arrangements.

Jeremy Corbyn suggested the monarch should apologise if 10million of her personal fortune had been invested offshore to avoid paying tax in Britain.

The so-called Paradise Papers leak revealed the Queens estate invested the money in funds registered in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, two British overseas territories at the centre of the offshore finance industry.

Jeremy Corbyn suggested the monarch should apologise if 10million of her personal fortune had been invested offshore to avoid paying tax in Britain

Mr Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell demanded an inquiry following the revelations. However, yesterday it emerged that:

A Labour council avoided paying millions of pounds in tax after it used an offshore company to buy a local park;

The partys London headquarters is rented from a tax-exempted property trust fund based in Jersey; and

Mr McDonnell receives a Westminster Council pension which comes from a fund managed by a Guernsey-based firm.

Last night, Tory MPs accused Labour of hypocrisy.

Nadine Dorries said: Im very sure the Queen has no idea where her financial managers invest her money. However, given that Corbyns Labour Party rent Labour HQ for 1million per year from a tax-exempt offshore company, his comments do whiff of hypocrisy.

Jacob Rees-Mogg called Mr Corbyn ill-informed, adding: There is no advantage to offshore structures to honest taxpayers  of which I am one. The Paradise Papers link a string of companies and political figures to secretive overseas arrangements. They include claims that 10million of the Queens fortune was invested in offshore tax havens.

There is no suggestion that those involved acted illegally.

A spokesman for the Queens private estate, the Duchy of Lancaster, said: We operate a number of investments and a few of these are with overseas funds. All of our investments are fully audited and legitimised. The Queen voluntarily pays tax on any income she receives from the duchy.

The so-called Paradise Papers leak revealed the Queens estate invested the money in funds registered in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands

Asked if the Queen should apologise, Mr Corbyn had told the Confederation of British Industrys conference in London: Anyone that is putting money into tax havens in order to avoid taxation in Britain ... should do two things: not just apologise for it, but also recognise what it does to our society.

Later he called for an inquiry into all the revelations about the Paradise Papers. Asked if that included the Queen, Mr Corbyn told Bloomberg: Everybody. The Royal Household are subject to taxation... these issues all must be part of that.

His comments came despite the fact that Labour-run Warrington Council bought an offshore company that owned Birchwood Park. Local Labour MP Helen Jones has said this would see the council avoiding 10million in tax.

A spokesman for Warrington Council admitted that it had not paid stamp duty, but could not say exactly how much had been saved. The spokesman added that the council agreed to leave the business offshore to complete the acquisition in a timely and efficient manner.

It also emerged yesterday that the Labour Party rents its London headquarters from a tax-exempt property unit trust fund based in Jersey. The party is believed to pay almost 1million a year to lease the eighth floor of the Southside development. The building is owned by an investment trust established in Jersey, and managed by Schroder Property Managers (Jersey) Limited.

A Labour spokesman said the party receives no benefit as a result of the financial arrangements of the building owner ... we remain committed to changing the current tax environment and to tackling tax avoidance.

A spokesman for the Labour leader also insisted he did not demand an apology from the Queen. Jeremy did not call for the Queen to apologise but said anyone who puts money into a tax haven to avoid paying tax should, and that they should recognise the damage done by avoidance to society, they said.

Mr McDonnell, 66, revealed he receives 14,421 from his council pension when he published his tax return and P60 last year. However, the cash from Westminster City Council comes from a fund that invested 100million in Guernsey-based global equity manager Longview in 2014.

Last night a spokesman for Mr McDonnell said: This is a pension which is administered by a Tory council, regulated under a Tory government, and John is one of the chief campaigners to get the fund to bring the funds back onshore.
It has had a tumultuous year with one massive IT breakdown and a barrage of criticism over cutting perks that led to passengers accusing it of turning into a budget airline.

But British Airways yesterday hit back  promising smarter planes, better food and fast WiFi as it battles to restore its reputation as a 'premium airline'.

Chief executive Alex Cruz outlined plans to spend 4.5billion over the next five years  mostly on 72 new planes, including the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787-10.

The airline will also refurbish 128 of its existing fleet, many of which have become dated and tired.

British Airways is hitting back after a troublesome year of IT glitches and service cuts with new planes and a refurb of its existing fleet, including installation of WiFi and better in-flight meals

But Britain's flagship carrier said it will also invest in providing a better service for passengers in a bid to set it apart from budget rivals, including easyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian.

Perhaps the most eye-catching change it plans to offer all passengers on short haul and long haul flights is fast WiFi.

For a fee, passengers will be able to stream movies and stay in contact with friends, family and colleagues while on board.

Power-points will also be provided on all seats  including in economy class.

But BA also pledged to provide 'upgraded catering' in economy on long haul flights. No details were given but a source said it would involve 'better food', and more of it.

Passengers have complained about the airline running out of food on flights, and not being offered enough drinks and snacks by cabin crew.

But BA confirmed it has no intention of re-instating free sandwiches, snacks and drinks on short haul flights.

Britain's flagship carrier said it will also invest in providing a better service for passengers in a bid to set it apart from budget rivals, including easyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian. That means WiFi for long and short-haul passengers and better plane food

The airline ditched free food and drinks in January, which was seen by many passengers as one of the last remaining perks setting it apart from budget rivals.

Instead passengers now have the option of paying for Marks & Spencer sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

BA says this has proved popular among customers.

But the airline has also come under fire from both staff and tomers for damaging its 'elite brand'.

Concerns have been raised over the loss of first-class perks, such as free amuse-bouches with customers' first drink, no more fresh flowers in the first class toilets, and the downsizing of complimentary washbags.

Mr Cruz also faced criticism for the IT meltdown over the May bank holiday, which resulted in 75,000 passengers' flights being grounded.

Yesterday the Spaniard, who previously ran Spanish budget airline carrier Vueling, said he is determined to 'stay ahead of the competition and improve the experience of BA customers in whichever cabin of the aircraft they choose to fly'.

This also involves offering cheap flights.

The airline ditched free food and drinks in January, which was seen by many passengers as one of the last remaining perks setting it apart from budget rivals. Instead passengers now have the option of paying for Marks & Spencer sandwiches (pictured), snacks and drinks

Speaking at the World Travel Market in London he said 'British Airways is facing a combination of competitive forces more challenging than at any point in our history.'

This includes fierce competition from budget airlines on short haul flights, and - increasingly - on long haul routes.

Pointing to the collapse of Italy's Alitalia, as well as Air Berlin and Monarch, he said: 'As a national flag carrier, we are not granted some special immunity from the way the industry has changed. Incumbency does not grant any privilege. We have no divine right to flourish, and we don't ask for one.'

He added: 'We want to be the airline of choice for everyone. Every customer matters - short haul or long haul; economy or premium. So we must have an offer that is attractive to everyone.'

David Buik, a veteran city commentator who works for stockbroker Panmure Gordon and has flown with BA for sixty years, said: 'People have really got the hump with BA. Mr Cruz has cut everything to the bone.

'He now has to get the balance right between running a tight ship and offering the type of service that people want.

'I have long been a BA fan but I feel the service has become poor and the planes are often tatty.'
Rosie O'Donnell made a big announcement on Monday, revealing on The Howard Stern Show that she has a new, younger woman in her life.

'I am in love. Its the first time Ive dated someone younger than me and its a very trippy thing,' said Rosie.

She went on to reveal that her new lady is a police officer in the Boston and said the two met at a charity event, with the 55-year-old actress thinking that her new lady love was Pink at first on account of her good looks and short hair.

Rosie is shooting her new Showtime series 'SMILF' in Boston, which she had stopped by Sirius XM to promote on Monday.

The mother-of-five admitted that she at first resisted the idea of dating but eventually gave in, a decision that worked out well given how happy she sounded while speaking about 'Rooney.'

Rosie revealed her name while answering questions on her personal website, saying she calls her new girlfriend 'Roon' after she began posting photos of the Boston beauty on her social media accounts.

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New gal pal: Rosie O'Donnell, 55, revealed that she has a new younger girlfriend, 33, on The Howard Stern Show (Rosie and new girlfriend Rooney above with actress' daughter Dakota)

Look of love: She had previously stated on her personal website that her nickname for the woman is 'Roon,' around the same time she began posting photos of Rooney

Kisses and kittens: Rosie's younger woman is a Boston-area cop and the two met at a charity event in the city, where Rosie shoots her new Showtime series 'SMILF'

Things are moving fast for the lovebirds, with the two quickly saying those big three words to one another according to Rosie.

'Were lesbians. Thats like week two,' she joked.

Later in the interview she made it clear however that marriage was no longer in the cards for her moving forward, acknowledging that this decision was a result of her relationship with second wife Michelle Rounds.

'I will not ever,' said Rosie when asked about marriage.

Stern noted that he said the same thing years ago before meeting his current wife Beth Ostrosky, prompting Rosie to explain: 'I got married in between and you knew Michelle and that was a very troubled situation, and I think that for me being 55, I think I would just rather stay in it for love and not have to deal with lawyers if good forbid it didn't work out.'

It seems to be working out thus far, with Rosie revealing her biggest complaint with her new love to be a relatively minor issue.

Treats: Rooney and Dakota on halloween

'The one thing that she doesnt know  Streisand,' said Rosie, who went on to voice her frustration with Rooney's response to the actress' Oscar winning turn in the classic 'Funny Girl.'

'She said, "It was good,"' revealed Rosie, who jokingly let out an exasperated grunt in response to that review.

This relationship comes on the heels of Rosie's alleged romance with her married gal pal Dana Caruso Schiff.

It also comes in the wake of Rounds' suicide back in September at the age of 46.

The couple began dating in 2011 and were married in June of the following year before splitting in 2014 and divorcing two years later.

It was just a few months after their private ceremony back in 2012 that the couple adopted their daughter Dakota, who is now 4 and lives with O'Donnell.

Rounds previously attempted suicide in September of 2015, with a friend having security at the hotel her ex was staying at kick down the door to prevent her from taking her own life.

'I am saddened to hear about this terrible tragedy. Mental illness is a very serious issue affecting many families. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle's family, her wife Krista and their child,' said O'Donnell in a statement.

Rounds had never publicly revealed that she remarried or had a child, with O'Donnell using he statement to break that news.

Sit down: Rosie made the big announcement on Howard Stern's Sirius XM show on Monday

Rosie's second wife Michelle Rounds (left in 2014) commited Suicide in September; Rosie was previously married to Kelli Carpenter (right in 2006)

Family: Rosie and Kelli with their children Blake, Parker, Chelsea and Vivienne in 2010

Courtesy of ExtraTV

A source revealed to DailyMail.com that Rounds' 2015 suicide attempt occurred shortly after she lost custody of the couple's daughter Dakota.

The pair's whirlwind romance started in the summer of 2011, when Rosie approached the corporate headhunter in a Starbucks because she thought Rounds' puppy was cute.

Rounds and O'Donnell were engaged by December of that year and married in June 2012 in a private ceremony after Rounds tried to get pregnant and Rosie suffered a heart attack.

In January 2013 they announced they had adopted a baby girl following Rounds' battle with desmoid tumors.

The custody of the couple's adopted daughter Dakota was the central issue during their divorce proceedings.

Rounds had requested sole custody initially claiming she was a more attentive parent.

Rooney (above) is a big fan of UFC Rosie has revealed, but not Streissand

She also argued that O'Donnell should be subject to drug tests because of her excessive drinking and marijuana usage.

Rounds maintained through it all that she was not looking to profit by dragging out the proceedings, claiming that she had plenty of money thanks to her own career success.

O'Donnell also has four older children: sons Blake and Parker and daughters Chelsea and Vivienne.

Chelsea, whose other adopted mother is O'Donnell's former wife Kelli Carpenter, ran away from home at 17 to move in with an heroin addict and his family.

She was returned home by police after O'Donnell revealed that the girl had left home, but once she turned 18 she decided to move out again and go live with her birth mother.

Chelsea, 19, is now married and living in Long Island with her husband.

Vivienne is Carpenter's biological child who was conceived with a donor during her marriage to O'Donnell.

To speak to a skilled, trained counselor, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800 273 8255
Her roomate and accomplice Bernadette Burns, 22, jailed for at least 13 years

She was sentenced to life in prison with a 21-year non-parole period

Dwyer, 19, washed dishes while she waited for him to slowly bleed to death

She stabbed him in the neck four times in his Adelaide home last August

A teenager who stabbed her grandfather in the neck before washing dishes while he slowly bled to death metres away will spend the next two decades in prison.

Brittney Jade Dwyer pleaded guilty to murdering Robert Whitwell, 81, in August 2016 and was on Tuesday sentenced to life in prison to serve at least 21 years.

The then-19-year-old turned on her doting grandfather after she discovered he'd hidden his $100,000 life savings in his Adelaide home.

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Brittney Jade Dwyer will spend at least 21 years in prison after she was jailed for life for stabbing her grandfather four times in the neck and watching him die

Robert Whitwell, 81, slowly bled to death on the kitchen floor while Dwyer washed dishes metres away in August 2016

Sentencing the pair in the Supreme Court, Justice Kevin Nicholson described Dwyer's crime as evil and abhorrent and said she was motivated by greed and an unnatural interest in seeing people die.

'This murder was brutal, callous, cold-blooded and dispassionately planned,' he said.

Dwyer's own mother Tonya lobbied for a lengthy sentence for the callous murder that still has her wondering how she didn't see it coming.

'I think she deserves 20 years in jail. She did the crime. She admitted to it. She pleaded guilty,' Tonya Dwyer told Sunday Night earlier this week.

'I have lost two people, I have lost my dad and I have lost my daughter, and I don't know if I will ever understand the whole story.

The then-19-year-old turned on her doting grandfather after she discovered he'd hidden his $100,000 life savings in his Adelaide home

Dwyer visited him at his home in Craigmore where he showed her photo albums from her childhood.

On her way out the door, she admitted to stabbing him in the neck four times repeatedly, and then washing the dishes as he bled to death on the kitchen floor.

Tonya described the situation as a 'nightmare' and berated herself constantly for 'missing the signs' that her beloved daughter could commit such an evil crime.

'It was a person that I trusted, that I brought into the world, that I raised to be a good person,' said Tonya, who has had a nightmare of a year that she says will never finish.

Since her father died and her daughter was arrested, Robert's wife passed away in a nursing home and she has separated from her husband.

Dwyer did not speak to her mother for more than a year while she awaited sentencing in Adelaide Womens Prison.

Dwyer was described as 'cruel and deceitful' in South Australia's Supreme Court, after she feigned innocence following her grandfather's death

Her roommate Bernadette Burns, 22, (L) was jailed for at least 13 years and six months for driving Dwyer (R) to the scene and sending her text messages telling her to 'harden up' and kill Mr Whitehall while she waited in the car

Also charged over the vicious murder was Dwyer's roommate Bernadette Burns, who drove her to Adelaide and waited in the car while she was inside.

The 22-year-old sent Dwyer text messages telling her to 'harden up' and kill Mr Whitehall, while she applied her makeup.

Burns was jailed for at least 13 years and six months for her part in the killing after earlier also pleading guilty.

The pair never found Robert's savings, but did steal $1,000 and two digital cameras before Burns drove the 2,000km back to Brisbane.

Tonya believed her daughter deserved the maximum sentence for the crime which she says tore their family apart, but Dwyer's father merely asked the court to impose an appropriate prison sentence on his daughter.

Tonya Dwyer thinks her daughter Brittney deserves 20 years in jail for killing her grandfather

Bernadette (right) and Brittney (left) stole $1,000 and two digital cameras from the house

Dwyer visited Mr Whitehall at his home in Craigmore (pictured) where he showed her photo albums from her childhood

Dwyer was described as 'cruel and deceitful' in South Australia's Supreme Court, after she feigned innocence following her grandfather's death.

However, Burns was not even in the house at the time of the killing and did not have any 'murderous intent', her lawyer said.

She pleaded guilty to the seldom-used charge of felony murder, referring to a killing that occurs during the commission of another offence, in this case, the theft at Mr Whitwell's home.

Mr Whitwell's brother Geoffrey said the killing was tragic and senseless.

He said it was a 'callous and horrific act' and he singled out Burns as a 'cruel, evil and dangerous person with no regard for human life'.

Burns, who met Dwyer on Facebook faces deportation once released from jail because she was born in New Zealand and is not an Australian citizen.
A brave photographer flew his drone camera within metres of a stream of lava reaching temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius - so hot his camera began to melt.

Erez Marom, 36, spent several hours photographing red hot lava close to the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, just outside the Volcanoes National Park.

The professional photographer, who describes himself as a 'lava addict', flew his drone to within 10 metres (30ft) of the molten rock.

Erez Marom, 36, spent several hours photographing red hot lava close to the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, just outside the Volcanoes National Park

When he returned to his hotel room, he noticed the heat had begun to damage his equipment after several hours in the extreme environment.

Mr Marom, from Holon, Israel, said: 'We hiked about five miles to reach the red hot lava, which fortunately was flowing outside the boundary of the national park.

'This enabled me to use my drone and capture unique aerial perspectives of the amazing flows.

'An hour into our visit, new lava rivers simply burst straight out of the mountain side and flowed, diverging and converging, down the slopes.

The professional photographer, who describes himself as a 'lava addict', flew his drone to within 10 metres (30ft) of the molten rock

Pictured: The drone (circled) flying over the larva. Marom said the damage to his camera was 'worth it' in order to get unique close-ups of the lava flowing from the volcano

When he returned to his hotel room, he noticed the heat had begun to damage his equipment (pictured) after several hours in the extreme environment

'We were truly mesmerised by the unusual display, and spent in all about three hours shooting at daytime, sunset and twilight.

'At some point, I noticed the right side of the drone images was getting darker.

'I continued shooting but when I went back to the apartment, I was surprised to see the plastic inside the drone camera had melted when I was shooting close to the lava.'

He said the damage to his camera was 'worth it' in order to get unique close-ups of the lava flowing from the volcano.

The photographer said he has visited volcanoes all over the world to take photos, including in Ethiopia.

He added: 'You could say I'm a lava addict. I love the look of it and the feeling of being next to lava.

'As a landscape photographer, I love the infinite opportunities for unique compositions this changing landscape gives me.

'It was absolutely fantastic. I kept feeling incredibly lucky that the lava rivers erupted exactly when we were there, and that they flowed outside the park so I could use the drone.

'When I was getting too close, it felt very, very hot and I had to run away.'
A 'sadistic and disturbed' killer who tortured a mother-of-four for six hours before murdering her and dumping her body in a remote forest says her sentence was too harsh.

Linda Eileen Appleton and her partner John Edward Harris pleaded guilty in October 2016 to the 'hideous' six-hour long torture and eventual murder of 28-year-old Tia Landers in June, 2014.

Appleton, 44, slashed Ms Landers repeatedly with a machete before her partner, Harris, fired two bullets into her in the head at close range.

Appleton, 44, slashed Ms Landers (pictured) repeatedly with a machete before her partner, Harris, fired two bullets into her in the head at close range

Appleton wrapped Ms Landers' head in a plastic bag, before the pair buried her in a shallow grave at the Beerburrum State Forest in Queensland's Glass House Mountains.

The pair were sentenced on murder charges, deprivation of liberty and interfering with a corpse.

In sentencing the pair in October, Justice Jean Dalton ruled the murder so heinous that both killers should serve life in jail.

Justice Dalton also ordered Appleton spend at least 23 years in jail, and Harris serve 27 years before they become eligible for parole.

The pair's non-parole periods were longer than the usual 20-year period handed down to killers sentenced to life in Queensland.

The pair were sentenced on murder charges, deprivation of liberty and interfering with a corpse after the murder of mother-of-four Tia Landers (pictured)

Justice Dalton handed down the unusually long non-parole periods because 'the offending involved a protracted, sadistic and brutal torturing of Ms Landers (pictures) over a period of hours'

Justice Dalton handed down the unusually long non-parole periods because 'the offending involved a protracted, sadistic and brutal torturing of Ms Landers over a period of hours'.

Appleton claimed her 23-year non-parole period was 'manifestly excessive' when her case went before the Queensland Court of Appeal on Monday, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

Appleton's lawyer Elizabeth Wilson told the appeal court the court did not consider any prospects of rehabilitation when sentencing her in October.

Ms Wilson also argued her client was not the primary offender in the murder of the Queensland mother-of-four.

'(Harris) shot her in the head twice at close range,' she said.

Harris shot Ms Landers (pictured), a mother-of-four, in the head at close range

Murder victim Tia Landers was just 28-years-old when she was killed in 2014

Ms Wilson also argued her client had shown 'some remorse'.

'There was some remorse from Appleton and there was a plea of guilty to the deprivation of liberty and interference with a corpse charges on the first day of trial,' she told the court.

Crown prosecutor Jodie Wooldridge said there was sufficient reason Justice Dalton sentenced Appleton to a 23-year non-parole period.

She said Appleton's offending was 'heinous', and she showed a lack of remorse.

Ms Wooldridge also said it would have been pointless for the judge to consider prospects of rehabilitation.

The Court of Appeal decision will be handed down at a later date.
Sir John Major last night warned that Tory infighting over Europe could make Britain ungovernable.

The former prime minister, whose time in office was wrecked by feuds over Europe, said democrats should worry about the polarisation taking place in the Conservative and Labour parties.

Speaking at an event at Westminster Abbey, Sir John said the anti-European right and neo-Marxist left were making headway in a battle for the soul of their respective parties.

Sir John Major has warned that Tory infighting over Europe could make Britain ungovernable

Sir John, who was in No 10 from 1990 to 1997, said factions within the two parties were fighting each other more vigorously than they do their opponents. He added: This is dangerous territory. The malcontents should remember that, without some give and take, without some effort at consensus, our tolerant party system can become ungovernable.

If fringes begin to dominate a political party, the middle ground of their support will turn away in disgust, as the shrillest voices and the most extreme views begin to dominate debate. Where that risk arises, democrats should worry. Indeed, they should do more than worry  they should fight back.

Sir John, a diehard Remainer, described Brexit as an historic blunder and warned that Parliament was grinding to a halt because of the sheer weight of Brexit legislation. Last night he also called on Theresa May to rein in attack dog special advisers who he blamed for inflaming tensions between ministers.

He urged her to sack any aide found to have leaked material in an effort to bring disrepute to another minister.

In a thinly veiled swipe at Mrs Mays former chiefs of staff Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, he said some advisers had acquired unjustified power that has been misused, adding: At times they have driven wedges between ministers and their civil servants.

Sir John, pictured at the Tory Party conference in 1996 , was prime minister from 1990 to 1997

Some have been used as attack dogs  on both their political opponents and their colleagues. The culprits were often protected by their ministers, when they should have been dismissed without ceremony.

Sir John also suggested that ministers should ban large donations to political parties from business and unions in order to tackle public concerns about potential corruption.

He said many political donors were altruistic but warned that others may seek to exact a price.
A father has been arrested after he allegedly shot dead his son because he found out he was gay, police have said.

Giovanni Melton, from Henderson, Nevada, was gunned down by his father Wendell Melton after an argument on Thursday afternoon about how he is gay and has a boyfriend, police told KSNV.

'He hated he fact that his son was gay,' the 14-year-old's former foster mom Sonia Jones told the station.

'I'm sure that inside of his mind, he would rather have a dead son than a gay son.'

Giovanni Melton , from Henderson, Nevada, was gunned down by his father Wendell Melton after an argument on Thursday afternoon about how he is gay and has a boyfriend, according to police

Jones said that Wendell, 53, had previously pulled a gun on his son before when he caught him with his boyfriend.

Police arrived on the scene Thursday after receiving a report about a domestic disturbance at their apartment.

When authorities arrived they found the 14-year-old in critical condition and rushed him to St Rose Dominican Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Giovanni lived alone at the apartment where he was fatally shot, police have said.

Wendell Melton was arrested on Friday and booked into the Henderson Detection center.

He has been charged with open murder, child abuse and prohibited person possessing a firearm. It isn't clear if he will be charged with a hate crime.

Police arrived on the scene Thursday after receiving a report about a domestic disturbance at their apartment. When authorities arrived they found the 14-year-old in critical condition and rushed him to St Rose Dominican Hospital, where he died from his injuries

Giovanni lived alone at the apartment where he was fatally shot, police have said

Giovanni's friends remembered him as an energetic teenager who could make anyone smile.

Bailey Schultz said he was a friend of hers at Coronado High School, and that 'he was young and had a lot to live for.'

And Jones, his foster mother, described Giovanni as a 'beautiful life,' and says she loved the boy as her own.

'I hope they throw the book at him,' she told KSNV, referring to Wendell Melton.

'I hope he never sees the light of day. I hope every day when he looks in the mirror, he sees his son's face.'
Milo Yiannopoulos has slammed an Australian school programme that teaches youngsters about gay sex.

Sex education in Victoria's primary schools came under fire this week after it emerged that students in grade 2 and 3 are being shown pictures of genitalia  and those in grade 4 are being taught about same-sex couples.

It prompted Yiannopoulos to claim that, although he is in a 'happy gay marriage', it shouldn't be 'pushed down the throats of young children.'

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Yiannopoulos  who resigned from US news website Breitbart in February when a video of him endorsing paedophilia resurfaced  claimed children 'shouldn't be thinking about sex at all.'

Self-confessed 'internet super villain' Milo Yiannopoulos has slammed an Australian school programme that teaches youngsters about gay sex

'It's disgusting,' he said.

'It's disgusting that children who haven't even reached puberty are assaulted with gay political propaganda.

'I'm not sure they should be thinking about any kind of sex at all. It's tantamount to child abuse.'

He added: 'I'm gay, I'm happy to be gay. I have a pretty stable gay marriage, but I don't agree with pushing it down the throats of young children.'

Yiannopoulos lost his job at Breitbart because of comments he made in which he defended paedophilia.

Yiannopoulos claimed children shouldn't be thinking about sex, although he lost his job as a Breitbart reporter when a video of his comments endorsing paedeophilia resurfaced

The far-right news organisation was forced to take action against Yiannopoulus by its own staff, who threatened to revolt if he wasn't disciplined.

It came after a video interview with the hosts of a podcast from 2016 resurfaced online.

Over the course of the interview, Yiannopoulus condoned sex with boys as young as 13 and said consent by minors is 'arbitrary and oppressive.'

'Paedophilia is not a sexual attraction to somebody 13 years old who is sexually mature,' he claimed.

'Paedophilia is attraction to children who have not reached puberty.'

This week, Yiannopoulus lost a gig writing a weekly column for The Daily Caller after a backlash following the publication of his first piece on the allegations of sexual harassment against Kevin Spacey.
Illinois police officer, Jaimie Cox (pictured), 30, was killed after Cox he pulled over a driver during a traffic stop at 1am on Sunday

An Illinois police officer and the driver of a pickup truck were killed after a scuffle broke out during an early morning traffic stop that led to a car crash on Sunday.

Rockford officer Jaimie Cox, 30, pulled over 49-year-old Eddie Patterson shortly after 1am in the area of East State Street and Dawn Avenue.

A short time later, Cox made a 'brief radio transmission indicating he needed assistance,' Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea said in a statement.

When officers responded to the scene, they found Cox, who was critically injured, near the crash two blocks from the initial stop.

'Officers began immediately administering first aid and transported Officer Cox to OSF St Anthony Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries,' O'Shea said.

Patterson was found dead inside the crashed vehicle. Autopsies have revealed that Cox died of blunt force trauma that a spokeswoman for the city of Rockford said may have been caused when the pickup truck crashed.

Officials said Patterson was shot to death during the traffic stop. His autopsy showed that he suffered from a single gunshot wound.

Police believe Patterson may have been shot by Cox, but details surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Autopsies reveal Cox died of blunt force trauma and Eddie Patterson (left and right) was shot dead. Police believe Patterson may have been shot by Cox, but details surrounding the incident remain unclear

'The preliminary results of the investigation indicate that Officer Cox was involved in a scuffle during the traffic stop that resulted in the officer becoming entangled by the suspect vehicle,' the police statement read.

Authorities said it's 'believed that Officer Cox fired his weapon during the incident'.

O'Shea said that the Winnebago County Integrity Task Force, which investigates police-involved shootings, was activated based on the information available.

Cox was not wearing a body camera during the incident, O'Shea said.

State police Sgt Sam Thomas said Monday that Patterson's driver's license had been revoked and that Cox may have pulled him over after noticing license plates on the pickup 'didn't match the vehicle'.

Cox joined the department in December 2016, according to WREX. He received an honorable discharge from the US Army National Guard in 2010 and was a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Authorities said it's 'believed that Officer Cox fired his weapon during the incident'. Cox was not wearing a body camera during the incident, O'Shea said

State police Sgt Sam Thomas said Monday that Patterson's driver's license had been revoked and that Cox may have pulled him over after noticing license plates on the pickup 'didn't match the vehicle'. An officer is seen investigating the scene

'The Rockford Police Department expresses its sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support it has received from the Mayor, City Council, and the community,' O'Shea said.

Illinois Gov Bruce Rauner offered his condolences in a statement.

'We are deeply saddened by the death of Officer Jaimie Cox,' Rauner said.

'He paid the ultimate price while working to keep our communities safe. My thoughts and prayers are with his family as they find a way to cope with this tragic loss.'

Visitation is scheduled from 3-9pm on Friday at First Free Evangelical Church for Cox, the city of Rockford said in a news release.

A police funeral service will start at 10am on Saturday at the church.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Rockford Police Department at (779) 500-6551, (815) 966-2900 or CrimeStoppers at (815) 963-7867.
Australian's are used to all sorts of strange animal encounters, which now includes a snake attempting to eat a bat in Brisbane.

In a video taken by Redland's Snake Catcher, Tony Morrison captured the moment a huge carpet python was caught pulling a bat up a tree.

While the bat was long dead, the snake appeared to struggle with it's meal.

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The moment a huge carpet python was caught pulling a bat up a tree in Brisbane on Tuesday

While the bat was long dead, the snake appeared to struggle with it's meal, attempting to eat it head first

With it's body coiled around the dead animal, the snake attempted to swallow the bat head first.

But with it's sharp talons and pointed wings, the python couldn't quite work out how to get it's head around the bat.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said the python eventually gave up on it's meal.

With it's sharp talons and pointed wings, the python couldn't quite work out how to get it's head around the bat

The outcome was not favourable for either animal, with the snake biting off more than it could chew

'It [the snake] couldn't get past the wings, so after half an hour he just dropped the bat on the ground,' Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said carpet python were common for the area and not a threat to humans, but moved the animal to a safe place.

'We eventually moved the snake down the road into bushland, because it was in an area where kids would cross to get to school.'

The outcome was not favourable for either animal, with the snake biting off more than it could chew.
The chief constable who investigated Edward Heath over child abuse allegations may soon quit with a pension of up to 2million, it was reported last night.

Mike Veale, head of Wiltshire police, has reportedly told colleagues he wants to leave the force after 33 years in the service.

His salary is understood to be just under 150,000 and the 50-year-old is entitled to a final salary pension, which experts believe could leave him with a pension pot of around 2million.

Mike Veale (left) who investigated Edward Heath (right) over child abuse allegations may soon quit with a pension of up to 2million

Mr Veale has been criticised for his handling of the widely discredited investigation into the prime minister.

The 1.5million two-year inquiry concluded Sir Edward would have been interviewed under caution over seven alleged incidents that dated back as far as 1961 had he still been alive.

The most serious allegation made against the former Prime Minister was the rape of an 11-year-old boy in 1961.

But two years ago the Met investigated allegation but later dropped the case.

It was revealed that the complaint was made by a convicted child abuser whose family said was a born liar.

Last month, the complainants brother said: He never said anything about being abused by a famous person. You couldnt hide something like that.

His sister added: He has dreamed up Ted Heath to find a way out. I cant believe the police have been so stupid. I am absolutely shocked the police have taken any notice of him.

The inquiry failed to include details surrounding the complainant in its summary report while other sources have reportedly said that there were serious issues regarding the credibility of the other six complainants.

Mr Veale's salary is understood to be just under 150,000 and the 50-year-old is entitled to a final salary pension, which experts believe could leave him with a pot of around 2million

The Sir Edward Heath charitable foundation is preparing a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the investigation.

Mr Veale described the inquirys findings as a watershed moment for victims of child abuse but has since believed to have become frustrated by a lack of support from within the police.

One source told The Times that he felt that he had been hung out to dry.

Mr Veale reportedly told colleagues that he had applied for a position helping to run a strategic command course but did not get the job.

Although the role is considered as a secondary job running alongside an existing role, the fact that the position was based on a placement in Coventry  and would require large amounts of time  prompted speculation that he may have been looking to leave.

His spokesman said: It is not unusual for chief officers to support both the work of the College of Policing and the NPCC through the leadership of national portfolios on behalf of the service.

Another source told the newspaper Mr Veale was very much of the view that he could retire.

A Wiltshire police spokesman said: We will not be commenting on private matters such as the decision of an individual to retire. A chief constables contract is a matter for the police and crime commissioner.

Sir Edward died of pneumonia aged 89 in 2005.
A Bali-bound flight was diverted on Sunday after an 'intoxicated' Iranian woman got into a fight with her husband after discovering he was cheating on her.

Qatar Airways flight QR-962 heading from Qatar to Indonesia was forced to stop in Chennai, in east India, at around 10am after the woman was unable to be pacified by staff, according to the Times of India.

The woman is believed to have used her husband's finger to unlock his phone while he was sleeping mid-flight.

A Bali-bound flight was diverted on Sunday after an 'intoxicated' Iranian woman got into a fight with her husband after discovering he was cheating on her (stock image)

After flipping through the phone, the woman discovered her husband was cheating and began a fight with her partner.

The husband, his wife and their small child were escorted off the plane in Channai and the flight resumed to its destination in Bali.

'A lady along with her husband and a child, all Iranian nationals, were offloaded by Qatar Airline as the lady passenger (who was intoxicated) misbehaved with crew members inflight,' the Central Industrial Security Force told the publication.

'They were sent to Kuala Lumpur by Batik Air flight 6019 for further travel to Doha.'
A school volunteer has been accused of sexually assaulting a primary school girl in a classroom.

The 63-year-old man, who volunteered at a school north of Perth, allegedly sexually assaulted an eight-year-old girl more than 10 years ago.

The Karrinnyup man's house was raided last week where police found a number of electronic storage devices and a computer with child pornography, according to WA Today.

A school volunteer has been accused of sexually assaulting a primary school girl in a classroom at Lake Gwelup Primary School (pictured), north of Perth

Police charged the man with possessing child exploitation material and drug paraphernalia.

The 63-year-old was also charged with three counts of indecent dealing with a child under 13, reported the publication.

These charges date back to alleged assaults, which happened during school hours at Lake Gwelup Primary School, in 2005 and 2006.

The man is expected to face a Perth court on Tuesday.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lake Gwelup Primary School for comment.
Brett met his victim Philomena Willets at Leeds University in 1995 and they began a relationship which she ended after less than six months.

One of Britains worst ever stalkers has finally been jailed after a 12-year campaign of fear.

David Brett, 43, poured paint stripper on mother-of-one Philomena Willets car and hacked into her husbands emails to send messages to friends and neighbours accusing the couple of being paedophiles.

He was given a restraining order at Leeds Magistrates Court in December 2005 after developing an obsession with his old university flame following a chance meeting in 2004.

But he continued to harass Mrs Willets, her husband and extended family, and yesterday pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a restraining order, two of stalking and one count of assault by beating after he kicked out at an officer during his arrest in April 2016.

Sentencing him to 41 months in prison, Judge Martyn Barklem said: It is hard to think of a more serious example of a long-term stalking dedicated to making the lives of two people who have done nothing wrong as miserable as possible.

Brett met his victim at Leeds University in 1995 and they began a relationship which Mrs Willets ended after less than six months.

He moved abroad but bumped into Mrs Willets in Leeds city centre in 2004 and his sinister campaign of harassment began.

In 2009 Brett tried to contact his victim again, and shortly before Valentine's Day 2012 he sent flowers to the house with a card congratulating her on the birth of her daughter

He formed an infatuation which became an obsession which persisted for several years, Christopher Carey, prosecuting, told the court.

Following their chance meeting Brett threw stones at Mrs Willets mothers home, poured paint thinner on her car and would threaten any man who visited the house.

A restraining order was granted at Leeds Magistrates Court on December 16, 2005.

In 2009 Brett tried to contact his victim again by phoning her mother, and shortly before Valentines Day 2012 he sent flowers to the house with a card congratulating her on the birth of her daughter. He also contacted her family and in-laws repeatedly.

This behaviour caused Mrs Willets to go to ground for two years; she did her best to disappear, Mr Carey said.

When Mrs Willets started a business in 2014, Brett bombarded the company with messages and repeatedly rang up trying to speak with her. The following year he was able to infiltrate email accounts belonging to the victim and her husband.

Mr Carey said: He sent messages to and from the company saying she was a sex offender and paedophile. In the same period he pursued her husband and sent obnoxious emails to him and his family.

David Brett, 43, poured paint stripper on mother-of-one Philomena Willets' car and hacked into her husband's emails to send messages to friends and neighbours accusing the couple of being paedophiles

David Brett managed to infiltrate his email accounts and sent many messages from him and to him suggesting the pair of them were sex offenders and he and his brothers were untrustworthy.

Brett, of Westminster, sent emails to neighbours in which he falsely accused Mrs Willets husband of showing him indecent images of young girls.

Brett was arrested in April 2016 and pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court, but he was later found to have been unfit to have entered a plea.

He was remanded in hospital under the Mental Health Act until doctors decided his mental state had improved enough for him to enter a plea.

Brian Richardson, defending, told the court Brett suffered from persistent delusional disorder, and more assessments over his mental health would be taking place.

Judge Barklem said although recent changes to sentencing guidelines around stalking and harassment had increased the maximum sentence to 10 years, the events in this case were not covered by this, so the maximum jail sentence he could impose was five years, minus one-third afforded to Brett due to his guilty plea.

He sentenced the stalker to 40 months to run concurrently for the first five counts, and four weeks for the assault charge, to run consecutively.

Brett will serve half of this sentence in prison.
A primary school student has described the moment a car crashed into her classroom in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday morning and killed two eight-year-old boys.

A woman, 52, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Kluger when it hit a demountable at Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre at 10.30am.

Zeinab Karim told Daily Mail Australia it felt like her 'classroom just fell down.'

'We were in the classroom and when we heard a big bang we stood up,' the nine-year-old said.

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Primary school student Zeinab Karim (far right) has described the moment a car crashed into her classroom in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday morning and killed two children

A woman, 52, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Kluger when it hit a demountable at Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre at 10.30am

Pictured if the front entrance of Banksia Road primary school. Parents can be seen arriving to pick up their children

Photos from the scene show the Toyota Kluger bursting through the walls of the classroom

Pictured is the Toyota Kluger being towed from the school

'There was a black out straight away we were evacuated to Kindergarten. It was really scary cos I never would have imagined a class collapse on its own.'

Zeinab said none of her friends were hurt but that her dad was so worried his 'face went bright red.'

Neighbour Riad Kadour told Daily Mail Australia he heard the car ram through the portable building followed by the shrieks of children.

Mr Kadour said he initially thought the incident was a terrorist attack.

'My daughter was at the school she was distressed, seeing her like that was heart breaking,' he said.

The children were believed to be in the middle of an Arabic class when the fatal crash happened.

Two boys, aged eight, were critically injured but were later pronounced dead at Westmead Children's Hospital.

A total of 22 children are believed to have been injured when the car ploughed through the demountable wall

Parents were crowded around the school gates to pick up their children this morning

Parents hug outside the Banksia Road Public School school gates after the fatal crash

Police are asking parents who wish to collect their children to attend the Boronia Road school entrance

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Richard Cohen has confirmed children under the age of nine are involved

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Richard Cohen has confirmed the children injured are under the age of nine.

Two eight-year-old girls were rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital in a stable condition, and one nine-year-old girl is in a serious condition.

There were 17 children and one adult female teacher assessed on scene. NSW police confirmed 24 children were in the classroom at the time.

A teacher was also treated following the horrific crash.

The female driver of the car, who is uninjured, has been taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests.

Three tradesmen working nearby reportedly rushed to the scene and lifted the car off a student who was crushed underneath, Nine News reporter Damian Ryan told Radio 2GB.

Witnesses said the car is owned by a parent at the school, who had been parked in a carpark moments before the vehicle struck the classroom.

Worried parents said they initially thought it was an 'attack or something'

There are eight crews on the scene, including one intensive care car and NSW Ambulance Chaplains

Police from Bankstown LAC on are on scene and a crime scene has been established

Witnesses said the car is owned by a parent at the school, who had been parked in a carpark moments before the vehicle struck the classroom

Panicked parents rushed to the school to check on the welfare of their children shortly after the crash.

A mother whose daughters were in the class said she was horrified to hear the news while she was out of the area.

'When I first heard I thought there had been attack or something,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I was in Miranda when I heard and oh my God, I don't know how I made it here so fast.

'My daughter's little friend is in Westmead and it's not good.'

Another mother, whose son was in the demountable, said he was spared injury because he was at the front of the classroom.

'He was at the front, so he's very luckybut he saw blood coming out of his friends. I'm just in shock,' the mother said.

Another group of women came out from the school grounds and said: 'Thank God they're all right, these ones were next door.

'I saw it on the news it was scary. My cousin told me. I'm just glad they're safe.'

The crash happened in the Banksia Road Public School's demountable building

NSW Ambulance confirmed two of those children suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene

There are eight crews on the scene, including one intensive care car and NSW Ambulance Chaplains.

Police from Bankstown LAC on are on scene and a crime scene has been established.

Police are asking parents who wish to collect their children to do so via the Boronia Road school entrance, but are reportedly not allowing for aunties and uncles to be at the gates.

Buses are diverting away from Banksia Rd and Noble Ave due to the crash.
More than 60 admirals and hundreds of Navy officers are being investigated over their contact with Malaysian defense contractor 'Fat Leonard' who routinely bribed sailors with prostitutes, liquor and karaoke.

Leonard Glenn Francis, dubbed 'Fat Leonard' for his considerable 350lbs frame, was renowned for throwing extravagant parties which could last for days, according federal records.

Francis, who made a fortune supplying Navy vessels in ports all over the globe, had befriended dozens of admirals, bribing them with booze and girls in exchange for classified information to help his Singapore-based defense contract firm, records show.

Leonard Glenn Francis, dubbed 'Fat Leonard' (left and right) for his considerable 350lbs frame, was renowned for throwing extravagant parties for Naval officers, bribing them with booze and girls in exchange for classified information

The widespread corruption came to light after Francis was arrested in an international sting operation four years ago.

Since then, the Justice Department has charged 29 people, including two admirals, the Washington Post reports.

But the Navy has now revealed that it is currently investigating 440 other active-duty and retired personnel - including 60 current and former admirals - over their potential ties to Fat Leonard and his company.

The 'colossal bribery and fraud scandal' is one of the biggest in Naval history.

An official said the Navy has concluded that 230 of those under review were not guilty of misconduct as they had little to no contact with Francis, or had attended a dinner but under extenuating circumstances.

David Kapaun, right, seen with Singaporean military officers at a 2001 reception. Kapaun has pleaded guilty to fraud for lying about his relationship with defense contractor 'Fat Leonard'

So far, 14 Navy officials have pleaded guilty to either accepting bribes or making false statements, while another ten await trial. Francis and four of his senior executives have all pleaded guilty.

Earlier this year, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau was jailed for 18 months after admitting in 2016 that he lied to investigators when questioned over his relationship with Francis.

Gilbeau admitted lying to investigators by saying he had never accepted gifts from the man which prosecutors claim included prostitutes and parties.

The 56-year-old confessed that when the pair met three times a year, Francis always picked up the tab. Gilbeau received gifts from Francis and met with him three times a year for extravagant dinners for at which Francis, a Malaysian citizen, always picked up the bill.

Gilbeau's business relationship with Francis actually dated back to 1997, during which Francis plied Gilbeau with expensive gifts ranging from fine dining, luxury hotels and prostitutes, prosecutors said.

Fat Leonard's company provided services such as trash and sewage removal, food, water, security and fuel to US Navy ships. The USS Nimitz (pictured) is one ship it serviced

Gilbeau was in his mid-30s when he first met Francis in Bali, Indonesia, and the parties with prostitutes started right away, prosecutors said.

In return, Gilbeau signed off on contracts for services such as removing waste from U.S. aircraft carriers at highly inflated prices, prosecutors said.

Retired Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, former director of intelligence operations for U.S. Navy and intelligence chief for 7th Fleet, is among then ten awaiting trial. He was arrested in California in March and charged with conspiracy, bribery and making false statements for allegedly taking prostitutes as bribes.

He denies the charges.

US Navy commander David Kapaun pleaded guilty to lying about his relationship with the Malaysian defense contractor earlier this year.

Kapaun said in court that he omitted Francis from a security clearance update form because he knew 'I did have a past association with him that was unfavorable'.

Retired Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, former director of intelligence operations for U.S. Navy and intelligence chief for 7th Fleet, is among then ten awaiting trial

He also didn't disclose receiving dinners, hotel stays and prostitutes from Francis, said his defense attorney, Victor Bakke. 'He played a minor role in the overall scheme that was conducted by Fat Leonard.

The allegations prompted Kapaun to resign earlier this year from his civilian position as deputy chief of staff for US Special Operations Command Pacific.

He was sentenced in September 2017 to 18 months in federal prison and $75,000 in fines and restitution.

Francis was arrested in September 2013 on fraud and bribery charges. He faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in January to bribery and conspiracy charges, prosecutors said.

Francis has acknowledged bribing Navy officials with cash, prostitutes and other gifts in exchange for classified information to help his company, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia.

The company provided services such as trash and sewage removal, food, water, security and fuel to US Navy ships, according to prosecutors. He's awaiting sentencing.

Francis, 53, pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing 'scores' of Navy officials and defrauding the service of more than $35 million.

But his overbilling of the Navy had been an open secret for years.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) opened separate investigations into Glenn Defense in 2006 but found it slow going until they opened a full blown corruption inquiry in 2009.

Gilbeau admitted lying to investigators by telling them he hadn't received any gifts from Francis in June 2016 (above entering court)

Gilbeau was working on the USS Boxer in 1997 (above) when he became friendly with Francis

Yet, Francis continued to mingle with some of the Navy's top leaders including posing for a photo with Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the new chief of naval operations, and outgoing, Adm. Gary Roughead at a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 2011.

The Navy would not confirm if either admiral was under investigation.

Greenert, who said he hadn't been contacted by investigators, met the defense contractor in the late 1990s and attended at least three of Francis' infamous dinners after he was promoted to vice admiral and took command of the fleet in 2003.

Greenert even sent Francis a holiday greeting card in 2005 featuring a sketch of the USS Blue Ridge, the 7th Fleet flagship, which the contractor had visited as a guest.

The admiral later thanked Francis for the 'superb services' his company provided to the Blue Ridge in a letter.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau was sentenced TO 18 months behind bars on Wednesday

Greenert told The Post it was not unusual for commanders to send correspondence to contractors to acknowledge their 'responsive and flexible' service, adding he sent hundreds of official Christmas cards as the 7th Fleet commander.

Francis also spent time with Vice Adm. Michael Miller, then the academy superintendent, during his visit to the Naval Academy in 2011.

Miller, who later arranged for a personal tour of his official residence, said he had 'no knowledge' that Francis was under investigation at the time.

The Navy later rebuked Miller, who retired from the Navy in 2015, with a formal letter of censure for failing to adequately reimburse Francis for lavish dinners and other gifts he received from the contractor while in command of an aircraft carrier strike group in Asia.

'Fat Leonard' is being held in San Diego while he awaits sentencing, and has admitted to scamming the Navy out of $35million, though investigators suspect the total may have been much larger.

His firm did business with the Navy for 25 years.
A world-class jockey has taken a sickening fall during the fourth race at Flemington Racecourse, devastating his hopes of racing in the Melbourne Cup at 3pm.

Joao Moreira, nicknamed 'The Magic Man' for his impressive track record, was riding Regal Monarch when he collided with a horse at the back of the pack.

The Brazilian-born 33-year-old was then trampled by a horse and left lying face-down on the turf.

Sickening fall: World-class jockey Joao Moreira was trampled by horses during the fourth race at Flemington Racecourse

The Brazilian-born 33-year-old was left lying motionless and face down on the track

Moment of horror: Moreira lay on the ground limply after horses trampled over him

Paramedics treated Moreira's leg as he lay on the ground, before he eventually made it to his feet and walked tenderly off the racecourse without assistance.

Trainer Chris Waller said the horse, which was able to walk off the track but was taken away in an ambulance, was 'not well'.

'It looked like he was travelling well and looked to avoid heels or something,' Waller said.

'Joao is conscious and has no neck or back pain.'

Moreira, who was due to race horse Thomas Hobson in the Melbourne Cup, has been ruled out for the remainder of the day.

Up-and-coming apprentice jockey Ben Allen, 18, has been announced as his replacement.

It's understood Allen was the only jockey able to make Moreira's 52-kilogram weight.

Paramedics treated Moreira's leg as he lay on the ground, before he eventually made it to his feet
Racegoers have been forced to pile out of trains and walk to the Melbourne Cup after protesters hijacked Flemington Racecourse.

While two protesters scaled a crane at the racecourse just hours ahead of the 'race that stops the nation', a car was also found parked across train tracks, blocking trains from arriving at Flemington.

A spray painted car was parked over the train tracks after midday, appearing to block any trains arriving for the Melbourne Cup and forcing racegoers to walk the rest of the journey.

The protests were calling for Manus Island refugees to be brought to Australia, however it is not believed the two groups are affiliated.

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A parked car (pictured) blocked train tracks causing major delays getting to the racecourse

The delays forced racegoers to walk the rest of the way to the Melbourne Cup (pictured)

A spray painted car was parked over the train tracks after midday, appearing to block any trains arriving for the Melbourne Cup and forcing racegoers to walk the rest of the journey

Two protesters scaled a crane at Flemington Racecourse hours before Melbourne Cup kicks off

The female protesters abseiled off a crane with a sign saying 'SOS Evacuate Manus now' (pictured)

The protesters (pictured) are attempting to draw attention towards the refugees and asylum seekers who have been left on Manus Island

The women (pictured) were spotted at the top of the crane at an entrance to Flemington Racecourse after midday

Police arrested one man on the train tracks where the parked car was found.

Metro Trains website has warned racegoers of major delays surrounding the racecourse.

'Delays up to 20 minutes due to a motor vehicle stopped across rail lines at the Ascot Vale level crossing, police are attending to the issue,' the website read.

The female protesters were seen abseiling off a crane with a sign that read 'SOS Evacuate Manus now' above cup day celebrations in an attempt to draw attention towards the refugees and asylum seekers who have been left on Manus Island.

The women, aged in their 20's, were on the crane for almost four hours and made their way down shortly after the Melbourne Cup race.

'We are really appalled at the situation on Manus Island and we think it's really inappropriate for people to be celebrating when there are individuals with no water and no security,' protester Sonia Arquette told Australian Associated Press.

'We don't want to be doing this but we feel we have no choice when there are 600 people starving.'

Protesters were seen storming the racecourse before the Melbourne Cup started (pictured)

The protesters were seen being escorted off Flemington Racecourse before the race began

One female protester was seen being removed from the racecourse before the Cup (pictured)

Several protesters had to be removed from the straight by security before the race began

Despite all the protests at the Melbourne Cup, it is unknown whether they are all related

Another set of protesters stormed the track at Flemington Racecourse in attempts to block the race.

Photos show protesters trying to run down the straight before the Cup started, needing several people to remove the protesters from the track.

Despite all the protests at the Melbourne Cup, it is unknown whether they are all related.

The protest was also linked to a spray painted car which was found parked over the train tracks after midday, appearing to block any trains arriving for the Melbourne Cup

Metro Trains website has warned racegoers of major delays surrounding the racecourse because of the protests (pictured)

The women were spotted at the top of the crane at an entrance to Flemington Racecourse after midday.

While many people are braving the cold Melbourne weather celebrating in their frocks, the two protesters say they will be 'suspended from the crane indefinitely', however came down from the crane shortly after the Cup ended.

The 'SOS' sign with red and black writing was spotted draped over the top of the crane.

The protesters shared photos of them on the top of the crane with huge crowds of race goers flocked underneath.
The mother of an 11-year-old who was shot in the head after an argument has admitted threatening to squeeze out a child's eyeballs and feed them to dogs.

Sarah Kerianna Newitt, 30, pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace another person at Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the Hobart Mercury reports.

Newitt's daughter was shot during an incident in Deloraine, Tasmania, after an unrelated fight in August.

Sarah Kerianna Newitt (pictured) admitted threatening to squeeze out a child's eyeballs and feed them to dogs

She didn't appear in court to face charges in October because her daughter was still in hospital.

On Tuesday, the court heard from police prosecutor Natalie Clark, who said Newitt had called Sheridan Watts  her brother's former partner  and made threats towards her children on January 1.

According to the Mercury, Newitt admitted making the call after her brother damaged the windows of their mother's home  but insisted that 'in no way did I mean it.'

Newitt's daughter was shot during an incident in Deloraine, Tasmania, after an unrelated fight

But Ms Clark said that although the threat was 'bizarre,' it was delivered in a menacing tone of voice.

The court heard that Newitt, an unemployed mother to three children  aged four, nine and 11  has since reconciled with her brother.

Ms Watts has moved away and the pair haven't spoken since, she added.

The magistrate sentenced Newitt to a two-year good behaviour bond.
Harvey Weinstein used an 'army of spies' that included former Mossad agents in order to to dig up dirt on the actresses and journalists he feared would expose his history of sexual misconduct.

In yet another bombshell expose in The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow reveals that these men and women portrayed themselves as victims, journalists and, in one case, a women's rights activist to befriend actress Rose McGowan in hopes of getting an early copy of her memoir.

The disgraced mogul hired Black Cube, run by former Israeli intelligence officers of Mossad, and Kroll - one of the biggest global corporate-intelligence firms - to gather details about the personal lives and sexual histories of dozens of actresses and journalists.

Black Cube is still under contract with Weinstein, and McGowan said she spoke to an agent just two weeks ago - after the publication of both The New York Times and New Yorker exposes.

In one email, on October 10, the agent who went by the name Diana Filip and posed as a women's rights activist wrote: 'Hi Love, How are you feeling? . . . Just wanted to tell you how brave I think you are.'

Filip emailed her again on October 23 as well, while also meeting with McGowan in person four times.

During those meetings, McGowan spoke about what she had been through, unaware that this was all being reported back to man she had accused of raping her at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

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A terrifying expose alleged that Harvey Weinstein (right) used an 'army of spies' to dig up dirt on the actresses and journalists he feared would expose him, including actress Rose McGowan (left)

It's not over: Ronan Farrow said on Good Morning America Tuesday (above) that there was more to come from this story

Tweet beat: McGowan responded to Farrow's report on Monday by tweeting: 'Here is my official statement: CHECK MOTHERF***ING MATE PIGFACE'

Speaking out: Another Weinstein rape accuser, Asia Argento, wrote: 'Why didn't I @rosemcgowan @RoArquette @AnnabellSciorra spoke up earlier? We were followed by ex-Mossad agents. Isn't that terrifying? Very.'

One of the Weinstein's objectives was to obtain a copy of a book that included 'harmful negative information on and about the Client' - identified as Weinstein in multiple documents.

The book referred to was 'Brave,' a memoir by McGowan that is set for release in January.

The documents reveal that the agency delivered more than a hundred pages of transcripts and descriptions of the book based on hours of conversation between the actress and Filip.

The Black Cube agent posing as Filip said she was the deputy head of a London-based wealth-management firm Reuben Capital Partners, who first wrote to McGowan in May 2017, asking her to speak at a gala event for discrimination against women in the workplace.

The pair met on a number of occasions in the following months, in Los Angeles and New York, where Filip began pressing the actress for information, while also offering to make an investment in a film she was hoping to make.

The agencies were employed to get their hands on McGowan's book Brave

There was even a very authentic looking website that was created for Reuben Capital, with an entire section devoted to women.

'It is a well-known fact that women have less access to capital around the world. This is certainly the case in emerging markets and rings true in other industries around the world too,' reads the 'Women In Focus' page.

'The scale of the issue is different depending on which country is brought into focus, but the fundamental issues are identical: women earn less, get promoted less, and are underappreciated in the workplace.'

The address in London is also a building with a number of small offices, though no actual office number is listed on the Reuben website.

McGowan responded to Farrow's report on Monday by tweeting: 'Here is my official statement: CHECK MOTHERF***ING MATE PIGFACE'

Another Weinstein rape accuser, Asia Argento, wrote: 'Why didn't I @rosemcgowan @RoArquette @AnnabellSciorra spoke up earlier? We were followed by ex-Mossad agents. Isn't that terrifying? Very.'

And Farrow wrote: 'Craziest story Ive ever reported, and a rare professional experience that made me fear for my safety (even including time in Afghanistan).'

The elaborate planning that went into the operation involved the crafting of a fake website for Reuben Partners, with a section devote to 'Women In Focus' (above)

The fake firm of Reuben Partners also had an office building listed on its website (seen above in Google street view)

The terrifying lengths Weinstein went to silence his accusers

Hired Black Cube, run by former Israeli intelligence officers of Mossad, and Kroll, the biggest global corporate-intelligence firm

Invoices revealed he agreed to pay $600,000 for information that would stop the press publishing allegations of rape, abuse or harassment against Weinstein

One corporate intelligence agent posed as a woman's right activist to lull actress Rose McGowan into discussing her claims against Weinstein.

The same agent also spoke to reporters to try and find out their sources.

Weinstein or the agencies also hired their own journalists to interview accusers and alleged victims to find out what their claims against him were.

Agents went through journalists' personal lives, even profiling their ex-wives, to try and find information to discredit them.

Weinstein allegedly tricked an ex-employee into revealing a list of her old colleagues who would be open to contributing to a book about the 'good old days' at Miramax. When she provided the list, he forced her to call them in front of him to see who had spoken to the press.

The producer conducted much of his investigations with his secret intelligence agencies through his lawyers so they'd be protected by attorney-client privilege.

On Tuesday morning, Farrow made an appearance on Good Morning America to discuss his latest report, and was asked if there was more to come.

'A lot coming in and some of it very, very troubling and some of it I think checking out,' said Farrow.

'It is not over and, look, that is down to the bravery of women till coming forward and men coming forward as victims. This is a movement, a seismic shift.'

He also described the scene at the Weinstein offices the day that the story broke in his New Yorker piece, with Weinstein screaming at staff and attorney Lisa Bloom to send off photos of himself with smiling victims to the board.

David Boies, chairman of Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP, (left) signed the contract for Black Cube while Dylan Howard, the chief content officer of American Media Inc., (right) provided information 'obtained by one of his reporters, as part of an effort to help Weinstein disprove McGowan's allegation of rape'

Left to right: Michael Elliott, Harvey Weinstein and David Boies attend the TIME 100 GALA

Weinstein also used several other private security firms including the Los Angeles-based agency PSOPS to investigate those who threatened to expose him.

The agencies deployed secret operatives to 'target' stars such as Rose McGowan, who would later become Weinstein's most vocal accuser, Farrow reports.

The agent known as Diana Filip even posed as a woman's right activist to lull McGowan into discussing her claims.

The same female operative later met with a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press.

'The explicit goal of the investigations, laid out in one contract with Black Cube, signed in July, was to stop the publication of the abuse allegations against Weinstein that eventually emerged in the New York Times and The New Yorker,' Farrow said.

Over the course of twelve months, Weinstein had the agencies compile psychological profiles on dozens of targets that often focused on their personal or sexual histories.

One such profile focused on actress Rosanna Arquette, an accuser in a recent piece for The New Yorker, and included her posts on social media about sexual abuse, her family history with molestation and sexual assault, and her friendship with McGowan.

The agents even profiled the ex wives of certain journalists who were working on stories about Weinstein in a bid to undermine them.

A series of emails from Dan Karson, of Kroll, to Weinstein revealed they had been digging into the backgrounds of Adam Moss, the editor-in-chief of New York Magazine and reporter Benjamin Wallace.

'No adverse information about Adam Moss so far (no libel/defamation cases, no court records or judgments/liens/UCC, etc.),' Karson wrote in one e-mail. He also sent a profile of Wallace, which detailed a libel suit filed against his 2008 book about the rare-wine market and other public criticisms.

A couple of months later, PSOPS sent the results of their own investigations, pointing out they had profiled Wallace's ex-wife, who 'might prove relevant to considerations of our response strategy when Wallace's article on our client is finally published.'

The investigator sent a disappointed email, with a detailed profile of Moss, stating that their research 'did not yield any promising avenues for the personal impeachment of Moss.'

Targets? Adam Moss, the editor-in-chief of New York Magazine, and New York reporter Benjamin Wallace

Weinstein had hired the intelligence agencies through his law firm so the investigations would be covered by attorney-client privilege. Those services ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars according to one invoice that was submitted for $600,000.

At least one contract with an intelligence agency was signed by David Boies, attorney for Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential-election controversy.

'Boies personally signed the contract directing Black Cube to attempt to uncover information that would stop the publication of a Times story about Weinstein's abuses, while his firm was also representing the Times, including in a libel case,' Farrow said. The lawyer insists there was no conflict of interest and that he did not select the firms or direct the investigators' work

A July 17 contract between Weinstein and Boies' law firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, shows how Black Cube be awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in 'success fees' for preventing stories of his abuse leaking.

Boies was also working for The New York Times at the same time he was hiring a firm to investigate one of the paper's writers, Jodi Kantor.

In a statement on Monday, the Times issued a stern response to the news of Boies' work for Winstein.

'We learned today that the law firm of Boies Schiller and Flexner secretly worked to stop our reporting on Harvey Weinstein at the same time as the firms lawyers were representing us in other matters,' read the statement.

'We consider this intolerable conduct, a grave betrayal of trust, and a breach of the basic professional standards that all lawyers are required to observe. It is inexcusable and we will be pursuing appropriate remedies.'

New York reporter Wallace was also targeted by the 'Filip,' who was actually a former officer in the Israeli Defense Forces working for Black Cube, sources told Farrow.

This time she went by the name 'Anna'.

'She identified herself only as Anna and suggested that she had an allegation against Weinstein,' he said.

He met her on a couple of occasions but became suspicious as 'Anna seemed to be pushing him for information, he recalled, 'about the status and scope of my inquiry, and about who I might be talking to, without giving me any meaningful help or information.'

Wallace said: 'It seemed like soap-opera acting.'

Filip also reached out to Farrow 'asking for a meeting and suggesting that I join her campaign to end professional discrimination against women'. He did not respond.

Another tactic saw Weinstein or his agencies hire journalists to interview his accusers and report back on their claims, as well as trying to dig up information on their other sources.

In January, 2017, McGowan said she was contacted by a freelance journalist who secretly recorded their conversation and reported back to Black Cube about what she said. The journalist, who has not been named, denies he reported back to them 'in a formal capacity.'

That same reporter contacted at least two other of Weinstein's accusers including actress Annabella Sciorra who later alleged the 65-year-old had raped her.

She says she'd got a call from the journalist but quickly became suspicious and realized the interviewer could be tied to Weinstein.

'It scared me that Harvey was testing to see if I would talk,' she said.

Elizabeth Avellan with ex-Robert Rodriguez, who left her to begin a relationship with McGowan, says a reporter contacted her and pressed her for dirt on McGowan

Weinstein had the agencies compile psychological profiles on dozens of targets such as Rosanna Arquette (left) while Pamela Lubell (right) was allegedly tricked into revealing a list of her old colleagues, then forced her to call them to see who had spoken to the press

Weinstein also appeared to rope in Dylan Howard, the chief content officer of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer, according to an email exchange from December 2016.

The emails revealed that Howard had provided information 'obtained by one of his reporters, as part of an effort to help Weinstein disprove McGowan's allegation of rape,' the New Yorker report says.

Howard's reporter had called Elizabeth Avellan, the ex-wife of the director Robert Rodriguez, who left her to begin a relationship with McGowan.

Avellan claims the reporter had pursued her hard, calling friends and family until she answered the phone and then pressed her for dirt on McGowan. They did not say that the conversation was being recorded, she told Farrow.

Howard then sent an e-mail to Weinstein bragging he had 'something AMAZING... eventually she laid into Rose pretty hard.

Weinstein replied: 'This is the killer. Especially if my fingerprints r not on this.' Howard responded: 'They are not. And the conversation . . . is RECORDED.'

Howard said in a statement that at the time of the emails, he had been overseeing a television-production agreement with Weinstein and so had 'an obligation to protect AMI's interests by seeking outbut not publishingtruthful information about people who Mr. Weinstein insisted were making false claims against him.'

He insisted that he separated his role as a journalist from his role with Weinstein and resisted the Miramax producer's efforts to 'have AMI titles publish favorable stories about him or negative articles about his accusers.'

Black Cube, which has branches in Tel Aviv, London, and Paris, and states on its website it offers 'a select group of elite Israeli intelligence community who specializes in tailored solutions to complex business and litigation challenge', declined to comment on the work it did for Weinstein but insists it always operates 'in full compliance with the law of any jurisdiction in which it operates.'

However, the firm has landed itself in trouble previously and just last year, two of its investigators were arrested in Romania on hacking charges.

Meanwhile, Weinstein's spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister, said: 'It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.'

She also denied he had ever secure any part of McGowan's book, calling Farrow's article full of 'inaccuracies and wild conspiracy theories.'

Harvey Weinstein banned for LIFE from TV Academy just weeks after he was barred from the Oscars in the wake of sex abuse allegations

Harvey Weinstein has been handed a lifetime ban from the Emmys just weeks after he was stripped of his Oscars board membership in the wake of his sex scandal.

The Miramax producer has been accused of harassment by a multitude of high-profile Hollywood celebrities including Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie after an New York Times expose revealed decades of alleged abuse.

On Monday, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences voted to expel Weinstein from the Academy for life.

Harvey Weinstein has been handed a lifetime ban from the Emmys. The disgraced mogul's former firm, The Weinstein Company, won an Emmy for Project Runway which features Heidi Klum, pictured him during the season 3 finale at New York Fashion Week in September 2016. She has since spoken out in support of his accusers

On Monday, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences voted to expel Weinstein from the Academy for life

The TV Academy said in a statement it is horrified by the claims of widespread sexual misconduct in entertainment and is taking a stand to support women speaking out against Weinstein.

'We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment.'

The disgraced mogul's former firm, The Weinstein Company, had produced a number of popular TV shows over the years including Project Runway for which he won an Emmy.

Heidi Klum, who starred as a judge in Project Runway and was pictured him during the season 3 finale at New York Fashion Week in September 2016, has since spoken out saying she supports all the 'brave women' who have spoken out against him.

'I wish I could say that the horrible stories I read about Harvey Weinstein are a rare occurrence in our society, but that is simply not the case. We would be naive to think that this behavior only happens in Hollywood,' Klum, 44, told People.

Weinstein, pictured at an ELLE Magazine Hosts Viewing Party for the Season Premiere of Project Runway with editor Nina Garcia, has been accused of harassment by a multitude of high-profile Hollywood celebrities

'This is one example of the more pervasive problem of the mistreatment of women around the world. I think it would be hard to find a woman  myself included  who have not had an experience where they have felt intimidated or threatened by a man using his power, position or his physical stature,' the Project Runway host and judge says.

'I truly admire these brave women who are coming forward to share their stories because change cannot come unless there is a dialogue and people are held accountable,' she concludes.

Weinstein was stripped of his executive producer credit on the Lifetime reality show competition after the allegations. He has since been fired from The Weinstein Company which produces the show.

His wife, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman who has often appeared on the show as a guest judge since 2012, announced she's leaving him.

The 65-year-old is also under investigation by a handful of law enforcement agencies.

Weinstein has already been banned from the Producers Guild of America in the wake of the allegations and last month was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The 54-member board of governors, which includes power players such as Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and hands out Oscars every year, voted to oust Weinstein in October.

Weinstein was last month expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Winners of the Oscar for Best Picture, Shakespeare in Love, pose for photographers. From left are: David Parfitt, Dianna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, and Marc Morman

Weinstein is seen with his wife Georgina Chapman at the 2017 Academy Awards in February. She has said she is seeking a divorce in the wake of the allegations against him

The Academy issued a statement saying the board had voted 'to immediately expel him from the Academy,' noting that the vote was 'well in excess of the required two-thirds majority'.

It went on: 'We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over.'

'What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.'

Only one other Adademy member has been kicked out previously, The Godfather II actor Carmine Caridi.

He was accused of giving tapes of around 60 Oscar movies seeking consideration for the Academy Awards to a neighbor, who turned out to be a movie pirate.

Weinstein only ever won one Oscar, personally, for Shakespeare in Love in 1999. He was also nominated for Gangs of New York in 2003. There is no word on whether his Oscar will be rescinded.

As a result of the allegations, the movie producer was also fired from the company he co-founded with his brother Bob in 2005.
The sentencing hearing of a Gold Coast mother who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son Tyrell Cobb has been shown confronting post-mortem pictures of the child's bruised body.

Heidi Strbak appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as her contested sentencing hearing began before Justice Peter Applegarth.

The court was shown a series of graphic photographs during the evidence of pathologist Dr Beng Beng Ong, depicting various bruises and abrasions on the child's face and body.

Gold Coast mother Heidi Strbak, who has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her son Tyrell Cobb (pictured), has been shown confronting post-mortem pictures of the four-year-old's body

Strbak (pictured) appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as her contested sentencing hearing began before Justice Peter Applegarth

Strbak's plea comes just weeks after her ex-partner Matthew Scown (pictured) was sentenced to four years' jail for manslaughter but walked from court, having already spent two years and eight months in custody

Asked by crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy about one of the markings, Dr Ong agreed it was consistent with the application of blunt force, such as a slap.

He said another marking on the child's lower leg was of a shape fairly consistent with the end of a cigarette lighter.

The court has heard Strbak pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of criminal negligence.

But the prosecution is arguing Strbak inflicted the blunt force trauma that caused her son's death.

In a brief opening address, Strbak's barrister Greg McGuire said there were three people - Strbak, her then-partner Matthew Scown and her brother - who could have had the opportunity to cause the injury or injuries.

However, all three 'vehemently denied' doing so and there was not enough evidence to find any of them responsible, the court heard.

The child (pictured) was found unconscious at a Gold Coast property and later died in hospital in May 2009

The court was shown a series of graphic photographs during the evidence of pathologist Dr Beng Beng Ong (pictured), depicting various bruises and abrasions on the child's face and body

Mr McGuire said the defence position wouldn't be that Justice Applegarth could rule decisively who inflicted a fatal blow.

Rather, he said they would argue the judge could not be satisfied to the necessary standard it was the boy's mother who inflicted the injury.

Strbak's plea comes just weeks after her ex-partner Scown was sentenced to four years' jail for manslaughter but walked from court, having already spent two years and eight months in custody.

The child was found unconscious at a Gold Coast property and later died in hospital in May 2009.

The hearing is expected to run for three days.
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President Donald Trump said Tuesday in South Korea that he's optimistic about his chances to stop North Korea from deploying a nuclear missile capable of reaching America's allies.

'I think we're going to have lots of good answers for you over a period of time, and ultimately it will all work out,' Trump said before a military operational briefing at Camp Humphreys, near Seoul.

'It always works out. It has to work out!'

North Koran dictator Kim Jong-un hasn't carried out a ballistic missile test since September, but there are real concerns at the Pentagon that he might conduct a test launch while Trump is nearby.

His previous tests have flown in the direction of Guam, a U.S. island territory, and directly over Japan.

Trump's appearance Tuesday afternoon in South Korea marked his arrival in the second of five nations on his expansive Asian itinerary.

Air Force One landed at the Osan Air Base shortly after noon, greeted by a 21-cannon salute and a full honor guard.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea Tuesday

Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In pose prior to their meeting at presidential Blue House in Seoul

Trump receives a briefing from U.S. and South Korean military commanders at the U.S. Eighth Army Operation Command Center

'Ultimately it will all work out,' President Trump said Tuesday of the nuclear standoff brewing with North Korea; 'It always works out. It has to work out!'

Trump (C) talks to military personnel while South Korean President Moon Jae-In (R) looks on at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul

At Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Trump saluted officers and senior enlisted personnel  both Americans and South Koreans  before going inside to eat and plan strategy with his generals

'Good food!' Trump said, seated near President Moon Jae-in and in between American and South Korean soldiers  and he later boasted that he chose to eat with the troops rather than have 'a beautiful, very fancy lunch'

The president shook hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, kissed first lady Melania goodbye and boarded a military helicopter with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The pair then had a short hop to Camp Humphreys, the nearby U.S. Army garrison.

Trump saluted and greeted both American and South Korean military officers and senior enlisted personnel before boarding an armored limousine for a short ride across the tarmac to a waiting lunch.

'I had a choice of having a beautiful, very fancy lunch, and I said "No, I want to eat with the troops." And we ate with the troops,' Trump said proudly.

'And it was good eating. It was good eating. And I tell you, they've done a terrific job. Very impressive.'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined him at the mess-hall lunch. 'Hello everybody!' Trump boomed after he was greeted by applause. 'Good food,' he said.

The presidents stayed only a short time at lunch before the military briefing, which included National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, who is now the White House chief of staff.

A pair of South Korean generals also took part, along with the head of U.S. forces in Korea, Gen. Vincent Brooks.

The president will later sit down with Moon at the Blue House, the nation's presidential mansion, for bilateral talks in advance of a joint press conference later in the day.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's territory starts just 35 miles from South Korea's capital, putting South Korea in the position of having to be a front-row spectator as the nuclear status of its belligerent neighbor is decided by other countries

This July 28, 2017 picture released from North Korea's state-run news agency shows Kim Jong-un's Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) being lauched at an undisclosed place in North Korea

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived Tuesday afternoon in South Korea, the second of five nations on his Asian itinerary this week and next

The president shook a few hands and then kissed Melania goodbye before boarding a military helicopter for a short hop to nearby Camp Humphreys for lunch with the troops and a military operational briefing

Trump, center right, and first lady Melania Trump are welcomed by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha upon arrival at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday

Air Force One landed at the Osan Air Base shortly after noon, greeted by a 21-cannon salute and a full honor guard

Trump (L) and First Lady Melania Trump (R) kiss after arrival at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul

Melania sported a pair of purple suede Louboutin shoes as she arrived in South Korea on Tuesday

A full military honor guard and a rolled-out red carpet awaited the Trumps at Osan Air Base

Trump will be in the Seoul area for barely 24 hours, but he will cast a 6-foot, 2-inch shadow on the communist nation to the north.

He has clear differences with Moon, both on managing the North Korean nuclear standoff and on tense negotiations over a trade deal that the White House says harms American workers.

Either crisis would be fodder enough for bilateral talks, a joint press conference and a speech to South Korea's National Assembly.

Korean TV carried the Trumps' arrival live from the moment he touched down, chronicling every moment with its own video feed

Police block protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump waiting for Trump's motorcade to pass by in central Seoul, South Korea

A protester against U.S. President Donald Trump covers his face with a placard while waiting for Trump's motorcade to pass by as police stand guard in central Seoul, South Korea

Trump has clear differences with South Korea's liberal president Moon Jae-in; the pair are shown at the White House in June

North Korean despot Kim Jong-un is pictured inspecting an ICCM in this undated photo released by North Korea's state-run news agency in July

But the one-two punch will make Trump's brief time in the Land of the Morning Calm unlike his two-day stop in Japan, a longer stop that already has South Koreans feeling like Trump is playing favorites.

In addition to direct talks with Moon, the president also plans to visit a U.S. military base to the south of Seoul, and will hail its operation as a positive example of 'burden-sharing' since South Korea pays for some of its expenses  including the cost of relocating American troops there.

But his unsteady relations with the liberal South Korean president, whom he called a 'fine gentleman' in a lukewarm Tuesday morning tweet, could lead to uncomfortable moments unlike any witnessed as he brewed a warm bromance with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday and Monday.

Trump has become close with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and is being criticized in Seoul for spending twice as much time in Tokyo as he plans to spend in the South Korean capital

In contrast with Trump's effusive praise for Japan's Shinzo Abe, the best he could muster for Moon Jae-in on Tuesday was a tweet calling him 'a fine gentleman'

The consequences of an arm's-length relationship between Washington and Seoul could be destructive for both nations.

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in is more liberal than his Japanese counterpart, and more likely to negotiate with North Korea

South Korea hosts more than 28,000 U.S. military troops and counts on the United States to insulate it from potential North Korean attacks.

And America needs open economic exchange lanes with the nation, which is its sixth-largest trade partner  but Trump wants it on his terms.

The U.S. is South Korea's second-biggest partner, after only China.

At stake is the five-year-old United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS, that Trump sees as a net loser for U.S. businesses.

America's trade deficit with South Korea is on pace to reach $24 billion this year and ended 2016 at $27.7 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau numbers.

In 2011, before the KORUS pact went into force, that number stood at just $13.2 billion.

Candidate Trump called the agreement a 'job-killer' as he ran for president last year, and said that at the time it had already cost American manufacturers $40 billion in exports.

'It's a horrible deal,' the president told Reuters in April, 'and we are going to renegotiate that deal or terminate it.'

The president will address the South Korean national assembly and is expected to lay out a hard line against North Korea  even as President Moon is trying to negotiate with the belligerent communist North

Trump warned during a bellicose September 19 speech to the United Nations General Assembly that he could 'totally destroy' North Korea if Kim Jong-un makes a menacing move toward the United States

KORUS was originally proposed by the George W. Bush administration in 2007. The initial plan was scrapped, only to be picked up by the Barack Obama White House and negotiated by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

While Trump's aides work on opening up South Korea's markets to more American-made cars, one likely way to even the trade score, the world will be carefully watching the commander-in-chief and his North Korean counterpart for signs of new ad hominem attacks.

Trump and Kim have engaged in a war of words this year, sparked by the U.S. president's threat to 'totally destroy' Kim's country if he doesn't stop testing nuclear-capable missiles and conducting underground atomic bomb tests.

Trump has taken to calling him 'Little Rocket Man.'

In response, Kim called Trump 'a frightened dog' and a 'gangster fond of playing with fire' in an official statement.

Trump's 11-day tour of Asia takes him to five countries

The trans-pacific game of nuclear chicken has made the South Korean government nervous: Seoul itself sits just 35 miles from the border, and 25 million people live in its metropolitan expanses.

Even without nuclear weapons, South Korea is already in Kim's striking range.

For this reason  and because he considers Trump unpredictable  Moon wants the U.S. to transfer control of South Korea's troops back to his government.

Under current agreements, South Korean forces would be under U.S. command if the North were to resume the war that ended with a 1953 armistice.

Trump surprised some politics-watchers over the weekend when he told a TV interviewer that he would be open to conducting direct talks with Kim  saying on Sinclair Broadcast Group's 'Full Measure' program that he would be happy to 'sit down with anybody'

'I dont think its strength or weakness, I think sitting down with people is not a bad thing,' he said. 'So I would certainly be open to doing that, but we'll see where it goes. I think were far too early.'

Peace activists are ready for Trump's visit to Seoul, staging demonstrations warning that the U.S. president's provocations will result in a nuclear war

Other demonstrators included supporters of Trump; they walk to a rally in central Seoul on Tuesday

North Korean despot Kim Jong-un's regime is racing to complete a nuclear missile that can reach the United States, prompting Trump to leave all military options on the table

Pictured is the South Korean National Assembly building, where Trump will speak Wednesday; he's expected to deliver a message of solidarity with Seoul and angry warnings for Pyongyang

After Trump threatened 'fire and fury' against Pyongyang in August, Moon tut-tutted publicly that 'no one should be allowed to decide on a military action on the Korean peninsula without South Korean agreement.'

The U.S. Defense Department has raised the strategic temperature by telling lawmakers that a ground invasion would be the only way to ensure 'with complete certainty' that North Korea couldn't use nuclear weapons against the West.

On Monday in Tokyo, Trump branded North Korea a 'menace' and said the U.S. stands against the rogue regime's 'dangerous aggressions.'

'Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. But look whats happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years. Look where we are right now,' the president said during a press conference with Abe.

He said at at the Yokota Air Base near Tokyo that the U.S. 'will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our people.'

'No one  no dictator, no regime and no nation  should underestimate, ever, American resolve.'
The teenage best friend of Texas church shooter Devin Kelley has revealed how his former pal had a trigger-happy temper but had always been 'all talk, no action.

Ralph Martinez tells Dailymail.com that he was Kelleys best friend from aged 12 to 19 years old.

He was like a brother to me at the time, Martinez says in an exclusive interview.

When I heard the news of what Devin did I was mortified. I never thought he could be capable of such an evil. Im hoping this is all a bad dream.

Im shocked by his actions, growing up he had a hair-trigger temper, I saw him get into plenty of verbally aggressive arguments, but I never saw him get physical with anyone. He was all talk, no action. I never imagined this could happened.

Kelley, 26, opened fire during a Sunday morning church service at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 and injuring 20.

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Ralph Martinez tells Dailymail.com that he was Kelleys best friend from ages 12-19 years old

Devin Patrick Kelley (pictured left, and in a mugshot from a previous crime) walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in full combat gear, and began shooting Sunday

Kelley was found dead in his car after fleeing the scene and being chased by eye-witnesses. Investigators believe he died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Martinez, 27, a car detailer says he met Kelley at a skate board park in New Braunfels, TX when he was 12 and Kelley was 11.

'We immediately hit it off as best-friends', says Martinez.

'We both were into skate boarding and video games, mainly skate boarding video games and Halo.

'Devin had authority issues growing up says Martinez. Nothing really over the top, he just didnt like to be told what to do, especially by his parents, he would constantly get into arguments with them.

'When they asked him to do a simple task like cleaning up his room, he would immediately do it, he would ask them why? But he eventually did what they asked him to do.'

Both attended the same church in New Braunfels, Texas - the Tree of Life Church.

Martinez said he had a lot in common, both of them were super-hyper active.

Martinez says he took prescription medicine for his ADHD until he was 19 and Devin took prescription pills for the same thing for as long as he can remember.

I spent many nights at his house for sleepovers where we played skate boarding video games all night long and had too many to count family dinners at his house with his parents and sisters.

Over the years his father added onto to their house and it ended up being really nice, with a pool and Jacuzzi, even having statutes of lions and tigers out by the pool.

Kelley, (pictured in his yearbook photo, left and right, as a teenager) 26, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, fled in his SUV but crashed near county lines

Martin said that law enforcement gave tracked down the suspect, who went off the road and crashed near county lines. Pictured is the suspect's car which was found with multiple weapons inside it

Kelley, who was reportedly married, had recently posted a photo of an AR-15 style gun on his Facebook page with the caption: 'She's a bad b***h'

Since Martinez (pictured) was a year older than Kelley he left high school a year earlier and moved to Wyoming to attend an automobile trade school for about a year

His parents were the greatest from what I remember, before every meal we had to pray, continued Martinez

Kelley was into skateboarding and Tae Kwan Do, he wasnt quite a black belt but was close to it, said Martinez.

In high school he wasnt associated with the cool crowd he mostly stayed to himself. Devin dressed like a skateboarder with his long-hair, according to Martinez.

He didnt date a lot during high school, and Martinez doesnt remember him having a serious girlfriend.

Since Martinez was a year older than Kelley he left high school a year earlier and moved to Wyoming to attend an automobile trade school for about a year.

By the time Martinez had returned to New Braunfels, Kelley had married Tessa Loge and joined the military.

Tessa had a young child from another relationship at the time she married Devin.

I really liked Tessa, she got along well with my girlfriend at the time and Devin seemed to be happy.

He occasionally complained about Tessa not picking up after him and not cleaning the house, that was the only negative thing I heard about their relationship, says Martinez.

The sun sets behind 26 crosses placed in a field before a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs (pictured), where around 50 people usually attend service, according to local reports

For Kelleys 21st birthday Martinez flew out to New Mexico with his girlfriend, where they spent a long weekend with Devin and Tessa where they were living at the time.

While we were in New Mexico at one point my girlfriend saw some prescription pill bottles in their kitchen and asked Tessa what they were for, said Martinez.

Tessa said that they were Devins prescription pills that he needs to take them for his aggression. Tessa didnt say anything more about it.

A short time after we had returned back to New Braunfels, some military officials knocked on my door and asked me if I ever saw Devin beat up Tessa, or notice any scrapes or bruises. They also asked if I ever noticed any aggression. I told them No! To all of their questions. I had no idea what they were talking about.

I was shocked by what I heard, then I started hearing from people on Facebook about how Devin beat up Tessa and her young child.'

A year later Kelley knocked on his door and said I need help, it was at that time Kelley told Martinez about his dishonorable discharge.

He said he needed a place to stay and he was just moving back to New Braunfels.

He stayed in the garage at Martinez house for about a week, before he could talk Devin into moving back in with his parents.

He told me that he had been locked-up after being accused of domestic abuse, of course he denied hurting Tessa or her young child.

His story he told didnt make sense, he later told me Tessa lied about what happened.

It was at this time Martinez decided to end his friendship with him.

I didnt want anything to do with him, I unfriended him on Facebook and basically forgot about him until the other day.'

Public records detail Kelley's history of physical abuse - including arrests for animal cruelty and domestic violence.

The domestic violence arrest stems from his previous marriage to Tessa K. Kelley, who he married in Texas in April 2011, while serving as a low-ranking airman in the Air Force.

The two were living in New Mexico the following year when Kelley was court-martialed for abusing both his wife and his infant stepson.

'He assaulted his stepson severely enough that he fractured his skull, and he also assaulted his wife,' Don Christensen, a retired colonel who was the chief prosecutor for the Air Force, told the New York Times. 'He pled to intentionally doing it.'

In November 2012, a month after his wife filed for divorce, Kelley was sentenced to 12 months confinement and a reduction to the lowest rank.

Two years later, after serving his time, he was discharged from the Air Force for bad conduct - a dismissal that usually precludes ex-servicemen from buying firearms.

Kelley didn't waste much time after being released from military prison. In April 2014, then-23-year-old Kelley remarried to 19-year-old Danielle Lee Shields records back in Texas show.

Martinez added: 'All of the innocent people he killed its just a tragic situation, Im sickened by it. Im really pi***d off at him.

Sheriff Joe Tackitt of Wilson County described the gory scene inside the blood splattered church where the bodies of children and their parents were strewn across the pews.

'Wherever you walked in the church, there was death,' he told the assembled local press on Monday.

'It was just horrific,' he added. 'Words can't express what was there. It's hard enough to see adults, but when you see babies, little ones, I'm talking 3, 4, 5, 6 years old. 10 years old. It's just hard.'

Tackitt said went officers went inside they saw pools of blood which led back towards the dead and dying parishioners. There was so much 'blood everywhere', it was hard to determine who was dead and who was still alive he said.

The sheriff told the New York Times that Kelley had walked round the outside of the church first, firing rounds in, and killing two people, before he entered and opened fire on the church goers.
A Japanese woman dubbed the 'Black Widow' has been sentenced to death for tricking elderly lovers into drinking cyanide and pocketing millions in insurance payouts and inheritance.

Chisako Kakehi, 70, has been condemned to the gallows for the murder of three men - including a husband - and the attempted murder of another, ending a high-profile case that has gripped the country.

Kakehi, who was sentenced in Kyoto, became notorious after using the poison cyanide to dispatch a number of elderly men she was involved with, drawing comparisons with the spider that kills its mate after copulation.

Chisako Kakehi, 70, dubbed the 'Black Widow', has been sentenced to hang over the untimely deaths of lovers and a husband in Japan

'The accused made the victims drink a cyanide compound with a murderous intention in all the four cases,' Judge Ayako Nakagawa told the court, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Nakagawa rejected defence lawyers' arguments that Kakehi was not criminally liable because she was suffering from dementia.

Prosecutors said she killed the men after they made her the beneficiary of life assurance policies that ran into millions of dollars.

She reportedly amassed one billion yen ($8.8 million) in payouts over 10 years but subsequently lost most of the fortune through unsuccessful financial trading.

She had relationships with many men, mostly elderly or ill, meeting some through dating agencies, where she reportedly stipulated that prospective partners should be wealthy and childless.

Kakehi, who is also known as 'The Poison Lady', is said to have stashed some of her cyanide in a plant pot she later threw out.

Executions in Japan

The poison was found in the body of at least two of the men she was involved with and police reportedly found traces of cyanide in the rubbish at her Kyoto home.

They also found paraphernalia for administering drugs and medical books at an apartment she kept south of Kyoto.

Kakehi initially refused to speak when her trial began in June but later stunned the court by admitting killing her fourth husband in 2013.

'I killed him... because he gave other women tens of millions of yen but did not give me even a penny,' she told the court, according to Jiji Press.

The accused earlier told judges she was ready to be hanged.

'Even if I were executed tomorrow, I would die smiling,' Kakehi told judges.

But her lawyers reportedly plan to appeal to a higher court, suggesting the high-profile trial could yet drag on.
A television journalist has been the target of a torrent of verbal abuse from a stranger  before she whipped out her phone and filmed him.

Maggie Ramworth, a 24-year-old Channel Nine reporter, was outside Victorias Ballarat Court about to film a piece-to-camera when a stranger approached her.

He walked up to Ms Ramworth and launched into a string of insults directed at both her and the camera operator, telling them to get a real job, the both of you.

F**king journos, lowest of the low, he said.

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Maggie Ramworth, a 24-year-old Channel Nine reporter, was outside Victorias Ballarat Court about to film a piece-to-camera when a stranger approached her

The man spotted Ms Ramworth from his car, and decided to park up and approach her.

Despite the hostility she encountered Ms Ramworth remained patient and measured during the exchange.

Whats your problem Sir? What have I personally done to you? she asked.

You chose to be a journalist, theres a million and one jobs in this world and you chose to be a lying piece of s**t for a living, he replied.

Give it five f**king years and youll be out of a job, all wrinkled up and shit. Youre already getting fat and that so f**k.

Ms Ramworth calmly pulled out her phone and began filming the man.

He walked up to Ms Ramworth and launched into a string of insults directed at both her and the camera operator, telling them to get a real job, the both of you

Yeah film me b**ch, at least I make money, unlike you. Local news motherf**kers, came his reply as he pulled the fingers at her.

The man then walked off away from the courthouse.

Ms Ramworth posted a video of the interaction on Facebook, with the ironic caption When fans pull their car over to talk to you.

She has received a lot of support since posting the video, with people telling her she kept her cool and she handled it like a pro.

Ms Ramworth calmly pulled out her phone and began filming the man

Ms Ramworth told news.com.au she deals with abuse every day in her job.

It happens all the time, every TV journalist can say that happens to them almost on a daily basis. I get yelled at from cars all the time, its just part of the job, she said.

She said she was still reeling and angry after the incident.

Dont just hate somebody you dont even know purely because they work for the media.

Nobody deserves to be spoken to like that and you shouldnt just have to accept people speaking to you in that manner.
A University of Miami professor has received death threats for her latest artwork, three American flags sewn into hoods resembling those of the Ku Klux Klan.

The masks are secured on a cart that has wheels shaped in a formation that resembles a Swastika.

The piece, called 'American Mask,' is part of a faculty art exhibition at the university's off-campus gallery in Miami's Wynwood Art District, the Miami New Times reports.

It was created by Billie Grace Lynn, an associate professor of sculpture at the university in Coral Gables.

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Billie Grace Lynn has an artwork on display at the University of Miami's off-campus gallery in Wynwood, Miami called 'American Mask'

The artwork is three American flags sewn into hoods resembling those of the Ku Klux Klan

The artwork is balanced on a cart whose wheels are shaped to resemble Swastikas

The flags are displayed in the gallery's window. The show opened on October 23 and lasts until November 12.

Lynn discussed with the Miami New Times how her upbringing in Louisiana, where she says the KKK has a 'strong' presence, and the white nationalist protests this past summer in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in one death influenced her art.

'I consider myself a patriot,' she told the New Times. 'The flag is not sacred in itself.'

Describing her motive for producing the piece, she elaborated to CNN: '"You're concealing your racism and bigotry behind the flag and I see you.

'"I'm calling it out and I'm naming it." Until you name something, people can't begin to think about it and that's why art is powerful.'

The university said in a statement to CNN that it 'supports artistic expression and freedom of speech' and that the piece 'was not reviewed or approved in advance...nor would it be subject to such review'.

Lynn says she has received messages - with the senders' email visible - threatening to kill her.

She says she has also received messages of support.

Lynn told the Miami New Times: 'The flag is not sacred in itself.' She added to CNN: '"You're concealing your racism and bigotry behind the flag and I see you. I'm calling it out and I'm naming it." Until you name something, people can't begin to think about it and that's why art is powerful'

A worker in the building told WSVN: 'This is disgusting. This is disrespectful, and people just dont understand it.'

The New Times reports that initial reactions to the piece ranged from it being called 'disgusting' to 'patriotic'.

Lynn received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and her Master's in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in California.

The University of Miami is located in Coral Gables. It has an off-campus gallery (pictured) in Wynwood, a Miami neighborhood known for its vibrant art scene

Her artist's statement, per her website, reads: 'This has always been the work of art: to inspire the senses -- to make the body feel -- without necessarily direct experience, through signs, colors, sounds, movement, and so on.

'At its highest, the experience and the making of art are identical.

'Accordingly, my work is usually interactive and kinetic in nature.

'I strive to make pieces in which the viewer interface is both the form and function of the piece.

'I want people to remember themselves, in much the same way that babies discover their fingers.

'When my work is successful, the piece is completed by the viewer-participant and she/he continues her/his journey more aware and delighted in being a body.'
A Georgia father has been charged with child cruelty after he didn't get help when his four-year-old son shot himself.

Shawn Darin Smith, 26, was booked on Halloween at the DeKalb County Jail and charged with cruelty to children - deprivation of necessary sustenance.

Smith's four-year-old, who has not been named, took a bullet in an apartment on Bouldercrest Road back in February.

He told a social worker hed shot himself while playing with a gun but his uncle, who took him to the hospital, claimed it was a drive-by shooting and that the child was known for making up stories, according to a police report.

Shawn Darin Smith, 26 (pictured), of Dekalb County, Georgia, has been charged with cruelty to children after police say he didn't get help when his four-year-old son accidentally shot himself in February

The child's condition is unknown, but he survived and was treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's at Hughes Spalding Hospital.

His uncle, Jeffrey Johnson II, claimed he was babysitting the boy when the shooting occurred, and court records indicate the Bouldcrest Road apartment is Johnson's permanent address.

Johnson was arrested on February 19, although a police report from that date makes no mention of Smith

The four-year-old told a social worker hed shot himself while playing with a gun but his uncle, who took him to the hospital, claimed it was a drive-by shooting and that the child was known for making up stories, according to a police report (Pictured, the apartment where the shooting took place)

Both Smith and Johnson are being held at the Dekalb County Jail. Johnson was charged with cruelty to children, false report of a crime, armed robbery, and reckless conduct.

This is not Smith's first run-in with the law. He was arrested in May 2013 in Broward County, Florida.

Arrest records show he was charged with probation violation or community control; use, display, etc of a firearm during a felony; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted Florida felon; and home invasion with a firearm or other deadly weapon.

Bond at the time was set at $12,500.
The man who shot a 14-year-old dead in a middle school hallway in 2010 has been ordered to pay the mother of his victim $1million through a civil lawsuit.

Hammad Memon was ordered to pay the fine plus any court costs to Towanda Moore, whose son Todd Brown was shot in the back of the head by Memon, who was one of his classmates at the time, according to a September 7 ruling.

Memon is currently serving a 30-year sentence for murdering the boy, who was a ninth grader at Discovery Middle School in Madison, Alabama. The new order was first reported today by WAFF-48.

Hammad Memon (left) has been ordered to pay Todd Brown's (right) family $1million seven years after shooting him dead in a crowded middle school hallway in Madison, Alabama

Memon was ordered to pay the fine to Brown's mother, Towanda Moore (pictured), who originally also filed the lawsuit against multiple school officials before dropping it to just include Memon's name

Brown was gunned down in a crowded hallway on February 5, 2010, by Memon, who was just 14 at the time.

Memon pleaded guilty to the crime in 2013. Both the shooting and his confession were caught on videotape.

He had been ordered to stand trial as an adult when he was charged in July 2010. Just a few months before he was set to stand trial he and his mother allegedly attempted to leave the country.

Currently he is legally in the United States, but he is not a citizen.

He was arrested along with his mother and younger sister at a Dallas bus station once a police officer realized they had fled their home in Madison.

Memon was out of jail on bond at the time, in the custody of his family.

His father, Dr Iqbal Memon, and his mother Safia Memon were both charged with hindering prosecution as a result. Both pleaded guilty and served probation.

Memon pleaded guilty to shooting Brown in 2013. He was ordered to stand trial as an adult when charged in July 2010

Memon is currently serving his time at Stanton Correctional Center, and his earliest opportunity to apply for parole will be in December 2026. He is pictured in a photo after being arrested with his mother and brother for attempting to flee the country

The civil lawsuit originally named the Madison Board of Education, the superintendent, the former principal, Memon and his parents, but Brown's family eventually dropped all school officials from the lawsuit.

'The Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages for her claims against Defendant Hammed Memon for the wrongful death of Plaintiff's decedent,' Todd Brown, the decision reads.

Memon is currently serving his time at Stanton Correctional Center, and his earliest opportunity to apply for parole will be in December 2026.

Before he was sentenced his attorney and a psychologist who interviewed him said the shooting took place because Memon had become obsessed with Brown and possible gang connections.

His attorney said Memon wanted to leave the gang of 'would be gangsters,' and had convinced himself Brown would be a threat to him if he did so.

The psychologist said he started bringing to school with him a .22-caliber pistol he'd stolen from his friend's house.
A 68-year-old child sex tourist has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence for attempting to groom a 15-year-old girl from the Philippines.

Blazo Vuksanovic was sentenced in Western Australia Supreme Court on Tuesday, after the Australian Federal Police raided the tourist's home in Perth earlier this year.

Vuksanovic, who has terminal bowel cancer, asked the court to return his passport so he could travel to South America to procure scorpion venom to treat his cancer.

Blazo Vuksanovic (pictured), a 68-year-old child sex tourist has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence for attempting to groom a 15-year-old girl from the Philippines

After Vuksanovic's arrest, his passport was confiscated and he began chemotherapy in Perth.

The 68-year-old pleaded guilty to grooming the teenage girl from the Philippines, who shut the man down by telling him he was 'dirty', The West Australian reports.

The conversation with the 15-year-old lasted two days, with Vuksanovic telling her he loved her, that he wanted to meet her and that he wanted to 'teach her' sex.

An investigation by Australian Federal Police found an iPhone and iPad confirming that Vuksanovic was using the alias 'Bill Montenegro' online to chat to girls all over south-east Asia.

Vuksanovic, who has terminal bowel cancer, was also denied the return of his passport so he could travel to South America to procure scorpion venom for treatment

The 68-year-old had pleaded guilty to grooming the teenage girl from the Philippines, with an investigation by Australian Federal Police (stock image) finding an iPhone and iPad that confirmed he used the alias 'Bill Montenegro' online

In court on Tuesday, Judge Felicity Davis was told the 68-year-old had initially refused chemotherapy for his cancer, choosing to self-medicate with spider venom sourced from Paraguay.

In light of his terminal illness, Judge Davis handed Vuksanovic a 12 month jail term, immediately suspended on a 12-month, $500 good behaviour bond.

However, Judge Davis held firm in her decision not to allow Vuksanovic's passport to be returned.

'If he's not well enough to go to prison, he is not well enough to travel,' she said.

'And it makes you wonder how he would get his medicine  if I can describe it that  back into Australia every time.'
Harvey Weinstein allegedly hit on Paris Hilton at a gala in France when she was just 20 years old.

The disgraced movie mogul, now 65, reportedly followed the hotel heiress, now 36, into a bathroom when they both attended the amfAR Gala in Cannes, France, in 2001, according to Page Six.

It's the latest in a string of blows for Weinstein, whom the NYPD revealed on Friday it is working to arrest over the alleged rape of 'Boardwalk Empire' star Paz de la Huerta.

Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein allegedly hit on hotel heiress Paris Hilton at the amfAR Gala in Cannes, France, in 2001 when she was just 20 years old (left and right). According to an eyewitness, a then-49-year-old Weinstein 'made a beeline' for Hilton when she arrived but she turned him down

During the cocktail hour, Hilton went to a women's bathroom and Weinstein (pictured, at the 2001 gala) allegedly followed her inside saying he 'needed to talk to her'

Both Weinstein and Hilton were guests at the gala hosted by actress Elizabeth Taylor and sponsored by Weinstein's Miramax Films at the restaurant Le Moulin de Mougins.

The theme was 'A Diamond Is Forever', and Hilton arrived in a dress with $750,000 worth of diamonds sewn onto it mirroring celebrity signatures.

According to an eyewitness, a then-49-year-old Weinstein 'made a beeline' for Hilton when she arrived.

He allegedly used his usual line: 'Come to my office. I want to make movies with you. I can make you a star' but Hilton seemed unimpressed.

The witness told Page Six he or she strongly remembers the incident because of how aggressive Weinstein was.

During the cocktail hour, Hilton went to a women's bathroom and Weinstein allegedly followed her inside.

'He was pushing the door of the stall Paris was inside, demanding she open the door, saying he "needed to talk to her",' the witness said.

The witness says Hilton didn't open the stall door and a male event worker who had seen Weinstein follow her into the bathroom alerted security.

When a security guard entered the bathroom and ordered Weinstein to leave, the producer at first refused, allegedly saying: 'I'm a friend, it's okay'.

A security guard eventually entered the bathroom and ordered Weinstein to leave and guards stood watch over Hilton (left and right) all night. Weinstein led the charity auction for AIDS research that night and even brought Hilton onstage despite the earlier incident

A terrifying expose released on Monday alleged that Weinstein (pictured, October 2017) used an 'army of spies' to dig up dirt on the actresses and journalists he feared would expose him. About 60 women have accused the produce of sexual harassment or assault

'Finally, he was muscled out, and guards stood watch over Paris all night to protect her, partly because of her very valuable diamond dress and partly to keep Harvey at bay,' the witness said.

Weinstein led the charity auction for AIDS research that night and even brought Hilton onstage despite the earlier incident.

A terrifying expose released on Monday alleged that Weinstein used an 'army of spies' to dig up dirt on the actresses and journalists he feared would expose him.

Ronan Farrow, whose previous report for The New Yorker unearthed decades of sexual abuse allegations against the powerful Hollywood producer, has revealed the frightening lengths to which Weinstein went to silence his accusers.

The Miramax producer hired Black Cube, run by former Israeli intelligence officers of Mossad, and Kroll, one of the biggest global corporate-intelligence firms, to gather details about the personal lives and sexual histories of dozens of actresses and journalists.

About 60 women have come out since the first allegations were unearthed to reveal they'd been sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein.
She is remembered as the 'happiest child you could ever imagine' by loved ones

Fundraising page to help cover costs of bringing her body home has been set up

Workers at the WA hospital battled to treat her but were unable to save her life

Summer Griffiths, 7 , has died from pneumonia mere hours after becoming sick

A bubbly, happy seven-year-old girl has tragically passed away just hours after she was struck down with pneumonia on a family holiday on Sunday.

Summer Griffiths was lethargic and running a temperature in the morning, so her parents took her to hospital - but by the afternoon an aggressive form of pneumonia had taken her young life.

Her mother Ashleigh Griffiths and stepfather now face the heartbreaking task of bringing her body home to St Kilda, Melbourne, from their holiday spot in Perth.

Summer Griffiths, 7 , died just hours she was struck down with pneumonia while on holidays

Summer has been described as 'happiest child you could ever imagine' by family and friends

Family friend Rachel Kenny said that staff at Princess Margaret Hospital battled hard to save the little girl as her condition rapidly deteriorated.

'[Ms Griffiths] said they were marvellous but it just happened so quickly and nothing could be done,' she told 9 News.

Ms Kenny said everyone who knew the 'happiest child you could ever imagine' were shocked and numb by Summer's sudden death.

'She was never upset or down. And as soon as she would get up in the morning that was it. She was this bubbly personality, bouncing off the walls,' she said.

'She was a great kid, always caring about other people as well.'

The little girl will be dearly missed by all of her friends at Windsor Primary School in Victoria

Summer was a popular first grade student at Windsor Primary School, and Ms Kenny said other mothers banded together to help the family out with food and support.

'There are going to be a lot of children coming to terms with what has happened.

'That this happy bubbly person that is always at school all of a sudden is not there anymore,' she said.

Ms Kenny also set up a fundraising page to help raise money to Summer's body home and cover funeral costs, which has already raised more than $19,050.

'I know how much this sort of thing costs and I didn't want Ashleigh and Shane, her father, to have to think about this right now,' she said of the GoFundMe page, which was raised more than $8,000 over its initial target.

Summer (centre) was on holiday in Perth with her stepfather (left) and mother Ashleigh

Summer's mother Ashleigh and stepfather must now bring her body home for burial

Ms Kenny also posted a sweet tribute to the girl on her Facebook page, saying that the death had hit she and her three children hard.

'Summer I have watched you grow into the most amazing and loving girl I know,' she wrote.

'I promise you, my sweet little angel, I will be right by your Mummy's side to help her in this hard time. I love you so much Summer. Fly high, sweet angel.'
A Manus Island refugee protest has been blamed for risking the lives of Melbourne Cup racegoers when activists drove a car onto a train line and deflated its tyres.

The Ford Laser was driven across tracks at Ascot Vale on Tuesday, causing train delays of up to an hour ahead of the main race.

A female protester was left bolted to the steering wheel in the incident, with the vehicle later removed and the 27-year-old woman arrested, police said.

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A 27-year-old woman has been arrested after risking the lives of Melbourne Cup racegoers when a graffitied car was driven onto a train line in protest of Manus Island

The Ford Laser (pictured) was driven across tracks at Ascot Vale on Tuesday, causing train delays of up to an hour ahead of the main race

'They left the vehicle in situ with the tyres down and a female protester was bolted to the steering wheel,' Superintendent Tim Hansen told reporters at Flemington.

When police arrived at the scene about 20 protesters scampered, leaving the woman in the car to be extracted by firefighters.

The Moonee Ponds woman is likely to be charged with conduct endangering life, careless driving and unlicensed driving, Supt Hansen said.

Racegoers were forced to pile out of trains and walk to the Melbourne Cup after they were brought to a halt by the graffitied car.

Passengers were warned by Metro Trains to expect delays of more than an hour as the Melbourne Cup's 3pm jump time loomed.

'We are really appalled at the situation on Manus Island and we think it's really inappropriate for people to be celebrating when there are individuals with no water and no security,' protester Sonia Arquette told AAP on Tuesday.

When police arrived at the scene about 20 protesters scampered, leaving the woman - who was bolted into the car - to be extracted by firefighters

The delays forced racegoers to get out onto the tracks and walk the rest of the way to the Melbourne Cup (pictured)

The 27-year-old Moonee Ponds woman is likely to be charged with conduct endangering life, careless driving and unlicensed driving, Superintendent Tim Hansen said

The car was spray painted with messages including: 'evacuate Manus', 'justice for refugees' and 'animal liberation - human liberation'.

The group claimed they were not aligned with any organisation.

'We don't want to be doing this but we feel we have no choice when there are 600 people starving,' Ms Arquette said.

In a separate event, two woman also climbed a crane at Flemington racecourse, unfurling a banner which read 'SOS: Evacuate Manus Now'.

'We are joining with others across Australia to demand that the government evacuate the men on Manus immediately and bring them to safety for processing,' Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance spokeswoman Charlotte Lynch said.

Hannah Patchett, 24, and Katherine Woskett, 27, scaled the crane, which is on site as part of a grandstand redevelopment, at about 11.30am.

In a separate event, two woman also climbed a crane at Flemington racecourse, unfurling a banner which read 'SOS: Evacuate Manus Now'

Hannah Patchett, 24, and Katherine Woskett, 27, scaled the crane, which is on site as part of a grandstand redevelopment, at about 11.30am

Police contacted the protest group and negotiated with them and the women agreed to climb down, but not until after the main race

Police contacted the protest group and negotiated with them and the women agreed to climb down, but not until after the main race.

The women were on the crane for almost four hours and made their way down shortly after the Melbourne Cup race.

'This was a really safe result for everyone involved and we were confident the whole way through that the qualifications and experience of those two people who climbed the crane didn't require immediate police attention,' Supt Hansen said.

Ms Patchett and Ms Woskett have previously scaled the Melbourne Arts Centre in a similar protest and say they will continue to climb buildings and bridges until Australia treats offshore asylum seekers humanely.

Police also arrested a woman for assaulting an anti-racing protester outside the ground and are searching for two other women linked to the assault

While a set of protesters reportedly stormed the track at Flemington Racecourse in attempts to block the race. and were escorted out

Police also arrested a woman for assaulting an anti-racing protester outside the ground and are searching for two other women linked to the assault.

While a set of protesters reportedly stormed the track at Flemington Racecourse in attempts to block the race.

Photos showed protesters trying to run down the straight before the Cup started, requiring several people to remove the protesters from the track.

However, overall police said they were pleased with the behaviour of racegoers.

Three people were evicted for behavioural offences and two were arrested for drunkenness, while security guards removed four other intoxicated patrons.

Photos showed protesters trying to run down the straight before the Cup started, with several people removing them

The female protesters on the crane were there for almost four hours, making their way down shortly after the Melbourne Cup race
A defiant Kabul TV station was back on the air moments after the end of an terror attack by Islamic State-linked gunmen who had stormed the broadcaster, killing at least one person and leaving two dozen wounded.

ISIS militants disguised as police officers threw hand-grenades at the gate of Shamshad TV this morning, killing a security guard before firing machine guns and taking staff hostage.

A Shamshad news presenter appeared on screen with his hands bandaged after cutting himself on glass as he fled the attackers shortly after the siege ended.

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Defiant: Shamshad TV comes back on air just moments after a terrorist attack on the station which saw at least one person and injuring more than 20 people over three hours

After about three hours of fighting Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers, who were armed with guns and grenades, and freed staff trapped inside the building.

'The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued,' Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air.

Special forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster.

At least one of the ISIS fighters was a suicide bomber who detonated explosives during the attack, local media reports.

'People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another,' Abed Ehsas, Shamshad's news director told broadcaster Tolo News TV.

Afghan security force members inspect on the roof of Shamshad TV after the terror attack which killed at least one person

Special forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster

Survivors: The Staff of Shamshad TV are being evacuated after the terorr attack on the station in Kabul on Tuesday

'After that, others got into our building and started firing.

'Some of our colleagues were hit, though, thank God, many others managed to get out. Some were wounded by gunshots, falling glass and when they jumped from high floors.'

During the attack, a special forces unit blasted a hole in the concrete wall around the compound and entered the site amid a crack of gunfire.

At least one attacker was killed during the operation, while another was killed at the compound entrance.

In a statement on its news agency Amaq, Islamic State claimed responsibility, without giving evidence.

The group, based mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, has claimed a number of attacks on civilian targets in the Afghan capital.

An Afghan security force member looks through the hole in the wall to the compound that the armed forces had to open to gain access

Moving in: Afghan security personnel arrive at the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul on Tuesday morning

Terror: A video filmed from outside the building shows Afghan security forces swarming around the building where armed gunmen are holding journalists hostage

Staff at Shamshad TV, who remain inside the building, report that between two and five people appear to have been killed by the attackers

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said casualties were feared but he said the number was still unclear.

'I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing,' Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Violence against Afghan journalists surged in the first half of 2017, a media watchdog said in July.

Fighting back: Afghan security officials take positions near the scene of the attack

Casualties: There have been no immediate confirmation on the number of casualties

Attackers: At least three men are said to have been involved in storming the building on Tuesday morning, and up to five people may be dead inside

Last year the country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists, according to AJSC, with at least 13 media workers killed - 10 by the Taliban. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for 'spreading propaganda' against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001, and spotlighted the dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called 'Green Zone', killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel located close to the bombing site. In an act of defiance, the news channel managed to resume operations within a few hours.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing.

But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people, showing that militants can still hit the heart of the city despite tighter security.
Jeanette Allen, 39, pictured, was found dead on her sofa after taking cocaine on a night out which triggered underlying heart problems

A primary school teaching assistant died of a heart attack aged just 39 after she took cocaine during a night out, an inquest heard.

Jeanette Allen had been at a friend's 40th birthday party but decided to stay out late while her partner went home.

She was found dead on her sofa the following morning with tests showing the drugs and alcohol had triggered underlying heart problems.

The inquest was told Miss Allen, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, had been described a 'bit of a party girl' in her younger days but had cut down on nights out recently.

She became a member of support staff at Shawclough Primary School where colleagues described her as 'well loved.'

Her partner Robert Christian told the inquest Miss Allen was 'the woman of his dreams' and said they had been together for 19 years.

Mr Christian said: 'She would do anything for me, we did everything together. Her death has left me with a big hole.

'I wasn't aware that she was taking cocaine, years ago she was a bit of a party girl out a lot of the time but it got less over the years.

'Her diabetes had been a problem in the years before her death, it wasn't really controlled but it had got a lot better.

'The ambulance did have to be called out a few times because of her diabetes but she got it more or less under control in the last few years.

'She has been going to the doctors for her stomach pain but that wasn't resolved before her death.

'We has gone out together at about 6pm for a mates 40th and we were drinking all night.

'She originally said she wasn't sure she wanted to go and I said I'd make her something to eat and she'd feel better.

Miss Allen was a teacher at Shawclough Primary School, pictured, in Rochdale

'The last time I saw and spoke to her was around 3am, she wanted to go to town and I didn't so I left town on my own and headed home.

'We didn't go to Rochdale that often and I didn't hear her come in after me.

'I woke up at about 12.50pm on the Sunday and I found her on the couch. I called the ambulance and the paramedics came but I knew that she was gone. I miss her like crazy. She had so much that she was going to do.'

Miss Allen's sister in law Claire Whitehead said: 'She could turn her hand to anything and she was hardworking. I was aware of her taking cocaine but that was years ago.

'She was quite a private person, we talked every day and on Fridays we would meet up.

'I knew she had been having stomach tests but we didn't get the results back before she died.

'I think the doctors thought that the stomach problems were something to do with her diabetes.

'I'm shocked to hear that she had been taking cocaine. She only really drank when we all went out socialising.

Dr Sami Titi told the inquest that Ms Allen had 90 per cent narrowing of her arteries in parts of the body, which put a strain on her heart.

Miss Allen was described as a 'hard-working' teacher who could 'turn her hand to anything'

He added: 'Her diabetes did have an impact. She had an acute heart attack. As she had been drinking and taking cocaine that also would have put pressure on her heart.

'The cocaine sped the process of the heart attack up. It is a risk of taking cocaine that you can have a sudden heart attack.'

Ms Allen's GP records shows that she had been seen regularly in the year before her death on May 28 this year, for low blood sugar and complications with her diabetes.

She has also been diagnosed with kidney disease, and had been prescribed with anti depression medication to combat anxiety and feeling low.

Recording a narrative conclusion, coroner Lisa Hashmi said: 'Unfortunately you cannot ignore the impact of the drugs in this case.

'The use of cocaine took a toll on her body. I have heard the consequences of cocaine use and alcohol mixed with a heart condition which can result in a sudden death.

'Jeanette's cause of death was natural however the use of the cocaine and the effect cannot be ignored.

'Her death was natural on which her consumption of cocaine and alcohol more than minimally contributed.'

At the time of Miss Allen's death, Julia Sandiford-Mitchell, headmistress at Shawclough Primary, said: 'We have all been saddened by this event. We have spoken with her family and offered our heartfelt sympathy, as well as any support and help we are able to give.'
The Prime Minister (pictured last night) is fighting to get the Cabinet back on track today after a slew of controversies

Theresa May is fighting to control a slew of controversies threatening to engulf at least four senior members of her Cabinet.

The Prime Minister is attempting to get her top team back on track after the government was buffeted by the Westminster sex abuse scandal, blunders by senior figures, and resistance to Brexit.

But despite the array of problems, Cabinet will not hold its usual meeting this morning - with Downing Street saying the regular discussions have been ditched because the Commons goes into recess this evening.

Mrs May has already lost Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon over allegations of inappropriate conduct. Former chief whip Gavin Williamson is attending his first Cabinet as his replacement this morning - but Mrs May's decision to promote her close ally to the key position has caused fury among Tory MPs.

Meanwhile, Mrs May's trusted deputy, Damian Green, is facing a moment of truth in his own sleaze row. The Cabinet Office has been investigating disputed allegations he made a clumsy pass at a Conservative activist, and sent her a flirty text message. He has furiously denied separate claims that police found 'extreme' - but legal - porn on his office computer in 2008.

The Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom has also been under pressure over claims she failed to act on concerns about the sexual culture at Westminster, which were raised with the Commons authorities by an alleged rape victim over the summer.

The government has now found itself fighting on more flanks with calls for both Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Aid Secretary Priti Patel to resign.

It emerged that comments Mr Johnson made about a British mother in jail in Tehran could add five years to her sentence.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Iran last year after travelling to the country to take her young daughter Gabriella to visit her parents.

But Iranian police arrested her claiming she was a spy plotting to overthrow the government - which she denies - and was jailed for five years.

Last week Boris Johnson told Parliament Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not 'teaching' journalism when she was arrested in 2016 and she was dragged back to court on a 'propaganda against the regime' charge which could add five more years to her jail term.

Mrs May has already lost Sir Michael Fallon (pictured front row, third from left) from her Cabinet and four other members are facing separate rows

Boris Johnson, pictured entering Downing Street yesterday, will call Iran today to prevent a Briton having her jail term extended after he commented on her case

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years in Iran for spying but insists she is innocent and only in the country to visit her parents with her young daughter (file pic)

Her husband Richard Ratcliffe told MailOnline Mr Johnson's incorrect comment has given the Iranians a chance to 'smear' his wife and hit her with fresh charges, adding the minister's intervention left her 'sobbing down the phone'.

The Foreign Office said last night that Mr Johnson's comment was 'misrepresented' in Iran but did not offer an apology or full retraction.

Mr Johnson is due to phone his Iranian counterpart later to try to clarify the position and press for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release.

Separately, Mrs Patel issued a grovelling apology last night after admitting she held secret talks with the Israeli PM while on a 'family holiday'.

International Development secretary Priti Patel met Israeli officials during a 'private' holiday

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was in London last week for talks with Mrs May and to mark a century a century since the Balfour Declaration

The International Development Secretary blamed her 'enthusiasm to engage' for her failure to tell Mrs May or the Foreign Office about a dozen high-level encounters, including with Benjamin Netanyahu.

As well as saying sorry for the extraordinary breach of protocol, Mrs Patel was also forced to make an humiliating 'clarification' of remarks last week in which she appeared to deny there were any more meetings to disclose.

Despite Labour calling for her to quit and some senior Tories saying she would be 'toast' under normal circumstances,Mrs May appears to to have let her off with a public rebuke, saying Mrs May had pulled her into No10 and 'reminded her of the obligations' under the ministerial code.

Bizarrely, the PM's spokesman then tried to explain the refusal to sack Mrs Patel by saying the code did not explicitly ban unauthorised meetings with world leader.

One Conservative MP told MailOnline it showed that Mrs May's authority among her top team was 'completely shot'.

The Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom has also been under pressure over claims she failed to act on concerns about the sexual culture at Westminster

MPs are demand ministers release around 40 'impact assessments' of leaving the EU.

Speaker John Bercow has said the government must release the potentially explosive documents by the end of today, but Brexit Secretary David Davis claims the assessments have not actually been written yet.

There are fears that Philip Hammond's Budget package could cause a crisis as he tries to balance the books while the economy slows.

The Tories' disastrous election result means only small numbers of rebels are needed against proposed tax changes or spending measures to inflict a highly damaging defeat.

Relations between Mrs May and Mr Hammond are thought to have been frosty, and the PM had been expected to eject him from No11 if she had won an overall majority in June.
The former US serviceman who shot 26 worshipers to death during Sunday prayers in Texas stormed into the church dressed as the Grim Reaper, wearing a black bulletproof vest and skull mask, officials said.

Devin Patrick Kelley's rampage at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs reportedly came after a dispute with his in-laws, who often attend services but weren't there the day of the shooting.

The gunman walked up and down the church aisles shooting people on the ground in between the pews, according to an account given to CNN by David Brown, the son of one of the wounded survivors, 73-year-old Farida Brown, who was shot in both legs.

Devin Patrick Kelley (pictured left and right) walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in full combat gear, and began shooting Sunday

People listen to speakers during a prayer service held to remember the 26 victims killed at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Monday, a day after Kelley went on a rampage in the church

A group of people pray in a field during a vigil with the twenty six crosses in the background representing the twenty six victims while investigators work at the scene of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas

A woman and two young girls attend a vigil for the 26 victims of Sunday's shooting in Sunderland Springs, Texas

Brown said his mother told him the first shots came through the windows, then the assailant walked through the front door and started shooting, opening fire even at those diving on the floor for cover or attempting to flee.

Farida Brown was in the last pew, beside a woman who was shot multiple times, her son told CNN.

'She was pretty certain she was next, and her life was about to end. Then somebody with a gun showed up at the front of the church, caught the shooters attention. He left and that was the end of the ordeal,' David Brown said.

The attack, which killed 26 and injured 20, came about a month after a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting by a lone assailant in modern US history.

Kelley was found dead in his car after fleeing the scene and being chased by witnesses. Investigators believe he died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

It appeared family problems may have been a factor in Sunday's bloodshed.

Kelley was involved in a domestic dispute with the family of Danielle Shields, a woman he married in 2014, and the situation had flared up, according to officials and public records.

'There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws,' Martin told reporters outside the church on Monday. 'The mother-in-law attended the church ... she had received threatening text messages from him.'

Kelley, (pictured in his yearbook photo, left and right, as a teenager) 26, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, fled in his SUV but crashed near county lines

Following teh shooting, law enforcement officers tracked down Kelley, who went off the road and crashed near county lines. Pictured is the suspect's car which was found with multiple weapons inside it

Kelley didn't waste much time after being released from military prison. In April 2014, then-23-year-old Kelley remarried to 19-year-old Danielle Lee Shields records back in Texas show.

The Pentagon separately disclosed that it had failed to furnish information about the gunman's criminal record from his U.S. Air Force service to a national database that should have prevented him from legally purchasing the firearms he bought.

Kelley spent a year in detention before his bad-conduct discharge in 2014 following the assault on his first wife and stepson, according to the Pentagon.

The Air Force acknowledged on Monday that Kelley's 2012 conviction on two counts of domestic violence were never entered into the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) system, a U.S. government data bank used by licensed gun dealers for conducting background checks on firearms purchasers.

Federal law forbids anyone from selling or giving a gun to someone convicted of a crime involving domestic violence.

A sporting goods retail chain has said Kelley passed background checks when he bought a gun in 2016 and a second firearm the following year.

Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's San Antonio division, said there was nothing in the NCIC or two related databases that would have barred Kelley from legally buying any of three weapons police recovered from their investigation of the slayings.

In rural Texas and in other states, gun ownership is a part of life, and Republican leaders for years have balked at gun control measures, arguing that responsible gun owners can help deter crime.

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS News there was evidence that Kelley had mental health problems and had been denied a state gun permit.

Kelley, who was reportedly married, had recently posted a photo of an AR-15 style gun on his Facebook page with the caption: 'She's a bad b***h'

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the family members were not in the church during Kelley's attack.

According to military officials and authorities in three states, the 26-year-old Kelley had a history of threatening loved ones with violence.

Public records detail Kelley's history of physical abuse - including arrests for animal cruelty and domestic violence.

The domestic violence arrest stems from his previous marriage to Tessa K. Kelley, who he married in Texas in April 2011, while serving as a low-ranking airman in the Air Force.

The two were living in New Mexico the following year when Kelley was court-martialed for abusing both his wife and his infant stepson.

'He assaulted his stepson severely enough that he fractured his skull, and he also assaulted his wife,' Don Christensen, a retired colonel who was the chief prosecutor for the Air Force, told the New York Times. 'He pled to intentionally doing it.'

In November 2012, a month after his wife filed for divorce, Kelley was sentenced to 12 months confinement and a reduction to the lowest rank.

Two years later, after serving his time, he was discharged from the Air Force for bad conduct - a dismissal that usually precludes ex-servicemen from buying firearms.

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs (pictured), where around 50 people usually attend service, according to local reports

The sun sets behind 26 crosses placed in a field before a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting Monday in Sutherland Springs, Texas

'It's clear this is a person who had violent tendencies, who had some challenges,' Abbott said.

Abbott and other Republican politicians said the mass shooting did not influence their support of gun ownership by U.S. citizens - the right to bear arms protected under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter that he will travel to Sutherland Springs on Wednesday to meet with victims' families and law enforcement.

'This isn't a guns situation. I mean we could go into it but it's a little bit soon,' U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters while on a trip to Asia. 'Fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise ... it would have been much worse.'

Democrats renewed their call to restrict gun ownership.

'How many more people must die at churches or concerts or schools before we stop letting the @NRA control this country's gun policies,' Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter, referring to the powerful gun lobby the National Rifle Association.

The attack stunned Sutherland Springs, a community of about 400 people with just one blinking yellow traffic light.

One family, the Holcombe, lost eight people from three generations in the attack, including Bryan Holcombe, an assistant pastor who was leading the service, a relative said.

John Stiles, a 76-year-old retired US Navy veteran, said he heard the shots from his home about 150 yards (137 m) away: 'My wife and I were looking for a peaceful and quiet place when we moved here but now that hasn't worked out.'
The aftermath of the stunning resignation of Lebanon's Prime Minister has sparked speculation he was forced to quit by Saudi Arabia in order to wreck his ties with Iran.

Saad Hariri declared his surprise resignation on Saturday from Riyadh which fuelled beliefs he was coerced into standing down against his will.

Stunned Lebanese are convinced Saudi Arabia, Hariri's longtime ally, forced out to effectively wreck the prime minister's delicate compromise government with Saudi nemesis - and Iran ally - the Hezbollah militant group.

His resignation has thrust Lebanon back onto the front line of the Middle East's most biting rivalry, pitting a mostly Sunni bloc led by Saudi Arabia and including the UAE against Shiite Iran and its allies.

Saad Hariri declared his surprise resignation on Saturday from Riyadh which fuelled beliefs he was coerced into standing down against his will. Here he is pictured yesterday with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri (left) is pictured meeting with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the Al-Shati palace in Abu Dhabi today

Hariri made the surprise announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned TV station.

Last week, Saudi Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan predicted on Lebanon's MTV station that 'astonishing developments' were coming for Lebanon.

After Hariri's resignation, rumours spread in Lebanon that he was under house arrest in Saudi Arabia - especially after news broke over the weekend of arrests in the kingdom of dozens of Saudi princes, ministers and influential businessmen in a sweep purportedly over corruption.

Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, on Sunday accused Saudi Arabia of drafting Hariri's resignation letter and forcing him to read it on Saudi TV.

He even asked whether Hariri was being held against his will.

The daily Al-Akhbar, a harsh critic of Saudi Arabia's policies, ran a full-page photo of Hariri on its front page with the words: 'The hostage.'

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud shakes hands with former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri during their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday

Speculation continued to swirl despite the official Saudi Press Agency carrying photos Monday showing Hariri meeting with Saudi King Salman.

Hariri tweeted that he was 'honored to visit' the king in his office - and some of his supporters tweeted back, telling him to take a selfie raising his left hand as a signal that he's OK.

Hariri, a dual Saudi-Lebanese citizen, has been facing financial difficulties recently as his business in Saudi Arabia suffers. Earlier this year he closed his family's Oger construction firm that had made billions of dollars since his late father founded it in the 1970s.

Some experts on Lebanese politics are convinced Riyadh was behind the resignation.

Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut, said Hariri made 'many concessions' to his political rivals in order to become prime minister and would not have given up the position had it not been for Saudi pressure.

Joseph Bahout, a visiting scholar in Carnegie's Middle East Program, warned just last month that Saudi Arabia was seeking ways to compensate for the loss of Syria as a place where it could defy and bleed Iran.

'A renewed desire to reverse their regional fortunes could lead them to try regaining a foothold in Lebanon,' he wrote.

Saudi Arabia has denied any meddling.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, on October 24, 2017

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who has resigned from his post, and his late father, Rafik al-Hariri, are seen on a poster in the mainly Sunni Beirut neighbourhood of Tariq al-Jadideh

The resignation throws Lebanon into potential turmoil, forcing the small nation to become a new front in the regional fight for supremacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

And this at a time when Iran and its allies are seen to have won the proxy war against Saudi-backed Sunni fighters in Syria.

Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been intensifying its confrontation with Shiite powerhouse Iran.

The two camps support rival sides in countries across the region, worsening conflicts in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

Lebanon has been on the verge of blowing up into full scale violence, and only compromise by Lebanese parties has stopped it doing so in a country still haunted by memories from its own 1975-1990 civil war.

The Saudi royal family arrests: Those detained in the anti-corruption purge include Prince Miteb, Prince Turki and Prince Alwaleed (circled in red)

Shiite Hezbollah dominates Lebanon, but it has sought not to provoke the Sunni community, which in turn has avoided crossing the guerrilla force.

The fear among some Lebanese now is that Saudi Arabia will upset that balance, trying to compensate for its losses in proxy wars elsewhere.

In Syria, Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed fighters allied with President Bashar Assad's forces have recaptured large areas and are working to secure a much-prized land corridor stretching from Tehran to the Mediterranean through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

By contrast, Saudi Arabia has been stuck in a fruitless war in Yemen against Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, and a Saudi bid to isolate Qatar has failed to achieve its goals.

Saudi fingerprints were seen all over Hariri's resignation on Saturday.

Unexpectedly, Hariri appeared on Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV in a recorded video from an undisclosed location, haltingly delivering a statement in which he accused Iran of meddling in Arab affairs and the Iran-backed Hezbollah of holding Lebanon hostage.

'Iran's arms in the region will be cut off,' he said, adding that he felt compelled to resign and that his life was endangered.

Saudi Arabia and Iran's cold war: How it's fought with proxies seeded across the Middle East The Islamic State's dream of a Middle East caliphate may be over, but Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite powerhouse Iran continue to worsen conflicts across the region as they battle to reign supreme. Here MailOnline looks at some of the key countries where their hands are wreaking havoc because of different political and religious opinions LEBANON The resignation of Lebanon's Saudi-backed Prime Minister Saad Hariri has thrust Lebanon back onto the front line of the Middle East's most biting rivalry, pitting a mostly Sunni bloc led by Saudi Arabia and including the UAE against Shiite Iran and its allies. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim leader, had faced the seemingly impossible task of presiding over a government under the control of Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Shiite militant party is accused of killing his father, Rafik, in 2005 and in his resignation speech on Saturday he suggested he now fears for his own life. Hezbollah supporters carry a poster of Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah during a Hezbollah 'victory over Israel' rally, in Beirut's suburbs, Friday, 22 September 2006 But he was known to tow the Saudi line and his shock resignation suggests Saudi Arabia may have a new plan of action for the country. The kingdom had long backed the Sunnis in Lebanon's multi-sectarian political system - and during the civil war - but on Monday it accused the tiny Arab country of declaring war against it because of aggression by Hezbollah. The statement comes as the civil war in neighbouring Syria, where Hezbollah had been ensuring President Bashar Assad's regime was not toppled by a pro-democracy movement, winds down. Joseph Bahout, a visiting scholar in Carnegie's Middle East Program, warned just last month that Saudi Arabia was seeking ways to compensate for the loss of Syria as a place where it could defy and bleed Iran. 'A renewed desire to reverse their regional fortunes could lead them to try regaining a foothold in Lebanon,' he wrote. Hezbollah is returning its energy to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia only wants a leader in the country if it can withstand Hezbollah's pressure. It's believed they did not see Hariri as the man for that job. SYRIA In Syria the civil war is not completely over but Iran and its allies are seen to have won the proxy war against Saudi-backed rebels. Hezbollah and other fighters allied with Assad's forces have recaptured large areas and are working to secure a much-prized land corridor stretching from Tehran to the Mediterranean through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Pro-government demonstrators hold posters depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and placards, during a rally in Damascus, in 2012 A Syrian man carries a baby after removing him from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike in the then rebel-held part of Aleppo in 2016 By contrast, Saudi Arabia has been stuck in a fruitless war in Yemen against Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, and a Saudi bid to isolate Qatar has failed to achieve its goals. YEMEN Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, and his son Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), have this week made clear their intention to continue to fight against Iran in Yemen. Riyadh and Tehran have been trading fierce accusations over their involvement in the country, where they back opposing sides. In the latest flare-up Saudi Arabia said an intercepted missile attack on the country, allegedly by Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, 'may amount to an act of war'. People walk at the site of an air strike in the northwestern city of Saada, Yemen, on November 1 MBS said on Tuesday that Iran's decision to supply rockets to militias in Yemen constitutes a 'direct military aggression' against the kingdom. Tehran in turn accused Riyadh of committing war crimes in Yemen, raising tensions further. And Hezbollah and the Houthis, as Yemen's Shiite rebels are known, have denied any role by the Lebanese group in the war in the Arabian Peninsula country. ISRAEL The resignation of Lebanon's Hariri also has significant implications for Israel, Daniel Shapiro, President Obama's Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, said in a column for Haaretz newspaper this week. 'It is plausible that the Saudis are trying to create the context for a different means of contesting Iran in Lebanon: an Israeli-Hezbollah war,' he wrote. Shapiro suggests Saudi may have pulled Hariri out of his office to leave Hezbollah 'with the blame and responsibility for... caring for Syrian refugees to mopping up Al Qaeda and ISIS affiliates'. British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a meeting in 10 Downing St, London, Thursday, November 2 This could lead Hezbollah to confront Israel as means of securing support from its people in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and Israel have become unlikely allies. Their common ground? Stopping nuclear Iran reigning supreme in the region. For Israel, partnering with Saudi-Arabia to quash Hezbollah would be considered key to helping them deal with an old enemy. QATAR Saudi Arabia's bid to isolate Qatar appears to have been fruitless. Instead of bringing the world's wealthiest nation back into its folds by forcing it into a diplomatic corner, Doha has forcefully rejected all Saudi demands. Most importantly, Qatar has refused to curtail relations with Iran, with whom it shares the world's largest reservoir of natural gas. Iran and Turkey have helped Qatar survive amid Saudi and its Gulf allies suffocating sanctions and thus Tehran has scored another goal in the cold war dominating the political landscape in the Middle East. NEW PROXY WARS ON THE HORIZON? With all the above perceived losses against Iran that Saudi Arabia has felt in Syria and Qatar, it is no wonder that Riyadh's patience over Hezbollah is running thin and Lebanon is in its sights. Advertisement

The resignation came exactly a year after Hariri formed a coalition government that included Hezbollah, shortly after Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian and Hezbollah ally, was elected president.

That arrangement was the product of a rare understanding between Saudi Arabia and Iran for calm in Lebanon, ending a two-year period during which the presidency was vacant.

Saudi officials have vowed to crush Hezbollah and recently have been inciting Lebanese to rise against the Shiite militant group, asserting they should openly say whether they are with or against it. Saudi Arabia, which considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization, says the group should not be part of a future Lebanese government.

For its part, the Hezbollah leader has been one of the kingdom's harshest critics and it is not uncommon for Hezbollah supporters to chant 'Death to Al Saud' in their rallies - a reference to the Saudi royal family.

At the very least, Hariri's resignation could mean another long period without a government for Lebanon, at a time when its economy is struggling under a ballooning public debt that has reached more than $75 billion - 140 percent of its gross domestic product, a debt-to-GDP ratio that is among the highest in the world.

According to Lebanon's power-sharing deal, the president should be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite.

But given Hariri's wide support among Sunnis, it may be difficult for any Sunni politician to assume the post of prime minister without alienating the Sunni community.

And it will be impossible to form a Cabinet without Hezbollah, since the militant group and its allies enjoy wide support among both Shiites and Christians.

Today it was revealed Hariri travelled to the UAE a day after Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon of declaring war against it because of aggression by Iran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Hariri left Riyadh early on Tuesday for Abu Dhabi to meet the United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Hariri-owned Future TV and Saudi-owned al-Arabiya reported.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that Iran's decision to supply rockets to militias in Yemen constitutes a 'direct military aggression' against the kingdom.

A rocket fired from Yemen intercepted on the outskirts of Riyadh hours after Hariri's resignation on Saturday.

On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told CNN the rocket 'was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah'.
A father has become a cult hero after he posted a furious message calling out his friends for not inviting his autistic son to birthday parties.

Shane Stephenson revealed how his six-year-old son Reilly had not attended any events, and blamed mates for not understanding the schoolboy's condition.

His angry message, in which Shane states 'Reilly has autism, not f***ing leprosy', has gone viral on Twitter after it was shared by his wife Christine.

Shane Stephenson revealed how his six-year-old son Reilly had not attended any events, and blamed mates for not understanding the schoolboy's condition

Christine's post - which she tagged 'my husband's message to his mates breaks my heart' - has already received well over 5,000 likes and 2,000 retweets

WHAT IS AUTISM? Autism refers to a range of related developmental disorders that start in childhood and affect the person for their whole life. Symptoms can be split into three broad groups: 1) Problems with social interaction 2) Impaired language and communication skills 3) Unusual patterns of thought and behaviour People with autism may also be over or under-sensitive to sounds, touch, taste, smells, light or colour. Symptoms can range from mild to severe but all can cause anxiety. While some people with autism can live relatively independent lives, others may need a lifetime of specialist support. There is no cure but there are a number of treatments to help autistic people better cope with the world around them. Around one in 100 children in the UK have autism spectrum disorder. It is three times more common among boys than girls. For more information visit: www.autism.org.uk Advertisement

The mother's post - which she tagged 'my husband's message to his mates breaks my heart' - has already received well over 5,000 likes and 2,000 retweets.

It read: 'Right this has been brewing for some time so here it goes and you can like it or f***ing well lump it.

'My son Reilly has autism not f***ing leprosy; he is 6 years old and my so-called friends who have kids also have kids parties.

'Not ONE invite not f***ing one. Think about that whilst you go and f*** yourselves; you have any idea how hurtful that is?

'Just for the record in future don't bother he's not an after thought he's my every f***ing thought.'

The post has since become an online hit after it was shared by hundreds of other parents of autistic children who revealed similar struggles.

Mrs Stephenson, from Newcastle, told the Huffington Post: 'Our friends aren't horrible people, I know they feel our struggles.

'They are mortified that Shane feels this way.'

She said: 'There's some building bridges to be done now that Shane has spoken about how he truly feels and I think only positivity can come from his outburst.

'The simple advice I give is: Just ask.'

Mrs Stephenson, who lives in Newcastle, is pictured with her six-year-old son Reilly
Meryl Streep has said a 1979 article in which she claimed Dustin Hoffman groped her breast is inaccurate.

The Time magazine article quoted the 68-year-old actress recalling her first meeting with Hoffman, 80, when she auditioned for a play he directed years earlier.

'He came up to me and said, "I'm DustinburpHoffman," and he put his hand on my breast,' Streep said. '"What an obnoxious pig", I thought.'

Meryl Streep has said a 1979 article in which she claimed Dustin Hoffman (pictured) groped her breast is inaccurate

The Time magazine article quoted the 68-year-old actress (pictured) recalling her first meeting with Hoffman, 80, when she auditioned for a play he directed years earlier

But when E!News contacted her about the account on Monday, her rep said the article was not an 'accurate rendering of that meeting.'

Streep's rep added: 'There was an offense and it is something for which Dustin apologized. And Meryl accepted that.'

Hoffman never publicly responded to the article.

In his 2016 biography of Streep, author Michael Schulman wrote about more interactions between Streep and Hoffman.

He wrote that Hoffman slapped her in the face and taunted her about her boyfriend John Cazale who died of cancer to draw a reaction during an emotional scene for Kramer vs Kramer.

Kramer vs Kramer: Hoffman and Streep starred in the courtroom drama about the custody of a child

On set: Hoffman and Streep on Kramer vs Kramer, a few years after they first met

Hoffman has been accused of slapping Streep in the face and taunting her about her boyfriend John Cazale who died of cancer on set of Kramer Vs Kramer (pictured)

DailyMail.com has contacted reps of Streep and Hoffman for comment.

It comes after Hoffman apologized to an author who claimed he sexually harassed her and pawed at her rear when she was 17-years-old while on the set of the 1985 TV film Death of a Salesman.

Anna Graham Hunter kept a journal of her time working with the film's various stars as a production assistant. She detailed her interactions over the five weeks she worked alongside Hoffman, which she says became inappropriate when he first asked her for a foot rub- she admits to acquiescing.

Anna Graham Hunter (left) claims she was sexually harassed by Dustin Hoffman when she was 17-years-old while working with him on the set of Death of a Salesman (1985)

Hunter, who tells her story as a contributing columnist for the Hollywood Reporter, says at first she loved the attention from the actor, until things took a darker turn.

'He was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my a**, he talked about sex to me and in front of me. One morning I went to his dressing room to take his breakfast order; he looked at me and grinned, taking his time,' she said.

'Then he said, ''I'll have a hard-boiled egg  and a soft-boiled clitoris.'' His entourage burst out laughing. I left, speechless. Then I went to the bathroom and cried.'

Upon being contacted for the story by the Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman responded: 'I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.'
The government has recovered $40 million from people dobbing in bludgers

Locals complain that Centrelink cheats are giving the local area a 'bad name'

There are reportedly 17,000 people receiving Newstart allowance in the area

Australian Federal Police are targeting the Gold Coast as a welfare cheat haven

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are chasing 'beach bum bludgers' who have settled into a welfare-funded life on the Gold Coast at the expense of the taxpayer.

After an analysis of data regarding welfare cheats and fraud, the AFP have discovered that the Gold Coast currently has 17,000 people receiving Newstart allowance.

Locals have agreed with Human Services Minister Alan Tudge that its time the law was brought down on the welfare cheats.

The AFP have discovered that the Gold Coast currently has 17,000 people receiving Newstart

The government are targeting welfare cheats and Centrelink frauds living on the Gold Coast

Two local Centrelink offices now double as bases for AFP officers who are receiving tip offs

A former dole bludger known only as Adam told Channel 9 that he moved to the Gold Coast after high school 'for the lifestyle'.

But he has since changed his ways, revealing that he now has 'no time' for those rorting the system.

'Obviously it is a big deal, a lot of money getting wasted and lost,' the 42-year-old said.'It's not fair to the taxpayer who's actually doing the work.'

Another man on Newstart, 21-year-old Casey, agreed that the Gold Coast was the best place to live for part-time workers.

As a part-time construction labourer, he travels when employment is available and lives out of his van the rest of the time.

'When I need to work I go up to Brisbane or whatever,' he said. 'I've got the freedom, I've got the balance as well.'

Adam, 42, said, that he now has 'no time' for those rorting the system and 'wasting' money

Newstart recipient and part-time larbourer Casey, 21, said that he lives in his van on the coast

Business owners in the area, however, complain that dole bludgers were starting to give the local suburbs a 'bad name'.

'It is nice on the Gold Coast, so go out and get a job,' one woman said, while another admitted she'd like to 'wring the necks' of Centrelink cheats.

'Just to become a beach bum and be a bludger, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth,' one man said.

Business owners in the area complained that dole bludgers are giving the suburbs a 'bad name'

One woman (left) told people to 'go get a job' while another (left) wants to 'wring their necks'

Two local Centrelink offices now double as bases for AFP officers, who are receiving tip-offs in 'record numbers'.

The number of annual welfare tip-offs was 99,000 just a few years ago, but has now jumped to 108,000, Channel 9 confirmed.

Despite neighbours dobbing in record numbers of welfare cheats, the Australian government has so far only prosecuted 118 people for welfare offenses but have been able to recover $40 million.

Thanks to neighbours 'dobbing' in welfare cheats, the government has recovered $40 million
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President Donald Trump escalated his threats to Kim Jong-Un as he held a press conference on the dictator's doorstep Tuesday - saying he was not afraid of 'using the full range' of his nation's 'unmatched military capabilities.'

But he also held out an olive branch to the North Korean leader, saying he had seen a 'lot of progress' in dealing with the country.

'It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world,' Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in.

'I do see certain movement.'

He added that North Korea's nuclear ambitions ought to have been curbed 25 years ago. 'This is not the right time to be doing it, but that's what I got. That's what I got,' Trump lamented.

Both presidents said they are hopeful that worldwide sanctions will bring North Korea to the table.

'We have many things happening that we hope, we hope, in fact I'll go a step further, we hope to God we never have to use,' Trump said of a United States military build-up along the Korean Peninsula.

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President Donald Trump lamented Tuesday in South Korea that he has had to spend any time at all on the rogue regime to the nation's north in the first year of his presidency

'We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built, and we have built it very much together,' Trump said during a joint press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in

The press conference drew harsh words from Trump for Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator whose nuclear missile ambitions have become a global headache

South Korean President Moon Jae-in was elected on a platform of re-engaging with North Korea and has repeatedly cautioned against the use of military force

Trump assured Moon that America 'stands prepared to defend itself and it its allies using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities', though hoped the situation would not come to that

NKim Jong-un's regime is racing to complete a nuclear missile that can reach the United States, prompting Trump to leave all military options on the table

Trump said North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has to be aware of the United States' 'unparalleled strength,' reminding him that three US aircraft carriers and a nuclear submarine would soon be in his backyard.

'As we work together to resolve this problem using all available tools short of military action, the United States stands prepared to defend itself and it its allies using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities, if need be,' Trump threatened.

The U.S. Navy said Tuesday that aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers and submarines were on their way to the Pacific for a drill. No reason was provided for the command, CNN reported, although it was an evident show of force just as the president was visiting.

Trump said Tuesday during the Seoul press conference that North Korea 'is a grave nuclear threat to South Korea and indeed the entire world.'

'We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built, and we have built it very much together,' Trump said. 'We will together confront North Korea's actions and prevent the North Korean dictator from threatening millions of innocent lives.'

'He is indeed threatening millions and millions of lives so needlessly,' the U.S. president added in a castigation of Kim.

Trump said all nations must cut off North Korea's cash flow by imposing and enforcing international sanctions on Kim and his government.

'It's time to act with urgency and with great determination,' Trump said.

Trump said in Tuesday remarks from Seoul that North Korea 'is a grave nuclear threat to South Korea and indeed the entire world'

After holding the press conference, Trump and Moon shared a toast during a state dinner at the presidential Blue House

U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea Tuesday

President Trump and Moon Jae-in were joined by wives Melania and Kim Jung-sook, before the First Ladies went to tour the presidential palace and speak with school children

Trump's 11-day tour of Asia takes him to five countries

Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In pose prior to their meeting at presidential Blue House in Seoul

South Koreans demonstrating against their northern neighbors welcome President Trump to Seoul on Tuesday

The President's motorcade had bypassed crowds of well-wishers after he arrived in Seoul on Tuesday

Earlier in the day President Trump and Moon had taken a 'friendship walk' through the grounds of the presidential Blue House

Children greeted the two presidents as they took their walk, before Melania Trump arrived to speak with them later in the day

Trump and Moon also shook hands ahead of a round of bilateral talks after making their way inside the Blue House

Moon told reporters that he 'strongly urges North Korea to halt its nuclear and missile provocation, and to come to a dialogue table for de-nuclearization as soon as possible.'

He said his strategy, and Trump's is 'to maximize pressure and sanctions on North Korea until it gives up nuclear weapons and to come to the table for dialogue on its own.'

Earlier Tuesday, in South Korea, Trump said he was optimistic about his chances to stop North Korea from deploying a nuclear missile capable of reaching America's allies.

'I think we're going to have lots of good answers for you over a period of time, and ultimately it will all work out,' Trump said before a military operational briefing at Camp Humphreys, near Seoul.

'It always works out. It has to work out!'

North Koran dictator Kim Jong-un hasn't carried out a ballistic missile test since September, but there are real concerns at the Pentagon that he might conduct a test launch while Trump is nearby.

His previous tests have flown in the direction of Guam, a U.S. island territory, and directly over Japan.

Trump's appearance Tuesday afternoon in South Korea marked his arrival in the second of five nations on his expansive Asian itinerary.

Air Force One landed at the Osan Air Base shortly after noon, greeted by a 21-cannon salute and a full honor guard.

Trump receives a briefing from U.S. and South Korean military commanders at the U.S. Eighth Army Operation Command Center

'Ultimately it will all work out,' President Trump said Tuesday of the nuclear standoff brewing with North Korea; 'It always works out. It has to work out!'

The president shook hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, kissed first lady Melania goodbye and boarded a military helicopter with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The pair then had a short hop to Camp Humphreys, the nearby U.S. Army garrison.

Trump saluted and greeted both American and South Korean military officers and senior enlisted personnel before boarding an armored limousine for a short ride across the tarmac to a waiting lunch.

'I had a choice of having a beautiful, very fancy lunch, and I said 'No, I want to eat with the troops.' And we ate with the troops,' Trump said proudly.

'And it was good eating. It was good eating. And I tell you, they've done a terrific job. Very impressive.'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined him at the mess-hall lunch. 'Hello everybody!' Trump boomed after he was greeted by applause. 'Good food,' he said.

The presidents stayed only a short time at the lunch before the military briefing, which included Naitonal Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, who is now the White House chife of staff.

A pair of South Korean generals also took part, along with the head of U.S. forces in Korea, Gen. Vincent Brooks.

The president will later sit down with Moon at the Blue House, the nation's presidential mansion, for bilateral talks in advance of a joint press conference later in the day.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's territory starts just 35 miles from South Korea's capital, putting South Korea in the position of having to be a front-row spectator as the nuclear status of its belligerent neighbor is decided by other countries

This July 28, 2017 picture released from North Korea's state-run news agency shows Kim Jong-un's Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) being lauched at an undisclosed place in North Korea

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived Tuesday afternoon in South Korea, the second of five nations on his Asian itinerary this week and next

Trump will be in the Seoul area for barely 24 hours, but he will cast a 6-foot, 2-inch shadow on the communist nation to the north.

He has clear differences with Moon, both on managing the North Korean nuclear standoff and on tense negotiations over a trade deal that the White House says harms American workers.

Either crisis would be fodder enough for bilateral talks, a joint press conference and a speech to South Korea's National Assembly.

But the one-two punch will make Trump's brief time in the Land of the Morning Calm unlike his two-day stop in Japan, a longer stop that already has South Koreans feeling like Trump is playing favorites.

In addition to direct talks with Moon, the president also plans to visit a U.S. military base to the south of Seoul, and will hail its operation as a positive example of 'burden-sharing' since South Korea pays for some of its expenses  including the cost of relocating American troops there.

Trump's unsteady relations with the liberal South Korean president, whom he called a 'fine gentleman' in a lukewarm Tuesday morning tweet, could lead to uncomfortable moments unlike any witnessed as he brewed a warm bromance with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday and Monday.

The consequences of an arm's-length relationship between Washington and Seoul could be destructive for both nations.

South Korea hosts more than 28,000 U.S. military troops and counts on the United States to insulate it from potential North Korean attacks.

The world will be carefully watching the commander-in-chief and his North Korean counterpart this week for signs of new ad hominem attacks.

Trump and Kim have engaged in a war of words this year, sparked by the U.S. president's threat to 'totally destroy' Kim's country if he doesn't stop testing nuclear-capable missiles and conducting underground atomic bomb tests.

The president shook a few hands and then kissed Melania goodbye before boarding a military helicopter for a short hop to nearby Camp Humphreys for lunch with the troops and a military operational briefing

Trump, center right, and first lady Melania Trump are welcomed by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha upon arrival at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday

Trump has taken to calling him 'Little Rocket Man.'

In response, Kim called Trump 'a frightened dog' and a 'gangster fond of playing with fire' in an official statement.

The trans-pacific game of nuclear chicken has made the South Korean government nervous: Seoul itself sits just 35 miles from the border, and 25 million people live in its metropolitan expanses.

Even without nuclear weapons, South Korea is already in Kim's striking range.

For this reason  and because he considers Trump unpredictable  Moon wants the U.S. to transfer control of South Korea's troops back to his government.

Under current agreements, South Korean forces would be under U.S. command if the North were to resume the war that ended with a 1953 armistice.

Trump surprised some politics-watchers over the weekend when he told a TV interviewer that he would be open to conducting direct talks with Kim  saying on Sinclair Broadcast Group's 'Full Measure' program that he would be happy to 'sit down with anybody'

Police block protesters against U.S. President Donald Trump waiting for Trump's motorcade to pass by in central Seoul, South Korea

Not everyone was please to see Trump arrive in Seoul, as protesters gathered with pictures of him and Kim Jong Un

Activists accuse President Trump of inflaming tensions with North Korea and worry his actions will lead them into a war

North Korean despot Kim Jong-un is pictured inspecting an ICCM in this undated photo released by North Korea's state-run news agency in July

'I don't think it's strength or weakness, I think sitting down with people is not a bad thing,' he said. 'So I would certainly be open to doing that, but we'll see where it goes. I think we're far too early.'

After Trump threatened 'fire and fury' against Pyongyang in August, Moon tut-tutted publicly that 'no one should be allowed to decide on a military action on the Korean peninsula without South Korean agreement.'

The U.S. Defense Department has raised the strategic temperature by telling lawmakers that a ground invasion would be the only way to ensure 'with complete certainty' that North Korea couldn't use nuclear weapons against the West.

On Monday in Tokyo, Trump branded North Korea a 'menace' and said the U.S. stands against the rogue regime's 'dangerous aggressions.'

'Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. But look what's happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years. Look where we are right now,' the president said during a press conference with Abe.

He said at at the Yokota Air Base near Tokyo that the U.S. 'will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our people.'

'No one  no dictator, no regime and no nation  should underestimate, ever, American resolve.'
A mother who died as she shielded her four young children when a gunman opened fire inside a Texas church on Sunday helped save her five-year-old son and one of her daughters.

Joann Ward pushed her nine-year-old daughter Rihanna to the floor when a gunman sprayed shots inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, then embraced her three other children, according to an account shared by a family friend on Facebook.

'I didn't get shot because I was hiding, and Momma covered Emily, Ryland and Brooke,' Rihanna, who had her glasses shot off her face but survived the attack, recounted, according to the post by the family friend, Vonda Greek Smith.

Joann Ward (pictured) was among the 26 people gunned down when Devin Patrick Kelley burst into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Texas and opened fire

Sisters six-year-old Brooke (left) and eight-year-old Emily Garza (pictured, right, sitting on the right, next to her sister Rihanna) were killed in the shooting according to her family. Nine-year-old Rihanna (sitting next to Emily) had her glasses shot off her face but survived

Five-year-old Ryland Ward (pictured) was found clinging to life among the pews by his aunt after his mother and sisters were shot dead in front of him in the Texas church massacre, it has emerged

Twenty-six churchgoers were killed in the shooting. Joann Ward and daughter Brooke, five, were among those who died at the scene. Ward's daughter Emily, seven, died at the hospital.

Her son, five-year-old Ryland, was shot five times and was in critical condition after surgery, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a relative, Heather Bradley, to raise money for the family.

'Ryland survived multiple gunshot wounds, went thru extensive surgeries and will have a very long road back to full recovery,' Smith said on Facebook.

At the time of the shooting, Ward's husband Chris was at home sleeping after working a night shift, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The children's aunt, Leslie Ward, was at her nearby home when she heard gunshots and awakened her husband, Michael Ward, the newspaper reported. He went to the church and carried out his nephew Ryland.

Mr Ward said Ryland's father, Chris (pictured), had run to the church without putting his shoes on after being told a shooting had taken place

Twenty-six churchgoers were killed in the shooting. Joann Ward and daughter Brooke (second left), five, were among those who died at the scene. Ward's daughter Emily (second right), seven, died at the hospital. Her children Rihanna (left) and Rayland (right) survived

A photo of Brooke taken in the church a week ago, according to the GoFundMe page, showed her smiling, her blonde pigtails braided, and sitting in a ruffled skirt on the pastor's motorcycle

He told his brother of the tragedy. 'I'm not lying to you, Chris, they're all shot,' Michael Ward recalled saying, according to the newspaper.

Chris Ward ran to the church without even putting on his shoes after learning the shooting had taken place.

The Wards were longtime members of First Baptist, and the congregation felt 'like a family', grandmother Sandy Ward told MSNBC.

A photo of Brooke taken in the church a week ago, according to the GoFundMe page, showed her smiling, her blonde pigtails braided, and sitting in a ruffled skirt on the pastor's motorcycle.

Another showed the child beaming as she held up her Kindergarten Perfect Attendance Award and Citizenship Certificate, both dated last month.

Devin Patrick Kelley (pictured left and right) walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in full combat gear, and began shooting, according to local law enforcement sources

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs (pictured), where around 50 people usually attend service, according to local reports

'Joann was the most wonderful mom any child could wish for and her children were always laughing and loving life,' Ward's uncle John Alexander wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Kelley, a married father, walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in black, tactical gear with a ballistics belt and an assault rifle, and began shooting, according to local law enforcement sources.

The attack only stopped when Kelley, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, was confronted by local hero Stephen Willeford, 55, who shot him through a gap in his body armor as the gunman tried to leave the church.

Kelley was reportedly killed by that same brave neighbor following a high speed car chase.

Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr told CNN that at least 26 people were killed in the shooting, but the death toll is expected to climb. Victims include a two-year-old girl, a pregnant woman and the 14-year-old daughter of the pastor.
An early December government shutdown is a real possibility, since a divided Congress can't agree on military spending, Democrats insist on help for young immigrants and President Donald Trump's position can change with each lawmaker he talks to.

Most of Washington is focused on overhauling the nation's tax code, but lawmakers face a combustible mix of must-do and could-do items, with the current government spending bill set to expire December 8.

On the list are immigration and a U.S.-Mexico border wall; an impasse over children's health care; pent-up demand for budget increases for the Pentagon and domestic agencies; and tens of billions of dollars in hurricane aid.

There's plenty at stake for Republicans controlling Washington. Politically, there's an urgency to avoid a debilitating shutdown just as the GOP hopes to wrap up an overhaul of the tax code that is its top priority.

And legions of GOP defense hawks are adamant that the Pentagon receive a huge 2018 budget hike approaching $80-90 billion. Trump and many followers want the U.S.-Mexico wall.

Think this is bad? Members of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee work to shape Republican tax reform but one member's head in hands is a sign of worse to come

Can't work out what he wants: Members of Congress say Trump is not consistent in his positions

Democrats retain considerable power in the endgame - their votes are needed - and are pressing demands of their own.

They want protections for immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as young children. They also demand budget increases for domestic agencies.

'I think we're headed in a good direction on the spending caps,' Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said Monday. 'I don't know that will get to immigration this year but that's a pretty easy thing to settle if the Democrats will give the president some of what he wants.

'I think he would be willing to be pretty forward-leaning on kids who were brought to the country illegally.'

For his part, Trump tends to waver depending on the situation - siding with Democrats on a debt deal in September, and promising Republicans last week that the controversial immigration issue won't be part of the year-end spending measure.

Meanwhile, the tax debate is taking up energy, time and political capital, and GOP leaders seem reluctant to issue controversial decisions that might harm its chances.

A rundown of non-tax issues facing Congress and Trump includes:

SPENDING

Ideally, top leaders in both parties would like to agree on new spending levels and pass a catchall bill by the Dec. 8 deadline.

That's looking increasingly unlikely. Another temporary funding bill would be needed to avert a government shutdown, but many Democrats say they won't be able to support any measure that doesn't include help for so-called 'Dreamer' immigrants facing deportation. That increases the odds of a shutdown.

Congressional leaders are conducting secret talks on raising the spending levels and say they are optimistic about a deal.

But there's no sign of one yet. A possible agreement could add perhaps $100 billion to the budget for the current year alone, which is sure to cause sticker shock among the GOP's fiscal conservatives.

Trump's demands for the border wall - a nonstarter with Democrats - could spark a shutdown battle.

Then there's aid to areas devastated by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The White House promises to submit a request later this month for 'several tens of billions of dollars' aimed mostly at helping Texas and Florida.

That's likely to bring the total appropriated since September for hurricane relief to more than $100 billion, which is likely to rankle deficit hawks.

IMMIGRATION

California Senator Kamala Harris and other Senate Dems are demanding the immigration issue be addressed as soon as possible and won't vote for any spending bill that fails to include a solution

Trump announced in September that he is ending temporary deportation protections granted by the Obama administration to young immigrants known as 'Dreamers' who were illegally brought into the U.S. and often have known no other home.

But he gave Congress until March to come up with a fix and promised top Democratic leaders he would sign legislation protecting them, so long as he wins billions for border security.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Senate Democrats, such as California Sen. Kamala Harris, are demanding the immigration issue be addressed as soon as possible and won't vote for any spending bill that fails to include a solution.

That could doom the spending bill as Republicans need Democratic votes to pass the measure.

Top Democrats such as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York are keeping their powder dry in hopes that negotiations, which presently appear stalled, pick up steam.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

The reauthorization of an expired children's health program is becoming more urgent as the lapse in the program will mean a cutoff in services in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Ohio and other states by late December or January.

There's a bipartisan desire to extend the program, but negotiations over how to pay for the measure have yet to produce a breakthrough.

A compromise ultimately appears likely, and the measure is a candidate to be coupled with other items in December.

DEFENSE

John McCain's cancer is making urgency imperative. He is also wearing a surgical boot after injuring his Achilles tendon

House and Senate negotiators are putting the final touches on an annual defense policy bill for the 2018 fiscal year that's expected to increase the Pentagon's core budget by billions of dollars more than the $603 billion Trump requested.

There's some urgency to the talks since Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The defense policy bill is expected to expand U.S. missile defenses in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons programs. Lawmakers also are trying to resolve a long simmering debate over the creation of a new branch that would be in charge of the U.S. military's space assets.
Saudi Arabia has moved a step closer to a war with Iran by accusing the country again of 'direct military aggression' by supplying militias with rockets.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the accusation today, referring to Iran handing ballistic missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels, state media reported.

But Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels hit back with threats of retaliation against the ports and airports of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which this week closed the Yemeni land, sea and air borders.

All airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance to Saudi Arabia and the UAE will be a direct target of our weapons, which is a legitimate right,' read a statement released by the rebels' political office.

Tensions have been rising between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran, which are locked in conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen and Syria to Qatar and Lebanon.

The crisis escalated on Saturday when the kingdom intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh's international airport.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, on October 24, 2017

Saudi border guards keep watch along the border with Yemen in the al-Khubah area in the southern Jizan province

The Huthi's statement comes the day after the coalition announced it had closed all of Yemen's borders, after the missile attach which the Huthis have claimed.

The United Nations on Monday reported the Saudi-led coalition had prevented two humanitarian aid flights from flying to the war-torn country.

Prince Mohammed said: 'The involvement of Iran in supplying missiles to the Huthis is a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime,' the Saudi Press Agency quoted the crown prince as saying during a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

This 'could be considered as an act of war,' Prince Mohammed said.

Saudi forces on Saturday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh international airport, reportedly fired from Yemen by the Huthi rebels.

It was the first reported Huthi missile launch to reach Riyadh and threaten air traffic, underscoring the growing threat posed by the conflict on Saudi Arabia's southern border.

Riyadh accused Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to the Huthi rebels, but Iran denied the allegation.

Yesterday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir also warned Tehran: 'Iranian interventions in the region are detrimental to the security of neighbouring countries and affect international peace and security.

'We will not allow any infringement on our national security.'

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif issued dismissive tweets over the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in response.

He wrote: 'KSA bombs Yemen to smithereens, killing 1000s of innocents including babies, spreads cholera and famine, but of course blames Iran.

Yesterday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (pictured) also warned Tehran will 'not allow any infringement on national security'

'KSA is engaged in wars of aggression, regional bullying, destabilising behaviour & risky provocations. It blames Iran for the consequences.'

Saudi forces on Saturday intercepted and destroyed the ballistic missile near Riyadh's international airport after it was reportedly fired by Shiite Huthi rebels from Yemen.

It was the first attempted missile strike by the rebels to reach Riyadh and threaten air traffic, underscoring the growing threat posed by the conflict on Saudi Arabia's southern border.

The coalition sealed off air, sea and land borders in Yemen where it has been battling rebels in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government since 2015.

An Iranian foreign ministry statement quoted spokesman Bahram Ghassemi as saying the accusations by the coalition were 'unjust, irresponsible, destructive and provocative'.

Ghassemi said the missile was fired by the Huthis in response 'to war crimes and several years of aggression by the Saudis'.

The crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran escalated on Saturday when the kingdom intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh's international airport (pictured)

The Saudi royal family arrests: Those detained Saudi's anti-corruption purge include Prince Miteb, Prince Turki and Prince Alwaleed (circled in red)

The missile attack, he said, was 'an independent action in response to this aggression,' and Iran had nothing to do with it.

Critics have accused the coalition of not doing enough to prevent civilian deaths in its air war in Yemen, where more than 8,650 people have been killed since the intervention began.

Repeated attempts to bring about a negotiated settlement to the conflict have failed, including a series of UN-backed peace talks.

Saudi Arabia has blamed the Huthis for the failed efforts, and on Monday offered rewards totalling $440 million for information on 40 senior officials among the rebels.

Topping the list, with a $30-million reward for tips leading to his capture, was the group's leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi.

The Huthis, allied with Yemen's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh in the conflict, have captured the capital Sanaa, forcing Hadi's government to operate from the southern city of Aden.
A pilot project testing a proprietary process developed by a Montana Tech professor to turn Anacondas giant slag piles into a product useful in the fracking industry starts operations in Butte this week.

The project, at JK Fabrication and Supply, 100 N. Parkmont, will employ 10 people and will test transforming slag into proppant, which is injected into fissures in underground rock. The proppant then holds the cracks open, allowing the natural gas and oil to reach the surface.

Montana Tech professor Courtney Young, Rick Tabish, Dan Tabish, and Lane McNamara hold the patent.

The company behind the process is Missoula-based Premier Industries LLC, whose backers were awarded a lease agreement with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County last year that will allow them to purchase 93 acres of land southeast of Anaconda. Located near the slag piles on Mill Creek Highway, the plant is expected to open in 2018, according to one company official.

Rick Tabish, who heads FX Solutions Inc., the general contractor on the project, and who is also the former principal of Premier, says the Anaconda plant will eventually employ 700 people. Though that is not expected to happen right away.

The company has been doing site preparation in anticipation of building a 13-acre facility, where it plans to turn Anacondas 56 million tons of slag into proppant. They've been moving dirt since this past summer.

Premier also expects to also extract pig iron and zinc oxide from the slag.

PILOT IN BUTTE

Tabish took The Montana Standard on a tour last week of the new pilot project.

The pilot in Butte will test a small-scale version of the proppant-making process using a 300-pound furnace. The full-scale version furnaces will be 10 tons, Tabish said.

The 300-pound furnace works using a process known as disk atomization.

Tabish said the process works by heating the slag (made up of about 40 percent iron; 40 percent silica; manganese; and small amounts of arsenic, lead, and other materials) to about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit using a coil that creates an electromagnetic field. The heated material is then flung by a rotating disk. The heat melts the slag, Tabish said, and the spinning disk causes materials to separate from the slag, including silica, which forms the proppant.

Tabish said lead and arsenic will not be released during the process and that the only emissions Premier is anticipating are in the form of carbon dioxide. A solid byproduct of the process will be zinc oxide, according to Tabish. Premier plans to sell that, too, creating three revenue streams. He described the procedure as a mostly dry process and said the facility wont be a smoke stack operation.

Tabish said results from the pilot are being sent to Montana Tech, where theyll be analyzed at the molecular level for qualities important to the fracking industry, such as how much pressure the proppant is able to withstand; the consistency of its shape, which Tabish said is spherical; and its ability to flow and move.

The Butte project may be new, but Premier has been doing pilot testing for some time.

In January 2016, Tabish told the Standard that he had been working with Young and Montana Tech professor John Getty in developing and testing the process. The pilot was originally located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where it operated for about one year, and before that in Ukiah, California, for three to four months.

BEFORE PREMIER

Prior to his journey with Premier Industries, Tabish worked in the waste disposal side of the oil business in the Bakken with his company Basin Industrial Services.

I had a pretty intimate knowledge of what happens in clean-outs and dealing with larger companies and watching how they frack and what they do, so I understood the importance of...proppant as well, Tabish said.

He first became interested in Anaconda slag after considering the possibility of extracting pig iron from it. He partnered with his cousin, Dan Tabish, who holds a degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Washington, to research the feasibility of turning slag into iron, and the two soon learned about the disc atomization process.

Dan is the architect behind the recipe, Tabish said last week.

Proppant works in conjunction with high-pressure fluid to create fissures in underground rock. When the fluid bleeds off, proppant is left behind and holds the cracks in the rock wide enough to allow natural gas and oil to reach the surface. Currently, the most popular sources of proppant are naturally occurring frack sand, which is mined in Wisconsin and Texas, and proppant that is made synthetically from ceramics.

Tabish said what will make Premiers proppant unique is its sphericity -- the measure of how close an object is to a perfect sphere. According to Tabish, Premiers sphericity is around .96, or 96 percent in a visual scale known as the Krumbein scale. What gives Premiers proppant its spherical shape, he said, is the disk atomization process.

Whats unique about this is were taking a pile of waste and turning it into two products that are useful, added Dan Tabish.

Rick Tabish said the pilot project will continue even after the plant in Anaconda gets off the ground.

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Kristi Ponozzo, spokesperson with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, said via email that Premier has not applied for its air quality permit yet. Through Tabishs consulting company, DEQ has issued a general stormwater permit for the building construction underway.

The company also does not have a public water or subdivision permit. DEQ is putting together a compliance assistance letter to address the potential for solid waste regulations that might affect the plant.

Ponozzo said its not necessarily unusual for a company to begin construction without all of its DEQ permits in hand, but she said the agency does encourage pre-application coordination meetings with applicants for projects that require DEQ permits, especially ones that require multiple DEQ permits.

Tabish, meanwhile, told the Standard in October that observers of the project shouldnt use environmental permits as yardsticks for progress. He said Premier and FX Solutions dont need an industrial air quality permit to begin construction or complete site preparation work.

Despite the fact that the company doesnt have all its ducks in a row with DEQ yet, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Chief Executive Bill Everett has nothing but glowing words to say about Premier and Tabish.

Everett said the company secured a building permit with the county last week that cost $19,000.

We havent had a building permit like that before, Everett said. Weve never had one half that amount before.
Ivana Trump's ex-husband has revealed the pair will be flying to his native Rome next week - before he relocates to her home city of New York to open a pizzeria.

Rossano Rubicondi, 45, had already set tongues wagging when he was seen strolling down Madison Avenue with his 68-year-old ex-wife on Thursday last week.

Now it has emerged that the pair will travel to Italy together on November 15 in order to promote Ivana's new tell-all memoir about her time with Donald.

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Rossano Rubicondi, 45, Ivana Trump's fourth ex-husband, has revealed he will be flying to Rome with her next week after the pair were recently spotted together in New York (above)

Rossano also announced he will be opening a pizzeria in Ivana's home city of New York - sparking rumors the pair will be getting back together (pictured, Ivana in the city on Friday)

Rossano told the New York Daily News that he then plans to open pizzeria Rossano to Go! in the Big Apple after plans to set up shop in Florida, close to Donald's Mar-A-Lago resort, fell through.

'We were going to open on Labor Day, but things happened and I had to get out of the lease,' he said.

Asked if Ivana will be involved in the restaurant, he added: 'No, no, no  shes involved in my life.'

Rossano's announcement has caused sources close to the couple to speculate that they are dating again, as they blamed their past split on geographical differences.

Ivana and Rossano were photographed in New York on Thursday last week strolling arm-in-arm down Madison Avenue.

Ivana and Rossano married in 2008 but divorced just eight months later, blaming the split on geographical differences that meant they were never in the same place

She rested her hand in the crook of his arm while he spoke in an animated fashion.

Rossano and Ivana tied the knot after six years of dating, during a ceremony at Mar-A-Lago, the Palm Beach estate owned by none other than Ivanka's ex, Donald Trump.

On the day of the wedding, Ivana, then 59, walked down the aisle with her sons Donald Jr and Eric, who gave her away to her 35-year-old husband, while her daughter Ivanka took on the maid of honor duties.

President Trump's sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, officiated during the ceremony, and Donald himself attended.

But just eight months after the Midsummer Night's Dream-themed day, which involved a $1 million diamond ring and a 12-foot-high wedding cake flown in from Germany, Ivana and Rossano announced their upcoming divorce.

Ivana said she had actually filed for separation three months prior, and blamed the split on her and Rossano's different preferences for their cities of residence.

'Rossano wants to live in Miami and work in Milan,' she said in a statement at the time. 'But, I am a New Yorker and my family, friends and businesses are here.'
A British couple held hostage by gunmen in east India made a dramatic escape by swimming down the river Ganges

Jessica and Matt Kidd, aged 28 and 30, were kayaking down the famous Indian river during a 'dream world trip', and had stopped at a secluded island to pitch a tent for the night when two armed men attacked them.

The couple, both school teachers from Glasgow, tried to bargain with the men using their mobile phones and cash, but decided to risk their lives and flee when they threatened to sexually assault Mrs Kidd.

Brave: Geography teachers Jessica and Matt Kidd, aged 28 and 30, had their dream trip around the world interrupted by two men taking them hostage by the river Ganges in India

Mr Kidd threw himself into the Ganges, while his wife jumped into their kayak and managed to escape their attackers.

The couple swam and rowed for a mile until they reached a village to raise the alarm and police came to their rescue.

Mr Kidd said: 'We are on an adventure tour in a raft moving downstream on the river Ganga from Haridwar to Calcutta. Around 8pm on Sunday evening, we reached a place called Pandarak.

'We were camping and had some food when we were approached by two men who started to threaten us for one hour and he had a gun pointed at us.

'We managed to escape by running into the water with our boat. I was in the water swimming and we got across to the village where the public phoned the police.

'The youngsters tried to loot us and behaved violently with my wife.'

Under attack: Mr and Mrs Kidd were held hostage for an hour, during which the men threatened to sexually assault 28-year-old Mrs Kidd

Fear: The couple appear in a press conference sat in front of the two men who held them hostage and threatened them with a gun and sticks

The Scottish couple, now based in London, helped to create sketches of the two attackers and police then conducted raids in the area, arresting two suspects within two hours.

Manu Maharaj, Senior Superintendent of Police said: 'The couple had reached Patna three days ago. On November 5th they were on an adventure journey on their boat and had stopped at the basin for a night's rest.

'The couple sought help from nearby villagers, who came to the rescue and informed the police station. By the time police reached there, the men fled the area. The couple then filed a complaint with Pandarak police station.

'Both the accused, Chhattu Mahanta and Baija Kumar, aged 22, were traced and arrested from near the banks of the Ganges last night. They have confessed to harassing the couple.'

The cops also recovered their stolen items from the attackers but the tent is still missing.

He added: 'We recovered the stick that they used to scare the couple. They have said they did not carry a pistol and we are yet to recover it. The couple has shown tremendous courage.

'We have initiated a probe and would like this case to be run under speedy trial. We are taking this incident very seriously,' said the officer adding that the couple resumed their journey the next day.

The pair had been writing about the trip on a blog called Tartan Travellers after ditching their jobs in London to travel the world.

The couple, both geography teachers, had had reached India on September 13 - the first stop on their tour.

After visiting Rishikesh on he foothills of Himalayas, they started their trip to kayak the entire Ganges from Haridwar-the holiest place for Hindus in Uttar Pradesh in northern India on September 27 and were going to Kolkata in eastern India.

They were to reach Kolkata on December 14 after covering a distance of about 1,300 mile trip in 78 days and from there they were to return to Scotland..

The had been rowing for up to 25 miles a day and would stop on islands or villages on the shore for rest.

Great escape: The couple, originally from Glasgow and now based in London, fled the hostage situation by throwing themselves into the river Ganges and kayaking away

The couple were moving downstream in their boat with a plastic tent for night accommodation, GPS-enabled navigation device, dry fruits, biscuits, water bottles and medicines.

Manish Tiwari, Assistant Superintendent of Police said: 'None of the things were looted from them. The couple had tried to negotiate and offer their mobile phones and cash but the two refused. However, the tents, were missing when we reached the spot.

'The place is extremely secluded. Even we make arrangements before going there. But the couple had only stopped to take rest as they were to resume their journey next morning.'

Mrs Kidd said: 'We started our tour from Haridwar in September and travelling downstream we celebrated Diwali and Chhath. The people have been extremely cooperative in providing us food and Indian delicacies.'

She wrote on the blog: 'It's quite a daunting prospect, leaving a job that I had established myself in for the past two years, as well as leaving behind friends and family.

'But when the opportunity arose to travel with Matt, I grabbed it with both hands. That's what life is all about, living the life you want to lead and sharing it with someone you love.

'I'll be travelling with someone who is equally as passionate about discovering new places, learning new languages and full of enthusiasm for adventure. '

The couple also wrote on their blog: 'We have travelled over 500km on the River Ganges from Haridwar to Kanpur and we are not even half way yet! We have been very fortunate to immerse ourselves into the real India along the river, met the most generous people and witness incredibly rare wild life.'

They next plan to trek to Everest base camp dressed in kilts.
Emily Hunt, 38, said she 'woke up naked and terrified on a hotel bed' after being attacked

A mother-of-one claimed today that she woke up in a 300-a-night hotel next to a man she had never met after being drugged and raped.

Emily Hunt, 38, woke up naked and terrified at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, East London, with no memory of the previous five hours after a Sunday lunch date with her father.

The strategy consultant immediately contacted police, but accuses them of behaving 'abysmally' and trying to dissuade her from making a complaint.

Several months later prosecutors declined to bring a case, citing CCTV footage which showed her and the alleged rapist being 'flirty' in the bar.

Miss Hunt, who lives in Hackney but is originally from New York, has now launched a crowd-funding campaign to bring a private prosecution.

Miss Hunt has already raised more than 8,500 towards her goal, which will be spent on the services of one of the UK's top sexual offence QCs.

And she told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme today: 'I was kind of in and out for a while when I properly came to. I pretty quickly had this lightbulb moment that I'd been drugged. I'd never felt like that before.

'I'd never lost five hours of my life completely and totally, and wound up somewhere where I didn't know how I'd got there with someone I'd never seen before.'

Miss Hunt told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme today about her alleged ordeal

Talking about the man, she said: 'He seemed quite relaxed, he was just watching TV, kind of laughing along. He seemed sober at the time, and I found out later that he hadn't even had a drop of alcohol - he was completely sober.

'I'm a bit fuzzy on (what I did next). I know that I sort of leaned over, got my things - they were on a pile next to me on the floor, and I gathered up my belongings and my handbag and kind of hid for at least ten minutes.

'I phoned a friend and said, you know, 'there's something really wrong going on here. I don't feel OK, I feel in a way that I've never felt before - and there's this guy'. And my friend rang the police.'

And recalling what she remembered before the alleged attack, Miss Hunt added: 'The very last thing I remember is having lunch with my dad.

'We were in a local restaurant that we go to quite a lot, and we were having lunch. And then the conversation went a bit weird, and that's the last thing I remember.'

Miss Hunt also appeared on ITV's This Morning today, saying how conversation had become 'weird' with her father during their lunch.

Miss Hunt also appeared on ITV's This Morning today, talking about what led up to the 'attack'

Miss Hunt told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about her crowdfunding campaign

She said it later emerged that they had both drunk Grappa, and he had also had some strange symptoms from a couple of sips of it - while she had two glasses.

CCTV footage showed her being flirty with the alleged attacker, but she believed she was dosed with the date rape drug GHB - possibly twice.

She told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield of waking up after the alleged attack: 'I was naked and underneath a bed spread.

'That was actually the first thing I remember because it had a really particular texture, and I woke up to this feeling of 'where am I because this isn't mine?'

'I could feel it on my naked skin. I went in and out for a little while, and then when I finally came to, I looked over my shoulder and there was this man who I had literally never seen before.'

She wants her case to be a 'pilot' for a new charity which will also fund other cases on behalf of women let down by the system.

One of the rooms at the five-star Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, East London, where mother-of-one Ms Hunt claims she was raped in May 2015

Ms Hunt, of Hackney, has now launched a crowdfunding page to try to bring the man to justice

Speaking to the Daily Mail yesterday, she said: 'Prosecutors need to be pursuing these cases a lot harder than they have been and if they are not willing to, I will.

'I am sickened by the fact this comes down to money but at the same time I am very lucky to live in a country where this is possible. In the US there is no equivalent.

'The public interest in these cases needs to be reassessed. Research shows the overwhelming majority of women who say they have been raped are telling the truth and rapists will go on to rape again.'

Miss Hunt's life was turned upside down after the attack at the hotel in May 2015.

She suspects that a man she had never met before drugged her before taking her back to his bedroom and raping her.

She can only remember waking up in his bed with no memory of how she got there or who he was. She telephoned a friend who contacted police.

In the following days and weeks, Miss Hunt only learned the man had sex with her from police after they interviewed him and recovered used condoms.

Ms Hunt, of Hackney, claims she was drugged and raped at the 300-a-night hotel (pictured)

Prosecutors did not bring charges, after the woman claimed she was raped at the hotel (above)

She also discovered police recovered footage of her naked and unconscious from his phone and found him carrying Viagra and LSD.

The hurdles of private prosecutions Anyone can bring a private prosecution but they face considerable financial and logistical hurdles to get a conviction. Emily Hunt believes she is the first person in British legal history to try to bring a private prosecution for rape. The strongest cases often involve charities and campaign groups, such as the RSPCA, which regularly puts those suspected of animal cruelty in the dock. Anyone hoping to mount a prosecution must demonstrate there is sufficient evidence to secure a guilty verdict and that they are not acting out of spite. But Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service, can still seize control at any stage after requesting all of the evidence. This could be to bring it before a jury herself if it is in the public interest and likely to lead to a conviction. However, it could also be to shut the case down when these tests are not met, the prosecution is vexatious or where the defendant has already been cautioned. Miss Hunt hopes her attempt to raise money to fund a private prosecution will spur the authorities to improve the appallingly low conviction rate for rape. Last month, a new analysis of police figures revealed only one reported rape in 14 in England and Wales results in a conviction. Of the 41,150 rapes reported in 2016-17 only 2,991 people were convicted of the crime. Only 5,190 cases went to court. Prosecutors, who have set up specialist units to support victims and prepare complex cases, say that of those cases which come to court, almost 58 per cent result in convictions. They add that they are prosecuting record numbers of suspects but cases remain difficult to prove 'beyond reasonable doubt'. Advertisement

Toxicology tests did not find any suspicious drugs in Miss Hunt's system, but she believes they were based on the wrong timings after a mistake by police.

Miss Hunt, who has a seven-year-old daughter, accused officers from Scotland Yard's specialist sex crimes unit of not taking her seriously.

She said they 'just did not like me' and she was only sent to be forensically examined after telling a doctor during a follow-up appointment at a sexual health clinic.

Miss Hunt said officers suggested they suspected she was accusing the man of rape because she had been 'unfaithful' to her boyfriend.

And she said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) 'could not be bothered' with her case, even after she appealed against their decision not to prosecute.

'The CPS have an abysmal record when it comes to rape, and they just can't be bothered with my case. But I still want justice,' she said. 'If I get the funding this case will be a slam dunk.'

The Metropolitan Police said a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape but has been released with no further action.

A spokesman said 'a number' of complaints about its inquiry were examined by the independent police watchdog and were not upheld.

He added: 'We understand that the complainant is unhappy with the outcome. We will always provide support to anyone who reports a serious sexual offence.

'We would urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to report the matter to the police  we are here to fully investigate, listen to and support you.'

The Crown Prosecution Service said a specialist lawyer ruled there was 'insufficient evidence' for a realistic prospect of a guilty verdict.

A spokesman said: 'At the request of the victim, the case was subject to a further review by the head of our rape and sexual offences team, who upheld the original decision.

'We met the victim to explain the decision further and answer any questions she had. While we are of course sympathetic to the complainant, this is not a prosecution we were able to bring to court.'
More than 6million of MPs' pensions funds is invested in Jersey and and another 6million is wrapped up in tech firms accused of tax avoidance, it emerged today.

As a new scandal over global tax avoidance grows after the leak of the so-called Paradise Papers, the revelations will pile pressure on Theresa May to act.

Labour is demanding a public inquiry into how the rich, famous and powerful manipulate cash flows around the world to minimise their tax bills.

More than 6million of MPs' pensions funds is invested in Jersey and and another 6million is wrapped up in tech firms accused of tax avoidance, it emerged today

As a new scandal over global tax avoidance grows, the revelations will pile pressure on Theresa May to act

The Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund - which overall was worth 621million in March 2016 - has four property funds, only three of which are UK-based, the Financial Times revealed.

The fourth fund is the Jersey-based BlackRock UK Property Fund and is worth 6.6million.

In 2016 it sold a 14.5m stake in another offshore fund, the Luxembourg-based Morgan Stanley Global Property Fund.

The annual report for 2015/16 lists three big US tech companies among MPs pension funds 20 biggest individual shareholdings.

It has invested 2.5m in Google, 1.9m in Apple and another 1.9m in Amazon. All three tech giants have repeatedly been criticised by British politicians for their tax structures.

The MPs' pension was not listed on the Paradise Papers itself but records its list of investments in the normal way.

A Commons spokesman said the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund was 'like many pension funds' invested in property vehicles in various jurisdictions.

'Some funds are domiciled offshore to enable investors from different countries to invest in the same fund, and also to prevent double taxation,' he said.

'Investors in these funds are responsible for paying any tax owed arising from either income or capital gains in the usual fashion, unless they are held within a pension fund or another lawful tax-exempt structure.'

The Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund - which overall was worth 621million in March 2016 - has four property funds, only three of which are UK-based with one on Jersey (pictured)

The annual report for 2015/16 lists three big US tech companies - including Apple, whose California HQ is pictured - among MPs' pension funds 20 biggest individual shareholdings

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday called for a sweeping public inquiry to investigate everyone included in the Paradise Papers - even including the Queen.

He told Bloomberg TV: 'There should be a review. An inquiry into all the revelations about the Paradise Papers.'

Asked if that included the Queen, Corbyn replied: 'Everybody. The Royal Household are subject to taxation. I don't know what has happened in that case. These issues all must be part of that.'

Mrs May is resisting calls for an inquiry and further reform, insisting measures put in place by her predecessor David Cameron are working.

Speaking at the CBI yesterday, she said: 'So we have seen more revenues coming to HMRC over the last few years, since 2010 160 billion extra that they have been able to raise.

'But we do work, there's already work that's been done to ensure that we see greater transparency in our dependencies and British overseas territories and we continue to work with them.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday called for a sweeping public inquiry to investigate everyone included in the Paradise Papers - even including the Queen

'HMRC is already able to see more information about the ownership of shell companies, for example, so that they can ensure that people are paying their tax.

'We want people to pay the tax that is due.'

The disclosure of 13.4 million documents, dubbed the Paradise Papers, overnight dramatically revealed the ties of major companies and political figures to secretive overseas arrangements.

It includes claims that the Queen has 10 million of her personal fortune invested in an offshore tax haven.

U2 frontman Bono is among a line-up of high-profile celebrities to be named in the leaked papers.

Former Conservative peer and pollster Lord Ashcroft leads the political names on the list. There is no suggestion that those involved acted illegally.
A trustee at one of London's best-known mosques is a senior member of 'terrorist organisation' Hamas's political wing, it was reported this morning.

Mohammed Sawalha holds the role of trustee at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, which was formerly linked to extremism but which insists it has since undergone an 'complete overhaul'.

It emerged today that Mr Sawalha represented the militant Palestinian organisation Hamas at recent talks in Moscow.

Mohammed Sawalha, a trustee at Finsbury Park mosque, was part of a Hamas delegation

Sawalha, who lives in London, was appointed a trustee of the mosque in 2010 and is legally responsible for overseeing the mosque's management, The Times reported today.

He was one of five senior figures from the Islamist organisation who were sent to Moscow in September, where they met Russia's deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov and other Kremlin officials.

One of the group told Middle East news website Al-Monitor that the meeting between Hamas and top Russian officials was 'an important milestone'

The delegate added: 'Russia is a great power, at a time when the United States wants Hamas to be labeled as a terrorist group and be isolated.'

The UK only designates Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organisation, not the political wing, meaning Mr Sawalha has broken no rules.

But his prominence at the north London mosque may unsettle some who are concerned about the organisation's reach in the UK.

Mr Sawalha met Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the mosque in November 2015

Mr Sawalha is part of the political wing of the militant Islamist organisation based in Palestine

The mosque has been visited many times by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was previously criticised for describing Hamas as 'friends'. He later said he regretted using the term.

Who are Hamas? Hamas is an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement and began in 1987 against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Originally an armed group, since 2005 it has been part of the Palestinian political process. It seized Gaza from rival group Fatah in a near civil war in 2007 and the two factions have been at loggerheads ever since. Hamas is blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, but the UK has banned only its military wing. Hamas fighters in Gaza city in 2007 Advertisement

A man died and 11 people were injured when a van drove onto the pavement outside the mosque in June in a suspected right-wing terror attack.

The mosque was unavailable for comment this morning, but its website states: 'Unfortunately the Finsbury Park Mosque was under the forceful control of some extremists linked to Abu Hamza Al-Misri from 1997 to 2005.

'This was a dark period for the mosque as these individuals, unrepresented of mainstream Islam, used the premises to promote their ideology of hate, confrontation and disunity.

'They were ousted by the community in February 2005 in partnership with the authorities, but some sections of the media continue to falsely link the new management of the mosque to extremists.

'Since 2005, and with the support of the local Muslim community, there has been a complete overhaul of the mosque's leadership, comprising of a new board of trustees, management team, Imams, and a new ethos.

'Consequently, attendance has greatly increased and the range of services has steadily expanded. Today, the mosque's prayer halls are packed with worshippers from various ethnic backgrounds.'
Tests at North Korea's underground nuclear site have caused deformities in babies and turned the surrounding area into a wasteland, it has been claimed.

A group of defectors say springs have run dry while 80 per cent of newly planted trees have withered and died at Punggye-ri in the secretive country's north east.

One, who used to live in Kilju county - where the site is located - claimed that 'deformed babies' were being born in hospitals in the area.

It comes as pictures reveal the impact North Korea's sixth nuclear bomb test, carried out in early September, has had on the mountainous area - including 'multiple landslides'.

 Slide me  Tests at North Korea's underground nuclear site have caused deformities in babies and turned the surrounding area into a wasteland, it has been claimed. Satellite images show the Punggye-ri site on September 1, before North Korea's sixth nuclear bomb test (left) and how it appeared just days later on September 4 (right), with the area having suffered 'multiple landslides'.

Dictator Kim Jong-un (centre) carried out North Korea's sixth nuclear bomb test on September 3 this year

One defector told South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper that locals were concerned about radioactive contamination and that residents were not given prior warning of nuclear tests.

He said: 'I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there.

Another, referring to Kim Jong-un's latest nuclear test, added: 'I spoke on the phone with family members I left behind there and they told me that all of the underground wells dried up after the sixth nuclear test.'

A third North Korean described how only family members of soldiers were evacuated from the surrounding areas with other residents 'completely unaware' of the tests.

The nuclear trials are also having an impact on the environment in the area, one former local claimed.

Satellite images from November 1 appear to show that the main administrative area at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site has been inactive since early September

Pictures of the site on September 7 - days after the nuclear bomb test - show white vehicles near the North Portal under a net canopy

Specialties like trout and pine mushrooms 'disappeared' after the first test in 2006, he claimed, with another defector claiming: 'If you plant trees in the mountains there, 80 percent of them die. You can blame it on poor planting, but the number of trees that die is higher than in other mountains.'

The claims come after it was reported that more than 200 people were killed when a tunnel caved in at Punggye-ri after its latest detonation.

A tunnel collapsed in early September, days after North Korea conducted its sixth and largest underground nuclear test on September 3, TV Asahi said, quoting unnamed North Korean sources.

Some 100 workers were involved in an initial collapse. Another cave-in occurred during rescue operations, leaving at least 200 people feared dead in total, the Japanese broadcaster said.

The accident was triggered by the test, TV Asahi added.

Experts have warned that the underground tests could cause the mountain to collapse and leak radiation into the atmosphere near China's border.

Overhead images from November 1 appear to show neatly aligned objects or personnel at the tests site's Southern Support Area

Satellite images show how a new structure has been built behind the guard barracks and several personnel or objects present in the courtyard

The latest test - the sixth at the site since 2006 - triggered landslides in the detonation area and beyond, according to satellite pictures taken the day after.

The images published by the 38 North website showed changes in the surface at Punggye-ri where the ground had been lifted into the air by the tremors. Small landslides followed the course of stream beds.

The blast caused a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey, followed a few minutes later by another with a magnitude of 4.1.

Japan assessed the yield from the test of what the North said was a hydrogen bomb at 120 kilotons, eight times the size of Hiroshima in 1945.

It is very unusual for North Korea to acknowledge any major accident, especially anything that involves its nuclear programme.

Lee Eugene, a spokeswoman at South Korea's unification ministry, said: 'We are aware of the report but do not know anything about it.'

The reclusive country has made significant strides in its atomic and missile technology under Kim, who took power after the death of his father and longtime ruler Kim Jong-Il in 2011.

Since then he has overseen four of the country's six nuclear tests and hailed atomic weapons as a 'treasured sword' to protect the nation from invasion by the United States.
Three police officers have been accused of racism and gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing.

All three of the officers, from Staffordshire Police, are denying the charge which is based on reported conversations overheard by colleagues at Hanley Police Station last February.

It is alleged that the trio have 'breached standards of professional behaviour, relating to authority, respect and courtesy'.

PC Andrew Goodwin (left), who is accused of using derogatory terms towards members of the Afro-Caribbean, Pakistani, Scottish and Welsh communities and PC Lisa Trevor (right), who is accused of using a derogatory term towards Afro-Caribbeans

The officers appearing before the disciplinary panel includes PC Andrew Goodwin, who is accused of using derogatory terms towards members of the Afro-Caribbean, Pakistani, Scottish and Welsh communities.

PC Lisa Trevor, who is accused of using a derogatory term towards Afro-Caribbeans.

PC Paul Birch, who is accused of using a derogatory term towards members of the Pakistani community.

The Stoke Sentinel has removed the offensive words which were allegedly used in the conversations and referred to at yesterday's disciplinary hearing.

Robert Talalay, representing the 'appropriate authority', said: 'The summary of the case against PC Goodwin is that during a conversation at the office on February 20 he said the following or words to the same effect.

'He said: "It is a bit like these people that refer to themselves as P***s or *******. It is just an abbreviation of the country they are from and it is not offensive.

"It is like J**k or T**f. They call it themselves and I do not see a problem with us calling it to them.

"It is not offensive. They should go back to their own country if they do not like it".'

The panel heard a conversation involving PC Trevor also took place on February 20.

Relaying her reported conversation, Mr Talalay said: 'It is OK for people who are black, such as black rappers, calling each other n*****s so why can't others".'

PC Paul Birch, who is accused of using a derogatory term towards members of the Pakistani community

Mr Talalay added: 'The case against PC Birch is that during a conversation in the office on February 22 he used the word P**i.'

Both PC Birch and PC Trevor yesterday applied for their cases to be dismissed and a ruling is expected today.

The misconduct hearing was told the reported conversations had been heard by other officers.

PC Kerry Broadhurst said: 'I was shocked by the words of PC Goodwin. They are not words in my everyday vocabulary and I would only ever use them in interview.

'I heard him say two words. I know his voice, I have known him a long time and I can differentiate between male voices.

'He then said they should go back to their own country if they don't like it. I was shocked by what I heard and needed time in my head to settle what I had heard.'

Former police officer Kerry Ellis said: 'I was disappointed that my colleagues would even entertain having this conversation at work.

'I do not think they are bad people, just that they said things that they will regret. I do not know if they are racist people.

'PC Goodwin said they should go back to their own country. I heard this very clearly.'

Fellow witness PC Peter Rigby said: 'PC Goodwin was not being aggressive or raising his voice. He was not doing it to create division.'

The disciplinary hearing - which is expected to last four days - is continuing.
A grandfather-of-four was electrocuted on holiday by a handrail that allegedly became 'live' in a budget hotel in Thailand.

Father-of-six Shaun Walley, 67, a tradesman from Stockport, had been visiting a friend in Thailand when he apparently touched a steel balcony handrail that was live with an electric current due to a faulty light box sign.

The hotel in Chonburi have reportedly admitted the accident on October 19 was their fault, but have informed Mr Walley's family they can't afford to help.

Now his step-daughter Ramona Brooks, 36, who is five months pregnant, is trying to raise 10,000 to cover the costs of bringing his body home so they can bury him.

Shaun Walley, 67, pictured with step-daughter Ramona Brooks, 36, was electrocuted while on holiday in Thailand

Grandfather-of-four Shaun Walley was killed after he apparently touched a steel balcony handrail that was live with an electric current due to a faulty light box sign in Chonburi

Ms Brooks, from Hazel Grove, in Greater Manchester, said: 'We are so upset and angry that no one is going to pay for it. We want justice. It's not just like it was a small accident. It cost him his life.

'It all feels like a bit of a blur. It has been very manic. I have never dealt with anything so traumatic before.

'Even though everyone is dying inside we've just had to put a stop to that. It's all been a matter of urgency. It isn't the best idea to get panicked when I'm pregnant as well.

'I couldn't tell you if I thought these past few weeks have dragged or flown by. I have been on the phone running around like a headless chicken.

'We are a really big close family. It is just crazy. We have lost people in the family before and we have all come together which is a heart-warming thing but this is different.'

Mr Walley, pictured with his granddaughter Daisy (left) and his wife Dianne, 57 (right)

Ms Brooks received a phone call from a member of staff at the hotel on Thursday October 19 to tell her about her father's death.

However she said she only found out exactly what happened a week and a half later after speaking to one of his friends in Thailand.

She claimed police and the local electric board have confirmed the hotel are at fault and prosecution is pending. She said they were also raising funds to fight the hotel in court, as well as paying for her flight to Thailand to represent him.

Ramona Brooks is hoping to raise funds to bring her father home from Thailand

Ms Brooks, a recruitment consultant, said: 'I feel really lost because it happened abroad. The hotel don't have any money and they are admitting it is their fault but they can't pay for it.

'My family are relying on me to get an outcome. We are just trying to get him home to get laid to rest properly.

'We are now looking for help from family and friends and we will have to go from there. We have also set up a Just Giving page.

'I'm five months pregnant and going through all of this as well is a bit trying. When we do fight them [the hotel] I'm going to have to represent the family as I'm the oldest in the family.

'My mum is too upset to deal with all of this so I have to take the reins. It has been really stressful. We are a bit stuck.

'I'm a bit of a control freak. If it had happened over here I would have dealt with it straight away but because it is all the way over there I can't. My brothers didn't believe me at first.

'We aren't just dealing with his death and that he is still stuck in a foreign country with no family members around him.

'We also have to come to the realisation that we are looking to prosecute a company for gross negligence that have financial difficulties in a very poor country.

'They cannot even assist with an urgent repatriation so we can lay him to rest.

'It is looking likely we will not be receiving financial support from the hotel in any way and even after prosecution which will be a long drawn out process.'

The police officer in charge of the case in Thailand has been approached via phone and email but has yet to respond.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'Our staff are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Thailand, and will continue to assist them at this very difficult time.'
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These photographers snapped amazing images of a fighter jet as it flew straight past them - appearing to zoom perilously close to the edge of a cliff.

The enthusiasts gathered at Cad East in Snowdonia National Park to take pictures of F-15 Eagle fighters as they completed the Mach Loop - a series of mountains in Wales regularly used for training in low-flying jet aircraft.

Camped on the rocky cliff edge, the photographers snapped one of the jets from the 492nd Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

One photographer, who wished to remain anonymous, captured the moment the fighter flew just feet away from the waiting cameras.

Photographers snapped amazing images of an F-15 Eagle fighter jet flying low through Snowdonia in Wales, pictured, appearing to be just 200 feet away from a cliff edge. The aircraft was taking part in the Mach Loop - a series of mountains in the Welsh region regularly used for training pilots to fly at low altitude

The fighter, pictured, believed to be from 492nd Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, is capable of hitting top speeds of 1,650mph and the group of photographers chose this specific spot because of how often the area is used by pilots

He said: 'The photo was taken at Cad East, a steep rocky outcrop which lies to the east of the mountain Cadair Idris in the southern end of Snowdonia National Park.

'I had gone there specifically to get photos of the aircraft flying through and was very pleased when the F-15s flew through. The best shots I took were some of the first that day.

'The pilot had just done a pass through what is called the Mach Loop.

'The photographers on the top of Cad East are probably no more than 200 feet away from the jet when it passes in front of them. '

F-15 Eagles, pictured, were designed by Boeing in 1972 and first entered service with the US Air Force in 1976. Since then they have become part of the air forces for Saudi Arabia, Japan and Israel and have a spotless service record, having never been defeated in air-to-air combat

This picture captured the trail of exhaust and vapour left behind by the fast-moving jet, which is armed with a 20mm six-barrel cannon and a variety of missiles. The aircraft has been improved upon in recent years with faster variants such as the F-15E Strike Eagle created, but the original model is set to stay in production until 2022, 50 years since it was first created
A majority of MPs support a ban on protests outside abortion clinics, a new poll has revealed.

A survey of 101 parliamentarians found that 57 per cent support a council's decision to introduce a 'buffer zone' to stop demonstrations immediately outside clinics.

Ealing Council in west London voted through the measure last month to stop protesters 'intimidating and harassing' women.

And other authorities in Britain are considering copying the move, which could see councils use Public Space Protection Orders to ban the protesters.

The survey, carried out by YouGov on behalf of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), found nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of MPs opposed the decision.

A majority of MPs asked said they support new measures to ban anti-abortion protesters from demonstrating outside abortion clinics

The rest said they neither supported or opposed the measure.

The poll has been published ahead of a parliamentary debate, which is being led by Labour MP for Ealing Central Rupa Huq and will take place later today, on buffer zones.

Clare Murphy, director of external affairs at BPAS, said: 'A clear majority of MPs support action on anti-abortion clinic protests.

'For years, a tiny handful of individuals have been permitted to cause women seeking legal healthcare services significant distress.

'As a direct result of the government's refusal to engage with this issue, these groups have become emboldened and protests have intensified. This cannot be allowed this to continue.

'We are a pro-choice country with a pro-choice parliament - but this isn't about the rights and wrongs of abortion.

'Indeed, we know that MPs who have not traditionally supported a woman's right to choose are in favour of buffer zones  because they understand that the harassment and intimidation of any woman on the streets of the UK is unacceptable.

'A number of councils are working hard to tackle this issue on a local level, but this is not the answer to a growing national problem.'

Labour MP for Ealing Central Rupa Huq, pictured at the election ocunt in June, is leading a parliamentary debate on the buffer zones later today

She said it should not be down to individual councils to tackle the problem and called for Home Secretary Amber Rudd to defend women goign to abortion clinics.

She said: 'We hope the Home Secretary, who has always defended women's access to abortion care, will be as heartened by this poll as we are, and bring forward the buffer zones legislation that women need and parliament would support.'

In October, a cross-party group of over 100 MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, wrote to Ms Rudd, calling for buffer zones to be introduced.

Anti abortion campaigners have staged a number of demonstrations outside clinics in recent years.

Campaigners and those who work inside the clinics say women feel harassed and intimidated as they head inside.
A public meeting in Helena over a proposed copper mine near White Sulphur Springs took on a familiar narrative Monday, with opposition citing potential risks to the iconic Smith River and supporters saying the project can be both economically beneficial and environmentally friendly.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality hosted its third of four scoping meetings for the Black Butte Copper Project proposed by Tintina Montana, Inc. Scoping is the first step in drafting an environmental impact statement, in which the state is required under law to consider environmental impacts and propose alternatives for the project.

Hours before the meeting opponents of the mine towed drift boats and rafts sporting No Smith River Mine signs around the Capitol. For a few minutes in the subfreezing weather, 25-30 opponents lined the northern edge of the grounds and displayed signs on the front steps while awaiting additional opposition bused in from Missoula and Bozeman.

The mines link to the Smith River centers on its proposed location 17 miles away near its tributary Sheep Creek. Opponents, largely citing minings legacy of environmental impacts in the state, fear that the project risks the river and its renowned floating and fishing. The Smith is Montanas only permitted river with long draw odds for a short float season.

Opponents continued to outnumber proponents as the meeting got underway with more than 200 people in attendance at the Radisson Colonial Inn and more than 30 offering oral comments on the project.

Mike Moore with Simms Fishing in Bozeman said he was absolutely confident the state and Tintina has done everything they can to mitigate potential impacts but human error is inherent in any project. A loss of a resource such as the Smith could mean a loss of outdoor-related brands that call the state home, he said.

Outfitters on the Smith offered their pitches for either disallowing the mine while touting the economic impacts that float trips provide.

Why risk it? You have a beautiful river that provides jobs and recreation in the state of Montana, outfitter Brandon Boedecker said.

Fellow outfitter Joe Sowerby said he is particularly concerned that the hydrology of the river and underground aquifers are not fully understood. Cold water offers refuge for trout during the hottest months and tributaries such as Sheep Creek are primary spawning grounds, he said.

Malcolm Gilbert said he believes wildlife and fisheries studies needed additional scrutiny and noted the absence of study of endangered species impacts.

Many speakers offered personal anecdotes about floats on the river.

This is a river that we will never have again in its beauty and purity should anything go wrong with this mine, Ann Wilsnack.

Other opponents questioned the longer term plans for mining the area beyond the roughly 14-year predicted mine life, and whether Tintina or another company purchasing mineral rights would continue resource development for decades.

Several speakers threw their support behind the mine as well.

Brian Obert with Montana Business Assistance Connection said he has seen nearly a dozen proposed mines in the last 12 years, and this is the first he felt comfortable could deliver the jobs and economic benefits it proposes.

Webb Brown with the Montana Chamber of Commerce believed the project will allow both mining and recreation to coexist. The mine would allow some younger families to stay in White Sulphur, he said, and DEQ must do its job to analyze the project from a scientific standpoint.

Dave Galt said that family owning land along the Smith is satisfied with the safeguards and transparency Tintina has presented, and that the mining industry in Montana has not gotten enough credit for steps taken and laws supported to regulate for environmental safeguards.

Republican Sen. Terry Gauthier gave his support citing the state's need for tax revenue.

Democratic Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell gave her caution, pointing to her district and the Superfund cleanup of East Helena.

DEQ has held public meetings in White Sulphur and Great Falls and will host an additional public meeting in Livingston on Nov. 7

Scoping comments may also be submitted electronically to deqtintinablackbuttecopperproject@mt.gov, or by mail to the following address:

Craig Jones, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620-0901.

Comments are due by Nov. 16.
A teenager who teamed up with a gang of Uber drivers to fleece the taxi app out of thousands of pounds by booking fake journeys has been jailed for eight months.

Onome Omonoseh, 19, created 'bogus' customer accounts with details of stolen credit cards from the dark web and booked long trips through the app.

Omonoseh, of Islington, north London, would rack up a huge bill worth hundreds of pounds for a trip out of the capital and the driver would pocket three quarters of the fee.

Uber lost up to 10,000 while Omonoseh made at least 1,760 as the 'coordinator' of the scheme, however the prosecution accepted the figure was 'conservative'.

Dan-Alexandru Pasat, 29, (left) and Mihai Toader, 32, were two of the drivers involved in the scam

Uber lost up to 10,000 while Omonoseh made at least 1,760 as the 'coordinator' of the fraudulent scheme

Drivers Michael Julien, 50, Dan-Alexandru Pasat, 29, Kamlesh Sagoo, 62, Ibrahim Tekagac, 35, and Mihai Toader, 32, took Omonoseh on at least 44 rides from February 2016 to December 2016.

Stephen Requena, prosecuting, said: 'The evidence shows that Mr Omonoseh was the main instigator of the frauds against Uber.

'He creating bogus Uber customer accounts on the app and making bogus trips for which drivers were paid, and then a cut was passed to Mr Ononoseh for organising the frauds.

'The details were taken from a website which sells credit card for fraudulent and criminal purposes.

'GPS location showed the mobile phone handset did not always travel with the drivers and in effect the fraud by Mr Omonoseh and the co-defendants was in collaboration.'

Omonoseh claimed he did not have the 'wherewithal' to organise the fraud and said a group of young men from Islington, north London, ran it.

Sagoo claimed Omonoseh approached her wearing an Uber sweatshirt and offered her the extra work, which she initially believed was legitimate.

She thought 250 others were doing the same work and was the 'victim of her own naivety', the court heard.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ader, said: 'This was a sophisticated operation that took place over a period of time to defraud Uber, a taxi type firm, of their commission and their fee.

Ibrahim Tekagac, 35, (pictured) took Omonoseh on five journeys between June and December last year

'Each of of you played a part in this operation but I deal with you on the basis of your role and your individual circumstances.

'The total fraud was probably in the region of some 10,000.

'The prosecution put that this was a high culpability because it was a sophisticated type of offence. It required quite a bit of planning.'

'Sometimes there was no one in the car - you were claiming for a trip that didn't involve taking a customer - and it was done over a long period of time.

'That was an abuse of trust that Uber placed in each of you as a driver and a leading role ascribed by you because without you it could never and would never have happened.

'You seem to have a large part to play in driving this system and in particular carrying it out.'

Omonoseh was sentenced to eight months in a Young Offenders' Institution.

The court was told Julien took Omonoseh on 17 trips, between February 29 and November 4 2016, costing 4,434.93. Julien was paid 3,326.20 by Uber.

He was jailed for eight months.

Pasat took the teen on 12 journeys between July 24 to November 30 2016, totalling 1,756.52 with a payment from Uber of 1376.06.

He was handed a six month suspended sentence for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay compensation to Uber of 500 at a rate of 50 a month.

Tekagac drove Omonoseh on five journeys between June 11 2016 and December 14 2016, racking up 2,344.97 in trips, and was paid 1,408.79 by the app.

He was handed a six month suspended sentence for 18 months and was ordered to pay Uber compensation of 500 at a rate of 100 per month.

Toader was involved in five of the journeys from July 30 2016 and September 2 2016 with journeys totalling 1,157.39. He was paid around 865 by Uber in wages.

Kamlesh Sagoo, 62, (left) claimed Omonoseh approached her wearing an Uber sweatshirt and offered her the extra work and was a driver in the gang along with Tekagac (right)

Transport for London decided not to renew Uber's private hire licence in September, on the grounds of 'public safety and security implications'

He was handed a six month suspended sentence for 18 months. He was ordered to pay 500 in compensation to Uber at a rate of 50 a month.

Sagoo, the only female Uber driver in on the scam, took Omonoseh on five trips from August 26 and October 18 2016 with journeys totalling up to 857.57. She profited the least, being paid 686.06 by Uber.

She was handed a four month suspended sentence for 18 months. The judge ordered her to pay compensation to Uber of 486 at a rate of 50 a month.

Transport for London decided not to renew Uber's private hire licence in September, on the grounds of 'public safety and security implications'.

But the ride hailing app, which is available in more than 40 towns and cities across the UK, can still operate in the capital pending an appeal by the company against the licence decision.

Omonoseh, of Islington, Julien, of Southwark, Pasat, of Ilford, Essex, Sagoo, of Neasden, Tekagac of Enfield and Toader of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, admitted fraud by false representation.
A North Korean defector who survived eight years in a prison camp is now crowd-funding Kim Jong Un's assassination.

Dr. Lee Aeran, 53, escaped beatings, starvation and hard labour when she made the hazardous journey to a new life in South Korea in 1997.

She now runs a restaurant in Seoul where guests can donate cash towards the killing of the corpulent dictator, so far amassing more than 2,300.

Free: Dr. Lee Aeran, 53, escaped to South Korea in 1997 and has since opened a restaurant in Seoul where she is now taking donations towards Kim Jong-Un's assassination

Dr Lee, who was awarded the 2010 International Women of Courage award by the US Government, said: 'As long as Kim Jung-Un is alive, world peace isn't possible.

'I believe North Korea needs to implement a society based on democracy and that Kim Jung Un must be eliminated. The best way to do that is to assassinate him.

'North Korea is a closed society so of course this will be difficult. So I decided to have a campaign awarding prize money to anyone that could kill him.

Dr Lee was forced to leave her husband behind in North Korea when she fled

'This may motivate people close to him. The fundraising campaign will reward the person who can kill him.'

Dr Lee first dreamed up the idea for her crowdfunding campaign in 2014, but wasn't spurred into action until the death of US student Otto Warmbier this June.

Otto was held prisoner in her former hometown of Pyongyang for stealing a propaganda sign and died six days after returning to Ohio on a coma.

But Dr Lee admits not everyone has been taken by the bold campaign in her restaurant, called Neung-ra Table, with some loyal diners even vowing to boycott her.

But others have thrown support behind it - already donating 2,334 and heaping praise upon her idea.

Aeran said: 'I first thought about this in 2014, but I was afraid to announce it publicly. But after Otto Warmbier died, I was encouraged to start this campaign.

'Some customers strongly support the campaign and have donated to it. Others have gotten angry, said it's awful and that they won't return to my restaurant.'

Aeran's hardship began aged ten when she was exiled with her family to a prison camp in the rugged Ryangganag Province.

She endured beatings, starvation and extreme labour and said the shadow of her banishment followed her long afterwards - even leading her to attempt suicide.

Kim Wrong-un: Dr Lee believes that assassinating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un is the only way to achieve world peace

Cashing in: The perspex box is on display in Dr Lee's restaurant in Seoul

DrLee being given an appreciation medal from Theodore D. Martin, the US commanding general, of the 2nd Infantry Division

Her family eventually risked execution by stealing across the Amur River into China and, after months of travelling by foot, eventually finding their way into Seoul.

Today Dr Lee employs exclusively female North Korean defectors in her restaurant, as well as teaching them other sides to life in capitalist society.

The mother-of-one, who was forced to leave her husband behind in North Korea, said: 'When I was ten years old, were seized as we were having dinner and exiled to the deep countryside.

'Life in the countryside was harsh, every day we had to endure extreme labor. I was beaten a lot, it was terrible.

Human rights fighter: Dr Lee during a an Otto Warmbier protest

'Because of our background, we had no chance to have a good life in North Korea, we were always discriminated against afterwards.

'After being rejected for so many opportunities, I attempted suicide. Life in North Korea was a nightmare for us.'

Aeran was taught English through the Teach North Korean Refugees program in Seoul, which help North Koreans integrate and relearn history after being taught propaganda.

She applied herself fully as a human rights campaigner, even rubbing shoulders with Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama in 2010.

And while her crowdfunded assassination bid may seem radical, Dr Lee believes it is the only solution to the tyranny of the repressive state.

She said: 'After I left, I learned and realised the unlimited possibility of people as human beings when they gain freedom.

'Life of North Korea was the same as slavery. To have peace in the world, we need to cooperate with people who believe in freedom, and get rid of North Korea.'
Carl Bergstrom is a former 'concierge' doctor whose rape trial in 2009 rocked the community of Carmel Valley, California

An infamous sex offender in an upscale California neighborhood was able to live as a host to unsuspecting guests in an Airbnb rental after not showing up on the state's registry.

Carl Bergstrom, a former wealthy 'concierge' doctor whose rape trial in 2009 rocked the community of Carmel Valley, entertained dozens of guests at a home with Airbnb host 'Sharon'.

While neighbors in Carmel Valley are away of Bergstrom's history, Airbnb didn't catch on for more than a year, because he isn't publicly registered as a sex offender and isn't directly named as a host on the site.

The Carmel Valley home was listed on Airbnb by Sharon a little over a year ago, and while Bergstrom's name isn't listed, guests often mentioned him in the review section.

'Sharon and Carl took very good care of us,' a couple wrote in a review. 'Sharon and Carl were great hosts and their advice for things to do in the local area were excellent.'

The reviewers added that Sharon and Carl were 'extremely accommodating', adding that they had made 'two great new friends'.

Bergstrom entertained dozens of guests at a Carmel Valley home (pictured) with Airbnb host 'Sharon'

While neighbors in Carmel Valley are away of Bergstrom's history, Airbnb didn't catch on for more than a year, because he isn't publicly registered as a sex offender and isn't directly named as a host on the site

Sharon knew Bergstrom's background, and told a Business Insider reporter that she was aware he was not on Megan's list - the sex offender registry - or on Airbnb.

After Airbnb learned that Bergstrom was living in the house, the site banned Sharon and her Carmel Valley home from the rental platform.

'Hosts need to be transparent about who has access to their home (so we can check) and not doing so can lead to removal like in this case. We removed this host and this listing from our community,' Nick Shapiro, Airbnb's Global Head of Trust & Risk Management, told Business Insider.

Bergstrom was arrested in 2009 after a woman claimed she woke up at his home after a night of drinking and found him assaulting her.

During the trial, the former doctor maintained his innocence, saying the sex was consensual.

Prosecutors then presented two other women who accused him of other incidents but had never filed charges.

After Airbnb learned that Bergstrom was living in the house, the site banned Sharon and her Carmel Valley home from the rental platform

They also presented evidence that Bergstrom had sold cocaine - an allegation Bergstrom admitted to, saying he would trade prescription drugs for for cocaine.

Bergstrom was convicted of felony 'forcible sodomy' and was sentenced to six years in prison, but the appellate court overturned the verdict, ruling that the judge in the original case had given the jury poor instructions on making their guilty decision.

A second trial never took place, as the victim did not want to go through the ordeal again.

Bergstrom struck a plea deal with officials, pleading no contest to the lessor charge of felony sexual battery.

We was released from prison for time served and agreed to be a registered sex offender for life - but part of the plea allowed him to be excluded from the public database.

Most states allow some convicted sex offenders from publicly regering on Morgan's List, primarily if they are considered low risk to the public.

Sharon knew Bergstrom's background, and told a Business Insider reporter that she was aware he was not on Megan's list - the sex offender registry - or on Airbnb

Others are excluded if their information would also expose the identity of the victim, in cases of relatives.

Even with background checks, the rule makes it difficult for sites like Airbnb to detect registered sex offenders who are not in the database.

Additionally, it is unclear how Airbnb does background checks on adults living in rental homes who are not listed as hosts.

Its policies about background checks to not discuss the histories of roommates, spouses or others who live in the homes.

Shapiro said Airbnb watches for 'signals' that might indicate that something 'unsafe' is going on in a rental home.

Shapiro said that when US residents apply to be hosts, the company does 'background checks looking for prior felony convictions, sex offender registrations, or significant misdemeanors. We are working with additional governments around the world to identify where we can do more background checks'.

He added that 'more than 200 million guests have had safe, positive experiences on Airbnb'.
Flights were cancelled and chaos ensued after a single engine AS350BA Squirrel crashed at Hobart airport, killing one person and leaving another desperately clinging to life on Tuesday evening.

Tasmania Police Inspector John Ward that emergency services responded to a reports of a 'serious crash' at 5.23pm, and all traffic in and out of the area has been cancelled until further notice.

'I understand it was approximately 200m off the ground when it nosedived towards the ground,' he told the Mercury.

'As a result, it crashed into the ground near the southern end of Hobart airport, approximately four metres off the tarmac.'

Scroll down for video

A helicopter crash in Hobart has killed one person and left another desperately clinging to life

Flights entering or leaving Hobart airport have been cancelled indefinitely, the ABC reported

A witness told police he saw a helicopter 'come down hard' on grass about five metres from the runway shortly before 6:00pm, according to ABC.

Police also confirmed that the passenger who survived the crash is now in the Royal Hobart Hospital with critical injuries, while the helicopter has been written off.

He also extended his sympathies to the family of the victim, and reaffirmed that authorities had interviewed three out of four eyewitnesses.

One witness, Adele Khoury, told media that she saw the helicopter came in from the Pittwater area.

It apparently flew to about tree height before performing a loop and descending into a nose dive ending in 'a puff of smoke'.

The man in hospital is so far unable to speak to police due to being 'in and out of consciousness', but it is hoped that he will be fit for an interview in the next 48 hours.

Inspector Ward police were working through the night as part of the investigation and to clear the runway to allow the airport to reopen.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said, 'A team of two Transport Safety Investigators from Brisbane and Canberra will travel to the site shortly to begin their investigation.'

There have been preliminary reports that the helicopter was performing aerial duties for the states emergency services at the time.

Passengers were told they could not stay at the airport because of 'a full civil aviation inquiry'

Arrangements have been made to transfer some of the travellers to the airport at Launceston

Passengers are being advised to check with their individual airlines for travel information.

Melbourne-bound passenger Kurt Sutherland said that they were informed the airport would be unlikely to be open tomorrow, so arrangements have been made to transfer some travellers to Launceston.

Mr Sutherland also told media that passengers had been told they could not stay at the airport because there would be 'a full civil aviation inquiry'.

Those who are stranded have been put up in hotels, while those who are able been asked to return home for the night,

ABC employee Anne Cordiner, who was at the airport when the crash happened, said 'there were a couple of hundred people' who had been waiting in the departure terminal for information and people were 'calm'.
Stephanie Letten (pictured outside court last month), 21, from Clapham in south London, launched an attack on Michelle James

A barmaid who attacked a mother and ripped out clumps of her hair after refusing to apologise for hitting the woman's daughter with a toilet door at the London Eye has avoided jail.

Stephanie Letten, 21, called Michelle James a 'fat pig' before launching the attack in the cubicle inside the ticket hall of the popular tourist attraction on July 4 this year.

A court heard that Ms James' daughter has been left so frightened by the incident that she has started to wet the bed because she is too scared to use her own toilet.

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard the incident began when Letten came out of the disabled lavatory and hit Ms James' three-year-old daughter with the door.

Ms James said: 'My daughter said her shoulder hurt and I checked it. The lady looked at us and I said: "You could say sorry."

'She said: "I'm not going to, I don't have to say sorry" and started mumbling to herself and just walked away.'

Ms James said she the heard Letten shouting 'that lady's a pig' from the sink area.

Letten's friend Yasmin Sinclair then stood behind Ms James in the cubicle to ask her what had happened.

'I then heard the lady started to shout again, I heard her getting closer so I turned around,' Ms James continued. 'Miss Letten started saying she was going to take me on.

'I said: "Don't think because I'm fat and old you can take me on" as this is the kind of thing she had been saying about me earlier.

'She tried to hit me with her right hand. I put up my hand but neither of us made contact because Miss Sinclair was in between us.

'She then tried to kick me. I was still in the cubicle with my daughter at this time as there was nowhere to go. When she raised her hand to grab my hair she did so.

'I shoved her and her friend out of the cubicle towards the sinks. She then continued to hold my hair until she ripped it out.

'She then started laughing saying that she had my "nappy" hair in her hands and then she threw it towards the sink and it went into the sink.

Letten, who denied the charge, was convicted of assault by beating but managed to avoid a prison sentence

'She then started to say I was fat and a pig again, and then they walked out of the toilets at which point I turned towards my daughter.

'Before I got to the cubicle I heard foot steps running towards me and she was running towards me like she was going to hit me again.

'She didn't make contact with me but she did grab my top and I pulled away from her and she stopped and her friend was saying "lets go".

'Her friend was telling me to leave the toilet but I couldn't leave my child in there. I was telling them to leave.'

She said Letten walked out of the toilet again but then came back again and Ms James held her against the sinks to calm her down.

'She had a bottle in her hand.'

She said Letten then hurled the bottle at her.

Asked how the incident had affected her, Ms James said: 'It's affected my daughter the most.

'She started wetting the bed a couple of days after. She had five weeks where she was afraid to go to the toilet and wet herself. It even happened at nursery, she had to be changed two or three times a day.

'Even when you put her on the toilet she said she didn't need to go and then would wet herself.'

Earlier Magistrate Edward Gold said: 'We have heard from the complainant that there was a confrontation on the toilets and that you were the instigator.

'We found her account credible and her injuries are consistent with the account.

'We also heard your evidence and that you did accept that you pulled some of her hair out albeit that it was in a confrontation.

'We are satisfied that you are guilty of assault by beating as per the Crown's case.'

Letten was handed a community order and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work over a period of 12 months and pay the victim 100 in compensation.

Letten denied but was convicted of assault by beating.
A heart-warming collection of letters sent to Oskar Schindler by Jews he saved from the Nazis during the Second World War will go on sale.

Schindler protected workers in his Polish enamelware factory and was immortalised in the Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List.

Now a haul of more than 70 letters from workers and other Jews saved from the Holocaust by the German businessman will go to auction.

The collection contains letters and photos sent to Schindler and his wife Emilie from countries across the world, including Israel and the US.

Kathryn Cooper of Lawrences auctioneers (left) holds onto personal mementos owned by Oskar and Emilie Schindler during their time in Argentina

Oskar Schindler poses with some of the Jewish people that he saved from the Holocaust in 1946

Emile Schindler's German passport and letter with Israeli stamps are among the small personel archive of Emile and Oskar Schindler to be auctioned

The collection contains letters and photos sent to Schindler (left) and his wife Emilie (right) from countries across the world, including Israel and the US

Oskar Schindler saved as many as 1,200 Jewish lives by employing them at his factories. Shown is his famous Schindler's List, which names each of the Jews saved

After the Schindlers fled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1949, they began to receive letters from former employees expressing their gratitude.

One survivor wrote: 'I was very moved by your courageous self-sacrifice.

'More importantly, however, I thank you Frau Schindler, for having restored my faith in mankind.'

Another letter read: 'Although I never actually met you, it is an honour and privilege, as a spiritual heir to those whom you saved, to wish you a very happy and healthy birthday.'

Schindler, an ethnic German and successful enamelware manufacturer, joined the Nazi party in 1938 and ran factories in Poland on cheap Jewish labour.

When the extent of Nazi brutality became clear, Schindler had a change of heart.

A photo (shown left) dated 1944 shows Oskar Schindler mounting a horse, while on the right is a clock given to the Schindlers as a present

The letters will go under the hammer on December 8 and are expected to fetch up to 700 at Lawrences auction house in Crewkerne, Somerset

Schindler protected workers in his Polish enamelware factory and was immortalised in the Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List (starring Liam Neeson)

He began protecting his workers by bribing SS officers and relisting them as essential munitions workers.

After the family's money ran out Mrs Schindler sold her jewels and clothes to buy food and medicine for the workers, saving the lives of more than 1,200 Jews.

The letters will go under the hammer on December 8 and are expected to fetch up to 700 at Lawrences auction house in Crewkerne, Somerset.

An engraved dish, a musical clock and a photo of Mr Schindler riding a horse are also among the objects on sale.

A gold Omega wristwatch thought to belong to Mr Schindler could sell for 600.
The birth family of tragic 18-month-old girl Elsie Scully-Hicks have said she would 'still be alive today' if she had not been taken away from them as her adoptive father was jailed for life for murdering her.

Former fitness instructor Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years in prison for murdering Elsie just two weeks after formally adopting her.

A court heard today murdered the 'vulnerable and defenceless' toddler after calling her 'Satan in a Babygro' and telling her to 'shut the f*** up' at his home in Llandaff, Cardiff.

It was revealed that one of her biological grandparents had tried to adopt her when she was taken from the care of her birth mother, but social services ruled she would struggle to cope.

Elsie Scully-Hicks (left) was killed by one of her adoptive fathers, Matthew Scully-Hicks (right) after being taken out of the care of her biological family

Scully-Hicks was given a life sentence after he subjected Elsie to months of horrific assaults.

The court was today told she suffered a cardiac arrest and was bleeding behind the eyes following a string of horrific assaults while she was alone with stay-at-home father Scully-Hicks.

Following months of abuse Scully-Hicks killed the youngster after violently shaking her and banging her head on a hard surface just two weeks after she was formally adopted by him and his 36-year-old husband Craig.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, when sentencing Scully-Hicks, took into account a victim impact statement - which was not read in court - provided by Elsie's birth family.

In the statement, which can now be reported, the natural family of Elsie - who was originally named Shayla O'Brien - said they were 'numb with pain'.

Speaking on behalf of the family, her birth grandmother Sian O'Brien said: 'I accept that at the time of giving birth my daughter was living a chaotic lifestyle and was not in a position to care for Shayla and she was removed from the hospital five days after birth by social services.

'As a family, we continued to have contact with Shayla whilst she was in the care of the foster family.'

Ms O'Brien said all of Elsie's family were 'extremely attached to her and loved her very much'.

She said: 'In January 2015, I started proceedings in the family court to become the legal guardian for Shayla.

'I wanted to bring her up in a happy, healthy and warm family environment, that was all taken away from me when social services and the family court decided I would not be able to cope.'

The statement continued: 'We all continue to fight on even though every day we are numb with pain and hurt deep in the knowledge that Shayla was loved unconditionally by us all as a family and knowing that had she not been taken away from us, she would still be alive today.'

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, shook Elsie before she was 'thrown against a hard floor' while he was looking after her at his home in Llandaff, Cardiff, on May 25 2016

The court heard in the weeks before her death, Elsie suffered a number of suspicious injuries including bruises and broken a leg after she had 'fallen down the stairs'.

And today, Scully-Hicks was emotionless when he was told he must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars as Mrs Justice Davies said Elsie was a 'young, vulnerable and defenceless child'.

Social services in the Vale of Glamorgan now face an investigation after they visited the family 15 times but still raised no concerns - despite finding out the severity of her injuries.

Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Davies, said: 'Elsie was aged just 18 months when you killed her, a young, vulnerable and defenceless child.

'She had been entrusted to the care of yourself and your husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, her adoptive fathers.

'Shortly before 6.19pm on May 25 2016 you inflicted injuries of such severity upon Elsie as to cause her immediate collapse and her death on May 29.

'In deliberately inflicting serious injuries upon your 18-month-old adopted daughter you abused the trust which had been placed in you as Elsie's adoptive father.

'It was a gross abuse of that trust. It was an abuse of the responsibility which had been placed upon you as her adoptive father to protect and care for this young, vulnerable and defenceless child.

Listing her injuries, the judge added: 'Elsie suffered a cardiac arrest. She sustained hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, a brain injury including subdural haematoma, bleeding in the eyes, the retina, the perimacular folds and in the area of the optic nerve.

'These injuries were sustained when you gripped Elsie around the chest, your fingers were on her back exerting pressure which fractured her ribs.

'Having gripped Elsie you shook her with such force as to cause further injuries. The fracture to the skull was caused by an impact with a hard surface.

'Her collapse would have swiftly followed, that having occurred you called the emergency services.'

The judge added Scully-Hicks's case was aggravated by Elsie's vulnerability due to her age and an abuse of a position of trust.

Scully-Hicks had presented himself as a loving and doting father but he inflicted injury after injury on Elsie before he killed her

She said: 'I am satisfied you inflicted injuries upon Elsie in November 2015 which caused the fractures to her leg and in December 15 the large bruise to her forehead.

'You had, and were aware that you had, a predisposition to injure your adoptive daughter.

'You took no steps to prevent a recurrence of the earlier incidents when Elsie suffered injuries as a result of your actions.

'It has been submitted on your behalf that a statutory mitigating factor is the lack of premeditation. In finding that you acted in anger I accept that represents a lack of premeditation.

'However, the absence of premeditation is tempered by the fact that your anger towards Elsie did not represent an isolated occasion and you knew that your anger could lead to deliberately inflicted injury. No remorse has been shown.

'You were living in comfortable social circumstances with the close support of professional agencies, your husband and wider family.

'You have been assessed by two independent psychiatrists who found no psychiatric condition which would have affected your actions.'

Cardiff Crown Court heard Scully-Hicks, originally from Delabole, Cornwall, branded her 'a psycho', 'the exorcist' and 'Satan dressed up in a Babygro' in text messages.

Neighbours also heard the former lifeguard calling Elsie a 'little f****** brat' and a 'silly little c***'.

The judge also referred to text messages the defendant had sent describing Elsie's meal times and bed time as 'your worst nightmare'.

Mrs Justice Davies added that had a doctor spotted Elsie's double leg fracture in November 2015, the protocol at the hospital would have meant she would have been assessed by a consultant.

She said: 'Tragically the opportunity was missed.'

She told him: You are an intelligent man. You would have known you were struggling to cope with Elsie.

'You knew that in November and December your frustration and anger towards Elsie had resulted in injuries to her. You told no one the truth of what had occurred nor the reason for it.

'Regular visits were made by social workers and the health visitor. To no one, not even your husband, did you have the courage to speak of your difficulties.

The court heard Elsie suffered a number of shocking injuries including a fractured skull and internal bleeding

'You put your own self-interest before that of the young child you had been entrusted to protect.'

Scully-Hicks, who sobbed when he was convicted, denied murdering her but was yesterday found guilty by a jury after a four week trial.

A Child Practice Review has been commissioned 'into the tragic circumstances' of Elsie's death, a spokesman for the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Regional Safeguarding Children Board said.

Elsie was formally adopted by the couple on May 12 last year and suffered fatal injuries at their home in Llandaff, Cardiff, on May 25.

Hours before the attack, Matthew Scully-Hicks had taken her shopping at Marks & Spencer for an outfit to wear at a party celebrating her adoption.

He sent pictures of outfits at Marks & Spencer to his husband and purchased one for Elsie to wear.

But instead he shook her and then threw her to the ground, leaving his daughter fatally injured.

In a 999 call at 6.18pm, he claimed: 'I was just changing my daughter for bed and she went all floppy and limp.'

Paramedics arrived at 6.26pm and Elsie was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where she died four days later.

Tests showed she had suffered three separate areas of bleeding on her brain, bleeding in both eyes, a skull fracture and three rib fractures.

Social workers visited the couple 15 times January 9 - Initial visit by adoption manager Bethan James February 20 - Initial visit by Laura Neal, social worker, with the couple for assessment as potential adopters March 9, 20 and 30 - Further visits by Laura Neal to assess the Scully-Hicks April 13 - Further assessment visit by Laura Neal July 30 - Laura Neal and Mark Lloyd-Selby, Elsie's social worker, visit the Scully-Hicks September 17 and 28 - Elsie observed during social work visits to the Scully-Hicks' home by Hillary Southam and Laura Neal September 29 - Adoption review at the house with social workers and independent reviewing officer Erol Bowers December 2 - Visit by social worker Cheryl Longley January 26 - Social worker visit with Cheryl Longley February 26 - Social worker visit with Cheryl Longley March 14 - Social worker visit with Cheryl Longley April 29 - Social worker visit by Laura Neal Advertisement

Matthew Scully-Hicks previously claimed Elsie had fallen down the stairs and hurt herself in the months before her death

Consultant paediatrician Dr Stephen Rose said Elsie's injuries could be explained by her being 'shaken violently'.

Dr Rose said her fractured skull would have been caused by a blow to her head, with Elsie thrown against a hard floor or her head knocked against a wall.

Elsie's rib fractures were likely caused by Scully-Hicks gripping her, the court heard.

The court was told Elsie was placed with Scully-Hicks and his husband in September 2015, aged 10 months.

Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, said Elsie was found unresponsive by paramedics after Scully-Hicks attacked her at his home.

He said: 'The injuries that caused her death were inflicted upon her by the defendant shortly before he called emergency services that day.

'His attack upon her that day was not the first time he had employed violence towards Elsie, nor was it the first time he had caused her serious injury.

'His actions on the late afternoon of May 25 were the tragic culmination of a course of violent conduct on his part towards a defenceless child - an infant that he should have loved and protected, but whom he instead assaulted, abused, and ultimately murdered.'

A post mortem examination found Elsie suffered bleeding behind both eyes as well as rib fractures and a skull fracture which the pathologist said was 'as the result of an impact to the head.'

Craig Scully-Hicks worked five days per week, with Matthew Scully-Hicks the primary carer for Elsie.

Scully-Hicks was accused of hurting Elsie before but he had insisted that the baby gate (pictured) had just opened and that she had tumbled down the stairs

Scully-Hicks insisted he never harmed Elsie but the jury rejected his account after hearing from 12 medical experts and six doctors who treated her.

A Child Practice Review was launched by the Cardiff and Vale Regional Child Safeguarding Board and the probe could take up to a year to complete.

They will discuss whether chances were missed with Elsie and whether any lessons can be learned to prevent similar cases in the future.

A spokesman for the board said: 'Now that the criminal proceedings have concluded, the Regional Safeguarding Children Board will seek assurance that the independent child practice review, which has already been commissioned, into the tragic circumstances of the child's death, will be progressed.

'It would therefore not be appropriate for the Board to comment further until the conclusion of the independent review.'

Speaking outside court, Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Wales, of South Wales Police, said the circumstances of Elsie's murder were 'extremely rare'.

He said: 'Our thoughts today are with little Elsie and those who knew and loved her.

'Her untimely death at just 18 months old has had a devastating effect, first and foremost on her family, who remain uppermost in our thoughts.

'Elsie's death has also impacted a wider community, including the many professionals involved in her care and the subsequent investigation.

'I would like to thank all of them, including the many witnesses who assisted the prosecution.

'This case represents an extremely rare and distressing set of circumstances.

'We at South Wales Police continue to respect and value the role that adoption, and those involved, play in our society.'

Timeline: How baby Elsie suffered a string of injuries at the hands of her killer father before her murder November 17, 2014  Elsie is born, taken from her drug addict mother and put in the care of Vale of Glamorgan Council September 10, 2015  Elsie comes to live with the Scully-Hicks November 5, 2015  Elsie fractures her right leg while alone with Scully-Hicks. He tells Craig she fell from a toy table November 9, 2015  Elsie is seen by her GP for the injured leg. Scully-Hicks twists his story, telling the doctor that Elsie injured herself falling while using a baby walker November 12, 2015  Elsie's leg is x-rayed but doctors miss a second fractured thigh bone that could only have been caused by 'significant trauma' December 16, 2015  Elsie suffers a bruise to her left forehead that lasts for eight weeks. Scully-Hicks tells his husband Elsie 'whacked' her head on a toy table December 17, 2015  Adoption officials visit the Scully-Hicks December 21, 2015  Scully-Hicks lies to health visitor Jodie Golten that a GP has examined the bruise Jaunary 18, 2016  A month after the first bruise to her forehead, Scully-Hicks sends his husband Craig a video of Elsie over WhatsApp It clearly shows a fresh bruise overlaying the one she received a month ago. Again, there is no record of Elsie being seen by a GP at this time. Craig did not appear to raise any concerns March 10, 2016  Elsie is taken to hospital. Scully-Hicks claims she fell 'head over heels' down the stairs after opening a baby gate while he was sorting washing April 16, 2016  The Scully-Hicks move to a new house in Cardiff April 2016  Elsie develops a squint in her left eye and is referred to an eye clinic. Craig takes her to see GP Dr Ruth Stone May 12, 2016  Elsie is formally adopted by the Scully-Hicks May 25, 2016  Scully-Hicks calls 999 at 6.20pm and Elsie is rushed to hospital after becoming unresponsive Her injuries are similar to those caused by a car crash, the court heard. Medical staff find she has fractures to her leg, skull and to three ribs She also has bleeding to three parts of her brain as well as haemorrhages to both eyes May 27, 2016  An MRI scan reveals bleeding on both sides of the brain, caused by being gripped around the ribs and shaken from back to front May 29, 2016  Elsie dies at the University Hospital of Wales after suffering extensive brain damage Advertisement

Lisa McCarthy, a senior crown prosecutor within CPS Cymru-Wales, described the case as 'tragic'.

'The evidence put forward by the CPS proved that Matthew Scully-Hicks was not only responsible for those injuries, but that he intended to seriously harm her,' she said.

'The prosecution built a case through careful and detailed analysis of witness accounts, medical evidence and the circumstances surrounding Elsie's death.'

An NSPCC Cymru/Wales spokesman said today: 'Elsie suffered horrendous physical abuse at the hands of Matthew Scully-Hicks, a man who should have been protecting her but who instead carried out her brutal murder.

'Scully-Hicks inflicted appalling violence on Elsie and it is entirely right that he now faces a long spell in prison where he cannot hurt another child.

'It is a sad reality that abuse and neglect take place every day in many homes across the country. It is everyone's responsibility to be alert to the signs that a child may need help and be ready to take action to protect them.'

A spokesperson for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: 'The Regional Safeguarding Children Board, as the relevant statutory body, has commissioned an independent Child Practice Review into the tragic death of Elsie Scully-Hicks.

'It would be inappropriate for the Vale of Glamorgan Council to comment further until this independent review has concluded.'
Putting his hand on a can of beer, Bishop Tsietsi Makiti blesses the beverage ahead of his weekly sermon in Evaton, South Africa.

He then settles behind a table where the centerpiece is a 4.5litre bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label and sips on a generous measure of whisky before he starts preaching before his congregation.

Bishop Makiti is the head of Gabola Church, a 500-strong denomination for 'drinkers' which holds its Sunday sermons in taverns across Johannesburg.

Walker on water: Bishop Tsietsi Makiti of Gabola Church begins his weekly sermon after sipping on a dram of whisky at a tavern outside Johannesburg in South Africa

Gabola, which means 'drinking' in Sotho-Tswana, is a church for those who feel uncomfortable going to mainstream churches, where drinking alcohol is condemned.

'This is a space for people to come together in God's name without being ashamed of being drinkers,' Bishop Makiti told The Daily Sun.

The congregation gathers in a different tavern in the Johannesburg area each Sunday.

Bishop Makiti begins his sermon at 11am with the church session often lasting until late in the afternoon.

Bongs of praise: Bishop Tsietsi of Gabola Church raises a five-litre keg of beer as he preaches during his weekly sermon while congregants drink 'blessed' alcohol

In the name of the lager and the hoppy ghost: Bishop Tsietsi Makiti baptises members of his church in their alcoholic beverage of choice

I'm a beer-liever: Bishop Makiti says the church creates an environment where consumers of alcohol - who he says are condemned by mainstream churches - can find a home

Hops and prayers: So far, the 500-strong congregation is male only, but Bishop Makiti hopes to be able to welcome women in the future

Despite the fact that the church was only founded a few months ago, it already has 500 members and some 2,000 people have been baptised by Bishop Makiti - each in their own favourite alcoholic beverage.

'If you drink beer, you get baptised in beer,' Bishop Makiti explains.

'The same goes for those who drink cider and other alcoholic beverages.'

At the moment, Gabola Church has a male-only congregation. Bishop Makiti says that this is because he does not feel comfortable mixing genders due to the behaviour of drunk men towards women.

However, his goal is to educate the men of his church and will allow women to join when they have been 'well-prepared'.
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A series of images showing the notorious 'Wild Bunch' that helped Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid pull off a string of heists across the United States have resurfaced this week on the 109th anniversary of the outlaws' deaths.

Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker in 1866 in Utah, robbed his first bank in 1889 in Telluride, Colorado, and fell in with cattle rustlers who hid out at The Hole in the Wall, a refuge in northern Wyoming's Johnson County.

For 20 years, he and his Wild Bunch gang held up banks and trains across the Wild West and in South America - making them one of the most notorious group of outlaws to come out of the American west.

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker in 1866 in Utah, robbed his first bank in 1889 in Telluride, Colorado, and fell in with cattle rustlers who hid out at The Hole in the Wall, a refuge in northern Wyoming's Johnson County. For 20 years, his Wild Bunch gang held up banks and trains across the Wild West and in South America. Pictured above is the 'Fort Worth Five', front row from left to right is Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid, Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan, Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy; Standing: Will Carver, alias News Carver, & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1900

Cassidy (left in 1894) and the Sundance Kid (right, with Etta Place) evaded detection for several years after the Wild Bunch fell apart by fleeing to South America with Etta Place. But the pair soon returned to robbing, and they were eventually recognized by law enforcement officials in Bolivia, who surrounded the farmhouse they were staying in as part of a standoff that eventually led to the outlaws' deaths on November 7, 1908

The Wild Bunch's main target was often trains, stealing upwards of $60,000 in two raids on Union Pacific trains in the summer of 1899. Pictured above, officials survey the damage to an Overland Flyer train car caused by an explosion that allowed train robbers to escape with $30,000 in Wyoming in 1899

Images of the group have been restored to color as part of a new book titled Retrographic: History in Colour, and one shows Cassidy and the 'Sundance Kid', real name Harry Longabaugh, posing for a picture with other members of the gang.

Wild Bunch members 'Tall Texan', real name Ben Kilpatrick, 'News', real name Will Carver, and 'Kid Curry', real name Harvey Logan can all be seen in the photos.

Another image shows Cassidy posing for a mug shot in 1984 following an arrest for theft. Other images show Laura Bullion and Etta Place, the latter whom was romantically involved with the Sundance Kid.

The Wild Bunch's main target was often trains, stealing upwards of $60,000 in two raids on Union Pacific trains in the summer of 1899. Gang member Sam Ketchum was killed in a gunfight following one of the train robberies.

Elzy Lay, reportedly Cassidy's best friend and the man responsible for the deaths of two law enforcement officials in previous gunfights, was wounded and captured following the second robbery.

Wild Bunch members 'Tall Texan', real name Ben Kilpatrick, 'News', real name Will Carver, and 'Kid Curry', real name Harvey Logan can all be seen in the photos. Pictured above, Ben Kilpatrick in a mugshot shortly after being imprisoned for robbery in 1901

Laura Bullion (left), a member of the gang who was said to be romantically involved with the 'Tall Texan', was convicted of robbery for her part in the Great Northern train robbery in 1901. Jesse Linsley, a member of the gang, is pictured right in 1902

Despite this, Cassidy and the remaining members of the Wild Bunch persevered.

On August 29, 1900, Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Kid Curry and one other gang member held up another Union Pacific train, and followed this up with the theft of $32,640 from the First National Bank of Winnemucca, Nevada on September 19, 1900.

It was in December of the same year that members of the gang posed for the now infamous photo of the 'Fort Worth Five'.

On July 3, 1901, Kid Curry and a group of men robbed a Great Northern train near Wagner, Montana, taking over $60,000 in cash.

The gang split up shortly after, with News Carver killed in a shootout. On December 12, 1901, Ben Kilpatrick was captured in Knoxville, Tennessee along with Laura Bullion.

On August 29, 1900, Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Kid Curry (right, with Annie Rogers) and one other gang member held up another Union Pacific train, and followed this up with the theft of $32,640 from the First National Bank of Winnemucca, Nevada on September 19, 1900

On July 3, 1901, Kid Curry (left) and a group of men robbed a Great Northern train near Wagner, Montana, taking over $60,000 in cash. Elzy Lay (right), reportedly Cassidy's best friend and the man responsible for the deaths of two law enforcement officials in previous gunfights, was wounded and captured following a train robbery in 1899

But Cassidy and the Sundance Kid evaded detection for several years after the Wild Bunch fell apart by fleeing to South America with Etta Place.

But the pair soon returned to robbing, and they were eventually recognized by law enforcement officials in Bolivia, who surrounded the farmhouse they were staying in as part of a standoff that eventually led to the outlaws' deaths on November 7, 1908.

'The pair most likely shot themselves after being wounded and pinned down in a farmhouse by local police and soldiers,' says Michael Carroll, author of Retrographic.

'Other accounts and rumours allege that they were not involved in this incident and in fact survived in South America, and even returned to America.

'Whatever Cassidy's eventual fate, with the advent of urbanization and industrialization of the West, this last great outlaw came to symbolize the end of the American frontier and the cowboy way of life.'
Former Labor leader Mark Latham has called for immigrants to lose their social security after 12 months if they don't bother learning basic English.

The media commentator has returned to Fairfield, in Sydney's south-west, six months after asking native Arabic and Vietnamese speakers on the streets if they spoke English, only to find nearly all of them didn't.

After repeating the exercise, and encountering the same response, he has proposed drastic action to address the issue of ethnic enclaves in a suburb where only 17 per cent of its residents spoke English only at home, in the 2016 Census.

This woman (centre) agreed with Mark Latham's idea of cutting off welfare after 12 months

'After 12 months of welfare support, a decent period, people should be expected to pass a basic English test,' he said in a video for Rebel Media this week.

'If they can't speak English after 12 months then cut off the welfare.'

Mr Latham was the federal member for nearby Werriwa, from 1994 to 2005, and argues the lack of English skills is causing social isolation in that part of Sydney.

'What you would find with that policy, of course, is that people would get off their backside, learn English and we'd have a chance, a chance of having proper integration instead of ethnic enclaves in places like Fairfield,' he said outside a Centrelink office.

Mark Latham says the lack of English skills in south-west Sydney is leading to ethnic enclaves

One older woman agreed with Mr Latham's idea when asked if that was a fair proposition.

'Well, I do because I feel that pension and all the things are not equal for everybody and Im talking from experience,' she said.

Mr Latham, who is now a member of the libertarian Liberal Democrats, has slammed the area's state and federal Labor politicians for their reluctance to address the lack of English skills, for fear of offending ethnic minority voters.

Earlier this year, he lodged a petition with Cumberland Council in Sydney's west after it put up a curtain at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre to shield Muslim women.
BOZEMAN  U.S. Senate candidate Troy Downing paid non-resident taxes and referred to California as "home" on social media during the same period when authorities allege he illegally purchased Montana resident hunting or fishing licenses, according to an investigation.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigation began in December 2013 when the Department of Revenue notified wardens that Downing was believed to have illegally purchased resident licenses, according to The Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The Republican has pleaded not guilty to nine misdemeanor violations in a case pending in state District Court in Gallatin County.

If he's found guilty, the businessman from Big Sky likely would be exposed to criticism from opponents as an out-of-state interloper. His campaign said Tuesday that Downing was a full-time Montana resident throughout the period at issue.

Downing filed income taxes as a non-resident during at least two years when he bought resident hunting or fishing licenses, 2013 and 2014, according to an affidavit in a search warrant application submitted by a state game warden in April.

He paid his taxes as a full-year Montana resident in 2015, the affidavit said.

Authorities say Downing illegally bought licenses each year from 2011 to 2016, illegally loaned an elk license to another hunter, and helped his adult son obtain a 2015 Montana resident license even though the son had a California driver's license.

A person must live in Montana for 180 days prior to buying a resident hunting and fishing license. The person also must register a vehicle in Montana, file state income tax returns as a resident and not possess or apply for any residential hunting, fishing or trapping privileges in another state.

Investigators characterized Downing's time in Montana as "seasonal at best" based on postings to a personal blog titled "Troy's World-Random Rants and Related Run-On Retarded Rhetoric," in which Downing mentioned spending time with family in his Montana vacation home and returning home to California.

He's among at least five Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester next fall. Downing's campaign chair is Lola Zinke, wife of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a former Montana congressman. The candidate tweeted a photo of himself last week posing with two of President Donald Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Jr., at what his campaign said was a private reception in the Judith Basin area during a hunting trip by the Trumps.

Campaign manager Kevin Gardner told The Associated Press that Downing has been a full-time Montana resident since 2009. It "makes no sense" for Downing to skirt the law, Gardner said, to avoid paying non-resident license fees at the same time he was paying tens of thousands of dollars to support Montana fishing trips for veterans.

"We also cannot fathom the corruption of the judicial system that is taking place where details of this case are being leaked to the press before Troy is being afforded due process in the court of law," Gardner said in an emailed statement. He added that the state wildlife agency was on a "witch hunt" against the candidate.

The warrant cited by the Chronicle newspaper had been unsealed by Judge John Brown last month at the request of the County Attorney's office, which asked for the document to be made public after Downing was charged in July.

Gardner declined to elaborate on what corruption might have taken place.

But he suggested it was part of an orchestrated attack by Tester allies and pointed out that Brown was appointed in 2005 by former Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat. Gardner declined to provide tax records or other documents to corroborate the claim that Downing has been in Montana full time since 2009.
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has lashed out at the European Union for backing Spain's 'coup d'etat' against Catalonia - while 200 mayors from the region went to Brussels to support him.

The former president of Catalonia said: 'Will you accept the result of the Catalan referendum or will you continue to help [Spanish prime minister] Mr Rajoy in his coup d'etat?'

Puigdemont, whose government declared independence from Spain last month and was then dismissed by Madrid, made the remarks in Belgium, where he fled from Spain.

He also called for all of the region's pro-independence parties to unite against Spain's 'brutal repression' as a poll shows they would hold a majority if they joined forces.

He urged political groups to stand together against Madrid's actions or see the Spanish state 'win this fight'.

The 54-year-old has just hours remaining to agree terms for an electoral pact with other pro-independence parties. Polls suggest secessionist parties would win enough votes combined to hold a slim majority in the Catalan parliament.

Meanwhile, around 200 Catalan mayors who are in favour of independence travelled to Brussels today to back Puigdemont and defend the Catalan cause in the European capital.

Catalonia's ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont (pictured durig a radio inerview today), has called for all of the region's pro-independence parties to unite against Spain's 'brutal repression' as a poll shows they would hold a majority if they joined forces

Carles Puigdemont, who went into went into exile in Belgium last month, urged political groups to stand together against Madrid's actions or see the Spanish state 'win this fight'. Puigdemont and former regional Catalan ministers took part in an interview with Monica Terriba (right) for the radio programme 'El Mati' in Brussels today

Around 200 Catalan mayors who are in favour of independence travelled to Brussels today to back Puigdemont and defend the Catalan cause in the European capital

Crowds gathered to protest against the independence of Catalonia as 200 Catalonia's Mayors arrived in Brussels in front of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium today

The mayors raised their walking sticks, a symbol of mayoral power in Spain, in the air at the end of his speech and the crowd sang the Catalan anthem.

'We will never renounce this ideal of a country, of this notion of democracy,' Puigdemont told the mayors, gathered in a central Brussels art museum.

Flanked by four associates who fled Spain with him, Puigdemont challenged the Spanish authorities and international community to accept the results of a snap Catalan election on December 21 if separatists win.

'Is this the Europe you want, is this the Europe you want to build, with a democratically elected government in jail?' he said before the mayors held up big letters spelling 'Help Catalonia.'

Puigdemont and other secessionist leaders face charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of public trust for organising an illegal independence referendum on October 1 and later proclaiming a Catalan republic, something that goes against Spain's constitution.

In an interview with Catalunya Radio on Tuesday, Puigdemont said all parties standing in the region should unite against Madrid's actions.

He also called on the Spanish government to suspend article 155, which Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy enacted last month to rule Catalonia directly from Madrid, ahead of the December vote.

The 54-year-old has just hours remaining to agree terms for an electoral pact with other pro-independence parties. Polls suggest secessionist parties would win enough votes combined to hold a slim majority in the Catalan parliament

'The ideal would be a broad regional list of parties... PDeCAT, CUP, (left-wing) Podemos, ERC... that stand for democracy and freedom.' Puigdemont said.

'The Spanish state is committing a brutal repression ... If we don't battle repression together, the Spanish state may win this fight.'

Spain's central government fired Puigdemont's secessionist administration, dissolved the Catalan parliament and called an election in the region for December 21.

Madrid also issued an arrest warrant against him on charges including rebellion, but a Brussels court ruled on Monday he could remain at liberty in Belgium until it had decided whether he should be extradited.

In an interview with Catalunya Radio on Tuesday, Puigdemont said all parties standing in the region should unite against Madrid's actions

The independence push has deeply divided the country, dragging it into its worst political crisis since its return to democracy four decades ago and fuelling anti-Spanish feelings in Catalonia and nationalist tendencies elsewhere.

Pro-independence parties want the December vote to become a de facto independence referendum, and Puigdemont's PDeCAT and the ERC party led by Oriol Junqueras said at the weekend they might contest it on a combined ticket.

But they must register any alliance by the end of Tuesday, and prospects of them bridging their differences in time looked slim.

ERC's spokesman Sergi Sabria said on Monday his party did not rule out a coalition with PDeCAT, but would agree only if other parties joined them, including the anti-capitalist CUP which has yet to decide whether it will contest the December ballot.

Campaigners protested against independence by staging a rally in Brussels, Belgium today
Farhana Ahmed, from Wembley, who encouraged UK terror attacks on a pro-ISIS Facebook group was spared jail after a judge took pity on her children's 'suffering'

A mother who urged others to launch terror attacks in Britain was spared jail yesterday after a judge took pity on her five children.

Farhana Ahmed, 40, shared a 'prolific quantity' of Islamic State propaganda on a Facebook group whose aim was to link extremists worldwide.

She praised the Paris attacks and posted tips on 'how to carry out a stabbing' as well as links to a library of terrorist publications with videos and images of IS fighters.

In 2015 she made 19 Facebook posts that 'directly or indirectly encouraged terrorism both within the UK and abroad,' the Old Bailey heard. Ahmed had been in custody since July last year as she awaited trial. Her five home-schooled children, aged between six and 16, were cared for by relatives.

Judge Christopher Moss QC yesterday said he was 'moved' by a letter from her daughter and ruled that she could return to her children.

He handed her a two-year suspended jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to encouraging terrorism and three counts of disseminating terrorist documents.

Judge Moss told her: 'In your exceptional case, the sooner you are returned to your children, the better for all concerned. Since you were charged and remanded in custody this has plainly had an extremely adverse effect on your children who have been looked after by family.

'You express remorse for your actions which I regard as completely genuine. It's quite clear to me that you regret in the strongest possible way your criminal conduct.'

Judge Moss said Ahmed made the posts at a 'very difficult time' in her life. He added: 'You have devoted your life, apart from this abhorrent behaviour, to the care of your children.

'There is no realistic danger of you returning to the mindset evident of your conduct of two years ago. You want nothing more than to return to your family and your family want nothing more than you to return to them. They have suffered greatly by your period in custody.'

Judge Christopher Moss QC was 'moved' by a letter from her eldest son and told Ahmed: 'In your exceptional case, the sooner you are returned to your children, the better for all concerned.'

As she left the dock, Ahmed, who wore a headscarf, quietly said 'thank you' to the judge.

Last night Conservative MP Philip Davies reacted to the decision with fury, saying: 'It is completely outrageous that this woman hasn't been jailed. People will rightly wonder what you have to do to be sent to prison by the courts these days.'

Former Tory MP Angie Bray added: 'I wonder if the judge has also considered the suffering of so many children deprived of their parents by the wicked actions of terrorists inspired by the depraved stuff they pick up on certain social media?'

The court heard that the self-described 'pro-IS' Facebook group, called Power Strangers, grew from 721 members to 1,480 in the two months after Ahmed joined. The group's name is a play on the superhero series Power Rangers.

Using the alias Kay Adams, Ahmed expressed her approval for the Paris terror attacks and published speeches by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his deputy, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, between September and November 2015. Ahmed described them as amazing speeches and called on Allah to 'preserve and protect them both'. Her posts also included calls for attacks on the West.

Prosecutor Ben Lloyd said: 'It is clear ... that she shared the group's ideology and aims.' The British national, of Wembley in north-west London, travelled to Turkey with her husband Muhammed Burmal Karwani and their children in November 2013.

Ahmed and the children returned here while her husband stayed behind. When she tried to travel to Turkey in August 2015 she was refused entry. Mr Lloyd added: 'It may be that following this, she decided to begin her campaign on Facebook encouraging terrorism.'

Ahmed had been charged with two further counts of funding terrorism, but these were dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.

It was alleged she transferred more than 3,000 to a Turkish bank account in the name of her husband in September 2014 and sent him 4,300 in February 2015.

Mr Karwani, who was accused of terrorism offences in Turkey and was acquitted, is now back in the UK.

Ahmed was spared jail for posting Islamic State propaganda on a Facebook group called Power Strangers after a judge was moved by the 'suffering' of her five children

The case follows a growing row over how to deal with British jihadis who have tried to return from Syria to the UK.

A recent report found that Britain was home to more jihadis who have returned from Syria than almost all other countries. Only Turkey, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia are home to more people who travelled to fight for IS.

Around 850 Britons travelled to the Middle East to fight and around half are thought to be back here, meaning more than 400 are still at large.

But Britain's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Max Hill QC, sparked fury last month by calling for 'naive' teenage jihadis to be spared prosecution in the UK.

It was then reported that terror suspects including returning jihadis could be offered taxpayer-funded homes, counselling and help finding jobs to stop them carrying out attacks in Britain.

It also comes after several cases where a female defendant has been spared jail.

In August, accountant Natalie Saul, 37, who stole 350,000 to feed her gambling addiction, avoided jail after a judge said she was 'not the general stuff of which the prison population is made'.

Judge Catherine Newman QC was going to jail Saul for at least three years but had been persuaded that she was unfit for prison. She handed her a two-year suspended sentence and 250 hours' community service at Southwark Crown Court.

And Oxford University student Lavinia Woodward, 24, who stabbed her boyfriend last December, was spared prison in September after Oxford Crown Court judge Ian Pringle said she had an 'extraordinary' talent for medicine.
A Filipino doctor accused by U.S. authorities of plotting attacks in New York City, including Times Square, appeared in a Manila court Tuesday.

Russell Salic smiled as he was led away in handcuffs by government agents after his brief appearance at the Manila court that is handling a U.S. extradition request, which he and his lawyer vowed to fight.

'That's not true,' Salic said when reporters asked about the allegations. 'I just donated money without any malicious intent.'

Russell Salic, a Filipino doctor accused by U.S. authorities of plotting attacks in New York City, including in concert venues and Times Square, arrives at a trial court for his extradition hearing Tuesday, November 7, 2017 in Manila, Philippines

He said U.S. authorities may have mistaken the money he sent to a charity as funding for the plots. An FBI agent who posed as a Muslim online was behind the allegations against him, he said.

A U.S. Department of Justice representative, Christopher Cardani, who attended the court hearing, said the department would do everything to have Salic extradited to stand trial in America.

'This is an extremely serious matter in the United States,' Cardani told reporters. 'It's been alleged these three individuals conspired to build a bomb and explode it at Times Square in New York in the summer of 2016 and it doesn't get any more serious than that.'

Last month, U.S. prosecutors said Salic was one of three Islamic State group sympathizers who plotted bombings and shootings last year at New York City concert venues, subway stations and Times Square before U.S. agents thwarted the plot.

He said U.S. authorities may have mistaken the money he sent to a charity as funding for the plots. An FBI agent who posed as a Muslim online was behind the allegations against him, he said

Salic was taken into custody in Manila in April. Canadian citizen Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy was arrested in the U.S. last year and has pleaded guilty, and an American of Pakistani origin, Talha Haroon, was arrested in Pakistan in November.

In May last year, Salic allegedly sent approximately $423 from the Philippines to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Islamic extremist to help fund the planned attacks. Salic informed the agent that he intended to continue sending money in support of the Islamic State group, according to court documents that have been made public in New York.

The documents said Salic told the agent his ultimate goal was to join the Islamic State group in Syria but that 'it would be a great pleasure if we can slaughter' people in New York.

'There is no proof that he wanted to bomb New York,' Salic's lawyer, Manuel Dalucapas, told reporters, adding that he and Salic were ready to argue his case in the Philippines and not in the United States.

U.S. prosecutors said that Salic was one of three Islamic State group sympathizers who plotted bombings and shootings to take place at New York City concert venues, subway stations and Times Square last year before U.S. agents thwarted the plot

El Bahnasawy sent this image of the NYC subway, modified with circles and arrows. 'The 2 subways we will blow up will be the purple one, and the green one,' he wrote in one message, likely referring to the 7 train and the 4-5-6 line, which intersect at Grand Central Station

Philippine Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras has said the U.S. government sent an extradition request in May. The Philippine government filed the request with a Manila court on behalf of the U.S. as specified under an extradition treaty.

Prosecutors say the three men plotted to bomb and shoot up heavily populated areas of New York City during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan in 2016.

El Bahnasawy took the lead on the ground, entering the US from Canada to secure a cabin near New York City to use as an operating base and bomb-making facility, according to investigators.

Meanwhile, Haroon met with explosives experts in Pakistan and planned to join El Bahnasawy in the US to carry out the attacks, and Salic sent support funds from the Philippines, according to prosecutors.

The three men communicated with each other using a messaging app, but were tricked into revealing their plan to an undercover agent on the app posing as an ISIS member.

'[W]e seriously need a car bomb at times square... Look at these crowds of people!' El Bahnasawy messaged the undercover agent along with a picture of the New York City landmark last May, according to prosecutors.

El Bahnasawy also spoke glowingly of a plan to 'shoot up concerts cuz they kill a lot of people,' the indictment said.

'[W]e just walk in with guns in our hands. That's how the Paris guys did it,' the message said in apparent reference to the November 2015 attacks on the Bataclan theater, which left 130 dead in Paris.

Members of NYPD Counterterrorism force stand guard in Times Square where the alleged plot would focus

In this photo taken Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, the Department of Justice Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras shows an extradition request by the U.S. government for Filipino doctor Russell Salic accused by U.S. authorities of plotting terrorist attacks in New York City

In the Phillipines, Salic, aka 'The Doctor', allegedly played the money man, sending funds to support the plot against New York City.

Prosecutors said that Salic gloated about the benefits of operating out of the Philippines in a message to the undercover: 'Terrorists from all over the world usually come here as a breeding ground... hahahaha... But no worry here in Philippines. They dont care bout IS[IS]... loll Only in west.'

Investigators monitored the plot to see how serious the men were, and sprang into action after El Bahnasawy purchased bomb-making materials and secured the cabin in the US.

On May 21, 2016, El Bahnasawy entered the US from Canada and made his way toward the New York metro area. The FBI arrested him that night in Cranford, New Jersey.

Haroon was arrested in Pakistan in September 2016 and Salic was arrested in the Philippines in April 2017.

All three men face sentences of life in prison.

Aside from the U.S. charges, Salic also faces separate criminal complaints for alleged involvement in the abduction of six sawmill workers, two of whom were later beheaded, in the southern Philippine town of Butig in Lanao del Sur province in 2016, an allegation that he has denied.
President Trump once again tried spooking Virginia voters into selecting Republican Ed Gillespie for governor over his Democratic competitor Ralph Northam, using the threat of the gang MS-13, as voters head to the polls today.

'Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. Hes weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment and has been horrible on Virginia economy,' Trump wrote. 'Vote today!'

Gillespie, Trump added, 'will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone. Vote today, ASAP!'

While in South Korea, President Trump waded into the increasingly tight Virginia governor's race on Tuesday, suggesting the Democratic candidate is weak on crime

President Trump asked his supporters to vote for Republican candidate Ed Gillespie, who he promised would turn Virginia's economy around

Virginians will decide today between Republican candidate Ed Gillespie (left), a former Republican National Committee chair and Ralph Northam (right), the Democrat, who is a doctor and a vet and currently serves as the commonwealth's lieutenant governor

President Trump suggested in tweets Tuesday that Democrat Ralph Northam has been weak on crime, despite Virginia being one of the states with the lowest crime in the nation

Trump's tweets, which came at the end of his day in South Korea, as Virginians were waking up, were indicative of much of the rhetoric used in the governor's race, which has narrowed in recent days, with Democrat Northam only besting Gillespie by 3.3 points, in the Real Clear Politics polling average.

The tightening race is giving Republicans hope that they may be able to escape a blue beating in next year's midterm elections, even if Americans continue to sour on Trump, who has record low approval ratings for a president less than one year in.

Gillespie's campaign could provide the GOP with a road map.

In many ways, the Republican gubernatorial hopeful is a traditional Republican candidate.

A former Republican National Committee chairman, Gillespie is an ex-D.C. lobbyist, who ran the bipartisan lobbying shop Quinn Gillespie and Associates with former Al Gore counsel Jack Quinn.

He's campaigned with mainstream Republicans, like Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, but hasn't held a rally with Trump.

However, in an effort to win Trump voters  who an establishment-type Republican like Gillespie may not naturally attract  the former lobbyist has run ads suggesting Northam's decisions led to an increase in the gang MS-13, nailing the Democrat for supporting sanctuary cities.

In Virginia, sanctuary cities don't exist.

Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranks Virginia as No. 6 on its list of states with the best public safety.

Retaliating for these kinds of ads, the outside group Latino Victory Fund released a spot suggesting Gillespie and Trump were on the side of racists.

It showed a confederate flag-waving, Gillespie and Tea Party-supporting white pick-up truck driver bearing down on a group of Latino and Muslim kids.

That ad was pulled from online after last week's truck terror attack in New York.

Democrats in the state, too, sent out a mailer that linked Gillespie to the Charlottesville white supremacists.

Northam, this week, ran spots that called Gillespie 'despicable' after the Republican ran an ad pointing to the Democrat's support for restoring felons' voting rights, using an example that included a suspected child pornographer.

'I'm a pediatrician, and for Ed Gillespie to say I would tolerate anyone hurting a child is despicable,' Northam said.

Northam is a doctor and an Army veteran, the lieutenant to a popular Democratic governor, whose state is represented in the Senate by two Democrats and where Hillary Clinton beat Trump by five points last year.

He's brought former President Barack Obama to campaign along his side.

Yet Gillespie is making strides.

He came within striking distance of taking out Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, in the 2014 Senate race, perplexing pollsters, some of whom believe he could do it again.

Elections Analyst Sean Trende for Real Clear Politics explained that the Northam-Gillespie race is within the 'Margie Margin,' a nickname based off of an experiment done last year using pollsters and polling data from Florida.

The New York Times' Upshot blog gave five pollsters, including Democratic pollster Margie Omero  hence the moniker  the same data and the results were between Clinton being up four points to Trump being up by one in the Sunshine State last year.

He won the state by 1.3 points.

The point of the exercise was that not only will polling different people get a different result  what margin of error measures  but pollsters' make-up of the electorate can produce different results too.

In looking at the Virginia race, Trende wrote that Northam is still probably the safe choice, but the polls seem to suggest that tomorrow there could be 'a narrow Gillespie win, or a surprisingly comfortable Northam win'  or somewhere in between.
Proud Sioned Howells, 18, asked for a bacon roll in Welsh - but was stunned when the blundering bakery worker couldn't understand her order

A Greggs worker in a small Welsh town has been suspended after telling a customer it sounded like she had Tourette's when she ordered a bacon roll in her native tongue.

Proud Sioned Howells, 18, asked for a bacon roll in Welsh - but was stunned when the blundering bakery worker couldn't understand her order.

The staff member at Greggs in the market town of Lampeter, West Wales, then said: 'That was Welsh?? Sounded more like you had Tourette's to me.'

Furious Miss Howells complained about the worker comparing the ancient Celtic tongue with the medical speech condition.

She said, in Welsh : 'I went in and asked: "Can I have a bacon and egg roll and a hot chocolate please", and the lady said "Yes, no problem".

'She asked me: "Do you want any sauce?" so I said: "No thank you" in Welsh. Then she said: "Oh sorry I don't speak Welsh". So I said "No thank you".

'Then her colleague turned to us and said "That was Welsh? Sounded more like you had Tourette's to me".'

Greggs said that the company was 'deeply sorry' for any offence caused and an investigation will be made.

A statement said: 'We take this matter very seriously and the member of staff has been suspended whilst we investigate further.

'This incident goes against our values and should never have happened. We are deeply sorry for any offence caused.'

The population of Lampeter is just under 3,000 - with an estimated 36 per cent of people speaking Welsh as their first language.

Furious Miss Howells complained about the worker comparing the ancient Celtic tongue with the medical speech condition

Greggs said that the company was 'deeply sorry' for any offence caused and an investigation will be made

Osian Rhys, vice president of the Welsh Language Society has written to the Chief Executive of Greggs asking for a meeting to discuss their language policy.

He said: 'This alleged behaviour is awful.

'This has happened, not only due to the attitude of one staff member, but partly because of the lack of language legislation regulating private businesses.'

Just two months ago a mother from Lampeter was told to stop speaking 'foreign muck' to her baby daughter, when in fact she was speaking Welsh.

Tourette's syndrome is a neurological condition which the sufferer cannot prevent themselves from making involuntary noises and movements called tics.
Local media in the Gulf reported Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd (pictured), 44, was shot dead by authorities trying to arrest him as part of the anti-corruption sweep, but the kingdom's government said he was 'alive and well'

A Saudi prince who was thought to have been killed in a firefight while resisting arrest as part of the kingdom's anti-corruption purge is 'alive and well', according to the government.

Local media in the Gulf earlier reported Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, 44, was shot dead by authorities trying to arrest him as part of the anti-corruption sweep.

But the Kingdom's information ministry told MailOnline: 'There is no truth whatsoever to rumours circulating in media concerning Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd. Prince Abdul Aziz is alive and well.'

Former FBI special agent Ali H Soufan claimed on Twitter the son of the late King Fahd had died on Sunday.

It was also reported in The Duran, who said Prince Abdul Aziz was 'deeply involved' in Saudi Oger Ltd, a company that was once owned by the family of Saad Hariri who resigned as Lebanese Prime Minister on the weekend.

The company ceased trading in the summer, fuelling speculation the Saudis forced Hariri to quit.

It comes just 24 hours after of Riyadh's royals died in a helicopter crash along with government ministers.

A helicopter carrying a high-ranking Saudi prince and other government officials crashed Sunday in the kingdom's south, reportedly killing all eight people aboard.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said early Monday that the crash happened in Saudi Arabia's Asir province as the official took part in a tour of local projects near Abha, some 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the border with Yemen.

The Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya, based in Dubai, reported that the crash killed Prince Mansour bin Muqrin and seven others.

Saudi Prince Mansour bin Muqrin is thought to have died in a helicopter carrying officials crashes in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, on October 24, 2017

Prince Mansour was the deputy governor of Asir province.

He was also the son of Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, a former intelligence service director and one-time crown prince. Prince Muqrin was removed as crown prince in April 2015 by his half brother King Salman in favor of Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a counterterrorism czar and interior minister.

But in June, King Salman also ousted Prince Mohammed in favor of the king's 32-year-old son, the now-Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as first in line to the throne.

All these moves have cemented the young crown prince's position in power.

The arrests late Saturday of dozens of the country's most powerful princes, military officers, influential businessmen and government ministers in a purported anti-corruption campaign have further cemented his control.

The Saudi royal family arrests: Those detained in the anti-corruption purge include Prince Miteb, Prince Turki and Prince Alwaleed (circled in red)

Saad Hariri declared his surprise resignation on Saturday from Riyadh which fuelled beliefs he was coerced into standing down against his will. Here he is pictured yesterday with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Although 11 princes and 38 former government ministers have been detained in the crackdown, the anti-corruption drive is expanding further.

Saudi Arabia's central bank has ordered the detainees' accounts to be frozen but have also added dozens of names to their list, according to Bloomberg.

As a result, $25billion of personal wealth belonging to those arrested is at risk of being seized along with property and assets.

Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal - who is one of the richest men in the world and owns the British capitals top hotel the Savoy - is one of the men who has been detained.

The Saudi information ministry also stated the government would seize any asset or property related to the alleged corruption, meaning Londons Savoy hotel could become state property in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition against Yemen's Houthi rebels since March 2015.

Security officials gave no cause for the crash, but said a search of the wreckage was underway.

In Yemen, Houthi officials offered no immediate comment on the crash, while the group's Al-Masirah satellite news channel reported only that the crash had occurred.
A diner who claimed to be the co-founder of the Bella Italia chain sparked a bizarre TripAdvisor spat with an independent pasta restaurant after saying their waiter was 'arrogant and scruffy'.

The reviewer told the owner of Sugo Pasta Kitchen in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, he was the founder of the popular chain, which has more than 90 restaurants in the UK.

But the man, whose name is 'James S', took to Trip Advisor to post a scathing review about the restaurant which is ranked number one in the town.

He criticised the front of house waiter and said he was 'under-dressed for a student union party on a Monday night'.

The reviewer visited the popular Sugo Pasta Kitchen in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, (pictured)

The reviewer, who is called James S, gave the Sugo Pasta Kitchen three stars out of five and wrote he was served by 'scruffy kids'

The reviewer is called James S but Bella Italia today denied that he was James Spragg (pictured), their Chief Operating Officer

James S gave the restaurant three stars out of five and titled his post: 'Yeh Nice Food - but very expensive for shared rushed seating & arrogant 'We Are The Best' Service by scruffy kids'.

Despite claiming to be from Bella Italia, the restaurant chain told MailOnline he was not affiliated to the restaurant and was not James Spragg, their Chief Operating Officer.

The reviewer wrote: 'Visited here early tea time last week only to be greeted by a very arrogant and scruffy member of staff called Tony who would have been under dressed for a student union party on a Monday night.

'Tony Mr Charisma allowed me to order a glass of wine on the pretext I would have to move again when the rest of the table paid bill.

'Persuaded by Tony again to go for the sea food pasta dish in essence a very well cooked and tasty simply presented seafood pretentious marinara.

'When it arrived I had already been moved to the other end of table by his scruffy nibs.

'Pasta arrives with a napkin fork and spoon no bread nothing. Knowing my pasta I decide to try with my fork how the pasta had been cooked before the owner Alex made the very wrong decision in stopping me take even one bite almost laughing and patronising me into telling me I had to eat it with the spoon and not a fork.

'By the way this precious bowl of pasta later turned out to cost 17 as well. I had to remind Alex in Italian not to worry having opened over 50 UK various branded Italian restaurants.

'Beautiful pasta dish eaten but overly expensive I was conned into eating a very average Sicilian orange tart.

'Just finished last mouthful the bill arrives by the young scruff not even asked for a coffee 40. Left no tip and promptly departed. Great food very arrogant staff.'

James S gave the restaurant three stars out of five and titled his post: 'Yeh Nice Food - but very expensive for shared rushed seating & arrogant 'We Are The Best' Service by scruffy kids'

The restaurants owner, Alex, replied and slammed him for 'giving Italian food such an appalling rep in the UK' because of his apparent link to the chain

The restaurant owner, Alex, replied and slammed him for 'giving Italian food such an appalling rep in the UK' because of his apparent link to the chain.

He wrote back: 'Having had the pleasure of your company for a short while last week I can only assume that your constant accusation of arrogance is a misdirected attempted at deflecting your own.

'Just to place on record, the fact you were (or were you?) a founder of one of the chief reasons Italian food has such an appalling rep in the U.K (Bella Italia) won't give you special treatment in our Restaurant.

'I'm sorry you found our front of house manager 'arrogant' and 'scruffy', however let me be very clear that Tony is an absolute shining light in our restaurant, and sorry to say but we wouldn't swap him for anyone - let alone a bow tied smarmy waiter that you were quite clearly pining for.

'We don't source cheap or warm things through a microwave, which (if your Bella Italia story is true) is a style of restaurant you can be proud of helping to bring to the U.K.

'James, and sorry to be so blunt, but please don't come of our restaurant again.'

A Bella Italia spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'James S has no connection to Bella Italia and he is not James Spragg.'

MailOnline has contacted Sugo Pasta Kitchen for comment.
A Wagga Wagga teenager has been charged over the murder of a 27-year-old woman who went missing nearly two months ago.

Allecha Suzette Boyd was last seen leaving a supermarket in Coolamon, 560km south-east of Sydney, on August 10.

A 19-year-old man was arrested as part of New South Wales police Strike Force Amias, which was established after officers suspected she had met foul play.

A 19-year-old Wagga Wagga man has been charged over the murder of 27-year-old Allecha Boyd (pictured), who went missing nearly two months ago

Detectives attended a home on Gurwood Street about 5.20pm Tuesday where they arrested the accused man.

A loaded shortened rifle was also seized from the property after a crime scene warrant was executed.

The man was charged with murder, possession of an unauthorised firearm and possession of ammunition without a permit,not keeping a prohibited firearm safe, as well as breach of bail.

Investigations are continuing into locating Ms Boyd's body, with detectives said to be scouring nearby bushland, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Allecha Suzette Boyd was last seen leaving a supermarket in Coolamon, 560km south-east of Sydney, on August 10

A Facebook group was set up by family and friend following Ms Boyd's disappearance, with nearly 3,000 people joining to post updates

A Facebook group was set up following Ms Boyd's disappearance, with nearly 3,000 people joining to post updates.

On Tuesday a friend took to the public page to post on behalf of Ms Boyd's shocked and saddened family.

'With all due respect, please keep our family in mind... we are all trying to grieve at this moment,' the message read.

Others left heartfelt tributes to the young woman, who they called 'bubbly,' 'beautiful' and a 'princess'.

'RIP beautiful girl, my heart breaks for those around you. Allecha you were loved by many, you had one of the biggest smiles and bubbly personalities,' one person wrote.

While another added: 'Heartbreaking news after all this time holding onto hope she would return home safely to her loved ones.'

On Tuesday a friend took to the public page to post on behalf of Ms Boyd's shocked and saddened family

In September, Ms Boyd's sisters Tammara and Rihannon (pictured) made an emotional plea for her return during a press conference

In September, Ms Boyd's sisters Tammara and Rihannon made an emotional plea for her return during a press conference.

'Allecha is a caring and loving person, she would travel to the end of the world to make sure anyone is safe and okay,' they said.

'She has excelled in life, won awards and travelled across the world with Jamie Oliver as a chef and very is family orientated.'

Ms Boyd had been working as a chef at the Farmers Home Hotel and was living with a friend in nearby Lake Albert before her disappearance.

She was also believed to have been travelling in a green and silver Subaru that was since seized by police.

The 19-year-old accused of her murder was denied bail and is expected to appear in Wagga Wagga local court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call Crime Stoppers.

Her sisters, including Rihannon (right) called Allecha (left) a 'a caring and loving person' who would 'travel to the end of the world to make sure anyone is safe and okay'
Ministers today said they would bow to demands to publish Brexit impact reports - but faced criticism after revealing they will not be ready for another three weeks.

Commons Speaker John Bercow had given the Government until the end of the day to either publish the reports or be forced to explain why they had failed to.

It came after Labour used an arcane parliamentary procedure known as the humble address to force the Government to publish the 58 sectoral impact assessments.

But appearing in the Commons today, Brexit Minister Steve Baker said the 58 separate assessments do not exist.

Instead he said the information is contained in a string of different general Brexit reports and will take 'some time' to bring together and publish.

He told MPs in the House of Commons: 'We expect this to be no more than three weeks.'

He added: The situation is that the Government carries out a wide range of analysis across these sectors in order to inform our negotiating position.

Brexit minister Steve Baker, pictured in Parliament today, said the impact assessments analysis would be published in three weeks time - but said there are not 58 separate reports to publish

Our purpose is to increase our negotiating capitalthe government holds a wide range of information across a wide range of documents.

But what it does not comprise and what it has ever comprised, is quantitative assessments of impacts on those sectors.

Attacking Labour, he said voters will look at the demand and ask  whose side are they on?

SECTORS COVERED BY THE SECRET BREXIT ANALYSIS The Government has released a list of which sectors are covered by the studies. The list covers nearly 90 per cent of the British economy. The sectors include: Adverting and marketing Defence Asset management Agriculture, food and drink Fisheries Life sciences Pharmaceuticals and medical devices Real estate Higher education Gas Advertisement

He added: I think it is very, very important that we do not in this House do the work of our negotiating partners for them.

Mr Baker's comments were met with shouts, jeers and cries of 'outrageous' from other MPs.

Labour shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook hit out at the delay and accused the Government of trying to dodge the demands of Parliament.

He said: 'This farce has dragged on for far too long.

'Ministers cannot use semantics and double speak to avoid the clear instruction that this house has given.

'There can be no further delay. Ministers just need to get on with it.'

He also said that until this week ministers had never disputed the existence of the 58 separate sectoral reports.

But Mr Baker insisted it had never been the intention to suggest that 58 separate reports exit.

Labour have called for the reports to be published saying that Britons have a right to know about the possible impact on industry and jobs of quitting the E&U.

But the Government has said that publishing every piece of analysis risks undermining Britain's Brexit negotiating hand.

They say the potentially sensitive information will help Brussels to know exactly what industries and areas are most important to the UK in the crucial talks.

The two parties have been embroiled in a row over what parts of the reports should be published.

Labour's Matthew Pennycook, pictured in the Commons today, accused ministers of residing over a farce which has dragged on for too long and demanded the papers are published sooner

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, pictured in Parliament today, had given ministers until the end of the day to either publish the reports or explain when they would do so

Ministers had hinted that redacted versions could be put out, while Labour had demanded the full assessments are released.

But as ministers say the reports are not standalone entities but pieces of analysis that need to be pulled together, they will have more power to publish the bits they want - and hold back others.

Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit select committee, said: I would expect the committee to receive these documents in the form they were  in other words unamended.

I think its for the committee to decide what form they are published in.

But Mr Baker said some of the material is commercially sensitive and suggested this would not be published.
A top Labour politician is believed to have killed himself days after he was sacked by the Welsh government and suspended by his party over 'shocking' claims of sexual misconduct made by three women.

Former minister Carl Sargeant, 48, was found dead at home in Connah's Quay, North Wales, at 11.30am today and police say they are not treating it as suspicious.

His wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25, said they are 'devastated beyond words' because the family have lost 'the glue that bound us together'.

Mr Sargeant was sacked by Carwyn Jones on Friday after three women contacted the First Minister's office and made allegations of sexual misconduct.

The father-of-two was in New York with his wife of 25 years when it emerged and he had pledged 'to clear my name' in a statement four days before his death.

Labour has not detailed the allegations but the under fire politician had himself described them as 'shocking and distressing'.

Police and paramedics were called to his North Wales former council house this morning and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed by private ambulance this afternoon.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his death was 'terrible and deeply shocking news', adding: 'All allegations [of sexual misconduct] must be examined but there also has to be great care for everybody involved in these accusations'.

Former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant, 48, (pictured with his wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25) is believed to have taken his own life at home in Connah's Quay, North Wales

Labour suspended Carl Sargeant (pictured) over the sex allegations on Friday and he is believed to have killed himself four days later

A private ambulance believed to be carrying the body of former Welsh government minister Carl Sargeant leaves his home in North Wales

Mr Sargeant's last tweet was his personal statement in response to the allegations where he vowed to clear his name

He was found dead at home in Connah's Quay, North Wales (pictured) earlier today

Pictured are the block of flats where Mr Sargeant was living before his death

Labour sources have said that hours before his death he had told friends he was still unaware what the claims were because party officials refused to tell him.

Mr Sargeant had not been arrested, MailOnline understands.

However, sources have claimed the allegations ranged from groping to unwanted attention and 'inappropriate touching', reports the Sun.

Mr Sargeant was a 'much loved husband, father and friend', a statement released by his family said after his death was announced this afternoon.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the CBI yesterday) described the death as 'terrible and deeply shocking news'

'Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend. He wasn't simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much,' it said.

'He was the most kind and caring husband, father, son and friend.

'We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him. We are in shock and grief'.

Family members hugged each other on the drive of the mid-terrace former council house where Mr Sargeant lived, round the corner from the school where his wife works as a teaching assistant, as a black private ambulance left the property, guarded by police.

A neighbour across the road from his home, who did not want to be named, said: 'He's got a wife and children over there, my heart goes out to them, it's shocking.

'I've known him since being a child. He would be going about canvassing with the local MPs and that type of stuff.

'He's a man who still lives in an ex-council house, he's down to earth and a family man. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?'

The Labour leader tweeted to express his sadness at the loss of Mr Sargeant

Another local said: 'He's a lovely, loyal, honest man, who would do anything to help anyone.

'He would try his hardest to sort anything out for you, no matter who you were or where you came from. He knew his roots. These allegations, it's all a load of c***.'

North Wales Police said its officers were investigating Mr Sargeant's death but said it was not suspicious.

Superintendent Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: 'At approximately 11.30am today North Wales Police were called to a report that the body of a man had been found at an address in Connah's Quay.

Carl Sargeant was a Welsh Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside and Cabinet Secretary for communities and children

'The man has been formally identified as local AM Carl Sargeant. His next of kin have been informed and police are supporting the family. North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious'.

His death represents a dark turn for the harassment scandal that had rocked British politics and has led to calls for anonymity to those accused of sexual allegations or sex crimes.

Eight Tory MPs and three Labour MPs have been embroiled in allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Theresa May brought party leaders together for a meeting last night in a bid to bolster protection for politicians' staff.

Mr Sargeant's wife Bernie (pictured together) and his children have been left 'devastated'

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street last night) brought party leaders together for a meeting in a bid to bolster protection for politicians' staff

Mr Sargeant was on holiday with his wife Bernie in New York last week when the allegations broke about his conduct towards women, it emerged today.

Father-of-two Mr Sargeant returned from his family US break to be called into the office of the Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones, who sacked him.

On Friday Mr Sargeant insisted he had resigned after being told that 'shocking and distressing' allegations had been made against him. But Labour party sources insisted he was fired.

Welsh Labour leader Mr Jones said at the time he had to remove him from his cabinet post after learning of 'certain incidents' involving several women.

How former factory worker rose to the top of Welsh Labour Mr Sargeant was confronted with 'allegations' about his 'personal conduct' by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and the pair agreed he should leave his post Carl Sargeant had risen to the top tier of Welsh politics before allegations about his personal conduct led to him being sacked just days before he was found dead. A former process worker at a North Wales chemical plant, Mr Sargeant, 49, was elected to Cardiff Bay in 2003 as Labour AM for the Alyn and Deeside seat. Until his removal as cabinet secretary for communities and children, he had served in a series of ministerial roles in the Welsh government. In 2007 he was appointed chief whip of the Labour group before becoming minister for local government. Roles as minister for housing and regeneration and minister for natural resources followed before being named cabinet secretary for communities and children in May 2016. The devastation of his local community following the collapse of steelmaking at the Shotton plant in the 1980s, which saw thousands lose their jobs, had inspired a commitment to social justice. Mr Sargeant witnessed the impact of heavy drinking and domestic violence on families in the area, leading him to campaign extensively on the issue. A keen football fan, Mr Sargeant was president of FC Nomads of Connah's Quay, the town where he lived all his life and where he was found dead. He was married to Bernie and they had two children, Lucy and Jack. Advertisement

He said: 'My office spoke to the women involved, as a result of those discussions I felt there was no choice other than to refer the matter to my own party for further investigation.'

Mr Sargeant had the party whip removed and was suspended by Welsh Labour.

The former chief whip and environment minister had vowed to clear his name before his death.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Sargeant said: 'I met with the First Minister today and he informed me allegations had been made about my personal conduct, which was shocking and distressing to me.

'The details of the allegations have yet to be disclosed to me. I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.

'Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from cabinet.

'I look forward to returning to Government once my name has been cleared. I won't be commenting further at this stage.'

Tory MP Nigel Evans has been pushing for defendants in sex offence cases should get anonymity on the same level as people.

The former Deputy Speaker was cleared of charges of sexual assault after a court battle in 2014.

Mr Evans stressed he did not know Mr Sargeant, and was not aware of the specific allegations he faced.

But the senior MP told MailOnline he believed Mr Sargeant might not have killed himself if he had not been named.

'I still believe  I have held this view all along  that had the allegations been made and had he had some anonymity, he would probably still be alive today,' Mr Evans said.

'There is immense pressure. The whole thing is played out in the public eye.'

Mr Evans said he understood the argument that publicity could mean more victims come forward, but insisted that when serious accusations were made the issue would go to court anyway.

He suggested that people facing sexual allegations should be granted anonymity until the point of charge.

Former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant, 48, (pictured with Ed Miliband) is believed to have taken his own life at home in Connah's Quay, North Wales

Mr Sargeant (pictured with Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson) had vowed to clear his name

Referring to Mr Sargeant, Mr Evans said: 'Who knows exactly what has been through his mind, but there is immense stress when allegations are made. Some people are unable to cope. Clearly in this case that looks to be the case.'

Police officers remained outside the Labour politician's home in north Wales today

Neighbours and locals spoke of their shock at the news.

Lifelong childhood friend and fellow Labour Party representative Bernie Attridge wiped away tears as he spoke.

Mr Attridge, 46, the deputy leader of Flintshire County Council, speaking at the local Labour Club, said: 'I'm absolutely distraught. He was a personal friend of mine. I've known Carl all my life. We've grown up together in Connah's Quay.

'Carl was very instrumental in saving this club that we are standing in now from closing.

'Today I find myself in very dark days. It's such a sad loss of such a great friend of mine. My heartfelt thoughts are with Bernadette his wife, Jack his son and Lucy his daughter.

'At the end of the day allegations were made, I'm a great believer you are innocent until proven guilty.

'I don't know the details of the suspension, I know he's a very loyal man.'

ALLEGATIONS BRINGING LIB DEMS INTO SEX SCANDAL MP touched thigh In another post a Lib Dem member wrote: 'I was 19 years old. After a day of canvassing, the local party went to a restaurant. I sat next to the MP. 'He put his hand on my thigh and said: 'You're the only one here who claims not to be in to men.'' Tongue down throat One wrote: 'A fellow male activist of a similar age (20s) was drunk at conference and when saying goodbye at the bar he tried sticking his tongue down my throat. 'It was horrible and I'm wary to be around him (especially after he has had a drink as he can't seem to control himself). Man touched bottom Another wrote: 'We were all laughing and chatting and then one man put his hand on my bum as part of a joke. 'It stayed there a bit too long. Everybody laughed.' Advertisement

Mr Attridge said Mr Sargeant worked as an industrial firefighter at a local factory and became a member of Connah's Quay town council as his political career began.

He added: 'He was an excellent constituent Assembly Member, nothing was too much trouble for him. Even when we were out in here enjoying ourselves, having private time on a Saturday night, on many occasions if anyone had any issues Carl was first on the scene, first to take details, it wasn't, 'ring me' he was very approachable.

'He fought hard for Alyn and Deeside.'

Proceedings at the Welsh Assembly were cancelled for the day today.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: 'Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and local assembly member. He will be a great loss to our party and to the Senedd.'

The leader of the Conservatives in the Assembly, Andrew Davies said : 'Our Parliament has lost a stalwart and many of us have lost a friend.'

Neil Hamilton, the former Tory MP who is UKIP leader in the Assembly, called him 'a gentle giant who would be missed across the party divide.'

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said : 'Carl Sargeant made a significant contribution to Welsh politics both as an Assembly member and government minister. On behalf of Plaid Cymru I send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.'

Flags fly at half mast above the Senedd, the National Assembly for Wales building in Cardiff Bay today

In a joint statement economy secretary Ken Skates and environment secretary Lesley Griffiths described him as 'a gentle but brilliant person.'

They added : 'He will never be forgotten by us as a kind, genuine and compassionate man, always determined to fight against injustice, particularly for people who did not have a voice.

'Our thoughts are with Bernie. Lucy, Jack and all his family, who are now without a wonderful, warm, loyal family man.'
The Casper Police Department didn't auction off bikes this year. It'll be giving them to charity instead.

In years past, the police department held an end-of-summer auction to liquidate unclaimed property. This year, the department will be giving roughly 100 bikes away, rather than selling them.

The department can auction off unclaimed property with court approval. It is mostly items like stolen tools, that are difficult to trace. Even items that have serial numbers don't always make their way back home because the department doesn't have a database to use for searches. Most frequently, though, the department ends up with bikes.

The department usually picks up the bicycles as a result of citizen calls, when people find abandoned bikes on their property, said Detective John Hatcher. If the bike goes unclaimed, the police department can ask a judge to make it police property.

Typically an auction will bring in about $3,000 of revenue for the department, Hatcher said. After hiring an auctioneer and paying employees to set up the auction, it's not much of a money maker.

As part of the department's "Our Community" initiative, police will give the bikes to local charities in the hope that they'll end up under Christmas trees.

"We don't want to see these bikes go to waste, and we know that many of our non-profit partners could put these bikes to great use," Interim Chief Steve Schulz said in a news release. "Thus, we've initiated this program, and we want the bicycles to be in the hands of our partners before Christmas."

The department also plans to institute a bicycle registration program, which Hatcher said should cut down on the number of unclaimed bicycles. The program would allow people to register their bicycles' serial numbers with the police department. Police could then identify the owner of an abandoned bike and return it to its rightful owner.
A former federal prosecutor was killed on Saturday when his son attacked him with both a vehicle and an axe, police said.

Police were called to the Chesterfield, Virginia home of Nicholas Altimari, 61, at around 8pm on Saturday by a woman who was injured in the alleged attack, CBS 6 reported.

She told cops that Frank X Altimari, 31, ran down his own father before hacking at him with the implement - he has now been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Suspect: Frank X Altimari (pictured), 31, ran over his dad then killed him with an axe on Saturday, cops say. The possible motive is unclear. A witness identified him as the suspect

Cops were called out to Nicholas Altimari's home on Black Heath Road, off Old Buckingham Road, only to find the body waiting for them.

'Upon their arrival officers located [Nicholas Altimari's] body deceased in the driveway,' a Chesterfield Police spokesperson said.

Victim: Nicholas Altimari was an assistant district attorney for Virginia for almost a decade. A neighbor said he was close with his son and his murder was baffling

'An adult female on scene supplied police with suspect information. The adult female, who was also injured in the incident, was transported to an area hospital where she was treated and released.'

Frank Altimari was then arrested at his home in Richmond, Virginia, around half an hour's drive from his father's house.

He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2010, worked as an analyst for law firm Brown and Greer from 2010-2012, then started as a project manager at Capital One in 2013.

In a court hearing on Monday, the judge said that Frank earned too much to qualify for a court-appointed attorney, but the 31-year-old said he didn't know if anyone could help him retain one.

It's still unclear what might have caused him to commit the alleged attack.

He is being held at at Riverside Regional Jail without bond.

Nicholas Altimari served the Eastern District of Virginia as an assistant US attorney from 1992 to 2003.

Judge: The suspect's grandfather, also called Frank X Altimari (pictured) served on the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals until his death in 1998

More recently, he had been practicing law in the Richmond area.

Neighbor Rob Carter said the Altimaris were close, and that the arrest made no sense to him.

'I still find the whole thing bizarre and abstract,' he said. 'I can't really process it.'

Todd Stone, a legal analyst for CBS 6, said that he met Frank around 1999, when he and Nicholas spent around a year prosecuting a case.

'He struck me as a very nice polite young man, but it was many years ago, that's what it's all the more shocking to me,' Stone said.

The suspect's grandfather, also named Frank X Altimari, served on the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals prior to his death in 1998.
A man shot and killed his estranged wife and her boyfriend outside a Catholic church in central California and then shot himself at his home, authorities said.

Manuel Garcia, 64, waited Sunday for his estranged wife and her boyfriend to leave Mass at St Alphonsus Church in Fresno before shooting them in the head.

Martha Garcia, 61, died in the church's parking lot. Her boyfriend, 51-year-old Raul Herrera, died later at a hospital. Manuel Garcia was later shot himself.

Manuel Garcia, 64, shot dead his estranged wife, Martha Garcia, 61, and her boyfriend 51-year-old Raul Herrera outside St Alphonsus Church (pictured) in Fresno, California, before killing himself on Sunday

Martha Garcia, 61, died in the church's parking lot (pictured). Her boyfriend, 51-year-old Raul Herrera, died later at a hospital

Marcia and Manuel Garcia's daughter called police after receiving text messages from her father saying he had killed her mother and was going to kill himself, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer told the Fresno Bee.

Dyer said that when Fresno police and SWAT officers arrived at the couple's home they heard a gunshot.

A robot entered the home and found Manuel Garcia dead of a gunshot wound to the head with a gun in his hand.

Manuel Garcia and Martha Garcia had been married for 43 years but she had filed for divorce about a month ago.

The woman continued living in the family home, Dyer said, and had recently told relatives that she had a boyfriend.

St Alphonsus Priest Dominic Rajappa said that masses continued throughout the day, adding that the congregation prayed for the victims

St Alphonsus Priest Dominic Rajappa said he didn't recognize Martha Garcia or Raul Herrera, and church members told KFSN that they weren't regulars there.

'We are people of God and we need to love God we need to love our neighbor we need to teach our people with dignity, violence enemy, violence hatred, there's no place,' said Priest Rajaapa.

The priest said that masses continued throughout the day, adding that the congregation prayed for the victims.

The killings in central California came hours before a gunman opened fire in a small Texas church, killing 26 people during Sunday services.

Authorities said Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, had sent threatening text messages before the attack to his mother-in-law, who attended the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
A high school teacher has been filmed threatening to 'put a bullet' in a teenage student's brain.

Physics teacher Paul Hagan was recorded by another student making the shocking remarks to the 17-year-old boy in his 11th grade class at Rockdale Career Academy in Conyers, Georgia, on November 3.

The boy's disgusted mother April Carr shared the video on Facebook to try to have the 60-year-old teacher fired.

In the video, Hagan is heard telling the boy, who laughed as he tried to give him into trouble: 'Thats how people like you get shot. I got a bet.

Scroll down for video

Teacher Paul Hagan, 60, was filmed threatening a 17-year-old student (not pictured) that he was going to shoot him 'in the brain' in his classroom in Conyers, Georgia, last week

'I bet by the time youre 21 somebodys going to put a bullet in your head. OK. And it might be me the one who does it.'

Earlier, he said: 'You screw with me youre going to be in big a** trouble. Dont smile at me, man.'

Rockdale Public Schools said it was investigating the footage.

Hagan has been placed on administrative leave in the meantime.

It is not clear how the teenager was misbehaving beforehand.

The footage sparked outrage among the community and has been viewed more than 25,000 times on Facebook.

'As an educator myself...I must say that this teacher was totally out of line! He needs to be removed from the classroom immediately!' said one critic.

The boy's mother April Carr shared the video on social media and demanded for Hagan, 60, to be fired

Many defended the teacher's comments and said while he may have gone 'overboard', the student was most likely misbehaving to an extent which warranted his reaction.

Carr shot them down, saying there was no excuse for his response.

'All my son did was laugh....we can't continue to make excuses for people's actions where there is no excuse.

'We all have days or people at our jobs [when] we are on the verge of taking us out of character but we make a choice to remain calm and not threaten anyone's life,' she said.

She added said she was 'outraged' by the footage and said other students told her her son had just been laughing.

Cindy Ball, a representative for the school district, told DailyMail.com: 'Mr. Hagan is on administrative leave while the matter is being investigated.'
Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart exchanged verbal hugs Tuesday night during a four-course state dinner held in the U.S. president's honor in Seoul.

President Moon Jae-in observed the date  Election Day in the United States  and marked one full year since Trump won the White House.

'In Korea, we have a custom of holding a special celebration on one's first birthday,' he said at the Blue House, South Korea's presidential mansion.

'So after pondering about how to best celebrate the first anniversary of President Trump's victory, I decided to invite the President to Korea as a state guest and hold a banquet.'

Moon said Trump's presidency 'is already making America great again.'

U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in shared a toast during a state dinner at the Blue House in Seoul

Moon (right), celebrate the one-year mark since Trump's election with a four-course state dinner in his honor in Seoul

The evening's meal started with corn porridge accompanied by fresh herb and vegetable side dishes

The second course consisted of grilled sole from Geoje island with Donggukjang, a brown bean sauce

The evening's menu included what the South Korean president's office described as 'pine mushroom rice in a stone pot accompanied by grilled Hanwoo (Korean beef) rib seasoned with a special sauce made with an exquisite, 360-year-old soy sauce served on a tray'

For dessert, the leaders had triple chocolate cake with raspberry vanilla sauce and Sujeonggwa - cinnamon punch- granita served with dried persimmons

President Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania, predicted an 'exciting day tomorrow' when he addresses South Korea's national assembly

Trump is in South Korea for 24 hours as part of a five-nation Asia trip, the longest international journey of his term in office so far

Trump returned the compliment.

'The relationship that we have is a fantastic one,' he said. 'The partnership between our two nations and our two people is deep and enduring.'

STATE DINNER MENU: ALL FOUR COURSES 1. Corn porridge accompanied by fresh herb and vegetable side dishes served on a traditional individual table 2. Grilled sole from Geoje island with Donggukjang (brown bean sauce) consomme 3. Pine mushroom rice in a stone pot accompanied with shrimp caught in the waters of Dokdo mixed with stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables, and grilled Hanwoo (Korean beef) rib seasoned with a special sauce made with an exquisite, 360-year-old soy sauce served on a tray 4. Triple chocolate cake with raspberry vanilla sauce and Sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) granita served with dried persimmons Coffee or Tea Source: Office of the South Korean president Advertisement

'Together our nations remind the world of the boundless potential of societies that choose freedom over tyranny,' he added, a not-so-subtle reference to the communist North.

The U.S. president went semi-formal for the occasion, wearing the same dark suit and blue tie that carried him through the day.

First lady Melania had changed from an imposing wine-colored dress with dramatically flared sleeves, wearing a patterned blue beaded dress to dinner.

The menu included 'pine mushroom rice' in a stone pot with grilled beef, seasoned with a recipe that includes a 360-year-old soy sauce, according to the South Korean president's office.

The dessert course included dried persimmons that South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook personally picked from trees surrounding the mountainside Blue House and dried for several weeks.

She later put walnuts into the persimmons before coating them with chocolate.

The black tea served at the night's end was blended with hydrangeas grown on a mountain in the alpine ski town of Pyeongchang, where South Korea will hold the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Hundreds of anti-Trump activists demonstrated in Gwanghwamun square, less than a mile from where the state dinner was being held

Some of the protesters' signs demanded 'no war,' while others branded Trump a 'misogynist' and 'racist'

A few protesters brought loud vuvuzelas to toot while others chanted slogans

Police in Gwanghwamun square, in central Seoul, were out in force to keep the peace

Trump is preparing to address South Korea's National Assembly on Wednesday before jetting off to Beijing, China.

He predicted: 'We're going to have an exciting day tomorrow, for many reasons that people will find out.'

Trump didn't directly address the elephant in the room  the looming threat of North Korea's nuclear missile program.

But Moon minced no words as Trump and his delegation of American dignitaries listened.

'War must not break out again on the Korean peninsula,' he said. 'And in this respect, the United States has provided enormous support.'

'The close coordination between Korea and the United States, and the overwhelming superiority of power that stems from the ROK-U.S. alliance, will eventually make North Korea cease its reckless provocations and make North Korea come out to dialogue for denuclearization.'

Less than a mile away in Gwanghwamun square, hundreds of protesters had other ideas.

Lit by candlelight, they held signs reading 'Against the U.S.-South Korea-Japan alliance,' and 'No Trump.

Some signs condemned 'war threats' and 'arms sales.'

Others branded the U.S. president as 'misogynist' and 'racist.'

President Trump and first lady Melania signed a guest book at South Korea's presidential Blue House on Tuesday

Melania Trump got a tour of the presidential palace on Tuesday from Kim Jung-sook, wife of South Korea's President Moon

'War must not break out again on the Korean peninsula,' said Moon, pictured at left greeting Melania Trump

Trump announced earlier in the day during a joint press conference that South Korea will soon buy a 'tremendous' amount of American military hardware.

The arms-salesman-in-chief declared that Moon's government is 'ordering billions of dollars' worth of equipment, and we've already approved some of those orders.'

Such purchases make 'a lot of sense' for South Korea, he said. 'And for us, it means jobs. It means reducing our trade deficit with South Korea.'

Trump was looking ahead to China, telling reporters during the press conference that president Xi Jinping 'has been very helpful' in cementing economic sanctions against North Korea.

'We'll find out how helpful soon,' Trump said.

'If we get China, if we get Russia  and we have some other countries, but we want to get most of them  we think that things will happen, and they could happen very quickly.'

'This is a problem, by the way, that should have been [fixed] over the last 25 years, not now,' Trump added, gesticulating broadly.

'This is not the right time to be doing it, but that's what I got. That's what I got.'
Two inmates charged with armed robbery are on the run after making a dramatic and elaborate escape from a suburban Northern California courthouse and fleeing in a car waiting outside for them.

Tramel McClough, 46, and John Bivins, 47, managed to break free from the sheriff's deputy who was guarding them at the Palo Alto Courthouse in Silicon Valley on Monday.

The two, who authorities say are dangerous, escaped from the deputy as he escorted them through a public hallway outside a courtroom where McClough and Bivins were due to face a hearing.

Tramel McClough (left) and John Bivins (right) managed to break free from the sheriff's deputy who was guarding them at the Palo Alto Courthouse in Silicon Valley on Monday

They ran through an emergency exit, down stairs and outside to a waiting car, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office.

They abandoned the car a few blocks away for a U-Haul moving van. Police found a handcuff key and discarded restraints nearby.

Authorities are investigating how the two men managed to elude the deputy and who helped them plan the elaborate escape involving the two waiting vehicles.

A wide scale search is still underway and people have been asked to call police if they see the two men but not to approach them.

Police found a handcuff key (pictured) and discarded restraints nearby and launched a wide scale search for the two missing inmates

They escaped as they were being escorted through a public hallway outside a Palo Alto courtroom (above) where McClough and Bivins were due to face a hearing

The Palo Alto Police Department said on Twitter that the men were believed to have left the area in a vehicle and officers were not searching for them in the city.

'The level of sophistication and brazenness it takes for the individuals to do that - that is why we're calling on the public and other allied agencies to help,' Sgt. Reggie Cooks said.

McClough and Bivins were being held without bail after they were charged with robbing a a Verizon store of $64,000 in merchandise in February.

Police have said they tied up the store employees, forced one to open a safe and were arrested a short time later after a car chase.
A gun dealer who drugged women before cutting away and storing the victims' genitalia faces 25 years in jail for his crimes.

Peter Frederiksen, from Denmark, was convicted of 36 charges including rape, conspiracy to commit murder, perverting the course of justice and illegal possession of weapons at his trial in South Africa.

The defendant made headlines around the world in September 2015 when police raided his home and found women's body parts stored in his garage along with a sick diary in which he logged the procedures he had carried out.

According to his wife and another victim, he had forced his victims to drink drug-laced alcohol which rendered them helpless during the 'surgery' at his filthy home.

Gun dealer Peter Frederiksen (pictured in court in 2015) who drugged women before cutting away and storing the victims' genitalia faces 25 years in jail for his crimes

Officers raided the house many months after his wife repeatedly made complaints about abuse, which went unanswered.

It was only when Frederiksen himself reported his wife to social services, that detectives descended on his scruffy, modest home in Bloemfontein and made their grisly discovery, which included 21 bags of female genitalia in a padlocked freezer in the garage and two more recent samples drying on hooks nearby.

Diaries in the Dane's handwriting which had neatly logged the names of victims, their body parts and dates of 'procedures', were seized along with anaesthetic drugs and surgical instruments.

Pictured is some of the medical equipment found in Frederiksen's home during the police search

His wife, Anna Matseliso Molise, who had also had part of her genitals removed, was to be the state's chief witness against Frederiksen, until she was gunned down with four bullets following his arrest.

The court accepted the prosecution's case that Frederiksen had organised the 'hit' on his wife while in custody, paying a cell mate to arrange her execution.

In the witness box, giving evidence in his own defence, the Dane said the pornographic material involving young girls found at his home was part of a 'research project' he was involved with on 'traditional African rituals'.

'I gathered this material because it is important to society,' he told the court through a Danish interpreter, adding that the project was almost complete at the time of his arrest.

'I do not like child pornography at all, the pictures are not for sexual purposes but for research.

Following the shocking discovery at his home, Frederiksen gave an interview to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, in which he blamed his wife's interest in witchcraft for the body parts found in his freezer.

Investigators believe that all of Frederiksen's victims were from the tiny landlocked enclave of Lesotho, where he lived for some time from 2000 and met and married his wife.

He will be sentenced this week for assaulting his wife, possessing child pornography, possession of an unregistered anaesthetic drug, contravening the Immigration Act, contravening the Firearms Control Act and illegal possession of firearms. He is expected to face up to 25 years behind bars for his crimes.

Peter Frederiksen, from Denmark, was convicted of 36 charges including rape, conspiracy to commit murder, perverting the course of justice and illegal possession of weapons at his trial in South Africa

Judge Johaann Daffue, presiding over his trial at the Bloemfontein High Court demanded to know how the Dane had been given residency in South Africa and a licence to open a gun shop, despite having been a fugitive from justice in his homeland following a conviction on weapons charges in 2006.

Charges relating to the the mutilation of seven women whose clitorises had been removed and frozen in neatly labelled bags, were dropped due to a loophole in the law.

The judge ruled that removal of human issue without consent of a person is not illegal in South Africa, even if it takes place on unlicensed premises. He recommended that the gap in the current law be reviewed and corrected.
There's a she-said, she-said playing out on Capitol Hill, with three female former aides to Rep. Brenda Lawrence telling Politico that they complained about the Michigan Democrat's male chief of staff and nothing was done.

As sex abuse and harassment allegations against powerful men like producer Harvey Weinstein and journalist Mark Halperin came out, Lawrence has preached a 'zero tolerance' sexual harassment policy, and introduced legislation that would require Congressional staffers to take a sexual harassment training course.

But ex-staffers suggest she hasn't practiced what she's preaching, as she allowed Chief of Staff Dwayne Duron Marshall to remain employed, despite complaints by one staffer about 'inappropriate' comments and physical contact.

Three female former aides to Rep. Brenda Lawrence (pictured) told Politico that they had complained about the behavior of Lawrence's chief of staff, with two telling the publication he was the reason they left their jobs

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (center), walking into a news conference with other female Democrats, is the woman behind a bill that would require Congressional aides to receive sexual harassment training

Each of the women interviewed by Politico, whose names were withheld to avoid retribution, said they felt they had made it clear to the congresswoman that women in the office were uncomfortable around Marshall and he treated women differently than men.

Two women expressed to the congresswoman that Marshall was the reason they left their jobs, with one noting the physical contact.

The three aides said they didn't specifically use the term 'sexual harassment' when waging complaints against Marshall, but said Lawrence, a former harassment complaint investigator for the federal government, should have seen red flags.

'She's complicit because she knows,' one of the staffers told Politico. 'She knows he makes comments. She knows he rubs the back and rubs the shoulders ... She'd say, "I know there are some problems, but he has his good points too," and "[the good] outweighs the bad."'

In an interview with Politico Lawrence denied that any current or former staffer had complained about sexual harassment though said certain 'management-style issues' had been responded to with 'individual personnel actions.'

Lawrence didn't cite the individuals involved.

'I want to be very clear, very firm, that I had no knowledge of any allegations of sexual harassment in my office, and when I say non, I mean non,' Lawrence told Politico.

'I have had in dividual conversations with some of my employees when they had exit interviews. Ive had one-on-ones and we have discussed things in the office that they felt we could do better. I have implemented training and other positive forms of correction,' she continued.

'But I have not, and I want to be very clear, have not ever, had an employee  former or present  talk to me about sexual harassment in my office,' she said.

When Politico's Rachael Bade asked the congresswoman if she'd received any complaints about Marshall's behavior, in general, she demurred.

'You were clear that this article is about sexual harassment,' the Democrat responded. 'I have never had a conversation with any employee about feeling sexually harassed in my office. And I'm not going to go off into another area if you're calling me about something else.'

Politico's sources painted Marshall as a man who graded women with his eyes, bragging about how some of his female staffers had made the Hill newspaper's '50 Most Beautiful' list, while grabbing another female aide's midriff to inform her she was getting chubby.

Marshall, the sources said, would talk openly to female staffers about their romantic relationships and his own, telling one woman that the man she was dating was beneath her and that they should meet to discuss it.

A former employee recalled that Marshall followed that aide to her car  and she was so uncomfortable that she asked other colleagues to walk her out after the incident occurred.

She quit the office after working there for just a few months.

One of Politico's sources who said she, too, quit thanks to Marshall's behavior recalled that he came up behind her and put his hand on her back, directly above her bottom.

Once she gave notice, Marshall acted out and tried to get her to stay, suggesting to the female aide that the job she 'thinks' she had taken elsewhere could go away.

'He raised his voice and talked about how in Washington, D.C., you have to be careful,' a staffer familiar with the incident told Politico.

The aide considered Marshall's warning a threat and told the congresswoman about it.

She also packed up her things that day and left  and later sought counseling at a Capitol Hill office.

Politico found that a number of women had left the office in a hurry in 2016, so much that the congresswoman started asking current staffers about the problem.

'She said to me, "I'm really for women; I really want to support women's issues,"' one of the ex-staffers told the news organization. 'And so we would say, "Hey, well, Duron's a problem."'

Lawrence, according to sources, responded to the women that she would talk to him.

This week when Politico presented the women with Lawrence's denial, they were incensed.

'She's completely full of s**t,' one aide said.

'It was amazing because it was someone you believed in,' a former aide said. 'She knew [about Marshall's behavior], but she just wouldn't do anything about it.'
A volunteer Santa Clause was arrested Monday morning after police discovered a crack pipe inside his vehicle.

New Jersey Police say that Charles Smith, 64, was taken into custody around 2am following a routine traffic stop along Route 46 in South Hackensack.

An officer spotted the pipe next to Smith's Santa outfit, according to NBC 4 News.

Charles Smith, 64, a former NJ Transit worker, volunteers at Toys for Tots in South Hackensack

Smith, a retiree from Pompton Lakes, was also in possession of empty bags of crack and heroin.

Police discovered other unspecified drug paraphernalia and hypodermic needles during a subsequent search of Smith's vehicle.

Smith, a former New Jersey Transit worker who volunteers at Toys for Tots, was charged with one count of drug possession and released on bond.

A request for comment to Toys for Tots by DailyMail.com was not immediately returned.

Messages to Smith asking for comment were also not immediately answered.

It remains unclear if Smith has retained legal counsel in the case.
A swimmer has been mauled to death by a shark just 10ft from the beach at a holiday hotspot in Cuba, it has emerged.

The unidentified 22-year-old was bathing with others in the water at Guardalavaca Beach when he started screaming for help.

Friends hit the shark with a bottle and managed to wrestle the man out of the shark's jaws after he was heard shouting: 'Get me, a shark is biting me.'

A swimmer has been mauled to death by a shark just 10ft from Guardalavaca beach (pictured) in Cuba, it has emerged

The unidentified 22-year-old was bathing with others in the water at Guardalavaca Beach when he was attacked by a shark (file picture)

But he had sustained a gaping wound in his left thigh and died after taken to a hospital in the eastern province of Holguin.

Doctor Enrique Remedios told the news site Ahora: 'Unfortunately, the young man died within a few minutes as his condition was very serious.

'He had a wide and deep bite of a marine animal on his left thigh which might have affected his femoral artery.'

Onlookers at the beach (file picture) hit the shark with a bottle and managed to wrestle the man out of the shark's jaws after he was heard shouting: 'Get me, a shark is biting me'

By the time he arrived at hospital, the swimmer had lost more than a fifth of his blood supply, according to local reports.

The exact species of shark that carried out the attack has not yet been identified.

It is thought that this was the first fatal shark attack in Cuba for 60 years.
Two young sisters caught up in a bomb blast 30 years ago are calling for expert psychological aftercare for teenage survivors of the Manchester pop concert tragedy.

Shirley and Julie Bridge were pictured fleeing the IRA aged 13 and 14 in Enniskillen, Ulster, and said they suffered from a lack of counselling at the time.

They still bear the emotional scars and feel it would have been much easier to cope had they been offered proper mental support.

Seconds after the bomb in Enniskillen, a dramatic news picture showed panicking survivors, including the Bridge siblings fleeing for their lives beneath falling glass, debris and rubble

Some 23 victims, mainly youngsters, died in the Manchester suicide attack at Ariana Grande's gig, and another 250 were injured, while on Remembrance Sunday 1987, 12 victims were killed and 63 injured at Enniskillen.

Seconds after the bomb exploded at the town's war memorial, a dramatic news picture went around the world showing panicking survivors, including the Bridge siblings fleeing for their lives beneath a hail of falling glass, debris and rubble.

Such was the panic that morning, that nobody knew if a second device had been planted.

The iconic picture showed 13 year-old Shirley, her mouth wide open in horror, clinging to schoolboy and next door neighbour Andrew Bracken's cream coloured anorak, his poppy still in place despite the carnage.

To Shirley's left is Julie, her hands dripping with blood, while on Shirley's right, father David Stuart scooped up his toddler son and daughter, one under each arm.

To Shirley's (circled centre) left is Julie (circled right), her hands dripping with blood, while on Shirley's right, father David Stuart scooped up his toddler son and daughter under each arm

Julie, 14 at the time, and now 44, burst into tears on learning of the Manchester atrocity last May while Shirley's voice still quivers at the mention of the Enniskillen outrage, and admits that its only been in the last decade that she's felt strong enough to discuss it without weeping.

Shirley Robinson, a 43-year-old mother-of-two living in Auckland, New Zealand, recalls there was no counselling of any note following the blast.

'There was no forum for any of us children involved,' she recalled this week ahead of the 30th anniversary of Enniskillen.

She said: 'We'd thought at one time that we were filling in questionnaires about how we felt after the bomb, however it was merely for someone's research rather than actually trying to help us.

Julie O'Donnell stands in Enniskillen at the scene of the IRA's infamous 'Poppy Day' blast

'Perhaps help was available but as a child you perhaps don't know that you may have benefited from talking about the experience, and I'm not sure that back then we were in a very understanding culture.

Shirley Robinson recalls there was no counselling of any note following the blast

'It was the norm and how we'd grown up in a community where bombs and maimings were part of the norm - counselling is much more available these days. I don't think that even our family knew how it might affect us.'

She said people had come together to talk about the experience with a bereavement charity called Cruise.

Shirley continued: 'The adults were angry at the time that Gordon Wilson had spoken of his forgiveness and this it seemed was what they wanted to vent about at these meetings.

'It appeared that the media had taken what Gordon said on behalf of the people of Enniskillen and it certainly wasn't the general consensus.

'This however meant that no real talking about the experience actually took place as a group.'

The late Mr Wilson's daughter, Marie, died in the blast.

Shirley, a tactical planner for a food company in her adopted country, feared she be killed that morning, and added: 'Personally, I think I suffered some kind of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but am unsure if the illness was defined as this back in 1987.

'I imagined on one occasion, while home alone, that the IRA was targeting me  they were coming back to finish off the job.

Shirley said she had grown up in a community where 'bombs and maimings' were normal

'I eventually plucked up courage to run out of my house to my God mother's a few doors away. I was in an awful state and it wasn't until then that anyone knew how it had affected me.

'I remember going to court - to a compensation board  where the judge wanted us to stand and speak about the explosion. I was a physical mess and my mum refused to let anyone make me stand in the witness box and speak

'Counselling and talking with a psychologist would have made this awful experience a little easier to cope with immediately after the fact so I concur with Julie's view that teenagers and young people who survived the Manchester attack should talk through their experiences with professional experts.'

Julie, now Mrs O'Donnell, who still lives in Eniskillen, knows that the surviving youngsters of that atrocity will suffer emotional trauma and anxiety in future years, but hopes that coping lessons have been learned in 30 years.

On Remembrance Sunday 1987, 12 victims were killed and 63 injured at Enniskillen, Ulster

She recalled, 'We received nothing in the way of counselling but hopefully young people affected in Manchester will get the professional help they need to cope with the horrors of that night.

'Its wrong of terror groups to target children in wars they don't understand but survivors of that atrocity must be helped by trained experts to come to terms with the sights they witnessed. I broke down and wept when I saw the carnage unfold on TV'

The IRA's outrage, at the war memorial to commemorate the dead of two world wars, received world wide condemnation.

Then PM Mrs Thatcher, said it was 'utterly barbaric' and 'a blot on mankind' but despite her revulsion and claims that there 'should be no hiding place' for the terrorists, no IRA hierarchy has ever been bought to justice.

The cenotaph in Enniskillen is pictured today the eve of the 30th anniversary of the bombing

Shirley described the attack as 'sickening,' and likened it to the IRA's bombing of Omagh years later.

Even Libya, which sold Semtex explosives to the IRA, protested.

Dictator Colonel Gaddafi said the bombing 'didn't belong' to a legitimate revolutionary operation in targeting innocent civilians.'

While Shirley and Julie spoke out, Andrew Bracken, the ten-year-old at the centre of the picture, and Mr Stuart, with his children under each arms, declined to talk of the outrage or its aftermath.

But Shirley recalled: 'It was terrifying. The blast blew me into the road and when the dust cleared my mum thought we'd been buried under the rubble.

'There's TV footage of her trying to pull at the bricks until she's held back by an RUC or UDR officer.

Some 23 victims, mainly youngsters, died in the Manchester suicide attack at Ariana Grande's gig, and another 250 were injured

'She'd thought we were under there until she was able to locate us in hospital.

'I'll remember the anniversary, of course, but I'll mark the tragedy on Anzac Day in NZ (in April) when I'll wear a poppy with special thought for those who lost their lives in my home town - people I'd talked to moments earlier including my own headmaster at the time, who was critically injured, and passed away years later.

'Here, we teach children how important it is to be respectful on such days, and only recently have I shown my sons the picture of me running away from the bomb and talk about the blast mummy was injured in.

'My childhood in Enniskillen was an extremely happy one, in fact in my later years in secondary and grammar school I had many Catholic friends and the bomb was never an issue between us  they were appalled about the atrocity as I was.

'Its extremely disgusting that Enniskillen has received no justice for what happened.'
CHEYENNE  Peak Wellness Center is reaching out to help people in southeast Wyoming who are addicted to narcotic painkillers, also known as opioids.

Peak Wellness is a nonprofit agency that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment services to children and adults in Albany, Goshen, Laramie and Platte counties. Its new medication-assisted treatment program for opioid addiction also serves people in Carbon County.

The Wyoming Department of Health asked Peak Wellness Center to develop a program to help people who are addicted to painkillers. The agency applied for and received a $385,000 grant through the state health department to put the treatment plan in place.

The treatment will provide a medication called Suboxone that helps opioid addicts by reducing or eliminating cravings.

Medication-assisted treatment can help people of all incomes recover from addiction to painkillers, Goodman said.
A six-year-old boy weighing only 17 pounds died Friday after the child's father and stepmother starved him and his brother for nearly two years as a form of punishment, police say.

Michael Roberts and Georgena Roberts, both 42, were charged with first-degree murder and two counts of endangering the life and health of a child in Jerseyville, Illinois.

On Friday around 4pm Jerseyville, police responded to the Jersey Community Hospital to investigate the death of a severely malnourished boy.

Preliminary findings of an autopsy on the child show that the cause of death was failure to thrive due to 'extreme malnourishment,' KTVI reported.

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Michael Roberts (left) and Georgena Roberts (right), both 42, were charged with first-degree murder in relation to the starving death of his six-year-old son. The couple are accused of starving the child and his brother for nearly two years as a form of punishment

Police say Michael Roberts is the child's father, along with another seven-year-old boy who was also 'deprived of food' as 'a form of punishment.'

A total of five children lived in the home with the couple, but are now in protective custody.

The couple is being held at the Jersey County jail; bail has been set at $500,000 each.

They appeared in court on Monday where the state's attorney and Jerseyville police revealed the horrific details about the living conditions inside of their home.

One of the couple's neighbors said that they were a very secretive family.

'I had no idea that there was supposedly six children living in the house at all,' Lucas Dickerman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

'They never brought them outside to play. They never brought them over to say hi or anything. Very secretive people.

Preliminary findings of an autopsy on the child show that the cause of death was failure to thrive due to 'extreme malnourishment. ' The couple, who lived in Jerseyville (pictured above is a general view of the street they lived on) is being held at the Jersey County jail; bail has been set at $500,000 each

'Just crazy to think that something like that happens next door to you, especially in a town like this where stuff life that usually doesn't happen.

'All these people that are wanting children that can't have children and they go and do something like that.

'It's just beyond me, especially being a new father. I can't imagine doing something like that to your kid.'

Court documents from their appearance say that between December 2015 and Friday that the couple caused the child to become 'extremely malnourished.'

They are also accused of 'withholding food and nourishment on a constant basis' from the child and his seven-year-old brother, who was also suffering in 'a state of severe malnourishment caused by them,' court documents state.

Both Robert and Georgena are scheduled for another court hearing on November 13.
A Perth man has been left bloodied and bruised after becoming the victim of a vicious road rage attack.

The man, in his mid 60s, was reportedly hit by a 'flurry of punches' from a driver after their cars connected around 1.30pm Tuesday in the city's eastern suburbs.

Despite the serious nature of his injuries, the victim managed to drive himself to the police station to report the incident, according to 7News.

A Perth man in his 60s has been left bloodied and bruised after becoming the victim of a vicious road rage attack around 1.30pm Tuesday

Officers at the station said the man appeared 'shaken up' but refused their offer to call an ambulance.

Photos show him with a swollen eye and blood running down his face from a series of cuts near his nose.

The attack was alleged to have taken place when the man and the assailant's car's were merging through traffic on Great Eastern Highway.

The victim said he did not get a good look at the perpetrator, with hopes members of the public can assist.

Police are urging the person responsible to turn themselves in.

Anyone who witnessed the attack or has dash cam footage is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A British mother held in an Iranian prison for almost two years wept after being told how a 'gaffe' by Boris Johnson could have led to her being hauled before a court to face new charges.

Richard Ratcliffe said his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was inconsolable and asked: 'Why do I have to suffer? Why does my baby have to suffer?'.

Her emotional outburst came after the Iranian authorities hauled her back before a court to face new charges that could see her five-year prison sentence extended.

It followed a comment by Foreign Secretary Johnson, who said the charity worker was in Iran to teach journalists and not on holiday as she maintained during her trial.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is in prison in Iran after she was arrested on holiday. It is feared she could face a longer sentence after Boris Johnson mistakenly said she was 'training journalists'

There are calls for Boris Johnson to resign after he blundered into the international issue

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr Johnson told MPs his previous remarks 'could have been clearer'.

Mr Johnson has received criticism from all sides with Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry calling for him to resign.

His fellow Conservative Anna Soubry demanded he ensure 'his own ambitions are put secondary to everybody else in this country'.

The politician eventually said he was 'sorry' if his remarks caused the family anxiety but angrily defended his own position and blamed the Iranian regime for what is happening to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Her husband Richard told MailOnline he was pleased Mr Johnson had gone to Parliament to correct the record, but added: 'You don't want a Foreign Secretary to put people's lives in jeopardy.'

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, Richard, said they hoped Boris would visit Iran to get her freed

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been in prison for almost 600 days after being convicted of plotting to overthrow the regime last April.

She has always insisted that she was visiting relatives in Tehran with her daughter.

Boris's comments to a Foreign Affairs Select Committee are feared to be behind the Iranian regime's decision to bring her back to court.

When she was taken back to court on Saturday the Iranian judiciary's High Council for Human Rights declared that the Foreign Secretary had revealed the truth.

It said: 'His [Johnson's] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

'For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested... Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin.'

She was visiting relatives in Tehran with her daughter, Gabriella, when she was detained

At her trial, the charity worker insisted she had been on holiday and was not involved in any political activity. The exact charges have never been made public by the Iranian court.

Johnson had told the Foreign Affairs committee: 'When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it.

'[Neither] Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe nor her family has been informed about what crime she has actually committed. And that I find extraordinary, incredible.'

He is now facing calls to resign over the comment, but insisted his remarks have been taken out of context.

Mr Ratcliffe said his wife does not blame Johnson for her latest court ordeal and they were both pleased that the Foreign Secretary had spoken to his Iranian counterpart by phone to explain fully his remarks.

Johnson said his remarks 'could form no justifiable basis for further action' against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Boris has denied claims his comments led to increased action against the British mother

Speaking today, Johnson said: 'My point was that I disagreed with the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime - not that I wanted to lend any credence to Iranian allegations that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been engaged in such activity.

'I accept that my remarks could have been clearer in that respect, and I'm glad to provide this clarification.'

Later, when MP Layla Moran asked him if he would apologise to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family, he said: 'Of course I am sorry if any words of mine have been so taken out of context and so misconstrued as to cause any kind of anxiety for the family.'

He said he did not believe his comments 'had any impact on the judicial process' in Iran.

Her husband told the Evening Standard: 'She was obviously distraught about being taken back to court and bewildered about what caused that.

'She isn't sitting there blaming Boris, she knows it's the Iranians doing this, and what she is focused on now is him visiting her as soon as possible.'

Her husband says she was heartbroken when she learned about the comments

He said he had told her Johnson's remarks could have led to the court appearance but the couple are buoyed by Johnson's offer to travel to Iran to visit her in prison.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her accountant husband have always maintained she was in Iran so her parents could meet her three-year-old daughter Gabriella.

The toddler is now being looked after by her grandparents and has spent half her life without either of her parents.

Johnson has come under fire from two former Foreign Secretaries for his latest gaffe with Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry suggesting he should quit if his remarks have damaged Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe bid for freedom.

Sir Malcom Rifkind told BBC's Today Programme: 'You have to get the detail right or could cause serious problems for your own government.'

Jack Straw said Mr Johnson was causing harm. 'If you are Foreign Secretary, rule number one is 'Careless talk costs lives'.'

Johnson's cabinet colleague Liam Fox said Johnson had made a 'slip of the tongue' but insisted the Iranian authorities were solely to blame for prolonging the mum of one's ordeal.

He said: 'I don't believe that it is a serious gaffe... I think people in the Iranian regime, which is a very brutal regime, are using this as an excuse to hold a UK citizen in the most tenuous of circumstances.'

The couple's local MP added his voice for Johnson to resign.

Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead & Kilburn, told the Evening Standard: 'Boris has been given a long period now in which to retract his wrong statement. Now he has to resign. Nazanin has been on hunger strike, she is suicidal. You cannot bumble your way through a case like this.'

In a statement The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson now accepted he 'could have been clearer' with his comments to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The statement added that the Iranian Foreign Minister Mr Zarif told the foreign secretary that the developments in the case over the weekend 'were unrelated' to Mr Johnson's remarks.
A courier has been filmed literally throwing parcels marked 'Fragile' and 'This Way Up' into the front yard of an Adelaide home on Tuesday afternoon.

Security cameras caught the delivery man tossing a box over the gate and onto Josie Grummel's Kudla property twice in the space of ten days.

'It clearly says it was fragile, and this way up, which it wasn't,' Ms Grummel told 7NEWS.

A courier has been caught on camera twice throwing fragile parcels over a fence into the yard

The security camera on Josie Grummel's Kudla property caught the courier's actions on video

'There's facilities out there to put them, or he could have put them neatly over the fence,' she fumed. 'There's no need to throw them.'

Ms Grummel explained that inside the parcels were delicate air diffusers for her to give her family as Christmas gifts.

Luckily, the gifts were well-wrapped and tightly packed, so they weren't damaged, but an investigation is still underway into the behaviour of the courier.

But thousands of other Australians haven't been so lucky, complaining that their goods are often arriving smashed and broken.

This footage emerges just days after Australia Post announced that it would be investigating a delivery man who was caught on video chucking parcels into a van without looking.

'This is what we pay Australia Post for!' fumed Glenn Burr, who posted the video shot outside Arena post office to his Facebook page.

'Not a care in the world with our packages just throw them in and don't even look where they land... I hope your packages arrive safety [but they won't] through Australia Post care.'

Customers have slammed an Australia Post driver for carelessly tossing parcels into the van

Industry experts say you should buy from a retailer with a good track record with valuables

Industry experts say that the careless handling of packages is 'widespread', but warn people not to blame the courier.

'Your starting point is the retailer, that is who your contact is with,' said consumer affairs expert Dini Soulio. 'The retailer can then take it up with their delivery company.'

Mr Souli also advises doing research about who you're buying from and checking for negative reviews and customer feedback before finalising your online shopping.
A migrant who raped and killed an EU official's daughter and lied that he was an 'unaccompanied minor' is between 22 and 29 years old, dental checks have proved.

Hussein Khavari ambushed 19-year-old medical student Maria Ladenburger in Freiberg in October last year before raping her and drowning her in a river.

Today, a dental expert appeared to have wrecked his hopes of escaping with a lighter sentence by showing with 'near certainty' that Khavari was 25. The bogus Afghan refugee originally claimed to be just 17.

Speaking at Khavari's trial on Tuesday, research scientist Ursula Wittwer-Backofen revealed her analysis of his upper right canine tooth.

Afghan migrant Hussein Khavari wept in the Freiburg District Court as he recalled how he murdered Maria Ladenburger while he was drunk last October

Hussein Khavari (left), 22, has been charged with raping and murdering Maria Ladenburger (right), 19, in Germany

The tooth was removed eight months before he attacked the teenager.

He kept the tooth as some sort of souvenir and on Tuesday it became exhibit A in the courtroom in Freiburg, southern Germany, where he has been standing trial for the past two months for the crime.

Precisely speaking, said Mrs. Wittwer-Backofen his true age is with 99.7% probability between 22.05 and 29.55 years, but that she was certain he was 25.

This means when he is sentenced for Maria's murder he can expert no leniency for his age but a mandatory life sentence.

He had earlier testified that on the night of the killing he was so drunk he was ejected from a bar and left alone by his friends in town.

He claims he accidentally came across Maria who shouted out as she fell from her bicycle.

Police stand in front of the court in Freiburg ahead of a case that fueled a nationwide debate about the country's migration policy

He was linked through his DNA to medical student Maria (pictured), who volunteered at various shelters that house migrants in her spare time in the university city of Freiburg

He said he pressed her mouth shut then choked her with a scarf and put her unconscious into the water.

'When I saw how pretty she was, I wanted to have sex with her,' he said, but claims he was too drunk.

He broke down in court and added: 'I want to apologize to the family of Maria'.

Reading from a statement he went on: 'I beg your pardon. I want to apologise to the family of Maria. I wish I could undo it. What I have done, I am sad for from the bottom of my heart '.

Prosecutors dispute his account of the murder and say he planned it beforehand.

Khavari ended a life rich in potential and polarised a nation struggling to adapt to over a million refugees in its midst.

It was learned after his arrest that he had been arrested and sentenced to ten years for attempted murder in Corfu in 2013 before coming to Germany seeking refuge in 2015 as an 'unaccompanied minor.'

Khavari's trial is taking place in Freiburg, where he was seen in handcuffs being led in to court (pictured)

The defendant Hussein Khavari is brought back into the court room wearing shackles after a break during his trial in Freiburg

German authorities knew nothing of his past and so let him into the country as a registered asylum seeker.

His victim, whose father is a senior legal adviser to the European Commission in Brussels, worked in her spare time in Freiburg helping out migrants in various shelters and homes.

The killing sparked frenzied new waves of hatred and fear of refugees. Even the leader of the country's police union said her death would have been prevented had the open door asylum-seeker policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel been less lax than it is.

After several court hearings Khavari said he did not know his true age but that he was no older than 19 - again an age would would have seen him sentenced as a juvenile.

But the tooth evidence now means he faces sentencing next year as an adult.
A Belgian teenager faces losing his oesophagus after downing a glass of bleach while trying to copy an American video he didn't realise was a spoof.

The 17-year-old from Sint-Pieters-Leeuw in Flemish Brabant was promised 10 (8.8) by friends if he finished the glass.

He was rushed to hospital after the bet, which was inspired by a scripted video from 2009, in which Jordan Thornsburg and friends filmed a parody of an online milk-drinking craze by pretending to drink bleach.

But the Belgian school pupil from Halle didn't realise the video - which features Thornsburg throwing up fake blood - was a satire on YouTubers' attempts to drink a gallon of milk without vomiting.

Kris Weemaels from Don Brosco school in the city confirmed: 'The mother has contacted me with the notification that her son drank several slugs of bleach.'

University of Leuven toxicologist Prof Dr Jan Tytgat says the boy's burns 'are just the beginning' and says in the worst case his entire oesophagus could be 'eaten away'.

Parody: This scripted video features Jordan Thornsburg, an American who pretends to drink a bottle of bleach

He said that the risks are even higher when the bleach enters the stomach and reacts with gastric acid.

'If you drink several millilitres of bleach, let's say around 10 to 15 millilitres, it can easily be lethal,' he said.

Thornsburg pretends to chug bleach in the video, which is a parody of a milk-drinking craze that emerged online

The teenager's name and current condition have not been reported.

Thornsburg called his joke video 'absolutely f***ing stupid' and said he thought it would be clear to anyone that it was a parody.

In the clip, his friends can be seen calmly encouraging him to 'drink the bleach' even after he appears to vomit.

After running water over his face following a first attempt that supposedly burned him, Thornsburg pretends to guzzle more bleach before throwing up tomato juice.

In the video the actor sits down to drink more 'bleach' after apparently vomiting into a sink and then returning to his seat

As he is scolded for wasting the 'bleach' supplied by his friend's mother, he is encouraged to calm it with milk.

Thornsburg said: 'I wanted it to be so ridiculous that it was just funny, like it was just going to be scripted and it would be hilarious and ridiculous, like no way is any of this real.'
A Pennsylvania man has been apprehended by police in Illinois and charged with savagely murdering a 19-year-old girl by snapping her neck and gouging out her eyes after she turned down his marriage proposal on Halloween.

Christopher Tucker, 34, of Berks County, Pennsylvania, was arrested at a truck stop in Illinois on charges of murder and criminal homicide in the slaying of Tara Serino, according to state police.

Investigators say Tucker asked Serino to marry him at his home in Albany Township some time between October 30 and October 31.

Halloween slaying: Christopher Tucker, 34 (left), has been charged with murder for allegedly killing 19-year-old Tara Serino by choking her and snapping her neck for rejecting his marriage proposal on October 31

The teenager told Tucker 'no' and revealed to him that she was having sex with other men, police said. She also allegedly made an offhand remark that Tucker should 'just kill her.'

Following his arrest, Tucker allegedly admitted that the rejection made him 'snap,' and he proceeded to choke Serino, break her neck, then poke out her eyes and beat her with a hatchet and a 25-pound weight plate.

He then wrapped the woman's body in a rug and fled to Illinois.

Authorities in Champaign County, Illinois, apprehended the fugitive at a truck stop after he allegedly tried to break into a farmer's combine machine, with the farmer still inside, and took him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, reported The Morning Call.

A sheriff's official said the 34-year-old was acting strangely and was not making sense.

Meanwhile, troopers in Pennsylvania searched Tucker's home after being contacted by Tara Serinos father and discovered the womans lifeless body in a bedroom. Her injuries appeared consistent with Tucker's confession.

Fugitive: Tucker fled to Illinois, where police arrested him at a truck stop where he attempted to break into a farmer's combine machine

Taras father, Fred Serino, told police he last saw his daughter at 12.38am on October 30 when she went out, promising her parents to give them a call later to tell them she was fine. That call never came.

At 9.30pm on October 31, Mr Serino called state police in Hamburg, asking them to perform a welfare check at Christopher Tucker's home.

Troopers were dispatched to the address but could not reach anyone inside the house.

The next day, Fred Serino got a visit from Tucker's father, whom he did not know. John Tucker said he had been contacted by a hospital in Illinois saying his son was undergoing an evaluation there following his arrest at a truck stop.

Mr Tucker also told Serino that some of Tara's belongings, including her purse and phone, were in his sons home and that he wished to return them. Its unclear whether or not the suspects father saw Taras body when he entered his son's house.

Following Tuckers visit, at around 1.30pm on November 1, Fred Serino contacted police to report his daughter missing, leading to the gruesome discovery.

Christopher Tucker will be extradited back to Pennsylvania to face murder charges, as well as counts of aggravated assault and possession of an instrument of crime.

Tucker had been arrested just days before Serino's killing on DUI and drug possession charges in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was released from jail after posting bail on October 27. His past criminal record also includes two other DUI arrests.

According to her obituary, Serino graduated from Parkland High School in 2015 and had an interest in nature photography. She was described as 'generous, artistic and open-minded, and had a positive outlook on life.'

She is survived by her parents and two older siblings, a brother and sister.
A British husband who claimed he was robbed at gunpoint and had his leg broken while on holiday in Thailand has been exposed as a fraud.

Mik Laverty, who is from Newton Aycliffe but was in Phuket to celebrate his 50th birthday, claimed to have been attacked on the first day of his vacation while his wife went to the bathroom.

But Thai police say Laverty, an Army veteran, invented the whole story and actually injured himself while jumping from a hotel balcony.

Mik Laverty, 50, from Newton Aycliffe, claimed gun-wielding robbers in Thailand broke his leg before stealing his watch last week

But Thai police say he is a fraud who actually injured himself jumping off a balcony

They say this CCTV footage shows him clearly throwing himself 20ft off the balcony of a hotel where he wasn't even staying into the street below

Laverty claimed he was injured during a vicious mugging in a marketplace on Thursday last week.

But officers revealed CCTV taken in the early hours of Friday morning which shows him walking on two healthy legs down the corridor of a hotel in Patong, which is not the hotel where he was staying.

Laverty can be seen trying a couple of doors before disappearing into a room, where police say he threw himself over a balcony railing and 20ft into the street below.

'Staff heard him screaming and ran to help. They called a rescue team which soon arrived and took him to Patong Hospital,' Capt Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police explained to The Phuket News

When police went to present Laverty with evidence of his deception on Tuesday they found he had already fled the country on a flight to Dubai, it is claimed.

Laverty and wife Denise had been using the 'robbery' to raise funds for medical expenses, amassing almost 1,000 in the first 24 hours.

According to the couple's account of events, Mrs Laverty had gone into a bar to use the toilet while her husband waited for her outside.

Mik and wife Denise had been appealing for money online to help with their medical costs, and amassed almost 1,000 in the first 24 hours

Police said when they went to confront Laverty with evidence of his deception they found he had already fled the country on a plane to Dubai

They Lavertys, who have two sons, said Mik was robbed by gun-wielding thieves while she was in the bathroom, leaving him injured

When she returned she couldn't see him among crowds of people in the street. She frantically searched the area before returning to their hotel.

Staff checked CCTV footage but there was still no sign of Mr Laverty until the hotel was apparently contacted by a nearby hospital to say one of their guests had been admitted.

Mrs Laverty then rushed to the hospital where she said she found her husband.

When he told the attackers he had no money, they took his watch and keys before leaving him in a side street with multiple leg fractures, he claimed.

Mr and Mrs Laverty, who have two sons, claimed they were forced to pay about 3,000 for hospital treatment but are concerned about spiralling costs while their insurers investigate.

Mrs Laverty said support from home is helping them get through the ordeal.

Writing on Facebook she said: 'This has been the worst experience in my life ever I am truly gutted and devastated as to what has happened and appreciate what everybody has done for me and Mik.

'I just so can't wait to be back in the UK and get this horrific ordeal put behind us.'
Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick has denied knowing actress Kristina Cohen after she publicly accused him of raping her three years ago.

The 27-year-old Ladies Like Us actress took to Facebook on Monday night alleging that Westwick forcibly held her down and raped her at his Hollywood Hills home in February 2014.

Westwick hit back Tuesday morning strenuously denying the rape allegations.

'I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape,' the British actor tweeted.

Cohen claimed she went to the 30-year-old actor's home for dinner with a producer - who she had briefly dated in 2013 - when Westwick allegedly suggested a threesome. She said she ended up taking a nap in his guest bedroom.

She didn't name the producer in her Facebook post, but later identified him to the Hollywood Reporter as Kaine Harling.

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Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick has been accused of raping 27-year-old actress Kristina Cohen when she visited his home three years ago

Kristina Cohen, the 27-year-old Ladies Like Us actress, took to Facebook on Monday night alleging that Westwick forcibly held her down and raped her at his home three years ago

Westwick strenuously denied the rape allegations on Tuesday morning in a statement on his social media

'I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to f*** me,' she wrote.

'I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me.'

The actress said she had tried to convince Harling, who was friends with Westwick, to leave prior to the alleged assault but he had asked her to stay a while longer.

'I wanted to leave when Ed suggested 'we should all f***'. But the producer didn't want to make Ed feel awkward by leaving,' she said.

'Ed insisted we stay for dinner. I said I was tired and wanted to leave, trying to get out of what was already an uncomfortable situation. Ed suggested I nap in the guest bedroom. The producer said we would stay for just another 20 more minutes to smooth everything over, and then we could leave.'

Cohen told the Hollywood Reporter that after the alleged assault she was shocked and confused. She ended up leaving the following morning and said that Harling had left earlier in the night.

She said she spoke to Harling after the alleged assault but claims he blamed her.

'The producer put the blame on me, telling me I was an active participant,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Telling me that I can't say anything because Ed will have people come after me, destroy me, and that I could forget about an acting career. Saying there's no way I can go around saying Ed "raped" me and that I don't want to be 'that girl'.'

Harling was a producer on Ladies Like Us - the TV series Cohen starred in.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Harling for comment.

Cohen didn't name the producer in her Facebook post, but later identified him to the Hollywood Reporter as Kaine Harling (above). She said the pair dated briefly in 2013. The alleged assault took place in February 2014

Westwick has been dating former America's Next Top Model contestant Jessica Serfaty (pictured above) for the past few months

Cohen starred in the TV series Ladies Like Us from 2013 to 2015. She is pictured above acting in a scene from the show

Cohen said she was encouraged to speak out three years after the alleged attack following the outpouring of stories this past month in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

She at the time of the alleged assault she was in a dark place.

'My mom was dying of cancer and I didn't have the support system or time to process and deal with the aftermath of the rape. I buried my pain and guilt to make space for the onslaught that came after my mom's death, just three months later,' she said.

'Even now, I grapple with feelings of guilt. Unfounded worry that in some way I was to blame. I don't know where these feelings come from.

'I've grown considerably in the three years since my assault, so to revisit is painful.'

Cohen, who was born in California, has appeared in a number of minor TV and and film roles with the most recent being Ladies Like Us and Ladies Like Us: The Rise of Neighborhood Watch.

She has also featured in Californication and Greek.

Soon after Cohen's claims surfaced, a Wikipedia page about Westwick was updated to read: 'Ed Westwick is a rapist, best known for his role as Chuck Bass on The CW's teen television drama series Gossip Girl.'

The rapist reference was quickly deleted after Westwick denied the allegations.

Westwick has been dating former America's Next Top Model contestant Jessica Serfaty for the past few months.

DailyMail.com has contacted Westwick's lawyer and Cohen for further comment.

Ed Westwick is best known for his role as Chuck Bass (above) in the TV series Gossip Girl

Cohen said she was encouraged to speak out three years after the alleged attack following the outpouring of stories this past month in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal
Razvana Zeib has been jailed for four and-a-half years for conspiring to launder money from a 7 million cash-in-transit fake heist from Heathrow Airport involving her husband

A mother-of-four has been jailed for four and-a-half years for conspiring to launder money from a 7 million cash-in-transit fake heist from Heathrow Airport involving her husband.

Razvana Zeib was jailed after travelling to Pakistan and setting up a bank account with the intention of laundering at least 900,000 of the money her spouse Rafaqat Hussain had helped steal, Kingston Crown Court heard.

He was jailed in October for conspiring to steal after helping two security guards use their van to take 26 bags of cash belonging to Credit Suisse from inside a British Airways cargo depot at the airport.

Judge Stephen John told Zeib that while she may not have known about the fake heist, she knew the money she was dealing with was the product of a crime.

The judge said: 'The sum involved was one of the largest of recent years.

'This was a sophisticated operation which involved meticulous planning and execution.'

He added: 'You accept that you were not coerced. You were a willing participant, you were in it for financial gain and you were not a naive and unassuming wife.'

On March 14 two Loomis employees, Mohammad Siddique and Ranjeev Singh, staged the fake heist under the guidance of Hussain.

Hussain Rafaqat (left) stole 7million in the heist. He later arranged for Gary Carrod (right) to burgle a house which he wanted to buy, with a view to reducing the price

The two guards made it appear they were victims - Siddique stopped the van to allow Singh a toilet break, who waited some time before reporting the van missing.

Siddique drove away at speed before later being found bound by cables on a service road near the M40 in Buckinghamshire, with the vehicle abandoned and the cash missing.

Hussain, 41, then conspired to launder the money with Zeib, 35, both of Chadwick Road, Slough. None has been found.

Secret recordings made by a device planted by police in Hussain's car caught Zeib discussing with her husband how much of the stolen cash should be paid to a co-conspirator, the court heard.

Prosecutor Sandip Patel QC said the police probe showed Zeib had a 'prominent role' in these discussions.

Security guards Mohammed Siddique (left) and Ranjeev Singh (right) were the 'inside men' who staged a robbery so the money could be spirited away. It has never been recovered

A police reconstruction shows just how much space the 7million would have taken up

She was jailed for three-and-a-half years for conspiracy to money laundering and another year to run consecutively for conspiracy to commit burglary, having previously admitted both counts.

The second charge related to organising for a house she and her husband wanted to buy with their share of the 7 million loot to be ransacked in an attempt to bring down the price.

An 88-year-old woman was selling the house to fund a place in a care home, but after it was flooded and vandalised, with windows broken, her failure to tell insurers she was not living there at the time of the burglary meant they failed to pay out.

In sentencing Zeib, Judge John called the burglary a 'breathtaking example of further greed'.

Hussain was jailed in October for 10 years and three months for conspiracy to steal, money launder and burgle.

Siddique, 32, of Belgrave Road, Slough, and Singh, 40, of Grampian Way, Slough, were both sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for conspiracy to steal.
ROCK SPRINGS  Get off the interstate and hit the two-lane.

The ironic part of that statement is that both highways are related. Interstate 80 came about thanks to the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, one of the most important in a series of laws designed to expand the United States system of roadways.

Nov. 11 will be the 91st anniversary of the adoption of the numbered system. The roads that evolved literally became trips down memory lane years after the interstates creation. The most famous example is U.S. Highway 66.

In Sweetwater County, the Lincoln Highway, the predecessor to the shielded system, became U.S. 30 while U.S. 187, the precursor to U.S. 191 in Rock Springs and Eden Valley became a route for people to take to Jackson.

To honor the anniversary, lets take a look at how the numbered system came to be.

The push for good roads

The decision to adopt the U.S. highway numbered system did not happen overnight.

In the late 19th century, farmers and the League of American Wheelmen, a group of bicyclists, began requesting improved road surfaces to either recreate on or more efficiently bring crops to the markets.

Their push helped spawn the Good Roads Movement.

The movement saw strong arguments between those who advocated for federal involvement in constructing roads and those who felt states and counties should shoulder the responsibility.

Starting in 1916, however, a few laws were enacted that would alter the road building relationship between the federal government and states.

The Federal-Aid Act of 1916, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, allocated $75 million in matching funds to the states. The law also resulted in states creating their own highway departments. Wyomings was established in 1917.

In May 1918, a publication dedicated to the construction of roads, Public Roads, made its initial appearance.

With increasing interest among the state highway officials in the federal-aid road act and the rapidly spreading desire to apply the benefits of this act to the roads of their states it becomes necessary to preserve a progress report of the projects under it, Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering Director Logan Waller Page said in the publication.

As the county progressed into the 1920s, several million people were riding around in automobiles. Combine that with the fact some considered auto trails to be unorganized and confusing, and the time was ripe for a change.

The Phipps Act or Federal-Aid Act of 1921 paved the way for the establishment of a national highway system. The U.S. Bureau of Public Roads began working with states in creating a new system. In 1925, a comprehensive map of the system was established and on Nov. 11, 1926, it was adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials. Signs were developed beginning in 1927.

Grubs Drive-In co-owner Marcy Skorup said the new system was more efficient because you can follow a U.S. 30 sign rather than go through Pilot Butte (Avenue) or Ninth Street the way they had it going through Rock Springs.

U.S. 30

U.S. Highway 30 follows or runs along the Lincoln Highway in Sweetwater County. It enters Creston Junction on the countys eastern terminus and leaves near Granger on the west end.

Over the course of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, mom-and-pop establishments cropped up along the roadside. Places like the Broadway Cafe in Wamsutter opened in 1940 and for years it served locals, travelers and truckers. The place still stands, but it is up for sale.

Red Desert and Table Rock no longer have operating businesses, but U.S. 30 is still there. Abandoned buildings remain including an old Sinclair filling station roadside advertisement that can be seen off I-80 on the south side of the highway in Table Rock.

Further west in Point of Rocks, Jacks Coffee Shop no longer stands, but residents can still enjoy a sandwich and soda pop at Varley Mercantile.

Rock Springs

As U.S. 30 continues into Rock Springs, it skirts rocky ledges through a region of scrubby sage and low-growing greasewood. Far ahead, a prominent butte shows through a gap; emigrants used it as a landmark, according to The Works Progress Administrations Guide to Wyoming: The Cowboy State.

Today, residents can take 30 starting at Ninth Street and stop for the night at the Springs Motel and/or enjoy a Shamrock Deluxe (cheeseburger with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion) at Grubs Drive-In.

Skorup said Grubs, which opened in 1946, definitely benefitted from the traffic coming through.

The route proceeded to go down Pilot Butte Avenue before turning left then making a right on K Street and another right onto North Front Street. At the Park Hotel, the route went left down C Street, which can now be accessed through the underground tunnel, then after proceeding to Second Street and going right onto A Street before another right onto Blair Avenue.

Another route goes from Pilot Butte Avenue through Center Street and down Dewar Drive before it heads west at Sunset Drive.

Both routes will lead to Cruel Jacks.

The 1954 alignment of U.S. 30 between Rock Springs and Green River is where I-80 eastbound lanes lie, Wyoming Department of Transportation Highway Specialist David Fedrizzi said.

Green River and beyond

In Green River, the highway begins on East Second North Street before going right onto Flaming Gorge Way. People could see the Sweetwater County Historical Museum, Sweetwater County Courthouse and Desmond Motel until it reaches Wyoming Highway 374. The road, which was once a part of the Lincoln Highway, can be taken straight to Little America.

At Little America, travelers need to take the interstate until Exit 66. The highway for many years was split. U.S. 30 South would continue on to Salt Lake City while 30 North, the modern route, heads northwest.

Motorists today can either take the new U.S. 30 to Wyoming 375 and make a left to get to Granger or go onto Sweetwater County Road 2, or Old Little America Road, and take that to Sweetwater County Road 16, which is the older U.S. 30.

U.S. 187/191

Much of U.S. 191 evolved from U.S. 187, which formed in 1926 as a branch route from U.S. 87 West, now U.S. 287, from Jackson Lake Junction south to Rock Springs, Fedrizzi said.

Portions of 187 can be traveled down Yellowstone Road in Rock Springs and along stretches south of Eden Valley, he said.

The route changed to U.S. 191 in 1961 because of a federal order that there must be a highway that runs from Canada to Mexico. U.S. 191 ran from by the turnoff to the Big Sandy Reservoir to Rock Springs on Elk Street before going down the Blairtown Connector Road, or Sweetwater County Road 51. Today, it no longer goes through Blairtown. Instead, people have to take I-80 from Exit 104 to Exit 99, where they can go down 191 to the Utah line.

U.S. 789

Officials considered the creation of U.S. 789 as part of a proposed Canada to Mexico highway. The route would have stretched from Nogales, Arizona, to Sweetgrass, Montana, but it was rejected by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, according to the AA Roads website.

The 789 designation was taken away in every state on the route except for Wyoming, where it became a state highway. Only a small piece of the route touches the county.

Changes

The federal government looked at an interstate system during the Franklin D. Roosevelts administration, but World War II halted the movement. However, after World War II when the automobile craze proliferated across the nation, it returned to the forefront. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which expanded the interstate system once again.

Over time, as the interstate was completed, U.S. highways either expanded, were bypassed or relegated as a business route. Grubs Drive-In is part of a increasingly rare breed of mom-and-pop establishments that sit along older alignments. Many businesses opened during the post-war boom, but as alignments changed many businesses either relocated or shut down.

Grubs sits on the east side of Rock Springs on the original alignment of U.S. 30. It sits away from chain filled Dewar Drive. However, it does not mean the end is near.

We still get some people on the east side, Skorup said. Not everyone likes chains.

Rolling along

Fedrizzi said the U.S. highway system will live on despite being relocated or bypassed thanks to the interstate.

If people want to go someplace, they go in their own car, they go out there and do it, he said.

I think we have plenty of legacy with private routes and automobiles, he said.
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Photos of America's early gun makers holding their firearms have been colorized as the United States recovers from its second mass shooting in just five weeks.

The first successful machine gun, a semi-automatic shotgun and the Winchester repeating rifle are all featured in photographs colorized by 39-year-old Matt Loughrey of My Colorful Past, based in Westport, Ireland.

While many of the guns were created while the United States was in the midst of war, it's likely none of the inventors could imagine what their creations would evolve into, with much of the United States having access to semi-automatic rifles and a number of other deadly firearms.

Oliver Fisher Winchester, an American businessman and politician invented the Winchester repeating rifle, a descendant of the Volcanic rifle that was produced years earlier. The lever-action repeating rifle, first produced in 1866, was one of the earliest of its kinds. The Model 1873 was particularly famous and was known as 'The Gun that Won the West'

John M Browning was a firearms developer who designed many guns for civilian and military use and is known as one of the most successful firearms designers for the 20th Century. Many of his cartridges and gun mechanisms are still being used around the world today. His Browning Auto-5 semi-automatic shotgun (pictured in his arms), first designed in 1898, was the first successful design of its kind and was in production until 1998. The shotgun has an autoloader with a capacity of five rounds, with four in the magazine and one in the chamber

Eliphalet Remington, pictured in 1865, designed the Remington Rifle and founded the Remington Arms Co, LLC. While the company first started as a gun manufacturer, it has evolved into selling a number of sporting goods, such as bicycles

In 2017 alone, at least 13,203 people have died as a result of gun violence in the United States - 307 of them are from mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

A massive firearm debate rages on across the United States, as the National Rifle Association continues to fund political campaigns and congressmen fight for better gun control.

Richard Jordan Gatling invented the gatling gun, the first sucessful machine gun in 1862. The weapon was used by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, and later in the Boshin War, the Anglo-Zulu War and the assault on San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War

Images from Loughrey's project show John M Browning with his Auto-5 semi-automatic shotgun, and Oliver Fisher Winchester, who was known for manufacturing and marketing the Winchester repeating rifle.

Another features Richard Jordan Gatling, who is known for creating the Gatling gun, considered to be the first successful machine gun.

Other shots show John Taliaferro Thompson, inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, and Eliphalet Remington, who designed the Remington rifle and founded what is now known as the Remington Arms Co, LLC.

Colorizing artist Loughrey said that the images bring the topic of some of America's firearm makers to the gun control debate sweeping the United States.

'These are the designers of firearms brought to life,' he said. 'America's gun laws are time and time again a dominating topic, it made sense to look at how firearms were realized over time and that lead me to the portraits of their designers.

'Realising them in color lends another train of thought to the topic as a whole and an already intensely focused debate.'

The colorization of the photos comes just days after gunman Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 and injured 20 during a shooting rampage at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday. The attack ranks as the fifth-deadliest by a single gunman in US history.

Authorities say Devin Patrick Kelley fired at least 450 rounds of ammunition at worshippers in Sunday's attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

John Taliaferro Thompson, pictured in 1915, is best remembered as the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun in 1918. The gun became infamous during the Prohabition era, as it was used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. It was later adopted by the US military and used in World War II

An unidentified cavalry soldier in 1862 is seen left holding a Remington New Model Army revolver. Right, Jesse James can be seen holding a revolver at age 16

On October 1, gunman Stephen Paddock shot dead 58 people at a Las Vegas country music festival from his high-rise suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino.

Paddock, who stockpiled 23 guns, a dozen of them modified to fire continuously like an automatic weapon, killed himself after the massacre that also wounded more than 500 people.

The two shootings are the latest in a long line of mass shootings that have taken place in the United States over the years.

Loughrey said turning the black-and-white photos of gun inventors brings another factor of gun control to the debate.

He said: 'It's fascinating and mindful to look at faces in history, to ask questions about how they perceived their world at the time and wonder as to whether or not they understood the gravity of their legacies.

'There's a visual element to the message overall and I think that's open to interpretation by the observer. If anything, these images evoke questions about an incredibly sensitive issue.'

The images are featured in British author Michael D. Carroll's new book, Retrographic: History in Colour.
Five more women have come forward to accuse Roman Polanski of molesting them when they were children.

They women described how the convicted child rapist, now 84, sexually assaulted them in the late 1960s and 70s before he went on the run for the statutory rape of another underage girl.

The five new anonymous victims revealed their stories to imetpolanski.com, a new website set up in the wake of multiplying sexual assault accusations against Hollywood figures.

Its founder Matan Uziel shared details of their allegations with The Sun on Tuesday.

Among them is one woman who claims Polanski molested her in 1972 or 1973 when she was nine years old. He was around 39.

Another claims he 'squeezed and rubbed' her genitals in 1976 when she was 15 and he was 43 as they sat a dinner table with her parents and actors Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston in the Alpine Swiss town of Gstaad.

One of the women claims Polanski, 84, molested her under the dinner table during a dinner party in Gstaad in 1976 while her parents were present. Polanski is pictured in the Swiss town last month. His alleged victim says it is a 'sanctuary' for well-known pedophiles

'Polanski sat on my left side, put his hand on my leg. He then proceeded to touch my genitals and tried to squeeze and rub it with his hand, all that under the table in front of my father's face,' she said.

It was at Nicholson's Hollywood home where the director drugged and raped Samantha Geimer in 1977 whens he was 13.

She added that Gstaad, where Polanski was pictured last month, was a safe haven for pedophiles.

'Gstaad is a corrupt place. Beautiful but rotten from within.

'It was and is a sanctuary for well known pedophiles and perverts who want to molest children, far away from any danger, far away from the press.

'When you pay high taxes and throw your money, they turn a blind eye,' she said.

The new accusations bring the total number of women who have accused Polanski of assault to 10.

Of the new accusers, two say they were attacked by him in 1969, the same year in which his first wife Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Charles Manson family.

It is not clear whether the alleged attacks happened before or after her slaying. The other alleged attack happened in 1976 when the woman was 12.

Four other women previously described how Polanski abused them.

One of the new accusers says Jack Nicholson and his girlfriend Angelica Huston (above together in 1978) were present when Polanski molested her under the table during a dinner party in Gstaad in 1976 when she was 15. Polanski later raped 13-year-old Samantha Geimer at Nicholson's L.A. home in 1977

Polanski in 1976 aged 43, when he is alleged to have attacked two underage girls

Some of the alleged attacks happened in 1969, the same year in which Polanski married Sharon Tate. She was murdered by members of the Charles Manson family later that year. It is not known if her death preceded Polanski's alleged attacks on young girls

They include Marianne Barnard, an artist who says he photographed her nude and then molested her on a beach in Malibu, California, when she was just 10.

Her mother arranged the meeting, she said.

German actress Renate Langer claimed on October 3 that she was attacked by him in Gstaad in 1972. Swiss police are investigating her accusation.

She revealed how he attacked her in an interview with The New York Times, admitting that she was too afraid to tell her parents about it at the time.

In August, a woman who identified herself only as Robin M. claimed at a press conference that she was attacked by Polanski when she was 16 in 1973.

She said the incident happened in southern California but would not go into further detail. She is not suing him but offered to testify against him to stop his 1978 arrest warrant from being dropped.

Charlotte Lewis, a British actress, also claims to have been assaulted by Polanski.

She said he forced himself on her as she auditioned for a role in one of his films in Paris in 1983. By this time, Polanski was already on the run for having raped Geimer six years earlier.

She reported her accusations to police in Los Angeles but not in Paris where the alleged attack took place.

Polanski remains on the run after fleeing the US following his 1977 attack on Geimer.

He has been pleading for years to have the 1978 arrest warrant thrown out so that he can return to America.

He fled to France days before he was due to go to court over the attack. At the time, Polanski had reached a deal with prosecutors which meant he would serve a shorter sentence.

At a recent screening of his latest film in Paris, Polanski came under fire from protesters who wrote 'Very Important Pedocriminel' on their bare chests

ROMAN POLANSKI'S ACCUSERS Jane Doe # 1 - 1969, aged 10 Jane Doe # 2 - 1969, aged 16 Jane Doe #3 - 1972, aged 9 Renate Langer - 1972, aged 15 in Gstaad German actress Renate Langer in 1978 aged 21 German actress Renate Langer claimed on October 3 that she was attacked by him in Gstaad in 1972. Swiss police are investigating her accusation. She revealed how he attacked her in an interview with The New York Times, admitting that she was too afraid to tell her parents about it at the time. 'My mother would have had a heart attack. 'I felt ashamed and embarrassed and lost and solo.' Ranger spoke out this year after her parents' deaths. Police in Switzerland, which has no statute of limitations laws, are now investigating her claims. Robin 'M' - 1973, aged 16 in California In August, a woman who identified herself only as Robin M. claimed at a press conference that she was attacked by Polanski when she was 16 in 1973. She said the incident happened in southern California but would not go into further detail. She is not suing him but offered to testify against him to stop his 1978 arrest warrant from being dropped. Robin M, another of his accusers, came forward in August to say Polanski molested her when she was 16 in 1973. She is pictured with her lawyer Gloria Allred holding up a picture of herself as a teenager At her press conference, Robin said she told one friend after the attack but did not confide in anyone else because she feared her father would kill Polanski and end up in jail. 'The day after it happened, I did tell one friend that Mr Polanski had done that to me,' she said, reading from a prepared statement. 'The reason, with this exception, that I kept it to myself is that I didn't want my father to do something that might cause him to go to prison for the rest of his life,' she said Marianne Barnard - 1975, aged 10 in Malibu Barnard, an artist, said her mother arranged her meeting with Polanski when she was 10 in order for her to have her photograph taken. 'At first I had the understanding I was just going to the beach with my mom. We were there for a little while by ourselves, and then he was there. Last month, Californian artist Marianne Barnard claimed he molested her when she was 10 in 1975. She is pictured as a child, right ''First, he was taking pictures of me in the bikini, then it was with the coat then he said take off the bikini top, which I was comfortable with as I was only 10 and I often ran around with no top on. 'But then he wanted me to take my bikini bottoms off - I started to feel very uncomfortable. 'Then at some point I realized my mom had gone. 'I don't know where she went and I didn't really register her leaving but she was no longer there ... Then he molested me Jane Doe #4 - 1976, aged 15 in Gstaad The unidentified woman said she was 15 when she was at a dinner party with Polanski, Jack Nicholson, his girlfriend Angelica Huston, and her parents who worked in the film industry. She told the website imetpolanski.com: 'I sat on my left side, put his hand on my leg. 'He then proceeded to touch my genitals and tried to squeeze and rub it with his hand, all that under the table in front of my father's face,' she said. Jane Doe # 5 - 1976, aged 12 Samantha Geimer - 1977, aged 13 in Hollywood Geimer is the most well-known of those who have accused Polanski of sexual assault. In 1977, he gave her Quaaludes before raping and sodomizing her at Jack Nicholson's house in Los Angeles. She was just 13 at the time. Polanski was arrested and was due to go to jail the following year after pleading guilty to a lesser charge but he fled the country at the last minute in fear that prosecutors had lied to him. Samantha Geimer (left in 2013) was raped by Polanski when she was 13 in 1977 (seen that year, right) but has since forgiven him. He fled the country to avoid being jailed for it in 1978 He has been on the run in France, where he is a citizen, and Switzerland ever since. Neither will extradited him to the US. Geimer has kept in touch with him and was awarded a $500,000 settlement from him. She has spoken openly of how she has forgiven him and pleaded for a Los Angeles judge to stop the warrant for his arrest which still stands.

Charlotte Lewis - 1983, aged 16 in Paris Charlotte Lewis, a British actress, also claims to have been assaulted by Polanski. She said he forced himself on her as she auditioned for a role in one of his films in Paris in 1983. By this time, Polanski was already on the run for having raped Geimer six years earlier. She reported her accusations to police in Los Angeles but not in Paris where the alleged attack took place. British actress Charlotte Lewis says Polanski attacked her in Paris when she was 16. They are pictured above in 1986, three years after the alleged assault, during the presentation of his film Pirates at the Cannes Film Festival In 2010, she said: 'Hollywood is giving the wrong message to pedophiles. He sexually abused me and manipulated me in the worst way, she claimed. He forced himself upon me. 'He took advantage of me and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since. He has scarred me.' The role was for Pirates, Polanski's film, and she was given the part. Lewis (above in 2010, when she revealed her accusations) said at the time that Hollywood gave pedophiles the 'wrong message' by allowing them continued success Advertisement

He got cold feet at the last minute and fled, convinced that he was being set up and that they would be tricked into a harsher prison term.

Geimer has long forgiven him for the attack and, earlier this year, she pleaded with authorities in Los Angeles to allow him back into the country. Courts in Switzerland and France have both refused to extradite him.

Polanski (above on October 31 in Paris) is now being investigated by Swiss authorities

In Los Angeles, he is protected by California's now outdated statute of limitations which, until 2016, meant sex crimes had to be prosecuted within 10 years of them happening unless new evidence which could be tested with DNA technology emerged.

The law has since changed in rape cases but crimes which none of those allegedly committed by Polanski are recent enough to now be tried.

Polanski now lives in Paris with his 51-year-old wife Emmanuelle Seigner.

At a recent event to promote his latest film, the pair came under fire from protesters who painted the words 'very important pedocriminal' over their bare bodies.

His lawyer Harland Braun did not respond to questions regarding the new accusations against him on Tuesday.

Interest in Polanski's past as a high-profile child rapist has been refreshed by the growing accusations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein.

None of the women who have identified themselves as victims of the movie mogul were under 18 when they say he attacked them. A number remain unnamed.

Police are now watching the country's borders to ensure Weinstein does not attempt to flee as Polanski did in 1978.

'We dont want another Roman Polanski on our hands,' one police source told Page Six.
Shocking footage has emerged of an inmate passed out after taking the 'zombie drug' Spice at a maximum security prison in Scotland.

The video, filmed by an inmate at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian, shows a group of men in a cell with one of them on a bed, face down and barely responsive.

It is understood the man had consumed a now-banned substance which was previously known as the legal high Spice.

Shocking footage has emerged of an inmate passed out after taking the 'zombie drug' Spice at a maximum security prison in Scotland

In the video, the man is lying face down on the bed while the other men can be heard laughing and shouting at him to get up

The synthetic cannabis substitute can have devastating effects and has been described as turning users into 'zombies'.

In the video, the man is lying face down on the bed while the other men can be heard laughing and shouting at him to get up.

And at one point during the three-minute long-clip, an inmate is seen slapping the man repeatedly in the head to try and wake him up while calling him abusive names.

A source claimed the men were 'out their faces on Spice and trying to sneak one inmate back to the wing without anyone noticing'.

The video is believed to have been filmed on November 1.

The source said: 'I can't believe they even have a phone in prison - this is the first time I have ever found out about them having a phone on the inside.

'I was really shocked by the video. I have seen a lot of prisons down in England that have people inside using drugs but now you can see it's happening here too.'

A source claimed the men were 'out their faces on Spice and trying to sneak one inmate back to the wing without anyone noticing'

The footage comes just months after it was revealed prison officers at Addiewell were rushed to hospital after inhaling second-hand fumes from the hallucinogenic drug.

Claims were also recently made that inmates are smuggling a super-strength drug called Annihilation - a highly potent synthetic cannabinoid liquid - into the jail.

The prison is operated by a private company Sodexo Justice Services and contracted to the Scottish Prison Service.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Prison Service said they are 'not aware of an incident taking place'.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Prison Service said they are 'not aware of an incident taking place'

Last year, a ban on legal highs came into force if they were intended to be sold for human consumption.

But manufacturers have been starting to tweak the formula to slip through legal loopholes.

Opened almost 10 years ago, Addiewell is said described as a 'learning' prison.

Offenders are meant to be able to address their offending behaviour and the circumstances which led to their imprisonment.

An HMP Addiewell spokesperson said: 'Prisons are a challenging environment to manage and the safety of staff, prisoners and visitors remains our top priority.

The use of psychoactive substances is a challenge across the whole prison estate and staff at HMP Addiewell are working in partnership with Police Scotland to tackle this issue.

'The possession of a mobile phone in prison is a criminal offence and anyone found in possession of illicit articles is reported to the police.

'We are currently investigating this particular video.'
Three boys from northeast Mississippi have been charged with murder after a 70-year-old man was found shot dead.

Henry Adams Jr's body was found outside his home in South Second Street, Baldwyn, on October 23 at around 1.40pm. He had been shot twice in the chest and his wallet was lying nearby, the Daily Journal reported.

Quindaris Burress, 13; Dequan M. Stribling, 13; and Jayce Bryson West, 14, were all arrested on Friday and charged with capital murder.

Charged: Dequan M. Stribling (left), 13, and Quindaris Burress (right), 13, have been charged with capital murder in the October death of a 70-year-old man in Baldwyn, Mississippi

Trial: Jayce Bryson West (pictured), 14, was the third boy charged in the death of Henry Adams Jr, 70. Under state felony laws, they are being charged as adults but will not face execution

Burress lives on the same street as Adams.

Under Mississippi law, anyone aged 13 or older can be charged in the circuit court as an adult if they are believed to have committed a felony.

However, following a ruling by the Supreme Court in 2005, they cannot be sentenced to death.

And the circuit court may decide to send the suspects to juvenile court following a hearing.

All three suspects are being held in jail on $1 million bond; they are being held separately from one another because they have been charged with the same crime.

'Under state law, they are considered adults and we treat them no differently than any other prisoner,' Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said.

'Since these three are all charged with the same crime, they are being segregated, but it is not because of their ages.'

Although the incident may appear to be a robbery, police have not yet confirmed the motive for the shooting.

The crime scene was processed by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Adams' body has been sent to the state crime lab in Pearl for an autopsy.
Emile Cilliers, 37, treated his wife Victoria with such 'contempt' he was messaging his lover upstairs while his wife was downstairs having contractions, the court was told

An army sergeant texted his lover 250 times to say she was all he could think about as he lay in intensive care next to his wife who he nearly killed by tampering with her parachute, a court was told.

Sergeant Emile Cilliers, 37, who had two extra-marital affairs, had also previously messaged his lover while his pregnant wife, Victoria, was having contractions, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Cilliers, who had debts in excess of 20,000 when he allegedly twice attempted to kill his wife, admitted that he believed he would receive a 120,000 life insurance pay-out upon her death.

He had allegedly been told by his wife she could end his 'proud career' in the months before he tried to murder her, the court was told.

He said this comment from his wife - an officer in the Army who outranked him - 'worried' him as he 'never wanted to leave the force'.

Victoria Cilliers, a skydiving instructor, miraculously survived despite her parachute failing to open correctly in a 4,000ft jump two years ago.

She suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs and fractured vertebrae after landing in a field on Salisbury Plain.

While Mrs Cilliers lay in hospital with a fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis, Cilliers texted Tinder lover Stefanie Goller: 'I can't imagine anything like that happening to you, all I can think about is you.'

Prosecutor Michael Bowes QC said: 'All this when your wife is lying in hospital virtually dead. How can you say this? You do not care about Victoria at all, do you?'

Cilliers replied: 'I do care about her very much ... I was at the hospital with her.'

Mr Bowes asked whether he was treating his wife 'with absolute contempt' to which he replied 'that's your words' before admitting 'I would say I was not treating her well.'

Jurors were also told how Cilliers was meeting his ex-wife Carly for sex at the same time as arranging a holiday with Miss Goller.

Mr Bowes quizzed Cilliers about a 19,000 debt he owed to his wife and suggested 'it would have died with Mrs Cilliers' after he said it was not formally recorded anywhere.

The prosecutor told the court Cilliers, who had two affairs behind his wife's back, was a 'truly coercive and manipulative liar' who 'lies when it suits him' and treated Mrs Cilliers with 'absolute contempt'.

Winchester Crown Court heard today how Cilliers was upstairs messaging his Tinder lover Stefanie Goller while his wife was having contractions downstairs with their child

Cilliers, of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, is accused of twisting the lines of the main parachute and removing some slinks  nylon strips that fasten the parachute to the harness  from the reserve, meaning Mrs Cilliers was sent spinning to the ground at 100mph.

The South African, who is father to six children from various relationships, also denies a second attempted murder charge relating to a gas leak at their family home in Amesbury, Wiltshire, and a third charge of damaging a gas valve, recklessly endangering life.

After discussing the possibilities of how the leak could have occurred, Mr Bowes said: 'There is of course a simple explanation.

'You gave it (the pipe) a jolly good wrench which opened it (and left the marks and cut your hand).'

Cilliers said: 'That's your assumption.'

Mr Bowes said: 'But it would explain it.'

Cilliers replied: 'That's your assumption.'

Ms Cilliers survived the fall after the parachute failed to open properly in a 4,000ft jump

Cilliers was questioned again about his finances and about the debts he owed to his wife.

Mr Bowes asked Cilliers, who had debts of around 22,000 at the time of the alleged attempted murders, if he believed he would be 'better off with Mrs Cilliers dead'.

He began by asking Cilliers to explain what money from the house he'd receive in the event of his wife's death. Cilliers said he understood he'd receive a maximum of 36,000 and a small percentage of its equity.

Mr Bowes asked: 'But you put in very little so you wouldn't get much equity, would you?' and Cilliers said 'that's right.'

The prosecutor then asked: 'So in fact you would be better off with her dead, as you believed you would be 120,000 richer as you'd receive the life insurance?'

Cilliers replied 'no, this has been explained, I would not actually get that money.' Then, Mr Bowes put to him: 'But it doesn't matter that you wouldn't actually receive it, it matters what you believed and you believed you would receive it.'

Cilliers said: 'That's what I believed, yes.'

Mr Bowes then asked 'so, you would be better off with her dead?' Cilliers replied 'no.'

Mr Bowes put to him: 'Let's do the maths here, is the 120,000 life insurance bigger than the zero equity?'

Cilliers said 'yes' and Mr Bowes said: 'Well I suggest you believed you would be better off with her dead. At the time you believed you would receive 120,000, didn't you?'

Cilliers responded: 'Yes'.

Cilliers is said to have been planning to start a life with Stefanie Goller (left) at the time. Pictured, right: Ms Cilliers leaving court earlier in the trial

The defendant denies attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her hire kit in a toilet cubicle at Netheravon Airfield.

Mrs Cilliers, described as an accomplished skydiver with around 2,600 jumps to her name, survived the fall with multiple injuries including a broken pelvis, broken ribs and fractured vertebrae.

The trial continues.
A private school in Florida is now selling bulletproof panels to parents in order to protect their children during possible mass shootings.

The $120, binder-sized panels sold by Miami's Florida Christian School fit into backpacks and are capable of stopping bullets including .44 magnum and .357 SIG rounds.

'It's just a tool,' George Gulla, the school's head of security, told the Miami Herald. 'I'd rather be prepared for the worst than be stuck after saying, "Wow, I wish we would've done that."'

Scroll down for video

Bulletproof: The panels (left) slip into backpacks (as seen right), which the children are taught to wear on their chests. They will stop handgun rounds as big as .44 magnum, but not rifle fire

The panels can be bought through the school using a form on its website.

Gulla, who transitioned from cop to security boss in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, admits the concept is strange.

'Its out of the norm, but what is the norm?' he asked.

Although the school, which teaches preschoolers up to 16-year-olds, has never suffered a shooting incident, it does perform active shooter drills for students and parents.

Positive: George Culla (pictured), the school's head of security, said parents have mostly been positive about the panels. The school also has guard patrols and security cameras

Gulla was running through one of the drills with a group of parents when the idea of bulletproof backpacks emerged.

One of the parents in attendance was Alex Cejas, who runs Applied Fiber Concepts, a ballistic armor company based in Hialeah.

He'd already started slipping panels into his own sons' backpacks and saw an opportunity to share his idea.

Children at the school are already advised to wear backpacks tightly on their chests to protect their 'center mass' in the event of a shooting, Gulla said.

But Cejas says his panels provide better peace of mind.

'While books and stuff in your backpack may stop a bullet, theyre not designed to,' Cejas said. 'I wouldn't bet my life on it.'

The panels can stop a wide range of pistol ammunition, but don't protect against rifle rounds.

Gulla, who has also installed security cameras in the school, as well as implementing patrols by uniformed guards, says parents have mostly reacted positively.

But he admits that several have called him to talk about 'a different time, a different world' when giving children body armor wasn't something one had to consider.

Not everyone likes the idea, however. Kenneth Trump, an expert on school security, said the idea was 'highly unusual.'

He has been an expert witness in dozens of cases in which students were hurt or killed in school shootings, and says the solution was never technology.

Instead, he says, the key is proper training; and he worries that focusing on the risks of school shootings distracts from other dangers, such as predators luring kids away from school.

'You're bypassing grade school and jumping straight to grad school before you mastered the basics,' he said.
Minnie Petricca (left), whose mother spotted an image of Prince George on her kneecap

A mother-of-three has told of her astonishment at spotting Prince George's face on her daughter's knee.

Rachel Petricca, 47, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, saw the young royal's face on the patella of her daughter Minnie.

Dancer Minnie, 17, was taking part in a photo shoot on October 26 when the startling resemblance to the third in line to the throne was spotted by her mother.

Talented Minnie has been dancing since she was two and appears in the showreel for this year's Britain's Got Talent.

Retail assistant Ms Petricca said: 'I was looking at the photos and zoomed in to edit one. That's when I noticed her knee looked just like Prince George.

'I said to Minnie: "Oh my goodness, your knee looks like Prince George". But she said: "No it doesn't Mum, you're off your rocker".'

Many of Minnie's friends agreed on the resemblance between her kneecap and Prince George

Minnie even asked her mother to delete the photo. She said: 'It was so silly. I think it looks like George a little bit, but it's on my knee so it's a bit embarrassing.

'It might be because I'm a dancer and my knee is more toned than other people's.'

Rachel Petricca and her daughter Minnie, 17

But Ms Petricca was convinced and sent the picture to all of Minnie's friends at her dancing school, the Birmingham Ormiston Academy, to ask if they agreed.

She said: 'Everyone found it funny and they agreed with me: her knee does look like Prince George. I just keep looking at the picture and laughing.'

Ms Petricca revealed that her daughter loves Prince Harry, which makes the appearance of his nephew on her knee even funnier.

She said: 'She's obsessed with Prince Harry, but then name a girl who isn't. I think it's great that she has a nice role model like Harry, who is classy and does good deeds.'

Minnie added: 'Harry's just so normal. I love him.'
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Five migrants drowned in the Mediterranean amid a bust-up between a German charity boat and a Libyan Coast Guard vessel.

The dead migrants, including a child, were attempting to cross from Libya to Europe when their rubber dinghy ran into trouble north of Tripoli.

A vessel from German non-profit Sea-Watch was first on the scene, followed by another boat from the Libyan Coast Guard, before chaos broke out.

Both organisations are now blaming the other for the deaths, accusing each other of 'interfering with search operations'.

Five migrants, including a child, drowned in the Mediterranean after a Libyan Coast Guard ship got into a dispute with a German charity vessel while trying to save them

Sea-Watch has accused the Libyans of spreading chaos and panic by beating the migrants while throwing potatoes and life bouys at their vessel

Germans say they were coordinating the rescue with a French warship and an Italian helicopter before the Libyans arrived

The Libyans failed to communicate throughout the rescue, the Germans said, causing panic which led to five deaths

A statement from Sea-Watch said the organisation was among the first to respond to the distress call, and was coordinating the rescue along with a French warship and an Italian helicopter.

The trio were all communicating on the same radio channel as they began helping migrants from the water, it is claimed, before the Libyans arrived.

Without responding to radio calls the Libyan boat approached at high speed before starting to take people out of the water.

The statement says: 'Mainly, people climbed onto the Libyan Coast Guard vessel themselves in fear of their lives without assistance by the coast guards.

'The Libyans' aggressive and uncoordinated behaviour caused more stress and chaos than relief.

'When the Libyan Coast Guards started to beat and threaten people on their vessel, some tried to jump back into the water.

A migrant struggles after getting trapped underneath the Libyan vessel, with the German saying it approached at an inappropriate speed

After the Libyan boat became full it sped away again despite the fact a man was still clinging to the side - forcing the helicopter to swoop in an retrieve him, it is claimed

In total Sea-Watch say they rescued 58 migrants from the water. It is not known how many were saved by the Libyans

Migrants swim from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel toward the Se-Watch boat after realising there was not enough space for them on board

'Instead of calming the situation down, Libyan Coast Guards even threw potatoes and lifebuoys at the Sea-Watch rescue boats that were deployed to take people out of the water.'

When the Libyans had loaded as many people as they could on board their boat it 'departed the scene at full speed, even though one person was still hanging on to the starboard side', the Germans say.

Fortunately the Italian helicopter was able to swoop in and save the man, but five others were not so fortunate.

In total 58 migrants were rescued from the ocean by Sea-Watch. It is unknown how many were saved by the Coast Guard.

Libya blames Sea-Watch for the fatalities, saying they interrupted the coast guard's rescue work 'despite our appeals.'

The Libyan Coast Guard (pictured) denies the allegations, saying it was the Germans who refused to communicate with them 'despite our requests'

It comes as police in Italy are questioning five migrants suspected of murdering 26 mostly teen girls after sexually abusing them as they tried to cross to Europe

The bodies of the women were found by Spanish vessel Cantabria which brought a total of 375 migrants back to shore, including nine pregnant women

The situation underlines the patchwork and often chaotic nature of rescue efforts in the Mediterranean, with a mixture of vessels from different countries and private boats attempting to save people.

The news comes as police in Italy announced they have launched a murder probe amid fears 26 mostly teenage migrants were sexually abused and killed while attempting to cross from Africa to Europe.

It was initially thought the girls had drowned but police in the Italian port city of Salerno are now investigating the possibility they were sexually abuse and killed.

The remains of 23 of the girls were found near a dinghy which sank in the Mediterranean last week. The survivors were rescued by Spanish ship Cantabria.

Three other bodies were found during different rescue operations before being brought back to shore on board the same vessel.

Five migrants are now being questioned by officers in the port city of Solerno.

In total 375 migrants - 259 men and 116 women, nine of whom are in pregnancy - were brought back to shore on vessel Cantabria.
A Spanish warship has been forced out of Gibraltar's waters by a British Navy patrol boat in the second such incident in two months.

HMS Scimitar intercepted the Infanata Elena this morning and despite the Spanish ship dwarfing the British vessel, it was shooed away from the disputed territory.

In September, a Royal Navy rigid-hulled inflatable boat chased off a Spanish Guardia Civil boat in UK waters off Gibraltar.

HMS Scimitar (right) intercepted the Infanata Elena (left) this morning and despite the Spanish ship dwarfing the British vessel, it was shooed away from the disputed territory

A Spanish warship (pictured) has been forced out of Gibraltar's waters by a British Navy patrol boat in the second such incident in two months

A spokesman at the Foreign Office told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that a Spanish Navy vessel incurred in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on November 7.

'The Royal Navy challenges all maritime incursions in BGTW and did so again on this occasion.

'We will be protesting to the Spanish authorities.'

The incident in September occurred after a Spanish patrol boat, Rio Belelle, cut across the transport vessel USNS Carson City as it entered Gibraltar.

Michael Sanchez, founder of Gibraltar Coast Watchers, said the incident had been a 'very irresponsible and reckless move by the Spanish vessel'.

He said: 'Nothing better to ruffle Spain's feathers than a visit of a US Navy ship to Gibraltar.'

A Spanish Guardia Civil boat cut across USNS Carson City as it entered Gibraltar this morning

Gibraltar Coast Watchers founder Michael J Sanchez took this picture of USNS Carson City this morning

A spokesman for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office told MailOnline: 'Earlier today, a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel conducted an innocent passage through British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. As is routine, the vessel was shadowed by the Royal Navy.

'All vessels have the right of innocent passage through another State's territorial waters, as provided by the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea. At no point was there a risk to safety.'

MailOnline have contacted the Government of Gibraltar for a comment.

USNS Carson City is the seventh Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, currently in service with the Military Sealift Command. It was launched in June last year.

It was making its way to the Naval Base at Gibraltar at 8am this morning when the Spanish Guardia Civil launch travelling south to north cut across her path.

This required one of the Royal Navy's speedboats engaged in force protection duties to abandon the escort and chase out the Spanish vessel from Gibraltar waters.

Naval sources said the Spanish incursion appeared to have been a deliberate provocation.

One source said: 'The expectation is that the smaller boat would keep out of the bigger ships way in the approaches.

'There are rules about who gives way to what and it looks like this was done to provoke a reaction.'

There have been a number of other such incidents this year, amid rising tensions over the sovereignty of the Rock following the Brexit vote.

Last week the Royal Navy was in a 'standoff' with a Spanish police boat and a trawler in Gibraltar.

This map shows how a Royal Navy boat had to chase out a Spanish vessel that blocked the route of the USNS Carson City this morning

The Spanish trawler was fishing illegally in UK waters for third day in a row which led to several British vessels chasing off both Spanish boats after a warning.

In April this year, British vessels were forced to chase off Spanish navy ships on three separate occasions.

On April 29, the The P78 Cazadora, from the Spanish navy's Descubierta Class, deliberately entered the northern side of the Bay of Gibraltar.

Earlier that same month, on April 4 and April 1, the Royal Navy HMS Scimitar intercepted Spanish navy shop Infanta Cristina off the Gibraltar coast.

Last month Spain's foreign minister said his country would not block a post-Brexit agreement between the UK and European Union to push its sovereignty claim on Gibraltar.

Alfonso Dastis said Spain would not 'jeopardise' any future deal by making demands to alter the British overseas territory's status.

It comes after fears that Brussels negotiating guidelines may give Spain a veto over the Rock's inclusion in any UK-EU trade deal.

Prime Minister Theresa May reacted to those suggestions by insisting Gibraltar's status was not up for discussion during withdrawal negotiations.

Gibraltar was captured by Britain in 1704 and ceded to Britain in 1713 under the treaty.

In a 2002 referendum, Gibraltarians rejected by 98 percent a proposal for joint British-Spanish sovereignty.

Gibraltar's government claims Spanish warships regularly trespass in its waters.
Snaresbrook Crown Court (pictured) heard Rosemond is accused of throwing bleach in his wife's face

A husband accused of repeatedly beating his wife and throwing bleach in her face claimed she had a habit of throwing herself down the stairs, a court heard.

St Prix Rosemond, 30, allegedly abused the mother of their two children, Natasha Romain, over a 14-month period at their home in Thamesmead, south east London.

Rosemond used a hunting knife to terrify her, beating her over the eye with the handle and holding it to her throat telling her he would kill her, jurors heard.

He cornered her and threw sink deblocker into her face, leaving her with burning skin, which she later told doctors was a rash.

Ms Romain documented her injuries by taking pictures of herself on her phone and keeping an 'abuse diary.'

Rosemond faces five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, as well as administering a noxious substance, and making threats to kill.

When he was arrested on June 7 he made what prosecutor Tim Forster called an 'extraordinary' claim in his police interview.

Rosemond said his wife had mental health problems and would throw herself down the stairs when she did not want him to go out.

Mr Forster told Snaresbrook Crown Court: 'On 14 April she says he punched her in the leg, face and cheek.

'She can't remember the reason for that, it was just an example of that random violence she was subjected to by her husband.

'Another time he held a hunter's knife to her throat and threatened to kill her, resulting in the marks on her throat.

'On another occasion he used the handle of the knife to hit her over the eye and tried to strangle her, leaving the red marks on her neck.

'She wrote on her phone, describing the violence to herself. You may think count six is the most serious charge. He threw bleach on her face.

He cornered her and threw sink deblocker into her face, leaving her with burning skin, which she later told doctors was a rash, the court heard (stock image)

'He came home and when she was in the kitchen looking after their youngest child, he went to the cupboard and got some drain unblocker.

'He cornered her, unscrewed the lid and threw it on the right side of her face. She went to the doctors and said she had a rash. Mr Rosemond was arrested and interview on 7 June.

'He denied all allegations of violence and said he and his wife had a brilliant relationship, other than the fact that argued.'

Rosemond, of Thamesmead, denies five counts of assault, one of sending malicious communication, threat to kill and one count of administering a poison or noxious substance.

The trial continues.
A Maine woman charged with killing her seven-week-old baby told the jury she was 'blacked out on booze and marjiuana' and thinks one of her autistic children may have committed the crime.

Miranda Hopkins, 32, took the stand Monday in her own defense at court in Belfast.

Hopkins told the jury that she still doesn't know how baby Jaxson died in January because she had had multiple shots of liquor and smoked marijuana the night of her son's death.

Jaxson suffered extensive injuries, including skull fractures, 15 broken ribs, a broken right arm, and cuts and bruises from head to toe.

Miranda Hopkins (pictured), 32, who was charged with killing her seven-week-old son, Jaxson, told the jury that she was 'blacked out on booze' and thinks one of her autistic sons may have committed the crime

Hopkins told the jury that she still doesn't know how baby Jaxson died in January because she had had multiple shots of liquor and smoked marijuana the night of her son's death. Hopkins is seen crying in court last week

Jaxson suffered extensive injuries, including skull fractures, 15 broken ribs, a broken right arm, and cuts and bruises from head to toe. Police said Hopkins had been drinking whisky and told investigators that she must have 'blacked out'. She's pictured in court last week

Police said Hopkins had been drinking whisky and told investigators that she must have 'blacked out'.

But she previously told police that one of her two autistic sons, aged six and eight, may have been responsible.

In multiple interviews, Hopkins reportedly told police that she was co-sleeping with Jaxson when she woke up with gall bladder pain in the middle of the night, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Hopkins told police that she had checked on her other two sons, who share a bedroom in the home, before checking on Jaxson.

But a few hours later, she said she woke up to find her baby cold and 'beat to hell'. The baby's cause of death was listed as blunt force head injuries.

At the time, Hopkins claimed that one of her sons, likely the eight-year-old, must have climbed onto the bed, and either crushed or beat Jaxson without her hearing or feeling anything.

But much of this initial story was a lie, she told jurors on Monday.

'I'd been drinking, I'd passed out, and my baby was killed,' she told jurors. 'I was scared of what might happen.'

Hopkins told jurors on Monday that she didn't have much of a dinner before drinking several shots of whisky and smoking marijuana.

She said she did 'pass out' in her older sons' bedroom while putting them to bed while Jaxson was in his 'bouncy chair' in the living room.

Hopkins (pictured) claimed that one of her sons, likely the eight-year-old, must have climbed onto the bed, and either crushed or beat Jaxson without her hearing or feeling anything

But when she woke up in pain that night, she checked on her older sons, but didn't check on Jaxson, which contradicts her initial story.

She said she awoke a few hours later to find Jaxson dead in her bed, between her and her wall, and her eldest son asleep on the couch.

Hopkins said in court on Monday that she initially lied to police because she feared her sons would be taken away from her. Her older sons have since moved in with a relative.

The defense has also argued that the boys would have been capable of seriously harming their sibling.

According to the defense, the six-year-old has shown aggressive tendencies against other children in the past.

Despite her son's horrific injuries, Hopkins said she never heard cries, a scuffle, or the loud vocalizations that her autistic sons make when they're agitated or excited.

Prosecutors said Hopkins' stories don't line up, and have questioned how she didn't hear anything that night.

They also point to findings that some of Jaxson's injuries could have been caused by shaking.
Florida police are searching for a cape-wearing robber who was caught on camera shooting a man in the face.

Diego Suarez-Perez, 39, of Miami, was entering his vehicle after purchasing goods at Tony's Food Market, when he was shot in the face by the suspect.

Surveillance footage that was taken on November 4 shows the suspect wearing a white cape and riding a bicycle past another man who was standing outside the food market.

Florida police are searching for a cape-wearing robber (left) who was caught on camera shooting a man in the face

Diego Suarez-Perez (pictured in red), 39, of Miami, was entering his vehicle after purchasing goods at Tony's Food Market, when he was shot in the face by the suspect

Surveillance footage that was taken on November 4 shows the suspect (pictured) wearing a white cape and riding a bicycle outside the food market

The clip then cuts to Suarez-Perez, dressed in red, walking out of the convenience store and to his white truck.

As the man tries to get into his vehicle, the suspect approaches him, brandishes a firearm, and demands money.

Due to a language barrier, the victim did not understand the subject's demands, and was subsequently shot in the face by the subject, according to police.

The victim is then seen running behind another vehicle parked in the area as the suspect flees on his bicycle.

Authorities said the victim was transported to JMH Ryder Trauma, where he is in critical condition.

Police have not released any more information on the victim.

As Suarez-Perez (in red) tries to get into his white truck, the suspect (right on the bicycle) approaches him on the bicycle from behind

The suspect then brandishes a firearm, and demands money. Due to a language barrier the victim did not understand the subject's demands, and was subsequently shot in the face by the subject, according to police

Investigators are seeking the assistance of the community in identifying and/or locating this individual.

The Robbery Bureau of the Miami-Dade Police Department described the suspect as being between 30-40 years old, 6'2" and 180lbs.

He was wearing an orange t-shirt with Puma logo. Authorities said they are still investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact CrimeStoppers (305)471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477.

The victim is then seen running behind another vehicle parked in the area as the suspect flees on his bicycle
A new 20,000 sculpture unveiled in the grounds of a historic British castle has been mocked after it was compared to a toilet plunger.

The 18ft high oak Tree Charter Champion Pole was erected outside Lincoln Castle to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest, which established free access to Royal woodland.

It features a long oak 'handle' and a concrete plinth, making it look exactly like a huge loo plunger according to some people online, with Twitter users quick to make fun of the design.

A 20,000 sculpture erected outside Lincoln Castle, pictured, has been mocked as 'looking like a toilet plunger'

The 18ft oak artwork is supposed to honour the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest which established the right of free access to Royal woodland

Les Woods tweeted: 'Memories of our dolly tub plunger! Keep smiling,' while Ringaile Sudeikyte added: 'S*** happens.'

Margaret Doney posted: 'Is the plunger there in case the drains get blocked?'

Andy Jolly tweeted: 'They've plumbed the depths this time. Quite literally.'

The 6.5-tonne carving was created by artist Simon Clements, 57, who took three weeks to whittle it from British oak in his warehouse in Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire.

He has also built ten other oak poles, each of which stands for a principle under the Woodland Trust's new Charter for Trees, Woods and People.

The charter features guiding principles for protecting the environment, and the Champion Pole represents all of them, as part of the celebration of the Charter of the Forest.

In total, the carvings cost around 20,000 to make, and each one features text written by poets from each country in the UK.

Others jokingly suggested the monument was part of a Dalek from Doctor Who

Meanwhile some described the new sculpture as 'looking like a posh wafer you dunk in coffee'

Mr Clements said: 'I'm immensely proud of the finished piece. It was three weeks of hard labour, following around two years of planning.

'I started working on the poles in May, so it was very emotional to see the first one finally go up.

'This pole is the centrepiece of the project, and I really think that it is a fantastic placeholder for the charter.

'The feedback I got was fantastic, people have really seemed to warm to it, which is a massive relief on my part.

Many have said the sculpture resembles a common toilet plunger, pictured

'Lots of people came up to me and congratulated me on it and said how beautiful it looked.

'I have heard one or two people call it a "toilet plunger", which is something that makes me chuckle.

'It's become it's nickname - the "toilet plunger".

'I really don't mind it or find it disrespectful at all, it's good that people have something to remember it by.

'During the carving of it, I did appreciate that it could look a bit like a toilet plunger, but I thought that the historical significance of it would outweigh that.

'If that's what people want to call it then I have no problem with it, it's nice that it's got people talking - even if it's not in the way that I expected.'

Beccy Speight, CEO for the Woodland Trust, said: 'The new charter will redefine the relationship with people and trees in the UK for present and future generations, providing guidance and inspiration for policy, practice and attitude, across Government, businesses, communities and individuals.'

The Charter of the Forest was written in 1217, two years after the Magna Carta, and re-established the right of free men to access the royal forest, which had been taken away by William the Conqueror and his heirs.

Lincoln Castle is the site of one of the two remaining copies of the charter.
A house-hunter who was among the thousands of victims of a growing kind of bank fraud has told how conmen stole the 300,000 fund she'd saved for her new home.

Kate Blakeley and her partner Marco Faes, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, were close to completing on a purchase of the property when they were targeted in a cruel new kind of fraud hitting the UK.

Fraudsters intercepted an email from their solicitors asking them for the 299,000 funds and got them to transfer the funds into an account controlled by the criminals.

Kate Blakeley and her partner Marco Faes (both pictured), from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, were close to completing on a purchase of the property when they were targeted by fraudsters

She told of her ordeal as new figures revealed that, in the first six months of 2017 alone, more than 19,000 victims were a target of the scams - known as authorised push payment (APP) fraud.

Ms Blakeley, 42, told the BBC: 'We transferred just under 300,000 on the day and within about three hours, we realised the money had gone missing.

'The moment of realising the money hadn't arrived as intended with the bank account we sent it to, or thought we'd sent it to, was just sheer horror.'

Fraudsters intercepted an email from the couple's solicitors asking them for the 299,000 and in funds and got them to transfer the funds

The couple tried to be careful to ensure they were not being scammed and asked for confirmation of their unique client ID number - but received an email with the correct details on it.

They complained about the sluggish response from banks and solicitors to reacting to the fraud. They did manage to get their money back, but, three years on, the matter is still the subject of a legal dispute.

Ms Blakeley said the moment the couple realised the money had been stolen was one of 'sheer horror'

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has been looking into such scams following a 'super complaint' by consumer group Which?.

The group highlighted that, unlike many other payment methods, victims conned into transferring money by bank transfer to a fraudster have no legal right to get their money back from their bank.

Plans outlined by the PSR, following work with the payments industry, aim to make it harder for fraudsters to commit such crimes, ensure banks follow best practice and help them to recover money.

A reimbursement scheme has also been proposed, which could help people get their money back under certain circumstances - but the PSR said there is 'no silver bullet' and some people will still lose out.

Hannah Nixon, managing director of the PSR, said the new measures will make a 'positive difference' to scam victims and help prevent such frauds happening.

She continued: 'However, there is no silver bullet for APP scams and some people will still, unfortunately, lose out. That's why we've continued to look for a solution that could reimburse those who are scammed, and today we begin consulting on an option that we think could work.

'To be successful, the model must be pragmatic: consumers will need to be vigilant and protect themselves, but equally we expect banks and payment service providers to uphold best practice - and when they don't there should be reimbursement.'
Jeremy Corbyn has handed a job as campaigns manager to a left-wing activist convicted to election fraud.

Marsha-Jane Thompson reportedly submitted 100 fake voter registration forms and forged signatures on some of them while a housing officer in Newham, east London.

But despite her criminal record, the Momentum activist has now landed a coveted job as campaigns manager at the Labour Party.

The job means she has been given a House of Commons pass which allows her to come and go from Parliament as she wishes.

Ms Thompson pleaded guilty to election fraud at Snaresbrook Crown Court in March 2006 and was sentenced to community service.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured with Marsha Jane-Thompson (with blue hair, to the left of him) in July last year. The Labour leader has given her a job as campaigns manager in the Labour Party - even though she pleaded guilty to election fraud a decade ago

She has previously worked as a social media manager at Momentum - the left-wing grassroots organisation set up to get Mr Corbyn elected.

And she hit the headlines last year when it was revealed that she worked on Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership campaign.

A spokesman for the Newham Council revealed that Ms Thompson had 'submitted electoral registration forms for more than 100 different addresses which appeared to contain discrepancies.'

It was the council who started a probe into her activities with officers interviewing residents to get to the bottom of the situation, before she eventually came clean after questioning.

Marianne Wood, chief internal auditor, said at the time: 'We managed to stop what could have been an extremely serious situation involving potentially false information getting onto the electoral register.

'We take fraud extremely seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who defrauds the council.'

A spokesman for the Labour leader told Mail Online: 'We don't comment on staffing matters.'
A Thai woman has admitted to throwing her newborn baby from a 17th floor window because her married boyfriend left her to return to his family.

Netchanok Nokyungtong, 20, told police she was devastated when her 40-year-old boyfriend abandoned her and returned to his family in South Korea after she told him she was pregnant.

Nokyungtong reportedly went into labour in her flat in a high-rise block in Pattaya, Thailand, and gave birth to a boy on Tuesday afternoon.

Guilt: Netchanok Nokyungtong, 20, shows police where she threw out her newborn baby boy after her married boyfriend left her to go back to his family

Soon after giving birth, she wrapped the baby boy in a plastic bag and threw him from her bedroom window.

A horrified witness told police that he saw a large object fall past his window on the fourth floor and hit the ground at around 5pm, and was shocked to find the baby boy on the ground when he ran downstairs to check.

He called police who found the baby wrapped in a green plastic bag with the umbilical cord still attached. His heart was not beating.

Officers checked CCTV and later arrested Nokyungtong who admitted throwing the baby out the window.

She said she had done so because her boyfriend 'Kim' from South Korea, already had a family and returned to them after finding out she was pregnant.

She told police that she gave birth 'unexpectedly' in the bathroom and opened the window and dropped her son outside in the Banglamung district of the city.

'Heartbroken': Nokyungtong told police that her boyfriend 'Kim', from South Korea had left her after she told him she was expecting their baby

Horrifying: She went into labour on Tuesday and after giving birth, admitted to throwing her newborn son from the 17th floor of this building in Pattaya, Thailand

Tragic: A police officer carried the dead body of the newborn boy

Police Colonel Apichai Khemphet, head of Pattaya Police, said Nokyungtong admitted to killing the baby and would be prosecuted after all the evidence had been gathered.

'Miss Netchanok Nokyungtong gave birth in bathroom where blood was found on the floor. She said she was shocked and not ready for the birth.

'The boyfriend is a married foreigner from South Korea who did not want to stay with her. She was heartbroken because he returned to his family.

'She put the baby in a plastic bag and threw it out of the window and it died.'

Police pose with evidence to be used against the 20-year-old after she confessed

Netchanok Nokyungtong poses with local police in front of evidence used against her

Police photographs of Nokyungtong show her indicating to police where she was when the incident took place.

Police Colonel Apichai Khemphet added: 'This is a very brutal crime. The baby was born in a healthy condition. The mother did not have grief for what had happened.

'Her boyfriend had left and tried to tell her to abort the baby. She said she did not have money to support the child.

'She has also now been taken to hospital to be checked. But she will stay in police custody and be prosecuted.'
Police in New York City are searching for a missing 19-year-old college student from Pennsylvania who is feared to be a victim of sex trafficking.

Corinna Slusser was last seen in the early morning hours of September 20 at the Haven Motel on Woodhaven Boulevard in the Rego Park section of Queens.

According to her Facebook page, the 19-year-old lives in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and has been studying marketing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Have YOU seen her? Corinna Slusser, 19 (left and right), has been missing in New York City for seven weeks. Police fear she is a victim of sex trafficking

Slusser was last seen in the early morning hours of September 20 at the Haven Motel on Woodhaven Boulevard in the Rego Park section of Queens (pictured)

Until her disappearance, Slusser had been very active on multiple social media platforms. Her last Instagram post, dated September 10, was a photo tagged in The Bronx.

Her final Facebook post from September 8 consisted of a selfie showing the blonde, blue-eyed college student dressed in a lacy white top with a red rose applique.

On September 7, she posted photos of a tidy one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on Grand Concourse in the Jerome Park section of The Bronx, tweeting: 'My first apartment all to myself in NYC!!! Never been more happier in my life. Forver [sic] dream accomplished.'

Slusser has been reported missing within Harlems 32nd Precinct. Police would not say who filed the report. The New York Daily News reported, citing law enforcement sources, that there is a concern that the missing woman is a victim of sex trafficking.

The 19-year-old lives in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and has been studying marketing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Slusser is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest (right)

Fresh start: On September 7, Slusser posted photos of a tidy apartment in the Jerome Park section of The Bronx, tweeting: 'My first apartment all to myself in NYC!!!'

A friend wrote on Facebook last month that Slusser had filed an emergency protection from abuse while living in New York with a man.

Corionna's mother has been posting messages on Facebook pleading for her daughter's safe return.

On October 10, Sabina Tuorto wrote in a status update: 'My daughter was a great student , a cheerleader. She had many friends and lived her life as a normal teenager. I need her home and I cant bare [sic] anymore days like this. I fear the worst but I pray for the best and her to return home ... waiting for an Angel to hear my prayer.

Loved ones have been sharing messages on Facebook asking for help in locating Slusser, sending prayers and begging her to contact someone.

Slusser is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 140lbs, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a large black tattoo of a flower in the middle of her chest.

Police are asking anyone with information on Slussers whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
David Cuthbertson, 68, (pictured) and five of his children aged between 12 and four were killed in the tragic blaze

A farmhouse is to be demolished brick-by-brick so that the bodies of a father and his five children killed in an horrific blaze can be recovered from the ruins.

Experts have been brought in to take down 260 tons of bricks and mortar of the isolated home in rural Wales.

Police have not ruled out foul play after David Cuthbertson, 68, and five of his children perished in the fire nine days ago.

Officers confirmed they are preserving what is left of the 200-year-old farmhouse as a potential crime scene.

One of the walls has collapsed since the fire and it is unsafe for investigators to venture inside.

Chief Supt Tony Brown said: 'My primary objective is to preserve evidence while being sympathetic and caring to the family of those who died in this tragedy.

'The building is unstable and will be taken down brick-by brick before we can go in there.

'At the moment is unsafe for anyone to go into the remains of the farmhouse.

'Once it is made safe we will carry out a fingertip search of the whole scene.'

Chief Supt Brown confirmed the bodies of Mr Cuthbertson and five of his children aged between four and 12 are still where they died after fire ripped through the isolated house in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, Mid Wales.

Three more of his children, two boys and a girl aged 13, 12 and 10 escaped when Mr Cuthbertson lowered them to safety from an upstairs window.

It's thought he bravely went back for the other five when he was overcome by the heat and smoke.

The rear of the farmhouse in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, which was still smoldering the morning after

A teddy bear and a note saying 'I will miss my best friend' which were left at the scene today

One of the walls has collapsed since the fire and it is unsafe for investigators to venture inside

Dyfed-Powys Police said the three surviving children were 'traumatised' after losing their dad and five siblings in the inferno.

They are being interviewed by specially trained officers to establish the cause.

A team of 40 officers are involved in the investigation, along with forensic scientists and fire experts.

Scaffolders have been brought in to stabilise the remaining walls and a temporary roof has gone up to preserve the scene from the weather.

The work has been slowed down because asbestos was discovered in the building.

Chief Supt Brown, who has been brought in from neighbouring South Wales Police, said: 'It will be slow progress. It will take some time - we are talking weeks if not months.

'There are 260 tons of bricks and mortar which will be taken down by hand.

'We've had top explain to the family that this process is going to take some time.

An aerial view shows the devastation following the blaze in Llangammarch Wells, Powys

Officers confirmed they are preserving what is left of the 200-year-old farmhouse as a potential crime scene

'It is very difficulty for the family - we want the best for them but I can't put the lives of my officers at risk.

'We've already had a partial collapse of the building.'

The six victims will not be officially named and identified until they are recovered from the scene.

Specialist equipment has been brought in from the Metropolitan Police to help with the difficult investigation.

Chief Inspector Martin Slevin said: 'At the moment the cause of this intense fire is unexplained.

'We have spoken to neighbours and there is nothing to support suspicious circumstances.'

Mr Cuthbertson was bringing up his eight children alone after his wife Seema, 44, suffered a stroke and moved to a sheltered housing unit eight miles away in Builth Wells.

It is understood he has nine grown-up children from two earlier marriages.

More than 20,000 has been raised in a Just Giving page for the family.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has unveiled legislation to copy up to 40 existing EU deals with third countries

Liam Fox today vowed that a Transatlantic free trade deal after Brexit will not mean 'reductions in our standards'.

The International Trade Secretary made the pledge as he unveiled legislation to copy up to 40 existing EU deals with third countries.

US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross urged the UK yesterday to reject Brussels' 'protectionist' policies, pointing to rules that ban the import of GM crops and chlorine-washed chicken from America.

But while Dr Fox stressed that the UK would not be obliged to align with all EU regulations after leaving the bloc, he suggested British consumers would dictate what is allowed in future.

'We will look and see what we think is in the UK's interest,' he said.

'We have made very clear that we are not going to see reductions in our standards as we move forwards, partly because British consumers wouldn't stand for it.

'We are entering an era where I think consumers will take a much bigger interest in trade agreements than they might have done in the past.

'I think on things like environmental standards and quality and safety they will clearly have very strong views.'

Dr Fox also insisted his department was 'training up' staff to be able to negotiate deals after Brexit, with more than 400 people in the trade policy group.

'We have brought in Crawford Falconer from New Zealand and he is in charge of creating that professional cadre over time to help us do that,' Dr Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

As well as Mr Falconer's role as chief trade negotiation adviser, much of the work on future deals would draw on 'sector specialists' from across Whitehall.

'We have got a huge amount of capability there already and of course we do have some UK people who have been working in Brussels as part of the European arm of that, that we can bring back to the UK,' Dr Fox said.

Dr Fox's department is publishing the Trade Bill, which includes provisions for the UK to implement existing EU trade deals.

American Secretary of State for Commerce Wilbur Ross, pictured, said leaving the EU would allow the UK to forge even stronger ties with the US

It will also help ensure that UK companies can continue to access 1.3 trillion worth of major government contracts in other countries and set up a new trade remedies body to defend UK businesses against injurious trade practices.

He said: 'What we intend to do is a process that is technically called transitional adoption.

'For countries like South Korea ... we will want to get continuity of that agreement that they have with the EU but on the basis that over time we will create a more bespoke arrangement.'

Replicating the EU's existing agreements was 'not quite cut and paste' but it was a 'technical issue' to provide continuity, he said.

Further tax-related elements of the UK's trade policy will be contained in the Treasury's forthcoming customs legislation - the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill - as part of the creation of a new UK tariff regime.
A young husband who lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer is now hoping to become a father to their child thanks to a surrogate.

Jake Coates' beloved wife Emmy died in June at the age of just 31 after an 18-month battle with thyroid cancer.

The pair, from Monmouth in Wales, longed to become parents and shortly before she passed away, doctors harvested Emmy's eggs and Jake's sperm to leave nine viable embryos.

Their former schoolmate Liz Begg then volunteered to carry their baby after reading Emmy's heart-wrenching blog which documented her cancer battle.

Jake Coates hopes to become a father after a childhood friend came forward and offered to carry the baby he and his late wife Emmy (pictured together) desperately wanted

Emmy bravely documented her battle with thyroid cancer, before passing away in June at the age of just 31

Their former schoolmate Liz Begg (right) volunteered to carry the couple's baby after reading Emmy's heart-wrenching blog which documented her cancer battle

The pair, from Monmouth in Wales, longed to become parents and shortly before she passed away, doctors harvested Emmy's eggs and Jake's sperm to leave nine viable embryos

Brave Emmy died thinking she was set to become a mother as she and Jake sat beside Liz while doctors implanted the embryos.

Three weeks later they discovered Liz was pregnant - but just hours later Emmy slipped into a sleep and never properly woke up.

In a further devastating blow to Jake, just days after his wife's death doctors discovered the pregnancy was ectopic.

But he has now been given fresh hope after Liz said there was 'never any doubt' she would give it another shot.

There are six embryos left and the second surrogacy attempt will be later this month.

They are hoping for a positive test before Christmas.

Jake told the Mirror: 'I think it gave Liz and I comfort [when we discovered the pregnancy was ectopic] that this first little foetus or baby had gone with Emmy and she could bring it up in heaven, if there is a place.

'I still talk to Emmy every day. I like to think she's somewhere, looking down and checking in and listening. And that's why I want to do her so proud.

'Having a part of Emmy would be the best thing ever. I know how much she wanted to be a mum.'

The couple are pictured here after winning a JustGiving award after raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity

Just as the pair were due to go on holiday, Emmy was told cancer had already spread to her spine, lungs, liver and bones - and she could never give birth

Mr Coates posted this emotional tribute to his late wife exactly one year on from their wedding day

Jake met his childhood sweetheart Emmy when they were both 11 years old.

The couple - childhood sweethearts who drifted apart for university - were overjoyed when they got back together in 2015, despite Mr Coates working as a doctor in Sydney and Ms Collett as a teacher in London.

They used to speak to each other on FaceTime every day and travelled back and forth across the world to maintain their relationship.

But within six months of them getting back together, the couple received the devastating news weeks after a holiday to the Philippines.

Emmy, from Luckington, Wiltshire, who had been plagued with symptoms such as diarrhoea, tiredness and enlarged lymph nodes, was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer.

He immediately flew back to the UK to be by her side and proposed just weeks later.

The couple went on a 2,000km tandem bike ride from London to Copenhagen for charity

Their epic cycle journey was to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

The inspirational young couple continued to live life to the full despite Emmy's devastating diagnosis

Just as the pair were due to go on holiday, Emmy was told cancer had already spread to her spine, lungs, liver and bones - and she could never give birth.

She was taken to the Royal Marsden Hospital and was told she could have made a full recovery if the disease had been diagnosed earlier.

But she bravely fought the cancer and raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The inspirational couple also went on a 2,000km tandem bike ride from London to Copenhagen, via Bruges and Amsterdam, along the North Sea Cycle Route, in their bid to raise funds.
The Montana Supreme Court last week defended our state constitution from a one-size-fits-all campaign purporting to add crime victim protections as was done in California.

Last fall, Montana voters approved Constitutional Initiative 116, which was copied from a California law and promoted in a campaign financed mostly by an out-of-state organization. The goals of protecting crime victims are shared by all law-abiding Montanans. But CI-116, known as Marsys law, was a bad fit for Montana from the start of its lengthy text to its demands for expansion of the definitions of victim and crime to its conflict with guarantees of fair trial and Montanans' right to know about their government.

The Montana Association of Counties sued to stop implementation of the initiative law because of the costs and changes it mandated for local governments. A group led by MACo and the Lewis and Clark County attorney won a delay in implementation while the high court considered whether the law was constitutional.

In a 5-2 decision, the Montana Supreme Court held that Marys law violated the Montana constitutional requirement that each change in state law must be presented and voted on separately. That separate vote requirement was in the states first two constitutions and was adopted unanimously during the Constitutional Convention of 1972, Justice Laurie McKinnon wrote for the majority. Justices Jim Rice and Beth Baker dissented, arguing that it is premature for the court to rule on the law until after it has taken effect.

The separate-vote requirement has two well-recognized objectives, McKinnon wrote. The first is to avoid voter confusion and deceit of the public by ensuring proposals are not misleading or the effects of which are concealed or not readily understandable. The second is to avoid logrolling or combining unrelated amendments into a single measure which might not otherwise command majority support. By combining unrelated amendments, approval of the measure may be secured by different groups, each of which will support the entire proposal in order to secure some part, even though not approving all parts of a multifarious amendment.

In other words, our state constitution says voters have the power to decide each and every constitutional change submitted to them. They cannot be forced to approve or reject a package of constitutional changes with a single vote.

The court found that Marsys Law made multiple constitutional changes affecting: the power of the Supreme Court to govern attorney conduct, the right to bail, criminal procedure rules, rights of the accused, the right to know and the right to privacy.

The Billings Gazette and other Montana newspapers joined in filing a brief to reject Marsys Law because, among other things, the initiative would have expanded secrecy and reduced public access to criminal justice information that now is public.

Before this initiative was sold to Montanans, our state already protected victims. For example, the Billings Police Department already had a policy of providing assistance information to victims before Marsys Law went on the ballot last November.

The Yellowstone County Attorneys Office employs eight victim-witness coordinators to assist victims of both felony and misdemeanor crimes. The Billings City Attorneys Office has long provided victim assistance to victims of domestic violence, and recently hired a third victim assistant.

Montana law still protects victims of crime, even though Marsys Law has been voided. Montanans must demand consistent enforcement of existing laws and we must ensure that that court and law enforcement have sufficient resources to do this work. Montanans should exercise our right to know how our elected and appointed criminal justice officials are doing their jobs, so we can effectively hold them accountable for protecting crime victims.
A manuscript penned by the man who shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is up for auction.

The 24-page manuscript written by Jack Ruby details his actions after Oswald assassinated Kennedy on November 22, 1963, and before Oswald was shot in police custody two days later. It is set to be auctioned on Wednesday.

Ruby wrote the manuscript after being convicted of murder. Ruby's family says it was to be used by Ruby's defense if he had been granted a new trial to show the killing wasn't premeditated.

The auction house RR Auction, released a portion of the manuscript online detailing what appears to be the first time he crossed paths with Oswald at the Dallas police station where he was being held. The handwritten notes are expected to fetch around $12,000.

Lee Harvey Oswald, 1963. The fatal shooting by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby at the Dallas, Texas Police Headquarters on November '63

This undated photo provided by RR Auction shows part of a manuscript penned by Jack Ruby, who shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The manuscript is up for auction Wednesday

Ruby's mugshot after Oswald's killing in 1963. Ruby's conviction was overturned but he died awaiting trial

A Dallas nightclub owner, Ruby claimed his killing of Oswald was prompted by grief over the death of the president. He plead innocent saying Kennedy's murder had caused him to suffer 'psychomotor epilepsy' and led him to shoot Oswald unconsciously.

His shooting of Oswald was captured on television, as was Kennedy's assassination.

Ruby says he was trying to find a local disc jockey for the radio station K.L.I.F. and went into the police station to locate him since that was where the media was covering Oswald's arrest following the assassination of Kennedy.

'I had a police officer who recognized me and asked me what he could do for me, and he had gone around trying to page him, but it was no use. Really, all I wanted was to find this fellow (the disc jockey) and get out of there, but somehow I got caught into the swirl of things, and was standing in the long hallway when a door opened and they brought this fellow (Oswald) out, and I was very close to him, and all of the reporters kept shouting and asking questions, and then someone said do you have a larger room and one of the officials mentioned the room lower in the basement and now, I wasn't too anxious to leave, because this was making history and I was part of it,' Ruby wrote.

Lee Harvey Oswald's mugshot after Kennedy's assassination (left), and Ruby's mugshot after Oswald's assassination (right)

Kennedy was assassinated assassinated on November 22, 1963. The White House released a trove of documents pertaining to the investigation around the assassination last month

'I walked down the steps or rode an elevator I don't remember, and before I knew it I was in the large room, and they brought this fellow (Oswald) out and made an attempt to ask him some questions but it was useless, and they had taken him back.'

'Then Mr. Wade (district attorney of Dallas, handling the case against Oswald) was asked quite a bit of questions. Then they all left I was in the hallway and two fellows walked by and I recognized one because he used to work in a service station across from the Vegas Club but I asked the other fellow if he was Joe DeLong, and he said no, what do you want him for, and I told him I had some sandwiches for K.L.I.F. and I wanted to get in there, and he said were from K.B.O.X. what about us don't we get any, and he gave me a direct number to call, and I talked to the tall fellow, think his name is Sam, for about a half of minute,' Ruby wrote.

'After getting the number, I walked aroundto use the phone and was to contact a fellow by the name of Ken, and told him about the sandwiches, and then suddenly asked him if I should try to get Wade over to the phone.'

'He was on the phone talking to someone and I motioned and said someone would like to talk to you and I didn't answer, and he went over and conversed with him on the phone, and after he finished I got on the phone and the disk-jockey didn't know how to thank me enough, and he asked me how long before I would be over so he would leave the door open for me. I answered 5 min.'

'Then when I left the basement and got to the head of stairs there was Russ Knight standing in the hallway talking to someone, and I spoke to him and told him how I got an interview for his station with Wade, and he said that's what he came for and he had a tape recorder and I said follow me, and we went down the steps to the basement, and Wade was still sitting in the enclosure, and I said Henry this is Russ Knight and he replied OKI left them together and I wanted to make to K.L.I.F. because I knew he was only going to leave the door open for a few minutes, but when I arrived there the door was closed, and I pounded on the door but to no avail they just couldn't hear me. Finally Russ arrived and he let me in. We went upstairs and stayed in the control room for some time, and we all shared the sandwiches and they raved about them and the drinks. We all talked for sometime,' the portion of the manuscript that has been so far revealed concludes.

Ruby's conviction was later overturned. He died while waiting for a new trial.

Ruby's revolver from evidence after the Oswald shooting in Dallas in November of '63

This undated photo provided by RR Auction shows a medallion worn by John F. Kennedy at Harvard University, which will be up for auction Wednesday

Also up for auction Wednesday is a medallion worn by Kennedy at Harvard University.

The auctioning of Ruby's manuscript comes on the heels of the White House releasing a trove of previously classified documents pertaining to the assassination of President Kennedy.

Some of the new information gathered in the documents that were released on October 26 showed that the FBI was aware of Ruby before he killed Oswald.

The files also showed that former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover frustrated over Oswald's murder, and the Soviet Union's 'shock' over the murdered president.

The 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush, set a 25-year timetable for declassification of assassination records dealing with President Kennedy.

As the nation mourned in disbelief, Oswald was shot and killed in police custody by Ruby.
The leader of Britain First has today avoided jail for assaulting a martial arts instructor.

Paul Golding, of Penge, south London, attacked Dean Williams in a Maidstone nightclub during the early hours of July 9.

He admitted a charge of assault by beating when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court last month and was today given a suspended sentence.

Summing up, magistrate Alan Austen described it as 'a really nasty and vicious assault in a public place'.

Britain First leader Paul Golding, 35, pictured, has been handed a 120-day suspended sentence for assaulting a martial arts expert in a nightclub in Kent

The court had previously heard Golding and Mr Williams, a mixed martial arts expert, had originally met in Derbyshire.

Golding later invited him to a self defence course in Erith and the pair, along with others, had gone out for a meal.

Later that evening Mr Williams said Golding 'became very aggressive, drew his head back slightly and headbutted me in the face'.

The victim said he had suffered whiplash, chipped teeth and swelling and bruising to his nose.

'I attended my doctor's surgery and am very shocked at the incident,' he added.

Defending, Golding's lawyer said there was CCTV of the incident which showed there had been a degree of provocation.

He said: 'At the bar where they both were Mr Golding put his arm round the victim's shoulder in a friendly, amicable way.

'The victim took exception to that and threw his arm off his shoulder. And Mr Golding walked away not just once, but twice.'

Golding, left, and his deputy Jayda Fransen, right, are facing a trial next month for three charges of religiously aggravated harassment

Golding was handed a 120 day suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also told to pay 750 compensation to his victim, pay a 115 victim surcharge and another 85 in court costs.

Golding, 35, is also facing three charges of religiously aggravated harassment in relation to the trial of a gang of men who raped a teenager above a Ramsgate takeaway.

He is set for a three day trial next month, alongside deputy Britain First leader Jayda Fransen.
EU citizens with criminal records could be barred from staying in Britain after Brexit if they are 'genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat', the Home Office said today.

The rule was revealed in new details about the UK's planned system for awarding 'settled status' to EU citizens who have lived in Britain for five years before Brexit.

The Home Office is building a brand new system for the three million EU citizens living in Britain who want the 'settled status' that grants indefinite right to live here.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd (left on Marr on Sunday) and Brexit Secretary David Davis (right in Downing Street this morning) unveiled the new proposals on EU citizens

It will ask them to self-declare any criminal convictions but the Home Office reserves the right to check UK criminal record databases and, in some case, international lists.

Expulsion will be on the same grounds as EU nationals can currently be deported under EU free movement rules and will be subject to appeal.

The details are contained in a newly published 'technical note' set to be submitted by UK negotiators to the talks in Brussels. It is not yet agreed with the EU.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said: 'We have been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens is our top priority in negotiations.

'They make a huge contribution to our economy and society and we do not want to see that change as a result of our decision to leave the EU.

'We will support everyone wishing to stay to gain settled status through a new straightforward, streamlined system.

'The last negotiation round saw real progress in this area and I hope the document we have published today can facilitate the deal we need to guarantee the rights of UK citizens living in the EU27, and vice versa.'

The details are contained in a newly published 'technical note' set to be submitted by UK negotiators to the talks in Brussels. It is not yet agreed with the EU (pictured is an earlier round of the talks in Brussels)

Home Secretary Amber Rudd added: 'Applying for settled status will be a streamlined, low-cost, digital process and EU citizens are being consulted on its design to ensure it is user-friendly.

'We know that there is some anxiety among EU citizens about how the process of applying for settled status will work so I hope this document provides some further reassurance.'
A lynx on the loose is feared to have killed seven sheep found dead close to the zoo where it escaped from two weeks ago.

Lillith the lynx has been on the run after leaping from her enclosure on October 26, with local farmers worried she is now killing sheep and their lambs.

Seven of the animals were found dead, seemingly bitten on the neck, in a field less than two miles from where she escaped in Borth, near Aberystwyth in Wales.

Lillith the lynx (pictured) has been on the run after leaping from her enclosure two weeks ago, with local farmers in Borth, Wales worried she is now killing sheep and their lambs

Farmer Owen Jenkins saw the lynx lurking 'about 50 metres away' as he collected the carcasses from the field.

A Welsh Government vet carried out tests on the dead sheep's bodies, but was were unable to determine if Lillith was behind them.

The expert claimed the sheep could have been fatally wounded by a dog.

Nick Fenwick, of the Farmers Union of Wales said: 'We received a call from a member who had found seven of his sheep killed with neck-wounds in the Borth area and had seen the escaped lynx just yards away at the same time.

'The Local Authority and Welsh Government have been alerted, and we had expected some kind of statement to have been issued by now given possible dangers to livestock and members of the public.

'Failure to do this has led to speculation that the deaths are either not being taken seriously by the authorities or are being kept from the public for some other reason.'

The eurasian lynx, twice the size of a domestic cat, has been hunted with traps, helicopters, trackers and a heat-seeking drone since escaping the Borth Wild Animal Kingdom.

At first animal keepers thought she had just clashed with her mother and was lying low unable to be seen.

Police issued a warning about Lillith's escape on October 29 but has not said anything since then.

But Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association chief executive, is not convinced and extremely concerned.

The eurasian lynx (pictured), twice the size of a domestic cat, has been hunted with traps, helicopters, trackers and a heat-seeking drone since escaping the Borth Wild Animal Kingdom

He said: 'There cannot be a clearer warning of the damage lynx will do if they are released into the wild.

'Lynx UK Trust continue to assure us that lynx, on average, will take just 0.4 sheep annually.

'A fact which is simply unbelievable given the damage just one has inflicted after several days of roaming free.

'This incident also backs up what we are hearing from a number of sheep farmers in Scandanavia and other parts of Europe who tell us of high losses they've experienced from individual lynx that develop the behavioral characteristic of an opportunistic hunter.'

The creature is believed to be behind the death of seven sheep in the area, after they were found with fatal neck wounds and a farmer said he saw it 'lurking'

'The risk lynx pose to sheep, and the subsequent anxiety which would be suffered by sheep farmers if they were released is clear, but NSA's concerns reach far wider than that.'

Borth Wild Animal Kingdom owner Tracy Tweedy, 46, who bought the zoo with husband Dean, claims there is no proof that Lillith killed the sheep because the post mortem examinations were 'inconclusive.'

She said: 'We are waiting for the results of the blood tests but at the moment there is nothing to say that Lillith killed any sheep.

'The post mortem was inconclusive so we are not at all worried at the moment.

'We are getting closer by the day to catching her and we know exactly where she is.

'The zoo is still closed but after we catch Lillith it will be up to the council when we reopen.

'She's quite contained at the moment, she is just not caught.'

MailOnline has contacted Ceredigion County Council and the Welsh Government for comment.
An Uber driver is facing charges for refusing to take a blind woman because of her service dog and then dragging the boyfriend 10ft along the street after his arm got caught in the window.

Milissa Garside and her boyfriend David Welch, who are both legally blind, have told this week how the driver turned them down as soon as he saw Milissa's service dog Theo as they stood outside her home in Boston, Massachusetts, on Saturday night.

Garside, a masters student, had already been turned down by another car whose driver canceled the trip after calling her and failing to understand her because he did not speak English, she said.

She had asked Welch, 41, to come down to help her. He is legally blind but has better vision than she does.

When 'Allen', the second driver, arrived in his Toyota Camry, the pair were standing in the street.

Milissa Garside, 39, and her boyfriend David Welch, 41, were turned down by the Uber driver on Saturday night at 6.35pm in Boston, Massachusetts. She has no vision whereas her boyfriend is legally blind but can see some things

Upon sight of Theo, he rolled down the rear passenger window and allegedly told the pair: 'No dogs.'

Welch and Garside, who rely on Ubers for getting around and are well-versed in disability law, told him it was illegal for him to refuse them.

Welch then stuck his hand through the open window to unlock the backseat. He claims this is when Allen rolled it back up, trapping his hand.

With his hand still stuck in the back of the car, the driver accelerated and dragged him between 10 and 15ft along the road.

The driver did not stop and he only broke free when his hand fell out, Garside told DailyMail.com.

The woman, who lost her sight when she was three, was frightened by the commotion which she could only hear but not see.

'I was freaked out because I could hear Richard running, trying to keep up with the car. I knew something was happening so I kept asking "what's happening, what's happening?".

The Uber driver, named only as Allen (above in his profile on the app) told them he would not accept dogs

Garside's service dog Theo was with her and he was wearing his service dog vest at the time but the driver refused

'No one answered then Rich got up and a witness who saw it all came over to me and told me what happened.'

The couple called police who showed up 45 minutes later to take a report. Garside says she has since been told by a detective assigned to their case that he wants to charge Allen with aggravated assault and battery.

Welch was dragged 10-15ft along the ground by the car and was left requiring stitches to his finger

Uber has suspended Allen's driver account pending the criminal investigation.

Garside said she wanted to raise awareness of the plight of blind people who are all too often turned down by the app's drivers despite its policies and federal laws clearly dictating that they must be allowed into the cars with dogs.

She said a third of all her trips involve her being turned down because of Theo.

'Its a country wide problem. Uber has been discriminating against blind people with dogs.

'It needs to stop. I just want to be able to take a ride like everyone else. I don't have time to request four or five before one agrees to take me.'

She admitted two thirds of the drivers she encounters were helpful and accommodating.

Theo has been her guide dog for a year. She trained him at The Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, New York, she said.
Daisy French, 16, was killed near a popular shopping centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on Wednesday at around 8pm. She died at Meadowhall station and police say the incident is not being treated as suspicious

A teenage girl with mental health issues left a series of heartbreaking notes outlining her personal anguish when she was hit by a train in Sheffield.

Daisy French, 16, wrote of how she 'worried about what was going to happen to her' as she began her transition from child to adult care.

The popular schoolgirl from Sheffield was just 12-years-old when she was diagnosed with psychosis, Asperger's and depression.

In the years that followed, the bright teenager self harmed and tried to take her life a staggering 20 times.

Despite her personal anguish, she had performed well at her GCSEs and went on to study health and social care.

It was during her studies that her own condition worsened and she was killed after being struck by a train at Meadowhall Train station in Sheffield on April 19.

A police officer at the scene said that the notes found on Ms French were 'dark' and 'full of personal anguish'.

Ms French's mother, Samantha Kidd, described her daughter as a 'bright girl despite her problems'.

She said: 'She managed to get good grades at GCSE but when she started studying Health and Social Care this seemed to bring up her own issues and she decided to leave.'

At an inquest, the court heard how Ms French was detained by a British Transport Police officer in November 2016 and March 2017 after trying to kill her herself.

In a statement from British Transport Police Officer Fiona Poyner, given after the first suicide attempt at the station, she said: 'Daisy was crying and said she wanted to die - she said we should just 'let her go. She said no-one could help.'

Peter Davis, a clinical specialist nurse at Sheffield Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, added that Ms French was referred to the unit after taking an overdose in 2013.

She had reported that she was having problems at school, was hearing voices and was regularly self-harming.

Ms French died after being hit by a train in Meadowhall station in Sheffield

She had several spells as an in-patient at the child mental health wards and appeared 'relatively stable' between January and the summer of 2016 before her mood began to plummet.

Mr Davis said Ms French had been undertaking her transition into adult care in March 2016 as they were better equipped to deal with her condition, but that if needed she could be given residential treatment at Sheffield's Children's Hospital - not an adult ward - if she needed to become an in-patient.

Dr Stephen Hughes, a consultant child adolescent psychiatrist and Sheffield Children's NHS Trust, told Ms Slater that from December 2016 he was no longer responsible for her care.

Because of this he was not informed of her last attempt to kill herself.

On both occasions when she had tried to kill herself at Sheffield train station, she had not been assessed by the adult early invention team as in need of in-patient care.

Ms Slater said: 'Did you see this as a missed opportunity?'

He replied: 'It would have been nice to have been informed - whether it would have made a difference I do not know.'

The coroner said: 'She was in a transition period and I need to consider this transition period for other 16-year-olds in Daisy's position.'
The Israeli prime minister was pictured leaving an exclusive Mayfair nightclub LouLou closely followed by a heavy security presence earlier this week.

Benjamin Netanyahu was flanked by bodyguards as he made his way out the West London nightclub, which has been host to Princes William and Harry, Mick Jagger, Kate Moss and George Clooney.

Mr Netanyahu was escorted out the club on November 5 and left in a blacked-out car and a 4x4 which drove with his vehicle.

Shortly before he left LouLou's, a convoy of cars with American personnel picked up an unknown person, also accompanied with heavy security.

Benjamin Netanyahu was flanked by bodyguards as he made his way out the West London nightclub

The Israeli prime minister was was escorted out of LouLou's with an escort including a blacked out Range Rover 4x4

The exact nature of the 68-year-old's visit to the nightclub is unknown, but he had been in London to celebrate the centenary of the Balfour declaration - which paved the way for a Jewish state.

Last week Mr Netanyahu had held talks with Theresa May in Number 10 and had a formal dinner with the prime minister.

And it was revealed earlier today that the Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel held secret meetings with the Israeli government, including Mr Netanyahu, where she said UK aid cash could be handed to the Israeli Army.

Downing Street confirmed Ms Patel suggested funding could be provided to the Israeli Army to help it fund a field hospital in the disputed Golan Heights territory on the Israel-Syria border during her family holiday.

Downing Street insisted today that no policy change was made after the Aid Secretary's controversial dozen meetings during her trip in the summer.

Ms Patel has made a grovelling apology to Theresa May over the secret summit but still faces calls for her to go. No 10 admitted tonight Ms Patel did not disclose the policy suggestion of funding an Israeli Army field hospital to Mrs May yesterday.

A Mercedes Benz is also pictured outside the LouLou's nightclub

The Prime Minister has refused to fire her Aid Secretary despite claims she brazenly broke the ministerial code in four ways and misled journalists about her activities.

Theresa May was unaware of that Ms Patel had held these meetings with Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli government before she had dinner with him last week.

During her dinner with Mr Netanyahu last week, Mrs May said: 'There is today a new and pernicious form of anti-Semitism which uses criticism of the actions of the Israeli government as a despicable justification for questioning the very right of Israel to exist.

Benjamin Netanyahu was flanked by bodyguards as he made his way out the West London nightclub

'This is abhorrent and we will not stand for it.'

She will add: 'Criticising the actions of Israel is never - and can never be - an excuse for questioning Israel's right to exist, any more than criticising the actions of Britain could be an excuse for questioning our right to exist.

'And criticising the government of Israel is never - and can never be - an excuse for hatred against the Jewish people - any more than criticising the British government would be an excuse for hatred against the British people.

Theresa May welcomes Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to No10 today where they will hold talks ahead of a dinner tonight to mark the centenary of the Balfour declaration - a key milestone on the road to the creation of a Jewish state

'Put simply, there can be no excuses for any kind of hatred towards the Jewish people.

'There never have been - and there never will be.'

Mrs May said he UK is proud of its 'pioneering role in the creation of the state of Israel'.

'We are proud to stand here today together with Prime Minister Netanyahu and declare our support for Israel. And we are proud of the relationship we have built with Israel.'

She will call for a two-state peace deal 'with a secure and prosperous Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State'.
The Massachusetts driver of a van for special needs students allowed her boyfriend to sell drugs out of the vehicle because 'she loves him' and claims to not benefit from it, police say.

Rudencia Montes was arrested on Friday after a police officer in Framingham witnessed a drug deal involving the van she was driving, WFXT reported.

The 43-year-old woman, who worked for Accept Education Collaborative - an educational nonprofit for special needs students - was driving the white minivan when she pulled into a parking lot at Cushing Memorial Park as another car pulled up next to the vehicle, police said.

The driver of the car, 33-year-old Corrine Gentile, was then seen by the police officer finishing a drug deal with the passenger of the van, 33-year-old Juan Miranda-Ortiz, police said.

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Juan Miranda-Ortiz (left), his girlfriend Rudencia Montes (center), and Corrine Gentile (right) were arrested Friday in Framingham, Massachusetts

Police say Montes was driving the van (similar to the one pictured above) when her boyfriend conducted a drug deal with Gentile in a parking lot

Moments later, authorities pulled Gentile over and found an envelope with two packets of heroin inside, authorities said.

During a subsequent traffic stop of the van, cops found an envelope inside that matched the one found in Gentile's car.

Montes and her boyfriend were arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the state's drug laws, distributing heroin and a park zone violation.

Gentile was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Montes and her boyfriend were arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the state's drug laws, distributing heroin and a park zone violation. Gentile was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to commit a crime

The company that Montes drove for fired her after she was arrested.

No students were inside the van when the alleged drug deal occurred.

'We take these matters very seriously. The safety of our students is our No. 1 concern,' Executive Director Marcia Berkowitz told WFXT in a statement.

Montes is being held on $5,000 bail and her boyfriend is being held on $25,000 bail.

Gentile was released on $200 bail.

Montes allegedly told police after she arrested that she did not make any money from the drug deal her boyfriend completed.

"'I don't benefit from it,'" Rudencia Montes said, according to police. "'I do it because I love him.'"
Meghan McCain's new gig on ABC's The View has bumped up ratings for the long-running talk show, but her presence has created some new behind-the-scene drama for the series, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The trouble-prone daytime show has become as popular for its high co-host turnover rate and off-camera squabbles, as it has for their fiery hot topics discussions.

The show had found some peace among the talent over the last year with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, and Jedediah Bila, until Bila was fired earlier in September to make way for Meghan.

But the addition of the former Fox News contributor, though originally welcomed by the four remaining hosts, has now created some issues for co-hosts Sunny and Sara and some of it is bleeding over on air.

The View's addition of Meghan McCain (pictured on Tuesday's show) has bumped up ratings, but has also caused tension among the co-hosts, DailyMail.com can reveal

Meghan is the show's 20th co-host, replacing Jedediah Bila, who left in September. A source says the former Fox News contributor 'has not done much to build camaraderie with the ladies and it set a bad tone from the beginning' and is known as Elsa from Frozen behind her back

Joy Behar allegedly fussed to a producer saying: 'She needs a talk-hosting class or something. She keeps presenting like she's on cable news'

'Everything started all lovey-dovey and folks were optimistic that Meghan would be a welcomed addition to the show, but no one knew that she had developed this hardened, cold disposition that's quite different from when she was being considered for the job before,' a source close to the show exclusively told DailyMail.com.

'Initially everyone thought it was her getting a rhythm or trying to find her way, but now people realize she's has an unwelcoming presence and is only concerned with being engaging to Whoopi behind the scenes.'

An ABC spokesperson has tonight dismissed claims of a rift, and said: 'This is ridiculous. We're very pleased that Meghan has joined our table of incredibly smart, accomplished and talented women.

'Their opinions frequently differ and that's exactly what the show is designed to do. She's been warmly welcomed by cast and crew alike. 'Let it go'.'

But problems began after Meghan made her debut on Monday, October 9, and only acknowledged Whoopi and Joy for their work on the show and ignored Sunny and Sara after she was asked why she joined the panel during her opening remarks.

The on-air snub had producers buzzing behind the scene during the live show and created some chatter among the co-hosts at the end of the episode.

'Unquestionably, it rubbed Sunny and Sara the wrong way. They felt as though Meghan was brown-nosing Whoopi - especially her mentioning that a private phone conversation between the two convinced her to take the job,' the source dished.

'She wasn't doing much to build camaraderie with the ladies and it set a bad tone from the beginning.'

Meghan has been criticized behind the scenes for her 'cold and distant' demeanor and for her habit of prefacing her comments by saying 'as the conservative here I'm supposed to present the other position.' The co-host received a special visit from her father on her birthday

Joy had issues of her own with Meghan and griped behind the scenes that she couldn't talk without preambles and disclaimers.

'She's needs a talk-hosting class or something. She keeps presenting like she's on cable news,' Joy regularly fussed to producers.

Meghan's style of discussion has also frustrated the other hosts because she had developed a habit of adding her views by saying 'well, as the conservative here I'm supposed to present the other position,' and 'I know that my conservative point of view won't be popular, but here's how I feel about,' according to the source.

Joy reportedly felt like she was offering the viewers a tutorial in what her job was supposed to be and since the show was in season 21, it was the last thing the audience needed.

Meghan's demeanor has also caused her to gain a reputation on set with producers secretly referring to her as 'Elsa,' the lead character from the film Frozen, as a play off the fact that everyone finds her cold and distant from her colleagues and the staff.

'Anytime you hear someone discussing Elsa or making references to the Ice Princess you know they're talking Meghan. Despite its challenges, The View has a family-type atmosphere and when people disrupt the harmony of that, it's always problematic,' the source offered.

Sunny (pictured) and Sara allegedly tried to be welcoming to Meghan, but the former Fox News contributor has reportedly shown no interest in bonding with her colleagues and now

Sunny and Sara on the other hand, have become extremely close behind the scenes. The two often spend time together off air and even went to surprise talk show host Wendy Williams by sitting in the audience of her show recently.

They both tried to be welcoming to Meghan, but she's shown no interest in bonding with her colleagues and now, Sunny has stopped being delicate with her on-air.

Last Monday, when the first indictments in Robert Mueller's Russian probe were announced, Meghan tried to shift the discussion to Hillary Clinton.

Sunny then yelled out: 'Hillary Clinton is not President of the United States and Hillary Clinton was not indicted today!'

The audience roared with applause, much to Meghan's chagrin. At least three more times during the discussion, Sunny chanted the same line: 'Hillary Clinton was not indicted,' each time receiving huge ovations from the studio audience.

'Meghan was furious after the show. She felt like Sunny belittled her. Griped to a producer that Sunny was just playing to the crowd and she didn't appreciate it,' the source continued.

Days later, during an interview with political commentator Keith Olbermann about his book, Meghan and Sunny had a tense on-air spat over a question.

Sunny had asked Keith about his recent Twitter feud with Donald Trump Jr and the message he posted: "Why do you separate yourself from the terrorists, Dondi? You and your family have done more damage to America than Bin Laden + ISIS combined."

The trouble-prone daytime show has become as popular for its high co-host turnover rate and off-camera squabbles. McCain has replaced Jedediah Bila after her departure in September

Before Keith could answer the question, Meghan jumped in and told him his belief was 'absurd' and immediately looped the show's moderator in for extra support.

'I think Whoopi and I are in agreement that we want America to come together,' offered Meghan, before chastising Keith's rhetoric.

She continued: 'I don't understand when you're saying things like that; Bin Laden was dedicated to the destruction of everything we hold dear in our freedoms.'

Whoopi never joined in the dialogue despite Meghan baiting her, but Sunny, who originally asked the question countered: 'Perhaps some people think that Trump is dedicated to the destruction of people with his treatment.'

Meghan shot back: 'I believe I'm asking Keith the question,' she before repeating herself.

Sunny replied: 'Actually, it was my question.'

Whoopi finally chimed in, 'Well someone answer the damn question.'

That on-air spat is the bubbling up of the backstage tension carrying over to TV.

'Meghan said Elizabeth Hasselbeck is one of her role models. That's what she announced on her first day on the show. So those heated type of debates and explosive moments is what Elizabeth had with Rosie O'Donnell, Star Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd.

I'm sure the ABC executives and The View producers are loving that this type of sparring is happening on air, but at some point it also implodes behind the scene and that's where the trouble lies,' the source said.
EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY AND AT LEAST EIGHT CHILDREN: GUNMAN'S 26 VICTIMS

ANNABELLE POMEROY

The daughter of First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who was out of town with his wife. Her devastated father said he lost 'one beautiful girl, and a special child'.

Annabelle Pomeroy, the 14-year-old daughter of the church pastor, was the first victim identified in Sunday's shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday. Her mother said having fun at the pool was her favorite thing

BRYAN, KARLA, MARC DANIEL 'DANNY' AND NOAH HOLCOMBE

Bryan Holcombe had been standing in for Frank Pomeroy when Kelley opened fire. Witnesses say he was the first victim to be struck by the shooter's gunfire.

'Bryan was filling in,' a witness told DailyMail.com. 'He was walking up to the pulpit when he was shot in the back. He was an awesome Christian.

He was killed, alongside his wife of 25 years, Sunday school teacher Karla Holcombe

The couple ran a canvas repair shop before retiring and had attended the church for 25 years.

'My father was a good man and he loved to preach. He had a good heart. They knew where they were going. Theres peace in that,' their son Scott Holcombe told the Herald-Tribune.

Their son Marc Daniel 'Danny' Holcombe, 36, and his one-year-old daughter Noah, also died in the gunfire.

Sunday school teacher Karla Holcolmbe and her husband Bryan died in the rampage, their family confirmed. Bryan had been standing in for Pastor Pomeroy

Marc Daniel Holcombe, known as Danny, pictured wearing glasses left, and his infant daughter Noah were also among the 26 killed and the seventh and eighth of the Holcombe family

Youngest victim: Danny's baby girl Noah, aged just one, pictured with her dad, died in the gunfire; the gunman was said to be deliberately targeting crying babies

CRYSTAL HOLCOMBE, HER CHILDREN MEGAN, EMILY AND GREG AND HER UNBORN CHILD

Bryan and Karla's daughter-in-law Crystal, a mother-of-five who was eight months pregnant was killed alongside three of her children: Megan, Emily and Greg. Two of her other children and her husband John survived the shooting.

Crystal was described as a devoted mother.

'She doesn't even drink, smoke or nothing, said relative Nick Uhlig. 'She just takes care of kids, she raises goats and makes homemade cheese. That kind of thing, you know? They don't go out dancing or anything like that. They're real old-fashioned, down-to-earth.

Authorities said on Tuesday that their body count of 26 victims included the unborn child of Crystal.

Crystal Holcombe, pictured center, the daughter-in-law of Bryan and Karla Holcombe, was among those killed, along with three of her five children, all pictured left, Emily (standing tallest), Megan and Greg. Her husband John (right) and their other two children, survived the massacre

Crystal Holcombe was married to Bryan and Karla Holcombe's son John (pictured together) and had been at church with her inlaws when she was shot dead

JOANN AND BROOKE WARD AND EMILY GARZA

Mother-of-four Joann Ward and two of her daughters, six-year-old Brooke Ward and eight-year-old Emily Garza were among the victims.

Joann's sister-in-law Leslie Ward said she rushed to the church after hearing the gunfire from her home, and found her six-year-old nephew Ryland, lying in the pews. He is still in hospital after undergoing emergency surgery.

Joann's eldest daughter Rihanna, nine, had the glasses shot off her face but escaped injury by hiding under a pew as shots rang out.

Joann's husband Chris was not at the church because he works the night shift and had stayed home that morning. In the first hours after the shooting, some media erroneously reported Chris as the shooter.

Joann Ward (pictured) was among the 26 people gunned down when Devin Patrick Kelley burst into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Texas and opened fire

Sisters six-year-old Brooke (left) and eight-year-old Emily Garza (pictured, right, sitting on the right, next to her sister Rihanna) were killed in the shooting according to her family. Nine-year-old Rihanna (sitting next to Emily) had her glasses shot off her face but survived

ROBERT AND SHANNI CORRIGAN

The Corrigans, originally from Michigan, were named among those killed, according to the Clare County Director of Veterans' Services.

Robert Corrigan was an Air Force retiree and the couple has two sons currently on active duty.

Angela Teague Herron paid tribute to him as a 'true mentor'

Air force veteran: Robert and Shanni Corrigan, originally from Michigan, were named among those killed. They have two sons who are currently on active duty

'You were not easy, you were a leader who gave me expectations and I respected you enough to listen to you. I didn't always like what you said, but you allowed me to tell you and together, you let me flourish.

LULA WHITE

Lula Woicinski White was the 71-year-old grandmother of Kelley's wife Danielle.

She was a devout member of the First Baptist Church as was described a 'wonderful, caring person - a God-loving person' by her relative Mary Mishler Clyburn.

Gunman's grandmother-in-law: Lula White, pictured left with victim Bryan Holcombe, and right with her daughter Michelle. It is thought Kelley was targeting Michelle, the mother of Kelley's wife Danielle but she wasn't in the church at the time

'I miss her badly already. We texted every day. We loved each other to the moon and back.'

HALEY KRUEGER

Sixteen-year-old Haley, described in her GoFundMe page as 'beautiful' and 'vibrant', dreamed of becoming an intensive care nurse. Her death comes two years after her father died.

Her mother Charlene Uhl said Haley had arrived early on Sunday morning to help prepare breakfast for the parishioner.

'She just loved life and loved everybody she met,' she said. 'She loved her church. She was always hyper and ready for anything.'

'Beautiful' and 'Vibrant': Haley Krueger dreamed of being a NICU nurse and arrived at the parish earlier on Sunday to help with breakfast

RICHARD AND THERESA RODRIGUEZ

Richard's daughter Regina Rodriguez confirmed that her father and his wife were among the deceased. She posted a heartbreaking photograph of her and her father to Facebook hours after the massacre.

On Sunday, Regina walked up to the police barricade a few hours after the shooting and said her 51-year-old father attended the church 'every Sunday'.

Heartbreaking: Richard Rodriguez, died in the shooting along with his wife Theresa (pictured together). Richard, 51, attended church every Sunday

TARA MCNULTY

Bartender Tara McNulty was among those killed while her children were wounded but survived, according to Kevin Koenen, her boss at The Aumont Saloon.

The Aumont Saloon is holding a fundraiser for Tara's funeral costs and her children's medical expenses, with Koenen paying tribute to her on her GoFundMe page as 'a great employee, conscientious, engaging and always willing to do the little things.'

'Always willing to do the little things': Tara McNulty was killed in the massacre but her children survived. A fundraiser is being held this Saturday to raise money for her funeral costs and her children's medical expenses

'She was a sweet, kind and loving woman, mother and daughter and will be greatly missed by many.'

ROBERT SCOTT AND KAREN MARSHALL

The Marshalls had recently retired and moved to Texas. They met when they were both in the military more than 30 years ago, serving in the US Aire Force in North Carolina.

The day before the massacre, R Scott Marshall shared photos from a trip to an air show in Live Oak, Texas, with his wife and grandchildren.

Robert Scott's father, Robert, confirmed the news on his 85th birthday.

'Heck of a birthday present, he told KDKA Pittsburgh. 'It's a shame that you can go pray and be shot up.'

He is now trying to fly to Texas to be with his three adult grandchildren.

Air Force veterans R Scott and Karen Marshall had only recently moved to Texas. R Scott's father Robert received the horrible news on his 85th birthday

DENNIS AND SARA JOHNSON

A family member confirmed the Johnsons both died in the shooting. Sara's Facebook page says she was a receptionist at Pfeil's Home and Garden Materials, originally from Jasper, Florida.

Friends called them a 'great couple' who loved their church

Dennis' sister-in-law Tawnya Roberts Spence, wrote on Facebook: 'It's still very hard to believe that such a thoughtless crime has happened like this.

'I hope all the family can find peace in their hearts as they go through this very sad tragedy.'
I haven't used a plastic bag at any of the stores in over three years. Instead I use large reusable shopping bags which suit me quite well. It
The fate of Harvey Weinstein may soon be up to a jury of his peers.

NBC New York reports that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is looking to present a case next week to the the grand jury in hopes of indicting Harvey Weinstein on a number of charges stemming from his alleged rapes of actress Paz de la Huerta in 2010.

Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting the actress on two occasions, but has denied any and all allegations of non-consensual sex through his spokesperson.

The actress reported the incidents to authorities on October 25, and was found to be a strong and credible witness.

Weinstein is still believed to be in Arizona, where he was pictured last week.

'I really can't comment but we'll move as fast as we can to resolve the outstanding issues,' said Cy Vance, almost three years after he decided not to prosecute Weinstein despite having audio of him admitting to an assault.

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Tried for trial: A source tells NBC New York that the Manhattan District Attorney will present a case to the grand jury in hopes of indicting Harvey Weinstein (above in September)

This latest development comes just four days after the NYPD said that they were close to arresting Weinstein.

'We are on the same page when it comes to mission, which is protecting the public and preventing crime and building investigations and cases,' said Vance of the work between his office and the NYPD.

Vance, who is up for reelection on Tuesday, also urged any victims to come forward and promised that their claims and allegations would be looked into by his team.

Charges were never filed against Weinstein the last time he was investigated for assault in 2015 by the NYPD, despite police sources saying they thought there was enough evidence to indict the mogul after passing off the case to the district attorney's office.

Three days after meeting with Italian model Ambra Battilana at their office, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Vance announced that the probe into the incident did not find enough evidence to pursue a case.

Bring him down: Paz de la Huerta (in 2011) filed a police report on October 25

'This case was taken seriously from the outset, with a thorough investigation conducted by our sex crimes unit,' said Joan Vollero at the time.

'After analyzing the available evidence, including multiple interviews with both parties, a criminal charge is not supported.'

The New York Times revealed last month that Weinstein surrounded himself with a very connected team of litigators before learning that charges would not be pursued in the case.

He retained Elkan Abramowitz, a former law partner of Vance, and Daniel S. Connolly, who was also a former prosecutor.

Linda Fairstein came on as a consultant and introduced Weinstein's lawyer Abramowitz to Martha Bashford, the head of the district attorneys sex crimes bureau.

'We have a credible and detailed narrative, and even though the incident occurred seven years ago there has been corroboration from a number of individuals,' said Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce on Friday.

He went on to say that investigators contacted the district attorney's office soon after they interviewed de la Huerta and 'started working the case together.'

Keeping quiet:L 'I really can't comment but we'll move as fast as we can to resolve the outstanding issues,' said District Attorney Cy Vance (above)

'We have an actual case here, so we're happy with where the investigation is right now,' said Chief Boyce.

'Mr Weinstein is out of state we would need an arrest warrant, to arrest him. So right now we're gathering our evidence and we continue to do so, every day. So that's where we are in the case.'

Chief Boyce revealed during the conference that subpoenas have been issued, before adding: 'If this person was still in New York and it was recent we would go right away and make the arrest, no doubt. But were talking about a seven-year-old case. And we have to move forward gathering evidence.

Chief Boyce also made it very clear that de la Huerta was a strong witness, noting her 'ability to articulate each and every movement of the crime, where she was, where they met, where this happened and what he did.

The case was further bolstered because De la Huerta was the first victim who was allegedly assaulted by Weinstein after 2006, when New York did away with the statute of limitations in instances of rape, criminal sexual act or aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree.

The assaults alleged by the other two women took place before that law was changed, which means that even if the district attorney's office files charges against Weinstein in those cases they could be tossed out of court by a judge.

Chief Boyce seemed to suggest on Friday that those probes have been put on hold while the focus turns to de la Huerta's allegations.

At the same time, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has assigned a senior sex crimes prosecutor to work on the case.

'As to others, I'm not going to close the door and say others wont come forward, but this is what we have right now, this is what we're moving forward with,' said Chief Boyce.

Weinstein was spotted for the first time since he claimed to have entered rehab in Arizona last month as he grabbed some food with a male friend on Thursday.

The disgraced mogul, 65, was seen slurping on some soup at Chestnut, a farm-to-table restaurant in Phoenix.

Weinstein managed to keep a low profile throughout the meal despite the fact that over 100 women have now accused him of sexual harassment and/or assault.

That feat was accomplished in large part because of his disguise, with Weinstein wearing a blond wig over his bald head and orange makeup covering his face before heading out in public.

His guest also appeared to be wearing a wig, with the man keeping a hand on the side of his head during their meal.

Weinstein has been in Arizona for close to a month, where he reportedly attended a week of in-patient rehab at an undisclosed location and is now receiving out-patient treatment.

New York County District Attorney Maxine B. Rosenthal has also been looking into de la Huerta's claims, with her her lawyer confirming he turned over information and files to her office earlier this week.

Among the items turned over where notes from her therapist confirming that de la Huerta spoke about the alleged assault at the time.

'I recall you telling me that Harvey Weinstein was seeking sexual contact with you on more than one occasion with the promise of additional roles,' wrote SueAnne Piliero in a letter to the district attorney's office.

'I recall you reporting to me a sexual encounter with Harvey Weinstein involving intercourse in your apartment in 2010 that resulted in you feeling victimized. I recall you telling me that it felt coercive to you and that you didnt want to have sex with him, but felt that you had to as he was a man of power and rank and you couldnt say no to his sexual advances.'

On Friday, de la Huerta's lawyer Aaron Filler detailed his client's experience with Weinstein on 'Megyn Kelly Today.'

WEINSTEIN PROBES NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT Lucia Evans (Claims Weinstein forced her to preform oral sex on him in 2004 - not being pursued by NYPD) J ane Doe 1 (Claims she was sexally assaulted by Weinstein pre-2006 - not being pursued by NYPD) Paz de la Huerta (Claims Weinstein raped her twice in 2010 - being pursued by NYPD and DA's office) LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT Italian model-actress (Claims Weinstein raped her at hotel in 2013) Jane Doe 2 (Claims she was the victim of unknown Weinstein offense in 2015) SCOTLAND YARD Jane Doe 3 (Claims Weinstein assaulted her in London during 80s) Lysette Anthony (Claims Weinstein raped her in her London home in 80s) Jane Doe 4 (Claims assualts in Camden and Westminster in 2010, 11 and 15) Jane Doe 5 (Claims she was assaulted in Westmoreland in 1992) Jane Doe 6 (Claims she was assaulted outside the UK in thew 80s) Jane Doe 7 (Claims she was assaulted in Westminster in mid-90s) Jane Doe 8 (Claims she was assaulted in Westmoreland in 1994) Jane Doe 9 (Claims she was assaulted outside the UK in 1991) Advertisement

'She had known him for years because she met him when she was 14 years old when she did Cider House Rules, and she had seen him,' said Filler.

'She lived in the neighborhood in Tribeca, where he lives and right up the street from the Weinstein Company.'

Then, a decade after they met, the two ran into one another at a nightclub in the city, with Weinstein offering the actress a ride home.

De la Huerta was 25 at the time and Weinstein was 58.

When they got to the actress' building, Weinstein tried to make his way into her apartment, despite her pleas that he leave for the night said her lawyer.

'And they argued in front of the doorman. And as we've heard in the tape from the wire and from 2015 in New York [with Ambra Battilana], convinced her to let him in. And then, rape ensued.'

That was just the beginning though according to Filler.

'And following that, he began to call her, repeatedly and saying, "I'm waiting at your home. I'm in your lobby. I'm parked out front. When are you coming home?" And the doorman would warn her. She would stay away,' said Filler.

'She was afraid to come home.'

Another incident followed a short time later in Los Angeles said Filler, who seemed to struggle with his appearance on 'Today.'

'She decided to confront him and tell him you're a stalker. You raped me. You've got to stop. She confronted him in the hotel. She had come to meet him with some other people,' said Filler.

'And when she gave him the message. He exposed himself. And she left.'

'This has been going on for two months. And she decided she was going to confront him. She was very upset. The whole period of stalking and not being able to come home, day after day, really had tremendous impact on her.'

De la Huerta said on Thursday that Weinstein first raped her in October 2010, claiming that he joined her for a drink at her apartment after the two ran into one another at the Standard Hotel and then forced himself on her despite her protests.

'He stuck himself inside me,' said de la Huerta, noting that she was 'afraid and 'it all happened very quickly.'

She also stressed that it was non consensual.

'When he was done he said hed be calling me. I kind of just laid on the bed in shock said the actress.

The second incident happened two months later when Weinstein came to her apartment after she had been drinking claims de la Huerta, who said she was therefore unable to give consent.
First son Donald Trump Jr has twice tweeted today that voters in Virginia should head to the polls tomorrow, despite the election being held today.

'Let's take Ed Gillespie across the finish line tomorrow! Virginia: get out and vote for Ed & entire @GOP ticket,' Donald Trump Jr. wrote at 8:02 a.m. Tuesday morning, touting the Republicans' Virginia governor pick.

Three and a half hours he did it again.

'Virginia, the future of the Commonwealth is at stake tomorrow. Find your polling place at vote.gop to vote Ed for #VAGov,' he wrote, pointing supporters to the Republican Party's website to register voters.

Donald Trump Jr's initial tweeted prompted mocking from both the D.C. and Hollywood community.

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President Trump's son Donald Trump Jr sent out two tweets on Tuesday that suggested he thought election day for Virginia voters is tomorrow. It's today

Early Tuesday morning, Donald Trump Jr urged voters to get Ed Gillespie, running for Virginia governor, over the finish line 'tomorrow.' Both CNN's Jake Tapper and actor Seth Rogen chimed in, as the election is today

Three and a half hours later, Donald Trump Jr made the mistake again, referencing 'tomorrow' in a tweet about Republican voters getting out to vote

CNN's Jake Tapper wrote back, 'Think you mean today not tomorrow ...'

Actor and comedian Seth Rogen simply responded, 'Dude ...'

There's been a long-standing joke in politics suggesting candidates should tell their opponents' supporters that the election is on a different day.

The young Trump could be confused by all the chatter surrounding Wednesday, as it marks the one-year anniversary since his dad's shock election win.

Despite being down in the polls in several crucial swing states, now President Donald Trump had three slender, yet important, victories in the Midwest, winning Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to take the White House.

Tuesday's gubernatorial races are the first big ballot tests for Democrats and Republicans since Trump took office.

New Jersey looks like a blowout for the Democrats, with Democratic candidate Phil Murphy ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno by an average of 14.4 points, according to Real Clear Politics.

In Virginia, however, things are close, with the Real Clear Politics polling average showing Democrat Ralph Northam just 3.3 points ahead, as the race narrowed in the last few weeks.

Gillespie  who has establishment roots as a D.C. lobbyist and former chair of the Republican National Committee  tried attracting President Trump's base too, running ads hitting Northam over sanctuary cities, gangs and confederate monuments.

Despite being away in Asia, President Trump is keeping an eye on the race, once tweeting support for Gillespie from Japan and then thrice tweeted about him in South Korea.

Trump played up those hard-line immigration themes that made his own candidacy so successful.

'Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. Hes weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment and has been horrible on Virginia economy,' Trump tweeted Tuesday. 'Ed Gillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone.'

He also informed voters that the election was, rightly, on Tuesday.

'Vote today, ASAP!' Trump wrote.
This is the terrifying moment thieves are seen breaking into a kennel and stealing six cocker spaniels.

The footage, taken by dogbreeder Julie Whiteley, show two of the dogs sitting happily in their baskets.

They then both get up as two men enter the kennels.

The footage, taken by dogbreeder Julie Whiteley, show two of the dogs sitting happily in their baskets

The thieves are seen shining torches into the dog's pens before walking inside and trying to grab them.

One of the men misses and the other then tries again but one of the spaniels dashes out.

The theft happened at around 1am at the house in New Mill, West Yorkshire, on November 2.

Police are now using the CCTV footage to help trace three suspects - one of which has a distinctive tattoo.

Ms Whiteley said the first she knew something was wrong was when she went to the kennels and found all the pens open.

They then both get up and investigate as two men enter the kennels at around 1am

The thieves are seen shining torches into the dog's pens before walking inside and trying to grab them

'There were seven dogs in there and they stole six.

'They didn't go into the house, nothing else has been stolen. It's horrible to think they've been here.

'I've only got a camera for the kennels for when I've puppies so I can keep an eye on them.

'Three of them were in one kennel and one of them must have got away.

'You can see on the video three people going into the first pen with torches.

One of the men misses and the other then tries again but one of the spaniels dashes out

'One of the men goes in, looks as though he can't catch them, then a big fella with a tattoo goes in.'

Now a Just Giving page has been set up by the owner of one of the stolen dogs, Frances Glendinning, whose dog was being loaned to Julie for breeding when it was stolen.

Frances wrote on the appeal page: 'These beautiful dogs are much loved family pets and their devastated owner is desperate for their safe return.

'The dogs will be frightened and confused having been cruelly taken away from the family that loved them and everything they know.'

So far 1,720 has been raised by 34 supporters with a target of 5,000.

Ms Whiteley said the first she knew something was wrong was when she went to the kennels and found all the pens open

Police are now using the CCTV footage to help trace three suspects - one of which has a distinctive tattoo

Frances ended her appeal with a plea for funds to support them. She said: 'We must do everything we can to secure their safe return. Please help by raising money so that a reward can be offered for their safe return and if necessary to hire a pet detective.'

The appeal comes as latest research shows West Yorkshire is the top dog-napping location in the UK.

Police figures obtained by dog charity Blue Cross show that there were 168 incidents of dog theft in 2016.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'We were called at about 5.50am on Thursday to a kennels on Snowgate Head, New Mill, to a report of dogs being stolen in a burglary.

'Initial enquiries are on-going into the break-in and anyone who has information is asked to contact Kirklees Police on 101 referencing crime number 13170510097.'

To donate towards the fundraiser, click here.


Former interim Democratic Party boss Donna Brazile says she asked about the origins of the infamous 'dirty dossier' just days before the 2016 election and was told she 'did not need to know' about it.

Brazile revealed the nugget under a brief interrogation by 'The View' cohost Meghan McCain, the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, himself a Russia hawk who has spoken repeatedly of the various shoes dropping election investigations.

The questioning follows revelations that the dossier, which was first funded by a GOP donor, later got funded through Hillary Clinton campaign and DNC payments  although those payments were obscured by going through Marc Elias, a lawyer for both entities.

'I asked one question on November 4th and I was told that I did not need to know. And so no, I did not know,' Brazile said. 'Because I did not control my money.'

Former interim Democratic Party boss Donna Brazile spoke about the 'dirty dossier' as she promoted her new book on ABC's 'The View'

Brazile complains in the book about an agreement the Clinton camp executed with the DNC to seize effective control over its staff and operations.

'Megan you know campaigns. The line item is called legal. The line item is called research. The line item is  the line item, if you asked me today because I have a list of all the DNC consultants. Do I see Fusion GPS, no. But if you asked me was this a question that came up during my tenure as chair, it did on Nov. 4th,' Brazile said.

McCain kept up her questioning, asking if the dossier research was 'wrong' or if it set a bad precedent to 'pay Russia for opposition research.'

Political intelligence firm Fusion GPS hired former British MI-6 officer Christopher Steele to produce research for the dossier. It contained a web of unsubstantiated allegations about Donald Trump's business dealing  and also contained unverified information alleging he cavorted with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room.

Brazile faced questions from co-host Meghan McCain about financing for research that made up the dossier

McCain kept up her questioning, asking if it was 'wrong' to have a British national conduct research in Russia

'I was not involved in the contracting. I dont know,' Brazile said. 'I was not involved in the hiring of this firm. I did not know about the existence of this contract,' she said of the payments to Fusion GPS.

'But in terms of opposition research, people go after things that I must tell you in America. When they go after dirt, you saw what Mr. Trump Jr. did. But no I did not go after it,' she said, turning the tables on the president's son, who met with a Kremlin-linked lawyer under the promise of dirt on Hillary Clinton.

McCain kept pressing on the morality of the situation. 'But just do you think its wrong to go to Russia to ask for opposition research,' she asked, referencing Steele's array of Russian sources referenced in the document.

'Youre asking me about the dossier and how it was complied. I dont know how it was compiled. I dont know who went after it, Meghan. I did not go after it,' said Brazile.

Brazile's new book includes claims that Hillary Clinton essentially took over the DNC through a memorandum of understanding before she won the Democratic nomination, and that the party was mismanaged and in debt before she took over after the release of hacked emails

Then she finally allowed: 'I dont believe that foreigners should be, unless theyre American citizens, they should have no place in our politics and they should not control our process.'

On other subjects, Brazile took pains to downplay astonishing claims in her book that Clinton essentially took over the DNC through a memorandum of understanding before she won the nomination, and that the party was mismanaged and in debt before she took over after the release of hacked emails.

'I never used the word rigged in my book. I used the word cancer,' she said. Her book is called, 'Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.'
Michigan's Republican-controlled Senate is expected to come one step closer to allowing concealed weapons to be carried inside schools, hospitals, churches and other restricted locations on Tuesday.

A Senate committee will likely approve new bills which will make the state's 'no-gun zones' allow concealed weapons carried by those with a permit and eight hours of specialist training.

That could force state schools to allow access to the state's 618,000 concealed carry permit owners while they're armed, ABC News reported.

Michigan's Republican-controlled Senate is expected to allow concealed weapons into the state's 'no-gun zones' (pictured left: A sign in Traverse City, Michigan, forbidding weapons). It is being spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (right)

As well as those with the additional eight hours of training, gun instructors will also be allowed into the newly opened up zones.

Currently, laws forbid people from bringing concealed weapons into a number of locations, including school, churches, hospitals, arenas, taverns and daycare centers.

However the wording of the law does not explicitly stop people from openly carrying weapons into those locations.

That has led to a string of lawsuits, so the new bill is intended to effectively flip that rule - forbidding open-carry in the 'no-gun zones' but allowing, or even forcing, the entry of people with concealed weapons.

All public locations will be made to allow those with concealed weapon permits to enter while armed. That would include state-run schools and places of education.

On Tuesday, a committee at the Senate (pictured) is expected to approve bills that will stop open-carry in no-gun zones but enforce letting in concealed carriers

Meekhof said Sunday's mass shooting at a Texas church (pictured) showed the need for guns. Senators may allow school districts to stop staff carrying, unlike in other public locations

However, senators may still vote to create an exception that lets school districts choose to stop teachers and other staff from bringing weapons into schools.

Should it pass the committee, it will go to the Republican-led state Senate for vote as soon as Wednesday.

Private locations that are currently covered by the concealed-carry restrictions will be allowed to choose whether to allow weapons inside.

Under current laws, places of worship can still choose to allow people with concealed weapons to enter.

'Anybody who wants to exercise their right to protect themselves and have a firearm should be able to do that where they need to,' said Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof of West Olive, who is a sponsor of the main measure.

He said that gun-free zones are a 'target-rich environment' and that the mass shooting in Texas on Sunday, which saw 26 people gunned down in a church outside San Antonio, only reinforced his point.

Protester Emily Durbin (pictured) says there's no proof that it would help reduce risk of shooting sprees. She also accused Meekhof of exploiting the Texas spree politically

In that incident the shooter was shot twice as he exited the church by a local firearms instructor, although the killer died when he shot himself in the head during a police chase.

Psychologist Emily Durbin, who leads the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said that there is no evidence that more people being armed would make schools safer.

She also said that allowing guns into areas in which people are drinking, such as taverns and arenas, was likely to lead to further violence.

Durbin accused Meekhof of finding the 'right tragedy he can exploit to push some dangerous bills that completely upend and gut long-standing public safety protections.'

She added: 'We want to keep citizen spaces free of guns.'

In 2012, Republican Governor Rick Snyder vetoed similar legislation, saying he was worried it wouldn't let public schools, day care facilities and hospitals choose to restrict firearms.
The dark grey BMW believed to be involved in a hit-and-run that left a teenage cyclist to die by the roadside has been seized by police.

A manhunt for the vehicle and its driver - who police say is an Asian woman in her 30s - has been underway for three days in Melbourne.

Officers announced on Wednesday morning they discovered the car parked at a home in Braybrook and urged the driver to turn herself in.

'We're really close to making an arrest in this matter. The fact is this is probably the last chance the driver has to do the right thing,' Detective Inspector Stuart McGregor said.

The 13-year-old victim, Alice Lewis, remains in critical condition and has undergone surgery, according to The Daily Telegraph.

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The dark grey BMW (seen in CCTV footage) believed to be involved in a hit-and-run that left teenage cyclist Alice Lewis to die by the roadside has been seized by police

Police released CCTV footage of the car on Tuesday after making a public appeal for information

Alice Lewis, 13, is still fighting for her life in Melbourne as police desperately search for the driver - who police say is an Asian woman in her 30s (Alice's bike pictured at the scene)

Alice was riding her bike at the corner of Bell and Sussex streets in Coburg at 8pm on Sunday, allegedly with two other friends, when the BMW struck her.

The female driver, who has shoulder length dark hair and was accompanied by an Asian man, stopped briefly and looked at the scene before fleeing, witnesses have told police.

Police released CCTV footage of the car on Tuesday after making a public appeal for information.

The girl's family is keeping a bedside vigil at the Royal Children's Hospital.

It has been reported the teenager was not wearing a helmet and sustained head injuries.

'There is no one that should suffer this, there is no mother or father or grandparent who would ever want this to happen to their child, let alone be left on the side of the road just to die by a person who leaves the scene who doesn't even bother to stop and help,' Detective Inspector Stuart McGregor told Nine News.

It has been reported the teenager was not wearing a helmet and sustained head injuries

The female driver, who has shoulder length dark hair and was accompanied by an Asian man, stopped briefly and looked at the scene before fleeing, witnesses have told police

A Melbourne woman has spoken on Facebook about seeing the horrific accident after the driver left.

'We came across this accident and my husband was first on the scene to provide first aid to her. Can't believe the driver just drove off,' she began.

'To the off duty paramedic and off duty nurse who then helped with my husband... a big thank you. My prayers are with the teenage girl and thoughts with her two friends who I tried to comfort. Hope they find the driver ASAP.'
President Donald Trump is not invited to the climate change summit set to be held next month in Paris after pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 deal.

An official in France's President Emmanuel Macron's office made the announcement on Tuesday and said it's 'for the time being.'

'The United States have a bit of a special status for that summit,' the official said, adding that guests there will be committed to implementing the 2015 deal.

The United States would still be invited to the summit but at a lower level than the president, added the official.

Over a hundred countries, as well as non governmental organizations, have been invited for the December 12 summit.

This comes as Syria announced also on Tuesday that it intends to join the 2015 Paris climate change agreement, which now isolates the U.S. as the only country opposed to the pact.

President Donald Trump (above) is not invited to the climate change summit set to be held next month in Paris after pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 deal

An official in France's President Emmanuel Macron's (above) office made the announcement on Tuesday and said it's 'for the time being.'

Syria, racked by civil war, and Nicaragua were the only two nations outside the 195-nation pact when it was agreed in 2015. Nicaragua's left-wing government, which originally denounced the plan as too weak, signed up last month.

'I would like to affirm the Syrian Arab Republic's commitment to the Paris climate change accord,' deputy Environment Minister Wadah Katmawi told a meeting of almost 200 nations at a November 6-17 climate talks in Bonn, Germany.

Membership for Syria under President Bashar al-Assad would isolate the United States, the world's biggest economy and second largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China, as the only nation opposed to the accord.

Trump, who has expressed doubts that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are the prime cause of global warming, announced in June that he intended to pull out and instead promote U.S. coal and oil industries.

'We need everybody on board,' Ronald Jumeau, of the Seychelles, told Reuters.

'We want the United States in too. We take no pleasure in the United States being out.'

This comes as Syria announced also on Tuesday that it intends to join the 2015 Paris climate change agreement, which now isolates the U.S. as the only country opposed to the pact. Membership for Syria under President Bashar al-Assad (above) would isolate the U.S.

The United Nations welcomed Syria's statement as a declaration of intent to adhere to the Paris pact. But it said Damascus had not yet filed any of the official documents to sign up.

Sarah Baashan, a Saudi diplomat chairing the meeting at which Syria spoke, told the session that she welcomed the 'good news'. There was no applause, however, at a conference where Assad's government has few allies.

'Syria's decision shows the breadth of support for the Paris agreement,' Alden Meyer, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Reuters.

Meyer said businesses, mayors, cities and other groups were also stepping up actions to limit greenhouse gas emissions that scientists link to more droughts, heat waves, floods and rising sea levels.

Washington still has a seat at the table in Bonn because the rules mean a formal pullout can only take effect in 2020. Many delegates said they hoped Trump would reconsider.

David Waskow, of the World Resources Institute think-tank, noted that Trump's climate views had previously isolated him from other leading economies in the Group of Seven and the Group of 20.

'Now he'll be isolated from all nations,' he said.

Trump has said he will pull out of the Paris agreement unless Washington can secure more favorable terms for American businesses and taxpayers.

But he has been vague about what that means, especially since the pact gives all nations power to set their own goals.
A disciplinary panel has found a Baltimore police van driver not guilty on all administrative charges related to his transportation of Freddie Gray, the black man whose death in custody sparked riots in the city.

The three-member board said Tuesday that Officer Caesar Goodson did not violate any department policies the day Gray was fatally injured in police custody.

Goodson smiled, appearing relieved, after the not-guilty verdicts on all 21 counts were read. His lawyers hugged each other and patted themselves on the back with loud thumps.

Attorney Sean Malone said outside the hearing room at the University of Baltimore that the verdict is vindication for a hard-working and soft-spoken officer. He also said that Goodson plans to keep working on the Baltimore police force.

A disciplinary panel has found Baltimore police van driver, Officer Caesar Goodson (pictured after the decision on Tuesday), not guilty on all 21 administrative charges related to the transportation of 25-year-old Freddie Gray

Department lawyer Neil Duke had argued that Goodson should have been fired for failing to follow policy by not buckling Gray (pictured) into a seatbelt, failing to get him medical attention and lying about the chain of events following Gray's arrest in April 2015

Gray died a week later of a spinal cord injury he suffered during the van ride, prompting civil unrest among people expressing outrage at the treatment of African-Americans by police in Baltimore's inner city. The officers are seen putting Gray into the van. Goodson is far left

Department lawyer Neil Duke had argued that Goodson should have been fired for failing to follow policy by not buckling Gray into a seatbelt, failing to get him medical attention and lying about the chain of events following Gray's arrest in April 2015.

Gray died a week later of a spinal cord injury he suffered during the van ride, prompting civil unrest among people expressing outrage at the treatment of African-Americans by police in Baltimore's inner city.

His death added fuel to the growing Black Lives Matter movement and caused turmoil in Baltimore.

None of the six officers charged criminally for their roles in Gray's arrest were convicted.

In reforms made as a result of Gray's death, state lawmakers opened police disciplinary hearings to the public, hoping to improve transparency when departments seek to hold officers accountable.

Duke said Goodson, a van driver with 14 years of experience, had a duty to pay closer attention to his passenger's condition as Gray banged around in the back of the van, his arms handcuffed and his legs in shackles.

He said Goodson failed his responsibility and integrity during the trip to the police station, and was so indifferent to his duty that he didn't make any effort to interact with Gray to check on his physical condition.

'It's not a heavy duty to be placed on a police officer to exercise that level of compassion,' Duke said.

Goodson's lawyers said the department was to blame for failing to properly distribute a policy change making seatbelts mandatory just days before Gray's arrest.

None of the six officers charged criminally for their roles in Gray's arrest were convicted. Pictured (top L-R) Officer Caesar Goodson Jr, Officer Edward M. Nero and Officer Garrett Miller. Pictured (bottom L-R) Officer William Porter, Lt Brian Rice, Sgt Alicia White

Duke said Goodson had a duty to pay closer attention to his passenger's condition as Gray banged around in the back of the van, his arms handcuffed and his legs in shackles. Gray's death added fuel to the growing Black Lives Matter movement and caused turmoil in Baltimore

Last year's decision to drop all the charges against the officers, meant that no one would be held criminally responsible for Gray's death. Gray's mother is pictured at his burial at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore on April 27, 2015

They also said outside investigators in the disciplinary case failed to seek out or include evidence that could have exonerated Goodson in the arrest and transport, which involved multiple officers at six different stops.

Attorney Thomas Tompsett Jr. accused the department during the disciplinary hearing of trying to run over his client in 'a bus without any evidence.'

'Not every accident has a villain, but Mr Duke would have you believe that's the case,' Tompsett told the board, comprised of two Baltimore Police Department officers and an outside chairwoman, Maj Rosa Guixens of the Prince George's County Police Department in Maryland.

Of the six officers, Goodson faced the most serious charge in criminal court: murder.

But he, Lt Brian Rice and Officer Edward Nero were acquitted at trial last year, and then prosecutors dropped charges against Sgt Alicia White and officers Garrett Miller and William Porter.

Nero and Miller accepted disciplinary action, according to the police union attorney who represents them.

Neither their attorney nor the department would say what that discipline was. Rice and White still face disciplinary action before an administrative board.

Last year's decision to drop all the charges against the officers, meant that no one would be held criminally responsible for Gray's death.
Metro Nashville police spokesman said that Janai Mercedes Smothers (pictured), 25, was charged with one count of sexual battery

A teacher working in Fresno, California was arrested on Monday over allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor when she was an educator in Tennessee.

A metro Nashville police spokesman said that 25-year-old Janai Mercedes Smothers was charged with one count of sexual battery and is set to return to Tennessee later this week.

The charges stem from a $3 million federal lawsuit initiated by the parents of a 14-year-old girl who claims the former Maplewood High School teacher engaged in a year-long inappropriate relationship from 2015 to 2016.

The family argues that the Metro Nashville Public School District failed to protect their daughter after failing to follow federal sexual violence guidelines under Title IX rules, according to The Tennesseean.

A spokesperson for the Fresno School District, Jessica Baird, confirmed that Smothers was placed under arrest on Monday.

'I can just tell you that one of our teachers was taken into custody yesterday at McLane High School. That teacher is now on paid administrative leave,' Baird said.

Baird noted that Smothers passed a background check before she was hired by the district on August 9.

A spokesperson for the Fresno School District, Jessica Baird (pictured right), said that Smothers passed a background check before she was hired in August

Smothers had originally resigned from her teaching position in Nashville on April 21, 2016.

According to USA Today, the United States faces a nationwide problem of teachers with misconduct records moving to other states and continuing their careers.

The parents also alleged in their lawsuit that the principal of Maplewood High School, whose name has not been released, told them during a conference that the minor 'was not innocent' and wanted the situation to be 'swept under the rug.'

'On behalf of our clients, we're happy this arrest and indictment took place. It's a long time coming but I'm glad it finally happened,' the attorney for the teenager's family, Stephen Crofford, said.

Under Title IX guidelines, teachers are required to immediately notify the Department of Children's Services or law enforcement of any sexual or physical abuse on school property.

The statute also compels public schools to take immediate action against an accused pupil and determine whether they should be reprimanded or expelled, or whether a student requires special accommodations, such as switching classes or a sabbatical.
A businessman described as one of Europe's 'most wanted fugitives' has been given bail as he fights extradition to Croatia where he faces fraud charges relating to around 110 million.

Ivica Todoric, 66, who is wanted in Croatia for fraud and corruption offences was arrested on Tuesday after he handed himself in to officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit, the force said.

He appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court later the same day in relation to three offences.

Todoric is the founder of Croatia's biggest private company, Agrokor, which has racked up billions in debt. Croatian police raided his home in Zagreb last month.

Ivica Todoric, leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London, after being given bail to fight his extradition to Croatia

The businessman is the founder of Croatia's largest private company, Agrokor, and is facing fraud charges relating to around 110 million.

It is alleged that Todoric and other individuals 'misrepresented the business and financial reports of Agrokor' between 2006 and April this year by 'concealing expenses, debts and financial claims'.

The Croatian authorities also allege that he 'abused his authority' as president of the management board to make a gain of 8,603,599 (7,574,737).

He is also accused of violating the 'requirement to protect other people's property interests and income operations' - entering false information in business documents - making a gain of more than 101 million (88.9m).

Timothy Otty QC, representing Todoric, said: 'Mr Todoric intends to contest this extradition. His case is, I think it can be said, far from being run of the mill.'

He added the case had many unusual aspects including that the domestic legislation appeared to be tailored specifically to Todoric's group.

Mr Otty said there were also geo-political considerations relating to 'perceived Russian influence'.

The Croatian authorities allege Todoric 'abused his authority' as president of the management board to make a gain of 8,603,599

The fugitive businessman is also facing charges of entering false information in business documents. He was granted bail of 100,000

He submitted that his client should be granted bail as he had surrendered voluntarily despite knowing the allegations he faces.

Todoric has no access to funds as his accounts have been frozen, and that over the six months that rumours of the investigation against him have circulated, he has not sought to interfere with witnesses, the barrister said.

Granting him bail District Judge Richard Blake ordered him to pay a 100,000 security.

He said: 'The context in which I grant you bail is the knowledge that both within this country and throughout the world, your assets are frozen and your ability to obtain money is limited.

'The security is a very small sum in the context of what sums I have heard being spoken of.'

The bail conditions also state that Todoric must wear an electronic tag between midnight and 3am, sign in at Kensington police station three times a week and surrender his travel documents.

Todoric previously said the accusations against him and his associates were unfounded and part of a 'political process'.

A three-day extradition hearing will be heard on April 10 next year.
So we have local residents pushing for a needle exchange. How forward-thinking, all sarcasm intended. From the article in the Nov. 2 Gazette:

"St. John said he has questions about how the programs have worked elsewhere, and would need to meet with the city and county attorney to discuss the issue locally, if the project gets that far."

By all means, lets add to the burden of law enforcement.

"A law passed this spring by the Montana Legislature exempts people administering a needle exchange from drug paraphernalia laws. But questions remain about how police would interact with those visiting an exchange, St. John said."

Gee, illegal drug users free from prosecution, that should clear things up.

"Steve Crawford, chief of police in Bozeman, said officers there have no agreement not to track people who visit the exchange, but that police also do not know when or where the exchange will take place. (Bozemans exchange is run from a mobile unit. The schedule is announced on a private Facebook page.)"

We can't track it except through social media, and have no idea of the impact on the community, so that's a green light for the program, right?

Here's your sign.

Steve Wiser

Billings
Pictured: French financial expert Nathalie Dauriac, 39, leaving the High Court in London where she is embroiled in a row over money with Phones 4U founder John Caudwell

The founder of Phones 4U has accused a French financial specialist is trying to smear his name after she was investigated for fiddling expenses while working for him.

Entrepreneur John Caudwell, 65, is currently embroiled in High Court battle with the former chief executive of Signia Wealth Management.

Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, 39, is claiming unfair dismissal from her joint venture with the billionnarie. The former banker alleges she was pushed out and forced to sell her stake in the company for 2.

Lawyers representing Mr Caudwell told the High Court judge today that Miss Dauriac had 'demonstrated a willingness to make gratuitous allegations'.

Mr Caudwell accused the 39-year-old French financier of trying to smear his name.

Miss Dauriac refutes the claims and has accused Mr Caudwell of orchestrating an 'elaborate conspiracy' against her after they set up the wealth management company together.

She said he launched an 'unfair' expenses investigation when she was chief executive at Signia Wealth Management.

Miss Dauriac is suing for wrongful dismissal and demanding compensation, claiming she was forced to sell her share of the firm for just 2 when it was worth closer to 17million.

Signia bosses, fighting on behalf of Mr Caudwell, argue Ms Dauriac wrongfully claimed around 30,000 expenses.

They claim her approach to expenses was brazen and she was guilty of gross misconduct.

All sides dispute allegations made against them.

Mr Justice Smith is analysing the dispute over the past three weeks at a High Court hearing in London.

Lawyers for both sides are outlining closing arguments as the trial nears an end.

'Ms Dauriac's evidence was unreliable in the extreme and involved what were plainly a series of lies,' barrister Monica Carss-Frisk QC, who is leading Signia's legal team told the judge in a written case summary.

Fighting back: John Caudwell, pictured leaving court, has hit back at claims his former business partner was forced out of her position by accusing her of 'smearing' his name

'She has demonstrated a willingness to make gratuitous allegations against Mr Caudwell personally in order to place undue pressure on him

'Her oral evidence contained a number of unprompted smears.'

Barrister Thomas Plewman QC, who led Ms Dauriac's legal team, told the judge: 'Ms Dauriac was forced out.'

He added: 'There were no grounds to dismiss her.

'The expenses investigation was a pretext and revealed no wrongdoing.'

Earlier in the court case in October, Ms Dauriac told the High Court the phones tycoon hired a private eye to 'dig up dirt' on her when they fell out in a row over her expenses.

The financial expert, 39, said a bug had been put under her car and her emails hacked, although she could not prove who was responsible.

The former chief executive claims she was forced out of the wealth management firm they founded in 2009 after the Phones 4U founder, 65, orchestrated an 'elaborate conspiracy' against her.

Lawyers for Signia Wealth claimed she 'stole' more than 33,000 in expenses and would have been sacked had she not resigned.

Miss Dauriac took the witness stand in October to deny she had stolen from the fund to pay for personal holidays and beauty treatments.
A video shows the moment an emotional girl has a breakdown and blames racism when she is told she cannot order French fries at Taco Bell.

The white girl approaches the counter and tries to order a medium French fries, but the employee tells her they don't serve them.

She responds by saying at Burger King they sell fries, and the server explains that it isn't Burger King.

An emotional girl said blamed racism for not being able to order French fries at Taco Bell, even though the restaurant doesn't serve them

'This is Taco Bell, see?' the server says, pointing to the menu.

The girl then says: 'How many French fry orders do you have?' and the server responds: 'We don't have French fries.'

The employee tries to show the girl the menu, but then she turns to the person filming and says: 'This is racism at its f*****g finest.'

Another person tries to explain that it's not racism, but that Taco Bell only serves tacos and burritos.

A different person then says: 'You're ignorant as f**k' to the girl.

Another customer tried to explain that it wasn't racism, but the girl was too emotional and left the store

She responds with: 'No I'm not, literally I work with people who are a challenge every day.'

A person asks her: 'Would you go to Burger King and order tilapia or a taco? Look at the menu!'

People tell her that the restaurant doesn't have French fries, and she says 'but at f*****g Burger King' before she is cut off.

The employee then tries to help the girl by walking her through the menu, but the girl says 'I don't have problems in my life' and then leaves the restaurant.

It is currently unknown where in the U.S. this video was filmed.
One of President Trump's top nominees for the Department of Defense expressed dismay that civilians could carry assault rifles like the AR-15, used in Sunday's Texas church shooting.

Dr. Dean Winslow, who's up for the job of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, made a comment about the guns as he testified Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

'Id also like to, and I may get in trouble with other members of the committee, just say how insane it is that in the United States of America a civilian can go out and buy a semiautomatic assault rifle like an AR-15,' he said, acknowledging its role in the most recent American mass shooting.

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Dr. Dean Winslow, who's up for the job of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, said at Tuesday's Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing that it's 'insane' that Americans can buy assault rifles - a comment that annoyed at least one Republican in the room

Sen .John McCain, Republican from Arizona, is heard tsk-tsking Dean Winslow off-camera, suggesting firearms aren't his 'area of responsibility or expertise'

'I think that's an issue, not as much for this committee, but elsewhere,' Winslow added.

Instead, Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, is heard off-camera saying Winslow, a retired United States Air Force colonel and doctor, shouldn't have voiced his opinion on that.

'Dr. Winslow, I don't think that's your area of responsibility or expertise,' McCain said.

Winslow, if confirmed, will take charge of the military's health care system.

The topic came up thanks to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, who wanted Winslow to comment on whether he believed the Texas shooter Devin P. Kelley, an Air Force vet, should have received a dishonorable discharge.

Kelley, instead, got booted from the military for 'bad conduct,' instead of having his expulsion labeled a dishonorable discharge.

'He had committed domestic violence while he was in the Air Force ... he had fractured his step-son's skull and brutally choked and beat his wife at the time,' Shaheen pointed out, expressing horror.

Winslow said he had first caught wind of the Sunday shooting when arriving in D.C. from London, as he and his wife are both teaching at Oxford.

'It's horrible and as a doctor who cares for not only men, but also women and children, I find that this is just terribly sad and also as a parent and a grandchildren, this is just horrible,' Winslow remarked.

He first gave a jargon-filled answer, explaining one of the issues was that there was a 'single point of failure,' when the Air Force failed to report domestic violence incidents to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which allowed Kelley to buy his gun.

Then he went after said gun.

Even on the issue of bump stocks, which looked like they could be banned after the Las Vegas shooting, Republicans in Congress are showing no appetite to pass any sort of gun control bills.

And with the Democrats in the minority, proponents for gun reforms are too.

President Trump has also stuck to the traditional Republican position of being absolutist on having no new gun control measures passed through Congress.

When asked about the slaughter on his Asia trip he said the Texas shooting wasn't a 'guns situation,' but rather called Kelley a 'deranged' individual with mental health issues.
This is the hilarious moment a woman attempts to hoover up a spider after it crawled its way up to her ceiling.

Lorraine Walsh was cleaning her kitchen at home in Tralee, county Kerry, Republic of Ireland, when she spotted the terrifying creature.

Her friend Eve Savage, who was helping her, decided to film the moment that Ms Walsh attempted to get rid of the creepy crawly.

Lorraine Walsh was cleaning her kitchen at home in Tralee, county Kerry, Republic of Ireland, when she spotted the terrifying creature

Footage shows Ms Walsh screaming as she attempts to hoover the spider.

Ms Savage is heard egging on her friend as Ms Walsh points it at the spider, screaming in fear.

But Ms Savage, who is also scared of the creatures, refused to help.

Eventually Ms Walsh manages to hoover it up.

Footage shows Ms Walsh screaming as she attempts to hoover the spider

Speaking to the Irish Independent , Ms Savage said: 'Me and Lorraine are best friends and were doing a bit of cleaning on Saturday afternoon'

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Ms Savage said: 'Me and Lorraine are best friends and were doing a bit of cleaning on Saturday afternoon. Lorraine wouldnt walk out of kitchen as the spider was over the door.

'So I had to get Hetty The Hoover. I have no fear of spiders and I refused to do it! She turned on the Hoover full blast and she stood there for at least 5 minutes before I started filming'.

'We have cried laughing watching it back'.
Jeffrey. R. Fisher, 34, has been charged with having sex with two underage girls

A former principal of the year has been charged with having sex with two underage female students.

Jeffrey R. Fisher, 34, is accused of having the relationships with the two girls between 2009 and 2010 and 2011 and 2012 while working at Chillicothe High School in Ohio.

He was made principal there in 2011 and in 2015, was named Ohio's principal of the year.

On Thursday, he was issued a summons to appear in court on seven felony sexual battery charges which he denies.

Police have not given details of the accusations against him but they say they are the result of months of investigative work.

The girls were 16 and 17 at the time he is alleged to have had sex with them.

He is accused of exchanging inappropriate text messages and having phone calls with one of the girls.

Police say both were his students before he became the principal.

'With both students, the relationship was first as a teacher then as principal,' Ross County Prosecutor Matt Schmidt said.

'Certainly with at least one victim, phone records will show substantial telephone and text contact.'

Fisher's attorneys said they had been aware of the accusations 'for years' and planned to fight them.

Fisher was named Ohio's Principal of the Year in 2015 for his work at Chillicothe High School

'We've been aware of these accusations for years and we'll be entering a not guilty plea,' attorney Brad Koffel told USA Today.

Fisher has been working from home since August, it was revealed this week, after school officials became aware of the allegations. The school board confirmed his suspension in light of the charges last Thursday.

The investigation was prompted in August when current students told staff they had heard rumors of him being inappropriate with pupils.

It is not clear if the rumors involved the alleged victims in the charges.

The two underage girls have since graduated from the school.
Friends and family of a murdered 27-year-old woman have paid tribute to her on a Facebook page that was set up to help bring her home.

Allecha Suzette Boyd, the cousin of Collingwood AFL star Will Hoskin-Elliott, was last seen leaving a supermarket in Coolamon, 560km south-east of Sydney, nearly two months ago on August 10.

'The thought of never seeing that beautiful smile again just breaks my heart,' one user posted.

Friends and family paid tribute to Allecha Boyd (pictured), who went missing two months ago

'I knew we would find Allecha soon but NOT like this RIP sweet Angel. This is so so wrong,' another wrote.

Ms Boyd was also seen sitting as a passenger in a green Subaru travelling from Wagga Wagga to Coolamon.

She has not been seen or heard of since, and a 19-year-old Wagga Wagga teenager has been charged with her murder.

Police are still looking for Ms Boyd's body and on Wednesday, Detective Inspector Darren Cloake emphasised the investigation was not yet finished.

'We have not yet located Allecha's remains and investigations are continuing to try and find her' he said.

'We are continuing to liaise closely with Allecha's family as those investigations continue.' he added.

A loaded shortened rifle was also seized from the 19-year-old's property after a crime scene warrant was executed and he was also charged with possession of an unauthorised firearm and possession of ammunition without a permit, not keeping a prohibited firearm safe, as well as breach of bail.

A Facebook group was set up following Ms Boyd's disappearance in August, and nearly 3,000 people joined it to post updates.

On Tuesday a friend took to the public page to post on behalf of Ms Boyd's shocked and saddened family.

Ms Boyd was last seen leaving a supermarket in Coolamon, 560km south-east of Sydney

A Facebook group was set up by family and friends following Ms Boyd's disappearance

'With all due respect, please keep our family in mind... we are all trying to grieve at this moment,' the message read.

Others left heartfelt tributes to the young woman, who they called 'bubbly,' 'beautiful' and a 'princess'.

'R.I.P Allecha, heaven has gained another angel. Gone but never forgotten. Always in our hearts,' one message read.

'RIP beautiful girl, my heart breaks for those around you. Allecha you were loved by many, you had one of the biggest smiles and bubbly personalities,' another person wrote.

While another added: 'Heartbreaking news after all this time holding onto hope she would return home safely to her loved ones.'

The page had previously featured loved ones begging for information on Ms Boyd's disappearance and marking the days since she vanished.

On Tuesday a friend took to the public page to post on behalf of Ms Boyd's saddend family

In September, Ms Boyd's sisters Tammara and Rihannon (pictured) made an emotional plea for her return during a press conference

In September, Ms Boyd's sisters Tammara and Rihannon made an emotional plea for her return during a press conference.

'Allecha is a caring and loving person, she would travel to the end of the world to make sure anyone is safe and okay,' they said.

'She has excelled in life, won awards and travelled across the world with Jamie Oliver as a chef and very is family orientated.'

Ms Boyd had been working as a chef at the Farmers Home Hotel and was living with a friend in nearby Lake Albert before her disappearance.

She was also believed to have been travelling in a green and silver Subaru that was since seized by police.

The 19-year-old charged with her murder was denied bail and is expected to appear in Wagga Wagga local court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call Crime Stoppers.

Her sisters, including Rihannon (right) called Allecha (left) a 'a caring and loving person' who would 'travel to the end of the world to make sure anyone is safe and okay'
The husband of a 30-year-old mother-of-two found dying in her home today held his head in his hands when he appeared in court charged with her murder.

Simone Grainger was discovered by a friend, who then alerted the emergency services, but nothing could be done to save her.

It is unclear whether her children were at home in Calcot, Berkshire, when she died on Saturday afternoon.

Detectives launched a major hunt for her technician husband Steven Grainger, 32, and 10 hours later he was arrested several miles away.

Simone was married to technician Steven Grainger, who was arrested hours after her death

Steven Grainger, left, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering wife Simone, right

The 30-year-old's technician husband of two years, Steven Grainger, was arrested on suspicion of her murder and appeared in court today

And on Wednesday morning, the fair-haired father-of-two spoke softly, only to confirm his name, address and date of birth at Reading Magistrates' Court.

He was told he would face a Crown Court judge on Thursday.

Bearded Grainger appeared before a District Judge, wearing blue jeans and a blue and cream checked shirt and was told he was charged with the murder of his wife.

District Judge Shoman Khan said: 'Mr Grainger clearly you face the gravest offence in this case and this matter must be sent to Reading Crown Court and the date of that hearing is tomorrow when you will appear.'

It comes after friends of Mrs Grainger paid tribute to her on Facebook, describing her as 'full of life'.

Dark-haired Simone was a mother to a son and daughter of primary school age.

In a moving tribute to her, her mother has described the 'anguish and pain that has ripped through us all at this time'.

A family post reads: 'We are a family lost in grief on an unprecedented scale.

'Our angel Simone was a young mother, daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter, niece and a friend to so many. She was beautiful and kind and put so much into being all those things.

'Anyone who knew Simone will share our loss and feel the anguish and pain that has ripped through us all at this time.

'Torn away from us in such tragic terms, our memories are all we are left with.'

'Over the coming days and weeks, we as a family will somehow learn to rebuild, protect and love the two precious little ones left behind.

'We miss you so much Simone, your smile and spirit will never leave us.

'Rest in peace Angel.'

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said that the murder scene had been sealed off as forensic science experts combed the house for clues to the killing.

Dark-haired Simone was a mother to a son and daughter of primary school age

Friends of Mrs Grainger paid tribute to her on Facebook, describing her as 'full of life'

Tributes were placed at Mrs Grainger's house and friends took to Facebook to praise her (below)

Simone Grainger, right, was found by a friend at her home, where she died of head injuries

Yesterday they added: 'A man has been charged with murder following a Thames Valley Police investigation.

'Steven Grainger, aged 32 years, of Reading, has been charged with one count of murder.

'The charge is in connection with an incident which occurred in Windsor Way, Calcot on Saturday.

'Grainger has been remanded in custody to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court tomorrow.'

Ambulance staff were called to the cul-de-sac but despite trying to save the woman she died shortly after they arrived.

Tributes were placed outside the house, where the mother-of-two was found dying of head injuries when a friend stopped by

Police arrested Mr Grainger hours after his wife died of head injuries at the property in Berkshire

The police spokesman said: 'Officers were called at about 3.30pm by the ambulance service after a 30-year-old woman was found at a property in Windsor Way with serious head injuries.

'Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards and a murder investigation was started.'

Friends of Mr Grainger say he worked as a technician for InstaGroup in Wokingham.

A Home Office pathologist carried out a post mortem examination on Mrs Grainger's body at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading yesterday to find the exact cause of her death. The results have not yet been revealed.

Police have launched a murder investigation after Simone Grainger died in the arms of paramedics from head injuries

Detective Superintendent Justin Fletcher said: 'I understand that people in the community will be very concerned about this incident, but I would like to reassure them that we are in the process of carrying out a full investigation, and that we have made an arrest in connection with the incident.

'People in the area will likely see an increased police presence while officers are at the site.

'If anyone has any details which could relate to this incident, I would ask that they call 101.'
Law enforcement officials in Ohio are investigating the death of a two-month-old baby boy after a family member claimed a dog sat on the newborn overnight, causing him to stop breathing.

Haze Levi Goins was rushed to the emergency room at Mercy West Hospital in Green Township, where he was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning, according to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office.

The infant's cause of death was still pending late Tuesday afternoon.

Tragic: Two-month-old Haze Goins, pictured left with his mother on the day of his birth in September, died on Tuesday in Ohio after he was fond not breathing

A woman called 911, saying through sobs that a dog sat on the infant overnight

Shortly before 3am, a Hamilton County emergency dispatcher got a frantic 911 call from a woman saying that a baby boy was blue, not breathing and had blood trickling out of his nose after a dog sat on him, reported the station Fox19.

The emergency system operator instructed the woman on how to administer chest compressions to try and revive the baby.

THE DANGERS OF SIDS: In 2015 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) killed about 1,600 babies in the US, according to the CDC. Among babies that are less than a year old, SIDS is the leading cause of death. SIDS can occur for a number of reasons, including: suffocation by bedding

overlay, which occurs if an adult rolls up against or on top of a baby while the baby is sleeping

strangulation, which can occur if a baby's head gets caught between two posts on a crib

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The audibly distraught caller begged for an ambulance during the conversation, even as the dispatcher sought to reassure her that one was on the way.

'I could have went there quicker,' the woman lamented through sobs. 'I need them here.'

Hamilton County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene in the 100 block of Fernald Drive in Crosby Township and then summoned officers with SPCA Cincinnati to come and take away the family dog.

Vice President of SPCA operations Mike Retzlaff told the station the pet, a pit bull mix, appeared to be pregnant, but it has not been confirmed.

He added that an SPCA officer observed that the dog appeared 'skittish,' scared and confused by what was happening.

In the hours after the baby's tragic death, sheriff's spokesman Jim Knapp stated that Haze Goins' death appeared to have been caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Law enforcement officials believe the baby boy succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Haze was the youngest of four children. Pictured: the boy as a newborn being introduced to family members

'Thats how our detectives are looking at this, he said. What they think is the dog didnt have anything to do with it.'

The description of a GoFundMe campaign that was launched on Tuesday by baby Haze's aunt appears to confirm the official version of events.

'My sister and her boyfriend lost their 2 months old baby to SIDS,' Jamie Schulze wrote.

The aunt also revealed that her bereaved sister has three older children and asked well-wishers to donate money to help give Haze a proper funeral service and burial.

In the US, about 3,700 babies died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. Around 1,600 were identified as SIDS-related deaths.

Nationwide, SIDS kills about four babies out of every 10,000 live births, down from about 130 in 10,000 in 1990, according to the CDC.

The underlying reasons for SIDS have remained a mystery, even after decades of study.

To minimize the risk of SIDS, along with putting young infants to sleep on their backs, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages breastfeeding, pacifier use and firm crib mattresses while advising against blankets, pillows and bed sharing.
A devastated four-year-old has begged for heartless thieves to return her adorable Labrador puppy after the dog was stolen from her home.

Ryan Hood's family returned to their Croydon Hills home at 11:30am on Monday before realising laptops, an iPad and jewellery had been stolen.

Police and the family are now appealing for public assistance to return the Labrador home, after an extensive search of the area.

A devastated four-year-old has begged for heartless thieves to return her puppy (pictured)

Ryan Hood (pictured left) and his family (daughter pictured right) returned to their Croydon Hills home at 11:30am on Monday

'My daughter is devastated, unsurprisingly,' Mr Hood told Ross and John on 3AW.

He said his daughter was best friends with the eight-week-old pup .

'She'd go to bed with it every night and we'd have to take her back to her bed.'

Although there is a possibility the pup escaped after the offenders left, police and family suspect she was stolen.

'We're struggling, we only had (Sasha) a week but she is part of the family.'

'It's been tough, my daughter has had nightmares the first night, it's very difficult to explain to a four-year-old how something like this could happen, you never think that they would take a puppy,' Mr Hood told Today.

'We're not worried about the material things, we just want the puppy back.'

He said his daughter was best friends with the eight-week-old pup (pictured) and is upset

Laptops, jewellery and and iPad were also taken from the home Mr Hood said

'She's not able to be socialised with other dogs so that's why we are worried at this stage,' Mr Hood said.

He said she was so young so could be resold but hopes that isn't the case.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The husband of the British mother facing another five years in an Iranian prison after a gaffe by Boris Johnson has demanded a meeting with the politician.

The Foreign Secretary wrongly said charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was 'simply teaching people journalism' during a 2016 trip to Iran in April last year.

The 38-year-old from Hampstead, North West London, has been held in prison on spying charges since April last year, despite insisting her trip was just a holiday.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is jailed in Iran, and her 18-month-old daughter Gabriella

And her husband Richard Ratcliffe said that he had never met the politician who is facing fresh calls to resign after offering only a grudging apology for a 'grave error'

Mr Ratcliffe told the Guardian last night: 'We've never met (Mr Johnson). We've long had that as a request to meet with the Foreign Secretary.

'For instance, last week Tulip Siddiq (the family's MP) met with him and I wasn't allowed to attend, it was only the MPs.'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is serving a five-year jail term following a secret trial in which she was convicted of plotting against the state. The Iranian judiciary's High Council for Human Rights said Mr Johnson's remarks 'shed new light' on her trip.

At the weekend she was hauled back to court to face new charges of 'propaganda against the regime' that could result in her sentence being doubled.

Her husband said she wept with despair after the latest development. Their daughter Gabriella, three. has been 'praying to God' for her mother's release.

Mr Johnson yesterday said he was 'sorry' if his remarks had been 'misconstrued'. but insisted they provided 'no justifiable basis' for further charges against her.

Yesterday he telephoned his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif to insist the Government backed Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's claim that she was on holiday at the time of her arrest and requested her release on compassionate grounds.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband, Richard, who works in the City as an accountant

He said Mr Zarif had told him that there was 'no link' between his comments and the new charges against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe which followed two days later.

The Foreign Secretary also revealed that he hoped to visit her in prison next month.

However, it emerged last night that he still has not spoken to her family despite repeated requests. And he faced a backlash from MPs after refusing to accept he had been wrong. Former Tory minister Anna Soubry said: 'The lack of contrition is as shameful as the original error.

'Boris Johnson doesn't understand the magnitude of the job and responsibility he holds.'

Former Labour minister Yvette Cooper rounded on Mr Johnson, telling him: 'The lives and safety of British citizens across the globe depend on having a Foreign Secretary who does not bluster and who is not too careless or too lazy to consider his words. Will he now apologise? Does he accept that he cannot be trusted to do this job and that he should resign?'

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said it was clear Theresa May lacked the 'strength and authority' to sack Mr Johnson. But she added: 'How about the Foreign Secretary himself shows a bit of personal responsibility and admits that a job like this, where your words hold gravity and your actions have consequences, it is simply not the job for him?'

Mr Johnson hit back, urging critics to train their fire on the Iranian regime. He said Miss Thornberry 'can choose to heap blame on to the Foreign Office, which is trying to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, but in so doing she deflects blame and accountability from those who are truly responsible... the Iranian regime'.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard said his wife had wept down the phone after being told she would face fresh charges. 'She was just saying, 'Why do I have to suffer? Why does my baby have to suffer?' She was gutted and furious, and cried most of the call.'

Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw accused Mr Johnson of a 'grave error', which he should have been much quicker to correct.

Mr Ratcliffe dismissed Mr Johnson's claim that his words had been misconstrued, saying: 'We all interpreted it in the same way, including the Iranian authorities.' But he welcomed the Foreign Secretary's promise of renewed diplomatic efforts to free his wife.

Downing Street said last night Theresa May had 'full confidence' in Mr Johnson.

How a British mother's trip to Iran with her 18-month-old toddler turned into the stuff of nightmares

For a woman supposedly leaving for a daring, clandestine operation to overthrow a foreign state, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe packed very oddly.

Rather than secret radios or James Bond-style gadgets, the new mother took few of her own clothes, so as to leave space for all the essentials needed to transport an 18-month-old toddler.

The nappies, clothes, baby wipes and bottles were packed at home in West Hampstead, North West London, where Nazanin lived with her English husband, Richard, a City accountant, and their daughter Gabriella.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is in prison in Iran after she was arrested on holiday. It is feared she could face a longer sentence after Boris Johnson mistakenly said she was 'training journalists'

The family drove to Gatwick airport on March 17 last year, had a meal at Giraffe cafe, and chased after Gabriella as she ran through the airport giggling, her favourite blue rucksack on her back with a Peppa Pig toy inside.

A dual British-Iranian national, Nazanin was flying to Iran to show her parents their new granddaughter. But, rather than joy, the trip turned into the stuff of nightmares.

Today, more than 18 months after setting off, Nazanin is being held at Tehran's notorious Evin prison, a hellish place with secret cells where torture and sexual assault of prisoners is rife.

Nazanin, 38, was arrested at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport as she prepared to board a flight back to London on April 3. She was hustled out of the airport and then disappeared. It later transpired that she had been held for 45 days in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer.

Her crime? According to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the charity worker was 'identified and arrested after massive intelligence operations' and was one of 'the heads of foreign-linked hostile networks'.

Her family assume this may have been because of her job with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, whose stated aim is to 'bring together corporations, civil society, activists, philanthropists and top decision-makers to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues'.

She was also alleged to have conducted 'various missions leading her criminal activities under the direction of media and intelligence services of foreign governments'.

Family in Iran received a phone call from the Revolutionary Guards saying her investigation 'relates to an issue of national security'. The authorities separated Nazanin from her daughter and confiscated her British passport. Eventually, Gabriella was looked after by her grandparents. Richard, who had stayed in London, has been unable to obtain a visa to Iran.

Feeling powerless, he pleaded for help to the British Government, saying: 'There has been no due process, no formal charges, no access to a lawyer, no explanation and no one has been able to see her.

'I cannot see how this could be based on any substance. It's studied cruelty. If your national security is chasing young mothers and babies that is just crazy.'

In the meantime, it was reported that Nazanin had received a five-year jail sentence on a spying charge after a secret trial.

And so the case dragged on until Boris Johnson's maladroit comments to the Commons foreign affairs select committee last week, playing into the Tehran regime's hands by saying Nazanin was 'teaching people journalism'.

The comment  which Johnson has since made clear was a mistake  provided the excuse for Iran's Revolutionary Council to haul Nazanin to a special court hearing in Evin prison.

Weak, depressed and with her hair falling out from trauma, she was told her sentence would be doubled and she'd have to serve another five years in jail.

Iranian officials said: 'Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin, which has been strongly denied previously by both her family and human rights activists such as [Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner] Shirin Ebadi.'

The Iranian High Council's website now carries a story headlined 'UK confirms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not in Iran for Holiday,' adding: '[Johnson's] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.'

So what is the truth?

The facts suggest that the Iran government, not for the first time, is guilty of a monstrous miscarriage of justice.

Of course, it was Iran which imposed a death sentence on Salman Rushdie in 1989 for alleged blasphemy in his book, The Satanic Verses.

Nazanin had always been open about her work, first as an administrative assistant for the BBC as a young graduate, and then with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charity which helps train journalists abroad.

Boris Johnson has denied claims his comments led to increased action against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Yet Thomson Reuters does not operate in Iran, so why would she use a quick visit to see her parents to 'teach people journalism'?

Thomson group chief executive Monique Villa says: 'She has nothing to do with Iran in her work and the foundation doesn't work with Iran anyway, so we have no idea why she has been detained.'

What's more, Nazanin's family point out she would hardly endanger her daughter by doing anything that would attract the attention of the hardliners who run the country, nor would she endanger the lives of her elderly parents who live there. The truth is that Iran's laws are so flexible that anyone can be charged with virtually anything, should the state security apparatus demand it.

Charges drawn from the Islamic Penal Code include 'gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security', 'forming a group composed of more than two people with the purpose of disrupting national security' and/or 'membership of a group with the purpose of disrupting national security'.

Other charges commonly used to prosecute human rights defenders include 'spreading propaganda against the system', 'insulting the Supreme Leader' and 'insulting Islamic sanctities'.

Nazanin was initially taken from Tehran to a jail hundreds of miles away called Kerman Central, where she was held in solitary confinement in the Revolutionary Guards' interrogation facility. According to her husband, she was questioned for days in a bare room under a single light-bulb, and told she would never see her child or family again.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family said she was heartbroken when she learned about the set back

He said the authorities seemed convinced that her work with Thomson Reuters and previous job as an assistant for BBC Media Action (the corporation's international development charity) posed a threat to Iranian national security.

He says they told her: 'If you just co-operate, this will be over. We'll let you phone your family.'

Nazanin grew up in Tehran and was a gifted pupil who studied English literature at the city's university. Her language skills led to her to be hired as a translator for international charities such as the Red Cross and the World Health Organisation.

She was awarded a scholarship to study for a masters at London Met University, and met Richard through a mutual friend. They married in Winchester in 2009, which made a Nanzanin a dual British-Iranian national, and their daughter was born in 2014. Meanwhile, Richard's career thrived and he became an auditor in the City.

The family had travelled to Iran before without any difficulty, and visa applications meant the authorities were aware of their employment records.

Speaking yesterday of his wife's ordeal, Richard said: 'She put on a brave face as always, but our daughter picked up on the fact that her grandparents were upset at having just heard about the sudden new charges.

'Gabriella is very sensitive and aware. She's obviously getting older so she understands more what's happening around her  but not everything.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard was hoping she would be home by Christmas before the Foreign Secretary's comments

'She knows Mummy is in prison and thinks of me as being in prison as well because we are only able to communicate via Skype.

'Gabriella thinks it is some sort of 'phone prison'.

'She told her Mummy on Sunday that she was praying to God for her to be released.'

Richard also says his wife has been subjected to psychological torture  held in solitary confinement with a light permanently on, and blindfolded when taken outside.

'The worst period was in Kerman,' he told me. 'When Nazanin came out of solitary there, she was unable to walk unaided.'

After becoming depressed and suicidal, Nazanin was moved from solitary confinement to the women's ward where she now shares a cell with six other so-called enemies of the regime.

Heartbreakingly, father and daughter maintain their relationship almost 3,500 miles apart by playing games on the phone.

'She reads to her dollies with me on the phone. We do the best we can,' he says.

Nazanin has been allowed weekly visits from her daughter, and her husband has promised not to bring Gabriella back to London until his wife is freed.

Until this week, Richard had hoped his wife would be released before Christmas.

He says: 'My wife only went to Iran to show off her baby to family and friends. She was doing the most normal thing in the world. How they can make up these charges is difficult to comprehend.'
An Australian man who stole a pair of Gucci sunglasses while on holiday in Bali has been jailed for three months.

Thomas Harman, from Perth, spent five days holidaying on the Indonesian island before preparing to fly back to Australia on July 30.

While at the airport officials caught the 31-year-old walking out of a store with the designer sunglasses, worth about $400, which he had yet to pay for.

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Thomas Harman, from Perth, (pictured) stole a pair of Gucci sunglasses while on holiday in Bali

On Monday Mr Harman told the court he was sorry for his actions

Prosecutors said the theft was calculated and he should be imprisoned for six months.

He was arrested and has been sitting in Kerobokan prison for the past two-and-a-half months awaiting sentencing. He is set for release in five days.

Prosecutors alleged Mr Harman tried on the sunglasses at the store before walking into the Bali International Airport's change rooms.

They claim he then changed his shirt from a crocodile-print shirt into a black singlet, before wrapping the glasses up inside his bag.

Mr Harman's lawyer Erwin Siregar said that while he doesn't deny taking the sunglasses, he said it was mistake because the man was nervous about flying back home.

'He said that every time he flies he feels nervous. That's why he took the glasses unconsciously,' Mr Siregar said.

An Australian man who stole a pair of Gucci sunglasses while on holiday in Bali has been jailed for three months (stock image)

Mr Harman (pictured) has been in custody since July 30 and is expected to be released in November

Mr Harman has been in custody since July 30 and is expected to be released in November.

On Monday he told the court he was sorry for his actions.

'I am sorry and I would like to go home as soon as possible,' Harman said.
Cambridge students accused a professor of damaging their mental wellbeing by asking them to work hard and avoid getting drunk.

Eugene Terentjev sent out the advice in an email to first-year physical science undergraduates to prepare them for the very hard course ahead.

He told them they would need their full brain capacity  and even that might not be enough for some.

The email was seized upon by campaigners at Student Minds Cambridge, who said it was not appropriate or acceptable. No matter how much work you have, no matter your current levels of attainment, there is nothing more important than your mental health, they said.

Out cold: A girl collapses at a party in a park in Cambridge

We are very concerned this could be extremely damaging to the mental wellbeing of the students concerned, and potentially others as well.

It is important to remember there are many reasons different people get different grades, and it does not mean they do not deserve their place here.

Micha Frazer-Carroll, the student union welfare and rights officer, said the email only looked to criticise the very premise of having a social life, or any sort of life, outside of study.

She wrote online: Cambridge University student union welfare and rights supports students in prioritising their own wellbeing  and not simply because it enables you to work better, but wellbeing for wellbeings sake.

In his email, Professor Terentjev advised his charges that they were not at any other uni where students drink a lot and have a good time and advised them instead to learn to enjoy the course.

Warning: Professor Terentjev

As director of studies in natural sciences at Queens College, he sent the warning in an introductory message to freshers. He said he was concerned by rumours about a rise in drinking games, such as the penny game.

Tom Slater, a campaigner for free speech at universities, said the professor was doing his duty. A professor telling students to work hard is not damaging or demeaning, its his job, he added.

Nowadays, students are being treated as somewhere between children and psychiatric patients.

They need to be looked after, coddled rather than challenged, their wellbeing attended to at all times.

Students will  and probably should  disobey Mr Terentjevs suggestions. Not for the sake of their mental health, but for the sake of having a life. But this obsession with students stress and anxiety is only encouraging them to be fragile, and discouraging them from taking responsibility for themselves. Good on him for challenging it.

The email was published by student newspaper Varsity and has gone viral online. It ends with the instruction not to be fooled by the sight of other students partying because none of them are physical scientists.

Todays student generation have been branded snowflakes because of their demands to be protected on campus.

Last month it emerged that Cambridge issues trigger warnings about upsetting content in Shakespeares Titus Andronicus in an effort to protect mental health.

Students at Queens University in Belfast are warned about offensive content in history and politics classes which examine the rise of the far Right.

Many student unions ban speakers, newspapers and even fancy dress costumes in case they violate safe space policies. Oxford students banned the Christian Union from their college freshers fair by claiming religion is an excuse for homophobia and neo-colonialism.

Two years ago, students in the city campaigned unsuccessfully to have a statue of the imperialist Cecil Rhodes torn down over concerns it was offensive to ethnic minorities.

And students have tried to ban lectures by feminist Germaine Greer over her views on transgender people, and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell over his views on Islam. A university spokesman said: The welfare and mental health of students is a priority.

All first-year students in all disciplines, having undergone the thorough admissions process that Cambridge requires, have the capacity to succeed.
Here in the fever zone we had a crazed to-do as Opposition MPs attacked Boris Johnson for making a mistake about a British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran.

Last week Mr Johnson infelicitously said he understood Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (imprisoned last year) went to Iran in order to train journalists. Her family says she was just on holiday.

Plainly, diplomacy and tact was called for. In which spirit, er, Labours Paula Sherriff sat in a vast puddle of outrage and SCREAMED abuse at Brexiteer Boris.

I call him Brexiteer Boris because it is partly his support for Leave in the EU referendum that has made the Foreign Secretary a hate figure for the Establishment.

They want, more than anything, to damage him.

Boris Johnson has denied claims his comments led to an increased jail term for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran

Brussels cant stand him. Nor can Whitehall. Nor the diplomatic corps, the BBC, Remainer MPs and Tories with leadership ambitions.

Boris is different, unpredictable, untidy and he must pay for it! It is often Get Boris time these days, seldom more so than in the Commons yesterday when he was delivering a regular update on anti- terror policies in Syria and Iraq.

Labour foreign affairs spokesman Emily Thornberry came over all breathy as she deplored his foolish words about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

How many more times does this need to happen? she sighed. Boris should admit that Foreign Secretary is simply not the job for him and quit.

As her ladyship resumed her seat, her chubby little fingers clawed in and out, the painted talons of a Persian cat.

From the benches behind her came a wailing and ululating as Miss Sheriff, Yvette Cooper, little Wes Streeting and others signalled delight at Miss Thornberrys galloping lunge with the jousting pole.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is in prison in Iran after she was arrested on holiday. It is feared she could face a longer sentence after Boris Johnson mistakenly said she was 'training journalists'

Boris could have dealt placidly with this. He could have poured honey over controversy.

He chose instead to go sharply on the attack, blowily arguing that Miss Thornberry should blame Iran for its outrageous behaviour rather than choosing to heap blame on to the Foreign Office. Labour MPs: Were blaming YOU!

Boris said Miss Thornberry was deflecting blame and accountability. Labour MPs gasped and clucked so much that Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing had to call order.

Miss Cooper (Lab, Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford) stood all a-quiver. The Foreign Secretary should a-POL-ogise.

At that second syllable, Yvette inflated her cheeks, as though extinguishing an altar candle.

He really should resign, she claimed, doing that characteristic nannyish head wobble.

From Miss Sherriff, again, came a sound so loud and shrill that passing cabbies must have though they were being hailed.

Labour foreign affairs spokesman Emily Thornberry came over all breathy as she deplored the Foreign Secretary's foolish words about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Mr Johnson rejected the posturing and party-political point-scoring of the Labour benches.

Cue, oops, two attacks from his own benches, first from Europhile Anna Soubry (Broxtowe), who wanted Boris not to make public utterances about Brexit because that was not his job.

Eh? A Foreign Secretary must not discuss foreign policy? Miss Soubry was so cross that she hurled her pen on to the green leather bench as she sat down.

Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge & Malling), a pro-Brussels Cameroon who chairs the foreign affairs committee, had a more subtle dig at Boriss Iranian policy. Boris, his shirt by now coming untucked from his trousers, had a dig right back.

La Thornberry was cackling away alongside Angela Rayner. This was noticed by Nadhim Zahawi (Con, Stratford on Avon) who said the Ratcliffe case was serious enough for Labour frontbenchers not to be giggling. The switch from laughter to gravity on Miss Thornberrys face was instant.

How suddenly she looked funereal. What a wonderful fraud!

Ben Bradshaw (Lab, Exeter) had a question about Russia. It has become his latest obsession. Come on! he bawled at Boris. Aesthete Ben is so furious with Boris about the EU.

Mr Streeting (Ilford N) dolefully announced that Mr Johnson didnt take ownership of his mistake.

But to Labours disappointment, he did in fact speak a rather softly delivered and persuasive apology to a Lib Dem whose constituents included cousins of the jailed Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

See? He can do tact when he tries.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a rumored Hollywood pedophile ring after Corey Feldman filed a formal police report identifying the men he claims sexually abused him as a child.

'Corey Feldman filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department. There is no further information at this time, and his report is being investigated,' a spokesperson told DaillyMail.com on Tuesday.

Feldman revealed he had filed a report on Monday.

'IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN UPD8: I JUST COMPLETED A FORMAL SIT DOWN INTERVIEW W @LAPDHQ SPECIAL DIVISION, & GAVE THEM ALL THE INFO I KNOW! THIS WAS OFFICIALLY THE 1ST FORMAL REPORT EVER TAKEN ON ANY OF MY CASES, AS SBPD NEVER FOLLOWED UP BACK IN 1993, & HAS NO RECORD OF MY COMPLAINTS,' wrote an animated Feldman on Twitter.

He then added: 'THE LAPD WILL BEGIN AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION NOW! THINGS R HEATING UP, IM PRAYING 4 SAFETY!'

Just last week, Feldman revealed the identities of two alleged child molesters he claims took advantage of him and other adolescent screen stars years ago

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Coming forward: Corey Feldman announced on twitter that he formally filed a police report with the LAPD about being molested as a minor

'THE LAPD WILL BEGIN AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION NOW! THINGS R HEATING UP, IM PRAYING 4 SAFETY!' said Feldman

Feldman also named his former assistant and actor Jon Grissom (pictured) as his alleged abuser following an interview with Dr. Oz

Feldman said on The Dr Oz Show last Thursday that his former assistant Jon Grissom was the first to take advantage of him in the 1980s, adding that the man still posts photos of him online.

'This guy on his My Space page and his Facebook page has got pictures of me and Corey Haim,' Feldman said during the interview.

'He still taunts it and flaunts it.'

Dr. Oz then revealed that Grissom, who is now living in Mexico, has a long history of criminal behavior.

'Everything from assault, theft, drugs  in 2001 he was arrested on child molestation charges  he was found guilty in 2003 and served time in prison,' said an attorney forthe program in a video posted to Facebook.

Feldman also named former child talent manager and convicted sex offender Marty Weiss, who had revealed in the past.

The actor has told multiple media outlets last week that he reported members of a supposed Hollywood pedophile ring back in 1993 with the Santa Barbara Police Department.

That claim was disputed however by police and Dr. Oz confronted Feldman with this information.

'I called the Santa Barbara Police, just got off the phone with them. As you were speaking I was speaking. You claim that you spoke to them about your abuse in 1993 just to be clear,' said Dr. Oz.

Feldman then interrupts him to state: 'It's on the record.'

Dr Oz continued: 'And you named names. I listened to the recording and I did not hear you name names.'

Feldman responded by claiming that police turned off the recording device when he shared the identity of his molesters, which Dr. Oz accepts as true.

He then pleaded with Feldman to reach out to authorities again, at which point the actor makes the decision to call the Los Angeles Police Department and name the two men who allegedly assaulted him and other minors.

It was during this call that Feldman revealed Grissom is allegedly still posting photos of him and Haim on his social media accounts.

Feldman started naming names following an appearance on 'The Dr. Oz Show' Thursday to discuss an alleged Hollywood pedophile ring (Pictured: Feldman and Grissom, 1988)

Speaking out: Corey Feldman appeared on 'The Dr. Oz Show' Thursday (above) to discuss the Hollywood pedophile ring he claims preyed on him and other young stars

Shock: During the episode, Dr. Oz reveals that Santa Barbara police deny Feldman's claim that he revealed the names of his molesters in a 1993 interview

Dr. Oz also read a statement from police disputing Feldman's claim during the interview.

'We are aware of the statements that Mr. Feldman is making regarding an investigation in 1993. Our records do not indicate that he named any suspects,' stated Dr. Oz, reading from the official statement he was given by a spokesperson from the Santa Barbara Police Department.

He then told Feldman: 'They want you to reach out to them. Would you call them after the show?'

Feldman responded by saying 'absolutely.'

Dr. Oz then pressed him on the question many have wondered, asking: 'Why haven't you already called them and said, guys, I said this to you, how can you not at least acknowledge?!'

Feldman replied by explaining: 'Because we haven't acknowledged it until today and they are acknowledging it by saying they don't have any recollection.'

The host looks a bit shocked when he hears this response, and Feldman goes on to say: 'Well, I think it's the first day that I think anybody has gone to them for a comment... but it's the first time I've heard any recount from them at all.'

DailyMail.com also went to the Santa Barbara Police Department for a comment, and received the same statement as Dr. Oz.

The two men then head backstage to make the call, which can be seen in full on Thursday.

Feldman stopped by 'Megyn Kelly Today' on Monday, where he spoke about telling police the names of these predators over two decades ago while being questioned about his friend Michael Jackson.

'In 1993, I told the Santa Barbara Police Department, when they came to interrogate me about Michael Jackson, when they came to convince me that he was a pedophile. And I said he's not,' said Feldman.

'And I said, 'I've been molested.' They said, 'by who?' I said, 'I can give you the names, here they are.' And they said, 'that's not our area. That's outside of our community.''

Money: Feldman (left with Haim in 1989, right in 2007) is hoping to raise $10 million to make a feature film outing his alleged attackers, despite protests from many who want him to just name the predators

Back in the day: He believes this is because people want to silence him now that he is planning to reveal the pedophiles who assaulted him and actor Corey Haim as children (Feldman and Haim in the 1987 film 'Lost Boys')

Moment of truth: Dr. Oz is then able to convince Feldman (above with his wife) to call LAPD and name the men he claims molested him and raped Corey Haim

He had previously told Matt Lauer in an interview earlier that in the day: 'If I were to go to the police, I would be the one who's getting sued. Henceforth, I need a team of lawyers, I need a team of security to be around me at all times to keep me safe so I can get this message done. I vow I will release every single name that I have any knowledge of, period.'

Feldman also blamed the media and the police for the lack of movement on outing these pedophiles, who he holds responsible for Haim's battles with drugs and alcohol, which led to his death.

Haim was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, with leading roles in films including 'Lucas,' 'Watchers' and the Oscar-nominated 'Murphy's Romance,' which he starred in alongside Sally Field and James Garner.

The boys first worked together on the 1987 vampire flick 'The Lost Boys,' and paired up again in the films 'License to Drive' and 'Dream a Little Dream.'

Haim was quite the ladies man too over the years, dating Alyssa Milano, Nicole Eggert, Holly Fields and even Victoria Beckham at one point.

Feldman and Haim had a chance to share the screen once more in 2007 with their reality show 'The Two Coreys,' which was cancelled after two seasons.

It was a little over a year after that last season aired that Haim died as a result of drug induced pneumonia.

Feldman detailed Haim's struggles with drugs - as well as his own - in his 2013 memoir 'Coreyography.'

In that book he revealed that the first time they tried cocaine was with two of the men who were abusing them.

Feldman also wrote in the book about Haim having sex with adult men on the set of 'Lucas' and 'The Lost Boys,' sharing a story he claims Haim told him one of the first times they met.

'At some point during the filming [of Lucas], he explained an adult male convinced him that it was perfectly normal for older men and younger boys in the business to have sexual relations, that it was what all 'guys do,' wrote Feldman.

'So they walked off to a secluded area between two trailers, during a lunch break for the cast and crew, and Haim, innocent and ambitious as he was, allowed himself to be sodomized.'

Feldman also wrote about Haim spending time with Weiss while they were filming 'The Lost Boys.'

He claimed in the book that one day on set Haim, who was 15 during filming, was aroused and wanted to have sex.

'Marty's gay? Why don't you ask him?' wrote Feldman.

'The two walked, single file, into the adjoining room. ... I heard sounds, banging, thumping. I felt my stomach flip-flop. I felt sick.'

Weiss was arrested in 2011 after one of his clients told police he had been sexually abused by the man starting when he was just 11-years-old, claiming the incidents happened 30 to 40 times over a roughly three years period.

He eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation in 2012 and was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation.

Weiss was immediately released after entering his plea for time served.

Feldman also detailed a night when he allegedly received oral sex from a man after he was fed a cocktail of drugs.

The abuse at the hands of that man, who he called 'Ron' in the book, went on for years after that first incident.

'I don't know why I couldn't confront Ron, but I was consumed with guilt. I felt like the whole thing was my fault,' wrote Feldman.

'I desperately wanted him to stop, but I was afraid of losing my friend.'

Feldman said in his book that he did at one point name some of the men who abused himself and Haim to authorities, but claimed that they chose to ignore the allegations and allowed the statue of limitations to run out without conducting an investigation or pressing any charges.
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Meng Meng was the happiest panda in the world last week.

The nine-year-old female bear just couldn't hide her excitement after seeing snow for the first time this year at a zoo in north-east China.

Funny footage has emerged online showing the adorable animal rolling on in the snow, running around the playground before climbing onto a tree to express her joy.

Loving it! Meng Meng is eating bamboo on the snow-covered grass in Siberian Tiger Park at north-west China on November 2

The nine-year-old female panda seems to be enjoying the cold weather as she plays with a tyre happily in her enclosure

The heart-warming scene was captured on November 2 at the Siberian Tiger Park in Changchun, Jilin Province, where Meng Meng and her male companion Jia Jia live, according to the footage shared by People's Daily Online.

Nine-year-old Meng Meng and 10-year-old Jia Jia were sent to the park in June, 2015, from south-west China's Sichuan Province so they could experience the snowy weather.

The pair are due to live in Changchun, close to Russia and North Korea, for three years.

In the video, Meng Meng couldn't hold her excitement as she saw snowflakes coming down while Jia Jia seemed to be calmer.

The male panda can be seen sitting on the ground and eating his bamboo shoots.

Caretaker Zhang Meng said pandas could play outdoors in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius

Winter is coming! This is the last winter that Meng Meng and Jia Jia will be staying in Siberian Tiger Park in north-east China

Upside down! Naughty Meng Meng makes a funny face as she rests on a tree in the snow to entertain tourists

It's snowing! Giant panda Meng Meng looks excited after seeing snow for the first time this year in Jilin Province

Apparently, the pair had seen snow in the past, but it didn't stop them from enjoying themselves again this year.

Last winter, the bears' caretaker Zhang Meng told cnjilinwang, a Chinese news website, that pandas could play outdoors in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius.

But when it snows, the pandas' playtime would be restricted to one hour to one-and-a-half hours, according to Zhang.

Meng Meng and Jia Jia are also given more food in winter to provide energy.

'The pandas have four meals a day, consuming about 12.5kg (27.5 pounds) of bamboos as well as carrots, apples and bamboo shoots. They can also eat about four tonnes of snacks.'

Meng Meng's companion, Jia Jia (pictured), stays calm and chooses to snack on his bamboo shoots in the snow

Black-and-white bear Jia Jia takes a rest and scratches his ears after the meal in the 53,820-square-foot enclosure

The two pandas were sent to Siberian Tiger Park under a three-year programme to experience the winter in north China

Mr Zhang said the pandas were very active during snowy days and had a very good appetite

'All the fresh bamboos and bamboo shoots are kept refrigerated at four degrees Celsius and delivered by air from Sichuan every five days,' said Mr Zhang.

The giant panda enclosure covers 5,000 square metre (53,820 square feet). It is located at the southern side of the Siberian Tiger Park, about 1,500 metres (0.93 miles) away from the Siberian tiger enclosure.

During a previous interview, Mr Zhang told Xinhua that Meng Meng and Jia Jia were very happy to see snow and have had a very good appetite despite having spent two winters in the enclosure already.
Professor Stephen Hawking has warned mankind will destroy the Earth, turning it into a blazing fireball, within the next 600 years.

The renowned physicist believes soaring population sizes and increasing demands for energy will lead to the catastrophe.

Humanity should begin looking to the stars to avoid this fate, he argues, with our nearest neighbour Alpha Centauri the best candidate for our escape.

Hawking urged potential financial backers to get behind a project that could one day lead to manned flights to the system.



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Professor Stephen has warned mankind will destroy the Earth, turning it into a blazing fireball, within the next 600 years. The renowned physicist believes soaring population sizes and increasing demands for energy will lead to the catastrophe (stock image)

ALPHA CENTAURI The Alpha Centauri star system is 25 trillion miles (4.37 light years) away. With today's fastest spacecraft, it would take about 30,000 years to get there. Breakthrough Starshot aims to establish whether a gram-scale nanocraft, on a sail pushed by a light beam, can fly over a thousand times faster. Astronomers estimate that there is a reasonable chance of an Earth-like planet existing in the 'habitable zones' of Alpha Centauri's three-star system. Advertisement

Hawking made the comments while speaking via video link at the Tencent Web Summit, held in Beijing.

The British cosmologist, who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease aged 21, is backing the Breakthrough Starshot project.

It would see a nanocraft probe sent to Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years.

Speaking at the conference, he said: 'The idea behind this innovation is to have the nanocraft on the light beam.

'Such a system could reach Mars in less than an hour, or reach Pluto in days, pass Voyager in under a week and reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years.'

The Alpha Centauri star system is 25 trillion miles (4.37 light years) away.

With today's fastest spacecraft, it would take about 30,000 years to get there.

Breakthrough Starshot aims to establish whether a gram-scale nanocraft, on a sail pushed by a light beam, can fly over a thousand times faster.

Astronomers estimate that there is a reasonable chance of an Earth-like planet existing in the 'habitable zones' of Alpha Centauri's three-star system.

It has been a busy few days for Hawking, with not just one, but two doomsday predictions for the future of the planet.

The Breakthrough Starshot project's ultimate goal is to send a fleet of tiny, light-propelled StarChips to our nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. An artist's impression is pictured

A ROBOT TAKEOVER? A recent report by PwC found that four in 10 jobs are at risk of being replaced by robots. The report also found that 38 per cent of US jobs will be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence by the early 2030s. The analysis revealed that 61 per cent of financial services jobs are at risk of a robot takeover. This is compared to 30 per cent of UK jobs, 35 per cent of Germany and 21 per cent in Japan. Advertisement

Humanity must also be prepared to tackle artificial intelligence to stop robots replacing people, he warned at the 2017 Web Summit, held in Lisbon and attended by around 60,000 people.

Hawking said the technology could transform every aspect of life but cautioned that intelligent machines pose new challenges.

He said robots are already threatening millions of jobs but that this new revolution could be used to help society and for the good of the world, including alleviating poverty and disease.

'The rise of AI could be the worst or the best thing that has happened for humanity,' Hawking said via video link at the opening night of the summit on Monday.

'We simply need to be aware of the dangers, identify them, employ the best possible practice and management and prepare for its consequences well in advance.'

Hawking's comments come during an escalating debate about the pro and cons of AI, a term used to describe machines with a computer code that learns as it goes.

Hawking warned at a seperate conference that AI could be the 'worst thing' for humanity, arguing that mankind needs to put measures in place to prevent robots from taking over

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is chief executive of electric car maker Tesla Inc and rocket company SpaceX, has warned that AI is a threat to humankind's existence.

But Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in a rare interview recently, told the Wall Street Journal that there was nothing to panic about.

Hawking said everyone has a role to play in making sure that this generation and the next are fully engaged with the study of science at an early level.

He hope that this will create 'a better world for the whole human race'.

SHOULD KILLER ROBOTS BE BANNED? A report by Human Rights Watch and the Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic calls for humans to remain in control over all weapons systems at a time of rapid technological advances. It says that requiring humans to remain in control of critical functions during combat, including the selection of targets, saves lives and ensures that fighters comply with international law. 'Machines have long served as instruments of war, but historically humans have directed how they are used,' said Bonnie Docherty, senior arms division researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. 'Now there is a real threat that humans would relinquish their control and delegate life-and-death decisions to machines.' Some have argued in favour of robots on the battlefield, saying their use could save lives. But last year, more than 1,000 technology and robotics experts  including scientist Stephen Hawking, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak  warned that such weapons could be developed within years, not decades. In an open letter, they argued that if any major military power pushes ahead with development of autonomous weapons, 'a global arms race is virtually inevitable, and the endpoint of this technological trajectory is obvious: autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow.' According to the London-based organisation Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, the United States, China, Israel, South Korea, Russia, and Britain are moving toward systems that would give machines greater combat autonomy. Advertisement

'We need to take learning beyond a theoretical discussion of how AI should be, and take action to make sure we plan for how it can be,' said Hawking, who communicates via a cheek muscle linked to a sensor and computerised voice system.

'You all have the potential to push the boundaries of what is accepted, or expected, and to think big.

'We stand on the threshold of a brave new world.

'It is an exciting, if precarious, place to be and you are the pioneers,' he added.
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It was once thought that Saturns oddly-shaped moon Pandora worked like a shepherd alongside Prometheus, helping to mold the form of the narrow F ring.

Cassinis observations over the course of its 13-year mission, however, suggest this may not be the case; instead, its gravity may be causing 'chaos' in the ring material.

In a stunning image captured by the spacecraft as it headed toward its fatal plunge, NASA has revealed a look at the would-be perturber  showing Cassinis last look at Pandora, as it sits in the vast expanse of space beside the F ring.

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The newly released image was captured on September 14, just one day before Cassinis death dive. It was taken in visible light with the narrow-angle camera, at a distance of approximately 360,000 miles (577,000 kilometers) from Pandora. The stunning photo shows Pandora, the 'would-be perturber' alongside the F ring

SATURN'S RINGS Saturn's rings consist of countless small particles, ranging in size from micrometres to metres, that orbit the planet. The ring particles are made almost entirely of water ice, with a trace component of rocky material. They also contain features known as straw and propellers, which are caused by 'clumping ring particles and small, embedded moonlets, respectively.' Advertisement

According to NASA, the Cassini data showed that Pandora played a much smaller role in the shape of the F ring than originally suspected.

Over the course of its mission, Cassini helped scientists understand that Pandora plays a smaller role than they originally thought in shaping the narrow ring, NASA explains.

When Cassini arrived at Saturn, many thought that Pandora and Prometheus worked together to shepherd the F ring between them, confining it and sculpting its unusual braided and kinked structures, NASA explains.

However, data from Cassini show that the gravity of the two moons together actually stirs the F ring into a chaotic state, generating the gap and streamer structure seen elsewhere.

Now, scientists say its likely Prometheus alone that shapes the bulk of the F ring, establishing stable locations for the ring material.

The newly released image was captured on September 14, just one day before Cassinis death dive.

During a recent conference at the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Science meeting in Provo, Utah, the Cassini team shared a number of new findings just one month after the spacecraft's mission-ending plunge. The image above shows a snippet of Cassini's panoramic look across the ringscape

It was taken in visible light with the narrow-angle camera, at a distance of approximately 360,000 miles (577,000 kilometers) from Pandora.

Preliminary findings from the final Cassini data have revealed Saturn's remarkable expanse of rings is held together through the 'group effort' of several moons, relying on cumulative gravitational effects to prevent the orbiting particles from dispersing.

This is just one of many new insights scientists have now revealed on Saturn and its rings, as they begin to comb through the data collected during Cassini's final moments.

During a conference at the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Science meeting in Provo, Utah, the Cassini team shared a number of new findings just one month after the spacecraft's mission-ending plunge.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft ended its 13-year Saturn mission on September 15, in a fiery death dive into the planet's atmosphere. An artist's impression is pictured

CASSINI'S DISCOVERIES IN ITS 20-YEAR MISSION Cassini launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1997, then spent seven years in transit followed by 13 years orbiting Saturn. In 2000 it spent six months studying Jupiter before reaching Saturn in 2004. In that time, it discovered six more moons around Saturn, three-dimensional structures towering above Saturn's rings, and a giant storm that raged across the planet for nearly a year. On 13 December 2004 it made its first flyby of Saturn's moons Titan and Dione. On 24 December it released the European Space Agency-built Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan to study its atmosphere and surface composition. There it discovered eerie hydrocarbon lakes made from ethane and methane. In 2008, Cassini completed its primary mission to explore the Saturn system and began its mission extension (the Cassini Equinox Mission). In 2010 it began its second mission (Cassini Solstice Mission) which lasted until it exploded in Saturn's atmosphere. In December 2011, Cassini obtained the highest resolution images of Saturn's moon Enceladus. In December of the following year it tracked the transit of Venus to test the feasibility of observing planets outside our solar system. In March 2013 Cassini made the last flyby of Saturn's moon Rhea and measured its internal structure and gravitational pull. In July of that year Cassini captured a black-lit Saturn to examine the rings in fine detail and also captured an image of Earth. In April of this year it completed its closest flyby of Titan and started its Grande Finale orbit which finished on September 15. 'The mission has changed the way we think of where life may have developed beyond our Earth,' said Andrew Coates, head of the Planetary Science Group at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London. 'As well as Mars, outer planet moons like Enceladus, Europa and even Titan are now top contenders for life elsewhere,' he added. 'We've completely rewritten the textbooks about Saturn.' Advertisement

The researchers have also unveiled stunning new views captured from the gap between Saturn and its rings, including a panoramic shot across the ringscape, and a look at the planet's dancing auroras.

According to the Cassini team, the spacecraft also managed to capture new details on ring features known as propellers.

These are wakes created by tiny, unseen moonlets  and, they're much like baby planets forming in the disks around young stars, the researchers say.

The final images in the rings, captured a day before Cassini ended its mission, the craft imaged all six of the propellers it had been tracking: Bleriot, Earhart, Santos-Dumont, Sikorsky, Post and Quimby.
NASAs New Horizons spacecraft is set to explore a target a billion miles beyond Pluto  a mysterious, frozen world in the outer reaches of our solar system.

The Kuiper Belt object, for now known as MU69, could be a single body, a binary pair, or even a system of many objects.

While NASA plans to choose a formal name once its true nature is uncovered, the space agency is now seeking suggestions from the public to nickname the target in the meantime.

Following in the footsteps of past crowd-sourcing efforts, however, users have posed a slew of absurd suggestions, with everything from Donald Trumps heart and countless space-themed spin-offs of the Boaty McBoatface debacle, to 'Dave.'

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While NASA plans to choose a formal name once its true nature is uncovered, the space agency is now seeking suggestions from the public to nickname the target in the meantime. An artist's impression is pictured

HOW TO NOMINATE NASA is now taking suggestions on Frontier Worlds to nickname the object. Click here to nominate a name, or vote for an option on the shortlist. The list will be updated as the campaign continues. The campaign, hosted by the SETI Institute, will close at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST on Dec. 1. NASA and the New Horizons team will then review the top submissions, and announce the selection in early January. Advertisement

New Horizons will fly past object 2014 MU69 on January 1, 2019 as part of its extended mission, after concluding its study of Pluto.

NASA is now taking suggestions on Frontier Worlds to nickname the object, and has revealed a list of submissions that have so far made the short list, so space enthusiasts can vote for their favourite.

New Horizons made history two years ago with the first close-up look at Pluto, and is now on course for the farthest planetary encounter in the history of spaceflight, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Were pleased to bring the public along on this exciting mission of discovery.

While the ballot includes a number of legitimate options, including Mjolnir (Thors hammer), Camalor (fictional city in the Kuiper Belt), and Pluck & Persistence (traits of New Horizons), Twitter users have shared their own suggestions as well.

Some opted for a less serious approach. One user wrote: Small and cold huh? Maybe call it Donald Trumps heart

Following in the footsteps of past crowd-sourcing efforts, however, users have posed a slew of absurd suggestions, including countless space-themed spin-offs of the Boaty McBoatface debacle

Many users have suggested naming the object Hoth, for the icy planet home to the Rebel Alliances Echo base in Star Wars.

Others opted for a less serious approach, with names such as Frosty Boi, Uncle-arctica, and Spacerock McSpacerockeyface.

One user wrote: Small and cold huh? Maybe call it Donald Trumps heart.

Some suggested calling the target Kirk and Picard  if it turns out to be a pair  after the Star Trek duo.

MU69 is 4 billion miles (6.5 billion kilometers) away, and may not be just one object.

While the ballot includes a number of legitimate options, including Mjolnir (Thors hammer), Camalor (fictional city in the Kuiper Belt), and Pluck & Persistence (traits of New Horizons), Twitter users have shared their own suggestions as well

Many users have suggested naming the object Hoth, for the icy planet home to the Rebel Alliances Echo base in Star Wars. A still from the Empire Strikes Back is pictured

According to the space agency, it could be two objects, either stuck together or orbiting one another  or, it may be a system of many.

This, however, means two or more nicknames may be needed.

If so, two nicknames would be needed.

The nicknames, however, will be temporary, NASA says.

After the flyby, NASA will submit a formal name to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether the target turns out to be one, or multiple objects.

NASA is now taking suggestions on Frontier Worlds to nickname the object, and has revealed a list of submissions that have so far made the short list, so space enthusiasts can vote for their favourite

The nicknames, however, will be temporary, NASA says. After the flyby, NASA will submit a formal name to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether the target turns out to be one, or multiple objects

NEW HORIZONS' NEXT MISSION The spacecraft that gave us the first close-up views of Pluto now has a much smaller object in its sights. New Horizons is now track to fly past a recently discovered, less than 30-mile-wide object out on the solar system frontier. The close encounter with what's known as 2014 MU69 would occur in 2019. It orbits nearly 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) beyond Pluto. Nasa and the New Horizons team chose 2014 MU69 in August as New Horizons' next potential target, thus the nickname PT-1. Like Pluto, MU69 orbits the sun in the frozen, twilight zone known as the Kuiper Belt. This illustration provided by NASA shows the New Horizons spacecraft. The probe whipped past Pluto in 2015 and is headed to 2014 MU69 for an attempted 2019 flyby of the tiny, icy world on the edge of the solar system MU69 is thought to be 10 times larger and 1,000 times more massive than average comets, including the one being orbited right now by Europe's Rosetta spacecraft. On the other end, MU69 is barely 1 percent the size of Pluto and perhaps one-ten-thousandth the mass of the dwarf planet. So the new target is a good middle ground, according to scientists. The spacecraft was recently approved for its extended mission, allowing it to continue on its path toward the object deeper in the Kuiper Belt. Its expected that New Horizons will make its approach to the ancient object on January 1, 2019. Advertisement

The campaign, hosted by the SETI Institute, will close at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST on Dec. 1.

NASA and the New Horizons team will then review the top submissions, and announce the selection in early January.

New Horizons has always been about pure exploration, shedding light on new worlds like weve never seen before, said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

NASAs New Horizons spacecraft is set to explore a target a billion miles beyond Pluto  a mysterious, frozen world in the outer reaches of our solar system. Space enthusiasts have taken to Twitter to share their suggestions for its nickname

Our close encounter with MU69 adds another chapter to this missions remarkable story.

Were excited for the public to help us pick a nickname for our target that captures the excitement of the flyby and awe and inspiration of exploring this new and record-distant body in space.
A massive mammoth tooth has been unearthed in Dover.

Experts have suggested the tooth washed into the docks from the ocean, but it may have been a sacred item placed there by prehistoric humans.

It is not clear how old the tooth is, but the last mammoths to have walked in Britain lived over 14,000 years ago.

The final living mammoths wandered the tundra of Siberia before our human ancestors likely hunted them into extinction around 4,000 years ago.

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A massive mammoth tooth (pictured) has been unearthed in Dover. Experts have suggested the tooth washed into the docks from the ocean, but it may have been a sacred item placed there by prehistoric humans

HOW MIGHT SCIENTISTS REVIVE THE MAMMOTH? 'De-extincting' the mammoth has become a realistic prospect because of revolutionary gene editing techniques. These allow the precise selection and insertion of DNA from specimens frozen over millennia in Siberian ice. The most widely used technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, has transformed genetic engineering since it was first demonstrated in 2012. The system allows the 'cut and paste' manipulation of strands of DNA with a precision not seen before. Using this technique, scientists could cut and paste preserved mammoth DNA into Asian elephants to create and elephant-mammoth hybrid. Advertisement

The prehistoric find was dug up during excavations for a regeneration of the Kent town's waterfront and docks.

It was excavated by experts at Archaeology South-East (ASE), a Brighton-based independent firm attached to University College London.

The team have taken the tooth for further research to determine its age and origins.

Josie Sinden, a conservation officer for the Port of Dover, said: 'It's not clear how the tusk ended up in Dover, but some suggestions include it washing down the River Dour, washing up on the beach, used as some sort of structure by previous inhabitants, or even purposely placed as a sacred item.

'The ferry services operating between Dover and France are sometimes referred to as providing a sort of land bridge.

'The mammoth tooth illustrates the fact the UK was once connected by land to the rest of the near continent across which mammoths and other prehistoric creatures may have once roamed.'

Mammoth bones have been recovered from several other locations in east Kent, including the Swalecliffe area on the north coast and from deeply buried riverine deposits at Dover.

During the construction of the Admiralty Pier at Dover specimens of mammoth teeth were recovered from the sea bed in 1886 and 1898.

Another mammoth tooth was found in the 1950's, during the construction of the National Westminster Bank in the town's Market Square.

It is not clear how old the tooth (pictured) is, but the last mammoths to have walked in Britain lived over 14,000 years ago. The final living mammoths wandered the tundra of Siberia before our human ancestors likely hunted them into extinction around 4,000 years ago

Senior Archaeologist Kristina Krawiec at ASE said: 'This mammoth find is one of a range of similar finds from the region.

'It will be subjected to scientific analysis as part of the ongoing archaeological works at the site.'

With genetic technology constantly improving, scientists have claimed we could de-extinct the woolly mammoth in the next few years.

A massive mammoth tooth has been unearthed in the town of Dover, Kent. Archaeologists aren't sure how the tooth reached the docks

Revolutionary gene editing techniques will allow the precise selection and insertion of DNA from specimens frozen over millennia in Siberian ice.

In February, researchers at Harvard University in Massachusetts claimed they would de-extinct the woolly mammoth by 2020 using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique.

The system allows the 'cut and paste' manipulation of strands of DNA with a precision not seen before.

Using this technique, the scientists say they will cut and paste preserved mammoth DNA into Asian elephants to create and elephant-mammoth hybrid.
A copy of a 510-year-old map dubbed 'America's birth certificate' because it gave the New World its name has been discovered by Christie's auction house.

The two-dimensional globe was created in 1507 by pioneering German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller and could fetch 900,000 ($1.2 million) at auction.

It is 'the earliest piece of writing that uses the word America,' Julian Wilson, a senior specialist in Christie's books department, said.

A wall-map version of the same chart by Waldseemueller, purchased by the Library of Congress for 7.6 million ($10 million) in 2003, has been called 'America's birth certificate,' and Mr Wilson said the name equally applies to this version.

A copy of a 510-year-old map dubbed 'America's birth certificate' because it gave the New World its name has been discovered by Christie's auction house. The two-dimensional globe was created in 1507 by pioneering German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller

THE MAP The map is being sold by the family of British paper restorer Arthur Drescher. He died in 1986, but relatives only recently found it among his papers and took it to the auction house to be appraised. It is the oldest-known printed globe, designed to be cut out and pasted around a wooden ball. It is also the first map to show North and South America as separate continents and to depict a distinct Pacific Ocean, which no European had then seen. Waldseemueller was one of a group of cartographers based in Saint-Die, France that charted discoveries made by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and had access to the newest and most detailed information. It is 'the earliest piece of writing that uses the word America,' Julian Wilson, a senior specialist in Christie's books department, said. Advertisement

'This is the first time that America is on the map, in more ways than one,' he said.

Waldseemueller named the landmass after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who helped show that lands being explored by Europeans in the 15th and 16th centuries were not - as Christopher Columbus initially surmised - part of Asia.

Christie's plans to offer the map for sale in London Dec. 13, and it is estimated to fetch at between 600,000 pounds ($788,000) and 900,000 pounds ($1.2 million).

Four other copies of the map exist in museums and private collections, but this one was previously unknown.

The map is the oldest-known printed globe, designed to be cut out and pasted around a wooden ball.

It is also the first map to show North and South America as separate continents and to depict a distinct Pacific Ocean, which no European had then seen.

Mr Wilson said the map is remarkably accurate.

Waldseemueller was one of a group of cartographers based in Saint-Die, France that charted discoveries made by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and had access to the newest and most detailed information.

He said the map has 'some quirks,' including 'a very large Sri Lanka and a very small India.' Japan is placed in the mid-Pacific and Australia is missing.

'But the major geo-political features of the globe that we would recognize today are for the first time visible on this piece of paper,' Mr Wilson said.

The map is 'the earliest piece of writing that uses the word America,' Julian Wilson, a senior specialist in Christie's books department, said

A wall-map version of the same chart by Waldseemueller, purchased by the Library of Congress for 7.6 million ($10 million) in 2003, has been called 'America's birth certificate,' and Mr Wilson said the name equally applies to this version

The map is being sold by the family of British paper restorer Arthur Drescher.

He died in 1986, but relatives only recently found it among his papers and took it to the auction house to be appraised.

Mr Wilson said 'it completely freaked me out' when a man walked in off the street with the document.

'My legs almost gave way,' he said.

'It was a once-in-a-lifetime discovery moment. I thought, I'm probably looking at the find of my career.'

Waldseemueller named the Americas after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who helped show that lands being explored by Europeans in the 15th and 16th centuries were not - as Christopher Columbus initially surmised - part of Asia

Christie's plans to offer the map for sale in London Dec. 13, and it is estimated to fetch at between 600,000 pounds ($788,000) and 900,000 pounds ($1.2 million)
Visitors to internet firm Cloudflare's San Francisco office are often impressed by the striking wall of 100 lava lamps that greets them.

However, the firm, which is responsible for the 'internet address book' data for 6 million websites, has revealed that in fact, they are a key part to how it keeps the internet secure.

The lamps are constantly recorded by a webcam, and the lava movement analysed to help the firm create truly random numbers to power its encryption software.

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Cloudflare's 'wall of entropy at it's San Francisco HQ. Posted by Martin Levy, the firm's network strategy head, the lava lamps are constantly recorded and the movement used to create truly random numbers to create encryption keys for its data.

HOW IT WORKS The wall of 100 lava lamps is constant recorded by a camera. The lamps are constantly recorded by a webcam, and analysed to help the firm create truly random numbers to power its encryption software. The images change based on a multitude of factors, including the movement of the lava, the inclusion of anyone who's walking by, and even the shifting daylight  all of which helps the firm turn the data into random numbers. Advertisement

Creating randomness is an essential part of encryption because it lets you create something that an attacker won't be able replicate.

However, computers are actually very bad at coming up with random numbers, as they are designed to be precise.

This has led firms to look at outside methods to create randomness.

'We videotape these lava lamps, take these pictures and turn it into a stream of random unpredictable byte,' Nick Sullivan of Cloudflare told YouTuber Tom Scott, who visited the firm's HQ.

'This is what we use to create the keys that encyrpt the data that passes through our network.

'This is not just a stunt, its feeding into our real systems.'

The company has also installed random number generators in its offices in London and Singapore

HOW SECURE IS IT? The flow of the 'lava' in a lava lamp is very unpredictable, and so the entropy in those lamps is incredibly high, Cloudflare says. 'Even if we conservatively assume that the camera has a resolution of 100x100 pixels (of course it's actually much higher) and that an attacker can guess the value of any pixel of that image to within one bit of precision (e.g., they know that a particular pixel has a red value of either 123 or 124, but they aren't sure which it is), then the total amount of entropy produced by the image is 100x100x3 = 30,000 bits (the x3 is because each pixel comprises three values - a red, a green, and a blue channel). 'This is orders of magnitude more entropy than we need.' Advertisement

In London, the movement of dual pendulums is analysed using a similar camera system.

Visitors to the London office can also press a button and get a random number receipt that uses the outputs from the system to create a QR code, a maze, and a sudoku game.

In its Singapore office, a pellet of uranium encased in a glass bell jar has its radiation monitored using a geiger counter

Other systems use the movement of the device in space using data from a smartphone's accelerometer, mouse movement, or even the timing of a user pressing keys on a keyboard.

Cloudflare's idea is based on a system first used at Sun Microsystems, who thought that lava lamps could help generate randomness since modeling how fluid moves within the lamps is incredibly difficult

Cloudflare calls it's version the 'Wall of Entropy.'

The wall of 100 lava lamps is constant recorded by a camera.

The lamps are constantly recorded by a webcam, and analysed to help the firm create truly random numbers to power its encryption software.

The images change based on a multitude of factors, including the movement of the lava, the inclusion of anyone who's walking by, and even the shifting daylight  all of which helps the firm turn the data into random numbers.

The images change based on a multitude of factors, including the movement of the lava, the inclusion of anyone who's walking by, and even the shifting daylight  all of which helps the firm turn the data into random numbers.

The flow of the 'lava' in a lava lamp is very unpredictable, and so the entropy in those lamps is incredibly high, Cloudflare says.

'Even if we conservatively assume that the camera has a resolution of 100x100 pixels (of course it's actually much higher) and that an attacker can guess the value of any pixel of that image to within one bit of precision (e.g., they know that a particular pixel has a red value of either 123 or 124, but they aren't sure which it is), then the total amount of entropy produced by the image is 100x100x3 = 30,000 bits (the x3 is because each pixel comprises three values - a red, a green, and a blue channel).

'This is orders of magnitude more entropy than we need.'
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British tourists who have long flocked to Spain's Costas have another attraction to look forward to - Europe's largest man-made beach, a 45-minute drive from Madrid.

Holidaymakers have long associated the land of sun and sangria with some of the Mediterranean's most popular beaches.

But in less than three years they could be sunning themselves on a stretch of sand by a spectacular blue lagoon in a slightly unexpected spot - the municipality of Alovera a 40-mile drive north-east of the Spanish capital and 235 miles from the east coast city of Valencia, 300 miles from Benidorm and nearly 400 miles north of Marbella.

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In less than three years holidaymakers could be sunning themselves on a stretch of sand by a spectacular blue lagoon in central Spain, as this artist's impression reveals

Construction firm Grupo Rayet announced the 14 million leisure project - with Alovera Beach as its highlight - today after getting local council approval.

Chilean multinational Crystal Lagoons, which specialises in the building of artificial lakes, will be tasked with the construction of the 25,000-square-metre (6.2 acre) lake.

The beach, expected to be visited by around 250,000 people a year paying 10 (8.80) a head, is set to take up another 15,000 square metres (3.7 acres).

Stunning computerised images released by the firm of what the artificial beach will look like when finished show windsurfers, kayakers and swimmers enjoying themselves in Caribbean-style transparent water.

Construction of the lake and beach - billed as Europe's biggest artificial beach - is expected to get under way in around a year

Other photos show couples arm-in-arm looking out from wooden jetties over the palm-fringed lagoon.

A restaurant, beach bar, toboggan slides and a sailing school and 1,000 parking spaces complete the project.

A promotional video - featuring a woman floating on her back in a bikini in the middle of the lagoon - boasts: 'Want to enjoy beach life and crystalline water 187 miles from the sea. Now it's possible!!'

Grupo Rayet president Felix Abanades said: 'The idea is that the park is open all year.'

The project is expected to create more than 300 jobs.

A restaurant, beach bar, toboggan slides and a sailing school and 1,000 parking spaces are all expected to be part of the project

The beach is expected to be up and running in two and a half years, three at most.

Alovera Beach is planned for an area to the south of the town and municipality of the same name, which has a current population of just over 12,000 inhabitants.

It is linked to the construction of more than 4,000 houses in the area.

If all goes to plan, Alovera's population is expected to jump to around 30,000.

Construction of the lake and beach - billed as Europe's biggest artificial beach - is expected to get under way in around a year once the final bureaucratic hurdles have been overcome.

The resort, which is set to have 1,000 parking spaces, is expected to be visited by around 250,000 people a year paying 10 (8.80) a head

Mr Abanades told Spanish newspaper El Pais: 'It's a very interesting place to spend the day, very close to the A2 motorway.

'For those of us who like going to the beach, we won't have to go anymore to Valencia.'

Crystal Lagoons was the firm chosen to build an artificial beach that was going to be constructed as part of a macro leisure complex featuring a casino in Torres de la Alameda near Madrid, which the city council rejected for a second time in July.

The company was founded in 2007 by scientist and entrepreneur Fernando Fischmann.

Its global expansion was prompted by the 2007 19-acre crystal clear lagoon at San Alfonso de Mar in Chile, which broke the Guinness World Record for the world's largest man-made lagoon.

It went on to break its own world record in 2015 with a new 30-acre lagoon at the Citystars Sharm El Sheikh development in Egypt.
A British tourist has written a letter of complaint to the mayor of Venice after he was charged 536 euros (463) for a lunch.

The unnamed tourist from Birmingham dined at Trattoria Casanova in the central San Marco district with his parents and was charged a reasonable sum for the majority of his order.

But a platter of fresh fish that he alleges didn't carry a price on the menu cost him 297 euros.

A British tourist has written a letter of complaint to the mayor of Venice after he was charged 536 euros (463) for a lunch (bill pictured left). The picture on the right shows the meal

The unnamed tourist from Birmingham dined at Trattoria Casanova in the central San Marco district with his parents and was charged a reasonable sum for the majority of his order. But a platter of fresh fish that he alleges didn't carry a price on the menu cost him 297 euros

He told The Independent: 'I ordered it by pointing at a picture, which showed only one portion without any name or price on it. The picture was on the first page of the menu.

'I have to admit it is my fault that I did not check the price, but I did not expect that one and a half lobsters together with other fish would cost us 300.'

The dish included, according to the paper, 3.5kg of fresh fish including lobster, scampi and seabass.

On TripAdvisor Trattoria Casanova has an average of two stars out of five from 534 reviews, with 139 assigning the eaterie a 'terrible' rating

The rest of his bill was made up of squid ink spaghetti at 14.5 euros, chips at 5.5 euros and grilled vegetables at 7.5 euros, plus over 100 euros-worth of oysters.

The man subsequently wrote to the mayor of Venice - Luigi Brugnaro - complaining that restaurants like Trattoria Casanova were ruining the reputation of the city.

On TripAdvisor the restaurant has an average of two stars out of five from 534 reviews, with 139 assigning the eaterie a 'terrible' rating.

The restaurant defended the bill it gave to the tourist, telling Corriere Del Veneto: 'They ate 3.5kg of fish between three of them, in a San Marco restaurant with 14 waiters that has been renovated, has plasma TVs, clear pricing and such high standards of cleanliness that the NAS (health inspectors) came round the other day and complimented us.'

In June Venice announced that it is banning the opening of new hotels in the historic city centre and the development of existing properties into tourist accommodation.

It was the latest in a string of measures to bring visitor numbers under control, as locals continue to protest at the heaving crowds and rising cost of living.

Every year, Venice is flooded by an unprecedented amount of nearly 30 million visitors. This is more-or-less half of the Italian population, according to the Global Tourism Review.
Simon Cowell looked somewhat dishevelled as he left the Music Industry Trusts Award on Monday night.

Ditching his jacket, the music mogul, 58, appeared slightly bleary-eyed as he headed home from the star-studded event, held at London's Grosvenor House.

The Syco owner still appeared to be in good spirits however as he playfully posed for cameras and bid his fellow guests farewell - despite The X Factor receiving its lowest ever audience of 4.3 million on Sunday.

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Good night? Simon Cowell looked somewhat dishevelled as he left the Music Industry Trusts Awards on Monday night

Homeward bound: Ditching his jacket, the music mogul, 58, appeared slightly bleary-eyed as he headed home from the star-studded event, held at London's Grosvenor House

The father-of-one cut a more casual figure as he made his exit, with his smart blazer draped over one arm.

Clearly relaxed after his night out, he left his shirt unbuttoned to the middle and flashed a smile at cameras, as he made a bleary-eyed departure from the bash.

Still in good spirits from the evening however, Simon was seen bidding a number of guests farewell with a warm hug, as he headed to his car.

Casual: The father-of-one cut a more casual figure as he made his exit, with his smart blazer draped over one arm

Relaxed: Clearly relaxed after his night out, he left his shirt unbuttoned to the middle

Ready for bed? Simon appeared slightly bleary-eyed as he left the Grosvenor House Hotel

Feeling good: Simon flashed a smile at cameras, as he made his departure from the bash

Lovely to see you: Still in good spirits from the evening however, Simon was seen bidding a number of guests farewell with a warm hug

On the carpet, Simon had looked far more well-rested as he posed for cameras, following his recent horror fall down the stairs.

The music industry event recognises the best talent in the UK music business, in aid of charities Nordoff Robbins and Brit Trust.

Simon donned a tailored navy pinstriped suit, undoing a few buttons to flash a hint a chest.

Feeling good: Simon happily chatted to a number of guests on his way out

Back to his best: He certainly looked healthier and happier following his horror fall down the stairs last week

On the mend: On the carpet Simon had looked well-rested as he posed for cameras - following his fall, which occurred when he fainted

Sporting his trademark wide fitting trousers and Cuban heels combo, Simon showed off his salt and paper facial hair and lightly sun-kissed skin as he posed for pictures.

And nodding to British servicemen and woman, past and present, Simon wore a subtle red poppy pin on his lapel, ahead of Remebrance Sunday.

Simon cut a relaxed figure at the industry do, despite recent reports he had just two years to turn The X Factor's fortunes around or else it would be axed.

Relaxed: The X Factor supremo left his shirt un-tucked at The Music Industry Trusts Award, held at Grosvenor House Hotel

Sunday night's show received only 4.3 million viewers - marking its lowest ever viewing figure since it first began in 2004.

The show fell far behind its rival Strictly Come Dancing, which drew in more than 11 million as favourite Aston Merrygold was voted out in a shock dance-off.

However both reality shows were trounced by the BBC's Blue Planet II, which hauled in a mammoth average of 10.8 million across its second hour-long episode.

Suave: Simon donned a tailored navy pinstriped suit, undoing a few buttons to flash a hint a chest

According to the Daily Star, ITV bosses are even considering axing the famous singing competition in two years' time if ratings do not improve.

A source told the paper: 'The show's latest ratings are embarrassing. It used to be one of the real jewels in the crown for ITV.'

However, an X Factor spokesperson told MailOnline: 'This series of The X Factor is consolidating at an average of seven million viewers per episode based on the current ratings system. This does not include either repeats or any non-linear viewing via computer or mobile phone.'

Meanwhile Simon looked back to full health at the event, after being stretchered out of his London mansion to hospital in a neck brace last week.

Strike a pose: Sporting his trademark wide fitting trousers and Cuban heels combo, Simon showed off his salt and paper facial hair and lightly sun-kissed skin as he posed for pictures

The mogul had been going to get a cup of hot milk to help him fall asleep, when he fainted and fell down the stairs.

He looked dazed as he arrived home that afternoon, looking slightly dishevelled in tracksuit bottoms and trainers.

Speaking at his front door he said: 'I fainted and fell down the stairs. I've got a bit of concussion. I feel better now.' He also thanked fans for their 'concern'.

Classy touch: Nodding to British servicemen and woman, past and present, Simon wore a subtle red poppy pin on his lapel, ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Hugs: Camila Cabello and Simon posed together at the 26th annual Music Industry Awards

And it seems after the drama subsided, the music boss was keen to overhaul his exercise regime.

He is said to be launching into a fitness kick and is reportedly splashing out on seven electric bicycles at a cost of almost 60,000 so he can cycle to and from work.

Simon underwent a series of blood tests after passing out and tripping at home last Friday and as a result is keen to get fit whilst doctors examine the cause of his fainting.

Old pals: Paloma Faith cut a happy figure alongside Simon as the party got underway

Chic: Jo Whiley looked a million dollars in a futuristic metalic-look dress as she spoke onstage

Known to be a bit of a petrol head - with a fleet of cars including a Bentley, Rolls, Bugatti Veyron and an Aston Martin DB9 - Simon's latest investment is a little more environmentally friendly.

Whilst the four mile round trip to work is hardly arduous - especially given the bike is electronically powered - the X Factor mogul believes he has already seen an improvement in his fitness.

Simon has been out of action all week and reportedly convalescing out of London.

The accident: The star was stretchered out of his London mansion to hospital in a neck brace after the accident while going to get a cup of hot milk to help him fall asleep

First for everything: The accident forced Simon to pull out of his judging duties on The X Factor for the first time in thirteen years

On the mend: Speaking at his front door the following day, he said: 'I fainted and fell down the stairs. I've got a bit of concussion. I feel better now.' He also thanked fans for their 'concern'
Ever since Kanye West canceled all twenty-one of his remaining Saint Pablo tour dates last year, he's been completely absent from the spotlight.

So Australian radio hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli were understandably shocked when they spotted him at the LA Lakers game on Monday.

Broadcasting their Nova breakfast show from Los Angeles on Tuesday, they documented their breathtaking pursuit of an exclusive into with the reclusive icon.

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'We walked straight past security': Nova's Fitzy and Wippa avoid Lakers stadium officials in pursuit of interview with reclusive Kanye West... and you'll never believe how Yeezy it was!

Yeezy does it! Radio hosts Fitzy and Wippa have documented their breathtaking pursuit of an interview with reclusive rap icon Kanye West, who they spotted at a LA Lakers game

Given 'Yeezy' has spent almost a year out of the public eye, the duo were skeptical after spotting the musician in the front row.

It didn't help that Wippa had seen a familiar face behind him and wasn't sure if it was rapper 2 Chainz, or simply a normal guy wearing two chains.

But after a paparazzi also expressed shock at seeing Kanye, they decided to throw caution to the wind.

Who's that?! Australian radio hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli went celebrity spotting at the LA Lakers game on Monday

'The one cool artist he listens to is Kanye West' Fitzy thought he'd spotted the reclusive rapper

'The one cool artist he listens to is Kanye West.'

'He's sitting there with a mate, he's got this cream jacket on.'

Wippa explained: 'It's his first public appearance in a very long time, so then Fitzy said: 'do you know what we need to do? Go and sit next to Kanye!''

'Aw yeah,' the laid-back presenter replied, 'how are we gunna do that mate?'

'We get a couple beers, ignore there's a security guard there and walk straight down to Kanye, get a photo and say hello' Fitzy was quick to concoct a cunning meet-Kanye plan

Easy, Fitzy suggested: 'We get a couple beers, ignore there's a security guard there and walk straight down to Kanye, get a photo and say hello.'

And shockingly, their plan worked as described, with the hosts insisting: 'We just walked straight past security guards [and] Bang. We're in.'

'We get right down to the bottom... Someone yells 'where are you going sir?' and we're five metres away from where he was,' Fitzy continued.

'Where are you going sir?' Despite their excitement Fitzy and Wippa were denied

The story looked set for an unfathomably happy ending, until they discovered 'Kanye decided to leave at three-quarter time.'

Sadly, it all fell apart from there: 'Then the security guard said 'let me see your tickets because you're not meant to be in here' - and that was about it.'

'We got the boot from the area so we went back to 2 Chainz and... it wasn't 2 Chainz either - so we just hung out with some bloke who had two chains on.'

'He's now our best mate!'
She recently announced her engagement to long-term boyfriend Tyson Mullane.

And on Monday, Pia Miller was back home in Melbourne to celebrate the upcoming nuptials with her family.

The 34-year-old cut a contented figure as she took to Instagram the following day to share the celebrations with her followers.

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Time to celebrate! Home and Away star Pia Miller celebrates her engagement to boyfriend Tyson Mullane with her family in Melbourne

The brunette flaunted her natural beauty as she posed for the camera while dining at Morris Jones Restaurant and Bar in Melbourne's inner south-east.

'Thank you for having my fam & I last night,' Pia wrote, before adding the hashtag '#HomeSweetHome'.

She also posted a short video of her family raising glasses of celebratory champagne to toast the occasion.

The mother-of-two announced her engagement on Saturday night, sharing snaps of the truly emotional moment her life partner got down on one knee.

'In a hundred lifetimes, In a hundred worlds, In any version of reality - Id find you & Id choose you. Yes today Yes always,' she wrote in the touching caption.

Family celebrations: The 34-year-old cut a contented figure as she took to Instagram the following day to share the celebrations with her followers

'Yes today. Yes always': The mother-of-two announced her engagement on Saturday night, sharing snaps of the truly emotional moment her life partner got down on one knee

Both Tyson and Pia shared snaps on their social media accounts, as comments from overjoyed fans poured in.

Despite Pia's bigger social following, it was Tyson who got the chance to share the most touching image of the romantic moment.

Seen on bended knee in a secluded forest, the hunk stared intently into his lover's eyes.

His future wife's expression said it all, as she clasped her hands to her lips, her face a blend of unbridled joy and shock.

Touching! 'In a hundred lifetimes, In a hundred worlds, In any version of reality - Id find you & Id choose you. Yes today Yes always,' she wrote in the caption

Worth it! Tyson truly went all out, popping the big question in a secluded forest, laying out a romantic dinner setting and spending countless hours decorating

Tyson had clearly spent a considerable amount of time getting everything just right for the big moment.

He decorated the narrow, leafy pathway with several stepping stones, which lead to a romantic table setting.

The overhanging trees that lined the walk were decorated with strings of warm white pendant lights, creating a surreal, fairy tale atmosphere.

It was a moment the pair will remember for the rest of their lives, putting a stunning punctuation mark on the whirlwind relationship that was confirmed back in 2016.
Paris Jackson speaks from her heart, for better for worse.

The daughter of the late Michael Jackson, 19, apologized after she tweeted, 'why the f**k do people keep dying' - prior to learning of Sunday's mass shooting that left 26 people dead and 20 others injured at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Texas.

After her initial post, Paris wrote, 'whoa just now hearing about texas, & realized how insensitive to the families my last tweet must seem.. to clarify, that was about a friend,' adding, 'my heart is with everyone affected and in pain during this tragic time.'

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Clarifying things: Paris Jackson, 19, said she was sorry for a tweet that read 'why the f--- do people keep dying' prior to learning of the church shooting in Texas Sunday that left 27 people dead. The daughter of the late Michael Jackson was snapped at an LA gala last month

While she kept things simple in this case, the 5ft10 stunner has never been shy about sharing her views on social issues.

She was lauded for an impassioned speech at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards in August in the wake of the clash between protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia that left demonstrator Heather Heyer dead.

Paris said people should have 'zero tolerance' for the 'violence,' hatred' and 'discrimination' perpetrated by the 'Nazi, white supremacist jerks in Charlottesville.

'If we all put our voices together, do you realize the difference we would make? If we were to all stand up, united, as one, our impact, it would be, huge, believe me, huge - and thats not fake news,' she said, imitating U.S. President Donald Trump.

Mistake: The model-activist said her initial tweet had nothing to do with the deadly shooting

Motivated: Paris on Sunday told Australia's Stellar that her activism is not driven 'by fear, anger or resentment,' but rather love

Paris, who has also put her time and celebrity behind causes such as restoring Puerto Rico and AIDS research, told Australia's Stellar on Sunday that she's 'been trying to have a more optimistic outlook on our country's current situation' and that 'it's also not productive' to be driven 'by fear, anger or resentment,' as her activism is 'about being ruled by love.'

Paris, an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS foundation, told People last month that the late silver screen legend - 'a real badass' - serves as a role model to her as she marches forward in her socially-geared work.

'Its very rare that you see someone with that kind of influence really use their platform for something so important,' she said of Taylor, who passed away at the age of 79 in March of 2011. 'Her story is an example of how one person can have such a profound and positive effect on the whole of humanity.'

Tragic: Crosses were erected in Sutherland Springs, Texas to honor the victims of the shooting Sunday
Lisa Wilkinson made headlines when she sensationally quit the Today show after Channel Nine refused to pay her the same salary as her co-host Karl Stefanovic.

And now Channel Seven's Chris Bath has weighed in on the gender pay gap, during a chat with Hit105's Stav, Abby & Matt radio show, on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old told the co-hosts: 'Whether you're a man or a woman, you should get paid contingent to your experience and your skill set.'

On-air chat: Chris Bath (pictured), 50, weighed in on the gender pay gap, on Tuesday's Hit105 Stav, Abby & Matt radio show, after Lisa Wilkinson sensationally quit the Today show with Channel Nine refusing to pay her the same salary as co-host Karl Stefanovic

Chris, a familiar face on the Seven Network, said on-air: 'I think if you're a bloke and you've got 30 years experience in media and a skill set, or a woman with the same experience and skill set, then I think the pay should be the same.'

Questioned as to whether she feels the media industry pays males more than females, the journalist responded: 'I don't know. What people get paid is confidential so you don't actually know what people around you are getting paid.'

Chris continued: 'Until I actually have the facts in front of me of what people are getting paid, then it's really hard to make a judgement.

Sharing her thoughts: Chris, a familiar face on the Seven Network, said on-air: 'I think if you're a bloke and you've got 30 years experience in media and a skill set, or a woman with the same experience and skill set, then I think the pay should be the same'

'I do have a suspicion that there's probably not pay equity (but) suspicion is very different to actually having the facts.'

Chris' comments follow the recent turn of events that saw Lisa Wilkinson sensationally quit the Today show after Channel Nine refused to pay her the same salary as co-host Karl Stefanovic.

The Daily Telegraph alleged that Lisa, 57, was holding out on re-signing until she was granted 'pay parity' with Karl, 43.

Headlines: Chris' comments follow the recent turn of events that saw Lisa Wilkinson, 57, sensationally quitting the Today show after Channel Nine refused to pay her the same salary as co-host Karl Stefanovic, 43

It was suggested the reason Lisa wanted the same money as Karl, was because he was 'rumoured to be on twice as much.'

The Australian had previously reported that Karl earns at least $2 million a year, in a three-year contract with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3 million if ratings were hit.

Lisa was also was said by The Daily Telegraph to have been on a $1.1 million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8 million.

Reports: The Daily Telegraph alleged that Lisa was holding out on re-signing until she was granted 'pay parity' with Karl. It was suggested the reason Lisa wanted the same money as Karl, was because he was 'rumoured to be on twice as much'

The amount was claimed to have not been enough for her to stay with the network, defecting to Ten where she will co-host news and current affairs program, The Project.

Nine CEO Hugh Marks spoke out on the claims, saying that he offered Lisa $1.8 million, but that she asked for $2.3 million.

'I went to an incredible amount of trouble to build that [$1.8 million] package for her. She wanted $2.3 million. It wasn't a $200,000 shortfall to [Karl's] $2 million magic number. It was $500,000,' he told the The Daily Telegraph.

Hugh also stated that Nine not having exclusive access to Lisa on a digital platform restricted the channel.

'[Lisa] has a number of commercial rights with other parties. Her arrangement with The Huffington Post restricts our ability to engage with her digitally we are restricted from engaging with her also on social media,' he said.

'The reason we walked away from Lisa is because we are not able to secure those rights with her.'

Jumping ship: Lisa was also was said by The Daily Telegraph to have been on a $1.1 million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8 million. The amount was claimed to have not been enough for her to stay with the network, defecting to Ten where she will co-host news and current affairs program, The Project

Lisa however looks set to reap the rewards of her daring move by becoming 'Network Ten's Oprah' when she starts in January 2018.

The mother-of-three is set to host her own Sunday night current affairs program during prime time, according to an insider, The Herald Sun reported.

Lisa will front the program, going in to battle with Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, and Seven's Sunday Night, while also hosting The Project two nights a week.
Rapper Meek Mill has been sent back to jail for up to four years for breaching the terms of his parole.

A judge ruled on Monday two new arrests meant he had once again failed to live up to the conditions of his release.

However the hip hop star's attorney has claimed the adjudicator has a personal bias against his client, who was convicted of drug dealing and gun possession back in 2008.

Head held high: But rapper Meek Mill's visit to a Philadelphia court for a probation violation on Monday ended with him being sent to jail

The hip hop star's lawyer Joe Tacopina told TMZ he believes Judge Genece E. Brinkley went against prosecutors recommendation for no prison sentence.

Tacopina also claimed she has a 'personal bias' against Mill and they plan to appeal the sentencing.

His attorney claimed last year the judge had a meeting with the rapper in chambers and asked for him to do a remake of On Bended Knee by Boyz II Men and to give her a mention in the song.

He alleged that when the hip hop star laughed off the request the judge declared she was 'not kidding' and when Meek refused she said 'suit yourself'.

The rapper, real name Robert Rihmeek Williams. was skating on thin ice after being found to have violated the terms of his parole on drug dealing and gun possession charges on multiple occasions.

Appeal: His defense attorney Brian McMonagle (L) said they plan to contest the ruling

Even though one of the cases, for an alleged airport assault, was dropped the adjudicator decided it was still enough to warrant further punishment.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Young And Gettin' It rapper will spend between two and four years in state prison for his latest violation.

And there was drama in court as the exasperated Judge Genece E. Brinkley told the 30-year-old he had been 'thumbing your nose' at her after she had given him multiple opportunities to go straight.

As she delivered her sentence she told the rapper, 'Ill be done with you.'

After she handed down her decision the suit and trainers-wearing hip hop star was led away in handcuffs for his latest spell in the clink.

The rapper's attorney Brian McMonagle said he plans to appeal the decision.

Musician Jay-Z has branded Meeks jail sentence as 'unjust and heavy handed'.

The 30-year-old rapper was sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison and insisted he will 'always stand by' the star.

Taking to Facebook, The Story of O.J. star wrote: 'The sentence handed down by the Judge - against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer - is unjust and heavy handed. We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career.

Jay-Z, 47, isnt the only star to come to the Whatever You Need rappers defence, as actor Kevin Hart said he was 'praying' for his close pal.

Something to say: Musician Jay-Z has branded Meeks jail sentence as 'unjust and heavy handed'

Posting a picture of the pair on Instagram, Kevin wrote: 'Praying for my brother @meekmill right now. God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers. I'm here for you man!!!! My brother for life...Always here for you man!!! This storm will pass...Stay strong & keep your head up (sic)'

Rapper T.I. also took to social media to show his support for Meek, saying he has 'real love' for the All Eyes On You hitmaker.

He wrote on Instagram: 'Was wit u then & WE STILL WIT U NOW!!! This too shall pass. You got this!!! God places the heaviest loads on the strongest backs. We got real love for u out here KING. (sic)'

The ruling came after Williams was arrested at an airport in St. Louis, Missouri in March for allegedly assaulting two pedestrians, though the charges were later dropped.

Busted rhymes: Exasperated Judge Genece E. Brinkley told him he had been 'thumbing your nose' at her after being given multiple opportunities to go straight

He also pleaded guilty to reckless driving after being arrested for doing stunts on a dirt bike on city streets in New York, and posting a video of his misadventure on the internet.

His troubles stem from a pre-fame conviction for drug dealing and gun possession back in 2008.

He was sentenced between 11 and 23 months in prison, but was released in early 2009 under a five-year parole agreement.

Just three years later his debut album Dreams And Nightmares debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.

However, that same year he was found to have violated his probation for the first time, and was placed on house arrest.

In May 2013 he was ordered to take etiquette classes after breaching the terms once again by failing to report his travel plans, and then in 2014 he ended up spending five months in prison after erring again.

In February 2016 he was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest over another violation. He was also ordered to do daily community service and was put on parole for a further six years.
She had first shot to fame on ITV talent show The X Factor, but has since become known for her role as Lisa Loveday in the long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

And stepping out to attend the Inside Soap Awards 2017 on Monday night, heavily pregnant Rachel Adedeji looked simply stunning as she slipped into a form-fitting mini dress to showcase her baby bump.

The starlet, 26, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Jason Finnegan and cut a sweet figure as she cradled her stomach while posing on arrival to the annual event.

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Blossoming: Rachel Adedeji, 26, looked simply stunning as she slipped into a form-fitting mini dress to showcase her baby bump at the Inside Soap Awards 2017 on Monday night

Rachel looked nothing but radiant on the night, as she dazzled in a thigh-skimming black dress that boasted a lace hem and a high neckline, along with a dramatic cape that billowed out from around the shoulder.

Her number perfectly sheathed her pregnancy frame and made sure to highlight her burgeoning baby bump, with Rachel sweetly placing a hand underneath her stomach as she posed for photographers.

The mother-to-be was beaming from ear-to-ear and cut a stylish figure in her red carpet attire, as she teamed her frock with a metallic choker necklace.

Sporting a glamorous make-up look, Rachel favoured a shimmering pink hue around her eyes and bronzer-swept cheeks, as she completed her ensemble with a slick of deep pink lipstick across her lips.

Chic: The actress looked nothing but radiant on the night, as she dazzled in a thigh-skimming black dress that boasted a lace hem and a high neckline, along with a dramatic cape that billowed out from around the shoulder

Stunning: Rachel is expecting her first child with boyfriend Jason Finnegan and cut a sweet figure as she cradled her stomach while posing on arrival to the annual event

The beauty joined a slew of her co-stars at the bash, with Hollyoaks enjoying some success as they took home the award for Best Partnership, with Lysette Anthony & Nicole Barber-Lane, who play Marnie Nightingale & Myra McQueen on the soap, taking home the prize.

The Inside Soap Awards is one of the biggest nights in the soap calendar with the biggest names from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stepping out on the red carpet.

Rounding off another successful year, Emmerdale was crowned Best Soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the third year in a row, bringing their haul of trophies on the night to eight.

Meanwhile, Coronation Street carried away five honours including Best Shock Twist after Andy Carver was revealed to be alive.

Exciting: She is due to give birth to her first child on December 27 and she and her beau Jason 'can't wait' to meet their new arrival

Smitten: Rachel tied the knot with her partner Jason back in 2015 in Buckinghamshire

EastEnders weighed in with a number of awards as Walford-cum-Strictly star Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi) picked up the Sexiest Male prize, while Albert Square original Gillian Taylforth accepted Outstanding Achievement Award for her years as Kathy Beale.

While Doctors won its first-ever Inside Soap Award as Lorna Laidlaw secured the prize for Best Daytime Star. And Aussie TV stalwart Neighbours won Best Daytime Soap.

Rachel, meanwhile, is due to give birth to her first child on December 27 and she and her beau Jason 'can't wait' to meet their new arrival. Announcing her pregnancy with a photo of her bump on Instagram, she had penned: 'We can't wait to be parents.'

Baby joy! Announcing her pregnancy with a photo of her bump on Instagram, she had penned: 'We can't wait to be parents'

The star, who shot to fame on The X Factor back in 2009, has been turning to her co-star and new mum Jennifer Metcalfe for advice on motherhood, after successfully hiding her bump for six months.

They're even planning a holiday together with their babies once Rachel has welcomed her little one into the world later this year.

Speaking to Closer magazine, she explained: 'Jen has been amazing - I couldn't ask for a better friend. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I was like, 'Jen, what do I do?!'

'She's an amazing mum and seeing her and Greg with Daye is just adorable. We've been talking about holidaying together once my baby arrives.'

And clearly excited at the prospect of motherhood, Rachel said she feels 'ready' to be a mother.

Sweet: Rachel, who shot to fame on The X Factor back in 2009, has been turning to her co-star and new mum Jennifer Metcalfe for advice on motherhood, revealing: 'Jen has been amazing - I couldn't ask for a better friend'

She told told The Mirror: 'I feel ready to be a mummy,' while Jason added: 'We are both really excited, nervous of course but we both feel ready. A Christmas baby!'

Rachel tied the knot with her partner Jason back in 2015 in Buckinghamshire and took to her Twitter page just before she walked down the aisle to thank people for their wishes.

She wrote at the time: 'Can't believe the day is finally here. In the next few hours I'll be a blushing bride. Thank you to everyone for your wishes. Xx (sic).'

The happy couple celebrated the big day with a honeymoon in Indonesia last December.
She donned a pretty pink dress for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

But poor Jodi Anasta fell victim to the cold and blustery weather at Flemington Racecourse.

The actress's sheer frock clung to her body as it got swept up in the wind while she strolled around in The Birdcage.

Oh no! Jodi Anasta's pretty pink sheer frock clings to her body in the wind as she attends Melbourne Cup

The Neighbours star, 32, appeared unfazed by the minor hiccup with her ensemble, laughing and blowing kisses to passersby as she walked.

The pretty pink number had a material tie around her svelte waist, highlighting her enviably slender frame.

With vibrant ruffles and frills around the collar and sleeveless bodice, the media personality chose not to wear accessories.

Jodi completed the look with a metallic pink clutch and strappy heels.

Pretty in pink! The Neighbours star appeared unfazed by the minor hiccup with her ensemble, laughing and blowing kisses to passersby as she walked

Slender beauty:The pretty pink number had a material tie around her svelte waist, highlighting her enviably slender frame

License to frill! With vibrant ruffles and frills around the collar and sleeveless bodice, the media personality chose not to wear accessories

Stunning! Her brunette locks were placed into a stylish plait, with gold hair pieces placed on the slicked-back hairstyle

Nothing will rain on her parade: The former Home And Away star posed up a storm at the Myer marquee

Her brunette locks were placed into a stylish plait, with gold hair pieces placed on the slicked-back hairstyle.

Jodi's makeup was flawlessly applied for the race that stop the nation.

The former Home And Away star, who is a Myer Ambassador, is joining fellow ambassadors Kris Smith, Rachael Finch and Lauren Phillips and the face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, in Myer's marquee for the Melbourne Cup.
It was the perfect night for the young couple.

Insiders on Monday revealed that the engagement party for Joe Jonas, 28, and Sophie Turner, 21, went off without a hitch, as 'it was such a fun night and Joe and Sophie couldnt have looked happier,' a source told US Weekly of the event.

'Guests were singing and dancing, and everyone seemed to have such a great time,' the source said of the bash, which was held at the posh New York City restaurant Mamo, a favorite of the pair.

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Center of attention: Joe Jonas, 28, and fiance Sophie Turner, 21, tossed an amazing engagement bash at the NYC restaurant Mamo Saturday, including a succulent dinner, music-spinning DJ and more

'Sophie and Joe have been to Mamo before and love the new chef there, Salvatore Marcello,' the source told the publication. 'They are big fans of his Italian style along with the St. Tropez feel to the restaurant.

'They wanted to bring St. Tropez to NYC so sparklers came out with every bottle of champagne.'

In addition to the champagne - elite brands including Dom Perignon and Cristal - about 30 guests enjoyed culinary delights such as lamb and truffles at the swanky Gotham eatery, the source told the magazine.

Joe and Sophie 'booked the whole restaurant for a private engagement party,' the insider said, noting that 'another 40 people' arrived for an after-dinner party at the venue.

Favorite: Joe and Sophie picked the location as they enjoy the fare of its chef Salvatore Marcello, US reported

Life in the limelight: The musician and actress walked arm-in-arm into the Big Apple party, while she flashed her Carolina Bucci Florentine Finish Heart earrings

Turning heads: Joe's younger brother Nick, 25, was with model Georgia Fowler, 25, at the party

Among those on hand to celebrate the engagement - which the duo announced October 15 via social media - included Joe's brothers Kevin, 30, Nick, 25, and Frankie, 17. Kevin's wife Danielle, 31, accompanied him, while Nick was with statuesque New Zealand model Georgia Fowler, 25.

Of course, Joe's DNCE bandmates - Cole Whittle, 35, JinJoo Lee, 29, and Jack Lawless, 30 - were on hand to support their front man, who initially became romantically-involved with the English actress late last year.

Brotherly love: The talented trio of siblings posed for a nice shot in a photo booth at the party

Rock on: Joe hammed it up as he posed with his DNCE bandmates at the bash

Famous friends: Model Ashley Graham posed with her husband Justin Ervin

Make me a match: The couple posed with producer Jeff Kalligheri, who initially fixed them up

The party also included a black-and-white photo booth in which Joe posed with Sophie and his brothers in different combinations, as well as guests such as model Ashley Graham, music executive Joe Carozza, photographer Kyle Johnson, and producer Jeff Kalligheri, who initially introduced Joe and Sophie to one another.

'In a world full of craziness & selfishness, I like to have hope that the good people will always find each other,' Kalligheri wrote in an Instagram post. 'Im just happy that I got to be there to witness it this time.'
They were both left mortified last week after arriving at Derby Day wearing the exact same dress.

But Jennifer Hawkins and Francesca Cumani managed to avoid disaster while attending Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

The Former Miss Universe and the Channel Seven presenter were no doubt relieved after arriving at the race that stops the nation wearing very different dresses.

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Safe choice! Jennifer Hawkins (L) and Francesca Cumani (R) managed to avoid disaster while attending Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

Supermodel Jen looked elegant and chic in an A-line Alex Perry gown, that featured a sheer black top and beige poofy skirt.

Meanwhile Francesca, who was forced to put on a jacket after stealing Jennifer's thunder at Derby Day, opted for a safe choice of a bright red frock and matching hat.

Earlier in the day, Jennifer made sure to reveal her Melbourne Cup dress well before her arrival, to avoid another potentially awkward moment.

The beauty took to Instagram hours before the race that stops the nation, to show her 800,000 followers exactly what she would be wearing - an Alex Perry gown.

Francesca, take note! Jennifer made sure to reveal her Melbourne Cup dress well ahead of her arrival on Tuesday, to avoid another potentially awkward moment after a Derby Day disaster saw another woman wearing the same dress

'CUP DAY w @myer! Ill be taking over @bazaaraustralia today!' she captioned

'Come behind the scenes with me. I cant wait to wear this incredible dress! Blows my mind....'

Fans applauded the look in the comments section, with one follower reassuring the supermodel that her fashion choice was safe.

Oh dear! Jennifer's post comes days after her thunder was stolen at Derby Day on Saturday after Channel Seven racing presenter Francesca Cumani stepped out wearing the same dress

'Its okay-Francesca is looking glorious in red,' the fan wrote.

Another noted: 'Stunning. Can't wait to see the final ensemble on you.'

Jennifer's post comes days after her thunder was stolen at Derby Day on Saturday after Channel Seven racing presenter Francesca stepped out wearing the same dress.

The stylish British commentator began presenting from Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse in a Jonathan Simkhai cocktail frock, before deciding to put on a black jacket after the model arrived.

Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Myer ambassador flaunted her figure in the same extravagant monochrome dress in the Birdcage.

Jennifer told Daily Mail Australia she couldn't have cared less about the debacle.

'No biggie! Its never happened to me before. Francesca looked so gorgeous!' she said.

All the talk on social media was about who wore the dress better, and if Francesca was told to cover up her dress.

'@7horseracing who stuffed up?! @francescacumani looks stunning. Someone give Jennifer Hawkins a hessian sack to wear,' one viewer tweeted.

'So @francescacumani & @jenniferhawkins are wearing the same dress. Well done @myer #DerbyDay #fail,' another said.

Awkward: The stylish British commentator began presenting from Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse in a Jonathan Simkhai cocktail frock, before slipping on a long black jacket after the model arrived

Double-up: Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Myer ambassador flaunted her figure the same extravagant monochrome dress in the Birdcage

One viewer suggested Francesca put on a jacket for reasons other than the weather, saying: 'Did Jennifer Hawkins make Francesca cover up her dress?'

Francesca opted to leave the large jacket on, even once the sun came out during the afternoon.

A Myer spokesperson said Francesca had to wear a brand stocked by the department store as part of an arrangement with Channel 7.

'We are only aware of Jens brand which is Jonathan Simkhai. Francesca is not our talent. Channel 7 wardrobe manage her,' the spokesperson told news.com.au on Saturday afternoon.

'Contractually, Channel 7 talent must wear Myer brands. No further comment will be provided.'

'Who stuffed up?': All the talk on social media was about who wore the dress better, and if Francesca was told to cover up her dress

'Did Jennifer Hawkins make Francesca cover up her dress?': One viewer suggested Francesca put on a jacket for reasons other than the weather

Fail: Another viewer took to social media to suggest the double-up was a fail on Myer's end. But a Myer spokesperson said Channel 7's wardrobe manage Francesca
She's had many a handsome leading man in her romantic comedies.

And Jennifer Lopez added another dashing co-star to her repertoire as she was spotted filming with Milo Ventimiglia on Monday.

The superstar, 48, looked casual chic in an off-the-shoulder sweater as the two actors shot a romantic date scene for Second Act.

Method acting: Jennifer Lopez added another dashing co-star to her repertoire as she was spotted filming Second Act with Milo Ventimiglia on Monday

Daring to impress, Jennifer was seen walking to set in a fur-lined black parka over a grey sweater and camouflage pants.

Her trademark chestnut tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders.

The Shades Of Blue actress turned on the charm as she looked deeply into Milo's eyes over glasses of red wine in the Italian restaurant.

Sporting his usual mustache, the This Is Us hunk, 40, rocked a grey button down as he seemed in serious conversation with his dinner date.

Shining star: The superstar looked casual chic in an off the shoulder sweater as the two actors shot a romantic date scene

Hair today: Her trademark chestnut tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders

Hard at work: Jennifer, 48, was spotted on the wintry set

Second Act has Jennifer returning to her romantic comedy roots that made her a household name.

Peter Segal will direct the film - which was developed by STXfilms with Jennifer from an idea conceived by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Justin Zackham.

The movie is in the vein of Maid In Manhattan - a huge hit for Jennifer - and Working Girl - the Oscar winning comedy from 1988.

Trademark: Jennifer sported her usual hoop earrings

Act out: Jennifer will play a big-box store employee who reinvents her life and gets the chance to prove that street smarts are as valuable as a college degree.

Hunk: Sporting his usual mustache, the This Is Us hunk rocked a grey button down as he seemed in serious conversation with his dinner date

Jennifer will play a big-box store employee who reinvents her life and gets the chance to prove that street smarts are as valuable as a college degree.

Leah Remini is attached to portray the best friend and fellow employee of Jennifer's character while Vanessa Hudgens will play a boss at a consumer goods company.

Dan Bucatinsky, Annaleigh Ashford, and Freddie Stroma round out the cast.

Second Chance is scheduled to debut at the end of 2018.

Co-stars: Leah Remini is attached to portray the best friend and fellow employee of Jennifer's character while Vanessa Hudgens will play a boss at a consumer goods company

Return: Second Act has Jennifer returning to her romantic comedy roots that made her a household name

Big hits: The movie is in the vein of Maid in Manhattan - a huge hit for Jennifer - and Working Girl - the Oscar winning comedy from 1988
It's not the first time he's poked fun at his wife on Instagram.

And cheeky Ryan Reynolds was at it again on Monday when he shared a snap of Blake Lively looking worlds away from her usual glamour while filming The Rhythm Section in Dublin, Ireland.

'#nofilter' the actor, 41, hilariously captioned the shot, which saw Blake, 30, appear unkempt and make-up free as she got to work.

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'#nofilter': Cheeky Ryan Reynolds trolled his wife Blake Lively by sharing a snap of her looking worlds away from her usual glamour while filming The Rhythm Section in Dublin on Monday

The normally glamorous star was unrecognizable in disheveled layers and unflattering make-up while filming her new espionage film.

The Deadpool actor's last social media dig at his leading lady was on her birthday on August 25, when he shared Tweeted a sweet message to her along with a red carpet shot of the couple - almost cropping her out entirely.

'Happy Birthday to my amazing wife,' Ryan wrote, sharing the picture that was pretty much all him.

But Blake got her own back when Ryan turned 41 on October 23.

This time the joke was on him, with the actress all but chopping him out of a photo with Ryan Gosling, 36, in payback for his previous trolling.

Cheeky: The Deadpool actor's last social media dig at his leading lady was on her 30th birthday on August 25, when he shared Tweeted a red carpet shot - almost cropping her out

Revenge is sweet: Blake got her own back when Ryan turned 41 on October 23, with the actress all but chopping him out of a photo with Ryan Gosling, 36, in payback for his previous trolling

Blake meanwhile, whose previous roles in The Age Of Adaline and Gossip Girl have seen her looking preened to perfection, stripped back the glamour for her latest project.

Ditching her typical glowing tan, the mother-of-two looked weary and pale thanks to costume make-up.

Her normally long tousled golden waves were replaced with a choppy blonde bob and a blunt fringe.

The actress looked unrecognisable as she made her way onto set in a tattered brown padded jacket layered over a checked hoodie and red T-shirt.

Who's that? Blake covered up in disheveled layers and unflattering make-up while filming her new espionage film The Rhythm Section in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday

She finished off the look with faded mauve tracksuit bottoms with frayed hems and black trainers.

Carrying a black shopping bag in one hand, the blonde beauty wrapped up against the cold in a bright blue beanie hat.

The former Gossip Girl star was filmed puffing on a cigarette while sitting on the pavement in a shop doorway, looking desolate.

Blake and Ryan have been married for five years, and share daughters James, two, and Ines, one.
Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys

Rating:

Women at War: 100 Years Of Service

Rating:

Trains are the last symbol of sanity in the gender meltdown, the sole surviving proof that men and women are not identical creatures.

The diktats of equality have airbrushed all other differences away. Both sexes have become so homogenous that doctors are not even allowed to call pregnant women expectant mothers so as not to offend transgender people. Were all unisex now.

But not where trains are concerned. Whether elbow-deep in grease under the axle of a half-restored Victorian carriage, or standing on a platform in freezing sleet with a trainspotters notebook, the obsessive railway enthusiast is a bloke.

Lets face it, there is no more blokeish presenter than Tarrant. Meeting a chap named Abdelatif, he retorted: Chris is easier to say!

Whether elbow-deep in grease under the axle of a half-restored Victorian carriage, or standing on a platform in freezing sleet with a trainspotters notebook, the obsessive railway enthusiast is a bloke

Just about everyone Chris Tarrant encountered as he trundled down the tracks of Morocco in Extreme Railway Journeys (C5) was male. Drivers, engineers, ticket sellers and of course the bonkers German called Eddie who ran a train service to the Sahara twice a year  all men.

Lets face it, there is no more blokeish presenter than Tarrant. Meeting a chap named Abdelatif, he retorted: Chris is easier to say!

And when he was introduced, in a first-class carriage, to a lady called Layla, he immediately started playing air guitar. Spotting a man asleep in a fez hat, Tarrant swiped it and started doing Tommy Cooper impressions. Only a man could act like that. If you dont believe me, try to imagine Professor Mary Beard behaving the same way.

Turn-off the night 'Mmm, pink as a kittens tongue, cooed La Lawson as she trailed Parma ham into her fried sandwich in Nigella: At My Table (BBC2). Eurghh! That cutesie metaphor sounds revolting. Who wants to eat kitten tongue? Advertisement

Tarrant never stopped moaning about the heat. Hell in a tin can! he grumbled, and showed us how the soles of his shoes had melted on the pavements  but he kept his anorak on throughout, even when the thermometer topped 44C.

He was delighted to discover the Tangier express had an attachment to spray sand under its wheels, to keep it from slipping when there were snails on the line. Theres an excuse Southern Railway hasnt thought of yet.

And he admitted the sight of a bridge across a floodplain, built to carry the latest high-speed trains, brought him close to tears. No woman ever cried to see a bridge.

But this wasnt quite an all-male preserve. The exception was the owner of Ricks Cafe in Casablanca, who was American and female, a sort of Humphrietta Bogart. The place was a tourist trap, celebrating the classic 1942 movie. At least the piano player was a man. Play it again, Sandra! doesnt have quite the same ring.

EastEnders actress June Brown was very clear about the gender gap, in Women At War: 100 Years Of Service (BBC1), marking a century since women took up roles in the Armed Forces: Were not equal, are we! she snorted. I like to know there are men and women, and were not all the same.

EastEnders actress June Brown was very clear about the gender gap, in Women At War: 100 Years Of Service

Remembering her days in the Womens Royal Naval Service or Wrens during World War II, June revealed why she volunteered  the uniform suited me complexion. She didnt like the regulation handbag, though . . . barely big enough to hold her cigarettes. She worked as a cinema projectionist, showing training films to men before D-Day and rolling ciggies for them. The only time she stepped on board a Navy vessel was to drink pink gin with the officers of a submarine, moored in the harbour.

Chatting to a female officer in todays Navy, June wondered: Are there many romances on board? No! Definitely not! came the emphatic reply. June arched a disbelieving eyebrow.

This low-budget documentary series, running every weekday morning until Remembrance Sunday, might be cheap and cheerful, but its a tonic to see proud women war veterans.
Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton was joined by his co-star and rumoured girlfriend Natalia Dyer as he soaked up the sights and sounds of Paris, France.

The 23-year-old appeared at ease as he wandered the City of Love hand-in-hand with Natalia, 20, days after he confirmed that he was turned away from the U.S. at the airport for cocaine possession.

The British actor seemed in good spirits as he checked out the French capital's Jardin des Tuileries, which is situated between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, with his companion in complementing ensembles.

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Stepping out: Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton was joined by his co-star and rumoured girlfriend Natalia Dyer as he soaked up the sights and sounds of Paris, France

Looking relaxed in light of his personal woes, Charlie cut a stylish figure as he donned all black for their outing.

The Netflix star - who was also recently revealed to have a secret love child with his ex-girlfriend Akiko Matsuura- oozed Parisian chic in his cropped black trousers, T-shirt and wool overcoat as he navigated the cobbles in his leather shoes.

Complementing his style, Natalia slipped on a pair of high-waisted denims which highlighted her petite frame.

She teamed the look with a similar wool jacket, jumper and patent leather boots while shielding her eyes with a pair of vintage-inspired shades.

MailOnline have contacted Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton's reps for comment.

Happy: The 23-year-old appeared at ease as he wandered the City of Love hand-in-hand with Natalia, 20, days after he confirmed that he was turned away from the U.S. at the airport for cocaine possession

Relaxed: The British actor seemed in good spirits as he checked out the French capital's Jardin des Tuileries, which is situated between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, with his other half in complementing ensembles

Cosy: Looking relaxed in light of his personal woes, Charlie cut a stylish figure as he donned all black for their outing

The American beauty styled her tresses into a tousled low ponytail while she shared her headphones with her beau and enjoyed a cigarette.

Walking around the City of Lights, the pair wrapped their arms around each other while also stopping for photos and enjoying a bout of window shopping.

Later in the evening, Charlie and Natalia were spotted enjoying a night out with pals in the romantic city, with the US beauty swapping her casual threads for a flirty mini dress.

Natalia and Charlie recently confirmed their romance by holding hands after months of rumours.

Comfortable: The Netflix star - who was also recently revealed to have a secret love child with his ex-girlfriend Akiko Matsuura- oozed Parisian chic in his cropped black trousers, T-shirt and wool overcoat as he navigated the cobbles in his leather shoes

All in the details: She teamed the look with a similar wool jacket and jumper while shielding her eyes with a pair of vintage-inspired shades

Romance: Charlie rested his hand on her shoulder during their walk

Those boots were made for walking: She teamed her look with a pair of stylish patent leather boots

Charlie has seen some troubles recently, which involved his situation at the airport a week ago, where cocaine was detected on him.

The refusal to enter the States caused Charlie to miss the eagerly-anticipated premiere for the second season of Netflix's breakout hit Stranger Things.

With series three of the show being confirmed, it is unclear whether Charlie will be allowed to return to the States for future filming endeavours.

MailOnline had contacted representatives for Charlie for further comment at the time.

Denim Days: Complementing his style, Natalia slipped on a pair of high-waisted denims which highlighted her petite frame

Hitting the right notes: The American beauty styled her tresses into a tousled low ponytail while she shared her headphones with her beau and enjoyed a cigarette

Walking around the City of Lights, the pair appeared to enjoy each other's company

Hanging on the telephone: Charlie chatted away on his phone as he walked through the European city with Natalia

In a carefully worded statement a week ago, Heaton said he was working to 'rectify' the situation, which is said to have occurred after sniffer dogs detected the cocaine on his person.

'My planned travel to the U.S. last week was affected by an issue at U.S. immigration, and I am working to rectify it as soon as possible,' the 23-year-old told People magazine.

'I do want to clarify that I was not arrested or charged with a crime, and cooperated fully with the U.S. officials at LAX.'

Snap happy: Charlie took a moment to take a photo of the idyllic scenery

Chilled: The pair happily strolled through the city

Going for gold: The duo stopped infront of a jewellery shop's window

Taking a peep: Natalia appeared to eye up the watches and jewellery

Following the drug's detection, Charlie was questioned before being sent back to England on a return flight, and was unable to attend the premiere for the second season of Stranger Things.

'Im sorry to all the fans and my Stranger Things family for missing the premiere,' he said. 'We are all so proud of this season and I would never want this story to negatively impact the show.'

Heaton's mother and sister previously said a small amount of cocaine found its way on to his wallet at a party two weeks earlier, or at a bar or at a shop without his knowledge.

Family of the actor, who plays Jonathan Byers in the Netflix supernatural drama series, say he has never done drugs in the past and was not under the influence at the time he was stopped at LA airport.

Hanging out: Later in the evening, Charlie and Natalia were spotted enjoying a night out with pals in the romantic city

Swap: Charlie swapped his wool coat for a beige trench for the outing

All smiles: The actor appeared in jovial humour as they explored the city by night

Heaton has since undergone tests, including a hair and urine sample, which have come back all clear, according to his family.

They are now hoping the 'misunderstanding' blows over 'sooner rather than later' to allow the British star and continue filming for Stranger Things.

But they have criticised how Charlie was treated by US officials, claiming he was interrogated for three hours and wasn't allowed to call anyone or ask for a lawyer.

They blamed his treatment on his TV star status and claim he was used 'as a target'

'He's never done drugs in the past': The star's mother Michelle Lowe (left) and sister Kayleigh Heaton (right) say Heaton has never done drugs and the incident is merely a 'misunderstanding'

Speaking at the family home in Bridlington, east Yorkshire, his mother Michelle Lowe, 50, said: 'All that rubbish, it's completely fabricated. I know that but that's all I'm allowed to say on it.

'He's never done drugs in the past. It's completely made up, that's what papers do. I'm not his agent, I'm just his mum so I can't really say too much.

'He is sort of between here, London and America. It would be awful if he wasn't allowed back to America to film but I don't see it shouldn't be.

'He has proven his innocence. It could happen to any of us, you go to a bar or a party. It's just unfortunate really. 'I know that's what has happened. I hope it blows over.'

In jeopardy? With series three of the show being confirmed, it is unclear whether Charlie will be allowed to return to the States for future filming endeavours

His sister Kaayleigh Heaton, 32, added: 'It could have come from anywhere. He wasn't carrying drugs, he wasn't high. He's had tests and they have come back clear.

'He not got it in his system or anything. He was at a party two weeks before and obviously when you're at a party anything can happen.

'You leave your things on the side when you're having a drink. It could be that he was at a shop, it be on a note. What they've done is wrong, they didn't give him a chance to call anybody. They didn't give him a chance to have a lawyer.

'They put him in a room for three hours and just interrogated him and interrogated him, so it wasn't done correctly.

Former flame: Charlie shares the child with his ex, Akiko Matsuura

Social media savvy: Heaton's ex-girlfriend has posted a number of heartwarming pictures of the actor and musician with his baby boy on social media

'They didn't follow procedure. I think they saw him, they noticed him and they used him as a target. He wasn't carrying anything, he wasn't under the influence or any drugs. I think it's just a misunderstanding.

'He's been unfortunate where he's been to a party, somehow cocaine has got either on his wallet or on his cards, we're not sure.

'He didn't know anything about it, he went to the airport to fly, they checked and he is racking his brain about how this could happen. He hasn't done anything, he wasn't carrying anything. He's had tests that have come back clean.

'He has had hair sample, a blood test and urine sample which are absolutely clean. A Hair sample can last up to five months so that proves he hasn't taken anything. I think it will be fine because it's not like he has done anything.'

Heaton (right) is not believed to see his son regularly and the boy lives with his mother (left), in London

Michelle could not say when she was due to see her son again as he splits his him between Bridlington, London and America.

Due to his demanding schedule filming hit-show Stranger Things in Los Angeles, Yorkshire-born Heaton is not believed to see his son regularly.

The youngster lives with his mother, who performs in the band The Big Pink, in London.

It is now feared that Heaton could be barred from entering the US in future - meaning he could struggle to take part in filming for Stranger Things.
Miley Cyrus took to social media Monday in response to the deadly mass shooting at a Texas church.

The 24-year-old pop star vented on Twitter and Instagram after Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people after opening fire on Sunday at First Baptist Church in the tiny South Texas community of Sutherland Springs.

'My dreams have become nightmares & those nightmares , reality ... This isn't fair , this isn't right , this isn't just , this isn't human!,' Miley shared in her first response to the worst mass shooting in Texas state history.

Texas shooting: Miley Cyrus, shown in September in New York City, took to social media on Monday to vent about the deadly mass shooting at a church in Texas

'This is a TERRORIST act by a WHITE AMERICAN MAN! I am heartbroken & embarrassed,' she added.

The former Hannah Montana star said she was 'mortified' by the country, sysem and 'lack of control/laws!'.

'This is exactly why the lyrics of Bad Mood were so important for me to share on a major platform,' Miley also wrote referencing her recent performance of the song on Saturday Night Live.

'I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that everyday we are waking up to more terrifyingly painful information that makes it nearly impossible to feel optimistic that things are going to change!,' she wrote to her roughly 100 million followers on both platforms.

Gun situation: The 24-year-old pop star in a follow-up message defended emphasizing that hte gunman who killed 26 churchgoers was a 'white American male'

She wrapped up with an anti-gun violence message complete with some expletive-laden hashtags.

'My love is with you TX!,' Miley concluded.

Her post emphasizing that the gunman was a 'white American man' caused some controversy among in the comments.

Reality nightmares: Miley in her first posting said her nightmares were becoming reality

Miley then put up another statement defending her original post.

'You are not focused on the horrific tragedy I addressed but more angered that I am putting a BIG bright spotlight on the fact it was a 'WHITE AMERICAN MALE' terrorist that walked in & killed 26 people (including children) leaving 20 severely injured !,' she posted.

'Gender , race , & religion HAS and continues to matter for all the wrong reasons & that's only the beginning of how backwards this country is!,' she added.

Live performance: The pop star performed her new song Bad Mood over the weekend on Saturday Night Live

Miley supported Bernie Sanders and then Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election and also took a shot at President Donald Trump.

'Let's unite! Trump never needed to build a wall for us , we've done it ourselves! Love!,' she wrote referencing Trump's campaign promise to build wall between the US and Mexico.

Miley lastly shared a few photos of her father Billy Ray Cyrus and brothers on Instagram.

Giving thanks: Miley is shown last month writing a thank-you note to Hillary Rodham Clinton

'Just a few of my favorite WHITE AMERICAN MALES . I do NOT & refuse to generalize or stereotype!,' she wrote in the caption.

Miley took the stage in June during the One Love Manchester benefit concert organized by Ariana Grande.

The concert was held after nearly two dozen people were killed and more than 500 injured after a homemade bomb was detonated following Ariana's concert in May at Manchester Arena.
'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks was spotted holding hands with Chloe Green on Monday in West Hollywood amid claims his estranged wife suffered a miscarriage when she saw photographs of the couple kissing.

The model, 33 and the Topshop heiress, 26, have been going strong since June when they were caught on camera locking lips while on board a yacht in the Mediterranean.

Holding hands as they stopped by a branch of Le Pain Quotidien for lunch, their appearance comes after Melissa Meeks claimed she suffered a miscarriage after her husband publicly left her for Chloe.

Going strong: Jeremy Meeks stepped out with Chloe Green in West Hollywood amid claims his estranged wife suffered a miscarriage when she saw photographs of the couple kissing

Jeremy, who raises a seven-year-old son with Melissa, looked carefree as he carried a frozen drink and a pastry in one hand, while keeping close to his girlfriend.

Chloe kept casual in a geometric printed shirt, a black kaftan and white trousers.

Earlier on Monday, Melissa revealed she was in the early stages of pregnancy when she saw images of Chloe and Jeremy kissing while on a romantic break to Turkey.

It was then she realized her marriage to the former convict, with whom the mother-of-three has one child, was over.

'Not only was I grieving the loss of my life and my husband, I also had to grieve the loss of a child at the same time,' she told Radar.

Loved up: The model, 33 and the Topshop heiress, 26, stopped by a branch of Le Pain Quotidien for lunch on Monday, just hours after the explosive claims were made

'I was under so much stress!' Melissa Meeks reveals she suffered a miscarriage after seeing pictures of husband Jeremy kissing Chloe

The kiss: Melissa said she was 'stressed and emotional' after seeing images of her husband kissing Chloe on-board a luxury yacht (pictured in Turkey in June)

The care home nurse said a doctor told her of the loss when she suffered from heavy bleeding.

Of the cause, she said: 'I was under so much stress and so many emotions.'

Melissa was married to convict turned international model Jeremy for eight years before he left her this summer.

The two share a seven-year-old son, Jeremy Jr, who has been introduced to Chloe by his father.

Melissa has undergone a makeover since the split - even undergoing vaginal rejuvenation surgery - and jetted to Chloe's native England to speak on chat shows.

Dumped: Melissa has filed for divorce from her husband, and insists he should be paying her spousal and child support as Jeremy moves forward with Chloe (pictured last week)

She has filed for divorce from her husband, and insists he should be paying her spousal and child support.

Melissa stood by Meeks when he was jailed for 27 months for possession of a firearm and grand theft.

His mug shot went viral, with the blue eyed, tattooed beefcake branded the Hot Felon.

On his release, he signed a modelling contract and landed spots in big name fashion shows, while traveling the globe to attend high-profile showbiz events, which is where he's believed to have met Chloe.
She is known for parading her unique bohemian fashion sense.

And Paris Jackson channelled her signature style on Tuesday as she arrived at Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup.

It comes after reports the 19-year-old wore the semi-sheer lace number because she 'refused to wear' a gown Alex Perry designed especially for the VIP guest of the Myer marquee.

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Diva antics? Paris Jackson 'REFUSES to wear Alex Perry dress custom made for her' and dons lace bohemian frock and BOOTS instead as she attends Melbourne Cup as a guest of Myer

The Sydney Morning Herald claimed Paris was due to wear a red Alex Perry creation, but shocked Myer and the designer when she decided on another ensemble.

Paris's representative has since vehemently denied the claims to Daily Mail Australia, saying no such dress was ever made for the teen sensation.

'This isn't true. Paris couldn't have refused to wear a custom-made Alex Perry design to the Melbourne Cup, as no such dress was ever made. Paris did wear a piece from Alex's collection on the cover of Stellar Magazine,' they said in a statement.

Sydney Morning Herald claimed sources close to Myer revealed Paris wasn't a fan of the dress created for her by the Australian designer.

Not happy? The Sydney Morning Herald claimed Paris was due to wear a red Alex Perry creation, but shocked Myer and the designer when she decided on another ensemble

It was also reported that she wore Tony Bianco ankle boots as a 'compromise' after being told cowboy boots weren't dressy enough for the race day.

Paris, who is fast making a name for herself in the world of modelling and acting, appeared in high spirits as she flaunted her unique look on the red carpet.

The rust-coloured Morrison dress flaunted her numerous arm tattoos, while the low-cut neckline showed off the inked artwork on her chest.

She completed the ensemble with a headpiece by Ann Shoebridge and brown boots.

Paris showcased her svelte figure in the dress, which was cinched at her waist and skimmed her knees.

Denial: Paris's representative has since vehemently denied the claims to Daily Mail Australia, saying no such dress was ever made for the teen sensation

Happy: Paris, who is fast making a name for herself in the world of modelling and acting, appeared in high spirits as she flaunted her unique look on the red carpet

Paris styled her two-toned ombre locks in voluminous waves under her crystal headpiece.

With a bronzed face, the stunner accentuated her striking blue eyes with a brush of mascara and completed her look with a nude lip.

Boho-style necklaces and statement earrings that featured golden suns completed her look.

'What a beautiful soul. Wow': Model and Myer ambassador Rachael Finch, dressed by Myer in Mossman, posed for a photo with Paris

Model and Myer ambassador Rachael Finch, dressed by Myer in Mossman, posed for a photo with Paris.

Rachael shared the picture to Instagram and captioned: 'What a beautiful soul. Wow.'

Paris previously told The Daily Telegraph she's received a warm welcome by Australians since she arrived in Melbourne on Monday.

'Extremely touched by how kind and welcoming everyone has been so far. I was greeted by four very sweet gentlemen outside my hotel who brought me Tim Tams, Vegemite, and a koala plushie,' she said.

'Extremely touched by how kind and welcoming everyone has been so far': Paris gushed about how kind her Australian fans have been since she arrived in Melbourne on Monday

Paris was invited to this year's Melbourne Cup as a special guest of Myer and the Victorian Racing Club.

She told the publication she was excited to attend Melbourne Cup with some friends, including a pal who hails from Brisbane.

It's been eight years since her King Of Pop father, Michael Jackson, passed away aged 50 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
She is known for her phenomenal dancers body.

And Blac Chyna showed off her figure to full effect on Monday as she returned home after an outing in the Studio City area just outside Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old squeezed into a pair of super tight jeans and some flashy silver boots with spiky black stiletto heels.

Tight fit! Blac Chyna showed off her figure to full effect on Monday as she returned home after an outing in the Studio City area just outside Los Angeles

The blonde beauty offered a glimpse of her toned tummy in a crop top as she also displayed a full pout.

Meanwhile, the day before Chyna and rapper Playboi Carti fueled the romance rumors as they stepped out in West Hollywood.

On Saturday Chyna shared a snapchat of herself enjoying a drive in Los Angeles - with a male companion.

Look of surprise! The 29-year-old squeezed into a pair of super tight jeans and some flashy silver boots with spiky black stiletto heels

All she sees is gold! Blac posed up next to a motorbike on her Instagram account

Sitting beside Chyna, with animated hearts floating around his face, was none other than the rapper Playboi Carti, who used to date Rubi Rose.

Chyna, 29, wore a Playboy Bunny necklace over her Adidas sweater.

Shortly after Chyna uploaded her Snapchat video, Rubi put up an Instagram photo of herself captioned: 'Sis how my a** taste'. It is unknown if the posts are related.

As TMZ have pointed out, Playboi racked up a domestic battery arrest this summer - but was not charged - over a conflict with a girlfriend.

There is a rumor out there now that Chyna is being courted for the inaugural season of an American edition of Celebrity Big Brother, per Us Weekly.

Chyna has two children: five-year-old son King Cairo by the rapper Tyga, and infant daughter Dream by the reality star Rob Kardashian.

Two rode together: Chyna posted a Snapchat video on Saturday of herself enjoying a drive in Los Angeles - with company - the rapper Playboi Carti, who used to date Rubi Rose

Clever: Chyna, 29, wore a Playboy Bunny necklace over her Adidas sweater

Having split from Tyga in 2014, Chyna had been with her Rob & Chyna co-star off and on since early 2015, and she gave birth to Dream last November.

Rob and Chyna split in December - Rob posting a Snapchat video of himself wandering miserably through their empty house - but reunited soon after.

This July saw their latest and most dramatic breakup, with Rob posting explicit photos of Chyna to Instagram during a rant that got his account removed.

History: As TMZ have pointed out, Playboi racked up a domestic battery arrest this summer - but was not charged - over a conflict with a girlfriend

In short order, Chyna lawyered up with Gloria Allred's daughter Lisa Bloom and won a restraining order against her rotund used-to-be.

Meanwhile, Rob chose for his attorney Robert Shapiro - who with Rob's father had been a member of O.J. Simpson's defense team during O.J.'s murder trial.

The mother of Rob's child gave a press conference featuring Lisa, who has also co-starred in a press conference with Kathy Griffin, as well as one with Quantasia Sharpton, who claimed Usher exposed her to herpes.

Related or not?: Shortly after Chyna uploaded her Snapchat video, Rubi put up an Instagram photo of herself captioned: 'Sis how my ass taste'

Though Chyna has accused Rob of abuse, TMZ reported last month that she let that allegation drop as part of a deal that got her $20,000 in child support a month.

A day after reporting that child support figure, TMZ revealed Chyna was still gunning for a payout of at least $1 million by way of the revenge porn case.

In a bizarre twist, Tyga for some time dated Rob's now 20-year-old half-sister Kylie Jenner, who is rumored to be pregnant by her own current beau Travis Scott.

Hearts on herself: Chyna also posted Snapchat images of herself modeling her outfit, complete with a glistening watch
Sia took a proactive approach on Monday after learning nude photos of herself were being sold.

The 41-year-old Australian singer took control of the situation by sharing a naked picture of herself, quipping that she was helping fans to 'save money'.

Addressing her three million Instagram followers, the Chandelier singer said: 'Someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans.Save your money, here it is for free,' she wrote, 'Everyday is Christmas!'

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Proactive: Sia took a proactive approach after learning nude images of herself were being sold online by sharing a snap of herself naked (pictured without any cover at LAX in March)

The Cheap Thrills songstress was praised by fans for the bold move, with hundreds of followers expressing their support.

Sia has long been one of the most reclusive stars in show business, routinely wearing large wigs and other accessories to conceal her face during outings in public and performances.

Greg Kurstin, a producer who has collaborated with the acclaimed artist, explained that her elaborate get-ups are her way of dealing with fame on her terms.

Someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans. Save your money, here it is for free. Everyday is Christmas! pic.twitter.com/aeQlnTwLuy  sia (@Sia) November 7, 2017

Hitting back: The 41-year-old songstress took control of the situation by choosing to release images of herself, which garnered her plenty of praise and support from fans

'Its not easy being in the spotlight,' Kurstin told People in 2015, 'and she got to a place where she wanted to look out for her health and do whats best for her.

'Theres a negative side to being an artist, and she wanted to be more in control of her life.'

Video director Daniel Askill added to the publication, 'Shes definitely not some reclusive loony: She is very smart and knows exactly what shes doing.'

Private: Sia is one of the most reclusive stars in showbusiness, often wearing her signature wig to disguise her face and donning elaborate shrouding stage costumes to boost

During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden last year, she revealed her decision to retain her anonymity came from her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.

Sia, who has penned hits for stars including Rihanna, Katy Perry and Beyonce - is gearing up for the release of the upcoming holiday album, Everyday Is Christmas.

The album features 10 original songs, with tracks such as Santa's Coming for Us, Candy Cane Lane and Underneath the Christmas Lights.
She still hasn't publicly confirmed she is pregnant but Khloe Kardashian did nothing to quell the rumors Monday.

The reality star, 33, looked fit to burst out of her skinny jeans as she revealed a much fuller figure.

She also wore a baggy black sweater that she left untucked so as to hide her waist and tummy.

Baby weight? She still hasn't publicly confirmed she is pregnant but Khloe Kardashian did nothing to quell the rumors Monday as she revealed a much fuller figure in skinny jeans

For someone who loves nothing more than to flaunt her workout-honed figure on social media, the change in her wardrobe choices only seems to support the reports that she is expecting her first child.

The baby daddy is her boyfriend of one year, Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson, 26.

Khloe stepped out in high heel black ankle boots and wore a gold cross on a chain around her neck.

She showed off her usual trout pout and had dusky blush on her cheeks and lashings of black mascara on her eye-lashes.

Pregnant? The reality star, 33, looked fit to burst out of her denims and also wore a baggy black sweater that she left untucked so as to hide her waist and tummy

Reality star: She showed off her usual trout pout and had dusky blush on her cheeks and lashings of black mascara on her eye-lashes

Contrast: The change in her wardrobe choices seems to support the reports that she is expecting her first child with NBA player Tristan Thompson; pictured right in May this year

The Revenge Body host had been at a studio with big sister Kim Kardashian, 37.

Kim, who is married to rapper Kanye West, is also expecting a baby.

But because her third child is being carried by a surrogate, Kim was able to show off plenty of skin in a tiny bandeau top that left little to the imagination when it came to her ample assets.

She wore gray sweats and a dark shirt left unbuttoned along with chunky trainers.

Flashed skin: Khloe was out with big sister Kim Kardashian, 37, who flaunted her ample cleavage in a tiny bandeau top paired with baggy gray sweats and chunky trainers

Keeping her figure: Kim, who is married to rapper Kanye West, is also expecting a baby. But because her third child is being carried by a surrogate, Kim was able to show off plenty of skin

Expanding reality family: It's been claimed Kim is set to welcome a baby girl around Christmas while Khloe is said to be due to give birth in February

Casual: Khloe stepped out in high heel black ankle boots and wore a gold cross on a chain around her neck

Meanwhile, Kim and Khoe's youngest half-sister Kylie Jenner, 20, is also believed to be pregnant.

Like Khloe, she hasn't confirmed she is having a baby with rapper Travis Scott whom she hooked up with earlier this year after splitting from longtime boyfriend Tyga.

But Kylie has been keeping mostly out of the spotlight and when she has been seen out in public, she is wearing baggy clothing so as to conceal any baby bump.

Curves: Her choice of outfit revealed Khloe's very ample derriere

Ready for motherhood: Khloe is already an aunt to older sister Kourtney's three children, Kim's two kids and brother Rob's daughter

Moved on: She was previously married to former LA Lakers star Lamar Odom

A source told People in September that Khloe and beau Tristan are 'elated' to become parents.

'This is something Khloe has wanted for years and years and yet its more than that: she didnt want it unless she was in the right relationship for it,' the source told the magazine. 'She never let it happen with Lamar, intentionally, and she never considered it with James (Harden) or French (Montana) or anyone else she has seen.'

'But this is such a wonderful moment for her: not only is she going to be a mother, she is going to be raising a child with a man she truly loves.'

Settling down: Khoe is reported to be happy to be pregnant by Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan, 26, with whom, it's claimed, she 'truly loves'
The Melbourne Cup is the one day of the year when all-eyes are on the race that stops a nation.

And just because Roxy Jacenko holds the public's attention for the other 364, doesn't mean she was going to give up without a fight.

So the 37-year-old dressed to impress on Tuesday, turning heads and flaunting cleavage in a racy black crop top as she celebrated the big day in Sydney.

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Busting out! Roxy Jacenko dressed to impress on Tuesday, turning heads and flaunting cleavage in a racy black crop top as she celebrated the Melbourne Cup Sydney

The Sweaty Betty PR Founder and the rest of her affectionately named 'clones' went all-in for a late lunch at Wooloomoolloo Wharf.

Prior to arriving at her catered lunch, she was seen waving goodbye to adorable son Hunter, 3, who didn't score an invite this time around.

Roxy was seen looking full of energy as she strolled along the sidewalk with equally dolled-up staffer Holly Asser.

Lucky punters stationed at nearby outdoor tables were understandably transfixed with the mother-of-two, who was bronzed to perfection.

All in! The Sweaty Betty PR Founder and the rest of her affectionately named 'clones' went all-in for a late lunch at Wooloomoolloo Wharf

Not this time! Prior to arriving at her catered lunch, she was seen waving goodbye to adorable son Hunter, 3, who didn't score an invite this time around

Her slender midriff was also on display in the monochromatic ensemble, which contrasted a tiny, tight crop with breezy wide-leg pants.

With an elegant floral headpiece and shielding her eyes with a pair of Ray-Bans, she chatted away to Holly.

The face that stops the nation: Lucky punters stationed at nearby outdoor tables were understandably transfixed with the mother-of-two, who was bronzed to perfection

Best on ground! With an elegant floral headpiece and shielding her eyes with a pair of Ray-Bans, she chatted away to Holly

Kindred! Both Roxy and Holly enlisted Paddington designer Kindred floral for their race-day attire.

Storyteller! The fun didn't stop when the girls arrived at their lavish lunch spread, with Roxy looking all-smiles as she chatted away

The publicist was equally glamorous in a summery pink gown, which was matched flawlessly with a floral headpiece of her own.

Both Roxy and Holly enlisted Paddington designer Kindred floral for their race-day attire.

No need to brag! Perhaps bragging about the size of her upcoming main course, she was seen using her hands to punctuate the clearly entertaining point she was making

The fun didn't stop when the girls arrived at their lavish lunch spread, with Roxy looking all-smiles as she chatted away.

Perhaps bragging about the size of her upcoming main course, she was seen using her hands to punctuate the clearly entertaining point she was making.

Still got it! Even against the lofty competition of the 'race that stops a nation,' Roxy still commanded her fair share of attention on Tuesday
She split from 28-year-old drummer Michael Snoddy at the beginning of the year, following a year-long romance.

And Paris Jackson certainly sent tongues wagging as she was spotted putting on a tactile display with a mystery man during a quirky appearance at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

From reportedly knocking back a custom-designed frock, pulling funny faces from the marquee and even stepping out with the mystery man, the 19-year-old certainly caught attention at the high-profile event.

New flame? Paris Jackson, 19, pulls faces before putting on a tactile display with mystery man at the Melbourne Cup... following split from Michael Snoddy, 28, earlier this year

Male companion: Paris kept a mystery man close to her side as she made her high-profile appearance at Melbourne Cup on Tuesday

Her gentleman companion looked dapper in a well-cut suit, wearing his hair in a ponytail as he arrived at the venue with Paris, before letting his hair loose as they put on a flirty display inside the venue.

After posing for pictures at the event, a playful Paris proceeded to turn heads once inside the Myer marquee.

The Chanel muse was spotted pressing herself against the windows and pulling a series of bizarre and funny faces, as she looked down on the Birdcage.

Whispering sweet nothings: Paris was seen whispering into her male companion's ear inside the Myer marquee

Lots to talk about: The pair appeared to be in deep conversation, ignoring other racegoers around them

First sticking her tongue out, the daughter of the King of Pop was then seen pushing her nose right against the glass in the Myer marquee, and licking the window as she watched the action from inside.

Later, Paris only turned heads once again - as she stepped out with the mystery man close to her side.

The up-and-coming actress, was seen strolling the race course with the handsome chap, who at one point tenderly placed his arm around her.

Time to go? Paris and the handsome man were hand-in-hand as they hopped into a Lexus

Style match: Paris wore a bohemian ensemble, while her male pal sported a slick man bun at the event

Lean in: At one point, with their backs towards the cameras, the man placed his arms around the aspiring actress in what appeared to be a tender display of affection

VIP guest: Paris was a VIP guest inside the Myer marquee

Paris, who is known for being a free spirit, found a style match in her companion, who sported a distinctive man bun with his dapper checked suit.

At one point, with their backs towards the cameras, the man placed his arms around the aspiring actress in what appeared to be a tender display of affection.

The pair were then seen leaving the event in a chopper - before big race had even begun.

Camera shy? While Paris appeared camera shy, at various points covering her face or keeping her head down, her male pal didn't seem to mind the photographer

While Paris appeared camera shy, at various points covering her face or keeping her head down, her male pal didn't seem to mind the photographers.

Paris is believed to be single after her reported split from rocker beau Michael Snoddy in January this year.

It's unclear whether the man is an Australian friend of Paris's, or whether he flew in from Los Angeles with the star.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Paris's representatives for comment and clarification.

Come here! The teenager was seen holding onto his arm

Lighting up: Ever the gentleman, he lit the model's cigarette

Getting along nicely: The pair were spotted strolling around the VIP birdcage together

Meanwhile, early on Tuesday an uncomfortable-looking Paris descended upon the red carpet at Flemington.

While the daughter of late superstar Michael Jackson told reporters that she was simply 'cold', she couldn't help but shake her awkward demeanour as the hours wore on.

'Throughout the day, the teenager looked like a fish out of water,' News Corp reported from the event.

Horseplay! The man was seen keeping close to Paris during her cameo at Cup Day

And she's off: Paris was whisked away in a chopper before the big race had begun

Paris is rumoured to have been flown to Melbourne by Myer for a whopping $100,000 as their VIP guest for the event, News Corp reports.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that she had refused to wear a gown specially designed by fashion royalty Alex Perry.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald , Paris was due to wear a red gown, but shocked racing carnival sponsor Myer and the designer when she decided to don another ensemble.

Lovely: The Chanel muse was spotted pressing herself against the windows in the Myer marquee and pulling a series of bizarre and funny faces, as she looked down on the Birdcage

Ignoring the rules: She appeared to be ignoring the sign on the window that clearly said 'Please Do Not Lean On Me'

The publication claimed sources close to Myer revealed Paris wasn't a fan of the dress created for her by the Australian designer.

Paris's representative has since vehemently denied these claims however, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'This isn't true. Paris couldn't have refused to wear a custom-made Alex Perry design to the Melbourne Cup, as no such dress was ever made.'

'Paris did wear a piece from Alex's collection on the cover of Stellar Magazine,' they explained.

The Sydney Morning Herald has also reported that Paris wanted to wear cowboy boots in the Birdcage but was advised that they weren't dressy enough for the carnival.

Uncomfortable? While the daughter of late superstar Michael Jackson told reporters that she was simply 'cold', she couldn't help but shake her awkward demeanour as the hours wore on

Instead, she matched her gypsy-inspired gown with a pair of ankle boots by designer Tony Bianco.

Speaking to Vogue Australia ahead of the event, Paris admitted that she had little knowledge of the Melbourne Cup despite her background in the horse racing world.

'When I was first told about this I kind of figured it was a Dodgers stadium, baseball experience where you sit in a baseball cap and jeans and you eat a hotdog.'

Reports are also swirling that the model and budding actress refused to do interviews with any publication other than the News Corp during the Melbourne Cup festivities.

According to News Corp, the publication was offered an exclusive 'five minute' interview with Paris, but were forced to cut it short due to the 'extreme restrictions' placed upon questions that could be asked.
It is the hyperviolent show that was pulled from New York Comic Con following the Las Vegas shooting massacre.

But there were smiles all round as stunning Deborah Ann Woll stole the show from show star Jon Bernthal at the premiere of The Punisher in New York on Monday.

The True Blood beauty looked every inch the vamp in a dramatic gown that highlighted her slender physique,

Black beauty: Deborah Ann Woll stole the show from Jon Bernthal at the premiere of The Punisher in New York on Monday

The ginger-haired filly was in fine form in her stunning dark gown, which she combined with a pair of towering high heels.

Deborah, 32, plays Karen Page in the Netflix drama, a role she also plays in sister shows Daredevil and The Defenders.

But the main star of The Punisher is 41-year-old Jon, who plays Frank Castle and his titular damaged vigilante alter ego.

However on his big night he looked ever inch the gentleman in a classy grey bespoke suit, shirt, tie and black leather shoes.

Sidekick: The show's star was very much left in the shade by the ginger-haired actress

She's a real Marvel: The fine filly showcased her slender frame in a flattering gown

Controversial: The show was pulled from New York Comic Con following the Las Vegas shooting massacre

But they were far from the only big names in attendance at the showpiece occasion.

For Amber Rose Revah and Jaime Ray Newman added some extra much needed feminine charm to the event.

Due to the nature of the main character and its presence on Netflix the show has a more violent tone than the usual Marvel fare.

A controversial trailer featured the brutal anti-hero firing an assault rifle while seeking revenge on those responsible for killing his family.

Marvel and Netflix pulled The Punisher from New York Comic Con following the Las Vegas shooting massacre.

Suit you sir: Jon looked ever inch the gentleman in a classy grey bespoke suit

Knotty but nice: He even wore a smart tie rather than following the open-neck trend

Lovely threesome: Deborah was joined by fellow beauties Amber Rose Revah and Jaime Ray

Ray of sunshine: All eyes were on Jaime as as showcased her fine physique

They said in a joint statement at the time: 'We are stunned and saddened by this week's senseless act in Las Vegas.

After careful consideration, Netflix and Marvel have decided it wouldn't be appropriate for Marvel's The Punisher to participate in New York Comic Con.

'Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and those affected by this tragedy.'

The Las Vegas shooting massacre, which occurred on October 1, killed 58 and wounded nearly 500.

The gunman Stephen Paddock, 64, shot and killed himself after carrying out the deadliest mass shooting by a lone shooter in US history.

Sheer brilliance: Jamie Ray stunned in a lace gown with star detailing

Taking the plunge: Her outfit also featured a very adventurous neckline

A splash of colour: Amber Rose Revah was quite the sight in her outfit
Her family is famed for building hotels.

But Paris Hilton was building homes instead on Monday when she visited an earthquake-struck region in Mexico.

The 36-year-old visited San Gregorio, Xochimilco to deliver aid to the victims of the quake, which devastated the area on September 19.

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'My heart is with all of you': Paris Hilton visited victims of the September Mexico earthquake on Monday

The heiress brought hundreds of blankets, pillows, shoes, clothes, food and toys for the affected families.

She also donated enough money to build seven brand new homes.

'I feel that this is my second home, I've been coming to Mexico all my life,' she told the gathered crowd.

'I love the people, I think they are all beautiful, they have great hearts, they are beautiful inside and out, they are very genuine and incredible.'

Dressed down: The hotel heiress opted for a practical and sensible ensemble in a khaki colour palette

Help: The 36-year-old visited San Gregorio, Xochimilco to deliver aid to the victims of the quake, which devastated the area on September 19.

Good cause: The heiress brought hundreds of blankets, pillows, shoes, clothes, food and toys, for the affected families

Rebuilding: She also donated enough money to build seven brand new homes

Helping hand: The blonde beauty was doing her bit for the relief aid

Some 370 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured when the 7.1 magnitude quake struck.

'I'm sorry for what happened on that horrible September 19, day of the earthquake. My heart is with all of you and I want you to know that I think of you, I love you and that is why I came to support you today,' she added.

'When I heard what happened with the earthquake my heart broke, I was devastated.'

Horrific: Some 370 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured when the 7.1 magnitude quake struck

Remembering: 'I'm sorry for what happened on that horrible September 19, day of the earthquake,' she said

Moved: 'My heart is with all of you and I want you to know that I think of you, I love you and that is why I came to support you today,' she added

Excitement: 'All the children were in awe of her, they were so thrilled and excited to meet her,' one witness said

Sweet: Some of the children even gave gifts back

During her visit, Paris spent time with the families, listening to their stories from the horrifying day.

'I know there are people who are suffering and going through hard times, so every time I return I will do something to give back,' she continued.

'I am here to support these people. They have lost their homes, all of their belongings and family members. everything has been taken away. It's so important to help.'

Close: 'I feel that this is my second home, I've been coming to Mexico all my life,' she told the gathered crowd

Affinity: 'I love the people, I think they are all beautiful, they have great hearts, they are beautiful inside and out, they are very genuine and incredible,' she said

Dark day: During her visit, Paris spent time with the families, listening to their stories from the horrifying day

Example: She added that she hoped to be a voice and raise awareness of the cause to help rebuild the community

She added that she hoped to be a voice and raise awareness of the cause to help rebuild the community.

'All the children were in awe of her, they were so thrilled and excited to meet her,' one witness said. 'Paris gave speeches that had all the people crying with her kind encouraging words of support.'

Paris is a frequent charity supporter; while serving as resident DJ at Amnesia in Ibiza over the summer she hosted a special Foam & Diamonds party just for kids, which raised more than $100,000 for APNEEF, a charity for children with special needs.

Helping out: Paris is a frequent charity supporter; while serving as resident DJ at Amnesia in Ibiza over the summer she hosted a special Foam & Diamonds party just for kids
She's become one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood, receiving an Oscar nomination for her work in The Theory of Everything, and gaining fan-boy recognition for her lead role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

But Felicity Jones appeared more downtrodden than delighted on Sunday, as she was spotted filming scenes for her upcoming legal biopic On The Basis of Sex.

The 34-year-old actress was spotted in classic 1950s clothing for the scenes in Montreal, to play US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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Melancholy: Felicity Jones appeared more downtrodden than delighted on Sunday, as she was spotted filming scenes for her upcoming legal biopic On The Basis of Sex

Rocking a double-breasted teal coat and red lip, Felicity looked as if she had stepped right out of the cinematic golden age as she filmed the scenes.

The Inferno star rocked the coat with an adorning brooch, before changing into a burgundy dress and heels for shooting later on in the day.

The brunette beauty had her bobbed locks styled into simple curls, and accessorised both her looks with a red lip as she was seen shooting scenes as the hard-as-nails legal maven.

Felicity took on the role of Ginsberg after Natalie Portman dropped out of the film, shortly after welcoming her daughter Amelia, although it is not known whether this is the reason she chose not to take part.

Changing up her look: The 34-year-old actress was spotted in classic 1950s clothing for the scenes in Montreal, to play US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Inspired: Felicity will play US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (L) in the early days of her legal career. The film documents Ruth's rise to becoming a US Supreme Court Justice

Vintage vibes: Rocking a double-breasted teal coat and red lip, Felicity looked as if she had stepped right out of the cinematic golden age as she filmed the scenes

On The Basis of Sex will document Ruth's rise to becoming a US Supreme Court Justice, the first Jewish woman to do so.

Felicity will co-star in the film with Armie Hammer, who will play Ruth's real-life husband Marty and it seems the film will also show the pair's nuptials.

The star was spotted on set last month rocking a stunning bridal gown for the film.

Other stars appearing the film include Misery star Kathy Bates and Leftovers star Justin Theroux, and the flick will be directed by Mimi Leder.

While the film does not yet have a release date, it is expected to hit cinemas in 2018 in line with the 25th Anniversary of Ginsberg's time as a Supreme Court Justice.
They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the Kensington Palace Orangery in London in July 2015.

And pregnant Nicky Hilton proved she was well acquainted with the glamorous lifestyle as she attended the Library Lions Event at New York Public Library with her husband James Rothschild.

The Hilton hotel heiress, 34, who is set to welcome her second child in early 2018, dressed to accentuate her bump in a gorgeous figure-hugging midnight blue down as she cut a regal figure for the event.

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Sensational: Pregnant Nicky Hilton proved she was well acquainted with the glamorous lifestyle as she attended the Library Lions Event at New York Public Library with her husband James Rothschild

Clearly dressed to command attention, Nicky oozed elegance in the slinky backless number which boasted a frilly draped neckline.

Complementing the number, which put focus on her blossoming bump, the sister of socialite Paris Hilton swept her blonde locks in a chic side-parted chignon.

She opted for a glamorous coat of make-up, consisting of mascara-laden eyes and chiselled cheekbones.

Proving to be her best accessory, James also ensured he was suited and booted to perfection.

Glamorous: Clearly dressed to command attention, the Hilton hotel heiress oozed elegance in the slinky backless number which boasted a frilly draped neckline

The expectant pair looked to be having a great time as they made their way up the stairs.

The socialite is already a doting mother to baby daughter Lily Grace, 16 months, with her second child set to arrive in early 2018.

Nicky said she and James won't be finding out the gender of their little bundle of joy, but she insisted she would be 'thrilled with either'.

Speaking last week, she told US Weekly: 'You know what? I would be happy with either but I love having a sister. With a sister, you have a best friend for life. But a boy would be really cute, too. Im thrilled with whatever.'

Her little superhero! Nicky is already a doting mother to baby daughter Lily Grace, 16 months, with her second child set to arrive in early 2018

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Nicky was expecting her second baby this summer.

An insider claimed she and elder sister Paris, 36, both love being close in age, so the family are all very excited at the news.

'It's Lily's first birthday July 8 so they are excited,' the source revealed. 'They always wanted to give Lily-Grace a sibling close in age, like they both have.'

The source added the couple would love to have a boy to add to their brood, but of course will be happy with anything.

Nicky has previously described being a mother to daughter Lily Grace as 'heaven'.

Second child on the way: Nicky said she and James won't be finding out the gender of their little bundle of joy, but she insisted she would be 'thrilled with either'

Siblings: An insider claimed she and elder sister Paris, 36, both love being close in age, so the family are all very excited at the news of her upcoming arrival (pIctured 2003)

Speaking to E! News in September 2016, she said: 'I love it! I love it! Waking up to that face - it's heaven.'

The Hilton hotel heiress married British banking heir James Rothschild in a lavish ceremony at the Kensington Palace Orangery in London in July 2015, surrounded by the creme de la creme of society, as well as their friends and family.

The bride wore a stunning $77,000 couture Valentino gown featuring a high-neck and a long train, topping the look off with a dramatic lace veil, while her reality star sister Paris acted as maid of honour.

Nicky was previously wed to financier Todd Meister, before having the marriage annulled less than three months after they tied the knot in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August 2004.
She's the stunning model who's created her own tequila brand with husband, Jake Wall.

But Jennifer Hawkins has laughed off suggestions she and her beau are the next Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber- whose own label of the liquor recently sold for a staggering US$1 billion.

'I never compare myself to someone like that,' Jen told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

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'I never compare myself to someone like that: Despite owning her own brand of the liquor, Jennifer Hawkins downplayed comparisons with tequila tycoon Cindy Crawford

She added: 'I mean, they're incredible.'

Like Jen, Cindy is a famous model who combined her public profile with her husband's business savvy to launch her own line of tequila.

With business partners George Clooney and Mike Meldman, Cindy and Rande launched Casamigos Tequila in 2013.

Tequila tycoon: Like Jen, Cindy is a famous model who combined her public profile with her husband's business savvy to launch her own line of tequila

However, back in June the group sold the brand to British beverage company Diageo for the jaw-dropping eight-figure sum.

Cindy and Rande reportedly stand to receive more than $200 million from the sale.

Meanwhile, Jen and Jake launched their own line of tequila, Sesion, last year.

Spot the difference! Jen and Jake are following the footsteps of Rande and Cindy having created their own tequila label

Business-minded: Jen told Daily Mail Australia that she and Jake traveled to Mexico for research before creating Sesion

What a sale! Rande and Cindy reportedly stand to receive more than $200 million from the sale of Casamigos Tequila

Speaking about the brand, the former Miss Universe said: 'It's a passion project. It's pretty fun - business is interesting'.

The blonde beauty revealed plans for the label had been in development for years before its launch, and that she and Jake traveled to Mexico for research.

'We partnered up with our friend who's in the liquor industry,' Jen explained to Daily Mail Australia.

Trailblazers! The models even share a penchant for draping their blazers in the same fashion

'I do the marketing. It's a team effort, it's nice,' the Myer ambassador stated.

Indeed, Sesion has already made a splash, with the brand's Instagram account counting nearly 10,000 followers.

It's unclear if Jen does the uploads for the raunchy account, which includes pictures of nude models sunbathing and frisky couples saddling each other.
Heitkamps amendment would require the administration to provide an assessment of North Koreas use of financial institutions to promote its acquisition of military expertise, equipment and technology.

North Koreas nuclear weapons and missile programs threaten the safety of American families, as well as our allies and interests in the region, Heitkamp said. Congress must take action to counter the threat, and secondary sanctions are another important way to cut off the financial support that has allowed North Korea to advance its dangerous and illegal programs. North Korea poses the most urgent national security threat and we must hold it accountable through military, diplomatic, and economic strategies to protect our country, as Ive long called for.
She has been on a mission to destroy him in recent weeks, after years of the pair being at loggerheads.

But it seems the feud between Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) and Pat Phelan (Connor Mcintyre) will take a new turn in Coronation Street next week, after he offers her an ultimatum that could benefit both of them.

Anna will become the target of Phelan's sinister schemes again next week after she tells his daughter Nicola that Phelan not only raped her, but also the newcomer's Mum.

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Showdown: Corrie's Anna Windass and Pat Phelan will come to loggerheads again next week as she becomes his target once again

Nicola's disgust for her father will see her decide to leave the Cobbles and move to Australia, despite her secretly being pregnant with Gary Windass' baby.

Phelan's anger at losing his daughter leads him back on the path to destroy Anna once again, causing him to him inform the police that she was responsible for Seb Franklin's ladder accident last week.

After Anna becomes the new target of the police investigation, Phelan reveals to them that Seb and Anna had a turbulent relationship and he witnessed Anna assaulting the youngster.

Following Nicola's exit from the street, Phelan approaches Anna with a dark new plan in his mind.

Exit: Phelan's daughter Nicole decides to leave the street next week after discovering her father raped both Anna and Nicola's Mum

Tense: Phelan and Nicole have a showdown before her exit, after Anna revealed Phelan's dark past

Dropping the bombshell that Nicola is expecting Anna's son's baby after a one night stand, Anna is left reeling by the news.

Phelan then offers Anna a sinister new deal, though what that deal is remains to be seen.

Anna will also confront Gary with the shocking revelation, unaware that Gary already knew he was going to be a Dad.

Phelan has been acting darker than ever in recent weeks, after murdering his prisoner Andy Carver in scenes that shocked viewers.

Distraught: Phelan then reveals that Nicola was pregnant with Gary Windass's baby

Days are numbered: Anna, played by Debbie Rush, is set to dramatically exit the soap early next year

Corrie producers have been tight-lipped on where this storyline will be going, though some fans have worried things will not turn out well for Anna.

With Debbie Rush set to leave the soap early next year, could she meet a grisly end at Phelan's hand?

Some fans have also theorised that Anna could eventually be arrested for Seb's accident, after on-set pictures emerged of the character being arrested on Christmas Day after attempting to go on the run.

Ultimatum: Anna will be offered a new deal by Phelan after convincing pregnant Nicola to leave, but what this deal is remains to be seen
She plays Michael Burnham in the new Star Trek series on Netflix.

And Sonequa Martin-Green handled questions about gender fluidity like a pro during her appearance on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday when co-host Piers Morgan asked her about her character's unconventional moniker.

The 32-year-old actress said: 'I love all the political themes we're exploring. My character is named after her biological father, who in the story was killed when she was very young.

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In the hot seat: Sonequa Martin-Green handled questions about gender fluidity like a pro during her appearance on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday

Going in: Piers Morgan asked Sonequa about her character's unconventional moniker in the new Star Trek TV show

'That is simply but profoundly a political statement of the gender fluidity of the future, where a daughter can be named after her father.'

Piers stirred up a heated debate, asking the Walking Dead star what she thought about gender fluidity in general.

He declared: 'I'm very confused and unsettled by gender fluidity, people who wake up one day and think they're Sonequa and the next day Michael.'

Debate: Sonequa plays Michael Burnham in the new Star Trek series on Netflix

What's in a name: The 32-year-old actress explained, 'My character is named after her biological father, who in the story was killed when she was very young'

Chat: Piers stirred up a heated debate, asking the Walking Dead star what she thought about gender fluidity in general

Speaking out: 'When I speak of gender fluidity, I'm speaking about gender roles and this industry being more equal, on a more even playing field. I want us to not pay so much attention to those barriers'

Discussion: The star was also joined by showbiz correspondent Richard Arnold

Unfazed by the line of questioning, Sonequa replied: 'I don't think anyone can speak on those terms because it is such a highly sensitive and personal thing  and everyone has a right to explore that. It's our rights as human beings. Or at least it should be.

'In this case (with Michael Burnham) when Im speaking of gender fluidity Im talking about the gender roles being in a more equal place, being on a more even sort of playing field, if you will, so were not paying so much attention to the sort of barriers that separate those two genders.'

Probing further, Piers queried whether Sonequa would feel the same if her son turned around and said he was gender fluid.

Getting a grilling: Probing further, Piers queried whether Sonequa would feel the same if her son turned around and said he was gender fluid

Unfazed by the line of questioning, Sonequa replied: 'I don't think anyone can speak on those terms because it is such a highly sensitive and personal thing  and everyone has a right to explore that'

Glamorous: The Walking Dead star was clad in an elegant blush pink dress, covering up in a checked coat

In her element: The stunning star kept warm in the chilly London weather in a faux fur stole

She said: 'I think that is something we have to deal with now. I couldnt say that I didnt like it, because if thats what he (my son) truly believed, I have to support that because I love him unconditionally.

'So I have to receive that and I have to accept that and then I have to decide how we move forward together.'

Sonequa impressed both Piers and Susanna Reid with her reasoning, and the TV host concluded, 'I have one word for that. Logical.'

The actress looked incredible for her TV appearance, donning an elegant blush pink dress in a soft tulle material.

Glamorous: The actress looked incredible for her TV appearance, donning an elegant blush pink dress in a soft tulle material
A plethora of soap stars were pictured leaving the festivities in cheery spirits on Monday evening.

But Fiona Wade, 38, looked as immaculate as ever as she made a glamorous exit from the Inside Soap Awards at London's hippodrome.

The Emmerdale actress, who plays Priya Sharma in the award-winning soap, sent pulses racing in her daring ensemble.

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Fiona Wade, 38, looked as immaculate as ever as she made a glamorous exit from the Inside Soap Awards at London's hippodrome

Making the most of her enviable curves, she slipped them into a plunging metallic dress with sheer paneling across her slender waist.

The frock was cinched in at the waist by a statement belt, and flashed her underwear underneath the see-through overlay of the chic frock.

Priya, who is of British and Filipino descent, elongated her shapely pins in a pair of strappy sandals, wearing her raven hair tied back off her pretty face as she posed for cameras.

The busty Emmerdale actress sent pulses racing in her daring choice of ensemble

Long-standing: She has played Priya Sharma in award-winning soap Emmerdale since 2011

The actress, who doesn't drink, was later seen leaving the bash alongside co-stars : Zoe Henry and Amy Walsh.

Speaking to The Mirror in August, she admitted she is feeling the pressure to have children since hitting her thirties.

'My mum really wants me to have kids and I want to have a baby, but it's not going to happen right now.

'I try to be relaxed about it and I believe that it will come when the time is right,' she says. 'I do feel broody, and all my cousins have babies who I love seeing.'

Making the most of her enviable curves, she slipped them into a plunging metallic dress with sheer paneling across her slender waist

The actress, who doesn't drink, was later seen leaving the bash alongside co-stars : Zoe Henry and Amy Walsh

Fiona, who rose to fame on Grange Hill aged just 16, also admitted she has had to ditch previous flames as they expected her to be 'like Priya'.

'It takes someone who's understanding to get that I'm not always going to be around in the week, but being an actor you're used to not being with your partner all the time  I don't mind that.

'My love life is nothing like Priya's, thank God!,' she added.

Priya, who is of British and Filipino descent, elongated her shapely pins in a pair of strappy sandals, wearing her raven hair tied back off her pretty face as she posed for cameras

A plethora of soap stars were pictured leaving the festivities in cheery spirits on Monday evening

Her award-winning display comes as it's one the biggest nights in the soap calendar with the biggest names from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stepping out on the red carpet.

Rounding off another successful year, Emmerdale was crowned Best Soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the third year in a row, bringing their haul of trophies on the night to eight.

Meanwhile, Coronation Street carried away five honours including Best Shock Twist after Andy Carver was revealed to be alive.

Rounding off another successful year, Emmerdale was crowned Best Soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the third year in a row, bringing their haul of trophies on the night to eight

'My mum really wants me to have kids and I want to have a baby, but it's not going to happen right now': She recently admitted she is feeling the pressure to have children since hitting her thirties

'It takes someone who's understanding to get that I'm not always going to be around in the week, but being an actor you're used to not being with your partner all the time  I don't mind that,' Fiona (pictured centre) admitted of her love life recently

EastEnders weighed in with a number of awards as Walford-cum-Strictly star Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi) picked up the Sexiest Male prize, while Albert Square original Gillian Taylforth accepted Outstanding Achievement Award for her years as Kathy Beale.

Channel 4's Hollyoaks took home a win for the hilarious double act of Lysette Anthony and Nicole Barber-Lane, who pick up the Best Partnership Award.

While Doctors won its first-ever Inside Soap Award as Lorna Laidlaw secured the prize for Best Daytime Star. And Aussie TV stalwart Neighbours won Best Daytime Soap.

'My love life is nothing like Priya's, thank God!,' she added of her love life recently

Woohoo! The Inside Soap Awards 2017 seemed to be a night of excess as a host of stars appeared bleary-eyed as they left the event, with Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon (left) leading the way with an extremely animated display while her co-star Tina O'Brien and Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe (centre-right) joined her in a dramatic exit following a night of revelry
She's been a chameleon of recent weeks, changing her hair into a slew of styles, from long brunette locks to a peroxide blonde buzz cut.

And Kristen Stewart showed off her brand new do on Monday, as she was spotted exiting a Los Angeles spa rocking a blond mullet.

The 27-year-old actress showed off her highlighted locks as she went braless for the outing, rocking a casual ensemble as she enjoyed the day of pampering with a friend.

New woman: Actress Kristen Stewart, 27, showed off a brand new blonde mullet on Monday as she exited a Los Angeles spa with a friend

Kristen rocked a classic slogan tee for the outing, with the words I'm Gonna Win emblazoned across the purple front.

Rocking black ripped toe jeans and plimsolls, the Snow White and the Huntsman star finished off her look with a long chain necklace and round framed sunglasses.

Kristen is no stranger to changing her hairstyle, after being spotted with a variety of looks in recent months.

During her time as Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga, Bella had her brown locks long and loose to match with the character, only to give them the chop once the series came to an end.

Chilled: The star went braless for the outing as she showed off her dynamic new do

Old times: Kristen has been showing off a slew of new looks in recent weeks, in comparison to the classic brunette locks the star rocked in the Twilight series (above in 2008)

Style maven: Kristen rocked her signature brunette locks until the end of the Twilight Saga (pictured above in 2012)

Kristen, who has been in a relationship with model Stella Maxwell since late 2016, then began to shake up her style, cutting her hair into a shaggy crop before dying it red and then blonde.

Fans were shocked when the star sported a peroxide buzzcut in February this year, a far cry from her previous styles.

The American Ultra star was then spotted with a new spiky do in September as she attended the premiere of Rebel in the Rye with the film's star Nicholas Hoult.

Chameleon: Kristen then sported a slew of different looks, including a red curled crop in 2016

Ever changing: Kristen had her hair in a shaggy brunette crop earlier this year

Wow! Fans were then shocked when the star switched her hair into a peroxide buzz cut

While the star has not appeared on the big screen this year, her next big film could make a huge splash, as a crime period drama about accused murderer Lizzie Borden.

Kristen will not play the infamous criminal in the film, but instead the character Bridget Sullivan.

The screen starlet as been spotted on set in recent months, though the film has not yet been given a release date.
She's the Australian model married to Gary Clark Jr. who announced she was expecting her second child last month.

And on Sunday night, Nicole Trunfio assured her fans she was still as stylish as ever attending the Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.

Donning a metallic number for the annual event, the 31-year-old looked incredibly chic in her layered monochrome ensemble.

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Stunner: On Sunday night, Nicole Trunfio assured her fans she was still as stylish as ever attending the Vogue Fashion Fund Awards

Concealing her burgeoning bump, Nicole sported a loose fitting black shirt.

Completed with a metallic sheen, she teamed the shirt with matching wide leg black trousers of the same material.

Keeping warm from the New York Fall night, Nicole donned an oversized coat.

Expecting! Concealing her burgeoning bump, Nicole sported a loose fitting black shirt

Stylish: Completed with a metallic sheen, she teamed the shirt with matching wide leg black trousers of the same material

Bringing the drama! Throwing the fur look design effortlessly over her shoulders, she brought the drama to her killer ensemble

Throwing the fur effortlessly over her shoulders, she brought the drama to her killer ensemble.

Letting her jacket do all the talking, Nicole kept the look streamlined with a pair of black pumps.

With a bold blue smokey cat-eye, plump lips and luminous contoured complexion, Nicole's silky brunette locks were styled straight with a centre path.

Stunner: With a bold blue smokey cat-eye, plump lips and luminous contoured complexion, Nicole's silky brunette locks were styled straight with a centre path

Date night: Also joining her on the red carpet was husband and musician Gary Clark Jr

Also joining her on the red carpet was husband and musician Gary Clark Jr.

Similarly to his wife, Gary opted for a full black ensemble.

Keeping warm with a jacket he was also seen with leather pants.

Fashion forward: He accessorised his look with a khaki hat and donned shoes of a similar colour

Another on the way: The couple who are already parents to son Zion, 2, announced last month that they had another on the way

He accessorised his look with a khaki hat and donned shoes of a similar colour.

The couple who are already parents to son Zion, 2, announced last month that they had another on the way.

'Gary and I are so humbled to announce with will be graced with the presence of a daughter in 2018,' wrote Nicole on Instagram.

'We cannot wait for her arrival and to extend the ever-growing love of our family.'

Nicole is currently 27 weeks pregnant and the new addition is set to arrive in mid February.
She celebrated the Melbourne Cup by lunching at Sydney's exclusive hot-spot Wooloomoolloo Wharf on Tuesday.

And it seems Roxy Jacenko, 37, may have backed a winner in the race that stops the nation, with the PR guru appearing to be in good spirits as she left the venue later that afternoon.

Flaunting her eye-popping cleavage in a plunging black crop-top, the mother-of-two made sure to turn heads as she sauntered towards her car with a blonde pal.

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Busting out! Roxy dressed to impress at the Melbourne Cup, flaunting her eye-popping cleavage in a plunging black crop-top

Roxy also made sure to reveal a glimpse at her gym-honed torso and muscle-bound arms.

She topped off her look with a designer handbag, a series of gold Cartier bangles and a white floral fascinator headband.

Earlier in the day, the Sweaty Betty PR Founder and the rest of her affectionately named 'clones' went all-in for a late lunch at Wooloomoolloo Wharf.

If you've got it, flaunt it! Roxy also made sure to reveal a glimpse at her gym-honed torso and muscle-bound arms

Prior to arriving at her catered lunch, she was seen waving goodbye to adorable son Hunter, 3, who didn't score an invite this time around.

Roxy was seen looking full of energy as she strolled along the sidewalk with equally dolled-up staffer Holly Asser.

Lucky punters stationed at nearby outdoor tables were understandably transfixed with the mother-of-two, who was bronzed to perfection.

Ta ta! Roxy was spotted saying farewell to her pal in the carpark

All in! The Sweaty Betty PR Founder and the rest of her affectionately named 'clones' went all-in for a late lunch at Wooloomoolloo Wharf

Not this time! Prior to arriving at her catered lunch, she was seen waving goodbye to adorable son Hunter, 3, who didn't score an invite this time around

Her slender midriff was also on display in the monochromatic ensemble, which contrasted a tiny, tight crop with breezy wide-leg pants.

With an elegant floral headpiece and shielding her eyes with a pair of Ray-Bans, she chatted away to Holly.

The face that stops the nation: Lucky punters stationed at nearby outdoor tables were understandably transfixed with the mother-of-two, who was bronzed to perfection

Best on ground! With an elegant floral headpiece and shielding her eyes with a pair of Ray-Bans, she chatted away to Holly

Kindred! Both Roxy and Holly enlisted Paddington designer Kindred floral for their race-day attire.

Storyteller! The fun didn't stop when the girls arrived at their lavish lunch spread, with Roxy looking all-smiles as she chatted away

The publicist was equally glamorous in a summery pink gown, which was matched flawlessly with a floral headpiece of her own.

Both Roxy and Holly enlisted Paddington designer Kindred floral for their race-day attire.

No need to brag! Perhaps bragging about the size of her upcoming main course, she was seen using her hands to punctuate the clearly entertaining point she was making

The fun didn't stop when the girls arrived at their lavish lunch spread, with Roxy looking all-smiles as she chatted away.

Perhaps bragging about the size of her upcoming main course, she was seen using her hands to punctuate the clearly entertaining point she was making.

Still got it! Even against the lofty competition of the 'race that stops a nation,' Roxy still commanded her fair share of attention on Tuesday
He got his first taste of fatherhood when ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley made him the godfather of her only son back in 2002.

And Hugh Grant and Damian Hurley proved they have formed quite the bond over the years, as the 15-year-old helped the actor celebrate the release of his latest film, Paddington 2, in London on Sunday night.

Referring to him as 'Uncle Hugh', Damian shared a sweet snap of the duo donning their finest suits for the premiere on Instagram on Monday.

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'Uncle Hugh': Hugh Grant and Damian Hurley proved they have formed quite the bond over the years, as the 15-year-old helped the actor celebrate the release of his latest film, Paddington 2, in London on Sunday night

'Thank you for having me Uncle Hugh xxx,' he captioned the black-and-white shot, which garnered close to 2,000 'likes' on the social networking site.

Damian's appearance at the premiere comes years after Elizabeth joked that her son had been banned from watching most of Hugh's films because of their mature themes.

She told Hello! Magazine in 2012: 'We're always trying to find something that Uncle Hugh has done that he can see, but they're full of swear words.

Old flames: Damian's mother Elizabeth Hurley dated Hugh for 13 years before their split in 2000

The whole gang! Elizabeth also joined Damian to support Hugh for the Paddington 2 premiere on Sunday

'We can't find any! He can't watch Four Weddings And A Funeral. He can't watch About A Boy. It's quite difficult trying to find stuff for kids.'

Nevertheless, Hugh and Damian have found plenty of other ways to bond over the years, with the Bridget Jones' Diary actor even joining Damian and Elizabeth on family holidays in the past.

'We see an awful lot him,' Elizabeth added. 'Hugh adores him and it works very well indeed.'

'So cute': Damian's comment quickly prompted gushing reactions from fans

Bonding: Hugh also took Damian to the premiere of children's movie The Pirates! in 2012

In 2016, the Bedazzled actress said that she and Hugh - who live around the corner from one another - still speak to one another everyday on the phone.

As well as Hugh, Damian - whose father is entrepreneur Steve Bing - also boasts Elton John and David Furnish among his famous godparents.

Elizabeth and Hugh's close friendship will come as a surprise to many, given that he famously solicited the services of Divine Brown in Hollywood's notorious Sunset Strip in 1995, when he and Elizabeth were still very much in a relationship.

Both the Four Weddings actor and the prostitute were pulled over by the police and detained - leading to Hugh's famous sheepish mugshot.

Hard times: Liz and Hugh, who began dating in 1987, were plagued with troubles after his cheating was exposed

Reunited: Hugh's Notting Hill co-star Hugh Bonneville is also among the star-studded cast

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2010, Divine revealed: 'That was the trick that changed my life. The event that earned me a million dollars.

Liz and Hugh, who began dating in 1987, were plagued with troubles after his cheating was exposed.

The couple worked through their issues, but eventually split amicably in 2000 after 13 years of dating, with Liz previously telling MailOnline that Hugh is 'family' to her.

The pair met in 1987 when Hugh played Lord Byron in a Spanish production called Remando Al Viento, and Elizabeth was cast in a supporting role as Byron's former lover Claire Clairmont.

Gushing of their friendship, she told Jonathan Ross previously: 'We're best friends. He lives next door to me and he's godfather to my son and I'm godmother to one of his children.

'We've been apart for longer than we were together. We were together for 13 years and then we've been best friends for 15.'

When pushed by the television presenter on a possible romantic reunion, Liz dismissed the idea, adding: 'I don't think that's going to happen...but he's the best friend that anyone could have.'
Shameless star Ethan Cutkosky has been arrested for driving under the influence.

The 18-year-old, who plays William Macy's second youngest child Carl in the show, was caught driving his orange BMW in LA at 10.30pm on Thursday.

Police pulled him over when they saw him straddling lanes. They performed a breath test and arrested him immediately.

Shameless star Ethan Cutkosky has been arrested for driving under the influence

Cops took him to the police station where they booked him. It is not known if the arrest was for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records show Cutkosky was released early Thursday morning on $5,000 bail.

Ethan's rep declined to comment when contacted by TMZ.

Shameless is an American comedy-drama television series which airs on Showtime and depicts a dysfunctional poverty-stricken family.

It is the remake of the British series of the same name. Set in Chicago, the series is filmed in Los Angeles, with the exterior scenes shot in Chicago.

Ethan's character Carl displays several psychopathic tendencies such as mutilating his toys and killing stray animals.
Their welcomed their longed-for first child in July.

And Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder looked the picture of parental bliss as they packed on the PDA while stepping out with their baby daughter Bodhi in Beverly Hills on Monday.

Clearly revelling in their new family life, the smitten couple stole a sweet kiss over the top of the pram as they enjoyed a day of leisure,

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Smitten: Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder looked the picture of parental bliss as they packed on the PDA while stepping out with their baby daughter Bodhi in Beverly Hills on Monday

There she is: Twilight actress Nikki, 29, showed off her incredible post-baby body in a simple white t-shirt paired with high-waisted jeans that clung to her toned legs as she pushed her baby girl along in a pram

Twilight actress Nikki, 29, showed off her incredible post-baby body in a simple white t-shirt paired with high-waisted jeans that clung to her toned legs as she pushed her baby girl along in a pram.

The stylish star paired her chic look with a cream Panama hat and round sunglasses, with her radiant complexion enhanced with a light dusting of make-up and her brunette tresses styled in loose waves.

Her hunky Vampires Diaries star husband, 38, donned a very similar outfit to Nikki opting for a white tunic-style t-shirt with jeans and a slate grey hat.

The handsome actor rocked a distinguished beard and goatee along with shades for the outing.

Loving mother: The stylish star paired her chic look with a cream Panama hat and round sunglasses, with her radiant complexion enhanced with a light dusting of make-up and her brunette tresses styled in loose waves

Nikki and Ian, who wed in April 2015. welcomed baby Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerhalder, on July 25.

The lovebirds announced they were expecting via Instagram in May with a picture of Somerhalder kissing Reed's pregnant belly.

While in a lighthearted chat on Informed Pregnancy in September, Ian revealed that he took his wife's birth control and flushed it down the toilet during a trip to Barcelona.

'...Unbeknownst to poor Nikki, she didn't realize that I was gunna go in her purse, and take out her birth control...' he began.

Hot couple: Nikki and Ian, who wed in April 2015. welcomed baby Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerhalder, on July 25

When asked how she felt, Nikki said that there was a photo of her where she, according to Ian 'was freaking out.' He also revealed he has a video as well.

The couple later took to Instagram to issue a joint apology over drama that followed after an interview given to Dr. Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast.

'To anyone who has been affected by reproductive coercion, we are deeply sorry.' they began.

'...We never expected a lighthearted interview we did poking fun at EACH OTHER and how WE chose together to get pregnant... to turn into something representing a very serious matter.'

'...It's a shame that outlets chose this as their way into a very serious discussion, as we are certainly not qualified to be the faces of this topic. We are two happily married people who chose TOGETHER to have a baby. The end,' the note read.

Expecting: The lovebirds announced they were expecting via Instagram in May with a picture of Somerhalder kissing Reed's pregnant belly
She's the busty Bachelor babe known for flaunting her physique in barely-there ensembles.

And Kiki Morris didn't let race day etiquette get in the way of showing off her trim pins on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old put on a leggy display in a thigh-skimming dress as she stepped out to celebrate Melbourne Cup in Sydney.

That's a racy look! On Tuesday, Kiki Morris put on a leggy display in a thigh-skimming dress as she stepped out to celebrate Melbourne Cup in Sydney

Despite being an entire state away from the action unfolding at Flemington Racecourse, Kiki still appeared ready to party.

The beauty smiled and flashed a peace sign for the paparazzi after emerging from a white Mercedes.

The reality star chatted with a pal, before tottering along the street in a pair of black heels.

Stunning stalks: Kiki's footwear accentuated the length of her tanned pins, which were on complete display courtesy of the teeny white dress

What's going in? At another point, the beauty appeared either shocked or confused as she looked up from her smart phone

At one point, however, Kiki appeared confused after looking up from her smart phone, before continuing to pout for the cameras.

As she stood on the street, the brunette's pins were almost on complete display courtesy of the teeny white dress, which evoked that of a naughty nurse's uniform.

A hint of Kiki's lacy black bra was visible beneath the frock, and the social media influencer paid tribute to race day by adding a bronze crown upon her head.

Giving them lip: Most notable, however, was Kiki's bold red lip, which highlighted her VERY plump pout

Legs for days: The Bachelor beauty showed off her gorgeous gams in her racy ensemble

The stunner was made up flawlessly for the occasion, with thick mascara and a dark eyeliner.

Most notable, however, was Kiki's bold red lip, which highlighted her very plump pout.

In Jaunary, the 30-year-old took to social media to document herself getting some injectables in the face.

The glamour model received muscle relaxant injections, a cosmetic procedure that lessens the appearance of the jawline and is also used to treat teeth clenching.
He won over a legion of fans with his bubbly personality on I'm A Celebrity last year.

And Adam Thomas sent viewers at home into meltdown with his hilarious cackle during an interview with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on Tuesday's installment of This Morning.

The Emmerdale actor even brought tears to Holly's eyes during the fun-filled segment as he inexplicably bellowed with laughter about the ITV soap's murder storyline.

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Joker: Adam Thomas sent viewers at home into meltdown with his hilarious cackle during an interview with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on Tuesday's installment of This Morning

Adam's interview started off on a high note as he threatened to spill the beans about Emma's killer's identity.

The joker, who is leaving the ITV soap after eight years, declared: 'I can tell you who killed her! I can, because I am leaving!'

Phil chimed in: 'I think he will, I don't even have to push him very hard at all!'

Adam, who stars as Adam Barton on the show, began laughing hysterically after watching an eerie montage of himself on Emmerdale.

Laugh a minute: The Emmerdale actor even brought tears to Holly's eyes during the fun-filled segment as he inexplicably bellowed with laughter about the ITV soap's murder storyline

Soap spoiler: Adam's interview started off on a high note as he threatened to spill the beans about Emma's killer's identity

What a tease: The joker, who is leaving the ITV soap after eight years, declared: 'I can tell you who killed her! I can, because I am leaving!'

Rolling around on the sofa, he enthused: 'Love that, that was mint! Like an episode of Columbo! Can we watch that again?'

Discussing his alter-ego's plight on the show, Adam declared: 'He's an innocent man, everyone's pointing the finger at him.

'The more he protests his innocence, the more people think he's done it, even his wife thinks so - what kind of wife is she?'

'He's been sent down before, he's scared to death. All the evidence does point in his direction...'

Hilarious: Wiping tears from her eyes, Holly exclaimed: 'Adam is just the happiest person on the planet! He's so sweet!'

Inexplicable joy: Adam, who stars as Adam Barton on the show, began laughing hysterically after watching an eerie montage of himself on Emmerdale

Cheeky chappie: Rolling around on the sofa, he enthused: 'Love that, that was mint! Like an episode of Columbo! Can we watch that again?'

Quizzed whether he had lots of projects lined up after leaving the show, Adam bellowed: 'I wish I did! I don't know what's happening. It'll be good!'

The star is appearing in panto in Manchester this winter and said he couldn't wait to get out of his 'comfort zone'.

'Go and get your tickets now, they're running out!', he exclaimed, adding, 'Holly and Phil will be there, you can meet them!'

Adam - whose twin brother is Love Island 2016 star Scott Thomas and whose brother is Corrie veteran Ryan Thomas - also discussed his older sibling's new role in Neighbours.

Refreshingly honest: Quizzed whether he had lots of projects lined up after leaving the show, Adam bellowed, 'I wish I did!'

Crowd pleaser: The star is appearing in panto in Manchester this winter and said he couldn't wait to get out of his 'comfort zone'

He said of Ryan's Australian adventure: 'I'm so jealous, he's living it up in the sun... and I'm in Emmerdale! It's his first time in Australia, he's a little tourist.'

The cheeky chappie turned the table on Holly and Phil during the interview, asking them whether they would take part in I'm A Celebrity.

'I would do it, absolutely', Phil declared, prompting a surprised Holly to say, 'You have to do it!'

As the interview wrapped up, the talk turned to family and Holly put her foot in it by asking about Adam's son Teddy's first Christmas.

'Well he's three...', Adam giggled, setting the trio off again into fits of laughter.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Holly exclaimed: 'Adam is just the happiest person on the planet! He's so sweet!'

Fan favourite: Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to comment on Adam's boundless enthusiasm and infectious laugh

Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to comment on Adam's boundless enthusiasm and infectious laugh.

One fan joked: 'Watching @thismorning with @adamthomas21 what a guy he is always so happy!! I couldn't stop laughing either and don't know why#funny'.

A second enthused: 'I love @adamthomas21 you know! Hes hilarious without even trying! literally crying with laughter about a murder on Emmerdale #ThisMorning.'

A third commented, 'Ive never seen anyone so hyper on the This Morning sofa @adamthomas21', while another posted, 'Just watched @adamthomas21 interview on @thismorning and he was like an excitable puppy. Going to be a big miss on @emmerdale'.

Others joked that naturally optimistic Adam must have been drunk, tweeting, 'is Adam drunk or is he just a happy camper?'

Even Adam's twin Scott weighed in on the amusing interview on his social media platforms, saying he 'smashed it'.

Show of support: Even Adam's twin Scott weighed in on the amusing interview on his social media platforms, saying he 'smashed it'
He's the successful Australian designer recognised for this collections all around the world.

And on Tuesday, Alex Perry looked incredibly dapper but slightly snug for his appearance at Flemington Racecourse's annual Melbourne Cup.

And although reports that VIP guest Paris Jackson, 19, 'refused' to wear his custom made dress, the 54-year-old silver fox had nothing but good words to say about her.

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New friends: Although reports that VIP guest Paris Jackson, 19, 'refused' to wear Alex Perry's custom made dress at the Melbourne Cup, on Tuesday, the 54-year-old silver fox had nothing but good words to say about her

Taking to Instagram, Alex gushed over the daughter of the late King Of Pop.

'LOVED MEETING THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL TODAY!!!,' captioned Alex for his 139,000 followers.

'PARIS @parisjackson SUCH A JOY DRESSING HER FOR @stellarmag AND @myer BUT MORE BEAUTIFUL AND GENUINE IN PERSON THAN I COULD IMAGINE,' he continued.

Not true? The speculation comes after the Sydney Morning Herald reported the star shocked Myer and the designer after she opted for a boho dress instead of the one-of-a-kind frock Alex had created

The speculation comes after the Sydney Morning Herald reported the star shocked Myer and the designer after she opted for a boho dress instead of the one-of-a-kind frock Alex had created.

They also said Paris who was reportedly paid $100,000 to attend the annual event wore the Tony Bianco ankle boots as a 'compromise' after she was told her cowboy boots weren't appropriate for race day.

Alex however seemed to have no difficulties adhering to the dress code.

Dapper: Alex however seemed to have no difficulties adhering to the dress code

Although looking slightly stiff in his form-fitting ensemble he was dressed to the nines.

Opting for a long black suit jacket, Alex sported a white shirt underneath and added a striped tie.

With his signature sunglasses on top of his head, the star was well groomed and even added a pocket square to his look.

Alex completed his race day ensemble with blindingly shiny black shoes.
She's more used to sparring in the ring, having held the title of the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo in 2008.

But Ronda Roysey cut quite a different figure as she attended the the Xbox One X launch at New York's Microsoft Flagship store on Monday.

The recently married fighter, 30, put on a busty display in a plunging jumpsuit, ensuring all eyes were on her.

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Turning heads! Ronda Roysey cut a glamorous figure as she attended the the Xbox One X launch at New York's Microsoft Flagship store on Monday

Making the most of her enviable curves, the low cut halterneck piece featured a daring neckline, embellished by a delicate silver chain.

The cut-out panels teased a glimpse of her slender waist, and flowed into a wide-trouser leg, accentuating her statuesque figure.

Wearing her hair swept back of her face and sporting a bold red lip, Ronda appeared in good spirits as she left the venue, flanked by her pals.

Chest a glimpse! The recently married fighter, 30, put on a busty display in a plunging jumpsuit, ensuring all eyes were on her

Turning heads! Making the most of her enviable curves, the low cut halterneck piece featured a daring neckline, embellished by a delicate silver chain

Newlyweds: Ronda Rousey on her wedding day, pictured with photographer Michael Mardones, who attended her vows to Travis Browne in Hawaii

In September Ronda married her beau of two years Travis Browne.

The two UFC fighters tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony in Hawaii, Travis' native state.

The former UFC bantamweight champion picked a white, plunging number with embellishments and lace details around the cleavage, as shown in a black and white photo posted by photographer Michael Mardones, who attended as a guest and posed for a selfie with the bride.

Travis, sporting a lei made out of leaves around his neck, took to Instagram to gush about the 'amazing day' he shared with Ronda, writing about his bride: 'She is so perfect in every way! She makes me so happy! She is my other half!'

'Man Crush Monday': Ronda shared her love for Travis while posting this photo on her Instagram page in the summer

Last month, during an appearance on Live with Kelly & Ryan, Ronda revealed that they would be having their wedding in Travis' home state of Hawaii.

'Hes Hawaiian so were gonna do kinda like a backyard, Mexican Corona party  but, like, in Hawaii,' she said.

The couple confirmed their engagement in April, and Ronda recalled the romantic moment Travis popped the question during her appearance on the morning show.

'It was actually after heavy rain and we were under this waterfall,' she said. 'Apparently he had this whole speech prepared but it just went down into bullet points in the moment.

'So he pulls out the ring and Im already like, "Uh huh" before he even says anything. Its like, "Okay, were in New Zealand, were under a waterfall, will you marry me?"'

'Just engaged': Ronda confirmed her engagement to Travis in April by posting this comical cartoon picture on Instagram
He was lucky to escape with his life after plummeting the depths of a Thai waterfall in the summer.

And Paul Nicholls revealed the terrifying extent of his horror fall during his appearance on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women, admitting he was even left hallucinating.

The former EastEnders star, 38, hit headlines in July when he was found with severe injuries at the bottom of a waterfall in Koh Samui - three days after he left his accommodation to go for a ride on his scooter.

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Opening up: Paul Nicholls revealed the terrifying extent of his horror fall in Thailand during his appearance on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women

Explaining the severity of the incident, he divulged: 'I had been working for a year and a half solidly - for an actor that's quite a lot - I thought, "I'm going to take nine months off".

'I was having a great time and then that happened.'

Paul was originally believed to have fallen after attempting to snap a selfie from above the waterfall, though the reality was a lot more sinister.

He explained: 'I was on a scooter, no one knew where I was. My friend said, "You should always tell someone where you're going!"

Lucky to be alive: The former EastEnders star, 38, hit headlines in July when he was found with severe injuries at the bottom of a waterfall in Koh Samui - three days after he left his accommodation to go for a ride on his scooter

Shocking: Paul was originally believed to have fallen after attempting to snap a selfie from above the waterfall, though the reality was a lot more sinister

'It was 6.30am, I'd be in the gym already. I lived halfway up the mountain, I went to the top to take pictures.

'I came around the corner, there were about 15 wild dogs. One pack had made a kill and the blood attracted the rest of them.

'The nearer I got to the waterfall, one of them chomped on top of my foot. It drew blood and then he ran off with my flip flop.'

He added: 'I pulled into the waterfall and thought the only way I can go is down but I didn't realise how much I was bleeding.

'I was screaming for help': The actor revealed he was attacked by wild dogs ahead of the fall, and spent 'days battling leeches'

Staying positive: Despite his horror story, Paul put on a surprisingly giddy display when recounting the incident

'As soon as I touched the rock, I just went over. It was a 20 ft drop and my knee hit something on the way down.

'It looked like something just flew out of my knee - part of my knee cap - and then I hit the water. Where my knee cap should have been, there was just a hole and I was holding it.

And the actor's distress was only exacerbated when the waterfall setting began to resemble somewhat of a horror scene as legions of leeches and crabs appeared from no where.

He confessed: 'These crabs came out, then the leeches were coming out of everywhere - I wasn't hallucinating.'

'I spent all day battling away the leeches, screaming for help.'

Gobsmacked: The Loose Women couldn't believe their ears as Paul shared his frightening story

Terrifying: When he was found, the star was semi-conscious and suffering from hypothermia as well as a tropical infection picked up from his untreated wounds and a broken leg

Emergency crews found the actor after a three-day search of the wilderness when the alarm was raised after he failed to return his rented bike.

He was only discovered after a local villager saw his abandoned motorbike.

Paul continued: 'I remember bits and bobs. I was hallucinating at one point. I thought people were opening their front doors and saying, "shut up" and "be quiet".'

When he was found, the star was semi-conscious and suffering from hypothermia as well as a tropical infection picked up from his untreated wounds and a broken leg.

Lucky! Paul was only discovered after a local villager saw his abandoned motorbike

Speaking of the near-death experience to from hospital, Nicholls told The Sun that he had not been lost, but his phone had stopped working after it plunged into the water - making him unable to tell anyone of his whereabouts.

He admitted: 'I am lucky to be alive. It took such a long time to find me. It's an understatement to say it wasn't a great situation.'

Detailing more of his injuries, which left him in unbearable pain, he explained: 'I've got a broken leg and I'm missing a kneecap. It needs complete reconstruction.'

Grateful: Paul said he was 'lucky to be alive' following the accident

Sympathetic: Nadia Sawalha [R] said that Paul was no doubt 'still in shock' from the incident
Actress Helen McCrory beamed with delight on Tuesday as she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The Peaky Blinders star, 49, could not contain her joy as she proudly posed after her Investiture ceremony with husband Damian Lewis, and her honour for services to drama in hand.

However, the mother-of-two went on to reveal she had almost missed the exciting event - as she had mistaken her invitation letter for an unpaid bill.

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Proud: Actress Helen McCrory beamed with delight on Tuesday as she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

Honoured: The Peaky Blinders star, 49, could not contain her joy as she proudly posed after her Investiture ceremony with husband Damian Lewis, and the honour in hand

Helen was the picture of sophistication in a striking embroidered dress, just visible beneath her pale pink pleated dress coat.

Accessorising with black heels and matching leather gloves, the mother-of-two then finished her look with a dramatic tulle fascinator atop her pixie crop - which featured a clashing purple flower on one side.

Sporting minimal face make-up but adding a bright pink lip, Helen drew attention to her radiant complexion as she beamed widely for cameras.

Stunning: Helen was the picture of sophistication in a striking embroidered dress, just visible beneath her pale pink pleated dress coat

The brunette first posed alone with her honour held proudly in hand, before she joined husband Damian, who was awarded an OBE in 2014, for further snaps.

While the ceremony itself ran smoothly, Helen did admit that she almost missed out on the award - as she had mistaken her acceptance letter for one of her husband's unpaid bills.

She told the Press Association: 'They thought I hadn't got the letter and I was actually phoned at home to be asked if I was going to be accepting the honour.

Say cheese! The brunette first posed alone with her honour held proudly in hand, before she joined husband Damian, 46, for further snaps

'I hadn't opened it, I thought it was something else. I thought it was for my husband and thought 'Oh God, he hasn't paid something again'.

'It was sitting in his office, and they said 'It's your last day to accept it, would you like to accept it?' I said 'My gosh, of course, how fantastic''.

Helen, who is best known for her work in Peaky Blinders, confessed she was thrilled to receive her gong from the monarch - but that the experience had been completely nerve-wracking.

Close call: While the ceremony itself ran smoothly, Helen did admit that she almost missed out on the award - as she had mistaken her acceptance letter for one of her husband's unpaid bills

Power couple: Damian Lewis was awarded his own OBE for services to drama in 2014 (above)

She said: 'I am so excited, I am so elated. You're not told until the day who will present it and a gentleman comes and tells you what to do because you think you're going to know, but of course, you're so excited you can't remember anything he's just said.

'So he does it again and you think 'I know how to curtsey' and then then think 'Oh no, I don't, I can't remember anything you just told me!''

Going on to joke of her profession, she added: 'I said 'Thank you very much for coming, Your Majesty, because it means the world to all of us' and she said 'What service is it?' and I said 'For shouting in the dark, Your Majesty' and she said 'Quite right'.'

'I'm elated': She explained of her invite: 'It was sitting in his office, and they said 'It's your last day to accept it, would you like to accept it?' I said 'My gosh, of course, how fantastic''

'You're so excited you can't remember anything!': Helen confessed she was thrilled to receive her gong from the monarch - but that the experience had been completely nerve-wracking

The actress also revealed she had to work on updating her curtsey - having delivered a more period offering the first time she met the Queen, while rehearsing for a film set in King Louis XIV's court at Versailles.

She said: 'I had been rehearsing A Little Chaos with Alan Rickman and had spent the morning with Kate Winslet doing full curtseys and so when I met Her Majesty I went practically prostrate in front of her.

'And about 10 minutes afterwards a lady said 'Her Majesty would like to commend you on your curtsey, which hasn't been seen in court circles for about 400 years'... so I brought my curtsey into the 21st century.'

Proud: Also receiving an honour was Julie Walters (R), who happily posed with Helen after the ceremony

Not in character now: Helen played Cherie Blair in 2006 flick The Queen, and joked she stayed well away from her character - who famously refused to curtsey to the monarch

We did it! Helen and Julie happily embraced after their Investiture ceremony

Having played Cherie Blair in 2006 flick The Queen, who refused to curtsey to the monarch, Helen joked she had stayed well away from her famous character.

'I didn't do a Cherie of course,' she added. 'I stayed away from my Queen performance!'

Helen has been a face in the industry since the early 1990s, and has starred in a number of projects on both stage and screen.

She has starred in a number of productions at the National Theatre, and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 2006 for her role as Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It.

There is nothing like a Dame: Helen joined Julie at the palace - who was named Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen

She also starred as Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise and appeared in Bond film Skyfall, before she was cast as Polly Gray in hit series Peaky Blinders.

Helen joined Julie Walters at the palace - who was named Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen.

The actress, 67, looked equally delighted with her honour in a slick black trouser suit and traditional occasion hat, paired with classic pearl earrings.

Julie was awarded an OBE for her services to drama back in 1999, and received a CBE nine years later.
He's the Grammy Award-winning rapper currently making his way around the globe as part of his Boy Meets World Tour.

And on Tuesday night, Drake took to the stage in Australia for the first in a string of highly-anticipated shows.

The 30-year-old wowed a sold-out crowd of 21,00 as he performed at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena.

Drizzy Down Under! On Tuesday night, Drake took to the stage in Sydney for the first in a string of highly-anticipated Australian shows

The Canadian born superstar- affectionately known as Drizzy- belted out some of his biggest hits, including Started From The Bottom and Hotline Bling.

And while his former flame Rihanna didn't join him Down Under, Drake also performed Work and Too Good- the chart-topping duets they created together.

Adding to the ambiance was a spectacular light show, which included a planet-inspired installation that was immediately Instagrammed by many in the audience.

Hit after hit: The Canadian born superstar belted out some of his biggest tracks, including Started From The Bottom and Hotline Bling

Popular: 21,000 screaming fans watched the Grammy Award winning superstar perform his set

Spectacular: Adding to the ambiance was a light show, which included a planet-inspired installation that was immediately Instagrammed by many of the audience

However, perhaps for female fans, Drake himself was a more impressive sight to behold.

Working up a sweat, the Toronto native removed his jacket as the overwhelmed crowd broke into screams.

Strolling around the stage in a singlet, the results of the star's well-documented gym sessions was evident.

Bulked up: Strolling around the stage in a singlet, the results of well-documented gym sessions was evident

Racy: However, perhaps for female fans, Drake himself was a more impressive sight to behold

Boasting more than 38 million Instagram followers, many happy concertgoers took to the social media app after the performance to pile on the praise.

'Drake was f**king amazing. Hands down one of the best concerts I've been to' gushed one satisfied fan.

The rapper is set to do it all over again at the same venue on Wednesday night, before heading to Brisbane on Friday.

'Drake was f**king amazing. Hands down one of the best concerts I've been to': Fans flocked to social media to praise the show
Scott Disick has been romancing teen model Sofia Richie all over the world with kisses in Italy and hugs in Mexico.

But the ex-partner of Kourtney Kardashian is still on the dating app Badoo.

And the person who pointed this fact out on social media is rapper Tyga, who is the ex of both Kylie Jenner and Blac Chyna.

Oh no! Scott Disick is still on the dating app Badoo even though he is in a serious relationship with model Sofia Richie, rapper Tyga pointed out on social media

No longer friends? Tyga, far left, and Scott, center, often partied together; here they are seen in April in West Hollywood

On Badoo Scott, 34, is listed as an 'entrepreneur.'

But he is actually best known for appearing on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and dating Kourtney, 38, with whom he has three kids - Mason, Penelope and Reign.

In the image Scott has on a black shirt and a necklace as he strikes his best GQ cover boy pose.

Badoo is the worlds largest dating app with over 360 million users. Scott's account was verified.

His teen love: Scott started dating Sofia, the daughter of Eighties crooner Lionel Richie, this summer and they have seemed to become serious for months as they are nearly inseparable

Not shy: They have been kissing in public and have made it seem like they are madly in love

She can't get enough of this guy: Even though he has been to rehab several times, Richie seems incredibly smitten with the man

Tyga added several crying emojis and two skulls on top of the Instagram stories post, most likely showing how he is laughing at Scott's faux pas.

And it is a faux pas. After all, Scott is trying to prove to the world that he is no longer a cad. Still being on a dating app even though he is dating Sofia makes it look like he is very much still a cad.

Scott started dating Sofia, the daughter of Eighties crooner Lionel Richie, this summer and they have seemed to become serious this autumn as they are nearly inseparable.

He loves her jet-set lifestyle: Scott is seen here heading into a private jet this week

More love: Sofia painted his toes as they relaxed at a beautiful home in Mexico

The self-proclaimed Lord Disick was by her side when she had to attend a jewelry event in Italy in October; this month they are sunbathing in Mexico.

Sofia, a rising model, previously dated Justin Bieber, who also dated Scott's ex Kourtney, 38.

It is not known why Tyga would want to reveal Scott is still on a dating app.

The ex factor: The Long Island, New York native was with Kourtney Kardashian for years; here they are seen in 2011

When they were still strongly in the Kardashian fold they seemed to be on good terms, often seen partying together at events.

But Scott may have in the end not gotten on well with the rapper as he became friends with Chris Brown.

While Scott still appears on Keeping Up With The Kardashians - on Sunday's episode he told Kim he didn't like that Kourtney had moved on with Younes Bendjima - Tyga has been completely removed from the family.

Now Kylie is reportedly expecting a baby with rapper Travis Scott, who People claimed is well liked by Kris Jenner and her clan.

His sister Khloe is also reportedly pregnant.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians airs on Sundays on E!
She has come a long way since her career beginnings as a model in Europe.

But Diane Kruger looked every inch the catwalk queen as she headed to a meeting in New York City on Monday.

The actress, 41, was effortlessly stylish in a cleavage-baring black jumpsuit with choker detailing.

Strutting her stuff: Diane Kruger looked every inch the catwalk queen as she headed to a meeting in New York City on Monday

Keeping the fall chill at bay, the award-winning screen star draped a chic, double-breasted grey wool coat over her shoulders as she headed inside.

The German-born beauty injected a pop of color to the muted look with a pair of bright red stiletto heels.

Diane completed her look by wearing her blonde bob in loose curls, and opted for minimal make-up to showcase her naturally striking features.

The former model posted a smoldering selfie to her Instagram page from the back of a car as she thanked her hair stylist for making her up.

Chic in the city: The actress, 41, was effortlessly stylish in a cleavage-baring black jumpsuit with choker detailing, which she teamed with a grey wool coat

Although the actress originally hails from Germany, this year's In The Fade, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, was the first German-language film she has starred in.

The movie earned Diane her first Cannes Film Festival Award For Best Actress.

It was also in contention for the Palm D'Or, though it lost out to a Swedish satire of the art world, entitled The Square.

Germany has entered In The Fade for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Academy Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Natural beauty: The former model posted a smoldering selfie to her Instagram page from the back of a car as she thanked her hair stylist for making her up

Directed by Fatih Akin, the film stars Diane as a woman on a quest for retribution after neo-Nazis murder her Kurdish husband and son.

It will be released November 23 in Germany and December 27 in the US.

Despite the fact she only recently forayed into German cinema, Diane has achieved formidable stardom in Europe, including via French releases such as Farewell, My Queen.

Diane went public with her new romance with The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, 48, - who she met while filming their 2015 film Sky - in March.

The actress previously dated former Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson, 39, for 10 years before splitting in 2016.
She has been busy promoting her limited-edition make-up collection with make-up giant, Maybelline.

And Gigi Hadid continued her supermodel takeover in London, as she was spotted heading to a video shoot on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old IMG Model put on an incredibly busty display in a perilously plunging blouse, which she paired with stylish jeans.

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She's got front! Gigi Hadid, 22, put on an incredibly busty display in a perilously plunging blouse as she headed to a video shoot in London on Tuesday

All eyes were on the blonde bombshell as she made a sexy statement in a dangerously low-cut cream-coloured top which featured a brooch design.

Gigi showed off her statuesque height in a pair of straight-leg light wash jeans and towering pointed metallic heels.

A sophisticated grey coat completed the look as she made her way indoors with her tresses blowing in the wind.

Last week, Gigi continued her style takeover as she donned two different shoulder-baring ensembles at a West Village loft Friday night for the launch of her new limited-edition Maybelline collection.

Saucy lady: All eyes were on the blonde bombshell as she made a sexy statement in a dangerously low-cut cream-coloured top which featured a brooch design

Work it! Gigi showed off her statuesque height in a pair of straight-leg light wash jeans and towering pointed metallic heels

The star, real name Jelena, first sported a black cut-out Bardot top, baggy blue jeans, and black high-heeled booties selected by stylist Elizabeth Sulcer.

Gigi showcased one of her eye shadow palettes for the cosmetics-loving, Manhattan crowd.

And Gigi not only displayed her collection, she also hosted an 'international master class' with her make-up artist Erin Parsons.

Woman of the hour: The brunette beauty rocked the same outfit as she arrived at the launch party of her new range for Maybelline at Hotel Gigi, London

Mane attraction: The supermodel styled her glossy dark hair in tousled waves that tumbled past her shoulders

Shady lady: The Tommy Hilfiger muse later shielded her eyes behind a pair of Nineties-inspired pastel green cat-eye shades

Wrapping up: She warded off the November chill in a luxurious dove-grey coat with a double-breasted design

Hadid enjoyed getting in on the action, applying her products directly on one of the three models on hand for the tutorial.

Hairstylist Bryce Scarlett made sure the 5ft10in brunette's tresses were scraped back into an updo to better sell the Maybelline covering her face.

And nail artist Mei Kawajiri made sure to paint the New York cosmetic brand's logo directly on the Malibu-born socialite's silver glitter manicure.

Choices, choices: Last week, Gigi continued her style takeover as she donned two different shoulder-baring ensembles at a West Village loft Friday night for the launch of her new limited-edition Maybelline collection

Her night: The star first sported a black cut-out Bardot top, baggy blue jeans, and black high-heeled Giuseppe Zanotti booties selected by stylist Elizabeth Sulcer

Pretty in a package: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum showcased one of her eye shadow palettes for the cosmetics-loving, Manhattan crowd

Tutorial: And Gigi (born Jelena) not only displayed her collection, she also hosted an 'international master class' with her make-up artist Erin Parsons (2-L)

Ready for her close-up! Hairstylist Bryce Scarlett made sure the 5ft10in brunette's tresses were scraped back into an updo to better sell the Maybelline covering her face

For her second outfit, Gigi opted to wear a lopsided grey double-breasted blazer with matching pumps featuring pink- marabou ankle straps.

Hadid sweetly named her reddest lip shade 'Khair' in honor of her 21-year-old sister Bella, whose middle name translates to 'benevolent' in Arabic.

'Her favorite color is red,' the New School drop-out explained to Vogue.

'It's a great basic cherry that looks great on everyone...Honestly, I wear red lipstick more than Bella does.'

Talons: And nail artist Mei Kawajiri made sure to paint the New York cosmetic brand's logo directly on the Malibu-born socialite's silver glitter manicure

Business meets boudoir: For her second outfit, Gigi opted to wear a lopsided grey double-breasted blazer with matching pumps featuring pink- marabou ankle straps

'Her favorite color is red': Hadid sweetly named her reddest lip shade 'Khair' in honor of her 21-year-old sister Bella, whose middle name translates to 'benevolent' in Arabic

The New School drop-out explained to Vogue: 'It's a great basic cherry that looks great on everyone...Honestly, I wear red lipstick more than Bella does'

The daughter of Yolanda Hadid appeared to have a blast being the woman of the hour, sipping champagne, and mingling with her guests.

Gigi last made headlines by calling Muslim-hating political activist Laura Loomer 'a f***ing moron' on Twitter the day after New York's terrorist attack which killed eight.

The half-Jordanian beauty and her half-Pakistani boyfriend, former 1D boybander Zayn Malik, dressed up as Black Cat and Spider-Man to celebrate Halloween on Tuesday.

This month marks two years of dating between Hadid and the limber 24-year-old Englishman, whom she first met at a friend's birthday party in 2014.

Flying solo: Her boyfriend was spotted out and about in New York the same day

Hijab hater: Gigi last made headlines by calling Muslim-hating political activist Laura Loomer 'a f***ing moron' on Twitter the day after New York's terrorist attack which killed eight
She is getting a head start on her I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp hosting duties with an early arrival in Brisbane, Australia.

And, despite the long-haul flight from London, Scarlett Moffatt didn't appear to be suffering from jet lag as she put on a sprightly display upon touching down at the airport alongside her mother Betty on Tuesday.

While she might be one of British TV's rising stars, the reigning Queen of the Jungle proved she isn't too posh to push as she hauled her many suitcases out of the terminal.

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Feeling good! Despite the long-haul flight from London, Scarlett Moffatt didn't appear to be suffering from jet lag as she put on a sprightly display upon touching down at Brisbane airport ahead of her presenting sting on I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp spin-off

Though it wasn't long until she appeared to enlist the help of a member of staff who was snapped flanking the mother-daughter duo.

The former Gogglebox star, 27, looked typically animated as she sauntered through the airport with her mum - and even appeared to put the ride to their lavish hotel on hold for a quick spot of shopping.

While some celebrities are known to swap outfits when flying from one destination to the next, Scarlett maintained her down to earth demeanor, sticking to the simple T-shirt dress and shirt combo she sported when jetting out of the UK.

Down to earth! While she might be one of British TV's rising stars, the reigning Queen of the Jungle proved she isn't too posh to push

Family affair! Scarlett has her mother Betty for company during her trip

If it's not broken... While some celebrities are known to swap outfits when flying from one destination to the next, Scarlett maintained her down to earth demeanor, sticking to the simple T-shirt dress and shirt combo she sported when jetting out of the UK

The TV presenter offset her tanned legs in the bright yellow number, which was emblazoned with the words 'Bury Me In This'.

She gave the loud design a nonchalant finish by teaming it with an unbuttoned plaid shirt.

While it proved to be chilly in Britain, the TV star proved to be practising for the sunnier climes of Australia as she bared her legs and opted for a pair of flips flops.



Alright for some! It wasn't long before Scarlett enlisted the help of a member of staff who was snapped flanking the mother-daughter duo

Inflight togs: Scarlett kept her footwear comfortable, opting for a pair of stylish sliders

Sprightly: The former Gogglebox star, 27, looked typically animated as she sauntered out of the airport with her mum

Lucky ladies! The pair will no doubt be staying at I'm a Celeb's resident hotel, the Palazzo Versace Australia

Despite the long-haul flight, Scarlett ensured she primped and preened with a striking coat of make-up and a fresh blow-dry.

The star proved to be in a great mood as she carted along two copper blush coloured Samsonite Cosmolite Spinner suitcases.

Last month ITV2 finally confirmed that the current Queen of the Jungle, Scarlett will be presenting the programme I'm a Celebrity spin-off show, Extra Camp - replacing last year's hosts Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison.

Luxury baggage: The star proved to be in a great mood as she carted along two copper blush coloured Samsonite Cosmolite Spinner suitcases

Still smiling! Scarlett flashed a smile for photographers as she pushed her luggage

Speaking about her new role, the reality beauty gushed: 'After last year's Jungle experience which was a dream come true, I can't believe I'm so lucky to have the dream continue by being part of this amazing show. It's going to be so much fun.'

Show bosses have revealed that Scarlett will join her hunky comedian co-star Joel Dommett, who had finished in second place on the 2016 series of I'm A Celebrity, on the presenting team, as well as returning star Joe Swash.

Scarlett's airport sighting comes after she left viewers in hysterics with her awkwardly rude dress on Sunday Brunch.

Off she goes! Scarlett was spotted catching a morning flight to Australia from London on Monday

Casual: The former Gogglebox star, who is the show's reigning champ, looked in a great mood despite the early hours as she showed off her legs in a casual yellow dress

Heading Down Under: Despite the long-haul flight, Scarlett ensured she primped and preened with a striking coat of make-up and a fresh blow-dry

Exciting: Last month ITV2 finally confirmed that the current Queen of the Jungle, Scarlett will be presenting the programme I'm a Celebrity spin-off show, Extra Camp - replacing last year's hosts Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison

She took to the Channel 4 series in a unique nude-coloured dress which boasted an array of interesting patterns which happened to resemble a pair of breasts down her front.

The flaw in her otherwise striking dress immediately caught the attention of viewers who expressed their humour on Twitter, while her co-guest Johnny Vegas couldn't resist poking fun of the wardrobe malfunction himself.

Despite the malfunction, Scarlett oozed body confidence in the knee-length dress which she paired with strappy black heels.

Breast look yet? Her airport sighting comes after she left viewers in hysterics with her awkwardly rude dress on Sunday Brunch

In tit together! Her co-guest Johnny Vegas couldn't resist poking fun of the wardrobe malfunction himself as he drew a pair of breasts on his own top

While the number featured an array of intricate detailing, it was the two circles with chains underneath which caught everyone's attention.

Viewers flocked to Twitter with their amusement on her ensemble for the daytime show:

'Just spat my coffee out when for a moment I thought had got her chesticles out on Sunday brunch.'

She's got front! The former Gogglebox beauty took to the Channel 4 series in a unique nude-coloured dress which boasted an array of interesting patterns which happened to resemble a pair of breasts down her front

Awkward: While the number featured an array of intricate detailing, it was the two circles with chains underneath which caught everyone's attention

'Needed a laugh': The flaw in her otherwise striking dress immediately caught the attention of viewers who expressed their humour on Twitter

'You are very beautiful but your wardrobe consultant either dislikes you or is not good at their job.'

'Thanks I needed that laugh' and 'I couldn't see anything else!'

'I couldnt stop looking, I want that dress!' and 'What a boob !!'

Johnny Vegas, who was a guest on Sunday Brunch alongside Scarlett, also thought her attire was hilarious.

Poking fun: Johnny Vegas (R), who was a guest on Sunday Brunch alongside Scarlett, also thought her attire was hilarious

Stylish: Despite the malfunction, Scarlett oozed body confidence in the knee-length dress which she paired with strappy black heels

The actor and comedian decided to draw a pair of breasts on his top to match Scarlett's.

Meanwhile, the hilarity from viewers continued:

'Had such a laugh at @SundayBrunchC4 just love @ScarlettMoffatt so much'

'When @ScarlettMoffatt's dress on Sunday Brunch looked like a pair of boobies!

'Again has caused the aching cheeks effect on ! What you see is what you get .. Thank you!'

'What a boob!' Viewers continued to flock to Twitter with their amusement on her ensemble for the daytime show

Scarlett meanwhile seemed to be loving the attention as she took to her Twitter: 'Love my little boobie dress.'

Scarlett's latest appearance comes after she addressed her split with boyfriend Luke - dropping the bombshell that the duo are better off as pals after 'friend-zoning' one another.

Speaking to The Sun about their break up, she revealed: 'We friend-zoned each other. I have no idea how it actually happened.'

Scarlett had previously revealed that her relationship with Luke, 28, came to an end for a second time when he had dumped the television personality on her birthday, earlier this month.'

Scarlett meanwhile seemed to be loving the attention as she took to her Twitter: 'Love my little boobie dress'
U.S. Sen. John Thune set South Dakota history by winning his fourth Senate term. He became the second South Dakota senator to win four terms, defying what is known in local political circles as the Curse of Karl" because Sen. Karl Mundt was the only politician to accomplish the feat. But it's not clear whether Thune's party will hold the majority after a midterm election in which the GOP failed to meet expectations of a sweeping victory. Thune says he wants to stay focused on solutions, especially on inflation, rather than bombastic politics. He is also pressing for his party to look beyond former President Donald Trump's influence.
She laughed off romance speculation after being spotted sharing an intimate kiss with married star Paul Hollywood earlier this week.

And Candice Brown, 32, kept her mind off the scandal on Tuesday, as she threw herself into rehearsals for Dancing On Ice in Essex.

The Great British Bake Off winner, who announced her engagement to long-term boyfriend Liam McCauley last month, defiantly flashed her ring as she left training.

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Keeping busy: Candice Brown, 32, threw herself into rehearsals for Dancing On Ice in Essex as she was pictured for the first time since sharing a cosy kiss with married Paul Hollywood

The former PE teacher, who was spotted showing off her moves in the ice rink earlier this week, seemed keen to throw herself into training.

Clearly feeling the strain, she tweeted afterwards: 'Feeling it today, sore knees and a little frustration creeping in at times. Ice bath & baking to sort me out!'

She will appear in the Dancing On Ice remake alongside stars like Kem Cetinay, Donna Air and Jake Quickenden.

Keeping it casual, the baking supremo rocked a pink sweater with skintight leggings and simple black and white trainers.

Scraping her ombre-hued locks back into a tight topknot, the newly-engaged star wore minimal make-up for the relaxed outing.

She appeared to be engrossed with texting on her phone, which bore a case embossed with her initials.

Intimate: She laughed off romance speculation after being spotted sharing an intimate kiss with married star Paul Hollywood earlier this week

Unconcerned: The Great British Bake Off winner, who announced her engagement to long-term boyfriend Liam McCauley last month, defiantly flashed her ring as she left training

Working hard: The former PE teacher, who was spotted showing off her moves in the ice rink earlier this week, seemed keen to throw herself into training

Rocking the dazzler: The brunette beauty showed off her ring as she left the training studios

Her outing comes after Paul laughed off the reaction to his kiss with Candice as 'incredible' following their cosy embrace after the Pride of Britain Awards.

Candice tweeted first, writing: 'So invisibility cloaks are real. I was so sure you were there all night too!!

'No kisses or hugs hello or goodbye from now on- handshakes or waves only!'

Paul replied: 'Incredible!', while Shelagh quipped: 'I think maybe saluting eac hother is the way to go?!'

Stacey saw the humorous side as she told her one million fans she had also been happy to receive a goodbye kiss from Paul.

Clearly feeling the strain: She tweeted afterwards: 'Feeling it today, sore knees and a little frustration creeping in at times. Ice bath & baking to sort me out!'

New horizons: She will appear in the Dancing On Ice remake alongside stars like Kem Cetinay, Donna Air and Jake Quickenden

Keeping it casual, the baking supremo rocked a pink sweater with skintight leggings and simple black and white trainers

Sharing two tearful laughing emojis, Stacey wrote: 'Well I was the the entire time no intimate kisses from where I was standing just a goodbye peck! I got one too.'

Candice added: 'Whatttt you got a goodbye peck too? Remember handshakes and waves from now! Lovely to see you beautiful lady x' (sic)

Baker Candice who announced her engagement to Liam Macauley last week.

The stars were letting their hair down after making a glamorous red carpet appearance at the event earlier on in the evening.

Paul and Candice, who were said to be the only stars from the show at the after-party, enjoyed each other's charming company until the early hours of the morning.

Laid-back glamour: Scraping her ombre-hued locks back into a tight topknot, the newly-engaged star wore minimal make-up for the relaxed outing

Just hanging out: She appeared to be engrossed with texting on her phone, which bore a case embossed with her initials

A source told The Sun that the baking pair were sitting outside the bash where they sipped on champagne.

The insider also revealed Paul - who previously had an affair with his American Baking Competition's co-star Marcela Valladolid in 2013 - draped a blanket over Candice's shoulders.

Broadcaster Shelagh Fogarty also jumped to her defence following the reports by The Sun, posting: I and three others were at that table and no such intimate thing happened. Fizz was nice tho.

Farewell! Baking hunk Paul was spotted leaning in for an embrace as he headed home after the bash

Cosy: Baker Candice, who announced her engagement to Liam Macauley last week, was also seen toying with Paul's ear as they relaxed at the table

'You got a goodbye peck too?' Since the release of the photos, the cooking champion broke her silence as she declared the smooch was a 'goodbye peck', while Paul branded the reaction as 'incredible'

A spokesman for both Paul and Candice said what was pictured was an innocent kiss on the cheek, and that it was untrue to describe it as an intimate kiss.

Following The Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain Awards, seven of us, including Paul and Candice, were seated outside waiting for cars home. The photograph is of Paul saying goodbye to each of us, she said in a statement.

Of the pair, an onlooker told The Sun: 'Paul and Candice were outside together for hours and obviously had a lot of catching up. They were very relaxed, laughing and chatting.

'Paul was cracking a lot of jokes which Candice lapped up. He seemed to be paying for all the champagne.

'There were lots of people inside but Paul and Candice seemed happy enough on their own.

What's the fuss? Married Paul Hollywood has laughed off the reaction to his kiss with Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown as 'incredible' following their cosy embrace after the Pride of Britain Awards

Exciting: Candice's outing comes after she announced her engagement to Liam Macaulay last Sunday, following one very memorable false alarm

'It raised a few eyebrows that they were cosying up together but people were saying they were the only Bake Off stars there.'

Candice's outing comes after she announced her engagement to Liam Macaulay last Sunday, following one very memorable false alarm.

Sharing the news with HELLO! magazine in a new engagement shoot, the gorgeous baker said she was 'feeling very lucky' following an 'amazing' year.

'I get emotional' she said. 'Because it's been such an amazing year. I feel very lucky. I've had such incredible opportunities  GBBO opened so many doors  and to top it off he puts a ring on it.'

Winner: The former PE teacher won the seventh series of the Great British Bake Off on BBC last year

And despite prompting speculation of a surprise engagement in late 2016, Candice revealed that the proposal was everything she'd been waiting for.

She told the story of how Liam, who she's been with since 2012, took them back to the spot where they had their first date in Bedfordshire and pulled a ring from the glove compartment of his car.

Candice recalled: 'He reached into the glove compartment, got out the ring, got down on one knee and said, "I love you, you are my world. Will you marry me?"

Liam continued: 'So I proposed in a car park. But it really meant something to us. Candice just cried for five minutes before she could say, "Yes!"'

Candice won Bake Off in 2016, on its former BBC One home, earning a handshake from Paul Hollywood for her four-tier meringue cake and impressing former judge Mary Berry with a humdinger of a showstopper.
She sent the Internet into hysterics after fans noticed her bizarrely applauding like a 'seal' at the Oscars in February.

And Nicole Kidman was up to her old tricks on Tuesday, as she unleashed the awkward clap while attending the Printemps Christmas decorations inauguration in Paris, France.

The Big Little Lies star, 50, who insisted her unusual method was to avoid damaging her diamond rings, caught the eye once again with her offbeat show of appreciation.

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Bizarre: Nicole Kidman unleashed her awkward 'seal clap' while attending the Printemps Christmas decorations inauguration in Paris, France on Tuesday

Images of Nicole clapping bizarrely in the audience at the Academy Awards went viral in February.

Viewers took to Twitter to comment on her clapping style with one user asking: 'Why does Nicole Kidman clap her hands like that? Weird. Clap like a normal person.

Others asked why the blonde beauty simply 'could not clap'.

While some went as far as to say she clapped like a seal: 'Anyone see Nicole Kidman clapping? She claps like a seal. Awesome,' tweeted another social media user.

The star later confessed she clapped like that as she was 'terrified' of damaging her giant Harry Winston diamond ring.

'It was really awkward, and I was like: 'Gosh, I really want to clap', she explained.

She's at it again! The Big Little Lies star, 50, who insisted that her unusual method was to avoid damaging her diamond ring, caught the eye once again with her off-beat show of appreciation

Woman of the hour: What was no doubt intended as a gracious clap looked somewhat confusing to onlookers

'I don't want to not be clapping, which would be worse right? Why isn't Nicole clapping?' she said, mimicking what she believed would be the subsequent media headlines.

'So therefore I'm clapping but it was really difficult because I had this huge ring on which was not my own but was absolutely gorgeous and I was terrified of damaging it,' she said.

Indeed, Nicole was bejewelled with over 119 carats worth of Harry Winston diamonds, including a 13.58-carat cluster pearl-shaped diamond ring set in platinum.

Awkward clapping aside, the actress looked ethereal in a cornflower-blue chiffon blouse teamed with a chic pencil skirt against the French department store's festive backdrop.

Baffling: She sent the Internet into hysterics after she was seen bizarrely applauding like a 'seal' at the Oscars in February

Bemused: Viewers took to Twitter to comment on Nicole's clapping style with one user asking: 'Why does Nicole Kidman clap her hands like that? Weird. Clap like a normal person'

The Australian star certainly took centre-stage in her whimsical blouse, which featured romantic trumpet sleeves, shirring detail and a cut-out neckline.

Injecting the stylish look with a dose of colour, the blonde beauty showcased her lithe figure in a green midi skirt with black stitching detail.

Not scrimping on footwear, the Lion star rocked some white and red strappy courts with mesh inserts.

Letting her statement look do the talking, she accessorised simply with several bedazzled rings and diamond bracelets.

She echoed her outfit's irreverent vibe with her styling, wearing her light-blonde tresses in polished soft waves. Nicole framed her eyes with a dramatic sweep of mascara and finished off her look with a slick of matte berry lipstick.

Looking good: Nicole cemented her sartorial credentials with her chic ensemble

Chic: She looked ethereal in a cornflower-blue chiffon blouse teamed with a chic pencil skirt against the French department store's festive backdrop

Stunning: The Australian actress certainly took centre-stage in her whimsical blouse, which featured romantic trumpet sleeves, shirring detail and a cut-out neckline

Letting her statement look do the talking: She accessorised simply with several bedazzled rings and diamond bracelets

Nicole's outing comes amid claims she's planning to renew her vows with hsuabdn Keith Urban in a low-key ceremony in Hawaii.

The 50-year-old actress popped the question for a second time to her husband on his recent 50th birthday, according to Woman's Day.

A source close to the couple shared with the magazine Nicole proposed to Keith 'to do something special' for his 50 birthday on October 26.

The Hollywood A-lister has allegedly chosen her birthplace of Hawaii as the setting for the intimate wedding.

Mane attraction: She echoed her outfit's irreverent vibe with her styling, wearing her light-blonde tresses in polished soft waves

Green with envy: Injecting the stylish look with a dose of colour, the blonde beauty showcased her lithe figure in a green midi skirt with black stitching detail

Jingle all the way: Kidman fashion forward look ensured she wasn't upstaged by the festive decorations

'She's hoping this second wedding will only make them stronger,' a friend of Nicole's described.

'She wants the day to be even more special than their first wedding - especially as their girls will be there, too,' they added.

The lovebirds met in 2005 at G'Day LA, a Hollywood event honoring Australians, and were married a year later.

They have two daughters together, Sunday Rose, nine, and Faith Margaret, six, and live in a sprawling estate in Nashville.

Nicole also has two older adopted children, Isabella, 24, and Connor, 22, from her marriage to Tom Cruise.

Ready for her close-up: The Eyes Wide Shut star worked her angles as she posed sultrily at the department store

Glam: Nicole framed her eyes with a dramatic sweep of mascara and finished off her look with a slick of matte berry lipstick

Not scrimping on footwear: The Lion star rocked some white and red strappy courts with sheer inserts

Having a whale of a time: She appeared to be in great spirits at the bash

She has never been hesitant to shower Keith with public affection, and has been particularly effusive about her husband recently.

For his 50th birthday, she shared a tender photo of the pair on Facebook and called him 'the greatest man in the world'.

'Keith says to me, "You stay raw and sensitive, and I'll buffer things for you," which is a beautiful offering,' she revealed in an interview days after her social media post.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Keith and Nicole's representation for comment at the time.

She Big Little Lies star recently opened up on their relationship, saying Keith acts like the 'tough' one so she can be more 'sensitive' and 'raw'.

Just smile and wave, boys: The statuesque beauty seemed more than happy to pose for the cameras

Put a ring on it: Kidman showed off her blinging jewellery as she prepared to blow a kiss

Here we go! Nicole teased some suspense as she prepared to cut the ribbon alongside Le Printemps CEO Paolo De Cesare

She told Glamour magazine: 'Keith always says to me, "You stay raw and sensitive, and Ill buffer things for you," which is a beautiful offering.

'He is always told, "Youre so tough," and he says, "Thats not what I want for you, Nicole. You dont need to get a thick skin."'

Nicole recently revealed that bagging a double Emmy win in September for her role in Big Little Lies was more meaningful than her Oscar triumph for The Hours back in 2002.

The actress, 50, told The Late Show host Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night that she was happy to share her recent success with her husband Keith Urban, 50, and their daughters, Sunday Rose, nine and Faith, six.

Big plans: Nicole's comes amid claims she is planning to renew her vows with husband Keith Urban in a low-key ceremony in Hawaii

'She's hoping this second wedding will only make them stronger,' a 'friend' of Nicole's described

'When I won my Oscar, I was not in a great place in my life,' the Stoker actress admitted.

Nicole added of the time just after she split from husband Tom Cruise, 55, in 2001: 'I didnt have a partner to share it with. I was flailing, emotionally and personally.

'I was alone. I sort of ordered some room service, and that was it - which I know is like, "Oh".'

But things were different this time around, as Nicole got to celebrate her accomplishment with her country music star husband, who she married in 2006.

'So, to win an Emmy and be in love and have my family Its amazing. There's something incredible about going home and going, "Baby! We did it!" And that's what we did.'
She has been busy blazing the promotional trail for her new make-up range with Maybelline this week.

But Gigi Hadid pulled out all the stops for her collection's launch night in London on Tuesday, leading the glamour in a showstopping lemon-yellow ensemble.

The supermodel, 22, looked sensational as she paraded her enviably lithe limbs in a thigh-grazing beaded minidress at the star-studded bash, sponsored by CIROC Vodka.

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She's got a zest for life! Gigi Hadid pulled out all the stops for her Maybelline collection's launch night in London on Tuesday, leading the glamour in a showstopping lemon-yellow dress

The brunette beauty certainly took centre-stage in her Nineties-inspired strapless yellow dress, which featured decadent all-over beading.

Showcasing her model legs, the Malibu-born socialite added height with a vertiginous pair of gold sparkling courts.

Sticking to the zesty colour scheme, Hadid slung a flowing yellow wollen trench coat from her shoulders.

The Tommy Hilfiger muse swept her glossy dark hair into a tousled chignon, with curly tendrils framing her striking features.

Opting for an early Noughties make-up palette, she framed her eyes with iridescent bronze shimmer and plumped her pout with glossy taupe lipstick.

Looking good: The supermodel, 22, looked sensational as she paraded her enviably lithe limbs in a thigh-grazing minidress at the star-studded bash

Woman of the hour: The brunette beauty certainly took centre-stage in her Nineties-inspired strapless yellow dress, which featured decadent all-over beading

Showcasing her model legs: The Malibu-born socialite added height with a vertiginous pair of gold sparkling courts

Taking centre-stage: Opting for an early Noughties make-up palette, she framed her eyes with iridescent bronze shimmer and plumped her pout with glossy taupe lipstick

Last week, Gigi continued her style takeover as she donned two different shoulder-baring ensembles at a West Village loft Friday night for the launch of her new limited-edition Maybelline collection.

The star, real name Jelena, first sported a black cut-out Bardot top, baggy blue jeans, and black high-heeled booties selected by stylist Elizabeth Sulcer.

Gigi showcased one of her eye shadow palettes for the cosmetics-loving, Manhattan crowd.

Working her angles: Gigi flashed a number of sultry poses as she worked the red carpet

When life gives you lemons: Sticking to the zesty colour scheme, Hadid slung a flowing yellow wollen trench coat from her shoulders

Having a whale of a time: Hadid seemed to be in great spirits as she worked the crowd

And Gigi not only displayed her collection, she also hosted an 'international master class' with her make-up artist Erin Parsons.

Hadid enjoyed getting in on the action, applying her products directly on one of the three models on hand for the tutorial.

Hairstylist Larry King made sure the 5ft10in brunette's tresses were scraped back into an updo to better sell the Maybelline covering her face.

Sitting pretty: The catwalk star looked like the perfect muse for her Maybelline range as she reclined on a pink chaise-longue inside the bash

A little slice of heaven: Gigi seemed ecstatic as she showed off her very own personalised pizza box bearing slices of pepperoni goodness

Just hanging out: She beamed as she cosied up to Maybelline global make-up artist Erin Parsons

One of her five a day? The model larked around with an orange slice in her drink, which complemented the fruity vibe of her outfit

Hadid sweetly named her reddest lip shade 'Khair' in honor of her 21-year-old sister Bella, whose middle name translates to 'benevolent' in Arabic.

'Her favorite color is red,' the New School drop-out explained to Vogue.

'It's a great basic cherry that looks great on everyone...Honestly, I wear red lipstick more than Bella does.'

Mane attraction: The Tommy Hilfiger muse swept her glossy dark hair into a tousled chignon, with curly tendrils framing her striking features

She nailed it! Ever the perfectionist, the socialite even matched her nails to the bright yellow colour scheme

Stealing the limelight: The brunette beauty ensured she turned heads as she worked her angles at the bash

Always camera-ready: The Vogue cover girl flashed a sultry pout over her shoulder as she arrived at the bash

Diva coming through! She was ushered into the VIP bash by a series of aides

And while Gigi is busy promoting her range in London, she took time out to wish her entreprenuer father Mohamed a happy 69th birthday.

Sharing snaps of the two together, she wrote on Instagram: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY AMAZING DADDIO @mohamedhadid!'

The Tommy Hilfiger muse went on to hail her father, who split from her model mum Yolanda in 200, 'charismatic' and 'generous'.

Sheer glamour: Tallia Storm took inspiration from Gigi's sister Bella with her Dior gown - chanelling Bella's fairytale look in January

C'est chic: The Scottish R&B singer, 19, added a black beret to her semi-sheer gown, which flashed the trademark Dior underwear beneath

Pillow fight: Tallia and Youtuber Emily Canham later larked around and jumped up and down on one of the beds

They didn't wake up on the wrong side of bed! The pair seemed to be loving life as they posed for the cameras

These boots were made for walking: Ashley James showcased her slender limbs when she opted to wear just a denim shirt

Hell for leather: The 30-year-old former Made In Chelsea star rocked a killer pair of scarlet thigh-high boots

Showing off her eye for accessories: The lifestyle blogger styled a patterned necktie and she toted a colourful clutch bag which featured a huge pair of crimson lips

Nineties cool: Ella Eyre nailed the sports-luxe look in a cropped orange hooded sweatshirt

Back to life, back to reality: The Waiting All Night singer added black vinyl cropped trousers and white trainers to her casual look

Metallic maven: Former TOWIE star Jessica Wright, 32, showed off her lithe physique in a dazzling wrap dress and ankle boots

'I am so proud to call you my dad and am so grateful to have a funny, smart, creative, charismatic, generous, and gentleman of a dad like YOU - whose also one of my favorite chefs in the world!' she penned.

'I wish I could be with you today, but I'm always with you in spirit and hope you have the best day!!!!! & THANKS FOR MY GREATEST GIFTS @anwarhadid @bellahadid@lanzybear @mariellemama I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH'

Meanwhile, The half-Jordanian beauty and her half-Pakistani boyfriend, former 1D boybander Zayn Malik, dressed up as Black Cat and Spider-Man to celebrate Halloween on Tuesday.

Suited and booted: Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts channeled the Seventies with her green velour flared trouers

Double trouble: The singer was joined by Charlotte De Carle, who flashed her abs in gold sequinned co-ords

Simply stunning: Socialite Lady Mary Charteris rocked a tiny dove-grey suede dress

Rumour has it: The 30-year-old recently hit the headlines amid claims she has struck up a friendship with David Beckham, 42, which wife Victoria reportedly deemed 'very worrying

Pretty in pink: Model Amber Le Bon rocked a Fifties-inspired midi skirt teamed with a sequin bolero jacket

Check them out: Model and DJ Lilah Parsons (L) and Youtuber Emily Canham both opted for plaid accents in their ensembles

Socialite style: Made In Chelsea's Sophie Hermann (L) and presenter Olivia Cox made a beeline for statement accesories

Looking dapper: Irish television personality Darren Kennedy rocked a printed shirt and leather jacket

This month marks two years of dating between Hadid and the limber 24-year-old Englishman, whom she first met at a friend's birthday party in 2014.

Gigi recently hid the headlines after lashing out at a far-right activist who accused veil-wearing Muslim women of rubbing the New York City terror attack in everyones face by walking around in hijabs.

Hadid, who is half-Palestinian spoke out after controversial blogger Laura Loomer posted a picture on Twitter of two women crossing the road close to the scene of Mondays ISIS-inspired attack.

Here come the X Factor hopefuls! Holly Tandy (L) and Rai-Elle Williams attended the bash in colourful minidresses

Making Sharon Osbourne proud! The teenage singers took a break off from their rehearsing duties to party at the bash

Keeping it casual: Singer-songwriter Grace Davies opted for a relaxed vibe in a frayed red denim skirt and slogan sweatshirt

Vocal powerhouse: Filipino singing sensation Alisah Bonaobra rocked frayed jeans and a simpl white T-shirt

The model wrote: Laura, I hate to give you attention, but I need to tell you  Youre a f***ing moron.

Hadid, who posed on the cover of the first edition of Vogue Arabia in a headscarf, spoke out after Loomer accused innocent Muslims of reveling in the Manhattan attack, that left eight dead and 12 injured.

Loomer wrote on twitter: Muslims are out in full force at the scene of the NYC#ISIS attack today rubbing it everyones face. Aimlessly walking around in hijabs.

Woman of the hour: Gigi rocked a more casual outfit as she arrived at the launch party of her new range

Mane attraction: The supermodel styled her glossy dark hair in tousled waves that tumbled past her shoulders

Shady lady: The Tommy Hilfiger muse later shielded her eyes behind a pair of Nineties-inspired pastel green cat-eye shades
Her relationship with ex-fiance Mark Wright saw her thrown into the spotlight seven years ago, with their engagement and subsequent split shortly after playing out for fans to see on The Only Way Is Essex.

Despite having since moved on, Lauren Goodger, 31, has found herself at the centre of claims she is still holding a grudge when it comes to her former flame's past romance with Lucy Mecklenburgh and is planning to seek revenge on her former TOWIE co-star.

However, Lauren has furiously denied reports she is planning to 'get her own back' on Lucy by 'flirting' with the online fitness guru's boyfriend Ryan Thomas on the new series of I'm A Celebrity, branding the claims 'absolute rubbish'.

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Awkward: Lauren Goodger, 31, has found herself at the centre of claims she is still holding a grudge when it comes to Mark Wright's past romance with Lucy Mecklenburgh and is planning to seek revenge on her former TOWIE co-star

Lucy had dated Mark back in 2011, following the breakdown of his relationship with Lauren, but their romance had been brief, as Mark later reunited with childhood sweetheart Lauren and popped the question.

Sources had claimed to Closer magazine that Lauren is still 'furious' over the short-lived romance, telling the publication: 'Lauren's never got over Lucy's 'affair', as she called it, with Mark and has held a grudge ever since.

'As soon as she saw Ryan was rumoured to join her in the jungle, she saw it as an opportunity to give Lucy a taste of her own medicine.'

They added: 'She's got no serious plans to steal Ryan, but she would like Lucy to realise how humiliating it felt for her when she was linked to Mark.'

However, when contacted by MailOnline, a representative for Lauren denied this is the case. They said: 'This is absolute rubbish and no truth in any of it!'

MailOnline have also contacted a representative for Lucy for comment.

'Absolute rubbish': But she has furiously denied reports she is planning to 'get her own back' on Lucy by 'flirting' with the online fitness guru's boyfriend Ryan Thomas on the new series of I'm A Celebrity

Rise to prominence: Lauren's relationship with ex-fiance Mark Wright saw her thrown into the spotlight seven years ago, with their engagement and subsequent split shortly after playing out for fans to see on The Only Way Is Essex

Lucy had previously dated Mark, who is now happily married to his actress wife Michelle Keegan, six years ago, following his brief split from Lauren.

Their romance had dominated the first series of TOWIE, where Lauren and Lucy were pitted against each other as love rivals and the latter was ultimately dumped by Mark at the end of the series.

Following his split with Lucy, Mark then rekindled his romance with Lauren and had proposed to his ex of 10 years in front of the cameras during series two of the ITVBe reality series.

Their engagement, however, was short-lived and the pair later went their separate ways, following claims Lauren had been 'unfaithful' to Mark.

Onscreen engagement: Mark had proposed to his ex of 10 years in front of the cameras during series two of the ITVBe reality series - their engagement, however, was short-lived and the pair later went their separate ways, following claims Lauren had been 'unfaithful' to Mark

Single again: Lauren went on to find love with her jailbird ex-beau Joey Morrison, but the pair split in September following 15 months of dating, while Joey was still in prison

Smitten: Mark is now happily married to his actress wife Michelle Keegan whom he married in May 2015

Lauren went on to find love with her jailbird ex-beau Joey Morrison, but the pair split in September following 15 months of dating, while Joey was still in prison.

Remaining on friendly terms, she admitted that the pair didn't 'fall out' and she holds nothing but respect for him now that their relationship has come to an end.

For over a year, Lauren had been forced to visit Joey in prison, as he has been in the midst of serving a 16 year violent drugs-related prison sentence. He was convicted of a string of offences, including possession of a firearm, kidnapping, blackmail and actual bodily harm, and is due for a 2018 release.

Lucy, meanwhile, is now dating actor Ryan, after romance blossomed for the pair while filming for Bear Grylls: Celebrity Island and in the midst of water shortages, extreme hunger and tropical storms.

Tangled history: Lucy had dated Mark back in 2011, following the breakdown of his relationship with Lauren, but their romance had been brief, as Mark later reunited with childhood sweetheart Lauren and popped the question

Loved-up: The brunette beauty is now dating actor Ryan, after romance blossomed for the pair while filming for Bear Grylls: Celebrity Island

Strength to strength? They continued their romance back on home soil and things appear to be serious between the pair, as Lucy has been introduced to Ryan's eight-year-old daughter Scarlet, whom he shares with Tina O'Brien

They continued their romance back on home soil and things appear to be serious between the pair, as Lucy has been introduced to Ryan's eight-year-old daughter Scarlet, whom he shares with Tina O'Brien.

Ryan is currently in Australia after landing himself a role on soap Neighbours. Lucy had gushed how 'proud' she was of her beau, following news of his new addition to the cast surfacing, but the couple found themselves facing speculation they had split recently.

Lucy appeared to make a cryptic dig at her beau by sharing a photo of a frog to her Instagram story and posting: 'I seem to attract frogs.'

While she never addressed the break up claims, Lucy appears to have since put the rumours to bed by tagging her beau in her social media activity since.

New chapter: Ryan is currently in Australia after landing himself a role on soap Neighbours and Lucy had gushed how 'proud' she was of her beau, following news of his new addition to the cast surfacing

Known for wanting to keep their relationship private, she has made sure not to discuss the swirling claims, but did admit it can be 'confusing' when her social media posts are taken out of context in an interview with MailOnline.

'I am used to it, you can never please anyone no matter what you post. It's very, very odd. I've learnt to deal with it,' she claimed. 'I've been in the public eye since I was 19, I'm 26 now. It's confusing sometimes, but you have to let it go ahead over your head.'

The brunette beauty is currently in Melbourne and has been documenting her trip on social media, no doubt visiting her beau as he settles into his new role on the Australian soap.

Ryan, meanwhile, along with Lauren, has been hotly tipped for the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here which is set to return to ITV on November 19. However, the lineup for the new series is yet to be confirmed.
She is expecting her third child, a baby boy, in a mere matter of weeks.

And Jessica Alba showed off her beautiful baby bump as she headed to meetings in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The actress, 36, displayed her pregnancy shape in a tight white tank top, with a blush coat and beige cardigan layered over the top.

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Bumping along nicely: Jessica Alba showed off her beautiful baby bump as she headed to meetings in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The Sin City star complemented her look with baggy trousers in a neutral tone, while keeping comfortable in light pink suede pumps.

Jessica - who already has daughters Honor, nine, and Haven, six, with producer husband Cash Warren, 38 - accessorized with multiple necklaces and a large black leather handbag.

The Honest Company founder and entrepreneur sheltered her eyes from the Californian sun with dark shades, while opting for minimal make-up to showcase her naturally stunning features.

The mother-of-two completed her cute daytime ensemble by wearing her chestnut hair in loose waves.

Oh boy! The actress, 36, displayed her pregnancy shape in a tight white tank top, with a blush coat and beige cardigan layered over the top

On Monday, Jessica posted a charming Instagram photo of her pregnancy tum looming over her laptop.

Her web browser was open to the website of her consumer goods brand, The Honest Company.

'The bump at work @honest #thehonestlife #entrepreneurlife #pregnantatwork,' she captioned the snapshot.

Jessica helped found The Honest Company in 2011.

Despite being battered by lawsuits over its products' alleged ingredients and effectiveness, The Honest Company has flourished into a lucrative enterprise, The Wall Street Journal reporting in 2015 that it was worth approximately $1.7 billion.

'The bump at work': The Sin City star posted a charming Instagram photo of her pregnancy tum looming over her laptop as she got to work on Monday

The actress announced her latest pregnancy in July with a sweet Instagram GIF that showed her standing outside next to her two little girls.

Honor held a balloon shaped like a one and Haven had one shaped like a two.

Their mother, caressing her visible baby bump, lifted a balloon shaped like a three to announce the happy family's big news.

On October 25, she posted a heartwarming gender reveal Instagram GIF.

Jessica could be seen standing outdoors beneath a dangling Honest Company box.

When Honor and Haven pulled at a couple of ribbons attached to the container, it opened, pouring blue balloons and confetti onto Jessica.

'#babyonboard': The actress announced her latest pregnancy in July with a sweet Instagram GIF that showed her standing outside next to her two little girls, Honor, nine, and Haven, six

But the actress recently joked that she and husband Cash have different ideas when it comes to the name of their first son.

Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last month, she explained: '[Cash] said, "We should name it Dick with a silent H". He thinks its, like, old school.'

Jessica also opened up about her pregnancy cravings, admitting she constantly wants Japanese food and desserts.

She added: 'I didn't think I was craving anything until I realized I'm craving Japanese food all the time.

'I actually dream about desserts, but Im trying not to gain so much weight with this baby so I just dream about them. I want all the shaved ice with ice cream on the bottom. That's my thing.'

Cash and Jessica met in 2004 on the set of Fantastic Four, and married four years later in Los Angeles in May 2008 - before welcoming Honor one month later.
She made sure to catch the eye parading her bikini-clad frame on her recent trip to Los Angeles to visit her younger brother Mark Wright.

And commanding attention once again, Jessica Wright, 32, turned heads as in a shimmering thigh-skimming mini dress to attend the launch of supermodel Gigi Hadid's collection with make-up brand Maybelline, sponsored by CIROC Vodka.

Stepping out in London on Tuesday night, the former TOWIE star looked sensational in the plunging design that perfectly highlighted her gym-honed frame while simultaneously teasing a look at her ample bust.

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Sensational: Jessica Wright, 32, turned heads as in a shimmering thigh-skimming mini dress to attend the launch of Gigi Hadid's Maybelline collection in London on Tuesday

Proudly flaunting her impressively bronzed frame for her recent jaunt overseas, Jess let her glittering number, the 'Bruni' dress from her Sista Glam collection, make a statement as she pared things back when it came to her accessories.

Her perilously low-cut frock also boasted an eye-wateringly short hemline that left her slender pins on full display, with Jess dressing up her outfit choice with a chunky silver watch and a simple pendant around her neck.

She added extra height to her ensemble with a pair of suede sock boots on her feet and offset her getup's dark tones with a pillar box red manicure.

Busty: The plunging design perfectly highlighted the former TOWIE star's gym-honed frame while simultaneously teasing a look at her ample bust

Wowing on the beauty front too, Jess favoured an immaculate make-up look that came complete with contoured cheeks, a glamorous smokey eye and a slick of nude pink lipstick.

She left her brunette tresses down to fall past her shoulders in soft drawn out curls, parted in the middle, and toted her evening's essentials in a leather clutch back.

Smouldering on her arrival, Jess cut a sultry figure as she struck up a series of poses for photographers, before heading inside the bash to rub shoulders with fashion star Gigi.

She's got a zest for life! Gigi, meanwhile, pulled out all the stops as she paraded her enviably lithe limbs in a thigh-grazing beaded mini dress and a vertiginous pair of gold sparkling courts

The model put on a show-stopping display as she paraded her enviably lithe limbs in a thigh-grazing beaded mini dress, reminiscent of the Nineties, and a vertiginous pair of gold sparkling courts.

She has launched a line of Maybelline products, naming one red shade of lipstick 'Khair' after her younger model sister Bella, 21, whose middle name translates to 'benevolent' in Arabic.

'Her favorite color is red,' the New School drop-out explained to Vogue. 'It's a great basic cherry that looks great on everyone...Honestly, I wear red lipstick more than Bella does.'

Beach babe: Jessica ensured she stole the limelight during her Los Angeles trip, showcasing her incredible bikini body in a series of sizzling swimsuits

Meanwhile, Jess' appearance at the launch bash comes after the reality beauty had stolen the limelight by sharing a slew of racy bikini snaps with fans via her Instagram page.

While soaking up the sunshine in Los Angeles, where her brother Mark is now working as a presenter for Extra!, Jess stripped down to her scanty swimwear for many a sunbathing session, as she teased: 'Catchin' some rays on those sunny days.'

Stretching out on a sun-lounger on a hotel terrace, the reality star showed off her toned and tanned figure to perfection.

Stunning sisters: But it seems the sizzling snap didn't stop her feeling envious of her younger model sister Natalya, 17, as they posed in bikinis on a Hollywood beach

'The beach is my happy place': Jessica seemed utterly content as she topped up her tan

But it seems the sizzling snap didn't stop her feeling envious of her younger model sister Natalya, 17, as they posed in bikinis on a Hollywood beach.

Jess looked sensational as she highlighted her ample chest in a hot pink triangle bikini, which contrasted her sister's aqua swimsuit.

In her sister's admiration, Jess captioned the image: 'When you have to stand next to your sister who is half your age & looks like this on a beach, thats motivation for you...'

The 17-year-old is currently signed to top modelling agency, Select, after becoming something of an Instagram sensation, following her Mark and Jess' TV fame on TOWIE.
She was scouted at the tender age of 14 and has since ascended to the ranks of full-blown fashion royalty.

And Kate Moss cemented her sartorial credentials on Tuesday night, as she celebrated the December issue of British Vogue at the Edward Enninful dinner.

The legendary supermodel, 43, nailed the vintage look in a Twenties-style sequin dress and matching beret at the bash at London's River Cafe.

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Dazzling: Kate Moss cemented her sartorial credentials on Tuesday night, as she celebrated the December issue of British Vogue at the Edward Enninful dinner

Radiant: Kate proved to be in good spirits as she partied the night away at the raucous bash

The fashion icon rolled back the years with her scene-stealing look, showcasing her svelte frame in the figure-hugging dress.

Boasting a plunging neckline, the decadent garment also cinched in her tiny waist and boasted opulent all-over sequin detail.

Adding height to her 5ft 6in frame, the blonde beauty rocked a vertiginous pair of ankle-strap platform courts.

In a whimsical nod to the Twenties, Moss accessorised with a matching sequin black beret and carried a quilted Chanel bag.

Fashion icon: The legendary supermodel, 43, nailed the vintage look in a Twenties-style sequin dress and matching beret at the bash at London's The River Cafe

Chic: The fashion icon rolled back the years with her scene-stealing look, showcasing her svelte frame in the figure-hugging dress

Ready for her close-up: Styling her glossy golden locks in her signature bedhead waves, the mum-of-one framed her hazel eyes with bronze iridescent shimmer

Looking good: Boasting a plunging neckline, the decadent garment also cinched in her tiny waist and boasted opulent all-over sequin detail

Styling her glossy golden locks in her signature bedhead waves, the mum-of-one framed her hazel eyes with bronze iridescent shimmer.

Putting her trademark spin on the retro look, Kate layered up with gold rings and drew attention to her decolletage with a delicate gold pendant necklace.

With over 30 years experience in the modelling industry, she has tested out her fair share of beauty tips.

Yet Kate recently revealed that her favourite is one of the simplest and cheapest around  dunking your face in a sink of icy water.

Date night: She brought her boyfriend, German aristocrat Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 30, along to the event. The pair posed with her old friend, designer Stella McCartney

Killer footwear: Adding height to her 5ft 6in frame, Kate rocked a vertiginous pair of ankle-strap platform courts

Loving life: Kate appeared to be in great spirits as she laughed and chatted away happily to Stella

Stylish: In a whimsical nod to the Twenties, Moss accessorised with a matching sequin black beret and carried a quilted Chanel bag

When asked to name the number one beauty tip that she has learnt during her career, she told Stella magazine: The ice plunge is the best trick.

'Fill a sink with ice cubes, cold water and slices of cucumber and hold your face in for as long as you can. It instantly reduces puffiness and tightens up your skin.

Whilst she admits to enjoying a facial and a massage when I can, the icy cucumber water, which could cost less than 1, appears to suit her jet-setter lifestyle as it is possible to do anywhere.

Kate said that because she wears extensive make-up for modelling, she likes to keep it simple when she is not working and will not wear heavy make-up.

Hydration is key: The catwalk queen fixed the camera with a sultry gaze as she sipped her drink

Killer accessories: Putting her trademark spin on the retro look, Kate layered up with gold rings and drew attention to her decolletage with a delicate gold pendant necklace

Glamorous: The pair certainly turned heads as they posed together for cameras

Congratulations! Kate and Stella enthusiastically greeted model Adwoa Aboah, who starred in British Vogue's first cover under new editor Edward Enninful

Look at you! Beaming Adwoa, 25, welcomed her friends with open arms

Friends in high places: Kate and Stella later chatted to Manolo Blahnik and Ronnie Cooke-Newhouse (L)

Nor does she subscribe to the obsession with selfies and social media which she says has changed the whole modelling scene.

Asked what she thinks of the trend of contouring  a method of applying make-up to accentuate certain features  the mother-of-one, whose daughter Lila is 14, said: Its quite amazing what some of these girls can do.

They use really professional techniques to transform features, but its not an everyday look I go in for.

'As I said, I dont like selfies  my favourite picture of myself is the portrait that Mario Testino took of Lila and me for American Vogue. Its timeless. I have it hanging in my bathroom so I look at it every day.

Fashion royalty: The model later mingled alongside new Vogue editor Edward Enninful

Feeling triumphant: Edward appeared to already be celebrating his first Vogue cover being unveiled hours earlier

Miss Moss also opened up about her desire to protect future generations in the industry, saying: I was very young when I started modelling so I really support recent changes in the industry to protect the well-being of models.

Its something I feel passionately about for the models we represent at my agency, I dont want them to feel pressured in any way.

Kate was famously discovered at New Yorks JFK airport when she was 14 by Sarah Doukas, founder of Storm Models management.

At the tender age of 17, the model landed her first huge assignment in the industry for Calvin Klein underwear with actor Mark Wahlberg.

Having a whale of a time: The fashion world's power players seemed to be in great spirits as they cosied up for photos

Strike a pose: Kate flashed her best sultry pout as she worked her angles on the blue carpet

To be a fly on the wall: She appeared to be particularly tickled by something Edward said

Speaking to The Telegraph, she recalled how her mum told her she wasn't 'photogenic' before she embarked on her stellar modelling career.

Quipping about how she has gone on to prove her wrong, she enthused: 'And my Mum always said I wasn't photogenic. Well, hello. 'She was like: "Kate, do you really think you can be a model?"'

As well as taking the modelling industry by storm, Kate is the doting mother to her 15-year-old daughter.

The mother-of-one gave birth to Lila Grace in 2002, amid her romance with Dazed & Confused magazine's co-founder Jefferson Hack.

Ever the social butterfly: The catwalk queen also snaked an arm around TV chef Lorraine Pascale's waist as they caught up at the dinner

Having a whale of a time: The Croydon native and cook flashed wide grins as they wrapped their arms around each other

Come on, Kate! Lorraine seemed keen to have Kate all to herself as she dragged the supermodel away from the cameras

Looking chic: Lorraine rocked a chic stretch-knit navy dress with a flattering flared skirt

Having a ball: The girls could not stop giggling as they posed for cameras

And mother like daughter, Lila secured her first modelling success as the face of the Braid Bar at the tender age of 14.

As for romance, Kate went onto marry The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince, 48, in a romantic ceremony in Gloucestershire in 2011.

It wasn't meant to be as the former flames parted ways in 2015 and their divorce was settled outside of court in 2016.

She has been going strong with her younger lover and German aristocrat Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 30.

So that's her secret! Kate recently revealed that dunking your face into an icy sink of water is the best - and cheapest - way to get a good complexion

Natural beauty: Kate said that because she wears extensive make-up for modelling, she likes to keep it simple when she is not working and will not wear heavy make-up




They first found love while starring on Bear Grylls: Celebrity Island, but had found themselves at the centre of speculation they had 'split' in recent weeks.

However, brushing off such claims, Ryan Thomas and Lucy Mecklenburgh have reunited in Melbourne, following his move to Australia to work on Neighbours, and he was seen proudly parading his girlfriend on Instagram.

The actor, 33, and Lucy appeared to be enjoying a party with their pals and as the bash got into full swing, Ryan couldn't resist filming his love as she danced around the room.

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What split? Ryan Thomas and Lucy Mecklenburgh have reunited in Melbourne, following his move to Australia to work on Neighbours, and he was seen proudly parading his girlfriend on Instagram on Tuesday

Clearly having a ball and no doubt thrilled to be reunited with her beau, Lucy was seen sexily showcasing her moves while clad in a dark pair of skinny jeans and a pretty gingham top.

Her outfit choice perfectly highlighted her incredibly gym-honed frame, with the reality beauty seen running her hands through her hair while shaking her pert behind in time to the music.

Ryan also captured the group making a vodka-fuelled punch, before sharing a photo of a friend carrying a tray of shots.

While he didn't feature in the video shared to his Instagram story alongside Lucy, his latest upload is no doubt confirmation the couple are still going strong despite rumours of a relationship rift.

She got the moves! Clearly having a ball and no doubt thrilled to be reunited with her beau, Lucy was seen sexily dancing while clad in a dark pair of skinny jeans and a pretty gingham top

Fun-filled bash: The reality beauty was seen running her hands through her hair while shaking her pert behind in time to the music

Boozy affair: Ryan also captured the group making a vodka-fuelled punch, before sharing a photo of a friend carrying a tray of shots

Lucy has flown out to visit Ryan, while he settles into his new role on the Australian soap, and has been documenting her stay in Melbourne on her own social media channels - but has noticeably chosen to keep her reunion with Ryan private.

She did, however, share snaps of her partying with Olympia Valance during the couple's recent get-together with friends.

His addition to the Neighbours cast was confirmed in October, with Lucy gushing that she was 'proud' of the star for landing his new role as Rafael Humphreys - described as a loner with dark secrets - two years after leaving Coronation Street.

Lucy's appearance in Melbourne came after she had caused concern among fans after posting a cryptic Instagram post about a frog, that was later interpreted to be a 'dig' at boyfriend Ryan.

Quenching her thirst: Lucy appeared to be very much enjoying the punch

'Love this girl': She was also seen posing with Olympia Valance, who plays Paige Smith on Neighbours

Jetting Down Under: Lucy has been documenting her stay in Melbourne on her own social media channels - but has noticeably chosen to keep her reunion with Ryan private

She shared a photo of a frog to her Instagram story and posted alongside it: 'I seem to attract frogs.'

While she never addressed the claims, Lucy appears to have since put the rumours to bed by tagging her beau in her social media activity since and sharing nostalgic throwback snaps of holidays they had taken together.

Known for wanting to keep their relationship private, she has made sure not to discuss the swirling claims, but did admit in an interview with MailOnline that it can be 'confusing' when her social media posts are taken out of context.

'I am used to it, you can never please anyone no matter what you post. It's very, very odd. I've learnt to deal with it,' she claimed. 'I've been in the public eye since I was 19, I'm 26 now. It's confusing sometimes, but you have to let it go ahead over your head.'

Misunderstanding: Her appearance in Melbourne came after she had caused concern among fans after posting a cryptic Instagram post about a frog, that was later interpreted to be a 'dig' at boyfriend Ryan

Unlikely place to fall in love? Viewers had watched romance develop between the pair, amid water shortages, extreme hunger and tropical storms, on Channel 4 show Bear Grylls: Celebrity Island

Lucy added: 'You're going to get opinions and I have to accept that comes with social media.'

Viewers had watched romance develop between the pair, amid water shortages, extreme hunger and tropical storms, on Channel 4 show Bear Grylls: Celebrity Island.

The duo joined a slew of other celebrities on a remote island in Panama and were left to fend for themselves as they battled against the extreme conditions for survival, with Lucy and Ryan making it to the end of the series.

Doting dad: Lucy's arrival in Australia will no doubt have been welcomed by Ryan, as he recently shared his heartache over not being with his daughter on her birthday due to his move Down Under

Their relationship continued on home soil and suggesting things are getting serious between the pair, it appears Lucy has been introduced to Ryan's daughter Scarlet, whom he shares with ex and former Corrie co-star Tina O'Brien.

Lucy's arrival in Australia will no doubt have been welcomed by Ryan, as he recently shared his heartache over not being with his daughter on her birthday due to his move Down Under.

Sharing a sweet snap of himself and Scarlet laying on a beach together, the father-of-one penned: 'Happy 9th birthday Scarlett, our first ever birthday apart makes this so much harder being the other side of the world. Love you my angel.'
She's the Dutch supermodel who was pictured in a heated discussion as she stood with friends inside VIP marquee, The Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

And on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph reported that multiple witnesses saw Lara Stone unleash in an expletive-ridden rant.

The publication claims that onlookers said the 33-year-old screamed 'F**k off, f**k off, f**k off' after the day's main race at 3pm.

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'She was going mental': After Lara Stone was pictured in a heated discussion at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that several witness claimed the Dutch supermodel was screaming expletives

One Melbourne Cup attendee told the publication: 'She was going mental, (yelling) f**k, f**k, f**k. It was in front of everyone, she wasn't happy.'

The blonde stunner was seen with a scowl on her face as she conversed with people who are presumed to be her minders.

Lara's brows were furrowed and her hand was raised in the air, in what looked to be a disagreement.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the model's management for comment.

'It was so great being back in Australia': Despite the expletive-ridden rant, Lara later took to Instagram to thank Emirates for inviting her and described her experience as 'great'

Despite being pictured looking emotional, Lara later took her Instagram to share an image of herself at the event and wrote in its caption that she had a 'great' experience.

'Thank you Emirates for having me at the #emiratesmelbournecup today,' she stated.

'It was so great being back in Australia after a whole long year (and a half!) thank you for all your hospitality and kindness.'

'She wasn't happy': One witness claimed Lara's meltdown was 'in front of everyone'

Lara, who was previously married to comedian David Walliams, was also seen sitting on a wooden crate and puffing on a cigarette, as Paris Jackson knelt down to chat with her.

The teenager daughter of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was seen clutching the model's hand.

However, Paris's words of comfort seemed little consolation to Lara, who sat with a forlorn look on her face.

Earlier in the day, the Dutch stunner was seen sporting a silver headpiece, which she held in her hand as she sat on the crates.

Lending support: Lara was also seen sitting on a wooden crate and puffing on a cigarette at the Melbourne Cup as Paris Jackson (pictured) knelt down to chat with her

Lara also took off her sky-high heels, and was instead seen wearing a plain pair of cream slides.

She wore the simple footwear as she strolled around Flemington Racecourse still dazzling in her canary yellow Alex Perry frock.

Lara talked with Daily Mail Australia earlier in the day about raising her four-year-old son, Albert, whom she shares with ex David.

She stated that her visit Down Under will be cut short in order for to get back to her little boy.

'He's not here. That's why I have to leave tonight to pick him up from school tomorrow,' she explained.

Lara split from David in 2015, with the funnyman citing the model's 'unreasonable behaviour' for the 'quickie divorce,' with their case being put through alongside 20 other couples.
FBI agents search for clues at the entrance to the First Baptist Church, after a mass shooting that killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas on November 6, 2017

The US Air Force is investigating its failure to enter the Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction -- which legally barred him from buying or owning guns -- into a national criminal database, it said Monday.

This means information that would have prevented firearms purchases by Devin Kelley, who shot dead 26 people at a Texas church, was not entered into a database used to run background checks on would-be gun buyers.

"Initial information indicates that (Devin) Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations," the Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

Kelley was convicted by a court-martial of "two charges of domestic assault against his wife and step-son," which meant that under federal law, he was "prohibited him from buying or possessing firearms after this conviction," Stefanek said.

In addition to investigating the Kelley case, the Air Force is carrying out a "comprehensive review" to make sure that records from other cases have been correctly reported, she said.

Licensed firearms dealers are required to conduct background checks on people seeking to purchase guns, but private sellers are not -- a major loophole in current regulations.

Kelley was armed with a Ruger assault rifle, a .22 pistol from the same company and a Glock 9mm when he carried out the attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, which also wounded 20 people.

A family dispute may have sparked the rampage by Kelley, who died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound following the shooting, officials said.
BILLINGS, Mon.  The man who helped kill a Sidney teacher in 2012 was mentally competent when he pleaded guilty, the Montana Supreme Court determined.

The vote by the state Supreme Court, which published an opinion on its website Wednesday, was unanimous.

Michael Spell, 28, was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana State prison in May 2015 after he pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in the death of Sherry Arnold.

Arnold went out jogging one morning In January 2012 in Sidney and did not return home. Spell and another man, Lester Waters, were arrested a week later. Arnold's body was found in March 2012 buried outside Williston, N.D.

Spell's appeal questioned multiple aspects of how the District Court of the Seventh Judicial District assessed his mental competence, including whether he was able to "appreciate his behavior and conform his conduct to the requirements of the law," at the time of his involvement in Arnold's death, and whether his prison sentence was in violation of his constitutional rights to human dignity and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.

A review by the court of expert witness testimony, evidence and assessments made by medical professionals turned up insufficient reason to support any part of Spell's appeal.

Expert witnesses put Spell's IQ score at around 70 and said that "for many activities, he has the mental age of an 11-year-old," according to documents attached to the Montana Supreme Court's opinion on the appeal.

Despite this, some expert witnesses agreed that the intellectually disabled in some circumstances are capable of learning, communicating and working with their attorneys. This was the case with Spell, according to assessments, tests, interviews and observations of him compiled during his stay at Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.

Spell showed motivation for things he wanted, including getting access to video games at the State Hospital, Dr. Virginia Hill testified. Spell had complained about depression, anxiety, sleep problems, paranoia, voices and poor memory, but "his behavior was not consistent with those complaints," according to court documents.

Hill described how Spell's tendency to discuss his "cognitive functioning," is "unusual as patients with intellectual disabilities generally 'pretend they understand, they try to fit in, they don't like an emphasis on their impairments ... '"

Likewise, documents state that "Hill thought it unusual that Spell gravitated toward higher-functioning patients rather than other developmentally disabled patients," and "was observed manipulating lower-functioning peers and being duplicitous with staff."

Hill and hospital staff noted that Spell's cognitive functioning was higher than anticipated and that could be attributed to his abstaining from alcohol and drugs for two years before his evaluation.

The court also found sufficient evidence had been presented to show Spell's "intellectual disability did not prevent him from being able to appreciate and conform his conduct to the law," at the time of Arnold's killing according to court documents.

The court also found "there is no law to support Spell's assertion that an intellectually disabled person's right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment is violated by being sentenced to prison instead of committed to a treatment facility."
Puerto Ricans living at a shelter more than a month after Hurricane Maria hit the island, which a study says is set to lose 14 percent of its population by 2019 due to residents fleeing the devastation caused by the storm

Puerto Rico's population is set to decrease by 14 percent to 2.9 million inhabitants by 2019 due to an exodus of residents fleeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September, a study has found.

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York estimated in a report released last month that about 114,000 to 213,000 Puerto Rican residents will leave the island annually "as a result of Hurricane Maria."

Between 2017 and 2019, the US territory stands to lose 470,335 residents, it added.

"In the decade prior to Hurricane Maria, net migration from Puerto Rico to the United States amounted to approximately half a million, which represented a loss of ten percent of the island's population," said report authors Edwin Melendez and Jennifer Hinojosa.

"In other words, Puerto Rico will lose the same population in a span of a couple of years after Hurricane Maria as the island lost during a prior decade of economic stagnation."

Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans have fled to the mainland since Maria struck on September 20, devastating the island, just two weeks after Hurricane Irma tore through the Caribbean.

The vast majority went to Florida and New York, which already had around one million Puerto Ricans each. Around 700,000 Puerto Ricans live in New York City.

Overall, there are five million Puerto Ricans on the US mainland, compared to 3.4 million on the island.

Melendez and Hinojosa estimate that between 40,000 and 82,000 people will migrate to Florida each year from Puerto Rico.

That figured has already been topped, with a Florida emergency management official telling AFP that more than 134,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since October 3 through the international airports of Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

But it's unclear how many are moving to Florida permanently compared to how many are simply visiting temporarily.

The move is one of the biggest obstacles to recovery for the island, which has been beset by financial hardship.

"The population decrease in Puerto Rico... has multiple economic repercussions for the island," Jorge Duany, an anthropologist at Florida International University who specializes in Puerto Rican migration, said in an interview.

As of Monday, only 42 percent of Puerto Rican customers had electricity on the island, which went dark after Maria.

At least 51 people died because of the storm, according to official figures, while the local press speaks of dozens of people who have disappeared.

Some 2,600 people still live in shelters.
FBI agents at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where Devin Kelley carried out a mass shooting that left 26 people dead

A domestic violence conviction legally prohibited the Texas church shooter from buying guns, but the Air Force failed to enter it into a database used to run background checks, officials said Monday.

Devin Kelley -- who shot dead 26 people at a Texas church -- could therefore have passed the background check required to buy a gun, which would have raised red flags if the conviction had been properly entered.

"Initial information indicates that (Devin) Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations," Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

The database is one of three that are checked as part of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which licensed dealers are legally required to use to perform background checks under the 1993 Brady Act, aimed at reducing handgun violence.

While licensed dealers have to conduct checks, private sellers do not -- a major loophole in current regulations that allows purchases to be made, including at massive gun shows and online, without scrutiny of the buyer.

Kelley was convicted by a court-martial in 2012 of "two charges of domestic assault against his wife and step-son," which meant that under federal law, he was "prohibited him from buying or possessing firearms after this conviction," Stefanek said.

- Background checks cleared shooter -

In addition to investigating the Kelley case, the Air Force is carrying out a "comprehensive review" to make sure that records from other cases have been correctly reported, she said.

Kelley was given a "bad conduct" discharge from the Air Force after serving 12 months behind bars -- a step up from "dishonorable," which also would also have prevented him from buying guns.

FBI Special Agent Christopher Combs told a news conference on Monday that NICS performed as designed, but that the disqualifying information was not there.

"I can tell you that for the four purchases that he made, the NICS system did their required checks," Combs said.

"There was no prohibitive information in the systems that we check that said that he could not have purchased that firearm," he said.

Combs did not specify when the purchases were made, nor if they were of firearms used in the church shooting.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said earlier in the day that Kelley had been denied a gun permit, an apparent reference to a concealed carry license, as state law does not require permits for gun ownership.

Kelley was armed with a Ruger assault rifle when he carried out the attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, which also wounded 20 people.

Officials said that he had two pistols -- a Ruger .22 and a Glock 9mm -- in his vehicle.

A family dispute may have sparked the rampage by Kelley, who died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound following the shooting, officials said.
South Korean conservative activists have taken to the streets in a show of support for Trump

On the divided Korean peninsula, Seoul has seen protests both for and against President Donald Trump, with Southerners split over his aggressive handling of Pyongyang's provocations.

South Koreans are known for their indifference to decades of nearly daily threats of attack from their impoverished but nuclear-armed neighbour.

Even, so the recent war of words between the outspoken US leader and the isolated North's ruthless young ruler has shaken their usual stoicism.

The South Korean capital -- a city of 10 million people -- would be on the front line of any conflict, with one study projecting 65,000 civilian fatalities on the first day of just a conventional war.

But one pro-Trump banner on display in the city at the weekend proclaimed: "Mr Trump, we are not afraid to die. We want you to strike North Korea now."

Pro-Trump protestors are mostly politically conservative and over 60.

For 35-year-old office worker Park Gene, such views are "crazy".

"These elderly protestors may think they have only a few years to live anyway," he told AFP. "But I have a whole life ahead of me and don't want to die."

- 'War maniac' -

Tens of thousands of US troops were among the millions who died during the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two countries have been in a security alliance ever since, with 28,500 US troops stationed in the country.

Their presence has deterred a Northern invasion for decades, and in a Korea Times opinion poll last week a clear majority of South Koreans -- -- 59.2 percent -- named the US as the country they feel most favourably towards.

Duelling protests have been staged in Seoul ahead of Trump's visit

Almost half -- 48.6 percent -- blamed Kim for the rising tensions, rather than Trump.

But at the same time, a Social Trends Institute poll last month showed most South Koreans did not believe the US leader was a force for peace on the peninsula.

At the weekend, thousands of South Koreans demonstrated against "war maniac" Trump, waving banners reading "No Trump, No War", while rival pro-US activists held an event a few blocks away.

On Monday, dozens of activists including senior retired officials convened across the road to hail the US leader.

"We must strongly support President Trump's policy towards North Korea!" said former South Korean ambassador to Russia Lee Jai-Chun.

Kim Suk-Woo, ex-vice minister of the unification ministry that handles relations with North Korea chanted: "Long Live President Donald Trump!"

- 'Fire and fury' -

Trump, who has warned of "fire and fury" against the North and mocked Kim as "Rocket Man", said on Monday that the time for "strategic patience" with his regime was over.

But Seoul is only about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the heavily fortified border, within range of the North's massive artillery forces.

Irritation over Trump's hostile rhetoric is higher among young South Koreans with no memories of the war

Irritation over Trump's hostile rhetoric is higher among young South Koreans with no memories of the war, who often accuse their parents' generation of "worshipping" the US as their country's wartime saviour.

Office worker Park regards Trump as dangerous and unfit for the White House, but still values Seoul's military alliance with Washington and does not want to see US troops withdraw, as some protestors demand.

"Trump is far, far from an ideal leader," he said. "But I guess the US is an important ally for South Korea, regardless who is the president of that country."
Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him, according to The New Yorker

Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him, The New Yorker reported Monday.

The news came as the Television Academy, which hands out Emmy Awards, was said to have expelled Weinstein "for life," following a similar move by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives out the Oscars.

Among the private security agencies hired by Weinstein starting around fall 2016, the magazine said, was Black Cube, which is largely run by former officers of Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad. Another was corporate intelligence giant Kroll.

Two Black Cube private eyes met with actress Rose McGowan -- before she publicly accused Weinstein of raping her -- to obtain information.

One of the investigators secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan while pretending to be a women's rights advocates, said the magazine, citing dozens of pages of documents and seven people directly involved in Weinstein's efforts.

The spy used a different fake identity to meet with a journalist while claiming to have an accusation against Weinstein, in order to learn which women were talking to the media.

Weinstein and the private eyes also used journalists themselves to extract details from women who were making claims against Weinstein.

During his yearlong effort, Weinstein and his team would collect information on dozens of people, compiling psychological profiles with their personal or sexual histories in order to contradict, discredit or intimidate his targets.

The New Yorker said Weinstein sought the assistance of ex-employees from his movie enterprises to help in his efforts collecting names and placing calls.

Investigations also sometimes went through Weinstein's lawyers, according to the magazine. Among them was David Boies, who represented Al Gore in his 2000 presidential election dispute with George W. Bush.

The New Yorker said Boies himself had signed a contract demanding that Black Cube seek to uncover information to stop the publication of a New York Times story about Weinstein's sexual abuse at the same time his firm was also representing the Times in a libel case.

Boies told the magazine "it was a mistake" to have been involved with the investigators.

Weinstein's spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister dismissed the report, saying: "It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time."

Neither Hofmeister nor Boies immediately responded to requests for comment.

- Television Academy expels Weinstein -

Police launched investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York after around 100 women accused Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape.

Meanwhile, industry publication Variety said the Television Academy has voted to permanently expel Weinstein.

"The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue," it told Variety, adding that it was reviewing the organization's code of conduct.

"The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behavior are deeply disturbing to the Academy's leadership.

"We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment."
Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran back opposing sides in Yemen's conflict

Oil prices made rapid gains overnight as geopolitical tensions surged between Saudi Arabia and Iran, sparking fears of a conflict that could disrupt supplies from two major producers.

But prices retreated slightly in early Asian trade on Tuesday as traders engaged in profit-taking after both products reached levels not seen in over two years.

"Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia look to be a major disruptor with markets concerned that supply could be cut off should there be any conflict", said Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers in Sydney.

Riyadh and Tehran have been trading fierce accusations over their involvement in Yemen, where Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran back opposing sides.

In the latest flare-up Saudi Arabia said an intercepted missile attack on the country, allegedly by Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, "may amount to an act of war".

Tehran in turn accused Riyadh of committing war crimes in Yemen, raising tensions further.

But analyst Chanel said the accusations were unlikely to spiral into full-blown conflict.

At about 0330 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up four cents to $57.39 a barrel while Brent crude was down eight cents to $64.19 a barrel.

In the mid-term, prices are likely to continue gaining ground with an OPEC-led cap on supplies likely to continue into 2018, said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

"The Russians have been a very important driver in OPEC solidary by agreeing to play ball, but also threatening to push up production had the agreement fallen through," McKenna added.

Crude has been on an upward trajectory in recent months as major oil producers, led by the Saudis and Russians, struck a historic deal last year to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day for six months.

The deal was extended by nine months until March, bringing relief to the markets after a global supply glut had hammered prices since 2015.

Traders will now be looking to crude stockpile figures due later today from the American Petroleum Institute to offer an updated indication of market demand.
Donald Trump Jr, son of US President Donald Trump

A Russian lawyer has said Donald Trump Jr suggested in a meeting during the US presidential campaign that a law imposing sanctions on Russia could be reviewed if his father were elected.

The lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, told Bloomberg in an interview published on Monday that Trump Jr had also asked her for written evidence that illegal proceeds went to Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign.

In June 2016, Trump Jr and his brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, met Veselnitskaya in Trump Tower, New York.

They understood the lawyer to be representing the Russian government and she claimed she could provide damaging information about Clinton. The family later claimed the meeting was brief and yielded nothing of value.

Veselnitskaya said she attended the meeting to present evidence that Democrat donors had evaded taxes and to lobby against the so-called Magnitsky Act passed by Congress in 2012, which has sanctioned some 40 Russian nationals over serious human rights violations.

The sanctions list originally targeted Russian officials involved in the case of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in prison after uncovering a government corruption scheme. Since it was passed it has been expanded to include others.

"Looking ahead, if we come to power, we can return to this issue and think what to do about it," the lawyer recalled Trump Jr saying about the law, the report said.

"I understand our side may have messed up, but itll take a long time to get to the bottom of it," he added, according to her.

Veselnitskaya said Trump Jr asked for evidence that illegal money had gone to Clintons campaign, which the lawyer said she did not posses.

Trump Jr is set to testify publicly before a congressional committee probing Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign and possible collusion by his father's campaign. President Trump has denied any collusion.

Trump Jr said the meeting never led to anything. Regardless, investigators will want to know if his father was aware of what might amount to an attempt at collusion.

Trump Jr's testimony has not yet been scheduled by the Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Republicans.
Tahera was caring for her infirm parents even before they made the difficult journey from Myanmar

Tahera Begum walks a mile alone at dawn to collect firewood for her ill parents and four siblings, an enormous burden for a 10-year-old thrust to the head of her family in the world's largest refugee settlement.

"I do it because no one else in my family can. Both my parents are sick. They cannot move without assistance," the Rohingya girl told AFP while chopping vegetables in her family's tarpaulin shanty in Bangladesh.

An estimated 1,400 children are sole providers for their families in crowded refugee camps along the Bangladesh border, where more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought sanctuary from violence in Myanmar since August.

Charities fear they are especially vulnerable to illness and emotional stress from shouldering such responsibility, or exploitation as they struggle to provide for their families in the overstretched tent cities.

Refugee camps in Bangladesh

"This may lead them to child labour and explicit sex work. These families may also experience a spike in child marriages, which is very concerning," said Save the Children International spokesman Rik Goverde.

For Tahera, who was caring for her infirm parents even before they made the difficult journey from Myanmar, the day starts at sunrise with a long trek into the forest to gather firewood for cooking.

It's an arduous slog carrying the heavy load back to the family tent, a plastic sheet strung across a bamboo frame on a crowded hillside in Balukhali.

But she barely rests before embarking on her second early-morning chore -- jostling with other refugees to fill an urn at the single water pump in her corner of the camps.

The sight of children carting water jugs or dragging sacks of grain is not uncommon in the camps

Later in the day, Tahera carries what's left of the lumber to the local market to trade for basic supplies.

The refugee influx over the past two months has sent prices skyrocketing, so the little girl must barter hard alongside adults for food and other bare essentials to feed her family and earn money for medicine.

"All my siblings are younger than me. Being the eldest, I am just doing my part," she said.

- Childhoods lost -

The sight of children carting water jugs, queueing at relief stations or dragging sacks of grain the size of their own bodies is not uncommon in the Rohingya camps.

More than half of the 607,000 new arrivals are children, and aid groups say they are bearing the brunt of Asia's worst refugee crisis in decades.

A full 7.5 percent of the children crammed into one of the camps in Cox's Bazar district are at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition, the United Nations warned last week.

Schools run by aid groups offer some respite to children in the camps

Meanwhile an estimated 40,000 children have crossed the border completely alone, their parents killed or displaced by violence in Myanmar the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing.

To survive such horror only to become sole provider for a family is "something that no child in the world should ever experience", said UNICEF Bangladesh's spokesman Sakil Faizullah.

Schools and safe zones run by aid groups offer some respite from horrific memories and the grim reality of life in the camps, where many children are forced to care for sick or injured parents and traumatised siblings.

In these child-friendly spaces, youngsters can draw, sing and play in a classroom-like setting away from the misery awaiting them back in their shanties.

Tahera's younger sister occasionally drags her along to a UNICEF kid's zone, where she gazes longingly at the picture books available.

But she can never linger long, with her bed-ridden parents and younger siblings relying on her for survival.

"I love the comic book pages. But I don't get the chance to go there everyday," Tahera said, preparing a simple meal in the family's dimly-lit hut.

Bangladeshi charity worker Baby Barua was shocked to learn from Tahera's younger sister that she was feeding and caring for a family of seven on her own.

"She's only a kid. She shouldn't be doing all these (tasks) by herself. This is equivalent to child labour," Barua said.

Charities are considering cash assistance to lighten the load for young breadwinners, but the need is huge and the scale of the crisis is overwhelming already stretched aid organisations.

Despite the magnitude of the task ahead of them, aid workers say the youngest victims of the crisis must not be forgotten.

"They've already lost their childhood and it's our responsibility to make sure that they don't lose their future," UNICEF's Faizullah told AFP.
Nathan Law (left) and Joshua Wong became the faces of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement

Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy activists, who were jailed for their role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement were granted leave to appeal their sentences by the city's top court on Tuesday.

Joshua Wong and Nathan Law were imprisoned in August after Hong Kong's government pushed for harsher sentences -- rather than the initial community service orders they were given.

The government's appeal was seen as further evidence of Beijing's growing influence over the semi-autonomous city and its desire to crush a burgeoning independence movement.

Wong, 21, who became the face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement while still a teenager, was jailed for six months. Law, 24, was sentenced to eight months. They were bailed last month pending an appeal.

Fellow protester Alex Chow, who was jailed for seven months but had not previously applied for bail, was also at the hearing Tuesday.

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma said the right to appeal was granted because the questions involved were of "great and general importance".

Ma said one point to consider was to what extent a court should take into account the defendants' motives particularly if "it is asserted that the crime was committed as an act of civil disobedience or to the exercise of a constitutional right".

All three were bailed and ordered to appear in court on January 16.

The trio smiled broadly as they stepped out of the courthouse together.

"The verdict that will be given in the future -- that would really matter a lot and redefine whether our constitution, the Basic Law, will value civil liberties more, or control and stability (by) the government more," Chow, 27, told reporters.

Dozens of supporters had gathered outside the courthouse, holding up yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the mass rallies in 2014.

The Umbrella Movement called for fully free leadership elections to replace a system where the city's chief executive is selected by a pro-Beijing committee.

But months of protest that brought sections of the city to a standstill failed to win concessions.

Since then there have been growing signs that China is increasing its control over the city, with Beijing particularly incensed by activists' calls for Hong Kong's independence.

Hong Kong has been governed under a "one country, two systems" deal since 1997, when Britain handed the territory back to China. The deal allows citizens rights unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and a partially directly elected parliament.

Wong vowed on Tuesday that Demosisto, the political party he co-founded last year, would continue to fight for democracy.

A number of leading campaigners have been charged in relation to the 2014 protests, while six pro-democracy legislators -- including two pro-independence activists -- were disqualified from parliament.
Testimony by Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, added to mounting evidence of contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia

A second foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump's presidential campaign has admitted to contacts with Russian officials during last year's election and to having proposed that Trump travel to Russia during the campaign.

Former investment banker and Russia expert Carter Page told the House Intelligence Committee last week that he had "brief" contact with a Russian deputy prime minister, Arkady Dvorkovich, during a "private" trip to Moscow in July 2016, according to a transcript of his testimony released late Monday.

Page also said that he had proposed in May 2016 that Donald Trump travel to Russia to meet officials and make a speech.

That was the same month that another foreign policy advisor, George Papadopoulos, also suggested a Trump Moscow visit, according to court documents last week.

The Page testimony added to the mounting evidence of numerous contacts between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia in 2016 just at the time Moscow was mounting a hacking and disinformation operation aimed and boosting Trump's chances to win the White House.

The House committee and its Senate counterpart, along with a justice department special prosecutor, are investigating whether the campaign colluded with the Russians in any way to help defeat then-front-runner Hillary Clinton.

- Parallels to Papadopoulos -

Page told the committee in a closed-door hearing last Thursday that he was an unpaid volunteer on Trump's initial foreign policy advisory team, never met or spoke directly to Trump, and had no inappropriate contacts in Russia.

But in questioning he admitted contacts with Dvorkovich, other officials, businessmen and senior academics while in the country on trips in July and December.

He said he had told Jeff Sessions, now US attorney general but at the time in 2016 the leader of the foreign policy team, that he was planning the Moscow trip to lecture at a university which invited him.

Upon returning, he suggested to senior campaign officials in an email that he had done more than that.

"I'll send you guys a readout soon regarding some incredible insights and outreach I received from a few Russian legislators and senior members of the presidential administration here," he wrote.

Page's Russia contacts paralleled those of Papadopoulos, who, according to the FBI, wrote a number of emails to senior Trump campaign officials between March and September last year about his own Russian contacts and proposed Trump travel to Moscow.

Nothing came of either proposal, and White House officials say both Page and Papadopoulos were insignificant aides on the campaign with few responsibilities or input.

Last week Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his Russia contacts during 2016.

In his testimony, Page strongly downplayed his role on the campaign. He told the committee that he never "met" Trump, and had never spoken to him "directly".

But he also said he had "been in a lot of meetings with him (Trump), and I've learned a lot from him."

Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and an associate are under house arrest on charges including conspiracy to launder money, linked to the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into allegations that the campaign colluded with Russia.
Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques

Gunmen stormed a television station in Kabul Tuesday and many staff were still in the building, an employee told AFP, describing the attack as ongoing.

"I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," said Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door.

Shamshad TV, a Pashto language station that broadcasts nationwide, was transmitting a holding image instead of its normal programming.

Zaland told AFP that security forces were in the area of the Shamshad compound in the Afghan capital "trying to bring down the attackers".

"Many of my colleagues are still in the building," he added.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied the militant group was involved in the attack in a Twitter post.

The interior ministry told AFP it was investigating the incident but had no further details.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Last Tuesday a suicide bomber, believed to have been as young as 12, struck Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter and killed at least five people, showing that militants can still hit the heart of the city despite tighter security.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb went off on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city.

The last major assault in Kabul was on October 21 when a suicide attacker hit a busload of Afghan army trainees, killing 15.

On October 20 a suicide bomber pretending to be a worshipper blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in the city during evening prayers, killing 56 and wounding 55.

Earlier this month Kabul police stopped a lorry carrying 2,700 kilograms (nearly 6,000 pounds) of explosives hidden under boxes of tomatoes, averting a potentially deadly blast.
A dispute between the state of North Dakota and the contractor that led the recent expansion of the Heritage Center went to trial Monday.

The case stems from a March 2016 lawsuit brought by Comstock Construction, which argued the State Historical Society breached its contract by improperly withholding payment. The firm also pointed to inadequate plans to support limestone panels, which it said caused damages and delays.

The Wahpeton-based firms claims total more than $2 million.

Comstock has been harmed by the state and its architect, said Aaron Dean, Comstocks attorney.

Comstock was the general contractor for the Heritage Centers $51.7 million, 97,000-square-foot expansion, which first opened to the public in 2014. The project roughly doubled the size of the original museum.

The State Historical Society has alleged Comstock breached its contract by not installing limestone panels according to specifications, removing its superintendent without the states consent and not completing the project on time. It filed a counterclaim seeking at least $50,000.

The proceedings began Monday morning with jury selection at the Burleigh County Courthouse in downtown Bismarck and ended with Comstock project manager Jason Flack on the stand. He and Michael Comstock, an owner of the firm, declined to comment outside the courtroom.

Meanwhile, State Historical Society Director Claudia Berg and Facility Management Director John Boyle were in the audience Monday. Berg and Peter Zuger, the attorney representing the state in the case, said they couldnt comment during the trial.

The trial could stretch until the middle of next week, according to court records.
Thais will soon need face scans or fingerpints to buy SIM cards

Face-scans or fingerprints will be needed to buy SIM cards in Thailand from next month as the kingdom tries to crack down on electronic fraud and encourage mobile banking.

The new biometric system -- which follows similar requirements in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan -- will begin on December 15, according to the telecoms regulator.

"We're entering the digital age, our money now is linked to mobile services. By doing this, trust in mobile banking or payment systems will be improved," said Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

"Some people used fake ID to register their SIM cards, which created a problem," he added, assuring users their privacy would be protected.

The face and fingerprint scans will be matched to government data linked to Thai national ID cards.

Tourists will also be required to have face-scans checked against their passport photos.

Thailand launched a pilot scheme in June in its insurgency-torn 'Deep South', where ethnic Malay rebels have used mobile phones to trigger bombs.

"After a trial in the most concerned areas of the country, people liked it, especially the security officials," Korkij Danchaivichit, the NBTC's deputy secretary-general, told AFP.

The lack of regulation in Thailand's SIM card market was highlighted in June when police arrested three Chinese men who had managed to buy nearly 400,000 Thai SIM cards for a "click farm" operation.

The trio told officers they were hired by Chinese companies to boost "likes" for a number of products through the hundreds of smartphones they had hooked up to a computer.
Democrat Ralph Northam's victory in the Virginia governor's race signals a rejection of Donald Trump's politics of division

US Democrats claimed a resounding win Tuesday in a crucial governor's race in Virginia, dealing a blow to Donald Trump's politics of division and testing the president's influence ahead of larger battles in 2018 and 2020.

The marquee race has national ramifications as a test for the Republican Party and their combative leader, and Democrats came out on top.

The race had all the makings of a nailbiter, but in the end Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam handily defeated his Republican rival Ed Gillespie in the southern battleground state, in a rejection of Trump's policies and his scorched-earth 2016 campaign, whose polarizing tactics have darkened his presidency.

"Fear and division and hatred do not work," the state's current governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, told CNN shortly before US networks projected Northam's victory.

With more than 83 percent of precincts reporting, Northam led with 53.15 percent against Gillespie's 45.66 percent.

With a Democrat also projected to win the governor's mansion in New Jersey, the results mark a revival of political fortunes for the party, which had failed to win a number of previous special elections in several states this year triggering concern about how to counter Trump's influence in US politics.

"Tonight we proved that we're stronger when we value and fight for one another," Northam said in a tweet.

The results are an unmistakable boost for a Democratic Party that has been plagued by recent infighting ahead of the 2018 mid-term elections, and show Republicans that coddling the combative Trump comes at a price.

Voters "rejected a Trump-Pence agenda that would take health care away from millions, cut taxes for millionaires and corporations at the expense of the middle class, and fuel bigotry and division at a time when our country needs unity," Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said in a statement.

"Tonight's success is just the beginning."

Virginia voted twice for former president Barack Obama, and Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the state in last year's White House race.

An upset victory for Gillespie would have served to validate Trump's aggressive style, and form a blueprint for how mainstream Republicans can embrace Trump issues without necessarily embracing the controversial man himself.

Going forward, they might be forced to rewrite their playbooks.

Gillespie had accused Northam, 58, of failing to curb gang violence, making it easier for sex offenders to purchase guns, and seeking to tear down statues honoring Civil War pro-slavery Confederate secessionists.

Trump took time out from his Asia trip to tweet support for Gillespie, highlighting the hot-button social issues that he hoped would stir his base to vote.

- Trump criticism -

The president has not campaigned with Gillespie, a former Republican Party chief.

But the candidate's many ads, which have fueled debate on race, guns, illegal immigration and the fate of Confederate statues, signal clear alignment with the president.

A Democratic supporter stands with an inflatable chicken mocking US President Donald Trump outside a rally supporting Virginia Republican gubernatorial hopeful Ed Gillespie on the eve of state elections seen as a test for Trump

Trump concluded it was not enough of an embrace of his populist nationalism, tweeted a scathing rebuke of his own party's candidate just minutes after Gillespie lost.

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump wrote.

If Trump had not proven a drag on Virginia voters, it would demonstrate his power to draw Americans to polls despite poor approval numbers.

Several cities including New York and Manchester were also electing mayors, while a handful of states held elections Tuesday for local lawmakers.

In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy was project to easily win the governor's mansion, as Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno's campaign was dragged down by her association with deeply unpopular Governor Chris Christie.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has ruled out any peace deal that allows for the independence of the Western Sahara

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has ruled out any peace deal that allows for the independence of the Western Sahara as the United Nations renews efforts to resolve the decades-old dispute.

A UN peacekeeping force has been deployed in the former Spanish colony since 1991 with a mandate to organise a referendum on its independence or integration with Morocco.

Morocco agreed to the vote in a 1988 agreement with the pro-independence Polisario Front that ended 13 years of conflict but has since blocked it being held, saying it will accept only autonomy for the territory.

"No settlement of the Sahara affair is possible outside the framework of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara and the autonomy initiative, whose seriousness and credibility the international community has recognised," the king said in a televised address on Monday.

His speech marked 42 years since hundreds of thousands of Moroccan civilians marched across the border to lay claim to the mineral-rich territory.

The "Green March" triggered war with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front which had been campaigning for independence for the territory since 1973.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in April that called for a new push for talks between Morocco and the Polisario.

The new UN envoy, former German president Horst Kohler, held talks with both sides last month.

The king said Morocco was committed to contributing to the "new momentum" desired by the United Nations and to cooperating with the new envoy.

But he said it would categorically reject "any overreach, any attempt to undermine the legitimate rights of Morocco".

The king said Morocco would press ahead with its own plans for the development of the Western Sahara, regardless of the progress of the new peace push.

"We are not going to sit idly by waiting for the solution to be found," he said.

"We will continue to stimulate the development of our southern provinces and provide their people with the conditions for a free and dignified life."

Tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees have lived for decades in desert camps run by the Polisario in neighbouring Algeria.

Spread over 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 square miles) where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Western Sahara is the last territory on the African continent whose post-colonial status has yet to resolved.

Morocco controls all of the territory's main towns. The Polisario controls parts of the desert interior.

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared by the Polisario is a member of the African Union and recognised by many African governments.

Morocco's claim to the territory is supported by the Arab League.

The conflict has poisoned relations between Morocco and Algeria for decades. The land border between the North African neighbours has been closed since 1994.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a former army chief who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 and won an election a year later

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ruled out a constitutional amendment to extend his term, saying an election would be held next year and he will not run again in 2022, in an interview with CNBC Monday.

Sisi is a former army chief who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 and won an election a year later.

Some of his supporters including a member of parliament want to allow Sisi to stay longer in office by extending the time between elections and removing the two four-year-term limit.

But Sisi said elections will take place as scheduled in March or April 2018 and he would not ask for a constitutional amendment.

Sisi did not say he would run again but the former field marshal is expected to stand and win in another landslide in the absence of any serious opposition.

"I'm with preserving two four year terms and not to change it," he told the American broadcaster.

"I'm not for any amendments to be made to the constitution in this period," he added.

Sisi won the 2014 election with about 97 percent of the vote. His only opponent, Hamdeen Sabahi, received less votes than spoiled ballots.

The president is popular among many Egyptians who say the country needs a firm hand following years up tumult that battered the economy.

But he has faced mounting criticism over a crackdown on Islamist and secular opponents and what rights groups say are increasingly repressive measures to stifle dissent.

So far only one opponent, lawyer and dissident Khaled Ali, has announced his candidacy for the 2018 election.

Ali, who challenged an unpopular government deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, had run in the 2012 election that brought Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to power.

He received less than one percent of the vote then.
US President Donald Trump (L) and South Korea's President Moon Jae-In (R) shake hands before their summit meeting at the presidential Blue House

A special sauce more than a century older than the United States will be on the menu for Donald Trump at his state banquet in Seoul on Tuesday -- along with a diplomatically tricky prawn.

The dinner, at the presidential Blue House compound next to a former royal palace, includes a beef rib dish accompanied by a gravy made with an "exquisite, 360-year-old soy sauce", said a spokesman for Seoul's presidential office.

The age implies it was made in 1657, the year the father of the US Declaration of Independence signatory Benjamin Franklin was born.

Fermented food including soy sauce is a staple in South Korean cuisine, with soy sauces made by famous artisans and fermented for decades -- or centuries -- sold for tens of thousands of dollars per litre.

In one food show in 2012, a group of artisans displayed soy sauce they claimed had been made 450 years ago, with a price tag of 100 million won ($90,000).

Tuesday's menu also includes a grilled sole, known to be Trump's favourite fish. An unnamed official told the South's Yonhap news agency: "The menu contains food that has local, traditional flavour that could also appeal to the taste of the US head of state."

But it is a marked contrast to the largely familiar US-style fare the president was offered by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Japan, with whom he has a significantly warmer relationship than with South Korean President Moon Jae-In.

Within hours of Trump's arrival in Tokyo, Trump and Abe sat down to cheeseburgers, accompanied by tomato ketchup, and the centrepiece of the state banquet there was a steak.

The Seoul meal also features a prawn that Moon's office said was caught near a disputed island claimed both by the South and Japan.

The Seoul-controlled island off the east coast -- called Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan -- is at the heart of a decades-long territorial dispute between the two countries, both of them US allies who are confronted by the threat of nuclear-armed North Korea.

And in another diplomatic jab at Tokyo, Moon's office invited Lee Yong-Soo, a former wartime sex slave for Japanese soldiers, to the state dinner.

The plight of so-called "comfort women" is a hugely emotional issue that has also marred ties between Seoul and Tokyo for decades.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in Tokyo he would not comment on how another country welcomes a VIP.

But Suga cast doubt on whether it was a good idea to use a prawn caught near a disputed island at a time when Japan and South Korea should unite to tackle North Korean issues.
The US and Turkish embassies in Ankara and Washington are resuming limited visa services

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday hailed the resumption of limited visa services by the US as a "positive step" as he prepared to head to Washington.

The US and Turkish embassies in Ankara and Washington announced on Monday they would start processing visa applications for each other's citizens after an almost month-long suspension.

"The resumption of visa services, even if limited, is a positive step," Yildirim said during a press conference at Ankara airport before he was due to fly.

He will meet with Vice President Mike Pence during the visit expected to last until Friday.

The diplomatic row began after the US decided to stop handing out visas in Turkey from October 8, which was followed almost immediately by a tit-for-tat move by Ankara to stop issuing Turkish visas for Americans.

The US move was in response to the arrest of a US consulate staffer accused of having links to the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. The employee remains in custody.

Ankara blames Gulen for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, charges the preacher strongly denies.

The US embassy in Ankara said it resumed visa services after the Turkish government gave "assurances" that no other US mission employee in Turkey was under investigation and that Turkey would inform the US in advance if further arrests were made.

But the Turkish embassy in Washington said late Monday it could not provide "any assurances regarding files that are subject of ongoing legal processes".

Yildirim said it would "not fit with the principles of the rule of law" to either give or ask for such reassurances.

Several American citizens are in custody in Turkey including pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir.

He has been held since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Turkey continues to call for Gulen's extradition, a bone of contention between the NATO allies and a subject Yildirim again brought up.

"Everything has been done for the extradition," Yildirim said, referring to files sent to the US.

He added that Turkey expected the US judiciary to start legal proceedings against Gulen.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's longtime confidant Yitzhak Molcho, seen here in January 2007, has been identified as one of two men questioned in a probe into suspected corruption around the purchase of German submarines

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic envoy was identified Tuesday as one of two men questioned this week in a probe into suspected corruption around the purchase of German submarines.

Yitzhak Molcho was on Sunday and Monday questioned by police along with David Shimron, a relative of Netanyahu and his family lawyer who also represented German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp in Israel.

Authorities released their identities on Tuesday.

Molcho, a lawyer who partners with Shimron and is also a relative of the Netanyahus, announced last month that he would step down from his position as Netanyahu's envoy in February next year.

While his position had no formal title, Molcho led peace negotiating teams with the Palestinians and served as the Israeli premier's pointman for resolving sensitive issues with Egypt and Jordan.

Police refused to divulge why Molcho was questioned, saying merely it was part of the submarine affair, but media said he was suspected of having used his position to advance the deal.

Last month, Germany signed a deal to sell three Dolphin submarines from ThyssenKrupp to the Israeli navy.

Negotiations on the sale had been frozen for three months due to concern in Berlin over the corruption investigation in Israel.

The investigation involves officials from the Israeli security establishment as well as those working locally for ThyssenKrupp.

Shimron has already been detained for questioning over the affair.

Netanyahu himself has not been named as a suspect in the submarine case.

He is however being investigated in two separate graft probes and is expected to be interrogated again in the coming days.

The two other probes involving Netanyahu centre on the premier allegedly receiving luxury gifts from wealthy supporters and suspicions he sought a secret deal for favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling daily Yediot Aharonot.
US President Donald Trump said the US-Korea free trade agreement "quite frankly has been quite unsuccessful and not very good for the United States"

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded a "free, fair, and reciprocal" trade deal with security ally South Korea, calling their existing agreement "quite unsuccessful and not very good for the United States" on a visit to Seoul.

Trump has slammed the five-year-old US-Korea free trade agreement (FTA), known as KORUS, as a "horrible deal" and a "job killer".

He has threatened to pull out of KORUS, which could push the South closer into the economic orbit of China, already its biggest trading partner.

Washington has initiated talks to revise the agreement, but they show no sign of progress.

"Currently we are looking at ways of improving our economic relationship," Trump said after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In.

"I feel confident we'll be able to reach a free, fair and reciprocal trade deal."

The current agreement "quite frankly has been quite unsuccessful and not very good for the United States", he said.

Moon said the two leaders reaffirmed that economic cooperation and sustainable trade were an "important pillar" of their alliance and they had agreed to "expedite talks" on the issue.

The US trade deficit with the South has more than doubled since the pact took effect in 2012, from $13.2 billion in 2011 to $27.6 billion last year, according to US data.

But the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), the biggest foreign business group in South Korea, said in September that it supported the deal, warning withdrawing from the pact will have a "severe damaging effect on the economy" and lead to a "deterioration" of ties between the allies.

Trump is pushing to cut his nation's trade deficits with a number of countries, but AMCHAM said US exports to South Korea rose more than 20 percent in the first half of this year.

"It appears that the trade deficit is declining," it said, adding that the automobile sector accounted for 80 percent of the deficit.
US President Donald Trump (L) and South Korean President Moon Jae-In (R) at their joint press conference

South Korea is negotiating with the United States to buy nuclear-powered submarines to guard against threats from Pyongyang, local reports said Tuesday, as President Donald Trump said Seoul would buy "billions of dollars" of US weapons.

Nuclear-powered submarines can stay submerged for months, giving them a far greater range than their diesel-powered counterparts, and are also crucial to any seaborne nuclear deterrent.

Such a purchase would redraw the balance of power in northeast Asia, and could trigger a regional arms race.

Japan -- another US ally -- does not have nuclear-powered submarines, and is barred from having a military under its post-World War II pacifist constitution.

And while China's increasingly powerful navy does include them in its fleet, Beijing would undoubtedly be infuriated by any such acquisition by Seoul.

After a summit in South Korea with his counterpart Moon Jae-In, Trump on Tuesday said Seoul would be buying a large amount of US weapons "whether it's planes, whether it's missiles, no matter what it is".

"South Korea will be ordering billions of dollars of that equipment, which for them makes a lot of sense and for us it means jobs, reducing our trade deficit with South Korea," he said.

While Moon did not give specific details of the purchases, he described them as essential for national defence.

Multiple South Korean media outlets said the two leaders ordered officials to begin the purchase talks "immediately", citing a senior official who gave an anonymous briefing.

"The strategic assets under discussion include a nuclear-powered submarine and a sophisticated surveillance asset," the reports quoted a senior official of Moon's office as saying.

"We will have close consultations with the US about these two in the future," the official was quoted as saying.

Seoul heavily relies on its security guarantor Washington, which has 28,500 troops stationed in the South, for national defence to protect itself against potential attacks by the nuclear-armed North Korea.

But growing atomic and missile threats by the North in recent years prompted calls in the South to have more sophisticated weapons of its own, with some even demanding that Seoul develop its own nuclear weapon.

The country is currently barred from developing atomic weapons under the deal with the US, which in turn offers Seoul "nuclear umbrella" against potential attacks by the North.

Pyongyang staged a sixth atomic test in September and has test-launched multiple missiles capable of reaching the US mainland, sparking global alarm over its military ambition.

Trump also said the US had agreed to remove a 500 kilogram (1,100 pound) warhead weight limit on Seoul's ballistic missiles.

The allies had agreed in principle to do so in September following the North's latest nuclear test, by far its most powerful to date.

Moon, noting "ever-growing threats" from the North's missiles and nuclear weapons, said Tuesday the two allies had reached a "final agreement" to remove the restriction.

"We also reaffirmed our stance to put maximum pressure and sanctions on the North until it... comes forward for genuine negotiations," he told reporters.
Russell Salic and two others have been charged with involvement in the plan to stage attacks targeting New York's subway, Times Square and concert venues in the name of IS during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2016

A Filipino doctor accused of wiring money for a foiled New York jihadist plot appeared in a Manila court Tuesday to fight extradition to the US, saying the Islamic State group hacked his social media accounts.

Russell Salic and two others have been charged with involvement in the plan to stage attacks targeting New York's subway, Times Square and concert venues in the name of IS during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2016.

Salic, a 37-year-old orthopaedic surgeon, appeared on the first day of the hearing in Manila to extradite him to the United States. In a written deposition, Salic said IS and its sympathisers gained control of his online accounts after he "condemned" the group in 2015.

"This group was able to 'HACK' my FB (Facebook) account and my email address account," he said in the signed statement his lawyer submitted to the court last month and obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

US authorities and the Philippine military have accused Salic of posting pro-IS content online and sending money to other countries in support of the jihadists.

Salic is accused of transferring $423 in May 2016 to the other suspects as part of the thwarted operation, which was planned through internet messaging, according to the US justice department.

The bombing plot was monitored by an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent posing as a fellow jihadist, US authorities said.

The US justice department said Salic told the FBI agent through a messaging application: "It would be a great pleasure if we can slaughter" people in New York.

Salic, who was led out of the court in handcuffs on Tuesday, said in his deposition that he had given money to international groups helping war victims and clubfoot patients as well as an unspecified organisation in Malaysia aiding the Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.

"I got into trouble because of my desire to help needy people, not terrorist(s). Modesty aside, I am by nature a good man," his statement said.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday why his name had come up in the US investigation, he said: "Because I donated to charity."

Christopher Cardani, the US justice department attache in Manila, said Washington was working with local authorities to have Salic extradited "as soon as possible".

"We look forward to giving him that day, that he will be given an opportunity to state his case before an American jury. This is an extremely important matter to the United States," Cardani told reporters.
US President Donald Trump will be one of a select few with access to Twitter when he arrives in China

US President Donald Trump has tweeted energetically throughout his Asian tour so far, but in China he will likely be one of a select few to skirt the country's ban on his cherished website.

The Twitter-happy president has fired off a slew of posts -- on both domestic and international issues -- since he started his trip in Japan and moved on to South Korea on Tuesday.

But when he lands in China on Wednesday, Trump will enter the so-called "Great Firewall" of online censorship that monitors people's internet habits and blocks websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google.

Chinese can face fines or even jail time for unfavourable social media posts. Authorities have further tightened internet controls in recent months, shutting down celebrity gossip blogs and probing platforms for "obscenity".

Asked whether Trump -- who will get red-carpet treatment during his state visit -- would be able to tweet, Chinese vice foreign minister Zheng Zeguang told reporters: "How President Trump communicates with the outside is not something you need to worry about."

Trump, who has used an iPhone for Twitter posts, could use some options available to people in China to evade the Great Firewall -- though US presidents in any case travel with their own sophisticated communications systems.

- 'Trump can't live without Twitter' -

Web users can circumvent the firewall if they download a virtual private network (VPN) -- software that allows people to surf the internet as if they were using a server in another country.

But Beijing mandated in January that all developers must obtain government licences to offer VPN software, raising concern it might ban them outright.

Foreign visitors can also access banned websites with their phones if they are in roaming mode -- but only because the authorities currently allow it, according to experts.

Trump should be able to use roaming "but it depends on the policy of the (Chinese) government. If they chose not to allow you to (use roaming) then they can do it," James Gong, a Chinese cyber law expert at Herbert Smith Freehills law firm, told AFP.

"But if you're the president you should be able to do it. Donald Trump cannot live without Twitter," Gong said.

Mobile devices on roaming in China still use the local telecom service infrastructure, which raises privacy and security questions.

Charlie Smith, co-founder of the anti-censorship group Greatfire.org, said phones using data or virtual private networks (VPNs) are "generally" safe from hacking but it depends on the phone, user settings and other factors.

"As you know, every day in China, almost all mobile phone use is monitored and tens of thousands of people are under close watch," he told AFP.

"US officials should be well trained and prepared for travelling overseas and for maintaining secure communications, as the Chinese leadership are when they travel overseas."

Trump could also use an alternative temporary phone as another way to avoid the risk of compromising his smartphone in a country which is often accused of hacking.

- Jail time -

While Trump will likely find ways around the firewall, Chinese people face increasingly stringent controls over what they can do, say and see on the internet.

Chinese internet users face three years in prison for writing defamatory messages that are re-posted 500 times under a law passed in 2013. Web users can be jailed if offending posts are viewed more than 5,000 times.

New rules policing content were imposed this year and several of the country's biggest tech firms were fined for failing to remove illegal online content such as pornography and violence.

China has its own version of Twitter, Weibo, which boasts more than 300 million monthly active users.

Weibo users mostly sounded lukewarm about Trump's upcoming visit: One posted a chart showing heavy pollution levels in Beijing and asked if Trump would regret leaving the Paris climate pact.

But people must be wary of what they write.

US President Donald Trump (L) and South Korean President Moon Jae-In (R) at a joint press conference in Seoul

Last year, a man who wrote a Weibo post critical of China's decades-old land reform policies on a local traffic police account was sentenced to a year in prison, reports said.

Another man, Qiao Mu, a former professor of international political communications in Beijing, recently moved to the United States after being targeted for his social media commentary.

He said authorities closed over 100 of his Weibo accounts and 17 of his accounts on the WeChat messaging service.

"There is no place for me to publish inside China's firewall," Qiao told AFP, explaining that he had tried to start new accounts after each was shut down.
Indian Christians take part in a peace rally and protest in Allahabad on March 22, 2015 after the rape of the nun in West Bengal

An Indian court Tuesday found a Bangladeshi guilty of raping an elderly nun in a crime that sparked an outpouring of anger at persistent high levels of sexual assault in the country.

The 71-year-old nun needed surgery after the brutal attack in 2015, when a gang of robbers broke into the convent school where she lived in the eastern state of West Bengal.

A court in the state capital Kolkata found Nazrul Islam guilty of rape and attempted murder, among other offences.

"It was a shameful act," additional judge Kumkum Singha told the packed City Sessions Court.

Singha said Islam acted alone in raping the nun, adding that five others arrested for their involvement were charged with offences unrelated to the sexual assault.

Islam will be sentenced Wednesday.

The nun, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked after the robbers ransacked the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat and stole cash and other items.

A holy scripture was also torn and a statue of Jesus was broken.

The assault was the latest in a string of high-profile rapes in India, and prompted much soul-searching as priests and schoolgirls took to the streets demanding justice for the "inhuman" crime.

Supporters closed shops, shuttered schools and held candlelit vigils outside the hospital where the nun underwent surgery for injuries suffered during the attack.

The police came under fire for perceived inaction after 10 men were detained but no arrests made, despite the faces of some attackers being captured on CCTV footage.

It took three months before the main accused was arrested.

Government data for 2015 shows 34,651 rapes were recorded, but campaigners say the true figure is likely to be much higher given the social stigma that still surrounds such cases.

India strengthened its laws on sexual violence after the fatal gang-rape of a Delhi student five years ago caused global outrage, but attacks remain widespread and enforcement is patchy.

The crime also sent shockwaves through India's small Christian community, which was already reeling from a series of attacks on churches in the months before the assault.

The trial was relocated to Kolkata at the request of the assaulted nun, who expressed fear for her safety in Ranaghat where the crime occurred.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, expressed deep concern over the attack but was criticised for not speaking out earlier against religious violence.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British citizen, is being held in Iran on charges of taking part in a "sedition movement" of protests

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called his Iranian counterpart on Tuesday in a bid to clarify remarks which left him accused of jeopardising the case of a British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran.

Johnson faced calls to quit after telling a parliamentary committee last week that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran when she was arrested for alleged sedition last year -- a comment her employer and her family insisted he correct.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, appeared in court on Saturday to face further charges, first brought in early October, that carry a 16-year jail term.

The Iranian judiciary issued an online article on Sunday saying Johnson's comments proved that she was not on holiday, as her family said, backing the justification for new charges.

In the call with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Johnson said the suggestion that his remarks "shed new light" on the case was "absolutely not true" as it was clear she had been on holiday, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

Johnson had been seeking to make the point that "he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that he believed Iranian allegations that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity", the spokesman said.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson faced calls to quit after telling a parliamentary committee that British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran when she was arrested for alleged sedition -- a comment her employer and her family insist he correct

Johnson said his remarks "could form no justifiable basis for further action in this case" and called for her release on humanitarian grounds.

Johnson said he planned to visit Iran before the end of the year to discuss the case further.

Zarif said the weekend developments were not related to Johnson's remarks and he remained committed to working together to resolve the case on humanitarian grounds, the Foreign Office spokesman said.

Johnson did not apologise but he accepts his remarks "could have been clearer", the spokesman added.

- 'Stressed and upset' -

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard said a court appearance after British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's remarks had left his wife "very stressed and upset"

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard Ratcliffe told AFP that Johnson "made a factual error".

He said Saturday's court appearance had left his wife "very stressed and upset".

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager for the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), the media organisation's philanthropic arm, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3 last year after visiting family.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards accused her of having taken part in the "sedition movement" of protests that followed the disputed 2009 re-election of then hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe denies the charges.

She is serving a five-year jail sentence in Tehran but last month was presented with extra charges carrying a possible 16-year prison term, her employers said.

TRF said those charges were that she had joined organisations specifically working to overthrow the regime, referring to her media charity work in London, and that she once attended a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy in Britain's capital.

TRF chief executive Monique Villa welcomed Johnson's clarification.

"Nazanin has never trained journalists in Iran," she said.

"It's time now for the foreign secretary to meet Nazanin in jail, as he proposed last week, and to bring her back home."

Emily Thornberry, foreign affairs spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour Party, had written to Johnson urging him to quit if his actions had damaged Zaghari-Ratcliffe's prospects of freedom.

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said the premier still had "full confidence" in Johnson.

"The foreign secretary is doing a good job and working hard to represent Britain's interests abroad," she said.
Druze men gather near the armistice line that divides the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syrian-controlled territory on November 3, 2017 after hearing of a jihadist attack on a Druze village on the other side

Police arrested seven Druze residents of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday on suspicion of rioting in support for fellow Druze under jihadist attack on the Syrian-controlled side of the armistice line.

Dozens of Druze had gathered at the armistice line on Friday as the Syrian government-controlled village of Hader on the other side came under attack by fighters of the country's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

"Some of those gathered began rioting, assaulted police officers, damaged the border fence and even crossed the border," Israeli police said in a statement.

Seven suspects from the Druze villages of Majdal Shams and Ein Qiniya were arrested, two of them minors.

"One of those arrested is suspected of breaching the fence and crossing the border," police said, adding that the action had not only caused damage but could also have endangered civilians and security personnel.

A court in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona remanded the five adult suspects in custody until November 12. The court was yet to rule on a police request to remand the two minors.

The Friday attack on Hader, which began with a suicide bomber blowing up a car and killing nine people, raised concern among Golan Druze for the fate of their co-religionists at the hands of the Sunni extremists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The outcry prompted the Israeli army to issue a rare statement pledging to "prevent Hader from being harmed or occupied".

The army had attempted to seal off the armistice line near Hader to prevent Druze crossing over to the village to help defend it but a small number managed to get through before being caught and returned.

Smoke billows from the Syrian village of Hader on November 3, 2017 after a jihadist suicide bomber blows up a vehicle

Approximately 20,000 Druze live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Many have family ties with Druze in Syrian government-controlled territory.

Hader lies in Syria's Quneitra province, around 70 percent of which is held by HTS or other rebel groups while the government controls the remaining 30 percent, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.
An investor monitors shares at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh

Stock markets in energy-rich Gulf states dropped on Tuesday, hit by rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a royal purge in Saudi Arabia and other regional disputes.

The decline was led by shares in Kuwait and Qatar, where the stock index dropped to its lowest level since March 2011 as the country reels from a five-month-old boycott by neighbouring nations.

Six Gulf bourses ended lower and the Saudi market was down 2.9 percent in afternoon trade at levels last seen more than five months ago.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran traded accusations after Saudi defence forces on Saturday downed a ballistic missile near Riyadh international airport, reportedly fired by Huthi rebels in Yemen.

Saudi shares were also shaken by the arrest of several leading business figures including billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal in what the authorities said was an anti-corruption sweep.

"Tension and war drums between Saudi Arabia and Iran have caused panic among traders across the Gulf," Kuwaiti financial analyst Ali al-Nimesh said.

"We have seen a sell-off wave by investors who are worried that the dispute may develop into a full-fledged war," Nimesh told AFP.

Riyadh accused Iran of supplying missiles to the Huthis in what Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called a "direct military aggression" by Tehran.

The Boursa Kuwait index fell 4.4 percent at one point but recovered slightly to end the day down 2.8 percent. Kuwait is also facing an internal political dispute that forced the cabinet to resign last month.

The Qatar Exchange index dropped 1.1 percent to close below the 8,000-point mark for the first time since March 2011.

Since the start of the year, the Qatari bourse has slumped 24 percent, the most in the Gulf, hurt by the region's worst diplomatic crisis in decades.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on June 5 severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism and being too close to Iran, charges that Doha has denied.

"The Qatar bourse has been affected by the withdrawal of some investors, including foreigners," Nimesh said.

The Dubai Financial Market index declined 1.8 percent to close the day below the 3,500-point level for the first time in four months.

The Abu Dhabi market dropped 0.35 percent, Bahrain's bourse slipped 1.0 percent and Muscat inched down 0.01 percent.
Rapper Meek Mill -- here in performing in Atlanta in March -- was handed a 2-4 years prison term for violating probation in a case dating from when the 30-year-old was a teenager

A US judge has ordered at least two years in prison for rapper Meek Mill for violating probation, a surprisingly harsh verdict that stunned the hip-hop world.

Mill, whose most recent album "Wins and Losses" reached number three on the US album chart this year, was sentenced over a case dating from when the 30-year-old was a teenager.

Raised by his mother in Philadelphia after his father was killed, the rapper born as Robert Williams was put on probation after a 2008 arrest on drug and gun possession charges.

At a hearing Monday, Judge Genece E. Brinkley ordered a prison term of two to four years over the long-running case, with eligibility for parole after two years.

Brinkley, according to media reports from the court room, pointed to violations of parole including scheduling concerts in violation of her orders.

He was also freshly arrested after a scuffle in March at the St. Louis airport.

"I gave you break after break, and you basically just thumbed your nose at this court," Brinkley told Mill, according to local newspaper site philly.com.

The report said the sentence triggered audible gasps, with prosecutors not having recommended any prison time.

Mill was quoted as pleading for mercy with the judge, saying, "I'm human. I'm not perfect."

The sentence drew outrage from several fellow African American celebrities who said that prison time was disproportionate.

Rap mogul Jay-Z late Monday wrote on Facebook that the sentence was "unjust and heavy-handed."

"We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career," Jay-Z wrote.

Comedian and fellow Philadelphia native Kevin Hart urged Mill to "stay strong," writing on Instagram: "God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers."

Besides his music, Mill is known for his two-year relationship with leading female rapper Nicki Minaj which ended earlier this year.

He also entered a public feud with chart-topper Drake, accusing him of not writing his own raps.
A man walks past the medieval "Tapestry of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar" at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour on November 6, 2017

Nested under a dome with geometric arabesque patterns and appearing to float on water, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is now home to Matisse, Mondrian -- and George Washington.

The abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko hangs a few steps away from Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh and a portrait of George Washington in 12 "chapters", or galleries, in the Emirati capital.

Other galleries are dedicated to artifacts from China, Iraq and DR Congo, among others, aimed at telling the story of the civilisations and religions of the world.

A cleaner mops the floor next to "Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul, Crossing the Alps" by French artist Jacques-Louis David at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour on November 6, 2017

The museum expects to welcome around 5,000 visitors in its first days which start with the public opening on November 11, according to Mohammed al-Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism Authority.

"Because this is an international museum, we're expecting visitors from around the world," Mubarak said during a media tour ahead of the inauguration ceremony to be held on Wednesday.

"So a museum visitor from China will find something that speaks to her, to her history. A visitor from India will find the same."

On an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the galleries sit inside low-roofed white structures, reminiscent of an Arab "medina", surrounded by water that flows between the museum buildings.

A woman poses in front of part of a series of nine panels titled "Untitled I-IX" by American painter Cy Twembly at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour on November 6, 2017

In one gallery -- or chapter -- is a dark, quiet room home to a leaf from the Blue Qu'ran, a ninth century manuscript with gold lettering on blue parchment.

Right next to the koran sit a 1498 Yemeni Pentateuch, the first book of the Jewish Torah, and two volumes of a Gothic bible bound in calfskin going back to the 13th century.

A star attraction, according to organisers, is Leonardo da Vinci's "La Belle Ferronniere," the portrait of an unknown woman, which is on loan from the Louvre in Paris.

And on your way out is Ai Weiwei's 23-foot-high "Fountain of Light," a spiralling structure draped in crystals inspired by communist plans for a massive monument that never actually saw the light of day.

A couple walks past "La Belle Ferronniere" by Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour on November 6, 2017

The opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first museum to carry the famed art brand outside of France, comes after a more than five-year delay.

The launch comes a decade after France and the UAE agreed to a 30-year partnership reportedly worth $1.1 billion, including nearly half a billion dollars for the rights to the Louvre brand alone.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to attend the inauguration on his first visit to the United Arab Emirates since taking office in May.
Saudi border guards keep watch along the border with Yemen

The United States called Tuesday for international action to hold Iran to account after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of "direct military aggression" over a Yemeni rebel missile attack near Riyadh.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels also threatened to attack ports and airports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, escalating a crisis between Riyadh and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince had accused Iran of supplying missiles to the Huthis, which he said "could be considered as an act of war".

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif retorted that "the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that Iran had supplied a missile to the Huthis that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July, and referred to Riyadh's claim that the weapon used on Saturday "may also be of Iranian origin".

"By providing these types of weapons to the Huthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," Haley said.

"We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations."

Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposing sides in wars and power struggles from Yemen to Syria.

Soaring tensions between the key oil producers pushed crude closer to two-year highs on Tuesday and spooked Gulf markets.

Europe's top diplomat Federica Mogherini warned the mounting tension was "extremely dangerous", and urged Riyadh and Tehran to seek a "minimum of common ground" on which to build peace.

"I know that this is not the wind that is blowing as the majority voice in the world of today," Mogherini told reporters at the EU mission in Washington.

"But allow me to bring a little bit of wisdom as the European voice in a world that seems to go completely crazy here: It's dangerous."

Saturday's attack showed that despite a more than two-year Saudi-led bombing campaign and blockade, the Huthis retain missiles capable of striking targets deep inside the kingdom.

The rebels' warned that they considered Saudi and UAE "airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance" as legitimate targets.

Saudi-Iranian rivalries in the Middle East

"We will not stand idly by -- we will seek more radical means to prevent both the tightening of the blockade and all acts aimed at starving and humiliating the people of Yemen," the Huthis' political office said.

The missile, intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh international airport, was the first to reach the Saudi capital and underscored the growing fallout for Saudi Arabia and its UAE ally from their involvement in neighbouring Yemen.

The two are the major powers in a coalition that has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

Since Saturday's attack, the coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen, blocking UN-supervised aid deliveries despite urgent appeals from the world body.

The coalition said it aimed to fill gaps in inspection procedures that enable "smuggling of missiles and military equipment" to the rebels.

- 'Catastrophic' blockade -

But the blocking of aid threatens some seven million people already on the brink of famine.

The UN urged the coalition to lift the blockade as soon as possible.

A Yemeni soldier loyal to the Iran-backed Huthi rebels mans a checkpoint in the Yemeni capital on September 19, 2017

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in... the world's worst humanitarian crisis," said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) in Geneva.

OCHA said the coalition had also asked it to clear ships from the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida, a key entry point for UN aid.

Laerke said fuel prices in rebel-held areas had jumped by up to 60 percent and cooking gas prices had doubled.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also urgently called for humanitarian access to be restored.

"Humanitarian supply lines to Yemen must remain open," said Robert Mardini, who heads ICRC's Near and Middle East operations.

A child cries on November 5, 2017 at a hospital in the coastal city of Hodeidah in Yemen, where years of war have caused a widespread humanitarian crisis

"Food, medicine and other essential supplies are critical for the survival of 27 million Yemenis already weakened by a conflict now in its third year."

Saudi Arabia is also embroiled in the biggest purge of the kingdom's elite in its modern history.

Dozens of high-profile figures including princes, ministers and billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal were swept up in the weekend purge -- just after the creation of an anti-graft commission headed by Prince Mohammed.

burs-oh-ac/par/dv
Peter Frederiksen has been found guilty

A Danish man accused of mutilating women in South Africa and storing their genitals in his freezer has been convicted of dozens of charges.

Peter Frederiksen was found guilty of 36 offences in the Free State High Court on Monday including producing child pornography, raping a minor and conspiracy to murder, local media reported.

Frederiksen, a gun shop owner in his 60s, pleaded not guilty to all charges. He will be sentenced at a later hearing.

Twenty charges related to the removal of human tissue were dropped as the court found that the law did not clearly specify what penalties should apply for the alleged crimes.

Police discovered more than 10 pieces of frozen female genitalia at Frederiksen's Bloemfontein townhouse in September 2015.

His wife, 28-year-old Anna Matseliso Molise, was set to be the state's key witness but she was gunned down in October 2015 outside her house in Maseru, capital of neighbouring Lesotho.

South Africa has legislation prohibiting female circumcision, although it is not a common practise in the country.
The most recent attack saw 56 people killed and 55 others wounded in a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Kabul in October

Religious attacks in Afghanistan have skyrocketed in the past two years with the minority Shiite community the main target, the United Nations said Tuesday, days before a key event in the Muslim calendar.

Since January 2016 there have been 51 incidents resulting in 273 deaths and 577 wounded -- nearly double the number of casualties for the previous seven years, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report.

The incidents involve attacks against mosques and worshippers as well as targeted killings, abductions and intimidation of religious leaders.

"The unprincipled brutality of such attacks is reflected in the appalling human cost," UNAMA said.

Shiites, who number around three million in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan, have for months been calling for more protection for their religious sites.

The Sunni extremist group Islamic State has claimed most of the attacks on Shiite worshippers as it seeks to stir up sectarian violence in the country.

The UNAMA report comes ahead of Shiite ceremonies for Arbaeen this week, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura.

Such religious events have been targeted by militants in the past because prayer halls are likely to be packed with worshippers, maximising the number of casualties.

Last year's Arbaeen commemorations in the Afghan capital were marred by a bloody attack on a Shiite mosque that killed or wounded scores of people.

The UN called on the Afghan government to take "additional measures to protect all Afghans exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief, especially those vulnerable to sectarian attacks".

"Attacks against Shi'a (Shiite) Muslims and their places of worship may be expected to continue -- or increase -- if action is not taken," the UN said.

In the most recent attack on October 20 a suicide bomber pretending to be a worshipper walked into a Shiite mosque in Kabul and blew himself up, killing 56 people and wounding 55 others.

In September, ahead of Muharram -- the mourning period for the seventh-century killing of the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed -- the government announced a plan to arm more than 400 civilians to help defend Shiite mosques.

But the deadly attacks continued, underscoring the impotence of Afghanistan's security forces to protect civilians.
Members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent carry 90-year-old Abu Mahmud on a stretcher out into a destroyed street in the Al-Sheikh Yassin neighbourhood of Deir Ezzor on November 6, 2017

After months trapped indoors by fighting in his native Deir Ezzor, 90-year-old Abu Mahmud saw the sun for the first time Monday from a stretcher carried by Syrian rescue workers.

His body had grown so frail it barely made a bump under a pink blanket as Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff carefully carried him down a dim, narrow stairwell and into the bombed-out street below.

Rescue workers found Abu Mahmud and his family cowering inside in their first-floor apartment in Deir Ezzor, days after Syrian troops ousted the Islamic State group from the city.

While ferocious clashes raged around them in the Al-Sheikh Yassin neighbourhood, the elderly man, his 80-year-old wife, and their two daughters stayed at home.

"Our family didn't support Daesh -- but we stayed in our home because I'm sick and couldn't move," Abu Mahmud said weakly, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

Much of Deir Ezzor has been ravaged in a months-long assault by Syria's army, which announced Friday it had fully recaptured the eastern city from IS.

With military operations over, the Red Crescent set to work locating civilians who remained at home throughout the fighting.

A source in the Red Crescent's Deir Ezzor branch told a reporter contributing to AFP that they had rescued an estimated 150 trapped civilians since Friday.

The relief workers often received tips from Syrian soldiers who had come across residents as they searched buildings across the city for IS fighters.

- Secret news broadcasts -

After one such tip, Red Crescent workers clambered over debris to the three-storey building where Abu Mahmud and his family remained.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has rescued an estimated 150 civilians who had been trapped in their homes throughout fighting for the city of Deir Ezzor, according to a source in the humanitarian organisation

Inside, his two unmarried daughters prepared to leave their dark apartment for the first time in months so that their parents could get medical care.

"We couldn't sleep at night because of the clashes and bombing. We used to stay in the house and never go outside," said Rania, 35, wearing a blue hooded sweater.

They eked out a living on boiled lentils, chickpeas and rice that they had stockpiled in anticipation of the army's fierce offensive.

They kept up hope, the sisters said, by watching news broadcasts in secret to keep an eye on the Syrian army's advance towards Deir Ezzor.

"Satellite dishes were banned under IS, so we hid ours," Rania said.

"We would set it up in a part of the building that's like a balcony so we could watch the news, then take it back down," she added.

Her 38-year-old sister Madawi said they monitored the army's advance across the Syrian desert as they retook the key cities of Palmyra, then Al-Sukhnah in August.

Syrian troops broke into Deir Ezzor city in September, ending a nearly three-year IS siege on government-held parts of the provincial capital.

"The Syrian army entering the city was like a new birth for us," Madawi said, her dark hair pulled back and wearing flower stud earrings.

"Just like Christians celebrate the resurrection, Syria has risen -- truly risen -- after finishing off with Daesh."

- 'If only, if only' -

In the nearby neighbourhood of Al-Qusur, a traditional Arabic-style house had been turned into a temporary shelter for residents whose homes had been destroyed.

Men stand on a damaged bridge in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor during a military operation by government forces against Islamic State group jihadists on November 5, 2017

Flies hovered over a group of young children sitting on a stoop in the house's courtyard, where older women picked through bags of donated clothing.

"We went down into the cellars of our buildings to escape the gunfire and shelling," said Abu Khaled, 58.

"We lived really difficult days, with little food or drink, before the Syrian army arrived, rescued us, and brought us to the Red Crescent which gave us shelter, food, and medical care."

Wearing a thick black robe and cream-coloured headscarf, 55-year-old Umm Omar recalled the agonising wait for an end to the fighting in her native city.

"Every second, every minute, we were just waiting and saying, 'if only, if only, if only someone would come save us from this life," she said.
Syria told delegates at the UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, that it would join the 2015 Paris Agreement, leaving the United States the only country outside the treaty

Syria said at UN climate talks in Bonn on Tuesday that it would join the Paris Agreement, leaving the United States as the only nation to say it will remain outside the landmark treaty.

"We are going to join the Paris Agreement," the Syrian delegate, speaking in Arabic, said during a plenary session at the 196-nation talks, according to Safa Al Jayoussi of the IndyAct NGO, who was monitoring the session.

The United States ratified the 2015 pact but US President Donald Trump announced earlier this year that he would pull out, saying the pact did not serve US interests.

"It is our understanding that the government of Syria announced today their intent to join the Paris Agreement," Nick Nuttall, the spokesman for the UN climate body, told AFP.

Other parties at the 12-day negotiations, tasked with elaborating and implementing the agreement, welcomed the news.

"Syria joining the Paris Agreement will be a good thing," South Africa's chief negotiator Maesela Kekana told AFP.

War-torn Syria would be the 197th country to sign on to the climate pact, which vows to hold global warming to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Openly isolated on the climate issue at G-7 and G-20 meetings earlier this year, the United States said it intended to withdraw "unless the president can identify terms that are more favourable to American businesses, workers, and taxpayers."

The Trump administration has not said what those terms might be.

"This means Trump is in splendid isolation -- no one wants to be in his company," said Alden Meyer, a veteran climate analyst at the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

"With Syria on board, now the entire world is resolutely committed to advancing climate action -- all save one country," said Paula Caballero, director for climate change at the World Resources Institute.

"This should make the Trump administration pause and reflect on their ill-advised announcement about withdrawing from the Paris Agreement."

Signed in the French capital in December 2015, the treaty entered into force on November 4, 2016.

According to the terms, no country can formally submit their intent to withdraw until three years after the date of entry into force.

It will then take one year to fully withdraw, meaning the earliest the United States could officially withdraw is the day after the 2020 election.
This file picture shows Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri speaking to journalists on November 03, 2016

Days after announcing his shock resignation in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday visited Abu Dhabi, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Hariri announced his resignation Saturday in a televised speech from Riyadh.

He said he feared for his life and accused Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of taking over his country and destabilising the broader region.

Hariri's announcement from Riyadh, which coincided with a Saudi purge of princes, ministers and a billionaire business tycoon, sparked speculation in Lebanon that he quit under duress and was subject to Saudi movement restrictions.

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar even suggested he was being held "hostage" in Saudi Arabia.

But on Tuesday the official WAM agency of the United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally, reported Hariri had met Sheikh Mohammed.

The UAE strongman assured him of his country's "support" for Lebanon "in the face of regional challenges and interferences in its affairs".

Hariri's departure sparked concerns of a political crisis in Lebanon as Saudi Arabia and Iran face off over a missile attack from Yemen.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Lebanon would foil the "conspiracy" against it.

"Without a doubt, the great Lebanese people will succeed in foiling the new plot and will not allow Lebanon to become the battleground for other powers or let terrorists return," he was quoted as saying in a presidency statement.

Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday Hariri's resignation had been "imposed" by Saudi Arabia.

"It was not his intention, not his wish and not his decision" to quit, Nasrallah said in a televised address.

"We did not seek this resignation," said Nasrallah, whose powerful movement has participated in Hariri's government for almost a year.

The Hezbollah leader also questioned why Hariri gave his resignation speech from Saudi Arabia.

"Is he at home? Will they let him return? These are legitimate concerns," he said.
Syria told delegates at the UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, that it would join the 2015 Paris Agreement, leaving the United States the only country outside the treaty

Syria told the UN climate talks in Bonn on Tuesday that it would join the Paris Agreement, leaving the United States as the only nation in the world opting to stay outside the landmark treaty.

"We are going to join the Paris Agreement," the Syrian delegate, speaking in Arabic, said during a plenary session at the 196-nation talks, according to Safa Al Jayoussi of the IndyAct NGO, who was monitoring the session.

The United States ratified the 2015 pact but US President Donald Trump announced earlier this year that he would pull out, saying the pact did not serve US interests.

"It is our understanding that the government of Syria announced today their intent to join the Paris Agreement," Nick Nuttall, the spokesman for the UN climate body, told AFP.

Nuttall identified the Syrian delegate as Wadah Katmawi, the deputy minister of the ministry of local administration and environment.

Syria must submit their "instruments of ratification" at the UN headquarters in New York before their adherence becomes official, he added.

According to the Syrian parliament website, a bill was passed on October 22 to ratify the Paris accord, "in accordance with the Syrian Constitution which stipulates the protection of the environment".

Other parties at the 12-day negotiations, tasked with elaborating and implementing the agreement, welcomed the news.

"Syria joining the Paris Agreement will be a good thing," South Africa's chief negotiator Maesela Kekana told AFP.

"That's great," said Chai Qimin, a climate negotiator from China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation.

"They were the last party to the UN Convention to sign the Paris Agreement," he said, referring to 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the bedrock treaty for UN climate talks.

"That leaves only the one who announced their withdrawal," he added, in an oblique reference to the United States.

- US mocks Syria -

War-torn Syria would be the 197th country to sign on to the climate pact, which vows to hold global warming to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The United States mocked Syria's arrival in the climate change agreement Tuesday, side-stepping the charge that it has isolated itself by being the world's sole hold-out.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert fiercely dismissed suggestions that this means that Trump's "America First" policy has in practice meant "America Alone."

"I find it ironic that the government of Syria, OK, would say that it wants to be involved, and that it cares so much about climate and things like CO2 gas," she told reporters.

"If the government of Syria cared so much about what was put in the air, then it wouldn't be gassing its own people," she said, referring to the Damascus regime's brutal civil war tactics.

Nauert said that the department's under secretary for political affairs, Tom Shannon, would lead a US delegation to the Bonn talks next week but that Trump's decision would stand.

"We intend to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as we're eligible to do so," she said.

- 'Splendid isolation' -

Openly isolated on the climate issue at G-7 and G-20 meetings earlier this year, the United States said it intended to withdraw "unless the president can identify terms that are more favourable to American businesses, workers, and taxpayers."

The Trump administration has not said what those terms might be.

"This means Trump is in splendid isolation -- no one wants to be in his company," said Alden Meyer, a veteran climate analyst at the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

"With Syria on board, now the entire world is resolutely committed to advancing climate action -- all save one country," said Paula Caballero, director for climate change at the World Resources Institute.

"This should make the Trump administration pause and reflect on their ill-advised announcement about withdrawing from the Paris Agreement."

Signed in the French capital in December 2015, the treaty entered into force on November 4, 2016.

According to the terms, no country can formally submit their intent to withdraw until three years after the date of entry into force.

It will then take one year to fully withdraw, meaning the earliest the United States could officially withdraw is the day after the 2020 election.

"When even Syria -- with all its problems -- can see the sense of a global climate agreement, it really shows how ideologically wedded to climate denialism the US Republican Party has become," said Mohamed Adow, International Climate Lead for Christian Aid.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (C), seen here during a recent visit to Bangassou, a notorious hotspot in Central African Republic's bloody conflict, is urging an increase in the size of the UN peacekeeping force in the country

The United States signaled on Tuesday it was ready to back a French-drafted UN resolution that would bolster the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic with 900 extra troops.

The Security Council is considering the measure following a request from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has warned of a risk of ethnic cleansing in parts of the impoverished African country.

The draft resolution would extend the mission known as MINUSCA until November 2018 and increase the number of uniformed peacekeepers by 900, to a ceiling of 11,650, along with 2,080 police and 480 military observers.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, said it was open to beefing up the mission after repeated calls for cuts to peace operations.

"The United States is not opposed in principle to a modest troop increase for MINUSCA, but only if the additional troops would help more than hurt the missions mandate," said a spokesperson for the US mission.

"That means any additional troops should maintain the highest standards of professionalism and refrain from incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, for which we have a zero-tolerance policy."

MINUSCA has been hit by a string of sex abuse allegations against its peacekeepers, prompting Guterres to step up measures to counter such misconduct.

The council is scheduled to vote on the draft resolution on November 15.

The United States has called for streamlining missions and was the driving force behind a $600-million cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year.

- Ongoing clashes -

The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

France intervened militarily to push out the Seleka alliance but the country remains plagued with violence pitting groups competing for control of resources and areas of influence.

Jordanians peacekeepers meet Muslim refugees at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Bangassou, Central African Republic

The draft resolution expresses the council's "concern at the degradation of the security situation in the southeastern part and the northwestern parts of the CAR due to the ongoing clashes between armed groups."

It condemns widespread human rights violations including sexual violence against women by rebel groups and expresses grave concern over continued allegations of rape by MINUSCA peacekeepers.

During a council meeting on Monday, MINUSCA head Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said the 900 extra peacekeepers "should include highly mobile troops that would provide the force with greater flexibility to rapidly deploy in areas of heightened threat to civilians."

MINUSCA deployed in 2014 with a strong mandate to protect civilians, but the draft resolution would include language on ensuring the peacekeepers have a "robust posture."

The conflict has driven more than 600,00 people from their homes within the country and an additional 500,000 have crossed borders to become refugees. Half of the population, or 2.4 million Central Africans, are in need of aid.
France is supporting a five-nation force, the so-called G5 Sahel (pictured here on November 4, 2017), to buttress security across Mali

France has sent high-level representatives to talk to the Malian government after a French anti-terror raid killed Malian troops held by the jihadists.

Defence Minister Tiena Coulibaly met on October 31 with the French ambassador and the commander of France's military force in Mali, according to a ministry communique received by AFP on Monday.

They discussed a night-time operation on October 23-24 "in which Malian troops, held by the terrorists, were killed," it said.

On October 26, French military headquarters announced that 15 jihadists had been killed.

But on Sunday, a Malian military source said 11 soldiers who had been captured between July 2016 and March 2017 had died in the operation.

Following Tuesday's meeting, the commander of the French forces said the operation had targeted a "terrorist training camp", and "at no moment" was the presence of Malian soldiers established.

In a statement he said: "At no time was the presence of Malian soldiers - captured or enlisted by the terrorist group - detected on the site."

The operation "took out 15 terrorists, one of whom turned out to be a lieutenant".

The incident occurred near Abeibara, in the northeastern Kidal region, in an attack on a group affiliated to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a jihadist organisation better known by its French acronym of AQMI, according to the French statement.

Fighter jets and helicopters backed the operation, it said.

The accidental deaths come at a time when France is stepping up its anti-terror activity in the Sahel.

France has a 4,000-man anti-terrorist force, called Barkhane, in northern Mali and is supporting a five-nation force, the so-called G5 Sahel, to buttress security across the sprawling region south of the Sahara.

A senior Malian defence ministry official, requesting anonymity, said on Tuesday: "Our soldiers who were prisoners of the jihadists were definitely killed during the French anti-terrorist operation in northern Mali."

According to the Malian communique, the French envoys explained in the October 31 meeting that the operation aimed at destroying the training camp but "upstream reconnaissance was not able to determine the presence of Malian soldiers".
The President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe (pictured here) has been in power since 2005, when he took over from his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled the former French colony for 38 years

Thousands of people took to the streets in Togo's capital on Tuesday in the latest protest calling for the long-standing President Faure Gnassingbe to step down.

The demonstration is the first of three planned marches this week and comes after more than two months of nearly weekly opposition action against half a century of rule by the Gnassingbe family.

"Fifty years of bloody dictatorship must end," read one banner on the streets of capital Lome. Another called for the "international plot against Togo" to end.

"Why give up after three months?" retired teacher Follivi told AFP. "You're never tired when you've started a fight. I'll see the battle through."

Togolese religious leaders joined the calls for action, urging the president to "make the final sacrifice" by "allowing the reforms desired by the people to be carried out in the name of peace".

"Because for peace, no sacrifice is too much," said the joint declaration read to the media on Tuesday.

The statement, which did not mention resignation, was signed by Imam Soulemana, the president of a group of Togolese imams and Alphonse Amenyenou, the head of Togolese pastors in Ivory Coast.

On Monday evening the government said it was "taking the necessary measures for the opening of a dialogue" with its political detractors.

Veteran opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre said they, too, were in favour of dialogue "but to discuss the conditions for Faure Gnassingbe's departure".

- Pressure builds on Gnassingbe -

Last month, some 500 Togolese nationals fled across the western border into Ghana to escape what they said were human rights abuses by the police and military.

The government had imposed a ban on weekday marches that opposition supporters ignored, leading to violent clashes. The restriction has since been lifted.

At least 16 people have been killed and more than 200 injured since the first demonstration, according to an AFP toll.

A source close to Togo's presidency said Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo made a brief visit to Lome on Sunday to talk with Gnassingbe about the protests.

Gnassingbe has also met other regional heads of state in recent weeks, including Benin's Patrice Talon and Alpha Conde of Guinea.

They have offered their services as mediators while Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has urged his Togolese counterpart to open talks to resolve the crisis.

In Togo's second city, Sokodo, which is a stronghold of opposition Panafrican National Party (PNP) leader Tikpi Atchadam, the security services dispersed crowds looking to protest.

"The army has been in the area since last night (Monday) and has been chasing young activists to their homes," said Ouro Akpo Tchagnaou, from Fabre's National Alliance for Change (ANC).

"They are breaking up any gathering on the streets and are using sticks and chains to beat people."

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, when he took over from his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled the former French colony for 38 years.

Togo's opposition wants a two-term limit on the presidential mandate and the introduction of two-round voting.

A referendum on the issue is expected to take place in the coming months, with the opposition calling for the proposed two-term limit to be retroactive, to prevent Gnassingbe from standing again in 2020 and 2025.
A gun with an American flag decoration at a trade show by the National Rifle Association, which has consistently opposed efforts at tighter gun control

On an average day in America, more than two dozen people are shot dead, but the heavy toll goes largely unnoticed except for mass shootings like Sunday's church massacre in Texas -- perpetuating a string of myths about gun violence.

The following are five false assumptions about gun-related shootings in the United States:

- 1. Gun-related homicides are at a record high -

Not true, even if the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) did record an uptick in the number of gun-related homicides between 2015 and 2016.

"Although the incidence of mass shootings is dramatically on the rise in the US, the nation's overall and gun-related murder rates have been on the decline -- being just half of what they were 25 years ago," said Gregg Lee Carter, a professor of sociology at Bryant University in Rhode Island.

"This decline has happened in the face of a serious relaxing of gun control regulations at the state level," Carter told AFP. "For example, few states allowed the average citizen to carry a concealed firearm before 1990, but today almost all states do."

A "mass shooting" is defined as an incident in which four or more people are killed or wounded, excluding the assailant.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there is, on average, at least one mass shooting in the United States per day.

- 2. Gun violence victims are random -

Media coverage of mass shootings in the United States tends to give the false impression that victims are random and have no connection with the perpetrator.

This impression tends to be reinforced by the tendency of these crimes to take place in public places -- a country music concert in Nevada, a nightclub in Florida, a university campus in Virginia or a school in Connecticut.

In fact, studies have shown that most mass shootings target a specific person or an establishment against which the killer has a grievance.

More than two-thirds of mass shootings take place in private homes and the victims tend to be close to their assailant.

According to the group Everytown for Gun Safety, 50 women are killed every month in the United States by their partner.

- 3. Mass shootings account for most US gun homicides -

Most of the 12,000 gun-related homicides a year in the United States do not qualify as mass shootings.

For example, in Fresno, California, on Sunday a man named Manuel Garcia killed his estranged wife and her boyfriend as they left church. Garcia then shot himself.

The double murder would probably have made headlines in France, Britain, Japan or Australia.

But in the United States, where gun-related deaths are on average 25 times higher than in other developed countries, it merited just local coverage.

- 4. Most mass murderers are mentally ill -

Mass shootings in the United States have indeed been carried out by individuals who were clearly mentally ill such as Adam Lanza, who killed his mother and 20 children at a school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and James Holmes, who opened fire on moviegoers in Colorado.

But experts stress that the vast majority of people with psychological problems are not violent.

Conversely, a study conducted in Baltimore, St. Louis and Los Angeles found that only four percent of the people who committed violent acts against others could be said to have serious mental problems.

In other words, the vast majority were acting out of other factors such as anger, jealousy or hate.

- 5. The United States is sharply divided over gun control -

This belief may be widely held abroad but it is not in fact true.

America's powerful National Rifle Association has consistently opposed efforts at tighter gun control.

But even the most vehement US anti-gun activists do not advocate repealing the Second Amendment, which grants Americans the right to bear arms, and no serious US politician favors confiscating weapons.

The current gun control debate concerns limiting the types of weapons or accessories available for purchase, or strengthening background checks restricting sales to people with legal or mental problems.

"National gun laws will not change unless Democrats control both houses of Congress, plus the presidency -- and there is no chance of this occurring until the 2020 national election," Professor Carter said.

"Republicans will not strengthen gun laws -- despite the majority of Americans wanting stronger laws and despite research showing that strong gun laws can reduce the total amount of gun violence," he added.
A Seleka fighter poses in 2013 at the Bangui firefighters barracks turned Seleka base, which the militia still occupies today

Central African Republic's embattled government is in a faceoff with former fighters of an ousted militia who are occupying three barracks in the CAR capital Bangui, an AFP reporter saw Tuesday.

More than 1,200 of the former rebels have been told to quit the buildings but some are refusing to leave, the reporter found.

The former fighters were once with the so-called Seleka alliance, a coalition of Muslim-majority militias.

They have been occupying the barracks since the Seleka overthrew the then president, Francois Bozize, in 2013.

The Seleka, in turn, were ousted by a military intervention led by former colonial ruler France, and the United Nations launched a peacekeeping mission in 2014.

But the country remains chronically unstable and violence-prone, and the government is struggling to assert its authority over armed groups.

CAR Defence Minister Marie-Noelle Koyara, speaking to AFP by phone on Monday, said the ex-Seleka fighters had been told to leave the barracks, under plans to overhaul the country's military.

"We are 'relaunching' the army, and that's why it's important to recover the barracks," Koyara said.

The government is proposing a payoff of 100,000 CFA francs (152 euros, $176) to former rebels, but some have dismissed the offer.

"I don't think that 100,000 francs is enough," said Hissene Scheiker, described as the commander of former fighters holed up in Camp Beal barracks, which under Bozize's regime was the country's defence ministry.

"How are we going to live outside with 100,000 francs? Live like vagrants?"

"We want two million francs per person, and to join the DDRR programme," he said, referring to a disarmament process set up by the government and supported by the UN.

About a thousand people -- women and children included -- live in Camp Beal, Scheiker said.

The authorities also want to move fighters out of two other barracks in Bangui -- units named after the Regiment for Support and Services (RSS) and the Territorial Operational Defence Regiment (RDOT).

Ex-Seleka fighters in the camps have repeatedly expressed angry demands for support, mainly by blocking off traffic in nearby streets.

Most of the former combatants come from isolated regions in the far north of the country.

Several dozen others are still illegally occupying houses and villas in northern Bangui, despite appeals to the government from the owners to recover their property.
Smoke billows out of a building following a coalition air strike in Raqa, Syria on September 5, 2017; air strikes have dropped since IS was driven out of Raqa, according to a general leading the coalition air campaign

Coalition air strikes in Syria and Iraq fell sharply last month, a reflection of the collapse of the Islamic State group, a US Air Force general said Tuesday.

Brigadier General Andrew Croft, who coordinates the coalition air campaign, said there were 60 to 70 percent fewer air strikes in October than the average for the preceding eight to nine months.

"That's indicative of the fact that ISIS is collapsing not only as a physical caliphate but also in ownership of land," he told reporters in a teleconference.

"They only control about four or five percent of the original area they covered, so the number of targets has dropped dramatically, particularly in the last month."

He said 850 bombs were dropped during October compared to 1,800 to 2,400 a month since the start of the year.

The decline came in the same month that Raqa, IS's Syrian stronghold, fell to US-backed Kurdish forces.

Before that, Iraqi forces backed by coalition airpower retook the northern city of Mosul from IS in early July.

According to coalition estimates, at least 786 civilians have been killed during the three-year air campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Airwars.Com, a website that monitors casualty reports, puts the number of civilians killed in coalition airstrikes at nearly 6,000.
The Weinstein Company fired co-founder Harvey Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, in early October following accusations of sexual misconduct

Colony Capital is no longer interested in buying The Weinstein Company, the film studio co-founded by disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

"I can tell you Colony is not engaged and has no intention to engage," a source told on condition of anonymity, while another said the investment firm is no longer interested.

The Weinstein Company announced in mid-October that Colony Capital had agreed to provide the scandal-plagued studio an "immediate cash infusion," and that the two parties were in talks on a potential sale.

But earlier Tuesday, another source close to the matter indicated that The Weinstein Company did not get the promised funding from Colony Capital.

"The investment was never made," the source said, requesting anonymity to speak about the matter.

Colony Capital -- founded by Thomas Barrack, a longtime friend of US President Donald Trump -- is concerned about the potential impact of the flood of harassment, sexual assault and rape allegations against Weinstein, and whether the production company could be held liable, the sources said.

Colony Capital declined to comment.

Questions have swirled since the scandal over whether the studio, started by Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob, could survive.

The Weinstein Company, already weakened by a series of flops, is on the verge of bankruptcy and struggling to stay afloat after several major projects were yanked amid the scandal.

Another firm, Fortress Investment Group, has been working on a potential financing package for the studio valued at roughly $35 million, The New York Times earlier reported.

The funds would provide cash to keep the studio operational through January, the Times said, quoting three unnamed people briefed on the matter.

The Weinstein Company fired co-founder Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, in early October following the first accusations of sexual misconduct.

Police have since launched investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York after around 100 women came forward with allegations against Weinstein.

He denies any non-consensual relations.

Meanwhile, US media reported that Manhattan's district attorney is preparing a criminal case against Weinstein, which he could present to a grand jury as early as next week.

The reports, quoting anonymous law enforcement officials, came after police confirmed they had a credible rape allegation against the producer and were gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant.
Harvey Weinstein could soon be the subject of a grand jury probe, US media says, amid allegations of rape and sexual assault against the Hollywood producer

Manhattan's district attorney is preparing a criminal case against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein which he could present to a grand jury as early as next week, US media reported Tuesday.

The reports, quoting anonymous law enforcement officials, came after police confirmed they had a credible rape allegation against the embattled producer and were gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant.

District Attorney Cyrus Vance plans to present the case to a grand jury and wait for an indictment, NBC television and the New York Post tabloid reported. The move could come as early as next week, they reported.

His office was not immediately reachable for comment Tuesday.

Police referred AFP to the district attorney's office.

"Boardwalk Empire" actress Paz de la Huerta accused Weinstein of raping her twice at her New York apartment in late 2010. Her claims were published in Vanity Fair magazine on Thursday and she has been interviewed by police.

"She put forth a credible and detailed narrative to us," NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told reporters last Friday.

"We have an actual case here," he added. "Mr Weinstein is out of state. We would need an arrest warrant to arrest him. So right now we're gathering our evidence."

De la Huerta's allegations are at least the third Weinstein case to have been investigated by New York police in recent years. Boyce did not rule out others.

Vance's office, which has been working closely with police, last week assigned a senior sex crimes prosecutor to the case.

Around 100 women have come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct since a New York Times expose was published in early October. The accusations range from harassment to rape. Weinstein denies any non-consensual relations.
Peized a laptop, a flashdrive and a recent press statement from the headquarters of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) Wazalendo said the Tanzanian opposition party

Tanzanian police carried out a raid Tuesday night on the headquarters of an opposition party which recently criticised the state of the economy under President John Magufuli.

"The police have just ended a raid on the headquarters of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) Wazalendo," read a statement from the party.

The party, whose leader Zitto Kabwe is fiercely critical of the government and has been arrested three times since main opposition chief Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party was shot and wounded in September, said police had seized a laptop, a flashdrive and a recent press statement.

The statement, issued on October 12, had criticised "the bad state of the economy, the deterioration of security and the narrowing of the democratic environment."

Police also seized a second statement entitled: "Evidence of the deterioration of the national economy."

After the publication of the two statements, Magufuli had accused the party of deliberately minimising his economic achievements and asked prosecutors to go after those publishing information contrary to official statistics.

The entire central committee of the ACT Wazalendo party was on Monday summoned to present themselves to police, however it only sent its top leaders who were released after questioning.

Since his October 2016 election Magufuli has shut down newspapers, banned opposition rallies, switched off live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and used a draconian "cyber crimes" law to jail critics.

Main opposition party leader Lissu has accused the government of being behind an attack in which he was shot and wounded, requiring 17 operations in a Nairobi hospital.

Lissu had had a series of run-ins with the government and has been arrested at least six times this year, accused of insulting the president and disturbing public order, among other charges.
Four traffickers were caught with elephant tusks like these, as well as 46 elephant tails, coveted items that are the reason over 35,000 elephants are slaughtered each year

Two tusks and 46 elephant tails have been seized in Ivory Coast, activists said Tuesday, adding that a customs officer acting as an accomplice to traffickers was among four arrested.

"Two impressive tusks of 1.6 metres each" were seized by a specialist unit from the Ivorian police force assisted by agents from the ministry for water and forests, nature activist group Eagle said in a press release.

Officers discovered 46 elephant tails, "a figure that... testifies to the extent of the massacre", added Eagle, an NGO specialising in the fight against the trafficking of protected species.

The tails are used to make bracelets sold for up to 2,000 euros ($2,300) each on the black market, according to Eagle.

About 100 objects made of ivory and warthog horn were also seized.

Four traffickers -- two Ivorians, including a customs officers working at Abidjan airport, and two Guineans -- were taken to court on Tuesday, after a spending week in police custody, according to the statement.

The police operation took place on October 31.

The traffickers' haul was believed to be destined for the Asian market.

Due to the toughening of the fight against poaching and illegal trade in east Africa, traffickers are setting up new channels through West Africa, where authorities are more focused on combating drug-trafficking, Eagle's spokesman Adama Kamagate told AFP.

Punishment for trafficking in the Ivory Coast remains a small deterrent to the smugglers, who face a prison sentence of two months to a year, with a fine of 3,000 to 300,000 CFA francs (5 to 450 euros).

More than 35,000 elephants are slaughtered each year on the African continent from an approximate population of more than 450,000 in the wild.
Forbes magazine said it conducted a month-long investigation into US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross which showed he is not a billionaire as he has claimed and has a history of misleading statements

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has exaggerated his personal wealth and is not in fact a billionaire, a leading business magazine reported Tuesday.

The report by Forbes also accused Ross of serial dishonesty and was more unwelcome publicity for the Trump ally after leaked files this week showed he retained business interests tied to Vladimir Putin's inner circle even after taking office.

A year ago Forbes listed Ross among the richest Americans, putting his net worth at $2.9 billion.

But after examining public disclosure forms Ross filed as part of his confirmation process for the Commerce post this year, Forbes estimated Ross's wealth at under $700 million.

After a month-long investigation, Forbes found that about $2 billion Ross claimed was held in family trusts never existed. He had said he was not required to disclose the funds held in trust in the federal filings.

Ross inflated his wealth in communications with the magazine stretching back more than a decade when he first made the vaunted Forbes global list of billionaires, the report said.

"It seems clear that Ross lied to us, the latest in an apparent sequence of fibs, exaggerations, omissions, fabrications and whoppers that have been going on with Forbes since 2004," the magazine said.

The report said the review of Ross's business history uncovered a pattern of dishonesty extending to investors and colleagues that resulted in millions in fines and funds returned to investors, and frequent litigation.

A Commerce Department spokesman dismissed the conclusions in the magazine.

"The Forbes article cites former employees, without full knowledge, and all but one anonymously -- we will not respond further," the spokesman said in an email.

Ross's financial disclosure documents "were compiled by legal counsel and accountants. The relevant rules were followed, and the documents were closely reviewed and approved by ethics officials at the Department of Commerce and the Office of Government Ethics."
A row of crosses for victims of the mass shooting that killed 26 people in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas

The man who shot dead 26 people in a Texas church once escaped from a mental hospital and made death threats against his military superiors while in the US Air Force, according to a police report.

The police report, obtained by Houston TV station KPRC, also said that Devin Patrick Kelley had once been caught sneaking firearms on to the Air Force base in New Mexico where he was stationed.

Kelley, 26, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sunday after killing 26 people and injuring 20 with an assault rifle at a church in the small Texas town of Sutherland Springs.

Kelley served in the Air Force from 2010 to 2014.

He was court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and stepchild, fracturing the baby's skull, and sentenced to 12 months in confinement.

He received a bad conduct discharge in 2014.

According to the report by police in El Paso, Texas, Kelley was reported missing in June 2012 from a psychiatric facility where he had been sent ahead of his assault conviction.

The person at the facility, Peak Behavioral Health Services, who reported him missing told police that Kelley "suffered from mental disorders."

He said Kelley was a "danger to himself and others" and had been "caught sneaking fire arms onto Holloman Air Force base," where he was stationed.

Police were also told that Kelley had been accused of "attempting to carry out death threats" against his "military chain of command."

While receiving the missing persons report police were told that Kelley had been located and taken into custody.

The authorities have said that Kelley's rampage may have stemmed from a "domestic situation" and that he sent threatening texts to his mother-in-law.

The Air Force has said Kelley's domestic violence conviction was not passed on to a national database that lists persons barred from purchasing firearms.
Residents have held several candlelight vigils following the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas

Raw with grief over the killing of several of his friends, Robert Kunz has no time for the argument that the latest mass shooting means America's gun culture must change.

"A gun didn't kill those people. Didn't kill my friends," the 50-year-old told AFP, standing across the street from the church where a gunman shot dead 26 parishioners including an unborn child in the tiny community of Sutherland Springs.

What's more, he emphasized, "a gun stopped him... Not a cop gun. A civilian."

Kunz is among the many local residents hailing Stephen Willeford, 55, who fired at the gunman with his own AR-15 assault rifle -- shooting and wounding him as he emerged from the church.

It's a view echoed by President Donald Trump, who said if the "very brave" Willeford had not been armed, "instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead."

Stricter background checks, Trump suggested, would have made "no difference" in averting the tragedy.

The latest gun massacre to strike the United States has reignited the nation's fraught debate over gun control, with many Democrats calling to tighten regulations and the New York Times editorial board emphasizing that "this is the time" for a legislative response to recurring fatal shootings.

Evangelina Santos, whose brother died in the attack, told CNN through tears that enough was enough: "no more guns."

Still, in this rural area, where the ethos of small government and community self-reliance is ingrained in daily life, many working through the tragedy's aftermath remain unwavering that gun control will do little to the violence.

- 'Proud owner of guns' -

"Government isn't here to do everything for us," said volunteer paramedic Paul Brunner, who witnessed the brutality first-hand as one of the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene.

Gun ownership has long been a part of the culture here, explained residents, who say the firearms violence that has long afflicted US urban areas -- and now has taken a heavy toll in this rural community -- is new to them.

Stephen Willeford (L) and Johnnie Langendorff, (R) who both chased after Texas gunman Devin Kelley, hug during a vigil in Sutherland Springs

Stephanie Perkovich, who taught her nine-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter how to safely handle firearms, said the shooting was evidence that gun ownership was necessary.

"I'm a very proud owner of guns," she told AFP. "I carry a gun with me all the time, and I'm glad that I do when stuff like this happens."

The church shooting came just five weeks after a gunman mowed down 58 concertgoers in Las Vegas, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

The frequency of the attacks raises tough questions for Nathan Carrizales, a volunteer aiding victims' families as they prepared funerals.

"It's a very sensitive topic," the 22-year-old said. "It just opens my eyes on what the different possibilities are for us to move forward to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Likewise Donna Watkins, visiting from the coastal Texas city of Corpus Christi, who is grandmother to a child of similar age as the youngest victim of Sunday's massacre, a baby of 18 months.

"People are just able to get these guns more freely and there should be more... regulations and laws against guns," she told AFP.

But such views appeared to be in the minority here.

For Pastor Scott Talibert, whose church is in Lolita, a small Texas community two hours from Sutherland Springs, the problem lies squarely with human behavior.

"Are guns dangerous? Yes. Are cars dangerous?" he asked rhetorically.

"Yes."
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, came to the US Capitol to lobby to save the Iran nuclear deal

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned Tuesday that the Iran nuclear deal can never be renegotiated, as she urged US lawmakers not to try to reopen the agreement.

Her visit coincided with that of the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA director general Yukiya Amano, who defended his agency's ability to monitor Iran's compliance with the accord.

President Donald Trump has told Congress that he can no longer "certify" that the 2015 accord is in the US national interest, leaving its fate in the hands of skeptical senators.

Mogherini, therefore, came to Washington -- while Trump and her opposite number Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were touring Asia -- to sit down with legislators on Capitol Hill.

While she insisted Brussels does not want to interfere in Washington politics, she sent a clear message that Europe opposes any new US law that would breach the terms of the deal.

Senator Bob Corker, the head of the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, and his Republican colleague and rising star Senator Tom Cotton, are working on such a bill.

While it has not been finalized -- and its supporters insist it is designed to strengthen enforcement of the Iran deal rather than to destroy it -- opponents fear it will do just that.

Speaking to reporters after talks with US lawmakers, Mogherini said she had sought and received reassurances that the bill would keep the United States "compliant with the deal."

"We are exchanging views with legislators on the need to make sure, before a bill is presented, that its contents does not represent a violation," she said.

In a fact sheet to explain the proposed law, the senators propose that US nuclear-related sanctions on Iran would snap back if Tehran violates "enhanced and existing restrictions."

- No 'sunset' clause -

These "enhancements" to restrictions would end so called "sunset" clauses that would see some curbs on Tehran's program phased out between eight and 15 years from now.

But supporters of the deal argue changing these provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by Iran and six world powers would itself collapse the deal.

Mogherini pushed back strongly on the idea that the 2015 deal, under which Iran submitted to nuclear controls in return for sanctions relief, would "sunset" at all.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano, seen here in a recent handout picture from the Iranian presidency, met last week with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and urged him to continue respecting the nuclear deal

"The JCPOA has no sunset clause," she said. "There are different arrangements within the JCPOA that have different durations... some will last forever.

"Article Three of the agreement says that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon, for instance."

And, she added, under the "foreseen ratification" by Iran of the International Atomic Energy Agency's "additional protocol ... certain commitments will become permanent."

"Renegotiating is not an option," she said, insisting Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia will not review 12 years of complex international diplomacy because of US concerns.

Separately, IAEA chief Amano denied claims by opponents of the Iran deal that his agency is not able to monitor Iran's compliance with JCPOA and is blocked from military sites.

- 'Additional protocol' -

"I cannot discuss the details of our access, but what I can say is that we have had access to all the locations that we needed to visit and this should continue," he said.

He said the issue of access had been "exaggerated" and whether or not a site was military or civilian run was not important.

"It is not that relevant," he said. "The places that interest us are the places that have nuclear material, nuclear expertise and nuclear-related equipment."

Amano visited Iran last week and met with President Hassan Rouhani, vice president and atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

All had assured him, he said, that Iran would not be the first to pull out of the JCPOA.

This would include Iran's eventual ratification of the IAEA "additional protocol", but Amano said that inspections were already taking place under its "provisional" application.

"Some people believe that our verification activities are weak. this is not true," he said, citing the agency's modern system of remote monitoring alongside robust inspections.

And, far from being excluded from sites, IAEA inspectors are able to turn up -- in more than 90 percent of cases -- after giving the Iranians as little as two hours' notice.

Tero Varjoranta, Amano's deputy and head of the department of safeguards said: "Most of the access that we have done we have done clearly in less than 24 hours, in close to two hours."

Nevertheless, Amano remains concerned for the future if US hostility to the deal continues.

"The future of the JCPOA is uncertain, for now. The best thing is to fully implement the nuclear-related commitment, and we will do our very best to monitor and verify," he said.
MIAMI (AP) - A Honduran man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to bomb a busy Florida mall food court in support of the Islamic State extremist group.

Court records show 53-year-old Vicente Adolfo Solano entered the plea at a hearing Monday to a charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. The FBI says Solano wanted to detonate a bomb last month at the Dolphin Mall near Miami, but was working with undercover FBI operatives who gave him a fake bomb before his arrest.

Solano faces a maximum life prison sentence if convicted. No trial date has been set.

Despite Solano's claims of Islamic State sympathies, the FBI says no links to foreign terrorist groups have been found. There is also no indication Solano converted to Islam.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday:

1. 'NOW MOST OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY IS GONE'

Sherri Pomeroy speaks to the sadness engulfing close-knit Sutherland Springs, Texas, a day after a gunman murdered 26 churchgoers there - including Pomeroy's daughter Annabelle.

Jacob Kubena, from left, and his brother Zachary, Doug John and his son Shelby John set up a memorial of 26 metal crosses near First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

2. TRAIL OF VIOLENCE FOLLOWED TEXAS GUNMAN

Devin Patrick Kelley was kicked out of the Air Force for abusing his then-wife and her child, later charged with animal cruelty and accused of menacing a girlfriend.

3. IN JAPAN, TRUMP STRIKES HARD LINE AGAINST NKOREA

The president refuses to rule out a military strike, and declares Japan will use new U.S. military equipment to shoot down North Korean missiles.

4. WHOSE GUITAR BRINGS $700K AT AUCTION

The blue Cloud guitar Prince used in the late 1980s and '90s brings a record price for one of his instruments.

5. WHAT COULD LEAD TO GOV'T SHUTDOWN

The current federal spending bill is set to expire Dec. 8, and a sharply divided Congress and inconsistent president may be unable to agree on pressing matters including tax reform, immigration and a military budget.

6. HOW RAND PAUL IS RECOVERING AFTER ATTACK

The Kentucky senator is in pain, suffering from five broken ribs after getting tackled by a neighbor over what an attorney calls a trivial matter.

7. WHY FLORIDA STATE SUSPENDS ALL FRATS, SORORITIES

The ban comes after a freshman pledge's alcohol-related death, and cocaine charges for another fraternity member.

8. HOMELESS CRISIS CONTRASTS WEST COAST TECH WEALTH

Soaring housing prices across the region push many people to the streets, an AP study finds.

9. SAUDIS: DETAINED PRINCES WILL FACE TRIAL

Eleven princes and 38 officials and businessmen are reportedly under arrest in what the kingdom's rulers call an anti-corruption crackdown.

10. WHO GIVES HIMSELF A NEW NICKNAME, AGAIN

Rapper and producer Sean Combs celebrates his birthday by changing his name to "Love, a.k.a. Brother Love," and won't answer to Puffy or Diddy.

U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, during a state banquet hosted by Abe at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, Pool)
DICKINSON  Nearly one-third of North Dakotas prison inmates in 2016 were drug and alcohol offenders, a number that has slowly risen over the past five years.

During the 2017 legislative session, the North Dakota Legislature started steps to keep high level drug dealers and violent criminals behind bars, while providing the help drug addicts may need, including changing some felonies to misdemeanors and reducing minimum mandatory sentences for some crimes..

As of Dec. 31, 2016 there were 1,791 inmates in the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the departments yearly report. There were 565 drug and alcohol offenders in the system, or 31.5 percent of inmates. Of these, 316 were serving time for delivery, manufacturing or intent to deliver drugs, 220 for possession and the remaining 29 for alcohol-related offenders.

In comparison, of the 1,440 inmates in 2011, 359  or 24.9 percent  were incarcerated for drug and alcohol related crimes. By 2014 that number had risen to 502 inmates serving a sentence for a drug or alcohol conviction.

According to the most recently available statistics from the DOCR, the average sentence imposed by judges for drug and alcohol offenses in 2016 was 27.52 months This number excludes those serving life sentences.

Sen. Kelly Armstrong, R-Dickinson, said during the last session, the Legislature reduced the minimum mandatory sentences for some drug-crimes in half. Armstrong said most prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges dont like minimum mandatory sentences because there are so many additional factors that can influence a sentencing period.

Theres two kinds of people who deal drugs, the professional criminals who we want to lock up and then the addict whos dealing to support their habit, we want to hold them accountable but we want to be able to deal with the particular facts and circumstances with each of their cases, he said. The best people to do that are the prosecutors, the defense attorney and the judge.

The Legislature also reduced first-offense possession crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor this past session. Minimum mandatory sentences for violent crimes, professional dealers and other related offenses remain the same.

We have to start incarcerating people were scared of, not people were mad at, Armstrong said.

Sen. John Grabinger, D-Jamestown, has been in the North Dakota Senate since 2013 and worked on multiple committees looking at incarceration issues during the 2015-16 interim session. One committee, the Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration, solicited feedback from numerous stakeholders from across the state to lay the groundwork for addressing the states drug crime issues, Grabinger said.

In my opinion it was a very worthwhile committee that brought everybody to the table that needed to be there to try and address these issues, he said. ... It was a big committee yet it was effective and was headed in the right direction. Everybody was concerned with the problems that we had in the state and wanted to address it.

Having a felony count on someones record can greatly impact the rest of their life, making it difficult for them to get and maintain employment or find housing, among other things, Grabinger said.

Most of us know once you put a felony on someones record theyre opportunity to advance in life becomes a lot more difficult, he said. We were strapping a lot of people that really had addiction issues with felony counts.  Theres a multitude of things that need to be done to address this but it really comes down to treatment and getting people the help that they need, giving judges the options they need to get these people the help rather than just locking them up.

The criminal justice system wants to hold people accountable for breaking the law and then never see them again, which is why rehabilitation is so important, Armstrong said.

Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, I could care less about rehabilitation, lock them up and leave them there and I fundamentally believe that, he said. Drug crimes and alcohol crimes are crimes that are often times committed by people who would never commit any other crime. Theyre not going to steal from you, theyre not going to rob you, theyre not going to beat you up.  Drug-related crimes are often committed by people who dont have a criminal mind.

In the past, drugs like crack cocaine, methamphetamine and others were considered an epidemic across the United States, but Armstrong said it could be difficult for a lot of people to relate because issues were primarily in poorer areas of the state and country. However, the opioid crisis has affected people of all races, genders and income levels and triggered a conversation about how to deal with the problem more effectively, Armstrong said.

If we get a handle on the opioid crisis I can promise you theres going to be another one, Armstrong said. Drug use has been done since (the beginning of) modern civilization and its going to continue to be done.

Armstrong said he has typically been a cynic to government solving social problems, but he is encouraged to see so many people across North Dakota working together to tackle the issues surrounding drug crimes.

Everything we do will be an imperfect solution to a really complex problem, but the fact that the discussion is occurring almost on a daily basis gives me hope, Armstrong said.

Will we get there? Yes, I think we will. Will we solve it? Absolutely not. Were not going to solve the addiction crisis but what we can do is offer people hope and help while we still hold them accountable.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration is planning a January 2019 end to a temporary residency permit program for 5,000 citizens from Nicaragua who have lived in the United States for almost two decades.

The administration is also postponing a decision until next July on how to deal with a similar program for 86,000 residents from Honduras.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said Monday that the program, known as Temporary Protected Status, is no longer necessary for Nicaraguans in the U.S. Duke said temporary residents living under that permit would be allowed 12 months to allow for an orderly transition for their return and for their Central American homeland.

Duke postponed a final decision in the case of Honduras in order to learn more information, automatically extending the current temporary permits for Hondurans in the U.S. for six months, until July 5, 2018. The department's announcement came 60 days before the programs for both countries were slated to expire on January 5, 2018.

The TPS program currently covers 435,000 people from 9 countries ravaged by natural disasters or war and who came to the U.S. -legally or otherwise- during the period their countries were covered by the presidential decree.

While the status was meant to be temporary, it was repeatedly renewed by the Bush and Obama administrations over concerns that the countries could not cope with the repatriation of so many people former residents.

Since taking office, Trump has ended the temporary permit program for Sudan and issued a shorter-than-usual renewal for nearly 60,000 Haitians, who were designated for temporary permits after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua have been able to renew their temporary permits every 18 months since 1999, when both countries were given TPS status by the Clinton administration due to destruction from Hurricane Mitch a year earlier.

The Congressional Research Service said this month that only 57,000 people from Honduras and 2,550 from Nicaragua were expected to renew their TPS status.

___

Follow Luis Alonso Lugo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/luisalonsolugo
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appeared along with his daughter and her husband before an anti-graft court in Islamabad to face a trial over corruption charges.

The three are co-accused in three corruption cases stemming from documents leaked from a Panamanian law firm.

During Tuesday's appearance before Judge Mohammad Bashir, Sharif and his family members will request that the three corruption cases against them be merged into one.

Shortly before Sharif's arrival in court, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said Sharif's hands were clean and he is not afraid to face the charges. The 67-year-old Sharif was dismissed from office by the Supreme Court in July for allegedly concealing assets abroad and other corruption allegations.

He was indicted last month and has pleaded not guilty.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The jury in the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez concluded its first full day of deliberations Tuesday without a verdict, but not before asking a question that had some in the courtroom scratching their heads.

A juror asked the judge Tuesday to read back part of Monday's closing argument by the New Jersey Democrat's lawyer that dealt with the definition of a senator.

The judge declined, saying only testimony can be read back and closing arguments aren't testimony.

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2017 file photo, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., speaks during a news conference, in Union Beach, N.J. A jury could begin deliberations Monday, Nov. 6, in the bribery trial of Menendez and a wealthy friend. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Menendez is charged with accepting gifts such as flights on a private jet and luxury vacations from Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for political influence.

An indictment alleges Menendez pushed executive branch officials to resolve Melgen's $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute and his stalled port security contract in the Dominican Republic.

The juror's question could have been referring to the fact Melgen isn't a New Jersey resident. Prosecutors have argued since he wasn't a constituent of Menendez's, that showed Menendez was influenced by the alleged bribes.

Defense attorneys have argued Menendez routinely helped people based on issues and not geography, and pointed to his involvement in Hispanic issues nationally.

Menendez defense attorney Abbe Lowell also mentioned in his closing Monday that Menendez didn't propose any legislation aimed at helping Melgen's business interests, and didn't have the authority to force the officials he approached to act on Melgen's behalf.

The case could have implications for a deeply divided Senate if Menendez is convicted and he steps down or is voted out by a two-thirds majority, though neither scenario is considered likely. If either came to pass before New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie leaves office Jan. 16, the term-limited Republican governor could appoint a replacement.

Menendez is up for re-election next year.

A 2016 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the bribery conviction of former Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will loom over jury deliberations. The ruling created a narrower definition of what are considered "official acts" in a bribery scheme, and U.S. District Judge William Walls used language directly from the court's ruling in his instructions to the Menendez jurors.

Defense attorneys focused part of their closing arguments on the requirement that the official - Menendez - has to agree to perform an official act "at the time of the agreement" to be found guilty, and told jurors the prosecution didn't present any evidence of an actual agreement between Menendez and Melgen.

Prosecutors argued to jurors that Menendez's meetings with officials in the departments of State, Commerce and Health and Human Services constituted official acts that were meant to benefit Melgen specifically.

Menendez's attorneys have argued the meetings focused on broader policy issues.

Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, served in the U.S. House from 1993 until filling the Senate seat vacated when Democrat Jon Corzine became New Jersey governor in 2006.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The head of the U.N. World Food Program said he plans to visit North Korea, which is facing drought and "a lot of people starving," and will ask for greater access to the secretive nation.

David Beasley said in an interview with The Associated Press late Monday that "we want to make the case very clearly that innocent children should not starve to death."

While the WFP already has a team in North Korea, Beasley said the agency is asking the government to give them more access so the U.N. can ensure that those in need are getting assistance.

"We don't want access for spying," he said "We want access so we can make sure that people who need the food are getting the food."

Kim Jong Un's government has been accused of diverting money from food and other programs to help civilians to the country's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs. Malnutrition is a significant problem in North Korea and many people suffer from chronic malnutrition because of diets lacking in vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats, WFP says.

According to WFP, the U.N. is seeking $52 million for North Korea in 2017, but has received just $15 million. Without an urgent contribution of $10 million, WFP says it may have to suspend assistance in some areas.

"I think the North Korean government understands, as I have made it clear, that Western donors don't feel comfortable giving, because money that they think should be helping children is being used to build a nuclear program," Beasley said.

He didn't say when his visit would take place, responding with a laugh when asked: "Sooner than you think, maybe."

The U.N. food agency's work in North Korea aims to provide nutritional support to 650,000 of the most vulnerable pregnant women, new mothers and young children, for whom the risks of malnutrition are most dangerous. Its aid is channeled through nurseries, hospitals and orphanages in 60 counties, in nine of the 11 provinces.

As a result of the funding shortage, WFP had to reduce rations starting in February, so mothers and children receive 66 percent of the standard ration.

Because of chronic malnutrition, 28 percent of children under the age of 5 are stunted, meaning they are too small or short for their age because their bodies have not had the nutrients and protein they need to develop and grow, the agency said.

Beasley urged the international community to show the world there is a way out of "the abyss it seems that we're in" when it comes to North Korea.

"Maybe the WFP - maybe we'll be the light in the darkness ... (and) help find a way out of this deep, deep dangerous controversy right now," he said.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Hundreds of South Koreans took to the streets of Seoul on Tuesday for two separate demonstrations, one to show support for visiting President Donald Trump and the other to voice disapproval of the U.S. leader amid concerns over North Korea's nuclear threats.

Surrounded by thousands of police officers and a tight perimeter created by buses, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters rallied at a boulevard near the U.S. Embassy, holding banners that read "No Trump" and "No War."

The demonstrators accused the outspoken president of raising tensions with North Korea and pressuring Seoul to buy more U.S. weapons. They also criticized him for pressing Seoul to re-do a bilateral free trade deal between the countries so that it's more favorable to the United States.

A huge mask of U.S. President Donald Trump is displayed with letters "No War" near the venue for an anti-war rally in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. South Korean police were on high alert in Seoul on Tuesday to monitor protests by both critics and supporters of President Donald Trump as the U.S. leader arrived in the country amid concerns over North Korea's nuclear threats. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Across the street, hundreds of Trump supporters waved the U.S. and South Korean flags and held signs that read "Blood Allies Korea + US." They chanted "USA!" when Trump's motorcade passed by the two protest groups for a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the presidential Blue House.

More than 15,000 officers will be deployed to provide security during Trump's two-day visit and monitor the demonstrations, according to the National Police Agency.

Police had unsuccessfully attempted to block anti-Trump protesters from marching in streets near the presidential palace, with the Seoul Administrative Court ruling that such a ban would infringe on the protesters' freedom of assembly. Dozens of anti-Trump protesters rallied near the presidential office earlier on Tuesday under the close watch of police.

"We oppose the visit to South Korea by Trump, who has heightened the fears of war on the Korean Peninsula," said one of the protesters, reading from a statement.

The group, which calls itself the "No Trump Coalition," also plans to protest on Wednesday near Seoul's parliament, where Trump is to make a speech calling on the international community to maximize pressure on North Korea.

Pro- and anti-Trump protesters have been staging dueling but peaceful protests in Seoul in recent weeks ahead of Trump's visit, reflecting a public deeply divided along ideological and generational lines.

Many South Koreans are concerned that Trump's fiery rhetoric on North Korea, which has included threats of military options, is raising the risk of an unwanted war on the Korean Peninsula that could cost thousands of South Korean lives.

Others, including older people who tend to be more conservative, are supportive of Trump's tough stance against the North, which has been accelerating its nuclear weapons and missile tests in recent months, and accuse liberal South Korean President Moon of being too soft on Pyongyang.

South Korea is known for its vibrant, and occasionally violent, protest culture that sometimes results in significant political changes. Massive but peaceful street protests by millions drove lawmakers to impeach then-President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal in December. Park was formally removed from office and arrested in March over charges including bribery and extortion.

The conservative Korea Freedom Federation released a statement welcoming Trump's visit, which it described as a "God-like move" that would "instantly reverse" the security situation on the peninsula after the allies had been forced to the "defensive" by North Korea's weapons tests. However, the group also lamented Trump's decision not to visit the heavily guarded demilitarized zone between the Koreas during his visit to the South, saying that it might lead North Korea to misjudge that its provocations have hurt the allies' morale.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, dozens of protesters burned a portrait of Trump in downtown Manila on Tuesday, saying the president, who will join a summit of East Asian leaders next week in the country, is not welcome there. Members of Kadamay, an alliance of urban poor activists, camped out at a bridge near the presidential palace and chanted "Ban Trump in the Philippines!"

___

Associated Press writer Teresa Cerojano in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

Members of the No Trump Coalition are blocked by police officers during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. South Korean police were on high alert in Seoul on Tuesday to monitor protests by both critics and supporters of President Donald Trump as the U.S. leader arrived in the country amid concerns over North Korea's nuclear threats. (Han Jong-chan/Yonhap via AP)

South Korean protesters stage a rally to oppose a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump near the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. The signs held by protesters read: "We oppose Trump's visit." (Han Jong-chan/Yonhap via AP)

A Filipino protester wearing a mask of U.S. President Donald Trump stands in front of other activists holding slogans during a press conference to announce their protest plans in metropolitan Manila, Philippines on Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017. Activists plan to protest near the venues where Trump is expected to attend during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A Filipino protester wearing a mask of U.S. President Donald Trump looks during a press conference to announce their protest plans in metropolitan Manila, Philippines on Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017. Activists plan to protest near the venues where Trump is expected to attend during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Stepping into the Louvre Abu Dhabi, one of the first artworks a visitor sees is a two-headed Neolithic statue from Jordan, one of the oldest known in human history.

That duality - looking back and toward the future, encompassing both East and West - is a theme that extends throughout the new museum, which is opening to the public on Saturday after a decade of delays and questions over laborers' rights.

The conservative mores of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates that's more buttoned-up than freewheeling Dubai, can be seen in the relative absence of pieces depicting nudity. Still, artwork at the new Louvre offers a brief history of the world and its major religions, not shying away from Judaism in a country that officially does not recognize Israel.

This Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, shows the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is preparing its grand opening, unveiling its treasures to the world after a decade-long wait and questions over laborers' rights. The museum, which opens on Saturday, Nov. 11 to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

"Here at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, we've accomplished history," Mohamed Khalifa al-Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said at a ceremony for journalists on Monday. "This museum is a lot more than just a museum."

The modernist museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, sits under a honeycombed dome of eight layers of Arab-style geometric shapes.

It draws the lapping waters of the Persian Gulf into its outer corridors, allowing individual beams of light that pass through the roof to strike the surface and cast dancing reflections across the white walls. At night, light inside pours out like tiny little stars from a salt shaker against the city's skyline.

"I imagine this metaphor of the sky, cosmic, cosmographic, with a random system like the stars itself," Nouvel told The Associated Press. "I imagine that with not a lot of lighting, just a little bit to create a kind of rain of light."

That rain has been a long time coming in this desert country, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Authorities first announced the Louvre Abu Dhabi project in 2007 as Dubai feverishly built the world tallest building and other wonders.

Today, much of Saadiyat Island, envisioned as a cultural district anchored by the museum, is still empty. A planned Middle East outpost of the Guggenheim remains unbuilt , with just a poured foundation on the salt flood plain.

Part of the reason is the drop in global energy prices from over $100 a barrel in 2014 to around $30 in early 2016. Officials in Abu Dhabi have not disclosed how much it cost to build the museum.

What is known is that Abu Dhabi agreed to pay France $525 million for the use of the "Louvre" name for the next 30 years and six months, plus another $750 million to hire French managers to oversee the 300 loaned works of art. A center at Paris' Louvre now bears the name of the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which was also part of the deal.

During construction, the project faced intense criticism over conditions faced by laborers, who faced low pay, long hours and hot conditions. A worker was killed in an accident in 2015 while another died of "natural causes" in 2016, according to Abu Dhabi authorities.

Hundreds working on projects on the island, including the Louvre, also were deported or lost their work visas for launching strikes over their conditions, according to according to a 2015 Human Rights Watch report . Labor strikes are illegal in the UAE.

Jean-Luc Martinez, the president-director of the Louvre in Paris, contends the museum spoke "very frankly" about laborer conditions. He described the museum as a bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe.

"We are not a European museum," he told the AP. "It's a place to see the world from Abu Dhabi."

That begins in the first gallery, where the floor bears an outline of the UAE with the names of different world cities in Arabic, China, English and Hindi. Different cultures face each other in exhibits: for example, a French suit of armor is positioned to look directly across from a Japanese warrior's outfit.

The museum also makes a point to put the world's religions side by side.

In one exhibit, a Jewish funerary stele from France in 1250 sits next to a Tunisian Muslim's funerary steel and a Christian archbishop's stone epitaph from Tyre, Lebanon. A painted French stone statue of Virgin and Child stands by a section of a Syrian Quran dating to around 1250, open to a page recounting the night during the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims believe the holy book was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

In a darkened room, a page from the Blue Quran, one of the oldest ever found, sits near a Gothic Bible, Buddhist sutras and a Torah from Yemen dating to 1498.

In a Middle East still torn by religious and sectarian conflict, whether between Sunni and Shiite or Israelis and the Palestinians, simply putting them side by side is a major statement.

"By addressing their message to all humanity without distinction, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam transcended local cultural characteristics and deeply transformed ancient societies," one placard reads. "These religions shared with Judaism the concept of monotheism but diverged on the subjects such as the representation of the divine."

Nudity, however, is only lightly represented, either in bare breasts on an Italian dish or nude bronze ballerina statuettes by Edgar Degas, seemingly dancing in the line of sight of James McNeill Whistler's famed painting of his mother. Whistler's painting joins a woman's portrait on wood by Leonardo da Vinci, two works by Pablo Picasso and a hot-pink Andy Warhol image of an electric chair.

For now at least, the museum's exhibit ends with an installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei called "A Foundation of Light," an illuminated work of steel and glass that recalls the museum's gleam at night.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz .

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, a worker cleans a window under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is preparing its grand opening, unveiling its treasures to the world after a decade-long wait and questions over laborers' rights. The museum, which opens on Saturday, Nov. 11 to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, members of the media walk around the sculptures in the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is preparing its grand opening, unveiling its treasures to the world after a decade-long wait and questions over laborers' rights. The museum, which opens on Saturday, Nov. 11 to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, an Emirati official walks under the dome of the the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum, which opens on Saturday to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, designer of the project, French architect Jean Nouvel, center, walks under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum, which opens on Saturday to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, Mohamed Khalifa al-Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority speaks to the media under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum, which opens on Saturday to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, project designer French architect Jean Nouvel speaks to the media under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum, which opens on Saturday to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, the president-director of the Louvre Museum Jean-Luc Martinez speaks to media under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum, which opens on Saturday to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

This Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, photo, shows a work on display in the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is preparing its grand opening, unveiling its treasures to the world after a decade-long wait and questions over laborers' rights. The museum, which opens on Saturday, Nov. 11 to the public, encompasses work from both the East and West. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) - Wherever Devin Patrick Kelley went after graduating from high school, a trail of violence followed.

In New Mexico, Kelley was kicked out of the Air Force following a court-martial two years after he enlisted for abusing his wife and reportedly hitting her child hard enough to fracture his skull. In Colorado, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after someone saw him punch a dog several times. And in Texas, sheriff's deputies were called to his parents' house after his girlfriend told a friend he was abusing her.

Authorities say Kelley opened fire Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding 20 others.

This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. A short time after the shooting, Kelley was found dead in his vehicle. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP)

According to their investigation, Kelley entered the small church during worship services dressed in black tactical gear and carrying an assault rifle. He fired it as he walked down the center aisle, shooting people who had no way to escape.

Authorities have said the suspect's mother-in-law attended the church and that she had received threatening texts from him. Kelley's parents and other relatives did not return numerous messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. But according to military officials and authorities in three states, the 26-year-old Kelley had a history of threatening loved ones with violence.

A native of the San Antonio suburb of New Braunfels, Kelley graduated from high school in 2009, according to a district spokeswoman. He enlisted in the Air Force the following year and was assigned to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, with the responsibility of moving passengers, cargo and personal property in military transportation. He got married for the first time in 2011.

But according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek, Kelley faced a court-martial in 2012 on allegations that he abused his wife and a child. According to court-martial documents the Air Force released Monday, Kelley was accused of choking his wife, pulling her hair and kicking her. He also hit the child on the head and body, according to the documents. The Air Force's former chief prosecutor, Don Christensen, told The New York Times that Kelley fractured the child's skull.

Kelley also was accused of pointing a loaded firearm and an unloaded firearm at the woman, according to the court-martial documents, but he pleaded not guilty to those allegations and they were "withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice after arraignment."

Kelley was sentenced to 12 months of confinement and ultimately removed from the military with a bad-conduct discharge and a reduction of rank.

The Air Force acknowledged Monday that it didn't enter Kelley's criminal history into the federal database used to conduct background checks on citizens looking to purchase a firearm. Authorities recovered a Ruger AR-556 rifle at the church and two handguns from Kelley's vehicle. They say all three were purchased by Kelley.

His wife, Tessa Kelley, filed for divorce in 2012, the same year as the court-martial. In paperwork associated with the divorce, Tessa Kelley said she was working at Taco Bell for $7.50 an hour while Devin Kelley was in detention.

The divorce was finalized in October 2012.

Kelley's discharge was complete in 2014, Stefanek said. That February, sheriff's deputies arrived at his family's home in New Braunfels just after 10 p.m. one night to investigate a potential domestic violence case.

Citing a sheriff's office report, Comal County spokesman Paul Anthony said a friend of Kelley's girlfriend told authorities she received a text message from the girlfriend that indicated "her boyfriend was abusing her." The report identifies the girlfriend as Danielle Shields and says Shields reported that "her arms were red." It includes no additional details about what caused them to be red.

Shields said Kelley had "told her to pack a bag," according to the report.

When sheriff's deputies arrived, people at the home said there was a "misunderstanding," according to the report. It doesn't make clear who spoke to deputies. No arrests were made.

Kelley married Shields two months later.

Kelley registered to vote in Colorado in 2014, with an address traced to a mobile home park in Colorado Springs, home to the U.S. Air Force Academy and other Air Force installations. But in August of that year, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. One neighbor told a deputy that Kelley chased a dog, jumped on top of it and struck the dog with a closed fist several times, according to an incident report released Monday. Another neighbor says Kelley grabbed the young husky, threw it into the air, then onto the ground and dragged it to his camper.

According to local court records, he was given a deferred probationary sentence and ordered to pay $368 in restitution. A protection order was also issued against him in 2015 on behalf of the local Humane Society, according to court records.

He apparently moved back to Texas and sought work as a security guard, obtaining a state private security license in June and getting a job at the Schlitterbahn water park in New Braunfels. But he was fired after less than six weeks, the water park said in a statement.

He then was hired as a security guard at the Summit Vacation Resort, also in New Braunfels. A manager there, Claudia Varjabedian, told the AP that Kelley "seemed like a nice guy" and didn't cause her any problems.

A motive for the mass shooting remains unclear, but Kelley appears to have targeted a church that was long attended by his wife's family.

Leading up to the shooting, authorities say, Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio. Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said there was a domestic situation going on within the family.

According to online records, Danielle Kelley's mother has an address in Sutherland Springs and a Facebook account linked to her lists several members of the church as friends, including the pastor's wife.

A resume posted online linked to an email address associated with Danielle Kelley identifies her as a teacher at the church from 2009 to 2013. Among the responsibilities it listed at the church were to "teach the children about GOD" and "be a positive influence in their life."

The dead inside the church ranged from 18 months to 77 years old. About 20 other people were wounded, 10 of whom were still hospitalized Monday in critical condition.

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Bajak and Merchant reported from Houston.

Associated Press reporters Jim Anderson in Denver, Douglass K. Daniel in Washington, Reese Dunklin and Jamie Stengle in Dallas, and Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed along with AP investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York.

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Bailey LeJeaune, 17, and David Betancourt, 18, hold candles during a vigil in Sutherland Springs for the victims of a deadly shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. A man opened fire inside of the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing more than 20 people. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
DETROIT (AP) - Incumbent Mike Duggan will serve a second term as Detroit's mayor after defeating state Sen. Coleman Young II in Tuesday's election.

Young, the son of Detroit's first black mayor Coleman A. Young, conceded the race as Duggan held a commanding lead with nearly all of the precincts reporting.

The victory allows Duggan to continue efforts to remove blight and bring improvements to city neighborhoods.

In a Jan. 10, 2017 file photo, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan addresses a ceremony honoring 15 Detroit entrepreneurs in Detroit. Duggan is facing Coleman Young II in Tuesday, Nov. 7 mayoral election. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

In the nonpartisan August primary, Duggan got more than 67 percent of the vote to Coleman Young II's nearly 27 percent. Duggan received endorsements from prominent labor groups and clergy, and even the influential Black Slate that helped get Young's father get elected in 1973.

Coleman A. Young, who first took office in 1974, served 20 years as mayor. He decided not to seek re-election after 1993. He died in 1997.

Duggan was elected the first white mayor in the city since 1973. Detroit is more than 80 percent black.

"I hope that this is the year where we put 'us versus them politics' behind us forever, because we believe in one Detroit for all of us," Duggan told his supporters Tuesday night. His supporters then began to chant: "One Detroit. One Detroit."

Duggan initially took office months after a state-appointed manager in 2013 filed for Detroit's historic bankruptcy. Duggan had limited power over city finances and other operations in his first year in office, but he and the City Council eventually regained control after Detroit's December 2014 bankruptcy exit.

The bankruptcy allowed Detroit to restructure or shed billions of dollars in debt.

Under an aggressive blight removal plan and using primarily federal funds, more than 10,000 vacant houses have been torn down over the past four years. Duggan also has worked with banks and foundations on home-buying and renovation programs to improve Detroit neighborhoods.

Chauncey Sanders, 47, said he sees the physical improvements in Detroit and better city services. He voted for Duggan.

"The police are showing up when I call them. Streets are getting swept. I haven't seen that since Coleman (A.) Young," said Sanders, a barber, who added that he didn't know much about Coleman Young II and that race shouldn't be a factor in who runs Detroit.

"I ain't looking at color either," he said. "As long as he is doing a good a job."

But Young has criticized Duggan, saying some of Detroit's poorest neighborhoods have yet to get better.

Young had been a state representative and was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2010. He ran unsuccessfully in a 2009 special mayoral primary to complete the second term of convicted ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick served as mayor from 2002 to 2008. He resigned in disgrace as part of a plea deal in separate perjury and assault cases.

Young told his supporters during his concession speech Tuesday night that the campaign against Duggan was hard-fought.

"And even though ... we came up short, this is just the beginning," Young said. "The struggle continues, and the revolution moves on."

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Voters in Virginia and New Jersey gave Democratic gubernatorial candidates large victories Tuesday and sent a clear message of rebuke to Republican President Donald Trump.

In Virginia's hard-fought contest, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. In New Jersey, front-running Democrat Phil Murphy trounced Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to succeed unpopular GOP Gov. Chris Christie.

The victors said Tuesday's electoral results had far-reaching repercussions in a sharply divided country.

Kim Guadagno gives her concession speech Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Aberdeen, NJ. (Russ Desantis/NJ Advance Media via AP)

"Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry," Northam said.

"The days of division are over. We will move forward," Murphy said in his own victory speech, invoking Trump by name as he looked headed to a double digit win. Murphy, who earned a fortune at Goldman Sachs before serving as Barack Obama's ambassador to Germany, delivered his address in the same spot as Christie in his 2013 re-election- after Christie won big over his Democratic rival.

The wins in both states are a morale boost to Democrats who had so far been unable to channel anti-Trump energy into success at the ballot box in a major election this year.

"The people are gonna rise up. They're not gonna take what he says and this is not fake news," said Leanna Barnes, a 76-year-old from East Orange, New Jersey, who voted for Murphy and called his victory a message to the president.

Virginia college student Tamia Mallory said she began paying attention to her state's gubernatorial race when she saw tweets from Trump endorsing Gillespie. That motivated her to examine the race and find out who was running against Gillespie, she said.

"It was kind of an anti-Trump vote," Mallory said.

Northam, the state's lieutenant governor, repeatedly sought during long months of divisive campaigning to tie Gillespie to the president. His victory was in large part due to the surge in anti-Trump sentiment since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race in Virginia, a swing-state and the only Southern state Trump lost last year.

Gillespie, meanwhile, sought to keep Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the president's supporters with hard-edge attack ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues. The strategy was criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as race baiting, but drew praise from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and others as a canny approach in a state that voted for Hillary Clinton last year.

Trump lent limited pre-election support to Gillespie with robocalls and tweets.

In one call, Trump said Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help "Make America Great Again." Trump also said Northam would be a "total disaster" for Virginia.

But after Tuesday's loss, Trump suggested that Gillespie hurt himself by not more closely aligning himself with the president.

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump said in a tweet after Northam won. He also pointed out that Republicans have won every special election to the U.S. House since he was elected.

Northam's victory is a blow to Republicans, who were hoping that Gillespie could provide a possible roadmap for moderate Republicans to follow in next year's midterm elections. Several Republicans have announced plans to retire next year instead of seeking re-election, and Gillespie loss may prompt more such announcements.

A former White House aide to President George W. Bush and a Washington lobbyist, Gillespie struck a humble tone in his concession speech as he offered support to Northam. Gillespie wiped tears from his eyes while thanking his wife and said the million people who voted for him love Virginia, and so do those who disagree with them.

"And I know they too are rooting for our new governor to succeed because we all love the commonwealth of Virginia," Gillespie said.

The mood was subdued at Gillespie's gathering at a Richmond-area hotel, with supporters not shocked at the outcome but surprised at how poorly Republicans did. Democrats swept all three of Virginia's statewide races and nearly wiped out Republicans' overwhelming majority in the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday. A handful of races that will decide control of the body remaining too close to call.

Gillespie supporter Elsa Smith said Republicans needed to do a better job of appealing to minorities if they want to win future races.

"We are not taking care of the demographics the way we should," said Smith, an owner of a Spanish translation business.

Democrats were gleeful at Northam's victory party. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly called Northam the "perfect antidote" to the president.

"This is a comprehensive victory from the statehouse to the courthouse. Thank you, President Trump," Connolly said.

The Democratic victories are another sign of Virginia's shift toward a more liberal electorate. Democrats have won every statewide election since 2009 and now have won four out of the last five gubernatorial contests. Northam, pediatric neurologist and Army doctor, banked heavily during the campaign on his near-perfect political resume and tried to cast himself as the low-key doctor with a strong Southern drawl as the healer to Trump's divisiveness.

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Catalini reported from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Josh Cornfield, Matt Barakat, Hank Kurz, Ben Finley and Sarah Rankin contributed to this report.

Virginia Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam waves to supporters as they celebrate his election at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. In Virginia's hard-fought contest, Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Democrat Ralph Northam points to his wife Pam as they celebrate his election victory with supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam won the Virginia governor's race and defeated gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam walks onstage to celebrate his election at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam walks onstage to celebrate his election at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie gestures as he delivers a concession speech during an election party in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Gillespie lost to Democrat Ralph Northam. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie pauses during a concession speech during an election party in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Gillespie lost to Democrat Ralph Northam. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie pauses as he delivers a concession speech during an election party in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Gillespie lost to Democrat Ralph Northam. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie gestures as he delivers a concession speech during an election party in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Gillespie lost to Democrat Ralph Northam. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Supporters celebrate news that Ralph Northam has won the gubernatorial election, while partying at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Supporters celebrate news that Democrat Ralph Northam has won the gubernatorial election, while partying at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Supporters celebrate news that Democrat Ralph Northam has won the gubernatorial election, while partying at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Kim Guadagno waded through the crowd after giving her concession speech, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Aberdeen, NJ. (Russ Desantis/NJ Advance Media via AP)

Carlos Rendo, candidate for Lt. Governor stands by Kim Guadagno as she gives her concession speech Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Aberdeen, NJ. (Russ Desantis/NJ Advance Media via AP)

Kim Guadagno kissed her husband Michael Guadagno during her concession speech Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Aberdeen, NJ. (Russ Desantis/NJ Advance Media via AP)

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy speaks to supporters during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy speaks to supporters during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam celebrates his election victory and addresses supporters and at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Democratic Governor-elect Phil Murphy makes his victory address during a party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall Grand Arcade, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Protestors interrupt Virginia Gov. elect Ralph Northam as he addresses supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Protestors interrupt Virginia Gov. elect Ralph Northam as he addresses supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy reacts as balloons drop during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy, center, is greeted by supporters as he arrives to his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy speaks to supporters during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Virginia Democratic Gov. elect Ralph Northam addresses supporters and at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Democratic Gov. elect Ralph Northam addresses supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy, center, with back to the camera, is greeted by supporters as he arrives to his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy, right, and Lt. Gov. nominee Sheila Oliver wave to supporters as balloons drop during their election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy, right, and Lt. Gov. nominee Sheila Oliver wave to supporters as balloons drop during their election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy celebrates while speaking to supporters during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez speaks at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam, right, celebrates his election victory with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his wife Dorothy at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam celebrates his election victory with his wife Pam and daughter Aubrey, right, and Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Protestors interrupt Virginia Gov. elect Ralph Northam as he addresses supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Protestors interrupt Virginia Gov. elect Ralph Northam as he addresses supporters at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy reacts as balloons drop during his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy, center, is greeted by supporters as he arrives to his election night victory party at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Asbury Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Iraq's highest-ranking Sunni is in Washington this week pleading for more military aid for his community's militias, hoping the Trump administration will deliver on pledges to counter Iran's influence.

Osama al-Nujaifi is one of Iraq's three vice presidents. His brother heads a major Iraqi defense faction. Both have been represented in Washington by the same lobbyist employed last year by President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Trump fired Flynn in February.

Al-Nujaifi met Monday with U.S. officials in an effort to bolster the influence of Iraq's minority Sunni Muslims - and shore up his power base.

FILE - In this July 13, 2014, file photo, Iraqi former Parliament speaker and the chairman of the Sunni Arab coalition Osama al-Nujaifi, speaks to the media during a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq's highest ranking Sunni is in Washington pleading for military aid for his community's militias, hoping the U.S. will deliver on pledges to counter Iran's growing influence. Osama al-Nujaifi is one of three Iraqi vice presidents and his brother heads a prominent defense faction. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim, File)

His requests for equipment and training face resistance. While Trump has tweeted warnings about Shiite Iran's influence, Americans officials aren't yet providing direct military aid to Iraq's Sunni fighters.
Over the past year there has been an ongoing debate carried out online in outlets like the Acton Institute blog, Public Discourse, and First Things magazine over the legitimacy of free markets. Many of us advocates of the free market have been dismayed at the opennessif not outright embraceof socialism as a better option than free enterprise by conservative Christians.

A prime example is the recent essay by First Things editor R. R. Reno revisiting Michael Novaks 1990 classic The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism. Reno says capitalism is our fate  and our problem, and advocates a position that seeks to revisit the failures of both socialism and the free market.

In response to essay, Acton president and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico agreed to debate sponsored by The Kings College.

The event will be held tonight in New York City at 6:30 in the Princeton Club. Click here for more information or to RSVP.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - President Donald Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korea Wednesday, telling the rogue nation: "Do not underestimate us. And do not try us."

In a speech delivered hours after he aborted a visit to the heavily fortified Korean demilitarized zone due to bad weather, Trump said he had a message for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer, they are putting your regime in grave danger," Trump told an audience of South Korean lawmakers, calling on all nations to join forces "to isolate the brutal regime of North Korea."

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and first lady Melania Trump, left, arrive at the National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. President Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, telling him the weapons he's acquiring "are not making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger."(Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

"The world cannot tolerate the menace of a rogue regime that threatens with nuclear devastation," he said.

Trump had hoped to underscore his message with an early morning visit to the DMZ, but his plans were thwarted by heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing at the heavily fortified border that has separated the North and South for the last 64 years.

The Marine One helicopter left Seoul at daybreak and flew most of the way to the DMZ, but was forced to turn back just five minutes out due to poor weather conditions. Reporters traveling in a separate helicopter as part of the president's envoy saw fog through the windows, and weather reports from near the heavily fortified border showed misting conditions and visibility below one mile. Pilots, officials said, could not see the other helicopters in the air.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was disappointed he couldn't make the trip. "I think he's pretty frustrated," she told reporters. "It was obviously something he wanted to do."

Before he left for Asia, a White House official had ruled out a DMZ visit for Trump, claiming the president didn't have time on his schedule and that DMZ visits have become a little cliche.

But Sanders said the visit had been planned well before Trump's departure for Asia. The trip was kept secret for security reasons, she said.

The aborted visit came hours before Trump addressed the South Korean National Assembly as he closed out his two-day visit to the nation and headed to his next stop, Beijing.

In the speech, Trump painted a bleak portrait of life in North Korea, describing citizens as bribing government officials to leave the country just so they can work as slaves. He contrasted the poverty and desperation to thriving South Korea - home to a long list of top-rated golfers, he noted.

Trump said the U.S. will not allow its cities to be threatened with destruction, and said that, while America "does not seek conflict or confrontation," it will not run from it, either.

"The regime has interpreted America's past restraint as weakness. This would be a fatal miscalculation?," Trump said. "This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past."

He also called on all nations to downgrade diplomatic and economic ties with the North and fully implement a series of U.N. Security Council measures, specifically calling out Russia and China, whose leaders he will meet in coming days.

On Tuesday, Trump's first day on the Korean Peninsula, he had signaled a willingness to negotiate as he urged North Korea to "come to the table" and "make a deal" over its nuclear weapons program.

He also said he'd seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct talks.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said at a news conference with South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in.

He also sounded an optimistic note on disagreements with the North, saying confidently, if vaguely: "Ultimately, it'll all work out."

It was a striking shift in tone for a president who for months had issued increasingly dire threats to answer any hostile North Korean action with "fire and fury." In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would "totally destroy" the nation, if necessary, and has derided Kim as "little Rocket Man."

North Korea has fired more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months. Analysts caution against reading too much into the pause.

Ever the showman, Trump had teased that he had a surprise in store, saying at a Tuesday evening banquet that he had an "exciting day" planned Wednesday - "for many reasons that people will find out." He did not elaborate on what turned out to be the aborted trip to the DMZ.

Visiting the border that has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Korea's ever-escalating aggression. Every American president since Ronald Reagan, save for George H.W. Bush, has made the trip, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called "truce village" bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between the North and South.

There's no public sign of any diplomatic progress between Washington and Pyongyang. U.S. officials say the back channel between the State Department and the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York remains intact, but contacts have not been substantive other than achieving the release of American college student Otto Warmbier in June. He died days after his repatriation to the U.S.

Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the president's visit would be a turning point in the standoff with North Korea.

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Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Colvin at http://twitter.com/@colvinj

President Donald Trump, center, and first lady Melania Trump, center left, arrive at the South Korean National Assembly, Wednesday, November, 8, 2017, in Seoul, South Korea. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Donald Trump arrives with first lady Melania Trump before he speaks at the South Korean National Assembly, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, in Seoul, South Korea. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Donald Trump, second from right, and first lady Melania Trump, third from right, lay a wreath at the South Korean National Cemetery, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, in Seoul, South Korea. President Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, telling him the weapons he's acquiring "are not making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger."(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

FILE - In this April 6, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump begins a state visit to Beijing Wednesday. He'll be seeking Chinese action to rebalance its U.S. trade and to pressure on North Korea. Both presidents will then travel to Vietnam and the Philippines for regional summits, bidding for support among the continent's wavering leaders. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A Secret Service Counter Assault Team member speaks with a Secret Service Agent as a support helicopter traveling with President Donald Trump returns to U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, after attempting to travel to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) the tense military border between the two Koreas. Marine One turned back because of a bad weather call just minutes away from arriving. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian radio journalist who was stabbed in the throat by an attacker has gone on air for the first time since the assault that nearly killed her.

Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Ekho Moskvy, Russia's only independent news radio station, spent hours in a medically induced coma following last month's attack at the station's studios in central Moscow.

Felgenhauer made an appearance on Ekho Moskvy's morning show on Monday. She said she still faces lengthy rehabilitation.

In this handout photo released by Ekho Moskvy radio station shows journalist Tatyana Felgenhauer taking a rest after recovering in a hospital, during her first day back at the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio station office in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Ekho Moskvy, Russia's only independent news radio station, who was stabbed in the throat on Monday, Oct. 23 2017, back to the work. (Alexei Venediktov, Echo Moskby via AP)

"If my doctor were to find out that I went on air, I think he's going to kill me because I'm not supposed to speak," a smiling Felghenhauer said in the webcast published on Ekho Moskvy's website.

Felgenhauer said she still feels weak and spends most of her time at home in bed and that she has been assigned a bodyguard: "I'm terribly thankful to the people who provide me security and give me a sense of safety."

The Investigative Committee has identified the assailant as 48-year-old Boris Grits, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship. After being apprehended, he told investigators he had been in "telepathic contact with Felgenhauer" for five years.

Ekho Moskvy's programs have often been critical of the government, angering many in Russian political and business circles. Its hosts and journalists have previously reported death threats.

State-owned media have long targeted Ekho Moskvy along with other rare independent media outlets for its critical reporting.

The state television channel Rossiya 24 put out a report two weeks before the attack that claimed that the station paid for "destabilizing society" ahead of Russia's presidential election in March.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bomber and another attacker struck a local TV station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two guards in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV were killed in the attack, adding that both attackers were killed by security forces. He said police rescued some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding but he did not elaborate.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said 21 people wounded in the attack were taken to hospitals.

A mother tries to call her daughter who is stuck inside the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

"The attackers ... had military uniforms on," said Gen. Salim Hassas. One attacker blew himself up at the gate of the station's compound while the second reached the second floor of the TV building, where he was killed, Hassas said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied involvement in the attack. The IS-linked Aamaq news outlet said the Islamic State group was behind the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant postings.

Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate has carried out several attacks in recent years, mainly targeting the country's Shiite minority, which the Sunni extremists view as apostates. The IS affiliate is largely made up of disenchanted insurgents who left the much larger and more well-established Taliban.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Tuesday, gunmen killed two people in the western city of Herat, including a provincial council member, said Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor. No one immediately claimed responsibility for that attack.

In the eastern Maidan Wardak province, authorities said they repelled a Taliban attack on a police training center.

Abdul Rahman Mangul, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said a suicide car bomber struck near the gate to the base and a battle broke out between security forces and insurgents. He said no Afghan forces were harmed, but that a number of insurgents were killed, without providing an exact figure.

"Their attack was repelled by the police forces and they were defeated," said Mangul.

The Taliban claimed the attack.

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Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.

NATO soldiers run in front of the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Security personnel patrol guard near a hole in a wall made to rescue people from the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Smoke rises as security personnel guard near the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Afghan security personnel arrive at the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A general view shows the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Jan Agha, a police officer, says a gunman attacked on the local TV. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

NATO soldiers take a position near the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security personnel rescue a man from the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Police officer Jan Agha says three people including a suicide bomber attacked the TV station. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security personnel take a position near the Shamshad Television after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Jan Agha, a police officer, says a gun man attacked on the local TV. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Smoke rises from the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Police officer Jan Agha says gunmen attacked on the local TV station. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security personnel arrive at the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Police officer Jan Agha says three people including a suicide bomber attacked the TV station. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
LONDON (AP) - Britain's foreign secretary phoned his Iranian counterpart Tuesday to express "his anxiety over the continued suffering" of a British-Iranian woman being held in Iran and expressed contrition for remarks that prompted authorities to threaten to increase her jail sentence.

Boris Johnson urged authorities to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on humanitarian grounds and set out plans to visit Tehran to discuss the case.

Johnson has been under pressure to publicly correct a statement he made last week saying Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "simply teaching people journalism" when she was detained last year. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, insist she was merely visiting her family.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons in London, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Running for election mere months ago, British Prime Minister Theresa May's slogan was "strong and stable government." The phrase sounds cruelly ironic now, with several senior members of May's Cabinet under fire for missteps or under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has never been known for tact, so many were surprised when May made him Britain's top diplomat. Now he stands accused of endangering a British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Iran with his loose talk. (PA via AP)

Johnson accepted Tuesday that "my remarks could have been clearer."

"The U.K. government has no doubt that she was on holiday in Iran when she was arrested last year and that was the sole purpose of her visit," he told lawmakers in the House of Commons.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence for plotting the "soft toppling" of Iran's government, was informed after Johnson's comment to a parliamentary subcommittee that she faced more time in prison.

Britain's Foreign Office said Johnson called his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday "to raise again his serious concerns about the case and ensure his remarks are not misrepresented."

Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, has said Zaghari-Ratcliffe works as a project manager. It said she is not a journalist and has never trained journalists at the foundation.

A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Bahram Ghasemi, said Zarif pointed to the principle of separation of powers "and said the decision on this issue is in the hands of the Iranian judiciary."
Texas church gunman once escaped from mental health center

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP) - The gunman who carried out the massacre of 26 people at a small-town Texas church briefly escaped from a mental health center in New Mexico in 2012 and got in trouble for bringing guns onto a military base and threatening his superiors there, police reports indicate.

Devin Patrick Kelley was also named as a suspect in a 2013 sexual assault in his hometown of New Braunfels, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from the scene of the church attack.

The records that emerged Tuesday add up to at least three missed opportunities that might have offered law enforcement a way to stop Kelley from having access to guns long before he slaughtered much of the congregation in the middle of a Sunday service. Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders and crashed his car.

The Air Force confirmed Tuesday that Kelley had been treated in the facility after he was placed under pretrial confinement stemming from a court-martial on charges that he assaulted his spouse and hit her child hard enough to fracture the boy's skull.

Involuntary commitment to a mental institution would have been grounds to deny him a weapon provided that records of his confinement were submitted to the federal database used to conduct background checks on people who try to purchase guns.

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Pentagon has known of crime reporting lapses for 20 years

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon has known for at least two decades about failures to give military criminal history information to the FBI, including the type of information the Air Force didn't report about the Texas church gunman who had assaulted his wife and stepson while an airman.

The Air Force lapse in the Devin P. Kelley case, which is now under review by the Pentagon's inspector general, made it possible for him to buy guns before his attack Sunday at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six people were killed, including multiple members of some families. About 20 other people were wounded.

New details emerged, meanwhile, about his troubled Air Force career. In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley escaped from a civilian mental health center where he had been placed by the Air Force for treatment, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. She confirmed a Houston TV station report that was based on an El Paso, Texas, police report. Stefanek said privacy laws prohibited her from saying what Kelley was being treated for.

KPRC-TV also reported that the police officers who detained Kelley at an El Paso bus terminal after his escape were told he previously had been caught sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where he was stationed, and that he planned to carry out death threats against his military superiors. Stefanek said she could not confirm those details.

Rep. Mac Thornberry, the Texas Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was appalled at the Air Force mistake and unsatisfied by its plans to investigate the matter.

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Schiff to AP: Trump a graver threat than Russian meddling

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House's top Democrat investigating Russia's election meddling on Tuesday declared that in many ways President Donald Trump is "far more grave a threat" to American democracy than the Kremlin.

Rep. Adam Schiff cited a litany of actions by Trump, from appointing Cabinet officers with "direct conflicts of interest" and goals of dismantling their agencies to limiting Muslim immigration and discrediting federal judges.

As for the president's own possible jeopardy, Schiff said Trump is trying to disparage the credibility of special counsel Robert Mueller and the congressional panels that are investigating possible coordination between his campaign and Russia in the election that put him in the White House.

"So no matter what is produced, he can say it's a fake," the California congressman said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I do feel our Democracy is under threat," Schiff said. Trump's approach to governing, he said, "is a serious problem and in many respects far more grave a threat than anything coming from outside the country."

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Attack ads, racial overtones part of Virginia governor race

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia voters turned out in rainy weather Tuesday to pick a new governor after months of divisive campaigning led to an ugly slugfest overshadowed by racial overtones and attack ads.

New Jersey, a reliably Democratic state, was the only other state holding a gubernatorial election. The contests were seen as an early referendum on Donald Trump's first year in office.

Both parties are seeking momentum ahead of next year's midterm elections.

In Virginia - the only Southern state Trump lost last year - Republican Ed Gillespie is in a tight race with Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

While local politics and issues weighed heavy on voters' minds, some also were driven by lingering resentment from Hillary Clinton's loss or still excited by Trump's win.

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Trump abruptly talking negotiations, not threats in Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Softening his aggressive rhetoric, at least for the moment, President Donald Trump stood on South Korean soil Tuesday and urged North Korea to come to the negotiating table. It's time, he said, for the North to "make a deal" to rein in its nuclear weapons program.

It was a striking shift in tone for the president, who for months has issued increasingly dire threats to answer any hostile North Korean action with "fire and fury." On Tuesday, his first day on the Korean Peninsula as president, Trump said he'd seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said at a news conference with South Korean president Moon Jae-in. "I do see certain movement."

Trump was winding down his visit to Seoul on Wednesday with an address to South Korea's National Assembly, where he was expected to outline his view of dangers posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The next stop on his five-nation Asian tour: Beijing, where he will press China to constrict the North's economic lifeblood.

Ever the showman, Trump teased that he had a surprise in store for Wednesday, saying at a Tuesday evening banquet that he had an "exciting day" planned - "for many reasons that people will find out." He did not elaborate.

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Former star pitcher Halladay killed in Florida plane crash

HOLIDAY, Fla. (AP) - Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, died Tuesday when his private plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. He was 40.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said during a news conference that Halladay's ICON A5 went down around noon off the coast of Florida. The sheriff's office marine unit responded and discovered Halladay's body in shallow water near some mangroves. No survivors were found.

Police said they couldn't confirm if there were additional passengers on the plane or say where it was headed. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Halladay, who retired after the 2013 season, was an amateur pilot who often posted on social media about small planes .

"I have dreamed about owning a A5 since I retired! Real life is better then my dreams!!" Halladay tweeted on Oct. 13.

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Twitter doubles character limit to 280 for (nearly) everyone

NEW YORK (AP) - Twitter says it's ending its iconic 140-character limit - and giving nearly everyone 280 characters.

Users tweeting in Chinese, Japanese and Korean will still have the original limit. That's because writing in those languages uses fewer characters.

The company says 9 percent of tweets written in English hit the 140-character limit. People end up spending more time editing tweets or don't send them out at all. Twitter hopes that the expanded limit will get more people tweeting more, helping its lackluster user growth. Twitter has been testing the new limit for weeks and is starting to roll it out Tuesday.

The company has been slowly easing restrictions to let people cram more characters into a tweet. It stopped counting polls, photos, videos and other things toward the limit. Even before it did so, users found creative ways to get around the limit. This includes multi-part tweets and screenshots of blocks of text.

Twitter's character limit was created so that tweets could fit into a single text message, back when many people were using texts to receive tweets. But now, most people use Twitter through its mobile app; the 140-character limit is no longer a technical constraint but nostalgia.

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Idea at the heart of GOP tax plan: 'trickle-down' economics

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House Republicans' tax-cut plan springs from a core argument: What's good for big business and the moneyed elite is inevitably good for the economy and everyone else.

Their plan would slash corporate tax rates, end inheritance taxes for the ultra-rich and create new tax advantages for business owners. To help pay for some of those breaks, the plan would end tax deductions for college loans, high medical bills, moving costs and state and local income taxes.

It would also add $1.4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.

Taken as a whole, the tax plan would drastically lighten the burden on the powerful groups that Republican leaders say would strengthen the economy while eliminating some benefits for the middle class they've called their top priority.

Some new benefits for ordinary households - like a family credit - would expire in five years. And some existing benefits would erode with inflation.

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APNewsBreak: Anti-gay-marriage clerk to seek re-election

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky county clerk jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples will run for re-election in 2018, facing voters for the first time since her protest against gay marriage in rural Appalachia provoked a national uproar.

Kim Davis could face a familiar foe: A gay man to whom she refused to issue a marriage license said he's seriously considering running against her.

"I think I could win," said David Ermold, an English professor at Pikeville University who was among the many who sued Davis in 2015. "I don't think that she has learned anything from the experience at all. I really, truly think that she feels like she is right. I really don't think she cares at all about what civil rights are."

Mat Staver, founder of the Florida-based law firm Liberty Counsel, which represented Davis during the monthslong controversy, confirmed Tuesday that she will seek a second term. He said Davis was unavailable for comment because of a medical procedure.

"She loves her job and she loves the people," Staver said. "I'm sure (the election) will probably have more attention because of who she is, but you know she doesn't have any major concerns about it."

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Soaring Silicon Valley costs put homes out of reach for poor

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - In the same affluent, suburban city where Google built its headquarters, Tes Saldana lives in a crowded but tidy camper she parks on the street.

She concedes it's "not a very nice living situation," but it also is not unusual. Until authorities told them to move, more than a dozen other RVs filled with people who can't afford rent joined Saldana on a tree-lined street in Mountain View, parked between a Target and a luxury apartment complex.

Homeless advocates and city officials say it's outrageous that in the shadow of a booming tech economy - where young millionaires dine on $15 wood-grilled avocado and think nothing of paying $1,000 for an iPhone X - thousands of families can't afford a home. Many of the homeless work regular jobs, in some cases serving the very people whose sky-high net worth is the reason housing has become unaffordable for so many.

Across the street from Saldana's camper, for example, two-bedroom units in the apartment complex start at $3,840, including concierge service. That's more than she brings home, even in a good month.

Saldana and her three adult sons, who live with her, have looked for less rustic accommodations, but rents are $3,000 a month or more, and most of the available housing is distant. She said it makes more sense to stay in the camper near their jobs and try to save for a brighter future, even if a recent city crackdown chased them from their parking spot.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has described as "positive" a U.S. decision to resume processing visas for Turkish citizens.

Yildirim added, however, that Turkey had not given the U.S. any assurances concerning ongoing legal cases against local employees of U.S. missions. Yildirim was speaking in Ankara Tuesday before leaving for talks with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

The U.S. Embassy said Monday it was resuming processing visa in Turkey after receiving assurances concerning local staff members.

It had halted visas services after Turkish authorities detained a local U.S. consulate employee in Istanbul. Turkey retaliated by halting visa services in the U.S. for Americans.

Yildirim also reiterated a Turkish demand for the extradition of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey holds responsible for last year's failed coup. Gulen denies involvement.
BALTIMORE (AP) - The two people who were shot but survived a fatal office park shooting in Maryland last month have now both been released from the hospital.

Officials at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center announced Monday that 37-year-old Jose Roberto Flores Gillen has been discharged.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Gillen was one of five people shot Oct. 18 at Advanced Granite Solutions in Harford County. Three of the victims died. The other one, 38-year-old Enoc Sosa, was released from the hospital last week.

Thirty-eight-year-old Radee Prince, a former employee, is facing murder charges in connection with the slayings. Investigators say Prince gathered his co-workers before shooting them. Authorities said he then drove to Delaware and shot an acquaintance at a car dealership. He was captured after a 10-hour manhunt.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Latest on the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey (all times local):

10:20 p.m.

Democrat Ralph Northam, a physician by trade and winner of Virginia's acrimonious governor's race, says he will seek to be a healer of divisions and political rancor when he takes office.

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam walks onstage to celebrate his election at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Northam said in his victory speech that the eyes of the nation were on Virginia on Election Tuesday.

"Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry," he added. "In Virginia, it is going to take a doctor to heal our differences. I'm here to let you know the doctor is in. And this doctor will be on call the next four years."

Northam also praised the state's growing diversity and said he would work to make the state more inclusive. "Our lights will be on, our doors will be open," he said.

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9:20 p.m.

Defeated Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie says he wishes his Democratic opponent success in the governor's mansion.

Ralph Northam soundly beat the Republican Gillespie in a bitter race Tuesday that had been expected to be close.

In his concession speech, Gillespie wiped tears from his eyes. He said he had called Northam to offer his support in any way he could.

Gillespie hoped to win by rallying President Donald Trump's supporters with hard-edge ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues.

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9:10 p.m.

A former Virginia news anchor whose journalist girlfriend was fatally shot during a live broadcast in 2015 has defeated a Republican incumbent for a seat in the statehouse.

Chris Hurst was living with fellow journalist Alison Parker when she and a cameraman were killed by a former co-worker while reporting for WDBJ-TV.

After the shooting, Hurst became the public face of the grieving Roanoke station. That brought him national attention and a large social media following. The Pennsylvania native quit his TV job and moved to Blacksburg to run for a House seat.

He beat Joseph Yost Tuesday.

Hurst's campaign was backed by gun-control groups, but that wasn't his main campaign issue. Instead, he focused on education, health care and the environment.

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9 p.m.

President Donald Trump is distancing himself from defeated Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

Trump is addressing the disappointing result in a race seen as an early referendum on his political clout. He writes on Twitter that Gillespie "worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for." Gillespie largely tried to maintain his distance from Trump on the campaign trail.

Trump recorded robocalls to help boost Gillespie's candidacy on Election Day. In one call, Trump said Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help "Make America Great Again."

On what is shaping up to be a difficult night for Republicans, Trump is touting GOP victories earlier this year, writing, "With the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!"

___

8:50 p.m.

A set of whoops and cheers went up at George Mason University in northern Virginia when media began calling Virginia's governor's race for Democrat Ralph Northam.

The call came so early that only a few hundred people had made it to the ballroom where Democrats had gathered to celebrate. Hundreds more were still waiting in line ouside the ballroom waiting to get through metal detectors.

In a Richmond, Virginia, a banquet room where Ed Gillespie was expected to speak, the room was less than half full when the outcome of the hard-fought race became apparent Tuesday evening.

___

8:15 p.m.

A transgender woman has unseated one of Virginia's most socially conservative lawmakers to become the first openly transgender member of the House of Delegates.

Democrat Danica Roem beat Republican incumbent Bob Marshall in Tuesday's election in the northern Virginia district near the nation's capital.

Marshall has served in the House since 1992 and has been a lightning rod for controversy. He has often drawn the ire of even his own party.

Roem is a former journalist. She will make history as the first openly transgender person elected and then seated in a state legislature. But her gender identity wasn't a key part of her campaign. Instead, she focused on jobs, schools and northern Virginia's traffic congestion.

___

8:20 p.m.

Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey who sought to tap into anti-Donald Trump sentiments have won contests to become their states' next governors.

In Virginia's closely watched contest, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. In New Jersey front-running Democrat Phil Murphy topped Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) on Tuesday to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Northam rode to victory in part by tapping into voters' regret at Trump's victory in last year's national election.

Murphy had an easier pathway in New Jersey, where Guadagno contended with Trump's and Christie's unpopularity.

Democrats were eager to show they could harness anti-Trump energy into success at the polls, while Republicans hoped to prove they could put together a winning blueprint in blue-leaning states.

___

8:12 p.m.

Democrat Ralph Northam has won Virginia's race for governor.

Early unofficial results show Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie on Tuesday.

Virginia's hard-fought race was closely watched as a swing-state test of President Donald Trump's popularity. Northam, a pediatric neurologist and the state's lieutenant governor, repeatedly tried to tie Gillespie to the president during months of divisive campaigning overshadowed by racial overtones and attack ads.

Northam's victory was in large part due to a surge in anti-Trump energy since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race.

Gillespie kept Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the president's supporters with hard-edge ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues.

___

8 p.m.

Polls have closed in New Jersey, where voters are picking GOP Gov. Chris Christie's successor.

Democrat Phil Murphy has led Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in the polls and fundraising. Murphy steered the campaign toward the unpopular term-limited incumbent, linking Guadagno to Christie frequently. He also tried to rouse Democrat-leaning New Jersey's dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and vowed to block Trump on immigration policies if elected.

Guadagno has focused on lowering property taxes, which are the country's highest, but she also tacked toward Trump's messaging when she called for banning sanctuary cities.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states electing governors on Tuesday. The race is being analyzed for signs on how next year's midterm elections could go, and on how voters view Trump's administration.

___

7 p.m.

Polls have closed in Virginia's hard-fought governor's race. But in New Jersey the polls remain open until 8 p.m. as voters in both states choose new governors.

Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam have been locked in a heated race in Virginia to succeed Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who cannot seek a second term. The contest is viewed by many as a referendum on President Donald Trump and a possible preview of the 2018 midterm elections.

Virginians also cast votes for state attorney general and lieutenant governor, as well as in all 100 state house seats.

New Jersey voters were choosing a replacement for Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who cannot seek a third term. Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) and Democratic former Goldman Sachs executive Phil Murphy are the leading candidates.

___

6:25 p.m.

A Virginia teenager voting for the first time in her life has cast her vote for Democrat Ralph Northam for governor.

Emily Hachey, of Glen Allen, Virginia, said she liked Northam's stance on social issues, including equal rights for the LGBT community. The 18-year-old Hachey said she disagrees with the Republican Party's position on many issues.

Meanwhile, fifty-eight-year-old David Coker voted Republican all the way down the ticket when he cast his ballot in Mechanicsville, just outside of Richmond. Coker said the main reason he voted for Gillespie over Northam was because the Republican supports keeping Virginia's Confederate monuments in place. He said it would be a shame to disrupt something as "sacred" was the war memorials

___

5:15 p.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's tell-it-like-it-is style has annoyed many residents in his state, but he has made sure to give it to at least one more voter in his final Election Day before leaving office.

The term-limited Republican got into a parking lot dispute with a resident after voting near his home in Mendham Township, New Jersey, on Tuesday. While he was speaking to reporters, the woman asked him why he didn't merge Mendham Township and Mendham Borough.

Christie shot back the easiest thing to do is "stand on the sidelines and critique." He told the woman "serving folks like" her is the "joy of public service."

Christie failed in a 2016 presidential bid and has abysmal approval ratings. He was criticized last summer for lounging on a beach that was closed to the public during a budget stalemate.

___

4:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump is lending last-minute support to Republican Ed Gillespie in Virginia's closely watched race for governor.

Trump recorded robocalls to help boost Gillespie supporters on Election Day. Gillespie is facing Democrat Ralph Northam in a contest that many view as an early referendum on the president's political popularity.

In one call, Trump says Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help "Make America Great Again." Trump also says Northam would be a "total disaster" for Virginia.

Gillespie has largely kept the president at a distance throughout the contest and did not campaign with Trump. Virginia is the only southern state Trump lost last year.

___

2:55 p.m.

Early voter numbers are up in Virginia's closely watched race for governor while polling places around the state are reporting a steady turnout.

Department of Elections Commissioner Edgardo Cortes says Virginia had a "substantially higher" number of early voters in this year's closely watched race for governor than in recent past gubernatorial contests.

The 180,000 absentee ballots returned as of Sunday were 60,000 more than all absentee votes cast in the 2013 gubernatorial election.

Generally speaking, Democrats tend to do better in Virginia with a greater turnout.

Fairfax County, a large, reliably Democratic county in Northern Virginia, reported that voter turnout as of 2 p.m. was 30.6 percent.

___

12:55 p.m.

The Democratic and Republican candidates running to replace Gov. Chris Christie have cast their ballots.

Democrat Phil Murphy voted in Middletown on Tuesday and told reporters that his election against Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) is a referendum on the economy, which he says is not strong.

Guadagno told reporters after voting in Monmouth Beach that her campaigns feels "fabulous" and that the momentum picked up in the last couple of weeks. She says voters can't afford more taxes and a less safe state.

Christie says he voted for Guadagno and that the election is not about him.

Polls are open around the state until 8 p.m.

___

12:25 p.m.

The NAACP says voters in northern Virginia have received phone calls from people who are lying to them and telling them their polling place has changed.

The NAACP says the calls are fraudulent and an attempt to suppress the vote. Virginia voters are choosing a new governor Tuesday.

The NAACP says the out-of-area calls have been reported in Prince William County, as well as in Manassas and Manassas Park.

Hillary Clinton received about 5 percent more votes in Prince William County than Donald Trump did during the 2016 presidential election.

The NAACP says voter protection services are aware of the issue.

___

11:20 a.m.

A friendly crowd greeted Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam and his wife as they arrived at their local polling station to cast their ballots.

Northam hugged cheering voters Tuesday morning at a Norfolk community center, thanking them for their support during the closely watched race. A few dozen voters were there.

He and Republican Ed Gillespie have been locked in a battle to succeed Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who cannot seek a second term.

Virginia is one of only two states electing a new governor this year, and the contest is viewed by many as an early referendum on President Donald Trump's political popularity.

Democrats are eager to prove they can harness anti-Trump energy into success at the polls, while Republicans are looking to show they have a winning blueprint in a blue-leaning state.

___

9:10 a.m.

Thousands of Virginia voters have already cast their ballots for governor, driven by a wide range of issues.

At Jahnke Road Baptist Church in suburban Richmond, 39-year-old Angelica Bega said Tuesday morning she wasn't sure whom she would vote for until she was handed a ballot, but she ultimately voted for Democrat Ralph Northam.

As an "issues-driven voter," she says she said it was "very frustrating" to see so many attack ads. She said Republican Ed Gillespie's attempt to make immigration such a big part of the campaign frustrated her and was a factor in her decision to vote for his opponent.

Emogene and Jimmy Babb, both 74, voted straight Republican at a rural polling station in Windsor, Virginia.

They said there wasn't any one particular issue that drove them to the polls. But they said they shared Gillespie's positions on gun rights and not removing Confederate statues.

"We don't need a governor who is going to take our guns away," Jimmy Babb said.

___

7:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump took to Twitter once again to back Republican Virginia gubernatorial Ed Gillespie minutes before the polls opened across the state.

In a series of early morning tweets Tuesday, Trump said Gillespie will crack down on crime and improve the state's economy.

Trump tweeted that Gillespie's Democratic opponent Ralph Northam is "weak on crime" and against the Second Amendment. Northam, an Army veteran, says he grew up hunting and wants common-sense gun laws.

Polls show a tight race to succeed Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Virginia is the only Southern state that Trump lost last year.

___

6:45 a.m.

Polls have opened in Virginia and New Jersey as voters choose new governors.

Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam have been locked in a heated race in Virginia to succeed Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who cannot seek a second term. The contest is viewed by many as a referendum on President Donald Trump and a possible preview of the 2018 midterm elections.

Virginians will also cast votes for state attorney general and lieutenant governor.

New Jersey voters are choosing a replacement for Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who cannot seek a third term. Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) and Democratic former Goldman Sachs executive Phil Murphy are the leading candidates.

In Virginia, all 100 state House seats are up for election and voters in New Jersey are choosing lawmakers for all of its legislative districts.

___

3 a.m.

Voters in Virginia and New Jersey are choosing new governors in contests that could be an early referendum on President Donald Trump.

Tuesday's elections pit two mild-mannered Democrats against two Republicans who have kept the president at arm's length while mimicking Trump's posture on certain social issues.

Swing-state Virginia is expected to be close, as most polls show Republican Ed Gillespie within striking distance of Democrat Ralph Northam. In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy holds a double-digit lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

Current governors in both states, Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia and Republican Chris Christie in New Jersey, are term-limited.

The outcome of the contests could also shape how candidates campaign in next year's midterm elections.

Polls open at 6 a.m. in both states.

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam walks onstage to celebrate his election at the Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Democrat Phil Murphy exits the polling booth with his youngest son Sam, after voting at the Fairview School on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 in Middletown, N.J. Murphy is facing Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagnoto to replace Gov. Chris Christie, the two-term, term-limited incumbent. (Bob Karp/The Daily Record via AP)

U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in toast at the start of a dinner at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Voters exit a polling site at the Fort Lee Museum in Fort Lee, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Republican Gov. Chris Christie's time atop New Jersey politics enters its final chapter Tuesday as voters go to the polls to elect his successor. Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno are the two major party candidates vying to replace the two-term, term-limited incumbent. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, and his wife, Pam, right, vote in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam faces Republican Ed Gillespie in today's election. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie walks to cast his ballot at his polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, and his wife, Pam, approach the vote tally machine as the vote in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam faces Republican Ed Gillespie in today's election. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, right, and his wife, Pam, carry their ballots to the tally machine in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam faces Republican Ed Gillespie in today's election. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, top left, and his wife, Pam, head into the polling station to vote in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam faces Republican Ed Gillespie in today's election. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, left, gets a hug form a supporter as his wife, Pam, right, looks on after voting in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Northam faces Republican Ed Gillespie in today's election. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Volunteers help voters at a polling station in the Society of African Missions in Tenafly, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Republican Gov. Chris Christie's time atop New Jersey politics enters its final chapter Tuesday as voters go to the polls to elect his successor. Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno are the two major party candidates vying to replace the two-term, term-limited incumbent. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People vote at a polling site in the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center in Englewood, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Republican Gov. Chris Christie's time atop New Jersey politics enters its final chapter Tuesday as voters go to the polls to elect his successor. Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno are the two major party candidates vying to replace the two-term, term-limited incumbent. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ben Bostwick, a volunteer with the Northam campaign, adjusts an inflatable Trump chicken at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie pauses while speaking with reporters after voting at his polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie pauses while speaking with reporters after voting at his polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie fills out his ballot at his polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie shakes hands with supporters before voting at his polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. Gillespie faces Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democrat Lt. Gov.-elect Justine Fairfax addresses the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Democrat Lt. Gov.-elect Justine Fairfax addresses the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Democrat Lt. Gov.-elect Justine Fairfax greets supports at the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Democrat Lt. Gov.-elect Justine Fairfax greets supports at the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., walks onstage to address the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., walks onstage to address the Ralph Northam For Governor election night party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Natalie Portman has been awarded Israel's 2018 Genesis Prize in recognition of her commitment to social causes and deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots, organizers of the prize announced on Tuesday.

The $1 million award, known as "the Jewish Nobel Prize," is granted each year to a person recognized as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through professional achievement and commitment to Jewish values.

The Oscar-winning actress said she was "deeply touched and humbled" by the recognition.

FILE - In this May 17, 2015 file photo, Natalie Portman poses for photographers during a photo call at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, Natalie Portman was awarded Israel's 2018 Genesis Prize, a $1 million recognition that is widely known as the "Jewish Nobel Prize." Organizers of the prize announced Tuesday that they were recognizing the Oscar-winning actress for her commitment to social causes and deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)

"I am proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage. They are crucial parts of who I am," she said in a statement released by the organizers. She said she would use the prize money to "make a difference in the lives of women in Israel and beyond."

Portman was born in Israel and moved to the United States as a young girl, evolving from a child actress into a widely acclaimed A-list star. She won the 2011 Best Actress Academy Award for her work in "Black Swan," and in 2015, she directed and starred in "Tale of Love and Darkness," a Hebrew-language film made in Israel based on an Amos Oz novel.

The Genesis Prize noted Portman's social activism in areas such as gender equality, combatting poverty, microfinance and animal rights.

"She exemplifies the core traits of the Jewish character and values of the Jewish people - persistence and hard work, pursuit of excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a heartfelt desire to contribute to make the world a better place," said Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of the prize's foundation. He called her a "role model" for millions of young Jews worldwide.

The foundation said Portman's award money would go to a number of women's causes, promoting education, economic advancement, health and political participation. It said a "significant portion" of the funds would advance women's equality in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present the award to Portman at a ceremony in Jerusalem next June.

The Genesis Prize was inaugurated in 2014 and is run in a partnership between the Israeli prime minister's office, the private Genesis Prize Foundation and the chairman's office of the Jewish Agency, a nonprofit group with close ties to the Israeli government. It is funded by a $100 million endowment established by the foundation.

Portman is the fifth winner and first woman to receive the prize. Previous recipients included former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman and sculptor Anish Kapoor.
PARIS (AP) - The Latest on police raids on suspected extremists in France and Switzerland (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

Swiss prosecutors say a 23-year-old Colombian woman has been arrested in an investigation into banned Islamic extremist groups as part of joint sweeps with authorities in France.

The office of Attorney General Michael Lauber says the arrest follows searches Tuesday of buildings in the French-speaking Vaud and Neuchatel regions of western Switzerland as part of a counterterrorism probe opened in June last year.

The investigation had originally targeted a 27-year-old Swiss man and was more recently extended to include the Colombian woman. Neither suspect was identified by name. Lauber's office said the woman is expected to remain in custody until a court makes a decision.

The Swiss man and several others were arrested in France. A joint investigation team has been created in the case by authorities in the two countries.

___

11:20 a.m.

A French security official says several people suspected of preparing a possible attack have been arrested in a counterterrorism operation in the Paris suburbs and in southeastern France.

The official says that the arrests Tuesday were prompted by suspicious activity on social networks that suggested an attack was in the works. The official, who was not authorized to be publicly named discussing security operations, would not provide further details.

The operation is still underway in the Val-de-Marne region just southeast of Paris and in the Alpes-Maritimes region, which includes part of the French Riviera and the Alps.

It comes days after a new counterterrorism law came into effect to replace a state of emergency that had been in place since deadly attacks in Paris two years ago.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Ingalls Shipbuilding celebrated the christening of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) Saturday with approximately 1,200 guests in attendance.

"This ship is a fitting tribute to the master chief who set the tone for all of us to follow as authentic, competent and courageous leaders," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven Giordano, who served as keynote speaker. "This ship represents the enlisted force perhaps more than any other ship in the Navy."

The ship is named in honor of Delbert D. Black, who served as a gunner's mate in the U.S. Navy and was aboard the battleship USS Maryland (BB 46) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1941.

"Delbert D. Black is the first ship built to honor the man appointed in 1967 as the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy," said Ingalls president Brian Cuccias. "Black enlisted in the Navy in March of 1941, and over the years, he served in three wars and on nearly a dozen ships, spending 21 of his 30 in the Navy at sea.

"Ingalls' ships are built for men and women like Master Chief Black with one goal in mind: to protect the brave Americans who protect our freedom."

Ima J. Black, Delbert's widow and a World War II veteran of Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), is the ship's sponsor. She and Delbert were married for

50 years until he died in 2000

. She officially christened the ship by successfully breaking a bottle of champagne across its bow.

"This is a ceremony that we've all been looking forward to for a long time," Black said. "My message to the shipbuilders has always been, 'Hurry up! I'm running out of time.' Well, look at me. I made it! I made it! I made it! Today I'm thinking of my husband. I'm wishing that he was standing here instead of me.

"However, I know that his spirit is anchored in the hull of this ship. Now let us christen this ship and get her ready to join the fleet, where she belongs."

Ingalls has delivered 29 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).

"Defending our country has not gotten any easier," said Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss. "We are confronted in many ways, but we are comforted as we visit this exceptional shipyard. Brian Cuccias and his team are building 10 or 11 ships right now representing four classes, and even with all that, it's not at full capacity. Ingalls shipyard is well positioned to provide additional ship production to support a U.S. Navy force structure of 355 ships."

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships that can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States' military strategy. DDGs are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a 66-year-old woman who needed medical care from the Carnival cruise ship Sensation.

The Coast Guard said in a news release that cruise ship officials notified them early Tuesday that a passenger was suffering from a respiratory issue and needed additional medical care. The ship was directed to make its way to the Key West Sea Buoy to wait for a rescue crew.

A Coast Guard boat crew launched from Key West and transferred the woman. She was taken to Key West where she received further medical treatment.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Attacks in Afghanistan targeting places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers, including attacks against Shiite Muslims, have increased sharply in the past year and a half, the United Nations said Tuesday.

A special report by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has documented 51 incidents of such attacks since January 2016 that resulting in 850 civilian casualties - 273 killed and 577 wounded.

UNAMA's report said the figure is nearly double the number of such attacks documented between 2009 and 2015, when the total number of such casualties was 475.

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2017 file photo, Afghan men cry near the grave of a victim who died during Friday night's suicide attack at the Shiite Imam Zaman mosque that was claimed by the Islamic State group, in Kabul, Afghanistan. In a report released Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said there has been sharp increase in attacks in Afghanistan targeting places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers, including attacks against Shiite Muslims. UNAMA has documented 51 incidents of such attacks since January 2016, resulting in 850 civilian casualties: 273 killed and 577 wounded. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

Among the attacks cited in the report was an October suicide bombing in which the attacker first lobbed a grenade into the women's section of the Imam-e-Zaman Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, then detonated his suicide vest amid the worshippers, killing 57 and wounding 55.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

In addition to suicide attacks targeting worshippers, UNAMA said it documented 27 attacks since Jan 1, 2016 that targeted individuals deemed to be members of the military as they were praying in mosques.

"These attacks killed 28 civilians and injured an additional 15. The mission recorded 10 such attacks in 2016 and 17 attacks in 2017, including two targeted killings inside of mosques for which the Taliban claimed responsibility," the report said.

In addition to Taliban and other militant attacks, UNAMA also documented three instances of pro-government forces targeting insurgents inside mosques. Most of those incidents involved search operations and airstrikes in 2016 and 2017 when mosques were suspected of being used by insurgents - something that may have lost the structures the protected status of places of worship.

UNAMA's report concluded with the recommendation that "anti-government elements ... immediately cease attacks directed at places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers," and stop using places of worship for militant purposes.

UNAMA also commended measures already taken by the Afghan government, and recommended further action to protect people and places of worship from attacks.
LONDON (AP) - Croatia's richest businessman was arrested Tuesday in Britain amid allegations he embezzled millions from his large retail company, leading it into a massive bankruptcy that is now an issue of national concern in Croatia and the Balkans.

Ivica Todoric, 66, the founder of Croatia's biggest private food and retail company, Agrokor, appeared in Westminster Magistrates' Court, where his lawyer said he will fight extradition to Croatia.

District Judge Richard Blake granted Todoric freedom on 100,000 pounds ($132,000) bail.

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 16, 2017 file photo, police stand in front of the residence of Ivica Todoric, founder of the Croatia's biggest private company, as others raid his home in Zagreb. A prominent Croatian businessman was arrested in Britain on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 a warrant issued by Croatian authorities, London police said. Police said that 66-year-old Ivica Todoric, the founder of Croatia's biggest private food and retail company Agrokor, will appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court later in the day. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, file)

"The context in which I grant you bail is the knowledge that both within this country and throughout the world, your assets are frozen and your ability to obtain money is limited," the judge said. "The security is a very small sum in the context of what sums I have heard being spoken of."

The judge also set conditions requiring that Todoric wear an electronic tag between midnight and 3 a.m., sign in at a London police station three times a week and give up his travel documents.

He is accused of misrepresenting Agrokor's business and financial reports by "concealing expenses, debts and financial claims."

Todoric was put on Europol's list of the continent's most wanted fugitives for suspected corruption, forgery of administrative documents and fraud.

He and his former aides are being investigated over the company's financial downfall. Todoric, who denies wrongdoing, has been accused of embezzling tens of millions of euros of Agrokor's funds for personal gain.

Agrokor, which began as a flower-growing operation in the former Yugoslavia in the 1970s, underwent a rapid expansion over the past decades that saw it run up debts of about 6 billion euros ($7 billion). The company employs about 60,000 people throughout the Balkans and is so large it now accounts for about 15 percent of Croatia's gross domestic product. Its debt is too large for the government to rescue it without endangering the state's financial stability.

Although Todoric still formally owns 95 percent of Agrokor, the Croatian government has taken over management of the company. It is now trying to keep it alive through restructuring and negotiations with major creditors, which include Russia's Sberbank and VTB bank, to which it owes 1.4 billion euros.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said he wasn't surprised by Todoric's surrender to the London police and that he wouldn't comment on when he will be handed over to Croatian authorities.

"Now we face the usual (extradition) procedure," Plenkovic said. "As a suspect, Todoric has his rights that I believe he will use."

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said Tuesday that the Agrokor affair is the biggest scandal in the country with "repercussions on the stability of (Croatia's) economy, creditors and suppliers."

Police raided Todoric's home in Croatia last month along with the homes of former top aides. Twelve people were briefly arrested, including his two sons, who managed the company with him.

After he appeared on Europol's fugitive arrest list, Todoric wrote on his blog that he was not hiding and that his conscience was clear.

"As a man whose human rights are deeply violated I have the right to oppose political persecution," Todoric wrote.

Todoric has always claimed that the government illegally took over his company and indicated that he will fight his extradition on the grounds that he is the victim of political pursuit.

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Dusan Stojanovic reported from Belgrade, Serbia.
MADRID (AP) - The Latest on Catalonia's bid for independence (all times local):

7:10 p.m.

Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says he will defeat at the ballot box next month what he calls the Spanish government's "repression" of Catalonia's wishes for independence.

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, centre, applauds with Catalan mayors who travelled to Brussels to take part in an event in support of the ousted Catalan government in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly weaving a strategy to secede from Spain. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Puigdemont says Catalonia "has one path to becoming a republic - via democracy."

Puigdemont spoke mostly in French to around 200 visiting mayors from Catalonia who gathered in a Brussels art museum. They gave him a rapturous, standing ovation before he began speaking, chanting "president, president."

The Catalan leader fled to Brussels after the Spanish government dismissed the regional government and parliament because of their attempts to secede from Spain. The Spanish government says it is upholding the law, but Puigdemont claims he and his separatist allies are being persecuted.

Catalan officials at the Brussels event Tuesday urged European Union leaders to take up the Catalan cause. A group of mayors held up letters spelling "Help Catalonia." At the end, they sang the Catalan anthem and the mayor raised their walking sticks- the symbol of mayoral power in Spain.

An Early regional elections is scheduled for Dec. 21.

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5:10 p.m.

The ousted president of Catalonia is making his first public appearance in Belgium since he appeared in court Sunday on an arrest warrant from Spain.

Around 200 mayors from Catalonia gathered in a Brussels art museum on Tuesday to show their support for Carles Puigdemont. Spanish authorities removed him from office on Oct. 28 and are seeking to extradite him to face possible rebellion charges.

Puigdemont and other former members of the regional government are being investigated for their roles promoting Catalonia's secession from Spain.

The mayors raised walking sticks- the symbol of mayoral power in Spain - in the air and chanted "President, president, president" as they waited for Puigdemont to come through the door.

The Catalan mayors rallied at the European Union's headquarters earlier in the day as around 100 opponents of breaking the region away from Spain rallied nearby.

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3:30 p.m.

Around 200 mayors from Spain's Catalonia region have gathered in Belgium in a show of support for ousted president Carles Puigdemont as Madrid seeks his extradition for trial.

The mayors descended on the European Union quarter of Brussels, as around 100 pro-Spanish supporters rallied nearby, some with signs saying "No to Catalan independence."

Angles town mayor Astrid Dessed said the local representatives were there "to say to the members of the Catalan government who are here that we are standing with them, we support them."

She also thanked Belgium for not jailing Puigdemont - nine former Catalan government members have been imprisoned in Spain. He stands ready to campaign for snap a regional election called for Dec. 21.

Dessed added: "We ask Europe, please, listen to us, we feel European, and we are here at the heart of Europe to say this."

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2:15 p.m.

Catalonia's opposition leader hopes that disillusion among pro-independence supporters can help her Ciutadans (Citizens) party and other pro-Spanish unity groups gain a majority of seats between them in the region's crucial Dec. 21 early election.

Ines Arrimadas says that the secessionist parties of the recently ousted Catalan government will have no credibility if they again promise a bright future for Catalonia's independence.

She says no country recognizes their secession declaration made on Oct. 27, the EU insists an independent Catalonia will be expelled and thousands of businesses have since moved their headquarters from the region.

The 36-year-old Arrimadas, whose party holds 25 seats in the 135-deputy Catalan parliament, said "demoralization" among the pro-independence camp and mobilization of unionist parties could help swing the balance in Spain's favor.

She said polls show "an alternative majority is possible."

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2 p.m.

The latest government-run poll in Spain says that Catalan independence has become the second cause of concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment and ahead of corruption.

Catalonia's separatist government held a banned independence referendum Oct. 1, deepening a political crisis that continues to grip Spain with the removal and criminal prosecution of regional officials.

Around 29 percent of those surveyed identified the prospect of an independent Catalonia as among their top three main worries, up from 7.8 in September, when the issue was down at ninth position in the ranking of concerns, according to the much-watched CIS survey.

About 66.2 percent chose unemployment, the second highest in Europe, as the main concern, while corruption and fraud came third.

CIS quizzed 2,487 Spaniards in interviews conducted between Oct. 2 and 11, with a margin of error of 2 percent.

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12 p.m.

A civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan endeavor for secession from Spain wants all of Catalonia's separatist political parties to run in a joint pro-independence coalition in the Dec. 21 regional elections.

Assemblea Nacional Catalana is calling for the joint coalition to include jailed separatist activists and members of the deposed Catalan cabinet as candidates.

The parties have until midnight Tuesday to register an interest in forming coalitions.

Pro-secession parties held a slim majority in the Catalan Parliament before it was dissolved by Spanish authorities after it voted for a declaration of independence. Judges are gauging possible rebellion charges against the former Catalan separatist officials. Some of them are fighting extradition in Belgium.

Recent opinion polls have forecast a tight electoral race between parties for and against the independence.

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9:15 a.m.

Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has criticized the passivity of European politicians in showing solidarity with the deposed and jailed government of Catalonia.

In an interview Tuesday in Brussels with Catalan public radio, the separatist leader says there is an "absolute disconnect between the interests of the people and the European elites" and that Catalonia's problem is an "issue of human rights that requires maximum attention."

Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly weaving a strategy to secede from Spain.

The Spanish central authorities are now in direct control of the northeastern region, where early polls on Dec. 21 are shaping into an electoral battle between separatists and unionists.

Catalan mayors protest outside the European Commission headquarters in support of the ousted Catalan government in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Around 200 Catalan mayors are in Brussels in support of the former Catalan government while Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly weaving a strategy to secede from Spain. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Anti Catalonia independence demonstrators hold Spanish flags and posters during a protest coinciding with the arrival of the Catalan mayors who travelled to Brussels to take part in an event in support of the ousted Catalan government on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly weaving a strategy to secede from Spain. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

In this image released by Catalunya Radio, ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, top, is interviewed in a radio studio in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017. Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly weaving a strategy to secede from Spain. (Catalunya Radio, via AP)
CAIRO (AP) - A top judicial agency in Egypt has agreed to review one of the most notorious prisons in the country.

A 12-page document obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday showed that the State Commissioners' Committee ordered Cairo University to create a team of medical and human rights specialists to assess whether the infamous "Scorpion" prison is suitable to house inmates. The unit is a wing of the Tora prison complex in Cairo.

Once the evaluation is completed, officials will deliver a non-binding verdict on whether the prison is fit for human habitation.

The move comes in response to a complaint by prisoners' families and NGOs urging the government to close the prison.

International and domestic rights groups routinely document cases of torture and abuse in the prison and by police.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesia's top court has overturned a law that denied recognition and legal rights to followers of indigenous faiths in a surprise advance for religious freedom in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

The Constitutional Court, in a unanimous ruling Tuesday from its nine-judge panel, said articles in the Civil Administration Law were discriminatory and violated the principle of equality before the law.

"These articles are not legally binding as they contradict the 1945 constitution," presiding Judge Arief Hidayat told the court.

The ruling is an unexpected victory for moderates at a time when religious conservatives have demonstrated growing political influence and undermined the country's reputation for tolerance.

The discriminatory articles, in place since 2006, effectively required followers of faiths not among the six recognized by the government to list one of the official religions on their national identity card or be denied basic rights such as marriage registration and land titles.

They also had the option of leaving the religion category blank but that would risk being accused of being an atheist, an offense under Indonesia's blasphemy law, said Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch.

The ruling, published on the court's website, said the law caused injustice to followers of native faiths. Difficulties in obtaining national identity cards meant some were deprived of education, access to the justice system and other rights, it said.

Indonesia has for decades recognized only Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism as religions, but millions practice animism and other local faiths.

Harsono said the ruling will protect adherents of indigenous religions from prosecution under Indonesia's blasphemy law but it won't help Shia and Ahmadiyah Muslims who face difficulties in getting national ID cards.

The Constitutional Court agreed to hear a challenge to the 2013 Civil Administration Law - the most recent amendment to the law that perpetuated the discriminatory articles - after being petitioned by four people who said they'd been disadvantaged by it.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement that the court's ruling is final and binding. It said it will propose revisions to the act.

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This story has been corrected to show discriminatory articles were introduced in 2006.
BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO's chief says the alliance plans to send around 3,000 more troops to Afghanistan, half of them from the United States, to bolster efforts to train the Afghan army.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that the current NATO troop level "is around 13,000. The new level will be around 16,000."

He said the troops won't conduct combat operations but help to train and assist the Afghan security forces, notably to train special forces and build up the conflict-torn country's air force.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefed the media on the eve of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers, where Afghanistan and cyber security are both on the agenda. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Stoltenberg said around half the new troops would come from the United States, the rest from the other 28 NATO member nations.

Allies are expected to commit troops during two days of NATO defense ministerial talks starting in Brussels on Wednesday.

NATO soldiers run in front of the Shamshad TV building after a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. An Afghan official said a pair of attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck the local TV station and the Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
LONDON (AP) - Hong Kong is set to retain its status as the city most visited by international travelers this year in spite of strained relations with mainland China.

In a report published Tuesday, market research firm Euromonitor International said it estimates 25.7 million arrivals in Hong Kong this year, down 3.2 percent on 2016.

Thai capital Bangkok retains second place but its popularity has grown faster than Hong Kong's, with arrivals up 9.5 percent at 21.3 million.

London is Europe's top city, in third place with 19.8 million arrivals, but the report suggests it is set to be overtaken in the coming seven years as Asian cities soar in popularity.

The Asia Pacific region, according to author Wouter Geerts, Euromonitor's senior travel analyst, remains the "standout region."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on congressional probes into contacts between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia (all times local):

10:25 a.m.

The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee isn't saying whether the panel has shared information with the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. But Rep. Adam Schiff told The Associated Press on Tuesday that "there's no free flow of information" between Robert Mueller and the House investigations.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calf., answers questions during an interview with Julie Pace, AP chief of bureau in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at the Associated Press bureau in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

But, Schiff noted that the committee is giving Mueller "some information that we think is important for him to have." And if the House discovers evidence that could be "criminal in nature, that I think we need to share." Schiff would not say whether that has happened so far.

Both panels are probing Russian interference and whether President Donald Trump's campaign was involved.

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10:15 a.m.

The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee says the United States is "marginally better prepared" to prevent Russian interference in U.S. elections. But, Rep. Adam Schiff cautions that "the Russians are a very capable cyber-adversary."

The California congressman made his remarks Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Schiff said it's impossible to say whether Russian interference in the election nearly a year ago is the reason Republican Donald Trump won the presidency over Democrat Hillary Clinton. He said the Russians will be "more clever" in how they hide their efforts to influence future elections.

But he said social media are on notice that they could be used by foreign governments to influence elections.

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4:42 a.m.

A former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign has told a House committee he had contact with a high-level Russian official while on a trip to Russia last year.

In a transcript released Monday by the House intelligence committee, Carter Page tells the committee he "briefly said hello to" Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich when he traveled to Russia for a speech. Page also tells the panel he had informed some members of the Trump campaign about the trip and he had planned to share information with them about what he had learned.

Page has often been contradictory about whom he met on the trip, but his testimony Thursday was under oath.

Page says he had no personal information about Russian election interference.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calf., answers questions during an interview with Julie Pace, AP chief of bureau in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at the Associated Press bureau in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calf., answers questions during an interview with Julie Pace, AP chief of bureau in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at the Associated Press bureau in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
JERUSALEM (AP) - A Russian Muslim billionaire is funding an Israeli project to digitize a major collection of Jewish manuscripts seized by the Soviets a century ago and held by the Russian state library, Israeli officials said Tuesday.

On the 100th anniversary of Russia's October Revolution, Israel's National Library and the Russian State Library announced an agreement to digitize the Gunzburg collection's 2,000 manuscripts.

The project was made possible by an undisclosed "generous donation" from Russian oligarch Ziyavudin Magomedov's Peri Foundation.

The 49-year-old energy and shipping magnate is Russia's 58th-wealthiest person with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. His foundation has financed heritage projects across Russia, particularly in his native Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim republic. But it has never undertaken a project of Jewish interest.

The Russian State Library's Gunzburg collection includes over 2,000 manuscripts and thousands of printed volumes, including biblical texts, Talmuds, rabbinic interpretations, and philosophical treatises by Aristotle, Averroes, Maimonides, Al-Ghazali and others.

Baron David Gunzburg, a Jewish-Russian aristocrat, amassed one of the largest and most important collections of Jewish manuscripts before his death in 1910.

His wife agreed to sell the books to the forerunner of Israel's national library in Jerusalem in May 1917 for the princely sum of 500,000 rubles. The outbreak of the Russian Revolution prevented delivery of the books, which were seized by Soviet authorities and placed in Russia's state library.

Since then, Soviet and Russian governments have refused to release the collection, despite diplomatic appeals by Zionist leaders and the Israeli government.

Once digitized, the Gunzburg collection's books will be available online at the National Library of Israel's digital manuscript archive, which was launched earlier this year.
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Although the official total is still unknown, officials believe this year's Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival broke last year's attendance record of 151,000 over the two days of the event.

With a record 473 vendors spread out across the festival grounds in downtown Ocean Springs, with clear skies and mild temperatures, crowds swelled each of the two days of the event, now in its 39th year.

"The beautiful weather helped," said Cynthia Sutton, Executive Director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, "but we had a record number of vendors and we think we had record crowds beyond what we had last year, but those numbers are still coming in."

An economic impact study compiled by Mississippi State University during last year's festival numbered the crowd at 151,000 and found an economic impact of roughly $24 million.

Sutton said indications from both vendors and local business suggest this year's impact will be as great, if not greater.

"We've heard nothing but positive feedback from both vendors and local businesses who have said this was a great weekend," she said, "and on at least one of the two days they did more business than they did on the same day a year ago."

Chic Cody, the City of Ocean Springs liaison to the festival, agreed the festival was once again a huge success.

"We had a few problems, like you always do, but nothing major," he said. "It was great. I really, really enjoyed this one. I wish they would all run this smoothly. It's a credit to Cynthia, her staff and all the volunteers, along with Public Works, the police department, fire department -- everybody. They all do a fabulous job."

Sutton said some 200 volunteers put the festival on each year, with many of them returning year after year to help.

"It's a consistent team of volunteers that knows the routine and puts a lot of this together," she said, adding that over the past two years they have enlisted a "team captain" system, with each captain being assigned to a particular area of the festival.

"That really helps," Sutton said, "because as we continue to grow and the years go on, this festival is just a monster festival to put on and we need a lot of key people. We had that this year."

Mayor Shea Dobson took note of the massive size of the festival.

"It was very big," he said. "I'm going to be meeting with city officials and the chamber to go over all of our festivals and see what we can improve. I know there have been some concerns over how big the festivals have gotten and we want to make sure we address that now that we're out of the big part of our festival season.

"We'll be addressing all the concerns we've heard," he added. "But I thought it went really well, overall. It was beautiful weather, a beautiful time and I'm glad it was a success and everyone enjoyed themselves."

The dearth of available parking in downtown Ocean Springs has prompted Sutton and her staff to push the park-n-ride service over the past few festival seasons. She said she believes they're starting to make inroads.

"Yes, I do. It seemed there were a lot more people on the buses than last year," she said. "Plus Uber and Lyft took part. That really helps."
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis has sent a telegram to the archbishop of San Antonio, Texas, to express his condolences for the deadly shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

The telegram was sent Tuesday by the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said the pope was "deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of senseless violence."

The pontiff sent condolences to "the families of the victims and the wounded, to the members of the congregation and the entire local community."

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at this Santa Marta residence at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Francis also offered prayers for mourners to "grant them the spiritual strength that triumphs over violence and hatred by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love."

Twenty-six people were killed in Sunday's attack at the Texas church.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A Venezuelan journalist said Tuesday that he had been released following two days of captivity and torture after photographing criminal gang activities inside a prison.

Freelance photojournalist Jesus Medina posted photos on Twitter showing bruises on his face and body.

"They tortured and threatened to murder me," he said, adding that he will continue to report the truth in a fight to improve his country.

Venezuelan journalist Jesus Medina speaks with press in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Medina said Tuesday that he had been released following two days of captivity by unidentified men and tortured after photographing criminal gang activities inside a prison. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Medina reports for DolarToday, an anti-government website. Before he disappeared, both the website and the newspaper El Nacional had published Medina's photos taken from a hilltop overlook purportedly showing armed inmates patrolling inside the prison along with marijuana crops, satellite dishes and a zoo.

Medina wouldn't identify his abductors, saying he feared for his safety. He said they detained him in a dark room with no food or water and threatened him with long guns.

At a news conference, Medina said he was grabbed from a bus and put in a van, but had enough time to send an urgent text message to a colleague saying he was being abducted. Medina said his captors told him the wide publicity over his disappearance kept them from killing him.

The ordeal ended roughly 48 hours later when he was dropped off along a busy highway outside Caracas - hands tied behind his back and wearing only in his underwear. Police helped return him to safety, Medina said.

During his disappearance both opposition politicians and government officials had expressed concern. A month earlier, authorities detained him and other journalists while they were visiting the same prison.

Natalie Southwick with the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists called on Venezuelan authorities to conduct a full investigation. She said questions remain about Medina's disappearance.

"It's hard to know who may be responsible," she said. "We'd like to see a transparent investigation to find out who is responsible for detaining and beating him up and that they're brought to justice."
SKOWHEGAN, Maine (AP) - A Maine business group has apologized for a holiday promotion it called "Hunt for the Indian," after residents took to social media to decry it as racially insensitive.

The promotion by the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce asks its members to place a small Native American figurine inside their businesses, with clues on social media encouraging shoppers to find it. The businesses could then offer a discount reward for winners.

The figurine is a replica of a 62-foot-tall sculpture in downtown Skowhegan meant to honor local Native American tribes.

The promotion was announced Saturday, and residents quickly started lambasting the effort through social media.

The chamber cancelled the event Sunday, saying the promotion was a poor idea and they didn't intend to offend anyone.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Latest on an assault of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul at his home (all times local):

3 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has called Sen. Rand Paul as the Kentucky lawmaker recovers from having his ribs broken, allegedly by his longtime neighbor in a still unexplained assault.

This photo provided by the Warren County Regional Jail shows Rene Boucher, who has been arrested and charged with assaulting and injuring U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Kentucky State Police said in a news release Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 that Paul suffered injuries when 59-year-old Rene Boucher assaulted him at his Warren County home on Friday afternoon. (Warren County Regional Jail via AP)

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven updated reporters Tuesday after Pence attended the Senate GOP's closed-door, weekly luncheon.

Hoeven said Pence mentioned he had called Paul, and "the chuckle was that he must be OK because he was already working (Pence) on ideas on tax relief."

He said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also spoke about Paul, saying "that he had broken five ribs but was doing OK."

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12:10 p.m.

A close friend of Rand Paul says the U.S. senator does not know why a neighbor tackled him in his yard and broke five of his ribs.

Rob Porter says he has been friends with Paul for 20 years in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In all that time, Porter said he has never heard Paul mention Rene Boucher, his neighbor of 17 years. Police have charged Boucher with misdemeanor assault.

Porter said he visited Paul on Saturday, one day after the attack. He said Paul was mowing his yard when he stopped to remove a limb. Porter said Paul was wearing ear protection and had his back to the street so he could not hear anyone coming before he was attacked.

Porter said if Paul and Boucher had a feud, he did not know about it.

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11:48 a.m.

An attorney for the Kentucky man charged with assaulting U.S. Sen. Rand Paul says he met with U.S. Capitol Police representatives to discuss security matters following the attack involving the longtime neighbors.

Attorney Matt Baker said Tuesday Capitol Police needed assurances there would not be any further security issues for the Kentucky lawmaker and his family.

Paul suffered five broken ribs in the attack that stunned the Bowling Green community.

Police charged 59-year-old Rene Boucher with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault with a minor injury following Friday's incident. Records show he was released from jail on a $7,500 bond.

A judge ordered Boucher to have no contact with Paul or his family.

Baker has dismissed political differences as a reason for the dispute, but he and others have refused to discuss specifics about the cause.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A judge has ordered the U.S. government to give grand jury materials to a court-appointed official investigating the recording of attorney-client meetings at a federal prison in Kansas.

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson gave prosecutors until Nov. 21 to produce grand jury transcripts related to a prison contraband case in which criminal defense lawyers discovered that the privately run Leavenworth Detention Center was routinely recording meetings between attorneys and their clients.

The recordings at issue were made as part of a grand jury investigation in the contraband case. A special master is looking into the government's collection and use of conversations between attorneys and their clients that are supposed to remain private.

The special master recently informed Robinson that the U.S. attorney's office has stopped cooperating with the investigation. Robinson cited that in issuing her order Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - When China rolls out the red carpet for Donald Trump, the grandeur of its welcome for the larger-than-life American president will mask a sobering reality.

President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful figure in a generation, is elevating his nation as a global power. Trump is unpopular and untrusted, pursued by political scandal and questions over his temperament as commander in chief of the world's most formidable military.

As they compete over shaping the future of the world's most populous and fastest-growing economic region, the stakes have never been higher.

FILE - In this April 6, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump begins a state visit to Beijing Wednesday. He'll be seeking Chinese action to rebalance its U.S. trade and to pressure on North Korea. Both presidents will then travel to Vietnam and the Philippines for regional summits, bidding for support among the continent's wavering leaders. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

On Wednesday, Trump begins what Chinese officials are billing as a "state visit plus" to Beijing, the highest-profile stop of his five-nation swing through Asia. He'll be seeking Chinese action to rebalance trade with the U.S. and to increase pressure on North Korea. Both presidents will then travel to Vietnam and the Philippines for regional summits, where they will bid for support among the continent's wavering leaders.

Trump is at a distinct disadvantage against Xi.

Xi two weeks ago consolidated his grip over China when he was endorsed for a second five-year term as communist party leader. His philosophy was enshrined in the constitution, arguably making him China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s.

Trump congratulated Xi for his "extraordinary elevation" and compared the status of the Chinese president to that of a king - unusually fulsome American praise for an autocrat.

Although questions remain over Xi's stewardship of the Chinese economy - he faces rising debt and an inefficient state sector - he's won popular domestic support for a countercorruption drive in the ruling party and gained effective control over disputed areas of the South China Sea through a massive island-building campaign opposed by Washington.

"As Trump heads to China, he will find Xi at the pinnacle of his power with some significant home court advantages," said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

Xi has big ambitions, too, having told the party congress it is now time for China to take center stage as a world power.

"There's clearly a confidence that extends from his newly secured position and permeates into the foreign policy realm," Rapp-Hooper said.

As for Trump, nine months into his presidency, he has alarmed strategists in Asia with his "America First" doctrine. He opposed the universally supported Paris agreement to combat climate change, adopted a protectionist stance on trade and raised doubts over his ability to manage a security crisis by vacillating between threats and conciliation toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Republican Trump is also carrying a lot of domestic baggage.

While Xi is lauded like a demigod in China's fawning, state-run media, Trump is buffeted by a free press and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. His approval ratings - around 38 percent, according to Gallup - suggest he's the most unpopular new U.S. president in the history of modern polling.

Reviled by political rivals, he has faced repeated and increasingly acrimonious run-ins with senior members of his own party who have been outraged by his freewheeling use of Twitter, off-the-cuff interview style and penchant for personally attacking those who cross him. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, a leading foreign policy voice, recently argued that Trump "debases our nation" with constant untruths and name-calling, accusing the president of setting the U.S. "on the path to World War III."

More immediately, perhaps, a legal net is closing on former Trump associates as the FBI investigates allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. A former campaign adviser pleaded guilty last week to lying to the FBI in a criminal case that pushed the investigation closer to the president.

Trump denies any collusion. And predictably, he maintains that he's in Asia "with great negotiating strength because of our tremendous economy." The latest U.S. jobs report showed unemployment at a 17-year low and the stock market at a record high.

Kurt Campbell, a former top U.S. diplomat for Asia and architect of President Barack Obama's strategic "pivot," said domestic woes will shadow Trump on his travels to the region, where the conventional wisdom is of U.S. retrenchment during "a period of dramatic Chinese advancement."

Nations are likely to "skate a little closer to Beijing," Campbell said.

However, Thitinan Pongsudhirak at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University said Trump has clawed back U.S. influence in Southeast Asia after Obama's human rights criticism pushed some American allies closer to Beijing. With authoritarian leaders in Thailand and the Philippines, in particular, Trump has repaired ties.

But the Trump administration hasn't helped itself elsewhere with its mixed policy signals, veering from America-centric economic nationalism to more traditional expressions of U.S. engagement in Asia. Recently, Washington outlined a strategy of building ties with democracies across the "Indo-Pacific."

The idea is similar to the Obama pivot that Beijing always viewed as a China containment policy. The Chinese would prefer the two countries accommodate each other's interests. It may view the close personal relationship between Trump and Xi as the best way toward that relationship.

"I don't think anyone would be able to contain China," Cui Tiankai, China's U.S. ambassador, told reporters in Washington last week.
MADRID (AP) - Catalan separatists are raising questions about the independence of the Spanish judiciary, claiming their jailed leaders are "political prisoners."

Spain's government rejects talk of judicial bias or pressure, stressing that Spain respects the rule of law and does not conduct politically motivated investigations.

It's not the first time the issue of judicial independence has fueled debate in Spain. A look at the controversy and how the Spanish legal system works:

A man holds up an "esteladas", or Catalonia independence flag, in front of a Spanish national police officer outside the National Court in Madrid, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. A Spanish judge has ordered nine ex-members of the government in Catalonia jailed while they are investigated on possible charges of sedition, rebellion and embezzlement. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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THE CATALAN CONTROVERSY

The ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who is on the run from Spain, has said he and four of his Cabinet members dismissed by Spain can't expect a "fair and independent" hearing in Spanish courts.

"There is a clear lack of independence and neutrality, with the links between the judiciary and the government visible for all to see," he wrote on Monday in the Guardian.

Nine other deposed Cabinet members in that same rebellion case were sent to jail in Madrid, eight of them without bail, on preliminary rebellion charges while the judge's investigation continues. Two prominent separatist activists are also in detention.

Catalan separatists insist Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is using the legal system to persecute them. But the government says it's the courts that have put the officials in jail because they broke he country's laws.

"There are no political prisoners in Spain," Justice Minister Rafael Catala said on Tuesday at the country's Senate. "Neither the government, nor the parliament or anybody else than judges have the power in this country to decide who goes to prison."

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THE COURT SYSTEM

Spain's legal system is governed by the 1978 Constitution, which enshrines the principles of impartiality and independence of the judiciary.

The National Court has jurisdiction over the whole country, and takes on cases that affect more than one region. Because it rules on serious graft crimes, terrorism and international cases, its decisions are often closely scrutinized.

Decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court, the highest judicial body, which also tries lawmakers and other officials. Its rulings can only be appealed to the Constitutional Court.

The Constitutional Court settles when lower legislation exceeds its limits, and rules on matters from abortion to same-sex marriage and bullfighting.

Each province also has its own district and provincial courts and each of Spain's 17 autonomous regions have high tribunals.

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HOW ARE JUDGES APPOINTED?

Critics have long argued that Spain's politics and the courts are too entangled.

The Constitutional Court's 12 members are appointed by the General Council of the Judiciary, the government and parliament's two chambers, usually controlled by either of the two parties that have taken turns in power over four decades.

The General Council is also in charge of picking, training, promoting and sanctioning Spanish magistrates, as well as appointing the presiding judge at the country's powerful National Court and at all the high tribunals in each of the 17 regions.

The council has 21 members - half are elected by parliament and half by the Senate, where the two main political parties have the upper hand.

Its president is the head of the Supreme Court.

A report published last year by the Council of Europe noted that officials on the council are appointed by the country's main political parties. The linkage is "so obviously ... political" it amounts to "a potential threat to judicial independence."

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WHAT ABOUT THE PROSECUTORS?

Spain's chief prosecutor is formally appointed by the king, after being selected by the government and confirmed by a simple majority at a parliamentary committee.

By law, the position requires impartiality from its holder, currently Jose Manuel Maza, and is independent of other state powers.

Politicians say more lawmakers need to have a say over the appointment of such a key position. They also propose the uncoupling of the position's term from that of the government's. But no parties have actually initiated the body's reform when in power.

That has led to the recurring criticism that the top prosecutor doesn't defend the public interest and is at the service of the government instead.

Although many powerful figures, including Spain's Princess Cristina and former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato, have recently been brought to Spain's courts, critics say most of those cases were brought by individuals or public organizations, not by the public prosecutor.

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TRAILING BOTTOM IN EUROPE

Results from a 2015 report from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, a group representing national judiciaries at the EU, show Spain ranks near bottom in judicial independence.

A survey of hundreds of European judges showed that 15 percent of Spanish judges agreed they had been under inappropriate political pressure over their work in recent years. Only Albania and Latvia did worse.

Spain also had more judges than any other European country say they had been allocated cases to influence the outcome of particular lawsuits.

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"INDIVIDUALLY INDEPENDENT"

Miguel Pallares, spokesman of the main association of prosecutors in the country, says that the politicization of top appointments at both the General Prosecutor's Office and the General Council of the Judiciary casts a shadow over the fair work usually carried out by attorneys, judges and courts.

Ignacio Gonzalez, spokesman for Judges for Democracy, an association of magistrates, disagreed.

"The main problem is the perception among citizens of the lack of independence," Gonzalez says. "But judges are individually independent, and there are enough mechanisms to disqualify them if their impartiality is in question."

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Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Times on Tuesday fired lawyer David Boies' firm after learning it tried to halt the newspaper's investigation into sexual harassment charges against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein while also representing the newspaper on other matters.

Boies has disputed the Times' view that his work for Weinstein represented a conflict of interest. Still, he no longer works for Weinstein and said the task he completed for him was a mistake.

It represents the fallout from a New Yorker magazine article that reported Weinstein hired investigators to trail women who had accused him of mistreatment, including Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette. Journalists pursuing the story, including Jodi Kantor of the Times and Ronan Farrow, author of Tuesday's New Yorker piece, also were investigated.

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2017, file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at The Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes afterparty in Beverly Hills, Calif. The New York Times says it's inexcusable that lawyer David Boies' firm tried to halt the newspaper's investigation into sexual harassment charges against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein while it was also working on other matters for the Times. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

It was not immediately clear how much business the Times did with the law firm Boies Schiller and Flexner.

Boies, best known for representing Al Gore in the 2000 disputed election against George W. Bush, is the second prominent attorney to take heat for representing the man accused of being one of Hollywood's biggest sexual predators. Lisa Bloom, a prominent women's rights lawyer, quit representing Weinstein when the extent of the accusations against him became known.

The article said Boies' firm hired and paid one organization with a background in Israeli intelligence agencies at the same time it was representing the Times in a libel case.

In a statement to his firm's employees on Tuesday, Boies noted that his contract with the newspaper made clear that his firm might do work for clients in unrelated areas that were against the Times' interests.

Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said the newspaper never contemplated the firm would contract with an intelligence firm to conduct a secret spying operation aimed at their reporting and reporters.

"Such an operation is reprehensible, and the Boies firm must have known that its existence would have been material to our decision whether to continue using the firm," she said. "Whatever legalistic arguments and justifications can be made, we should have been treated better by a firm that we trusted."

Boies said Weinstein had told him that the Times was considering publishing a story alleging that the mogul had raped an actress. Boies said he would not defend him against these charges, and told him the only way the story could be stopped was to prove it was untrue.

Weinstein selected private investigators to try and do that, Boies said, and asked him to draft a contract with one such group. Boies said he now believes it was a mistake to do this for an investigative firm he did not know.

The New Yorker said some of the investigators misrepresented themselves in contact with their subjects, compiled personal and sexual histories on some, and left some of the targets feeling intimidated. Boies said he never would have drawn up the contract had he known what it would be used for.

"I would never knowingly participate in an effort to intimidate or silence women or anyone else," he said.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein did not immediately return a message seeking comment. He has characterized his contact with actresses as consensual.
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (AP) - Hackers temporarily redirected people looking for hundreds of local school webpages across the U.S. to a video in support of the Islamic State group.

The FBI is trying to determine who was behind the hack, which hijacked school websites in Tucson, Arizona; Newtown, Connecticut; Gloucester County, Virginia; and Bloomfield, New Jersey.

The Bloomfield school district said their website displayed the IS video for about two hours Monday before it was taken down.

SchoolDesk, the Atlanta-based company that maintains the site, said in a statement that technicians discovered a small file was injected into the root of one of its websites. That redirected approximately 800 school and district webpages to a YouTube video containing an audible Arabic message, unknown writing and a picture of Saddam Hussein.

"It looked like it was some sort of ISIS recruitment or support video," SchoolDesk founder Rob Freierson told NJ.com.

SchoolDesk's statement said the hack also affected other organizations, including private and government websites. The company has added more protections and is requiring users of its websites to reset their passwords.

The Bloomfield district said no confidential student or teacher information was compromised.

SchoolDesk said it was working with various investigative agencies to track the source of the hack.
PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Rep. Martha McSally has told Republican colleagues that she will enter the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Jeff Flake, a move that puts a mainstream candidate who could win backing from the state's top Republicans into the primary race.

McSally hasn't made a formal announcement of her intention to run in next year's Republican primary. But Arizona Rep. David Schweikert said Tuesday that she told fellow Arizona GOP members of Congress that she was running.

"She said she's in for Senate," Schweikert said of the talk he had with the southern Arizona congresswoman on Monday. "It was one of those just sort of as you're running around from votes, so there wasn't much of a conversation on my part."

FILE - In this June 14, 2017 file photo Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. McSally has told Republican colleagues that she's running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake. McSally hasn't made a formal announcement of her intention to run in next year's Republican primary. But Arizona Rep. David Schweikert said Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, that she told fellow Arizona GOP members of Congress that she was running. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,File)

McSally's staff didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

A former Air Force fighter pilot who represents a moderate district, McSally would face off against former state Sen. Kelli Ward and could face other Republicans who have been considering getting into the race.

Ward lost badly in a challenge to Sen. John McCain last year but has been gaining traction in the Senate race and became the instant front-runner when Flake backed out.

Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is seeking her party's nomination along with several lesser-known Democrats.

Flake announced last month that he would not seek re-election. He has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and acknowledged that he could not win a GOP primary in the current political climate.

Mainstream Republicans in Arizona have been searching for another primary candidate because they believe Ward cannot beat Sinema.

Ward discounts talk that she's unelectable, saying in a recent interview that people are rallying behind her.

"The people who are dismissive, some of them have sour grapes because they didn't get in at the right time to be able to build the organization that I've built," she said.

Even ahead of an expected McSally announcement, she was targeted by conservative groups. A group affiliated with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon launched a website last week attacking what it called "McSally's troubling history of supporting amnesty and being weak on illegal immigration."

If McSally formally enters the race, it could make it easier for Democrats to retake her seat representing Arizona's 2nd District.

The seat had been held by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, then won by Democrat Ron Barber when she stepped down in 2012 following an assassination attempt that left her badly injured. McSally defeated Barber by 167 votes when he sought re-election in 2014.

She handily won re-election last year by a 14 percentage point margin.

A House re-election may be tougher next year, with former U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick seeking her party's nomination.

McSally has threaded a needle in her Tucson-area district, pushing border security and veterans issues while fighting to save the jet she flew in combat, the A-10, from retirement by the Air Force.

In May, she was quoted using an expletive urging fellow Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act in advance of a vote.

She took heat back in her district for the vote and has worked since then to moderate her stance.
MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Police in Moss Point are investigating an armed robbery of a local Dollar General store on Sunday, according to Chief Calvin Hutchins.

Per Hutchins, police responded to a call at 9:54 p.m. Sunday night from an employee stating someone tried to rob the store.

Employees told police a black male armed with a handgun managed to force his way inside the store as it was closing. A brief struggle ensued between the robber and an employee, and he forced his way into the store.

When inside, police say the suspect walked around inside store and later fled on foot in an unknown direction. He is described as a black male, wearing a grey hoodie and a white mask with blue jeans.

The robber fled the store without taking any items from the business and did not injure any employees inside of the store during his armed robbery attempt.

Police are asking anyone who has information regarding this crime they are asked to please contact the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711 or contact Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898 or visit the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers website at mscoastcrimestoppers.com.
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Thousands of rural Guatemalans are blocking highways across the country to demand the resignation of President Jimmy Morales and lawmakers accused of corruption.

One of the leaders of the protest is Neftaly Lopez, who says that more than 50,000 people have been involved in blocking 22 points across Guatemala.

Lopez said Tuesday that it's a way to demonstrate unhappiness with the current government. She says protesters want Congress dissolved because they believe most of the members are tied to criminal organizations.

Deputy Interior Minister Ricardo Guzman says police have been sent to the blockades to negotiate.

In August, the U.N. anti-corruption commission in Guatemala requested that Morales' immunity be lifted so it could investigate alleged campaign finance violations.
NEW YORK (AP) - In a Nov. 6 story about the U.S. commerce secretary's links to a Russian company, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Russian oligarch Leonid Mikhelson had been sanctioned by the U.S. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Novatek, an energy company that Mikhelson controls, not on Mikhelson himself.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Report: Commerce head has stake in firm tied to Putin orbit

Report: Newly leaked documents show that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has a stake in a shipping company that does business with a gas producer partly owned by the son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin

By BERNARD CONDON

AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Newly leaked documents show that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Trump administration's point man on trade and manufacturing policy, has a stake in a company that does business with a gas producer partly owned by the son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to records obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Ross is an investor in Navigator Holdings, a shipping giant that counts Russian gas and petrochemical producer Sibur among its major customers. Putin's son-in-law Kirill Shamalov once owned more than 20 percent of the company, but now holds a much smaller stake.

Commerce Department spokesman James Rockas said Ross "never met" Shamalov and has generally supported the Trump administration's sanctions against Russia, according to the ICIJ report. Rockas added that Ross has withdrawn from matters related to transoceanic shipping vessels and has met the "highest ethical standards."

Ross told Britain's Sky network that U.S. ethics officials who had reviewed his finances earlier this year did not ask him to sell his Navigator stock, and that he had listed the holding in his government financial disclosure forms and wasn't hiding anything.

"This would have been something not good had it not been disclosed, but it has been quite fulsomely disclosed," Ross said.

The details are likely to add to the questions about ties between Russia and the Trump administration, connections that for months have shadowed the White House and are a focus of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Yet it wasn't immediately clear how many partners Ross might have or what the profit-sharing agreement might be.

ICIJ disclosed the Ross holding as part of reporting on 13.4 million records of offshore entities in tax havens leaked to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung. The newspaper then shared the records with ICIJ and a network of more than 380 journalists in 67 countries. The New York Times is its U.S. partner in this inquiry.

The Times reported on the Ross holding on Sunday.

It wasn't immediately clear exactly how much of Navigator, which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Ross personally owns. ICIJ reported that Ross and other investors own four Cayman Island entities that in turn own 31.5 percent of Navigator, a stake worth $176 million at Friday's closing stock price.

Ross' stake in Navigator is likely a small fraction of that. In financial disclosure forms he filed with the government this year, Ross valued his holdings in the Cayman Island entities, which include other companies besides Navigator, at no more than $10.1 million.

Sibur contributed 8 percent to Navigator's revenue last year, according to reports filed with securities regulators. Russia's energy sector is largely controlled by individuals with ties to state actors, including Putin.

In a statement issued to Russian news agency Tass, Sibur said the deal with Navigator was "a typical commercial action" and that it has worked with shipping companies other than Navigator.

Much of the new trove of files includes bank statements, emails and loan agreements from Appleby, a law firm that helps set up offshore dummy companies and trusts. Appleby told the ICIJ that there is "no evidence" that it has done anything wrong.

Other records came from Asiaciti Trust, a family-run offshore specialist based In Singapore, and from 19 corporate registries maintained by governments in jurisdictions that draw the wealthy seeking privacy.

Big investments in two U.S. tech companies from a Russian government bank and Russian energy giant have also come to light.

The ICIJ reported that Silicon Valley investor and Russian citizen Yuri Milner got $191 million from VTB Bank, and invested that money in Twitter. The leaked records also show that a financial subsidiary of Russian energy company Gazprom funded a shell company that invested in a Milner-affiliated company that held roughly $1 billion in Facebook shares shortly before its 2012 initial public offering.

Milner told the ICIJ that he was unaware of any involvement by the Gazprom subsidiary in any of his deals and that none of his investments has been related to politics.

Milner has also invested in a tech-savvy real estate fund that was co-founded by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner called Cadre. Milner told the ICIJ that he used his own money for the investment.

Sunday's revelations follow last year's release of records from a Panama-based firm involved in setting up offshore accounts. That disclosure triggered investigations in several countries, the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and ouster of the leader of Pakistan. The Panama Papers also revealed that close associates of Russia's leader Putin had been using the dummy accounts abroad to store their wealth, including a close Putin friend who had $2 billion of offshore assets.

There are legitimate reasons for setting up offshore accounts, but lax regulation and anonymity in some jurisdictions make it easy to launder money, evade taxes and avoid regulatory scrutiny. Critics of the widening gap between the super-wealthy and the rest have seized upon the use of tax havens as revealed in the Panama Papers as evidence of a crisis, and governments have promised to crack down.

In the case of Ross, the ICIJ reported Navigator's Russian customer, Sibur, has ties to Putin in addition to his son-in-law.

A big shareholder is Gennady Timchenko, who was targeted by the U.S. and other Western nations for sanctions after Russia's invasion of the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014. A few months later, the U.S. barred banks from providing long-term financing to a gas company belonging to another large Sibur shareholder, Leonid Mikhelson.

Sibur itself was not targeted by the U.S. sanctions, but the Bank of America and the Royal Bank of Scotland reportedly backed away from doing business with the company.

The Russian gas producer last year contributed $23 million to Navigator's revenue, an increase of more than 40 percent in two years

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Associated Press writers Jake Pearson in New York and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
SEATTLE (AP) - A Somali refugee living in Washington state is asking a federal judge to let his wife and young children join him in the U.S., saying the Trump administration's indefinite ban on allowing the families of refugees to enter the country violates immigration law.

The man, identified by the pseudonym Joseph Doe in a motion filed in federal court late Monday, said in a sworn declaration that he fled the Somali civil war with his parents and siblings as a 10-year-old boy. The family eventually made it to Kenya - except for his sister, who died after being raped by fighters who found them hiding in a forest.

He spent nearly 22 years in refugee camps in Kenya, eventually marrying and having his own family, he said. His resettlement in the U.S. was eventually approved, and he came in January 2014 - on his own, because his application had been filed when he was a child.

He applied to have his wife and children - now 4, 5 and 9 - join him in the Seattle suburb of Des Moines, he said, and after a years-long process that included security and medical screenings, they were approved. But due to President Donald Trump's various bans on travelers from certain nations and his suspension of the U.S. refugee program, they've been blocked from coming to the U.S.

"There isn't a day that I do not think of my wife and children, wish that I could just hold and hug them, and dream of being able to be a family again, all together in one place," Doe wrote.

While courts have blocked the latest iteration of Trump's travel ban, the administration has also adopted a new policy requiring additional vetting of refugees. As part of that policy, laid out in a memo Oct. 23, the administration has indefinitely banned the spouses or minor children of refugees already in the U.S. from joining them.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, which is representing Doe, that violates U.S. immigration law, which guarantees that refugees are entitled to have their families join them provided they undergo screening.

"Congress created an entitlement allowing refugees to bring their immediate families - spouses and unmarried children under the age of twenty-one - to join them in the United States," the organization wrote in a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle. "And it did so using plain language that nowhere gives Defendants the authority to rescind that entitlement."

The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment, citing a policy of not discussing litigation. But in the Oct. 23 memo, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said it was important to ban the so-called "following-to-join" refugees for now because most are not subjected to extensive vetting.

"We have jointly determined that additional security measures must be implemented before admission of following-to-join refugees can resume," they said.

Refugees in the U.S. each year petition for about 2,500 immediate family members to join them, the memo said.

The ACLU's motion was filed as part of a case the organization brought in February challenging Trump's initial travel ban. The case had been on hold pending other legal challenges around the country, but last week, Judge James Robart agreed to allow the ACLU to bring the new motion.

The motion seeks to block the administration from enforcing its ban in the plaintiff's case, as well as in the case of any other refugees in Washington state who seek to have their families join them.

At least one other lawsuit has questioned the legality of the ban on "following-to-join" refugees, a case brought by advocates for Iranian-Americans in federal court in Washington, D.C.

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Follow Gene Johnson at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Saudi Arabia is more aggressively confronting its rival Iran on multiple fronts. It's a policy that risks sharpening several conflicts in the Middle East, even though so far it has failed to score any successes in stemming Tehran's influence.

The bolder steps are largely seen as the work of the son of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consolidated his power. Under his leadership, the kingdom has shown a readiness to shake up the region, launching a military campaign in Yemen against rebels its sees as Iranian proxies and sparking a confrontation with Qatar in part over ties with Tehran.

Still, Iran has been able to use wars in Iraq and Syria to build a bridge of alliances stretching from its border to the Mediterranean.

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 file photo, released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The abrupt resignation of Hariri was bizarre even by the often twisted standards of Lebanese politics: Saad Hariri made the announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned station. (Dalati Nohra via AP, File)

The question is whether the Saudis will push even harder against Iran - and what will happen if they do. So far, the kingdom's policies appear to have the full support of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The past weekend saw dramatic developments connected to the kingdom that intensified regional tensions:

- Yemeni rebels fired a missile targeting the international airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of supplying the missile, saying that could be "considered an act of war." The missile was intercepted by air defenses, but it was the deepest rebel strike in Saudi territory since the Yemen war began in 2015.

- Saudi Arabia seems to have acted to wreck Lebanon's government that includes Iran's powerful ally, Hezbollah. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Saudi ally, announced his surprise resignation in Riyadh, believed to be at the Saudis' prompting.

- Crown Prince Mohammed appeared to strengthen his power at home. There were a series of arrests of princes and senior figures in what was billed as a crackdown on corruption but was widely seen as a purge of potential rivals and critics.

How Saudi policies are affecting different countries of the Middle East:

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DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN?

Though Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to respond over the Yemeni missile, it is unlikely to take direct military action against Iran.

The kingdom's military is already tied down in the Yemen war, with its warplanes leading the air campaign there and troops on the border. Iran's military is larger and more battle-hardened than Saudi Arabia's, but the kingdom has far more advanced weaponry bought from the U.S. and Europe in the past decade. It has a strong ally in the United Arab Emirates, which also has built a large military.

Direct military action would risk huge destabilization in the Gulf and beyond, disrupting oil shipments vital to Saudi Arabia and its allies. The kingdom is unlikely to act without a green light from Washington, where the policy has been to avoid direct confrontation with Iran.

That leaves them squaring off in proxy battles for power in the region.

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YEMEN

The war in the impoverished nation on Saudi Arabia's southern border has been a quagmire for the kingdom. In 2015, a coalition of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other allies began a campaign against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who they say are tools of Iran.

This prevented the Houthis and their allies from overrunning Yemen and preserved a hold in the south. But the coalition has been unable to push the rebels farther back, leaving them in control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north.

The war has killed more than 10,000 civilians and pushed millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine. It also has drained Saudi resources at a time of already lower oil prices. Saudi troops have largely stayed out, relying instead on airstrikes. The crown prince has said a ground invasion would cost too many Saudi lives.

The Houthis' missile launch increased tensions, and Saudi Arabia responded by intensifying its blockade of Yemen, raising fears an already dire humanitarian situation will get worse.

A Houthi-linked army spokesman said the rebels will continue to target Saudi airports and also threatened to hit the UAE. That seems unlikely, since Dubai is one of Iran's top trading partners and home to a significant number of Iranians and Iranian businesses.

Iran has backed the Houthi rebels, but denies arming them. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif dismissed Riyadh's accusations over the missile, saying Saudi Arabia blames Iran for the consequences of the kingdom's own "wars of aggression, regional bullying, destabilizing behavior and risky provocations."

Neither side seems willing or able to escalate the fight, leaving a debilitating stalemate. But the missile strike underscores the potential for the conflict to grow beyond Yemen's borders.

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LEBANON

Hariri's resignation was widely seen as a Saudi move against Hezbollah, the Shiite political group and guerrilla force that is Iran's powerful arm in Lebanon and Syria.

In doing so, the Saudis demonstrated an ability to sabotage Lebanese politics, wrecking the compromise government led by Hariri that the kingdom saw as too close to Iran.

But it's difficult to see what Saudi Arabia gained otherwise.

Hezbollah still dominates Lebanon, and nothing will shake that anytime soon. No Sunni militia or political group has the same clout, and few Sunnis want to risk a destabilizing fight with Hezbollah. The Saudi intervention only made many Lebanese, including some Hariri supporters, resent the kingdom, fearing it will upset the delicate power-sharing structure among Lebanon's Shiites, Sunnis, Christians and other communities. The country will probably be stuck without an effective government - or a weak, provisional one.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi criticized it as a U.S.-Israeli-Saudi plot to cause tension in Lebanon.

The fear is that Saudi Arabia will push the situation further somehow to try to set back Hezbollah. That could potentially destabilize Lebanon, which saw bloody clashes between the guerrilla force and Sunni rivals in the mid-2000s.

Prominent Saudi minister Thamer al-Sabhan was quoted as blaming Iran for the instability and saying the kingdom will now treat Lebanon "as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia due to the aggression of Hezbollah."

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SYRIA

After six years of war in Syria, Iran and its ally President Bashar Assad are prevailing over mainly Sunni rebels, many of them backed by Saudi Arabia.

Iran has intensified its influence in Syria, with its own forces and fighters from Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias battling alongside Assad's troops. Iran's direct intervention and Russia's air campaign rescued Assad and turned the tide in his favor, recapturing large stretches of territory.

As international pressure on Assad to step down recedes, Saudi Arabia's effort to push Iran out of Syria has crumbled.

Still, the kingdom is trying to hold influence in the mainly Sunni areas that remain out of Assad's hands. Saudi warplanes helped in the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State group. A Saudi envoy recently went to the Syrian city of Raqqa, newly retaken from IS, to discuss a Saudi role in reconstruction.

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QATAR

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut relations with neighboring Qatar in June over the tiny Gulf state's ties with Iran and its support of Islamist groups.

The diplomatic rift has played out to Iran's advantage. When Saudi Arabia and the UAE barred Qatari aircraft from their airspace, Qatar used Iranian airspace. When Saudi Arabia sealed Qatar's only land border, it looked toward Iran and Turkey to fill the gap.

Despite repeated efforts by Washington to encourage dialogue and resolve the standoff, the Saudis and Emiratis demand a number of concessions from Qatar, many of which Qatar has rejected.

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Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Maggie Michael in Cairo, Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed.

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 file photo, released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, right, meets with Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, at the government House, in Beirut, Lebanon. The abrupt resignation of the prime minister was bizarre even by the often-twisted standards of Lebanese politics: Saad Hariri made the announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned station. (Dalati Nohra via AP, File)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017. Syria's state-run news agency SANA said Assad and Velayati have vowed to defend their interests amid rising regional tensions. (SANA via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - As travel changed, so did luggage.

That's the story told by an elaborate exhibition about Louis Vuitton, the luxury luggage and fashion brand.

The exhibition, free to visit and on display in Lower Manhattan through Jan. 7, is called "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," which means fly, sail, travel. It showcases the company's history, products and craftsmanship, demonstrating how designs changed with the evolution of travel. Luggage was designed first for transport by wagon, then for travel by sea, on trains, in cars and planes.

Visitors view a 1906 trunk, displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trunks and bags are behind glass like works of art in a series of museum-like galleries. Lids open to reveal intricate compartments as if they were the contents of treasure chests. Included are cases and carriers designed for everything from toiletries to hats, from picnics to art supplies. Trunks with small drawers protected fragile objects; standing trunks had roll-out wardrobe racks so clothes could be hung, not folded. A plane is on display, along with a boat.

There's even a room where human artisans show how they cut leather and snip threads for luggage tags and handles, living proof of the craftsmanship behind the brand.

The company's history begins with Louis Vuitton himself. He started a trunk-making business in Paris in 1854 after leaving his village in eastern France and working for a box-maker. His designs were strong but light, distinguished by patterned motifs. The luggage has been a favorite of the rich and famous going back to Napoleon's wife Empress Eugenie, with later clients ranging from artist Henri Matisse to banker J.P. Morgan. John Wanamaker began to sell Vuitton luggage in his American department stores after meeting Louis' son at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In recent years, big names from the world of art and fashion like Damien Hirst and Michael Kors have designed for the brand, and it continues to be a favorite among Hollywood stars.

The exhibition's timing coincides with the holiday shopping season, and the location is in New York's financial district. But most visitors will likely lack the means to buy Vuitton products, which can run in the thousands of dollars. Still, attention-getting temporary displays like this are becoming a standard way for brands to tell their story.

"Many of these brands pop something up, draw a big audience, get some publicity, get reporters to talk about it," said Larry Chiagouris, professor of marketing at Pace University's Lubin School of Business. "You don't need to be there 12 months a year. You just need to establish a little publicity and move on."

Chiagouris says this type of showcase can also be far more effective than a traditional ad campaign. "Ads are very fleeting and don't generate the kind of independent interaction with a brand the way an exhibit would," he said. A show like this "takes something that has almost become wallpaper and suddenly puts it into your current mindset and consciousness."

Exhibitions also give designers the space and flexibility to fine-tune their message. In this case, the subdued, museum-like atmosphere creates a "mood that reflects the brand, somewhat elegant and somewhat understated," he said.

Pace University's Manhattan campus is near the exhibition site, and Chiagouris said his students have been buzzing about the Vuitton show. They're working on a competition among business schools to come up with a campaign for Ocean Spray, the cranberry brand, and the concept of telling a company's story this way, through history, products and workmanship, resonated with them.

"It's an interactive experience not because of electronics or pressing a button," he said, but because "you get a sense of the identity of the brand."

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If You Go...

LOUIS VUITTON EXHIBITION: 86 Trinity Place, through Jan. 7. Free. Tickets not required but timed reservations are available at https://ticketing.louisvuitton.com/content/ticket-options . Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (check website for holiday hours).

Expedition trunks, including a 1929 special photographer's trunk in Vuittonite canvas, foreground right, are displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

People visit the "The Invention of Travel - Aviation" section, part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A worker hand-sews handles for Louis Vuitton bags, part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A visitor views items in "The Rise of Yachting" section, part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Items from the "Writing" section, including a 1930 Stokowski Desk Trunk, center, and 1932 Ideal Library Trunk, lower right, are displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Louis Vuitton luggage and period "dusters," from the "The Invention of Travel - Trains" section, are displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A 1905 wardrobe truck in monogram canvas, right, is displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays called "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez - Louis Vuitton." The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A 1903 Ideale Trunk in Natural Cowhide, foreground right, is displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

A 1959 Brettes Hat/Shoe Trunk & Vanity Case, foreground left, that once belonged to Lauren Bacall, and a 1997 Cruiser Bag, foreground right, that once belonged to Jane Fonda, right, are displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Gowns by Luis Vuitton are displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Cindy Sherman's "Studio in a Trunk," right, is displayed as part of the "Volez, Voguez, Voyagez," Louis Vuitton exhibit, in the former American Stock Exchange building, in New York Financial District, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The luxury French brand, founded in the mid-19th century, is telling its story with a free, museum-like exhibition of artifacts, products and immersive displays. The exhibition is on view at the American Stock Exchange Building in Lower Manhattan until Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
PARIS (AP) - The mass bombings, shootings and other extremist attacks that have anguished Paris inspired American photographer Alexandra Hedison to exhibit her art in the emotionally winded city.

"I showed here because Paris deserved this work first....I owed Paris solidarity," Hedison said during an interview at H-Gallery, where a 24-piece exhibit that marks her Paris debut opened last month.

The gallery lies a few hundred yards from the Bataclan concert hall, one of the sites of the Nov. 13, 2015 attacks that killed 130 people. Monday is the two-year anniversary.

American photographer Alexandra Hedison is pictured through a window as she poses in her exhibition space, in Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Hedison's first Paris exhibit entitled "The In Between" was partly inspired by the recent spate of extremist attacks in the city. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The choice of location for Hedison's show, entitled "The In Between," was not random. The down-to-earth former actress - better known to some as actress-director Jodie Foster's wife - said a gut "feeling" informed her that geographical proximity would be fitting for the work so charged by the tragic events.

The show was four years in the making and coincides with this week's international Paris Photo fair. It doesn't address the bloodshed in a literal sense. The subjects are derelict or unused Parisian store windows covered in scratched paint with broken up reflections of Paris' architecture rippling on the surface.

Her aim, Hedison said, was to evoke a city in emotional transition.

"My work is about transitional spaces - where we undergo a shift or change, and I felt very much that this city was shifting," she said, adding that she felt the "energy" shift over the years from one of depression to one of muted positivity - especially following the election this year of centrist President Emmanuel Macron.

Hedison, 48, described the moment of the attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in January 2015 as personally "devastating." She has loved and visited Paris regularly for years and feels "part of this city now."

Hedison and fellow Francophile Foster, 54, married in a low-key ceremony in 2014 and live in Los Angeles. Foster discreetly attended the opening and events associated with the exhibit, including a cocktail reception Tuesday night for the Paris Photo fair.

Low-key is a fitting description for the warm photographer, who is of Armenian descent and seems genuinely uncomfortable talking about her celebrity connections - including a former relationship with Ellen DeGeneres.

She is working to find her own creative voice beyond the shadow of her famous marriage and steadily achieving independent success for her genre-defying art.

Her current series - images of white swirls pock-marked with sharp scratches - abstract the subjects to the point that viewers frequently think they are viewing paintings.

Bright-eyed and optimistic, Hedison said she wants audiences to take away from her pictures of urban emptiness a message of "hope" and "beauty" - a testament to the enduring spirit of Parisians amid the ongoing extremist attacks.

"The resilience is amazing, and I think that people are just trying to be more tolerant. It's sort of an invitation to be more understanding and more loving," she said - suggesting a point of contrast with the United States.

While Hedison plans to take the exhibit back to Los Angeles, she acknowledged she was "not excited to be going home" because of the "divisive" political climate surrounding President Donald Trump.

"The In Between" runs at the H-Gallery until Nov. 25.

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Thomas Adamson can be followed at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamson_K

American photographer Alexandra Hedison poses in her exhibition space, in Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Hedison's first Paris exhibit entitled "The In Between" was partly inspired by the recent spate of extremist attacks in the city. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

American photographer Alexandra Hedison poses in her exhibition space, in Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Hedison's first Paris exhibit entitled "The In Between" was partly inspired by the recent spate of extremist attacks in the city. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on the Walt Disney Co. banning Los Angeles Times journalists from advance coverage of its films in response to reporting on its relationship with the city of Anaheim, California (all times local):

12:10 p.m.

The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday lifted its ban of Los Angeles Times reporters and critics from its press screenings after a widespread backlash prompted several media outlets to announce their own boycotts of Disney movies.

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2015, file photo, visitors walk toward the Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the background at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Four prominent film critics groups announced Nov. 7, 2017, they will bar Walt Disney Co. films from receiving awards consideration over the company's decision to bar the Los Angeles Times from advance screenings of its films and access to its talent. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

In a statement Tuesday, Disney said it was restoring access to the newspaper after "productive discussions with the newly installed leadership" at the Times. Disney had barred the Times from its screenings after the paper published a two-part investigative series on the company's business dealings in Anaheim, California.

Disney's punitive measures against the Times led to many outlets refusing advance coverage of the studio's films, including The New York Times and The A.V. Club. Four prominent film critics groups announced Tuesday that they would bar Disney films from receiving awards consideration.

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6:45 a.m.

Four prominent film critics groups say they will bar Walt Disney Co. films from receiving awards consideration over the company's decision to bar the Los Angeles Times from advance screenings of its films and access to its talent.

Disney said last week the Times disregarded "basic journalistic standards" in a series of reports on the relationship between the city of Anaheim and Disneyland Resort.

In a joint statement released early Tuesday, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics denounced Disney's decision, saying it "should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included." The groups say Disney films won't be considered for awards until the blackout of the Times is lifted.

A company spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Michigan lawmaker on Tuesday placed a top aide on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations by former female aides.

Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence placed Chief of Staff Dwayne Duron Marshall on leave following a Politico report detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior. Several of the former aides said they'd brought their concerns to Lawrence.

In a statement, Lawrence said she had never received any sexual harassment complaints from staff members. Lawrence is a former harassment complaint investigator who recently introduced legislation to require such training for congressional staff.

"As in any office environment, there have been occasions when employees have brought workplace concerns to my attention and those concerns were promptly addressed," Lawrence said. "However, none of the concerns brought to my attention involved allegations of sexual harassment - behavior that I will not tolerate. Had I been made aware of any concerns about sexual harassment in my office, those concerns would have been promptly investigated and appropriate disciplinary action taken, including termination of employment of any individual engaged in sexually harassing behavior."

Marshall, in a statement, vehemently denied the allegations.

"In my 28 years of public service, I have never had any kind of complaint filed against me nor have I ever sexually harassed anyone!" Marshall said. "Despite these slanderous accusations, I will continue to focus on working on behalf of the constituents in our district."

Marshall pledged to continue to help Lawrence identify co-sponsors for her sexual harassment training bill.

The allegations come on the heels of recent reports of sexual harassment and gender hostility among staffers and even elected officials on Capitol Hill.

The former staff members told Politico that Marshall's troubling behavior had ranged from inappropriate and disrespectful comments to unwanted touching. Several aides said they had personally told Lawrence that Marshall made them uncomfortable, and two cited his behavior as a reason for ultimately leaving the office.

Lawrence said in her statement that she "long ago" adopted written equal opportunity employment and anti-harassment policies, and encouraged any current or former staffers to come forward with reports of inappropriate sexual behavior or contact. Lawrence also pledged to complete a thorough investigation into the allegations, as well as conduct an assessment of the environment of her office.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State says it has meted out discipline in connection with the death of a fraternity pledge after a night of drinking and hazing.

Penn State said Tuesday it punished seven students found to be in violation of the university's student code of conduct. It says penalties ranged from probation to expulsion, but it didn't give a breakdown.

The university says another 19 students withdrew before completing the disciplinary process and must complete it before returning.

Eighteen students were initially charged in the February death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey. A judge threw out some of the original charges.

Piazza died of a fractured skull, damaged spleen and other injuries after drinking a dangerous amount of alcohol at a Beta Theta Pi pledge ceremony.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' highest court on Tuesday halted this week's planned execution of an inmate whose lawyers claim is severely mentally ill, while a state judge ordered officials to release more information about one of the lethal injection drugs they had planned to use.

In a 5-2 ruling, the state Supreme Court granted the emergency stay requested for Jack Greene. He was scheduled to die Thursday night for the 1991 slaying of Sidney Burnett, who was beaten with a can of hominy, stabbed and shot. The court did not elaborate on the reasons for granting the stay in its one-page order.

Greene's attorneys asked for the stay so justices could review a lower court's decision to dismiss his challenge of a state law that gives Arkansas' top prison official the authority to determine whether he is competent. Greene's attorneys say he believes the attorneys and prison officials have conspired to torture him. Greene has said his lawyers are lying and that he does not suffer from a mental impairment.

In this on Oct. 4, 2017, frame grab from video, Arkansas death row inmate Jack Greene appears before the state parole board at a prison in Varner, Ark. Greene is scheduled to die Nov. 9, 2017, but his lawyers are arguing that he is severely mentally ill and that, as a result of that, he sticks strands of tissue into his ears and nose to the point that they become bloody. (KTHV via AP, Pool)

"Today's order means that our client, Jack Greene, will have the opportunity to make the case that he should receive an independent hearing about his competency for execution," Scott Braden, an assistant federal defender representing Greene, said in a statement.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's office said she did not plan to ask the state high court to reconsider or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"With no written order or explanation provided, the Arkansas Supreme Court has once again delayed justice for the family of Sidney Burnett," Rutledge said in a statement released by her office. "I will continue to fight for justice for Sidney Burnett and to give the Burnett family the closure they deserve."

The ruling scraps Arkansas' plan to resume executions after the state put four inmates to death over an eight-day period in April. Arkansas originally planned to put eight inmates to death over an 11-day period, scheduling the executions before its supply of a lethal injection drug expired, but four of the executions were blocked by the courts. Greene's execution was scheduled after the state obtained a new supply of the drug, midazolam.

A state judge, meanwhile, ordered officials to release more information about the midazolam supply after the state Supreme Court ruled last week that the Arkansas Department of Correction had to release the name of the drug manufacturer. The ruling, which took effect Tuesday, ordered the lower court to determine whether other information on the midazolam label could identify the drug's supplier and should be withheld. Arkansas law keeps the source of its execution drugs secret, but justices ruled that secrecy applies only to sellers and suppliers of the drug.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce ordered the state to release the package inserts for the drug to the attorney who sued for the information by late Tuesday, but said he'll hold a hearing Wednesday over what information should be withheld from the drug's label before it's released.

Attorneys for Steven Shults, a lawyer seeking the information, said the Department of Correction had complied with Pierce's order. The Correction Department declined an Associated Press request for the same material, saying officials would consider the request after Wednesday's hearing.

Greene, who is from North Carolina, was convicted of killing Burnett after Burnett and his wife accused Greene of arson. Authorities say Burnett killed his brother in North Carolina days before Burnett's death.

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GULFPORT, Mississippi -- A 45-year-old Ocean Springs man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to charges he engaged in the use of child pornography via the Internet, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

Steven Dedual Jr. of Ocean Springs admitted that from November 2015 to May 2016, he used computers in both Ocean Springs and Gulfport to access the Internet and, through use of a file-sharing network, viewed "visual depictions" of minors engaging in sexually-explicit acts, including at least one image which included a minor who was not yet 12 years of age.

Dedual had initially pleaded not guilty during a plea hearing in August.

U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden will sentence Dedual Feb. 9 in Gulfport. Dedual faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Donald Trump Jr. and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake are engaging in a war of words over Twitter.

The Arizona lawmaker, one of the most vocal GOP critics of President Donald Trump, tweeted Tuesday about his bill that would bar anyone convicted of domestic violence in a criminal or military court from purchasing a weapon.

The gunman who killed 26 people at a Texas church Sunday was able to purchase weapons because the Air Force failed to submit his criminal history to the FBI as required by law.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is surrounded by reporters on his way to go vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Trump Jr. responded to Flake, "Incredibly proactive considering that law has been on the books since the mid 90s."

Flake answered, "If being proactive means closing the #DomesticViolenceLoophole exploited by the #SutherlandSprings Texas shooter, you're right."

The president's eldest son then tweeted: "Wrong. Govt employees, like you, failed to do their job. He did a year for abuse & fracturing his kids skull. Should not have had a gun!"

Flake announced last month that he would not seek another term, delivering a forceful speech on the Senate floor in which he denounced the GOP president.

"We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us and calling fake things true and true things fake," he said.

Flake and Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker have decided against running for re-election, which has given them more leeway to criticize the president.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda made sandwiches, took selfies and announced a partnership with a nonprofit group for a $2.5 million hurricane recovery fund during a trip Tuesday to Puerto Rico.

Miranda said seven local groups already have received grants from the New York-based Hispanic Federation, which helps Latino agencies. The organization said it will award at least 25 grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for reconstruction projects. A portion of a grant can be used for emergency relief efforts including food, water or shelter, officials said.

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm, destroying homes and power lines and leaving tens of thousands of people without work. Nearly 40 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities are still without power and nearly 20 percent of the island remains without water.

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda distributes food to victims of Hurricane Maria in La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

"The road to recovery in Puerto Rico is not a simple one nor is it one that relies solely on aid from the American government on the mainland," Miranda said. "Together, we will cultivate, fund and execute practical and actionable solutions to kick-start and continue the island's road to recovery for years to come."

Miranda also is scheduled to meet with students on Wednesday at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras.

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda distributes food to victims of Hurricane Maria in 'La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda stands in front of a mural in La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Miranda also inaugurated a mural on the facade of the establishment, which bears that name in honor of his late grandfather, the community leader, entrepreneur and altruist Luis A. Miranda, affectionately known as Guisin. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda distributes food to victims of Hurricane Maria in La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda distributes food to victims of Hurricane Maria in La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Actor and composer of Puerto Rican descent Lin Manuel Miranda distributes food to victims of Hurricane Maria in La Placita de Guisin, in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A U.S. court has sided with a New Mexico ranching family in a decades-long battle over access to water on national forest land, providing more certainty that state law allows for the protection of water rights dating back more than a century.

The case of the Goss family has been closely watched by thousands of ranchers who hold grazing permits across the West. Attorneys and others say the outcome could have ripple effects on ranchers and rural communities that have often complained about federal land managers trampling property rights.

The Goss family claimed the federal government violated its constitutional rights by not providing just compensation after condemning property - in this case water rights that had been established before Lincoln National Forest was created.

FILE - This May 15, 2014, file photo shows a newly posted warning sign barring cattlemen from using a watering hole they previously had access to in Lincoln National Forest near Weed, N.M. A U.S. court has sided with a New Mexico ranching family in a decades-long battle over access to water on national forest land, providing more certainty that state law allows for the protection of water rights dating back more than a century. The case of the Goss family has been closely watched by thousands of ranchers who hold grazing permits across the West. (AP Photo/Juan Carlos Llorca, File)

U.S. Court of Federal Claims Chief Judge Susan Braden agreed. On Friday, she ordered the family and the U.S. Forest Service to determine whether alternative water sources are available that can allow the family - operating as the Sacramento Grazing Association Inc. - to operate a viable cattle business.

Braden must still determine how much compensation the family is owed.

Regional officials with the U.S. Forest Service declined to comment pending a final judgment.

Michael Van Zandt, a California attorney who represents the family, said Tuesday the family has been working for the past few years with the U.S. Forest Service to find alternative sources of water but those efforts have not always been successful.

The grazing operation was forced to decrease its herd as forest officials fenced off more areas over the years due to habitat concerns and endangered species.

"It's been a huge financial burden to the Gosses," Van Zandt said, noting that his clients were ecstatic about the ruling.

Ranchers around New Mexico said they were excited but cautious given their somewhat tumultuous history with federal land managers. Hispanic ranchers in the north have often complained that federal officials have discriminated against them despite policies that recognize their cultural and traditional ties to the land. Some families have worked the land since the Spanish colonized what is now New Mexico hundreds of years ago.

Braden's ruling made reference to several dozen ranchers who unsuccessfully attempted to find common ground with environmental groups and officials from Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for over a decade.

The ruling noted that in January 2016, the ranchers decided to take up arms to protest federal policy and regulations that prioritize water habitat for migrating birds by limiting the number of cattle that historically grazed and used water in the area.

Rather than take up arms, the Sacramento Grazing Association filed a complaint in federal claims court to affirm its right to the beneficial use of stock water on the grazing allotment in Lincoln forest - a right that predated federal control, the ruling said.

The judge found that the Forest Service has responsibility for managing national forests, including the habitat of endangered species, but that a small, family-owned cattle ranch should not be forced to bear the entire financial burden of the agency's management choices where they interfere with property rights recognized by state law.

The Office of the State Engineer, which handles water rights issues, said the ruling recognizes that over the past 110 years, New Mexico has lived under the doctrine that beneficial use of water makes for the establishment of a water right.

"The decision affirms this doctrine and gives certainty to ranchers in the state that protects their water rights and the way they have been ranching in New Mexico since before statehood," water agency spokeswoman Melissa Dosher-Smith said.
NEW YORK (AP) - Snapchat is getting a redesign to make it easier to use. But the new look will not make the latest earnings report from its parent company any prettier for investors.

Shares in Snap Inc. were down more than 16 percent in after-hours trading Tuesday after the company posted yet another quarter of disappointing growth.

Snap Inc. on Tuesday reported a loss of $443.2 million in its third quarter, more than triple its loss a year earlier. The larger loss came with lackluster Snapchat user growth and revenue that was below Wall Street expectations.

This Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, photo shows the Snapchat app. Snap Inc. reports earnings, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The Venice, California-based company said it had a loss of 36 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, were 14 cents per share, which was in line with the average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research.

Snap posted revenue of $207.9 million in the period, up from $128.2 million a year ago. That was well below the average forecast of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks of $233.1 million.

Snapchat added 4.5 million daily users in the quarter to 178 million, which amounts to a 3 percent growth. The company does not report monthly user figures.

CEO Evan Spiegel said Snapchat needs to grow its user base beyond 13 to 34 year olds in the U.S., France the U.K. and Australia. This, he said in a statement, includes Android users, people older than 34 and what he called "rest of world" markets.

"This means that we will have to make some changes to our product and business," Spiegel said, adding that this includes redesigning Snapchat to make it easier to use.

Snap's stock fell $2.47 to $12.65 in after-hours trading.

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Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SNAP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SNAP
Joseph OBrien bettered his father Aidan as Rekindling outpointed Johannes Vermeer to lead home an Irish clean sweep of the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

The three-year-old, who was last seen when finishing fourth in the St Leger at Doncaster, found an extra gear in the final half-furlong to see off Johannes Vermeer by a long neck and give his 24-year-old trainer the biggest win of his career so far.

The Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite was a further two and a half lengths back in third in what was a notable result for the Irish team.

Rekindling pictured winning the Curragh Cup earlier in the season

The result caps a memorable year for the OBrien family with Aidan having surpassed Bobby Frankels world record when sending out a 26th Group One winner of the year at Doncaster last month.

I cant quite believe it yet. Im so delighted for Lloyd and Nick (Williams, owners). They suggested to bring him down and that he would have a good chance in the race, said the winning trainer.

It hasnt really sunk in yet to be honest.

He had a very light weight and Corey gave him a great ride. Its not often in a big race like that the whole run goes so well. Im over the moon.

I spoke to my dad and hes delighted.

Im going to enjoy today and hopefully well have a horse good enough to come back.

Joseph O'Brien - youngest winning trainer in Melbourne Cup history @FlemingtonVRC @springvarnival pic.twitter.com/cp7MGYS3RR  Greg Carpenter (@RVCarps) November 7, 2017

Lloyd Williams, who was winning the race for the sixth time, told Channel 7: Im so proud of this young man  hes a star.

Ive been telling people the father needs to watch out!

Brown was riding his second Melbourne Cup winner after Shocking in 2009 and said :Im speechless. Its a dream to even ride in the race, but to come out and win it again, Im lost for words.

Max Dynamite was beaten just half a length in second two years ago and Mullins was thrilled to see him make the frame again, with his other two runners also finishing in the top 10.

He told www.racing.com: Im delighted with him. I thought about halfway up the stretch that if he could get room, he might get out and do it, but I think his age maybe caught up with him.

Were delighted with him and Thomas Hobson, who eventually got into sixth, and Wicklow Brave who was 10th, what more can you ask for?
Steven Finns Ashes tour is over after only nine days because of torn cartilage in his left knee.

Finn, a late addition to Englands squad here as a replacement for the absent Ben Stokes, was first ruled out of two warm-up matches after hitting his knee with his bat in net practice last Thursday.

But the seamer has since undergone an injection to try to treat the injury - and with no improvement, Englands medics have decided he should fly home for a consultation with a knee surgeon and a possible operation.

Moeen Ali, also out of the first two tour fixtures, continued his anticipated recovery from a minor side injury as he trained alone on the eve of the day-night match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide and remains on course to be fit in time for the opening Test in Brisbane.

As for Finn, though, a brief England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: (He) will miss the remainder of (the) tour of Australia after scans revealed that he has a torn left knee cartilage.

The Middlesex seamer sustained the injury during practice last week in Perth and will now return to the UK in the next 48 hours where he will meet a knee specialist to ascertain whether he will have an operation. England will announce his replacement for the rest of the tour in due course.

There was better news for England on Moeen Ali (Nigel French/PA)

It is a cruel blow for Finn, on his third Ashes tour but having been dropped midway through Englands famous 2010/11 series victory and then badly out of form and never picked four years ago before then being described as unselectable by limited-overs coach Ashley Giles.

England are therefore left to come up with a second replacement in the space of a month, with key all-rounder Stokes still at home waiting to hear whether he will be charged by Avon & Somerset Police over a late-night fracas in Bristol in September.

Several other names could therefore come into contention to fly out in place of Finn - with the uncapped pair Tom Curran and Tom Helm and veteran Liam Plunkett among possibles, while Mark Wood continues his recovery from a heel injury.

First 'precautionary scans' of England's Ashes tour - Finn's jarred left knee and Moeen's sore left side.  David Clough (@DavidBClough) November 2, 2017

Coach Trevor Bayliss has indicated another decision is in the immediate offing too, after he and Joe Root got their heads together to work out who should replace Stokes as official tour vice-captain.

Rooty and I have had a bit of a chat about it over the last few days, and youll probably see an announcement in the next day or two, he said.

Both the coach and senior players James Anderson and Stuart Broad, among the obvious vice-captaincy contenders, have made clear they do not see it as a critical appointment.

Here is our team for the four-day day-night match against a Cricket Australia XI starting tomorrow #Ashes



 https://t.co/HKYLKmFfIn pic.twitter.com/knNaQ55l5o  England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 7, 2017

Personally, I wasnt necessarily concerned about naming one, added Bayliss. Theres probably three or four guys in the team that could do it  older guys who play that role anyway as leaders of the team.

One such, Broad, said: I dont see the vice-captaincy as a particularly important role in cricket really. Within the group, you have an amount of senior players that always have an input.

In cricket, the vice-captain literally takes over if the captain runs off the field and needs the toilet. In the group, its not even been talked about.
Labour have demanded an investigation by the Prime Ministers standards adviser into International Development Secretary Priti Patels meetings with the Israeli government, claiming they involved four serious breaches of the ministerial code.

Downing Street insisted Theresa May continued to have confidence in Ms Patel, after she was given a dressing down on Monday over her decision to conduct a series of meetings, including one with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without informing the Foreign Office.

Number 10 confirmed that Ms Patel had discussed the possibility of UK aid being used to support medical assistance for refugees from the Syrian civil war arriving in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

However the Prime Ministers official spokesman was unable to say whether she had explained when she met Mrs May that the scheme would have involved supplying funding to the Israeli army.

Ive told @theresa_may we need to know if Priti Patel broke the ministerial code, and if so why does she retain the PMs confidence? pic.twitter.com/Ukm2R0QWN9  Jon Trickett MP (@jon_trickett) November 7, 2017

I dont have precise detail on that beyond saying that she disclosed that shed had conversations about humanitarian support, the spokesman said.

As to whether or not we ever had the conversation specifically about that particular aspect of foreign aid, it may well be that we didnt.

In a letter to Mrs May, Labours shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said she should either call in her independent adviser on ministerial standards Sir Alex Allen or state publicly and explain your full reasons for why Priti Patel retains your confidence despite clear breaches of the ministerial code.

Priti Patel forced to apologise over undisclosed Israel meetings. Admits FCO didn't know. PM should investigate clear breach of Min. code  Jon Trickett MP (@jon_trickett) November 6, 2017

Mr Trickett said there were strong grounds to believe that Ms Patel had broken the codes requirements for openness, collective responsibility, honesty and performing only those duties allocated to them by the PM.

Given that it is reported you met Priti Patel yesterday and reminded her of her responsibilities under the ministerial code, I believe it important that either you or the Cabinet Secretary publicly set out whether you have determined that Priti Patel failed to adhere to the code and if that is the case, why she still remains a member of your Government, wrote Mr Trickett.

Labour sought to force Ms Patel to explain herself in the Commons by tabling an urgent question, but it was left to Middle East Minister Alistair Burt to answer as MPs were told she had left on a trip to Africa.

He said Foreign Office officials in Israel had only become aware of her visit on August 24, after she was already in the country.

I dont have the dates of all the meetings. I suspect its after the meetings took place but I believe it was (Ms Patel) who told the official abroad that she was there and she was having the visits, he said.

Liam Fox (David Mirzoeff/PA)

The Prime Minister was forced to remind Ms Patel of her obligations as a minister after it emerged that she took time out from a family holiday to meet Mr Netanyahu, other politicians, businesses and charities during a visit to Israel between August 13 and 25.

It is very clear  and Priti Patel was clear herself  that this was not handled in the proper way. Thats why she apologised, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said .

The meetings were arranged by the honorary president of the lobbying group Conservative Friends of Israel, Lord Polak, who also attended all but one.

On returning from her trip, Ms Patel commissioned Department for International Development (Dfid) work on disability and humanitarian and development partnerships between Israel and the UK.

Ms Patel only made Mrs May aware of the meetings on Friday, more than two months after they took place, when reports began to emerge of talks she held with a politician and a disability charity.

Great to meet with Priti Patel, UK Secretary of State for International Development, today. A true friend of Israel. pic.twitter.com/8q9qSeX7YZ    - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 24, 2017

The minister has apologised and admitted a lack of precision for suggesting last week that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson knew about the trip, and that only two meetings had taken place when she attended 12.

Mrs May also took steps to tighten the ministerial code, asking Whitehalls top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood to look at how it can be clarified.
Saudi Arabias crown prince has said a ballistic missile launched by Yemens Shiite rebels was a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime as the kingdom ordered the closure of all ports and grounded all humanitarian flights to Yemen.

A Saudi-led military coalition, which has been at war with Yemens Houthi rebels for more than two years, earlier tightened an air, land and sea blockade in response to the missile, which was intercepted near Riyadh but marked the rebels deepest strike yet into Saudi territory.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency carried a statement on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans call with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

#Yemen: Humanitarian aid destined for civilians must not suffer from coalitions decision close all ports https://t.co/QuvlHNkEmj pic.twitter.com/6UqW1PwuVR  UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) November 7, 2017

The kingdom has accused Tehran of supplying the missile fired towards Riyadhs international airport on Saturday night. Iran, which supports the Houthis but denies arming them, says it had nothing to do with the attack.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, urged the Security Council to hold Tehran accountable for a missile she said it had supplied to the Houthis in July. She said the missile used on Saturday may also have been Iranian.

The United States is committed to containing Irans destabilising actions and will not turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law by the Iranian regime, she said.

Human Rights Watch described the indiscriminate targeting of a predominantly civilian airport as an apparent war crime.

But this unlawful attack is no justification for Saudi Arabia to exacerbate Yemens humanitarian catastrophe by further restricting aid and access to the country, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director for the New York-based watchdog.

Yemen

Later in the day, Yemeni officials said suspected Saudi-led air raids killed at least 23 people in the rebel-controlled northern province of Hajjah. They said the strikes targeted homes of local sheikhs where the head of the Houthis Supreme Political Council, Saleh al-Sammad, was visiting.

The dead included women and children, and at least three people were wounded, they added. Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam denied Saudi media reports that Mr al-Sammad was killed.

Humanitarian flights to Yemen were grounded and ships ordered to leave, resulting in immediate price hikes on the streets of the rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The move threatens to worsen an already devastating humanitarian crisis in the country, where fighting has killed more than 10,000 civilians and displaced 3 million.

A UN official said the organisations flights had been cancelled, and it was seeking to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

The International Committee of the Red Cross urged the reopening of ports for medical supplies. The relief agency said a shipment of chlorine tables used to prevent cholera, which has ravaged Yemen over recent months, did not get a clearance at Yemens northern border. More supplies are due next week, including 50,000 vials of insulin, ICRC said.

In announcing the closures earlier this week, Saudi Arabia said it would take into consideration continuing aid efforts.

The Saudi-Houthi war dates back to 2014, when the Yemeni rebels and their allies swept down from their northern heartland and seized Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition controls Yemens air space but has made little progress on the ground, where the fighting has been in stalemate for more than a year.

The tiny African nation of Djibouti has become the main transit point for humanitarian flights to Yemen. With the latest measures, however, flights are no longer being given clearance to leave, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Saudi Arabia as well as the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the coalition.

Colonel Aziz Rashed, an army spokesman with a unit allied with the Houthis, warned travellers and travel agencies to stay away from Saudi and Emirati airports as they are considered legitimate targets.

He claimed his military experts could develop missiles with ranges exceeding 1,500 kilometres (932 miles).
The family of a woman killed by a 90-year-old motorist who mistakenly pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake say they have not had justice after he was spared jail.

Deborah Clifton, 49, and her partner Clare Haslam, 44, were crushed by an automatic transmission Ford Focus driven by retired textiles merchant Philip Bull and died from the catastrophic injuries.

Sentencing Bull, from Wythenshawe, to a suspended sentence at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Martin Walsh ruled it would not be in the public interest to send him to immediate custody.

He said: It will not serve as a deterrent to you or to others. It will not put right the harm that has been done.

Whilst it would, of course, be a harsh punishment, the fact is that you will live for the rest of your life in the knowledge that your unintended actions on this occasion resulted in the deaths of two people. That is your burden to bear.

Clare Haslam, 44, and Deborah Clifton, 49

Bulls barrister Richard Vardon, had argued the circumstances of the tragic case were exceptional but the collision on March 7 outside Withington Community Hospital had nothing to do with the age of his client who had no medical problems at the time.

For more than a decade the defendant had been the carer for his wife of 65 years, Audrey, 87, who had a number of health problems including Alzheimers disease, he said.

He said Mrs Bull could not be cared for at home without the defendant and she would have to be rehoused.

On Tuesday, some family members of both victims gasped in the public gallery as the judge announced the two year sentence was to be suspended for the same period, with several leaving the courtroom.

After sentencing, one man in the public gallery shouted the justice system is shite, while a woman told relatives of Mr Bull: I hope you dad lives a long time to regret this. I hope he thinks about them every day.

Later outside court, Ms Cliftons tearful sister, Julie said: I am angry, devastated. Its just not fair. We lost another sister four years previous to this so it makes it even more devastating losing Debs.

Police at the scene of the incident at Withington Community Hospital in Manchester

We havent had justice because they kept going on about him, about how he is 90 and his wife and what a great life they have had. My sister isnt even going to see 50, they had so much left to live for.

His defence barrister said how remorseful he was but he has never once directed that at the family. Thats the least he could have done, to address us and apologise but he didnt even do that. It doesnt matter how old you are, if you cause death by dangerous driving.

An expert collision report concluded the defendant mistakenly activated the accelerator believing he was depressing the brake as he reversed his vehicle after dropping off his infirm wife for a hospital appointment.

He lost control of the Ford Focus which performed an arc at speed and hit a metal bollard.

This, the report said, induced panic and confusion in the defendant whose vehicle went on to collide with Ms Haslam and Ms Clifton, from Chorlton.

Bull, who had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, was also banned from the wheel for life.
Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson are the latest players to pull out of Gareth Southgates England squad for the friendly games against Germany and Brazil.

They join Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks in withdrawing.

Here, Press Association Sport compiles an XI of Englands injured stars:

An England team made up of players currently injured for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil (PA Graphics)

 Out since September 10 after injuring his shoulder against Crystal Palace.

 Recovering from a back problem but has just suffered another setback, Clyne has not played all season.

 The three-cap centre-half injured his hip in a cup game against Doncaster in September and has not featured since.

We'll be without @JHenderson, @sterling7 and Fabian Delph for this month's games.



A further squad update will be released later.  England (@England) November 7, 2017

 Impressive at full-back for Manchester City this season but has pulled out of the past two England squads.

 Starred on his debut in Lithuania but an ankle problem has cost him another big opportunity.

 One of Southgates most trusted performers but the Liverpool captain will be absent with a thigh complaint.

Adam Lallana's last game was against France in June

 Last played in the June friendly against France but is expected back from thigh problems after the international break.

 On fire for Manchester City this term, on the sidelines for England.

 Scored twice to help Tottenham defeat Real Madrid but has been nursing a sore hamstring ever since.

Dele Alli will miss the friendlies against Germany and Brazil because of a hamstring injury

 Made a goalscoring England return in Malta but tweaked his hamstring with Arsenal and is still recovering

 Has established himself as Englands match-winner, captain-elect and premier goalscorer but unable to beat a tight hamstring.

Ross Barkley, Nathaniel Chalobah.
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Seniors in Pascagoula are spending their down time partaking in activities that allows them to show off their talents.

Starting on Thursday, Nov. 9 through Saturday, Nov. 11, the Pascagoula Senior Center Acting Class will present its fifth annual "Scene Night." Curtain time on Thursday and Friday will be 7 p.m., with Saturday set for a matinee at 2 p.m.

Scenes presented for this production will be from "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, "The Odd Couple" by Neil Simon, and "Missing" by Andrew O'Hagan.

Cast members for the plays will include Peggy Cooper, Pam Beecher, Patsy Saliba Holzborn, Faith Magallanes, Betty Green St. Amant, Richard Lucas and Bruce Brister.

According to Director Mac Nelson, the production allows those who may have had dreams to become actors or actresses the opportunity they were not afforded due to life running its course such as marriage and children.

"Everybody has always wanted to act, but marriage and having children happened and now they are at a place where that part of life is over and they now have time on their hands," Nelson said.

Nelson has an acting, director, and teaching background based out of New York and retired several years ago before starting this production almost five years ago.

For him, it is simply about watching dreams come forth and brought to life.

"I taught high school and college in theater, then I was an actor and theater director in New York for a number of years, so it's nice in my retirement age to see some people who always wanted to do this to have the opportunity," Nelson said.

Local Betty St. Amant did not dream of being an actor, but said she looks at the production as an opportunity to keep her occupied.

"As a retired teacher, I enjoyed my career so much and I was always able to read stories to my kindergartners to get and keep their attention, but I felt like I was missing something after retirement and this is it," St. Amant said.

"Now, I get to have a different audience -- the seniors and community and I love to be on that stage feeling like I am using some of my talents," she said.

St. Amant and Nelson said they hope Pascagoula will consider building a theater because there is an audience for productions such as the ones that will be held at the Senior Center starting Thursday.

"When we go months without having plays, people always stop me and ask when will we have another production so I hope it is something the city will invest in," Nelson said. "I wish we had a regular theater here all of the time.

According to Lucas, between the 1940s and mid-1980s, Pascagoula had a vibrant community theater called the "Past Pointe Little Theater" that was located on Market Street.

"We can support a community theater like that and I think our production is a step toward that," Lucas said.

Admission for the production is free, with the opportunity to make donations to the Senior Center drama fund. There will be general seating in the Senior City auditorium.
A 2 billion wind farm project is to go ahead after a long-running legal battle with wildlife campaigners drew to a close.

The Neart na Gaoithe wind farm, off the coast of Fife, was one of four projects given planning approval by Scottish ministers in 2014, but challenged in the courts by RSPB Scotland.

The charity won its initial legal bid after arguing the offshore developments  also including the Inch Cape and Seagreen Alpha and Bravo projects  threatened thousands of seabirds.

RSPB Scotland has lost its legal bid to block the development of an offshore wind farm (Chris Radburn/PA)

Big win today, Supreme Court rejects RSPBs application. Our 2bn offshore project to start construction next year https://t.co/tman3uiytN pic.twitter.com/He7LiUDpHM  Mainstream Renewable Power (@MainstreamRP) November 7, 2017

However, the ruling was overturned after ministers appealed.

The charity then took its fight to the Supreme Court, but its application for leave to appeal was refused on Tuesday.

RSPB Scotland said it was extremely disappointed by the decision, but renewable energy industry bodies hailed it as a significant step forward for offshore wind.

Mainstream Renewable Power, the firm behind the Neart na Gaoithe development off the coast of Fife, said work on the project is expected to start in 2018.

Chief executive Andy Kinsella said: After more than two and a half years, two court hearings and two rejected applications for leave to appeal by RSPB Scotland, we can finally focus on delivering the very significant benefits this project brings to the Scottish economy and its environment.

Supreme Court rejects petition from RSPB Scotland to reconsider consent of Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm - construction to start 2018. pic.twitter.com/qkvv27xK5E  Scottish Renewables (@ScotRenew) November 7, 2017

Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: In light of this refusal for permission to appeal, we will be taking some time to consider all other options remaining to us.

However, we are extremely disappointed with this decision, following nearly a decades worth of effort from RSPB Scotland to help deliver offshore wind in Scotland in a manner that respects one of the countrys most impressive and internationally-renowned natural assets  its fantastic seabird colonies.

Great to see major Scottish offshore wind project Neart na Gaoithe gets go-ahead after Supreme Court decision today: https://t.co/Tnzwn0zLSv pic.twitter.com/kkAgY0pTLU  Dan McGrail (@RenewableUKCEO) November 7, 2017

RenewableUKs chief executive Hugh McNeal said: This is another significant step forward for the UKs world-leading offshore wind industry.

Major infrastructure projects like Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm are vital for our countrys economic growth, as well as playing a key role in tackling climate change.

When building work starts next year, Mainstream Renewable Power will be creating thousands of new jobs, and investing hundreds of millions in the UKs economy as our supply chain extends to every corner of the country.

Stephanie Conesa, policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: News that the Neart na Gaoithe project can now go ahead is good for Scotland, good for the UK and good for our environment.
Roger Federer prepared for his charity match against Andy Murray with some homemade shortbread biscuits - courtesy of the Scots granny.

Murray has not played competitively since struggling through Wimbledon with a hip injury but made his return to the court against 19-time grand slam champion Federer on Tuesday.

The Swiss star attended the Andy Murray Live event in Glasgow and received a surprise pre-match gift in his dressing room.

Roger Federer warming up on court ahead of the Andy Murray Live Event at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow.

Cant get a warmer welcome than this. Thanks @andy_murray ... is this your usual pre-match routine?  pic.twitter.com/mWntwqvDPA  Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 7, 2017

Federer looked like he had already tucked into the shortbread biscuits and had washed them down with a can of IRN-BRU  the Scotland-produced fizzy drink.

Murray then responded by pointing Federer in the direction of another Scottish delicacy.

Yea that's a good start but try a deep fried Mars bar on top of that and you'll be properly ready@rogerfederer  Andy Murray (@andy_murray) November 7, 2017

The 36-year-old Federer won on a tie-break after both men claimed a set 6-3 but it was not the most serious of matches.

Federer played one game wearing a kilt after a light-hearted promise during an interview quickly turned to reality when a female fan appeared at the side of the court and duly took one off with her coat protecting her modesty.

Federer was honing his skills ahead of next weeks ATP World Tour Finals in London while Murray is targeting a new year comeback at the Australian Open.
BAMAKO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A French military strike on armed militants in northern Mali last month inadvertently killed Malian soldiers who were being held hostage by the Islamist group, the West African nation's Defence Ministry said on Monday.

The French army has previously said that 15 members of the Islamist militant group Ansar Dine were taken "out of action" in the Oct. 23 operation in the Abeibara region, which involved Mirage jets, attack helicopters and ground forces.

In the week following the raid however, Malian media reported that 11 soldiers had also been killed. French and Malian military and government officials initially declined to comment on the deaths.

In a statement dated Oct. 31 but only distributed on Monday, the Defence Ministry said that "Malian soldiers, detained by the terrorists, died" in the attack without giving a death toll.

It was not immediately clear why the distribution of the statement, which was drafted following a meeting between the defence minister, France's ambassador to Mali and a French military official, appeared to have been delayed.

Paris has maintained that military intelligence had identified the site as a militant camp and French army spokesman Colonel Patrik Steiger declined to comment on the Malian statement.

"Work is under way with the Malian authorities to determine the identities of individuals killed. It's up to Mali, a sovereign country, to communicate on this subject, not the French forces," he said.

France intervened in 2013 against Islamist militants that seized northern Mali a year earlier. Around 4,000 of its troops remain in West Africa's Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane, a cross-border anti-terrorism operation.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo and Adama Diarra; Additional reporting by Sophie Louet in Paris; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Ed Davies and Agustinus Beo Da Costa

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Nov 7, (Reuters) - When students at Indonesia's prestigious Institute of Agricultural Studies swore an oath to support a caliphate in the world's largest Muslim-majority country last year, a video of the event went viral and the government grew alarmed.

Months later, Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned the decades-old hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which organised the student pledge, and declared its goal to set up a caliphate was incompatible with the constitution and could threaten security.

Last month, under prodding from the government, thousands of students across the nation made an anti-radicalism pledge. It followed an unprecedented gathering in late September of some 3,000 academics in Bali, who also pledged to fight extremism and defend the secular constitution.

The campaign against extremism in education comes amid a rise of a hardline, politicised Islam in Indonesia, which until recently had occupied the fringe of the nation's politics.

"Radical organizations can spread like a virus in universities," said Professor Muhammad Sirozi, rector of the State Islamic University Raden Fatah in Palembang on Sumatra.

"These are not the organizations that students form themselves, but they are from outside," he said at a briefing that outlined ways to help universities tackle radicalism following the Bali conference.

The campaign to root out boosters of the caliphate is not just confined to schools.

A document collated by Indonesia's intelligence agency lists 1,300 HTI members in senior posts in the civil service, universities, the military and police.

An intelligence source confirmed the authenticity of the document, which was reviewed by Reuters. Some of those on it declined to comment after being contacted, but HTI's former spokesman Ismail Yusanto said it did include some of its members.

SUHARTO TACTICS

Illustrating how a politicised brand of Islam has gained traction, nearly 20 percent of high school and university students in Indonesia support the establishment of a caliphate, a survey showed last week.

Moreover, around one in four of the 4,200 Muslim students in the survey by pollster Alvara said they were, to varying degrees, ready to wage jihad to achieve this.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international organisation, established by a Palestinian Islamic scholar in 1953, has been banned in some Arab, Asian and European countries. One of its former members in Indonesia is Bahrun Naim, who went to fight for Islamic State in Syria and is accused of masterminding a series of attacks in Indonesia since early last year.

An officially registered organisation in Indonesia since 2000, HTI has sought a judicial review in the constitutional court over its disbanding.

"They never gave us a chance to defend ourselves. Is it not an authoritarian and repressive action?" said HTI spokesman Yusanto, who likened the crackdown to the tactics used against opponents under former strongman President Suharto.

Asked whether HTI was still operating, Yusanto said no one could ban members from their duty to do "Dakwah" (missionary work) and those activities would continue.

Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir told reporters in July that HTI members were lecturers "in many universities" - Indonesia has 394 state universities and about 3,000 private ones. He warned they could be sacked unless they proffer loyalty to Indonesia's secular ideology Pancasila, or "five principles".

Yusanto said, however, no lecturers who were HTI members had been sacked. A Home Ministry spokesman said a task force set up to find members in the civil service had not found any so far.

MILITARY SYMPATHISERS

One former HTI member, Ayik Heriansyah, said the group tries to enlist support from influential members of society and sympathisers in the security forces to overthrow governments, or what it terms "the handing over of power".

Universities have been a key recruiting ground.

Heriansyah, who was once chairman of HTI at the University of Indonesia, said potential recruits were usually invited to an Islamic study group. After about three months, they might be asked to participate in intensive Hiz b-ut-Tahrir study, said Heriansyah, who said left the group after a falling out with its central board.

Heriansyah said the ban on the group would simply push it underground.

"They are still running the movement as usual, but with a new structure and stewardship," he said.

HTI has not disclosed its membership. Raymond Arifianto, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said his sources say HTI had about one million members, including an estimated 10-15 percent of junior army officers as members or sympathisers.

A spokesman for Indonesia's military denied this.

TARGETING HIGH SCHOOLS

The group has also gained a strong presence in state universities that train public school teachers, meaning new teachers could spread HTI ideology to high school pupils.

A survey published last December by the Institute for the Study of Islam and Society, showed that 78 percent of 505 religious teachers in public schools supported implementing sharia law in Indonesia. The survey also found that 77 percent backed Islamist groups advocating this goal.

Muhammad Abdullah Darraz, director of the Maarif Institute, which promotes religious and cultural harmony, said HTI had targeted religious lessons at state high schools to spread its ideology.

Clerics offered their services for free, often with school principals and teachers being unaware of their affiliation, he told Reuters.

HTI's spokesman denied this was a strategy but said members were obliged to do missionary work without charge.

Indonesia's biggest Islamic groups, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, which claim to have about 120 million members between them, back the crackdown on HTI.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, chairman of NU's GP Ansor youth wing, said that Indonesia had been built by many religions and cultures, but "HTI came and wanted to change this diversity into one nation called an Islamic country." (Additional reporting by Jessica Damiana, Stefanno Reinard, Kanuprya Kapoor and Tom Allard; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
MEXICO CITY, Nov 6 (Reuters) - U.S., Mexican and Canadian officials will kick off some of the next round of talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement slightly ahead of schedule on Nov. 15, four officials familiar with the process said on Monday.

The fifth round of NAFTA negotiations is due to be held between Nov. 17 -21 in Mexico City. However, some groups from the three nations will begin meeting from Nov. 15, the four officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Some topics that will likely be discussed during those days include textiles, services, labor, and intellectual property. It's very possible other topics will be added," one of the officials said.

Mexico's Economy Ministry said in a statement the fifth round would begin on Nov. 17 as planned and that some groups could meet beforehand to review the agendas of the chief negotiators.

One of the officials said the chief negotiators would begin meetings as planned from Nov. 17 and that holding preparatory discussions beforehand was not unusual.

"This doesn't have any substantial impact (on the talks)," another of the officials familiar with the matter said.

A U.S. lobbyist familiar with the process said: "I hear they wanted to move textiles earlier into the schedule."

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from NAFTA if he cannot rework it in favor of the United States. His negotiating team set out proposals in the previous round that caused dismay among Mexican and Canadian counterparts.

Among the most divisive were proposals to establish rules of origin for NAFTA goods that would set minimum levels of U.S. content for autos, a sunset clause that would terminate the trade deal if it is not renegotiated every five years, and to end the so-called Chapter 19 dispute mechanism.

One of the officials said it was possible a counterproposal would be made in the next round on the sunset clause, but was skeptical about the prospect of exploring a compromise on the demand to enshrine U.S. national content in rules of origin. (Reporting by Adriana Barrera, David Ljunggren, Dave Graham and Ginger Gibson; Editing by Tom Brown)
By Saad Sayeed

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Two young boys kneel over small white tables, intently studying the Koran at a madrassa in Pakistan.

The Al-Nadwa Madrassa in the hill station of Murree, 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the capital, Islamabad, is part of an established alternative system of education in the South Asian nation.

Private schools, charitable institutions and religious seminaries are stepping in to supplement government-run schools to help meet the education needs of an estimated 50 million school-age children.

Despite 220,000 schools nationwide, more than 20 million children are not in school, the government said in a 2016 report.

The government has pumped money into schooling, with the education budget swelling by 15 percent every year since 2010, according to education consultancy Alif Ailaan.

The United Nations estimates Pakistan's current education budget at 2.65 percent of GDP, roughly $8 billion, or around $150 per student.

Private educators say the country's education problems are not only due to a lack of funds but also inadequate teaching.

"It's not the number of schools, it's the quality, the attitude," said Zeba Hussain, founder of the Mashal Schools which teaches children displaced by war in the country's north.

Hussain started the charitable Mashal Schools after she met a group of refugee children while visiting the hill areas surrounding Islamabad.

Federal education director Tariq Masood said blaming teachers was unfair. He said population growth and funding were the biggest challenges faced by government schools.

Masood said government schools adhered to a nationwide curriculum that was being constantly reworked and improved.

"No one who is underqualified can enter the government system. There are fewer checks in the private system," he said.

The country's poor often send their children to one of the thousands of religious madrassas (the Arabic word for school) where students live and receive Islamic instruction.

Most operate without government oversight and some madrassas have been criticized for their hardline teachings of Islam.

The madrassas say they provide shelter, three full meals, and a good education to young people whose families are unable to make ends meet.

"In certain cases people send their kids because they can't even afford to feed them," said Irfan Sher from the Al-Nadwa Madrassa.

He said Pakistan's future hinged on education for its youth.

"The overall policy should be changed...they should understand that if they want to change the country the only way is to spread quality education," he said.

(Editing by Darren Schuettler)
By Laura Zuckerman

Nov 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will suspend the use of so-called cyanide bombs to kill wild animals on public lands in Colorado as well as plans to kill dozens of mountain lions and black bears there, federal officials and conservationists said on Monday.

The legal agreement was struck between Wildlife Services, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged with killing so-called nuisance animals like coyotes, and conservation groups.

The deal was the second of its kind in less than a week and came as controversy mounted about the agency's use of M-44s, which critics term "cyanide bombs." The spring-loaded devices emit sodium cyanide and are blamed for accidentally killing pet dogs in Idaho, Wyoming and elsewhere.

Colleen Adkins, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said on Monday the aim of lawsuits filed by activists in western U.S. states against Wildlife Services was "to combat cruel treatment of wildlife."

A spokeswoman for Wildlife Services did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Colorado agreement stems from a lawsuit filed in April in U.S. District Court in Denver by the Center for Biological Diversity and others. The groups alleged Wildlife Services violated federal law by failing to fully assess the potential impact of the killing of cougars and bears in Colorado on other native wildlife like protected Canada lynx.

Federal officials also had planned to shoot as many as 45 mountain lions and 75 bears in western Colorado over three years in a move to fight the decline of mule deer favored by hunters.

Under terms of the Colorado deal, Wildlife Services will assess the likely consequences of its predator-control activities on other wildlife and the environment by August 2018 and suspend the use of M-44s on public lands in the state, court documents showed.

Federal officials will also suspend plans to kill cougars or bears there to boost deer numbers, according to court documents.

Last Wednesday, a U.S. judge approved a settlement between Wildlife Services and environmental activists tied to a lawsuit they filed in California that similarly alleged the U.S. agency had failed to conduct a thorough environmental analysis of its killing of wild animals in Northern California.

Under that accord, Wildlife Services suspended for at least six years its practice of gunning down coyotes from helicopters and airplanes, and using traps to kill creatures in wilderness areas in 16 Northern California counties. (Reporting by Laura Zuckerman in Pinedale, Wyo.; Editing by Peter Cooney)
SYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court rejected an application on Tuesday to restore water, electricity and food supply to an Australian-run detention centre in which nearly 600 men have been barricaded for a week, refusing to move.

The men in the Manus Island facility have defied attempts by Australia and Papua New Guinea to close the camp, refusing to move to three transit centres despite having little food or drinking water, and several men needing medical help.

The men have repeatedly said they will not move to the transit camps because they feared local residents may attack them.

The court's ruling could further prolong the stand-off described last week by the United Nations as a "looming humanitarian crisis".

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Eric Meijer)
By Colin Packham

SYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court rejected an application on Tuesday to restore water, electricity and food supplies to an Australian-run detention centre for asylum seekers where nearly 600 men have been barricaded for a week.

The men in the remote Manus Island facility have defied attempts by Australia and Papua New Guinea to close the camp, refusing to move to three transit centres despite having little food or drinking water.

Dozens of them also need medical help, three asylum seekers said, in a stand-off that the United Nations has described as a "looming humanitarian crisis".

The men have repeatedly said they would not move to the transit camps because they feared PNG residents on the island may attack, or that the will be resettled elsewhere in PNG or another developing nation.

The court rejected the challenge on behalf of one of the detainees because it said power, water and food were available at the three transit centres, Ben Lomai, a lawyer for the detainee who lodged the application, told Reuters.

Kate Schuetze, Pacific researcher for rights group Amnesty International, warned conditions could deteriorate "catastrophically".

"The lives of these men, who are only asking for their rights to dignity and safety, are at serious risk," Schuetze said in a statement.

The men, who include asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Syria, were last given food on Oct. 29 and have been relying on sporadic aid from Manus island locals and rainwater.

Several of the detainees told Reuters Papua New Guinea's navy had blocked access for islanders trying to deliver supplies in the past few days. Representatives for Papua New Guinea Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas did not respond immediately to a request for comment about the claim.

Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish journalist from Iran who has been detained on Manus island for more than four years, said 90 of the men were sick and required "urgent" medical treatment.

"They have infection, stomach ache and diarrhoea because of dirty water," Boochani told Reuters.

Despite the conditions, several of the men said they would continue to defy efforts to get them to leave, frustrating Australia's attempts to close one of two controversial detention centres it uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat.

The Manus island camp, and another on the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru, have been the cornerstones of Australia's controversial immigration policies, which has been strongly criticised by the United Nations and rights groups.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said before the court ruling on Tuesday the men were only refusing to move to the new transit centres on the encouragement of advocates.

"There are alternative facilities available of a very high quality with food and all of the facilities," Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

The relocation of the men is designed to give the United States time to complete vetting of candidates as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees.

Turnbull negotiated the deal with former U.S. President Barack Obama last year. Under the deal, Australia will accept refugees from Central America. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Additional reporting by Will Ziebell; Editing by Eric Meijer and Paul Tait)
SOFIA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Deputy Finance Minister Kiril Ananiev will be nominated for health minister, sources familiar with the government's plans said. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is expected to ask the parliament to approve Ananiev on the paost on Friday after the previous health minister resigned following media allegations of nepotism. (24 Chasa, Standart, Trud, Capital Daily, Sega, Telegraph)

-- Bulgaria will receive over 1.3 billion euros next year in European Union co-funding of projects, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said. (Standart, Trud)

-- Some 330,000 Bulgarians in the country with a population of 7.1 million do not work, study or seek jobs, a new public opinion poll showed. (Duma, Capital Daily, Standart, 24 Chasa)
The Iluminati, the faked 1969 moon landing, reported alien sightings: These arent generally topics that come up in the average high school social studies or English class.

If they do, teachers may feel compelled to dismiss them and hurriedly move on to more reputable sources of information.

But there can be instructional value in teaching students about far-fetched claims pitched as news, or even conspiracy theories, says Renee Hobbs, a professor of communication studies at the University of Rhode Islands Harrington School of Communications and Media. Hobbs is also the director of the Harrington Schools Media Education Lab , a research hub and educator resource for teaching media literacy.



"[W]hen teachers and school librarians make all the choices for students, students never get the chance to learn how to make good choices for themselves, she wrote in an article published earlier this year in Knowledge Quest , the Journal of the American Association of School Librarians. Challenging students to evaluate loosely-substantiated claims teaches source evaluation and bias detection, she argues.

Hobbs is also a member of the steering committee for Media Literacy Now Rhode Island , one of the organizations that advocated for Rhode Islands recently passed digital literacy education law. The state is one of several to recently implement legislation requiring teachers to teach media literacy, preparing students to identify fake news and misinformation online.

All of these issues are front and center over the next few days during Media Literacy Week . The third-annual series of events, webinars, and virtual discussions aims to highlight the importance of media literacy and its role in K-12 and higher education. The program is arranged by the National Association for Media Literacy Education and sponsored by Twitter, Facebook, and other corporate partners.

Hobbs spoke with Education Week by phone from Media Literacy Weeks kick-off event in New York City, where she led a workshop on teaching conspiracy theories and determining validity. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

In many ways, media literacy isnt a new idea. Teachers have been demonstrating how to identify and analyze media bias and propaganda for years. But the internet and social media have overwhelmed todays teenagers with information, often from politically polarized viewpoints. What skills do students need to navigate this new media landscape, and how should educators change or update their approach to teaching media literacy?

One thing that teachers are doing is theyre bringing in the artifacts of the social media landscape as an object of inquiry. Today I just talked about conspiracy theories and my article in Knowledge Quest from the Association of School Librarians. Bringing in a conspiracy theory in order to deconstruct and analyze it: Thats one pedagogy that teachers are using.

Teachers are also bringing in examples of memes. Memes spread and share and get transmitted and are created in ways that are different than other forms of expression and communication. There, the basic competency is: Can you ask critical questions about those artifacts in ways that promote intellectual curiosity, deepen analysis skills, and inspire student creativity?

Media literacy tries to build a bridge between the classroom and the living room. Often, students learnand not just students, but teachers also, when they go through teacher education programsthey learn that theres stuff that you talk about in school, and stuff that you never talk about in school. Theres stuff that you analyze, and then theres stuff you just enjoy. Media literacy wants to problematize that. We want you to analyze the stuff you enjoy.

It really builds a learning model where teachers and students are co-learners. For a middle or high school teacher, its very likely that she knows less about Snapchat as a platform, as a medium of expression and communication, than her students do. But the teacher doesnt have to be the expert in the medium. What she has to do is adopt a model of co-inquiry where, as learners together, were going to try to understand: What makes a message shareable on Snapchat? Whats a good Snap? How are image and language combined in this medium in ways that reshape meaning? And how can you spread or share informationand misinformationon Snapchat?

In your book published this year, Create to Learn: Introduction to Digital Literacy, you encourage the development of students as digital authors. How does creating and sharing multimedia texts develop different skills than writing an essay with pen and paper, or giving a class presentation?

One example gives you a sense of the power here. One of the standard activities we use in high school and middle schooland all throughout the curriculum, certainly by grade 3were engaging in the practice of comparison and contrast. Its a form of analysis thats pretty standard.

It turns out that some visual media really change the way we think about comparison/contrast. Teachers will often use the classic Venn Diagram to teach about comparison/contrast. But when students are asked to make an infographic to engage in comparison/contrast, they actually end up having to think through the idea of similarities and differences in a way that activates linguistic representation, visual or pictorial information, and spatial information. They find out that where you put the words on the screen shapes the way that the viewer receives it: whether that information is at the bottom, whether its in the middle, whether its at the top.

Students learn that some visuals kind of shortcut peoples thinking; theyre kind of like a stereotype. In the process of creating an infographic, students become more aware that information and ideas are always constructed by people who have motive, and theyre always selective and incomplete.

Earlier this year, Rhode Island passed a law that requires the state department of education to consider incorporating media literacy into the curriculum. Media Literacy Now Rhode Island , of which youre on the steering committee, played a big role in advocating for the law. At this point, are there any updates on what that media literacy component will look like, or how it will be integrated across the curriculum?

The passing of the law would never have been possible if it werent for the mobilization of teachers, librarians, youth media advocates, and other activists that happened over the five years of the community forming, largely around the Summer Institute in Digital Literacy, which is a professional development program for educators that [the Media Education Lab has] been running since 2013. Every year at that event, we get teachers from all across Rhode Island and from 15 or 20 different states as well. Those teachers began to see themselves as part of a community.

The bill itself is very modest. It says that the Rhode Island department of education will consider incorporating media literacy into its basic curriculum. Its very much a first step. The plan is simply to use the best practices [that weve been collecting.] Tonight we have our webinar : Whats already happening with the state of media literacy in Rhode Island, collecting those best practices, and sharing those with the Rhode Island department of education, as a way to say look: Heres whats already happening. Its certanly not happening in ways that reach all children in the state. But, best practices can really inspire other educators and school leaders.

What are some best practices being used by districts?

My first book [Reading the Media: Media Literacy in High School English], written in 2007, was about a school district in Concord, New Hampshire, where the entire English department got together and said, Were preparing our students to be English majors in college, but most of them wont be English majors in college. Maybe we should think differently about preparing them for life in a complicated, information-dense media world. That school districts initiative to bring media literacy into the curriculum is still pretty exemplary.

Since then, there are so many others. [The Journal of Media Literacy Education] just published a really interesting article : A school in Florida, the G-Star School of the Arts, that integrates media literacy into the curriculum through creative expression.

We could say more broadly that succesful programs can be built upon this dialectic of empowerment and protection. Teachers can be motivated by wanting to protect kids from the worst aspects of media culture, and they can also be motivated by wanting to share with students the best aspects of what media and technology bring. Both approaches can be very successful in schools, and its really situational and contextual. In the buckle of the Bible Belt in Tulsa, media literacy is going to look different than in does in Brookline, Massachusetts. Thats the way it should be. It needs to be responsive to the community and the culture.

Photo courtesy of Renee Hobbs.

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By Stine Jacobsen

COPENHAGEN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A.P. Moller-Maersk , the world's largest container shipping group, cut the profit forecast for its core business on Tuesday after a costly cyber attack and a weaker than expected third quarter.

Maersk, which agreed to sell its oil and gas business to Total in a $7.5 billion deal this year, has to prove to investors that the firm's strategy to focus on transport and logistics is the right one even with oil prices rising again.

Expectations for the container shipping business had been high after Chief Executive Soren Skou said in August that fundamentals were "at their best since 2010".

However, Maersk's freight rates declined 1.1 percent compared to the second quarter, further signs of the impact of overcapacity that has dogged the industry.

"The freight rates sticks out as the most negative element ... I'm very surprised that they as a minimum can't deliver the same rates as in the second quarter," said Sydbank analyst Morten Imsgard. Sydbank has an 'hold' rating on the stock.

A sweeping consolidation of container lines, which transport everything from televisions to fresh fruit, has helped the industry recover from a severe downturn that culminated in last year's collapse of South Korea's Hanjin Shipping.

Maersk shares are up about 25 percent so far this year, but has slipped since mid-July due to softer growth in freight rates. Maersk shares were trading 4 percent lower at 1000 GMT.

The group reported a net loss of $1.4 billion in the third quarter after it took a $1.75 billion impairment on its offshore drilling business. Analysts had expected a $383 million profit.

CYBER ATTACK

For the container business, Maersk now expects an improvement of around $1 billion in underlying profit versus a previous guidance of above $1 billion due to higher costs related to the June cyber-attack and higher bunker fuel costs.

"The third quarter has been more difficult for us and we could have grown more if we hadn't had this terrible criminal cyber attack," Maersk CFO Jakob Stausholm told Reuters.

The company put the cost of the cyber attack at $250-300 million after it hit its computers and delayed cargoes.

Stausholm also said that container freight rates had been worse than expected during the quarter but that the market still looked "reasonable".

For the whole group, Maersk had previously expected underlying profit for the year above the $711 million from 2016.

Its new guidance is adjusted for the discontinued operations of its energy assets which it said meant the year-ago number for continued operations was a loss of $546 million.

"This is actually a small upward revision ... What we've said was that we would get a better result than in 2016 and when we reclassify the result last year was actually negative," Stausholm.

The company's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at $978 million, below the $1.2 billion average forecast in a Reuters poll.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Keith Weir)
By Jibran Ahmed

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The Khyber Pass border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was closed to all traffic on Tuesday for the return of a Pakistani diplomat who was shot dead in Afghanistan by unknown gunmen.

Pakistan summoned the Afghan charge d`affaires in Islamabad to protest against the killing of consular official Nayyar Iqbal Rana on Monday near his residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad, Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been going through a stormy period with tensions over the latest U.S. strategic plan for the region and disputes over the Torkham border crossing, which Pakistan has closed periodically.

"We received the body of late Nayyar Iqbal Rana in Torkham today," a government official in Torkham who asked not to be identified told Reuters.

"The Pakistan-Afghanistan border was closed for all types of traffic."

Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, condemned the killing in a message on Twitter and said he had conveyed his government's sympathies to the ministry of foreign affairs in Islamabad.

The killing comes around a week after the deputy governor of Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan was kidnapped near the Pakistani city of Peshawar, although there was no immediate indication of any connection between the two. (Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Nick Macfie)
TALLINN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Estonia has detained a man suspected of being a Russian agent operating against the Estonian state, the prosecutor's office said on Tuesday. The man was stopped at the weekend as he prepared to leave Estonia for Russia from the north-east border town of Narva. He was formally charged on Monday in a Tallinn court.

"A person, who is a Russian citizen, is suspected of acting as an FSB agent in the preparation of a computer crime against the Republic of Estonia," the prosecutors office said. "The target of his action against Estonia was the Estonian state authorities." No further details were given.

Russia's Federal Security Service is a successor to the KGB, the Soviet Union's security service.

Estonia, occupied by the Soviet Union until 1991 but now a member of NATO and the European Union, has a strained relationship with its powerful neighbour.

In May this year, Estonia expelled two Russian diplomats posted at Moscow's consulate in Narva for contacts with local officials that were considered inappropriate for diplomats.

Earlier in the same month, an Estonian court handed out a five-year prison sentence to a Russian national for spying for the foreign intelligence unit of the Russian armed forces.

(Reporting by David Mardiste; Editing by Larry King)
By Libby George and Paul Carsten

ABUJA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Nigeria's oil minister will visit the Niger Delta this week in a bid to stave off a threat of more insurgent attacks in the area, and said that without more investment it would be a struggle to ease tensions and develop its main crude producing region.

The Niger Delta Avengers, whose attacks on energy facilities in the region last year helped push Africa's biggest economy into recession, said on Friday it had ended its ceasefire in its campaign for more of Nigeria's oil earnings.

"We're constrained by cash," Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum, told Reuters in an interview on Monday when discussing efforts to develop the Delta. "We've scurried around for some money just to begin the process."

He said he would meet representatives of the militants and other stakeholders during a visit to the region on Nov. 9.

The minister said the government needed to develop its oil and economy to deliver on promises of more cash for the Delta, which rights groups say has long suffered from pollution and poor investment despite being the source for much of Nigeria's oil output of around 2 million barrels per day (bpd).

Kachikwu said a return to violence by the militants would be "mutually destructive", adding: "I am sure that like they did the last time, when they see a concrete action plan they would listen."

Attacks in the oil producing region drove Nigeria's oil output down to close to 1 million bpd. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting granted Nigeria an exemption from a global deal to curb output to help it recover.

In its race to rebuild, Kachikwu said Shell and Eni should press on with developing oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245. The $1.3 billion award of the block in 2011 is subject to corruption investigations and court cases. The firms deny wrongdoing.

"It's been allocated, and there are development plans for it (the block) and those development plans should go forward," Kachikwu said. "The development of assets should not suffer because we are dealing with a legacy transparency issue."

The minister said he intended to launch a "roadmap" in January inviting investors to fund repairs and upgrades to pipelines and oil depots, mirroring efforts that aim to draw $1.5 billion to $2 billion into Nigeria's ailing refineries.

Kachikwu said the plans would not involve selling state-owned stakes but attracting private capital was essential. "We don't have the resources, and we don't have the time to raise the resources, to revamp the sector," he said.

On changes in the industry, the minister said revisions to oil contracts and operations at state oil company NNPC had saved money, citing deals to exchange crude for fuel, dubbed "direct sale, direct purchase", that saved the state $1 billion.

Nigeria has called for early talks to renew oil licences held by Shell, Total and others. Licences for several key fields expire in two years and oil firms are typically reluctant to make big investments without long-term assurances.

Kachikwu said such talks could be concluded by the first quarter of next year, although negotiations that are handled by the Department of Petroleum Resources had not yet started.

(Writing by Libby George; Editing by Edmund Blair)
BERLIN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The German economy is at risk of overheating, a council of economic advisers to the German government has warned, according to a report published in newspaper Handelsblatt, with output expected to expand strongly this year and next.

In their annual report, due to be published on Wednesday, the five "wise men" said the economy, which they expect to grow by 2 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2018, was expanding above its capacity and heading gradually into a "boom phase".

The report urged the government to push for more fiscal consolidation and also to cut taxes, Handelsblatt reported. (Reporting By Thomas Escritt; Editing by Paul Carrel)
By Marta Nogueira

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Brazil has rejected an informal effort by Saudi Arabia to coax Latin America's top oil producer into joining OPEC-led production cuts aimed at boosting prices that have been hit by oversupply, a Brazilian official said on Tuesday.

Marcio Felix, Brazil's oil and gas secretary, told Reuters he received a call last week from an adviser to Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih "sounding him out" about potential production cuts.

"They are worried about the growth of production in Brazil," Felix said in a phone interview, explaining Saudi interest in Brazilian cuts. "We have explained already that Brazil cannot do this," he said.

The call occurred days after oil majors like Royal Dutch Shell snapped up blocks in a historic opening of Brazil's coveted offshore pre-salt oil play to foreign operators, part of its bid to aggressively boost output in the coming years.

Brazil, which produces 2.65 million barrels of crude per day (bpd), by law cannot control output. The South American country could double its oil production to more than 5 million barrels a day (bpd) by 2027, regulator ANP has said.

Felix, who attended an OPEC meeting last year, said Brazil has been approached by the world's largest oil exporter on previous occasions to discuss the issue.

They "don't give up easily," he said.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 bpd together with 10 other nations including Russia until March 2018.

OPEC meets at the end of this month and has been widely expected to extend the deal.

Oil prices surged to their highest since July 2015 on Monday as Saudi Arabia's crown prince cemented his power with a crackdown on corruption and tensions ratcheted up between the country and rival OPEC member Iran. (Additional Reporting by Jake Spring in Brasilia and Rania El Gamal in Dubai; Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Tom Brown)
The roaming exhibition which was showcased in the Northern Province has now reached the districts of Ampara, where it inaugurated on 17th October, and Batticaloa on 19th October.



This exhibition is part of the EUR60 million European Unions Support to District Development Programme (EU-SDDP), which helps the poorest communities in Sri Lanka by providing basic infrastructure and services that benefit the local economy. EU-SDDP is jointly implemented by five UN agenciesUNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, FAO, ILO and IFC, a member the World Bank Group.



The event was inaugurated by Olaf Heidelbach of the EU, and Government Agent Wanigasinghe and Assistant District Secretary A. Naveshvaran for Ampara and Batticaloa respectively. Also in attendance in Batticaloa was Batticaloa District Secretariat Planning Director R. Neduncheliyan. EU-SDDP covers the Batticaloa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Puttalam districts impacting half a million people.



In the Eastern Province, the EU-SDDP through the UN and IFC has worked on a wide variety of issues. UNDP, in collaboration with government institutions has developed comprehensive District Development Plans that will assist the districts in efficiently budgeting and expressing their needs. In addition, by supporting income generation activities and developing productive infrastructure the goal is that the people have better living standards. In the same districts of the East, UNICEF has assisted more than 18,000 children through provision of access to quality education. Further, more than 200,000 people will benefit from UNICEFs work, providing increased access to quality water, sanitation and healthcare facilities and child protection services. Complementing the efforts is UNOPS that has been a leader in establishing an integrated solid waste management system that is managed by the local authorities in Batticaloa. In addition to the newly constructed waste management facilities, local authority now have the necessary capacity to provide a more efficient waste management service for over 400,000 people. The most important part of UNOPS support has been the ownership of the people that will also see small businesses earning money from different segments of the waste cycle.



Other UN agencies such as FAO works in partnership with the government to increase income generation among the rural population by supporting 22,000 households for agriculture, livestock and fishery economic activities in the Eastern Province. Rural communities are benefiting from inclusive and sustainable agriculture, diversification of income sources, employment and entrepreneurship, and the sustainable management of natural resources. 30 irrigation tanks in the province were also rehabilitated while communities have been made aware about the importance of conserving the tank eco-system. Additionally, FAO has played a key role in strengthening of government institutions such as the Agriculture In-Service Training Center in Karadiyanaru which was reconstructed with funding of Rs.82 million from the EU and the establishment of Sri Lankas first Multi-Species Marine Finfish Hatchery in Batticaloa.



Similarly, ILOs support has been mainly in the field of enabling the youth to be gainfully employed. Through partnering with various vocational centers in the East, ILO has ensured that more than 1600 youth are trained in demand oriented courses such as hospitality, heavy equipment operating, ICT, welding, offset printing, construction site supervision and other construction trades. Twenty three vocational training centers belonging to public and private institutes in both districts, through the EU-SDDP and with ILO support have been equipped, provided with direct training cost, staff trained, with improved curriculum to address the needs of the employers and youth/job seekers.The newly established Public Employment Services (PES) centers are in full operation and extend their services to youth of the districts.



To boost small business growth, IFC has helped facilitate more than 21,000 loans in Ampara and Batticaloa with a total value of EUR 42 million. An integral part of the work done has been to also support the integration of over 600 MSMEs, into large supply chains through training and capacity building programs. Further, to promote tourism to the region, IFC also launched the mobile business registration in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and partnered with National Geographic to develop a Geo-tourism Map guide for Eastern Sri Lanka.
We predicted this disaster, warned the govt.- Trade union

Ministry requests to issue petrol only for vehicles

Sapugaskanda oil refinery could break down any time

The ship is expected to arrive tonight

The impending fuel crisis has caused much inconvenience to the public. Long queues of three wheelers, cars and other vehicles and complaints by the public indicate the severity of this crisis. The rejection of a shipment imported by the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) was one of the main reasons behind this shortage. The LIOC accounts for 16% of market share in the supply of petrol in the country and officials claim that to date they have not supplied any substandard fuel to the consumers.

Several rejections in fuel shipments, a major delay in the arrival of a ship under the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and a sudden breakdown of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, added more fuel to the fire. Hence, the Daily Mirror sheds light on the main reasons why this shortage took place and what measures could be taken to mitigate such situations in future.

What went wrong?

On October 15, 2017, a ship containing petrol brought down by the LIOC was rejected by two experiments. Upon rejection, the ship was returned but according to sources, it has been docked in Trincomalee for over 16 days in an attempt to distribute this fuel back to the consumers. According to regulations, if one stock is rejected the Company has to get down an alternative stock which was supposed to reach Sri Lanka on October 31, 2017. But several days later the Company has refused to bring it down.

On the other hand, a ship distributing fuel stocks to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) was supposed to reach Sri Lanka on November 2, 2017 but that too would reach Lankan waters only on November 9. According to Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Arjuna Ranatunga, this is the first time that a fuel shipment has delayed to reach its destination. The mess was further worsened when the Sapugaskanda oil refinery too broke down on October 31 following a power failure and this continued for three days. With this failure, a production of 330 metric tonnes (MT) generated per day was halted.

2500 MT of petrol will be distributed for the next few days : Arjuna Ranatunga

I apologise to the public for the inconvenience caused, said subject Minister Arjuna Ranatunga speaking to media on Monday. But if I approved the distribution of this substandard oil and if it was mixed with other fuel in the stations, there would have been a bigger problem.

This would not have been such an issue but this panic situation was created through a series of text messages which were sent out by an organized group. Today the issue has blown out of proportion to the extent that people have started collecting petrol in bottles and cans and have started their own businessess. The next ship is supposed to reach Lankan waters on the night of November 8, and by November 9, this petrol issue will be controlled. There is no issue with diesel and stocks are sufficient for the next two or three weeks.

The storage capacity for petrol is only 90,000 MT in the storage facilities we have

I have been asked if I would investigate into the matter but right now what I want is to get down petrol and nothing else. We will also be implementing a mechanism to stop bringing in substandard fuel. For the next few days, 2500 MTs of fuel will be distributed but due to a higher demand, several stations have a tendency of running out of petrol.

The storage capacity for petrol is only 90,000 MT in the storage facilities we have. A ship usually has a capacity of 40,000 MT. As such, a ship arrives when this amount is needed. Otherwise it would be quite costly to import shipments as and when required. Due to this situation, there is a 1.5% increase in the demand for petrol in stations, islandwide, he added.

The responsible company(s) should be blacklisted :Wasantha Samarasinghe

Airing his views about this issue, JVP politburo member and Voice Against Corruption Convener Wasantha Samarasinghe said that if a company (supplier) delays to send their shipments or sends substandard fuel then they have to be blacklisted. They are putting an entire country at an inconvenience. Therefore this issue cannot be taken on a lighter note. Because of this crisis, the government moves to obtaining Spot Tenders instead of Term Tenders and because of this, the loss incurred in more than Rs. 5,836 million.

The other issue is that these Spot Tenders are also given by the same people who give Term Tenders and in this situation they give their shipments at a higher price. As a result, everyone has to buy fuel at a higher cost today. The government has to be responsible for this entire fiasco and people have now observed the so-called good governance they all spoke about.

Because of this crisis, the government moves to obtaining Spot Tenders

Lack of adequate storage facilities needs to be addressed : CPCWU

In his opinion, General Secretary of the Ceylon Petroleum Common Workers Union (CPCWU) D. J. Rajakaruna said that the main reasons for this fuel shortage are the delay in this particular shipment and the lack of adequate storage facilities. If the country cannot store fuel then it is an issue that the government has to address immediately.

The issue with CPC fuel is that its stores are less but the consumption is high. There are 99 tanks in Trincomalee but only eight are being used by IOC. A cabinet approval was then given to give 10 tanks to CPC but this was not allowed. But instead the government decides to lease these tanks to IOC. But if these tanks had been given to CPC we could have saved the money and converted it into an international storage facility on the long run.

This is the main reason why we filed a case as well. We saw this issue coming and we warned the government as well, but they didnt take any notice. The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery needs refurbishing and it would shut down any time. So without looking at these issues, the government is keener in leasing the Trincomalee Oil Tanks to India. I think we do not need IOC in Sri Lanka at all, because more than the concerns of the people they are aiming at the oil tanks in Trinco.

If a shipment is delayed, legal actions could be taken upon inquiry.

The trade union stated that if substandard oil is sent, theres a tendency for the company [supplier] to get blacklisted but it depends on the agreement between the supplier and the buyer. In addition to that if a shipment is delayed, legal actions could be taken upon inquiry.

The trade union also confirmed that at this point, before the government takes action on its delay the ship has to immediately distribute its fuel upon arrival accordingly as people are already facing a crisis. Usually if a ship delays, it will be a disadvantage for the ship (supplier) as they will have to dock their ships for a long time and it would cost them a lot of money.

The supplier may be blacklisted Shyam Bohra, MD - LIOC

Speaking to the , Managing Director of LIOC Shyam Bohra said that legal actions would be taken against the supplier and it could even go to the extent of blacklisting. It was the fault of the supplier; M/s TOTAL, a French Multinational Company who had sent some fuel with visible particles. Immediately after the rejection, we sent this ship back and we are yet to receive a new stock on November 10. As far as the specifications are concerned the product has failed to meet the quality compliance process. When the samples were tested at the CPC/CPSTL laboratory the fuel contained some visible particles and therefore the stock was rejected.

As far as the specifications are concerned the product has failed to meet the quality compliance process

On this note, we requested the supplier to replace the cargo. We have been buying fuel from this supplier for the past four to five years and this is the first instance we had a problem. LIOC has not distributed low quality fuel and this could be confirmed through past records.

He further said that 3500 MT of petrol was still available and some quantity of petrol is also generated from the LIOC Trincomalee Terminal. The present situation is mainly due to the fact that the stock of petrol imported by CPC has got delayed and M/s TOTAL is taking time to replace the cargo.

Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm

The Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm entail a great deal of engagement in Indo-Lanka relations.

The then United National Party (UNP) led government signed a tripartite agreement in February 2003 to develop the oil tank farm with India.

The parties of this agreement included the government of Sri Lanka [GoSL], Lanka IOC [Pvt] Ltd. [LIOC] and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation [CPC]. As per the lease agreement, the oil tank farm with 99 tanks was to be handed over to the LIOC for use for a period of 35 years.

Accordingly, they started using 14 tanks in the lower farm area. The remaining 84 tanks in the upper tank area were not in use. Back in March 2015, during the Indian PMs visit to Sri Lanka it was agreed that Lanka IOC [LIOC] and the CPC would jointly develop the Upper Tank Farm of the China Bay Installation in Trincomalee on mutually agreed terms.
While saying that the current petrol crisis will be probed as to who caused it, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he could not agree with the criticism heaped on the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) for the crisis.

The Prime Minister was referring to a statement made by Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake and joint opposition parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardene who earlier said the petrol shortage would not have taken place if LIOC was not allowed to get involved in the fuel distribution of the country.

The Premier said the current crisis was probably caused by others and that it would be probed.

The fuel supply was maintained to some extent during the recent strike action launched by petroleum workers, thanks to the LIOC," the Prime Minister said.

He said oil tanks in Trincomalee were given to LIOC because CPC was not able to make use of it for a long time due to the lack of financial resources.

"We inquired from India whether it was interested in investing in this and they agreed and an MOU was signed," the Prime Minister added.

Referring to the allegation that he sought Cabinet approval to acquire 10 oil tanks in Trincomalee of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) with another cabinet memorandum, the Prime Minister said the second memorandum which he submitted, only said that the government should look into the agreement before making a decision.

The Prime Minister said he and the President had already discussed with the Indian High Commissioner on getting another shipment of Petrol from India and that this would be in addition to the shipment due to arrive in Colombo tomorrow. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)
A couple has been arrested by the police on charges of possessing 568 possessing counterfeit notes with a face value of Rs. 2.16 million at Ariyalai in Jaffna yesterday.

Police said the suspect couple was arrested following a tipoff received by the Jaffna police.

Police seized 400 notes with a face value of Rs. 5000 and 168 notes of Rs. 1000.

The arrested man (26) and his wife (19) were identified as residents of Alaweddi and Maniyamthottam.

Police also recovered two printers, a scanner and a laptop that had been used by the suspects for counterfeit notes printing during the raid.

The suspects were to be produced in the Jaffna Magistrate Court today.(Darshana Sanjeewa)
Parents in Louisiana now have a new tool to help them choose an early-childhood education center.

The state Department of Education released an interactive, online tool Tuesday known as the Louisiana School Finder . Its designed to help families find and evaluate both child-care centers and K-12 schools.

State Superintendent of Education John White said the tool is an important step in closing the gap between early-learning programs and K-12 education.

Its time that we stop accepting the fragmentation of these programs and understand that they really are part of one comprehensive education system, and we should be reporting their results as such, said White.

The school finder will give parents access to early-childhood performance profiles for 1,500 publicly funded child-care centers, Head Start programs, and pre-K programs.

Its our responsibility to give parents information as to the quality of services that the taxpayer is paying for, said White.

But he said its also about helping the states schools and early-childhood education centers to get better.

Systems dont improve unless there is an awareness of where there are strengths and weaknesses, and a transparent outlining of the strengths and weaknesses within the system is a fundamental step toward improvement, said White.

The tool includes ratings for each center of excellent, proficient, approaching proficient, and unsatisfactory. If a center rates unsatisfactory twice, it becomes ineligible for public funding. Two percent of centers have earned the excellent rating, while 66 percent are rated proficient.

The ratings are based on the findings of trained observers who go into classrooms and watch teachers interact with students several times a year. Theyre looking for warm, friendly teachers and well-organized environments that promote learning and development.

The tool also provides parents with ratings on classroom climate, instructional quality, and curriculum along with information about teacher certification and compliance with child-safety regulations. Parents can also get practical information such as where the center is located, what its hours are, and how much it costs.

The state Department of Education produced this video to explain how the interactive tool works:

Photo: Students at Beary Cherry Tree, a daycare center in Metairie, Louisiana, listen to their teacher read a story. Courtesy Louisiana Department of Education
Sri Lanka College of Radiologists celebrates Intl Day of Radiology

Today, November 8, is earmarked as the International Day of Radiology which is celebrated each year by the global radiology community. It was on this day 121 years ago that German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen made history by inventing the X-ray, a discovery that revolutionised the practice of medicine. From that day on, radiology has emerged as one of the most important branches of medicine, continuing to develop in leaps and bounds, helping to save precious lives. Now in Sri Lanka too, Radiologists render a valuable service as specialised medical professionals in patient management, disease prevention, health screening and so forth.

Today, the Sri Lanka College of Radiologists, which is the professional body representing all Radiologists in the country, joins the world radiology community in celebrating the International Day of Radiology (IDoR 2017). This years theme is Emergency Radiology, highlighting the advances made in emergency radiology and its role in detection, diagnosis and management of acute diseases, injuries and trauma.

Emergency radiology can be defined as a branch of radiology, dedicated to imaging and management of patients who are acutely ill or injured. Although relatively-new as a field, emergency radiology has already emerged as a vital and indispensable specialty with a rapid growth parallel to the expansion of emergency medicine which itself is considered a separate specialty of medicine. Healthcare institutions worldwide have now established accident, emergency and primary care units, exclusively treating accidental trauma and medical and surgical emergencies.

Sports and occupational injuries are another category of emergencies necessitating designated facilities to provide emergency lifesaving care. These emergency units are equipped with modern imaging facilities such as high-end ultra-sound (US) and computed tomography (CT) scanners, and in some instances, with vascular intervention suites for prompt diagnosis and treatment of all kinds of emergencies. Therefore, responsibility of the emergency radiologist is immense and does not lie only with imaging of patients in the emergency department, but also as a clinician performing minimally-invasive procedures saving lives. Because emergencies can happen anytime, emergency radiologists should be always on hand, readily able to perform head-to-toe imaging procedures and interpret their results rapidly and accurately.

Because emergencies can happen anytime, emergency radiologists should be always on hand

There have been many technical advancements, scientific innovations and clinical developments in the field of emergency radiology during the past couple of decades. State-of-the-art high-end US, multi-detector CT and digital plain radiography has revolutionised patient care in emergency medicine. The attending radiologist diagnoses injuries and emergencies such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction, internal bleeding, stroke and gynecological emergencies, with the facilities available at his/her centre. Tertiary care hospitals in main cities are well-equipped with modern facilities even for interventional procedures where radiologists can treat internal bleeding, drain internal abscesses, relieve obstructions and so forth, without patients having to undergo cumbersome surgeries.

Prompt attendance to patients with stroke with vascular interventional procedures such as clot retraction could immensely improve long-term prognosis. However, this is in stark contrast to the challenging situation prevalent in peripheral parts of the island, where the radiologist is compelled to provide a comparable service with bare minimum of facilities available.

We, as the Sri Lanka College of Radiologists, mark the International Day of Radiology and align with its theme by highlighting the contribution of emergency radiology in the care of critically ill or injured patients. We will always strive to provide the best imaging facilities to our needy patients with the same commitment.
Managing Director Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) Shyam Bhora disproved Petroleum Resource Development Minister Arjuna Ranatungas claim that his company had pressurized the Minister and the officials to accept the contaminated fuel shipment. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Bhora said that although the LIOC had sufficient stock to meet the demands for 25 to 30 days without the contaminated stock that arrived at Colombo on October 15, as a goodwill gesture, he had requested their global suppliers to supply fuel to Sri Lanka in order to assist the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as their shipments were getting delayed.

When we understood that the shipments CPC was expecting on November 2 were getting delayed, we requested our global suppliers to send fuel to avert the crisis. These stocks are expected to arrive in Colombo on November 10. We have assisted the CPC to procure emergency shipments whenever they faced crisis situations. Even when the CPC officers were on strike, the LIOC worked round the clock to supply the petroleum products, Bhora said

We are not here to confront the Minister or any other official

The shipload of petrol that reached Colombo on October 15 was contaminated

Once the shipment is rejected, we do not have any role to play thereafter with the stock until we receive another stock

The Excerpts

Q Is it true that the shipment of petrol that reached Colombo on October 15 was contaminated?

Yes, the stock of 35,000MT petrol supplied by the French Oil Company M/s TOTAL that arrived the Colombo Port was contaminated. The appearance did not meet with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) specifications for gasoline 92 Octane. So the stock was rejected, and which is understandable.

Q Did the LIOC at any point refuse to accept the specification report?

As per the routine procedure the stock was tested by the CPC and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) laboratory before being accepted by us. It was found that the shipment contained some visible particles while the fuel stock met the chemical properties specification. Not only the CPC and CPSTL but also the LIOC refused to accept the shipment as we always maintain high quality standards. We never refused to accept the specification report as we have high regard to the procedure that the CPC is carrying out.

Q At a press briefing held on Monday, Petroleum Resource Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga blamed the LIOC for the fuel crisis situation the country is now facing and claiming that your failure to supply the stock on time resulted in a fuel shortage...

What a misleading statement it was! By the time the shipment reached Colombo on October 15, we had enough of stocks for 25 to 30 days. Because of the upcoming festive season we got this shipment down. How can a responsible Minister claim that it was because of us the country faces a fuel shortage? If the CPC had enough of stocks, this situation would have never occurred. It is the CPC that caters to 84% fuel for the local market as they have over 1500 fuel stations comparing to LIOCs 200 that caters to 16% of the total requirement.

Q According to the Minister, the rejected ship is still anchored on the sea off Trincomalee with the view of obtaining the CPC approval at any cost. How do you react to it?

When the laboratory report stated that the fuel was contaminated, we immediately informed M/s TOTAL to replace the shipload. Once the shipload is rejected, we do not have any role to play thereafter with the stock, until we receive another. It is solely at the suppliers discretion the vessel has been taken out of the Sri Lankan waters or otherwise. If the ship is still anchored at the Trincomalee port, it is up to the authorities concerned to see under whose direction it is still in the Sri Lankan waters. It is incorrect to blame us without any reason.

Q Is it true that that the supplier, M/s TOTAL offered to remove the particles through filtration and supply the same stock to CPC once again?

Yes. As a replacement cargo takes 20 to 25 days to reach Colombo, the supplier offered to remove the particles through filtration process, which is a common practice. We then informed the CPC about the request. To which, the officials disagreed. On October 31, when we had a meeting with the Minister, the Ministry Secretary and other officials, we brought to their notice how the supplier was willing to filter the stock and transfer the purified fuel to another vessel (ship to ship transfer) as this is an allowed practice, to which we had the Sri Lanka Customs approval as well.

But when the Minister and the officials did not want to go for another test after following the filtration process, we informed the supplier to take the stock back and to deliver another stock. We are not here to confront with the Minister or any other officials, but to carry out our duties. Allegations that are levelled against the LIOC for pressurizing the politicians or the CPC to accept the contaminated fuel shipment are totally misleading.

As a replacement cargo takes 20 to 25 days to reach Colombo, the supplier offered to remove the particles through filtration process, which is a common practice. We then informed the CPC about the request

Q There is also an allegation that the LIOC is forcing the CPC to buy this contaminated stock.What are your comments on this?

Not true at all. I was so surprised by the remarks made by the Minister against the LIOC at the media briefing and also in the headlines in all newspapers in Sri Lanka. This is misleading.

Q Is it true that LIOC filling stations do not sell diesel although they have sufficient stocks with them?

It is a total misrepresentation of facts that diesel is not being sold at LIOC filling stations. The LIOC has adequate stocks of diesel at Trincomalee and Colombo, and the normal daily sale volume of 775MT is being continuously distributed from all our 200 filling stations. Unless they (filling stations) have gone dry due to any delay in supply of fuel, we have not, and will not refrain from selling fuel in any of our filling stations.



Q The Minister alleged that you had a plan to get down a shipload of petrol and diesel of which the stock is supposed to be of inferior quality...

Through our parent company we were able to find another supplier who was willing to supply petrol and diesel - both in the same vessel. These are larger vessels and for them to supply a small volume of petrol was not viable and they wanted to supply both - diesel and petrol - in the same vessel.

The reason why the Minister claims that they can accept petrol but not diesel, as it is of inferior quality, because the diesel that we use in India is slightly different to what is being used in Sri Lanka. In India, we use Euro 4 diesel while in Sri Lanka, it is Euro 3. As the CPC says that the Indian specification does not tally with Sri Lankan, how can they say that the Indian diesel is of inferior quality?

Q Have you, at any time, tried to influence the Minister or any other politicians to allow the contaminated stock of petrol to be supplied?

I would be very much thankful to the Minister if he could reveal the names of those who have tried to influence him or any other politicians who have been approached to buy this stock. We have been in this business over the years but this is the first time such an allegation has been levelled against us, which is very detrimental to our reputation.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a fast-growing killer in the Northern part of Sri Lanka and one way to battle it is through the provision of clean drinking water. Identifying this as a grave problem, the PINA organisation has taken up the challenge to provide purified drinking water to various Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) affected areas, kicking off its project from the beginning of this year. PINA was established as a Non-Governmental Organisation in 1988 under the name PINA HILFE fur Sri Lanka e.v. with the assistance of a few colleagues from Germany. In 2011, this was incorporated and approved as a charitable organisation by the Sri Lankan Government under the Parliament Act No. 25.

Speaking to PINA President Dr. Anura Abeygoonewardana and Vice President Ananda Jayasekera, Daily Mirror learnt that the organisation is now focusing on people who are suffering from CKDu and CKDu-affected areas in the Northern and North Central regions of the country. The project is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant.

In line with President Sirisenas concept and supporting the mission of donating RO Plants to produce pure drinking water, the first plant was established in Padaviya Mahasen Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura on January 2 this year. The plant produces 10, 000 litres of pure drinking water per day and has benefited as much as 1,200 children and 700 families in the area.

The second plant, which will be inaugurated tomorrow by President Sirisena, is located at Minneriya Nagalakanda Navodya Maha Vidyalaya. It will provide thousands of students with pure drinking water in a bid to make their lives healthier. Several officials from the government and PINA, and representatives in Europe and the Sri Lanka Navy are expected to attend this milestone.

Mr. Ananda Jayasekera (left) and Dr.Anura Abeygoonewardana (right) Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Dr. Abeygoonewardana and Mr. Jayasekera explained, The RO Plants, funded by PINA, are built and installed by the Sri Lanka Navy. Several donors and well-wishers from Germany have also made financial contributions to this project. The Sri Lanka Navy is doing a commendable job by supporting such plants. They will also provide necessary services or repairs, and a Navy officer will take care of the management of the plant.

Furthermore, Dr. Abeygoonewardana expressed his views on future projects. In 1991, PINA initiated in building a primary classroom for Sigiriya Maha Vidyalaya and 27 years later, it hopes to refurbish the structure. In addition to this, as the third RO Project, a special plant will be erected at the same venue in Sigiriya which will provide purified drinking water to 1,200 students, 4,000 families and most of the tourists who visit Sigiriya on a daily basis.

A RO plant takes natural, polluted water from the ground and purifies it through a special filtering process. It is far better than normally purified water from the water board as it extracts unwanted particles thus giving the actual water capacity.

Dr. Abeygoonewardana and Mr. Jayasekera said, We chose to focus on a project based on CKDu-affected areas because it is the need of the hour. We need to focus on the concept of getting people out of CKD. It is a recognised threat which the government has formed a task force against. We also wish to make the younger generation a healthier one and will act to reduce the death toll caused by this malady. PINA has focused on a variety of humanitarian and development projects in the past. It can count up to donating approximately 320,000 spectacle frames and medical equipment worth over a staggering Rs. 82 million. PINA has carried out a number of construction and renovation projects and has distributed 2,150 wheelchairs, 500 walking chairs, 1,700 pairs of clutches, 2,200 tents and a variety of quick aid following the Tsunami disaster. Also, the organisation has won a Transparency Award in Germany.
UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to take action against Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda and the media for making false allegations against him and thus violating his parliamentary privileges.

Raising this matter of privilege, he said he had nothing to do with the alleged death threats on the penthouse owner Anika Wijesuriya.

A complaint was made by Ms. Wijesuriya's brother Victor Wijesuriya who had initially complained to the police while ASG Yasantha Kodagoda submitted a copy of that complaint to the Bond Commission on October 17.

Wide publicity was given to this incident in the media, but I have nothing to do with it," the MP said.

"According to the report, Ms. Wijesuriya has been threatened with death by Shanil Neththikumara, who was described as a relative of mine. However, I have no such relative and if it is proven that Neththikumara is a relative of mine I will resign from Parliament. I wonder how Mr. Kodagoda knew about a relative of mine whom I myself do not know about."

He said Ms. Wijesuriya had actually gone on a visit to Bali and had returned to Sri Lanka, after which she had attended to some matters pertaining to her family property. She had then left for Britain.

The MP said he had handed over a letter to the Bond Commission's Secretary on this matter and faulted him for not submitting it to the commission.

Even the judges in the Commission are confused with the activities of the Commission's officers. He therefore asked how the officers talk about a verdict even before it is given. The MP also blamed the Attorney Generals Department on their failure to conduct a proper investigation on this issue. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwadana)
Unilever SPARKS student ambassadors from the current batch

Reaffirming its commitment to empowering the countrys future business leaders,Unilever Sri Lanka, the No. 1 employer in the nation ,welcomed 21 undergraduate students from some of the countrys top higher education institutions to the 4th batch of itsannual SPARKSstudent ambassador program.

The SPARKS program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to act as a liaison between Unilever and their respective University. It recognizes the top young talent around the country who have the passion to Want More, Do More and Contribute More to become a great Leader with a positive impact.

Inviting university students from around the island to apply to the program, Sumeet Verma, Director  Human Resources and Corporate Relations at Unilever Sri Lanka said,Currently in its 4th year, the Unilever SPARKS program is yet another manifestation of our commitment to developing Sri Lankas future business leaders. In line with our core philosophy of doing well by doing good, we look forward to engaging top young minds from some of the countrys premier educational institutions and playing a role in shaping them into future leaders.

Offering invaluable real world exposure, it allows the student ambassadors to build relationships with seasoned industry professionals and like-minded students, thereby allowing them to expandtheir professional network even before they enter the workforce.The experience and guidance they gain through the program helps develop their negotiation, stakeholder management and team working skills. Thus the SPARKS program gives a significant boost to the employability of the undergraduate students while giving them the opportunity to be fast tracked into a career at Unilever.

Commenting of his SPARKS experience, Hashan Rahubaddha from the University of Moratuwa Being directly exposed to the working culture at Unilever through SPARKS program helped me to enhance my skills and competencies while expanding my network. Expressing similar sentiments, SPARKS Student Ambassador Yasasi Bandaranayake from the University of Kelaniyanoted, Being a student Ambassador for Unilever was one of the greatest milestones I have achieved in my University Life. It was a distinctive and incomparable journey which redefined me.

For further details on SPARKSplease visit the Unilever Sri Lanka Careers Facebook page or the Unilever SPARKS Sri Lanka Facebook page.
While in the United States, educators and policymakers continue to sound alarms about poor civic engagement and knowledge among young people , the latest International Civic and Citizenship Education Study finds young people in other countries have become more engaged and knowledgeable about citizenship since 2009.

ICCS gathered data from more than 94,000 students in about 3,800 schools in 24 countriesnot including the United States, but including some of the education systems that perennially top other global academic tests, such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Sweden, and Finland. The United States participates in other global benchmarking tests run by the International Education Association, such as the Trends in International Math and Science Study, but has not participated in an international benchmarking in civics since the 1999 Civic Education Study , administered by the National Center for Education Statistics. At that time, U.S. students scored significantly higher than those in other countries on civic knowledge. The United States uses the National Assessment of Educational Progress to measure civics instead.

All of the students in the current study were ages 13 to 14, in their eighth year of school. Across countries, the percentage of students who performed at Level A or B in content knowledge (see chart at left) rose from 61 percent to 67 percent from 2009, when the test was last administered, to 2016. That means more students are able to both understand their own basic rights and responsibilities of voting, for example, to being able to evaluate the effects and implications of proposed policies in a public debate.

Moreover, in surveys with the students and their teachers, the study showed that students who had higher levels of civic knowledge were also more likely to endorse equal opportunities for people of different genders or races and to be more open to interacting with people who held different opinions from their own.

Where we have countries participating, in about half of them, there was a tendency of significant improvement in civic knowledge, said Wolfram Schulz, the international study director for the Australian Council for Educational Research, who led the study.

While none of the countries in the ICCS study considered civics a core subject on the same level of importance as math or reading, 11 of the participating countries required students to take civics or citizenship in a separate class, while 18 integrated the subject into multiple courses. More than 60 percent of principals and teachers alike reported that developing students critical and independent thinking skills was the most important factor in developing good citizenship.

From a general perspective, ... you find in all of these countries, [civics education] has been of growing importance, and in each of these countries, there is something in play [in schools]more emphasis is laid upon it, Schulz said.

There was no consensus on the best approaches to teach citizenship in different countries, but ICCS did find that students whose teachers had an open classroom climate and who encouraged them to express their own opinions in class were more engaged and had higher civics knowledge on average than students whose teachers did not create an open classroom climate.

ICCS also found that students in 2016 were less likely than before to get information on politics or social issues by reading a newspaper or watching television, but nearly 1 in 3 students in participating countries also said they got information about politics and social issues online at least weekly. And, in what might be the most gratifying finding for parents of teenagers, 45 percent reported they talked with their parents at least once a week about international affairs, up from 38 percent in 2009. In particular, a majority of students reported they believed climate change, pollution, and water and food shortages were global threats, and nearly 1 in 10 students reported having participated in an environmental action group in the last year.
Its not enough for parents to have access to data on school quality; they need an explicit reason to start comparing schools to make use of that information, finds a study released this morning in Education Next.

New school options, be they from a move, a charter school opening, or the No Child Left Behind Acts public school transfer program, spurred parent activity on the school-ratings website, GreatSchools.org, the study found. Michael Lovenheim, an associate professor of policy analysis at Cornell University, and Patrick Walsh, an associate professor of economics at St. Michaels College, tracked more than 102 million keyword searches on the site. They were able to match searches to school districts in 39 states and track the ebb and flow of searching activity in each community from 2010 to 2013.

Monthly activity on the site rose significantly during that time, from less than 1,000 in January 2010 to more than 600,000 in October 2013; Lovenheim and Walsh then compared local search activity to the national averages during that time, while also taking into account the percentage of new families with school-age children who moved to the communities.

Those years were at the tail end of No Child Left Behind, when some states were still implementing the laws requirement that poor-performing schools allow their students to transfer to higher-achieving schools--but some states received waivers from those requirements.

The researchers found that when the number of low-performing schools that had to offer transfers rose by 10 percentage points in an area, parent search activity on GreatSchools jumped by 7.2 percent. And by contrast, if a state later secured a waiver from NCLBs transfer requirements, school searches in communities that previously had public school choice fell by 4 percent out of every 10 percentage-point increase it had previously gained.

The researchers also found that when a charter school opened in an area, school searches rose by 5.3 percent.

The findings imply, they wrote, that for many families, the availability of school-quality information alone is not sufficient to lead them to become better informed about school options. Parents must also have an incentive to seek and use this information.

School Presentation Matters

The Education Next study does not examine what data users looked at in response to their searches, and forthcoming research previewed at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management conference in Chicago last week suggest small changes in format among different school-ratings sites can make a big difference in what information parents come away with.

In one study, Steven Glazerman, a senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research, analyzed 14 school-ratings sites serving a dozen cities nationwide. The study included sites like GreatSchools, run by nonprofit organizations, but also those run by city agencies like Washington, D.C.'s My School DC, school choice advocacy groups like Kids First Chicago, and even a parent-created site used in Memphis. Across the sites, Glazerman found no consensus on how to present school data, and in particular how to sort schools in a list. Not all sites included schools from all different sectors, and equal numbers of sites defaulted to sorting schools by academic quality, distance, or just school namethough most sites allowed users to choose to prioritize characteristics before seeing school listings.

Prior research has shown the default format for listing options can strongly influence what people ultimately choose. Theres a diversity of approaches out there but whats really interesting to me is that therere a lot of choices one has to make as a [school information site] designer, and theres no such thing as not making a choice. Theres no such thing as no default, Glazerman said. Whether its conscious or unconscious, you are probably nudging parents toward certain types of schools. All these decisions are really value-laden, and they are going to be made in different ways by GreatSchools or a city agency or by a school-choice advocacy group.
Since at least 2015, Arizona has sent the wrong amount of special education dollars to some of its districts and now is asking the U.S. Department of Education if it can hold harmless school districts that received more than they should have.

The Arizona Capitol Times reports that Arizona also plans to use set-aside funds to pay back districts that were shorted funds due to the states error.

The special education funding errors came to light on the heels of the state acknowledging it had also misappropriated a portion of its federal Title I money.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the misallocated funds amount to about 6 percent of the federal special education dollars the state has received in the past three years.

Stefan Swiat, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Education, told the newspaper that both errors were similiarthey resulted in incorrect application of a complex funding formula.

From the article:

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas sent a letter to schools ... informing them of the problem and saying her department is working with the federal Department of Education in hopes of repaying schools that were shorted and "holding harmless" schools that received more than they should have.

But the U.S. Department of Education has not yet seen, nor approved, that plan, and it's unclear if they will forgive and forget the misallocations.

Swiat said that based on initial conversations, the Arizona Department of Education is optimistic its federal counterpart will forgive the error and not require schools that were overpaid to refund the money. But he acknowledged that at the end of the day, the decision is up to the federal government.

School districts are not yet aware if they were over- or underfunded, according to reports. At least one school leader wonders if the problems have yet to be resolved. The Arizona Capitol Times reported that the Pima Accommodation District, which provides educational services to students going through the juvenile justice system, saw special education funding drop from more than $200,000 last school year to less than $29,000 this school year.

To us, its a blindside, Hernandez told the Capitol Times.

Bowalley Road Rules



The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.

So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.

These are based on two very simple principles:

Courtesy and Respect.

Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.

Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.

Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.

However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.


 AARP Tax-Aide seeks volunteers to serve as tax counselors and greeters for low-income and middle-income taxpayers from February through April in the Charlottesville, Fluvanna and Lovingston areas. (434) 244-0451.

 Albemarle County School Board seeks volunteers through Dec. 1 to serve on the Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee. Details and applications: www2.k12albemarle.org/acps/division/board/documents/LRPAC_application.pdf. (434) 972-4055.

 Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA holds a Compassionate Care Clinic, a walk-in clinic providing pet wellness exams, vaccines and other services at greatly reduced fees for clients with proof of public assistance, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 3355 Berkmar Drive. caspca.org. (434) 973-5959.

 Charlottesville City Market now operates from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday in the Water Street parking lot. (434) 970-3371.

 Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission accepts grant applications through Nov. 15 from Charlottesville nonprofits, arts organizations, schools, businesses and individuals for projects that benefit the Charlottesville community and Sister City communities of Besancon, France; Pleven, Bulgaria; Winneba, Ghana; or Poggio a Caiano, Italy. charlottesville.org/about-charlottesville/sister-cities-program. (434) 243-7060.

 City of Charlottesville seeks the donation of a large tree for the Grand Illumination, the citys annual holiday celebration. The tree should be approximately 25 feet high and be accessible for removal by city staff. (434) 970-3587.

 Fuel Assistance Applications are accepted by the Virginia Department of Social Services through Monday. To qualify for fuel assistance, the maximum gross monthly income for a one-person household must not exceed $1,307. For a household of four, the maximum gross monthly income is $2,665. Details: commonhelp.virginia.gov, local social services offices or (855) 635-4370.

 Generation 180, a group dedicated to advancing the transition to clean energy, seeks volunteers to support clean energy campaigns. A volunteer launch event is held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at OpenGrounds at 1400 University Ave. generation180.org. (434) 466-8930.

 Goodwill Industries holds a job fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Charlottesville Workforce Center at 2211 Hydraulic Road. goodwillvalleys.com. (434) 963-2960.

 House of Burgesses Chapter, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hebron Lutheran Church at 899 Blankenbaker Road in Madison. Janice Snead, Virginia state president of the Colonial Dames, will speak. (540) 672-4870.

 Jefferson Area Board on Aging offers free counseling for Medicare Open Enrollment by appointment at 674 Hillsdale Drive. (434) 817-5248.

 Live and Learn Information and Resource Fair provides free information and support to families of children with special needs in the Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene and Louisa school districts from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Piedmont Virginia Community College. prepivycreek.com/prc. (434) 975-9400.

 Miss Merry Christmas 2017 Pageant, hosted by Ashtons Birthday Wish and benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville, accepts entries through Nov. 20 for the Dec. 3 event at Holiday Inn-Monticello. facebook.com/ashtonsbirthdaywish/ or ashtonswish@aol.com.

 Narconon offers help to individuals and their families in overcoming addiction. Details: narcononnewliferetreat.org and (800) 431-1754.

 National Active and Retired Federal Employees hosts Jane Kulow speaking about the 24th Virginia Festival of the Book during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday at Wood Grill Buffet. (434) 361-9035.

 Orange County Free Clinic offers free assistance by appointment with enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace. 101 Woodmark St. in Orange. (540) 741-2447.

 Overseas Students Mission seeks host families to welcome international students into their homes to share a Thanksgiving meal. (434) 227-0811.

 Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosts Nicholas P. Sargen presenting Key Economic Policy Issues: A Guide for Investors and Voters during its regular meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Center at 1180 Pepsi Place. (434) 974-7756.

 Veterans Employment Services are offered by the Virginia Employment Commission from 10 a.m. to noon each Thursday at Northside Library. Appointments are encouraged by calling (434) 951-6440.
With the onset of colder weather, our culinary thoughts turn to more substantial foods, like stews, roasts and pasta dishes. Also, there are cravings for baked goods, and that wonderful smell of cookies straight from the oven seems to be a forecast of holiday baking.

The baking of various cookies and fruitcakes for the holidays calls for spices that are not normally used in everyday fare. There are so many spices  most of which did not become prevalent until the start of an active spice trade in the Far East in the 15th and 16th centuries. Europeans paid high prices for these exotic flavorings.

One of the favorite spices sought in the explorations of the 15th and 16th centuries was cinnamon. At the time, it was indigenous to Sri Lanka, an island off the southern coast of India, stemming the bark of a tree.

There are references to cinnamon in the Bible and to its use in ancient Egypt. Cinnamon has been used continually since ancient times, and was one of the oldest and most valuable items in the spice trade. The first known reference to cinnamon is in a treaty written by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2700 B.C. He also was the first to document the medicinal properties of plants.

Emperor Shen Nung called cinnamon kwei. a variation of the Indian name for this spice. Although not grown in India, but in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), at that time there was little distinction between the mainland of India and the island of Ceylon just off its southern tip.

Early spice traders soon discovered that there are two types of cinnamon  one from Ceylon (cinnamomum zeylanicum) and the other (C. cassia) from China and other Southeast Asian islands. The cinnamon from Ceylon is buff colored and quite mild. The cassia variety from China and Indonesia is reddish brown with an aromatic odor and a pungently sweet taste. It is the more commonly used variety today.

The ancient people of the Mediterranean area knew both kinds of cinnamon, but did not know where it originated. They thought it was grown in not-too-distant Arabia or Ethiopia, as they procured the cassia leaves from ports in those countries. They chewed these leaves to sweeten their breath.

There were many myths about the origin of this spice, which is merchandised in small sticks resembling a wood quill. One of the most famous myths by the Greek historian Herodotus (420 B.C.) is as follows:

Cinnamon grows in high, inaccessible mountains, where certain large birds transport the twigs to more attainable regions to make nests. To entice the birds out of these nests, the natives place large quantities of meat under the nests. As the birds are very fond of meat, they carry the meat back to their nests. The nests break under the weight of the meat and fall to the ground. Thus, the natives only have to pick up the cinnamon.

Cinnamon was very rare in ancient Greece and what little arrived in that area was used to flavor wine. The Romans, too, used it in wine, but not in cooking because it cost too much. Cinnamon in Roman times was worth more than its weight in gold.

Only emperors could afford to keep a supply of cinnamon on hand for their own use. When the Empress Poppea died because Nero had kicked her in the stomach, he made amends by burning her body with more cinnamon than the spice merchants of Arabia could furnish in a whole year  possibly the most expensive funeral pyre in history.

Most of the spices the Romans received from the East disappeared from Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed. They began to return in the ninth and 10th centuries when the Arabs moved to Sicily and on to southern Europe, bringing Oriental foods and spices with them.

In the 11th century, when the Normans took over Sicily, they began using cinnamon, expensive though it was, to disguise the taste of tainted meat. Over the next hundred years, the Crusaders returning from the East brought spices to Europe. Marco Polo came back from China at the end of the 13th century with spices from China, including cinnamon.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, cinnamon was used in sauces in the households of the nobility. In France, cinnamon was used because of its pungent flavor in black sauces when pepper was not available. Cinnamon, however, still was very rare and European white female slaves were often traded to the Arabs for it.

Cinnamon did not become widely used in Europe until the discovery of the Spice Islands (Indonesia) by Magellan. By the early 1500s, cinnamon was used in almost every dish in Italy. It also became one of the most important seasonings in English cooking.

Despite strong Portuguese competition, the Dutch were masters of the cinnamon trade  not only in Indonesia, but also in Ceylon. The Dutch East India Company grew rich on spices, and its most profitable one was cinnamon.

The Dutch were the first to cultivate the cinnamon tree, which is a member of the laurel family. In the late 1500s, a Frenchman, Pierre Poivre, smuggled some slips of the cinnamon tree out of Dutch-controlled territory and planted them in French tropical colonies. Thus, Hollands monopoly was broken.

The cinnamon tree grows to a height of about 30 feet and has willow-like branches with oblong leaves. Cinnamon is one of the few spices not obtained from the seeds, flowers or fruit of the plant. The spice is obtained from the inner bark of young shoots and branches, which are cut when they are about one inch thick. The branches are then dried in the sun. After drying, the bark is then easily peeled, after which it is then wrapped around a thin rod and the outer skin is scraped off. What remains are quills of cinnamon, which can be used whole or ground into powder.

Cinnamon has remained an important spice in Spanish, Mexican and English cooking. In Spain and Mexico, it is used to flavor chocolate and chocolate desserts, and in Mexico it is used in mole sauces. The English and Americans use it in apple pie. Cinnamon has become a part of Indian curries and Chinese five-spice powder. In this country, it also flavors many breakfast cereals.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Government has regularly reviewed visa requirements to make it easier for visitors, especially those from countries that don't pose a security threat.Speaking during the inaugural Tourism, Security and Enablers conference in Harare last week, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mr Melusi Matshiya said Government was responsible for providing a secure, accountable, transparent and conducive environment necessary to foster a globally competent and prosperous country."The Ministry intends to achieve this vision by promoting and maintaining law and order, managing migration, timely registration and issuance of secure identification documents, as well as regulation of private security industry," he said."This facility has been extended to nationals in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and I am humbled to say that we are the third country in the SADC region to adopt this stance."Visitors from Zimbabwe's traditional source markets, he said, were largely under category B, where they were required to get their visas at the port of entry.Those from countries that have security concerns, who fall under category C, are expected to get visas prior to boarding planes headed for Zimbabwe.According to Mr Matshiya, the department of immigration has introduced an electronic visa application platform which makes it convenient for potential visitors to apply from wherever they might be."Most applications are processed within one working week," he said. "The ministry is currently working on reviewing and assigning the visa regime for nationals in category C so as to upgrade their status," said Mr Matshiya."In a related manner, the ministry has adopted the Integrated Border Management (IBS) system whose objective is to establish an effective, efficient and integrated border management system to help have open, but well controlled and secured borders."
News / National

by Staff reporter

ZANU-PF National Secretary for Transport and Welfare Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri was yesterday hauled over the calls by the revolutionary party's Women's League representatives in Manicaland for sowing hatred and fuelling factionalism in the province. Muchinguri-Kashiri also stands accused of blocking other women in the ruling party from occupying leadership positions in the province.This emerged at the ZANU-PF Manicaland Provincial Extraordinary Coordinating (PEC) meeting held in Mutare yesterday. The women have also recommended the expulsion of Muchinguri-Kashiri from the revolutionary party for being Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa's accomplice in trying to unseat the President. Similarly, Manicaland unanimously agreed to have Mnangagwa chucked from his position as the country's Vice President. First to dig into Muchinguri-Kashiri was Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene who said she once warned the politician for supporting Mnangagwa."When Mai Muchinguri was removed from the position as the Governor, I later met her in Penhalonga. She was driving, so I went to lean on the window of her car and there were some light showers. We exchanged some greetings before she started castigating the President..' People should not just follow others without knowing the direction they will be taking. Those people will be having their agendas," she said. Mutasa South legislator Irene Zindi had no kind words for Muchinguri-Kashiri either, vowing to "fight" her to the end. Zindi accused Muchinguri-Kashiri of calling her names."During the liberation war, I was a political commissar. I trained as a political commissar. When I came here in Manicaland, I was harassed by some of my comrades. I suffered a lot when I came here. Ndakaenda paChimbetu, ndakaona moto. I remember when we were at a conference in Harare, there is a woman called Mai Mugabe. She spent the whole night crying after being harassed for supporting me," said Zindi."I was not on talking terms with Mandi (Chimene) when this woman (Muchinguri) was here. We only started seeing each other when she was removed from the position of the Governor. She would go to the Politburo meeting to say I am the daughter of a prostitute. She would go all the way saying my mother was a prostitute as a way of decampaigning me. Today, I am a living testimony. I wish my mother was alive. I wish my father was alive. I was going to ask her because I was not there when she conceived and I am very emotional about that."Ari kuti ndakamurambidza kushandisa surname yekumusha kwedu nokuti mwana wehure. I don't hold any influential position; I am just a party cadre. It will not end like that. I know where my father and mother were buried. I will go for DNA tests," she said. Zindi also accused Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri of plotting to unseat her in Mutasa South constituency by supporting a candidate who wanted to contest against her in the forthcoming elections. Mutare South MP Nyasha Chikwinya also castigated Muchinguri-Kashiri for her actions, particularly of sidelining women, saying Section 17 of the Constitution gave equal opportunities to both women and men."As we go towards the 2018 harmonised elections, equal opportunities are going to be given on a 50-50 basis. We are going to start with those women in positions and we move in with other women and not remove them (sic). Even in Zanu-PF as a party, we are going to promote each other in that matter. The issue of removing a woman is a non-starter," she said. Zanu-PF Women's League secretary for administration Letina Undenge also joined the onslaught, saying Muchinguri-Kashiri must stop working against (Irene) Zindi.
News / National

by Staff reporter

POLICE have warned the public against violent and unruly behaviour at funerals saying law breakers risk being arrested.In a telephone interview, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said police had noted with concern the unruly and weird conduct displayed by some mourners at funerals.Chief Supt Nyathi said it was the responsibility of bereaved families and friends to ensure that deceased persons are buried in a peaceful and dignified manner and that they do not get on the wrong side of the law while mourning their loved ones.The concern by police follows reported cases of violence during funeral proceedings in Bulawayo and Harare this week as well as in recent months."We have observed that members of the public engage in all sorts of public disorder during funeral processions for a number of reasons. Sometimes, mourners get over excited at funerals and for a second you get confused if it's a funeral procession or a wedding," said Chief Supt Nyathi."Members of the public are therefore warned against engaging in any acts of violence or bizarre acts during funeral proceedings. If parties have disputes, these should be resolved in a peaceful manner. Police will ensure that the law is applied without fear or favour on anyone who engages in violent acts at funerals."He warned commuter omnibus operators against carrying coffins on kombi rooftops during funeral processions of their colleagues or speeding around the city causing mayhem and disturbing peace."Sometimes these coffins have fallen from kombi rooftops and it is so bizarre one will wonder how a family would have allowed such to happen in the first place," Chief Supt Nyathi added.Last week, The Chronicle reported that mourners fled in terror when an injiva ran amok at his step grandfather's funeral wake in Bulawayo, cutting up the corpse's face, fondling his grandmother and demanding to see the colour of her urine.He even broke open a coffin and demanded to inspect the corpse's toenails.Shadreck Matsose (41), who relatives say last came to visit in 2014, arrived at his late step grandfather's house in Northend suburb on Monday and terrorised mourners who had gathered to pay their last respects.Musician Jah Prayzah was also assaulted at his body guard's funeral last Tuesday by angry mourners.In another incident in September, the late Tawanda "MaPecca" Moyo's relatives took his body to the business premises of the man who shot him, Mr Oricious Moyo, saying it was part of "rituals" to ensure justice prevails before proceeding to Lady Stanley cemetery for burial.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Zanu PF chairperson Nicholas Mudada allegedly addressed residents in Epworth at Makomo 3 base, Ward 2 allegedly forcing them to go for BVR (Biometric Voter Registration) as cells (a cell is the lowest level in the Zanu PF party structures) as a tactic to identify those who will vote in favor of opposition parties in 2018.Zimbabwe Peace Project reported that Mudada said residents must not register to vote as individuals but according to their cell structures so as to be allocated their own polling station."Chipo Machaya and Petronella Masau were some of the residents in attendance," said ZPP.In another note the Harare City Council demolished more than 700 houses in Harare South Eyestone area, as the affected residents complained that they were not notified."Rudo Machemedze a resident reported that the council came under escort of about 15 anti-riot police units armed with vicious dogs and began demolishing their structures without addressing anyone. A lot of property was destroyed and about 700 families left homeless. In a telephone interview Harare City Council spokesperson Michael Chideme said that the structures were illegally built hence all procedure had been followed to facilitate the demolitions. He also reiterated that Council had all documents in place before the demolitions took place. Some of the victims who were left homeless are Elliot Chimimba and Rudo Machemedze," said ZPP.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE opposition Monday said the firing of long-time President Robert Mugabe ally Emerson Mnangagwa was a confirmation of a serious crisis in Zanu-PF, saying the fired VP was free the opposition.According to NewZimbabwe.com, Zanu-PF rivals said it was time for the fired VP to repent and be a true democrat and help to bring change in the country.Mnangagwa, who has been in government since 1980, was fired Monday by his boss for allegedly exhibiting traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability.MDC-T national spokesperson Obert Gutu said Zanu-PF has always been an accident waiting to happen."As the MDC we are naturally pleased to see Zanu-PF crash and burn; that fascist political party has brought about untold suffering to the majority of Zimbabweans," said Gutu."Mnangagwa should repent and become a true and genuine democrat."He added, "After he repents he is free to join us in the MDC as we peacefully fight to dislodge the insipidly corrupt and decadent Mugabe dynasty in next years' election."His counterpart, Kurauone Chihwayi from the Prof Welshman Ncube-led MDC, said Mnangagwa's dismissal was a confirmation of a serious crisis in the ruling party."The situation on the ground shows that ED will go with the people and this will mark the end of Mugabe's political career, rest in peace Zanu-PF," said Chihwayi."But the mauling of Mangangwa did not come as a surprise to most Zimbabweans."
Demonetisation has helped flush out black money, eliminate fake notes and reduce the currency in circulation, said the finance ministry. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Demonetisation a year ago has helped in flushing out black money, eliminating fake notes and reducing cash in circulation, the finance ministry said on Monday.

The total currency in circulation has come down to Rs 14.75 lakh crore as of August 4, 2017, from Rs 17.77 lakh crore, said the finance ministry in a tweet.

"Only 83 per cent is the effective currency in circulation today with remonetisation," the ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise move had announced withdrawal of legal tender status of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes with effect from November 9, 2016.

Detailing other benefits of demonetisation for the economy, the ministry said it has dealt a big blow to finances of terrorism and Left-wing extremism.

Besides, it has helped in expanding tax base, converting non-formal economy into a formal one and making money accountable. It has provided a big boost to digitisation of payments, making India a less-cash economy.

During September, Rs 1.24 lakh crore worth of transactions were done through the digital mode. The number of transactions was 87.7 crore.

The ruling BJP has decided to celebrate first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8. This will see Union ministers and BJP office-bearers across the country build public opinion in favour of the government's decision.

However, the Opposition has decided to celebrate the day as as a "black day".
Index finally settled at 33,370.76 points, down by 360.43 points, or 1.07 per cent over its last close.

Mumbai: Giving up early gains, benchmark Sensex plummeted 360 points to close at 33,370.76 on Tuesday on profit-booking and rising geopolitical concerns.

Intra-day, the 30-share index hit an all-time high of 33,865.95, breaching its previous record of 33,848.42 hit on Monday.

However, it succumbed to profit-booking and dropped to 33,341.82 in late afternoon deals on across-the-board sell- off. The index finally settled at 33,370.76 points, down by 360.43 points, or 1.07 per cent over its last close.

It had gained 157.97 points in the previous two sessions, closing at a record high of 33,731.19 on Monday.

The broader NSE Nifty too dived by 101.65 points, or 0.97 per cent, to close at 10,350.15.

It hit an intra-day high of 10,485.75, just shy of its record of 10,490.45 reached on Monday.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A CHEATING Mbare woman's sex chats have been exposed with indications that she pimps several women for clients.Mildred Tsvanhi's, 37, chats were exposed by her sister-in-law when she left her phone while going to seek medical attention.Mildred is married to Andrew Mhumhi, 42, and she left the phone in the hands of her sister-in-law Prudent Mhumhi as she visited the clinic.Chats with several men and her indecent pictures sent to the several men were exposed as Prudent went through her phone.She also acted as a facilitator for dating between several other men and women.Mildred said she was single and she could not categorically cheat on her ex-husband."I'm no longer with Andrew. How can I cheat on my ex-husband? We separated in June this year," she said.Andrew and his sister, however, had a different tale saying the two were married but Mildred had moved out of the house."She is my wife and I customarily married her in 2002 at her home area in Chiweshe and I do not have any pending arrears with my in-laws."I cannot even explain why my wife chose to move out from the family house we used to stay from the day we got married."In the chats I found out that she was dating Raymond Manjoro manager at Mwamuka Service Station where I'm also employed as a general hand."Uyu ndiye munhu anyanyondirwadza pavanhu vese handidi kunyepa. I'm always with him every day at work, we eat and have beers together but I never knew kuti aiseva pandosevawo."He was in a habit of buying expensive food and gifts for my children whenever they passed by at work, dzimwe dzenguva ndaiguma ndonyara nekuti ndaitadza kuvaitira vana vangu nekushaya."There is Madzibaba Canaan Dzviti who owns a shrine in Epworth where my wife is always going for prayers"There is Admire who is based in South Africa, Judah and Brighton, these ones I don't know them."She was now giving me sex once a week. Ndikazama kumubata aindikandira ruoko kwakadaro ndaishaya kuti zvorevei."I then proceeded to Civil Court where I was then told that my case cannot be heard in court because we do not have a registered marriage. So they urged me to go back to the village where I married her and see the chief to handle the matter," he said.Prudent Mhumhi sister to Andrew confirmed the mishap:"It is true that my sister-in-law was going out with seven different men which we saw with our own eyes in her mobile phone."She was sending them her indecent pictures but we paid lobola for her not knowing we have brought pfambi mumusha."Our brother used to tell us that he was being denied sex with her and we thought he lied but takazopererwa kuona mukadzi wedu achiendesa ma pictures kuvamwe varume asina kusimira."It also came to our attention that she is in the business of hunting men for other women in return for cash," she said.Raymond Manjoro could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
Mumbai: Ajay Devgn is in no mood to collaborate with two people  one is a director and the other is an actress. For now, Ajay does not want to feature in a film opposite his wife Kajol. As an actor, Ajay is not too keen to pair up with Kajol. In fact, he recently rejected a film offer that was to star Kajol with him.

Ajay last starred with Kajol in his directorial venture U Me Aur Hum in 2008, and followed it up voicing for characters along with his actress wife in Toonpur Ka Superhero. Unfortunately, both these films failed.

Ajay just had a hit after a while with Golmaal Again and that is the biggest Bollywood hit this year barring the Hindi version of Baahubali 2. He is keen to make a few more masala hits before looking at films that are out-of-the-box. Hence, he did not take up the subject starring him and Kajol immediately, informs a source.

Ajays next film is the Rajkumar Gupta helmed Raid, which is being filmed in Lucknow. Ajay also refused to work with his good friend Prakash Jha, who got him a National Award for Gangajal. Prakash and collaborated with him on more films like Apaharan, Raajneeti and Satyagraha. However, none could replicate the success that Gangajal had.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Vidya Balan, who has been busy promoting her upcoming film 'Tumhari Sulu', restrained herself from commenting over the ongoing controversy facing Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Padmavati'.

Speaking exclusively to ANI, the 'Begum Jaan' actress said she did not want to make any loose comment, especially being the member of the Central Board of film Certification (CBFC), as she was not aware about the actual series of events.

"Because I am in the middle of 'Tumhari Sulu' promotions, I have not kept myself updated about the controversary regarding 'Padmavati'. So, I don't want to make any loose comment about anything, especially being the member of the CBFC," she said.

'Padmavati' has been embroiled in a spate of controversies ever since its inception. The period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor has been facing protests from various communal groups, including Shree Rajput Karni Sena, for allegedly tampering historical facts.

The Karni Sena, which demolished the sets of the movie in Jaipur and also thrashed Bhansali, has again warned the director that he would face consequences if the movie didn't contain proper truth or facts.
Mumbai: Multiple allegations against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein opened a can of worms, which spilled over to the UK parliament house and many other industries.

Our Bollywood actresses too lent their support to the #Metoo movement to talk about similar experiences on social media, one of them being Swara Bhaskar.

Popular actresses have taken on prominent names in Hollywood, however, Swara, without taking names, has spoken about her 'scary' experience of harassment by a filmmaker, being groped in public and the casting couch in an interview with Mumbai Mirror.

She said, Actors are vulnerable because they are perennially out of work and much too ambitious to risk their careers for a cause. Also, the backlash on the social media is scary. See how Mallika Dua was trolled (recent controversy concerning Akshay Kumar). Bollywood is not conducive to an honest conversation about sexual misconduct.

With sexual harassment allegations against Kevin Spacey, David Hoffman and many other celebrities in Hollywood mounting, shouldn't such a clean-up take place in Bollywood? I would like to make a distinction between sexual misconduct, inappropriate remarks and rape. Kevin Spacey has been accused of attempting to rape a minor. Bollywood faced a similar situation with Shiney Ahuja and the reaction was to quietly allow the law to take its own course.

"In other cases too, celebs have chosen not to comment, which in some ways is better than slut-shaming the victim or accuser. Ours is a small industry where everyone is friends with or related to someone which makes the task harder. We need to follow the example set by the Malayalam film industry which has instituted an anti-sexual harassment committee after the rape of an actress to create a safer working environment and to get justice, Swara said.

Speaking about her personal experiences of sexual harassment, the actress said, I've been propositioned by men who were in a position to cast me. I lost a few roles because I didn't give in. It made me vulnerable, nervous. Some people even stopped responding to my messages. Being an articulate, educated girl, they sensed that I would not take things lying down.

"There have been catcalls during shoots and eve-teasing on one of my sets. I've been groped by a mob during promotions and during a 56-day outdoor at a remote location, when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites.

She added, He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing the scene and would find him drinking.

During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex and one night, arrived in my room, drunk, and asked to be hugged. It was scary! I was young and alone. I would switch off the lights after pack-up and remove my make up in the dark so he would think I was asleep and stop calling me.

Despite all these steps, Swara says that the harassment didnt stop and she had to eventually take up the matter with the executive producer of the film. She shared, After I told him that he was scaring me and making me uncomfortable. I told him I wouldn't be able to act if this continued. He acted hurt and said I had misunderstood him. He stayed away for two weeks, then he was back to his tricks. I finally confided in the executive producer and made sure that I was escorted everywhere."

While there will always be a debate if sleeping with someone for work, like Swara's character in 'Anaarkali of Aarah' does, should be acceptable or left to one's personal choice, the actress doesn't support the idea. "Lose the part but don't get on the couch. It's not a choice and it's certainly not a liberating choice. It's a bribe and it's wrong.

We hope Swara's revelations spark a Hollywood-life movement in Bollywood as well.
Ferrero, the maker of the brand, acknowledged that it was adjusting its formula following a report by a German consumer group. (Photo: Pixabay)

The fan-favourite Nutella has announced that it has changed the recipe of its chocolate and hazelnut spread, sparking a huge backlash among the fans of the brand.

Ferrero, the maker of the brand, acknowledged that it was adjusting its formula following a report by a German consumer group.

According to the Hamburg Consumer Protection Centre's Facebook page that a jar of spread made by the Italian chocolate firm now contains 8.7 per cent powdered skim milk, as opposed to 7.5 per cent previously, based on an analysis of the product label.

According to the German subsidiary of Ferrero, the adjustment was made to the spread as many brands regularly do with their products.

However, the consumer association noted that the colour of the spread had become lighter due to the recipe change.

The recipe change, however, did not go down too well with Nutella-lovers, with many of them taking to social media to express their dismay.

#Ferrero changed the recipe for #nutella (at least in #germany) more sugar, less fat and probably less cocoa. Is it the 1st of April again?  Marina Daydreamer (@MsWonderWoman95) November 6, 2017

Another social media user tweeted: 'Just heared that #Nutella changed their recipe. I mean come on there are things in life you CANT do! And this is one of this things! #sweets.'

They have apparantly been making some changes to the Nutella recipe  #DontMessWithNutella #Nutella  Felien S. Geldhof (@BFellicious) November 5, 2017

The amount of sugar in Nutella, which already amounts for half the product, has also been increased - rising from 55.9 to 56.3 per cent, according to the association.

Nutella has been lambasted by Hungary's food safety agency after claiming jars sold in the Central European nation appeared to be 'less creamy' than those sold in Austria.
Researchers followed the participants for more than two years on average. (Photo: Pixabay)

Older women who get more moderate to vigorous physical activity may be less likely to die prematurely than their counterparts who dont get much exercise, a US study suggests.

The study involved more than 17,700 women with an average age of 72 who were asked to wear accelerometers every day for a week. Researchers followed the participants for more than two years on average. During this time, 207 women died.

When the researchers sorted women into four groups from most to least active, they found those who got the most moderate to vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking, were up to 70% less likely to die during the study period. Getting more low-intensity activity, however, didnt appear to influence the odds of death.

The fact that physical activity lowers the risk of premature mortality is not a new fact - we have many studies showing this, said lead study author I-Min Lee of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

However, previous studies have primarily relied on self-reported physical activity, and self-reports tend to be imprecise, Lee said by email.

Accelerometers and other activity trackers are more reliable ways to examine the connection between longevity and exercise habits because they offer a more accurate picture of how much time people devote to exercise as well as how hard they work out and how much time theyre sedentary in a typical day.

The accelerometers used in the current study could measure activity along three planes: up and down, front to back and side-to-side. This can help researchers see not just if people are moving, but the intensity of their movements.

Half of the participants spent at least 28 minutes in moderate to vigorous physical activity on an average day, or around 196 minutes a week.

Doctors typically advise people to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous exercise.

Even though some previous research has linked excessive sedentary time to a higher risk of premature death, the current study didnt find an association between these two things.

Its possible that the study results might not reflect what would happen for all older adults because these participants were avid exercisers, said Dr. David Alter, a researcher at the University of Toronto who wasnt involved in the study.

This study examined a healthy active group of women where we might have not expected to see any deleterious effects from sedentary behavior, Alter said by email. Had the researchers explored very sedentary non-exercise avid individuals, the results might have been (different).

Even so, the findings add to a large body of evidence already linking moderate to vigorous physical activity to a lower risk of premature death, said Keith Diaz, a researcher at Columbia University Medical Center in New York who wasnt involved in the study.
Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon, Burma in 1858, where he remained until his death.

It has been 155 years since the last Mughal emperor breathed his last. Emperor Bahadur Shah II wasn't his father's first choice in succession, and despite not being too inclined towards governance of an already dwindling empire, he was pushed to the throne when the original heir, Jahangir Bakht, died after overdosing on cherry brandy while in exile in Allahabad.

Bahadur Shah Zafar, ascended the throne on September 1837, at 61-years old and died on this very day, in the year 1862.

Speaking to this correspondent, Asif Khan Dehlvi, a history buff, the founder and storyteller of Delhi Karavan says that while Bahadur Shah Zafar has been immortalised in the pages of history, instrumental through his unwitting role during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and of course, his verses.

Death anniversary of Badshah Bahadur Shah Zafar ! ay vaae inqalaab zamaane ke jaur se Dilli 'zafar' ke haath se pal mein nikal gayi', cites Asif. (Photo: Facebook)

For example, Dehlvi says, His full name was Mirza Abu Zafar Sirajuddin Muhammad Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Citing from the very rare Quila e Mualla ki Jhalkiya by Arsh Taimuri, he adds that Zafar was never interested in his empire. Though the eldest son, he was more interested in Sufism, music and literature than in the political matters of the country.

Dehlvi adds that one of the lesser known facts about the last Mughal emperor was that he loved eating Sohan ka Halwa. However, towards the later part of his life, he could barely eat anything solid. His son Mirza Qaimur Bahadur used to lace his paan (beetel leaf) with tiger hair powder so that he could kill him. While that did not happen, his ability to eat solid was, however, curbed.

While he was also trained in the military arts of horsemanship, swordsmanship, shooting with bow and arrow and with firearms, he was a particularly good ghorsawaar (horseman). During his life time, he along with two other horsemen were known as the dhai ghora of India. One of the other two was Mirza Jehangir, his brother, while the other was a horseman from Maharashtra.

It is written, says Dehlvi, whenever Zafar would sit down to eat and dip his spoon in kheer (porridge), it would be announced to the people outside that he had begun his meal and subsequently almost 300 kgs of rice would be handed out to beggars everyday.

Asif during one of the walks organised by Delhi Karavan. (Photo: Facebook)

He was very fond of patang bazi (kite flying), as well, says Dehlvi, adding, Whenever he became agitated or worried, he would go to the banks of Yamuna behind the Lal Quila (Red Fort) and would spend hours flying kites.

That was another thing that showed how simple a man he really was, Dehlvi adds,

Dehlvi finally says that according to a few very old texts that are very rare, once the British had recaptured the Red Fort, Bahadur Shah Zafar, along with his retinue had gone to Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, where he gave up the relics of Prophet Mohammed that he had, It is written that he died in the langar there and his people wept at the state of the Mughal emperor. From there he went to Humanyun's tomb where he was arrested by Major Hudson.

The book by Arsh Taimuri

Zafar, says Dehlvi, would go on to face several charges. Zafar was tried and found guilty on four counts -- Aiding the mutinies of the troops, encouraging people in waging war against the British, assuming the dominion of Hindustan and causing murders of a number of Christians.

Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon, Burma in 1858, where he remained until his death.

Delhi Karavan can be best described as a traveller with a bag full of stories gathered from all over India. The Karavan walks through known and unknown alleys and bylanes; unraveling the places and faces behind political struggles, myths and mysticism, legendary love tales, literature and folklore, monuments and soulful poetry.
The Delhi court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Wednesday. (File photo)

Kolkata: A city court on Tuesday convicted a Bangladeshi man for raping a septuagenarian nun in West Bengal's Ranaghat town during a dacoity at a convent in 2015.

Additional Sessions Judge Kumkum Sinha termed the incident as a matter of shame in a state where Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa had worked for the people.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Wednesday.

Noting that the charge of gangrape was not established, the judge said only Nazrul Islam was found guilty of rape.

Five accused, including Nazrul Islam, were found guilty of dacoity at the convent. A sixth person  Gopal Sarkar was found guilty of harbouring the five criminals at his residence.

All the six were also found guilty of criminal conspiracy for committing dacoity at the convent in Ranaghat, an otherwise quiet town about 80 km from Kolkata, in Nadia district bordering Bangladesh.

Other than Nazrul Islam and Gopal Sarkar, the other four persons found guilty are Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh and Khaledar Rahman.

Apart from Gopal Sarkar, the five others are Bangladeshis and cases against them under Foreigners' Act are pending before another court.

The nun was raped at the convent on March 14, 2015, where the six people barged in for committing dacoity.

They had decamped with cash from the safe of the convent.

One accused is absconding.

The trial was shifted from a court in Ranaghat to the Kolkata Sessions court in May 2016 by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the nun.

The nun, who had relocated to Delhi following the incident, had sought transfer of the case to Kolkata stating that she feared for her safety as the accused allegedly had strong links in Ranaghat.

The prosecution charged all the accused with gangrape, dacoity and criminal conspiracy among others.
Chennai: Holding that the writ petition filed by parents of Swathi, a techie, who was murdered at Numgambakkam railway station on June 24, 2016, seeking a compensation of Rs 3 crore from Southern Railway is maintainable, the Madras high court has directed the registry to number the petition and post it before the single judge as per roster for hearing.

A division bench comprising Justices K.K.Sasidharan and Justice P.Velmurugan allowed an appeal filed by A.Ranganayaki and K.Santhanagopalakrishnan, parents of Swathi, against a single judge, who dismissed their petition, after the registry raised a query with regard to maintainability of the petition in view of the availability of the alternative remedy viz Railway Claims Tribunal.

Pulling up the registry and setting aside the order of a single judge, the bench said the registry by returning the petition on the ground of maintainability virtually acted as the court and exercised judicial function. The registry has no authority to reject the petition on the ground of availability of alternative remedy. It was for the court to decide whether the petition should be entertained in a matter, in spite of alternative remedy. It was always open to the court to entertain the petition notwithstanding the alternative remedy available to the party. We therefore hold that it is not within the province of the Registry to return the petition on the ground of alternative remedy. In the subject case, the action pertains to the public law domain and as such, the petition is maintainable before this court, the bench added.

The bench said the appellants filed the petition for compensation against the railways. There was no point in directing them to approach the Railway Claims Tribunal. The tribunal was empowered to take up cases, in case the claim was less than Rs 8 lakh. The appellants claimed a sum of Rs 3 crore. It would not therefore be possible for the appellants to file a claim petition before the Railway Claims Tribunal, the bench added.
The BBMP data also showed that three zones  West, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Yelahanka and Mahadevapura have zero potholes.

Bengaluru: Though the second deadline to fill the killer potholes too got over, the city still has a whopping 844 craters on roads across the city, as per BBMP figures.

People expected the city roads to be smooth by November 7. But it clearly shows that the promise has not been kept. The deadline was set by none other than Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, despite that BBMP authorities have failed to deliver. Will they listen to the common mans plea, asked Dr Nagaraj, a resident of Rajajinagar.

According to the data released by the BBMP, the city has 844 potholes and the Palike covered 152 potholes on Sunday. At this rate, the Palike needs at least six more days to fill all the potholes, he said.

The BBMP data also showed that three zones  West, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Yelahanka and Mahadevapura have zero potholes. East zone, which includes Indiranagar, Thippasandra, Old Madras Road, Shantinagar, M.G. Road, Residency Road and Shantinagar, has 353 potholes.

BBMP Engineer in Chief (EiC) M.R. Venkatesh told Deccan Chronicle that potholes are being filled on a war footing. Though November 5 was the deadline, it was extended by a day. All the potholes will be filled by Tuesday. The mild rain over the city may affect the work, but majority of the potholes will be filled, he said.
November 8, when Rs 1000 and old Rs 500 notes were demonetised, was a black day for both economy and democracy, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said. (Photo: ANI)

Ahmedabad: On the eve of first anniversary of demonetisation, former prime minister Manmohan Singh questioned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government for attacking those questioning its reform policies  Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation.

"By questioning bullet trains does one become anti-development? Does questioning GST & Demonetisation make one a tax evader?" he asked.

"This attitude of suspecting everyone to be thief or anti-national, low level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse," he said.

Interacting with a group of traders and businessmen at an event in Ahmedabad, reiterated his stance on the two policies, saying GST and demonetisation were "badly designed and hastily implemented."

Stating that demonetisation was "organised loot and legalised plunder", he said November 8, when Modi banned the Rs 1000 and old Rs 500 notes, was a black day for both economy and democracy

"Nowhere in the world has any democracy taken such a coercive step," Singh, who is also an economist, said. "Tomorrow (Wednesday) we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country," he added.

Intensifying the attack on the Centre, Singh said the NDA governments so-called economic reforms, (GST and demonetisation), have only helped China since exports have surged this year.

"We had to run for Chinese imports at the cost of Indian jobs. In first half of 2016-17 India's imports from China stood at Rs 1. 96 lakh crore. In 2017-18 it increased to Rs 2.41 Lakh," Singh said.

"Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 crore, a 23 per cent increase in a year, can be attributed largely to demonetisation, GST," he added.

He said if Modi, while undertaking endeavour of 'one nation one tax', had taken inspiration from resolve of great Sardar Patel then the outcome would have been different.

Industries in Surat, Vapi, Morbi and other parts of Gujarat are badly affected by demonetisation and GST, he said.

Along with demonetisation, GST has created a deep rooted feeling of tax terrorism among businessmen and has broken the back of small traders in the country, Singh added.

The Congress has already announced that it will observe November 8 as 'Black Day' to protest the BJP-led governments move.

Singh also attacked Modi over the bullet train project and said the launch was with much fan fare and was an exercise in vanity.

"Did PM consider alternative of the high speed train by upgrading broad gauge railway?" he asked.

Singh asked Modi if he considered an alternative of the high speed train by upgrading broad gauge railway.
News / National

by Staff reporter

There is a fake rumour circulating on social media claiming that the leader of the MDC-T Morgan Tsvangirai who was 'airlifted' to South Africa ill is dead but officials from the party in Harare have vehemently dismissed the claim as unfounded.One story on the social media reads that "Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies today following his critical condition in the South African hospital, a senior party official told local media.'The story claims that the information was released by a party member."Sadly I can confirm our leader is gone, his memories still live with us" a senior official from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) told the local media, speaking on condition of anonymity."More to follow....
India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port that it is building as a way to bypass rival Pakistan. (Photo: AFP/File)

New Delhi: India is in talks with Iran to begin interim operations at a port in southeast Iran, officials say, proceeding cautiously on developing the facility at a time when the Trump administration has laid an aggressive new approach toward Tehran.

India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port that it is building as a way to bypass rival Pakistan and crack open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan, as well as the resource-rich countries of central Asia.

New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January. A first shipment arrived last week from Indias western Kandla port, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul said. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan.

India is expanding its economic diplomacy in Afghanistan, seeing itself as a regional power. But Pakistan says India is trying to use Afghanistan as a base to destabilise Pakistan, and has long blocked India from conducting bilateral trade with Afghanistan using its territory as transit.

The shipments are meant to demonstrate the routes viability, officials said, and the plan is to broaden the cargo flow before the port is fully operational by the end of next year.

Things are moving quite well and as planned, Saurabh Kumar, Indian ambassador to Iran, said in an email.

So far, the United States, keen for India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of renewed Indian efforts to develop the Iranian corridor.

Indias ties with Iran came up during US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons talks in New Delhi last month, and the top US diplomat said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people.

But he warned that the administration would crack down on financial benefits accruing to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the countrys most powerful security entity, blamed for fuelling regional proxy wars.

Gateway

India has framed its involvement in Chabahars development as primarily about establishing a gateway to Afghanistan, more than Iran itself, Indian officials and a Western diplomatic source said.

Washington has not intervened directly in the ports development, but, previously, India drastically cut back its oil imports from Iran, one of its main suppliers, in the face of international sanctions on Tehran for its suspected nuclear programme.

In general, I get the impression that conservative analysts in (Washington) DC have accepted the fact that India will maintain some form of relationship with Iran, said Jeff Smith, a south Asia expert at The Heritage Foundation in Washington.

They recognize that for India, Iran is more about a transport corridor to Afghanistan; that it has no interest in advancing Irans agenda in the Middle East; and that whatever space India evacuates there will be filled by China.

An Indian government source said India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL), a company set up by the government to lead the Chabahar project, had held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations.

In August, IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships.

After some delay, IGPL awarded contracts last month for port construction equipment such as cranes, the source said. Iran, meanwhile, had completed the construction of a jetty.

We are moving slowly, but there is movement on the port development despite US-Iran relations deteriorating, said Meena Singh Roy, an expert on India-Iran ties at the government-funded Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
Veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan, on his 63rd birthday on Wednesday, announced that the work on his political party is in progress. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Chennai: Veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan, on his 63rd birthday on Wednesday, announced that the work on his political party is in progress. He also launched a new mobile application 'Maiyam Whistle' which he said will serve as an interface between his fans and him.

"I am already here," Haasan said when asked about when he will make a debut in politics. He said he is "working on structural part" of his new outfit.

"People say I am going to launch a political party. I am waiting because I need to lay a strong foundation. I am discussing with experts...Don't ask me when I will deliver. Work has begun for my entry into politics. It's not time for me to talk about this now," he said.

Talking about his new mobile application, the actor said, "It is not just an application. It is an open platform to connect with the people."

"This app will be a sort of a whistleblower platform, will be used wherever wrong or any injustice happens. I will strive to achieve justice," Haasan said.

The actor further said that he will be touring with his fans across Tamil Nadu to better understand the needs of his fellow citizens before launching his own political party.

My dream is to create a good Tamil Nadu, the actor said adding that, It is important to strengthen the base, before launching the party.

Also Read : Kamal Haasan cancels birthday celebrations today, tweets explanation

He said the Ashok chakra on the national flag, which he thought of as a "virtuous" cycle, had become a "vicious cycle." He asked his supporters and the public to help him make it "virtuous" again.

"Dreams create inventions. Inventions become a way of life," was Kamal Haasan's message to all those who might think his initiative is a lofty idea.

Kamal Haasan whose recent remarks on right-wing terror groups in one of his magazine columns had ignited a controversy last week, said he never mentioned the term "Hindu terror" in his column and that the essence may have been lost in translation.

"I did not use the word 'terror'; the word I used was 'extreme', like some of my fans who love me," Haasan said.

He was quoted as stating in his column that the existence of Hindu terrorists cannot be denied and that where Hindu once used debates to argue their points, they now resort to violence.

The actor added, "There is violence in religion. It can be Hinduism. We cannot deny the extremism. If they want to kill me for this I am ready to take the bullet. But it should be the last life lost in this."

He said he was neither a "believer," nor an "atheist."

"I come from a Hindu background. My family are Hindus. But I have come out of that in search of truth. My non-religious identity, I don't want to glorify or ridicule it."

Haasan earlier met people affected by the current torrential rains in Chennai.

The national award-winning actor, who has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, visited a medical camp set up by his Narpani Iyakkam (welfare movement) at Avadi, 20 km from Chennai city.

During his visit, Haasan said there was no connection of this camp with politics "but we could use this for that".
Addressing a gathering at Himachal Pradesh Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said, 'The government implemented the GST in haste with the highest tax slab of 28 per cent and a very complicated procedure of filing returns which has ruined businesses.' (Photo: Twitter | @INCIndia)

Nahan (Himachal Pradesh): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would undergo sweeping changes to provide relief to traders, consumers and other sections hit by it, after his party comes to power at the Centre in 2019.

He also hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his charge of rampant corruption in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh claiming that according to a NITI Aayog report, graft levels in the hill state were way below others. Himachal fared far better than BJP-ruled Gujarat on development parameters, he said citing the report.

He also accused Modi of speaking "selectively" on the issue of corruption and demanded to know where the jobs that the BJP had promised were.

"We will completely change the GST after coming to power in 2019 to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by it," Rahul Gandhi said addressing poll rallies at Paonta Sahib, Chamba and Nagrota in the poll-bound hill state.

Responding to the claims of BJP leaders that the tax was passed with Congress support, he said GST that has been implemented by the Modi government was not what was proposed by his party.

"The government implemented the GST in haste with the highest tax slab of 28 per cent and a very complicated procedure of filing returns which has ruined businesses," the Congress vice president said.

He said the agitation planned by the Congress on the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 was aimed at highlighting the plight of small businesses, youth, women and farmers, who had suffered the most.

Taking on Prime Minister Modi over his allegations of widespread corruption in Himachal, Rahul Gandhi said that as per a NITI Aayog report, corruption level was lowest in Himachal and it was also adjudged the best in the country in education, health and cleanliness.

Comparing the data for Himachal and Gujarat, he claimed that the hill state was ahead on all parameters be it health, education, employment or any other sector.

The Congress vice president accused Modi of speaking selectively on issues related to corruption and alleged "he never spoke about the Vyapam scam, Lalit Modi scam or any other scam surfacing in BJP ruled states and has skipped mention of Jai Shah, or his crorepati business friends".

He blamed the prime minister for "squeezing employment opportunities" in the country and asked "where are the two crore annual jobs, promised by the BJP in 2014?".

Demonetisation and GST have not only resulted in big job losses but also destroyed the basic structure for creating job opportunities, he claimed adding that the government policies were helping only a few corporate houses.

Drawing a comparison with China, Rahul Gandhi said it gives jobs to 50,000 people every 24 hours while the Modi government provides employment to only 450 people which means that jobs provided by China in two days equals the jobs provided by Modi government in an year.

"The prime duty of the Prime Minister should be job creation for the unemployed youths," he said adding that it was not being done which was a betrayal.

Questioning the Prime Minister on the benefits of the "painful exercise of demonetisation", Rahul Gandhi said that it was "a loot of people's hard earned money".

He said Prime Minister Modi should tell the nation where the "black money" recovered during demonetisation was.

He asked the people to beware of BJP claiming that false promises and steps like demonetisation and GST were the real face of the saffron party.

Quoting from the speech of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said that "there are two categories of people; first those who just believe in the working, and second who don't believe in working but are quick in claiming credit."

"Modiji is very quick in taking the credit but poor in working, while the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh, followed the teachings of Bhagwat Gita :'kam karo aur phal ki chinta mat karo' and worked relentlessly," he claimed.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Singh said the he was committed to granting tribal status to the Trans-Giri area of Sirmour district and his government had raised this issue time and again with the Union government.

Singh said that he was not afraid of the BJP's "wrong allegations", claims and campaign as he was confident that the people of the state were with the Congress.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has been moved on Tuesday for registration of an FIR against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for ordering police firing against kar sevaks in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990, when they had gathered in connection with the demand for construction of Ram Mandir. One of the kar sevaks, Rana Sangram Singh, in his special leave petition said Mr Yadav while addressing a meeting on February 6, 2014 had admitted that as a Chief Minister he ordered police firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya to win the confidence of Muslims.

He said he had made a complaint before the Lucknow police for registration of an FIR against Mr Yadav but this was dismissed. The petitioner challenged the 2014 order passed by the Allahabad HC, which refused to accept his writ petition. The petitioner said it was undisputed that Mr Yadav was CM of Uttar Pradesh in the year 1990.
Bengaluru: With the Assembly elections nearing, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday ordered bureaucrats to complete all ongoing pro-people programmes initiated by the government.

Meeting DCs and CEOs of all zilla panchayat here on Tuesday, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the elections may be held in April or May and there is still five more months to complete the projects, which include clearing government land encroachment, housing for SC/ST community, Indira Canteen, ration card distribution, land sanctioning and distribution of land rights to the downtrodden.

The government plans to build 15 lakh houses in five years. If the beneficiaries are allotted sites early, it will help them take up the construction and complete it on war footing. Officers have to take up this on priority, he said.

In Bengaluru, officials are doing the good work of clearing encroachments of government lands. If officials in districts follow the same pattern, recovered lands can be used for schools, colleges, anganwadis, community halls, hostels and cemeteries, he said.

The government wants to open 6,000 Bapuji Seva Kendras in every panchayat and works in 514 places have already started. Such centers should be opened in all other panchayats in the next three months, he said.

The government wants Indira Canteens in all taluk headquarters. There should be one canteen for one lakh population. Officials can take a decision on opening such canteens even if the population is less. The canteens should be opened at strategic places like bus stands, hospitals, APMC yards etc. If the government land is not available, officials can open mobile canteens or even take some places on rent to open canteens, he said.

He appealed to the officials to complete the programmes to fulfil 95 percent of the promises made in the election manifesto.

Sources said that the chief minister was calm while addressing the officials. When Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa vent his ire against officials for not clearing applications for land under bagar hukum and Forest Right Act, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the minister was talking with pain on the plight of the poor people and that officials should not take it personally.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the TS government to produce the land records belonging to the Victoria Memorial Home in Saroornagar here.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili was dealing with a PIL by V.M. Home Orphan Old Students Association L. Buchi Reddy, who challenged the decision of the government to lease 10 acres belonging to the Home to the Rachakonda police commissionerate to construct its headquarters.

Senior counsel Sarasani Satyam Reddy, appearing for the petitioner, said the land belonged to a trust and the state government had no power to lease it.

Additional advocate-general J. Ramachandra Rao contended that the endowments department had the power to lease the land.

Mr Rao told the court that the government would provide all facilities required for the inmates of VM Home.

ACJ recuses from plea on colleges

Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan recused from hearing a PIL seeking an investigation into the private engineering colleges allegedly obtaining approval from the All India Technical Education Council (AICTE) using fake documents.

Quality Foundation, an NGO of the city, told the court that it had complained to the AICTE that the managements of 185 colleges had got approval with forged documents.

While recusing as he had appeared for some of the respondent colleges, Justice Ranganathan directed the Registry to post the case before another bench.

Indrasena plea on sop admitted

The Hyderabad High Court admitted a petition by BJP leader N. Indrasena Reddy challenging the state government for conferring Cabinet rank on advisers, special representatives and government corporations. His counsel Y. Balaji said Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution had imposed a limit on the Cabinet size to 15 per cent of the strength of the Assembly. The bench directed the respondents to file their counter affidavits within three weeks.

SC impleads TS in Polavaram plea

The Supreme Court impl-eaded TS and Chhattisgarh as parties to the suit filed by Odisha seeking to restrain AP from building the Polavaram dam.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta was allowing an interim application by the Odisha government on the original suit moved in 2007.

AP stated that TS consent was deemed under Section 90 (3) of AP Reorganisation Act. Odisha contended that after bifurcation, TS had become a riparian state. The TS government supported Odishas stand.

Warrant onap official

The Hyderabad High Court issued a bailable warrant on AP transport commissioner Balasubrahmanyam as he was not present in court despite its directions.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili refused the request of AP advocate general D. Srinivas to recall the warrant as his absence was due to a miscommunication from the AG office.

The bench said, if the authorities take court orders lightly, they have to face this kind of consequences.

The bench was dealing with a PIL filed by city advocate K.V. Subba Reddy seeking a direction to the two governments to frame guidelines for implementation of laws for staff in transport companies.

TS said 1,123 bus operators had given an assurance that they would register themselves, and 123 had done so.

TS counsel Arun Kumar said the government was imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 on those violating the law. To this, the bench said, Will operators care for it? They will pay Rs 2,000 and again violate the law.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday cleared the legal hurdles for the state government to celebrate

'Tipu Jayanti', as it refused to stay a circular issued by the Director of Kannada and Culture Department to celebrate the jayanti across the state.

The court instructed the government to maintain law and order during the jayanti celebrations. Tipu Jayanti is being celebrated on Nov. 10.

The petitioner, K.P. Manjunath, had approached the high court, seeking to quash the circular and restrain the celebrations in Kodagu district.

The division bench, headed by acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh, adjourned the matter by four weeks, observing that the matter is sensitive and needs detailed hearing. The court has asked the state to respond to it.

The court asked the petitioner's advocate whether there was any pressure on the state government to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. It further questioned the petitioner's advocate, "What mental ailments Tipu Jayanti caused to the people of Kodagu and Mangaluru? How does it affect you?"

The petition stated, Tipu Sultan's reign resulted in the conversion and killing of thousands of Kodava as a retaliation to his defeat and there was large-scale communal violence when Tipu Jayanti was celebrated in 2015."
Hyderabad: The state is likely to get back some of the villages of Khammam district which were merged with AP after bifurcation.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao told the Assembly on Tuesday that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had agreed in principle to transfer the villages back to the state. He said that roads and buildings minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, who belongs to Khammam district, was overseeing the matter.

After bifurcation, AP had demanded seven mandals in Khammam district that were in the submergence area of the Polavaram project. The Centre amended the AP Reorganisation Act and merged 211 villages in AP.

God is ours, land belongs to AP, says Sunnam

The issue came up during the discussion on purification of land records when CPM legislator Sunnam Rajaiah said the Bhadrachalam temple was in Telangana state while 930 acres belonging to the temple were in AP. God is ours and lands are in AP, he said.

Reacting to this, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said no one could take rights over temple lands. He said some land in TS belonged to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasatha-nams. He said the government was in discussions with AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to get back some villages.
Hyderabad: The Board of Intermediate Education will file criminal cases against private junior colleges which fail to follow norms released by the Telangana State Board of Higher Education, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari said on Tuesday. The norms were drawn up to prevent student suicides.

The BIE will follow the CBSE academic calender from next year, Mr Srihari, who handles the education portfolio, said. He warned private colleges against running classes during holidays. He said they should follow the academic calender issued by the TSBHE.

He advised parents to admit their children in junior colleges which are affiliated by the TSBIE. The list will be released before March 31.
Bengaluru: The pace of construction of state government's ambitious Indira canteens is very slow and Mayor G Padmavathi has blamed it on lack of cooperation from corporators, belonging to non-Congress parties.

Of the 198 Indira Canteens, which were promised to be thrown open on August 15, BBMP after a review meeting, headed by Bengaluru development minister K J George, said that only 125 will be operational by the said time.

Even though the civic body is struggling to get at least 125 canteens open to provide food at subsidised rates on independence day, it has a long way to go as in many wards identifying the right place for setting up the canteen is proving to be a Herculean task.

Of the 125 canteens promised to be open by Independence Day, till Wednesday only 38 wards are physically ready. When asked what will happen to the rest, Padmavathi said, "Works are half completed in 67 wards. It will be finished in another few days."

Even if it is assumed that works will be totally completed in 67 wards, total number of canteens fully ready to function on August 15 will be only 105, reducing the promised number by 20.

BBMP Mayor accused corporators belonging to other political parties of not cooperating in finding the right place for the canteen. Even if the right place is found, they try to raise one or the other issue.

Citing the example of razing down of Murphy town market for the canteen, the Mayor said, "The market was in a dilapidated condition and had become a hub of anti-social activities be it drinking or drugs. And when we razed it for a good cause, other party political workers are finding fault."

She went on to say that the opposition parties are jealous of the fact that the project will be accepted by a larger part of the society. She was confident that people will question their respective corporators if Indira canteen isn't being built in their wards, after they open in other wards.

Canteen to occupy church land

The canteen project has been in the news for wrong reason for issues such as encroaching into parks, playgrouds, temples and the latest one is about takeover of a portion of church land, owned by St Mary's Prayers Association Charitable Trust at L.R. Nagar, Vivek Nagar. The BBMP officials could not find a suitable place in Neelasandra ward and have planned to occupy church land. Initially it was rumoured that the whole church, which is sitting on a 30x30 square feet site and operational for over 30 years, would be demolished. But later officials found a place next to the church to build the canteen and only a portion of the church measuring about five feet is being sought by the officials for the canteen.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Victor Matemadanda last week launched yet another indirect attack on President Robert Mugabe. He was speaking at a Samora Machel memorial lecture organised by Organizing for Zimbabwe
Birbal K Debbarma, a third-semester student of Integrated MA in the Language Science in University of Hyderabad, is hospitalised. (Photo: PTI/File)

Hyderabad: A 20-year-old student of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) was injured after he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the third floor of his hostel on the campus, apparently due to depression, in the early hours of Tuesday, the police said.

A university official had earlier said that Birbal K Debbarma, a third-semester student of Integrated MA in the Language Science course, "accidentally" fell from the terrace of the hostel building at around 1.30 am.

However, Gachibowli Police Station Sub-Inspector N Venkateshwarlu said the student, who hailed from Agartala in Tripura, jumped from a window of the hostel's third floor on a cycle stand on the ground at around 12.30 am.

In his statement to the police, Debbarma said he dreamt that someone knocked on the door of his room when he was sleeping last night and asked him to get up to end his life, and accordingly, he jumped off the third floor of the building, the officer said.

"Debbarma stated that a person had hanged himself in the building over a year ago and that person had apparently asked him to come along with him to die," he added.

As per a preliminary inquiry, it seemed that the student was fighting some kind of a depression, Mr Venkateshwarlu said.

"No suicide note was found and based on Debbarma's and the eyewitnesses' statements, a general diary entry of the incident was made. No case was registered," he added.

The student suffered head injuries and fractures in his legs, the sub-inspector said, adding that medical investigations were going on.

The UoH said in a release that Debbarma fell from the terrace of the hostel and hearing the noise, the students of the hostel informed the security and rushed him to the university health centre, from where he was referred to a private hospital in Gachibowli.

Debbarma's parents were informed about the incident, the university said.
Hassan: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which does not have much of a track record in the district, claimed on Tuesday that the response to its Parivarthana Yatra led by state unit president, B S Yeddyurappa across Hassan over the last couple of days, had proved a morale booster for its workers.

A Janata Dal (S) secular bastion, five of the seven legislators from the district belong to this party, while the other two are from the Congress.

The BJP last won from Hassan district as far back as in 1999. Minister for Animal Husbandry A Manju had won the election on its ticket at the time from Arkalgudu before joining the Congress.

Clearly hoping to make an inroad into the home turf of JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, the party did everything it could to strike a chord with the people during the Parivarthana Yatra in Hassan town on Tuesday, where it arrived after journeying through Arasikere, Belur and Sakleshpur.

Starting from a private hotel in Hassan town on B. M. Road , the yatra passed through NR Circle, and Salagame Road before culminating at the district stadium where Mr Yeddyurappa addressed a gathering.

Learning from their past mistakes, local leaders of the party were cautious not to waste Mr Yedyurappas time with breakfasts and dinners in their homes and made sure he had enough time to interact with voters.

One party worker, Yogesh, who is hoping for a ticket from the district, said the BJP chief was able to chat with people this time around. We hope this will help the prospects of the party in the coming election to the state assembly, he added.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao alleged, on Tuesday that the Congress was behind the attack on the Khammam market yard, and the burning of paddy crop in Suryapet district.

During Question Hour, Congress members T. Jeevan Reddy, D.K. Aruna and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said false cases had been framed and farmers jailed for demanding minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

Mr Jeevan Reddy said that the state and Central governments had failed in providing MSP. He said that in Khammam district, farmers were handcuffed by the police. He demanded bonus for farmers growing cotton, paddy, maize and other crops. He said in Suryapet district farmers had burnt their paddy crop for nor getting MSP.

Replying to this, agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said the government was taking steps to implement MSP as announced by the Centre.

Intervening in the discussion, the CM said cotton was damaged in some areas due to untimely rains. He said he had himself lost some crop due to rains. The government had written to the Centre requesting purchase of 20 per cent damaged cotton.

He said the government was expecting 30 lakh tonnes of cotton production and only one lakh tonnes had come to the market.

Reacting to the allegations made by Congress members, Mr Rao said the Congress was behind the Khammam and Suryapet incidents. He said in Suryapet district, the farmers had burnt the paddy crop that was damaged by some disease, which the Congress had presented as a protest.
Hyderabad: BJP legislator C. Ramachandra Reddy on Tuesday pulled the mike of Congress legislator T. Jeevan Reddy amid a ruckus in the Assembly.

The incident occurred when BJP legislators were demanding that Speaker Madhusudana Chary take up their adjournment motion on the arrest of BJYM workers who were on a Chalo Assembly protest demanding jobs.

The Speaker said the Question Hour would be taken first, to which the BJP objected. In the melee, Mr Ramachandra Reddy pulled Mr Jeevan Reddys mike when he was asking supplementary questions on minimum support price.

Mr Chary and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao objected to the BJP leaders behaviour. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who entered the House at the time asked the BJP members not to disrupt the proceedings. He said the government was ready to discuss any issue if the Speaker allowed it. After protests, BJP members walked out.

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi asked why no apology was demanded from the BJP. He asked why the government was afraid of the BJP. He also accused Mr Jeevan Reddy of encouraging Mr Ramachandra Reddy to break the mike.

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said the issue would be discussed in the business advisory meeting.
The Narendra Modi government is well aware that it needs to diversify its diplomatic relations if it wants to play a major role in the world. While the Indian media regularly covers the Look East or Act East vision, which translates into closer contacts with nations like Japan, Vietnam and Australia, Look and Act West is often overlooked. Perhaps its happening in a more discreet manner, such as in the case of relations with France.

Besides the recent visit of French defence minister Florence Parly and the forthcoming visit of foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (seen as a precursor to the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India in the second week of December), the last few weeks have seen important visitors, putting Indo-French ties on a new launchpad towards deeper collaboration in several fields.

In September, the president of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), Pierre Gattaz, visited India. MEDEF is the largest French employers federation, representing over 800,000 member-companies. Known as boss of the bosses (patron des patrons), Mr Gattaz was accompanied by a 60-member delegation to help India innovate and create jobs with expertise in infrastructure, renewable energy, waste and water treatment and smart cities.

The delegation toured New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, where it met government officials and business groups like Ficci and CII. In Bengaluru, Mr Gattaz asserted: We want to be in India for the next 30 years and become one of the best partners in Indias development path. India needs the skills and expertise that French businesses can provide. Our objective is to create one million jobs a month in India.

A PMO release said Prime Minister Modi appreciated the invaluable contribution of business leaders from both countries.

A few days later, the diplomatic adviser to the French President and the NSAs counterpart, Philippe Etienne, visited New Delhi. On October 4, at his meeting with the PM, Mr Etienne briefed Mr Modi on the strengthening ties between India and France in all sectors, including in the areas of defence and security. At this meeting, Mr Modi fondly recalled his successful visit to France in June 2017. He told his interlocutor that defence and security were the two important pillars of the India-France partnership.

Mr Modi had paid a short visit to Paris on June 3 to acquaint himself with Mr Macron. The talks between the two leaders mainly centered around the Paris Conference on the environment as US President Donald Trump had just announced American withdrawal from the Paris Accord.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Modi declared that the Paris climate deal reflects our duty towards protecting the mother earth and our natural resources. For us, protection of the environment is an article of faith. Perhaps more important, a current of understanding had passed between the two leaders.

The recent visit of Ms Parly must be seen in this perspective: a special relationship, which already works, needs to bloom further. Of course, it includes the field of defence, particularly selling more Rafale combat planes, which is on the table, at least, for the French and the Indian Air Force.

Before the visit, a national newspaper noted: After selling 36 Rafale fighter jets to India for $8.7 billion (`58,000 crores) last year, the French government is now pushing for a project to manufacture warplanes in India to give a boost to Prime Minister Modis push to encourage local manufacturing under Make in India.

A defence ministry official said though Ms Parlys visit is aimed towards strengthening defence cooperation, offering a production line in India for Rafale jets will surely be on the cards. It is not known if this was discussed between Ms Parly and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, but it is significant that the French minister travelled to Nagpur to launch a joint production facility between Dassault Aviation and Reliance to fulfil the Rafale deals offset obligation. Around Rs 20,000 crores need to be invested by the French. Ms Parly, along with Dassault Aviation chairman Eric Trappier and Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani, laid the foundation stone of an aerospace park for manufacture of aircraft components.

The Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park (DAAP), being set up in Nagpurs Mihaan Special Economic Zone, will spread over 289 acres. It is due to be the largest greenfield aerospace project in India. The DassaultReliance Joint Venture (JV) has already shortlisted a large number of vendors, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, to be part of an indigenous supply chain for the Rafales. Its objective is to build a strong base for the success of the Rafale programme under the Make In India scheme. According to an official: The production at the facility is expected to start in the first quarter of 2018 and phase one will be fully operational by the third quarter of 2018.

The strengthening of Indo-French relations will greatly depend on the success of this JV. Another test, a difficult one at that, has been the collaboration for the construction of six Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. When asked by a reporter about France joining the Indian Navys project (Project-75-India) for the six new-generation submarines, Ms Parly said that the French naval group (DCNS) had proposed a new submarine design and the associated weapons systems which are perfectly adapted to the high ambitions of the Indian Navy and incorporate cutting-edge technologies.

Talking about the Scorpene experience, she remarked: We already have in-depth experience of cooperation with Indian industry to build modern and effective submarines in India. About the massive leak of confidential data in the Scorpene submarine project in Australia, she quoted Mr Macron and Mr Modi, who had said: This matter is now behind us.

Let us hope so.

Beyond these experiences in concretely working together, one can hope that Mr Macrons encounter with Mr Modi in December will give a new impetus to a grand Act West policy.

It would also make economic and strategic sense for India to partner with France in more futuristic research projects like a fifth-generation plane or an armed drone.

Mr Modi spoke to Ms Parly about greater cooperation in the Make in India framework in defence manufacturing and joint research and development. It would be beneficial not just for India, but for France as well as it would get the crucial financial support and market. Such a faraway possibility is worth thinking about.
WhatsApp, which is widely used in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, said message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services.

Indonesia has vowed to block Facebook Incs WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) images were removed. WhatsApp, which is widely used in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, said message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services.

WhatsApp said in a statement on Monday that it asked the government instead to work with those providers, which integrate their technology into WhatsApp to allow users to enter keywords to search for GIFs.

Indonesias Internet is partly censored, with access blocked to websites providing criticism of Islam, dating services and sex education, according to research published in May by Tor Project, a nonprofit maker of Web browsing tools.

Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesias communications and informatics ministry, said WhatsApp would be blocked within 48 hours unless the images supplied by third parties were taken off the service.

Yes, true. They have to follow the rules of the host, Pangerapan said of the proposed block.

The ministry had sent three letters to WhatsApp over the issue, he said.

They have responded, but asked us to speak directly to the third party. The GIFs appeared in their apps. Why do we have to be the one speaking to the third party? They are supposed to be the ones managing it, said Pangerapan.

Tenor Inc, one of the third parties, said it was attempting to release a fix. Giphy Inc, another provider, did not respond to requests to comment.

Jennifer Kutz, a Tenor spokesperson, said in a statement that the company is working to address the content issues raised by the Indonesian government within the next 48 hours.

Kutz said the company regularly works with local entities to make sure our content reflects the cultural mores and legal requirements.

She declined to identify the proposed fix or existing regions with content restrictions. Tenor allows integrators of its service to block potentially objectionable image results or a defined list of search terms.

In the case of WhatsApp, were taking on this responsibility, Kutz said in an email.

Giphy, a New York City company that also works with WhatsApp, offers its partners a feature for filtering inappropriate images.

Indonesias warning did not appear to target Gboard, a keyboard app developed by Google that provides comparable GIF search results but must be installed separately from WhatsApp on most devices.

Indonesia had 69 million monthly active Facebook users as of the first quarter of 2014, ranking the country fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil, company data showed.

Some reaction on Indonesian social media to the threatened block was skeptical. While youre at it, why dont you block Twitter too, (and) if necessary all browsers in the Playstore, because its way easier to search for porn there than on WhatsApp, wrote one Twitter user, with the handle @jnessy.

The countrys regulators have reached settlements with several technology companies after threatening to shut them down. In August, Indonesia announced it would block Giphys website for showing gambling-related ads. Access soon was restored after it agreed to cooperate with regulators.

Bans similarly were rescinded in recent years on social media websites such as Vimeo and Tumblr and the chat app Telegram, which regulators had said was full of radicals and terrorist propaganda.

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had urged the communications ministry to block pornographic GIF images accessible via emoticons, complaining that children could easily reach them, according to news website kompas.com. Terms of use for WhatsApp, Tenor and Giphy say users must be 13 years old.

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The M-tech G24 comes with a 16GB expandable memory and other features includes MP3/MP4/WAV player, wireless FM radio, Bluetooth, audio/video recording, auto call record and torch among others.

M-tech has introduced a new feature phone  the G24. The phone is equipped with a 1000mAh battery that claims to offer 7 hours of talk time and 300 hours standby time.

The dual SIM G24 comes with a 1.8-inch QQVGA display and features a dual digital camera. The device offers support in 5 languages  English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Bengali. The M-tech G24 comes with a 16GB expandable memory and other features includes MP3/MP4/WAV player, wireless FM radio, Bluetooth, audio/video recording, auto call record and torch among others.

Priced at Rs 899, the G 24 comes in 5 colors  Black, Red, Blue, Grey and Brown. The product is available across the country at 20,000 retail points of all formats and e-commerce sites like: www.amazon.com, www.snapdeal.com, www.flipkart.com, www.shopclues.com, www.paytm.com among others.

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Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 39, was one of four men including his brother arrested in September 2015 and charged for sending $22,000 to US-born cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, a leader of Yemen-based Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). (Representational Image)

Washington: An Indian man who came to the United States to study was sentenced Monday to more than 27 years in prison for sending funds to Al-Qaeda and plotting to kill the federal judge in his trial.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 39, was one of four men including his brother arrested in September 2015 and charged for sending $22,000 to US-born cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, a leader of Yemen-based Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Mohammad and two others traveled to Yemen in 2009 in hopes of hand-delivering the money to Awlaki, one of the most influential recruiters for Al-Qaeda. They did not meet him, but had the money delivered to him by a third party.

After they were arrested in 2015, Mohammad also tried to hire someone to kill the judge in his case, the Justice Department said.

"He threatened the safety of our citizens, a judge and the independent judiciary. Now he is being held accountable," said US Attorney Justin Herdman.

Mohammad came to the United States to study at Ohio State University in 2002. He married a US citizen in 2008.

A year after the his arrest, Mohammad offered another inmate in the Lucas County, Ohio jail $15,000 to kidnap and kill US District Judge Jack Zouhary.

The inmate connected Mohammad with an assassin who was in fact an undercover FBI agent. A member of Mohammad's family paid a $1,000 downpayment to the "assassin."

He pleaded guilty in US federal court in Toledo, Ohio to one count of conspiracy to provide and conceal material support or resources to terrorists and one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

In a plea deal, Mohammad agreed to 27.5 years in federal prison, after which he will be deported.

The three other men arrested still face trial. All pleaded not guilty to the charges.
China is the source of around 90 per cent of the North's commerce, and under Trump, Washington has consistently urged it to do more. (Photo: AP File)

Seoul: Chinese President Xi Jinping has been "very helpful" in dealing with the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a day before he heads to Beijing.

Pyongyang was "a worldwide threat that requires a worldwide action", according to Trump, but he said that Xi "really has been very, very helpful".

"We hope that Russia likewise will be helpful," he added.

China is the North's key ally and diplomatic protector, their alliance forged during the Korean War when hundreds of thousands of Chinese "people's volunteers" died fighting US- led United Nations troops.

But while Beijing has become increasingly frustrated at its neighbour's nuclear antics, seeing them as destabilising the region, it says its power to influence Pyongyang is limited.

China is the source of around 90 per cent of the North's commerce, and under Trump, Washington has consistently urged it to do more.

"All nations must implement UN Security Council regulations and cease trade and business entirely with North Korea," Trump said.

"It is unacceptable that nations would help to arm and finance this increasingly dangerous regime."
Beijing: British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned that the human race will perish on earth as growing population and massive power consumption would turn the planet into a sizzling fireball in less than 600 years. To ensure the survival of our species for another million years, humans must boldly go where no one has gone before, he said.

Our planet will turn into a ball of fire because of our soaring energy consumption as the population soars, the world renowned scientist said in a video appearance at the Tencent WE Summit in Beijing.

Prof Hawking appealed to investors to back his plans to travel to the closest star outside the solar system, with the hope that a habitable planet might be orbiting it, The Sun reported. Alpha Centauri is one of the closest stars to our solar system, located four billion light-years away.

Scientists believe that it may host planets that could foster life, just like earth.

Prof. Hawking is backing Breakthrough Starshot, a venture to reach this system within two decades using a tiny aircraft that could travel at the speed of light.

Such a system could reach Mars in less than an hour, or reach Pluto in days, pass Voyager in under a week and reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years, he said.
Opinion / Columnist

That Zimbabwe's clergy have called for peace and tolerance as the country heads towards the 2018 harmonised elections and the proposed formation of a platform for dialogue between the Church and political parties to ease tensions is enlightening at this stage.It is important for the country's political leadership to seek to build peace instead of chaos. Yet, the goings-on in Zanu-PF points to chaos enveloping Zimbabwe if the fights do not stop. Given the breakdown of the economy, Zimbabweans would have thought that President Robert Mugabe would prioritise their welfare, but it's all wishful thinking.We have no doubt that Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party want to continue their stranglehold on power regardless of the outcome of the next elections. So the Church is right to call for peace because the unfolding events point to a bloody period.Indeed, Zanu-PF heads into next month's special congress setting the stage to cull some of its top officials among them under-fire Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his allies to pave way for Mugabe's wife Grace. If this does not happen Mugabe knows that Grace will be resisted and stopped.We hold no brief for anyone in the Zanu-PF structures whether they find themselves fallen by the wayside or not, we care for the country's wellbeing, and we believe the fate of the majority poor Zimbabweans whose future is being trampled upon while Mugabe and his lieutenants fight over spoils. We care more about building peace ahead of the 2018 election.But foremost, we care for journalistic objectivity. Intrinsic to this is an independent, pluralistic media sector rooted in respect for human rights and where our journalists work freely is essential to democratise our country.The Zanu-PF internecine fights over succession have dashed the future of many young generations, and Zimbabwe can no longer afford to defer her future. It is important to ensure the elections are free, fair and untainted by Mugabe/Grace/Mnangagwa succession fights.Let Zimbabweans choose their popular candidate, and if it so happens that Mugabe wins the next election, let that happen under a peaceful environment. It is, therefore, important for Mugabe's party to at least manage its succession well to ensure stability.Mugabe should be warned to contain his Zanu-PF party fights within and that they should not spill over to all pillars of government.It boggles the mind whether Mugabe has ever cared about Zimbabwe?If he has, how come he wants to destroy the country just for the love of power? No doubt the fights in Zanu-PF have stagnated government business, the economy, and is destroying the social and moral fabric of this country.Given this rise in tensions in the country's political landscape the Church has reason to worry, and hence the call to build peace ahead of the elections should be embraced by all peace-loving Zimbabweans.
Brussels: NATO will boost its training mission in Afghanistan by 3,000 troops, chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday as Kabul reeled from the latest deadly attack on civilians.

Around half the new troops will come from the United States, and the overall size of NATO's training and support mission in the unrest-hit country will increase from 13,000 to 16,000, he said.

Speaking a day before NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels, Stoltenberg said the alliance would boost its presence "to help the Afghans break the stalemate, to send a clear message to Taliban to the insurgents that they will not win on the battleground".

"There will be more troops. Current level is around 13,000, the new level will be around 16,000... so far indications are roughly half US,half non-US," he added.

But Stoltenberg insisted there would be no return to combat operations.

"We are focusing on training the Afghan special operations forces, which have proven so key in the fight against the insurgents," he said.

The Taliban, ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001, have been resurgent since NATO ended combat operations in 2014, and the Islamic State group are also stepping up attacks.

Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed Shamshad TV station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding two dozen others in an attack claimed by IS.

Stoltenberg said there will also be more help to develop the Afghan air force. Over 16 years of war in Afghanistan, air strikes have proved a potent weapon against the Taliban.

The decision to boost numbers will be formally approved by the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.

US ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said last month that Washington would ask other alliance members to contribute around 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan.

This was to add to the roughly 3,000 US troops who are already dispatched to train and advise the country's security forces under President Donald Trump's new Afghan strategy.

Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan in August, reversing his previous position advocating US withdrawal after military leaders convinced him that pulling out of America's longest war would be worse than remaining.
Afghan security personnel take position near the Shamshad TV station after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Kabul: Gunmen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday and many staff were still in the building, an employee told AFP, describing the attack as ongoing.

"I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," said Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door.

Shamshad TV, a Pashto language station that broadcasts nationwide, was transmitting a holding image instead of its normal programming.

Zaland said that security forces were in the area of the Shamshad compound in the Afghan capital "trying to bring down the attackers".

"Many of my colleagues are still in the building," he added.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied the militant group was involved in the attack in a Twitter post.

The interior ministry said it was investigating the incident but had no further details.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Last Tuesday a suicide bomber, believed to have been as young as 12, struck Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter and killed at least five people, showing that militants can still hit the heart of the city despite tighter security.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb went off on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city.

The last major assault in Kabul was on October 21 when a suicide attacker hit a busload of Afghan army trainees, killing 15.

On October 20 a suicide bomber pretending to be a worshipper blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in the city during evening prayers, killing 56 and wounding 55.

Earlier this month Kabul police stopped a lorry carrying 2,700 kilograms (nearly 6,000 pounds) of explosives hidden under boxes of tomatoes, averting a potentially deadly blast.
Afghan security personnel take position near the Shamshad TV station after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Kabul: Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding several others in the latest deadly attack on Afghan journalists.

The assault, claimed by the Islamic State group, lasted about three hours before Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers armed with guns and grenades and freed staff trapped inside the building.

"The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued," Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air in an act of defiance just moments later.

"This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us," Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas told rival TOLO News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues are being treated.

The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another attacker went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire on security forces.

Special forces troops had blasted their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster.

"I was in my office when gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked the building," Ehsas said.

"They killed one of our guards and entered the building and started firing. Most of us were able to flee but some were wounded and some jumped out of the windows."

He said the station had not received any threats before the attack.

Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes during the assault as more and more security forces and emergency services swarmed the area.

At least one employee said he had seen three attackers entering the building on security cameras.

"They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, said.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said two guards had been killed and five people wounded -- a Shamshad employee and four firefighters.

'Taliban not involved'

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released by their Amaq propaganda agency. The Taliban had earlier released a Twitter statement denying involvement.

Pashto is one of the official languages in Afghanistan and is spoken mainly in the south where the Taliban have a large presence.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

The attack spotlighted the dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as security worsens. Violence against Afghan journalists surged in the first half of 2017, a media watchdog said in July.

Last year the country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, with at least 13 media workers killed -- 10 by the Taliban. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria.

In January last year seven employees of popular TV channel TOLO, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel near the bombing site. It also managed to resume operations within a few hours.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing.

But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people.
The recent decision by China to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, as a global terrorist, is doing "material harm" to its ties with India, top American experts said today.



Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.

"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washingtons stronger rhetoric against Pakistans support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistans benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UNs list of banned terror outfits.

Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15- nation UN Security Council to put a hold on Indias application.

The other 14 members supported New Delhis bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.
Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar, who is being probed by the Income Tax, said on Tuesday that his phone had been tapped and he was "followed wherever I go."



The revelation comes a day after Water Resources Minister MB Patil complained to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that his phone was tapped by Central government officials.

"My phone has been tapped, too," Shivakumar told reporters on Tuesday. "I'm being followed everyday. I'm being pursued wherever I go," he said.

IT authorities raided Shivakumar's home for three consecutive days in August, even as the Congress strongman was hosting over 40 party legislators from Gujarat who camped in a resort outside Bengaluru.

Shivakumar did not specifically said who was tapping his phone. "Many agencies are authorised to tap phones. How can I say who did it," he said. "But such attempts are on ever since I came to power."

The minister also hit out against a Kannada TV news channel for reporting that the Enforcement Directorate was probing him. "Beware. I'm the rock of Kanakapura. If you hit your head against it, your head will break," he said.

The Congress and the BJP have blamed each other of tapping phones of their leaders. Recently, BJP leader R Ashoka accused the ruling Congress of tapping the phones of 162 party leaders. In response, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the BJP-led government at the Centre had tapped phones of more than 30 Congress leaders in the state.

"MB Patil and (Mines and Geology Minister) Vinay Kulkarni are emerging as prominent Lingayat leaders because of their involvement in the movement for a separate religion. This has rattled the BJP. As a result, they are using phone-tapping as a weapon," Reddy said.
A student of University of Hyderabad in Gachibowli was critically injured after allegedly jumping from the third floor of his hostel building, 30 minutes past midnight.



Birbal Koizara (20), son of Birbal Deborma from Tripura, is a second year student in MA Language Science.

On hearing a sound, Birbal's hostel mates rushed to the spot and immediately shifted him to a medical room. Later, he was moved to Care Hospital in Gachibowli.

Birbal has been treated with head injury and fractured legs. While it is still not clear what exactly happened, officials said the student jumped from the building due to personal issue.

According to Gachibowli police, Birbal jumped from the hostel building and suffered severe head injury. A case has been registered. Birbal's family has been informed about the incident, police said.

The UoH was under national spotlight following the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula last year. On January 17, 15 days after he was expelled from the hostel along with four other Dalit researchers, Vemula committed suicide by hanging himself to the ceiling fan with the blue banner of Ambedkar Student Association (ASA). The students including Vemula were denied entry into the hostel and permission to gather following a scuffle between ASA members and ABVP leader N Susheel Kumar.
The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board today said it would prepare a draft proposal for a peaceful settlement of the Ayodhya dispute by December 6, the day the Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992.



Board Chairman Wasim Rizvi, who has made public his opinion that a Ram temple should be built at the site, said he would visit Ayodhya this month to meet seers and mahants.

"I have already discussed terms and conditions with many of them and some petitioners for the draft proposal for agreement to settle the dispute mutually," Rizvi told PTI.

"By December 6, I hope we will be able to prepare our draft proposal for a mutual agreement," he said.

Rizvi last month met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore and apprised him of the Board's stand on a Ram temple at the site.

The Board does not want a mosque constructed at the site. Instead, it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim-populated area, he has said.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77-acre area between the Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Lord Ram Lalla.

Rizvi, however, was of the view that partition of the disputed land in Ayodhya would not be a "practical idea" and would not be "peaceful and long lasting".

He did not divulge the contents of the draft he was preparing but said he would convene a meeting of the Waqf Board to get consent of the members before moving ahead on it and making it public.

The Shia Central Waqf Board has impleaded itself as a party in the Ayodhya case by submitting a 30-page affidavit to the Supreme Court on August 8 this year. It has staked claim to the Babri mosque, maintaining that it was a Shia mosque.

Rizvi, who claims to be authorised by the Board to move ahead on the issue, said the number of mosques in Ayodhya was sufficient for the Muslims residing there and there was no need for a new mosque.

He said that those demanding construction of a mosque at Lord Ram's birthplace, or near it, only wanted to prolong the dispute.

"The demolished mosque belonged to the Shia Waqf and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has no right to decide on it. Only the Shia board has the right to decide," Rizvi has said earlier.

About his meeting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, he said he had conveyed his intentions to him, adding that the initiative for the out-of-court settlement would strengthen Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.

In a bid to resolve Ayodhya issue, Ravi Shankar reportedly met Nirmohi Akhara leaders and Muslim law board members recently.

Though the AIMPLB is not a party in the case, it wields considerable influence as the apex Islamic body on religious and personal matters.

AIMPLB member and Convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) Zafaryab Jilani has denied that any of its authorised representatives met the Art of Living founder for an out-of-court settlement.

"The Ayodhya dispute cannot be settled through arbitration. We will never withdraw our claim to the land in Ayodhya where once the Babri mosque stood and was demolished on December 6, 1992," Jilani has said.
Opinion / Columnist

PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday dismissed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa from Government after their relationship became untenable because of the latter's propensity for disloyalty, dishonesty, deceit and lofty ambitions for power.The President had warned his deputy time and again to desist from having grand designs to seize power unconstitutionally through a combination of the capture of strategic state institutions, running parallel structures within the ruling Zanu-PF party and fomenting divisions. But just like his predecessor, Dr Joice Mujuru, former VP Mnangagwa continued with his activities to the extent that his supporters had become daring, brazen and convinced that their man was destined for State House.Their disdain for the First Family betrayed their hunger for power and it was clear they were prepared to stampede President Mugabe out of his position.Time and again, some of former VP Mnangagwa's excitable followers would do things that clearly undermined the authority of the President and their misguided actions exposed their faction's shenanigans and put their leader in a compromising position.President Mugabe is a patient man who does not rush into taking drastic decisions but he must have been tested to his wits' end by the behaviour of hired yobos who disrupted the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, as she addressed the Bulawayo Youth Interface Rally at White City Stadium on Saturday.Exhibiting the highest level of indiscipline never seen in Zanu-PF, the rented crowd heckled Dr Mugabe with some shouting obscenities and trying to drown her speech. The First Lady was targeted probably because she has been calling out the former VP's supporters and exposing their nefarious activities.She has been consistent in urging Mnangagwa to rein in his supporters who have been on a crusade to anoint him the President's successor. Masvingo and the Midlands provinces have become hotbeds of factionalism with party leaders in the two areas owing their allegiance to the former VP and totally insubordinate to the national leadership structures.This was clearly on show last week when they defied a party decision to suspended four officials from the two provinces on allegations of fomenting tribalism and divisions in the provinces. Provincial leaders in the Midlands and Masvingo stood by the suspended quartet and declared their suspensions a nullity even before their cases have been brought before the national disciplinary committee. So whose interests were they serving by wilfully violating the party's internal processes?Zanu-PF is a party of discipline but it appears some within the vanguard movement believe they are above censure and can do whatever they want as long as they are serving their preferred successor to President Mugabe. In their blind pursuit of power at all costs, former VP Mnangagwa's supporters caused him to fall on his sword and history will judge him harshly for remaining silent while people who claimed to act on his behalf engaged in treasonous acts which have ultimately cost him his job.Having been by President Mugabe's side for close to five decades, former VP Mnangagwa should have known better than to plot against his boss whose patience he tested to the limit. As the clock slowly ticks towards an Extraordinary Congress in December, his position in the party will come under scrutiny as it has become untenable given the breakdown of trust between him and President Mugabe.Addressing the crowd on Saturday, the President urged his deputy and his followers to leave Zanu-PF and form their own party instead of championing divisions, tribal hatred and factionalism.The First Lady reiterated that message when she addressed apostolic sects in Harare on Sunday where she told the gathering that former VP Mnangagwa and his lieutenants must be expelled from Zanu-PF before the Special Congress for fanning divisions within the party.Zanu-PF needs to be united ahead of elections next year and by getting rid of a divisive and polarising figure, the party would be enhancing its chances of winning the poll.In firing former VP Mnangagwa from Government, President Mugabe acted to stop the unconstitutional usurping of his powers by his deputy who had not only become a liability but was increasingly getting dangerous.Announcing the President's decision at a Press conference in the capital yesterday, the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, Simon Khaya Moyo said it had become obvious that the former VP's conduct in the discharge of his duties had become inconsistent with his official responsibilities. "The Vice President has consistently and persistently exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability. He has also demonstrated little probity in the execution of his duties," said Khaya Moyo.We urge the country to rally behind the President's decision which was taken after a lot of painstaking reflection and utmost consideration for the smooth governance of the country. Now more than ever, the nation needs to stand united.
Ten North Koreans, including a three-year-old child, have been detained in China, where they face being deported back to the North, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation said.



The group was trying to defect to South Korea but were detained by Chinese police in the northeastern city of Shenyang in Liaoning province, according to the sources, both of whom requested anonymity citing the sensitivity of the situation.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a daily news briefing on Tuesday she was unaware of details of the case. She said China consistently upholds the handling of such matters in accordance with domestic and international law and humanitarian principles.

"I was able to confirm they were there until (Monday) morning, but they seem to have been transferred elsewhere since then," one of the two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The man only wanted to be identified by his surname Lee because his wife and three-year-old son were among the detained 10.

"I told her to call again and was waiting and hoping she would find a safe place somewhere, but she never called me back," Lee said.

The group consisted of seven women and three men, Lee said. His wife and son had met the rest of a group at a safe house in Shenyang, but lost contact with him on Saturday, Lee said.

A second source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the detention and said that China appeared to have intensified its crackdown on North Korean defectors in China, especially in the past two months.

The New York-based non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch said in September that it had documented the arrests of 41 North Koreans in July and August alone - compared to the 51 cases the organisation had identified over the July 2016 to June 2017 period.

China says North Korean defectors are illegal migrants who flee their country for economic reasons, and does not treat them as refugees. North Korea calls them criminals and describes those who try to bring them to South Korea as kidnappers.

The vast majority of North Koreans who escape to China defect to South Korea where over 31,000 of them have resettled, according to South Korean government data.

Safe passage for defectors fleeing oppressive North Korea often depends on their ability to make the gruelling and at times dangerous trip across rural China without being detected.

South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Roh Kyu-deok said Seoul was "closely monitoring" the latest case of the 10 North Koreans in China.

"We're making diplomatic efforts with related countries so that the defectors will not be forcibly repatriated," Roh said, declining to provide details citing safety concerns and "cooperative relations" the those countries.

An official at the South Korean consulate in Shenyang said they had checked with local police regarding the whereabouts of the group, but had been unable to reach them.

The official said it had "become even tougher" for defectors to cross the border into China following tightened security around the Chinese Communist Party congress last month.

Last week, Seoul and Beijing agreed to move beyond a year-long stand-off over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea - a factor which some observers worry may make Seoul more reluctant to raise the issue of deportations.

"North Korean defectors and people working in the field are worried that South Korea isn't raising this issue with Beijing as strongly as before, as they are trying to improve relations," said the second source with direct knowledge of the group detained in Shenyang.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgiums King Philippe today held talks to strengthen bilateral ties.



Ahead of the meeting with Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary, who arrived here on Sunday on a week-long trip, his first state visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

Modi and the Belgian king, who is accompanied by six ministers and a high powered business delegation comprising CEOs of 86 Belgian companies, held talks in Hyderabad House.

India is Belgiums second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU, according to official data.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion. While exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.

"Swaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit will further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.

Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, were accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A total of Rs 1.38 crore in cash, over six lakh litres of liquor and narcotics worth Rs 12.86 crore have been seized by the Election Commission-appointed surveillance and expenditure monitoring teams in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.



An official data, updated till yesterday, said the teams have seized suspected illicit cash to the tune of Rs 1.18 crore, 3.01 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 5.19 crore and 81 kg of drugs valued at Rs 12.86 crore in Himachal Pradesh that goes to polls in a single phase on November 9.

2.98 kg of gold, allegedly being transported as part of election related inducements, has also been seized by these teams in the hill state.

Gujarat, that will have two phase polls on December 9 and 14, has witnessed a seizure of Rs 20 lakh suspected illicit cash, 3.08 lakh litre liquor and 24.38 kg gold and other precious metals till now.

Separately, 3,650 Pounds (about Rs 3.11 lakh) has also been seized by the teams in Gujarat, the data said.

The EC has appointed about 200 election expenditure observers apart from other central observers to keep a check on black money and illegal inducements used to bribe voters at the hustings in the two states.

The counting of votes in the both the states will be held on December 18.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack on a private television station in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the group's news agency Amaq said on Tuesday, without giving evidence.



A staff member who witnessed the attack said gunmen attacked the building after an explosion. (Reporting by Mostafa Hashem; Writing by Amina Ismail; editing by Ralph Boulton)
The protest by taxi owners' association against the state government's rule for mandatory installation of speed governors to old vehicles ended on Tuesday after officials assured of a solution at the earliest.



Led by South India Motor Transport Association secretary G R Shanmugappa, protesters under the banner of Bruhat Bengaluru Taxi Drivers Union met Transport Commissioner B Dayananda.

The protesters submitted letters received from four automobile manufacturers - Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Toyota and Force Motors - stating that the companies can't give warranty to vehicles that have been modified or altered.

The state government in August issued an order stating that commercial vehicles that weigh less than 3,500 kg must instal speed limiting devices with immediate effect. While new vehicles have in-built devices that perform the function, old ones require the owners to instal then externally.

However, taxi owners cried foul stating the devices that cost about Rs 3,000 in neighbouring states are priced above Rs 10,000 in Karnataka. "More than 6,000 vehicles have remained off the roads as they are not getting fitness certificate (FC). Following the government order, the installation of speed governors is a prerequisite for obtaining FC. We want the government to exempt old vehicles from the rule," Shanmugappa said.

Transport Commissioner Dayananda said he will forward the letters submitted by the protesters. "The issue involves technical, administrative as well as legal aspects. The government will take a call on it after examining it," he told DH.

On 6,000 vehicles that have remained off the road, he said fitness certificate cannot be issued to them unless the government gives permission.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday was at his aggressive best against his successor Prime Minister Narendra Modi in latter's home state Gujarat.



The former prime minister hit out at Modi on multiple fronts - demonetisation, GST, state of the economy, agriculture, politics and even Narmada project - claiming that it is unlikely Modi government would achieve its targets on economic growth.

"My anguish is at remark Modiji makes that nothing was done in 70 years. Does he really mean that? The Life expectancy at independence was at 31 years. Today it is 71 years; Literacy was 18, today it is 76%; We relied on American food but today we are not only food sufficient but exporting; From a slow-growing economy, we are one of the fastest growing economies...I wish PM finds more dignified way to convince people for votes without denigrating the country," former PM said while speaking to mediapersons.

He described demonetisation an "ill-thought out action", reiterating what he said in the Rajya Sabha about demonetisation - an "organised loot and legalised plunder."

Earlier in the day, in an interaction with a group of traders in Ahmadabad, Singh said demonetisation was a black day for India's economy and democracy. "Nowhere in the world any democracy has taken such a coercive step." He said that it had only helped China as its exports into India surged this year by Rs 45,000 crore to reach Rs 2.41 lakh crore.

Singh said that GST, as implemented by Modi government, was a departure from their vision. "The problem is not just about multiple rates but there are loopholes," he said adding that during his tenure as PM, his government had a well-designed GST but "Modiji opposed it."

Singh hit out at Modi's statements that Congress hated Gujaratis. "I was surprised when PM said that Congress hated Gujaratis. If there is a gross distortion then it needs to be rebut," he said invoking names of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and even former prime minister Morarji Desai to suggest that they were all Congressmen and always received their due respect from the party.

Singh criticised Modi's pet project - Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor - by calling it "an exercise in vanity." He asked whether the prime minister had considered an alternative to the high-speed train by upgrading existing broad gauge railways network.

On being asked whether he thought that Rahul Gandhi was capable to lead Congress, Singh said: "Rahul Gandhi is a young leader of our party and I am convinced that he would prove to be a competent and a dynamic leader."
Former Senior Vice President of Infosys and Group Managing Director of PCCW Group BG Srinivas is likely to succeed Vishal Sikka at the helm of Bengaluru-based IT major.



Although many names are making the rounds for the post of CEO and MD of Infosys, Srinivas has emerged as the front runner, according to sources in the know.

Ashok Vemuri, another ex-Infoscion and CEO of Conduent, a Xerox company, is also being considered for the CEO post, even as Srinivas has an edge over him, the sources said.

"Srinivas has worked closely with both the co-founders of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy and Nandan Nilekani. Other than having a birds eye view of Infosys, Srinivas has significant global exposure," sources told DH. Nilekani recently rejoined the company as non-executive chairman and is tasked with the responsibility of looking for a new CEO & MD.

Srinivas had joined the company in 1999 as its Vice President, Enterprise Solutions and also headed company's Europe operations till 2007. At the time of his resignation, Srinivas was Senior Vice President, Market Sector - Banking, Capital Markets and Insurance.

Vemuri, on the other hand, was appointed to the board of Infosys in June 2011, while retaining his roles as senior vice president and chief of the banking division.

Both Vemuri and Srinivas had resigned from IT major in 2013, after Murthy overlooked them and appointed Sikka as the CEO of the company.

Although company's interim CEO and MD UB Pravin Rao's name was also considered for the post, sources suggest that Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) decided not to pursue it. After Sikka made an unceremonious exit from the company in August this year, Rao has been at the helm of the company on an interim basis.

When contacted, Infosys declined to comment on the issue, stating, "Nothing additional to share what was said in the earnings release."

Nilekani also did not offer any comment on the issue on being enquired by DH.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, head of company's NRC also declined to comment on the issue, when contacted.

Investor push

It emerges that Infosys is enjoying institutional investors' confidence in appointment of Srinivas as CEO. "It would be great to have Srinivas back at Infosys. He can survive trade-off between values and modernisation, as he is seen very close to both Murthy as well as Nilekani," an institutional investor having substantial stake in Infosys told DH, on condition of anonymity.
With the completion of one year of demonetisation, leading players of the micro-finance industry (MFI) were of the view that things were recovering slowly and delinquency levels were still on the higher side.



Arohan Financial Services, a city-based MFI, was already feeling the heat as the demonetisation exercise was having a telling effect on its financials.

"Demonetisation has severely affected the poor women as they were not being able to repay in the old 500 and 1000 currency notes from November nine last year. As a result, they were failing in paying the instalments", MD of Arohan Manoj Nambiar told PTI.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes on November eight last year. Nambiar said the company had to work with these borrowers so that they were able to make the repayments. "Our customers are those who belong to the bottom of the pyramid. It was not possible for them to leave their daily chores and stand in the long queues to get old notes exchanged", he said. Even the livelihood of the genuine customers got affected due to demonetisation, he said.



"However, things are recovering now but very slowly. It is improving each month. Even today, the delinquency levels are high for which we are required to make higher provisioning, which in turn is affecting out financials", he said. Kuldip Maity, MD and CEO of Village Financial Services, another city-based MFI, said that industry was shaken by the sudden announcement.



"As this sector is cash driven, the whole industry faced tremendous challenges in the first few months of demonetisation. There were issues related to both loan disbursement and repayment", Maity said. "But, it is heartening to watch the industry recovering fast. We have been able to overcome the initial impact of demonetisation", he added.
The recovery of M4 carbine from one of the gunned down terrorists at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir is yet another evidence of Pakistan's support to terror activities, Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Tuesday.



"This only shows they (terrorists) receive support from across the border," Gen Rawat told reporters when asked to comment on the recovery of the gun used by the Pakistan Army, from the terrorists in Pulwama. Three terrorists were killed by security agencies in an operation on Monday.

In a press conference in Srinagar, Maj Gen B S Raju, General officer Commanding of the Victor Force and Muneer Khan, Inspector General of Police said the US-made carbine, found in the militant hideout, was being used by Nato forces as well as by Special Forces of the Pakistan Army.

One of the three militants was identified as Talha Rasheed, the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar. "It doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else, we aim at neutralising all terrorists no matter where they belong to," Gen Rawat said.

Asked to comment on the Chinese objections to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's trip to Arunachal Pradesh, Gen Rawat said, "Defence Minister visits troops in forward areas to meet them in person, to understand their various issues which might be engulfing them. Visits by the Defence Minister are always a source of motivation. She has to visit those areas where our troops are deployed. After all it is ministry of defence which is providing support to us."
Opinion / Columnist

Mzilikazi was a gallant Nation builder who blessed Zimbabwe with a diverse heritage of leadership. When he arrived in Zimbabwe in 1830, he fought and conquered the Karanga people and made peace with them to create a stable Zimbabwe. Mzilikazi assimilated most Karangas into his Ndebele Nation and ruled a neat country that became the envy of the British later in 1888.Before the coming of Mzilikazi in Zimbabwe, the Shona tribes who inhibited Zimbabwe were disorganised, leaderless, poor and always fighting each other. There was no proper Shona leader or any organised Shona warriors when Mzilikazi arrived. He then built a country from scratch, giving our country, the status of a Nation led by a properly institutional King.When Cecil John Rhodes came to Zimbabwe in 1888, he found a strong, concisely led counnty and Zimbabwe was written on British Maps as "The Country of Lobengula".When Mzilikazi came to Zimbabwe back in 1830, the people who benefited the most were the Karangas, although after bloodshed. The Karangas learnt a new culture boosting diversity. Intermarriages took place with Karangas marrying into Ndebele and the Ndebele settling in places like Masvingo, Gweru, Shurugwi etc.When the British conquered Lobengula and both the Ndebele and Shona becoming slaves for fifty years, by 1956, Joshua Nkomo, a Ndebele leader, organised Zimbabweans to prosecute a liberation struggle.The Karanga and Ndebele had lived together for a century by 1956. No one had any recollection of the Ndebele invasion of 1830 and the Karanga and Ndebele had become one people.The only problem which no one knew would be a REAL problem at all were the interrelations with far Shona tribes who had not experienced the sweetness of the Ndebele in their areas. These were the Zezuru and Korekore.These tribes viewed Ndebeles with a 100 year old grudge from 1830 invasion. The Karanga, who had become fully synthesized into semi-Ndebele, did not have that tribal grudge at all. Rhodesian African National Congress of 1957 was comprised of the National Diversity which Mzilikazi had created in 1830. The Karanga, Ndebele, Shona, Venda, Tonga, Zezuru, Korekore, were all the quintessential fabric that comprised of united Black Zimbabweans seeking peace.Joshua Nkomo led his people in an organised way which exhibited genetically inherited leadership traits from King Mzilikazi himself. You need to remember that King Mzilikazi had left his genealogical Zulu family in Zululand. To King Mzilikazi's thinking, a Karanga with a surname of Zhira, was more of a brother than his own Zulu cousins who were a thousand miles away in Zululand. If a lion was to devour him, Mzilikazi would rely on a close Karanga brother to protect him. With that situation at hand, Mzilikazi taught Zimbabweans that we need each other more than we would value implicit labels like tribe.By the time Joshua Nkomo was born in 1917, Black unity was the only conduit of survival under a greedy Colonial regime. There was no appetite of calling Michel Mawema a Karanga or Joshua Nkomo a Kalanga in 1957. The only thing was "us oppressed Blacks"When Mnangagwa was deployed by Zapu in Egypt, he was influenced by Shona tribes who had never interacted with the Ndebele before. By then, these Zezuru tribes were fighting among themselves in Mozambique running a tribal party called Zanu PF. In 1963, Ermerson Mnangagwa didn't know these tribes. He was a Karanga from Shabanie with Ndebele relatives. He knew more about Ndebele values than Zezuru ones.They influenced him to leave Zipra training in Egypt and join Zanu, a tribal party. In 1976, Zanu were busy killing each other for being Manyika, Karanga, Zezuru, Ndau or Shangani. Zapu did not have that thinking. Zapu was fighting for the people of Zimbabwe as a unitary entity.Little Mnangagwa unwittingly left Zapu and created a narrative that he was treated tribally. In Zanu, Mozambique 1976, where one would expect that Mnangagwa would not meet tribalism, people like Thomas Nhari were hanged for being Karanga. Tekere was beaten for being Manyika. Sithole lost the Presidency of his own tribal party for being a Ndau. Mugabe was awarded Presidency for being Zezuru. Gumbo was imprisoned in a pit for being Karanga.Mnangagwa was dull enough to fail to see that he had immersed himself into a pond of tribal matrix. He enjoyed the perfumed armpits of the Zezuru in Zanu as they used him as a worthless token to fool all Karangas to believe that they are ruling Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa and Muzenda were favoured by the Zezuru for being passive Karangas malleable enough to be used for any dirty work. They even changed their Karanga accent into Zezuru. Zezuru was their new English which made them feel more civilised than fellow Karangas in Gutu. Where Zaka Karangas say "Musangano", civilised Mnangagwa would say "Musa'ngano". It made him feel special to speak Zezuru accent in Masvingo.Mnangagwa would stick to Zezuru hegemony at any cost as long as he smelt their perfumed armpits. Zvobgo refused to be tossed around, but not Mnangagwa and Muzenda. They were passive like S.K Moyo and Phelekezela Mphoko.Today after thirty-seven years of Indipendance, Gweru, Shurugwi and Masvingo are as poor as Bulawayo and Gwanda. All these towns were predominantly King Lobengula's kraals. The only provinces who gained from the liberation of Zimbabwe are those where the Karanga and Ndebele do not live. This is because the Zezuru leadership did not like Midlands and Matebeleland from as long ago as 1963. However, they used these Provinces by dangling a tokens like Mnangagwa.We have written so many articles to try and make Mnangagwa see why he is a useless token used to fool and oppress our people. Today, all Judges, CIO, Army and Police Commanders, economic drivers, and culture makers are Zezuru.The Karangas are mere constabulary Police used to silence the Ndebele in Bulawayo and force people to attend Zanu rallies in Masvingo. Vanongo vuchira, vechiZezuru vachingotonga, nekutonga, nekutonga nekudzinga mazizi asina nyanga.The Karanga make 60% of Zimbabwean population and the Zezuru only 7%. Mnagagwa has been shown the way out of Zanu like Tekere, Nkala, Mujuru, Gumbo and Mutasa. There is nothing he will do. There is nothing he has ever contributed to improve the lives of people in Chivi.In his letter to Mugabe during Gukurahundi, Joshua Nkomo wrote "even the people of Murehwa will one day feel the pain of the tribal bayonet which the Ndebeles are facing today". That letter was written in 1983 while Mnangagwa was Chief Gukurahundi to please a Zezuru dynasty. Today, those prophetic words from Joshua Nkomo explicitly describe sacked Emerson Mnangagwa.Tribalism is the ambarella of Zanu PF and Mnangagwa left his Zapu training in Egypt 1963 which was going to make him a better Nationalist, and became a Zanu lantern of tribalism. Real tribalism has devoured all his dreams. Grace Mugabe openly called it Zezuru unconquerable and I wonder if my fellow Karanga's will now consider going back to Zapu where Mnangagwa led us from in 1963?
Infosys co-founder and chairman, Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday said that India is working on a framework towards protecting privacy and technology.



"India is in the process of architecting a framework towards technology and protecting privacy. We have had an excellent judgement on privacy by the Supreme Court a few days ago by a nine-judge bench," Nilekani, who was speaking at a conference on 'Unlocking US-India Trade Potential', organised by the US Consul General, Chennai, said.

A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court had ruled that Indians enjoy a fundamental right to privacy, that it is intrinsic to life and liberty and thus comes under Article 21 of the Indian constitution.

The bench, led by former Chief Justice J S Khehar, in August pronounced a unanimous judgement even if the judges had slightly different arguments as to how privacy is intrinsic to right to life and liberty.

Nilekani also said that there might be cross border contentions over data. "There are going to be cross border discussions over the data. There would be discussions over data sovereignty, where data reside, whose data resides where, among many others," he said.

Aadhaar, which has been formed on open source, has recently been in controversy due to push for Aadhaar linked programmes promoted by the government and corporates.




The government's bold measure was met with both criticism and support but after a year, some supporters have turned sceptics.





In the initial few months, there was chaos across the country especially for the poor and the daily wage workers. People waiting at ATMs to withdraw money or long queues at the bank to change the demonetised currency was a common sight during the period.





Here is a look at the initial impact on people and markets after the first major economic exercise of the NDA government.













On the occasion of the completion of the first year of demonetisation, DH will bring you quick reactions of Bengalureans tomorrow. Stay tuned :)

















Demonetisation or note ban, an initiative by PM Narendra Modi to curb black money and to encourage the agenda of digital India, was announced abruptly one fine evening a year ago.
The Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday allowed a 23-year-old woman to live with her husband.

On November 1, the court had sent the woman, Aarifa, to Nari Niketan women's home in Jodhpur for her safety, following allegations that she was forcibly converted and married off to a Muslim man.

Aarifa, has been allowed to live with her husband Faiz Modi, during the hearing of a writ petition filed by her brother. On Tuesday, she arrived at the court premises under tight security cover.

Aarifa told the court she had married Modi on her own will and no one forced her to do so. Tension prevailed outside the court as right wing activists raised slogans against the court's decision.

A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court, headed by Justice Gopal Krishna Vyas, on Tuesday said that the woman is above 18 years of age and is free to marry a man of her choice.

However, to ensure that Aarifa is safe, the court directed police to look after her safety.

The high court had also criticised the state police for the way it handled the case.

It had asked how the police could assume that the conversion was illegal "just by way of an affidavit over a stamp paper of Rs 10", especially when there was no legal provision in this regard.

On the court's direction, the state government filed an affidavit on the status of law on conversion in force in Rajasthan.

As per the petitioner (Aarifa's brother), Modi had blackmailed and kidnapped his sister.

He also claimed that he harassed her for several months.

The court had asked the police to investigate the authenticity of the religious conversion and the marriage.

It had also directed the police to find out why Aarifa was living with her family till October, if she had married and converted to Islam in April.
Beyond just being good at work, election officials in poll-bound Himachal have to be good at something even more challenging. Many among them have to be good at mountaineering and trekking as well.



Election duty in certain parts of the high-altitude rugged hill state requires some good muscles and stamina. Election staffers are mandated to walk miles, climb mountains and even relocate electronic voting machines on boats and choppers to far flung, back-of-beyond areas to facilitate voters, some clustered in not more than a dozen houses. Here accessibility by motorable road is lacking, which is why these brave election duty officials are pitching in with all the zeal and stamina at their disposal.

Consider the Kurched polling station in tribal Lahaul-Spiti district. The polling staff is required to make an inclined trek from the main road, right up to the polling booth on top of the hill. This with EVMs on their back. It takes several hours to reach the village by scaling the mountain. All this for less than a dozen households who vote in the election.

A polling station (Bara bhangal) in Kangra district just cannot be reached by road. That's because there is no road to this remote polling station. It's an astonishing 70-km plus trek leading to this polling station. Natives say it takes two days to complete the arduous journey on foot. Thankfully, the election team is not taking this journey on foot. A chopper has been made available by the EC for officials to conduct poll in this area. HP has many polling stations where staffers will have to trek for anywhere between 2 to 5 km on foot.

Highest polling station

A polling station in the Fatehpur assembly constituency in Kangra is surrounded by lake Pong. Boats have been requisitioned by the EC to enable officials to reach this polling station. Himachal also has India's highest polling station - Hikkam in Lahaul Spiti located at more than 15,000 feet above sea level. The unpredictability of weather with the mercury plunging to freezing temperatures this time around is another challenge, equally for voters and election officials.
In a surprise political move, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Mumbai.



The meeting a few days ago seems to be the Shiv Sena's plan to rub shoulders with anti-Narendra Modi forces. A similar meeting took place between him and West Bengal chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee last week and they discussed important political .

Uddhav-Pawar meeting was kept under wraps for nearly 10 days. The NCP president disclosed it at the end of a two-day brain storming session of his party at Karjat in Raigad district.

"A few days ago, Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut met me," Pawar said about the meeting at his Silver Oak residence in Mumbai.

However, Shiv Sena has so far maintained a discreet silence about the meeting.

The meeting comes at a time when relations between the BJP and the Shiv Sena - oldest allies - are at a new low. Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and the two allies together run the government in Maharashtra.

Pawar said Uddhav does not seem happy with the BJP but has not said anything about coming out of the alliance. The NCP would go with like-minded parties, he replied to a question.

Pawar next PM

On Monday, NCP general secretary Praful Patel said that Pawar could be the next prime minister. "Given the current political situation, he (Pawar) could be the prime minister after the (2019) pollsa.his desire could be fulfilled; 2019 would be the year of NCP and Sharad Pawar..it is the wish of all of us," the former civil aviation minister said at the party's Karjat conclave.
The Philatelic Club of the St Aloysius High School and the Laboratory of Applied Biology, St Aloysius College are presenting an unique exhibition of German Stamps received on letters addressed to a single Indian Citizen, Dr Leo D'Souza over 54 years (1963 a 2017).



The exhibition will be inaugurated by Dr Charles Lobo, Chief Post Master General, Karnataka Circle on Wednesday November 8 at 2 pm in the St Aloysius College Auditorium, and will be open till 5 pm on November 9.

Dr Leo D'Souza had done his Theology studies in Frankfurt, Germany from 1962 to 1966 and his PhD and Post Doc studies at the Max-Planck Institute at Cologne, Germany from 1966 to 1972. During these years he had made a large number of friends from all over Germany who remained in contact with him after his return to India by visiting him and sending him letters and greeting cards.

The exhibition has about 1700 Commemorative stamps and Definitives. There also about 100 letters and post cards. They are of the following categories: "DEUTCHES BUNDESPOST" till 1995 issued by West Germany (Deutsche Bundesrepublik).

"DEUTSCHES BUNDESPOST, BERLIN" issued by the Western part of Berlin consisting of the American, British, and French occupation sectors. After about 1957, Berlin stamps closely mirrored the same stamp issues of the Federal Republic of Germany, with the only difference being the addition of the word "Berlin" to the legend on the postage stamps.

DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK (DDR) issued by East Germany till the fall of the Berlin Wall "DEUTSCHLAND" issued after the privatization of the German Post in 1995.

German friends of Fr Leo D'Souza, Dr Frank Heuer, Monika Heuer and Robert Heuer will be present at the inauguration.
As the release date of Bollywood film Padmavati approaches, Rajput groups are vociferously demanding its ban.



On Tuesday, Rajput Sabha, the biggest Rajput organisation of Rajasthan, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a ban on its release.

BJP MLA and Jaipur's ex-royal Diya Kumari, supporting the protest against the film said, "If historical facts are distorted in film Padmavati, it will not be allowed to be released." Diya tweeted, "I will not allow any distortion of the valiant history of Rajasthan & sacrifice of its people in fighting barbarians by movie #Padmavati"

The protest also seems to have won the support of film distributors who have openly refused to release the film in cinema halls in Rajasthan. "After Rajput Karni Sena and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali reach an amicable solution, we will buy the distribution rights," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor from the state said.

Earlier, thousands of people joined a protest organised by Padmini Johar Sansthan, which organises Johar Mela at Chittorgarh fort every year. The protest was also backed by Rajput outfit Karni Sena.

Rajput groups alleged that the film gives a controversial twist to history and wrongly links Queen Padmavati with aggressive ruler Alauddin Khilji. Protestors vandalised the posters and threatened a statewide stir outside cinema halls if Bhansali fails to remove the scandalous scenes.

No romantic link

Bhansali Production had clarified in a letter to Rajput groups that "there is no romantic dream sequence or any romantic scene between Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji" after Karni Sena representatives entered the sets of Padmavati in Jaipur's Jaigarh fort and ransacked the place. They also destroyed expensive film equipment. But Rajput outfits accuse Bhansali of not sticking to his promise.

Historical flick Padmavati, based on 16th century Rani Padmini of Chittorgarh is slated for release on December 1.
Opinion / Columnist

"Mr Mnangagwa we urge you to make a reflective damascene moment and realise that the National problem is just the Gushungo Dynasty and that its time to join the opposition trenches in resolving the National problem of the Gushungo Dynasty," said Joice Mujuru."Divide and rule tactic can never be allowed to divide Zimbabweans anymore."So, when exactly did Mai Mujuru have her "damascene moment" for her to be preaching to others? After 34 years of playing her part in the creation and retention of the corrupt and tyrannical de facto Zanu PF one-party dictatorship and, needless to say, she and her late husband got their lion's share of the looted wealth. We all know of how the Mujurus owned Bindura and how everything they touched turn to dust.It was only after she was booted out of Zanu PF that she spoke ill of Mugabe and Zanu PF."A puppy does not open its eyes the day it is born," was a feeble excuse. Nonsense! There must be something extraordinary about Dodito (her home area) dogs that they should take 34 years to open their eyes!Whilst we are still talking of repenting, it would be nice of Mai Mujuru to give up some of her amassed wealth the people of Bindura and Dodito whose lives she helped destroyed during her 34 years in government. Let us just say Saint Paul will not be easily fooled by all this talk of "Damascene moment"!Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23 and 24.It is not as if we are asking our filthy rich politician to give up anything other than what she looted back to the rightful owners!"We welcome everyone who is willing to make another Zimbabwe possible for failure to unite will be no different from allowing Satan to run away with a Christian bible from a Christian pulpit come 2018 harmonised elections," she said.President Mugabe described Mai Mujuru as a "simpleton". "Chanana ichi Runaida!" (Runaida (Mai Mujuru's derogative name) is a naive and foolish child!), added Emmerson Mnangagwa. They were both spot on!President Mugabe and Mnangagwa have been rigging elections for decades, right under her nose, and still she has no clue what has been going on. She was VP during the GNU but even now, with the benefit of hindsight, she still has no clue what the raft of reforms they were tasked to implement were about. With not even one reform in place Zanu PF will rig next year's elections and, the simpleton she is, she wants to contest the flawed elections regardless.Mai Mujuru is not a democrat all talk of damascene moment and joining the opposition is cheap talk to impress the naive and gullible. All she wants to do get back into power so she can continue the looting from where she left off. If she had truly changed and now repented her corrupt and tyrannical past then she should be the one demanding the implementation of all the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections once and once for all and guarantee free, fair and credible elections for all.After nearly four decades at the heart of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime people like Mujuru and Mnangagwa cannot deny they have played a key role in the destruction of the country's political institutions and its once promising economy. The best Runaida Mujuru, Emmerson Mnangagwa and all their entourage of political wannabes who were booted out of Zanu PF can do for this nation is for them to acknowledge they betrayed the nation's trust for selfish person gain and then ride into the political sunset. Mujuru and Mnangagwa are as much part of Zimbabwe's problems as the tyrant, Robert Mugabe himself, he cannot be part of the solution neither can Mujuru nor Mnangagwa.For the umpteenth time, Runaida Mujuru, it is not the uniting of the corrupt and incompetent opposition parties that will deliver a better Zimbabwe but the implementation of the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections! By the way, there is nothing wrong with letting the Satan run away with the Bible; are you fearful he might convert corrupt and murderous tyrants like Mugabe and his wife to implement democratic reforms! I would happily spend my last penny to make sure State House has a train-load of Bibles!
In a symbolic fight against child abuse, over 50,000 school children will make a formation of the Indian flag on November 18 as part of a movement called 'Raksana'.



The movement aims to fight against any form of physical and emotional abuse, neglect, child trafficking, discrimination, and child labour.

Children between the ages of 12 and 15 from various schools across the city, such as Bishop Cotton, Deens Academy and Delhi Public School, will form the largest human flag with the tagline 'Stop Child Abuse'.

Announcing the movement at a press meet, Saravana Kumar, founder of VForce Media said, "This is an event to symbolise a beginning towards the safe and rightful future of children." The organisers hope to set a Guinness World Record with the flag formation.

Kannada film actress Ragini Dwivedi, Jayanagar corporator Nagaraju, Pruthvi Banwasi, secretary Karnataka Council of Preschools, were also present at the meet.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Kannada film actor Shivarajkumar have also extended their support to the movement's cause of fighting against child abuse.
Posing as an NRI from the US, a conman duped a 29-year-old woman and made away with Rs 2.9 lakh luring her with a gift cheque worth $18,000 (Approx Rs 11,77,000).



The victim, who worked at a private firm in the city, had uploaded her profile on a leading matrimonial website earlier in August. Later, a man who claimed to be Mohammed Abdul, approached her online and told her he was worked for a leading firm in New Jersey, US.

After a few rounds of conversation, Abdul proposed to marry the victim after coming to India. A few days ago, he called her claiming that he had sent a surprise gift by courier and ended the call.

The victim was excited when a woman, claiming to be from a courier company, called her to inform that there was a gift cheque for her from abroad worth $18,000.

The caller confirmed that the cheque was in the victim's name and also verified her postal address. She then said that the cheque would be shipped to her address soon and for that, she had to pay Rs. 2.9 lakh towards 18% GST.

The victim transferred the amount online to a bank account number that was intimated to her.
Blaming successive governments at the Centre for the prevailing situation in the Valley, opposition National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday asked the Centre not to view Kashmir as a law and order problem.





"It is because of their (Delhi's) persistently miscalculated approach that Kashmir has been going through turmoil of worst kind. Because of their repeated deception, people of Kashmir do not even have an iota of faith on central government and its political initiatives," he said while addressing a public rally in Machil near Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.



While expressing grief and angst over Center's policy, Abdullah said, "New Delhi should understand that iron fist and subjugation has never yielded positive results anywhere. Same is the case with Kashmir where it's because of these things that situation has deteriorated over the years. It's high time that the policy makers realize the gravity of situation and start to look at Kashmir empathetically and not merely as a law and order problem."



Abdullah, a former chief minister of the state, said, "(Late) Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to the Union of India on three conditions. It has been recorded and accepted in the Indian Constitution as well. So we are not like any other state in India. I have told this to many prime ministers and government representatives in the past. We want autonomy to be restored."



The NC chief said the best political initiative from the BJP government at the Centre would have been taking steps to restore faith in people by showing sincerity in addressing the Kashmir issue. "Instead there has been a well planned and executed political conspiracy to aggravate the situation by fiddling with Article 35 A and Article 370 of the Constitution, not once but consistently," he rued.
The scrapping of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 banknotes on November 8, 2016, was a "black day" for India's economy and democracy, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said here on the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation.



In separate interactions with traders and journalists on Tuesday, he launched a rare, all-out attack on the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose home state Gujarat goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.

Describing demonetisation as an "ill-thought-out action", he said nowhere in the world had any democracy taken such a "coercive step". His latest remarks were a reiteration of his statement in the Rajya Sabha last year that demonetisation was an "organised loot and legalised plunder." He stressed that demonetisation had only helped China whose exports to India surged this year by Rs 45,000 crore to reach Rs 2.41 lakh crore.

The veteran Congress leader also found fault with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, saying there were several loopholes in it. "The problem is not just about multiple rates but there are loopholes," he said and added that his government had a well-designed GST but "Modiji opposed it".

Singh stressed that the government should have stuck to the top ceiling of 18% with just one or two rates and carried out a dry run. He said implementing the GST after demonetisation had broken the back of small businesses in states like Gujarat and created a deep-rooted feeling of "tax-terrorism" among businessmen in the country.
Gauri Lankesh, the Kannada journalist gunned down on September 5, had responded to the note ban with a special edition of her weekly magazine and this editorial. PM Modi demonetised Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes on November 8, 2016.

Narendra Modi has revealed his Tughlaq face. Claiming to wage war against black money, he has gone to war against the middle class and the poor, who constitute a majority. By demonetising Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, he has mocked them as cheats and dubbed as thugs people without a morsel to eat. This special edition looks at many aspects of his demonetisation madness.

Bizarre stories made the rounds on social media last week. Some claimed the new Rs 2,000 note would have a nano chip to enable the government to monitor how the money was being spent. The income tax authorities, or so the stories said, would use satellites to locate and raid those hoarding new notes. The stories claimed the notes could be tracked even if they were buried 120 metres below the earth. Zee News in Hindi and a Kannada channel zealously put out imaginary stories. One of the anchors was bouncing up and down in delight like the pontiff of the Pejawar math. The woman presenter who seconds him went to the extent of proclaiming the note featured a picture of the Mars mission to indicate how satellites would keep an eye on the currency.

The stories spread like wildfire. Last week, when I boarded a train to Hubballi, all my fellow passengers were talking about the chip. Taken aback at their naivete, I said, Its all a lie. Theres no such chip in the note. Two middle-aged men, sceptical about me, said the news had appeared on TV. Not everything that appears on TV is true, I said. They countered me: they had heard such notes were already in circulation in the US. Who told you? There are no such notes anywhere in the world, I said. What is the use of demonetisation then? one of them asked. Give it some thought, I said. A young man on a top berth butted in: You know what use it is? Big industrialists have borrowed money and are not paying back their loans. The banks have no money. That's why they are out to make people deposit their money. And people are taking their old notes to the banks, afraid they will turn out worthless otherwise.

You mean this wont solve the black money problem? one of the men said. It will take care of fake currency for a while. But its extent isnt big. Within months, they will start making counterfeits of the new notes. The corrupt keep their wealth in jewellery and property, not cash. Only a small amount gets demonetised. In any case, we will never get, as Modi had promised, Rs 15 lakh in each of our bank accounts, I said.

Oh, we thought Modi was on to something big. Looks like he has just put his hands into our pockets, a man said, sighing.

The State Bank of India has just written off loans it had advanced to 63 companies. Know how much they owed? A whopping Rs 7,016 crore. This includes the Rs 1,201 crore owed by liquor baron Vijay Mallya. It isnt difficult to guess on whose side Modi is: the affluent who borrowed for their fancies and whose loans he has waived or the millions of hard-working people standing in long bank queues to deposit money they have earned.

Modi has not been able to bring black money stashed away abroad. He hasnt even been able to name the secret account holders. His election promise of Rs 15 lakh in each citizens account remains a pipe dream. Even if we put up with such scams, how can we look on as he snatches away the livelihoods of the poor and the middle class?

An elderly man waiting to take out money for his daily expenses has died. And how did a BJP vice-president respond to it? Big deal. People die even in ration shop queues.

When it dawned on Modi that a majority was frustrated with his insane actions, he didnt say, Please bear with me. I will fix the problem in a few days. Instead, he said, Im doing all this for the nation. People who have ruled us for 70 years are conspiring against me. No one in his party told him, But sir, when did these people, struggling to withdraw their own money, ever rule in these 70 years? How can they conspire against you?

The middle class and people in the media, who had hailed demonetisation as Modis masterstroke, now see the machinations behind it. They are aware the new note holds no magic. It cant banish black money, and Modis eccentricities are causing them misery.

Modi continues to say we must put up with all this in the interest of the nation, but the problem wont go away anytime soon. Common people will have to scrape and scrounge for cash at least for four months. Business has been affected badly. With no customers, fisherfolk and traders in West Bengal are in the doldrums. In Punjab, farmers have no cash to buy seeds. If they dont sow now, the prices of rice and wheat will go up soon. No money in hand, nothing to eat either is the fate of millions. All this thanks to Modi.

The BJP is feeling the heat of the peoples anger. Party president Amit Shah has instructed MPs to put up flex boards praising Modis surgical strike against black money. They usually follow his instructions to the letter, but this time they arent paying him any heed. Except for an MP in Gujarat, no one has put up laudatory flex hoardings.

Even people in Gujarat have turned against Modi. Assembly elections are coming up. Expecting praise, party workers holding pamphlets went towards citizens standing in a bank queue. They received blows instead!

Allies such as the Akali Dal in Punjab and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra are also turning their back on the BJP. Quite a few BJP leaders are openly criticising Modis actions in the presence of the media, though they are unwilling to speak on record. Even Modi is coming to know of the attrition he has generated. That is why he comes across as so fidgety on his tours.

About 25 people have died across the country because of demonetisation. In Uttar Pradesh, a couple with old notes was turned away from a hospital and their daughter died as a consequence. A woman in Gujarat with old notes couldnt feed her two children; she hanged herself.

In Kanpur, a young man had been trying for months to sell his property. On November 8, he finally received Rs 70 lakh in advance. When he heard of demonetisation the next morning, he suffered a heart attack and died. A woman in Telangana, who had sold her land for her husbands medical treatment and her daughters wedding, was told the cash was worthless. She committed suicide. In Udupi, a man standing in a long queue, waiting for his bank to open, died of a heart attack.

Not one of these was a thug. Not one of them was an Adani, Ambani, Tata or Birla. They were honest middle-class people, farmers, homemakers, all earning their livelihood from honest toil. They ended up as victims of Modis grandiose war against black money. He is responsible for their deaths.

In fact, Modi has launched no surgical strike against black money. What he has done is push helpless people to death. What better can we expect from Modis Tughlaq dispensation?

[Excerpted from The Way I See It: A Gauri Lankesh Reader, edited by Chandan Gowda, and published by DC Books and Navayana, Delhi.

Chandan Gowda says, The book brings together select political and cultural writings of the courageous activist-journalist. Published over the last two decades, these writings, many of which were originally written in Kannada, offer a rich introduction to her varied political commitments and cultural interests. Her political journalism reveals a constant concern for the fate of Indias democracy and an unswerving passion for social justice. Gauris essays in the autobiographical mode also illustrate the affection and seriousness she brought to human relationships.]
Opinion / Columnist

If someone treats you disproportionately unlawful and you can't report to any Government on planet Earth, it means the word "Civilisation" is absent in your country. I openly raise my right hand today on the seventh of September to declare two things. The first is that I celebrate the demise of my War Hero, Honourable Emerson Mnangagwa. The second is that I openly acknowledge that I am partially insane.I was not born to hate people, but to love, trust, support and cherish them. In reciprocation, I expect fellow human beings to do that to me as well. Again, I was not born to celebrate the demise of others, instead, I was brought up to emulate good example and pass that to the next generation.I cherish history and philosophy and I believe that history saves to help future generations never to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors.Yesterday I wrote an article titled "Mnangagwa, the cost of betraying Joshua Nkomo's truth", and I got a lot of comments on my e-mail, mostly complaining about content imbalance. As a human being I owe the word "sorry" to those who drew offense. As a demented academic, I want to explain the origins of my insanity and also give reasons why I have a right to cough out my celebration of Emerson Mnangagwa's fall.I am a 48 year old Karanga who was a rare eight year old Zanla tool in Shurugwi during the Liberation struggle. Even Mnangagwa himself would respect me if Comrade Shelton Chidoro and his Zanla crew was to describe me.My duties as an eight year old Zanla was to transmit messages between guerrillas who found themselves divided by Smith troops. Comrades Shelton Chidoro would send me with messages to pass through Ian Smith troops and deliver tactical messages to comrades Sugar, Charles, Member and many more. In today's terms, I was a WhatsApp of the Zanla guerrillas during the war. Ian Smith solders saw me as an innocent face while I passed through them to deliver vital war strategy.There is more I can say about myself during the war, but, I was not alone. Many of my friends of my age did the same and many died on duty. Such was the war.Having executed my duties very honestly to aid Zanu between 1977 and 79, I moved to Zhombe in 1980 from Shurugwi.At Independence in Zhombe, expected to enjoy the benefits of a hard liberation struggle which had corroded my childhood. But, instead, Gukurahundi was unleashed by Mugabe and Mnangagwa on me.In 1983, Richard Orchard Gwesela came to my homestead hungry and armed. He demanded quick food and magewu drink was available. I was given mahewu by elders to give Gwesela who was sitting under a tree.I was not a member of Zapu. I was a former Zanla youth and if Gwesela was fighting a tribal war, he would have killed me first because I was not only Shona, but also an experienced Zanla youth. Gwesela, being a Russian trained Zipra guerrilla, knew his trade very well. He did not go to a Ndebele homestead to seek food knowing that tribal Zanu would obliterate that family. He ate from Shona homesteads in Zhombe and my Dzimiri homestead fitted his understanding of the war.In the following week, Gukurahundi surrounded my homestead expecting to shoot Gwesela whom they believed also slept at my homestead. I was only thirteen years old, but, I was the guilty hand that had fed an armed ex-Zipra combatant. Gukurahundi tortured my family the whole night from about 01:00 to 11:00.We were made to climb trees on reverse, beat each other, perform what was called sikiriri with swollen heads. Finally at 10:00 on that morning, Gukurahundi used a log to hit me on the head for refusing to accept that I had fed Gwesela.I lost consciousness.When I gained consciousness, I could not speak a single word. Since I was the main culprit who had been seen by a neighbour feeding Gwesela and I could not talk, Gukurahundi left.I learn to speak anew like a baby. From that day onwards, my performance at school deteriorated. I suffered concussions and a brain injury.The human brain is a delicate organ with a complex neuronic networks which will never be fully understood by anyone even in the future. This is the reason why developed countries can jail someone for ten years for beating someone, especially on the head.One head, in any country, is worth more that the entire GDP of planet Earth. If Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla were Zimbabweans living under Mugabe and Mnangagwa, we would still be living in the jungle.Mnangagwa and Mugabe are educated for nothing and we allowed them to destroy our country through their violence against our people. Even today, Zanu beats our Albert Einsteins, or Nikola Teslas, our Barack Obamas, our Nelson Mandelas, our Clive Masiiwas, our Dumiso Dabengwas, our Joshua Nkomos, our Church Pastors, our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, our sisters, our Bill Gates, our Beyonces and every economic driver you can imagine.Mnangagwa started well, fighting for Zimbabweans under Zapu in 1963. I cant repeat what I have already said that he left Zapu on a tribal card to join Zanu which was already hanging Karangas in Mozambique and elevating thieves.Karangas like Thomas Nhari who were hanged by Zezurus in Mozambique in 1976, left Zimbabwe with a spirit like mine. A spirit to fight and lift the standard of Zimbabweans through FAIR LEADERSHIP which does not subscribe to race or tribe as Smith and Mugabe have respectively exhibited. Thomas Nhari died for opposing that Zanu leaders were living large during the war while the Shelton Chidoros and Richard Gweselas were fighting Smith in Rhodesia.Mnangagwa, although he was Karanga himself, did not see anything wrong with Karangas being slain and undervalued in Mozambique. This quality is the same which made Mnangagwa unleash Gukurahundi on me and my family for feeding a disgruntled armed militant.After a three weeks of being tortured by Gukurahundi, that partisan army came to my homestead again. We were beaten until my family decided to leave Zhombe and move to Nkayi. We literally sought asylum in Nkayi loosing a home because of Mnangagwa.Anyone who was not with me when Gukurahundi was reducing my capabilities of leading a normal life, is entitled to blame me for celebrating Mnangagwas humiliating demise. When I questioned God why he let evil people like Mugabe and Mnangagwa to flourish, God's bible says "Vergency is for me". I trust that God will use similar tools to humiliate Mugabe extremely before he leaves office.When God promised that he would revenge the cruelty of Mnangagwa, and God has delivered, why should I be restrained from celebrating Mnangagwa's undressing by Grace Mugabe? Grace Mugabe is my age, she was a Chimbido somewhere in Rhodesia while I was a Mjiba. When Chimbwido undresses a Senior, untouchable Hero whom Smith failed to touch, why would I be so stubbornly blind to see the hand of God?All dishonest Liberation fighters who failed to deliver the kind of Zimbabwe we were promised but instead brought Gukurahundi and suffering, deserve a God knitted dishonourable exit.Their dishonourable exit one by one, will serve to warn anyone who will run our country in the future to respect our people. We are the economic drivers who constitute Zimbabwe.Long live Zimbabwe!!!
SYDNEY, 6 November 2017 (Reuters)  Australia turned down on Sunday an offer to take 150 asylum seekers being held in an Australian-run detention centre in Papua New Guinea, where UN officials have warned a humanitarian emergency is unfolding.

About 600 men have barricaded themselves inside the camp on remote Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, defying efforts by Australia and PNG to shut it. Food, running water and medical services were cut off by Australia five days ago.

Australian authorities want the men moved to a transit centre elsewhere on the island at the start of a process the asylum seekers fear will result in them being resettled in PNG or another developing nation. The men also fear violent reprisals from the local community.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday her country was willing to take 150 asylum seekers from among those held on Manus Island and another camp on the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru.

Her Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, however, said Canberra preferred to work through an existing refugee swap deal he negotiated with former US President Barack Obama last year. Under that deal, up to 1,250 asylum seekers could be sent to the United States and Australia would in turn accept refugees from Central America.

We want to pursue those, conclude those arrangements, and then in the wake of that obviously we can consider other ones, Turnbull told Ardern during a media conference in Sydney.

Relocating the men on Manus Island is designed as a temporary measure, allowing the United States time to complete vetting of asylum seekers. [more]

Australia Turns Down New Zealand Offer to Take Asylum Seekers From Manus Island Camp

By Dan McCulloch

6 November 2017

(Australian Associated Press)  Malcolm Turnbull is urging refugees and asylum seekers holed up inside the Manus Island detention centre to move to alternative accommodation, criticising those he suspects of encouraging the men not to budge.

A week since the Manus Island compound was shut down to comply with a 2016 court ruling, almost 600 men remain barricaded inside the mothballed centre.

They are adamant its safer to remain than risk being attacked by locals at new accommodation sites near the main township of Lorengau.

There are alternative facilities available of a very high quality with food and all of the (other) facilities, Mr Turnbull told ABC radio on Tuesday.

The residents at Manus, the RPC, they are being asked to move and they should move.

The prime ministers intervention comes as the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court rejected a bid for the resumption of electricity, food, medical care, and water supplies to the camp. []

Ben Lomai, the lawyer for the group, lodged an application in the PNG Supreme Court on Monday, arguing for services and utilities to be restored based on human rights grounds.

An appeal may be lodged as early as Wednesday. [more]

Turnbull urges men on Manus Island to move

6 November 2017 (AAP)  From the tropical hellhole of the Manus Island detention centre, to snowy Canada, a refugee in limbo for four years has found a backdoor to start a new life.

Iranian man Amir Taghinia flew from Papua New Guinea last Thursday to Coquitlam, Canada.

The 24-year-old was one of the 600-odd men barricaded inside the mothballed detention centre since it closed on Tuesday, too scared theyll be attacked by locals if they move to alternative accommodation on the island. Theyre running out of water, medication and food.

Australian-citizen Wayne Taylor, his wife Linda Taylor and a group of Coquitlam residents have rallied to support Mr Taghinias resettlement under Canadas private sponsorship scheme.

The Taylors daughter Chelsea met Mr Taghinia during her time as a healthcare worker on Manus Island.

The family spent the past 22 months working with the Canadian and Australian governments to allow the resettlement.

Mr Taghinia is still in disbelief.

My soul is on Manus Island, he told AAP on the phone from Canada.

As long as there are people there I cant really rest, I cant have a feeling of relief. I need every single one of those guys off the island. [more]

They are dying there: Manus refugee finds backdoor to new life in Canada
7 November 2017 (AFP)  U.S. President Donald Trump is not among the 100 heads of state and government invited to next months climate summit in Paris, a French presidential aide said on Tuesday.

For now, President Donald Trump is not invited, he said, while noting that representatives of the U.S. government would attend.

In June, Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on limiting carbon emissions.

The pact calls for capping global warming at well under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, and 1.5 C if possible.

Around 800 organizations and public stakeholders will be on hand for the December 12 event to be held on Ile Seguin, an island in the Seine River southwest of Paris.

The meeting will follow the 23rd U.N. climate conference (COP23), which opened in Bonn, Germany, on Monday. [more]
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After four consecutive quarters of on-year declines, Taiwan's monitor shipments finally rebounded in the third quarter of 2016, thanks to significant increases in shipments from TPV and weakened competition from China-based BOE.
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Ocean acidification may threaten crabs

KODIAK, Alaska (AP)  Alaska researchers warn that the changing levels of ocean acidity could have grave consequences for red king crab populations in the Bering Sea.

The acidity of waters off Alaska could change dramatically over the next 50 years, leading to possible crab stock failure in about 100 years, said Robert Foy, director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Kodiak Laboratory.

A change in pH, the scale of acidity, is occurring as more carbon dioxide is dissolved in the water, Alaska's Energy Desk reported . Researchers expect ocean acidification to occur faster at locations in high latitudes like Alaska.

Through long-term experiments at the lab, Foy has been studying the effects of ocean acidification caused by climate change for about a decade. On tests with red king crabs, Foy said most of the crabs don't make it past early life stages under water conditions similar to what researchers predict for Alaska.




Qatar Airways acquires 9.61% stake in Cathay Pacific

Qatar Airways has expanded its global reach with the acquisition of a 9.61-per cent stake in Cathay Pacific, adding another strategic investor to the Hong Kong carrier.

According to Hong Kong's Kingboard Chemical Holdings it had sold the stake to Qatar Airways for HK$5.16 billion ($661 million), making the carrier the third-largest shareholder in Cathay.

The Qatar stake will give Cathay a third strategic shareholder behind Swire Pacific Ltd and Air China Ltd, potentially complicating a restructuring plan aimed at cutting HK$4 billion in costs over three years.

According to competitors, in the absence of domestic flights to underpin earnings, Asian carriers Cathay and Singapore Airlines Ltd have been struggling against Chinese and Middle Eastern rivals, with Cathay already shedding 600 jobs since May.

They add, with its major stake in an Asian airline, the state owned Qatar Airways will be able to boost its global influence and potentially increase traffic through its Doha hub, amid the worst political crisis in years among the Gulf Arab states.

An airspace rights dispute has prevented the carrier from flying to the previously lucrative markets of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and has been looking to invest elsewhere to broaden its reach.

According to analysts, Cathay shares had done well since Kingboard's affiliates first declared a holding last December, gaining 25 per cent, of which 17 per cent was in the past month alone. They add, an airline stake seemed pretty odd for a maker of circuit-board laminates, but the company's HK$800 million cannot be discounted.

The more pertinent question is about Qatar Airways' motivation they say. The two carriers first entered into a relationship in 2014 with the announcement of twin daily flights between Hong Kong and Doha, although Qatar seemed markedly keener on the arrangement.
Paradise Papers show massive but not illegal tax avoidance by Apple

Tech giant Apple chose the Channel Islands as a new haven to continue avoiding billions in taxes, the Paradise Papers show.

The company picked Jersey as an alternative after a 2013 crackdown on its controversial tax practices in the Republic of Ireland. Apple reacted to the widespread criticism of its tax affairs by secretly shifting key parts of its empire to Jersey as part of a complex rearrangement that has allowed it to keep an ultra-low tax rate, according to an analysis of the documents.

The move affected two of its most important subsidiaries, one of which is thought to hold the key to a company cash pile worth more than $250 billion.

Apple insists the secretive new structure had not cut its taxes. It told the BBC it remained the world's largest taxpayer, paying about over $35 billion in corporation tax over the past three years and that it had followed the law.

Apple refused to answer detailed questions from the media, but in a statement defended the new arrangements and said they had not decreased the company's tax payment anywhere in the world.

''The debate over Apple's taxes is not about how much we owe but where we owe it. We've paid over $35 billion in corporate income taxes over the past three years, plus billions of dollars more in property tax, payroll tax, sales tax and VAT,'' it said.

''We believe every company has a responsibility to pay the taxes they owe and we're proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business.''

Over the past three years, Apple has reported paying very low tax rates on its profits outside the US  not much more than previously. The taxes remain significantly lower than required in all the major markets where its phones, iPads and desktop computers are sold  and less than half the rate in Ireland, where the company has many of its subsidiaries.

The Paradise Papers show Apple's two key Irish subsidiaries, Apple Operations International (AOI), believed to hold most of Apple's massive $252 billion overseas cash hoard, and Apple Sales International (ASI), were managed in Jersey from the start of 2015 until early 2016 - enabling Apple to continue avoiding billions in tax around the world.

Apple's 2017 accounts showed they made $44.7 billion outside the US and paid just $1.65 billion in taxes to foreign governments, a rate of around 3.7 per cent - less than a sixth of the average rate of corporation tax in the world.

The Jersey connection has been revealed after Apple's legal advisers, in March 2014, sent a questionnaire to Appleby, a leading offshore finance law firm and source of much of the Paradise Papers leak.

It asked what benefits different offshore jurisdictions - the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey - could offer Apple.

The revelation is the latest from the Paradise Papers, a huge leak of financial documents that is throwing light on the world of offshore finance.

Though Apple has done nothing illegal, the disclosure is likely to raise fresh questions for the technology company, which has been forced to defend its tax affairs. It may also prompt awkward questions about the nature of the new tax rules introduced by the Irish government and their timing.

Edward Kleinbard, a former corporate lawyer who is a professor of tax law at the University of Southern California, told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which bared the documents, ''US multinational firms are the global grandmasters of tax avoidance schemes that deplete not just US tax collection, but the tax collection of almost every large economy in the world.''

Apple began to consider its options in 2014 following criticism of the way it was doing business through Ireland. A year earlier, a bipartisan US Senate committee had pilloried the company for seeking ''the holy grail of tax avoidance''. It highlighted practices that had saved Apple from paying billions of dollars over decades.

Senators were so infuriated by the arrangements that they accused Apple of exploiting the gap between the two nations' tax laws and creating a ''byzantine tax structure'' that was inexcusable.

The Republican senator John McCain said, ''Apple claims to be the largest US corporate taxpayer, but by sheer size and scale it is also among America's largest tax avoiders.''

The documents in the Paradise Papers show Apple was actively looking for a new home for its key subsidiaries in early 2014. The company had approached Appleby through its US lawyers, who asked Appleby's offices in different offshore jurisdictions to fill out a questionnaire that would highlight the advantages to Apple of moving there.

In a letter from the lawyers on 20 March 2014, Appleby was asked ''to provide assistance with and coordination of a multijurisdictional project involving the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey if your proposal is cost-effective then we will ask you to handle the entire project.''

Sixty-eight minutes later, a senior Appleby executive sent an email to other partners expressing excitement that Apple had made the approach and encouraging a swift and positive response.

The Paradise Papers show two of Apple's Irish subsidiaries, AOI and ASI, in the process of changing tax residency to Jersey.

Apple refused to discuss the details. But the Guardian understands ASI is now a dormant company.

Apple refused to say where the valuable economic rights once owned by ASI had been moved to but it is understood all its Irish operations are now run through companies tax resident in Ireland.
The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:

- James Conaghan, Letter, Uris, Clonmany

- Ann Brogan, Drumenny Upper/Drumcondra, Dublin

- Martin Melly, Renny, Leitirmacaward

- Very Rev Robert William Devine, Pastor Emeritus

- John Larkin, 22 Assaroe View, Ballyshannon

- Patricia McCrea, Abbeylands, Ballyshannon

- John O'Donnell (Mickey Owen), Carnmore Road, Dungloe

James Conaghan, Letter, Uris, Clonmany

The death has taken place of James Conaghan, Letter, Uris, Clonmany.

Reposing at his nephew Michaels residence Roxtown, Urris, Clonmany.

Removal on Wednesday, 8th November, at 10.40am to St. Michaels Church, Urris for 11am Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery.

Ann Brogan, Drumenny Upper/Drumcondra, Dublin

The death has taken place peacefully, in St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown, of Ann Brogan, Drumenny Upper, Donegal and Drumcondra, Dublin.

In accordance with Ann's, wishes her body has been donated to medical science.

A Memorial Mass in Ann's memory will take place on Thursday, 9th November, in St. Agatha's Church, Clar at 11am.

Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to Solace, Donegal Town.

Martin Melly, Renny, Leitirmacaward

The death has occurred of Martin Melly, late of Renny, Leitirmacaward.

His removal will be on Sunday, 5th of November, at 3pm from McGlynns Funeral Home, Chapel Road, going to his late residence.

Rosary both nights at 9pm.

Funeral Mass on Tuesday, 7th November, at 12 noon in St. Bridgets Church, Leitirmacaward, with interment afterwards in the new graveyard.

House private please from 10pm to 10am.

Very Rev Robert William Devine, Pastor Emeritus

The death has occurred of Very Rev Robert William Devine, Pastor Emeritus formerly of the Crossroads, Killygordon.

Remains reposing at St.Patrick's Church, Crossroads, Killygordon on Tuesday Nov 7th from 2pm until rosary at 8 pm and on Wednesday Nov 8th from 12 noon until mass at 7.30 pm and rosary at 8 pm. Requiem mass on Thursday Nov 9th at 12 noon, with interment afterwards at St. Mary's Churchyard, Aughabrack, Co. Tyrone. Donations in lieu of flowers, if so desired, to the patients comfort fund, Nazareth House Nursing Home, care of G.Mc Cool & Son, Funeral Directors, Ballybofey.

John Larkin, 22 Assaroe View, Ballyshannon

The death has taken place of John Larkin formerly of 22 Assaroe View, Ballyshannon.

Reposing at the family home of Tuesday from 2 o'clock until 10 o'clock and on Wednesday from 11 o'clock until 10 o'clock. Mass of the Resurrection on Thursday at 1 o'clock in St. Patrick's Church, Ballyshannon with interment in the Abbey Assaroe Cemetery. Family Flowers Only Please. Donations in lieu, if so desired, to the Motor Neurone Association of Ireland c/o Patrick McKenna Funeral Directors, Ballyshannon or any family member.

House Private to family on the morning of the funeral, Please.

Patricia McCrea, Abbeylands, Ballyshannon

The death has occurred of Patricia McCrea formerly of Abbeylands, Ballyshannon.

Further funeral arrangements to be announced later. All enquiries can be made to Patrick McKenna Funeral Directors, Ballyshannon on 087 2485819.

John O'Donnell (Mickey Owen), Carnmore Road, Dungloe

The death has taken place in his 100th year at Letterkenny University Hospital of John ODonnell (Mickey Owen), Carnmore Road, Dungloe.

His remains will be reposing in McGlynns Funeral Home Tuesday, November 7th from 4pm to 7pm with removal afterwards to his late residence. Rosary at 9pm.

Removal tomorrow evening (Wednesday) for St Cronas Church Dungloe for 7pm where he will repose overnight.

Funeral mass on Thursday at 11an with interment afterwards in the local cemetery.

House private please from 10pm to 10am. Family flowers only, Donations in lieu if desired to Dungloe Patient Comfort Fund care of any family member or Shaun McGlynn Funeral Director.

If you wish to have a death notice included here, email us at editorial@donegaldemocrat.com. Please include a telephone number for verification.
It was a frosty dive on Saturday morning for Sheephaven divers, when they conducted a boat dive at Pan Rock in Mulroy Bay.

Air temperature was less than 5 degrees Celsius and it felt colder as the divers travelled from Mevagh slipway on board Dive Boat Brid.

Surface-to-surface times of 30 minutes were enough at the dive site as water temperature was down to 10 degrees, while in-water visibility was good through-out the water column, with at least 10 metres horizontally in the upper reaches.

Despite the cold it was great to be out in the water on a crisp November morning, getting the best out the little bit of sunshine that was available.

For one young Sheephaven diver who would have been familiar with Pan Rock, there has been a big change of scene over the last few weeks, as Matthew McMonagle has started a three-and-a-half-year deck officer course with the National Maritime College of Ireland.

For the first year Matthew will be in the class room as he learns the theory of his chosen career, then in year two he will be at sea on placement with one of the shipping lines as a watch officer.

The NMCI has its own Sub Aqua Club, which is one of the dive clubs similar to Sheephaven SAC that are afflicted with the Irish Underwater Council (CFT) and from which Matthew would have certified as a club diver in 2016.

This year NMCI SAC have 12 trainees from the incoming students who will be under the supervision of Pat Hurley.

The students will have the opportunity to train with gear provided by the club and in the fullness of time take full advantage of the boats and air compressors that NMCI SAC have on campus.

Matthew started diving at the youngest age possible and no doubt will bring the same determination to NMCI that he showed as he went through his dive training and hopefully will remember that he started with Sheephaven SAC when he looks back in years to come.

Finally, Sheephaven SAC wishes to extend its sincere condolences to club member Bernie Gallagher on the sad passing of her mother, Gracie. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.
A well established global export company based in Donegal will travel to Boston this month on a trade and investment mission.

Algaran Seafoods is a seaweed company situated in South West Donegal and are confident that their export businesses will grow from the contacts they will make on this focused Gateway to Growth trade mission.

Algaran hand harvest their seaweed locally with maximum respect and care for the marine environment then carefully process it at low temperatures and test it for heavy metals and pollutants. A range of organic seaweed powders for the food industry as well as a line of Organic Cosmetics and Soaps is manufactured and packaged, which are sought after from companies and individuals sourcing natural and organic cosmetic products and fine food specialists across the globe.

Commenting on behalf of Algaran, Rosaria Piseri, Managing Director said: "This is Algarans first trade mission to the US and although we are known already in the States for supply of our natural organic seaweed cosmetics products and raw material dried sea weed powder products, which is highly sought after amongst vegan food producers, we are confident that we will increase our export from Ireland to the USA. To date, we have already made contacts which have turned into potential clients, by networking through social media and our online shop and now we welcome the opportunity to meet high profile food and cosmetic distributors from the US face to face."

15 businesses from across the Northwest region of Ireland will be participating in an overseas trade mission with a view to expanding or further expanding their business in the US market this coming November. This follows on from an initial successful trade mission in 2016 to Boston by Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council along with other participating organisations including, Udaras na Gaeltachta, Invest NI, Ulster University, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the North West Regional College from North West Ireland.

This mission has a trade and investment focus as well as an educational focus and is building on the work done since 2008 on developing the Northwests cultural, political and economic linkages with the City of Boston and the wider Massachusetts knowledge corridor. Businesses from Irelands Northwest, participating in this mission are from a range of sectors including the creative digital, agri-food, advanced manufacturing and life sciences sectors.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. United States of America Plaintiff - Appellee v. Korey K. Moore, Originally named, Korey Keshaun Moore Defendant - Appellant No. 17-1725 Decided: November 03, 2017

Before SMITH, Chief Judge, WOLLMAN and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

A jury convicted Korey K. Moore of being a felon in possession of ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1). After determining that Moore previously had been convicted of three violent felonies under 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(2)(B)(i), the district court applied the sentencing enhancement under 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(1) and sentenced Moore to 180 months' imprisonment. On appeal, Moore argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction and that the district court erroneously designated him as an armed career criminal. We affirm.

I. Background

Sandra Walker called 911 on September 14, 2015, reporting that her son, Korey Moore, was angry with her and that he was outside shooting. When asked where Moore was located, Walker responded, I don't know. I'm in my room.  I don't know. Did he shoot up my car? I don't know. He was just shooting. As Walker waited for the police, she expressed her concern that her son would enter her room, telling the dispatcher, I'm trying to put something up under the door so he can't get in my room. Oh, Jesus.  [T]hat ain't gonna stop him from kicking it in cause he'll kick this door in.  They sure is taking a long time.

Officer Mark Wright arrived on scene approximately five minutes after Walker called 911. He noticed that Walker was upset. Walker said that she had argued with Moore and that he walked out of the house after breaking a coffee table. Walker reported that Moore exited through the door located near the carport where Walker had parked her car. According to Walker, she heard gunshots immediately after Moore left. Walker told Officer Wright that she believed that Moore was the shooter.

After Officer Wright exited Walker's residence, he saw seventeen bullet holes in the driver's side of Walker's car and seventeen shell casings on the ground. Officer Wright then noticed Moore at a nearby neighbor's carport and arrested him.

During trial, the government entered Walker's 911 call into evidence, and Officer Wright testified about the conversation he had had with Walker the day of the shooting. A new narrative developed, however, when Walker and her boyfriend, Carl Barnes, testified about the shooting. According to Walker and Barnes, Moore discovered that Barnes had drug debts and told Walker. To enact revenge on Moore, Barnes instructed Walker to call 911 and falsely claim that Moore had shot her car. Barnes testified that drug dealers could have shot the car because of the unpaid debt. Despite this narrative, the jury convicted Moore.

At sentencing, Moore objected to the presentence report's conclusion that he was an armed career criminal. The district court overruled Moore's objection and determined Moore had at least three prior violent felony convictions based on his convictions for first-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, and terroristic threatening. The district court then imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months.

II. Discussion

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

We review de novo whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction. United States v. Wiest, 596 F.3d 906, 910 (8th Cir. 2010). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, giving the verdict the benefit of all reasonable inferences. Id. The jury has the sole responsibility to resolve conflicts or contradictions in testimony, and credibility determinations are resolved in favor of the verdict. Id. We will reverse a jury's verdict only if no reasonable jury could find all of the elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

To convict Moore of being a felon in possession of ammunition, the government needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the following elements: (1) [Moore] had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, (2) [Moore] knowingly possessed ammunition, and (3) the ammunition had traveled in or affected interstate commerce. United States v. Cook, 603 F.3d 434, 437 (8th Cir. 2010) (citing United States v. Walker, 393 F.3d 842, 846 (8th Cir. 2005)). Moore argues that the government failed to prove that he knowingly possessed the ammunition. Moore emphasizes the lack of physical evidence and eyewitness testimony linking him to the ammunition. Moore also relies on Walker's testimony that her prior statements were untrue.

We conclude that when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence was sufficient to support Moore's conviction. It was for the jury to determine which version of Walker's description of the relevant events represented the truth.

B. Armed Career Criminal Act

A person convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1) faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months if he has three prior violent felony convictions resulting from conduct that occurred on separate occasions. 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(1). The Armed Career Criminal Act defines a violent felony in part as any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year  that(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another. 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(2)(B)(i). The district court determined that Moore had four prior convictions for domestic battery in the third-degree under Arkansas Code  5-26-305. Moore argues that an Arkansas third-degree domestic battery conviction does not constitute a crime of violence under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Moore's prior convictions for third-degree domestic battery fell under subsection (a)(1) of Arkansas Code  5-26-305, which provides, in relevant part, that [a] person commits domestic battering in the third degree if: (1) With the purpose of causing physical injury to a family or household member, the person causes physical injury to a family or household member. We have previously ruled that this Arkansas statute is divisible. United States v. Eason, 829 F.3d 633, 642 (8th Cir. 2016). Accordingly, we must determine whether subsection (a)(1) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another. 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(2)(B)(i).

We have held that if a crime's elements require the physical injury of another, the crime's elements necessarily include the use of physical force. United States v. Winston, 845 F.3d 876, 878 (8th Cir. 2017); see United States v. Rice, 813 F.3d 704, 706 (8th Cir. 2016). We have reasoned that violent force is a prerequisite for physical injury, even if the force is indirect, Winston 845 F.3d at 878; Rice, 813 F.3d at 706, and so Moore's prior convictions for domestic battery in the third-degree qualify as crimes of violence under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Because Moore has pleaded guilty to domestic battery in the third-degree on at least four separate occasions, we need not determine whether any of Moore's other convictions qualify as a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C.  924(e)(2)(B)(i).

The judgment is affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

. The Honorable J. Leon Holmes, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

. Moore appears to concede that subsection (a)(1) of the statute applies to his convictions. Appellant's Br. 21 (Although the district court did not specifically identify which portion of Arkansas's domestic battering in the third degree statute Mr. Moore was convicted of violating, it appears from the record that Mr. Moore was convicted under subsection (a)(1) of Ark. Code Ann.  5-26-305.).

PER CURIAM.
TALLAHASSEE  A Florida senator accused by six women of groping or making demeaning comments about their bodies was removed from his powerful position as budget chairman on Monday.

Republican Sen. Jack Latvala is also a candidate for governor. He has denied the allegations. Senate President Joe Negron called him Monday morning to discuss the allegations and they agreed he should step down from the chairmanship, said Negron spokeswoman Katie Betta.

Also Monday, Republican Gov. Rick Scott said Latvala should leave office altogether if the allegations against him are true.

"There should be no corruption in politics," he said. "We should expect all of our elected officials to live at the highest standards of our society."

Following an event in Fort Myers on Monday, Scott added that it was important to find out "the real facts of what actually happened."

Scott last year criticized comments President Donald Trump made on a 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Trump bragged about women letting him kiss them and grab their genitals because he is famous. But Scott continued to support Trump's presidential campaign.

The allegations against Latvala were first reported by Politico Florida last week and Negron opened an investigation into the claims. Latvala didn't answer a call to his cellphone Monday and his voicemail was full. A campaign spokesman didn't immediately return a call and email seeking comment.

Negron replaced Latvala as chair of the Appropriations Committee with Sen. Rob Bradley.
A DUNDALK undertaker has vowed to continue to attend the scenes of fatal road crashes despite a dispute arising over payment of services in some parts of the country.

Gerard Quinn from Quinn's Funeral Home told The Dundalk Democrat that the past few weeks have been harrowing but he has no plans to stop providing services at fatal collisions in Louth.

Quinn's Funeral Home regularly attends the scene of fatal road crashes in Dundalk and North Louth.

I've attended three very traumatic situations in recent weeks. It can be harrowing, said Mr Quinn.

Fintan Goss, aged 33, died during Storm Ophelia, when a tree fell on his car in the early afternoon.

Robert McLoughlin, aged 29, died after he was hit by a car on the Old Newry Road in the early hours of Saturday, October 21.

Brian Hearty was killed in a single car collision the day after his 26th birthday at Ratmore, Kilkerly on Sunday, October 29.

Mr Quinn works closely with the Emergency Services, Gardai, the coroner, and the doctor-on-call.

It's been a heartbreaking few weeks. During Storm Ophelia everyone was working in a dangerous situation, he said.

Our own health and safety was at risk but it's part of what we do. A fatal crash is a traumatic scene. We do our best to help the family through a very difficult time.

The rate paid to undertakers for going to the scene of fatal road crashes is set by each county council, said Irish Association Funeral Directors spokesperson, Colm Kieran.

We are trying to work with each individual county council to get a standard payment system introduced for funeral directors to provide this service going forward."
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) have entered an agreement to promote innovation in financial services in their respective markets.

The Information Sharing Co-operation Agreement provides a framework for information sharing between the CSRC and ASIC on emerging market trends and developments, as well as regulatory developments pertaining to innovation in financial services. According to ASIC, the Agreement will enable the two regulators to keep abreast of fintech activity in each others jurisdictions, and help to inform domestic regulatory approaches in the context of a rapidly changing global financial environment.

Signing the agreement, ASIC Chairman Greg Medcraft said, Co-operation between regulators is essential to realise the benefits of the technological revolution. Understanding new developments and their impact in overseas markets helps us to remain proactive and forward-looking in our domestic approach. This Agreement represents an exciting opportunity for us to learn more about the Chinese fintech sector, which is renowned for its success and dynamism. We also look forward to sharing our insights and experiences on regtech with the CSRC.

Shiyu Liu, CSRC Chairman said, In the past few years, the rapid development of fintech has created ample opportunities to introduce new financial services, enhance financial inclusion and fulfil investors needs. However, financial market regulators around the globe also face new requirements and challenges posed by market innovations. The Agreement between CSRC and ASIC will provide an effective channel for timely exchange of information on fintech developments and regulatory issues, and enhance regulatory cooperation between the two authorities.

Accoridng to Reuters, total investment in Chinese fintech ventures, last year, is estimated to have been US$10 billion. Meanwhile, PricewaterhouseCoopers has found that digital payments transacted in China make up almost half the total global volume.
Dr. Marilyn Willis, CPA, CGMA, professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga was honored with the Woman of the Year Award from the Accounting and Financial Womens Alliance Women Who Count Awards.



"The Women Who Count Awards recognize women who demonstrate a drive to take on challenges and strive for success. They are leaders in their companies and communities. Theyve earned the trust and respect of their clients and peers. And they show enthusiasm toward their career and the accounting and finance industry as a whole," officials said.



Dr. Willis represents how far women have come in this industry. She has blazed a trail and directly inspired many to follow. After 45 years in education, serving both as a professor and a dean, her impact on the industry is one that is truly lasting, said AFWA National President Lori Kelley, CPA.

Her students have gone on to become CEOs, tax attorneys, partners and entrepreneurs.



The 2017 Women Who Count Awards were announced during AFWAs annual Women Who Count Awards lunch held Oct. 30 in Alexandria, Va.
Reforms to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which took effect this week, will level the playing field between small and big businesses while providing consumers with increased choice and better services in the market place, according to Small Business Michael McCormack.

Commenting on the commencement of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Competition Policy Review) Bill 2017 on Monday, McCormack said When Australias small businesses are able to compete on their merits, they can pursue new ideas, expand and create more jobs across the country.

Key amendments, now in effect, include:

Strengthening the prohibition against the misuse of market power (section 46);

Replacing the never-used and unworkable price signalling provisions with a general prohibition on concerted practices that substantially lessen competition;

Abolishing the formal merger clearance process and providing for merger authorisation applications to be heard firstly by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and reviewed by the Australian Competition Tribunal;

Introducing class exemptions for conduct that the ACCC determines does not raise competition concerns; and

Amending the National Access Regime to better target the lack of competition in markets for infrastructure services where third party access is required.

Strengthening section 46 gives small businesses the confidence they deserve and Australian consumers the peace of mind they need, McCormack added.
FACES: The National Craniofacial Association will be hosting a special Red Carpet experience and screening of Wonder at the Regal Theater at Hamilton Place on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. The film has been adapted from a New York Times best-selling young adult novel by R.J. Palacio. The film stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay.

The story is about Auggie Pullman and his experience of attending middle school after being previously homeschooled. This transition would be hard for any child, but for Auggie it is particularly challenging, because he has a craniofacial difference.

The audience will be diverse, including individuals with craniofacial differences, local school children, and business and medical professionals. The event will include a Red Carpet arrival, photo opportunity, swag bag for attendees, free popcorn and coke, and announcements from those in the FACES community. The Red Carpet will be from 6:30-7 p.m.

For more information call 266-1632 or 800-332-2373 or register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-of-wonder-movie-premiere-registration-39052915321?aff=es2




For the past two years, Angela McAllister sought refuge from her busy life in regular floatation sessions at Lucidity Float & Wellness Center. Imagine 90 minutes without your phone, with zero distractions, where you feel completely weightless, centered and relaxed, Ms. McAllister said. It was my place for calm and meditation when work was overwhelming.

Her career had been spent working in sales and nonprofit fundraising, two high-pressure professions where she said performance goals could be suffocating at times.

All of a sudden, she noticed that things were changing at Lucidity, and her source of peace and calm had developed some kinks that were negatively affecting the experience. M.s McAllister called the owner, who told her he was struggling to juggle several businesses at once. I offered to buy the center, and all of a sudden, I was a small business owner, she said.

Ms. McAllisters first order of business was to remodel the space. She cleared the clutter and added custom-made copper fixtures and bespoke artwork. The flotation tanks and chambers were given a thorough cleaning and tune-up to ensure they were operating at peak performance.

While the equipment does require routine maintenance, the entire volume of water is emptied automatically after each floatation session and then cycled twice through four filtration methods, she said. Flotation tanks are also manually cleaned and sanitized after every guest.

The flotation tank water is the same temperature as the skins surface, and the high concentration of Epsom salt increases the water density and causes the body to float weightlessly. Theres no light, no sound, and no pressure, Ms. McAllister said. Its pure bliss.

While it may seem like a new age practice, flotation tanks have been used therapeutically for more than 60 years. Dr. John C. Lilly, a medical practitioner and neuro-psychiatrist, invented the first flotation therapy tank in 1954, and Peter Suedfeld and Roderick Borrie of the University of British Columbia conducted early studies of the therapeutic benefits of floating in the 1970s.

Recent research by the Human Performance Laboratory at Swedens Karlstad University found that more than three-quarters of study participants experienced noticeable improvements in long-term conditions including anxiety, stress, depression and fibromyalgia after flotation therapy. MRI scans conducted by Justin S. Feinstein of the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa documented the positive effects of flotation therapy on the central nervous system. Brazilian researchers found positive effects on relaxation, heart rate, blood pressure and flexibility after flotation therapy.

Theres quite a bit of research showing the medical benefits of floating, Ms. McAllister said. Plus, it feels amazing.

In addition to flotation therapy, Lucidity also offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy, massage services, and CBD and essential oil products all geared toward stress relief and overall good health.

Located at 1405 Cowart St. on Chattanoogas Southside, Lucidity Float & Wellness Center is part of the Southern Surgical Arts complex.

The center is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days a week. Appointments can be made by calling 903-4138 or visiting www.luciditychattanooga.com.
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett Monday announced that USDA is investing more than $200 million in infrastructure projects to bring broadband to hundreds of unserved and underserved rural communities.

Broadband infrastructure is vital to our economy and quality of life in rural America," said Ms. Hazlett. "Yet, today nearly 40 percent of rural residents and businesses lack access to the same quality service available in urban centers. Under Secretary Perdues leadership, USDA is working hard to bridge this gap. From access to health care to workforce training and connection to global markets, broadband is truly a lifeline to prosperity in rural communities.

Two Tennessee companies were awarded grants to improve infrastructure in three rural counties and two telephone cooperatives received loans to provide broadband access to over 32,000 customers. Ben Lomand Communications, LLC, located in Warren County received a $1.5 million grant to construct state-of-the-art fiber to the premise facilities serving 179 customers in the Pocahontas community in Coffee County. And North Central Communications, Inc., with offices located in Macon and White Counties, was awarded a $2,836,187 grant to construct an FTTP system for 278 unserved households in Trousdale and Smith counties. Not only will over 450 households have access to the internet, a community center will be established where residents may have access to computer terminals and free internet for at least two years in the locations listed above.

Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative Corporation in Bledsoe County and Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Corporation located in Jackson County are two telephone coops that received loans. Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative Corporations $7,885,000 loan will be used to provide broadband fiber service to nearly 2,000 subscribers in and around Dunlap and Pikeville. The upgrades will improve traffic routing, overall functionality and network security. Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Corporations $15,827,000 loan will be used to convert portions of a legacy copper network to an FTTP system and to deploy broadband infrastructure for further expansion. Approximately 590 miles of copper lines will be replaced with fiber, allowing Twin Lakes to provide nearly 30,000 customers with enhanced broadband and voice services.

We are extremely pleased with the grants and loans awarded to Tennessee companies today, said Harriet Cannon, Tennessee acting state director. The construction of FTTP systems, the establishment of community centers and the ability to provide broadband fiber to our rural communities are all game changers in the way business is conducted in these rural areas.

These awards are being financed through USDAs Telecommunications Program, which has provided financial assistance to more than 500 telecommunications providers nationwide. USDA is announcing $207 million in loans and grants today.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.




The Barking Legs Jazz in the Lounge series on Wednesday will feature the French band Djoukil. There will also be food from Chef Kenyatta's Soulful Kitchen. The show is free.

Barking Legs will also host bluegrass musician David Grier: Solo Guitar Mastery on Friday at 8 p.m. Mr. Grier is known for his "deep musical introspection" and "unmatched mastery at guitar."
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ECSU Hosts Rise Against Hunger Community Event

ECSU Hosts Rise Against Hunger Community Event

World hunger is a serious crisis and Elizabeth City State University has been a partner with the greater Elizabeth City community to help feed people across the globe. On Nov. 19, ECSU is organizing and will host Rise Against Hunger, and is calling on the entire community to participate in this meal packaging event.

Last year, ECSU hosted the event for the organization, Stop Hunger Now, at the R.L. Vaughan Center. The event was headed up by two local churches, and hundreds of community members gathered to package meals which were sent to hungry people in Haiti and the African nation of Zambia.

Stop Hunger Now is an organization that provides dry goods to be packaged as meals and boxed for shipment. Churches and community organizations hold events, asking people to spend an afternoon assisting with packing the meals.

For the Full Story Read Here.
More than 600 GPS students traveled to seven different countriesfrom the comfort of their seats in Frierson Theatre. Its all because the IMPACT series featured a Culture Fair, with girls presenting the unique attributes of a myriad cultures.

India, South Africa, Pakistan, Scotland, Kazakhstan, Philippines, and France were each represented with an educational presentation given by students with a connection to the country. Most included typical customs of the represented culture, such as language, food, and holidays.

In the opening presentation, Anya Parambath explained the dazzling contrast of the Indian culture with a breakdown of the various languages, religions, holidays, foods, and other cultural components. India is a country of unity in diversity, Ms. Parambath said. Astha Sinha and Ruchika Rathi followed with a Bollywood dance.

Sisters Nicola and Andrea van der Merwe stepped onto the stage next to discuss the misconceptions of South Africa. Wild animals do not roam the streets, said Nicola van der Merwe. The sisters presented some fun facts about the country, including how Africa is home to Bloukrans, the worlds highest bridge for bungee jumping, and that the national anthem is sung in six different languages.

Following South Africa was another segment designed to dispel some misconceptions, this time from Pakistanwith a comedic twist. Through a dialogue, Meher Memon, Amal Ali, Khadija Aslam, and Ameera Bhatti keyed the tagline Oh, wait! to demonstrate to students what might be surprising about Pakistani culture. Thanks to these four girls, GPS students now know the redundancy of saying chai tea.

In contrast, Ashley-Rose Lynn shared how some stereotypes of Scotland are actually quite true. When you think of Scotland, you probably think kilt. Well, youre right, Ashley said, as the crowd laughed. One fact the girls found most intriguing about Scotland was that the national animal is the unicorn. Ashley finished her presentation by inviting two volunteers on stage for a Just Dance 2.0 in which the duo were challenged to follow along with a video of a Scottish dancer in exchange for a prize of some Scottish shortbread.

Speaking of food, Alina Poston discussed the origin of apples during her presentation on Kazakhstan, her birth country. For many, a very profound take away from Alinas presentation are the statistics around adoption in Kazakhstan; currently Americans cannot adopt from there and only 10 percent of orphans will be adopted. She also shared the countrys flag, superstitions, and greetings.

Tatiana Poggi, Margaret Lim, and Mia Bertani represented the Philippines with a traditional dance, and Phoebe Mills sang a song in French.

Special thanks to Poggi and Maddox McIntire for hosting the Culture Fair. Also thanks to Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Glass for organizing and tech work.
To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, in partnership with the Chattanooga National Cemetery, will present a special one-hour program on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m., focusing on Civil War related stories about soldiers involved in the 1863 Campaign for Chattanooga.

This is a free program and will take place in The Chattanooga National Cemetery at the Andrews Raiders Monument in Section H. The cemetery is located at 1200 Baily Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404.

On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stood upon a platform outside Gettysburg, Pa., where he officially dedicated the Soldiers National Cemetery. As he uttered the words they gave their last full measure of devotion..., Union forces in Chattanooga, Tennessee, were readying themselves to lay down their lives upon their countrys altar. In five days, the Battles for Chattanooga would begin in earnest. Visitors are encouraged to participate in this special program commemorating the devotion of those who fell fighting for control of The Gateway to the Deep South.



For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423 821-7786, or visit the parks website at www.nps.gov/chch.
Recognizing the difficulty facing citizens of Nicaragua  and potentially citizens of other countries  who have received TPS designation for close to two decades, Acting Secretary Duke calls on Congress to enact a permanent solution for this inherently temporary program.

If the 195,000 Salvadorans in the US on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) hoped to get clarity on their status from a decision today by the Department of Homeland Security, they were disappointed. Today was the date for DHS to act on TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua, for those who had been in the country since Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Although a letter from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week seemed to make a negative decision probable, the action by DHS today was more of a non-decision.Acting Secretary Elaine Duke decided not to extend TPS for Nicaragua past January 5, 2018, but did delay the effective date of her decision until January 5, 2019 to allow for an orderly transition. This effects about 2550 Nicaraguans in the US. In contrast, the DHS announcement says the Department did not have sufficient information about conditions in Honduras today compared to the time of Hurricane Mitch, and could not make a determination whether extension of TPS was warranted. As a consequence, TPS is automatically extended for another six months for Honduras.There was no mention of El Salvador or Haiti in today's decision. The next key date for the future of the TPS program comes on November 23, 2018 when DHS must rule on the extension of the program for 50,000 Haitians granted TPS protection after the 2010 earthquake in their country.DHS must make a decision by January 8, 2018 whether to extend TPS for Salvadorans past the current March 9, 2018 expiration date (or make no determination and have an automatic six month extension)..There was one sentence in Duke's pronouncement with which I wholeheartedly agree:
Paradise Papers: Lewis Hamilton and Apple named in latest tax probe



Lewis Hamilton & his Jet (Twitter)

The latest documents from the Paradise Papers allege that significant amounts of tax was avoided, but both Hamilton and Apple deny they have acted illegally.

Tech company Apple and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton are alleged to have avoided tax, the so-called Paradise Papers suggest.

The documents appear to show that Hamilton avoided tax on a private jet worth 16.5m, which he imported into the Isle of Man.

Hamilton's advisers set up a leasing deal which entitled the 32-year-old Mercedes driver to receive a 3.3m VAT refund on the red Bombardier Challenger 605, on the basis that the jet was for business use.

However, there are allegations it was used by Hamilton for personal use. The BBC said that IOM Customs even met Hamilton at 6am to faciliate the arrangment.

Hamilton's lawyers have said the tax structure was reviewed by a barrister and was found to be lawful.

They deny he has done anything illegal and have said it is not correct to say no VAT has been paid on any of the arrangements.

Meanwhile also implicated in the latest leak is technology giant Apple, which is alleged to hold most of its offshore funds in Jersey, where taxes are lower. Apple had investigated in using the Isle of Man as a base and even sought advice on whether there was a 'credible' opposition political party that could change the tax rules if they got in to power. In the end the World's biggest tech company chose Jersey.

It is said to have moved the money there when Ireland changed its tax rules in 2015.

Apple had been routing profits through subsidiaries in Ireland, where tax rates are lower.

The tech giant had allegedly been taking advantage of a tax loophole in the US and the Republic of Ireland up until 2014, allowing it to move its sales outside of America and through Irish subsidiaries, incurring very little tax.

In 2016, the European Commission ordered Apple to pay 11bn in back taxes to Ireland, after calculating that one year one of its subsidiaries paid a tax rate of 0.005%.

Apple has responded to the latest claims by saying that its new tax structure has not reduced the amount of tax it pays and that it still remains the world's largest taxpayer.

The company says it has followed the law and its changes "did not reduce our tax payments in any country".
Charity thanks Manx community for donations

A local charity is thanking the public for its generosity following an appeal to help a family who fled their home due to domestic violence.

Victim Support Isle of Man asked for donations of toys and clothes for two young boys last week who had been left with only the clothes they were wearing.

The organisation posted an update on social media, showing how many donations they've received, while adding that they've been overwhelmed, humbled and amazed by the generosity of the Island community.

The charity is still looking for bedding and towels for the boys and their mother, as well as groceries and cleaning products.
Corbyn calls for full inquiry into Paradise Papers



Jeremy Corbyn MP

The UK Labour leader is calling for a full inquiry into the Paradise Papers.

The documents feature details of the Island's jet VAT refunds, including F1 star Lewis Hamilton's, as well as documents from Appleby and Estera, who both have offices in the Island.

Jeremy Corbyn wants a full inquiry, and is asking for public lists of company ownership and a new unit to tackle tax evasion.

A spokeperson for British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed HMRC has asked to see the papers, but that investing in offshore jurisdiction like the Isle of Man is not an automatic sign of wrongdoing.
Choral Arts of Chattanooga will celebrate the joy of Christmas with special guest, soprano Stella Zambalis, on Friday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.

The performance will include "the warmth of a Christmas lullaby, the majesty of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Benedicite and the exhilaration of Dave Brubeck's We Three Kings."

The concert will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine St. Tickets are available online or at the door and are $20 for adults, $10 for students and free for children 12 and under.

About Stella Zambalis:

Stella Zambalis, the featured soloist, is a regular guest of leading opera companies throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, as well as frequenting the recital and concert stage. She has created several new roles for the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera and for La Scala in Milan to name a few. On recordings, Ms. Zambalis may be heard as Juliet in Tchaikovskys unfinished work: Romeo and Juliet: Overture Fantasy (completed by Taneyev) with the Moscow Radio and Television Orchestra for Bridge Records (a division of Koch International), and a solo album featuring three complete solo song cycles by Dvorak for the Opus label.






Jeremy Calvert went public with his new romance with girlfriend Kristen Blake last week on social media but just days later, things between them have come to an abrupt end.

According to a new report, the Teen Mom 2 dad who shares a young daughter, four-year-old Adalynn, with ex-wife Leah Messer seemed to have a positive outlook days ago when he told his fans and followers on Instagram that he and Blake were official. Sadly, their good times came to an end. He took to social media again to explain the nature of their relationship.

Stuck between f**k it and what if, read a meme shared on Instagram by Calvert, according to a report by Radar Online on Nov. 6.

This is perfect for me at this point in my f**ked up [life] #dontrespond #yourloss #iknowyoucreepmys***t #zerotohide #yourenotblocked, he added in the meme's caption.

Calvert then shared another image that featured the words I love you in the sand.

Three words that are way to loosely used nowadays and so easy to say to people, he wrote to his fans and followers, and Im just as guilty as everyone else that says it for the most part.

Calvert also deleted the photo of himself and Blake that he had used to debut their romance days ago.

Calvert first gained fame years ago when he was added to the cast of Teen Mom 2 as the love interest of Messer. As fans of the show will recall, Calvert and Messer began dating just months after her first marriage came to an end and less than one year later, they made their romance official by tying the knot in West Virginia.

Calvert and Messer continued with their marriage for a couple of years but in 2014, after Messer attempted to address her marital issues with Calvert in therapy, he accused her of cheating on him and announced his plans for divorce.

Following his split from Messer, Calvert dated Brooke Wehr and got engaged to her in late 2016. Then, months later, amid allegations of cheating, they parted ways.

To see more of Jeremy Calvert, Leah Messer, their families, and their co-stars, including Jenelle Evans, Kailyn Lowry, Chelsea Houska, and Briana DeJesus, don't miss new episodes of Teen Mom 2 season eight on Monday nights at 9 p.m. on MTV.
Twenty-eight women from across the statethree from Chattanooga-- have been selected as members of Emerge Tennessees 2018 Spring cohort, its second training class. Emerge Tennessee is considered an essential step for Democratic women who want to run for public office in the state. It is the only in-depth, six-month training program that provides Democratic women with 70 hours of comprehensive knowledge they need to achieve their political aspirations. Emerge Tennessee training sessions are held one weekend a month in an alternating Tennessee city.The upcoming class will begin on Nov. 18, in Chattanooga and graduate on April 8, 2018 in Nashville.Emerge Tennessee traveled from Mountain City to Memphis this summer speaking to women about running for office and having their voice represented in local, state and federal government, said Kristal Knight, executive director of Emerge Tennessee. This new class shows there are a lot of Democratic women, from all across Tennessee, in rural and urban communities that are interested in running for office but want to learn more about the process and hone their skills. We are excited about our next class and look forward to seeing their names on ballots across the state.Emerge Tennessee, founded in 2016 as the 22nd state affiliate of Emerge America, graduated twenty-four women from their inaugural class July 8, 2017. Nationally, the Emerge America network had a 70% win rate in 2016 and has won 80% of races across the county where alumna have been on the ballot in 2017.Hallie McFadden, a Signal Mountain resident and attorney with the federal government graduated from the inaugural class of Emerge Tennessee. She and other women across this state, like Evetty Satterfied, a Knox County School Board Candidate for District 1 and Emerge Tennessee graduate, emphasizes the programs role in the preparation for her upcoming election. According to Ms. Satterfield, Emerge Tennessee has provided me with the knowledge and skills needed for a run for public office. The sisterhood that Emerge Tennessee created is remarkable and I am forever connected to dynamic women, not only in Tennessee but around the nation.In the upcoming class, there were three Chattanooga area women selected: Rosabelle Gorman, of Chattanooga (Hixson), a real estate agent and former wine bar owner; Melinda Bone, of Chattanooga,(Harrison), is a small business owner; Kyra Howell, of Chattanooga (Signal Mountain), an attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.Ms. Satterfield isnt the only woman running for office from the inaugural class. Across the state Emerge Tennessee has four alumna currently running for office. Two alumna have been appointed to local boards in their respective cities and one alumna was elected to the Shelby County Executive Committee.Below is more information about the Knoxville class members.Melinda Bone, Chattanooga: A physical therapist professional, Ms. Bone is the current manager of BFS Facility Services, LLC. She is active with youth activities in the Chattanooga area, where she is a Girl Scout Cadette troop leader and a mentor at Woodmore Elementary School. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.Kyra Howell, Signal Mountain: Attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C., Ms. Howell is a former U.S. Senate legislative assistant. She is the vice chair of the Signal Mountain Centennial Committee, an adult volunteer with Girl Scouts USA and a member of the Signal Mountain Lions Club. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Fordham University School of Law and is a graduate of Manhattanville College.Rosabelle Gorman, Chattanooga: A Chattanooga area realtor, Ms. Gorman has also been a business owner of a local wine bar. She is a former board member of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Council and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Humane Educational Society. As someone who cares about her county, Gorman has been active with the Hamilton County Democratic Party. She is a graduate of Bryan College.Officials said, "Emerge Tennessee, founded in 2016, is the premier campaign-training program for Democratic women in the state. The Emerge program inspires women to run, and hones their skills to win. Our goal is clear: to increase the number of Democratic women in all levels of public office." Emerge Tennessee is an affiliate of Emerge America, a national organization operating in 17 states. To learn more, visit: https://emerge.ngpvanhost.com/tennesseeThe 27 women of the Spring 2018 class:Margaret Abernathy, NashvilleAmy Alford, SeymourMelinda Bone, HarrisonJenny Charles, NashvilleLori Clemons, Thompson StationTosha Downey, MemphisJackie Dubose, KnoxvilleLeah Dupree, NashvilleAshley Forjet, OaklandEllen Forrester, NashvilleSheronda Green, BrownsvilleRosabelle Gorman, ChattanoogaDeborah Harley-McClaskey, Johnson CityLinda Nettles Harris, MemphisDeborah Holbrook, Pleasant HillKyra Howell, ChattanoogaAmber Huett-Garcia, MemphisHeather Johnson, KingsportIndya Kincannon, KnoxvilleGicola Lane, NashvilleCivil Miller-Watkins, RossvilleAnne Ferrell Quillen, CrossvilleKatrina Robinson Lee, MemphisRebecca Saldivar, KnoxvilleTami Sawyer, MemphisDanielle Schonbaum, MemphisJolie Grace Wareham, NashvilleGrace Weil, Memphis
A group of mostly Syrian women and children started protesting in front of the Greek parliament in Athens due to delays in reuniting with relatives in Germany. Some of the migrants are also said to have started hunger strikes after it was reported that Athens and Berlin had agreed to slow down the process of reunification between EU countries.

What weve managed to do on family reunification is to have an increase of about 27% this year compared with last year, even though were accused of cutting back family reunification and doing deals to cut back family reunification, Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas commented. He also added that Greece got assurances from Germany that refugees whose applications have been accepted will eventually get to Germany despite the potential delays in processing asylum applications for reunifications and relocation to other European countries.

Greece has seen about 60,000 refugees and migrants, mostly Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, after the borders had been closed in the Balkans, halting their journey to Germany and western Europe. Almost 150,000 refugees and migrants have reached Greece from Turkey this year, a tiny fraction from the almost 1 million arrivals in 2015. An average of 214 people arrived every day in September, an increase from 156 in August and 56 in March.

The rise in the number of arrivals has stretched Greek island camps, which are having a hard time to absorb the flow with numbers two to three times their capacity. Mr. Mouzalas said that the Greek government was discussing with local authorities the option of moving refugees and migrants to local accommodation, including hotels, and it also considered increasing the capacity of some facilities.
BEERSE, Belgium, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

FOR MEDICAL AND TRADE MEDIA ONLY

- 60% of patients receiving ustekinumab showed significant reductions in lupus disease activity vs. 31% of patients receiving placebo - Ustekinumab showed significant improvements in various disease measures compared with placebo, including musculoskeletal, mucocutaneous, immunological markers and flares - Janssen plans to advance ustekinumab into Phase 3 development program based on Phase 2 results

Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) announced today positive results from a randomised, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study investigating the anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23 monoclonal antibody STELARA(R) (ustekinumab) in the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). The study met the primary endpoint, with a significantly higher proportion of patients in the ustekinumab group showing improvements in lupus disease activity as measured by the SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at week 24, compared with patients receiving placebo (60% vs. 31%, respectively, P=0.0046). The data are being presented as a late-breaking oral presentation at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

"Despite the progress made in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, major unmet needs remain for patients living with lupus, a serious, life-altering and in some cases, life-threatening disease," said Ronald van Vollenhoven, M.D. Ph.D., Director of the Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center ARC and Professor of Rheumatology, University of Amsterdam and Free University; and lead study investigator. "The positive data from this Phase 2 study of ustekinumab are encouraging, highlighting the role that IL-12 and/or IL-23 may play in the pathophysiology of the disease, and offering hope for patients living with lupus and the rheumatology community."

Consistent with the primary endpoint, at week 24 patients receiving ustekinumab experienced significantly greater changes from baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity-2K (SLEDAI-2K) score compared with patients receiving placebo (Least Squares Mean difference -1.36, P=0.09) at a predefined alpha level of 0.1 ustekinumab did not meet statistical significance in other secondary endpoints, although investigators reported a numerical trend favoring ustekinumab for such endpoints as Physician Global Assessment, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-based Combined Lupus Assessment (BICLA) and BILAG, unique measures of disease activity in SLE. A pre-specified exploratory endpoint demonstrated that the risk of a new BILAG flare (at least one new BILAG A or at least two new BILAG B) was nominally significantly lower in the ustekinumab group compared with the placebo group (HR 0.11 [95% CI 0.01-0.94]; nominal P=0.0078).

Similar proportions of adverse events (AEs) across ustekinumab and placebo treatment groups were reported. Serious AEs occurred in 8.3% of patients receiving ustekinumab and 9.5% receiving placebo, with the most common adverse events including upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis and headache. Ustekinumab demonstrated a similar safety profile to previous trials for approved indications in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. No deaths have been reported in the study to date.

"We are excited by the results from this Phase 2 study showing the potential of ustekinumab in the treatment of lupus," said Newman Yeilding, M.D., Head of Immunology Development, Janssen. "These findings, together with our knowledge of the IL-12/23 pathway and our commitment to transform the lives of patients with lupus, provide strong rationale for moving into a Phase 3 clinical development program."

The Lupus Research Alliance advocated for investigating ustekinumab in SLE given the limited treatment options and the high unmet medical need for patients.

"Lupus is a devastating autoimmune disease that affects the organs, joints and skin. Unfortunately for people living with the disease, effective treatment options to date are limited," said Kenneth Farber, President and Chief Executive Officer at Lupus Research Alliance. "In this Phase 2 study, ustekinumab showed clinical improvements in lupus disease activity and symptoms, which brings important hope to patients who have eagerly awaited new treatment options. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Janssen on the important clinical program for ustekinumab in lupus."

Based on the results of the Phase 2 study results, Janssen plans to advance ustekinumab into a Phase 3 SLE development program in 2018.

About the Phase 2 ustekinumab SLE Trial

The efficacy and safety of ustekinumab was evaluated in a global Phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 102 adults with seropositive SLE by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria and active disease despite ongoing standard of care therapy (steroid, antimalarial and/or immunosuppressive therapies). Patients were randomised (3:2) to receive intravenous (IV) ustekinumab 6 mg/kg or placebo (PBO) at week 0, followed by subcutaneous (SC) injections of ustekinumab 90 mg or placebo every eight weeks, both in addition to standard of care therapy for 24 weeks. At week 24, patients in the placebo arm crossed over to active study agent.

The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving SRI-4 response at week 24. The SRI combines scores from three different validated lupus disease indexes to define responders versus non-responders, and has previously been accepted by health authorities in SLE registration trials. To achieve SRI-4 response, an individual with lupus must have at least a four-point improvement on the SLEDAI-2K score, less than 10% increase in PGA of disease activity and no worsening of moderate/severe organ disease on the BILAG disease activity index. Major secondary endpoints included change from baseline in SLEDAI-2K score, change from baseline in PGA of disease activity, and proportion of patients with BICLA response, all at week 24. Joint and cutaneous disease activity were also assessed with joint counts and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI), respectively.

Endpoint analyses included all patients who received at least one dose of study agent, had at least one measurement prior to administration, and had at least one post-baseline measurement. Patients with missing data and treatment failures were imputed as non-responders. Long-term safety and efficacy data are currently being collected through 104 weeks.

About SLE

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys and brain.[1] SLE can range from mild to severe and is characterised by inflammation of any organ system including kidneys, nervous system and brain.[2] The disease most often affects women and disproportionately affects women of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American descent compared to Caucasian women.[3] Incidence rates vary across European countries, ranging from 2.2 cases/100,000 in Spain to 5 cases/100,000 in France.[4] Lupus is estimated to affect at least 5 million people worldwide.[5]

About ustekinumab[6]

(CONTINUA)
All I suggest to do is to be transparent. Just mention your situation in your form in details. From your post I read that you have the visa information, so If you provide the department with your past visa details (validity dates, visa numbers and etc.) -I think in the visa details page, you usually have the passport details. Isn't it? - , I am sure they will be able to extract information from the systems, should it be required.



My experience is that honesty always pays off and though some times you don't have evidence but explaining the real situation helps and the department understands very well different circumstances.
Get married before applying, that is way easier/quicker on the proces to get your wife here with you.



What do you mean that the points system is more geared towards singles? It is for a SINGLE person. You don't require more points is you are married. Being married can only have an advantage: you can get extra points for your wife in some cases.

If you are talking about the finances required if there's 2 of you: please don't come to this country if that money is all you have, unless there's a job lined up and/or you can live for free with people you know.
Hello Everyone ,



I humbly request all the senior members of the forum to help me with my DEPENDENT VISA - SPOUSE processing time as I have applied for the VISA with all the required documents PCC/Bank Statement/Passports etc etc around 85 days ago to New Delhi Consulate Office via VFS and my VISA is under EXPRESS ENTRY CATEGORY.



How much time will it take ?



I am waiting for the Medical examination instructions for my wife ?



Its been almost 85 days now , I have put up various inquiry email to the New Delhi but haven't got any reply from them till now ......





Usually whats the timeline for issuing medical examination instructions and VISA from New Delhi Consulate Office?



Thank you in advance and request you all to help me with your impeccable blend of experience & knowledge in guiding me ....
Hi All,



Anyone recently applied for PRP section 26 (c) category? Two quick questions:

Question1. Is this the accurate list of requirements:

a) vfs appointment letter

b) DHA 947 online form

c) proof of payment of the R1 350

d) certified copies of the following documents for the child: birth certificate, passport; permit

e) medical report not older that 6 months

f) PRP holder's or parents' certified copies of the following: ID (if available); PRP certificate

g) letter of undertaking by the parents for medical, emotional, physical, financial responsibility

h) 3 months bank statements with balance of R8 500 (* not listed but I understand they need that)

I) copy of clinic card of the child (* is it required?)



Question 2: How long does it take for the PRP section 26(c) to be out? If one applies in May 2019 by when can they start following up?



Your responses will be much appreciated. Thanks.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is alerting bear hunters to an error that has occurred in the printed copy of the agencys 2017-18 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.

On page 28, there is a chart that indicates hunters will be allowed to use dogs during the Nov. 18-21 gun/muzzleloader/archery hunt in Bear Hunt Zones 1, 2, and 3.

However, dogs will not be allowed during that particular hunting segment.

Bear hunting takes place in the eastern portion of the state and dogs are allowed during many of the various bear zone hunts between late September and late December.

However, dogs are not allowed dogs during the Nov. 18-21 hunt.

The agencys digital version of the bear zone chart in the hunting guide is correct and can be viewed at www.tnwildlife.org
If you are eligible for the VWP you run the risk of being refused a B1/2 visa, and once you have a refusal on your record you then run into not being granted a future ESTA for travel. Others who have been refused have had to wait up to a year or more for ESTA to be granted.



The US Government introduced the VWP as a privilege for citizens of certain countries to travel to the US without having to obtain a visa. The US regards 90 days as ample time to see the country.



If you are not of retirement age there is the risk they will see someone travelling in the US for up to a year as supporting themselves with illegal work. You also have your US wife with you........



You will need to have strong ties to the UK, and be able to show you can support yourselves for 12 months.



Yes the B1/2 if for 6 months initially and can be extended. However, it is up to the border official at time of entry as to how long he allocates you.
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San Antonio refiner Andeavor is pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into a normally quiet port commissioners race on Tuesday thats drawn an obscene amount of campaign contributions 1,700 miles across the country.

More than $1 million has been donated to two candidates vying for the open commissioners seat at the Port of Vancouver, Washington, where Andeavor and the Savage Cos. have been pushing to bring a $210 million, 360,000 barrel-a-day crude oil by rail terminal to the port since 2013.

Its a part-time job that pays a $635 a month stipend and $114 per meeting for a 6-year term  about $10,000 or so a year. Whoever wins the race will hold the deciding vote on whether to renew or terminate the companies lease at the port. The companies are leasing 42 acres of land there while the state reviews the project.

Andeavor and Savage are backing Kris Greene, a Vancouver insurance agent whos previously backed the terminal. Theyve given him $370,000 of his $594,000 in total campaign contributions through the companies joint venture, Vancouver Energy, according to records from the Washington State Public Disclosure Commissions website.

Terminating the lease could subject Vancouver taxpayers and residents to significant litigation and financial liability even before the states environmental evaluations have been completed, Greene said in a September statement. He was unavailable for an interview.

His opponent, auto repair shop owner Don Orange, has said he opposes the terminal and plans to vote against the land lease between the Port, Andeavor and Savage. Orange has raised more than $413,000, about $290,000 of which came from the Washington Conservation Voters Action Fund.

I talk about building on port property and  my opponent is in favor of that, Orange said in a phone interview. The chief difference between us is that hes a vigorous supporter and is financed by the oil company, and Im not.

The proposed terminal would see up to four crude oil trains a day that would ship 360,000 barrels of petroleum from North Dakotas Bakken shale oil field and other fields into Vancouver. Six tanks with a total capacity of more than 2.1 million barrels would store the oil, which would be transferred to waiting ships and sent to West Coast refineries.

The port commissioners race is going down as the most expensive in the Ports recent history with the campaigns spending more than $876,000 combined. Its an unusual amount of money to spend on a race in a city with a population of 174,826 and a port with a projected 2017 operating revenue of $37 million.

Candidates in the 2017 commissioners race at the much larger Port of Seattle have raised more than $579,000 in contributions. Candidates for another commissioners race at the Port of Tacoma have raised more than $300,000 in contributions.

Port of Vancouver commissioners race saw eight candidates vie for the District 2 commissioners seat in 2015. All told, they spent $197,501 of the $208,340 raised.

State representative Sharon Wylie, who represents central and western Vancouver in Washingtons 49th Legislative District, including the terminals proposed location, called the amount of money raised obscene on both sides and says the large infusions of cash from Andeavor and Savage has left a bad taste in peoples mouths.

Wylie has endorsed Orange in the commissioners race.

State senator Lynda Wilson, who represents eastern Vancouver in the 17th Legislative District, has endorsed Greene and called the race unusual.

Thats a lot of money for a local race, she said. But it is our ports that are important and  we do need to make sure that we move forward and do have good development in that port.

Vancouver Energy says the project will create 320 construction jobs, according to Jeff Hymas, a spokesman for Vancouver Energy and the communications director for Savage. Terminal operations would create an additional 176 on-site jobs and 440 off-site jobs once complete, he said.

Andeavor declined to comment, referring questions to Vancouver Energy.

Hymas said in an email that Greene is more than a single issue candidate and understands the importance of creating opportunities for family-wage jobs and economic growth in Vancouver and Southwest Washington.

We also appreciate that Kris supports the established review process to ensure that our facility can, and will, be built and operated in a safe and environmentally responsible way, Hymas said.

The Port of Vancouver, located on the Columbia River 100 miles from the Pacific, currently brings in mostly automobiles and steel and ships out various types of metals and food stuffs, according to the Ports most recent commodities report. The nearest Andeavor refinery is in Anacortes, Washington, 195 miles to the north.

Kate Griffith, spokeswoman for Washingtons Utilities and Transportation Commission, said the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council is in the final stages of reviewing the project. The EFSEC has until Nov. 30 to complete its review and make a recommendation to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. The governor will make the final decision on whether or not to allow the project to move forward.

Going back to 2007, the earliest that online records are available, port commissioner races either were unopposed or had two candidates raising a few thousand dollars, at the most. The exceptions are the 2015 and 2007 race, when two District 3 candidates raised over $47,000.

In 2015, the Washington Conservation Voters contributed more than $103,000 to the winning candidate Eric Labrant, who raised more than $134,000. Labrant made a failed bid in September to terminate the Ports lease with Andeavor and Savage.

Andeavor, then Tesoro Corp., contributed at least $8,675 to the losing candidate, Lisa Ross, that year. Savage Services Corp., which lists the same address as Savage Cos. headquarters, donated $2,500 to Ross campaign.

In early September, Greene described the first infusion of money from Vancouver Energy, a $75,000 amount, as a big boost and said that he supports the process and the lease provided it passes environmental reviews.

Orange said without the influx of money from the Washington Conservation Voters, he likely wouldnt be in the race.

Their ideas do not conflict with having a robust, vigorous 21st century port operating here and if they did I would tell them I wouldnt take their money, he said.

Money has flooded into the race partly because there arent spending limits for individual contributions, which only exist for port districts with more than 200,000 registered voters, like Seattle and Tacoma. Limits for individual contributions in those races are set at $2,000.

The districts that make up the Port of Vancouver have 175,438 registered voters, according to Clark County, out of an overall population of more than 300,000, according to the Port of Vancouvers website.

Wylie said she will be introducing a bill to limit individual contributions into smaller port races due to the Port of Vancouver race.

Wilson worries that if the lease is canceled, as Orange says he will push for, the port will suffer long-term ramifications.

What other businesses are going to come in and risk their investment if they think the rug could be pulled out from under them? Wilson asked.

Wylie doesnt believe that an oil terminal is the route forward for the future of the city.

We would like to be focused more on renewables, so a lot of our businesses, a lot of our education system, a lot of our economic goals are more linked to renewables than to the oil industry, she said.

Some worry a repeat of a 2016 incident in Mosier, Oregon, when a train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed. The derailment led to a fire that consumed at least one rail car, according to the Oregonian. No one was injured in the derailment and ensuing fire.

Orange cites the Mosier incident and worries about a similar accident in Vancouver. Regardless of how the election pans out, Orange believes that the issue will end up in the courts.

I believe that whatever happens, the jobs that have been generated by this proposal so far have largely been for lawyers, and that whatever happens at this stage or other stages, well end up in court, he said. It would be shocking to me otherwise.

This story was updated to correct the number of estimated jobs that would be created through the Vancouver Energy project.

rdruzin@express-news.net | Twitter: @druz_journo
San Antonio-based H-E-B  which lost a longtime employee in the Sutherland Springs shooting Sunday  plans to donate at least $150,000 to help families affected by the deadly church attack, the company said Monday.

An employee that worked at H-E-Bs Floresville location for 22 years was killed when gunman Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire Sunday on a congregation at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, company spokeswoman Dya Campos said. Campos declined to immediately name the employee, citing the familys privacy.
A Dolls House and All My Sons both go back a ways  the plays premiered 138 and 70 years ago, respectively  but they deal with issues that have a ripped-from-the-headlines feel.

Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House, which Classic Theatre is staging, deals with the power dynamics between men and women. Rehearsals have included discussions driven by recent revelations of sexual harassment by a slew of high-profile men, making the issues raised by the play all the more timely.

I feel really blessed to be working on the play at this time, said director Kelly Roush.

And Arthur Millers All My Sons, which is being staged by St. Philips College, deals with the military and with corporate responsibility, sparking a lot of discussion about some thorny ethical issues.

Often, when students will pick up a play, Ill hear them say, Oh this is dated or this is historical or this is boring, said director Vincent Hardy, who teaches theater at St. Philips. I havent heard anybody react to this play like that.

A Dolls House

The play, which Roush is setting in the 1950s, takes a look at male/female dynamics through the prism of the marriage of Torvald (Nick Lawson) and Nora (Kacey Roye). He is the breadwinner, while she pours all of her energy into running the household and raising the children.

Torvald treats her like one of those children  admonishing her for indulging her sweet tooth and making clear that any big decisions will be made by him. Their seeming certainty in their place in the world  not to mention the integrity of their marriage  begins to crumble when he discovers a secret she has kept from him for years. His reaction reveals some things about him, forcing her to decide whether she can continue with things as they have been.

It really is about knowing yourself and finding home and what society does in kind of ingraining some things, putting us in a game that we dont even realize were playing, said Roush, who also is Classics executive director.

Some of the discussions that Roush and her cast had as they rehearsed the show have been about how far society has come in terms of gender roles and how far things have to go to reach equal footing.

Working on this play while a national conversation around those issues is taking place is surreal, Roye said. How are we still here? Ibsen wrote this in the late 1800s, and I just cant believe that were still here.

Roye has wanted to play Nora since she first read the play in college. Her view of Torvald has changed markedly since then.

At first, I was like, What a horrible man! I cant believe hes treating her this way!, she recalled.

Now, she said, she has more empathy for him.

They are both a product of society, she said. And there is not necessarily an antagonist in this production. Everyone is just a product of where society has placed them, and they are in these little boxes that they dont know how to get out of.

Ideally, Roush said, the play will spark discussion about gender roles and the potential cost of societys expectations for men and women.

She has witnessed some of that talk first-hand. Her son Oliver plays the eldest of Nora and Torvalds three children in the play. On a recent visit to a drug store, he detected sexism in the imagery on some devotional cards  butterflies for women and compasses for men. He shared his observation with his mother, who was delighted to talk through the issue with him.

Those kinds of conversations are important, she said.

If you dont shine a light on it, and you dont talk about it, then it doesnt change, she said.

All My Sons

Millers drama is set shortly after World War II. It revolves around the family of Joe Keller (Byrd Bonner), whose lives have been shadowed by scandal since the discovery that a part made by his manufacturing company for warplanes was defective, causing the deaths of several American servicemen. Joe went to prison for a time over what happened; his former partner remains in jail at the start of the play. One of Joes two sons died in the war, too, a loss that also hangs over the action. The familys efforts to put all of that in the past are extinguished with a revelation of culpability.

The play explores a range of thorny ethical issues, including what responsibilities corporations have toward their customers. On that front, the actors cited a number of recent events that dealt with that issue, including the BP oil spill and the controversial increase in the cost of life-saving medications such as the EpiPen.

Each of us in life dont  hopefully  come up with the kind of crisis situation that Joe and his partner face, Bonner said. But we all come up against a version of that  small, mundane, everyday versions of that  when we have to make decisions.

Even when someone is driven by altruism and believes they are doing the right thing, there may be unintended negative consequences, said Areli Noriega, who plays the daughter of Joes business partner. She pointed to a recent documentary about Toms Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, whose company donates one pair of shoes for each pair sold. That, however, has had a big impact for some shoemakers.

He thinks hes doing whats good and whats right, and people are losing jobs and cant support their families, Noriega said.

The play opens on Veterans Day, which strikes Bonner as particularly apt.

The dimensions of this play that are patriotic and military-focused are huge, he said. A few weeks ago, we talked a little about (the timeliness of the play), and one thing that came to my mind is whats going on right now with the families of veterans and persons who are killed in the line of duty and our presidents communication with those families.

While we dont have that specific (situation) depicted in All My Sons, still, it looms large, and certainly we talk a lot about loss of life in the line of duty and the cause for that and whos responsible for it.

Hardy hopes that audiences find a lot to talk about as they leave the theater.

This play is not simplistic, he said. Its not like theres one answer.

That is true for the problems facing the country right now, he said during a pre-rehearsal discussion of the issues raised by the play.

They are not simplistic, and Americans love simplicity, he said. We want to be able to go, This is wrong and this is right. Life is grayer than that. George (W.) Bush said, Youre either with us or against us, but the answer is more complex.

And thats what I like about theater, because look at what its doing  its forcing us to engage, and I hope that audiences do that, too. It forces you to try to think through these things, and what would I do? What should corporations do? How should they behave? What is their reponsibility to us as human beings? I hope (audiences) grapple with some of these things. That would be wonderful.

A Dolls House can be seen at 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 26 at Classic Theatre, 1924 Fredericksburg Road. Tickets $17-$32 at classictheatre.org or 210-589-8450.

All My Sons opens Friday. It can be seen at 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 19 in the Watson Fine Arts Center at St. Philips College, 1801 Martin Luther King. Tickets $5-$10. There is a free performance for high school students at 10 a.m. Nov. 16; reservations are required for that show. Call 210-486-2838 or 210-486-2205 for reservations or information.

dlmartin@express-news.net | @DeborahMartinEN
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SUTHERLAND SPRINGS  There was a time when Sutherland Springs was a resort, where women in white skirts and hats lounged at a spring-fed pool. They appear in photos in the local museum, a stark contrast to the images thrown across the world of shock and horror on the faces of residents.

On Sunday, after Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, approached First Baptist Church and killed 26 people, Nick Uhlig got a text from his mother: Are you alive or dead?

He was safe at home. But he called his cousin, Crystal Holcombe. She didnt pick up. He found out later that day that she, her unborn child and three children were dead.

You dont know how to feel, Uhlig said. I never thought in a million years something like this would happen here, of all places.

Ninfa Flores, 67, has lived in Sutherland Springs since she was 3 and felt the same dazed numbness.

Its beautiful here. Nothing ever used to happen, nothing, she said.

Monday was one long hush on the town. People closed their doors. Flores got a call from an unknown number and said, I dont know who this is. Maybe they want to kill me.

Shes surrounded by family  next door to her sister-in-law, kitty-corner from her nephew and behind her brother  but shes nervous.

How do I deal with it? Its hard. People in this community lean on me. And I put on this face, said Tambria Read, an art teacher at Floresville High School who has former students who died in the shooting. Shes also a local historian and chairperson of the Sutherland Springs Historical Museum.

Students on Monday comforted her just as much as she had comforted them, she said. Many waited anxiously to hear back from hospitals.

River Oaks Church in Sutherland Springs became a makeshift support center for the community, with victims families gathering there and law enforcement turning away media at the gate.

The relationship between the two churches is very good, said Martha Buford, wife of River Oaks pastor Paul Buford. We lost people who were dear to us.  We were sitting in our church, and we had first responders who got the call.

This will not divide us. We believe in the power of God in our community, and this has pulled us together, not apart.

Like everyone else, Buford expressed disbelief that something like this could happen in so small a community.

We are a flashing caution light with two gas stations, a post office and two churches, she said. Why would you choose here? I know theres some answers out there, but thats the question we have.

A San Antonio physician, Dr. John Sutherland, established the town in 1849. It was once the Wilson County seat. People from all over were drawn to the hot and cold springs, and a 52-room hotel was built in 1910.

Then a flood, fires and a bird flu diminished the town from its peak population of about 5,000, Read said. In 1948, the school district building burned to the ground and was never rebuilt.

Those who remained kept a deep pride and appreciated the wildflowers, the Spanish moss, the arrowheads still found in creekbeds. Reads family has lived here since 1923. Uhligs has operated local oil wells for three generations.

Mary Mendez, Flores sister-in-law, said she was just praying that it be the same as it used to be.

It was a nice little town, she said. We talked to each other, waved, everybody was friends. I hope it comes back.

Makayla Roberson, 15, and her family were supposed to attend Sunday mornings service at First Baptist Church, but they slept in, she said, and missed it.

Instead, Robersons father and brother, both members of the Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department, spent part of Sunday rushing victims of Texas deadliest mass shooting to area hospitals.

On Monday, she and her friends spent their welding class at Floresville High fusing together 2-foot metal crosses to memorialize the dead. Roberson, a sophomore who lives in Floresville  now the county seat  said she was going to paint the name of the churchs youth pastor on her cross.

Her brother Cody, 16, was in the youth group, and she went from time to time.

It was hard putting on a face after all of what happened, Roberson said, but going to school certainly brought us together more than it tore us apart.

All students who live in Sutherland Springs are zoned to attend the Floresville Independent School District. Two of them died in the shooting, and three are hospitalized, Superintendent Sheri Bays said. First Baptist congregants from outlying areas also attend schools in the La Vernia and Stockdale ISDs.

A girl who attends La Vernia High School was killed, students said.

She seemed real nice and very full of life. I dont know why someone would take that away from her, said Alyssa Dalbosco, 16, a junior who lives in New Berlin.

Three others who attend La Vernia ISD schools were injured, Superintendent Jose Moreno said. He declined to provide detailed information in deference to law enforcement officials, who have not released their names.

At the elementary school of one of those killed, counselors broke the news to the students classmates, Bays said. San Antonio-area school districts sent additional grief counselors to all three districts to talk to students and parents about how to process what happened.

Its devastating, Bays said, choking back tears at an afternoon news conference. Its very difficult for the families, and our staff members are just so upset. These children are their children, you know? La Vernia High School students organized a prayer meeting on their own Monday morning before school. Junior Naiellie Mendoza, 16, said everyone she saw there was crying.

People at First Baptist who were struggling could often receive support there, said Hamid Yatrib, 52, who moved to the area 20 years ago. He is Muslim; his wife is Christian and attends the church.

Terrie Smith sobbed as she and her boyfriend, Lorenzo Flores, described seeing the gunman approach the church and open fire. Their restaurant in the nearby gas station was closed Sunday, but they got all the customers inside as the shots rang out. One of the victims ran to join them, bloodied and crying, Somebody went in and shot everybody! My family's in there! Smith said.

She finished her story as if focused on the same bewildering question everyone else was asking: Why this town?

Were a good community, Smith said. Everybody here is really united. Everybody helps each other.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS  Crystal Marie Hill was a young widow with five children when John Porter Holcombe married her in 2012 and they celebrated at First Baptist Church here.

On Sunday in that same church, Crystal Holcombe, 36, was gunned down along with three of her five children from her earlier marriage. She was two months pregnant with the beloved and much-wanted sixth baby with her spouse of five years.

John Holcombe, 39, who was injured in the mass shooting but survived, has lost just about everything, said John Hill, 62, Crystals first father in-law, who continued to love her like a daughter.

When Devin Patrick Kelley took out his assault rifle and killed 26 people and wounded 20 more, he tore into deep and loving family bonds in this small, rural community.

The extended Holcombe family was particularly devastated. In all, eight people spanning three generations of Holcombes died Sunday.

Associate Pastor Bryan Holcombe, 60, was leading the service in place of Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who was out of town. Holcombe died with his wife, Karla, 58.

Their son Marc Daniel Holcombe, 36, was also killed, along with their grandchild Noah. At age 18 months, she was the youngest victim.

Then there was Crystal and her three children  Emily Hill, Megan Hill and Greg Hill, who were between the ages of 9 and 13.

Bryan and Karla Holcombe lived on a ranch in Floresville and owned American Canvas Works, which was on one of the main retail streets in town for more than 15 years.

They recently donated the building to a different church so it could build a youth center. Previously, they had donated land to Harvest Christian Church for a sanctuary, which is next door to the canvas shop.

They were happy people who never had a negative thing to say, said Jim Miller, owner of Eagle Ford Signs, around the corner from the Holcombes shop, which creates canvas covers for trailers.

They were dedicated to their ministry and their grandkids, he said.

Three weeks ago, Miller watched the Holcombes haul equipment and other things out of their shop so the church could start creating the youth center.

They were selfless people, Miller said. Even when politics started getting ugly, you couldnt get Bryan to say anything negative. Hed just smile.

Al Saldana, pastor of Harvest Christian Church, who is also a nurse, couldnt be reached for comment because he and his wife, Elizabeth, were headed to Floresville Hospital to provide counseling and comfort to staff there helping the victims of the shooting.

The Stockdale home of Crystal and John Holcombe is a tidy, aqua-colored house with dormers and chickens and dogs roaming about the front yard. They were married exactly one year after her first husband, Peter Hill, died of a heart attack at age 30.

John Holcombe was a heck of a man to marry a widow with five kids. They called him their old dad new dad, said Hill, Peters dad.

Crystal Holcombe was a loving mother and wonderful-hearted woman, he added.

I call (John Holcombe) my outlaw in-law son, Hill said.

Crystal Holcombes two other children, a 15-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, have now lost both of their parents. The daughter was grazed by a bullet; the son was not in church that day.

L.E. Stephens, who lives several houses down on the long rural road, said she didnt know Crystal Holcombe but that the two waved at each other.

Its just horrible, what happened, Stephens said.

Neighbor Michelle Garza, whose husband, Joe Garza, grew up in Sutherland Springs and knows the Holcombe family, said the kids were all well-behaved and raised to be respectful. Joe Garzas cousin was wounded in the shooting.

Though Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were traveling out of state Sunday, their daughter Annabelle Renee Pomeroy, 14, was not spared.

Three members of another family died: Joann Ward and two daughters, Brooke Ward, 5, and Emily Garza, 7. A 5-year-old son, Ryland Ward, was shot four times and was in critical condition.

Among those who died were two couples with connections to the Air Force.

R. Scott Marshall and Karen Marshall had retired to La Vernia and were trying out churches when they visited First Baptist for the first time.

Karen Marshall had recently returned to Texas after finishing an assignment at Marylands Andrews AFB. Scott Marshall was retired from the Air Force and had been working as a civilian contractor and mechanic at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

The couple met while they were in the service together more than 30 years ago.

Robert Corrigan, a staff development instructor in education and training for WellMed, and his wife, Shani Brauher Corrigan, also died in the church.

He was a 29-year veteran of the Air Force who retired as chief master sergeant and group superintendent for the 55th Medical Group at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. He joined WellMed in October 2015 and was based at The Oaks in San Antonio.

The couple, who lived in Floresville, were high school sweethearts from northern Michigan.

Funeral homes in the area reportedly are providing coffins at no charge so families burying their loved ones will have one less stress to deal with.

News Reseachers Misty Harris and Mike Knoop and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mstoeltje@express-news.net
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A federal jury Monday convicted two associates of the Texas Mexican Mafia in the the 2014 murder of Balcones Heights police officer Julian Pesina.

Jesse Jay Santibanez and Alfredo Freddy Low Cardona will be sentenced by Judge Xavier Rodriguez on Nov. 29. The convictions carry a minimum sentence of life in prison. The jury found them guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm during a murder in aid of racketeering.

Testimony by law enforcement officers and a member of the Mexican Mafias leadership described Pesina leading a double life: a gang-affiliated drug dealer who hid the fact that he worked for the Balcones Heights Police Department. But witnesses never indicated that Pesina was working undercover. An investigator for the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the stand that law enforcement officials had planned to arrest him.

Jerry Spooks Idrogo, a Mexican Mafia sergeant-turned-federal witness, testified that he picked Santibanez and Cardona, who were trying to get into the gangs good graces, to kill Pesina after reporting to his superiors that Pesina was a cop. Idrogo testified that he set up a meeting outside a tattoo shop Pesina co-owned to collect the 10 percent cut of his drug sales, known as the dime, that he paid in protection to the U.S.-based prison gang.

Just before meeting Pesina, Idrogo dropped off Santibanez and Cardona on the side of the building, the U.S. attorneys office wrote in a news release. Once Pesina walked up to the car and handed Idrogo the dime payment money, Santibanez and Cardona came around the corner and shot and killed Pesina.

Tom McHugh , the lawyer for Santibanez, said the government was short on physical evidence tying his client to the crime, but Idrogo and other witnesses presented lurid details of Pesinas and other gangland killings.

The government presented a very compelling case,. he said Naturally, we are disappointed in the verdict of the jury. There just seemed to be too much blood in the courtroom to overcome.

John Convery, Cardonas attorney, said prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony of gangland insiders who he called absolutely horrible witnesses.

Were disappointed and we'll appeal, he said.

jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch
When the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments on Texas sanctuary cities law Tuesday, it will be the highest court to take on the issue of whether county jails violate the Constitution when they honor detainer requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Tuesdays arguments are part of a challenge by cities and counties across the state, including San Antonio and the border town of El Cenizo, challenging Senate Bill 4, the Texas Legislatures effort to mandate involvement by local police in immigration enforcement.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in August halted key provisions of the law, including one that created criminal penalties for county sheriffs who dont honor ICE detainers, but a panel of the 5th Circuit put some of those back in place on a temporary basis. On Tuesday, a new panel of judges will hear from attorneys for Texas, who will argue that they should throw out Garcias injunction, and from attorneys for San Antonio and the other governments and civil liberties groups challenging the law, who will argue that not only should the appellate judges uphold Garcias ruling striking down portions of SB 4, they should expand it and enjoin the entire law.

Theres no timeline on when the judges will rule, and whatever they decide will almost certainly be appealed to the Supreme Court. The provision about ICE detainers, which are requests for county jails to hold for 48 hours someone whos scheduled to be released because immigration agents suspect theyre deportable, actually impacts few Texas counties. However, when the 5th Circuit does rule, it will be the highest court to take on the issue. District judges and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court have found that local law enforcement officials violate the Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure when they hold someone on suspected immigration violations, but the detainer issue has yet to be decided by a federal appellate court, said Cesar Garcia Hernandez, a law professor at the University of Denver.

This is a law enforcement tactic that was a favorite of the Obama administration and is a favorite of the Trump administration as well, but that interacts very messily with the traditional interpretation of the Fourth Amendment that requires government officials to gather evidence of suspected illegal activity and submit that evidence to a neutral judge and let that neutral judge decide if its strong enough to deprive a person of their liberty, said Garcia Hernandez, who joined a friend of the court brief arguing that SB 4 should be struck down. The detainers used by ICE dont comply with that, and the question is whether a traditional interpretation of the Fourth Amendment applies in this context or not.

Judge Garcia underscored the importance of the 5th Circuit decision by delaying another case before him. In June he ruled that the Bexar County Jail violated the Fourth Amendment rights of an immigrant from Mexico, whos since been deported, by holding him on an ICE detainer after his state criminal charges had been dropped. Bexar County has asked the judge to reconsider his ruling, but Garcia said in a written order hes waiting for a decision from the 5th Circuit in the SB 4 challenge before he responds.

A panel made up of a Bill Clinton appointee, a George W. Bush appointee and a Barack Obama appointee in September temporarily allowed the portion of the law addressing ICE detainers to take effect. Tuesdays oral arguments will be heard by Edith Jones and Jerry Smith, both appointed by Ronald Reagan, and Edward Prado, a San Antonio native and Bush appointee.

The issue, said Garcia Hernandez, the immigration lawyer, is that county jails are intended for holding people accused of committing state crimes. When the criminal charges are dropped or a judge orders someone released on bond, the county cant hold them on ICEs suspicion that he or she could be deported, which is a civil proceeding, he said.

Texas in its filings argued that judges in the past have allowed local law enforcement officials to detain people as the result of civil proceedings, including for mental health reasons, and that ICE detainers are well-established.

SB 4s ICE-detainer mandate does not violate the Fourth Amendment and is not pre-empted, Texas attorneys wrote. State and local compliance with federal ICE-detainer requests has existed since at the least the 1940s, and this historical pedigree alone refutes any  Fourth Amendment violation when States and their localities honor ICE-detainer requests backed by the federal governments representation of probable cause of removability.

The U.S. Justice Department has weighed in as well, saying in court filings that it supports SB 4 and points out that ICE now includes administrative warrants with its detainer requests.

Garcia Hernandez said detainers are just now being taken up by the courts because their use has increased greatly in the last decade. In 2006, ICE issued 14,837 detainer requests and that number increased to more than 300,000 in 2011, according to the Transactional Records Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. That number fell steadily until this year, when the number of detainer requests increased.

He doesnt believe that ICEs administrative warrants meet the requirements for county jails to detain anyone under the Fourth Amendment because theyre issued by the agency, not a judge.

The question the courts have to address is whether the document ICE issues that has warrant on the top is equivalent to the document that has warrant on the top that a Texas state court issues or a federal court issues, he said.

If the court leaves in place the punishment for sheriffs who dont honor ICE detainers in place, little will change for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, which says it honors all ICE detainers. Travis County was one of the few counties that only honored some detainers, and it changed policy in September after the ruling staying parts of Judge Garcias injunction. If the judges rule against the state, it could deal a serious blow to an important tool used by ICE.

The lawyers representing San Antonio are looking closely at provisions that they say require local police to act as immigration agents. Judge Garcia enjoined a segment of the law that punished officials who adopt, enforce or endorse policies that limit police cooperation with ICE and materially limit  the enforcement of immigration laws. He left in place penalties for officials who prevent police from asking about immigration status. In response, the San Antonio Police Department changed its policy that prevented officers from asking about immigration status. The current policy says officers can ask, but that it should not be a priority. City officials have said they want officers focusing on serious crimes, and that questioning people they encounter about immigration status would make it harder for them to do their jobs.

Under SB 4, because some of it is blocked, that policy is fine, said Nina Perales, vice president for litigation at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., which is representing the city. But if all of SB 4 goes into effect, the state of Texas could take an aggressive interpretation of SB 4 that would prohibit cities from setting priorities for their individual officers.

jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch
Jule Rust (with Rusty Rust) will be presenting a sermon in song on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. at Christ Unity of Chattanooga at 105 McBrien Road.



Performing songwriter Julie Rust has touched audiences across the United States with her soothing voice, honest lyrics and virtuosic piano playing for over 35 years. When a near-death experience left her ill for five years, and doctors were unable to help her, Julie experienced an unfolding of information, leading her to tools that took her from near death to a healthy, joyful life. The information came to her from God in a variety of ways, including songs, visions, dreams, books, and other healers. She shares her stories and songs in a beautifully intimate and authentic way. Her music has been described as "spiritually-enlightened" and "the voice of musical and spiritual wisdom."
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Texas researchers have closely watched the states bat population for years, looking for signs of a disease that has killed millions of North American bats: a white, powderlike substance on nose and wings, erratic hibernation patterns, piles of dead bats at cave openings.

And every year, those researchers breathed a sigh of relief. Their bats were safe.

That changed last year. Swabs from three different kinds of bats in the Lone Star States Panhandle came back positive for white-nose syndrome, aptly named for the white fungus that grows on the tiny winged creatures.

The discovery of the disease, which has a nearly 100 percent mortality rate, was devastating, said Winifred Frick, senior director of conservation science at the Austin-based Bat Conservation International.

But about $600,000 in grants by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation could help researchers stop the diseases spread in Texas. That amount is part of $1.36 million being handed out in the U.S. and Canada for six projects. The money comes from public and private entities: the foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Shell Oil Co. and Southern Co., an Atlanta-based gas and electric utility business.

With these funds were hoping to make a stand, said Paul Phifer, assistant regional director for ecological services at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Northeast region. They show that the government working with the private sector can really turn research into action  so Im really hopeful.

So far, the disease has not been found south of the Panhandle, according to Fran Hutchins, director of the Bracken Cave Preserve.

BCI is involved in the two funded projects in Texas. The first, run by Western Michigan University, will examine the use of the drug Chitosan to decrease the rate of infection and limit damage to tissue. The drug, typically used to treat obesity and Crohns disease, will be tested on bats in Michigan and Texas.

In the second project, Texas Tech University researchers will look into whether manipulating caves environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, reduces the severity of the syndrome.

Texas Tech researchers were not immediately available for comment.

In all six grants, recipients added some of their own funds to the pot of money. Western Michigan put in about $118,000 and Texas Tech contributed $60,000.

Other funded projects will test vaccines, ultraviolet light treatment and antifungal disinfectants.

White-nose syndrome largely affects bats that hibernate in caves because the fungus thrives in the cold. Scientists believe it is largely transmitted from bat to bat, though there is evidence suggesting that humans inadvertently carry it to clean sites from infected areas, according to BCI.

The disease causes bats to lose their fat reserves long before winter ends. They wake up too frequently during hibernation and starve to death, Frick said.

Its path of destruction began about a decade ago in New York state and has since spread to 30 other states in the U.S. and parts of Canada.

Though Texas is now one of those states, Frick said there still is time to save the states bats. It typically takes a year or two following the fungus discovery for a bats tissue to be invaded by the fungus, which leads to its death, she added.

BCI already is working on these two projects, she said, and will be doing field work in December when the bats prepare for hibernation.
About 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the greater Chattanooga area gathered for Stake conference on Saturday and Sunday, at the LDS Stake center (meetinghouse) located at 3067 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, Ooltewah.

Held every May and November, Stake conference in the greater Chattanooga area is a gathering of 12 LDS congregations. The public is welcome to attend. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann; Esther Helton of the East Ridge City Council; Marty Haynes, Hamilton County Assessor of Property; and Darrin Ledford of the Chattanooga City Council attended Sunday services.

John Griffey, president of the Chattanooga Stake, conducted services and spoke of Jesus Christ. Everything we have is because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, President Griffey said. Only Jesus Christ had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. Only He can save us from our sins. Because of Him, all people will be resurrected. Because of Him, those who obey His gospel will have eternal life with God.



Jesus Christ suffered all things that we might not suffer if we repent, which suffering causedthe greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spiritNevertheless, glory be to the Father, [because Jesus Christ] partook and finished [His] preparations unto the children of men (D&C 19-16-19). Because Jesus Christ was resurrected and atoned for us, We have a responsibility to reconcile our will to His will, President Griffey said, We should try to be like Him. We should internalize the qualities of Christ.



Other speakers also spoke of Christ. Celeste Ward, who heads up the womens organization (Relief Society) for LDS women in the greater Chattanooga area, reminded those in attendance that Jesus Christ offers hope, love and joy. His gifts are freely given, she said. But they also must be freely received. She spoke of her work with the refugees, who are starting over again in Chattanooga, and how serving them as Jesus would do  giving as He would give  has brought about change in her life and in their lives, too.



President David J. Pickett and Sister Kristin J. Pickett also spoke. President Pickett serves as the mission president for the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, and he and Sister Pickett care for the more than 150 missionaries serving in the area. The Picketts serve, without pay, for a period of three years. The Picketts are originally from a small farming community in Idaho where they are ranchers in the wild, wild west, Sister Pickett said. The young Mormon missionaries and senior couples serving in the Tennessee Knoxville mission with the Picketts also serve without pay and share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone they meet.



We have the greatest gift on earth  the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We should show by action and deed that Jesus Christ is the anchor of our souls, Sister Pickett said. And we should share the gospel with those who are searching, who are looking to add to the truths they already know.



President Pickett told the congregation that his great grandfather served an LDS mission in 1880 in Chattanooga, and that he was hopeful to carry on the great work of inviting others to come unto Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Hope, and that if we will plant a seed, if we will allow the seed to grow, that the Spirit will bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness so that all men and women might have joy.



President Lyle J. Stucki and his wife, Sister Bonnie Stucki, serve as the president and matron of the LDS Atlanta Temple. Both spoke of the need to gather our families to the temple to be sealed together forever. Family is for everyone, they said. They also encouraged all in attendance to search out their ancestors, to engage in family history work. Sister Stucki said the LDS Church will have 159 temples operating in the world where members can go to make and keep sacred promises to always remember and follow Jesus Christ.



President Brian D. Silvenis who serves as 1st counselor to President John Griffey quoted the Spartan Dienekes. Before engaging in battle, the enemy said, We will darken the sky with our arrows, to which Dienekes responded, All the better. Then we will fight in the shade. The Lord is our Light, President Silvenis said, and we should not fear to follow Him, no matter what.



President Jim Barrott, 2nd counselor to President Griffey, spoke of the Book of Mormon, how it is another witness of Jesus Christ, and how if we read it and pray about it with a sincere heart we will know it is true. We will come to know that it is a companion to the Holy Bible with a divine purpose to lead us more fully to Jesus Christ.



President Griffey concluded conference by testifying that the Holy Scriptures are true, that Jesus Christ lives, and that we owe Him everything. Contemplate what we can do to bring Him more into our lives, he urged the congregations.



Music, provided by the choir and congregations, included How Great Thou Art, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, and Jesus, Lover of My Soul  hymns which underlined the sweet messages of redemption, salvation, of grace, mercy and justice and reminded us that Jesus Christ will come again to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords  and when He does  every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is The Christ.


Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine. High near 50F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission fined Cargill Inc. $10 million Monday for concealing its full mark-up on certain swaps in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules.

The CFTC said the practice allowed Cargill to show more trading revenue.

Cargill concealed up to ninety percent of its markup, the CFTC said.

The practice continued for several years even though employees at Cargill knew about it, according to the CFTC.

The firm failed to diligently supervise its employees in connection with these inaccurate marks, and in connection with inaccurate statements made to swap counterparties, the CFTC said.

Cargill is based near Minneapolis. It specializes in trading agricultural commodities. By revenue ($109 billion in 2017) its the biggest privately held company in the United States. Profits last year were $2.8 billion. The company has about 150,000 employees.

The CFTC settled the case through an internal administrative proceeding and didnt go to court. Cargill settled without admitting or denying the CFTCs findings and conclusions.

Cargill used non-compliant mark methodology, the CFTC said. It didnt report the true value of its swaps to counterparties or regulators.

Since Cargill registered as a swap dealer in 2013, it failed to develop systems or procedures to prevent inaccurate communications, the CFTC said.

In a swap, two parties agree to exchange payments based on changes in benchmark prices. Swaps are used to hedge market risks or to trade based on speculation about future commodity price moves.

Cargill failed to have in place systems, controls, policies, or procedures that were reasonably designed to detect and prevent the misreporting of percent hedged values to swap counterparties in the update communications, the CFTC said.

In addition to paying the $10 million fine, Cargill agreed to enhance its compliance program and step up training for employees.

The CFTCs November 6, 2017 order In the Matter of Cargill, Inc. is here (pdf).

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Jane Seymour stopped working for a year after she was sexually harassed by a "major producer" in the early days of her career.

Jane Seymour

The 'Live and Let Die' star has recalled how the unnamed producer put his hand on her thigh after discussing what parts he could offer her in big movies and the boldness of it left her feeling she was unable to work for the next 12 months.

Jane was invited to the producer's house to discuss a particular movie role, which the filmmaker told her she was perfect for.

Recalling what happened next, she explained to Sky News' Sunrise programme: "He said, 'I've done my bit and now it's your turn to do your bit' ... 'No, no, you know what you have to do.' And I'm going, 'No I don't.' And he put his hand on my thigh, way up high. Being British, I crossed my legs and scooted down the couch until I had no couch left. I had no option but to stand up and say, 'Please get me home'. [He threatened her, telling her:] 'If you ever tell anyone that his happened or that you were even here in my house ... You have to lie. The old, 'You'll never work in this town again.' He had that power."

The accusation Jane has made against an unnamed producer follows a number of allegations made against Hollywood stars including producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and director Brett Ratner.

Weinstein has been accused of sexually assaulting over 50 women over a 30 year period whilst actor Anthony Rapp has claimed Spacey - who has also been accused of other sexual misconduct - made sexual advances towards him when he was just 14-years-old. Ratner has been accused of sexual misconduct by six women including actress Olivia Munn.
Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson received notice the Bradley County Sheriff Offices Jail has once again passed inspection and has been certified by the Tennessee Corrections Institute. The final inspection took place Tuesday at which time Sheriff Watson was informed.

T.C.I. arrived at the jail for their yearly jail inspection which took approximately one full day to complete with all jail records being made available for examination. The inspection process also included insuring inmates had proper medical care and hygiene items, while also checking the cleanliness and sanitation of the jail building.

Sheriff Watson said, "Our agency is proud, yet humble, that our jail has never been de-certified after a yearly inspection and recognizes the importance of maintaining T.C.I. certification. I want to thank Captain Gabe Thomas and his Corrections staff for their dedication and hard work to accomplish this years certification. Not only does this certification validate that the Bradley County Jail has met all standards set by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, but provides documented evidence to the community that our jail is operated efficiently and effectively.

Earlier this year the sheriffs office jail was inspected by the United States Marshals Service due to the agencys federal contract to house federal inmates. The jail received high marks throughout the evaluation phase and exceeded federal standards.






The Prince of Wales and his wife were showered with gifts on their recent visit to the Malaysian state Penang.

Prince of Wales

The 68-year-old royal and his spouse Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were offered "fragrant garlands" and "silk shawls" to the couple when they visited the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple during their trip to help "attract positive vibes".

Speaking about the offering, a local historian named Preveena Balakrishnan said: "We wanted to have a fragrant garland so we chose sandalwood - flower garlands will fade and die.

"The silk shawls are given to kings and queens and we believe silk has the power to attract positive vibes."

During their visit the pair made their way to variety of religious sites for Christian, Muslim, Chinese and Hindu faiths in Penang's capital of George Town.

The duo enjoyed a walk along the Street of Harmony before they arrived at the Sri Mahamariamman place of worship where they received the gifts.

As they ambled around the sit Charles and Camilla removed their footwear as a sign of respect and enjoyed a tour of the attraction, the Belfast Telegraph Online has reported.

The pair then visited the Kapitan Keling Mosque where they both removed their shoes once again, and Camilla covered her head out of respect for the religion.

The duo were later treated to a dramatic lion dance performance before they entered the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple.

And images of Charles and Camilla at the various sites have been shared with their fans on social media.

The Clarence House Instagram has posted a string of images of them during their trip, which have been captioned: "In beautiful #Penang this morning, The Prince and The Duchess visited the Street of Harmony, where there are many places of worship.

TRH stopped at the Han Jiang Temple, St George's Church, Kapitan Keling Mosque and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. #RoyalVisitMY (sic)."
The Prince of Wales and Duchess Camilla's visit to Malaysia has been celebrated with the release of "three special edition stamps".

Prince Charles

The 68-year-old royal and his 70-year-old wife the Duchess of Cornwall are currently travelling around Asia, and in honour of the couple's visit the postal service company in the south east country, named POS Malaysia, have launched stamps, which include one of the pair together, as well as one of Prince Charles on his own, and another of Camilla solo.

The Clarence House Instagram account shared the news by releasing a short video of the trio of stationery pieces.

They captioned the post: "To celebrate Their Royal Highnesses' visit, Pos Malaysia has released three special edition stamps of The Prince and The Duchess.

#RoyalVisitMY #Malaysia #Stamp #StampCollector #StampCollection #ThePrinceOfWales #TheDuchessOfCornwall #Royal #RoyalFamily (sic)."

And the duo have been busy exploring various sites during their trip, including the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, as well as a stop off at the orangutan rehabilitation Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

An image of Charles and Camilla floating on a raft on the photo-sharing site was captioned: "On day three of #RoyalVisitMY, The Prince and The Duchess started off the day at Sarawak Cultural Village in #Kuching.

Sarawak in #Malaysia is home to indigenous communities that are rich in traditional culture. TRH were greeted with a cultural show before The Prince had a dialogue with tribal heads and The Duchess met women who were showcasing traditional handicrafts.

The visit ended with a raft ride across the lake! (sic)."

Whilst an image of Charles feeding the primate, whilst wearing a suit, read: "In #Kuching today, The Prince of Wales visited the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to hear about the orangutan rehabilitation project. The wildlife centre was opened in 1975 as a rehabilitation space for injured orangutans or those rescued from captivity. (sic)."
The Duke of Cambridge believes children have a "considerable" amount of "pressure" on them.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine

The 35-year-old royal believes youngsters are being put through their paces a lot more now than they ever used to be, and he thinks kids today are treated a lot differently than his "generation" were because they are "tested more than ever".

Speaking at a gala in support of the Children's Trust and SkillForce at London's Roundhouse, which has been reported by The Telegraph Online, Prince William - who has four-year-old son Prince George and two-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte with his wife Duchess Catherine - said: "The pressure on young people these days is considerable - almost certainly more than even for my generation not so long ago.

"Children are tested more than ever before and are being prepared to enter a highly competitive work market."

And William thinks social media does not help children either, and he has likened people being savvy on their phones to being "on call 24/7", which he believes will inevitably put a "strain" on relationships, home life, and a person's "self worth".

He continued: "On top of this, there is a sense of being 'on call' 24/7 through social media, and the subsequent strains this can have on relationships, home life and, ultimately, a child's sense of their own self-worth. It can all take its toll.

"Role-modelling and giving a child the tools of courage, discipline and resilience are a demonstration of great love and commitment to that child's success in life.

"If you are not taught these skills at a young age, it can be very, very difficult to learn them as an adult."
Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon isn't planning to leave "any time soon."

Lucy Fallon

Fans were convinced the 21-year-old actress has quit the long-running soap last week when her alter-ego Bethany Platt refused to return to Weatherfield with her mum Sarah (Tina O'Brien) and Gary Windass (Mikey North) following a family trip to Milan, but the blonde beauty has teased that it's not the end for her just yet.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the Inside Soap Awards, held at London's iconic Hippodrome Casino, on Monday (06.11.17), she said: "I'm hoping to stay on there for a little bit longer. I'm not ready to leave any time soon and hopefully they don't kill me off or anything so I can stay on there for longer. I love being on there.

"I've really landed on my feet working with the Platt family, I think it's definitely the best family to be with - no offence to any of the other families."

But it's hardly surprising that bosses have decided to give Lucy - who was crowned Best Actress at the glamorous ceremony last night - some time off as she has just finished filming a harrowing child grooming storyline.

She said: "I would've been happy with any kind of storyline as a young, new, actress who hasn't properly had a job before but to have that storyline was amazing - especially that they trusted me to do something so harrowing. Although ti was harrowing, it was eye-opening. It's not me that have gone through it, it's those people we spoke to. I was really excited to do it because I wanted to raise awareness."

Lucy's family and boyfriend Tom Leech refused to watch the show when she was playing the victim but they've finally caught up on the storyline and are so proud of her.

She explained: "They have watched it now. My boyfriend watched the court stuff and some of the stuff with Neil but, obviously, it's difficult for them because they're seeing me not the character. My mum definitely watched it. She watches it every night. She watches it all the time. She was buzzing when I got the job. I rung her and told her and she couldn't believe it."
VF Corporation, a leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, and Auckland-based Icebreaker Holdings have signed a definitive purchase agreement. The transaction is likely to be completed early in 2018 leading to acquisition of Icebreaker by VF. On a trailing 12-month basis, Icebreaker generated approximately $150 million of revenue.The Icebreaker brand was founded in 1995 on the belief that nature always has a better solution, and its entire product assortment is based on Merino wool, plant-based fibres and recycled fibres. Its farm to garment approach uses Merino wool sourced from the most sustainable and ethical Merino farms in New Zealand.

VF Corporation, a leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, and Auckland-based Icebreaker Holdings have signed a definitive purchase agreement. The transaction is likely to be completed early in 2018 leading to acquisition of Icebreaker by VF. On a trailing 12-month basis, Icebreaker generated approximately $150 million of revenue. #

Icebreaker has 340 full-time employees and its products are sold in 47 countries through wholesale channels and branded retail and e-commerce platforms.Bringing the Icebreaker brand into the VF portfolio is a special opportunity, said Steve Rendle, chairman, president and chief executive officer of VF Corporation. Its natural fibre focus is an ideal complement to our SmartWool brand, which also features Merino in its clothing and accessories. Together, the SmartWool and Icebreaker brands create an advantaged position for VF as a leader in the growing and underpenetrated natural fibre category. We will have unmatched capabilities that will strengthen our ability to create innovative and sustainable natural fibre products across our brand portfolio, especially in VFs Outdoor and Workwear brands.I founded Icebreaker to offer a natural choice to adventurers, and to build a global brand from New Zealand, said Jeremy Moon, founder, Icebreaker Holdings. Our partnership with VF provides us with the largest platform in the world to tell our story, access new markets and reach new consumers at an accelerated pace. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our global Icebreaker brand team and for our wool suppliers to introduce a whole new universe of consumers to the benefits of sustainably farmed, ethically sourced, New Zealand Merino wool.Jeremys goal was to build a global community that believed in his vision that nature held the answers to creating sustainable, high-performance outdoor clothing, said Rob Fyfe, chairman of Icebreaker Holdings. Today the Merino apparel category is one of the fastest growing categories in both the outdoor and active urban clothing markets around the globe.Barclays is acting as exclusive financial advisor to VF Corporation and Davis Polk & Wardwell is acting as legal advisor. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Fulgar, a leader in the man-made fibre market with the production of polyamide 6.6 and covered elastomers in the textile and technical sector, is set to be a part of the Invista workshop in the Performance Days expo, to be held on November 8 and 9, 2017, in Munich, Germany, in the Invista room- R10. The company will present its innovations in sports.An entire day will be set aside for the Lyrca Sport platform and the innovative PCE measuring system, with a panel of top-level speakers from the textile supply chain.

Fulgar, a leader in the man-made fibre market with the production of polyamide 6.6 and covered elastomers in the textile and technical sector, is set to be a part of the Invista workshop in the Performance Days expo, to be held on November 8 and 9, 2017, in Munich, Germany, in the Invista room- R10. The company will present its innovations in sports.#

Alan Garosi, Fulgars marketing manager, will contribute to the debate with a talk entitled Innovation and inspiration for sportswear: EVO by Fulgar The bio-based polyamide and Lycra fibre technology. His speech will describe the innovative solutions that have led to the association of Lyrca Sport PCE with EVO, the bio-based yarn obtained from castor oil. The oil is the product of a non-food plant that grows spontaneously. The resource is totally renewable, does not require large amounts of water and does not take up land that can be cultivated for food production.Suitable for all textile applications and an ideal sportswear solution, EVO by Fulgar is ultra-light, super stretch, highly breathable, quick drying and non-iron. It features natural heat retaining and bacteriostatic properties, plus a whole series of distinctive values and benefits that provide maximum comfort and unique performance, with full respect for the natural environment.Alan Garosi said, Im especially pleased to be able to offer concrete solutions for the sportswear world that fully combine performance and sustainability. We at Fulgar have embraced this challenge to the full and its a very fulfilling effort. EVO is a fantastic breakthrough not only in production but also from a social and environmental point of view. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2017) - Geodex Minerals Ltd. announces that, further to its press release of October 12, 2017, it has changed its name from "Geodex Minerals Ltd." to "Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd.". The company has also changed its ticker symbol from "GXM" to "ICAU".

Effective at the opening of the market today, the common shares of Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. will trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ICAU". The CUSIP number assigned to the company's shares following the name change is 458571106.

Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: ICAU) ("ICAU" or the "Company") is a Next Generation Mining and Metals Company that has successfully re-structured into a sustainable, revenue generating, gold and metals trading business. Our October 2017 gold exports increased to over 3,000 ounces versus over 2,300 ounces reported for September 2017. Gold trading activity continues to be strong with Artisanal and Small Gold Mining ("ASGM") client offerings exceeding available working capital.

Our expansion strategy in Bolivia and elsewhere in Latin America ("LATAM") is well underway. Applications for entry into other LATAM ASGM markets have been initiated with initial trading and exports forecast for Q1 2018. ICAU is the only publicly listed company servicing the LATAM ASGM export market.

Forward guidance for the month of November 2017, assuming average gold price of US$1270 per ounce, is for gold exports in the range of 90 to 100 kgs.

Gorden Glenn, President and CEO commented "We continue to execute our strategy to grow both our top and bottom line financial results. While our top line results can be impacted by fluctuations in gold price or seasonal production fluctuations, our bottom line results are largely unaffected. The potential of the LATAM ASGM market continues to improve and we see expansion opportunities leading to higher monthly gold exports, trading revenues and profits as we expand operations in Bolivia and access other LATAM markets."

About Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd.

ICAU has successfully transformed itself into a Next Generation Metals and Mining Company. The Company has been structured to provide high leverage to commodity prices, sustainable revenue generation to achieve above average growth and a high return on invested capital for our stakeholders. We are unique being the only publicly listed company servicing the LATAM ASGM market.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

INTERCONTINENTAL GOLD AND METALS LTD.

Gorden Glenn

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact;

Investor Relations at 647-985-2785 or Barry Mire, Renmark Financial at 514-939-3989

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SINGAPORE -- (Marketwired) -- 11/06/17 -- La Trobe University (LTU), ranked Australia's joint best university for research in Biological Sciences by Excellence in Research for Australia in 2015, celebrated its second class of graduates from PSB Academy, Singapore, yesterday. These graduates have topped the cohorts in Singapore and La Trobe's home campus in Melbourne, Victoria, and continue to rank among the top 5 per cent of students in a range of subjects from LTU's Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and Bachelor of Science (Pharmaceutical Science) programmes.

These specialised courses in the sciences are aimed at developing a strong pipeline of talent who can contribute to Asia's growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) clusters.

In Singapore, the government is poised to boost productivity within the healthcare sector through one of their Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). Already home to the regional headquarters of more than 30 top biomedical sciences companies, students in these programmes can also tap on Singapore's importance as a strategic hub, to explore careers across the region.

Of the 130 students that will graduate from Singapore this year, some are part-time students who managed to excel in their studies while juggling commitments at work. Among them, Mayorikho, 25, from the Bachelor of Science (Pharmaceutical Science) cohort, hopes to be able to further his career with more research and laboratory work at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, after working there for three years in several positions. He says, "I was interested in challenging myself by taking up a degree while working, and can say now that the experiences I have gained these two years, have been really enriching in terms of my personal development and potential for growth in my career as a lab technician."

Students like Fatin Insyirah Bte Fadil, who completed the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences course, are hoping to use their newly-minted degrees as a pathway to study medicine. The ambitious 22-year-old's passion for the sciences grew from secondary school, and she has never looked back since--especially after graduating from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Biomedical Science. "While I am ready to give my all to the healthcare and science industry, I aspire to be a medical physician, and the knowledge and practical skills I've learnt directly from the laboratory during my time with La Trobe University at PSB Academy, has given me a good foundation to pursue that dream," says Fatin.

"As Asia's Future Academy, we are proud that our students have again performed well under the tutelage of the fine educators from La Trobe University and PSB Academy, and are excited about their prospects in the STEM sectors and their capacity to contribute to the ongoing betterment of mankind," says Dr Martin Grunert, Head, School of Life and Physical Sciences, PSB Academy. "We remain committed to partnering with LTU to strengthen our offerings, while providing our students best-in-class laboratories and facilities that have prepared them for Asia's thriving life and health sciences sector."

"La Trobe University turned 50 this year, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone, as well as commemorate our distinctive ethos that blends social engagement with the pursuit of academic excellence with a new class of graduates in Singapore. After 50 years of producing excellent student outcomes, with the contribution that all our students, local and international, have made through their studies, La Trobe's excellence is now recognised around the world. We now rank among the world's top 400 universities, according to all three of the world's major academic rankings. With our solid partnership with PSB Academy, we can continue to provide the industry-ready education for fresh school leavers and working professionals, that will fuel the growing life sciences sector in Asia and beyond," says Professor John Dewar, Vice Chancellor and President, La Trobe University.

Abigail Ng

Email Contact

+65 9093 3787




The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council will conduct a program hosted by DAV Chapter 6, at the Chattanooga National Cemetery, on Friday, Veterans Day.

The musical prelude starts at 10:30 a.m. with the program at 11 a.m.

The CAVC will also host a Veteran Salute and Information Fair at the Chattanooga National Guard Armory, 1801 South Holtzclaw Ave. It will be from 1-5 p.m.

November 11 is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I, the war to end all wars, hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holidaya day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the nations history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.



Later that same year, on Oct. 8, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated:

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
Hitachi Ltd Corporate Communications Tel: +81-3-3258-1111

TOKYO, Nov 7, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced the development of a machine learning-based outcome prediction and comparison technology that predicts with high accuracy the success and failure of various medication options for patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in collaboration with University of Utah Health (U of U Healt). The technology analyzes electronic medical records and creates a prediction model which calculates the probability of different medications attaining a target value for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)(1) after 90 days of commencing treatment, thus potentially helping medical practitioners choose the most effective medication option. The high accuracy(2) of the technology in predicting the effectiveness of various medications was confirmed using simulation on past records of patients with diabetes.Currently, the importance of value-based healthcare, which aims to realize both better outcomes while reducing healthcare costs, is receiving attention worldwide. In the United States, the number of patients with diabetes has risen to about 23 million, and one in four people over the age of 65 is diagnosed with T2DM(3). Treatment of T2DM spans from several months to several years or more, during which time the drug(s) selected and the dosage(s) need to be adjusted based on the patient's condition. This significant variability in pharmacotherapy regimens often leads to a trial-and-error approach in drug selection.Hitachi has been working on developing various measures to address diabetes using IT, such as life-style modification support and diabetes prevention services(4). In this research collaboration, the knowledge and experience of Hitachi, and doctors, pharmacists and biomedical informaticists at the U of U Health, were used to develop technology to predict the probability of achieving a treatment target with each medication. In developing the technology, data from approximately 6,800 patients were analyzed chronologically from various aspects such as drug category, dosage, treatment period, weight, trend in test results, etc. Machine learning techniques were then applied to the resulting information to build a prediction model for HbA1c, generating patient-specific predictions of the effectiveness of alternate treatment options. Using the resulting model, it is possible to predict and compare the effectiveness of treatment at 90-days, a common period in the United States between clinic visits for patients whose diabetes therapy is being adjusted. As a result, the technology has the potential to support the selection of the most effective medication depending on the patient's background and condition. The technology was verified using data from another 2,200 patient files by simulation, and the highly accurate nature of the predictions was confirmed.Hitachi will continue this collaborative research with U of U Health to realize the practical application of this technology and its development of healthcare informatics technologies that support medical practitioners and patients with improved healthcare outcomes(5). Additionally, part of these results will be presented at the IEEE-NIH Special Topic Conference on Healthcare Innovation and Point-of-Care Technologies to be held from 6th to 8th November 2017, in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.(1) HbA1c:Laboratory test value which reflects average blood sugar level for the past two to three months.(2) AUC (Area Under the Curve) of 0.85. The area under the Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) represents prediction model performance with a value range from 0.5 to1 (ideal).(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2017(4) For more information on Hitachi's services, please reference: Proof of Concept Project for a Diabetes Prevention Service in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. A Hitachi Review, 64 (No. 1):(5) Implementation of this technology will require due diligence to ensure sufficient protection of personal information and privacy.About University of Utah HealthUniversity of Utah Health is the state's only academic health care system, providing leading-edge and compassionate medicine for a referral area that encompasses 10% of the U.S. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health has a $291 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utah's health care professionals at its Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy and Health. Staffed by more than 20,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and four hospitals. For eight straight years, U of U Health has ranked among the top 10 U.S. academic medical centers in the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, including reaching No. 1 in 2010 and 2016.About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Contact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/06/17 -- Avnet Asia Pacific continued its ongoing investment in the region's startup community through its participation in the 2017 Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC) as a diamond sponsor.

Frederick Fu, Avnet's Asia Pacific president, had the privilege to be one of the judges to evaluate innovative pitches by 100 startups in a 60-second elevator ride up the International Commerce Centre, hosted by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).

At the Angel x Angel Conference, Frederick was joined by a venture capitalist and financial investor to share insights and advice on the support needed, and the critical fundaments for early stage tech companies to overcome their challenges and grow these startups into successful businesses.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic in the technology industry and startups. Avnet presented its LPWAN capabilities at this event, including Sigfox, LoRa, and NB-IoT among others. Avnet's ecosystem provides solutions that connect technology from components to devices, services and platforms.

Frederick Fu said, "The startup community is not afraid to reinvent the wheel to bring in a new wave of innovation and trends. But they are often challenged by the lack of resources and financial support in getting their products to market. At Avnet, we have invested resources for makers to develop the connected ecosystem to help startups become the next unicorn. Avnet has a large customer base of startups, which we have guided and supported at every stage of their product lifecycle to turn their designs to production."

"The Hong Kong government and organizations such as HKSTP actively promote the development of startups. With Avnet's expertise and capabilities, together with partners like HKSTP, we nurture entrepreneurs and technopreneurs. Avnet is committed and will support Hong Kong in becoming one of the world's top startup cities," he added.

"The challenges faced by technology startups have become more complex over time. Apart from technological innovation, they need to develop a viable business model to support their sustainable growth. As a leading institution that takes innovation and technology advancement to our heart, HKSTP will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders like Avnet to create a favorite and vibrant ecosystem for the startups to turn their ideas into reality. EPiC, supported by Avnet, is a great testimonial of our joint determination to help startups thrive and grow," said Albert Wong, CEO, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

From providing a community platform to the know-how, Avnet's design and supply capabilities, coupled with its global line card presence, bring prototypes to volume production. The addition of Premier Farnell (including its element14 community) and Hackster.io last year expanded Avnet's reach to an active community of more than 750,000 entrepreneurs, makers and engineers worldwide, and broadened its portfolio of design tools and technical solutions as well as 24/7 e-commerce expertise. Through its Dragon Innovation business it is simplifying the manufacturing process -- helping customers understand manufacturing costs and schedules, find factories and manage production as they scale their businesses, particularly in projects advancing the Internet of Things (IoT). These initiatives are all underpinned by Avnet's electronic components and design and supply chain capabilities encompassing the entire cycle from idea to finished product.

More recently, Avnet and Dragon Innovation partnered Kickstarter to launch Hardware Studio, which helps hardware creators plan ahead for manufacturing before they launch on Kickstarter.

Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet

Connect with Avnet on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet

Connect with Avnet on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AvnetInc

About Avnet

From idea to design and from prototype to production, Avnet supports customers at each stage of a product's lifecycle. A comprehensive portfolio of design and supply chain services makes Avnet the go-to guide for innovators who set the pace for technological change. For nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3179106



Press contact:

Yeap Wei Ting

Avnet Asia Pacific

+65.6580.6611

Email Contact




YPO chief executives in EU still optimistic about economic conditions; outlook in non-EU Europe down slightly in third quarter LONDON, 2017-11-07 06:01 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YPO, the premier chief executive leadership organisation in the world, announced today that the YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index for the EU slipped 1.2 points to 61.8, down from its record level of 63.0 in the previous quarter, and slightly below the global composite score of 62.4. The slight drop in EU confidence was mainly triggered by a more subdued outlook in three of the region's major economies, Germany, France and Spain. Germany declined 4.2 points to 58.5, and Spain slipped 4.3 points to 65.1, its lowest level since July 2016, and, following President Macron's victory in the general election, economic confidence in France fell 4.1 points to 60.6, reversing the 10.2-point rise in confidence it reported in the second quarter. In other countries, there was little change in outlook. The United Kingdom remained steady with a score of 61.6, despite an apparent lack of progress in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. It was a similar story in Malta, which dropped less than one point to 64.8. "It's probably no surprise that there is a slightly more cautious outlook in the EU, given the social and political uncertainty that is being experienced in some countries, such as the Catalan situation in Spain and the election results in Germany. However, despite this, chief executives in Europe remain positive about the strength of the economy and prospects for growth," said YPO member and President of Zenato, Nadia Zenato. "Business leaders will be looking for opportunities to expand as we move into 2018, while closely monitoring local and global economic performance indicators." Non-EU Europe also saw a slight dip in confidence, dropping 1.7 points to 58.6. This was mainly due to a more subdued outlook in Switzerland, which fell 4.4 points to 57.5. This is against a background of the effects of a strong Swiss Franc on the Swiss export economy, as well as lackluster private and government consumption. On the other side of the scale, confidence in Turkey spiked 7 points. This coincides with stronger-than-expected economic growth in the country, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sharply increasing its GDP forecast for Turkey to 5.3% from 2.5% for 2017. Overall, despite some localised headwinds and uncertainty around Brexit, both the EU and non-EU Europe remain firmly in positive territory. Key findings Chief executives more cautious about short-term economic climate Almost half (49%) of chief executives in the EU predicted that business and economic conditions would remain the same during the next six months, while 42% expected improved conditions, down from 46% in 2Q 2017, and 9% expected the economic environment to deteriorate. Business leaders still confident about growth When considering the prospects for their own organisations over the next 12 months, chief executives in the EU were firmly optimistic about the three key indicators of the YPO Global Pulse Survey, namely sales, employment and fixed investment. Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents expected to grow revenues, compared to only 2% who stated that their turnover would decline. In terms of hiring, a third (33%) expected to increase headcount, while only 3% forecasted cuts to staff numbers. Fixed investment outlook also remained buoyant, with almost half (48%) of respondents expecting to boost fixed investment levels, versus only 5% who predicted a reduction in investment spending. Global review Globally, confidence remained steady at 62.4, now firmly in positive territory for four consecutive surveys, hovering between 62.0 and 62.5. The United States was the most confident region at 63.5, Canadian confidence also remained positive, declining marginally by 1.1 points to 61.8, and Australasia saw a 3.7-point decline to 63.3. In Asia, confidence rose 1.3 points to 62.8, driven by an 8.8-point leap in China, and improved confidence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Elsewhere, confidence in Latin America jumped 2.8 points to 62.0, largely driven by Brazil's 8-point hike in confidence. In Africa, the confidence edged up 1.2 points to 57.5, yet it remains the second least-confident region, trailed only by the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where confidence increased 2.5 points to 53.2. YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index The quarterly electronic survey, conducted in the first two weeks of October 2017, gathered answers from 925 chief executive officers across the globe, including 124 in the EU and 31 in non-EU Europe. Visit www.ypo.org/globalpulse for more information about the survey methodology and results from around the world. About YPO The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact. Today, YPO empowers more than 25,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 16 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues. Contact: YPO Linda Fisk Office: +1 972 629 7305 (United States) Mobile: +1 972 207 4298 press@ypo.org
Forenet Kredit has today concluded a conditional sales agreement with a group of Danish pension companies headed by PFA and with PensionDanmark, PKA, AP Pension and MP Pension as co-investors. The agreement is subject to approval by the Committee of Representatives of Forenet Kredit and relevant authorities. The pension companies will buy 10.9% of the shares in Nykredit A/S from Forenet Kredit at a price of DKK 7.5bn, and they will undertake to contribute capital to Nykredit in future, should such need arise. The pension companies have also entered into agreements with Industriens Fond and stifterne f.m.b.a to buy part of the shares held by these minority shareholders of Nykredit A/S. These agreements are conditional on the completion of Forenet Kredit's sale of shares to the pension companies. Combined, the agreements will bring the pension companies' total investment up to 16.9% of the shares in Nykredit A/S at a total price of DKK 11.6bn. If the transaction is completed, it will constitute the largest unlisted equity investment by institutional investors in Denmark seen so far. Backed by the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board of Nykredit A/S, the Board of Directors of Forenet Kredit will recommend that the Committee of Representatives of Forenet Kredit approve the transaction after which the IPO preparations will be discontinued. The main reasons for the recommendation are: -- Nykredit A/S will gain a strong capacity for raising equity capital and thus a very secure future capital position. -- Nykredit A/S will gain a stable and lasting ownership structure consisting of robust Danish owners. -- Forenet Kredit will maintain a large ownership interest of nearly 80% of Nykredit A/S. -- Forenet Kredit will get a fair price for the shares. The flexibility of funding entailed by this solution will enable Nykredit A/S to expand the customer loyalty concept Kundekroner to encompass more customer categories and also increase distributions. Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=651790
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Destatis is set to release Germany's industrial production data for September in the pre-European session on Tuesday at 2:00 am ET. Output is expected to fall 0.8 percent on month following a 2.6 percent growth in August. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While the euro rose against the pound and the yen, it fell against the greenback and the franc. As of 1:55 am ET, the euro was trading at 0.8818 against the pound, 1.1588 against the Swiss franc, 1.1598 against the U.S. dollar and 132.35 against the yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
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.
HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's foreign trade deficit widened in September from a year ago, as imports grew faster than exports, preliminary figures from Finland Customs Office showed Tuesday. The trade deficit rose to EUR 210 million in September from EUR 103 million in the corresponding month last year. Both the value of exports and imports advanced by 8.0 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively in September from last year. Exports to EU countries grew 8.0 percent and those to non-EU countries by 9.0 percent. During the first nine months of the year, total trade deficit of the country was EUR 1.7 billion versus a shortfall of almost EUR 2.1 billion in the same period of 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
Enhances Lifecycle Management of Physical Resources

Accruent, the world's leading provider of software and services that enable organizations to manage the full lifecycle of their physical resources, has acquired Amsterdam-based BlueCielo, a global advanced Asset Lifecycle Information Management (ALIM) provider.

BlueCielo's Meridian solutions manage engineering information throughout asset lifecycles; connecting maintenance with engineering, supporting concurrent engineering for facility modifications, and improving data handover. More than 1,200 companies around the world depend upon BlueCielo Meridian solutions to ensure compliance, control costs, improve safety, protect their brand reputation and extend the lifespans of decades-old assets.

"BlueCielo increases Accruent's depth and breadth by adding engineering information management to our portfolio of innovative physical resource management solutions," said John Borgerding, CEO of Accruent. "This acquisition adds a complementary best-of-breed solution to our portfolio, and it establishes a new strategic growth platform with a strong geographic footprint in Europe, and expertise in additional industry sectors like pharmaceuticals, oil gas and chemicals."

The BlueCielo acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions fueling Accruent's growth. Successive acquisitions of strong, growth-oriented companies, with complementary products and global presence, has resulted in scale, world-class support and depth and breadth of solutions that is unrivalled. Recent acquisitions include Lucernex, a leading global provider of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS); and Verisae, a leading provider of cloud-based solutions that connect facilities and assets to the maintenance and service network through the Internet of Things (IoT).

"The BlueCielo team and I are excited to be joining Accruent," said Willem-Jan Scholten, BlueCielo CEO. "Our customers will benefit from Accruent's world-class support infrastructure and the advantages that Accruent's scale brings to our operations, development, and cross-application innovation. We look forward to expanding our growth by introducing integrated engineering and asset information management, to improve asset and facility lifecycles, to thousands of additional loyal Accruent customers and new markets."

"Accruent's acquisition of BlueCielo will provide strategic benefits to both companies, as well as customers and prospects," said Kevin Prouty, Vice President for IDC Energy Insights, a global provider of information technology market intelligence. "BlueCielo's Meridian asset lifecycle information system adds the ability to manage all asset content and documentation into Accruent's asset lifecycle management capabilities."

The acquisition, effective immediately, includes the continuation of all existing BlueCielo product development, support, sales and channel resources. BlueCielo customers and business partners will be provided with a series of communications on relevant aspects of any changes, and will be invited to Accruent's annual INSIGHTS conference, April 8-11, 2018 in Austin, Texas. BlueCielo partners and colleagues will learn more at BlueCielo's annual Synergy conference, January 15-18, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.

About Accruent -Accruent is a global software company that helps organizations achieve superior performance by transforming how they manage their physical resources. Its innovative, industry-leading cloud-based software and services enable organizations to optimize all stages of real estate, facilities and asset management from capital planning through to IoT-based monitoring and control. With a proven track record across two decades, Accruent has created the only integrated SaaS-based framework and reporting platform for full lifecycle physical resource management. Over 6,000 global customers depend on Accruent solutions to drive out hidden costs, extend asset lifecycles, protect their brands, ensure compliance and deliver on the missions of their organization. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Accruent serves a wide range of industries in 149 countries around the world. www.accruent.com, @accruentllc

About BlueCielo BlueCielo provides solutions to manage engineering information throughout the asset lifecycle. BlueCielo Meridian software connects maintenance and engineering, supports concurrent plant modifications, and improves data handover. BlueCielo solutions transform engineering data into actionable plant information, keeping users informed, compliant, and in control. Serving the world's largest enterprises in the chemical, metals mining, oil gas, pharmaceutical, and utility industries, the Meridian product line increases data integrity, auditability, and efficiency enabling users to improve productivity and efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce risk, and manage change. With BlueCielo, owner operators run their plants more effectively, safely, sustainably, and profitably. The company is headquartered in The Netherlands and has offices across the United States, Europe, Brazil, and in Singapore, as well as an international network of partners that ensures local service and support. BlueCielo is an official partner of Autodesk, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and SolidWorks. www.bluecieloecm.com, @bluecieloecm

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005114/en/

Contacts:

Accruent

Wayne Henninger, 1-570-573-6556

wayne@waynehenninger.com

or

In Europe:

Rose Ross, +44 (0)7976 154 597

rose@omarketing.com
LONDON, November 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Jagermeister reveals Ice Cold Gig 2017

Modestep have performed the world's most epic gig, on a space net suspended from a freezing New Zealand peak over an icy ravine. The sixth annual Jagermeister Ice Cold Gig stars Josh Friend and Pat Lundy of Modestep, who took their performance to new, dizzying heights, in sub-zero temperatures.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597731/Modestep.jpg )



The daunting gig location, Cecil Peak in Queenstown, is 6,500 feet above sea level and accessible only by helicopter. Known for their unique electronic rock and dubstep sound, Modestep's Ice Cold Gig set list included new single, Higher .

First developed for the extreme sport of base-jumping, the space net was handmade in Utah especially for Jagermeister and took 210 hours to create. Rigged from the cliff edge, the space net created a unique, suspended platform on which Modestep performed. To reach their unusual stage, Josh and Pat had to zip-line over a sheer drop.

Following the gig, Josh Friend of Modestep said, "When Jagermeister approached us for the Ice Cold Gig, we knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We like to challenge ourselves in new ways so we were immediately hyped to get involved. We knew that our new single Higher, would be a perfect track for this daring, elevated gig."

Pat Lundy of Modestep added, "Every second that we spent on the space net was completely surreal. Performing in that location, with a helicopter whirling around and these insane drops beneath us - it was definitely the most epic gig we will ever perform! We've been involved with Jagermeister for years, so collaborating on this experience has been unbelievable. We hope people enjoy our Ice Cold Gig and feel inspired to push their own boundaries."

Jagermeister, the iconic German herbal spirit renowned for pushing the limits in the music world, has partnered with Modestep since 2011 through its JagerMusic programme which supports emerging and established artists. Tom Carson, Music Manager at Jagermeister UK approached the energetic London duo knowing they would be the perfect choice for the challenge.

Tom Carson said, "The gig is our annual embodiment of the bold, adventurous, spirit of Jagermeister, inspired by the perfect chilled shot serve of -18C. It's a big challenge for a band to perform in the freezing cold, never mind whilst suspended at 6,500 feet. Modestep blew us all away with an energetic and fearless performance - luckily they didn't call us out on the lack of a dressing room either!"

The immense challenge of creating this ambitious gig fell to Secret Compass, a professional expedition company whose Brand Projects team travels the globe creating and capturing adventures in the World's wildest places.

In the Ice Cold Gig series, there's no obstacle too big for Jagermeister to overcome. Jagermeister's 2016 Ice Cold Gig saw Matt Tuck from Bullet For My Valentine accomplish an audacious world first: an adrenalin-filled continuous gig on land, sea and air. In 2015, TesseracT performed on top of an immense gigantic igloo, thought to be the world's biggest in Lapland, Finland and in 2014, Jagermeister hosted the world's first gig on an iceberg with UK metal band The Defiled. The Ice Cold Gig series has so far made it into the Guinness Book of World Records twice, and been nominated for three awards.

Ice Cold Gig video: https://youtu.be/SJspGy7Fy8E

Behind The Scenes video: https://youtu.be/iq7cVxVG6I8

Modestep's new single, Higher, is out on November 13th 2017. Pre-save on Spotify: http://monster.cat/2h6uhQg
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Assay Highlights Mother Lode Deposit include:

Highlighted Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.5 g/t cutoff, with high-grade Mother Lode Structure using a 2 g/t cutoff

ML-17-005: 33.53 metres @ 2.91 g/t gold incl. 10.67 metres @ 6.27 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure) ML-17-007: 54.87 metres @ 2.70 g/t gold incl. 9.14 metres @ 6.96 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure) ML-17-009: 27.43 metres @ 2.10 g/t gold incl. 3.05 metres @ 6.17 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure)

Corvus Gold Inc. ("Corvus" or the "Company") - (TSX: KOR) (OTCQX: CORVF) announces it has received assays results from three new drill holes at its Mother Lode project in southern Nevada (Table 1). The new results are from the Main Target area (Figure 1) and continues to confirm and expand the Upper and Lower Zones of the deposit to the North and at depth with broad intercepts that include hole ML-005, 33.53m @ 2.91 g/t Au & ML-17-007, 54.82m @ 2.70 g/t Au (both intercepts at 0.5 g/t gold cutoff). Additionally, the higher-grade Mother Lode Structural Zone continues to track north and extend at depth (ML-005, 10.67m @ 6.27 g/t Au north extension & ML17-007, 9.14m @ 6.96 g/t Au deepest hit to date at approx. 250m down hole).

These most recent holes have also intersected a new upper zone of low-grade mineralization in the Crater Flat Tuff (CF Zone), with oxide mineralization that the Company believes could be potentially similar to Corvus' Sierra Blanca deposit at the North Bullfrog property, as well as the Secret Pass deposit and the Bullfrog deposit to the west. There was little to no historical data on the CF Zone as many parts of this area were never assayed when it was previously drilled. Additionally, hole ML17-005 ended in low-grade mineralization below the Lower Zone target which the Company believes could be indicating a low-grade halo from the Deep Target Zone below. Corvus has recently began a series of deeper holes to 450 metres to evaluate the Deep Target potential in the main intrusive center area of the gold system.

Jeff Pontius, President and CEO of Corvus states, "These latest results are expanding the overall Mother Lode gold deposit as well as identifying new areas of gold mineralization in the system. The consistent high-grade nature of the Mother Lode deposit is characteristic of a large, intrusion related, sediment hosted deposit. In addition, the continuity of the high-grade Mother Lode Structural Zone is encouraging as it is now defining a sizable body that remains open to the north and down dip with multiple +5 g/t gold over 10 metre intercepts."

To view Figure 1. Plan map showing recent drill holes on the Mother Lode Project, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1107corvus.jpg

Table 1

Phase I - Mother Lode Significant Drilling Results - Main Target

(Reported intercepts are not true widths as there is currently insufficient data to calculate true orientation in space. Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.3 g/t cutoff)

Interval Gold Silver Comment Drill Hole # from (m) to (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upper & Lower Zone ML-17-005 150.88 213.36 62.48 2.10 1.07 Merge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 152.40 163.07 10.67 6.27 3.05 ML structural zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 230.12 240.79 10.67 0.46 0.82 low-grade halo for ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- possible deep AZ 090 dip -50 281.94 289.56 7.62 0.38 2.05 target? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval Gold Silver Comment Drill Hole # from (m) to (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML-17-007 137.16 179.83 42.67 1.82 0.93 Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 210.31 265.18 54.87 2.70 2.48 Lower Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 246.89 256.03 9.14 6.96 4.48 ML structural zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible deep AZ 090 dip -50 281.94 284.99 3.05 0.51 3.98 target? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval Gold Silver Comment Drill Hole # from (m) to (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML-17-009 114.30 131.06 16.76 0.39 0.28 New CF Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 138.68 225.55 86.87 1.44 1.07 Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 143.26 146.30 3.05 6.17 1.31 ML structural zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lower Zone (lost AZ 090 dip -65 269.75 284.99 15.24 0.97 6.30 hole) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Jeffrey A. Pontius (CPG 11044), a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Pontius is not independent of Corvus, as he is the CEO & President and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

Carl E. Brechtel, (Nevada PE 008744 and Registered Member 353000 of SME), a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has coordinated execution of the work outlined in this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Brechtel is not independent of Corvus, as he is the COO and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

The work program at Mother Lode was designed and supervised by Mark Reischman, Corvus Gold's Nevada Exploration Manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference materials and blanks into each sample shipment. All resource sample shipments are sealed and shipped to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Reno, Nevada, for preparation and assaying. AAL's quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are forwarded to AAL and an ISO compliant third-party laboratory for additional quality control.

About the North Bullfrog & Mother Lode Projects, Nevada

Corvus controls 100% of its North Bullfrog Project, which covers approximately 72 km2 in southern Nevada. The property package is made up of a number of private mineral leases of patented federal mining claims and 865 federal unpatented mining claims. The project has excellent infrastructure, being adjacent to a major highway and power corridor as well as a large water right. The Company also controls 65 federal unpatented mining claims on the Mother Lode project which totals 522 hectares which it owns 100% of.

About Corvus Gold Inc.

Corvus Gold Inc. is a North American gold exploration and development company, focused on its near-term gold-silver mining project at the North Bullfrog and Mother Lode Districts in Nevada. In addition, the Company controls a number of royalties on other North American exploration properties representing a spectrum of gold, silver and copper projects. Corvus is committed to building shareholder value through new discoveries and the expansion of its projects to maximize share price leverage in an advancing gold and silver market.

On behalf of

Corvus Gold Inc.

(signed) Jeffrey A. Pontius

Jeffrey A. Pontius,

President & Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the rapid and effective capture of the potential of our new Mother Lode project, the potential for new deposits and expected increases in a system's potential; anticipated content, commencement and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the potential to develop multiple YellowJacket style high-grade zones, the Company's belief that the parameters used in the Whittle pit optimization process are realistic and reasonable, the potential to discover additional high grade veins or additional deposits, the potential to expand the existing estimated resource at the North Bullfrog project, the potential for any mining or production at North Bullfrog, are forward-looking statements. Information concerning mineral resource estimates may be deemed to be forward-looking statements in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, the Company's inability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's 2016 Annual Information Form and latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis filed with certain securities commissions in Canada and the Company's most recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings in Canada may be accessed via www.sedar.com and filings with the SEC may be accessed via www.sec.gov and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

Contacts:

Corvus Gold Inc.

Ryan Ko

Investor Relations

Phone: 1-844-638-3246 (toll free) or (604) 638-3246

info@corvusgold.com




Jeff Obrien/Mattel(NEW YORK) -- Mattel's Hello Barbie Hologram, a voice assistant paired with a "walking, talking, and dancing" Barbie character projection, will not be released as planned for the 2017 holiday season, the company said. The animated toy will be held until 2018 "due to additional testing of the platform."



Though it was a "tough decision" to hold the tech-forward toy back, Michelle Chidoni, vice president of global brand communications at Mattel, told ABC News the company wants to conduct more tests. The new release date is yet to be determined, anticipated to be in 2018.



Mattel unveiled the Hello Barbie Hologram as its newest venture into tech meets toys in February. It includes a "floating" image of Barbie projected in a pink box that awakens when a user says, "Hello Barbie." The animated Barbie can set reminders, check the weather and play music and games. Her skin and clothes can all be customized.



Unlike the Amazon Echo or Google Home that have open systems, meaning they pull information from across the internet, Hello Barbie Hologram operates in a closed system of curated content designed to protect children's privacy and provide internet safety. Parents provide consent and set control through an app.



Pre-orders for the Barbie hologram opened in October, but have now been halted. Chidoni said about 100 people have pre-ordered the product so far and Mattel plans to keep all of its consumers updated on the new release date.



Hello Barbie Hologram follows 2015's Hello Barbie, a physical Barbie doll that connects to WiFi and has a two-way conversation with the user. It was the first doll with artificial intelligence, built with a microphone and speaker in a bejeweled necklace while a button on the belt buckle triggers voice activation.



The company said its research indicated that girls wanted even more interaction with Barbie, which led to the features included with the forthcoming Barbie hologram.



Hello Barbie Hologram will be the first artificial intelligence paired with hologram aimed at the toy market, according to the company, and is meant for children ages 6 and up. It will be priced at $225.



The delay in releasing Hello Barbie Hologram comes after Mattel canceled its production of a voice-enabled baby monitor, Aristotle, that was designed to work specifically for young children's needs, such as playing lullabies when they wake in the night. But, privacy concerns have been raised about the toy. Chidoni said the decision to cancel Aristotle was part of the company's change in toy technology strategy.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Lee Universitys Dr. Louis F. Morgan will speak at the 12th Annual Azusa Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. in the North Cleveland Church of Gods Dixon Chapel.

Dr. Morgan, director of library services at Lee, will speak on Fanning the Flame: Reflections on a Century of Church of God Education.

A faculty member at Lee since 2003, Dr. Morgan previously served as archivist at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center (Church of God archives) and also as curatorial assistant at the Museum Center at Five Points in downtown Cleveland.

In addition to his responsibilities in Squires Library at Lee University, Dr. Morgan teaches graduate courses in leadership and serves as an academic advisor. He also serves on the Deans Council, Academic Council, and Master of Ministry Studies graduate committee.

He has been appointed to serve on the Church of God Historical Commission since 2012, and he is the immediate past president of the Historical Society of Church of God Movements. His academic presentations include papers on servant leadership, self-sacrificing leadership, and transformational leadership.

Among Dr. Morgans honors and awards are the Excellence in Advising Award from Lee University, the prestigious James E. Ward Library Instruction Award from the Tennessee Library Association, and inclusion in a list of international men and women as one of 40 Young Influencers in the Church of God.

Dr. Morgan is an ordained minister and published author. He frequently speaks at local churches and is active in community service.

Following the lecture, the Dixon Research Center will present the Spirit of Azusa Award to Dr. Paul L. Walker. A reception will follow in the Bryant Fellowship Hall. Dr. Walker served as pastor of Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta for almost four decades. The denomination elected him as general overseer in 1996, and he also served as the first chancellor of Church of God education.

Dr. Walker has preached the gospel, been an exemplar of reconciliation in the body of Christ, and led with distinction, said Dr. David G. Roebuck, director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center (DPRC). In honoring him, we will especially call attention to his distinguished pastoral ministry at Mount Paran in Atlanta, to his openness to what God has done through the Charismatic movement, and to his service as the first chancellor of Church of God education.



According to Dr. Roebuck, this is a particularly significant year to highlight these aspects of Dr. Walkers ministry: Mount Paran celebrated their 100th anniversary, the Catholic charismatic movement is 50 years old, and Lee Universitys centennial will begin in January.



The purpose of the Azusa Lecture is to celebrate the rich heritage of the Pentecostal Movement. The DPRC launched the annual lecture in 2006 on the occasion of the centennial of the revival at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. Church of God Historian Charles W. Conn noted that the Los Angeles revival, which lasted from 1906 to 1909, is universally regarded as the beginning of the modern Pentecostal Movement.



The Los Angeles revival began when African-American Pastor William J. Seymour preached a message of Spirit baptism following salvation and sanctification. What started as a home prayer meeting attracted throngs of seekers and was moved to an abandoned church building at 312 Azusa Street. Hundreds traveled to the Azusa Street Mission, received a personal baptism of the Holy Spirit, and took that message to their homes, churches, and communities. The Pentecostal Movement quickly became a great missionary movement, and the 20th century came to be called the Century of the Holy Spirit.



Founded by Dr. Charles W. Conn on the campus of Lee University, the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center is one of the worlds significant collections of Pentecostal materials as well as the archives of the Church of God. In addition to students at the university and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, numerous scholars use the Centers holdings related to the Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement. Dr. Roebuck serves as director.

This event is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. For more information about the Azusa Lecture, contact the DPRC at 614-8576 or dixon_research@leeuniversity.edu.


COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S (AMKAF.PK, AMKBF.PK) reported that its third-quarter loss from continuing operations widened to $120 million from the prior year's $30 million, with a decrease in APM Terminals of $398 million countered by an increase in Maersk Line of $336 million.



The result from discontinued operations was a loss of $1.4 billion, compared to profit of $468 million last year, the latest-quarter was negatively impacted by an accounting impairment of $1.75 billion in Maersk Drilling.



Loss attributable to the company was $1.555 billion or $75 per share, compared to profit $429 million or $21 per share in the prior year.



Underlying profit from continuing operations of $248 million, compared to a loss of $42 million last year, with an improvement of $290 million in Transport & Logistics and a decline of $15 million in Energy.



The underlying profit was positively impacted by the increased freight rates in Maersk Line compared to the prior year 2016, however with a 2.5% decrease in volumes and increasing unit cost due to the cyber-attack and 26% higher bunker price. The lower result in Energy compared to the same quarter last year was related to Maersk Supply Service.



Revenue for the third-quarter increased year-over-year by $973 million to $8.0 billion with a $771 million or 14% increase in Maersk Line mainly due to higher freight rates.



A.P. Moller - Maersk now expects a positive underlying profit (loss of $546 million), previously above 2016. Gross capital expenditure for 2017 is now expected to be around $4.5 billion, compared to $3.1 billion reported last year. Both adjusted for the discontinued operations of Maersk Oil, Maersk Tankers and Maersk Drilling.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 --John Hughes FRICS today becomes RICS President 2017-18, at an inauguration in Toronto, Canada.

Mr Hughes is a founding partner of Hemson Consulting Ltd, an advisory firm specialising in planning policy, municipal finance and related issues. With over 40 years' experience in the industry, he is the first RICS President based in Canada.

Mr Hughes becomes President in the year Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation. In 2018, RICS -- a global professional body working across land, real estate, construction and infrastructure - will also celebrate its 150th anniversary.

The anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate RICS' past, while ensuring the profession is ready to meet future challenges in the built environment. The celebrations include a global competition to identify solutions to the most pressing challenges facing rapidly growing cities.

Mr Hughes said, "Infrastructure is vital to the successful growth of sustainable cities. We must develop more commercially innovative approaches to delivering projects that are affordable and on time. To meet this challenge the shortage of skills and capacity must be addressed together with the rights of land owners, and others who are affected by projects. RICS has a public interest perspective and provides international standards that increase transparency which, together, can help to balance the needs of different groups".

RICS will redouble its efforts to fulfil this commitment when it convenes the third Summit of the World Built Environment Forum in London in April 2018. Under the theme 'Urbanisation, Innovation and Civilisation', the Summit will focus on the commercial strategies needed to harness the enormous potential of the 21st century's people and places.

Joining Mr. Hughes in the RICS Presidential Team over the next year are RICS President-Elect Chris Brooke FRICS, based in Hong Kong, and RICS Senior Vice President Tim Neal FRICS, based in London.

About RICS

Confidence through professional standards

RICS promotes and enforces the highest professional qualifications and standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Our name promises the consistent delivery of standards - bringing confidence to the markets we serve.

We accredit 125,000 professionals and any individual or firm registered with RICS is subject to our quality assurance. Their expertise covers property, asset valuation, real estate management; the development of infrastructure; and the management of natural resources, such as mining, farms and woodland. From environmental assessments and building controls to negotiating land rights in an emerging economy; if our members are involved the same professional standards and ethics apply.

We believe that standards underpin effective markets. With up to seventy per cent of the world's wealth bound up in land and real estate, our sector is vital to economic development, helping to support stable, sustainable investment and growth around the globe.

With offices covering the major political and financial centres of the world, our market presence means we are ideally placed to influence policy and embed professional standards. We work at a cross-governmental level, delivering international standards that will support a safe and vibrant marketplace in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure, for the benefit of all.

We are proud of our reputation and work hard to protect it, so clients who work with an RICS professional can have confidence in the quality and ethics of the services they receive.

For media enquiries, please contact:

RICS East Asia Public Relations Representatives

Ms Penn Leung / Ms Peggy Mak

T: +852 3159 2986 / +852 3159 2982

E: Email Contact / Email Contact




AMSTERDAM, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group has deepened a long-standing commercial agreement with Lithuania's biggest dairy producer, AB Rokiskio Suris, taking a 10 per cent shareholding in the company.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597069/Fonterra_Co_operative_Group.jpg )



Ranked by Rabobank as the world's sixth largest dairy company by turnover in 2017, Fonterra has invested 7.1 million in Rokiskio, securing a supply line of high-value whey ingredients while opening up product options across Europe and the Middle East. It also creates the opportunity to source additional dairy products from the Baltic milk pool to serve the increasing demand from nearby developing markets.

Fonterra Chairman John Wilson says the investment is closely aligned to Fonterra's strategy to grow its global sources of milk in strategic locations such as Europe, enabling the co-operative to satisfy customer demand in market closer to those sources.

"Our New Zealand farmers will always remain our primary source of milk, but increasingly we are supporting our growth and their returns through strategic partnerships in Europe, Latin America, Australia and China. These partnerships enable us to produce products in demand closer to the market, while providing more opportunity for milk and milk products we make elsewhere."

Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings says the development built on Fonterra's current long-term supply relationship with Rokiskio and would benefit both companies.

"Our ability to access high-value whey protein ingredients is increasingly important as demand grows, especially in Eastern and Western European, Middle Eastern and North African markets. Rokiskio is also a highly respected cheese producer and this also opens up further opportunities for us to satisfy customer demand in these markets. This is another step in our strategy to develop a sustainable European-sourcing network, providing a reliable and efficient chain of supply that will complement our New Zealand-sourced ingredients."

Rokiskio Suris Chairman, Dalius Trumpa says Rokiskio's focus on product quality and safety, as well as its environmental performance were important strengths the company brought to the relationship with Fonterra. Contract manufacturing for Fonterra had played a role in the company's capacity expansions and upgrades in 2014 and 2016 and he is optimistic about future growth opportunities.

"We have worked closely as commercial partners for five years and over this time we have built a strong relationship. Fonterra's investment in Rokiskio Suris lifts our company to a new global level, opening up export opportunities which will generate more value from our local milk pool," says Mr Trumpa. "By welcoming Fonterra as a shareholder, future growth can be accelerated by entering new markets and investing in new technologies."

Rokiskio has three factories in Lithuania and makes cheese, butter, whey protein and milk powders. It is one of the largest and most well-known cheese producers in Central and Eastern Europe, producing more than 30 thousand tons of cheese each year. The company exports to both Eastern and Western markets, as well as producing a wide range of fresh dairy products for the Baltic region.

About Fonterra

Fonterrais a global leader in dairy nutrition - the preferred supplier ofdairy ingredientsto many of the world's leading food companies. Fonterra is also a market leader with our ownconsumer dairy brandsin Australia/New Zealand, Asia/Africa, Middle East and Latin America. For more information: http://www.fonterra.com

About Rokiskio

For more information: http://www.rokiskio.com
BERLIN, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

'Vaccination apathy' is a key barrier to protecting the community against infectious disease, according to global health experts

By 2060, 30% of Europeans will be aged 65 years or over [1] - a life-course approach to immunisation, including adult vaccination, is a cost-effective method for achieving better health outcomes for our ageing population [2]

Key principles of behavioural economics - the study of psychology as it relates to the economic decision-making processes of individuals and institutions - have been reported to benefit healthcare management[3] and lend themselves to understanding and addressing vaccination apathy

At the recent 2017 World Health Summit - one of the world's most prestigious strategic forums on global health - a group of prominent global experts participated in a panel discussion on vaccination apathy, assessing the extent of influence it has on vaccination uptake, its causes, the role of healthcare providers, and how behavioural economics can help understand and address it. The expert panel called on policymakers and the healthcare community to take action to address vaccination apathy - an increasing challenge which threatens to jeopardize community protection against infectious disease. With a focus on adult vaccination, the panel discussed the issue in the context of the globally ageing population and the need to protect older adults against diseases, such as pneumococcal disease and influenza.

Vaccination apathy, or hesitancy, as it is also referred to, is defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services.[4] It varies across time, place and vaccine, and incorporates factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence. Vaccination apathy is not only limited to the general public but has also been identified in healthcare providers.[5]

Session Chair, and leading authority on vaccination confidence, Dr Heidi Larson, Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK said, "Whilst the majority of the research on vaccination apathy has focused on its prevalence among the general public, studies also show that groups of healthcare professionals, varying across geography and vaccine, may themselves be 'vaccine hesitant'. This is important in light of the high degree of trust patients place in their doctors' opinions and advice. It is important to realise that just as the general public may be influenced by rumours and concerns around vaccines, so may some healthcare providers."

Dr Larson was joined by experts across the fields of immunology and infectious disease, health policy and management, and ageing.

Value of vaccination

Professor Horst von Bernuth, Head of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Charite - Universitatsmedizin, Berlin, Germany said, "Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions ever. It has saved countless lives and improved health and well-being around the globe. Despite this, for a multitude of reasons, vaccination apathy is a widespread global issue and a key barrier to protecting the community against infectious disease."

The need for a life-course approach to vaccination

Dr Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing, Canada highlighted the importance of a life-course approach to immunisation in the context of the ageing population said, "By 2060, 30% of Europeans will be aged 65 years or over. We know that as we age, our immune systems becomes less effective, which places older people at an increased risk of infections. This results in an increased burden of disease, higher rates of hospitalisation, and increasing pressure on health services. A life-course approach to immunisation, which includes adult vaccination is a cost-effective method for achieving better health outcomes across the life course, and managing the societal impact of ageing." Dr Barratt further discussed a recent study[6] that estimated burden of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the United States to be substantial, with more than 1.5 million adults hospitalized annually of whom 100,000 die. "Overall, approximately one in three patients hospitalized with CAP die within a year of admission," said Dr Barratt.

Applying behavioural economics to understanding and addressing vaccination apathy

Dr. Douglas Hough, Associate Scientist and Director at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, explored how the application of behavioural economics can assist in both understanding and addressing emotional and cognitive biases affecting vaccination decision-making.

He discussed cognitive biases such as omission bias - the tendency, under conditions of uncertainty, to take no action, in preference to taking an action that might be regretted later[7], placing them in the context of vaccination decision-making. A concept related to this is the nocebo effect - the tendency to experience exaggerated side effects after having read or seen material that creates negative expectations[8].

He said, "It is evident that vaccination decision-making is not purely based on rational choice. Public health interventions and patient-doctor interactions around vaccination need to take this into account. Behavioural economics lends itself to the further understanding of vaccination apathy among both the general public and healthcare professionals, and helping to inform vaccination programmes which address it."

The panel discussion concluded with a lively debate around the issues raised and covered the following points:

Healthcare professionals remain the most trusted advisors and influencers of vaccination decisions

Healthcare professionals need more support and education to manage the quickly evolving vaccine environmentand an increasingly questioning public

Vaccinated healthcare professionals are more likely to recommend vaccination to others

A life-course approach to vaccination should form part of a comprehensive public health strategy

As a final rallying cry, the panellists, led by Dr Heidi Larson called for global action:

"With the pace of global ageing gathering momentum, the need to protect older adults against infectious diseases is coming increasingly to the fore. Vaccination apathy is a global issue and a key barrier to protecting the community against infectious disease. Healthcare professionals, policy makers and public health bodies should consider how they can address vaccination apathy through traditional, and novel approaches and strategies."

About the World Health Summit

The World Health Summit is the annual conference of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies. Through the Inter Academy Partnership (IAP) for Health, it is organized in collaboration with national academies of science in 97 countries.

The World Health Summit aims to improve health all over the planet, catalysing that process through collaboration and open dialogue, and steering tomorrow's agenda to improve research, education, healthcare, and policy outcomes.

Visit the website for further information: https://www.worldhealthsummit.org.

1. European Parliamentary Research Service. Older people in Europe: EU policies and programmes. 2014;p. 1-8.

2. Garau J, Hodin M, Kalache A. Life-Course Immunization: A Driver of Healthy Aging [Internet]. Global Coalition on Aging; 2017 [cited October 2017]. Available from: http://www.globalcoalitiononaging.com/v2/data/uploads/documents/life-course-immunization_gcoa-for-web.pdf

3. Voyer B. 'Nudging' behaviours in healthcare: Insights from behavioural economics. British Journal of Healthcare Management. 2015;21(3):130-135.

4. Report of the SAGE Working Group on vaccine hesitancy [Internet]. WHO; 2014 [cited October 2017]. Available from: http://www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2014/october/SAGE_working_group_revised_report_vaccine_hesitancy.pdf?ua=1

5. Dube E. Addressing vaccine hesitancy: the crucial role of healthcare providers. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2017;23(5):279-280.

6. Ramirez JA, Peyrani P et al. Adults Hospitalized with Pneumonia in the United States: Incidence, Epidemiology & Mortality. Clin Infect Dis. 2017.

7. Connolly T, Reb J. Omission bias in vaccination decisions: Where's the "omission"? Where's the "bias"?. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 2003;91(2):186-202.

8. Colloca L, Miller F. The Nocebo Effect and Its Relevance for Clinical Practice. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2011;73(7):598-603.
LONDON, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

AiX blends cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence with blockchain technology to make trading cheaper, faster, and more trustworthy.

Using an AI chatbot and Alexa-style voice recognition, it will execute trades on behalf of individual traders and investment banks alike, drastically reduce trading costs by cutting out the middle men.

A complete regulatory audit trail of every trade will be immutably written onto the blockchain in the form of an Evidence Tree.

$16 million has already been committed in private token placements, and is planning to launch a demonstration chatbot for price discovery imminently. It will raise further capital using a token sale before the end of the year.

AiX today announces the first artificial intelligence broker to bridge the worlds of cryptocurrencies and traditional financial markets. AiX will use a chatbot to disrupt the traditional brokerage model, executing trades on behalf of traders and reducing commissions by up to 95%. It will use machine learning technology to automatically discover the best deals for traders, heralding a new age of democratised financial systems.

Jos Evans, a former broker, and founder and CEO of AiX, says: "I spent more than a decade working as a trader and broker, ultimately building and selling my own brokerage firm, Red Ops Ltd. I know from first-hand experience that Interdealer Brokers are expensive, inefficient and opaque. They are a hangover from the 1980s. Open outcry trading has already almost entirely been replaced by electronic markets, it's time to replace the IDB dinosaurs."

AiX is building a hugely disruptive trading tool, made possible by using the latest blockchain technology for proof and transparency. Trading eligibility in the form of KYC and AML information will be recorded on the blockchain, ensuring regulatory requirements are met. Additionally, every trade will write an Evidence Tree to the blockchain, which provides a complete, auditable record of the data and decisions used to make the trade.

Jos Evans continues: "Cryptocurrencies are fast approaching $200 billion in market capitalisation. That is still only a rounding error in global financial markets, but investors and traders are starting to take notice. We will bridge the gap between cryptocurrencies and traditional financial markets, allowing cross-market trades using the simplest of interfaces, a chatbot. Most importantly, we will use artificial intelligence to optimise every trade."

Artificial intelligence has now reached the point that it can replace traditional broker roles of price discovery and cross-market execution, even for over-the-counter (OTC) trades or when accessing dark pools of liquidity. AiX's artificial intelligence engine is powered by Rainbird, the first auditable cognitive reasoning engine.

Artificial intelligence and automated decision-making are heralding the fourth industrial revolution. With AiX, brokers and market makers will be replaced by an AI-powered engine which will promote greater efficiency and democratisation in the financial markets.

The AiX token sale is coming soon, visithttps://ai-x.ai to register your interest.

Media Contact: Tom Fry at aix@brightbee.co.uk or call +44(0)208-819-3170.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Planet Water Foundation, one of the leading nonprofit organizations focused on bringing clean water to the world's most impoverished communities, announced plans to deploy 12 AquaTower water filtration systems from Nov. 8-14 in response to the emergency need for clean, safe water in some of the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria.

Mark Steele, Founder and CEO, Planet Water Foundation, said, "The scope of devastation to Puerto Rico's water and power infrastructure has created a humanitarian crisis that requires a unique solution to the immense need for safe drinking water. Our AquaTowers provide point-of-need access to clean water in a matter of hours after delivery, and can operate without electricity; making our systems perfectly suited to aid in response to the desperate need for drinking water while they rebuild."

AquaTowers filter source water by removing bacteria, protozoa, viruses, pathogens and other contaminants without the use of electricity or harmful chemicals. Each AquaTower produces up to 10,000 liters of safe, clean water per day and supports the daily drinking requirements of up to 1,000 people. Planet Water Foundation currently supports nearly one million people with clean water access in 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

Xylem, Inc., a leading global water technology company, is funding 10 AquaTowers in remote areas of Puerto Rico. The company has supported Planet Water Foundation with funding, and employee and supplier volunteer engagements, in more than 250 communities located across the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

Watts Water Technologies, Inc., which through its family of companies is a global manufacturer of plumbing, heating, and water quality products, is funding two of the humanitarian relief AquaTower deployments in Puerto Rico. The two AquaTowers are an extension of Watts' growing partnership with Planet Water Foundation that includes the efforts of employee volunteers.

DHL Express is supporting the relief assistance program through the contribution of transportation and logistics to ship the AquaTower systems and supplies to Puerto Rico from the Asia-Pacific region.

To ensure maximum benefit from the 12 AquaTowers, Fundacion Banco Popular is providing local support with San Juan-based Rayo de Luna, an initiative of Harimau Conservation that is coordinating local logistics and site identification.

About Planet Water Foundation

Planet Water Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on bringing clean water to the world's most impoverished communities through the installation of community-based water filtration systems (AquaTowers) and the deployment of hygiene education programs. Planet Water Foundation projects are focused on children, schools, and rural/peri-urban communities across Asia and Latin America.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world's water challenges. The Company's products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. With its October 2016 acquisition of Sensus, Xylem added smart metering, network technologies and advanced data analytics for water, gas and electric utilities to its portfolio of solutions. The combined Company's nearly 16,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York with 2016 revenue of $3.8 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all - that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

About Watts Water Technologies

Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its family of companies, is a global manufacturer headquartered in the USA that provides one of the broadest plumbing, heating, and water quality product lines in the world. Watts Water companies and brands offer innovative plumbing, heating, and water quality solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. For more information, visit www.wattswater.com.

About DHL

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 350,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivaled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world".

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 57 billion euros in 2016.

Media Contacts:



Planet Water Foundation

Mark Steele

Founder & CEO

+1 402 972 7009

mark@planet-water.org

Xylem, Inc.

Kelly McAndrew

Media

+1 914 323 5969

Kelly.McAndrew@xyleminc.com

Watts Water Technologies

Timothy MacPhee

Treasurer, Vice President Investor Relations

+1 978 688 2976

DHL Express Americas

Robert Mintz

Sr. Manager, Communications

+1 425 984 4249

robert.mintz@dhl.com





AquaTowers filter source water by removing bacteria, protozoa, viruses,

pathogens and other contaminants without the use of electricity or harmful

chemicals.

SOURCE: Planet Water Foundation
Regulatory News:

Eutelsat Communications (Paris:ETL), one of the world's leading satellite operators, today announced a multi-year agreement with La Poste Senegal, the country's public postal service company, to interconnect 200 post offices nationwide.

La Poste Senegal has chosen high-power Ku-band capacity on the EUTELSAT 7 WestAsatellite to support the country's largest VSAT network. In addition to improving the performance of La Poste Senegal's Intranet for all employees, the new network will be used to route simple postal and banking services, including money transfers and pension withdrawals.

The agreement with Eutelsat to develop an integrated digital network underscores Senegal's ambition to boost economic growth through strong ICT initiatives that reflect "Senegal Numerique 2025" which is part of the nationwide "Plan Senegal Emergent" programme. The World Bank records an acceleration of economic growth in Senegal over the past two years, reaching 6.5%, and making the country one of the top performing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sire Dia, Director General of La Poste Senegal, said: "Millions of people use our post offices every year to access local services, as well as account-based financial services or IT-based services. Our partnership with Eutelsat reinforces our commitment to providing high quality and efficient services to all our customers."

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat's Chief Commercial and Development Officer, added: "In using our satellite resources, La Poste Senegal can cover a wide geographic area with no compromise on quality of service and cost for each site. In leveraging the benefits of EUTELSAT 7 West A our customer can deliver key services for Senegalese citizens, even in the most remote regions."

About Eutelsat Communications

Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world's leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Over 6,600 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service. Eutelsat Communications is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL).

For more about Eutelsat go to www.eutelsat.com

www.eutelsat.com - @Eutelsat_SA and LinkedIn

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005787/en/

Contacts:

Eutelsat Communications

Press

Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: 33 1 53 98 37 91

voconnor@eutelsat.com

Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: 33 1 53 98 37 91

mecuer@eutelsat.com

or

Investors and analysts

Joanna Darlington, Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30

jdarlington@eutelsat.com

Cedric Pugni, Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30

cpugni@eutelsat.com
BEERSE, Belgium, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

FOR MEDICAL AND TRADE MEDIA ONLY

60% of patients receiving ustekinumab showed significant reductions in lupus disease activity vs. 31% of patients receiving placebo

Ustekinumab showed significant improvements in various disease measures compared with placebo, including musculoskeletal, mucocutaneous, immunological markers and flares

Janssen plans to advance ustekinumab into Phase 3 development program based on Phase 2 results

Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) announced today positive results from a randomised, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study investigating the anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23 monoclonal antibody STELARA (ustekinumab) in the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). The study met the primary endpoint, with a significantly higher proportion of patients in the ustekinumab group showing improvements in lupus disease activity as measured by the SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at week 24, compared with patients receiving placebo (60% vs. 31%, respectively, P=0.0046). The data are being presented as a late-breaking oral presentation at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

"Despite the progress made in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, major unmet needs remain for patients living with lupus, a serious, life-altering and in some cases, life-threatening disease," said Ronald van Vollenhoven, M.D. Ph.D., Director of the Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center ARC and Professor of Rheumatology, University of Amsterdam and Free University; and lead study investigator. "The positive data from this Phase 2 study of ustekinumab are encouraging, highlighting the role that IL-12 and/or IL-23 may play in the pathophysiology of the disease, and offering hope for patients living with lupus and the rheumatology community."

Consistent with the primary endpoint, at week 24 patients receiving ustekinumab experienced significantly greater changes from baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity-2K (SLEDAI-2K) score compared with patients receiving placebo (Least Squares Mean difference -1.36, P=0.09) at a predefined alpha level of 0.1 ustekinumab did not meet statistical significance in other secondary endpoints, although investigators reported a numerical trend favoring ustekinumab for such endpoints as Physician Global Assessment, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-based Combined Lupus Assessment (BICLA) and BILAG, unique measures of disease activity in SLE. A pre-specified exploratory endpoint demonstrated that the risk of a new BILAG flare (at least one new BILAG A or at least two new BILAG B) was nominally significantly lower in the ustekinumab group compared with the placebo group (HR 0.11 [95% CI 0.01-0.94]; nominal P=0.0078).

Similar proportions of adverse events (AEs) across ustekinumab and placebo treatment groups were reported. Serious AEs occurred in 8.3% of patients receiving ustekinumab and 9.5% receiving placebo, with the most common adverse events including upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis and headache. Ustekinumab demonstrated a similar safety profile to previous trials for approved indications in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. No deaths have been reported in the study to date.

"We are excited by the results from this Phase 2 study showing the potential of ustekinumab in the treatment of lupus," said Newman Yeilding, M.D., Head of Immunology Development, Janssen. "These findings, together with our knowledge of the IL-12/23 pathway and our commitment to transform the lives of patients with lupus, provide strong rationale for moving into a Phase 3 clinical development program."

The Lupus Research Alliance advocated for investigating ustekinumab in SLE given the limited treatment options and the high unmet medical need for patients.

"Lupus is a devastating autoimmune disease that affects the organs, joints and skin. Unfortunately for people living with the disease, effective treatment options to date are limited," said Kenneth Farber, President and Chief Executive Officer at Lupus Research Alliance. "In this Phase 2 study, ustekinumab showed clinical improvements in lupus disease activity and symptoms, which brings important hope to patients who have eagerly awaited new treatment options. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Janssen on the important clinical program for ustekinumab in lupus."

Based on the results of the Phase 2 study results, Janssen plans to advance ustekinumab into a Phase 3 SLE development program in 2018.

About the Phase 2 ustekinumab SLE Trial

The efficacy and safety of ustekinumab was evaluated in a global Phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 102 adults with seropositive SLE by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria and active disease despite ongoing standard of care therapy (steroid, antimalarial and/or immunosuppressive therapies). Patients were randomised (3:2) to receive intravenous (IV) ustekinumab 6 mg/kg or placebo (PBO) at week 0, followed by subcutaneous (SC) injections of ustekinumab 90 mg or placebo every eight weeks, both in addition to standard of care therapy for 24 weeks. At week 24, patients in the placebo arm crossed over to active study agent.

The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving SRI-4 response at week 24. The SRI combines scores from three different validated lupus disease indexes to define responders versus non-responders, and has previously been accepted by health authorities in SLE registration trials. To achieve SRI-4 response, an individual with lupus must have at least a four-point improvement on the SLEDAI-2K score, less than 10% increase in PGA of disease activity and no worsening of moderate/severe organ disease on the BILAG disease activity index. Major secondary endpoints included change from baseline in SLEDAI-2K score, change from baseline in PGA of disease activity, and proportion of patients with BICLA response, all at week 24. Joint and cutaneous disease activity were also assessed with joint counts and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI), respectively.

Endpoint analyses included all patients who received at least one dose of study agent, had at least one measurement prior to administration, and had at least one post-baseline measurement. Patients with missing data and treatment failures were imputed as non-responders. Long-term safety and efficacy data are currently being collected through 104 weeks.

About SLE

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys and brain.[1] SLE can range from mild to severe and is characterised by inflammation of any organ system including kidneys, nervous system and brain.[2] The disease most often affects women and disproportionately affects women of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American descent compared to Caucasian women.[3] Incidence rates vary across European countries, ranging from 2.2 cases/100,000 in Spain to 5 cases/100,000 in France.[4] Lupus is estimated to affect at least 5 million people worldwide.[5]

About ustekinumab[6]

In the European Union, ustekinumab is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to other systemic therapies including ciclosporin, methotrexate (MTX) or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), and is also indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adolescent patients from the age of 12 years and older who are inadequately controlled by or are intolerant to other systemic therapies or phototherapies. In addition, ustekinumab is approved alone or in combination with MTX for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients when the response to previous non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy has been inadequate. In November 2016, the European Commission approved ustekinumab for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a TNF-alpha antagonist or have medical contraindications to such therapies.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson maintain exclusive worldwide marketing rights to ustekinumab, which is currently approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in 89 countries, paediatric psoriasis in 42 countries, psoriatic arthritis in 83 countries and Crohn's disease in 40 countries.

Important Safety Information

For complete European Union (EU) prescribing information, please visit: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/000958/human_med_001065.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies

At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea/. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JanssenEMEA.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the potential benefits and expectations for continued development of STELARA (ustekinumab). The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; the uncertainty of commercial success; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2017, including under "Item 1A. Risk Factors," its most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including in the section captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," and in the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References

[1] NHS Choices. Lupus. Available at: https://beta.nhs.uk/conditions/lupus/?WT.mc_id=organic_split. Accessed 31 October 2017.

[2] Arthritis Research UK. Lupus (SLE). Available at: https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/lupus.aspx. Accessed 31 October 2017.

[3] Lupus Research Alliance. About Lupus. Available at: http://www.lupusresearch.org/understanding-lupus/what-is-lupus/about-lupus/. Accessed 31 October 2017.

[4] Danchenko N, Satia JA and Anthony MS. Epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparison of worldwide disease burden. Lupus 2006;15:308-318.

[5] Lupus UK. Epidemiology of Lupus. Available at: http://www.lupusuk.org.uk/medical/gp-guide/introduction-to-lupus/epidemiology-of-lupus/. Accessed 31 October 2017.

[6] Summary of Product Characteristics Stelara 45 mg solution. Janssen-Cilag International NV. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000958/WC500058513.pdf. Accessed 31 October 2017.

PHEM/STE/1117/0001

November 2017
LONDON, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

A Mobile-first, Cloud-based, End-to-end Digital Platform, 'Adia' by the Adecco Group Meets Emerging Opportunities in the Staffing Industry

Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, and the Adecco Group, a Fortune Global 500 company and the leading global HR Solutions provider, are transforming the staffing industry by bringing together the power of data, domain, technology and speed to create a brand new business in the world of staffing. This is fundamental for introducing new innovations that help the Adecco Group unlock the opportunities of the platform economy, as well as transform the Adecco Group's core operations.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589162 )



Powered by Infosys, the Adecco Group's end-to-end online staffing platform Adia has already gained momentum across multiple cities in Switzerland and the UK, and will be expanding into more countries in the coming quarters. This new platform leverages the Adecco Group's key strengths in the industry by providing scale, speed and agility to introduce new ways of doing business in the digital economy.

Adia aims at revolutionising the industry by matching the demand and supply of talent more effectively and managing that talent more efficiently. Targeting candidates and clients across multiple industry segments such as hospitality, events, logistics and many more, Adia makes it possible for employers to find temporary staff for short term assignments and provides a brand new experience to both clients and candidates.

The platform's algorithm matches jobs to workers based on skills, level of experience, and proximity to the place of work as well as the job seeker's real-time availability. The user can hire new staff, plan shifts, issue contracts and approve timesheets from this platform, all in real-time.

Alain Dehaze, Chief Executive Officer, the Adecco Group, said, "At the Adecco Group we are focused on transformation and innovation to capture the opportunities we see in the evolving world of work. We are thrilled with the success Adia has experienced so far and we're looking forward to continuing the international rollout over the coming quarters. As part of our co-creation strategy, we're working with Infosys to bring innovation across other parts of the business and we are delighted to have partnered with the best-in-class to boost our digital strategy and power our vision of what's next in the staffing industry."

Rajesh Krishnamurthy, President and Head of Europe, Infosys, said, "The pace of change we're experiencing today is unprecedented and it urges organisations to constantly renew themselves, as well as leverage technology to develop new business models, if they are to remain relevant and succeed in an increasingly evolving world. Over the past few years, the emergence of the 'platform economy' has set the pace of success for the most valuable companies in the world. By bringing speed, scale and an innovative platform that connects candidates and employers, while enhancing the Adecco Group's unique expertise, we're powering change in the industry, helping the Adecco Group fundamentally redefine the future of staffing and realise its vision of the future of work."

About the Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world's leading provider of workforce solutions, transforming the world of work through talent and technology. Each year, the Adecco Group provides over 1 million people around the world with career opportunities, guidance and insights. Through its global brands Adecco, Modis, Badenoch & Clark, Spring Professional, Lee Hecht Harrison, Pontoon and Adia, the Adecco Group offers total workforce solutions including temporary staffing, permanent placement, career transition, talent development, and outsourcing. The Adecco Group partners with employers, candidates, colleagues and governments, sharing its labour market expertise and insights to empower people, fuel economies, and enrich societies.

The Adecco Group is a Fortune Global 500 company, based in Zurich, Switzerland, with more than 33,000 FTE employees in 60 countries and territories around the world. Adecco Group AG is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).

About Infosys Ltd.

Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to create and execute strategies for their digital transformation. From engineering to application development, knowledge management and business process management, we help our clients find the right problems to solve, and to solve these effectively.Our team of 198,000+ innovators, across the globe, is differentiated by the imagination, knowledge and experience, across industries and technologies that we bring to every project we undertake.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise thrive in the digital age.

Safe Harbor
Lee University will host a panel discussion on Speaking the Truth in Love with the creators and hosts of the popular podcast, Truths Table, Christina Edmondson, Michelle Higgins, and Ekemini Uwan. This event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Jones Lecture Hall in the School of Religion building.

According to Ms. Higgins, Ms. Uwan, and Dr. Edmondson, we are black Christian women who love truth and seek it out wherever it leads us.

Their serious, joyful exploration of truth has led them to discussions of the multicultural church, Jordan Peeles Get Out, black motherhood and fatherhood, and Christian hip-hop artist Lecraes most recent album, among other topics.

These self-described midwives of culture for grace and truth seek to help others understand why and how it is so important to speak the truth in love when talking about racial justice issues in America and in the Church.

Truths Table has been featured in articles from Huffington Post, New York Times, The Atlantic, as well as on Lecraes new album, All Things Work Together.

After a recent interview with Lecrae, and a follow-up response from pastor and author John Piper, the podcast was ranked number nine on Apples Top 200 Religion & Spirituality podcasts list.

Dr. Edmondson serves as the dean for intercultural student development at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mi. As a certified cultural intelligence facilitator, public speaker, and mental health therapist, Dr. Edmondson is often contacted by churches to consult diversity and mental health issues. Her writing has been seen and referenced in a variety of outlets including Essence.com, YourBlackWorld.com, and Gospel Today magazine.

She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University, a masters from the University of Rochester in family therapy, and a bachelors in sociology from Hampton University. She is married to Pastor Mika Edmondson of New City Fellowship Church and is the mother of two girls.

Ms. Higgins is the director of worship at South City Church in St. Louis, Mo. She has served as choir director for various churches. She is also the director of Faith for Justice, a Christian advocacy group.

Ms. Higgins serves as an organizer for the Leadership Development Resource Weekend, an annual gathering founded to address the core concerns of dignity, identity, and significance for people of color. She also speaks frequently for conferences and gatherings such as Q Ideas and Urbana.

Ms. Higgins has been published in Christianity Today, The Washington Post, and Relevant, among others. She holds a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and lives in Old North Saint Louis with her husband and two children.

Ms. Uwan has been published in Huffington Post: Black Voices, Christianity Today, The Reformed African American Network, and Christ and Pop Culture to name a few. The New York Times, Mashable, and Huffington Post Religion have also quoted her insights.

Ms. Uwan also contributed to the vocals on a few songs from recent albums of Lecrae and Sho Baraka, Christian hip-hop artist and writer.

She received her Master of Divinity degree in 2016 from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.

The event is free and open to the public. To listen to Truths Table before the event, access it for free on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/truths-table/id1212429230?mt=2 or on Sound Cloud at https://soundcloud.com/thetableoftruthpodcast.

For more information, contact Dr. Mary McCampbell 614-8353 or at mmccampbell@leeuniversity.edu.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were lackluster on Tuesday even as banks gained ground on growth optimism after ECB President Mario Draghi said there is little evidence that negative rates are undermining banking profitability. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was marginally higher at 396.70 in late opening deals after rising 0.1 percent in the previous session. The German DAX was rising 0.1 percent while France's CAC 40 index and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 were marginally lower. French lender Credit Agricole rallied 1.4 percent after it agreed to buy Italy's wealth-management specialist Banca Leonardo SpA for an undisclosed amount. Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas and HSBC Holdings were up between 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent. Mining stocks were also broadly higher, with Anglo American and Antofagasta rising over 1 percent each. Imperial Brands rallied 2.6 percent after the tobacco group reported an increase in annual revenues on the back of favorable currency movements. Fevertree shares soared 10 percent after the fizzy mixer drinks maker said it expects full-year results to be 'materially ahead' of current market expectations. Swiss staffing firm Adecco Group fell 1.9 percent on disappointing third-quarter earnings. Spanish utility Iberdrola lost 2 percent after its core profit for the first nine months of the year declined 5 percent. Associated British Foods tumbled 3.3 percent in London despite the company reporting a surge in full-year profit. German automaker BMW gave up 2.5 percent after posting lower Q3 profit due to higher expenses for research and development. In economic releases, German industrial output fell 1.6 percent month-on-month in September, in contrast to August's 2.6 percent increase, official data showed today. Economists forecast production to drop 0.8 percent. Separately, the latest report from the British Retail Consortium showed that U.K. retail sales fell the most in seven months in October. Eurozone retail sales figures for September topped forecasts. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
In Style, Hong Kong Symposium opened today (7 November) at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, engaging Hong Kong and Malaysian government officials and business leaders to spotlight Hong Kong's world-class professional services.

The two-day (7-8 November) In Style, Hong Kong Expo opened alongside the Symposium at the same venue, showcasing branded home electronics, gifts and premium, fashion accessories, fine jewellery and watches, as well as eco-friendly products from 40 exhibitors.

(From L to R) Vincent HS Lo, HKTDC Chairman; Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR; YB Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia; and Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director



HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department or Kuala Lumpur Office Angie Kong (KL) Tel: +60 12 203 6112 Email: angie.sf.kong@hktdc.org Sam Ho (HK) Tel: +852 2584 4569 Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, Nov 7, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council's (HKTDC) mega promotion event, "In Style, Hong Kong," is underway in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Two of the campaign's highlight events, In Style, Hong Kong Symposium and In Style, Hong Kong Expo, opened this morning at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur. YB Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia; Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR; and Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, each delivered speeches at this morning's opening ceremony."The eagerly anticipated free trade agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN will be signed very soon," said Mr Lo. "The pact is a momentous one, as the world's focus now falls on Asia to drive economic growth. Against this backdrop, the relationship between Malaysia and Hong Kong is taking on new significance." Mr Lo remarked that China's Belt and Road Initiative spans more than 60 countries, covering 30 per cent of the world's GDP, presenting massive business opportunities for infrastructure investment, financial and trade integration, as well as social and cultural exchange. "A plan of this scale also needs us to work together. To mine the potential, Malaysian enterprises can work with Hong Kong, which offers unmatched advantages," he said."While Malaysia develops its own economy, it is also a major player in the ASEAN community; and as Hong Kong remains a vital international gateway to the Chinese mainland, it is also repositioning itself as a springboard for intra-Asia and international interaction. As such, we each play important roles in driving the region's development as we evolve ourselves. At this special time, we are delighted to bring 'In Style, Hong Kong' here to showcase the best of Hong Kong business and lifestyle. And more importantly, we will suggest ways to turn these into opportunities for your own business and market."Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR highlighted Hong Kong's role as trend-setting city in the region, and said he is "confident that 'In Style, Hong Kong' will foster even closer and stronger links between Malaysia and Hong Kong.""Building on the flourishing relationship between Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and related investment agreement will be signed very soon. We are grateful to all the members of ASEAN, including Malaysia, for their contribution in attaining our shared goal. Not only will the free trade agreement provide an appropriate forum to further enhance the flows of trade and investment between Hong Kong and ASEAN, it will further strengthen Hong Kong's role facilitating mainland China business to go global and overseas enterprises to enter the mega mainland market," said Mr Yuen.YB Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia, also mentioned the free trade agreement in his remarks. "To further strengthen our relationship within ASEAN with Hong Kong, our government has agreed to ratify a free trade agreement and investment agreement between ASEAN and Hong Kong. Among other measures under this FTA, Malaysia will abolish import duties on certain trade goods and streamline our import regulations with those of the World Trade Organization," he said. "The FTA will facilitate more effective and efficient trade links between the region and Hong Kong. This is significant for Malaysia, too, to take part in the ASEAN-Hong Kong trade, which generated US$106.8 billion in total merchandise trade in 2016.""Moving forward, we will continue to cultivate our warm bilateral relationship with Hong Kong, whose people are as close to Malaysians as any others," YB Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee added.A showcase of Hong Kong's multi-faceted advantagesThe In Style, Hong Kong mega promotion campaign seeks to promote Hong Kong's multi-faceted advantages. Key events include the Symposium, which spotlights Hong Kong's professional services, and the Expo, which showcases products from Hong Kong's leading brands.The Symposium has invited a number of Hong Kong and Malaysian business leaders and government officials to promote the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services. The main symposium featured Professor Royce Yuen, CEO, MaLogic; Joseph Phi, President, LF Logistics; Kevin Huang, CEO, Pixels Ltd; and Nicholas Ho, Deputy Managing Director, hpa. The speakers examined how Hong Kong's service companies can help Malaysian companies expand their business. Five thematic sessions followed the main symposium, covering such topics as e-commerce, Fintech, Smart City, Innovative Design and Marketing, and Legal Risk Management in International Trade.In addition, a business support zone was set up at the symposium venue, with a group of Hong Kong professional service providers from the accounting, legal, marketing, finance and business services sectors offering free onsite consultations.The two-day Expo (7-8 November) is designed for buyers and representatives, from importers, distributors, retailers, brand agents, franchisees, department stores and specialty stores in Malaysia and neighbouring countries, to source stylish products created by Hong Kong companies. The Expo features 40 exhibitors showcasing Hong Kong brands in such sectors as home electronics, gifts and premium, fashion accessories and watches, and eco-friendly products. In addition, the Expo is displaying a range of award-winning products of the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards to showcase Hong Kong's creative and design capabilities.Strong business links between Hong Kong and MalaysiaAccording to 2016 trade figures, Malaysia was Hong Kong's 10th-largest trading partner and fourth-largest among ASEAN countries. In the first nine months of 2017, trade between the two economies amounted to US$12.5 billion, up 12.1 per cent year on year. In terms of investments, Hong Kong, last year, was Malaysia's largest source of foreign direct investment, with total investment reaching US$3.5 billion, up 50 per cent over 2015.In Style, Hong Kong website: www.instyle-hk.comIn Style, Hong Kong Symposium and Speakers' List: http://symposium.instyle-hk.comIn Style, Hong Kong Expo and Exhibitors List: http://expo.instyle-hk.comIn Style, Hong Kong Citywide Promotion: http://citywide.instyle-hk.comPhoto download: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p5zibtgvvzcn6jz/AAATAKcUKmHeIZxR1Zere2u_a?dl=0About HKTDCEstablished in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Canadian Natural (CNQ, CNQ.TO) Tuesday announced that its 2018 capital budget is targeted at approximately C$4.3 billion, C$0.5 billion less than 2017, excluding the Athabasca Oil Sands Project or AOSP acquisition capital. The Company targets to deliver 2018 production growth of approximately 17% at the midpoint of 2018 budget guidance with targeted maintenance capital at approximately C$3.0 billion, demonstrating the benefit of a long life low decline asset base. Overall production in 2018 is expected to be between 1.09 million BOE/d and 1.17 million BOE/d, with a product mix of approximately 75% crude oil and NGLs and 25% natural gas. In 2018, approximately 55% of the Company's production is targeted to come from long life low decline assets. For the year, overall crude oil and NGL production is expected to increase from 2017 levels by 23%, ranging from 815,000 bbl/d to 885,000 bbl/d in 2018. The increase represents approximately 160,000 bbl/d of production growth. It is mainly as a result of the completion of the Phase 3 expansion at Horizon Oil Sands Mining & Upgrading and a full year of production at the AOSP. North American crude oil and NGL production is targeted to range from 253,000 bbl/d to 263,000 bbl/d, representing a 7% increase from 2017 production levels. The 2018 funds flow from operations is targeted to be approximately C$7.9 billion to C$8.3 billion. Free cash flow is targeted to be approximately C$2.3 billion to C$2.7 billion, after budgeted capital and the current dividend. Canadian Natural's Chief Operating Officer, Tim McKay, said, 'The Company will focus on reliability across our diverse asset base and continue to integrate and optimize the assets acquired in 2017. Modest drilling programs will ensure cost control, which is essential in this commodity price environment. Project development at our Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage project, Kirby North will continue in 2018 as we advance the project for ultimate completion in Q4/19.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
BEIJING, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yadea Group Holdings, the largest electric two-wheeled vehicle producer in China, held the global launch ceremony for its new model, the Yadea Z3s, at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on October 26, 2017. An improved version of the Yadea Z3, the Yadea Z3s, is a feature-rich, smarter two-wheel electric vehicle with 37 enhancements. The model isexpectedto serve as a trendsetter in the Chinese electric bike market in terms ofhigh-end intelligent featuresand components.

Like its predecessor, the Yadea Z3s comes equipped with Panasonic's world-class certified lithium battery weighing only 9.6 kg (21.1 lb) and can be fully recharged in two hours. The modelfeatures a racing-grade shock mitigation system for motorbikes assuring comfort and safety for the driver. In addition, Yadea's proprietary GTR-5-generation electric motor delivers13%more power over its predecessor, while increasing endurance mileage by15%.

The Yadea Z3s incorporates several automotive-grade smart technologies, including automotive remote sensing, automatic unlocking and locking as the driver approaches or walks away from the vehicle, GPS, real-time monitoring and tracking of the vehicle's position and travel route as well as aremote alarm systemactivated when irregular movements of the vehicle are detected.



Drivers can engage in real-time interconnections with the vehicle viasmartphone, delivering automated monitoring of the vehicle's key parts as well as the ability to choose from 16.78 million mood colors for the vehicle's side panels reflecting the driver's mood.Additional features includesetting the length of timethe headlights stay on after the driver has exited the vehicle, real-time search for nearby gas and service stations and single-key emergency call for on-the-road help, towing and repair services, all of which come together, deliveringsmarter and more convenient driving experiences.

Existing Yadea Z3 drivers can have their vehicles updated withsmart hardware for the Yadea Z3s free of charge, including the LCD dashboard, the smart centralized control console andBluetooth burglar alarm. Yadea Group Chairman Dong Jingguiexplained: "Yadea strivesto be a producer of user-centric and high-end intelligent two-wheeled electric vehicles,enhancing the wellbeing of its riders, assuring them of a pleasant on-the-road experience."

For more information about Yadea Z3s, please visithttps://v.qq.com/x/page/v05688uh8jl.html.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/596699/Yadea_Z3s.jpg
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Kirkland Lake Gold Announces 120 Metre Down-Plunge Extension of Swan Zone

-- High-grade, visible-gold mineralization intersected 120 metres ("m") down-plunge of Swan Zone Inferred Mineral Resource and 210 m down-plunge of Mineral Reserves -- Key intercepts: 52.1 g/t gold ("Au") over 7.15 m (Estimated True Width ("ETW") 6.7 m) and 30.3 g/t Au over 1.95 m (ETW 1.8 m) -- Additional high-grade, visible-gold mineralization intersected in the Swan Zone outside Measured and Indicated Resources -- Key intercepts: 991 g/t Au over 8.85 m (ETW 8.2 m), including 9,115 g/t Au over 0.95 m (ETW 0.9 m) or 0.9 m at 0.9% Au, 422 g/t Au over 7.30 m (ETW 6.6 m), 649 g/t Au over 1.55 m (ETW 1.4 m) and 122 g/t Au over 6.95 m (ETW 6.7 m) -- Continuity of Swan Zone mineralization defined over 460 m plunge length and 300 m vertical extent.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. ("Kirkland Lake Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: KL)(NYSE: KL) is pleased to report continued high-grade drill results at depth from underground drilling at Fosterville Mine in Australia. Underground definition drilling continues to target and infill down-plunge extensions of the Swan Zone of the Lower Phoenix gold system to establish new Mineral Resources, increase confidence in existing Mineral Resources and assess the potential of further Mineral Reserve expansion.

Recent drill results from 15 underground holes totaling 2,150 m outside of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of the Swan Zone in the Lower Phoenix gold system continue to return intervals of exceptional high-grade with visible-gold. Continuity of high-grade visible-gold mineralization in the Swan Zone is now defined over a plunge length of 460 m and vertical extent of 300 m. Recent step out drilling confirms that high-grade, visible-gold mineralization extends approximately 175 m laterally to the south and 100 m below Swan Mineral Reserves as reported in the July 27, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release.

Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: "The extension of the Swan Zone by 120 m down-plunge of the known Mineral Resources is very encouraging and supports our view that a substantial opportunity exists to grow the Swan Zone through additional step-out drilling. The results also include high-grade intersections within the existing Inferred Mineral Resources, which further demonstrates the potential to grow Mineral Reserves through Mineral Resource conversion. The Swan Zone is the highest-grade area of the Fosterville mine, with an initial Mineral Reserve of 532,000 ounces at an average grade of 58.8 g/t Au. A key objective of our exploration program at Fosterville, both this year and into 2018, is to continue growing Mineral Reserve ounces in this extremely high-grade area of the Fosterville mine, as well as to evaluate a number of other structures that offer the potential for future high-grade gold discoveries.

"Fosterville is very quickly emerging as one of the world's great underground gold deposits. We produced 184,688 ounces in the first nine months of 2017, and just finished a record month in October, producing over 30,000 ounces at an average grade of around 23 g/t Au. While pleased with current results, we strongly believe that the best is yet to come at Fosterville, given that we are not yet producing from the high-grade Swan Zone, with initial stope production scheduled for mid-2018. In addition, we are also continuing development work aimed at establishing multiple mining fronts, with our Harrier gold system expected to come into production late next year. As we advance, we envision both higher grades and increased throughput, with our medium to longer-term goal being to achieve 400,000 ounces of annual gold production at Fosterville over the next three years.

"In support of our growth plans, we continue to invest strongly in Fosterville with 10 drills in operation on near-mine and regional targets, focused on our objectives of achieving production growth, extending mine life and realizing the full potential of the Fosterville mine. We look forward to providing an update to our Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates in Q1 2018."

Swan Mineralized Zone Underground Drilling Program

Results of the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down-plunge. Key intercepts are listed below, with further details provided in the commentary that follows.

Key Visible-Gold Intercepts:

-- 991 g/t Au over 8.85 m (ETW 8.2 m), including 9,115 g/t Au over 0.95 m (ETW 0.9 m) in hole UDH2214; -- 422 g/t Au over 7.30 m (ETW 6.6 m), including 4,048 g/t Au over 0.75 m (ETW 0.7 m) in hole UDE147A; -- 649 g/t Au over 1.55 m (ETW 1.4 m), including 805 g/t Au over 1.25 m (ETW 1.1 m) in hole UDE137; -- 122 g/t Au over 6.95 m (ETW 6.7 m), including 456 g/t Au over 1.75 m (ETW 1.7 m) in hole UDH2107; -- 89.7 g/t Au over 4.95 m (ETW 4.7 m), including 443 g/t Au over 0.90 m (ETW 0.7 m) in hole UDH2106; -- 52.1 g/t Au over 7.15 m (ETW 6.7 m) in hole UDE157; and -- 30.3 g/t Au over 1.95 m (ETW 1.8 m) in hole UDE158

ETW - Estimated True Width, all drill results are presented in Table 1 and all drill collars are listed in Table 2.

Since the August 8, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling has continued to focus on multiple targets, including further testing of the Swan mineralized zone. Reported drill results are from 15 holes (2,150 m), of which nine contain visible gold mineralization and six intervals of greater than one hundred gram-metres (i.e. gold grade x estimated true width).

Drill holes UDE157 and UDE158 are located approximately 120 m down-plunge of the Swan Inferred Mineral Resource and 200 m down-plunge of the Mineral Reserve and demonstrate the potential for high-grade visible-gold mineralization to extend over this area outside of the existing orebody. Both intercepts contain visible-gold associated with the Swan structure with 52.1 g/t Au(1) over 7.15 m (ETW 6.7 m) returned in hole UDE157 and 30.3 g/t Au(1) over 1.95 m (ETW 1.8 m) in hole UDE158. The company is continuing to drill to define down-plunge extensions of Swan mineralization with two rigs. Drilling is currently underway on 6150mN and 5900mN to further understand the size and scale of this compelling Mineral Resource growth target.

The drill results included multiple intersections of significant gold mineralization associated with Swan structure down-plunge of Swan Mineral Reserve, either within or proximal to current Swan Inferred Mineral Resource. Results include 991 g/t Au over 8.85 m (ETW 8.2 m) in hole UDH2214, which includes an ETW interval of 9,115 g/t Au over 0.95 m (ETW 0.9 m) representing 0.9 m containing 0.9% Au. Additional intercepts include 422 g/t Au over 7.30 m (ETW 6.6 m), including 4,048 g/t Au over 0.75 m (ETW 0.7 m) in hole UDE147A, 649 g/t Au over 1.55 m (ETW 1.4 m), including 805 g/t Au over 1.25 m (ETW 1.1 m) in hole UDE137, 122 g/t Au over 6.95 m (ETW 6.7 m), including 456 g/t Au over 1.75 m (ETW 1.7 m) in hole UDH2107 and 89.7 g/t Au over 4.95 m (ETW 4.7 m), including 443 g/t Au over 0.90 m (ETW 0.7 m) in hole UDH2106. These exceptional drill results increase confidence in the continuity of high-grade visible-gold mineralization directly down-plunge from the current Swan Mineral Reserve. This zone in which these results are contained is the focus of continued infill drilling until the end of the year. Two drill rigs are currently operating on infill programs in this area and the Company is optimistic that, based on drill results to date, significant Swan Mineral Reserve growth may be realized.

To view a PDF of the tables and figures as referenced in this News Release, visit the links below. The tables are also provided at the end of this press release.

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Tables_1104429c.pdf - Tables

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figures_1104429.pdf - Figures

Qualified Persons

Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release.

Drilling and Assay QAQC

Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica Total Stations instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras.

Sampling consisted of NQ diamond drill core that was half core sampled. Half core samples were cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for reference. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2 m in length and were determined from logging of sulphide and visible gold. The pulp have been retained for reference.

Samples containing visible-gold or considered likely to contain visible-gold were separated from sulphide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory "visible-gold" jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples.

Assay results are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.

Drill samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510).

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2017 target production of 580,000 to 595,000 ounces from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the company is anchored from two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned exploration programs, costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration potential, project economics, timing and scope of future exploration, anticipated costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Exploration results that include geophysics, sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. A mineral resource that is classified as "inferred" or "indicated" has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category of resource. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into proven and probable reserves.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, risks related to international operations, risks related to obtaining the permits required to carry out planned exploration or development work, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of gold, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form and other disclosures of "Risk Factors" by the Company and its predecessors, available on SEDAR. Although Kirkland Lake Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates

All resource and reserve estimates included in this news release or documents referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act.

In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in very limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.

Table 1: Drill Assay Intercepts for Underground Diamond Drilling for the Swan Mineralized Zone, Fosterville Gold Mine (The Swan Zone results are an update to those reported in August 8, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downhole Estimated From To Interval Gold Grade True Width Geological Hole ID (m) (m) (m) (g/t Au) (m) Structure ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Swan Mineralized Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE137(1) 260.45 262.00 1.55 649 1.4 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 260.45 261.70 1.25 805 1.1 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE137 266.10 271.70 5.60 3.7 5.1 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE138A(1) 277.95 282.60 4.65 14.1 4.5 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 279.80 280.25 0.45 101 0.4 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE147A(1) 277.70 285.00 7.30 422 6.6 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 280.65 281.40 0.75 4,048 0.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE156 359.20 361.00 1.80 12.7 1.6 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE157(1) 362.10 369.25 7.15 52.1 6.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE158(1) 354.95 356.90 1.95 30.3 1.8 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2106(1) 248.30 253.25 4.95 89.7 4.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 249.30 250.20 0.90 443 0.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2106 257.35 258.60 1.25 20.7 1.2 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2107(1) 241.80 248.75 6.95 122 6.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 247.00 248.75 1.75 456 1.7 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2140A 279.65 290.15 10.50 6.8 1.0 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2153 278.80 280.65 1.85 9.1 1.5 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2153 296.35 303.00 6.65 5.3 6.3 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2154 254.50 262.35 7.85 9.8 6.9 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2214(1) 244.20 253.05 8.85 991 8.2 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including(1) 247.65 248.60 0.95 9,115 0.9 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2229(1) 282.90 285.95 3.05 8.9 2.5 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2229 293.00 297.20 4.20 9.1 3.8 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2230 265.75 269.90 4.15 7.8 3.6 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2273 258.60 264.80 6.20 3.3 5.2 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: (1) - Visible gold observed in drill intercept Drill intercepts greater than 30 Gram-Metres (gold grade x estimated true width) are in bold text Table 2: Underground Diamond Drill Hole Collar Locations, Fosterville Gold Mine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Collar Collar Northing Easting Elevation Azimuth Plunge Total Depth Hole ID (m) (m) (m) (degrees) (degrees) (m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE137 6,358 1,407 4,192 97.8 -43.5 503.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE138A 6,363 1,394 4,192 93.5 -45.4 310 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE147A 6,363 1,394 4,192 92.5 -58.3 295 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE156 6,232 1,340 4,194 92.7 -33.2 545.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE157 6,232 1,340 4,194 94.3 -47.6 635.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE158 6,232 1,340 4,194 91.1 -58.2 665.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2106 6,360 1,408 4,193 90.6 -38.1 306 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2107 6,359 1,408 4,192 74.6 -46.6 267 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2140A 6,241 1,844 4,257 265.2 -54.5 302.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2153 6,359 1,408 4,193 95.3 -23.2 306 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2154 6,359 1,407 4,192 86.0 -30.2 320.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2214 6,364 1,394 4,192 57.5 -55.9 269.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2229 6,359 1,407 4,193 96.5 -23.4 324 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2230 6,359 1,408 4,192 94.7 -29.3 312 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2273 6,453 1,378 4,190 102.5 -39.7 272.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Collar locations are in Fosterville Mine Grid coordinate system. (2) - Drill intercept included the June 30, 2017 Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve update

Contacts:

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Anthony Makuch

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

+1 416-840-7884

tmakuch@klgold.com



Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Mark Utting

Vice-President, Investor Relations

+1 416-840-7884

mutting@klgold.com




Miyuki Nakayama Tokyo Public Relations and Media Liaison Office Sharp Corporation Tel: +81-3-5446-8205 Fax: +81-3-5446-8206

TOKYO, Nov 7, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Sharp Corporation announces the release of the 8C-B60A 8K (60p) professional camcorder, a world's first, integrating capabilities for video shooting and recording, playback, and line output. The 8C-B60A was developed with technical cooperation from Astrodesign, Inc.(4), a company possessing 8K image technologies.Besides the ability to shoot images in high resolution 8K (60p), this camcorder is designed to offer ease of use in shooting and recording and to lessen the burden on the camera operator in the post-recording editing process. The 8C-B60A's image pickup device is a large, Super 35-mm-equivalent CMOS image sensor with 33 million pixels. Compression utilizes a coding method(5) that exerts minimal burden on the CPU, thus enabling efficient 8K (60p)-image editing and approximately 40 minutes of continuous recording (when using the bundled 2-TB SSD pack). Because it allows real-time output of 8K uncompressed images at the same time that recording is taking place, the 8C-B60A can be used for live transmissions as well.With this professional-use camcorder as the entry point to the creation of 8K images, Sharp is striving to disseminate 8K image content in its aim of establishing an 8K ecosystem at the earliest possible date.The 8C-B60A 8K professional camcorder will be on display at the Sharp booth at the International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition 2017 (Inter BEE 2017) at the Makuhari Messe in Mihama, Chiba, Japan from November 15 to 17, 2017.Major Features1. World's first camcorder integrating capabilities for video shooting and recording, playback, and line output for 8K (60p).2. Compatible with 8K (60p) shooting thanks to a large, Super 35-mm-equivalent CMOS image sensor with 33 million pixels.3. Realizes 4:2:2 sampling(6) and 10-bit recording of 8K (60p) images. A compression method that exerts low burden on the CPU makes editing more efficient and allows approximately 40 minutes of continuous recording (when using 2TB SSD pack).4. Real-time output of uncompressed 8K (60P) images can be performed simultaneously with recording (equipped with quad-link 12G-SDI output terminal), making possible live 8K transmissions and replay output after recording.5. Built-in SSD back slot for recording media. Realizes one-person operation at 8K shooting with V-mount battery drive.(1) As of July 2017. (based on Sharp survey)(2) Displays 60 frames per second (progressive).(3) The 8C-B60A requires a commercially available lens, viewfinder, microphone, etc.(4) Business fields: Design, manufacture, and sale of video and still image peripherals and software, HDTV studio peripherals, digital-broadcast-related peripherals, and display measuring instruments; sale of modules and systems related to communication, control, and measurement.(5) Grass Valley HQX Codec(6) One of the standardized methods for sampling digital video signals.About Sharp CorporationSharp Corporation (TSE: 6753) is a worldwide developer of innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of electronics. As a leader in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and digital technologies, Sharp offers one of the broadest and most advanced lines of consumer electronics, information products and electronic components, while also creating new network businesses. For more information, please visit www.sharp.co.jpSource: Sharp CorporationContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Michael W. Lamach, chairman and chief executive officer, and David Regnery, executive vice president of the Climate and Industrial segments, of Ingersoll Rand plc (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, will discuss the company's long-term strategy at the 2017 Goldman Sachs Industrials Conference. They will speak at 11 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, in Boston, Massachusetts.

The live webcast will be accessible on the Ingersoll Rand website at http://investor.ingersollrand.com/events.cfm. An archive of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the event.

About Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands including Club Car, Ingersoll Rand, Thermo King and Trane - work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005279/en/

Contacts:

Ingersoll Rand

Media:

Misty Zelent, 704-655-5324

mzelent@irco.com

or

Investors:

Zac Nagle, 704-990-3001

investorrelations@irco.com
THE WOODLANDS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. (OTC PINK: OCSY) (the Company) announced today that it has formed an advisory board to oversee and provide objective expertise with the launch of its cyber security monitoring platform in the medical sector. The goal of the Company is to have representation from all aspects of the medical sector including practitioners, management, and IT. The newly formed Board of Advisors will consist of the following members: Mr. Mark Anderson CPHIMS, FHIMSS; Dr. Cory Jammal, MD; and Dr. Susan S. Lehrer PhD.

"We are very pleased to have been able to assemble our initial advisory board with such esteemed and well-respected members of the medical community," stated, George Rutherford, President of Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. "We thank all three initial members for accepting the offer to join our company in an advisory capacity and look forward to working with them in developing and monetizing our technology platform," continued Mr. Rutherford.

About Mark R. Anderson, CPHIMS, FHIMSS

Mark Anderson is a former Chief Information Officer for 5 Healthcare Integrated Delivery Networks, an interim CFO and CEO of Rural Hospitals, is one of the nation's premier healthcare futurists and is one of the leading national speakers on healthcare who has spoken at over 1,000 conferences and meetings since 2000. Mr. Anderson has spent the last 43+ years focusing on healthcare -- not just technology questions, but strategic, policy, and organizational considerations. Mr. Anderson has extensive experience in health care redesign and organizational restructuring along with a comprehensive background in start-up and replacement of multi-facility health information platforms, including financial, clinical, managed care and decision support systems. He tracks industry trends, conducts member surveys, publishes case studies, assesses best practices, and performs benchmarking studies, and evaluates over 70 product categories within healthcare that are offered by more than 500 software, RCM, and Value Based Reimbursement (VBR) vendors that are in the care Coordination and Population Health Marketplace. Mr. Anderson specializes in the evaluation, selection, and ranking of vendors in the VBR, RCM, HIE, and PMS/EHR hospital and physician healthcare marketplace. Annually he publishes a detailed report on VBR, HIE, and PMS/HER software product functional, usability, and company viability. This evaluation decision tool has been used by more than 25,000 physicians, more than 20 ACOs/IPAs, and over 200 Hospitals since 2002. Additionally, Mr. Anderson has conducted more than 400 PMS/EHR searches, selections, and contract negotiations for small physician offices to large IPA since 2003. More than 500 healthcare organizations worldwide have approached their most critical IT challenges with the help of trusted advisors like Mr. Anderson. For his healthcare physician clients, he provides independent advisory and consultative services designed to assist physicians and hospitals in evaluating and selecting technology to enable the creation of the "The Digital Medical Office of the Future". For his Hospital clients, Mr. Anderson conducts operational reviews, technology selections, and assists in development of long range plans. Mr. Anderson has also been an "Expert Witness" on more than 10 legal cases since 2010. These legal cases involve Hospitals and Physicians suing software vendors for Fraud, Malpractice cases affected by healthcare software, and legal cases between healthcare related vendors. Besides serving at the CEO of AC Group, Mr. Anderson served as the Interim CEO/CFO of Doctors Diagnostic Hospital, interim CIO for the Taconic IPA, VP of healthcare for META Group, Inc., the Chief Information Officer (CIO) with West Tennessee Healthcare, the Corporate CIO for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Health System, the Corporate Internal IT Consultant with the Sisters of Providence (SOP) Hospitals, and the Executive Director for Management Services for Denver Health and Hospitals and Harris County Hospital District. His experience includes 15+ years as a Hospital CIO, 20+ years working with physician offices, 7 years in the development of physician-based MSOs and IPAs, 17 years with multi-facility Health Care organizations, 15 years Administrative Executive Team experience, 6 years as a member of the Corporate Executive Team, and 9 years in healthcare turnaround consulting. Mr. Anderson received his BS in Business, is completing his MBA in Health Care Administration, and is a Fellow with HIMSS.

"The credibility of a hospital system is dependent on how well they protect patients and patient data from cybersecurity intrusions," stated Mark Anderson, member of the newly created Board of Advisory for Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. "It is imperative for a medical facility's executive team to understand what the risks are and how to protect patients and patient data. Based on my evaluation and experience working with over 250 hospitals, Optium Cyber Systems, Inc is the one program every hospital needs," added Mr. Anderson.

About Dr. Cory Jammal, MD

Dr. Cory Jammal graduated from Memorial High School in 1975. After obtaining a bachelor of science in zoology in 1979 at the University of Texas in Austin and his medical degree at the University of Texas medical school in San Antonio in 1983 he completed his residency in pathology in 1987. This included one year at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas and 3 years at St. Luke's hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston Texas. Upon finishing residency, he stayed on as a staff pathologist at the St Luke's hospital for 10 years and was in charge of many sections of the hospital laboratory during his tenure there, including the blood bank, hematology, microbiology, and special sections of the histology laboratory, as well as serving on many hospital committees, participating in teaching conferences, and for a period of time medical director of the TIRR hospital laboratory. While there he acquired a wide range of medical knowledge dealing with the workings of one of the largest hospitals in one of the largest medical centers in the world. He continued to broaden his experience in the community hospital setting, including an oftentimes solo practice at Tomball Hospital for 6 years, and then as a member of a large pathology group (Memorial Pathology Consultants) contracting with the Memorial Hermann Hospital system in Houston for 14 years. This experience has greatly expanded his knowledge in different hospital settings, including working at 6 different hospitals, large and small, participating in hospital committees and conferences while working closely with hospital administration, and a vice chair appointment at The Woodlands hospital pathology department for over 10 years. He has also served on the board of directors of the pathology group where he regularly dealt with the personnel and financial operations of the group.

About Susan S. Lehrer, PhD

Dr. Susan Lehrer is a world-renowned expert in health care expert specializing in elder care and is recognized for recommending the building of the first Alzheimer's units in the U.S. for retired military officers. Dr. Lehrer testified before Congress on elder abuse resulting in strengthened legislation. Her board services include more than 15 civic, profit, non-profit, professional associations, and major university schools of business in areas of angel investing, the arts, corporate growth, downtown revitalization, economic development, education, the environment, fitness, fundraising, green technologies, health care systems, medical management, professional associations, security, social services, and staffing.

"Cyber security is of utmost importance to protecting confidential financial and health records in the continuum of care. After years of working to protect patient care, I could not be more excited than having been selected to the advisory board of Optium Cyber," stated Dr. Sue Lehrer.

About Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.

Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. (OCSI) has developed a proprietary process to analyze, identify and address cyber security vulnerabilities in an organization's critical IT infrastructure which is scalable to any size organization in any industry. OCSI has recently launched in the health care sector, focusing on protecting health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and doctor's offices from cyberthreats such as the manipulation of medical devices or theft of patient records. OCSI is a publicly traded company having its common shares quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol "OCSY".

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Optium Cyber Systems, Inc's filings with OTC Markets which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations

Ten Associates LLC

11529 N. 120th St.

Scottsdale, Arizona

85259 USA

Telephone: 480-326-8577

Contact: Thomas E. Nelson

Email: tenassociates33@gmail.com



Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.

8350 Ashlane Way, Suite 104

The Woodlands, Texas

77382 USA

Telephone: 936-559-7407

Web: www.optiumcyber.com

Email: info@optiumcyber.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OCSI4INVESTOR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCSI4INVESTOR






MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Ross denies wrongdoing in Russia links; may give up stake in shipping firm



US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has insisted that there is nothing wrong in maintaining his business links to a shipping firm that profits from a company owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, but indicated he could end his stakes in it.



The billionaire private equity investor was on Sunday accused of misleading senators after a vast leak of financial documents showed his business ties with the shipping company, Navigator Holdings, which earns millions of dollars from Sibur, a Russian oil and petrochemical giant.



Sibur is owned by Putin's son-in-law and two Russian oligarchs, who are under US sanctions.



The leak, dubbed the Paradise Papers, does not suggest that Ross acted illegally, but his alleged connections to Russian entities raise questions over potential conflicts of interest, and whether they undermine the U. S. Treasury Department's sanctions on Moscow.



Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said Ross should have revealed it in his confirmation hearings



'In concealing his interest in these shipping companies - and his ongoing financial relationship with Russian oligarchs, Secretary Ross misled me, the Senate Commerce Committee and the American people,' he told NBC News after the revelations came to light.



But spokesman for Sen. John Thune, who heads the Senate Commerce Committee, said that the relationship was disclosed and that the committee expects that Ross 'will follow the advice of the department's ethic officers should there be a determination that any holding creates a conflict of interest.'



In interviews with media a day after the news broke, Ross said that he had done nothing wrong because Sibur was never under U.S. sanctions.



'I've been actually selling it anyway, but that isn't because of this,' Ross said in an interview with Bloomberg Television Monday.



'There's nothing whatsoever improper about Navigator having a relationship with Sibur,' Ross told the BBC.



Ross, who has played a key part in President Donald Trump's business and political careers, said he had disclosed the business links to the office of government ethics, and denied misleading the confirmation hearing committee when he took office.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Tech Live Connect realizes growth and increased customer satisfaction after leveraging Nexway MONETIZE.

Nexway, a leading provider of solutions to monetize digital businesses and connect companies to the worldwide digital market, and Tech Live Connect, a leading premium technical support provider to consumers worldwide, celebrate the one year anniversary of their partnership.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005142/en/

Tech Live Connect realizes growth and increased customer satisfaction after leveraging Nexway MONETIZE. (Photo: Nexway)

Nexway and Tech Live Connect (or "TLC") started to work together just over a year ago, when they signed a strategic partnership in order to support and accelerate TLC's sales growth. Nexway's solutions and expertise have since been key components to TLC's ability to thrive in both North America and Europe.

TLC was looking for a partner to manage their subscription checkout experience which could also provide them with a range of merchant services leaving them the time to invest in their services and customer experiences.

Nexway's merchant services attracted TLC due to the breadth of payment solution features as well as confidence in Nexway's ability to ensure security and data integrity. Nexway secures transactions and payments worldwide, handling fraud and chargeback mitigation, managing local law and tax compliance, and offering flexible refunds and customer care to their end-users. Nexway adeptly addressed TLC's recurring billing needs thanks to its Merchant-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform.

"Nexway's MaaS platform allowed us to quickly accelerate our recurring sales growth by selling our services more efficiently and with reduced risk in both America and Europe. Nexway brings us their hefty MaaS expertise, enabling us to focus on our services and increase our conversion rate on subscription renewals." Brian Cotter - CEO of Tech Live Connect

Throughout this year, TLC's sales have been improving month over month, thanks to Nexway MONETIZE's range of micro-services, providing a state of the art Merchant of Record SaaS solution.

"We set out to provide TLC with the best performing merchant services and we are very proud of this successful partnership. With our MONETIZE solution, TLC keeps control of its services, customers, user experience and marketing operations... while Nexway brings them peace of mind facilitating today's recurring billing requirements." Renaud Sibel - CEO of Nexway

If you are interested in learning more on how you can leverage the Nexway MONETIZE platform's intuitive and frictionless white label checkout experience? Contact us

About Nexway

Nexway is a leading provider of solutions to monetize digital businesses and connect companies to the worldwide digital market. Founded in 2002, Nexway has enjoyed rapid growth, thanks to strong and diversified partnerships. Based in Paris La Defense, France, the company has subsidiaries in the USA, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Japan. Leading companies who rely on Nexway include retailers Orange, Yahoo! Japan, Softwareload, Best Buy, Amazon; and publishers Kaspersky Lab, Kingsoft, Adobe, 2K Games, Big Fish, ESET, Avast Software and many others. Follow us on Twitter @nexway and Linkedin.

About Tech Live Connect

Tech Live Connect is a leading Premium Technical Support (PTS) provider to consumers worldwide, with all the services delivered remotely online via our encrypted secure platform. Since 2011, TLC has served over 3.2 million customers and has been trusted by a growing base of active subscribers (>1,000,000) with a boastful rating of 9.8 out of 10 on Trust Pilot (a 3rd party consumer review platform), delivering a resolution rate of over 95%, and a CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) rating of 93+%. Through its dedicated state-of-the-art 24x7 call center, TLC strives to provide effective and expeditious resolution to your technical issues on a friendly, one-to-one level.

Journalists, investors and analysts: contact Nexway's media relations for any additional information.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005142/en/

Contacts:

Nexway

Cecile ABESCAT, +33-1-55-17-15-89

cabescat@nexway.com
Lee Universitys Lydia Thompson was crowned Miss Parade of Favorites at the annual Parade of Favorites event.

Ms. Thompson, who was representing Cleveland Against Sex Trafficking, also won the Service Award. She is a junior intercultural studies and studio art major from Cordele, Ga. She was escorted by Ashton Owens.

Marah Whitaker, who represented Campus Choir, won first runner up and was escorted by P. J. Ricketts.

Tau Kappa Omegas contestant Ali Baker, escorted by Grey McCoy, won second runner up.

The third runner up was Kyleigh Hill who represented Theta Delta Kappa and was escorted by Mason Sturm. Ms. Hill also won the Interview Award and the Talent Award for singing Rise Up by Andra Day.

The winner of the Miss Congeniality Award and fourth runner up, Macy Satterfield, was escorted by Ben Benavides. She represented Omega Alpha Phi.

Alexys Jones, representing Ladies of Lee, won the Kay McDaniel Woman of Achievement Award. She was escorted by Oliver Conn.

Justin Yeager was given the Escort Award for escorting Amber Daugherty, who represented Zeta Chi Lambda.

Parade of Favorites is an annual, student-led, talent showcase at Lee University. Various campus clubs and organizations select representatives to compete on the clubs behalf. This years theme was Illuminate. Cierra Motes directed the event and was assisted by MacKenzie Clinton.




Partnership Supports Aer Lingus' Growth Strategy by Driving Increased Direct Bookings and Ancillary Revenues

Boxever, the Customer Intelligence Cloud for marketers, today announced that Aer Lingus, Ireland's only four-star airline, has selected Boxever to help deliver on its promise of industry leading guest experience. Aer Lingus partnered with Boxever because of their deep expertise in the travel industry, proven track record in working with the world's leading airlines and best-of-breed technology.

Aer Lingus is using Boxever's Customer Intelligence Cloud to harness guest data, including historical, behavioral and purchasing insights to gain a holistic view across digital and offline channels. Quite simply, this allows Aer Lingus to better anticipate and deliver on the needs of its guests, creating a true personalized customer journey.

"We are delighted to partner with Aer Lingus, our country's national airline, to empower them to deliver a highly-personalized customer experience," said Dave O'Flanagan, CEO of Boxever. "In this industry, airlines have a two-fold challenge: exceeding the demands of today's traveler, while also innovating to stay ahead of the competition. By partnering with Boxever to analyze and act upon its customer data, Aer Lingus can improve the overall travel experience, increase brand loyalty and drive new sources of revenue. The initial deployment of Boxever in Aer Lingus significantly exceeded revenue targets and we are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership."

Known for its exceptional service and value prices, Aer Lingus has been providing stand-out travel experiences for over 80 years. It is the first and only Irish airline to receive a 4-Star rating from Skytrax, the world's leading airline and airport rating organization. Given the changing landscape of customer expectations, the airline recognized the need to extend this level of service across all points in the customer journey.

"We put our guests at the center of everything we do at Aer Lingus," said Mike Rutter, Chief Operating Officer at Aer Lingus. "To continue delivering on our mission of providing a superior guest experience, we needed a partner that would help us capture data that allows us to anticipate the needs of our guests along their journey and create a personalized engagement across all channels. Boxever built trust and credibility with our team by developing a program that leveraged the company's rich history in travel, domain experience and industry-leading Customer Intelligence platform."

To learn more about Boxever's Customer Intelligence Cloud, please go to http://www.boxever.com/solution-overview/.

About Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland, founded in 1936. It operates 63 aircraft on routes to destinations in the UK, Europe and North America and carries more than 12 million guests per annum. Aer Lingus is Ireland's only 4-Star airline, awarded by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organisation. Its mission is to become the leading value carrier operating across the North Atlantic. Its home base is Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world's largest airline groups.

About Boxever

Boxever is the Customer Intelligence Cloud for marketers.

It connects all of your customer, product and operational data, putting your customer at the center of your business and enabling true 1:1 personalization. This results in lower acquisition costs, accelerated conversion rates, improved customer engagement and higher lifetime value. Using artificial intelligence, it acts as the "brain" within your customer-tech ecosystem, taking in all data about the customer, deciding what should happen next and executing that action through the most appropriate channels in real time, as it happens.

Today, leading brands from all across the globe including Emirates, Air New Zealand, eDreams ODIGEO, Cebu Pacific, Viva Aerobus and Brussels Airlines rely on Boxever to help acquire, convert and retain customers. The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at www.boxever.com or follow us on Twitter @Boxever.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005318/en/

Contacts:

PAN Communications for Boxever

Kate Connors, +1 617-502-4346

boxever@pancomm.com
Arbor's portfolio of mitigation products answers the challenge of dynamic DDoS threats at a value-added cost

SANTA CLARA, California, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) mitigation products industry, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Arbor Networks with the 2017 Global Market Leadership Award for its product solutions in this space. Arbor Networks was founded in 2000, and as of 2016, held a 61% market share in the DDoS mitigation products market. Arbor was acquired in 2015 by NetScout Systems, making Arbor Networks the official security division of NetScout.

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/598268/Arbor_Networks_Award.jpg

DDoS attacks have emerged as one of the top concerns of the digital transformation era. Digital transformation describes the global trend of smart devices, hyper-connectivity, and Big Data and analytics that will usher in vast public economic and social benefits. The Internet of Things (IoT) is one aspect of this new world, where all manner of consumer devices, industrial systems, and communications systems are interconnected, interoperable, and able to intercommunicate without any need for human intervention.

"As the threat from DDoS attacks rise, the need for mitigation products has also risen. However, because attackers are constantly modifying their strategies and refining their techniques, end users need mitigation solutions that can adapt within this dynamic environment," said Senior Industry Analyst Chris Rodriguez. "While DDoS threat protection is vital for companies today, customers are concerned about cost versus value. Arbor Networks recognizes this and offers updated pricing models, deployment flexibility, and fully managed services to meet these value-centric concerns. The company has also virtualized its entire DDoS portfolio for support of customer SDN and NFV environments, introduced low-cost appliances, and new virtual solutions that start at sub-100Mb capacity," said Rodriguez.

Arbor Networks' diverse and comprehensive DDoS mitigation portfolio solutions include:

Arbor Networks SP solutions , which provide scalable on-premises detection of attacks and can be deployed as hardware appliances or software. The company also offers Arbor APS for real-time detection of application-layer attacks, including stealthy attacks such as Slowloris.

, which provide scalable on-premises detection of attacks and can be deployed as hardware appliances or software. The company also offers for real-time detection of application-layer attacks, including stealthy attacks such as Slowloris. Arbor Networks TMS appliances can be deployed in-line for instant detection and mitigation of attacks, offering up to 160 Gbps of performance per single appliance or clustered to make a scrubbing center with up to 8 Tbps of dedicated bandwidth for attack mitigation. Arbor TMS is the DDoS mitigation solution of choice for global network operators.

appliances can be deployed in-line for instant detection and mitigation of attacks, offering up to 160 Gbps of performance per single appliance or clustered to make a scrubbing center with up to 8 Tbps of dedicated bandwidth for attack mitigation. Arbor TMS is the DDoS mitigation solution of choice for global network operators. Arbor Cloud is a fully managed DDoS mitigation service promoting best practice hybrid defense. It includes a suite of on-premise appliances and virtual offerings that are connected to an on-demand scrubbing service with up to 4 Tbps of attack mitigation capacity (and the company plans to expand this to 8 Tbps in 2017). This integrated and automated capability significantly reduces time to mitigation for DDoS attacks.

is a fully managed DDoS mitigation service promoting best practice hybrid defense. It includes a suite of on-premise appliances and virtual offerings that are connected to an on-demand scrubbing service with up to 4 Tbps of attack mitigation capacity (and the company plans to expand this to 8 Tbps in 2017). This integrated and automated capability significantly reduces time to mitigation for DDoS attacks. Arbor Managed APS is an Arbor Cloud offering that is designed to help businesses with limited IT staff or technological maturity.

Arbor is so effective at detecting potential threats due to its ATLASthreat intelligence system, which gathers and analyzes threat data from information shared by its large installed base of over four hundred service provider customers. The Arbor Networks research team then develops threat protections that are automatically propagated to its products via the ATLAS Intelligence Feed, providing customers with a robust defense against malware, botnets and DDoS threats.

Arbor Networks has firmly established itself as the DDoS mitigation products market leader by delivering a robust and integrated portfolio of products, services, and features. Furthermore, the company's attention to customer value and a clear strategy to mitigate future attacks indicates the company's staying power as the leading provider of DDoS mitigation products. For these reasons, Arbor Networks has earned Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Global Market Leadership Award.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which in turn raises customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Arbor Networks

Arbor Networks, the security division ofNETSCOUT, is driven to protect the infrastructure and ecosystem of the internet. It is the principle upon which we were founded in 2000; and remains the common thread that runs through all that we do today. Arbor's approach is rooted in the study of network traffic. Arbor's suite of visibility, DDoS protection and advanced threat solutions provide customers with a micro view of their network enhanced by a macro view of global internet traffic and emerging threats through our ATLAS infrastructure. Sourced from more than 300 service provider customers, ATLAS delivers intelligence based on insight into approximately 1/3 of global internet traffic. Supported by Arbor's Security Engineering & Response Team (ASERT), smart workflows and rich user context, Arbor's network insights help customers see, understand and solve the most complex and consequential security challenges facing their organizations.

To learn more about Arbor products and services, please visit our website atarbornetworks.comor follow on Twitter@ArborNetworks. Arbor's research, analysis and insight is shared via theASERT blog.For a global data visualization of DDoS attacks that leverages our ATLAS intelligence, visit theDigital Attack Map, a collaboration with Jigsaw, an incubator within Alphabet, Google's parent company.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Samantha Park

P: 210.348.1001

F: 210.348.1003

E: Samantha.Park@frost.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) ("Finning" or the "Company") reported third quarter 2017 results today. All monetary amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

HIGHLIGHTS

-- Q3 2017 EPS(1) of $0.31 per share included an early debt redemption premium of $0.04. Adjusted EPS(2)(3) of $0.35 was up nearly 60% from Q3 2016 on a 16% increase in revenue. -- Canada achieved EBIT(1) margin of 7.9%, driven by operational leverage on increased volumes. -- South America reported 12% growth in product support revenue in functional currency from Q3 2016. -- SG&A(1) as a percentage of revenue declined by 240 basis points from Q3 2016. -- Working capital to sales ratio(2) improved by over 300 basis points from Q3 2016, driven by working capital efficiencies in all operations. -- Adjusted return on invested capital(2)(3) increased compared to 2016, as a result of higher earnings and improved capital efficiency.

"I am pleased with continued improvement in our financial performance, supported by strengthening activity in our key markets," said Scott Thomson, President and CEO of Finning. "While pricing remains highly competitive, the reduced cost structure and operational discipline is having a positive impact on profitability. In addition, our working capital metrics continue to improve as we optimize our global supply chain while capitalizing on growing demand for parts and equipment. As a result, we are achieving a higher return on invested capital across all our regions," concluded Mr. Thomson.

Q3 2017 FINANCIAL SUMMARY

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarterly Overview $ millions, except per share amounts Q3 2017 Q3 2016 % change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 1,547 1,333 16 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT 103 73 42 EBIT margin 6.6% 5.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA(1)(2) 149 119 26 EBITDA margin(2) 9.6% 8.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 52 36 41 EPS 0.31 0.22 41 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted net income(2)(3) 59 36 59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EPS 0.35 0.22 59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free cash flow(2) 22 163 (87) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q3 2017 EBIT and EBITDA by Operation $ millions, except per South UK & Corporate Finning share amounts Canada America Ireland & Other Total EPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT / EPS 59 47 11 (14) 103 0.31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Early debt redemption premium (finance costs) - - - - - 0.04 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EPS 0.35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT margin 7.9% 8.5% 4.1% - 6.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 84 60 18 (13) 149 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA margin 11.4% 11.1% 6.5% - 9.6% ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Included in Q3 2017 results was the redemption cost incurred on the early redemption of the $350 million 6.02% Medium Term Notes due June 1, 2018. Both the principal and the redemption cost related to this debt were paid in October 2017. Management does not consider this significant item indicative of operational and financial trends either by nature or amount. There were no significant items identified by management to adjust the Company's results in Q3 2016.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q3 2016 EBIT and EBITDA by Operation $ millions, except per South UK & Corporate Finning share amounts Canada America Ireland & Other Total EPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT / EPS 37 40 10 (14) 73 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT margin 5.9% 8.7% 3.8% - 5.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 61 55 17 (14) 119 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA margin 9.8% 11.9% 6.5% - 8.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Revenues increased by 16% from Q3 2016, with higher revenues across all regions and lines of business. New equipment sales were up 25%, reflecting strengthening activity levels and improved demand for new equipment in the Company's key markets. Product support revenues grew by 13%, driven by higher parts sales across all regions and market segments. -- Gross profit rose by 10% over Q3 2016. Gross profit margin of 26.3% was below 27.7% in Q3 2016 due to a shift in revenue mix to a higher percentage of new equipment sales and continued competitive pricing pressures in all regions. -- EBIT rose by $30 million or 42% from Q3 2016 on a 16% increase in revenue, driven by improved operating leverage in Canada and UK & Ireland. SG&A as a percentage of revenue declined by 240 basis points from Q3 2016 to 19.8%, reflecting leverage of incremental revenues on fixed costs. -- EPS was $0.31 per share, up from $0.22 per share in Q3 2016. Excluding an early redemption premium of $9 million or $0.04 per share related to the redemption of the $350 million Medium Term Notes in October 2017, Adjusted EPS was $0.35. -- Q3 2017 free cash flow of $22 million was below Q3 2016 due to inventory purchases to meet stronger demand, as well as higher receivable balances from increased sales and timing of collections. -- Equipment backlog(2) was $900 million, unchanged from Q2 2017, but almost double the backlog in Q3 2016, reflecting improved order intake(2) over the recent quarters. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invested Capital(2)and ROIC(1) Q3 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invested capital($ millions) Consolidated 3,083 2,797 2,917 Canada 1,746 1,595 1,650 South America (U.S. dollars) 852 741 778 UK & Ireland (U.K. pound sterling) 182 130 148 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invested capital turnover(2)(times) 2.02 1.90 1.85 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted ROIC (%) Consolidated 12.0 9.3 9.2 Canada 12.3 9.3 8.7 South America 16.4 15.0 15.6 UK & Ireland 13.7 5.9 3.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- An increase in invested capital compared to Q4 2016 was mostly the result of higher inventory levels to meet strengthening demand for parts and equipment. In Canada, rapid growth in product support and component rebuild activity resulted in higher parts and internal service work in progress inventories, as well as an increase in accounts receivable. Parts and internal service work in progress inventories were also higher South America, in line with improving demand for product support. An increase in new equipment inventories was driven primarily by South America and UK & Ireland. -- The Company continues to make progress in transforming its global supply chain to improve working capital efficiencies. Despite higher inventory levels, inventory turns and working capital to sales ratio continued to improve from the end of 2016. Inventory turns of 2.60 times were up from 2.49 times in Q4 2016, and working capital to sales ratio of 28.3% improved from 30.4% in Q4 2016. -- Invested capital turnover rose to 2.02 times from 1.90 times in Q4 2016, driven primarily by higher revenues and working capital efficiencies. -- Adjusted ROIC increased compared to 2016, as a result of higher earnings and improved capital efficiency.

Q3 2017 HIGHLIGHTS BY OPERATION

All comparisons are to Q3 2016 unless otherwise stated.

Canada

-- Revenues increased by 19%, with higher revenues in all lines of business and across key markets. New equipment sales were up 21%, driven by higher sales to mining and construction customers. Product support revenues grew by 19%, reflecting stronger demand for parts and component rebuilds in the oil sands and other mining regions, improved activity in construction markets, as well as higher engine parts sales and overhaul work in the oil and gas sector. Used and rental equipment revenues benefitted from the integrated management of used equipment and rental fleets, as well as a recovery in general construction markets. -- EBIT of $59 million increased by 62%. While markets remained highly competitive, EBIT margin of 7.9% was up from 5.9% in Q3 2016, driven by leverage of incremental revenues on fixed costs. Despite higher variable SG&A costs associated with revenue growth in all lines of business, SG&A as a percentage of revenue declined by 340 basis points from Q3 2016.

South America

-- Revenues were up 19% (up 24% in functional currency, U.S. dollar), with stronger new equipment and parts sales across all market segments. New equipment sales grew by 66% in functional currency, primarily as a result of higher construction equipment sales in Argentina. Product support revenues rose by 12% in functional currency, driven mostly by higher parts and service revenues in the Chilean mining industry. -- EBIT of $47 million was up 16%. EBIT margin of 8.5% was slightly below 8.7% in Q3 2016, mostly due to a significant shift in revenue mix to new equipment sales.

United Kingdom & Ireland

-- Revenues increased by 4% (up 8% in functional currency, U.K. pound sterling), reflecting higher new equipment and parts sales. New equipment sales were up 12% in functional currency, driven by higher power systems revenues in the electric power generation market, and stronger demand for new equipment in general construction segments. Product support revenues increased by 7% in functional currency, as a result of improved parts sales to power systems businesses, particularly marine, and more robust activity in equipment markets. -- EBIT of $11 million and EBIT margin of 4.1% were above Q3 2016 EBIT results, mostly due to higher revenues, improved project execution in power systems, and tight control of SG&A costs. UK & Ireland's Q3 2017 results demonstrated sustainable improvement in operating performance in a robust but highly competitive market.

CORPORATE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Dividend

The Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on December 7, 2017 to shareholders of record on November 23, 2017. This dividend will be considered an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ $ millions, except per share amounts Three months ended Sep 30 Nine months ended Sep 30 ------------------------------------------------------ 2017 2016 % change 2017 2016 % change ------------------------------------------------------ New equipment 535 427 25 1,508 1,319 14 Used equipment 80 72 11 249 271 (8) Equipment rental 63 61 4 168 170 (1) Product support 866 770 13 2,595 2,366 10 Other 3 3 10 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total revenue 1,547 1,333 16 4,530 4,137 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 406 369 10 1,221 1,093 12 Gross profit margin 26.3% 27.7% 27.0% 26.4% SG&A (305) (295) (4) (942) (947) 1 SG&A as a percentage of revenue (19.8)% (22.2)% (20.8)% (22.9)% Equity earnings of joint ventures & associate 2 (1) 6 6 Other income (expenses) - - 2 (5) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBIT 103 73 42 287 147 96 EBIT margin 6.6% 5.4% 6.3% 3.5% Adjusted EBIT(2)(3) 103 73 42 287 203 42 Adjusted EBIT margin(2)(3) 6.6% 5.4% 6.3% 4.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 52 36 41 155 56 176 Basic EPS 0.31 0.22 41 0.92 0.33 176 Adjusted EPS 0.35 0.22 59 0.96 0.60 60 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 149 119 26 426 292 46 EBITDA margin 9.6% 8.9% 9.4% 7.1% Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3) 149 119 26 426 348 23 Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)(3) 9.6% 8.9% 9.4% 8.4% Free cash flow 22 163 (87) (185) 257 (172) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dec 31, Sep 30, 2017 2016 --------------------------- Invested capital 3,083 2,797 Invested capital turnover (times) 2.02 1.90 Net debt to invested capital(2) 37.5% 32.0% ROIC 10.3% 5.6% Adjusted ROIC 12.0% 9.3% ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------

To download Finning's complete Q3 2017 results in PDF, please open the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/FinningQ317results.pdf

Q3 2017 INVESTOR CALL

The Company will hold an investor call on November 7 at 10:00 am Eastern Time. Dial-in numbers: 1-800-319-4610 (Canada and US), 1-416-915-3239 (Toronto area), 1-604-638-5340 (international). The call will be webcast live and archived for three months at http://www.finning.com/en_CA/company/investors.html. Finning no longer provides a phone playback recording; please use the webcast to access the archived call.

ABOUT FINNING

Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) is the world's largest Caterpillar equipment dealer delivering unrivalled service to customers for over 80 years. Finning sells, rents, and provides parts and service for equipment and engines to help customers maximize productivity. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates in Western Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Earnings Before Finance Costs and Income Taxes (EBIT); Basic Earnings per Share (EPS); Earnings Before Finance Costs, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA); Selling, General & Administrative Expenses (SG&A); Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). (2) These financial metrics, referred to as "non-GAAP financial measures" do not have a standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are also referred to herein as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For additional information regarding these financial metrics, including definitions and reconciliations from each of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measure under GAAP, where applicable, see the heading "Description of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations" in the Company's MD&A. Management believes that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides users of the Company's consolidated financial statements with important information regarding the operational performance and related trends of the Company's business. By considering these measures in combination with the comparable IFRS measures set out in the Company's MD&A, management believes that users are provided a better overall understanding of the Company's business and its financial performance during the relevant period than if they simply considered the IFRS measures alone. (3) Certain 2017 and 2016 financial metrics were impacted by significant items management does not consider indicative of operational and financial trends either by nature or amount; these significant items are described on pages 29 to 31 of the Company's MD&A. The financial metrics that have been adjusted to take these items into account are referred to as "Adjusted" metrics. The only significant item adjusted in Q3 2017 was the redemption premium discussed on page 2 of this news release. There were no significant items adjusted in Q3 2016.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER

This report contains statements about the Company's business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other statements that are not historical facts. A statement Finning makes is forward-looking when it uses what the Company knows and expects today to make a statement about the future. Forward-looking statements may include words such as aim, anticipate, assumption, believe, could, expect, goal, guidance, intend, may, objective, outlook, plan, project, seek, should, strategy, strive, target, and will. Forward-looking statements in this report include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to markets and activities and the associated impact on the Company's financial results, and the optimization of its global supply chain. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws.

Unless otherwise indicated by us, forward-looking statements in this report reflect Finning's expectations as at the date of this report. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, Finning does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements and that Finning's business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other statements that are not historical facts may not be achieved. As a result, Finning cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements include: general economic and market conditions; foreign exchange rates; commodity prices; the level of customer confidence and spending, and the demand for, and prices of, Finning's products and services; Finning's ability to maintain its relationship with Caterpillar Inc.; Finning's dependence on the continued market acceptance of its products, including Caterpillar products, and the timely supply of parts and equipment; Finning's ability to continue to improve productivity and operational efficiencies while continuing to maintain customer service; Finning's ability to manage cost pressures as growth in revenue occurs; Finning's ability to reduce costs in response to slowing activity levels; Finning's ability to attract sufficient skilled labour resources as market conditions, business strategy or technologies change; Finning's ability to negotiate and renew collective bargaining agreements with satisfactory terms for Finning's employees and the Company; the intensity of competitive activity; Finning's ability to raise the capital needed to implement its business plan; regulatory initiatives or proceedings, litigation and changes in laws or regulations; stock market volatility; changes in political and economic environments for operations; the integrity, reliability and availability of, and benefits from information technology and the data processed by that technology; and Finning's ability to protect itself from cybersecurity threats or incidents. Forward-looking statements are provided in this report for the purpose of giving information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of Finning's operating environment. However, readers are cautioned that it may not be appropriate to use such forward-looking statements for any other purpose.

Forward-looking statements made in this report are based on a number of assumptions that Finning believed were reasonable on the day the Company made the forward-looking statements. Refer in particular to the Outlook section of the MD&A for forward-looking statements. Some of the assumptions, risks, and other factors which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this report are discussed in Section 4 of the Company's current AIF and in the annual MD&A for the financial risks.

Finning cautions readers that the risks described in the MD&A and the AIF are not the only ones that could impact the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that are currently deemed to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on Finning's business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Except as otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other unusual items or of any dispositions, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date of this report. The financial impact of these transactions and non-recurring and other unusual items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them. Finning therefore cannot describe the expected impact in a meaningful way or in the same way Finning presents known risks affecting its business.

Contacts:

Mauk Breukels

Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs

Phone: (604) 331-4934

Email: mauk.breukels@finning.com

www.finning.com




HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Corridor Resources Inc. (TSX: CDH) ("Corridor") is pleased to announce today that the planned controlled source electromagnetic ("CSEM") data program over the Newfoundland and Labrador sector of the Old Harry prospect has been approved by the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board ("C-NLOPB").

The CSEM program, being undertaken by a third-party service provider, is expected to commence in the coming days and be completed by mid-November. The CSEM program will investigate the resistivity of geological prospects, similar to resistivity logging in well bores of potential hydrocarbon zones. Highly resistive layers in a geological structure measured with CSEM technology could indicate hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs and, therefore, may serve to reduce exploration risk and increase the likelihood of finding commercial quantities of hydrocarbons. Corridor expects the final processing and interpretation of the CSEM data to be completed in the first quarter of 2018.

There is a legal challenge by a group led by the David Suzuki Foundation ("Suzuki et al") to the C-NLOPB's decision to grant Corridor exploration licence EL-1153 on the Newfoundland side of Old Harry in January of 2017. The originating application to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador claims that the C-NLOPB "erred in law and acted unreasonably" when it issued Corridor exploration license EL-1153 in exchange for its expiring exploration licence EL-1105. Suzuki et al are asking the Court to confirm that any and all of Corridor's exploration licences on the Newfoundland side of Old Harry have expired.

The C-NLOPB has filed an application objecting to the standing of Suzuki et al on the basis that they are not persons aggrieved by the issuance of EL-1153 and they have no legal stake in the matter of the validity of EL-1153. In addition, the C-NLOPB has filed an affidavit in opposition to the merits of the Suzuki et al originating application. Corridor supports the C-NLOPB's position and has been granted intervener status in the case, as has the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The hearings on the originating application, to be undertaken in the form of a judicial review, and the C-NLOPB's standing application, are expected to be held on December 13-15, 2017. Corridor does not intend to issue any further comment on the proceedings until they are completed, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Corridor is a Canadian junior resource company engaged in the exploration for and development and production of petroleum and natural gas onshore in New Brunswick and offshore in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Corridor currently has natural gas production and reserves in the McCully Field near Sussex, New Brunswick. In addition, Corridor has a shale gas prospect in New Brunswick and an offshore conventional hydrocarbon prospect in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "continuous", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to: business plans and strategies; the CSEM program, including the timing of completion of the CSEM program and of the interpretation of such data, and the benefits from the CSEM data; and timing of the hearing in respect of the challenge of Suzuki et al. of EL-1153.

Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain, are based on estimates and assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties (both general and specific) that contribute to the possibility that the future events or circumstances contemplated by the forward-looking statements will not occur. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which forward-looking statements are based will in fact be realized. Actual results will differ, and the difference may be material and adverse to Corridor and its shareholders.

Forward-looking statements are based on Corridor's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, Corridor concerning the issuance of EL-1153 and the challenge by Suzuki et al of such license by the C-NLOPB, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, future natural gas commodity prices, future natural gas production levels, the ability to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities, the ability to market natural gas successfully to current and new customers, the impact of increasing competition, the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, and the ability to add production and reserves through development and exploration activities. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These factors may be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Corridor's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Corridor does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Contacts:

Steve Moran, President and CEO

Corridor Resources Inc.

(902) 429-4511

(902) 429-0209 (FAX)

www.corridor.ca




Spanish inverter supplier Ingeteam is taking part in a research program deploying drones to inspect existing PV power plants, to spot the causes of underperformance. The SCARAB project is headed by the company and has been provided with almost 650,000 (AU$980,000) in funding from the Spanish government. While advances in PV power plant monitoring in recent years have been providing project owners and investors with a high level of granularity in terms of identifying the causes behind underperformance, there exists a large existing fleet in which problems can go unreported. Spain's Ingeteam is looking to address this challenge, in a new program which will deploy drones to inspect modules in situ. Drones equipped with thermographic cameras can pass over a PV array and detect thermal anomalies, indicating faulty modules or even cells. Unusually elevated temperature in cells and modules can indicate cracked cells, poor cell interconnectivity, ...

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.
DETROIT, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Stratview Research announces the launch of a new market research report on Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market by Aircraft Type (Combat Aircraft, Helicopter, and UAV), by System Type (Hose & Drogue and Boom & Receptacle), by Component Type (Refueling Pods, Refueling Probes, Drogues, Hoses, Boom, and Others), by End-User Type (OE and Aftermarket), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2017-2022.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160831/402975LOGO )



This market report, from Stratview Research, studies the aerial refueling systems market over the period 2011 to 2022. The research report provides detailed insights on the market dynamics to enable informed business decision making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

Aerial Refueling Systems Market in the Global AerospaceIndustry: Highlights

As per Stratview Research, the global aerial refueling systems market offers sustainable growth opportunity of 3.7% CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022 and reach an estimated $576.4 million in 2022. The author of the report stated that increasing demand for tanker aircraft, owing to rising defense budgets in the developing economies and expected replacement of old tanker aircraft fleet of KC-135 in the USA; emergence of multirole aircraft tankers; increasing demand for long-run military jets for special purpose missions; and rising tanker fleet size are the major growth drivers of the global aerial refueling systems market.

The research's findings suggest that combat aircraft is likely to remain the growth engine of the aerial refueling systems market during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022.UAV segment is likely to witness the highest growth during the forecast period, driven by increasing production of long-range UAVs.

Based on system type, Hose & Drogue is expected to remain the largest and fastest-growing system type in the aerial refueling systems market during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022, driven by its low cost and ease in refueling.

Register Here and Ask for a Free Sample on the Report

In terms of component type, boom is projected to remain the dominant component of the aerial refueling systems market over the next five years, whereas hose is likely to be the fastest-growing component type during the same period, driven by both OE and aftermarket.

As per the study, North America is expected to remain the largest aerial refueling systems market during the forecast period. The USA is likely to remain the growth engine of the North American aerial refueling systems market, propelled by high defense budget, large tanker aircraft fleet (KC-135), and expected replacement of old aircraft fleet with new KC-46 tanker aircraft in the coming years. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the highest growth during the same period. Increasing defense budget of major Asian markets, such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea; and good order size of tanker aircraft are likely to drive the demand for aerial refueling systems in the region.

Major aerial refueling system manufacturers globally are Cobham Plc., Eaton Corporation, Zodiac Aerospace, GE Aviation, and Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group. Developing high-performance aerial refueling systems and components and building long-term relations with the customers are the key strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report has segmented the aerial refueling systems market in five ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. The following are the five ways in which the market is segmented:

Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market, by Aircraft Type

Combat Aircraft (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Helicopter (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

UAV(Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market, by System Type

Hose and Drogue ( Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Boom and Receptacle(Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market, by Component Type

Refueling Pods ( Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Refueling Probes (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Drogues (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Hoses (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Boom (Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Others(Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market, by End-User Type

OE ( Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Aftermarket(Regional Analysis: NA, Europe , APAC, and RoW)

Global Aerial Refueling Systems Market, by Region

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , and Rest of North America )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , The UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World(Country Analysis: Latin America , The Middle East , and Others)

Stratview Research has number of high value market reports in the global aerospace & defense industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

Click Here for Other Reports from Stratview Research in the Aerospace & Defense Industry

Some of our other premium market reports in the aerospace & defense industry:

Global Aircraft Fuel Systems Market by Aircraft Type (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, and UAV), by Engine Type (Jet Engine, Turboprop Engine, Helicopter Engine, and UAV Engine), by Component Type (Piping, Inerting Systems, Fuel Pumps, Fuel Valves, Fuel Gauging and Management System, Fuel Filters, Fuel Tanks, and Others), by Technology Type (Fuel Injection, Pump Feed Technology, and Gravity Feed Technology), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2017-2022



Global Aerospace & Defense Fluid Conveyance Systems Market by Aircraft Type (Commercial Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, General Aviation, Helicopter, Military Aircraft, and Others), by Application Type (Fuel, Air, and Hydraulic), by Product Type (Hoses, Low-Pressure Ducts, and High-Pressure Ducts), by Materials Type (Nickel & Alloys, Titanium & Alloys, Stainless Steel & Alloys, Composites, and Others), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2017-2022

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

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MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- KP Tissue Inc. ("KPT") (TSX: KPT), which holds a limited partnership interest in Kruger Products L.P. ("KPLP"), will release the financial results for KPT and KPLP for the third quarter of 2017 on Wednesday November 8, 2017 before the market opens. KPT will hold its conference call the same day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

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.


SEOUL (dpa-AFX) - US President Donald Trump has made an earnest appeal to North Korea to 'come to the table' to discuss giving up its nuclear weapons and to 'do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for the people of the world'.



Trump made that call in the South Korean capital Seoul Tuesday under a veiled warning about the overpowering military and nuclear strength of the United States with support from its regional ally.



'You know we have sent three of our largest aircraft carriers in the world and they are right now positioned. We have a nuclear submarine also positioned. We have many things happening that we hope to God that we never have to use,' Trump said in a joint conference with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in.



'I really believe it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and to make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world,' he told reporters.



Earlier, at their bilateral summit at the presidential office, the two presidents agreed to completely remove the limit on the payload of South Korean ballistic missiles and discuss Seoul's introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons.



Trump also said that Seoul would be ordering 'billions of dollars' in military equipment from the US, which, according to Moon, would enhance South Korea's defense capabilities.



Trump arrived in South Korea from Japan earlier Tuesday on the second leg of his five-nation Asia tour. He is the first U. S. president to pay a state visit to the country in a quarter century.



Tuesday's conciliatory tone was different from what he used against Pyongyang in the recent past.



After his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, Trump told reporters that Japan could shoot North Korean missiles 'out of the sky' with military equipment bought from the US.



The same day, he sent a request to the Congress for an additional $4 billion to support urgent missile defeat and defense enhancements to counter the threat from North Korea.



Provoked by North Korea's ballistic missile tests in recent months targeting his country, the US President had told the UN General Assembly in September that if forced to defend itself or its allies, the United States would totally destroy the Communist nation.



The North Korean leader retorted by warning that Trump will 'pay dearly' for it.



The Pentagon had mooted an idea of ground invasion to locate and secure all of North Korea's nuclear weapons sites.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Melior Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MLR) ("Melior" or the "Company") today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Goondicum Resources Pty Limited, has signed an off-take agreement (the "Agreement") to supply apatite fertilizer to SOFT Agriculture Pty Limited ("SOFT"), an organic agri-products manufacturer based in Australia.

"We are extremely pleased to have entered into a long-term off-take agreement with SOFT given its commitment to organic farming," said Mark McCauley, President and CEO of Melior Resources. "The agreement is a testament to the quality of our apatite product and our ability to penetrate the fast-growing organic farming market."

Under the terms of the agreement SOFT will purchase 100% of Melior's production volume at a price which is 50% higher than the price Goondicum previously received for this product reflecting the increasing demand for Goondicum apatite's unique attributes. The Agreement will continue for the earlier of the life of the Goondicum ilmenite mine or 10 years.

SOFT is a rapidly growing organic fertilizer manufacturer based in northern New South Wales and supplies a range of organic fertilizer and stock feed products to the Australian agricultural industry. SOFT has been the primary customer for Melior in previous operational periods and possesses proprietary technology which processes the raw apatite from the Goondicum mine into a high value organic fertilizer.

Apatite from the Goondicum ilmenite mine is a high P2O5, refractory phosphate rock which is unique in its mineralogical and physical characteristics. Goondicum apatite has no cadmium or lead content and is chemically very clean, making it ideal for organic fertilizer and stock feed manufacture. Being a refractory rock means Goondicum apatite is a slow release phosphate source and, as a result, its use is not detrimental to waterways and adjacent areas to where it is applied.

About Melior

Melior is the owner and operator of the Goondicum ilmenite mine, a past-producing ilmenite and apatite mine strategically located in Queensland Australia. Further details on Melior and the Goondicum ilmenite mine can be found at www.meliorresources.com and regulatory filings are available on SEDAR.

Melior is incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and has a registered office in Toronto, Ontario. Melior is classified as a Tier 1 Mining Issuer under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer

Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking and therefore subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements can typically be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "possible", "continue", "objective" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Melior does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements; such statements speak only as at the date made.

Going Concern Risk

As described in Melior's most recent MD&A, the continuing operations of the Company are dependent upon its ability to continue to raise adequate financing, to commence profitable operations in the future, and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations as they become due. There remains a significant risk that the Company is unable to find alternative sources of financing for on-going working capital requirements. These material uncertainties cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Failure to obtain sufficient financing could result in a delay or abandonment of the Goondicum ilmenite mine and could force the Company into reorganization, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. Additional financing may not be available when needed or, if available, the terms of such financing might not be favourable to the Company and might involve substantial dilution to existing shareholders. Failure to raise capital when needed would have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to pursue its business strategy, and accordingly could negatively impact the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

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.

Contacts:

MELIOR RESOURCES INC.

Mark McCauley

Chief Executive Officer

+61 7 3233 6300

info@meliorresources.com




LOS ANGELES, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

While it is unclear who will capitalize most from Canada's move to legalize pot in July of 2018, it seems that licensed producers (LPs) are still key.

Not surprisingly, they continue to offer the best value in the space to date.

Leading companies already heavily investing in this area include Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED) (OTC: TWMJF), Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTC: OGRMF), and MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF).

The public LPs are generally the most advanced in terms of attaining revenue and profitability. Many of these companies have grown and harvested many crops and have an established customer base for their products.

Investors like the security that this group holds and are showing their favor.

Likely the best known for its high profile in production is Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED) (OTC: TWMJF). Its stock was as high as $13 per share in February of 2017, but has returned to the $10 level. It is on most investors' watch lists.

Several other competitors have entered the market to offer similar promise.

Other cannabis LPs joining the race to produce include Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTCQB: APHQF), which is establishing itself as the lowest cost producer, Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTCQB: OGRMF), who are focused on producing the highest quality marijuana in Canada, along with MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. (CSE: MYM) (OTCQB: MYMMF), that is developing two production operations including a mega facility bigger than any producer to date.

BIG STAKES

Although it is still in the early going, Canada's fledgling marijuana industry has shown unbelievable potential for generating wealth and increasing the country's economy.

Deloitte estimates the market has a base retail value between $4.9 billion-$8.7 billion, which would rival the size of the Canadian alcohol market, currently pegged at $5 billion annually.

Vivien Azer of Cowen & Co. said in a recent report, "When you consider ancillaries such as growers, testing labs, security, etc., the economic impact could range from $12.7 to $22.6 billion."

That figure doesn't account for impact on other area like taxes and tourism etc.

According to researchers, in order to meet the low end of the estimates for the adult-use market, Canada would have to produce over 600,000 kg of cannabis a year.

Looking at the entire industry the numbers are even more over staggering.

The cannabis plant derivative Cannabidiol (CBD), which is legal in all 50 US states and Canada, was responsible for $170 million in the US 2016 and is projected to hit $1 billion by 2020.

The American marijuana industry as a whole is expected to hit $50 billion by 2026.

Any way you slice it, there are big stakes up for grabs in the growers and producers sector.

The significant increase in demand over current production capacities is key in driving the rush to build new and better grow facilities.

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST

To accommodate expansion, the cannabis industry is in a race to build the biggest, best, most sophisticated greenhouses in the world.

The early lead goes to Canopy's Tweed facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which covers 350,000 square feet of greenhouse space. It is at present the world's largest marijuana greenhouse.

On its heels is Aurora Cannabis, which began work on their Leduc facility near the Edmonton Airport. This entry is designed to be more than double the size of Canopy at a gigantic 800,000 square feet of growing space.

That equates to a grow capacity of 100,000 kgs of cannabis annually.

Next in line is AmeriCann Inc. who have announced plans to build the largest cannabis greenhouse facility in the USA. This behemoth will cover roughly 1 million square feet and located in Massachusetts.

But, here's where MYM leapfrogs all of their plans: MYM Nutraceuticals and its majority-owned subsidiary CannCanada signed an exclusive deal with the Quebec municipality of Weedon to build a 1.5 million-square-foot cannabis production facility, consisting of fifteen 100,000-square-foot-greenhouses.

As envisioned, this massive marijuana operation will be one of the largest grow operations on the planet with the potential to produce over 150,000 kgs of cannabis per year-or roughly $750,000,000 worth annually at current market value.

Ironically, all of this increase in production will still not likely result in enough marijuana to fill the massive demands in a post legalized environment.

MYM TAKES UP ROOT

MYM Nutraceuticals sees itself as a long-term player, and so they have made their efforts part of the communities they plan to work in.

This has been a real win for MYM.

The developing cannabis producer has worked in tandem with the municipality in Weedon to create jobs and spark an entire industry in the process. Weedon itself has gone so far as to commit to acquiring the 329 acres of land for MYM to establish its mega facilities.

The first phase of the Weedon plan, which accounts for 300,000 square feet of greenhouse space, has both architectural and security plans completed. The additional four phases that will see the complete build out are in development.

MYM has advanced on another Quebec-based project, with the recent approval and permitting to begin construction on the company's smaller facility in Laval. This operation will have the capacity of producing 1,000 kgs of cannabis annually. It's scheduled for completion by the end of Q4 2017.

Along with growing and cultivation at Weedon and Laval, the company is advancing formulation and production to support branding and distribution of its entities Joshua Tree, MyHemp Skin Therapy, and HempMed offerings.

MYM appears well diversified.

Out of all the noise in this space, the leaders are emerging. LPs seem to the obvious choice and are gaining ground fast.

MYM Nutraceuticals is on a fast track.

The company has been building its brand and distribution, alongside its growth and product quality. They've combined this with experienced management and channel partners who can contribute to them becoming one of solid players in the LPs category.

POTENTIAL COMPARABLES

Aphria (TSX: APH) (OTCQB: APHQF)

Aphria Inc., boasts itself as one ofCanada'slowest cost producers, that produces, supplies and sells medical cannabis. Located inthe greenhouse capital of Canada, Leamington, Ontario, Aphria provides pharma-grade medical cannabis, and quality patient care. Aphria was the first public LP to report positive cash flow from operations, and the first to report positive earnings in consecutive quarters.

Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: OGI) (OTCQB: OGRMF)

Organigram Holdings Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange listed company whose wholly owned subsidiary, Organigram Inc., is a licensed producer of medical marijuana in Canada. Organigram is focused on producing the highest quality, condition specific medical marijuana for patients in Canada. Organigram's facility is located in Moncton, New Brunswick and the Company is regulated by the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.

Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX: WEED.TO) (OTC: TWMJF)

The granddaddy of the corporate cannabis sector, Canopy Growth is the world's largest diversified cannabis company. Canopy boasts a wide offering of distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and capsule forms. Most widely recognized is Canopy's subsidiary Tweed which is the world's most recognized marijuana production brand, as well as an industry educator. Accompanying Tweed in Canopy's portfolio is medical-grade cannabis producers Bedrocan Canada. In total, Canopy Growth's numerous state-of-the-art production facilities total over half a million square feet of GMP-certified indoor and greenhouse production capacity.

For a more in-depth look into MYM you can view the in-depth report at USA News Group:

http://usanewsgroup.com/2017/11/06/the_marijuana_boom_is_here_to_stay-2-2-2/

Article Source:

USA News Group

http://usanewsgroup.com

info@usanewsgroup.com

Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This piece is an advertorial and has been paid for. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. We make no guarantee, representation or warranty and accept no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of USA News Group only and are subject to change without notice. USA News Group assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Furthermore, we assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information, provided within this Report.

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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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For two days, the auction of U.S. Electrical Supplys inventory and equipment became a focus of electricians, retailers, builders and others from all over the United States.

The auction of more than 30,000 items attracted bidders from 26 states and three countries, with Compass Auctions and Real Estate, of Chattanooga, conducting the event.

Our advanced auction methods really pay off when you have a business liquidation or major undertaking like this one, with thousands of items to be sold.

Because the business was closing, the auction also included forklifts, scissor lifts and other items used for managing the warehouse, she said.

The concept of using the auction method provided the ability to sell numerous, differing assets in the same event. Our aim was to achieve the best possible scenario for the sellers, and they have assured us that the auction surpassed their expectations. Nothing is more important than that, said Ms. Holt.

Bill McFerrin, owner of US Electric, said he was delighted with the outcome. The net results were beyond my wildest dreams, he said.

The company is currently lining up auctions for fall and winter. Individuals seeking additional information may visit SoldonCompass.com or call 800 729-6466.

Compass Auctions and Real Estate is Tennessees only certified Womens Business Enterprise woman-owned auction and real estate company. The firm has more than 50 years of combined experience in government surplus, heavy equipment, vehicles, land and charitable auctions. It also has locations in Nashville and Lebanon, Tn., as well as in western Kentucky.
VAL-D'OR, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Note to editors: A photo is associated with this press release.

Cartier Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ECR) ("Cartier") is pleased to announce results of the 5NE Zone from its 25,000-m ongoing drill program on the Chimo Mine property, located 45 km east of Val-d'Or. The 5NE Zone (5N Structure) was intersected 50 m north of the 5M4 Zone (5M Structure) (FIGURE). The best results are: 26.4 g/t Au over 0.9 m included within 7.6 g/t Au over 3.3 m and 5.4 g/t Au over 1.0 m included within 2.9 g/t Au over 2.4 m (refer to Table below).

These results add to those announced on October 24th from the 5M4 Zone. The latter, situated 700 meters east of the shaft returned: 7.3 g/t Au over 2.2 m included within 2.0 g/t Au over 14.1 m and 5.8 g/t Au over 2.4 m included within 1.5 g/t Au over 14.0 m.

Two new structures, 3E1 and 5BS1, were also intersected (FIGURE). The 3E1 Zone (3 Structure) was intersected 100 m north of the 5NE Zone. The best results returned: 12.5 g/t Au over 1.0 m included within 2.2 g/t Au over 7.3 m (refer to Table below). This intersection is also located approximately 100 m west of a previous drill hole intersection of 44.7 g/t Au over 1.5 m (Societe Miniere Louvem, 1984). The 5BS1 Zone (5BS Structure) returned 0.9 g/t Au over 9.4 m and 0.5 g/t Au over 17.4 m, which suggests that greater volumes of lower grade mineralization can be found peripheral and/or near to the higher-grade gold-bearing zones.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From To Length Au Gold Gold Drill Hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t) Zone Structure ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CH17-12 433.1 434.0 0.9 26.4 5NE 5N ---------------------------------------------------- Included within 430.7 434.0 3.3 7.6 ---------------------------------------------------- CH17-13(i) 367.7 368.7 1.0 5.4 ---------------------------------------------------- Included within 366.3 368.7 2.4 2.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CH17-10 265.2 266.2 1.0 12.5 3E1 3 ---------------------------------------------------- Included within 258.9 266.2 7.3 2.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CH17-07 366.6 384.0 17.4 0.5 5BS1 5BS ---------------------------------------------------- CH17-09 399.4 408.8 9.4 0.9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lengths are expressed along drill core axis. The true thickness was not determined. (i)Results from the northern selvedge of the zone are pending therefore results for this section are partial.

The 5NE, 3E1 and 5BS1 Zones are characterized with biotite-chlorite alteration and arsenopyrite and/or pyrrhotite mineralization, smoky and/or white quartz veining. All other assay results from the two drills active on the property are still pending.

"To date, drill results double the potential volume of the 5NE Zone in this area, mineralization now extends to a depth of 400 meters " commented Philippe Cloutier, President and CEO of Cartier adding, "the new results for gold-bearing zones 5M4, 5NE as well as 3E1 and 5BS1 confirm the potential of the eastern portion of the Chimo Mine property".

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All lengths, mentioned in this press release, were measured along the drill core. The NQ core samples are crushed up to 80% passing 8 mesh sieves and then pulverized up to 90% passing a 200-mesh sieve. Cartier inserts 5% of the number of samples in the form of certified standards and another 5% in the form of sterile samples to ensure quality control. The samples are analyzed at the Techni-Lab laboratory (Actlabs), located in Ste-Germaine-Boule, Quebec. The 50 g pulps are analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption. For samples containing visible gold, 1000 g of rock are directly analyzed by the "Metallic Sieve" method.

The scientific and/or technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Gaetan Lavalliere, P. Geo., Ph. D. and Vice President for Cartier Resources. Mr. Lavalliere is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulatory services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

To view the figure associated with this press release, please visit the following link: https://secure.arkys.com/administration/Customizations/RessourcesCartier/Media.ashx?MediaId=d529d8a1-aea6-4bb0-9dda-dc67c7d3ebf7

Contacts:

Philippe Cloutier, P.Geo.

President and CEO

819 856-0512

philippe.cloutier@ressourcescartier.com

www.ressourcescartier.com



Investor Relations:

Relations Publiques Paradox

514 341-0408




29% Zn Over 51.2 Metres Sampled at the Surface

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2017) - Zinc One Resources Inc. (TSXV: Z) (OTC Pink: ZZOF) (FSE: RH33) ("Zinc One") is pleased to report additional results from an ongoing surface-sampling program at its Bongara Zinc Mine Project in north-central Peru. Highest grades include a surface channel sample (C-008-17) with 31.92% zinc over 32.2 metres, a surface channel sample (C-009-17) that yielded 28.98% zinc over 51.2 metres, and 36.50% zinc over a 6.0-metre depth in an exploration pit (P4-17). They were all located in the southern end of a 1.4-kilometre long trend of zinc mineralization in the area referred to as Mina Grande - Fase C Zone, Click here for map (https://zincone.com/projects/bongara-project/bongarita-mina-chica-samples/).

Jim Walchuck, Zinc One President and CEO commented, "It is important to understand that, as at many areas at the Mina Chica and Bongarita mineralized zones in the northern end of the known mineralization, our pit sampling to date at Fase C did not reach the base, or footwall, of the mineralization. This means that at this time we are unable to accurately determine the apparent thickness of the mineralization in areas with widely-spaced historic drilling, thus providing potential upside for high-grade zinc mineralization. We are optimistic that our surface and pit sampling, combined with the results from our recently-approved drill program, will better delineate and expand the known mineralized zones.

The mineralization of the Fase C zone continues to impress our team with an approximate 100-metre wide zone with high-grade surficial mineralization - a rare and unique combination of two very favourable factors for the development of this project."

Geology and Results

The sampling program commenced at the northern end of the trend of known high-grade, zinc oxide mineralization at or near the surface. The results reported herein include the next phase of samples that are from the Mina Chica zone at the northern end of the trend as well as from the Mina Grande-Fase C zone at the southern end.

The Bongara zinc-oxide mineralization is stratabound and is hosted by carbonate rocks. The host rock at Fase C is principally dolomite and the zinc-oxide mineralization occurs in fractures and as disseminations. Field mapping and observations indicate the mineralization is essentially flat-lying across a north-plunging anticlinal axis at Bongarita, dips approximately 60o eastward along the eastern flank of the anticline at Mina Chica, and appears to be subhorizontal along the anticlinal axis where it possibly plunges southward at Mina Grande - Fase C. Of note is that at the southernmost extent of Fase C, five aligned pits include a soil with anomalous zinc that overlies high-grade, zinc-bearing dolomites whose base was not encountered [click here for map] (https://zincone.com/projects/bongara-project/bongarita-mina-chica-samples/); this geometry supports the notion that many of the pits along the 1.4-kilometre trend whose samples yielded only anomalous zinc may be overlying high-grade zinc zones that were not reached, thus providing for further upside potential. Furthermore, the other pits and surface samples at Fase C, which are located approximately 200 metres northwest of the aforementioned pits, demonstrate that mineralization, whose base was not penetrated, extends at least 125 metres in a northeasterly trend, and is almost 100 metres wide; within this corridor, three historical inclined drill holes are known to have intercepted between 15 and 21 metres (not true thickness) of high-grade zinc mineralization. The tables below highlight select results from Mina Chica and Fase C Zones. Since the true strike and dip of the stratabound mineralization are not certain, the sample thicknesses from the pits do not necessarily represent the true thickness of the mineralized body. Additional maps and a summary of all results are available at www.zincone.com.

MINA CHICA ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Pit Thickness

(m) % Zn PT6-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 24.93 0.04 PT6-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 18.25 0.05 2.00 21.59 P331-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 20.21 0.05 P331-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 29.50 0.04 P331-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 38.61 0.01 P331-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 18.55 0.02 P331-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 20.87 0.02 5.00 25.55

MINA GRANDE FASE C ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Pit Thickness

(m) % Zn P305-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 2.20 0.77 P305-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 2.37 0.94 P305-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 19.12 6.37 P305-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 25.97 1.65 2.00 22.55 P309-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 3.04 0.68 P309-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 2.03 1.02 P309-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 12.45 1.24 P309-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 31.46 1.66 P309-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 27.00 1.90 3.00 23.64 P4-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 48.63 0.87 P4-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 38.83 1.41 P4-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 31.10 1.59 P4-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 26.22 1.75 P4-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 38.65 1.28 P4-17 5.00 6.00 1.00 35.55 1.11 6.00 36.50 P96-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 24.56 5.32 P96-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 34.53 2.97 P96-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 23.47 8.77 P96-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 27.42 2.34 P96-17 4.00 5.00 1.00 32.73 1.27 P96-17 5.00 6.00 1.00 24.06 0.56 6.00 27.80 P22-17 0.00 1.00 1.00 4.45 1.17 P22-17 1.00 2.00 1.00 24.58 10.00 P22-17 2.00 3.00 1.00 40.14 2.79 P22-17 3.00 4.00 1.00 40.00 2.33 3.00 34.91

MINA GRANDE FASE C ZONE

Channel/Pit ID From

(m) To

(m) Length/Thickness

(m) % Zn % Pb Channel Length

(m) % Zn C-008a-17 0.00 2.00 2.00 44.08 1.07 C-008a-17 2.00 4.00 2.00 35.49 0.57 C-008a-17 4.00 6.00 2.00 48.73 0.89 C-008a-17 6.00 8.00 2.00 36.66 0.45 C-008a-17 8.00 10.00 2.00 19.35 1.37 C-008a-17 10.00 12.00 2.00 18.00 1.43 C-008b-17 12.00 14.00 2.00 39.14 0.74 C-008b-17 14.00 16.00 2.00 37.06 0.47 C-008b-17 16.00 18.00 2.00 18.85 0.31 C-008c-17 18.00 20.00 2.00 37.13 0.52 C-008c-17 20.00 22.00 2.00 18.20 0.24 C-008c-17 22.00 24.00 2.00 25.80 1.38 C-008c-17 24.00 26.00 2.00 42.49 0.57 C-008c-17 26.00 28.00 2.00 38.55 0.63 C-008c-17 28.00 30.00 2.00 31.81 0.61 C-008c-17 30.00 32.20 2.20 20.50 4.97 32.20 31.92 C-009-17 0.00 1.50 1.50 36.47 3.75 C-009-17 1.50 4.00 2.50 19.70 5.74 C-009-17 4.00 5.90 1.90 16.65 4.78 C-009-17 5.90 8.00 2.10 33.26 2.69 C-009-17 8.00 10.00 2.00 37.91 3.82 C-009-17 10.00 12.00 2.00 33.18 2.55 C-009-17 12.00 14.00 2.00 43.07 1.49 C-009-17 14.00 16.00 2.00 33.88 1.24 C-009-17 16.00 18.00 2.00 37.46 2.41 C-009-17 18.00 20.00 2.00 39.03 1.09 C-009-17 20.00 22.00 2.00 41.56 1.79 C-009-17 22.00 24.00 2.00 33.81 0.56 C-009-17 24.00 26.00 2.00 40.88 1.35 C-009-17 26.00 28.00 2.00 25.90 1.10 C-009-17 28.00 30.00 2.00 20.70 0.70 C-009-17 30.00 32.00 2.00 6.67 0.45 C-009-17 32.00 34.00 2.00 30.47 0.62 C-009-17 34.00 36.00 2.00 39.19 0.40 C-009-17 36.00 38.20 2.20 30.44 0.52 C-009-17 38.20 40.40 2.20 14.40 0.46 C-009-17 40.40 42.60 2.20 3.47 0.35 C-009-17 42.60 44.90 2.30 9.19 0.39 C-009-17 44.90 46.90 2.00 40.10 1.20 C-009-17 46.90 48.90 2.00 33.21 1.46 C-009-17 48.90 51.20 2.30 33.36 2.00 51.20 28.98

Sampling and Analytical Protocols

Zinc One follows a systematic and rigorous Quality Control/Quality Assurance program overseen by Zinc One's Chief Operating Officer, Bill Williams.

Surface sampling in outcrops is a manual channel sample; in the case of pits, the sample is channeled vertically. The sample is photographed. The sample is placed into a pre-labeled, plastic bag, properly sealed, and identified with a unique sample number. At the project site, Zinc One independently inserts certified control standards, blanks, and duplicates, all of which comprise approximately 30% of the sample batch, to monitor sample preparation and analytical quality. The samples are stored in a secure area until such time they are shipped to the ALS laboratory in Lima, ISO9001 certified, for preparation and assay. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed, pulverized and then a four-acid digestion is applied, followed by the ICP-AES analytical technique for 33 elements, including lead; zinc is assayed by the same method for values up to 20% and if zinc exceeds 20%, it is analyzed by titration methods. The laboratory also inserts blanks and standards as well as includes duplicate analyses.

About Zinc One Resources Inc.

Zinc One is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of prospective and advanced zinc projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. Zinc One's key assets are the Bongara Mine and Charlotte-Bongara Zinc Projects in north-central Peru. The Bongara Zinc Mine Project was in production from 2007 to 2008, but shut down due to the global financial crisis and concurrent decrease in the zinc price. Past production included 20% zinc grades and recoveries over 90% from surface and near-surface zinc oxide mineralization. High-grade, zinc oxide mineralization is known to outcrop between the mined area and the Charlotte-Bongara Zinc-Oxide Project, which is nearly six kilometres to the NNW and where past drilling intercepted various near-surface zones with high-grade zinc. Zinc One is managed by a proven team of geologists and engineers who have previously constructed and operated successful mining operations.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Bill Williams, COO and Director of Zinc One, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

For more information, please contact:

Monica Hamm

VP, Investor Relations

Zinc One Resources Inc.

Phone: (604) 974-5274

Email: mhamm@zincone.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Zinc One cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Zinc One's limited operating history, its proposed exploration and development activities on the Bongara Zinc Oxide Project and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Zinc One does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Weyland Tech, Inc. (OTCQX: WEYL) ("Weyland" or "Company"), a provider of mobile business applications, announced updates on the progress of its mobile wallet initiative first discussed on November 2, 2017.

"I am quite pleased with the rapid progress we are making with our mobile wallet development. This is one of our largest initiatives and is going to impact every area of the Company's operations," declared Brent Suen, Weyland's CEO, on the update. Mr. Suen continued, "Developing the mobile wallet platform will be a revenue driver in its own right and also by enabling transactions throughout CreateApp. The team we have secured has a track record of enabling over $100 Million in payments. Given Worldpay's projections of $10 billion in mobile ecommerce growth through 2021 in Indonesia alone (select Indonesia), we believe Weyland's 'AtozPay,' based on superior QR codes will do similarly well to the team's previous efforts."

"We are starting with AtozPay in Indonesia because the market is highly fragmented and the Emerging Asia region is the epicenter of digital payments growth. As an addition to CreateApp, the mobile wallet functions will enable transactions on the platform and we expect that to be an additional revenue driver separate from the standalone AtozPay platform we announced last week," concluded Mr. Suen.

Weyland Tech has acquired a complete team in Jakarta that includes developers, marketing and sales, sales support and a general manager with 22 years of experience in tech project management to comprise the AtozPay team. The group based out of Jakarta developed a complete mobile payments solution over the course of 14 months and advanced from $0 to $100 million in top line revenue.

"We are excited to be able to keep this team together; their previous project was a scratch card based mobile system. This new project will be QR code based in line with what we are seeing in mobile wallets throughout the region," noted Weyland's COO Eddie Foong.

"We have been fortunate that the team has been working on the wallet while we were in negotiations for them to come on board, so we are also able to provide a first look at the front end today," added Mr. Foong.

Weyland looks forward to providing additional updates as the platform progresses.

About Weyland Tech Inc.

Weyland Tech's CreateApp platform is focused on the Asia markets. Our CreateApp platform offered in 12 languages, enables small and medium sized businesses ("SMB's") to create native mobile applications ("APP") for Apple's iOS and Google Android without technical knowledge or background. Empowering SMB's to increase sales, reach more customers and promote their products and services via simple easy to build mobile APPs in an affordable and cost-effective manner.

Follow Weyland Tech online at:

Weyland Tech Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/weylandtech)

Weyland Tech Twitter Feed (https://twitter.com/weylandtechinc)

Weyland Tech LinkedIn Page (https://linkedin.com/company/weylandtech)

Brent Suen, CEO Public Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/BrentSuenWEYL)

Brent Suen, CEO Public Twitter Feed (https://www.twitter.com/BrentSuenWEYL)

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding: the continued growth of the e-commerce segment and the ability of the Company to continue its expansion into that segment; the ability of the Company to attract customers and partners and generate revenues; the ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plan; the business strategy, plans, and objectives of the Company; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3179118



CONTACT

WEYLAND TECH @:

info@weyland-tech.com

www.weyland-tech.com




BRIDGEWATER, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SSE)(FRANKFURT: S6Q) is pleased to provide an update on field activities at the Kay Mine volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") project ("Kay" or the "Property") in Yavapai County, central Arizona, USA.

During site visits in September and October 2017, two Company representatives, including its internal Qualified Person (QP), have identified and sampled sulphide mineralization from the underground development/production dumps, documented global positioning (GPS) data for geological base maps and historical exploration activity, and conducted tours of the Property with prospective joint venture representatives from production-oriented international mining companies.

The majority of the sulphide-bearing samples were collected from the historic development/production dumps at Shaft #4. Examination of the mineralized material indicated disseminated to semi-massive to massive sulphides, consisting of pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena in banded, lenticular and breccia to replacement textures. Compositional layering from less than 1mm to 2cm in thickness were comprised of pyrite-dominant and base metal-bearing units. Coarse-grained pods and veinlets of chalcopyrite from 1-3cm also infill silicified rhyolite breccias.

"We are impressed by the samples of massive sulphide obtained from the dumps, especially given the very limited shipments of historical mine development material, and enthusiastic about the potential to document and expand the historical resource," stated Karl Boltz, Silver Spruce President and CEO. "The Kay Mine is a polymetallic production opportunity in a geological trend that launched Freeport predecessor, Phelps Dodge, and which has resurfaced after more than thirty years of inactivity."

The Company has developed a two-phase budget to conduct property-scale geophysics to document the two Kay deposits and to target potential downstrike, stacked and folded sulphide accumulations, and to drill up to 6,000 metres to verify and infill the historical drill hole pattern.

Rock samples were collected from exposures across the Kay patent lands and BLM claims, and included altered massive to pillowed andesite to rhyolite metavolcanics, intercalated with tuffs and metasediments, hematite oxide and siliceous iron formation, siliceous exhalite and sulphide-bearing metavolcanics.

The metavolcanic and metasedimentary lithologies displayed evidence of moderate to intense quartz-sericite-chlorite-hematite and possible jarosite alteration and replacement. Sulphides were associated primarily with rhyolite-dacite which exhibited well developed wavy schistosity and angular breccia textures accompanied by dark blue-grey silicification and quartz-sericite+/-chlorite overprint. Quartz, gypsum and quartz-tourmaline veins transect the above units parallel to and oblique to the principal shear fabric. The geology was characterized by steeply dipping orientation with tight fold and/or macro-boudinage features, weakly to intensely schistose fabrics, and intersecting sets of crenulation folds in NNW and WSW trends, all consistent with past mapping efforts. No evidence of discrete top directions was confirmed due to the level of rock deformation.

Selected samples of the mineralized and altered rock types were sawn for microscopic analysis, photography, and process mineralogy with portions retained for precious metal assays and multi-element geochemistry for base metals at an accredited commercial laboratory in Vancouver, Canada. Samples were collected by the Company's QP, packaged and shipped in sealed pails by commercial carrier to northern Washington, and delivered by the QP to British Columbia for sample description and preparation of the assay splits. The samples will be shipped by courier to the analytical facility during the week of November 7th.

Field reconnaissance confirmed vehicle access routes, shafts and historical drill collar locations, with exposed casing and caps, with hand held GPS points and tracks, and selectively validated the outcrop location accuracy of the geological mapping by Exxon Minerals ("Exxon") and the Arizona Geological Survey conducted between 1972 and 1984. Access to the four historical shafts (#1 production, #2 exploration south, #3 exploration north, and #4 production) was identified. Shaft #4 was not exposed at the current surface level though the concrete footings for the hoist remain surrounded by an extensive dump comprised of mine development and limited production material. Shaft #1 was located but not examined during the field visit. The production shafts are separated by less than 200 metres, with Shaft #4 vertical and Shaft #1 dipping 65 degrees W. The exploration/ventilation Shafts #2 and #3, both open with steel covers, were located 1000 metres apart along strike with the N20E orientation of the principal lithologies.

The Kay VMS deposits were developed for production on eleven levels and accessed via four shafts prior to 1957, when the pumping station was damaged and the mine was flooded. Records obtained by Silver Spruce indicate that approximately 1,550 tons of ore grading 5.6% Cu, with individual bulk samples from 2.95-9.47% Cu, with Pb, Zn, Au and Ag credits, was mined on the 250 foot and 500 foot levels from 1949 to 1953, and shipped to various smelters in Arizona and Texas. An estimated 15,000 tons of low grade material was reported on the surface dumps in 1956. The last production of 70 tons grading 5.7% Cu selected from the surface dumps was shipped by a private owner in 1966.

In 1972, Exxon acquired the project with the goal of commencing production of the known high-grade Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag-Au ores. Exxon's internal geological reports referred to the mineralization defined by drilling and historical underground exploration, under the then existing mining standards, as "proven and probable ore" of 6.4 million tons with a potential of over 20 million tons. These resource estimates and terminology are to be considered historical and not compliant with current NI43-101 guidelines.

The Company believes that the previous work conducted by Exxon was completed to a high standard of competency and credibility. Silver Spruce is developing exploration programs to document the tonnage and grade of the Kay mineralization and develop a resource estimate to conform to the present National Instrument 43-101 standards.

Silver Spruce has paid the claim fees on its BLM unpatented claims through August 2018 and is investigating the cost, logistics and permitting requirements to de-water the mine workings for direct access to the mineralization.

Qualified Person

Mr. Greg Davison, MSc, PGeo, professional geologist and the Company's internal Qualified Person is responsible for the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a well-positioned Canadian junior exploration company pursuing exploration and development of the past-producing Kay Mine volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") project in Arizona, USA, and the exploration of the Pino De Plata and the Encino De Oro epithermal silver/ base metal/ gold projects located in the prolific Sierra Madre Occidental region of western Chihuahua State in Mexico.

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 company seeks Safe Harbour.

Contacts:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Karl Boltz

President & CEO, Director

Toll Free: (866) 641-3397

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com




INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --International Medical Group(IMG, a leader in international private medical insurance (IPMI) and global assistance since 1990, has obtained its consultancy license and opened an office in Dubai, demonstrating its commitment to the UAE.

IMG has been active in the region since 2007, and has worked with RAK Insurance for the previous two years to offer innovative and customised IPMI solutions.

IMG's work in the UAE has led the company to further invest in the region. Now operating as IMG Insurance Consultancy LLC, IMG is one of few IPMI companies in the UAE to have obtained a consultancy license with LLC status.

"Our commitment to the UAE has strengthened through obtaining this license," said Paul Gordon, general manager of IMG Insurance Consultancy. "We can better serve our international customers and those living and working in the UAE, across all seven emirates. Additionally, we now have dedicated and experienced staff located in Dubai, who can help individuals and businesses within the UAE find medical insurance solutions."

The UAE population is an eclectic mix of nationals and expatriates from across the globe and in order to serve all those living in the region, IMG will be providing a full line of international medical insurance products and associated services.

IMG has also launched the IMG Member Care Programme, which is a unique proposition for the region. Through this programme, IMG customers will have access to key health care tools, including:

Ask A Doctor online chat service

Call A Doctor telephone service

IMG Preferred Dental Network

Second opinion services

The programme is designed to provide top-of-the-line service to both individuals and employers for nearly all of their health care needs. Combined with IMG's top-tier IPMI benefits, the programme offers a comprehensive international health care solution for the UAE.

"In the constantly changing health care industry, innovation is essential in order to meet the unique needs of our international clients," said President and CEO Brian Barwick. "With nearly 30 years of experience delivering customised IPMI solutions, we are committed to serving as a health partner for individuals, families and businesses in the UAE."

To learn more, please visit www.imglobal.com/uae.

About International Medical Group

International Medical Group(IMG, a Sirius Group company, is an award-winning international medical and travel insurance company that has served millions of members worldwide since its founding in 1990. A leader in the global benefits and assistance services industry, IMG offers a full line of international medical insurance products, as well as travel insurance plans, medical management services and 24/7 emergency medical and travel assistance. For more information, please visit www.imglobal.com.

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Paulo Rosado joins Al Gore, Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, Slack co-founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield

OutSystems CEO and Founder Paulo Rosado will be sharing his vision for digital transformation, mobility, and low-code development at Web Summit, the largest tech conference in the world. Rosado joins an impressive list of leaders including Amazon CTO Werner Vogels, France's Former President Francois Hollande, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, among others.

Web Summit hosts 60,000 attendees from around the world. This is the second year in a row that Web Summit will be held in Lisbon, confirming the Portuguese capital as a growing tech hub.

"It's great to have Web Summit happening right here in Portugal, where we founded OutSystems 16 years ago. Events like Web Summit prove that there's amazing technology being created in this corner of Europe," stated Rosado.

Rosado will speak on November 8 on the SaaS Monster stage at 11:40 a.m. GMT. In addition, OutSystems has a booth in Pavilion 1.

About Web Summit

Web Summit started as a simple idea in 2010: Let's connect the technology community with all industries, both old and new. It seemed to resonate. Web Summit has grown to become the "largest technology conference in the world." No conference has ever grown so large so fast. But we also pride ourselves in organizing the "best technology conference on the planet."

About OutSystems

Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organizations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire application portfolios that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. Explore careers at OutSystems.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006018/en/

Contacts:

OutSystems (US)

Ann Conrad, +404-994-2614

ann.conrad@outsystems.com

or

Katelyn Campbell, +617-502-4300

outsystems@pancomm.com

or

Catia Gil (Portugal), +351 213 026 150

catia.gil@corpcom.pt
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump is strongly urging Virginia voters to support Republican Ed Gillespie in the state's closely watched gubernatorial race. In a series of posts to Twitter, Trump also attacked Gillespie's Democratic opponent in the race, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam. 'Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. He's weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment and has been horrible on Virginia economy. Vote @EdWGillespie today!' Trump tweeted. He added, '@EdWGillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone. Vote today, ASAP!' Recent polls have shown a tight race in Virginia, with Northam holding a narrow lead over Gillespie in the latest surveys. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows Northam leading Gillespie by 47.7 percent to 44.4 percent. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
Rapid Building Inspections Provides Thorough Building and Pest Inspections for their Clients

BRISBANE CITY, AUSTRAILA / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / The founders of Rapid Building Inspections are pleased to announce that they have recently expanded into Brisbane City. Thanks to their new location, the friendly and experienced team from Rapid Building Inspections is proud to provide quality and affordable building inspections Brisbane residents can count on.

To learn more about Rapid Building Inspections and their new building and pest inspections in Brisbane, please visit http://www.rapidbuildinginspections.com.au/QLD/BrisbaneBuildingPestInspection.

As a company spokesperson noted, everyone at Rapid Building Inspections is excited to service the city of Brisbane, which is one of the biggest cities in Australia.

"We are all looking forward to helping people in the North, South, CBD and all in between all Brisbane," the spokesperson noted.

As the founders of Rapid Building Inspections understand, buying a property will be one of the biggest investments most people will ever make. That is why they are devoted to delivering easy-to-read reports that will help buyers make the right decision about a property.

From building inspections and providing thorough condition reports, to pest inspections that determine if a property is infested with bugs or other vermin, Rapid Building Inspections always uses industry RBI experts to carefully inspect a property. In addition, the inspectors only use the latest thermal imaging and moisture technology that is available to do their work.

"Our condition reports are following Australian Standards and are recognised by real estate agents and solicitors," the spokesperson noted, adding that the report will give people the peace of mind to make an informed decision about purchasing a property.

"It may even help you dodge a bad deal that could cost you thousands in repairs."

In addition to being thorough, Rapid Building Inspections, which opened about 10 months ago, also prides themselves on being fast. People will receive their reports within 24 hours of the inspection, or they will get their money back.

About Rapid Building Inspections:

Need a comprehensive condition report but don't want to spend a fortune? Rapid Building Inspections can send an industry recognised RBI expert to inspect the property. They will zero in on any potentially expensive problems or, fingers crossed, provide a concise report that shows the property is sound. For more information, please visit http://www.rapidbuildinginspections.com.au/.

Rapid Building Inspections Brisbane

Lvl 1, Brisbane Club Tower

356 / 241 Adelaide Street

Brisbane QLD 4000

Phone: 07 3164 7600

Contact:

Rapid Building Inspections Brisbane

admin@rocketfactor.com

07 3164 7600

SOURCE: Rapid Building Inspections
TARRYTOWN, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- NightFood Holdings, Inc. (OTC: NGTF) a category leading, sleep-friendly, better-for-you snack company announced that the Company this month will launch its first national TV ad campaign, with NightFood ads to be shown on cable systems across the country.

NightFood CMO Peter Leighton commented, "Nighttime TV and late-night snacking go hand-in hand. In our marketing, we refer to regrettable night snacking on unhealthy choices and oversized servings a 'snaccident'. With this TV initiative, we think our ads will be in front of many snaccident-prone Americans at their point of peak motivation."

More than 10,000 half-minute NightFood spots will air in markets such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and dozens of other cities across the country, and on popular cable television networks, including ESPN, ESPN, CNN, FOX News, Discovery Channel, SPIKE, AMC, TBS, Lifetime, A&E, Comedy, TV Land, Nickelodeon, Travel Channel, ESPN 2, USA, HLN, BET, MTV, Syfy, TLC, TNT, and FX.

Leading E-commerce agency Common Thread Collective (CTC) recently launched a redesigned NightFood website, with a highly transactional focus. Themed video assets will soon be added to the website as conversion driving elements that will also serve to optimize conversions from the TV campaign.

"Driving TV viewers online to transact can be powerful and scalable. CTC built a website that is converting online consumers at a higher rate than we thought possible without any introductory promotions or discounts," commented NightFood CEO Sean Folkson. "If we see similar or better metrics from TV, we'll have the capability to scale even faster throughout 2018."

J. Michael Heil, CEO of Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc., commented, "We are pleased to have NightFood as an anchor advertiser on our growing network of independent cable systems across the country. NightFood's unique products are a great fit for our platform and viewer base."

NightFood Holdings will be holding its first ever investor conference call during the month of November. Specifics, including date and time, will be announced in the next 7-10 days. Management believes conducting such a call after the release of its quarterly report, which it expects to file no later than November 20, 2017, will enable shareholders and other interested parties to derive the most value from the call.

About NightFood:

NightFood (OTC: NGTF), "The Nighttime Snack Company", is a snack food company dedicated to providing consumers delicious, better-for-you, sleep-friendly choices for evening snacking. According to IRI Worldwide, 44% of snack consumption occurs at night, representing a consumer spend of over $1B weekly on nighttime snacks.

Currently, consumer's most popular choices are cookies, chips, ice cream, and candy. These options are generally understood to be unhealthy, and often contain ingredients and nutritional profiles that can impair sleep quality. NightFood creates, manufactures, and distributes snacks formulated to help consumers satisfy nighttime cravings in a better, healthier, more sleep friendly way.

For more information, visit http://ir.nightfood.com and www.nightfood.com

Questions can be directed to investors@nightfood.com

About Adaptive Ad Systems Inc.:

Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc. manufactures, markets, and installs, proprietary "ad-insertion" equipment and software for utilization in 2nd and 3rd tier cable systems. Thus, the Company provides competitive ad-insertion solutions for cable systems operated by owners ranging from businesses to municipalities, to colleges. Additionally, the Company sells advertising for time slots in major cable network programs. Additionally, the Company provides advertising and marketing solutions for business seeking video content exposure and connectivity with, and marketing on, additional platforms such as websites, tablets, and cell phones.

Forward Looking Statements:

This current press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, any products sold or cash flow from operations.

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 distribution and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. 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 the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that 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 most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact:

Peter Leighton

888-888-6444, x5



Investor Contact:

Andrew Austin

A.S. Austin Company

888-888-6444, x3




CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Tech giant Apple has been using Channel Island Jersey as a tax haven, revealed International Consortium of Investigative Journalists through Paradise papers. The company had to pay a huge fine as the European Union Competition commission took action against undue advantage enjoyed by Apple in Ireland by utilizing favorable tax laws. This has reportedly forced Apple to find a new tax home in Jersey. The paradise papers has reported that Appleby law-firm has helped the company to set tax strategies. In a statement, Apple claimed that the change it made in its corporate structure in 2015 was to preserve its tax payments to the United States and not to reduce its taxes anywhere else. The company said it would follow the laws and if the system changes it will comply and further said it would support efforts toward comprehensive international tax reform. The iPhone producer said it is the largest taxpayer in the world and has paid over $35 billion in corporate income taxes in the last three years. The statement said that Apple's worldwide effective tax rate is 24.6 percent, higher than the average for U.S. multinationals. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN: PSH) (NA: PSH) today released an email sent from Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. to its investors. The text of the email is set forth below:

Dear Pershing Square Investor,

We want to share with you the statement that Bill Ackman made this morning at the ADP Annual Shareholder Meeting following the announcement of the results of our proxy contest:

"Let me first just say that we came in peace. When we invested in ADP, we did so because we believed that ADP was a great company with a wonderful legacy, but an uncertain future. We believed that the company had underachieved its potential, and that we could help ADP address the issues and shortcomings we had identified. Initially, this was a surprising message for some shareholders who have experienced a rising stock price and growing dividends over many years. Often, however as my co-nominee Ronee Hagen has so eloquently pointed out the financial statements are a lagging indicator of what is really going on at a company. The fact that ADP needs a wake-up call is no surprise to its salesforce who every day is selling against competitors with better product offerings. We are very appreciative of the hard work of ADP's associates and the many associates who have reached out to support us during this contest who have the best interests of ADP at heart.

Over the last three months, we have helped ADP shareholders understand what the company's associates already know very well. ADP needs to improve its technology, its Enterprise product offerings, and its culture. A 90-day proxy contest is a wake-up call for every management team, and our large investment of time and money in this contest has already benefited all ADP stakeholders not only because billions of dollars of shareholder value have been created.

Our goal in this proxy contest was to help make ADP the best company it can be so its future will be as bright or brighter than its past. This is no small undertaking in light of the company's illustrious history. Unfortunately, all of us have seen far too many great and dominant companies think Kodak, Polaroid, IBM to name a few disappear or fade away because of complacency, an unwillingness to take new competitors seriously, resistance to change, and deteriorating cultures. As a result of this proxy contest, we believe these risks for ADP are meaningfully lower than they were only 90 days ago.

While I and our other nominees did not get elected to the board this year, we have accomplished much of what we set out to do so far. ADP's shareholders, management and board are now fully informed about the opportunities for improvement, and the risks of management's failure to perform. Shareholders, including Pershing Square, can now hold management accountable for the company's public commitments during this contest so that ADP remains the dominant company in the Human Capital Management industry.

In order to win this contest and get the support of one of the most influential proxy advisory firms, ADP's board and management have made a number of important commitments to shareholders. The three most significant of which are:

(1) After Employer Services' organic revenue growth decelerates to 2%-3% this fiscal year, growth will reaccelerate to approximately 7%-9% growth in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 which will continue into 2019 in order to achieve the company's guidance of 6%-7% organic growth over the next three fiscal years;

(2) ADP will increase operational profit by 500-600 basis points over the next three fiscal years despite a decline in operational profit in the first quarter of this first fiscal year; and

(3) ADP's "upcoming" release of Vantage 2.0 will enable ADP to offer better service and recover Enterprise market share losses.

We will hold the board and management accountable for these commitments to investors.

One of the large shareholders who did not support us told us: "The board and management have heard you loud and clear. The onus is now on them to live up to their commitments. If they don't, you will have our full support next year."

Here's to hoping that the company delivers and we don't need to run for election next year. Nothing could make me happier than seeing Carlos and the Board succeed in meeting and exceeding their commitments. We intend to be a supportive shareholder who is not shy about sharing our ideas with the company. The bottom line is: we will do everything we can to help

I now wish to make a few comments on the current U.S. proxy election system as it leaves much to be desired. We were greatly disadvantaged in this contest because ADP did not permit the use of a universal proxy card where each shareholder could choose which directors it wanted to represent them on one proxy card. As a result, while we received the support of all of the proxy advisory firms, one chose to "facilitate" my election by recommending a withhold vote for one director on the management proxy card. It did so in order to decrease the likelihood that our two other nominees would get elected. This likely cost us the election. Had there been a universal proxy card, this firm would have simply recommended a vote for me and I would likely have been elected. It is incumbent upon all investors to insist that all companies use a universal proxy card in each shareholder election to make sure that shareholders can easily select the directors they wish to represent them.

I would now like to thank members of our team who did a superb job on this contest. First, I would like to thank our fellow nominees, Ronee Hagen and Paul Unruh. Ronee is here today. Ronee, please rise so that you can be recognized. Paul would have liked to have been here as well, but could not make it because he had a board meeting in Melbourne, Australia. What I can tell you from working with Ronee and Paul over the last three months is that they are both first class human beings in every respect. Every board would greatly benefit by their brilliant intellects, unimpeachable character, and superb judgment.

Unfortunately, today, it is the rare director candidate who is willing to sign up for a so-called hostile proxy contest. The fact that Ronee and Paul are in the minority on this point is unfortunate. What could be more consistent with our fundamentally democratic American ethos than challenging the status quo and running for office with a campaign based on principles you believe in, particularly when you are the underdog? All shareholders owe Ronee and Paul a great deal of gratitude for their work here, and we are extremely appreciative of the talent, time, and energy they committed to ADP.

The internal team at Pershing Square did an outstanding job on this contest. This began with an extraordinary research effort led by Brian Welch, Charles Korn, and Jenna Dabbs who many shareholders have gotten to know over the last few weeks. Fran McGill, our one-man internal PR organization, did a superb job getting the story out. As a result of all of their work, ADP shareholders, analysts, board, management, and employees know a lot more about the company. This detailed research and analysis will benefit the company, shareholders and employees for years to come.

The rest of the Pershing Square team including my partners, Nick Botta, Steve Fraidin, Ben Hakim, Halit Coussin, Ramy Saad, and other members of our legal, trading, and investment teams, as well as our investor relations team led by Tony Asnes, accounting and finance led by Mike Gonnella, technology led by Zach Frayne, and our administrative support team Leah Cohen, Liz Anderson, Joelle Dellis, and others all did a remarkable job.

We also greatly benefited by the wise counsel of exceptional advisors including Richard Brand and the rest of the legal team at Cadwalader, Wickersham Taft; Jon Silvan and company at Global Strategy Group, who managed our print and social media; Steve Murray and the rest of the Rubenstein team, our public relations firm; Townsend Belisle and his team at Haystack Needle which created our video production, website and webinars; and Ed McCarthy and his team at D.F. King, our proxy advisors. They did a truly remarkable job, and kept our costs down, which we and our investors greatly appreciate.

I would also like to thank our investors who have been incredibly supportive in this contest, and over the course of my career. Without your long-term support and commitment, there would be no Pershing Square.

Lastly and importantly, there are thousands of families, pension funds, retirees, hundreds of thousands of clients, and numerous others who are very dependent on ADP's success. On their behalf, we wish Carlos, the entire ADP board, and the company's tens of thousands of associates great success in the future.

Yes, we will be watching from the sidelines. We will be cheering loudly for you to succeed, and occasionally commenting on a play or two. We are rooting for ADP to win as all of us depend on your success."

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Kind regards,

Pershing Square Investor Relations

ir@persq.com

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN: PSH) (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: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006209/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA

Maitland

James Devas, +44 20 7379 5151

Media-pershingsquareholdings@maitland.co.uk
Regulatory News:

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM) will host a live audio webcast of a presentation and answer-and-question session by Jacek Olczak, Chief Financial Officer, who will be joined by Martin King, President, Asia Region, at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer Retail Conference at www.pmi.com/2017morganstanley on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at approximately 1:40 p.m. ET.

As announced on September 28, 2017, effective January 1, 2018, Jacek Olczak will be appointed Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the deployment of global strategy and the delivery of results for combustible and reduced-risk products, and Martin King will be appointed Chief Financial Officer.

The webcast will provide live audio of the entire PMI session and will be in a listen-only mode.

The audio webcast may also be accessed on iOS or Android devices by downloading PMI's free Investor Relations Mobile Application at www.pmi.com/irapp.

An archived copy of the webcast will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at www.pmi.com/2017morganstanley.

Presentation slides will also be available at www.pmi.com/2017morganstanley.

About Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI")

PMI is a leading international tobacco company, with six of the world's top 15 international brands and products sold in more than 180 markets. In addition to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, including Marlboro, the number one global cigarette brand, and other tobacco products, PMI is engaged in the development and commercialization of reduced-risk products ("RRPs"). RRPs is the term PMI uses to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continued smoking. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry-leading scientific substantiation, PMI aims to provide an RRP portfolio that meets a broad spectrum of adult smoker preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information, see PMI and PMI Science.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006238/en/

Contacts:

Philip Morris International Inc.

Investor Relations:

New York: +1-917-663-2233

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666

or

Media:

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500
Medidata NEXT Global 2017 will take place in New York, at Spring Studios from November 8-10

Median's presentation will be held during the Medidata session "How Big Data and Analytics are Changing Clinical Trials" on November 9 at 2:20-3:00 pm EDT Sunken Living Room

Regulatory News:

Median Technologies (Paris:ALMDT), The Imaging Phenomics Company (AMLDT:PA) is pleased to announce that James Golando, Chief of Operations at Median Technologies will present on "Optimizing Imaging in Oncology Clinical Trials" during the upcoming Medidata NEXT Global 2017, in New York at Spring Studios from November 8-10. Median's session will take place on November 9 at 2:20-3:00 pm EDT in the Sunken Living Room.

Imaging plays a key role in the objective assessment of tumor response to drug therapies in oncology clinical trials, but it must be performed quantitatively, using appropriate response criteria to generate data that are comparable among trials. In addition, the complex and variable nature of imaging assessments can produce unreliable results if standardization practices are not implemented and carefully followed.

"Our presentation will aim at highlighting the importance of quantitative imaging in oncology clinical trials and will present how to assess patient response to therapy using international imaging criteria. Our presentation will also provide directions to combat and manage variability, one of the main issues which can jeopardize clinical trial results," said Jim Golando, Chief of Operations at Median Technologies. "Providing innovative solutions for the interpretation and management of images in clinical trials, thus extracting high-quality biomarkers for better study and patient outcomes, is one of the main objectives of the partnership we signed in June with Medidata. We are pleased to present how Median's proprietary technology can better support the assessment of patient response in clinical trials and further how this is amplified by leveraging Medidata Medical Imaging" he added.

"We're excited to have Median take the stage at Medidata NEXT, an event that is bringing together the leaders in clinical trials," said Simon Mouyal, Chief Marketing Officer at Medidata. "Their session on how new technologies can optimize image management will cover the most up to date trends and solutions. We're looking forward to them sharing their insights to educate others on how, together, we are driving innovation in clinical trial."

Medidata NEXT Global is the centerpiece of the largest annual event series of its kind, attracting over 3,000 attendees across events in Basel, Berlin, London, New York, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. More information about Medidata NEXT Global 2017: click here

About Medidata

Medidata is reinventing global drug and medical device development by creating the industry's leading cloud-based solutions for clinical research. Through our advanced applications and intelligent data analytics, Medidata helps advance the scientific goals of life sciences customers worldwide, including over 950 global pharmaceutical companies, innovative biotech, diagnostic and device firms, leading academic medical centers, and contract research organizations.

The Medidata Clinical Cloud brings a new level of quality and efficiency to clinical trials that empower our customers to make more informed decisions earlier and faster. Our unparalleled clinical trial data assets provide deep insights that pave the way for future growth. The Medidata Clinical Cloud is the primary technology solution powering clinical trials for 18 of the world's top 25 global pharmaceutical companies and is used by 18 of the top 25 medical device developers- from study design and planning through execution, management and reporting.

About Median Technologies: Median Technologies provides innovative imaging solutions and services to advance healthcare for everyone. We leverage the power of Imaging Phenomics to provide insights into novel therapies and treatment strategies. Our unique solutions, Mediscan for Patient Care, Lesion Management Solution (LMS) for image management in clinical trials and iBiopsy for imaging phenotyping, together with our global team of experts, are advancing the development of new drugs and diagnostic tools to monitor disease and assess response to therapy. Median Technologies supports biopharmaceutical sponsors and healthcare professionals around the world to quickly and precisely bring new treatments to patients in need, with an eye on reducing overall care costs. This is how we are helping to create a healthier world.

Founded in 2002, based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, with a US subsidiary in Boston, Median has received the label "Innovative company" by the BPI and is listed on Euronext Growth market (ISIN: FR0011049824, ticker: ALMDT). The company is eligible for the PEA-PME SME equity savings plan setup and has received the label Pass French Tech Promotion 2016-2017. Median Technologies has been awarded the 2017 Tech 40 Label and has joined the EnterNext Tech 40 Index. Median is a member of the Bpifrance Excellence Network. For more information: www.mediantechnologies.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005949/en/

Contacts:

Median Technologies

Bill Broderick, VP, Global Head Business Support and Market Services

+1 202 279 0375

william.broderick@mediantechnologies.com

or

Press - ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol/Wendy Rigal

+ 33 1 44 54 36 66

median@alizerp.com

or

Investors - ACTIFIN

Ghislaine Gasparetto, +33 1 56 88 11 11

ggasparetto@actifin.fr

or

Medidata

Investor:

Anthony D'Amico, +1 732-767-4331

Medidata Solutions

adamico@mdsol.com

or

Media:

Erik Snider, +1 646-362-2997

Medidata Solutions

esnider@mdsol.com
Also Makes Investment in World's First Cryptocurrency Streaming Company and Plans Spin-out

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2017) - GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP. (TSXV: BLOC) (FSE: BWSP) (OTC Pink: BLKCF) ("Global Blockchain" or the "Company") is extremely pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Global Blockchain Mining Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire a 49.9% interest in Coinstream Mining Corp., ("Coinstream") the world's first cryptocurrency mining company to employ the streaming model, providing strategic upfront capital and an additional payment upon delivery of the cryptocurrency, to select, proven, best-in-class operators and operations, in exchange for a stream of future cryptocurrency production, at a fixed price.

Coinstream has aggregated 10 megawatts of power in purpose-built data centers located in low power cost jurisdiction (under USD$.04/kWh) Manitoba, Canada.

The initial streaming agreements, once funded, will augment current bitcoin production and provide for the delivery over 5 years of:

a total of 2,500 bitcoins per annum, at a fixed cost of US$1,000 per bitcoin payable at the time of delivery.

In the event that, and at such time as the price of bitcoin trades above $15,000, the fixed cost payment would rise to US$1,500.

In the instance where the network hashrate rises above certain pre-determined levels for a sustained period of time, the fixed cost payment would be adjusted upward.

Over the life of the contracts, the company would receive 12,500 bitcoins, which represents a current undiscounted value of approximately CAD$112,500,000 at the price of bitcoin at the time of this announcement.

In return for these streams, Coinstream will:

provide US$10,000,000 applied to CAPEX related costs to its seasoned industry operating partners, and

be entitled to retain 100% ownership of the underlying mining equipment, until payback of its initial contribution of capital ("Payback Period"), and

retain a 50% ownership of the ongoing value of the equipment, thereafter, and

retain the right to adjust the mix of cryptocurrencies received under the stream to include other major cryptocurrencies.

Coinstream's primary goal with its underlying streaming agreements is to provide non-dilutive capital to existing cryptocurrency miners operating in the most favourable jurisdictions globally, to become the preferred source of capital for miners eager to expand and scale their operations, and in that way to rapidly build a significant critical mass of diversified streams of bitcoin and other bellwether currencies at a fixed price, providing maximum exposure, certainty and upside for investors and shareholders who wish to participate in the rise of this important new asset class.

Shidan Gouran, President of Global Blockchain stated, "Coinstream is answering the call from those who seek to fully leverage the regularly forecasted potential parabolic price growth of the mainstay cryptocurrencies, from a net long bias, contracted and derisked against the need to maintain operations, and secured by the value of the operating equipment which represents the majority of the CAPEX allocation."

This strategy also allows Coinstream to scale aggressively with multiple teams in multiple geographies, reducing risk further. The response and inflow of interest in this form of capital has been tremendous. The Company expects this to be the first in a series of streams that its subsidiary Global Blockchain Mining will conclude and encourages other miners globally to reach out at the email address provided below.

Mr. Gouran continued, "As a new asset class, investors can become concerned about changing operating costs and changes in technology and what that may mean for them. With the streaming model, there is now a readily calculable value for our contracts which can be easily modelled at various prices for bitcoin."

Chairman Stephen Nerayoff noted, "While the Company did not originally plan to invest in mining, the establishment of our subsidiary Global Blockchain Mining Corp. to study these opportunities was the result of a concatenation of events that we could not ignore. This new company creates a unique platform through which these opportunities can be pursued in a manner that allows counterparties to maintain control of their operations, formulate their own strategies, and fortify their own positions as members of this important emerging area. It facilitates a lower-cost, less dilutive source of strategic growth capital for them.

For Global Blockchain, the Company is able to access effectively wholesale supply of cryptocurrency from diversified operators and operations and help to create and foster a mutually beneficial way to support our partners as well as industry growth. Global Blockchain's mining subsidiary Global Blockchain Mining Corp will focus on the aggregation of bitcoin and other major currencies, at or near the direct cost of mining, and other than its initial upfront payment, with no ongoing capital costs, allowing shareholders to benefit from strong margin growth in a rising cryptocurrency price environment."

Spin-Out

The Company believes that its mining subsidiary Global Blockchain Mining Corp., as a pure play cryptocurrency company, the first in the business of cryptocurrency mining, represents an independent highly viable entity on its own with a unique business model differentiated from the other verticals and focuses within Global Blockchain Technologies Corp.

As such the Company is investigating and intends to pursue an arrangement agreement with its newly created, wholly owned subsidiary, Global Blockchain Mining Corp., to carry out a plan of arrangement. Through the arrangement, the Company intends to list Global Blockchain Mining Corp, along with all of its mining streaming interests, as a publicly listed Canadian entity.

Global Blockchain Mining aims to build shareholder value by offering investors cost predictability at a high margin, direct leverage to increasing cryptocurrency prices, additional growth through the accretive acquisition of new streams, and a high-quality, diversified operational base. Global Blockchain Mining represents the next generation of crypto miners.

The completion of the arrangement and the listing of Global Blockchain Mining will be subject to regulatory approval of this transaction, the approval of shareholders, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and the TSX Venture Exchange.

Team

The Coinstream team consists of the following individuals:

Michael Kahiri, (MBA) Chief Executive Officer

Industrial and management engineer and MBA (Finance) with 10+ year track record in logistics, supply chain and operations management. Michael specializes in digital and online marketing and systems.

Michael is responsible for overall vision and execution including oversight of the team, achieving best-in-class cryptocurrency security, system infrastructure to achieve target KPI's.

Roman Buzaker Chief Operating Officer

Academic background of Electrical Engineering Technology, and Economics and Management, Roman has 14+ years experience as an internet entrepreneur and fluent in English, Hebrew, and Russian.

Roman is responsible for automation, system and energy efficiencies, and scalability for crypto-mining operations.

Igal Sudman, (B.A.) Business Development

Leading business and investment professional in Real Estate, Algorithmic and Quant Trading, emerging industries, and is an active investor and advisor to startups. Igal is fluent in English, Hebrew, and Russian.

Igal is focused on blockchain market research and insights, securing vendor contracts, and building industry partnerships.

Sharon Steiman Chief Technology Officer

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert with over 13 years-experience in high level technical support, system analysis, system administration, and data center design for large-scale data centers for international organizations, from concept to user implementation. Sharon is fluent in English, Hebrew, and Spanish.

Sharon is responsible for the physical set-up, implementation, and monitoring of the crypto-mining hardware and systems support.

Terms & Closing Conditions

49.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Coinstream will be acquired by Global Blockchain Mining Corp. in exchange for 3.8 million common shares of Global Blockchain.

The agreement remains subject to various conditions precedent including that Global Blockchain raise not less than US$30,000,000 at which point they would make a commitment to fund US$10,000,000.

Closing of the transaction remains subject to all requisite approvals including TSX Venture Exchange approval.

For more information on the streaming partnerships available through Global Blockchain Mining Corp., please contact streaming@globalblockchain.io.

For more information about Global Blockchain Technologies Corp., please contact info@globalblockchain.io.

About Global Blockchain Technologies Corp.

Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. is an investment company providing investors access to a basket of holdings within the blockchain space, managed by a team of industry pioneers and early adopters of all major cryptocurrencies. GBT is focused on streamlining the current arduous, lengthy and complicated process that interested investors need to undergo in order to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space with a view to becoming the first vertically integrated originator and manager of top-tier blockchains and digital currencies. GBT is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "BLOC." Other information relating to GBT is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.globalblockchain.io.

On behalf of:

GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Shidan Gouran

President

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the likelihood of the transaction closing as detailed in this news release or at all, the proposed use of proceeds and the expected closing date of the Offering., the receipt of required approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange and shareholders, the impact of the appointments on the Company, the Company's projected asset allocations; business strategy and investment criteria; the timing for implementation of financial auditing and corporate governance standards applicable to cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings ("ICO's"); the rate of cryptocurrency adoption and the resultant effect on the growth of the global cryptocurrency market capitalization. The Company has no assets and its business plan is purely conceptual in nature and there is no assurance that it will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to: statements and expectations regarding the ability of the Company to (i) successfully engage senior management with appropriate industry experience and expertise, (ii) gain access to and acquire a basket of cryptocurrency assets and pre-ICO and ICO financings on favourable terms or at all, (iii) successfully create its own tokens and ICO's, and (iv) execute on future M&A opportunities in the cryptocurrency space; receipt of required regulatory approvals; the availability of necessary financing; permitting and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks related to changes in cryptocurrency prices; the estimation of personnel and operating costs; general global markets and economic conditions; risks associated with uninsurable risks; risks associated with currency fluctuations; competition faced in securing experienced personnel with appropriate industry experience and expertise; risks associated with changes in the financial auditing and corporate governance standards applicable to cryptocurrencies and ICO's; risks related to potential conflicts of interest; the reliance on key personnel; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks including the risk that the financing necessary to fund continued development of the Company's business plan may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; the risk of potential dilution through the issuance of additional common shares of the Company; the risk of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information set out in this presentation, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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 law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.
MONTREAL, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Fasken Martineau announced today that Frederic Harvey and Ryan Rabinovitch have joined the Tax group as Partners at the Montreal office.

Frederic Harvey has developed expertise in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, international tax and corporate reorganizations. He acts as a strategic tax advisor in the context of domestic and cross-border complex commercial transactions. Mr. Harvey's advice is also sought in matters related to structuring foreign investments in Canada and renewable energy projects.

Ryan Rabinovitch focuses on all aspects of tax law, including tax planning and litigation. He served as comparative law clerk to Aharon Barak, then President of the Supreme Court of Israel, and law clerk to the Honourable Justice Louise Arbour, then of the Supreme Court of Canada.

"We are pleased to welcome Frederic and Ryan to the Firm. The continued growth of client activity in the area of mergers and acquisitions is creating a considerable need in the tax realm. Their experience consolidates the positioning of our team, which now comprises 13 recognized lawyers in Quebec and over 40 in Canada," noted Eric Bedard, Fasken Martineau's Managing Partner for the Quebec Region. "Frederic and Ryan's expertise further enhances the sophisticated tax services offered to clients, in particular in the energy, mining and financial services sectors.

We are thrilled to count them among us," remarked Christopher Steeves, national leader of the Tax group.

Fasken Martineau's Tax group boasts one of the most substantial complements of senior tax lawyers. The group acts for clients in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, for the implementation of infrastructure projects and with the tax authorities.

About Fasken Martineau

Fasken Martineau is a leading international business law and litigation firm. With more than 700 lawyers, the firm has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, London and Johannesburg. For additional information, please visit the firm's website at: fasken.com.

Contacts:

Genevieve Chalifour

+1 514 871 5987

gchalifour@fasken.com




VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSX-V: GUG, OTC PINK: ASWRF) ("Gungnir" or the "Company") has updated its corporate presentation and comments on its Knaften project in Sweden.

Updates to the company presentation include photos of new drill core from Knaften, new maps, and future exploration plans. To directly view the updated presentation, please click this link: "Gungnir Presentation Q4 2017."

"Our Knaften project was identified by the Company a few years back as an under-explored 'hot-spot' in northern Sweden," stated Gungnir's CEO, Jari Paakki. "Knaften sits directly up-ice (glacial ice direction) of a very large gold-in-till anomaly with the source only partially indicated in bedrock at our Knaften 300 Gold Zone. Other comparable gold-in-till anomalies in the district match-up with current and past producing gold mines or known gold resources, demonstrating the potential significance of the Knaften till anomaly which continues to provide us with great expectations for finding more gold at Knaften. Not only does Knaften offer gold, our 2017 drill program has added copper-nickel sulphides into the mix (see NR dated October 23, 2017). Numerous geophysical conductors nearby are attractive targets to test for possible massive sulphides containing copper and nickel."

Mr. Jari Paakki, M.Sc., P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Paakki prepared the technical information contained in this news release and corporate presentation and has approved its disclosure.

About Gungnir Resources

Gungnir Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company (GUG: TSX-V) with gold and base metal permits in northern Sweden within a region hosting 12 million ounces of gold delineated in existing and mined resources plus several past-producing and producing base metal mines. The Company's key gold project, Knaften, is situated at the southern extension of the "Gold Line" which hosts a number of gold deposits including Faboliden and Svartliden (Dragon Mining), and Barsele (Agnico Eagle and Barsele Minerals). The Company also has permits covering two nickel deposits in Sweden, Lappvattnet, and Rormyrberget, which collectively host 70 million pounds of nickel in historical resources (see NR dated February 24, 2015). Gungnir additionally holds a $5,000,000 royalty stream and received the first annual payment of $1,000,000 on May 2, 2017. The next annual payment of $1,000,000 is due on April 30, 2018. Further information about the Company and its properties may be found at www.gungnirresources.com or at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Jari Paakki, CEO and Director

For further information, contact:

Jari Paakki, CEO

Tel: 705-507-4470

jpaakki@eastlink.ca

Chris Robbins, CFO

Tel: 604-683-0484

robbinscr@shaw.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved," or the negative of these words or comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements or information include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to Gungnir Resources' plan for future funding, and exploration and development of its properties. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of estimates and assumptions and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying estimates and assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. For example, there is no certainty, that any economically viable mineral deposit will be located on the properties, or that the Company will receive or be able to raise sufficient capital to complete all of its exploration programs. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements or information. Gungnir does not expect to update forward-looking statements or information continually as conditions change, except as may be required by securities law.

SOURCE: Gungnir Resources Inc.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Pop star will.i.am's tech startup I.am+ has raised $117 million in venture funding, according to Reuters. The report says that the company is entering into the corporate computing market with a voice assistant Omega for customer service. The new artificial intelligence product is similar to Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa. The company, founded in 2012, initially focused on consumer electronics devices such as headphones. 'I wanted to create something that allows us to do many things,' said will.i.am, founder and chief executive of the company, in a telephone interview with Reuters. 'There's so much you can do with a voice platform.' I.am+'s first enterprise customer is Deutsche Telekom AG, the German telecom giant that owns T-Mobile. The company has been using Omega since July to provide AI customer support chatbot. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
TIRANA, Albania, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Prime Minister Edi Rama today unveiled a major multi-agency plan to tackle organized crime, bring its leaders to justice and confiscate illegally-acquired assets.

Releasing a detailed report outlining the plan, the prime minister said the program will bring together all relevant departments, institutions and agencies with a view to ridding the nation of criminal elements which have developed and infiltrated Albanian society.

"This new anti-crime structure will be in charge of the most intensive and long-term operation ever undertaken against organized crime," he said. Called Operation Power of Law, the program was approved today by Albania's Council of Ministers. Implementation will be led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with a Central Task Force, appointed today by a prime ministerial order.

New judicial bodies and other law enforcement elements will be required at the national and local levels. The government will be seeking further assistance from international partners, including the EU and Europol, Interpol, neighbouring countries such as Italy and Greece, and the FBI in the United States.

The report Mr. Rama released acknowledged a number of weaknesses in the nation's past efforts to combat organized crime. It states:

"Organized crime has severely damaged the system of democratic, social and economic values of the country through the distortion of the market economy parameters. This situation and the failure of the criminal justice organs to fight it efficiently has created a problematic situation which is clearly perceived as such by the public. These results were reflected in periodic reports of the Albanian law agencies and in the monitoring reports or opinions of international partners of Albania over the years. Crime in general and especially criminal groups that commit offenses with the object of trafficking or illegal financial benefits have been and continue to be a serious threat to national security as well.

"Previous strategies and action plans which have envisaged such issues have taken only a partial approach, expressed mainly as a need and opportunity or as evidence to meet the interests of the daily political struggle or specific electoral interests."

Announcement of the program and release of the report follow last week's report by Italy's Guardia di Finanza showing a dramatic decline in Albanian cannabis cultivation, which has been the source of billions in illegal revenues to various criminal groups.

The Italian authorities' report was presented on Friday in Tirana to a conference of MPs, international diplomats and experts. It was based on aerial surveillance flights by Italy which revealed just 88 suspected cannabis plantations, compared with 2,086 the previous year.

"This represents major progress for our joint efforts with our Italian and European Union partners towards our goal of eradicating cannabis production in Albania once and for all," Prime Minister Rama said.

The Rama government has begun a number of initiatives aimed at tackling illegal drug production and trafficking, including the establishment of an Anti-Cannabis Task Force in January 2017.Chaired by the Prime Minister, the task force involves the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice, General Prosecutor's Office, State Police, General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering in the Ministry of Finance and the National Intelligence Service.

Fatmir Xhafaj, Albania's Minister for Internal Affairs, said his ministry together with local police forces have made major progress against the illicit drugs trade. However, he confirmed that the trans-shipment of imported drugs is the next challenge.

"What we're finding is that while domestic production is at last being reduced, the people and machinery previously devoted to the export of cannabis are now being deployed to import cannabis and other drugs and to re-export them. This is a growing problem which requires joint co-operation by all the nations involved - including Albania as a trans-shipment point, but also the producing and consuming countries," Mr Xhafaj said.

Following today's announcement, Prime Minister Rama said it should be clear how seriously his government takes the threat arising from organized crime. He said the new program will engage all parts of society with the police and the judicial system charged with detecting, trying and punishing offenders, and the rest of society engaged in programs of prevention.

He listed three main objectives:

1. Identification and destruction of organizations and criminal groups through the collection, exchange of information and interaction among law enforcement agencies and individuals.

2. Protection of the economy from infiltration by the products of crime and criminals.

3. Weakening the economic power of organized crime through confiscation of illegal assets and products of criminal activities.





For further information:

Endri Fuga

Director of Communications

Government of Albania

+355-4-227-7349

Endri.Fuga@kryeministria.al
This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power.
Kasparov and Vlcek discuss threats and opportunities of intelligent machines

Garry Kasparov, Avast security ambassador and former world chess champion, and Ondrej Vlcek, Avast CTO EVP, Consumer, will discuss the threats and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) at Web Summit 2017 in Lisbon. Addressing delegates at one of the world's largest technology conferences, Kasparov and Vlcek will talk about humanity's deep-seated anxiety over powerful, disruptive tech like AI, and how we can use our increasingly intelligent machines to solve real-world problems.

Vlcek joined Avast as a software developer in 1995 and became chief developer in 2003. He has been a thought-leader of AI-based cybersecurity since its inception and leads the company's AI initiatives.

Kasparov became the Avast Security Ambassador in 2016. Ever since his historic chess matches against the IBM Deep Blue supercomputer in 1996 and 1997, he has been fascinated by the opportunities of man-machine collaboration. As Avast Security Ambassador, Kasparov speaks about the pros and cons of future technologies while maintaining an optimistic view of how these technologies will improve our lives if we develop them while leaving ample room for human ingenuity, morality, and guidance.

In his latest book Deep Thinking: Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins, Kasparov analyses in earnest the potential of human-machine collaboration. He recounts his famous chess matches against Deep Blue and presents his optimistic analysis of the tremendous promise of intelligent machines. In prominent reviews, Deep Thinking has been praised by DeepMind guru Demis Hassabis and tech critic Nicholas Carr.

Speech Details

What: Presentation Artificial Intelligence Threat or Opportunity?

Presentation Artificial Intelligence Threat or Opportunity? When : Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:15 11:40am

: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:15 11:40am Where : Auditorium: Binate.io, Web Summit, MEO Arena and FIL, Lisbon

: Auditorium: Binate.io, Web Summit, MEO Arena and FIL, Lisbon Who: Garry Kasparov, Avast Security Ambassador Ondrej Vlcek, Avast CTO EVP, Consumer

Chess match:

Web Summit visitors are also invited to see Kasparov play chess against ten delegates simultaneously on Thursday, November 9 at 1:15pm.

Media:

Avast will hold a press conference with a media Q&A session with Garry Kasparov and Ondrej Vlcek on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 2:00pm at the Web Summit media village.

If you are interested in joining the press conference, please contact pr@avast.com.

About Garry Kasparov:

Garry Kasparov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in the Soviet Union in 1963. He became the youngest world chess champion in history in 1985 and was the world's top-rated player for 20 years, until he retired in 2005. His matches against arch-rival Anatoly Karpov and the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue popularized chess and machine intelligence in unprecedented ways. Kasparov became a pro-democracy leader in Russia and an outspoken defender of individual freedom around the world, a mission he continues as the chairman of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Oxford-Martin School, where his lectures focus on human-machine collaboration, and is on the executive board of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. Kasparov is a provocative speaker who appears frequently before business, academic, and political audiences to speak about decision-making, strategy, technology, and artificial intelligence. His influential writings on politics, cognition, and tech have appeared in dozens of major publications around the world. He has written two acclaimed series of chess books and the bestsellers How Life Imitates Chess on decision-making and Winter Is Coming on Russia and Vladimir Putin. His new book, Deep Thinking: Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins, was released in May 2017. In 2016, he was named a Security Ambassador by Avast, where he discusses cybersecurity and the digital future. He lives in New York City with his wife Dasha and their two children.

About Avast:

Avast (www.avast.com), the global leader in digital security products, protects over 400 million people online. Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, OPSWAT, ICSA Labs, West Coast Labs and others. Avast is backed by leading global private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Summit Partners.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006427/en/

Contacts:

Avast PR

Marina Ziegler

PR Director

or

Jen Bennett

PR North America

Phone: +1-415-596-6770

Email: pr@avast.com

www.avast.com
Technavio's latest market research report on the global hyperspectral remote sensing market provides an analysis of the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2017-2021. Technaviodefines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006327/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global hyperspectral remote sensing market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

One of the key factors contributing to the growth of the market is the rising adoption of UAVs (aircrafts without a pilot on board). UAVs can be remotely controlled and can also be flown independently based on complex dynamic automation systems or pre-programmed flight plans. Diverse military fields such as environmental monitoring, search and rescue operations, reconnaissance, disaster relief, border patrol, tracking, and monitoring are using UAVs. During the forecast period, UAVs are predicted to play a crucial role in the civilian and commercial industries such as energy, mining, construction, agriculture, real-estate, and news media.

This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free

The top three emerging market trends driving the global hyperspectral remote sensing market according to Technavio research analysts are:

Availability of narrower bandwidths

Rising investments and adoption of hyperspectral imaging in environmental monitoring

Rise in research projects using hyperspectral remote sensing technologies

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Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Availability of narrower bandwidths

Narrow bandwidths permit the users to collect laboratory-standard radiation from a far distance and apply spectral-based analytical tools to interpret the data in hyperspectral remote sensing. This approach is used in hyperspectral remote sensors to provide information in addition to the traditional cognitive remote sensing mapping and allows users to sense Earth remotely.

According to Jujhar Singh, a lead analyst at Technavio for sensors research, "The accepted bandwidth for HRS technology earlier was approximately 10 nm. To expand the capabilities of hyperspectral remote sensors, narrower bandwidths are currently available, and they are desirable. The first application for hyperspectral remote sensing was geology, and the previous spectral resolution of 10 nm was used for this purpose. Bandwidths less than 1 nm are required for newer applications like assessing vegetation fluorescence. Therefore, spatial spectroscopy is possible from a much further distance than before using hyperspectral remote sensors."

Rising investments and adoption of hyperspectral imaging in environmental monitoring

In mapping and monitoring the environment, a major role is played by hyperspectral remote sensing. To detect wetland ecosystems impacted by oil, the information from hyperspectral imagery can be used. To identify the changes in the wetlands vegetation and to prevent damage, the information collected in the form of images can be used. Different global organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) are regulating governments. They are encouraging private sectors to prevent climate change and monitor the environment through financing, investments, consulting, and advisory services. For instance, International Finance Corporation (IFC), a world bank group, is working in collaboration with the World Bank and other groups to address the policy and regulatory challenges to green growth.

"Sales of equipment and technology such as hyperspectral remote sensors is expected to rise due to such growing investments in climate change prevention and environmental monitoring and management. The environment can be monitored by the organizations and agencies without excessive capital investments in systems and infrastructure using this equipment and technology," says Jujhar.

Rise in research projects using hyperspectral remote sensing technologies

Many research areas such as vegetation research, food analysis, and mineral research utilize hyperspectral remote sensing. To detect and measure different properties of the materials and objects that are depicted, these applications use hyperspectral remote sensors.

In 2017, Headwall Photonics announced a remote sensing technique in microscopy, which helps to detect aberrant alterations in the spectra. The time required for manufacturing end-products such as vehicles and medicines can be determined using this technique. It will also assist to estimate and tackle time failure challenges in the cosmetic and automotive industry.

Browse Related Reports:

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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.

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Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

www.technavio.com
Expands digital services with leading bespoke interactive event software applications Schiller Park, Ill., 2017-11-07 19:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PSAV, a leading global provider of audiovisual and event technology services, has acquired Concise Ltd. ("Concise" or "Company"), one of the largest and most trusted providers of interactive live event software applications. The acquisition reinforces PSAV's commitment to deliver services that enhance meeting and event experiences with solutions that connect and inspire people. Concise has served the live event industry for more than 20 years and has developed a proprietary advanced software platform that enables event planners to deliver more engaging experiences and capture actionable event intelligence. Its primary product, Chime, is an industry leading second-screen event application with broad functionality to stage interactive, engaging events. Additional capabilities include note-taking, polling, surveying, Q&A, dynamic personalized agendas, collaboration tools, and a document library. Concise's Chime Check-In solution provides event planners with a powerful onsite check-in app, complete with an easy-to-use seating planner tool. "We're thrilled to partner with industry veterans who have developed incredible event application products with strong customer loyalty," said Mike McIlwain, President and CEO for PSAV. "Concise will help us address our customers' continued desire to leverage technology to improve audience engagement and event execution with a clear return on investment." Phil O'Brien, CEO for Concise, said, "We are incredibly excited to be joining PSAV where our products can be introduced to tens of thousands of potential new customers and supported by talented professionals working in PSAV's 1500 venues. I am so proud of what our team has done thus far and look forward to combining forces with an industry leader who recognizes the importance of offering a strong digital solution." Concise is headquartered in London, U.K. and serves clients globally from six offices on four continents. Phil O'Brien, Simon Mannes and James Shepheard-Walwyn will continue to lead Concise's talented team of more than 60 project managers, software engineers, designers, sales managers and technicians. The Company's dedicated in-house team of software engineers configures the application with custom branding, messaging and content for the unique needs of every event. The Chime software is available in a full-service format with on-site execution teams or via a cloud-based solution. PSAV continues to execute on its strategy to provide event solutions that bring events to life. The acquisition of Concise is the second transaction in two months and the sixth since January 2015. About Concise Concise is a leading live event software technology company founded more than 20 years ago. It is known for providing bespoke interactive applications for live events of all sizes. Concise's clients consist of a broad range of well-known corporate customers and agencies. Concise is headquartered in London, U.K. with additional offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore and Johannesburg. Visit us at concisegroup.com. About PSAV PSAV is a leading provider in the audiovisual and global event technology services industry delivering creative production, advanced technology and staging to help our customers deliver more dynamic and impactful experiences at their meetings, trade shows and special events. As the provider of choice at nearly 1,500 leading hotels, resorts and convention centers throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East, PSAV's customers comprise event organizers, corporations, trade associations and meeting planners. Our customers choose PSAV for its innovative and comprehensive service offerings, as well as our exceptional customer service from more than 8,800 highly trained staff across a global platform. Visit us at psav.com. # # # Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b409564e-bd72-4d84-8734-8a3fe 7c98e7e Bob Niersbach PSAV (Media Relations) 847.385.3619 rniersbach@psav.com Adam Kroll PSAV (Investor Relations) 847.354.4164 akroll@psav.com
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - November 07, 2017) - This morning, Robin Hood, New York's largest poverty-fighting organization, held its 28 th annual Heroes Breakfast and honored four of the 200 exceptional organizations it funds -- Breaking Ground, Children's Aid, The Door and Terra Firma.

Robin Hood Board members Katie Couric, the award-winning journalist; Kaya Henderson, former Chancellor of D.C. public schools; and Marta Tienda, Princeton University's Maurice P. During '22 Professor in Demographic Studies, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs introduced the audience of Robin Hood supporters to three young people whose lives have been transformed by these organizations. They are:

Victor: A teenager who survived a harrowing journey from El Salvador to New York with his younger brother

When he was 18 and living in El Salvador, Victor refused to join MS-13, one of the deadliest gangs in the world. A few days later, the gang's leader put a gun to his head. To save their lives, he and his younger brother fled the country. The extended journey to the United States was traumatic and complicated, but they persevered and eventually made it to New York City.

Victor was determined to make the most of his new life, but he didn't know where to start - until he found Terra Firma. Terra Firma is a comprehensive program built around a medical-legal partnership addressing the complex needs of unaccompanied immigrant children and families seeking U.S. protection. Children and families receive medical, mental health, and legal services, as well as case management and youth enrichment programming all in one place. Terra Firma is a partnership between Montefiore, Catholic Charities and The Children's Health Fund.

Wendy: A single mom to twins simultaneously grappling with a custody battle and a fight with cancer

After becoming pregnant with twins, Wendy vowed she'd give them a better childhood than her own. But when the girls were only six months old, Wendy - a single mom who escaped an abusive relationship - was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Despite the challenges she faced, Wendy was able to make good on her vow with help from Children's Aid. Founded in 1853, Children's Aid is one of New York City's most respected youth-serving organizations and a longtime Robin Hood partner.

Ninoska: A young woman who escaped domestic abuse and overcame many challenges to find her true home

Ninoska ran away from her abusive mother carrying bags stuffed with clothes and a fierce determination to find a true home. Though often homeless, she found many helpers along the way. Two Robin Hood community partners played central roles in helping Ninoska move out of the shelter system for good: The Door and Breaking Ground. At The Door, Ninoska found a one-stop-shop for young people looking to rebuild their lives. At Breaking Ground, New York's largest provider of supportive housing, she found a home.

In recognition of their outstanding leadership in the fight against poverty, each organization received a $50,000 award from the American Express Foundation.

"Robin Hood's Heroes Breakfast is an opportunity for us to highlight the incredible resilience of New Yorkers fighting through poverty in all of its forms, as well as the life-changing work our community partners do every day to empower that resilience," said Wes Moore, Robin Hood's CEO. "I walk away from this breakfast with my heart filled with inspiration from what Wendy, Victor, and Nina have overcome; hope for their futures, and energy for our role in this fight against poverty."

After the heroes shared their stories, Robin Hood co-founder, Paul Tudor Jones II, closed the event with a reflection on the organization's 30-year commitment to helping New Yorkers in need break free from poverty.

About Robin Hood

Robin Hood is New York's largest poverty-fighting organization. We find, fund, and create more than 200 highly effective programs that are helping 1.8 million New Yorkers learn and earn their way out of poverty. Because our board of directors underwrites all operating costs, 100% of your donation goes directly to organizations helping New Yorkers in need. www.robinhood.org Facebook: facebook.com/robinhood Twitter: @robinhoodnyc

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For interviews, photos or videos, contact:

Victoria Grantham

grantham@robinhood.org

212-844-3562
IDS of Texas Accepting Clients as of Nov. 1

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / International Depository Services Group (IDS), a privately-owned subsidiary of Dillon Gage Metals, opens Texas' first precious metals depository, International Depository Services of Texas. Beginning Nov. 1, depository clients who wish to store precious metals bars, rounds and coins in the state of Texas can contact IDS Group and open an account. IDS of Texas, located in Dallas, is the third location for the International Depository Services Group, which also includes IDS of Delaware and IDS of Canada.

"Expanding our operations into Texas reflects the growing demand for providing private precious metals storage in multiple geographic locations while offering the same high level of security, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability that our clients experience in Delaware and Ontario," said Alisa Moen, President of IDS Group. "Institutions and individuals who diversify their investment strategy with precious metals now have a dependable and efficient solution for secure storage in Texas."

Consistent with the business model at other IDS depositories, the Texas location can receive, securely store, transfer and ship precious metals worldwide. All account holdings, whether individual or institutional, are segregated to ensure complete security and confidentiality along with custom reporting and 24/7 online access through IDS' proprietary VaultDirect platform.

IDS of Texas is staffed with knowledgeable professionals with years of experience in precious metals and bullion storage and logistics. The IDS team is particularly experienced in dealing with IRA custodians and the requisite inventory and reporting typical with self-directed precious metal IRA accounts. IDS Group is insured by Lloyd's of London, the world's leading provider of specialized asset insurance.

"Texas needs a professional level of trust and security for precious metals storage operations," said Terry Hanlon, President of Dillon Gage Metals. "We're proud to be the first precious metals depository in Texas to offer dual control security procedures, a competitive rate structure and online VaultDirect portal access. This facility is designed to be the market leader for storing self-directed IRA accounts and individual private holdings. As one of the largest and most respected global precious metals companies, located in Dallas Texas, we know depositories and how to meet the needs of discerning investors."

IDS Group maintains several precious metals accreditations for its locations, including the commodity Exchanges COMEX/CME and the Intercontinental Exchange Futures U.S./ICE; is an associate in the London Bullion Market Association, the Industry Council for Tangible Assets and the International Precious Metals Institute. For more information, please visit www.internationaldepositoryservices.com or call toll-free (888) 322-6150.

About International Depository Services Group

International Depository Services Group (http://www.internationaldepositoryservices.com) with locations in Delaware, (www.internationaldepositoryservices.com; 888-322-6150), Ontario, Canada (www.idsofcanada.com; 855-362-2431) and Texas (InternationalDepositoryServices.com). All IDS locations offer secure, efficient and insured precious metals and certified coin depositories that focus on custom business logistics solutions including storage, fulfillment, inventory management and many other value-added services.

About Dillon Gage Metals

Dillon Gage Inc. of Dallas (DillonGage.com), founded in 1976, companies include:

Dillon Gage Metals (www.DillonGage.com) one of the world's largest precious metals wholesale trading firms. The firm is an authorized purchaser for all major world mints and maintains inventory in over 20 countries around the world. Additionally, the company provides advanced tools and technologies that enable market participants to be more successful in their businesses, allowing electronic trading and offering cloud-based solutions for the physical precious metals marketplace. 800-375-4653

FizTrade Online Trading (www.FizTrade.com) offers a real-time bid/ask trading platform for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. 800-375-4653

Dillon Gage Refining (www.dillongage.com/refining/why-dg), professional assayers and refiners of precious metal scrap, from low grade to karat scrap. Stone removal services and diamond experts on staff. 888-436-3489

Contact:

Jeffrey Cheatham

Senior Account Supervisor

TrizCom PR

(972) 247-1369

jeffc@trizcom.com

Jo Trizila

President

TrizCom PR

(972) 247-1369

jo@trizcom.com

SOURCE: Dillon Gage Metals
Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2017) - In celebration of its tenth anniversary of being listed on TSX Venture Exchange, GTA Resources and Mining Inc. (TSXV: GTA) has been invited to ring the closing bell on Monday, November 20, 2017.

"GTA Resources is tremendously honoured by this invitation," said GTA's CEO Peter M. Clausi. "Our team has emerged from one of the most brutal mining downturns in history, during which time we efficiently proved up over one million ounces of gold at Northshore and now have an imminent field program at Big Duck Lake in Hemlo. That wouldn't have been possible without the ongoing support from TSXV. We are looking forward to having key team members together to celebrate this milestone."

GTA also announces the closing on another tranche of its previously announced financing. This round included the issuance of 1,000,000 Flowthrough Units, for total proceeds of $50,000 from this tranche. A finder's fee of $3,750 and 70,000 broker warrants was paid in relation to this round.

The net use of proceeds as announced on August 29, 2017 is to fund exploration at GTA's Big Duck Lake Gold Property in the Hemlo Gold Camp.

ABOUT GTA RESOURCES - GTA is a publicly traded mineral exploration company led by an experienced and successful management team. It is focused on exploring for gold and zinc in Canada. GTA currently has four projects, with three in Ontario and one in Newfoundland. The three Ontario projects are the > 54%-owned Northshore Gold Project, near Schreiber in the Hemlo Gold Camp; the 100% owned Auden Project, near Hearst, Ontario; and the Big Duck Lake Gold Project also in Hemlo (option to own up to 100%). GTA also owns 100% of the Burnt Pond Zinc-Silver Project in central Newfoundland, along strike from Teck Resources Limited's past-producing Duck Pond Mine. GTA has roughly 46 million shares outstanding.

On behalf of the board of directors,

GTA Resources and Mining Inc.

"Peter M. Clausi"

President and CEO

+1 416-890-1232

pclausi@gtaresources.com

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.gtaresources.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, duration and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the timing of the receipt of assay results, and business and financing plans and trends, are forward-looking statements.Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Company's ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Company's ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Canada's unions say they welcome legislation being proposed to address harassment and violence in federally-regulated workplaces, and look forward to working with the government to address outstanding issues and ensure effective implementation.

The proposed legislation was announced today by Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, and would amend both the Canada Labour Code and the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.

"Workplace violence and harassment has reached epidemic proportions and is having very real consequences for the day-to-day lives and mental health of workers across the country," said CLC President Hassan Yussuff. "We are pleased to see the government addressing some of the gaps and inconsistencies in current legislation meant to address this issue."

Unions have long lobbied the federal government for comprehensive workplace violence legislation requiring employers to develop policies and programs to help prevent workplace violence and harassment, as well as take precautions to protect workers from domestic violence in the workplace.

"The legislation announced today is an important first step, but questions remain about the effective practical protections that will be available to workers, especially the most vulnerable," said Yussuff.

Yussuff said he would be seeking clarification around issues including:

-- Why the legislation does not contain a clear definition of harassment and violence. Unions are concerned that this can't be addressed through a regulatory process. The Ontario government's legislation, for example, contains a clear definition. -- Whether the legislation will be backed up with adequate staffing and training resources. We need to ensure that Labour Inspectors will receive the specialized training necessary to enforce the legislation. -- Whether union members will have the right to union representation throughout any complaint process. -- Whether workers will have the right to access information pertinent to their complaint. -- How this legislation will interact with provisions in collective agreements, such as the right to third party arbitration. -- How this legislation impacts the role of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in addressing complaints.

"We are pleased that the labour minister has committed to a stakeholders' working group to develop regulations and guidance documents and hope that many outstanding issues can be addressed there," said Yussuff.

Contacts:

Chantal St-Denis

National Representative, Media Relations

CLC Communications

613-355-1962

cstdenis@clc-ctc.ca




DUBLIN, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global Onshore Oil and Gas Pipeline Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global onshore oil and gas pipeline market to grow at a CAGR of 6.59% during the period 2017-2021.



Global Onshore Oil and Gas Pipeline Market 2017-2021 , has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. To calculate the market size, the report considers the new construction of pipelines and exclude operations and maintenance cost of pipelines.



According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is Rising global oil and gas demand. According to the US Energy Information Administration, global consumption of liquid fuel stood at 96.47 mbpd in 2016 compared with 86.43 mbpd in 2007. The US leads in global liquid fuel consumption with a total consumption of 19.2 mbpd, followed by China and India with 11.5 mbpd and 4.3 mbpd liquid fuel consumption, respectively.

Pipelines associated with the oil and gas business are utilized to transport a multitude of commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, and refined products over various distances. Onshore pipelines are constructed over land and may even stretch across different countries. Onshore pipelines may either be laid underground or above ground. Crude oil and natural gas are found in rock formations in the earth's crust. The depths at which oil and gas reservoirs occur can vary from a few meters to more than 40,000 feet. The valuable petroleum resources are extracted by drilling through the surface to the depths where the resources occur.





Further, the report states that one of the major factors hindering the growth of this market is Increasing use of renewable energy. Renewables have now become competitive with fossil fuels and are being used as primary sources of energy in many countries. As per the Eurostat, the share of renewables in the gross primary energy consumption in the EU nations is expected to rise by 4% during 2015-2020, owing to supportive government regulations.



In 2016, renewable energy accounted for more than 50% share of the energy mix in many countries of Europe, including Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. This is owing to the imposition of stringent emission norms by the governments all across Europe.



Market Trends



Big data analytics in oil and gas industry

Satellite-based pipeline monitoring systems

Falling raw material prices

Key vendors

BP

Gulf Interstate Engineering

Mott MacDonald

Saipem

TechnipFMC

Other prominent vendors

Appalachian Pipeline Contractors

AUDUBON COMPANIES

BARNARD

Bechtel

Burrow Global

Campos EPC

Dominion Energy

Driver Pipeline Company

ENBRIDGE

GAIL ( India )

) General Electric

Hyundai Heavy Industries

Kinder Morgan

MasTec

Michels

MPG Pipeline Contractors

PLH Group

Snelson Companies

The Williams Companies

TransCanada

WorleyParsons

Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive Summary



Part 02: Scope Of The Report



Part 03: Research Methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Market Landscape



Part 06: Market Segmentation By Application



Part 07: Regional Landscape



Part 08: Decision Framework



Part 09: Drivers And Challenges



Part 10: Market Trends



Part 11: Vendor Landscape



Part 12: Vendor Analysis



Part 13: Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vv4svs/global_onshore



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press@researchandmarkets.com



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SHENZHEN, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet, officially released TECS 6.0, the new-generation Cloud Platform, at the OpenStack Summit Sydney. Based on the latest OpenStack Pike, TECS 6.0 features cloud native microservice architecture and edge DC design. It also employs FPGA hardware acceleration technology and boasts powerful ICT convergence resource orchestration capability.

TECS 6.0 has the following characteristics:

-The microservice PaaS platform provides cloud native applications with powerful continuous development and delivery capability, enabling service release in minutes.

-The MEC-based (Multi-access Edge Computing) edge DC solution is featured with lightweight All-in-One resource pool in the edge DC and unified management in the center DC.

-The hybrid cloud solution provides resource convergence and unified O&M for IT cloud and CT cloud, bringing a network infrastructure platform with lower cost and higher efficiency.

OpenStack is the mainstream open source software developed to produce a ubiquitous Open Source Cloud Computing platform that is easy-to-use, simple-to-implement, and interoperable across all scales. In addition, it meets the needs of users and operators for public and private clouds.

As a gold member and major contributor of OpenStack Foundation, ZTE is committed to promoting the evolution of OpenStack. In the latest OpenStack Pike release, ZTE ranks No.3 in completed Blueprints. ZTE plays the role of Project Team Leader (PTL) in Murano and Solum projects as well as the Core contributor in 9 official projects, such as Zun.

As a leading provider of network cloudification, ZTE cooperates with global telecoms operators including VEON, velcom and Telefonica. So far, ZTE cloud products have been deployed in over 280 commercial/POC projects around the world. In terms of technology innovation and architecture evolution, this newly-released TECS 6.0 addresses the demands of mobile networks and new services in the 5G/IoT era, and fully supports the reformation and development for telecom operators and vertical industries.

About ZTE

ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, carriers, companies and public sector customers. As part of ZTE's strategy, the company is committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE's products and services are sold to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in international standard-setting organizations. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

Contact:

Margrete Ma

+86 75526775207

ma.gaili@zte.com.cn




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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced Tuesday that it has used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to deliver packages over water for the first time.

Three drones carrying a total six boxes of passionfruit with a combined weight of around 12 kilograms flew from Putian in east China's Fujian Province to nearby Meizhou Island on October 31, the company said.

Flying into a strong wind, the drones took nine minutes to make the five-kilometer crossing. Each drone can carry up to seven kilograms.

The drones were jointly developed by Alibaba's delivery arm Cainiao Network, the company's rural shopping platform Rural Taobao, and a domestic technology firm.

Zeng Jinmei, an online store owner based on the island, said that the drone delivery service will cut the transportation time by half and save logistic costs.

Alibaba has prepared extra drones ahead of the upcoming November 11"Singles' Day" shopping festival.

The day, which can be compared to Black Friday in the United States, became a shopping festival in China after Alibaba launched a major promotional campaign in 2009.

Alibaba plans to use drones to deliver high value-added products such as fresh food and medical supplies over water in the future.

Using drones to deliver packages has increased in recent years. Another Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com started conducting trial deliveries using drones in 2016. Smaller drones are being used in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province and Suqian, Jiangsu Province.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2017) - Accend Capital Corporation (TSXV: ADP.V) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent ("LOI") to acquire seven exploration licenses in the Republic of Uganda spanning approximately 1,564 square kilometers ("km2") of land highly prospective for cobalt, as well as copper and nickel (the "Transaction").

The Company intends to launch an extensive exploration program with the goal of discovering cobalt mineral deposits in Uganda. The exploration licenses are underlain by Proterozoic rocks which exhibit important similarities to the major producing cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC") (Geological Mapping, Geochemical Surveys and Mineral Resources Assessment in Selected Areas of Uganda, GTK, 2011). Uganda hosts the past producing Kilembe copper-cobalt mine, previously operated by Falconbridge Ltd., which produced over 16 million tons of ore grading 1.98% copper and 0.17% cobalt between 1956 and 1977. Following interpretation of airborne geophysical surveys and geochemical sampling programs conducted by the Finnish Geological Survey Consortium (or "GTK"), the areas surrounding Kilembe, and another area in west-central Uganda (which the Company refers to as "Bujagali"), were ranked by GTK among the country's highest exploration priorities for cobalt. These areas are included in the asset package the Company is acquiring, and are generally regarded as main opportunities for the discovery of a significant copper-cobalt deposit.

More specifically, two of the seven target licenses (together 193 km2) are located immediately north and south of the Kilembe mine, near to the border with the DRC, and are underlain by similar stratigraphy to the Kilembe mine itself. The five Bujagali licenses (together 1,371 km2) are adjacent to two artisanal gold mining operations, where more than 20,000 artisanal miners were mining until recently. Reconnaissance rock grab samples from within the Bujagali licenses taken by the Vendors contain 0.31% Co; 3.49 grams per tonne gold; and 0.17% Cu. The grab samples are selective rock samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the licenses. Eight rock grab samples contain greater than 0.12% Co from multiple locales, with the highest cobalt concentrations in sulphide-bearing Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks with similarities to those in the Katanga district copper-cobalt mines in the DRC. That is, age equivalent Proterozoic rock units underlie both the licenses in Uganda and the Katanga copper-cobalt deposits in the DRC (Kamoto Copper Company Technical Report, 2016).

As required by the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company is in the process of finalizing a National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the assets covered by the seven exploration licenses as well as a full legal title opinion on the licenses. Further details will be provided upon completion.

Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: "we are delighted to enter into this transaction to position the Company as a significant player in cobalt exploration globally. Not only is this acquisition of a large package of licenses highly prospective for cobalt, it is also situated near the key producing cobalt areas of the DRC, which is estimated to produce over 50% of global cobalt production making it the world's leading producer of cobalt (Kamoto Copper Company Technical Report, 2016).

We believe that this major land package in Uganda, which for historical reasons remains largely under-explored despite sharing many geologic features with the biggest cobalt producing areas globally, provides significant potential for the discovery of large scale cobalt deposits. At the same time, Uganda has had stable government for a number of years and has built a mining infrastructure which focuses on encouraging and attracting investment into the country. Furthermore, Uganda does not have the child labour, conflict mining or ethical production issues associated with the DRC."

Transaction

An LOI was entered into with 1126302 B.C. Ltd., 0972697 B.C. Ltd., and Manuforty Holding Company Limited (collectively, the "Vendors"), each arms length parties to the Company and which collectively hold the rights to the licenses through their respective subsidiaries. In consideration for the acquisition of the licenses, the Company will issue 19,700,000 common shares (the "Consideration Shares") and will complete a series of cash payments totaling $1,100,000. Upon issuance, the Consideration Shares will be subject to a pooling arrangement from which they will be released in tranches every six months over a thirty-six month period. In connection with completion of the Transaction, the Company intends to immediately change its name to "M2 Cobalt Corp." and its trading symbol to "MC".

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including negotiation and finalization of definitive documentation, the availability of financing, and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Transaction cannot be completed until these conditions are satisfied, and there can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed in a timely fashion, or at all. As part of its due diligence process, and as required by the Exchange, the Company has commissioned a geological report on the seven licenses to be acquired. Once completed, a copy of the geological report will be available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

Pending completion of filings with the Exchange in connection with the Transaction, trading in the Company's common shares has been halted at the request of the Company. It is anticipated that trading will remain halted until the Transaction has been completed.

Management Changes

In connection with completion of the Transaction, Thomas Lamb will join the Board of Directors of the Company and will serve as its 'Vice President of Operations'. Mr. Lamb has significant experience in structuring mining related transactions and has worked on numerous projects in Uganda over the past five years. Prior to becoming a corporate executive, Mr. Lamb practised as a securities lawyer.

In addition, it is anticipated that Dr. Jennifer Hinton will join the Company as 'Director of East Africa Operations'. Dr. Hinton, based in Entebbe, Uganda, is a geological engineer and has been an integral part of the Uganda mining community for over twelve years. Dr. Hinton was initially posted in Uganda by the World Bank to help re-energize the mining sector. Dr. Hinton has access to a local team of geologists, mining engineers, and key in-country personnel, and has strong relationships with the Directorate of Geologic Survey and Mines ("DGSM") and the Government of Uganda.

Simon Clarke commented: "we are delighted that we will have Dr Jennifer Hinton and her local team working in country to enable us to progress the development of our assets. This is a major benefit for us as we pursue our vision of discovering major global cobalt deposits which can help address the growing shortfall in global supply resulting from the rapid adoption of electric battery technologies."

Thomas Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of the Vendors, commented: "We are pleased to be joining Accend to create an important leader in cobalt exploration. This is an enormous land package which comprises the best cobalt targets in mining-friendly Uganda.We intend to make Africa's next major discoveries here.We look forward to making important contributions to Uganda's economy and society."

Private Placement

In connection with the Transaction, the Company intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of a minimum of 8,000,000 subscription receipts (each, a "Receipt") at a price of $0.50 per Receipt. The proceeds of the Financing will be held in escrow pending the Company completing the Transaction. Upon completion of the Transaction, each Receipt will automatically convert into one unit (each, a "Unit") of the Company. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one-half-of-one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to acquire a further common share at a price of $0.80 per share for period of twenty-four months, subject to accelerated expiry in the event the common shares of the Company trade on the Exchange at a price of $1.40 or higher for ten consecutive trading days. All securities to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period. The Company anticipates paying finders' fees to certain eligible parties who introduce subscribers to the Financing.

The proceeds of the Financing are intended to be used to advance exploration efforts Uganda, and to satisfy working capital requirements of the Transaction.

About the Republic of Uganda

For historic reasons, Uganda's mineral potential is yet to be fully realized. The country shares multiple geologic features conducive to mineralization with its neighbors, the mineral-rich DRC, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan. In addition, growth in the minerals sector is a key pillar of the Government of Uganda's national development strategy. Strong government commitment is exemplified by its well-developed and continued commitment to foreign investment in the resource sector.

Community Relations

Community relations are of utmost importance to the Company. The Company intends to support sustainable development of the communities within and surrounding the properties. The goal is to create long-term value through the ethical and responsible extraction of mineral resources and production of metals by working in cooperation with all stakeholders with transparency and accountability in all activities.

About Cobalt

Cobalt has many commercial, industrial and military applications. The leading use of cobalt is for rechargeable battery electrodes. The temperature stability and heat- and corrosion-resistance of cobalt-based super-alloys makes them suitable for use in turbine blades for jet turbines and gas turbine engines. Other uses of cobalt include: vehicle airbags; catalysts for the petroleum and chemical industries; cemented carbides and diamond cutting and abrasion tools; drying agents for paints; varnishes and inks; dyes and pigments; ground coats for porcelain enamels; high-speed steels; magnetic recording media; magnets; and steel-belted radial tires. More than half of the global refined production of cobalt comes from the DRC.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

For further information, contact Simon Clarke at 604.551.9665 or simonclarke@telus.net.

On behalf of the Board,

Accend Capital Corporation

Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including Exchange acceptance. The Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained, and the outstanding conditions are satisfied. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. 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 future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for cobalt and certain precious metals, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the Province of Ontario, and 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.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Bill Lerner, owner and CEO of iPark, spent a number of decades building the company into what is now the biggest family-owned parking garage entity in New York State. What began as a single 25-car lot in 1960 has now grown to nearly 150 facilities, with future properties in the works as parking needs continue to increase. While iPark's achievements can certainly be attributed to sound decision-making and management, Lerner's openness to new ideas and philosophies in terms of business operations has been the driving force behind the company's consistent expansion. The American entrepreneur discusses his role as an innovator, and how these decisions have driven sustained success.

It's easy to think of innovation within a business as profound, game-changing revelations that completely alter an industry's way of thinking, but that is not always the case. 'Evolutionary changes (slight shifts in business strategy or thinking) can often be every bit as powerful as revolutionary advancements,' writes Parade contributor Scott Steinberg. 'We often forget that all it frequently takes to get ahead is just a minor shift in tactics or perspective.' For Lerner, this has often meant accommodating various trends and shifts that reflect on consumer's everyday lifestyles. 'It's become essential to be technologically capable,' he noted in an interview with Park Exec. 'Our customer base has become primarily a tech community.'

One particular example of Lerner's approach is the implementation of a user-friendly, streamlined online booking framework that became a major factor in the company's growth, especially in the New York City area. 'The amenities our clientele enjoy in other markets have to be available within ours in order to retain their business,' he pointed out. More recently, the rise in use of electric vehicles prompted Lerner to initiate a partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. and CarCharging, resulting in the installation of charging stations at a number of iPark garages, with plans to eventually offer them at every facility. 'I feel that 10 years out, more new cars will be electric than gasoline-based,' he told CNBC. 'There's going to come a day when you can't find a place to gas up in Manhattan.' Regardless of what the future holds, Bill Lerner will continue to utilize his innovative business approach in the way his company operates, furthering its success in an ever-changing industry that relies on anticipating consumer's preferences on all levels.

Bill Lerner is the President and CEO of iPark, New York's largest family-owned parking garage entity. Upon graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in Business, Billy officially joined his father's company, then known as Imperial Parking Systems, where he began to strategically redevelop its operational functions, eventually rebranding the business as iPark. Today, he personally oversees all technological transitions, placing the company at the forefront of the parking industry's ongoing evolution. A husband and father of three, Billy devotes his spare time to a number of charitable and philanthropic causes, most notably Billy4Kids; a nonprofit organization he founded that works to provide shoes for underprivileged children in communities throughout the world.

Bill Lerner - President and CEO of iPark: http://billlernernews.com

Billy Lerner (@billy_lerner) - Twitter: https://twitter.com/billy_lerner

Billy Lerner - Home - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billylernerofficial/

Contact Information:

BillLernerNews.com

http://billlernernews.com

contact@billlernernews.com

SOURCE: Bill Lerner
eClinicalHealth Limited, a cloud-based eClinical technology company supporting direct-to-patient and virtual clinical trials, announces that it has named Tim Kvanvig as head of eClinicalHealth's Strategic Initiatives.

Tim has served in senior management roles leading global information technology organizations at GSK and in Oracle's life science industry group. Throughout his career of more than 25 years his efforts have focused on technology solutions in clinical, customer engagement, regulatory, and enterprise information systems. In his new role at eClinicalHealth, Tim will assume assignments to support the Clinpal team's growing biopharmaceutical and CRO customer base throughout the US and Western Europe.

"eClinicalHealth is leading innovation and implementing change on behalf of clinical trial patients around the globe," stated Tim Kvanvig. "I'm extremely pleased to be joining the Clinpal team as they lead the industry in direct-to-patient and virtual trial technology."

"We are pleased to grow our US infrastructure with an experienced leader like Tim. He will provide key insights in supporting our growing customer base in the US and around the world," said Karl Landert, CEO, eClinicalHealth.

eClinicalHealth Ltd is the developer of Clinpal, a unified clinical trials platform for connecting patients, sites, and sponsors.

To find out more about Clinpal please visit our website and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About eClinicalHealth

Headquartered in Scotland, eClinicalHealth Limited, developers of the revolutionary Clinpal patient engagement platform, was founded in early 2012 to provide innovative clinical trial solutions. The company is committed to leading open and collaborative innovation discussions about patient-centric clinical trial processes and technology with pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and other service and technology providers.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006731/en/

Contacts:

eClinicalHealth Limited

Brent Cliveden, +44 333 012 4205

info@eClinicalHealth.com

Web: www.clinpal.com

Join our community: LinkedIn | Twitter
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- InspireMD, Inc. (NYSE American: NSPR), a leader in Embolic Prevention Systems (EPS) / thrombus management technologies and neurovascular devices, today announced preliminary results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017.

James Barry, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of InspireMD, commented, "Not only did we achieve a 90% year-over-year increase in sales of CGuard EPS for the third quarter of 2017, but we also achieved a 22% sequential increase versus the second quarter of 2017. We achieved these strong results, even though the third quarter tends to be seasonally weak. We believe this growth is evidence that our new distribution and key opinion leader strategy is working. We are hopeful that this growth will continue as the broader community of mainstream vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, interventional neuroradiologists, and interventional radiologists begin to adopt our technology. Given the safety advantages of the CGuard EPS, we believe that CGuard has the potential to become the standard of care and to be regarded by physicians as a safer alternative to vascular surgery for patients with carotid artery disease, thereby expanding the addressable market opportunity."

Dr. Barry continued, "We had several other notable accomplishments during the quarter. Most recently a live endovascular interventional procedure featuring the CGuard EPS was transmitted real time at the Cracow Vascular Summit (CVS) 2017. The case was extremely challenging, and CGuard EPS Carotid System performance was excellent. Additionally, patient enrollment began in an investigator initiated trial in Russia, to assess the neuro protection and clinical superiority of the CGuard EPS versus Abbott's RX ACCULINK Carotid Stent in subjects at high risk for Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA), a surgical procedure. Earlier in the second quarter, we announced publication of an independent clinical review, authored by leading U.S. and European physicians supporting the safety advantages of treating carotid artery disease with next generation carotid devices, specifically highlighting the CGuard EPS clinical data compared to its competitors. We also announced that an endovascular interventional procedure featuring the CGuard EPS was performed by two of the top key opinion leaders in Latin America and was broadcast at the SOLACI CACI Congress of Cardiology 2017 in Buenos Aires. We believe these premier presentations, publications, and live clinical cases at major clinical meetings further illustrate the growing interest and support for CGuard across Europe and around the world."

Dr. Barry concluded, "Operationally, we believe that the business looks very good as we continue to implement the strategy we set out at the end of last year. We continue to grow our sales with our European distributors and are expanding our distribution network globally. Several top key opinion leaders in Europe are embracing and advocating the CGuard EPS to their colleagues. This is evident not only through their use of the product, but further illustrated by the testimonials we recently posted on our website featuring leading clinicians from the fields of vascular surgery, interventional cardiology and interventional neuroradiology. As a result, we remain hopeful CGuard EPS will in time become standard-of-care."

Financial Results

Revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 was $718,000 compared to $469,000 during the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of CGuard EPS as we continued focus on expanding existing markets such as Italy, expansion into new geographies such as Russia as well as the transition from our prior exclusive distribution partner for most of Europe to local distributors. Total operating expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $2,238,000, an increase of 25.2% compared to $1,788,000 for the same period in 2016. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses to support the commercialization of CGuard EPS. Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 totaled $2,086,000, or $0.19 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,995,000, or $0.85 per basic and diluted share, in the same period in 2016.

Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $1,927,000 compared to $1,572,000 during the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of CGuard EPS as we expanded into new geographies such as Russia, continued focus on expanding existing markets such as Italy as well as the transition from our prior exclusive distribution partner for most of Europe to local distributors. Total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $7,157,000, an increase of 25.3% compared to $5,712,000 for the same period in 2016. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses (primarily to support the commercialization of CGuard EPS), as well as an increase in salary expenses primarily due to a salary related accrual. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 totaled $6,939,000, or $0.87 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $6,193,000, or $5.98 per basic and diluted share, in the same period in 2016.

As of September 30, 2017, cash and cash equivalents were $4,765,000, compared to $7,516,000 as of December 31, 2016. Based on the Company's current business plan, the Company believes its cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017, will be sufficient to meet its operating requirements up to 4 months from the date of issuing these interim consolidated financial statements.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 8 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available via telephone by dialing toll free 888-567-1602 for U.S. callers or +1 404-267-0373 for international callers, or on the Company's Investor Relations section of the website: http://www.inspiremd.com/en/investors/investor-relations/.

A webcast will also be archived on the Company's website and a telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the call, through midnight November 22, 2017, and can be accessed by dialing 877-481-4010 for U.S. callers or +1 919-882-2331 for international callers and entering conference ID: 22280.

About InspireMD, Inc.

InspireMD seeks to utilize its proprietary MicroNet technology to make its products the industry standard for embolic protection and to provide a superior solution to the key clinical issues of current stenting in patients with a high risk of distal embolization, no reflow and major adverse cardiac events.

InspireMD intends to pursue applications of this MicroNet technology in coronary, carotid (CGuard), neurovascular, and peripheral artery procedures. InspireMD's common stock is quoted on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol NSPR and certain warrants are quoted on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol NSPR.WS.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) negative clinical trial results or lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) insufficient or inadequate reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers for our products, (ix) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xiii) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (1) (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, ----------------------- ----------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Revenues $718 $469 $1,927 $1,572 Cost of revenues 565 439 1,553 1,414 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Gross Profit 153 30 374 158 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Operating Expenses: Research and development 288 289 1,041 946 Selling and marketing 671 309 1,835 1,077 General and administrative 1,279 1,190 4,281 3,689 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total operating expenses 2,238 1,788 7,157 5,712 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Loss from operations (2,085) (1,758) (6,783) (5,554) Financial expenses 1 237 155 638 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Loss before tax expenses (2,086) (1,995) (6,938) (6,192) Tax expenses (Income) - - 1 1 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net Loss $(2,086) $(1,995) $(6,939) $(6,193) =========== =========== =========== =========== Net loss per share - basic and diluted $(0.19) $(0.85) $(0.87) $(5.98) =========== =========== =========== =========== Weighted average number of shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share - basic and diluted 11,126,366 2,341,807 8,711,755 1,034,943 =========== =========== =========== =========== CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (2) (U.S. dollars in thousands) ASSETS September 30, December 31, 2017 2016 ------------- ------------- Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $4,765 $7,516 Accounts receivable: Trade, net 538 356 Other 167 157 Prepaid expenses 109 65 Inventory 576 500 ------------- ------------- Total current assets 6,155 8,594 ------------- ------------- Non-current assets: Property, plant and equipment, net 495 379 Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement 444 399 Royalties buyout 19 38 ------------- ------------- Total non-current assets 958 816 ------------- ------------- Total assets $7,113 $9,410 ============= ============= LIABILITIES AND EQUITY September 30, December 31, 2017 2016 ------------- ------------- Current liabilities: Current maturity of long-term loan $- $2,680 Accounts payable and accruals: Trade 402 618 Other 2,293 1,447 Advanced payment from customers 28 33 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 2,723 4,778 ------------- ------------- Long-term liabilities: Liability for employees rights upon retirement 610 587 ------------- ------------- Total long-term liabilities 610 587 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities 3,333 5,365 ------------- ------------- Equity: Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 7,465,889 and 1,475,318 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 1 - Preferred B shares, par value $0.0001 per share; 500,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 180,992 and 311,521 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively - - Preferred C shares, par value $0.0001 per share; 1,172,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2017; 743,213 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 - - Additional paid-in capital 142,632 135,959 Accumulated deficit (138,853) (131,914) ------------- ------------- Total equity 3,780 4,045 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and equity $7,113 $9,410 ============= ============= (1) All 2017 financial information is derived from the Company's 2017 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all 2016 financial information is derived from the Company's 2016 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (2) All September 30, 2017 financial information is derived from the Company's 2017 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All December 31, 2016 financial information is derived from the Company's 2016 audited financial statements as disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contacts:



InspireMD, Inc.

Craig Shore

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: 1-888-776-6804 FREE

Email: craigs@inspiremd.com



Crescendo Communications, LLC

David Waldman

Phone: (212) 671-1021

Email: NSPR@crescendo-ir.com




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (the "Company" or "Aegean") (NYSE: ANW), a leading international marine fuel logistics company, today announced that it expects to report a net loss for the third quarter of 2017 of between $3.4 - $4.4 million or a loss of $0.09 - $0.11 per share. While the Company continues to make significant progress on its cost savings initiatives, the challenging operating environment that dominated the first half of 2017 has continued to put pressure on sales margins, depressing the Company's gross profit and inhibiting its ability to offset the cost of its operations.

Jonathan McIlroy, Aegean's President, commented, "The third quarter of 2017 has seen a continuation of the challenging market trends that our Company and our competitors have faced throughout this year. In addition, a combination of three hurricanes and one serious refinery fire compounded what was already a tough environment in the third quarter. Despite modest improvement in some segments of the shipping industry, the oil markets and the marine fuel sector remain under great pressure. We continue to see margin deterioration in many of our key markets resulting from lackluster demand and increased competition. This was a deciding factor in our recent decision to withdraw from the physical supply business in the Singapore market. We as a company are committed to offsetting market weakness by being proactive where we can. Through cost savings initiatives and seeking growth opportunities in higher margin markets, these actions should improve the profitability of our business over time. Our recent changes in Singapore are illustrative of this commitment to our shareholders."

McIlroy continued, "Despite our expected third quarter loss, we have taken cumulative measures through October 2017 that are aimed to yield more than $20 million in annualized cost savings. These measures include downsizing our U.S. West Coast storage footprint, our recently announced withdrawal as a physical supplier in Singapore as well as other fleet savings through the deactivation of unproductive tonnage. Even after these savings are accounted for, we believe there remains further opportunity to cut costs across our network. We expect to discuss the market and these cost savings in more detail when we announce full third quarter results."

Timing of Earnings

The Company plans to release its results for the third quarter of 2017 on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, after the close of market trading. The Company will hold a conference call during which it will discuss third quarter results in more detail on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.

Conference Call Details

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: +1 (866) 819-7111 (from the U.S.), 0(800) 953-0329 (from the U.K.) or (+44) (0) 1452 542 301 (Standard International Dial In). Please request "Aegean" from the operator.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until Thursday, November 23, 2017. The United States replay number is +1 (866) 247-4222; from the U.K. 0(800) 953-1533; the standard international replay number is (+44) (0) 1452 550 000 and the access code required for the replay is: 88442018.

Live Audio Webcast and Slides

In parallel with the conference call, there will also be a live audio webcast as well as slides for use with the conference call. These can be accessed, and will be archived, on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://aegeanmarine.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations/events. Participants in the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

About Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc.

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. is an international marine fuel logistics company that markets and physically supplies refined marine fuel and lubricants to ships in port and at sea. The Company procures product from various sources (such as refineries, oil producers, and traders) and resells it to a diverse group of customers across all major commercial shipping sectors and leading cruise lines. Currently, Aegean has a global presence in 30 markets and a team of professionals ready to serve its customers wherever they are around the globe. For additional information please visit: www.ampni.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "will," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Company management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company's records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company's control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the Company's ability to manage growth, the Company's ability to maintain its business in light of its proposed business and location expansion or other changes, the Company's ability to obtain double hull secondhand bunkering tankers, the outcome of legal, tax or regulatory proceedings to which the Company may become a party, adverse conditions in the shipping or the marine fuel supply industries, the Company's ability to retain its key suppliers and key customers, material disruptions in the availability or supply of crude oil or refined petroleum products, changes in the market price of petroleum, including the volatility of spot pricing, increased levels of competition, compliance or lack of compliance with various environmental and other applicable laws and regulations, the Company's ability to collect accounts receivable, changes in the political, economic or regulatory conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, and the world in general, the Company's failure to hedge certain financial risks associated with its business, the Company's ability to maintain its current tax treatments and the Company's failure to comply with restrictions in its credit agreements and other factors. Please see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

CONTACTS:



Company

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc.

Tel. +1-212-430-1098

Email: investor@ampni.com



Investor Relations / Media Advisor

Nicolas Bornozis / Daniela Guerrero

Capital Link, Inc.

Tel. +1-212-661-7566

Email: aegean@capitallink.com




NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Rio Tinto plc ("Rio Tinto" or the "Company") (NYSE: RIO). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Rio Tinto and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

In August 2011, Rio Tinto acquired certain Riversdale Mining Limited coal assets in Mozambique for approximately $3.7 billion. In or around December 2012, the Chairman of the Board of Rio Tinto ordered an investigation into the true value of these coal assets. In January 15, 2013, the Company's Board determined that the assets were severely impaired and should be written down to $611 million. On February 15, 2013, Rio Tinto disclosed the initial impact of the impairment to investors in a press release announcing the Company's financial and operating results for 2012. On this disclosure, Rio Tinto's American Depositary Receipt price fell sharply over the following trading sessions, damaging investors. After recording hundreds of millions of dollars in additional impairment charges, Rio Tinto ultimately sold the assets at issue for $50 million (less than two percent of the original $3.7 billion acquisition price).

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
LONDON, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Scott Sharp was working at a Guelph hospital when called to assist nurses who were being attacked in the emergency department by a disturbed patient. Slammed through a wall, Sharp was very badly injured, physically and psychologically, and has spent over two years working to recover and return to work.

New polling, being released on Wednesday (November 8, 2017, 1:30 p.m.) at a media conference at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre, 656 Elizabeth Street (London) shows that assaults on hospital staff, like Mr. Sharp, are happening at "alarming" rates of frequency.

"Whether it is physical, verbal or sexual, Ontario hospital staff face the potential threat of assault with every shift regardless of what type of hospital they work at," says OCHU president Michael Hurley, who, along with Mr. Sharp, will release the poll findings.

Earlier this fall, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), through its hospital division, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE), polled 1,976 members (the majority - 1,568 of them women) working in hospitals in seven Ontario communities. The sample included hospital staff working at large urban hospitals, some with forensic psychiatric units, and mid-size hospitals and one rural hospital.

Respondents were asked whether they had experienced different forms of violence and how often - from at least one incident to over nine incidents - in an average year. The poll also probed the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment, and staff perceptions of employer reprisal when workers do report incidents.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that health care workplace violence is an "underreported, ubiquitous and persistent problem that has largely been tolerated and ignored." Other studies show that staff who provide direct patient care face higher rates of workplace violence than police and corrections officers.

OCHU is asking the province for amendments to the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act and the Public Hospitals Act that would better protect hospital staff.

Contacts:

Michael Hurley

President OCHU/CUPE

416-884-0770



Stella Yeadon

CUPE Communications

416-559-9300

http://www.epidemicofviolence.ca/




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Highlights:

-- Aguia is evaluating exploration targets adjacent to Tres Estradas that exhibit similar geophysical signatures -- Santa Clara target, only 4km from Tres Estradas ("TE") has outcropping carbonatite that has returned up to 6.38% P2O5 in rock grab samples -- Porteira has returned assays of up to 14.57% P2O5 and Santa Ines 16.32% P2O5 -- Historical data for the Mato Grande carbonatite has reported up to 8.38% P2O5 in carbonatite samples -- Exploration targets have the potential to significantly add to Tres Estradas' already long project life

Brazilian fertiliser developer Aguia Resources Limited (ASX: AGR)(TSX VENTURE: AGRL) ("Aguia" or the "Company") is pleased to update shareholders on its regional exploration activities on properties in close proximity to its flagship Tres Estradas project site in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

With the updated resource delineation drilling of the Tres Estradas Mineral Resource now complete (see release September 20th, 2017), Aguia has resumed exploration of neighbouring properties. The aim is to identify additional oxidized carbonatite sources that could ultimately contribute to the Tres Estradas Project. Based on regional mapping and airborne geophysical data, Aguia has identified a number of exploration targets surrounding the Tres Estradas and Joca Tavares carbonatites (Figure 1).

Santa Clara is a priority target for Aguia as it is located only 4 km from Tres Estradas, thus having the potential to add oxidized material to the Tres Estradas operation with minimal transport cost. The target was identified using airborne magnetic and radiometric signatures that closely resemble Tres Estradas (Figure 2). Initial scouting along this NE-trending, 2.2 km long and 900 m wide target has identified outcropping, mineralized carbonatite that has returned up to 6.38% P2O5 in rock grab samples. Further sampling and mapping are planned followed by drilling.

Porteira and Santa Ines are adjacent to the Joca Tavares carbonatite and were identified using airborne geophysics (Figure 3). Both targets are associated with discrete magnetic anomalies, and ground follow up analysis has identified a series of breccias, carbonatites and altered host sedimentary rocks that returned assays of up to 14.57% P2O5 in Porteira and 16.32% in Santa Ines. The Porteira target is approximately 2 km long by 600 m wide, and Santa Ines is approximately 3.8 km long by 800 m wide. Further prospecting, rock and soil sampling followed by auger and RC drilling is planned.

Mato Grande (see Figure 1) is a 700 m long by 200 m wide carbonatite target located northeast of Tres Estradas and close to the city of Cacapava. The Company is currently completing an auger drilling program along this carbonatite and assay results are pending. Historical data on this carbonatite have reported up to 8.38% P2O5 in carbonatite samples.

Commentary

Technical Director Fernando Tallarico commented: "With the successful completion of the drilling program at Tres Estradas in support of the ongoing bankable feasibility study, we are now resuming the regional exploration program in Rio Grande. Santa Clara is the priority target due to its proximity to Tres Estradas and its compelling geology. These targets have the potential to contribute additional high grade oxidized material which could extend the initial phase of the Tres Estradas project."

Managing Director Justin Reid added: "The results from drilling at Tres Estradas were better than anticipated and resulted in a very high rate of conversion of Inferred Resources to Measured and Indicated. While our engineering team focuses on optimizing the mine plan for Tres Estradas, we are sending our geologists back into the field to look for expansion opportunities on the surrounding properties. We are very excited about the carbonatite outcroppings encountered which lead us to believe that there is more phosrock to be found that could all feed into Tres Estradas and add value to the project for many years to come.

It is also important to note that this exploration focus does not change our development timeline for Tres Estradas which is on track as our main priority."

To view Figures 1-3 and Table 1 please click the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Fig1-3Table1.pdf

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Fernando Tallarico, who is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario, Technical Director for Aguia and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Tallarico consents to the inclusion of his name in the release.

Released through: Ben Jarvis, Six Degrees Investor Relations: +61 413 150 448

Follow Aguia on Twitter: @ Aguia_Resources

About Aguia:

Aguia Resources Limited, ("Aguia") is an ASX and TSXV listed company whose primary focus is on the exploration and development of phosphate projects in Brazil. Aguia has an established and highly experienced in-country team based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil with corporate offices in Sydney, Australia. Aguia's key projects are located in Rio Grande do Sul, a prime farming area which is 100% dependent on phosphate imports. The Rio Grande phosphate deposits exhibit high quality and low cost production characteristics, and are ideally located with proximity to road, rail, and port infrastructure. Aguia's experienced management team has a proven track record of advancing high quality mining assets to production in Brazil.

In accordance with the requirements of the Australian Securities Exchange (the "ASX"), the Company has lodged a JORC Table with the ASX. Shareholders may access the JORC Table on the ASX website at http://www.asx.com.au/asx/share-price-research/company/AGR.

Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and Australian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the exploration and targets of the exploration program, the progress of the BFS, the metallurgical results, production targets, the anticipated timetable, permitting, forecast financial information, ability to finance the project, and the prospectivity and potential of the Tres Estradas project and surrounding assets.

Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The material factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information of the Mineral Resource Statement results have been outlined above and will be detailed in the associated technical report.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on the ASX website at www.asx.com.au and on the Company's website at www.aguiaresources.com.au. These risks should be considered carefully.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Persons reading this news release are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, estimates, options, future events, results or otherwise and does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE, TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contacts:

Justin Reid

Managing Director

E: jreid@aguiaresources.com.au

T: +1 416-216-5446



Spyros Karellas

Investor Relations North America

E: spyros@pinnaclecapitalmarkets.ca

T: +1 416-433-5696




NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Ford Motor Company ('Ford' or the 'Company') (NYSE: F) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Eastern District of Michigan, and docketed under 17-cv-13536, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Ford securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Ford securities between February 18, 2014, and October 26, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until December 29, 2017, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

Ford Motor Company designs, manufactures, and services cars and trucks. The Company also provides vehicle-related financing, leasing, and insurance through its subsidiary.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) flaws in the Company's manufacturing processes, supply chain, and/or quality control rendered at least 841,000 Ford vehicles unsafe to drive; (ii) the foregoing issues, when revealed, would foreseeably subject Ford to additional regulatory scrutiny and impact the Company's profitability; and (iii) as a result, Ford's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On October 27, 2017, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ('NHTSA') announced a preliminary investigation into 841,000 Ford vehicles, citing concerns that the vehicles' steering wheels could detach while the vehicles are in motion. NHTSA stated that it is specifically investigating 2014-2016 model Ford Fusion sedans.

On this news, Ford's share price fell $0.21, or 1.71%, to close at $12.06 on October 27, 2017.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in SCANA Corporation ("SCANA" or the "Company") (NYSE: SCG) of the November 27, 2017 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 SCANA common stock or options between January 19, 2016 and September 22, 2017 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here : www.faruqilaw.com/SCG. There is no cost or obligation to you.

You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to rgonnello@faruqilaw.com.

The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on behalf of all those who purchased SCANA common stock between January 19, 2016 and September 22, 2017 (the "Class Period"). The case, Norman v. SCANA Corporation, et al., No. 3:17-cv-02616 was filed on September 27, 2017, and has been assigned to Judge Margaret B. Seymour.

The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or omitting material information, concerning the progress, cost, and completion schedule of the multi-billion dollar nuclear construction project at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station (the "Nuclear Project").

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges, in part, that on July 31, 2017, SCANA announced that it would abandon construction of the Nuclear Project because of cost overruns and delays. Then, on August 4, 2017, the South Carolina Attorney General ("SC AG") announced the opening of an investigation into SCANA's abandonment of the Nuclear Project. Then, on August 10, 2017, The Post and Courier published an article reporting on SCANA's Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Marsh's comments stating, "he wasn't sure he would want to take the project back up after it fell years behind schedule and its costs soared billions of dollars over budget." Then, on September 22, 2017, the SC AG requested that the State Law Enforcement Division launch a criminal investigation into the Nuclear Project.

As a result of these disclosures, SCANA's share price has declined significantly, causing harm to investors.

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 SCANA'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 case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

CONTACT:

FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP

685 Third Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.

rgonnello@faruqilaw.com

Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330

SOURCE: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of SCANA Corporation ("SCANA" or the "Company") (NYSE: SCG). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether SCANA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

On July 31, 2017, Scana's subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. ("SCE&G") and Santee Cooper, South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility, announced that they would abandon construction of two nuclear power plants in South Carolina, citing rising construction costs. On August 11, 2017, The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that Kevin Marsh, Scana's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, had advised state lawmakers that SCE&G might not resume construction on the nuclear power plants even if a new partner for the project was found.

Following this news, Scana's share price fell $1.32, or 2.13%, to close at $60.69 on August 11, 2017.

That same day, after the close of trading, The Post and Courier reported that a class action had been filed against SCE&G on behalf of South Carolina ratepayers, alleging that SCE&G had overcharged its customers for electricity for nearly 10 years by raising their rates to pay in advance for the construction of the company's subsequently abandoned nuclear plants. On August 29, 2017, The Post and Courier reported that a second class action had been filed on behalf of SCE&G customers, accusing SCE&G and Scana of fraud and negligence in the years preceding the decision to abandon construction of the company's nuclear power plants.

Following this news, Scana's share price fell $0.84, or 1.39%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $59.75 per share on August 30, 2017.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: OLA) is pleased to announce that it has completed, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated June 20, 2017, as amended, with Goldcorp Inc., the previously announced acquisition of the Camino Rojo Project, a gold and silver oxide heap leach project containing 1.7 million ozs of gold reserves(i) located in Zacatecas State, Mexico, for consideration to Goldcorp consisting of 31.9 million common shares of Orla and a 2% net smelter royalty. All of the mineral reserves and resources estimates herein are historical estimates and Orla is not treating such estimates as current. In addition, Orla and Goldcorp have entered into an option agreement regarding the potential development of sulphide operations at Camino Rojo whereby Goldcorp will, subject to the applicable sulphide project meeting certain thresholds, have an option to acquire a 60% or 70% interest in the applicable sulphide project. The Camino Rojo Project contains a sulphide resource of 7.5 million ozs of Measured & Indicated gold along with significant silver, lead, and zinc(i). Details of the transaction agreements can be found on Orla's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Key Highlights

-- Acquisition by Orla of a second high quality, advanced oxide heap leach project in a low risk jurisdiction. The Acquisition leverages management's and the board's extensive exploration, development and operating experience in Mexico. -- Significant mineral reserves and resources: 1.7 million ozs of oxide gold reserves and 7.5 million ozs of Measured & Indicated gold resources along with significant silver, lead, and zinc.(i) -- Large prospective land package: Over 200,000 hectares, with potential to find additional oxide and sulphide mineral resources. -- Ejido agreements and strong community relationships in place.

"We are very excited about this project", said Marc Prefontaine, CEO of Orla. "Camino Rojo is an advanced project with historic oxide gold and silver reserves, sulphide resources and a largely unexplored land position in a highly-prospective area. Crews are on-site preparing to commence a large work program with four priority goals: complete an updated resource estimate on the project; advance the oxide portion of the deposit as quickly as possible to a production decision for an open pit mine and heap leach extraction facility, continue evaluation of the sulphide portion of the deposit, and, commence exploration on several known gold and silver targets previously identified on the large 200,000 hectare land position."

(i)Note: Mineral Reserves and Resources estimate as reported by Goldcorp in its Annual Information Form dated March 16, 2017 ("AIF") for the financial year ended December 31, 2016, available to Canadian investors at www.sedar.com under Goldcorp's profile. Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were prepared by Goldcorp in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") under the supervision of a qualified person. The historical mineral reserve and resource estimates were estimated in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards and were calculated by Goldcorp using metal prices of $1,200 per gold ounce and $18 per silver ounce, and mineral resources were calculated using $1,400 per gold ounce, $20 per silver ounce, $1.00 per pound of lead and $1.00 per pound of zinc. A NI 43-101 Technical Report on Camino Rojo is available on SEDAR under the profile of Canplats Resources Corporation (acquired by Goldcorp in 2010). The last NI 43-101 Technical Report on Camino Rojo was produced on October 16, 2009 and amended on November 30, 2009. Orla is not treating these historical estimates as current and has not completed sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral reserves or mineral resources for Orla's purposes. Although Orla is not treating this information as current estimates, it believes the Goldcorp work is reliable and that the information, which was made publicly available by Goldcorp, may be of assistance to investors. The Company intends to review all project data, validate data quality, create a new geological model and then make an updated resource estimate in the upcoming months. As well, the Company will be reviewing metallurgical information and key economic parameters in order to evaluate the potential economics of an open pit gold and silver mine and heap leach extraction facility.

Overview of Camino Rojo

Camino Rojo is an advanced-stage project located 50 km southeast of Goldcorp's Penasquito mine. Road transportation and power are located nearby, and in this historic mining region skilled labour and contractors are readily available. Camino Rojo consists of a near-surface oxide gold and silver deposit and a deeper sulphide zone containing gold, silver, zinc and lead mineralization.

The most recent NI 43-101 Technical Report on Camino Rojo was produced on October 16, 2009 and amended on November 30, 2009 and is available on Sedar under the profile of Canplats Resources Corporation. Since acquiring Camino Rojo in 2010, Goldcorp completed in excess of 250,000 metres of drilling, conducted airborne and ground geophysical surveys and did extensive geological and mineralogical investigations. Numerous metallurgical studies were also conducted, including detailed mineralogical studies, column leach studies for oxide ore, size fraction analysis, variability test work and sulphide flotation studies.

Historical Estimates - Camino Rojo Reserves and Resources(i)

As reported by Goldcorp at June 30, 2016, mineral reserves and resources for Camino Rojo are shown below. For Orla's purposes, these estimates for Camino Rojo are considered to be historical estimates under NI 43-101 as they were prepared by Goldcorp prior to Orla's agreement to acquire Camino Rojo.

MINERAL RESERVES (Oxide & Transitional)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category Tonnes (Mt) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (Mozs) Ag (Mozs) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proven - - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probable 75.52 0.70 14.22 1.70 34.53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Reserve 75.52 0.70 14.22 1.70 34.53 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINERAL RESOURCES (Sulphide)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category Tonnes (Mt) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (Mozs) Ag (Mozs) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Measured - - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated 223.08 1.05 9.02 7.50 64.72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- M&I Resource 223.08 1.05 9.02 7.50 64.72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inferred 17.16 0.88 9.06 0.49 5.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

1. Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources estimate as reported by Goldcorp in the AIF for the financial year ended December 31, 2016, available at http://www.sedar.com/ under Goldcorp's profile. Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were prepared by Goldcorp in accordance with NI 43-101 under the supervision of a qualified person. Orla is not treating these historical estimates as current and has not completed sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral reserves or mineral resources for Orla's purposes. Orla's qualified person will review and verify the scientific and technical information of Goldcorp, as well as complete the other work necessary for purposes of preparing a 43-101 technical report, including validation of data quality, resource model accuracy, and costs used in reserve and resource cutoffs. 2. Mineral reserves were calculated by Goldcorp using metal prices of $1,200 per gold ounce and $18 per silver ounce, and mineral resources were calculated using $1,400 per gold ounce, $20 per silver ounce, $1.00 per pound of lead and $1.00 per pound of zinc. 3. Mineral resources are in addition to mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Summary of the Acquisition

The purchase price for Camino Rojo consists of:

a. 31.9 million common shares of Orla, representing a 19.9% interest in Orla post transaction. b. A 2% net smelter royalty on the sale of all metal production from Camino Rojo, except for metals produced from a sulphide project where Goldcorp has exercised its Sulphide Option. If Goldcorp elects to sell the royalty, in whole or in part, Orla holds a right of first offer on the sale.

In connection with the issuance of Orla common shares to Goldcorp, the parties have agreed that (i) Goldcorp will not sell any of the Orla shares for a period of two years, except in certain circumstances; (ii) for so long as Goldcorp maintains at least a 10% equity interest in the Company, it will have the right to participate in future equity offerings used to advance the Cerro Quema or Camino Rojo projects, in order to maintain its pro rata ownership and (iii) Goldcorp will have the right to appoint one nominee to Orla's board of directors.

In connection with the closing of the transaction, Orla is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Steven Thomas to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Thomas is currently the Vice President, Controller at Goldcorp Inc., having previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Goldcorp Operations, Canada. Mr. Thomas has over 30 years of financial experience, with the last 13 years in the mining industry including De Beers Canada Inc. where he served as the Chief Financial Officer. He joined De Beers' London based Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in 2003 to establish an internal audit function for its global operations and was promoted shortly thereafter to the Head of Finance. Mr. Thomas is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a Joint Honours Degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.

Sulphide Option

Orla will be operator of Camino Rojo and will have full rights to explore, evaluate, and exploit the property. However, in the event sulphide projects are defined through one or more positive pre-feasibility studies outlining a development scenario as outlined below, Goldcorp will have an option to enter into a joint venture with Orla for the purpose of future exploration, advancement, construction, and exploitation of such a sulphide project. The structure of the joint venture will depend on the following circumstances:

a. for sulphide projects where ore from Camino Rojo is processed using the existing infrastructure of Penasquito, the applicable sulphide project would be operated by Goldcorp, who would hold a 70% interest, with Orla owning 30%; or b. for standalone sulphide projects with a mine plan containing at least 500 million tonnes of proven and probable reserves using standalone facilities not associated with Penasquito, the applicable sulphide project would be operated by Goldcorp, who would hold a 60% interest, with Orla owning 40%.

In the event that Goldcorp exercises an option, Orla has the option to require Goldcorp to finance Orla's share to develop the project. If Goldcorp elects to sell its portion of the sulphide project, in whole or in part, Orla holds a right of first refusal on the sale.

Advisors and Counsel

Orla retained GMP Securities L.P. as financial advisor and Goodmans LLP as legal advisor.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Hans Smit, P.Geo., Chief Operating Officer of Orla Mining Ltd., who is the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under NI 43-101 standards.

About Orla Mining

Orla Mining is a mineral exploration company led by a group of seasoned mining executives with strong financial backing. The company's focus is to acquire mineral exploration opportunities where the Company's exploration and development expertise and corporate share structure could substantially enhance shareholder value.

The 100% owned Cerro Quema project in Panama includes a near-term gold production scenario and significant exploration upside. Cerro Quema's 14,800 Ha concession boasts paved road access, a supportive local population and private land ownership. The Cerro Quema project is currently in the last stage of the permitting process for a proposed open pit mine and gold heap leach operation. Please refer to the Cerro Quema Project - Pre-Feasibility Study on the La Pava and Quemita Oxide Gold Deposits dated August 22, 2014, which is available on SEDAR.

Historical Estimate Note

(i)Note: Mineral Reserves and Resources estimate as reported by Goldcorp in the AIF for the financial year ended December 31, 2016, available to Canadian investors at www.sedar.com under Goldcorp's profile. Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were prepared by Goldcorp in accordance with NI 43-101 under the supervision of a qualified person. The historical mineral reserve and resource estimates were estimated in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards and were calculated by Goldcorp using metal prices of $1,200 per gold ounce and $18 per silver ounce, and mineral resources were calculated using $1,400 per gold ounce, $20 per silver ounce, $1.00 per pound of lead and $1.00 per pound of zinc. A NI 43-101 Technical Report on Camino Rojo is available on SEDAR under the profile of Canplats Resources Corporation (acquired by Goldcorp in 2010). The last NI 43-101 Technical Report on Camino Rojo was produced on October 16, 2009 and amended on November 30, 2009. Orla is not treating these historical estimates as current and has not completed sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral reserves or mineral resources for Orla's purposes. Although Orla is not treating this information as current estimates, it believes the Goldcorp work is reliable and that the information, which was made publicly available by Goldcorp, may be of assistance to investors. The Company intends to review all project data, validate data quality, create a new geological model and then make a new resource estimate in the upcoming months. As well, the Company will be reviewing metallurgical information and key economic parameters in order to evaluate the potential economics of an open pit gold and silver mine and heap leach extraction facility.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's objectives and strategies. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur. 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. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, including without limitation, assumptions with respect to the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; the ability of the Company's management and board to effectively leverage their experience to develop Camino Rojo; the Company's ability to development one or more sulphide operations at Camino Rojo; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company, its properties or Camino Rojo. 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. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties inherent in the preparation of preliminary economic assessments, drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Contacts:

Orla Mining Ltd.

Marc Prefontaine

President & Chief Executive Officer

604-564-1852

info@orlamining.com




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2017) - Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. (CSE: LDS) (OTCQB: LDSYF) (FSE: LD6) (WKN: A14XHT) ("LDS" or the "Company") announced today that its Board of Directors has approved amendments to the Company's articles to adopt an advance notice policy for the election of directors (the "Advance Notice Policy").

The Advance Notice Policy is intended to facilitate an orderly and efficient annual and/or special meeting process and ensure that all shareholders receive adequate notice and information about director nominees.

The Advance Notice Policy fixes a deadline by which holders of record of the Company's common shares must submit director nominations to the Company prior to any annual or special meeting of shareholders, and sets out the information that a shareholder must include in such notice to the Company. In the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, notice to the Company must be made not less than 30 days nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting, unless the annual meeting is to be held less than 40 days after the meeting was first announced, in which case notice may be made no later than the close of business on the 10th day after the announcement.

The Advance Notice Policy was adopted effective as of November 3, 2017 and is now in full force and effect. The Company intends to seek shareholder ratification of the Advance Notice Policy at the Company's next annual general meeting. If the Advance Notice Policy is confirmed or confirmed as amended at the meeting, the Advance Notice Policy will continue in effect in the form in which it is so confirmed.

Extension of Financial Milestones for Escrow Agreements

In addition, on November 3, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors resolved to extend the deadline for satisfying certain financial milestones set out under the terms of its escrow agreements with the former shareholders of Canna Delivery Systems Inc. ("Canna"). Under the terms of the escrow agreements, a total of 7,800,000 common shares issued to the former shareholders of Canna (the "Performance Shares") were held in escrow, subject to release upon the Company achieving certain financial milestones within 30 months after the acquisition of Canna (as amended on April 30, 2017). The Company has agreed to extend the deadline for satisfying the financial milestones until December 31, 2017. As of the date of this news release, a total of 2,100,000 Performance Shares remain subject to escrow, of which 840,000 Performance Shares are held by the Company's CEO, Brad Eckenweiler.

About Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc.

The Company's technology produces infused strips (similar to breath strips) that are not only a safer, healthier option to smoking, but also a new way to accurately meter the dosage and assure the purity of the product. In addition, with the entering into its management services agreements with NHMC, Inc. and CSPA Group, Inc., the Company has begun its direct involvement in the growing of medicinal ingredients for, and the manufacturing of, its products. From seed to sale, the Company's products and ingredients will be tested for quality and composition throughout the formulation and production processes, resulting in a delivery system that is safe, consistent and effective.

On behalf of the board of directors of Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc.

Brad Eckenweiler, CEO & Director

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

investor.relations@lifestyledeliverysystems.com

1-866-347-5058

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement:

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. In particular, there is significant regulatory uncertainty with respect to the production and sale of medicinal and recreational marijuana in the United States of America. In particular, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Although Congress has prohibited the US Justice Department from spending federal funds to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws, this prohibition must be renewed each year to remain in effect. In addition, although the State of California has adopted laws permitting the commercial cultivation, extraction and manufacturing of medicinal marijuana, final regulations with respect to the implementation of these laws have yet to be adopted. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
BURBANK (dpa-AFX) - Media conglomerate Walt Disney Inc. (DIS) has lifted the ban it had imposed on the Los Angeles Times critics' attending its film screenings after the banning created huge uproar among journalists. 'We've had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we've agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics,' Disney said in a statement. Last week, Disney had banned Los Angeles Times critics from attending film screenings after the paper published a critical coverage of its business dealings in Anaheim. Several number of news outlets, including The New York Times and the A.V. Club, showed their support for Los Angeles Times and said they would boycott all advance screenings of Disney films. On Tuesday, members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics jointly announced their decision to disqualify Disney's movies from year-end award consideration unless the blackout was 'publicly rescinded.' 'Disney's actions are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility towards journalists,' the organizations said in a joint statement. The row had started after the Los Angeles Times published an investigative series in September explaining the relationship between Disneyland and the city of Anaheim. The author, Daniel Miller, wrote that Disney used aggressive carrot-and-stick strategies to squeeze Anaheim for subsidies, incentives, rebates and protections from future taxes despite generating huge profits. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- Western Forest Products Inc. (TSX: WEF) ("Western" or the "Company") today announced the closure of its Englewood logging train. This announcement is consistent with the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce costs and strengthen its competitiveness. Logs will be transported by truck at a lower cost to create efficiencies in the transportation of logs to its mills from northern Vancouver Island forestry operations.

At peak operations, the train employed 34 people. As a result of the closure of the train, these positions will be eliminated. The Company will work with its employees and union representatives to identify opportunities for the impacted employees to transition to other positions within its operations. Accordingly, the reduction in overall jobs is anticipated to be fewer than 15. As always, the Company is committed to work with its employees in a fair and equitable manner.

Western employs over 3,500 employees and contractors on the coast, of which 600 are directly employed on northern Vancouver Island. Western remains focused on ensuring the safe, competitive, long-term viability of its operations for the benefit of its employees, shareholders, and the communities in which it operates.

About Western Forest Products Inc.

Western is an integrated Canadian forest products company and is the largest coastal British Columbia woodland operator and lumber producer. The Company has an annual available harvest of approximately 6.1 million cubic metres of timber, of which approximately 5.9 million cubic metres is from Crown lands. Western has a lumber capacity in excess of 1.1 billion board feet from seven sawmills and one remanufacturing plant. Principal activities conducted by the Company include timber harvesting, reforestation, sawmilling logs into lumber and wood chips, and value added remanufacturing. Substantially all of Western's operations, employees and corporate facilities are located in the coastal region of British Columbia, with sales worldwide.

Forward Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Those statements and information appear in a number of places in this document and include statements and information regarding our current intent, belief or expectations primarily with respect to market and general economic conditions, future costs, expenditures, available harvest levels and our future operating performance, objectives and strategies. Such statements and information may be indicated by words such as "will", "estimate", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "believe", "seek", "should", "may", "likely" and similar words and phrases. Readers are cautioned that it would be unreasonable to rely on any such forward-looking statements and information as creating any legal rights, and that the statements and information are not guarantees and may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and that actual results and objectives and strategies may differ or change from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements or information as a result of various factors. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: general economic conditions, competition and selling prices, international trade disputes, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, labour disruptions, natural disasters, relations with First Nations groups, changes in laws, the availability of annual allowable cut, regulations or public policy, misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements or information, changes in opportunities and other factors referenced under the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of our MD&A in our 2016 Annual Report dated February 16, 2017. All written and oral forward-looking statements or information attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. Except as required by law, Western does not expect to update forward-looking statements or information as conditions change.

Contacts:

Media Inquiries: Western Forest Products Inc.

Amy Spencer

Director, Communications & Government Relations

(604) 648-4514



Investor Inquiries: Western Forest Products Inc.

Stephen Williams

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

(604) 648-4500




Anfiro, a Cambridge, MA-based water technology startup, closed a $1.1M seed funding round.

Backers included a Prime Coalition syndicate including:

 the Ellis Family Fund at The Boston Foundation,

 Casey & Family Foundation,

 Incite Labs,

 Saunders Hotel Group,

 Autodesk Foundation,

 Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation,

 Blue Haven Initiative, and

 two anonymous individuals, as well as

 the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,

 the Foundry Fund at Purdue University and

 an anonymous individual.

The company will use the funds for the development of its energy-efficient membranes.

Led by Jaime Mateus, CEO, Anfiro is commercializing technology licensed from Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame and is advancing energy-efficient membranes which reduce the cost and energy of desalination and water treatment, providing affordable freshwater and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at global scale.

Prime Coalition is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Cambridge, MA whose mission is to empower philanthropists to place charitable capital into market-based solutions to climate change.

FinSMEs

07/11/2017
General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm, added Pamela Fang as a Managing Director.

She will lead the firms Capital Partnering effort in Asia based in the Hong Kong office.

Ms. Fang joins General Atlantic from Actis where she was a Director and Head of the firms Investor Development Group in Asia, responsible for fundraising and investor relations activities in the region. Prior to joining Actis, she led global business development and fundraising at CDIB Capital International and worked at GE Capital as a senior investment lead, focused on direct private equity investments.

In addition to over ten years of private equity experience, earlier in her career, Ms. Fang held various senior roles focused on business development, mergers and acquisitions, debt structuring, and sales at Morgan Stanley and Barclays Capital.

She holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

FinSMEs

06/11/2017
Intersection, a NYC-based smart cities technology and media company, closed a $150m funding round.

The round was led by Graham Holdings Company, with participation from new investors ArrowMark Partners and NewSpring. As part of the investment, Tim OShaughnessy, CEO of Graham Holdings, and Jake Mass, Senior Vice President at Graham Holdings, and Marc Lederman, co-Founder and General Partner of NewSpring, will be joining the Intersection Board of Directors.

The company will use the funding to bring the Link product and other smart city technologies to cities and transit systems around the world, accelerate the digitization of its existing media asset network in top U.S. DMAs, and continue to develop its technology platform.

Founded in 2015 and led by Ari Buchalter, CEO, Intersection applies digital technology to the physical world to improve the experience of public space. Its business model funds innovation through advertising, providing opportunities for brands to reach audiences with physical native advertising, driving relevance and engagement through real-world and real-time context.

Its LinkNYC is a free public Wi-Fi network which connects the digital and physical worlds, enhancing peoples journeys through their cities and offering brands the opportunity to drive more relevant and engaging advertising, rooted in real-world context.

The company partners with cities, transit systems, airports, and real estate developments around the globe, as well as advertisers seeking to reach audiences on a global, national, or local scale.

Intersection has over 600 employees in headquarters in New York City and other eight offices in the U.S., and a network of products deployed in Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, San Francisco, Seattle, and London.

FinSMEs

07/11/2017
Medix Specialty Vehicles, an Elkhart, Indiana-based maker of ambulances, secured an undisclosed amount of funding.

The investor was LFM Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its team and growth.

Led by President Tom Moleski, Medix Specialty Vehicles makes Type I, Type II, and Type III ambulances serving both the private and fire service side of the industry.

FinSMEs

06/11/2017

Medix Specialty Vehicles Announces Partnership with LFM Capital

Elkhart, IN, November 3, 2017  Medix Specialty Vehicles is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with LFM Capital. Medixs management team is excited about the opportunity this partnership brings to our company and to continuing our tradition of providing ambulances rooted in service, quality, and innovation while maintaining our value proposition to the industry.

LFM brings numerous strengths to the Medix team including access to capital markets, human capital, and operations. This partnership has already proven its strength including securing large, multi-unit transactions and continued investments in facilities and equipment to support Medixs growth.

Medix President Tom Moleski noted, The addition of LFM resources to the Medix management team gives us a platform to grow in new ways, improves our already best-in-class service to our clients and dealers, and opens doors for our employees. I am especially proud that this new partnership also allowed for Medixs executive management team members to invest in the company  setting Medix on a solid foundation for years to come.

LFM Managing Director Dan Shockley commented, Medix is a well-positioned company in an area of healthy, long-term demand, and we look forward to partnering with the Medix team to chart and execute the next stage of their growth.

The Medix management team looks forward to working with LFM and continuing to do the right thing and taking care of our customers and employees.

Medix Specialty Vehicles is an industry leader in the manufacturing of Type I, Type II, and Type III ambulances serving both the private and fire service side of the industry. Since 2001, Medix Specialty Vehicles has produced one of the highest quality, best valued ambulances in the industry. You can learn more about Medix Specialty Vehicles on our web site located at www.medixambulance.com or by contacting us at 888-988-4090.

LFM Capital is a Nashville-based private equity firm focused on private lower middle-market U.S. manufacturing and industrial services companies with outstanding growth prospects. LFM currently manages a $110 million private equity fund that targets lead or control investments in market-leading niche manufacturing and industrial services companies with enterprise values in the range of $15 million to $75 million. The LFM team is led by experienced and successful Fortune 50 global executive managers and private equity professionals who bring decades of management leadership, operating best practices, exceptional professional recruiting networks, and a successful track record in lower middle-market investing. LFM partners with management teams to drive business value through a combination of manufacturing and operations excellence, world-class executive management, and targeted growth and expansion strategies. For additional information, please visit www.lfmcapital.com.
Ripio Credit Network (RCN), a new infrastructure p2p lending protocol based on smart contracts and blockchain technology from the South American-based crypto company Ripio (formerly BitPagos), hit the targeted maximum token distribution value of $37 million (121,300 ETH).

Investors from 25 countries have participated in the sale event, with the majority of token purchasers based in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, and Russia, including such funds as FBG Capital, Alchemist Ventures Founder Steven Nerayoff (Ethereum, Lisk, Bancor), BlockTower Capital, Blockchain Financial Service and Blockchain Investors Consortium.

The team is now focused on their development efforts. They have partnered with Huobi.pro, one of the historic biggest exchange worldwide (+2M users) that will list the RCN token and will be the first liquidity provider of the RCN exchange, which is the initial step of launching the global p2p credit network where Ripio will deploy it is existing loans portfolio from its +130K registered users in Argentina and Brazil.

Huobi.pro is exploring also to provide liquidity to other credit exchanges and wallets provider from Asia that will integrate the RCN protocol within Q1 and Q2 next year.

RCN Token also is expected to be available in other main markets around the world and the company is also working in partnerships with wallet providers, credit exchanges and financial institutions from emerging markets like India, Mexico, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and African countries, along with further network development that will be announced in the next 3 to 6 months.

Led by Sebastian Serrano, CEO and co-founder, Ripio Credit Network is a global smart contract and blockchain-based credit network that connects lenders and borrowers located anywhere in the world and on any currency guaranteeing transparency and reliability in the lending.

The network operates on cosigned smart contracts, thus connecting borrowers, lenders and co-signing agents. While lenders and borrowers join the network in fiat currency, the smart contracts allow them to connect with the rest of the network agents via RCN tokens. The cosigner -one of the main RCN agents- undertakes insuring a sufficient volume of credit transactions to predict its own return on investment, manage the debt in the borrowers country of residence, and collect the funds in the event of a default.

Ripio, the parent company of RCN, has raised $5M+ in venture capital since its inception, from prominent VC funds like Tim Draper, Pantera, DCG, among others.

FinSMEs

07/11/2017
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FBI agents search for evidence near the church where a mass shooting occurred in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the United States, Nov. 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Domestic situation" was involved in a rural Texas church shooting during which a gunman with an assault rifle killed at least 26 people during Sunday services, a Texas law enforcement official confirmed Monday.

"There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws," Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters outside the church in Sutherland Springs, about 65 km east of San Antonio.

He said that the suspect, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, sent threatening text to his mother-in-law in the morning before launching the shooting attack.

"The mother-in-law attended the church. We know he sent threatening ... that she had received threatening text messages from him."

"The domestic situation will continue to be thoroughly investigated. This was not racially motivated," Martin said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that at least 26 people were killed after the gunman opened fire at the church in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 residents.

The attack in the church was the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history, he added.

The lone gunman, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, drove up to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs at around 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) on Sunday and started firing inside.

As he left the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged with the suspect, Martin said.

The gunman, 26, was later found dead nearby in his car, apparently of a gunshot wound, after he fled the scene.

Sutherland Springs is an unincorporated community located on the old Spanish land grant of Manuel Tarin in northern Wilson County. According to the Handbook of Texas, the population was 362 in 2000.
StrongBox Data Solutions, a Montreal, Canada-based provider of Cognitive Data Management and Archive solutions, announced that its parent company has completed a US$27m funding round.

This includes US$20m from the Fonds de solidarite FTQ, and additional funding from its controlling shareholder Partner One Capital.

The company will use the funds to accelerate worldwide expansion.

Led by David Cerf, CEO, StrongBox Data Solutions leverages metadata and machine learning to deliver a solution that automates storage and data management across multi-vendor storage environments. In details, it automates many difficult problems related to data protection, migrations, curation, governance and provenance, optimizes storage resources and scales to accommodate the worlds most demanding data environments.

FinSMEs

07/11/2017
Telus International (TSX:T)(NYSE:TU), a global business process and information technology services provider, is to acquire Xavient Information Systems, a Simi Valley, California-based global IT consulting and next-generation software services company with approximately 1,800 employees.

Under the agreement, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals in the United States and India, Telus will initially acquire a 65% majority interest in Xavient with the right to acquire the remaining interest on or before December 31, 2020. Based on various performance-related metrics, the total consideration, including the purchase of the remaining interest, is estimated to be approximately US$250m.

Closing is expected to occur before year end 2017.

The acquisition  financed primarily from Telus International credit facilities and International shares  will accelerate Telus objective to expand its global service offerings with the addition of advanced IT consulting and delivery capabilities, including User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX), Open Source Platform services, Cloud services, Over-The-Top (OTT) solutions, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data services, DevOps, and automation and digitization in order to provide an enlarged suite of services to existing and prospective clients.

The acquisition will also advance its commitment to grow its capabilities in the U.S. and enhance its geographic diversity by expanding into India.

Telus International is a global business process and IT services company with almost 28,000 employees around the world, including in Canada, the United States, Europe, Central America, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. The company serves clients in over 35 languages with over 200 million customer interactions supported annually via voice, email, chat and social media, across tech, financial services and fintech, gaming, travel and hospitality, and healthcare industries.

Canadian national telecommunications company Telus holds a 65% interest in Telus International with Baring Private Equity Asia holding the remaining 35%.

FinSMEs

06/11/2017
The former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taunted and challenged the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi to own up man-like that demonetisation was a blunder. This is bound to raise the hackles of those who followed his rule or non-rule for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. The monumental 2G and coal blocks scams happened under his watch despite his innocent protestations to the contrary.

A charitable explanation for his indifference to what was happening right under his nose was he had coalition compulsions---euphemism for corruption, to go on unchecked to keep the rapacious coalition partners financially sated by plundering the country and taxpayers resources or starving the nations coffers of revenue that were due to it.

Coalition compulsions or the more lofty euphemism coalition dharma, the fact is Manmohan Singh has to live down the severe strictures tacitly passed against him by the countrys highest judicial body, the Supreme Court, when it in quick succession annulled the 2G telecom licenses and the opaque coal block allotments in the winter of 2014.

These cancellations were a slap on his wrists for looking the other side when he should have intervened decisively to guard national interests instead of keeping his political masters and partners happy. That he was not punished by law for his monumental indifference has got more to do with our weak laws which while coming down heavily on criminal misconducts, leave governmental excesses or indifference severely alone.

To be sure, he has not been arraigned before the court which is all set to announce its verdict in the 2G criminal matter in which by and large the DMK first family and its hangers on are in the dock. Fair enough, because he was not caught with his hands in the till though he clearly facilitated the loot with his pliable behavior bordering on complicity.

It is entirely possible that the criminal case may fall flat for lack of evidence given the fact criminal law is more demanding on evidence to nail an accused. But the outcome of the criminal case has nothing to do with the UPA governments conduct or misconduct---it has been roundly punished by the electorate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and in the public eye Manmohan Singh stands condemned for his passivity and complicity.

First come first served (FCFS) may be a good policy when poor are being fed or charity is being doled out. Not when the nations resources are being allotted. That however is what had happened in the 2G licenses allotment.

The telecom minister A Raja of DMK orchestrated the whole thing with a thinly guised game plan---announce the deadline for submitting bids to his close friends who bid their way successfully to precious licenses with minimum financial outgo on the back of inside information.

To wit, let us say a circle was allotted on the basis of the opaque FCFS policy say at the rate of Rs 1700 crore which was later on sold to a telecom company for Rs 10,000 crore post-haste. The resultant loss to the exchequer was Rs 8300 crore which in aggregate became a staggering Rs 1.76 lakh crore as per CAG which Kapil Sibal in the UPA ministry pooh-poohed as a fiction of imagination and smugly came up with a zero loss theory as riposte.

That non-serious players got the licenses for a song was amply proved by the subsequent events---many of the licenses were transferred to serious players mainly foreign telecom companies at a hefty premium. In other words, the money that should have gone to the exchequer went to private pockets! P. Chidambaram another stalwart in Manmohan Singh cabinet called this financial intelligence, touche!

Indeed had the license been allotted on the basis of competitive bidding as mandated by the Supreme Court later on for all natural resources, the government would have got in the above example Rs 10,000 crore per circle instead of just Rs 1,700 crore.

Coal allotment gratis was an even more blatant administrative lapse, and the CAG put the loss at Rs 1.86 crore the accuracy of which has been more than borne out by the results of the coal block auctions conducted after the SC cancellation of allotments.

Now coming to Narenda Modis demonetisation. It was marked neither by indifference nor by coalition compulsions. The decision was entirely driven by the noble motive to cleanse the Augustan stables. Sure the seminal and cataclysmic move has upset the economy especially the small traders but its long term effects are there for everyone to see except those with jaundiced eyes.

It was the same Manmohan Singh who last year brushed off the long term beneficial effects of demonetisation with the Keynesian facetious remark---in the long run we are all dead---despite knowing the money that was sloshing around in subterranean channels had now come aboard into the banking mainstream.
New Delhi/Hyderabad/Bengaluru/Kolkata: One year after the Narendra Modi government through demonetisation scrapped Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes overnight, many hard hitting questions are being raised by people at large and some big and small companies in an equal pitch.

Companies, bankers, employees and customers, some SMEs have together raised their voices against the sudden withdrawal from banking system of Specified Bank Notes on 8 November last year.

In the aftermath of the notes recall decision, people suffered the most as they had to wait in long queues outside banks and ATM kiosks for getting cash. In the early stage of the 50 days note ban drive, Modi government had put a ceiling of Rs 2,000 on daily cash withdrawal limit which was raised slightly going forward.

The common man was not even given a proper hearing that further worsened the already frail prevailing situation.

Over a hundred persons died in the queues, according to reports.

Delhi's Saud-ur-Rahman, 48-year-old poster designer, died of a massive heart attack. Before his death, Rahman for three consecutive days waited from early morning to late afternoon in long queues for cash.

"Our child has gone. We couldn't speak to him one last time. Why would I want to speak about him to others," his 70-year old father Ahmed Rahman told IANS before shutting the door and cutting off any more queries. The pain felt by the father was as real today as it was a year ago.

Shiraj Ahmed who took Rahman to hospital said no one from the ruling party came to express condolences or offer an apology. Shiraj had given Saud some money and told him not to go, perhaps sensing the desperate situation he was in, but he insisted he had to take out money or the family would not be able to manage.

In many cities, people recalled the harrowing time they underwent to withdraw their hard-earned money, day after day.

"The dividend of the hardship we faced was expected to be moral. But, one year down the line, what we got as retired persons is receding interest income," says retired central government employee Bankim Chandra Roy.

"I had to go to the branch four to five times to convert about Rs 10,000 of demonetised notes; one day, I fell and injured my head," says the pensioner. "I used to draw my pension in the first week of the month. But when demonetisation came, I just could not draw my pension and really had to struggle to manage family expenses," Roy, a resident of West Bengal's Hooghly district, told IANS.

For a large number of working men and women it was a loss of income as they stood in serpentine queues at banks to exchange the spiked notes for new ones.

"It was as if somebody had suddenly snatched all my money. I had to struggle to get even Rs 4,000 in new currency from my bank to buy essentials," recalls Damodar Reddy, a pensioner in Hyderabad.

Caught completely off-guard, people did not know how to meet immediate financial commitments like paying house rent, children's school fees and other monthly expenses. But the most immediate need before the common man was to buy his daily needs like grocery and fuel with new currency notes which were elusive.

"People had to face hardships, especially those who were not tech-savvy and relied on cash for their daily transactions," Aashish Joshi, a chartered accountant, told IANS.

He wondered why so many had to go through so much pain. "It was believed that the dramatic move would have positive impact and the so-called black money would be cut back. But statistics released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) show that 99 percent of the demonetised currency came back into the system," Joshi said, wondering whether all the pain was worth it.

Anne Bangera, a 71-year-old retired teacher based in Mangaluru, recalls the demonetisation period being particularly painful as all her pension savings were held in cash. "It shook me as it meant all the money I had saved was of no value any more. I require to make monthly visits to the hospital for my health, but I no longer had any valid money," Bangera said.

An arthritis patient, Bangera lives alone at her home. "With bad knees, standing in those queues was particularly painful and I had to make several trips to the bank to deposit my old currency in return for the new notes. For the old and the weak, demonetisation was very difficult, as it just left us helpless," she said.

Rahul Chauhan, who runs a car garage in the Kamla Nagar area of North Delhi, says that for many days they were left with no money, even to pay the workers -- many of whom started staying away. "I spent many nights standing in the queues, and then the customers did not turn up to claim their vehicles since they couldn't pay cash," Chauhan said.

Kailash Sharma, a resident of South Extension in Delhi, said that going to the banks became a family affair. "My father, mother and me stood in queues for over seven hours each day, since one person could withdraw only Rs 4,000." Sharma mentioned that exchanging the cash at home became a highly challenging task for them.

Self-employed young men did not know how to manage for several weeks. Twenty-seven-year-old Prashanth K. (name changed on request), a wedding photographer in Bengaluru, said many weddings in the state turned low-key after November 8 last year. "All the money saved for weddings had become worthless and had to be exchanged. Even the withdrawal limit -- which was raised to Rs 2.5 lakh for weddings -- was useless because of the conditions attached," he said.

The result: "I had to spend many hours of each week in bank queues trying to exchange old Rs 500 notes I was paid." He could not refuse old currency as business would have vanished, although he did reduce his assignments. For several months, the photography business remained dull, despite the wedding season, he said.

Small start-ups, often lacking deep pockets, were no better off. Adnigam Private Limited, a hyperlocal marketplace launched only six months before demonetisation, was nearly knocked out of business. Its USP was same-day delivery in and around Hyderabad, but it was forced to retrench staff and cut operational and overhead costs. Raji Reddy Kesireddy, founder and CEO of Adnigam, said there were days when they had no orders. "From a spacious office in Ameerpet, we had to move to a small premises in Begumpet," he told IANS.

The situation was exploited by touts who suddenly sprouted up everywhere. D. Saraswati, a worker in a private school in Hyderabad, recalls that she had to part with Rs 300 to exchange each Rs 1,000 note. "Had I stood in a queue, my employer would have deducted a day's salary and still there was no guarantee that I would get the money. I had no other option," she said.

The pain was spread across the country for several weeks and months, but no one is sure today whether all the sacrifices by the common man and woman resulted in any real benefit. They look askance at the government, which has few answers.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday told Jaypee Associates to keep ready a sizable amount of Rs 2,000 crore before its next hearing as it refused to permit it to deposit a part amount of Rs 400 crore by Friday.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud asked the real estate major to keep ready the amount as company counsel Anupam Lal Das said they have Rs 50 crore "ready in hand" and will arrange for another Rs 350 crore by Friday.

He said the Jaypee Associates will deposit Rs 400 crore every month starting with January.

"You sell your assets. We are not permitting to deposit it. It should be a sizable amount", the bench said as Das told the court that no company has this kind of liquidity and the group was "under debt restructuring" and would need the creditors' permission to even to sell their assets.

But the court was not moved. "First deposit the amount, then we will hear," the bench told counsel.

The top court had directed the real estate major to deposit Rs 2,000 crore to protect the interest of the home buyers of Jaypee Infratech -- its wholly owned company -- which is under restructuring on the orders of the Allahabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal.

The IDBI had moved the NCL for default of payment against the loan taken by it. IDBI Bank has sought recovery of Rs 526 crore from the company.

The top court had on 11 September directed Jaypee Associates to deposit Rs 2,000 crore with its registry by October 27.

The proceedings before the top court is rooted in a plea by unsecured creditors -- who are flat buyers -- to challenge an August 9 order of the NCLT's Allahabad Bench to appoint an nterim Resolution Professional (IRP) on IDBI Bank's plea for recovery of Rs 526 crore from Jaypee Infratech.

The top court by its 11 September order had restrained the Managing Director and all Directors of both the companies from leaving the country. However, Directors nominated by lender banks -- IDBI Bank, ICICI and the State Bank of India -- were exempted.

The court, by this order, had appointed senior counsel Shekhar Naphade and advocate Shubhangi Tuli to represent the home buyers at the meetings of the Committee of Creditors that would consider the plan for restructuring Jaypee Infratech by the IRP appointed by the NCLT.
Describing the BJP-led government's demonetisation exercise as a reckless step, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said scrapping higher value currency notes was organised loot and legalised plunder.

None of its objectives were achieved, Singh said during an interactive session on the current state of the economy with businesspersons and traders.

"Demonetisation was organised loot and legalised plunder," he said during his visit to poll-bound Gujarat.

Hitting out at the government over the rollout of the goods and services tax (GST), Singh said compliance requirements under GST had become a nightmare for small businesses.

He also criticised the Centre's ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project and dubbed it an exercise in vanity.

Singh's visit comes a day before Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to tour Surat on the anniversary of the government's announcement of the demonetisation exercise.

Opposition parties are observing 'black day' tomorrow.

The twin blow of demonetisation and goods and services tax is a complete disaster for our economy as they have broken the back of our small businesses, ANI reported Singh as saying at the event.

Due to demonetisation and GST, the country had to run for Chinese imports at the cost of Indian jobs, Singh said. In 1st half of 2016-17 India's imports from China stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore; in 2017-18, it increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore, he pointed out.

Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 Cr, a 23% increase in a yr,can be attributed largely to demonetisation,GST: Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/2QKBUtZTkn  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

The fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest: Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/YyzUurHaDk  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

"Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 Cr, a 23% increase in a year, can be attributed largely to demonetisation and GST," he said.

Post both the steps, the fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of businesses to invest, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)
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A police vehicle is seen near the headquarters of Greek opposition socialist PASOK party in Athens, Greece, on Nov. 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Greek opposition socialist PASOK party's headquarters came under an armed attack on Monday, with no injuries reported, police said.

According to early information, at least two perpetrators opened fire with semi-automatic rifles from a car and fled the scene.

The target according to police sources was the police bus which was parked outside the building. Eyewitnesses said they heard at least four shots.

According to party spokesman Pavlos Christides, there were about 40 people inside the building during the attack.

"Unfortunately we have witnessed again attacks. Every week we face incidents. An end should be put. It is a miracle we haven't mourned victims," he told local TV station ANT1 shortly before the start of a debate between candidates for the leadership of an under- construction coalition of the centre-Left.

In an e-mailed statement Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the attack.

During a similar attack against PASOK's premises last January a policeman was slightly injured.

The headquarters of the socialist party, which ruled Greece for several years since 1981, have been targeted numerous times in recent years by anarchists, who have been operating in the nearby Exarchia area for decades, most often with petrol bombs.

Opposition parties have called on the government to take more measures to address the anti-establishment groups-linked security issues in the center of the Greek capital.
New Delhi: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (RCom) on Monday said the company is not paying interest or principal amount for the time being to any lenders or its bondholders in view of the strategic debt restructuring scheme and consequent standstill period till December 2018.

On 30 October, the company had announced that its lenders would convert part of its debt into equity to the tune of 51 percent stake in RCom. It had also outlined the plan to sell telecom towers and real estate assets to pay off Rs 25,000 crore out of the Rs 45,000 crore debt on its book.

Under the plan, lenders would not have to write off any of their loans, RCom had then stated while outlining a comprehensive debt resolution plan for its domestic and foreign lenders.

In a regulatory filing, RCom said the company is under "standstill period till December 2018" pursuant to the strategic debt restructuring (SDR) guidelines.

The company has also announced various asset sales and a comprehensive debt resolution plan.

"Accordingly, for the time being, no payment of interest and/or principal is being made to any lenders and/or bondholders of RCom," it said.

Sale of DTH business to Veecon Media

Earlier during the day, RCom announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its DTH business to Veecon Media and Television in a bid to cut debt.

Veecon Media & Television will buy 100 percent equity stake in Reliance Big TV Ltd (RBTV), the DTH unit of the Anil Ambani-owned company, for an undisclosed amount, along with all existing trade and contingent liabilities.

The existing DTH license of BIG TV will be renewed and about 500 employees of RBTV will be retained, RCom said in a stock exchange filing.

The deal will help reduce the liability of unsecured creditors, the debt-laden company added.

Last month, RCom reached a new debt repayment plan with lenders, including a pledge to raise up to 170 billion rupees ($2.63 billion) by selling assets.

The company, with 443 billion rupees of net debt as of March, is the most leveraged among listed Indian telecom companies.

(With inputs from agencies)
Harley-Davidson Incs pole position in Indias fast growing big-bike category is set to face a sweeping test when Indian-owned Royal Enfield launches its first heavyweight bike on Tuesday.

The worlds biggest bike and scooter market with 18 million in the year to last March, India accounts for less than 2 percent of Harleys global sales but is now a production location for its popular Street 750 bike and a promising generator of growth as US demand slows.

Harley was the first major player in the countrys big bike market - defined as those with engines above 601cc - and controls 60 percent of a segment that has almost tripled in size since 2014 and is expected to double again in the next 4-5 years.

With the arrival of Royal Enfield, however, it faces a locally-owned distribution network that dwarfs Harleys roughly 30 outlets by a multiple of 24.

Were Enfield to ship even 10 of its new big bikes to each of its about 700 locations, it could double Harleys 3,700 in annual sales.

A day before the new bikes launch, Royal Enfield on Monday unveiled a 650cc twin engine, putting it on track to compete squarely with the Street 750.

Industry analysts and commentators say that Harleys distribution network in India must be expanded if it is to deal with the new competition and rising demand from the countrys 1 billion plus consumers.

Having outlet numbers in the mid twenties is clearly a thin distribution spread, SBICAP Securities analyst Mahantesh Sabarad said.

India has over 30 10-million-plus cities and each such city needs 2-3 dealerships to cater to a budding market of bike enthusiasts.

Asked about the new bike last month, Harley Chief Executive Matthew Levatich told Reuters that he would not dismiss a competitors strengths but that he had faith in Harleys brand and would not be changing strategy.

Popular enthusiasm for commuting bikes in Indias densely populated city streets provides a far larger rider base than in western markets where Harley sells most of its bikes.

Harley plans to increase its network but is cautious about undermining its premium brand and has had problems with complaints about bike servicing in India in the past.

The specific plans and the rate at which we (expand) is a function of finding a big enough market area and a really competent dealer that can make the investments to have the brand experience that we want to have for riders, Levatich said.

So thats part of the formula, which will naturally make it probably slower and less dense than most of our competitors will do. But thats our strategy and we are sticking to it.

Royal Enfields new bike - to be unveiled in Milan on Tuesday - is expected to retail at around Rs 300,000 ($4,640) compared to Harleys Street 750 at more than 500,000 rupees.

Other Harley executives say they feel confident that it will remain a brand Indians will look up to.

When it comes to wooing those riders from Royal Enfield to Harley Davidson, we have a track record of that now since we have been in India, said Marc McAllister, Harleys managing director for international markets.
Delhi: Demonetisation a year ago has helped in flushing out black money, eliminating fake notes and reducing cash in circulation, the finance ministry said on Monday.

The total currency in circulation has come down to Rs 14.75 lakh crore as of 4 August, 2017, from Rs 17.77 lakh crore, said the finance ministry in a tweet.

"Only 83 percent is the effective currency in circulation today with remonetisation," the ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise move had announced withdrawal of legal tender status of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes with effect from 9 November, 2016.

Detailing other benefits of demonetisation for the economy, the ministry said it has dealt a big blow to finances of terrorism and Left-wing extremism.

Besides, it has helped in expanding tax base, converting non-formal economy into a formal one and making money accountable. It has provided a big boost to digitisation of payments, making India a less-cash economy.

During September, Rs 1.24 lakh crore worth of transactions were done through the digital mode. The number of transactions was 87.7 crore.

The ruling BJP has decided to celebrate first anniversary of demonetisation on 8 November. This will see Union ministers and BJP office-bearers across the country build public opinion in favour of the government's decision.

However, the Opposition has decided to celebrate the day as as a "black day".
New Delhi: The Power Ministry set up a committee to investigate the causes of the recent accident on 1 November at state-run NTPC's Unchahar power plant, where 36 people died due to boiler blast.

The panel, headed by PD Siwal Member (thermal) Central Electricity Authority (CEA), will submit its report in one month from the date of order, the Power Ministry said in an office order issued on Monday.

According to the term of reference of the committee, it will investigate the causes of the accident and fix responsibility for lapses, if any.

Besides, the panel will also suggest remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in the future.

The Power Ministry has constituted the committee under the provision of Electricity Act 2003.

The other members of the panel are Subir Chakraborty, Director (Projects) Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL), Dhawal Prakash Antapurkar Director of Steam Boilers, Maharasthra and L D Papney, Chief Engineer (TE&TD), CEA.

The order said that the committee, if required, may seek assistance from experts or co-opt other members.

The NTPC has also set up an internal enquiry headed by its Executive Director S K Roy to look into the reasons for accident at its Unchahar power plant's Unit 6 of 500 MW.

A senior official said that the latest death toll in the accident is 36.

There was a blast in the boiler section at the state-run power giant NTPC's Unchahar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district On November 1.

The 1,550-MW plant supplies electricity to nine states, according to officials, and employs around 870 people
Development economist Jean Dreze has been vociferous critic of the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes a year back. He had famously warned that "demonetisation in a booming economy is like shooting at the tyres of a racing car". A year on, it seems his caution has come true. In the first quarter of the current financial year, the GDP growth slowed to a three-year low of 5.7 percent due to twin effect of goods services tax and note ban.

On the eve of the anniversary of the most disruptive step taken by the National Democratic Alliance government, Firstpost did an email interview with Dreze. Here are the excerpts:

Its been a year since demonetisation. Do you see it as a success or as a failure?

I think that it is best to be frank about demonetisation and admit that it was a goof-up. The objectives outlined by the prime minister in his speech of 8 November 2016 have certainly not been met. If there were other objectives, let him spell them out. Otherwise, let him accept that it was a blunder.

I used to wonder, like many other economists, what the objective of the exercise really was. Various hypotheses have been put forward. None of them really explain why the prime minister would want to take this sort of risk with the economy. Today, my hunch is that he meant what he said on 8 November last year. He really believed in the myth that black money is a gigantic hoard of cash, waiting to be raided.

Why is this a myth?

Because it reflects the common misconception that black money is a stock rather than a flow. In economics, black money essentially refers to illicit earnings. That is a flow, not a stock. Illicit earnings do not stay still and accumulate, like a hoard. They are used to buy Jaguars, shop in Dubai, fund lavish weddings and so on. In the process, black money gets laundered, so to speak. The wrong idea that illicit earnings are stashed away in an accumulating hoard is a source of endless confusion. At any particular point of time, of course, some black money is held in cash. But launching a one-off strike on that cash residual does very little to stem the flow of illicit earnings. Its like a swipe of the mop under the running tap.

The RBI has said that almost all the money that was withdrawn has come back into the system. Does it mean that there was no black money in the system?

There is plenty of black money around, in the sense of illicit earnings. But as I said, we have to distinguish that from the myth of tainted cash hidden in suitcases. To the extent that some of that tainted cash did exist, it was neatly laundered as demonetisation unfolded. Indeed, we know that most of the high-denomination notes came back to the banks. So either demonetisation was futile, because there was very little tainted cash in the first place, or it turned into a money-laundering operation. Today, the government is saying that it will go after the laundered black money by investigating millions of bank accounts, conducting tax raids and so on. But this is just another delusion.

What do you think of cashless economy? As a country, are we ready for this transition?

I think that this idea is characteristic of a tendency to try and climb the ladder from the top. Other examples are the fixation with bullet trains and smart cities. What most people actually need is trains that run on time and cities with essential amenities. Similarly, when it comes to transactions, people need good banking services, along with the obvious convenience that cash provides on a daily basis. Effective banking services are still lacking in large parts of India. The cashless economy, if desirable at all, is a futuristic idea that has little relevance to the pressing problems that millions of people face today.

With demonetisation, even the small shopkeepers have started using Paytm or other such Apps. In a way, demonetisation has provoked us to go digital and digital means white transactions?

I have nothing against these Apps, let those who find them convenient use them. But I see no case for promoting them through coercive or reckless means such as demonetisation. At best, there is a case for facilitating or subsidising some digital payment systems.

The economic survey suggests that demonetisation has impacted the GDP growth by as much as 1.2 percent. But then any changes, even a smallest of change in our personal live, make an impact.

This estimate is highly speculative, and the correct figure may be much worse. But assuming its 1.2 percent, that is what the central and state governments combined spend on health care. In other words, the economic loss from demonetisation was equivalent to a whole years public expenditure on health. My fear is that the loss will not end there, and that demonetisation will turn out to have pushed India onto the slippery slope of economic slowdown and adverse expectations. The main issue, however, is not GDP growth but what happens to peoples lives. In that respect, what happened in the first two months of demonetisation alone was an unforgivable catastrophe.

How do you see remuneration, particularly to weaker sections of society like those engaged in MNREGA getting it straight into their bank account. It negates role of middlemen in whatever capacity taking cuts. Would you call it a welcome move?

The payment of NREGA wages into bank accounts began almost 10 years ago. In fact, the big breakthrough in financial inclusion in India came with NREGA, much before Jan Dhan Yojana. I think that bank payment of NREGA wages is not a bad thing, except that the banking system is still unequal to the task. Payments are routinely delayed and bank premises are awfully overcrowded in many areas. That is why I feel that what people need today is good banking services, not the rosy promise of a cashless economy.
After the release of her film Simran, news of Kangana Ranaut's new project has emerged. The actress has reportedly been picked for another biopic based on the life of Arunima Sinha, the first woman amputee to have ever scaled the Mount Everest.

"The makers were to decide between Kriti Sanon and Kangana Ranaut. Since the latters schedule looked packed because shes shooting for Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, they were skeptical. But, Arunima took the final call on the lead," said a source speaking to Pinkvilla.

Kangana is currently in Jaipur shooting for her upcoming biopic on the queen of Jhansi, Rani Laxmibai. She has agreed to start shooting for the Arunima Sinha biopic as soon as she wraps up her shooting for Manikarnika, reports state. Manikarnika's shooting is expected to continue till December 2017, and the director will be finalised in a month's time.

Earlier, there were reports about Farhan Akhtar approaching Arunima Sinha to make a biopic. The Everest climber told PTI, "Farhan had come to meet me at my place here on 18 May and proposed to make a film on my life highlighting my struggle. I have accepted the offer."

Arunima Sinha, a former national level Volleyball player, lost one of her legs after a group of dacoits pushed her out of a running train in 2011. She considered her fate as a challenge and started preparing to climb Mount Everest. She climbed the Island Peak of Mount Everest in the year 2012 and became the first Indian amputee to have done so.
Los Angeles: Greys Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo is the latest actor to reveal that she faced sexual harassment at the hands of director James Toback.

Toback, an Oscar nominated director, has been accused of sexual harassment by more than 200 women in Hollywood following an expose in the Los Angeles Times.

"I actually did have a situation with James Toback where I kind of told him to go (expletive) himself," Pompeo told USA Today.

"It was held in a public place and I brought a man, my friend Tony. And he didn't like that at all. And I could tell that. I could tell instantly that he was, like, no good. The minute my friend left, he asked me if I would get naked in a movie. And I was like, 'Really, dude?' My friend has been missing all of 30 seconds and now you say that? I kind of laughed in his face," she said.

Toback has been accused of sexual misconduct by actors like Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams and Julianne Moore.

Pompeo's Greys Anatomy co-star Caterina Scorsone also detailed the harassment she experienced at the hands of Toback during an audition.

Pompeo also met Harvey Weinstein but said she did not face any unwanted attention from the Hollywood producer, who stands accused of sexual harassment, assault and rape by numerous women. He has denied any allegation of sexual assault. "I met with Harvey at the Peninsula and he didn't try anything on me. I was very lucky. I escaped those clutches," she said.
Kamal Haasan, who has confirmed his political plunge loud and clear, has launched a dedicated whistle-blowing platform called Maiam Whistle on the occasion of his birthday. He also announced a state-wide tour across various districts to understand the grievances of people and ruled out the possibility of contesting the upcoming local body polls in Tamil Nadu, contrary to rumours.

My dream is to make Tamil Nadu a state with maximum virtuous cycles

Haasan said he would be undergoing a state-wide tour and all the important details regarding the same will be updated in his mobile app, which aims to connect citizens from various walks of life.

Everybody has this regret and discontent in their mind about things going wrong continuously and being unstoppable. We have the Dharma Chakra from Buddha, from Ashoka in our National flag. It's a beautiful symbol; I think of it as a virtuous circle of our nation that over time has become a vicious circle. It's time to make it virtuous again. However, that includes you. You have to join hands with me. My dream is to make Tamil Nadu a state with maximum virtuous cycles. We will be critical. I had written a book about thirty years back to help my welfare association people indicate how to approach social welfare - Thedi Theerppom Vaa, which means 'let's seek and solve'. I have an idea to travel across the state to understand the problems of people and myself."

"Maiam Whistle"  A whistle-blowing platform to expose corrupt practices

The significant announcement of Kamal Haasan's press meet on his birthday was the launch of a platform for whistle-blowers.

"We have this platform called Maiam Whistle. Maiam means centre. People and media have constantly questioned me about whether Im left of centre or right of centre. I would not preferably insist on being in the centre too but the great equipoise, which is where I think most of the populace want to be. Thats why I chose this name Maiam. The time has come to say what's going on with our governments vociferously. Maiam Whistle is a platform on which various levels of reaching to the people will be built. There are several stages in the app through which your complaints will be addressed. The app is still under development stage and is being beta-tested, by a team of 25 skillful people who have worked for various big organisations. Maiam Whistle will serve as an e-vigil tool and will be formally launched in January. If you find me making any mistakes in future, you can blow the whistle against me."

He said that this kind of an app puts a continuous pressure on those in power. "It's a constant reminder and a dialogue which is more important than a personal meeting. The dialogue will have to be continuous, clear, legible and audible to each other. It can't be a cacophony of noises."

I'm unwaveringly working on the groundwork for my political party.

Kamal Haasan said naming the political party is not essential now, adding that he is unwaveringly working on the groundwork.

"I can't name a child without knowing if it is a boy or a girl. I'm in talks with experts from across the spectrum to lay a strong foundation. I have to work on my manifesto and agenda. I take six months to prepare for an intense role in my movies. So, I'm here (politics). Other things will be discussed later, slowly and steadily. I'm working on the structural part now. The reason why the people of Tamil Nadu want a change is probably the reason why they will follow me."

When asked about contesting the local body polls, he said, "As far as local polls are concerned, first we have to get ready. It's not about jumping into the polls but getting the party ready to come qualifying. You might ask me what's my policy and manifesto. There have been speculations that I might announce my party; the need for this meeting is to announce that am working on structural part of the whole thing. A lot of people are helping me; a lot are debating."

Were building a proper tool for people to donate funds

Haasan said his fans occupy a small portion of the general public and that everyone would need to contribute funds to his political party.

"Everyone misquoted me saying that the funds for my party will be collected from my fans. Theyre only a minuscule portion of the populace. And what I said about Rs. 30 crores is what they have spent over the past four decades as part of our welfare activities. Its from not rich to poor but from poor to people. Because a large number of daily-wagers and small-time workers have contributed with earnest finances. These are the people who constantly kept refilling the coffers when avaricious politicians and a bad government emptied it. So, we are building a proper tool for people to donate funds with a public ticker to indicate and see whats being sent and whats being spent."

Im not anti-Hindu and I dont intend to hurt Hindu sentiments

Responding to the right-wing groups who have passed death threats for his remarks on Hindu extremism, Haasan said, "I'm not anti-Hindu as everyone thinks. And I don't intend to hurt Hindu sentiments as I myself belong to a Hindu family but have taken a different path. Violence, irrespective of any religion you practise, is condemnable. I did not use the word terror, the word I used was extreme. There's a difference between terrorism and extremism. And, there's no denying the fact there's no violence in religion."
It was in 2009 that Kamal Haasan said politics  like marriage  involved the art of compromise, and the reason he was not in it was because he couldnt compromise that much. With him all set to take the plunge into Tamil Nadu's political fray, however, is it politics that has changed, or has the veteran actor understood the degree he can compromise?

As Haasan turns 63 on 7 November 2017, the buzz surrounding his foray into full-time politics is only bound to increase. The actor has announced the launch of a personal app that he sees as first step in his political journey. Speaking at the 39th anniversary of his welfare association (Kamal Haasan Narpani Iyakkam), the actor said that he takes a minimum of three months to prep for any role and is in no hurry to launch his own political party. He believes that the app will help him connect better with people and also that people would contribute funds generously for his welfare activities, and eventually his political party as well.

On the cusp of a momentous move, Haasan is doing what many of his predecessors did before jumping into politics. Like MG Ramachandran and NT Rama Rao, Kamal Haasan has also announced a flurry of films that would portray him as the saviour of the aam aadmi. Haasans upcoming films include the spy comedy-adventure Sabaash Naidu (Shabhash Kundu in Hindi), Vishwaroopam 2 and the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Indian (Hindustani in Hindi)  all films where he portrays someone who will free the common man from all troubles and save not only the day but also India and even the world.

In Sabaash Naidu, Haasan reprises the role of the RAW officer, Balram Naidu, that he played in Dasavathaaram (2008). Similarly in Vishwaroopam II, which is slated to release in November 2017, Haasan is reprising the multiple avatars of Agent Major Wisam Ahmad Kashmiri/Vishwanathan/Viz, who saves the US from the machinations of the deadly terrorist Omar Qureshi (Rahul Bose). While Sabaash Naidu takes place in Los Angeles (that is where a major portion of the film was shot), Vishwaroopam II is set in India.

Both Sabaash Naidu and the Vishwaroopam sequel were in the pipeline before Haasan came out in the open about his political plans, but the news of the Indian sequel appears too clinical to be a coincidence. The crusader image that Haasan seems to be cultivating in his real life today seems to be an apt opportunity to reprise the character he played in the original Indian 20 years ago, and perhaps expectedly, he will play a somewhat similar character when he is on the precipice of public life.

In Indian, Senapathy (Haasan), an ex-freedom fighter who also served in Netaji Boses Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj turns into a vigilante following the death of his daughter. Senapathy calls himself Indian and instills fear in the hearts and minds of the corrupt; people use his name to set the morally corrupt right and cheer him on to deliver justice that is beamed live on television. The dedicated Senapathy does not spare his own son, Chandru (Haasan in a double role), a corrupt middleman who issues a certificate to a faulty bus that results in the death of school children and when it comes to a showdown, the father kills the son.

Rather than create a new character that would help people by standing up for the right thing irrespective of the situation or place, its easier for Haasan to rekindle both the brand as well as the magic of Indian. Intriguingly, Rajinikanth, who is also expected to announce his official entry into politics, is said to be portraying the character of a benevolent don who lives among the people, in Kaala. Both Kaala and Indian 2 are slated to release next year and would hope to convey to the common person that their heroes are there for them. Moreover, the manner in which Indian ended  believed to be dead in an explosion, Senapathy has escaped to Hong Kong and calls the cop Krishnaswamy (Nedumudi Venu) to tell him to telecast the CCTV footage of him surviving to tell the corrupt that Indian is watching them  is the perfect plot point to begin the sequel with the return of Indian.

Kamal Haasans recent flip-flops such as apologising for initially supporting demonetisation, his stance from Given the current political scenario in Tamil Nadu, I would say no one should enter politics to stating this is the right time for me to come into active politics in a matter of five months, meeting politicians ranging from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan (whom he also called a long-time friend), or making statements like saffron not being his colour or on Hindu terror make it more than apparent that the superstar is busy gauging the mood before going all out.
Los Angeles: Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, has checked into a rehab centre in the Arizona desert to receive treatment for sex addiction.

The luxury $36,000-a-month clinic is popular among celebrities and has treated stars such as Tiger Woods, Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss and Selena Gomez, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Last week, it was reported that alleged serial assaulter Harvey Weinstein was also seeking treatment at the Meadows clinic. He was seen in disguise at a local eatery in Phoenix.

It is believed that the American Beauty actor, 58, who has been accused of sexually abusing or harassing a string of men in allegations dating back years, arrived in the centre in Wickenburg towards the end of last week.

"Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment," his representatives said in a statement.

The clinic claims to have the best sex addiction treatment programme in the US.

Spacey, who came out as gay after the first allegation against him emerged, will be able to take part in horse riding, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture and "mindfulness meditation" at the clinic.
 Flash

Roads are closed by local police near the church where 26 people were killed in Sutherland Springs in the U.S. state of Texas on Nov. 5, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Ten people are still in critical conditions after they were shot by a gunman, who opened fire at a church during Sunday services in Sutherland Springs in the U.S. state of Texas, authorities said Monday.

During a press conference outside the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas public safety officer Freeman Martin said that the death toll of 26 could rise as 10 people are still in critical conditions in hospitals. He said so far six injured victims are in stable condition or had been released from hospital.

Martin said that people, who were killed in the shooting, were aged between 18 months and 77 years old.

"There was a domestic situation going on for this family. The suspect's mother-in-law attended the church." He confirmed that the suspect sent threatening text to his mother-in-law in the morning before the shooting incident.

"The domestic situation will continue to be thoroughly investigated. This was not racially motivated," said Martin.

Law enforcement official told reporters there were three firearms that were discovered. One was the rifle that discovered in the church, while two additional handguns were discovered from the vehicle of the deceased suspect.

"I can also confirm that all the three firearms were purchased by the deceased suspect," said the official.

Asking about if home terror involved in the shooting, law enforcement official responded that no investigation has been started so far.

Martin said they can't confirm the suspect did not have the license to carry a weapon. "The crime scene investigation will go on for days. All the bodies were moved from the church."

The alleged gunman was identified as Devin Kelley from New Braunfels, a city about 50 km north of Sutherland Springs, federal and state law enforcement sources confirmed.

Kelley received a bad-conduct discharge from the U.S. Air Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial. Kelly served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Based in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told media.

Law enforcement official commented at the conference that "in general if an individual has a dishonorably discharge from military, they would be prohibited from possessing or purchasing a firearm."

At least 26 people were killed after a gunman opened fire at a church during Sunday services in Sutherland Springs in the U.S. state of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday.

"Unfortunately I'm sad to tell you that at this moment of time there are 26 lives that have been lost. We don't know that number will rise or not," Abbott said.

The shooting attack in the church was the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history, he added.

Most of the victims have not been identified although the deceased included the 14-year-old daughter of pastor Frank Pomeroy, the church leader told the press.

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, approximately 35 km southeast of San Antonio. A man walked into the church at around 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) on Sunday and opened fire at the crowd of people.

As he left the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged with the suspect, Texas public safety officer Freeman Martin said. The car of the suspect was found nearby later with the suspect dead inside. It remains unclear if the suspect had self-inflicted gunshot wound or was shot by local residents who engaged him.

Sutherland Springs is an unincorporated community located on the old Spanish land grant of Manuel Tarin in northern Wilson County. According to the Handbook of Texas, the population was 362 in 2000.
Trouble seems to be mounting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, with now a Brahmin organisation, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, deciding to oppose release of his magnum opus. BJP MLA from Hyderabad T Raja Singh took to Facebook to protest the film's release, saying that theatres screening Padmavati will be set ablaze.

He also calls on the Hindu community to react against the film which allegedly distorts facts about Rani Padmini. Here's his post:

In other news, in a statement, Suresh Mishra, state president of Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha said that they will not tolerate "distortion" of historical facts at any cost.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of Rajput community, has already opposed release of the film on 1 December on the same grounds.

Mishra said, "As per the feelings of the general public, screening of this movie should be stopped otherwise the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha will oppose this movie."

He said, "They (Bhansali's team) are trying to defame Padmavati by distorting historical facts. No one can tolerate this."

The film has been steeped in trouble since shooting began. In January, activists of the Sri Rajput Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of Padmavati claiming that Bhansali was distorting historical facts in the movie.

They had also damaged some cameras and other equipments. Bhansali had to stop shooting.

In March, some miscreants broke the mirrors in Padmini Mahal (palace) in Chittorgarh Fort where Alauddin Khilji is believed to have seen Rani Padmavati or Padmini.

The Karni Sena claims that mirror was invented years after the incident is claimed to have happened so it is a completely untrue and false story.

On 3 November, the Karni Sena had called for a Chittorgarh bandh, which it claimed was a success.

Rani Padmini or Padmavati was queen of Chittorgarh.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena with the help of like-minded organisations plans to organise a big rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on November 12 against the movie.
A legislator of BJP from Hyderabad has threatened to burn down theatres in Telangana if they screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, which is slated to release next month.

T Raja Singh, a member of Telangana assembly, called upon people to boycott the movie, saying as an attempt is being made to denigrate Rajput community. The MLA even announced that he will bail out youth if they are arrested for setting afire the theatres.

Padmavati starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is slated for release on 1 December.

Singh, himself a Rajput, issued the threat while addressing a meeting of a Rajasthani organisation in Hyderabad. He termed the movie a conspiracy to show Rajputs in poor light by defaming their queens.

The MLA posted on facebook his speech delivered at the meeting on 3 November.

He called Bhansali a "dog" for allegedly portraying Padmavati as a lover of Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji. He claimed that 16,000 brave women immolated themselves when Chittorgarh fort was attacked. He said the filmmaker had still not responded to the demand from Rajput and Kshatriya organisations that the movie should be shown to them before releasing in theaters.

"If the film depicts history without any distortion and highlights the valour of Rajputs, we will welcome it but if it portrays them in poor light then we will not allow its release in theatres," he said.

The MLA said producers were producing such films to make money as more people were going to theatres to watch them due to the controversies. He said PK earned Rs 500 crore as more people watched it after the protests.

"If you are true patriots and true Hindus, you should boycott such movies. You should not help them make money. If the film flops, no other filmmaker will dare to make such movies," said Singh, who represents Goshamahal constituency and is known for making controversial statements.

Meanwhile, film distributors in Rajasthan are wary of releasing Padmavati.

"I can talk about my company... We will not like to buy the distribution rights of the film till the controversy is resolved," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor in Jaipur, told IANS.

Echoing similar views, another distributor on condition of anonymity, said, "No one would like to be part of controversy... So I would not like to buy the distribution rights."

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community and the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, a Brahmin community organisation, have decided to oppose the release of the film. According to them, historical facts have been distorted in the film.

"They are trying to defame Padmavati by distorting historical facts. It is not acceptable," an activist of Sri Rajput Karni Sena said.

There are around 300 screens in Rajasthan and it will be a loss of around Rs 5 crore if the film is not released in the state, sources said.

"We are demanding that Bhansali's team should screen the movie for historians and intellectuals before releasing it as was promised by them a few months back. We are apprehensive that historical facts have been distorted in the movie," Vishavbandhu Rathore, Pradesh Mahasachiv, Sri Rajput Karni Sena, told IANS.

In January, activists of Sri Rajput Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of Padmavati, claiming Bhansali was distorting historical facts in the movie.

The movie sets out to tell the tale of Rani Padmavati - the legendary Mewar queen known as much for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her courage, her husband Maharawal Ratan Singh - a glorious Rajput ruler and a warrior king who fought till his dying breath to defend his kingdom and his wife's honour and Sultan Alauddin Khilji - an ambitious and obsessive invader.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, along with other organisations, had called for a Chittorgarh bandh on 3 November. Along with like-minded organisations, the Karni Sena plans to organise a big rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on 12 November against the movie.
Telugu star Pawan Kalyan's most anticipated film with director Trivikram Srinivas still remains a mystery, as far as the title of the film is concerned. The makers of the film and Kalyan himself are all gearing up to expedite the film's shoot and releasing it as per schedule.

According to a report by The News Minute, Kalyan plans to release the film around the festive occasion of Sankranti and hence he has asked the team to wrap up the shooting at the earliest. As a measure, the actor and the director Trivikram has devised a strategy  they have split the unit into three teams.

The team is currently shooting in Europe and the schedule is expected to run for a week. Some songs and action sequences are being shot in parts of Bulgaria, reports Hindustan Times.

Kalyan-Trivikram's film is tentatively titled PSPK25, as per the title seen in the song 'Baitikochi Chuste', released on 7 November which also happens to be Trivikram's birthday.

Actress Keerthy Suresh will be seen romantically paired opposite Kalyan in the film. The other members of the cast include Anu Emmanuel, Boman Irani, Aadhi Pinisetty, Kushboo, Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Parag Tyagi and Vennela Kishore, as reported by The News Minute.

The film also marks the Telugu debut of Tamil music composer Anirudh Ravichander. Kalyan's film is being backed by S Radha Krishna under his banner Haarika & Hassine Creations.

Here's the song 'Baitikochi Chuste':


Tiger Zinda Hai marks Ali Abbas Zafars second collaboration with both Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, and the director said that he is under tremendous pressure as the film readies for release, for many reasons. There is a lot of pressure, obviously, because it is such a big film with huge stars like Salman and Katrina, and then it is a franchise. I also have the added baggage of Sultan, said Ali immediately after the trailer launch of his much-awaited sequel to the spy thriller Ek Tha Tiger.

However, we have made an effort to tell a story based on a real life event, which you can understand from the trailer, he added. As can be inferred from the trailer, Salman and Katrina are on a mission to rescue a group of nurses who have been held captive by a terrorist outfit, loosely based on the 2014 incident involving Indian nurses who were held hostage by the Islamic State.

Ali Abbas had earlier assisted director Kabir Khan on Ek Tha Tiger, which was a blockbuster success of 2012. However, Ali said that when he wrote the story of Tiger Zinda Hai, it wasnt meant as a sequel. In fact, it began life as a separate story altogether. It was only when I felt that the story was worth being told that I decided to take it further. There were two intelligence agents in my story and then we already had this film where Salman and Katrina were agents, so we decided to merge those agents in this story and then it became a story of two characters people already know, he explained.

Tiger Zinda Hai trailer: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif battle terrorists, carry off high-stakes rescue op

When Salman, Katrina and Aditya (Chopra) heard the story, they found it exciting and only then did we think of taking the Tiger franchise ahead, said Ali, adding, Tiger Zinda Hai is very different from Ek Tha Tiger. The first part was romantic but this is the story of a mission. In the earlier part, you saw Salman and Katrinas characters as lovers but in this you will see them as agents. The scale and action sequences are more real and gritty. The film talks about many important and current events which are affecting us.

Talking about working with Salman for the second time, Ali said, We share a great relationship and we work together very well. Also, he is such a big superstar and there is a certain way people like to present him... the way he is perceived. So between us, we have an understanding that I look at him in the way lot of people want to see him. He is the quintessential hero who can be real; he is not a superman. He is real but at the same time he can do what we want him to do, especially on screen.

Ali Abbas says Katrina is a close friend, and he didn't have a tough time convincing either her or Salman to do the film. "Both of them reacted very strongly to the story. The way cinema is progressing, we are going more for realism. We want to tell real stories that people have heard or want to see. So when Salman and Katrina heard the story about the rescue mission...what happened to those captured nurses in those 10 days... they were very keen to do this film. It is a completely fictional film we have written around that event, said the director.

When asked about shooting in extreme weather conditions, and across various destinations in Austria, Greece, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India, Ali replied in jest: I can only say that the kind of abuses Salman hurled at me, I cant share in public [laughs out loud]. He keeps telling me that I push him too much. Even in Sultan I made him do so much and shot in difficult places. But he knows what we are trying to do, and when you see those snow boarding sequences, shot when the temperature around us was at minus 23 degrees, on the big screen, you'll understand."
In a patriarchal industry, the rise of popular southern actress Nayanthara from a heroine to earning the moniker of Lady Superstar is truly phenomenal and serves as the best answer to the million dollar question  is the heroine, though an integral part of the film, a liability?

While many argue that the superstar tag is debatable, her rise to the top against all odds cannot be questioned and that is what makes her a true fighter. From playing a regular heroine for nearly a decade, Nayanthara reinvented herself in the last few years, making smart career choices and daring to go solo in films such as Anaamika, Maya, Dora and this weeks Tamil release Aramm.

Having made her acting debut with 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare, Nayanthara has come a long way with her share of good and bad films. Be it a Chandramukhi or Lakshmi or Billa or Yaaradi Nee Mohini, her performance has never been a matter of concern. According to well-known distributor Abirami Ramanathan, Nayanthara has a very strong market base. She has a bigger opening market than most of her contemporaries. Some of her films, despite the presence of an established star, did well and drew audiences solely because of her star presence. Best examples of such films are Thirunaal and Irumugan, which had well known actors such as Jiiva and Vikram, but got a solid opening because of Nayanthara as well.

What makes Nayanthara tick, apart from the fact that she looks drop-dead gorgeous and can attract youngsters, is a question that needs to be answered. Director Ashwin Saravanan, who had worked with Nayanthara in Maya, believes it is her relentless energy to work non-stop. Its very inspiring to see her work. On the sets of Maya, she once told me its been six months since she went home. It might not be a big deal for most of us but that kind of commitment doesnt come easily. Youll never find her tired on the sets. She likes to push herself all the time, Ashwin said, adding her old-school discipline is the other factor that keeps her going. Im sure most directors would agree with me on this. She is never late for shoot. More than her stardom, its her work ethic that really makes me look up to her. It was with Maya, which worked wonders at the box-office, Nayantharas career took a detour and her choices since then have been quite impressive.

Aramm director Gopi Nainar says Nayantharas willingness to experiment and take risks has helped her break the heroine image. Not many leading stars would like to take risks, especially when theyre in the top of their league. But she is an exception and she has proved from time to time that she likes to experiment. She gave break to so many first-time filmmakers like me, said Gopi, who heaps praise on her involvement in a project. When I told her she plays a Collector in the film, she even imagined her characters look in her head. Lot of heroines like to be spoon-fed, exactly told what they should do. The moment she comes on board, Nayanthara ma'am owns her character. She will do everything in her ability to make it work, he said.

Enlightening more on Nayantharas commitment, director Sekhar Kammula, who worked with her in Anaamika, Telugu remake of Kahaani, said that he never expected a star like her to be uncompromisingly committed. I still remember once when we were shooting, I had noticed she had well groomed nails that looked very cute. But I felt her character in the film wouldn't have the time or mood to have such nails. I shared this with her and she instantly got them trimmed. I was astonished by her commitment, he said. Recalling another instance, Kammula said, We were required to shoot a risky stunt sequence and we were thinking of hiring a body double. Nayanthara intervened and said that she will do it on her own. She pulled off the stunt on her own and her hard work was evident in every frame.

Unlike her contemporaries, Nayanthara is not chasing the media spotlight. In fact, she has remained an elusive and mysterious star, staying away from film and private functions. This has further helped in building her image. She is also constantly on the lookout for good scripts. The industry grapevine is that she not only liked the script of Aramm but also is said to have bankrolled the project. Gopi, putting the rumours to rest, clarified, She helped put together the project. After she liked the script, she helped me find a producer. When you get that kind of support from a star, its so encouraging to work.

Nayanthara has not completely bid adieu to star-studded projects, contrary to reports. However, she need not have to rely on her male counterpart anymore to shoulder a project. Producer C Kalyan, who is currently working with Nayanthara in Balakrishna-starrer Jai Simha, says she gives prime importance to her role. She agreed to be part of this project because she was impressed with her role. Im sure if you take a good role to her and if she likes it, shed do the film and it doesnt matter who is part of the project, he said.

Her next big release is Chiranjeevis epic period drama Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy in which she will also share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan and Sudeep. She also has women-centric projects such as Kolayuthir Kaalam, Co Co and Imaikaa Nodigal in her kitty.
New Delhi, : The "last prince of Awadh" was found dead on 2 September in Delhi's 'Malcha Mahal', police said.

Under ordinary circumstances, that would have conveyed the story, followed by a brief obituary narrating his lavish life and times.

But the story of Ali Raza, known as Cyrus, is no ordinary tale.

So, it can be rewritten thus:

The "last prince of Awadh", who lived in abject penury, was found dead on 2 September in Delhi's 'Malcha Mahal', a Tughlak-era hunting lodge, tucked deep inside a patch of forest, overrun by moss and disrepair.

He was the last surviving member of a family that traced its lineage to the royals of Awadh, a claim that was never verified.

The news of the death was broken by a section of the media on Monday, over two months after a team of police officers found him lying motionless inside the derelict 14th century structure.

He had been staying here since 1985, after his imperious mother Begum Wilayat Mahal, who allegedly swallowed crushed diamonds to death in the early 90s, forced the then Union government to provide them with accommodation behoving their royal antecedents.

She claimed she was a direct descendant of the kings of Awadh, who were known for opulence and luxury.

Armed with an unparallelled sense of entitlement, the Begum started camping in a first class waiting room of the New Delhi railway station in the 70s, demanding recognition for the sacrifice made by her family during the 1857 war of independence, also known as the 'Sepoy Mutiny'.

Sometime in 1985, the Begum and her two children, Cyrus and his sister Sakina moved into the lodge, which was then known as 'Bistadari ruins'.

Old pictures show the Begum posing in regal attire inside the lodge, its beds covered in Persian carpets and table holding expensive porcelain crockery.

"She hung a metal sign outside: Entry restricted. Cautious of hound dogs. Proclamation: Intruders shall be gundown (sic)," the BBC reported.

Subsequently, the place came to be known as 'Malcha Mahal' for its close proximity to Malcha Marg, which houses the Delhi elite including diplomats, businessmen and authors.

The family chose a life of isolation and notorious hostility such as letting loose a pack of ferocious dogs on outsiders who came knocking as they zealously guarded their royal status and studiously avoided the commoner.

Foreign correspondents posted to New Delhi were treated somewhat better.

"Ordinariness is not just a crime, it is a sin," Sakina had declared to a reporter, the BBC reported, adding how the prince once dismissed the Mughals as "common as dirt".

However, over the years, the bloodhounds perished, as did the Begum and her daughter.

And now Cyrus.

"The body of the prince was found on 2 September. There were some contact numbers found from the spot but none of them could be reached. We waited for 72 hours for anyone to come and claim the body but no one came.

"We sought help from the Delhi Waqf Board and he was buried near Delhi Gate on 5 September. A post-mortem was carried out and it said that he died due to natural causes. No foul play was found. A detailed autopsy report is awaited," a senior police officer said.

The tenth and last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, ruled Awadh for nine years till 1856, and died near Kolkata in 1887.
Washington: The recent decision by China to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, as a global terrorist, is doing "material harm" to its ties with India, top American experts said on Tuesday.

Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked Indias move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said. "It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in China-Pakistani collusion. "By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washingtons stronger rhetoric against Pakistans support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted. "When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistans benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UNs list of banned terror outfits.

Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15-nation UN Security Council to put a hold on Indias application. The other 14 members supported New Delhis bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban. Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has reacted cautiously to the visit of the Centre's special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma, who reached the Valley on Monday to begin talks with political parties, social organisations and other opinion makers.

She took to Twitter on Monday to express hopes about the interlocutor's visit, saying the hope of resolution of the conflict via dialogue has been "rekindled" in Jammu and Kashmir.

I am optimistic that parties and organisations in J&K will not miss this opportunity to be a part of peace parleys.  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 6, 2017

The hope of resolution via dialogue has been rekindled in J&K.  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 6, 2017

Her remarks, however, were in stark contrast to those by National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, who had said that he has "very little expectations" from Sharma's visit.

"I have very little expectations from this new interlocutor. Like it has been done before, he will come and meet people. In 2010, the then UPA government appointed a group of interlocutors who visited the state and had detailed discussions with every section here," he said.

Abdullah added that though the process took more than two months and a report was compiled, the government did not discuss it further.

"It has been thrown into a dustbin somewhere in the north block. It was followed by a delegation comprising of parliamentarians who visited Kashmir. What happened to that delegation and their recommendations? Nothing happened. So, I expect nothing to happen now as well," said the former chief minister.

No show by separatists, traders

The separatist leadership in the Valley, meanwhile, has refused to meet Sharma. Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that he was "unlikely" to meet with Sharma even if he did receive an invitation.

"We have cleared our position. How will the government, which is not ready to discuss autonomy, talk to us?" Farooq was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. "In (the) earlier meeting with the Centre in 2002, the context was different  India and Pakistan were talking, all the stakeholders were involved. Today, there is no clarity on what they want. They are just wasting time. It seems to be no more than a PR exercise."

Earlier, sources at the separatist camp had told IANS that although separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani "does not oppose a dialogue process, he is not ready to facilitate a process that is aimed at delaying rather than resolving the basic issue".

The joint resistance leadership (JRL), an umbrella of separatist leaders including Geelani, Yasin Malik and Farooq, had also dismissed any possibility of a dialogue with the interlocutor.

Kashmir's apex trade body, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), also turned down the interlocutor's invitations for talks.

"The organisation decided to boycott the meeting, as reports from previous interlocutors yielded no results. We were invited by the Divisional Commissioner but we are not meeting," KCCI president Javed Tenga was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.

With the main Opposition political party, separatists and the traders' body all refusing to meet Sharma, his first day in Srinagar was taken up by fringe organisations and groups claiming to represent local communities.

A report on The Hindu quoted a "man representing youth from border areas" as having received an audience with Sharma. He requested the new interlocutor to stop the use of pellet guns against civilians.

"If they want to win our confidence, the use of pellet guns should stop. Also, cases against young people should be withdrawn. The Centre has to assure us first," he said.

Yasin Poswal, the general secretary of the Gujjar Bakkarwal community that has been demanding political reservation, also met Sharma on Monday. "We met Minister of Home Rajnath Singh when he came here last time (in September). We placed our demands then, and today apprised the special representative of the same. He was more receptive to our demand than the home minister," Poswal said.

Speaking to the media ahead of his visit to the Valley, Sharma, a former Intelligence Bureau director, had said that no one should jump to conclusions before the process of talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir began.

"I would like to be judged by my actions," he told PTI.

Describing his work as a "serious effort", Sharma also said that "one should refrain from fishing in the desert", adding, "I am going there to be with my people and understand their pain and suffering and find a suitable remedy to their problems."

With inputs from agencies
Raipur: Chhattisgarh journalists are on the warpath.

The 30-day ultimatum they gave to the state government and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to respond to their demands for enshrining a law protecting journalists expired on 2 November.

And yet there has been no response.

The agitating scribes also want Rs 1 crore as compensation for journalists killed in the line of duty.

In Chhattisgarh, journalists are targeted by Maoists as well as by trigger-happy policemen.

Reports of the likely return of a controversial top cop, who is both detested and feared by journalists for his alleged overreach, has added urgency to the demand.

The journalists have vowed to escalate their protests. They said with state elections in 2018 and general elections in 2019, political parties ignore journalists at their own peril.

Peaceful march halted

The 30-day ultimatum was given on 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti. Journalists across Chhattisgarh came together for a rally in the state capital of Raipur and marched towards Raj Bhavan to press their demands. But halfway there, police halted the march.

Thwarted, the journalists stood their ground and raised slogans, compelling the governor to send a representative to speak to them. A memorandum listing their demands was handed over to the representative with a copy to the PMO. Sources said the government was shocked and unnerved by the public display of anger. Until now, the media and the Raman Singh-led BJP government have had a fairly cordial relationship.

Several senior journalists who participated in the march said they had not seen a bigger outpouring of anger from journalists in the past 15 years.

Kill journalists

The immediate reason for the march was the leaking of a 30-second audio clip made by a Maoist cadre to a group of Bijapur-based journalists who went to the Bastar jungles in September.

In the audio clip, DL Manahar, the former Bastar Superintendent of Police, is reportedly heard telling his subordinates: Stay on high alert. If any journalist is spotted covering Maoists, kill him.

The Bijapur journalists, who were unaware that the message dated back to 2004-2005, brought the clip to the attention of the Bijapur Press Club. The reaction was swift. The club president Ganesh Mishra stated that the wireless message reflected the thinking and attitude of the police towards the media.

ETV Bijapur correspondent Mukesh Chandrakar said journalists started feeling unsafe from the day the audio was leaked.

Domino effect

Copies of the audio clip were sent to the Bijapur police and district administration.

The clip was also posted on social media and went viral.

Durgesh Madhav Awasthi, Director General, Anti-Naxal Operations, promptly ordered an Inspector General-level inquiry.

Meanwhile, some senior journalists questioned the date of the audio clip.

The probe was aborted after it was discovered that the clip was part of a 10-minute wireless message which leaked in 2004-2005.

A three-member committee led by a deputy superintendent-level officer was constituted to look into the matter.

However, this angered the journalists even more. They queried how a deputy superintendent-level officer could investigate a superintendent of police-level officer.

The issue grew larger.

The Bijapur journalists, along with their Bastar counterparts, gathered outside the Bastar commissioners office in Jagdalpur and staged a demonstration.

But when nothing came of that, journalists took their agitation to Raipur and the march on Governors House on 2 October, spearheaded by the Raipur Press Club. At least six other press associations, including the Bastar Press Club lent their support to the demonstration.

As to why these large-scale protests happened now and not a decade earlier, the answer is simple: Social media, a phenomenon that was all but non-existent in 2004-2005.

Raipur Press Club president KK Sharma, however, said the date of the audio leak or the date it was recorded doesnt matter. What mattered was that a high-level police officer was heard in the audio clip ordering a hit on journalists.

It is unprecedented. His role must be impartially probed and if he is found to be involved, strict punishment must be meted out so that others learn a lesson, said Sharma. Intimidation and killing of journalists is an attack on democracy and the right to free speech, he added. Such an assault on fundamental rights cannot be tolerated.

Sharma said assurances have been given and a letter has been dispatched from Governor House to the Director General of Police and Home Secretary to look into the matter.

Our demand is simple. We want a comprehensive law to protect journalists and an impartial probe in the [audio-clip] case, Sharma said. Therefore, we have given a 30-day ultimatum to the government.

All options open

Bastar Press Club president Manish Gupta said journalists in Bastar were victims of the hostile acts of both Naxals and the police.

We want a comprehensive act to protect journalists. The government has passed a security act for doctors. Maharashtra has a journalist protection law. Why not such a law for Chhattisgarh journalists? he asked. Well get the law. All options are open. All journalist unions are united on the issue.

Ruchir Garg, editor of Hindi daily Navabharat, said: "The cold-blooded murder of Gauri Lankesh created resentment at the national level. Working conditions for journalists in Bastar has deteriorated to alarming levels. False cases and unresolved cases against journalists abound. There is a rage in journalists. The audio leak acted as a trigger to a ticking bomb, he told Firstpost.

Bastar, a conflict zone

Gargs comments echoed the findings of a fact-finding team of the Editors Guild of India, which visited Chhattisgarh in 2016.

Bastar is fast becoming a conflict zone. There is a constant battle between the security forces and Maoists. Journalists are caught in the middle and under attack from both state and non-state actors, a report by the guild said. There is not a single journalist who can claim with confidence that he/she is working without fear or pressure.

The guilds team visited Chhattisgarh when Shiva Ram Prasad Kalluri was Inspector General of Bastar. Considered a loose cannon, Kalluri does not seem to mind going "outside the box" to get results.

Kalluris tenure

During Kalluris tenure, several journalists were branded police informers and killed in cold blood. Others were targeted for being "Maoist sympathisers, couriers and agents".

From the day Kalluri took up his post, cases of torture, atrocities, intimidation and journalists being falsely implicated increased exponentially. I was tortured and imprisoned because I refused to give in to pressure," said journalist Prabhat Singh.

Journalists such as Alok Putul and Malini Subramaniam were intimidated and hounded out of Bastar.

Grassroots journalists Lingaram Kodapi, Santosh Yadav, Somaru Nag and Deepak Jaiswal were reportedly arrested on false charges under the Arms Act and Jan Suraksha Kanoonwhich is more stringent than POTA or TADAbranded Maoist sympathisers, agents and couriers of the insurgents.

Fear and insecurity has led to build-up of anger and rising calls for a journalist protection law.

There are unconfirmed reports that Kalluri, who was transferred out of Bastar six months ago, might make a comeback.

The saving grace is that, for the first time in 15 years, journalists across Chhattisgarh have come together.

If Kalluri is the bogeyman they want kept out, they also want an end to surveillance, which keeps many journalists from reporting on the issues affecting Naxals.

Avdhesh Mallick is a Raipur-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters

Read part 1 of the series here
 Flash

The Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh on Monday donated 9,130 Chinese language books to five universities and schools in Cambodia.

The beneficiaries are the state-owned Royal University of Phnom Penh, Asia Euro University, Min Sheng Chinese School, Duan Hua Chinese School and Li Qing Chinese School.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony held at the embassy residence in Phnom Penh, Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo said the books included literature, history, geography, tourism, education, arts, culture, language and agriculture with a total cost of 330,000 Chinese yuan (US$50,000).

He said the donation was aimed at promoting Chinese teaching and further enriching the teaching resources of Chinese schools in Cambodia.

"It's the second time that the Chinese Embassy donates reading books to schools in Cambodia," Xiong said. "I believe that the books will help Cambodian students and researchers to learn and to understand better about China."

The ambassador said as more and more Chinese investors and tourists came to Cambodia, the demand for Chinese speaking would be surely on the rise.

Chhun Hok, vice rector of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the university opened a Chinese Language Center in 2007 and a faculty of Chinese literature in 2010. To date, the center had offered short courses to 1,700 students and the faculty had provided bachelor's degrees to 175 students.

"The books will be very useful for students to study and to understand better about Chinese culture and development," he said.
Bhubaneswar: India on Tuesday test-fired the indigenously-designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay from an Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha's Balasore.

The missile, with a strike range of 1,000 kilometer, was test-fired from a specially-designed launcher from the launch complex-3 of the ITR, defence sources said.

The cruise missile is expected to supplement the Indo-Russian joint venture supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which can carry warheads up to 290 kilometer.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said the Nirbhay missile test was "successful".

It travelled along a pre-designated flight path and homed in on the target, the sources added.

Powered by a solid rocket motor booster, the Nirbhay missile, with a turbo-fan engine, is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system.

Capable of carrying 24 kinds of war weapons, the missile is able to target multiple places simultaneously.

It was the fifth launch of the missile in the last five years. Out of the last four, three had failed in past years.

The missile had achieved success during the second test in 2014. The maiden test flight of Nirbhay was held on 12 March, 2013.
Shillong: The Indian Army and its Bangladesh counterpart have begun their week-long joint training exercise at the Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi cantonment of Meghalaya.

The Indo-Bangladesh exercise, the seventh such joint training exercise, is held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year to build and promote positive relations between the two armies in view of an "emerging threat from transnational terrorism".

General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Lieutenant general AS Bedi, on Monday inaugurated the joint exercise 'SAMPRITI' in which 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army were participating.

In his speech, Gene Bedi welcomed the foreign contingent and briefed them on the week-long exercise, an Army spokesperson, Lieutenant colonel Suneet Newton, said in a statement.

"The Indian Army believes that the joint Army exercise is a signal that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and are united in countering this menace," the statement said.

The exercise also aims to enhance inter-operability between the two nations and enrich from each others experience while carrying out counter insurgency/ counter terrorist operations, the statement said.
Two days after Olympic silver medalist shuttler PV Sindhu accused an IndiGo staffer of misbehaving with her, another incident of the airline's ground staff members manhandling a passenger has surfaced on social media.

#WATCH: IndiGo staff manhandle a passenger at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (Note: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/v2ola0YzqC  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

The incident reportedly took place on 15 October. However, Firstpost could not independently verify the date of the incident.

The video shows two ground staff members dragging and beating the passenger on the tarmac of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The 53-year-old passenger, identified as Rajiv Katyal, had flown in from Chennai on Indigo's flight 6E 487. After alighting from the flight, he reportedly got into an argument with the airline staff members and abused them, reported The Times Of India.

The video shows the airline staff members first requesting Katyal to not hurl abuses, however, as the argument intensified, the two airline staff members grip Katyal and pin him to the ground by his throat.

Hours after the news emerged, Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has taken serious note of the incident and has asked for a report from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Raju has also condemned the incident and said that violence of any sort is deplorable and criminal action should be taken in such cases, reported ANI

Seeking report from DGCA. Violence of any sort is deplorable and should result in criminal action: Civil Aviation Minister AG Raju #IndiGo  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

On the other hand, IndiGo has issued an apology for the incident. The airline in its apology on Twitter has said that the incident was investigated by an internal committee and the main culprit's employment has been terminated immediately.

We truly apologise to Mr. Rajiv Katiyal for this incident & assure him that the employee has been terminated. pic.twitter.com/9xZcSftgit  IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 7, 2017

IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh also said in a statement,"I acknowledge the unpleasant experience our passenger went through while engaging with our staff at Delhi airport. I had personally spoken to the passenger and asked for an apology...Under the code of conduct violation, this incident was investigated and stern action was taken against the staff," NDTV reported.
The Indian security forces killed three militants, including the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday, reports said.

CNN-News18 reported that Azhar's nephew Talha Rashid was gunned down in Pulwama's Aglar Kandi. Times Now also confirmed the news.

#BREAKING  JeM chief Azhar Masoods nephew killed in an encounter in J&K | @islahmufti with more details pic.twitter.com/vzqdcOXoqZ  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 7, 2017

Speaking to Times Now, an Indian Army official said, that the three militants belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group and that two of them were from Pakistan.

Initial reports published in local news websites named the three militants as Talha Rashid (nephew of Azhar), Mehmood Bhai and Wasim Ahmad, a resident of Drabgom in Pulwama. The Kashmir Dispatch, a local news website, also quoted a press release issued by Jaish-e-Mohammed as verifying that one of the slain militants was Talha Rashid.

That the militants killed on Monday were members of Jaishe-e-Mohammed was also confirmed by Muneer Khan, IG, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the representatives of the Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in a press conference on Tuesday. Khan also said that an M4 rifle, besides two AK-47 rifles, were recovered from the encounter site highlight the link between the Pakistan Army and the JeM.

Security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kandi belt following information about the presence of some militants, reported PTI.

The search operation had led to a gunbattle after the militants fired at the security forces. Following special intelligence inputs, troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, state police, and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded Aglar village on Monday evening.

J&K: Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Pulwama district's Aglar Kandi. (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/hg8X8emWED  ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017

As the security forces closed in on the militants, they were fired at, triggering the gunfight which was on till late night on Monday, reports said. "The militants were holed up in two houses. They tried to flee in the darkness, but we managed to neutralise them," the official told Times Now.

Militants were holed up in 2 houses. All 3 were JeM terrorists, 2 from Pak. 1 jawan lost his life, 2 injured.: Vinay Kumar, CRPF Commandant pic.twitter.com/PSgd6fn8eD  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

According to the army officials, one jawan, identified as Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed during the encounter.

A civilian also suffered injuries in the crossfire, they said. Identified as Tariq Ahmad, the civilian sustained a bullet injury during simultaneous clashes between protesting civilians and the security forces near the encounter site. The protesters were trying to disrupt the operation against the holed up militants.

Police said that the injured civilian was shifted to hospital and reinforcements have been rushed to the area to augment the strength of the security forces engaged in the gunfight.

Meanwhile, internet in Pulwama district was suspended to check the spread of rumours in the area.

With inputs from PTI
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rejected an interim prayer seeking a stay on 'Tipu Jayanti' celebrations to be held across the state on 10 November and directed the state government to file objections to the petitioner's submissions on the matter in four weeks.

The petitioner, KP Manjunath, sought a direction to restrain the celebrations in his home district of Kodagu, saying it would foment communal disharmony.

The order was passed by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice HG Ramesh and Justice PS Dinesh Kumar after the petitioner failed to convince the court which had sought to know whether the expenses on Tipu Jayanti celebrations were being incurred by the state.

The bench also directed the government to file objections to the petition in four weeks time.

Manjunath, in his plea, contended that large-scale communal violence erupted during the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in 2015, when it was first organised by government.

Manjunath made submissions pertaining to several historical material facts contending that Tipu Sultan had killed thousands of Kodavas (in Kodagu district) during his rule.

He alleged that Tipu's rule in Kodagu resulted in conversion of Kodavas to Islam.

"Tipu was an invader and a dictator and glorifying such a person is a matter of shame," he argued.

Tipu, ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore, was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu is viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district of the state, where he was alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has declined to compensate Farooq Ahmed Dar, the "human shield" tied to an Indian Army jeep to deter stone pelters from attacking the army convoy during the Srinagar by-election on 9 April this year.

The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Bilal Nazki had directed the state government to give Rs 10 lakh as compensation amount to Dar in July. But the state government has responded to the human rights panel saying there was "no scheme or policy in vogue in the state, which could cover the payment of compensation" in such matters.

The statement argued that an FIR was filed, and paying Dar a compensation would tantamount to establishing the guilt of the accused without affording the opportunity to be heard.

In the four-page reply, filed through Deputy Secretary (Home) Mushtaq Ahmed, the state government said the empowered committee of the government had examined the order of the rights panel and observed that the grounds on which compensation was recommended "cannot be accepted".

Dar was tied to the bonnet of an army vehicle and taken around 19 villages in Budgam during the Lok Sabha bypoll in April, purportedly as a shield against stone pelters. A video showing the youth tied to the army vehicle went viral on social media and elicited a sharp reaction from civil society.

The army had defended the officer in question, Major Leetul Gogoi, and honoured with him with the army chief's 'Commendation Card' for his "sustained efforts" in counter-insurgency operations. Gogoi had said he took the step to save local people.

The army's claim that Dar was among the stone pelters was not substantiated by local police officials, who established Dar's statement that he was on his way to another village to offer condolences. Dar's statement that he was taken hostage after he cast his ballot was also verified by the district election officer.

'Appropriate compensation'

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), while taking cognisance of the incident, had said that such treatment to a human being "can't be accepted by any civilised society", and had directed the Mehbooba Mufti government to pay Dar the compensation amount, according to The Indian Express.

"The police report accepts that Dar was tied to the bonnet of a vehicle and used as human shield There are laws in this country and international laws which prohibit such a treatment even to a convict. Such a treatment to a human being cannot be accepted in a civilised society," Justice (Retd) Bilal Nazki had said in his judgment.

"The protection of life and liberty of the people is the basic responsibility of the state government. The commission thinks it appropriate to direct the state government to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim," Nazki said, as per the report.

The commission, however, didnt rule on the role and culpability of the army officer in the case, citing the "limited applicability" of the Protection for Human Rights Act 1993 to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Army awards 'presence of mind'

Gogoi was exonerated by an Indian Army court in May for his actions, which he said were taken to avoid stone pelting at the armed forces.

Following the incident, the Army Court of Inquiry (COI) had ordered a probe after the police registered an FIR regarding the incident. But army sources revealed that Gogoi was instead praised by the Court of Inquiry for his "presence of mind" to avoid casualties or injuries.

The fact that the army chose to felicitate Gogoi shortly after the incident became the subject of heated debates. The majors action triggered a fierce debate about military ethics and atrocities.

Twenty-six-year-old Dar described the award conferred on Gogoi as illegal. He approached the SHRC to seek an explanation as to why the army awarded Gogoi, while the inquiry into the incident was still underway. Dar had said that he was not part of any stone-pelting mob and had gone to attend a funeral of a relative in the area. "This is grossly inhumane... to turn me into a stone-pelter. I am still under trauma and now the entire case is being turned against me, whereas I am the victim," he said.

Shortly after, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat came to Gogoi's defence and said that the army was facing a "dirty war" in Kashmir which had to be fought through "innovative ways".

Rawat had said the objective of awarding Gogoi, even though a court of inquiry was still finalising its probe into the incident, was to boost the morale of young officers of the force, who are operating in a very difficult environment in the militancy-infested state.

"This is a proxy war and proxy war is a dirty war. It is played in a dirty way. The rules of engagements are there when the adversary comes face-to-face and fights with you. It is a dirty war... that is where innovation comes in. You fight a dirty war with innovation," Rawat said, in what were the general's most comprehensive comments yet to the media on the issue.

Former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi had also praised Gogoi and said that the government would defend him in court on the Kashmir human shield row if needed. "I salute Major Gogoi," he had said.

Many others had expressed concern over the incident and had condemned Gogoi's actions. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed shock, saying, "This young man was tied to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking."

"A warning can be heard (in the video) saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry and follow up now," he had said on Twitter.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which shares power with the BJP, also slammed the army chief's commendation for Gogoi. PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat said that honouring Gogoi was "not proper", as the act was a human rights violation.

An influential citizens' group in Kashmir had also demanded the withdrawal/deferment of the army award to Gogoi till the probe is completed. "The act is condemnable. The effort to legitimise the act by cooking up and concocting facts is bizarre and deserves to be equally condemned, " it had said.

With inputs from PTI
Srinagar: Over 30 delegations from various organizations and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have called on Dineshwar Sharma, the special representative appointed by the Central government, so far, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials said since Sharma arrived in Srinagar on Monday to start a sustained, multi-layered dialogue in the state, 32 delegations have called on him at the Hari Niwas state guest house .

Prominent among those who called on Sharma on Tuesday included Waheed Parra, youth leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Sanjay Saraf of the Janata Dal (United), delegations of erstwhile Panchayat members, some local youth delegations and those of the Sikh community in the Valley.

Commenting on his meeting with Sharma, Parra said: "This is a meaningful dialogue process because the Central government has owned and institutionalized this process."

Touseef Raina of the Global Youth Foundation said he raised issues related to youth with Sharma because the local youth are the real stakeholders who should be taken into confidence.

Another delegation leader, Abida of NGO JK Seva that called on Sharma, said that they raised women-related issues.

Saifullah of the JK Human Welfare Association, which represents former militants, said: "We spoke to him in a good atmosphere and told him that India, Pakistan and Kashmiris must be brought on the table to solve the Kashmir issue."

Shafiq Mir, chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Former Panchayat Members Association, said: "Democratic institutions are not strong in Kashmir. We put forward ground level problems of people since the panchayats form a bridge between state and people.

"We demanded that the state Panchayati Act should be strengthened. We have also raised the issue of killings of Panchayat members in the Valley."

Sharma is likely to meet Yusuf Tarigami of the CPM, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Hakim Yaseen, three prominent opposition mainstream leaders on Wednesday before concluding his three-day visit to the Valley.
A Kolkata court on Tuesday found one of the six accused guilty in the rape of a 71-year-old nun at a convent school in Nadia district of West Bengal in 2015. Five others have been charged with robbery.

#BREAKING - Bengal Nun Rape case: Kolkata court convicts 1 accused for rape, 5 for robbery. A 71-year old Nun was raped at Ranaghat in 2015 pic.twitter.com/h8i0NjOCSC  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 7, 2017

Additional Sessions Judge Kumkum Sinha termed the incident as a matter of shame in a state where Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa had worked for the people.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Wednesday. Noting that the charge of gang rape was not established, the judge said only Nazrul Islam was found guilty of rape.

Five accused, including Nazrul Islam, were found guilty of dacoity at the convent. A sixth person  Gopal Sarkar was found guilty of harbouring the five criminals at his residence.

All the six were also found guilty of criminal conspiracy for committing dacoity at the convent in Ranaghat, an otherwise quiet town in Nadia district bordering Bangladesh.

Other than Nazrul Islam and Gopal Sarkar, the other four persons found guilty are Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh and Khaledar Rahman.

Apart from Gopal Sarkar, the five others are Bangladeshis and cases against them under Foreigners' Act are pending before another court.

The nun was raped at the convent on 14 March, 2015 where the six persons barged in for committing dacoity. They had decamped with cash from the safe of the convent. One accused is absconding.

The trial was shifted from a court in Ranaghat to the Kolkata Sessions court in May, 2016 by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the nun.

The nun, who had relocated to Delhi following the incident, had sought transfer of the case to Kolkata stating that she feared for her safety as the accused allegedly had strong links in Ranaghat.

The prosecution charged all the accused with gangrape, dacoity and criminal conspiracy among others.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said the army would neutralise any terrorists entering Indian territory, after Indian forces killed the nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar in Pulwama in a gunfight.

The Army chief also said the recovery of an assault rifle used by NATO forces in Afghanistan with the killed Jaish terrorists showed that they were getting support from the other side of the border, in a reference to Pakistan.

Talha Rasheed, nephew of Masood Azhar, was among three militants killed in a gunfight with forces in Aglar village in Pulwama in south Kashmir on Monday night.

"Operations are going on. As I said, the operations will continue. If any terrorists carry out activities that put the life and property of our citizens at risk, if they target any building, police station or army, they are troubling the citizens. Our attempt would be to neutralise whoever is involved in terror activities," General Rawat said on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.

"Whether it is the nephew of Maulana Masood or anyone else, we are concerned only with finishing terror. We are not concerned what is their religion or other things," he said.

Along with Rasheed, two more terrorists  Mehmood Bhai, a foreign terrorist, and Wasim Ahmed Ganai, a local terrorist were killed.

Among the items recovered from the terrorists, were M4 carbines, a shorter and lighter variant of the American origin M-16 A2 assault rifle. The seizure comes days after a picture of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was circulated on social media holding another variant of the M-16 rifle.

The American origin gun is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, and questions have been raised how it reached the terrorists.

Asked about the presence of the weapon with the terrorists, General Rawat said, "You can see sometime back this weapon was shown in media that they (terrorists) have this weapon. It shows they are getting support across the border."

The forces also recovered AK-74 rifles, pistols, and matrix sheets from the terrorists.

One army soldier was also killed in the firefight.
Srinagar: Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew, Talha Rashid, had worked closely with other militant outfits  including the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)  in Kashmir before he was killed in a late night encounter with security forces in Pulwama on Monday.

Rashid, who was believed to be between 28 to 30 years of age, was active in Kashmir following the attack on the Pathankot Air Force Station in January last year, for which Azhar was placed under house arrest by Pakistan authorities.

According to top security officials, Rashid had infiltrated into the Valley along with another Pakistani militant Mehmood Bhai after the uprising in Kashmir, which was triggered by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Muzafar Wani last year in July. Both of them had been active in many attacks on the forces in south Kashmir since.

Sources said that the recent operational strategy of the JeM was different in south Kashmir, as it carried out joint (with other militant outfits) attacks on the forces. A senior police official said that both Rashid and Mehmood were active in Kashmir for nearly the last eight months. Director General of Police, SP Vaid, said that Rashid was involved in a recent attack on the police, in which one officer was killed.

"Rashid was a commander of JeM while Mehmood was the divisional commander of the militant outfit,'' he said. Rashid was working closely with other militant outfits, which was unlike JeM's strategy. The JeM has around 20 militants in its ranks and only three-four local militants remain associated with it.

The group has been responsible for many fidayeen attacks on the forces and carries out major militant attacks by storming into the police and army bases. "Both Rashid and Mehmood were among the few militants active in Kashmir for a long time and their survival would've meant that the security forces could've seen some large-scale attacks," a senior police official said.

He added that the two Pakistani JeM militants could've carried out major militant attacks in the Valley, especially at a time when the Government of India's Kashmir interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, is trying to reach out to different groups in Kashmir for talks.

Briefing reporters about the operation in Pulwama, in which three militants were killed, Inspector General (IG) of police, Muneer Khan, said that they will ask the Pakistani authorities to claim Rashid's body after the militant outfit confirmed his identity.

Sources said that the police was on Rashid's trail ever since a local militant of Drubgam area of Pulwama, Sameer Tiger, brandished a US-made M4 weapon, photos of which went viral on social media. "The JeM militants were working together with Hizbul and LeT militant outfits,'' a senior police official said.

Police officials said that the weapons recovered from the militants were same as the ones seen in the viral photos, though they added that there could be more such US-made weapons with other militants. An AK 47 rifle and a pistol were also recovered from Rashid.

Besides Rashid and Mehmood, the identity of the third militant was ascertained as Wasim Ahmad Ganie, a local militant of Drubgam area of Pulwama. Waseem was active since the last two and half months and had joined the JeM ranks on 18 August this year. He had dropped out of school after studying till 9th standard before joining militancy, said a police official.

During the encounter, an army jawan was also killed while a civilian received injuries. The condition of the civilian was, however, stated to be stable.

Superintendent of police, Pulwama, Mohammad Aslam, said that the slain militants had been involved in a number of attacks. "Both Rashid and Mehmood were involved in many incidents of militancy. Mehmood was the mastermind in the attack on district police lines (DPL) in Pulwama and had also carried out the attack on a police party at Rajpora in which one of our police constables, Abdul Salam, died. Also, the grenade attack on a beauty parlour in Pulwama recently was jointly carried out by Hizbul, JeM and LeT.''

Both the JeM and Hizbul paid tributes to the slain militants. United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin said in a statement to the local press that the "sacrifices of the youth will not go (to) waste.''

On Saturday, militants had attacked the Rajpora police station in which two policemen were injured. Earlier, on 12 October, militants had lobbed a grenade at a busy Pulwama chowk, which left two injured. The grenade was hurled near the busy Shaheed park chowk area where the security forces remain deployed in large numbers.

Similarly, on 27 August, three JeM militants were killed after they stormed into District Police Lines (DPL) Pulwama. In the attack, eight security personnel including four CRPF personnel were killed.
 Flash

Authorities confirmed Monday that 15 magazines were recovered from the Texas church where at least 26 people were killed in a deadly shooting Sunday morning.

During a press conference outside the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin said law enforcement collected hundreds of shell casings. Fifteen magazines with 30 rounds each were emptied by the gunman.

Martin also confirmed that the gunman sustained three gunshot wounds, two from an armed local citizen in the leg and torso, and a third "self-inflicted" gunshot wound to the head.

The authorities were hoping to finish the evidence collection process by the night and begin trajectory analysis the following day.

U.S. Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek told media that the Air Force didn't report the shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI, leaving the door open for him to buy weapons.

The man was identified as Devin Kelley from New Braunfels, a city about 50 km north of Sutherland Springs.

Kelley received a bad-conduct discharge from the U.S. Air Force for assaulting his wife and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial. He served in Logistics Readiness at the Holloman Air Force Base in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge, Stefanek told media earlier.

At least 26 people, including an infant and a pregnant woman, were killed in the worst shooting incident in Texas history, with 10 injured victims still in critical conditions, authorities said.

The shooting happened at the First Baptist Church. Kelley walked in around 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) on Sunday and opened fire on the crowd of people.
A trustee of an international school in Mumbai was arrested under The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) and sent to fourteen days police custody on charges of sexual assault on Tuesday, according to several media reports.

#BREAKING - French origin trustee arrested for sexually assaulting a minor in a Mumbai school pic.twitter.com/N5p9JrXh6m  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 7, 2017

The 56-year-old trustee who holds an Indian passport was arrested by the Mumbai Police almost after five months after the complaint was registered, CNN-News 18 reported.

According to a report by The Times of India, police booked the trustee and another female teacher after parents of a three-year-old student filed a complaint of sexual assault against the trustee.

However, after the police failed to arrest the accused for over five months, the parents filed a case with Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Bombay High Court, which led to his arrest.

The student's mother alleged that the teacher would take the child to the trustee's room during breaks, where he would sexually assault the victim, reported Times Now. The report further added that the child confided in her mother that a "boy teacher" touched her inappropriately, and then identified the accused on the school's website, reports said.

This news comes in the backdrop of two major sexual assault cases this year.

A Class VI student was allegedly molested on several occasions for the past few years by a bookseller on the premises of a Noida-based school.

The accused was later sent to judicial custody on 25 October. School authorities formed a six-member internal panel to probe the case.

A Class II student was found with his throat slit in the washroom of Ryan International School on 8 September.

The school bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime.

The trustees of the Ryan group, CEO Ryan Pinto, and his parents, Group's founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, were also arrested but were granted interim bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 28 September.

The victim's father on 9 October moved the Supreme Court challenging the extension of the interim anticipatory bail granted to three trustees.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Punjab and Haryana High Court to decide in ten days the anticipatory bail pleas of three Ryan International Group trustees.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgium's king Philippe on Tuesday held talks to strengthen bilateral ties.

Ahead of the meeting with Modi, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary, who arrived on Sunday on a week-long trip, his first state visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

Modi and the Belgian king, who is accompanied by six ministers and a high powered business delegation comprising CEOs of 86 Belgian companies, held talks in Hyderabad House.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU, according to official data.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to $13.28 billion. While exports from India to Belgium accounted for $5.65 billion, imports from Belgium accounted for $6.62 billion.

"Swaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations pic.twitter.com/qvXe41dcSG  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 7, 2017

The visit will further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.

Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, were accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
New Delhi: A day after China raised an objection to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Tuesday the visit was a "source of motivation" and aimed at understanding issues related to soldiers deployed in forward areas.

"Defence Minister visits troops in forward areas to meet them in person, to understand their various issues that may be engulfing them, and I think visits by Raksha Mantri are always a source of motivation," the army chief said, in response to a question on China's objection.

"Raksha Mantri has to visit those areas where our troops are deployed. After all, it is the Ministry of Defence which is providing support to us," he said, on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

China had on Monday reacted angrily to Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the visit to the "disputed" region will not be conducive to peace on the border. China maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of South Tibet, a claim which is not accepted by India.

On Sunday, Sitharaman visited a forward army post in Arunachal Pradesh and an Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Assam to take stock of the defence preparedness and the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

During the visit to the forward army post of Kibithu, she was briefed on the situation and defence preparedness along the LAC. She also interacted with troops and appreciated their dedication to the service in such remote and inhospitable terrain, a Defence Ministry release said.

Sitharaman later visited Chabua air base, where she took stock of the operational preparedness and infrastructure development at the base.
Patna: Launching a fresh attack on Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad said the Bihar chief minister had no say in his own government as he had "fallen into the trap of the BJP".

Addressing the party's state executive meeting, Lalu took a dig at the Janata Dal (United) chief's efforts in maintaining a clean image and his move of leaving the 'Grand Alliance' to join the NDA earlier this year.

"Chhavi Kumar's image has taken a beating. He has sold out his principles. Now, he has fallen into the trap of the BJP. 'Palturam' now has no say in his own government and he does not have a way out," he said.

Prasad added that he had been apprehensive about naming Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate of the 'Grand Alliance' during the 2015 state Assembly election. "Nevertheless, I decided to take the risk as we had to stop the BJP. I got his candidature announced by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was the senior-most among us. But Nitish ditched us," he alleged.

Reacting to the alleged corruption cases, in which he and his family members have been embroiled, Prasad said, "Nitish and the BJP may keep hatching conspiracies. But they will not be able to harm Lalu and his family."

He also alleged that the members of the ruling JD(U)-BJP combine in the state were "involved in massive corruption".

Former Bihar deputy chief minister and Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav, who was also present at the meeting, attacked Nitish over the recent hooch tragedy in Rohtas district. "His (Kumar's) policy seems to be  let people die and then wash the hands off with a compensation of Rs 4 lakh," he said.

Four people had died on 27 October after consuming spurious liquor in Danwar village of Rohtas district.

The erstwhile Grand Alliance government in Bihar, comprising the RJD, JD(U) and Congress, had imposed a complete ban on sale, manufacture and consumption of liquor in the state in April 2016.
Three militants were gunned down in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday in an encounter in which an army jawan was also killed, officials said. Three militants have been killed and the firing has stopped, army officials have said.

According to the police, the jawan, identified as Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed during the encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in the Kandi belt of Aglar area in Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

A civilian suffered injuries in the crossfire, they said. Identified as Tariq Ahmad, the civilian sustained a bullet injury during simultaneous clashes between protesting civilians and the security forces near the encounter site. The protesters were trying to disrupt the operation against the holed up militants.

Police said the injured civilian was shifted to hospital and reinforcements have been rushed to the area to augment the strength of the security forces engaged in the gunfight.

ANI reported that two AK-47s and one pistol was recovered from the terrorists.

#UPDATE Pulwama Encounter (J&K): Two AK-47 and one pistol recovered from three killed terrorists. Encounter over.  ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017

#UPDATE Pulwama Encounter: Killed terrorists were also involved in yesterday's attack on police party in which a policeman had lost his life  ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kandi belt following information about the presence of some militants. The search operation led to a gunbattle after the militants fired at the security forces, they said. Following special intelligence inputs troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded Aglar village on Monday evening.

"The firing has stopped and the search operation is continuing," an army official said.

As the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, they were fired at, triggering the gunfight which was on till the last reports, police added. Meanwhile, Internet facility in Pulwama district has been suspended to check the spread of rumours in the area.

On 2 November, two army soldiers were killed and a CRPF jawan suffered was injured in an encounter with militants at Samboora in Pampore area of Pulwama. The encounter ended with the gunning down of a militant.

With inputs from agencies
Major General BS Raju, the general officer commanding (GOC) of the Victor Force which oversees the Indian Army's operations in south Kashmir, said on Tuesday that militants had floated an M4 carbine rifle and published pictures on social media as against the traditional AK47 in order to glamourise the militancy and to attract more youth towards the insurgency in the Kashmir Valley.

Raju told Firstpost that any new weapon procured by the militants from Pakistan would require a certain amount of training. But the forces have reason to believe that newer the weapon, easier they are to handle, even for newly recruited militants.

On Monday evening, security forces killed three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants in an encounter in Aglar village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. The militants were identified as Talha Rasheed, Muhammad Bhai, divisional commander and resident of Pakistan, and Waseem Ahmad, a resident of Drubgam village in Pulwama district.

Lance Naik Vikram Paul Singh was also killed during the gunfight, while a civilian suffered a bullet injury. After the encounter ended, the forces recovered a US-made M4 carbine rifle and a Russia-made AK74 rifle from the militants.

It came just a few days after a photograph of a militant carrying an M4 carbine rifle had gone viral on social media in Kashmir. The gun, which is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, is an American rifle, a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. The gun has a 370-mm barrel and a telescoping stock.

"The US-made M4 carbine is used by a lot of armies part of NATO. It's also used by the Pakistan Army's special forces," said Raju.

He, however, added that that militants have been facing a shortage of weapons, and of the 114 active militants in south Kashmir, more than 50 who have joined in the last six to seven months are carrying just a pistol. "We have reason to believe that this weapon was given by Pakistan Army to JeM cadre, and that there are five to ten such M4 carbine rifles. They have been carried by militants who recently infiltrated from Pakistan," Raja said.

One of the three militants killed in the encounter was Talha Rasheed, nephew of JeM founder Masood Azhar. Azhar, a fiery orator, was released from Jammu's Kot Balwal jail in January 2000 in exchange for passengers of the hijacked IC-814 Indian Airlines plane. Azhar was arrested in Srinagar in 1994 on charges of terrorism.

Rasheed, Masood Azhar's nephew, had infiltrated to the Kashmir Valley earlier this year, and according to JeM spokesperson Hassan Shah, was killed with two other militants on Monday.

Although Raju said that the new weapons used by the militants don't materially alter the dynamics of militancy in Kashmir, he added it's psychological warfare used by the militants to target the forces and to recruit more youth.

"There are around 5-10 such weapons in the Valley," Raju said, adding that the weapons were easy to carry. He added that though infiltration has come down in recent years, nobody can say that it has entirely been eliminated. "It's like any other weapon; it's not difficult to carry, and is just 10 cementres longer than the AK47," he said.

He added that there are around 114 active militants in south Kashmir, even though around 80-85 militants have been killed since the beginning of this year, the highest in a decade. A majority of them have joined the militancy after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed in July last year.

He said the recruitment process is still on  but while it keeps fluctuating from month to month, it has come down from 15 recruits a month during July-August to about 8-9 a month currently.

"The entry of more foreign militants is a cause of concern, but the task of security forces is to create a situation whereby the administration and state governments can function together. I think we have been able to achieve that substantially," he said, referring to a massive offensive launched by the forces in south Kashmir.

Regarding the militants' claims that the security forces harass them and ransack their houses in south Kashmir, Raju said that allegations will continue because the militants are trying to show the security forces in a poor light. "But there are orders on this subject. There are very clear instructions that determine how we carry out our operations. We take harsher measures only when militants fire at us or when stone pelters try to scuttle our operations," Raju added.
Phagwara: Tension gripped the Lovely Professional University (LPU) campus and its surrounding areas in Phagwara after the students allegedly went on a rampage following the arrest of one of their fellow students from the campus on Sunday night for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, officials said on Monday.

The students pelted stones at the police, damaged a police vehicle and set a car on fire, the police said, adding that they also staged a dharna, blocking National Highway-1 for hours.

The students were protesting the arrest of Sandesh Kumar, on a complaint lodged at the Jalandhar Bus Stand police post.

The complainant had accused Kumar of stealing his mobile and demanding Rs 30,000 for returning it.

The situation flared up when the police went inside a hostel.

The students gathered on the campus and pelted stones and earthen pots at the men in uniform, the police said.

Senior police officers, including Deputy Inspector General (Jalandhar Range) Jaskaran Singh and Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandip Kumar Sharma, took stock of the situation today.

There was a heavy police presence in and around the LPU campus.

Sharma said the situation was under control and that the matter had been resolved.
An Iranian couple's holiday to Bali ended temporarily in India when a woman forced the Doha-Bali flight of Qatar Airways to make an unscheduled landing at the Chennai airport.

According to The Financial Times, the woman had unlocked her husbands phone by putting his finger on its scanner, after which she realised that he was cheating on her.

She later started misbehaving with the crew members who tried to calm her down, the report added.

According to Times of India, the uproar compelled the pilots to land the plane mid-way in Chennai. Qatar Airways' Doha-Bali nonstop flight is almost 10 hours long while Chennai is midway. The couple was offloaded at the airport.

The family spent the day at Chennai airport and was sent to Kuala Lumpur by a Batik Air flight. No police action was taken, Hindustan Times reported.

The airline in its statement did not comment on the matter, stating the actions were taken with respect towards passenger safety, India Today reported.

This incident comes a week after a Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight was diverted to the airport in Ahmedabad after a note was found on board threatening the presence of hijackers and explosives on the aircraft. The person responsible for the 'letter' has been detained by the city police.

Inspection by the bomb disposal squad found no explosive in the plane and the note turned out to be a hoax. The note, allegedly placed by Mumbai-based Gujarati jeweller Birju Salla, demanded that the pilot not land at Delhi and instead should fly the aircraft to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), stating that there were 12 hijackers and a bomb in the cargo area.
Kota: Health service in four districts of Rajasthan was affected as around 640 government doctors in Kota, Bundi, Baran and Jhalawar districts went on strike on Monday over their various demands.

Patients in district hospitals, community and primary health centres in rural areas had to be shifted to private hospitals due to the strike.

However, doctors at Kota and Jhalawar medical colleges stayed away from the strike.

Health department officials said that 31 doctors from Kota medical college have been sent to hospitals in Baran, Bundi and Rampura, while AYUSH doctors are providing healthcare services to the patients at community and primary health centres.

Around 250 doctors, including 43 from Baran district headquarters have gone on strike, CMHO Baran Brajesh Goyal said.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of All Rajasthan In Service Doctors Association Dr Durga Shankar Saini said they were forced to go on strike as the state government did not pay heed to their 33-point demand.

These demands are not in the interest of the doctors but for improvement of medical and healthcare facilities that would eventually be beneficial for the patients, Dr Saini claimed.

Representatives of the association have held nine rounds of talks with the state government so far, but of no avail. The doctors are ready to call off the strike if the state government gives a written assurance that their demands would be met, he said.
New Delhi: The position of Delhi is different from other states and the elected government is under an obligation to apprise the Lieutenant Governor about policy decisions, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

While hearing pleas on who enjoyed supremacy in governing the national capital, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra referred to provisions of the Constitution, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules and said there was "some kind of wall" which distinguished Delhi from others.

"Unlike other states, if you (Delhi government) take a policy decision, then you have to intimate the Lieutenant Governor (LG). You are bound to intimate the Lieutenant Governor , but you cannot say that the Lieutenant Governor has to concur. This is the range," the bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said.

On the issue of concurrence, the top court said there was no need for "fundamental concurrence" of Lieutenant Governor in every aspect and there should be "real good reason" in case of difference of opinion over the decision of government.

It said a balance needed to be maintained between the powers of the Lieutenant Governor and the chief minister and the council of ministers. Every file is not required to be placed before the Lieutenant Governor , but only those which are mentioned in the Transaction of Business rules.

The bench, during the day-long hearing, also referred to provision 23 of the Transaction of Business rules and said in certain cases like in matters of peace and tranquility of the capital, the issue "shall essentially be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor through the chief secretary and the chief minister before issuing any orders thereon".

Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, arguing for AAP government, said "as a responsible government, we cannot contest it".

He, however, said the constitutional schemes be given the widest interpretation and they cannot be interpreted to defeat what is intrinsic to the Preamble.

On the issue of mandatory "aid and advice" of the council of ministers to the Lieutenant Governor , the senior lawyer said it was "not a permission to interfere".

Referring to Article 239AA which deals with Delhi, he said supremacy of Parliament on law-making was not being questioned, but theory of separation of powers was also a key to participatory democracy, which has to be considered.

The court said in case of difference of opinion with regard to a law made by Delhi Assembly, the Lieutenant Governor has the power to refer it to the President for a decision and sub-article 4 of Article 239AA provides that pending decision, the Lieutenant Governor can pass an interim order if necessary.

The counsel for Delhi government said the elected government has powers to undertake executive functions.

"It is not permissible that the Lieutenant Governor use residuary powers to take primacy and, moreover, the overriding powers cannot be vested with the Lieutenant Governor ," Subramanium said.

As far as legislative powers of Delhi are concerned there was no issue with regard to supremacy of Parliament which can make laws on subjects specified in state and the concurrent list of the Constitution, the bench said.

Subramanium alleged that the Lieutenant Governor demands files and issues directive to all officers to follow his instructions, rather than those of the elected chief minister.

"Then what is the purpose of having a chief minister? You can't have two executive dice for ruling one state," he said. The bench observed that constitutional provisions suggest that the Lieutenant Governor has power in all such subjects which are not in the purview of state legislature.

"There cannot be problem with this but there cannot be a scheme of things to circumvent everything. Proviso provides for harmonisation of powers to enable governance by democratically elected government," Subramanium said.

He said the Lieutenant Governor calls for files and overrides decisions of the government without informing the minister of the concerned department. "There is need to act in harmony not to circumvent the decision of government," he added.

To this, the bench said it was never contemplated by the Constitution makers that one man's concurrence was needed for every aspect though over-riding powers were given to Lieutenant Governor.

Subramnium asked in matters relating purely to welfare measures like opening of primary health centres or a school or a night shelter, does the government need the Lieutenant Governor 's concurrence.

"IAS-IPS officers are from All India Services. Does that mean they won't listen to the chief minister and council of ministers," he said, adding transfer orders are passed by Lieutenant Governor.

"Cabinet does not need concurrence of Lieutenant Governor every time. Power to call for any file by Lieutenant Governor is residuary and needs to be exercised in exceptional cases," he said.

He cited the 2001 Parliament attack case and said if the action of Delhi government endangered an institution of national importance, then in such case the Lieutenant Governor can take a call.

The arguments remained inconclusive and the senior advocate will resume them on Wednesday.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday that Beijing is willing to join Berlin in promoting bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

Li made the remarks in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two heads of government spoke highly of the new progress the two sides have achieved over the past year in bilateral ties and cooperation.

Li said China would like to maintain high-level exchanges with the German side, and ensure the new round of China-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultation a success, stress pragmatism in planning so as to promote bilateral cooperation to a deeper, broader and higher level.

Beijing welcomes businesses of all nations, including those from Germany, to expand their investment in China, Li said.
After Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew Talha Rashid was gunned down in an encounter at Pulwama on Tuesday, the security forces slammed Pakistan for abetting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, IG, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Munir Khan along with the representatives of the Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said that the recovery of a M4 rifle, besides two AK-47 rifles, from the encounter site highlighted the link between the Pakistan Army and the JeM.

M4 carbine rifle is a premier rifle used by NATO and by the militaries of country close to the US. The Pakistan Army is a major user of the weapon.

"As far as the M4 weapon is concerned, we will investigate how it came into the hands of these militants," Khan said.

But Khan reiterated that recovery of an M4 carbine should not be a cause for worry since it is a difficult weapon to maintain and difficult to hide, adding that that only one of them have been seized so far.

"AK 47 is still the mainstream weapon. It is adaptive, flexible and the mainstay of most armies," said Indian Army Major General BS Raju.

#Correction: The weapon seized in #PulwamaEncounter is M4 Carbine says Major General BS Raju, Victor Force. pic.twitter.com/7R6PzJfXqc  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Appreciating the joint effort in killing Talha, Khan also said that it is for the first time that Jaish has accepted that one of those killed is a Pakistani citizen.

First time they owned a Pak terrorist, that he is nephew of Masood Azhar. We'll ask them to collect body because they owned it: IGP Kashmir pic.twitter.com/R1LF3hOeLE  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

On being asked whether they will request Pakistan to take back the body, Khan said, "Pakistan will decide whether to take the body back. We will make a request." Raju asked the Kashmir youth to stop pelting stones and co-operate with the authorities.

"They should not get involved in such illegal activities. This will only harm civilians," Raju said.

On the question of continuing militancy in the state, Khan said, "We are not saying that militancy is reducing. Hamare Kashmir ke youth ko daldal me daalna aasan hai (It is easy to draw Kashmiri youth to the quicksand of militancy). They should stop it."

The top cop also added that the security forces were trying to reduce radicalisation in the Valley.

Along with Azhar's nephew, a joint operation between the police, CRPF and the Indian Army also killed two other militants in Pulwama, which included another Pakistan national. An Indian Army jawan was also killed.

Azhar, the founder of Jaish, was one of the three militants released by the Centre in exchange of passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu in 1999

Army chief General Bipin Rawat reacts to Pulwama encounter

Reiterating that the recovery of M4 carbines pointed out Pakistan's involvement in terrorism, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat said, "It doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else, we aim at neutralise all terrorists no matter where they belong to."

This makes it clear that terrorists are getting support from across the border: Army Chief on recovery of M4 rifle from #PulwamaEncounter pic.twitter.com/8jbiCD5Rqj  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017
New Delhi: Two English television channels on Monday reported that four months after the UPA came to power in 2004, Sonia Gandhi wrote to the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram on a petition by financiers of Tehelka news portal that had conducted a sting operation on a fake defence deal that cost late Bangaru Laxman his job as BJP President and got him convicted.

She called the treatment to Tehelka financiers by revenue enforcement agencies 'unjust and unfair' and reportedly asked Chidambaram to resolve the Tehelka matter 'on priority'

In the two letters written in September 2004, the Congress President asked Chidambaram to look into a presentation made to her by the Director of First Global, the main investors in Tehelka.com "on priority", the channels said.

Reacting to the story, Chidambaram said he has been shown a copy of a letter written by Gandhi forwarding a letter from First Global.

"My noting on the letter is correct. I am certain that, on behalf of the ministry, I would have sent a reply based on the material put up to me. The letter of Mrs. Gandhi and my reply should be read together. I suggest that the media may ask the government to release the reply to the letter," Chidambaram said.
Seven years after the 2G spectrum scam came under the public spotlight, a special court will announce the date of verdict in three cases linked to, what the Time magazine called, the biggest corruption scandal in India's history.

The cases, which have former telecom minister A Raja, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and several industrialists as prime accused, will be heard by special judge OP Saini.

Ahead of the hearing, we chronicle and demystify all that happened ever since the scam was unearthed in 2010.

What is the 2G scam all about?

On 10 November 2010, the Comprotoller and Auditor General of India, headed by Vinod Rai, submitted a report detailing the allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom companies.

2G spectrum is second generation telecommunication technology, which allows users to utilise a range of radio-waves to send SMS, email and internet services.

Rai claimed irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum had caused a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crores to the exchaquer.

Sources in the know said that the CAG accused the Telecom Ministry for undervaluing 2G spectrum, sold to new players in 2008, and held that the allotment price was not realistic,  The Economic Times quoted PTI as saying.

The report blamed Raja for taking arbitrary decision while allocating the spectrum.

Nine firms were issued licences, bundled with start-up of 2G spectrum, in January 2008 at Rs 1,658 crore for pan-India operations.

However, the CAG report said the price at which the spectrum was alloted in 2008 was based on 2001 prices, which was quite low and has resulted in a loss to the government exchequer.

What are the allegations?

Raja is accused of tweaking the rules and eligibility criteria for select companies several times in the run-up to auction. Not only that, but the telecom ministry also advanced the cut-off dates for giving the Letter of Intent (LoI).

According to CBI, this led to 2G spectrum being granted to "ineligible" companies like Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.

News18 reported that the telecom ministry issued licenses on a First Come First Served (FCFS) Policy but at 2001 prices, and not at 2008 prices. Officials at the ministry, led by then telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, allegedly shut counters to physically block few telecom companies from entering the fray.

The CAG report had already alleged that Raja acted against the advice of TRAI, Law Ministry, Finance Ministry in tweaking rules and regulations.

According to the CBI and Enforcement Directorate, Raja is accused to accepting bribes worth Rs 3,000 crores for advancing the cut-off date for 2G spectrum bidding from October to September 2007.

What is the Kalaignar TV angle?

Kalaignar TV is DMK official TV channel in Tamil Nadu, which began operations in late 2007. Raja is accused of getting Shahid Balwas Swan Telecom invest Rs 200 crores in the Kaliagnar TV Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal  wife of M Karunanidhi and another accused.

Calling it money laundering, the ED told the special court in 2015 that in lieu of the investment made in the channel, Swan Telecom got the licenses. Swan Telecom is accused by the ED to have been a front company of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK supremo Karunanidhi, is alleged to have been in touch with Raja in the run-up to the channels launch.

Other accused in the case

Unitech chief Sanjay Chandra and DB Realty founder Vinod Goenka were chargesheeted for cheating and conspiracy. Three senior executives of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara. Behura, and Raja's Personal Secretary RK Chandolia.

Varying estimates of loss

According to the CBI, Rajas interference in the bidding system led to the spectrum licenses being sold at throw away prices. According to the premier investigative agency, the decision to sell the licenses at 2001 prices led to the telecom ministry earning only Rs 40-50 thousand crores.

In CBIs March 2011 chargesheet, the total loss was pegged at Rs 30,000 crores even though then director AP Singh claimed that the agency had not calculated the total loss.

The TRAI on the other hand, claimed that it was impossible to calculate the total loss to the exchequer as the auction was done on first come first serve basis.

The criminal case so far

While the case hit national headlines only 2010, murmurs of financial irregularities began in way back in 2009, when the Central Vigilance Commission directed CBI to investigate the matter.

In October 2009, the CBI filed a FIR against unknown persons in the Department of Telecom but the tardy probe was slammed by the Supreme Court.

Raja and Balwa were arrested and sent to Tihar Jail on 17 and 18 February 2011. On 14 March that year, the Delhi High Court set up a special court to deal exclusively with 2G cases.

The CBI filed two chargesheets in 2011: one naming Raja and other top corporate honchos, and another which named Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal. A third chargesheet was filed in December that year, which named some more corporate officials.

The trial in the case began in November 2011, but many of the accused including Balwa were let out on bail.

In October 2014, the special court framed charges in the case.

On 19 April, 2017, the court concluded the arguments in the case. Six months later, Special Judge Saini adjourned the date of announcing verdict to 7 November.

The three cases that will be heard on Tuesday pertains to alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering by Raja, Kanimozhi and others. Such an offence entails punishment ranging from six months in jail to life imprisonment.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested creation of a mechanism where undertrial prisoners are informed about the status of their appeals against conviction in the high court or the apex court within a week.

The top court said that a para-legal volunteer of State Legal Service Authority (SLSA) can visit the prisoner in jail and inform him about the status of his case.

A bench of Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao observed that many a time, an undertrial prisoner does not get to know what has happened to their case.

"In that case, there should be a mechanism in which a para-legal volunteer of SLSA can maintain a register, if not a computer, and inform the prisoner in jail about the case within a week's time. He should also be informed what are his other legal remedies and how it can be availed," it said.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on 12 December and appointed senior advocates R Basant and Sidharth Luthra as amicus curiae in the case to assist it in the matter.

It directed the notices to be served to all the states and Union Territories and sought their responses.

On 30 March, in a step aimed at improving the criminal justice system, the apex court had asked all the states and high courts to come up with suggestions to arrive at a general consensus on the need to amend criminal manuals to bring about "uniform best practices" across the country.

The top court had decided to take up the matter on its own while hearing a criminal appeal in a case in Kerala.

It had issued notices to registrar general of all the high courts apart from the chief secretaries/the administrators of all the states/Union Territories, to arrive at a general consensus on the need to amend the rules of practice/criminal manuals to bring about uniform best practices across the country.

It had said that though there were beneficial provisions in the rules of some high courts which ensure that documents like list of witnesses and list of exhibits referred to, are annexed to the judgment and order of the trial court, "these features do not exist in rules of some other high courts".

The bench had said that the court "may consider issue of certain general guidelines to be followed across the board by all criminal courts in the country".

The apex court had flagged some deficiencies like "pernicious practice of the trial judge leaving the recording of deposition to the clerk concerned.

"Recording of evidence goes on in more than one case in the same courtroom, at the same time, under the presence and general supervision of the presiding officer which has to be disapproved strongly and discontinued forthwith."
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday called on Belgium's King Phillipe in New Delhi and discussed bilateral relations.

"External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj call on his majesty, the King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde arrived here on Sunday on a week-long state visit to India.

This is the royal couple's first visit to India since King Phillipe's ascension to the throne in 2013.

Later on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Belgian King.

President Ram Nath Kovind will hold a meeting with the King and Queen while Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will also call on the royal couple.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are being accompanied by six ministers and a high-powered business delegation comprising CEOs of nearly 90 Belgian companies, and over a dozen chiefs of academic institutions.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside the European Union (EU).

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to $13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for $5.65 billion while imports from Belgium accounted for $6.62 billion.

Diamond trade overwhelmingly dominates Indo-Belgian commerce and trade in gems and jewellery constitutes over 75 percent of the bilateral trade, with diamonds making up more than 80 percent of Belgian exports and more than 40 per cent of Belgian imports from India.

Belgium's cumulative investments in India are at over $1.01 billion for the period April 2000-June 2017.

The Indian diaspora in Belgium numbers around 18,000, according to Belgian government estimates. Of this nearly 10,000 are Indian citizens. Around 1,500 Indian IT professionals work for Belgian companies along with around 800 Indian students in various universities.

Modi visited Belgium in March 2016 at the invitation of his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel.

This is the third state visit to India by the Belgian royalty, the earlier ones happening in 1970 and 2008.

A Belgian King visits a country only once in the course of his reign.
Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India launched the second edition of its campaign against liquor stores in Delhi on a spirited note on 5 November, by referring to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as "Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal" and "Bikram Singh Majithia" respectively.

Swaraj India alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has made Delhi "an illegal liquor den".

The reference was obviously to the drug menace that had gripped the state of Punjab purportedly under the tenure of the previous Shiromani Akali Dal government in the state.

By launching the second phase of the campaign, Swaraj India wanted to highlight how the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi forgot its own promise of "nasha-mukt Dilli". Ahead of Delhi Assembly election, the AAP in its 70-point election manifesto had promised to make Delhi free of addictions.

The campaign is quite similar to the one Swaraj India had launched in 2016. The difference is that while the first campaign was against misgovernance on the issuance of liquor licences by the Delhi government, the latest one is related to "exposing a scam" related to alleged manipulation of regulations related to granting of the liquor licence.

The campaign began on Sunday with a large number of Swaraj India volunteers and local residents led by the partys Delhi president Anupam staging a demonstration in front of the Cross River Mall at Karkarduma in East Delhi, demanding immediate closing of licensed liquor stores situated at the mall premises.

"Last year, we launched a campaign against the opening of liquor stores in residential colonies without the permission of the local residents. The Kejriwal government had issued 399 licences to open liquor shops in Delhi. But, this time our campaign is against violating the regulations and granting licences under L-10 category of the Excise Act. Its a matter of cross violation. The Delhi government is illegally distributing L-10 category liquor licences enabling dealers to open stores in shopping malls of the city, without following the norms of malls," Anupam told Firstpost.

Violation of Excise Departments regulations

According to Swaraj India, the Delhi government has violated three important rules laid down by the Excise Department while granting L-10 licences:

A shopping mall may be defined as a centrally air-conditioned place, where a number of shops are located in a building or a set of buildings with inter-connecting walkwayswith common passage area for buyers/visitors.

Definition of shops operating from within a mall is clearly stated in the law and the rule mandates that all shops operating from within a mall should open up within the building only and cannot have an entrance towards the exterior side of the mall.

No L-10 stores should be located within 100 meters of educational institutions, religious places, and hospitals with 50 beds and above.

Allegations of a scam

According to Swaraj India, Delhis Excise department offers 32 types of liquor licences. The L-10 category licence enables a dealer to open a liquor shop inside a shopping mall. As per the law, in any shopping mall, all the shops need to be inside the mall premises, and the mall has a common entrance and exit for all the shops or showrooms inside it.

But the Delhi government and the mall management have created these liquor shops against the approved map of the mall. The liquor shops have the openings outside the mall and anyone can buy liquor without even entering the mall, like in the case of a roadside liquor shop. Not a single objection has been raised or action has been taken by the Excise Department officials against these stores for blatantly violating the rules. One can imagine the amount of money exchanging hands in the process, Anupam alleged.

The Cross River Mall is just one example, where several liquor stores have become operational. According to Swaraj India, across Delhi, similar illegal liquor stores are operational in several shopping malls, and for which the Delhi government has given L-10 license by twisting the rules and norms.

The local residents alleged that the mall has apparently turned into a liquor den, making visits to the mall disturbing for families.

"Due to the liquor stores, the area outside the mall has turned into a public nuisance. The nearby residents have complained to us that this area has turned into a place for anti-social elements. Daily, there are incidents of squabbles, hooliganism, eve-teasing, chain snatching, etc, whereas the government and police are mute spectators. Kejriwal has become the Badal of Delhi with Sisodia as another Bikram Majithia," alleged Sarvesh Verma, president, Swaraj India Mahila Morcha.

First campaign against liquor stores

Swaraj India started its first campaign in the national capital in August 2016, demanding the closure of liquor shops in residential areas after people from various parts of Delhi raised voice against it. The party that emerged out of AAP  first as a splinter group Swaraj Abhiyan  began public hearings in various localities.

"These liquor stores were becoming a public nuisance and unsafe for women and children. A party (AAP) that came to power with a promise of 'nasha-mukt Dilli' (addiction-free Delhi), after forming the government, granted 399 licenses in 371 working days, which is unfortunate. Our campaign led by Yadav and Prashant Bhushan resulted in the closure of some of these stores. Keeping Punjab Assembly election in mind, it had compelled Kejriwal to announce that Delhi government wont grant any further licences in Delhi," said Swaraj Indias spokesperson Ashutosh Mishra.

Swaraj India demanded the government to make its excise policy public. In December 2016, a detailed suggestion on the excise policy for Delhi targetting a gradual move towards minimising alcohol consumption was sent to the Delhi government. Unfortunately, the AAP government has not responded on its new excise policy. Its still in waiting, he added.

What does the Excise Department say?

"Licence to every liquor shop in Delhi was granted as per the rules set by the government and no violation has taken place. The L-10 licences were given as per the terms and conditions laid down by the department. No illegal (without proper licence) shops are operating in the city, an Excise Department official told Firstpost.

Next course of action

"Most surprising part is that despite the fact that the liquor stores at Cross River Mall are situated just opposite to a Ram temple which is in clear dereliction of terms and conditions laid down by the excise department the local corporator, the local MLA and the MP  all of whom are from BJP  didnt raise any objection to it. The scam is going on in collusion of AAP and BJP, claimed Anupam.

The party has demanded that the Delhi government should put a check on the scam, initiate an inquiry and punish the culprits.

Like in the past, well convert this campaign into a movement to put an end to all such liquor stores and ensure that Delhi doesnt turn into a liquor capital, added Anupam.
Amid the frayed relationship between the Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and spokesperson Sanjay Raut recently approached him to seek his advice on the state of politics in Maharashtra.

"Uddhav Thackeray met me at my Mumbai residence ten days ago," Pawar told reporters on Tuesday at Chintan Shivir, a two-day event organised by NCP in Karjat.

Pawar said that Thackeray reached out to him to seek advice against the backdrop of a saffron surge in Maharashtra Assembly.

He told reporters that he told the Shiv Sena chief to take a call on their alliance, after which Pawar would also take a decision on behalf of his party.

Pawar confirmed that his party would not align with either Shiv Sena or BJP in the state. With this statement, the NCP chief dropped hint of a possible alliance with Congress for the 2019 Assembly election.

Sources close to Pawar told Firstpost that Thackeray is ratcheting up his anti-BJP activities by meeting with those who are antagonistic towards the party.

The Shiv Sena leader had recently also met Mamata Banejee, which the party dubbed as a 'courtesy call' and rubbished suggestions that the meeting had any political agenda.

Sena has been increasingly vocal about their criticism of its ally in power at the state. Last week, it released a booklet titled Ghotalebaaz BJP (Scamster BJP), which listed all the scams that have reportedly taken place under the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On Monday, NCP leader Praful Patel had asserted at the same event that NCP would not join hands with BJP, even if the Shiv Sena walked out.

Patel, a close confidant of Pawar, also said the NCP chief could become prime minister in 2019.
Ahmedabad: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday inaugurated the party's six-day 'Gujarat Gaurav Maha-Sampark Abhiyan' ahead of the next month's Assembly polls by knocking on voters' doors with a message of development.

Through the door-to-door campaign, the ruling party, which is yet to declare candidates for the upcoming elections, plans to reach out to voters under 50,000-odd booths in the state.

Shah launched the campaign from Naranpura constituency, from where he was an MLA earlier, after offering prayers at the Goddess Ambaji Temple on Sola road area.

He visited around ten residential societies, including Parasnagar, as part of the campaign.

Amid beating of drums, the Rajya Sabha member, along with a large number of BJP workers interacted with residents, went inside some houses, asked about their well-being and requested them to vote for the BJP in the coming elections.

The people were seen welcoming the BJP chief, who was their MLA since 1998 but had resigned from the post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha a few months back.

Shah along with other party workers distributed copies of a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to voters in every house where they campaigned.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, former chief minister Anandiben Patel and other BJP leaders also launched the door-to-door campaign from different parts of the state.

Rupani campaigned in Gandhigram area of his Rajkot-2 constituency, while Patel campaigned in her Gathlodia constituency of Ahmedabad city.

The party's senior leaders as well as booth-level workers interacted with voters under various booths across the state.

The exercise is aimed at telling people about what the BJP has done for the state's development.

The polling for the two-phase elections in the state will take place on 9 and 14 December and votes will be counted on 18 December.

Several Union ministers - Smriti Irani, JP Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, VK Singh, Mansukh Mandaviya and Prakash Javadekar - would also visit Gujarat during the drive and interact with voters at their designated places, Gujarat BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja on Monday said.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders are likely to meet the Patidar quota agitation spearhead, Hardik Patel, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday to discuss modalities of providing reservation to the community, a precondition set by the young leader for supporting the party in the coming Assembly polls.

According to Congress sources, former Union minister Kapil Sibal will lead the Congress team.

The Congress is trying to woo all those disgruntled with the BJP government to stitch an alliance in its bid to oust the saffron outfit from power in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The Patidars have been demanding that the Congress make its stand clear on how it plans to provide reservation to them without crossing the 50 percent upper limit on quota fixed by the Supreme Court.

The Congress is working out the modalities of providing reservation to the Patidars under the OBC category, a condition set by 24-year-old Hardik Patel for extending his community's support to the party.

Sibal was not available for comments.

Sibal has met some Congress leaders from the state on Sunday.

Hardik Patel has said that he would support the Congress in the Assembly election due next month, only if the party committed itself to allotting quota in education and government jobs to his community under the OBC category.

He had set a deadline of 7 November for the Congress to make its stand clear on the issue.

Former Gujarat Congress chief Siddharth Patel has said that the Congress high-command was likely to take a call on the issue of reservation for Patels soon.

"We have discussed various alternatives during today's meeting (with Sibal). By tomorrow, the party high command is expected to take a call on those suggestions (about giving reservations to Patels), following which, we will engage in discussions with Hardik Patel," he said earlier.

Hardik Patel (24), the face of the quota stir, recently met Congress's Gujarat affairs in-charge Ashok Gehlot to discuss the quota demand.

The issue of OBC quota for Patels remained unresolved during a meeting between Patidar representatives and state Congress leaders on 30 October.

Trying to do a balancing act, the Congress had promised to offer reservation in jobs and education to the Patidars under the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) category, but not in the other backward class (OBC) group as demanded by the community.

The party is trying to wean away the Patidars from the ruling BJP in the state. The community is believed to be a loyal vote bank of the saffron party and its numerical strength can tilt the scales in elections.
New Delhi: Countrywide protests in the form of processions, rallies and candle-light marches are being planned by the Congress and other Opposition parties to mark the first demonetisation anniversary on Wednesday, as their leaders would observe it as "black day".

The Congress, which described the note ban decision as the "biggest scam" and "the largest government-abetted money laundering scheme", has asked all its state units to organise protests, processions and marches to mark the day.

It has also asked all its leaders to participate in such protests and "strongly" highlight the demerits of the decision, which it said is a "colossal and completely avoidable failure".

The leaders have also been asked to take out their protests with "Desh Bhugat Raha hai" and "India suffers" as the central theme for the day, besides organising press conferences and "aggressively" participating in TV debates to ensure "good publicity".

While Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will interact with traders in Surat, the hub of diamond industry in poll-bound Gujarat, other top leaders will participate in protests in Delhi and and all state capitals. Gandhi will later lead a candlelight march in Surat's Chowk Bazar area.

The Congress, on its website, also put out an article on demonetisation, dubbing it as a "Modi-Made Disaster".

"Even the undeclared emergency in India's newsrooms have failed to contain the news spreading like wildfire through India. Demonetisation was a colossal and completely avoidable failure and the largest government-abetted money laundering scheme in history," the article said.

It further alleged that demonetisation failed to curb black money as 99 percent of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were returned. This was expected as black money is not usually stored in currency, but property, bullion and more easily convertible currency like dollars.

It said note ban failed to stem terror attacks and insurgency as there were 23 more attacks in Kashmir after the announcement. It didn't tackle the counterfeit problem, given only 0.0013 per cent of the notes returned were fake.

"The truth is the prime minister expected to make a tidy profit of 4 lakh crores from dispossessing those who weren't able to exchange their notes. Instead, 21,000 crore rupees of our tax money was squandered on printing notes, while only 16,000 crores were left unclaimed," the article said.

According to the Opposition, the decision to ban currency notes of higher denomination was "totally ill-conceived" and had bad effect on the economy and the poor and downtrodden of the country have suffered most.

It said that hundreds of people died while standing in queues and thousands suffered and the impact of demonetisation has been so bad that lakhs of workers lost their jobs and thousands of small and medium scale industries have shut.

As part of the 'black day' observance, the Congress will organise processions and rallies across the country during the day while carrying placards and banners.

When the clock strikes 8 in the evening, coinciding with the prime minister's announcement last year, candle light processions in every state capital will be taken out to pay homage to those who lost their lives due to demonetisation.
Chennai: DMK on Tuesday said its working president MK Stalin will lead the protest by Congress and its allies against the NDA government's demonetisation on its first anniversary in Tamil Nadu from Madurai.

The party released a list of leaders who would preside over the protest demonstrations in different parts of the state where the functionaries are slated to attend the stir wearing black shirts.

According to the list, Stalin will lead the protest in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu while other senior leaders Durai Murugan and I Periyasamy will be heading the demonstrations at Tiruchirappalli and Dindigul, respectively.

Stalin's sister and DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi will be leading the protest in Coimbatore.

The DMK, an ally of the Congress, has earlier said it would observe 8 November, the first anniversary of demonetisation, as 'Black Day' and stage demonstrations in all district headquarters of Tamil Nadu.

The party on Monday announced deferring the protest in eight rain-affected districts, including Chennai.

According to an earlier announcement by Stalin, DMK workers wearing black shirts, would observe 8 November as "Karuppu Dhinam" (Black Day) and stage protests.

Eighteen political parties, including Congress, have decided to hold protests in every state against the NDA government's decision on note ban, saying it had "caused hardship to the people."

On 8 November, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the then high-value currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 would cease to exist.
New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh will buck the trend of having BJP and Congress governments alternately as the Congress will retain power with a clear majority, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Sushil Kumar Shinde said.

As the campaign ended today in Himachal Pradesh for the 9 November polls, Shinde voiced confidence that Chief Minister Virabhadra Singh will be ensconced in the top office for the seventh time.

He also hit out at the BJP, saying the party is showing signs of desperation, and claimed Singh's "pro-development hard work" will bear fruits for the Congress.

He claimed that the "poor show" of the BJP-led central government, particularly its decisions like demonetisation and GST, will work to the Congress' advantage.

Dismissing reports of bickering within the state Congress, Shinde said his party unit will put up a united show when the state goes to poll. He claimed it is the BJP which is plagued by factionalism.

"The state has seen power changing hands alternately every five years. But now the situation is different. There will be no anti-incumbency factor this time," Shinde told PTI.

The BJP has set itself a target of bagging 50-plus seats in the 68-member assembly. Shinde, however, refrained from specifying the number of seats the Congress is expecting to bag.

"But we are going to get a clear majority," he added.

Shinde countered the BJP's corruption charge against Congress leaders, particularly Chief Minister Singh, alleging that the saffron party is habitual of levelling such allegations.

He said nothing, however, comes out of the BJP's corruption charges when it gets propelled to power.

He said the number of rallies Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed in the state showed how "desperate" the NDA major was.

"The stunts by the BJP show they are desperate. Hence, they have been using aggressive language, attacking our leaders," he added.

In a counter to the BJP's barb that Singh "is out on bail", Shinde claimed the saffron party's chief ministerial nominee, Prem Kumar Dhumal ,"is also out on bail" in a case.

"The BJP announced his (Dhumal's) name as the chief ministerial nominee sensing they are not going to win the election.

"Naming him as the chief ministerial face has also left supporters of JP Nadda and Shanta Kumar (other senior BJP leaders from the state) disappointed. This will work in our favour," he added.

Shinde claimed demonetisation and GST have hit the poor in the state hard and that the people from its apple belt, which covers eight assembly segments, are also "disappointed" with the Modi government. Himachal Pradesh is one of the key apple-producing state.

"The prime minister had given an assurance on imposition of import duty on apple. But apple from outside is coming for sale in the markets here. This will have a bearing on the voting in the region," he added.
Tamil actor Kamal Haasan is all set to take the plunge into politics. The actor on Sunday had announced that the first step will be the launch of a mobile software app on 7 November  his 63rd birthday  that will enable him to be in touch with the fans and as well as enable book-keeping.

At a function to mark the 39th anniversary of his fan/welfare club, Haasan said his political plunge by starting a political party is confirmed. Haasan said the political party launch will happen in a calm manner and the launch of mobile app is the first step on 7 November.

However, late on Monday, Haasan posted a tweet saying he was cancelling his birthday celebrations.

To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations pic.twitter.com/hkSPJj97C9  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 6, 2017

He said it was "in pursuit of a cause". As IANS reported, Haasan will visit a medical camp and rain-affected areas. "He will be visiting a medical camp, which is set up by Narpani Iyakkam (Welfare Movement) at Annapoorna Marriage Hall, CTH Road...and rain-affected area at Naryanapuram, S Kolathur Road, Pallikaranai, next to Balaji Dental College," said the actor's spokesperson.

The actor held back on the details of when he would launch his own party but said the application would be the first step in his political journey.

"This will be the first step. I'm confident that you will contribute funds to me generously as you have in the past for our welfare activities," PTI had quoted Haasan as saying on Sunday at Kelambakkam to celebrate the 39th anniversary of his welfare association Kamal Haasan Narpani Iyakkam.

The mobile app, he said, will track all financial transactions.

Haasan, who is now 63, had said he will not deposit the money raised in Swiss banks but will bring back cash stashed in them.

"Everyone is saying that the name of the political party will be revealed on my birthday, 7 November. But how can I name a child without giving birth to it first?" he had said.

"I'm not waiting for anyone's order right now. I'm preparing. I take a minimum of three months to prepare for just a movie role. So I'm not in a hurry," Haasan had told the gathering.

Haasan had earlier caused outrage in political circles with his recent remark that "right- wing groups can not deny existence of Hindu terrorism".

In fact, a court on 4 November had fixed 22 November for hearing a complaing against him over this matter.

The complaint has accused Haasan of hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus by making the "inflammatory and derogatory remark of Hindu terrorism". It has sought a directive asking the actor to refrain from making such a remark, given the public following he has.

With inputs from agencies
Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has accused the Congress of having a hand in the Tehelka sting 'Operation West End', which led to the defence minister George Fernandes' resignation and that when UPA was in power, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked then finance minister P Chidambaram to ensure that Tehelka's alleged financiers are not treated in an "unfair" or "unjust" manner.

Jaitly has made these claims in her upcoming autobiography Life among the Scorpions: Memoirs of a Woman in Indian Politics, which is due to be released on Tuesday.

Informed sources have confirmed that Jaitly has presented a copy of the letter in the book. It also has a copy of a two-page letter from First Global, the alleged financiers of Tehelka, petitioning Sonia Gandhi, the then chairperson of National Advisory Council.

In the autobiography published by Rupa, Jaitly also recalls that when Fernandes insisted on resigning, then Union ministers LK Advani and Jaswant Singh advised against it. Soon after, Jaswant Singh brought the prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's message to the defence minister, accepting his resignation.

"George Fernandes was only too eager to oblige," she says. However, Jaitly was miffed that she had also been asked to resign as Samata Party chief by Vajpayee, while she had made her stand clear in her own party that she had done nothing wrong and would not resign.

She also claims that the Congress, which was then in Opposition, was the ultimate beneficiary of the sting by Tehelka, which allegedly received hawala funds.

Jaitly also recounts her experiences during the investigations under the Commission of Inquiry, instituted after the Tehelka sting. When the matter was suddenly and arbitrarily sent to a court, she says she feared that the judge, who convicted former BJP president Bangaru Laxman of bribery and was hearing her case too, would eventually convict her irrespective of her arguments.

In the book, Jaitly further recollects her meeting with alleged arms middleman Christian Michel, and how he bragged about helping prime minister PV Narasimha Rao to spy on Sonia Gandhi and then went on to offer her an opportunity to make a "huge pile of money" for her party.

In the context of her revelations on how defence deals are done in India, Jaitly mentions a meeting with an unnamed senior Congressman where he informed her that people were willing to pay "twenty lakh rupees to have a cup of tea" with her. When she asked him why he explained that "it cuts the competition".

This, according to the book, was during the first NDA government and Fernandes the defence minister.

Jaitly also claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat, was in constant touch with then Fernandes during the Gujarat riots of 2002. According to her account, Fernandes was at Vajpayee's residence when they received a fax from Modi, "asking for the army to be sent urgently to Ahmedabad to quell the violence". Fernandes, she mentions, stayed at Raksha Bhavan for most of the night and early the next morning was in Ahmedabad.

"I know for a fact that Narendra Modi was in constant touch with the Defence Minister and even supported and cooperated when he later organised a citizen's peace march of 7,000 people, including Muslims, through the city. I too was present. Modi addressed the marchers at the end of its journey, thanking everyone for working towards peace... There was not a moment's tension or frustration in the relationship between Modi and Fernandes, whether before or after, and this is a fact even if this has annoyed many Modi-haters and some of Fernandes' socialist compatriots," Jaitly writes.

Jaitly goes on to refer to Modi as "quiet", "serious" and "very respectful", saying that he was "not given to small talk" which was "a pleasant change from useless banter that many men adopt with women in television studios". This was when Jaitly often sat with Modi, who was then general secretary of the BJP, to discuss election trends and results at television studios.

Jaitly also recalls how Lalu Prasad's bid to become prime minister was foiled in 1996.

"The alliance in the ensuing election saw no campaigning on the Ram Mandir, Article 370 or any other contentious issue. There were no slogans of Jai Sri Ram that had filled the air a few years earlier. It was purely about the condition of Bihar. As usual, I was active behind the scenes. The result of the Bihar alliance was that we succeeded in ensuring that Lalu Yadav had fewer seats than HD Deve Gowda in the Janata Dal combine, enabling Gowda to be the Prime Minister," she writes in the book.

Jaitly mentions that when Deve Gowda later "stepped down" in favour of IK Gujral, the latter telephoned her to seek Fernandes' and her support to be the prime minister.

"He had a good relationship with us, having attended our then-seen-as-maverick international conferences on Tibet and Burma when many others had stayed away.

"We were happy that our election strategy had saved the Party (we had six members in Parliament, including Nitish Kumar) and saved the country from having Lalu Yadav as Prime Minister," she adds.

She further blames Lalu Prasad for protecting the attackers of Bhagalpur riots of October 1989. "It was clear to me that it was the large Muslim population that had been attacked and many of those who joined in doing so were part of Lalu Prasad Yadav's caste. It was because of his interest in protecting the attackers (as was widely believed because of his failure to take any action) that even though some eye-wash commissions were set up later to get to the truth of these riots, they never got off the ground," she maintains in the autobiography.

Jaitly also accuses Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of having given the Rajya Sabha seat, earlier promised to her, to a businessman in 2005.

"On the morning of the very last day for filing nominations, just after the last flight had left Delhi for Patna, George Sahib received a call from the Chief Minister saying he could not give me the seat as he had decided to give it to 'King Mahendra' (Mahendra Prasad), a businessman who had moved from Congress to RJD to Congress and now JD(U). He said he had helped the Party in the elections. George Sahib tried to argue that I too had done a lot for the Party over the years and that they all owed it to me. I watched him speak from across the room. His face became stiff and after a few moments of silence, he put the receiver down."

Among other controversial issues that find elaborate mention in her book are "Operation West End", which she calls farce and a shoddily created tale; her reference to Nitish Kumar as somebody who always puts his interest first; that BJP lost 2004 elections due to "arrogance" and "disrespecting alliance partners"; some shocking anecdotes of how defence deals are done in India; her revelation of how alleged arms middleman Christian Michel offered her an opportunity to make a "huge pile of money" for her party; and that Sonia Gandhi had asked then Chidambaram to shield Tehelka magazine's financiers.
Chennai: Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan, who will turn 63 on 7 November, will not celebrate his birthday as people here are distressed by heavy rains. He will instead visit a medical camp and a rain-affected area.

The actor's spokesperson said in a statement that Kamal, who has set his eyes on a political career, will meet the media at 12 noon to share a "special message".

"This year he has decided not to celebrate his birthday while Chennai people are distressed by the rains," the spokesperson said.

"Instead, he will be visiting a medical camp, which is set up by Narpani Iyakkam (Welfare Movement) at Annapoorna Marriage Hall, CTH Road... and rain-affected area at Naryanapuram, S Kolathur Road, Pallikaranai, next to Balaji Dental College.

"He will be reaching out to people with his special message and plans for the future. Come witness the promise for change," the spokesperson said.

There has been a lot of talk regarding Kamal's political plunge.

Kamal has said the first step towards it will be the launch of a mobile software app on 7 November as it will enable him to be in touch with the fans and as well as enable book-keeping.
Through most of Monday evening, BJP spokespersons tried to portray Narendra Modi's 20-minute visit to call on ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi as nothing more than a goodwill gesture, wondering why news channels were trying to read political meanings when none existed. They then proceeded to bestow on the prime minister, glowing adjectives, to underline his statesman-like stature and his ability to not let political differences come in the way of warmth in relationships.

The reluctance to accept a political motive to the meeting was understandable because the messaging from Modi was not lost on anyone, including those in the BJP. In a matter of a few hours, Modi had put his individual stamp on his Chennai visit. Significant because the U-turn of sorts was also an admission that the BJP's Tamil Nadu policy since December 2016 when Jayalalithaa passed away, had not quite worked wonders for the party. It also means Modi has decided he will no more outsource the BJP's strategy in Tamil Nadu to an assortment of leaders and backroom operators.

Modi is a leader who knows the power of the optic. And by extending the courtesy of the handshake, Modi hit many Tamilnadu birds with one stone.

He knew that the DMK cadre, that feels emotional about Kalaignar's health, would be bowled over by his gesture. His invitation to Karunanidhi to come and take rest at the PM's residence in Delhi was more than small talk. It was the first step to make the DMK's first family feel at home in his company.

That Modi chose to visit Karunanidhi just a day before the Special CBI court is to announce the date for the verdict in the 2G case is extremely significant. Anyone else would have preferred to wait for the verdict because Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, who too was present at home when Modi came visiting, is one of the accused in the case.

If she is convicted, it will make BJP's attempts to tango with DMK, difficult. But if she is acquitted, a Surf-excelled DMK would become a suitable partner to be wooed. However, do not forget, the BJP of 2017 is more a party with an indifference that accommodates the likes of Mukul Roy and Sukh Ram without batting an eyelid. Which is why the distinction between the party and the individuals in the dock that the BJP made late into the evening, lent an element of intrigue into the politics of Modi's visit.

"As far as the 2G case is concerned, it is against individuals, not against the DMK," said spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy on CNN-News 18, a not-so-subtle attempt to divorce the party from specific leaders who are in the dock. Irony committed suicide because the BJP was at the forefront of nailing the DMK and the Congress over the 2G scam. This let the cat out of the bag on the political dividends the BJP is possibly eyeing from the visit.

Modi was also sending a message to those who were not present in Gopalpuram. The BJP has invested heavily in the ruling AIADMK, attracting the criticism that it is the regional party's new High command. Tamil Nadu ministers have not shied away from publicly admitting that Modi will take care of their interests. But the lack of cohesion and the tendency of the O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami camps to carry their grouse against each other to the prime minister individually, has meant the BJP is more than aware that an AIADMK-BJP combo is not going to set the Cooum on fire. By playing the Karunanidhi card, Modi has read out the riot act to EPS and OPS - Get your act together or perish.

Modi's Chennai sojourn will also make the Congress uncomfortable and suspicious about the DMK. Karunanidhi has done business in the past with the BJP during the AB Vajpayee era and it knows Stalin will be more than keen to emerge as the Tamilian who matters, both in Chennai and in New Delhi.

Finally, it is an acknowledgement of DMK's political heft in the post-Jayalalithaa period. The BJP would be keen to pick up seats in Tamil Nadu to compensate for possible losses in north India, where it would have been seen to have peaked in 2014. On Monday, Modi was trying to explore the possibility of purchasing a political insurance policy from Gopalpuram. While it was a preliminary visit, it has clearly set the tone for 2019 and beyond.

But this is not to say that the DMK will jump into bed with the BJP tomorrow. It will continue to be part of the opposition space, registering its presence at protests against demonetisation and the like. Stalin is more than aware of the pitfalls which is why any marriage of political convenience is more likely to take place post 2019, not before. The chemistry will depend on the Math of the next Lok Sabha. For now, Modi is only keeping the lab ready for a possible experiment.

But even before he had stepped into Gopalpuram, Modi had made his Tamil Nadu strategy clear. He made it a point to walk down the dais at the Thanthi 75 years event, to greet the who's who of Chennai and Tamil Nadu politics. Rajinikanth, a possible ally was present and his closeness to Karunanidhi and support during the 1996 election is well known. So were former allies like Vaiko and Ramadoss. Significantly, both leaders also called on Karunanidhi recently. By walking the extra mile, Modi has shown he is willing to reach out in search of new friends and reconnecting with old partners.

The new season in Tamil Nadu's political soap opera has begun.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi alias Kalaignar dons the hat of an outstanding scriptwriter of Tamil cinema besides being a formidable politician. Yet he would have found it difficult to anticipate the turn of events that took place in Chennai on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only visited the ageing patriarch of Tamil politics and but also stumped him by extending an invitation in a composed dialogue-delivery demeanour by saying, "Come and stay with me at my

residence in Delhi for some days." More than the content of the dialogue, its hidden message carried enormous significance for national politics.

Contrary to the perception that Modi holds his opponents in contempt and is intolerant towards ideological rivals, here is a strong lesson. For the RSS-BJP combine that promotes Hindutva as its ideological mooring, the

Dravidian movement offers an antithesis. Its ideological founder EV Ramasamy Periyar stood against everything that Hindutva stands for. Even in the late 60s and 70s, the Dravidian movement militated against a variant of nationalism believed to have been encouraged by Hindi-speaking leaders of north India.

If one goes by conventional wisdom, Modi as prime minister had no reason to go out of the way to see Kalaignar and indulge him in an obsequious manner to show respect to the elderly leader. But those who know Modi can testify that the prime minister defies conventional wisdom not only to prove a point but also for a larger political and social message.

And there is no doubt that in his meeting with Karunanidhi, Modi has effectively conveyed his position of being not partisan to either AIADMK or DMK, the two powerful parties that emerged from the Dravidian movement. At the same time, he strongly conveyed that the BJP is determined to fill the void of a national party in the state politics. Till the 90s, the Congress happened to be the only national party in Tamil Nadu by default though it had ceded considerable ground much earlier.

Unlike other north Indian leaders, Modi has a unique position in Tamil Nadu. He is not a typical representative of north Indian Brahminism that the BJP is equated with in Tamil Nadu. He comes from the backward class that has been the backbone of the Dravidian movement. Similarly, his adherence to Hindu ritualism strikes the chord with those people for whom religion is deeply steeped in ritualism even though their politics is anti-religion. In the recent decades, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and VP Singh were exceptions in that they were adored in the state, but they were rarely seen as an alternative to Dravidian politics in the state.

By all indications, Modi has been making a different case for himself and his party. Of late the BJP has been strategically roping in youth and ingratiating itself with the issues that connote Tamil pride. The RSS-BJP combine has been persistently organising functions to celebrate the richness of Tamil culture and language in order to allay the fear of dominance of Hindi. Though these efforts are still in an incipient stage, Modi *does not see averse to have* an alignment with a regional ally to take the state out of a narrow definition of regionalism. The BJPs emergence as a preeminent political force has already eclipsed regional parties in larger parts of India, including Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

Given the organisational muscle that the party has built over the years in the south, Modis meeting with Kalaignar is only a sequel to a series of astute moves that he has been making to consolidate the BJPs position as the principal pole of Indian politics. Mondays event is quite significant as it conveyed unambiguously that Modi is not what the conventional media often projects him to be. He is warm and amiable even to his die-hard ideological opponents.

But Modi has been consistent in his approach to adversaries. Remember how he drove straight to the residence of Keshubhai Patel, his predecessor who had opposed him bitterly, after his victory in 2012 assembly elections?

Similarly, at the personal level, he was quite friendly with Shankarsinh Vaghela even at the peak of their rivalry. More recently he developed cosy and friendly relations with Nitish Kumar even when the latter was still in the adversary camp in Bihar. He has been particularly courteous to elderly leaders ranging from Acharya JB Kripalani and Madhavsinh Solanki to former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, Sharad Pawar and Mulayam Singh Yadav. That political dexterity to negotiate through cobwebs of ideological dogmas without losing focus is an essential lesson for politicians of future generations.
Tamil actor Kamal Haasan on Tuesday launched app "Maiyyam Whistle", which he dubbed will be "e-vigil" tool for the common man to fight corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Haasan, who is celebrating his 63rd birthday on Tuesday, said, "My app is a platform for the common man to fight the corrupt practices in the state. it is a forum for every citizen."

Haasan said that the digital platform is a step towards reaching out to people of Tamil Nadu. "Whistle denotes whistleblowing in order to find out wrong. The app will help people blow the whistle," Haasan said.

However, Haasan said that the app will be available only from January 2018 onward as it is still in the beta testing stage. "My app is to be launched in January. It is under research and development stage. It is like telling the script of the film before filming it. It is no great invention. Just a permutation and combination to bring out the best app for people," Haasan said.

Stressing on goodness in public life, Haasan said that as human beings complicate things when it is easy to speak the truth. "Goodness is a cycle. It is in constant churn."

"If you are doing something good, do it in the right away. Right people need to do the right stuff. But it is important that the intention should be good," Haasan added.

Urging youth to understand the heartland before forming policies, Haasan said that people need to keep their foot on ground to work towards the society. Haasan added that he will also tour Tamil Nadu before thinking of the next step.

Reiterating that he is neither inclined towards the Left or the Right. Haasan added that he would be equi-distant from both.

"Maiyam in Tamil means centre. I believe in 'equipose between the forces'," Haasan said. "Nobody must be spared through the app, not even me if you feel I am doing something wrong," Haasan added.

Adding that he was always inclined towards social work, Haasan said,"I had written a book 30 years ago. It was on social welfare for my fan clubs: "Tedi thiripo vaa" ( Lets seek and solve)."

On being asked when he would formally join politics, Haasan said that the app is his first priority but confirmed that he will be taking the plunge into politics.

At this point question of going back doesn't arise.That is why I said groundwork being done:#KamalHaasan on question of entering politics pic.twitter.com/4xzLp2B1ud  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Looking at the larger goal, longer time, so have to make the party ready for it. Working on structural part: #KamalHaasan pic.twitter.com/vFHTF5VQHx  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

"We can name a party any time but let us prepare ourselves first.We are at a formative level. A pregnant woman does not name the child before he/she's born. So please don't ask the name," the actor said.

Asked whether an app can substitute face to face contact with the masses, Haasan quipped," Looking at a leader is human contact. But then these leaders do not follow up. Meeting leaders is like 'diwali crackers'. But such an app puts pressure on people in power. There needs to be a dialogue and needs to be constant."

The actor also added that his party will never give chances to people with dubious antecedents. Clarifying on his "Hindu terror" remark, Haasan said that he never used the word "terror" but instead used "extremism" and that his statement was misconstrued.

"I said people should not use violence. I said I am fearing radicalisation, be it in the Hindu, Muslim or Christian community," he said.
tech2 News Staff

HMD Global has launched another variant of the Nokia 5 in India. The mid-range smartphone priced at Rs 13,499 smartphone is available exclusively on Flipkart from 7-14 November. The Nokia 5 will be available across the country from 14 November in 'select retail stores'. The 2 GB variant of the smartphone has already been launched.

The Nokia 5 comes with 5.2-inch IPS display protected by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass. It features a 13 MP f/2.0 primary camera and an 8 MP f/2.0 front camera. The device runs on an Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery.

The company has increased the RAM to 3 GB as compared the previous variant launched at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) earlier in 2017. Nokia 5 comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 128 GB via a memory card. The smartphone supports 4G connections and comes with dual-SIM card slots.

Ajey Mehta, the Vice President for HMD Global India issued a statement saying, Nokia 5 has already forged a reputation for being a beautifully crafted phone which punches well above its weight. Now we have added more memory so fans can get enhanced performance in the same precision engineered design.

Ajay Yadav, the Vice President of Smartphones at Flipkart added, We are delighted to partner with HMD Global for the new launch of the Nokia 5 exclusively on Flipkart. We believe that this device which is a package that perfectly balances high performance, premium design and competitive pricing, will drive a huge audience across the country coupled with Flipkarts wide reach, reinforcing our online market leadership in smartphones.
Reuters

The Afghan government will not block the instant messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram, a spokesman said on Monday, following days of controversy after reports the services would be suspended.

Government of Afghanistan isnt going to ban any social media platforms. WhatsApp and Telegram to continue operating in Afghanistan, Javid Faisal, deputy spokesman to government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah wrote on Twitter.

The row over instant messaging services began after a letter from Afghanistans telecoms regulator to Internet service providers telling them to block the services without delay was circulated on social media platforms last week.

WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, has more than a billion users worldwide. Telegram is a much smaller but fast growing instant messaging service that is popular in a number of countries including Afghanistan.

The acting minister for telecommunications said last week that the telecoms regulator had been ordered to put a gradual block on the services to improve their functioning after complaints had been received from consumers.

Afghan media have reported that Afghanistans National Directorate for Security (NDS) wanted the ban to stop the Taliban and other insurgent groups from using encrypted messages. The NDS has not commented.

Throughout the controversy, the messaging platforms appeared to have continued to function normally in Afghanistan.

The episode, which attracted criticism from civil rights groups and furious comments on social media, underlined the importance Internet and mobile services of all kinds have gained in Afghanistan, notably among government officials themselves.
IANS

Cybersecurity is a cause of concern to every financial company and bankers are facing great difficulty in ensuring it, State Bank of India MD (Risk, IT and Subsidiaries) Dinesh Kumar Khara said on Tuesday.

"Threats are of concern to any financial company. Our employees in the core banking should be informed about and must perceive this threat. Otherwise, they are not vigilant enough," Khara said at a two-day Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci)-Indian Banks' Association (IBA) Annual Banking Conference (FIBAC) 2017 here.

He said bankers should remain vigilant with their vendors and all applications must be insulated from risks.

S. Ganesh Kumar, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India, said that cybersecurity is an important concern and the RBI will come up with guidelines in this regard.

Explaining that India has matured and does not need to be micro-managed, he described security as a "marriage between convenience and confidence".

"Customer perceptions also keep changing, with the younger lot having a different view of privacy. This makes it difficult for the regulator. But the RBI has taken up the challenge and is trying to keep ahead of the curve. They have got a repository of data," he said.

Neetu Chitkara, Principal, Boston Consulting Group, said there were two types of companies: those who are hacked, and those who will be hacked.

"The problem now is so intense that it is the domain of the CEO or the board at the highest level in any organisation. The number of records breached in 2016 was 1.8 billion," she said.

"And these are just the ones that are reported. The hackers could be sitting anywhere on the planet, learning from the Internet and hacking in India. It is a constant war without borders," she added.

Peter Gartenberg, General Manager, Enterprise Commercial, Microsoft India, said slow upgrade cycles facilitated exploitation of vulnerabilities in the software.

He advocated use of cloud as a far more secure environment because it incorporates the latest in terms of cybersecurity.

Debopama Sen, Managing Director, Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions, Citi South Asia, felt it will be hard for institutions to be ahead of cyber criminals. "They just have to get it right once, and we have to get it right every single time."

"The working generation is still one of digital immigrants, not with the same mobility as digital natives. It is a work in progress," she said, pointing out that the situation in India is no different from that in other parts of the world.

The emphasis is on training and simulation, so that everybody knows how to react in case of an incident, she said.

Balsingh Rajput, Superintendent of Police of Maharashtra Cyber, said "IT development and cybersecurity are two different fields".

"Cybersecurity is not a technology problem. It is your business continuity problem. If technology, processes and people work together, the system works well. If one of them misbehaves, there is a threat to business," he said.

"Deterrence is to the human, not to technology. Hence, we must try to understand the enemy. People should not be shy about reporting to police about a cybercrime," he added.

Sriraman Jagannathan, Vice President, Payments, Amazon India, said that the concept of cybersecurity evokes fear.

"If all of us deal with this topic as a fearful thing, majority will not engage with it deeply. If cybersecurity is synonymous with fear, it will be difficult to contain it in a rapidly changing world. It needs to be understood, and the desire should be to do better each time," he said.
PTI

Ahead of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, social media giant Facebook teamed up with the offices of chief electoral officers of the states to encourage people to participate in the upcoming state elections. As part of this collaboration, Facebook will promote a reminder in people's News Feed on three different polling days  9 November, 9 December and 14 December  to help educate people in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat on the upcoming state polls and encourage them to take part, a release said.

"The reminder will help encourage participation in the upcoming state elections, and will be run in conjunction with the campaign run by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat to encourage people to vote," it added. Nitin Saluja, Politics and Government Outreach Manager, Facebook India, South and Central Asia, said the collaboration will make it easier for the people of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat to participate in their state elections.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pushpendra Rajput said the significance of reaching out to key audiences via social media platforms cannot be overemphasised. "With the kind of reach Facebook has, it has been our endeavour to utilise this medium as an effective tool for information dissemination and awareness creation," he said. Gujarat's CEO B B Swain said "There is a two-way conversation happening where people share what they care about, and officials get honest, real-time feedback. ...I am sure sending out polling day reminders in both the phases will result in a high participation by the community."

There are more than 212 million people who are active on Facebook in India. As per the release, around 37 million people generated over 312 million interactions during last five Indian state elections 2017.
tech2 News Staff

In its first step towards addressing the myriad issues plaguing the Pixel 2 XL, Google has issued a software update for the device.

The Pixel 2 XL screen burn-in issue was a very prominent one. Reviewers saw burn-in on their devices within weeks of receiving it, and while burn-in is expected on OLED displays, the deterioration of Googles OLED displays happened exponentially faster than expected.

To address this issue, the software update brings down the maximum brightness a notch and introduces a new navigation bar that will fade out after a period of inactivity.

Another criticism that the display faced was that it wasnt as vivid as other, competing OLED displays. This is also an interesting criticism as it centres around an argument for colour accuracy vs punchy colours. The Pixel 2 XLs OLED display is bright and colour-accurate and supports wide-gamut colours. In other words, it can display a wider range of colours than a standard display. The problem with Android is that its not yet fully optimised to support that wider colour gamut and so the UI and most apps look muted.

Other phones with OLED displays cannot display a standard colour gamut accurately so the colours are oversaturated and pumped it. This is most commonly seen in Samsungs phones, including the S8. Apples iPhones have been supporting wide-gamut displays for over a year now and the OS has been updated to take advantage of the feature.

The muted, but colour-accurate display, doesnt seem to have gone down well with many users. For their sake, Google has now added the option of a saturated mode, which pumps up the colours. Android Central notes that this mode will still not overly saturate the colours, but they will at least look punchy. They add that the Pixel 2s clicking audio issue has also been addressed.

The patch also addresses several bugs and security holes, including the Wi-Fi KRACK vulnerability.
tech2 News Staff

Indonesias communications ministry said on Tuesday it will summon representatives from messenger services and search engine providers including Alphabet Incs Google to push them to clean up obscene content.

Indonesia on Monday vowed to block Facebook Incs WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format images were removed.

We will call all providers, including Google to clean up their network, said Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesias communication and informatics ministry.

The government had decided to block websites of these tech giants by 6 November.

With inputs from Reuters
tech2 News Staff

Infosys has announced that it will team with Adecco Group, a Fortune Global 500 company to create a new cloud-based platform named Adia.

The company pointed out that the aim of this mobile-first, cloud-based, end-to-end digital platform is to transform the staffing industry. The company detailed that this platform will work with data, domain, technology and speed, to create a new business in the world of staffing.

According to the details given by Infosys, this platform will change the core operations of Adecco Group which is also known as the leading global HR Solutions provider. The interesting thing to note here is the fact that Adia has already gained momentum across a number of cities in the UK and Switzerland. Adecco plans to bring the platform to more countries in the future. Infosys explained that this new platform makes use of Adeccos strengths to introduce new ways of conducting business and thinking about the business in the digital economy.

Key features of Adia include the ability to manage the talent more efficiently and targeting clients and candidates across multiple industry segments. This makes it easy for companies to find staff on a temporary basis for short-term assignments.

Rajesh Krishnamurthy, the President and Head of Infosys Europe issued a statement adding. The pace of change were experiencing today is unprecedented and it urges organisations to constantly renew themselves, as well as leverage technology to develop new business models, if they are to remain relevant and succeed in an increasingly evolving world. Over the past few years, the emergence of the platform economy has set the pace of success for the most valuable companies in the world.

Alain Dehaze, CEO of Adecco Group added, At the Adecco Group we are focused on transformation and innovation to capture the opportunities we see in the evolving world of work. We are thrilled with the success Adia has experienced so far and were looking forward to continuing the international rollout over the coming quarters. As part of our co-creation strategy, were working with Infosys to bring innovation across other parts of the business and we are delighted to have partnered with the best-in-class to boost our digital strategy and power our vision of whats next in the staffing industry.
tech2 News Staff

Japanese company FutureModel are planning to release the 'card-sized' NichePhone-S phone in Japan. Although NichePhone-S runs on Android OS, it cannot do much more than making calls, texting and streaming music. For perspective, users can't install any app on this Android-powered smartphone. The shape of the device is quite similar to a small calculator and it has a classic T9 input as seen on the likes of the Nokia 3310.

According to a report on the device by Engadget Japan, the phone is scheduled to release on 10 November with a price tag of around $ 95. The phone weighs 38 grams and has a thickness of 6.5 mm making it thin enough to slip into your wallet. Due to this thin design, the phone is charged using a separate adaptor that will be included in the purchase box. The Niche Phone-S does not pack any speakers but it does have a Wi-Fi tethering option.

The phone has a small screen on the top and it will reportedly be running on Android 4.2 out of the box. According to the listing on Gadget Mart, the device will be powered by MediaTek MT6572A. According to the report, the device offers Bluetooth connectivity for headsets along with the ability to record memos. It has a single nano-SIM slot on the back and supports 3G connectivity from NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank. The phone has a battery capacity of 550 mAh which offers about 3 hours of talk time along with 72 hours of standby time. The device will be available in two colours of black and white.
Reuters

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc launched sales in Spain on 7 November, its first foray into Western Europe as it revs up a stalled global push into other developed markets around Europe and the United States.

Xiaomi will initially sell its flagship Mi A1 smartphone, priced at 229 euros ($265.85) in Spain from 8 November as well as internet-connected products including scooters, air purifiers and coffee makers.

Its proof we are very, very serious to be a global company, not only a Chinese company and not only working in developing countries, Wang Xiang, head of Xiaomis global business, told Reuters ahead of the launch.

We want to expand our ambitions to developed areas like Western Europe, and thats just the first step. Xiaomi, which in 2014 was briefly the worlds most valuable startup, saw sales stall in 2016 amid an unwieldy international expansion and intense competition from local rivals Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Vivo and Oppo.

At the time it pulled back from several overseas markets including Brazil and Indonesia, but this year it has launched and re-launched sales in dozens of countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine.

We are more focused now, we also have more resources, said Wang, who added the company has learned lessons from previous failed entries and was now hiring heavily overseas.

Wang took over the role earlier this year when high-profile executive Hugo Barra left the company to join Facebook Incs augmented reality team. In July, Xiaomi secured a $1 billion loan to drive its overseas expansion and help roll out brick-and-mortar stores.

Xiaomis sales have also been recovering this year, and it has overtaken Apple Inc to become Chinas fourth-largest smartphone vendor by sales, driven in part by a focus on offline stores, according to research firm Canalys.

Lucio Chen, Singapore-based analyst at Canalys, said Xiaomis value-for-money lure had been undercut in recent years by the rise of local rivals, but its offline push was now helping drive a resurgence in its home market.

It has a strong presence in India, where it ranks second behind Samsung Electronics Co Ltd by smartphone sales, and plans to open 1,000 global stores in the next two years. As of the middle of last year, Xiaomi had sold about 10 percent of its smartphones outside China, the latest Canalys data show.
tech2 News Staff

NASA's New Horizons mission is flying towards its next flyby target in the outer reaches of the Solar System. The Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) is over 6.5 billion kilometeres from the Earth, and about 782 kilometers beyond Pluto, which the New Horizons mission also visited and photographed. The spacecraft is scheduled to visit the object on 1 January, 2019, and the flyby will be the most distant in the history of human space exploration.

The object has a rather mundane name, 2014 MU69 and NASA is asking for help in coming up with a more exciting name for the object. Interested readers can vote on a current list of candidates, or nominate their own name.

The current list includes Thor's Hammer Mjolnir, Peanut and Camelor, a fictional city in the Kuiper belt appearing in Robert L Forward's novel, Camelot 30K. For those who want to nominate their own names, there are some guidelines. Names with political or religious significance are not accepted, but names from mythologies are. Names that have commercial value will also not be considered.

2014 MU69 may actually be a contact binary, or a pair of objects in close proximity to each other. In this case, once the spacecraft gets to the object, it may require two names instead of one. For this reason, NASA is looking for multiple name nominations. The names that are evocative of the cold and remote nature of the body, as well as its shape are the most likely to be picked.

Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator says, "New Horizons has always been about pure exploration, shedding light on new worlds like weve never seen before. Our close encounter with MU69 adds another chapter to this missions remarkable story. Were excited for the public to help us pick a nickname for our target that captures the excitement of the flyby and awe and inspiration of exploring this new and record-distant body in space."

The chosen name will at first be an informal designation. Several objects in the Kuiper Belt had informal names before official ones were proposed. Once the spacecraft actually reaches the body, and learns more about its shape and composition, NASA will work with the International Astronomical Union to assign a formal name to the object. The deadline for submitting nominations or votes is 1 December, 2017. NASA will announce the nickname of the body in January 2018.
Balukhali (Bangladesh): Tahera Begum walks a mile alone at dawn to collect firewood for her ill parents and four siblings, an enormous burden for a 10-year-old thrust to the head of her family in the world's largest refugee settlement.

"I do it because no one else in my family can. Both my parents are sick. They cannot move without assistance," the Rohingya girl told AFP while chopping vegetables in her family's tarpaulin shanty in Bangladesh.

An estimated 1,400 children are sole providers for their families in crowded refugee camps along the Bangladesh border, where more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought sanctuary from violence in Myanmar since August.

Charities fear they are especially vulnerable to illness and emotional stress from shouldering such responsibility, or exploitation as they struggle to provide for their families in the overstretched tent cities.

"This may lead them to child labour and explicit sex work. These families may also experience a spike in child marriages, which is very concerning," said Save the Children International spokesman Rik Goverde.

For Begum, who was caring for her infirm parents even before they made the difficult journey from Myanmar, the day starts at sunrise with a long trek into the forest to gather firewood for cooking.

It's an arduous slog carrying the heavy load back to the family tent, a plastic sheet strung across a bamboo frame on a crowded hillside in Balukhali.

But she barely rests before embarking on her second early-morning chore -- jostling with other refugees to fill an urn at the single water pump in her corner of the camps.

Later in the day, Begum carries what's left of the lumber to the local market to trade for basic supplies.

The refugee influx over the past two months has sent prices skyrocketing, so Begum must barter hard alongside adults for food and other bare essentials to feed her family and earn money for medicine.

"All my siblings are younger than me. Being the eldest, I am just doing my part," the young girl said.

Childhoods lost

The sight of children carting water jugs, queueing at relief stations or dragging sacks of grain the size of their own bodies is not uncommon in the Rohingya camps.

More than half of the 607,000 new arrivals are children, and aid groups say they are bearing the brunt of Asia's worst refugee crisis in decades.

A full 7.5 percent of the children crammed into one of the camps in Cox's Bazar district are at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition, the United Nations warned last week.

Meanwhile an estimated 40,000 children have crossed the border completely alone, their parents killed or displaced by violence in Myanmar the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing.

To survive such horror only to become sole provider for a family is "something that no child in the world should ever experience", said UNICEF Bangladesh's spokesman Sakil Faizullah.

Schools and safe zones run by aid groups offer some respite from horrific memories and the grim reality of life in the camps, where many children are forced to care for sick or injured parents and traumatised siblings.

In these child-friendly spaces, youngsters can draw, sing and play in a classroom-like setting away from the misery awaiting them back in their shanties.

Begum's younger sister occasionally drags her along to a UNICEF kid's zone, where she gazes longingly at the picture books available.

But she can never linger long, with her bed-ridden parents and younger siblings relying on her for survival.

"I love the comic book pages. But I don't get the chance to go there everyday," Begum said, preparing a simple meal in the family's dimly-lit hut.

Bangladeshi charity worker Baby Barua was shocked to learn from Begum's younger sister that she was feeding and caring for a family of seven on her own.

"She's only a kid. She shouldn't be doing all these by herself. This is equivalent to child labour," Barua said.

Charities are considering cash assistance to lighten the load for young breadwinners, but the need is huge and the scale of the crisis is overwhelming already stretched aid organisations.

Despite the magnitude of the task ahead of them, aid workers say the youngest victims of the crisis must not be forgotten.

"They've already lost their childhood and it's our responsibility to make sure that they don't lose their future," UNICEF's Faizullah told AFP.
Washington: US president Donald Trump is seeking an additional $4 billion for his defence budget for urgent missile defence improvements, citing increasing threat posed by North Korea.

In a communication to the Congress on Tuesday, Trump also sought $1.2 billion to support sending additional 3,500 troops to Afghanistan as part of his new South Asia strategy and a further $0.7 billion to repair damage to US Navy ships.

Trump is currently on a nearly two week-long trip to the Indo-Pacific region with North Korea being one of the focus areas during his entire trip.

Trump said his request for an additional $4 billion is to support urgent missile defeat and defence enhancements to counter the threat from North Korea. "This request supports additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners," the US president said in the communication.

The request also includes costs necessary to repair damage to and restore the operational readiness of the USS John S McCain and the USS Fitzgerald. "These ships provide critical naval presence and additional ballistic missile defence capabilities in the Asia-Pacific theatre," he said.

Trump said his request includes costs associated with increased US troop levels in Afghanistan in support of my administration's South Asia strategy.

The additional resources would enable Department of Defence to deploy an additional 3,500 troops, and includes funding for urgent needs and special operations forces capabilities. Trump said that the funding to support the South Asia strategy could be designated as Overseas Contingency Operations.

Republican leaders Senator John McCain and Congressman Mac Thornberry  respective chairmen of the Senate and House

Armed Services Committee  welcomed the move. The additional request would provide resources to support the renewed efforts in Afghanistan and much-needed funding to repair the Navy ships damaged in recent collisions at sea, they said.

"This request also underscores the threat posed by the rogue North Korean regime and the urgent need to boost our missile defence capabilities to meet it," the two Republican leaders said in a statement. "In fact, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have already authorised many of these missile defence programmes in our respective defence bills," they said.

Having completed his first visit to Japan, Trump on Monday landed in South Korea, after which he would travel to China.

Later he would also travel to Vietnam and the Philippines.
Seoul: President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of US military power to stop any attack, but in a more conciliatory appeal than ever before he urged Pyongyang to make a deal to end the nuclear standoff.

Speaking on North Koreas doorstep during a visit to Seoul, Trump said that while we hope to God not to have to use all of the United States military might, he was ready to do whatever was necessary to prevent the North Korean dictator from threatening millions of lives.

We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built, Trump said after talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has supported diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang.

But at times taking a more measured, less confrontational tone, Trump also urged North Korea to do the right thing and said, I do see some movement, though he declined to elaborate.

It really makes sense for North Koreas to come to the table and make a deal, Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with Moon.

Despite Trumps renewed threats against North Korea, it was still a far cry from the more strident approach he has pursued in recent months, including his previous dismissal of any diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang as a waste of time.

Landing earlier at Osan Air Base outside Seoul, the president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began a visit that could aggravate tension with North Korea.

He then flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, the largest US military base in the country, and met US and South Korean troops, along with Moon.

The White House billed Trumps trip as intended to demonstrate the US resolve over a hardline approach to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

But many in the region have expressed fear that his bellicose rhetoric toward Pyongyang could increase the potential for a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Meeting with military commanders about the North Korea issue, Trump told reporters, Ultimately it will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out. He did not elaborate.

Trump praised president Moon, hailing him for great cooperation despite differences over how to confront North Korea and over a trade pact between the United States and South Korea.

In formal talks after an elaborate welcoming ceremony outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Moon told Trump he hoped his visit would relieve some of South Koreans anxiety over North Korea and serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN resolutions and an exchange of insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

At the news conference, Trump said Pyongyang must understand the unparalleled strength that Washington had at its disposal.

He cited three US aircraft carrier strike groups that are converging on the Western Pacific for exercises, as well as a nuclear submarine he said, was also in position.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump toured the sprawling Camp Humphreys garrison, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea.

Trump was greeted with applause and a few cheers as he and Moon entered the mess hall at lunch hour.

Trump is seeking to ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the US weaponry needed to do so, suggesting the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.
Paris: French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo has said it is pressing charges after receiving fresh death threats against staffers over a cartoon of the Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan who faces rape allegations.

The provocative magazine, which suffered a deadly jihadist attack in 2015 after publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, depicted Ramadan with a huge erection in its edition last Wednesday, saying: "I am the sixth pillar of Islam."

The Swiss academic, an Oxford professor and conservative Islamic intellectual in France, has been accused of rape by two women after the Harvey Weinstein scandal unleashed a wave of sexual abuse accusations worldwide. Ramadan, 55, has furiously denied the accusations as a "campaign of lies launched by my adversaries".

'Rape', read the caption on Charlie Hebdo's cover. 'The defence of Tariq Ramadan'.

On Monday, the Paris prosecutor's office opened a police enquiry into the death threat claim, a judicial source said. That enquiry will look into "written death threats" and "public glorification of an act of terrorism," the source said.

Laurent 'Riss' Sourisseau, the magazine's editor, said the threats and hate mail had "never really stopped" after the January 2015 jihadist attack in which 12 people were gunned down at its offices.

"Sometimes there are peaks when we receive explicit death threats on social media  this has been the case once again," he told Europe 1 radio. "It's always difficult to know if these are serious threats or not, but as a principle, we take them seriously and

press charges."

The shooting at Charlie Hebdo was claimed by Al-Qaeda, with the jihadists notably seeking to punish the staunchly atheist magazine for printing cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, forbidden in Islam. The attack was the first in a wave of jihadist attacks in France over the past two years that have left more than 240 people dead.

Charlie Hebdo has continued to court controversy since the attack, notably with cartoons after the Barcelona attack and others that made light of an Italian earthquake that killed nearly 300 people.

The five pillars of Islam are the five basic practices obligatory for believers: Faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. A minority of Sunni scholars considers jihad  or holy struggle, which can have different meanings  to be the sixth

pillar of Islam.
Kabul: A defiant Kabul TV station was back on the air Tuesday moments after the end of an attack by gunmen who had stormed the broadcaster, killing at least one person and leaving two dozen wounded.

The assault on Shamshad TV by militants disguised as policemen, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, highlights the risks facing journalists who are increasingly targeted in the war-torn country.

After about three hours of fighting Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers, who were armed with guns and grenades, and freed staff trapped inside the building.

"The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces, all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued," Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air.

A Shamshad news presenter, his hands bandaged after cutting himself on glass as he fled the attackers, told viewers that 20 colleagues had been wounded. Six were in a critical condition.

"We have all come back (to work), all our journalists and colleagues are back on duty," he said.

Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas, interviewed by rival Tolo News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues were being treated, said, "This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us."

The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire at security forces.

Special forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster.

"I was in my office when gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked the building," Ehsas said.

"They killed one of our guards and entered the building and started firing. Most of us were able to flee but some were wounded and some jumped out of the windows."

He said the station had not received any threats before the attack.

Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes during the assault as more and more security forces and emergency services swarmed the area.

An employee told AFP he had seen three attackers entering the building on security cameras.

"They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said one employee had been killed and 24 people wounded, including four firefighters.

In a tweet, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) renewed its call for "the government to take all preventive measures to protect" the media  sentiments echoed by Amnesty International.

President Ashraf Ghani pledged to take "serious measures" to protect journalists in a statement condemning the attack.

Media under attack

IS claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement released by their Amaq propaganda agency. The Taliban had earlier released a Twitter statement denying involvement.

Pashto is one of the official languages in Afghanistan and is spoken mainly in the south where the Taliban have a large presence.

The attack spotlighted the increasing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as security worsens.

The country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the AJSC, with at least 13 media workers killed. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria.

A Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in January last year killed seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

The first half of 2017 saw 10 Afghan journalists killed, the AJSC said in July.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State group step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Security in the capital has been ramped up since a 31 May truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel near the bombing site. Like Shamshad on Tuesday, it managed to resume operations within a few hours.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing.

But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people.
Kabul: Gunmen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday and many staff were still in the building, an employee told AFP, describing the attack as "ongoing".

"I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," said Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door.

Shamshad TV, a Pashto language station that broadcasts nationwide, was transmitting a holding image instead of its normal programming.

Zaland told AFP that security forces were in the area of the Shamshad compound in the Afghan capital "trying to bring down the attackers". "Many of my colleagues are still in the building," he added.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied the militant group was involved in the attack in a Twitter post.

The interior ministry told AFP it was investigating the incident but had no further details.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Last Tuesday, a suicide bomber, believed to have been as young as 12, struck Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter and killed at least five people, showing that militants can still hit the heart of the city despite tighter security.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a truck bomb went off on the edge of the so-called 'Green Zone' on 31 May, killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city.

The last major assault in Kabul was on 21 October, when a suicide attacker hit a busload of Afghan army trainees, killing 15.

On 20 October, a suicide bomber pretending to be a worshiper blew himself up inside a Shia mosque in the city during evening prayers, killing 56 and wounding 55.

Earlier this month, the police stopped a lorry carrying 2,700 kilograms of explosives hidden under boxes of tomatoes in Kabul, averting a potentially deadly blast.
United Nations: The UN Security Council on Tuesday called on Myanmar to rein in its military campaign in Rakhine state and allow hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya driven out by the violence to return home.

In a unanimous statement backed by China, the council strongly condemned the violence that has forced more than 600,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

The council expressed "grave concern" over human rights violations, "including by the Myanmar security forces" against the Rohingya such as killing, sexual violence and burning of homes and property.

It called on the government "to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law."

The statement included most of the demands contained in a draft resolution presented last month by Britain and France, but that measure ran into strong opposition from China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta.

China had indicated it was willing to resort to its veto power to block a resolution, but Beijing finally agreed to a statement during negotiations, diplomats said.

Since late August, more than 600,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes by an army campaign that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar authorities say the military operation is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts.

The Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

Council members called for full access for humanitarian aid workers to Rakhine and said the government must address the root causes of the crisis by allowing "equal access to full citizenship."

The statement did not however threaten sanctions.

During negotiations with China, language on citizenship rights was watered down in the statement as was a demand that Myanmar allow a UN human rights mission into the country, diplomats said.

The statement calls on Myanmar to cooperate with the United Nations and encourages UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special advisor on Myanmar.

British Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen said despite the decision to drop the resolution, the council was issuing a strong, united message.

"The important thing is the content," Allen told reporters. "Gaining a very strong, unanimous statement I think was the real prize here."

The council statement was agreed as Guterres prepares to travel to Manila this week to join leaders of the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) bloc for a summit.

The Rohingya refugee crisis is expected to be a top issue of discussion at the summit, to be attended by US President Donald Trump, who will dispatch US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Myanmar later this month.

Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet and are calling for sanctions against those involved in the atrocities in Rakhine.

"Going forward, council members should be clear that they won't be held hostage by China's objections, and will instead be driven by the needs of victims and realities on the ground, not what makes China comfortable," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch deputy UN director.
Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Iran on Tuesday of "direct military aggression" against the kingdom by supplying Yemen's Houthi rebels with ballistic missiles, state media reported.

"The involvement of Iran in supplying missiles to the Houthis is a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the crown prince as saying during a telephone conversation with British foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

This "could be considered as an act of war," Prince Mohammed said.

Saudi forces on Saturday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh international airport, reportedly fired from Yemen by the Houthi rebels.

It was the first reported Houthi missile launch to reach Riyadh and threaten air traffic, underscoring the growing threat posed by the conflict on Saudi Arabia's southern border.

Riyadh accused Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels. Iran denied the allegation.

The regional rivals traded accusations on Monday with Saudi Arabia saying the missile attack might amount to an act of war and Tehran accusing Riyadh of war crimes in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention in Yemen since 2015 in support of its internationally recognised government during which more than 8,650 people have been killed.

Tensions have been rising between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran, which back opposing sides in wars and power struggles from Yemen to Syria.

On Monday, the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said it reserved the "right to respond" to the missile attack on Riyadh, calling it a "blatant military aggression by the Iranian regime which may amount to an act of war".
United Nations: The United States accused Iran of supplying a missile to Yemeni rebels that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July and called for an international response.

US ambassador Nikki Haley said Riyadh had released information showing that the missile was an Iranian Qiam and that this weapon was not present in Yemen before the conflict.

"By providing these types of weapons to the Huthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," Haley said in a statement.

"We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations."

There was no US request however for the council to hold a meeting on the missile attacks.

The accusations came amid heightened tensions after the Huthis fired a missile that was intercepted near Riyadh. Haley said that missile may also be of Iranian origin.

The United States "will not turn a blind eye to these serious violations of international law by the Iranian regime," she said.

Haley, a strong voice on foreign policy in the US administration, has repeatedly called on the UN Security Council to take a tougher stance toward Iran. Haley has accused Iran of illegal arms deals and military support in Yemen, Lebanon and Syria.

A Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

The coalition said it had shot down on 27 July a missile fired by the Huthis close to Mecca, a month before the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Bonn (Germany): Confronted with a cascade of grim reports on the gathering pace of global warming, climate negotiators met in Bonn, Monday, wondering to what extent US President Donald Trump will make their jobs more difficult.

Five months after the world's most famous climate sceptic said he would yank the United States out of the 196-nation Paris Agreement, the diplomats and leaders tasked with implementing it remained both defiant and concerned.

"We must preserve the global consensus for decisive action enshrined in the Paris Agreement," Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who will preside over the 12-day summit, said in a statement.

"The human suffering caused by intensifying hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, floods and threats to food security caused by climate change means there is no time to waste."

Leaders from a score of nations are expected to take part in the 12-day talks running through November 17, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Inked in 2015, the Paris pact calls for capping global warming at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and 1.5 C if possible.

So far, Earth's average temperature has gone up 1 C compared to pre-industrial levels -- enough to wreak havoc in many parts of the world.

Voluntary national pledges to reduce carbon pollution would still see the world heat up by a blistering 3 C, leaving a critical "emissions gap," and very little time to fill it.

"We have less than three years left to bend the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions downward to avoid the very worst and most catastrophic impacts of climate change," said Paula Caballero, global director for climate at the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based policy think tank.

That daunting task has been made all the more difficult by the US pullout, diplomats and experts said.

The problem extends beyond the likely shortfall in the reduction of US emissions, despite Trump's vow to protect carbon-intensive, coal-fired power plants from closure.

State-level governments led by California, along with major US-based companies, will likely pick up much of the slack.

Nor is what some call the "Trump Gap" in climate financing -- including $2.5 billion promised by Barack Obama but disavowed by his successor -- a deal breaker, experts said.

Low profile

The concern is more whether other leaders who were already reluctant to foreswear fossil fuels as the main engine of economic growth for their countries will lose resolve.

"The Paris Agreement boosted climate action, but momentum is clearly faltering," said Costa Rica's environment minister Edgar Gutierrez-Espeleta, recalling a smattering of applause when Trump told the UN General Assembly in September that the climate pact was "not fair" for the United States.

"It will be very important to listen to ministers, to see how determined they are, and whether there will be any back-sliding," said Laurence Tubiana, president of the European Climate Foundation and -- as France's climate ambassador in 2015 -- one of the Paris Agreement's main architects.

The Bonn meeting, she noted, was supposed to be mostly technical, a chance to complete a complicated "rule book" for implementing the treaty's provisions.

These include ensuring transparency and compliance, reporting of emissions, procedures for dispersing climate funds, and half-a-dozen other key areas.

"But with the US decision, it has in fact become an important 'political moment'," Tubiana told AFP.

The true test will come next year, when nations will be under pressure to start ramping up their carbon-cutting commitments to keep temperature rise under the 2 C threshold.

Washington has kept a low profile going into the Bonn talks.

"The United States will participate in the 23rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties," a State Department official told AFP by email.

At the same time, "the Administrations position on the Paris Agreement remains unchanged," the official added.

"The United States intends to withdraw ... as soon as it is eligible to do so, unless the President can identify terms that are more favourable to American businesses, workers, and taxpayers."
FiiO has been making audio products for close to a decade now. A while back, the company introduced their latest entry-level offerings i.e. the Fiio F1 and F3 to India. In a market where people often never upgrade from low-cost earbuds bundled in-box, the entry-level segment offers potential for disruption. The FiiO F3 priced at Rs. 1,849 aims to do just that.

Fiio F3 Specifications:

Frequency Response: 15  23,000 Hz

Driver Type: Dynamic (11mm)

Impedance: 40 ohms

Sensitivity: 98dB

Maximum Input Power: 5mW

Plug Type: 3.5mm TRRS

Cable Length: 120cm

Weight: 20g

Design

FiiO has done very well with the design and build of the F3. While the build quality might not be the absolute best, the F3 offers customization capabilities via the provided colored shells. You get an option of red, black or blue which you can switch you as you please.

FiiO intends these earphones to be worn with the cable slid over the top of your ear. Earhooks are thus included to be snapped on and slid over your ear. Like the shells, installing these was a cinch and they were as comfortable as can be expected at this price point. The quality isnt anything special though and wed recommend that you be careful with how you store them as the rubber has a tendency to lose shape. The earphones fit and work perfectly fine even when worn straight down. The earhooks help to almost eliminate microphonics but to be fair, the FiiO F3s rubberized cable does a good enough job on its own.

A microphone is placed within the left earpiece cable post the Y Splitter. The microphone unit is where youll find segregated play control, forward and back buttons. The tactile feedback is good and over calls, the microphone was easily able to pick up our voice.

Finally, the FiiO F3 is equipped with an L shaped connector that is particularly robust. We like what the company has done here though some might find the connector a bit inconvenient when attached to a smartphone in the pocket. All in all, the FiiO F3 is sufficiently comfortable for a few hours of listening and even offer a small degree of passive noise cancellation. The quality of materials as far as cables and connectors go is above average though the earphones themselves feel a bit underwhelming considering competition like 1More offers a metal build.

Sound

Of course, the most important aspect of earphones is the audio quality. Its important to have the right perspective when reviewing tech products. The FiiO F3 isnt aimed at audiophiles and right off the bat, you should steer clear if you are looking for neutral IEMs. The sound signature here is a resounding V shaped and a subtle improvement over the FiiO F1.

The F3 uses 11mm dynamic drivers and offers a frequency response of 15Hz to 20kHz. Starting off with the bass, theres oodles on offer. Not the best kind of bass but yes, a lot of it. The F3 is an energetic earphone that offers you deep thumping sub bass that is perfect for hip hop lovers. It is tight and controlled and songs like Superfast Jellyfish by the Gorillaz will have you bopping along to the bass line. Pumping up the volume further improves it but also gets too loud for safe long-term listening. Mid bass is where things get muddy. Bass lines running along the drum beat hide away in more intricate tracks.

The FiiO F3 does a pretty good job in the mids section. Vocals sound full-bodied and warm. We observed that compared to the lower end, the mids sit slightly behind in terms of layering. What this means is that heavy orchestration or bass can hide away some of the vocal textures. Certain tracks adopted a marginally etherial & distant aspect. Not accurate of course but it did add an interesting twist to a dreamy track like Where Do We Draw The Line by Poets of the Fall.

Treble and high-end performance are where the FiiO F3 shined. For budget earphones, these are able to resolve a whole lot of detail and manage to be smooth all the way through. Highs sit a bit forward in the mix which caused a bit of fatigue over long-term listening. It does add a certain bite to the music and makes it all the more exciting. Listening to Youve Got To Have Freedom by Pharoah Sanders was a treat and every note was well discernable though our observations around mid bass remained to be a matter for concern. A couple of listens later though we simply had to take a break because of the boosted treble performance which causes fatigue.

Soundstage is about par for the category. A tad bit wider than the 1More Pistons but not by a huge stretch. You wont feel as if youve got two speakers placed next to you but youre not going to be placing individual instruments in an orchestra around you either. For entry-level, budget earphones the FiiO F3 performs well enough and though complex pieces can make it hard to individually place sound direction, it is no worse than anything else in this price band.

Conclusion

With an interesting, customizable design, the FiiO F3 is being aimed at the fashion conscious user who wants to step up from poor quality bundled in earphones. A well-provisioned box pack, excellent cable to reduce microphones and a fairly unique looking headphone and were looking at a value for money proposition. Add to that tight bass that accentuates modern pop, hip hop music; the mids that make sure that audio rendition is spot on despite being a bit distant as well as the beautifully textured highs, the FiiO F3 is deserving of its price point.
Broadcom has finally made an offer to acquire Qualcomm at $130 Billion, which is $70 per share which consist of $60.00 in cash and $10.00 per share in Broadcom shares just as reported. Broadcoms offer is almost 28% premium over the closing price of the Qualcomm common stocks closing price on Nov. 2, 2017.

It is known that Qualcomm is in talks of taking over the NXP which is the worlds biggest largest makers of chips for vehicles. However, Broadcom says that the Proposal Stands Whether Qualcomms Acquisition of NXP is Consummated on the Currently Disclosed Terms of $110 per Share or is Terminated. The proposed Broadcom-Qualcomm transaction is valued at approximately $130 billion on a pro forma basis, including $25 billion of net debt.

Buying Qualcomm would make Broadcom third-largest chipmaker sitting right behind Intel and Samsung Electronics. Broadcom says that Qualcomms cellular business is highly complementary to Broadcoms portfolio, and the combination would create a strong, global company with an impressive portfolio of technologies and products.

Qualcomm, on the other hand, has acknowledged that it has received the proposal from Broadcom and said that Board of Directors are in talks with the financial and legal advisors and will assess the proposal in order to pursue the course of action that is in the best interests of Qualcomm shareholders. It says that the company will have no further comments until the Board of Directors has completed its review.

Hock E. Tan, CEO, Broadcom, Commenting on the proposal has said,

We have great respect for the company founded 32 years ago by Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi and their colleagues, and the revolutionary technologies they developed. Following the combination, Qualcomm will be best positioned to build on its legacy of innovation and invention. Given the common strengths of our businesses and our shared heritage of, and continued focus on, technology innovation, we are confident we can quickly realize the benefits of this compelling transaction for all stakeholders. Importantly, we believe that Qualcomm and Broadcom employees will benefit from substantial opportunities for growth and development as part of a larger company.

Source 1, 2
Samsungs fight with Apple seems to have come to an end at the moment as Supreme court has refused to hear Samsungs appeal in the case. Backing the circuit court decision reinstating a $120 million penalty for Apples patent infringement technologies like slide to unlock and autocorrecting text.

The current appeal comes from May 2014 verdict by a jury in federal court in San Jose, California who ordered Samsung to pay $119.6 million for using the Apple technology. Samsung, however, argued saying that the lower court didnt consider additional legal material, and has changed laws for both issuing injunctions and invalidating patents.

Though the $120 Million isnt a big number for a company like Samsung, it is about having to pay the money in the first place. Samsung has been fighting the lawsuit for a long time and now it looks like this is a roadblock for Samsung as it doesnt have any courts to turn to.

Samsung has released a statement after the Supreme Court rejected its appeal,

Our argument was supported by many who believed that the Court should hear the case to reinstate fair standards that promote innovation and prevent abuse of the patent system. One of Apples patents at issue in this case has been invalidated by courts around the world, and yet todays decision allows Apple to unjustly profit from this patent, stunts innovation and places competition in the courtroom rather than the marketplace.

Source | Via
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

NZMP, which stands for New Zealand Milk Products, is the ingredients and solutions brand of Fonterra. We have one of the broadest ranges in the dairy industry; sold in over 130 countries and used by some of the worlds most famous food and nutrition brands. We are backed by Fonterras New Zealand grass-fed farming heritage, passion for innovation, and leading processing and quality standards. NZMP ingredients deliver our customers real market advantage and exceptional quality.
Getting anywhere on the planet in under an hour  one of the more intriguing possibilities that Elon Musk, the billionaire innovator, raised as he unveiled plans for a new rocket.

Musk said the vessel would both take off and land vertically, like a space rocket. It would fly most routes  New York to Tokyo, for example  in about 30 minutes, and anywhere in under an hour.

At a presentation Friday in Australia, Musk showed off plans for the so-called BFR rocket, which would also be able to bring satellites into orbit and crews to Mars.

Musk's company, SpaceX, has been able to make smaller rockets land vertically, though the technical and commercial feasibility of this new venture is yet to be determined.
Zeta Global co-founder John Sculley and Zeta Global CEO David Steinberg weighed in on why artificial intelligence will play a key role in the future of technology.

Well, I think the growth is clearly in the cloud, its about mobility, but its all about scaling because artificial intelligence lets us take the complexity of life and enable us to do things on a massive scale, thats exactly what Zeta Global is doing, Sculley told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

When The Wall Street Journal Global Economics Editor Jon Hilsenrath asked how artificial intelligence might impact FOX viewers, Steinberg responded, As my kids like to tell me all the time, Dad, youre not curing cancer. But artificial intelligence probably will. Not the way we use it but the way its being developed. If you think about, effectively, you can create a program that can get smarter as it gets more information and thats really what artificial intelligence is.

According to Steinberg, artificial intelligence helps process data faster in order to make more informed decisions.

For example, if youve got a terabyte of data, which is a billion gigabytes, no human can go through that amount of information in a period of time that would actually allow you to make a decision, Steinberg said on Mornings with Maria.

Steinberg then gave an example, telling Bartiromo, We have a very large automotive client that we can process a terabyte of data fast enough to publish a customized offer to a person visiting a website in the three milliseconds it takes that site to load.
Steve Green, president of faith-based retail arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, appeared on the FOX Business Network Monday to discuss the new book he has co-authored about the Bible with his wife Jackie, called This Dangerous Book.

Steve Green described the central premise of the book, telling the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney, The Bible itself is and can be very dangerous. There are people even today that are losing their life just for owning it in some countries. And so, we talk about how that this book has impacted our lives, its caused us to go on directions and make decisions that we may not have made were it not for the guidelines that were in the Bible.

Steve Green also discussed the deadly shooting at a church in the suburbs of San Antonio, Texas on Sunday that killed at least 26 people and wounded 20 others.

Were reminded almost on a daily basis now that there is evil in the world. There always has been and there always will be, and the Bible really kind of gives us guidelines and tells us that and in many cases is a source of comfort for many people, Green said on Varney & Co.

Jackie Green added that she hoped the Bible would bring those grieving some solace during the difficult time.

Were absolutely shocked and theres just no, there are no words for those people that are just hurting today, but we hope that the Bible will offer them some sort of comfort but there are a lot of hurting people in our world today.
A new breakthrough on the cusp of human trials may mean lifelong protection against the flu.

A single vaccine, proven to work in mice, appears to provide broad protection against the virus, according to new research from the Nebraska Center for Virology.

I think this is a very exciting research, Fox News medical correspondent, Dr. Marc Siegel, told FOX Businesss Stuart Varney on Varney & Co. It looks like it will give you a lifetime immunity against all the major flu strains. I like it.

Currently, 40 million Americans contract the influenza virus each year, with close to one million being hospitalized during the 2015-2016 flu season, according to data from The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC).

The flu molecule is changing all the time. So every year we are like shooting at a target thats infecting people in South America or infecting people in Australia or Asia and then we say will that be the prevalent strain here? We only end up with a 40% or 60% success rate at cutting down at the severity of flu with the current vaccine, said Siegel.

The new vaccine looks at the four most important genes on the four predominant strainscalled ancient flu strainsSiegel said, adding that it may not make you sick.
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) announced Tuesday that its officially in the Italian baking business.

The coffee chain opened its first Italian Princi bakery in Seattle as part of an investment to grow its Reserve Roastery locations.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % SBUX STARBUCKS CORP. 97.83 +0.41 +0.42%

Princi, which already has six locations in Milan and London, entered an exclusive agreement with Starbucks to offer its specialized Italian breads and food in all of the coffee chains new Reserve Roastery locations, with plans to open one in Shanghai in December 2017, Milan in late 2018 and New York, Tokyo and Chicago thereafter.

Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz said in a statement that Italian baker Rocco Princi has created an Italian food experience that he thinks is unparalleled.

His passion for authentic food and respect for Milanese culture come through in everything he does, and I think our customers are going to fall in love with Princi, Schultz wrote.

Each Princi location will now offer more than 100 menu items to its Starbucks consumers  from flaky cornetti to focaccia sandwiches filed with salame Milano and mozzarella di bufala, with all ingredients imported directly from Italy.

In 2016, Starbucks announced that it had joined a global investment team that included Milan-based Angel Capital Management and Pekepan Investments to expand Princi bakeries into international markets. Starbucks said it plans to open multiple standalone bakeries in addition to its Starbucks Reserve Roastery locations as part of the deal in 2018.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, the closest he has come to the frontlines of the nuclear standoff with North Korea, on a visit that could further aggravate tensions with Pyongyang.

Landing at Osan Air Base outside the capital Seoul, Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began his 24-hour state visit with a ceremonial military honor guard arrayed on the airport tarmac.

The White House says Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate U.S. resolve over his hardline approach to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, but many in the region fear that further bellicose presidential rhetoric could increase the risk of a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups will conduct exercises together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a show of force rarely seen in the region, U.S. officials said, as Trump continues his 12-day Asia tour aimed at forging a united front against North Korea and developing trade.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions and an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump on Tuesday was due to tour the main garrison for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the sprawling Camp Humphreys, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea. He will later hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Trump is seeking to further ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed to do so, suggesting that the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.

The South Korea leg of Trumps trip is an effort to present a united front despite differences with Moon over how to confront North Korea, as well as Trump's complaints over the two countries' trade agreement and South Korean defense spending.

Trump has rattled some U.S. allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States, for deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission and for dismissing as pointless any diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

Kim, who has also made clear he has little interest in negotiations, at least until North Korea develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States, has called Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard.

(Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Christine Kim, Soyoung Kim, James Pearson and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington; writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Nick Macfie and Michael Perry)
Every day, Wall Street analysts upgrade some stocks, downgrade others, and "initiate coverage" on a few more. But do these analysts even know what they're talking about? Today, we're taking one high-profile Wall Street pick and putting it under the microscope...

Consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) is one of the Pentagon's favorite defense contractors, racking up billions of dollars of Defense Department contracts every year. The company ran into a bit of trouble this past summer, when the Department of Justice announced a "civil and criminal investigation" into activities at a Booz Allen subsidiary accused of using hinky accounting in its "cost charging practices with the U.S. government."

That investigation cost Booz Allen Hamilton a 20% hit to its stock price back in June, when the investigation was first reported in the pages of The New York Times. Booz Allen eventually clawed its way back to where its stock price was before the scandal broke, but then an earnings report on Monday hit shares with another 4% drop.

Bad news? It sure sounds like it. But in the opinion of one analyst, Booz Allen's latest stock price drop is giving investors a second bite at the apple. Here's what you need to know.

Jefferies is jonesing for Booz

This morning, analysts at Jefferies & Co. announced they are upgrading Booz Allen Hamilton stock to buy and assigning the shares a $44 price target. Jefferies' new price target sits 20% above what Booz shares costs today -- and 22% higher than Jefferies' prior price target of $36 per share.

Why does Jefferies think Booz Allen stock is worth so much? To find out, let's first take a look at what Booz had to say about earnings yesterday.

What Booz Allen said

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Booz Allen's stock price drop yesterday is that it didn't come about as the result of an earnings miss. To the contrary, reporting earnings for its fiscal Q2 2018, Booz beat analyst expectations by earning $0.47 per diluted share on $1.54 billion in revenue -- both numbers being ahead of analyst estimates. Revenue was up 10.6% over last year's Q2, with operating profits up 7.5%, net income increasing 12.9%, and earnings per share rising 14.6%. Booz Allen CEO Horacio Rozanski called these results "another quarter of strong operational performance."

And that's not all. Reaffirming its previous guidance, Booz told investors they can expect to see revenue growth between 4% and 7% for full year fiscal 2018. (Note that Booz considers now to be "fiscal 2018"). According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, that works out to sales of between $6 billion and $6.2 billion. Full-year profits should rise to between $1.80 per share and $1.90 per share -- at least 8% growth over last year's $1.67 in per-share profit.

What Jefferies said about that

Jefferies found these results impressive -- sufficiently so to justify assigning Booz Allen a buy rating. But why?

Booz Allen is projecting full-year sales growth of no more than 7%, which implies a slowdown from the 10%-plus growth experienced in fiscal Q2. And yet, according to a write-up on TheFly.com this morning, Jefferies still characterizes Booz's performance as "peer-leading revenue growth." For example, last quarter, Booz rival CACI International grew sales barely 2%, while SAIC's revenues actually shrank by nearly 2% year over year. In that context, Booz Allen's only modest revenue performance actually does appear to be "leading" its peers.

The bull case for Booz Allen Hamilton

What's more, Booz Allen's performance could be getting ready to take off. According to the company, total backlog at Booz soared more than 22% during the fiscal second quarter, reaching a new high of $16.7 billion. Booz Allen landed new contracts worth nearly three times the amount of revenue it recorded in the quarter during the quarter -- a book-to-bill ratio of 2.7 that management observed was "the second highest result since the Company's initial public offering." Assuming Booz Allen's backlog converts into sales over time (as one would imagine it should), Booz Allen's "revenue growth" could continue "leading" its rivals for years to come.

So could Booz Allen Hamilton's stock price.

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The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday lifted its ban of Los Angeles Times reporters and critics from its press screenings after a widespread backlash prompted several media outlets to announce their own boycotts of Disney movies.

In a statement Tuesday, Disney said it was restoring access to the newspaper after "productive discussions with the newly installed leadership" at the Los Angeles Times. Disney had barred the Times from its screenings after the paper published a two-part investigative series on the company's business dealings in Anaheim, California, where Disneyland is.

The ban's withdraw Tuesday ended an unusual clash between Hollywood's arguably most powerful studio and the media outlets that regularly write about its movies.

"The Los Angeles Times has covered the Walt Disney Company since its founding, here in Los Angeles, in 1923," the newspaper said in a statement. "We look forward to reporting on Disney well into the future."

Disney's punitive measures against the Times led to many outlets refusing advance coverage of the studio's films, including The New York Times, the Boston Globe and The A.V. Club. Four prominent film critics groups announced Tuesday that they would bar Disney films from receiving awards consideration

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics all said that wouldn't consider Disney films for their year-end awards. The critics groups noted that it was "admittedly extraordinary" to "take any action that might penalize film artists for decisions beyond their control."

"But Disney brought forth this action when it chose to punish The Times' journalists rather than express its disagreement with a business story via ongoing public discussion," the statement continued. "Disney's response should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included."

The New York Times said in a statement Tuesday that it wouldn't attend preview screenings of Disney films while the LA Times can't, saying Disney's move is a "dangerous precedent and not at all in the public interest."

Disney on Friday said that the Times series in September detailing what it characterized as a complicated and increasingly tense relationship between Anaheim and the company showed "a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards." It added that the Times published a "biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda."

Daniel Miller, the Times reporter who wrote the series, tweeted that "Disney never asked for a correction."

With the ban concluded, critics said they would return to business as usual. Disney's upcoming films are the Pixar release "Coco" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

"See you guys at the Coco screening," wrote New York Times critic A.O. Scott.

___

Associated Press Writers Patrick Mairs and Tali Arbel contributed to this report.
General Electric is weighing options for its aircraft leasing operations, including the sale of all or part of the business, as Chief Executive John Flannery searches for new divestitures, according to people familiar with the matter.

GE's move on GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the world's second-largest lessor, follows expressions of interest from some of its competitors, the sources said.

A spin-off of the business is also a possibility, the sources said, cautioning that GE may decide to keep the business.

The move comes at a time when a flood of Chinese funding is shaping the $260 billion-strong aircraft leasing industry as a significant new asset class.

GE declined to comment. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.

GECAS has a fleet of roughly 1,300 planes worth an estimated $25 billion, ranking behind only U.S.-listed AerCap Holdings NV <AER.N>, which is estimated to have a $30 billion portfolio, according to data from industry consultancy Ascend Flightglobal. AerCap has a market value of $8.3 billion.

Some 40 percent of the airline industry's aircraft is leased to avoid the fixed costs of owning planes.

Both GECAS and AerCap trace their roots to the collapsed (Guinness Peat Aviation) (GPA) leasing empire of Irish leasing baron, Tony Ryan, over two decades ago.

GE Capital bought $1.3 billion of prime GPA assets and struck a deal to manage most of the rest to form GECAS  coupling GPA's hardware with GE's balance sheet. The remaining core of old GPA was later acquired by AerCap, which is now the main competitor to GECAS.

RISE OF ASIAN LESSORS

Consolidation in the leasing sector has intensified in the last few years, as Asian competitors chip away at the market shares of GECAS and AerCap. GECAS has also been trimming its fleet in the last few years.

"I believe that GECAS sees opportunity in the market to sell aircraft with leases attached to new emerging lessors which allows them to generate profit on these specific transactions whilst also managing their asset and customer concentration risk," said Rob Morris, global head of consultancy at Ascend Flightglobal.

Avolon Holdings, owned by China's shipping-and-airline giant HNA Group, has vaulted to become the world's third biggest lessor after acquiring U.S. rival CIT Group's plane leasing business this year.

Bank of China-owned Bank of China Aviation and subsidiaries of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Development Bank and Bank of Communications have emerged among the list of top 15 lessors after placing multi-billion dollar orders for Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

In June, GECAS struck a partnership with Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Canada's second largest pension fund, to create a new company focused on leasing high-tech, fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft.

Flannery has been looking for divestitures to meet his goal of identifying more than $20 billion worth of assets for GE. The company has also been exploring divesting its transportation and healthcare information technology businesses, sources said last month.

GE is looking to bounce back after what Flannery said last month were horrible results in the third quarter. He has argued that GE's strong businesses are being held back by others that "drain investment and management resources without the prospect for a substantial reward".

Flannery is due to update GE shareholders on the company's strategy at an event on Nov. 13.

(Reporting by Anshuman Daga in SINGAPORE and Greg Roumeliotis in NEW YORK; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in PARIS and Alwyn Scott in NEW YORK; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Tom Brown and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced Tuesday that it has used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to deliver packages over water for the first time.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba uses unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver packages over water on October 31, 2017. [Photo: sina.com]

Three drones carrying a total six boxes of passion fruit with a combined weight of around 12 kilograms flew from Putian in east China's Fujian Province to nearby Meizhou Island on October 31, the company said.

Flying into a strong wind, the drones took nine minutes to make the five-kilometer crossing. Each drone can carry up to seven kilograms.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba uses unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver packages over water on October 31, 2017. [Photo: sina.com]

The drones were jointly developed by Alibaba's delivery arm Cainiao Network, the company's rural shopping platform Rural Taobao, and a domestic technology firm.

Zeng Jinmei, an online store owner based on the island, said that the drone delivery service will cut the transportation time by half and save logistic costs.

Alibaba has prepared extra drones ahead of the upcoming November 11"Singles' Day" shopping festival.

The day, which can be compared to Black Friday in the United States, became a shopping festival in China after Alibaba launched a major promotional campaign in 2009.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba uses unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver packages over water on October 31, 2017. [Photo: sina.com]

Alibaba plans to use drones to deliver high value-added products such as fresh food and medical supplies over water in the future.

Using drones to deliver packages has increased in recent years. Another Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com started conducting trial deliveries using drones in 2016. Smaller drones are being used in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province and Suqian, Jiangsu Province.
Hong Kong remains the world's most visited city by international travelers in spite of strained relations with neighboring China, industry experts said Tuesday.

In a report on the top 100 city destinations that highlights the growth in Asian tourism, market research firm Euromonitor International said 25.7 million arrivals are expected in Hong Kong this year.

The figure is down 3.2 percent compared with 2016, largely because tensions with China have grown this year as Beijing has sought to exercise more control on the territory.

Euromonitor expects the downturn to be short-lived and that growth will pick up again from next year and that arrivals to Hong Kong will reach a massive 45 million by 2025.

Unlike Hong Kong, the Thai capital of Bangkok posted further increases in arrivals this year largely linked to tour packages targeted at first-time travelers from China. Its arrivals in 2017 are expected to be 9.5 percent higher at 21.3 million, a rise that's pushed it further ahead of London, which remains in third spot with 19.8 million arrivals.

Visits to London rose 3.4 percent in 2017, largely due to the 15 percent fall in the value of the pound since the country's vote last year to leave the European Union. That has helped shift perceptions about Britain being an expensive place to visit.

"The currency depreciation has been a boon for inbound tourism into Britain," said Caroline Bremner, Euromonitor's head of travel. "It's now deemed value for money."

However, Euromonitor warned that the "Brexit bounce" may soon end if the country's departure from the EU in March 2019 undermines London's dominant position in the financial industry and its status as a hub for start-up businesses.

The research firm said London is set to set to slip down to sixth in the rankings in the coming seven year as a result of a rise in travel to Asian cities. Euromonitor expects 47 Asian cities to be in the top 100 by 2025, against 41 now and just 34 in 2010.

"The impact of inter-Asian travel, predominantly from China in particular, cannot be underestimated," said Wouter Geerts, Euromonitor's senior travel analyst and author of the report, which was prepared for the World Travel Market, the industry's top event. "Asia Pacific is the standout region that has driven change in the travel landscape over the past decade and is expected to continue doing so in the coming decade."

Elsewhere, the survey found that extremist attacks have had diverging effects in cities. While Istanbul has seen a 5.8 percent decline in arrivals this year to 9.2 million, cities like London, Paris and Barcelona have seen little long-lasting impact.

The report shows that much of the tourism that went to Istanbul and other Mediterranean destinations affected by attacks, like Tunisia and Egypt, have gone to Greece and Italy, which are considered "relatively quiet and stable."

Greece is set for a record-breaking year, with the Cretan city of Heraklion the fastest-growing in Europe in the top 100, with arrivals up 11.2 percent this year to more than 3 million. Athens, the Greek capital, is also enjoying a boom, with numbers up 10 percent, lifting its position by one to 47th.

For Greece, the surge in visits is particularly important as tourism accounts for a fifth of the economy, which has shrunk by a quarter during its debt crisis of recent years. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that tourism in 2017 will help boost the Greek economy by 6.9 percent, supporting nearly a million jobs.

The top U.S. city on the list is New York, which retains eighth spot after a 3.6 percent increase in arrivals in 2017 to 13.1 million. Miami was the second most-visited U.S. city with 8.1 million arrivals, up 3.1 percent.
Leaked papers revealing investments in tax havens by the world's wealthy suggest that several Russian oligarchs have registered private jets in the Isle of Man, avoiding taxes in Russia.

Russia's Novaya Gazeta, which shared access to the "Paradise Papers" with other organizations, reported late Monday that 17 jets have been registered in the Isle of Man, a crown dependency of the U.K. The jets were registered on the behalf of individuals including Russian President Vladimir Putin's childhood friends, the Rotenberg brothers, and metals tycoon Oleg Deripaska.

Other reports showed Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton also registering a jet there.

Much of the "Paradise Papers" includes bank statements, emails and loan agreements from Appleby, a law firm that helps set up offshore dummy companies and trusts. Appleby told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which obtained the records, that there is "no evidence" it has done anything wrong.

Novaya Gazeta said the documents showed how the rich took advantage of the local tax system to buy jets and import them to Europe without paying value added tax.

Novaya Gazeta calculated that the businessmen would have had to pay roughly $68 million in taxes if they had imported the jets to Russia.

Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, childhood friends of Putin, have registered three jets in the Isle of Man. Novaya Gazeta quoted email correspondence that detailed how Appleby was helping Arkady Rotenberg to import a jet from Canada to the European Union. Appleby suggested a scheme that involved several offshore companies that would pay taxes in the Island of Man so that in the end one firm of Rotenberg's would lease the jet to another.

Arkady and Boris Rotenberg set up their business in the 1990s but it was under Putin that their companies flourished, mostly thanks to lucrative state procurement contracts.
In the first Minnesota case to address a new and growing form of cybercrime, federal prosecutors have charged a man with paying computer hackers to sabotage websites affiliated with his former employer.

The FBI says the case represents a growing form of cybercrime in which professional hackers are paid to inflict damage on individuals, businesses and others who rely on digital devices connected to the web.

Prosecutors say 46-year-old John Kelsey Gammell hired hackers to bring down Washburn Computer Group in in Monticello, but also made monthly payments between July 2015 and September 2016 to damage web networks connected to the Minnesota Judicial Branch, Hennepin County and several banks.

The Star Tribune reports Gammell's attorney, Rachel Paulose, has argued her client didn't personally attack Washburn. Paulose has asked a federal magistrate to throw out evidence the FBI obtained from an unnamed researcher because that data could have been obtained by hacking.

"The government has failed to charge a single one of those 'cyber hit men' services, named and evidently well known to the government," Paulose said. "Instead the government's neglect has allowed the professional cyber hit men for hire to skip off merrily into the night."

The Washburn attacks were "essentially a prank on a dormant site not doing business," Paulose said.

"As a society that is increasingly reliant on network-connected devices, these types of cyberattacks pose a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and even our nation's critical infrastructure," said acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Brooker in Minneapolis.

State networks get an average of more than 3 million attempted cyberattacks daily, according to Minnesota IT Services, which administers the state's computer systems.

"A lot of people think it's just a nuisance," said Chris Buse, Minnesota's chief information security officer. "But it's not. If you look at what government does  basic critical services  if those services don't continue, people can literally die."

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
Oil settled lower on Tuesday after rising to the highest since July 2015 the previous day, while tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled down 58 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $63.69 a barrel, having climbed 3.5 percent on Monday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 fell 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $57.20 a barrel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to shore up his power base with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, which an official described as part of phase one of a crackdown.

More tellingly, tensions escalated between OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran, which analysts said did more to rattle the market than the princes purge.

Saudi Arabia is really going all-in again against Iran and that is, for me, more the focus than the domestic issue, Petromatrix strategist Olivier Jakob said.

On the one hand, it increases the global geopolitical risk level, but it also increases the difficulty of keeping consensus within OPEC.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) together with 10 other nations including Russia until March 2018.

OPEC meets at the end of this month and has been widely expected to extend the deal.

That idea that the extension is going to be a done deal is still adding buoyancy in the market, said Gene McGillian, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

The producers are in the process of inviting other countries to the Nov. 30 meeting, OPECs Mohammad Barkindo told reporters on Tuesday, with a view to joining the deal. He declined to name the countries concerned.

Brazil has rejected an informal effort by Saudi Arabia to coax Latin Americas top oil producer into joining OPEC-led production cuts aimed at boosting prices that have been hit by oversupply, a Brazilian official said.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday that it was closing all Yemeni air, sea and land crossings after a missile was fired towards Riyadh at the weekend.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they see Iran as responsible for the Yemen conflict and on Monday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country reserves the right to respond to Irans hostile actions.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast domestic crude oil production in 2018 to rise by more than previously expected.

In its monthly short-term energy outlook, the agency forecast that U.S. crude oil output will rise by 720,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.95 million bpd in 2018. Last month, it expected a 680,000 bpd year-over-year increase to 9.92 million bpd.

Market watchers were looking ahead to weekly energy data from the American Petroleum Institute at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT).

U.S crude oil and refined product inventories were seen falling for a second straight week, an extended Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.
North Korea and trade were expected to be the two main topics President Donald Trump would address during his five-country Asia tour, however, he may have to put the latter aside during his visit to South Korea on Tuesday, where the pair of political allies have dominant differences.

Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman. We will figure it all out!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

The U.S.s trade deficit with South Korea is more than $17 billion so far this year, and totaled more than $27.5 billion in 2016, according to government statistics. South Korea is the nations sixth-largest goods trading partner and seventh-largest export market.

Despite rising tensions with Pyongyang over its nuclear program, President Trump, who has been cracking down on unfair trade relationships, proposed ending the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement, known as KORUS, as recently as September. The two countries have since agreed on renegotiation.

U.S. companies have also aired their fair share of complaints about Seoul. Chip maker Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is entangled in an expensive legal dispute with the countrys trade court after the Korea Fair Trade Commission found that it was breaching antitrust laws by practicing what the court deemed to be unfair business practices in patent licensing and chip sales. Qualcomm has challenged the decisions and resulting penalties, which some have said go against the terms laid out in KORUS.

Meanwhile, home appliance maker Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) recently won a vote before the U.S. International Trade Commission after bringing forth a complaint that its South Korean rivals, LG Electronics and Samsung, were dumping washing machines into the U.S. market. The court voted unanimously in favor of Whirlpool and is expected to recommend suggested remedies later this month, which could include tariffs on imported washers. As previously reported by FOX Business, President Trump is in a peculiar position in this circumstance because both LG and Samsung have plans to open U.S. factories in the coming years.

Experts speculate that in order for Trump to get South Koreas full cooperation on a cohesive North Korea deterrence strategy, he may have to put trade issues on the back burner, at least in Seoul.

Trump began his trip in Hawaii on Friday, from where he is scheduled to visit five Asian countries including Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Trade is expected to be a prominent issue during Trumps visit to China, where the countries are working toward fostering a healthier economic relationship.
The good times for U.S. oil producers wont last for long, with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) forecasting in its 2017 World Oil Outlook (WOO) that U.S. tight oil output will peak in 2025.

In the medium-term, U.S. shale will remain the most important contributor to non-OPEC supply, but come 2025, the pressure will be back on OPEC to increase crude oil output to make up for the fall in American output. Future output growth could also come from Canada, Russia and Argentina.

While this is on the horizon, right now when it comes to oil production, U.S. shale oil output is still a major component of the global oil supply.

In its latest report, OPEC upgraded its expectations for shale oil output versus last years WOO. This upgrade comes as U.S. shale oil producers have been more efficient, and decreased their costs. OPEC noted that as oil prices go up, some costs will also rise, but at the same time some of these efficiencies will last.

A departure from the norm, in this years WOO OPEC refrained from making price projections. At their press conference discussing the 2017 WOO, OPEC noted that prices are being driven not just by fundamentals, but by other factors, including geopolitics.

OPEC says that it has seen market fundamentals turning extremely bullish since the summer of 2017. During the conference the organization added that the oil market has been out of balance since the fall of 2014, and it is finally coming back to balance.
The stock market had a relatively quiet day on Tuesday, leaving major benchmarks little changed from yesterday's close. After initial optimism about the prospects for tax reform, investors seem to now grasp the challenge in getting legislation through Congress quickly enough to implement changes for the 2018 tax year. Many believe that the strong performance in stocks in 2017 has hinged on eventual reductions in the corporate tax rate, and if tax reform grows less certain, markets could see their volatility levels increase. Yet several individual companies enjoyed good news that lifted their shares, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE: VRX), Denbury Resources (NYSE: DNR), and Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) were among the best performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so well.

Valeant bounces back

Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International jumped 17% after the controversial drug manufacturer posted its third-quarter financial report. Revenue for the company was down more than 10% from year-earlier figures, but it managed to earn a profit thanks to a one-time tax benefit. Even though Valeant suffered from issues like the loss of patent exclusivity on some of its treatments, growth in areas like its Bausch + Lomb business and its Salix drug unit helped to bolster confidence about the overall company's future. Valeant still has a lot of work to do, and continuing to cut its debt and find ways to bolster sales and profits will be priorities going forward. Still, Valeant made enough progress to satisfy shareholders for the time being.

Denbury powers up

Denbury Resources stock rose more than 7% in the wake of the company's third-quarter financial report. The oil exploration and production company boosted its revenue and adjusted net income from the year-earlier period, taking advantage of more favorable conditions in the oil patch. Denbury CEO Chris Kendall celebrated the high-quality assets that the company has, and even with negative impacts from Hurricane Harvey, Denbury managed to keep production levels up. With oil prices having moved higher recently, the energy company is optimistic about its ability to boost production further while keeping costs under control to maximize overall profit.

Kindred stays upbeat despite losses

Finally, shares of Kindred Healthcare soared 40%. The healthcare services provider's third-quarter results included a net loss for the quarter and substantial declines in revenue, but investors instead seemed to focus on the progress that Kindred has made toward making major strategic moves. CEO Benjamin Breier said that efforts to exit the skilled nursing facility business and mitigate negative impacts from its long-term acute care unit are starting to pay off. Kindred cited the hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida as contributing factors to the declines in financial results, but investors were pleased that the healthcare company has been able to hold up as well as it has while taking big steps toward optimizing its business opportunities in the years to come.

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Republican leaders recently told Americans about their new tax reform proposal, introducing it as part of a key bill in the House of Representatives. Most of the provisions in the bill were expected, including a simplified set of tax brackets for individual taxpayers, lower corporate tax rates, the phasing out of the estate tax, and the elimination of other provisions like the alternative minimum tax.

One key break for individuals involves a near-doubling of the standard deduction. Although many taxpayers worried that the elimination of the personal exemption would lead to a net tax increase on larger families, the current proposal includes a replacement in the form of a tax credit of $300 per non-child dependent, in addition to increased child tax credits of $1,600 for eligible children. Yet while the child tax credit increase would be permanent, the $300 credit amount isn't, and that has some questioning the motives of lawmakers.

Watching the sun set on non-child dependent credits

Many of the provisions of the tax reform package would be permanent. Lower corporate tax rates and the elimination of the AMT would take place immediately, and they're slated to remain in place indefinitely with no sunset provision.

However, the $300 credits for non-child depends are subject to sunset provisions. The current legislation puts them in place for five years; after that, if Congress and the President don't take action, then their sunset provision will take effect and remove the tax credit for tax years beginning in 2023.

Why would Congress leave the credit up in the air?

The primary problem that lawmakers have is that they're operating under highly restricted rules. In order to move a bill through Congress without fear of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate, Republicans had to keep the tax reform package as part of broader budget reconciliation legislation. The limit for increased deficits over the next 10 years for such treatment is $1.5 trillion.

Therefore, proponents of the measure are looking closely at every penny spent under the proposal. Because scoring for budget purposes only looks 10 years into the future, the key period is from 2018 to 2027.

By setting the credit to expire in 2022, lawmakers only have to count five years' worth of the credit's cost against the $1.5 trillion amount. However, proponents of the measure will argue that their intent isn't to let a valuable middle-class tax cut expire any sooner than necessary. By leaving a sunset provision in the current bill but promising later extensions of the credit, lawmakers get to claim the benefit of the credit without being on the hook for paying for it under current budgeting rules.

A lesson from the past

Republicans would be well-advised to look at history to see how similar sunset provisions have worked in the past. The Bush-era tax cuts in the early 2000s were set up with a 10-year sunset clause that would have automatically reverted to pre-cut levels in the early 2010s. In the end, it was up to a Democratic White House to negotiate with lawmakers to figure out which of the Bush-era tax cuts to extend. The compromise involved sustaining many benefits for low-income and middle-income taxpayers, but it resulted in the top tax rates on dividend income and long-term capital gains rising from 15% to 20%, and also returned the top tax rate to 39.6%.

Something similar could happen in 2023. Lawmakers in either party would be loath to allow a tax credit to expire, but at the same time, the sunset date would create a negotiating opportunity for both parties. The net result might be an extension of the tax break, but it could come at a cost for certain groups of taxpayers.

Be on your guard

Many taxpayers don't understand the sophisticated rules that govern budget-making on Capitol Hill. As lawmakers haggle over various tax proposals in the weeks to come, you'll want to make sure you keep your eye on the ways that certain provisions change. Without knowing the details of each provision, you could find yourself greatly misunderstanding the net impact of tax reform on your personal taxes.

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MADISON  Residents of any age, even toddlers, could legally hunt in Wisconsin under a bill the Assembly passed Thursday that eliminates the states minimum hunting age.

Currently, a resident must be at least 12 years old to purchase a hunting license or hunt with a gun unless theyre participating in a mentored hunt. Children as young as 10 can hunt under that program.

The Republican-authored bill would allow people of any age to participate in a mentored hunt, effectively letting anyone hunt. The measure also would eliminate the requirement that a hunter and mentor have only one weapon between them.

The GOP-controlled Assembly passed the bill 57-32, despite complaints from Democrats that the measure would put guns in the hands of young children and put everyone in the woods in danger.

Its just crazy (the minimum age) would go below 10, Rep. Gary Hebl of Sun Prairie said. Absolute insanity that were talking about giving a kid a gun at any age so they experience the heritage of hunting. The most important factor is safety.

Rep. Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point warned Republicans that younger children cant pay attention to their mentors.

To allow ... a toddler, a two-year-old (to carry a gun), and Im not being hyperbolic because someone will allow it, is dangerous, she said. Other hunters in the woods are not going to choose to get hurt by a child with a rifle.

Republicans countered that parents should decide when children are old enough to handle weapons.

The bills author, Rep. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond, told reporters before the Assembly took the floor that not every hunter uses high-powered rifles and he believed he was capable of handling a .22-caliber rifle when he was eight years old.

He said during the Assembly floor debate that his daughter killed a bear at age 11 but held her back from bear hunting when she was 10 because she wasnt ready.

Were returning the choice to the parent, Stafsholt said.

The National Rifle Association, the Safari Club, Whitetails of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and Wisconsin Force, a group of shooting range owners, have all registered in support of the bill. The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is the only group to register in opposition.

Three Republicans voted against the bill, while four Democrats voted for it.

The measure now goes to the state Senate.
Saudi Arabias government spearheaded a surprise anti-corruption sweep over the weekend, arresting Prince al-Waleed bin Talal and dozens of current and former ministers, a move that could destabilize the Kingdoms market ahead of the highly-anticipated Saudi Aramco IPO.

Any time a government [makes] an unexpected policy [decision] it causes markets to be jittery when its something that comprehensive, Amy Myers Jaffe, David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Center on Foreign Relations, told FOX Business. [The campaign was] so swift and so bold that it didnt really give markets a chance to adjust to the concept and therefore it now sets a context against which the IPO and all other [economically-oriented] things in Saudi Arabia will be judged in terms of risk versus no-risk.

Saudi Arabias King Salman installed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince and heir apparent in June, a surprise restructuring of power, replacing the Kings nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and stripping him of all his posts. The change was viewed as a shock, but the new Crown Prince has been instrumental in pushing the Aramco IPO forward, in addition to implementing social and economic reforms. He also heads the anti-corruption body responsible for the recent arrests.

Myers Jaffe said she was surprised by the comprehensive ambition of the anti-corruption campaign, which included the arrests of at least 11 princes and some of the richest people in the country  and the world. While the Crown Prince had been clear that he was going to take steps toward eliminating domestic corruption, the nature of this unexpected probe was seen as a means for him to solidify his power and send a clear signal.

Even if the government in Saudi Arabia has changed its mind nimbly on a number of topics, ranging from oil prices to other economic policies, the Kingdom has been clear and consistent about its intention of carrying out the Aramco IPO and achieving its Vision 2030 economic goals, Myers Jaffe said.

I think the really open question is not so much can they pick a good strategy, how will they woo investors and so forth, she said. The question is can [the IPO] actually be successful?

She added that Aramco will be the first-state owned oil company to go public at a time when theres an abundance of oil as opposed to a scarcity, which could influence investors willingness to buy in.

The Aramco IPO could attract a $2 trillion valuation and could potentially be the worlds largest. The Kingdom is expecting to raise $100 billion to invest in companies around the world. The idea is that revenue generated from these investments can be used to sustain its budget even when oil prices, or supply, are low, in order to reduce its dependency on energy.

As previously reported by FOX Business, President Donald Trump suggested over the weekend that Saudi Arabia consider listing Aramco on the New York Stock Exchange.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said on Tuesday the U.S. should have a contingency plan for a Shah of Iran scenario in the Middle East, following growing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday, a ballistic missile, fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen and intended for one of Saudi Arabias largest airports, was intercepted over Riyadh, the Kingdoms capital. Saudi Arabia has previously accused Iran of training and helping to arm the rebels, according to The Associated Press.

The Iranians are on the march, theres no doubt about it. The Saudis, the others on the Gulf are very worried and they should be, Bolton told FOX Business Stuart Varney on Varney & Co.

Bolton, who served from Aug. 2005 until his resignation in December of 2006, said instability in the region is also alarming, and could affect more than just the two countries.

I dont think this is over in Saudi Arabia, I dont think the conflict among the Gulf StatesQatar being isolated at the momentI dont think thats over either. I think theres a lot of play here for terrorism within the Arab world, not to mention Iranian meddling, Bolton said, adding that as the situation unravels, oil prices could be impacted.
Harvey Weinstein was reportedly expelled on Monday from the prestigious Television Academy after more than 80 women spoke out, accusing the Hollywood mogul of sexual assault, harassment and rape, throughout a number of decades.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in a meeting on Monday, voted to expel Weinstein from the Academy for life, according to Variety.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN RECENT RAPE ALLEGATIONS ARE 'CREDIBLE,' EVIDENCE IS GATHERED FOR POSSIBLE ARREST WARRANT: NYPD

After a hearing today, the Television Academys governance has voted to expel Harvey Weinstein from the Academy for life, the Academy wrote in a statement to Variety. The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue.

The statement continued: The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behavior are deeply disturbing to the Academys leadership. We have been in contact with leaders across the industry and share with them a deep sense of responsibility to provide clear workplace benchmarks reflecting decency and respect.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN EXPELLED FROM MOTION PICTURE ACADEMY

As a result, we are expediting an already-begun detailed review and revision of our Television Academy membership codes of conduct. We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment.

The producer's expulsion comes less than a month after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences voted to expel Weinstein, once of the most powerful men in Hollywood.

News of the expulsion comes after the New York Police Department labeled a 2010 rape accusation against Weinstein "credible" last week. The NYPD is reportedly seeking more evidence in order to obtain an arrest warrant.
Journalist Ronan Farrow, who wrote the initial expose on now-disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein for The New Yorker, has published a new piece with some shocking allegations. According to his report, Weinstein spent more than a year using private investigators to track actresses and journalists in an effort to stop his predatory behavior from going public.

The New Yorker article alleges that Weinstein hired firms like Black Cube, which is largely made up of former officers from Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies, to look into women who could potentially go on the record about his sexual harassment and assault -- and to look into journalists working on similar stories, including Farrow himself.

The goal: to target and suppress anyone who might come forward to ruin Weinstein's reputation, according to the report.

A representative for Weinstein denied to the outlet that anyone was targeted or suppressed at any time. Reps for Weinstein did not respond to Fox News when reached for comment.

Two private investigators from Black Cube reportedly got information from actress Rose McGowan, who has been an outspoken critic of Weinstein and has publicly accused him of rape since exposes from The New York Times and The New Yorker were published in which many women came forward to tell their respective stories about Weinsteins predatory nature.

In addition, Farrow's new report revealed that Dylan Howard, the chief content officer of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer among other magazines, offered to share material a reporter had dug up which could have disproven McGowan's rape allegations. He later reportedly told Weinstein, I have something AMAZING, referring to audio from an off-the-record phone call between the reporter and Elizabeth Avellan, the ex-wife of director Robert Rodriguez, who had a relationship with McGowan.

Avellan told The New Yorker she never would have approved of trying to discredit McGowan. I dont want to shame people.

Howard responded to the magazine by saying his work for Weinstein was separate from his work as a journalist. I always separated those two roles carefully and completelyand resisted Mr. Weinsteins repeated efforts to have AMI titles publish favorable stories about him or negative articles about his accusers. He also said AMI had a now-terminated TV production agreement with Weinstein.

American Media Inc. did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.

McGowan also reportedly was approached by an operative using a false name and credentials to talk with her about womens rights issues in the workplace. In reality, she wanted to know if McGowan had spoken with any journalists and whether the actress would go on the record about her experience with Weinstein, according to the report. Not realizing that she was speaking to an operative, the Scream star reportedly met with the woman, and another operative who approached her at a later date, many times.

The story revealed that countless documents and audio recordings were provided to the 65-year-old studio head with information not only on actresses he allegedly assaulted, but journalists as well. The outlet cites seven people directly involved with the effort as well as dozens of pages of documents it unearthed as its sources for the new allegations against Weinstein.

Psychological profiles allegedly were created including information of past relationships, sexual histories and evidence of positive encounters between Weinstein and his potential accusers that could later be used to discredit the women if they came forward, which many did.

Also named in the story is Weinsteins lawyer, David Boies, who admitted to working with Weinstein and these agencies to stop the New York Times story from being published, despite his law firm representing the Times in a libel case at the time. In October 2016, he allegedly wired Black Cube the first hundred thousand dollars of an alleged $600,000 invoice. Its unclear how much of that total invoice was paid, but bonuses reportedly were offered if the company could stop any article from being published.

Although he vigorously denies using physical force, Mr. Weinstein has himself recognized that his contact with women was indefensible and incredibly hurtful, Boies told Farrow. In retrospect, I knew enough in 2015 that I believe I should have been on notice of a problem, and done something about it. I dont know what, if anything, happened after 2015, but to the extent it did, I think I have some responsibility. I also think that if people had taken action earlier it would have been better for Mr. Weinstein.

In a statement to Fox News, Boies, who previously argued for marriage equality at the Supreme Court and represented Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election, noted that he told Weinstein that neither he nor his firm would represent him against potential allegations of rape. He also made sure to warn him that he likely couldn't stop The New York Times story through "threats or influence." However, he believed at the time that Mr. Weinstein was merely trying to take proactive steps to prove his innocence on the matter of a rape allegation.

"While I told Mr. Weinstein that I was not in a position to represent him on these issues, his request to contract with investigators seemed at the time, like a reasonable accommodation for a longtime client," Boies told Fox News. "I regret having done this. It was a mistake to contract with, and pay on behalf of a client, investigators who we did not select and did not control. It was not thought through, and that was my mistake. I take responsibility for that."

After a fan told McGowan that the latest New Yorker piece should be made into a film, the actress responded: I do not need to do a film. I am the film.
Anthony Bourdain slammed Harvey Weinstein conspirators Monday night after a bombshell report revealed the fallen movie mogul hired private investigators to spy on women accusing him of sexual assault and journalists pursuing the story against him.

Bourdain called the New Yorker article written by Ronan Farrow, who also previously detailed womens encounters with Weinstein, a nuclear bombshell and said Dylan Howard was beneath whale s--t. Howard, the chief content officer of American Media Inc. that owns the National Enquirer, reportedly tipped off Weinstein by sharing information a reporter gathered against him. The information helped Weinsteins team fight Rose McGowans rape allegations, according to the New Yorker.

The latest @RonanFarrow in the @NewYorker is a nuclear bomb. Anyone who ever asked @rosemcgowan or @AsiaArgento, Why keep quiet? FU, Bourdain tweeted, referencing his girlfriend, Asia Argento, who told the New Yorker Weinstein raped her.

Ex-Mossad operatives? The biggest international security firms in the world on your case?? And these women STILL spoke up!! he added. And DYLAN HOWARD of American Media Inc? I hope people throw feces at you in the street. You are beneath whale s--t, Bourdain tweeted on Monday.

Bourdain continued, Millions of dollars and the worlds most powerful spookiest security firms, corporate espionage outfits , lawyers and media aligned [sic] against..

The Parts Unknown host also took a shot at David Bois, a lawyer who represented Weinstein and the New York Times at the same time. Bois admitted to working with Weinstein to stop the initial New York Times story against Weinstein from being published.

David Bois representing the NYT and Weinstein at the same time? Uh... Bourdain said.

The article claimed that Weinstein hired firms like Black Cube, largely made up of former officers from Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies, to look into women who were potentially looking to talk about his alleged sexual harassment and assault. Weinsteins reported goal was to target and suppress anyone who might tarnish his reputation in Hollywood.
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo said it has received new death threats after its latest front-page cartoon on Islam that features a sexually charged image of a prominent Muslim scholar who has been accused of rape.

Charlie Hebdo filed a complaint with Paris prosecutor's office, which said on Monday that it opened an investigation. The cover mocks Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan, who has recently been accused of rape but continues to teach at Oxford University.

Ramadan, 55, is considered a conservative Islamic intellectual in France. He has denied rape allegations and refers to them as a "campaign of slander." The Charlie Hebdo cover depicts a sexually aroused version of Ramadan and the text, "Rape: Tariq Ramadan's defense," with the caption: I am the sixth pillar of Islam.

The five pillars are faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. Some consider jihad the actual sixth pillar. Last month, French authorities opened an investigation into Ramadan after a woman filed a complaint with French authorities in Rouen accusing Ramadan of sexual harassment, rape and making death threats. Ramadan was once banned from the United States by George W. Bush in 2004, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reversed the decision in 2010.

The weekly publication continues to take bold stances against controversial figures despite being attacked by Islamic extremists in 2015 after poking fun at Muslim prophet Muhammad. The terror attack left 12 people dead inside the magazines office and made the phrase Je suis Charlie an international slogan of support.

Charlie Hebdo editor Laurent "Riss" Sourisseau told Europe 1 radio that threats "never really stopped" after the attack, but they always takes them seriously.

"It's always difficult to know if these are serious threats or not, but as a principle, we take them seriously and press charges," Sourisseau told the radio station.

Sourisseau is also the cartoonist for the Ramadan cover. Jean Plantu Plantureux, a longtime French editorial cartoonist, doesnt think the cover is a big deal despite a new batch of threats.

Its great this drawing. I dont see what people have against it. Hes got a big d*ck and says Im the sixth pillar of Islam. Theyre just having a bit of fun, Plantu told The Telegraph.

The satirical magazine has received backlash for mocking a variety of topics and subjects, coming under fire in 2016 for portraying Italian earthquake victims as pasta dishes.
"Gossip Girl" star Ed Westwick is denying the claims of an actress who went on Facebook on Monday to claim in an explicit post that the actor raped her.

Westwick posted a statement Tuesday regarding the post made by Kristina Cohen. He wrote on his social media pages, I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape."

On Monday, Cohen alleged in a lengthy Facebook post the British actor raped her three years ago at his home. The Ladies Like Us star said she decided to come forward with her allegations following a number of actresses speaking out about the sexual misconduct they say they experienced while working in Hollywood.

Buzzfeed published a story about the allegation against Westwick on Monday following Cohen's Facebook post but removed it, writing the piece was taken down for "failing to meet editorial standards." Following Westwick's statement, the news site put up a story about the allegation.

Cohen claimed she fell asleep at a get-together with the "J Edgar" actor and awoke when, she alleges, Westwick climbed on top of her.

KEVIN SPACEY ENTERS SAME SEX ADDICTION REHAB AS HARVEY WEINSTEIN, SAYS REPORT

I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldnt speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me, Cohen wrote.

The actress concluded that she was sickened by the way Westwick, 30, is respected.

WEINSTEIN ALLEGEDLY PAID ARMY OF INVESTIGATORS, EX-MOSSAD AGENTS TO KEEP ACTRESSES, JOURNALISTS FROM REVEALING PREDATORY BEHAVIOR

I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters, Cohen concluded.

Reps for Westwick and Cohen did not immediately return Fox News' requests for comment.

Westwick is the latest Hollywood star to be accused of sexual misconduct following last months bombshell allegations against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.
Elizabeth Smart is recounting the moment she was kidnapped as a child 15 years after the horrifying ordeal in a A&E special, titled Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography.

In a preview clip obtained by E! News, the 29-year-old describes the night she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in March 2003 and the thoughts that raced through her head.

"The three words that really describe my kidnapping are: terror, boredom and rape," Smart said in the clip. "I just remember thinking, This is real. I'm being kidnapped.

Smart was held captive by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, for nine months, and the case captivated the nation just months after the 2002 Winter Olympics took place in Salt Lake City. Smart was raped, tethered to trees by steel cables and left without food and water for days at a time.

Smart recalled what she said to Mitchell on the night she was kidnapped.

"There finally came a point where I remember stopping him and just saying, If you're just going to rape and kill me, please do it here,' because in my mind I was thinking I want my parents to know what happened to me, I wanted them to find me even if it was just my body, she said.

He had this smile and it was just, it was bone chillinghe said, I'm not going to rape and murder you. Yet,'" Smart added.

Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010, and Mitchell is serving two life terms.

Smart will talk about how she moved past the harrowing incident 15 years later, according to E! News. The special will air on Nov. 12 and 13 before the Lifetime original movie, I Am Elizabeth Smart on Nov. 18. Another A&E special, Elizabeth Smart: Questions Answered, will air on Nov. 20.
More than 25,000 Kevin James fans are supporting a Change.org petition that calls for the "King of Queens" actor to replace Kevin Spacey on "House of Cards."

James, 52, currently stars on the CBS series "Kevin Can Wait," alongside his former "King of Queens" co-star Leah Remini. But fans would like to see him in the Oval -- at least on Netflix's "House of Cards."

A rep for James did not return Fox News' request for comment.

Spacey, 58, has been fired from the show following several sexual assault allegations against him that have emerged in recent days. Spacey plays the villainous President Frank Underwood on the series.

Robbie Pyma started the petition last week, and in five days it garnered more than 25,000 signatures.

"I think Kevin James can elevate 'House of Cards' to a globally adored franchise like 'Game of Thrones' and make the entire world focus on one of the most important Netflix Original series there is," Pyma wrote.

The petition states it is directed to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

Netflix has stated "House of Cards" will end after the upcoming sixth season. The streaming service decided the sixth season would be the last before the allegations against Spacey emerged.

Spacey was let go from the show, and his publicist has said he is seeking evaluation and treatment after being accused of sexual misconduct.
Johnny Depp's money problems seem to have taken a nose dive.

The Pirates of the Caribbean stars former managers filed a foreclosure action Monday requesting the actor sell five properties he owns in Los Angeles to pay back a $5 million loan the company alleges it lent him in December 2012, Deadline reported.

The Management Group (TMG) alleged it gave the Murder on the Orient Express star the loan to help him pay a City National Bank (CNB) loan, People reported.

JOHNNY DEPP ALLEGEDLY SHOWED UP DRUNK TO MOVIE PREMIERE, REPORTS SAY

TMG agreed to come to the aid of its long-time client, the complaint stated. The idea behind this arrangement, which was designed to save Depp from a public and devastating financial collapse, was that Depp would pay TMG what TMG was required to pay CNB under the loan.

Adam Waldman, Depps attorney, told People the actor would not sell his homes and called the action an effort to intimidate Depp into dropping his lawsuit.

In February, Depp sued TMG for $25 million, accusing the company of fraud and attempting to foreclose his main home.

As a result of years of gross mismanagement and sometimes outright fraud, Mr. Depp lost tens of millions of dollars and has been forced to dispose of significant assets to pay for TMGs self-dealing and gross misconduct, the complaint stated.

In essence, TMG treated Mr. Depps income as their own, available to either TMG or third parties to draw upon as desired.

GEORGE CLOONEY EXPLAINS WHY HES TAKING A BREAK FROM ACTING: I DONT NEED MONEY

Depp and the company parted ways in March 2016 after 17 years together.

TMG said it gave Depp the loan to save him from bankruptcy, People reported. The actors former managers said the five homes in question were used as collateral for the loan, and since Depp has stopped making payments, they want to sell the houses.

At least at the time, Depp and his sister, personal manager, and the president of his production company, (Elisa Christi) Dembrowski, were very grateful to TMG for coming to Depps aid and helping him to avoid a public financial collapse, the complaint stated.

Depps former managers also accused the Academy Award-nominated actor of mismanaging the $650 million he made in the last two decades.

After the actor sued TMG in February, the company filed a cross-complaint against the movie star stating Depp lived an ultra-extravagant lifestyle that often knowingly cost [him] in excess of $2 million per month to maintain, which he simply could not afford.

A judge ruled Depps spending habits were not relevant to the legal battle. A judge will determine whether to agree on the foreclosure.
A Chippewa Falls man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of extended supervision after pleading no contest to sexually assaulting a child and possessing child pornography.

He will serve that prison time consecutively to a prison sentence from a previous conviction in Eau Claire County.

Ronald S. Lanners, 52, of Chippewa Falls did not have a criminal record, his attorney Robert A. Thorson told Judge James Isaacson in court Monday, until a 2013 sting operation in Eau Claire County.

After that operation, Lanners was charged with a count of attempted enticement of a child, Thorson said. Lanners pled guilty, and was first sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation  months later, his probation was revoked, according to court records, and he was ultimately sentenced to four years in prison and four years of extended supervision.

But Lanners record didnt end then. In 2016, he had sexual contact with two 14-year-old children in the town of Sigel in Chippewa County. He was charged in December 2016 with two counts of sexual assault of a child.

In March 2017, more charges were brought against him  this time, four counts of child pornography possession, after law enforcement found explicit images and videos of children on Lanners phone.

Lanners asked for his sentence to be heavily weighted toward probation instead of jail time, arguing that he was sexually assaulted by a priest when he was a child and that concealing his sexual orientation for decades caused trauma, but that he wanted to re-integrate into the community. I need helpcounseling, so I can get back on track, he said.

District attorney Wade Newell argued that, for the safety of the community, Lanners should serve prison time consecutively with his Eau Claire County child enticement sentence.

Three of the child pornography counts and one of the sexual assault charges were dismissed before Lanners Monday court date, but Isaacson ultimately sentenced Lanners to 10 years in prison and five years of extended supervision for one count of sexually assaulting a child, and eight years in prison and three years of extended supervision for a count of possessing child pornography. Lanners will serve his time concurrently, for a total of 10 years in prison and five years of extended supervision.

The 2013 sting was troublingbecause you thought it was a juvenile, Isaacson said, referring to an Eau Claire County operation where Lanners attempted to meet with a minor, but was met with law enforcement instead. I have to consider the viciousnessof your crime and your prior contact with the systemeven today, you wanted to blame this on medication or alcohol. I see no remorse, no repentance, no cooperation.

CORRECTION: An initial version of this story incorrectly stated Ronald S. Lanners had been sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison and eight years of extended supervision. Lanners was sentenced to 10 years and five years in prison for two separate charges, respectively, but the sentences will be served concurrently. Lanners will serve 10 total years in prison and five years of extended supervision.
Embattled Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey has reportedly checked into the same exclusive rehabilitation facility as disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The high profile Hollywood players are both faced with multiple career-ending allegations of sexual assault  and both have reportedly sought treatment at the same place.

The Meadows is an upscale addiction treatment center located about an hours drive out of Phoenix, Arizona. The sprawling facility boasts an outdoor swimming pool, lush grounds and a fitness center.

Treatment at the facility can cost around $38,255 per month, meaning its a favored destination for the rich and famous  celebs including Tiger Woods, Selena Gomez and Elle Macpherson have all stayed at the center for issues ranging from alcohol abuse to sex addiction.

In fact, the center has a dedicated 45-day sex addiction program, for which both Weinstein and Spacey are reported to have signed up for.

Billed as The nations premier inpatient treatment for sex addiction," the Gentle Path program at The Meadows promises to heal your trauma and provide you with tools to transform your life."

Addictions can paint you into a corner, especially when driven by sexual secrets and unhealthy behavior. For many, earning a chair here is like rejoining the human race. We call it the gentle path, says the programs director, Dr Patrick Carnes, in a YouTube video promoting the program.

The Gentle Path program website promises to provide an innovative and highly effective treatment plan especially designed to heal male sex addicts."

Gentle Path at The Meadows is especially designed to treat and work with male sex addicts ... We also understand that when men gather together with the intention of changing the core of who they are, without distraction from the outside world, a container of safety is created in which they can begin the recovery process, the website states.

Treatments on offer in the Gentle Path program include equine-assisted psychotherapy, in which patients learn how to use their interactions with horses as a way to move past barriers in their own relationships with family and friends."

Patients can also choose from expressive arts therapy, spirituality counselling and a Family Week Program," in which family members and significant others are invited to the facility to participate in their loved ones recovery.

A representative for Spacey said last week that the star was taking time out in the wake of the allegations.

Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time, his representative said in a statement to Variety.

There have been conflicting reports about Weinsteins stay at the rehab clinic, with reports in late October that hed checked out of The Meadows after just one week, barking into his banned mobile phone and remaining in denial about his alleged sex attacks during his time at the facility.

However, Weinstein was this week spotted wearing an unconvincing disguise while dining at a Phoenix restaurant, suggesting that he may not be finished with his treatment at The Meadows.

This article orginally appeared on news.com.au.
After Melissa Rivers sold her mother Joan Rivers penthouse in 2015, she had to go through the late star's belongings, which resulted in exploring a treasure trove of jokes, letters, newspaper clipping and even receipts she collected throughout her lifetime.

While the 49-year-old TV host and producer was all too familiar with Joans mountainous collection, which reportedly included filing cabinets with 69,000 quips to ensure she never repeated a line, Melissa wasnt expecting to share them with the world.

With enough convincing, Melissa, along with Joans friend and publicist Scott Currie, chose to share those rarely-seen archives in a coffee table book, titled Joan Rivers: Confidential, which was released earlier this year. Its a loving homage to the raspy voiced, razor-sharp comedian who died in 2014 at the age of 81.

We were having to go through everything in her apartment and start to close the whole thing after I sold it, Melissa recalled to Fox News. There was so much stuff in storage. My parents were these incredible record keepers. They also had files and scrapbooks.

"Scott kept saying to me, Theres something in here Theres a book here. And I was like, Oh God, no theres not. And he kept on me, convincing me. And I said, Fine. If you can put something together and prove to me that theres a book here then Ill think about it. And he put something together [I] sent it to my agent and it sold in a day.

When asked if going through her mothers belongings helped her cope with the loss, Melissa joked, Im not sure the book helped me cope, but it certainly helped get my storage bills under control.

While Melissa wasnt surprised by the discovery, as it was far from a family secret, fans will be shocked to learn that Joan, who was recognized as one of Americas most successful female stand-up comics, originally dreamed of a different role for herself.

Well, she wanted to be a very serious actress, said Melissa. My grandfather was very funny. And my mother was always funny. And her sister was funny. Apparently, her mother was just very formal and not terribly funny. But they definitely had my grandfather, her fathers sense of humor. And they would always just be laughing. That was such an innate, comfortable space for her that eventually, thats just where she landed. But the big thing was that she was going to be a serious, dramatic actress.

However, the change in career plans worked for the brassy Brooklyn native. Her no-nonsense approach to comedy left millions of viewers in stitches. And no one in Hollywood was off-limits, not even the queen of glamour. Joans files revealed there were about 850 jokes dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor alone.

Elizabeth Taylor became a favorite because, you gotta remember, women of my mothers generation, they all wanted to be her, said Melissa. Every girl wanted to be National Velvet. Every little girl wanted to grow up and be beautiful and glamorous  and the diamonds and the men fighting over her. This was their fantasy... And I think thats where that all began.

While many of Joans one-liners focused on Taylors weight gain over the years, the Oscar-winner didnt seemed bothered by the seemingly vicious commentary. When mutual friend Roddy McDowall approached Taylor about Joans comedy, she gave a shocking answer.

The message that came back to my mom was It doesnt hurt me where I live, said Melissa. Which is a pretty incredible answer. And as we saw the things that she did later in life, you get that. She always knew who she was, regardless of everything that was swirling around her."

And while some of Joans infamous jokes could have easily offended her targets, Melissa insisted she was never out to hurt anyone. And if Joan was aware that any of her subjects or their families were genuinely upset by her puns, she would immediately remove them from her act.

You look at the bulk of the material, and I would say a good 98 percent is self-deprecating with her as the butt of the joke, said Melissa. Everyone used to ask if it would upset my dad (TV producer Edgar Rosenberg) that she made so many jokes about my dad. And my mom would always say, You arent listening carefully. The jokes arent about Edgar. The jokes are about me! It was making fun of herself She was never intent on hurting anyone.

But Joan easily gained both fame and famous fans, including former President Ronald Reagan and Prince Charles. Melissa explained humor was the reason behind their lasting friendships.

President Reagan was funny, said Melissa. You forget, he was an actor and a great storyteller And my mothers dear friend was Nancy Reagan. So that was a friendship that lasted through the years.

"The same with Prince Charles Hes a big fan of comedy. And has a huge, hilarious sense of humor A real friendship developed between my mother and Prince Charles and Camilla.  The bond was truly made through a mutual sense of humor In private, the whole family has great, great humor.

Joan earned a lasting career by mercilessly insulting nearly anyone, living or dead and happily criticizing the couture worn by celebrities on the red carpet. But when cameras stopped rolling, she made sure to keep every reminder that her comedy made someone laugh  especially when that praise came from the type of star she once dreamed of becoming.

She never lost the feeling of being a fan, said Melissa. She would always save all her correspondences. My mother was just as excited to receive a letter from a Meryl Streep as you or I would be. And that translated so much on the red carpet. She never stopped being a fan.
Mila Kunis recent political stunt may have backfired for one of Americas most recognizable bourbon brands.

The actress, who is a spokesperson for Jim Beam, recently revealed shes been sending monthly donations to Planned Parenthood in Vice President Mike Pences name.

Both Pence supporters and pro-life activists immediately took to Twitter Monday and launched a #BoycottBeam campaign. Many called for the brand to end its association with Kunis.

The 34-year-old revealed on TBSs Conan on Thursday she set up a monthly donation to the organization in Pence's name that results in Planned Parenthood sending the 58-year-old a letter thanking him for his generosity each month.

I disagreed with some of the stuff that Pence was doing and was trying to do, explained Kunis, as reported by The Hill. And so, as a reminder that there are women in the world that may or may not agree with his platform, I put him on a list of reoccurring donations that are made in his name to Planned Parenthood.

So this happens every month? questioned host Conan OBrien.

Every month, to his office, he gets a little letter that says an anonymous donation has been made in your name,' confirmed the former That 70s Show star. I dont look at it as a prank, I look at it just as, I strongly disagree [with him], and this is my little way of showing it.

Pence is a longtime opponent of abortion, having signed several pieces of anti-abortion legislation while previously serving as the governor of Indiana.

Kunis, whose voice can be heard in the popular animated series Family Guy, was vocal about her support for former President Barack Obama in the past.
Ronan Farrow cast more shade on NBC News on Tuesday, launching a Twitter storm that suggested the network sought to shut down his reporting on sex abuses by Harvey Weinstein and even threatened his NBC producer with losing his job.

My reporting is only possible because of a group of brave journalists who fought for the story, Farrow tweeted in the first of a 10-message thread that praised the prestigious New Yorker magazine which published his investigations of Weinstein.

.@RichMcHughNBC, my wonderful producer, refused to bow to pressure to stop, through numerous shoots, even when it meant risking his job, Farrow went on to say in his Twitter storm. Multiple press accounts of NBCs decision to pass on Farrows reporting on Weinstein described the NBC News investigative producer, Rich McHugh, as disappointed that NBC shut down his and Farrows reporting on Weinstein.

NBC did not respond to questions about Farrows tweet storm.

Farrows latest bombshell report regarding Weinstein was published in The New Yorker on Monday, claiming that Weinstein used a network of Israeli ex-spies and other investigators working in concert with New York super lawyers to try to shut down various journalistic exposes in the works on Weinsteins treatment of women. On Tuesday, the celebrity scion had nothing but praise for his New Yorker editors and fact checker who championed and protected him.

Farrows bosses at NBC, by contrast, had told him to take his initial Weinstein bombshell elsewhere, claiming it wasnt good enough for the network.

To add insult to injury, Farrow, whose Twitter bio currently describes him as an NBC reporter and Today show correspondent, appeared Tuesday morning on Good Morning America, arch-rival of the Today show, during the crucial November sweeps period. GMA described Farrow as a New Yorker contributor and mentioned NBC only when co-host George Stephanopoulos asked Farrow if Weinstein got to NBC when it decided to spike the original story.

I think the story makes it clear [Weinstein and his team] were focusing on everyone trying to get word out about this, Farrow said carefully.

NBC News did not respond when asked how it felt about Farrow appearing on its bitter rival.

The relationship between Farrow and NBC is almost as confusing as why the network killed the Weinstein story in the first place. NBC News declined comment when Fox News asked if Farrow is still paid or has a freelance relationship with the network. Farrow, who also did not respond to request for clarification, has been very active on the Twitter account that says in its bio that he works at NBC.

The former MSNBC host also threw his network under the bus on The Rachel Maddow Show when his first Weinstein article was published last month. Hours after his story was published, he told Maddow that The New Yorker immediately realized his story was reportable and there were multiple determinations that NBC had enough to run it.

On Tuesday, Farrow tweeted that New Yorker editor David Remnick saved his story as a rare bastion of journalistic integrity, and digital editor David Rohde was a compassionate, thoughtful and tireless editor on the pair on Weinstein bombshells.

As for Farrows reportedly embattled NBC producer, Rich McHugh, NBC News did not immediately respond when asked if McHughs job was actually at risk, or if Farrow is lying.

McHugh did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment.

Last month, embattled NBC News President Noah Oppenheim faced public pressure to step down after it was revealed that he killed Farrows long-gestating investigation that would have outed Weinstein as a sexual predator months before the New Yorker published Farrows story.

NBC News has denied that Oppenheim has ties to Weinstein, but the NBC News president moonlights as a Hollywood screenwriter and the two men recently shared a relatively small table at a swanky media event.

This story shows dark side of how media treats powerful men but also reminds us brave people are still defending the truth, Farrow wrote on Tuesday, praising the New Yorker.

After Oppenheims NBC spiked Farrows initial report, he eventually took the story to The New Yorker, which is known for its fact checking and high editorial standards.

Oppenheim, then under siege, contended during a private NBC News event last month that the incredible story Farrow published in the New Yorker was not the story that we were looking at when we made our judgment several months ago.

On Maddow last month, Farrow essentially accused Oppenheim of lying, saying The New Yorker immediately realized his story was reportable and there were multiple determinations that NBC had enough to run it.

CNN reported that a source called NBCs decision indefensible and longtime New Yorker media critic Ken Auletta said its a scandal. NBC has strenuously denied that Oppenheim had any conflict of interest.

The Weinstein contretemps is the latest embarrassment for NBC News, which a year ago also sat on the notorious Access Hollywood tape of Donald Trump making lewd comments about women to future Today co-host Billy Bush. At the time NBC was sitting on the tape, Oppenheim was overseeing Today. The tape was eventually leaked to the Washington Posts David Fahrenthold, who is Oppenheims friend from prestigious Harvard University. Bush was fired after the tape became public, and Oppenheim was soon thereafter promoted to NBC News president.

While some NBC insiders say it may be the best scenario for everyone involved if Oppenheim steps down, another NBC insider told Fox News that powerful NBC News chairman Andy Lack  to whom much of NBCs news operations report directly  was ultimately responsible for the Weinstein debacle. Lack has been conspicuously silent about the Weinstein story.

Meanwhile, the The New York Post has reported that major networks are fighting over signing Farrow, who is reportedly dragging his feet to sign another exclusive deal after his relationship with NBC went sour. Farrow was initially hired by NBC in 2014 to great fanfare as host of a liberal daytime MSNBC show, which was quickly canceled due to poor ratings. He had been largely adrift at NBC for some time until he started working on his Weinstein project.
Coca-Colas new ad in Saudi Arabia is causing a fair bit of controversy online.

The ad, titled Change Has a Taste, follows along as a father and his daughter set out for a driving lesson. After a rocky start, the dad pops open a bottle of Coke and sets it on the dashboard, in whats understood to be a lighthearted test to see how smoothly she can operate the vehicle.

COCA-COLA OFFERS $1 MILLION PRIZE FOR SUGAR ALTERNATIVE

By the end, both daddy and daughter are screaming through the desert in their red sedan as an upbeat song blasts in the background.

Critics, however, werent so thrilled with Cokes timing. While some praised the ad as a celebration of Saudi Arabias recent order to overturn its decades-old driving ban on women, others accused Coke of exploiting the historic ruling to turn a profit.

SURVEY SAYS KENDALL JENNER'S PEPSI AD DIDN'T HURT COMPANY'S IMAGE

Another Twitter user likened the ad to a recent Pepsi commercial which featured Kendall Jenner breaking up a police protest by offering one of the officers a soda. Pepsi later pulled the ad in the wake of accusations that they were capitalizing off the wave of police protests and making light of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Coke has yet to issue a statement in regard to the controversy, though they might be wise to ignore it altogether: After Pepsis controversial ad with Kendall Jenner aired in early April, a marketing firm found that a majority of survey participants saw Pepsi in a more favorable light after viewing the ad.

The New York Post also reports that Coke plans to open a $100 million bottling plant in Saudi Arabia sometime in 2019.

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Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias driving ban is expected to be lifted in June 2018. Saudi officials are reportedly hoping the new policy will reverse some of the negative publicity the country has received regarding the matter.
A British woman detained in Egypt for bringing painkillers into the country made an innocent, honest mistake, her brother said.

Laura Plummer, 33, of Hull was detained on Oct. 9 at Egypts Hurghada International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking, the BBC reported. Egyptian officials found 290 tramadol tablets and naproxen in her possession. Plummer said she was bringing the medication to her Egyptian husband who suffered from back pain. The woman reportedly visits her husband two to four times each year.

It's illegal to bring prescription drugs to Egypt as the medication must be prescribed by health professionals, the BBC reported.

The Briton could face up to 25 years in jail, or even the death penalty, The Guardian reported.

TERMINALLY ILL BOY WITH WISH FOR CHRISTMAS CARDS RECEIVES 14,000 IN ONE DAY

James Plummer, the womans brother, told the BBC his sister had no idea what drugs she was bringing to her husband, who shes been married to for 18 months. It was not immediately clear if Plummers marriage to the Egyptian was official.

Laura didnt even check what they were, she didnt even know there was tramadol in the bag. There was also naproxen as well, Plummer told the BBC.

James said his sister obtained the drugs from a friend.

Karl Turner, Plummers MP (Member of Parliament) called Plummer very, very naive.

"It is difficult to get certain things in Egypt apparently so she'd taken talcum powder, shaving gel and razorblades and all sorts of things," Turner told the BBC. "Clearly, [she was] very, very naive."

"The family describe Laura to me as somebody who is very naive, Turner said. "Her father said to me 'look, the truth is she wouldn't know Tramadol from a Panadol. She wouldn't have a clue that she was doing something unlawful.'"

MINNESOTA COUNTY SCRAMBLES TO CONTROL DEADLY TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK

Tramadol was reportedly the most abused drug in Egypt, Ghada Wali, the countrys Minister of Social Solidarity, told the BBC.

Plummer was reportedly detained in a jail cell she was occupying with 20 to 30 other women.

The Guardian reported the Briton was losing her hair due to stress in the jail cell.

Its awful for Laura ... shes not a tough person at all. Shes only small, James Plummer told the Press Association.

Plummer is due back in Egyptian court on Thursday for a third hearing.
The Florida Department of Health on Friday confirmed the states first case of the Zika virus being sexually transmitted.

An unidentified person in Miami-Dade County, who had recently visited several countries, including Cuba,

The Zika virus is back as the Florida Department of Health confirmed on Friday a new sexually-transmitted case in Miami-Dade County, The Miami Herald reported.

Both partners have tested positive for the virus.

Theres no evidence of ongoing, active transmission of Zika anywhere in Florida, the health department said in a news release.

This is the second reported case acquired locally this year, the first being a case transmitted by an infected mosquito in Manatee County, The Orlando Sentinel reported.

Florida reported 296 locally acquired Zika infections last year.

Zika causes relatively mild symptoms in most adults but can cause severe birth defects in babies of some women infected during pregnancy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
A newborn baby girl and her mother are said to be "wonderful after a middle-of-the-night dash to a San Diego hospital for the delivery nearly ended in tragedy. Hongwei Zhang was trying to get his pregnant wife, Ying Shi, to the hospital early Monday morning when he slammed into a concrete barrier along the way, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Zhang flagged down a passing car, which happened to be driven by a registered nurse who had just finished a shift at nearby Scripps Memorial Hospital.

He was saying My wife, my wife! The next thing he said was, The baby came! Dayna Dumont, who is a nurse in the emergency department, told the news outlet. I quickly jumped out of my car.

5-YEAR-OLD 'MARRIES' LOVE OF HER LIFE AHEAD OF OPEN-HEART SURGERY

Dumont found Shi in the front seat holding her newborn baby, and checked to ensure the umbilical cord wasnt wrapped around the infants neck.

I took a peek and there was a baby, she told The San Diego Union-Tribune. (The mother) was in the (seat) with the baby between her legs and in her pants.

Paramedics arrived to cut the umbilical cord and transport the pair to Scripps, where the couple decided to name their baby Anna.

I didnt think the baby had actually arrived, Dumont told The San Diego Union-Tribune. The mom was sitting there so calmly. I was asking, Are you in any pain or discomfort? and she said No, she was just asking, Is the baby OK?

The couple released a statement thanking Dumont, another passerby who called 911, and the paramedics and staff at Scripps.
A high school senior protested his schools dress code double standard by wearing an off-the-shoulder crop top for an entire day.

Phil Rodriguez, a 17-year-old senior at Hueneme High in California, chose the top because it violates two rules at his school  showing stomach and shoulders.

Rodriguez tweeted a picture of himself in the tiny top, showing off his shoulders, midriff and underwear.

OFF-THE-SHOULDER TOPS WORN BY MALE STUDENTS TO PROTEST HIGH SCHOOL DRESS CODE

Told yall I would do it, catch me tomorrow wearing this to see if I get dress coded, he wrote on his Twitter.

He decided on the experiment because of the fact that women in my school get dress-coded so often for showing a little shoulder or some stomach area  I feel that they are sexualizing womens bodies, Rodriguez tells Yahoo Style. In the schools defense, they say its distracting and we students cant learn because of the way these women dress. [But] Ive never been asked if how women dressed affected my education.

While he was wearing the outfit, the teen kept his followers updated throughout the day.

UPDATE: Im in 6th period water polo and I have not gotten dress coded. The day is practically over now. I think we all have our answer.

During the school day, he said he received a couple of warnings, but nothing serious from the faculty or administration.

I felt like something needed to be done, and the majority wanted me to keep it going. So I went the whole day wearing it. I did not get dress-coded, he says.

He told Yahoo that many of his female classmates were pleased about what he was doing.

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Most of the women encouraged me to keep it going, and they admired that I would ever do such a thing, he says. I walked in front of administration and nothing happened. I am a very talkative person, I make great connections with staff, so I didnt hide myself from them. I talked with a lot of them to see if I would get dress-coded, and I feel they took my outfit as a joke.

Though he didnt get dress coded, Rodriguez doesnt feel he accomplished what he set out to do.

I might do it again, he said. I dont think my full message has gone through. And I might get some more guys to do it with me. They would love to do it.
While experts continue to debate whether or not sex addiction should be classified as a mental health disorder, two fallen Hollywood magnates have reportedly checked into Americas swankiest rehab to conquer their demons.

Fallen House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey is believed to be in rehab at The Meadows treatment facility in Wickenberg, Ariz., where movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is also allegedly seeking treatment, according to the Daily Mail.

The Meadows even boasts a special "Gentle Path" program, which touts itself online as the nations premier inpatient treatment for sex addiction for men. Developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, a pioneer in sex addiction and recovery issues, the 45-day program has space for 28 men in 24-hour monitored care to the tune of a cool $37,000 a month, Business Insider reports.

BEAUTY PAGEANT HOPEFULS SPORT BEEF BIKINIS TO PROTEST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Hosted in a self-contained, 35-acre campus with mountain views, the programs treatments include equine and expressive art therapy yoga, Tai-chi, acupuncture and daily mindfulness meditation to combat sexually related issues and traumas, according to Gentle Paths promotional video. Dubbing the program as the quintessential model of sex addiction treatment, the campus also boasts a fitness center and outdoor swimming pool on its lush grounds, with counseling, nursing, medical and psychiatric services available on site.

Through an innovative and highly effective treatment plan especially designed to heal male sex addicts," patients are guided on their journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders, Gentle Paths website states.

HAWAII JUDGE ORDERS MAN TO WRITE 144 COMPLIMENTS ABOUT HIS EX

The goal is for these individuals to gain the courage to face difficult issues, including grief and loss; heal from emotional trauma; and become accountable for their own feelings, behaviors, and recovery, it adds.

Just an hour drive from Phoenix, The Meadows has long been a go-to facility for the stars. Tiger Woods, Kate Moss, Selena Gomez and Elle Macpherson have all checked into the luxurious rehab for various treatments, the Mail notes.

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No word yet, though, on whether Spacey and Weinsteins loved ones will be dropping by for Family Week programs.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), an information technology company that owns Chippewa Falls-based graphics company SGI, is slated to debut a new computing platform Monday  one that has a strong connection to the Chippewa Valley.

The HPE team in Chippewa Falls played an integral part in the design and development of Superdome Flex, said Ethan Gannett, vice president of engineering for HPE, who leads the team in Chippewa Falls, in an email interview with the Herald.

Manufacturing of the Superdome Flex may also happen in Chippewa Falls, Gannett said.

The new supercomputers debut comes on the heels of HPEs announcement that it will move some of its manufacturing operations to Chippewa Falls permanently, possibly growing jobs for the area, after recent damage to HPEs Texas manufacturing sites after Hurricane Harvey.

The Superdome Flex will focus on complex data gathering and analysis, making it useful for both small and large businesses, a company press release said, calling it the worlds most scalable and modular in-memory computing platform.

Gannett said the platform will help businesses growing their digital presence. Businesses are swamped with data ... it increases every day. They have all this data, and they want to extract value from it. Thats the driving force  to gain real-time insights by looking at the associations between all of your data, very quickly, he said.

HPEs Superdome Flex is expected to debut Monday. For more information, visit www.hpe.com.
As renowned evangelist the Rev. Billy Graham celebrated his 99th birthday Tuesday, I thanked the Lord for Grahams inspiration and influence on so many lives  including mine  and for Gods faithfulness and favor in continuing to preserve Graham to fulfill Gods purpose at this life-stage.

During more than 60 years of crusade ministry, Graham faithfully proclaimed a timeless message in a timely way at the intersection of faith and culture. But he did more than just preach the Gospel. He lived it daily in his walk with the Lord.

Over the nearly 34 years we worked together while I was privileged to serve as his personal media spokesman, Graham modeled for me and countless others that the principles of Jesus that one lifts up and lives out are far more powerful than the mere words one says. And that is the greatest sermon I have ever heard, and will always remember.

Over the past 10 days, I have been traveling with a delegation of American Evangelicals in Egypt and Jordan, the land of Abraham. For the Old Testament patriarch, his later years were arguably his most productive, as from that one man, so many people came that they were like stars in the sky (Hebrews 11:12).

People often ask me what one word describes Billy Grahams distinctive witness. I have to use three: faithfulness (to his calling,) authenticity (the same person one-on-one as in the pulpit) and integrity (doing the right thing, beyond doing things right).

Abraham first responded in obedience to Gods call on his life at the mature age of 75. When he was 99-years-old, as Graham is now, Abraham received some surprising news. God made a covenant with him in his advanced years that he would become the father of nations. What faith it must have required for him to trust Gods at that point in his life!

I am reminded of, and thankful for, the similar faith Graham has exhibited through the years, when it may have seemed that God was asking the impossible of him. But much like Abraham, time and again he stepped out in obedience, following Gods call when the way didnt seem clear.

Just as Abraham had many physical descendants, Billy Grahams passion for souls and devotion to his evangelistic calling has resulted in countless spiritual descendants who look to him as their father or grandfather in the faith.

Graham never veered from his calling to faithfully preach the Gospel. As someone who had a front row seat for more than three decades observing all God accomplished around the world through his faithfulness, there has been no greater representative for the Christian faith.

People often ask me what one word describes Billy Grahams distinctive witness. I have to use three: faithfulness (to his calling,) authenticity (the same person one-on-one as in the pulpit) and integrity (doing the right thing, beyond doing things right).

One of the distinctive qualities of his ministry was his ability to make positive points for the Gospel in any media situation, and in doing so God honored his faithfulness.

Graham never sacrificed the long-term viability of his ministry for the short-term visibility of media publicity and promotion. Rather, he understood and cultivated the character and calling that came with his station. He sought platforms for his message, not publicity for his ministry, to communicate biblical truth beyond audiences that attended his crusades.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that the prophet Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. I cant help but imagine that is what the Lord thinks of Graham, as a result of his well-done fidelity to Gods calling on his life for more than 60 years.

Like the other great cloud of witnesses who lived by faith, no doubt at this life-stage the evangelist is also longing for all God has planned and promised in his heavenly country. Meanwhile, our nation groans under the weight of the battle for its collective soul, and could benefit from his sage wisdom and spiritual insight as in years past.

Things of this world are measured in minutes, hours, days and years. But what a comfort it is to read in Psalm 31:15 that says my times are in Your hands. We will have as many birthdays as the Lord planned for us from the beginning of eternity.

Everyone who knows Billy Grahams name continues to pray that God will give him many more years, and that his extraordinary life and the transferable ministry principles of his unique legacy will continue to inspire current and future generations.
The Rev. Billy Graham turned 99 on Tuesday. To me, he will always be America's preacher. He introduced a brand of faith unlike any our country or even the world had ever seen. He brought millions of people to faith in Jesus Christ through his simple, down-home, country preacher style.

Ive just returned from Ashville, N.C., where I spoke at the Todd Starnes Fall Getaway at the Billy Graham Training Center, also known as The Cove. This bucolic setting is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not far from Mt. Pisgah and a short distance from the Biltmore Mansion.

The Cove is a reminder of the dedication that Billy Graham and his deceased wife, Ruth, had to teaching people how to put their faith into action. It was not enough to go to church on Sundays. Faith was something that you lived every moment of your life.

The training center teaches the lessons that Billy Graham taught, by being a haven for people from all over the world. They come for conferences, retreats and seminars.

At The Cove, you never know when you might see a member of the Graham family. They continue the work of their famous patriarch.

I was privileged to have Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Grahams second-oldest daughter, stop by and listen to my talk on music as Gods creation. She has her own Angel Ministry and is the author of 11 books. She said a few words to the group and talked a little about how her dad was doing ahead of his birthday. She told us his faith in Jesus Christ is as strong as ever.

During the seminar, guests got a sneak peek at the sequel to the movie Unbroken, the Louis Zamperini story. The new movie, called Unbroken: Path to Redemption, focuses on how the WWII prison camp survivor came to faith at a Billy Graham tent meeting in Los Angeles in 1949. Grahams grandson, Will, is playing his grandfather in the new film.

It was that tent revival that put Billy Graham on the world stage, because of two words the newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst directed to his editors: Puff Graham. The rest, as they say is history. From newspapers, to radio, to television, Billy Graham could mesmerize a crowd. But he always said it wasnt about him. It was about Jesus.

Other ministers have come to the stage to carry on the mantle of Billy Graham. Ministers like Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastor Rick Warren and Franklin Graham. But it was Billy Graham who started it all. Something happened in 1949 that changed forever how people understand what it means to be a faithful believer.

Happy Birthday, Billy Graham! Thank you, and God Bless you!
A year ago, some 63 million Americans elected Donald Trump to serve as the nations 45th president. Few anticipated his improbable success when he launched his campaign. Not the media. Not his 16 Republican opponents. And certainly not Hillary Clinton.

In fact, Trump himself likely never saw it coming.

This is beyond anybodys expectations, he said at Trump Tower in June 2015, marveling at the size of the crowd that had come to watch him kick off his candidacy.

On that unassuming day, Trump laid out exactly what America could expect from him as its president, both in style and substance. As it turns out, hes given people exactly what he promised  with one glaring exception.

And its this exception that may cost him the White House.

Heres why.

When Trump announced his run, he explained that America required two things of its president and politicians. The first was good leadership, which Trump defined as smart people who simply got stuff done.

The second was inspiration. We need a cheerleader, he explained. We need somebody that can take the brand of the United States and make it great again.

He fundamentally believed that he couldnt make America great again by just passing better laws or fairer trade deals. Instead, the country needed to feel great again, too.

By Trumps telling, America had neither inspiration nor good leadership.

The politicians? Corrupt and ineffective. Theyre controlled fully by the lobbyists, by the donors, and by the special interests, he proclaimed.

And their policies? Ruinous. Trump took special aim at unfair trade deals, especially those with China, Mexico, and Japan.

They come in, they take our jobs, they take our money and then they loan us back the money, and we pay them in interest, Trump explained in disbelief.

How stupid are our leaders? How stupid are these politicians to allow this to happen?

Trump targeted the usual suspects of failed leadership  Obama and Clinton  but also added Republicans, too, such as former President Bush and opponents like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

He promised to be different.

We need a truly great leader now. We need a leader that wrote 'The Art of the Deal.'

Trumps self-promotion underlined his belief in the second key requirement for successful presidents  inspiration.

His improvement of the brand may have sounded different than normal politician-speak  more calculated, less lofty  but arguably was of the same cloth. He fundamentally believed that he couldnt make America great again by just passing better laws or fairer trade deals. Instead, the country needed to feel great again, too.

America needed a Cheerleader-in-Chief.

To demonstrate how important this was to Trump, he held up Obama as a cautionary tale. The president explained that Obama was  when first elected  a vibrant man who possessed a great spirit that the country needed.

But, he warned, that vibrant spirit eventually became a negative force that divided the nation.

Fast forward from Trumps campaign launch to the completion of his first year in office.

Hows he doing?

Polls show that Americans are deeply divided on whether Trumps leadership is making America great again. Domestically, supporters point to a strong economy, robust stock market, and efforts to remake bad trade deals. Hes also tried to dump ObamaCare, change immigration policies, and re-write the tax code (with mixed results).

On foreign matters, supporters highlight a more aggressive stance against Iran, North Korea, and ISIS. Hes also pulled out of the Paris climate accord that was opposed by many of his supporters.

Perhaps most critically, his election managed to blow up the lives of career politicians  Republicans and Democrats alike  along with their corrupt parties.

In short, its hard to argue that Trump isnt delivering on his definition of presidential leadership, especially the face of deeply critical media coverage.

But Trumps leadership is only half of what he claimed would make a successful president. What of his ability to inspire America to feel great again?

Is Trump the Cheerleader-in-Chief the nation needed?

Polling from Fox News suggests not. Even supportive Republicans find his public behavior  the Twitter fights, bragging, and truth-stretching  to be unhelpful or even distasteful. Additional polling from GOP-friendly Rasmussen Reports also shows that the country still believes its on the wrong track a year after Trumps election.

But forget polling. Criticism of Trumps personality is not new, even to Trump himself. He knows that his brash style is his Achilles heel. In fact, he said as much when he launched his campaign in 2015.

Youre not a nice person, Trump said, quoting a reporter who described him. How can you get people to vote for you?

His response to the criticism was telling.

This is going to be an election thats based on competence, because people are tired of these nice people [politicians]. And theyre tired of being ripped off by everybody in the world.

In other words, Trump knew that people might not like him. Still, he gambled that Americans would ultimately tolerate an ill-tempered New Yorker so long as he could browbeat the dysfunctional House and Senate into fixing Americas brokenness.

His gamble paid off. He won the presidency.

A year later, the question is whether he can keep it.

What Trumps gamble failed to consider is that while voters might be willing to stomach his sharp-elbowed style, the Senators and Representatives he needs to advance his MAGA agenda are not. Its no surprise, then, that Democrats (and restive Republicans) are clamoring for a way to bring Trump down.

The main avenue to do so appears to be encouraging Robert Muellers investigation into the alleged collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia. Others cling to the increasingly dubious Russian dossier of tawdry (and largely discredited, unproven, and partisan) allegations.

But the truth is that Trump-haters dont need Mueller or the Russian dossier. They simply need to prevent Trump from advancing his agenda  demonstrating his promised competence to the American people  all while baiting him into the next distasteful Twitter fight.

Theyre molding him as the next Obama.

Theyre making him the very negative force he campaigned against.

Fresh polling shows that this dynamic is already happening, and at a shocking rate. The American people  Democrats and Independents in particular  disapprove of Trump at levels unseen in some 70 years.

The trajectory of Trumps presidency is becoming clear. If Trump remains deeply unpopular, Democrats may win back the House and Senate in 2018 (though polling shows trouble for them too). Should progressives win, the dam holding back charges of impeachment will likely burst.

Whether Trump actually colluded with Russia or not will be politically irrelevant (even if legally and morally paramount) when Nancy Pelosis party takes over. After all, impeachment is a vote of politics, not of legal guilt or innocence.

Even if Trump isnt impeached, Americans will still be exhausted by four years of D.C. drama. Its hard to see how Trump and fellow Republicans escape ownership of that turmoil.

Our 45th leader is thus at a crossroads. If he wants to survive until January of 2020 (and beyond), he must chart a course back to June of 2015. It was at that years campaign launch where he correctly explained that a successful presidency is both parts competence and inspiration.

The sharp elbows and Twitter fights may have helped him reach the Oval Office but it is not what will keep him there. That will take a notable transition into a more credible Cheerleader-in-Chief. Fundamentally, that means turning off the self-promotion and Twitter account and turning on what President Lincoln called the better angels of our nature.

Humility. Gratitude. Forgiveness.

Can Trump find his better angels? Time will tell, of course. But one things clear.

Sixty-three million Americans put their faith in a man to change the course of the nation. Their vote demands that he try.
When youre getting dressed in the morning, you look for a shirt in your closet  not your refrigerator. When you want to go out to dinner, you look for a restaurant  not a dentists office. And when youre a cop looking for radical Islamic terrorists  well, lets just say you dont look in a convent, a monastery or a rabbinical seminary.

Is this politically correct? Absolutely not. Is it simple common sense? Of course it is.

Theres no question that the vast majority of Muslims in America are peaceful, law-abiding and hardworking men and women. They serve in our armed forces and police departments, teach in our schools, treat us in hospitals, and work in countless other jobs that benefit our nation. We welcome and appreciate them.

But theres also no question that a small subset of Muslims in this country dont fit the above description, because they support the aims of radical Islamic terrorists. And an even smaller, very tiny subset actually engages in terrorism. Finding these people after they commit terrorist acts is challenging. Finding them before they commit terrorist acts and stopping them is incredibly difficult.

A basic principle of police work is that you use logic and common sense when searching for criminals of any kind. You cant search for everyone everywhere, so you narrow the field of possible suspects. What does the suspected criminal look like  race, sex, height, weight, hair color and style, and so on? Where do you think the suspect might be? These and related questions hold true whether the search is for a robber, a rapist, a drug dealer or a terrorist.

Where might a radical Islamic terrorist be? Well  wild guess  mosques, other areas where Muslims get together, and Muslim neighborhoods. One things for sure: you wont find any radical Muslim terrorists who are not Muslims.

It does not take a brilliant detective like Dick Tracy or Sherlock Holmes to figure this out. Even the imbecilic film detective Inspector Clouseau could do it.

Yet in New York City last week, where a radical Islamic terrorist drove his truck into innocent people on a bike path on Halloween  killing eight and injuring a dozen  police and other law enforcement officials are being handcuffed. They are being told to ignore their common sense and training, and not focus on Muslims when looking for Muslim terrorists.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that the Halloween terrorist  indentified by police as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, a Muslim who emigrated from Uzbekistan  was radicalized here in the United States, not in his home country, which has a history of violent Islamic extremists.

If the governor is correct, than where in the U.S. did the radicalization take place? And before we jump to the convenient presumption that Saipov was self-radicalized or a lone wolf, we should realize by now that terrorists are not hatched overnight after sitting in their basements watching videos.

No one lives in a vacuum. Radicalization is a process that includes both internal and external catalysts and occurs in many environments. That principle was laid out in a report created by the New York City Police Departments Intelligence Division in 2006 titled Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat: The NYPD Report, authored by Mitchell D. Silber and Arvin Bhatt.

The report was a seminal tutorial on how and where the radicalization of unremarkable individuals occurred. It was a vital component of the NYPDs counterterrorism program until 2016.

But last year Mayor Bill de Blasio caved in to demands from the American Civil Liberties Union and several Muslim activist organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and ordered the counterterrorism report removed from both the NYPDs website and its training manuals.

And if that was not enough, the mayor also ordered the police to discontinue standard police practices of surveillance and undercover operations of the group most susceptible to radical Islamic terrorists  the Muslim community of the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area.

De Blasios absurd action came in response to a 2012 lawsuit filed in Newark, New Jersey by Muslim advocates. They claimed that the NYPD was profiling them strictly on the basis of their religion and that they had suffered irreparable damages as a result of police actions.

But U.S. District Judge William J. Martini ruled in 2014 that the NYPDs investigative practices did not violate the Constitution, nor were any damages suffered by the Muslim community. The plaintiffs appealed the decision and the case was to be reheard. Unfortunately, de Blasio then inexplicably surrendered to the demands of those suing the police department and withdrew from defending the NYPD against the lawsuit.

One of the mosques in New Jersey that claimed to have been unjustly surveilled was the Omar Mosque in Patterson. This is the same mosque attended by Sayfullo Saipov, the now-accused self-proclaimed ISIS follower who struck on Halloween.

Yet NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller stated publicly that the Saipov case has nothing to do with Islam or which mosque someone attended. How quickly he forgets.

Perhaps Miller needs to go back and reread the 2002 book he wrote titled The Cell: Inside the 9/11 Plot and Why the FBI and CIA Failed to Stop It. Back then, he clearly acknowledged the obvious fact that that radical Islamic terrorists have connections with Muslim communities.

And as if to add insult to injury, New York City has agreed to an amendment to a court decision that oversees police intelligence investigations of political and religious organizations. De Blasio will now appoint a civilian monitor who will have oversight over who the police department can or cannot investigate.

Perhaps the Army will next follow suit and appoint civilian monitors to determine where and when it can fight radical Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. That would make as much sense as the de Blasio policy.

Heres the bottom line: We need to spend less time worrying about being politically correct and more time worrying about how to protect the American people from bloodthirsty radical Islamic terrorists who want to kill and injure as many of us as possible.

At some point, we have to let the police be the police and investigate terrorists and other criminals  regardless of religion, ethnicity or race  based on tried and true procedures.

Good police investigative work in years past resulted in many arrests against criminal organizations like the Mafia and Colombian drug cartels, even though Italians and Colombians were disproportionately represented in these groups. It would have been as silly to search for Mafia kingpins in mosques as it would be to try hunting down ISIS terrorists at Knights of Columbus meetings.

Good police work can be effective against Islamic terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda, which often infiltrate the Muslim communities in the United States, only if police are allowed to do their jobs.

Hopefully, the NYPD under the current leadership of Commissioner James ONeil, a career cop, will be allowed to go where the evidence leads, utilizing every tool at its disposal and not bow to political correctness when investigating potential terrorists and their hideouts. Perhaps the tool most needed in fighting radical Islamic terrorism today is a strong backbone.
In the wake of a Baptist church shooting that left 26 people dead Sunday, Democratic politicians and pundits once again took to social media and cable news to denounce those who they deem to be the true monsters in the entire situation  National Rifle Association members and Christians offering thoughts and prayers.

The NRA was denounced a terrorist organization that was drenched in the blood of the victims of gun violence.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.  who looks like a pining presidential candidate  was of course out front in a rush to the microphones. He demanded that we all do something, without ever actually disclosing what that something might be. Apparently, what he really wants is confiscation of firearms from law-abiding Americans, who are now once again facing media backlash for a crime they had nothing to do with.

But as was revealed Sunday, in what is becoming a common theme in these mass shootings, no amount of background checking would have stopped the shooter in Sutherland Springs, Texas from purchasing his firearms, because the federal government failed to do its job properly. Its not the first time.

If federal employees cannot perform the simplest of tasks of enforcing laws already on the books meant to keep people safe, then those employees need to be released and their agencies eliminated.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force, shooter Devin Patrick Kelley was convicted of domestic assault against his wife. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from incidents including physically striking his wife and choking and kicking her. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting his stepson, severely enough to crack the young childs skull.

Kelleys court-martial conviction should have disqualified him immediately from purchasing any kind of firearms. So what happened? The Associated Press reported:

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault is supposed to be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database. For unspecified reasons, the Air Force did not provide the information about Kelley as required.

The AP report continued: Acknowledging its mistake, the Air Force said in a written statement that the top two Air Force officials  Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein  have ordered a review of the Kelley case by the Air Force Office of the Inspector General.

Because of a law passed in 1996, its illegal for anyone convicted a domestic abuse crime to purchase a firearm, something some of our dutiful lawmakers in Congress seem to not be aware of.

Because Kelleys court records were never submitted the FBI database, Kelley sailed through several background checks and purchased up to four known firearms. Great work, guys.

This also appears to not just be a bad slip in judgment but a systematic problem. The Trace reported:  the military has no distinct charge for domestic violence, notes Grover Baxley, a former judge advocate general who now practices military law as a civilian. We see this all the time, Baxley said. There is no specific domestic violence article. Instead, military prosecutors charge abusers with other offenses, like assault. A scan of active records shows that the Department of Defense has just a single misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence on file with the National Criminal Instant Background Check System, or NICS.

A chart accompanying the report shows a startling statistic. The military has submitted zero records for members subject to domestic violence restraining orders to federal authorities. This isnt one or two bad apples falling through the cracks. This is a tree shaking them all to the ground.

But even when the FBI has all the data needed to flag someone from purchasing a gun, there have been examples of gross incompetence as well.

Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people during evening services at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.

Roof was not legally permitted to own a firearm due to an unlawful drug possession charge from earlier that year. Roofs record listed the wrong arresting agency and because of this error, he was able to legally purchase the weapon he used in the shooting. Victims of family members killed by Roof have filed suit against the U.S. government because of this avoidable error.

Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people and then committed suicide at the school in 2007, was under years of mental health observation. In 2005 he was accused of harassing female students and ordered by a court-appointed special justice, who declared him mentally ill, to attend treatment.

The justice declared that Cho presents an imminent danger to himself as a result of mental illness. Because Cho was never actually institutionalized, his state records were never sent to the FBI database, and he was able to purchase his weapons. Families of the victims settled with Virginia for $11 million in damages over the lapse.

A 2012 report from Mayors Against Illegal Guns found similar lapses in the background check system. As NPR reported: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined why states aren't submitting records in a July report. Some cited bureaucratic barriers, others technical ones, like switching from paper-based to computer systems. And some states contend it violates their laws to forward mental health records to the federal database. A few states are changing their laws.

It should not matter if these incidences are occurring because of a political correctness stigma around mental health, or just dumb laziness. If federal employees cannot perform the simplest of tasks of enforcing laws already on the books meant to keep people safe, then those employees need to be released and their agencies eliminated.

The National Rifle Association and lawful gun owners are not involved in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. During the shooting in Texas, a former NRA instructor was instrumental in stopping Kelleys rampage  a rampage that could have been prevented had our government not been asleep at the wheel again. But sure, lets turn over our health care to the government now.



If our government cannot perform simple tasks like filling our criminal record forms and entering information into databases, then why in the world would we burden federal employees with new gun laws that do nothing but restrict the constitutional rights of citizens and vendors in full compliance with the law?

Start with enforcing the federal laws on the books before attempting one of those conversations about curtailing rights. When our government gets that right, then we can have a larger discussion about the Second Amendment.


A junior Democratic congressman walked out of a moment of silence Monday night for victims of this weekend's mass shooting at a Texas church.

In a video posted to Facebook Monday evening, California Rep. Ted Lieu said that he would not join his colleagues who were observing the moment of silence in the chambers of the House of Representatives.

"I cant do this again; Ive been to too many moments of silences," Lieu said in the video. "In just my short period in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred. I will not be silent.

"I urge us to pass reasonable gun safety legislation, including a universal background check law supported by 80 percent of Americans, a ban on assault rifles and a ban on bump stocks, Lieu added.

Lieu has been active on social media since the shooting.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families affected by the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs," he posted on Twitter Sunday.

But just two hours later, after some of his followers objected to the measured nature of the tweet, Lieu unloaded on the National Rifle Association.

"I agree my prior tweet could be better," Lieu tweeted. "So here: I pray for the victims in TX. Also, screw the @NRA & can you help Dems take back the House."
Sen. Bob Menendez will not face a new bribery and corruption trial after all, federal prosecutors said last month.

The Department of Justice had announced earlier this year that it intended to retry the New Jersey Democrat after a federal judge declared a mistrial in the case in November, but ultimately walked away from the pursuit.

Menendez was accused of accepting a plethora of donations and gifts from a wealthy friend in exchange for political influence. Both Menendez and the doctor, Salomon Melgen, maintained their innocence.

From the very beginning, I never wavered in my innocence and my belief that justice would prevail. I am grateful that the Department of Justice has taken the time to reevaluate its case and come to the appropriate conclusion, Menendez said on social media following the announcement.

Menendez is up for re-election this year. He was selected to replace former Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., in the Senate in 2005. He rejoined the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee as its ranking member on Feb. 6, after stepping down from the post when he was indicted in 2015.

Read on for a look at what Menendez was accused of and what happened in the trial.

What was Menendez accused of?

Menendez, 64, accepted an abundance of campaign donations, gifts and vacations from Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, prosecutors alleged when Menendez faced trial in 2017. In return, prosecutors claimed, he used his position to lobby on behalf of Melgens business interests.

Melgen allegedly directed more than $750,000 in campaign contributions to entities that supported Menendez, according to the indictment, which prosecutors said were inducements to get Menendez to use his influence on Melgen's behalf. Prosecutors have also accused Menendez of trying to hide the gifts.

Melgen paid for Menendez and his girlfriend to stay for three nights at a Parisian hotel where rooms typically cost about $1,500 per night and allowed the senator the use of his private jet, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors said that Menendez sold his office for a lifestyle that he couldnt afford.

The indictment also alleged that Menendez pressured State Department officials to give visas to three young women described as Melgen's girlfriends.

What was the senators defense?

Both Menendez and Melgen pleaded not guilty  and Menendez has vehemently denied the accusations against him.

Throughout the original trial, defense attorneys sought to prove that Menendez and Melgen have been friends since before the former became a senator, and the trips were nothing more than friends traveling together.

Is there anything else to know about Salomon Melgen?

Melgen, 63, was convicted of 67 counts of health care fraud in April 2017 in what the Palm Beach Post called one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in the U.S.

Melgen was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Feb. 22 for Medicare fraud, as he persuaded patients to undergo treatments they did not necessarily need.

Aside from Menendez, Melgen has given significant amounts of money to a variety of Democratic lawmakers, according to public records.

How did the trial end?

After the jury again informed the judge they could not reach a decision, U.S. District Court Judge William H. Walls declared a mistrial, saying he found no alternative.

The mistrial was declared on Nov. 16.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Donna Brazile's newly released 2016 campaign tell-all accuses the FBI and the Democratic National Committee she used to lead of a bungled response to the email hacks that threw the party into turmoil last summer.

In Hacks, Brazile writes that she only learned of the breach in early June 2016 when then-DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz informed her and other party officials that The Washington Post was set to publish a story on the matter.

Brazile describes Wasserman Schultz' tone as "so casual."

On June 14, Debbie invited the Democratic Party officers to a conference call to alert us that a story about hacking the DNC that would be published in the Washington Post the following day, Brazile writes. That call was the first time wed heard that there was a problem.

About five weeks later, at the start of the Democratic National Convention, WikiLeaks released more than 19,000 emails, including ones that suggested Wasserman Schultz had helped Clinton win the nomination over rivals Bernie Sanders and others. The revelations ultimately led to Wasserman Schultz, of Florida, stepping down and Brazile becoming interim DNC chairwoman.

But the Brazile book laments "incompetence on both sides" that allegedly allowed the hacking problem to fester for months before top officials were made aware.

WATCH DONNA BRAZILE ON FOX NEWS' 'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT' ON WEDNESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET

She says the FBI, after learning of the problem, only contacted the DNC IT department. The IT contractor on the other end went looking for a compromised computer, didn't find anything, and "let it go," she writes.

Brazile says this back-and-forth went on for weeks before the FBI provided additional details and the technician alerted a superior. Even then, it took seven months for Wasserman Schultz to be alerted.

"By the time Debbie finally found out about the hack, the Russians had been in the system for almost a year without anyone noticing," Brazile writes, questioning why the FBI didn't go directly to the DNC boss and why the IT contractor didn't go straight to a superior. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News.

The book also revives allegations that the DNC was not very responsive to the Obama administration's warnings.

Brazile writes that a reporter had told her the FBI had been calling and calling the DNC about Russia possibly having hacked into the groups electronic systems but never got anyone to respond.

Brazile asked aloud why agents didnt directly call Wasserman Schultz, considering she was a member of Congress. She also writes that Eric Holder, the U.S. attorney general at the time, stopped her at then-President Obamas birthday party in August 2016 to say that the DNC was not very responsive to the FBI inquires.

And here I was thinking that he was asking me to dance, Brazile writes. She says then-national security adviser Susan Rice also warned her "it took a long time" for the FBI to get a response from the DNC.

While the book hit the shelves on Tuesday, excerpts from the bombshell tell-all have been sending shockwaves through the Democratic Party since last week.

Among her allegations is that a 2015 joint-fundraising agreement between the DNC and the Clinton camp gave the campaign unprecedented authority over DNC hiring and spending, in exchange for more than $1 million to the cash-strapped group. She suggested this hurt Bernie Sanders and other candidates in the primary, though has since said the primary itself wasn't rigged.

Former campaign officials have denied the allegations and point out the agreement was presumably meant for after Clinton became the partys nominee and that such a deal was available to other candidates.

As for the hack, Brazile writes that her first clue emerged in early June, right before the conference call, when her cell phone started acting like it was possessed.

She says the phone kept requesting her password. So she eventually called the DNC help-line and spoke to a technician who she said expressed no alarm but still advised her to immediately delete her DNC email account from all of her electronic devices.

We knew there was more coming. We just didnt know when, Brazile writes later in the 257-page book. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, had warned that the batches of documents about the Democrats would be released all the way up to Election Day.

Another sign that the email dump was timed to thwart Clintons presidential bid was a tweet in August by Republican operative Roger Stone foreshadowing dirt on Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta, according to the book.

That sleazy, leering, white-haired Nixon operative who was a big supporter of Donald Trump tweeted that soon it would be 'Podestas time in the barrel.'  We didnt know when the hammer would fall, but we were as ready as we could be, Brazile writes.
Parents, kids and schools across the nation could feel the impact of the results from one Colorado school board election today, depending on the winners.

At issue: Private school vouchers, and whether the courts deems them constitutional.

In 2011, the conservative Douglas County School Board attempted to implement a voucher program to provide money to some students to attend private or religious schools of their choosing, regardless of their family's income or whether the new school was located outside the county they live in. A legal challenge over taxpayer dollars being used for religious purposes went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was kicked back to Colorado courts, which prevented it from ever getting off the ground.

Depending on Tuesdays Election Day results, that could change.

Eight people are running to fill the four open seats on the Douglas County School Board. The race has generated a political storm in Colorado's third largest school district, inside one of the nations wealthiest counties.

That's because if the balance shifts, by even one seat, the results could have a major impact on the pro-school-choice movement vocally endorsed by President Trump and his Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos. More than $500,000 has been poured in by outside interests on both sides, including the nations second-largest teachers union and traditional Republican donors  with deep pockets.

"I don't think politics should be involved. No way," says Shaylee Holland, a mother of three, and supporter of the school choice slate of candidates. That slate, which calls itself Elevate Douglas County is made up of four conservative Republicans who say they believe the voucher issue should play out in the courts and, if deemed constitutional, be put to the community.

"It's the reality of America today," says commercial real estate developer Grant Nelson, one of the candidates on the Elevate slate. Everything is polarized. School board elections didn't use to be polarized but now they are, and it is big money that changes how things work."

Colorado political analyst Eric Sondermann said he isn't surprised the race has gotten so nasty and that it is attracting big money. Even in a county where registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats two-to-one, the battle lines are all over the place, he said. And its triggered Republican infighting.

"It has partisan overtones but no, it is not purely partisan. Douglas County is a very Republican county. Yes, there are Democrats and unaffiliated voters down there, but the heart and soul of Douglas County is Republican, Sondermann said. To a very large extent, it's Republicans fighting with other Republicans"

Flyers, attack ads and even vehicles hand-painted with support for one side have prompted finger-pointing from both sides that the other side is making this a hurtful race.

Chris Schor, a former elementary school principal running on the CommUnity slate, didn't go into detail about the division. But she said she altered the hand-paint on her car after a road rage incident she encountered. Her side of the ballot would let the voucher idea die.

"So, for me personally, I could tell you I have one vote, to vote for public education, she said. Public funds for public education."

Beth Kerr, a mother and vehement supporter of the CommUnity slate, is also a Republican. She said she feels her party isn't listening to its members. She is also tired of the national attention.

"I think it's sad," Kerr said. I would love for our district to be our district and our community focus on our families and our community and our students. And not look at what the outside interest is or being the best in the nation. I think it needs to be what's best for our kids here."

On the other side, Shaylee Holland is also frustrated. Frustrated that things have gotten this bad.

"No matter what you think about the vouchers, it should have never gotten to this level, Holland said. But the bottom line is it does need to be decided once and for all."

Most parents Fox News spoke to agree that whats getting lost in the fight is how the students are impacted by the actions of adults.

"As it gets kicked up the line, to national interests, national implications, Sondermann said, kids are probably not as central to the debate as they are for average voters that are actually going to decide this."
For 47 minutes every work day, LH Products workspace is abuzz.

Managers, producers and creators are completing orders, managing systems and organizing their business as it grows just six months after starting.

Those 47 minutes are also a class for Lake Holcombe High School students, and their work does not stop when the bell rings.

Funded through a $3,000 Wisconsin Educators Association Trust Forward Together Award grant, teachers Thea Hempel and Andrew Lorenzen helped begin the manufacturing company at Lake Holcombe High School in April 2017. The business is run, managed and serviced through students with interests both in the business world and technology.

Students make wood creations, such as cutting boards or coasters, and sell the pieces online and at local fairs and events. Some students help coordinate production and materials, while others are involved in the marketing, research and development of products.

The grant money for the business was used to buy a new sander, create a website and purchase shipping and marketing materials, Hempel said. Eventually, the business leaders are hopeful the business will become profitable and the revenue will go back to the students involved, Hempel said.

Hempel, the schools business and German teacher, and Lorenzen, the schools technology teacher, co-teach the 47-minute class. Hempels version is business management, while Lorenzens class is manufacturing management.

Together, the classes make up whats called LH Products.

Outside of the daily class, students are still working, Hempel said, fostering teamwork and making sure each is an active piece in the LH Products puzzle.

What Im seeing...is teamwork skills. Theyre working together in a fun and chaotic environment, Hempel said. We come in, and we hit the ground running. Theyre working with people they may not have worked with before...They are really holding each other accountable.

Andrew Borsted, Lake Holcombe senior and LH Products production manager, oversees the daily process in the shop and makes sure inventory and items are in stock for shows and orders. The lessons and skills he has gleaned from his few months with LH Products are invaluable to his future, Borsted said.

Its interesting to see a business truly start from scratch, Borsted said. High school (students) may have jobs that teach them skills. Not many can say they were part of a business startup.

While the business has yet to be profitable, sales are still coming in. Hempel said students are now starting and working on Christmas orders that have been coming in.

Products were also sold and advertised when LH Products participated in Locally Made Market at Oakwood Mall in Eau Claire. That experience not only spread the word of LH Products services, but it also got the community excited about the new business, Hempel said.

I think right now its a little bit, theyre watching to see what happens. [Its] starting to settle in that this is for real, and this is here to stay, Hempel said. Feedback from the show is amazing.

Community members seemed excited, Hempel added, and were commenting on the quality of the work the students produced. Its a confirmation Hempel, Borsted and Isabella Villalpando, senior and the LH Products business manager, said they have been working toward since the business inception.

Its a good feeling knowing that you made an impact on a school this small, Villalpando said.

As business manager, Villalpando assists with accounting, planning for craft shows, getting marketing supplies and advertising.

During their Monday morning business meetings and in their daily work, Villalpando said the business employees discuss the future a lot. Despite leaving the business upon graduation, she said she is hopeful it can reach a national and international scale, opening its own Etsy and Amazon shop to reach customers outside of Wisconsin.

Borsted too will leave the business when he graduates, and he said he is hopeful to see younger students getting involved with the business, even from when they first enter high school.

In the short-term, LH Products is working on establishing and offering fishing rods, customizable picture frames and options for its cutting boards.

With Christmas orders filing in, LH Products continues to stay busy and upgrading its offers, with no signs of slowing down.

The skys the limit for us, Hempel said.
Democrats have worked feverishly all year to make nearly every local election a referendum on President Trump  and Tuesday's gubernatorial races are no exception.

The Trump factor looms large in the marquee Virginia gubernatorial race, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and his allies have churned out mailers and ads tying Republican rival Ed Gillespie to the Trump White House at every turn.

The Trump-referendum strategy has not been particularly successful for Democrats in the House special elections so far this year. But this time, polls in New Jersey and Virginias gubernatorial races show the Democratic candidates in the lead.

In New Jersey, Democratic nominee Phil Murphy holds a substantial lead over Republican Kim Guadagno.

But the race in Virginia is considerably tighter. According to the latest Fox News Poll released Monday, Northam holds a 5-point edge over Gillespie, who says there is no doubt the polls are close.

In the final stretch, Gillespie questioned whether the Democrats' Trump-all-the-time strategy is a sound one.

FOX NEWS POLL: VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE REMAINS TIGHT

Theyve known theyre in a close race for some time. Theyve been throwing the kitchen sink at us with awful and vile ads, Gillespie said on Fox News Daily Briefing Monday.

The most controversial of those ads was run by a Democratic group, Latino Victory Fund. It showed minority children seemingly being chased by a driver in a pickup truck, decked out with a Confederate flag and a Gillespie for governor bumper sticker. The ad concluded with a scene of a Charlottesville-like rally, with a narrator asking: Is this what Donald Trump and Ed Gillespie mean by the American Dream?

The ad was removed after extensive backlash.

ELECTION DAY 2017: FULL COVERAGE

Other mailers boast that Northam is "standing up to Trump and Gillespie's politics of fear and hate."

It's a message the campaign stands by as polls open.

Independent groups are denouncing Ed Gillespie because he has run the most divisive, fear-mongering campaign in modern history, Northam campaign spokeswoman Ofirah Yheskel said in a statement to Fox News. It is not shocking that communities of color are scared of what his Trump-like policy positions mean for them.

Northam has campaigned with Democratic power players like former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden and even had a fundraiser headlined by Hillary Clinton.

WHO ARE ED GILLESPIE AND RALPH NORTHAM?

Meanwhile, Gillespie has garnered Republican support, with a fundraiser hosted by former President George W. Bush. He was joined by Vice President Pence on the campaign trailbut not Trump. Trump, though, has repeatedly expressed his support for Gillespie on Twitter.

"The state of Virginia economy, under Democrat rule, has been terrible. If you vote Ed Gillespie tomorrow, it will come roaring back!" Trump tweeted Monday.

Despite Democrats' claims, Gillespie seems to be keeping a certain distance from Trump, while telling Fox News that he would work with President Trump and Vice President Pence and the Cabinet. He listed priorities for Virginia, like building more ships and keeping Norfolk the largest base in the world.

In terms of working with the president and vice president, any governor of Virginia has to be able to work with the president of the United States, Gillespie said Monday. Thats always been our history given our proximity. Ill be able to.

In New Jersey, Lt. Gov. Guadagno is dealing not only with attempts to link her to Trump but to outgoing and controversial Gov. Chris Christie.

Murphy, a multimillionaire former Goldman Sachs executive and former U.S. ambassador to Germany, said the choice for New Jerseys next governor couldnt be clearer.

On the one hand more of the same, another Chris Christie four years of failed politics, of failed politices for the middle class that was hollowed out and ravaged, where public education doesnt get funded, infrastructure is ignored, we become more unfair by the day and we are caught in this awful us vs. them vortex, Murphy said at a recent campaign event. Or we can turn the page and change.

Guadagnos response? She reminds voters that Christie is no longer on the ballot.

Murphy, like Northam, also has welcomed big names on the campaign trail, with former Presidents Obama and Bill Clinton, and Biden, at campaign events.

There is much at stake in both gubernatorial elections, but whoever takes the governors mansion in New Jersey could have the added responsibility of appointing a senatorif Sen. Bob Mendendez, D-N.J., is convicted in his corruption trial and resigns.

Menendez maintains his innocence. But if he were to step down, the appointment decision would have serious implications for Trump's policy agenda in a closely divided Senate.

With the Senate so evenly divided, the outcome of the New Jersey gubernatorial election, if Senator Menendez were to be convicted, could determine the Trump agenda and if it would move forward with greater ease in the Senate," said Brigid Harrison, a professor of political science and law at Montclair State University.

Another race to watch Tuesday is in Utah, with the election to fill the House seat previously held by Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz who resigned from his post in June.

Fox News' Eric Shawn contributed to this report.
The co-founder of Fusion GPS, the firm behind the unverified Trump dossier, met with a Russian lawyer before and after a key meeting she had last year with Trumps son, Fox News has learned. The contacts shed new light on how closely tied the firm was to Russian interests, at a time when it was financing research to discredit then-candidate Donald Trump.

The opposition research firm has faced renewed scrutiny after litigation revealed that the DNC and Hillary Clintons campaign paid for that research. Congressional Republicans have since questioned whether that politically financed research contributed to the FBIs investigation of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign  making Fusions 2016 contacts with Russian interests all the more relevant.

The June 2016 Trump Tower meeting involving Donald Trump Jr. and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya occurred during a critical period. At that time, Fox News has learned that bank records show Fusion GPS was paid by a law firm for work on behalf of a Kremlin-linked oligarch while paying former British spy Christopher Steele to dig up dirt on Trump through his Russian contacts.

But hours before the Trump Tower meeting on June 9, 2016, Fusion co-founder and ex-Wall Street Journal reporter Glenn Simpson was with Veselnitskaya in a Manhattan federal courtroom, a confidential source told Fox News. Court records reviewed by Fox News, email correspondence and published reports corroborate the pairs presence together. The source told Fox News they also were together after the Trump Tower meeting.

"What we are finding out is that there is a lot of Russian influence in Washington, and a lot of money flowing in to influence our political process in Washington."  Marc Thiessen, former Bush Administration official

Simpsons presence with Veselnitskaya during this critical week in June -- together with revelations about Fusions simultaneous financial ties to the DNC, Clinton campaign and Russian interests -- raise new questions about the companys role in the 2016 election.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the Trump Tower meeting as part of his probe of Russian interference in last years election.

Simpson and Fusion GPS were hired by BakerHostetler, which represented Russian firm Prevezon through Veselnitskaya.

Veselnitskaya has said she sought the Trump Tower meeting in order to lobby the candidates team against Russian sanctions, but the initial approach included an offer of compromising information on candidate Clinton.

Lawyers representing Fusion and Veselnitskaya did not respond to requests for comment lodged on Friday.

Senate Judiciary Committee investigators interviewed Simpson for more than 10 hours on Aug. 22. A spokesman for the committee had no comment on whether Simpson confirmed his contact with Veselnitskaya during the closed-door session.

The DNC and Clinton campaign hired Fusion in April 2016 through lawyer Marc Elias, who was general counsel for the Clinton campaign. Fusion, in turn, paid Steele $168,000 for the dossier, memos from which were shared with the FBI in the summer of 2016.

Fusion officials said last week Steele's money came from $1.02 million it received in fees and expenses from Elias' law firm Perkins Coie. Prior to contracting with the DNC, Fusion had been conducting research into Trump and other Republican candidates on behalf of the conservative website The Washington Free Beacon.

NBC News first reported that Veselnitskaya and Simpson were both at a hearing centered around another Fusion client, Russian oligarch Denis Katsyv. His company, Prevezon Holdings, was sanctioned against doing business in the U.S. for its alleged role in laundering more than $230 million. Fox News obtained audio records from that hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The wrongdoing had been uncovered by Russian lawyer and whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who was beaten to death in a Russian prison in 2009 after being arrested for probing Prevezon and other companies with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In December 2012, the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act was passed into U.S. law, freezing Russian assets and banning visas for sanctioned individuals. Fusions Simpson is believed to have been working with Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin, a former Soviet counter-intelligence officer turned Russian-American lobbyist, to overturn the sanctions.

Akhmetshin also attended the June 9 Trump Tower meeting, along with about a half-dozen others including Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, publicist Rob Goldstone, Natalia's Russian translator Anatoli Samochornov and Ike Kaveladze from a Russian-American real estate agency.

Muellers interest in Fusion is unclear, but the House Intelligence Committee, which is conducting one of several related congressional probes, recently struck a deal to gain access to Fusions bank records after initially issuing a subpoena. The records show that the DNC funded Fusions dossier effort.

Over the weekend, Fusion GPS sought a new restraining order after the House panel requested additional records that could reveal if Fusion was paying media companies or reporters for planting stories.

"What we are finding out is that there is a lot of Russian influence in Washington, and a lot of money flowing in to influence our political process in Washington," Marc Thiessen, a Washington Post columnist and former Bush administration official, said. "It's going into Hillary Clinton. It's going to Fusion GPS. It's going into a lobbying campaign up on Capitol Hill against Magnitsky."

Meanwhile, a request from Veselnitskaya and Katsyv for a new "temporary immigration parole" to return to the U.S. for a Nov. 9 Prevezon hearing in New York was denied, according to court documents reviewed by Fox News.

A Senate Judiciary Committee spokesman told Fox News they are "encouraged" that Veselnitskaya has "signaled a willingness to cooperate" with the committee.
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake clashed with President Trumps eldest son on Tuesday over the outgoing Arizona lawmaker's proposed gun legislation in the wake of the deadly Texas church shooting.

Flake, who announced last month he would not seek re-election when his term ends in 2018, tweeted on Tuesday that he is co-sponsoring a piece of proactive bipartisan legislation that would ban anyone convicted of domestic violence from purchasing a firearm.

Writing a bill w/ @MartinHeinrich to prevent anyone convicted of domestic violence  be it in criminal or military court  from buying a gun, Flake tweeted.

The proposed legislation, being written with Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, follows revelations that the U.S. Air Force did not report Texas church shooter Devin Kelleys domestic violence conviction to the FBI, even though it was required by the Pentagon. That left the door open for Kelley to buy weapons.

But Donald Trump Jr. didnt seem to think the senators bill was all that proactive.

Incredibly proactive considering that law has been on the books since the mid 90s, Trump Jr. said in a sarcastic Twitter reply.

Trump was referring to the Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996. The federal law was designed to prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from buying or possessing a firearm regardless of whether the crime was a felony or misdemeanor.

Kelley, who killed at least 26 people when he opened fire at a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, received a bad conduct discharge from the military in 2014 after being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and reportedly fracturing his stepsons skull.

He was convicted on two charges of domestic assault, served 12 months in confinement at the Naval Consolidated Brig in California, and was later given the bad conduct discharge.

Flake hit back.

If being proactive means closing the #DomesticViolenceLoophole exploited by the #SutherlandSprings Texas shooter, you're right, Flake replied.

An Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said Monday that Kelleys conviction was not submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers.

But Trump Jr. struck back yet again.

Wrong. Govt employees, like you, failed to do their job. He did a year for abuse & fracturing his kids skull. Should not have had a gun! he tweeted.

In announcing his retirement, Flake has stepped up his criticism of the Trump White House.

We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us and calling fake things true and true things fake, Flake said on the Senate floor last month, seemingly pointing to Trump.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that fellow Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul is expected to return next week to Capitol Hill, as he recuperates from injuries sustained this past weekend when a neighbor attacked him.

Hes on the mend, McConnell said. We expect him back next week.

McConnell said he has spoken to Paul, who told him his injuries -- including five broken ribs -- really hurt.

What exactly happened in the attack is not yet clear. The attorney for the man accused of attacking Paul said Monday that the clash had absolutely nothing to do with politics and was a dispute over something trivial.

The accused attacker, 59-year-old Rene Boucher, was released on $7,500 bail Saturday and  so far  faces only a misdemeanor charge.

Matthew J. Baker, an attorney for the defendant, said in a statement Monday that his client and the senator have been neighbors for 17 years and were prominent members of the local medical community and worked together when they were both practicing physicians.

But in the thick of intense congressional debates over taxes and health care, Baker said politics was not the issue.

The unfortunate occurrence of November 3rd has absolutely nothing to do with either's politics or political agendas, he said. It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial. We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.

The New York Times reported that the fight may have stemmed from some kind of planting dispute around their properties. It added that Paul was wearing earphones and mowing his lawn when the assault began.

According to the jailer at Warren County Regional Jail, Boucher was released on $7,500 bail Saturday.

He faces Assault in the 4th degree, minor injury, Jailer Stephen Harmon told Fox News on Monday, pointing further inquiries to the Kentucky State Police. Other charges may be pending.

On Sunday, Paul was recovering from five broken ribs, including three displaced fractures, leaving unclear when he might return to Capitol Hill.

The Kentucky State Police told Fox News they are still running an active and open investigation and just learned of Pauls condition.

State Police told Fox News on Monday that in Kentucky, there is a statute that considers an assault a felony only if there is serious physical injury.

Boucher's next court appearance is set for Thursday morning.

Fox News' Brooke Singman and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
GOP Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Ted Poe announced Tuesday that they will retire at the end of their terms, adding to the list of Republican lawmakers bowing out after 2018.

Poe, R-Texas, announced late Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in the midterms next fall, saying he is looking forward to spending more time in his district and with his family.

I am grateful for the honor and privilege to represent the best people in America, Texass Second Congressional District. Thanks to the good Lord, Im in good health, but its time for the next step, Poe said in a statement, which he shared on Twitter. I am looking forward to spending more time in Texas, especially with my 12 grandkids who have all been born since I was first elected to Congress.

Poe, who was first elected to the House in 2005, said that he was proud of the work his office has accomplished, and listed giving crime victims a voice, helping combat human trafficking, and fighting for our constitutional rights and individual liberty.



I will continue this work every day until I retire at the end of this term, Poe said. And thats just the way it is.

LoBiondo, R-N.J., 71, announced his retirement earlier Tuesday, but said his decision was not motivated by electoral fears.

LoBiondo declared that our nation is consumed by increasing political polarization, and said there is no longer middle ground.

His departure gives Democrats a shot at the seat in a district that President Barack Obama won easily in two elections. Democrats made clear they will try to win the district as they aim to retake control of the House next year. Democrats must pick up two dozen seats to win back the House.

LoBiondo was elected to Congress in 1994 as part of the so-called "Republican Revolution." He represents a wide swath of southern New Jersey and serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Transportation panel in the House.

Last month, LoBiondo was one of 20 House Republicans to vote against a $4 trillion budget framework for tax reform over plans to limit state and local tax deductions.

In his statement, LoBiondo insisted he was not motivated by electoral fears. Instead, he pointed to term limits on a couple of his committee roles and said that made it the right time to leave. He also delivered an indictment of the current political climate in Washington and Congress.

"As some of my closest colleagues have also come to realize, those of us who came to Congress to change Washington for the better through good governance are now the outliers," he wrote. "In legislating, we previously fought against allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good. Today a vocal and obstinate minority within both parties has hijacked good legislation in pursuit of no legislation."

Fox News' Brooke Singman, Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Trump administration is expected to end in January 2019 a special immigration status given to over 5,000 Nicaraguans that protects them from deportations.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said Monday that the Temporary Protected Status has run its course and is no longer necessary for Nicaraguan immigrants living in the U.S.

Immigrants living under such permit will be given 12 months' notice in order to ensure a smooth return to their country and for the Nicaraguan government to prepare for the influx of the returning citizens.

This will provide time for individuals with TPS to seek an alternative lawful immigration status in the United States, if eligible, or, if necessary, arrange for their departure, the DHS statement read.

The programs critics say the scheme allowed participants to continue extending their stays, effectively giving amnesty to those who immigrated illegally, despite no war or natural disasters in their country, according to Reuters.

Nicaraguans and Hondurans have been able to gain the permit since 1999 after the Clinton administration gave the status following Hurricane Mitch that wrecked the countries.

Duke said in the statement that the conditions caused by the hurricane no longer exist, and thus, under the applicable statute, the current TPS designation must be terminated.

The White House will also deliberate next year whether a similar program for more than 85,000 immigrants from Honduras should end as well. Duke delayed the final decision to learn more about the situation, but extended the status for six months  up until July 2018.

Both programs were set to expire in next year in January.

The TPS program covers more than 400,000 people from 9 countries that were subject to war or natural disasters and whose citizens came to the U.S  either legally or illegally  and prevents any deportations.

The scheme, initially enacted by a presidential decree back in 1990, was meant to be temporary, but both the Bush and Obama administrations extended the program, fearing the countries could not cope if the residents returned to their homelands.

Trump ended the permits for Sudan in September and issued a shorter program renewal for almost 60,000 immigrants from Haiti who were allowed to gain the permit following the 2010 earthquake.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Throughout the first year of his presidency  and even as he campaigned for the office  President Trumps rhetoric regarding North Korea has been harsh.

He warned earlier this year that Americas nuclear capabilities were much bigger [and] more powerful than that of the Asian nation. And at the end of 2017, Trump designated North Korea a state sponsor of terror again  a classification that came with additional sanctions.

On the heels of a planned, historic summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trumps tone softened, saying great progress has been made. But Trump ultimately cancelled that meeting, citing "open hostility" from North Korea.

From agreeing to meet with Kim to dubbing him Little Rocket Man, heres a look at what Trump has said about North Korea and its leader over time.

Back together again

After meeting with a North Korean official in the White House for more than an hour, Trump announced the June summit with North Korea is back on.

We'll be meeting on June 12 in Singapore," the president told reporters after the meeting.

Let's call the whole thing off

Trump announced on May 24 that he has decided to pull out of the June summit with North Korea.

"We were informed that the meeting was requested by North Korea, but that to us is totally irrelevant," Trump said in a letter to Kim. "I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting."

"You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used," Trump said.

"I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters. Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you," he added. "In the meantime, I want to thank you for the release of the hostages who are now home with their families. That was a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated."

Deal or no deal?

After speaking with the South Korean president amid threats from the rogue regime to cancel talks, Trump suggested the historic summit between him and Kim might not happen after all.

If it doesnt happen, maybe it will happen later. You never know about deals. Ive made a lot of deals, Trump said on May 22. You never really know. It may not work out for June 12.

Trump said he wants the Korean peninsula to be denuclearized in an all in one manner.

I can guarantee Kims safety. He will be safe. He will be happy, Trump said. His country will be rich.

Trump also said hes noticed a change in Kims attitude recently.

I cant say that Im happy about it, he added.

Save the date

Trump officially announced that he would meet with Kim in Singapore on June 12.

We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace! Trump said in a tweet.

The announcement came hours after Trump and the first lady welcomed the three Americans freed from detention in North Korea at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland early on May 10.

After Trump met with the three men, he publicly thanked Kim for releasing the prisoners.

Were starting off on a new footing, Trump said.

Positive gesture of goodwill

In announcing that a date and place has been set for his much-anticipated meeting with Kim, Trump also confirmed three American prisoners have been released.

The three Americans  Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song  are returning to the U.S. with newly-confirmed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump said in a tweet. The president confirmed the three men are also in good health.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORIC SUMMIT BETWEEN TRUMP, KIM JONG UN

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump appreciates Kim Jong Uns action to release these American citizens, and views this as a positive gesture of goodwill.

Another American detainee, Otto Warmbier, died in June 2017 after he was released back to the U.S. with severe brain damage.

Good relationship formed

Trump has confirmed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo  his pick to lead the State Department  secretly met with Kim in April and a good relationship was formed. He said the meeting went very smoothly.

The president also disclosed that the U.S. and North Korea have held direct talks at extremely high levels in preparation for the summit.

Kim will do what is right

After Kims first reported visit to China, Trump said there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity.

For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility, Trump said in a March tweet, adding that he is looking forward to his upcoming meeting with the North Korean leader.

He also gave North Korea the benefit of the doubt earlier that month, saying he believes the country will abide by its pledge to suspend missile tests.

When Trump delivered a speech in Pennsylvania, the crowd booed the mention of Kim, but the president stopped them.

No, it's very positive ... no, after the meeting you may do that, but now we have to be very nice because let's see what happens, let's see what happens, Trump said.

Invitation accepted

Trump accepted an invitation from Kim to meet, the White House said. While a time and place has yet to be determined, the two leaders are expected to meet by June.

The invitation to convene was extended by Kim.

Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached, Trump said on social media. Meeting being planned!

The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined, he later said.

Possible progress

As North Korea is reportedly willing to negotiate its nuclear weapons, Trump cautiously acknowledged possible progress.

For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned, Trump said on Twitter. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!

At a later White House news conference, Trump said he believed North Korea, which has a long history of deception and threats to target U.S. cities with nuclear missiles, is sincere.

We have come certainly a long way, at least rhetorically, with North Korea, Trump said. Of the possibility for peacefully resolving the nations deep differences, he said: Itd be a great thing for the world, would be great for North Korea, it would be a great thing for the peninsula.

But well see what happens, Trump said.

Spirit of the Olympics

At the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Olympics, North Korea sent the U.S. a message through South Korea, saying it has ample intentions of holding talks with America.

During a meeting with the nations governors at the White House in February, Trump said those talks will only occur under the right conditions.

The administrations position has been that North Korea must get rid of its nuclear and missile programs first before any talks can take place.

Relationship status: Its complicated

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump reportedly said he probably has a very good relationship with North Korea.

Trump also suggested that he is open to diplomacy with the country hes spent years criticizing, the newspaper reported.

I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised, Trump said.

The Wall Street Journal released the audio and transcript of the interview after Trump denied making the comments.

'Success for the world'

Trump told South Korea that he would be open to talks with its northern neighbor under the right circumstances, the White House said.

Trump also took credit for the talks between North and South Korea ahead of next months Winter Olympics. At a January Cabinet meeting, Trump said it was his administrations pressure on North Korea that caused the rogue nation to negotiate with the South.

"Without our attitude that would have never happened," Trump said of the inter-Korean dialogue. "Who knows where it leads. Hopefully it will lead to success for the world  not just for our country but for the world, and we'll be seeing over the next number of weeks and months what happens."

Whose button is bigger?

After Kim warned Trump about North Koreas nuclear capabilities, Trump hit back on social media, arguing that his Nuclear Button is bigger [and] more powerful.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,' the president tweeted. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

Kim previously warned the U.S. should know that the button for nuclear war is on my table.

The entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range, he said. The United States can never start a war against me and our country.

Good news or bad news?

Trump insinuated at the start of the new year that sanctions and additional pressures are having a big impact on North Korea.

Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea, Trump said. Kim now wants to talk to South Korea for the first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not  we will see!

In his tweet, Trump was seemingly referring to the recent, dramatic escape of at least two North Korean soldiers across the heavily militarized border into the southern country He also alluded to Kims recent comments indicating he would send a delegation to the Winter Olympics to be hosted in South Korea.

Trump also took credit for the talks between North and South Korean leaders.

With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North, Trump said in a Jan. 4 tweet. Fools, but talks are a good thing!

'Sick puppy'

While giving a speech on tax reform at a Missouri event in November, 2017, Trump digressed from the topic to call the North Korean leader a "sick puppy."

His comments drew hoots from the crowd.

State sponsor of terror

Trump re-designated North Korea a state sponsor of terror on Nov. 20, 2017, citing its support of international terrorism, including assassinations on foreign soil.

During a Cabinet meeting, Trump announced the designation came along with new sanctions on the murderous regime as part of the administrations maximum pressure campaign in dealing with North Korea. He said these sanctions will be the highest level of sanctions on the North.

North Korea was on the list but was taken off by the Bush administration in 2008.

Why can't we be friends?

In a series of tweets while in Vietnam, Trump said he doesn't know why the North Korean dictator would "insult" him.

Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me old, when I would NEVER call him short and fat? Trump said. Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!

The comment came after Kim referred to Trump's speech in South Korea as reckless remarks by an old lunatic.

'Dont try us'

In Asia, Trump issued a stern warning to North Korea, saying it would be a fatal miscalculation for the country to attack the U.S. or an ally.

This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past. Do not underestimate us. And do not try us, Trump said during an address at South Koreas National Assembly.

North Korea has interpreted Americas past restraint as weakness, Trump said.

'Lets make a deal'

While on his Asia trip, Trump implored North Korea to come to the table for talks on its nuclear weapons program. Trumps request for North Korea to make a deal was in stark contrast to his previous hardline rhetoric when it comes to the rogue nation.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in in November 2017.

Trump also said hes seen a lot of progress in dealing with North Korea but still called the country a worldwide threat.

In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo the day before, Trump repeated his assertion that the era of strategic patience with North Korea was finished.

Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years, Trump said then.

'Rocket Man' is on a 'suicide mission'

After dubbing him Rocket Man in a tweet, Trump eventually tried out the new nickname for Kim during his inaugural address to the U.N. General Assembly.

During his speech, Trump vowed to totally destroy North Korea if the country so provokes him. He also said Kim was on a suicide mission.

No more talking

After North Korea said it successfully launched a missile over Japan, a U.S. ally, and into the Pacific Ocean, Trump initially had a subdued response.

"Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime's isolation in the region and among all nations of the world," Trump said in a written statement after North Koreas missile soared almost 1,700 miles into the Pacific Ocean, triggering alert warnings in northern Japan and shudders throughout Northeast Asia. "All options are on the table."

The missile launch was said to be a precursor to North Koreas containment of the U.S. territory of Guam by Kim, according to state-run media.

But in a tweet, the president suggested the U.S. is finished talking to North Korea.

The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer, Trump tweeted.

The U.S. is 'locked and loaded'

Trump took to social media in August 2017 to proclaim that the U.S. military is locked and loaded in case North Korea act[s] unwisely.

'Fire [and] fury' isn't 'tough enough'

With the threat of nuclear violence growing, Trump warned North Korea on Aug. 8, 2017 that he would unleash fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.

But when tensions continued to rise and North Korea threatened to attack Guam, Trump said maybe that comment wasnt "tough enough."

"Lets see what [Kim] does with Guam. He does something in Guam, it will be an event the likes of which nobody has seen before  what will happen in North Korea," Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump was "sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un can understand, because he doesnt seem to understand diplomatic language."

Kim Jong Un is 'not getting away with it'

Trump said Kim has disrespected our country greatly.

He has said things that are horrific. And with me, hes not getting away with it, Trump said. He got away with it for a long time, between him and his family. Hes not getting away with it. Its a whole new ball game.

'Strategic patience  is over'

After meeting with the South Korean president in Washington, D.C., in June 2017, Trump said that the era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed.

Frankly, that patience is over, he said.

As Trump made these comments, the U.S. was rocked with the death of Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American college student who suffered extensive brain damage while being held captive in North Korea for more than a year.

There are 'worse things' than assassinating Kim Jong Un

In an interview with CBS News during the presidential campaign, Trump said he could get China to make [Kim Jong Un] disappear in one form or another very quickly.

When asked if he was talking about assassinating the North Korean dictator, Trump shrugged.

Well, you know, Ive heard of worse things, frankly. I mean, this guys a bad dude  and dont underestimate him, Trump said. Any young guy that can take over from his father with all those generals and everybody else that probably wants the position, this is not somebody to be underestimated.

'What the hell is wrong with speaking?'

Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Atlanta that should Kim want to come to the U.S., he would be accept[ed].

I wouldnt go there, that I can tell you. If he came here, Id accept him, but I wouldnt give him a state dinner like we do for China and all these other people that rip us off when we give them these big state dinners, Trump said in June 2016.

What the hell is wrong with speaking? Trump said, referencing the criticism he received for being willing to talk with North Korea. Its called opening a dialogue.

'Maniac'

During a GOP presidential debate in September 2015, Trump railed on the maniac in North Korea while answering a question about Planned Parenthood and womens health issues.

Nobody ever mentions North Korea, where you have this maniac sitting there, and he actually has nuclear weapons and somebody better start thinking about North Korea and perhaps a couple of other places. But certainly North Korea, Trump said.

You have somebody right now in North Korea who has got nuclear weapons and who is saying almost every other week, Im ready to use them, and we dont even mention it, he continued.

China needs to solve the problem

Even before he was president, Trump urged China to step in and help alleviate problems with North Korea.

North Korea is reliant on China. China could solve this problem easily if they wanted to but they have no respect for our leaders, Trump tweeted in March 2013.

In April 2013, Trump continued that line of thinking, adding that North Korea cant survive, or even eat, without the help of China. He then accused China of taunting the U.S.

As president, Trump has said he is very disappointed in actions China has taken regarding North Korea, particularly allowing oil to go into the nation. He also said a Chinese envoy to North Korea had no impact on Kim.

Additionally, Trump has said hes spoken to Chinas President Xi Jinping regarding the provocative actions of North Korea as well as the planned meeting between Trump and Kim.

President Xi told me he appreciates that the U.S. is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative, Trump said in March 2018. China continues to be helpful!

'Wack job'

In April 2013, Trump urged then-President Barack Obama to be very careful with the 28-year-old wack job in North Korea.

At some point we may have to get very tough, he tweeted.

'Negotiate like crazy'

Trump warned that the U.S. needed to do something to stop North Korea in 1999 during an interview with the late Tim Russert on Meet the Press.

"Do you want to do it in five years when they have warheads all over the place, every one of them pointing to New York City, to Washington and every one of us, is that when you want to do it, or do you want to do something now? Trump said. You'd better do it now. And if they think you're serious  they'll negotiate and it'll never come to that.

He said then that if he ever became president, the first step he would take would be to negotiate like crazy to make sure that the country would get the best deal possible. Trump also predicted then that in three or four years, North Korea would have weapons aimed all over the world, including at the U.S.

Fox News' Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump on Tuesday said "extreme vetting" for gun ownership would not have prevented the Texas church massacre and said there would have been "hundreds more dead" if gun laws were stricter.

Trump made the comments during a joint press conference in Seoul alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

A reporter asked Trump if he would consider extreme vetting not only for people entering the U.S. but as well as for people trying to buy a gun.

Trump appeared annoyed at the question and asked if it was an appropriate question given the timing and the venue. He went on to say that extreme vetting would have made no difference in Sunday's shooting, and would have prevented the actions of the "brave person who happened to have a gun in his truck and shoot him, and hit him and neutralize him."

Trump was referring to Stephen Willeford, a plumber with no military background, who managed to shoot the gunman Devin Kelley before jumping in another mans vehicle to chase him down.

I can only say this, if he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead you wouldve hundreds more dead, he added.

Texas Department of Public Safety chief Freeman Martin said Willeford grabbed his rifle and engaged the suspect after the gunman left the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, where he killed at least 26 people and injured 20 more.

Trump on Monday said the mass shooting at Texas Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, was the result of mental health problems at the highest level and called the killer a very deranged individual.
The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin on Monday formally challenged plans for a huge mine just over the state line in Michigans Upper Peninsula in a case the tribal chairman said has national significance.

A leading national environmental law firm representing the Keshena-based tribe filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the federal government.

The tribe says it has been deprived of treaty rights that are supposed to protect its cultural and historical sites because the federal government has delegated to the state of Michigan too much authority for permitting mines like the one proposed amid tribal burial mounds along the Menominee River.

We tell the state of Michigan we want our rights, and the state says We dont have a treaty with you, tribal chairman Gary Besaw said.

Such disputes could become widespread if more states seek the extra authority under the encouragement of Trump administration officials like Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt, Besaw said.

We know Scott Pruitt with EPA is actually pursuing that mantra of ... delegating to states, Besaw said. We want Aquila and the potential investors of Aquila to know that we arent going down without a fight.

The tribe has hired the San Francisco-based Earthjustice to represent it. Earthjustice has represented the Standing Rock Sioux against the Dakota Access Pipeline, sued the EPA over the pace of enforcement of pollution laws in poor areas and gone to court to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which is linked to developmental disorders.

This puts the federal government on notice, Besaw said. If we continue to be ignored we will pursue federal litigation.

Earthjustice filed the 60-day notice with Pruitt, the EPA Regional office in Chicago, acting secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and Army Corps of Engineers officers in Detroit and Washington, D.C. The Army Corps is involved in permitting disturbances of wetlands and waterways, while the EPA administers water and air quality.

An EPA spokeswoman in Washington said the agency will review and respond appropriately. The Army Corps didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has said it invited tribes to participate in the Aquila permitting process. But Besaw has said only under federal law would the Menominee have a formal, enforceable channel to influence decisions.

The tribes attempts to have its cultural and historical sites protected havent been effective through state offices, he said.

Earthjustice attorney Janette Brimmer said the wetlands along Menominee River that runs by the mine site and forms part of the border between the two states should be regulated by the federal government because it is a commercially navigable interstate waterway.

The Clean Water Act makes it very clear that the authority to dig up and potentially pollute the Menominee River and its wetlands cannot be delegated down to a single state, Brimmer said in a statement. The waters and wetlands that will be affected by this huge, potentially very damaging industrial project do not belong only to the State of Michigan. They must be protected for everyone, and its the EPA and the Corps mandatory duty to assume jurisdiction over the permit application.
President Trump said Tuesday in South Korea that good progress is happening on North Korea and he urged the regime to come to the table and make a deal.

Trump, speaking at a joint press conference in Seoul alongside South Korea President Moon Jae-in, said it makes sense for North Korea to talk with the U.S. and its allies.

I believe it makes sense for North Korea to do the right thing, Trump said. I think we are showing great strength. Unparalleled strength. We have three aircraft carriers positioned. A nuclear submarine. We hope to god we never have to use. I hope it makes sense to have North Korea to come to the table. I do see certain movement yes.

The president did not offer specifics as to the type of progress being made on North Korea. When asked whether direct talks with Kim Jong Un would happen, Trump replied I dont want to say that.

North Korea, in the meantime, rolled out its version of the red carpet, mocking Trump as a "lunatic old man" and sparking fears a missile or nuke test could be imminent.

"No one can predict when the lunatic old man of the White House, lost to senses, will start a nuclear war against [North Korea], the regimes state-run Korean Central News Agency said in a statement Monday. "The U.S. should not expect us to make any change."

The South Korean leader said he and Trump reaffirmed they are ready to provide North Korea with a bright future should the country give up its pursuit of nuclear arms.

Trump said that China was being helpful in dealing with North Korea and he called on Russia will follow suit.

President Xi has been very helpful and China has been working very hard to solving the problem, Trump said. If we get China and we get Russia things could happen and things can happen very quickly. This is a problem that should have been taken care of a long time ago but that's what I got.

The press conference occurred on the heels of a two-day visit to the Korea peninsula as part of Trumps first visit to Asia amid tensions with Pyongyang.

But as he began his two-day South Korean visit just three dozen miles from the heavily-fortified DMZ, he initially struck a different, more hopeful tone.

He declared that "it always works out. Has to work out."

That echoed the sentiment of his tweet hours earlier, when he left Japan for South Korea, the second stop of his lengthy Asian trip. It is centered on pressuring Kim to abandon his weapons program.

Fox News Serafin Gomez and David Kobe and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jupiter may not always have been a big ball of hydrogen and helium.

A new study suggests that, in their youth, Jupiter and other gas-giant planets may have been "steam worlds"  warm ocean planets a bit bigger than Earth, with water-vapor atmospheres.

John Chambers, a researcher at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., proposes that some protoplanets may grow into steam worlds from their modest beginnings as accretions of rock and ice pebbles. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]

As the accreting bodies come together and the protoplanet grows, increasing pressure liquefies the ices, and oceans form. Without any air present, water and any other liquids sublimate, creating an atmosphere dominated by water vapor, the idea goes. Even a relatively small protoplanet of between 0.08 and 0.16 Earth masses can be quite warm  from 32 to 704 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 347 degrees Celsius), Chambers said.

This view of Jupiters south pole was created using data from NASAs Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting the giant planet since July 2016.

Jupiter may not always have been a big ball of hydrogen and helium.

A new study suggests that, in their youth, Jupiter and other gas-giant planets may have been "steam worlds"  warm ocean planets a bit bigger than Earth, with water-vapor atmospheres.

John Chambers, a researcher at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., proposes that some protoplanets may grow into steam worlds from their modest beginnings as accretions of rock and ice pebbles. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]

As the accreting bodies come together and the protoplanet grows, increasing pressure liquefies the ices, and oceans form. Without any air present, water and any other liquids sublimate, creating an atmosphere dominated by water vapor, the idea goes. Even a relatively small protoplanet of between 0.08 and 0.16 Earth masses can be quite warm  from 32 to 704 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 347 degrees Celsius), Chambers said.

"I calculated the structure of atmospheres in this case, and worked out when conditions are right for rapid inflow of gas to form a giant planet," Chambers told Space.com. "The answer is, this happens when a planet is a few Earth masses, which is somewhat lower than the conventional value of 10 Earth masses."

In his model, Chambers started with a planet that orbits a sun-like star about three times farther away than Earth circles the sun. The makeup of the initial protoplanet is half ice and half rock. The pebbles accrete into a small protoplanet, whose atmosphere is very thin and made up of sublimating ices. Once the protoplanet hits 0.084 Earth masses, there's enough atmospheric pressure for ice to melt, and the object becomes a small ocean world. As more ice and rock accrete, the protoplanet gets bigger and starts to accumulate hydrogen and helium.

Since there's a lot of water in the atmosphere, the planet gets warmer. (Water is a powerful greenhouse gas.) As the protoplanet gains mass, the atmospheric pressure also keeps rising, allowing the atmosphere to absorb more water vapor. Eventually the pressure gets so high that the water is no longer an ocean of liquid but a "supercritical fluid" mixed with hydrogen and helium, with no clear boundary between the atmosphere and the surface.

Once about two to five Earth masses of rock and ice come together, a runaway process starts, and the protoplanet picks up more gas from the disk around its host star quickly. That's what allows a gas giant to grow, according to the new study.

Most models of planet formation assume that planetesimals  the bits that accrete to form planets  are roughly kilometer-size bodies. Pebble accretion, on the other hand, assumes that the accreting objects are, as the name implies, the size of pebbles.

Michiel Lambrechts, a researcher at Lund University in Sweden who was not involved in Chambers' study, said the scheme is a logical one.

"It's all about some physics that is very plausible," Lambrechts said.

Whether this scenario applies to Jupiter is not known, though there is some data from NASA's Jupiter-orbiting Juno mission that seems to show a core that's more diffuse than scientists initially thought. One implication is that, if Chambers and others are correct about the pebble-accretion model, one would expect to find that Jupiter's core harbors only a few Earth masses, Lambrechts said.

Planetary scientists generally think that gas giants must pick up most of their mass in just a few million years, because the solar wind from a newborn star blows away most of the gas in its protoplanetary disk quickly.

That fast timeline can cause problems for some planet-formation models. But it suits the pebble-accretion idea just fine, Chambers said.

"At a certain point, it's about how you avoid accreting quickly," he said.

Chambers said the next step is to look at more exoplanet data.

"I'm still working through the implications of this, but the next step is to feed this result into more general models for planet formation," he said. "The idea is to compare the outcome of these models with the observed population of extrasolar planets to pin down other unknown factors in planet formation."

The study has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. You can read a copy of it for free at on the online preprint server arXiv.org.

Editor's note: This story was updated Nov. 5 to correct the name of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Originally published on Space.com.
A snub appears to have led Adolf Hitler to the Nazi party. A historian is making the case that the most reviled dictator in history first tried to join the German Socialist party but was rejected, the Guardian reports.

If the German Socialists, another far right party, had taken him, Hitler may have settled for a more minor role in the party, which was larger than the Nazis, argues Thomas Weber.

Since Hitler hadn't previously "shown any leadership qualities and had been happy to follow orders," Weber says he may not have ever risen to prominence. "The Nazi party would have been absorbed by the German Socialist party and thus would have disappeared and history would have taken a different path," Weber tells the Guardian.

If that happened, it's unlikely there would have been World War II or the Holocaust, Weber tells the Independent. Weber, of the University of Aberdeen, found an overlooked document from 1919 in a Munich archive showing the German Socialists told Hitler not only that he wasn't welcome as a member, but that he couldn't write for the party paper.

Hitler went on to join the Nazis and became its leader in 1921. The German Socialist party was dissolved the following year. Weber writes in in his upcoming book that the "erratic doings of a prima donna" attributed to Hitler belied a "skillful and conniving political operator" who "kept a lifelong vengeance" against his enemies.

So why did the German Socialists spurn Hitler? Weber tells the Independent that perhaps "it had something to do with the fact Hitler was opinionated and they did not want to have someone there who was telling them what to do." (The Dutch Red Cross admits a "painful" WWII truth.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: One Snub of Hitler May Have Changed History
Frederic Chopin is buried in Paris' famed Pere Lachaise Cemetery. His heart is not. The composer asked, on his deathbed in 1849 at age 39, that his heart be buried not in France, but in his native Poland (Nature reports that he feared being buried alive).

And so it was done, with the AP in 2014 reporting on the heart's very secret exhumation on April 14 of that year from a pillar in Holy Cross Church in Warsaw.

The scientists who participated took more than 1,000 photos of the organ, which sat pickled in a jar of alcohol, before bolstering the seal with hot wax and returning it to the pillar.

That this happened at all wasn't revealed for five months, and now, three years later, a draft of an article published in the American Journal of Medicine asserts the mystery of his death has been solved: a complication of tuberculosis, scientists say.

This article originally appeared on Newser: Chopin's Pickled Heart Explains His Death
A famous 19-year-old snake wrangler from Australia is fighting for his life after being bitten by his pet snake, one that is regarded as the world's most venomous.

Nathan Chetcuti, from Brisbane, Australia, was attempting to put his pet inland taipan back into its enclosure on Sunday when the snake lashed out and bit him. Nathan's father immediately called emergency services after seeing the horiffic attack.

Toxicologist Dr. Geoff Isbister told the Australian Broadcasting Company that the snake's poison can cause major issues for humans. In terms of its effects, it causes blood not to clot, but its most important effect is it causes neurotoxicity," Isbister said. "So if its not treated early, it can cause paralysis.

HOW THE TIGER SNAKE'S VENOM BEAT EVOLUTION

As of Nov. 7, Chetcuti was still in serious condition in the intensive care unit of Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland, where his family has remained by his side.

On Chetcuti's YouTube page, Australian Pythons And Other Reptiles, which has more than 4,000 subscribers, he has several videos of non-venmous snakes and other reptiles, according to a report in news.com.au, which first reported the story.

The inland taipan snake, however, is known as a fierce snake from central east Australia and is regarded as the most venomous snake on the planet. A bite from the inland taipan could kill a person in 45 minutes if left untreated, according to a 2013 report from the University of Melbourne.

Unlike the saw-scaled viper or the king cobra snake, the inland taipan is usually quite shy. It is known to only strike when it is provoked or mishandled, so the strike on Chetcuti comes as a surprise to some.

In 2013, a 17-year-old male was bitten by an inland taipan in New South Wales, but he eventually recovered from the attack.

Following the bite, Hunter Valley snake catcher Judy Martin kept the snake and said they're usually very docile. They are a very placid snake, they rarely bite, she said, according to news.com.au.
In the Cold War era, the deterrence approach could be described as the bigger the nuclear bomb, the better. Are new mini nukes the right solution instead for todays threat of a nuclear war?

President Trump is currently in South Korea for talks having just left a visit with a similarly concerned Japanese leadership about North Koreas nuclear threats.

Earlier this year, Trump mandated a thorough review of Americas nuclear posture and ballistic missile defense. So back in the States, some of the brightest minds in the Department of Defense have been focused on this Review that will provide the President with recommendations and options relating to the threat of nuclear war.

WILL THE US UNLEASH REVOLUTIONARY 'LIGHTNINGSTRIKE' DRONE ON FUTURE ENEMIES?

Over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that about $400 billion dollars will be invested in modernizing and maintaining U.S. nuclear forces.

The U.S. has a vast and formidable nuclear arsenal and many methods from submarines to fighter jets to deliver those bombs. But much of the nuke program dates back to the Cold War and is feeling its age. The review could provide ideas to adapt, modernize and innovate so the United States is even more prepared to tackle todays nuclear threats.

If there were to be a nuclear attack, then it is vital that Trump has the very best options at his disposal to deliver a just response.

Enter mini nukes?

The review has been very closely held with little hinted as to what the recommendations and options will be  but we do know that last year, the Defense Science Boards Seven Defense Priorities for the New Administration report recommended that the Pentagon consider focusing on more low-yield nuclear weapons  aka mini nukes.

Aat a recent Mitchell Institute event, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Paul Selva delivered incisive remarks on the subject. He noted is important to provide the President with options and Everything is on the table in the review, from conservative strategic approaches to radical new approaches.

The Vice Chairmans remarks triggered a buzz with many speculating on what the future could hold for radical options.

Smaller, variable, more tactical nukes are a strong contender for development by the military in the modernization process. Amidst the hubbub, these weapons found themselves nicknamed mini-nukes. In the simplest of terms, the idea is that the power of these nuclear weapons could be adjustable.

Think of it as a dial a yield bombthis mini nuke could be dialed up for stronger destruction or dialed down for less.

The mini nukes factor

If mini nukes are recommended by the review, then Trump may soon have at his disposal the ability to target a specific neighborhood with a nuclear bomb - and leave the rest of a city undamaged by the explosion.

Each mini nuke could be tailored to the specific, necessary scale of destruction. For example, it could target and annihilate say a square mile  without the areas outside that mile being hit by the explosion.

More accurate nuclear strikes with an adjustable nuke warhead could reduce collateral damage and radioactive fallout.

Of course, radiation and other related threats would still expand well beyond the blast radius. The explosion would be far more restrained, but the damage to human life and the environment would reach beyond the blast limits.

PODCAST: FIND OUT THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DRONE HEADLINES WITH THIS INTELL OPERATIVE

So how could these new mini nukes be made?

There are two primary ways this capability could be developed. Some of the military's current nuclear weapon stockpile could be adapted or the military can also develop mini nukes from square one.

The military already has some very successful initiatives underway to make nukes smaller and more precise. For example, adjustments to the B61 bombs, enhanced with advanced tech like steerable fins, have already proven very successful.

WILL COMBAT VEHICLES USE URINE FOR FUEL?

The U.S. President must have options

President Trump already has an array of staggeringly powerful nuclear weapons at his disposal and it will only be more enhanced and advanced with the modernization program.

Variable yield mini nukes could potentially provide more flexibility and options.

Advocates for mini nuke type capability have argued that if the U.S. is attacked by North Korea with a nuclear weapon, then Trump needs the ability to launch a calibrated, targeted nuclear attack in response.

A variable yield mini nuke could give the President the means to launch a more contained strike with less radioactive fallout.

Selecting this low-yield, tailored weapon instead of a massive high yield nuke, Trump could eliminate a specific dangerous threat without destructively impacting the entire region - including allies like South Korea and Japan.

PODCAST: MEET THE NAVY SEAL WHO BECAME HOLLYWOOD STAR IN TRANSFORMERS

Responding in kind

Another argument for new variable, mini nukes is that it would give the President further options to respond in kind. For example, it is believed that North Korea could possibly unleash a nuclear weapon at the scale of about 100-kilotons  thats enough to potentially destroy a city. The U.S. possesses thousands of nukes in a wide range of destructive power.

If a country attacked the U.S. with a 100-kiloton nuclear weapon, then the mini nuke would give Trump the option of responding with a nuke adjusted to the same strength. This would be a response in kind with a similar low yield attack, rather than a high yield weapon.

Avoiding civilian casualties

This sort of adjustable mini nuke could also potentially enable the US to better discriminate by specifically targeting perpetrators and reducing civilian casualties.

High-yield nuclear weapons possess immense, destructive power that could yield unimaginable horrific destruction and countless deaths. Nukes are the most horrific of weapons.

If the most terrible scenario happens and the US needs to deploy a nuke, mini nukes may be one solution to ensuring this catastrophic weapon is precise and would allow Trump to avoid vast civilian casualties as much as possible.

To put this in context, rather than unleashing a nuclear weapon that could kill a countrys entire population in example, Trump would have the option to use a tailored mini nuke to target a dangerous military installation instead.

Mini nukes are not without detractors, though.

There is no shortage of critics with a range of concerns including the argument that it is exactly the mini nukes precision and the reduction of destruction that makes the option tempting. And since it is more tempting, it is more likely therefore that a nuclear weapon will be used.
New details have emerged concerning the couple who was caught engaging in a sex act aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Detroit on Oct. 29.

According to a police report obtained by the Detroit Free Press, the two Delta passengers performed the sex act next to another male passenger who appeared to be asleep, per a witness. Furthermore, the couple had tried to cover up their lewd behavior with a blanket, but a fellow passenger was able to see underneath as it was only partially covering their actions.

DELTA SEX COUPLE PROBABLY WON'T BE CHARGED, SAYS FORMER PROSECUTOR

"[I] went to the row and witnessed the lady in the man's lap performing fellatio, said a passenger who gave a witness statement. They had a blanket partially covering the 'act.' I asked for boarding cards and names."

At that point, the witness says the woman sat up in her seat, while the man attempted to apologize.

Police also said that the 48-year-old woman was reported to be highly intoxicated when they were dispatched to bring her and the 28-year-old into custody. Police had previously said the two were strangers before boarding the plane; she switched seats sometime into the flight to sit beside him.

Upon the flights arrival at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, officers say the man attempted to explain that the woman had merely "fallen asleep in his lap but that they did not have intercourse," and added that he only "grabbed her breasts on the outside of her clothes."

UNITED FLIGHT TURNS AROUND AFTER PASSENGER INITIATES 'ALTERCATION' WITH CREW MEMBER

The two were taken into custody by the Wayne Metro Detroit Police Department, but were ultimately issued citations by the FBI for lewd and lascivious behavior, police confirmed.

The couple was not formally charged with any crimes, the Detroit Free Press reports.

After the incident, the Press says the woman attempted to re-book her flight with Delta, but the airline stated that she was not permitted to fly with them. She left the next day on a different carrier.

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Both the man and woman had originally traveled to Detroit to catch separate connecting flights, WDIV-TV reported shortly after the incident. He was scheduled to continue to Miami, and she to Nashville. The two did not know each other before meeting on the plane, officials told WDIV at the time.
Justice McDonald, 8, keeps a bottle of water nearby so he can clean up and brush his teeth every morning.

He and his 4-year-old brother, Josiah, have learned not to turn on the tap because the water coming out of the faucet is likely poisonous.

This is the way theyve been living for the past three years, ever since their parents learned that the water in their hometown of Flint, Michigan wasnt safe.

We have no other option, said their mother, Jeneyah Bell McDonald. I'm definitely not going to take the chance on my children's health and safety.

FLINT WATER CRISIS CAUSED INCREASE IN FETAL DEATHS, LOWER FERTILITY RATES, STUDY CLAIMS

It was early in 2014 when Flint leaders, under emergency management due to bankruptcy, announced that to save money they were going to switch the source of water from Lake Huron, something theyd been getting through Detroit for the last 40 years, to a local source, the Flint River.

It was meant to be a temporary switch to save the city $5 million.

But it was a tragic decision that led to serious consequences.

Anyone who has lived here for any length of time was shocked because we knew that river was filthy. All kinds of stuff had been dumped in it, for years, Bell McDonald said.

Days after the switch to the river was made, Bell McDonald could tell something wasnt right.

The water coming out of the faucet was brownish colored and smelled very bad, she said. There was no way we were going to drink it. We started buying bottled water.

She said she was still showering in the tainted water, until her hair started falling out.

Many others in the city of nearly 100,000 claimed to suffer skin rashes, shortness of breath and other health problems they associated with the water.

Doctors sounded the alarm when lead was detected in children.

It turns out the river water had high levels of bacteria and was corrosive. It broke down the lining of old household pipes, which caused lead to seep into the water.

A chemical called orthophosphate couldve been added to the water to prevent the corrosion to the pipes. But it wasnt.

You had a staff at the water treatment plant which was fairly inexperienced, said Brig. Gen. Michael McDaniel, who was enlisted to manage Flints pipe replacement project.

He said the water treatment plant had been there for 50 years.

They had not used it regularly (because) they were buying water from the Detroit Water Authority, McDaniel said. They didnt have the science down yet.

MICHIGAN OFFICIAL CHARGED IN DEADLY FLINT WATER CRISIS HEADS BACK TO COURT

In addition to lead exposure, there were dozens of cases of Legionnaires disease. Twelve people died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to determine if the water was the absolute source for the disease.

Now, 15 state and city leaders are facing criminal charges in connection to decisions made that led to the water crisis. Five are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. Trials are scheduled to begin in 2018.

Class-action lawsuits have also been filed on behalf of residents who suffered from the water crisis.

Flint is no longer getting its water from the river. But the water it is getting, although deemed safe at the source, still has to pass through corroded lead or galvanized pipes in many peoples home that can make the water toxic.

So the focus has turned to replacing those pipes, but its a massive undertaking. An estimated 20,000 pipes need to be replaced.

McDaniel said that just identifying which pipes need to be replaced and where theyre located has been a nightmare process because city records are written in pencil on index cards. Some cards dating back more than 50 years are no longer accurate.

Efforts are underway now to digitize all the records but its another factor slowing the process. Less than a third of the pipework has been completed so far.

Isaiah Oliver, who heads the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, estimates it could cost a half billion dollars to replace all the pipes in Flint.

Millions in federal and state dollars have been allocated for the crisis but after three years, Oliver said, the one thing we dont have a lot of is time.

I don't think anyone who's living through this crisis is comfortable with the speed at which we're moving from crisis to recovery, he said.

Many in Flint wonder if the fact that they live in one of the poorest cities in the nation is a reason why the process is moving so slowly, especially when they see all the recovery efforts carried out in places like Florida and Texas after hurricanes hit.

I think the reality is that we don't have systems in place to protect against man-made disasters and thats what we need to fight for, Oliver said.

Some say the crisis in Flint could serve as a warning to many other communities facing similar issues  showing that Flint could just be the tip of the iceberg.

Theres at least, I would guess, 2,000 other municipalities in the United States that have a similar problem, that have lead or galvanized pipes in the ground that they need to replace, McDaniel said.

There are studies being done on the effects of the tainted Flint water on the people who used it, but definitive results might not come for years.

Josiah McDonald, who was just a baby when the water crisis began, has been diagnosed with autism. Justice has a severe case of eczema. Their parents dont know for certain but suspect the water is to blame.

And the McDonalds still get a bill of $160 a month for water they cant use.

At some point, local leaders promise, the water in Flint will be safe to drink again. But convincing residents to believe them will be their biggest challenge.

Why would we trust them? Bell McDonald said. They told us it was safe before but it wasnt.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered by the FBI and police in Galveston, Texas, for information about the family of a young child whose body turned up on a beach in Galveston in late October.

Authorities Monday gave the boy a name  Little Jacob  and said the focus of their investigation is the identification and location of relatives who were caring for the unidentified boy.

Hes Hispanic, weighed about 30 pounds, 3 feet tall and between 3 and 5 years old.

Houston-based FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ed Michel said its heartbreaking no one has come forward to identify the child or offer clues about what happened to him.

Galveston Police Captain Josh Schirard said someone has to know who his relatives are and who the child is.

Fox News previously reported that authorities said there have been no children reported missing in Galveston.

This is an extremely unusual case for Galveston Island, and the circumstances surrounding this death grow more and more suspicious as time goes on, the department wrote on its Facebook page last month.

The Galveston Police Department requests that anyone with information call 409-765-3776.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. Air Force didnt report Texas church shooter Devin Kelleys domestic violence conviction to the FBI -- even though it was required by the Pentagon -- leaving the door open for Kelley to buy weapons, officials said on Monday.



Kelleys conviction wasnt submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers, Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said.

The Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations -- the base where Kelley was stationed -- was supposed to enter his information into the database, according to a statement released Monday night by the Air Force.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER DEVIN PATRICK KELLEY SERVED IN AIR FORCE, WAS COURT-MARTIALED FOR ASSAULTING WIFE, CHILD

Kelley, who killed at least 26 people when he opened fire at a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, received a bad conduct discharge from the military in 2014 after being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and reportedly fracturing his stepsons skull on purpose.

He was convicted on two charges of domestic assault, served 12 months in confinement at the Naval Consolidated Brig in California, and was later given the bad conduct discharge.

At issue is the Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996. The federal law was designed to prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from buying or possessing a firearm regardless of whether the crime was a felony or a misdemeanor.

The Air Force has launched a review of how the Service handled the criminal records of former Airman Kelley, Stefanek said in the statement. The statement also noted the Air Force will investigate all of its databases to ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly.

The Air Force said it's asked the Pentagon Inspector General to "review records and procedures across the Department of Defense."

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Judicial Watch Sues Justice Department for Communications about Former FBI Director Comey's Controversial Senate Testimony Did Mueller Coordinate with Comey on Anti-Trump Testimony Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch , 202-646-5172 WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Judicial Watch announced it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records of communications relating to former FBI Director James Comey's controversial testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-02316)). Judicial Watch sued after the Justice Department failed to respond to an August 14, 2017, FOIA request seeking: All records of communications between the Department of Justice and former FBI Director James Comey prior to and regarding Comey's testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on June 8, 2017. Fox News reported : "A source close to James Comey tells Fox News the former FBI director's Senate testimony has been 'closely coordinated' with Robert Mueller, whom the Justice Department appointed as special counsel to oversee the Russia investigation." On June 8, 2017, Comey gave testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in which he admitted : "I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter [for The New York Times]. I didn't do it myself for a variety of reasons, but I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel." In his testimony Comey detailed multiple conversations with President Trump. Comey confirmed he told President Trump three times that he was not a target of investigation and testified about President Trump's firing of him. On May 16, 2017, The New York Times reported that it received a leaked memorandum from former Director Comey detailing a conversation between President Trump and Comey regarding the FBI's investigation of potential Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election. here, Judicial Watch is pursuing numerous additional FOIA lawsuits (see here here , and here ) relating to former Director Comey's memoranda and FBI exit records. Judicial Watch also sent Acting FBI Director Andrew G. McCabe a warning letter concerning the FBI's legal responsibility under the Federal Records Act (FRA) to recover records, including memos Comey subsequently leaked to the media, unlawfully removed from the Bureau by former Director James Comey. "Mr. Comey may have violated the law in leaking these memos to the media," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It would be a scandal if Comey coordinated his Senate testimony with Mr. Mueller's special counsel office. That we have had to sue in federal court speaks volumes."

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The mysterious man who shot the gunman who'd opened fire on a Texas church on Sunday has spoken out, calling the incident a surreal experience while claiming he is not a hero.

Stephen Willeford, of Sutherland Springs, told KHBS on Monday that he heard gunfire coming from the First Baptist Church nearby, and knew that each of the gunshots he heard represented someone, that it was aimed at someone -- that they werent just random shots, more than likely.

Willeford, reportedly a former NRA instructor, decided to take action -- even though he was scared to death. He grabbed a handful of ammunition and began to load his magazine as he heard the very rapid shots, just pop, pop, pop.

MAN HAILED AS HERO FOR CHASING TEXAS CHURCH GUNMAN AFTER KILLINGS

Willeford said that when he surveyed what was going on, he saw a man -- now known to be gunman Devin Patrick Kelley -- in a black tactical helmet and what he believed to be a bulletproof vest. He saw Kelley was holding a pistol, and the two exchanged gunfire.

We exchanged gunfire and I know I hit him, I dont know where I hit him, but I know I hit him, Willeford told KHBS. Officials said Monday evening that an autopsy determined Kelley was shot by Willeford twice.

He said he got in his vehicle and fired some more shots before Kelley drove away.

Willeford said he saw Johnnie Langendorff was watching the incident go down from his own truck nearby. Willeford hopped in the truck with Johnnie and they chased after a speeding Kelley, and called 911.

The two finally reached Kelleys SUV after a 95-mph chase. Kelley allegedly lost control and backed his SUV down into a ditch. Willeford was shouting at Kelley from the truck, telling him to Get out of the truck!

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING VICTIMS INCLUDE PASTOR'S DAUGHTER, YOUNG CHILDREN

Willeford said he didnt see any movement coming from Kelleys vehicle but stayed put until police showed up five to seven minutes later.

Breaking down in tears, Willeford said he wasnt a hero. He said that those killed or wounded in the shooting were his friends and family.

I think my God, my Lord protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done, he said. I just wish I couldve gotten there faster but I didnt know, I didnt know what was happening.
Members of three generations of one family were wiped out when a gunman rampaged through a Texas church, killing 26 people Sunday.

Eight members of the same family were lost in the Sunday shooting  the youngest just 18 months old.

Bryan and Karla Holcombe were reportedly married for about 40 years. The two helped with prison ministries and Sunday School, and their Facebook pages are littered with photos of their children and grandchildren. They were among those killed.

Crystal Holcombe, Bryan and Karlas daughter-in-law, was pregnant, and her life was centered on her children, according to family friends  and as evidenced by her own Facebook page. There, on social media, Crystal Holcombe proudly shared photos of her children and their accomplishments. Most recently, she revealed two of her children, Emily and Megan, had placed in a 4H Club cooking competition.

Like their mother, Emily and Megan died in the shooting, the Washington Post reported. Another child, Greg, died, too. Crystals two other children and her husband survived.

Marc Daniel Holcombe, 36, was the son of Bryan and Karla Holcombe. He, too, died in the shooting. His infant daughter, Noah, was also killed. She was only 18 months old.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the remaining family with the financial burden following the attack. Sarah Slavin, Bryan and Karlas daughter, said she had already used some of the funds to help bring additional family members to Texas.

Of her parents, Slavin, 33, told the New York Times that they were not afraid of death.

They had a strong faith, so theres comfort in that, she said. I feel like my parents, especially my mom, wasnt scared.
An Alabama woman was arrested Saturday after she lied about her former boyfriend breaking into her home, raping her then tying her up, police said.

Mariah Jordan Smith, 25, of Tuscaloosa, filed a police report alleging her former boyfriend entered her home unannounced, approached her in her bedroom and sexually assaulted her, Capt. Gary Hood of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit, told AL.com.

ALABAMA HERO DRIVES 2 HOURS TO SEARCH FOR MISSING 3-YEAR-OLD, FINDS HER SAFE

Smith said after she was sexually assaulted, the man tied her legs to her bed, secured her hands and left. The investigators discovered some of the statements Smith gave were false and looked into the claim further, AL.com reported.

Investigators contacted Smiths former boyfriend and discovered he was in a different state at the time of the alleged sexual assault. Law enforcement in the state he was visiting  they did not say where he was  corroborated his alibi, Hood said.

KIDNAPPED ALABAMA WOMAN CAUGHT ON VIDEO BREAKING FREE FROM CAPTORS TRUNK

The former boyfriends name was not released by police.

Smith was charged with filing a false police report and booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail, Tuscaloosa News reported. Smith was released after posting the $6,000 bail.
The Air Forces failure to report Texas church shooter Devin Kelleys domestic violence conviction to the FBI -- a misstep that left the door open for Kelley to buy weapons -- is a systemic issue in its criminal investigations unit, according to a 2015 Pentagon analysis and a former Air Force agent who spoke to Fox News.

The 2015 Department of Defense Inspector General reportanalyzed a sample of 1,102 convictions, including felonies, handled in the military court system and found the Navy, Air Force and Marines failed to send criminal history or fingerprint data to the FBI in about 30 percent of them.

The DOD study didn't determine the reasons why the reports and fingerprints never made it to the FBI. But retired Air Force officials have come out since Sunday's shooting to blast the information sharing process.

"I am concerned that the failure to properly report domestic violence convictions may be a systemic issue.  Rep. Mac Thornberry

Somebody messed up, Don Christensen, a retired colonel and former chief prosecutor for the Air Force during Kelleys case, told Pro Publica. He added that providing necessary criminal information to civilian authorities was never done well or consistently during his 20-year career in the military justice system.

Its a combination of laziness and people being overworked, a former Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News on Tuesday.

The agent described workplaces as being revolving doors of staffers, some who would come into detachments and get handed numerous cases to deal with on top of other daily responsibilities. As a result, he said, sometimes it was not seen as a critical task to handle the criminal information backlog.

AIR FORCE DIDN'T REPORT TEXAS SHOOTER'S CONVICTION TO FEDERAL DATABASE

Kelley  who killed 26 people when he opened fire at a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday  had a domestic violence conviction the Holloman Air Force Bases OSI unit failed to enter into an FBI database used to conduct background checks on gun buyers, officials revealed Monday.

But Kelleys case wasn't just a one-time error, the 2015 report and former officials suggested.

Out of the 1,102 cases between 2010 and 2012 that were analyzed in the report, officials in the three branches failed to submit fingerprints to the FBI in 304 of them. Criminal history information also was missing from 334 of them.

The Pentagon report also found the Air Force did not submit the fingerprints of at least 110 convicted airmen during the period between 2010 and 2012. Its not clear yet whether Kelley was one of the 110 airmen noted in that report.

Kelley was found guilty in 2012 of choking and kicking his wife and striking his young stepson hard enough to fracture his skull, according to interviews and military documents. He was also accused of threatening his wife four times with a gun. Those charges were withdrawn by prosecutors after Kelleys arraignment.

In fact, the Pentagon has known for at least two decades about failures to give military criminal history information to the FBI, according to a 1997 report from the Pentagon's inspector general.

The 2015 report urged the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force to "take prompt action" to resolve the criminal history and fingerprint issue. It also noted the military branches agreed with the recommendations but expressed concern regarding their jurisdictional and legal authority to collect criminal history data from individuals no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Air Force said Monday it has launched a review of how the Service handled the criminal records of former Airman Kelley, spokesperson Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER REPORTEDLY FRACTURED STEPSON'S SKULL ON PURPOSE

She also said the Air Force will investigate its databases to ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly.

The Air Force is required by the Pentagon to report the info. The Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996, helps prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from purchasing firearms.

Kelley's case "should have been reported and put in the database and that's why we've launched this complete wide full-scale review," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told "Fox & Friends."

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, pressured the Pentagon Tuesday to sort out the situation.

"News that the Air Force failed to notify the FBI of Devin Kelly's military criminal record is appalling, Thornberry, R-Texas, said in a statement. I understand that Secretary Wilson has initiated an investigation, but I don't believe that the Air Force should be left to self-police after such tragic consequences. Furthermore, I am concerned that the failure to properly report domestic violence convictions may be a systemic issue.

Mattis said he directed the Pentagons watchdog to examine the case and that they have to find out whats going on, according to The Associated Press.

"If the problem is we didn't put something out, we'll correct that, he said.

Ryan also said during a weekly press conference that he wants to know why Kelleys case slipped through the cracks.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two men charged with tying up employees at gunpoint during a cellphone store robbery made a dramatic escape from a Northern California courthouse Monday, fleeing in a car waiting outside for them in what officials called an "orchestrated escape attempt."

Tramel McClough, 46, and John Bivins, 47, escaped from a deputy escorting them through a public hallway outside a courtroom in the Palo Alto Courthouse around 9:30 a.m. and bolted through an emergency exit, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

"It appears that they were able to come out of the courtroom into the hallway and able to get to one of the exit points, at which point there was a car waiting for them," Sgt. Reggie Cooks said at a news conference.

The two abandoned the car a few blocks away for a U-Haul van, according to Cooks. The men are considered dangerous, and authorities asked the public to call police if they spot the pair and not approach them.

"The level of sophistication and brazenness it takes for the individuals to do that  that is why we're calling on the public and other allied agencies to help," Cooks said.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's office tweeted a photo of a discarded handcuff key found in the escapees' path.

Both men were arrested in February on suspicion of stealing $64,400 worth of cellphones and other merchandise from a Verizon store in nearby Sunnyvale, KTVU reported.

According to police, the two men were wearing masks when they allegedly forced the store's employees to open the store's safe, and then tied them up and locked them in a bathroom.

One was armed with a handgun and the other with a knife at the time, and were arrested a short time later after a car chase, police told KTVU.

The Palo Alto Police Department tweeted the men were believed to have left the area in a vehicle and officers were not searching for them in the city, which is home to numerous technology companies and Stanford University. The two men live in neighboring East Palo Alto.

The escape is the latest setback for the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department, which runs the county's jails and is responsible for escorting inmates to and from court.

Four inmates escaped from the county's main jail last year by cutting through metal bars and rappelling to freedom using a rope made of clothing and sheets, according to the Associated Press.

Last month, a clerical error led to the mistaken release of an inmate from jail on the day he was sentenced to an 8-year prison term for armed robbery. He was captured a week later. In June, three former jail guards were convicted of murder for beating a mentally ill inmate to death in 2015.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The man accused of nonchalantly opening fire at a Colorado Walmart last week was haunted by voices in his head from a bad LSD trip he took nearly 30 years ago, his stepsister said Monday.

Scott Ostrem, 47, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and 30 counts of attempted murder. Ostrem was captured Thursday after he allegedly walked into the Walmart in Thornton, a Denver suburb, and began firing his gun, killing a woman and two men. Michelle Willoughby, his stepsister, told The Denver Post that Ostrem has been tormented by voices in his head since he took 16 doses of LSD at a party in 1988.

"When he came home, he was terrified. He had voices in his head. Demons. My brother was freaking out, Willoughby told The Denver Post. He was screaming that the devil was after him.

She added before the drug trip, her stepbrother was a people person and someone who she adored. But that one bad drug experience changed him forever, she said.

My brother is not this monster, Willoughby said. He is not cold blooded. He hears these voices. Honestly, in my heart, I believe there is only so much a person can take.

She added: I never thought something like this would happen.

Investigators are still looking for a possible motive in the attack. Ostrem was captured fewer than 10 miles away from the store where he allegedly unleashed a rain of bullets. He was spotted by police in his red Mitsubishi driving past an apartment complex they received a tip about that morning.

The victims in the shooting were identified as Pamela Marques, 52, of Denver; Carlos Moreno, 66, of Thornton; and Victor Vasquez, 26, of Denver.

Very little information is known about Ostrem, who abruptly left his job as a sheet metal worker at a roofing company hours before the attack. Neighbors described him as a loner who often seemed angry. A supervisor at the roofing company said he was a quiet and talented worker.

Willoughby said the family tried helping out Ostrem after the 1988 drug incident by contacting a hospital. He underwent a drug intervention but did not get psychological treatment, she said. Ostrem was frequently counseled by a Catholic priest who placed a crucifix on his forehead, commanded demons to leave his body and asked God to silence the voices.

Charles Grob, a psychiatry professor at UCLA, said it is unlikely that LSD would be the cause of a decadeslong psychosis. It was more likely that Ostrem had "some severe disturbance to begin with," he said.

"I don't think LSD is the right culprit," Grob said.

Ostrem did not enter a plea when he appeared in court on Monday. He is being held without bail. Adams County District Attorney Dave Young said hate-crime charges have not been ruled out for Ostrem.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Filipino doctor accused by U.S. authorities of plotting attacks in New York City, including Times Square, appeared in a Manila court Tuesday and told reporters that money he sent to a charity was misconstrued as funds intended to finance the disrupted plots.

Russell Salic smiled as he was led away in handcuffs by government agents after his brief appearance at the Manila court that is handling a U.S. extradition request, which he and his lawyer vowed to fight.

"That's not true," Salic said when asked by reporters about the allegations. "I just donated money without any malicious intent."

He said U.S. authorities may have mistaken the money he sent to a charity as funding for the plots. An FBI agent who posed as a Muslim online was behind the allegations against him, he said.

A U.S. Department of Justice representative, Christopher Cardani, who attended the court hearing said the department would do everything to have Salic extradited to stand trial in America.

"This is an extremely serious matter in the United States," Cardani told reporters. "It's been alleged these three individuals conspired to build a bomb and explode it at Times Square in New York in the summer of 2016 and it doesn't get any more serious than that."

Last month, U.S. prosecutors said Salic was one of three Islamic State group sympathizers who plotted bombings and shootings last year at New York City concert venues, subway stations and Times Square before U.S. agents thwarted the plot.

Salic was taken into custody in Manila in April. Canadian citizen Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy was arrested in the U.S. last year and has pleaded guilty, and an American of Pakistani origin, Talha Haroon, was arrested in Pakistan in November.

In May last year, Salic allegedly sent approximately $423 from the Philippines to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Islamic extremist to help fund the planned attacks. Salic informed the agent that he intended to continue sending money in support of the Islamic State group, according to court documents that have been made public in New York.

The documents said Salic told the agent his ultimate goal was to join the Islamic State group in Syria but that "it would be a great pleasure if we can slaughter" people in New York.

"There is no proof that he wanted to bomb New York," Salic's lawyer, Manuel Dalucapas, told reporters, adding that he and Salic were ready to argue his case in the Philippines and not in the United States.

Philippine Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras has said the U.S. government sent an extradition request in May. The Philippine government filed the request with a Manila court on behalf of the U.S. as specified under an extradition treaty.

Aside from the U.S. charges, Salic also faces separate criminal complaints for alleged involvement in the abduction of six sawmill workers, two of whom were later beheaded, in the southern Philippine town of Butig in Lanao del Sur province in 2016, an allegation that he has denied.
An 82-year-old Florida grandmother knows she can be an enticing target to criminals, but proved Monday she still knows how to fight back.

Mary Barrineau told FOX13 Tampa she was outside a Bank of America in Tarpon Springs, located just outside Tampa, when a woman snatched her purse out of Barrineau's car.

She grabbed it out of the backseat. She opened the door and just grabbed it and then she ran to her car and I ran after her, Barrineau said.

Even though the suspect, identified by police as Jennifer Kearin, claimed to have a gun, the 82-year-old said she was not going to let her get away.

I started scratching her face and everything and grabbed her blouse, and I held on real tight to her blouse and I wasn't going to let her go, she said.

Inside the grandmother's purse was more than $1,000 she needed for her son's medical care.

I hope you learned a lesson, that you can't go around taking things that don't belong to you."  Mary Barrineau

That's what he gets for his disability, and nobody's going to take that, she told FOX13.

Barrineau said she was able to hold Kearin until police were able to arrive and arrest her. Kearin is now in the Pinellas County Jail on an armed robbery charge and probation violation, according to FOX13.

The grandmother, who said she's "always been a scrapper," told FOX13 she would defended herself all over again.

I hope you learned a lesson, that you can't go around taking things that don't belong to you, Barrineau said.
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Developing now, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017:

Election Day: Trump, Brazile shocker loom in key Virginia, New Jersey gubernatorial races

Questions surround oversight that enabled Texas church shooter to buy weapons

New memos cast further doubt on James Comey's credibility in Hillary Clinton email case

"Special Report" Exclusive: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vows Japan and the U.S. will work together against North Korean threats

Report: Harvey Weinstein paid investigators, Mossad agents to prevent sex allegations from becoming public

THE LEAD STORY: Democrats have worked feverishly all year to make nearly every local election a referendum on President Trump  and today's gubernatorial races are no exception. The Trump factor looms large in the marquee Virginia gubernatorial race, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and his allies have churned out mailers and ads tying Republican rival Ed Gillespie to the Trump White House at every turn ... However, the Trump-referendum strategy has not been particularly successful for Democrats in the House special elections so far this year. But this time, polls in New Jersey and Virginias gubernatorial races show the Democratic candidates in the lead. In New Jersey, Democratic nominee Phil Murphy holds a substantial lead over Republican Kim Guadagno.

But the race in Virginia is considerably tighter. According to the latest Fox News Poll released Monday, Northam holds a 5-point edge over Gillespie, who says there is no doubt the polls are close. Democrats are also wary of another factor - Hillary Clinton and her baggage of scandals. Some Democrats are worried that former interim DNC Chair Donna Brazile and her new book's scathing criticism of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and revelations that the nomination was "rigged" in Clinton's favor against Bernie Sanders will impact today's elections.

DEADLY OVERSIGHT: Critics are wondering how the U.S. Air Force could have neglected to report Texas church shooter Devin Kelleys domestic violence conviction to the FBI, leaving the door open for him to buy weapons ... Kelley killed at least 26 people Sunday when he opened fire at a church in Sutherland Springs. He had previously served in the U.S. Air Force until 2014, when he received a bad conduct discharge from the military. Kelley had been court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and reportedly fracturing his stepsons skull on purpose and was convicted on two charges of domestic assault. Even though it was required by the Pentagon, Kelleys conviction wasnt submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center - the database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers.

WILL COMEY EVER BE CALLED BACK TO THE HILL? Newly-released memos show that former FBI Director James Comey softened his language between an early draft and the final copy of his statement closing out the Hillary Clinton email case ... In a draft dated May 2, 2016, Comey accused the former secretary of state of being "grossly negligent" in handling classified information. But in a subsequent draft dated June 10, 2016, he modified his statement to claim that Clinton had been "extremely careless." Comey stuck to that modified language when he announced in July 2016 that there would be no charges against Clinton. This may only further fuel some lawmakers' desire to have Comey return to Capitol Hill and address some inconsistencies in his testimony.

Flashback: Comey drafted letter on Clinton email investigation before completing interviews, FBI confirms

"SPECIAL REPORT" EXCLUSIVE: Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe insisted the United States and Japan will work together to respond to North Korea's nuclear threat ... Under this very strong U.S.-Japan alliance whenever an attack is made on Japan, Japan and the U.S. will firmly work closely together to respond to those threats and we have been confirming this," Abe told "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier in an exclusive interview. The prime minister explained that peace talks with North Korea have not been effective for Japan. "North Korea has used those talks just to gain time to further develop the nuclear program as well as missiles," Abe said. "So North Korean dialogue just for the purpose of dialogue is meaningless. That is our experience." Abe's comments came as President Trump traveled to South Korea to meet with President Moon Jae-in and called North Korea a "worldwide threat" that requires "worldwide action." However, Trump also called on North Korea to come to the table and "make a deal."

WEINSTEIN'S 'ARMY' EXPOSED: Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein spent more than a year using private investigators to track actresses and journalists in an effort to stop his predatory behavior from going public, according to a new "New Yorker" report ...The latest "New Yorker" article is by journalist Ronan Farrow, who wrote the initial expose on Weinstein. It alleges that Weinstein hired firms like Black Cube, which is largely made up of former officers from Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies, to look into women who could potentially go on the record about his sexual harassment and assault -- and to look into journalists working on similar stories, including Farrow himself. The goal: to target and suppress anyone who might come forward to ruin Weinstein's reputation, the article said.

Weinstein expelled from Television Academy

AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS

TRUMP TAX PLAN VOW: "This is a pass-fail exercise. It's critical to the economy and we're going to get it done."  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," discussing President Trump's tax reform plan and its chances of being executed. WATCH

DEMS EATING THEIR OWN: "This is the chickens coming home to roost on their identity politics, their race-baiting. Now, they're eating their own on those very issues."  Townhall's Katie Pavlich, on "Outnumbered," sounding off turmoil in the Democratic Party surrounding Donna Brazile's new book. WATCH

ACROSS THE NATION

As kidnapped American professor's health deteriorates, pressure on Pakistan again mounts.

Horrific pics show tiger mauling zookeeper.

US college grad disappears in Peru while on backpacking trip, no contact since Sept. 28.

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

GOP tax plan would abandon homeowners: Realogy CEO.

Trump in South Korea: Whirlpool, Qualcomm and the bitter trade battle.

Saudi Arabia anti-corruption sweep: How will surprise probe affect Aramco IPO?

NEW IN FOX NEWS OPINION

I'm a conservative and I hate the Republican tax plan.

Democrat and ex-CIA agent: Trump needs to focus on Making America Feel Good Again.

Veterans and their service dogs: Keep your paws off.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

Marilyn Manson pretends to shoot at audience with fake rifle at San Bernardino concert.

Alec Baldwin make unsubstantiated claim that Melania Trump likes his SNL impression.

Taylor Swift threatens lawsuit over 'defamatory' article linking her to white supremacists.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Black Friday 2017 deals and promotions.

New orangutan species discovered, but could soon be extinct.

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept electric car unveiled, hints at Lambo's future.

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On Fox News:

Texas Church Massacre: We'll continue to have the latest developments from the scene throughout the day on all Fox News platforms!

Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch reflects on the Texas church massacre; former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer sounds off on President Trump's trip to Asia, the pivotal gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey and more; and Judge Andrew Napolitano breaks down the latest in the Sen. Robert Menendez corruption trial.

Special Report, 6 p.m. ET: Bret is on the ground and on the scene on President Trump's trip to Asia with live analysis and breaking news.

Fox News @ Night, 11 p.m. ET: Vice President Mike Pence sits down with Shannon Bream before his visit to comfort victims of the Texas church massacre.

On Fox Business:

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Former Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski breaks down the president's trip to Asia; Marc Short, White House Director of Legislative Affairs, discusses his upcoming meeting with Senate Democrats on tax reform; and Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi discusses why he opposes Trump's tax reform plan.

Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Jeff Campbell, former Burger King CEO, and Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy Corporation, talk tax reform prognosis.

Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET - White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney addresses spending concerns over the GOP tax plan.

On Fox News Radio:

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#OnThisDay

1991: Magic Johnson announces that he has tested positive for HIV, and is retiring from the NBA.

1954: CBS News' Face the Nation premieres with Ted Koop as host; the guest was Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy.

1917: Russia's Bolshevik Revolution takes place as forces led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrow the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky.

Thank you for joining us on Fox News First! Enjoy your day and we'll see you in your inbox first thing Wednesday morning.
The Latest on the Pentagon's responsibility to provide military criminal history information to the FBI (all times local):

6:50 p.m.

The Pentagon has known for at least two decades about failures to give military criminal history information to the FBI, including the type of information the Air Force didn't report about Texas church gunman Devin P. Kelley, who had assaulted his wife and stepson while he was an airman.

The Air Force lapse in the case is now under review by the Pentagon's inspector general. That lapse made it possible for Kelley to buy guns before he killed 26 people Sunday at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

New details have emerged about Kelley's troubled Air Force career. In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley escaped from a civilian mental health center where he had been placed by the Air Force for treatment.

__

2:55 p.m.

The Air Force says federal privacy laws prohibit it from commenting on a news report that the gunman who attacked worshippers at a Texas church had escaped from a mental health facility in 2012 when he was an airman.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek cited privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which she said apply even though the gunman, Devin P. Kelley died in Sunday's violence in Texas.

The report by KPRC-TV in Houston cited an El Paso Police Department report.

The TV station also reported that Kelley had made death threats against superior officers. Stefanek said the Air Force was looking into that report.

__

2:20 p.m.

Texas' senior senator says he wants to ensure the military complies with the law on background checks after the Air Force failed to submit the criminal history to the FBI of the gunman who killed 26 at a Texas church.

Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, told reporters on Tuesday that he is working on legislation to get both the military and states to swiftly provide already-required criminal conviction records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The gunman had a history of domestic violence but was able to buy weapons because of the Air Force's errors.

Cornyn said he hoped the legislation could get support from Republicans and Democrats.

___

11 a.m.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he has directed the Pentagon's watchdog to examine the circumstances of the Air Force's failure to report the Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI.

Mattis says we have to "find out what's going on."

Under Pentagon rules, convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault should be shared with the FBI for its National Criminal Information Center database. Devin Patrick Kelley, the gunman in Sunday's attack, was convicted of assault against his wife and stepson in an Air Force court-martial in 2012.

Mattis says the Pentagon must make certain it's got "the right direction." And he says he must "define what the problem is."

Mattis says: "If the problem is we didn't put something out, we'll correct that."
Apologetics Curriculum Defends Against Secular Attacks on Middle School Minds

Contact: Tom Griffin, 770-597-2654, tjgconsult@aol.com

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- In the old days, universities were blamed for rattling the faith of believers. More recently, it was observed that people are leaving the faith already in high school. But now, research shows that by high school, 84% of youth have doubts about their Christian faith.

Within Christian circles, one of the conventional answers to this is known as 'Christian apologetics,' the formal defense of the Christian faith. But with so many doubting the faith as early as junior high and middle school, why isn't there any apologetics curriculum directed at that age group?

There wasn't--until now.

Into the gap has stepped experienced Christian apologist, Tom Griffin. Heavily involved in Georgia's Ratio Christi chapters and long-time Christian educator at his church, Griffin knew that apologetics is needed for all ages. However, he could find nothing for 5th thru 8th graders. Sensing the need, he buckled down and produced "Apologetics for Tweens."

Due to be officially released in January of 2018, there has already been intense interest in the curriculum. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, and homeschooling parents alike have examined Griffin's materials and declared, "This is exactly what I have been looking for, but there is nothing available." Why all the fuss?

As Griffin explains, "The need for apologetics has moved downstream even to elementary school. The kids are smarter now than ever before, and with the pervasive influence of the internet and accelerating secular attacks, questions about Christianity and other religions form far earlier."

The curriculum is published through Athanatos Publishing Group, a Christian apologetics ministry that has been actively addressing the sudden rise in the religiously unaffiliated (so-called 'religious nones') for almost ten years.

Athanatos Ministry's Executive Director, Dr. Anthony Horvath, says, "We welcome the opportunity to fill a void with this curriculum. Given the importance of the family in transmitting the faith, we are making sure that churches aren't the only people who know about 'Apologetics for Tweens.' Parents and grandparents will welcome Griffin's awareness that they are on the front line to promoting the faith."

Tom Griffin's "Apologetics for Tweens" will be officially released on January 15, 2018, but a pre-release promotion is making it available at 25% off through the Athanatos website.

Learn more by visiting Griffin's website at www.resurgensconsulting.com.

Tom Griffin is available for interviews at tjgconsult@aol.com or 770-597-2654.
A 24-year-old upstate New York man convicted in the stabbing death of an Ithaca College student last year has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

Nagee Green was found guilty in a September retrial of fatally stabbing Ithaca College student Anthony Nazaire during a fight after a party early on the morning of Aug. 28, 2016. The Ithaca Journal reports Green was retried for the murder charge after he was also convicted of first-degree assault in stabbing Nazaire's friend during the fight.

Green's attorney requested Monday that his client not receive the maximum sentence, saying the stabbings were accidental and not intentional.

About 60 people were in the court room during the sentencing. Family members and friends exchanged hugs after the sentencing.
A man who was arrested Monday near the White House for allegedly intending to kill all white police faced a judge in court Tuesday after being charged with making felony threats.

Michael Arega, of Texas, was arrested Monday afternoon on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House for saying he wanted to kill all white police.

In U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Arega, who works as an inspector and an Uber driver, told the judge he wanted his wife to represent him in court and attempted to refuse the representation of a public defender.

When the judge told Arega his wife, who is not an attorney, could not represent him, Arega said: She is a child of God, and so am I.

The judge agreed to have Arega held in custody until a detention hearing because he threatened violence against President Trump and police near the White House. He also agreed to have Arega undergo a mental evaluation.

SECRET SERVICE ARREST MAN NEAR WHITE HOUSE WHO WANTED TO KILL 'ALL WHITE POLICE'

The Secret Service received an alert around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon from the Metropolitan Police Department to be on the lookout for a man who wanted to kill all white police at the White House.

Arega's wife called authorities after he posted threatening messages on Facebook.

A Facebook profile that appears to be Aregas shows him checked in at the White House on Monday, and also includes posts with statements such as: Now i am going to there to white House make sure kill All white POLICE !!" Another Facebook post included a photo of Trump with the caption "kill him in Jesus Name!"

Arega allegedly traveled from Texas and was staying at a hotel in Maryland in an attempt to pull through with his threat in the nation's capital.

Arega's wife told Secret Service agents that Arega is bipolar, and that the couple is in the process of divorcing. She added that Arega is not welcome in their church in Texas after he made threatening Facebook posts toward other church members.

Arega didn't have any weapons on him during his arrest, and none were found in his hotel room -- but police said they're searching other locations "where the defendant may have potentially placed weapons."

A detention hearing for Arega has been scheduled for Nov. 20.

Fox News' Jake Gibson and Ellison Barber contributed to this report.
The driver of a van that transports special needs students to schools in Massachusetts allowed her boyfriend to sell drugs out of vehicle, according to authorities.

Rudencia Montes, 43, a driver for an educational nonprofit for special needs students, was arrested on Friday after an officer witnesses a drug deal involving the van she was driving, Framingham Police told Boston 25 News.

Montes was driving a white minivan that had a school sign on the roof when she turned into a park parking lot and another car pulled up next to the van, police said.

The driver of the car, Corrine Gentile, 33, was seen by an officer completing a drug deal with the passenger of the van, Juan Miranda-Ortiz, 33, Framingham police spokeswoman Patricia Grigas told Boston 25 News.

When police pulled over Gentile, they found an envelope containing two packets of heroin, authorities said. A subsequent traffic stop of Montes revealed an envelope inside the van that matched the one found earlier in Gentile's car, according to police.

Montes and Miranda-Ortiz were charged with distributing heroin, conspiracy to violate the state's drug laws and a park zone violation, while Gentile was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The educational nonprofit Montes drove for, Accept Education Collaborative, said it fired the 43-year-old after her arrest Friday. A spokesperson said no students were present or involved in the alleged drug deal.

We take these matters very seriously. The safety of our students is our No. 1 concern," Executive Director Marcia Berkowitz told Boston 25 News in a statement.

At a court appearance on Monday, Montes was held on $5,000 bail; Miranda-Ortiz was held on $25,000 bail; and Gentile was released on $200 bail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Massachusetts highest court will hear a case on Tuesday that will address whether colleges and universities can be held liable when students commits suicide.

In 2009 Han Nguyen, a graduate student of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, jumped to his death off a campus building shortly after a professor confronted him about an offensive email.

Nguyens family said MIT had a legal duty to protect him from harm. They also said that the university was aware of their sons suicide risk but failed to get him the help he needed.

Months before Nguyen's death, a professor encouraged his colleagues to pass him or they might have "blood on their hands."

MIT said it wasn't aware of the severity of his condition and he was treated by outside professionals and refused on-campus resources. None of the nine professionals who treated Nguyen while he was at MIT believed he was an imminent risk of killing himself, the school said.

If the court rules against MIT, colleges and universities across the U.S. fear the ruling could place an unreasonable burden on untrained employees to stop suicides.

Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a psychiatry expert at Columbia University, argues "To the extent that you heighten every resident assistant's sensitivity to the risk of suicidality, with the threat of liability hanging over them, they are far more likely to over predict, over intervene, see it where it's not."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A mother of four died heroically trying to save her children after a gunman opened fire inside the First Baptist Church in Texas on Sunday morning.

Joann Ward pushed her daughter Rihanna Garza, 9, to the ground and shielded her three other children from the gunmans bullets using her own body, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Two of her children, Rhianna and Ryland Ward, 5, survived. Joann was unable to save her other two children. Brooke, 5, died inside the church and Emily Garza, 7, died later at the hospital.

Ryland, who was shot four times, survived surgery, The New York Post reported.

Isabelle Sanchez, who met Joann on Facebook, told The Wall Street Journal that the mom loved her children more than life.

Chris Ward, the father, didnt attend the church service. He was woken up by his brother with the devastating news. The two men discovered the bodies of Joann and Brooke at the scene, The Post reported.

Devin Kelley killed at least 26 people when he opened fire at a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, received a bad conduct discharge from the military in 2014 after being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and reportedly fracturing his stepsons skull on purpose.

He was convicted on two charges of domestic assault, served 12 months in confinement at the Naval Consolidated Brig in California, and was later given the bad conduct discharge.
A Pennsylvania man on Halloween snapped the neck of a female friend and beat her with a hatchet after the woman refused his marriage proposal, The Morning Call reported, citing police.

Christopher R. Tucker, 34, was charged with murder and criminal homicide for allegedly killing Tara M. Serino, 19.

He reportedly asked Serino to marry him at his home in Berks County. She said no and told him that she was sleeping with other men, NBC Philadelphia reported. He allegedly told police that she told him that he should kill her.

Police said Tucker told them that he snapped and choked her. He poked her eyes out and snapped her neck, police said, according to the station. He allegedly wrapped her in a rug and left.

The NBC report said Tucker was caught at a truck stop in Champaign County, Illinois. He will be extradited to Pennsylvania.
The phone used by the gunman who stormed into First Baptist Church on Sunday killing 26 people, including an 18-month-old and an unborn child, has been recovered and turned over to the FBI -- but encryption technology is preventing officials from accessing it, authorities said Tuesday.

FBI Special Agent in charge Christopher Combs said the phone Devin Patrick Kelley used to call his father during a high-speed chase after the rampage at the church has been sent to the FBI Academy in Quantico.

"Unfortunately, at this point in time, we are unable to get into that phone," Combs told reporters.

Combs, who wouldn't describe the type of phone Kelley had, said it highlights a bigger issue with new technology.

"Law enforcement, whether its at the state, local or federal level, is increasingly not able to get into these phones," he said.

Combs added: "We're going to keep working on that phone and other digital media we have."

An official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said there was no evidence to suggest Kelley used a "bump stock" on his gun during the attack, a device used during last month's mass killing in Las Vegas.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER DEVIN PATRICK KELLEY SERVED IN AIR FORCE, WAS COURT-MARTIALED FOR ASSAULTING WIFE, CHILD

ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski added all indications are Kelley used a semiautomatic weapon, and that it will be test-fired to confirm. Agents processing the crime scene are also examining shell casings to see if they are related to any other crime scenes in the national database.

There is no reason to believe anyone else is involved in the crime, nor that it was motivated by religious beliefs, though Kelley was an atheist, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin.

Martin said officials are still trying to determine if the gunman fired all 450 rounds from the 15 emptied 30-round magazines found at the church scene.

He also did not go into any other detail about previous threats Kelley texted to his mother-in-law, who attended the church but was not there Sunday at the time of the massacre.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING VICTIMS INCLUDE PASTOR'S DAUGHTER, YOUNG CHILDREN

"We have some indication on the conflict in the family," Martin told reporters, adding there was "still a lot of work to be done."

While officials in Texas did not discuss Kelley's bad conduct discharge from the Air Force, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday he has directed the Pentagon's watchdog to examine the circumstances of the Air Force's failure to report the Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI to "find out what's going on."

Under Pentagon rules, convictions of military personnel in crimes such as an assault should be shared with the FBI for its National Criminal Information Center database. Kelley was convicted of assault against his wife and stepson in an Air Force court-martial in 2012.

Mattis said the Pentagon must make certain it's got "the right direction," and he must "define what the problem is."

"If the problem is we didn't put something out, we'll correct that," he added.

The gunman also escaped from a behavioral center in southern New Mexico months after the attack on his wife, according to documents obtained by Houston television station KPRC.

Kelley, who was 21-years-old at the time, was picked up at a bus terminal in El Paso on June 7, 2012, after two officers were dispatched to the terminal to look into a missing person report, KPRC reported. The documents obtained by the television station said Kelley had suffered from mental disorders and had plans to run from Peak Behavioral Health Services.

In addition to the assault on his wife, authorities in Comal County in Texas -- where Kelley lived -- confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday they are looking into a report of sexual assault where he was named as a suspect.

Sheriff Mark Reynolds said authorities checked for calls for service at his parent's address where he lived and discovered a sexual assault complaint from June 2013.

AIR FORCE DIDN'T REPORT TEXAS SHOOTER'S DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE CONVICTION TO FEDERAL DATABASE, ALLOWING HIM TO BUY GUNS

Officials at the time received a call about a sexual assault happening in the county with Devin Kelley named as the perpetrator and that was looked at by investigators until October 2013. The case eventually stalled at the time Kelley moved to Colorado.

Reynolds told Fox News the former administration handling the department and case retired, but authorities are reaching out to the victim of the 2013 incident in the wake of Sunday's massacre.

Fox News' Maggie Kerkman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Devin Patrick Kelley attended a fall festival at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs five days before he killed 26 people inside the church and wounded 20 others, the local sheriff said Tuesday.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the church's pastor had told him Kelley's behavior did not raise any alarms.

"The pastor told me he was here at the festival Halloween night, saw him in the crowd," Tackitt told reporters. He did not say if the pastor provided any details on that visit, such as what the shooter was doing, whether he wore a costume, or anything else that stood out.

A friend of Kelley's mother-in-law told the San Antonio Express-News that Kelley attended the festival with his children.

Tambria Read added that people in the church were willing to help the man who killed so many of their fellow parishioners.

"This church is very loving, nonjudgmental and if he had had concerns or issues and spoken with the clergy -- they're nonjudgmental," she said. "They would have helped him deal with his issues and helped him try to get focused."

A photo album on the church's Facebook page shows children in costumes and face paint playing games. Kelley does not appear to be among those pictured.

Authorities believe that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between Kelley and his mother-in-law, Michelle Shields. Shields sometimes attended services at the church but was not present on Sunday.

The report emerged the same day that a Pentagon official told Fox News that Kelley escaped from a mental institution in New Mexico near Holloman Air Force Base in June 2012.

The official said that Kelley had been sent to the institution while he was awaiting a military trial for an assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull. The reason Kelley was sent to the mental institution was not immediately clear.

After his escape, Kelley was found by police at a bus station in downtown El Paso. He was eventually discharged for the assault and served a year of confinement after a court-martial.

Kelley, who was 21 at the time, was also caught trying to bring guns onto the base when he was stationed there and had made death threats against superior officers, according to an El Paso police report obtained by several media outlets.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from MySanAntonio.com.
ParishSOFT Sees Renewed Vision and Commitment, Amidst Growth

Announces product name change at 2017 Users' Conference

Contact: Annette Gannon, 734-922-0842

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 6, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- ParishSOFT held its tenth annual users' conference from October 22-25, 2017, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More than 300 Catholic parish and diocesan leaders from across North America gathered to empower their mission and ministry with what has become the hallmark of the event: learning together how to use technology and best practices to serve God's people more effectively, in a uniquely Catholic setting that feels like a spiritual retreat. Conference keynotes and presenters drove home critical points: the people are the church; it is time to own the identity of and responsibility for creating missionary disciples; our missions demand that the Church use technology and tools with boldness and creativity in service of the Gospel. To this aim, ParishSOFT unveiled new initiatives that will lead the company, its products, and the parishes and arch/dioceses it serves into the future.

ParishSOFT, started by Father David Rosenberg in 1998, has grown over the last two decades into a full suite, web-based, solution. Since 2015, union with Ministry Brands has opened new vistas and made possible greater depth in ParishSOFT's service to the Catholic Church.

Ministry Brands renewed its committed relationship in 2017 with dedicated resources and focus on ParishSOFT's web-based suites  acknowledging ParishSOFT as the premier provider of software for Catholic parishes and arch/dioceses. Catholic Church leaders continue to express the need for a more deeply integrated tool set that enables ministry from "cradle to grave." Because ParishSOFT products were designed from the beginning to deliver an integrated, single-database solution, and the company remains the sole provider of integrated web-based accounting and church management systems designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the Catholic Church, ParishSOFT is already working to achieve the level of deep, seamless integration that customers demand. ParishSOFT product development efforts already underway will continue for the foreseeable future.

As a reflection of ParishSOFT's unique Catholic focus and reputation in the Catholic market, ParishSOFT is excited to announce a name change. ParishSOFT's online suites, formerly known as the ConnectNow Family and Accounting Suites, will now be known as the ParishSOFT Family Suite and ParishSOFT Accounting Suite. The transition will not be immediately visible in the application and will not impact user experience or product performance.

Well equipped for the next phase of software building, the ParishSOFT product roadmap reveals the subsequent steps for their Family and Accounting Suites. ParishSOFT Family Suite, which includes census and membership applications, will be deeply enhanced on both the arch/diocesan and parish levels with robust new and improved functionality and tighter integration. Updates are being designed to help staff and volunteers tend to administration and accounting more effectively; build disciples and minister to their people from cradle to grave; and to deliver a more seamless experience in the online venues where parishioners sign up to serve, participate, and give. Work has already begun on Diocesan Directory features for this December's product release. Ministry Brands has also pledged to expand and enhance ParishSOFT Accounting for parish finances.

ParishSOFT's customers serve the greatest mission. Additional ongoing efforts to provide world-class service include projects for 2018 that will reduce hold times for customers seeking support. Customers will be able to receive a call back without losing their place in line.

Arch/Dioceses and parishes remain at the heart of ParishSOFT's mission. To mark the 20th anniversary for the company in 2018, ParishSOFT has announced its "20 Years of Celebration and Service." As part of this celebration, ParishSOFT will be bringing its conference experience to a diocese or region near you in the form of daylong events throughout the country. The ParishSOFT users' conference in its traditional three-day format will return in fall 2019. Please watch www.parishsoft.com for locations and details.

Arch/Dioceses and regions interested in hosting a one-day ParishSOFT event are invited to contact Karen Kasenow-Johnson at kjohnson@parishsoft.com

ParishSOFT General Manager Timothy Sember said, "We thank our customers for being part of our journey for the past 20 years, and we look forward to the next 20 years of Connecting People and the Church."

About ParishSOFT

Since 1998, ParishSOFT has been committed to providing the highest quality church management software for Catholic Churches throughout the world. Today, ParishSOFT's mobile church management and accounting systems - including ParishSOFT Family Suite, ParishSOFT Accounting Suite, and ParishSOFT Diocesan Suite - are in more than 9,000 parishes and in more than 173 arch/dioceses. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we empower churches with the technology and service they need to achieve their missions. For more information, visit www.parishsoft.com

About Ministry Brands
Texas church shooter Devin Kelley escaped from a psychiatric hospital five years before carrying out the worst mass killing in Texas history, according to a police report released on Tuesday.

The report stated that El Paso police were advised Kelley, then 21, was a danger to himself and others as he had been caught smuggling firearms onto Holloman Air Base in New Mexico and was trying to carry out death threats against military superiors.

Kelley stormed the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday as services were being held, killing 26 people, including an 18-month-old and a pregnant woman, and wounding 20 others. Officials said that before the shooting Kelley sent threatening texts to his mother-in-law who attended the church but wasnt there Sunday.

The FBI said Tuesday that the phone Kelley used to call his father during a high-speed chase after the rampage has been sent to the FBI Academy in Quantico. "Unfortunately, at this point in time, we are unable to get into that phone," FBI Special Agent in charge Christopher Combs said at a news conference in Sutherland Springs.

Police responded to the downtown bus terminal on June 13, 2012, around 11:30 p.m. to look for Kelley after he had escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Services near El Paso, according to the report first obtained by KPRC-TV.

Kelley had only been in the hospital for a few days before escaping, a Pentagon official told Fox News. Kelley was in pre-trial confinement on his base in New Mexico starting on June 8, when he did something to get him sent to the mental institution. The official could not confirm the reason he was sent off citing privacy law.

After arriving at the terminal, the director of Peak Behavioral informed the officers that Kelley suffered from mental disorders and had plans to flee the hospital and take a bus out of state.

Kelley had been sent to the hospital after being charged in a military court with assaulting his wife and baby stepson over a two month period in 2011. The infant suffered a fractured skull in the assault.

Kelley pleaded guilty and was court-martialed in 2012. After serving 12 months of confinement, he was given a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force with a reduction in rank in 2014. He joined the Air Force in 2010.

The police report stated that when Kelley was finally found at the terminal he did not resist or make any comments about harming himself or other(s) to the officers.

Kelley was then turned over to officers from the Sunland Park Police Department who took him back to the hospital.

The police report stated that Kelley was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, blue jean shorts and white shoes.

The report also stated that information about the incident was entered into the FBIs National Crime Information Center database.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has offered to pay for the funeral service costs of all the victims in Sundays deadly church shooting in Texas, Fox News has learned.

Twenty-six people were killed and 20 others injured after the shooter, Devin Kelley, stormed into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs with a Ruger AR rifle and started firing at the congregation.

SBC president Steve Gaines, who heads the network of Christian churches, told Fox News that he was meeting with the church pastor, Frank Pomeroy, on Tuesday to offer up any needed resources.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER DEVIN KELLEY ONCE ESCAPED FROM A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WHILE IN THE AIR FORCE

Pomeroy and his wife were out of town on the day of the shooting but their 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was one of the victims killed in the tragedy.

Also, one unknown member of the SBC has offered to completely rebuild the church following the attack.

The deadly rampage in Texas was the deadliest church shooting in modern U.S. history and the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history, according to Gov. Greg Abbott.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING VICTIMS INCLUDE PASTORS DAUGHTER, YOUNG CHILDREN

Kelley was previously enlisted in the U.S. Air Force before being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and child and ultimately discharged in 2014 for bad conduct, law enforcement officials have said.

However, his criminal history was never submitted to the FBI database like it was supposed to, which allowed Kelley to purchase guns.

Following the shooting, Kelley was confronted by a nearby resident who also had a gun and was shot at least twice. The man chased the suspect down the road in a truck before Kelley ultimately lost control and drove off the road. Authorities later found the shooter dead on the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Fox News Matt Finn contributed to this report.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill police officer allegedly went undercover in an attempt to infiltrate protesters who were gathering regularly near the Silent Sam Confederate statue, prompting outrage among local activists.

The News & Observer reports Police Officer Hector Borges posed as an auto mechanic named Victor who was sympathetic to the demonstrators cause against Confederate monuments. But on Nov. 2, activists spotted Borges on campus in police uniform  and the covert gig was up.

Student activists confronted the officer and recorded the conversation. They posted the exchange on Facebook.

Maya Little, a graduate student and sit-in organizer who posted the video of the confrontation, told the News & Observer that this is different from regular campus patrol work because you had an officer trying to create a fake back story and trying to infiltrate a student group.

Another organizer and graduate student, Lindsay Ayling, told the newspaper that Borges also kept an eye on the protests against the UNCs Board of Governors move in September to bar the UNC Laws Center for Civil Rights from litigating cases.

The universitys use of police to monitor demonstrators has a chilling effect on free speech, as activists are afraid to come out to the statue when they know theyre constantly being watched, said Ayling, adding that we cant really call ourselves a democratic society when were conducting police operations against free speech.

UNC released a statement from campus police spokesman Randy Young that said authorities are aware of the recorded conversation between the officer and the activists.

Young also said UNC police have assigned officers to the area around Silent Sam, both in uniform and plain clothes, since a mid-August rally in Charlottesville, Va., by white supremacists opposed to the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue led to the death of counterprotester Heather Heyer.

As Victor, Borges was a daily presence at the statue from Aug. 22 until the end of the month, Little noted, adding that other activists reported seeing him the following week.

Both women said Borges tried to ingratiate himself with the protesters and that he spoke mostly with students.

STUDENTS DEMAND UNC REMOVE CONFEDERATE STATUE FROM CAMPUS

He seemed like a nice guy, Aylin told the publication. I talked to him a lot about my dissertation research. He talked to other people about their children. One activist is bilingual, so he spoke Spanish to her to gain her trust.

Little said he was upset when she learned the truth.

"A police officer that we pay our student fees and tuition to was hired to spy on us, to spy on students," Little told the UNC board during a Friday meeting, reports WTVD.

UNC activists want the university to take down Silent Sam, but its authority is restricted by a 2015 state law that makes it harder for state agencies to take down so-called objects of remembrance.
It has been a year and three months since five gunmen disguised in Afghan military uniforms targeted an SUV on a main road near Kabuls American University of Afghanistan (AUAF)  taking two foreign professors, U.S. citizen Kevin King, 60, and Australian Timothy Weeks, 48, as hostages.

But as Kings health dangerously declines, a spotlight again has been put on Pakistan and what role they can play in facilitating an urgent release. Najib Danish, the spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Interior, told Fox News that they believe the professors are being held in the border region  on the Pakistan side.

The terrorists do not have the power to keep hostages for such a long time in Afghanistan because the people here would have let Afghan Forces know of their location by now, he said. We are sure the Pakistan government wants to take advantage of these professors and at some point will release them like the other couple. This is a game by Pakistan.

Last week, the Afghan Taliban released a statement indicating that King is seriously ill and requires urgent medical attention.

His illness has intensified, his feet have swollen and sometimes he becomes unconscious and his condition worsens every day, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said. We have tried to treat him time to time but we do not have medical facilities as we are in a war situation.

The professors are believed to be under the captive authority of the Haqqani network, which works closely with the Taliban as a kidnapping moneymaking enterprise. Haqqani also held U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl and the recently released hiker Caitlan Coleman and her family  who were located in Pakistan following a grueling five-year captivity.

A senior Afghan intel source, connected to the National Directorate of Security (NDS), also affirmed to Fox News that the professors were kidnapped by Haqqani with the help of internal circles, which function like criminal gangs in Kabul. According to the source, they were held initially in the Arzo district of Logar province in the Speen Jomat area, just a few miles from the tribal area of Pakistan known as Parachinar, but were later shifted deeper inside the Kurram district inside the bordering tribal areas.

The NDS source also claimed that the Haqqani network continues to demand the release of one of their top commanders, Anas Haqqani, who was captured in 2014 and sentenced to death by Afghan officials and that there are some Afghan officials pushing for this maneuver under the belief it may make foreign visitors safer.

However, a well-placed U.S. official told Fox News that they are absolutely standing by their no-concession policy, and that there will be no such trades made. Nonetheless, they do believe Kings condition to be especially dire and are calling for the immediate release of the professors on humanitarian grounds, stressing that time is of the essence.

King is thought to have developed serious heart and kidney problems since being in captivity, and the Taliban have sought to make this public now as, according to a government source, it has proven to be a burden on them.

The Taliban, which did not provide proof of Kings deteriorating condition, indicated in their statement last week that the U.S. is running out of time to fulfil its demands and that the Islamic emirate will not be held responsible if he dies.

Due to the sensitive nature of the situation, U.S. authorities closely connected to the case were not able to verify whether King and Weeks are likely inside Afghanistan or Pakistan territory. The U.S. State Department has persistently, and continues to, call for the immediate and unconditional release of the two hostages.

The Pakistan Embassy in the U.S. did not respond to a further request for comment, but Washington-based Pakistan Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry assured Fox News in September that they do not allow insurgent groups to operate in their territory, and that the government has regained full control of the country  including the oft-considered lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Chaudhry also insisted that it is the Afghan government which needs to stop sending mixed messages to groups like the Taliban. The two neighboring countries long have had tensions over issues of security and terrorism, and which country is to blame for its export.

DOZENS OF AWOL AFGHAN TRAINEES IN THE US REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, REPORT SAYS

GETTING TOUGH ON THE TALIBAN: TRUMP ADMIN SAID TO BE URGING CLOSURE OF THE MILITANT GROUP'S QATAR OFFICE

The push for a release comes at a time of rocky relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened this year to withdraw aid money to Pakistan, accusing the country of harboring militants. The pressure is said to have prompted Pakistan to conduct last months Coleman rescue operation  earning praise from the Trump team and avoiding another potential national embarrassment, akin to the 2011 raid in which U.S. forces killed Usama bin Laden inside Pakistani territory without the governments authorization.

The last visual proof-of-life came in June with the release of a video by the Taliban, in which the two appeared haggard seemingly speaking into a laptop webcam with King pleading to President Trump: Have mercy on me and get me out, and please do not send any commandos.

An unsuccessful rescue attempt was made by U.S. Navy SEALs in the weeks after the initial kidnapping, but the hostages had been moved just prior to their ascendance into the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan.

AUAF also is cooperating closely with authorities to push for a release, but acknowledged that efforts to have their staff members released so far have proven fruitless.

We are really worried about their health and safety. They were here to teach the Afghan boys and girls, the future of this country and this has had bad effects on all our educational programs, an official, who asked not to be identified, said. We are still trying our best to release them, and we are talking to Afghan officials. No one has asked us for money yet, we just hope for their safe release.

The students too have taken a vocal role in requesting that their professors be returned safely.

One student, Marzia, described King as someone extremely passionate about teaching them about the world, and another, Freshta, stressed that King and Weeks only ever wanted to see them do well.

They came to Afghanistan as teachers, to help us. These innocent people have done nothing to harm anyone and they need to be reunited with their family, friends and colleagues, she added. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we will not feel good until they are safely back with us.

Journalist Mir Jalazai contributed to this report.
Catalonian separatists won a razor-thin majority on Thursday, with the three separatist parties winning a total of 70 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament.

But the snap regional election failed to clarify the way forward, as parties seeking Catalonia's independence will be a majority in the new parliament but a pro-union party got the most votes.

Still, ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont celebrated the results from Belgium on Thursday -- the same country he sought refuge in after Spain issued European arrest warrants for him and other separatists in November.

Puigdemont also said that he's ready to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in any location but Spain, because that's where he's facing arrest. In addition, Puigdemont also said he wants guarantees to return to Catalonia and be reinstated as the region's leader.

In response, Rajoy said he expects a "new era based on dialogue" will begin in Catalonia following the snap election, adding that he will talk with the region's new leaders as long as they don't violate Spain's Constitution.

The election comes after the Spanish government took control of Catalonia when separatist lawmakers, led by Puigdemont, declared independence in October.

Spain invoked its never-before used constitutional amendment to take control of the region, giving it the ability to sack Puigdemont and his cabinet as well as authorize the government to curtail the regions parliamentary powers. Spain's Constitutional Court officially annulled the Catalan parliaments independence vote in November.

European neighbors  including Italy, France and Germany  have condemned the independence declaration and rallied behind Spain.

In light of the election, here's what you need to know.

What is Catalonia?

Located in the northeast region of Spain, Catalonia is largely independent with its own culture and language. Its one of the richest and most industrialized areas of the country with a heavy emphasis on manufacturing, according to the BBC.

The region, which includes Barcelona, is home to about 7.5 million people.

Valuing its autonomy, Catalonia has its own parliament and executive, called Generalitat in its language.

Why do they want independence?

Because of its own cultural identity, those in favor of Catalan independence have pushed for the region to become separate from Spain. Supporters also believe that they have given more to the Spanish government than they have gotten back.

The push for independence raises questions of the future of democracy and democratic rule, Pamela Radcliff, a University of California, San Diego professor and modern Spain historian, told Fox News. Whats being contested between Spain and Catalonia, one of the things is different visions of what defending democracy looks like.

SOME SEPARATIST-MINDED CATALANS URGE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Radcliff said that its very possible that neither side has much incentive to compromise.

The region held a referendum on Oct. 1.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Barcelona around the Catalan regional government palace to celebrate the independence vote. They chanted for the Spanish flag to be removed as live music played.

The regions parliament voted to establish an independent Catalonia with 70 votes in favor of independence, 10 votes against and two blank ballots. Opposition leaders had left the chambers in protest before the vote.

How did the Oct. 1 vote go?

Catalonias parliament voted for independence after an Oct. 1 referendum with about 90 percent of the 2.3 million people who voted choosing independence, according to Catalan officials. However, fewer than half of the eligible voters participated in the highly contested referendum.

About 900 people were treated for injuries after voting turned violent when Catalan civilians and Spanish police clashed.

Andrew Dowling, an expert in Catalan history at Cardiff University in Wales, said that an independence declaration by the Catalan parliament is symbolic without border and institutional control and no international support.

PRO-INDEPENDENCE CATALANS: 'I'VE NEVER FELT SPANISH'

The declaration "will see the fracture between hardliners and the pragmatic people in Catalonia who are already seeing an economic fallout," Dowling told The Associated Press.

But Spains Constitutional Court officially annulled the Catalan independence vote on Nov. 8.



What has been Spains response?

Spain's top court declared the Oct. 1 independence referendum illegal, and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had warned that the governments first move will be to remove Puigdemont from power when the Senate granted him the special powers under Article 155.

Rajoy said what is happening in Catalonia is a clear violation of the laws, of democracy, of the rights of all, and that has consequences.

Hundreds of thousands of anti-independence protesters demonstrated in the streets of Barcelona and called for the Catalonia region to remain a part of Spain.

Rajoy reportedly refused help from outside civil-society groups and lawyers to mediate negotiations between the two factions. He has also declined to engage in talks with Catalan leaders.

There is no possible mediation between democratic law and disobedience and unlawfulness, Rajoy said.

What is Article 155?

Spain invoked a clause of its constitution after Catalonia forged ahead with its plans to secede from the country that would take away the regions autonomy.

Catalonia's refusal to backtrack from its independence threats triggered Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, the government said, which allows central authorities to take over control of any of the countrys 17 regions. Its a provision that hasnt been used in the four decades since democracy was restored in the European nation.

OUSTED CATALAN LEADER SAYS HE IS NOT SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM, SUPPORTS SNAP ELECTION



An English translation of the constitution states that if an autonomous community breaks the law or disregards the constitution, the Spanish government can  after following certain procedures  take the measures necessary in order to compel the [community] forcibly to meet said obligations, or in order to protect [Spains] general interests.

Rajoy's cabinet met in a special meeting to approve measures to take direct control of the Catalan region under Article 155. The Senate gave him the power to do so.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A U.S. college student who traveled to Peru to fulfill a dream of travel abroad before beginning medical school next year has been missing for five weeks.

Jesse Galganov, 22, arrived in Peru on Sept. 24 for an eight-month backpacking trip through South America and Asia. On Sept. 28, he took an eight-hour bus ride from Lima to the scenic Andean city of Huaraz, a popular tourist spot for hikers. Video from a surveillance camera shows Galganov walking toward the 31-mile trail he planned to trek, and that is the last that is known about his whereabouts.

It is unknown whether Galganov had an accident or encountered foul play.

Ground and air searches have yielded no clues so far. Peruvian authorities told Fox News they are not ruling anything out, and are conducting a criminal investigation while also remaining open to the possibility that the medical student, who graduated from Wesleyan University this year, could have had an accident.

Galganovs mother, Alisa Clamen, traveled to Peru from her home in Canada to find out what happened to her son.

Clamen told Fox News that she spoke to her son on Sept. 28, just before he boarded the bus to Huaraz. He told her he was likely to experience connection problems in the Andes Mountains, and assured her he would contact her as soon as he returned to Lima four days later, on Oct. 2.

He did a lot of research before he went to Peru, said Clamen, who has distributed and posted more than 500 flyers about her son in areas where he was known to have been. He was very meticulous. He made sure the weight of his backpack was right, he made sure he had everything hed need for cooking and sleeping. He checked with me regularly as matter of habit.

There is a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to answers about what may have happened, and Montreal businessman Mitch Garber, chairman of Cirque Du Soleil, has donated $100,000 for the search. Galganov and Garbers son are good friends.

We have yet to find anyone who actually saw him, his mother said of the day, and the days since then, her son appeared on the surveillance video. He was at the entrance of the trail.

But he did not register at the trail, a routine step for people planning to trek it before they start their adventure.

Clamen said she is trying to hold her feelings of devastation at bay in order to have the energy and presence of mind to help in the search, and to press authorities to investigate with diligence what happened.

I have no choice, she said. Its the only thing in my life right now. I try not to think about a whole lot, you focus. Every day, when I go to sleep, I dont know what the news might be the next day.

U.S. Embassy officials in Peru have been in contact with the Peruvian authorities, said an official at the U.S. State Department to Fox News.

The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the protection of U.S. citizens overseas, said the official, who commented on the condition of anonymity. When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities and cooperate fully in their search efforts. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment at this time.

In June, a University of South Carolina medical student, Seth Thomas, died in an apparent hiking accident in the Andes Mountains while on a medical mission trip in Peru.

The U.S. State Department travel advisory about Peru says that violence against foreigners is rare, but that robberies that turn violent have been on the rise. Travel blogs about Peru warn about "so-called guides" in hiking areas who push tourists to go on difficult treks and refuse refunds and are unhelpful when some people become sick because of the altitude or difficult terrain.

Its the only thing in my life right now. I try not to think about a whole lot, you focus. Every day, when I go to sleep, I dont know what the news might be (the next day).  Alisa Clamen, mother of missing U.S. college student Jesse Galganov

Galganov was planning to attend medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia next fall.

After graduating from Wesleyan University, where he received a bachelors degree in mathematics in the spring, Galganov planned a gap year to backpack in South America and Southeast Asia, those close to him say. He studied Spanish to prepare for South America, Clamen said.

Clamen said one of the most frustrating parts of this difficult time has been a lack of cooperation on the part of some cellphone carriers, who can be critical in efforts to figure out where Galganov was last and his last communication activities.

No one should ever have to suffer through this nightmare  it is time for these technology companies to be forced to be responsible to their customers. No company should have the right to withhold information when a life is at stake, she said, adding that T-Mobile has been very helpful.

We still dont have the decrypted data from Apple from his iCloud and we still dont have the information from [the Peruvian cellular carrier] on the last tower that he connected to on the morning of the 29th, notwithstanding that they are under Peruvian court order to produce.

Emma Gilberg, a close friend of Galganov, said this trip marked a concerted effort to get out of his comfort zone.

He is a very curious person and wanted to fully immerse himself in the cultures and experiences he would encounter throughout his eight-month trip, Gilberg told Fox News. Jesse is so diligent, self-aware and intuitive. If there was anyone I would have confidence in traveling solo, it would be him.
EU finance chiefs are working on a blacklist of uncooperative tax havens amid growing public concern about widespread tax dodging by multinationals and the wealthy.

But finance ministers meeting in Brussels remain divided over how and where to tax online companies that operate across the European Union.

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday the ministers are preparing a blacklist of non-European tax havens and pushed for sanctions to ensure it's "credible and meaningful."

He also expressed hope that the "Paradise Papers" leaks revealing investments in tax havens "will create new political momentum" toward an agreement on online sales tax.

High-tax countries like France have pushed for the blacklist and a Europe-wide crackdown on tax havens. Lower-tax countries like Ireland and the Netherlands argue that will hurt Europe's competitiveness.
Ten people suspected of using encrypted social networks to prepare a possible terror attack were arrested in raids carried out Tuesday in France and Switzerland, officials said.

The operations were part of an investigation launched in July focused on suspicious activity by a person in Switzerland using the Telegram network, a French judicial official told the Associated Press.

Searches are still underway in the suburbs of Paris and in southeastern France.

Counterterrorism investigators detained nine people in France and one in Switzerland in operations aimed at clarifying details of the suspected plot, the official told the AP. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, would not provide details about their identities.

The suspects are between 18 and 65 years old, and include two siblings, BFM TV reported.

The Swiss-based chief suspect had communicated with people in France on social networks about unspecified violent acts, the official said.

The city of Nice, which was the site of the 2016 Bastille Day truck attack that killed 87 people, may have been the target of the latest plot, the Parisian newspaper reported.

A French security official said the suspected plot did not appear to be fully developed but authorities acted Tuesday out of concern that the group was moving toward action.

Among towns targeted in Tuesday's operation were Aix-en-Provence in southern France and Menton on the Mediterranean coast as well as Paris suburbs, according to the security official.

The operation comes days after a new counterterrorism law came into effect to replace a state of emergency that had been in place since deadly attacks in Paris two years ago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S.-led airstrikes against ISIS are down 60 to 70 percent the past month compared to the previous eight months as the caliphate crumbles in Iraq and Syria and the number of targets decrease "dramatically, according to the deputy commander for air operations against ISIS.

Drone flights and other reconnaissance flights will continue over Iraq and Syria, Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Croft said during a briefing with reporters at the Pentagon late Tuesday morning.

As ISIS is destroyed in Iraq, Croft said Iraqi security forces will not cross the border into Syria to pursue them. Inside of Iraq, small pockets of ISIS fighters remain, he said.

"Our job here is not finished," he said. Its sort of like a newly plowed field--if you dont tend it, the weeds grow. And I would equate ISIS, [al-Qaeda] and everyone else as just a bunch of weeds.

The decrease in airstrikes inside Iraq and Syria means more jets are free to fly missions in Afghanistan. A jet can fly a strike mission in Iraq and just a day later fly another in Afghanistan, Croft said.
North Koreas crippling nuclear test site is turning the area into a wasteland where deformed babies are being born and 80 percent of vegetation dies off due to nuclear radiation, nearly two dozen defectors told a South Korean newspaper Monday.

The Research Association of Vision of North Korea interviewed 21 North Korean defectors who lived in Kilju, a nearby town north of the Punngye-ri nuclear test site where six tests have been conducted, and said babies were reportedly being born with birth defects and residents feared radiation contamination because of the high mortality rate for any form of life, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported.

I personally saw corpses floating down the river with their limbs severed."  North Korean defector

"I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there, one defector said, according to the newspaper.

Another added: "I spoke on the phone with family members I left behind there and they told me that all of the underground wells dried up after the sixth nuclear test."

GRAPHIC PICTURE WARNING:

The defectors said drinking water in the town streamed down from Mount Montap, where the nuclear tests were reportedly conducted underground. They added authorities left residents in the area to fend for themselves and provided no warning prior to the detonations or protections after. A defector who fled North Korea in 2010 recalled how only soldiers and their family members were evacuated before two tests were conducted.

"During the first nuclear test [October 2006] and second one [May 2009], only family members of soldiers were evacuated to underground shafts. Ordinary people were completely unaware of the tests, the defector recalled.

I personally saw corpses floating down the river with their limbs severed, the defector said, adding that local residents were also ordered to dig deep holes for those tests.

The defectors claimed all forms of life struggled to stay alive. About 80 percent of trees that were planted on the mountains died off, and trout and pine mushrooms just disappeared from the region when the first nuclear test was conducted in 2006.

"If you plant trees in the mountains there, 80 percent of them die. You can blame it on poor planting, but the number of trees that die is higher than in other mountains, a defector said.

The defector accounts by Chosun Ilbo were not verified by North Korean officials, but the former North Korean residents claimed Kim Jong Uns regime made sure none of the local residents were able to tell their stories.

One person recalled, "Kilju locals who made appointments in a large hospital in Pyongyang were not allowed to enter the capital after the sixth nuclear test."

"People who boarded trains to the border with samples of soil, water and leaves from Kilju County were arrested and sent to prison camps, another defector said.

North Korea has slammed recent reports surrounding the Punngye-ri test site, calling a Japanese televisions claim that at least 200 people died when tunnels collapsed underground as misinformation. The report by Asahi TV, citing a North Korean source, stated hundreds were trapped and killed while doing underground construction on the tunnel last month. Scientists believe the site was destabilized after the sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3, when a purported hydrogen bomb was detonated. Satellite images obtained by 38 North, which specialized in North Korean issues, also showed a possible collapsed chimney crater at Mount Mantap.

Radiation leaking and drifting across the Sea of Japan and to the Japanese islands has also been a concern. Dr. Joel Myers, the founder and chairman of AccuWeather, said lingering radiation from the sixth nuclear test could threaten other countries. North Korean officials' hope to contain the radiation leakage within the Hermit Kingdom could change as winds pick up out of the northwest, according to Myers.

President Trump spent Tuesday in South Korea during his five-country Asia tour, his first visit to the region since taking office. North Korea immediately chastised the president, saying, "Trump, accustomed to getting money by cajoling other people, recklessly mullsa nuclear war gambling while despising the opponent, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
Making the Case for Catholicism Author provides the most comprehensive defense of the Catholic faith in the past 30 years



Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276,



SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 /



Not since Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism, published in 1988, has there been such a comprehensive defense of the Catholic faith. While Keating's book was instrumental in Horn's own conversion to Catholicism, the thirty years since its publication has seen more sophisticated arguments from Protestant scholars and apologetics that needed to be answered, which is exactly what Horn puts forth in THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM.



Written for an educated layperson, Horn defends the Catholic faith in a way that is rigorous, comprehensive and accessible. THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM addresses arguments for Protestantism by early Reformers like Luther and Calvin as well as contemporary defenders of Protestantism like Norm Geisler and R.C. Sproul. He even touches on certain Protestant arguments that support Catholic teaching.



The book is divided up into the four main areas of serious disagreement between the Catholic Church and Protestantism, and Horn thoroughly argues for the position of the Catholic Church in all of them: By Whose Authority? What is the Church? How am I Saved? And What is the Body of Christ?



THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM is the most up-to-date and complete work on answering Protestant arguments against the Catholic Church, and will not only help Catholics become strong in their faith but open new avenues for Protestants to put the tenets of their own faith to the test.



"It's hard to imagine how any non-Catholic could read THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM and not feel almost compelled to swim the Tiber  that's how strong, and how winsome, Horn's arguments are," said Karl Keating, author of Catholicism and Fundamentalism.



For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Trent Horn, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or



Share Tweet Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- During the year which marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic convert Trent Horn has written what will no doubt be the modern-day handbook on responding to Protestant objections to the Catholic faith in his THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM: Answers to Classic and Contemporary Protestant Objections.Not since Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism, published in 1988, has there been such a comprehensive defense of the Catholic faith. While Keating's book was instrumental in Horn's own conversion to Catholicism, the thirty years since its publication has seen more sophisticated arguments from Protestant scholars and apologetics that needed to be answered, which is exactly what Horn puts forth in THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM.Written for an educated layperson, Horn defends the Catholic faith in a way that is rigorous, comprehensive and accessible. THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM addresses arguments for Protestantism by early Reformers like Luther and Calvin as well as contemporary defenders of Protestantism like Norm Geisler and R.C. Sproul. He even touches on certain Protestant arguments that support Catholic teaching.The book is divided up into the four main areas of serious disagreement between the Catholic Church and Protestantism, and Horn thoroughly argues for the position of the Catholic Church in all of them: By Whose Authority? What is the Church? How am I Saved? And What is the Body of Christ?THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM is the most up-to-date and complete work on answering Protestant arguments against the Catholic Church, and will not only help Catholics become strong in their faith but open new avenues for Protestants to put the tenets of their own faith to the test."It's hard to imagine how any non-Catholic could read THE CASE FOR CATHOLICISM and not feel almost compelled to swim the Tiber  that's how strong, and how winsome, Horn's arguments are," said Karl Keating, author of Catholicism and Fundamentalism.For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Trent Horn, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.
Pope Francis has sent a telegram to the archbishop of San Antonio, Texas, to express his condolences for the deadly shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

The telegram was sent Tuesday by the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said the pope was "deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of senseless violence."

The pontiff sent condolences to "the families of the victims and the wounded, to the members of the congregation and the entire local community."

Francis also offered prayers for mourners to "grant them the spiritual strength that triumphs over violence and hatred by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love."

Twenty-six people were killed in Sunday's attack at the Texas church.
Saudi Arabia on Monday called the attempted missile attack on Riyadhs main airport this weekend an "act of war" by Iran and vowed to retaliate.

Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been fighting Saudi-backed forces there for several years, claimed responsibility for firing the ballistic missile on Saturday. The missile traveled more than 500 miles before Saudi Arabia intercepted it.

The official Saudi Press Agency charged that debris from the missile proved that it was made in Iran and smuggled into Yemen. American officials have previously alleged that Iran has armed the Houthi rebels.

The attempted missile strike was "a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime and could rise to be considered as an act of war," the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia reserves its right to respond to Iran in the appropriate time and manner, in accordance with international law and based on the right of self-defense," the statement continued.

Speaking to CNN, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir unambiguously asserted that Iran had effectively declared war.

"We see this as an act of war," he said. "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi called Saudi Arabia's claims "false, irresponsible, destructive and provocative," according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

The dramatic escalation in tension between the two rival nations came just a day after dozens of princes, senior military officers, businessmen and top officials were arrested in a sweeping anti-corruption probe in Saudi Arabia.

The unprecedented arrests were seen as a sign that 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who came to power in June, was seeking to aggressively consolidate his authority.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Hungarian President Janos Ader have opened the World Science Forum, a gathering of scientists and policy makers, and called for science as a path to peace.

Some 3,000 scientists, politicians and academics attended Tuesday's session on the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea. The conference has taken place every two years since its launch in Hungary in 2003.

This year it is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

Speakers called for regional and global scientific cooperation, especially on water, energy and food security. Scarcity of key resources is a problem in the conflict-scarred region.

Participants say science can help reduce conflict by alleviating scarcity.

The opening session included awards presented by Abdullah and the presentation of Jordan's first humanoid robot.
A King George man and his adult son were arrested following a raid at their home that netted 16 firearms and an estimated $25,000 worth of street drugs, police said.

Sheriffs spokeswoman Kecia Wharton said an investigation headed by detectives Drew Massey and Joe Patterson resulted in a search warrant for a home on Striker Lane off State Road in King George.

In addition to the guns, Wharton said, a large amount of marijuana, individual packets of a white powder, cash and drug packaging materials were seized in the Friday morning raid. A stolen chainsaw and a motorcycle were also recovered, she said.

Wharton said police werent immediately sure what the white powder is. The seized drugs have been sent to the state lab in Richmond for testing.

Walter Edward McDowney, 41, was charged with manufacturing marijuana for distribution, distributing marijuana, two counts of distributing controlled substances and possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs.

TyShaun Ondrej McDowney, 22, was charged with receiving stolen firearms, possession of a firearm by a felon and removing or altering the serial number on a firearm.

Both men were placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond. The investigation is ongoing.

The Caroline Sheriffs Office, state police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are assisting King George detectives in the investigation, Wharton said.
A jury rejected an insanity defense Monday and recommended two life sentences for a man who brutally killed his mother in late 2015 at their home in southern Stafford County.

In convicting Christopher Michael Ellis of first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding and assaulting a law-enforcement officer, the jury refused to accept Ellis claim that he was legally insane when he murdered 67-year-old Elizabeth Betsey Ellis in her bedroom. Betsey Ellis was beaten beyond recognition with her sons fists, feet and a hammer.

In addition to the two life sentences, the jury also suggested another five years in prison and $200,000 in fines. It was the maximum sentence the jury could have suggested.

The trial in Stafford Circuit Court took seven days, two fewer than had been scheduled. The jury took only about 90 minuteswhich included a lunch breakto announce the guilty verdicts.

Ellis will be formally sentenced on Jan. 22 by Judge Michael Levy.

In closing arguments, prosecutors Sandra Park and Tara Mooney reminded jurors of the horrific death Betsey Ellis suffered. The evidence showed that Ellis went into his mothers bedroom on Fagan Drive early Dec. 11, 2015, woke up the retired teacher and threw her onto the hardwood floor.

He then punched his mother numerous times and jumped on her fallen body, causing what Park referred to as immeasurable injuries.

After finishing that attack and leaving briefly, Ellis returned to the bedroom and repeatedly kicked his mothers lifeless body. He then retrieved a hammer from the kitchen and, among other things, bashed in his mothers head. He told detectives he used the hammer to insult her for giving birth to me.

The prosecution claimed Ellis was mad at his mother about financial matters.

Park then reminded the jurors of the grisly pictures theyd been shown. It was a scene from a Hollywood horror movie, Park said. But it wasnt a movie.

Defense attorney Joshua Parrett agreed that the slaying was horrific, atrocious, shocking and disturbing. But Parrett pointed out that two psychologists employed by the state, doctors Lindsey Ingram and Elizabeth Wheeler, decided after extensive testing that Ellis did not know right from wrong at the time of the offense.

But Mooney countered that those psychologists had been duped by Ellis, who the prosecution conceded had mental illness but maintained was not legally insane. Another psychologist testified that Ellis clearly was aware of what he was doing.

He did what he wanted to do, Mooney said. He killed his mother in the most brutal way imaginable.

Before recommending a sentence, the jurors heard from Betsey Ellis family and friends, who talked at length about the devastating impact of the slaying.

My mom was my rock, said Charles Ellis, her other son. She was always there for us. And now shes not.

Charles Ellis said it was gut-wrenching and miserable to relive the tragedy during the seven-day trial, but he said he and his family wanted Christopher Ellis to see that he didnt break us.

He may have broken her body and her face, but were still here, he said.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The gunman who opened fire in a church outside San Antonio, killing at least 26 people, escaped from a mental health facility in 2012 after he was caught sneaking guns onto an Air Force base and "attempting to carry out death threats" made against military superiors, according to a police report.

The report said that officers with the El Paso, Texas, police were dispatched to a bus terminal after Devin Kelley's escape from a behavioral facility about seven miles away in New Mexico.

Officers wrote that they were told Kelley "was a danger to himself and others" at the time and noted that he "was also facing military criminal charges." Kelley was court-martialed that same year and convicted of abusing his wife and her son.

The police report was first obtained Tuesday by KPRC, a Houston television station.

This revelation came as authorities continued to seek a fuller portrait of Kelley and also probed a breakdown in military protocols that failed to flag a domestic violence conviction meant to keep him from buying firearms.

As tiny Sutherland Springs, Texas, has mourned the church attack, more chilling details emerged of how Kelley, clad in all black and a mask with a skull on it, methodically tried to take as many victims as possible as he stalked the pews of First Baptist Church.

Officials say the gunman was inside the church for a lengthy period of time, moving around freely as he gunned down people gathered for Sunday morning services. One woman who was wounded during the carnage described Kelley firing at churchgoers who tried to leave, shooting round after round at those cowering or wounded on the church's floor.

David Brown, whose mother, Farida, was shot in her legs, said she described Kelley firing four shots into the torso of a woman on her left.

"With every shot, she was crying," Brown said of the woman. "She was just staring at my mom while she tried to comfort her." As he fired rounds into the woman, Farida Brown held her hand, telling her she was heading to heaven.

When the massacre was over, more than two dozen people were fatally wounded and 20 others injured, half of them critically. Officials said the 26 people killed included the unborn child of one of the victims at the church.

Authorities said they were still reconstructing what happened inside the church, and are unable to say how long the gunman fired or how many shots were fired. But they said he had considerable time to fire at churchgoers.

"I can tell you when the first call came in, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office arrived within four minutes," Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a briefing Tuesday. "I can tell you four minutes is a long time during an active shooter situation."

When the gunfire ended, nearly everyone inside had been injured or killed, Martin said.

Kelley was shot twice by a local man who heard what was happening and responded to the church with his own rifle. The gunman fled and ultimately shot himself in the head, officials said.

What triggered the latest rampage to cut down Americans in a public space remains unclear. Texas officials have only said that unlike other rampages at houses of worship, religious or racial animus did not motivate it.

Instead, they pointed to the gunman's rage at his relatives, saying that he had sent threatening messages to his mother-in-law; she attended the church but was not there Sunday.

"We know there was conflict," Martin said. "He was upset with the mother in law."

Officials have not elaborated on the conflict, only saying that Kelley was angry due to "a domestic situation." Further details on the dispute may be found on Kelley's phone, Martin said.

However, the FBI said Tuesday that while they have obtained the gunman's cellphone, investigators have been unable to access it so far. The phone was flown Monday night to the bureau's facility in Quantico, Virginia, said Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division.

Federal authorities have been critical of the encryption they say has kept them off of devices crucial to investigations. In the most high-profile case, the FBI and Apple engaged in a lengthy public dispute over an iPhone used by one of the attackers in San Bernardino, Calif. The bureau eventually said an outside group helped them unlock that device without the tech giant's help. In Texas, the FBI pledged that it would eventually unlock Kelley's phone as well.

"We will get into that phone," Combs said at the briefing Tuesday.

The shooting in a place where gun culture is deeply rooted has prompted sharply different responses. Some residents of tiny Sutherland Springs - a tiny community southeast of San Antonio - said after the attack that it could have been stopped if people inside the church had weapons.

In Washington, Democratic lawmakers sought to force a vote on a bill establishing a select committee on preventing gun violence. Speaking in Seoul, South Korea, meanwhile, President Donald Trump asserted that tougher gun laws would not have stopped the mass shooting saying that "hundreds more" may have died had another man not been able to "neutralize" the attacker with a gun of his own.

Trump has responded to previous attacks by calling for increased immigration restrictions such as "extreme vetting," even in cases where his policies would not have stopped those attacks. When asked in Seoul whether he would support "extreme vetting" on guns, Trump said "there would have been no difference three days ago."

But how Kelley obtained his weapons has become the source of a separate federal investigation.

Kelley was convicted of domestic violence while serving in the Air Force, making him the latest mass killer with such abuse in his past. On Monday, the Air Force said it failed to follow policies for alerting federal law enforcement about this conviction, which meant he was prohibited "from buying or possessing firearms," according to Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek.

While serving at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Kelley was convicted of abusing his wife and her child. He spent a year at a Navy brig in San Diego and was then kicked out of the military in 2014 with a bad conduct discharge.

Court martial documents made public Monday evening state that Kelley kicked, choked and struck his wife in 2011 and 2012. He also struck her young child "on the head and body with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm," according to the documents.

This information was not National Criminal Information Center database, which meant that despite a law meant to keep Kelley from obtaining firearms, his gun purchases were apparently able to proceed.

He had purchased four guns since 2014, one in each year, according to federal officials. Two of those guns were purchased from a retailer, Academy Sports, after he passed federal background checks in 2016 and 2017. Kelley also passed a background check needed for a job as a security guard at a water park over the summer.

The Air Force has launched a review of his case to determine how it handled his criminal records and whether "records in other cases have been reported correctly," Stefanek said.

Police and court records across three states paint the picture of a young man with a sometimes violent private life. The same year he was discharged from the Air Force after his domestic violence conviction, Kelley was charged with a misdemeanor count of mistreatment, neglect or cruelty to animals in El Paso County, Colorado, where he lived at one point, records show.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a man who was punching a dog, police records indicate. Four witnesses told deputies that they saw a man matching Kelley's description yelling at and chasing a white-and-brown husky.

Dave Ivey, who identified himself as Kelley's uncle, apologized to the shooting victims in an interview with NBC News.

"I never in a million years could have believed Devin could be capable of this kind of thing," Ivey said. "My family will suffer because of his coward actions."

In Sutherland Springs, which is swarmed with television satellite trucks and reporters from around the world, people are still grappling with the scale of the attack, which tore a hole through the small community. It's a small town, so everyone knew the victims, even if they didn't know them personally.

Lorenzo Flores and Terri Smith had just pulled into pump number 3 at the Valero gas station when they saw a man in black carrying a rifle outside the church. Then they heard the gunfire.

A young man covered in blood escaped the church, sprinted across a field of grass and collapsed inside the convenience store between two aisles, gasping about a shooter killing everyone in the church.

"I might not have known everybody in there by name but I knew their face and I knew their smile," said Flores, 56, the head cook at Theresa's Kitchen, an eatery owned by Smith that is tucked into the corner of a convenience store at the gas station.

With Thanksgiving approaching, local residents are invited to a feast on Nov. 19 at the community center, which was Terri's idea. The feast will continue as planned, they said.

"We're still going to put that dinner on and I think that's going to make us a little stronger," Flores said. "At least, it helps a little. And a little is better than nothing."

- - -

Berman reported from Washington. The Post's Joel Achenbach in Sutherland Springs; Bob Moore in Alamogordo, New Mexico; and Brian Murphy, Samantha Schmidt, Wesley Lowery, Sandhya Somashekhar, Alex Horton, Derek Hawkins, Julie Tate, Scott Wilson and Travis Andrews in Washington contributed to this report.
Virginias Medicaid program will cost the state an additional $670.6 million over three years, but it could have been worse  and it will be unless Congress acts soon to restore federal funding for childrens health insurance.

The new forecast, compiled by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and made public Monday by Gov. Terry McAuliffes administration, provides the governor and the General Assembly a clearer road map for reaching the next two-year budget. It will be driven largely by the additional cost of Medicaid, K-12 education and building the states cash reserves to hedge against potential economic downturns.

However, the revised Medicaid outlook is still missing two big pieces  a potential state cost of $195.3 million to replace federal funding of coverage for 60,000 low-income children, and the price of funding an additional 825 waiver slots for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities under a federal civil rights settlement.

Virginia already is poised to end health coverage for more than 67,000 children and almost 1,100 pregnant women in the states FAMIS program if Congress and President Donald Trump do not restore federal funding that lapsed on Sept. 30. Inaction also would shift more of the cost of care to the state for children who live in families so poor they are eligible for Medicaid.

Its incredible that they let this slip, Massey S.J. Whorley, senior policy adviser to McAuliffe, said in an interview Monday about the forecast.

But the good news for Virginia policymakers is a predicted slowdown in the growth of the $10 billion Medicaid program as the state moves ahead with reforms to expand the number of people, primarily elderly and disabled, who will receive services through managed-care contracts with private insurers.

A huge part of it is the effect of reforms and the amount of money being moved from fee-for-service to managed care, Whorley said.

Fee-for-service has been the traditional way of reimbursing providers for services to Medicaid patients in an uncoordinated fashion. Managed care allows the state to shift the risks of serving patients to insurers who are paid a fixed amount per person, per month to coordinate their care.

So the plans are taking a very substantial risk, said Doug Gray, executive director of the Virginia Association of Health Plans, which includes five of the six companies that are providing managed care to more than 216,000 elderly and disabled Virginians. These are very sick people who could have very high costs. The commonwealth has protected themselves from costs over and above the contract amount.

The attraction for insurers is the potential to lower the cost of care and keep the difference, while saving the state money, but Gray cautioned against expecting an immediate windfall as the state expands managed care to riskier populations. We are hopeful and optimistic there will be savings, but I wouldnt want to be overly aggressive about promising, he said.

House Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, had expected the cost forecast to be higher for the current fiscal year, which began July 1, and the impending two-year budget.

On the surface, the numbers look good, he said.

But Jones also said lawmakers wont know right away how much of a dividend Medicaid reforms will pay or when.

This is the right step to have taken, he said, but I do not think we can read too much into the initial forecast until we have verifiable data that the savings are real. There is no doubt the reforms are starting to have an impact.

The new Medicaid forecast assumes a much lower rate of growth in costs for the program  2.5 percent in the first year and 3.4 percent in the second, compared with a 7.8 percent increase in costs in the current fiscal year.

The reduction in the rate of growth is in moving almost 200,000 people into managed care, said K. Joseph Flores, deputy secretary of health and human resources.

Currently, the state has used managed care to provide high-cost services to about 30,000 people who are dually diagnosed for Medicaid and Medicare through the voluntary Commonwealth Coordinated Care program. The number will swell to more than 200,000 in the new CCC Plus program the state began rolling out on Aug. 1 and the Richmond region a month later.

The rollout is expected to be completed by Jan. 1, when the state will begin moving an array of nontraditional services for people with mental and other behavioral health issues into managed care.

The blind, aged and disabled represent about a third of the more than one million Virginians in Medicaid, but they account for two-thirds of the cost to the state, which generally shares those costs equally with the federal government.

Childless adults, who would have been covered if Virginia had expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, arent eligible under the states current program, no matter how poor they are. Parents are eligible only if they earn no more than  for a family of three  $6,672 to $10,464 a year, depending on where in the state they live.

The most expensive care goes to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Medicaid waivers that allow them to receive community-based services to avoid institutional care that is even more costly and unnecessarily confining.

The General Assembly has approved funding for 4,074 waiver slots in the past seven fiscal years, even though thousands of people remain on waiting lists. Three-quarters of those slots were required under a settlement between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice to provide services in the least restrictive community setting rather than state training centers. However, the legislature also has funded about 1,100 waiver slots above what the settlement requires.

The state plans to move people under waivers into managed care networks for their physical health care, but not the specialized services required by their behavioral health conditions.

In addition, Virginia has been expanding services under Medicaid for people with addictions or mental health problems, but the benefits are limited.

Gray said the state could do more to serve those populations if it agreed to accept federal funds under the Affordable Care Act  if it survives  and used savings in state funds estimated at $138 million in the next biennium. There is no reason not to take the extra resources to address these concerns, he said.

But Republican opponents of expansion say Medicaid already consumes too much of the state general fund budget  about 22 percent  and has grown faster than any other program in the last decade.

It really is the Pac-Man of the budget, Del. Jimmie Massie, R-Henrico, said last month.
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Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
UN Climate Conference : The moment of truth

Mit einer traditionellen Willkommenszeremonie der Fidschi-Inseln beginnt die Weltklimakonferenz in Bonn. Foto: Benjamin Westhoff

Bonn At the start of the UN Climate Conference in Bonn, hosts Fiji urge unity.

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The UN Climate Conference opened in Bonn on Monday to calls for greater efforts in the fight against global warming. This is the moment of truth, said Frank Bainimarama, head of the government of the host country, Fiji, urging decisive action. The Federal Environment Minister, Barbara Hendricks (SPD), also made the case for a decisive implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. In Germany, there were also warnings to the participants in the potential Jamaica coalition not to call into question current climate targets.

Representatives from more than 190 countries will negotiate the specific implementation of the Paris Agreement until 17 November in Bonn. Fiji is the host of the 23rd UN Climate Conference and its Prime Minister, Mr Bainimarama, is leading the negotiations as conference president. As the Pacific Islands cannot accommodate the up to 25,000 participants, the meeting is taking place in Bonn, the location of the UN Climate Secretariat.

We must fulfil our obligations and may not back out of them, urged Bainimarama. Only then would it be possible to limit global warming as agreed to a maximum of 1.5 degrees in comparison to pre-industrial times. The opening of the Climate Conference also included a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony.

The conference in Bonn will be hampered by the decision of the US government of President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. We must stay united, urged German Environment Minister Hendricks in her welcome speech. Referring to climate sceptics, she also clarified: Climate change is scientifically proven. Hendricks further urged that all countries must strengthen their efforts and increase their ambition in the fight against global warming.

The threats associated with climate change, especially for island nations such as Fiji, allow no deviation from this path, and we don't have much more time. Germany also pledged a further 100 million Euros to support poorer countries in overcoming the impacts of climate change.
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
Article

Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
bohlah at 7-11-2017 06:35 AM (5 years ago) (m)

A 30-year-old suspected human trafficker, Martha Edea, was recently arrested by security operatives in Lagos. The suspect was seen with a creamy substance, she said was a specially prepared charm for her to get more customers when she gets to Abidjan where she had been a pr*stitute in the past one year.

A 30-year-old suspected human trafficker, Martha Edea, was recently arrested by security operatives in Lagos. The suspect was seen with a creamy substance, she said was a specially prepared charm for her to get more customers when she gets to Abidjan where she had been a pr*stitute in the past one year.



According to her, I prepared two charms for the trip. One is a cream to make me to see work or get customers. Everybody dey use am. My friend recommended it to me. The other is back to sender. I bought that in an open market in Benin.



Martha, a mother of two, according to her, she was lured into pr*stitution in Ivory Coast by one Mariam who told her there were chances of securing a good job there. She was later introduced to s*x work where she slaved for months to raise 300,000 Cefa (N180, 000) for her custodian.



Martha was later abandoned in Abidjan by Mariam, who after collecting the repayment travelled to Spain.





Immediately, I paid her, I was left with nothing. I struggled to raise some money to come back home to raise my own team because, you can only survive when you have girls working for you, she added.



Arrested with Martha were two teenagers she recruited in Benin City. They were en-route Abidjan through Lagos when those who suspected them reported them to RRS officers in Ojodu Berger.



The teenagers, Francess Bamidele 19 and Elo Etim, 18 were recruited in Benin, Edo State through Marthas proxies, who she gave N10, 000:00 each. They were both promised good jobs with attractive pay  pack when they get to Ivory Coast.





While Francess didnt inform her guardian about the trip, Elo notified her mother after being fully briefed that the job is prostitution, the mother prayed for her, assisted with some money and a phone number to call.



She was reported to have said instead of giving it free to boys on the streets, go and make money with it where you are going. According to her,Martha, a mother of two, according to her, she was lured into pr*stitution in Ivory Coast by one Mariam who told her there were chances of securing a good job there. She was later introduced to s*x work where she slaved for months to raise 300,000 Cefa (N180, 000) for her custodian.Martha was later abandoned in Abidjan by Mariam, who after collecting the repayment travelled to Spain.she added.Arrested with Martha were two teenagers she recruited in Benin City. They were en-route Abidjan through Lagos when those who suspected them reported them to RRS officers in Ojodu Berger.The teenagers, Francess Bamidele 19 and Elo Etim, 18 were recruited in Benin, Edo State through Marthas proxies, who she gave N10, 000:00 each. They were both promised good jobs with attractive pay  pack when they get to Ivory Coast.While Francess didnt inform her guardian about the trip, Elo notified her mother after being fully briefed that the job is prostitution, the mother prayed for her, assisted with some money and a phone number to call.She was reported to have said instead of giving it free to boys on the streets, go and make money with it where you are going.

Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 7-11-2017 06:35 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero
kacylee at 7-11-2017 08:59 AM (5 years ago) (f)

The Italian authorities have recovered the bodies of 26 Nigerian women from the Mediterranean sea who were migrating to Europe from Libya.

The Italian authorities have recovered the bodies of 26 Nigerian women from the Mediterranean sea who were migrating to Europe from Libya.

The deceased women, were recovered by the Spanish ship Cantabria as part of operation Sophia, an EU anti-trafficking force. Most of them were aged between 14 and 18.

According to reports the women drowned when the rubber boat carrying 64 sank on Friday while crossing the Mediterranean Sea.



Investigations has been launched by the Salermo prosecutors regarding the circumstances surrounding their death as he believes segxwal violence played a role in the death of these women because there were men who were on board as well.



Luca Masini who is a Public prosecutor has arranged the external examination of the bodies with emphasises on toxicology and evidence of rape. The bodies are being kept in a refrigerated section of the Cantabria in order to preserve evidence that may have been lost during the journey to the coast. Full autopsies are expected to be completed within the week.







Of the 375 migrants who were rescued from the boat and brought to Salerno, Most of which are from sub-Saharan Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Senegal: 90 of them women, eight of them pregnant; and 54, children.



The police have detained 7 people in connection with the deaths two of the men are of Libyan and Egyptian origin and are believed to be the captains of the vessel. The deceased women, were recovered by the Spanish ship Cantabria as part of operation Sophia, an EU anti-trafficking force. Most of them were aged between 14 and 18.According to reports the women drowned when the rubber boat carrying 64 sank on Friday while crossing the Mediterranean Sea.Investigations has been launched by the Salermo prosecutors regarding the circumstances surrounding their death as he believes segxwal violence played a role in the death of these women because there were men who were on board as well.Luca Masini who is a Public prosecutor has arranged the external examination of the bodies with emphasises on toxicology and evidence of rape. The bodies are being kept in a refrigerated section of the Cantabria in order to preserve evidence that may have been lost during the journey to the coast. Full autopsies are expected to be completed within the week.Of the 375 migrants who were rescued from the boat and brought to Salerno, Most of which are from sub-Saharan Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Senegal: 90 of them women, eight of them pregnant; and 54, children.The police have detained 7 people in connection with the deaths two of the men are of Libyan and Egyptian origin and are believed to be the captains of the vessel.

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 7-11-2017 08:59 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero
clarajancita at 7-11-2017 12:44 PM (5 years ago) (f)

Concerted efforts are being made to sanitize the police force of corrupt elements who have given the security outfit a negative public image. The Nigeria Police Force returned N834,000 extorted by its officers from members of the public to the owners between July and September. The force also sanctioned 17 police officers, including the suspension of an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Ikorodu, Lagos State, during the period for corrupt practices.



According to a statement by the Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit on Monday In the pursuit of implementing the Change Begins with Me Campaign of the Federal Government and in line with the desire of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, in bringing an end to impunity, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit in Q3 2017 recovered and returned a total sum of N834,000 extorted money to members of the public.

Sixteen police officers were also sanctioned for various acts of professional misconduct during the period under review (July-September, 2017).

Sixteen police officers were also sanctioned for various acts of professional misconduct during the period under review (July-September, 2017). Concerted efforts are being made to sanitize the police force of corrupt elements who have given the security outfit a negative public image. The Nigeria Police Force returned N834,000 extorted by its officers from members of the public to the owners between July and September. The force also sanctioned 17 police officers, including the suspension of an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Ikorodu, Lagos State, during the period forAccording to a statement by the Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit on Monday

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 7-11-2017 12:44 PM (5 years ago) | Hero
Today is Election Day in the commonwealth, and Virginians by the millions will be heading to the polls to elect a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. In our democratic republic, it is our duty  and our privilege  to participate in the process of electing our leaders, and we urge every registered voter to do so.

Through the last 241 years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their lives on the battlefield to protect our democracy and the rights and liberties extended to us all under the U.S. Constitution. Many more thousands have suffered grievous injuries to make our regular exercise in self-governance possible. That tally also includes Americans who died or were injured here at home in the struggles to extend the franchise to women, African-Americans and other minorities. We would do them all a grave disservice if we didnt take a few minutes out of one day a year to exercise the rights they died for.

At the state level, Democrats Ralph Northam, Justin Fairfax and Mark Herring are facing Republicans Ed Gillespie, Jill Vogel and John Adams for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively. As the first gubernatorial election in the nation after the November 2016 election of Donald Trump as president, its the Northam/Gillespie matchup thats drawn the most attention, nationally and internationally. After all, Virginia was the only Southern state Trump lost. Money has poured into the race as its become the most-watched contest of the year.

But its the down-ballot races we want to urge Virginians to pay attention to. All 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for election. The GOP currently holds an overwhelming majority in the House, and in recent elections incumbents of both parties have faced little or no opposition in their re-election bids. This year, however, more seats than in the last 20 years feature contested races, giving voters a choice of candidates.

Further down the ballot are the local races for government offices that truly affect the lives of Virginians on a daily basis: county boards of supervisors, school boards and constitutional officers such as commonwealths attorney or sheriff. While these races may not be as sexy as a gubernatorial contest, they are just as important, if not more so. Local taxes, how county government is operated, oversight of public schools and crime fighting affect each one of us every day.

And if you dont think your vote matters, just consider these numbers from past Virginia races:

 Doug Wilder was elected Americas first black governor since Reconstruction by a margin of 6,741 votes in 1989.

 Bob McDonnell defeated Creigh Deeds to become Virginias attorney general by only 323 votes in 2005.

 Mark Herring won his 2013 race for attorney general by 907 votes, and that was after a recount.

 In 2008, newcomer Tom Perriello knocked off longtime Congressman Virgil Goode by a whopping 727 votes out of more than 316,000 cast.

The lesson? Your vote matters. It counts. And it makes a difference.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. If youre unsure where your polling place is, check this Virginia Department of Elections website: http://bit.ly/2kLUoxc.
STUART  There aren't as many people buying hardwood flooring right now. That fact was part of the reason Shaw Industries decided to close their plant in Stuart, company officials said Friday.

Shaw has seen a shift in demand in the market from solid hardwood to engineered wood, said Susan Farris, Shaw's Vice President of Corporate Communications. Shaw continually evaluates the best way to meet customer needs and adapts our operations accordingly. As demand for flooring products shifts, Shaw is adjusting its solid hardwood production capacity.

Engineered wood involves binding or fixing strands, fibers or boards of wood together, mixed with adhesives and other materials. It was created to be a stronger, more durable version of hardwood and doesn't shrink or expand due to humidity.

Farris said despite the downturn in sales, the company is not getting out of the hardwood business. It will continue to operate the three other solid hardwood manufacturing facilities it owns in other states. The decision to close the Stuart plant, however, means that 160 employees are out of work. Farris said that each of them will be given an offer to work in one of the company's other facilities. The Stuart plant is the only one that operated in southern Virginia, so that would require relocating if the offers are accepted. Farris said that a final closing date hasn't been set for the Stuart plant. It will continue to operate through December or at the latest, early January of 2018. Shaw bought the factory in 2010, before being itself bought out by Berkshire Hathaway.

As for the employees who want to stay in Patrick County, the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board plans to help.

A rapid response effort will start later this week, with officials from the Virginia Employment Commission working with other service providers to offer help. That means both letting the employees know what job openings exist in Patrick County and helping them pay for any retraining classes, if they want to go into a new career. The retraining will be covered through the use of federal funds.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov 6, 2017) - Uranium Participation Corp. ("UPC") (TSX:U) reports its estimated net asset value at October 31, 2017 was CAD$436.6 million or CAD$3.30 per share. As at October 31, 2017, UPC's uranium investment portfolio consisted of the following:

(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except quantity amounts) Quantity Fair Value Investments in Uranium: Uranium oxide in concentrates ("U 3 O 8 ") 10,680,024 lbs $ 274,706 Uranium hexafluoride ("UF 6 ") 1,903,471 KgU $ 138,046 $ 412,752 U 3 O 8 fair value per pound: - In Canadian dollars 1 $ 25.72 - In United States dollars $ 19.95 UF 6 fair value1 per KgU: - In Canadian dollars 1 $ 72.52 - In United States dollars $ 56.25

1 Fair values are month-end spot prices published by Ux Consulting Company, LLC, translated at the Bank of Canada's month-end daily exchange rate of $1.2893.

On October 31, 2017, the common shares of UPC closed on the TSX at a value of CAD$3.51, which represents a 6.36% premium to the net asset value of CAD$3.30 per share.

On September 25, 2017, UPC announced a bought-deal equity offering of 10,745,000 common shares, at a price of CAD$3.50 per share, for gross proceeds of $37,607,500, with an overallotment option of an additional 855,000 common shares at CAD$3.50 per share. The offering was completed on October 4, 2017 and the overallotment option was fully exercised. Accordingly, UPC issued 11,600,000 common shares for total gross proceeds of $40,600,000. The proceeds of the offering are intended to be used by UPC to fund purchases of uranium and for general corporate purposes.

As at October 31, 2017, UPC completed purchases and has taken delivery of 600,000 pounds U 3 O 8 , at an average cost of US$20.29 (CAD$25.42) per pound.

About Uranium Participation Corporation

Uranium Participation Corp. is a company that invests substantially all of its assets in uranium oxide in concentrates ("U 3 O 8 ") and uranium hexafluoride ("UF 6 ") (collectively "uranium"), with the primary investment objective of achieving appreciation in the value of its uranium holdings through increases in the uranium price. UPC provides investors with a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the price of uranium without the resource or project risk associated with investing in a traditional mining company. Additional information about Uranium Participation Corporation is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Uranium Participation Corp.'s website at www.uraniumparticipation.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intent", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "should", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology and include statements with respect to the use of proceeds for the Offering and the anticipated completion of uranium purchases.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous factors, assumptions and estimates. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices and foreign exchange as well as the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing the purchase of additional U 3 O 8 and/or UF 6 on terms satisfactory to the Company. For a description of the principal risks of the Company, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated May 16, 2017, a copy of which is available at www.sedar.com.

These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although management reviews the reasonableness of its assumptions and estimates, unusual and unanticipated events may occur which render them inaccurate. Under such circumstances, future performance may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except where required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information statement.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (TSX-V:NVO) (OTCQX:NSRPF) (Novo or the Company) is pleased to announce its strategy for certain ancillary assets, particularly the Companys 100%-controlled Tuscarora property in Elko County, Nevada (the Tuscarora Project), and several tenements (the Novo Tenements) in Marble Bar, Western Australia which surround Calidus Resources Ltd.s (Calidus) Warrawoona project.



Calidus Warrawoona Project, Western Australia

The Novo Tenements are comprised of four exploration licences and three prospecting licences. Further to the Companys news release dated September 19, 2017, Calidus has completed its due diligence and satisfied or waived all conditions precedent and has advised that the preparation of formal earn-in and joint venture agreements is underway. Given the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, Calidus will issue to Novo 20,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares. Combined with Novos participation in Calidus AUD $0.041/share private placement (please see Calidus news release dated September 27, 2017), Novo will own approximately 5.48% of Calidus outstanding shares once all aforementioned shares have been issued.

In order to earn a 70% interest in and to the Novo Tenements, Calidus must incur exploration expenditures of AUD $2,000,000 over three years. If Calidus earns its 70% interest, Novo and Calidus will then be subject to a fund or dilute obligation whereby any interest below 10% will automatically convert into a 1% net smelter returns royalty.

Novo is committed to its strategy in the Pilbara, commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Chairman, President, and a director of Novo Resources Corp. Given Novos focus on its Karratha projects, we believe that becoming a Calidus shareholder and engaging Calidus as a joint venture partner are the most efficient and productive methods by which Novo shareholders can realize value from the Companys non-core assets. We look forward to working with the Calidus team to advance their Warrawoona project.

Tuscarora Project, Nevada, USA

The Company signed an option agreement with American Pacific Mining (APM) on November 6, 2017 whereby APM has the option to acquire the Companys interest in 24 unpatented mining claims in Elko County, Nevada, which comprise the Tuscarora Project.

Upon the earlier to occur of the listing of APMs common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange and January 31, 2018, APM will pay to Novo CAD $375,000 and issue CAD $200,000 worth of APM common shares in three equal annual instalments. Beginning on the first anniversary of APMs listing date, APM will also be required to incur annual expenditures of USD $100,000 on the Tuscarora Project. APM will grant to Novo a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty which APM can repurchase for USD $500,000 at any time. APM will also assume all of Novos royalty obligations under its original option agreement underlying the Tuscarora Project between Novo and Nevada Select Royalty, Inc.

We believe that the Tuscarora Project is a quality asset with promising mineralization, commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh. We look forward to seeing American Pacific Mining further develop the Tuscarora Project and we are excited to participate in its true potential as shareholders of American Pacific Mining.

Grant of Stock Options

The Company also reports that it has granted incentive stock options to a director to purchase up to 400,000 common shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to its stock option plan. The options are exercisable on or before November 6, 2022 at an exercise price of CAD$7.94 per share. The options are subject to certain vesting conditions.

About Novo Resources Corp.

Novos focus is to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 12,000 sq km. Novo also controls a 100% interest in approximately 2 sq km covering much of the Tuscarora Au-Ag vein district, Nevada. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.

Quinton Hennigh

Quinton Hennigh

Chairman and President

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 news release.

Forward-looking information



Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the implied statement that definitive agreements covering the Novo Tenements arrangements are expected to be signed in due course and the expected listing of APMs common shares on the CSE. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the Companys ability to negotiate terms, to its satisfaction, of definitive agreements with Calidus and the ability of APM to satisfy all CSE conditions to the commencement of trading of APMs common shares.
Great Lakes Graphite and SRG have executed a MoU regarding potential graphite supply.



Agreement will provide the potential to expand high value product offerings.

TORONTO, Nov. 07, 2017 - Great Lakes Graphite Inc. (GLK or the Company) (TSX-V:GLK) (OTC PINK:GLKIF) (FWB:8GL) today announces that the Company and SRG Graphite International Inc. a subsidiary of SRG Graphite Inc. , (SRG) (TSX-V:SRG) (collectively, the Companies) have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) whereby the Companies agree to work towards negotiating a supply agreement from SRGs Lola Deposit located in Guinea, West Africa.Great Lakes Graphite and SRG have executed a Memorandum of Understanding that calls for the Companies to work towards establishing a potential supply agreement. The purpose of the agreement will be to provide SRG with an offtake partner and for Great Lakes Graphite to expand the number of products that can be offered to customers, thereby allowing the Company to enter new markets. The MoU specifies that the Companies will seek to negotiate an agreement for the annual supply of between 5,000 and 20,000 tons of natural flake graphite concentrate.SRG is developing a high-quality graphite deposit in Guinea, West Africa. The Lola Graphite Deposit is located approximately 1,000 kilometers east of Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea.

The first 20 meters or so of the deposit are well weathered (lateralized), freeing graphite flakes from the silicate gangue and thus allowing for easy grinding and optimal recovery of all large and jumbo flakes. The graphite mineralization continues at depth within the non-weathered sheared gneiss.





Metallurgy





Lola graphite has favorable ash composition and the comparably low efforts required to attain high carbon grades.



This graphite has characteristics that are suitable for highly demanding applications like lithium-ion batteries or synthetic diamonds.



Purification testing performed was mild compared to the harsh purification usually applied for lithium-ion battery grade, thereby attesting again to the likelihood that the material will be very suitable for battery applications.



The volatiles are low, oxidation resistance is very high and the specific surface area is in the normal range.



The graphite from the Lola Deposit has a high bulk density (>700 g/l), typical Chinese graphite has bulk densities of 450-550 g/l for +80 mesh.



Doftner-Anzaplan from Germany reported that bulk density, tap density, morphology, chemical purity and specific surface area of the spherical graphite product obtained from SRGs Lola Graphite Deposit are similar to typical spherical graphite products in the market. The produced graphite concentrate is well suited for generating anode material for lithium-ion battery.

Arranging for a potential source of high quality large and jumbo flake graphite will enable the Company to expand the number of high value products that can be offered to customers. Great Lakes Graphite CEO Paul Gorman said, We are very excited to be working with SRG Graphite. They are an extremely capable group that is developing a highly attractive project. It is important to note that this relationship supplements our existing supply relationships and is not intended to replace them. Due to the indications that we are getting from customers as we progress through our product qualifications we understand that it is imperative for us to be able to demonstrate the supply chains which are required to service very large customers.SRG is a subsidiary of SRG Graphite Inc. , a Canadian-based company focused on developing the Lola Graphite Deposit, located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. SRG is committed to operate in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.For additional information, please visit SRGs website at www.srggraphite.com.For more information, please contact: SRG Graphite Inc. (SRG)Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President & CEOTel.: (514) 726-4158Email: ceo@srggraphite.comGreat Lakes Graphite is a Clean Technology Minerals Processing Company supplying customers with innovative, high quality value-added carbon products.There is no significant graphite production in North America now. As pricing and demand continue to rise, Great Lakes Graphite is one of the first new domestic suppliers to a growing regional customer base. We continually work to deliver products of the best quality with outstanding customer service.The Company is party to an agreement for long-term supply of high quality natural graphite concentrate from Brazil (see news release dated 03/23/15). Great Lakes Graphite is presently working with an established US-based processor for toll micronization services. The Company has partnered with Ashland Advanced Materials for commercial-scale purification operations at Ashlands 110,000 square foot purification facility located in Niagara, New York.Through our partner relationships, Great Lakes Graphite began selling micronized synthetic graphite beginning in 2016 and now supplies micronized and high purity micronized natural flake graphite products to a growing customer base.Further information regarding Great Lakes can be found on the Companys website at: www.GreatLakesGraphite.com.Great Lakes Graphite trades with symbol GLK on the TSX Venture Exchange and currently has 125,656,830 shares outstanding.Paul Ferguson, Chief Marketing OfficerEmail: PFerguson@GreatLakesGraphite.com1-800-754-4510 x106Paul Gorman, Chief Executive OfficerEmail: PGorman@GreatLakesGraphite.com1-800-754-4510 x109The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P.Geo, President and CEO, SRG and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.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.Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information: Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward looking information" which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking information. When used in this press release, such forward looking information may use such words as "may'', "will'', "expect'', "believe'', "plan'' and other similar terminology. Forward looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations relating to the future events and the operating performance of the Company, and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to fulfill the orders and future orders, regulatory requirements, general economic, market or business conditions and future developments in the sectors of the economy in which the business of Great Lakes operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Please see the Company's financial statements, MD&A and other documents available on www.sedar.com, for a more detailed description of the risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether a result of new information, future results or otherwise, except as required by law.
Toronto, November 7, 2017 - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) or ("Metals Creek" or "the company" ) is pleased to announce that the company have received the first year option payment for the Jackson's Arm Agreement from Anaconda Mining Inc. (Anaconda). Metals Creek have received $40,000 and 100,000 Anaconda shares for the first anniversary payment. Anaconda has the right to acquire a 100% undivided interest in Metals Creek's Jackson's Arm Property. To earn a 100% interest in the Jackson's Arm Property, Anaconda is required to make aggregate payments to Metals Creek of $200,000 in cash ($60,000 paid), and issue 500,000 common shares of Anaconda (150,000 issued) over a three-year period. The Jackson's Arm Agreement provides for a two percent (2%) net smelter returns royalty ("NSR") to MEK on the sale of gold bearing mineral products from the Jackson's Arm Property. The NSR is capped at $1,500,000, after which, the NSR will be reduced to one percent (1%). Anaconda is required to spend a total of $750,000 in qualified exploration expenditures on the Jackson's Arm Property during the option period.

Metals Creek has also received an additional $40,000 and 100,000 Anaconda Shares for the first anniversary payment on the Tilt Cove Property from Anaconda. Anaconda has the right to acquire a 100% undivided interest in Metals Creek's Tilt Cove Property located 60 kilometers east of the Company's Point Rousse Project within the BaieVerte Mining District. To earn a 100% interest in the Tilt Cove Property, Anaconda is required to make aggregate payments to Metals Creek of $200,000 in cash,( $60,000 Paid), and issue 500,000 common shares of Anaconda (150,000 issued) over a three-year period. The Tilt Cove Agreement provides for a one percent (1%) NSR to MEK on the sale of gold bearing mineral products from the Tilt Cove Property. Anaconda is also assuming an existing two percent (2%) NSR (the "Existing NSR") on one of the two licenses that comprises the Tilt Cove Property. One percent (1%) of the Existing NSR is purchasable for $1,250,000. Anaconda is required to spend a total of $750,000 in qualified exploration expenditures on the Tilt Cove Property during the option period.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has a 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF) that stretches between Timmins, Ontario and Val d'Or, Quebec. The Company has also recently entered into an Option/JV with Trifecta Gold Ltd. on Metals Creek's Squid properties in Yukon. Metals Creek also has an option agreement with Quadro Resources on Metals Creeks and Benton Resources Staghorn Gold Project in Newfoundland as well as two option agreements with Anaconda Mining Inc. on Metals Creek's Jacksons Arm and Tilt Cove Properties also in Newfoundland. The company have also signed a LOI on its Clarks Brook property with Sokoman Iron Corp. and is engaged in the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of other mineral resource properties, and presently has mining interests in Ontario, Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador. Additional information concerning the Corporation is contained in documents filed by the Corporation with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

For further information, please contact:

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp.

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: astares@metalscreek.com

www.metalscreek.com


Meet the incoming class of the Governing Institute's Women In Government Leadership Program here.

Running a political campaign in the 21st century calls for a savvy social media strategy. Lucky for Marian Orr, people called her "the Facebook lady" when she was running for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyo.That's because she posted on her Facebook about coffee and conversation meetings at local shops around town. People not only started showing up, they began following her online.I had zero name recognition going in, says Orr, who used to be a lobbyist. But then, "strangers in the grocery store started recognizing me as the Facebook lady."Her nickname paid off. Orr was elected mayor of Cheyenne last November and is the first woman to hold the position.Since then, she has made economic development a key issue in a town that is still recovering from the recession. She ran on the promise of eliminating economic blight but has bigger goals of bringing a start-up scene to her region and developing a light-rail system throughout the southern Rocky Mountains.On this episode of "The 23%: Conversations With Women in Government," Orr discusses her rise, her plans and what it was like to campaign in a nonpartisan race at a time when political polarization appears to be growing.Listen below. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher , and check out our archives.
The primary focus of economic development across America in recent decades has been the attraction and retention of businesses. Create an office park or industrial district, offer tax and other incentives, and lure companies to the site. Yet for much of America, especially the rural communities in which I have spent much of my life, that approach no longer works. Companies are simply not returning at a sufficient rate.Fortunately, there is a better way. It takes more time but produces business and job growth organically that is rooted in the assets and resources of the local community and therefore not likely to leave town.The solution is to create a locally defined environment or ecosystem of entrepreneurship -- a culture and structure that facilitates the flow of ideas, talent and resources to start and grow businesses that relate to a community's specific environment. Perhaps surprisingly, the very same communities that may not be able to attract existing companies provide fertile ground for startups. I've seen it happen repeatedly, and there's proof.The key is for rural communities to recognize that they have valuable assets, one of which is the very nature of rural life. In an increasingly congested and impersonal world, there is great appeal to a close-knit community. The qualities associated with rural life are particularly conducive to the creation of entrepreneurial ecosystems and the free flow of information, skills and resources.The challenge is, first, to move away from the old approach, which is so comfortable for many government officials. But that approach takes time, energy and resources away from creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem.Building such an ecosystem requires assessing local assets and resources, engaging people associated with them, and creating mechanisms for bringing those people and prospective entrepreneurs together, ensuring that the people involved are broadly diverse and building a collaborative vision with energetic buy-in.While the two approaches to growth could theoretically coexist, and may at some level, most communities have limited resources and must choose one or the other. That choice is crucial but made easier in a digital age, when opportunities to create dynamic local environments exist to a remarkable degree.Entrepreneurial ecosystems offer opportunity that any community can embrace and pursue, especially ones that have watched the old approach leave them empty-handed. Holt County, Neb., is a great example, and typical of rural communities in the Great Plains. The underlying economy is rooted in agriculture and ranching with some related manufacturing. The county's population peaked in 1920, when it had 17,000 people; today there are 10,000.I started working there in the 1990s, when the economy had reached a crisis point. We created a countywide economic-development group committed to an entrepreneurship-focused strategy. It took time for that strategy to have demonstrable impact, but between 2007 and 2015 82 businesses were created in the county, according to the Nebraska Community Foundation. They range from boutiques to a hydroponic vegetable grower to a copper mug manufacturer. Over the same period, 39 existing businesses expanded and 26 transitioned to new owners. The 30-year-old age cohort grew by 30 percent.A recent analysis highlights the development further. Between 2000 and 2015, employment in Holt County grew by 1,272 full and part-time jobs. Personal income grew by $166,427,000, and per-capita income grew by $19,887.Local entrepreneurial ecosystems like Holt County's needn't exist in isolation. NetWork Kansas , one of the nation's most comprehensive statewide entrepreneurial ecosystems with more than 500 resource partners, is generating impressive results while serving primarily small communities. Between 2008 and 2016, NetWork Kansas had an impressive level of impact: 590 businesses supported with financing resources; $300 million in deal flow for new business development; $15 million in NetWork Kansas-related financing; $285 million in other capital leveraged; and nearly 3,000 net jobs created or saved.On an even broader scale, this June the Kauffman Foundation, which champions entrepreneurship and education, convened the first-ever ESHIP Summit , drawing more than 400 ecosystem builders from 48 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, plus nine other countries. That geographic breadth underscores the point that ecosystem building is relevant across the nation and beyond.Every community has assets that are valuable to ecosystem building and has the potential to build a growing entrepreneurship-focused economy. It doesn't come quickly, but it's available to everyone. That's something that cannot be said of traditional business attraction.
Alan Greenblatt is a senior staff writer for Governing. He can be found on Twitter at @AlanGreenblatt.
Facing a Florida Senate investigation of sexual harassment claims, state Sen. Jack Latvala temporarily stepped aside from his powerful Appropriations chairmanship on Monday and postponed a fundraiser for his Republican gubernatorial bid while vowing to fight "these untruthful allegations."Gov. Rick Scott weighed in on the matter for the first time Monday, calling the accusations against Latvala "disgusting" and adding: "It's very important that there's an investigation and we know what happened. If anybody has done anything wrong, they need to be out of office."Latvala has vehemently denied a report by Politico in which six unnamed women who work in the Capitol as legislative staff or lobbyists said Latvala, over a period of several years, touched them inappropriately without their consent or made demeaning remarks about their bodies. Politico said the accusers did not want to be identified because they feared losing their jobs or other reprisals.The Latvala accusations come while Tallahassee is still reeling from the Oct. 27 resignation of Palm Beach County Democrat Jeff Clemens, who was in line to become the chamber's top Democrat but stepped down after admitting to an affair with a lobbyist.Soon after the Politico story about Latvala was published Friday, Florida Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, ordered an investigation of the accusations against Latvala. Negron initially put Senate General Counsel Dawn Roberts in charge, but Roberts recused herself on Saturday, citing long professional ties to Latvala.Negron then ordered a "professional, independent, third-party investigation." The Legislature's Office of Legislative Services is researching individuals and firms who could conduct the investigation, Negron spokeswoman Katherine Betta said.On Monday, Negron called Latvala to discuss the matter and, according to Betta, "They agreed that it would be in the best interest of the Senate for Sen. Latvala to take a temporary leave of absence from chairing Appropriations."Latvala submitted a brief letter requesting a temporary leave of absence from the committee chairmanship "until this matter is resolved. I look forward to defending myself against these untruthful allegations and believe I will be fully exonerated."Negron installed Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, as Appropriations chair.Latvala, who launched a bid for governor in August, on Friday called the accusations against him part of a "smear campaign" and said he found it "interesting that these anonymous complaints have only come forward after I began my campaign for governor."Latvala held a campaign fundraiser in Clearwater on Sunday night. But a fundraiser scheduled for Wednesday in Vero Beach has been postponed, according to Indian River County Commissioner Bob Solari, a member of the host committee for the event.Solari said he was told the fundraiser has been delayed, but not cancelled, because Latvala "had work to do to clear his name...I look forward to the senator clearing his name."
One year ago, Manka Dhingra was preparing for a celebration, a gathering of family and friends to mark Hillary Clinton's election as the nation's first woman president.Today, she is bearing the hopes and dreams of Democrats crushed by Clinton's loss and trying to help the party pull itself from a deep hole.A state Senate race pitting two campaign novices in the upscale suburbs east of Seattle has turned into a major battle between the two national parties, becoming the costliest legislative contest in state history and serving as a test of the Donald Trump effect far from the other Washington.At stake is control of the state Capitol in Olympia. Democrats, who run the governments in California and Oregon, hope to build a blue wall of resistance the length of the West Coast and get a shot of momentum ahead of 2018 by extending their legislative winning streak under Trump.The election Tuesday "is an awakening" for activists "who might otherwise feel powerless about what's going on in D.C.," said Tina Podlodowski, head of the state Democratic Party. "We can elect great people around the country who can stop the worst of the Trump agenda."For Republicans, the contest is a fight to preserve their toehold in Olympia, to stop the worst excesses of Democratic rule and elect an exuberant millennial, Jinyoung Englund, whose family history _ she is the child of Korean immigrants _ and background reflect the changes remaking this thriving high-tech hub, a home to Microsoft, T-Mobile and SpaceX among others.As for Trump, Englund and her supporters insist the race has everything to do with local personalities and issues and nothing whatever to do with the president or his policies. "It's not an issue of Republican versus Democrat," Englund said. "It's an issue of one-party control and what does that mean."For residents, concerns include education funding _ the schools are among the best in the state _ and the hellish traffic that spills off backed-up freeways, sending cars snaking bumper-to-bumper through their hilly neighborhoods.For the rest of the state, issues such as taxes, health care, climate change and voting rights all hinge on control of the Senate, where Republicans _ clinging to a single-vote majority _ have served as a check on Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats running the House. Tuesday's election is to fill a seat vacated when a Republican senator died in office, leaving the chamber evenly split."If you have one-party rule ... you can see what happens in Seattle," said Susan Hutchison, the state GOP chair, using Republican shorthand depicting the city as a slough of drugs, homelessness and wacky liberalism. "It's dangerous."Still, despite those overtones, Trump's presence looms as surely as the rain clouds hanging over this wet corner of the country.Dhingra, 42, probably wouldn't be a candidate if Trump hadn't been elected. "I love my job," said the veteran King County prosecutor and mother of two teens. "I love working with nonprofits. I love being involved with my kids in school."Dixie Swenson, 78, wouldn't be among the legion of campaign volunteers along with her 81-year-old husband, Keith, if the pugnacious president hadn't driven the two of them a little batty. "We spent a few weeks yelling at the TV and found that didn't do any good," Swenson said cheerily. "So we found a way to get involved."And the race might not have drawn national attention from the likes of former Vice President Joe Biden, who recently endorsed Dhingra, and record-shattering millions _ $8.5 million and counting _ had Democrats not been desperate to reverse their fortunes after the political devastation of the last eight years.Under President Barack Obama, Democrats lost more than 1,000 legislative seats nationwide, leaving the party at its lowest standing in statehouses since 1920, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures."For a long time, Democrats across the country had a philosophy of elect a president and a majority in the Senate and it all trickles down," said Jessica Post, who heads the party's legislative campaign committee.Now Democrats are looking to rebuild from the ground up, she said, to groom candidates for higher office, construct a state-level bulwark against Trump's policies and position Democrats for a greater say when legislative and congressional districts are redrawn after the 2020 census.The result so far: Democrats have flipped eight state legislative seats since Trump took office, including GOP-leaning districts in Oklahoma and New Hampshire. While that's a fractional sample size _ there are more than 7,000 legislative seats nationwide _ Republicans acknowledge the stiffer competition."They are energized, mobilized and sending resources across the country in a way they have not in the past," said Matt Walter, head of the GOP's legislative campaign effort. "That is very, very real."All that national attention has had a somewhat perverse effect here in Washington, as though the contest has been hijacked from the candidates themselves. Advertising by outside interests offer a caricature of the two: Dhingra as a left-wing radical, Englund as a lockstep Trump loyalist.Neither is true.Dhingra, who moved to the U.S. with her family from India when she was 13, has spent nearly 20 years working as a prosecuting attorney and running a nonprofit organization that works to reduce violence in the growing Asian American community. A longtime activist in Redmond, she attended her first party gathering just last December."I spent the last 20 years of my life being completely nonpartisan," she said. "A problem-solver."Englund, 33, has worked as an aide to a Republican congressman, a spokeswoman for bitcoin, the digital currency, and helped develop a mobile phone app used by Marines to acclimate abroad; her husband serves on active duty in Okinawa.Raised in Tacoma, she moved to Woodinville, in the region's wine country, not long before launching her candidacy. She's introduced herself to voters by ringing an estimated 17,000 doorbells, pacing off 1.5 million steps, according to her fitness app, and wearing out three pairs of shoes.Like Dhingra, she shuns overt partisanship."I grew up apolitical," said Englund, who wrote in a third-party candidate for president last November rather than support Trump or Clinton.Neither candidate makes much of party labels _ you have to practically squint to find a "D" or "R" on their campaign literature _ which makes tactical sense in an area filled with highly educated voters who pride themselves on political discernment."They want candidates who speak for themselves," said Maria Leininger, a professor at Bellevue College who has run Democratic campaigns in the district, "and not knee-jerk partisans."But that doesn't lessen the import for the two political parties, or make Democratic activists any less motivated to send a message to Trump by snatching a seat the GOP has held for years."Absolutely," said Dixie Swenson, who works the sign-in desk at Dhingra's Redmond headquarters. A win Tuesday would be "a victory for the people who lost the last time."
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Alabama can execute a death row inmate who claimed to be mentally incompetent and was granted a stay in 2016.Vernon Madison, 66, is one of Alabama's longest-serving death row inmates. He was convicted in the April 1985 slaying of Mobile police officer Cpl. Julius Schulte.In May 2016, Madison was set to die by lethal injection, but hours after the scheduled execution the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding a lower court's stay.Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed that decision, meaning Madison is competent and can be executed. "More than 30 years ago, Vernon Madison crept up behind police officer Julius Schulte and shot him twice in the head at close range," the ruling states.Madison faced a state competency hearing before his execution, where he claimed several strokes he recently suffered affected his mental status and made him unable to remember his crimes or remember that he was on death row. The trial court denied Madison's petition, and said the execution could proceed.But then the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Madison was incompetent and he could not be executed."Testimony from each of the psychologists who examined Madison supported the court's finding that Madison understands both that he was tried and imprisoned for murder and that Alabama will put him to death as punishment for that crime," Monday's ruling states.The nation's highest court has never ruled in about executions involving someone who doesn't remember his crime.Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in a dissenting opinion about the issues surrounding executions. "...we may face ever more instances of state efforts to execute prisoners suffering the diseases and infirmities of old age. And we may well have to consider the ways in which lengthy periods of imprisonment between death sentence and execution can deepen the cruelty of the death penalty while at the same time undermining its penological rationale."Madison was convicted and sentenced to death in both 1985 and 1990, but both times an appellate court sent the case back-- first for a violation involving race-based jury selection, and then based on improper testimony from an expert witness for the prosecution. In 1994, Madison was tried for a third time and convicted.The jury recommended a life sentence, but the judge overrode the recommendation and sentenced him to death. Earlier this year, the state legislature threw out the judicial override law, but kept the rule allowing juries to send prisoners to death on a 10-2 vote.Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Monday in a press release, "Today's unanimous decision of the Supreme Court confirms the State's argument that Vernon Madison is competent to be executed for the murder he committed more than 30 years ago."He said, "The Supreme Court correctly overturned the federal appeals court ruling blocking Madison's execution on the grounds he did not remember the crime he committed due to health reasons. Accordingly, the State will pursue a new execution date as soon as possible...Hopefully, the Supreme Court's wisdom will continue to prevail and allow Alabama executions to go forward."Attorneys from the Equal Justice Initiative are representing Madison.Angie Setzer, a lawyer who works with the program, said, "The U.S. Supreme Court expressly did not decide whether it is appropriate for the State of Alabama to execute Mr. Madison, rather the Court ruled that relief under the restrictions governing federal habeas review is not appropriate. We are reviewing next steps in light of this ruling."
Description

GIS  07 November, 2017: We have today the possibility to alter the face of Mauritius and have the responsibility to shape the future, said the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, yesterday at the Octave Wiehe Auditorium, University of Mauritius, Reduit.

The Minister was speaking at the launching of a training for secondary school Educators pertaining to the extended programme - an extended four-year cycle for pupils who do not make the grade - in the context of the Nine Year Continuous Basic Education (NYCBE) reform plan. The extended programme will allow students more time to develop and acquire essential competencies at end of Grade 9. The aim of the NYCBE reform is to promote the holistic development of all students and provide equitable Learning for All opportunities to attain high levels of achievement.

In her address, Minister Dookun-Luchoomun pointed out that it is essential to always keep in mind the philosophy of the NYCBE reform which is inclusion, equity and quality. Each child under the responsibility of schools represent the future of Mauritius and each child can contribute to the impending prosperity of the country, she said. The wealth of the country is the population and the wealth of each citizen is education and the leadership of Heads of Schools and Educators will help in making a difference as education is provided in our institutions, she observed.

The Minister also highlighted the crucial role of Educators not only in the education field but also in ensuring the success and the progress of the country. Partners of education in Mauritius and Rodrigues will work collaboratively in a network with private institutions bringing together communities which will result in enabling the empowerment of the population, she added.

The training programme

The Director of the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), Dr O. Nath Varma, and Professor Naek, Head Curriculum Unit, MIE made a presentation on the training programme.

The programme has been designed to acquaint secondary school Educators with the various aspects of their tasks so as to empower them to work with students in the extended programme.

The training is addressing a wide range of issues such as Educators roles and functions within the school organisation, the main features of the extended curriculum, differentiated instruction and the provision of developmentally appropriate learning activities. Emphasis is placed on further developing communication skills, leadership as well as management skills of Educators.
Description

GIS - 07 November, 2017: Mauritius and Belgium are geared towards deepening the existing bilateral relations as well as reinforcing collaboration in the fields of trade and investment. Mauritius and Belgium are geared towards deepening the existing bilateral relations as well as reinforcing collaboration in the fields of trade and investment.

This was at the fore of discussions yesterday afternoon during a courtesy call by the Honorary Consul of Mauritius in Belgium, Mr PR Robert Wtterwulghe, on the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.

In his statement, the Honorary Consul spoke about the longstanding cooperation between the two countries with emphasis on boosting trade and investment. He further highlighted the significant increase with regards Belgian investments in Mauritius which he added have over the recent years witnessed an interest by potential Belgian investors to tap the business opportunities in Mauritius.

Mr PR Robert Wtterwulghe also expressed interest to open up new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.
Gather some of the brightest minds of Houston in a room and here are the issues they want to tackle: wastewater, flood management, emergency services logistics, downtown parking, and the citys Complete Communities program. As part of a conversation started over a year ago in October 2016 between the City of Houston and Rice University, the issues identified in that first workshop provided the basis for $225,000 in grants that have now been awarded to three collaborative research projects in a partnership between the city and university dubbed the Houston Solutions Lab.Two of the projects deal with a topic thats been top of mind for Houstonians lately: flooding. The other project will help the Houston Police Department identify sites to open regional holding facilities to relieve the pressure on the central booking station.The Houston Solutions Lab leverages the resources of Rice University researchers to help solve the Citys most pressing challenges, said Mayor Sylvester Turner. The projects selected focus on two of my top priorities: flood prevention and public safety.The program is intended to bridge what is often a gap between research done on campuses and the needs of cities. The goal of Houston Solutions Lab is to bring those entities together at the front end to identify questions where researchers can inform city choices with their work, said Kyle Shelton, director of strategic partnerships with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. These happen on shorter timelines than typical research so that we can respond to immediate city needs.Though the finalists, each eligible for up to $75,000, were selected before Harvey hit, two proposals address concerns that reemerged in the wake of that devastating storm. Representing Rice Universitys Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters center, civil engineering professor Jamie Padgetts project will develop a flood warning system for White Oak Bayou. In addition to developing a real-time alert system modeled on the one used for the Texas Medical Center, Padgett said her project will also help identify roadway flooding and infrastructure likely to be damaged during a flood event.Thats really the mission of the project; to be able to alert people in real time, she said. And even pre-event, [to] have information about potential major roadways we might expect to have inundation on and what challenges that might pose.Working with the mayors chief resilience officer, Steve Costello, Padgett said she hopes to expand the efforts beyond White Oak Bayou, Our idea with this project is then to extend that out and be able to alert other regions of the city.Complementing these efforts, Phil Bedient, director of the SSPEED center, was also awarded a grant through the Houston Solutions Lab for his proposal to use hydrological modeling to document street-flooding and determine which techniques in use now by the city are effective in remediating street flooding.I think all possibilities need to be considered now, said Bedient after Harvey, instead of the standard. Its definitely an unprecedented rain event but my gosh, weve had three in a row.Bedient will also be working with Costello.Rounding out the projects is a collaboration between the Houston Police Department and the applied mathematics department at Rice University.Professors Andrew Schaefer and Illya Hicks, in anticipation of the consolidation of the downtown jail to serve as both city and county central booking, will help identify locations around the county to determine the best place to open regional jails.That way cops, once they arrest somebody they dont have to take them all the way to the central, said Hicks. They can take them to strategic places around Houston and the county where theyll just be holding them.The move is expected to save money in transportation costs, according to Hicks and will likely utilize properties already owned by the department.Each project is on a roughly one-year timeline. Funded by Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Office of Research and Ken Kennedy Institute, the next round of awards will be announced in summer 2018.I look forward to seeing the results of these partnerships with our Resilience Office and the Houston Police Department, said Turner.
Unemployment insurance (UI) may be out-of-sight, out-of-mind to many working Americans, but several groups of states are moving to transform the way they manage safety net systems, with one four-state partnership rolling out a streamlined solution directly in the cloud.ReEmployUSA, made up of Mississippi, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut, deployed what Mississippi officials said they believe is the nations first multi-tenant UI system in the cloud with the launch of their states UI benefits online on Aug. 30. They plan on following it up with upgrades to the tax side in September A Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) director said plans are to deploy Maines UI benefits to the cloud in December; its UI tax system in August 2018; followed by Rhode Island in 2019 and Connecticut  the last state to join the group  going live with its benefits in 2020 and UI tax in 2021.The consortium, which Mississippi leads, has found a way to achieve shared efficiencies by linking and jointly updating siloed, legacy systems.The states' systems should be about 75 to 80 percent similar, according to MDES Deputy Executive Director Dale Smith, while accommodating UI features unique to one or more states like allowances for dependents in Rhode Island and Maine and temporary disability insurance in Rhode Island.ReEmployUSA meets Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) compliance standards, and individual state and Internal Revenue Service benchmarks.The consortium finds its origins in the development of MDES Access Mississippi (Access MS), its online UI portal, which it supported from years 2004 to 2013. The state contracted with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for architecture and coding on Access MS and on ReEmployUSA, and Quality Technology Services provided cloud services.Increased automation through Access MS saved employees thousands of work hours, including 5,111 hours each year spent responding to employers regarding claims and around 2,000 annual hours to detect claim overpayments, according to a 2013 TCS case study But upon re-engineering its own UI systems, Mississippi looked ahead to future sustainability, which led to talks with other states about teaming up; and the eventual formation of the Mississippi-Rhode Island-Maine (MRM) consortium through memorandums of understanding with the two states.The group was renamed ReEmployUSA after Connecticut joined in early 2015, with each state also having its own individual nomenclature along the lines of ReEmployMS.Because there is tremendous need around the country for states to have a solution for this problem. These systems are not cheap to build. Theyre not easy to build. Theyre not inexpensive. We have to make the best of what we have and the way we can do that is through consortium, Smith said.Access MS was funded through state funds, UI administrative monies and supplemental U.S. Department of Labor budget funds made available to states. The MRM consortium received a $90 million development grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the state said in a news release.Its been a tremendous learning experience for all of us, including the vendors. When we started this, nobody had done this. So that was our biggest challenge, said Mohammed Jalaluddin, director of the MDES Office of Technology Support and Innovation.Scott Sanders, executive director of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), said ReEmployUSAs architecture makes it particularly interesting.I think whats great about this opportunity with ReEmployUSA is the other states, theyve built their framework thats flexible and modular enough that they can pull out one set of business processes and drop in another, Sanders said.NASWA worked with MDES to procure cloud services.Similar efforts are underway elsewhere, Sanders said, including the Southeast Consortium Unemployment Insurance Benefits Initiative (SCUBI) between labor departments in North Carolina and South Carolina; MW, a partnering between Maryland and West Virginia; and Idahos Internet Unemployment System (IUS), in which Vermont will also take part.This weeks 2017 National UI Directors Conference and IT/Legal Issues Forum in Orlando, Fla., will feature a workshop on consortiums, he added.One of the beauties of doing a consortium is you then have the ability to leverage those software maintenance costs across four states, not just one, Sanders said, noting other opportunities include cross-training potentials and the ability to scale innovations realized by individual agencies.Rhode Island CIO Bijay Kumar confirmed the state is actively pursuing opportunities through the consortium, one of which is definitely economies of scale.I want to leverage what has been done in the other states and the lessons learned. I believe in doing reference checks and actively working with people who have implemented similar technologies, Kumar said.In Mississippis case, the process of standing up Access MS has pushed the state to update other processes.The transition helped the state streamline its architecture, ultimately transitioning to a standardized VMware suite to enable the move to cloud. Mississippi also overcame the hurdles of a traditional nine- to 15-month cycle to procure in a shorter timeframe for its UI modernization, while still complying with state laws and requirements around competitive bidding.Moving forward, Mississippi is building a data warehouse and intends to use business intelligence software to mine it.From the management perspective of business, were bringing some innovation also, by the fact that now we have very granular data which we didnt have in the legacy system, Smith said.
(TNS) -- Police got a call Monday from people concerned a Janesville man might become violent.Officers took it seriously, but they determined the man was no immediate threat, Police Chief Dave Moore said.The man voluntarily turned over a weapon and agreed to work with the police crisis intervention team, which deals with people suffering from mental illness, Moore said.Paying attention to such tips could avert a tragedy, but despite all their prevention efforts, officials know a mass shooting could happen here, as it did Sunday in Texas.So they plan for the worst.Training to deal with active shooters has been going on for years in Rock County, Wis.,but that's just one part of a complicated system that needs to be set up quickly in such cases, law enforcement officials said Monday.We've probably practiced for an active shooter as much or more than any department in the state that I know of, Moore said.That training has been held in churches, schools and other locations. Surrounding law enforcement agencies are invited to send officers throughout the day-long training sessions, Moore said.As officers arrive, they go through the simulation as if they were arriving at a shooting scene: They form small teams and clear the building. And they learn a common set of tactics.But the emergency response is only the beginning. An investigation into a mass shooting can last weeks, as can a community's grief process, Moore said.People would need security as they congregate to grieve, Moore said.So you need to be able to manage it, to make sure everybody's safe," he said.Another problem is modern communications. Loved ones are likely to hear about a shooting at the speed of social media and rush to the scene, said Cmdr. Troy Knudson of the Rock County Sheriff's Office.That could tie up roads officers and ambulances need.Social media are also the solution: Get the word out--directly and through news media--about a place where relatives can reunite with loved ones, and keep that place separate from the crime scene, Knudson said.Such a place would have chaplains and mental-health professionals available.As federal law enforcement and neighboring agencies send help, and as regional, national and international news media flood in, things could get messy fast.The solution is to start building a command structure the moment the first officer arrives at the scene, local officials said.Plans are to put different officials in charge of different needs: Searches, processing the crime scene, informing the public, logistics, coordinating among the various agencies would be assigned.An incident in April helped Rock County officials work on their command-and-control measures without loss of anyone's life.I think Jakubowski gave us a good idea of what that looks like, Moore said.Joseph Jakubowski of Janesville stole firearms from a gun shop and disappeared. Authorities feared he was intent on committing a mass shooting, although that was never proved.The sheriff's office was in charge. It got help from Janesville police and state and federal law enforcement, among others, in a massive, 10-day manhunt.A makeshift office was set up in the basement of the Rock County Health Care Center. The FBI brought in one of its huge mobile offices with secret capabilities, the same one it used for the Orlando, Florida, nightclub mass shooting.The story went national. Knudson became the public information officer for the operation, with Sheriff Bob Spoden and Moore pitching in.Keeping communications open with the public is seen as key in a federal program that all law enforcement are supposed to abide by: the National Incident Management System, or NIMS.The sheriff's office uses NIMS, which requires the various operational responsibilities to be divided among officials, Knudson said.Nationally, NIMS could be improved, Moore said, adding that during the Jakubowski search, opinions varied on the importance of using NIMS. He declined to elaborate.What works best is when leaders set egos aside and go to work for what's best for the community, Moore said.FBI officials told Moore of incidents elsewhere in which the local sheriff's office and police department wouldn't talk to each other.We're fortunate in Rock County. We tend to work well together, Moore said.Moore said the community has a role in a mass shooting and in preventing one: Anyone who sees something suspicious should call.Let us figure it out, Moore said.The same goes after a shooting: Police need residents' tips.Planning includes making sure officers continue to handle regular duties in the rest of the community and that everyone gets rest, Moore said.First responders may need support in dealing with the trauma of what a mass shooter does, Moore said, because that is a terrible tragedy to see firsthand.Moore noted his department in recent years has emphasized preventing violence through training officers to deal with people with mental-health problems and in handling domestic-violence investigations--two factors that might have played roles in the Texas tragedy.Janesville officers also are trained in high-speed chases, something that also figured into the Texas incident. Janesville officers will typically end most chases quickly to keep bystanders safe, but there are times when they are trained to chase and disable vehicles--even to the point of ramming them, Moore said.
(TNS) - The mass shooting at a small Texas church that became the worst in the states history has ignited a debate over how far churches should go to ensure the safety of their congregations.While some worry bringing guns into churches could disturb the peaceful and welcoming environment, others say Sundays actions have jolted them into action.Probably every church staff in America is having this conversation again, said Mark Wingfield, associate pastor at Dallas Wilshire Baptist Church. Even some of the measures we have in place, we have to ask questions about would they be effective in a situation like that.For years, larger churches like Wingfields have employed private security teams to protect their congregations. But smaller churches that couldnt afford to pay for teams were often left without protection.That changed after this springs legislative session, when Irving Republican Matt Rinaldi pushed through a little-known law change that allowed churches to use volunteers as security guards. The law went into effect in September.On Monday, Rinaldi said Sundays shooting was absolutely tragic.It was exactly the thing we were trying to make people safer against, he said. What this hopefully will do is allow churches to get training and come up with coordinated plans and hopefully respond more effectively in the future.The law was controversial because it lets church volunteers forgo the licensing, training and background checks the state required of professional security personnel. Opponents say that leaves untrained volunteers in charge of volatile situations and could possibly lead to more deaths.But Rinaldi said those concerns are overblown, and Sundays shooting may have encouraged churches to act and garnered new attention for the effort. In a Fox News interview, Attorney General Ken Paxton pushed for more security in churches.Weve had shootings at churches forever, its going to happen again, he said. We need people in churches who are professional security or at least arming some of the parishioners or congregation so they can respond when something like this happens again.Before the law change, churches that wanted to set up security teams had to pay private security firms or go through the expensive process of licensing and training church members to become professional security personnel.Getting permission from the state would cost a church $400 and an annual renewal fee of $225. On top of that, the churches would have to pay for training fees and background checks, often putting the cost out of reach for small churches like the one attacked on Sunday in Sutherland Springs, where about 50 members attended services every weekend. Authorities said 26 people were killed Sunday, including the unborn child of one slain church member.This is what we were arguing about the whole time, said Steve Visser, who advocated for the law change as the owner of Hedge Protection Ministries. Theres no way they could afford a police officer to stand there and theres not enough police to cover all the churches. If they cant afford it, do they need to go without it? Our argument was definitely not.Rinaldi said he did not know if the Sutherland Springs church had a security team or if it would have prevented deaths, but he encouraged all churches to have an active shooter plan.He said many churches are still operating under the assumption that installing volunteer security teams is illegal. Before the change, operating an unlicensed volunteer team was punishable by a $10,000 fee and a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense. Subsequent offenses could lead to jail time.Visser, whose business trains volunteer security teams, said Sundays shooting has already increased interest in his work.My phone is blowing up today. Im having national organizations contact us where they want to better organize, he said. Unfortunately it takes an incident like this before people begin to say, What can we do? Its a horrific situation.Roy Waymire, the chief safety officer at Coppells Gracepoint Church, agrees that the shooting will change how churches approach security, but he worries it wont necessarily be for the best.Gracepoints security program includes preparation for severe weather, medical and other emergencies. He said if churches focus on the rarity of an active shooter, teams might not be as prepared for those other, more likely scenarios.The chance of an active shooter coming into a particular church is way lower than a medical event, Waymire said.He also said that small churches dont need to overspend on security teams that are much bigger than what they need.They dont have to have 10 licensed security officers, he said. In a small church like this one, two people wouldve been plenty.Its difficult to balance being an open and welcoming congregation with providing tight security, but Waymire said his team does so by monitoring every entry, keeping an eye on the parking lot and searching people with suspicious backpacks or out-of-place clothing.Chuck Chadwick, president of the National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management, said churches have unique security issues because they advertise as a welcoming place for people from all walks of life, especially if they are troubled or seeking help.Still, Chadwick and other opponents of the law dont believe volunteers should be able to provide security without proper training and licensing, which his Frisco-based firm and others provide.Chadwick said the insurance liability alone can put churches at risk if an untrained individual tries to provide security.Law enforcement leaders are also concerned about putting security in the hands of the untrained.If there had been other people in that church yesterday who had been armed, would there have been more or less deaths or injury? asked Kevin Lawrence, executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association. I dont know that we know the answer to that question.But supporters of allowing volunteer security teams say some protection is better than none.Im not saying nobody would have died, Visser said. Im just saying you have much better protection when you have armed response within seconds than minutes.2017 The Dallas Morning NewsVisit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SHOW NOTES

Listen using the player above and subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher so you can take it with you.An off-year election creates the opportunity to take stock of the state of our civics. Election Day coincides with the release of new analysis on voter turnout in local elections. Portland State University's Who Votes For Mayor? project details a disturbing downward trend across the 30 largest cities in the United States."Democracy is in more danger now than at any time in my lifetime for a very simple reason," says Phil Keisling, director of the PSU Center of Public Service, "it is because so many people are exiting the arena."Keisling, a former Oregon Secretary of State, says, "Democracy has become a spectator sport in every election, except president."Still, the new PSU analysis indicate that local election participation  that is, who votes for mayor  is determiniative of results in 90 percent of congressional races. Keisling sees potential for communities to regain control of their futures if younger and diverse voters begin to take balloting seriously. The longtime champion of the vote-by-mail or vote-at-home movement says much of the blame for the tepid voting rates is on the ballot itself.Enter a pair of civic startups, each focused at opposite ends of the balloting process. BallotReady provides a single, independent, online source of candidate information down to the voting track level.Last week, for example, Allegheny County, Pa, Controller Chelsa Wagner announced a partnership with BallotReady to give her community hyper-local candidate, office, and polling location data  a view of election information the startup is building out on a 50-state basis in anticipation of the 2020 general election.If BallotReady is voter-facing, another startup is candidate-facing. As its name suggests, RunForOffice.org allows prospective candiates to find out opportunities to run among 116,242 elected offices by simply entering their street address.Phil Keisling (PLU), Aviva Rosman (BallotReady) and Jim Cupples (RunForOffice.org) are all guests on this episode of NSFG.Wed appreciate your help in spreading the word about the GovTech NSFG podcast. Tell a friend. Share this episode on your social graph. And write a review on Apple Podcasts
(TNS) -- The City Council approved two labor contracts on Monday that clear the way for police officers in Maines largest city to begin wearing body cameras.But city officials still need to draft a policy before officers are outfitted with the technology that advocates say leads to more respectful interactions between officers and the public , while also creating a record of confrontations that turn violent.Because Councilor Spencer Thibodeau was sick and unable to attend the meeting, the council postponed action until Nov. 20 on a property tax relief program for seniors and adding new requirements for companies that receive tax breaks from the city.The labor contracts approved by the council cover the Police Benevolent Association, representing 125 police officers and detectives, and the Police Superior Officers Benevolent Association, representing 32 police lieutenants and sergeants.The three-year contracts, covering Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2019, will cost the city more than $1.3 million. Both unions will receive a 2 percent raise in 2017, followed by 4 percent increases in 2018 and 2019.The contract with patrolmen will lead to $1 million a year in additional wages, while the supervisors contract will increases waged by nearly $338,000.Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said developing a policy to govern use of body cameras will require input from the public, the council and stakeholders such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine.Nationally, the push for police to use body cameras grew after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. Contradictory accounts of the encounter between Brown and a white police officer led to widespread calls for more video recordings and greater accountability.Mayor Ethan Strimling pushed for deployment of body cameras after a Portland officer shot and killed a man in February . City Councilors, at an April press conference, also voiced support for body cameras.Several Maine police departments are already using body cameras, including Fairfield, Gardiner, Wilton, Farmington, Richmond, Monmouth, Winslow and South Portland.
(TNS) -- President Donald Trump signed a bill aimed at providing law enforcement with new tools for combating cybercrime into law Thursday. The bill, which was first introduced in March by U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, will ensure funding for the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabama, through the year 2022.Rachel Stephens, communications director for Ratcliffe's office, said the bill earmarks $13 million annually for the institution beginning in 2018."I'd like to thank President Trump for his strong support of my bill to ensure our state and local law enforcement officials are properly equipped to address and prosecute crimes in the 21st century  because we're now in an era where almost every case involves some sort of digital evidence," Ratcliffe said in a press release issued Thursday.House Resolution 1616, also known as the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017, states the institute's functions include training officers in how to conduct criminal investigations involving technology and computer forensics. The institute was founded in 2007 as a part of the U.S. Secret Service and officially opened on May 19, 2008.The resolution passed the U.S. House of Representatives in an amended version in mid-May. The bill was presented to the president early last week and officially signed on Thursday. Prior to this iteration, a similar bill by Ratcliffe was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote in 2015.In a March press release, Ratcliffe said the bill is aimed at keeping area law enforcement ahead of current trends in crime, detection and prosecution."We've all seen crime shows on TV where pieces of DNA evidence  a strand of hair or a drop of blood  solve the case," he said. "But in today's world, we also have to consider digital evidence. This could be an email that was sent, an online purchase, or geolocation technology that places an individual at the scene of a crime."The institute currently operates a 32,000-square-foot facility that includes three multi-purpose classrooms, two network investigation classrooms, a mock courtroom and operational forensics lab, among other features.Since its inception, the institute has trained about 7,000 law enforcement officers, representing more than 2,000 agencies, from all 50 states and three U.S. territories. This includes agencies locally in the Fourth District of Texas."At the end of the day, getting the upper hand against cybercriminals will make our nation safer, and I'm glad that this critical piece of legislation has been signed into law to do just that," Ratcliffe said.
Differential Privacy Differential privacy has become the dominant standard for controlling the disclosure about individuals that results from analyzing a sensitive database. In the standard differential privacy setting, individuals contribute sensitive information to a private database, managed by a trusted data collector. Untrusted analysts may interact with the database by submitting queries, or requesting synthetic data, which triggers processing by an algorithm that adds noise to guarantee privacy of individuals at the expense of accuracy.  Julia Stoyanovich

Virtually every interaction we have with a public agency creates a data point. Amass enough data points and they can tell a story. However, factors like privacy, data storage and usability present challenges for local governments and researchers interested in helping improve services. In this installment of MetroLab's Innovation of the Month series, we highlight how researchers at Data Responsibly are addressing those challenges by creating synthetic data sets for social good.MetroLabs Executive Director Ben Levine interviewed Bill Howe, associate professor at the Information School at the University of Washington, and Julia Stoyanovich, assistant professor of computer science at the College of Computing and Informatics at Drexel University, to explore their DataSynthesizer  a.k.a. Fake Data  for social good project.: Could you please describe what the DataSynthesizer project is? Who is involved in this project?: Data scientists need access to data to do anything useful. Municipal data providers must be careful about how, when and why they share data. If they're not, they risk violating the trust of the people they aim to help, losing their funding or breaking the law. Data sharing agreements can help prevent privacy violations, but they require a level of specificity in the research task that is often premature for exploratory collaborations and often take over a year to establish. We consider the generation and use of synthetic data a critical ingredient in facilitating ad hoc collaborations involving sensitive data.A good fake data set has two properties: It is representative of the original data and it provides strong guarantees against privacy violations. The DataSynthesizer project is about developing practical, usable tools to satisfy these requirements, using state-of-the-art methods in privacy protection.The initial tool, developed by Haoyue Ping, takes a tabular sensitive data set as the input and generates a structurally and statistically similar synthetic data set with strong privacy guarantees as the output. The data owners do not need to release their data, while potential collaborators can begin developing models and methods with some confidence that their results will work similarly on the real data set. The distinguishing feature of DataSynthesizer is its usability  the data owner does not have to specify any parameters to start generating and sharing data safely and effectively.: Can you describe what this project focused on and what motivated you to address this particular challenge?: The project began as a practical solution to a specific problem. The computer science research teams at University of Washington and Drexel University, our sponsor, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state were interested in sharing homelessness data  and we wanted to expand the collaboration with additional faculty and students, but we could not freely share the data.: One of the strongest sources of motivation in our work, on this project and others, is to bridge the gap between data science research and practice. That is, our research is translational in nature  we are not satisfied solely by proving theorems and publishing papers in computer science research venues. Rather, we want to see our results be used by practitioners. Privacy, and in particular differential privacy, has attracted considerable research attention, but produced few usable tools. Our work was motivated by the need to fill this translational gap.: Since its development, the tool has been receiving a lot of attention. For example: T-Mobile is interested in generating synthetic data to better engage with researchers and improve transparency for customers, the Colorado Department of Education has asked relevant agencies to use the tool to experiment with sharing sensitive data, and Elsevier is interested in using the tool to generate synthetic citation networks for research.: What are/were some of the advantages of partnering with non-academics, including state and local government and industry? What was the most surprising thing you learned during this process?: As Julia suggests, we consider this tool, and the overall approach, an example of "translational" research, where the research questions emerge only from working directly with partners. Although there is a rich body of work on synthetic data generation, there has been essentially no research into the systems questions that emerge in practice. For example, a "raw" .csv file does not carry with it any metadata describing the allowed domain of values, but most of the methods described in the literature assume a fixed, known domain to ensure privacy. We had to adapt these methods to ensure the same guarantees.: There are sometimes concerns in the public sector that go beyond just data-sharing  one that we recently explored at MetroLab is the use of predictive analytics in human services . Are these concerns justified?: Government agencies have no choice but to work with data: The reality of today's technological landscape demands it! In the case of predictive analytics, data is used to customize algorithm behavior  this is called training." The same algorithm may exhibit radically different behavior  make different predictions, or make a different number of mistakes, and even different kinds of mistakes  when trained on two different data sets. In other words, without access to training data, we cannot know how a predictive analytics method will actually behave. Algorithms of this kind are used, for example, in predictive policing software.Other decision-making algorithms, including, for example, scoring methods like the Vulnerability Index - Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT), which is used to prioritize homeless individuals for receiving services, and matchmaking methods such as those that assign children to spots in public schools, do not explicitly attempt to predict future behavior based on past behavior. Yet these algorithms also rely on data in important ways: They are designed and validated using data.On Oct. 16, I had the privilege of testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Technology regarding a proposed bill on algorithmic transparency. In my testimony , I argued that meaningful algorithmic transparency cannot be achieved without data transparency. One immediate interpretation of this principle involves making the training and validation data sets publicly available. However, while data should be made open whenever possible, much of it is sensitive and cannot be shared directly. That is, data transparency is in tension with the privacy of individuals who are included in the data set.Instead, a reasonable data transparency method is to make publicly available summaries of statistical properties of the data sets, while using state-of-the-art methods to preserve the privacy of individuals. When appropriate, privacy-preserving synthetic data sets can be released in lieu of real data sets, if real data sets are sensitive. Our DataSynthesizer tool, its extensions and other tools of this kind can be used for this purpose.: Where will this project go from here?: We are now exploring how to create synthetic data for more complex situations and data types: trajectories, evolving graphs, linked data from multiple sources and large scale data sets.The benefits of this approach are that the business of designing solutions that guarantee differential privacy tend to be very application-specific. In other words, different types of questions need customized solutions.In our world of synthetic data, we are making some assumptions about the input: that each record is a person and that the relationships between attributes follow one of a couple of models we support.But for more complex data, such as mobility data from a ride-share service, each record might be a GPS position. So to protect the privacy of a person who generates those positions, you need a different approach.We envision a suite of tools that can handle lots of different kinds of data, but we need to develop each of these carefully. Other complications can arise from the need to generate synthetic data in parallel to emulate very large datasets. In all cases, our emphasis is on practical tools with strong guarantees, so we want to "take whatever is thrown at us."More broadly, we envision synthetic data generation as a component of a larger platform for responsible data management that we call Fides, which will be designed to support fairness and transparency features, hypothesis management, usage policy enforcement, auditing, and more, in addition to a core data management and query facility. We want to provide a software infrastructure that enables smaller agencies and NGOs to have access to state-of-the-art analytical methods without violating the trust of their stakeholders.Additional information about our work is available at dataresponsibly.com
Franz Tost says he is looking forward to Toro Rosso's switch to works Honda power for 2018.

McLaren has dumped the Japanese engine manufacturer after a failed three-year collaboration, switching instead to the customer Renault deal enjoyed currently by Toro Rosso.

But Tost, the Toro Rosso team boss, says the Faenza based team is actually not enjoying its current situation with Renault.

"We can't have more problems anyway, because we are changing the power unit every weekend," said the Austrian.

Indeed, Tost claims Toro Rosso even went to great lengths to end the Renault contract, offering Carlos Sainz to the French carmaker as compensation.

"To terminate the contract we had to give something to Renault," he said.

"The compensation was Carlos and because of his speed, we are well aware that he is a big threat for us because he scored most of our points and on the other side, he is now with Renault."

But Toro Rosso is happy with its all-new and motivated driver lineup of sportscar champion Brendon Hartley and GP2 champion Pierre Gasly.

And Tost said he is not even worried about being stuck in neutral with McLaren's rejected engine partner Honda next year.

"They have another winter time where they will have the possibility to sort out the problems that they have currently," he said.

"As Toro Rosso, we are the only team that will be working together with them which I think will become a big advantage.

"All the meetings we have had so far are quite promising," Tost added.

"I'm more than convinced that this power unit will help Toro Rosso next year to become a very strong and competitive team."

(GMM)
Royal DSM has signed a One DSM framework technology partnership agreement with Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), a 100% subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The agreement involves all DSM businesses active in supplying materials and technology to the automotive sectorEngineering Plastics, Dyneema (ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber), and 3D Printing including Somos for stereolithography (SLA), and other technologies such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).

TMG is a high-performance development, testing and manufacturing company, offering a wide range of technical services as well as its involvement in various motorsport disciplines. One of its specialty areas is in the manufacture of products by additive manufacturing (3D printing), both for motorsport use and for external customers.

Under the non-exclusive agreement, DSM will have the opportunity to act as TMGs preferred material and product provider. TMG will develop and pilot new engineering solutions using DSM high performance materials and products for potential application in the automotive industry. TMG will also test and evaluate DSM products and act as a test user for defined projects.
GRAHAM  An escape plot to blast a hole into the Alamance County Detention Center was thwarted when an inmate mailed the plans to the wrong pe
North Carolina residents have an idea about who will get the benefits from a tax-cut plan in Washington ... and who won't.

The question, of course, is a topic of partisan debate in the nation's capital.

Republican boosters of the plan say the middle class will get a big break, while Democratic detractors contend it will be the wealthy and big corporations.

Details are still being hashed out, but many people have already formed opinions.

The High Point University/News & Record poll released today indicates that the public leans toward the wealthy/big corporations side of the argument. Large majorities believe the well-to-do will end up paying less in taxes.

Only 23 percent think the middle class will come out ahead. And, asked about their expectations for themselves, only 18 percent think the tax cuts will help them.

Here's how the questions were asked, and the responses:

As you may know, President Donald Trump is proposing a tax-reform plan. I am going to read a list of different people and groups. Please tell me based on what you know about President Trump's plan whether each one will pay more in federal taxes, less in federal taxes, or will their federal taxes stay about the same...

Large American corporations

Pay less in federal taxes  67 percent

Pay about the same  13 percent

Pay more in federal taxes  9 percent

Dont know/refused  11 percent

Wealthy Americans

Pay less in federal taxes  60 percent

Pay about the same  11 percent

Pay more in federal taxes  18 percent

Dont know/refused  11 percent

Low income Americans

Pay less in federal taxes  26 percent

Pay about the same  28 percent

Pay more in federal taxes  34 percent

Dont know/refused  12 percent

Middle class Americans

Pay less in federal taxes  23 percent

Pay about the same  20 percent

Pay more in federal taxes  45 percent

Dont know/refused  12 percent

Your household

Pay less in federal taxes  18 percent

Pay about the same  27 percent

Pay more in federal taxes  43 percent

Dont know/refused  13 percent

How important do you think it is for a tax reform plan to do each of the following? Would you say extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important?

Promote economic growth

Extremely important  28 percent

Very important  54 percent

Somewhat important  11 percent

Not very important  2 percent

Not at all important  1 percent

Dont know/refused  4 percent

Boost job creation

Extremely important  30 percent

Very important  46 percent

Somewhat important  13 percent

Not very important  5 percent

Not at all important  2 percent

Dont know/refused  4 percent

Reduce the federal budget deficit

Extremely important  28 percent

Very important  37 percent

Somewhat important  21 percent

Not very important  6 percent

Not at all important  1 percent

Dont know/refused  7 percent

(All adult (North Carolina resident) sample surveyed Oct. 27  Nov. 4, 2017, n = 352 and margin of sampling error approximately = +/- 5.2 percent)
A Winston-Salem man was convicted of murder in connection with a fatal crash last year in which prosecutors said he was driving while high on drugs.

William Forrest Duncan, 33, of the 600 block of Spring Street, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, felony death by motor vehicle, driving while license revoked, driving left of center and reckless driving.

Forsyth County prosecutors say Duncan drove his car head-on into a motorcycle driven by Jeffrey Howard Ozburn, 50. Ozburn died at the scene of the crash, which occurred just before 1 a.m. Aug. 5, 2016.

Judge David Hall of Forsyth Superior Court consolidated all the charges, except the felony death by motor vehicle charge, and sentenced Duncan to a total of 12 years to 15 years and five months in prison.

By law, Hall could not sentence Duncan on the felony death by motor vehicle charge because it forms the factual basis for the second-degree murder charge.

Duncan was also charged with driving while impaired, but that charge was voluntarily dismissed as part of the plea arrangement.

Assistant District Attorney Aaron Berlin said Ozburn had just left from spending time with his son, Jeffrey Blaine Ozburn. Jeffrey Howard Ozburn got onto his motorcycle and rode down U.S. 158.

Duncan was driving west on U.S. 158. Berlin said a driver behind Duncan told a trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol that Duncan was weaving in and out of traffic.

Duncan, who was driving a Toyota Corolla, drifted into Ozburns lane and crashed head-on into Ozburns motorcycle. Berlin said Duncan crossed so far into Ozburns lane that the passenger side of Duncans car struck the motorcycle.

Ozburn died almost immediately from his injuries. An autopsy showed that he died from blunt force trauma.

Duncan initially told troopers that the woman who was in the front passenger seat was the one who was driving.

He finally told the truth, Berlin said, when troopers informed him that the woman was telling them that Duncan was the driver.

Berlin said that troopers took Duncan through a drug-evaluation process, which included taking a sample of his blood. Duncan had Xanax and morphine in his system, which can be an indication of heroin use, Berlin said.

Duncan admitted at the scene to taking two Xanax pills and there was a blue residue on his tongue, Berlin said.

Duncan later told authorities that he had taken six Xanax pills and then eight Xanax pills, Berlin said.

Julie Boyer, Duncans attorney, said Duncans drug addiction started in 2011, when he was in a car accident and broke his femur. His doctor prescribed Duncan opioid pain medication and that eventually led to heroin addiction, she said.

Hall, however, pointed out that Duncan had three prior convictions for driving while impaired and that his first conviction was in 2005. Duncan also was convicted of DWI in 2012 and 2014. His drivers license was revoked as a result of his 2014 DWI conviction.

Dana Feathers, Ozburns sister, said she doesnt understand why Duncan drove that night.

Ill never understand why he had the audacity to get behind the wheel, she said.

I believe his actions had no regard for human life, only to get high on drugs.

Ozburns son, Jeffrey Blaine Ozburn, said his father was his best friend who taught him what it meant to be a man. His father loved his grandchildren, and he said he has a hard time explaining to his two daughters that their grandfather isnt coming back.

Hall said he has seen this tragic set of facts too many times in court.

I dont know what you were running from, but I know what you ran into, a precious human life, and you extinguished it, he said.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP)  The Latest on the church shooting in Texas (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

The two men who pursued the gunman after the Texas church shooting visited a vigil together and prayed with community members mourning the 26 people killed in the attack.

Stephen Willeford and Johnnie Langendorff arrived at the vigil with relatives Monday night. They locked arms in a circle and bowed their heads in extended prayer. Many wept openly, including Willeford, who could be seen wiping away tears streaming down his chin.

As the pastor shouted, "Jesus, this is your town," the prayer broke up and the two men left.

Willeford ran from his home with his rifle and confronted the gunman, Devin Kelley, outside the church Sunday. Authorities have said two of the bullets fired by Willeford hit Kelley in the leg and torso. The gunman fled in his vehicle.

Johnnie Langendorff was driving by the church when Willeford flagged him down and they pursued the gunman in Langendorff's truck. Kelley eventually crashed and was found dead in his vehicle.

___

7:30 p.m.

A sporting goods chain has confirmed that it sold two firearms to the man who shot up a church in a tiny South Texas community, killing 26 people.

In a statement posted on the company's social media, Katy, Texas-based Academy Sports & Outdoors confirmed that Devin Patrick Kelley bought the weapons from two different San Antonio stores, one in 2016 and one in 2017.

The company also confirmed that the sales were cleared by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The company extended condolences to the victims and their families and said it was cooperating with investigators.

The Air Force says it failed to report the Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI as required by Pentagon rules. Information about such convictions is supposed to be submitted to the FBI for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database.

___

7 p.m.

An Air Force couple who retired to La Vernia, Texas, was trying out churches when they were slain in Sunday's shooting in Sutherland Springs.

Robert Marshall tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that his son Scott and daughter-in-law Karen were first-time visitors to the First Baptist Church, the scene of a rampage that left dead 26 congregants including children.

Karen Marshall had recently returned to Texas after finishing an assignment at Maryland's Andrews Air Force Base.

Scott Marshall was retired from the Air Force and had been working as a civilian contractor and mechanic at Lackland Air Force Base, about 35 miles west of La Vernia.

The couple met while they were in the service together more than 30 years ago.

Another victim identified on Facebook by her family was 16-year-old Hailey Krueger.

___

6:20 p.m.

Texas law enforcement authorities say the gunman who killed 26 members of a church on Sunday was shot three times, twice by a citizen.

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin says Devin Patrick Kelley was shot in his leg and torso by a citizen who pursued him after hearing gunfire. Martin says the third was, "consistent with being self-inflicted."

Authorities say they've collected hundreds of shell casings and 15 magazines that hold 30 rounds each at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, where Kelley opened fire Sunday.

The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

Authorities say 10 victims remain in critical condition and four are in serious condition.

___

5:35 p.m.

The Air Force says it failed to report the Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI as required by Pentagon rules.

Devin Patrick Kelley was convicted of assault against his wife and stepson in an Air Force court-martial in New Mexico in 2012. The conviction should have disqualified him from buying or possessing firearms.

Information about such convictions is supposed to be submitted to the FBI for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database.

The Air Force said in a statement that the top two Air Force officials  Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein  have ordered a review of the Kelley case.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says the Pentagon will also ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly across the Department of Defense.

The church shooting left 26 people dead and 20 wounded.

___

5 p.m.

The man some call a hero for engaging in a shootout with the Texas church gunman is a former National Rifle Association instructor.

Stephen Willeford says in an interview with KHBS/KHOG television in Arkansas that he was at home in Sutherland Springs when his daughter heard gunfire at the church.

Willeford says he retrieved his rifle, loaded it and ran barefoot to the church. He says: "I kept hearing the shots, one after another, very rapid shots ... and I knew every one of those shots represented someone."

Willeford says he hid behind a pickup truck and exchanged fire with the gunman, adding: "I know I hit him."

The gunman, Devin Kelley, got into his vehicle and fled. Willeford says he ran to a pickup truck and asked the driver, later identified as Johnnie Langendorff, to help him.

They sped after the gunman. Kelley's vehicle hit a road sign and flipped into a roadside ditch.

Willeford says he got out of the truck, perched his rifle on the truck's rooftop and yelled, "get out of the truck," but saw no movement. Law enforcement came to the scene. They believe the gunman took his own life.

___

4:35 p.m.

The American flag mounted on the fence of Michael Ward's home in Sutherland Springs was hanging upside down Monday. Neighbors say it had been that way since the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting, an apparent memorial to the 58 victims of that attack.

Now the Ward family has lost several relatives, including children, in the Texas church shooting.

Leslie Ward was setting up for a yard sale at the house when she heard gunfire.

Her husband, Michael Ward, tells The Dallas Morning News that he ran inside the church and carried out his 5-year-old nephew, Ryland, who had four gunshot wounds.

Ryland was transferred by helicopter to a San Antonio hospital. The boy's mother and two of his sisters were among 26 people killed.

On Monday, items were arranged for the yard sale, but no one was there. The flag remained upside down.

___

4:15 p.m.

The owner of a restaurant and store across the street from the Texas church shooting says she sheltered one bloodied survivor.

Terrie Smith says she saw the shooter's body "shaking" from the recoil of his weapon as he opened fire outside the church

Fighting back tears, Smith said she and several customers fell to the ground and crawled back to the store.

She says they locked themselves in and heard firing while the gunman was inside the church.

Smith says that a victim ran out "all bloody in his arms and face." She says: "We let him in. He said 'somebody went in and shot everybody. My family is in there, my family is in there.'" The unidentified man then tfell to the ground.

The shooting left 26 people dead and 20 injured.

___

3:15 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says that the "bravery and courage" of a citizen who shot back at the gunman in the Texas church attack should be celebrated.

The Republican senator from Texas spoke after talking to law enforcement officials and visiting the church in Sutherland Springs where Devin Kelley killed 26 people and wounded about 20 more.

When a reporter asked Cruz about gun control, he noted the recent terrorist attack with a truck in New York and said "Evil is evil."

He then lauded the "ordinary citizen" who engaged the gunman. Cruz says that law enforcement officers showed him where the citizen hid behind a car and took incoming shots from the gunman.

Cruz said he asked law enforcement what would have happened if the citizen had not used his own gun to confront Kelley. Cruz said they responded that the death toll would have been higher.

___

2:45 p.m.

The gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church had been arrested for animal cruelty in Colorado in 2014.

An El Paso County Sheriff's Office affidavit says deputies arrested Devin Patrick Kelley at a Colorado Springs RV park where he lived.

One neighbor told a deputy that Kelley chased the young husky, jumped on top of it and struck the dog with a closed fist several times. Another neighbor says Kelley grabbed the dog, threw it into the air, then onto the ground and dragged it to his camper.

Kelley initially refused to leave the camper to speak with officers in the Aug. 1, 2014 incident. He denied abusing the dog.

Officers arrested Kelley for misdemeanor animal cruelty and took the Husky to a veterinary center.

Kelley was given a deferred probationary sentence and was ordered to pay $368 in restitution. He complied with the sentence.

___

2:40 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, will travel to Texas on Wednesday to meet with those affected by Sunday's church shooting.

Announcing his travel plans in a tweet, Pence says he will visit family members of those killed, those injured in the attack, and first responders in Sutherland Springs.

Pence says, "We are with you Texas."

At least 26 people were killed Sunday by a lone gunman, identified by police as Devin Kelley, and about 20 more were wounded.

President Donald Trump is in the midst of a 12-day trip to Asia.

___

2:20 p.m.

The wife of the First Baptist Church pastor says it gives her "a sliver of encouragement" that their 14-year-old daughter was surrounded by her church family when she died in the shooting.

Sherri Pomeroy says Annabelle Pomeroy was with "the church family that she loved fiercely and vice versa."

Pastor Frank Pomeroy and Sherri Pomeroy were out of town when the gunman opened fire Sunday at the church in Sutherland Springs, killing 26 people and wounding about 20. The gunman was later found dead in his vehicle.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, Sherri Pomeroy said, "Our church was not comprised of members or parishioners. We were a very close family." She added: "Now most of our church family is gone."

She said that her daughter, who she called Belle, would have struggled to deal with losing so many people.

___

12:20 p.m.

Authorities in Texas say law enforcement went to the home of the suspected church gunman three years ago to investigate a domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend.

Paul Anthony, a spokesman for the Comal County district attorney's office, told The Associated Press that sheriff's deputies were called just after 10 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2014, to the New Braunfels home of Devin Patrick Kelley and his family.

Citing a sheriff's office report, Anthony says a friend of Kelley's girlfriend told authorities she received a text message from the girlfriend that indicated "her boyfriend was abusing her." When sheriff's deputies arrived at the home, they were told by people in the house that there was no problem.

No arrests were made. Kelley married Danielle Shields two months later.

Kelley was discharged from the Air Force the same year after being punished for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child.

___

11:25 a.m.

The special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field office in Houston says three guns have been recovered from the suspect in the deadly church shootings in Texas.

Fred Milanowski (mil-uh-NOW'-skee) said during a news conference Monday that officers recovered a Ruger AR-556 rifle at the church.

Milanowski said two additional handguns were recovered from the vehicle driven by Devin Patrick Kelley  a Glock 9mm and a Ruger .22-caliber. Milanowski says all three weapons were purchased by the now-deceased suspect.

Freeman Martin with the Texas Department of Public Safety said Kelley did not have a license to carry a handgun. He says he did have a "noncommissioned, unarmed private security license similar to a security guard at a concert-type situation."

___

11:10 a.m.

Officials say that the 26 people killed in a shooting at a small South Texas church range in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

Freeman Martin, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, said Monday that 20 were injured in the shooting Sunday morning at the church in Sutherland Springs. Martin says 10 people were still hospitalized in critical condition.

Martin said those treated in hospitals ranged in age from 5 to 73.

Authorities have said that Devin Patrick Kelley is suspected of killing 26 people during the shooting in Sutherland Springs. He was later found dead.

___

11 a.m.

Authorities say the gunman who opened fire in a Texas church had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the church.

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said Monday that the mass shooting stemmed from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated.

Authorities say that evidence at the scene leads them to believe that Devin Patrick Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he crashed his car. He had been chased by armed bystanders.

They say Kelley also used his cellphone to tell his father that he had been shot and didn't think he would survive.

___

10:10 a.m.

Authorities believe the man suspected of killing 26 people and injuring about 20 others at a Texas church shot himself following a car wreck.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr. tells CBS News that police found Devin Patrick Kelley dead inside his vehicle Sunday shortly after the shootings in Sutherland Springs.

Tackitt says Kelley was being pursued by two community members and investigators believe gunfire was exchanged before Kelley's vehicle crashed.

The sheriff says investigators believe Kelley shot himself after the wreck.

___

10 a.m.

The man suspected of killing 26 people and injuring about 20 more at a Texas church had previously been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in east-central Colorado.

Court records in El Paso County indicate Devin Patrick Kelley was cited on Aug. 1, 2014, when he lived in a mobile home park near Colorado Springs. He was given a deferred probationary sentence and was ordered to pay $368 in restitution. The charge was dismissed in March 2016 after Kelley completed his sentence.

The Denver Post reports court records indicate someone was granted a protection order against Kelley on Jan. 15, 2015, also in El Paso County.

___

9:50 a.m.

A manager at a vacation resort says the gunman who opened fire at a Texas church worked for the resort as security guard.

Claudia Varjabedian is a manager at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels. She told The Associated Press on Monday that Devin Patrick Kelley had been working there the past month and a half.

She says Kelley "seemed like a nice guy" and didn't give her any problems. She said he worked unarmed on his shift as the day security guard.

The riverside resort in the Texas Hill Country is near Kelley's apparent home off a rural highway. Sheriff's deputies were still blocking the gate to his property Monday morning.

___

9:35 a.m.

Several people remain hospitalized after a shooting at a South Texas church that killed 26 and injured more than 20 others.

An official with University Health System in San Antonio said five people remained hospitalized Monday  three children and two adults. Martha Rendon (ren-DOHN') says the patients range in age from 4 to 57 years old, with their conditions listed as being from serious to critical.

Rendon also says one of the victims who died Sunday was a pediatric patient that had been transported to the hospital. She declined to release further details on the child.

A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville said one person was listed in stable condition Monday. Megan Posey declined to release additional details on the patient.

Officials with Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which received eight patients on Sunday, did not immediately provide an update Monday.

___

8:35 a.m.

Officials in Texas have confirmed the identity of the man suspected of killing 26 people at a South Texas church.

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday morning said 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley is the suspect. DPS said that Kelley lived in New Braunfels, which is about 35 miles north of the Sutherland Springs church where the shooting occurred.

A short time after the shooting Sunday, the suspect was found dead in his vehicle at the county line.

On Sunday, two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity had identified the gunman as Kelley.

DPS says more information will be released later Monday.

___

8:20 a.m.

A South Carolina musician with a similar name as the man identified as the gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church says he's frustrated by hateful message he's received online.

Devin Patrick said on his Facebook page late Sunday that he's saddened by the shooting but at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. But Patrick says his only connection with the tragedy is his name and asks people not to contact him about the shooting.

Authorities have identified the gunman as Devin Patrick Kelley. Officials say 26 people were killed Sunday in an attack that claimed people ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.

Authorities said about 20 others were wounded. The suspect was later found dead in his vehicle.

___

8:10 a.m.

School districts surrounding a South Texas town where a gunman killed 26 people at a church have added counselors to help comfort children, their families and staff.

Sutherland Springs is a town of about 400 that does not have its own school. Nearby districts offered messages of caring and concern Monday, a day after the gunfire. Officials say the victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old.

Superintendent Sherri Bays, of the Floresville Independent School District, wrote: "Our hearts are breaking for the families of the deceased and injured."

District spokeswoman Kim Cathey says some Sutherland Springs children attend Floresville ISD schools. Cathey had no immediate information on whether any victims were from the district.

Similar messages of prayers and support were offered by the Stockdale ISD and the La Vernia ISD.

___

7:45 a.m.

A sheriff says the former in-laws of a man suspected of killing 26 people at a Texas church attended services there "from time to time."

Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr. told CNN Monday morning that the former in-laws weren't in attendance Sunday when the shooting occurred. He says it wasn't clear why the gunman picked that day for the shooting.

The mass shooting occurred Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. About 20 others were wounded in the attack.

Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity identified the gunman as Devin Kelley. An Air Force spokeswoman said records confirm Kelley received a bad conduct discharge after being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his spouse and child.

___

7:05 a.m.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is suggesting there may have been a connection between the gunman who shot and killed 26 people in a South Texas community and the Baptist church where the slayings happened.

Abbott tells ABC's "Good Morning America" he expects people will learn about any such link "in a few days." He said he didn't want to go further, saying "law enforcement is looking very aggressively into this."

"I don't think this was just a random act of violence," Abbott told anchor George Stephanopoulos. But when pressed to elaborate on his connection theory, the governor replied that "it's very important that law enforcement have the ability ... to tie the loose ends of this investigation up."

He called the man, identified by a U.S. official and one in law enforcement as Devin Kelley, "a very deranged individual."

___

3:30 a.m.

Authorities say a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people who ranged in age from 5 to 72.

The mass shooting occurred Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. About 20 others were wounded in the attack.

Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity identified the gunman as Devin Kelley. An Air Force spokeswoman said records confirm Kelley received a bad conduct discharge after being court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his spouse and child.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr. described the scene inside the church as "terrible."

Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack.
Last week, I gave an informative speech in my public speaking class at Rockingham Community College on Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to compete at the top level of professional stock car racing full-time, which is currently known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

While some of my classmates had a little trouble figuring out a topic for their speech, I was already familiar with the life of Scott, a native of nearby Danville, Virginia. He was a man who overcame many obstacles to make a positive impact in NASCAR by maintaining a professional demeanor during a challenging era of American history.

Sometimes, we may deal with people who display hate towards us. The mature way to handle the situation is to never stoop to their level. Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR race in stock car racings top division is the prime example of a person who never gave up in a time filled with racial tension.

Scott started off as a bootlegger evading the police like a lot of drivers in early NASCAR history. An outlaw turned hero displayed his skill behind the wheel as he battled through challenges to survive in a sport dominated by southern white males during his time.

I cannot imagine the emotions traveling through Scotts mind as people tried to give him a difficult time as he pursued his dreams. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.

While he could have retaliated against those who were disrespectful towards him, Scott decided to take the high road and not travel down a path that would have resulted in more conflict. Dealing with people that do not want you to be a part of their environment seems like a tough mental challenge and Scott prevailed as he became the Jackie Robinson of stock car racing by creating change as it gave hope to those dreaming to be a part of NASCAR.

The impact of Wendell Scott is felt through NASCARs Drive for Diversity program. It gives minorities the opportunity to join the sport in some capacity. It does not matter if you are male or female or have a different skin color because the Drive for Diversity program gives those who have the desire to join NASCAR opportunities to turn dreams into reality.

Recently, Richard Petty Motorsports announced the hiring of Darrell Bubba Wallace Jr. as their full-time driver for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season in the iconic No. 43 car. The 24 year old driver from Mobile, Alabama finished 11th at Kentucky Speedway on July 8 in his fourth and final Cup start of the 2017 season substituting for the injured Aric Almirola. He is the first African-American driver scheduled to compete at the top level of stock car racing since Scott retired from the sport after suffering injuries during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway in the early 1970s.

Wallace was a participant in the Drive for Diversity program.

Although it may take a while for change to occur, the key is to never give up on your goals in life. Wendell Scott proved that anyone can succeed in a profession if you have the determination and courage to handle challenging situations.

Always remember to strive for greatness and never let who you are dictate where you may cross the finish line.

Kobe can be reached at kobelambeth@gmail.com.
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Monday brought mixed emotions for Joe Bartozzi as a top executive at a Connecticut company that makes guns.

His 30-year-old son bagged his first-ever pheasant in Durham, a happy event albeit not with a shotgun made by O.F. Mossberg & Sons, where Bartozzi is executive vice president and general counsel. But of course, the nation spent the day trying to make sense of the latest mass shooting, this time at a church in Texas.

Im sick to my stomach over this type of thing, Bartozzi said. I dont know what to do about this.

Gun control advocates, led by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, say theres plenty that Bartozzi and executives of companies that make versions of the AR-15, military style, semiautomatic rifle could do. Stop making that weapon, for starters, they say; support universal background checks, for another; stop using military images in advertising, for a third.

If only it were that simple.

Mossberg, with 230 employees in North Haven, is one of four Connecticut companies that make a version of the controversial rifle. Colt, known by various corporate names over the decades, bought the design for the AR-15 in 1958, developed it into the M-16 and rolled out the first civilian version in 1964. It still makes the gun in West Hartford. Stag Arms manufactures the AR-15 in New Britain.

And on Monday, many of us learned that Sturm, Ruger & Co., based in Fairfield, also makes the AR-15, in factories elsewhere. Ruger made the one used in Texas.

Bartozzi was one of the few industry executives who stood up and talked in a level-headed way after the Sandy Hook catastrophe five years ago next month. Again Monday, he refused to hide behind a corporate veil of silence. Say what you will about this gun and this industry, open communication matters because there are no easy answers.

Every time theres a shooting the first thing they do is politicize these things, Bartozzi said. By politicizing it, people then run to their corners and we end up talking past each other.

By they, he means gun-control advocates and especially elected leaders and especially Murphy, who issued a harrowing statement Sunday, saying the mass horrors are not inevitable, and are the result of a flood of dangerous weapons that fall into the hands of dangerous people.

As my colleagues go to sleep tonight, they need to think about whether the political support of the gun industry is worth the blood that flows endlessly onto the floors of American churches, elementary schools, movie theaters, and city streets, Murphy wrote even before we knew the victims names.

Its an emotional reaction for which Murphy doesnt apologize, developed not over the years but overnight on Dec. 14, 2012, in Newtown, same as with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Bartozzi, speaking for an industry that was born less than 20 miles away in the 1790s, recoils.

We want to be part of the solution, he said. We dont think were part of the problem.

How can that happen? The answer is through dialogue. Contrary to popular belief, banning sales of the AR-15 wont solve the problem; there are more than 8 million of them in circulation.

The AR-15 isnt a big part of the business for the hunting-oriented Mossberg, founded in 1919 and now the nations oldest gunmaker owned and operated by its founding family. Its not huge for the publicly traded Ruger, which has a large pistol line. And even Colt doesnt rely as heavily on civilian sales as many companies.

So why dont these companies stop making AR-15s? Mossberg just started its version a few years ago for the simple reason that it had, just before the Sandy Hook tragedy, become Americas Rifle in sales. Stopping would not likely quell the culture of killing in America.

Banning the so-called bump stock, which turns an AR-15 into a full machine gun, should have happened yesterday but that was used only in the Las Vegas massacre among recent mass shootings.

Universal background checks should happen too, but, Bartozzi said, What would background checks have done if he obtained the guns illegally? How could you know that your background check is actually universal?

As the tragedies come too quickly to name, popular opinion will sway far enough that the industry will have to accept measures it doesnt like. Bartozzis message: Shunning the gunmakers from the table isnt the way to go. Mossberg expanded in Texas but stayed in Connecticut after Malloys 2013 ban despite flack from some customers.

We are here because weve got a great workforce, weve got state-of-the-art equipment, he said. Were not inclined to give up and run.
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DARIEN  A couple of months ago, Layli Harandi saw a grand opening sign downtown  and an opportunity.

The Stamford resident, who started in late August as a personal stylist for the J. Hilburn mens clothing brand after making a career change, was looking for a location to showcase her services. At 15 Center St., which houses the new Darien Cigars shop, Harandi said she has found an ideal spot to build her clientele with her new pop-up store.

I saw a type of business that pairs up with my business, Harandi said in a recent interview at Darien Cigars. I thought it would be a great way to link arms together to cater to the same demographic.

Harandi found an enthusiastic partner in Darien Cigars owner Maddy Shah.

Suits and cigars go together because theyre both for upscale people, Shah said. When she pitched the idea, I though it may work out, so I wanted to try it.

With her mini-store in the approximately 800-square-foot shop, Harandi displays merchandise, fabrics and catalog pictures. She also takes measurements for attire, including suits to casual wear.

When I go through the process, it entails getting to know the client: What am I setting them up for? Harandi said. What are the colors you like to wear? Is it seasonal  bright for the spring, earth tones for the fall and winter? Or is it pastels for spring and summer? And I like to pair it up with complexion. ... And that process leads into selection of fabrics.

More Information See more For information on Layli Harandi's personal stylist business, visit layliharandi.jhilburn.com. The business operates at Darien Cigars on Mondays, from 5 to 7 p.m., and by appointment. See More Collapse

Harandi said she sees her likely customers as fashion-conscious professional men in fields such as law and financial services, who are often working in public settings. She also does appointments at clients homes and offices.

Its always exciting when we have new businesses come to Darien, said Susan Cator, president and executive director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce. Its exciting because we have such a large percentage of businesses that are locally owned. It brings a unique offering to shoppers.

Before moving into fashion, Harandi worked for nearly 10 years as a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist. She maintained an office for about four years at the Tully Health Center in Stamford.

She learned about J. Hilburn from a friend at a time when she was looking to make a career change. From her experience in health care, she said she learned a lot about how to present well in professional settings. Earlier in her career, she did modeling for model agencies marketing campaigns.

I want to help people, not just feeling better, but also aesthetically looking fabulous, Harandi said. Im still getting to know my customers and clients on a personal level. It creates long-term relationships, as I did as a doctor.

To build their businesses, Harandi and Shah are planning more joint events, including a Scotch and Shirts night Thursday, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., during which they will offer 10 percent off first-time J. Hilburn and cigar purchases. Patrons that night will be invited to donate to the Movember Foundation, a nonprofit focused on mens health.

This takes the effort out of dealing with the rat race of traffic, sales people and people being pushy, Harandi said. Why not have your own personal stylist who cares about the way her clients look?

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
STAMFORD  Insurer The Navigators Group recorded a third-quarter loss of approximately $28 million, a bottom line that reflected the impact of recent natural disasters, according to its latest earnings reported last week.

The deficit included losses, adjustment expenses and reinsurance reinstatement premiums totaling about $75 million from Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey and the Puebla, Mexico, earthquake. It also factored in a reserve strengthening of nearly $30 million.

Navigators financial impact from our exposure to multiple natural catastrophe events in the third quarter was well within our tolerance and expectations, Navigators President and CEO Stan Galanski said in a statement. Our underwriting teams are well positioned to respond to anticipated improvement in regional property markets.

Gross written premiums and net written premiums both increased about 7 percent from the third quarter in 2016. Gross written premiums totaled $426 million; net written premiums hit $296 million.

In the past quarter, Navigators recorded a combined ratio of 122 percent. The ratio measures the percentage of premiums used to cover losses and underwriting expenses. Any ratio more than 100 indicates an underwriting loss.

The companys combined ratio ran at 97 percent in the first six months of 2017.

For the first nine months of 2017, Navigators still turned in a profit of about $14 million.

Navigators had warned investors about the losses when it released estimates last month of third-quarter losses totaling as much as $45 million after tax. Those projections were based in part on catastrophe modeling, which aims to predict the impact of storms.

Since Hurricane Andrew hit 25 years ago, risk management is something that reinsurers and direct insurers have elevated to a much higher level of sophistication, Steve Weisbart, chief economist for the Insurance Information Institute, said in a recent interview. Theyve arranged their finances to anticipate large storms.

Navigators shares closed Monday at about $51, almost unchanged from their closing total Friday.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
Purdue Pharma was sued Tuesday by New Haven over what the city called deceptive marketing, which it blames for fueling the citys epidemic of opioid abuse.

The new allegations parallel those in a number of other lawsuits filed this year by state and local officials around the country arguing Stamford-based Purdue, which makes the top-selling prescription opioid OxyContin, and other pharmaceutical companies are largely responsible for the burgeoning number of deaths and escalating costs from the national opioid crisis.

New Havens complaint also names as defendants the drug manufacturers Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Endo Pharmaceuticals and Insys Therapeutics, as well as wholesale distributors including McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and Cardinal Health.

This plague that has been visited on this city and on countless other towns and cities and their citizens must be forcefully defended so that lives are saved and families are protected against the heartbreak caused by opioid addiction, John Rose Jr., corporation counsel for New Haven, said in a statement.

Purdue denied the allegations and said it is committed to tackling opioid abuse, as it re-issued the same statement it has made following other lawsuits.

We are deeply troubled by the opioid crisis, and we are dedicated to being part of the solution, the statement said. As a company grounded in science, we must balance patient access to FDA-approved medicines, while working collaboratively to solve this public health challenge.

The lawsuit accuses opioid makers such as Purdue of working to deceive doctors and patients  including groups such as senior citizens and war veterans  about the addictive risks of opioids and their appropriateness for chronic pain management.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for New Havens exorbitant costs for social and human services and increased expenditures for additional first-responder services to respond to growing opioid abuse.

With 70 deaths in 2016, New Haven ranked second in the state in the number who died of opioid-related causes, according to a press release from Scott+Scott, the Connecticut-based law firm that filed the lawsuit on the citys behalf. Statewide, 917 people died in 2016 of fatal drug overdoses, about a 20 percent increase from the toll in 2015. Most of those cases involved opioids.

The pharmaceutical industry is behind one of the greatest and most tragic epidemics facing cities like New Haven, David Scott, managing partner of Scott+Scott, said in a statement. Our firms roots are in Connecticut, and I could not be more honored to represent New Haven as it takes on the industry on behalf of its community and the families torn apart by the opioid epidemic.

New Havens lawsuit follows similar litigation filed in August against Purdue and other drugmakers by the city of Waterbury. A number of other nearby municipalities, including Bridgeport, agreed to join the complaint.

Last week, the states of Alaska and New Jersey sued Purdue. Other recent lawsuits against Purdue have been filed by the states of Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Washington.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
COLUMBUS  Jamie Jakub, a construction specialist with the U.S. Air Force civil engineering unit during his years in the active duty military, knew how to pack in a hurry for military flights to far-flung flash points around the globe.

The 1992 graduate of Scotus Central Catholic threw his bags together for missions to the steamy jungles of El Salvador, the tiniest nation in Central America, to Middle Eastern hotspots in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

I graduated in May, signed up for the Air Force in June and went to training in February (1993), said the 44-year-old former airman. My college education came in the military.

In 1994, Jakubs unit was deployed to South Korea, stationed just south of the demilitarized zone, a buffer separating North Korea and South Korea.

I know how to pack, said Jakub, who was a member of the Air Forces Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force for much of the 1990s and 2000s when the civil engineering unit was deployed to support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The primary mission of Prime BEEF is to provide civil engineer support for the beddown of personnel and aircraft. Prime BEEF capabilities include airbase site surveys, establishing bare base camps and operations and utility system installation.

Since Prime BEEF forces specialize in airfield operations, they are the primary units considered when establishing and sustaining airfield operations at locations where U.S. Air Force aircraft operate.

Basically, we go in and build a city from the ground up. We did everything from concrete to plumbing and equipment operations," Jakub said. I really enjoyed what I did in the service."

His six deployments ranged from several months to a year or more, depending on the scope of the job.

In the 1990s it was humanitarian support lent to ease tensions in the El Salvadoran civil war between an authoritarian government and warring guerrillas. In 1993, it was a trip to Saudi Arabia where the Scud missiles were raining down on both military and civilian personnel.

One of his last deployments came in 2004 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. and its allies push to topple Saddam Hussein from power. The engineering unit soldiers didnt have much information on where they were heading.

On that nighttime military flight to the Persian Gulf region, Jakub said the transport plane suddenly veered south of Iraq and deep into the Indian Ocean. The aircraft was headed to Diego Garcia, an island atoll just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean and home to a large U.S. naval and military base.

That was a very interesting deployment on a tropical island, Jakub said. A lot of the building we did on Diego Garcia was for an airstrip.

Thats where a good part of the shock and awe came from that prompted many of the enemy to surrender and later ousted the Iraqi leader, Jakub said. His last mission was to Israel in 2005 when the unit built a training facility for the Israelis.

After more than a decade in the service, Jakubs military duties were taking a toll on his body. Repetitive movements involved in his work led to two shoulder operations and other physical complaints.

It was time to stay home, said Jakub, who joined the Air National Guard and later volunteered for the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Jakub volunteers 10 to 15 hours a week helping determine veterans eligibility for benefits and services provided through the Veterans Administration and other government agencies.

The local man underwent rigorous training to become certified to provide the assistance to veterans and their families.

The Columbus DAV office, located at 3107 25th St., has served approximately 150 veterans from 2015-17.

I want to be a lighthouse for disabled vets, an introduction to an organization that reaches out to the VA for service-related benefits theyve earned, Jakub said.

Its inspirational to get them into the system, he said.
Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media

A Bridgewater Associates executive issued a strong denial of details contained in a Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed sources who said the hedge fund paid more than $1 million to a former employee who accused him of misconduct.

The Wall Street Journal report centers on Greg Jensen, co-chief investment officer for Bridgewater Associates who formerly held the position of co-CEO of the worlds largest hedge fund, with Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio having mediated between Jensen and the unidentified former employee who received the payment, according to the Journals sources.
GREENWICH  Diversity and enrollment are both up across Greenwich Public Schools this school year, according to a new report from the district.

The document showed that 9,016 students attend Greenwichs 15 public schools this year, up 45 students from the previous year. While the incoming class of kindergarten students was smaller this year than last years graduating seniors, an influx of students moving into town resulted in a net gain of students, said Jennifer Lau, research manager for Greenwich Public Schools, during a Board of Education meeting Thursday night.

We had positive migration at the elementary, middle and high school levels, Lau said. Normally, there is a dip at the middle school level.

The percent of minority students in the district has also risen from 36.4 percent during the 2016-17 school year to 37.6 percent in the current one. More students are identifying as Hispanic or two or more races than in years prior.

The combined number of low-income, special education and English language learning students is also increasing in Greenwich.

Our high needs group has increased by 0.5 percent to 25.4 (percent), Lau said.

Students qualifying for free or reduced price lunch remained steady at about 14.5 percent. Special education saw a small spike up to 10.7 percent from 10.3 percent the year prior. Mary Forde, director of pupil personnel services, said this trend was consistent with state and national numbers and was due in part to an influx of students moving into the district with individualized education plans.

The percent of English language learning students dropped from 5.1 to 4.7 between last year and this year.

New Lebanon, Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss and Western Middle schools have the highest percentages of minority students in Greenwich, as well as the highest percentages of high needs  low-income, special education and English language learning  students.

The report reminded school board members that Hamilton Avenue and New Lebanon School remain in violation of the state racial balance law. Aimed at reducing school segregation, the law states that the percent of minority students at any one school in a district may not vary by more than 25 percentage points from the district average. The report identified Old Greenwich and Parkway schools as approaching racial imbalance for having too few minority students compared to the district average.

Some school board members expressed hope that a larger New Lebanon School will help the district reduce racial imbalance by attracting new magnet students and allowing space for some New Lebanon students who attend Hamilton Avenue to return to their neighborhood school, opening seats for more magnet students at Hamilton Avenue.

Funding for the New Lebanon School project has been granted by the state and town. Groundbreaking is anticipated the first week of December. The building committee is planning on an aggressive 13-month construction schedule to permit a student move in to the new building in February 2019, said BOE member and New Lebanon Building Committee member Peter Bernstein.

It looks like we cannot fix racial balance except for New Lebanon School, said BOE member Jennifer Dayton. Only New Lebanon can fix racial balance if we decide we are going to comply.

Projections of districtwide and individual school enrollments contained in the report are important to Greenwich Public Schools future planning, particularly the formation of a 15-year master plan for facilities improvement and maintenance. However, multiple school board members voiced concerns with the projections developed by Richard Grip, owner of Statistical Forecasting LLC who has a doctorate in educational statistics and measurement, and contained within the report.

School board members noted the enrollment projections did not consider the construction of the larger New Lebanon School, overlooked some Greenwich housing development projects and did not factor in local knowledge of certain Greenwich neighborhoods. Board members requested that some charts in the report be couched in qualifications and the report be revised and returned to the board for approval.

emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
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A robber and part-time fitness model who held up a Chase bank in Greenwich on two separate occasions, and eluded police in a harrowing chase through eastern Greenwich, has pleaded guilty and now faces 20 years behind bars.

David Byers, 35, of San Diego, gave his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in a Hartford courtroom Tuesday. Authorities said he was also behind a string of robberies on Long Island, N.Y., in April before he came to Greenwich and held up the Chase bank in Riverside and a Cos Cob service station. Greenwich police called him a one man crime-spree before he was apprehended in southern California following a cross-country manhunt. He was arrested May 2.

Sentencing will be on Jan. 18. Byers has been held in federal custody since his arrest.

The California native did fashion spreads and book covers, showing off a well-toned physique and attracting wide-spread attention after police named him as the suspect.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Byers robbed a Gulf gas station in Nesconset, N.Y., of $300 on April 19, wearing a bandanna over his face and displaying what appeared to be the grip of a handgun. On April 20, he robbed a Chase Bank branch in Stony Brook, N.Y., of $2,107. Byers also displayed what appeared to be a handgun during the robbery of the Cos Cob service station.

According to the affidavit filed by federal authorities, Byers came east from his home in Solana Beach to connect with a local woman he had previously been seeing. The robber was staying at a hotel in Stamford when he began his crime spree. He e-mailed the woman he had been seeing, with photographs showing off stacks of cash.

Tipped off that Byers was driving a black Range-Rover with New York plates, Greenwich police attempted to arrest him on April 28 at the bar of the J House on East Putnam Avenue, where he was having a drink. Byers drove over the sidewalk at high speed, triggering a massive police search. The robber managed to elude police, steal another vehicle and drive west.

He tangled with Pennsylvania State Police and Arizona State Police on his flight, escaping both times from pursuit. Byers engaged the Arizona troopers in a high-speed chase, before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Authorities gained information that he was back in San Diego, and an F.B.I. tactical team finally nabbed him in a convenience store parking lot in early May.

His stints posing for fashion shoots and romance-book covers, and the racy photos that were revealed when he was named the suspect, gave Byers national renown.

While he was in southern Connecticut, Byers worked out regularly at a gym in Old Greenwich. Besides the bandanna, he also wore hipster-wear like Chuck Taylor All-Stars and a Hugo Boss jacket while he was pulling hold-ups.

Byers was accused of stealing $8,722 on his first robbery of the Chase Bank in Cos Cob on April 25, and $3,391 on his second hold-up there April 26.

After he was arrested, authorities connected Byers with the robberies on Long Island.

Before his guilty plea on the federal robbery charge in Connecticut this week, Byers compiled an arrest record in southern California. He stole gym equipment in San Diego and was charged with burglary. He also got arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to court records.

His court cases were settled in California, leading to his extradition in August.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
STAMFORD  Since he left Connecticut during a snow storm in February 2001, Franz Barthelemy fell in love, fathered four children, opened up a store in Port Au Prince, Haiti and did security work for the Red Cross after the devastating earthquake there in 2010.

His family insists that over the past 16 years the Westhill High School graduate lived a model, law-abiding life on the Caribbean island under his real name until his past caught up to him about a month ago.

At an arraignment at the Stamford courthouse on Monday, States Attorney Richard Colangelo said Barthelemy, 39, fled the jurisdiction on the last day of his trial in 2001 to face charges of the attempted murder of William Regan in Stamford.

Colangelo, who was prosecuting the case against Barthelemy said that in February 2001 he and defense attorney Matthew Maddox had finished their closing arguments in the case when it began to snow outside.

Colangelo said instead of sending the jury in to begin their deliberations, the late Judge Martin Nigro decided to send the group home.

Attorney Maddox and I came back the next day. He didnt, Colangelo told Judge John Blawie.

The next day the jury found Barthelemy not guilty of attempted murder, but convicted him of attempted first-degree assault with a gun and carrying a pistol without a permit.

On the same day he was found guilty, Barthelemy hopped a jet to Haiti and was not seen in Stamford again until Monday, Colangelo said.

A few months later, Nigro sentenced Barthelemy to 16 years in prison  11 of which were the mandatory minimum sentence, Colangelo said.

Colangelo said some U.S. Marshals were in his office a couple months ago and he mentioned to them that Barthelemy was still at large and believed to be in Haiti. About two weeks later he received word that the marshals found him.

Colangelo asked Judge Blawie to order Barthelemy be held on a $250,000 court appearance bond for failing to appear in court. Maddox asked that the judge set a bond that could be reduced later.

But Blawie balked, saying that in some cases he would do that. In this case he said, We are not talking about the presumption of innocence. We are talking about justice delayed here. It cannot be denied, but it has been delayed. He has to at some point begin serving the sentence imposed by the late Judge Nigro.

Blawie ended up setting the bond at $250,000 cash only and scheduled him to return to court on Dec. 8.

Maddox said he wanted to sit with Barthelemy in private and find out what happened to him for all these years.

The marshals did a great job, Colangelo said. It was amazing how fast they found him. He is a very violent individual who fled the jurisdiction.

Outside the courtroom Barthelemys family and friends said it was no wonder he was found so quickly. They said Barthelemy, who came to the United States from Haiti when he was 12-years- old, lived under his own name and he even had a permit to legally carry a gun in Haiti.

One friend who went to Westhill with Barthelemy said he began working for the Red Cross in Haiti after the earthquake. The man, who did not want his name printed, said Barthelemy rose to become the second in command in the security department in Haiti.

His mother, Ebony Barthelemy, 71, said her son had seven children and after three died was raising three daughters and a son with his common law wife.
COLUMBUS  Turns out its garages, not houses, that are in high demand in Columbus.

At least that was the case at Sundays city surplus auction.

Bidders snatched up 10 garages that must be moved for the 12th Avenue viaduct while just six of the 18 houses available were purchased by buyers looking to move them.

That didnt surprise Rick Grubaugh with Grubaugh Auction Service, which handled the sale for the city.

Any house relocated within the city or its 2-mile zoning jurisdiction must be brought up to current codes, which can be a difficult, time-consuming and expensive process.

Grubaugh said there are fewer requirements for garages, which are also easier to move.

Honestly, I was happy to get bids on everything, because sometimes you dont, said Grubaugh, noting a recent auction in which a two-story, brick house failed to attract a single bid to move or salvage items from the structure.

I was pleased with the way everything went, he said of Sundays event.

Buyers paid prices ranging from $100 to $4,700 for the six houses that must be moved by May 1, with the residence at 1203 15th St. bringing in the top bid. The combined selling price for the properties is $10,900.

The other 12 houses up for auction were sold for salvage, meaning buyers can take what they want without an obligation to move or tear down the structure, with winning bids ranging from $50 to $125. The city will hire a company to demolish those houses after the May 1 deadline.

Bobby Pensick, a community service technician with Columbus Police Department who coordinates the city auctions, didnt expect the houses to bring big money either.

Five to six were in good shape to relocate, he said. The rest of them, theyre just salvageable.

Its all how much people want to spend to move them, said Pensick, who heard estimates of $10,000 to $15,000 to move a house.

The 10 garages brought in nearly $8,000, with a top bid of $2,800, and a few fences and sheds added to the total, which will be used to reduce the amount of local sales tax revenue needed to pay for the citys share of the viaduct project.

The city had to acquire all or part of 49 properties, including temporary construction easements, for the approximately $13 million viaduct that will stretch from Ninth to 16th streets, veering roughly a block west to avoid a Loup Public Power District service center and two cemeteries.

Columbus is responsible for roughly 10 percent of the viaducts costs, with federal funding covering about 80 percent and Union Pacific Railroad paying the remainder.

The project is expected to be bid by the Nebraska Department of Transportation next fall with construction occurring in 2019 and 2020.

Sundays auction also featured a few dozen bicycles, several vehicles, including two former Crown Victoria police cruisers that sold for a combined $6,050, and various items ranging from stuffed animals and office chairs to weed whackers and park benches.

The most valuable item was a vacuum truck used to clean sewer lines that sold for $37,500.
Jose Andres (at right) in Puerto Rico. Photo: Jose Andres/Twitter

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Jose Andres and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen established 18 kitchens and delivered 2.2 million meals in a decimated Puerto Rico. The chef started scaling back his efforts on October 25, and a New York Times article published five days later described him as having clashed more than once with FEMA and other large organizations. (FEMA reportedly reminded Andres that he and his organization lacked experience.) Now, BuzzFeed reports that FEMA has expressed disappointment over Andress public comments, telling the site hes a businessman looking for stuff to promote his business.

FEMAs director of its disaster operations division, Marty Bahamonde, tells BuzzFeed that it paid the chef and that what he did wasnt volunteer work. The government awarded Andres two contracts through FEMA, one for $1.5 million for 140,000 meals and another for $10,000. The agency says Andres wanted a 60-day contract through December for $30 million, and that he was frustrated by what he perceived as bureaucracy obstructing his efforts. Bahamonde did praise Andres as someone who was there to help and whose efforts led to stabilization of food on the island, while adding that there were others present, too. During an interview, Andres responded to FEMAs comments and chafed at them, saying whoever described him as a businessman in this situation should be very ashamed of themselves.

The public has received Andress efforts as Herculean; he reportedly lost 25 pounds during the first 11 days. He tweeted criticisms, including that he was feeding the National Guard but that the government wouldnt help his organization. He also described FEMAs base of operations as the most inefficient place on earth and that it was leaving the islands people hungry and thirsty.
The first location at Seattles Reserve Roastery. Photo: Matt Glac

Starbucks has unveiled the perfect complement to your next Zombie or Unicorn Frappuccino: upscale Italian pastries like youve never seen in America. These first-of-their-kind baked goods mark the coffee giants latest plans for world domination, which involve spinning off a bakery-only concept called Princi that sells its own brand of breads and pastries.

The company says its opening the inaugural store today in Seattle, although that one isnt a stand-alone location. Instead, its incorporated into Starbuckss high-end Reserve Roastery, possibly to stress Princis ties to the Green Mermaid before setting it adrift. The project is a bold play for a greater share of the fast-lunch pie, and has been in the works for a while: Princi is a small bakery chain that already exists in Italy. Howard Schultz  who built Starbucks around his Italy obsession  is a big fan of Princis stores, which hes called a visually intoxicating environment. Last July, Starbucks invested in Princi and entered into an exclusive licensing agreement. Originally, the plan was to serve Princi products in Starbuckss Reserve stores, but it seems thats grown more ambitious.

Schultz tells the Washington Post that they hope to start opening stand-alone Princi bakeries across the country by next year. The first will be in New York City, Seattle, and Chicago. (One of them is reportedly already being erected in Red Hook.) The companys had clear designs on conquering the lunch crowd for a while, but so far theyve largely floundered. A major reason why is existential: Coffee shops dont need full kitchens, so customers swinging by the local Bucks for a latte are going to roll their eyes at a cold case filled with $10 sandwiches, sushi burritos, and organic avocado spread.

The Princi locations will still serve Starbucks coffee, but theyll boast full kitchens and employ commessas who will serve as food ambassadors to what Starbucks apparently expects to be a very confused set of customers. The menu runs more than 100 items, all made from ingredients freshly imported from Italy  there are egg dishes for breakfast, focaccia sandwiches, small plates for dinner, cocktails, and the usual bakers gamut of croissants and cookies.

Schultz warns the Posts readers that were getting into the food business, in case there was any doubt about that.
Detention Center

The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility Monday was 54, with 47 from Platte County and seven from out of county.

Police

Nov. 1

3:11 p.m.  At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 14th Street, Irvin Alvarez, 27, 4008 E. 29th St., No. 745, was cited for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana-one ounce or less and possession of drug paraphernalia.

3:16 p.m.  At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 14th Street, Alexandra Wesely, 30, 3309 Brunken St., No. 3, was cited for possession of marijuana-one ounce or less and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff

Oct. 22

7:59 p.m.  On 160th Avenue, six miles northeast of Columbus, a vehicle driven by Travis Runge, 37, 658 Fourth St., struck a deer.

Nov. 3

12:43 a.m.  At the intersection of 10th Avenue and 23rd Street, Ingrid Sanchez of Columbus cited for failure to yield right of way, no valid registration and no proof of insurance..

Nov. 4

10:48 a.m.  Traffic violation at the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and 265th Avenue, Jason Clark of Colorado cited for speeding.

11:20 a.m.  Traffic violation at the intersection of 370th Avenue and 145th Street, Daisy Rosas Alarcon of Norfolk cited for speeding.

Nov. 5

1:05 p.m.  Wanted person at the Platte County Detention Facility, 1125 E. 17th St., Nephi Granillo of Columbus jailed on a Platte County warrant.

2:22 p.m.  Wanted person at the Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Katrina Brezenski of Columbus jailed on two Platte County warrants and one Butler County warrant.

4:09 p.m.  Wanted person at 2658 26th Ave., Kristi Selwyn of Columbus jailed on two Platte County warrants.

Fire

Nov. 3

12:44 p.m.  Medical assist at accident at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 23rd Street, one patient transported.

3:12 p.m.  In the 2700 block of 33rd Street, medical.

7:54 p.m.  In the 2300 block of 29th Street, medical.

Nov. 4

3:11 a.m.  In the 3300 block of 17th Street, medical.

10:27 a.m.  In the old Shakeys in Duncan, medical.

11:21 a.m.  In the 4500 block of 38th Street, medical.

6:20 p.m.  In the 4500 block of 38th Street, medical.

7:31 p.m.  In the 3200 block of 29th Avenue, medical.

9:08 p.m.  Silent fire alarm at 2064 Gruenther Drive, burning branches.

Nov. 5

5:38 a.m.  In the 1700 block of 22nd Street, medical.

8:31 a.m.  In the 4600 block of 31st Street, medical.

4:54 p.m.  In the 1600 block of Seventh Street, medical.

5:05 p.m.  In the 4100 block of East Fifth Street, medical.

5:17 p.m.  Alarm activated in the 4500 block of 63rd Street, call cancelled.

8:34 p.m.  Alarm activated in the 4500 block of 63rd Street, call cancelled.




Haiti - Social : The construction of social housing in Fond Rouge becomes a reality





The Office of Communication of the Presidency informs us that as part of the Caravan of Change, the construction of social housing continues at Fond Rouge (communal section of Jeremie, department of Grande-Anse) in accordance with the campaign promise made by the Head of State in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, in the South of the country.



Indeed, of the 1,000 homes announced, many are already under construction, giving hope to the people of Fond Rouge...



Recall that more than 2,000 houses should be built in the South, including 600 in Grande-Anse and 600 in the Nippes department.



to be continued...



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





2 ex-ministers summoned to the public prosecutor's office

Following their ban on leaving the territory, former Minister Camille Edouard Jr. (Justice) and former Minister Yves Romain Bastien (Economy), are summoned by Me Clame Ocnam Dameus, the Government Commissioner. Romain Bastien on the 13th and Camille Edouard on November 14th.



BIM : A sad anniversary

Monday, for the 10 years of the Brigade of Motorized Intervention (BIM), Michel-Ange Gedeon, the Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) paid a well deserved visit to the police officers of this important unit. The opportunity for him also to send his sympathies to colleagues, relatives and friends of policewoman Toussaint cowardly murdered early last week https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22577-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22579-the-secretary-of-state-deplores-the-repetition-of-police-officers-killings.html and to share with them their experiences that should serve as a guide to face the challenges that await them and continue to do their work with all the serenity.



Commissioner Dameus wants to see the statutes of the RNDDH

Me Clame Ocnam Dameus, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, sent a correspondence to Pierre Esperance, the Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) to ask him to send him a copy of the statutes of the RNDDH. A request that Pierre Esperance describes as an act of intimidation...



The health of Jean-Charles Moise improves

According to a relative of the leader of the political party of the radical opposition "Pitit Desalin" the state of health of Jean-Charles Moise would continue to improve in Havana where he is treated since last November 2 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22557-haiti-flash-moise-jean-charles-is-not-going-so-well.html Cuban doctors have confirmed that partial facial paralysis and the right ear infection he is suffering, are treatable.



Verification of promise at the Iron Market

On Monday, the Mayors of Port-de-Paix, Tony Vernio and Josue Alusma met with Iron Market merchants to share information about President Moise's promise to finish the Market building, which he had made during of his last visit to the commune of Port-de-Paix.



Visit of Minister Menos at the Hotel School

Monday, Colombe Emilie Jessy Menos the Minister of Tourism, paid a visit to the Hotel School of Haiti to encourage the work done by the Provisional Restructuring Commission of the EHH. The Minister took this opportunity to personally sensitize the new admissions of the school, to the importance of the professional sector Tourism & Hospitality for the development of Haiti. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-22099-icihaiti-tourism-establishment-of-a-restructuring-committee-at-the-haiti-hotel-school.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2017/11/07 | Source

Added episodes 7 and 8 captures for the Korean drama "Black" (2017)

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Directed by Kim Hong-seon-I

Written by Choi Ran-I

Network : OCN

With Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El, Kim Dong-jun, Jo Jae-yun, Lee Kyu-bok,...

16 episodes - Sat, Sun 22:00

Synopsis

A reaper borrows a human body and fall in love with a mortal woman who can see the shadows of death. He breaks the rules of heaven and thus completely disappears from the memory of the world in this drama.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/10/14

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Published on 2017/11/07 | Source

Added final episodes 49 and 50 captures for the Korean drama "Bad Thief, Good Thief" (2017)

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Directed by Jang Joon-ho, Oh Kyeong-hoon

Written by Cha I-yeong, Son Yeong-mok

Network : MBC

With Ji Hyun-woo, Seohyun, Kim Ji-hoon-I, Lim Ju-eun, Ahn Kil-kang, Jung Kyung-soon,...

50 episodes - Sat, Sun 22:00

Synopsis

A story of thieves who affect the authorities that manipulate Korea. It serves to bring satisfaction to those who are frustrated at the reality of the world.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/05/13

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New role at GCF puts focus on UK

By Jo Gilbert

Major French exporter Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) has appointed a new UK based wine director to oversee the groups activities outside of France.

Nick Butler takes on the new role of UK and Ireland wine director, which was created to support the commercial team as part of the groups expansion programme.

The new position is part of the companys strategic plan to extend business outside of France, GCF said today.

Although GCFs French portfolio will remain its focus and core of the business, a new strategic direction and acquisition programme is currently underway to ramp up expansion outside of France.

Australian Butler has a degree in Oenology from Roseworthy College, Adelaide, and is a winemaker himself, with 30 years of experience internationally  most recently as Kingsland Drinks wine controller.

At a strategic level this new appointment demonstrates a very exciting next chapter in spearheading our new global goals, and we are delighted to welcome Nick on board, said Mark Kears, MD for UK & Ireland.

He brings a wealth of experience and an extensive network of industry contacts and his role will be highly complementary to our new international direction.

Butler will report directly toMark Kears.

Vanessa Mills, UK winemaker specialist France, remains the main wine contact for GCFs French portfolio.












COLUMBUS  About 50 third-graders at Shell Creek Elementary School got to know one of the military veterans they're saluting by decorating a wall outside their classroom ahead of Veterans Day.

U.S. Army veteran Adam Perry was peppered with questions by the young students for about 45 minutes Monday as he went through a presentation and spoke about his experiences during 6 1/2 years of active duty in Afghanistan, Alaska and other bases in the lower 48 states.

Teacher Kelly Frenzen invited students to bring in photos of people close to them who have served in the military to decorate the wall outside her classroom to mark the national holiday.

The kids, with hands upraised to get Perrys attention, were full of questions.

Have you ever been shot? Have you been in a war? How much does all the gear you carry (weapon, ammunition, food, water) while walking weigh? Whats it like parachuting out of a plane? Are there any bugs or insects?

The answers: no; yes; about 85 pounds; like going down a roller-coaster; spiders as big as a Frisbee.

The 31-year-old Perry, the stepfather of third-grader Jackson Ceder, graduated from Shelby High School about 13 years ago and went off to college. When he graduated from Peru State College in 2008, there werent a lot of job opportunities waiting with the onset of the Great Recession.

I decided to sign up, said Perry, who went to basic training at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

From there, he shipped out to the war in Afghanistan, where he served as a staff sergeant performing counter-insurgency missions aimed at employing civilian and military efforts to defeat the enemy.

His unit, the 1st Battalion, 327th infantry regiment, spent most of its time in the northeast corner of Afghanistan along the porous border with Pakistan.

Perry spent about 2 1/2 years in central Alaska stationed at Fort Wainwright while participating in many live-fire training missions. The Columbus man decided to leave active duty about 18 months ago, joined the National Guard and now has eight years of military service.

He joined the Nebraska State Patrol and is based in Geneva.
Australian company fined A$75,000 after worker suffers serious electrical shock

A construction company in Toowoomba, Queensland, was fined $75,000 and ordered to pay costs of almost $1,000 after a worker suffered a serious electrical shock on 25 November 2015. The company pleaded guilty to failing to operate in an electrically safe manner, exposing people to the risk of death or serious injury.

Stock image

Safetyculture Australia reported that a supervisor for a construction company building a house failed to notice a 12.7 kVolt power line under the site and did not complete a hazard identification checklist prior to construction starting.

A roofer installing galvanised steel handrail came within 30 centimetres of the powerline resulting in an arc flash that energised the metallic rail. The worker received severe burns and other significant injuries from the high-voltage current flowing through his body.

In sentencing, Magistrate Robert Davies took into account the defendant had been negligent in the extreme, and as a result, a worker suffered significant injuries.



But he also noted that it was a first offence for the company, which had entered an early guilty plea and cooperated with the investigation. The company directors also demonstrated a high degree of remorse through post-incident measures taken to ensure safety in the future, the magistrate said, and no conviction was recorded.


Our people are our greatest asset.

We have amazing benefits and perks.

We offer career development and progression.

Were the most innovative company in our space.

be youve heard (or even used) the term employer brand without being completely sure what it means and how its different from the concept of talent brand.Coined in 1996, employer brand is a relatively new niche that falls under the larger umbrella of talent attraction. While talent brand and employer brand have some areas of overlap, these two terms have several key differences.Most of those differences are tied to the voice of your potential hires, or your audience. And make no mistake, you have lots of audiences. Lets take a closer look at what makes these concepts distinct and why theyre both important to your businesss reputation as an employer.An employer brand is all about storytelling. It encompasses how you want your organisation to be perceived and the specific messaging you use when sharing information about your company.Companies have a great deal of control over their employer brand marketing, which can sometimes cause problemslike when multiple companies turn to the same messaging again and again. Do these phrases sound familiar?These seem like great claims at first, but after the 27th time a prospective employee hears the phrase We have the best people, it can start to lose meaning. This is what I like to call Employer Blanding.It makes matters worse if these claims turn out to be inaccurate, which happens more often than you might think. Even if an organisations leaders mean well, they can develop a warped view of their employees experiences.And when companies attempt to sell an inaccurate or inauthentic brand to potential employees, it could cost them in both the long-term and short-term when it comes to talent attraction, employee engagement and employee retention.According to TalentBrand.Org* , your talent brand is the honest story of life as an employee inside your organization, as told by the employees in parallel with the company.So how can you make sure your idea of your brand lines up with the reality of what employees are saying? Thats where a holistic view of your reputation comes in.While your employer brand can be shaped and honed by your organizations leaders, talent brand comes directly from employee experiences and feedback. In other words, your talent brand is not what one website or channel says it is. Current, past and even prospective employees shape your talent brand through social media posts, review site comments, direct network conversations, face-to-face interactions and referrals.On Indeeds Company Pages for example, youll learn what people are saying about your companys culture, management, pay, benefits, work-life balance, job security and advancement opportunities.This feedback from real employees provides a valuable touchpoint and reality check for company leaders who want to make sure their employer brand accurately reflects employee experiences. Again, this is just one piece of the Talent Brand puzzle that you need to examine.Companies can get the most from their talent brand and employee brand identities when they consider these two concepts together. Thats why Indeeds Company Pages feature employer-created videos and social feeds alongside reviews and ratings directly from employees.How do I know which channels are important enough to monitor? I look at where Im getting the biggest sources of candidate traffic.Bringing these two types of branding together helps you visualize the overlap between the way you view your brand and how employees see your company. This area of overlap can shed new light on where the heart of your brand actually lives.By focusing on the aspects of your brand that employees truly appreciate, youll get a stronger sense of which of your companys unique perks and attributes you should amplify and share more widely, to attract the types of people youre looking to hire.And who knows? It may even mean you can swap out that we have the best people line for something thats a much better fit.*Full disclosure: Im a cofounder of this community organisation.Bryan Chaney is Director of Employer Brand at Indeed.
irestorm erupted in August after an internal memo from Google engineer James Damore went viral. The widely shared 3,000 word document, titled Google's Ideological Echo Chamber, criticised Google for its pro-diversity programs. Damore wrote:



"Distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership."



He also suggested that women "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas" while more men may like coding because it requires systemising" and have a higher drive for status.



For Google and the broader tech industry, its the latest in a long line of incidents relating to sexism and biased attitudes towards minority groups.



Google's leadership responded by slamming the statement.



"Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK," commented CEO Sundar Pichai.



In June, Google voluntarily released workforce demographic data as part of its efforts to create a more inclusive culture  a process that employees such as senior vice president of corporate development and chief legal officer, David Drummond, say has been slow but real.



The stats show that while the percentage of women at the company (31%) is increasing, men are still overrepresented, especially in tech (consisting 80% men) and leadership (75% men) roles. A related issue is the fact that 57% of the companys American workforce is white.



The company also announced that Danielle Brown will become Googles new vice president of diversity. Brown previously worked as the chief diversity and inclusion officer at Intel. Brown released her own memo, which stated:



Google has taken a strong stand on this issue, by releasing its demographic data and creating a company wide OKR [objectives and key results] on diversity and inclusion. Strong stands elicit strong reactions. Changing a culture is hard, and it's often uncomfortable. But I firmly believe Google is doing the right thing, and that's why I took this job.



Brown added that part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. However, that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws.



While many observers disagreed with Damores sentiments, others applauded him for calling out the fact that D&I initiatives can be less than effective. The reaction from Google  Damone was dismissed, which he claimed was for "perpetuating gender stereotypes"  was also criticised, with some citing it as the latest example of politically correct authoritarianism creeping into every level of society.



Whats going wrong?



Lance Hodgson, marketing manager at Mentorloop, told HRD that it wasnt surprising to see more controversy surrounding what is obviously still a plaguing problem in the tech sector.



Hodgson has himself criticised D&I initiatives in the past, and says that many people are disillusioned and frustrated with them.



The discrepancy between the investment and attention on D&I and the tangible evidence of progress is frustrating  mostly for the marginalised groups who are most impacted by the systemic discrimination but also for many other people inside of these organisations who would love to work in a more diverse workplace but continue to see initiatives fail.



Hodgson added that although the assumption the Google employee made isnt a correct one, his logic isnt too far-fetched. All of this investment, effort and time with little to no avail. There must be something more biological at play, right?



Gender stereotyping is one of the root causes of bias in the tech sector. With male-female stereotypes deeply engrained in even the most self-aware person, it doesnt take much for these attitudes to snowball. Hodgson says small unconscious biases skew early representation at tech companies, which then compounds and results in the poor diversity statistics often seen at later stage companies.



He adds that, in his view, few companies set out to make their workplaces intentionally unappealing to women or families. However, women use mental shortcuts and contextual cues to make decisions  like all humans  and are often discouraged from applying/interviewing at certain companies and in certain roles as they feel the very real pressures of imposter syndrome: feeling like an outsider or fraud in a male-dominated ecosystem.



Unfortunately, most tech companies only become concerned with diversity and inclusion once they are somewhat established, says Hodgson. And at that point, its often too late to reverse these deeply seated trends.



Avoiding special programs for special people

Other companies head down a path that leads to the opposite desired outcome of D&I: exclusivity. Hodgson says too many diversity initiatives are aimed at a subset of individuals, or what he describes as special programs for special people.



While well-intentioned, many of these programs exacerbate existing differences by further segregating the people who are different in an attempt to help them  instead of focusing on breaking down the systemic and artificial barriers to integration which created the problems in the first place.



Cross-departmental meetings are conducted to align teams around common goals and communication, and yet diversity programs are created in a vacuum where communication between participants and nonparticipants is nil  and there is no common goal, says Hodgson. As has been proven time and time again in study after study, the way to overcome artificial differences  which these are  is to find commonalities and shared pursuits.



While Hodgson conceded its easier said than done, he suggests creating programs where interaction is not just encouraged but becomes a normal everyday practice. This then creates a truly sustainable, beneficial, and diverse culture.



Current programs and initiatives do play a role; they serve as interim and helpful bandages while we work towards a more holistic approach, he said.



As a sector and as a people, we need to evolve from providing sporadic and sometimes perfunctory diversity and inclusion programs, to addressing the entire funnel systematically  from education all the way through to upper management.



As employees themselves and leaders in the D&I space, HR professionals need to be aware of their own unconscious biases, and make conscious decisions accordingly. And it shouldnt be hard.



As Hodgson points out, countless studies point to the fact that gender diversity  as well as ethnic diversity  results in better organisational outcomes. There is a strategic and fiscal responsibility as well as moral obligation to solve for the bottlenecks that inhibit diversity, he said.
Secretary Mattis and I discussed just one issue, Niinisto said in his brief statement to the press. The issue of peace. Our focus was on how to uphold peace around the world. Our thoughts on the issue are very similar.

A single topic dominated the discussion as President Sauli Niinisto and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis met briefly in Helsinki on Monday.

The one-hour discussion did not, on the other hand, broach on the planned overhaul of the ageing fighter jet fleet of Finland or the proposed, large-scale joint military exercises to be held in Finland with Sweden and the United States, he said. The exercises have been championed especially by Jussi Niinisto, the Finnish Minister of Defence, who has argued that they are important for developing the capability of Finland to receive military assistance from its allies.

Mattis, in turn, congratulated Finland on the centenary of its independence and commended the country for its contributions to peacekeeping, the promotion of human rights and the global coalition against the so-called Islamic State.

You have shown that you are serious about the defence of your freedom and independence, he stated according to a press release from the Office of the President of Finland.

Relations between Finland and the United States have never been stronger, he also assessed.

Mattis is in Finland to attend a working session of the so-called northern group of defence ministers organised in Helsinki on Tuesday. The group is expected to discuss security issues in Northern Europe as well as regional and transatlantic defence co-operation.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
BRISTOL, Va.  A close gubernatorial contest, two contested constitutional posts in Bristol, Virginia, and a smattering of local races across Southwest Virginia comprise the lineup for Election Day 2017.

Throw in a healthy chance of showers and local election officials said they were uncertain about forecasting voter turnout.

Bristol is usually pretty reliable. I was expecting about 34 or 35 percent turnout for the gubernatorial race, but we had a 47 percent increase in absentee voting, so turnout may be higher, Bristol General Registrar Penny Limburg said Monday. I believe the local races may be driving some of that.

Washington County Director of Elections Derek Lyall was also hedging his bets.

I think well be busy all day, but Im having a hard time figuring what turnout will be, Lyall said. My best guess is about 40 percent based on the gubernatorial election four years ago. Absentee voting has been up, but I dont know what that means for turnout.

Current Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is the Democratic nominee to replace Terry McAuliffe in the governors mansion. He faces Republican Ed Gillespie and independent Clifford D. Hyra in the ballots marquee contest.

According to an average of 12 polls by RealClearPolitics.com, Northam holds an average 3.3 percentage point lead over Gillespie, who most polls showed trailing by as many as 10 percentage points just last month.

Two polls  by Rasmussen Reports and Roanoke College  show the race as a tie. Five polls show Northam with a lead of one to three points and five others show Northam with a lead of four or more points. None of the statewide polls show Gillespie with a lead.

Democrat Justin Fairfax meets Republican Jill Vogel in the lieutenant governors race and Attorney General Mark Herring faces a re-election challenge from Republican John Adams.

Among contested Bristol races, current Chief Deputy Sheriff David Maples faces Deputy Joe Mink and Randy Campbell in the sheriffs contest. Incumbent Sheriff Jack Weisenburger is retiring.

Commonwealths Attorney Jerry Wolfe and Treasurer Angel Harris are unopposed.

In the citys only other contested race, Cloe Eva Barker, the chief deputy of retiring Revenue Commissioner Terry Frye, is alone on the ballot for commissioner of revenue. However, insurance agent and former banking executive Rodger Williams mounted a write-in challenge.

Limburg said election officials will not be able to assist voters in any way with names. They can only explain how to vote write-in, which is to color in the little oval and write that persons name in, she said.

Individual write-in votes wont be tallied until Wednesday morning, so if Barker has more votes than there are total write-ins, she can claim victory. Otherwise, the outcome wont be known until the citys Electoral Board conducts its canvass at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Voters in Washington Countys 19 precincts will use new voting machines, Lyall said. Many areas have contested local races. Three seats on the Washington County Board of Supervisors and one contested School Board seat are on the ballot.

In District B, voters can select between incumbent Randy Pennington and challenger Joel Harte, while incumbent Danny Ruble meets J. Sanders Henderson III in the school board race.

In District E, incumbent Supervisor James Jim Baker faces Mike Rush, while in District G incumbent Vernon Smith is challenged by Dwayne Ball.

Members of the House of Delegates will also appear on ballots across the region with three facing opposition. Incumbent Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, faces Democrat challenger Alicia Kallen in the 1st District. In the 3rd District, incumbent Will Morefield, R-N. Tazewell, is challenged by Democrat W.C. Bill Bunch, and in the 6th District, incumbent Jeff Campbell, R-Saltville, faces Democrat Kenneth Browning.

Incumbents Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, and Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, are running unopposed.

There are also a number of local races on ballots in Southwest Virginia. In Buchanan County, two School Board seats are up.

There are three contested Board of Supervisors races in Smyth County along with three School Board seats  two of which are contested. Two seats on the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors appear on ballots there. Wise County has the busiest ballot, with three Board of Supervisors races, four School Board races and a question on whether to permit beer and wine sales in the county after noon Sundays.

All voters should take a photo ID to the polls, Limburg said, and knowing who they plan to vote for before arriving can make the process smoother, Limburg said.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va.  Washington County, Virginia Director of Elections and General Registrar Derek Lyall reported that by 10 a.m. Tuesday a little over 5,800 Washington County, Virginia voters had voted in todays election.

Lyall reported that is approximately 16.3 percent of registered voters.

Three seats are up for election in the Washington County Board of Supervisors race.

In District B, the Jefferson District, incumbent Randy Pennington, 65, of Abingdon, is running against Joel Harte, 69, of Greendale.

In District E, the Taylor District, incumbent James Baker, 57, of Damascus is running to hold his seat against Mike Rush, 68, of the Damascus area.

In District G, the Wilson District, incumbent Vernon Smith, of Abingdon, is looking to hold his seat from opponent, Dwayne Ball, 51, of the Wyndale community. Smith did not provide his age.

Of the three School Board races, only one is opposed, in District B, the Jefferson District.

District B candidates are Sanders Henderson, 56, of Saltville and Daniel Ruble, 39, of Abingdon. In the 2013 election, Ruble beat Henderson, who was the incumbent, by three votes.

Thomas Musick, 49, of the Widner Valley Community, is running for his fifth term to serve District E, the Taylor District, on the School Board. He has run unopposed for the last three elections.

In District G, the Wilson District, Terry Fleenor, 61, of the Wyndale Community, is running unopposed for his second term.

Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie are vying for the governors seat.

276-645-2512

Twitter@tchildressBHC
BRISTOL, Va.  Woodforest National Bank is shuttering its branch inside Walmart in Bristol, Virginia, according to a letter sent to impacted customers.

The Woodlands, Texas-based bank has hundreds of locations inside Walmart stores across the country.

The letter states that the branch will close permanently on Jan. 28. No reason was given for shuttering the location and requests for information from bank officials were not returned Monday.

Client accounts will be transferred to the Norton, Virginia, branch. There are other locations in Jonesville and Wytheville in Virginia.

The closing will not affect customer bank accounts and future transactions can be made at any other Woodforest location in the region and on the companys website, the letter states.

The branch employs five people and they can apply at other branch locations, including the Norton branch, according to the letter.

Woodforest is the second bank in recent weeks to announce closing plans. BB&T confirmed last month it plans to close 140 branches across the country due to reviews of business strength as well as client use patterns, the company said. But BB&Ts two Bristol locations on Lee Highway in Bristol, Virginia, and on Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee, will remain open, according to an emailed statement from a corporate spokesman.
Six months of sometimes heated discussion came to an end last December when the Carlisle Borough Council voted 5-2 to enact the Human Relations Ordinance.

The ordinance, which went into effect on March 1, made it unlawful for anyone to engage in discrimination related to employment, housing and commercial property or any public accommodation where it is not currently prohibited by other state or federal laws.

Pennsylvanias Human Relations Act, which the ordinance largely mirrors, provides these protections, including protection from discrimination at public accommodations, to all classes of people except sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Carlisles ordinance expands protection to those three groups.

Nancy Gregor, chair of the four-member Human Relations Commission created as required by the ordinance, declined to comment on whether any complaints have been filed under the ordinance.

Other commission members include McKenzie Clark, Safronia Perry and James Hamblin.

We do not disclose the filing of any complaint, Gregor said.

That the commission would not disclose potential filings leaves both sides of the debate waiting to see how the ordinance works in practice.

We remain in a watch-and-wait mode, said Laszlo Pasztor Jr., who had spoken out against the ordinance throughout the discussion process last year.

The existence of the ordinance and the support of the community already represented a change in the eyes of Christin Kapp, who supported the ordinance throughout last years debate.

Carlisles LGBTQIA+ community can sleep each night knowing that our town has our collective backs, should the situation ever present itself. Thats the point of the ordinance, to be there should we need it, she said.

In progress

There has been plenty of other activity, however, to keep the members of the commission busy. Commission members were appointed in February and held their first meeting that month.

Gregor said the commission has used the past eight months to organize, go through training, and begin efforts to reach out to the community.

They set their meetings for the fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:30 a.m. The commission also appointed its chair, vice-chair and intake commissioner, who will initially meet with a person making a complaint. Then, it was time to prepare the bylaws, which have been approved by the boroughs solicitor, and to create the form used to file a complaint.

Members of the commission were also required under the ordinance to attend training through the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

The commission has also started outlining a plan for outreach, which is not specifically addressed in the ordinance, though it does speak to both education and the use of volunteers. Commission members will do as much outreach as it can to offer not only information about the commission and its work, but also about civil rights in general.

Weve run with that. Weve done a couple of outreach events. We had one at Hope Station, and a bystander training group at Dickinson College, Gregor said.

Volunteers may also be called upon to talk to people who are considering whether to file a complaint. Their role would be to outline the process to help the person make an informed decision about filing the complaint. The idea to use volunteers in such a way came about as commission members heard about a few people who were not sure whether they should file.

The reason that we really think we need that is really that we dont have a jurisdiction until we have a complaint. So when a complaint is filed, then we do our thing, Gregor said.

Gregor said the role of the volunteer would simply be to explain the complaint process, not to encourage people to make a complaint.

Nobodys going out looking for things. Weve been very clear on that. Were not drumming up anything, she said.

Forms

Complaint forms and information on the process of filing a complaint are available on the boroughs website, as well as at the borough office. Once a complaint is received, the intake commissioner meets with the person making the complaint. Once the complaint is processed, the person making the complaint is notified and given the option of mediation.

The commission has 30 days from the time it receives a complaint to inform the person who is alleged to have committed a discriminatory act and to provide them with both a copy of the ordinance and the option for mediation. That person then has 30 days to provide a written response to the complaint.

The parties then may be referred to outside mediators, but the commissioners themselves may act as mediator. A minimum of two commissioners would be required to act as mediator.

Hopefully, that will settle some problems. Were looking forward to that, Gregor said.

Should the parties be unable to resolve their differences, the person making the complaint would have the option to take the case to the Court of Common Pleas.

The goal of the commission, though, is to get the parties talking to each other to avoid a court case. Thinking about cases that have found a spotlight nationally, Gregor said it would bring together the flower shop owner who declines to provide flowers for a gay wedding due to their religious beliefs, and the gay couple who is left wondering what changed because they had bought flowers at the shop in the past.

Were not going to change your religion. Youre not going to change our being married. Can we come together with that? Gregor said. That would be a very interesting conversation. You just never know in mediation how thats going to go.
In the year since Donald Trump was elected president, the national news media has congratulated itself on a new golden age of accountability journalism.

And its true in many ways. The scoops have been relentless, the digging intense, the results important.

But in another crucial way, the reality-based press has failed.

Too often, it has succumbed to the chaos of covering Trump, who lies and blusters and distracts at every turn.

Of course, given the differences among news organizations, generalizing is a fraught exercise. Nonetheless, each news cycle is an exhausting, confusing blast of conflicting claims, fact-checking, reactions and outrage.

How big was the Inauguration Day crowd? What contact did Michael Flynn have with Russians? Why was James B. Comey fired? Is Puerto Rico being ignored after the hurricane? Did Trump insult a Gold Star widow when he telephoned her?

Trump drives the news, all day and every day, a human fire hose of hyperbolic tweets, insults, oversimplification and bragging.

Keeping track of it is hard enough. Making sense of it almost impossible.

Theres a lot of he said/she said, so I believe maybe half of what I hear, said Shannon Heald, one of the many outside-the-Beltway voters Ive talked to about the news media.

A registered nurse who lives in Chautauqua County in western New York, Heald told me she sometimes tunes out the whole confusing mess.

Ive heard other news consumers complain about the protective amnesia that sets in  Trump Brain, as some call it. They blame it on the relentless cascade of information.

Believing half of what the media tells you  and either tuning out or forgetting the rest  doesnt sound like a golden age of anything.

I dont think weve figured out how to deal with the Trump noise machine, said Daniel Dale, a Canadian who covers Washington for the Toronto Star, which gives him both an insiders and outsiders perspective.

Its hard to prioritize, Dale told me. The balance may be out of whack.

And then theres the huge influence of Fox News, which early last week was discussing hamburger emoji as the rest of the national media was reporting the indictments of Trump associates.

My Washington Post colleague Monica Hesse  after writing about the sexual-harassment scandal sweeping the nation  fielded calls last month from several readers who said they had never heard of the famous Access Hollywood video on which Trump bragged about grabbing women by their genitals.

When theres no agreed-upon reality  no Walter Cronkite as the most trusted man in America  were all in trouble.

This feeling of mistrust and disagreement on facts is backed up by public opinion polls: one reported last month that 46 percent of Americans believe the news media simply makes things up about Trump.

The president has been sowing those seeds of mistrust for many months, and cultivates them daily with extra-strength fertilizer.

Reporters have so-called sources that, in my opinion, dont exist, Trump told Lou Dobbs of Fox Business recently. They just  they make it up. It is so dishonest. It is so fake.

Of course, thats not true. Reporters for legitimate news organizations do not make things up. Those few reporters who fabricate sources get fired, and are driven out of the business.

News organizations have tried to push back with mottos and ad campaigns cropping up like mushrooms: CBS touts Real News. CNN trotted out Facts First. And the New York Times offered The Truth is More Important Than Ever.

Theyve struggled with whether to label Trumps falsehoods as lies, and then sometimes made long lists of them.

These efforts are valiant, but they are pen knives up against machine guns.

One of the casualties of our shiny-object, tweet-chasing journalism is the relative lack of focus on matters of policy.

Last month, for example, as the news media obsessed for days over Trumps phone call to the Gold Star widow Myeshia Johnson  Was Gen. John Kelly lying about Rep. Frederica Wilson? Is it inappropriate to question a four-star general?  Congress voted to take away a major consumer protection.

That didnt get ignored exactly; it did get drowned out.

Theres a basic problem here. The old ways just dont work in the new environment.

If nothing the president says can be trusted, reporting what the president says becomes absurd, wrote New York University professor Jay Rosen. This runs up against the journalistic code: to respect the voters choice, to respect the office of the presidency and to respect what they do for a living.

And so, Rosen notes, journalists normalize. They report the lies, but they search for ways to tell the good news about Trump to balance that.

Which is why we have had round after round this past year of supposed pivots and this was the moment when Trump became presidential. No more embarrassing example was the presidents showy bombing of Syria in April, when the cable news pundits fell all over themselves to praise Trumps gravitas.

Just after the election last year, I wrote a column urging journalists to scrutinize  not normalize  this new president.

As it turns out, weve done plenty of both.

Theres been great accountability journalism, but a very poor signal-to-noise ratio. Citizens are left with a confusing, chaotic picture  one that many doubt is true, and many others have decided to block out.

That isnt good enough.

As we enter Year Two of Trumps presidency, its time to build on the successes and bear down, hard, on remedying the failures.

Margaret Sullivan is The Washington Posts media columnist. Previously, she was The New York Times public editor, and the chief editor of The Buffalo News, her hometown paper.
Cumberland Countys proposed 2018 budget is now available for public review, ahead of the county commissioners final vote on the fiscal plan on Dec. 4.

The countys property tax rate is expected to be unchanged from the 2017 rate of 2.361 mills, which includes the 2.195 mill general tax rate as well as the .166 mill library tax add-on. Tax millage is dollars owed per $1,000 of assessed value, meaning a $100,000 home would be billed $236.10 in county property tax.

The calendar-year budget provides an estimated balance sheet for the countys general fund, with a total expense projection for 2018 of $84.3 million. Of this, $52.7 million, or about 62.5 percent, is supported by property taxes.

The countys total costs in a given year are much higher, around $240 million, when one includes agencies and program funds that are state-supported and booked outside of the general fund on a July-to-June fiscal year basis.

The 2018 general fund budget is about $3.1 million more than the 2017 budget, which is projected at $81.2 million. The largest increase is a $1 million hike in full-time salary costs.

The county also announced Monday that it will allocate $500,000 to farmland preservation for 2018, continuing the doubling of funding that began in 2017. Prior to that, general fund inflow to the farmland preservation program had been $250,000 per year.

As occurred last year, Commissioners Vince DiFilippo and Jim Hertzler voted for the heightened farmland preservation funding, with Commissioner Gary Eichelberger opposed. Eichelberger has expressed his dismay that the county does not yet have a long-term funding schedule in place for the farmland program and its potential burden on the general fund.

Farmland preservation programs are used in many Pennsylvania counties to incentivize agriculture. The programs pay farmers for easements over their lands, which restrict its use to agriculture, barring any further development and giving the farmers a cash boost.

Along with state funding, much of which comes from the Marcellus Shale severance tax, Cumberland County finances the preservation of approximately 900 to 1,000 acres of farmland per year.

The budget proposal can be viewed online at www.ccpa.net/2680/Budget.
HARRISBURG  Todays Pennsylvania general election is topped by a Supreme Court race and local races that could put new faces on a number of school and municipal boards, including Carlisles.

An appointed justice, Republican Sallie Mundy, is looking to keep her seat for a full 10-year term. Her opponent is Democrat Dwayne Woodruff, a former Pittsburgh Steeler whos now an Allegheny County judge.

Its an odd-numbered year, which means fewer races and lower turnout for Tuesdays election.

But four seats on the Superior Court are also being contested. A ballot question asks whether the Legislature should have the authority to let counties, municipalities and school districts exclude up to the full value of residents homes from taxation.

Voters will also select candidates for a number of local races.

What to expect

Polls open across the state at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Voters in Cumberland County can get a sample ballot on the county website.

Voters may also find their polling place location on the county website at www.ccpa.net. Polling place locations also ran in the Nov. 1 edition of The Sentinel.

People voting for the first time in their precincts will be required to show some form of acceptable photo or nonphoto identification to vote. Acceptable photo IDs are: a valid Pennsylvania Drivers License or ID card issued by PennDOT; ID issued by any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agency; U.S. passport; U.S. armed forces ID; a student ID; or an employee ID. Acceptable nonphoto identification (must include your name and address) are: Voter identification card issued by the county; nonphoto ID issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the U.S. government; firearm permit, current bank statement, current utility bill, current paycheck or government check.

Local races

The Sentinel published candidate capsules for Cumberland County elections in its Saturday and Monday editions. Those capsules can be read online at cumberlink.com.

The Sentinels election coverage will begin online after polls close across the county at 8 p.m. Follow cumberlink.com to track local election results or pick up Wednesdays edition of the newspaper.

Courts

There is one Supreme Court seat up for election this year. It is held on an interim basis by Republican Sallie Mundy, who is on the ballot. Democrat Dwayne Woodruff, an Allegheny County family division judge and former Pittsburgh Steeler, is challenging. The courts seven justices not only decide some of the states most consequential cases but also oversee the administration of lower courts and make appointments to various boards and agencies, including the Judicial Conduct Board and Court of Judicial Discipline.

Four Democrats, four Republicans and one Green Party candidate are in the running for the four open positions in the Superior Court, which consists of 15 judges who hear appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas in most criminal and civil cases, as well as in family law matters.

The Republican Superior Court candidates are: Emil Giordano, a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County; Wade A. Kagarise, a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County; Mary Murray, a magisterial district judge in Allegheny County; and Craig Stedman, district attorney of Lancaster County. The Democrats running for Superior Court are: Deborah Kunselman, a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County; Maria McLaughlin, a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia; Geoff Moulton of Montgomery County, who is serving on the Superior Court after being appointed in 2016; and Carolyn H. Nichols, a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia.The Green Party candidate is Jules Mermelstein. He is a Montgomery County attorney and has served as an Upper Dublin Township commissioner.

The race for two open seats on the states Commonwealth Court involves four candidates  two Democrats who survived a crowded May primary and two Republicans who coasted into the November contest unopposed.

The nine-member court has initial jurisdiction in cases involving state government, including litigation against agencies such as the state police, Department of Corrections and Department of Human Services. It also hears appeals of government-related cases that originated in county courts  such as residents appeals of zoning, eminent domain and right-to-know rulings. The top two vote-getters Nov. 7 will serve 10-year terms on a panel that currently leans Republican, 6-1.

The Democratic candidates are Ellen Ceisler, a judge on the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, and Irene McLaughlin Clark, a former judge on the Pittsburgh Municipal Court. The Republicans are Christine Fizzano Cannon, a judge on the Delaware County Common Pleas Court, and Paul Lalley, an attorney from Allegheny County.

Property tax

There is also a ballot question that will ask voters whether local taxing authorities should be able to exempt residents from paying property taxes on their homes. Nothing would change immediately if the ballot question passed in November. But school districts, counties, and municipalities would have the option to exempt taxpayers primary residences from property taxes.

Commercial and industrial properties would still be taxed if a local government or school district enacted the exemption. Although its unlikely that the exemption would be used anywhere until replacement revenue sources were found, advocates for property tax reform say the measure would be a significant step in implementing broader changes.
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Campaigners have hit back at plans for a huge expansion at London Stansted after the airport claimed that a cap on passenger numbers was restricting its potential for growth.

The Essex airport, which is owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAGs), is subject to a planning cap that prevents it from handling more than 35 million passengers per annum (mppa).

Following a period of "extensive consultation with local communities over the summer" Stansted now says it wants to see this increased to 43 mppa  a slight reduction on the 44.5 mppa it was originally aiming for, but a huge increase on the 26 million passengers it currently caters for.

Airport bosses claim the change is necessary to enable it to meet a growth in passengers over the next decade, after it saw an increase of nearly 10 million passengers over the past five years.

However, campaigners argue these claims are undermined by official Government statistics which, they say, show predictions that "Stansted will be bursting at the seams by 2023" were "a gross misrepresentation of the reality".

According to the UK Aviation Forecast published at the end of October, the Government expects Stansted to handle just 31 mppa by 2030 and 35 mppa by 2033, based on the assumption that current planning caps remain in place.

Should a new runway be built at Heathrow as planned, the forecast for passenger numbers at Stansted then drops to 22 mppa in 2030, consequently only reaching the present cap of 35 mppa in 2043.

Commenting on the findings, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) Chairman Peter Sanders said: "MAG's overstatement of potential demand to secure support for expansion is nothing more than an opportunistic ploy.

"It is designed to take advantage of a lull during Government consultations on the future of aviation and to try to rush through permissions that might otherwise be restricted once the new aviation policy emerges towards the end of 2018.

"MAG has presented its case as if failure to concede a further tranche of expansion would somehow compromise the rights of the travelling public as well as the UK economy, when the Government's own figures show this to be far from the truth."

However, Stansted Airport has pointed out that the Government recognises that its forecasts are "not intended to provide detailed projections for each individual airport", and that airport specific data may be used to inform local planning decisions.

A spokesman for the airport said: "Growth at Stansted over the last five years has significantly exceeded the previous projections from both Government and the Airports Commission.

"Stansted is now effectively ten years ahead of where the Government and the commission thought it would be today.

"Unfortunately, the Government's recently published forecasts suffer from the same fundamental flaws as their previous forecasts, in particular their failure to take account of commercial drivers that have delivered the exceptionally strong growth for Stansted Airport and its low cost carriers, such as highly competitive airfares and long term commercial agreements with airlines.

"Looking to the future, our independently prepared traffic forecasts show continued strong growth at Stansted, with the airport serving 35 million passengers in 2023.

"These forecasts provide the airport with the business case for the substantial investment in new passenger facilities that we will be making over the coming years."

The airport will be hosting three community feedback sessions in the coming weeks to update local residents about their revised plans and hear their views.

They plan to submit a final planning application to Uttlesford District Council in early 2018.

Details of the events are below.

Tuesday, 21 November, 4pm to 8pm

Radisson Blu Hotel, Waltham Close, Stansted Airport, CM24 1PP

Thursday, 23 November, 4pm to 8pm

St Michael's Church, 1 Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2ND

Friday, 1 December, 4pm to 8pm

Talberd Room, Roakes Hall, Stortford Road, Great Dunmow, CM6 1DG
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The owner of a boutique has described the filming of BBC drama A Very English Scandal in the centre of Hertford as being great for the town.

The new 1970s set three-part show features an all-star cast including Hollywood stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw.

Grant is playing the role of former Liberal Party leader Jeremey Thorpe, who was accused of attempting to kill his ex-lover Norman Scott, played by Whishaw.

Film crews are shooting at locations across Hertford throughout the week until Thursday (November 9) night, including Fore Street, the Corn Exchange and Hartham Common.

(Image: Alison Jenkins)

GingerLillie in Market Place is one of the stores which has been given a period makeover by the BBC film crew, with mannequins dressed in 1970 era clothing.

Alison Bate, the owner, said: It is very exciting, there are a lot of people on the street watching them film.

It is great for the town to have the BBC in filming a major drama.

I have been watching it from my shop and it still seems popular today, it is busy in the town.

She explained that she was contacted by the BBC last month about decorating her store for the filming.

(Image: Alison Jenkins)

Around the second week of October a man from the BBC came in and explained how it was going to work and said they wanted to change my store front, Alison said.

Dress up all the mannequins. All of the clothing they are wearing are the BBC's props.

I have had a few people looking at the store front and wanting to buy the dresses.

(Image: Alison Jenkins)

This is a new boutique and I have only just decorated my window before this, so this is the second time I have changed my store front.

Blake Harrison, who played Neil in the hit E4 comedy The Inbetweeners, is also part of the cast and was pictured filming scenes with Ben Whishaw near The Salisbury Arms yesterday (November 6).
Carlisle resident Brittany Crampsie was a college student at Lehigh University, trying to figure out what she wanted to study less than a decade ago.

Now, shes the press secretary for Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, and a senior communications adviser to the rest of the Senate Democratic caucus.

The change comes after several years in public affairs consulting. While consulting, she was the Democratic political analyst for ABC27s This Week in Pennsylvania.

Prior to making the jump into public relations, she was the managing editor of PoliticsPA.com, an insiders blog on the electoral and legislative happenings of the state. During her tenure, the pseudonym for the editor, Sy Snyder, was named to the Washington Posts list of best statehouse reporters.

Inspired by the 2008 election, Crampsie decided to major in political science with minors in philosophy and mass communications, graduating summa cum laude and becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She earned a Master of Arts in politics and policy, also from Lehigh University, in 12 months as a Presidential Scholar.

Shes won Central Penn Business Journals 40 Under 40, City & States 40 Under 40 and PoliticsPAs 30 Under 30 awards. She is a board member of the United Way of Pennsylvania and an alumni admissions ambassador for her alma mater.

Q. Tell us about your new role at the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats.

I am the press secretary for Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, and a senior communications adviser to the rest of the Senate Democratic caucus. I field press inquiries, coordinate media appearances and design strategies for communicating our legislation, goals and positions on a really wide variety of topics. A day can include anything from drafting remarks for Sen. Costa to deliver on the floor, to creating social media content for members, to planning a full-blown press event in the Capitol. The work itself varies greatly, and the subject matter varies even more so.

Q. When and how did you first become interested in politics?

A. I was figuring out what I wanted to study in college during the 2008 presidential election, which was transformative in the way that candidates, particularly soon-to-be-President Obama, communicated with young people. Id always been passionate about reading and writing, but I hadnt really been inspired by any one topic. The more I followed that election, the more I figured out what I believed politically, and by the time Obama became president, I had decided that I would be a political science major.

There arent many fields where you can have the breadth of impact on peoples lives, and its an incredible honor to get to work so closely to policy that I believe can drastically improve the quality of life for many people.

Q. How have your previous positions prepared you for the new role?

A. Like most people who work in public relations, I actually started in journalism. When I was in graduate school, I worked nights covering municipal government for my local TV station; and after I graduated, I was the managing editor for PoliticsPA.com. Theres no better crash course in writing than working in journalism. You learn to cut out a lot of the frills and get to a point quickly and clearly. There are, of course, a lot of downsides to online comment sections, but they do provide some instant feedback on what normal readers like and dont like about your writing.

After journalism, I worked in public affairs consulting, which helped me learn a lot of state policy issues on a deeper level than writing one or two stories on something. Theres a great Otto Von Bismarck quote: Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. You see a lot of the sausage-making when youre a reporter; you see a lot more when youre closer to the process itself.

Q. What are the key issues you expect to address on behalf of the Senate Democrats?

A. Id love to work on an increase to the minimum wage (Pennsylvania is way behind our neighbors in doing this), strengthening our social safety nets, especially when it comes to health care, increasing state funding to basic and higher education, creating a statewide mandate for paid family leave, and looking for common-sense, common-ground legislation to stop gun violence.

Q. At a time when politics are so divisive, why should people pay attention and get involved?

A. I can understand feeling disenchanted and disenfranchised, but some of the greatest turning points in American history have come at times like this: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the womens suffrage movement, the civil rights movement. No major improvement to our social or economic policy has come from a time when everyone was agreeing. Theres every reason to be hopeful and to stay involved.

There are two things that keep me hopeful about American government, even when it seems incredibly bleak:

1) Aaron Burr was the sitting vice president when he shot Alexander Hamilton, a former Treasury secretary. Things are not nearly that bad now.

2) In the preamble to the Constitution, the founders wrote that they were establishing this government to form a more perfect union. I like to think of perfect as a verb. We are always looking for ways to govern better, to perfect the process. We werent perfect to start, we arent perfect now, but its a constant push to be more perfect.
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Two planes crashed into each other at a Hertfordshire airfield, leading to a large emergency service response.

Firefighters from Borehamwood were deployed to the Elstree Aerodrome after two planes collided at around 2.58pm on Friday.

A Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Control mobilised three appliances and a rescue support unit to reports of an aircraft crash at Elstree Aerodrome.

"On arrival two small aircrafts were in collision on the airfield, crews provided scene safety due to a fuel leak."

Both planes suffered damage in the incident, but no one was injured.

The Elstree Aerodrome is located just east of Watford.
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HICKORY  The Catawba County Board of Elections is seeking more information from the N.C. Board of Elections following an inquiry about whether robocalls from the Hank Guess campaign violated FCC regulations.

Alan Jackson, who said he is a volunteer with the Will Locke campaign but was making the inquiry as a private citizen, emailed the Catawba County Board of Elections saying that he was concerned about the robocalls.

In his inquiry to the BOE, Jackson said he knew of at least six other people who had also received the calls.

The FCC website gives a summary of rules related to political robocalls taken from the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the agencys own rules.

Robocalls are not permitted to cell phones, pagers or other mobile devices without the called partys prior express consent, according to the summary.

Calls to landlines are allowed, even without previous consent.

Jackson said in his inquiry that he was also concerned that the robocall message did not include a number for people to call to get additional information about the campaign.

The FCC regulations summary says the telephone number of the calling party must be provided either during or after the message.

The robocall also incorrectly stated the hours for early voting, saying that early voting on Saturday was open from 8 a.m. to noon, rather than the actual hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jackson said.

Catawba County BOE Director Amanda Duncan said in a phone interview she had received the inquiry and was looking to the North Carolina Board of Elections for an answer to those concerns, which she had not received as of Monday afternoon.

The state has never said anything to the county boards about robocalls cant be on a mobile number, Duncan said.

Hank Guess said in a phone interview that the campaign used the numbers that voters included when they registered to vote.

The express consent, I think, comes in when people put down their number when they register, Guess said.

With regard to the robocall that misstated the early voting times, which was made by Mike Johnson, Guess said it was simply a mistake.

I mean, obviously he made a mistake and said noon and it was one, Guess said.

I dont know what possible significance that could be.

Guess said he had gotten robocalls on his home phone and had heard from others who had received other robocalls from other candidates.

Ive gotten robocalls from other campaigns, not just the mayors race and other people have told me that theyve gotten them on cell phones from other campaigns, Guess said.

Im not the only one, this is not the only campaign that has made robocalls and Im sure that the lists were obtained from the same places and Im sure other people have gotten robocalls on their cell phones.

Joan Long, who said she is a Hank Guess supporter and volunteer for the campaign, said in a phone interview that she had received a call from the Will Locke campaign on her cell phone several weeks ago.

Long said she could not recall if it was a robocall or a direct call.

In a phone interview, Will Locke said the company his campaign was using for its robocalls had used a program to remove cell phone numbers from its list of numbers, but that both he and his campaign volunteers had been making direct calls to people in the community.

Kelsey Williams, who helped the Guess campaign with the robocalls, said the campaign had been guided by N.C. BOE guides and state law.

I would add that we looked at the N.C. BOE and Ethics Enforcement election law index and it specifically says that generally these types of calls are allowed for political purposes and it makes reference to the state statute, Williams said.

The election law index summary says that robocalls are generally allowable for political purposes if (the) source is disclosed, and includes the link to G.S. 75-104.

The robocalls were conducted by a voice broadcasting service that screened the numbers and removed ones that should not have been included, Williams said.

Williams said he believed the robocalls complied with the statutory requirements.

I mean, my question is, why doesnt the state board of elections have that (the FCC regulations) in the specific manual that they give candidates in regards to every aspect? Williams said.
HICKORY  During its November meeting, the K-64 board approved a financing plan for $430,000 from Peoples Bank to fund a one-to-world technology pilot program, providing a Chromebook for every seventh-grader in Catawba County.

The board had put out a request for bids for financing the project. Peoples Bank had the lowest bid with a five-year amortization at 2.75 percent interest.

Mark Story, K-64 chief executive officer, said the bank will waive the origination fees and there will only be a filing fee of $130. The board expects to have the Chromebooks ready for students by January.

The K-64 board approved the Chromebook pilot program during its October meeting. It came out of the K-64 Technology Task Force chaired by Michael Ellwanger. The idea for the pilot program developed from input received from all three school systems, local business and community leaders.

The recommendation was to focus on Chromebooks for every seventh-grade student in Catawba County, across all three school districts. The board will create a sub-committee to research best practices to see how different schools are utilizing the Chromebooks and what curriculum applications seem to be working the best, Story said.

He is talking with principals as well to let them know K-64 is about more than just Chromebooks.

Im hearing a lot of buzz right now but its about Chromebooks only, so I want them to understand what were really all about, Story said.

The K-64 (kindergarten to age 64) plan is an educational and economic development initiative to prepare all students to be college and career ready in a global economy and support the local workforce and economic growth. The K-64 focus is on six initial objectives. They include: one-to-world technology, character and soft skills development, tech-savvy educators, work-based learning, employer engagement and career adaptability.

The board talked about K-64s character development objective for students with Hickory Public Schools Superintendent Robbie Adell and ex-officio member of the K-64 board. He said what parents are mainly concerned with when they send their child to school is whether they are in a safe environment.

I think we have a need in this region for some anti-bullying training and that needs to start early, and it is a K-12 initiative, Adell said. I think if you are training children to treat each other good, responsibly, then you are creating an ideal citizen. I think it goes right in hand with the character development.

Catawba Valley Community College President Garrett Hinshaw, an ex-officio board member as well, addressed the issue of sustainability for K-64 funding. He asked Story to develop a soft six-year projection of the cost for this initiative.

Were projecting about $2.25 million over the next six years, each year to do the initiatives that come through the different committees but also to continue and develop the operations of the program, Hinshaw said.

With the funding amount set, the next step is to target key institutions and businesses in the area that have already shown an interest in helping K-64.

Were also going to talk to Lenoir-Rhyne University about the possibility of partnering with us to identify grant opportunities, Hinshaw said. I think theyre a great asset. Hinshaw said he and Story plan on meeting with Lenoir-Rhyne President Fred Whitt to discuss this possibility in the future.

K-64 board member Robyn Mingle brought up the idea of starting a GoFundMe site as well geared toward helping individuals make donations.

Maybe there are some individual, private citizens who well never get to but you could at least reach them in this way, Mingle said.

Hinshaw agreed the board will need every dollar they can get to accomplish its goals.

For more information about K-64, visit k-64learning.com.
On Tuesday afternoon Oct. 31, a green card holder from Uzbekistan mowed down some innocent tourists in New York City. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on New York since Sept. 11, 2001. Of the eight people who died, six were foreigners themselves, here on visitor visas. The other two were U.S. citizens.

I have to talk about the nationality of the deceased, because its become a big deal since President Trump decided to make nationality an issue. When it was discovered that the man who murdered those innocent people was a foreigner, my first thought was: Is he undocumented?

No such luck, folks.

He is here legally. So my next question was: Was he one of those non-vetted refugees from a travel-ban country?

Nope, again.

So then, how he had ever gotten into the United States in the first place? The answer (drum roll, please!) was the Diversity Visa Lottery, an obscure and relatively unimportant program that has been around for over two decades. Most people wouldnt know the Visa Lottery from the Pennsylvania Lottery, and thats as it should be. A very small percentage of foreigners get the right to live in this country through this hit-and-miss program.

But of course, in this day and age when everything is about identity  thanks to the multicultural cultists  we suddenly become fixated on the culture and formation of the foreigner who killed other foreigners. Trump has become even more fixated on it, since his nemesis Chuck Schumer was an early sponsor of the legislation (back when Trump was in the business of building and closing casinos).

The sick piece of trash who killed those innocent New Yorkers  they will now always be New Yorkers  got his visa through the lottery. The program was authorized by Congress in 1990 and first implemented five years later. I started practicing immigration law in 1995, around the time the first diversity visas were made available, and I wasnt too interested in the program. Diversity, underserved parts of the world, fresh blood, Emma Lazarus. This is the premise of our whole immigration system.

I understand the principle, because I respect the idea of the melting pot of cultures. We want that delicious demographic stew that comes from a multitude of flavors, not just a few Puritan strains. Grandma and Grandpa might have come over on the Mayflower, but that doesnt mean they were particularly interesting, appetizing, or industrious. They were just early to the party.

Ironically, one of the main reasons the Diversity Lottery was inaugurated was in response to President Ronald Reagans 1986 amnesty gift to Mexico. In that year, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people who were living illegally in the U.S. were legalized, which completely changed the demographic balance in the country.

So Congress created the Diversity Visa program as part of the larger restructuring, figuring that 55,000 visas was a relative drop in the bucket in terms of volume. (It was later reduced to 50,000.) Congress was right. Each year, an average of one million people get their green cards. More than half of them are already here and change their status from tourist, student, refugee or other temporary status to permanent resident. That leaves 400,000 to 500,000 people who come in with no prior history. Of that number, only 50,000 are admitted through the lottery.

But I see why Congress wanted to balance the scales in 1990, to give a numerically small window to those who had no other prospects.

The Diversity Visa lottery has brought about 1.1 million people to the United States since 1995. These people all had to have high school diplomas or experience as skilled workers. They were all extremely vetted. And only two of them, 15 years apart, committed acts of terror.

I almost failed math, but even I know that one in every 550,000 is statistically insignificant.

While I am tired of the rights politicizing immigration in general after terrorist acts, Im really sick and tired of the lefts constantly making gun control arguments after attacks where immigration is not an issue, as was done Las Vegas and Newtown, Conn. It is clearly political opportunism.

So we can debate the value of the lottery system, but we shouldnt use the deaths of six foreigners and two Americans to make a political statement.
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Describing the BJP-led governments demonetisation exercise as a reckless step, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said scrapping higher value currency notes was organised loot and legalised plunder.

Speaking on the eve of the first anniversary of the decision to scrap bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination, the former prime minister said none of its objectives were achieved.

Singh was speaking in Ahmedabad at an interactive session on the current state of the economy with businesspersons and traders in poll-bound Gujarat . The state goes to polls on December 9 and 14 .

Demonetisation was organised loot and legalised plunder, he said .

Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86 per cent of the currency. It has broken the back of our small businesses, he added.

Hitting out at the government over the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax, Singh said compliance requirements under GST had become a nightmare for small businesses.

He also criticised the Centres ambitious Ahmedabad- Mumbai bullet train project and dubbed it an exercise in vanity.

Singhs visit comes a day before Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to tour Surat on the anniversary of the governments announcement of the demonetisation exercise.

Opposition parties are observing black day tomorrow.
With the Gujarat elections inching closer, the Congress has decided to field former prime minister Manmohan Singh to campaign for the party on Tuesday, as it looks to continue with its criticism of demonetisation and GST.

The Congress is holding a meeting for the business community in Ahmedabad on Tuesday which will be addressed by the senior party leader and noted economist.

Singh will address representatives of small and medium businesses, who have grudges against the GST and note ban which hit their businesses hard. The event will be the former Prime Ministers sole event in Ahmedabad.

Earlier, Singhs event was to be held at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) premises and the Congress had circulated written information about it. But the venue was shifted to Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug.

Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi on Monday confirmed that the venue has been shifted. However, he did not attribute any reason for it.

However, sources said that the GCCI platform has of late been turned into a political one. A social gathering held recently for members was addressed by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who turned it into a political address. This irked many members who said the chamber was not a place for such political propaganda.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress party, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath accused the party of encouraging mafia raj in the country.

Addressing a political rally at Jogindernagar here on Monday, the Uttar Pradesh CM said, Himachal is in the clutches of the mafia and its chief minister is playing into the hands of corrupt people and only the BJP has the formula and guts to disengage the state from the mafia clutches.

He further said that when he came to power in the state of Uttar Pradesh, he turned the state mafia-free within 6 months. I am confident that the experienced former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will be able to free the state from the mafia within three months, said Adityanath.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister further said that the Congress-led UPA government is infamous for the grand scam of Rs 12 lakh crore during its 10-year term at the Centre.

He added that PM Modi has provided a financial help of Rs 40, 600 crore to the state in just three years along with 63 national superhighway, the AIIMS institute and the three medical colleges and engineering colleges.

He said that the state has a lot of scope of religious tourism, but it was never on the priority agenda of the Congress led state government.

He said that the state people have to support BJP and form state government to see the Ganges of development reflowing in the state which former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal once started in his previous regime.

Later addressing a rally in Sujanpur in favour of Bharatiya Janata Partys chief ministerial face, Prem Kumar Dhumal, the UP CM said people were suffering due to the anti-people policies of the Congress party.

The Congress never cared for the state, which is why people are suffering, Adityanath said, adding, Time has come to end the mafia rule in the state and bring a government with a clean image.

Appealing to voters to make Dhumal their CM, Adityanath said, The BJP government will accelerate the pace of development in the state. The UP CM also told the crowd that he had learnt a lot from Dhumal while serving in the Lok Sabha with him. Dhumal was also present at the rally along with his son and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur.
The Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, a Brahmin outfit, has opposed the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati and demanded that its release be stopped. This protest comes on the heels of Karni Sena and Kshatriya groups demanding that the film be screened for their leaders ahead of its release.

According to a Times of India report, Mahasabha state president Suresh Mishra stated that the group would agitate against the movie unless its screening was stopped in keeping with the feelings of the general public.

They (Bhansalis team) are trying to defame Padmavati by distorting historical facts. No one can tolerate this, he added.

Shri Rajput Karni Sena activists burn posters of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his film Padmavati to oppose the screening of the film over alleged distortion of facts. (IANS)

The film has been opposed by fringe groups ever since production work on the venture began. In January, vandals broke into the sets and assaulted Bhansali. In March, parts of the Chittorgarh Fort  where Alaudin Khilji was said to have met Rani Padmavati  were defaced.

Leaders of these groups as well as the BJP recently demanded pre-release screenings of the film, so they could arrive at a judgment on the films content. They allege that the historical movie distorts certain facts, most notably Padmavatis relationship with Khilji.

Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, Padmavati is scheduled for a December 1 release.

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The first trailer for Salman Khans action thriller Tiger Zinda Hai was released online on Tuesday. Salman returns as Tiger, a spy on a mission to save nurses being held hostage in Iraq by an evil dictator. Shot in exotic locations, and boasting Hollywood-standard action, the trailer highlights the attention to detail that has gone into making the film.

Salman and his co-star from the first film (2012s Ek Tha Tiger), Katrina Kaif, return on a joint mission to evacuate the hostages. There are shades of the recent Akshay Kumar film Airlift - which featured a similar plot and was set in the Middle East - and there is also some of the globe-trotting that we see in the Jason Bourne movies. In one sequence we also see Salman skateboarding in the mountains - like Vin Diesel in the xXx movies.

All this goes to show the ambitions of the filmmakers into making a world-class film. The action and the plot (for once) are clearly spelled out in the trailer, and the stars - Salman and Katrina - have been given moments to shine.

Speaking about Salmans gun training for the film, director Ali Abbas Zafar explained in a press statement, When you feature a superstar like Salman Khan, who is known to pull his weight for a films action, you need to have weaponry that suits his stature and also fit in with the scale of Tiger Zinda Hai.

He also spoke about the training Katrina Kaif put in to play Zoya, a spy.

In this film, Zoya plays a super spy. It was essential to understand how such agents think and operate. So, we got Katrina to train with real agents, used their expertise and experience. For instance, as intelligence agents, you have to train a certain way to keep your mental balance in direst situations. Say you face someone who has a gun and you dont. How do you still stay neutral and calm, and figure out the best possible way to counter and survive in such a situation. Katrina has really pushed herself for the part, Zafar said in a press statement.

The films action director is Tom Struthers, whos best known for his work on Christopher Nolans films Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception and Dunkirk.

Tiger Zinda Hai is scheduled for a December 22 release. After Tiger Zinda Hai, Salman and Zafar will collaborate again on Bharat, an adaptation of 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. To be produced by Salmans brother-in-law, Atul Agnihotri. The film will be shot in Abu Dhabi, Spain and India and will go on floors in April next year.

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Two novels about the Nazis took Frances biggest literary prizes on Monday, with Eric Vuillards story of how German industry and finance backed Adolf Hitler winning the top Prix Goncourt.

Lordre du jour (Agenda) had been among the favourites for the Goncourt prize  the most prestigious in the French-speaking world.

Vuillard, 49, said he was taken aback on hearing he won for his elegant, 160-page book which charts how the financial support of German industrialists was crucial to Hitlers rise. One is always surprised, sometimes fatally, he told reporters at the Paris restaurant where the winner was announced.

Asked whether the book was a warning for our own populist times, the writer said he wanted to set out how the elites and industrialists slid into a situation where they compromised themselves.

A woman displays French writer Eric Vuillards book which won the French literary prize Goncourt in Paris. (AP/Michel Euler)

The Renaudot award, which is often seen as a consolation prize for those not shortlisted for the Goncourt, went to The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, which is about the secret post-Holocaust life of the Nazi war criminal.

Journalist Olivier Guez tells how the SS doctor, notorious as the Angel of Death at the Auschwitz concentration camp for his often lethal experiments on prisoners, managed to evade arrest and even get a West German passport in his own name in the 1950s while living in Argentina.

While Vuillard gets only 10 ($11 or Rs 715 approx) in prize money, the Goncourt almost guarantees a boost in sales of 4,50,000 copies or more, placing it instantly among the years top bestsellers.



Although his book was greatly admired, many critics had tipped Veronique Olmi to make history by becoming the second women writer in a row to win the century-old prize. Her novel, Bakhita, based on another real-life story of a Sudanese slave girl who became a Catholic saint, is already a bestseller. It has won the Fnac prize and is also in the running for the Femina prize, which will be decided on October 8.

We did not choose the winner on the basis of the sex or origin of the writer, nor their publishers, said the doyen of French letters Bernard Pivot, who chairs the jury. The book is all that counts, he said.
India sought investments on Tuesday from Chinese firms in start-ups, projecting the country as an unrivalled economic opportunity for them.

Around 20 Indian start-ups and over 100 Chinese investors took part in the Start-up India Investment Seminar organised by the Embassy of India in Beijing.

Addressing the event, Charge dAffaires of India in China, Amit Narang highlighted the big jump of 30 places achieved by India in one year in the Ease of Doing Business Ranking released by the World Bank recently.

He called on Chinese investors to look at India as an unrivalled economic opportunity and urged Indian start-ups to also look eastwards towards China not just for capital, but for innovation and experience-sharing to realise future

Young Indian entrepreneurs heading the start-ups also made a strong pitch for Chinese investments in their fledgling firms.

Speaking on Why Invest in India, Benny Chen, CEO, managing director India and Global Strategic Alliance, Ant Financial of Alibaba, said he remains bullish on the explosive growth in mobile and internet penetration in India and appraised the various initiatives taken by the government of India to stimulate faster growth.

During the meet, Mahendra Swarup, president of Start-up India Association, spoke about Chinese investments in Indian ventures and introduced the various start-ups from India that participated in the event.

Two panel discussions on Strategy for Investing in India- Experience Sharing by Successful Investors and Experience Sharing on the Scaling-Up of Chinese Ventures were organised as part of the event.

Chinese investors including Benny and Shirley Mao, vice director of Xiaomi Investment, and others took part in the event.

The event is expected to generate more in-depth B2B discussions among Indian start-ups and Chinese investors which will hopefully lead to productive business ventures and Chinese investments in Indian start-ups, a statement said.
Ransomware cyberattack on Englands NHS was North Koreas doing, says U.K. security minister

Earlier this year, nearly 20,000 hospital appointments were cancelled due to the National Health Services failure to provide adequate security to prevent cyber attacks. According to the National Audit Office, the cyber attack that occurred in May and affected as many as 81 trusts could have been easily prevented. Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the National Audit Office, warned just days ago that health bosses need to get their act together so that a cyber attack of that magnitude never happens again.

The virus that hit the NHS was called the WannaCry virus, which was spread via email and successfully locked hospital staff out of their computers. Critical medical equipment such as MRI machines were also disabled in the attack, and of the 19,500 medical appointments that ended up being cancelled, 139 of them were potential cancer referrals. Additionally, five of the hospitals were forced to turn ambulances away at the very peak of the crisis.

Now, the United Kingdoms Security Minister is blaming the WannaCry cyber attack that hit the NHS earlier this year on the North Koreans. This attack, we believe quite strongly that it came from a foreign state. North Korea was the state that we believe was involved this worldwide attack, said Security Minister Ben Wallace. During a separate interview with BBC Radio 4s Today program, Wallace stated, we can be as sure as possible and it is widely believed in the community and across a number of countries that North Korea had taken this role.

Mr. Wallace added that the cyber attack could very well have been an attempt by the North Korean regime to gain access to foreign funds. North Korea has been potentially linked to other attacks about raising foreign currency, he explained.

As serious and devastating as the attack on the National Health Service was, it certainly wasnt the only time that the North Korean government has hacked into the networks of their foreign enemies. Earlier this month, for example, the New York Times reported on how a group of North Korean hackers successfully stole U.S. and Southern Korean military plans which, among other things, included a strategy for removing the regimes tyrannical leader, Kim Jong-Un.

The lawmaker who brought this to the attention of the media was Mr. Rhee Cheol-hee, a member of the governing Democratic Party who services on the National Assemblys defense committee. According to Mr. Rhee, he was only made aware of North Koreas hacking attack in September of last year.

While its still not known whether or not any of the militarys top secrets were leaked, Mr. Rhee explained that just under 300 lower-classification confidential documents were taken by the North Korean hackers. Both a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Moon Sang-gyun, and a spokesman for the Pentagon, Col. Robert Manning, refused to give details on the matter. (Related: The United States continues to remain vulnerable to a potential cyber attack  are you prepared?)

The hacking that was reported earlier this month is just part of a larger cyber war that has been going on for quite some time involving North Korea, South Korea and the United States. In 2010, for example, the U.S. followed South Koreas lead and broke into North Koreas computer systems, specifically targeting the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which is the Norths equivalent to the Central Intelligence Agency. (Related: As war with North Korea approaches, the Pentagon is busy trying to protect the United States from a massive cyber attack.)

These cyber attacks from North Korea should serve as a stark reminder to both the United States and parts of Europe that being prepared to defend against a hacking attack can be just as important as being prepared to defend the country against a missile or an act of terror. Cyber warfare is undoubtedly the warfare of the future, and the United States has to be ready for it.

Sources include:

Dailymail.co.uk

NYTimes.com

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It was a day of high-octane rallies in Himachal Pradesh on Monday with Rahul Gandhi leading the Congress charge and taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the economy, while the BJP brigade kept up its attack on chief minister Virbhadra Singh over corruption.

The Congress vice-president hit the campaign trail on the penultimate day of canvassing for the November 9 elections with three rallies in Paonta Sahib, Chamba and Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra district. He took a dig at the Prime Minister on demonetisation, the goods and services tax (GST) and unemployment.

The hasty implementation of GST has ruined small businesses and if the Congress returns to power, much-needed changes will be made in the tax regime, Gandhi said. Horticulture, agriculture and tourism are the backbone of Himachals economy. Demonetisation has broken that backbone, he said.

A day after Modi boosted the BJP campaign, the saffron partys mascot and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath Yogi kept up the momentum by addressing three rallies at Jukhala, Sujanpur and Jogindernagar. The partys chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal, is contesting from Sujanpur. Citing the cases against Virbhadra, Yogi appealed to voters to help make the state corruption-free.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh also spoke at three rallies, including one in Virbhadras constituency of Arki. Rajnath promised development.

Rajnath Singh addressing a rally at Arki. (HT Photo)

Information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani made a dash for Seraj, Rohru and Kasumpti. Her rally at Chirgaon in Rohru struck a chord with women voters as she spoke on development and credited the Modi government for fast-tracking progress.

CMs canvass

Virbhadra got a shot in the arm with Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh addressing rallies at Jhanduta and Nalagarh. Amarinder kept up the attack on the Modi government for demonetisation and GST.

Uttarakhand chief minister and BJP leader Trivendra Rawat addressed a rally at Anni and Rampur after party president Amit Shah cancelled his trip. The flow of funds to hill states has gone up after the Modi government took charge in Delhi, he said.

Congress deputy leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma addressed a press conference in Shimla and attacked the Modi government on the rising prices and state of the economy.

Last day of campaign

Rajnath will address rallies in Chamba and Hamirpur on Tuesday, while Irani will be headed for Jhiri (Drang), Dada Sibba (Jaswan Pragpur) and Bharedi in Hamirpur district.

Rawat will address a rally at Dodra Kwar in Rohru and Dhumal will campaign in Jogindernagar.

Virbhadra will be at his constituency of Arki and will also campaign in Shimla rural, the asssembly seat he has vacated for his son Vikramaditya Singh.

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The BJP state president doesnt agree that growth has eluded the state but concurs that a lot is yet to be done given the challenges that come with a mountainous region. In an interview, Bhatt said that the chief minister has given a strong push for development since assuming charge and brushes aside all criticism about delivery failing to pick up pace.

How do you look at the states journey in the past 17 years in terms of growth?

I have no issues with the states development. I am fully satisfied. However, a lot is yet to be done in view of the challenges that go with a hill state.

What are the issues and challenges that you feel need to be tackled?

The biggest challenge is to check forced migration from the hills and the rural-urban migration. To resolve the problem, our government recently constituted a Rural Development and Migration Commission. Rail and road connectivity is being improved. About 70% roads have been upgraded to national highways. Work on the Chardham all-weather project and the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line project is already on. Their completion means a complete turnaround in the states tourism based economy. The PM has been closely monitoring the development schemes being implemented in Uttarakhand.

But social activists feel that the hill-centric development has eluded the people.

I wont comment on the opinion of social activists. But the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) never raised that issue. It may now be a spent force but its leaders had supported the erstwhile BJP and Congress regimes. If they felt the regional issues were ignored, they should have objected. They raised no such objections. That clearly means regional aspirations were not at all ignored.

Statehood activists complain that basic health and education facilities have eluded all these years, which led to forced migration from the hills.

In a democratic set up, a state is run by political parties. People will have to differentiate the governments of which party  the BJP or the Congress  failed to work for development. All our chief ministers did something new. For instance, the erstwhile BJP government had introduced the 108 emergency mobile medical service for remote areas. It became defunct under the Congress regime. We recently released Rs 8 crore to revive emergency mobile medical service. We have also ensured that subsidised food is also available to the poor who had been completely left out under the previous regime. Similarly, it is the previous BJP government that had put a ceiling on the sale and purchase of agricultural land. The PM laid the foundation stones for reconstruction of Kedarnath that was ravaged by the floods in 2013.

Activists say development remained impeded owing to corruption among the politicians in power.

Blaming our leaders for corruption is highly objectionable. We have honest leaders like BC Khanduriji and Bhagat Singh Koshiyariji who have successfully served as chief ministers. Incumbent chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawa is also working for the states development efficiently and with utmost honesty.

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DEHRADUN: The Congress state president doesnt subscribe to the general view that Uttarakhand saw no growth after its formation in 2000. In an interview, Pritam Singh admits growth eluded some areas for which, he feels, apart from official apathy, reluctance of employees to take up postings in hills, is also responsible. Excerpts:

The common view is that both Congress and BJP failed to carry out a hill-centric growth envisioned by martyrs of the statehood agitation.

I dont subscribe to the view that the state witnessed no development since its formationThere has been development, be it the laying of roadsor, setting up administrative units, medical colleges, engineering colleges polytechnics or ITI.

Statehood activists complain forced migration from the hills is a pointer to the lack of hill-centric growth.

They are denying the successive governments of the credit of the development carried out. They are also blaming them for areas not registering growth. That is unfair.

Activists complain that vested interests have taken advantage of weak rules to purchase land from hill farmers in distress.

You cant stop people from selling the land they own although there are strict laws prohibiting sale or purchase of agricultural land beyond 200 metres. However, I agree that the people are forced to migrate from the hills owing to unemployment and the dismal state of sectors like farm education and health.

Please elaborate

There are problems like paucity of doctors. That is happening because doctors prefer better opportunities elsewhere rather than taking up posting in the hills. The best of incentives given to them by the successive governments failed to retain them.

How much blame do the two parties share for the situation in hills?

The successive governments made best efforts in that connectionBut the problem is that even people are unwilling to stay in the hillsEven the state government employees who had been actively involved in the long-drawn agitation for a separate state dont want posting in the hills. Whenever they are transferred to the hills, they start demanding for cancellation of transfers. They fought for a separate hill state, so they should pitch in for development.

Why did the key sectors such as agriculture and horticulture failed to get boost?

I dont hesitate to accept that officials failed to ensure that the subsidies granted to boost the farm sector were properly utilised. As a result, people in the hills feel that the development that should have taken place eluded them. Similarly, we failed to develop new tourist destinations However, efforts are on.

Statehood activists also attribute lack of development to the corrupt political leadership.

The chief minister keeps articulating his partys zero tolerance for corruption I suggest that the BJP government order a comprehensive inquiry against all politicians including myself, who have been in power. Things will be clear for good.

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Three tigers -- two females from Haridwar and one male from Corbett landscape  are likely to be translocated soon to western part of Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR), in a move to give tiger population a major boost.

The state forest department is likely to get nod from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on November 27 for radio collaring the identified tigers during technical committee meeting.

The much-awaited tiger translocation in the state has finally started taking wings. After Sariska (Rajasthan) and Panna (Madhya Pradesh), where translocation was done reporting disappearance of big cats due to poaching and other reasons, Rajaji would be the third reserve to report translocation of tigers.

The western part of Rajaji has only two female tigers and is divided with the eastern part through narrow corridor which remains abuzz with traffic and other interventions due to which movement of tigers has been blocked.

The effort will help acquire big cat population in the western part which is spacious 570 sq km as compared to eastern part which is 150 sq km.

The reserve reported 34 tigers during Phase IV an increase of 18 tigers as compared to Phase IV monitoring of 2014.

Digvijay Singh Khati, chief wildlife warden, told Hindustan Times, The translocation was halted for few months due to monsoon. But, after getting written approval from NTCA on November 27, we will radio-collar tigers after which they will be introduced in the reserve.

Officers claim the two female tigresses in the western part are adults and are more than 12 years old. So, theres a possibility that they wont breed.

As a result, the plan is to bring two tigresses from Haridwar forest division- particularly from an area where these individuals have failed to claim any territory.

Meanwhile, to maintain genetic viability, a tiger would be translocated from Corbett landscape. All three have been identified and through field staff and cameras, their monitoring is being done.

The radio-collar process is highly technical which includes permission from NTCA, procurement of the right drug and engaging an expert for tranquilising. The forest department will take support from experts of Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Once radio collared, the tigers would again be translocated to Rajaji where they will be released in big cages that will have trees and prey base.

After a few weeks when the translocated tigers would get accustomed with the environment, they would left free but the radio collars wont be detached to report and monitor their movement.

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Uttarakhand is placed 13th out of the 30 states in the first-ever nationwide Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI), ranked behind bigger states like Punjab and Maharashtra.

Goa ranked top and Bihar featured at the lowest in the GVI report released by child development NGO Plan India on November 1, which is based on the states respective performance in four key factors concerning women--protection, health, education and poverty.

The report studied vulnerability status of women across 29 states and Delhi.

The aim behind the GVI is to comprehensively capture and track national efforts on empowering girls and young women, said Bhagyashri Dengle, executive director at Plan India.

A total of 170 indicators within the four key dimensions were taken into account while compiling the ranks, she said.

While Uttarakhands overall performance with GVI of 0.576 is better than the national average of 0.53, bigger states like Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have fared better than the hill state.

Even neighbouring Himachal Pradesh has been ranked 6th in the GVI report.

Uttarakhand was ranked among the top 10 states in terms of education for girls and women, but scored the poorest ranking 14th in the poverty index, prompting activists to call for strong measures to improve Uttarakhands performance, especially in terms of economic participation of women.

Its a matter of concern that Uttarakhand, which is a small state, has lagged behind many bigger states in the survey, said Dehradun-based activist Kusum Ghildiyal.

Theres an urgent need to focus on creating livelihood opportunities for women at the grassroots level -- who depend largely on agriculture -- for empowering women economically, she said, pointing that only 29% women own land or property-- individually or jointly-- in Uttarakhand.

We also need to ensure that more and more women availed their property rights.

Rekha Arya, minister of state (independent charge) for women empowerment and child development, said the government will analyze the report and work on its findings to ensure that the state performed better in such surveys in future.

India fell by 21 places in the Global Gender Gap Index recently, finishing at the 108th position among 144 nations in the World Economic Forum ranking, mainly owing to lower participation of women in economy and lower wages.

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DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand will get technical expertise and loan assistance from Germany to clean the Ganga, for which both sides are likely to sign an agreement by December end, water resource minister Prakash Pant said.

As per the proposed agreement, Germany will provide us technical expertise and loan assistance of Rs 1,150 crore to help us in implementing works relating to cleaning the Ganga. The loan will be utilised in setting up a network of sewerage lines along various stretches of the Ganga, Pant told HT on Tuesday.

According to officials, German experts are being hired for their expertise and experience in cleaning the Rhine---one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe.

Pant said the funds likely to be loaned out by Germany would be spent on setting up sewerage networks for five cities  Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie and Tapovan  along the Ganga.

He added that the proposed loan assistance is separate from the funds the state receives under the Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet project Namami Gange. The project is being implemented in Uttarakhand (from where the river originates), Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

German experts had been providing technical expertise for cleaning the Ganga since the first phase of the Namami Gange project that was unrolled in Uttarakhand in 2015, sources said. In that phase, they formulated plans for sewage and affluent treatment plants to be set up along the Ganga in cities such as Haridwar and Rishikesh. In a nutshell, they also gave their support to the entire Ganga rejuvenation project, an official said.

In the second phase, they will also provide technical expertise in executing 21 projects relating to sewerage treatment. They will also help in interception and diversion works, another official associated with the Namami Gange Project said. In that (IInd) phase, it (Germany) will also provide a loan assistance of Rs 1,150 crore for implementation of some of those projects.

German experts would help in capacity building of officials of Jal Sansthan and Peyjal Nigam, the twin agencies designated to execute the high-profile Clean Ganga Project in Uttarakhand.

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On a sunny Monday afternoon at India Gate, twins Rik and Dirk Vandekerckhove from Belgium could be easily mistaken for two foreign tourists at one of their sightseeing pit stops.

The 58-year-old Ypres residents, however, entered the high-security Amar Jawan Jyoti on a mission  with their bugles.

The brothers were at the rehearsal of the wreath laying ceremony to take place on Tuesday which will be commemorated by Belgiums King Philippe at India Gate. They will play the Last Post  a salute to those who had lost their lives for Belgiums freedom  along with personnel of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Indias ties with Belgium date back to the dark days when the world was plunged into the devastating first World War from 1914 to 1918. Indian soldiers fought and died for Belgiums freedom in Flanders fields during the critical First and Second Battles of Ypres which ended on October 14, 1914 and April 22, 1915 respectively. The names of these valiant soldiers are inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial along with those of other allies who died in the Ypres Salient during the war, said Benoit Mottrie, chairman of the Last Post Association in Ypres.

Names of 55,000 soldiers are inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial out of which 412 names are of Indian soldiers with no known graves. The people of Belgium daily pay tribute to their memory in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial with a touching bugle call. The brothers play the bugle at the ceremony every day. The ceremony began in 1928 and has been held daily since 1929, except when Germany occupied Ypres from 1940 to 1944.

At India Gate the bugle tribute takes place every time a dignitary visits and a wreath laying ceremony is conducted. This is not a daily affair here. However, this is probably the first time people from another country will play the bugle with us, said an army personnel who was overseeing the rehearsals.

The Vandekerckhove brothers, however, faced a minor bump at the rehearsals as the tuning of their bugles did not match with their Indian comrades. There is different in pitch in our instruments. We tried tuning them but it is nearly impossible. They will arrange two bugles for us tomorrow, said Rik who works as the local fire department chief in Ypres, and has been a bugler since 1982.

Rik and Dirk, who is also is a fireman and has been playing since 1984, got acquainted with the choreography of the routine at the Monday rehearsals.

However, this is not the first time that the two travelled abroad for playing the Last Post. We have been to Australia and New Zealand. This is our tribute to the 1,38,000 Indians who fought in the Ypres Salient, the 20,000 who died and 412 with no known graves, Dirk said.

The buglers are part of a contingent which has come with the Belgian royal couple  King Philippe and Queen Mathilde  who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday.

They are on a seven-day visit to India for talks aiming at boosting cooperation between the two countries with focus on further ramping-up trade and investment ties.

This is King Philippes first state visit to India after his ascension to the throne in 2013. He is accompanied by a business delegation of nearly 90 people comprising CEOs of Belgian companies.

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The Delhi Police crime branch busted a network of drug peddlers involved in procuring drugs online through deep web, popularly known as invisible web, and supplying them to rave parties in Delhi-NCR.

Two members of the syndicate, including a disc jockey who plays music at parties in Delhi-NCR, have been arrested in the last one week with around 62 grams of ecstasy (MDMA)  a psychotropic substance sold in tablets and powder form. Those arrested were identified as Kamal Kalra, a DJ, and Mahesh Goyal, who attends rave parties and supplies drugs to Kalra.

The value of the seized drug is around Rs 3 lakh, police said on Monday.

Digging Deep Web for drugs

Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (crime), said Goyal disclosed that the illegal online drug trade is done through deep web, which is the opposite term for surface web. Unlike surface web that is accessible to anyone using the Internet, the content of deep web is invisible and hidden behind HTML (hypertext markup language) forms.

This illegal business works on peer group model and it spreads from one user to another by word of mouth. Goyal had first consumed ecstasy at a rave party in Chennai and learnt that it can be procured through online shopping using websites like dream market by operating in deep web accessed through browsers like tor browser and onion browser, Deo said.

Bitcon for payments

Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime) says the payment for such consignments is done through Bitcoin and the delivery is made by post and courier from countries such as the Netherlands and the US.

Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously.

The Delhi Police have approached the narcotic control bureau (NCB) and ministry of electronics and information technology to ensure that such online trade and transactions are stopped. They are also probing how the supply of contraband through couriers in India from other countries is going undetected and unchecked.

According to Deo, Kalra was arrested on October 29 from Sector-13, Rohini with 100 pills of ecstasy, popularly known as yokes, MDMA and pills. Kalras interrogation revealed that he had procured the contraband from a man who contacted him and introduced himself with various names such as Sanjay and Utkarsh.

Police collected details of the user of the mobile number and later arrested Goyal from Dwarka. Twenty grams of MDMA in raw form was seized from him, said the DCP.
The Delhi government is not likely to make changes to the rules for nursery admissions in the next academic session, allowing each private school to finalise guidelines on its own, officials in the state education department said on Monday.

The admission schedule for over 1,700 recognised private unaided schools, which offer approximately 1.25 lakh seats in nursery every year, is expected to be issued by early December.

Government officials said the decision not to intervene would avoid potential legal challenges, which have usually followed alterations to guidelines and prolonged the admission process in previous years.

This time, we want to bring the admission schedule for all private unaided schools at one go. There will be no different guidelines or schedules issued for schools on government land. Schools will decide their own criteria, a top official in the Delhi education department told Hindustan Times.

In January this year, the Delhi government issued a notification asking 298 top schools built on Delhi Development Authority land to make residential proximity the primary criterion for new admissions.

According to the notification, applicants living within one kilometre of the school would be given preference. If there were seats left, admissions would be given to applicants living between one and three kilometres of the school, and if the seats were still not filled, to students living between three and six kilometres of the school. The guidelines also abolished the management quota in these schools.

The notification was immediately challenged by the association for private schools on the grounds that it violated their autonomy. The Delhi high court ordered a stay, but the confusion lingered for weeks. The application process, which was to finish in January, was finally completed in mid-February.

The case is still in court and the next date of hearing has been set for January 16, 2018.

The high court also told the government to make any changes in the guidelines for the next session at least three months before admissions were schedule to begin. That deadline has passed.

When told that the government was not likely to intervene this year, SK Bhattacharya, president of the Action Committee for Unaided Recognised Private School, said his body would welcome the move.

The government needs to keep a balance between autonomy of private schools and transparency. If this is happening, it will ensure parents dont face any confusion due to last minute changes.

As things stand, residential proximity to the school carries the highest weight for new admissions to most institutions. The radius, however, varies from school to school. Other criteria include preference for girls, for candidates who have siblings in the same school, for children of alumni, and for students with a single parent. A total of 100 points are divided between these criteria in different proportions.

A Delhi government official said that the education department would meet over the next two days to finalise the admission schedule.

Even if no changes are made to guidelines, the official stressed, all schools will have to abide by an earlier government order that abolished 51 admission criteria considered discriminatory. These included oral tests, interviews, achievements of parents, non-smoking parents, and vegetarian parents.

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       :   MLA ,        41 
The Malcha Mahal, hidden under thick foliage deep inside the central Ridge along the Sardar Patel Marg, has lost its last royal occupant  Prince Ali Raza (Cyrus).

On May 28, 1985, he had shifted there with his mother, Begum Wilayat Mahal, the descendant of the Nawab of Awadh or Oudh, his sibling princess Sakina, 11 labradors, and a few servants. After squatting at the waiting room of New Delhi Railway station for a decade, the Begum got what she demanded from the Indian government  a palace for her royal family.

Raza, 58, died on September 2 following a brief illness, said Vijay Yadav, a staff at Delhi Earth Station of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Earth station is situated next to the Mahal  a hunting lodge constructed by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in the late 14th century. Yadav and his colleagues informed the police about Razas death.

He was found dead on the floor near his rickety wooden bed placed in the porch on September 2, when a group of ISRO staff entered the Mahal to check on him.

Prince Raza was found dead on September 2 on the floor near his wooden bed placed in the porch. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

We had not heard from him for two-three days. So, we went inside without his permission for the first time. He had died by then, Yadav said.

The police said as no one had turned up to claim the body, he was buried on September 5 at Delhi Gate graveyard on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

The family would mostly keep to themselves but welcomed few foreign guests who arrived in big cars. After the death of his sister and dogs a few years ago, the Prince was living a secluded life. We would see him going out riding his bicycle in the evening to fetch food and other essentials. No one dared to go near him without his permission, said Yadav.

He always behaved like royalty, said Rajinder Kumar, a private security guard posted at the station. But, the Prince was a changed man after he fell ill, Kumar said.

He used to ask us to get grocery as he could not move due to his deteriorating health. Earlier, he would not talk. A couple of days before his death, Raza asked us to buy ice-cream and mangoes, Kumar said.

In 1977,Wilayat Mahal was offered an accommodation in Aliganj of Lucknow, she refused to take possession, preferred #MalchaMahal @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/vxCWTotFv6  Parvez Sultan (@theparvezsultan) November 7, 2017

Relocation to Malcha Mahal

Though the 14th-century palace had an imposing structure and a feel of royalty, it lacked basic amenities such as water and electricity, which the family enjoyed at the railway stations waiting room.

The medieval monument had four to five arched chambers that had no doors and windows and could hardly be called rooms. The family somehow, managed to get a telephone connection after they moved in.

The 14th-century palace had an imposing structure and a feel of royalty, but it lacked basic amenities. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Raza would use firewood from the ridge to boil water and heat food. He also had an ice box to keep his drinks cool, an alternate for refrigerator. He owned a Philips radio-cum-tape recorder. Yadav said Raza had subscribed to an English newspaper and some magazines.

A handwritten undated note by the Begum suggests that rainwater would often seep into the palace. What is falling in Malcha Mahal Palace. Built by Emperor Feroz Shah. 13th century. Whose every inch of roof is ruptured flooding. All the rooms with rain water. Stones from the ceiling. Having no electricity and water. The vague assurance  declaration of the government of India, the note read.

The three-page note with several handwritten accounts now lies scattered on the premises with other belongings of the family. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

The three-page note with several handwritten accounts now lies scattered on the premises with other belongings of the family, including several pairs of old shoes, a broken typewriter, porcelain crockery, cups, copper vessels, soiled carpets, English magazines, a corroded sword, a collection of family photographs, wads of visiting cards of foreign journalists and diplomats, copies of biography written by Princess Sakina Mahal and a collection of elegies and sonnets in Urdu penned by 19th century Awadhi poet Mir Baber Ali Anees.

These articles and documents may be of historical importance. The government must take over these things and also the structure. We put iron bars on the entrance to keep off anti-social elements but we cant say how long we would be able to protect it, said Yadav.

Given the possible historic value of belongings of the deceased, police has decided to guard the area round the clock until the matter is resolved. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Dr DN Dimri, the spokesperson of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said at present, they do not have any plan to take over or restore Malcha Mahal. As it is not an ASI-protected monument, we have no plans as of now, he said.

However, a senior police official said given the possible historic value of belongings of the deceased, police has decided to guard the area round the clock until the matter is resolved.

Malcha Mahal,hidden under thick foliage inside the Ridge along Sardar Patel Mrg,has lost its last royal occupant,Prince Ali Raza @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/72zY5nZpzE  Parvez Sultan (@theparvezsultan) November 7, 2017

Stay at New Delhi Railway Station

Before shifting to the Mahal, the begum was camping at the New Delhi Railway Stations platform number one hoping to get a suitable accommodation befitting her royal stature in place of her ancestral properties, which had been seized by the British after the annexation of Oudh in 1856.

Prince Ali Raza (second from right) with his sister Sakina (second from left) and his mother Begum Wilayat Mahal at New Delhi Railway Stations waiting room in 1975. (N Thyagarajan / HT Archive)

Her unauthorised occupation also caused an uproar in Parliament and after the intervention of the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, Tughlaqs lodge was allotted to the family.

The Mahal was out of bounds to visitors, which was protected with barbed wires all around and 12 big dogs. After years, servants left and dogs died, said RV Smith, renowned chronicler of Delhi.

According to a The New York Times report of 1981, the Begum was provided with a small palace in Srinagar after Independence, which was arranged by then prime minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru following her plea for restitution of the Lucknow properties under advisement. She came to Delhi after the palace was gutted in a fire in 1971.

The Kashmir palace burned to the ground and the Begum says that arsonists were responsible. She hints that they were government agents and that religious and communal motives lay behind the attack. It was just after the fire that the begum brought her family and retinue to the train station to be able to better advance her cause by calling on ministers, the report says.

In July, 1977, Wilayat Mahal was offered an accommodation in Aliganj of Lucknow but she refused to take possession and preferred Malcha Mahal.

The Begum committed suicide in December 1993 at the age of 62 by allegedly drinking a concoction laced with crushed diamond.

Razas sister also died a few year ago. No one knows the exact date, said Kumar.
In 1903, she became the first woman ever to win the Nobel Prize. In 1906, she became the first woman professor at Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1911, she became the first person (not woman, person) to ever win two Nobel Prizes in a lifetime. Marie Curie, who was born on November 7, 150 years ago, was a rare successful woman in an overwhelmingly male world of scientific research at a time when it was unheard of for women to be in positions of authority that they hadnt been born into. Her 150th birth anniversary is as good a reason as any to look at how far women in science have come since.

More than a century after Marie Curie broke that glass ceiling, the number of women in STEM  science, technology, engineering and medicine  fields continues to belie the number of years that have passed. Consider this: Since Curies physics Nobel in 1903, only one other woman has ever won that prize; and since her chemistry Nobel in 1911, only three other women including her daughter have ever won. In the 117 years of its existence, 12 women have won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

Women who have won the Nobel Prize in the sciences Marie Curie, 1903 - Physics Marie Curie, 1911 - Chemistry Irene Joliot-Curie, 1935 - Chemistry Gerty Theresa Cori, 1947 - Physiology or Medicine Maria Goeppert-Mayer, 1963 - Physics Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, 1964 - Chemistry Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, 1977- Physiology or Medicine Barbara McClintock, 1983 - Physiology or Medicine Rita Levi-Montalcini, 1986 - Physiology or Medicine Gertrude B. Elion, 1988 - Physiology or Medicine Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, 1995 - Physiology or Medicine Linda B. Buck, 2004 - Physiology or Medicine Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, 2008 - Physiology or Medicine Carol W. Greider 2009, - Physiology or Medicine Elizabeth Blackburn, 2009 - Physiology or Medicine Ada E. Yonath, 2009 - Chemistry May-Britt Moser, 2014 - Physiology or Medicine Tu Youyou, 2015 - Physiology or Medicine

The current situation in India has not improved the state of affairs much. Of all the enrolments in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), only about 10% are women. Those in PhD and post doctoral research are even fewer. A survey found that while 46% of all undergraduate students in STEM fields are women, not many continue to work in the field. A shocking 41% of women in technology quit their role after a decade, as compared to 17% of men; and 81% of women in STEM fields in India perceived a gender bias in performance evaluation.

It is not just this sort of blatant misogyny (Nobel Prize winning biochemist Tim Hunt commented that the trouble with girls is that they cause men to fall in love with them and cry when they are criticised) and sexual harassment which works against women. The deep-seated bias that women simply cannot do science keeps them from even breaking into the networks that are so essential for rising in research fields. Having been slotted into the arts, social work, and teaching bracket that is seen as appropriate for the gentler sex, it isnt easy for women to break free. Earlier this year, a promising PhD scholar from IIT Delhi committed suicide, allegedly under pressure from her husband and in-laws for dowry and to give up her research dreams. Her father, in despair after her death, had told the Hindustan Times that he wished he had saved money for her dowry instead of investing in her education. The immense pressure to conform to these traditional gender roles; and put the demands of family before their careers, are some of the main reasons for women opting out of high pressure careers such as STEM.

It is the job of universities and governments, and society at large to ensure that hiring practices in organisations are free from the insidious sexism that keeps women from achieving their full potential. Or we are facing the danger of squandering the legacy of one of the greatest scientists to ever walk the earth.
The Jamshedpur campus of XLRI-Xavier School of Management will host in December its first international meet on the use and benefits of assessment centre method in selection and promotion of candidates.

The Centre for Human Resource Development (HRD) of the premiere B-school will arrange for a two-day conference on December 9 and 10 and include two segments - in-person event for Asian participants and virtual sessions for those abroad, an XLRI statement said in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The conference, to be chaired by HRD centre head Professor RK Premarajan and Professor Emeritus of Colorado State University George Thornton III, would deliberate on the benefits of assessment, diagnostic and development centre methods, the statement said.

Elaborating on the agenda, Premarajan said, the assessment centre method is used by organisations all over the world in both private and public sectors in selection, promotion and actual skill development areas.

In a changing corporate world, the main goal of the human resource management is to achieve competitive advantage by strategic allocation of qualified personnel.... It is therefore imperative for organisations to search for more accurate forms of assessing talent and supporting their development, he said.

Several Indian researchers will share their study results and experiences at the conference, the statement added.
After filing a case against seven in the wake of finding beef in biryani being sold in Mewat, the Mewat police is now planning to track the source of beef supplied to biryani makers.

As cattle slaughter is banned in Haryana, the police investigation will focus on the source and the manner in which beef reached the accused, said Kuldeep Singh, SHO Ferozepur Jhirka, where the FIR was filed on Saturday against the seven accused. The case was filed on the orders of a local court.

We will take action against the accused but also investigate the source of beef. It may take time to trace the biryani makers and the people who supplied them beef, Singh said.

He appeared in the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday where the matter of beef biryani was listed for hearing. Singh said the next hearing is scheduled on December 7.

Regarding a delay in filing the case, Singh said as it was a sensitive issue, it needed to be handled carefully.

The case was lodged on the order of the court of subdivisional judicial magistrate who had on October 13 asked the police to investigate and take action in the matter on the plea of Naresh Kadyan, chairman People for Animals, Haryana.

The animal husbandry department and police had on August 24 last year collected seven samples of biryani from shopkeepers and vendors in Muslim-dominated Mewat districts Mundaka village, 85km from Gurgaon, leading to widespread outrage.

The samples tested positive for containing meat of cattle species when tested at a lab in Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar.

The accused have been booked under the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gau Samvardhan Act 2015, three sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and seven sections of the IPC.

Mewat has been on the radar of cow vigilante groups ever since the state government enforced the cow protection act in March last year.

A police officer working with the cow protection task force said the cattle are smuggled to Mewat from neighbouring districts and stashed in the hills in the interiors of Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Nagina, Pingawa, Punhana, Rawali, Shikrawa and areas bordering Alwar district of Rajasthan.

The officer said cattle are slaughtered and skinned at these hideouts and meat is sold to shopkeepers.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said that it will transfer land to the Millennium City Expressway Limited (MCEPL) at Sehrawan and Manesar to set up two new toll booths on the Delhi-Jaipur highway in a week. The move will be a step towards the proposed shifting or relocation of the Kherki Daula toll plaza.

MCEPL will start the process of setting up new toll booths at both the locations only after it gets possession of the land, said an executive of the concessionaire operating the toll at Kherki Daula.

Speculation around the Kherki toll shifting began on August 14 this year when Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that the toll point will be relocated while laying the foundation stone for a proposed elevated corridor on Sohna Road.

Following Gadkaris direction, the NHAI set the ball rolling, as it held two crucial meetings with MCEPL executives and officials of five nationalised banks to devise a road map in this regard.

A committee comprising NHAI officials, MCEPL executives and bank officials was constituted to draw up a profit and loss report based on traffic survey at the new locations.

Going by Gadkaris announcement, the Kherki toll plaza ought to have been shifted to a new location much before the elections to the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) elections on September 24, Manoj Tyagi, a Manesar-based industrialist said.

Ashok Kumar Sharma, project director, NHAI, Gurgaon said, We are waiting for the Gurgaon district administration to hand over lands at Sehrawan and Manesar to the NHAI. Once we get possession, it will take about a week for us to transfer the lands to the MCEPL.

Read I Gurgaon: Kherki Daula toll to be shifted 8 km towards Manesar from present location

S Raguraman, chief executive officer (CEO), MCEPL, said, Land is the first stage to start the process of toll shifting. I cannot comment on the land transfer delay. MCEPL has not received any official communication from the NHAI till date regarding the (Kherki) toll shifting.

The MCEPL survey report claimed that the concessionaire will suffer a 44% revenue loss if the toll is shifted from Kherki Daula in Gurgaon to Sehrawan in Panchgaon and Manesar. MCEPL has submitted the report to the NHAI.

Named on the basis of their distance from the nearest national highway, the Sehrawan toll in Panchgaon will be called Toll 53 and the one in Manesar will be called Toll 47. Kherki Daula toll point is also known as Toll 42. Sehrawan is about 11km away from the existing toll plaza, while the one at Manesar is about 5km from the toll point.

According to the MCEPL report, around 1.1 lakh vehicles cross the Kherki toll everyday, leading to an average revenue of 40 lakh per day. The number of vehicles will be reduced to around 60,000 once the toll is shifted to two different places, the report says.

The Gurgaon expressway opened to traffic with two toll plazas  Sirhaul and Kherki Daula in 2008. It ran into trouble within three years of its opening and led to the termination of the agreement with the previous concessionaire in February 2014. Later, the NHAI signed an agreement with the IDFC-led consortium, which operates the expressway through MCEPL.

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Heavy smog, the resulting difficulty in breathing and on-road visibility dropping to 100 metres was just a trailer of whats in store in the days to come, experts warned, adding that the region should brace for more difficult days ahead.

Tuesday was what seemed to be the start of the notorious winters the NCR has become known for over the past few years as the air quality index value (AQI), as recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), jumped to 368; this figure was 331 on Monday.

The AQI put Gurgaon air in the very poor bracket; this level of pollution is enough to cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.

Because of paddy burning across areas close to Delhi-NCR, low wind speed and dip in temperature, the region is expected to see more smog in the days to come, Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said.

The minimum temperature was 17C on Tuesday which was 2C less than Monday. Officials at the Meteorological department said the weather is expected to remain cloudy for the next few days and temperature will fall further. The minimum temperature has been plummeting to around 18C to 19C in the past week, and maximum temperature has remained 27C to 29C.

The condition of air quality is bad. I could smell smoke and dust, as soon as, I got out of my house, Dinesh Dighal, a resident of Sector 53, said.

Dighal was among the hundreds who complained of difficulty in breathing and irritation in the eyes as the PM2.5 level shot to 255.8 microgram per cubic metre (mpcm) from 178.3 mpcm on Monday. The permissible limit of PM2.5 is 60 mpcm in India. It consists of sulphate, ammonia, nitrates, black carbon, mineral dust and sodium chloride. As a result getting oxygen from the air becomes difficult.

My eyes were red because of the presence of smog. It was difficult driving a bike. I am using a pollution mask, however, the fine particulate matter still becomes an issue, Anup Ghosh, a resident of Vatika City on Sohna Road who commutes to his office in Udyog Vihar, said.

Doctors have warned that people with breathing difficulties should either stay indoors or wear pollution mask while going out.

In the last two days, more than 60% patients we have seen reported difficulty in breathing. Number of people with eye and skin allergies have also gone up by 40 % because of rise in pollutants in the atmosphere, BK Rajora, chief medical officer, Civil Hospital, said.

The smog also affected traffic movement in the city as the visibility dropped to 100 metres.

I came to Aravalli Biodiversity Park for walk every morning. Today, because of the bad weather condition, it took me 25 minutes to reach the park from Sector 44, Vinay Kumar, a commuter, said.

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Harvey Weinstein hired journalists and highly trained ex-spies and military personnel who used fake identities to try to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him, The New Yorker reported Monday.

The news came as the Television Academy, which hands out Emmy Awards, was said to have expelled Weinstein for life, following a similar move by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which gives out the Oscars.

Among the private security agencies hired by Weinstein starting around fall 2016, the magazine said, was Black Cube, which is largely run by former officers of Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad. Another was corporate intelligence giant Kroll.

Two Black Cube private eyes met with actor Rose McGowan -- before she publicly accused Weinstein of raping her -- to obtain information.

Rose McGowan speaks at the inaugural Women's Convention in Detroit. McGowans publisher has set a January release for her memoir Brave, a month ahead of its original on-sale date. (AP)

One of the investigators secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan while pretending to be a womens rights advocates, said the magazine, citing dozens of pages of documents and seven people directly involved in Weinsteins efforts.

The spy used a different fake identity to meet with a journalist while claiming to have an accusation against Weinstein, in order to learn which women were talking to the media.

Weinstein and the private eyes also used journalists themselves to extract details from women who were making claims against Weinstein.

During his yearlong effort, Weinstein and his team would collect information on dozens of people, compiling psychological profiles with their personal or sexual histories in order to contradict, discredit or intimidate his targets.

The New Yorker said Weinstein sought the assistance of ex-employees from his movie enterprises to help in his efforts collecting names and placing calls.

Investigations also sometimes went through Weinsteins lawyers, according to the magazine. Among them was David Boies, who represented Al Gore in his 2000 presidential election dispute with George W Bush.

The New Yorker said Boies himself had signed a contract demanding that Black Cube seek to uncover information to stop the publication of a New York Times story about Weinsteins sexual abuse at the same time his firm was also representing the Times in a libel case.

Boies told the magazine it was a mistake to have been involved with the investigators.

Weinsteins spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister dismissed the report, saying: It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.

Neither Hofmeister nor Boies immediately responded to requests for comment.

Police launched investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York after around 100 women accused Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape.

This combination of recent file photos created on November 3, 2017 shows(L-R from top) : US film producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, Director James Toback, Producer Brett Ratner, French-Polish director Roman Polanski and comedian Bill Cosby. (AFP)

Meanwhile, industry publication Variety said the Television Academy has voted to permanently expel Weinstein.

The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue, it told Variety, adding that it was reviewing the organizations code of conduct.

The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behaviour are deeply disturbing to the Academys leadership.

We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Actor Kate Winslet, who won the Hollywood Actress Award for her performance in Woody Allens latest film Wonder Wheel, stunned the crowd by kissing Allison Janney on stage.

The moment was prompted after Winslet said she would like to be Janney as well as stroke and kiss (her) someday, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Winslet accepted her Hollywood Film Award on Sunday night.

Kate Winslet (L) accepts the Hollywood Actress Award for 'Wonder Wheel' with honoree Allison Janney onstage. (REUTERS)

During her acceptance speech, Winslet noted that she felt honoured to be in the same room with such luminaries as Janney.

I know I dont really know you but I know I just want to be you. I do, or just stroke you or something. I mean, we could always kiss, maybe? Maybe?

Janney then headed to the stage, prompting Winslet to remark: Ah, its gonna happen! This is an exciting moment!

Janney, herself an honoree with the Hollywood Supporting Actress Award for her performance in I, Tonya, gave Winslet a kiss before heading back to her seat.

Winslet was presented with the award by her Divergent co-star Shailene Woodley.

KATE WINSLET AND ALLISON JANNEY KISSING AT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDS TONIGHT YALL I AM FINE EVERYTHING IS FINE pic.twitter.com/T6AWDUP4Iw  panchhi  (@catexblanchett) November 6, 2017

after Kate Winslet said she wanted to be & kiss Allison Janney someday in her #HollywoodAwards speech, Janney got up to give Winslet a kiss! pic.twitter.com/7mXhXcd459  Ashley Lee (@cashleelee) November 6, 2017

*sees Kate Winslet and Allison Janney kiss* pic.twitter.com/bXHpAdyEka  C (@vinegar_freak) November 6, 2017

Hear ye hear ye, I'm starting a new cult. Those who dedicate their lives to the Kate Winslet/Allison Janney ship say aye! #HollywoodAwards pic.twitter.com/E7GqIKEu3i  Lauren Bradshaw (@flickchickdc) November 6, 2017

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The Income Tax department is set to issue notices to about one lakh entities and individuals, who deposited huge amounts of cash in banks post demonetisation and whose tax returns have been picked for detailed probe into suspected discrepancies, official sources said on Tuesday.

Issue of notices will begin this week, they said.

In the first tranche, notices will be issued to 70,000 entities who deposited over Rs 50 lakh in cash in banks but chose not to file tax returns or respond to the relevant Income Tax department advisories, the sources said.

These notices will be issued under Section 142 (1) of the I-T Act (inquiry before assessment), they said.

Similarly, about 30,000 scrutiny notices will be issued to those whose deposits and tax returns were found to be starkly deviant from their past behaviour or their accounts showed huge monetary transactions post demonetisation, they added.

As many as 20,572 tax returns have been selected for the scrutiny procedure by the department post demonetisation, declared by the government on November 8 last year.

The rest of the scrutiny notices will be issued in due course, they added.

This action will be followed by the taxman issuing similar notices by next month to those individuals and entities who have made deposits between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 50 lakh post demonetisation.

These activities, they said, are part of the Operation Clean Money that was initiated by the tax department in January this year to check black money generation post the note ban.

According to official data, accessed by PTI, 17.73 lakh suspicious cases involving Rs 3.68 lakh crore have been identified by the taxman in 23.22 lakh bank accounts post demonetisation.

Responses from 11.8 lakh people for 16.92 lakh bank accounts have been received by the department through online medium till now.

We will again ask people who made bank deposits of over Rs 50 lakh to respond to our notices. If they do not cooperate, we will begin the legal action. Similar thing would be initiated against those who have made deposits less than Rs 50 lakh but over Rs 25 lakh, a senior I-T department officer said.

The I-T department had conducted 900 searches between November 9, 2016, and March this year, leading to seizure of assets worth Rs 900 crore, including Rs 636 crore in cash.

The searched led to the disclosure of Rs 7,961 crore undisclosed income, according to the official data.

During the same period, the department conducted 8,239 survey operations leading to detection of Rs 6,745 crore of black money, it had said.
On the eve of first anniversary of demonetisation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Tuesday a seizure of Rs 36.34 crore in demonetised currency in Delhi in its ongoing probe into cross-border funding of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The money was seized on Monday. NIA officials said that the role of some bank employees Srinagar is under the scanner in connection with the second biggest seizure of demonetised currency after the government banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination notes on November 8 last year. The biggest seizure after demonetisation was in December 2016 when Income Tax officials seized Rs 102 crore in demonetised currency from mining baron Sekhar Reddy in Chennai.

Amid a continuing attack by the opposition on the note ban, Mondays seizure is likely to boost the governments argument that demonetisation helped in curbing terror financing.

We have seized demonetised currency worth Rs 36,34,78,500 and arrested nine people in this connection, NIA inspector general Alok Mittal said.

Mittal said the NIA investigators intercepted a gang on Tuesday at Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place in the heart of the capital.

The arrested accused included Pradeep Chauhan (47) and Bhagwan Singh (54) of Delhi, Vinod Shreedhar Shetty (47) and Deepal Toprani (60) of Mumbai, Shahnawaz Mir (45) of Srinagar, Majid Yousuf Sofi (27) of Anantnag and Umar Mushtaq Dar (27) of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, Ejaj-ul Hassan (38) of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and Jaswinder Singh (53) of Nagpur.

The accused were carrying 28 cartons filled with demonetised currency notes of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in four vehicles  two BMWs, one Creta and a Ford EcoSport.

Read more: J-K govt suspends Hizb chief Syed Salahuddins son from agriculture dept job

Investigators say since the haul of demonetised currency was so huge, they sought help from officials of the Reserve Bank of India who counted the money at the NIA headquarters here.

Mittal said during the investigation into terror funding case, it emerged that some people linked to the separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency.

They could not deposit or convert the demonetisated currency in their possession during the window provided by the government. The NIA mounted surveillance on the suspects. Investigators found that a gang of suspects were trying to convert this demonetised money into valid currency, added Mittal.

Following the closure of window for conversion of old currency, the government in March this year notified a law that made possession of more than 10 old currency notes a criminal offence.

In June, the NIA had filed an FIR alleging funding of separatists in Kashmir valley from Pakistan. The agency said that money from Pakistan was used for funding violence in the Valley that included stone pelting on security forces and torching of schools and government buildings.

The agency had earlier arrested nine others accused in the case including hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelanis son-in-law Altaf Ahmed Shah Funtoosh, Ayaz Akbar Khanday, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah (all from Geelanis faction of Hurriyat), Shahid-ul-Islam (of the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq faction), Nayeem Khan of the Jammu Kashmir National Front and Farooq Ahmed Dar aka Bitta Karatay of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R).

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Delhi shut all primary schools on Wednesday as pollution hit 70 times the World Health Organisations safe level, prompting doctors in the capital city to warn of a public health emergency.

Dense grey smog shrouded the roads of the worlds most polluted capital, where many pedestrians and bikers wore masks or covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and scarves.

Here are the highlights of Wednesday:

9:45pm: Noida district magistrate directs schools up to Class 8 to be shut on Thursday and Friday, due to severe smog conditions.

8:57pm: All government as well as private schools in Punjab to remain closed from November 9 to 11 due to the smog situation: ANI

8:55pm: Aligarh district magistrate directs schools up to Class 8 in the region to be shut on Thursday and Friday due to severe smog conditions: ANI

8:53pm: Union minister Mahesh Sharma says politics and blame game over the pollution issue need to be set aside in the national interest. Blame game and politics in it should be shunned... in the national interest and humanity.

8:50pm: Public participation and involvement of implementing agencies (are necessary). It is a situation where everyone has to participate, says Union minister of state for environment Mahesh Sharma.

8:49pm: Union minister of state for environment Mahesh Sharma calls for public participation in tackling the pollution situation.

8:48pm: The most affected are children and the aged. Todays children witnessing such pollution will have serious implications in the next 20 years with their lungs getting affected badly, says AIIMS director Guleria.

8:46pm: 20% surge in respiratory disease patients at the OPDs of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), says AIIMS director Guleria.

8:45pm: Better to stay indoors and not go out. Avoid the hotspots of air pollution, which one can come to know through apps, AIIMS director Guleria.

8:42pm: AIIMS director Guleria says N95 masks and air purifiers are not completely effective in the current air pollution scenario

8:40pm: There are estimates that nearly 30,000 people may die within the NCR due to pollution and smog... But there is a problem with this data as these are estimates based on figures of admissions in hospitals, says AIIMS director Guleria.

8:39pm: AIIMS director Randeep Guleria says that there has been a high surge in patients with respiratory problems and there could be a high fatality rate.

8:37pm: Promoting use of more efficient and less polluting energy sources, restricting growing number of vehicles and stringent enforcement of pollution laws will help in smooth transition to a more environment-friendly economy in the long-term, says Assocham secretary general Rawat.

8:35pm: Delhi is facing an emergency situation but there is hardly any intention or commitment seen to address the problem as such innovative solutions like using mist cannons, creating a special force to check construction activities, vehicular pollution, rubbish burning and other factors is the need of the hour, says Assocham secretary general DS Rawat.

8:33pm: Such negative outcomes may severely impact inflow of investments and hit sectors like tourism, hospitality, outdoor recreation and others, says Assocham.

8:32pm: Increasing air pollution can take a toll on the urban economy by cutting short the lifespan of people, thereby increasing healthcare costs for the government and drive away top executives and talented individuals to other cities having better air quality, says Assocham.

8.30pm: Industry body Assocham urges the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to establish a clear strategy for aggressively tackling the alarming pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

8.24pm: A few days back, the Kejriwal government offered Rs 1,500 crore for not increasing the Metro fares. It means they have no paucity of funds but they are not doing anything. The money could be used for purchasing 3,000 buses, says Kapil Mishra.

8:22pm: The AAPs rebel MLA Kapil Mishra, a former minister in the Kejriwal government, slams the city government over its inaction.

8:20pm: The city is facing severe air pollution for the past two days, but Arvind Kejriwal has failed to take any steps except for tweeting and writing letters, says Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

8:15pm: Three political leaders - Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, AAP MLA Kapil Mishra and BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely  distribute masks to people. They hit out at the AAP government for not taking any corrective measures.

7:58pm:

Delhi govt ready to roll out odd-even scheme if air pollution levels persist in 'severe plus' category for 48 hours: Transport minister  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 8, 2017

7:24pm: Supreme Court-appointed EPCA announces severe plus, or emergency, conditions in Delhi. It wants ban on civil construction and demolition activities, reports news agency PTI. The panel also banned the entry of trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, in the capital city. The panel said a decision on bringing back the odd-even scheme will be taken on Thursday.

6:42pm: The Central Pollution Control Board and a Supreme Court-appointed environment body have recommended free of cost public transport in Delhi for the next few days as the region faces a pollution emergency.

The final decision to make bus and Metro rides free will come from the Delhis lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, who is likely to hold an emergency meeting with environment authorities, officials said.

The CPCB, which held an emergency task force meeting, told IANS that a pollution-clock was being updated on its portal to monitor the situation closely and impose a pollution emergency if PM2.5 remained at the current levels.

Earlier, the apex court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority barred the entry of trucks to Delhi and levied a parking fee four times the normal rates.

5:56pm:

The Delhi metro will run 3317 train trips from Thursday instead of 3131, an increase of 186 train trips to provide increased capacity in this weather. @htTweets @htdelhi  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) November 8, 2017

5:41pm: The National Green Tribunal lashed out at the Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board for not issuing orders to shut down construction and industrial activities in the capital despite the worsening air quality.

It also ordered Punjab, UP and Haryana governments to spell out the steps have they taken to prevent crop burning in the states adjacent to the national capital.

The green panel directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to collect ambient air quality samples from different parts of the city and submit an analysis containing details of different pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and 10.

4:57pm: In his letter to Haryana and Punjab chief ministers --- Manohar Lal Khattar and Amarinder Singh --- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says the governments have failed to provide economically viable alternatives to stubble-burning, reports news agency IANS.

4:56pm: Major city hospitals witnessed a surge in the number of patients complaining of respiratory problems with doctors saying some may develop life-threatening conditions, reports news agency PTI.

3:27pm: Doctors issued a health advisory asking people to avoid outdoor activities like jogging and cycling as high levels of air pollution in Delhi and NCR can cause chronic lung and heart diseases and also affect the health of expectant mothers.

The smog that has enveloped the region for the past two days can cause allergies or aggravate already existing allergies and decrease lung immunity, according to tips shared by Fortis Healthcare.

3:00pm: Earlier in the day, environment minister Harsh Vardhan said in a message on social network Twitter: Every possible step required to tackle the situation has been already identified, and the need of the hour is to put them into action.

Using the hashtag #DelhiSmog, Vardhan urged the state authorities to rein in pollution, even if that meant deploying helicopters to spray jets of water across the capital.

1:15pm: Delhis air quality is getting worse. In this situation, there can be no compromise on childrens health, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tweeted, as his government ordered all schools to be closed till Sunday in view of deteriorating air quality in the Capital.

          ,  ,     https://t.co/28a2G0rIMW  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) November 8, 2017

12:54pm: Some 30 trains coming to Delhi and 30 flights landing or taking off from the Delhi airport were delayed, news agency IANS reported, quoting unnamed officials.

The air quality in Delhi and adjoining Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Gurgaon (Haryana) continued to be alarmingly bad on Wednesday.

12:21pm: The US embassy website showed the concentration of PM 2.5 -- the microscopic particles that are the most damaging to health -- topped 700 early on Wednesday morning, 70 times the WHO guidelines on long-term exposure, before dropping slightly.

The Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency, urging administrators to curb this menace, while the Environment Pollution Authority warned that things were set to get worse in the coming days.

10:08am: A day after Delhi witnessed its worst air quality and smog situation of the year, CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday he wished to meet his Haryana and Punjab counterparts to find a solution to pollution in the National Capital Region.

Kejriwal tweeted: Am writing letters to CMs of Punjab (Amarinder Singh) and Haryana (Manohar Lal Khattar) requesting them for a meeting to find solutions to crop burning.

The National Green Tribunal has taken the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana to task, seeking to know why steps to prevent steps were not taken despite knowing well in advance that such a situation was likely to arise.

Here are the highlights of Tuesday:

New Delhi gasped for oxygen on Tuesday as a toxic haze reduced visibility, affected flights and trains, and prompted chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to describe the national capital as a gas chamber.

Parking fee was hiked four times in New Delhi and its satellite cities to reduce the use of private cars as vehicle exhaust is considered one of the primary sources of air pollution.

Metro was asked to slash fares after peak hours and governments were told to increase the number and frequency of public buses.

6:40pm: Stubble burning is the main villain behind the severe level of pollution in Delhi and the neighbouring areas, the Delhi high court said on Monday, as it asked the AAP government and the neighbouring states what steps they have taken to address the issue.

6:10pm: The Indian Medical Association said New Delhi was in the midst of a public health emergency and appealed to the city government to halt sports and other outdoor activities in schools. The association also said the Delhi Half Marathon, scheduled for November 19, was likely to leave those participating especially badly hit because the air quality is worst during the early part of the day, when the run takes place.

6pm: All primary schools in Delhi will remain closed tomorrow, if needed will extend order till day after, says Manish Sisodia.

5.30pm: We have declared a state of public health emergency in Delhi since pollution is at an alarming level, the head of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Krishan Kumar Aggarwal told AFP.

5pm: All schools in Delhi have suspended outdoor activities and advised parents to ensure their children wear masks.

4:16pm: Delhi-NCR governments asked to get ready for odd-even scheme if pollution reaches emergency level.

4:15pm: Hike parking fee across Delhi four times to curb pollution: Supreme Court-appointed anti-pollution panel to Delhi government.

3:32pm: EPCA also instructs Delhi Metro to lower fares during off-peak hours for at least 10 days, introduce more coaches.

3:30pm: Environment body EPCA recommends that parking fees in Delhi-NCR be quadrupled.

2:20pm: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary force under the Union home ministry, has ordered on Tuesday issuance of over 9,000 face masks for its personnel deployed to guard the IGI Airport, the Delhi Metro and other government ministries and installations in Delhi, according to a PTI report.

1:08pm: Considering high level of pollution, I have requested Sh Manish Sisodia, Education Minister, to consider closing schools for a few days, tweets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

12:50pm: NGT slams Delhi, UP and Haryana governments over bad ambient air quality in the national capital, directs them to explain what preventive steps did they take to deal with the emergency situation prevailing today, reports news agency PTI

12:25pm: Train operations have also been affected with 33 inbound trains delayed by three hours or more.

12:20pm: At least 7 flights have been delayed, and one flight from Lucknow has been diverted to Jaipur.

12:15pm: MeT officials say runway visibility had dropped to around 400m at 8 am in the morning, but had cleared to around 425-725m at 10:30 am.

12:12pm: Delhi CM Kejriwal says Delhi has become a gas chamber for almost a month.

All of us together have to find a soln to this. Every year, during this time of the year, Del becomes a gas chamber for almost a month https://t.co/4YrA3HZG98  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 7, 2017

12 noon: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal says Delhis air pollution is this bad at this time of the year every year.

Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 7, 2017

11:50 am: ANI reports that more than 20 flights were affected at Delhi airport after the runway was closed due to low visibility

11:15am: Indian Medical Association declares Delhi a public health emergency state, ANI reports. The Association advises schools to be shut and tells people to avoid stepping out into the open

10am: Dense smog on National Highway-9 in Haryana. Long-distance trains from Bathinda to Delhi via Sirsa and Hisar are running late by an hour.

Haryana Roadways cancels several early morning long-route buses to avoid accidents.

8:50am: Long queues of four wheelers clog Delhi-Noida-Delhi Flyway and Noida-Greater Noida expressway as rush hour begins.

8:30am: Visibility in national capital at 200 metres

8am: In Haryana, Fatehabads district collector orders schools to open one hour later than usual. Schools to now open at 9 am for the next week.
A retired armyman in Guwahati has been served a notice to prove his citizenship, a month after a Foreigners Tribunal in Assam had sent a similar notice to a retired Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the army.

Mahiruddin Ahmed, who retired as a havildar from the Indian Army in 2004, along with his wife, was served notices by a foreigners tribunal in Barpeta district on September 16.

The notices claimed that both of them had entered India from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, without any valid papers.

The tribunal had asked him to appear before it on Monday with the proof of his citizenship, Ahmed told reporters.

It is very painful and shocking that we are subjected to such humiliation after serving in the Army, he said.

Stating that he was born in 1964 in Barpeta, Ahmed wondered how could he have joined the Army if he was not an Indian citizen.

Last month, Mohammad Azmal Hoque, who had been a JCO in the army, was asked to prove his Indian citizenship and that he was not an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant by a foreigners tribunal, which had charged him with entering the country in 1971 without proper documents.

Hoque, who had retired from the Army on September 30 last year, after serving in the force for 30 years, was living in Guwahati post-retirement.

He had received a notice from the tribunal, which placed him in the Doubtful Voter category and asked him to appear before a local tribunal on October 13 with relevant documents to prove his citizenship.

Why do I have to be humiliated so many times? I request the prime minister, president and home minister to put an end to this harassment of a citizen, said Hoque, adding that he was not the first person from his family to be served such a notice as in 2012, his wife Mamtaj Begum was also summoned by the tribunal to prove her citizenship.

The Assam Police, however, later apologised to him as it was a case of mistaken identity.

The foreigners tribunals were set up in the state under the Foreigner (Tribunal) Order of 1964 to determine the status of citizens whose Indian nationality is found to be doubtful.

The number of foreigners tribunals was increased from 36 to 100 in 2015 following an increase in the number of cases related to alleged illegal migrants.

The Assam Accord signed in 1985 between AASU (All Assam Students Union) and the Centre had fixed March 25, 1971 as the cut-off date for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.
Another person critically injured in the National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) plant explosion in Rae Bareli on November 1 died at Delhis Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the disaster to 36.

Rakesh, 21, who goes by one name, was admitted with 60% thermal burns.

With his death, four of the 18 people injured in the boiler blast who were flown to Delhi for treatment have died. Around a hundred others were injured in the explosion during a routine repair assignment.

All the men being treated in Delhis Safdarjung Hospital and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are aged between 22 and 57 and suffer from 20% to 80% deep thermal burns.

Forty-year-old Santosh Kumar Shah who suffered 90% burns, died on Saturday morning, a day after he was admitted to the hospital, while 22-year-old Chandar Pratap with 80% burns succumbed on Sunday. Nageshwar (35), who was very critical and had to be put on ventilator support on Sunday night, passed away on Monday morning.

Two of the eight surviving patients being treated at Safdarjung hospital remain critical.

Read more: Six-member team to probe NTPC boiler blast

One of them, 57-year-old Misri Ram is on ventilator support since he was brought to the hospital on November 2 with 80% thermal burns and injury to the upper respiratory tract from smoke and soot inhalation. Bhim (22) has 45% burns and is also in a critical condition.

Six of the injured who are less critical are being treated at the AIIMS.

Currently, all the patients (at AIIMS) are taking solid foods orally. All the patients have started ambulating (walking), except one who had a graft on his lower limbs, the hospital said in a statement.

They are undergoing chest and limb physiotherapy and are being monitored by a 20-member medical team including plastic surgeons, intensivists and physiotherapists.

All the patients are using custom-made splints, a device used for support or immobilisation of a limb or spine, to avoid disabilities and contracture (shortening of muscle or joint).

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The chief of Assam governments Directorate of Information and Public Relations was on Tuesday arrested for alleged irregularities in putting up publicity hoardings of government schemes during the Congress tenure.

We have arrested DIPR Director Ranjit Gogoi and produced him before the court. It has given us three days remand, chief ministers Special Vigilance Cell In-Charge Jyotirmoy Chakravarty told PTI.

He said if needed they will seek an extension of the remand for further investigation in the Rs 32-crore scam.

Sources in the Vigilance Cell said more arrests may take place in the coming days.

Police recently filed an FIR naming Gogoi and a few businessmen along with their firms for alleged corruption in putting up the hoardings across all districts for Vision Assam Mission Assam scheme, just before the Assembly polls in 2016.

In total, there are five names in the FIR, which is just the beginning of the investigation. More names can also crop up during the course of the probe, Chakravarty said.

When asked if rest of the persons named in the FIR will be arrested, he said, We will definitely take action in due course of time... The initial estimate of the scam was Rs 32 crore. Out of that, payments to the tune of Rs 30 crore have been made.

It was alleged that hoardings were not placed and the payments were made to the parties without proper inspection.

Allegations have also been levelled against the erstwhile Congress government, which had appointed Gogoi as the Director of DIPR.

During the entire course of investigation since the controversy broke out, names of some senior bureaucrats also came up.
A local court in Kolkata on Tuesday held a Bangladeshi citizen guilty of raping a 71-year-old Christian nun in West Bengals Nadia district more than two years ago, an incident which triggered widespread protests and outrage across the eastern state.

The city sessions court held Nazrul Islam, alias Noju, guilty of rape. Six others, including Noju, were also held guilty of committing dacoity at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat on March 14, 2015.

Gopal Sarkar, a resident of North 24 Parganas district, was found guilty of criminal conspiracy. He was accused of providing shelter to the gang of criminals from Bangladesh. They plotted the crime at Sarkars residence but he was not present at the scene of the crime.

This incident is particularly shameful for the people of West Bengal, a state where persons such as Sister Nivedita and Mother Teresa have worked. The missionary, who was raped was an aged woman who was working for the welfare of the people, judge Kumkum Singha remarked while delivering the verdict.

Singha made it clear that the case was not of gang rape. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Wednesday.

We will plead for the maximum punishment possible punishment, which is life term, under the sections, public prosecutor Anindya Raut said after the verdict.

We have succeeded in arguing against the charge of gangrape, Fazle Ahmed Khan, the lawyer for the accused, said.

Nuns of the church were also present in the courtroom when the verdict was pronounced.

According to the complaint lodged by the church authorities, a gang of seven to eight men ransacked the church between 2 to 5am on March 14 and took away cash, camera, computers.

The men were caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the campus of the Convent of Jesus and Mary High School. While the faces of four of the men were recorded, four were drawn later on the basis of the description given by nuns and the security guard present when the incident took place.

The accused were booked for rape, dacoity, and criminal conspiracy.

Prime accused Noju was picked up by the police from Sealdah railway station in Kolkata on June 17, 2015. The victim identified Noju from a gathering of 10 persons at a test identification (TI) parade in July in the city.

A total of 42 witnesses were examined during the trial.

Ranaghat is about 78 km from Kolkata and just 20-30 km from the India-Bangladesh border. It is connected to Gede, a point on the Bangladesh border about 55 km away, by train.

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A few drags of cigarette cost a Bangladeshi student nearly Rs7,000 when an impostor, claiming to be a Delhi Police officer, conned him by taking the money as a fine for smoking outside the embassy of Poland in Chanakyapuri on November 3.

The impostor took away whatever Indian and Bangladeshi currency Mohamaud Jabedul Bahar was carrying in his wallet for a violation which normally invites a fine of Rs200.

The 20-year-old had come to India to obtain a visa to pursue higher studies in Poland and was queuing outside the concerned embassy when he was duped.

In his statement, Bahar told the police that he was smoking in the diplomatic enclave when a man on a scooter approached him.

The person claimed that he was a Delhi Police officer and since Bahar was smoking in a no smoking zone, he would have to pay a fine.

The man also asked Bahar to accompany him to a police station for completing procedural formalities.

On the way, he stopped near Bihar Bhawan and told Bahar that if he paid the fine there itself, the victim could be spared the trouble of going to a police station.

Before Bahar could accept or deny the offer, the man spotted his wallet in his hand. He took money out of Bahars wallet (7,000 Taka and Rs 1,500) and refused to give a receipt before driving away. Going by the normal conversion rate, the 7,000 Taka amounts to Rs5,500, taking the total to around Rs7,000.

It then occurred to Bahar that he had been cheated. The complainant, who has since returned to his home in Chittagong, did not specify whether the man was in uniform or not.

A senior police officer said a case of cheating has been registered against unknown person.
A Kolkata-bound GoAir flight from Delhi landed in Kolkata on Tuesday under emergency conditions related to a bomb threat, which was later declared a hoax.

Official sources said flight G8-127 landed at the Kolkata airport around 9:30 pm after the pilot informed the ground authorities about a bomb threat.

The plane was taken to an isolated bay at the airport after which regular security procedures were followed, they said.

A bomb threat assessment committee later declared the threat as hoax, officials said.

More details are awaited, they said.
India has moved to a cleaner, more transparent and honest financial system a year since the Narendra Modi-led government scrapped high-value banknotes to tackle corruption, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday.

The government pulled out 500- and 1,000-rupee notes out of circulation last year in a blitz against corruption, counterfeits and terrorist funding.

Ahead of the first anniversary of the governments shock announcement, Jaitley said November 8 will be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of Indian economy.

Last years currency switch wasnt smooth, with banks and ATMs kiosks recording long queues of people waiting for hours for their turn to deposit defunct notes and get new ones, triggering public anger and the Oppositions criticism.

Defending the demonetisation measure in a Facebook post, Jaitley wrote: When the country is participating in Anti-Black Money Day, a debate was started that whether the entire exercise of demonetisation has served any intended purpose. This narrative attempts to bring out positive outcomes of demonetisation in short-term and medium-term with respect to stated objectives.

Jaitley said the day signified the resolve of the government to cure the country from the dreaded disease of black money. He said it was the hidden urge of a large section of society to get rid of this menace.

In the blog  A Year After Demonetisation  the finance minister said the benefits may not yet be visible to some people, but the next generation will view the post-November, 2016 economic development with a great sense of pride.

The Opposition, especially the Congress, has repeatedly blamed demonetisation and the governments handling of the Goods and Services Tax for economic slowdown and unemployment in the country.

In his post, Jaitley said the there was a shift towards greater formalisation of the economy in the near term aided by the introduction of Good and Services Tax (GST).
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday criticised the Centres bullet train project, dubbing it an exercise in vanity, and said the governments priorities are misplaced as it should have focused on the existing passenger rail network.

Addressing a party event for the business community in poll-bound Gujarat, the Congress leader claimed the project will not benefit either 6.5 crore people of the state or the nation, adding Gujarati entrepreneurs know very well that if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is not.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had in September laid the foundation stone for Indias first high speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The joint venture between Indian Railways and Japans Shinkansen Technology is expected to be completed by 2022.

Indias first bullet train will connect Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat, to Mumbai, cutting travel time from seven hours to less than three.

Modi had said that Japan gave a loan of Rs 88,000 crore at 0.1% interest for the project.

The bullet train project, launched with much fanfare, is sadly an exercise in vanity and will not benefit either 6.5 crore Gujaratis or the nation, Singh said here.

Rs 88,000 crore through a soft loan may seem like easy money, but it still needs to be repaid to the Japanese, he said.

The government should have rather focused on the existing passenger rail network, the Congress veteran said.

The bullet train project requires the creation of a parallel infrastructure while our existing passenger rail network is languishing and needs a dire infusion of funds to improve both safety and speed, he said.

The past year has seen the highest number of deaths due to derailments in more than a decade, but the governments priority are misplaced, Singh said.

He wondered if the prime minister considered the alternative of introducing high speed rail across India by upgrading the existing broad gauge infrastructure.

Singh said the UPA government had in 2005 signed a deal with the Japanese government for a dedicated freight corridor.

(The dedicated freight corridor) project will create a multiplier effect on the economy, with upgradation of transportation technology, increase in productivity and reduction in unit transportation cost, he said.
Turkey Trot 2017 is a perfect opportunity to get in a little exercise before the Thanksgiving meal  and help one local organization provide meals to others year-round.

The Farmington Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the 5k run/walk starting at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, which this year falls on Nov. 23.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Conway said this is the second year for the event to be held the day of Thanksgiving. Previous events were held the weekend before the holiday.

We moved ours to Thanksgiving and our participation just shot up in 2016 and we hope the same for 2017, he said.

Proceeds from this years event will go to help the Farmington OAKS Senior Center with their meals program.

Registration cost is $20 until Nov. 12 and goes to $25 after that date. All participants registering on or before Nov. 12 will receive a long-sleeve shirt. A Turkey Trot sock/beanie cap with the logo is also available this year.

Medals will be awarded to the first place winners in each age group and top three overall.

Participants can register at the Farmington Civic Center, located at 2 Black Knight Dr., or online at farmington-mo.gov by clicking the Parks & Recreation tab.

Previously, the department hosted a Halloween 5k and would donate the proceeds from that event to the senior center.

We thought lets consolidate our races and hope for a bigger turnout at one, Conway said.

He added the Centene Corporation was on board with moving their sponsorship from the Halloween race to the Thanksgiving race.

The event begins at 9 a.m. at the Farmington Public Library, located at 201 N. A St. and goes through the downtown area.

Conway said the downtown course is unique for this area and a favorite for local runners and walkers.

It starts downtown and it is all downtown, he said. It starts in front of the library and stays in the downtown area  Farmington has an awesome downtown. Its a nice backdrop for an event like this.

Conway also credits the Farmington Police Department and their assistance in making sure traffic stays off the course during the run.

A few streets will close during the event  but Conway believes that wont be a problem due to the holiday.

A race before the big meal  helping with meals  is a perfect fit, Conway said.

(The race) fits real well for the time of year and the mission for the meals program, he said. Im hoping for a good turnout.
Gujarats business hub of Surat has turned into a political battleground as top leaders jostle with each other to win over the citys traders, whose support can be decisive in the politically crucial Saurashtra region.

First off the mark is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah who is meeting with booth-level party workers and then hosting a dinner for city traders on Tuesday night to discuss the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

On Wednesday  which is also the one-year anniversary of the governments shock recall of high-value banknotes  Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will spend the day with diamond and textile manufacturers and traders to to understand the problems caused by demonetisation and GST implementation, a senior party leader told Hindustan Times. In the evening, Gandhi will lead a candle-light vigil against demonetisation.

In Delhi on the same day, Union textile minister Smriti Irani will meet a delegation from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce. The minister had called the traders for a meeting after Gandhi announced his plans to spend a day in Surat to know their mann ki baat.

The BJP is battling a buoyant Congress to retain control of Gujarat and has pulled out all stops to retain the support of several communities, especially businessmen and Patidars.

Winning over businessmen in Surat  who mostly come from the Patidar community  is key for any party to dominate the Saura- shtra region, which comprises 11 districts and sends 48 legislators to the 182-member state assemb- ly. The Patidars in the city mig- rated from drought-prone Saur- ashtra but maintain strong ties to their ancestral villages by sending back money for agriculture.

The Congress, which is looking to snatch power from the BJP after 22 years, has focused on brewing discontent among the Patidar community, who comprise 12% of the states six crore population, over a demand for quotas in jobs and education.

The opposition party has also repeatedly attacked the prime minister over demonetisation and implementation glitches in GST  with Gandhi dubbing it Gabbar Singh Tax at a recent rally. The Congress is also buoyed by Patidar leader Hardik Patel inching closer to the party ahead of polls scheduled for December 9 and 14.

But winning over the Surat traders might not be easy for the opposition party. The diamond and textile traders are from the Leuva sub-caste while Hardik is a leader of the Kadva sub-caste. The two communities have frosty relations. The Leuvas dominate businesses and are spread evenly among various districts of Saurashtra and Gujarat. The Kadvas are numerically less significant, poorer, mostly farmers and are confined to north Gujarat.

The trade forums in the city also appeared split over the high-profile visits. The SGCC had decided to meet all three leaders but both the Federation of Textile Associations and Surat Diamond Association said they were likely to give the meeting with Gandhi a miss. A delegation has left for Delhi to meet minister Irani on November 8 before GST council November 9 and 10 meet. We would also meet Shah and Gandhi, said SM Shah, the president of SGCC.

Manoj Agrawal, the president of the Federation of Textile Associations, said the body had decided to stay away from meeting Gandhi but that individual traders were free to meet the 47-year-old leader.

The Surat Diamond Association(SDA) maintained a similar stand. The association has been in talks with the government over issues related to the GST. The government so far has given a positive response. The association is not going to meet Gandhi. But traders are free to do so, said Shantibhai Dhanani, secretary of the association.

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Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch convenor Jignesh Mevani and Patidar agitator Hardik Patel were accorded police protection on Sunday, days after the election commission declared December 9 and 14 as the polling dates for Gujarat.

However, as neither Patel nor Mevani had sought security cover from the government, the two termed the move as a surveillance tactic by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to rein in political opponents ahead of the assembly elections.

Both the emerging leaders have been warming up to the Congress in the run-up to the polls. The unwelcome security cover came within days of the two groups meeting Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders to discuss a possible electoral alliance.

Interestingly, both Mevani and members of Patels Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) were among those detained on numerous occasions before the poll schedule for Gujarat was announced. Preventive detentions were carried out especially before events featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the pretext that they may create disruptions.

Both Patel and Mevani slammed the unsought security cover, stating that it was enforced with the sole intention of keeping an eye on them. This is not police protection, but a means of spying. I feel that the police would be better off working for the people of Gujarat than moving around with me everywhere, said Patel, adding that the security cover was withdrawn on Monday morning after he sought its withdrawal from the control room.

Patel said nobody contacted him before sending the policemen to his doorstep on Sunday. Mevani was also surprised to find to guards equipped with machine guns at his disposal the same day.

Ahmedabad police commissioner AK Singh was unavailable for comment.

Patidar agitators associated with Patel were taken into custody before as many as 20-odd trips made by Modi to his home state since 2015. The Patidar leader himself was imprisoned in a Surat jail for nine months starting October that year, and then exiled for six months. He returned to Gujarat only in January.

PAAS is currently in its final stage of negotiations with the Congress party over its demand for reservation benefits in government jobs and college admissions. The groups two-year-old agitation has left the BJP unsure about Patidar support for the party for the first time in a couple of decades. The community constitutes 12% of the states over 60 million-odd population, and can influence the results in over 60 of its 182 constituencies.

Patel had earlier alleged that the BJP government leaked CCTV footage from a luxury hotel in Ahmedabad, where he met Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, last month. Gandhi was also present in the same hotel at the time. The BJP has accused Patel of misleading the community by meeting Gandhi in secret.

Mevani had held talks with Gandhi in Navsari on November 3, while the Congress leader was undertaking the three-day Navsarjan Yatra in south Gujarat. He predicted the defeat of the `janvidrohi (anti-people) BJP government in the state soon afterwards.
A photograph of a panicked elephant and her calf fleeing a mob of people in West Bengals Bankura district has won the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Awards this year.

Titled Hell is here, Biplab Hazras photograph brings to light the startling reality concerning the human-elephant conflict in India.

The photograph shows the two elephants escaping flaming tar balls and crackers that were hurled at them. The mothers ears are angled forward as she and her child appear to be screaming in confusion and fear as the fire licks at the young ones feet. A mob is seen in the background.

The awards are instituted by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation, a Mumbai based non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works towards biodiversity conservation and community engagement.

In the Bankura district of West Bengal, this sort of humiliation of pachyderms is routine, as it is in the other elephant-range states of Assam, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and more, the foundation said in a release.

Elephants are long range animals requiring large habitats, but newer human habitations have cut off elephant corridors, trapping the giant mammals in smaller areas and forcing them to raid towns and villages.

India is the worlds stronghold for the Asian elephant and boasts over 70% of the global population of the species. West Bengal has nearly 800 of the 30,000 elephants in the country, according to the last official count in 2014.

The environment ministry said 84 elephants were killed between April 2014 and May this year, mostly in poacher attacks. The endangered species are targeted for their tusks.

Here are some of the reactions on social media

Biplab Hazra's heart-breaking photo of an elephant and a calf escaping a mob in West Bengal is a searing testimony of human monstrosity. pic.twitter.com/NDhL9lMH6K  Anupam Bordoloi (@asomputra) November 6, 2017

First they encroach, then they poach.....appalled, such insensitivity, travesty and violence against a creature so magnificent!  Coat and Gown Ninja (@mridul_chakra) November 7, 2017

Aren't you guys supposed to worship Lord Ganesh as a God? Torturing monkeys and now this! Some Gods. Monstrous people indeed.  karachi ahab (@karachiahab) November 6, 2017

We have encroached far too much into forestland - this is where they once lived without humans around.  Deepak Mohoni (@deepakmohoni) November 7, 2017

Can't blame the elephants, can we?

It is humans who have encroached into their forests & migration corridors.https://t.co/YQPYKpujkd  Nilim Dutta (@NilimDutta) November 6, 2017

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The combined assets of Himachal Pradesh legislators who are running for re-election in Thursdays assembly polls have increased substantially since 2012, an analysis of official data shows.

Among the 60 incumbents contesting again, their combined assets have increased from Rs314.3 crore in 2012 to Rs566.9 crore this year, a jump of 80%. These figures are derived from the candidates affidavits filed with Election Commission and research by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-partisan group that advocates for government transparency.

A candidates wealth can increase even when he doesnt acquire new assets. In many cases, the assets are in form of land, and at least a part of the increase can be on account of a spike in land prices. Of those whose assets rose significantly, one MLA stands out.

In 2012, Yadvinder Goma declared assets worth Rs5.2 lakh. Five years after winning the Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency of Jaisinghpur, the 31-year-old Congress MLAs assets are worth nearly Rs1.2 crore, an increase of about 2189%.

His acquisitions include Rs52 lakh of agricultural land, a Rs50 lakh residential property and, together with his wife, 300 grams of gold worth Rs6 lakh. In his affidavit, Goma declared that he earns money from agriculture and from his job as an MLA, which pays Rs55,000 per month.

Goma has been less active in assembly sessions than the average Himachal MLA, having spoken in two debates and asked 88 questions. The average MLA spoke in nine debates and asked 117 questions, according to PRS Legislative Research. Goma did not respond to HTs requests to comment on his assets and assembly participation.

The largest absolute increase was achieved by Balbir Singh Verma, who grew his assets from Rs41.2 crore in 2012 to Rs90.7 crore this year. Vermas political allegiances have also changed. After winning the Chopal constituency as an independent in 2012, he is running on a BJP ticket this year.

Like Gomas, the bulk of Vermas assets increase came in the form of property. The value of his commercial property holdings alone increased by more than Rs45 crore. Verma also participated in fewer debates  five  than the average MLA. However, he asked 215 questions, more than the average MLA. Verma also did not respond to requests to comment on his assets increase.

Nearly all the incumbents running for re-election saw an increase in their assets since 2012. Yet two of them did not.

Among the pair is Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh, whose assets declined from Rs34 crore to Rs30.5 crore. The other was Dhani Ram Shandil, the social justice minister, whose assets declined from Rs2.1 crore to Rs1.1 crore. Neither responded to HTs request for comments.

The 26 BJP candidates running for re-election saw their combined assets rise from Rs104.9 crore to Rs224.1 crore, an increase of 114%. Thats a better return than their 33 Congress counterparts, whose assets jumped from Rs208 crore to Rs340.9 crore, a 64% bump.

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Dispassionate observers see a gaping lacuna in the Congresss Gujarat campaign that has thus far focused on reaching out to three young outsiders  Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani and OBC face Alpesh Thakor.

The Congresss last memorable victory in the state was on the strength of Madhavsinh Solankis KHAM social grouping of Kshatriyas, Harijans, Adivasis and Muslims.

Unconsciously or by design, the formation the party now seems to be projecting (by associating with the emerging trinity) isnt adequately inclusive of the states tribal communities that have influence in over a dozen seats across South, Central and North Gujarat.

The oversight is surprising. For it was tribal MLA Chhotubhai Vasavas vote that helped Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel return to the Rajya Sabha, overturning the BJPs full throttle challenge.

Closely associated with rebellious Janata Dal (U) veteran Sharad Yadav, Vasava had met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi after the RS polls. But the meeting went unnoticed, unlike the Congress vice-presidents much hyped interactions with Hardik, Alpesh and Jignesh.

Vasavas Gujarat Parivartan Party has a track record of taking up tribal land and forest rights issues. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 that came into effect in 2008 under UPA-I lent legal sanctity to the demands.

Its surprising the Congresss media managers didnt go to town over their leaders meeting with Vasava the way they did with the other three, said an aide of Sharad Yadav.

Vasava himself said that Rahul did not stop by at his constituency, Jhagadia, on his recent visit to Bharuch district.

Gujarat accounts for 8.1% of the countrys tribal population with the scheduled tribes having a share of 14.8% in the states demographic mix.

Of that the Bheels constitute half (47.85%) the combined strength of 11 tribes.

The Congresss focus on Patidars (Patels) makes electoral sense but only partly; the Patels are a politicised community aligned with the BJP since the days of KHAM.

A split in their rank will hurt the ruling party.

But the jury is out still on the quantum of the split Hardik can guarantee. The cost of the envisaged socio-political alliance has to be assessed also by factoring in the downside: an OBC blowback in the job quota scramble.

Patidars could be difficult customers because of the rivalry between Kadava and Leuva subcastes. In the last elections, the former voted en bloc for Narendra Modi in North Gujarat in reaction to the Leuva rebellion (led by Keshubhai Patel) in Saurashtra.

Hardik is a Kadava Patel. His community has good presence in the North and Ahmedabad thats the PMs home district. The question is whether he can swing the tide in favour of the Congress against the BJPs bid to monopolise the legacy of Sardar Patel the first among the Kadavas.

The signs of tribals and harijans drifting away from the ruling party in recent years are acknowledged even by BJP insiders.

Speaking up aggressively for their cause will not upset other social groups the Congress is wooing. About time then that the party projected faces from among STs and Dalits to set up a keen contest.
A journalist of a news agency was hit by a bullet accidentally when a gangster opened fire at another person in southwest Bihars Kaimur district .

Bagishwari Prasad Dwivedi, 58, received injuries on his neck after being hit by the bullet fired by gangster Rakesh Seth near Madrasa Chowk at Bhabua, headquarters of Kaimur district, 210 km southwest of Patna, on Monday evening.

READ| Rajdeo Ranjan, bureau chief of Hindustan, shot dead in Bihars Siwan

The injured journalist was first taken to sadar hospital, a district-level government health facility, from where he was referred to the Institute of Medical Science of Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi, 91 km northwest of Bhabua. He was out of danger, police said.

READ| Journalist shot at in Bihars Arwal, one attacker arrested

The police said Sandeep Seth, who was Rakesh Seths target, also received injuries in the incident. He has been admitted at sadar hospital, the police said. A case of attempt to murder had been registered against Rakesh on the basis of Sandeep Seths statement, the police added.

The attack was apparently made to take revenge as Sandeep Seth had earlier helped the police to arrest Rakesh, who was recently freed on bail.

Kaimur superintendent of police Harpreet Kaur said raids were on to arrest Rakesh.
Actor Kamal Hassan will not celebrate his birthday on Tuesday and instead meet people affected by the current torrential rains, his spokesperson said on Monday.

The national award winning actor will also visit a rain-affected area at Pallikaranai in Chennai.

This year he (Haasan) has decided not to celebrate his birthday while Chennai people are distressed by the rains, the spokesperson said.

Instead, he will be visiting a medical camp, which is set up by Narpani Iyakkam (Welfare Movement) at Annapoorna Marriage Hall, CTH Road... and rain-affected area at Naryanapuram, S. Kolathur Road, Pallikaranai, next to Balaji Dental College.

He will be reaching out to people with his special message and plans for the future. Come witness the promise for change, the spokesperson said.

The actor has recently pledged to send about five lakh of his volunteers and supporters for refurbishment of water bodies in the wake of the torrential downpour and resultant water logging in parts of the state including Chennai.

He has also been critical of the K Palaniswami led AIADMK government over alleged corruption, drawing the ire of several ministers.
Even as violence in regions affected by left-wing warfare this year reached an all-time low since 2010, number of security forces killed battling Maoist guerrillas seems to have increased by nearly 20%.

According to the latest data of ministry of home affairs (MHA), 70 security personnel lost their lives in states hit by left-wing violence till October 15 this year as compared to 59 killed last year until October.

The total number of security forces killed in 2016 was 65, preceded by 59 in 2015, 88 in 2014, 115 in 2013, 114 in 2012, 142 in 2011 and 285 in 2010.

While killings of security personnel is definitely a case of worry for the Central government, what is more alarming is the decrease in causalities from the Maoist side.

This year till October 15, a total of 97 Maoist cadres will killed as compared to 157 last year. Total number of LWE cadres killed in 2016 stood at 222, the highest since 2010 in which 33 cadres were killed followed by 99 in 2011, 74 in 2012, 100 in 2013 , 63 in 2014 and 89 in 2015.

In other words, one personnel was killed on every fourth day this year while as many as one Maoist cadre on every third day.

According to the latest data, the armed left wing movement, which had spread in 10 Indian states, seems to be on a back foot on all accounts. The total number of incidents stands at an all-time low of 701 as compared to 887 in October last year.

While a massive 2,204 violent incidents were reported from left wing affected areas in 2010 last year the number was 1,048. Similarly number of civilians killed this year was 150 as compared to 177 in October 2016. Total number of civilians had increased last year from 171 in 2015 to 213 in 2016.

The home ministry last week said, The declining trend of LWE violence continues across the country which has seen an overall reduction of 21% in violence incidents over corresponding period of last year. The LWE continue to remain under pressure with ever shrinking influence, both in terms of geographical spread and public support

Senior paramilitary officials speaking to HT also maintained that top Maoist leadership is being targeted on the instruction of MHA. However, intelligence inputs also indicate a regrouping of the armed outfits especially at the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh tri-junction.

On October 25, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police killed three Maoists in Manpur subdivision in Chhattisgarhs Rajnandgaon.

An intelligence document accessed by HT states that the cadres have been directed by their high command to mobilise people for support by raising issues such as exploitation of Tendu leave collectors and farmers. Women cadres, who make up for nearly 30% of senior Maoist leadership in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, have been especially asked to remain active.

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Hitting back at Manmohan Singh for terming demonetisation as organised loot and legalised plunder, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday the former prime minister seemed to be reading scripts written by someone else, just like Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Singh and Gandhi must be speaking about the 10 years of the previous UPA government, when rampant corruption had plagued the country, Prasad said.

Manmohan Singh who was in Ahmedabad on Tuesday described the BJP-led governments demonetisation exercise as a reckless step and said scrapping higher value currency notes was organised loot and legalised plunder.

This is not Manmohan Singh jis language, the minister for law and justice told reporters reacting to Singhs criticism of the note ban.

Manmohan Singh ji has said that note ban was a dacoity. This is not Manmohan Singhjis language, he added.

He was Prime Minister for 10 years and was a man of few words. This is not his language. So it appears that like Rahul Gandhi, somebody is writing the script for Manmohan Singh ji nowadays, the Minister said.

The way Manmohan Singhji and Rahul Gandhi are speaking, they are remembering the 10 years of the previous UPA government, Prasad said.
Farmington businessman Dale Wright has announced his candidacy for the 116th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives currently held by Rep. Kevin Engler, who will be completing his final term due to term limits in December 2018.

In announcing his run for the 116th district, Wright said First, I want to publicly thank Rep. Engler for his service to the citizens of our area for the past 15 years in both the Missouri House and Senate. He has served with integrity and commitment to our district and I am honored to have his support.

After prayerful consideration and with the support of my family, I am announcing my candidacy for the 116th District of the Missouri House of Representatives. Because of my volunteer work through the years and my experience leading companies and balancing large budgets I believe that I am uniquely qualified to serve our citizens in St. Francois, Perry, and Ste. Genevieve County.

"This is an exciting opportunity to represent them and I am grateful for the encouragement and offers of support that I have received from so many people including our local legislators, representatives Engler, Mike Henderson, Rick Francis and Elaine Gannon; former representative Paul Fitzwater; and Missouri Sen. Gary Romine.

Wright said he is looking forward to meeting with and discussing the issues and concerns of the citizens of House District 116 in the course of his campaign.

"I ask for their vote so I can continue the work of protecting the unborn, eliminating extreme regulations that drive jobs out of our state, providing more affordable healthcare to our citizens and providing compassionate assistance to those who cannot help themselves. Unlike our neighboring states, Missouri has a balanced budget every year, thanks to the courageous actions of our legislators. I will continue to support that responsible fiscal policy.

Wright graduated from the Farmington public school system, earned an AB degree in Business Management from Mineral Area College and completed the Healthcare Business Management Program through the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University.

He began his career in healthcare management, working at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington and later at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla where he was also a founding member of the Missouri Hospital Associations Hospital Purchasing Council.

Wright is a past vice president of Health Services Corporation of America, a healthcare consulting company based in Cape Girardeau. He previously served as executive vice president of Ni-Med Inc.  a medical device manufacturer  where he served as the driving force to move corporate operations from St. Louis to Farmington Industrial Park.

Additionally, Wright has served as divisional president and chief contracting officer at Amerinet, Inc., a national healthcare group purchasing organization with contract sales of $7.5 billion. He was co-owner of The Branding Iron BBQ restaurants in Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Jackson and Poplar Bluff until the company was sold to the Dexter BBQ Company.

Wright is co-owner and managing partner of Actalur Group, LLC, a healthcare consulting company based in Delray Beach, Florida, as well as president and COO of Angle Medical Solutions, a medical distributor in Rigby, Idaho.

He currently serves on the Farmington City Council and Farmington Police Personnel Board, along with the Farmington Public Safety and Farmington Public Services committees. Wright is a member of the Mineral Area College Foundation Board of Directors and serves as vice president of its executive committee. Wright has been a member of the MCII Sheltered Workshop Board of Directors for 18 years and served two years as its president.

An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Wright has a long history of volunteering his time to causes important to him, including the Boy Scouts of America, PTA, Big Brothers and the American Heart Association, as well as supporting local, state, and national election campaigns.

In addition to being listed in the Whos Who of American Business Executives, hes been featured in several national healthcare publications and has spoken at national conferences and served on numerous healthcare panels through the years.

Wright and his wife, Denise, have lived in Farmington for most of their lives and have three children Andrea (Waddell), Aaron, Stephanie (Felker), 10 grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Many ministries and government departments that do not have a component earmarked for spending on scheduled castes and tribes are unhappy with the Niti Aayogs suggestion to set up such sub plans.

Some ministries such as coal and shipping that only have a ST sub plan component are unsure about how to allocate and utilise money that will be blocked for the purpose of SC sub plan.

All central ministries and departments have to set aside an allocation for the SC/ST sub plans that are used for the welfare of Dalits and tribal communities. While 26 ministries have a SC sub plan, 32 have a ST sub plan.

Last month, at a meeting chaired by Ratan P. Watal, Niti Aayogs principal adviser (social sector), ministries and department were told to increase the allocation of funds for schemes aimed at promoting socio-economic interest of SCs and STs; it also asked those ministries that do not allocate funds for either category to assign the monies to such sub plans.

Sources in the government told Hindustan Times that based on Niti Aayogs suggestion, the ministry of social justice and empowerment is likely to move a cabinet note soon to increase the number of ministries that have a SC sub plan from the current 26 to 41.

Even as the process to increase the ambit of the SC/ST sub plan gets underway, some officials have pointed out that the government should first focus on spending the allocated funds.

Read more: NITI Aayogs 2022 vision paints an India free of poverty, casteism, communalism

A large portion of these funds allocated under the SCSP and TSP by different ministries remain unutilised and goes back to exchequer at the end of fiscal; it makes little sense then to keep allocating funds without mechanisms to ensure they reach the beneficiaries, said an official.

In the culture ministry for instance, the NITI Aayog suggestion has set off concerns about how to design schemes and allocate funds.

The move is not feasible since we do not allocate funds to groom talent based on caste. We give financial assistance to promote arts and artists. Discriminating on the basis of caste is not logical, a senior official in the ministry of culture told HT on condition of anonymity.

Similar concerns were expressed by the road infrastructure ministry.

Officials in the ministry too are learnt to have said that since the ministry already allocates funds for the tribal sub-plan it sees no merit in further putting aside money for the SC component.

A special programme for development of roads in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas is run in addition to allocations under the tribal sub-plan in over eight states. Roads and highways are planned for better connectivity of far flung areas with high tribal population, we will have to consider how to create an additional budget for SC sub plan and how to utilise it, a ministry official said.

Wattal could not be reached for his comments, but sources said among the suggestions put forth at the meeting were those calling formore funds to ministries such as the women and child development, human resource development and health ministry to enhance spending on schemes that are targeted at the beneficiaries.

It was also suggested that the housing ministry could be asked to spend more to ensure that Dalits and tribals who are eligible for housing for the poor benefit or the HRD ministry could increase the scope of its ongoing schemes to include more residential schools with better facilities for Dalits and tribals.

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The family of a 21-year-old woman from Punjabs Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, who they say is trapped in Saudi Arabia, approached external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday for help after they received her location on WhatsApp a few days ago.

Fully cognizant and working on it; she will return home soon @ajxtopcop (sic), the Indian embassy in Riyadh tweeted after the family approached the minister and them.

They said Reena Ranis WhatsApp location placed her in Unayzah City in Al Wusta district in the oil-rich country.

Gurbaksh Kaur, 40, and her daughter Rani of Rahon town in SBS Nagar were offered work in Malaysia and paid Rs 5 lakh to the travel agent after selling their farmland in August. But they ended up working as house helps in Saudi Arabia, where they say they were subjected to slave-like working conditions.

Kaur sent a video to her family and requested to be rescued last week. Their family shared her plight on a social media platform after which the media highlighted the case. She returned from Saudi Arabia on November 4 after Swaraj intervened in the matter. However, government agencies failed to trace Rani.

Ranis cousin Jaswant Kumar hoped she would return home very soon. He added that she had also shared a video 10 days ago on WhatsApp but her mobile phone was found switched off later.

Both were duped by the agent on the pretext that they would get a salary of Rs 20,000 and free accommodation for working in a factory in Malaysia. Kaur said she was sent to Saudi Arabia fraudulently by the agent from Delhi and assured that her daughter will be sent to Malaysia three days later on a separate flight.

Theirs is not an isolated case.

According to government figures, there are some 6 million Indian migrants in the Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman that have long been top destinations for millions of poor labourers, most of whom work in construction, transport and other low-paying sectors.

The government and non-governmental groups have received hundreds of complaints from migrant workers, ranging from non-payment of wages to torture and abuse over the years.

A senior government official told Reuters news agency that in many cases, the difference in culture, language and food habits becomes a hurdle for workers migrating from poor Indian families.

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The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday asked the Haryana government to provide call, phone location details of the then inspector general of police (IGP), deputy inspector general of police (DIG), superintendent of police (SP) of Sonepat area and local station house officer (SHO) of Murthal for the period between February 19, 2016 and February 22, 2016 in connection with the alleged Murthal gangrapes.

The court also sought statements of 573 persons recorded by the Haryana Police along with case diaries (which records investigation proceedings everyday) on the next date of hearing on November 22.

The CBI on Monday submitted a status report on nine FIRs it registered on the breach in Munak canal and vandalism and arson at house and other properties of states finance minister, Captain Abhimanyu, during quota violence.

The order was passed by high court bench of justice AK Mittal and justice Amit Rawal during the resumed hearing of a suo motu petition initiated immediately after reports on alleged incidents occurred to have been reported on the intervening night of February 21 and February 22 during the Jat quota violence in Murthal.

The order was passed following submissions from a friend of the court (amicus curiae), senior advocate Anupam Gupta, who told the court that half an hour after the rapes took place, senior officers showed up at Sukhdev Dhaba, an eatery on the Delhi- Chandigarh highway, and escorted victims to Delhi border.

Gupta, however, did not name the officials, but alleged that senior officials escorted the victims to hush up the matter. He also apprised court that nine status reports had been filed by SIT appointed by Haryana, however, only two reports have been provided to him. According to them, there is nothing in the case. But let me also examine. Why they do not want me to examine, he asked, amidst protest from states advocate general BR Mahajan on Guptas submissions.

State completes probe in Murthal rapes

Mahajan told the high court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by inspector general of police Mamta Singh has completed the probe in alleged rapes and within next two weeks, the state will submit a report to the high court.

Mahajan also told the court that all statements sought by Gupta could be shared with him once challan is filed in the court. Earlier, court had wanted to know from Gupta as to what should be done in a scenario when victims are not coming forward.

However, Gupta termed the probe shoddy and said if the case is transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, truth will come out.

CBI submits status report on quota violence

The CBI on Monday submitted a status report on nine FIRs it registered on the breach in Munak canal and vandalism and arson at house and other properties of states finance minister, Captain Abhimanyu, during quota violence. Since reports were shared in a sealed cover, the contents are unknown. The pro-Jat quota violence of February 2016 had paralysed states functioning and widespread vandalism of public as well as private properties was reported in at least eight districts. The police registered 2,100 FIRs for violence.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik will address lakhs of school children and their parents through a televised speech on Childrens Day on November 14, over three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with students across the country on Teachers Day in a similar way.

This will be the first time that Patnaik would address more than 660,000 students in the states 62,000 schools in his 17-year tenure as the chief minister. He earlier attended a state-level event, Suravi, to mark Childrens Day but this year the scale of celebration is said to be grander and more direct.

The school and mass education department has asked the government and government-aided schools to make arrangements for the students to listen to Patnaiks address between 11.15am and 12pm on Childrens Day.

Officials said headmasters and school management committee members will contact villagers who own televisions fitted with set-top box to facilitate watching of Patnaiks speech in respective villages.

Meetings of the school management committee and parent-teachers association will be held in each school to ensure the presence of both students and parents when the chief ministers speech is telecast. The status report on the attendance of the students will have to be submitted by school authorities by 3pm.

The school and mass education department has also suggested schools to conduct a debate and essay competition on various topics, including on Patnaik being awarded the best chief minister of the country two months ago.

Patnaiks address comes at a time when his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is increasingly worried over a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party, now the main opposition party, mounting a steady attack on the governments failures in several spheres.

Modi was criticised by opposition parties over his address on Teachers Day in 2014 and the Congress called the move as a case of self-propaganda. Patnaik is also facing similar criticism.

The debate topic Proud Odisha: Our CM got best administrator award suggested for students of Class 8 to 10 is being seen by opposition parties as a blatant attempt to politicise school education.

No politician in the past has ever tried to politicise school education. But Naveen babu (Patnaik) is worried that the BJD base is eroding and thats why this crude attempt to brainwash the minds of kids, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said.

The government is hardly bothered about the conditions of the school building, standard of education, and appointment of teachers but how to reap a political harvest from the education sector, Sharma added.

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra, however, told the Hindustan Times that Patnaiks address to the students is more out of his personal interest to leave a legacy and inspire the next generation with his thought process.

After 17 years as the CM, he has nothing left to achieve ... The school children are surely not voting in the next election and so any allegations of politicisation are needless. The CM takes interest in children and likes to interact with children, he said.
Nine murders of right-wing, religious leaders in two years have put Punjab in a quandary as the cases remain unsolved despite the strong connection, a similar modus operandi  bike-borne assailants shooting from close range.

Besides the fact that the victims were soft targets, investigations by the state police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have hit a dead end. One of the cases pertaining to the killing of a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader, Ravinder Gosain, has now been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Police are hinting at connections to hardline elements working from foreign soil although nothing substantial has been established with the killings.

It all began in January last year. RSS leader Naresh Kumar was returning from a shakha (local meeting) when he was shot at by two bike-borne assailants in Ludhiana. Kumar dodged and escaped with minor injuries.

In April that year, Namdhari sect matriarch, Chand Kaur, and Punjab Shiv Senas labour wing chief, Durga Prasad Gupta, were gunned down in Bhani Sahib and Khanna, close to Ludhiana.

Another RSS leader, Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagnejas killing in a similar manner in Jalandhar in August raised eyebrows.

After a lull, the killings resumed this year.

A Hindu outfits publicity manager, Amit Sharma, Dera Sacha Sauda follower Satpal Sharma,70, and his son Ramesh, 40, Christian pastor Sultan Masih, RSS leader Ravinder Gosain, and another Hindu outfit leader in Amritsar, Vipan Sharma, were killed in a similar fashion till October, with the last two happening last month.

Of the nine killings, seven have been committed in Ludhiana.

Barring one case, the culprits in the others were two bike-borne men who fled immediately after shooting the victim from close range, leaving little chance for people nearby to react.

Hindu Sangharsh Sena district president Vipan Sharma was shot in broad daylight in Amritsar on October 30. Though the incident was captured on camera, like in some other cases, the culprits are still at large.

Police have also found that a .9mm bore pistol was used in all the crimes but the killers have not left any other clues behind.

The selection of targets in these killings has remained a mystery to the cops. They pick soft targets, especially those whom nobody will think of attacking, admitted an ADGP-rank officer.

Gosains son, Deepak, 30, termed the killings as terrorism.

Our family is not able to understand why my father was killed as he was neither involved in any direct or indirect tussle with any religious groups nor had he uttered a word against any group. How can somebody be killed just for symbolism? he wondered.

Police have also been unable to crack a bomb blast case that killed a dozen people in Maur in Bathinda on the eve of the assembly elections in January this year.

They have interrogated more than 100 people, including some gangsters and contract killers, but have not got any evidence.

Although outfits such as the RSS, Shiv Sena and Dera Sacha Sauda do not pose any threats, they are rivals to Sikh hardline groups, especially as their base has been rising in the last few years.

Police are hinting at extremist elements trying to create communal tension in the state, with support from abroad.

DGP Suresh Arora said these people dont want to see Punjab peaceful. They just want communal tension in the state.

Over the past year, police have busted over 10 Khalistani modules and arrested nearly 50 persons on charges of trying to revive Khalistani militancy and planning attacks in various parts of the state.

However, those arrested have been found to be new recruits, wooed through social media and internet by people based in Canada and Germany.

Recently, a song has also appeared on social media in which an unknown extremist group has claimed responsibility for the killings and has said it would continue to carry out attacks.

Police, however, do not have any substantial evidence to connect extremism with the killings.

For the common man, the news of the killings and the revival of Khalistani militancy has created a sense of fear.

People of Punjab have not forgotten the dark era of militancy. These killings are again creating fear among the common masses, said Gurbir Singh, a Ludhiana resident.

BJPs Punjab unit president and Union minister of state, Vijay Sampla, reiterated the thought. These killings have left every Punjab resident worried. Nobody is feeling safe.

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The nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar was among the three militants killed by the security forces in a gunbattle in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Monday.

Local news agency GNS said the killed militant was Jaishs divisional commander Talha Rasheed and that the spokesperson of the terrorist group confirmed his identity to them.

The spokesperson also said two other militants killed in the encounter were divisional commander Muhammad Bhai, a non-local, and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam Pulwama, GNS reported.

An army soldier was also killed in the encounter at Kandi Aglar village.

The encounter took place at a time when Dineshwar Sharma, a former chief of the Intelligence Bureau who was tasked by the Union government to initiate talks in Kashmir over the three-decade-old insurgency, arrived in Srinagar.

A police spokesperson said the police along with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) conducted an operation in the Kandi Aglar area under the jurisdiction of Rajpora police station following credible leads.

While the cordon was being laid, the militants opened fire in which one army jawan and a civilian got injured. The army jawan attained martyrdom whereas the injured civilian was evacuated and shifted to the hospital. His condition is stated to be stable, the spokesperson said.

Three weapons, including one AK assault rifle, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

The spokesperson said that it was the same group that was wanted for the attack on the police checkpoint a few days back.

Police, however, is yet to confirm the identity of the killed militants.

A per government data, from 2014 to March this year, there have been 795 militancy-related incidents in which 397 militants were killed while 64 civilians and 178 security personnel lost their lives. Compared to 222 incidents in 2014, there were 322 incidents in 2016. In 2014, 28 civilians and 47 security personnel and 110 militants were killed in these incidents. In 2016, these numbers were 15, 82 and 150.

Azhar, the chief of the UN-designated terrorist group, is accused of several terrorist strikes in India, the most recent being the attack on the airbase in Pathankot in January last year and the Uri army camp last September.

Pakistani authorities took him into protective custody after last year terror attack in Pathankot, Punjab which was widely reported as an arrest. However, he was seen free in April 2016.

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The recovery of US-made rifle, meant for Pakistani army, after an encounter with militants in Kashmir, showed the forces complicity in fuelling insurgency in the Valley, a senior Indian Army officer said on Tuesday.

Major general BS Raju, general officer commanding (GOC) of the Armys Victor Force, was referring to the M4 carbine Colt recovered from the site of the encounter in Pulwama district, where three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, including its chief Masood Azhars nephew, and an army jawan were killed on Monday night.

This weapon (the M4 carbine) is with the special forces of Pakistan army. So we have reasons to believe that this particular weapon was given by the Pakistani army to JeM cadres and this clearly shows the complicity between JeM and Pakistan and their nefarious designs in Kashmir, Raju said.

Police had said that an M4 carbine Colt and an AK-47 Draco rifles were recovered from the site of the gunbattle.

A photo of a militant flaunting an M4 rifle had gone viral in Kashmiri social media circles last week.

Raju said this was not the only M4 rifle functional in the region, and that there could be 510 such weapons brought in by infiltrating militants. However, this is the first M4 carbine to be recovered in Kashmir.

The three slain militants killed on Monday night were identified as Waseem Ganaie, a resident of Pulwama, and Pakistani militants Muhammad Bhai, JeMs south Kashmir divisional commander, and Azhars nephew Talha Rashid.

A police spokesperson said that it was the same group that was wanted for the attack on the police checkpoint a few days back.

A local news agency in Kashmir, GNS said a JeM spokesperson confirmed to them the identity of the militants and accepted that Rashid was Azhars nephew.

Inspector general of police, Kashmir range, Muneer Khan said, For the first time, they have owned a Pakistani militant, saying that yes, he is the nephew of Masood Azhar. Now, we will take up the matter through proper channels and, very firmly, request that please claim the body and please take the body.

Inspector general of police (IGP), Kashmir range, Muneer Khan displays the AK47 Draco rifle during a press conference with Army and CRPF in Srinagar on Tuesday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT)

Officer Raju said the increased deployment of JeM in the Valley indicated that the capacity and the propensity of Hizbul Mujahideen to survive and grow have reduced.

This void is being filled up by JeM, which means that Pakistan is apprehensive of the lower level of activities by home-grown terrorists, to which they want to add on and increase. This fundamentally tells me that the Valley wants peace, but is not being permitted by Pakistan, he said.

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The Supreme Court snubbed the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Tuesday for fighting with each other like children over the ownership of a resort located in Haridwar. The two states are contesting a civil suit before the top court since 2004.

A bench headed by justice MB Lokur told the counsel for the two states that the intensity with which they are contesting the litigation resembled a battlefield.

Are you going to leave the army on each other? Why are you fighting like children? it remarked.

The bench advised the states to sit and resolve the dispute amicably. It gave them time till November 13 to work out a solution and, in case of a failure, the court said it would summon the chief secretaries of the states.

Additional advocate general for UP, Aishwarya Bhatti, gave an assurance to comply with the order. She said a meeting of senior officers will be called for an attempt to reach a compromise.

The court is hearing a suit filed by the UP government in 2004 after the Centre asked it to hand over possession of the Alaknanda resort to Uttarakhand. The tussle over the ownership began in 2000 when Uttarakhand was declared a new state.

After being carved out of UP, Uttarakhand demanded transfer of the resorts ownership, which was till then with the UP tourism department. Since Haridwar fell under Uttarakhands jurisdiction, the state claimed its right over the property.

But UP refused to give up its claim and the dispute was referred to the Centre.

When it did not receive a favourable response, UP filed a suit before the top court. In its petition, UP said it wanted to retain the Alaknanda resort for its official purposes.
Three days after he joined BJP, former Trinamool Congress leader, Mukul Roy said he would make a lot of revelations at a party rally on November 10.

However, he did not mention what he intended to divulge.

I have lot of things to say. Whatever I have to say, I will do that only on November 10, Roy said despite repeated requests from media persons at a press conference on his return to Kolkata.

The Trinamool Congress has been riddled with scams such as Saradha and Narada in which its leaders, including Roy, have been found allegedly involved.

While BJP has attacked the party ruling in West Bengal on the matter, Roys induction has left it weak-kneed. Roy is expected to give it much-needed ammunition at its rally on November 10.

Trinamool leaders chose to ignore Roys call to the partys rank and file to switch to BJP as we failed to usher in the parivartan (change) that we wanted.

We have no time to bother on what anyone is doing or saying, said state education minister Partha Chatterjee, who is also Trinamool secretary general. He added that they were busy in the preparations of protest programmes against the anti-people policies of the BJP-led Centre such as demonetisation and GST.

Roy, who was accorded a grand welcome by the BJP leaders and workers from the airport to the party office in Muralidhar Sen Lane, was quick to put to rest rumours of differences with state unit president Dilip Ghosh, saying he was willing to work under his leadership.

My captain at all-India level is Amit Shah. In Bengal, my captain is Dilip Ghosh, Roy said as he bent to hug Ghosh, who was sitting to his right at the packed presser.

Incidentally, soon after Roy joined BJP, Ghosh had referred to him as pickle.

Pickle always adds spice to a meal of rice and pulses. We have already made arrangements for that rice and pulses. Now we also have the pickle, Ghosh said on November 5, two days after Roy joined BJP.

Earlier, the Bengal BJP president said Roy was a front-ranking leader in a local party, but BJP, a national party, had many leaders of his stature.

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Nine-year-old Algun Khatoon and four-year-old Shamina, who along with two other minor sisters were thrown out of a train allegedly by their father a fortnight back, were discharged from the Sitapur district hospital on Tuesday.

Doctors have told us that Alguns wounds are healing fast and she will be able to walk properly in two months but psychologically she is still not very well. She is unable to forget the horror that she and her sisters went through and it will take much longer time to overcome all this, said VK Maurya, station officer of Sitapur Government Railway Police (GRP).

Maurya had looked after the two sisters from the day they were admitted to the hospital.

He said girls maternal grandmother Rabeena Khatoon and her next door neighbour, Hakim Ansari, who were staying with the two girls, will now leave for Bettiah in Bihar.

We have made arrangements to tickets for two girls with her maternal grandmother for a train to Bettiah from Sitapur on Tuesday night. They would reach their house in Jhakra village Bettiah by Thursday morning, Maurya said.

Another sister, Rabina 12, had suffered head injuries and is still under treatment in Lucknow.

The fourth sister, Muniya, 7, had succumbed to her injuries.

Read more: Sitapur train horror: 10 days on, faceless man keeps UP railway police at bay

The girls mother, Afreena Khatoon (36), along with her youngest daughter, Shehzadi (2) will be staying back with Rabina in Lucknow.

The girls father, Iddu Mian (42) allegedly threw off four of his daughters from the Kamakhya-Katra express while travelling from Bettiah to Jammu on the intervening night of October 23 and 24. Iddu who had reached Jammu, is still at large. He had fled from the station leaving his wife and their youngest daughter on the train.

He has been since changing locations to dodge the police team which is tracking him for murder and attempt to murder of his daughters.

He worked as labourer in Jammu for past many years.

The youngest daughter Shehzadi was saved as her mother had woken up by then and started questioning about her other daughters. Iddu Mian threatened her that he would also throw her and Shehzadi out following which she did not raise alarm even after he told them that he had thrown the four daughters out of the train.
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With the civil aviation ministry all set to legalise the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, government agencies are testing jammers capable of disabling drones that may pose a security threat.

A device designed to block the communication system of drones is currently being tested at the Delhi airport. A chopper with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and National Security Guard personnel aboard will also be kept as back-up to handle emergency situations.

Although proposed civil aviation guidelines declare an area of five kilometres around the airport as a no-drone zone, violations cannot be ruled out. Drones are usually handled by an operator through a remote communication system. The device we are testing will block that communication system, after which the operator will have no control over the drone, a CISF officer said on the condition of anonymity.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) plans to bring in a legislation to prevent the misuse of drones, especially near the airport. While the airport security force has been told to treat drones as a possible security threat, no guidelines have been issued on how to respond if such a craft is seen in the vicinity.

At this time, drones are the biggest threat to airport security. They are sighted regularly, and  at present  there are no provisions for shooting down a flying object. The CISF provides security, but no decision has been taken on who will counter aerial threats. While the aviation ministry will regulate drone movements, the MHA has to take a call on the security aspect, the officer said.

Sources said the MHA will issue a notification applicable for airports across the country.

The ministry of civil aviation has come up with a draft regulation allowing the use of drones for any purpose, but with certain restrictions. When asked about security concerns, aviation secretary RN Choubey said a technology was being developed to neutralise rogue drones.

The ministry has earmarked airports and international borders as no-drone zones, and stipulated that usage for commercial purposes would require special permission from the aviation regulator. However, government agencies will be exempted from these guidelines.

The Centre has invited public suggestions within 30 days, after which necessary changes will be made to legalise the use of drones by December 31.

Drones cannot fly

 Within an area of 5 km from the airport

 Within permanently or temporarily prohibited, restricted or danger-prone areas, as notified by the Airports Authority of India.

 Over densely populated areas or near any area where emergency operations are underway, without prior approval.

 Within 50 km of the international border, and beyond 500 metres (horizontal) into sea along the coastline.

 Within 5-km radius of Vijay Chowk in Delhi.

 From mobile platforms, such as moving vehicles, ships or aircraft.

 Within 500-metre radius of military installations and strategic locations notified by the MHA.

 Over eco-sensitive zones around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries without prior permission.

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A special court in Rajasthans Kota sentenced three persons to death on Tuesday for raping a 30-year-old woman and killing her along with her minor son during a robbery in December 2012.

The Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (SC/ST) special court in Kota also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on each of the three convicts under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and SC/ST Act.

The three were booked in December 2012 in Udhyognagar police station of the city on charges of robbery, gang rape and murder.

Special SC/ST court judge Girish Kumar Agrawal convicted Kapil alias Anna, Imran alias Dillhi Wala, both residents of Udhyognagar area of Kota city, and Tipu alias Sultan alias Aabeed of Tonk district, said special public prosecutor (SPP) Kamal Kant Sharma.

They were awarded death penalty under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention), the SPP said.

The three convicts are about 22 to 25 years old, he added.

The court also sentenced the three to 10 years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of them for rape.

They were also handed down seven years imprisonment under IPC section 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), the SPP said.

The three were also sentenced to life imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000 under SC/ST Act.

It was alleged that the three men broke into a house at night and looted jewellery, cash and other items. They gang-raped the woman who was sleeping with her minor son in the room, the special public prosecutor said.

The three convicts then shot the woman and her son and escaped after placing the minor sons body in a box, he added.

Udhyognagar police had on December 6, 2012 lodged a case in this connection under various sections of IPC, SC/ST Act and Arms Act, and following the investigation, arrested the three who are still in jail as they were not granted the bail.

A total 35 witnesses were produced and 130 documents were submitted to the court during the trial, the SPP added.
An Indian American businessman has set up a fund of $8 million to fund higher education of children of Rajasthan police employees in US universities.

Pradeep Yohanne Gupta, 61, announced The Dharam Pal Gupta Foundation, named after his father, who was chief of Rajasthan Police in 1984, as a legacy to honour his fathers memory and to give back to police.

Gupta, who was in Jaipur on Sunday evening with his wife, Linda Haynes Gupta, said the decision was homage to his father. The couple is based in Houston, Texas.

Gupta studied in Jaipur and Delhi before he went to the US in 1973 to study mechanical engineering and mathematics. His parents shifted to Delhi after his fathers retirement.

Once, after my father was no more, I was going through his documents and I found a bank passbook. He had a savings of only Rs 26,000 when he agreed to send me to a US university. I later found out that he had taken a loan of $5,000 from Nagendra Singh of Dungarpur, where he had once served as the superintendent of police. Singh was a judge in the international court of justice, Gupta said.

Gupta said he realised if an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer couldnt fund higher education of his son in a US university, how could constables and other staff even dream of afford it.

This, he added, gave him the idea of setting up the scholarship for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate level studies.

We owe a lot to the Rajasthan police. I want to give back to the police family, added the businessman who was in the news in 2015 for buying a California property where scenes of the 1983 crime film Scarface were shot.

The Guptas  the couple has a 25-year-old son, Sebastian Siddharth Gupta  run a private investment bank and will soon manufacture bronchial dilators and inhalers for people who have epilepsy under IQ Life Science, a non-profit company the family set up in 2009.

Children of people in Rajasthan police department, Rajasthan home guards, Rajasthan Police Service and Indian Police Service (Rajasthan cadre) will be eligible for the scholarship. Children of Rajasthan cadre IPS officers on deputation in central agencies will also be eligible for it, Gupta said.

However, he clarified, this is a merit-based scholarship and not need-based.

He said the foundation will provide all expenses for completing the chosen field of study including tuition, room and board and travel to and from India.

The operating budget of the scholarship programme will be funded from the interest and investment income realised from this endowment. Ours is a US-based private family foundation that does not accept third-party contributions. Over time, all of the Gupta family assets in India are expected to be donated to the foundation to meet its current and future objectives, the businessman added.

He said the selection process and other modalities of the programme are being worked out.

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The doctors strike entered the second day on Tuesday crippling medical services in Rajasthan. The health department has invited All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) officials for talks on Tuesday. It is expected that chief minister will talk to the striking doctors at the 6 pm meeting.

Government doctors went on indefinite mass leave from Monday demanding better pay and separate cadre.

Meanwhile, the health department has directed all district collectors in the state to appoint medical officers on Rs 56000 honorarium through walk-in interviews.

Health department deputy secretary Paras Chand Jain said that even though the in-service doctors have claimed to have submitted their resignations, the state government has not received them. The All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association president and officials have also not submitted their resignations, Jain added.

He said according to Rajasthan Service Rules, the doctors cant go on mass leave or submit mass resignations. According to service rules, the striking doctors can be suspended or terminated.

Jain said that the home department on September 17 had slapped Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) on medical services for three months. According to the order, strict action can be taken against the absent doctors and they can also be arrested. The government has asked police and jail administration to be ready.

Owing to the strike, the patient load on government hospitals attached to medical colleges has increased in six districts  Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur. Patients want to seek advice from doctors at government hospitals instead of going to government PHCs, CHCs or dispensaries. At present, the nursing staff is looking after the CHCs, PHCs and dispensary in rural areas.

A view of a general ward at the Government Hospital during the doctors' strike in Beawar on Tuesday. (PTI)

I have come to the dispensary to consult a doctor for my ailing son. When I saw that there are Ayush doctors here instead of allopathic doctors, I decided to go to a private hospital, said Sandeep Sharma at a government dispensary in Kota.

Talking about the impact of the strike, deputy director, medical and health department, Kota, Dr Hemendra Vijayvargiya said that admissions in the government PHC, CHC and dispensaries have significantly declined.

ARISDA general secretary Dr Durgashankar Saini said that health services in the state have crippled due to the state governments adamant attitude. The government is not addressing the grievances and demands of the in-service doctors, said Dr Saini.
In a severe indictment, the Rajasthan High Court Tuesday observed that the Criminal Law (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance-2017 notified by the Rajasthan government was brought in to kill democracy.

A division bench of Justices Govind Mathur and Vinit kumar Mathur was hearing a petition challenging the validity of the ordinance, which prohibits probe without prior sanction of the government against a judge, magistrate or a public servant while discharging official duties. The ordinance, notified on September 7, 2017, also bars the media from reporting on the accused until prosecution sanction is given by the authority, which may take up to six months.

Hearing the petition filed by Azaz Aehmad, the court directed the state government to file a reply by November 17.

The ordinance will remain in force until December 4.

Earlier, appearing for the government, Additional Advocate General Rajesh Panwar told the court that petitions challenging this ordinance were also pending with the Jaipur Bench of the High Court. Stating that the next hearing of those petitions was scheduled on November 27, Panwar sought time to submit the reply by December 5.

Rejecting the contention, the court said, We want to know under what circumstances, the government was forced to issue such an ordinance. The court refused to give more time.
The problems for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali seems to keep mounting, now with a member of the erstwhile royal family and BJP MLA Diya Kumari saying that they will not allow the film to release if historical facts are distorted.

No film should hurt sentiments of a community by twisting historical facts, Kumari said on Tuesday. She said that Bhansali should not wrongly portray the story of Queen Padmavati. He should get the facts verified by a forum of historians and then release the film.

She added that Rajputs will not allow any distortion of history. If the movie does not display authentic history or takes any liberties, it will not be allowed to be released.

In September members of the Rajput Karni Sena had burnt posters of the movie in Jaipur and warned the makers that they will not let the film release in Rajasthan unless its pre-screened to Rajput and Hindu outfits.

Distributors wary of releasing Padmavati in Rajasthan

Film distributors in the state are also wary of releasing Padmavati, scheduled to hit the screens on December 1. I can talk about my company... We will not like to buy the distribution rights of the film till the controversy is resolved, Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor here, said.

Echoing similar views, another distributor on condition of anonymity, said: No one would like to be part of controversy... So I would not like to buy the distribution rights.

There are around 300 screens in Rajasthan and it will be a loss of around Rs 5 crore if the film is not released in the state, sources said.

Rani Padmini or Padmavati was a 13-14th-century queen of Chittorgarh and the Rajput community has alleged that the movie suggests an amorous relationship between Padmavati (played by Deepika Padukone) and Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh). Bhansali and his team have dismissed the claims.

With inputs from IANS
A contempt petition was filed in the Rajasthan high court on Tuesday seeking termination of services of doctors and suspension of their degrees for illegally going on strike and putting lives at risk.

The petition seeking action against health secretary Veenu Gupta, CMHO Churu Ajay Choudhary and in-service medical officer Durgashanker Saini for contempt of Supreme Court directives and ignoring high courts order holding strikes by doctors illegal.

The petition was filed by advocate Dr Abhinav Sharma on behalf of Govind Kumar Khoda saying that the petitioner had been adversely affected by the strike and was not able to avail medical facilities. The court will hear the matter on November 9.

Advocates Dr Abhinav Sharma and Anand Sharma also filed a complaint with the state human rights commission, which issued a notice to the government and doctors association, seeking a reply on what action has been taken by the state government against the agitating doctors.

Commission chairperson Justice Prakash Tatia asked the doctors to immediately join services as their strike was illegal in the light of the order passed by the Rajasthan High Court as well as the apex court.

He said that the association should furnish one good reason to explain their conduct.

Around 10,000 doctors in the state, under the All Rajasthan in Service Doctors Association, have gone on strike on Monday in support of their demands.

We have 2,900 PHCs and 4,500 CHCs which cater to a large number of people. But by going on strike for their demands they are ignoring public interest. Despite initiating RESMA, the state government did not terminate them or suspend their degrees, Dr Abhinav Sharma said.

The petition seeking action against Ajay Choudhary and Durgashanker Saini for instigating the doctors to go on strike and against Veena Gupta, who as custodian of public interest, failed to take disciplinary action or action under Rajasthan the Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) 1970. The act has provisions for punishing those who go on strikes and also those who instigate them.

It referred to an earlier high court order of 2012 stating that doctors shall not indulge in strikes and the state was to ensure this.

Dr Abhinav Sharma said that action should be taken against Gupta for not referring any complaint to MCI against Dr Choudhary and Dr Saini for instigating a strike in defiance of the courts directives.

He said Dr Choudhary had been involved in leading a similar strike in 2011, which had resulted in the loss of life and derailment of medical aid in the state.

Sharma said Choudhary was arrested and lodged in jail but he was set free after a compromise between the government and doctors. This, he contended, had emboldened the doctors and given them a free hand.
Faiez Modi was the only Muslim in his class at Sardar Childrens Senior Secondary School in Jodhpurs Jalori Gate area near Behru Bagh Mandir. He and Payal Singhvi became friends in Class 7. The two didnt realise back then that their friendship will turn into marriage one day.

Our families found out about our affair when we were in Class 10 and both of us faced the music at home. That was the first indication that our families will disapprove of our alliance but we didnt know we will marry one day, Faiez said, talking to Hindustan Times on the telephone from Jodhpur.

The two got married in Jodhpur on April 14, according to Islamic wedding rituals. Payal became Aarifa to be Faiezs wife. This led to her family approaching the police and then Rajasthan high court against what they called forced conversion for marriage and charged the man with kidnapping their daughter.

The HC asked the police to produce Aarifa in court on November 1 and sent her to a government home even as it fixed November 7 for hearing the governments reply on whether the conversion and wedding were legal.

After school, we decided to spend our lives together but the trigger for the wedding was my wifes family trying to fix her marriage with a Bangalore man who was 10 years older to her. We decided to get married and I approached a maulvi. Our families were kept in the dark about this because we knew they will not approve of the wedding, Faiez, 24, said.

Aarifa, 22, is a postgraduate in commerce and Faiez a graduate. I left college after graduating because I wanted to set up a business to look after her. I set up a small readymade garments shop near my house and began earning Rs 20,000 a month on an average, he said.

After their wedding in April, Aarifa didnt move into Faiezs house. We would be together in the day and she would go home at night. This continued for six months  until October  when we decided to go for honeymoon. But we followed the legal process before travelling. We went to the police station to inform them about our wedding. We also met the police commissioner for this, said the man.

Faiez said Aarifa and he were away for a week for the first time in 10 years. I was fasting to pray to Allah for the issue to settle down. Today, when she came back to me, she told me that she had also not eaten anything while she was in the government home, he said.

The man said the two only want to live together for love. He refused to share the couples photograph, saying they didnt want to get famous. We only want to live happily, he added.

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In the forests of North Bengal, timber smugglers and poachers are in trouble. A 39-year-old forest ranger has come to be known as the Forest Singham (lion of the forest) after having arrested hundreds of wildlife and timber smugglers.

As a ranger, Sanjay Dutta is in charge of 3,304 hectares of forest in the Belacoba range of Jalpaiguri district. The Chicken Neck area, a narrow strip of land lying adjacent to the international borders with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan is especially known as a haven for poachers and smugglers. But with 15-20 seizures and 70-80 arrests a year, this has also become a happy hunting ground for the law enforcers.

Read: Elephant chasers feel cash crunch heat, more lives at risk

In 2016, Dutta and his team seized 14 leopard skins, 500 pieces of leopard and tiger bones, two rhino horns, live geckos, seven skins of clouded leopard, 11 jars of snake venom and a cache of arms and ammunition.

In April this year, Dutta was made the head of a special task force set up to check wildlife smuggling in the forests of all the eight districts of north Bengal.

Dutta has made numerous seizures and nabbed many offenders. He must have set a record by now. He is hardworking and brave and he has developed a network. Also, he maintains a very cordial relation with local people, said M R Baloach, additional principal chief conservator of forest, West Bengal.

Sanjay Dutta receiving an award from chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (HT Photo)

A resident of Jalpaiguri, Dutta had to abandon his dream of becoming a police officer when his father, also a forest ranger, died at the age of 48. Dutta joined the department when he was only 18.

Ten years ago he was shot by timber smugglers while he was chasing a gang along the Teesta canal. One of the guards accompanying him was killed.

In 2016 Dutta became the only Indian recipient of the Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award given by Animal Welfare Institute of Johannesburg. But Dutta missed the ceremony because he could not afford the trip to South Africa.

Read: Snake venom worth Rs 100 crore seized in West Bengal, three arrested

In view of the threat to his life, Dutta, a father of two, is provided with security personnel but that has not deterred him from staying in touch with people. He has set up a primary school in the Lodhabari forest area. He partly funded it with the Rs 25,000 cash award he got from the state government. Dutta arranged for another Rs 1.2 lakh from the joint forest management committee and started the school.

Over the years, Dutta, has helped many poor people, cancer patients and school children. Local people try to return the favour and love. Jyotshna Roy, head of a self-help group for women in Lodhabari said, We have never seen a forest officer like him. He does not mind taking loan to help people in need. On Bhaiduj he was given bhaiphota by 50 women.

With Dutta around, we know the forests are safe, said Tula Mohammed, president of Hiramari Joint Forest Management Committee.

Visitors to the forest are frisked by state armed police (SAP) personnel. Fifteen of them work with Dutta. Shiv Sambu Som, an assistant sub inspector of SAP, said, Working with Dutta is a new experience. He takes care of the staff and other employees. We dont mind putting in extra hours to assist Dutta in nabbing offenders.

Dutta always leads an operation from the front, added Lalit Tiwari, a forest department beat officer.

The Forest Singham however remains grounded. I am no hero or celebrity. I love to work for the people and thats what I do, he told HT.

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The UP Shia Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) said on Monday it was drafting an agreement to negotiate a peaceful settlement over the disputed site of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Mosque in Ayodhya and the pact would be ready by November-end.

I have discussed the terms and conditions for an out-of-court settlement with the mahants of Ayodhya and all other petitioners. Another meeting with them is due next week to give final touches to the accord, Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi told HT.

Rizvi said he would be going to the temple town soon to give shape to the draft agreement.

I would then call a meeting of the Waqf Board to obtain consent of the members to the proposal before making it public, he said.

Wait till December 6, by when something concrete would materialise, was his cryptic reply when pressed further on the details of the draft pact.

Rizvi, who has made it clear that he was amenable to building a mosque away from the disputed site in a Muslim-dominated area, said he had been fully authorised by the Board to take a call on the matter.

Partitioning the disputed land equally among three parties, as decided by the Allahabad high court, would not be a peaceful and lasting solution to the problem, he said.

In September 2010, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had ruled in favour of partitioning the disputed 2.77-acre land equally among three parties  the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram), represented by the Hindu Mahasabha.

The Shia Waqf Board made itself as a party in the Ayodhya case when it submitted a 30-page affidavit to the Supreme Court on August 8, 2017 staking its claim to Babri Masjid, which it said was a Shia mosque.

The board said that rather than partitioning the site in Ayodhya between the various claimants, the proposed mosque could be located at a reasonable distance from the disputed site to avoid any clashes in the future.

On whether he would also involve Sunni Cental Waqf Board, the main party in the title suit, Rizvi said he would not invite them and he alone was entitled to negotiate with other stakeholders.

The controversial chairman against whom the Central Waqf Council has levelled charges of corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement of waqf properties, had on October 31 met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar for a negotiated settlement.
A 13-year-old schoolgirl was killed, while three other children were injured after a tempo knocked them down in Malwani on Tuesday. The children, who study in two separate municipal schools, were walking along Marve Road, far away from their schools. One of the injured children told the police they decided to skip classes because they were not wearing ties.

Muskan Memon, who died, was walking along Marve Road around 8am with three of her friends  all of whom are siblings  Neha Newati, 13, Kamal Newati, 12 and Bhupendra Newati, 9. A speeding tempo, carrying transport goods, was headed towards Marve when it knocked down the group of four and went on to crash into a stationary autorickshaw, the police said.

The driver, Pappu Pandey, 32, fled from the spot after the crash. The four children were rushed to a nearby hospital by a couple, who were out for a morning walk, according to the police.

They have sent the tempo to the Andheri RTO to inspect the vehicle and ascertain if the crash took place owing to human error or mechanical failure.

We have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the absconding driver, said Deepak Phatangare, senior inspector at Malwani police station.

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Let people contribute to museums, involve local communities, combine events set in the past with contemporary gigs and pop-up events  these are some of the ways Indias conservationists could make their institutes more relevant to more people, says heritage expert Vinod Daniel.

The chair of AusHeritage, Australias cultural heritage network, and member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), Paris, specialises in training conservation staff. With a degree in chemical engineering, he also consults on the science of preservation, and has worked in this capacity with the Getty Museum in LA and the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Daniel, 55, is currently in the country to consult with museums in the region, from Maharashtra to Myanmar.

There is a stark shortage of skilled workforce in the museum sector in India, and that is very visible, Daniel said, speaking to HT while on his ongoing two-day stopover in the city.

About 90% of museum staff are not trained and yet I would not say that funding is the biggest issue.

In fact, he believes, 100% government funding may not be ideal.

It takes away the ability  and impetus  for museums to then reinvent themselves.

And reinvention is crucial. For example, Daniel suggests, a museum showcasing local bird species could ask people to contribute photographs to their collection.

While India has seen interesting experiments with this in the independent space  online photo archives like The Indian Memory Project, and the Godrej Culture Labs crowdsourced exhibition, Remembering Partition  most conservation and heritage institutes have yet to incorporate public contributions.

Museums in Australia, Daniel adds, have a very strong web presence. Research shows almost half a million come through the gate, and almost 20 million come through the web, he says. This is where social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook play a larger role.

One big challenge, around the world, is how to get the people between the ages of 18 and 30 into museums. Daniels suggestion: Throw an after-party; let the museum run after hours, add an open bar, a live gig, dance performances.

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, for instance, has a DJ spinning tunes, a bar and pop-up barbecues.

Dance night, film screenings and enticing menus can draw in the crowds, Daniel says. India has the capacity to create at least one world-class museum in every state  and easily 100 museums in each.
The Bombay high court on Monday granted permission to a Jogeshwari resident to abort her 25-week foetus , which has been detected with a severe abnormality. This is the first such order from the court, which, in 2008, denied permission to a Bhayander resident who also wanted to terminate her pregnancy as the foetus had heart complications.

The petitioners lawyer said the foetus was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari malformation [type II]  a condition in which there are structural defects in the cerebellum [part of the brain at the back of the skull]. The family approached Dr Nikhil Datar, a Mumbai-based gynaecologist, who has been providing legal and medical advice to women past the 20-week legal deadline for abortion.

This year alone, 17 women from Mumbai and its neighbouring suburbs had to approach the Supreme Court for permission to terminate their pregnancies. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act does not allow abortions beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases where there is a threat to the mothers life. Any person or doctor breaching these provisions can be sent to jail for up to seven years. There is a proposal to amend the law, allowing abortion up to 24 weeks.

In view of the peculiar situation [pertaining to the foetus medical complications] and having due regard of the fundamental rights conferred on the petitioner under Article 21 of the Constitution of India to live life of dignity, it will be appropriate and in the interest of justice to permit the petitioner to undergo medical termination of pregnancy under the provision of the Medical termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, said a bench of justice Shantanu Kemkar and justice G S Kulkarni on Monday.

The bench said it was very difficult for to refuse permission to the petitioner because the court is certain that if the child is born it will be physically handicapped for life, which cannot be avoided.

On November 3, the HC constituted a committee of experts from Sir JJ Hospital to examine the woman and submit a report on her psychological and physiological condition. The committee, in its report dated November 4, stated that because of the abnormalities in the foetus, the chances of morbidity and mortality are high, and that if the child was born, it would require multiple surgeries.

There are high chances of meningitis, mental complications, paralysis of lower limb and loss of urine and bowel control. The condition of the foetus fulfils the criteria of substantial risk of serious physical handicap in the foetus, experts from Sir JJ Hospital stated in the report.

The experts further stated that the pregnancy has advanced to 25 weeks and six days and at this stage the risk of termination is the same as continuing with the pregnancy. Thus, if the court permits, the pregnancy can be terminated as desired by the woman, experts added.
Almost a year after the 57-year-old trustee of an international school in Andheri allegedly raped a three-year-old student, he was arrested on Tuesday and remanded to police custody by a sessions court till November 14. The girls parents had lodged a complaint with the police earlier this year.

The arrested accused has been living in India for several years and allegedly raped the girl during Diwali last year.

He is a French national and his wife is an Indian, the police said.

Unhappy with the police investigations, the girls mother approached the Bombay high court, who last week pulled up the police for not arresting the alleged accused.

The police said they could not arrest him sooner because the girls mother approached the them in May this year, after which a FIR was filed.

The mother said the crime allegedly took place around Diwali 2016, but came to light only after she observed behavioural changes in her daughter earlier this year.

The police investigating the case refrained from arresting the accused because they said they had no proof against him because of the inordinate delay in filing of the FIR.

Another reason, the police said, was that the trustee was not cooperating with the probe and his statement had to be recorded twice.

However, the high court has now entrusted Milind Khetle, assistant commissioner of police, Meghwadi division, to probe the case.

A police officer said, Further investigations will be carried out by the ACP. The investigation undertaken by the MIDC police since May will be taken into account.

According to the FIR, the second accused, a female school teacher, took the girl to the room where the incident allegedly took place. The trustee allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, which amounts to rape under the amended law. In her complaint, the mother further alleged the accused duo also sexually assaulted a boy from her daughters class. The woman said she had a word with the boys mother, who allegedly noticed a similar behavioural change in her son. But the parents of this boy did not come forward when requested by the police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

The police said the school does not have CCTV surveillance and they could not find any medical evidence.

Read more:

Andheri school rape case: 2 months on, psychiatrists complain about slow probe

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With dengue cases on the rise, the civic body is cracking down on mosquito-breeding spots across the city.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found more than 600 mosquito-breeding spots in Bandra (West) and collected fines amounting to more than Rs2 lakh. While some residents said the civic bodys preventive measures are inadequate, others said citizens were just as much at fault.

Action for Good governance and Networking in India (AGNI), a Mumbai-based NGO, said the BMC needed to resort to methods such as fumigating in the morning and evening, and using liquid oil to kill larvae in stagnant water.

Seeking help online Lately, citizens have taken to Twitter to reach out help civic authorities identify breeding spots. Celebrity Jose Covaco, who tweeted about the issue, said there has been an unusually high number of dengue cases in the area. In a month, three people I know were diagnosed with dengue. Residents are also at fault as they fail to check water tanks, balconies, plants and even AC trays for mosquitoes, he said. MLA Ashish Shelar replied, saying the fumigation process will begin soon.

Construction sites across the city use a lot of water, which becomes stagnant, giving mosquitoes a breeding site. Action should be taken against the BMC for apathy when dengue cases are reported in such localities. Residents hesitate to report potential breeding spots as they are scared of being heavily fined, said Nikhil Desai, a member.

Ankita Maini, who lives on St Paul road, told HT that the BMC did not fog the locality regularly.

Civic data shows that the BMC issued 678 notices in Bandra (West) from January to October 31. Of Rs50 lakh collected as fines across 24 wards, Rs2.02 lakh was collected from this ward.

The BMCs role is to check public places. The easiest thing residents can do is empty open containers, said Rajan Naringrekar, insecticide officer, BMC.
A one-month-old male leopard cub, lost in a sugarcane field on the outskirts of Sablewadi village in Shirur, Pune, was reunited with his mother following a two-hour rescue operation on Sunday evening. The operation was conducted by forest department officials and a team from Wildlife SOS, an animal rescue group that runs the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center (MLRC) in Junnar, 50 kilometres from Sablewadi.

After medical examination, veterinarians declared the cub fit to be released into the wild, where he was carried in an open crate. The rescue team observed from a distance as the mother emerged from the forest and carried it away.

It is common for leopards to leave their cubs in the safety of thick sugarcane and plantain farms when they go on a hunt. Forest officials and local animal welfare groups have reunited 26 leopard cubs with their mothers across four districts  Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed and Shirur  in Junnar forest division over the past two years. This is the ninth case this year.

If you spot an abandoned leopard cub To prevent leopards from being captured and placed in captivity, Wildlife SOS reaches out to local communities to increase awareness and clear misconceptions about the animals. Contact: Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center (+918888863702)

Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, senior veterinarian at MLRC, explained that it was crucial to reunite the cubs with their mothers rather than keep them in captivity. He said: Since leopards are territorial animals, it is essential to release the cubs in the vicinity of the rescue area. Initially, scared villagers insisted that the cub be taken away from the area for their own safety. However, they were more understanding of the situation once they realised that the enraged mother could pose a bigger threat.

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, added: The reunions are integral to the protection of the leopard population. In order to learn skills for survival in the wild, it is crucial for leopard cubs to be reared by their mothers for the first two years of their lives.

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The MHB Colony police are on the hunt for a man accused of molesting a foreign national in Borivli (West) on Wednesday.

Police said the woman, who lives with her husband, moved to the area six months ago.

She told police she was travelling home in an auto-rickshaw on Wednesday around 10 pm. When she neared her area, she alighted, deciding to walk the rest of the way. She soon noticed a man following her.

The accused, who is yet to be identified, allegedly passed lewd comments at her. She initially ignored him. When she asked him to leave her alone, he groped her, said police.

The woman said she pushed him and started screaming. On hearing her cries, a few people rushed to her aid. The accused then fled.

Officials said the woman approached them on Saturday with her complaint.

We have registered a case under section 354 (punishment for molestation) against the accused, said an officer, who did not wish to be identified.

Police are checking CCTV camera footage of the locality to identify the suspect. They have recorded the womans statement and the statements of passersby, including a security guard, who arrived to help her.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) levied a fine of Rs5 lakh on contractor J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd. on Monday, for an accident that occurred at the Metro-7 construction site two weeks ago.

A 14-metre-long bunch of iron rods used to support a pier tilted on to the service road of the Western Express Highway at Aarey junction on October 21. No one was hurt, but the service road was blocked after the incident.

A day later, HT had reported that the planning authority had also slapped a show-cause notice on J Kumar Infraprojects and general consultant Ayesa Consortium for the incident. An official said a warning letter was issued to Ayesa Consortium.

We have levied a fine of Rs5 lakh on the contractor as he is responsible for ensuring safety at the site, said Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.

This is the second time such an incident has occurred at the Metro-7 construction site. In June, a similar reinforcement or bunch of iron rods came crashing down at Jogeshwari on the WEH.

The Metro-7 is a 16.475-km-long elevated corridor with 14 stations. It is expected to be operational from 2019.

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Elections for the University of Mumbais (MU) statutory bodies will be delayed by at two to three months, as the institution is trying to bring its house back in order after the assessment mess, said varsity officials.

While the university is ready with drafts of electoral rolls for various constituencies that participate in the elections  university graduates, teachers, principals and college management  they will not be published immediately. The university will also request the state to defer the elections, as the law requires the varsity to constitute all the statutory bodies by November 30.

Holding elections is a very elaborate exercise. We would need to focus all our efforts towards the electoral process, if elections are declared. Currently, we have more pressing issues at hand, said a high-ranking MU official.

Every non-agricultural public university functions through various governing bodies, which are responsible for making policies and taking important decisions on administrative and academic matters. For the past two years, the university has been working without full-fledged governing bodies  owing to the state ban on elections. While the ban was lifted when the state introduced a new law to govern the public universities, Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016, the delay in holding elections means that the varsity will have to work with ad-hoc bodies.

While a few other state universities managed to hold elections, the MU has been struggling to function normally after vice-chancellor (V-C) Sanjay Deshmukh was sacked for the results mess.

An MU official said that the varsity will continue to function with the help of ad hoc governing bodies comprising university officials and nominated members. The acting V-C, Devanand Shinde, has decided to nominate members for these bodies on a temporary-basis.

While the term of nominated members is five years, the new full-time V-C should be able to make his or her own appointments, said the official.

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Even as speculations run high that former Congress leader Narayan Rane - who has serious differences with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray - will be inducted in Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet in Maharashtra, Thackeray met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to discuss the political situation in the state a few days ago.

Though Pawar refused to divulge details of the meeting, he said that it appears Thackeray is not interested in continuing as an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra. I feel that Uddhav Thackeray is not interested in continuing with the [BJP-led] state government, Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of the NCPs two-day conclave, organised to deliberate on its future plans and strategies.

Sources close to Pawar said Thackeray asked the NCP chief about his views in case the Sena decided to snap ties with the BJP and withdraw support to the Fadnavis government. Pawar replied that he would take a decision only after the Sena makes its move, said a senior NCP leader, on condition of anonymity.

The duo met at Silver Oak, Pawars residence in Mumbai, around 10 days ago.

The Senas relations with the BJP has been strained for a while now, and the party is furious with its ally over Ranes likely induction as a minister in the Maharashtra government. It has strongly vocalised its opposition against this move. Once a senior Sena leader, Rane quit the party after a fallout with Thackeray, taking along with him a group of MLAs .

A response from the Sena is awaited.

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The Noida police has busted a notorious inter-state vehicle lifting gang, which stole hundreds of vehicles from Delhi-NCR region, Rajasthan, MP and UP in last 15 years. The police nabbed six members of the gang and seized high-tech electronic gadgets, a host of duplicate number plates, spanners etc used for stealing the cars.

We received a tip-off about their activities a few days ago. Accordingly, on Monday evening, the police carried out a routine vehicle check at Hajipur intersection and nabbed three persons travelling in a stolen Hyundai Creta, Love Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

Based on leads provided by them during interrogation, police raided their residences in Sector 47 and nabbed three more accomplices and seized six more cars. However, four other members of the gang managed to escape in another Hyundai Creta.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ravi alias Bhoop Singh and Vipin, natives of Mathura; Sujan and Laxmi Narayan from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Sarvesh Singh from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Gaurav Tomar from Morena in Madhya Pradesh.

Four members of the gang  Raj Bhatia, Subodh, Montu and Raju Sharma managed to escape in a car while the police raided their rented accommodation in Sector 47. The kingpin of the gang, Rehman of Assam, is also at large, the police said.

Ravi and Vipin are brothers and have been lifting vehicles from Delhi region since 2001. They are wanted in more than a dozen cases in different police stations in Delhi.

During interrogation, the gang members revealed that on an average they lifted 9-10 vehicles every month and transported them to Assam via Lucknow and sometimes via Bhopal, Kumar said.

They parked their vehicle beside the target vehicle in parking lots and executed the heist in a couple of minutes, the police said.

Noida police exhibit the tools used by the vehicle-lifting gang. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT PHOTO)

They targeted top models which are a hit in market and sold them for up to Rs2 - Rs2.5 lakh. They handed over the cars to Rehman, an Assam native who creates fake registration papers and alters engine and chassis numbers of stolen vehicles. After altering the vehicles, he sold them, a police officer said.

To return from Assam after transporting the vehicles, they preferred a flight route, which they claimed is much safer than travelling by train or road.

Last year Raj Bhatia, Subodh, Sarvesh, Jeetu and other members of the gang had been nabbed by the STF (Special Task Force) in Lucknow, but they were later released on bail, the police said.

The SSP said, We are also getting in touch with the Assam Police to nab the kingpin, Rehman, and others connected to the gang.

The SSP has announced a reward of Rs25,000 to the police team which busted the gang.

Modus operandi

The thieves learnt how to use high-tech electronic gadgets to break electronic locking features of cars through videos available on the internet.

During the press conference, the accused Ravi said, Everything in available on the internet. The electronic gadgets that are required are also easily available for sale on several websites.

The gang made use of the latest technology Key Programmer and procured a toolkit called X-100 from China, along with GPS jammers for executing the heists.

Ravi explained how they connected the Key Programmer with an engine immobiliser socket available under the steering of the vehicles and linked it through online servers to send codes to unlock the vehicles.

Ravi said that the website www.weboctopus.nl provides duplicate codes of any vehicle manufactured across the globe

Police said that the accused disabled the vehicles GPS trackers by using jammers, thereby make them untraceable
According to political scientist John Kingdons policy window model, three things must align for an effective public policy: The problem, the solution and the political will.

World over, digitisation and cashless payments have been recognised as the first steps to solve the challenges of financial inclusion and access to cheap credit, both essential to end poverty. In April 2016, the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) launched a pilot for the worlds most-advanced payments system, UPI (Unified Payments Interface). But it took four months for the first few banks to upload their UPI-enabled apps. At the end of October 2016, UPI had just over 100,000 transactions worth 49 crore.

In the case of digital payments, India knew the problem, and for once was ahead of the world in designing a solution. But it had not political priority. But demonetisation and the urgency to find alternatives to cash brought digitisation and cashless payments into sharp focus. Suddenly, ministers and bureaucrats started asking what they could do to unblock cashless payments. Incredibly, steps that would have taken years were completed in weeks. A 13-member committee was formed under Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in December to suggest ways to push cashless transactions. The committee published its recommendations in six weeks; most of them were implemented quickly.

Given the hesitant adoption of UPI, the Centre got NPCI to build, test and launch the BHIM app, all in less than four weeks on top of what is now UPI-BHIM. Telecom regulator TRAI cut the USSD charges (levied on mobile banking transactions) from 1.5 to 0.5, encouraging feature phone users to transact digitally. Aadhaar Pay was launched in April, enabling even those without a phone or debit card to transact digitally. The MDR ---- the fees that card networks charge on transactions ---- was dramatically lowered by 75% and 50% for transactions below 1,000 and 2,000 respectively. With a lower MDR for card users, BHIM app for smartphone users, BHIM-USSD for feature phone users and Aadhaar Pay for those with neither phone nor card, India laid the foundation for the worlds most advanced and inclusive digital payments system serving over a billion people  and all in less than six months.

For the first time, three card networks ---- Visa, Mastercard and NPCIs RuPay ---- came together to launch the Bharat QR, a virtual replacement for legacy debit cards and point-of-sale (POS) machines. The number of traditional POS machines, which reached 1.6 million in 20 years, jumped by 62% to 2.6 million in the six months from October 2016 to April 2017.

In the same period, e-wallets went from 10 million to over 32 million transactions. Combined with other digitisation catalysts such as the 900% increase in mobile data consumption since the launch of Reliance Jio in September 2016, India suddenly became a hot bed of payment innovation. Domestic champions such as PhonePe are now competing with Googles Tez on the homegrown UPI-BHIM platform. Whatsapp is expected to launch its payment product in the world on top of UPI-BHIM.

This is because UPI-BHIM is revolutionary; you can see that story in NPCIs numbers. From 0.1 million transactions worth Rs 49 crore before demonetisation, UPI-BHIM completed 76.7 million transactions a month (7,057 crore) and is on track to cross 100 million by November-end. To put that in perspective, debit and credit card POS volumes are 377 million a month, a number India has taken 20 years to reach. UPI-BHIM will be a quarter of that in less than 20 months. On October 4, the Reserve Bank, which has played a stellar role in this digital transformation, issued guidelines for interoperable wallets using UPI-BHIM.

This is just the start. UPI-BHIM 2.0 will have eMandates, which will ease collections and boost flow-based lending. In years to come, payments powered by UPI-BHIM will be dominant.

Digital payments are only the first step. Now that people can move money with ease, we will see services and products being built for the unseen majority. Were already seeing an explosion of startups in cash flow-based lending. These startups are enabling credit to individuals and small enterprises that could not access it before, based on their data. The business case is now in alignment with social objectives. All we can say is that innovators are finally building for Bharat.

While November 8, 2016, is etched in our memories as the day we switched to cashless, it was just the start. Digitisation was always going to be a long process, and we still have a way to go. But, demonetisation was a defining moment in Indias journey to a less cash economy.

Nandan Nilekani is chairman, Infosys Ltd, and former chairman, UIDAI

The views expressed are personal
As part of his six-nation trip to Asia, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson will visit Myanmar on November 15. The main focus of Tillersons meeting with senior government leaders will be on issues concerning the Rohingya crisis. Two other issues are also expected to be addressed: Myanmars democratisation process and that Myanmars leadership, especially the military, does not have links with North Korea.

Since the days of his election campaign, analysts have held the view that Myanmar is not on Trumps foreign policy priority list. In fact, until recently, the Trump administration had shown a lukewarm interest toward South-east Asia, particularly Myanmar. By contrast, Trumps predecessor Barack Obama visited the country twice as president.

Tillersons visit comes at a time when the Trump administration is considering declaring a crackdown on Rohingya Muslims as ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya crisis has already been labelled as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing by the chief of the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein.

The Trump administration is also under pressure from members of the US Congress who have called for the re-imposition of sanctions against the Myanmar military. If implemented, the targeted sanctions would include travel curbs on Myanmar military officials and prevent Washington from supplying assistance to the Myanmar military until perpetrators of atrocities against the Rohingyas are held accountable.

Tillerson is expected to tell the Myanmar government that it should allow the refugees to return at the earliest possible and that the government must provide all basic necessities, including security.

While denying the occurrence of ethnic cleansing, Naypyidaw has said the proposed US sanctions would hinder the fledgling power sharing arrangement between the civilian government and the military.

The second issue of Tillersons visit is to urge the Myanmar leadership, civilian as well as the military, to push forward the countrys democratisation process. Myanmars democratic transition today is incomplete and remains in the stage of illiberal democracy.

Though the National League for Democracy (NLD) government has significant control over the day-to-day administration and a significant majority in parliament, it has no control over the military. Among others, the military controls all security-related ministries in the government  home, defence and border affairs, the national defence and security council, and 25% of seats in all legislatures.

Tillerson is expected to offer both carrots and sticks during his visit. While he will say that the US is ready to extend help and assistance in addressing the Rohingya crisis as well as in the democratisation process, he is also likely to tell Naypyidew about the possibility of the re-imposition of targeted sanctions. This has the potential to trigger internal tensions between the military and civilian government.

The third issue which Tillerson is likely to discuss is to ensure that Myanmar, especially the military leadership, does not maintain links with North Korea. Since 2011, Naypyidew has assured Washington that it has no military ties with Pyongyang. This has become a crucial issue again, especially because of the rising tension between Washington and Pyongyang.

To prevent the US-Myanmar ties from deteriorating, Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmars foreign minister, will try to explain and convince the Trump administration about the challenges her government faces. It remains to be seen if Washington will listen to Suu Kyi.

Meanwhile, it is also important to understand her limitations under the hybrid political regime, as enshrined in the 2008 constitution. It is unlikely that Suu Kyi will take actions that could potentially offend the military leadership and the sentiments of the overwhelming majority population who consider Rohingyas as illegal Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh.

It is also important to understand the fact that Suu Kyi is no longer a democratic icon or political activist she used to be during the years of her pro-democracy movement or house-arrest. She is now a pragmatic politician who wants to remain in power now and also in the foreseeable future.

Nehginpao Kipgen is executive director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, and author of Democratization of Myanmar

The views expressed are personal
The father of Navruna Chakravorty, the 14-year-old girl who mysteriously went missing from her house in north Bihars Muzaffarpur district in 2012, has alleged threat to his family from an accused in the case.

Atulya Chakravorty lodged a complaint with town police station at Muzaffarpur, 70 km north of Patna, alleging that Ramesh Kumar alias Bablu, one of the accused in the Navruna case, had threatened to kill him and his family members.

In his complaint lodged on Monday night, Atulya Chakravorty said Ramesh Kumar accosted his brother Nirmalya Chakravorty alias Manik Da when he was returning home after purchasing groceries and made the threat to kill him and his family members.

READ| 5 yrs after Bihar girl Navruna went missing, CBI makes first arrest

Navruna had gone missing from her house on Jawaharlal Road in Muzaffarpur on the intervening night of September 17 and 18, 2012. The CBI was assigned the investigation on the direction of the Supreme Court after the district police as well as state-run criminal investigation department (CID) failed to make a breakthrough in the case.

On November 26, 2012, a skeleton was found from the drain near the house, and, on the basis of forensic tests, CID said it was that of Navruna, but the family did not accept it.

READ| Court sends Muzaffarpur ward councillor to two-day CBI remand in Navruna case

On the basis of DNA report, CBI on August 20, 2014, told the court that the skeleton belonged to Navruna.

Ramesh Kumar was arrested along with Sudeep Chakravorty, cousin of Atulya Chakravorty, after the skeleton was recovered. He and three other accused are now out on bail.

Talking to HT, Atulya Chakravorty said the town police first refused to lodge his complaint. The complaint was registered after seniors officials intervened in the matter. I have also informed officials and investigation officer of the CBI about the latest development, he added.

READ| 5 years on, no chargesheet in Navruna murder case

Deputy superintendent of police Ashish Anand confirmed the registration of the FIR. We are inquiring into the matter, he said.

This is the second time that the Chakravorty family has received threat. Earlier, some criminals had threatened Maitri Chakravorty, mother of Navruna, to eliminate her family members. An FIR was then registered with the town police station.
While a 22-year-old Chandigarh man has been sent to one-day police custody, search is on for his three accomplices for allegedly gang-raping a 14-year-old girl from Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh.

Salman used to work in a saloon, but was out of work for the past three months. He is a resident of Tin Colony, Sector 47, said UT senior superintendent of police Nilambari Vijay Jagdale. He was produced before court, which sent him to one-day police custody. We are looking for the three co-accused.

The victim told police that she is a Class-5 dropout and was staying with her family in Parwanoo. She said she came in contact with Salman, alias Lucky, five months back.

She alleged Salman, who hailed from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had lured her to come to Chandigarh four days back on the pretext of buying her new clothes and other things she wanted. This was her first trip to the city. She was allegedly kept in a tin shed in an area under a railway overbridge as she had seen a train cross by.

The victim alleged Salman had lured her to come to Chandigarh four days back on the pretext of buying her new clothes and other things she wanted

The victim said she was raped by the accused along with his three friends, whom she could identify. She was also beaten up by the accused on November 4, after which she managed to escape on the pretext of going to bathroom.

Police said a call was received at 1.45am on the night of November 4 about an assault on a minor girl. The victim was found crying by a person at the Sector-34 park. She had sought help from him and he had called the police control room. Around 2.15am, another call was made to the child helpline about the girl.

Salman was arrested from Faidan village on Saturday. He was booked under Sections 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage) and 376 (D) (gangrape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Sector-34 police station.

Police trying to trace victims family

The victim has been kept at a childrens home, Ashiana, in Sector 15.

She has told the police that her father works as a driver. She said her mother is an alcoholic and used to beat her, because of which she used to stay with her maternal aunt at times.

Police sources said they are trying to trace her family, but she has not been able to share any detail of her house other than that she hails from Parwanoo. The police are seeking help of counsellors to get more details.

Sources said though the girl has been missing for the past four days, no missing person complaint has been traced so far. Sources said police are also looking at the trafficking angle. The possibility of trafficking is bleak as the victim has categorically said that the accused had brought her to city and then raped her. It is a case of gangrape and we were looking for other accused involved, said SSP Jagdale.
Sikhs can now wear small kirpans on flights, as per the new Transport Canada rules. The decision of the Canadian authorities to amend the rule has been disclosed by the World Sikh Organisation of Canada (WSO).

According to this announcement, as of November 27, 2017, Transport Canada amended the list of prohibited items so as to allow blades of up to 6 cms in length on domestic and international flights in Canada, babushahi.com reports.

Earlier this year, WSO had reached out to Transport Canada encouraging the adoption of the international standard so that Sikhs wearing kirpans can be accommodated. The exemption does not, however, apply to any flights to the United States. Sikhs in the UK have already been permitted to fly with kirpans with blades of up to 6cm for some time, in accordance with European Union standards.

WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, We welcome todays announcement. We had shared our concerns with Transport Canada last spring with respect to the accommodation of small kirpans and remained in communication with them over this matter. By adopting the European Union standard on blade length, Sikh travellers in Canada will be able to wear kirpans with blades of up to 6cm in length. It is important to understand however, that the size requirements will be enforced strictly and Sikh travellers wishing to travel with their kirpan meets the size requirements.
Visibility took a hit with smog engulfing major parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday. Across Punjabs Doaba region and in Haryanas Rohtak and Hisar, low visibility in the wee hours of Tuesday resulted in a harrowing time for both schoolchildren and commuters.

In Haryana, dense smog on National Highway-9 hit normal life. Long-distance trains from Bathinda to Delhi via Sirsa and Hisar are running late by one hour, while Haryana Roadways has cancelled many early morning long-route buses to avoid accidents.

Ramesh Kumar, a driver with Haryana Roadways on the Delhi-Sirsa route said, It generally takes five hours to reach Sirsa from Delhi. But on Monday night, it took more than nine hours to reach the destination. Poor visibility began at Fatehabad and continued till the outskirts of Sirsa.

SMOG EFFECT:even at 10.45 am,poor visibility on the Ambala-Delhi highway;vehicle ply with lights on; unusual at this time of Nov. @HTPunjab pic.twitter.com/GCF91gUdtw  Ramesh Vinayak (@vinayak_ramesh) November 7, 2017

Similar conditions to prevail

Dr Raj Singh, head of department (HOD) of meteorological and agriculture department at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (CCSHAU) said similar conditions will continue for few more days.

Sudden fall in temperature and increased moisture in the air creates low pressure and hence the smoke of stubble is not able to clear in time, resulting in dense smog in the outskirts.

PAU assistant agro meteorologist KK Gill said the smog will continue for the next few days as there are no chances of rainfall. Gill said that the moisture in the atmosphere and the pollution due to stubble burning bas clubbed together to form smog.

School timings delayed in Fatehabad

Fatehabad DC Hardeep Singh ordered that in view of smog conditions, private schools in Fatehabad district will open one hour later than usual. Singh said all schools will now open at 9 am instead of 8 am and the order will remain effective for the next one week. The Fatehabad DC has also asked officials to keep a strict eye on stubble burning.

A Haryana roadways bus rammed with another parked vehicle near Kotli village of Sirsa district, injuring passengers and the driver.

According to the data compiled by the Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC), Hisar, more than 800 incidents of stubble burning have been reported from Fatehabad district only.

Jalandhar hit too

Four trains from Jalandhar were delayed due to fog on Tuesday morning. Smog-related accidents in the region have already began  three days ago 14 people were injured in Hoshiarpur after tempo traveller fell in the Kali Bein river after the driver was unable to see the road clearly.

Chandigarh-Delhi operations flight have been severely hit due to shutdown of one of the runways at the Delhi international airport for maintenance work. Out of 12 flights on this route, seven have been cancelled for three days, starting Tuesday. The normal operations will be restored on Friday.

Apart from this, no smog-related delays in the train and flight schedule has been reported from Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Commuters grapple with thick smog in Ludhiana on Tuesday morning. (Gurminder Singh/HT)

Amritsar grapples with poor visibility

Dense smog, which suddenly marked its presence on Monday evening in Amritsar, came as a shock for residents. Most residents were not prepared for the sudden dip in visibility. My mother called me five times within 40 minutes. She kept insisting I leave work at the earliest fearing more smog late evening. I left my office early around 7:30 pm and couldnt even see my car parked outside my office, Amit Sharma, a resident of Amritsars Gopal Nagar said.

The morning smog on Tuesday deterred the morning walkers as they chose to remain inside. Ashok Kumar, a resident of Putlighar, said farmers should at least wake up now as burning stubble has led to smog that can be disastrous.

On Monday, three people died in road accidents in Ludhiana caused district due to low visibility. Flights from Sahnewal airport have also been disrupted since last Monday.
The much awaited first single Baitikochi Chuste from Pawan Kalyans tentatively titled film PSPK25 was unveiled on Tuesday on the occasion of its director Trivikrams birthday.

The film marks the Telugu debut of popular Tamil composer Anirudh Ravichander, and hes made head turns with the first track. Powered by strings and flute, the song is an instant chartbuster and it floors you with its catchy tune. Anirudhs mellifluous vocals and Srimanis lyrics is a hit combination and fans couldnt have asked for more.

Nearly 70% of the film has already been shot but the makers are yet to officially announce a title, which could be revealed on Tuesday with a poster.

Last week, the films team left to Bulgaria for shoot. In the current schedule, they will shoot two songs and three action sequences, according to a source from the films unit. Theres a heavy buzz for the film, thanks to the Pawan Kalyan-Trivikram combo.

After the debacle of Sardaar Gabbar Singh and Katamarayudu, Pawan Kalyan has pinned high hopes on this project as he hopes to bid adieu to acting with a bang, provided this film turns out to be a blockbuster.

The film also stars Keerthy Suresh and Any Emmanuel, who have teamed up for the first time with Pawan Kalyan. This film is being planned as a Sankranti release next year and will lock horns with Balakrishnas Jai Simha at the box-office.

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Veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan said on Tuesday that he was already in politics and announced that he would undertake a state-wide tour of Tamil Nadu soon to understand the problems of commoners.

The actor was addressing a press conference in Chennai on his 63rd birthday amid expectations of a big announcement on his long hinted political entry. That still seems some distance away.

If I need six months to prepare for my character in a film alone, it is obvious that I take time preparing for my political entry as we need a good foundation. People say I am going to launch a political party, but I am waiting because I need to lay a strong foundation. I am discussing with experts. Dont ask me when I will deliver. Work has begun for my entry into politics. Its not the time for me to talk about this now, he said in reply to a question.

He seemed willing to put films on the backburner in order to devote time to politics.

I will wrap up all my professional commitments before taking up full-time politics. I am currently working on the foundation of the party.

But it is not clear if the actor will retire completely from the world of movies. It is also unclear how long he will take to finish his current commitments. He has to finish the much-delayed film Vishwaroopam 2 and Sabaash Naidu. While the first movie is in post-production stage, the second is still in the production process. Sabaash Naidu is directed and produced by Kamal Haasan and he will have to spend a considerable amount of time to complete this.

Just over a month ago Kamal Haasan announced Indian 2, which will be directed by Shankar who takes about 2.5 years to work on a single film. His last film Ai starring Vikram was released in 2015. His current project 2.0, starring Rajinikanth is still in the post-production stage and is expected to release in 2018.

Kamal Haasan was also asked if he would contest in the local body polls to be held on November 17. The actor said he was looking at a longer time-frame.

At the media conference, he also announced the launch of a digital platform which he said could act as a whistle-blower. He said people can share complaints and their grievances on the app for possible redressal. The app is still under testing.

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Stepping into the Louvre Abu Dhabi, one of the first artworks a visitor sees is a two-headed Neolithic statue from Jordan, one of the oldest known in human history.

That duality - looking back and toward the future, encompassing both East and West - is a theme that extends throughout the new museum, which is opening to the public on Saturday after a decade of delays and questions over labourers rights.

The conservative mores of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates thats more buttoned-up than freewheeling Dubai, can be seen in the relative absence of pieces depicting nudity. Still, artwork at the new Louvre offers a brief history of the world and its major religions, not shying away from Judaism in a country that officially does not recognize Israel.

Here at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, weve accomplished history, Mohamed Khalifa al-Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said at a ceremony for journalists on Monday. This museum is a lot more than just a museum.

A woman poses in front of part of a series of nine panels titled "Untitled I-IX" by American painter Cy Twembly at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. (AFP)

The modernist museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, sits under a honeycombed dome of eight layers of Arab-style geometric shapes.

It draws the lapping waters of the Persian Gulf into its outer corridors, allowing individual beams of light that pass through the roof to strike the surface and cast dancing reflections across the white walls. At night, light inside pours out like tiny little stars from a salt shaker against the citys skyline.

I imagine this metaphor of the sky, cosmic, cosmographic, with a random system like the stars itself, Nouvel told The Associated Press. I imagine that with not a lot of lighting, just a little bit to create a kind of rain of light.

That rain has been a long time coming in this desert country, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Authorities first announced the Louvre Abu Dhabi project in 2007 as Dubai feverishly built the worlds tallest building and other wonders.

Today, much of Saadiyat Island, envisioned as a cultural district anchored by the museum, is still empty. Part of the reason is the drop in global energy prices from over $100 a barrel in 2014 to around $30 in early 2016. Officials in Abu Dhabi have not disclosed how much it cost to build the museum.

A statue of the "Virgin and Child" are displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. (AFP)

What is known is that Abu Dhabi agreed to pay France $525 million for the use of the Louvre name for the next 30 years and six months, plus another $750 million to hire French managers to oversee the 300 loaned works of art. A center at Paris Louvre now bears the name of the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which was also part of the deal.

During construction, the project faced intense criticism over conditions faced by labourers, who faced low pay, long hours and hot conditions. A worker was killed in an accident in 2015 while another died of natural causes in 2016, according to Abu Dhabi authorities.

Louvre Abu Dhabi by the numbers 97,000 square meters (1,044,108 square feet): The total built-up area of the museum 6,400 square meters (68,890 square feet): The permanent gallery space of the museum 8: The number of layers in its dome 180 meters (590 feet): The length of its dome 7,500 tons: The weight of its dome 7,850: The number of unique stars inside its dome 55: The number of buildings inside the museums dome 3,900: The number of panels that make up the museums buildings 17: The number of glass ceilings among the museums ceilings 620: The number of artworks and artifacts on display



235: The number of pieces on display owned by the Louvre Abu Dhabi itself 12: The number of gallery chapters telling what the museum refers to as the worlds universal narrative

Jean-Luc Martinez, the president-director of the Louvre in Paris, contends the museum spoke very frankly about labourer conditions. He described the museum as a bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe.

We are not a European museum, he told the AP. Its a place to see the world from Abu Dhabi.

That begins in the first gallery, where the floor bears an outline of the UAE with the names of different world cities in Arabic, China, English and Hindi. Different cultures face each other in exhibits: for example, a French suit of armor is positioned to look directly across from a Japanese warriors outfit.

The museum also makes a point to put the worlds religions side by side.

A man walks past the medieval "Tapestry of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar" displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour on November 6, 2017, prior to the official opening of the museum on Saadiyat island in the Emirati capital on November 8. (AFP)

In one exhibit, a Jewish funerary stele from France in 1250 sits next to a Tunisian Muslims funerary steel and a Christian archbishops stone epitaph from Tyre, Lebanon. A painted French stone statue of Virgin and Child stands by a section of a Syrian Quran dating to around 1250, open to a page recounting the night during the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims believe the holy book was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

In a darkened room, a page from the Blue Quran, one of the oldest ever found, sits near a Gothic Bible, Buddhist sutras and a Torah from Yemen dating to 1498.

In a Middle East still torn by religious and sectarian conflict, whether between Sunni and Shiite or Israelis and the Palestinians, simply putting them side by side is a major statement.

A statue of Roman general and statesman Julius Casear (101-44 BC) is seen on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour. (AFP)

Women visit a room at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum during a media tour. (AFP)

A man stands next to exhibits at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (REUTERS)

By addressing their message to all humanity without distinction, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam transcended local cultural characteristics and deeply transformed ancient societies, one placard reads. These religions shared with Judaism the concept of monotheism but diverged on the subjects such as the representation of the divine.

Nudity, however, is only lightly represented, either in bare breasts on an Italian dish or nude bronze ballerina statuettes by Edgar Degas, seemingly dancing in the line of sight of James McNeill Whistlers famed painting of his mother. Whistlers painting joins a womans portrait on wood by Leonardo da Vinci, two works by Pablo Picasso and a hot-pink Andy Warhol image of an electric chair.

For now at least, the museums exhibit ends with an installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiei called A Foundation of Light, an illuminated work of steel and glass that recalls the museums gleam at night.

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Greys Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo is the latest actor to reveal that she faced sexual harassment at the hands of director James Toback.

Toback, an Oscar nominated director, has been accused of sexual harassment by more than 200 women in Hollywood following an expose in the Los Angeles Times.

I actually did have a situation with James Toback where I kind of told him to go (expletive) himself, Pompeo told USA Today.

Beverly Hills police say they're investigating complaints against film mogul Harvey Weinstein and writer-director James Toback, who've been the subjects of sexual harassment allegations. The Police Department acknowledged on October 31 that it's received multiple complaints against the two men. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

It was held in a public place and I brought a man--my friend Tony. And he didnt like that at all. And I could tell that. I could tell instantly that he was, like, no good. The minute my friend left, he asked me if I would get naked in a movie. And I was like, Really, dude? My friend has been missing all of 30 seconds and now you say that? I kind of laughed in his face, she said.

Toback has been accused of sexual misconduct by actors like Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams and Julianne Moore.

Pompeos Greys Anatomy co-star Caterina Scorsone also detailed the harassment she experienced at the hands of Toback during an audition.

Pompeo also met Harvey Weinstein but said she did not face any unwanted attention from the Hollywood producer, who stands accused of sexual harassment, assault and rape by numerous women. He has denied any allegation of sexual assault.

I met with Harvey at the Peninsula and he didnt try anything on me. I was very lucky. I escaped those clutches, she said.

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The 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks have done irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause and tarnished Islamabads image as well, Pakistans former foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan has said.

Besides tarnishing Pakistans image, the attacks also did irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause, said Khan while addressing a gathering at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington earlier this week, Dawn online reported on Tuesday.

At least 166 people, including foreign tourists, were killed by 10 armed men who went on a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, and a train station in Mumbai.

India accused Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed of masterminding the November attacks, which brought Islamabad and New Delhi to the brink of a war.

Khan referred to a recent edict by the Imam of Kaaba, saying that Islam does not allow private individuals and groups to declare jihad.

The former minister said mistakes of these militant groups could not be used to weaken the indigenous and legitimate freedom movement in Kashmir, as not a single Kashmiri supports the Indian occupation, the daily reported.

Ambassador Touqir Hussain, another senior Pakistani diplomat, referred to a recent statement by Americas UN envoy Nikki Haley, saying Washington had asked the Indians to keep an eye on Pakistan.

Hussain said people like her were trying to diminish Pakistans influence to help India suppress the Kashmiri struggle.

... New Delhi should remember that empire mightier than India have fallen because of their overreach and this can happen to India too if it continued to ignore the grievances of the Kashmiri people, he was quoted as saying by the daily.
Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of death of 26 teenage girls whose bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea, the media reported on Tuesday.

The girls, aged 14-18, were believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria who had embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya over the weekend.

Lorena Ciccotti, a senior police official, told CNN on Monday night that autopsies would be carried out on Tuesday and that coroners would be investigating whether the girls had been tortured or sexually abused.

Their bodies were found close to a flimsy rubber dinghy that had all but sunk when rescuers arrived, Ciccotti said.

The girls rescue was one of four separate rescue operations carried out in the Mediterranean over the weekend. In total, 400 people were brought aboard the Spanish vessel Cantabria before disembarking at the Italian port town of Salerno.

Among them were 90 women and 52 minors, including a week-old-baby, CNN quoted authorities as saying.

On Monday, Italian police arrested two men, an Egyptian and a Libyan accused with human smuggling.

Since the start of this year, 2,839 migrants have died on the central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organization for Migration.

A total of 150,982 migrants have reached European shores, of which around 74% were Italian arrivals.
US President Donald Trump praised cooperation with South Korea during a visit to a US base there on Tuesday and said he planned to address trade issues in discussions with President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.

There is great cooperation, he said. We have a terrific meeting scheduled on trade in a little while with President Moon and his representatives. And hopefully that will start working out and working out so that we create a lot of jobs in the United States which is one of the reasons that Im here.

Moon met briefly with Trump before he toured the sprawling US military base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea.

Trump has repeatedly struck a hard line against Pyongyang and South Korea was warily watching Trump as he was poised to deliver bellicose warnings in the shadow of the North Korea. Shortly after arriving in South Korea, Trump traveled by helicopter to Camp Humphreys.

US and South Korean officials have said the base visit was meant to underscore the countries ties and South Koreas commitment to contributing to its own defense. Burden-sharing is a theme Trump has stressed ever since his presidential campaign.
US President Donald Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday the United States was prepared to use the full range of its military power if needed to defend itself and its allies during a visit to South Korea that took him to heart of the nuclear standoff with Pyongyang.

Speaking at a joint news conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Trump said while he hopes to use all tools short of military force, he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to prevent the North Korean dictator from threatening lives ... so needlessly.

We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built, Trump said on the first day of a two-day visit to South Korea.

But at times taking a less strident tone, Trump also urged North Korea to do the right thing and said: I do see some movement  though he declined to elaborate.

We hope to God we dont have to use the United States full military capabilities, he said.

Landing earlier at Osan Air Base outside Seoul, the president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began a visit that could aggravate tensions with North Korea.

He then flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, the largest US military base in the country, and met US and South Korean troops, along with Moon.

The White House says Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate US resolve over his hardline approach to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, but many in the region fear further bellicose presidential rhetoric could increase the potential for a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Meeting with military commanders about the North Korea issue, Trump told reporters: Ultimately it will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out. He did not elaborate.

Trump praised president Moon, hailing him for great cooperation despite differences over how to confront North Korea and over a trade pact between the United States and South Korea.

When the two leaders later held formal talks after an elaborate welcoming ceremony outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Moon told Trump he hoped his visit would relieve some of South Koreans anxiety over North Korea and serve as a turning point in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN resolutions and an exchange of insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

Three US aircraft carrier strike groups will exercise together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a show of force rarely seen in the region, US officials said.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump toured the sprawling Camp Humphreys garrison, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea.

Trump was greeted with applause and a few cheers as he and Moon entered the mess hall at lunch hour.

Trump is seeking to ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the US weaponry needed to do so, suggesting the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.
Militant group Islamic State on Tuesday claimed responsibility for an attack on a television station in Kabul, in which gunmen disguised as police killed a security guard and opened fire on staff, the latest assault on media workers in Afghanistan.

Afghan special forces suppressed the attack on Shamshad TV, a private Pashto-language broadcaster based close to the national stadium, after about two hours, but police said at least two people had been killed and 20 wounded.

People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another, Abed Ehsas, Shamshads news director told broadcaster Tolo News TV.

After that, others got into our building and started firing. Some of our colleagues were hit, though, thank God, many others managed to get out. Some were wounded by gunshots, falling glass and when they jumped from high floors.

During the attack, a special forces unit blasted a hole in the concrete wall around the compound and entered the site amid a crack of gunfire. At least one attacker was killed during the operation, while another was killed at the compound entrance.

In a statement on its news agency Amaq, Islamic State claimed responsibility, without giving evidence. The group, based mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, has claimed a number of attacks on civilian targets in the Afghan capital.

Shortly after the beginning of the attack, the Talibans main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, issued an immediate denial of involvement.

Suicide attacks have become a grimly familiar part of daily life in Kabul, now considered one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan for civilians. But it was also the latest in a series targeting Afghan journalists and media workers.

Last year a Taliban suicide bomber killed seven members of Afghanistans largest private television station, Tolo. In May, Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on state broadcaster RTA in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Tuesdays attack, which underlined the impression of chronic insecurity in Kabul, took place about three weeks after a series of attacks including one on a Shiite mosque in the city in which more than 50 people were killed.

Shamshad TV halted normal programming during the attack, transmitting only a still image. But it resumed broadcasting after about two hours, saying the incident had ended and staff trapped in the building rescued by police.
An Indian-origin pharmacist in the UK is on trial for killing his elderly father by giving him a fruit smoothie containing morphine and injecting him with a lethal dose of insulin at their home in Surrey in southeast England.

Bipin Desai denied the murder charge but admitted to assisting his 85-year-old father, Dhirajlal Desai, commit suicide because he was depressed and wanted to end his life.

But prosecutor William Boyce told Guildford Crown Court on Monday that it was his intention to disguise the death as natural but came forward with the assisted suicide claim only when it emerged that a post-mortem examination would be conducted on his fathers body and the lethal drugs in his bloodstream would be revealed.

He knew when he went to work (the next day) that his father was dead. You have to consider what kind of actor he is, Boyce told the court.

The 59-year-old pharmacist admitted giving his father a fruit smoothie containing morphine and later injecting him with a lethal dose of insulin in August 2015.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft relating to stealing the two drugs from his workplace, Vaughan James Chemist in Farnham.

The post-mortem examination on his father revealed he had 1,038mg of free morphine per litre of blood in his system when he died.

Boyce told the court that there was no evidence to support Desais claims about helping to fulfil his fathers wishes to die.

He suffered no debilitating or disabling symptoms. He was not, on the face of it, near death despite his advancing years, he told the jury.

The court was told how Desai had even made breakfast for his father the next day to disguise the killing as a natural death. He called the 999 emergency number and said he had just come home and noticed his fathers curtains were closed and the breakfast had remained untouched.

It was the start of a whole series of protracted lies told by this defendant, the prosecution said.

A few days later, accompanied by his wife Dipti and sons Samir and Nichil, Desai went into a police station to claim that he had assisted his father commit suicide because he had wanted to be reunited with his late wife and dog.

He said over the past four or five days his father had talked about ending his life, about wanting to go upstairs which he took to mean heaven, the prosecution said.

Desais trial is ongoing at Guildford Crown Court and is expected to conclude by next week.
A Texas man suspected of travelling to Washington to kill all white police at the White House was arrested on Monday by Secret Service agents near the executive mansion, the agency said.

Michael Arega of Dallas, whose age was not listed by authorities, was arrested on Monday afternoon after police in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland, issued an alert for the suspect in the Washington area, the Secret Service said.

Secret Service personnel at the White House immediately increased their posture of readiness and began searching for Arega, the agency said in a statement.

A little more than an hour after receiving the bulletin, agents spotted Arega on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue near Lafayette Square, a park across the street from the White House, and he was taken into custody without incident by uniformed Secret Service officers, the agency said.

Arega was not armed when he was arrested, and was under investigation for allegedly making felony threats, Secret Service spokesman Shawn Holtzclaw told Reuters by telephone.

US President Donald Trump was on an overseas trip in Asia at the time.

Arega was handed over to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, the Secret Service said.

In a report on the incident, police said Arega made threats on Facebook. It was not immediately known if Arega has an attorney.
Nato on Tuesday said it will increase the number of troops for its training mission in Afghanistan by 3,000 personnel, hours after Islamic State militants struck a television news channel in Kabul and killed two people.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, told a news conference in Brussels on the eve of the two-day North Atlantic Council meet: We have decided to increase the number of troops ... to help the Afghans break the stalemate.

Condemning the attack on Shamshad TV station, he said the alliance and its allies would send more troops for the training mission to tackle the insurgent threat. The revised number of troops will now be at 16,000  half of them from the US. The current number of troops is around 13,000.

Stoltenberg stressed the soldiers would not have combat roles but would be part of Natos train, advise and assist mission called Resolute Support. He also said Nato would continue to provide financial and technical support to the Afghan national security forces.

He reiterated that Nato is continuing to raise the issue of Pakistan providing safe havens to terror groups on its soil. The issue of safe havens in Pakistan will continue to be raised as no country should provide havens to insurgents, he said.

US Army Gen John Nicholson, the commander of the Resolute Support mission and of American forces in Afghanistan, called for more troops in February, saying that a few thousand more troops would make a difference in weakening the Taliban and other Islamist militants.

Under a new strategy announced by US President Donald Trump, defence secretary Jim Mattis said in September that more than 3,000 additional American troops will be deployed to Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agencies)
A Pakistani anti-corruption court on Tuesday reserved for a day its judgement on a petition to club together several graft cases filed against the family of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the main anti-graft watchdog, had opposed the clubbing of the three cases against the Sharifs on the grounds that the trial cannot be combined into a single case on the basis of an application from just one of the accused.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar appeared in the accountability court in the capital on Tuesday morning for a hearing in connection with the cases filed against them by the NAB.

The Islamabad high court recently accepted Sharifs plea regarding the clubbing of the three cases against his family.

Sharif left the accountability court after his counsel, Khawaja Haris, completed his arguments before the bench hearing the cases filed against him. The court later took up the cases against Maryam and her husband.

Sharif and his family face three corruption cases filed against them by the NAB on the orders of the apex court, which disqualified the PML-N chief in its July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Haris argued that the defence in all the three cases is the same and there should be one case and one trial. He further said that even the witnesses in all the cases were the same.

According to Haris, there should be a single trial for this matter as all the properties in question belong to the Sharif family, and not just one person.

Allegations in the references are not clear. They do not constitute any clear offence. The Joint Investigation Team report didnt mention what role the accused had played, said Haris.

Local media reported that ahead of Sharifs appearance at the accountability court, a meeting of top PML-N discussed the party's strategy for handling the cases.
Pakistans ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday appeared before an anti-graft court to face trial in corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal that forced him to resign.

Sharif, 67, appeared before the Accountability Court Islamabad along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Mohmmad Safdar.

Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London.

He resigned as prime minister in July after the countrys Supreme Court disqualified him over undeclared income.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

The Accountability Court is considering the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which last week ordered the trial judge, Muhammad Bashir, to hear again a plea by Sharif that all three cases against him should be clubbed together.

The trial court on October 19 rejected an application by Sharif that since all three cases deal with assets beyond means, so they should be taken up as a single case.

The decision was challenged in the IHC which referred the case to the Accountability Court with an order to hear it again. The court on the previous hearing on November 3 had briefly taken up the application.

Sharif was indicted in absence in three corruption cases. Maryam and Safdar have been indicted in one case with him, while the court is proceeding separately against his two sons Husain and Hasan who are co-accused in three cases.

The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of his sons from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

The cases are based on the July 28 disqualification verdict of the Supreme Court and to launch three corruption cases against him, his family, and one case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the countrys most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since then. If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Sharifs family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.
Syria on Tuesday announced during United Nations climate talks that it would sign the Paris agreement on climate change. The move, which comes on the heels of Nicaragua signing the accord last month, will leave the United States as the only country that has rejected the global pact.

According to several people who were in a plenary session at the climate talks in Bonn, Germany, a Syrian delegate announced that the country was poised to send its ratification of the Paris agreement to the United Nations.

This is the very last country that actually announced, so everyone has joined and the US is now so isolated, said Safa Al Jayoussi, executive director of IndyAct, an environmental organisation based in Lebanon that works with Arab countries on climate change.

A White House spokeswoman, Kelly Love, pointed reporters to a statement the administration made when Nicaragua joined the pact, noting there had been no change in the United States position. As the president (Donald Trump) previously stated, the United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favourable for our country, the statement said.

The Paris agreement, struck in 2015 under former US president Barack Obama, calls on nearly 200 countries to voluntarily curb greenhouse gas emissions. At the time, only Nicaragua and Syria did not join, for very different reasons.

Nicaraguan leaders argued that the deal did not go far enough toward keeping carbon emissions at safe levels and helping vulnerable countries protect themselves from the effects of climate change. But last month Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguas president, and Rosario Murillo, his vice president and wife, said in a joint statement that the country would sign anyway. The Paris agreement, despite not being the ideal agreement, is the only instrument that currently allows this unity of intentions and efforts, they said.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011. And because the Syrian government is subject to European and US sanctions, its leaders were unable to send representatives abroad to negotiate or sign the pact.

It is not clear what has changed, and the Syrian delegate who spoke on Tuesday did not offer an explanation for the governments decision.
The United States Air Force said on Monday that it had failed to properly record a prior conviction for a violent crime committed by the assailant of Sundays mass shooting in Texas. The oversight enabled Devin Patrick Kelley to buy the military-style assault rifle he used to kill 26 churchgoers.

In 2012, Kelley was convicted of assaulting his wife and infant stepson while stationed at an air base in New Mexico. He was sentenced to a year in prison and discharged from the Air Force. It was the responsibility of the military to enter this crime into a registry used for background checks on gun buyers.

The Air Force has launched a review of how the service handled the criminal records of former Airman Devin P Kelley following his 2012 domestic violence conviction, the US Air Force said in a statement. Federal law prohibited him from buying or possessing firearms after this conviction.

Kelley used a Ruger semi-automatic rifle, an AR-556, whose design is based on the AR-15, a military-style rifle variations of which have been used in many recent mass shootings, including those at an Orlando nightclub last year and at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Authorities described Kelleys motive as more personal than ideological. The suspects mother-in-law attended this church, a local official told reporters. We know that he had made threatening texts and we cant go into detail into that domestic situation that is continuing to be vetted and thoroughly investigated.

Neither Kelleys wife nor her parents were at the church, in the town of Sutherland Springs, at the time of the shooting. But The New York Times reported that a relative of the family had said that Kelleys wifes grandmother was there and that she was among the 26 killed.

The victims also included eight members of the same extended family. In addition to those killed, 20 people were injured in the attack, some grievously.

President Donald Trump, who is on a trip to five nations in Asia, told reporters in Tokyo that the shooting was caused by a mental-health issue. He referred to the shooter as very deranged.

Trump emphasized that the attack did not portend a change to his support of the right to bear arms. This isn't a guns situation, he said. I mean, we could go into it, but it's a little bit soon to go into it. But, fortunately, somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise it would have been  as bad it was, it would have been much worse.

The armed man, a local resident, was the first to confront Kelly as he emerged from the church. The two exchanged fire, Kelley fled to his car, and the armed civilian, joined by another man, gave him chase. The episode ended with Kelley shooting himself and running his car off the road.He was found dead inside.
US President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a move by Saudi Arabias future king that tightened his grip on power through the arrests of royals, ministers and investors in an anti-corruption purge.

The endorsement cemented a US-Saudi relationship that has improved dramatically under Trumps presidency, partly because of both leaders vision of confronting Riyadhs arch-rival Iran more aggressively in the region.

Trump tweeted on Monday that he had great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia following the mass arrests - the biggest such purge of the kingdoms affluent elite in its modern history.

Trump also tweeted that they know exactly what they are doing, adding: Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years.

The purge was the latest in a series of dramatic steps by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MbS as he is commonly referred to in Western circles, to assert Saudi influence internationally and amass more power for himself at home.

A US official who declined to be named told Reuters that MbS has become the primary driver of Saudi policy-making. He has moved aggressively to sideline opponents, concentrate decision-making authority, and establish himself as the undisputed heir to the al Saud legacy.

He seeks to reinvigorate the publics confidence in the Saudi monarchy by diversifying the economy, loosening religious restrictions, and carrying out wide ranging social reforms, the official said.

IMPRESSIVE FEAT

Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the presidents senior adviser, who has cultivated a close relationship with MbS, recently returned from Saudi Arabia, fuelling speculation on whether he may have had wind of MbS plans.

The White House said at the time the trip was reported that it was within the context of Kushners efforts on Israeli-Palestinian peace conversations.

Among those arrested were billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal, who is one of the kingdoms most prominent businessmen and whose investments in companies like Twitter make him the most recognized Saudi name on Wall Street.

Its an impressive feat to have basically neutered virtually all of the sources of potential opposition, dissent rivalry, whether its religious, media, political, military, said Rob Malley, vice president for policy of the International Crisis Group.

On the other hand... its always risky to make too many enemies at the same time. Its not clear how those enemies can react, said Malley, a former senior adviser on Middle East affairs under President Barack Obama.

Also detained was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdoms tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne.

A former senior US intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guards loyalties, MbS could face a backlash.

I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion.

ANTI-IRANIAN CONFRONTATION

US-Saudi ties had been strained under Obama, who Riyadh felt considered their alliance less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.

But the Trump administration has vowed to confront Iran much more aggressively in the region, where it shares the Saudi view that Tehran is fomenting instability via a number of proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen among other countries. Tehran denies the allegations.

Events in Saudi Arabia in recent days appeared to open the prospect for a sharper confrontation with Iran and its proxies.

Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of what it called aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, announcing his resignation from Riyadh and blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech.

Also on Saturday, Saudi Arabias air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from warring Yemen over the capital, Riyadh.

The Pentagon praised Saudi Arabia for exposing Irans role in Yemen and Tehrans provision of missile systems to Houthi militia fighting there.

Between that (Hariris resignation) and the missile launch on Riyadh ... the coincidence of those two does mean that the prospect of some escalation, some strike either against Hezbollah or against Iran or against both is more likely, certainly than it was a few days ago, Malley told Reuters.
Britains international development secretary Priti Patel has apologised for holding several secret meetings during a family holiday in Israel in August, when she discussed India and funneling aid to Israeli forces with officials such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The meetings apparently amounted to a breach of the ministerial code, since the Foreign Office was not informed of them in advance. May said on Monday she had spoken to Patel, who had been reminded of her obligations as a cabinet minister.

Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday that Patel wanted to send aid money to the Israeli Army after the meetings. She reportedly asked officials from her department to examine whether public money could support humanitarian operations in occupied parts of the Golan Heights.

Mays spokesman said: The secretary of state did discuss potential ways to provide medical support for Syrian refugees who are wounded and who cross into the Golan for aid. The Israeli Army runs field hospitals there to care for Syrians wounded in the civil war.

But there is no change in policy in the area. The UK does not provide any financial support to the Israeli Army.

After her meetings raised eyebrows in London, Patel issued an apology: This summer I travelled to Israel, on a family holiday paid for myself. While away I had the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations. I am publishing a list of who I met. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was aware of my visit while it was underway.

In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be misread, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it.

The apology statement included a list of people she met with a brief summary of the discussions. During the meeting with Netanyahu, she said they discussed her family background which included her parents fleeing Uganda in the 1970s and settling in Britain.

Patels statement said they discussed India, given the secretary of states family background.

The statement added the Foreign Office was aware of the visit while it was underway, but was not informed about it in advance. The Foreign Office, it said, was clear that UK interests were not damaged or affected by the meetings on this visit.

Former Conservative foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind told BBC the meeting were extremely unwise, and added: Not only did she not tell the Foreign Office directly, so far as Im aware the British embassy in Israel wasnt aware that this was happening. Now that just shouldnt be done...its not just a question of courtesy.

Labours shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett said there had been a clear breach of the ministerial code, while shadow international development secretary Kate Osamor called for an investigation, describing Patels apology as a desperate last-ditch attempt...to save her job.

Trickett wrote to May, urging a full investigation into whether Patel broke the ministerial code. According to him, there were four serious breaches by Patel: openness, collective responsibility, responsibility to do only prime minister allocated duties, and honesty.

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If India will not give up trying to push the UN to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a terrorist, neither will the United States, which has said it will continue to work for the designation and urge others to pursue it as well.

It was a proposal by the US, backed by France and Britain, to name Azhar a UN-designated terrorist that China blocked last week in a cynical show of solidarity with Pakistan, its iron brother ally. Beijing cited lack of consensus caused by its own refusal to support the move.

We would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e-Mohammeds founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well, a US state department spokesperson told Hindustan Times on background.

The spokesperson refused to comment on China blocking the US proposal, saying, Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to thesanctions list are confidential to the committee. As a result, we do not comment on internal committee deliberations.

The spokesperson added, I would therefore refer you to the Chinese government to explain their position.

Here is what the Chinese said in Beijing about their decision: As for listing the application by the relevant country, there are disagreements. China raised the technical hold so as to allow for more time for all parties to deliberate on this matter. To our regret the committee so far has yet to reach a consensus.

The committee referred to by the US and China was created by the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant  or Islamic State, as it is known in India  and Daesh, as it is also known as) and al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

It comprises 15 member nations who must all vote unanimously to approve any proposal to expand or shrink the sanctioned list that has 256 individuals and 80 entities. Even one no-vote from any member is sufficient to deny a decision. Worse, deliberations of the committee remain undisclosed.

China has been the sole dissenter to the two proposals moved thus far for Azhars designation. First by India, in February 2016, which was backed by the US, France, Britain and the rest of the committee, excluding China. The second proposal was from the US in the dying days of the Obama administration in January this year.

It had seemed like a done deal for the US. As the state department spokesperson said, Masood Azhar is listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under US Executive Order 13224 in 2010, and Jaish-e Mohammed was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) by the US in 2001.

Masood Azhar founded the terrorist organisation Jaish-e Mohammed, which has proven its willingness and ability to execute attacks against innocent civilians, and is listed under the UNSC 1267 ISIL and al-Qaeda sanctions regime.

Designating Azhar, a known terrorist with a history of ordering the death of scores of innocent people, was a no-brainer, but China has turned it into a test of its own conviction and resolve to combat newly emergent home-grown terrorism and those fostered by its ally Pakistan.

JeM has already been proscribed by the UN committee, so why protect its founder? UN designation will enjoin member countries to, one, not deny him funds, other resources and arms, and not allow him to enter or leave their territory.

This shouldnt have been a problem for Pakistan, eager as it is to scrub its image. Politically, it has turned into a battle between India and the US and other nations struggling with terrorism such as Britain and France on one side, and China and Pakistan, an active abettor and supporter of terrorism, on the other.
Before dawn on September 8, 1863, the gunners of Company F, 1st Texas Heavy Artilleryknown as the Davis Guards, in honor of the Confederate presidentaimed their contingent of cannons at a Yankee flotilla steaming toward the rudimentary earthworks of Fort Griffin. The fort, with its complement of two 24-pounders and four 32-pounders, guarded Sabine Pass, the narrow waterway on the LouisianaTexas border connecting the Sabine River with the Gulf of Mexico. Major General Nathaniel Banks had dispatched the Yankee armada, under the command of Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, to storm the pass and capture the fort, as the first step in the Union occupation of Texas. The four gunboats in the vanguard mounted 18 guns, while the two dozen or so transports behind them carried some 5,000 troops. Inside the fort, outnumbered more than 1001, stood Company Fs 48 men45 enlistees, their lieutenant, an engineer, and a surgeon. The lopsided battle that followed would mark one of the Civil Wars most extraordinary engagements.

The Davis Guards were all Irishmen, selectively gleaned from the docks of Galveston and Houston. Their lieutenant was the affable, enterprising Richard W. Dick Dowling. As a boy, he had immigrated with his family to New Orleans from County Galway. When his parents and four of his six siblings died of yellow fever, the teenage Dowling moved to Texas, eventually opening several saloons in Houston and co-founding what became the Houston Fire Department.

Eight months earlier, the Davis Guards had repelled the Union Navys first attempt to capture Confederate defenses and seize Sabine Pass. Anticipating another attempt on Fort Griffin, Dowlings artillerymen set up a progression of range-marking stakes at specific distances from shore, and honed their artillery skills daily. They practiced for both speed and accuracy, and by the Union gunboats second arrival there, they were as ready as time, skill, and training allowed.

Between 6 and 7 a.m. on September 8, the Union gunboats hove into view, intending to clear a path for the transports to land the thousands of Federal infantrymen. Clifton was the first to open fire on the fort. The sidewheel steamer shelled Fort Griffin from a distance too great for the Rebel artillery to reach, and Dowlings gunners simply took cover until the shelling subsided. By mid-afternoon, Clifton, along with the three other Yankee gunboats, moved closer, each of the four vessels taking one of the two channels that led toward shore. When they came within 1,200 yards, the six Rebel guns unleashed a torrid barrage, Dowlings men shouting Victory or Death!

One of the forts guns quickly jumped its platform, but the remaining five proved sufficient. Soon a well-placed shell struck the gunship Sachems boiler; several of the crew were killed or wounded as it blew up. Now adrift in the channel, the crippled vessel also blocked the passage of fellow gunboat Arizona.

In the other channel, sharpshooters on Clifton delivered a fusillade at the fort when the ship came within a quarter-mile of shore. Undaunted, a Rebel gun crew responded with a round that severed Cliftons tiller rope, forcing it to run aground. The Federal riflemen gamely continued to fire, but a well-placed shell smashed into Cliftons boiler, driving the crew and complement of soldiers over the side.

With two disabled gunboats now Confederate prizes and a third blocking the channel, the fourth Yankee vessel, Granite City, withdrew rather than risk a similar fate. The infantrymen waiting in the Union transports never had the chance to step ashore. Franklins invasion force steamed back in shame to New Orleans.

The battle lasted less than 40 minutes. The Davis Guards fired 137 timesa remarkable rate of one round every two minutes or less, considerably faster than heavy artillery crews of the time were accustomed to. Dowling daringly ordered his men not to swab their cannons between shots, risking an in-bore explosion, but it proved a wise decision. According to the Texas State Historical Association, the Guards did not suffer a single casualty while killing 50 Yankees and taking prisoner about 350 sailors and soldiers.

News of the Second Battle of Sabine Pass reached all areas of the Confederacy, making an instant hero of Dick Dowling and the Guards. President Jefferson Davis called the victory more remarkable thanThermopylae and requested that Congress order a special medal struck for each member of the Guards. Congress complied, and in addition passed a resolution of thanks, calling the victory one of the most brilliant and heroic achievements in the history of this war. On one side of each medal are the initials DG and either a Confederate flag or a Maltese cross, and on the other, Sabine Pass, Sept. 8, 1863, along with the recipients name.

After the war, Dick Dowling returned to Houston, where he expanded his business interests to include oil and gas leases and real estate investments. Prosperity, however, would be short-lived. Ironically, Dowling had survived the war without injury, only to fall victim to yellow feverthe same malady that had claimed so many of his familyjust two years after the war. Several years after his death, the city fathers named a street after him, and in 1905 erected a statue of the hero of Sabine Pass in Houstons Hermann Park.

Ron Soodalter, a regular contributor to Americas Civil War, is the author of Hanging Captain Gordon.
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When Sean Hughes passed away in London on October 16, following a heart attack brought on by liver cirrhosis, the 51-year-old comedian, actor and writer had already lived almost a decade-and-a-half longer than hed once expected to.

The point is that I dont expect to live forever, he told Hot Press Joe Jackson back in 1993. I probably expect to be dead within ten years. Not that Ive any serious illness. Its just that thats a thought I constantly live with. And part of it is that things have happened too fast for me. I always wanted to do things with my life and I seem to have done them already. So Id be happy with another ten years.

Hughes was 28 at the time of that interview, and pretty much already had the world at his feet. Four years earlier, the impishly-faced, floppily-fringed Dubliner had become the youngest-ever winner of the highly coveted Perrier award for his 1990 Edinburgh festival fringe show, A One Night Stand with Sean Hughes. At that time, most alternative comedy shows in the UK tended to be little more than extended gag-fests. A genuine trailblazer, Hughes innovatively bucked this trend by weaving an actual narrative into his routine. Not that he couldnt tell a good gag. I saw my brother fight at the National Stadium, he once quipped. It was at a Depeche Mode concert.
A third assessment of evidence surrounding the Stardust nightclub fire in Artane on Valentine's Day 1981 has concluded that no new enquiry will be warranted.

The published report conducted by Judge Pat McCartan has stated that "the cause of the fire may never be known".

The principle findings of McCartan's assessment also state:

- The second version of the Coffey Report did not "water down" the findings contained in the first version.

- The Assessment drew up a list of 17 issues that need to be examined.

-The material submitted to the Assessment could only theorise on the cause of the fire, and as such there are no grounds for an inquiry.

- Of the 17 issues, only one could be considered as new evidence. Eye witness Brenda Kelly called the Fire Brigade at 1.43am, which if correct means the fire was in the roof space at an earlier time than found by the Keane Report. The Coffey Report also made the same conclusion.

-It is evident that the fire was in the roof at an earlier stage than stated in Keane's report. This however, fails to explain the cause and as such, it is likely that no cause can ever be established.

- Ms. Kelly's call is not of sufficient moment to warrant further inquiry.

- The Foy dossier sets out how the Keane Tribunal and Coffey Review were mislead about the venue's layout. This Assessment did not find any evidence to support the theory. No one present in the Stardust was in any doubt but that the maps produced by the Keane report were accurate, nor have any experts involved in the Keane Tribunal expressed their confusion or misunderstanding about the venue's layout.

- No other issues raised in the dossier amount to new or updated evidence.

The now retired Judge McCartan was asked by the Government on 7th March 2017 to look at evidence uncovered by the families of the victims, which could then warrant a new inquiry into the fire, which devastated the Stardust nightclub in Artane on 14th February 1981.

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In total, 48 died ad 214 were injured on the night.

The families of the victims have publicly rejected Judge Pat McCartan's report.

"We are so disappointed and should never have allowed political interference in our search for justice", said Antoinette Keegan who was injured in the fire and whose two sisters died.

"This is not the end of the road for us."

In a memorandum to the Government this morning, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan stated "I believe it is important that we acknowledge the independent report of Judge McCartan. I want to thank Judge McCartan for his endeavours."
Ann Hammond was heading into her late 50s, concerned, like many men and women of a certain age, about the effects of time, particularly in the form of sagging skin around necks, jowls and eyelids.

To turn back the clock, she said, she made a deal with Houston plastic surgeon Franklin Rose, who promised what is known as a "Facebook face-lift" for free in exchange for using her before-and-after images to market his handiwork.

The "before" shots were soon featured on a television news show, which included Rose highlighting flaws in Hammond's appearance. Two years later, Hammond, 58, is still waiting for the "after."

Hammond recently sued Rose in state district court, claiming that he breached their contract, appropriated her name and likeness for profit and violated her privacy by disclosing -- before her husband knew -- that she was considering a divorce. She is seeking $36,000 as the fair market value of the "Facebook face-lift," a term used by plastic surgeons to describe procedures that make people look younger for social media photos, plus unspecified damages.

"He got a lot of clients out of it," Hammond said of her television appearance. "I figure he didn't need to give it for free anymore."

Rose dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, denying that he offered the face-lift and other procedures for free. "I'm arguably the most famous surgeon in the city," Rose said. "I understand that has made me a target."

Helped create Melania look-alike

Rose built his reputation decades ago with breast implants, expanding his business over the years with surgical procedures that bring attention from the media and well-heeled clients. Earlier this year, for example, Rose publicized eight surgeries performed on a local woman so she'd look like First Lady Melania Trump. Two years ago, Rose was highlighting "Brazilian butt lifts" for women who wanted the curvy, Kardashian look.

RELATED: Cypress mom underwent multiple procedures to get first lady's look

Hammond and Rose have known each other for years, running in the same social circles. So in summer 2015, when Hammond and her then-husband ran into Rose and his wife at Brasserie 19 on the edge of River Oaks, she took advantage of the moment to ask for some free advice when they sat down for drinks, she said in an interview.

"When people have friends who are either a plastic surgeon or an interior decorator, they ask: 'Oh, what would you do?'" said Hammond.

Rose asked if she would be willing to undergo a Facebook face-lift, allowing him to use her case to promote the procedure in exchange for free surgery, according to the lawsuit. Rose told her there would be television interest, Hammond said, which would highlight the before and after images.

Hammond agreed. When her husband briefly left the table, she said she confided to Rose that she wanted the surgery to boost her confidence because her marriage was on the rocks.

A film crew from KPRC-Ch. 2 was on hand for Hammond's subsequent office consultation as Rose pulled at the loose skin on her neck, explained how he'd tuck excess facial skin behind her ears and rejuvenate her eyelids. Surgery was planned but not scheduled. Then a day or two later, Hammond's phone began to ring.

RELATED: "Married to Medicine Houston" a prescription for drama

Channel 2 had run the "before" segment as an independent feature, rather than waiting for the "after." Hammond said the television segment also referred to her as "newly single," a big surprise to Hammond's husband, who had no clue she was contemplating divorce.

"It was very embarrassing and very humiliating," said Hammond, who, up to that point, could not recall telling anyone other than Rose that she was considering ending her marriage.

Waiting for ta-da moment

Rose said that Hammond revealed her marital woes to his publicist, who put it in a press release and passed it along to the television crew. He said he was surprised, too, when the station aired the piece, without waiting for the "reveal," the ta-da moment when the results of plastic surgery are unveiled for the first time.

"We tried to re-engage them," Rose said, "but they lost interest in the story."

KPRC news director David Strickland, who joined the station after the story aired, said the station doesn't discuss editorial decision-making.

RELATED: 'Two bodies, one soul' in rare twin-to-twin skin transplant

Hammond said that she tried repeatedly to schedule the surgery by calling Rose's office, reminding him at social events of his promise and eventually calling his cellphone, all without result. At that point, she told Rose she might have to hire a lawyer.

Rose said he offered to do the surgery if Hammond would cover the $2,500 to $3,000 cost of the surgical facility and anesthesiologist. That was the arrangement from the beginning, he said.

Rose said he still wants to do the surgery and Hammond still wants the Facebook face-lift. But she doesn't want Rose to do it.

After filing a lawsuit, she said, "There was no way I was going to let him work on my face."
WASHINGTON - A years-long effort to shore up the finances of the federal government's flood insurance program is nearing a vote in the House.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, the powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, are pushing members to vote for flood insurance legislation after striking a deal Friday to move ahead on reform efforts that have long divided Democrats and Republicans alike.

"The bill we support will begin to make the flood insurance program more stable and sustainable for the people who count on it. We look forward to bringing this legislation to the House soon and urge our colleagues to support it," Scalise and Hensarling said in a joint statement Monday. "Being from Louisiana and Texas, we are all-too familiar with the devastating effects of floods and the havoc they wreak on communities."

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The National Flood Insurance Program, which backs more than 95 percent of flood policies in the United States, was $24.6 billion in debt as of September, a financial situation that has steadily worsened over the past decade through a series of devastating storms and floods. Last month President Donald Trump signed a bill forgiving $16 billion of that debt, but expectations within Congress are that the series of hurricanes across Texas and Florida this fall will quickly run the debt back up.

The reforms pushed by Republicans in House Financial Services seek to stabilize the program by shifting homeowners towards the private insurers and raising rates on homeowners whose homes have flooded repeatedly. The legislation offers Hensarling what could his last chance to address a program for which he has sought market reforms. Less than a week ago, Hensarling said he would leave Congress when his term ends in early 2019.

"I think he wants to make a deal, move it forward. And the Republicans want to move this off their plate," said Steve Ellis, vice president of the advocacy group Taxpayers for Common Sense. "It looks like they'll vote this week, unless they find they don't have the votes."

The House Rules Committee, which determines the debate rules for legislation that comes to the floor, is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon. A vote on the bill could happen as early as Wednesday.

A memo from the House Financial Services Committee circulating Monday evening suggested the latest incarnation of the legislation, which was introduced in June by Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., avoided some of the more draconian provisions put forward in past legislation. Annual premium increases would be capped at 15 percent, and the practice of grandfathering, in which insurances rates on older homes are kept below market rates, would be preserved.

STRIPPED TO THE STUDS: Houston families who lost housing during Harvey find sleep where they can

One provision that would have raised rates on homes that have made multiple flood claims was rewritten to reach a deal with Scalise, The Advocate, a Louisiana newspaper, reported..

"The concessions secured by Whip Scalise give us a much stronger bill," Caitlin Berni, a vice president at the economic development agency Greater New Orleans Inc., wrote in a note to stakeholders.

Fixing the flood insurance program has long confounded Congress, which passed substantive reforms in 2012 only to repeal many of them two years later when their offices were inundated with angry phone calls from homeowners who'd seen flood premiums rise.

Were the legislation to pass the House, attention would then shift to the Senate where competing coalitions of senators, including Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., have yet to reach a consensus on how to fix the flood insurance program

"This is going to be a much more evolutionary process than revolutionary," said Ellis. "But as long as were making progress.

***

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After years of trying to win over lunch and dinner crowds, Starbucks is preparing to open its first stand-alone Italian restaurant.

The company is teaming up with Princi, a small chain of 24-hour bakeries in Milan and London, to offer customers freshly made items including focaccia sandwiches, margherita pizzas and tiramisu. The first stage of the partnership will debut Tuesday, when Starbucks opens a Princi bakery in its upscale Reserve Roastery in Seattle. The company plans to eventually open bakeries inside all of its Reserve locations, and next year hopes to open stand-alone Princi eateries across the country. The openings will be in New York, Seattle and Chicago.

"We're getting into the food business," Howard Schultz, the chairman of Starbucks, said in an interview. "Princi will be fully integrated with bakery operations, so not only will we be roasting coffee, but we'll be baking bread, pastries - the kind of Italian pastries you've never seen in America."

The move is the latest effort by the 45-year-old coffee purveyor to expand into food. Many of its attempts - prepackaged cake pops, truffle mac and cheese, 'sushi burritos' - have fizzled, analysts say, in part because Starbucks stores haven't had kitchens. If customers are paying $10 for lunch, analysts say they want it to be prepared on the spot.

"There is a perception that Starbucks is selling an inferior product," Nick Setyan, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, told The Washington Post in September. "Customers are saying, 'How good can that salad or sandwich be if you're not making it in front of me?' "

The new Princi locations are to have full kitchens staffed with bakers and "food ambassadors" called commessas. The menu, with about 100 items, includes baked eggs for breakfast, caprese salads for lunch, cocktails and small plates for dinner, and tarts, cookies and crostatas for dessert. Items will be priced between $3 and $11.

In 1980, Italian baker Rocco Princi started the boutique company, which now has five European locations. In July, Starbucks announced that it had invested in Princi and had become the company's global licensee. (Princi's U.S. workers will be employed by Starbucks.)

"We have never baked in our stores in 45 years. But all of that will change with the creation of this unique partnership," Schultz said in a statement at the time. "Rocco and his team at Princi possess a passion for handcrafted food and artisanal baked goods that mirrors how I feel about our coffee."

The announcement comes as Starbucks prepares to open its first coffee shops in Italy next year, starting with a Reserve Roastery in Milan.

"Having Princi in the Roastery in Italy will give us instant credibility, among other things," Schultz said.

The Seattle-based chain has tried for years, with mixed success, to get its customers to think beyond beverages. About 20 percent of Starbucks's revenue - which last year was $21.32 billion - comes from food sales, up 16 percent from five years ago.

But this isn't the first time Starbucks has pinned its hopes on a stand-alone bakery. In 2012, the company paid $100 million for La Boulange, a San Francisco-based company with 23 stores. Starbucks had high hopes then, too, with plans to open about 400 new locations in five years.

But it didn't take long for those plans to fall flat. Three years later, Starbucks said it would be closing its La Boulange bakeries because they were "not sustainable for the company's long-term growth."

---

The Washington Post's Michelle Jaconi and Mary Beth Albright contributed to this story from Seattle.
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks made modest gains and set more records Monday as upheaval in oil-rich Saudi Arabia sent crude prices to two-year highs. Chipmakers and media companies climbed amid deal reports, while phone and household goods companies sank.

U.S. crude reached its highest price since mid-2015 - $57.35 a barrel - after dozens of Saudi princes and senior officials and businessmen were arrested as part of a purported corruption investigation. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest exporter of oil, and investors wondered if the tumult could constrict oil supplies and drive prices higher. Energy companies jumped, with drilling companies making some of the biggest gains.
Q: I just received a call from someone claiming to be with Microsoft who told me my Windows software license had expired. Is this legitimate?

A: Let's waste no time upfront. This is nothing but a fraud. The caller is not with Microsoft and is only looking to cheat you out of money or your personal data.

When these scammers call, they try to convince you that your computer is having some kind of issue. Sometimes it's that you're out of compliance with your software licensing or that your computer is infected with viruses, or they might claim that they have detected some kind of illegal activity coming from your computer.

Once the caller has tricked you, he or she will connect to your PC and have you run commands that will cause your computer to produce information the caller will claim proves you are having the problem the call is about.

The caller will then ask you to pay to fix the problem using a credit card.

This scam is common and, sadly, effective. I speak often with people who have been taken in by these con artists. They pay hundreds of dollars to these scammers. Add to that the cost of having a real computer tech ensuring nothing harmful was left behind by the scammers.

These scams tend to be run from overseas call centers and use spoofing techniques to appear to be dialing from numbers in the U.S. so they are hard to prosecute and the chances of recovering your money are practically nonexistent. But if you do receive a call like this, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission using the form at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

I want to offer an extra caution here. Don't play games with these scammers. You don't know who they are, and you don't know what they're capable of. They have your phone number. That means they can find you.

And we already know they're criminals. If you receive a call like this, say no thanks and hang up. There is no sense in antagonizing them.
East Downtown is known for its artsy vibe, burgeoning restaurants and gentrifying townhomes.

But office space?

Griff Bandy thinks EaDo could become a vibrant office market. The office broker and partner at Houston-based commercial real estate firm NAI Partners is working with two information technology firms interested in redeveloping old warehouses in EaDo into office space. Bandy did not disclose the names of his clients.

"Office tenants are now having more and more interest in EaDo," Bandy said. "But the tenant demand is more of a creative type."

RELATED: Headquarters adds co-working venue to the East End

Creative firms, like online tech start-ups, have tended to gravitate toward unique work environments. EaDo's location near downtown Houston and low rent prices make it attractive for smaller companies with many Millennial workers, Bandy said. City and business leaders have considered creating an "innovation district" in EaDo.

EaDo doesn't have a lot of office inventory, and will likely never compete with Downtown, which has 30 million square feet of office space. However, companies with "outside-the-box requirements" can find upwards of 50,000 square feet of space in the neighborhood, Bandy said.

Houston still has some 10 million square feet of sublease office space on the market, down from its peak of about 12 million square feet. About 80 percent of the sublease space available are large, one floor spaces, however.

A company looking for a small office can't afford or fill up most of the sublease space available on the market, Bandy said. That's why some smaller companies are redeveloping warehouses, while others are going to co-working spaces.

"Co-working dominates the office topic, but it's a tiny niche in the office market," said Jon Silberman, NAI's managing partner. "It's growing, but it's still a niche."
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Vikki McFarland took 554 steps. Multiple sclerosis put her in a wheelchair in 2007, but with the wearable robotics she recently walked around the NeuroRecovery Research Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann, activating motors at her hips and knees by tilting her torso.

"I felt like there were new muscles in my body that I haven't felt in a long time," McFarland said.

Wearable robotics continue to evolve, but adoption for rehabilitation or use in the home has been slower than desired. To discuss this and other topics, TIRR Memorial Hermann helped attract the International Symposium on Wearable and Rehabilitation Robotics to Houston. This is the fourth time the event has been held and the first time it's been in the U.S. More than 150 people are attending the symposium that continues through Wednesday morning.

Dr. Gerard Francisco, chief medical officer for TIRR Memorial Hermann and professor of rehabilitation at UTHealth, put in the bid for TIRR Memorial Hermann to host the symposium. The event has historically been more focused on engineers than clinicians, and he hopes this year's event can help bridge that gap.

"We really need to talk to each other," Francisco said. "Engineers need to include clinicians and patients as they design their devices - not after."

There are a host of wearable devices being used by clinicians. One, for instance, puts participants on a treadmill while wearing a belt attached to wires. The wires put force on the pelvic in a manner needed for the patients to adjust their stance while walking and, ultimately, retrain their walking patterns. The goal is to help strengthen the muscles and improve coordination for children with cerebral palsy.

More recognizable devices, however, are exoskeletons that sometimes are reminiscent of Iron Man suits. The NeuroRecovery Research Center has four exoskeleton devices that help patients and study participants enhance their mobility or, in scenarios where that isn't possible, exercise their muscles and bones to avoid dystrophy. There are also health benefits to not being in a chair all day.

A showcase at the symposium highlighted one specific exoskeleton called the Indego, which can be used for rehabilitation or as a personal device.

Veronica Daniels-Lewis, who also has multiple sclerosis, was using the Indego at the NeuroRecovery Research Center on Friday as a study participant. She is able to walk in public with a walker, and she can get around her house without assistance.

The Indego - a lighter weight exoskeleton that requires users to have some torso control - has helped Daniels-Lewis focus on posture. She thinks it could be beneficial to others with multiple sclerosis.

"I can see this going a long way in the future to help people get up, get mobile, become independent and build self-esteem," she said.

In general, robotics can be beneficial in providing repetitive practice essential for neuro motor recovery. But it's important that those repetitions are translated into functional activities, said Susan Fasoli, associate professor at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

She said there is some evidence that in upper extremities, such as arms, shoulders, wrists and hands, having patients focus on outcomes instead of the task itself can help improve results. To achieve this, virtual reality and other games have been integrated into some robotics.

Fasoli said it's also important to transfer the learned motion to everyday tasks. Robotics, for instance, can be used to help reach and grab items. That can then be associated with opening a refrigerator to get out food. Patients will gradually use that motion for other tasks and a broader range of activities.

Outside of everyday tasks, wearable robotics can help patients feel better, too.

Dr. Eugene Alford, a specialist in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, is paralyzed from the waist down. He used an exoskeleton called Rex and reported dramatically reduced spasticity, improved bowel and bladder function, less pain and the simple pleasure of looking someone in the eye without craning his neck up.

"The results for me were pretty amazing," he said.

Francisco was encouraged by Monday's conversations. He hopes this is the starting point for bringing together clinicians, engineers, researchers and patients. Because there are still some barriers preventing these devices from being more widely adopted.

Wearable robotics aren't easy to take on or off, and they can be rather expensive. Francisco also said it hasn't been shown, beyond any doubt, that a particular device will truly help.

Therefore, he said research at TIRR Memorial Hermann is focused on determining which devices are best suited for which conditions or people.

They're testing exoskeletons on people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and those recovering from strokes. It will soon be the exclusive clinical partner for University of Houston's testing of an exoskeleton device for children with cerebral palsy.

McFarland is hoping the robotics will help her to walk with a cane or walker. She wants to regain the sensation of walking and using her muscles, and she's optimistic the exoskeletons can help.

"When I get out of this situation," she said, "I can run like Forrest Gump."
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

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Partly cloudy. High around 55F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable.
In September, Tom Cruise stepped into a car with Conan O'Brien and, with his characteristic exuberance, exclaimed that he was ready to sing karaoke or talk comedy. O'Brien waved away those ideas. "My thing, Tom, is take it back to basics," he said, before describing his plan: "Two guys, just driving."

What followed was not a spoof of James Corden's signature "Carpool Karaoke" but something delightfully weirder than that. This 11-minute video began as cringe-comedy performance art, with Cruise bored and baffled, and O'Brien, quietly driving, as a hostile, frighteningly intense version of himself. Then the narrative turned into a kind of thriller as the hero, Cruise, in his best comic role since "Tropic Thunder," slowly realized he was trapped with a maniac and needed to take desperate measures. It was the funniest bit on late night I had seen all year.

Among the scrum of late-night hosts, O'Brien - who is shooting his 10 p.m. TBS show, "Conan," at the Apollo Theater as part of the New York Comedy Festival - is not earning the highest ratings or generating the most talk. But his show has become more distinctive than ever, doubling down on comedy for comedy's sake. Now that New York magazine has called Jimmy Kimmel the new Walter Cronkite, and Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert pursue viral moments with games or political diatribes, O'Brien suddenly seems like not only the sole host in the time slot truly desperate to make you laugh, but also the most willing to take artistic risks.

Maybe he really is just going back to basics. It's easy to take O'Brien's gift for refined silliness for granted, since he has been doing the job for nearly a quarter century. His show still looks a bit like what Johnny Carson did for decades: emerge from a curtain to big applause, deliver a topical monologue, then move to a desk, banter with a sidekick, do a comedy bit and talk to guests.

Instead of shying from appearing old-fashioned, O'Brien now uses that image, poking fun at himself, which was part of the joke of the Cruise bit, but also earnestly embracing his status as the eminence grise of late night. When his sidekick, Andy Richter, ad-libbed a line a few weeks ago that referenced Jack Benny, O'Brien laughed, adding, "Could you send everyone a letter telling them who that is?" After a break, he brought up Benny again, recommending him to the audience, surely the only plug that this comedy legend has received on late night in a long while.

In his first years on TBS, O'Brien still seemed haunted by losing "The Tonight Show," but his series now has the pleasing eccentricity of someone who doesn't care about ratings or expectations.

In the past two weeks, he has brought on weirdo characters like Butterscotch, part of a long tradition of creepy clowns, and a guy doing a Dracula impression who can't stop making bad puns ("I don't want to sound like your mummy but "), a bit that spun out unexpectedly into a story of addiction that led this bad joker to attend the Lestat Institute for Word Therapy. The fake institute, with serious-looking people in white lab coats, evoked Albert Brooks' classic sendups of the conventions of comedy.

Just because the premises of these sketches are tethered to a tradition doesn't mean they aren't peculiar. O'Brien's brand of silliness has always been delightfully, often gruesomely askew.

Recently, he began a sketch by asking strangers what they thought about the news that Sears would no longer be carrying Whirlpool appliances. But this man-on-the-street premise was only the setup, because after a few people expressed normal curiosity or indifference, one man appeared stunned, immediately called his family, went home and buried himself alive while they watched.

The video ended in another interview with a person showing mild interest in the news, but in the background, the family looked down on the grave and set it aflame.

While some jokes are connected to the calendar, like the clown for Halloween, many of them are evergreen. A punchline about the daily goings-on in Washington can get easy laughs from like-minded viewers. But they won't age well, and O'Brien, generally speaking, aims for jokes that depend less on the news cycle than his competitors do.

This even extends to how O'Brien handles politics. While he does an ordinary joke or two about President Donald Trump every night, he also produced one of the most truly daring episodes of political comedy this year, with a September show shot entirely in Israel and the Palestinian territories, one of his many episodelong forays into other cities. O'Brien floated in the Dead Sea, engaged in some terrible haggling with street vendors and delivered a minutelong history of the area that covered thousands of years.

Much of the special was simply O'Brien unscripted, making a connection with game strangers and turning that into an amusing scene. But he didn't only stay light. When he traveled to the West Bank barrier, he bumped into pro-Palestinian activists, who criticized Zionism, describing a Palestinian girl killed by an Israeli settler. He spent most of this awkward but compelling exchange listening, without defensiveness, and then posted the entire 24-minute segment online.

Inevitably, his show was criticized for bias, but wading into this dispute, even clumsily, displayed an admirable willingness to take risks.

Earlier this year, there were rumors that "Conan" was shifting to a weekly format, and Lord knows, after being a daily talk-show host since 1993, he has earned the right to a slower schedule. But here's hoping he sticks around, because more than anyone else on air, he is a reminder that talk-show hosting is an art form deserving respect.

The increasing politicization of late-night comedy has been great for ratings, and has helped certain hosts find their voices, but it's worth examining if it comes at a cost. Comedy doesn't need to serve a political end to be important.
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Sarah Gadon is not your typical young Hollywood star.

For starters, she lives in Toronto.

She also made a name for herself not by starring in blockbuster sequels but in the idiosyncratic films of David Cronenberg ("A History of Violence," "Eastern Promises"). And she's the type who, over a lengthy FaceTime interview, expounds not on her latest juice cleanse but on subjects like the importance of textiles to a culture and "emblems of female vanity" throughout art history.

Which may be why the 30-year-old is poised to become the latest It-girl - make that It-woman - of TV's current feminist streaming wave, joining a club that includes Elisabeth Moss of "The Handmaid's Tale," Betty Gilpin and Alison Brie of "GLOW" and Krysten Ritter of "Jessica Jones."

Now on Netflix, she can be seen as the enigmatic title character in "Alias Grace," adapted from the novel by Margaret Atwood. The six-part limited series is led by a team of impressive women, including director Mary Harron ("American Psycho") and writer-producer Sarah Polley ("Away From Her"). Atwood was also involved as a supervising producer.

At the center of it all is Gadon, who gives a mesmerizing performance as Grace Marks, a housemaid and Irish immigrant fending off near-constant abuse in Colonial-era Canada. First seen contemplating her own reflection in the mirror, Grace is a mystery to everyone around her - including, possibly, herself.

"When I watch the show, it's a real exploration on female subjectivity that gets me really excited," says the actress. "That's the power of women making images, opening up this discourse and this dialogue about how women are seen."

Polley's quest to bring "Alias Grace" to the screen began two decades ago, when as a teen she first read Atwood's novel. Her agent rightly sensed that Polley, then a child star known for her role in the series "The Road to Avonlea," might want to branch out beyond acting and suggested she try to option the rights.

"Thankfully, I didn't get them at 17, because I wouldn't have done a very good job," says Polley, now an accomplished writer-director, via telephone.

But the novel, and especially its elusive protagonist, made an impression.

Published in 1996, "Alias Grace" is inspired by the real-life figure of Grace Marks - something like Canada's answer to Lizzie Borden. A teenage domestic worker and immigrant from Northern Ireland, she was sentenced to life in prison for involvement in the 1843 murders of her employer, a wealthy Ontario farmer, and his housekeeper.

In Atwood's rendering, Grace is alluringly inscrutable and essentially unknowable.

"I'd never read a character that complex, a woman or a man," says Polley, who was able to snatch up the rights some years later.

But finding an actress who could convincingly play Grace as a teenager, a young woman and in middle age - and, oh, yeah, do a perfect Northern Irish accent - was no small feat. Harron had directed Gadon in the 2011 horror movie "The Moth Diaries," while Polley had acted with her in the 2004 Canadian indie "Siblings." Both were impressed by her composure and self-assurance.

"Sarah onscreen has this gravity, which could suggest someone who's been through a lot," says Harron. "She has an old-soul quality that you needed for Grace. She can do very delicate shifts of emotion, even when listening or reacting, even when being still. Her face is very emotionally transparent. It's like water, with little shifts under the surface."

In addition to capturing Grace's complexity, Gadon mastered the tricky accent by listening to BBC Radio Ulster and asking friends in Belfast to record portions of the script. The constant manipulation of her jaw gave Gadon "brutal headaches," she recalls with a wince.

She also had to learn how to cook and clean like a 19th-century domestic servant, since Grace is nearly always engaged in some kind of physical labor - sewing, scrubbing the floor, emptying chamber pots, laundering clothes. Harron says it was critical that the series show "how these young girls just worked from morning until night." So Gadon was sent to Black Creek Pioneer Village, a historical re-enactment camp outside Toronto, and studied "Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management," a Victorian housekeeping guide.

Gadon acknowledges that the physical, technical and emotional demands of the role occasionally took their toll. "I'd get to a point where I was paralyzed with anxiety," she says.

But Harron praises Gadon's meticulous preparation, likening her to a British theater actor. Gadon's discipline may also stem from her training in ballet. She began performing professionally at age 9 in a production of "The Nutcracker" and eventually segued into acting.

"Alias Grace" arrives less than two months after another long-gestating Atwood adaptation, "The Handmaid's Tale," swept the Emmy Awards, and like that Hulu series, deals with reproductive rights, social class and women's sexual exploitation. "It doesn't feel like a coincidence," Gadon says of the current Atwood-mania.

While her performance in "Alias Grace" will almost certainly bring more high-profile offers from Hollywood, Gadon has no plans to leave Canada permanently. "I will always view Toronto as my home," she says.
A report released Monday indicates that the Mexican Zetas cartel controlled government operations at all levels in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, including by bribing the current and former governors of the region with millions of dollars.

The document also highlighted the that Los Zetas, which are one of the most violent and sophisticated Mexican cartels, has also penetrated several United States territories. Coahuila, which borders Texas, is the center of the Zetas operations.

The report, by the Human Rights Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law in cooperation with the Centro Diocesano para los Derechos Humanos Fray Juan de Larios in Coahuila, is based on an analysis of witness testimonies from U.S. federal trials against Zeta members in Texas initiated between 2013 and 2016.

The report concludes that the cartel committed numerous human right abuses and that public institutions, law enforcement agencies and politicians played a role in the commission and impunity of them.

"We found connections and collusions between the Zetas and authorities of Coahuila at all levels of government, from municipalities and police chiefs up to the current and previous governors of the state," said Ariel Dulitzky, a law professor and director of the Human Rights Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin.



Witnesses cite examples

Dulitzky said this is the first report that compiled and analyzed the information about the Zetas' involvement with authorities and perpetration of human right violations arising from the court documents from trials in Austin, San Antonio and Del Rio.

The report said that multiple witnesses described how the Zetas cartel bribed the current and previous governors of Coahuila, the brothers Ruben Moreira Valdez and Humberto Moreira Valdez, respectively, to gain control of the state.

In one example provided in the report, a witness named Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia, who was an investment adviser in Piedras Negras at the border with Eagle Pass, and an accountant for the Zetas, said he personally delivered two payments of $2 million in cash to the current governor.

Courtesy Photo

The witness said the money was delivered via the governor's secretary, Vicente Chaires, and the state's attorney general, Jesus Torres Charles.

Ruben Moreira, who assumed the governorship in 2011 and is finishing his term, has denied any involvement with the cartel.

Referring to the previous governor, the report cites witness Adolfo Efren Tavira-Alvarado, who described an instance where "the Zetas delivered a payment to Ruben Moreira at a ranch belonging to another drug trafficker, Beto Casas, in a Suburban filled with suitcases full of money."

Operated freely

But the report said testimonies show that the corruption and penetration in all the power hierarchy of government and politics permitted the Zetas to operate freely in the state. Many police officers received wages not only to look the other way but to perform tasks for the Zetas directly, including fighting rival cartels, the report said.

According to the report, the only exception to the Zetas' power over public authorities and law enforcement agencies seems to have been the Mexican navy.

Another conclusion the report derived from the analysis "is that the Zetas cartel is definitely operating in the United States," Dulitzky said.

Among the U.S. places identified as areas where the Zetas has a presence are San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Eagle Pass and Dallas. It also has presence identified by the report in other U.S. cities such as Chicago and Atlanta and in the states of New Mexico, California and Oklahoma.

"It's important to note the international nature of cartels such as this one and the role the U.S. plays in this dynamic," Dulitzky.

For example, the report said that multiple witnesses spoke to the smuggling of high-caliber weapons - such as AK-47s - from the U.S. to Mexico.

Dulitzky also said that from all the data analyzed, "it's clear that the U.S. government has now significant undisclosed information that could be very helpful in helping to address human right violations" in Mexico.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter: oliviaptallet
The National Women's Conference was held in November 1977 in Houston, the first and last of its kind. Here, prominent Houstonians who attended reflect on what it meant to be one among the thousands strong.

Deborah Moncrief Bell is a longtime LGBT activist. She was National Organizer of the 1993 March on Washington for LGBT Equality. She has been involved for many years in the peace and justice movement with a strong feminist base in the National Organization for Women (NOW). She served as the longtime co-host of the LGBT news and talk show program Wilde 'N Stein on KPFT radio. In 1997, she was named female grand marshal of the Houston Pride Parade in honor of her service to Houston's LGBT community.

Attending the National Women's Conference was a seminal event in my life.

I was a young, stay-at-home mom who watched the Phil Donahue Show where I got the first inklings of feminism. I had been involved politically before then a bit, mostly in the peace movement, civil rights and abortion rights. But at that time, I was mostly focused on my family life. I did get involved with the Carter for President campaign due to his support of the Equal Rights Amendment, and there met someone who was a NOW member. I think I knew about the conference, but did not know much about it. But I did know that NOW would help me find out more.

The conference was electric, and I was so thrilled to be in the presence of all those women, most of whom thought like I did. It was a heady time for feminism in Houston. I was not out and did not even identify as a lesbian, though I always thought of myself as bisexual. And I remember being keenly aware of the presence of lesbians there.

I actually knew very few of the women at the conference. I remember the feeling of women's empowerment. It was very exciting to see so many women who were sheroes of my mine: Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, Margaret Mead, three First Ladies (Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson), Gloria Steinem. Maya Angelou, Billy Jean King and Barbara Jordan, to name a few. And Eleanor Smeal, then President of NOW.

It was magical walking into the convention center and seeing all those women and the huge banner on stage with the single word "WOMAN."

Phyllis Schlafly presided over a much smaller gathering over at the Astrodome complex which, as you can imagine, was 180 degrees in opposition. I don't recall any interaction between the two groups. Unfortunately, they got almost equal time with the National Women's Conference.

Some years ago there was a screening of a film about the event that I made a special trip to see along with many others who had attended the conference. I realized that while I had not known the women interviewed in the documentary at the time of the conference, I had worked with every one of them since.

Gabrielle Cosgriff was a writer and an editor of the feminist publication Breakthrough, which produced a daily newspaper chronicling the 1977 National Women's Conference.

Overall, the conference was a remarkable, positive experience for me, and I venture to guess for a vast majority of those who attended.

It was thrilling to attend the opening ceremony: I remember well the arrival of the torch that had been carried by relay from Seneca Falls, site of the first American women's rights conference in 1848, and was presented to current and former first ladies.

I remember Maya Angelou reading her poem, the sight of so many women all here to support each other.

I was especially moved to hear the stories of the minority women in attendance, women who had long felt ignored by the predominantly white women's organizations around the country, and who were able finally to tell the world of their issues and concerns.

It wasn't until I attended the Austin gathering of the Women's March on Washington last January that I felt some of the same exhilaration, and inclusiveness, that yes, we have our differences. But our driving force, our strength, is that we are all women, and we need to support each other, both publicly and privately.

And there too, as at the NWC, I was happy to see the numbers of men, and children, who also came out to show their support.

And here we are, 40 years later.

Yes, we've come a long way in many respects, but it's still an uphill battle. For example, who would have thought, when after the NWC, only a few states had yet to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), that it would still not be in effect?

What's so threatening about a simple declaration that equal rights under the law should not be denied because of sex?

Here are just a few current injustices that, in some respects, are even more dire today: Women still earn roughly 20 percent less than men do. Their abortion rights are constantly threatened and curtailed. Their healthcare options for themselves and their families are fast disappearing.

And  check current news coverage  they are still far too often viewed as sex objects by powerful males.

RELATED: Forty years later, women come together again in Houston

About Betty Friedan's argument that dealing with the sexual preference issue would take away from our commitment to the larger ERA proposition: It reminded me of the local Proposition 1 argument in 2015 (to overturn the anti-discrimination ordinance, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) that some well-meaning folks put forward about the "bathroom" issue (for transgender Houstonians to have access to public restrooms that corresponded with their gender identity). It would make sense to sacrifice that one demand rather than to give up on all the other benefits in the bill.

And I think the conclusion was the same, that if we believed in equal rights, we needed to be inclusive.

Pokey Anderson is a pioneering Houston LGBT activist. In 1975, she was one of the co-founders of the Gay Political Caucus (now the Houston LGBT Political Caucus), the South's oldest LGBT equality organization. In 1977, she was one of the first group ever invited to the White House to discuss gay rights. That same year, she was elected co-chair of the Gay Task Force, then the leading advocacy organization for the LGBT movement. In 1984, her service to LGBT community was honored when she was named female grand marshal of the Houston Pride Parade.

In the mid-1970s, the LGBT communities in Houston were in little pockets here and there. We had a pocket of lesbian feminist activists in Houston in the late 1970s called "the Lesberadas," the lesbian desperados. We were meeting in advance of the conference. We decided that the Lesberadas would do what we could, though there was only one elected official delegate from the group. Barbara Cigainero, an open lesbian in Houston, was the top person to organize the volunteer staff at the conference, and did a terrific job.

Houston Chronicle

Jean O'Leary of the National Gay Task Force was the only open lesbian appointed to the committee to plan the National Women's Conference. O'Leary spearheaded a national presence for lesbians at that conference, beginning with the state conferences held in all 50 states and territories to elect the voting delegates.

We had eight or nine months to get ready and organize for this (to pass a resolution at the conference calling for an end to discrimination against LGBT people). With our lesbian contacts in many states around the country, we had been meeting and talking for all that time before the conference.

Jean was brilliant in getting our people organized. Using the Task Force membership list, which had members in many states, we could get things going in states like Texas where we elected three delegates who were lesbians. Several of the other states  like Iowa and the Northeastern states  did really well in electing lesbian delegates, or feminist delegates who were lesbian-friendly to go to the national convention.

Charlotte Bunch was a brilliant thinker and strategist who was also on the Task Force. Between Charlotte and Jean, generals would be in awe of their prowess (in organizing to help pass a nondiscrimination platform against gays at the conference).

Jean was a ladies' lady. She could conquer the women. There were four main hotels where the thousands of women could stay during the conference. We were talking about putting information tables for our issues in the lobbies. We were told by Jean, to our amusement, that, "Some of our most important organizing will be done in the hotels." In fact, there was a bit of recruiting going on that weekend!

The elected delegates were on the ground floor of the Albert Thomas Convention Center. Upstairs in the gallery were the people who were observers, and that was pretty well filled out.

We had allies like Ellie Smeal (president of the National Organization of Women). Many of the country's First Ladies were there, but I never got any sense that they were doing political activism behind the scenes.

Sam C. Pierson Jr./Houston Chronicle

The interesting thing to me  besides from the Pro Plan passing overwhelmingly, and including all kinds of progressive things women wanted  was the way we organized across demographic lines. The lesbian group, the African-American group, the feminist group, the Pacific Islander group met. When we listened to each other's concerns, we decided that we could vote together.

We had worked all these coalitions with other women. We were organizing to the nth degree. And most of the things that we had done up until then was to build visibility for the lesbian and gay community to the straight community  and to each other, so that we could be in communication with each other. It helped us to build our own sense of who we are and to be proud of who we are.

At some point, we weren't even sure that we were going to even have time for discussion of the sexual preference plank at the conference. The real dramatic moment was when the sexual preference plank was being debated on the floor. People like Jean and Charlotte had talked about who should speak on the floor and who we should have on our side speak. People were pinpointed, and it was agreed who should be at the mic to be able to speak.

At that time, Betty Friedan (an ardent foe of lesbian inclusion in the women's movement) got up to speak. My heart sank. I thought "How did Betty Friedan get a place at the mic to speak? We're going to lose." What I didn't know was that she had agreed that it was time to put this division behind us. Some friend of hers had taken her aside, they'd had a good conversation and she was OK.

I still have the audio tape of her making her speech, and it gives me chills every time I hear it. Here is one of our most high-profile opponents in our own feminist movement, and she's come over to our side. She said, "I have loved men, and perhaps too well. It's time to put the divisions behind us."

The place went up in cheers and applause. There were thousands of women in the hall. The chair kept having to say, "Order! We need order." At that point, there were no more speakers.

The vote was overwhelming in favor of the Pro Plan, including the lesbian plank. The place was in pandemonium. Women were crying. Women were dancing on the chairs.

Sam C. Pierson Jr./Houston Chronicle

At the behest of Jean, I had 1,000 helium balloons printed up that said, "We are everywhere." I dragged a helium tank behind the bleachers and had volunteers blow them up. I had the volunteers go quietly up into the gallery. After the vote, the balloons in all colors went up in the air.

It was a great victory. It was certainly a peak moment in my career organizing in the 1970s, along with being invited to the White House to meet with Jimmy Carter's assistant to talk at the first meeting about gay rights. For organizing on the ground and showing that we could do something on a national level and win, it was very important.

But the conference didn't have much of a plan for what would happen afterward and how it would be put into action. I think that there wasn't enough mechanism to harness all that good energy and go forward. Perhaps we were a bit ahead of our time?

The right wing was pretty insulted by the whole thing. They used the International Women's Year (of which the 1977 National Women's Conference was a part) to organize against its agenda and the Equal Rights Amendment.

Even if both sides were energized, it's always good to get women's issues on the table and discussed, even if there's a backlash. The course for civil rights for African Americans in this country is certainly not one line forward.

I think it was important that the conference wasn't in New York or Washington; Houston was more easily accessible to people across the country to get there. Houston is a very diverse place and has been for many years. Having the conference in Houston made it more American, made it more representative than if it had been in a place like New York. Houston has a real tradition of hospitality; it's a very friendly place. I think that helped, too.

Judge Phyllis Randolph Frye is the grandmother of the civil rights movement for transgender Americans. In 2010, she became the first openly transgender judge in Texas.

You bet that I went to the conference in 1977. I was a local volunteer.

I met Bella Abzug. I didn't meet (but came close to) Betty Friedan. I got to see Gloria Steinem, Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson. It was very empowering. They covered so many different areas.

There were many planks (to the 26-point conference platform). But there was nothing passed impacting transgender Americans.

There was a big fight (about passing a resolution against discrimination against LGBT people), because there were a lot of women there who were lesbian-friendly. And there were some women who were like, "There's no way we're going to pass anything to do with lesbians."

Betty Friedan led the anti-lesbian crowd. Someone finally got it into her brain that the women's movement  without including all women  was going to be a problem. So the compromise was not to call it sexual orientation, but sexual preference.

Mayor Annise Parker was the mayor of Houston from 2010 to 2016.



My first LGBT organizing event was in 1975, so I was already involved in the larger LGBT movement. The conference in 1977 really connected me to the feminist movement more. I was recruited by the League of Women Voters, with other activist Rice students, to volunteer in the exhibit hall for the conference.

The conference was unique in that it had the support of the White House. It had the support of Mayor Fred Hofheinz. It was the focus of the nation's attention and the media. It was women speaking up for themselves and defining their own issues.

There were women at the conference from all over the country. To be in a place where there are so many dynamic, powerful women was unusual in itself. To have a gathering of strong women like that, to debate issues that would heavily impact our lives, was very important. It was inspiring to be in the presence of so many amazing, powerful women.

These were heady days of the women's movement. The world was going to become a place of more openness for women, a place where the issues of concern to women would be heard.

As a young lesbian, I knew we were still going to have to fight to be included in that broader agenda. The straight feminists with whom I worked were wonderful. But there was a national debate going on if there really was an overlap between LGBT issues and women's issues. You'll find today that there are tremendous synergies.

Sam C. Pierson Jr./ Houston Chronicle

Back then, maybe lesbians weren't "the lavender menace" in the feminist movement. But there was a fear that the women's movement could get bogged down in minority issues and that we would be fighting on so many fronts that we couldn't get anything done.

One side of the debate said, "Let's focus on a small number of issues that we can make progress on." Others said, "No, these issues are fundamental. You can't pick and choose which rights are important."

After the conference, I became a member of the National Organization of Women. I became a member of the Women's Political Caucus. The conference broadened my outlook on where I should be.

Forty years later, there's frustration that we're having to refight some of these battles (that we fought in the 1970s).

The Trump election  that we elected a misogynistic sexual predator who brags about it in the White House, and who has very directly attacked women's achievements and rights that we've gained since 1977  has prompted a lot of backlash.

The Women's March in January 2017 brought a lot of new women into the movement. Some women won't call themselves "feminists," but they will put on their pink caps and march.

While I was Mayor, I had the opportunity to attend a luncheon with Gloria Steinem. She had come to Houston, but hadn't been here since the conference. I told her I had been a volunteer, and it had been a great experience for me.

She said "Is there anything that commemorates it?" I said, "The building (the Albert Thomas Convention Center) has been torn down."

She said, "That's a shame. There ought to be something to designate what happened."

I said to her, "As mayor, I can take care of that." I had a historical marker commissioned and installed at the former convention center. (It's catty-corner from City Hall.) I sent her a nice little note thanking her for saying something. Before I left office, I wanted to make sure that we acknowledged it.

Andrew Edmonson has served as chair of the Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and on the board of the American Marketing Association's Houston chapter.





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UPDATED: 10:21 a.m., Nov. 8:

Challenger Carol Stromatt rode a strong early voting lead to victory Tuesday, defeating incumbent Laura Fillault for the Position 7 seat on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors.

"I am ecstatic. I am so grateful," an exuberant Stromatt said in a telephone interview with The Villager. "So humbled. I'm here, we are celebrating. This is one for the community."

Stromatt, who fended off a fake campaign flier falsely attributed to her and a barrage of robocalls from the Texas Right to Life PAC during the last week of the race, said she credited her victory to, "Integrity, hard work, [and] people who care about this community."

"This is fantastic," Stromatt added. "We have worked so hard for this."

Stromatt also offered congratulations to unchallenged incumbents John McMullan and Ann Snyder, who both easily cruised to victory with 100 percent of the votes cast.

Enjoying a victory celebration at a local restaurant, Stromatt said she wanted to thank her supporters and campaign volunteers. She also said her goal was to reject "divisive" politics.

"It's a privilege to serve on the Woodlands Township board," she added.

Fillault, who lost by 480 votes, was emotional after the loss and issued a brief statement via email on Wednesday.

"It has been a pleasure serving The Woodlands Township," Fillault said in the email. "Congratulations to Carol Stromatt, and I wish her the best of luck."

The incumbent was ousted from office after serving only one term. Fillault had drawn unwelcome attention to herself in the past several months after posting a series of questionable Tweets on her Twitter account, using foul and abusive language towards other Twitter users.

With 100 percent of Montgomery and Harris county precincts reporting totals, Stromatt garnered 2,694 votes-or more than 54 percent of the votes. Fillault nabbed 2,214 votes, or more than 45 percent.

---

Early voting totals in The Woodlands Township Board of Directors race were released by Montgomery County elections officials with challenger Carol Stromatt holding a considerable lead over incumbent Laura Fillault for the township Position 7 seat.

The early voting period ran from Oct. 23 until Nov. 3, with slightly more than 2,100 voters casting ballots. The early results favor Stromatt, who garnered more than 59 percent of the votes to Fillault's more than 40 percent. The other two seats on the township board were uncontested, and early voting totals had incumbents Ann Snyder and John McMullan with 100 percent of the votes each.

A couple of supporters for both sides were outside the polling place at the South County Community Center on Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. Voting turnout was light, with a car pulling in every few moments. Several supporters for Stromatt and Fillault were holding campaign signs up as voters arrived and departed.

Stromatt supporter Lucia Queen stood holding a vote Stromatt sign in the community center's parking lot. She described the turnout as "steady, maybe average."

Queen said the reason why she supports Stromatt is simple.

"Carol has lived in the community for years," Queen said. "She's been very active in volunteer activities, (doing) many things to support the community."

Stromatt's husband, Richard Stromatt said, "Tonight is the night," before adding he felt tired and "Ready for this to be over."

Fillault supporter Jean Mann was also standing in the parking lot and holding a Fillault sign.

"I'm feeling good about the race, happy about her performance," Mann said. "I'm hoping the best person will win."

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When voters in The Woodlands Township head to the polls Tuesday, they will have a much quicker time casting their ballots than in 2016.

And, based on early voting totals as of Nov. 3, there will be tens of thousands fewer voters than last year's election.

In 2017, just one of three positions on the ballot for The Woodlands Township board of directors is contested, Position 7, where incumbent Laura Fillault is being challenged by Carol Stromatt.

Incumbents John McMullan in Position 5 and Ann Snyder in Position 6-are not being challenged for their seats.

In 2016, a busy slate of candidates for four seats and impassioned election antics equated into a huge turnout with three victorious candidate receiving more than 21,000 votes in their favor. The fourth seat-between Mike Bass and Brian Boniface-was decided by 924 votes out of more than 34,000 cast.

As of Nov. 3, the Montgomery County Elections web site listed 2,173 voters casting ballots during the early voting period of Oct. 23 through Nov. 3.

Following a year marked by well-funded political operations pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the various races, and the now locally-famous slate of candidates called the "Residents' Advocates," the 2017 slate may seem like a mild-mannered Sunday afternoon tea party to hardened veterans of the political scene in The Woodlands.

The 2017 race between Fillault and Stromatt has offered some controversy: with a fake campaign flier falsely attributed to Stromatt posted-then quickly removed-on Facebook last week, robocalls from the Texas Right to Life PAC backing Fillault and bashing Stromatt made to as many as 5,000 residents on Oct. 31, and the fast and furious barrage of unsavory Tweets from Fillault bringing the incumbent unwanted scrutiny.

On Tuesday, voters can cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Check out The Villager's 2017 election coverage package on Page 4, which includes question-and -answer package from both Stromatt and Fillault, as well as information about unopposed candidates Snyder and McMullan.

Be sure to follow election night coverage on Nov. 7 online at yourwoodlandsnews.com and yourconroenews.com
The gruesome discovery Sunday of the bodies of more than two dozen migrant women in the Mediterranean Sea has left Italian officials wondering whether the women were purposely killed, and why all who died were female.

Lorena Ciccotti, police chief in the southern Italian port city of Salerno, told CNN that officials have launched an investigation into the women's cause of the death to see if they had been tortured or sexually assaulted. Officials believe the 26 women, who are all Nigerian and range from 14 to 18 years old, died attempting the dangerous journey from Libya to Europe over the weekend.

Now Playing: Italian authorities made a gruesome discovery on Sunday upon recovering the bodies of 26 Nigerian women from the Mediterranean Sea. Police have launched an investigation to determine whether the women were tortured or sexually assaulted. All of the women were between 14 to 18 years old. The cause of death appears to be drowning, according to media reports. Video: Brandpoint

Libya is the biggest launchpad for African migrants hoping to build new lives in Europe. Since the collapse of Moammar Gadhafi's regime, the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya has soared. Sub-Saharan Africans wishing to flee poverty or war have taken advantage of Libya's power vacuum, which has allowed smugglers to operate, for the most part, without restraint. Migrants' desire to reach Italy - a country in close proximity to Libya - has made the North African country a center for human smuggling.

The trip across the Mediterranean is deadly - about 58 percent of the refugees who have died this year during their cross-border migration have drowned in the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The women's bodies were found in the Mediterranean by a Spanish vessel, which lowered a "seemingly endless line of black plastic body bags" onto a port in Salerno, according to Agence France-Presse. The bodies were placed in coffins, AFP reported. Twenty-three of the women were discovered near a rubber dinghy that officials believe sank on Friday, according to AFP.

A top Salerno official, Salvatore Malfi, called the discovery a tragedy and told AFP authorities will "need to see whether there are suspects to concentrate on or whether the murder inquiry will proceed against persons unknown."

Malfi said the women may have been thrown off their rubber dinghy into the waters of the Mediterranean, according to NPR's Sylvia Poggioli. "The cause of death appears to be by drowning."

Women are more likely to drown because they cannot swim as well as men or because they sit on the lower levels of the vessels carrying them, away from life jackets, according to a 2012 study published in SAGE. Women might also try to rescue their children from drowning, putting them at greater risk of death.

The Spanish ship managed Sunday to rescue 90 women and 52 minors, including a newborn, officials told CNN. The rescue was one of four that altogether saved about 400 people over the course of the weekend.

So far this year through Nov. 1, about 151,000 migrants survived the journey across the Mediterranean to Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration. Almost 75 percent of those migrants - about 111,500 people - landed in Italy, with the rest reaching the shores of Greece, Cyprus and Spain. More than 2,800 migrants have died attempting the journey.

Since 2014, more than 400,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. But the Italian government, facing an unending flow of people from Africa and an increase in anti-migrant sentiments from its people, wants to limit the thousands of refugees arriving on its shores each month. The government has therefore agreed to pay Libyan militias willing to clamp down on human smuggling as part of an unusual deal.

As a result, alternate routes have experienced an uptick of migrant flows, with traffic from Morocco to Spain on the rise and more people embarking on the dangerous Black Sea journey from Turkey to Romania.

The route from sub-Saharan Africa to Libya is also dangerous, especially for women. Women might endure sexual assault and rape, and contract HIV as a result. One humanitarian worker told The Post about women she had met who were penetrated with objects such as guns. Perpetrators of sexual violence include security forces, smugglers and men aboard the rescue boats.

In February, UNICEF reported that levels of sexual violence and abuse along the Central Mediterranean migration route made it one of "the world's deadliest and most dangerous migrant routes for children and women."

Malfi, the Salerno official, told AFP that investigators would look to see if the women had been assaulted.

"They were on a dinghy that was also carrying men," he told Italian reporters who asked whether the women were on a sex-trafficking boat.
WASHINGTON - Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign whose visit to Moscow during the election has drawn scrutiny, sent an email to fellow Trump aides during his trip describing "a private conversation" with a senior Russian official who spoke favorably of the Republican candidate, according to records released late Monday by congressional investigators.

Page also wrote that he had been provided "incredible insights and outreach" by Russian lawmakers and "senior members" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration during the trip.

The email appeared to contradict earlier statements by Page, who had said he had only exchanged brief greetings with the senior Russian official, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, after he delivered a speech at a Russian university.

In his July 2016 note, Page wrote that Dvorkovich had "expressed strong support for Mr. Trump and a desire to work together toward devising better solutions in response to a vast range of current international problems."

Page's email was read aloud by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., when Page met behind closed doors last week with the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 president election. The committee released the transcript of the seven-hour session late Monday.

Confronted with his email, Page told the committee that he had not meant that he met with any officials but rather that he had learned of their views about the U.S. election from local media and scholars. He maintained that his interaction with Dvorkovich consisted of a brief greeting, and that he had learned his views on the campaign while listening to Dvorkovich's public address. Page told the committee that he had not worked with the Russians to hack emails or otherwise influence the election.

In a statement Monday, Schiff said that Page had failed to produce the email to the committee before his interview, despite receiving a subpoena for documents.

Page is one of a number of Trump associates whose contacts with Russians before the election are emerging as important factors in investigations by Congress and Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Another adviser, George Papadopoulos, pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal agents about Russian contacts during the campaign.

The transcript shows Page, a Navy veteran who worked for a time in Moscow as an energy consultant, was at times combative and evasive in response to committee questions.

Asked about his email indicating he had discussed Trump's campaign in a private conversation with a Russian official, Page responded to The Washington Post via text message: "That is complete misinformation and/or misinterpretation."

"I'm working on my lawsuit tonight that will get to the bottom of the real interference in the 2016 election, by the [United States government]. I've played this nonsensical game long enough and am not interested in this latest round tonight," he said.

Page requested that the committee make the transcript of his remarks public.

Page's testimony shows that a number of Trump campaign officials were aware of his plans to travel to Moscow before he left - and that he updated others on his return.

He told the committee that he informed then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., then a key Trump supporter and now attorney general, and said he "probably" had told national campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis before leaving and definitely did so on his return.

A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment; Clovis' attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

In one email to fellow campaign aides, Page suggested that Trump perhaps take his place and travel to Moscow "to raise the temperature a little bit" and, in another, he asked how campaign officials would "prefer me to focus" his remarks.

He said he was unaware at the time that Papadopoulos was making similar proposals for Trump to travel to Russia, though he acknowledged he had received some of Papadopoulos' emails about Russia.

Page sent the email describing his interaction with Dvorkovich in Moscow to campaign aide J.D. Gordon, as well as a different campaign aide.

Gordon said he does not recall the email but that he had discouraged Page from going to Moscow. "It's important to remember that Carter Page and George Papadopoulos were peripheral members of a relatively peripheral advisory committee," he said.

Trump has said he does not recall ever speaking to Page.

Page's July 2016 trip to Moscow drew attention during the campaign, particularly after WikiLeaks released emails that had been hacked from the Democratic National Committee a few weeks later and Russia became a controversial campaign topic.

With his Russia ties under scrutiny, Page said in September 2016 that he was taking a leave from the campaign.

Later, it emerged that the FBI had obtained a secret court order to monitor Page's communications during the summer of 2016.

In numerous public interviews, Page has always denied he met with other Russian officials, notably with Igor Sechin, a Putin associate.

A former British intelligent agent, working on behalf of Democrats, alleged in a dossier compiled before the election and published in January that Page had met with both men.

Questioned by the committee, Page again denied meeting Sechin - but acknowledged he had met with other officials who work for Rosneft, the company Sechin leads, including the head of investor relations.

Page's Russian contacts did not end on his return from Moscow. At the Republican National Convention, Page told the committee that he spoke with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the subject of U.S. sanctions on Russia "may have briefly come up in some context." He said he did not recall any discussion of hacked emails there.

And Page told the committee about another foreign trip he took during the campaign, a long weekend he spent in Budapest where he said he met with Hungary's ambassador to the United States and other Hungarian officials. He said he discussed "foreign policy things" with the ambassador and that he had some "general" discussions of U.S.-Russia relations with she and other Hungarian officials - though he could recall few specifics.

He also told the committee about a second trip to Moscow he took in December 2016 and said that he met with Russian and Kazakh nationals in London that same month.

---

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
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Allegations of changing grades, improper spending and harassment are among the issues that led Houston ISD administrators to expand their investigation of Furr High School Principal Bertie Simmons, the widely known educator temporarily removed from her post last September, newly obtained records show.

Court documents filed by district officials Friday offer the first glimpse into additional allegations against the 83-year-old Simmons. Superintendent Richard Carranza previously described the allegations as "pretty serious" in an interview last month, but he declined to elaborate.

A district memorandum included in court records show Houston ISD officials are investigating several issues involving Simmons, including "recording of student grades," "attendance and discipline reporting," "discrimination and harassment claims," "master scheduling" and "expenditures." The memorandum offers no additional details on the nature of the allegations.

Houston ISD spokesman Tracy Clemons said Monday that the investigation is ongoing. He declined to provide additional details on the allegations.

Simmons' lawyer, Scott Newar, said in a statement Monday that the district is engaged in a "witch hunt" and "taxpayers should be outraged that the district continues to spend" money on the investigation.

Simmons, the longtime leader of the east Houston campus, was initially placed on paid leave in late September after she threatened students over the school intercom with a bat and continued to enforce the district's dress code after Hurricane Harvey even as district officials were relaxing them. Simmons has said the threats were clearly made in jest, and the district gave principals discretion regarding the dress code.

HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISD investigating second new allegations against Furr principal

In mid-October, district officials said they completed the initial investigation and planned to reinstate Simmons, but that district staff came forward with the new allegations. This, they said, led to the second investigation and temporary removal of Simmons.

"During this time, it became apparent that some employees feared retaliation for reporting concerns while you were still on the premises," Houston ISD Area Superintendent Jorge Arredondo wrote in a memorandum to Simmons.

Simmons has countered by alleging age and racial discrimination. Her lawyer has alleged that district administrators engaged in racial discrimination by systematically pushing white principals out of their jobs.

A Chronicle analysis of state employee data showed a small uptick in Hispanic principals since Carranza's arrival more than a year ago. During that time, the number of Hispanic principals has increased from 95 to 102, the number of white principals has decreased from 63 to 59, and the number of black principals has decreased from 95 to 91.

SIMMONS: Furr principal claims age, race discrimination while on leave

The district's court filings Friday were made in response to a temporary injunction sought by Simmons and Sharon Koonce, a Furr High School staffer who was also placed on leave around the same time as Simmons. The pair alleged that Houston ISD violated their free-speech rights by prohibiting them from speaking with students, parents and colleagues at Furr High School.

District officials said Friday that they had lifted the no-contact order.
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The gunman who police say killed 26 churchgoers in Sutherland Springs last Sunday escaped from a mental health facility in New Mexico in June 2012, according to an El Paso Police Department incident report.

Devin Patrick Kelly  then in the U.S. Air Force  had recently been demoted and sentenced to a year's confinement by a military jury after pleading guilty to assaulting his then-wife, as well as his infant stepson.
A Russian flag flown in front of a Houston megachurch has drawn questions online after a former parishioner tweeted a photo of the flag in a position of prominence outside the church.

The photo shows the flag flying outside Second Baptist Church's Woodway campus and was posted late Sunday night by New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino. Tolentino obtained the photo over the weekend from a friend in Houston.

BLEW UP: Why a Houston woman sent a giant inflatable Donald Trump chicken to Sen. Ted Cruz's office

The message ended up collecting 383 retweets, 777 likes, and more than 90 replies from people wondering if the flag was in reference to the ongoing investigation into whether the Russian government meddled in the U.S. presidential election.

Now Playing: One of President Trumps attorneys says they will challenge Special counsel Robert Mueller if the Russia probe delves into the Presidents former business deals. For more on the story here is Zachary Devita. Video: Buzz 60

Second Baptist spokesman Daniel Card confirmed that the church has numerous flags flying outside representing the countries to which missionaries have been sent during the ministry's inception.

"We've been flying the flags for years," Card told Chron.com, adding that the composition of the photo is misleading.

Tolentino said she attended Second Baptist for 12 years but couldn't recall seeing the Russian flag placed as it was in the photo.

When asked for comment, Tolentino told Chron.com Monday, "As far as I can recall or put together from Google Earth and what not, the Russian flag has been below Israel's flag until recently, and it struck me as quite odd of the church to switch those flag positions at this particular point in time. The pride of place given to Israel's flag makes obvious sense in context, clearly corresponds to a symbolic and also explicitly political meaning for evangelicals -- I was used to seeing it prominently displayed and understanding why. With the Russian flag, though..."
Helen L. Montoya/Staff

A group of first responders in Tyler, Texas, recently had to get crafty after an elderly woman refused to go to the hospital.

Tyler police and paramedics were called to a woman's residence last Tuesday for a welfare check. When they arrived, the first responders discovered her on the floor, with no strength to stand.
Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

The gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church had been arrested for animal cruelty in Colorado in 2014.

An El Paso County Sheriff's Office affidavit says deputies arrested Devin Patrick Kelley at a Colorado Springs RV park where he lived.
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When a gunman opened fire on worshipers Sunday morning at First Baptist Church in a small community some 35 miles from San Antonio, staff at the University Hospital became part of the front lines treating the wounded.

For Dr. Brian Eastridge, chief of trauma and emergency surgery at University Hospital, said it brought back memories from his time as a U.S. Army surgeon.

These types of wounds we saw are very similar to the types of wounds we saw in deployed conditions, Eastridge said. These are high-velocity rounds, so when they travel through tissue they  create a temporary cavity, and it causes a lot of tissue damage.

One of the victims was an 8-year-old who came in with multiple gunshot wounds, including a major injury in the abdomen, he said.

The efforts to save that child were heroic, with surgeons, nurses, anesthesia and specialty staff worked for at least three hours, Eastridge said.

Despite their efforts, including multiple attempts at CPR, the damage proved to be too much and the child died during surgery, he said.

Seeing an injured kid, particularly an injured child in your community, its gut-wrenching, Eastridge said.

Overall, the hospital received four children and five adults from First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Other wounded were sent to Brooke Army Medical Center and other regional trauma centers.

We got four of the most severely injured patients an hour after the event, Eastridge said, noting that those patients arrived with 20 minutes of each other, Eastridge said.

But as it happened, University Hospital was well-prepared to treat the wounded sent to them.

The hospital was undergoing an annual credentialing review by the American College of Surgeons. As part of that process, a verification and review team was on the premises Sunday afternoon.

We had seven trauma surgeons here when we got the original call about massive casualties from an active shooter, Eastridge said.

In 45 minutes, we were up to the capacity to run 14 operating rooms and had a  triple staffed emergency department, Eastridge said. We were ready, as ready you can possibly be for such a horrible situation.

Weve been training for situations like this (a mass shooting) ever since they started happening, he added.

Hospital officials also praised Sutherland Springs EMS workers for helping ensure speedy treatment of the wounded. Its not something they deal with certainly on a day-to-day basis, Eastridge said.

As of Monday afternoon, four patients remained at the hospital, their conditions ranging from serious to critical condition, hospital officials said. Three adults and one child have been released.

Mondays news conference originally was planned as an event to honor first responders with the San Antonio Fire Department for their efforts in saving a man who was bleeding out after an August shooting.

Tobias Walker, 26, was lying on his front lawn and bleeding profusely from a gunshot that had gone into his neck and exited out of his back.

A gunshot wound to the neck, particularly when theres any kind of blood vessel injury, can rapidly prove fatal, Eastridge said.

The paramedics stabilized Walker by putting a hemostatic gauze, a type of medical cloth that promotes clot formation, and applied pressure to the wound.

San Antonio EMS paramedics Kip Hanson and Chris Young, and SAFD firefighters Carlos Meza, Jose A. Martinez, Anthony Salazar and Rafael Reyes were all honored for their efforts

Those actions of those firefighters and that EMS crew undoubtedly kept Mr. Walker alive, no question, until his injuries could be repaired by the trauma surgeons at University Hospital, Eastridge said.

jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
Fire engines bursting into flames at a scene. Roof leaks damaging walls at city health clinics. Bike trails eroding into the bayou.

Those are among the reasons Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking voters to approve $495 million in public improvement bonds this fall. Early voting starts Oct. 23.

As with the marquee item on the Nov. 7 ballot - Proposition A, the $1 billion bond needed to secure the mayor's landmark pension reform package - Turner acknowledged that his chief opponent for city propositions B through E is Hurricane Harvey.

The historic storm not only knocked the city on its back, it also disrupted typical campaign efforts, cutting the pro-bonds Lift Up Houston committee's fundraising targets and, perhaps, preventing it from funding a TV ad blitz, the mayor said.

"The biggest obstacle is not coming from political parties or political groups, it's not that," Turner said. "It's that people are having to deal with some immediate concerns presented by Harvey. And we have to convince them to take some time to go to the polls to cast a 'yes' vote."

A smaller expected turnout likely will make conservatives a larger share of the electorate, Turner said, which he said only increases the importance of stressing that voting in favor of all the city bond requests will not raise the property tax rate. The mayor had floated an unrelated one-year tax hike to help fund the Harvey recovery, but dropped that plan after Gov. Greg Abbott provided state disaster funds.

"We will aggressively move forward to get the message out," he said. "There's nothing before you that will raise any taxes by voting for. All of these things are needed in order to benefit our city, to take care of day-to-day operations."

Local conservative groups, including the Harris County Republican Party and the C Club, oppose the improvement bonds, but it is unclear how much money either group plans to put behind a campaign opposing them.

City Controller Chris Brown, the city's elected financial watchdog, said an organized "no" campaign might not be necessary to make the vote closer than past city bond elections, which tend to pass easily. Brown said he was concerned to hear contentious discussion on the improvement bonds at a Monday night meeting of the Super Neighborhood Alliance, a coalition of civic clubs.

"They had a lot of very specific questions about the bonds, which, you know, this is a standard issuance," Brown said. "I guess they hadn't gotten enough details about what exactly was going to be funded. I chalk some of that up to Harvey. But, especially post-Harvey, the needs just increase. It's in the public's best interest to approve these."

Council OK needed

In all, the bond package before voters asks for authorization to issue $159 million in public safety bonds, $104 million for parks, $109 million for general government improvements and $123 million for libraries.

Houston's last bond referendum was in 2012, and the city's capital spending is expected to quickly exhaust the $410 million in debt voters authorized then. As with any general bond measure, voters are being asked to authorize City Hall to issue additional debt. It would not obligate the city to further spending without City Council approval.

Libraries to benefit

The headline item in this fall's bond package is a $57 million multipurpose facility for Alief that already has been pushed back a year - civic leaders in the southwest might argue the delay has been decades - and would be postponed without the passage of new bonds.

The bonds also would pay for the design of a replacement of Moody Library, at 9525 Irvington, a project that would almost double the existing library to 12,000 square feet.

The funds also would be used to replace roofs and renovate the Flores and Mancuso libraries, to build a new $25 million multiservice center in Sunnyside, to renovate the Denver Harbor and Northeast multiservice centers, fund repairs to City Hall and its adjacent annex, and renovate Riverside and La Nueva Casa health clinics, among numerous other projects.

Against bonds on ballot

The bonds also include $54 million to replace aging fire trucks and $66 million for police vehicles.

Councilman Michael Kubosh was one of two council members to oppose placing the bonds on the ballot, in part because he did not want to jeopardize the pension bond.

"I also have a problem with where is the money going to come from to pay the bonds?" he said. "We need to be more fiscally sound without getting more in debt. I'm just opposing more debt at this time."
AUSTIN -- Yet another Texas Democrat confirmed Monday they are considering a challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez was quoted by the Texas Tribune as saying she was "in the exploratory process" of considering a run against the incumbent Republican with whom she clashed in 2015 over her department's policy on cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

"I've been approached and I'm listening," Valdez, the only Hispanic female sheriff in the country, was quoted as saying.

"Too much of one thing corrupts, and I'm a strong believer in a two-party system. "I'm hoping that enough people are seeing that too much one-sided is not healthy for Texas."

Valdez declined an interview request Monday. But in a statement to the Houston Chronicle, she said did not confirm her interest.

"People have been talking and Sheriff Valdez is listening as she always does," a spokesman for Valdez. "She is currently focused on her job as sheriff. At this point, there is no new information to add."

Texas Democrats for months have been looking for a candidate to challenge Abbott, a popular statewide officeholder who has more than $40 million in his campaign war chest. With the filing period for candidates slated to open Saturday, two little-known candidates have announced they plan to run, including Dallas businessman Jeffrey Payne and San Antonio business owner Tom Wakely.

Andrew White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, said he is considering a run. Michael Sorrell, the president of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, and Valdez have been prominently mentioned for weeks as possible contenders, along with several others.

Former state Sen. Wendy Davis, who ran unsuccessfully against Abbott in 2014, downplayed reports that she might be seriously considering another run.

Valdez, who was first elected in 2004, is serving her fourth term as sheriff of Dallas County, the second most populous in the state and emerging Democratic bastion.
AUSTIN  Attorneys for the state of Texas defended a law restricting the most common second-trimester abortion procedure Monday with testimony from a doctor who described it as a "brutal procedure in which a living human being is torn to pieces."

Earlier this year the Republican-led Legislature passed Senate Bill 8, a set of comprehensive abortion regulations that banned dilation and evacuation  a medical procedure used to remove a fetus using surgical tools  unless the fetus is deceased. It is the most common method used to perform an abortion in the second trimester.

During a dilation and evacuation procedure, doctors use surgical instruments to remove the fetus. Proponents of the law say the method is inhumane, often referring to it as "dismemberment abortion."

Whole Woman's Health, Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers sued the state because they believe it will further limit access to abortions.

In the third day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel, the state's attorneys began presenting testimony that the dilation and evacuation procedure is inhumane, and causing fetal demise prior to the procedure is safe and effective.

Dr. Anthony Levatino, a former OB-GYN, said he performed hundreds of dilation and evacuation procedures between 1980 and 1985, but stopped after his adopted daughter died from a car accident when she was six years old.

Levatino performed a dilation and evacuation procedure, months after his daughter's death. As he set the fetal tissue aside, he said he became "sick." For the first time, he said, he looked at the "pile of body parts," and all he could see was someone's child.

"That's what started a cascade, which over the next few months, ended in not doing any more abortions," Levatino said.

Levatino has not performed any abortions in more than 30 years and is a vocal pro-life proponent. He did not provide any testimony in court Monday as to safety or effectiveness of causing fetal demise prior to an abortion.

Texas abortion providers argued in court last week that the methods used to kill a fetus have not been adequately studied and are not medically necessary.

The providers also believe the procedures will further limit access to abortion, especially to low-income populations, because it will increase the length of time it takes to undergo the procedure.

Under SB8, doctors would face criminal charges for violating the ban, except in a case of a medical emergency. The law was set to go into effect Sept. 1, but Yeakel blocked its implementation with a temporary restraining order which remains in effect.

The trial is expected to last until Wednesday, with a decision from Yeakel expected by the end of the month.

alejandra.matos@chron.com

twitter.com/amatos12
AUSTIN -- A day after new speculation surfaced that she might consider a second face-off with Republican Greg Abbott for governor, former Texas senator Wendy Davis on Monday seemed to back away from even a remote possibility of getting in the race.

On Sunday, while appearing at a University of Texas forum, Davis seemed to leave open the possibility that she might run for governor again -- and said she was considering it "because no one else is stepping forward" to run as a Democrat against Abbott.

In 2014, Abbott beat Davis statewide by a 59-38 percent margin.

Her rationale: Voters elected Abbott before they knew how far right politically he would go in supporting legislation like SB 4, which she called the controversial "show me your papers" law, as well as passage of new limits on abortions and his support for the highly-disputed bathroom bill.

On Monday, she was asked by a reporter what it would take for her to decide to run. "A brainwash, maybe," she responded.

"There's only the very remotest of chances that I would do that," she said. "I'm waiting for someone credible to step forward so I can throw my support behind them."

Davis, an attorney who represented Fort Worth in the Legislature, said she is helping the Texas Democratic Party look for a candidate that the party's base can support. So far, no one has stepped forward to announce -- with the candidate filing period to open next week.

"It's expensive to create name ID and enthusiasm," she explained. "It's not that it can;t be done, but it takes resources. Ans, so, finding a candidate would would be able to engender enough excitement that they can raise those resources is a challenge."

So far, none of the other Democrats who have announced they plan to run or are likely candidates -- including Houston entrepreneur Andrew White, a conservative Democrat who is the son of former Gov. Mark White -- have gained the support of party officials to be the Democrat's standard-bearer. None appeal strongly to the party's base, party officials have said.

"You cannot win a general election in this state without bringing the base along with you, lock, stock and barrel," Davis said.

As for her consideration, she sounded very non-candidate.

"The problem is I don't suffer any romantic notion about what it means to run statewide," she said Monday. "I know how hard it is. I know what it takes out of you personally, and what it takes from your family. I gave everything I had in 2014. It's hard to find that again."
Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Under a moonlit evening sky, lay minister Mike Gonzales, clad in black, stood in a grassy lot and led a candlelight vigil in a South Texas hamlet that few outside Wilson County had ever heard of until Sunday. The shocked residents of Sutherland Springs and those from nearby communities who had arrived to comfort them were having trouble accepting the fact that the little white-washed Baptist church in the heart of town had become the site of the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

"I mean, you hear about Las Vegas and New York, places like that. How can it be a stone's throw from your house?" a resident mused, his 14-year-old son standing beside him.

Father and son were achingly aware that inside the building across the road, bullets had torn into the fragile, little body of a 5-year-old boy, into an 18-month-old baby, as well as an expectant mother. They knew that the minister's 14-year-old daughter, a beloved foster child adopted a few years ago, had been ripped from their lives forever. They knew that their neighbors, at least 26 of them, were gone. The horror of what had happened a few hours earlier was incomprehensible.

Gov. Greg Abbott attended the vigil but didn't speak. Holding aloft a flickering candle as he sat almost unnoticed in his wheelchair, he listened to the prayers, the recorded music and Gonzales' words of consolation. Afterward, he spoke quietly to individuals who approached.

THE LATEST: Officials say Air Force mistake allowed church shooter to buy guns

In a formal statement, the governor and first lady offered their thoughts and prayers to the people of Sutherland Springs and to the members of the First Baptist Church. So did U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and elected officials across the country.

With due respect to the faith and beliefs of every person, especially the grieving residents of Sutherland Springs, the rote statements of politicians were almost blasphemous in their repetition and meaninglessness. The only response more blasphemous was Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" proposal that worshippers entering the house of the Lord be prepared to shoot to kill.

From Japan, President Trump's "thoughts and prayers" riff was so stale and scripted that it conveyed all the sincerity of a robocall offering an extended warranty on a kitchen appliance. The irony no doubt escaped the president that he was speaking to tortured souls in small-town Texas from a nation with strict and sensible gun laws. A nation where gun violence is almost unheard of.

Thoughts and prayers. The stock phrase trips off politicians' tongues so easily, we might as well give our elected gunsters license to abbreviate. When a Sutherland Springs happens again - and it will happen again - let them piously utter "T&P" and then get on with their penchant for ignoring the gun psychosis that afflicts this nation. Get on not only with ignoring but also abetting the psychosis in their Second Amendment idolatry and their craven obeisance to the National Rifle Association.

In offhand remarks to a couple of reporters after the vigil, minister Gonzales, a Sutherland Springs resident and retired Army warrant officer, mentioned how seriously the military treats weapons. "One weapon turns up missing, and the whole base goes on lockdown," he said. (To be fair, Gonzales holds the shooter responsible, not the gun.)

We don't take death-dealing weapons as seriously as the military experts do. Unlike every other advanced nation in the world, we accept as collateral damage the murder of a 5-year-old in a house of worship.

GUN ISSUE OR SIN ISSUE: Why evangelicals are deeply skeptical or gun-control laws

The governor is silent. So are Cruz and Cornyn and most other members of Congress. And, of course, so is the man in the White House. They're silent about the need for universal background checks (that have the support of nine in 10 Americans); about requiring safe storage; about promoting research into smart guns. After a brief post-Las Vegas flurry, they're silent about banning so-called bump stocks. They're silent about preventing straw purchases of weapons. Despite lip service to the idea, they do little about expanding mental health services.

They might consider gun buybacks, which seemed to work in Australia. They might consider enlisting military veterans to teach and promote gun safety (Minister Gonzales' suggestion). On these and numerous other sensible suggestions for trying to end the scourge of mass shootings and the daily gun carnage, the Republicans are silent.

Someday, a wave of outrage and revulsion will sweep across this country. It will leave in its cleansing wake elected officials who sold their souls to the NRA, whose warped view of tangled words in the Constitution unleashed orgies of death. We look forward to that day, no matter how far off. When it comes, we'll be happy to offer our deathly silent leaders our sincerest T&P.
Some Comcast customers in Houston on Monday were feeling the effects of a national internet outage, causing slow and intermittent connections.

Comcast's status map showed outages in many large markets, with the most severe being on the East Coast, the San Francisco area and Oregon.
A Cabool man is held on $750,000 bond and faces a pair of felony charges after being accused of having sexual relations with a young girl.

Brandon Hess, 27, of 705 Oak Ave. in Cabool, is charged with first-degree child molestation (a class A felony) and first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy  victim less than 12 years old  after an incident that reportedly took place in his home on Nov. 3.

According to a probable cause statement submitted to the county prosccufor by a Cabool Police Department of- HESS ficer,two officers and a woman from the Division of Family Services responded at about 7:30 p.m. regarding a report of sexual abuse at Hess home. Upon arrival, the trip made contact with a woman there who confirmed that Hess had had sexual relations with the girl.

After further investigation and questioning, Hess was arrested and taken to jail.
A longtime trustee at Texas County Memorial Hospital was one of two in the state named Trustee of the Year by the Missouri Hospital Association.

Omanez Fockler, R.N., was honored last Thursday during the MHAs 95th annual convention in Osage Beach. A Kansas City woman was also recognized.

Fockler joined the TCMH board in November 2000. Since that time, she has served in multiple board roles, including board chair, and has led numerous committees. Her appointment to the board came only months after her retirement from TCMH, where she had worked as an R.N. since 1959.

She has the respect and ear of the community because of her position and what shes done, said Dr. William Wright of TCMH. Her faithfulness is a tremendous asset.

Fockler is described as a tireless advocate for TCMH and a voice for the nursing profession statewide. Her efforts and leadership were essential to the hospitals $19 million, 56,000 square foot expansion, and its establishment of primary care and clinic locations in Houston, Cabool and Mountain Grove.

Hospital trustees are essential to establishing and maintaining strong community connections, said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA President and CEO. This years honorees exemplify how a strong community voice can link an institution to the community it serves.

PDF: Nomination letter from TCMH CEO Wes Murray

The Missouri Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association in Jefferson City that represents 145 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.
An economic group formed about seven decades ago asked the Houston City Council on Monday to support a grant package that could lead to jobs at a Spruce Street industrial building.

Separately, the Houston Development Co. (HDC) asked council members to acquire two, five-acre lots at the Northeast Industrial Park east of the fairgrounds, where negotiations continue with a bottled water manufacturer.

The talks come at a time when the HDC is short on cash and needs an infusion to continue its obligation under a loan that allowed for major renovations to quarters that once housed Air Evac before it moved those jobs to a headquarters in West Plains and elsewhere.

Under the proposal, the City of Houston would be the sponsor for a federal Economic Development Administration grant for an economic development project at a building that once housed the Exceptional Child Cooperative and Air Evac. The citys obligation is expected to be little under the grant because the buildings value can be leveraged for the in-kind portion as a contribution. The application process may be lengthy.

In the meantime, the city would purchase, two-five acre lots  one this year and one next year at a cost of $45,000 each. The industrial park was developed using a Community Development Block Grant that installed sewer, streets, electric and water lines to the tract. In all, about $1 million was invested  about $200,000 from the city. HDC acquired the property in 1999 from an estate. Only one tract is left in the citys industrial park off West Highway 17, and this new property is targeted for prospects who would bring jobs to the community. A city industrial group is working with a prospect there. The funds generated would be used toward retirement of the HDC debt for earlier building improvements.

Ultimately, the HDC plans to divest of its assets  if all goes as planned  and the citys own industrial development group, which is able to tap additional resources because of its not-for-profit status, would become the communitys lead economic driver.

HDC board member Don Romines said the merger of the two would be done without cost to the city and much of it assets would revert to the city.

It all boils down to jobs, Romines said. Those jobs drive growth of the community and sales tax.

Appearing at the meeting were some members of the HDC board.

Mindful of a grant application deadline, the city said it will make a decision at its Nov. 20 meeting.
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A recent survey shows New Zealand companies are increasingly valuing older members of their workforce with many putting specific measures in place to help keep them on board.



According to a study conducted by Diversity Works New Zealand, almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of Kiwi companies are now perceived to value employees over the age of 55.



A third of organisations show their appreciation by offering flexible or reduced hours to their more mature workers as well as the opportunity to be a mentor to up-and-coming staff.



Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie, chief executive of Diversity Works New Zealand, said its also encouraging to see the number of organisations with no specific strategy for engaging aging workers has dropped from more than 70 per cent a year ago to just 32 per cent last month.



Government figures predict that by 2020, a quarter of the New Zealand workforce will be aged 55 or older, and these wisdom workers can offer a solution to the skills and labour shortage many industry sectors are facing, she said.



Businesses need to capitalise on the experience and loyalty they bring to the workforce and the New Zealand economy, she added.



Michael Barnett, a director of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, also commented on the studys findings and urged employers to put a tailored plan in place if they hadnt already.



The survey clearly shows that older workers are valued and depended on and that we should have a plan to retain and re-educate if we are to keep them as a resource, he said.



Smaller businesses might also want to engage loyal older workers to bring knowledge and stability to their work places, he added.





Related stories:

Employers urged to support older workers

Are you overlooking older workers?
Humane Society International has praised the launch of the Animal Welfare Unit in Guatemala responsible for implementing the nations landmark Animal Welfare and Protection Law and associated regulations, which went into effect in September 2017. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food will house the Unit.

Guatemalas animal protection law, passed earlier this year, prohibits dogfighting, the use of animals in circuses, the use of animals for experimentation and research in the cosmetic industry, and the cutting of animals ears and tails for aesthetics. It also creates criminal penalties for those who cause injury, suffering or criminal death to an animal.

HSI has supported the law since its inception and continues to provide institutional cooperation and technical advice to the Animal Welfare Unit. Cynthia Dent, global field manager for HSI, expressed her satisfaction at the culmination of this project, which took more than two years of work in conjunction with Guatemalan authorities, educational institutions and various organizations.

We are encouraged by the overwhelming positive response to animal welfare in Guatemalas Congress. This demonstrates that awareness of the importance of animal welfare continues to grow and that it knows no political differences. Both Guatemalan civil society and government can count on the support of Humane Society International in their efforts to ensure more humane treatment for animals in the country.

Become an Animal Defender.

Agriculture, Livestock and Food Minister Mario Mendez Montenegro said, It pleases me to know that Guatemala has one of the best laws for the protection of animals, and I am even happier that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food to ensure its implementation.

As part of the launch event, representatives from Guatemalas police departments, ministries, municipalities, Congress and other governmental and non-governmental groups attended a workshop about the animal welfare law, its regulations and sanctions. Experts with Humane Society International led a workshop on animal cruelty and dogfighting.

Among the Units tasks include:

Determining the rules to regulate animal-related establishments, associations, shelters and people who work with animals;

Generating public awareness of animal issues;

Preparing the procedure manuals for the implementation of the countrys animal welfare law;

Generating canine and feline sterilization guidelines; and

Training government authorities and sectors involved in the implementation of the law.

Media contact: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org
In recent weeks we've been meeting with British Members of Parliament to discuss our new whitepaper on privacy and anonymity in digital currencies. We were also exploring legislative options that we feel would greatly benefit the digital currency sector in the UK through supporting consumer confidence. Options that would bring our sector in line with our global competitors in this exciting and fast-moving area of the economy, without undermining its core appeal.

There's no doubt that we're covering a lot of ground - from anti-money laundering legislation, the potential for the UK government to raise billions of pounds in unclaimed capital gains tax, to cryptocurrencies impact on economic policy - the disruptive power of digital currencies is wide ranging.

The consumer potential is already being demonstrated, with businesses like Etsy and Subway now accepting bitcoins. It is also starting to rub off on the public sector globally.

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Singapore and Russia are the countries leading the charge, by creating their own cryptocurrencies. Recently Putin announced that the Russian government will investigate the digital currencies market to see how it could fit into their boarder regulatory framework. It is alleged that the Russian government is working on the CryptoRuble, its own form cryptocurrency, but this has yet to be confirmed. It has, however, been given the go-ahead in Singapore.

Recently, The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has developed three different models for inter-bank payments using blockchain. MAS aims to finish its own currency trial by next year. Several major banks have become involved in the project and MAS hopes that the project will demonstrate the positive impact of the new financial technology.

North Korea, however, have been using them to make mischief. Recently it has emerged that North Korean hackers are breaking into foreign computers and using them to mine without the owner's knowledge or permission. Malware crypto-mining is a new trend among hackers because it is a successful alternative to risky high-intensity attacks. North Korean hackers typify the illicit side of cryptocurrencies.

In the Philippines, one of LEOcoin's biggest users, the government have started to regulate cryptocurrencies. Manila has decided to engage with the digital currency sector as it sees the transaction method as useful for sending remittances (international transfers). In the last year cryptocurrency transactions have grown by 200%.

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Rodrigo Duterte's (the Philippine President) government has introduced digital currencies regulation to protect users in response to concerns about digital currencies ability to facilitate money laundering and other criminal activities.

Many countries that are still on the fence about cryptocurrencies are slowly embracing them under a regulatory framework. However, nations like Saudi Arabia don't think that cryptocurrencies have matured enough to be regulated at all. For these and many other countries they are choosing to take a back seat and wait to see what happens before they make any definitive moves.

Globally the resistance towards cryptocurrencies is waning as they are becoming a more accepted transaction method. This is great to see. Though I've always advocated the disruptive power of digital currencies, and their opportunity to break the status quo, I've never wanted the world of cryptos to remain a 'wild west'. Consumers need to be confident that they're using a safe product.
RoschetzkyIstockPhoto via Getty Images

This week, governments are gathering in Bonn, Germany, for the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. COP 23, for short. High on the agenda is how to put the Paris Agreement into action. Agreed at COP21, the accord aims to avoid the worst of the climate crisis by keeping limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and well below 2 degrees. One of the biggest challenges to getting nations to agree to a real, just, and effective implementation plan is overcoming the pervasive and powerful influence of lobbyists.

Let's be clear: lobbying isn't all bad. It was only last month that I met the wonderful and truly inspiring Guardians of the Forest, the indigenous peoples taking their fight to protect their lands and their forests across the world. I met them in Brussels where they were lobbying for support from MEPs, which I was more than happy to give. Lobbying can encompass causes that are entirely in line with the fight against climate change.

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Delighted to stand with the inspiring #GuardiansOfTheForest fighting to protect their - and the world's - forests!  pic.twitter.com/KcAyfwa7cp  Keith Taylor MEP (@GreenKeithMEP) October 19, 2017

Lobbying efforts don't have to involve a shady web of vested interests and don't have to be embarked upon purely in the pursuit of protecting the profits of multinational corporations and a tiny wealthy elite.

But when it comes to the world of environmental, public health and climate policymaking, more often than not, it does.

The situation is such that the latest report from Corporate Accountability, only reveals what Greens close to climate negotiations at the local, national and international level have warned about for decades: corporations with vested interests opposed to urgent climate action have far too much sway over policymaking in this area. The European Union and the member states which make up its number, in particular, are being influenced by big polluters to such an extent that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is under threat.

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The report finds lobbyists have infiltrated the highest levels of climate talks to push for false solutions to the climate crisis and battle against the urgent action and tougher regulations needed - to protect the profit margins of their big polluter paymasters.

The European Union is marked out as "perhaps worse" than even America, which has now withdrawn from the accord altogether, for "undermining climate policy" because of the pernicious influence of lobbyists.

It's something Greens have been fighting against for decades. It's why I was delighted last month to see MEPs coming together to support a Green resolution to keep vested interests out of future climate negotiations. The European Parliament has made its position is clear: we won't stand for dirty energy lobbyists and climate deniers subverting the critical fight against climate change.

It was disappointing then that the European Council failed to follow our lead - but not surprising. The body is made up of the leaders of the same EU nations that are aiding and abetting corporate lobbying in their own countries. If leaders, like Theresa May, won't confront the dirty lobbyists at home, they're not likely to use their influence in the Council to kick them out of global climate negotiations.

It's this fact, among many others, that makes Brexit so concerning. Not only are so many of the Ministers and MPs pushing for an extreme Brexit so inexorably linked to a shady web of dirty lobbyists and climate denialists they have explicitly stated their desire to see leaving the EU as an opportunity to strip away what few safeguards we do have.

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jm #9

The problem is, it's an uncontrolled experiment.

We can't count how many mass murders were averted by effective gun control legislation & procedures.

We can only tally the failures.



Perhaps some insight might be gained by tallying the number of applicants that flunk the NICS.



Problem there is, according to what I've read of it, unless the NICS produces a negative result, the applicant is eligible for the sale.



Meaning, it's not a binary, but 3 possible outcomes:

- accepted

- rejected

- no reported result. The practice is to grant permission to those in this category.
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images

The Facebook memories feature seems designed to mostly make us cringe at embarrassing statuses we wrote in the past or photos we posted way back when. Sometimes it jogs our memory about something useful, though. Last week it reminded me that at the end of October 2012, I posted on Facebook that my local foodbank had fed over 150 people in that month alone. I remember being amazed at how many local people were facing crises that led to them being referred to us for emergency food. It was hard to imagine where these 150 people would have turned if we hadn't opened our doors six months earlier.

Fast forward to almost exactly five years later: on Friday we fed 142 people in one day. Where once we felt overwhelmed by helping 150 people in a month, now that seems like a drop in the ocean.

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While Friday was a really busy day for us in Hastings, sadly it's becoming increasingly common to have days when we are rushed off our feet. We've seen an 82% increase in referrals since Universal Credit began to be rolled out in Hastings on 14 December last year.

The statistics are shocking, but this isn't about numbers. It's about people.

Last week a couple came to us for help. They told us they have recently taken on full-time responsibility for their grandchildren, who would've otherwise gone into care. At significant cost to themselves, they've stepped up (and, as an aside, in doing so they're saving the Government the thousands of pounds it would cost if the children had gone into care). In order to look after their grandkids, the grandmother has reduced her hours at work. The change in their circumstances has led to problems with their benefits under the Universal Credit system. While they wait for their delayed benefits to come through, they have no money to feed themselves or their grandchildren. So they were referred to us.

In the fifth richest country in the world, this cannot be right.

Another woman, in her late 20s or early 30s, said that she was receiving disability premium payments and has now lost these in the transition to Universal Credit, meaning that though her disability has remained the same, her income has halved. So she was given a voucher for the foodbank.

In a country that has in the past taken great pride in not letting vulnerable people fall by the wayside, this cannot be right.

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A pregnant woman told us that she was receiving in-work benefits. She's just gone on maternity leave, meaning her Universal Credit has been stopped, even though she won't receive any of her maternity pay until December. So this mother with a newborn baby is relying on the foodbank to fill the gap. In a country that calls itself civilised and developed, surely this cannot be right?

Through my work at Jubilee+, a national Christian charity helping churches to support the poorest and most vulnerable in their communities, I have heard story after story of people being pushed further into poverty during the transition to Universal Credit.

It amazes me that the Government has ignored calls from Citizens' Advice, Trussell Trust, Christians Against Poverty, Jubilee+ and other charities to pause the rollout of Universal Credit. When politicians on both sides of the aisle started to urge the Government to pause too, I was certain they would rethink.

Sadly this has not yet been the case and, if I'm honest, I'm losing hope that even the latest figures from Trussell Trust (released today) will cause them to sit up and listen. Foodbanks across the country are seeing big increases in demand - 30% where Universal Credit has been rolled out for six months, compared to 12% where it hasn't. Our 82% in Hastings is higher than most, but we're not alone. The Guardian reported in October that a Croydon foodbank had seen a 97% increase, while from Taunton in the south-west to Hartlepool in the north-east, several other places have seen sharp increases too.

But foodbanks cannot fix a fundamental flaw in the system. We're picking up the pieces as much as we can, but many places are seeing demand rocket while food donations stay at the same level. With the increases we're witnessing, it's clearly evident that foodbanks are a sticking plaster on a crack that is growing into a canyon.

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As far as I'm aware, no one is calling for the Government to scrap Universal Credit entirely. Certainly most of the Christian charities that are at the frontline of helping the most vulnerable in our communities think that streamlining the benefits system and making it easier to navigate are good things.

All we are asking is for the Government to immediately pause the rollout and fix the six-week gap. What we're really asking is for our politicians to remember that people need to be prioritised over policy. This six-week gap is causing utter misery for thousands. It's not uncommon to hear people say that if it wasn't for their local foodbank, they'd turn to crime, loan sharks or even suicide. Some will live with the debt accrued during the waiting period for many months to come, if not years.

This cannot be right. It isn't right.

Whether the six-week gap was intentionally built into the system or is an unintended consequence is immaterial at this point. It simply needs to be fixed, and fast.
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I see a clear and present danger. Our climate is changing and it will harm us all.

Climate change is not just about polar bears, it is about all life on our planet, and it poses a threat to humanity as great - or greater - than war or terrorism. Climate change has the potential to not only undo advances promoting basic human rights and development: it is increasingly viewed as a threat to global peace.

As I write this, levels of carbon dioxide in our global atmosphere have just exceeded 410 parts per million for the first time in human history, warming our planet with profound consequences for our global community.

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Climate change is already exacerbating extreme poverty, food insecurity and inequitable access to natural resources including fresh water. It will increasingly impact on food production, social stability, economic wealth and security. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier and magnifier, driving people from their homes and lands in vast and growing numbers. These facts and the future implications of climate change are highlighted in the Environmental Justice Foundation's latest research.

While disrupted weather patterns bring too much, or too little, water, and extreme weather events destroy crops and kill livestock, more and more people will be left not knowing where their next meal is coming from. and more and more will be forced to move. As forced mass migration deepens, the likelihood of localised, trans-boundary and regional conflicts will magnify. The implications for the well-being of millions will be matched by the potential threat of conflicts that will arise, at least in part, from climate change.

Since 2008, over 21 million people have been displaced, on average, every year by weather-related hazards, which are magnifying and multiplying due to climate change. Around 59,000 people every day - or 41 people every single minute. Millions more have been forced to leave their homes due to prolonged droughts and their devastating impacts.

And hundreds of millions more people are living on the edge of disaster.

About 300 million people who live on or near the coast in Indonesia are vulnerable to sea level rise. Some island nations such as Tuvalu, the Maldives and Vanuatu are set to disappear altogether. Entire nations forced to flee their land and homes. Across the world this will be repeated in low-lying areas.

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In Bangladesh one metre of sea level rise would equate to a loss of 17-20 per cent of territory. The government estimates that would create around 25 million climate refugees, while other experts suggest nearer 35 million. Bangladesh does not have the capacity to absorb such mass displacement (most poorer countries do not), so refugees will be forced into neighbouring countries. And as the basic necessities of life become precious commodities, the risk of conflict will surge.

While senior military figures in Bangladesh have pointed, urgently, to these threats, making clear that peace is at risk not just in their country, but across South Asia and the rest of the world, senior military figures from Britain to the United States have raised a similar alarm, identifying climate change and the accompanying threats to our national and global security as a cause for urgent action.

They are warning world leaders of the need to cut our addiction to carbon - today.

And we must consider that those who are least to blame for climate change are those who will be affected worst. The world's least developed countries produce only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions and have had far fewer of the benefits reaped by the developed world from their carbon-based economies.

But, while the poorest and most vulnerable will be among the first and worst impacted, the world's wealthiest nations will not escape the effects of climate change. In the US, New Orleans, parts of Florida and the East Coast will all be hit as sea levels rise - former US National Security Advisor Richard Clarke says climate change is the greatest single risk not just to California, but the entire country.

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Again and again I see climate change as the unpredictable ingredient that, when added to existing social, economic and political tensions, has the potential to force people and communities to move, and to ignite violence.
FCC Boss Wrecks Media Ownership Rules In Huge Gift To Sinclair Broadcasting

While the FCC's Ajit Pai has been working hard to ignore the public outcry against the death of net neutrality, he's also been busy actively gutting media consolidation and ownership regulations solely, says Karl Bode of Techdirt, for the benefit of Sinclair broadcasting.

_____________________________

By Karl Bode of Techdirt

FCC boss Ajit Pai has been busy ignoring the public while he kills popular net neutrality rules. But he's also been working hard to weaken broadband deployment standards to obfuscate a lack of broadband competition, to gut programs that provide broadband to the poor, killing previous FCC efforts to improve cable box competition, to protect prison telco monopolies from oversight, and to make it easier for business broadband monopolies to rip off smaller competitors. All while proclaiming to be a stalwart defender of the little guy and a champion for bridging the digital divide.

But Pai has also been taking heat for his pursuit of another pet project: gutting media consolidation and ownership rules solely for the benefit of Sinclair Broadcasting, which is seeking approval for its $3.9 billion bid for Tribune. In the last few months, Pai has, as promised, been "taking a weed whacker" to rules intended to protect local reporting, media competition, and opinion diversity. That has included killing an 80 year rule intended to protect local competitors and journalism from unchecked monopoly control of a market, and taking an axe to some protections but bringing back others solely to Sinclair's benefit:

"On Tuesday, the FCC eliminated a requirement for broadcasters to keep a local studio. A day later, Pai called for easing ownership restrictions, potentially taking pressure off Sinclairs $3.9 billion deal for Tribune Media Co.s TV stations. Earlier, he had restored an obsolete rule, making the deal possible. On Thursday, the agency moved toward blessing a new broadcasting standard that may enrich Sinclair as it offers viewers sharper pictures."

As he prepares to axe yet more media consolidation protections over the coming months, Pai has trotted out the growing power of Google and Facebook as partial justification for eliminating rules he declares no longer necessary:

"The marketplace today is nothing like it was in 1975. Newspapers are shutting down. Many radio and TV stations are struggling, especially in smaller and rural markets. Online competition for the collection and distribution of news is even greater than it ever was. And just two Internet companies [Google and Facebook] claimed 100 percent of recent online advertising growth. Indeed, their digital ad revenue alone this year will be greater than the market cap of the entire broadcasting industry. And yet the FCC's rules still presume that the market is defined entirely by pulp and rabbit ears."

Obviously the argument that "Google and Facebook are big" and therefore media consolidation rules are unnecessary doesn't hold a whole lot of water. And while it's true that many newspapers and local news outlets are "struggling," that's more a failure of adaptation than a justification for gutting media consolidation restrictions that still aid smaller, regional news outlets. Unsurprisingly, fellow FCC Commissioners like Jessica Rosenworcel have called for an investigation into Pai's giant, sloppy kiss to Sinclair:

"It has reached a point where all of our media policy decisions seem to be custom-built for this one company," Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democratic FCC member, said Wednesday at a congressional hearing. "Its something that merits investigation.

This mindless obsession with mergers and consolidation (with little thought as to the impact on markets or competition) has been a hallmark of the Trump administration. But opposition to this growth-for-growth's sake has been increasingly bipartisan in nature, with many smaller Conservative outlets worried they'll be unable to compete with giants like Comcast NBC Universal, Sinclair/Tribune, and soon AT&T Time Warner. Smaller organizations like the American Cable Association (ACA) applauded and supported Pai's rise to power, now seem surprised as his policies focus almost exclusively on aiding the biggest and wealthiest companies:

"ACA urges the Federal Communications Commission to deny the Sinclair-Tribune transaction because it would violate existing FCC rules while at the same timing failing to meet the obligation to demonstrate it would serve the public interest. Even if the transaction were not per se unlawful, it would create a broadcasting behemoth with unprecedented control over both the national and local television markets, ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said."

Whether it's gutting net neutrality solely for the benefit of a few giant ISPs, or gutting media consolidation rules exclusively to aid one giant media empire, Pai's legacy at the FCC will be one of brutal myopia, obfuscated by tall tales about his relentless dedication to the little guys he seems blatantly intent on ignoring.

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Principal Jerimiah Ames presents high school student Jenna Charron with an award of excellence for her participation in the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in June.

Adams-Cheshire Rolls Out Plans to Retain Eighth-Graders



Principal Jerimiah Ames explains how to the School Committee how Hoosac Valley High is working to retain students entering Grade 9. CHESHIRE, Mass.  Administrators in the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District on Monday night rolled out a strategy to retain eighth-graders approaching high school.

The School Committee heard from Hoosac Valley High School Principal Jerimiah Ames, who after going through the current state of the districtwide turnaround plan, briefed the committee on what the district is doing to keep these middle school students in the district.

"Eighth-graders may go somewhere else and there are a lot of great programs out there, but a lot of them do come back," Ames said. "I think it is because of the programming we offer, and we have to keep working hard to get the message out there, so they dont take the long road and stay with us."

The district has seen a hemorrhage of students over the past few years with many choosing to enter Grade 9 outside the district, such as at McCann Technical School.

Ames said one of the main strategies behind the plan is to include the eighth-graders in more high school experiences since they are located on the Hoosac Valley campus.

Periodically throughout the year, eighth-grade classes will split up and as small groups visit high school classrooms.

"The idea is throughout the year every eighth-grade student will spend time and have a legitimate experience in a high school classroom," the principal said. "It will give them a sense of what the classes are like."

Ames said eighth-graders will be welcomed into many high school activities, such as pep rallies, dances and undergraduate award night.

"Eighth-graders historically were not part of the high school and they are not involved in the dances. We made the decision to include them," he said. "They are high school students."

Ames said he was privy to some of the concerns of parents and teachers on these younger students mingling with high schoolers at dances, but he felt there was nothing to worry about.

He said there will still be events purely for eighth-graders

They will also now go through a program with guidance counselors who will help them begin thinking about careers.

"They talk about their interests and occupations they may have heard of and how these things relate to classes we offer at the high school," Ames said.

He added that in the spring, the counselors will help the students pick out classes and electives for their freshman year.

"I think this is going to be big and will be our chance to show students what we have," Ames said. "We can show them all the electives we offer that other schools don't. We really stand out in that region and I am proud of those offerings. We fight for them every year and they really make our program rich."

Eighth-graders will be involved in some high school trips as well  such as an upcoming Washington, D.C., trip.

In other business, School Committee member Darlene Rodowicz said the Audit and Evaluation Subcommittee has seen an early draft of the fiscal 2019 budget.

"The good news is that the business manager and the superintendent seem to have a good handle on the direction the district is going, and it seems like we are moving in a good direction financially," she said.

Before starting the meeting, Ames awarded high school student Jenna Charron with an award of excellence in participation for attending the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in June.

"Thank you for all the hard work you put into being this kind of student and representing a lot of other students like you who do great things in school and beyond," he said.

Ames said the event is competitive and attendees must be nominated for the program put on by the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists.
Pittsfield Heads To Polls To Elect New City Council

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Voters will choose the next City Council on Tuesday.

A total of 19 candidates for City Council will be on the ballot, with races in nearly all of the wards and for the four at-large seats. The election will also feature six candidates seeking six seats on the School Committee and Michele Cetti is running unopposed for city clerk.

The ballot doesn't feature a mayoral race, and thus most believe the turnout will be low.The candidates are all up for two-year seats.

In Ward 1, Helen Moon is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Lisa Tully, who opted not to run for re-election. Moon will be facing Michael Cirullo. Cirullo, however, had previously announced he no longer sought the seat and stopped campaigning. Moon is a 34-year-old registered nurse at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. She has been involved in multiple progressive activist groups, such as Indivisible Pittsfield.

In Ward 2, Dina Guiel is challenging incumbent Kevin Morandi. Guiel has a background in government policy and planning. This is her first attempt to hold public office. Her work history includes developing youth mentoring programs in the Springfield area and assisting with the development of a master plan in Dedham.

Morandi has served three consecutive terms on the City Council after being elected in 2011. A self-employed barber, Morandi prides himself on being a strong ward councilor and keeping a close eye on the budget. He and Guiel have exchanged blows with Morandi attacking Guiel's commitment to the ward and experience, and Guiel saying he hasn't been effective and represents the view of just a limited few in the ward.

In Ward 3, incumbent Nicholas Caccamo is being challenged by James Gleason. The 55-year-old Gleason has positioned himself as being the opposition to Mayor Linda Tyer's administration. The retired school custodian has campaigned focusing reducing crime and the tax rate. He has promised to be a "strong voice" on the council.

Caccamo, a guidance counselor at Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter School, has served on the council since 2013 -- filling a void left by Paul Capitanio who opted not to run for re-election that year. The 31-year-old has boasted of providing good constituent service and has been highly supportive of educational efforts. His track record also features efforts to modernize government processes.

In Ward 4, William Wright is challenging Christopher Connell. The 45-year-old Wright is a distribution manager for Blue Q, photographer, and Air Force veteran. Wright's campaign has been based on community building and bringing new ideas to city government. He's focused his campaign on neighborhood issues, communicating with the residents, and a push to support small and medium-sized businesses.

Connell was elected to the City Council in 2011. His background is in retail after being a regional manager for a chain of convenience stores. He is also a local landlord and member of the Rental Housing Association of Berkshire County. He says he brings an independent voice to the City Council and has been particularly vocal about the city's budget, seeking ways to raise revenues and cut expenses.

In Ward 5, incumbent Donna Todd Rivers was being challenged by William Keane but Keane has since dropped out. Rivers will be entering her second term on the council, barring an unforeseen change in the election, after being elected by a small margin in 2015.

In Ward 6, incumbent John Krol is running unopposed. He'll be entering his fifth term on the council.

In Ward 7, Rhonda Serre is challenging Anthony Simonelli. Serre, a current outreach and advancement supervisor for Elder Services, has been involved with city politics in a number of ways over the years and has focused her campaign on maintaining infrastructure, economic development, and enhanced crime prevention. She has tried to separate herself from Simonelli by saying she'd be more proactive in addressing issues than the incumbent.

Simonelli, a retired city school teacher, first won election in 2011. He has leaned on his experience and his independence in voting. He said he has been and will be available at all times to address issues for the ward's residents. He has also been the sole vote against the budget during the last two years because he felt it could have been reduced more.

The at-large race features six candidates for four seats. They include current City Council President Peter Marchetti, former Council President Melissa Mazzeo, and incumbent Peter White. Those three are joined by newcomers Edward James Carmel, Earl Persip, and Craig Gaetani. Incumbent Kathleen Amuso is not seeking re-election.

Marchetti is the senior vice president for retail banking and operations at Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. He has been involved with city government for more than a decade. He served eight years on the City Council before running for mayor in 2011. He lost that race but returned for a council run in 2015, and was the top vote-getter. He's led the council as president for the last two years.

Mazzeo, a dental hygienist, first won election in 2009 and in 2011 was the top vote-getter. She led the council until 2016, when Marchetti took over.

White is a job placement specialist for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and served on the council as a ward councilor from 2009 until 2011. He then sought the seat of state representative but lost. He returned to the City Council two years ago with an at-large position.

Carmel brings a newcomer's eye to the process. In his first campaign for public office, Carmel brings the perspective of a city resident who has been homeless, has seen the drugs and crime firsthand, and has dealt with a fair share of housing issues.

Persip is the director of operations at the Berkshire Family YMCA. His campaign has been focused on youth development, building small-businesses, and bringing more diversity to city government. He has also served as a board member of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and on the city's Animal Control Commission.

Gaetani is a Vietnam veteran who boasts of experience with wastewater treatment plants as a scientist and consultant with Krofka engineering. He is most known for his use of the open microphone period during City Council meetings and a show on community television. He ran for mayor in 2015 but did not make it past the preliminary.

For the School Committee, there are six candidates for six seats, while. They are William Joseph Cameron, Dennis Powell, and incumbents Joshua Cutler, Daniel Elias, Cynthia Taylor, and Katherine Yon. Anthony Riello and Pamela Farron are not seeking re-election.
Final standout on rainy election eve on Monday. Voters in North Adams head to the polls on Tuesday.

North Adams to Elect New Mayor, New Government



Thomas Bernard, left, and Robert Moulton Jr. are vying for the corner office in North Adams on Tuesday. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Voters head to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new government for the city of North Adams.

No matter the outcome, North Adams will have a new mayor and, at minimum, four new city councilors.

Robert Moulton Jr. and Thomas Bernard are vying for a two-year term in the corner office. With Mayor Richard Alcombright deciding to step down, this the first time in 34 years that no incumbent has stood for election.

Moulton is a five-time councilor and city native who ran unsuccessfully against Alcombright four years ago. The local businessman has presented himself as a champion of the city's working class who have felt left behind by the city's transformation as a cultural destination. He's criticized the two major anchor institutions  Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts  as not doing enough and calls for studies of privatizing the water treatment plant again and looking at call or volunteer Fire Department to save on costs.

A longtime member and president of the North Adams Ambulance Service, Moulton's also pushing for better use of police officers to combat the high rate of crime that's being reported and put high school students' dress at the center of raising educational standards.

Bernard was raised in North Adams and graduated from Williams College and holds a master of public administration from Westfield State University. This is his first time running for elected office and he's promoting his experience in management and oversight of multimillion budgets at Mass MoCA, MCLA and, in his current post, as director of special projects at Smith College.

A founding member of North Adams DNA and its successor, the North Adams Chamber of Commerce, Bernard said he's looking for a "pragmatic collaborative" approach to working with the city's anchors and new developers to improve the economy. That includes hiring some type of business development director to help pitch the city to investors and support businesses. He'd alos put together a committee to prioritize action against blight. He says educational standards should focus on attendance and academics, not what students wear.

There are 16 candidates running for the nine at-large seats on the City Council. Five of these are incumbents and 11 are newcomers who have never run for office before.

Keith Bona is the veteran of the council with four consecutive terms under his belt after serving on several terms back in the 1990s. If elected he will be the only councilor with more than four years experience. Bona is a local business owner and has served on all the council's committees.

Eric Buddington, Benjamin B. Lamb and Joshua Moran are all vying for their third terms. Lamb is currrently president of the council and has been involved with a number of local initiatives, including the Small Busines Revolution competition and next year's NAMAZing Eagle Street Initiative. Buddington has pushed for more transparency in local government (creating an ordinance on meeting minutes) and hopes to parlay his expertise on the internet to the benefit of the city. Moran has been a booster of the city's natural resources and spearheaded its designation as an Appalachian Trail Community.

Also running as an incumbent is Wayne Wilkinson, who lost his seat in the 2015 election but was returned to the council in June to fill the seat of Nancy Bullett, who resigned. Wilkinson has a long history on the Planning Board and in real estate, and pushed through an ordinance retaining non-conforming commercial properties.

Roger J. Eurbin ran a last-minute write-in campaign two years but this year is on the ballot. Navy veteran and MCLA graduate, he is a member of the Cemetery Commission and initiated the Hill Side Cemetery project.

Rebbecca A. Cohen, an MCLA graduate, works in human resources for her family businesses Tunnel City Transport and Cariddi Auto Agency. She has also worked in education and finance and has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus. Also endorsed by the Woman's Caucus is Marie T. Harpin, whose mother (with the same name) served on the City Council for many years. She holds an MBA from MCLA and has years of experience in finance she believes will benefit the city.



Sixteen candidates are running for the nine seats on the City Council. Paul Hopkins has served on the Planning Board and Redevelopment Authority for more than 20 years. He worked for the former WMNB radio station and later as spokesman for North Adams Regional Hospital; he currently is communications coordinator for Berkshire Healthcare Systems. Keifer Gammell is a graduate of MCLA and has been visitor services manager at Mass MoCA for six years. He is a member of the North Adams Chamber of Commerce. has served on the Planning Board and Redevelopment Authority for more than 20 years. He worked for the former WMNB radio station and later as spokesman for North Adams Regional Hospital; he currently is communications coordinator for Berkshire Healthcare Systems.is a graduate of MCLA and has been visitor services manager at Mass MoCA for six years. He is a member of the North Adams Chamber of Commerce.

Jason M. LaForest is a registered nurse at Williamstown Commons, said he's cognizant of both the need for health care access in the city and the burden on taxpayers. He's been endorsed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Scott Orr, a manager at the Walmart Supercent, is originally from Arkansas but has made North Adams his home. He said he wants to create a safe and prosperous city for his son to grow up in.

Bryan A. Sapienza, parts manager for K-M Toyota, said he had a desire to ensure the city continues to move forward and believes his technical background will give him a different perspective on issues. Ashley Marie Shade is a city native who holds a a degree in culinary and masters in finance and political science. Her focus is on economic development and working to bring jobs and investment to the city.

Clarise R. Vanderburgh, Drury High School graduate, believes her long experience in banking industry, including as teller supervisor at Berkshire Bank, will be beneficial in municipal budgeting and wants to do what's best for the city. H. Merle Knight, who moved to the city five years ago, has degrees in linguistics and cited her professional background in private investigations and public safety and security as experience the council could use.

There are also three candidates for the three open seats on the School Committee. They are Heather Boulger, Raya Kirby and Ian Bergeron. James Holmes, a recently retired school teacher, also is on the ballot but said he cannot serve for personal reasons. It was too late to withdraw his name from the ballot.

Boulger has served since 1998 and has been vice chairman for 18 years. She is the executive director of the Berkshire County Employment Board and holds masters in business administration and education. She is most proud of the school renovations/construction of Colegrove, Drury and Brayton during her tenure and the educators in the school system.

Kirby was raised in North Adams and returned to the city a decade ago. She and her husband have two young girls, with the older girl attending the Greylock School preschool. Kirby was first an educator and now is an intensive care coordinator at the Brien Center. She says the socioeconomic pressures on the city's children need to be addressed for them to be successful.

Bergeron is a graduate of MCLA and now director of informat technology systems at MCLA. He also worked in the superintendent's office for three years as IT coordinator. His wife works at Drury High and they have young children in the school system. Bergeron said he's very passionate about the public school system.

The Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational School District has two incumbents running unopposed: Paul Gigliotti and Gary Rivers.

There's also a special state election to fill the seat of the late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi. John Barrett III, former North Adams mayor, won the Democratic primary to face off against Republican candidate Christine Canning. The winner will finish out the final year of Cariddi's term.

Voting is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. The special election for state representative will also be held at those hours in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford and Williamstown.
The town is hosting three information sessions on the school project ahead of the Nov. 18 revote. The School Building Committee hosted three sessions in September, prior to the first vote.

Clarksburg Voters Grappling With Big School Project Numbers



Voters at Monday's session questioned the cost and need for the school project, about the town's finances and if there were other options. NOTE: Wednesday, Nov. 8, is the last day to register to vote in the special town meeting. The town clerk's office will be open from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m.; mail-in registration in the Town Hall entryway must be received by 8 Wednesday night. CLARKSBURG, Mass.  Voters on Monday were trying to wrap their heads around some hard numbers related to the biggest public works project the town has ever considered.

Some 80 residents were attending the first of three information sessions hosted by the town to discuss the proposed $19 million school project. A special town meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, to revote on authorizing the borrowing. The project failed by one vote in September to reach the required two-thirds.

The town's share of the reconstruction/addition of the 65-year-old school would be $7.7 million, or about $350,000 a year, for 40 years. That's $3.25 on the tax rate and a total payoff of nearly $15 million.

Town Administrator Carl McKinney said he'd been advocating for a new school since joining the Select Board in 2003.

"I've struggled with this decision," he said. "This school needs to be done and it's not going to be free. ...

"We as a society have to take a deep breath and decide what we want for our future."

Select Board Chairman Jeffrey Levanos, however, was not as sanguine about the town's ability to bear the burden.

"You've got the town accountant saying the town can't afford it, you have the town treasurer saying we can't afford it, and the town assessor saying we can't afford it. That's what bothers me," he said. "You asked for the experts  these are the experts and not one of these three is getting up saying we're going to be OK, we can do this $30,000 a month for 38 years."

"I want the school like everybody else but I also want to live in this town," Levanos said.

The town operates on a budget of about $1.4 million, nearly half of which is taken up by health insurance, and school choice payouts and tuition to other districts. The school budget is another $2.4 million.

Five-year projections show the town incurring deficits of between $30,000 and $80,000. Those would require new revenues or cuts to balance the budget. While a school loan would not specifically affect the town's operating budget because it would be a debt exclusion, the cost placed on top of the annual budget would put severely limit the town and school's abilities to pay for future needs.

"As costs go up what has been going on for the last 30 years has been cutting and more cutting ... to live within the allowances of our allowable tax levy," McKinney said. "It's almost all gone ... we have a very challenging situation."

State aid has been flatlined for nearly a decade; growth is limited because nearly half the town is owned by the state and out of what's left, about 37 percent is buildable. Health care costs alone are outpacing the restrictions of Proposition 2 1/2.

McKinney ticked off a few revenue possibilities, such as creating new ordinances for marijuana and short-term rooms rental, and the fact that the town has very little in debt now.

The 30-year loan for capping the landfill and and the five-year loan to redo Horrigan Road have two more payments each, freeing up about $80,000 a year, although its still has years on the library loan.

The school project's been in the works for nearly a decade. The original building was constructed in 1952 at a cost of $160,000 and added onto in 1967 and 1972. The '70s addition, with a 20-year lifespan, is in the worst condition but the entire building is undersized, inefficent and out of compliance with contemporary school building codes.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority will pay for $11.3 million of the project, based on a 70 percent reimbursement rate for eligible items. That's up from the original 62.3 percent earlier this year.

The MSBA has set enrollment at 150 students for the design, based in part on demographics and birth projections. The school currently enrolls 140 Clarksburg children, 51 school-choice children and two children of Clarksburg teachers.

The school is not overcrowded, as some in the audience appeared to believe, but rather has insufficient space for programs including preschool and special education. The plan is to add 10,000 square feet to the building, bringing it up to about 34,000 square feet. That would largely be the addition of a middle-school size gym and art, music and science classrooms.

"There's no problem with us having 200 students in the building, we have almost that now," explained Supertintendent Jonathan Lev. Because MSBA calculates based on number of students, raising the enrollment figure would mean the school would have be bigger and costlier, he said.

Several in audience queried the possible closure of the school because of recommendations of the Berkshire County Education Task Force or the affect of the proposed collaboration with Stamford, Vt. However, neither of those issues specifically call for closing a school.

The task force has recommended a single, countywide school district to streamline governance, create efficiencies and provide equitable and quality education for all Berkshire students. It has no authority to close schools; any such decisions would be made by the towns. Stamford is looking to partner with Clarksburg because of changes in Vermont law that is forcing schools to create larger governance units, similar to what the Berkshire task force is recommending. Those talks are in hold in part because of the school vote.

School officials also put forward a "Plan B" of some $4 million in renovations that would likely need an override. That would cover the heating and cooling systems, new roof, exterior envelope, elevator, plumbing, electrical, kitchen, security and partial removal of asbestos.

Lev said the estimated cost was $2.75 on the tax rate, or 50 cents less than doing the entire school, over 20 years. This would also require an override or debt exclusion.

Several in the audience scoffed at the numbers but Lev said the estimates had been done through owner's project manager and confirmed by independent estimators and the MSBA. Still, some residents thought the town could get around state procurement and wage laws by hiring part-time workers or using volunteers.

Plan C would be to close the school and tuition the students elsewhere, which would cost about the same as educating them in Clarksburg.

"If the school vote goes down we will still have to fix the school," said McKinney, describing it as a "death knell" for the school if it doesn't pass.

But some questioned whether the school could continue to remain open in light of the area's projected population decline and changes in how education is being administered in a high-tech world.

"Forty years is way too long to put this town in jeopardy," said Robert Norcross, a former selectman.

Mark Billetz said he'd moved his family to Clarksburg just so his children could attend school here. "I'm willing to make the investment for future generations," he said.

Jason Morin said he was willing to make an investment, too, but not by this much. "Can you say the school is not going to close in five years?" he said.

"It's a hard bullet to swallow," said resident Art Lemaire, asking how many times would the town come back to taxpayers for more other capital needs.

"It's like a monkey on my back I can't shake," said Karin Robert of the cost. "I can't wrap my head round it."

A second information session at the school is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and third on Wednesday, Nov. 15, also at 6.
Wahhabism



The U.S. Backs Sunnis Despite Terrorism

Historical Difference Between Sunni & Shia Islam

KHADIJAH



AISHA

Religious Differences Aside

The Bottom Line

Dont fall for the hype.Crown prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud is being reported in the MSM as a reformer who wants to bring KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) intoif not the twenty-first centuryat least the 16th century.Its being said the 32-year-old prince wants to return KSA to moderate Islam, which implies that the Saudis were ever moderate to begin with. (Spoiler alert: they werent.)bin Salman is being portrayed in the media as both a change-maker and a visionary who wants to open the hidden kingdom to investment and capitalismwords that give Republicans automatic boners.The part that is being downplayed in the media, but should worry everyone on the planet, is bin Salmans genocidal vision of a Middle East devoid of the minority Shia (Shiite) population.The war in Yemen (a poor country that Saudis have imported black slaves from for eons) between the Sunnis and Shia and increased aggression toward predominantly Shiite Iran should, when coupled with the fact bin Salman is resistant toward ridding KSA of fundamentalist Wahhabism, be proof unto itself that the crown prince doesnt care about modernizing the proudly backward kingdom at all.Wahhabism is to Islam what the Klan is to Christianity: nothing good.Bluntly stated, the words modernization and/or moderate are oxymoronic to religious people who both glorify and seek to replicate life in the bedouin Stone Age.A desire to diversify the Saudi economy away from dependence on oil does not equate to modernizing KSA as a whole. That women will be permitted to drive in the big cities next year fails to be a sign of progress when rural Saudi womenwho tend to be as bedouin Wahhabist as one can behave been driving for as long as men.Driving has never been considered a luxury by rural Saudi women; its just the way it is when ones husband cannot afford to pay a male driver to chauffeur the females in his family around.The religious police overlooked the transgression because it inconvenienced mennot because it benefitted women.The United States narrative, an account the MSM has swallowed hook, line, and sinker, is that it benefits our countrys security interests to back the Sunnis. If thats the case, why has every act of Islamic terrorism perpetrated on American soil been committed by a Sunni?ISISSunni. Al QaedaSunni. The Boston BomberSunni. The United Nations bombing in NYCSunni. The attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11Sunni. The radical who used a truck to kill New Yorkers on a bike/walk path just a week or two agoSunni.Despite our countrys sizable Shia populations in Detroit and Los Angeles, this nation has yet to suffer a single act of terrorism at the hands of a Shiite Muslim.Even the great, feared Iranthe Shia nation most of Los Angeles assimilated Persian community heralds fromhas never attacked the U.S. on our own soil. While Iran suffers from the same backwards thinking as KSA in terms of womens rights in particular and human rights in general, what offensive (as opposed to defensive) aggression have they shown us?Backing the Sunnis is not in the American peoples security interests; its in the financial interests of the uber-wealthy 1/10th of the 1% that (a) does business with them and (b) allows them to gobble up huge shares in everything from American media (hello Fox news) to luxury hotels and iconic American stores (i.e. Tiffanys.)The rift between the two branches of Islam dates back to the prophet Muhammads death and revolves around the question of who his 1st true successor/caliph was.The Sunni believe the 1st caliph was Abu Bakr, while the Shia believe it was Ali.In essence, the dispute boils down to which of Muhammads wives was (a) the most beloved and thereby (b) the most trusted. Let me explain that a bit betterMuhammads first wife, Khadijah, was fifteen years his senior. They married when he was twenty-five and she was forty, well before he began having the visions that ultimately resulted in the Quran. Sunnis are quick to dismiss his marriage to Khadijah as a political one not born of genuine affection, even though one of their own hadiths states the following:The messenger of Allah said:It was Khadijah the prophet was married to when the visions began. It was Khadijah that Muhammad ran to shaking and crying, fearing he had gone mad after the first of the visions took place. It was Khadijah who held him, who calmed him, and who professed her unwavering belief in him and his otherworldly experience. It was Khadijah who was her husbands first convert and by extension Islams first Muslim. It was Khadijah to whom Muhammad was married monogamously to for twenty-five years and whose death he never recovered from. And it was Khadijah who gave birth to Fatima, the beloved daughter of Muhammad who would eventually marry Alithe 1st caliph in Shia tradition.Aisha, the child bride of Muhammad, was the daughter of Abu Bakrthe 1st caliph in Sunni tradition. She was the only of the prophets wives who was a virgin upon their marriage, a fact that seems to matter to Sunnis much more than it did to Muhammad. Indeed, Aisha was neither his first wife after Khadijahs death nor his last. It stands to reason that if Aishas virginity had enamored Muhammad in any way, his subsequent wives would have been virgins too; they werent.The prophet insisted that men should never take more than four wives during a period in time when Arabians took as many as they wanted. Even then, Muhammad said a man was not permitted to do so unless he could love and care for the wives equally.If those conditions could not be met, then Muhammad dictated never to take more than one wife lest the other wives suffer emotionally or otherwise. The fact that he took other wives while married to Aisha, but wouldnt consider it when married to Khadijah, pretty much says it all. Even Aisha recognized it:"I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet as much as I did of Khadijah though I did not see her, but the Prophet used to mention her very often, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadijah I sometimes said to him, "(You treat Khadijah in such a way) as if there is no woman on Earth except Khadijah."Given all that is known to be true regarding where Muhammads affections and confidence lied, I can only assume the near-deity status Aisha has been given in Sunni traditionLifting up the young, virgin bride as the ideal wife gives credence to the worthiness of marrying a female who embodies Aishas attributes. Unfortunately, virgin-worship also lends acceptabilityif not downright respectabilityto child marriage.: although its commonly reported Aisha was 6-years-old at the time of her marriage and 9-years-old at the time of the marriages consummation, many Islamic scholars disagree. Using known historical dates and other relevant data, the youngest age she was likely to have been at consummation was fifteen with the oldest possibility being seventeen.Although its interesting to understand that the difference between Sunni and Shia tradition basically comes down to the 1st caliph, whats important to start noticing in the here and now is how marginalized and demonized the Shia are in U.S. media.Even the so-called Shia extremist groups such as Hezbollah came into existence not offensively, but defensively. Whether you agree with Hezbollahs tactics or not, the group has been instrumental in guarding Lebanons southern border from ISIS insurgents.It should also be noted that Hezbollah guarded and actively fought at the border for all Lebanese lands, including those lands that have been held by Lebanese Maronites (Catholics) since the 4th century. (Dont bother arguing otherwise to me as I saw it in real time with my own two eyes.)Its time to reassess the talking points and propaganda that have been shoved down our throats for years.It is the Sunni, often in conjunction with the United States, who invade lands that dont belong to them; it is the Shia who defend their lands from them. It is the United States that has been aggressive in its attempts to bring Iran to heel; it is Iran who refuses to bow down to the worlds biggest bully.If a foreign invader struck out at us, we would justifiably strike back. Dont expect Shia nations to give up their sovereignty and kowtow to the 1/10th of the 1% here who wont be satisfied until Shia lands have been raped of all resources.Mohammad bin Salman al Saud is as trustworthy as Trump. That both men are exhibiting increasing hostility toward Iran is worth noting and worth keeping a wary eye on.
The International Energy Agency announced today the launch of the Clean Energy Transitions Programme, a new multi-year, EUR 30 million plan backed by 13 countries to support clean energy transitions around the world.

This new Programme will leverage the IEAs unique energy expertise across all fuels and technologies to help accelerate global clean-energy transitions, particularly in major emerging economies. The announcement was made before the start of the IEAs 2017 Ministerial Meeting, a high-level event that brings together energy leaders from around the world every two years.

The Programme will provide cutting-edge technical support to governments whose energy policies will significantly impact the speed of a global transition toward more sustainable energy production and use, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater access to energy.

The Programme includes contributions from Canada (CAD 1 million), Denmark (DKK 25 million), the European Commission (EUR 3.5 million), Germany (EUR 6 million), Sweden (EUR 5.2 million), Switzerland (CHF 1 million), and the United Kingdom (GBP 8 million). Other IEA member countries also joining together to launch the Programme include Australia, Finland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

Work will focus on key countries that are seeking greater cooperation with the IEA, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, as well as other IEA Association and Partner countries and regions where the programme can have high impact. The IEAs Member Countries will benefit from sharing lessons learned, a rapid dissemination of technologies, improving IEA analytical capabilities, and a strengthening of global data and analysis.

The Programme will involve deep and sustained partnerships with governments and will include collaborative analytical work, technical co-operation, training and capacity building, strategic dialogues, secondments and implementation of joint work programmes. Work will focus on five thematic areas, covering data and statistics; energy efficiency; renewables, including system integration; policy guidance and modelling; and technology development and innovation.

Jim Carr, Canadas Minister of Natural Resources, said, Canada is proud to contribute $1 million to the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Program, which will accelerate the global transition to low carbon economies. This program will help improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations, increasing access to clean and modern energy sources for women in developing countries so that they are empowered to enrich their quality of life and that of their families.

Lars Chr. Lilleholt, Danish Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate, said: We are very pleased to be a part of an ambitious coalition of countries that are now launching this historic initiative. We firmly believe that this Clean Energy Transition Programme will have a significant mitigation impact and speed up the global transition towards more sustainable energy use. Denmarks contribution is a continuation of the successful E4-programme that advances energy efficiency in emerging economies. I am pleased that the first phase of this programme has been a good example of how this work can be expanded to advance clean energy in general.

Miguel Arias Canete, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: I am very pleased to offer the European Commissions full support for this important new programme, including in financial terms. The EU is currently in the process of adopting new legislation to ensure its continued leadership on the energy transition and is delighted to team up with the IEA and key IEA Members in the global efforts needed.

Rainer Baake, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, said: The success of the global energy transition will to a large degree depend on the right energy policy decisions being taken by the worlds biggest emerging economies. Germany already cooperates closely with many of these countries in order to provide support for this. We therefore wholeheartedly support  including via our financial contribution  the IEAs strong focus on engaging these countries and the Clean Energy Transitions Programme as a powerful new instrument to further step up efforts on this front.

The Clean Energy Transitions Programme opens up a new exciting chapter of collaboration for both the IEA and the Swedish Government, said Ibrahim Baylan, Swedens Minister for Policy Coordination and Energy. I look forward to seeing improvement and enhanced collaboration with key partners on the cornerstones of progressive energy policies and other important mechanisms for advancing the clean energy transitions.

Switzerland sees the IEA's Clean Energy Transition Programme as a perfect complement to existing energy efficiency cooperation between Switzerland and emerging countries for South-South policy and technology transfer, said Swiss State Secretary Benoit Revaz. Experiences gained by Switzerland in India on guidelines for energy-efficient residential buildings for different climatic zones or in India and Latin America for low carbon cement could be replicated by the Clean Energy Transition Programme e.g. for building codes.

The IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme is an exciting opportunity for the IEA Family to support the deployment of clean technologies, said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEAs Executive Director. We look forward to building on the existing work and expertise of the IEA, providing data, analysis and real-world expertise across all fuels and technologies to help accelerate the clean energy transitions.

For more information, download the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme Launch Document.
Soros says he wants to pay more taxes, but prefers Ireland where he paid less than $1,000  RT Business News

George Soros has joined a petition to scrap tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. But the billionaire prefers Ireland, where his hedge fund paid just $962 in taxes in 2013, according to Bloomberg.



Four hundred wealthy Americans have appealed to the US Congress urging Republican lawmakers not to cut their taxes. They say the GOP shouldnt cut taxes for the wealthiest when the US debt is at all-time high and inequality is rising.



The letter, signed, among others, by George Soros and Steven Rockefeller, says the proposal would lead to deep cuts in critical services such as education, Medicare, and Medicaid, and would hamper our nations ability to restore investments in our people and communities.



The signatories are among the highest earning five percent of Americans, who have $1.5 million in assets or who are making $250,000 or more a year.



The proposed cuts are part of President Donald Trumps program aimed to spur growth and jobs in the country. They would add at least $1.5 trillion in tax cuts to the current national debt. This deficit would leave us unable to meet our countrys current needs and restrict us in advancing any future investments, the letter said.



One of the rich who signed the document is George Soros, who has always said wealthy people should pay more taxes. However, he prefers not to pay taxes in the United States, but in countries with more favorable tax laws.



In 2015 Bloomberg reported that Soros hedge fund paid $962 in tax in Ireland on $3,851 net income through 2013, while the remaining $7.2 billion operating income was allocated to investors.



A year later, Soros shut down the Irish company and set up another in the tax-friendly Caymans.



By the time the new company in the Caymans was created, Soros had reportedly funneled $13.3 billion in fees, which means he had dodged almost $7 billion in taxes if his business had been entirely located in the United States. Click to expand...

RT links this story posted from behind Bloomberg's paywall:So, how do you spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y again? And what is the difference between liberal billionaires and conservative billionaires? I'm betting that the rest of the 400 also have most of their wealth safely hidden from tax collectors they want to unleash on everyone else who doesn't have their level of tax sheltering capabilities.What I find most interesting about this simple hit-piece on Soros is that if it's been posted on Bloomberg that means the heavy hitters are no longer taking the shots from the handful of liberal billionaires and are firing back at them...at least through the media they own.Personally, I have no interest in taking sides in a war between billionaires(Koch Bros) who want to carbonize the atmosphere to maximize their profits vs 'liberal' billionaires like Soros, Buffet, Gates etc., who bleat on about how concerned they are for us unfortunate folks...while they continue merrily along increasing their net worths somehow and working closely...too closely with government institutions in their profit-generating ventures. There are no good guys among them...the only hopeful sign is that growing animosities among the oligarchs is a sign that they see no more value in staying in their lanes and not interfering with rival oligarchs. When the system is stagnant and not growing, the best profit potential is to destroy rivals.....maybe that's why they're all of a sudden taking Soros's rhetoric seriously now.
Based in Hong Kong SAR, Karry joined IFLR in October 2017. She manages the team and is responsible for IFLR's content. She also covers all aspects of financial regulation across Asia and has a particular interest in corporate governance and ESG. Previously, she worked in sustainability education and policy research.
Imperial Valley News Center

Sutherland Springs, Church Is Not Safe Anymore

Washington, DC - Our hearts go out to the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The First Baptist Church of this town and the entire community was ambushed in what resulted as the worst mass shooting in Texas history. Twenty-six people are dead and many others are currently fighting for their lives in intensive care. This is heart crushing for this Texas community and all of America as we must conclude no place is safe in America anymore.

My hometown church in Inez, Kentucky kept the backdoor of the church unlocked during most of my high school years. The church was a place where anyone could enter and pray, and seek refuge from the problems of the world.

A little Catholic church around the corner from where I once lived in Louisa, Kentucky kept the front door unlocked the entire time I lived there. My sons and I went in there a couple of times to just be quiet, think and pray.

While growing up as a kid my family attended different churches and there was never a thought of anything being unsafe about our worship.

Times have changed. Sutherland Springs, Texas again reminds us that evil is everywhere and no place is perfectly safe. Worshippers in this quiet Texas town gathered to sing, pray and hear a good sermon Sunday. They never dreamed their lives would end in church at the hands of sick and evil gunman. We don't know his motive for sure but it seems to me based on various reports that Devin Patrick Kelley was there to his kill in-laws.

Kelley's past was filled with troubles that included domestic abuse and a dishonorable discharge from the military. Unfortunately Kelley needed mental help that might have saved 26 lives and carnage that this Texas community will never overcome.

Too bad a good deacon in the foyer or vestibule area of the church did not shoot Patrick Kelley dead. I know my good moderate Christian friends frown on me for this line of thinking. However, maybe several lives could have been saved if the church had a game plan for reacting to terrorism. This has been a hard concept for my religious friends to embrace. Many have ignored the times of this world and simply sloughed it off. Some have said, "God will take care of us." Others want to brush off today's crisis with, "Something like that would never happen here."

Wake up reader. Bad stuff happens everywhere. This is our world. Walkers on a bike path in New York City are not safe. Concertgoers in Las Vegas are not safe. People shopping in Colorado are not safe. Moviegoers and schoolchildren are not safe. Quaint cafe wine drinkers on sidewalks in peaceful neighborhoods in Paris, France are not safe. Busy people trying to earn a living in prestigious skyscrapers are not safe.

We are all vulnerable. If we do not take a position of defense we are more vulnerable. People sitting in churches, concerts, movies and many other places are in danger of being attacked by surprise. It's very difficult to survive an ambush. This is why there must be a defense plan in place for all churches, civic groups, businesses, factory work places, offices and families.

When I was child I remember when my mother started locking the front door. We had not always locked the front door but my mother had heard about people walking our road late at night and decided it was time to do so. We also had shotguns.

Today, of course, people with common sense lock their doors.

America has changed. We still have a great country. I love America. America mostly has good and decent people. Sadly, there are Devin Patrick Kelley's scattered throughout our country. There may be one in your state or even your community. You have to be ready to confront him or them.

By the way, Kelley was denied a gun permit. He still managed to obtain guns. Evil people will find ways to rent trucks, obtain guns, knives or make bombs. Please think about this and live and sadly now worship defensively. Even church is not safe anymore.
State animal ID rules aim to assure livestock health

Sacramento, California - The ability to quickly trace movements of sick animals or animals exposed to disease is essential to maintain the health of Californias livestock. Individual animal identification and accurate record keeping are the foundations of animal disease traceability.

While animal disease traceability, or ADT, does not prevent disease, it is indispensable for disease-control programs and for emergency response investigations by animal health officials.

The United States Department of Agriculture and state animal health officials, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture, worked with livestock industry stakeholders to develop an animal traceability framework that enhances the ability to trace the movement of livestock. Federal ADT regulations became effective on March 11, 2013, and changes to Californias ADT regulations became effective on April 1 of this year.

California ADT regulations are modeled after the federal regulations but include some differences that adapt to Californias cattle industries.

For cattle and bison moving within California:

All dairy cattle born in California after Jan. 1, 2017, must be officially identified prior to leaving their birth premises. There is an exception: If moving directly to an approved tagging site, animals can have official identification placed upon arrival.

All dairy cattle changing ownership require official identification, with exceptions for animals moving to an approved tagging site where animals have official identification placed upon arrival; a recognized slaughtering establishment with a USDA approved backtag; or an approved livestock marketing facility that is also an approved tagging site, and then to a recognized slaughtering establishment with a USDA approved backtag. Animals may only go to one livestock marketing facility prior to slaughter.

Non-virgin bulls less than 18 months of age and all bulls 18 months of age and over must bear individual official identification prior to change of ownershipunless the bull is moving directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment with a USDA-approved backtag or on a Bull Slaughter Agreement.

Beef breed cows of any age moving to slaughter require an official identification device before slaughter or must be identified with a USDA backtag.

For cattle and bison entering California:

California regulations closely mirror federal regulations in that the following groups require official identification for entry: female dairy cattle of all ages; male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013; and all cattle used for rodeo, show or exhibition.

Sexually intact female beef cattle 6 months of age and older and sexually intact male beef cattle 18 months of age and older require official identification to enter California. This state regulation differs slightly from the federal regulation that all sexually intact beef cattle 18 months of age and older need official identification, regardless of sex.

Cattle in all of these groups may be exempt from the requirement of official identification upon entry if they move directly from the farm of origin (that is, their birthplace) to an approved tagging site in California or a recognized slaughtering establishment with a USDA-approved backtag.

Cattle and bison entering California are also required to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Interstate Livestock Entry Permit, unless the animals are moving on a Special Entry Permit, moving to an approved livestock market or are passing through California.

Identification and records:

Official identification devices for cattle and bison include button Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) or bangle-type 840 tags; silver/brite or National Uniform Eartagging System tags; or, in females, brucellosis orange metal or orange RFID tags in brucellosis-vaccinated animals.

Veterinarians, approved livestock facilities, approved tagging sites, registered feedlots and livestock markets must keep Certificates of Veterinary Inspection or alternate documentation, and any supporting documents required for the movement of livestock entering the facility, for five years. Approved licensed dealers must also maintain an individual identification record for each animal for five years. This must include the animals identification, the buyer and the seller. Any person receiving livestock and owners of the shipped animals must maintain official documents for five years.

If you want to look directly at the California regulations, they can be found in Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 830-838; the federal regulations can be found in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch is available to answer any questions about requirements for official identification and documentation for livestock movement within or into the state.

For more information on these requirements or other questions, please contact AHB headquarters in Sacramento: 916-900-5002 or any local AHB district office. District offices are located in Redding, 530-225-2140; Modesto, 209-491-9350; Tulare, 559-685-3500; and Ontario, 909-947-4462.

Please visit the AHB ADT website to find additional information on identification and documentation requirements at www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/id_info.html.
Limited Resumption of Visa Services in Turkey

Washington, DC - As announced by our Embassy in Ankara this morning, the United States has received initial high-level assurances from the Government of Turkey that there are no additional local employees of our Mission in Turkey under investigation. We have also received initial assurances from the Government of Turkey that local staff of our Embassy and consulates will not be detained or arrested for performing their official duties and that Turkish authorities will inform the U.S. government in advance if the Government of Turkey intends to detain or arrest a member of our local staff in the future.

Based on these preliminary assurances, the Department believes the security posture has improved sufficiently to allow for the resumption of limited visa services in Turkey. We continue to have serious concerns about the existing cases against arrested local employees of our Mission in Turkey. We are also concerned about the cases against U.S. citizens who have been arrested under the state of emergency. U.S. officials will continue to engage with their Turkish counterparts to seek a satisfactory resolution of these cases.




This Isnt Our Last Love Letter



Dear Don Don,

Way back in 92



I walked into the room and knew



Never felt this way before



I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes



And the feeling grew



As I took a seat I knew



A love that would have my heart



Forever



I knew



Way back in 92





They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true



We were the exception to that rule



Our love had no where to hide



A spark set fire



As if this is how the universe started





I never doubted our love or what we could do



Together we grew



Forming a bond everlasting



That became our glue



My euphoria was YOU



Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared



For how fortunate we were :



to have and to hold

through sickness and in health

Til death do us part



Until we are together again



This isnt our last love letter



I love you with all my heart and soul



Yours forever,



Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow)





Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus.









A True American Hero

I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus.



I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years.



I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years.

But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us.

In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about.



Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle.

I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life.

I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life.

No one will ever do what he did.

I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO





David Jurist

IMUS IN THE MORNING

FIRST DAY BACK!
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What was Hitler's view of art? Even today, to be reading Mein Kampf on the upper deck of a clean and orderly public train one dark November night in Germany, feels a little staining, as if one's very finger ends might just turn an accusatory yellow. Should it have been wrapped in plain brown parcel paper in order to avoid any stranger's eye connecting with that malign, gilded swastika on the front cover? And then there are Hitler's words themselves, written by a man imprisoned in the fortress of Landsberg am Lech in 1924, nine years before he came to power, all six hundred pages of them, pent, furious, illogical. What could have motivated Hitler's level of hysteria? The total collapse of Germany. What could have brought his country to its knees?

The nightmare-inducing, pestilential figure of the Jew is at the heart of his hectic story, of course, that 'bacillus which is the solvent of human society', that 'pestilence worse than the Black Plague.' There is such self-righteousness, such a dangerously overweening level of self-belief in his words: 'by standing guard against the Jew I am defending the handiwork of The Lord.' How to prevent the spread of 'the moral mildew of the chosen race?' Years on, there was to be a final solution.

This month a sensational story about art, the Nazis and a part-concealed Jewish identity, stutters to a fascinatingly inconclusive conclusion in Germany with the opening of two exhibitions, one in Bonn and the other in Bern. The story began in 2012 when an old man called Cornelius Gurlitt was accused of tax evasion by the authorities in Augsburg. That accusation led to the discovery of an extraordinary trove of art in his apartment in a very respectable part of Munich. For months the authorities kept the story to themselves. Then the press got wind of it. Those months of concealment gave the story of its discovery by the authorities some head wind.

The art had belonged to his father Hildebrand, who had been a museum director and art dealer from the time of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, and throughout the Third Reich and on. Hildebrand had died in a car accident in 1956. It was presented as nothing less than the story of the wheelings and dealings of Hitler's principal art dealer  and here was the loot perhaps, in the custody of his 80-year-old, reclusive son, in the full dazzle of publicity.

Degenerate Art: 'August Strindberg' (1896), Edvard Munch, Kunst Museum, Bern

The two exhibitions put on display 400 of the 1500 works in the Gurlitt collection, 250 in Bonn and 150 in Bern. They also tell the immensely complicated story of that seizure and its subsequent impact, demonstrate how the provenance experts of Germany and Switzerland responded to its shock waves, and show off some of its best works by such modern masters as Klee, Munch, Dix, Marc, Nolde. And, most interesting of all, they present in great detail the convoluted, morally dubious story of Hildebrand Gurlitt himself within the context of the tumultuous times through which he lived.

Yes, it was one respectable man's fear of the consequence of having been condemned as a Mischling (a man of mixed race, one quarter Jew) and sent to the camps, which caused the Dresden art dealer and museum director Hildebrand Gurlitt to work with the Reich Ministry in order to save his own skin. A Nuremberg Law of 1935 had characterised  and therefore condemned  him as a 'second-degree half-caste'. He was a vulnerable man, aware of the pressing need to survive in an ever more dangerous world. The only answer was to cosy up to the regime. He therefore perjured himself by dealing in and disposing of works which Hitler condemned as degenerate, which were snatched in their thousands from public museums, and looted from the homes of Jewish collectors. More than 20,000 works were confiscated in all. 'We even hope to make money from the garbage,' quipped Goebbels.

A leather-bound portfolio of artworks for presentation to Adolf Hitler, Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn

Hildebrand Gurlitt's skills as an art dealer with international connections were extremely useful. The Reich desperately needed foreign currency to fund the war effort. Hildebrand bought, sold, and acquired work for German museums and other collectors, and amassed works for his own private collection, enriching himself in the process. He became Hitler's art dealer. And after the war, under close scrutiny at the denazification tribunal, he slipped through the net that appeared to be closing around him by characterising himself as a victim. And, what is more, he kept much of what he had acquired.

In the basement of the Kunstmuseum Bern, 150 of the 1,500 works in the Gurlitt estate have gone on display, all examples of what Hitler and his cronies characterised as 'degenerate art'. Most of them are works on paper. The dull green metal plan chest in which they were once stored, all fifteen drawers of it, faces us as we enter, utterly humdrum. The fact that the works were kept in the dark means that so many of them have retained their colourful vibrancy. Age has not faded them one whit.

The dull grey plain chest in which many works on paper were found that Hitler and his regime had called 'degenerate' art

What exactly does it mean though, this word degenerate? 'There is no logical explanation because it was not logical,' Nina Zimmer, the formidable director of the Bern museum tells me through the manufactured allure of her brilliantly powerful red lipstick. 'It was an ideological impulse.' Even Henry Moore was condemned. Why Moore of all people? She smiles. 'Oh, the work was probably a little sketchy and modern looking...' Perhaps nothing more than that then.

What fascinates us above all things else is the realisation that Hitler, a poor artist himself, took art so seriously, that he believed in its power to transform human lives. It almost beggars believe that the fate of Expressionism was decided at a rally in Nuremberg. No one takes art that seriously now.

Degenerate Art: 'Two Nudes on a Bed', Ernst Ludwig, Kitchener, c. 1907-8, Kunst Museum, Bern

That is why the works on these walls were so dangerous, because they had the power, in Hitler's opinion, to deprave the human spirit. Do all these works have something in common then to our eye now? Yes, undeniably. They show off what we might loosely describe as the free flow of the human spirit. Hitler believed that art should be elevating, noble, in tune with the aristocratic principle. The classical and the realistic, in a world shown to be settled, orderly and steady, were his ideals. The art here is, by comparison, full of bodily distortion. It is wild, impulsively improvisatory, dangerously subjective, stylistically lawless and untameable. It knows no expressive boundaries. You could even call much of it pessimistic  or even schizophrenic. Did not Jung describe the works of Picasso as pathological in 1932?

Hildebrand Gurlitt himself was a tissue of contradictions, an opportunist. Before and after the Second World War, he had championed the cause of modern art that he was complicit in denouncing during the years of the Reich. He was to champion it yet again after the war. And yet even as he denounced it, he was also dealing in it to his own financial advantage. In the 1920s, as a successful museum director in the Weimar Republic, he had put on shows of work by the moderns, arguing that it was the new work by such painters as Beckman which would serve 'as a bait for everything spiritual', as he put it. He wanted avant-garde art to play its part in bringing about a social revolution. He was a German cultural idealist. Like Hitler, he wanted to re-build the reputation of Germany as a nation of culture.

Degenerate Art: 'Old Woman with Cloche Hat' (1920), Max Beckmann, Kunst Museum, Bern

Later on these works were seized wholesale by the Nazis, and many artists suffered brutally as a consequence. They went into exile. They committed suicide. They hid themselves away, consumed by an inner darkness. Many of their tragic human stories are told here. Emil Nolde had 1,052 works seized from German museums. He protested with great violence. Others protested on his behalf. Was his work not the very epitome of Germanness? It was all to no avail. He withdrew to his studio in North Germany and, living in isolation, devoted himself to painting 1,300 watercolours on very small sheets of paper. He described these works as his 'unpainted paintings'.

At the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn, we see a much broader range of works from the Gurlitt trove altogether, from Durer and Holbein to Monet, Degas and Picasso. Here are many works which Hitler himself would have favoured, 18th-century French paintings, for example, of which his own hero, Frederick the Great, would have approved, and consequently the kinds of art that might yet be shown in the Fuhrer Museum in Linz, a grandiose scheme which was never realised. Gurlitt acquired many works for that fantasy museum. In one cabinet there are leather-bound volumes showing off works newly acquired it. These were produced twice a year, and shown to Hitler at Christmas and on his birthday. Twenty of them still survive. Just before the American army marched into Munich where the works were being stored, the locals looted it. Hundreds are still missing.

'Self-Portrait, Smoking (undated)', Otto Dix, Kunst Museum, Bern

The subject of looted art and restitution to its rightful owner remains a topic of agonised, burdensome debate in Germany even to this day. So often the labels that describe the provenance of individual works in the Bonn show remain maddeningly inconclusive. No one really knows whether they were looted or not. Too much has been lost. Too much remains to be found. Meanwhile, the seekers of the provenance of these works  who exactly acquired it and when, and then who acquired it after that  continue their dogged, unglamorous and morally impeccable work.

At the press conference for the exhibition in Bonn, Ekkeheart Gurlitt, an elderly cousin of Cornelius Gurlitt, outrageously swaggery in his cowboy hat, neck wreathed in great gobbets of amber, denounces the work of the exhibition makers in no uncertain terms. Why is it always the name of Gurlitt which is spoken in the context of looted art? All you have proved is that six of these works have been looted! Six! he thunders. He is an embarrassment. Wounds have been torn open. He is dealt with brusquely and rudely. The press conference is ended  time has run out, we are told. That seems unlikely. The previous day's press conference had allowed ample time for questions, and many of the press in the audience would have wished to interrogate this man on the record.

Meanwhile, the name of the Gurlitt family is tainted forever by the fact that Hildebrand Gurlitt did all those deals with the villains of the Reich in order to save his own skin.

'Gurlitt Status Report: Nazi Art Theft and its Consequences', Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn until 11 March 2018; 'Gurlitt Status Report: Degenerate Art: confiscated and sold', Museum of Fine Arts, Bern, until 11 March 2018
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Film noir is an elusive and protean genre  so much so, some might question whether it can even be considered a genre. Should it rather be defined as a style, a mode, a cycle, a state of mind? Does film noir just refer to those black-and-white American films produced during the classic period 1940 to 1958? For the purists, Korean noir might be dismissed as a contradiction in terms. But these days, most critics would probably agree that authentically noir films, and films drawing on noir-esque elements, can be made anywhere and at any time.

Even during the heyday of Hollywood noir, other countries were dabbling in the same shadowy pool. In Britain, Carol Reed directed Odd Man Out (1947) and The Third Man (1949), both sharing a key noir theme: the man on the run. As does another British film boasting what must surely qualify as the archetypal noir title, Night and the City (1950), directed by the American-born expat Jules Dassin. Dassin moved on to Paris, where he directed another noir classic, Rififi (1955)  an French heist movie that explores a further common theme of noir, that of loyalty and betrayal.

Another leading practitioner of Gallic noir was Jean-Pierre Melville, whose crime movies  Bob le flambeur (1956), Le Doulos (1963), Le Samurai (1967)  brought a dark stylised poise to the mythology of the gangster film. In Japan, elements of noir were creeping into the modern-day films of Akira Kurosawa: The Bad Sleep Well (1960) and High and Low (1963).

Often, Korean noirs pivot on matters of loyalty and betrayal, as in Kim Jee-woons A Bittersweet Life

How to define noir? Screenwriter and director Paul Schrader is often quoted as saying: It is not defined ... by conventions of setting and conflict, but rather by the most subtle qualities of tone and mood.

Most subtle might be questioned; even in its Hollywood heyday, noir could easily spill over into excess. And in 21st century Korean noir restraint barely figures. Extreme violence, dwelt on with relish, seems to be de rigueur. Prolonged scenes of torture are frequent. Extensive combat sequences involving multiple assailants wielding assorted weapons, accompanied by copious bloodshed, are extended beyond all plausibility. Blatant and endemic corruption is almost a given element.

Often, Korean noirs pivot on matters of loyalty and betrayal. A protagonist may be a member of a criminal hierarchy who fails to exhibit total loyalty to the boss. Sun-woo, protagonist of Kim Jee-woons A Bittersweet Life, offers a case in point. Hotel manager and enforcer for the hotels crime-lord owner, he allows one brief humane impulse to divert him from orders. Retribution follows at once: hes humiliated, beaten up, tortured and finally buried alive.

A similar plot with an all-female slant fuels Han Jun-hees Coin Locker Girl (2015), whose heroine is a street orphan raised by her adoptive mother, a Fagin-like Incheon gang boss, to do her dirty work. Like Sun-woo, she succumbs to a moment of pity for one of her designated victims, which runs her into serious trouble with Mom.

A variant of this plot-structure underlies Kim Sung-soos Asura: The City of Madness. Han Do-kyung is a rogue cop in the pay of the corrupt Mayor Park. But when he kills a fellow officer he comes to the attention of a chief prosecutor whos out to get the mayor and demands Hans help. Hans loyalties are now pulled two ways  and things can only end badly.

Min-sik Choi and Hye-jeong Kang in Park Chan-wooks Oldboy, perhaps the most widely known example of Korean noir to date (Tartan Films)

A still more frequent theme in Korean noirs is that of revenge  as in Park Chan-wooks Vengeance Trilogy  Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003) and Lady Vengeance (2005). Oldboy is perhaps the most widely known example of Korean noir to date. The protagonist, Oh Dae-su, wakes from a drunken night on the town to find himself imprisoned for no apparent reason. He stays locked up for the next 15 years before being equally mysteriously released and told he has five days to work out why he was incarcerated.

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Vengeance is Oldboys key theme, but were some way into the film before we learn just whos avenging themselves and why. It also suggests that vengeance often backfires on the avenger. This equally applies to Sympathy for Mr Vengeance where a child-kidnapping goes disastrously wrong, resulting in unpleasant deaths for the child, the kidnappers and eventually the childs revenge-seeking father. The heroine of Lady Vengeance does finally survive, but only at the cost of considerable physical and psychological damage.

Many protagonists in Korean noir are positioned as social outsiders. A maverick cop is the hero of Ryoo Seung-wans The Unjust (2010), called in to solve the case of a serial killer who targets schoolgirls. In Na Hong-jins The Chaser (2008), Eom Jung-ho is even more of an outsider  an ex-cop turned pimp. Still, hes the only one to nail a sadistic killer of prostitutes, while the regular cops are depicted as bumbling incompetents.

Byun Sung-hyun's 'The Merciless' will be screened at the London Korean Film Festival

The protagonist of Nas follow-up film, The Yellow Sea (2010) is yet another outsider  a cab-driver from the Chinese province of Yanbian, where many ethnic Koreans live. Hopelessly in debt thanks to his gambling addiction (mahjong rather than poker or roulette), Gu-nam ill-advisedly accepts a substantial sum from a local gang boss to come to Seoul and murder a man hes never met.

As Ive aimed to show through these few examples, Korean noir has in recent years established characteristics and conventions of its own within the international noir (or neo-noir) world. The screening of Jung Byung-gils The Villainess (2017) as a teaser to this years London Korean Film Festival, and of Byun Sung-hyuns The Merciless (2017) in addition to several more noir titles in the festival proper, shows that the cycle is far from exhausted.

Philip Kemp is a film critic and historian. The 12th London Korean Film Festival runs until 19 November in London and the UK (www.koreanfilm.co.uk)
04960319 said: Home Owners Associations are ******* stupid and I wouldn't follow the rules either. Like hell some wrinkly boomer is going to tell me what shade I need to paint my ******* house. Click to expand...

Home Owner Associations are a thing, and if you have the money to buy a nice house in a good neighborhood, seeing if there is a HOA is important and if there is, read what their rules are, because you will have to sign and agree with said rules or risk fines and possible losing of your house.Penn and Teller had a show called "********" I really enjoyed, where they present things in life, that are, yes, ********. Polygraph exams was one example. One episode the subject was "the lawn". One part of it was the HOA's and how snippy they are. One neighborhood required a certain breed of grass. Dunno the name, but this grass was about the most high maintenance grass there is, which must be constantly watered and tended, or the grass will die. No other kind of grass is allowed, and they interviewed the person who is in enforcement and he revelled at all the different bad names people call him when the guy knocks on their door because their grass is getting brown.My parents do not live in a HOA, but my father is 85 and is taking care of my invalid mother, he doesnt have time and hasnt really given a fark about his lawn for years. Imagine elderly people who should be enjoying life having to deal with this crap. Life is too short.
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UPDATE 8.15pm ET: Disney has lifted the ban amid increasing boycotts.

"Weve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, weve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics," it said in a statement.

A growing number of film journalists are boycotting advance screenings of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and other Disney films after the studio blocked critics from the Los Angeles Times from them in order to punish the newspaper over an unfavourable report into its business operations.

The Washington Post's pop culture writer Alyssa Rosenberg started the boycott, writing in her column: "As long as Disney is blocking the critics from the Los Angeles Times from press screenings, I cant in good conscience attend similar showings or write reviews in advance."

The A.V. Club's AA Dowd and Flavorwire's Jason Bailey followed suit, and members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of film critics issued a statement Tuesday morning denouncing Disneys press blackout.

Influential CNN anchor Jake Tapper, meanwhile, tweeted: "I just took out a subscription to the @LATimes in honor of Disney boycotting the newspaper because it engaged in journalism," and Ava DuVernay, who is directing upcoming Disney film A Wrinkle in Time, said she "stands with" the journalists.

Disney's tantrum has turned into a PR disaster, stemming from two investigative pieces written by Daniel Miller in the LA Times alleging that Disney has been pressuring the city of Anaheim, California intro providing it with subsidies, incentives, and rebates.

Disney can't, of course, stop LA Times staff from seeing the films at cinemas, but in blacklisting them from advance screenings it is trying to withhold the crucial jump that film journalists need.

The Independent has reached out to Disney for comment.
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All it takes Alma Deutscher is four notes and 40 seconds.

And, suddenly, these wondrous notes lift off into the air - Deutscher is 12-years-old, a musical prodigy capable of improvising a short piano sonata in this manner, on the spot.

The YouTube star, who boasts 30,000 subscribers on her channel, demonstrated her skills for 60 Minutes and correspondent Scott Pelley. Pelley draws from a hat four cards with musical notes on them: which turn out to be B, A, E flat, and G. She tweaks B to B flat and puts the notes in G minor scale.

After sitting in silence for a moment, she launches into a fully formed piece. A composition heard only once, and never again. "I can't remember everything that I did in this improvisation," she says in the video. "I can write it down in my notebook, maybe, for when I'm writing a piece. But I can't remember the whole improvisation, though. I can never, ever, ever remember."

Deutscher started composing at age 4, explaining: "I just had these melodies and ideas in my head, and I would play them down at the piano. And sometimes my parents would think that I was just remembering music that I'd already heard before. But I said no, no, these are my melodies that I composed"



By the age of 10, she had already composed a full-length opera. She's a virtuoso both on the violin and the piano and has performed her compositions around the world. She's now set to stage her opera Cinderella in her American debut, which reimagines its lead as a composer, and the prince, a poet.

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Meek Mill has received a sentence of two to four years in prison after violating his probation.

The Philadelphia rapper was arrested twice earlier this year  for misdemeanour assault charges in March, and reckless divining in August  but both charges were dropped.

However, the arrests caused the court to review matters concerning the 30-year-olds probation, Judge Genece E. Brinkley saying the incidents violated the probation ruling.

Mill  best known in the UK for the song "All Eyes on You with Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown  was convicted of drug dealing and weapon possession in 2008, resulting in eight months in prison followed by a five year probation period.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Come 2012 and Mill was found to have violated his probation, having travelled out of the country without reporting to authorities. After another case of failing to report travel plans the following year, Mill was eventually served an addition three to six months in prison, serving five.

In December 2015, Mill was found to have violated his parole again for unapproved travel, being put under house arrest for 90 days and being sentenced to an additional six years of probation.

Various celebrities have since defended Mill, including Jay-Z who called the recent sentencing unjust and heavy-handed.

Kevin Hart and T.I. also posted on Instagram about the ruling, Hart writing: Praying for my brother Meek Mill right now. God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers.

Regarding an appeal sentence, Mills defence attorney declined to comment but the rapper said: "You're goddamned right I am."
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The world of film and music has been rocked by news that Olivia Newton-John has died, aged 73.

Successful music star Newton-John, who appeared opposite John Travolta in Grease, died of breast cancer.

Her husband, John Easterling, announced the news on Monday (8 August), stating that she passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends.

Newton-John, who was known by many as Sandy in the 1978 musical film Grease, made headlines in 2017 when it was reported that her former boyfriend had been discovered after going missing for 12 years.

Patrick McDermott disappeared while on a fishing trip in 2005.

After setting off on a boat from San Pedro Marina, McDermott, who was 48 at the time, mysteriously vanished. Personal items, including his wallet, were found on board the vessel.

It was determined via a US Coast Guard investigation in November 2008 that McDermott "most likely" drowned, but, despite this, the circumstances around his disappearance led to the belief that he might have faked his own death.

In 2009, investigators on Dateline NBC claimed McDermott disappeared to avoid debts  including $8,000 he allegedly owed to his ex-wife for child support.

Eight years later, Australian magazine New Idea claimed it had evidence that McDermott was alive after receiving photos by US media agency Coleman-Rayna that showed a man matching his description.

Private detective Charlie Parker told the outlet that the figure was a 90 per cent match to McDermott, stating: "The widow's peak is exact. The eyes are very similar and the ears extend down on the head the same distance. I believe it is him.

It was previously claimed that McDermott had been discovered living in Mexico with a German girlfriend in March 2016.

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Olivia Newton-John and Patrick McDermott, who mysteriously vanished in 2005 (Rex Features)

Newton-John expressed grief about her former boyfriends disappearance in September 2016, telling 60 Minutes: Its human to wonder but, you know, those are the things in life you have to accept and let go. Because whenever you go through difficult times, theres always those concerns.

But, I live on and of course questions come up, always  its human.

Ten years before, Newton-John revealed that McDermotts disappearance had brought her closer to his ex-wife, Yvette Nipar, who she called a wonderful person.

She told broadcaster Larry King during an interview: I see his son, and hes thriving. Hes doing really well.

Hollywood stars are paying tribute to Newton-John following her death. Her family, who asked for privacy in their statement, said: Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.

Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.
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The American Civil Liberties Union is swooping in to defend a blogger who criticised Taylor Swift for her current silence on political issues, accusing her of enabling an alt-right and white supremacist fanbase around her to exist.

Writer Meghan Herning, whose piece was published on PopFront Magazine, which currently has 201 followers on Twitter, received a letter from Swift's attorneys demanding she retract the article, threatening to sue if she did not comply.

Titled "Swiftly to the alt-right: Taylor subtly gets the lower case kkk in formation", Herning's piece claims Swift's single "Look What You Made Me Do" contains "dog whistles to white supremacy in the lyrics".

Lines like "I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time", quoted by alt-right publication Breitbart on Twitter, are equated by Herning to ideas that white supremacy has gained new traction in the wake of Trump's election.

She also compares shots from the video where, dressed in leather, Swift addresses an army of followers to images of Adolf Hitler. "Taylor lords over an army of models from a podium, akin to what Hitler had in Nazis Germany," she writes. "The similarities are uncanny and unsettling."

The piece makes no sure claim to Swift's political beliefs, but does criticise the pop star for her stark silence on the subject, in an era which has turned many pop stars into political campaigners.

"And while pop musicians are not respected world leaders, they have a huge audience and their music often reflects their values. So Taylor's silence is not innocent, it is calculated," Herning writes.



The letter from Swift's attorney argues the piece "knowingly regurgitates, repeats, and attempts to expand on a malicious lie". It continues, "It appears to be a malicious attack against Ms. Swift that goes to great lengths to portray Ms. Swift as some sort of white supremacist figurehead, which is a baseless fiction masquerading as fact and completely misrepresents Ms. Swift."

Swift has never herself publicly denounced her white supremacist fans. The letter presents itself as "yet another unequivocal denouncement by Ms. Swift of white supremacy and the alt-right", yet Herning is also warned publication of the letter would act as breach of copyright.

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The ACLU has denounced Swift's attempt to silence the blog post, naming it a "completely unsupported attempt to suppress constitutionally protected speech."

"Intimidation tactics like these are unacceptable," ACLU attorney Matt Cagle added. "Not in her wildest dreams can Ms. Swift use copyright law to suppress this exposure of a threat to constitutionally protected speech."

The ACLU has requested a response from Swift and her attorney. The Independent has also reached out to representatives of Swift for comment.

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An email scam has been targeting Netflix subscribers, hoping to gather personal information and payment details from those who use the streaming service.

Account holders around the world have been sent a well-crafted email, designed to look official, asking them to update their account information otherwise be suspended.

Coming with the subject line Your suspension notification, the email contains a link to a fake Netflix page which asks for log-in information and card details.

According to MailGuard, while the body of the malicious email remains the same for everyone, the sender field shows the intended victims name, personalising the message to make it more believable.

The publication posted an image of the rather convincing email where the recipient field failed to name the receiver, instead putting in a placeholder.

When users click on the restart membership button, they are taken to a bogus website that uses Netflix imagery, including a still from Netflix show The Crown.

The scam has targeted Netflixs 110 million subscribers. The company posted a statement saying they take "the security of our members' accounts seriously and Netflix employs numerous proactive measures to detect fraudulent activity to keep the Netflix service and our members' accounts secure.

12 useful Netflix features you need to know Show all 12 1 /12 12 useful Netflix features you need to know 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Secret codes Netflix has a staggering number of hidden sub-genres, which you can unlock with special codes. You can browse the codes at http://ogres-crypt.com/public/NetFlix-Streaming-Genres2.html. When you find the one you want, paste it at http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/CODE (replacing CODE with the right combination of numbers). Unfortunately, this is only possible on the Netflix website. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know New features Everyone likes getting early access to new features for things they love, and Netflix lets you do just that. All you need to do is go to your Account page and select Test Participation. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know History We all have our guilty pleasures, though some are guiltier than others. If you really dont want other people to find out what yours is, you can delete it from your viewing history by visiting Netflixs Viewing Activity page, which you can find in the Account menu. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Rogue users The Viewing Activity page has an option called See Recent Account Access, which shows you information about your account, such as when it has been used, on what device and where. If you spot any rogue-looking activity, you can knock anyone who isnt supposed to have access to your account off your account, by going back to your Account page and selecting Sign Out of All Devices. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Ratings Unless youre binge-watching a series and therefore dont care about anything else Netflix has to offer, suggestions are important. You can help Netflix improve the recommendations it gives you by actually rating the things you watch. If you hate a film, tell Netflix you hate it. If you love it, say you love it. This tiny bit of extra effort will soon pay off. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Manual ordering If youre not convinced by the suggestions Netflix automatically adds to your My List section, you can choose to manually order suggestions instead by visiting netflix.com/MyListOrder. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Downloads Netflix pleased a lot of users when it added the ability to download shows for offline viewing. As well as helping yu save mobile data, its great for when youre stuck on a plane or somewhere with terrible reception. Find out what films and TV shows are available to download by opening the menu and selecting Available to Download. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Keep an eye on your data Phone, computer and TV screens are constantly improving, so its worth checking your Playback Settings (in your Account page) to ensure youre watching Netflix in the best quality you can. On the other hand, however, sometimes your web connection cant keep up. Because nobody likes buffering, you can make a compromise by lowering the playback quality. Doing so could also help you save data if youre on a limited plan. Low quality burns through roughly 0.3GB of data per hour, Medium burns through roughly 0.7GB per hour and High gets through roughly 3GB per hour for HD content, and roughly 7GB per hour for 4K content. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Switch browsers Google Chrome may be the most popular web browser in the world, but it isnt great for watching Netflix on - the crown belongs to Microsoft Edge. Believe it or not, Netflix even looks better on Internet Explorer than it does on Chrome. The maximum resolution you can watch Netflix on differs depending on which browser you use. You can go up to 4K on Microsoft Edge, up to 1080p on Internet Explorer and Safari, and up to 720p on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Clearer subtitles You can customise the appearance of subtitles on Netflix to make them easier to read or slightly less prominent - whatever suits you. Go to Subtitle Appearance in your Account menu and play with font, colour, text size and even shadow effects. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know Requests Netflix is constantly refreshing its line-up, but theres always going to be something you want to watch that isnt available. You can request a TV show or film by visiting help.netflix.com/en/TitleRequest. Its an outside shot, but its worth a try. 12 useful Netflix features you need to know The end If you decide to cancel your Netflix subscription early, your Viewing Activity, recommendations and ratings will still be saved for 10 months. That essentially means theres nothing to lose from closing your account down temporarily - you can pick up where you left off as soon as you resurrect it. Its a good option to have if youre about to go on holiday for a while or decide that you need to cut down on the amount of Netflix-bingeing youve been doing.

Unfortunately, these scams are common on the internet and target popular brands such as Netflix and other companies with large customer bases to lure users into giving out personal information."
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Weve officially reached peak millennial pink saturation.

The dusty salmon hue has made its mark in fashion, beauty, interiors and gin.

It was only a matter of time until the shade-du-jour took a swipe at the dairy industry.

As if alcohol-flavoured cheese wasnt enough of a culinary revolution to reckon with, The Great British Cheese Companys latest innovation is fifty shades of fabulous thanks to its blushing interior and eye-popping fuchsia rind.

The prosecco-flavoured Wensleydale wheel is enriched by subtle raspberry undertones, which give the cheese its distinctive hue.

Cranberry and Wensleydale is already a popular cheese and fruit combination, particularly over Christmas, so its likely that this creation will be an equally big hit at the dinner table this festive season.

Naturally, prosecco, cheese and pink aficionados alike are pretty excited about the culinary offering, which combines all things millennial and/or basic depending on how you view the world  and yourself.

Could there be a more millennial food coupling than prosecco pink cheese? #imhereforit, tweeted one cheese fan.

Two things I absolutely adore, added another.

However, some are sceptical that these two separate foodie entities  though exceptional in their own right  may not work well as one.

No. Just no. Cheese should be cheese flavoured! Prosecco tastes just fine from a glass, wrote one vexed Tweeter.

MAKE IT STOP, added another.

Clearly, it's a controversial issue: but are criticisms misplaced? Are weird combinations the future of food? Or this a foodie's Brexit?

Wherever you stand on the pink prosecco cheese debate  which might just be the most niche contention weve ever had to contemplate  its best to keep an open mind.

Its only a matter of weeks until we start seeing prosecco-flavoured Turkey breast and millennial pink mince pies on supermarket shelves.

You heard it here first.
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Todays Google Doodle celebrates Pad Thai, a Thai street food dish popular the world over.

An agreeably chaotic melange of rice noodles, egg, tofu, shrimp, tamarind and vegetables garnished with crushed peanuts, Pad Thai allows every chef who makes it to add their own signature flourish and regional variation.

It's also scientifically proven to satisfy the taste buds: a dish salty, sweet, sour, bitter and spicy all at once.

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The dishs origins are uncertain  some believe it was introduced by Chinese traders during the heyday of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767), others that it was imported from Vietnam as a relative of pho noodle soup.

Its current popularity was born of necessity during the Second World War, when Thailand was suffering an acute rice shortage as national resources came under strain during the war in the Pacific.

In the absence of this cornerstone of the nations cuisine, the Thai government encouraged citizens to adopt rice noodles instead. They duly did so, adding cheap sources of protein to ensure a filling, nutritious meal to keep spirits high during a moment of international crisis. The result proved an instant classic.

Heres our favourite recipe, taken from Rosas Thai Cafe: The Cookbook:
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Hundreds of artificial intelligence experts have urged the Canadian and Australian governments to ban killer robots.

They say that delegating life-or-death decisions to machines crosses a clear moral line, and that the development of autonomous weapons will result in machines, rather than people, deciding who lives and who dies.

Such systems, including drones, military robots and unmanned vehicles, should be treated in the same way as chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear weapons, they say.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

An open letter addressed to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been signed by 122 AI researchers, while an open letter sent to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has 216 signatories.

Toby Walsh, the organiser of the Australian letter and Scientia Professor of AI at UNSW Sydney, said, The Canadian AI research community is clear: we must not permit AI to target or kill without meaningful human control.

Delegating life-or-death decisions to machines crosses a fundamental moral line  no matter which side builds or uses them. Playing Russian roulette with the lives of others can never be justified merely on the basis of efficacy. This is not only a fundamental issue of human rights. The decision whether to ban or engage autonomous weapons goes to the core of our humanity.

Both letters call for the governments of the respective countries to announce their support for the call to ban lethal autonomous weapons systems at the upcoming United Nations Conference on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), and to commit to working with other states to conclude a new international agreement that achieves this objective.

Mr Walsh continued, Its not the Terminator that experts in AI and robotics like myself are worried about but much simpler technologies currently under development, and only a few years away from deployment. Without a ban, there will be an arms race to develop increasingly capable autonomous weapons.

These will be weapons of mass destruction. One programmer will be able to control a whole army. Every other weapon of mass destruction has been banned: chemical weapons, biological weapons, even nuclear weapons. We must add autonomous weapons to the list of weapons that are morally unacceptable to use.

The CCW meetings at the United Nations are set to take place later this month.

If developed, [killer robots] will permit armed conflict to be fought at a scale greater than ever before, and at timescales faster than humans can comprehend, the open letters say.

The deadly consequence of this is that machines  not people  will determine who lives and dies.
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Parents are repeatedly told to watch what they are feeding their children, but they must also keep a keen eye on how much of it they are serving.

As the place where they consume around two-thirds of their daily food intake, being obese or overweight begins at home for children. Child portion control has become so much of a problem that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared families healthy food portions critical to childhood weight management.

But very little is known about what exactly influences parents portion size choices for their children. Previous research into child weight management has identified gaps in parents knowledge, denial of their childrens weight status, and cultural practices as barriers towards healthy eating. Few studies have been done into parents portion behaviours, however.

To find out the situation in the UK, we conducted a series of group discussions with 22 parents from across the country  mainly mothers with overweight children above the age of five  along with four family weight management caseworkers. Unlike previous qualitative research, we wanted to get answers directly from adults.

Knowledge and emotion

So far, efforts to explain the consumption of large portion sizes have focused mainly on how the shape and size of dinnerware provides visual prompts that influence consumption beyond our consciousness, as well as the availability of low cost, large quantities of high energy dense foods.

But our findings suggest that both parents emotional and habitual responses, and beliefs are also potentially important influences on their portion control behaviours.

The parents who took part in our research had limited knowledge about what healthy portion sizes were for themselves and their family members as supported in previous research. However, this is not too surprising as there is very little official public health guidance on age appropriate portion sizes.

They, and the caseworkers, also said that they found it difficult to talk to the children about the need for smaller portion sizes to manage weight. This builds on previous research showing that greater child weight is associated with poor parent-child communication.

Both parents and caseworkers agreed that part of the difficulty in communicating with children arose from parents fear of lowering their childrens confidence and causing anxiety, particularly among older children. In addition, the parents revealed that along with the fear of causing eating disorders and guilt of restricting food, they worried about the possibility of being disliked by their children.

On the other hand, some parents believed that measuring portion sizes required too much mental effort and time. Cultural food practices were also highlighted in conversations with parents, in relation to their concerns towards food wastage where they admitted that if they cooked too much food, they would overfeed, rather than not serve it. These findings reflect previous research suggesting that parents core values in relation to food waste is instilled during their own childhood, where it was often expected that all food on the plate should be eaten.

The parents in the study also had low confidence in their ability to manage their childrens weight through portion control due to their own unsuccessful attempts at losing weight.

Habits

The parents we spoke to said they had a habit of using plates for portion guidance and that they found it difficult to provide healthy portion sizes when the little ones moved to adult sized plates. As we know, dinnerware has increased in size over the years, leading to serving and consuming larger portions. Most parents also had no weighing scales and agreed that they had no time or motivation for using them compared to dinnerware for portion control, as reported elsewhere.

The parents and caseworkers also said that grandparents were obstacles to the regulation of childrens food. The grandparents were seen as often providing extra food, undoing parents good work. Mothers also expressed frustrations with partners giving children greater portion sizes than needed.

From what we have found, it appears that family weight management programmes which target portion control or focus purely on one aspect of the problem  such as environmental strategies, which target things like utensil and dish size  may not be as effective as those that account for parents own knowledge, skills and motivations.

Further research is needed, but from what weve found in this study, there are some solutions that could be easily implemented. Family weight programmes should provide parents with ideas for quick and simple ways for measuring healthy sized portions, such as using hands as a guide, whereby childrens hands are used for measuring childrens portions and adults hands are used for adult portions. Parents could also be helped to improve their communication skills and problem solving techniques in order to address their own emotional issues with food.

Kristina Curtis is a research fellow in eHealth and behaviour change at Coventry University, This article was originally published on The Conversation (conversation.com)
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The White House communications director made a sharp sartorial statement at a state dinner on Monday evening.

Hope Hicks wore a form-fitting tuxedo to the event, while first lady Melania Trump donned a billowing scarlet gown.

The event was hosted by Japans Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who had invited President Donald Trump to the Alasaka Palace in Tokyo to mark the occasion.

(Reuters) (REUTERS)

29-year-old Hicks offset the androgyny of her suave suit with a bold fuchsia lip and diamond earrings, wearing her hair in loose waves.

Fans of the young PR powerhouse took to Twitter to praise Hicks for her unique attire.

The former Ralph Lauren model-turned-Trump aide was promoted from communications assistant to director in September, replacing Anthony Scaramucci, who was famously fired by the Trump team after just 10 days in the role.

Much like the Defence against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts, the seemingly cursed role of White House communications director is hard to hold on to, with both Michael Dubke and Sean Spicer also leaving the role within Trumps first six months in office.

Critics were quick to lambaste Hicks for her lack of qualifications as she started working on Trumps campaign in 2015 with no political background.

Melania wore a Valentino gown for the occasion (Reuters)

A close friend of Trumps eldest daughter Ivanka, Hicks began working with the family in 2012 while at public-relations firm Hiltzik Strategies, which handled the communications for Ivankas fashion line.

She subsequently worked for the Trump real estate brand, the New York Times reports.

Hicks is thought to have a good relationship with the President: according to Republican adviser Paul Manafort, she totally understands him.
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People who have been tricked into transferring money to a fraudster could find it easier to get their money back under plans set out by a regulator.

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has been looking into such scams following a super-complaint by consumer group Which? over concerns that, unlike many other payment methods, victims conned into transferring money by bank transfer to a fraudster have no legal right to get their money back from their bank.

Plans outlined by the PSR, following work with the payments industry, aim to make it harder for fraudsters to commit such crimes, ensure banks follow best practice and help them to recover money.

A reimbursement scheme has also been proposed, which could help people get their money back under certain circumstances  but the PSR said there is no silver bullet and some people will still lose out.

New statistics published by UK Finance show that in the first six months of 2017 alone more than 19,000 victims were a target of the scams  known as authorised push payment (APP) scams  involving a total amount of over 100m.

The PSR said it is seeking feedback on how best to introduce a contingent reimbursement model by September 2018. The proposed model would set out the circumstances when victims of such scams would get their money back, and which bank or payment organisations should pay.

Whether or not the fraud victim gets their money back would depend on whether banks and payment organisations had met required standards, including measures and processes that help prevent and respond to scams  as well as whether or not the victim has taken an appropriate level of care in protecting themselves.

The PSR said the compensation model aims to help reinforce compliance with new best practice standards that banks will follow when a victim reports one of these scams.

Hannah Nixon, managing director of the PSR, said the new measures will make a positive difference to scam victims and help prevent such frauds happening. She continued: However, there is no silver bullet for APP scams and some people will still, unfortunately, lose out. Thats why weve continued to look for a solution that could reimburse those who are scammed, and today we begin consulting on an option that we think could work.

To be successful, the model must be pragmatic: consumers will need to be vigilant and protect themselves, but equally we expect banks and payment service providers to uphold best practice  and when they dont there should be reimbursement.

The report was welcomed by Which? Chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: A year on from our super-complaint, its good to see the regulator coming down on the side of consumers. If this stops the huge amounts of money lost to bank transfer scams, itll be a significant win.

To make this a reality, the regulator must now ensure any reimbursement scheme properly compensates victims. Meanwhile, banks must move to quickly put in place better checks and protections to prevent these scams happening in the first place.

The PSR said new protections to help prevent scams happening and help banks recover money faster will include:

Confirmation of payee starting in 2018, allowing customers to verify that they are paying the person they intend.

Transaction data analytics, starting in 2018, helping banks to shut down mule accounts taken over by criminals for fraudulent activity and spot potential fraudulent payments.

Know your customer data sharing for banks due in 2020 to help stop fraudsters opening accounts they use for scams.

Improved data sharing  providing a better understanding to help banks work together to respond to scams faster.

The Financial Conduct Authority said it had previously found that, generally, procedures for handling cases of push payment scams are often unclear and inconsistently applied. It said it will be actively monitoring the adoption, implementation and impact of the standards.

PA
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NHS leaders are calling on the Government to reform immigration policy to make it easier to recruit doctors and nurses from overseas and fill significant gaps left by UK workforce shortages.

Staff shortages are the top concern for two thirds of chief executives and chairs of NHS trusts and foundation trusts, according to a survey by membership body, NHS Providers.

And 85 per cent expect overseas recruitment to be very or fairly important to keeping services running over the next three years.

To address this NHS Providers, which represents 98 per cent of NHS trusts, says the Government must urgently confirm the right to remain of 60,000 EU staff in the NHS and set out how it will fund pay rises for staff now it has scrapped its public sector pay cap.

The There for us: a better future for the NHS workforce report adds the Government should: Commit to a future immigration policy supporting trusts to recruit and retain staff from around the world to fill posts that cannot be filled by the domestic workforce in the short to medium term.

This should be backed by a Department of Health led international recruitment programme which trusts could pay to opt into rather than running individual recruitment schemes.

NHS England announced this year that it was massively expanding its international GP recruitment programme, from 500 GPs, to 2,000 to 3,000 by 2020, at a cost of 100m.

But this short-term intervention should be followed by transparent, long-term workforce planning goals to expand the domestic supply of doctors.

The Government has made several commitments in this area in the past two years. At the Conservative Party Conference 2017 Jeremy Hunt pledged the NHS will train 5,000 more nurses a year, and has already committed to training 1,500 more medical students in a bid to be self-sufficient in doctors by 2025.

NHS Providers told The Independent that it welcomed these pledges, but in the meantime UK immigration policy must not make it harder to recruit, particularly as trusts report workforce is the biggest single issue they face.

One hundred and forty nine trust bosses, representing 51 per cent of NHS's hospital, ambulance, mental health and community health trusts respondend to an NHS Providers survey, it shows:

Staff supply shortages (93 per cent), workload pressures (60 per cent), and pay and remuneration (38 per cent) were the top three challenges to recruitment and retention mentioned by trusts.

90 per cent of respondents worried that the Department of Healths approach to workforce planning would not support them to recruit and retain sufficient staff. Forty-two per cent were very worried, but just two per cent were confident.

Brexit was seen as the main barrier to recruitment outside the UK over the next three years. More than one in three (38 per cent) mentioned this issue.

One respondent to the survey, the chief executive of an NHS acute trust, said: Sustainable staffing is the greatest challenge facing my organisation. I have no real sense that the scale of the challenge is truly understood nationally.

NHS Providers chief executive, Chris Hopson, said: The staff and skills shortages we now see reflect a fundamental failure at national level on workforce strategy.

We dont have enough staff with the right skills and were asking far too much of our existing staff. NHS trust leaders are telling us there are no quick fixes to improve the supply of UK-trained staff, and the outlook for international recruitment is uncertain.

"The government must deliver certainty for EU staff. It should reassure them that their commitment to the NHS is greatly valued and will continue to be welcome. It should also provide assurance on immigration policy so trusts can continue to recruit overseas while we strengthen our workforce here."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early 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London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group 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Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said there needed to be new laws to make ministers accountable for workforce planning, adding: For as long as we fail to train enough British nurses, we must be able to recruit the best from around Europe. If there is a cliff edge in 2019, it will be the NHS going over it.

Chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: The NHS has always depended on overseas doctors to deliver much needed care to patients and our health service could not operate without them.

He said the measures in the pipeline could alleviate some workforce pressures, but added: These recruitment drives must be accompanied by a renewed effort to ensure that we correct the chaos in workforce planning and have a plan to train and retain adequate numbers of home grown doctors in the UK to meet the needs of our population.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The NHS has over 12,700 more doctors and 10,600 more nurses on wards since May 2010  but we know that we need more staff.

"That's why we recently announced the biggest ever expansion of training places for doctors and nurses, as well as being clear that the future of EU nationals is a top priority in the Brexit negotiations and we want their valued contribution to the NHS to continue  to ensure the NHS has the staff it needs both now and in the future.
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The centenary of the Russian Revolution comes at a strange moment. It is not being officially marked let alone celebrated in Putins Russia. The collapse and demise of communism in 1991 appears to have consigned it ironically to what Trotsky termed the dustbin of history.

The Russian Revolution has had a bad press in the West. And that is putting it mildly. Its leaders  Lenin, then Stalin  are often equated with Hitler as mass murderers who oversaw totalitarian regimes. The left was eventually forced to concede that the revolution transmuted into an autocratic regime embodied in the purges and gulags under Stalin. The victors, as they say, write the history books.

However, it is apparent that a selective amnesia is in operation. Stalins victims are remembered but not King Leopolds in the Belgian Congo. Similarly, the crimes of the US empire  millions killed in the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars  are rarely mentioned in the same breath. As US general Curtis LeMay said of the Second World War: I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal.

Yet it is important to separate out the legacy of Stalinism from the initial revolutionary moment. In one fell swoop, 1917 represented the sweeping away of centuries of Tsarism for millions of Russian serfs. Whilst Britain and France had undergone bourgeois and industrial capitalist revolutions from the 17th and 18th centuries onwards, Russia was a sleeping giant of agrarian feudalism.

The fervour was immortalised in Trotskys towering The History of the Russian Revolution and the American journalist John Reeds Ten Days that Shook the World. Even Hollywood would celebrate this world-historical force of liberation in Warren Beattys Oscar-winning 1981 adaptation of Reeds life Reds with an all-star cast that included Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, with Beatty in the lead role of Reed, of course.

Clement Attlee's Labour manifesto of 1945 was responsive to the needs of the people  a new development in the history of capitalism (PA) (PA Archive/PA Images)

The Bolshevik victory immediately faced the counter-revolution internally and externally in common with all revolutions. A civil war erupted with the ancien regime backed by major world powers including Britain, France and the US. A critical question is how a revolution navigates these dangers without becoming authoritarian and betraying its ideals. Progressive movements that have attempted democratic revolutions  for example, Allende in Chile or more recently the Egyptian uprising of 2011  have been brutally defeated by counter-revolutionary forces.

The literature on the Russian revolution is overwhelming. The centenary has seen a flurry of books published by luminaries of the left including Tariq Alis The Dilemmas of Lenin, Neil Faulkners A Peoples History of the Russian Revolution, China Mievilles October and Slavoj Zizeks edited Lenin 2017.

The Dilemmas of Lenin is preoccupied with the necessary conditions for revolution and how it can succeed against all odds. Faulkners book, meanwhile, is a potted history of the revolution, myth-busting many of the preconceptions around the early period. The collapse of communism was a quarter of a century ago  so what is their assessment of the Russian Revolution 100 years on?

Recommended The revolution centenary almost everyone in Russia wants to ignore

Faulkner (whose acquaintance I have recently made) emphasises that it is necessary to correct the popular understanding that what collapsed was communism in the sense of a radical political alternative. He says: What the term comes to mean is a political dictatorship presiding over a state capitalist economy. The Russian Revolution as an attempt to transform the world and create socialism or communism in its original meaning was defeated in the 1920s. The mass working-class democracy which had created it was destroyed.

Tariq Ali replies: It was a necessary social revolution that toppled the Tsarist autocracy in February and capitalism in November. He adds that the creation of the Red Army that survived Stalins purges went on to destroy the spinal cord of the Third Reich at Kursk and Stalingrad. Private Ivan, not Private Ryan won the Second World War. This should never be forgotten. Indeed, three quarters of the German Wehrmachts losses were on the eastern front fighting the Soviets.

The conditions forging the golden age of post-war capitalism were highly unusual. In the wake of the Great Depression, the Glass-Steagall Act had curtailed the unfettered power of the banks in the US. The cataclysm of the Second World War left 60 million dead. There was a strong desire to create a peaceful, just and fair Europe in which such horrors would never be repeated.

A triumphant Winston Churchill unexpectedly lost out to Labour in Britains 1945 elections. The Labour manifesto, promising a welfare state complete with a National Health Service, public housing and pensions, was responsive to the needs of the British people. The social democratic model was a new development in the history of capitalism.

At the end of the First World War, the Bolshevik revolution had already anointed one-sixth of the globe under the rule of communism. After the Second World War, Mao Zedongs revolution in China meant that one-third of the globe was now cast in the red dye. US planners conceived of this catastrophic event as losing China, the implication being that Chinas rightful place was in a global economic system under the helm of the United States. The irresistible rise of communism appeared unstoppable.

Martin Luther King Jr at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in 1963. The civil rights and anti-war movements proved a volatile cocktail of destabilisation in the US during these years (Getty)

Arguably, the existential threat of communism was the critical factor forcing capitalism to make concessionary accommodations to the needs of ordinary people. As the African-American writer and social reformer Frederick Douglass put it in 1857: Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Faced with a competing alternative model of how a society might be organised, these concessions enabled capitalism to placate its citizens. Conservative MP Quintin Hogg had neatly summarised this stance referring to the Tommies returning from war: If you do not give the people reform they are going to give you social revolution.

Tariq Ali points out that the Russian Revolution accelerated decolonisation and inspired the revolutions in Vietnam, China [and] Cuba. It is certainly worth remembering that for much of the 20th century, Western progressives actually looked to the example of the Soviet Union. Swathes of Asia, Africa and Latin America were engaged in decolonisation struggles.

The wretched of the earth saw things slightly differently to the Western ruling classes. For world leaders (and millions of their supporters) such as Nehru in India, Nasser in Egypt, Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam, Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Castro and Che Guevara in Cuba, the Soviet Union was viewed as a template for the overthrow of imperialism.

Decolonisation spread like wildfire as former colonies liberated themselves from the yoke of empire often aligning themselves with the Soviet Union. The Cold War transformed Asia, Africa and Latin America into a strategic playground of competing interests between the United States and the Soviet Union  the great game of great powers fighting it out for global hegemony across multiple theatres.

Indian independence signalled the beginning of the end for the British Empire. The 1956 Suez Crisis became the defining watershed moment for its decline and fall. It led to the scalp of British PM Anthony Eden. The respected journalist Mohamed Heikal  confidante of Egypts Nasser  wrote up his account of the crisis. The title  Cutting the Lions Tail  gives a sense of the David versus Goliath contest. The unthinkable had come to pass with the withdrawal of the once mighty British empire.

Other European powers were also in free fall. Even the inviolable might of the United States was revealed to be vulnerable with total defeat in South-east Asia following losses in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

A half-millennium of Western dominance was in retreat. The anxiety about the prospects of capitalism was such that the leaders of the West contemplated the unthinkable; that the Soviet Union could outperform them in economic terms. Maos description of capitalism as a paper tiger captured the sense that it was on the brink of collapse.

Most worryingly for the Western establishment, the tide had reached the gates of the citadel. At the end of the Second World War, communist parties in Italy, France and Greece were on the verge of electoral success. One of the early victories of the nascent CIA was preventing the seemingly unstoppable surge of communism into Western Europe. In Greece, a civil war erupted with Western powers backing anti-communist forces.

By the 1960s, social unrest was widespread. The upheaval in France of the soixante-huitards was accompanied by paralysis of the state with the very real possibility of revolution. In the US, the civil rights and anti-war movements proved a volatile cocktail of destabilisation. In 1968 alone, there were riots in 125 cities across America. The counterculture of the Sixties was an expression of heady times. Popular culture pulsated with the sense of limitless possibilities. It is no exaggeration to state that the world appeared to be on the verge of seismic change; a paradigm shift.

We all know what happened next. Soviet communism imploded with the resulting break-up of the USSR. Chinese communism remained so only nominally and morphed into turbo-capitalism. Thatcher and Reagan ushered in an era of neoliberalism and unleashed a full-throttle capitalism red in tooth and claw.

Marxs prediction that the spectre of communism would sweep across the world appeared to be coming true. Yet late capitalism managed to outlast its most formidable opponent through adaptability and plasticity. So will capitalism simply keep on going through adaptation?

In Tariq Alis view, the Russian Revolution was very good for Western social democracy. Capitalism was forced to make real concessions. The fall of the Soviet Union led to the worst type of predatory capitalism (globalisation) praised endlessly and uncritically by The Economist and the Financial Times. But as long as there is no alternative to capitalism, it will survive. Talk of a spontaneous implosion and collapse are far-fetched.

Neil Faulkner says: The system is immensely powerful and it is multi-layered. Unlike Tsarist Russia in 1917, where the state and the ruling class was extremely weak, modern capitalist societies have layer upon layer upon layer of civil society institutions.

The project of decolonisation curdled with progressive peoples movements being overthrown by or mutating into repressive regimes. Whilst once Western powers had colonised countries, now neocolonialism guaranteed their hegemony through a foreign policy of aiding client states alongside undermining rogue states. Even this neocolonialism model has evolved. Free trade now facilitates a globalised economy. The US economist Francis Fukuyama pronounced this model of free market economics combined with liberal democracy as the end of history.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a defining moment in the ideological shifts of the late 20th century (Getty)

Capitalism was the all-singing, all-dancing exultant ideology of the day. It was the only show in town. When the Berlin Wall came down, it appeared that capitalism was destined to last forever.

To many commentators, social democracy was proof that capitalism was capable of enacting the type of reforms that Marx had never anticipated. It was thus capable of providing an ever higher standard of living for its populations. Retrospectively, the Nineties now seem like an idyllic period of modern history. The marriage of liberal democracy and free market economics looked like a match made in heaven. At least to some. Even that phrase laissez-faire denotes a certain sweetness as if one were describing some kind of sexually liberated practice.

But, as it turned out, the era of social democracy was a blip. When Tony Blair severed Clause Four, he signalled an age of centrist policies. By perpetuating the neoliberal doctrines of Margaret Thatcher, New Labour consecrated a new era in which the political spectrum had collapsed into a continuum. When Thatcher was asked what she regarded as her greatest achievement, she pithily replied: New Labour.

Who could have possibly predicted what was about to unfold? Events, dear boy, events have a habit of surprising us. The first decade of the new millennium began with 9/11 followed by the war on terror and the Iraq War. As the late Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote, the old century had not ended well. And that was before the biggest crisis since the Great Depression.

Milton Friedman  the father of neoliberalism  had believed in the purity of the free market. Things went wrong because government got in the way. If regulations were disbanded, the market would always correct itself, function smoothly and society would flourish. The financial crisis demonstrated this to be a fallacy.

Left unchecked, the financial sector almost brought down the entire edifice of global capitalism. In the memorable phrase of President George W Bush, at the height of the crisis, this sucker could go down. The resulting bailout of the financial sector was socialism for the rich, as Gore Vidal put it.

How unexpectedly brief the unipolar moment, the triumphal march, the victory lap was in the end. In this sense, Fukuyama could not have been more wrong about the end of history. Not because Islamist fundamentalism and authoritarianism pitted against liberalism indicates that the era of competing ideologies is far from over. No, because the marriage of free market economics and liberal democracy was incapable of producing a society benefiting the majority.

While Marx would not have recognised the social democratic model, he would be familiar with the direction we are headed in; namely the natural tendency of capitalism towards ever greater concentration of capital. Fukuyama had the misfortune to be writing at the end of the aberration that was the golden age of capitalism.

The financial crisis revealed the apparent bankruptcy of neoliberalism. But are the events of recent years  the Arab Spring convulsing the Middle East, the anti-establishment populist backlash both on the right and on the left  just the normal deviations in amplitude of every age? Or are these disruptions more extreme than normal?

If anyone had even dared to contemplate the collapse of capitalism at the height of the boom years they would have been laughed out of the room. Now the idea is really not so unthinkable. It is too early to say (as former Chinese premier Zhou Enlai supposedly declared of the French Revolution) if these are the first tremors of an impending earthquake or the harbingers of the coming apocalypse. One is reminded of Chekhov in The Cherry Orchard anticipating the pre-echoes of the Russian revolution. At the same time, one does not wish to sanctimoniously sound like a Cassandra heeding against the coming storm. Every generation whether Mayans, medievalists or Mormons has its doomsayers.

Progressive movements that have attempted democratic revolutions, such as the Egyptian uprising of 2011, have been brutally defeated by counter-revolutionary forces (Getty)

The financial crisis effectively bookended the era of neoliberalism and could even have spelled capitalisms fall of the Berlin Wall moment. Much of the unexpected wave of global protest has been facilitated by the power of networks and social media, especially in repressive regimes. This thrillingly offers great potential for the protest movement as it finally catches up with modernity. Yet, as Neil Faulkner reminds me, peasant movements in 1520s Germany were using the printing press. Click activism means bankers will be laughing all the way to the bank, he says. Class struggle is not virtual ... it is real in the workplace, on the campuses, on the estates, on the streets.

It may all still be kicking off, according to many on the left; nevertheless these coloured revolutions have been neutralised. Shorn of traditional organisations that once gave the working class solidarity, a leaderless movement, without a vanguard and a clear political manifesto, has been dispersed all too easily time and again.

The anti-corporate movement of the 1990s, the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement have all been opposed to the status quo and, at the same time, lacking in a unified consensus on how to bring about change. A viable alternative programme for political and economic change with popular support has not been articulated  yet. As Tariq Ali puts it to me: Every opposition  the Bolivarians in South America, Corbyns movement in Britain, Sanders in the US, Melenchon in France, Podemos in Spain  has not challenged capitalism as such. Only its neo-liberal variant.

After the experimental failures of the 20th century, socialism remained discredited as a serious alternative. A refractory period ensued but socialism no longer appears to be a taboo subject. It was apparently the most-searched term in 2015. The intergenerational divide is stark with young people embracing a set of ideas that does not carry historical baggage for them.

Faulkner says: World capitalism is in deep crisis, protracted crisis, a crisis to which the ruling classes of the world have no solution, and there are these vast evolving massive global problems, which are going to overwhelm unless we build radical movements for change. Im not surprised people are searching the word socialism online: people know we need an alternative. People are looking for an alternative.

I ask about how these horizontalist movements compare vis a vis the verticalist hierarchical movements of the 20th century? Ali is scathing: they are a dismal failure. Mass movements without politics wither away very rapidly even though their anniversaries are celebrated on the web. There is no substitute for politics.

Grassroots popular movements, such as Momentum, are gaining ground through mass mobilisation (Getty)

With no consensus on how to bring about change. the vacuum is occupied by old certainties, however dysfunctional. Hence the expurgating death throes of neoliberalism, the resurgence of religious fundamentalism and the increasing popularity of the far right.

Cultural identity appears to have potentially superseded class identity as evidenced by the Brexit and Trump phenomena. This has been compounded by the dismantling of structures such as unions, political parties and mass media that enabled the working class to define its identity. What are the implications of this for the Marxist idea of the working class as the vehicle for revolution?

Tariq Ali replies: The deindustrialisation of the US, Britain and other countries has also destroyed the traditional working class. Brexit, incidentally, was a scream against this and the oppressions of the neo-liberal system. New movements and new political organisations are emerging in which class barriers are more fluid that they once were. The levels of inequality under capitalism are at their peak, which creates possibilities for new models of opposing this system.

The electoral success of Syriza in Greece demonstrated that mass mobilisation of popular movements is required to challenge global capital. Its crushing confirmed that even national solutions are not sufficient in the face of globalisation.

Faulkner says the Russian Revolution represented a relatively small number of people, a few million people driving the revolutionary process. What if hundreds of millions of us were to take control of the modern global economy which is so rich and full of so much potential to satisfy needs, and run it from below democratically in keeping with human need? he asks. That is the great lesson of 1917: the potential that we as ordinary people have. But he adds: I dont have any illusions about an international working-class revolution transforming the system. In a sense its the biggest ask in all of human history.

At the end, Ali adds that China is a billion-dollar question. A hugely successful, state-controlled capitalism without a trace of democracy; the largest proletariat in the world; a world power but, till now, with relatively low military spending. In another two or three decades we will have a better idea as to where China is going.

The collapse of communism undermined the Marxist doctrine that it was a historical inevitability. Arch-capitalists would have us myopically believe that capitalisms indomitability is also a historical inevitability. Not only had we arrived at the end of history but the grand narrative had been replaced by the fractals of chaos theory and deconstruction of postmodernism.

But if there is anything that history teaches us, it is this: the one inevitability is transformation. It is not a matter of whether capitalism will eventually give way to a new system but what will replace it. According to many on the left, we are on the cusp; or what the poet Robert Browning termed the dangerous edge of things. The historian Norman Davies once said that historical change is like an avalanche. The starting point is a snow-covered mountainside that looks solid. All the changes take place under the surface and are invisible. But something is coming. What is impossible is to say when.

Youssef El-Gingihy is the author of How to Dismantle the NHS in 10 Easy Steps, published by Zero books
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South American poison frogs are known to most people for their venom  and their brilliant colours. But in almost all species the poison frog carries tadpoles on its back to a rainforest pool for their final growth stage.

One species, Allobates femoralis, may or may not be mildly poisonous, and for colour it has a splash of orange on its thighs. Thus its endearing common name, the brilliant-thighed poison frog. And sure enough, the females lay the eggs in a relatively dry spot in the rainforest, and once the embryos reach tadpole stage, the males load them on their backs and take off.

Andrius Pasukonis, a researcher associated with the University of Vienna and Harvard University, has been studying these frogs in the rainforest of French Guiana to learn how the males find the pools and what triggers this complicated act of tadpole transport. He and Kristina Beck, a graduate student at the University of Vienna, and others, determined in one project that the frogs dont search for pools but return directly to pools they know.

They really rely on their spatial memory; they dont randomly wander around the forest until they bump into pools, Pasukonis says. The publication of that research was the first time the navigational behaviour of the frogs was described, he adds.

He and his colleagues also found that they could trigger the complex behaviour of tadpole transport simply by putting tadpoles on a frogs back. The tadpoles could come from any frog at all. And the method worked just as well with females as males. That was a surprise, because in nature females only carry tadpoles if the male has disappeared, and then they will only carry tadpoles from the exact spot where they laid their eggs. Males will carry any tadpoles found in their territory.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. 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It caught us off guard, Pasukonis says, that behaviour which seemed that it might require several actions to trigger it  such as breeding and the presence of eggs or tadpoles in the right place  could be initiated by one simple event.

Once the tadpoles are on the back, the rule is to go transport them, Pasukonis says. Im still surprised that it actually works.

But, he adds, the signal that tells the frogs to move is clear and simple: Tadpoles on the back  you have to go.

Pasukonis and Beck worked on the two projects with Eva Ringler and Max Ringler, both of the University of Vienna, using a small river island with both natural pools and man-made pools. They lived in huts at a French research station, which had unexpected benefits.

We get frozen food, Pasukonis says, but it will include five types of cheese as well, so you feel that youre in France.

Tracking inch-long frogs up to a couple of hundred yards in dense vegetation, sometimes over a day or more, was not an easy task. They first had to catch frogs, and then equip them with transponders attached to tiny silicon waistbands.

The finding that tadpole transport was a fully developed behaviour in both males and females, even though males did it almost exclusively in nature, was another significant part of the research, says Pasukonis. He adds that the study of complex behaviour in amphibians is in its infancy, and hopes to perhaps delve into the underlying neuroscience.

 The New York Times
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A woman convicted of terror offences for spreading Isis propaganda online has been spared jail by a judge who was moved by the suffering of her children.

Farhana Begum Ahmed, of Wembley, pleaded guilty to one count of encouraging terrorism and three counts of disseminating terrorist publications.

The Old Bailey heard that she had been a prolific contributor to a Facebook group called Power Strangers where links to extremist propaganda were shared.

The private page, which had 1,406 members, described itself as a pro-IS group, the purpose of it is to connect mawhideen brothers from different parts of the world and to help each other.

Using the pseudonym Kay Adam, Ahmeds also wrote posts between September and November 2015 that were found to directly encourage readers to launch terror attacks.

Ahmed was arrested by detectives from the Metropolitan Police in July 2016 after they identified her as the person behind the extremist posts and she has been in custody since being charged in April.

Her five children, aged between six and 16, have been cared for by relatives during that time and the judge said he was moved by a letter from her eldest son.

Ahmed was given a suspended sentence at the Old Bailey (Getty)

Judge Christopher Moss QC handed Ahmed a two-year suspended sentence, meaning that she will only be jailed if she violates set conditions, and a 10-year notification order.

In your exceptional case, the sooner you are returned to your children, the better for all concerned, he told Ahmed.

The court heard that the 40-year-old had been effectively a lone parent living in temporary accommodation and had suffered at the hands of strangers.

In mitigation, lawyer Hossain Zahir claimed his client was a good mother and was full of remorse, having now rejected extremism.

Judge Moss concluded that her period in custody had already had an extremely adverse effect on the children.

You have devoted your life, apart from this abhorrent behaviour, to the care of your children, he told Ahmed.

There is no realistic danger of you returning to the mindset evidence of your conduct of two years ago.

You want nothing more than to return to your family and your family want nothing more than to return to them.

They have suffered greatly by your period in custody. Your case is in an entirely exceptional category.

As she left the dock, Ahmed, who wore a hijab, acknowledged the judge and quietly said thank you.

The British national travelled to Turkey with her husband Muhammed Burmal Karwani and their five children in November 2013  as jihadis from across Europe crossed from Turkey to join the Syrian civil war.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

She and the children returned to Britain while her husband stayed behind and, when she tried to travel to Turkey in August 2015, she was turned away by authorities, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Ben Lloyd said: It may be that following this, the defendant decided to begin her campaign on Facebook encouraging terrorism.

Her postings included a speech by Isis spokesperson and a link to an extensive online library of terrorist publications.

It is clear from the defendant's decision to join this group, and then by virtue of the material that she posted, that she shared the group's ideology and aims, Mr Lloyd added.

Ahmed's posts, which saw her express approval for Isis Paris attacks, had attracted a large number of followers.

The prosecution offered no evidence on two separate charges of funding terrorism that Ahmed denied.

The allegations related to thousands of pounds sent to her husband, who has since been acquitted of terror offences in Turkey and returned to the UK.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of Scotland Yards counter-terrorism command said: Ahmed was sharing and publishing terrorist material via Facebook and actively encouraging others to carry out terrorist activity.

She tried to hide behind a fake username and profile, but we were able to identify that she was behind the account and responsible for the posts.

The issue of online radicalisation is a serious one, but it is one that the public can really help us with. I would urge anyone who sees anything online that is concerning, to report it.

Additional reporting by PA
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A woman whose miracle baby was born 17 weeks early  a week before the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks  has revealed how her son is one of Britains youngest ever premature babies to survive.

Flynn Parry, now 15 months old, weighed just 1lb 1oz  less than a pint of milk  when his mum, Hoda Ali, 36, was just 23 weeks pregnant.

Photographs of him in hospital show he was barely as big as his mothers hand. He was just 11 inches long, much smaller than the average newborn baby which measures 20 inches.

After he was born he was swaddled in bubble wrap, and faced a desperate battle to survive.

Ms Ali recalled: A doctor told me, Hes a fighter  all premature babies are.

It was true. He fought every day.

I didnt connect to him for about 10 days after he arrived, though. He was just so, so small.

I thought he looked like an alien or a baby bird.

Ms Ali and her partner Owen Parry, 25, of Willesden Green, north London, were told at birth their son was unlikely to survive.

Doctors said only one in six babies survived the night at his age, Hoda explained. Even the one that lived only had a 50 per cent chance of surviving any further.

Defying all odds, Flynn not only lived, he flourished  becoming a lively toddler, who now runs rings around his parents.

He loves trains, pizza and climbing and has not experienced any developmental delays.

The only after effect of his premature birth has been some damage to his eyes, because of the time he spent on a ventilator as a newborn, which might mean him needing glasses in future.

Its amazing to see him now, Ms Ali said. Hes come so, so far.

Ms Ali was preparing for a role in an amateur production of the play Dangerous Corner, by JD Priestly, when her waters broke at 22 weeks.

Days earlier shed returned home from a trip to the Philippines with Mr Parry and received the all clear at her 20 week scan at University of Central London Hospital (UCLH)  discovering she was having a boy.

I was driving to rehearsals when I realised Id forgotten my costume, she said. So, I returned home, but arriving at the door, something happened.

I thought Id wet myself, but it wasnt that.

My mum, Soodi, 60, said it was my waters breaking and called 999.

Taken by ambulance to UCLH, she was fed steroids to strengthen her cervix and given magnesium sulphate, in a bid to halt labour.

But, on February 13, 2016, after a 30-minute labour, the little boy she and Owen had been so excited about arrived.

Ms Ali, who is still not sure what caused Flynns premature birth, recalled how he was battling sepsis  a potentially deadly form of blood poisoning  and had two brain bleeds, because of his early arrival into the world.

He also had suspected necrotizing enterocolitis  a serious disease that occurs when the intestinal tissue becomes damaged and begins to die, which is most common in premature babies.

Luckily, Flynn didnt have it, she said. But we still had plenty to worry about.

Immediately taken to neo-natal intensive care after his birth, he was put on a ventilator.

But he developed a common premature baby illness, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) where the retinas detach from the back of the eye.

At eight weeks, he was transferred to St Marys Hospital in Paddington, west London, as he began to improve.

Then, at just 13 weeks he had laser surgery on his eyes.

He also needed other gruelling operations, including one to remove a hernia at 17 weeks.

NICU Premature Baby Graduates Show all 8 1 /8 NICU Premature Baby Graduates NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography) NICU Premature Baby Graduates (Bella Baby Photography)

Although Ms Ali found it hard to bond with Flynn at first, gradually, she fell in love with him, especially when at a week old she finally cuddled him.

Recalling the moment, she said: I just loved it. He was wonderful.

Originally due on June 6, 2016, Flynn was finally allowed home from hospital on June 16  still small, but healthy.

Walking out of hospital, we were so proud of our boy and everything hed battled, his mother said. He really is amazing.

Its still not clear exactly why I gave birth so early, but if I fall pregnant again I will be monitored for early labour.

Flynn brings hope to everyone with premature babies, currently in hospital. You can get through it.

Press Association
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A former senior manager at the British Council who was fired for branding Prince George a symbol of white privilege has been denied compensation.

Angela Gibbins, the former head of global estates at the organisation which promotes British culture overseas, was dismissed from her job in August 2016 after comments she made on Facebook appeared in The Sun newspaper.

A photo of Prince George was posted by the band the Dub Pistols on its Facebook page, with the caption: I know hes only 2 years old, but Prince George already looks like a f***ing d***head.

The band added: Too much?

Underneath the image, Ms Gibbins commented: White privilege. That cheeky grin is the (already locked-in) innate knowledge that he is royal, rich, advantaged and will never know *any* difficulty or hardships in life.

Lets find photos of 3yo Syrian refugee children and see if they look alike, eh?

Ms Gibbins believed her comments were only visible to her Facebook friends.

Although she was not responsible for the obscene remark about Prince George next to the photo, her comments provoked widespread criticism of the charity as well as calls for Ms Gibbins to be fired.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

An internal investigation by the British Council, of which the Queen is the patron, found Ms Gibbins has inadvertently breached the charitys code of conduct and brought the organisation into disrepute.

She then took the charity to tribunal, arguing she had been wrongfully dismissed and discriminated against because of her republican beliefs.

The tribunal, which heard the case in July, rejected her claims and said she had been fired because she had associated herself with a distasteful and personal attack on a small child.

Clearly the claimant deserves some sympathy for her slip of judgement, but that does not mean the decision was unfair, the report states.

A British Council spokeswoman said: While we recognise the difficult nature of this process for all involved, we are pleased that the tribunal has found in our favour in relation to all of the claims.

The British Council looks to act with integrity and respect in all that we do to promote the UK and our position in the world.
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Finsbury Park Mosque says it was unaware that one of its trustees has been appointed to Hamas political bureau.

Representatives of the institution told The Independent it has no relationship with the Islamist Palestinian political party following a high-profile trip to Russia by representatives including Mohammed Sawalha.

Hamas named him alongside senior members in coverage of the visit, dealing a blow to the mosques efforts to dispel its former reputation as a hub for al-Qaeda supporters and extremist preachers including Abu Hamza.

Mr Sawalha, who is one of Finsbury Park Mosques six trustees, was identified as part of Hamas' political bureau in coverage of the fruitful visit to Moscow.

He was among senior members of the organisation to meet Vladimir Putins Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov.

Hamas released photos of the three-hour meeting in September, where it said delegates discussed its reconciliation with the Palestinian Authority and alleged Israeli abuses against Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Russias foreign ministry issued a statement following the engagement saying it welcomed a moderate political programme announced by Hamas earlier this year, which accepted a proposed Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

A photo released by Hamas showing delegates meeting Russian officials during a visit to Moscow in September (Hamas)

The visit was hailed as a landmark for Russian relations with Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and EU.

Palestinian-born Mr Sawalha was thought to be a member of Hamas before fleeing the West Bank for the UK in 1990 but his position in the groups political bureau is his most senior confirmed role.

He has also been involved in pro-Palestinian activism including Gaza flotillas, and is the former president of both the Muslim Association of Britain and British Muslim Initiative.

Asked how Mr Sawalhas position in Hamas squared with Finsbury Park Mosques values, a spokesperson said: We were not aware about this news till recently made public in [The Times].

We are looking at the situation and the mosque will be issuing a statement in the next couple of days.

We would like to confirm that the mosque has no relationship with Hamas.

Finsbury Park Mosque leaders said it was under the forceful control of fundamentalists between 1997 and 2005 and has since overhauled its leadership and trustees as part of a new ethos promoting love, care and compassion, justice and peace.

The mosque has become known for its interfaith work, with events attracting guests including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who represents the area in Parliament.

Attracting up to 2,000 worshippers, the mosque hosts community events and runs welfare services, education courses and advice surgeries.

Finsbury Park attack Show all 14 1 /14 Finsbury Park attack Finsbury Park attack Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park, killing one person and injuring eight Reuters Finsbury Park attack The incident is being treated as a potential terror attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Reuters Finsbury Park attack Police cordon off a street in Finsbury Park AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack A man prays in the street after the attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack Men gather and pray together in the street in the aftermath of the attack AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack PA Finsbury Park attack Onlookers gather near a police cordon EPA Finsbury Park attack Forensic investigators arrive at the scene PA Finsbury Park attack A forensic tent stands next to a van PA Finsbury Park attack A police officer talks with residents AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack Onlookers watch proceedings at the security cordon AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Local residents react at the scene AFP/Getty Images

Its worshippers were targeted in an alleged far-right terror attack in June, when one man died after a van hit Muslims leaving Finsbury Park Mosque and the nearby Muslim Welfare House following Ramadan prayers.

The atrocity prompted an outpouring of public and political support for the institutions, but the far-right have seized on Mr Sawalhas position in Hamas to renew accusations that Finsbury Park Mosque has links to terrorism.

Hamas as a whole is not deemed a terrorist organisation by the British Government, which has proscribed only its military wing over its aims to end Israeli occupation in Palestine and establish an Islamic State.

But the European Court of Justice ruled Hamas should remain on a separate EU-wide blacklist in July because of its involvement in terrorist activities.

The group has claimed responsibility for terror attacks dating back more than two decades in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, while being accused of grave human rights abuses including jailing and executing gay men.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has been subject to widespread travel bans and asset freezes since 2001, and has fought several wars against Israel as well as launching insurgent attacks.

It has opposed sanctions and argued it has a legitimate right to conduct military operations, but senior leaders regularly praise martyrs who launch terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

Hamas founding charter, from 1988, called for the takeover of all territories in former Mandatory Palestine, including modern-day Israel, but a new document presented in May claimed it would accept a Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

The group has not yet responded to The Independents request for comment and Mr Sawalha could not immediately be reached.
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As people adjust to the chilly autumn temperatures and cool weather ahead, offices and workplaces can become uncomfortable places to spend the day if its too cold indoors as well as out.

Here we look at the guidance for workplace temperatures and how it can affect productivity.

How cold is your workplace allowed to get?

Recommended This is how hot it has to get before you can legally walk out of work

There is no law outlining the maximum or minimum temperatures that an office environment should exceed, but the Health and Safety Executive states that employers are legally obliged to provide a reasonable temperature in the workplace, under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Under its Approved Code of Practice, a workplace should be at least 16C and at least 13C if a persons work involves rigorous physical effort.

Is there a maximum temperature for workplaces?

There is no upper limit for heat in the workplace as there are some environments with high temperatures, such as glass works or foundries, where people can work safely as long as appropriate measures are taken, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

What is thermal comfort?

Thermal comfort describes the feeling of being too hot or too cold, and can be influenced by a number of factors, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) states.

This includes humidity and sources of heat in the workplace, personal factors such as clothing, and physical demands of the work.

It is used as guidance for employers to take into account the workplace and environmental factors that contribute to peoples comfort at work.

It is not measured by room temperature, but by the number of employees complaining of thermal comfort, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA

What effects can thermal discomfort have on you?

Employers who managed their employees thermal comfort are likely to improve morale and productivity, the executive states, while overly hot or cold environments can reduce employees' ability to make decisions and perform manual tasks to deteriorate.

People may take shortcuts to get out of cold environments, the executive said, or increase risks to themselves by not wearing personal protective equipment properly in hot environments.

It added: An employees ability to concentrate on a given task may start to drop off, which increases the risk of errors occurring.

What can you do if your workplace is too hot or cold?

The guidance from ACAS is that employees should raise any temperature issues with their boss or HR department.

Nobody wants to be freezing cold in the office but there are some workplaces where cold working environments are a necessity such as workers that have to handle frozen food in freezers as part of their jobs, a spokesperson said, referring to the guidance set out by the Health and Safety Executive.

If theres a universal feeling that the temperature of an office is too cold to comfortably work in then employees should raise the issue with their line managers or HR department in the first instance, the spokesperson added.

Will there be limits set for hot workplace temperatures?

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which has campaigned for a number of years to introduce a new maximum indoor temperature for workplaces, says it wants to see the rules regarding lower temperatures enforced more widely.

TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady said: It shouldnt matter what the thermometer reads. If lots of people are complaining about the temperature, common sense says that action should be taken.

The body wants to see upper limits for workplace temperatures set at 30c  or 27c for those doing strenuous jobs  with employers obliged to adopt cooling measures when the workplace temperature hits 24c.
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A British woman who travelled to join Isis in Syria with her children has claimed racism she experienced while growing up in London fuelled her radicalisation.

Tania Georgelas, born Joya Choudhury, married an extremist who went on to be one of the most senior Western members of Isis after reaching the group's territories.

Ms Georgelas, who was pregnant with her fourth child at the time, returned to Turkey with her three other children within months after they fell ill and has since publicly renounced extremism.

In an interview with The Atlantic from her current home in Texas, she said she was radicalised after her British Bangladeshi family were targeted by racists.

Growing up in London was rough, I came from a very poor family, she said. We were second-generation immigrants and had faced a lot of racism.

We had bad neighbours, they would smash our windows but generally I just felt like an outsider.

I was looking for a way to retaliate and I wanted honour again.

Ms Georgelas was 14 during al-Qaedas 9/11 attacks and said she became jihadi hardcore shortly afterwards, while allegedly associating with a group of fundamentalist Algerians.

The couple travelled to the Syrian town of Azaz in 2013 but Ms Georgelas fled with her children after they fell ill (AP)

She met her future husband, American convert John Georgelas, on a Muslim matrimony website and they married in Rochdale when she was still a teenager.

Ms Georgelas said the pair discussed their shared passion for jihad during their online courtship and dreamed of having children to train them to be assassins or soldiers.

Their links to extremism were well-known by authorities, who jailed Georgelas in 2006 for providing IT assistance for a jihadi website and expressing his desire to support al-Qaeda online.

He was later freed and after moving between several towns in the UK and America, the family relocated to Egypt and socialised with a burgeoning circle of jihadis.

Georgelas, who used the name Yahya Abu Hassan, became a well-known extremist scholar and called for the establishment of an Islamist caliphate even before Isis staked its own claim.

He moved his family to the Syrian town of Azaz in 2013 but Ms Georgelas said she fled after she and her three children fell severely ill.

She has since moved to Texas and divorced her husband, who is believed to remain in Syria.

I cant help but love him. I dont know how to make that feeling stop, she added.

Ms Georgelas says she has also renounced Islam, joining a Christian Unitarian church and expressing a desire to help deradicalise returning Isis fighters.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

Several former Isis fighters have blamed their radicalisation on grievances at home, including a lack of education or employment opportunities, poverty, racism or Islamophobia.

Research has indicated that many European jihadis joining the group in Syria and Iraq are from large families in deprived parts of cities where they were isolated from mainstream social, economic and political activity.

Analysts have warned that the agency of female Isis supporters has been underplayed using the reductive umbrella term jihadi bride.

While the groups own guidance has traditionally emphasised restricted roles for women as mothers and wives obliged to support their husbands, an article released last month called on them to take up arms for the first time.

Recommended Former Isis militant describes his journey from postman to jihadist

Following the declaration of the so-called Islamic State in 2014, the group produced a huge amount of propaganda seeking to attract Muslims with the promise of life free of supposed Western oppression, lived in comfort and peace.

Rose-tinted videos sought to present a utopian existence, showing smiling militants engaging in activities like bee-keeping, farming and even pizza-making as Western fighters used Twitter to broadcast images of palatial homes, swimming pools and expensive cars provided by the caliphate.

Among the propagandists was Georgelas, who also uses the name Yahya al-Bahrumi.

He was reportedly close to Isis late spokesman Abu Muhammed al-Adnani and contributed to English-language propaganda calling for supporters to travel to the group's territory and launch terror attacks.

His articles included one that declared communities minister Sajid Javid and former Tory party chair Baroness Warsi were on a kill-list.

Georgelas was last known to be in Raqqa but his whereabouts has been unknown since Isis de-facto capital was re-taken by US-backed forces.


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Prince Charles campaigned to alter climate change agreements without disclosing his estates financial interest in such a rule change, leaks from the Paradise Papers indicate.

In 2007, the Prince of Wales reportedly bought shares worth $113,500 (83,600), in a Bermuda-based company run by one of his best friends, Hugh van Cutsem. That friend was also a director of Sustainable Forestry Management, the board of which invested invested in land to protect it from deforestation.

The purchase of the shares was regarded as highly sensitive, The Guardian reports, and members of Sustainable Forestry Managements board were reportedly sworn to secrecy about the Princes involvement.

The Prince of Wales has long been a vocal speaker on the issue of climate change. According to the BBC, he mounted a high profile campaign for changes to two major environmental agreements just weeks after Sustainable Forestry Management sent his office lobbying documents.

Four weeks after purchasing the shares, Prince Charles called for the Kyoto Protocol and the EUs emissions trading system to recognise carbon credits from rainforests, saying it was wrong.

In October 2007, he launched the Princes Rainforest Project, which aimed to highlight the impact of tropical deforestation. And in January 2008 he released a video in which he called for new ways of supporting rainforests.

The BBCs Panorama programme said it was unable to find any evidence of speeches made by the Prince about changing Kyoto, or EU ETS policy about rainforests, prior to purchasing the shares.

Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said the Princes actions amounted to a serious conflict of interest.

According to the BBC, he said: There's a conflict of interest between his own investments of the Duchy of Cornwall, and what hes trying to achieve publicly.

And I think its unfortunate that somebody of his importance, of his influence, becomes involved in such a serious conflict.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge said the revelations made clear the need for proper transparency.

She told The Guardian: It seems clear to me that Prince Charles could not have known or understood the nature of the investment in his friends company, she said.

What is clear is that there should be proper transparency of all investments made by the Duchy of Cornwall, that the Prince of Wales should not be involved in investment decisions and that the Treasury should monitor the investments to ensure that the reputation and integrity of our royal family is protected.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

The Duchy of Cornwall said the Prince has no direct involvement in its investments.

A Clarence House spokesman said Prince Charles had certainly never chosen to speak out on a topic simply because of a company that it may have invested in.

In the case of climate change his views are well known, indeed he has been warning of the threat of global warming to our environment for over 30 years.

Carbon markets are just one example that the prince has championed since the 1990s, and which he continues to promote today.
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Inmates at a British prison can buy the drug Spice for around half of the price of tobacco, a Government report has found.

At HMP Erlestoke near the Wiltshire town of Devizes, it said that combined with a smoking ban, the drug had helped fuel a sense of hopelessness among inmates.

Published by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the report said that there clear evidence of the widespread use of Spice, along with other drugs and alcohol.

It followed an inspection of the prison, which accommodates around 500 men, in June and July.

Spice is not a single drug but a range of synthetic chemicals that imitate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive component of cannabis.

It is often more potent than marijuana and has been dubbed the zombie drug because of its devastating impact on users.

In HMP Erlestoke prisoners also told us that the price of Spice was around half of that for illicit tobacco, which encouraged more Spice use than we have seen in similar prisons recently, the report states.

Inmates reported frequent medical emergencies, some very serious as a result of use of the drug.

This was partly because prisoners were smoking the synthetic cannabis substitute without diluting it with tobacco.

Many prisoners we spoke to said that the availability of drugs, coupled with the recent smoking ban, had contributed to a widespread sense of hopelessness," the report states.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA

Prisoners added it was difficult to maintain recovery in an atmosphere where so many other prisoners were regularly under the influence of Spice.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said: Safety in the prison was not good enough. Much of the violence and bullying that did exist was, in our view, linked to a significant drug problem, and yet the prison lacked an effective drug strategy.

Following the report's publication, Michael Spurr, of the HM Prison and Probation Service, said: The governor is working with partners including the police, and treatment agencies, to address this issue as a priority.
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Boris Johnson is finally stepping down as prime minister after nearly three tumultuous years in power.

The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP is being banished to the back benches, for now at least, after both candidates to replace him - Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak - ruled out giving him a cabinet job.

But Mr Johnson himself, never one to shy away from the limelight, recently refused to rule out some form of politcal "comeback".

And there has already been some speculation that he could have another "Trump-style" tilt at the Tory leadership in the future.

Much like Donald Trump, his political career to date has been littered with gaffes - some more catastrophic than others.

From insulting entire cities, countries and cultures, the Etonian schoolboy has offended many during his time in the limelight.

Here The Independent looks back at just some of Mr Johnsons most damaging and humiliating blunders.

Boris Johnson was known for gaffes before he became Prime Minister - and they just kept coming (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

1.Let the bodies pile high during pandemic

Mr Johnsons former chief aide Dominic Cummings claimed that as Covid spread across the country during the pandemic, the prime minister had said let the bodies pile high in their thousands rather than have a third lockdown.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said at the time: If this report is true, then these are truly shocking and sickening comments.

It is hard to imagine how families who have lost loved ones to Covid will feel reading them. Boris Johnson must make a public statement as soon as possible in his response to this report.

2.Business chiefs lectured on Peppa Pig theme park

The prime minister was left floundering when he lost his place in a high-profile speech to business leaders - and resorted to talking about the Peppa Pig World theme park.

Mr Johnson was rendered speechless for 20 seconds as he searched through his text, muttering forgive me, forgive me.

Addressing the CBIs annual conference, he compared himself to Moses, made vroom, vroom noises, cracked risque jokes, stumbled over his words, fell silent for almost half a minute after losing his place and asked the executives to put their hands up if they had visited Peppa Pig World.

At Peppa Pig World with wife Carrie (via REUTERS)

3.Sleeping at climate summit

Political opponents and climate campaigners were angry when Mr Johnson was pictured with his eyes closed during the opening ceremony of the Cop26 climate talks.

He was seated between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Sir David Attenborough.

A No10 source said it was total nonsense to suggest Mr Johnson had been asleep.

4.Slip of the tongue on Iranian detention

During a 2017 select committee hearing the then-foreign secretary erroneously said Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in the region.

After Mr Johnsons comments the 38-year-old Briton was hauled in front of an Iranian court and told her sentence could double.

He later faced calls to resign and issued an apology 12 days after his remarks.

She was finally released and allowed to return to her long-suffering family earlier this year.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured at RAF Brize Norton following her release from Iran, was hauled into court after Mr Johnsons comment (PA Wire)

5.Casual rule-breaking over finances

Mr Johnson broke Commons rules by failing to declare a financial interest in a property within the time limit.

The Commons Standards Committee accused him in April 2019 of displaying an over-casual attitude towards obeying the rules of the House.

The ruling came just four months after the Ruislip MP was made to apologise for breaching the rules by failing to declare more than 52,000 of outside earnings.

6.Hiding in fridge to avoid TV reporter

Boris Johnson hid in a fridge while being pursued by a TV reporter attempting to interview him on the eve of the 201 general election.

The prime minister was joining an early morning milk round in Leeds when he was confronted by Good Morning Britains Jonathan Swain about his promise to talk to Piers [Morgan] and Susanna [Reid].

Ill be with you in a second, Mr Johnson replied, before escaping into a large fridge.

In a video of the incident, one of the prime ministers aides can be seen mouthing oh for f***s sake after seeing Swain approaching the group.

 Boris Johnson's minder swears at reporter live on tv as PM's team whisk him off into a giant fridge

7.Insulting niqab wearers as letterboxes

Theresa May publicly rebuked Mr Johnson in August 2019 after he compared women wearing burqas and niqabs to letter boxes.

In a column for The Daily Telegraph  a weekly commitment that earned him 275,000 a year  Mr Johnson described the garments as oppressive, adding it was absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.

He said some restrictions on wearing them were sensible but that he opposed a Denmark-style full ban in public places and claimed: One day, I am sure, they will go.

He wrote: If a constituent came to my MPs surgery with her face obscured, I should feel fully entitled to ask her to remove it so that I could talk to her properly.

If a female student turned up at school or at a university lecture looking like a bank robber then ditto: those in authority should be allowed to converse openly with those that they are being asked to instruct, he wrote.

8. Clearing dead bodies in Libya to make way for resort

At the Conservative Party conference in October 2017, Mr Johnson was widely condemned after claiming the Libyan city of Sirte would have a bright future as a luxury resort once investors cleared the dead bodies away.

Asked about a recent visit to Libya, where fighting still continues eight years after Muammar Gaddafis fall, he praised the incredible country with bone-white sands.

He added: Theres a group of UK business people, some wonderful guys who want to invest in Sirte on the coast, near where Gaddafi was captured and executed. They have got a brilliant vision to turn Sirte into the next Dubai. The only thing they have got to do is clear the dead bodies away.

Mr Johnsons commnets about Islamic dress attracted criticism before he was PM

9.Describing Africa as that country

Reflecting on his first three months in the job at the Tories 2016 conference Mr Johnson referred to Africa as that country, while painting the world a less safe, more dangerous and more worrying place than it had been a decade prior.

Mr Johnson appeared to suggest the continent could benefit from adopting more British values, warning that a number of leaders were instead becoming more authoritarian.

And he then said: Life expectancy in Africa has risen astonishingly as that country has entered the global economic system.

10.Losing the no-deal argument on Brexit

A second showing for Mr Johnsons Telegraph column.

In April 2019, the Independent Press Standards Organisation said the ex-foreign secretary had breached accuracy rules by claiming that polls showed a no-deal Brexit was more popular by some margin than Theresa Mays deal or staying in the EU.

The paper argued it was clearly comically polemical, and could not be reasonably read as a serious, empirical, in-depth analysis of hard factual matters, but the watchdog ruled against it.

Boris Johnson's famous relatives Show all 11 1 /11 Boris Johnson's famous relatives Boris Johnson's famous relatives 1. King George II of Great Britain and Ireland, Elector of Hanover (1683 to 1760) Boris Johnson is a Hanoverian, and, thus distantly related to the Queen, David Cameron (via William IV) and Danny Dyer (via Edward III), among others. Boris's paternal grandmother, Yvonne Eileen Williams, known in the family as "Granny Butter" and whose family name was de Pfeffel, was a descendant of Prince Paul Von Wurttemberg. The German prince was, in turn, a direct descendant of George II. Discovered by genealogists f other BBCs Who Do You Think You Are, Johnson commented, in 2008: "I felt I was the product of newcomers to Britain so it is totally bizarre, surreal in fact, to be told that in fact my Great x 8 Granddad is George II. But don't neglect the point that he shares that distinction with 1,023 others  there must be several thousand other people out there in the same position. National Portrait Gallery Boris Johnson's famous relatives 2. The Mummy of Basel, Anna Catharina Bischoff (1719 to 1787) Last year, scientists in the Swiss city of Basel solved a decades-old mystery over the identity of a mummified woman. DNA extracted from the mummys gig toe indicates that the female is a great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother of Boris Johnson. The body was uncovered in 1975 while renovations were being done on Basel's Barfusser Church, and was buried at the altar, wearing fine clothes, indicating she was at least well-to-do if not nobility. High levels of mercury in her remains suggested she had been treated for syphilis (the metal also helped preserve her). National Gallery of Basel Boris Johnson's famous relatives 3. Ali Kemal (1867 to 1922) (Pictured with wife Winifred Brun) For a man who made so much capital in the 2016 referendum on the prospect of Turkey joining the EU and its 80 million citizens thus enjoying free movement to the UK, Boris Johnson sometimes makes a surprisingly big deal of his Turkish Muslim great-grandfather on his fathers side, who he claims was an asylum seeker. Ali Kemal, according to his famous descendant, came to Britain because it was a beacon of generosity and openness. I t might be overstating it, but he did live in exile in England for a time. Unknown Boris Johnson's famous relatives 4. George Williams (1821 to 1905) Sir George, as he became, is the great (x4) grandfather of Boris Johnson, and was one of the founders of the Young Mens Christian Association or YMCA, in 1841. An evangelical apostle of muscular Christianity, George took it upon himself to organise some fellow drapers and establish a safe place for young men where they could be shielded from the debauchery and the temptations of the flesh and the grape. No sofas would suffer red wine stains in the hostel. Since then it has gone global, today assisting 58 million people across 119 countries, which is almost as many as Boris helps. A social visionary of his time, George was knighted for his works by Queen Victoria in 1894. National Portrait Gallery Boris Johnson's famous relatives 6. King Friedrich of Wurttemberg (1754 to 1816) Though stocky of build, and handy in a game of rugger, Boris Johnson is not especially heavy or tall. This ancestor was. King Friedrich stood 6 foot 11 inches, and weighed 31 stone (2.12 metres/200 kilograms). Napoleon remarked that God had created the Prince to demonstrate the utmost extent to which the human skin could be stretched without bursting. There are rumours that he was bisexual and enjoyed the close companionship of young noblemen. This added to the strains on his marriage to Augusta, who was the granddaughter of King George II. One of their four children, Prince Paul is the link to the Johnsons, via an illegitimate daughter he fathered in Paris with an actor named Friederike Margrethe Porth. Ludwigsburg Castle Archive Boris Johnson's famous relatives 7. Professor Elias Lowe (1879 to 1969) Elias is Boris Johnsons mother Charlottes great grandfather. The distinguished Princeton scholar and student of ancient scriptures (palaeographer) , Elias arrived in the United States as a refugee from Lithuania in 1891, and was affine of Albert Einstein. Jewish, Lowe came for a line of revered rabbis. Although he cannot be counted Hallachially Jewish, the Jewish Chronicle makes him 5 per cent Jewish on their reckoning. Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Boris Johnson's famous relatives 8. Helen Lowe-Porter (1876 to 1963) Helen Tracey Lowe-Porter. is Boris Johnson's mother Charlottes great grandmother. An American, she married the Lithuanian-born academic Elisa Lowe, and is said to have been probably the most prominent literary translator in the English-speaking world working from German to English in the twentieth century. However, not necessarily the best and in such circles her reputation is contested. In any event, she retained for 50 years the exclusive rights to translate the works of her friend Thomas Mann. Her and Elias daughter Beatrice is Charlotte Johnson (nee Fawcetts) mother. Lowe-Porter family Boris Johnson's famous relatives 9. Sir Henry Fawcett MP (1833 to 1884) Before Boris and Jo Johnson became MPs and minsters, there was Sir Henry Fawcett  Britains first blind MP. He was the husband of the famous suffragette Millicent Garrett Fawcett, and thus an ancestor of Boris on his mothers side - though the family tree isnt clear on how close they are related. Glasgow University Boris Johnson's famous relatives 10. Prince Paul of Wurttemberg (1785 to 1852) Odd looking, an amusing womaniser (remind you of anyone?), this minor German aristocrat was the progenitor of the Johnsons posh pedigree, such as it is. His affair with an actress is Paris, Fredericke Porth, gave rise to a daughter (out of wedlock as they used to say) provided the link back to the royal families of Wurttemberg and Hanover, and thus of Great Britain. By the same token it means that Stanley, Boris, Rachel, Leo and Jo, and the rest of them along that branch of the tree, are also distantly related to most of the royal families of Europe including the Russian Romanovs  Johnson stands connected, albeit tenuously, to the Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Luxembourg, Norwegian and Swedish families, plus the German Kaiser. Paul had five declared children, and two illegitimate ones, at least that are known about. National Archive Holland Boris Johnson's famous relatives 11. Fredericke Porth (1777 to 1860) When, on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are? Boris Johnson discovered the identity of his 4x Great Grandmother, Fredericke, he was just a touch chauvinist: An actress, could be a euphemism we may be about to turn up a prostitute here. Not that I mind. I want you to know they can get up to anything, my ancestors, they have carte blanche to commit whatever acts of fornication they want as far as I am concerned, but I want to know. It seems Fredericke Margarethe was indeed an actress for most of her life, and was widowed by the time her illegitimate daughter, the product of her affair with Prince Paul of Wurttemberg was born, in 1805. Born Porth, Fredericke was married to a man named Vohs until 1804, and, in 1818, remarried to a man named Werdy. She was described as a Royal Saxon Court-Actress. Alamy Stock Photo Boris Johnson's famous relatives 12. Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847 to 1929) Disappointingly, the ancestor who is sometimes mentioned as a stands as a standing genealogical reproach to Boris Johnson may not be a related at all. As a pioneering feminist and suffragette, shed surely disapprove of Boris attitudes towards womankind. As President of the National Union of Womens Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), the largest component of the suffragette movement, she did as much as anyone to get women into the political life of the nation, and the Fawcett Society, still fighting for equal human rights, is named in her honour. Millicent lived just long enough to see the vote being granted on an equal basis to all women, and said this when it was finally enacted in 1928: It is almost exactly 61 years ago since I heard John Stuart Mill introduce his suffrage amendment to the Reform Bill on May 20th, 1867. So I have had extraordinary good luck in having seen the struggle from the beginning. Bain News Service/Elliott & Fry

11. Accusing Liverpool of wallowing in victim status

Back in 2004, Mr Johnson was forced to apologise to a whole city after printing an editorial about Liverpool.

The Spectator piece claimed Liverpudlians had an excessive predilection for welfarism.

They see themselves whenever possible as victims, and resent their victim status; yet at the same time they wallow in it, the piece continued.

He was chastised by Conservative leader Michael Howard, who was urged to sack the-then shadow arts minister for the comments.

12.Boasting about Johnnie Walker in a Sikh Temple

While foreign secretary he was berated at a Sikh temple in Bristol for talking about increasing whisky exports to India  despite alcohol being forbidden in the Sikh faith.

I hope Im not embarrassing anybody here by saying that when we go to India, we have to bring clinky in our luggage, he said in 2017. We have to bring Johnnie Walker.

A BBC recording captured a female worshipper asking him: How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?

Then then foreign secretary was criticised by livid audience after promoting alcohol

13.Dont mention the war

During a visit to India early in 2017, Mr Johnson appeared to accuse the EU of wanting to inflict Nazi-style punishment beatings on the UK because of Brexit.

He said: If [former French president Francois] Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie, I dont think that is the way forward, and its not in the interests of our friends and partners.

It seems absolutely incredible to me that, in the 21st century, member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.

14.Prosecco row bubbles over

In November 2016, Mr Johnson was mocked by European ministers following a bizarre argument about whose country would sell more prosecco or fish and chips post-Brexit.

Italys economic minister Carlo Calenda said Mr Johnsons approach appeared to be based on wishful thinking.

He basically said: I dont want free movement of people but I want the single market, Mr Calenda told Bloomberg. I said: No way. He said: Youll sell less prosecco. I said: OK, youll sell less fish and chips, but Ill sell less prosecco to one country and youll sell less to 27 countries. Putting things on this level is a bit insulting.

The row took place after Mr Johnson described suggestions that free movement of people was among the EUs founding principles as b*******.

Italian economic development minister Carlo Calenda said the argument was insulting

15. Bikey goes missing

Mr Johnson appeared to be caught out during the Tory leadership campaign after being asked at a hustings event when he had last cried.

He claimed it was when his beloved bicycle was stolen from outside parliament, saying he had used the vehicle, named "Bikey", for the entirety of his eight years as Mayor of London.

He said: It was never nicked during all my time as mayor and I used to chain it up across the whole city. Barely had [his successor as mayor] Sadiq Khans reign begun before it was nicked.

He added: Anyone who has something they love stolen feels a sense of outrage and injustice. Thats another reason we need more police on the streets.

However, the claim appeared to unravel when an article emerged from 2014, in which Mr Johnson described how Bikey had been written off after a crash. The bike's frame had snapped after he rode it into a pothole concealed by a puddle during a storm, he said.

Given the article dated from 2014, it appeared to contradict his claim that "Bikey" had been used throughout his time at City Hall, which ended in 2016, and had been stolen years later, after Mr Khan took office.

16.Smoke me a kipper

Mr Johnson raised eyebrows at the last hustings of the leadership contest after brandishing a smoked kipper on stage.

He waved the fish during a rant about pointless, expensive, environmentally damaging EU regulations, claiming that Brussels bureaucracy had "massively" increased costs for fish suppliers because of rules saying that their products must be transported in ice.

However, it later emerged that the regulations had, in fact, been introduced by the UK government, not by the EU.

Holding a kipper at the final hustings of the Conservative leadership campaign in July, 2019 (Getty Images)

17.Domestic strife

Mr Johnsons leadership bid got off to a rocky start after reports emerged of a major row between the MP and his girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, now his wife.

An audio recording leaked to the media appeared to reveal Ms Symonds telling Mr Johnson to get off her and repeatedly telling him to get out of my flat.

The candidate and his team faced a flurry of questions over the incident, but the next day photos emerged showing the seemingly happy couple enjoying some relaxing time in the countryside, suggesting they had reconciled.

However, eagle-eyed observers were quick to point out that Mr Johnsons hair looked significantly longer than it had the previous day  suggesting that, rather than having been snapped that day, the photo had actually been taken some time ago.

18.Backie backlash

A blast from the past. While mayor of London Mr Johnson was filmed breaking the law by giving his then-wife Marina Wheeler a lift on the back of his bike.

National cycling charity CTC said he should have known better.

Mr Johnson apologised through a spokesman after it emerged he had breached Section 24 of the Road and Traffic Act 1998. Offenders can ordinarily expect a 200 fine for committing the error.

Mr Johnsons premiership has come to an end after three years in the job (Tim Hammond/No10 Downing Street)

19.Money spent on child abuse probes spaffed up the wall

In 2019, he again sparked outrage after claiming money spent investigating historic child sexual abuse had been spaffed up the wall.

During a radio interview, Mr Johnson argued that money spent on investigating historic crimes would be better channelled into boosting police numbers, in the wake of a spate of fatal stabbings.

Shadow policing minister Louise Haigh said his comments were inappropriate and offensive to victims families, branding him a shameless, dangerous oaf.

20.Dismissing 250,000 a year newspaper column as chicken feed

In 2009, then London Mayor Mr Johnson described his quater of a million pound earnings from writing for the Telegraph as chicken feed.

Mr Johnson insisted it was wholly reasonable for him to write newspaper columns on the side because he did them very fast.

At the time, he was already earning 140,000 for his day job as many Londoners struggle from the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis.

21.Tone deafness, colonial-style

Britains ambassador to Myanmar had to stop Mr Johnson as he recited a Rudyard Kipling poem in the countrys most sacred temple.

The poem is written through the eyes of a retired British serviceman in what was then known as Burma, which Britain ruled between 1824 and 1948, and also references kissing a local girl.

Mr Johnson had also referred to a golden statue in the Shwedagon Padoga temple as a very big guinea pig shortly before launching into verse.

As he recited the poem video showed the British ambassador to the country, Andrew Patrick, growing visibly tense. When the then-foreign secretary reached the poems third line  the wind is in the palm trees... the temple bells they say  Mr Patrick decided to interject.

Youre on-mic, he said. Probably not a good idea.

Mr Johnson replied: What, The Road to Mandalay?

No, the ambassador said. Not appropriate.
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Boris Johnson has admitted he could have been clearer following botched comments that have left a British national facing a sentence in an Iranian jail of up to ten years.

The admission came as he furiously backpedalled over the comments about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and following a call with the Iranian foreign minister in which he tried to clarify his words.

Mr Johnson said there is no justifiable basis for further legal action against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Iranian officials cited comments in which he said Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked in Tehran teaching journalism as a reason to haul her in front of the courts and potentially increase her sentence.

The 38-year-old British woman was arrested and jailed for spreading propaganda with a central part of her defence being that she had never worked teaching journalists in Iran, but was merely there on holiday.

Mr Johnson is facing calls to quit after his gaffe in a select committee last week, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry accusing him of ineptitude, but Downing Street said on Tuesday that Theresa May still has full confidence in him.

Mr Johnsons appearance at the committee hearing saw him insist Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is innocent and condemn her treatment, but he then added she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it.

Shortly after, she was taken before hardline judge Abolghassem Salavati, to be told there were new accusations against her, under a new charge of spreading propaganda against the regime

She was threatened with another five years in prison  on top of her existing five-year sentence.

The Iranian High Councils website also now carries a story headlined UK confirms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not in Iran for Holiday, stating: [Johnsons] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday. For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested.

Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin, which has been strongly denied previously by both her family and Human Right activists such as [Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner] Shirin Ebadi.

In his call with Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, officials said Mr Johnson expressed concern at the suggestion from the Iranian Judiciary that his remarks shed nee light on the case.

The Foreign Secretary said this was absolutely not true, it was clear as it always had been that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been in Iran on holiday when she was arrested.

The Foreign Secretary made clear that the point he had been seeking to make in his evidence was that he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that he believed Iranian allegations that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. 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Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group 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centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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The Foreign Secretary concluded by emphasising that his remarks could form no justifiable basis for further action in this case and urged the Iranian authorities to release Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe on humanitarian grounds.

He set out his intention to visit Iran before the end of the year to discuss the case further.

Mr Zarif said that the developments in the case over the weekend were unrelated to the Foreign Secretary's remarks and that he remained committed to working with the Foreign Secretary to find a solution to the case on humanitarian grounds.
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Cabinet minister Liam Fox has said people should not overreact to "slips of the tongue", after a verbal gaffe by Boris Johnson led to a British citizen being threatened with a longer prison term in Iran.

Dr Fox was attempting to defend the Foreign Secretary after incorrect comments he made in Parliament led to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe being hauled in front of an Iranian court and told her sentence may be doubled to ten years.

Mr Johnson was due to call his Iranian counterpart on Tuesday to undo damage after telling a committee hearing that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked in Tehran teaching journalism before she was arrested and jailed for spreading propaganda - despite a central part of her defence being that she had never done so.

He has failed to make a public apology or admission that his words were incorrect, as Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry called for him to resign if it turns out that charity worker Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is imprisoned for longer.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dr Fox said: "We all make slips of the tongue, weve got to be very careful that we are not overreacting to this in a way that is going to give the Iranians [an excuse to extend the sentence]."

He also said: "I think it's important we keep this in perspective. First of all this is a UK citizen being held on extreme and unproven charges in an entirely unacceptable way. Its right that we constantly remind people that her detention is utterly unacceptable in an international way .

"The point the Foreign Secretary was making was that this arrest and detention of a UK citizen is not acceptable."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. 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Mr Johnsons appearance at a select committee last Wednesday saw him insist Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is innocent and condemn her treatment, but he then added "she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it."

On Saturday, the first Iranian working day after Mr Johnsons erroneous remarks, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taken before hardline judge Abolghassem Salavati, to be told there were new accusations against her, under a new charge of spreading propaganda against the regime

She was threatened with another five years in prison  on top of her existing five-year sentence.

The Iranian High Councils website also now carries a story headlined "UK confirms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not in Iran for Holiday", stating: "[Johnsons] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday. For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested.

"Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin, which has been strongly denied previously by both her family and Human Right activists such as [Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner] Shirin Ebadi.

 Jailed in Iran: Richard Ratcliffe calls on the government to bring Nazanin home

Pressure is mounting on the Foreign Secretary to repair the damage. In a letter to Mr Johnson Labour's Ms Thornberry said his comments had revealed "a fundamental lack of interest or concern for the details of Nazanins case and the consequences of your words."

She said: "While your previous gaffes in the role of Foreign Secretary may have seriously damaged this country's interests abroad, and caused grave offence to our international partners, this is - I believe - the first time that one of your comments has directly harmed the interests and prospects of a British national who instead should have been entitled to expect your support and aid."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is under pressure over his gaffe (WPA Pool/Getty Images) (Getty)

The Labour frontbencher said responsibility for the crisis is "your alone", accusing him of committing a "gross error" and being guilty of "ineptitude".

She added: "In the event that your actions have indeed cause irreparable harm to Nazanin's prospects of freedom and result in her sentence being lengthened, I hope and trust that you will take full responsibility for that, in both a moral and political sense, and consider your position accordingly."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard, has also claimed that she was accused of a plot to topple the Iranian government and has insisted that she is innocent.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is imprisoned in Iran (PA)

He said he had no doubt the fresh charges were triggered by the Foreign Secretarys remarks, adding: "The worst thing the Foreign Secretary could do is to now suddenly go quiet and to create this problem without making any clarifications.

This is an error that urgently needs to be corrected, otherwise there is a real risk it will be used to add years to Nazanins jail sentence.

Stressing that Mr Johnson needed to make a statement to Parliament as well as speaking privately to his Iranian counterpart, Mr Ratcliffe said: There is a limit to the Iranian foreign ministrys power in this.

As well as a private conversation, there needs to be a clear public statement of equal status to the initial error, so that things are done in a way that the Iranian judiciary has to acknowledge.

Mr Ratcliffe told The Independent that while he welcomed Dr Foxs acknowledgement that his wife was being held unfairly, the International Trade Secretarys suggestion that people shouldnt overreact to a slip of the tongue was unfortunate.

That was a flippant statement, said Mr Ratcliffe. It is clear that the Iranian judiciary is using Boris Johnsons error to build a case against Nazanin  let us not be too cavalier about the consequences.

Mr Ratcliffe had earlier explained that that his wife had never actually taught journalists at any point in her career.

Instead in her first graduate job eight years ago, when she was an assistant at BBC Media Action, the corporations international development charity, she had simply made travel arrangements for tutors on an international journalism course.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes current employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has also confirmed that the charity worker was not teaching journalists, with its chief executive Monique Villa saying: Nazanin is not a journalist and has never trained journalists at the Thomson Reuters Foundation."

Mr Johnson is yet to comment on the controversy but the Foreign Office issued a statement apparently accepting that his remarks had raised the threat of a longer prison term.

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A spokesman said: "Last weeks remarks by the Foreign Secretary provide no justifiable basis on which to bring any additional charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

"While criticising the Iranian case against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Foreign Secretary sought to explain that even the most extreme set of unproven Iranian allegations against her were insufficient reason for her detention and treatment."

It added that Mr Johnson would be telephoning his Iranian counterpart to "raise again his serious concerns about the case and ensure his remarks are not misrepresented".

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, was separated from her 21-month-old daughter Gabriella when she was arrested as she tried to return home to London after a two-week holiday.

Gabriella, now three, remains at the Tehran home of Nazanins parents, while her mother is in a high-security Iranian jail and her father in London.
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Boris Johnson has refused to apologise for putting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe at risk of an extra five years in prison, insisting he is not to blame.

The Foreign Secretary claimed there was no connection between his incorrect statement  that the British charity worker was teaching journalists  and the fresh spying charges levelled in Iran.

The stance, in the Commons, came despite the Iranian judiciary seizing on Mr Johnsons gaffe as evidence that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not, as she insisted, on holiday.

There were shouts of disgrace as Mr Johnson rebuffed repeated calls for him to apologise and acknowledge his mistake, made in evidence to MPs last week.

Instead, he told Emily Thornberry, Labours Shadow Foreign Secretary: It is simply untrue for her to say, as she has said today, that there is any connection whatever between my remarks last week and the legal proceedings under way against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Tehran today,

Mr Johnson said criticism of him deflects accountability from those who are truly responsible for holding that mother in jail and that is the Iranian regime.

Eventually, after almost one hour of questioning, he added: I'm sorry if any words of mine have been taken out of context and misconstrued to cause anxiety to Nazanin's family.

Mr Johnson faced MPs after hurriedly speaking with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, about Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes case.

The Foreign Office insisted he was told the new charges of spreading propaganda  and the new five-year prison threat, on top of an existing five-year sentence  were unrelated to the Foreign Secretarys remarks.

But the Iranian judiciarys High Council for Human Rights wrote: His [Mr Johnsons] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday.

Mr Johnson  giving a statement about Daesh, rather than Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes plight  insisted he had been arguing that, even if she was training journalists, that would not have justified her detention.

But, in fact, speaking to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, he had said: When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it.

The 38-year-old was separated from her 21-month-old daughter Gabriella when she was arrested as she tried to return home to London in April 2016.

Gabriella, now three, remains at the Tehran home of Nazanins parents, while her mother is in a high-security Iranian jail and her father in London.

Ms Thornberry said Mr Johnson should apologise to Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, her family and everyone who have been working so hard to obtain this young mother's release for the distress and anguish that his foolish words have caused.

She added: How many more time does this need to happen? How many times does the Foreign Secretary have to insult our international partners, damage our diplomatic relations, and now imperil the interests of British nationals abroad?

"What will it take before the Prime Minister says enough is enough?

Labour's Tulip Siddiq, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's North London MP, pointed out that a year had gone by without Mr Johnson meeting Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard.

And Chris Bryant, another Labour MP, said his failure to be open about his mistake would be obvious to every single eight-year-old in the country.

The honest truth is if you can't show some contrition today then the honest truth is he shouldn't be in his job as our people aren't safe, Mr Bryant added.

Anna Soubry, a Conservative, described the blunder as appalling, saying: In "normal" times Boris Johnson would have been sacked long ago.

Later, she tweeted: The lack of contrition is as shameful as the original error. Boris Johnson doesnt understand magnitude of the job & responsibility he holds.
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Citizens of European Union countries will be given a two-year grace period to apply for settled status once Britain leaves the bloc, the Government has said.

Ministers said a new working paper released ahead of the next round of Brexit talks on Thursday spelled out a streamlined system for EU nationals.

The proposal says the Government intends to keep the amount of paperwork required to apply as low as possible and that any application would be affordable, costing no more than one for a British passport.

EU nationals wishing to stay in the UK will also be given a right to appeal any rejection, with the rules for who can and cannot stay set to be spelled out in any final withdrawal agreement.

The Government has also clarified that it will not require EU citizens to have private health insurance.

Some EU citizens rights campaigners, such as the 3million group, have rejected proposals for EU nationals to have to apply for settled status however. They say such an approach will be bureaucratic, prone to errors, and that the current situation of permanent residence should continue indefinitely.

The rights of EU citizens are one of the three major areas of discussion that Brussels wants settled in Brexit talks before talks on trade arrangements can begin.

In a two-day round of talks at the end of the week negotiators will also consider the issues of the Northern Ireland border and the so-called divorce bill.

We have been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens is our top priority in negotiations. They make a huge contribution to our economy and society and we do not want to see that change as a result of our decision to leave the EU, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis said.

We will support everyone wishing to stay to gain settled status through a new straightforward, streamlined system.

The last negotiation round saw real progress in this area and I hope the document we have published today can facilitate the deal we need to guarantee the rights of UK citizens living in the EU27, and vice versa."

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: We have been clear that EU citizens living in the UK make an enormous contribution to our country and we want them to stay.

Applying for settled status will be a streamlined, low-cost, digital process and EU citizens are being consulted on its design to ensure it is user-friendly.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

We know that there is some anxiety among EU citizens about how the process of applying for settled status will work so I hope this document provides some further reassurance.

A spokesperson for 3million said: "There is no change for EU citizens in the UK. Like British citizens in Europe, we are still bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiations and the British Government is making this announcement as talks are resuming tomorrow in Brussels.

Of course, we welcome the news that EU citizens will gain a statutory right of appeal but the recent erroneous letters of deportation and the shambolic Universal Credit implementation proves that there is no such thing as a smooth administrative implementation by the British Government and the lives of EU citizens will be significantly disrupted.
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Safeguards to stop the British Governments mass surveillance programme wrongly spying on journalists and human rights groups are clearly defective, the European Court of Human Rights has heard.

The UK has been taken to court over its mass spying and surveillance operation, the true extent of which was first revealed in leaks by former CIA contractor Edward Snowden in 2013.

Groups including the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the Open Rights Group and Big Brother Watch say that GCHQs TEMPORA interception programme not only breaches privacy rights but undermines important work done by investigative journalists and defenders of human rights, who need to communicate anonymously with sources.

Recommended Councils use Ripa spying powers to investigate the public

The Government says putting extra safeguards on the programme would do profound damage to the capabilities and work of the UK intelligence services.

GCHQ, the spying agency which conducts the mass surveillance, retain and store very large volumes of data relating to millions of people, even when those individuals are of no intelligence interest at all, Dinah Rose QC, representing the applicants, told the court.

She said the Regulatory and Investigatory Powers Act, which governs the operation of the programme, was complex and opaque and that it featured clearly defective safeguards.

Key to the argument of the groups is the fact that the UK freely exchanges its mass surveillance data with the US, where the same legal protections are not in force. Ms Rose cited revelations from the Snowden leaks that appear to show that even the minimal provisions of RIPA do not apply to this material.

The activities also breach the applicants rights to freedom of expression, including the vitally important right of journalists and human rights NGOs to impart and receive information in confidence, she said  noting that these professions were not exempt from the snooping.

The groups also say that the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which was set up to supervise the data collection lacks independence from the agencies whose conduct it has been created to supervise, its procedures are flawed and unfair, and the remedies it can give are inadequate.

The British Government neither confirms nor denies whether it retains communications content, such as phone calls, but has admitted it keeps communications data, such as numbers dialled, websites visited, and a list of people emailed.

Helen Mountfield QC, also representing the applicants, told the court that because of the international nature of the internet, often whether an email passed under the jurisdiction of British intelligence agencies was a matter of chance because it depended where any given server was located.

The GCHQ headquarters in Cheltenham, nicknamed The Doughnut (PA)

The fact that domestic law offers such different protections to the same uses by the same security services of the same data, simply by virtue of the route it travels appears quite arbitrary. It certainly calls for a rational explanation, and none has been provided, she said.

James Eadie QC, who was representing the British Government in the court, however, accused the applicants of having falsely conjured up a spectre of vast privacy intrusion.

These applications raise issues of the utmost importance for the United Kingdom, he said.

If the applicants case on the legal requirements for interception and intelligence sharing in this context were to be accepted the result would be profound damage to the capabilities and work of the UK intelligence services.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

The nature of the safeguards against unwarranted intrusion, on the right to proper respect for privacy, need, we say, to take into account the impact on the ability of the Government to protect the lives and safety of the public, all the more so in light of the string of appalling atrocities across Europe.

Whilst privacy rights are important and to be respected, the right to life is paramount. In this sphere, national security is not an end in itself. The intelligence services operate, as far as they can in a dangerous world, to protect the public.

An application to the Strasbourg court on the issue was first made in 2013, with additional organisations making further complaints in 2014 an 2015, and was heard in the grand chamber on Tuesday.
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Leaders of the main political parties have agreed to new cross-party proposals to address sexual harassment, which will include an independent grievance process, improved human resources support, and the establishment of a working group to implement the changes.

Speaking after the meeting, the Prime Minister hailed an important step forward as she revealed the plans, which include upgrading an existing helpline in order to provide face-to-face support for staff by the end of this month. Theresa May said: Sadly over recent days weve seen a number of allegations about figures from across the political parties.

Its important that those are investigated impartially and some have rightly been referred to the police. I think if this hasnt happened to you its difficult to appreciate the impact this sort of behaviour can have.

Recommended Liberal Democrat members share sexual harassment allegations

It simply has a lasting impact on people and we need to do more to stop these abuses of power.

She added: Im sorry that we have seen these abuses of power, too many taking place over too many years. The fact theyve taken place here at our seat of democracy should be a matter of shame for us all.

Weve taken an important step forward today, its important that we get this right and thats what I intend to do.

Despite their efforts the scandal showed no sign of abating, with Conservative and Liberal Democrat activists alleging separate incidents of rape by other party members and with claims that the incidents were brushed under the carpet in both cases.

A new website for Lib Dem activists also saw a slew of allegations of abuse and harassment made  with one telling of how they woke up naked in another party members hotel room unable to remember what had happened.

The Tories and Labour are both now running multiple investigations into MPs and frontbenchers following claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour that have already seen a cabinet minister forced out. Meanwhile Labour activist Bex Bailey has already claimed she was raped at a party event in 2011.

The Liberal Democrats have also referred a rape allegation to police.

The Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: These are the right first cross-party steps to address harassment and abuse in Westminster. There needs to be a robust, independent complaints system across Parliament that offers victims a safe, non-partisan procedure.

Jo Swinson, the partys Deputy Leader, who also attended the talks, said: Sexual harassment has sadly been a problem for far too long. We must now make sure these initial proposals are a positive catalyst for change. The cross-party talks today will hopefully mark the start of that change in Westminster.

On Monday morning, a Tory activist told the BBC she was raped by a senior figure in the Conservative Party and told to keep quiet about it.

I was raped by someone senior to me in the Conservative Party, alleged the woman, who was speaking to the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme under the pseudonym Amanda.

It was violent. It wasnt in Westminster, it was in my own home. And it shouldnt have happened. I remember the attack, during the attack I remember the room disappearing around me and thinking I was going to die.

When he left the next day I was at the police station within an hour and I reported it.

Sir Michael Fallon the former Defence Secretary has already resigned after admitting his behaviour had fallen below the standard required of the armed forces, after the journalist Jame Merrick had called 10 Downing Street and told them he had lunged at her after a working lunch 14 years ago.

The First Secretary of State Damian Green has been accused of sending sexually suggestive text messages to a female journalist 30 years his junior, while Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins has been suspended over claims he rubbed his crotch against a student at an event at the University of Essex.

Both men deny any wrongdoing. Dan Poulter and Daniel Kawczynski have both been reported to the Conservative Partys newly created disciplinary panel.
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The husband of a charity worker jailed in Iran has condemned cabinet minister Liam Fox for suggesting a gaffe by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that might double his wifes prison sentence was a mere slip of the tongue.

Richard Ratcliffe accused International Trade Secretary Dr Fox of being flippant about the error when it was now actively being exploited by the Iranian judiciary in an attempt to keep his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in jail for an extra five years.

He said that Mr Johnsons bungled suggestion to the Foreign Affairs Committee that his wife had been teaching journalism in Iran, when in fact she was there on holiday and has never taught journalism in her life, was an error that needed urgent public correction.

For Dr Fox to tell the Today programme We all make slips of the tongue and Weve got to be very careful were not overreacting was, Mr Ratcliffe said, unfortunate.

The 42-year-old accountant told The Independent: That was a flippant statement.

It is clear that the Iranian judiciary is using Boris Johnsons error to build a case against Nazanin  let us not be too cavalier about the consequences.

This is an error that urgently needs to be corrected, otherwise there is a real risk it will be used to add years to Nazanins jail sentence.

Mr Ratcliffe said that while he welcomed Dr Foxs acknowledgement that his charity worker wife was being held unfairly, Mr Johnson still needed to make a statement to Parliament as well as speaking privately to his Iranian counterpart.

Mr Ratcliffe said: There is a limit to the Iranian foreign ministrys power in this.

As well as a private conversation, there needs to be a clear public statement of equal status to the initial error, so that things are done in a way that the Iranian judiciary has to acknowledge.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news 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He pointed out that on Saturday, the first Iranian working day after Mr Johnsons erroneous remarks, his wife was taken before hardline judge Abolghassem Salavati, to be told there were new accusations against her, under a new charge of spreading propaganda against the regime

On the same day the website of the Iranian Judiciarys High Council for Human Rights published a story headlined: UK confirms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not in Iran for Holiday.

The article claimed: His [Boris Johnsons] statement shows that Nazanin had visited the country for anything but a holiday. For months it was claimed that Nazanin is a British-Iranian charity worker who went to see her family when she was arrested.

Mr Johnson's statement has shed new light on the realities about Nazanin, which has been strongly denied previously by both her family and Human Right activists.

It is now feared the new charges may lead to Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe having five years added to the five-year sentence that she is already serving for supposedly threatening Iranian national security.

Mr Ratcliffe has never wavered in saying his wife is innocent.

Ever since she was first arrested in April 2016, he has made it clear that his wife  a dual Iranian-British national - had simply gone to Iran to visit her parents and extended family for the countrys Nowruz new year celebration.

Mr Ratcliffe has also repeatedly explained that that his wife has never actually taught journalists at any point in her career.

Instead in her first graduate job, eight years ago, when she was an assistant at BBC Media Action, the corporations international development charity, she had just made travel arrangements for tutors on an international journalism course.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes current employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has also issued a statement confirming that the charity worker was not teaching journalists.

The foundations chief executive Monique Villa said: Nazanin is not a journalist and has never trained journalists at the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

I urge Boris Johnson to immediately correct the serious mistake he made.

Ms Villa has previously confirmed that the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no dealings with Iran whatsoever, and that in her job as a project co-ordinator Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had nothing to do with the country.

Mr Johnsons remarks have led to Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry to call on him to resign if Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe ends up being given more jail time.

The Ratcliffes constituency MP Tulip Siddiq has also accused Mr Johnson of making very deeply damaging comments when as head of the Foreign Office he should know the details of the case.

She added: Nazanins situation is a matter of life and death. If the Foreign Secretary wont apologise for his remarks, then he must step aside for someone who will.

Last week Mr Johnson told the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC): When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism as I understand it.

As the furore over his remarks deepened this week, the Foreign Office tried to claim Mr Johnson had merely been saying he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that he believed Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity.

It did, however, acknowledge that Mr Johnson could have been clearer in his remarks, and said the Foreign Secretary would be updating Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

The full Foreign Office statement read: The Foreign Secretary called the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif this morning to discuss the case of Mrs Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe.

He reiterated his anxiety about the continued suffering of Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe and her family, and hoped a solution would be reached soon.

"The Foreign Secretary expressed concern at the suggestion from the Iranian Judiciary High Council for Human Rights that his remarks last week at the Foreign Affairs Committee 'shed new light' on the case.

The Foreign Secretary said this was absolutely not true. It was clear, as it always had been, that Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe had been in Iran on holiday when arrested.

The Foreign Secretary made clear that the point he had been seeking to make in his evidence to the FAC was that he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that he believed Iranian allegations that Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe had been engaged in such activity.

"The Foreign Secretary concluded by emphasising that his remarks could form no justifiable basis for further action in this case and urged the Iranian authorities to release Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe on humanitarian grounds. He set out his intention to visit Iran before the end of the year to discuss the case further.

"Mr Zarif said that the developments in the case over the weekend were unrelated to the Foreign Secretary's remarks and that he remained committed to working with the Foreign Secretary to finding a resolution to the case on humanitarian grounds.

The Foreign Secretary accepts his remarks to the Foreign Affairs Committee could have been clearer on this aspect. He intends to update the House this afternoon.
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Downing Street has admitted that International Development Secretary Priti Patel discussed with Israel the idea of giving the country British foreign aid cash.

A Number 10 spokesman said a conversation had taken place between Ms Patel and Israeli officials, after it was reported that she had suggested funnelling money to the country's armed forces.

Theresa May's spokesman highlighted that the countrys army runs a hospital for Syrian refugees, but said the UK currently provides no financial support to Israeli forces and that there would be no change in policy.

Any move to provide aid money to Israeli armed forces which have been engaged in bloody campaigns in Palestinian occupied territories, would prove hugely controversial in the UK.

The admission heaps embarrassment on Ms May who was completely unaware that Ms Patel had met the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key figures on her holiday to the country.

It also comes amid a storm over Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's erroneous comments which have left a British citizen imprisoned in Iran facing a sentence twice as long as it currently is.

The Downing Street spokesman said: "[Ms Patel] did discuss potential ways to provide medical support for Syrian refugees who are wounded who cross into the Golan Heights for aid.

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"The Israeli army runs field hospitals there to care for Syrians wounded in the civil war, but there is no change in policy in this area. The UK doesnt provide any financial support to the Israeli army."

Asked whether Ms Patel had informed Ms May of this part of her visit once it eventually came to light, the spokesman said: "She was absolutely clear on everybody she had met, and [her department] has been very clear this conversation did take place. But there hasnt been any change in policy resulting from that. There is no UK financial support for the Israeli army."

Ms Patel only made Ms May aware of the meetings on Friday, more than two months after they took place, when reports began to emerge of talks she held with a politician and a disability charity.

The minister has apologised and admitted a "lack of precision" for suggesting last week that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson knew about the trip, and that only two meetings had taken place when she attended 12.

But she appears to have avoided the sack after going to Number 10 on Monday to apologise to the Prime Ministerwho "reminded her of her obligations" under the ministerial code, the PM's official spokesman said.

Ms May has been forced to say since that she still has full confidence in Ms Patel, despite having to give her a dressing down over the affair, which saw the cabinet minister take time out from a family holiday to meet Mr Netanyahu, other politicians, businesses and charities without telling the Foreign Office.

 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets Theresa May

The meetings between August 13 and 25 were arranged by the honorary president of the lobbying group Conservative Friends of Israel, Lord Polak, who also attended all but one.

On returning, Ms Patel commissioned Department for International Development work on disability and humanitarian and development partnerships between Israel and the UK.

Ms May's spokesman added: "The Secretary of State has been clear with No 10 that on no other occasions while a minister has she organised meetings with foreign government ministers outside the normal channels while on holiday."

But Ms Patel is set to face MPs over the visit on Tuesday afternoon after Commons Speaker John Bercow granted an urgent question on the subject.

Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor called for an investigation, adding: "No one should be unsackable. Theresa May's weak refusal to launch an investigation just won't be acceptable to the British public.

"Priti Patel must now explain her actions in full before Parliament."
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The head of the Palestinian mission to the UK has described his shock at Priti Patels secret Israeli meetings and criticised Theresa Mays refusal to sack her.

Manuel Hassassian said he believed the International Development Secretary had clearly broken ministerial rules and that there was no justification for her actions.

Ms Patels offer to send aid money to the Israeli army made a mockery of the British Governments claim to be pushing for a two-state solution, the ambassador to the UK added.

It was shocking for me a Cabinet minister breaking the ministerial protocol and meeting twelve officials, high-ranking, including Netanyahu, Mr Hassassian told ITV News

That in itself was shocking to me, in a government that is considered to be a democracy. You know, this is not a third world country.

Mr Hassassian spoke out after No 10 admitted Ms Patel wanted to send aid money to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), after meeting Israeli politicians including Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister.

The Foreign Office said it rejected the call, because it involved humanitarian operations in the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied illegally since 1967.

Ms Patel did not reveal the staggering 12 meetings  held during a 13-day holiday in August - until after they took place, despite earlier claiming otherwise.

Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, told MPs she she did not meet anyone representing Palestinian interests during the trip.

Mr Hassassian added: This is absolutely taking one side. There is no justification.

When you talk about funnelling money to an army that is occupying five million people, there is no justification.

Since when does the occupation army of Israel help humanitarian people? They have been subduing us, incarcerating us, destroying our houses, uprooting us, building settlements, uprooting trees - how on earth can she justify such a statement?

There's no grounds for humanitarian stuff. It's like giving money for the occupier to continue his occupation of the Palestinian people.

On the Prime Ministers decision not to launch an investigation and to declare the matter closed, Mr Hassassian said: It's not enough to just to say I accept the apology.

What are the consequences for such a behaviour? Breaking, breaching the ministerial code and not taking action?

In the Commons earlier, during an urgent question on the controversy, Opposition MPs reacted with anger and astonishment after being told the absent Ms Patel was in the air, en route to Africa.

Kate Osamor, her Labour shadow, said Ms Patel should do the decent thing and resign, saying: It is hard to think of a more black and white case of breaking the code of ministerial conduct.
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Priti Patel is fighting for her political life, after the extraordinary revelation that she held 12 secret meetings  including with Benjamin Netanyahu  behind Theresa Mays back.

The International Development Secretary claims she was on a family holiday in Israel, but faces accusations that she broke the ministerial code by combining it with official business.

The Prime Minister rebuked her, but declined to dismiss her because no damage was done, a display of weakness proving she is in office but not in power, critics say.

A potential future Tory leader, she is suspected of trying to win favour with wealthy pro-Israeli party donors, having been accompanied by the president of the powerful Conservative Friends of Israel group.

So who exactly did Ms Patel meet on her 13-day August holiday  and what explanation has she given?

* Benjamin Netanyahu - the controversial Israeli prime minister, who heads an ultra right-wing Coalition seen, by Palestinians and many others, as a key obstacle to a Middle East peace deal.

Incredibly, Ms May did not know about the get-together when she hosted Mr Netanyahu at a London dinner last week.

Ms Patel said their talks touched on her own thriving Jewish community, as well as the Israeli domestic political scene and his forthcoming visit to the UK.

They also discussed prospects for closer collaboration between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues.

* Yuval Rotem  a diplomat who is the director general of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the International Development Secretary, the pair discussed British politics, Israels approach to development and humanitarian issues, and prospects for partnership work between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues.

* Gilad Erdan  the minister for public security, information and strategic affairs

Again, we have been told they talked about British politics, as well as growing anti-Semitism within the British political scene, and a cultural festival in London.

* Yair Lapid  the leader of Yesh Atid, one of Israels major parties, which has refused to support Mr Netanyahu.

Mr Lapid himself revealed the meeting after he tweeted a photo of it and described Ms Patel as a true friend of Israel.

They also discussed growing anti-Semitism within UK politics, the Cabinet minister said.

* The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAID)  a disaster relief charity.

* Dr Aliza Inbal  director of the Pears Programme for Global Innovation, an organisation working towards technology-based, financially sustainable solutions to poverty.

* A dinner organised by the Pears Programme  with Innovation Africa (an Israeli non-profit group), Milken Institute (a US think-tank), Energiya Global Capital (a renewable energy company) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

* Haim Taib  the president of the Mitrelli Group, a group of companies involved in infrastructure projects in emerging markets.

* A visit to Save a Childs Heart  a hospital where Ms Patel met children and their families from Gaza and Africa who received life-saving heart surgery.

* Dr Hirschfeld, Shimon Hefetz  of the Galilee International Management Institute, a management training institution.

* A meeting with a group of start-ups with a focus on Africa  including Vital Capital, MobileODT, Equatel Health, Cassit Orthopedics, Ltd, NUFiltration Ltd and Fair Planet.

Ms Patel was given a demonstration of new technologies for development, including mobile cancer screening, water filtration, splints and supports for people with disabilities.

* Jean Judes and Pablo Kaplan  of Beit Issie Shapiro and Wheelchairs of Hope, respectively, charities for disabled children.

Labour has also accused Ms Patel of misleading the British public, because she admitted the Foreign Office was not informed about the meetings  three days after claiming Boris Johnson had been told.

There was fresh anger when she failed to turn up to answer questions from MPs about the meetings, because she was in the air, en route to Africa.
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A Government press release defending Priti Patel, the International Development Secretary, after revelations she met foreign politicians while on holiday in Israel has prompted widespread ridicule and bafflement.

Ms Patel met a series of officials and other groups while in the country  including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Theresa May was not aware she was doing so.

She also discussed giving UK aid cash to Israels military, Downing Street has now confirmed while insisting no policy change resulted from the conversations.

The MP for Witham attempted to clarify remarks she had previously made that may have given the impression, or may be read as implying, certain actions on her part.

One particular section seeks to "clarify" the following quote, given by Ms Patel to The Guardian: Boris knew about the visit. The point is that the Foreign Office did know about this, Boris knew about [the trip].

To the bemusement of many, the statement follows the quote with the sentence: "This quote may have given the impression that the Secretary of State had informed the Foreign Secretary about the visit in advance."

The resulting document was categorised, variously, as a classic, bizarre and extraordinary by commentators.

Read the press release in full below.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:

This summer I travelled to Israel, on a family holiday paid for myself.

While away I had the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations. I am publishing a list of who I met. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was aware of my visit while it was underway.

In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be mis-read, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it.

My first and only aim as the Secretary of State for International Development is to put the interests of British taxpayers and the worlds poor at the front of our development work.

Background

From 13 to 25 August 2017, the Secretary of State for International Development visited Israel on a family holiday paid for by herself.

While there on holiday, she took the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations, including a range of politicians, businesses, tech start ups, and humanitarian NGOs. These meetings were an opportunity to learn about the Israeli approach to technology and development.

The meetings were arranged by the Conservative Peer, Lord Polak CBE. He also attended the meetings, with the exception of the meeting with Dr Aliza Inbal.

The FCO were aware of the visit while it was underway, but were not informed about it in advance.

On her return from Israel, the Secretary of State commissioned Departmental work on humanitarian and development partnership between Israel and the UK, and on disability.

The FCO are clear that UK interests were not damaged or affected by the meetings on this visit.

Clarification of remarks to the Guardian newspaper

On Friday 3rd November, the Secretary of State was quoted in the Guardian newspaper as follows:

Boris knew about the visit. The point is that the Foreign Office did know about this, Boris knew about [the trip].

This quote may have given the impression that the Secretary of State had informed the Foreign Secretary about the visit in advance. The Secretary of State would like to take this opportunity to clarify that this was not the case. The Foreign Secretary did become aware of the visit, but not in advance of it.

The stuff that is out there is it, as far as I am concerned. I went on holiday and met with people and organisations. As far as I am concerned, the Foreign Office have known about this. It is not about who else I met, I have friends out there.

This quote may be read as implying that the Secretary of State was saying that the meetings that had so far been publicly reported were the only ones which took place on her visit. The Secretary of State would like to take the opportunity to correct this impression: she is clear that other meetings also took place on her visit, in addition to those which had been publicly reported at the time of her making these statements. These meetings are outlined below.

The Secretary of State regrets the lack of precision in the wording she used in these statements, and is taking this opportunity to clarify the position.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

List of those the Secretary of State met

Prime Minister Netanyahu

Introductory meeting. Discussion of:

the Secretary of States family background  parents who fled Uganda in the 1970s, her experience growing up in an area of the UK with a thriving Jewish community, her political journey

the Israeli domestic political scene

India, given the Secretary of States family background

the PMs forthcoming visit to the UK

prospects for closer collaboration between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues.

Yuval Rotem  Israeli Foreign Ministry

General introduction on the Secretary of States background, discussion of British politics, Israels approach to development and humanitarian issues, and prospects for partnership work between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues.

Gilad Erdan  Minister for Public Security, Information and Strategic Affairs

General introduction on the Secretary of States background. Discussion of British politics, growing anti-Semitism within the British political scene, and a cultural festival in London.

Yair Lapid  Leader of Yesh Atid

General introduction. Discussion of backgrounds, families and careers to date. General discussion of British politics, including the growing anti-Semitism within UK politics.

IsraAID  emergency humanitarian aid NGO

General introduction to their work, at the home of Hilda Worth.

Dr Aliza Inbal  Pears Programme for Global Innovation

General introduction to their work.

Dinner organised by the Pears Programme with Sivan Yaari  Innovation Africa, Glenn Yago  Milken Institute, Yosef Abramovitz  Energiya Global Capital, Mandie Winston  American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

General introduction to and discussion of the work of these organisations.

Haim Taib  Mitrelli Group

Presentation on their work, on water, farming, solar and hospital projects in Africa.

Visit to Save a Childs Heart

Visit to a hospital to meet children and their families from Gaza and Africa who had been given life-saving heart surgery.

Dr Hirschfeld, Shimon Hefetz  Galilee International Management Institute

General introduction to their work.

Meeting with a group of startups with a focus on Africa: Vital Capital, MobileODT, Equatel Health, Cassit Orthopedics, Ltd, NUFiltration Ltd, Fair Planet.

Introduction and demonstration of new technologies for development  e.g. mobile cancer screening, water filtration, splints and supports for people with disabilities.

Jean Judes  Beit Issie Shapiro, and Pablo Kaplan  Wheelchairs of Hope

Visited a charity dedicated to disability and social inclusion internationally. Visited a sensory playground for children living with disability and discussed wheelchair technology for children.
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Priti Patel is facing fresh calls to resign after failing to turn up to answer questions from MPs about her secret Israel meetings.

Opposition MPs reacted with anger and astonishment after being told the beleaguered International Development Secretary was in the air, en route to Africa.

Kate Osamor, her Labour shadow, branded Ms Patels absence simply unacceptable, a criticism echoed by the SNPs spokesman for international affairs, Stephen Gethins.

Paula Sherriff, a Labour MP, said: Frankly, the Secretary of State should have been here today. And if that meant cancelling, or postponing a flight, then so be it.

The trip to Africa is a long planned joint engagement with Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary  but Mr Fox was still in Britain earlier today, carrying out a series of media interviews.

Amid a striking lack of support from Conservative MPs, Angela Eagle, a former Labour minister, was among those claiming Ms Patels behaviour was a resigning matter.

The criticism came as:

* No 10 admitted the International Development Secretary wanted to send aid money to the Israeli army, after meeting Israeli politicians including Benjamin Netanyahu.

* The Foreign Office said it rejected the call, because it involved humanitarian operations in the Golan Heights, illegally occupied since 1967.

* It was confirmed that Ms Patel did not reveal her meetings until after they had taken place. She had implied the Foreign Office knew about them while they were taking place.

* Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, admitted she did not meet anyone representing Palestinian interests  despite 12 meetings with Israeli groups.

In the Commons, Ms Osamor said Ms Patel should do the decent thing and resign, saying: It is hard to think of a more black and white case of breaking the code of ministerial conduct.

Rather than changing the minister, the Prime Minister has decided to change the ministerial code.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Labour demanded she either authorise an independent investigation or explain your full reasons for why Priti Patel retains your confidence despite clear breaches of the ministerial code.

Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, added there were strong grounds to believe that Ms Patel had broken the codes requirements for openness, collective responsibility, honesty and performing only those duties allocated to them.

Crispin Blunt, a former Foreign Affairs Select Committee chairman, was among critical Tory MPs, suggesting Ms Patel did not really understand the Middle Eastern conflict.

He told Mr Burt: He is probably the most equipped of her ministers to take her very gently in hand, and I hope he does.

Another Tory, Hugo Swire, said: It is time finally to address the issue of access, privileged access and lobbying and funding if we are not to have this repeated time and time again?

He added that all organisations involved with active lobbying of Members of Parliament and ministers should open their books, be entirely transparent so we can just see who is lobbying who and who is providing the funding.

In response, the minister insisted Ms Patel did not suddenly contrive a visit to Africa, telling MPs: Thats not fair.

Mr Burt insisted: She is doing her job as development secretary which is what she is doing today  and that is what those meetings disclose.

Mr Burt was quizzed about when Ms Patel made the Foreign Office aware of her meetings, replying: My understanding is Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials became aware of [Ms Patels] private visit on August 24 during the course of her visit.

I dont have the dates of all the meetings. I suspect its after the meetings took place.

In her statement, on Monday, the International Development Secretary had implied she had informed the Foreign Office about the meetings as they took place.

The FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] were aware of the visit while it was under way, but were not informed about it in advance, she wrote.
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The Scottish Parliament has been evacuated after a "suspicious package" was discovered in the building.

Police and fire services are on the scene after having been called around 11.35am on Tuesday.

Unconfirmed reports suggest three packages containing an unidentified white powder were sent to the offices of Conservative MSPs Halco Johnston, Liz Smith and Edward Mountain.

Emergency procedures were put into place and MSPs told to leave the building.

A Police Scotland spokesman told The Independent: "Police in Edinburgh responded to the Scottish Parliament at around 11.35 a.m. on Tuesday 7th November following the discovery of a suspicious package.

"The building has been evacuated as a precaution and inquiries are continuing."

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: An incident has occurred requiring the evacuation of the MSP building at Holyrood. The MSP block is currently closed. Parliament staff are working to assess the situation.

"The Police are in attendance at the scene. The Parliaments Incident Management Team has been activated. This is part of a pre-arranged process put in place, ready to deal with such developing situations.

after three packages containing white power was sent to offices of Conservative staff.
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Theresa May is under increasing pressure to strip two more cabinet ministers of their jobs following separate fiascos involving Priti Patel and Boris Johnson.

Senior Conservatives said both ministers had committed sackable offences which had materially damaged the UKs interests and those of its citizens.

The furore around Ms Patels unofficial trip to Israel grew, as it emerged she may have omitted to tell Ms May she discussed funnelling UK aid cash to the countrys army despite Downing Street asking for full details of her visit.

Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson tied himself in knots in the House of Commons, denying he made comments that were clearly recorded in Parliament and which led to the Iranian judiciary threatening to double a British womans prison sentence.

The twin ministerial gaffes come less than a week after the Prime Minister pushed Sir Michael Fallon out of her Cabinet, following allegations about sexually inappropriate behaviour, but then damaged her already weakened authority and angered MPs by appointing a loyal lieutenant to replace him with little ministerial experience.

It first emerged on Friday that International Development Secretary Priti Patel, often talked of as a future Tory leader, had a string of meetings with Israeli politicians  including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  while on holiday without telling Downing Street.

A senior Conservative told The Independent: Ministers must uphold collective responsibility and mustnt engage in activity that undermines the collective work of the Cabinet.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

Ministers may always meet people by chance, but you should always keep the Government informed. You dont allow yourself to do be pulled into a major programme of tours and meetings, particularly which impact on your official role.

The Tory MP added: If the Prime Minister wanted to sack a minister for this kind of thing she could.

Ms May only found out about Ms Patels trip months later, and on Monday censured her at a meeting at which the minister was told to set out everyone she had met and what had taken place.

It then emerged on Tuesday that the ambitious cabinet minister discussed possibly funnelling UK aid cash to the Israel Defence Forces, to support Syrian civil war refugees arriving in the Golan Heights where the IDF has a field hospital.

But Downing Street could not say the idea, already condemned by the Palestinian authorities, had been revealed to Ms May at the tell all meeting the day before.

Asked whether Ms Patel would face further censure, Number 10 drew a line under the matter, saying it was not clear if the International Development Secretary had breached the ministerial code and that the code would be reviewed to iron out any ambiguity.

Priti Patel leaving Downing Street (Reuters)

An urgent question was called on the affair in the Commons, but Ms Patel failed to show as she had another trip to Ethiopia, leading Labour and other opposition parties to vent their anger.

Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor said Ms Patel should do the decent thing and resign, saying: It is hard to think of a more black and white case of breaking the code of ministerial conduct. Rather than changing the minister, the Prime Minister has decided to change the ministerial code.

The Lib Dem spokesman Shas Sheehan said: [Ms Patel] has forfeited the respect of colleagues and officials and should go.

In the Commons, Tories held off overtly calling for Ms Patels head, with former Foreign Affairs Select Committee chairman Crispin Blunt telling one of her junior ministers he should take her very gently in hand and sort the situation out.

 Boris Johnson claims no connection between his comments and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence

Mr Johnson, meanwhile, found himself furiously backpedalling over comments he made about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

The 38-year-old British woman was arrested and jailed in Iran, accused of spreading propaganda, with a central part of her defence being that she had never worked teaching journalists in the country, but was merely there on holiday.

But when Mr Johnson mistakenly told MPs in a public hearing that she had been teaching journalists, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was hauled in front of an Iranian court and threatened with another five years in prison  on top of her existing five-year sentence.

In a bid to defend Mr Johnsons gaffe, fellow cabinet minister Liam Fox said his words were akin to slips of the tongue that anyone can make.

But a senior Conservative backbencher told The Independent: Johnson should go.

How could he be so cavalier with his words when the freedom, health and sanity of a British national is at risk.

I felt ashamed listening to Liam Fox trying to defend him.

Conservative former minister Anna Soubry said on Twitter that in normal times, Mr Johnson would have been sacked.

Anna Soubry said Mr Johnson would have been sacked in normal times (AFP/Getty) (AFP / Getty / Niklas Halle'n)

She added: The lack of contrition is as shameful as the original error. Boris Johnson doesnt understand magnitude of the job & responsibility he holds.

Mr Johnson made a phone call to his Iranian counterpart in a bid to repair the damage, and argued that in the original committee he had been making a wider point about how it was wrong to arrest anyone for teaching journalists.

He told MPs he is sorry if his remarks about a British woman jailed in Iran had been so misconstrued to have caused anxiety to her family.

But the Foreign Secretary stopped short of meeting repeated requests to admit he made a mistake and offer an unequivocal apology.

Downing Street said Ms May still had full confidence in him, with Ms Mays official spokesman saying: The Foreign Secretary is doing a good job and working hard to represent Britains interests abroad.

But the lack of action against either minister only served to underline the difficulty of Ms Mays position.

Having lost Sir Michael last week, two further ministers, Damian Green and Mark Garnier, face Cabinet Office investigations over inappropriate behaviour.
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Public confidence in Theresa Mays ability to secure a positive Brexit has fallen to a record low, a new poll has revealed.

More people now think the UK will be worse off if it leaves the European Union, than those who believe it will benefit the country.

Two thirds or 66 per cent of voters say they disapprove of the way the Government is handling Brexit negotiations, compared to just 34 per cent who approve.

When the same poll was conducted at the start of the general election campaign in May, 45 per cent thought the Government had adopted the wrong approach to Brexit.

The way Ms Mays own approval ratings on Brexit have plummeted is also likely to cause alarm in Downing Street.

Only 26 per cent of voters now think the Prime Minister will get the right deal for Britain in the Brexit negotiations - down from 44 per cent in June. Almost 50 per cent disagree with the statement.

The poll, conducted by ORB International for The Telegraph, comes days before David Davis and the rest of the UKs negotiating team head to Brussels for the latest round of talks that many fear have stalled.

It echoes an exclusive poll for The Independent which found last month that a majority of Britons think Brexit negotiations are going badly.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

As the lack of progress in talks so far threatens to delay negotiations on a trade deal with the EU, the Prime Minister is facing a series of scandals at home that threaten to distract from the Brexit process.

Her Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, was forced to resign last week amid allegations he had behaved inappropriately towards female journalists and cabinet colleagues.

The Prime Ministers deputy, Damian Green, is also facing accusations that he behaved inappropriately towards a female activist, a claim he has called "completely false".

Ms May's most senior minister has also denied a claim that police found pornography on a computer in his office during a raid in 2008.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, is facing calls to resign after making a false statement about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratliff, a British citizen who is being detained in Iran.

He claimed that Ms Zaghari-Ratliff had been training journalists in the country risks her being imprisoned for a further five years.

The International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, is also facing calls to quit and was forced to apologise after revelations that she had travelled to Israel and met with the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without having notified Downing Street or the Foreign Office.
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A British tourist imprisoned in Egypt after flying into the country with painkillers for her boyfriend has pleaded for help in a secret message passed from behind bars.

Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, said she had "no idea" she was breaking the law when she entered the country with 290 tramadol pills and naproxen in her suitcase.

She fears she could face the death penalty for drug trafficking for bringing the medication for boyfriend Omar Caboo, 33, who had been suffering severe back pain following a car crash.

In a note from her prison cell, she said: Please help me get out of this hellhole.

I dont know whats happening. Im scared. I had no idea that what I was doing was wrong. I thought I was doing a good deed.

The message was passed to The Sun, which reported Ms Plummer was being kept with 25 women in a 15ft-by-15ft cell.

Her sister Jayne Sinclair, 40, said: "She's absolutely petrified."

Ms Plummer was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking at Hurghada International Airport on the Red Sea coast on 9 October.

She had packed 29 strips of tramadol, each containing 10 tablets, and some naproxen ahead of flying to visit Mr Caboo. The medication, which reportedly had a street value of just 23 in Egypt, was supplied by a friend who had been prescribed them in the UK.

Tramadol is widely prescribed in Britain but Egypt, in common with many other countries, has strict rules on any drugs containing opioid analgesics. The drug cannot be brought into the country without prior permission from the Ministry of Health.

Ms Plummer reportedly signed a 38-page statement in Arabic which she believed would allow her to leave the airport, but has been incarcerated ever since.

Recommended The everyday medicines that could get you jailed in a foreign country

Her brother, James Plummer, 31, said the family has been told she could face up to 25 years in jail, with one lawyer even mentioning the death penalty.

Her brother said bringing the tablets into Egypt had been an "innocent, honest mistake", adding: Its just blown out of proportion completely."

Ms Plummer's mother and sisters have flown out to visit her amid fears for her welfare. They said her hair was falling out due to stress, she was suffering from an ear infection, and she was still wearing the clothes she travelled in.

They say shes unrecognisable," said Mr Plummer. "When they seen her, shes like a zombie, they said.

I dont think shes tough enough to survive it."

More than 11,000 people have signed a petition calling for her release.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are supporting a British woman and her family following her detention in Egypt.
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A British man who was taken hostage and killed in Nigeria had travelled to the country to help set up a new eye-care clinic.

Ian Squire was one of four British charity workers out in the rural community of Enekorogha.

The 56-year-old was an optician from Surrey and had developed a solar-powered portable lens-grinding machine for the clinic.

He had been working with the health charity New Foundations and was training local people to carry out sight tests and dispense prescription glasses.

The circumstances surrounding the abduction of the workers and Squire's death were not immediately clear, but Nigeria has one of the world's highest kidnap rates.

Previously however, militants have usually targeted oil workers, as several armed groups in the country have fought for a greater share of the control of the lucrative business.

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the families of four British people who were abducted on October 13 in Nigeria, one of whom was tragically killed.

"This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families.

"We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations."

Mr Squire was kidnapped alongside fellow charity workers David and Shirley Donovan and Alanna Carson.

They were abducted from their accommodation in Delta State in the south of the country in the early hours of 13 October.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In a statement, the families of the four hostages said: "Alanna, Ian, David and Shirley were kidnapped in Nigeria some three weeks ago.

"We are grateful for the support received by the British High Commission and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release.

"We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.

"This has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who were kidnapped and for their families and friends here in the UK. We would therefore ask that the media respect our privacy as we come to terms with the news. We will not be making any further comment."
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A female asylum seeker at a Texas detention centre has alleged that she has been sexually assaulted repeatedly by a female guard for almost six months.

The 23-year-old from El Salvador said that until now, she had been scared to speak out fearing retaliation at the Hutto Residential Centre in Taylor, near the city of Austin.

She has been detained there since June after she was caught attempting to cross the US border from Mexico in May.

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The woman said the female guard found opportunities to lead her to a recreation room in the detention centre where she would repeatedly grope her.

In this place, we dont have rights, only duties," the woman, whose identity is being withheld by The Independent for privacy concerns, wrote in a letter to Grassroots Leadership, an immigration advocacy group in Austin. "We are not criminals, we only want to protect our lives, we cant stand any more torture or threats.



"She looked for, or took advantage of every moment she could to touch my breasts or my legs, she knew where and when she did it, I don't remember dates because there are many," the letter continued.

The abuse only stopped when the guard was moved following an anonymous tip to officials at the facility.

The woman said she had seen the guard recently in spite of the accusations, and feared she could have simply been transferred to a different part of the facility.

She came forward after losing her asylum case last month.

She was really scared that the guard would have some sort of influence over her case, and the guard made threats toward her saying the nobody would believe her if she said anything about it, Claudia Munoz, the immigration programs director at Grassroots Leadership in Austin, said.

She was also frightened that she would be transferred to a different detention centre, where she feared her case would be restarted with a new judge.

Grassroots Leadership learned of the alleged abuses after the victim told them during a voluntary visitation time.

The group said the woman had met with a sexual abuse task force that included representatives from the privately-contracted detention centre, officials from the Williams County Sheriffs office and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official earlier this week.

She had previously been visited by investigators last week after the anonymous tip to officials.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Her advocates said it is unclear if the task force will continue with an investigation following the meeting, or if the guard in question will face any sort of reprimand if an investigation backs the allegation.

The Williams County Sheriff's Department confirmed that a representative had attended a meeting regarding the alleged assaults, but officials there haven't decided whether to pursue an investigation yet.

ICE "does not comment on pending investigations. However, the agency is committed to ensuring all individuals in our custody are treated in a safe, secure and humane manner. Accusations of alleged unlawful conduct are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety and security of those involved and the others in ICE custody," Nina Pruneda, an ICE spokesperson, said in a statement.

An email to Corecivic, the private corporation that runs the prison, was apparently forwarded to Ms Pruneda, who referred The Independent back to her initial statement.

It is not the first time that inmates in federal detention facilities have alleged sexual assault by their guards. In Taylor, Texas, a guard who worked at an all-women detention facility was convicted of both state and federal charges in 2011 after inmates alleged that he molested them while transporting them from the facility to the airport.

More recently, a 40-year-old guard at a Pennsylvania facility was sent to prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman from Honduras.
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Former classmates of Devin Kelley have described the gunman responsible for the worst shooting in Texas history as twisted and strange.

He was always twisted in high school, said Kayla Marie Shearer, one of Mr Kelley's former classmate at New Braunfels High School.

She wrote on Facebook: I always thought if someone in our class would be able to do something like this it would be him.

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Mr Kelley was originally from New Braunfels, located near San Antonio. On Sunday, he walked into a church in Sutherland Springs, a small rural town where he had relatives, and left at least 26 people dead and several others wounded.

He was the first atheist I met. He went Air Force after high school, got discharged but I don't know why, Patrick Boyce, who attended New Braunfels High School with Mr Kelley, told the Daily Mail.

But Courtney Kleiber, who was close with Mr Kelley from middle school through high school, said he was heavily involved in the church at one point and did believe in God earlier on in his life.

I had always known there was something off about him, she wrote on Facebook. But he wasn't always a psychopath though. He use to be happy at one point, normal, your average kid. We had a lot of good times together. Over the years we all saw him change into something that he wasn't. To be completely honest, I'm really not surprised this happened, and I don't think anyone who knew him is very surprised either. My heart goes out to all of the victims that should've never been.

Former classmate Nina Rose Vaca told the Dallas Morning News: He was a little strange but it was high school. Everyone was strange in their own way,

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Ms Vaca said she and Mr Kelley had a few conversations here and there. It's not something I expected from him.

He was an outcast but not a loner, she added. He was popular among other outcasts. I haven't spoke to him since high school.

Claudia Varjabedian told the Associated Press that Mr Kelley seemed like a nice guy. Ms Varjabedian is a manager at Summit Vacation Rentals, where Mr Kelley worked as a security guard for the past month.

The small town of Sutherland Springs has been left wondering what Mr Kelley's motive was for the massacre.

Police have confirmed that Mr Kelley killed his grandmother-in-law in the church.

Lula Woicinski White, a 71-year-old member and volunteer at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, was Mr Kelley's wife's grandmother.

Mr Kelley's in-laws and second wife Danielle were also members of the church, but none were present during the day of the shooting, according to police.

Freeman Martin, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said there was a domestic situation going on within this family. He said the shooting was not racially motivated; it wasn't over religious beliefs.

Mr Kelley's mother-in-law had received threatening texts from him, Mr Martin said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called Mr Kelley a very deranged individual on ABCs Good Morning America.
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As authorities piece together a profile of the suspect in the mass shooting that killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas this week, former classmates have recalled him as a drifter, a loner, and  in some cases  a source of fear.

Neighbours at suspect Devin Patrick Kelley's home  a 28-acre property where he lived with his parents  said they had barely seen him. Co-workers at the Summit Vacation Resort, where he worked as a security guard, described him as hardworking, if a bit unfriendly.

But one former classmate at New Braunfels High School said Kelley stood out for having a Columbine feel to him  a reference to the 1999 school shooting that killed 13.

You know that kid that wears a trench coat to school? He was kinda like that, the classmate, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Ryan, told The Independent.

I would acknowledge him and say, Sup?, he added. Cause if he were to bring a gun to school, I didnt want to be on the list.

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Another former classmate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Kelley drifted between friends in high school, adding that he never really identified with a certain group.

The classmate said he had spent time with Kelley in middle and high school, but never got to know him well. When he ran into Kelley at a local bar nine or 10 months ago, he said, the 26-year-old seemed fine. But he noted that Kelley would sometimes post depressing things to Facebook.

The small-town high school where Kelley graduated in 2009 would not allow reporters inside on Monday. A placard on the wall of the main office warned in bold letters against bringing firearms onto campus.

Texas shooting suspect Devin Patrick Kelley (Getty)

Officials are still searching for what drove Kelley to open fire on a church located some 35 miles from his hometown. Authorities say the incident may have involved a domestic situation within his his extended family.

Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who occasionally attended the Sutherland Springs church, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Freeman Martin. CNN reported that Kelleys grandmother-in-law was among those killed.

Kelleys wife, Danielle Shields, told friends in 2014 that she was being abused, according to records reviewed by the New York Times. Deputies who responded to the reports dismissed the incident between Kelley and his then-girlfriend as a misunderstanding and teenage drama. The pair were married two months later.

 Texas official says Texas gunman had private security gun license despite domestic violence background

Kelley has been married once before, during his time as a logistical readiness airman for the US Air Force. The marriage ended after he was court martialled and convicted of assaulting his then-wife and her child in 2012.

Air Force records reviewed by the Times said Kelley repeatedly struck, kicked, and choked his then-wife, and hit his stepsons head with what the Air Force described as a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm".

Kelley was sentenced to 12 months confinement and reduction to the lowest possible rank.

The Department of Defence is investigating whether information about Kelley's conviction was properly entered into the National Criminal Information Center database, which would have prevented him from purchasing a gun.

The same year Kelley was released, he was charged with a misdemeanour count of mistreatment, neglect or cruelty to animals, according to court documents reviewed by the Washington Post. Sheriffs deputies in El Paso County, Colorado, where Kelley lived at the time, responded to reports of a man punching a dog in August of 2014.

According to the incident report, witnesses said they saw Kelley beating on the dog with both fists, punching it in the head and chest,

He could hear the suspect yelling at the dog and while he was striking it, the dog was yelping and whining, the incident reports reads. The suspect then picked up the dog by the neck into the air and threw it onto the ground and then drug him away to lot 60.

Kelley was charged with cruelty to animals, pleaded guilty, and was given a deferred sentence.
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The man who went on a shooting spree at a church in Texas this weekend had previously escaped from a mental hospital in New Mexico, reports show.

He had been institutionalized after beating his then-wife and her child in 2012 while stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, but was able to escape and flee the state to Texas in 2012, documents obtained by local media.

In a missing person report filed after his escape, the shooter was described as "a danger to himself and others as he had already been caught sneaking fire arms onto Hollomon Air Force Base" where he was "attempting to carry out death threats" he had made to his chain of command. The US Air Force refused to confirm that the shooter had escaped from a mental institution in 2012, citing privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Recommended Former classmates recall Texas shooting suspect Devin Kelley

Devin Kelley, 26, killed 26 people Sunday and wounded at least 20 more in at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. In the days that have followed that attack, reports have emerged describing him as a deeply disturbed man with a history of domestic violence and animal abuse who stalked former girlfriends and attempted to force them to spend time with him. The youngest victim of the attack was an 18-month-old child, while the oldest was a 77-year-old. Virtually nobody in the church emerged unscathed from the attack.

The shooter was convicted in a military court in 2012 of beating his then-wife and child, and sentenced to a years' prison sentence before he was discharged on bad behaviour. During the beatings, he had fractured the skull of the child, who was born in 2010. The beatings began roughly one year after the child was born, according to officials.

The abused wife filed for divorce while her ex husband was in jail.

Texas shooting in pictures Show all 21 1 /21 Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A view of debris of a car blown up by police as a precaution near the Curtis Culwell Center. Getty Images Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures FBI agents view the area where the shooting suspects lay behind a blue covering. Getty Images Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Police officers block an intersection near the Curtis Culwell Center after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Garland Police spokesperson Joe Harn pauses as he addresses media about the shooting at the Curtis Culwell Center. AP Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A police officer stands near a vehicle after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Police officers address attendees at the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after they are prevented from leaving when shots were fired at the exhibit in Garland. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures An armed police officer stands guard on a road near the Curtis Culwell Center. AP Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Police stand guard near the shooting suspects pickup truck, after two men drove up and started shooting at police. EPA Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures The suspects' vehicle Fox News Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Twitter suspends account that warned about a 'Texas attack' 15 minutes before incident at anti-Muslim event. Twitter Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures The car is getting searched for explosion damage. Twitter/Fox4Terry Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Security guard Bruce Joiner was shot in the leg while standing outside the venue. He's recovering. Twitter Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A policeman keeps members of the audience inside after reports of shots fired outside EPA Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Garland police spokesman Joe Harn (centre) addresses the media near the Curtis Culwell Center after the shooting. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A police officer stands near a school bus used to evacuate attendees of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A person in the audience listens to Dutch member of parliament and leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders delivering the keynote address at the Muhammad Art Exhibit . EPA Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A police officer directs the evacuation of attendees of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest, after a shooting outside the Curtis Culwell Center where the event was held in Garland, Texas on 3 May. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures A police officer prevents attendees from leaving the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after shots were fired outside the venue in Texas. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Political blogger Pamela Geller, president of American Freedom Defense Initiative speaks at the event. Reuters Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Officers in Garland, Texas, after a two men opened fire at a Prophet Mohammad cartoon exhibition. AP Texas shooting in pictures Texas shooting in pictures Dutch member of parliament and leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders delivers the keynote address at the event. EPA

After his release from military prison, the future shooter moved into a barn on his parents' property in New Braunfels, Texas. Over the next couple of years, he was investigated twice for abusing women. Records show that he was investigated in 2013 for sexual assault and rape.

Military officials have indicated that Kelley should not have been able to purchase a firearm because of his prior domestic violence conviction, but he was able to slip through the cracks because the military failed to pass along information related to the case to the FBI, which processes federal background checks. That lack of communication between the military is not an isolated incident, and the military has reportedly known for decades that the military records were often not sent over to the federal agency tasked with ensuring guns don't make it into the hands of criminals.

Kelley reportedly bought an assault-style rifle in April of last year from a gun store in San Antonio. He said on that form that he did not have a criminal background that would preclude him from gun ownership, and listed a Colorado Springs, Colorado address as his primary place of residence. Police reports indicate that he had been questioned by police for beating a dog in Colorado, after neighbours reported him for repeatedly punching a dog before body slamming it to the ground.

Past girlfriends have described the shooter as a troubled individual who refused to leave them alone. One said that he had essentially attempted to bribe her into spending time with him years after they broke off their relationship. One said that she was 13-years-old when she dated Kelley, who was 18 at the time.

Officials refrained from assigning a motive for the shooting in its immediate aftermath, but these details and others have provided clues to why Kelley may have decided to don tactical gear and shoot up a church. One of the casualties of the attack was his wife's grandmother, it was later learned. Kelley had reportedly threatened his mother-in-law, who had attended the church previously, in the past. The mother-in-law was not present at the time of the shooting.

More than a dozen children were killed during the attack, including the 14-year-old daughter of the church's pastor, who was out of town at the time.

Kelley was found dead in his crashed truck after an 11-mile chase with a neighbour of the church, who had shot at him when he exited the building. The neighbour had reportedly injured Kelley, but it appeared as though the mass shooter's fatal shot came from his own gun.
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A Kansas man has admitted to defacing his own car with racist graffiti as a Halloween prank, police said.

Photographs shared on social media showed the vehicle parked close to Kansas State University covered with racial slurs including "Go home" and "date your own kind".

The incident sparked fears of racial tensions in the community and caused the FBI to open a civil rights investigation into a possible hate crime.

The black students' union also held an emergency meeting at the university and patrols were stepped up in the area.

But days later, Riley County Police Department said the 21-year-old owner of the car had admitted to defacing the vehicle himself.

Dauntarius Williams will not be charged however, with authorities concluding that charging him for a false report would "not be in the best interests of the citizens".

"We want to acknowledge that people felt anger and pain as a result of pictures and words that they saw," Kansas State University spokesman Jeff Morris said. "Those are very real responses."

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. 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Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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He added: "The incident maybe wasnt real  the emotions were."

Williams told police he wanted to "apologise from the bottom of my heart" and said he wished he could go back to that night.

"The whole situation got out of hand when it shouldnt have even started," he said.

Additional reporting by AP
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A record number of people have reportedly signed up for Obamacare in the first few days of enrolment this year.

The rise defies expectations, after economic forecasters predicted enrolment would drop by as much as 1.6 million in the face of uncertainty about the future of the Health and Social Care Act.

Donald Trumps administration slashed the scheme's outreach budget by 90 per cent and cut grants to outside groups that help people enrol.

This year, the enrolment period has been halved and will end on 15 December.

Recommended Barack Obama releases first video on Obamacare since leaving office

But more than 200,000 signed up on the first day of enrolment  double last year's number  sources told The Hill.

Meanwhile, more than one million people visited the Governments health care plan website that day, up from around 750,000 last year, they said.

A portion of those signing up will be renewing their healthcare plans, rather than newly enrolling.

The first few days of Open Enrolment for the Federal Health Insurance Exchange went smoothly," a spokesperson for the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which manages Obamacare, told The Hill.

"The website performed optimally and consumers easily accessed enrolment tools to compare plans and prices."

US health insurers have attempted to fill the gap left by the Government's cuts to the outreach budget.

Independence Blue Cross, a health insurer in Pennsylvania, has commissioned a tractor trailer truck to bring insurance consultants out to shopping centres and other neighbourhood stalls around Philadelphia.

The President has so far failed to win support for repealing Obamacare, one of his key campaign pledges, and Republicans have moved on to focus on tax reform.

Yet House Speaker Paul Ryan said the party is discussing whether its tax plan should include a repeal of the Obama health law's requirement that people have insurance coverage or face a penalty.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Ryan told Fox News Sunday a lot of members are suggesting the House include the repeal.

The move has been promoted by Mr Trump, who last week tweeted: Wouldn't it be great to repeal the very unfair and unpopular Individual Mandate in Obamacare and use those savings for further tax cuts for the middle class.

Yet some GOP politicians have expressed concerns, fearing the measures could imperil a much-needed legislative victory.

Republican congressman Kevin Brady, who chairs the key House Ways and Means Committee, has said including a repeal of the health law's individual mandate would be politically risky, given that the senate has failed to pass health legislation in Mr Trump's first year.
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Students at Texas Christian University were warned to seek shelter amid reports of an armed man on campus.

"Armed person on campus. Seek safe shelter immediately," the university's Twitter account said.

Students received text messages and phone calls telling them to seek shelter as alarms sounded on campus, TCU 360 reported.

Fort Worth police told US media the alert was triggered after two shuttle bus drivers got into an argument which ended up with one firing a shot at the other's vehicle.

The shot missed, but the armed suspect struck the other person before driving away.

The suspect was described as a black male wearing a white shirt and black trousers, driving a university shuttle bus.

The university later issued an all clear, telling students to "resume normal activities."

It was unclear whether the suspect had been arrested or whether they remained at large.

It comes three days after 26 people were killed in the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.
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One of the first things we learned about Omar Mateen, the gunman in last year's nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida, was that his ex-wife said he had beaten her severely until she left him in 2009.

If it sounds familiar that a gunman in a mass shooting would have a history of domestic violence, it should.

In February 2016, Cedric Ford shot 17 people at his Kansas workplace, killing three, only 90 minutes after being served with a restraining order sought by his ex-girlfriend, who said he had abused her. And Man Haron Monis, who holed up with hostages for 17 hours at a cafe in Sydney, Australia, in 2014  an episode that left two people dead and four wounded  had terrorised his ex-wife. He had threatened to harm her if she left him, and was eventually charged with organising her murder.

When Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control group, analysed FBI data on mass shootings from 2009 to 2015, it found that 57 percent of the cases included a spouse, former spouse or other family member among the victims  and that 16 percent of the attackers had previously been charged with domestic violence.

Social scientists have not settled on an explanation for this correlation, but their research reveals striking parallels between the factors that drive the two phenomena.

There are, of course, a tangle of factors behind every murder, especially terrorism inspired by foreign groups. But research on domestic violence hints at a question that often arises from seemingly inexplicable events like Mateens massacre of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub  what drives individuals to commit such mass attacks?  and sheds light on the psychology of violence.

Domestic violence often follows a pattern in which an abuser seeks to control every aspect of a victims life. The scope and intent of this are hinted at in one name experts use for it: intimate terrorism.

The perpetrator is engaging in a general pattern of control over the victim  her finances, her social contacts, the clothes she wears, said Deborah Epstein, who runs Georgetown University Law Centers domestic violence clinic.

Violence is the perpetrators means of enforcing that control  and of punishing any attempts to break it.

Mateens brief marriage to Sitora Yusufiy seems to fit this model. She has said that he forced her to hand over her paychecks to him, forbade her to leave the house except to go to work, and prevented her from contacting her parents. Even small perceived infractions were met with a violent response.

He would just come home and start beating me up because the laundry wasnt finished or something like that, Yusufiy told The Washington Post.

Take this dynamic of coercive violence to its most horrible extreme, and it looks an awful lot like how Isis treats women in its self-proclaimed caliphate. As my Times colleague Rukmini Callimachi has reported, the group has created a vast infrastructure of rape and slavery in which women are held captive and bought and sold by its fighters. It is intimate violence on an industrial scale.

Domestic violence, experts say, is also often a way for male abusers to impose their view of traditional gender roles. Epstein said such traditions in the United States were rooted in the idea of men having control over women.

Thats our culture: Its all about men controlling women in their lives, she said. Intimate terrorism stems from that desire to control.

This bears striking similarities to how Isis presents its treatment of women as a recruiting tool, promising young men abroad  particularly in Europe  that its caliphate will allow them to restore traditional gender norms of male dominance. This dominance is exercised in part through violence including systematic rape and the threat of rape. The group often presents this violence as a means to measure and protect mens honour.

It seems natural, then, that Isis might appeal to men who desire that sort of control over the women in their lives, separate from any ideological draw  the kind of men who might have domestic violence in their past.

Nimmi Gowrinathan, a visiting professor at the City College of New York who studies womens roles in insurgent and terrorist conflicts, said that restrictive norms about gender and sexuality could be a pull factor for terrorist organisations  but that people who are drawn to them are also often pushed by their own pre-existing attitudes or desires.

Terrorist attacks and mass shootings garner attention and frighten the public much more than episodes of domestic violence. But domestic violence has a much higher death toll in the United States.

According to the Violence Policy Center, 895 women in the United States were murdered by their current or former intimate partners in 2013 (and this does not include those killed amid mass shootings). That single-year tally is more than nine times the 92 people the New American Foundation has counted as killed in jihadi attacks on US soil in the past decade.

But there are striking parallels between the intimate terrorism of domestic violence and the mass terrorism perpetrated by lone-wolf attackers like Mateen seems to have been. Both, at their most basic level, are attempts to provoke fear and assert control.

Domestic violence, experts say, often occurs when an abuser concludes that violence is the best tool to solve his or her grievances. That might mean a husband who perceives his wifes failure to do the laundry as a challenge to his rightful authority, leading him to try to reimpose his will through violence.

Clark McCauley, a professor at Bryn Mawr College who studies the psychology of mass violence and terrorism, said he was not aware of research finding a causal relationship between domestic violence and terrorism. But he has found that a characteristic common to mass killers is a sense of grievance: a belief that someone, somewhere, had wronged them in a way that merited a violent response.

A domestic abusers desire to impose, by force, supposed traditional gender roles also sometimes includes sexuality. Such abusers, experts say, may see homosexuality as a threat to their masculinity.

There is an idea that what it means to be masculine is to be vigilant of your sexuality, and hyper-vigilant towards keeping anyone from perceiving you as gay, said Gillian Chadwick, a fellow at Georgetown University Law Center.

Intimate terrorism, in that sense, rests on a broader spectrum of violence meant to preserve the traditional dominance of heterosexual men, and coerce those who are perceived as threatening that order. That spectrum, at the extreme end, includes mass shootings.

This connection makes it somewhat easier to understand an apparent contradiction: that Mateen targeted a gay nightclub and that his father and ex-wife have said he had a history of homophobic remarks, but that he also had been seen visiting Pulse, the gay nightclub he targeted, and, according to some news reports, used a gay dating app.

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Could Mateen have been trying to use violence to reimpose rules about gender and sexuality that he himself was troubled about violating? If so, he would not be the first.

Chadwick said there was an entire category of legal argument, called gay panic and trans panic claims, in which defendants say that they turned to violence because they were so upset about being perceived as gay, or about discovering they were attracted to a transgender person.

The New York Times
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The gunman who slaughtered 26 people at a Texas church was able to buy weapons because the US Air Force failed to report his domestic violence conviction to the federal database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers, authorities said.

Federal officials said the Air Force did not submit Devin Patrick Kelley's criminal history even though it was required to do so by Pentagon rules.

Kelley, 26, was found guilty of assault in an Air Force court-martial in 2012 for abusing his wife and her child and was given 12 months' confinement followed by a bad-conduct discharge in 2014.

That same year, authorities said, he bought the first of four weapons.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes like assault should be submitted to the FBI's Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

It is the kind of lapse that gun-control advocates say points to loopholes and failures with the background check system.

At issue is the Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996.

The US federal law was designed to prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from buying or possessing a firearm regardless of whether the crime was a felony or a misdemeanour.

This is exactly the guy the Lautenberg Amendment is supposed to prevent from possessing a firearm, said Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former judge advocate.

Of course, the law only works if folks are abiding by the law.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email that the service is launching a review of its handling of Kelley's case and taking a comprehensive look at Air Force databases to make sure other cases have been reported correctly.

An initial review indicates that Kelley's conviction was not entered into the federal database by officials at Holloman Air Force Base's office of special investigations, the Air Force said.

Kelley served at Holloman in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge.

He was in logistics, responsible for moving passengers and cargo.

Authorities said Kelley owned four guns, including the three he had with him during the attack: a Ruger AR-15 that was used in the church and two handguns that were in his car.

The weapons were purchased, one each year, from 2014 to this year.

A 2015 report by the Pentagon's inspector general found lapses in the military's reporting to civilian authorities of domestic violence convictions.

From November 30 1998, until last week, firearms purchases in the US were denied 136,502 times because of a domestic violence conviction, according to Justice Department statistics.

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

The fact this guy was even court martialled at all indicates it reached a certain level of severity that should act as a red flag that this is a dangerous person and shouldn't have a gun, said Lindsay Nichols, the US federal policy director at the Giffords Law Centre to Prevent Gun Violence.

The centre is named after former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was gravely wounded by a gunman in 2011.

AP
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In tiny Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a shooter gunned down 26 people at a local church on Sunday, the towns residents are attempting to piece their lives back together  and well-wishers from across the country are eager to help them do so.

Almost every business in the 400-person town  of which there are only a handful  put donation boxes at their checkouts on Tuesday.

At the Valero gas station, located just across the street from First Baptist Church, customers dutifully stuck their change into the cardboard box while updating the cashier, Judy, on how their friends and family members were doing.

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People are dropping their change in; people are dropping bills in there, Judy told The Independent. Its amazing.

San Antonio resident Dick Tips thought of another way to help families with the funeral expenses: His business, Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, is offering free caskets to any of the victims families. At least one of the families, he said, had already taken him up on the offer.

While Mr Tips did not know any of the victims personally, he does have two children of his own: 5-year-old twins. He said he was heartbroken by reports of the 12 to 14 children children who had died in the shooting.

We were not put on this earth to bury children, the funeral director said.

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Patricia Diaz, a cashier at Dollar General, said her Sutherland Springs store had donated bread, peanut butter, jelly, and water to those affected by the shooting. Many friends and family members of the victims were still huddled together at a church down the street, away from the media circus.

Several friends and family members had also started GoFundMe accounts, to pay for everything from hospital bills to funeral services.

L David Givler told The Independent he'd started a GoFundMe for his friend John Holcombe. Mr Holcombe is a Sunday school teacher and webmaster at First Baptist Church, and attended on Sunday with the rest of his family. He lost nine family members in the shooting, including his pregnant wife, Crystal, and her five children.

Mr Givler said he could remember the moment when Mr Holcombe and his wife were first married.

John married Crystal and he took their children, just as if they were his own blood, he said. It was a beautiful story until this tragedy hit.

 Texas official says mass shooting victims included 18 month-old

In the 22 hours since the GoFundMe was posted, it had raised $200,000 (152,000)  blowing past the $72,000 goal that Mr Givler initially set to help cover funeral expenses. Along with the donations, Mr Givler said, came messages of hope and solidarity.

There are a lot of people who feel helpless, and yet they want to be part of the solution, he said. Thats been amazingly healing for me, and Im looking forward to printing this all out and showing it to John and his family.

Residents embrace during a candlelight vigil for victims (Reuters) (REUTERS)

Others poured into Sutherland Springs from around the state to help, bringing prayers, hugs and teddy bears.

Donna Watkins and her husband, James, drove from Corpus Christi to set up shop on the towns main intersection. They unloaded a fold-up table, dozens of stuffed animals, and a sign reading prayers for families affected by homicide.

The stuffed animals, she explained, were for the children affected by the shooting.

This is something they can hold and squeeze; get mad at; throw; cry; tell them how youre feeling  and its going to stay, said Ms Watkins, who had lost her brother to homicide.

Down the street, two chaplains from the Church at Work ministry were offering prayers to passerby. Chaplain Lee Thompson came from Dallas, and Tim Kiyuna from Austin, to spread light in a dark time. They wanted to pray with residents, they said, but would also simply give them a shoulder to cry on.

Mr Kiyuna described one elderly Sutherland Springs resident who had thanked him for stopping to have a conversation with her.

In all the commotion, she felt like shed been left behind, he said.
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Donald Trump told Frances former president Francois Hollande that loved he French people and French wine in their first official phone call, a new book has claimed. The new US president then asked for advice in picking his staff.

Mr President, I am delighted to talk to you," Mr Trump told his counterpart, according to Gaspard Gantze, a former adviser to Mr Hollande. "You are a great president, a great leader, a great man. It is such an honour.

The official call which came five days after Mr Trump's shock presidential victory on 9 November 2016, is documented in Mr Gantze's book La politique est un sport de combat.

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Mr Trump then added: I love France, I love French people, I love your country, I love Paris, I love your wine, I love

The former French president then cut him off.

Mr Gantzer claimed it was clear Mr Trump was mocking the French administration and taking them for idiots.

Mr Hollande responded by discussing the issues the countries should work together on, including the Paris Climate Agreement.

Later in the call, Mr Trump attempted to elicit Mr Hollandes help in picking his new staff, the book claims.

You know my country," he said. "You know many good Americans. And you are one of the greatest leaders in the world. So, let me ask you a question: could you help me with the recruiting of my new staff?

After the phone call ended, Mr Hollandes staff were left shocked at the conversation, Mr Gantzer said.

Mr Trump has subsequently withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, meaning the US is now the only country in the world not to support the deal.

Despite Mr Trumps reported declaration of love for Paris, he later insinuated the capital was not a safe destination for US tourists in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Mr Hollande mocked the president in response, saying that he would invite him to Disneyland Paris so he understands what France is.
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It might almost have been staged, a carefully choreographed breach right before our eyes  men and women scrambling over, bedraggled, even a small child  to convince us that President Donald Trumps call for a bigger, better wall hadnt just been a sop to the racist, xenophobic voter to get him elected. It was important. Look, you see, aha, here they come, the marauders.

We had barely arrived when it began, at the spot on the US-Mexican border just east of San Diego where eight prototypes of Trumps promised new border wall had just sprung up. The mock-ups are dramatic all on their own, a sort of cruel, gap-toothed grin towards Tijuana on the other side, a dare to the smugglers and would-be migrants. Scale these if you can.

Foreboding to be sure, theyll be tested soon, once the concrete is cured. The US Border Patrol will go at them with drills, sledgehammers, even flamethrowers. They will throw grapple hooks over the top and chip away with pickaxes underneath, just to see which withstands abuse the best. It is likely in the end theyll opt for a hybrid of the prototypes they have now, combining their best elements, rejecting all else.

Agent Eduardo Olmos, escorting the reporter, was in the midst of explaining this. The walls they have now may look challenging but arent really. First, theres a metal wall made of surplus helicopter pad from the Vietnam War thats eight to 10 feet high. For about 13 miles running inland from the ocean, theres also a secondary, much higher, metal fence. But it can be cut through. They patch about 10 holes every week.

Though an American now, Olmos is originally from Tijuana. Most of his family still live there. He admits theres friction over what he does. And Trump. Its got very negative, very soon, he says of the feelings of his relatives. When visiting he tries to keep off the topic. We do have different opinions. But he adds: What I have seen here allows me to have proof of what we are doing  that it is the right thing for the country. He means the US, of course, not Mexico.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Back in the Eighties, youd see it was actually out of control, he insists. Migrants would gather on the US side, there were only 500 agents then, it was unsafe for them to patrol. They would gather and there was a lot of rapes, murders, assaults, robberies and crime. It was chaos here. His words echo those of Trump when he launched his presidential bid in 2015 about Mexico. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists.

It is quieter now, Olmos contends, because of physical barriers erected since then and the higher numbers of agents. Yet, according to the Border Patrol, nearly 24,000 migrants were caught trying to enter the US illegally in the 60-mile San Diego sector alone just from January to August this year. For the 12 months of last year it was 31,891, and 415,816 for the US-Mexico border as a whole.

Prototypes of the promised wall spring up at the border outside San Diego (David Usborne)

That our interview is suddenly interrupted isnt so surprising then for them. The Trump prototypes stand exactly at the 13-mile marker where the secondary fence ends, theoretically a good location to make a break for America. First came the bags, tossed over to our side, a signal to the agents to switch to apprehension mode. Olmos and his colleague, Vincent Pirro, whod also been on media assignment for the day, approach the wall but dont get too close to avoid danger to themselves. For the same reason, they are forbidden to help when the bags owners appear.

Three men have made it over when I spy four grimy fingers hooking over the walls top. The last man in the group is hesitating, perhaps grasping that this wasnt the best place to cross after all. His companions are already corralled by Olmos and Pirro, seated on the ground. Finally, he perches on the top for a few moments, letting out loud, incomprehensible groans of fear and panic. His bag gets snagged, but he frees it and finally he makes the leap himself, falling sideways and banging his head on a small rock. He is not hurt seriously. Moments later a young woman appears. She has a small boy with her. They too make it over, instantly to be arrested.

Little about Trump elicits more passion than his promise to build the wall. To his supporters, its the ultimate solution to the open-border travesty they see being at the root of everything wrong with their lives: drugs, crime, the evaporation of manufacturing jobs and the dilution of America as they understand it. To his detractors  Pope Francis joined the debate in the campaign calling it not Christian  it is a barely disguised tilt at the racist underbelly of America. If ever realised, it would not just stand as a raised middle finger to Mexico and the rest of the world but also threaten to steal grotesque sums from the public purse. Plus it wouldnt work.

One year on, all he has to show for it are these eight, rude incisors in the San Diego desert. The question now hangs: will the real thing ever happen? Largely, that will be for Congress to decide. As a start, the White Houses draft 2018 budget seeks about $1.6bn (1.2bn) to begin building at least some sections and replacing existing ones. It may get some of that, but deals will have to be cut. To build the entire wall, as much as $21bn would have to be found. But almost no one believes the wall as Trump originally evoked, stretching all 2,000 miles of the border, will ever happen, Agent Olmos included. Some of the terrain is simply too extreme to build on and, because of it, too extreme for migrants to successfully navigate.

But even short stretches would be welcomed by those on the front line of interdiction. We will work with what we get, Olmos averred. This is a big step for border control and for border security. These prototypes are our future, not just the prototypes themselves but all the ideas they give us so we can upgrade and make our job a lot more efficient and a lot more effective.

Migrants are apprehended moments after coming over the border wall from Tijuana to San Diego (David Usborne)

If Olmos attempts to drain the wall and the debate that surrounds it of all emotion, for Enrique Chiu, an artist living on the other side in Tijuana, the opposite is important. A painter, he too was moved by his family from Mexico to the US when he was young. But in 2000, he took an unlikely tack, moving back and settling in Tijuana to explore how the trauma of the border could be salved through art.

Late in 2016, Chiu was sure Hillary Clinton would win the election and hed have the chance to do something to unite the two countries again, symbolically anyway. He would paint a mural on his side of the existing wall and American artists would paint the other. But then Trump won and he had to rethink. There would be nothing bi-national about his project any more, it would be on the Mexican side only. It would be lonely and hard, but the need to protest was more urgent.

Lonely, it hasnt been. Showing off stretches of the original wall already decorated in smudged images of hearts, rainbows and other ephemera, he reports that every weekend since Trumps election he has played host to artists  and would-be artists  from every corner of the world. Already about 2,600 people have travelled to Tijuana to help him. People care right now about what is happening to Mexico and at the border, thats why theyre coming from all countries to support this project. He cites Germany, China, New Zealand and Japan in particular. I pick them from the airport and they paint with me Friday and Saturday and I take them back to the airport on Sundays. The less talented leave messages or simple outlines of their hands.

Enrique Chiu shows off work he and his friends have done on the wall in Tijuana

Called El Mural de la Hermandad  mural of brotherhood/sisterhood  it now runs along roughly three miles of wall in Juarez, almost into the ocean at its west end. Chiu has also been to other border cities, including Juarez, Mexicali and Tecate, to paint shorter, symbolic sections. Soon it may make a Guinness World Record as the biggest mural in the world. But thats not what moves Chiu. He believes he is doing his own small part to protest the human tragedy that, in his mind, is the physical barrier dividing the two nations he has called home. The wall, it was ugly, it was rusty, almost an emblem of Mexico. So, I said, lets do something positive. This was our time to put our ideas, our expressions, our feelings on the wall.

Those feelings towards Trump and his plans and prototypes for a new wall are, of course, not charitable. Its not logical, its not right what he is doing, he says, using aerosol paint to touch up spots where rust is showing through. (Generally, he prefers to use a brush.) Why does he want to spend that kind of money doing something that is not going to work anyway? People who really want to go to America, they are going to find a way.

But he is also philosophical. Mexico has already made clear it will not pay for Trumps wall, but this Mexican will paint it. The wall thats there and the next one, if it comes. I am using the wall like a canvas and if Trump builds another big wall like he says he will, I will paint it also, he vows.

Back on the other side, Agent Olmos says he has vaguely heard of an artist in Mexico adorning the wall with art. It is technically American property, but he doesnt know much about it and clearly cares less. Thats the least of our worries. And now he must finish bundling the wretched new arrivals, including the mother and boy, each one darkened by dust and dirt, into the Border Patrol van that has drawn up to collect them.

For Agent Pirro, the time to leave cant come fast enough. I just want to wash my hands, he mutters heading for his jeep.
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A former foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump has admitted that he met privately with Russia's deputy prime minister, on one of two trips to Moscow.

Under oath as he testified before the US's Congress' House Intelligence committee, Carter Page initially said that he did not meet with any senior Russian officials during a trip in July 2016.

But Mr Page, who left his unpaid advisory role on the presidential campaign before Mr Trump was elected, later admitted that he had briefly greeted Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

Asked if he had a private meeting with Mr Dvorkovich on a second trip in December 2016, Mr Page replied: We did - he stopped by a dinner I went to in December with people from the university.

Mr Page, who works as a consultant to the oil industry, said he had told senior members of Mr Trump's campaign team about the July 2016 trip, including then-Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who is now US attorney general.

He had also informed senior Trump aides Hope Hicks and Corey Lewandowski, he added.

Mr Page said he reported back to other campaign officials about the July 2016 trip, saying in one email that he had received incredible insights and outreach.

He has maintained he made the trip as a private citizen, not as part of his role with the Trump campaign.

His tesitmony was part of a wider investigation by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, which is exploring any possible collusion between Mr Trumps 2016 campaign and the Russian government.

Mr Page was also interviewed earlier this year as part of the FBI investigation, before special prosecutor Robert Mueller was appointed to take it over.

Last week, Mr Mueller charged two former Trump campaign advisers, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates.

The two men face numerous charges which mostly focus on alleged money laundering and failure to disclose their financial assets.

Mr Page, a former Merrill Lynch investment banker in Moscow, has attracted the scrutiny of investigators for his contacts with Russia. His trip to Moscow in July 2016 came after he joined the Trump campaign and he used it to deliver a pro-Russia speech at a university.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

But Mr Page, who declined to have an attorney present during the testimony to the House committee, said his trips to Russia were benign and blasted the congressional investigations as a waste of time.

Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House's Intelligence committee, said Mr Page's testimony showed that his denials of formal meetings with senior Russian officials were inaccurate.

Page  after being presented with an email he sent to his campaign supervisors, and which he did not disclose to the committee prior to the interview and despite a subpoena from the Committee  detailed his meetings with Russian government officials and others, and said that they provided him with insights and outreach that he was interested in sharing with the campaign, Mr Schiff said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Donald Trump's administration has detained an American citizen at a secret jail in Iraq for nearly two months, denying him access to a lawyer and refusing to release his name.

The unidentified American, who has not been charged, surrendered to US-backed fighters around 12 September and allegedly fought with Isis militants in Syria.

He has been detained as an unlawful enemy combatant, although the American Civil Liberties Union argued the Pentagon has yet to present any evidence.

"An American citizen has been locked up for nearly two months and repeatedly asserted his constitutional right to a lawyer. But the Trump administration is doing all within its power to deny him that basic protection," said Jonathan Hafetz, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU in New York.

 Donald Trump says 'Im the only one who matters'

Last month, the ACLU filed a petition in the US District Court in Washington, DC, challenging the man's detention and seeking to provide him legal counsel.

In a response filed last week, US attorneys argued the ACLU is asking to represent and provide legal counsel to an individual it does not know, has never met and does not officially represent.

The government said the ACLU's "attempt to interject itself as the advocate for an individual who came into US military custody less than seven weeks ago, was identified as an enemy combatant and is currently detained in Iraq pending a determination of his further disposition is improper, unnecessary and should be dismissed."

The government said the International Committee of the Red Cross had visited the detainee. The Red Cross could contact his relatives, who could seek legal representation on his behalf, it added.

The ACLU countered by saying the Red Cross' mission is not to obtain legal counsel for detainees it meets.

Mr Hafetz said there is no indication the detainee wants to or can contact relatives or whether they would be willing to risk reprisal by seeking a lawyer for him.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 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The ACLU and other civil rights groups have claimed the detainee has been held too long without access to counsel.

But the government argued that the Supreme Court has recognised that in the case of military operations, the executive branch should be given a reasonable period of time to determine a detained individual's status.

The Defence Department "is still within that initial reasonable period" of time, the government attorneys wrote.

Steven Dalbey, director for the Defence Department's office of detainee policy, which receives and reviews all reports filed by the Red Cross, said the American surrendered to Syrian Democratic Forces on or around 12 September. Those US-backed forces turned him over to American forces which identified him as an enemy combatant and detained him in Iraq.

"This location is within an armed conflict zone with restricted civilian access based on military operational concerns, security concerns and political sensitivities of the host nation," Mr Dalbey said.

"As a known security risk, there is no capability to provide this detainee with an unclassified system for a video-teleconference in a private setting to discuss legal matters."

He said the Red Cross was granted access to the detainee on 29 September and 23 October. The Red Cross has not commented on the individual's identity, location or conditions of his detention.

In a blog post about the ongoing case, the ACLU said: "By opposing the ACLUs efforts in this case, the Trump administration is taking a very dangerous step: It is blocking an Americans citizens access to his own countrys courts. It is also undermining the bedrock guarantees of habeas corpus, which for centuries has served as the greatest check on unlawful government detentions.

"Now, were fighting to stop the governments unconstitutional attempt to create a new rights-free zone."

Additional reporting by AP
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Prosecutors will no longer pursue their case against a woman who laughed at now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his confirmation hearing.

Activist Desiree Fairooz was scheduled to face trial for a second time next week. But an attorney for the DC US Attorney's Office is said to have quietly entered a filing which indicated the department was dropping the case.

Ms Fairooz was taken into custody in January after she giggled when a Republican senator said Mr Sessions had a clear and well-documented record of treating all Americans equally under the law.

Recommended First Mueller charges putting pressure on Jeff Sessions

Mr Sessions was denied a federal judgeship in the 1980s amid allegations that he made racist remarks. One was that he thought the KKK was: "OK until I found out they smoked pot." He has said he was joking and has denied making racist remarks.

Ms Fairooz had attended the confirmation hearing along with about two dozen members from Code Pink, a progressive group that regularly protests on Capitol Hill.

According to the governments court filing, Ms Fairooz let out aloud [sic] burst of laughter, followed by a second louder burst of laughter. It also says that Ms Fairooz grew loud and more disruptive as police led her out of the Kennedy Caucus Room, eventually halting the confirmation hearing.

Ms Fairooz had been found guilty in May of charges of disorderly and disruptive conduct and of parading or demonstrating on Capitol grounds. Jurors who convicted Ms Fairooz told the HuffPost that they based their decision on the defendants actions after she had laughed.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

But in July, a judge threw out the jurys conviction of Ms Fairooz, finding that the government had improperly argued during the proceedings that her laughter was enough to merit a guilty verdict.

A retrial was scheduled for November for the 61-year-old retired childrens librarian, who faced possible jail time.

The government's dropping of the case came after Ms Fairooz rejected a plea deal in which she would have pleaded guilty in exchange for a recommendation of time served, according to the HuffPost.

The last 10 months of my life have been somewhat stressful facing trial and the possibility of jail time and a criminal conviction for a chortle so I am greatly relieved that I will not stand trial again, Ms Fairooz told the media outlet in a statement. As activists, we cannot be deterred from speaking out against injustice, standing up for our constitutional rights and yes, laughing.

In a statement, Code Pink the group Ms Fairooz was an activist for - said it celebrates the Justice Department's decision to drop the case against Ms Fairooz.

The prosecution of Desiree, including one jury trial, was a waste of time and tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. It was part the larger effort currently being made to crack down on activists. From the January 20th inauguration protests, the Department of Justice is prosecuting 200 people on multiple felony charges, the statement reads.

The statement added that Code Pink hopes the Justice Department will scale back its prosecution of activists and that others will be encouraged to protest in both Congress and the streets.

A spokesperson for the the US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia said the office typically does not discuss charging decisions, and has no comment on the decision to dismiss this particular case.
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White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway says that the people bringing up gun control in the aftermath of the bloody shooting in Texas Sunday lack tact, and should wait to discuss how to combat the epidemic of gun violence in the United States until there is more distance from the shooting.

The rush to judgement, particularly by people who just see politics and [Donald] Trump derangement in every single thing they do, it doesn't help the victims, and it's disrespectful to the dead, Ms Conway said during an appearance on Fox and Friends.

Ms Conway expressed sadness for the deaths of the 26 church-goers in Texas, who were killed after a man dressed in tactical gear entered the building during Sunday prayer service and open fired. The youngest victim was an 18-year-old, and the oldest was 77-years-old. Officials have said that virtually nobody in the church emerged unscathed.

Recommended Former classmates recall Texas shooting suspect Devin Kelley

But, when it comes to the Democrats who have spoken out in favour of gun legislation that may have prevented such an attack, Ms Conway says the issue is being raised too quickly.

It's so beyond any type of reasonable response that anyone should have  why people see politics immediately, she said, mocking liberals for taking to Twitter in the comfort of their very luxurious lives and pointing fingers.

The mass shooting in Texas over the weekend is the latest incident of its kind, and came just a month after the worst mass shooting in Las Vegas when at least 58 people were killed alongside more than 500 wounded.

Texas church shooting Show all 9 1 /9 Texas church shooting Texas church shooting The site of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting First responders are at the scene of shooting at the First Baptist Church Reuters Texas church shooting Enrique and Gabby Garcia watch investigators at the scene of the mass shooting AP Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials investigate the scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Reuters Texas church shooting Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Associated Press Texas church shooting Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church Getty Images Texas church shooting Community members come together for a candlelight vigil for the victims of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs Laura Skelding/AP Texas church shooting Mourners participate in the candlelight vigil held for the victims Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP Texas church shooting A vehicle is hauled onto a flatbed truck where the suspect in a deadly church shooting was found dead in Guadalupe County William Luther/Austin American-Statesman via AP

The Texas shooter was a former member of the Air Force who had been discharged on bad behavior after a conviction for beating his then-wife and her son. He was discharged after spending a year in prison for the offence.

Under US law, individuals convicted of domestic violence are barred from obtaining a firearm, but the shooter was still able to do so. It is possible that his criminal history did not come up in a background check if the records were not sent to the FBI by the military court that tried him.
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It was a strange hope, but hope nonetheless. Hope that the Russian worldview  complete with its weary-eyed, white-is-black cynicism  had become international. Hope that the too-good-for-thou Americans were also embracing vice and the virtual. Hope that Russia had somehow been brought in from the post-Crimean cold.

Donald Trumps unexpected election one year ago was accompanied by a wave of euphoria in Moscow. And it wasnt only those in the Kremlin who celebrated. Many liberal-minded Russians were genuinely relieved, having worried that a hardline Clinton presidency would have brought out the worst in their president. There were several, often weird, inauguration parties.

But the happiest of all were those inside the tall red walls. Their high-risk strategy had paid off. The Kremlin had got its man.

Recommended Donald Trump still has time to make his presidency great again

The Russian and American presidents were now, remarkably, on the same page. The media was fake. Nato was misguided. America did too much. There was no such thing as truth. Exceptionalism. Nationalism. Militarism. What-about-ism. These were the shared visions of the age.

The stage should have been set for blissful co-operation, but the reality of the last year has been anything but.

The honeymoon was dashed almost immediately with the allegations that Russian foul play had enabled a Trump win. Soon after came the evidence that Russia had first conspired against Ms Clinton, and later actively for Mr Trump. Four official investigations began. Then sanctions, compound seizures, and tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. The Kremlin-funded RT was labelled a foreign agent, and banned from advertising on Twitter. Russia is now poised to retaliate against CNN, Radio Liberty and Voice of America  even Twitter itself.

Relations have not been at a lower ebb since the height of the Cold War.

Russians were genuinely relieved at Trump's win in 2016, having worried that a hardline Clinton presidency would have brought out the worst in their own president (Getty)

From an already high watermark, Russian authorities ratcheted up their anti-American rhetoric. The US was conspiring with Isis to undermine Russian-backed forces in Syria, claimed the Ministry of Defence. America had desecrated the Russian flag by removing them from seized consulate buildings, said the Foreign Ministry.

But for all the dirt hurled westwards, the US president remained off-limits. Broadly speaking, propaganda shows on state TV have continued to support him. The talk is of "feik nyus", of Russophobes blocking Mr Trump from doing his noble, pro-Russian deeds. At the Valdai conference in Sochi last month, President Putin called for people to start respecting his opposite number.

They still view Trump positively, says Vladimir Frolov, a security expert and former Kremlin adviser. After all, he plunged the US into chaos and distracted it from confronting Russia. Whats there not to like?

Several Russian governmental insiders suggested to The Independent that it was no longer clear who ran US Russia policy. The US State department was underpopulated; the White House understaffed; and the Trump administration generally unable to respond to the challenge. They considered Mr Trump had lost control of his Russia policy to Congress.

Mr Trump still matters in US-Russia relations, but only in the sense that he makes a mess of them, says Fyodor Lukyanov, an expert close to the foreign policy elite. The prevailing atmosphere had placed Russia in an impossible position. No longer an actor, but an instrument in US domestic policy, the Kremlin is the pretext used to undermine the US president. What is worse, it is powerless to intervene.

Now any bulls**t becomes something, says Mr Lukyanov.

For a while, the Kremlin enjoyed the worlds attention. Certain parts of the elite revelled in their evil genius status. But nervousness has since crept in. The hawks arent so much worried about being blamed for crimes, says Mr Lukyanov, but that the hype will get out of control: I wouldnt say that there is euphoria or even acceptance of the situation  it is changing.

The Kremlin view is that the 'American establishment' is undermining Trump, the US and Russia (AFP/Getty)

With reluctance, the Kremlin understands that it will stay front page news in the US for some time to come. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is only just beginning to deliver on his investigation. Paul Manafort and Rick Gates remain under house arrest, and pressure is being ratcheted up on the low-level chancers around Mr Trumps campaign.

Rhetoric aside, the blowback has already led to more caution in the Kremlin, suggested Mr Frolov. The use of hacking in public influence campaigns will be cut back, he said, though its use as a legitimate intelligence collection tool will continue. There was an understanding that the situation was pretty dangerous. New defence sector and oligarchic sanctions are due to come into effect in February, and the logic points to a further breakdown of relations.

It will continue, and inevitably escalate, says Mr Lukyanov. The outlook will remain murky for some time to come, maybe years: As long as this struggle for power inside the United States continues there is no chance to chance to normalise relations.

Donald Trump might still be viewed as a kindred spirit, but the truth is that he no longer really matters for Russia. Theres been a shift to accept long-term confrontation as a new normal, says Mr Frolov. The Kremlin believes that to gain stature as a great power it has to confront the US, not acquiesce into cooperating with it.

Alexei Chesnakov, a former member of the Kremlin administration close to presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, said there were absolutely no grounds to expect improvement. Mr Trump wasnt the problem, he said. It was the American establishment who were conspiring against Russia and common sense.

A year after the election, they still cannot get their act together, he told The Independent. And, with that, you begin to doubt the relevance of the entire American political system.
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When China rolls out the red carpet for Donald Trump, the grandeur of its welcome for the larger-than-life American president will mask a sobering reality.

President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful figure in a generation, is elevating his nation as a global power. Trump is unpopular and untrusted, pursued by political scandal and questions over his temperament as commander in chief of the world's most formidable military.

As they compete over shaping the future of the world's most populous and fastest-growing economic region, the stakes have never been higher.

On Wednesday, Trump begins what Chinese officials are billing as a state visit plus to Beijing, the highest-profile stop of his five-nation swing through Asia. He'll be seeking Chinese action to rebalance trade with the U.S. and to increase pressure on North Korea. Both presidents will then travel to Vietnam and the Philippines for regional summits, where they will bid for support among the continent's wavering leaders.

Trump is at a distinct disadvantage against Xi.

Xi two weeks ago consolidated his grip over China when he was endorsed for a second five-year term as communist party leader. His philosophy was enshrined in the constitution, arguably making him China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s.

Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images

Trump congratulated Xi for his extraordinary elevation and compared the status of the Chinese president to that of a king  unusually fulsome American praise for an autocrat.

Although questions remain over Xi's stewardship of the Chinese economy  he faces rising debt and an inefficient state sector  he's won popular domestic support for a counter corruption drive in the ruling party and gained effective control over disputed areas of the South China Sea through a massive island-building campaign opposed by Washington.

As Trump heads to China, he will find Xi at the pinnacle of his power with some significant home court advantages, said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

Xi has big ambitions, too, having told the party congress it is now time for China to take center stage as a world power.

There's clearly a confidence that extends from his newly secured position and permeates into the foreign policy realm, Rapp-Hooper said.

As for Trump, nine months into his presidency, he has alarmed strategists in Asia with his America First doctrine. He opposed the universally supported Paris agreement to combat climate change, adopted a protectionist stance on trade and raised doubts over his ability to manage a security crisis by vacillating between threats and conciliation toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Republican Trump is also carrying a lot of domestic baggage.

While Xi is lauded like a demigod in China's fawning, state-run media, Trump is buffeted by a free press and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. His approval ratings  around 38 percent, according to Gallup  suggest he's the most unpopular new U.S. president in the history of modern polling.

Reviled by political rivals, he has faced repeated and increasingly acrimonious run-ins with senior members of his own party who have been outraged by his freewheeling use of Twitter, off-the-cuff interview style and penchant for personally attacking those who cross him. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, a leading foreign policy voice, recently argued that Trump debases our nation with constant untruths and name-calling, accusing the president of setting the U.S. on the path to World War III.

More immediately, perhaps, a legal net is closing on former Trump associates as the FBI investigates allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. A former campaign adviser pleaded guilty last week to lying to the FBI in a criminal case that pushed the investigation closer to the president.

Trump denies any collusion. And predictably, he maintains that he's in Asia with great negotiating strength because of our tremendous economy. The latest U.S. jobs report showed unemployment at a 17-year low and the stock market at a record high.

Kurt Campbell, a former top U.S. diplomat for Asia and architect of President Barack Obama's strategic pivot, said domestic woes will shadow Trump on his travels to the region, where the conventional wisdom is of U.S. retrenchment during a period of dramatic Chinese advancement.

Nations are likely to skate a little closer to Beijing, Campbell said.

However, Thitinan Pongsudhirak at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University said Trump has clawed back U.S. influence in Southeast Asia after Obama's human rights criticism pushed some American allies closer to Beijing. With authoritarian leaders in Thailand and the Philippines, in particular, Trump has repaired ties.

But the Trump administration hasn't helped itself elsewhere with its mixed policy signals, veering from America-centric economic nationalism to more traditional expressions of U.S. engagement in Asia. Recently, Washington outlined a strategy of building ties with democracies across the Indo-Pacific.

The idea is similar to the Obama pivot that Beijing always viewed as a China containment policy. The Chinese would prefer the two countries accommodate each other's interests. It may view the close personal relationship between Trump and Xi as the best way toward that relationship.

I don't think anyone would be able to contain China, Cui Tiankai, China's U.S. ambassador, told reporters in Washington last week.

-AP
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A year after Donald Trump upset Democrats, Virginians will head to the polls to pick a new governor, providing perhaps one of the best indicators of how having Mr Trump in the White House has affected voters.

The results of the contest could also have a strong bearing on next years midterm elections.

If the Democratic candidate, Ralph Northam, wins the race, the party will be able to say it successfully ran an anti-Trump campaign on a statewide level  and is likely to re-employ that strategy again and again during 2018s key congressional and gubernatorial races.

Recommended Barack Obama returns to campaigning in Virginia and New Jersey

But if the Republican nominee, Ed Gillespie, is the victor  Democrats will likely have to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to win in the age of Trump, pundits say.

I sponsored this ad because Ive stood up to Donald Trump on all of it, Mr Northam says in a political advertisement. Ed Gillespie refuses to stand up to him at all.

Mr Northam only holds a narrow advantage over Mr Gillespie in the polls.

Virginia is an early warning system and a testing ground for what we're going to see play out in the next midterms, Jesse Ferguson, a former top aide on Hillary Clinton's campaign, told the Washington Post.

While Mr Gillespie has mostly kept his distance from Mr Trump, the former national party chairman has imitated elements of the presidents hard-line statements. For example, he has used provocative adverts to suggest that Mr Northam, currently the commonwealths lieutenant governor, has not been tough enough on illegal immigration.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

On Tuesday, Mr Trump, who is in Asia, offered his support for Mr Gillespie. He wrote on Twitter that MS-13 and crime will be gone if the commonwealth elects the Republican, referring to a violent gang with roots in Central America. Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia, the president asserted.

Republicans have managed to gain control of more than 60 per cent of statehouses and governorships across the US.

In Virginia, the party currently holds a majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate, while the governors mansion is occupied by a Democrat, Terry McAuliffe.

If Democrats are able to maintain control over the governorship, they may be able to demonstrate that Mr Trumps policies dont help win elections in swing states like Virginia. The commonwealth went to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in last years presidential race.

Marc Hetherington, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University, told the Independent that if Democrats lose despite Mr Trump's unpopularity, it will be a terrible blow to them.

If they win, they can point to Trump's unpopularity as a reason for their success, he added.

Some also assert that if Democrats want to gain ground in Virginia over the next 10 years, they must win the race on Tuesday. Whoever gets elected will have tremendous power of the future of their respective political party, as they will be able to approve or veto new state and congressional electoral maps in 2021.

Election results are expected to show that Virginias politics are becoming sharply bifurcated by region. The so-called urban crescent, which stretches from the suburbs of Washington, DC down to greater Richmond and east toward the Chesapeake Bay, is booming with new Democratic residents.

Meanwhile, the western half of the state  as well as the southern portion bordering North Carolina  has seen little population growth and is becoming even more Republican.
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Donald Trump reportedly told the Emperor of Japan that mass shootings can occur "anywhere", despite the country having some of the world's most stringent gun control policies.

The US President met Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko before a round of talks with Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Monday.

When the emperor brought up Sunday's mass killing at a church in Texas, Mr Trump called it a "terrible incident" and said the killings "can happen anywhere", according to the Mainichi Shimbun.

 Texas church shooting: What we know so far

Recommended John Kerry leads fight to save Iran nuclear deal from Donald Trump

A lone gunman killed 26 people at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, the worst such massacre by a lone gunman in Texas and one of the five most lethal in modern US history.

It came a little over a month after another lone shooter killed 58 people and injured hundreds more in Las Vegas.

But in Japan, gun deaths are measured in single figures annually, compared to tens of thousands in the US.

 Donald Trump tramples over fish-feeding ritual by chucking entire box into pond

Handguns are banned and anyone seeking a licence for a shotgun or air rifle must undergo a string of background checks, a written test and health evaluations.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Even police rarely use their sidearms and must attain a black belt in judo or other Japanese martial art before qualifying.

Journalist Anthony Berteaux told the BBC earlier this year: "What most Japanese police will do is get huge futons and essentially roll up a person who is being violent or drunk into a little burrito and carry them back to the station to calm them down."
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Donald Trump has said the US will defend its allies against North Korea using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities, if need be.

The US President raised the spectre of nuclear war during a visit to Seoul, South Korea.

At a press conference alongside President Moon Jae-in, Mr Trump said Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programmes were threatening millions of people.

Its time to act with urgency and great determination, he said.

While the US was trying to talk Kim Jong-un down from his nuclear ambitions using all available tools short of military action, Mr Trump said that the US stands prepared to defend itself and its allies using the full range of our unmatched military capabilities, if need be.

He made similar comments earlier in his tour of the Asia-Pacific region, when he told troops at Yokota air base near Tokyo: Together with our allies, Americas warriors are prepared to defend our nation using the full range of our unmatched capabilities.

But Mr Trump added: It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world.

He said he had seen a lot of progress in dealing with Pyongyang and that he believed ultimately, itll all work out, adding a notably more upbeat line to his usual strong rhetoric.

Mr Moon said he and Mr Trump had finalised an earlier agreement to allow South Korea to possess more powerful missiles in the face of growing North Korean threats.

He said the two had agreed to lift the warhead payload limits on South Korean ballistic missiles and that the allies are also cooperating on strengthening South Koreas defence capabilities through the acquisition or development of advanced weapons systems.

The US had three aircraft carrier strike groups in the western Pacific as Mr Trump left for his trip, a significant show of strength in a time of heightened tension.

At the press conference Mr Trump also called on every country to sever trade ties with North Korea entirely, naming Russia and China in particular. Repeated rounds of sanctions following Pyongyang's weapons tests have clamped down on its imports and exports.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

South Korea is the second stop on Mr Trumps Asia tour, which he is using to both shore up relationships with key allies and to push for new, reciprocal trade deals.

In Seoul he said a five-year-old trade agreement would be reassessed and that he hoped to quickly pursue a much better deal.

The current one has been quite unsuccessful and not very good for the United States, he added.

 Donald Trump slams unfair Japan trade and tells Japan to build cars in US

Fair trade was a key plank of Mr Trumps America First campaign. He has long complained of deals he said have disadvantaged the US, and one of his first actions in office was to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral agreement.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated near the US embassy as Mr Trump made his visit. One band held signs reading No Trump and No War, and criticised the Presidents attempt to re-write the trade deal.

Another group across the road chanted USA! as Mr Trumps motorcade passed by and held signs that said Blood Allies Korea + US.
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Isis has said it is behind a suicide bombing and gun attack on a TV station in Kabul, in which gunmen dressed as police killed a security guard and opened fire on staff.

Afghan special forces suppressed the attack on Shamshad TV after two hours, but police said at least two people had been killed and 20 wounded.

"People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another," Abed Ehsas, Shamshad's news director told broadcaster Tolo News TV.

"After that, others got into our building and started firing. Some of our colleagues were hit, though, thank God, many others managed to get out. Some were wounded by gunshots, falling glass and when they jumped from high floors."

 Raqqa's fall: A journey into the heart of Isis failed caliphate

Najib Danish, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the two casualties were a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV.

"There were two attackers and both have been killed," Mr Danish said shortly after the attack, adding that the police have sealed off the station and were combing the premises.

He said the police rescued some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding but he did not elaborate.

During the attack, a special forces unit blasted a hole in the concrete wall around the compound and entered the site amid a crack of gunfire.

At least one attacker was killed during the operation, while another was killed at the compound entrance.

In a statement on its news agency Amaq, Isis claimed to have killed as many as 20 people, without providing evidence.

The group, based mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, has claimed a number of attacks on civilian targets in the Afghan capital.

It often inflates reports of its atrocities in propaganda.

The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack.

Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters celebrate victory in Raqqa atop of military vehicles REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces march past destroyed buildings as they celebrate victory REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces gesture the "V" sign in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces evacuate a civilian from the stadium REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures A civilian prays after she was rescued by fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces from the stadium REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters ride atop of military vehicles as they celebrate victory in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters celebrate victory in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures A fighter of Syrian Democratic Forces celebrates in Raqqa Reuters

The attack took place about three weeks after a series of attacks including one on a Shia mosque in Kabul in which more than 50 people were killed.

Shamshad TV halted normal programming during the attack, transmitting only a still image. But it resumed broadcasting after about two hours, saying the attack had ended and staff trapped in the had been building rescued by police.
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North Koreas nuclear test site has been turned into a wasteland where babies are born with defects, defectors have reported.

Defectors from Kilju county, where the Punggye-ri underground nuclear test facility is located, have said 80 per cent of trees that are planted die and underground wells have run dry.

The witness accounts come from a group of 21 defectors who used to live in the region who were interviewed by the Research Association of Vision of North Korea, according to the South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

 North Korean tunnel at nuclear test site collapses with as many as 200 workers killed, Japanese media report

One defector said people in the region are worried about contamination from radiation.

I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there, another said.

Another former resident, referring to the regimes most recent nuclear test, said: I spoke on the phone with family members I left behind there and they told me that all of the underground wells dried up after the sixth nuclear test.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

The defectors, which include one person who claimed to have experienced two nuclear tests in October 2006 and May 2009, said locals were not warned in advance.

Only family members of soldiers were evacuated to underground shafts, they said. Ordinary people were completely unaware of the tests.

Other sources said residents from Kilju have been banned from making hospital appointments in the capital, Pyongyang, since the most recent nuclear test.

Officials are reportedly attempting to contain leaks from the area by arresting anyone caught boarding trains from Kilju with samples of soil, water or leaves, and sending them to prison camps.
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Germany came one step closer to forming a new government on Tuesday after Angela Merkels CDU party convinced two would-be allies to drop key policies as the price of a coalition.

The German Green party have agreed in principle to drop their flagship environmental policy  a fixed dates on the phase-out of fossil fuels  as the price for joining the government.

Meanwhile the liberal FDP, also a favoured coalition partner for the CDU, has also accepted that any government it was a member of would not be able to cut taxes as deeply as the party would like.

The two concessions put Ms Merkel further on the way to forming a so-called Jamaica coalition  so-named because the black, green and yellow colours of the three participating parties match those of the island nations flag.

The coalition configuration is so-far untested at a national level, though it has been formed locally in some German federal state parliaments.

Such a coalition is the only game in town for the CDU, after the centre-left SPD, formerly in a grand coalition before this years election, said it wanted to return to opposition to lick its wounds after a disastrous performance at the polls.

The CDU would be extremely unlikely to do a deal with either the left-wing Die Linke or the far-right AfD for ideological reasons. Because of this, mathematically a minority government  highly unusual in Germany  would be the only other realistic option for Ms Merkel if talks failed.

The two new concessions break a deadlock on talks, which have barely moved for the last two weeks.

At the general election the FDP had pledged 30 to 40 billion euros worth of tax cuts, but has now said it will settled for the abolition of the so-called solidarity tax a mechanism whereby the richer western German states subsidise the former communist east which joined after reunification.

Such a move to scrap the tax could be risky for any government, however, because the eastern German states are the main proving ground of the insurgent far-right AfD party.

The FDP also says it wants tax relief for business and families.

The Greens manifesto had insisted on fixed dates for the abolition of coal-fired power stations and a ban on cars with internal combustion engines.

Coalition negotiations in the Bundestag have been painfully slow so far (Sean Gallup/Getty)

For us, it doesnt matter if the last coal-fired power station is off the grid in 2030 or 2032. Thats where we are pragmatic, Greens co-leader Simone Peter told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Ms Merkel has already had to placate her close allies in the CDUs sister party, the CSU, which contests elections in Bavaria instead of the CDU. Last month the two parties agreed a limited migration policy to appease more conservative elements in the regional party.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Under the plan, refugee arrivals would be capped at 200,000. The Greens are however opposed to the policy and it has been another sticking point in negotiations.

Coalition negotiators from all parties will have to consult their members before they are allowed to move to the next phrase of negotiations.
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One of the Kremlins top propagandists has claimed the sexual harassment allegations against big Hollywood names are part of a campaign to remove sex in the US.

Dmitry Kiselyov, head of the state-run Rossiya Segodnya news agency, criticised the public outcry against those accused of sexual assault and harassment, including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

During his weekly talk show on Sunday, Mr Kiselyov said: Im categorically against sexual harassment. But this campaign, with brutal seriousness, threatens to destroy the humour in peoples relationships, affecting impulsivity, spontaneity and passion.

In America actresses and actors are coming forward one after another with allegations towards some of the brightest figures in Hollywood, Mr Kiselyov continued, according to a translation by the English-language Moscow Times newspaper.

Theres no sex in America The sexual revolution is a thing of the past. Now everything can be seen as dirty harassment.

Mr Kiselyov, a mouthpiece for Vladimir Putin known for his anti-West and anti-LGBT tirades, suggests the harassment allegations in the US mean sex is revolting to Americans.

The propagandist criticised the sympathy levelled at victims of alleged assault and harassment and stated the West is too quick to condemn the accused.

Recommended Commons intern says he was sexually assaulted by MP

When it comes to those at whom the finger is pointed, they are being dealt with extrajudicially and immediately, he said.

Mr Kiselyev also defended Harvey Weinstein, dismissing sexual assault accusations levelled at the producer from actor Paz de la Huerta, who recently claimed Weinstein raped her twice in New York in 2010.

Ms De la Huerta said she was too afraid to turn Weinstein away from her home when he showed up uninvited.

Mr Kiselyov said sarcastically: How dare he [rape her], especially when she invited him a second time?

He also lamented the firing of Kevin Spacey by Netflix, after the House of Cards actor was accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour against men who were underage at the time.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Kiselyovs comments illustrate attitudes to harassment and assault allegations that are widespread in Russia.

Mikhail Kozyrev, host of Russias independent channel TV Rain, questioned why alleged victims had not come forward earlier, despite hesitation being common among survivors for fear of reprisals, among other reasons.

Why did you stay quiet all of these years? Mr Kozyrev asked.

What prevented you at that moment from taking a step back to say, I will never work with this person, or Danger? he added.
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The bodies of 26 teenage women and girls have been found in the Mediterranean, Italian police said.

Aged between 14 and 18-years old, they are thought to have been migrants trying to reach Europe from Libya.

Investigators will try to discover whether they were tortured or sexually abused, Lorena Ciccotti, the police chief in the city of Salerno, told CNN.

Recommended Meet the former modern slaves fleeing over the Mediterranean to Europe

The girls, believed to be from Niger and Nigeria, were transferred to the city by a Spanish navy ship that had been conducting rescue operations in the Mediterrenean. The Cantabria dropped off another 400 migrants it had been able to rescue.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman, Marco Rotunno, said the 26 dead were involved in a shipwreck two days ago off Libya.

Italian media reported others were believed to have perished but 60 people were rescued.

Humanitarian groups say some 2,500 migrants were picked up at sea in recent days, making it one of the most intense periods for rescues on the Mediterranean since Italy reached a deal with Libya to slow departures of smugglers' boats carrying migrants.

 Refugee crisis: More than 500 migrants rescued in single day in Mediterranean Sea

The number of migrants arriving in Italy so far this year is 30 percent lower than last year, totalling 111,716 at the end of last week, according to Interior Ministry figures.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

This compares with almost 160,000 at the same period of 2016.

The UN's International Organisation for Migration put the number of dead in the central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy at more than 2,600 in the year through to 1 November.
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Colossal pale stalactites have recently appeared suspended among the trees along a stream in Israel where there were none before.

But the new ethereal landscape may not be universally appreciated  this gothic architecture is woven by an explosion of long-jawed spiders in the Soreq creek on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The prognathous arachnids have shrouded entire trees in giant glittering cobwebs on a scale rarely seen in the Middle East.

Israel's enchanted spider forest Show all 6 1 /6 Israel's enchanted spider forest Israel's enchanted spider forest Giant spider webs, spun by long-jawed spiders (Tetragnatha), cover sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem Reuters Israel's enchanted spider forest Giant spider webs, spun by long-jawed spiders (Tetragnatha), cover sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem Israel's enchanted spider forest Giant spider webs, spun by long-jawed spiders (Tetragnatha), cover sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem Reuters Israel's enchanted spider forest Giant spider webs, spun by long-jawed spiders (Tetragnatha), cover sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem Israel's enchanted spider forest A long-jawed spider (Tetragnatha) weaves a spider web over sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem Israel's enchanted spider forest Igor Armicach, a doctoral student at Hebrew University's Arachnid Collection, looks onto giant spider webs, spun by long-jawed spiders (Tetragnatha), covering sections of the vegetation along the Soreq creek bank, near Jerusalem

The Soreq watercourse reportedly contains treated sewage which is rich in nutrients. This aids the proliferation of mosquitoes, which then serve as a food source for the spiders, spurring a reproductive boom.

Its an exceptional case, arachnophile Igor Armicach, a doctoral student at Hebrew Universitys Arachnid Collection, told Reuters.

But while gravid spider egg sacs and spiderlings are everywhere among the towering gossamer structures, the future is less than glittering for the long-jawed spiders.

Winter is coming  and the cooler temperatures will kill off the flourishing mosquito population living at the stream, ending the spiders abundant food source.

The spiders are part of the orb-weaving family of arachnids, which have unusually large mandibles. They normally weave horizontal webs with an open centre.
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The Saudi night of the long knives was followed by the sudden appearance of Saad Hariri in the Kingdom, announcing that he was resigning as prime minister of Lebanon. Then came the news that the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had been summoned to Riyadh. The 32-year-old Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is seeking to exert control both at home and abroad, in the process ratcheting up tension in an already volatile Middle East.

Mohammed Bin Salman al Saud wants to consolidate authority in Saudi Arabia in his hands and, at the same time, be the kingmaker in other lands. It is an extraordinarily high-risk strategy, and one even the seemingly uber-confident young Prince would not have embarked on without a powerful outside sponsor.

He appears to have found one. Donald Trump expressed support for the purge in a phone call to King Salman. The US Presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, paid a secretive visit to Riyadh a few days ago. But this support is likely to have come at a price. Mr Trump has tweeted that he wants the $2 trillion float of Saudi oil giant Aramco to take place in New York. The President added he had raised the matter in the call to the Saudi king. The UK would be the loser in the byproduct of this. London was hoping to be the place for the flotation, bringing with it a massive post-Brexit boost. The journeys of supplication by Theresa May and other ministers to Riyadh to achieve this may have been in vain.

It remains to be seen whether Prince Mohammeds meteoric rise continues or whether he crashes and burns. Members of the royal family have been instructed not to leave the country. Dozens have been arrested, with due legal process ignored. This includes the Kingdoms richest businessmen, Prince Alawaleed bin Talal, whose investment portfolio includes hefty tranches of Rupert Murdochs 20th Century Fox stock.

The others detained include Prince Mutaib and Prince Turki, favourite sons of the late King Abdullah, respectively heads of the National Guard and the governor of Riyadh. The coup follows the Crown Princes drive against the religious hierarchy, prominent conservative imams and their fervent supporters.

So the Crown Prince appears to have taken a firm grip on the four pillars of the Kingdom: the ruling family, the business sheikhs, the security apparatus and the theocracy. His path to supreme power and, with it, the ability to bring about the reforms he wants, is seemingly assured.

Then we have the curious case of Mr Hariri. He made his resignation speech not in his home country, but in Riyadh, on Saudi TV. He accused Iran and its Hezbollah Shia militia allies of holding Lebanon hostage, and destabilising the Arab region.

This is also the Saudi position. Riyadh never liked the fact that Hezbollah was a member of Lebanons ruling coalition. This dislike has grown as the militia sent thousands of fighters for combat alongside Tehrans forces to prop up Bashar al-Assad. That Lebanese government will now collapse. Mr Hariri, say his critics, is now himself effectively a hostage in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Abbas, the Palestinian leader, was the next to be asked to go to Riyadh. The Saudis have been trying to wean Hamas away from their Iranian backers, but they still remain suspicious of the Islamist movement. Mr Abbas, with Saudi encouragement, recently took on Hamas by imposing sanctions on Gaza. There has now been a highly publicised reconciliation between the two sides. But Prince Mohammed, who has already met a Hamas delegation recently, will want to ensure that the status quo is maintained to Saudi satisfaction.

Will this foreign policy foray work for Prince Mohammed? Adding to the drama in Saudi Arabia was a missile attack launched from Yemen into the Kingdom by the Houthis. Riyadh accused Iran, which backs the Houthis, of being responsible and called the attack an act of war.

The war in Yemen was the brainchild of the Crown Prince, a flexing of muscle after being appointed defence minister, to show toughness. It has been a disaster, with no sign of a victory, with hospitals and schools bombed and a cholera epidemic breaking out. Donald Trump sees this as an opportunity to sell more US arms to Saudis, but others in the Sunni military coalition, such as the UAE, are fed up with the whole bloody enterprise and just want it to go away.

Similarly, a Saudi-led Sunni alliance started a blockade of Qatar in response to long held grievances, including Doha not being sufficiently aggressive towards Iran. Qatar, it was expected, would capitulate quickly to demands made by Riyadh. Not only has that not happened, but Qatar has moved closer to Iran and the Turks, who have troops based there  Recep Tayyip Erdogan challenging the Saudis for the leadership of Sunni states, with possible reinforcements.

Then there is the Trump factor. The Saudis started the Qatari confrontation with what they saw as the US Presidents encouragement. Jared Kushner was playing a part in that as well. Rex Tillerson, the Secretary of State, was incensed that an absolutely vacuous kid was running a second foreign policy out of the White House family quarters. He and Defence Secretary James Mattis swung their support behind Qatar, a valued ally and centre of US military operations in the Middle East, and balanced American policy on the issue.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

It is not certain this time either that Prince Mohammed will continue to receive American support indefinitely, especially if it is tied to the Aramco flotation. Mr Trump himself had fears that this may not take place because of litigation, risk and other risk, which is very sad.

The risk is of Saudi assets in the US being seized as a result of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (Jasta) passed by Congress under which families of 9/11 victims can take legal action against the Saudi government and nationals. Mr Trump had himself supported the Jasta Bill and castigated Barack Obama for opposing it. But then Mr Trump is hardly new to flip-flopping.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Prince Mohammeds drive if American backing dries up. That can come about for reasons others than Aramco. Messrs Tillerson, Mattis and national-security adviser HR McMaster may well have different views to Mr Trump and his son-in-law. The last backlash against liberalisation led to a violent confrontation, a siege in Mecca in 1979 followed by a capitulation at the end by the Royal family to the clerics who got their hands on the levers of power. They went on to impose vicious Wahaabi rule at home and export terrorism abroad. What is unfolding in a Saudi sandstorm now will have repercussions well beyond its borders.
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Syria has become a signatory of the Paris climate agreement, leaving the US as the only country in the world not to support the framework deal to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

When President Donald Trump announced he intended to pull the US out of the agreement, it initially meant America would join Nicaragua and Syria on a small list of countries who were not part of the deal.

The war-torn Middle East nation made the announcement in Bonn, Germany at the COP 23 UN climate summit. Syria is facing the sixth year of a brutal civil conflict, which started with rebel groups fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad and expanded to include a battle against Isis.

The Paris accord was signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015 in an effort to curb global greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to within 2 degrees Celsius.

Until recently Nicaragua was also a holdout nation, but only because the Central American country felt the agreement did not go far enough in putting limits on emissions and helping poorer countries adapt to an already-changed planet with solid financial commitments by wealthier nations.

Scientists had confirmed the emissions levels agreed upon by top polluters like the US, EU, China, and India were not low enough to keep sea levels from rising and global warming under 2 degrees Celsius, let alone the recommended and more ambitious goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100.

However, parties to the deal agreed, it was far superior to having no global climate change agreement at all.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

Nicaragua has been a haven for renewable energy  more than half of the nations energy comes from geothermic, wind, solar, and wave energy. They plan on increasing that to a 90 per cent share by 2020.

The World Bank called it a a renewable energy paradise in 2013.

The US was among the first to sign the deal and put it into action under former President Barack Obamas executive order, which bypassed climate change deniers in Congress. But his executive action meant the Paris accord was not a legally binding treaty for the US, and paved the way for Mr Trump to withdraw.

In June he cited that American workers were being put at an economic disadvantage by the deal, particularly referring to coal workers.

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As The Washington Post reported, the coal industry employed 76,572 people in 2014, the last year US Census data is available for the industry.

Following the worldwide, swift, and public backlash Mr Trump faced there was talk of renegotiating the deal; if we can get a deal, thats great. If not, thats fine he commented.

France, Germany, and Italy immediately announced that renegotiation was not a possibility and the topic is not on the agenda for the next two weeks of meetings in Bonn where countries will hammer out details on how to implement the accord beginning in 2020 when provisions take effect.

In fact, Mr Trump did not have to withdraw from the deal at all.

Sue Biniaz, former US State Department Deputy Legal Adviser on climate, previously told The Independent that she thinks the joint statement is driven by the Paris Agreements careful balancing and accommodation of interests, very much already including those of the US.

Theres no legal reason why it couldnt be amended, but I dont think it needs to be amended or renegotiated in order to address the concerns raised by the President, said Ms Biniaz.

The US has the ability to change its own targets, Todd Stern, the Special Envoy on Climate Change during the Obama administration, told The Independent at the time of withdrawal.

Domestically, the Paris withdrawal appears to be part of a larger scheme to roll back Obama-era environmental regulations, including the Clean Power Plan which was supposed to be one of the main vehicles for the US to meet Paris targets.

If left in place, the CPP would have reduced US power plants carbon emissions by 2030 to a level 32 per cent lower than they were in 2005.

Paula Caballero, Global Director of the Climate Program at Washington DC-based think tank the World Resources Institute said that with Syria on board, now the entire world is resolutely committed to advancing climate action  all save one country. This should make the Trump administration pause and reflect on their ill-advised announcement about withdrawing.

It remains to be seen whether or not this will impact the actions of the US delegation over the next fortnight of talks at COP23. The White House has said it will promote coal, natural gas and nuclear energy as an answer to climate change.

The goal for the rest of the countries now is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
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The United Nations is hosting the annual climate change conference in Bonn, Germany this year and the first one taking place since US President Donald Trump took office.

The purpose of the two-week meeting led by Fiji, known as the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23), is to negotiate and outline how to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015 in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help poorer countries adapt to an already-changed planet.

The US delegations role as industry advocate

Mr Trump has said several times he believes climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese.

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The administration has taken a variety of steps to illustrate the stance of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitts stance that human action does not necessarily exacerbate climate change despite several scientific studies stating otherwise.

In June, Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, citing that it put American workers at an economic disadvantage.

A major piece of legislation called the Clean Power Plan, also established under the previous administration of Barack Obama, was seen as one of the main ways of achieving goals outlined in the Paris accord.

According to the Washington DC-based organisation, power plants account for almost 40 per cent of the countrys emissions - more than every car, truck, and plane in the US combined.

If left in place, the CPP would reduce power plants carbon emissions by 2030 to a level 32 per cent lower than they were in 2005.

With the US showing no interest in the global fight against climate change, the role of the US delegation at this years meeting will be drastically different than it has been in the recent past.

Nearly half as many delegates, 48, are being brought to Bonn as were taken to last years conference in Marrakesh. It does not appear as if former Exxon CEO and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, whose department houses the delegation will be making an appearance.

Of them, only 25 have attended COPs previously and several government agencies are not represented, like the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) which monitors natural disasters like recent Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

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As the New York Times reported, the White House said it will promote coal, natural gas and nuclear energy as an answer to climate change.

Among companies included in the The Role of Cleaner and More Efficient Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power in Climate Mitigation programme are coal company Peabody Energy, nuclear engineers NuScale Power, and Tellurian, a liquefied natural gas exporter.

Though nuclear power does not produce the same type of emissions as other fossil fuels, many who attend the UN climate change negotiations have been wary of the dangers of power plants near populated areas.

Fossil fuels will be billed as a way for poorer countries to get a leg up economically.

It is true that developing countries like India have historically argued that they need to use fossil fuels in order to keep its economy running while transitioning to greener alternatives.

Several of the worlds least developed countries have said use of fossil fuels, even while exercising their rights to development, are more harmful to a sustainable economy than helpful.

New leaders on the world stage

To wit, the US withdrawal from the Paris accord and announcement that it will be pushing fossil fuel use has left a vacuum in climate leadership according to many experts.

India has stepped up to the challenge of making solar power a large scale project.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

China may look to move into a leadership role as well with its plan for a new national carbon market, which would put a price on carbon emissions by companies.

Though one of the worlds largest polluters, China has a bilateral agreement on reducing carbon emissions with the US under Mr Obamas signature and has held meetings with the EU and Canada as well.

Opposition to Trump within the US

We can also expect to see a fair amount of CEOs, mayors, and governors making their mark at the conference as well.

American companies and governors from New York, Washington state, California, and Virginia will be on hand to discuss how they are combatting climate change at the sub-national level after voicing opposition to Mr Trump's withdrawal from the Paris deal.

Governor Jerry Brown of California has already announced he will host a climate change solutions conference in his state in 2018 as well.

Only five US Senators are listed as part of the official US delegation: Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Ben Cardin of Maryland - all Democrats from states with track records of environmental regulations and specific coastal climate change concerns.

Money for natural disasters

The crux of the negotiations from the beginning has been how developed, wealthier countries can help poorer countries develop despite historical climate damage done by those wealthier countries who relied on fossil fuels to develop - a concept called adaptation.

One of the main ways to do that has been seen as changing economies to have less of a reliance on oil, gas, and coal.

Another crucial point in this debate is the concept of loss and damage which is the term used to describe compensation for developing countries and vulnerable populations when climate-related natural disasters occur - in other words, adapting to a changing climate takes long-term planning, but loss and damage aid is for the hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, floods that occur while the world continues to negotiate.

There is also a portion of loss and damage that would allow island nations to account for refugees and displacement as a result of climate-related events.

With recent displacement of American citizens from Houston, Texas, the low-lying areas of Louisiana, and almost all of Puerto Rico this is an issue to watch.

The conference is expected to run from 6-17 November in Bonn, Germany.
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A Qatar Airways flight had to make an emergency landing after a female passenger found out her husband was cheating on her mid-flight, reports the Hindustan Times.

The unidentified Iranian woman reportedly used her husbands fingerprint to unlock his phone while he was asleep, before becoming incensed by what she found on the device.

Flight attendants were unable to calm the woman as she repeatedly hit her husband, causing the pilots to make the decision to make an emergency landing in India on 5 November.

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The flight was on its way from Doha to Bali when the incident took place, forcing the plane to land in India so that the couple and their child could be removed from the plane.

"The family spent the day at Chennai airport. No police action was taken," an unnamed source told the Hindustan Times.

Local Chennai paper the New Indian Express, meanwhile, reported that airport director G Chandramouli claimed the woman was drunk and said the family were not allowed to board a subsequent flight until she had sobered up.

This comes after The Independent reported on a pair of strangers who were caught having sex on a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Detroit.

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The woman, 48, was arrested while on the plane for performing oral sex on the man, 28, police told WDIV-Local 4 in Detroit.

Both parties could face charges of misdemeanour or felony, and both were issued citations according to FBI officials, who say the investigation is still ongoing.
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As a British woman awaits a court hearing in Egypt after arriving with hundreds of painkillers in her luggage, the Foreign Office has issued a new warning to travellers about medicines.

Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull had flown to the Egyptian resort of Hurghada to visit her husband, who suffers from back pain. Her family says that a colleague who had 290 Tramadol tablets she no longer needed gave them to Ms Plummer so that she could take them to her husband.

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Ms Plummer was arrested on 8 October when the medicine was found in her suitcase by customs officials at Hurghada airport. She has been in custody since then.

As a result of her case, the Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to remind holidaymakers to Egypt: If youre travelling with prescription medication you should carry a medical certificate confirming that the medication has been prescribed for a medical condition.

The Egyptian Consulate in London stipulates: An official letter from your GP is required, specifying that the medication you are taking to Egypt is for your personal use only, the quantity you will be carrying and details of your condition.

The NHS says: Tramadol is a strong painkiller. Its used to treat moderate to severe pain, for example after an operation or a serious injury.

Its also used to treat long-standing pain when weaker painkillers no longer work.

"Tramadol is addictive. If you need to take it for a long time your body can become tolerant to it. That means you need higher doses to control your pain. But in reality, if you're taking Tramadol to relieve pain (rather than using it as a recreational drug) it's very unlikely you will get addicted to it

The drug is available only on prescription in the UK, and it is not clear how Ms Plummers colleague came to be in possession of such a large quantity.

Some other painkillers that are available over the counter in the UK are illegal abroad, especially those containing codeine.

Ms Plummer is due in court on Thursday 9 November for a further hearing. Her family say that she signed a 38-page statement in Arabic, believing she would be freed, but instead she was incarcerated.

Her sister, Jayne Plummer, told ITVs This Morning: Shes so sorry. We are sitting at home and crying. We need to let other people know.

In theory Laura Plummer could face many years in prison for drug trafficking, but British travellers in similar circumstances are often released much earlier.
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A team of divers recently explored a Blue Hole in the Great Barrier Reef. Lying over 200km from Daydream Island off Australias north-east coast, the hole had been described by geologists but never explored by scientists until now.

A Blue Hole is a large marine cavern or sinkhole, open to the surface and with a bank or island composed of limestone or coral reef. They formed during past ice ages, when sea levels were much lower. Over time, rain and chemical weathering dissolved the limestone ground, forming sinkholes with large caverns beneath.

These caverns roofs would collapse, leaving deep holes which were filled with water when the ice eventually melted. The Great Barrier Reef has one such hole.

Johnny Gaskell, a marine biologist from the Whitsundays, shared a picture of it on Instagram with the caption: This Blue Hole has previously been described by geologists who suggested it could be even older than the famous Great Blue Hole, in Belize.

Its location is in one of the least explored parts Great Barrier Reef, over 200km from Daydream Island.

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To get there we had to travel overnight for 10 hours and time the tides perfectly...Was well worth it!

"Inside the walls was similar to the site we explored a few weeks back, but this hole was deeper and almost perfectly circular. We dived down to just over 20m yesterday, before hitting bare sediment, that slowly sloped towards the centre.

It was great to see big healthy coral colonies.

Gaskell also captured the experience on film, with a video of the beautiful corals found in the hole.

The discovery of healthy coral is particularly heartening as the Great Barrier Reef has undergone two bleaching events in the last two years, where warmer sea temperatures have caused the corals to lose their colourful algae. If the temperature drops again the corals can survive, but severely bleached corals can die.

Belize's Blue Hole, at 300m wide and 125m deep, is believed to be the largest Blue Hole in the world, while the deepest is the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, at 301m.
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Travel bloggers Lauren Bullen and Jack Morris are the latest Instagram stars to expose the reality behind their perfect lives.

Bullen, 24, and Morris, 26, started sharing the unedited versions of their travel photos on a new Instagram account in August. The couple, who have over 4.5 million followers combined, earn a six-figure salary for traveling the world. Morris was once paid $9,000 for a single post on Instagram; Bullen has been paid up to $7,500 for a post.

But the two recently told The Daily Mail just how much time and effort goes into their stunning, carefully staged shots.

First, the bloggers start the editing process with one of their presets, a selection of customized image settings the two have saved in Adobe Lightroom. Click the arrow to the right in the photo below to see the unedited version.

I don't use any mobile apps or filters, Morris told The Daily Mail. If a photo looks a little dark [...], I sometimes tweak the edit just on the pre-post Instagram editor.

I usually look for a preset that looks the best as it naturally is, and the first thing I will do is come over to the exposure and increase it, Buller added.

For example, the unedited version of the first photo above is much darker  so dark, you can barely see Bullen's face.

In addition to brightening up their photos, Morris and his girlfriend also tweak the colors in each image to make sure they pop.

Bullen tends to increase the temperature and tint of the image to make it more warm and vibrant. I like the yellows to be popped out a bit because it helps with the sand, my hair, and the yellow of the palms, she explained.

In the second picture above  the original, untouched version  Bullen's blonde hair and tan skin do not stand out as much. She also decreases the saturation in photos so her skin doesn't appear to have too much of an orange hue.

On the other hand, Morris increases the saturation in a photo to 100% in order to identify which color he wants to emphasize. For example, if a photo has a slight orange tint, he increases the blue tint to make certain aspects of [that] image pop, the Daily Mail wrote.

I normally put a greeny orangey tint in my shadows to give it that vintage effect, Morris added. The orange hues in the unedited version of the first photo, for example, are much more muted than in the second.

I also look at the grid and try to plan the next image to make sure it works well with the rest of my recent feed, Morris told The Daily Mail.

Lauren likes highlighting orange and green tints in her photos as well, especially for shots of sunrises and sunsets. For example, here is an edited photo of the couple watching the sunset in Bali, Indonesia, next to the unedited version.

Editing the colours in a photo can make a huge difference in the mood, tone, and quality of the image. For instance, the water in the edited Instagram post below looks bright turquoise, and like it was taken on a warm, sunny day. However, the unedited version reveals that the water is much duller on camera. The original photo looks a bit less inviting and idyllic.

Colours aside, Bullen also tries to even out shadows and highlights to add depth. When a photo is taken in the middle of the day, it's quite harsh lighting, so I usually like to bring the highlights down and the shadows up, she explained. For example, look at this edited photo of Bullen holding an ice cream cone next to the original version, in which the road behind the ice cream cone is actually cast in shadows.

Back in August, the couple shared a video of their entire editing process on YouTube. The two are also selling their custom Instagram presets, which can be used on any photo, on their website.

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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A British tourist has dubbed a Venice restaurant horrible and disgusting after being charged 526 (463) for lunch.

The tourist from Birmingham  who The Independent is not naming at his request  ate with his parents at Trattoria Casanova in the central San Marco district, ordering a spread of food and sharing it between them. But they had a nasty surprise when the bill came.

The family started the meal with a plate of oysters  20 of them, charged at 5.50 each  then shared a plate of squid ink spaghetti (14.50), with sides of chips (5.50) and grilled vegetables (7.50).

They were then brought a pescato misto (mixed grilled fish)  an astonishing platter of 3.5kg of fresh fish, including lobster, scampi and seabass at a cost of 297.

The tourist told The Independent that they did not order the oysters, and questioned it at the time but their concerns were brushed off.

He admits ordering the grilled fish, but said: "I ordered it by pointing at a picture, which showed only one portion without any name or price on it. The picture was on the first page of the menu.

"I have to admit it is my fault that I did not check the price, but I did not expect one and a half lobsters together with other fish that would cost us 300."

He says that when he questioned the bill, he was told this was what they had ordered. None of the family speak Italian.

Incensed, he has now written a letter of complaint to Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro. Im not expecting a refund, reads his letter. But I would like to draw your attention to a kind of behaviour that risks ruining Venices reputation.

"They took advantage of the fact that we didn't speak Italian."

He told The Independent that he considered going to the police at the time but they had a flight to catch, and he was concerned for his 70-year-old father's health. "He has high blood pressure and a heart problem, I couldn't risk making the situation worse."

Trattoria Casanova is one of countless restaurants clamouring for business on the main tourist route between Piazza San Marco and Santa Maria Formosa. The British family arent the only diners to be angry with the prices  of 534 TripAdvisor ratings, 289 are terrible, 78 are poor and just 51 are excellent, with clients complaining about a lack of clear pricing, dishes that suddenly become much more expensive, and poor service. One writes that a piece of fish was charged at 168. They ruined a beautiful day in Venice, wrote an Italian reviewer last week.

In Italian restaurants, fresh fish and meat is often charged by weight, not by dish price  which often leads to confusion with menus.

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The restaurant has defended itself against the family's accusations. They ate 3.5kg of fish between three of them, in a San Marco restaurant with 14 waiters that has been renovated, has plasma TVs, clear pricing and such high standards of cleanliness that the NAS (health inspectors) came round the other day and complimented us, the owners, who have two other restaurants in Venice, told the Corriere del Veneto.

And they want to talk about the fact that a plate of spaghetti costs 14.50, a bottle of cabernet 26.50 and the cover charge is just 1.50 a head?

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They called the bad reviews a mystery and said about the British family, Obviously, if you say youre hungry, the waiter will suggest the more expensive dishes.

This isnt the first accusation of bait-and-switch by restaurants in Venice. Last week. a Japanese couple were charged 120 for a plate of spaghetti with lobster, when they had expected it to be 8. The owners of the restaurant in the Strada Nova told reporters that the plate costs 8 per 100g.

Indeed, the tourists picture of the receipt and menu together shows that price for 100gr is written in small print beside the 8. It is unclear, however, whether they were given 1.5kg of lobster to eat. Their bill was reduced by 40 per cent after some locals stepped in to help.

The Birmingham tourist told The Independent that he will never go back to Venice. "I don't even want to think about Venice again," he said.

The mayors office has yet to comment on the affair.
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Ok, so August may not be as ideal a time as spring for a visit. Tel Aviv is hot but it also has perhaps the best urban beaches in the world to plunge into the Med and cool off. And whether youre floating in the Dead Sea or climbing Masada at sunrise, kayaking in the River Jordan or snorkelling in the Red Sea off Eilat, Israel is still a great holiday destination.

A pity then that Priti Patel seems to have had so little time to enjoy it on her now famous family holiday this summer. It can hardly have been that relaxing given that she averaged one meeting a day with politicians from Israels Prime Minister down to officials and voluntary organisations. Meetings of which, despite the fact that such a detailed programme must have been planned in advance, she failed to give the Foreign Office, the British Embassy or for that matter her own Prime Minister, any prior notice.

Much of the debate this has provoked  not to mention the speculation that if Theresa May was stronger she would have actually sacked the International Development Secretary  has concentrated on the gross breach of ministerial protocol involved  unprecedented in the view of the former Foreign Office Permanent Secretary Sir Peter Ricketts. Benjamin Netanyahu is not just any Prime Minister but one in a zone of conflict on which the UK government is supposed to have strong views. Any visiting minister, on holiday or not, would be expected at the very least to call up the embassy and say  Im seeing Bibi. Can I come in for a briefing? Is there anything I should be saying to him? And of course to give a full account of what took place once it had happened.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

But there is another point about all those meetings which Patel helpfully, if belatedly, detailed in her apologetic statement on Monday: their remarkable one-sidedness. Patel heads a department which has a long history of humanitarian and development funding for Palestinians. Indeed she has taken a close interest in that funding, going so far as to announce a review last year which has already resulted in notable cuts of some 17m. This includes, to the widespread dismay of NGOs, cuts in funding to Gaza, where humanitarian and economic conditions are generally agreed to be at their direst ever. Things are so bad that last week the Israeli militarys general in charge of civil affairs in the occupied territories, Yoav Mordechai, no less, called for a new Marshall Plan of aid for Gaza, without which he suggested another war could well ensue.

The cuts were partly a response to arguments from lobbying from self-styled pro-Israel groups and others here that money used by the Palestinian Authority to support prisoners families, for example, amounted to subsidising terrorism. But at least one those cuts demonstrably did nothing of the kind; the Department for International Development (DFID) has now stopped its share of EU funding for the payment of tens of thousands of PA employees in Gaza who were told some eight years ago by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President to refuse co-operation with the new Hamas government by staying at home.

There was a strong case for not paying such a subsidy in the first place, and instead encouraging the Abbas loyalists to keep working, not least because Hamas quickly recruited others  including Hamas supporters and members  to fill their jobs. But the problem now is that those salaries  already cut by Abbas in his latest attempt to squeeze Hamas by causing fresh misery for Gazans  are utterly crucial to what is left of Gazas stricken economy. And while DFID did recently agree  under pressure from NGOs and others  to grant 1.9m to Unicef for emergency aid on sewage and electricity in Gaza, it goes nowhere near making up the difference.

 Liam Fox says we shouldn't overreact after Boris Johnson's Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe gaffe

Its a bit much to expect Priti Patel to visit Gaza on her holiday. Yet whats extraordinary about her busy itinerary is that at no point did she even slip across the green line to Ramallah to bring herself up to date on these issues  of vital concern to her Department. And of course if this had been an official visit on government time, its inconceivable that she would not have been obliged to do exactly that. And that would be true even if the review of funding to the Palestinians was not ongoing as her department described it at the end of last year.

Lets bend over backwards here. Some of the Israeli organisations visited by Priti Patel do good work within Israel  and at least one, providing help for children with serious heart conditions, includes Palestinian patients as well as others among its clients. There are serious demands on the aid budget elsewhere in the region, and Patel has won some plaudits for her focus on Yemen and Syria. Nor is there any proof so far of sotto voce accusations that she was attempting to shore up her pro-Israeli credentials to attract funding for a future Tory leadership campaign. Indeed, Priti Patel has a long record of support for Israel which predates her visit.

But thats rather the point. For this was also a highly political programme in which she made no effort  of the sort required by stated UK policy  to balance her visits by even one to Palestinian officials or NGOs. She seems to have come back keen on exploring ways of directing aid to Israel itself. Leave aside that she had to be reminded on her return that DFID can hardly operate by funding Israeli Army humanitarian work with Syrian refugees in the Golan Heights because the UK regards the Golan as illegally occupied territory. Is it really UK policy to pay for projects anywhere, however worthy, by a well-funded Army charged with enforcing an occupation of Palestinian territory which Britain regards as contrary to international law? Nor it is easy to see how first world Israel  as opposed to the occupied territories  meets the criteria for overseas aid set by the the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development..

There are still unanswered questions about the visit. Did Priti Patel tell Boris Johnson about it before or after one of her interlocutors, the politician Yair Lapid, blew her cover by tweeting her presence on 24 August? More fundamental, however, is whether the one-sided content of her programme reflected a shift in UK policy. If it did, we should be told. And if it didnt, should she be doing the job?

Donald Macintyre was the Independents Jerusalem correspondent between 2004-2012 and is the author of Gaza: Preparing for Dawn, published by Oneworld 2017
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If you settled down with an octuple espresso, a vat of Modafinil pills and infinite time, with the brief to design a vignette of a government in a corkscrew spin, youd never invent one better than Liam Fox produced in a few minutes this morning. And he wasnt even trying.

The good doctor joined John Humphrys on Today nominally to discuss his work as Secretary of State for Pretending International Trade Wont Collapse After Brexit. But it wasnt until the chat moved from chlorinated chicken to the holiday misadventures of two female compatriots that one sensed, possibly for the first time ever, the point of Liam Fox. As an emblem of a crumbling and revolting government, he is a star.

Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains in an Iranian jail more than 18 months after being arrested on the holiday she took to introduce her toddler daughter to her family. Thanks to Boris Johnsons latest imbecility, in misinforming a Commons committee that she was training journalists, any prison sentence might be inflated by five years. If only someone had trained Boris to check facts in his quote-inventing days at The Times, she might feel she wouldnt be in this hideous predicament now.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA

International Development Secretary Priti Patel remains in the Cabinet, meanwhile, after selflessly carving beach time from her Israeli holiday to meet Benjamin Netanyahu and other giants of the Jewish state. Patel never mentioned that to No 10 or the Foreign Office before the event, or after it when by eeriest happenstance she suddenly advocated giving foreign aid to  wait for it, wait for it; its worth the wait  the Israeli army.

THE. ISRAELI. ARMY.

To recap, then, one innocent woman who expected the Foreign Offices help faces a dramatically worse punishment thanks to the Foreign Secretary. Another, guilty of a monumental breach of ethics, appears to face no punishment at all.

If it werent for the heartrending position of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, you could almost be grateful for such a surreal juxtaposition. With a government like this, one develops a tolerance. Where once a case of venality or stupidity or lunacy sent the head snapping back like an Anthony Joshua uppercut, the senses gradually become jaded until you can barely bother raising a sardonic eyebrow.

Thanks to the instance of Jungian synchronicity that combined the two holiday tales within the one radio interview, the capacity for horrified astonishment was restored this morning.

 Liam Fox says we shouldn't overreact after Boris Johnson's Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe gaffe

Admittedly, Fox was the ideal person to discuss the perils of foreign travel. It was his jaunts to distant parts with his friend Adam Werrity that cost him the Defence Secretary job so recently vacated by that most chivalrous of knights, Sir Michael Fallon.

A week ago, Fallon would have been wheeled on the Today show to deploy his gift for defending the indefensible. In the absence of one disgraced Cabinet minister, it fell to another, in the weaselly shape of Fox, to stick up for two more.

What was peculiarly repulsive here was his tone. First of all, said Fox when asked about Johnsons mistake, its important we keep this in perspective. And which perspective might that be, you wondered? The perspective of a Brexit ultra ally who, being too cocky and idle to read a brief, made the most damaging false claim imaginable about someone facing trial in Iran?

Or the perspective of a woman facing years of hell as a result, separated from her tiny child in a country not known for its reverence for human rights? Fox didnt specify, but you might make a guess.

Well, he said, asked if Johnson should publicly admit he was mistaken, we all make slips of the tongue. We do, though, dont we though? Just the other night, I was trying to express my admiration for Liam Fox, and it came out all garbled as a****** of a dodgepot w*****, and a c********* m********** t***.

If Fox has any human feeling for Zaghari-Ratcliffe, he hid it stoically. For Patel, he did have sympathy. Was he surprised she requested a private meeting with the Israeli PM without telling the Foreign Secretary? Eschewing the obvious reply (What, this Foreign Secretary? You might as well tell the cat), he said it wasnt against the rules.

Would he himself have done that? When Im on holiday I doubt my wife would give me very much time to do anything ... he said, optimistically anticipating a snug bar titter of recognition that never came. If he took Werrity to all those top level meetings, you wondered, why wouldnt he take his missus to tea with Bibi?

Still, its a stroke of luck that male treatment of women isnt a live Westminster issue at the minute, or that portrait of Mrs Fox as a rolling pin-wielding harridan might have sounded inelegantly timed.

In less than five minutes Liam Fox projected casual sexism, callous unconcern for the vulnerable, disdain for ministerial ethics, blithe relaxedness about grotesque incompetence, and complacency born of knowing the PM is far too weak to sack anyone for anything other than groping.

Its another slice of luck, in this climate, that no one remembers the joke Fox told a Christmas party in 2000. What do you call four dogs and a blackbird? The Spice Girls.

Well, we all make the odd slip of the tongue  and bless him, he apologised. So lets keep that to ourselves, and be thankful that the Bernard Manning of Brexit survives to condense so much that is tragicomically disgusting about this government into so very few words.
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At the time of Donald Trumps shocking victory one year ago today, it seemed to his detractors that there could be only one thing worse than his presidency becoming the mortifying train wreck they were expecting. That his presidency would instead turn out to be a roaring success.

I still remember the conundrum. Was it stupid, unpatriotic even, to wish him ill? But my liberal friends, in mourning Hillary Clintons loss, were having none of it. Trump a fine president? Dont make me laugh, or rather cry. I wrote one column advising Democrats on the Hill to get over themselves and cooperate with him. I was accused of losing the plot, even before it had really started.

For now, those friends have been spared the worst. If we say something is textbook Trump, its not a good thing. Textbook Trump is facing a crisis and making it worse with provocation and insults. Calling Kim Jong-un little rocket man when a nuclear catastrophe actually seems possible. Firing your FBI director because he is investigating you. Expressing admiration for the President of the Philippines, never mind the serial human rights violations hes responsible for.

Textbook Trump is the president taking the hand of those who could actually help him, like his own party with majority control of both sides of Congress, and biting it. Or feeling embittered with the media and responding not with attempts at conciliation but with threats and bile.

Lets not bicker about whether or not Trump is a disaster. The economy remains strong, but the foundations of that were laid by Barack Obama. The first anniversary polls tell a sobering story. Almost six out of 10 Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing, according to latest ABC/Washington Post survey. Only 37 per cent approve of his performance. No one has fared worse at this early stage of a presidency going back to Dwight Eisenhower. Even his base is fraying.

But it is still early. So lets make the case that Trump still has time to get his presidency back on track. There are steps he can take and he knows he must, if not to have some chance of winning re-election in 2020 then at least to avoid a legacy of incompetence and humiliation.

Some he will resist on the grounds that his base have expectations. They elected him to upset the apple cart. But the test of leadership is to look your supporters in the eye and say, yes, I get you, but Im going in this direction now because it is the better way to deliver what you need.

That Trump is capable of changing his plumage has been evident during his trip to Asia. To the relief of his hosts, he toned it down on North Korea. Gone was fire and fury, replaced by talk of a diplomatic settlement. Come to the table and make a deal, he said. Do we have the makings of Trump foreign policy doctrine? Wave the big military stick and seem ready to use it, then strike a deal that has eluded so many of your predecessors. Almost Reagan-esque isnt it?

So, Mr President. Because you won a year ago today, this is the moment to stop with this Hillary Clinton nonsense, badgering the Justice Department to investigate her. It makes you look like an out-of-control autocrat. She lost! Likewise, find your own compass for government and stop measuring progress according to how many of Obamas achievements you can destroy. Building is so much more satisfying than dismantling. Youre not a 10-year-old with an air gun.

Donald Trump attends a state dinner hosted by South Korea's President Moon Jae-in (Reuters)

From Pyongyang to the Paris Accord and Nafta. Again, you have scared the heck out of your allies and maybe you are right that some deals struck by your predecessors could stand improving. An extremely complex trade pact between the US, Canada and Mexico, Nafta is almost a quarter century old, so updating it might be smart. But again, improve good, destroy not good. Dont tear stuff up. Take the hint dropped by France this week and attend the climate change summit in Paris next month. And reverse course on the Paris Accord, because a report issued by your own administration this month said climate change is the work of mankind.

Use your newfound spare time from ditching Fox and closing your Twitter account paying more attention to detail. The swamp you promised to drain is soggier than ever. Start by removing Ivanka and Jared from the White House. And whats the general fetish? Its unhealthy. Keep Mattis and McMaster at the Pentagon and the National Security Council, but give Kelly a ticket to retire. He has turned out to be a reinforcer of some of your worst instincts.

Get serious about Congress and nurture bipartisan support for your agenda. You praised the first healthcare reform deal cut in the House and then a day later called it mean. No one on the Hill trusts you. Not Democrats, but not many Republicans either. Take some political risks. Obama couldnt do anything substantial about Americas gun scourge because he was the devil to the NRA. But maybe you can. Admit that building a wall along the whole US-Mexico border is a non-starter and assign the money to the infrastructure-building programme you promised. Get a tax deal done that does not favour the already-rich and nudge along a bipartisan solution on healthcare. Obamacare is not sacred, it needs improving too. Improving, not eviscerating.

None of what were suggesting here need negate your brand. You can be part of multinational agreements and still put America first. You can work with Democrats and still put America first. It is even possible to put America first and yourself second.

So finally, take a few hits on your own ego in the short term. Im guessing you have confessions to make. Give us your tax returns. Go on TV, a live broadcast from Mar-a-Lago (even the Oval Office) and tell us the worst there is about you and your campaigns ties to Russia. Robert Mueller is going to find out anyway, so get ahead of him. Clear the cloud of scandal that is choking your presidency and casting a shadow across the nation. How bad can the truth be?

Well, possibly it is really bad, in which case ignore all the above. Never mind your legacy or even re-election. You might not even make it through a whole term. But otherwise, get it out there and own it. You still have time to make the presidency great again. Even yours.

Alternatively, ignore all the above and continue to make dogs ear of just about everything because that way you will make a whole other constituency happy: the liberals clamouring for you to fail. Or for your impeachment. Your choice.
In this edition of India Briefing Magazine, we make the case for why now is the right time for foreign firms t...
Les Grands Chais de France creates new UK role

Les Grands Chais de France has appointed Nick Butler to take up the newly created role of UK and Ireland Wine Director.

Butler has a degree in Oenology from Roseworthy College, Adelaide. He has 30 years winemaking experience globally, and most recently he held the position of Kingsland Drinks Wine Controller.

The new position has been created to provide additional support to the commercial team as Les Grands Chais de France extends the business outside of France as part of its new strategic direction and acquisition programme.

Mark Kears, MD for UK & Ireland, said: At a strategic level this new appointment demonstrates a very exciting next chapter in spearheading our new global goals, and we are delighted to welcome Nick on board. He brings a wealth of experience and an extensive network of industry contacts and his role will be highly complementary to our new international direction.

Butler will report directly to Kears. Vaness Mills, UK Winemaker Specialist France, remains the main wine contact for the companys French portfolio.

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As many as twenty-six Nigerian women have been found dead aboard a Spanish warship, a development which has caused serious stir around the nation.

According to an exclusive Punch Metro report, the remains of 26 Nigerian women believed to be migrants have been recovered from a Spanish warship in the Italian coast city of Salerno.

A report by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Monday said a Spanish warship, Cantabria, which docked in the city, was found to be carrying 375 rescued migrants and the dead women.

According to the report, 23 of the dead women were on a rubber boat with 64 other people.

It also quoted Italian media report that the womens bodies were kept in a refrigerated section of the warship. Most of them were between the ages of 14 and 18.

UNHCR spokesman, Marco Rotunno, said the 26 dead were involved in a shipwreck off Libya.

Most of the 375 survivors brought to Salerno were sub-Saharan Africans from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan, the daily La Repubblica reports.

Among them were 90 women  eight of them pregnant  and 52 children. There were also some Libyan men and women on board.

The BBC said, People-smuggling gangs charge each migrant about $6,000 (4,578) to get to Italy, $4,000 of which is for the trans-Saharan journey to Libya, according to the Italian aid group LAbbraccio. Many migrants have reported violence, including torture and sexual abuse by the gangs.

Italian prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 26 Nigerian women  most of them teenagers  whose bodies were recovered at sea.

There are suspicions that they may have been sexually abused and murdered as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean. Five migrants are being questioned in the southern port of Salerno.

Reacting to the development, some notable bodies and individual Nigerians blamed the Federal Government, its agencies and the harsh economic situation in the country for the tragedy.

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, said the Federal and state governments must tackle the rising rate of unemployment in the country to curb the menace of human trafficking.

The CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, The problems of illegal migration and trafficking are an accumulated issue. We have a high population of children and youths in this country and we are not planning for their future. Workplaces are actually winding up and no new jobs are springing up. This is why people want to leave and look for the proverbial greener pastures.

The establishment of agencies such as NAPTIP (is commendable) but in recent times, some officials are complicit in some of these cases. Authorities need to pay more attention to these agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service. If our agencies do their work conscientiously, we will not have a lot of these problems.

The important step by the government is to create more jobs for our youths and school-leavers. We need to ensure that we create an enabling environment for those who want to establish their own jobs.

Activist lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, blamed illegal migration by citizens on economic hardship, which creates a sense of desperation.

He said though the blame could not be entirely put on the doorsteps of the current administration, the government had not done enough to address the question of citizens survival.

Adegboruwa said, The situation of Nigeria has taught everyone to become a government to themselves. The government has neglected its responsibility under the constitution, which says that the welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. The country we live in now does not recognise merit, even when you score high mark, they tell you, you cant gain university admission because you are not from a particular part of the country; you cant get a job, there is no health facility, there is no road; so, our youths are daily dying in the Sahara Desert on their way to Libya, on their way to Italy, to Europe and I think that this is a pointer to the fact that our economy is down.

We live in a country where everybody is for himself and God for all. I believe the situation of the Nigerian economy does not offer hope for our youths; it does not offer hope for those who have no connections; and life is getting tougher by the day. So, I think that this event in particular is a pointer to the fact that our economy has not improved.

Beyond what we read in the newspapers, Nigerians know what is happening in their homes, there is darkness. They know what is happening in their bank accounts  salaries are not paid, pension is not paid. So, people have lost their purchasing power and so the only option left is for our people to seek greener pastures because in those places that they are going to  America, Europe  the things that we are battling with here are taken for granted. Nigeria is killing its people. I do not think that this government is particularly the one to blame for it but I think it has not done enough to address the question of survival for the ordinary Nigerian and that is unfortunate.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, also blamed illegal migration on economic hardship.

Ubani said, I dont think there is any policy in place towards checking this kind of illegal migration; we see a lot of people perishing on the sea trying to migrate to Europe, to the so-called greener pastures and I dont think there is any clear policy in place to discourage people. I know that Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has been in charge, trying to discourage Nigerians from such a fatalistic journey. But I dont think there is a government structure or policy in place to ensure that Nigerians dont embark on a journey like this.

Apart from Nigeria, nationals of other African countries are also embarking on this dangerous journey, with many perishing on the sea. So, it is not peculiar to Nigeria.

And in the Nigerian situation, it didnt just start and its not peculiar to this administration. People have always had this wrong notion that immediately they cross over, they will pick money on the ground. As I speak to you, there are those who will be willing to spend N1m to cross over to go and hustle, not that they are going there as expatriate to get skilled employment.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj, blamed the problem on institutional failure.

Suraj said, To be fair, this is not something that can be attributed to a particular government. It has always been there and I think it is probably reducing not basically because the government is doing anything more but because people are getting more conscious of the hazards associated with such trips. For that reason, you can see a certain level of decline. But unfortunately, the government institutions are really not doing enough. You only see NAPTIP, RRS showing few individuals that were arrested for trafficking but there is really no conscious, holistic approach connecting all the security agencies.

The National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Rafiu Balogun, and the Chairman, NBA, Ilorin branch, Mr. Issa Mazumah, identified acute unemployment, harsh economic environment, bad governance, corruption, insecurity, epileptic power supply and high crime rate as some of the reasons for the increasing rate of such illegal migration.

Balogun said, It is sad that our youths are leaving this country for greener pastures abroad because they are not gainfully employed in this country. You can imagine that our able-bodied young people after graduating from universities are not employed.

In other climes, they will plan ahead for their youths, as they are leaving tertiary institutions, they will be gainfully employed and even if they are not employed, they will have some social security or welfare programme that will sustain them.

Mazumah said, Many Nigerians, including my humble self, want to leave this country because of bad governance. The situation in the country is more frightening. There is serious or chronic unemployment, power failure or the lack of power, lack of critical infrastructure. Corruption remains a major problem.

In fact, the other time, I was on a particular federal highway and to my dismay, I saw some members of the Nigerian Armed Forces collecting bribes on Nigerian road. The commercial vehicle drivers said he had no change and they asked him to wait and they changed the money, gave him the balance and took their bribe.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tope Elias-Fatile, promised to get in touch with the Nigerian Mission in Rome, but he had yet to get back to our correspondent at 9:02pm.

However, responding to the incident, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed governments condolences to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

She also appealed to Nigerian youths to stop illegal migration through the Mediterranean or the desert.

She also revealed plans to unveil a comprehensive policy document to curb illegal migration.

Dabiri-Erewa also explained that she just returned from a summit on the issue from Adis-Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The presidential aide further explained that the document would be unveiled in July next year. According to her, the policy document is prepared to discourage African youths from risking their lives on the perilous journey to Europe through the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert.

She revealed that no fewer than 5,000 Nigerians who emigrated illegally had been brought back to the country in the last six months.

Dabiri-Erewa said, Fatalities are increasing on the Mediterranean because the smugglers are using smaller boats. I just returned from a summit in Adis-Ababa where we are coming up with a comprehensive irregular migration document. By July next year, a formal document would be unveiled. I hope it would assist in checking the sad trends.

The migrants are going over there to work, so there is a way it could be properly regularised.

Unfortunately, the part of Europe they are migrating to is no longer interested in saving anyone; they are tired. We are appealing to our youths to stop illegal migration.

The SSA said that some agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons would soon hold a summit to also discuss the way forward on illegal migration by Nigerians.

The National Director, Press and Public Relations, NAPTIP, Mr. Josiah Emerole, could not be reached for comment on the deaths of the 26 Nigerians as of press time.

Calls to his mobile telephone indicated that it was switched off. A response to a text message sent to him on the subject was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

However, an official of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said turbulence at sea especially across the Mediterranean during this time of the year was probably responsible for such high casualties. The source explained that criminal gangs usually targeted such periods to embark on the risky journey because they knew security patrols were less.

The source said they (smugglers) consider such periods safe for trafficking. The official further explained that, We get no fewer than 300 returnees from Libya every week. They want to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, mostly into Italy and Spain. Some of them are stranded in Agadez, Libya, and have to be deported by authorities.

Most of the victims go by land. They take buses from Edo, Kano, and others and it takes them approximately five days on land to get to Libya, from where most of them want to cross the sea.

Deaths are common on the Mediterranean because the smugglers force their victims to wait till when the sea is safe, which to them means that security patrol is little.

But the irony is that the patrol is little only when the sea is turbulent and thus, the traffickers push their victims aboard the ship and a wreck is inevitable.
The African International Film Festival inspired new hopes for the movie sector on the continent when it held in Lagos last week. Apart from screening about 150 films and rewarding film-makers who won various categories in the AFRIFF Globe Awards, it drew more than the attention of stakeholders that included the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and corporate bodies, all who renewed their promises to further empower the industry.

The African International Film Festival inspired new hopes for the movie sector on the continent when it held in Lagos last week. Apart from screening about 150 films and rewarding film-makers who won various categories in the AFRIFF Globe Awards, it drew more than the attention of stakeholders that included the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and corporate bodies, all who renewed their promises to further empower the industry.

While the feast peaked at the Globe Awards, where stars that included Omotola Jalaade-Ekeinde, Kate Henshaw, Mahmood Ali-Balogun and Ramsey Noah rose to celebrate with AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude, the fervour sparked at the opening night, where the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, led other players to project a better future for the sector, was memorable.

At the opening event held at Genesis Cinema, Victoria Island, Lagos, the minister, alongside other dignitaries that included Senitor Godswill Akpabio, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, and the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Igwe, expressed commitment to the development of the movie industry on the continent.

Before the commencement of the screening of I am not a Witch, the film that opened the festival, Mohammed saluted Nigerian filmmakers for the pioneering role they are playing in leading Africa to greatness in the screen business.

He hailed Ude for not only promoting works from far and near, but also for including the training of youths in AFRIFF programmes.

Mohammed said, Standing here and gazing at this great gathering, I can feel the confluence of passion and creativity and the promises and possibilities that the future holds for the global movie industry. The object of our gathering tonight, the platform on which we celebrate African and international film-makers, is one of the great stories of Nollywood, for AFRIFF was birthed because there is Nollywood.

On the efforts that the Federal Government is making to advance the sector, the minister stressed that it was pushing for a single-digit interest on loans for infrastructural developments for the industry, and supporting the building of 100 community cinemas to be evenly spread across the country.

We are also close to having a world-class pre- and post-production facility using the current NTA infrastructure with a few additions, he noted, adding that, with the advent of the digital switch-over in television broadcasting, the Federal Government was ensuring that the set-top boxes were enabled to allow the 24 million TV households in Nigeria to buy movies with and without the need of data.

Ayorinde also commended AFRIFF for sustaining its dream to be part of changing the story of film-making.

He noted that the Lagos State Government was not only providing an enabling environment for arts and culture to thrive, it also believed in the sectors capacity to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state and the nation in general.

On his part, the managing director of Access Bank, which is a major supporter of AFRIFF, congratulated Ude and her team for the success they recorded.

Igwe noted that a major project, in which Access and AFRIFF were collaborating, would soon be unveiled, with a promise that it would be of benefit to all and sundry in the sector.

Wulu (Mali), Felicite (Senegal) and Nigerias Hakkunde, produced by Oluseyi Asurf, were some of the big winners at the Globe Award. Their N250,000 cheques, each, were presented by Access Bank. Ghanas Lydia Forson was named Best Actress for her role in Keteke while Ibrahim Koma received the Best Actor Globe for his role in Wulu.

The Best Feature Film Globe, and the N500,000 prize money, went to the opening night film, I am Not a Witch (Zambia/UK), produced by Juliette Grandmont and Emily Morgan

source: Punch
Senate President ,Bukola Saraki, has hinted that the proposed Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, might be named after his predecessor, Senator David Mark.

Saraki dropped the hint at the public hearing on the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (Establisment) Bill 2017 held in Abuja on Monday.

The Senate President, who was represented at the the event by the Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, said there had been calls for naming the yet-to-be-established institution after Mark.

Saraki said, I must also thank the esteemed sponsor of the bill, my predecessor and former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator David Mark, for his vision and steadfastness. He has spared no effort in promoting the bill and canvassing for the establishment of FUHSO.

His focus on this goal is, no doubt, a measure of his commitment to alleviating the huge shortfall in the education and training of critical personnel in the nations health sector  and to the people of Benue-South, who the distinguished senator represents.

Indeed, I understand there is now a clamour in some quarters, as well as among some of my distinguished colleagues, to rename the university, upon its establishment, after Senator Mark  and the reason is understandable, when we consider the passion with which he has prosecuted the cause of the proposed institution.

The Senate President explained that the Bill sought the establishment of the university to scale up the specialised training of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals in the health sector as well as to address persisting admission deficit.

He said, Figures show that only about 20 per cent of those who qualify and apply are admitted to medical schools in this country. In July of this year, a newspaper survey indicated that, of nearly 160,000 applicants, only 3000 gain admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions to study Medicine and related courses.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper)
On November 1, 2017 Haitian rapper, musician and actor Wyclef Jean released a song titled Fela Kuti in honour of the late Afrobeat legend.

The song is off his 8th studio album Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee however, its a mediocre depiction of a so called tribute to the late African music legend.

Wyclef in a recent interview about the Fela Kuti track, said he wanted young people to know about the legend, unfortunately he was unable to portray that in the 4-minute song.

I decided to name it Fela Kuti because for me, I feel like we be thinking of [Bob] Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when the kids hear Fela Kuti, I really want them to Google it. For me, the same way kids can have songs called Wyclef Jean who are influenced by me, I want kids to know who Fela is and what he means, Wyclef said.

Apart from the beat, nothing else comes close to the likeness of Fela.

Wyclef only mentioned Felas name once in the song with a line that says, dance like Fela and no one in the video could even replicate the famous Abami Edas dance step.

A Nigerian on twitter @theySayYo has also gone off on Wyclef for the lacklustre song with a series of tweets;

Three days after I watch @wyclefs #FelaKuti video on YouTube, I still wonder why Nigerians are not talking about it.  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

It feels so good to have @wyclef back with his tribute song to our iconic afrobeat master  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

But, I feel so sad with @wyclefs disrespectful music video of #FelaKuti. Wyclef Jean failed at everything in the video  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

Hence, I wont consider @wyclefs #FelaKuti music video a tribute to the afrobeat pioneer! And I wont allow you rubbish #FelaKuti brand  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

The lyrics of @wyclef have nothing to do with #FelaKuti, except from the Dance like Fela Kuti  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

Dance like Fela Kuti lyrics of @wyclefs #FelaKuti track also brought shame to the iconic dance moves of #FelaKuti!  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

In @wyclefs interview about #FelaKuti track, he said you wanted d young people to know about d legend, but, u were unable to portray that!  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

Note, I appreciate @wyclefs drive and it was so thoughtful of him to remember #FelaKuti, but he deserves better from you  Yo! (@TheySayYo) November 7, 2017

In case you need to see the video, below or here
President of the United States of America, Donald Trump said at a joint news conference in South Korea that, We hope to God we never have to use military force against North Korea. 

This was said by the US President, after describing the U.S. militarys strength in the region, where nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers have been deployed as a warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to halt his nuclear and missile programmes.

I really believe it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table, Trump said.

He said he sees certain movement towards that end on Pyongyangs behalf.

Trump called on Russia and China to do more to deal with North Korea, which he called a worldwide threat that requires worldwide action.

We call on every responsible nation, including China and Russia, to demand the North Korean regime end its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

He described South Korea as a long-standing ally of the U.S. We are partners and friends who have fought side by side in a war. Trump added that we cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built.

Trump said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is threatening millions and millions of lives so needlessly.

The United States stands prepared to defend itself and its allies using the full range of its defence capabilities, he added.

South Korean President Moon Jae In announced that he and Trump had agreed to increase the payload for Seouls missile arsenal in the face of threats from Pyongyang.

Trump has reaffirmed his iron-clad commitment to defend South Korea, Moon told the joint news conference.

We agreed to work towards resolving the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful manner and bringing permanent peace to the Korean Peninsula, he said.

While urging Pyongyang to halt its missile provocations, Moon also said that we are willing to offer North Korea a bright future.

Source : ( NAN)
The arms deal fraud which has rocked the office of the National Security Adviser has indicted another high profile government official who will be arraigned next month.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on December 7 arraign a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, and eight others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on money laundering charges involving diversion of N2bn from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on Tuesday but the arraignment was re-scheduled to December 7 due to the unavailability of the judge who was said to be attending a training organised for some judges in the country.

But Otunla was absent from court on Tuesday. One of his co-defendant, Otunba Ade Adelakun, was however present in court.

The rest of the six defendants are companies said to have benefited from the N2bn withdrawn from ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria

The companies named as co-defendants are Gold Reef Industries Limited, Lambster Nigeria Limited, G.C Electronic Limited, Sinmilak Nigeria Limited, Wehsac Farms Limited, Shepherded Field Global Resources Limited and Stellavera Development Company Limited.

The EFCC, in the five counts filed against Otunla and others on October 11, 2017, accused the defendants of transferring the sum of N2bn from ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria between June and August 2013.

The anti-corruption agency alleged that the defendants withdrew the money from ONSA account purportedly for the supply of security equipment.
A father-of-six who was caught having sex with a neighbours puppy by her 10-year-old owner was been spared jail. Fanroi Mochachi, 45, said he caught two dogs mating as he walked to a shared toilet in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Facebook now lets you send and receive money through your Messenger app He then chased one of the dogs down and had sex with it, before being caught by the dogs young owner and his uncle who heard the animals cries.

Mochachi pleaded guilty to bestiality and was handed a suspended five-year jail sentence. Sentencing him, magistrate Syta Prinsloo told Mochachi:

You are married and a role model to your six children. Most upsetting is that you will be expected to engage sexually with your wife, how will you explain this to her?

The magistrate added that people who have uncontrollable desires to have sex with women, children or animals must be stopped.

The family who owns the eight-month-old dog, named Blackie, are reportedly taking legal action to prevent Mochachi from returning to the neighbourhood.

Source  Ebiwalismoment
Four female suicide bombers were killed while trying to sneak into the metropolis of Maiduguri, the news was confirmed by the Borno State, Police Command.

The incident was confirmed the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Victor Isuku, in a telephone interview said that the incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. in Tomsu Ngamdu community on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

He said that one of the suicide bombers detonated her explosive near a military checkpoint, while the other one detonated hers at a Civilian Joint Task Force checkpoint, killing themselves and injuring six farmers nearby.

He said that the two other bombers were shot dead by security operatives before they detonated the bomb concealed in their body.

Police EOD teams have been deployed to the scene to sanitise the area, the PPRO said.

Source : (NAN)
Weeks after receiving South African president, Jacob Zuma on a 2-day working visit, Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha will on Thursday, November 9th, receive Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

A statement by Governor Okorochas Chief Press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, says the Liberian President is principally coming to the state to meet with students of the Rochas Foundation College of Africa and the Students from Liberia in particular whose parents died of Ebola and she will also be expected to key into Vision 2030 of ROCHAS FOUNDATION COLLEGE, targetted at taking one million children of Africa out of the street and giving them education.

The Rochas Foundation College of Africa is, aside offering free education to children from the Countries of Africa, its also aimed at promoting Unity among Africans and African nations.

On arrival on Thursday, Mrs. Sirleaf would be taken to the Palace of Eze Imo to be accorded the African way of receiving an august visitor like her and the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri will be expected to decorate her with a Chieftaincy title, taking into account that she took over the leadership of Liberia soon after a bloody Civil War and she has been able to sustain the peace of that Country for ten years now.

The following day being Friday, November 10, 2017, Mrs. Sirleaf will then be at the Rochas Foundation College of Africa where she will meet with the Students and also specifically interact with the Liberian Students. And all these will help to instill confidence in the students and brandish a juicy future for them.

After her outing to the College, the Liberian President will deliver a lecture to Imo women at Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) and the topic will be Women in Politics, and the lecture is structured to encourage women in the State to develop interest in leadership, especially when it is recalled that Mrs. Sirleaf is the first female President in Africa.

Finally, she will be appreciated with Imo Merit Award and a road will also be named after her. And with all the feats she has achieved, she earns a Place in the Imo Hall of fame.

President of Ghana, Mr. Nana AdoAkufo and his South African Counterpart, President Jacob Zuma had earlier visited the State for the same purpose and were also honoured. Ambassadors of Nations had also come.

Source: ( Linda Ikeja)
We brought you reports about the sad demise of an Auchi Polytechnic Graduate, Uloko Lawrenta Apaume whose life was cut short, after she was killed by a stray bullet fired from a Vigilantes gun.

The Edo State Police Command has launched investigation into the death of the deceased.

She was allegedly killed by a stray bullet fired by members of the vigilante invited by her landlord on Friday, a day after graduating from the Polytechnic.

It was gathered that the landlord of the hostel invited vigilantes to the hostel to provide security for HND graduates celebrating their graduation.

But in the course of the celebration, the vigilantes started firing into the air to celebrate with the graduands and a stray bullet hit Apaume.

A course mate of the late Apaume wholived in Port Harcourt, described her as an easy-going person who was looking forward to serve her compulsory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme with great expectation.

She always say she cant wait to don the NYSC Khaki uniform, she added.

Lawrenta has since been buried amidst tears.

-Gistreel
RENO  The Reynolds School of Journalism and University of Nevada, Reno will honor Sally Denton, Elko native and University alumna, as the 2017 Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer.

Denton will present the annual Laxalt Lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. Her lecture is titled Kill the Messenger: The Risks and Rewards of Speaking Truth to Power.

Denton is an investigative journalist and historian whose unique perspective and investigative talent sets her work apart. She has covered topics from a drug conspiracy in Kentucky to organized crime in Las Vegas, and from corruption in the Mormon church to the history behind manifest destiny.

She has written eight books. The most recent  titled The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World  detailed the Bechtel Corporations impact on the building of the Hoover Dam.

The Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award, created upon Laxalts death in 2001, honors journalists who work in varied forms of writing.

Sally Denton is an exemplary choice to be the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer, said Alan Stavitsky, Dean of the Reynolds School. Not only is she one of our leading investigative journalists, shes a protege of Bob Laxalt himself.

Denton is known for keen attention to detail. Her journalism has been published in such leading outlets as The Washington Post, The New York Times, Salon, The Chicago Tribune, The Toronto Globe and Mail, and Columbia Journalism Review.
A lawyer has been whisked away to the unknown by gunmen who stormed an Edo State community to carry out the dastardly act.

Barr. G.C Igbokwe, a Benin based lawyer has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

According to The Nation, Barr. Igbokwe who is the Chairman, Benin Law Week Organising Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association was abducted on Monday evening near Okhuaihe village along Benin-Aghoro-Onitsha express road.

He was said on his way to Enugu when he was abducted.

Edo police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the kidnapping, described it as a very sad incident.

Nkombe said the police was already on the kidnappers trail and assured that the abducted lawyer would soon be rescued.
Herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Cross River on Tuesday demanded for the release of parts of the body of their beheaded colleague, Alhaji Buba Hassan.

Hassan was allegedly killed on Sunday during a clash with farmers in Ugala, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River.

Alhaji Abdulrrahman Abdul, Vice-Chairman of the Association in the state, made the demand when he led a delegation on a visit to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Mr. Abubakar Marafa.

Abdul added that three other herdsmen had been declared missing since the incident happened.

He told journalists that Buba was on his way to rescue one of his shepherds who was allegedly attacked by farmers.

He alleged Hassan was killed and parts of his body removed.

Three others are also missing as we speak and we do not know where they are. Hassan was riding his motorcycle to rescue his shepherd whose hand and leg was cut-off when he was attacked and killed.

We are calling on the police and the state governor to investigate the matter so that justice can prevail, he said.

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in the state,confirmed in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that one life was lost in the clash while some persons sustained injuries.

As we speak, we have deployed a full team of policemen to the area to ensure that peace and normalcy returns to the area.

We have warned people against taking laws into their hands. By taking laws into your hands, you will definitely go in for it because the law will not spare you.

These people took laws into their hands, thinking they were doing the right thing; but the law is not a respecter of anybody, he said.

He told NAN that the command would ensure that there was adequate security in the northern part of the state that borders Benue.

We are particularly concerned about Northern Cross River because of the passage of the anti-grazing bill in Benue.

We are likely going to have a spillover of some of these Fulani people, so we will continue to sensitise the Fulani herdsmen to be very careful by not destroying farmers crops, he said.

(NAN)
Former president Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the death of British missionary Mr Ian Squire, who was kidnapped along three others in Delta state.

Former president Jonathan defined the incident as sad as well as commensurated with the British government.

Jonathan said

I totally and unequivocally condemn the death of the British missionary and charity worker, Ian Squire, at the hands of his kidnappers.

This is a very sad development and I sincerely extend my sympathies to the British government and Mr. Squires family.

Mr. Squire was a force for good who came to extend the frontiers of love and sacrifice in Nigeria and did not deserve to be treated this way.

I urge the authorities to fish out the perpetrators of this act of extreme wickedness and bring them to a very swift and severe justice. GEJ

Source  Nairaland
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja presented N8.612 trillion as the 2018 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, saying the projected expenditure will drive rapid economic recovery.

He said at the session that with a benchmark of 45 dollars per barrel at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar in 2018, the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets to aggressively steer the economy to the path of steady growth.

With the economic recovery made so far, it is clear that we made the right decisions.

And I urge you all to support the Federal Governments policies towards economic recovery, he said.

Mr. Buhari said the government would continue to develop infrastructure and increase investments in agriculture to attain food security and reduce importation.

He added that while the Federal Government was committed to identifying alternative means of funding new projects, there was need to continue to pursue public private partnership, to provide more infrastructure in the country.

According to him, the Federal Government has been able to construct or rehabilitate about 776-kilometer roads in 2017.

The president said the construction of Abuja metroline had attained 98 per cent completion, adding that work had commenced on the Ajaouta-Itakpe rail line which was abandoned for 17 years.

He said the project would be delivered in September 2018, adding that the countrys power sector would witness a turn around.

The power sector reform is still working in progress as we have increased power generation but we still have some challenges in transmission and distribution network, Buhari said.

He added that the Federal Government was committed to green alternative energy.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper)
3,480 young Nigerians, with female gender dominating the list, were deported from Libya in the last 10 months.

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons South-West Zonal Director, Mrs Magret Ukegbu, said on Tuesday that the deportees were received from February 1 to November 6.

Ukegbu said that the commission had been working with the International Organisation for Migration, National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant organisations in receiving the deportees.

She said, From February to the first week of this month of November, we have received about 3,480 young Nigerian deportees from Libya.

These young Nigerians, mostly girls from age 14, were received in different weeks during the period.

We have found out that the IOM, European Union (EU), Dutch and Swiss governments are involved in the deportation of these Nigerians from Libya.

She said that some of the young people returned with pregnancy.

According to her, there are more than 12,000 young Nigerians in prisons or stranded in different parts of Libya.

Ukegbu expressed worry at the situation.

She said that the commission was working to ensure durable integration of the deportees into the Nigerian society.

The commission believes that it is not enough to receive these young Nigerians; it is important that they are urgently given the needed mentoring, training and rehabilitation.

My federal commissioner is really working at ensuring that durable solutions are sustained, she said.

Source : ( NAN)
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, on Tuesday asserted that Nigeria is governed by wizards and witches.

The former Minister claimed that thE wizards and witches were responsible for the so much innocent blood being spilled in Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alleged that blood is the currency in the spirit realm.

In a tweet via his official Twitter handle, the former Minister observed that the shedding of blood through ritual sacrifice empowers the demons that govern the nation.

A nation that is governed by warlocks, wizards and witches is doomed. Have you ever wondered why so much innocent blood is spilt in Nigeria and no one cares?

Blood is the currency in the spirit realm and its shedding is a ritual sacrifice that empowers the demons that govern us. SAD!, he tweeted.

Source: Naijaloaded
The Nigerian Navy has thrown full support to residents of the Niger Delta,it said it is ready to protect the nations critical assets against attacks from members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who recently threatened to resume attacks on oil installations.

The chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibo-Ete Ibas, made the statement on Monday, November 6, after inspecting facilities at the Naval Engineering College, Sapele, Delta state, Vanguard reports.

Ibas assured multinational oil companies of adequate protection of their staff and oil facilities in the Niger Delta region despite the recent threat by Avengers.

He said the navy had taken proactive measures to ensure that the waterways were safe for international oil companies to carry out their legitimate duties in the Niger Delta region.

Nigerian Navy has implemented various security measures to curb militant insurgency, sea pirates, kidnapping and illegal oil bunkering in the region. For sea fearers who use the sea, Navy is ready to protect seafarers who are on legitimate businesses, he said.

We will work in collaboration with other sister security agencies to fight against pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and sea-piracy as well as protection of the international territorial waterways.

Source: ( Instablog9ja)
The Nigerian Senate called for the abolition of Excess Crude Account on Tuesday, also called for the payment of the amount above the oil benchmark into the Federation Account in compliance with the constitution.

It further requested the executive to act in conformity with Sections 80 (1-4) and 162(1-3) of the 1999 Constitution (Amended) in its revenue receipt and expenditure.

These resolutions followed a motion by Rose Oko (PDP-Cross River) and co-sponsored by 18 other senators.

Presenting the motion, Mrs. Oko said the ECA was set up in 2004 to provide savings for the country and stabilisation for the economy during periods of shortfalls in oil revenue.

Mrs. Oko expressed regret that the ECA was not in tandem with Sections 80(1-4) and 162(1-3) of the 1999 Constitution.

She stressed that the accruals to the ECA was expected to be the amount above the benchmark of crude oil sales.

These breaches of the constitution in setting up and operating the ECA have created room for the pool of funds from revenue accruing to the federation being operated without legal backing, she said.

She said the funds accruing to the federation were being operated without checks and balances providing loopholes for imprudence and financial recklessness.

According to her, a report by the National Resource Governance Institute rates Nigerias ECA as one of the most poorly managed around the world.

According to the report, operation of Nigerias ECA is discretionary and at the whims of the executive.

The ECA increased from 5.16 billion dollars in 2015 to over 20 billion dollars in 2008 and decreased to less than four billion dollars by 2010 with no known tracking of its operations.

Also, at various times and from several quarters in 2013, it was reported that five billion dollars was missing from the ECA and that two billion dollars was withdrawn without authorisation.

By May 2017, government announced a resumption of payment into the ECA of 87 million dollars ostensibly since May, 2015, arbitrarily.

Furthermore, between May, 2015 and August, 2017, about 122.2 million dollars had accrued and ought to have been paid to the ECA, she said.

She decried that ECA had been a source of huge revenue leakage in the country, adding that it had created room for arbitrariness.

Contributing, Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi), said the ECA should be stopped because its management was not transparent.

He stressed that as far back as 2006, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, used over 12 billion dollars to settle the Paris Club Loan and that is how we got out of debt.

This money should have gone into the Federation Account and the three tiers of government would have benefitted.

Many states who were not owing were shortchanged because their share of the money was used to settle the loan.

The lawmaker stressed that stopping the ECA would go a long way in ensuring transparency and accountability in management of the countrys resources.

Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP-Abia) also said that while there was no doubt that there was a need to save for the rainy day, the operation of the ECA was not in accordance with the law.

We are running a democracy and democracy is based on the rule of law.

We have to stop this arbitrariness that has no legal backing and it is not an index for revenue allocation.

The constitution stipulates that every revenue should be paid into the Federation Account but with the ECA, who determines how much goes into excess crude. Is it to be handled by the executive or NNPC.

The President of the Senate had earlier put the prayers in the motion to voice vote and they were adopted by the lawmakers.

Source : (NAN)
A nuclear war is looming between the United States and North Korea as tension between the two countries escalates.

North Korea confirmed its nuclear missile program was in its final stage as Pyongyang ruled out peace talks with the United States in a terrifying announcement today. The fresh warning to the US comes as Donald Trump is due to arrive in Japan today for the first stop off of his Asia tour.

Tensions over North Koreas nuclear and missile threats continue to loom large over the region, with officials able to do little more than to sit and wait for Kim Jong-Un to launch the next missile test.

And President Trump has been accused of inflaming the situation with his war of words with the despot, after threatening to totally destroy North Korea despite calls for officials to remain calm to avoid antagonising the hermit kingdom.

Now in a shocking announcement today, Pyongyang vowed it would never back down as the regime revealed it is actually in the final stage for completing nuclear deterrence.

The Norths state-run KCNA news agency said in a commentary that the US should be disabused of the absurd idea that Pyongyang would succumb to international sanctions and give up its nuclear weapons.

The commentary titled Stop dreaming a daydream read: It had better stop daydreaming of denuclearisation talks with us.

Our self-defensive nuclear treasure sword will be sharpened evermore unless the US hostile policy toward the DPRK is abolished once and for all.

Along with trade talks, President Trumps trip to Asia over the coming days will largely focus on how to muster more international pressure on North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he said: Well be talking about trade. Well be talking about obviously North Korea.

Well be enlisting the help of a lot of people and countries and well see what happens.

But I think were going to have a very successful trip. There is a lot of good will.

The president has rattled some allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States along with his dismissal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a rocket man on a suicide mission.

But today Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe repeated Mr Trumps assertion that all options are on the table over North Korea, indicating military force could be utilised if any of the western allies in the area are threatened by Kim Jong Un and his regime.

And White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster, defended Trumps colourful language in a briefing with reporters on Friday.

He said: Whats inflammatory is the North Korean regime and what theyre doing to threaten the world.
The Peoples Democratic Party caucus of the House of Representatives shortly before the commencement of presentation of the 2018 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari planned to protest the budget presentation.

The members, who met at Hearing Room Two where they held a caucus meeting on how to stage the protest, were seen leaving the venue with placards.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards include change the change our mumu done do.

Source: ( Premium Times )
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP)  The federal government has approved the first phase of a proposed copper and silver mine in northwestern Montana, but it wont consider approving full development of the operation until later.

The U.S. Forest Service plans to allow Hecla Mining Co., based in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, to build an entrance for the Rock Creek Mine and conduct an environmental evaluation, the Flathead Beacon reported Friday.

The mine would be near Noxon, Montana, about 10 miles from the Idaho border. It would extend under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area.

A coalition of conservation groups fighting the new mine said it could drain water from surface streams in the wilderness area, harming fish and wildlife.

All the evidence to date shows that these mines cannot be excavated under the Wilderness without lasting harm to the overlying streams and the fish and wildlife that find refuge there, said Bonnie Gestring of Earthworks, one of the opponents.

Hecla officials said the mine wont damage the wilderness area.

The conservation groups said the Forest Service decision was a setback for the project, but Hecla said it was always planning on getting the mine approved in steps.

Its business as usual for us, said Luke Russell, vice president of external affairs for the company.

The Forest Service said the effect of the mine on surface water cannot be determined until more studies are done or work gets underway.

While models and estimates of groundwater conditions can be developed based on the best available information, actual knowledge of underground conditions may not be fully known, or knowable, until underground operations are underway and additional data can be collected, Deputy Regional Forester David E. Schmid wrote in an Oct. 31 letter announcing the phase one approval.
Honourable Minister and Attorney General of Jersey Island, Robert J. MacRae has revealed conditions for repatriation of $300 million looted by a former military leader, Sani Abacha.

The government of Jersey Island has insisted that the $300 million looted and kept in the country by former military ruler, Sani Abacha will not be released to Nigeria if a third party representation is brought into the picture.

The Honourable Minister and Attorney General of Jersey Island, Robert J. MacRae QC disclosed this on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 during the on going 7th Session of Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, holding in Vienna, Austria.

MacRae spoke at a side meeting with the Nigeria delegation led by acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

The Jersey Attorney General expressly stated that negotiations in respect of repatriation in respect of the USD300 million being part of the Abacha loot between Nigeria and Jersey Island involving the United States of America, USA, must be government to government cooperation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was accompanied at the meeting by four members of the Nigeria delegation.
A mother of four, Mrs. Rita Orji has landed herself in trouble after she allegedly bit off her female co-tenants finger and eyelid, which she reportedly swallowed during a fight in their compound, according to PM Express.

The sad incident reportedly took place at 23 Adaranijo Street, Egbeda, Lagos where both the suspect and victim reside.

The victim, Mrs. Caroline Nwabugo suffered her fate when she engaged Rita in a public fight and was seriously battered. During the fight, Rita first grabbed Carolines finger and bit it off and attempted to bite off her eyes but ended up only biting off the eyelid.

It was learnt that she vomited out the finger and it was recovered and kept as exhibit. But her left soft eyelid which Rita bit off got missing. The victim alleged that Rita swallowed it which she did not deny or accept as she said she could not say exactly what happened at that time.

The fight broke out between the two women over a fight between Ritas 12-year old son and Carolines 10-year old daughter. The fight then spread to the two mothers and resulted in serious assault on the victim.

The matter was reported to the police at Idimu Division, Rita was arrested and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court for the alleged offence.

She pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Jadesola Ajayi granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. She was remanded in prison custody.

When the matter came up, the suspect informed the court of her intention to settle the matter out of court and pleaded for time. The court then adjourned the matter till 8 January, 2018.

The victim confirmed that she was really battered. She lamented that she had not recovered from the fight as her flesh was eaten by her fellow woman when she was still alive.
Policemen in Lagos state have arrested a suspected human trafficker who uses charm to attract men to her business.

A female human trafficker alleged to be a prostitute identified as Martha Edea, 30, has been arrested in Lagos state while on her way to Ivory Coast.

The suspect who was arrested on Thursday was seen with a creamy substance, she said the charms were specially prepared for her to get more customers when she gets to Abidjan where she had been a prostitute in the past one year

Speaking about her work, Martha said: I prepared two charms for the trip. One is a cream to make me to see work or get customers. Everybody dey use am. My friend recommended it to me. The other is back to sender. I bought that in an open market in Benin.

Martha, a mother-of-two, according to her, she was lured into prostitution in Ivory Coast by one Mariam who told her there were chances of securing a good job there. She was later introduced to prostitution where she slaved for months to raise N180, 000.

Martha was later abandoned in Abidjan by Mariam, who after collecting the repayment travelled to Spain. Arrested with Martha, were two teenagers she recruited in Benin, Edo State.

They were en-route Abidjan through Lagos when those who suspected them reported them to RRS officers in Ojodu Berger. The teenagers are Francess Bamidele, 19 and Elo Etim, 18.

While Francess didnt inform her guardian about the trip, Elo notified her mother after being fully briefed that the job is prostitution, the mother prayed for her, assisted with some money and a phone number to call.

She was reported to have said instead of giving it free to boys on the streets, go and make money with it where you are going.
Update 11/13/17  Though Ferndale councilmembers and city staff expressed reservations about imposing a six-month ban on self-storage development during a Nov. 6 meeting, the council approved the moratorium. A public hearing on the ordinance is required to be held within 60 days of its adoption, according to the source.

11/7/17  The Ferndale, Wash., City Council was expected to discuss a staff-recommended emergency moratorium on self-storage development during its meeting last night. The proposed six-month ban would apply to the submission, acceptance, processing or approval of any permit or land-use applications related to storage, mini-storage or similar uses, according to the source.

The proposal indicates the potential proliferation of storage operations threatens the existing and planned character of the General Business zone, specifically along Portal Way. City staff also cited a lack of new jobs created by storage properties in its assessment.

The city is processing several self-storage development applications, with at least four pending, the source reported. One of those projects was submitted by Doug Scoggins, owner of Pioneer Post Frame Inc., which specializes in commercial, agricultural and personal storage buildings, according to its website.

Scoggins already operates several storage-facility buildings on Portal Way and recently proposed a new facility on 20 acres of land along the street. The property has already been cleared in preparation for a business park and food-manufacturing facility, but the latter appears to have backed out of the plan, the source reported.

The Scoggins proposal and others already in the review process would be considered vested and not subject to the temporary ban if its passed, according to Jori Burnett, community-development director for Ferndale. The moratorium is focused exclusively on the acceptance of applications for new projects, Burnett told the source.

In September, officials in Federal Way, Wash., imposed a one-year ban on new self-storage development. Several cities across the nation have enacted similar moratoriums to curb storage projects. Other incidents in Washington include a six-month ban passed in August in Poulsbo and a previous six-month moratorium in Shoreline.
National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT), a Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in self-storage, has acquired a 27-property portfolio spanning six states from Store Here LLC, a joint venture between self-storage operator Store Here Management LLC and real estate investment firm Westport Capital Partners LLC. The portfolio, with facilities in Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana and Texas, comprises 1.7 million square feet in 12,171 units, according to SpareFoot Storage Beat, an industry blog. All sites were branded under the Store Here name, according to a press release from HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP), the commercial real estate and capital-markets services firm that helped broker the deal.

The portfolio was 80.6 percent occupied at the time of purchase. Properties include climate-controlled and traditional units, gated access, security cameras, and RV parking, the release stated.

The quality of the assets, embedded upside and, most of all, the economy of scale is what attracted numerous investors to the portfolio, said Barbara Guffey, senior director at HFF. The ability to acquire 1.7 million square feet in one transaction aligns with the buyers strategic growth plan, and provides an opportunity to implement and capitalize upon their operational platform.

NSAT hasnt publicly announced the acquisition, though it referenced the purchase of 28 self-storage properties after Sept. 30 in its third-quarter financial release. The assets were purchased for $174.5 million and comprise 1.8 million square feet. The REIT has been very active in pursuing acquisitions. During the quarter, it purchased 19 storage facilities in nine states for $123.8 million. Those properties comprise 1.3 million rentable square feet.

Westport, which entered the self-storage industry through its joint venture with Store Here, announced the sale on Oct. 19 but didnt name the buyer. The partnership amassed all 27 properties between March 2014 and March 2017, including the November 2014 purchase of 13 facilities in Georgia, Kansas and Texas for $48 million.

In less than three years, we were able to execute a bold plan. We believed we could assemble a well-positioned portfolio of properties with high value upside, said James J. Hanrahan, acquisitions director for RHW Capital Management Group LLC, the parent company to Store Here Management. Working alongside Westport Capital Partners, we applied our seasoned storage experience and have proven to be a viable force in the industry.

The sale is the culmination of hard work and belief in a vision that the market would have a strong appetite for our portfolio, said Russel Bernard, managing principal at Westport.

The joint venture intends to build another portfolio, with a plan to acquire two to five storage properties annually during the next five years, Hanrahan told the blog.

Guffey and fellow senior director Tom Doyle represented the joint venture in the sale. They were assisted by senior managing directors John Merrill and Jason Nettles, and managing directors Sean Fogerty and Jules Sherwood.

HFF and its affiliate, HFF Securities LP, are owned by HFF Inc. The firm operates out of 22 offices nationwide and specializes in advisory services, commercial-loan servicing, debt and equity placement, and investment and loan sales.

Westport provides domestic and international investment opportunities to institutional and private clients. The firm invests in a wide variety of real estate assets through its various funds. It has offices in Bozeman, Mont., Los Angeles, London and Wilton, Conn.

Store Here Management, a division of RHW, includes an acquisition and analysis division that focuses on the self-storage industry. It owns and manages 19 storage facilities in seven states. RHW plans to expand the Store Here brand through property acquisitions and management contracts, company officials said in a press release.

Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered and -managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas throughout the United States. The company has ownership interest in 512 storage facilities in 29 states. Its portfolio comprises approximately 32 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures.
The five largest publicly traded, U.S.-based self-storage real estate investment trusts (REITs)CubeSmart, Extra Space Storage Inc., Life Storage Inc., National Storage Affiliates Trust and Public Storage Inc.have released financial statements for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, 2017. In general, the companies showed gains in key areas, particularly funds from operations (FFO) and net operating income (NOI), while also achieving increases in occupancy.

Each of the REITs was impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria during the quarter, sustaining several millions of dollars in losses. Resulting closures and property damage forced some of the companies to remove certain facilities from same-store calculations.

"I am proud of the efforts and sacrifices our team made to take care of our customers, fellow employees and our stores during three hurricanes in the quarter, said Joseph D. Margolis, CEO of Extra Space. In the midst of these tragic events, we had strong execution this quarter and posted another solid result.

Christopher P. Marr, president and CEO of CubeSmart, expressed similar sentiments. Third-quarter performance beat our expectations primarily due to strong storage demand trends across most of our markets resulting in higher occupancies and revenue growth for our same-store and lease-up properties, he said. We continue to experience steady, broad-based demand and remain focused on creating long-term shareholder value by continuing to deepen the competitive advantages of our operating platform.

CubeSmart

CubeSmart reported FFO per share of $0.42 during the quarter, a 10.5 percent year-over-year increase. Same-store NOI at its 432 facilities grew 4.1 percent year over year. The company attributed this to a 4.1 percent growth in revenue and a 4.2 percent increase in property operating expenses. Same-store locations contributed 91.7 percent of the REITs property NOI during the quarter.

The operation gained 60 basis points in physical occupancy compared with the same quarter the previous year. The same-store physical occupancy was 93.7 percent as of Sept. 30. The companys total-owned portfolio, representing 480 facilities and comprising 33.4 million square feet of rentable space, had a physical occupancy of 91.9 percent at the end of the third quarter.

CubeSmart didnt acquire any storage properties during the quarter but opened a wholly owned facility in Washington, D.C., for $27.8 million and completed a joint-venture development in New York City for $81.2 million. The REIT owns 90 percent of the New York asset. At the close of the quarter, the REIT had two properties in Florida and one in Illinois under contract to purchase at Certificate of Occupancy for $49.9 million, and seven joint-venture projects under development.

Impact from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma forced the temporary closure of 91 owned and 30 joint-venture facilities in Florida and Texas. Issues included inaccessibility, power outages and property damage. All but three properties were open within five days of each storms conclusion, company officials said. Net insurance proceeds for repairs was $1.4 million.

On July 25, the company declared a dividend of 27 cents per common share, which was equal to the dividend issued the previous quarter. The dividend was paid on Oct. 16 to common shareholders of record on Oct. 2.

CubeSmart owns or manages 908 self-storage facilities across the United States. Its operating portfolio comprises 61.4 million square feet.

Extra Space Storage Inc.

Same-store revenue increased 4.8 percent and NOI rose 5.5 percent compared to the same period in 2016. FFO was $1.13 per diluted share, resulting in 10.8 percent growth compared to the third quarter the previous year.

Same-store occupancy was 93.9 percent as of Sept. 30, which was a 1.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2016.

During the quarter, the company acquired three wholly owned facilities and one at Certificate of Occupancy for approximately $31.8 million. It also made a Certificate-of-Occupancy purchase through a joint venture for about $8.8 million.

Impact from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria forced the temporary closure of 253 facilities in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Texas. Net insurance proceeds for repairs was estimated at $2.1 million. The REIT also recorded $2.3 million in additional tenant re-insurance claims cost.

The company paid a quarterly dividend of 78 cents per common share, which was equal to the previous quarter. It was paid on Sept. 29 to common shareholders of record on Sept. 15.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,513 self-storage properties in 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The companys properties comprise approximately 1.03 million units and 114 million square feet of rentable space.

Life Storage Inc. (Formerly Sovran Self Storage Inc.)

Total revenue increased 6.1 percent over the previous year, while operating costs increased 13.7 percent, resulting in an NOI increase of 2.4 percent. Same-store NOI decreased 0.5 percent year over year, which was attributed primarily to a 51.7 percent increase in Internet advertising expenses and a 7.6 percent bump in property taxes. FFO for the quarter was $1.34 per fully diluted common share, compared to $0.79 for the same period in 2016. Adjusted FFO was $1.39, a 3.7 percent increase.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter was $35.5 million, or $0.76 per fully diluted share. For the same period in 2016, net income attributable to common shareholders was $4.7 million, or $0.10 per fully diluted common share.

Revenue for the companys 431 wholly owned stabilized facilities increased 0.9 percent year over year, helped by an increase in average occupancy of 40 basis points and growth in tenant-insurance administrative fees. Average overall occupancy for the quarter was 91.5 percent, with units renting for an average of $13.62 per square foot.

The REIT acquired three properties in Atlanta during the quarter through a joint venture for $39.1 million, of which the company contributed $3.6 million.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused an estimated $6 million in damage across 150 Life Storage facilities, including $2.8 million in uninsured costs. All affected properties have reopened except for one joint-venture facility. Four wholly owned assets sustained heavy flooding and have been removed from same-store calculations until those properties are stabilized.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the company approved a quarterly dividend of $1 per common share, which is equal to the previous quarter.

Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Life Storage operates more than 700 self-storage facilities in 29 states under the Life Storage and Uncle Bobs brands. Its portfolio of owned and managed facilities comprises more than 49 million square feet.

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT)

Core FFO per share was $23.8 million during the second quarter, a 13.8 percent year-over-year increase. Its net income was $11.2 million during the quarter, a 41.8 percent gain compared to the $7.9 million it reported for the same period in 2016. Same-store NOI was $30.5 million, up 6.7 percent.

Same-store revenue was $44.1 million during the quarter, a 5.4 percent increase from a year ago. This was driven by a 5.7 percent increase in average annualized rental revenue per occupied square foot. Average occupancy was 90.4 percent as of Sept. 30, down from 91 percent last year. Same-store average occupancy was 90.9 percent, down from 91.4 during the same period last year.

The company acquired 19 self-storage properties during the quarter for $123.8 million. The facilities are in nine states and comprise more than 1.3 million rentable square feet in about 10,200 units.

On Aug. 24, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per common share, which was equal to the previous quarter. It was paid on Sept. 29 to holders of record on Sept. 15.

Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered and -managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas throughout the United States. The company has ownership interest in 512 storage facilities in 29 states. Its portfolio comprises approximately 32 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures.

Public Storage Inc.

Revenue for same-store facilities increased 2.4 percent, or $13 million, in the quarter, as compared to the same period in 2016, primarily because of higher realized annual rent per occupied square foot. Cost of operations for the same-store facilities increased 1.6 percent, or $2.4 million, during the period compared to the previous year.

FFO was $2.35 per diluted common share, compared to $2.51 for the same period the previous year, marking a 6.4 percent decrease. NOI increased $15.7 million compared to the same period in 2016, including $10.6 million for same-store facilities.

The company acquired seven self-storage facilities during the quarter for $47.3 million. They include two properties in Florida, two in South Carolina and one each in Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio. Together they comprise 400,000 net rentable square feet. It also completed nine new development and various expansion projects that added 1.4 million net rentable square feet to its portfolio for $144.5 million.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma forced temporary closure of 240 facilities in Florida and Texas. The company reported a $7.8 million casualty loss due to property damage and associated repair costs. The REIT estimates itll incur $10 million in expenses to complete repairs. It doesnt expect to receive any insurance proceeds since the loss estimates are less than its insurance deductibles. Public Storage incurred $5.2 million in incremental ancillary cost of operations due to the storms. Due to damage and service disruptions, it has removed 13 facilities from its same-store pool.

The company reported a regular common quarterly dividend of $2 per common share, which was equal to the previous quarter. It also declared dividends with respect to various series of preferred shares. All the dividends are payable on Dec. 28 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 13.

Based in Glendale, Calif., Public Storage has interests in 2,374 self-storage facilities in 38 states, with approximately 157 million net rentable square feet. Operating under the Shurgard brand name, the company also has 220 facilities in seven European countries, with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet.
Storage Vault Ltd., which operates three self-storage facilities in Scotland, intends to develop seven new locations across the region. The projects will incorporate the companys model of flexible workspace, offering a mix of storage, office and studio space. The first is slated for Scotland Street in Glasgow, which is already underway and expected to be complete in January, according to a press release.

Other Scottish cities tagged for sites are Bishopbriggs, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Hamilton, Maryhill and Polmadie. The projects will more than double Storage Vaults footprint.

The company announced its expansion plan after securing 5 million in funding from HSBC Bank plc. The financing was allocated from a 10 billion fund setup to support small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom. Of that total, 500 million was designated to support Scottish firms, the release stated.

Weve seen the market for self-storage grow by 10 to 15 percent annually in the last five years, presenting real opportunities for ambitious businesses, said Scott Wilson, relationship director for HSBC in Scotland. Securing the right commercial property is becoming more competitive, particularly in the central belt, and Storage Vault helps address the gap with an innovative solution, which we are more than happy to support.

Storage Vault launched behind a 50 million investment from Scottish Capital Partners Ltd., a private investment firm led by entrepreneur John McGlynn, Storage Vaults founder and chairman. Scottish Capitals initial plan was to develop 10 workspace sites. Its first facility, a 180,000-square-foot property in Paisley, opened in 2015. Its second site, developed in the Glasgow suburb of Cambuslang, is built on 7.5 acres.

Storage Vault properties offer purpose-built, drive-up storage units in varying sizes up to 200 square feet. Locations include 24-hour access, board and meeting rooms, furnished offices, kitchens, phone, Internet, reception services, postal facilities, security measures, and parking.

The funding deal provided by HSBC adds more firepower to our investment pot and supports our ambition to grow beyond the original plan of 10 sites from our equity investment, said Anthony McAteer, managing director of Storage Vault. Scotland has a rich landscape of startups and SMEs, and by providing new ultra-flexible storage and workspaces, we are doing a small part to make it easier for someone to make the leap to start a business or grow an existing one. Were excited to be working with HSBC and looking forward to the opening of the many sites we have in the planning and development stages.

HSBC offers a range of banking services to about 17 million customers in the U.K. A subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, it employs about 43,000 people. Headquartered in London, HSBC Holdings has 3,900 offices in 67 countries and territories. It has assets of more than $2.5 trillion.

McGlynn has launched more than 50 business ventures in the past 20 years. In addition to Scottish Capital and Storage Vault, hes the founder of Storage Investments, a commercial landlord that owns a drive-up self-storage chain in the U.K. In 2014, he sold several car-park sites to focus on commercial investment properties. In all, Storage Vault principals have more than 15 years of experience in commercial-property ventures, including self-storage.
The future of warfare is hybrid  and the future is now, expert says
American International Group ( AIG ) has announced the appointment of Lex Baugh as its chief executive officer for North American general insurance. In the new role, Baugh will oversee the companys US and Canada general insurance business. He will be part of AIGs general insurance executive leadership team, and will report to Peter Zaffino, chief executive officer of general insurance.Prior to taking his new position, Baugh served as president of liability and financial lines at AIG. Hes also served as the companys president of global casualty and chief risk officer and head of strategic planning for AIG Property Casualty.Lex brings an enormous amount of leadership experience to this role, with over 30 years at AIG, Zaffino said. I look forward to working with Lex and Chris Townsend, who we recently appointed as CEO of international general insurance, to transform our business globally into a profitable and growing organization, aligned with the market and with the needs and expectations of our clients and distribution partners.Reporting to Baugh will be George Stratts, who has been named chief executive officer of Lexington Insurance Company, the largest excess and surplus underwriter in the US. Stratts has more than 25 years of experience in commercial property insurance. He most recently served as president of AIGs Property and Special Risks division.Georges deep expertise in the E&S market and proven leadership in property insurance represents the commitment were making to dedicate our best resources to this strategically important business, Zaffino said.
While the bulk of insurers are facing challenging times, their results hit by the series of catastrophes in North and Central America, Hiscox appears to have emerged relatively unscathed.



The specialist insurer has announced its results for the first nine months of the year, ending September 30, 2017, and notes that gross written premiums have climbed by 12.4% to stand at 2,088.8 million (approximately US$2,746 million)  indeed its US business actually saw premiums grow by 29% at constant currency.



2017 is turning out to be an historic year for catastrophes and Hiscoxs first priority is to help our customers get back on their feet, said Bronek Masojaga, group chief executive officer. Our long-held strategy of balance and diversity was built for this environment, as our retail businesses provide stability when volatility impacts the big-ticket areas. Our balance sheet is strong, and we are in a good position to capitalise on changes in the market.



Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us at the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago.



So what were the numbers?



Hiscox Retail enjoyed a 16.2% rise at constant currency from 871.2 million in gross written premiums for the same period in 2016, compared to 1,075.5 million this time around. Hiscox UK and Ireland saw its GWP climb from 369.4 million to 417.4 million; Hiscox Europe climbed from 136.1 million to 167.3 million; Hiscox USA saw GWP increase from US$400.9 million to US$518 million; while DirectAsia slipped back slightly from 10.2 million to 8.4 million.



GWP for Hiscox London Market fell back from 520.2 million to 463 million with the company noting that Kate Markham, managing director Hiscox Direct in the UK, has been appointed to the new position of chief executive officer of Hiscox London Market, where she will work closely with chief underwriting officer Paul Lawrence.



Meanwhile, Hiscox Re saw GWP increase from 466.8 million to 553.3 million.



Looking at the impact of the spate of catastrophes in North America, Hiscox noted that its early estimates were prudent  the combined net claims for hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria were at US$225 million.






The proposed House tax-reform bill could mean boosted earnings for property and casualty companies.



The bill calls for a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. That could lift earnings of US P&C companies by an average of 14%, according to an analysis by Morgan Stanley. However, the bills provisions on excise tax and intercompany debt could deal a blow to global P&C companies.



The bills excise provision calls for a 20% tax on payments to foreign affiliates, according to a report by Intelligent Insurer. Under the provision, companies can elect to pay US tax on the foreign earnings rather than gross receipts  but that will be a negative for foreign reinsurers, according to the Morgan Stanley analysis.



The intercompany debt provision may also result in a tax hike for global P&C companies. The proposed bill limits the deduction of interest by domestic subsidiaries of international groups, much like proposed Treasury regulations limiting earnings stripping, Intelligent Insurer reported.



Earnings stripping lowers taxable income at US subsidiaries of foreign companies through related party debt between the US arms and their foreign parents. If earnings stripping is limited, it could increase the effective tax rate for global companies like Aon and Marsh & McLennan Companies, according to Intelligent Insurer.




A former Nationwide insurance agent and Tennessee state senator has been appointed to a position in the Trump administration.Jim Tracy, who spent years running a Nationwide agency in Tennessee, also served as a state senator and speaker pro tem of the Tennessee state senate. Stacy has been appointed as the Tennessee state director of the US Department of Agricultures Rural Development program.Stacy resigned as state senator after accepting the position with the Trump administration, according to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette. A Republican, Tracy has served in the state senate since 2004.Today is an emotional day for me, Tracy told the paper Monday. Tracy said that the USDA job was an opportunity to continue my public service.This is a great loss for the senate but a big win for Tennessee agriculture, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said in a statement.
The House of Representatives is nearing a vote on a bill intended to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) even as an industry group voices its opposition.The House Rules Committee held a hearing on the 21st Century Flood Reform Act late Monday. That committee is legislations last stop before going to the House Floor  which means that the bill could get a vote within days.However, the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has come out against the bill. PIA says the legislation, if passed into law, will force insurance agents to stop participating in the NFIP. At issue is a proposed three-percentage-point cut of the Write Your Own (WYO) reimbursement rate paid to those participating in the NFIP.This cut was negotiated by trade groups and other representatives of insurance carriers without regard for the needs of consumers and agents, or the negative impact it will have on the flood insurance program and disaster preparedness, said Jon Gentile, PIAs vice president of government relations.Gentile said the cut would place an onerous burden on independent agents.Let us be clear: As carriers have stated, this reduction to the WYO reimbursement rate will be passed on to independent insurance agents through abrupt cuts to their commissions, Gentile said. Such cuts will force agents who currently sell flood insurance to leave the program, because it will become prohibitively expensive for agents to sell flood insurance, and it will discourage agents from entering the NFIP policy market. This will ultimately hurt consumers, just as cutting the agent out of the Affordable Care Act hurt consumers in their purchase of health insurance.Gentile said that back-to-back disasters this year illustrated the need for a healthy flood insurance program.In the aftermath of the devastation wrought by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, it is unconscionable that policymakers would include a provision making it less likely that homeowners will purchase flood insurance by undermining the NFIPs sales force, Gentile said. It is unfortunate that consumers and agents are the only ones being asked to suffer the financial consequences of these programmatic changes, when they are arguably the groups that can least afford it.
Two South Florida personal injury lawyers facing charges in an insurance fraud investigation have reached plea agreements and are cooperating with the authorities.A total of six attorneys were arrested in September for allegedly participating in an insurance fraud scheme that allowed them to take in profitable kickbacks. Most of the lawyers arrested faced multiple felony counts suggesting that they paid for referrals from tow truck drivers, auto repair employees, and other personnel with access to vehicle collision reports.Prosecutors note that the attorneys used the referrals with medical practices to make fraudulent motor vehicle tort and personal injury protection claims.Steven Slootsky of Steven E. Slootsky P.A. in Boca Raton was the first to commit to a plea. According to the agreement filed in Broward Circuit Court, Slootsky has agreed to plead guilty to 15 felonies, spend up to five years in prison and pay over $170,000 in restitution.The other lawyer to enter into a plea agreement, Vincent Pravato of Fort Lauderdale-based Wolf and Pravato, reached a deal Friday. He faces three felonies  namely communications fraud, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and patient brokering.The deal for both lawyers also requires them to make restitution payments to 11 insurance companies: 21st Century/Security National/Foremost, Esurance, Geico, Infinity, Liberty Mutual , MAPFRE, Ocean Harbor, Progressive, State Farm , USAA, and Windhaven, Daily Business Review reported.Under the plea agreement, Slootsky will have to pay about $34,039 to Geico, $22,276 to State Farm, $18,433 to Progressive, $16,077 to Ocean Harbor, $15,407 to 21st Century/Security National/Foremost, $15,067 to Liberty Mutual, $14,885 to MAPFRE, $13,843 to Esurance; $8,469 to Windhaven, $5,887 to Infinity and $5,819 to USAA . This does not include the cost of prosecution (nearly $2,937), investigation ($5,000), and forensic services ($1,420) that he has also agreed to pay for.
Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, responded to the Texas church shooting in an op-ed published Monday by The Washington Post titled, Why Church Shootings Dont Intimidate the Church.

Here are a few excerpts:

The goal the gunman sought, to terrorize worshipers, has been attempted constantly over the centuries around the world by cold, rational governments and terrorist groups  all thinking that they could, by the trauma of violence, snuff out churches, or at least intimidate those churches into hiding from one another.

Such violent tactics always end up with the exact opposite of what the intimidators intend: a resilient church that, if anything, moves forward with even more purpose than before.

Whether they are crazed loners in the United States or jihadist cells in Syria or governing councils in the old Soviet bloc, these forces fundamentally misunderstand the source of Christianitys strength in the first place. Killers assume, after all, that gunfire or poison gas or mass beheadings will show Christians how powerless we are. That is true. They assume that this sense of powerlessness will rob the community of its will to be the church. That is false.

If they looked overhead, in almost any of the churches they attempt to destroy, these killers might see what they miss: the cross.

The days ahead will be awful for the grieving community of Sutherland Springs. But one thing is certain: Come Sunday, they will be gathered again, singing and praying and opening the Word. That church will bear witness to the truth that shaped them: Eternal life cannot be overcome by death. And over that church will be a cross.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has announced the acquisition of Pittsburgh, Penn.-based Allied Business Network (ABN) and Smart Business Savings (SBS). Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.ABN is a national program broker that offers ecommerce access to products and services throughout the US, Canada and Europe. SBS provides a similar service and features a white-label program, Business Advantage Plus, for larger clients that want to offer discounts to their business customers.With their strong client relationships, wide array of products and deep knowledge of the affinity loyalty and reward space, ABN and SBS are terrific additions to our US affinity operations, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher.The latest acquisitions continue something of a trend for Arthur J. Gallagher, which has acquired several other businesses recently. In October alone, the company acquired insurance brokerage and risk management services firm Lutgert Insurance and New Mexico-based Reynolds and Rodar Insurance.
Agencies grow on efficiency. And agency principals know exactly what they need to help ensure that growth  so for tech companies working in insurance, its all about listening to those clients and building a product to deliver on their vision.Thats what has led to the latest development from Vertafore, said the companys VP of solutions consulting, Doug Mohr.The company is updating its AMS360 agency management system to include accounting software for multi-divisional brokerages, plus updates on ACORD forms.This is based on our customers requests, Mohr said. It was the right time to make this investment into the backend of AMS360 and start looking at a long term roadmap on how we can address the [customers] needs.AMS360 is the most widely used P&C agency management system in the United States. We have over 80,000 users, 7,400 agencies using this solution today, and that is continuing to grow every month, he said.But its success wasnt a reason for Vertafore to rest on its laurels. Rather, the company is looking to make that popular product even better for its customers, Mohr said.Where AMS360 fits is it gets into the low-end of the market  but its starting to expand into the upper end of the market, and getting into that Top 100 space, he explained.The latest updates are just some of the first step towards additional services within AMS360, Mohr said, as Vertafore seeks to continue to improve its products to assist its agency-partners growth.Weve been working with our larger customers  to evaluate some of the capabilities that were needed in AMS360, and one of the big ones was related to accounting capabilities, he explained.A number of our large brokers  have been asking us to make enhancements to the accounting module. Accounting is not sexy  its not necessarily customer facing, [but] its strengthening the core. That allows us to serve our customers better.
One of the two daughters of a Cork man sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for sexually abusing them over a number of years has told RTE Radio One's Today with Sean O'Rourke programme that she still loves her father.

Retired soldier Jerry O'Keefe was yesterday sent to prison for the rape and sexual assault of his daughters Amy Barrett and Melissa O'Keefe.

In July, he pleaded guilty to nine sample charges out of 78 original counts before his trial was due to begin. Both daughters waived their anonymity so 69-year-old OKeefe from Oakhill, Youghal, Co Cork can be identified in the media.

Amy Barrett spoke to Sean O'Rourke this morning of the abuse she suffered in the 1980s and revealed how it was not clear to her that what was happening was wrong.

She said: "Does any seven-year-old know? The stuff that was happening to me, I didn't understand. The physical pain of it, I remember that. I didn't understand why dad was doing this to me, I thought maybe this was just what dads do.

"You do what your parents tell you when you're young, so I didn't question it."

Melissa O'Keefe (left) and Amy Barrett

She then continued to say that she doesn't remember how often it happened but she knew the signs, she knew when the abuse was coming.

She said: "There was a routine to it, a familiar pattern. Dad is almost like a split personality, before the abuse he would be really nice to me, almost like buttering me up.

"But I knew it was coming then when it would start off with me sitting on his lap."

Yesterday, Melissa and Amy told 3News that they did not know that their father was abusing the other, and O'Rourke asked them when they realised they were both suffering the abuse.

Amy said: "I think it was probably well into my teens when I found out Melissa was abused by my dad as well. I didn't actually go into the details of the abuse with my sister then, it's very hard to talk to somebody about the abuse."

Melissa O'Keefe (left) and Amy Barrett during their 3News interview yesterday.

She then spoke about how she had to continue on with her life, going to school and doing others normal things while the abuse was going on.

She said: "That's very difficult because you're trying to live as normal as you can and trying to pretend that you have a normal family. The strain was incredible, but I did always feel different, I knew I was different when I went to school and I couldn't interact with other kids properly.

"I've always been quiet, I've always been nervous."

Amy said she did very few activities outside of school and she found it very hard to concentrate on her studies at the time and even after the abuse had stopped.

She said: "I do remember struggling even through my Leaving Cert. It was really difficult to concentrate on school work."

The abuse stopped, she thinks, around the age of 11 or 12, when they moved house and she doesn't remember it happening again.

She spoke of not being able to tell anybody, saying that you did what you were told by him, he was such a controlling person.

She said: "You just wouldn't cross him, you did what you were told. There was no way of telling anybody and the first time I told was the Rape Crisis Centre when I spoke about the details of the abuse.

"I would have told my friends in my later teenage years, but I wouldn't have gone into the details."

It was in 1999 that Amy went to the Rape Crisis Centre to speak about the abuse and she described having been in a dark hole out of which they had pulled her.

She said: "It was so difficult, they were my dark days, they were the days when I just wanted to give up and they helped me out of a dark hole. They pulled me out of it, they gave me the skills then to deal with it and with life after that."

"I've gone through the anger and the running away, the denials and I am where I am today which is the hurting."

She then revealed the last time she spoke to her father.

Amy said: "I spoke to him around 2014 just after I made the statement (to Gardai), because I wanted to let dad know what I had done and I wanted to see if he would just do the right thing by us now because we all needed to face up to this.

"It is one of the weirdest conversations I've ever had. Dad would be sitting their drinking tea and talking and I asked him had he remembered abusing me and he said 'I do', and then when I start talking about the details of the abuse, he would flip the lid and just start shouting and roaring at me and saying 'I didn't do that to you, you were too young'.

"And he did that pattern all through the court case."

Amy Barrett talking outside court yesterday as her sister Melissa O'Keefe looks on. Pic: Collins.

She explained how her father would have said sorry to her a few times for his actions.

She said: "He rang me on the day I was getting married and said sorry, and I would always say 'for what?' and he would say 'you know what'. He could never actually bring himself to say 'I'm sorry for what I did to you'.

"It was my brother who gave me away that day and I didn't think twice about it, I'd broke the connection with him years ago.

"I still love my dad, but that doesn't mean I want any kind of relationship with him either."

She then went on to explain how she could still feel love for her father.

She said: "I've struggled with it for years, this has been a secret for years, the shame, and it's been all on me. But like I said in my victim impact statement, I hand them all back to dad now.

"I have great faith and trust in God, and God gave me the strength and he gave me the courage to get through every single day and I know myself, the only way I can have peace is just to let it go.

"I still honestly love dad and I can't do anything about it, it's just the way I feel."

As for her own life, Amy said that she wants to put it behind her and get on with as good a life as she could possibly have.

She said: "I have a lot of determination in me, I was determined to get on in life, I knew I wanted my own family, my own kids, my own husband.

"I wanted to have a good life, I didn't want to have anything like I had myself."

She then explained why they both waived their anonymity.

She said: "For me and Melissa, we took it stage by stage, not expecting too much and take it as it comes. When it got to the point where we had the choice to waive our rights and I knew I wanted to do this for my own personal reasons - the shame, the secrecy around abuse, to get it out there.

"And then to help other people obviously, because I know there are too many victims out there, there is too much silence around abuse."

Referring to the headline of the story on the front page of today's Irish Examiner "Never too late to speak out", she said she had asked the same question of Mary Crilly of the Sexual Violence Centre in Cork, whom she called her 'angel'.

Amy said: "She just said 'no you're not'."

She said that people don't talk enough about the abuse people endure, saying: "People don't talk enough about abuse. I didn't know then that there was anybody going through it."

You can listen to the full interview below.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has worn an Irish-themed red poppy badge to commemorate Irish war dead.

The Fine Gael leader wore the Shamrock Poppy in the Dail today.

The move is symbolic of the greater recognition now afforded in the Republic of Ireland to those Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War, in the years prior to independence.

Mr Varadkar's predecessor Enda Kenny broke new ground in 2012 by attending a Remembrance Sunday service in Northern Ireland, at Enniskillen.

He laid a laurel wreath at the town's war memorial on that occasion and every year since.

Mr Varadkar will attend the service in Enniskillen this Sunday as the local community marks the 30th anniversary of the notorious IRA Poppy Day bombing in the town.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said he had been given the Shamrock Poppy by Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan.

"The Shamrock Poppy recognises Irish soldiers who fought in World War I," he said.

"It was commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War by the Irish branch of the Royal British Legion to remember the 206,000 Irishmen that fought, 26,500 of whom died in battle.

"Proceeds from the Shamrock Poppy go to Irish veterans and their families, and towards the upkeep to memorials to Irish soldiers in Ireland. All money stays in Ireland.

"They are available from the Irish branch of the Royal Legion."
A retired soldier who raped his daughter and regularly abused another daughter has been jailed for 10 years.

Justice Patrick McCarthy said that Jerry O'Keeffe's crimes brought about the destruction of his daughters' childhoods.

It is hard to find words to describe each new outrage inflicted on these children, the judge said.

O'Keeffe (aged 69), of Oakhill, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges of rape, five of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. These were nine sample charges out of a total of 78 covering a period from January 1980 to March 1987.

At a pre-sentencing hearing last October Timothy O'Leary SC, prosecuting, told the court that both women were waiving their right to anonymity.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said these were extremely serious offences and it beggared belief that a man could behave in such a fashion.

Melissa OKeefe (left) and her sister Amy Barrett leave the Central Criminal Court in Dublin earlier this month. Pic Collins Courts.

In her victim impact statement Amy Barrett described her childhood as very traumatic, and said she was a mixed bag of confusion and terror as a result of her father's crimes.

Previously the court heard that the three charges of rape and two charges of indecent assault related to O'Keeffe's eldest daughter, Amy Barrett, and took place at the family home at The Arch, Youghal, Co Cork.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said O'Keeffe's rape of his daughter Amy, which began when she was eight years old, was a commonplace event and amounted to repeated, extremely serious abuse.

He said the assaults against Melissa O'Keeffe, which began when she was 11, were also extremely serious.

Mr Justice McCarthy said their victim impact statements conveyed a degree of hurt and pain that was difficult to understand.

He added that their experience was best summarised by Mrs Barrett's statement that she loved and trusted her dad, and he in turn had betrayed that trust.

Mr Justice McCarthy said Mr O'Keeffe's guilty plea must be taken into account in mitigation, but he said the plea came "not at the eleventh hour but at five minutes to midnight" after legal proceedings had commenced.

He said this case merited consecutive sentences relating to each daughter. He said the appropriate total period of imprisonment in this case should be 10 years.

He imposed a seven-year sentence for the rape offences and a three-year term of imprisonment for the sexual assaults, to run consecutively.

During a previous hearing last month Sgt John Sharkey told the court that O'Keefe regularly asked Amy, who was aged eight at the time, to sit on his lap in the sitting room. He would then sexually assault her before bringing her upstairs to his bedroom where he would remove his clothes and rape her.

The abuse ended in 1985 when Mrs Barrett was aged 12.

She said she found making friends very difficult and attempted suicide after the birth of her first child just to get some peace.

She said still suffers from panic attacks and the sexual abuse took most of her confidence away.

Mrs Barrett paid tribute to the Rape Crisis Centre in Cork, who she said supported her throughout the last few years since she reported the matter to gardai.

I have had feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment and hurt for years but today I hand them back to my Dad, she said.

The remaining charges against O'Keeffe related to the abuse of his younger daughter, Melissa O'Keeffe, which took place at the family's new home at Catherine's Street, Youghal, Co Cork.

O'Keeffe would go into the child's bedroom late at night after returning from the pub and climb into bed beside her. He would then molest her, the court heard.

The sisters reported the abuse to the Southern Health Board in 1999 after attending the Rape Crisis Centre in Cork. As a result O'Keefe agreed to leave the family home and no further action was taken against him.

Melissa O'Keefe said she went to gardai in 1999 but withdrew the allegations after her parents confronted her. Both victims reported the matter to gardai again in October 2014.

A victim impact statement on behalf of Ms O'Keefe was read out to the court and described how she resisted calling out for her mother in case she got into trouble.

I went to gardai to make a complaint in 1999 but my parents confronted me so I had to lie and say I made it all up, she said.

Ms O'Keefe said she found it hard to settle in relationships as a result of the abuse.

If I get a certain smell or if someone moves in a certain way I freak out. But today I finally have the voice that I didn't have when I was 16, she said.
The Trump administration is seeking US$4bn in emergency spending to pay for urgent missile defence improvements to counter the nuclear threat from North Korea.

The request delivered to Congress today said the cash "supports additional efforts to detect, defeat and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies or partners".

It came as President Donald Trump raised the pressure on North Korea by refusing to rule out military action and declaring that the US "will not stand" for Pyongyang menacing the US or its Asian allies.

That includes current and projected threats to the US homeland, Guam, South Korea and Japan.

Portions of the money would be used for the construction of an additional ground-based interceptor field at Fort Greely, Alaska, the initial procurement of 20 new ground-based interceptors, ship-based missiles, and interceptors for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, a US mobile anti-missile system.

Mr Trump, on the first stop of a lengthy Asia tour, denounced North Korea as "a threat to the civilised world", and urged dictator Kim Jong Un to cease testing weapons like the missiles he has fired over Japanese territory in recent weeks.

Though he stood in one of the Asian capitals in range of North Korea's missiles, Mr Trump did not modulate his fiery language, saying Pyongyang endangers "international peace and stability".

"Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years," said Mr Trump, who stood with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at a news conference in Tokyo.

Mr Abe, who has taken a more hawkish view on North Korea than some of his predecessors, agreed with Mr Trump's assessment that "all options are on the table" when dealing with Kim and announced new sanctions against several dozen North Korean individuals.

Mr Trump and Mr Abe have struck up a friendship in meetings, phone calls and on the golf course, a friendship that was on display at a Monday evening banquet that was the final event of Mr Trump's visit.

Mr Abe called Mr Trump his "dear friend" and hailed the benefits of what he called "golf diplomacy".

The two men acknowledge the threat posed by the North, standing with families of Japanese citizens snatched by Pyongyang's agents.

Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump stood with nearly two dozen relatives, some of whom held photos of the missing.

Seeking to increase pressure on Kim, Mr Trump pledged to work to return the missing to their families, saying: "It's a very, very sad number of stories that we've heard."

North Korea has acknowledged apprehending 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s, but claims they all died or have been released.

Mr Trump has delivered harsh denunciations of Kim, belittling him as "Little Rocket Man", but suggested it would be "a tremendous signal" if North Korea returned the captives.

AP
The bid for Qualcomm is an ambitious move by Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan, who has turned a small, scrappy chipmaker into a $100bn company based in Singapore and the US. It has pulled off a string of purchases over a decade.

Buying Qualcomm would make Broadcom the third-largest chipmaker, behind Intel and Samsung Electronics. The combined business would instantly become the default provider of a set of components needed to build each of the more than 1bn smartphones sold every year.

The deal would dwarf Dells $67bn acquisition of EMC in 2015  then the biggest in the technology industry.

Qualcomm, which employs around 100 people in Cork, said it would review the unsolicited proposal. The company could reject the bid as too low and fraught with risk that regulators would reject it or take too long to approve it.

The acquisition would, in particular, raise the stakes for Intel, which has been diversifying from its stronghold in computers into smartphone technology by supplying modem chips to Apple.

Based in California, Qualcomm, whose chips allow phones to connect to wireless data networks, has more than 33,000 employees worldwide.

The firm set up an information technology base in Cork three years ago, with the IDA-backed firm announcing plans to hire 100 staff. The company has a number of engineering and support roles advertised for its Cork base, which is located at the City Gate development in Mahon.

Qualcomm is more vulnerable to a takeover now because its shares have been held down by a patent dispute with Apple, as well as concerns it may have to raise its own $38bn bid for NXP Semiconductors that it made last year.

The lawsuit may prompt Apple to stop buying Qualcomm chips for use in the iPhone and other products, which would be a major blow to a unit that drives the bulk of Qualcomms revenue. Meanwhile, Broadcom counts Apple among its largest customers.

As part of the Broadcom deal, Qualcomm shareholders would get $60 in cash and $10 per share in Broadcom shares. Including debt, Broadcoms bid values the transaction at $130bn.

Any deal struck between the two companies would face intense regulatory scrutiny. A big hurdle would be getting regulatory approval in China, on which both Qualcomm and Broadcom rely on heavily to make money.

China is set to scrutinise any deal closely after US regulators blocked a flurry of chip deals by Chinese firms due to security concerns, thwarting the Asian countrys attempt to become self-reliant in chip manufacturing.

But Broadcom said Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley have told it that they are highly confident that they will be able to arrange the necessary debt financing for the proposed transaction.

Broadcom approached Qualcomm last year to discuss a potential combination, but did not contact Qualcomm prior to unveiling its $70 per share offer.

Reuters, Irish Examiner, Bloomberg
A new survey of European cities, by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), has ranked Dublin seventh out of 17 locations, in terms of tourist spend income in 2016.

According to the survey, overseas visitors spent a combined 9.2bn in Dublin last year, roughly 10% up on 2015. London, Istanbul and Amsterdam topped the list; with tourist spending topping 18.9bn, 17.5bn and 11.8bn respectively.

A spokesperson for Failte Ireland suggested that with the double digit percentage growth in North American visitors this year, tourist spend  across the country  should continue to show impressive growth this year.

Tourism Ireland said likewise, for Dublin, particularly on the back of some new campaigns put in place to attract new visitors to the capital.

Tourism Ireland is due to unveil its visitor targets for 2018 when it launches its marketing budget for the next 12 months in early December.

It, essentially, kicked-off its promotional drive in London yesterday by appearing  alongside 70 Irish tourism firms  at the World Travel Market (WTM) event, the worlds largest travel fair. There, Tourism Ireland chief Niall Gibbons said that despite the fear of lower visitor numbers from the UK, due to Brexit, Britain remains a priority.

As our nearest neighbour and our largest market for overseas tourism, Britain will remain a priority for us, he said.

Meanwhile, the WTTC study also found that big European cities are largely resilient to terrorist attacks, with Paris, Brussels and Istanbul all expected to see a surge in tourism over the next decade despite initial falls in visitor numbers following a spate of attacks in the past two years.

London is also expected to weather the storms of terrorist threats and Brexit, despite both putting pressure on its tourism sector this year.

Our data suggests that London is well-placed to be resilient against these challenges. We expect international tourism spend to increase by 7% every year over the next ten years, WTTC chief executive Gloria Guevara said.
The UGT union, which represents employees in sectors ranging from food processing to mining, said on its website that it opposes any move to shun Nestle products such as Nescafe and Viladrau bottled water.

Nestle is one of Catalonias biggest private employers, with four of its 10 Spanish production sites based in the region, as well as its country headquarters.

We are calling for common sense and the end to any boycott or move that obstructs the normal sale of Nestle products, the UGT said.

Behind the brand, there are thousands of jobs that shouldnt be put at risk and which support many families across all of Spain, it said.

Calls to shun emblematic Catalan brands have often erupted elsewhere in Spain whenever separatist sentiment simmered up in the northeastern region.

Theyve spread anew via Twitter and Facebook amid ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemonts attempt to secede. Typically Catalan products such as cava face the brunt of the boycotts, but this time Nestle has been drawn in.

The Swiss company employs more than 4,930 people in Spain, where it got more than 2bn of revenue in 2016, according to Nestles local website.

In addition to those direct jobs, Nestle helps give work to thousands of Spaniards indirectly through its purchases of goods and services, the UGT said.

Other multinationals that have faced calls for boycotts include Danone, which bottles Font Vella water near Girona.

The UGT has spoken up in defence of the French yoghurt maker as well, condemning the boycotts.

Meanwhile, Spains services industrys took a hit last month during the crisis in Catalonia, dealing a blow to one of the eurozones best-performing economies.

IHS Markits monthly gauge fell the most in more than two years, dropping 2.1 points to 54.6, according to new data. While the gauge still signals growth, thats the weakest reading since January and far below the median forecast of economists.

Bloomberg
Futures advanced up to 1.2% in New York after the purge eliminated potential rivals to crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and included a member of the royal council overseeing state oil producer Saudi Aramco and one of its directors. However, the arrests of princes, government ministers and billionaires may cast a shadow over the November 30 meeting of Opec.

The geopolitical supply risk premium is starting to bear its head in the market right now because Opec supply cuts have made it relevant, Michael Loewen, a commodities strategist at Scotiabank in Toronto, said.

Now that Opec has capped supply and demand has continued to grow higher over time, we are near balanced and that means supply risk is more important, he said.

Oil has advanced for four straight weeks in New York on signs that a global glut is shrinking in response to output caps implemented by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers including Russia.

At the November 30 gathering, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other major suppliers are expected to make the case for extending the limits beyond their March expiration.

Brent for January settlement climbed 46c to $62.53 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, and traded at a $6.41 premium to West Texas Intermediate for the same month.

The contract for West Texas Intermediate for December delivery rose 23c to $55.87 a barrel in New York trade after earlier rising to $56.28, the highest intraday price since July 2015.

Security forces arrested 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of former ministers and prominent businessmen, according to Saudi media. I wouldnt expect a change of strategy for Saudi Arabia in terms of production and Opec policy, Rupert Harrison, chief macro strategist at BlackRock International said.

But clearly the risk is always from disruption, and thats the uncertainty that hangs over this and is always very hard to call, said Mr Harrison.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is ready to meet the Niger Delta Avengers and other armed groups in the southern oil-rich region, according to a Reuters report, after the militants ended their truce.

Bloomberg
There has been much criticism of then environment minister Phil Hogans decision to abolish the councils in 2013, as well as increased calls for their return.

However, two reports commissioned by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, which are to be published later this month, are to recommend against their return, according to a senior government source.

The news comes amid a standoff within Government over the future size of local area constituencies.

The Cabinet will today discuss a memorandum on overhauling boundaries, ahead of changes for the 2019 local elections.

Fine Gael ministers are under fire for wanting changes to reduce the sizes of local areas. But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended the measures yesterday, saying they are needed because local councillors, in some cases, are currently representing areas the size of a city.

Speaking in west Dublin at a social housing launch, he said: We do have some around the country that are just too big, that are the size of half a county for example and that doesnt make any sense.

And even here in Dublin West where we are, we have seven and eight-seaters where councillors represent 50,000 people. Thats not a local neighbourhood, thats almost a city. So what we need is to put aside political interest here and have boundaries that reflect the communities that people actually live in and thats what local government should be all about.

The Government says the new boundary structures will be set by an independent commission and that party political interests must be set aside when it comes to the changes. But Independent Alliance ministers and councillors are concerned about boundaries being shrunk, saying this will benefit larger parties and that the Government is trying to gerrymander local areas. But the Taoiseach said efforts to widen local areas before had failed to benefit smaller parties.

The reason why we had a big increase in the number of nine and 10-seaters five years ago was very much at the behest of the Labour Party who believed in doing so at the time, that they would help more Labour councillors to hold their seats. That actually didnt happen.

Mr Murphy also said proposed changes would give more powers back to local authorities and reforms would make boundaries smaller, to make them more meaningful. However, the prospect of areas being reduced in size or any failure to return town councils for communities has angered some parties. The Alliance is determined to have their say at Cabinet today. Labour leader Brendan Howlin also admitted allowing the abolition of town councils was a big mistake of our time in Government.

Fianna Fail local government spokesman Shane Cassells said 80 town councils, which had served their communities extremely well over 115 years, were wiped away at the stroke of a pen.
The National Cancer Registry, which publishes its annual report today, says that while it is good news that cancer rates are stabilising or falling in many cases, the long-term needs of survivors can not be overlooked.

Some 167,700 people in Ireland are currently living with the impact of cancer  either undergoing treatment, in remission, or completely cleared  a number that represents 3.6% of the entire population.

Kerri Clough-Gorr, director of the registry and professor of cancer epidemiology at University College Cork, said that while the upward trend in the number of survivors was to be celebrated, their ongoing care needs were significant.

Its fabulous and we have to be really cognisant of the fact that the progress were making has basically rendered cancer, in most cases, in the category of a chronic disease, Prof Clough-Gorr. But chronic diseases have implications and need attention.

There are effects that come from cancer treatment  medical effects and often late effects. Also, with people who have had cancer, new cancers become a risk.

We have to be very attentive to survivorship care and that means surveillance for recurrence of the cancer, prevention and detection of new cancers and monitoring of effects from the therapies.

You need co-ordination between specialists and that can be complicated, especially because cancer survivors are often old so working with a care plan for the long-term is really important. Also, working to ensure quality of life in the long-term because that affects the overall experience of cancer. Beating the cancer is not the end of the story.

The most common cancers among survivors are breast (24%), prostate (20%), colorectal (13%), skin melanoma (7%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4%), and lung (3%).

Another major challenge highlighted in the report is the countrys changing demographics. While the general rate of new cancers is stable or falling slightly in many cases, the growing population and the fact that people are living longer and more likely to develop late onset cancer, means the actual numbers of cases detected here is on the rise.

The problem that really need to be faced is that the actual numbers are increasing because of population growth and aging and that is going to start to really put some pressure on our health care system, said Prof Clough-Gorr.

This is going to burden the system as the numbers grow and if the system is not able to handle that then the quality of the patient experience will go down.

There have been 33,180 new diagnoses of cancer here each year since 2015, of which 22,320 are considered to be the most serious kind. Including all tumours and precancerous growths, the number is 40,570.

Around 8,770 people die from cancer here each year. Lung cancer is the deadliest, accounting for 19% of deaths in women and 23% in men.
The four-man gang who forced their way into his home in Co Offaly over the weekend also viciously beat the mans dog, which was described by a councillor as the farmers soulmate.

The 54-year-old farmer was dragged out his bed by the gang at Glasderry beg, Brosna, near Birr, Co Offaly, at 2am on Saturday. He was beaten in the head with an implement and dragged to a barn, where he was tied up.

Gardai have appealed for information about the crime and say the burglars, who had Munster accents, used a high-powered 4x4 vehicle and wore gloves and hats.

Local councillor John Leahy described it as a vicious attack and a vicious attack on the dog as well.

Mr Leahy said the gang grabbed the dog by the throat and gave the dog an unmerciful beating.

The drystock farmer, who grew up in the house, herds his cattle on foot and always has his sheepdog by his side, said Mr Leahy, who is a family friend. The dog, which he said was basically his soulmate, was in the room when the gang burst in and began their attack. Since the beating, no-one has been able to approach the dog because it is just bearing its teeth, said Mr Leahy.

The gang savagely beat the man before dragging him out to a barn where they tied him up and left him for dead. He managed to free himself and make his way to a neighbours house, where the alarm was raised and an ambulance was called. The farmer was expected to be discharged from hospital last night, but was not expected to return to his home.

The house was previously burgled around six weeks earlier the house, and all of the jewellery belonging to the farmers mother was stolen. This time, Mr Leahy said, there was nothing there to get but they completely and utterly ransacked the house.

He is not going back to the house, said Mr Leahy. The house is not habitable at this stage, they did so much damage.

Mr Leahy described the injured man as a typical bachelor farmer who would get the local weekly paper and cut out any pictures or mention of his godchildren, visit his mother in the nursing home, and keeps life very simple.

This man has done nothing, said Mr Leahy. He was going about his business and they nearly killed him. They have taken his livelihood. They have taken his security away from him and they have left the family to pick up the pieces.

He said there is a deep sense of fear and disgust in the community.

Gardai at Birr have appealed to farmers, residents, and landowners in the Shinrone area to keep a lookout for clothing that might have been discarded in fields or hedges.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Birr Garda Station 057 916 9710 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

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Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

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Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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Officers from Special Crime Operations (SCO), aided by the Emergency Response Unit and Armed Support Unit, detained the four, aged 25, 35, 37, and 38, last night in the north inner city. A gun and silencer were also seized.

The gardai did not specify whether those arrested were part of the Kinahan or Hutch gangs, whose feuding has claimed the lives of 12 people.
The call came as the head of the Arts Council said there was a culture of fear at the Dublin theatre where people were afraid to speak out.

A total of seven women have made allegations against the former theatre director over the last number of days, some of which include claims of inappropriate sexual comments and unwanted physical contact.

The Gate Theatre set up a confidential email address to deal with claims and said it was appointing an independent HR adviser. But those channels were rejected by the claimants, on the basis of the impartiality of the board.

Speaking yesterday, director of the NWCI Orla OConnor said Mr Colgans dual role as a board member and chief executive during his time at the Gate was a very unusual circumstance.

She suggested a very independent body should carry out an investigation into alleged harassment at the theatre.

It needs to be a body doing the investigation that is very independent of the [Gate] board because thats certainly some of the concerns that the women are raising, Ms OConnor said.

Many of the people on the board will have been board members when Michael Colgan was also a board member.

We need to see a more fully fledged independent investigation, one that is not controlled by the Gate Theatre. Theres a wider investigation needed here than what the Gate is currently saying, she said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Arts Council, Orla McBride, described a culture of fear at the theatre.

I think whats very clear in relation to what has emerged over the last number of days in relation to the Gate Theatre is people were afraid. There was a culture of fear in the Gate Theatre and people were afraid to come forward, she said.

Others to speak out yesterday included former High Court president Nicholas Kearns, a trustee of the Gate Theatre, who expressed deep concern at the allegations.

Siptu arts officer Karen OLoughlin also commented yesterday, on harassment within creative industries, and said a workplace is a workplace.

It was generally felt that people in the arts got away with a lot under the guise of artistic endeavour or artistic temperament. A workplace is a workplace, regardless of whether its an artistic workplace or not, she said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also spoke out yesterday about the allegations. He ruled out the setting up of an independent inquiry into allegations at the Gate but welcomed people coming forward but said allegations need to be investigated first.

Meanwhile, Arts Minister Heather Humphreys said: HR issues at the Gate are a matter for the management and board. However, she strongly encouraged any victims of sexual harassment to come forward.

Super junior minister for Education Mary Mitchell OConnor said there was a revolution happening in all sectors of society as women seek to have their voices heard. However, the minister said she had not experienced any sexual harassment in the Oireachtas.

Allegations against Michael Colgan

Several theatre professionals have made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against former Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan.

Playwright Grace Dyas was the first to publicly allege Mr Colgan had acted inappropriately towards her.

We were at the Dublin Theatre Festival and after the launch, we all went across the way to the Oak Bar and I saw Michael and he offered to buy me a drink. I accepted and he said: Youve lost so much weight Id almost have sex with you, Ms Dyas claimed.

Annette Clancy, a former theatre manager, also alleged Mr Colgan had acted inappropriately.

In a job interview, she claimed he referred to her massage therapy qualifications and said: Well I wish youd give me a massage someday.

Playwright Elizabeth Ciara Smyth claimed Mr Colgan touched her body and passed comments about it.

Constant touching of my thighs, back and very occasionally my bum while I sat beside him typing from his dictation. He made frequent comments about the size of my breasts and whether or not Id contemplate a breast reduction, considering my small frame, Ms Smyth said.

Ruth Gordon, a producer, who was interviewing for a role at the Gate Theatre was allegedly asked by Mr Colgan if she planned on having a load of babies.

He eventually asked a few job-related questions and then said: What age are you, Ruth? Put on the spot, I told him my age reluctantly. This was swiftly followed up by: How do I know youre not going to go off in 18 months and have a load of babies?, Ms Gordon said.
The accused and his parents came to Cork Circuit Criminal Court last week when the accused faced sentencing and Judge Sean O Donnabhain was told no offer of compensation had been brought to court.

However, following a strict warning last week, the young man returned to court yesterday and there was 1,000 offered by way of compensation, Dermot Sheehan, defending, said. Judge O Donnabhain then decided to adjourn sentencing until November 20 with the accused remanded on bail.
The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has said that a provision for Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) within the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill  due before the Seanad this week  is key to tackling inequalities in alcohol-related harm.

IPH director of policy Dr Helen McAvoy said evidence shows there could be 139 fewer deaths and over 4,000 fewer hospital admissions annually if MUP was introduced in Ireland.

Comprehensive studies on the impact of MUP were developed for the departments of health, North and South, in 2014 by the University of Sheffield, Dr McAvoy said. These modelling studies show that MUP has significant potential to reduce alcohol-related harm in general and in particular among the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

The 2014 reports authors predict that a minimum unit price of 90c would to lead to 1,043 fewer crimes.

High-risk drinkers, who comprise around 5% of the population, account for 33% of this reduction. Costs of crime are estimated to reduce by 4.9m in year one under this policy, with higher MUP thresholds providing even greater savings, it said.

For example, the report estimates a 1.20 unit price would see the cost of crime fall by 11.5m in its first year. The report says MUP and promotion ban policies would only have a small impact on low-risk drinkers but does concede these measures would have larger impacts on those in poverty.

However, those in poverty also experience larger relative gains in health and are estimated to very marginally save money due to their reduced drinking under the majority of policies, it states.

Dr McAvoy described the bill as a critical component in addressing the significant risk of harm associated with alcohol-related violence, crime and injury as well as the longer term alcohol-related harms to mental and physical health.

However, Retail Ireland has warned proposals in the bill to remove the visibility of alcohol are unsustainable.

While we are fully supportive of government efforts to address this societal problem, there is no evidence to suggest that removing alcohol products from visibility in retail outlets will do anything to address the problem of alcohol misuse in Ireland, director of Retail Ireland, Thomas Burke said.

If this legislation is passed in its current form, independent estimates suggest that the in-store changes required would cost individual stores between 20,000 and 50,000, depending on store size, to ensure compliance. This is a burden the sector simply cannot carry, which aggregated across affected stores has been estimated to cost up to 70m.
In a new article written for the International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, Louise Crowley, vice dean and senior lecturer at the School of Law in University College Cork, said the 13 intervention programmes for male perpetrators received 390,000 in combined government funding in 2013 and their capacity is limited and their geographical spread is restrictive.

Dr Crowley said the restricted capacity results in a severely inadequate response, with areas such as Connaught and the border areas having fewer services than Leinster and Munster.

She said Ireland recognised the need to improve perpetrator intervention measures, including in its second national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, yet the Domestic Violence Bill 2017 did not mandate the courts to order the referral of an offender to a perpetrator programme.

Dr Crowley also spoke with some participants in an intervention programme operated by MOVE Cork, and found that few had ever been in prison and one man who had been incarcerated regretted that no perpetrator programme had been made available to him either while he was in jail or on release.

Dr Crowley said that this was one of the shortfalls in our system, claiming that Ireland should instead pursue policies and interventions that have proven successful in other countries.

One such example is Scotland, where a domestic abuse task force was established and played a role in a number of arrests relating to the criminal behaviour of domestic violence perpetrators. It works in tandem with a mens programme aimed at targeting domestic violence offending that also provided an integrated service to partners, ex-partners and children in order to improve safety.

Irelands predominant emphasis upon retribution rather than rehabilitation in the domestic violence context remains at odds with international developments, she said.

If Ireland is to give meaningful effect to its international obligations and actively protect vulnerable parties from ongoing abuse; it is time to recognize the immediate need to invest in, and develop, comprehensive laws and structures for domestic violence perpetrator programmes.
Amy Barrett and Melissa OKeeffe, speaking after Jerry OKeeffe was jailed for 10 years, sent out a defiant message to other sex abuse victims that it is never too late to seek help.

Both women waived their right to anonymity to speak out publicly.

OKeeffe, aged 68, a retired soldier, of Oakhill, Youghal, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges of rape, five of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. These were nine sample charges out of 78 covering a period from January 1980 to March 1987.

Justice Patrick McCarthy said OKeeffes crimes had brought about the destruction of his daughters childhoods.

It is hard to find words to describe each new outrage inflicted on these children, the judge said.

Speaking outside court, Amy said she and Melissa were happy with the sentence. It was never about the jail term, it was about his admission of guilt, she said.

Its almost like were in mourning for him now, she said. It was never about the sentence it was always about an admission of guilt, keeping him away from other kids, and getting closure for ourselves.

They encouraged others to report abuse.

Its a kind of happy-sad because 10 years sends out a good message that abuse and rape of a child is not right, Amy said. It doesnt matter how long it takes the victim to come forward, its never too late.

We are happy but we are sad at the same time because obviously he is still our dad and it is almost like we are going to be in mourning for him now.

The court heard Amys rape ordeal occurred over five years, starting when she was eight, and that it was a commonplace event and amounted to repeated, extremely serious abuse.

The assaults against Melissa, which began when she was 11 and went on for six years, were also extremely serious.

The sisters reported the abuse to the Southern Health Board in 1999 after attending the Rape Crisis Centre in Cork. As a result, OKeeffe agreed to leave the family home and no further action was taken against him. Melissa said she went to gardai in 1999 but withdrew the allegations after her parents confronted her.

Both victims reported the matter to gardai again in October 2014.

Mr Justice McCarthy said that he was taking OKeeffes guilty plea into account in mitigation, but that it came not at the 11th hour but at five minutes to midnight after legal proceedings had commenced.

He said these days 68 is no great age and said it would not count towards mitigation of his sentence. He said the case merited consecutive sentences, and the appropriate total period of incarceration was 10 years. He imposed a seven-year sentence for the rapes and a three-year term of imprisonment for the sexual assaults, to run consecutively.

Mr Justice McCarthy instructed that OKeeffes name be added to the sex offenders register and said he must liaise with the probation services for three years following his release.

Speaking to TV3 News ahead of yesterdays sentencing, Amy said despite of the abuse, she still loved her father.

I still love my dad and I know people might think that thats just mental, but I do, she said. I looked up to him. I dont understand and I would say to him why? I had an opportunity to confront my dad a few years ago and I did and I asked him. I said do you remember raping me, Dad? and he said I do girl like I had just said something so casual. Hes very flippant about it all.

I would ask him why? I didnt deserve this, my innocence taken away from me, Melissas innocence taken away.

Melissa said she would never forgive her father and he was now dead to her.

I dont like him, she said. I want no more to do with him. Hes dead to me, I suppose.

Mary Crilly of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork said the sisters bravery should help others to come forward.

Its never too late and I think these two women have really shown that and I really admire them and the way they really kept at it, kept holding on, she said.

They had a horrific life, a horrific childhood but they kept going this is going on for years and they finally have justice.
Government sources confirmed last night that a report into whether a new inquiry is needed will be signed off on by ministers in a last-minute addition to the cabinet agenda, before being immediately handed to the families involved.

The report by Judge Pat McCartan has examined calls for a second inquiry based on disputed claims that there is new information to warrant a fresh investigation into what happened.
Port chairman John Mullins was speaking ahead of the start today of an Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the project, which is envisaged will run at the Ambassador Hotel, Cork, until November 17.

The port authority is investing 75m in upgrading its container-handling facilities in Ringaskiddy and will only be able to achieve full operational capability there once the motorway is built.

The motorway will be built to handle what is predicted to be a 40% increase in average daily traffic and a leap in freight numbers from 700 to 3,900 trucks by 2035, primarily due to road freight transport coming in and out of the upgraded Ringaskiddy cargo-handling docks.

Mr Mullins pointed out that in the meantime, the port had planning restrictions in place because of increasing levels of road freight transport and he was mindful of any large volumes of HGVs passing through Shanbally village, and in particular close to its national school.

He said if the road is built there will be no traffic lights between Cork, Dublin, and Belfast.

Container traffic currently using Dublin might be encouraged to switch to importing and exporting from Cork if the motorway is opened, he said.

Meanwhile, the port authority has plans to create an International Shipping Services Centre (ISSC) in the Horgans Quay area, which is owned by CIE.

Mr Mullins said his firm has engaged in talks with developers, the Naval Service, shipping firms, brokers, and Cork City Council to develop and ISCC on that site. He said the project has the capability to attract 100 maritime-centric companies employing up to 3,500 people.

We are setting up an advisory board to draw up a plan.

Its an ideal opportunity for us with Brexit looming. We could take some of the London [maritime services] activity and we will be testing the idea with shipping companies outside of the UK, he said.

We would also like to prepare a tax-designation status for the project.

We have set up a coalition of the willing.

They will target maritime logistics offices, financial services for shipping broker companies and ship leasing firms as part of the plan.
Poor old Bono is getting it in the neck again. This time he has been exposed as investing in a Lithuanian shopping centre. How un-rock n roll can one man be?

Is this the same Bono who has healed divisions and spread love with his shamanic persona in one hand, and three chords and the truth in the other?

Is this the same Bono who supported the Dunnes Stores workers in their protest against Apartheid? The same Bono who has saved half of Africa, while maintaining the aura of a prince of rock n roll?

The same Bono who frequently stands arms raised before thousands, as if he is a conduit to elevate the mundane realities of life onto a higher plane of freedom?

And look at the poor fella now, investing in some ugly piece of concrete in Eastern Europe out of which disposable nappies, baked beans and cheap wine is flogged to the masses. Mr Bono sir, where did it all go wrong?

It didnt of course. Mr Bono is only doing what the wealthy have always done and that is to avoid paying a level of tax that is commensurate with their considerable wealth.

The singers investment through a Malta-based vehicle in the Lithuanian shopping centre, as revealed in the Paradise Papers, is entirely legal. The interesting aspect to it is the Malta-based company, which operates in an environment where tax of around 5% is payable on vehicles such as that in which he was involved.

The latest revelations of how the cream of the wealthiest in the world squirrel away their millions is neither surprising nor shocking, but vitally important.

The so-called Paradise Papers is a companion piece to the Panama Papers released last year.

Together they give a panoramic insight into how the wealthiest people and corporations move money around in order to minimise their obligation to pay their fair share.

The Panama Papers came about as a result of a leak from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The current leak is from Appleby, a firm that operates in 10 different jurisdictions, a blue chip outfit that would, in a corporate sense, look down its nose at the Panamanian firm.

In order words, any suggestion that what Mossack Fonseca were up to was anything but the norm has now been blown out of the water.

These firms are but two in a transglobal army of accountants and lawyers which facilitate the avoidance of billions of dollars in tax.

These so-called professionals act entirely within the law, or at least can reference some law in some country which gives legitimacy to their parasitical business.

The vast squirreling away of money is also facilitated by dozens of developed countries where governance is nominally by democracy.

These governments act either out of self-interest or fear of the consequences of disrupting the avoidance, or most likely a combination of both.

In such a milieu, with facilitation by officers and makers of the law, is it any wonder that the wealthy elite can tell themselves that what they are engaged in is morally acceptable?

Is it any wonder that they can congratulate themselves on their munificence towards charitable causes, and bask in the grateful plaudits from organisations desperate for money from any source?

One small example of the mentality of these people towards paying their fair share is available in figures for the so-called domicile levy.

This was introduced during the depths of the recession in 2009 to bring into the net tax exiles who pay little or no tax here.

The levy was for a relatively modest 200,000 for Irish domiciled people  either resident or non-resident  and who earned over 1m for the tax year.

In the first year of the levy, 2010, a total of 32 individuals stumped up, but by 2015, this had dropped to 13. Does anybody believe that such a low take-up reflects the number of individuals who would qualify for the levy?

Far more likely that hundreds of those who would qualify have found legitimate routes to avoid paying it. If thats the attitude to a symbolic contribution to the national coffers, what lengths do these people go to in order to avoid serious taxes?

But of course, they tell themselves that they are paying their fair share, and are merely being creative and engaging in tax planning through the myriad of off-shore avoidance vehicles.

In such a bubble of self-defined morality, it is easy for people like Bono and his fellow millionaires to avoid any rigorous self-analysis of the rights and wrongs of paying their fair share to society at large.

That is why publication of the Paradise Papers is vital to effect change in society. As seen elsewhere, change will only come about when the matter is dragged out into the public glare for proper scrutiny.

Tentative steps have been taken in the last year to tackle the vast off-shore network that facilitates the wealthy elite.

This publication must surely accelerate the efforts to ensure that taxes are not just for the little people, but also must be borne by the elite individuals who continue to live in their own rarefied universe.

TAX AVOIDANCE OR TAX EVASION?

The Paradise Papers purport to detail the tax affairs of some of the wealthiest people and companies on the planet.

They reportedly reveal the exploitation of offshore schemes to avoid tax.

U2 frontman Bono, Queen Elizabeth II and the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross are among those named in the 13.4m documents.

What is tax avoidance?

Tax avoidance involves companies and people using legal ways and following the rules to reduce their tax bill.

This could include setting up a company in a country that does not levy corporation tax to avoid paying the higher rates of tax here.

On a smaller scale, investing savings into a tax-free savings account also counts as avoiding tax.

Whilst tax avoidance is legal, critics argue that individuals and corporations taking their taxable wealth out of their home country is immoral, as it decreases the revenue government has to spend on health, education and other public benefits.

What is tax evasion?

Tax evasion is an offence that involves illegal ways of paying less tax than required.

This could be done by an individual who does not report all of their taxable income.

What is a tax haven?

A tax haven is a country or jurisdiction whose rules facilitate tax avoidance by offering more favourable laws or conditions than other states.

Popular tax havens include Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, and Jersey in the Channel Islands.
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
Having a composer like Aram Khachaturian, we are looking for someone else today, shame on us! - Armen Hyusnunts (video)

For the third time, the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and Armenian State Jazz Orchestras will present the jazz version of Aram Khachaturian's works within the framework of Khachaturian meets jazz program, which will be performed by Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Armen Hyusnunts, Martin Ulikhanyan and Andranik Berberyan. The soloists are Vahagn Hayrapetyan and Armen Hyusnunts. Sergei Smbatyan and Armen Hyusnunts were convinced that this project proved that it had the right to exist even though it could be criticized by some. "This is not the first collaboration," says Armen Hyusnunts, every time as new instruments are being added, these melodies become more harmonious that it seems that they were originally written like this. We are looking for something else, without valuing what WE have. Having a composer like Aram Khachaturian, who wrote anthem for us, we are looking for someone else today, shame on us! The program will also include pieces from Gayane, Spartacus Ballets, Masquerade Drama. Vahagn Hayrapetyan is convince that the project should have its continuation as well as other staff can be included, for example, folk instruments because these instruments are the taste and smell of our music. This is an innovative project, Vahagn Hayrapetyan said. Khachaturian was not only ours but the whole words. Thus, this project should be presented to all over the world. According to the author of the idea, Sergey Smbatyan, this project is going to be presented on Aram Khachaturian's 115th anniversary next year, on international stages.
Mario Tama/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Some companies with locations in Puerto Rico, where hurricanes have caused unprecedented death and destruction and power is not yet restored in many areas, have continued paying their employees despite store closures.



TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx, Home Goods, and Marshalls, has continued to pay employees based in Puerto Rico, even though some locations remain closed.

"We believe it is the right thing for us to do under these circumstances," TJX said in a statement to ABC News.

J.C.Penney continued paying employees, issuing cash paychecks while access to operable banks and ATMs were limited, J.C. Penney said in a statement to ABC News.

Nordstrom and Starbucks have also paid their employees, while their Puerto Rico locations have closed in the wake of the hurricane destruction.



Were working to find opportunities to transfer employees who are interested in staying with the company and will offer some relocation assistance to any employee who needs it, Nordstrom said in a statement to ABC News.



Starbucks has started an employee assistance fund specifically for workers whose homes and families have been destroyed by the hurricanes in Puerto Rico.



Hurricane Maria made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 20, destroying communities on the island after Hurricane Irma struck just a couple of weeks before.



A viral Facebook post under the hashtag PuertoRicoStrong highlighted some help that TJX provided their employees.



A father thanked the Marshalls parent company for continuing to pay his son even though the store where he worked has closed. He also wrote that the company gave his son supplies.

TJX did not disclose how many of its 29 locations in Puerto Rico have been closed.

Four of J.C.Penney's seven locations on the island remain closed and the company said employees of those stores are still being paid.

The company said it also delivered supplies, like water, food, and generators, for all 1,300 associates

Nordstrom, the American luxury department store chain, also paid Puerto Rico store associates after the devastation caused them to close their one location on the island until further notice.



They paid their employees through Nov. 4th.



The employees had been receiving checks since the stores closed on Sept. 19th in anticipation of the storm, Nordstrom told ABC News in a statement.



The location will be closed until further notice because of the damage caused by the hurricane.



Nordstrom offered those employees a separation package that begins on Nov. 4th.



After the destruction, the company donated to relief efforts in addition to using its company employee relief fund.

Luxottica's eyewear brands have a sizable presence on the island -- 46 locations that include Oakley, Sunglass Hut, Lenscrafters, and Pearle Vision.

Despite thirty locations that remain closed, all 200 employees are being paid. Luxottica also started a Guardian Angel Fund to which company employees everywhere can make donations matched by the company, Luxottica told ABC News in a statement.



Starbucks Corp. has initiated a similar effort called the Starbucks Puerto Rico Tacita Verde Fund, along with Baristas del Cairbe, a Puerto Rican coffee company that is a subsidiary of Empressas Fonalledas Inc. that licenses Starbucks on the island.



The program is a new fund for employee assistance that provides financial grants to employees and their families that need urgent home repairs, food, medical help and among other critical needs, Starbucks said in a statement to ABC News.



Along with donating money for relief efforts, Starbucks, like Nordstrom and TJX, paid employees while locations were closed. All Starbucks employees received temporary disaster pay and were offered hours at other locations if their stores remained closed.



Starbucks did not say how long employees will continue to receive pay.



In the statement, Starbucks said that 18 of its 24 locations have reopened, but they are keeping hours flexible for employees' safety amid the loss of power supply on the island.



Puerto Ricos goal is to restore electricity for half of the island by mid-November and for 95 percent by mid-December, according to Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Some local churches and a statewide religious organization are reviewing their security measures in the aftermath of Sundays deadly church shootings in Texas.

Authorities are investigating the mass shooting that left at least 26 people dead and 20 others wounded after a gunman opened fire inside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Authorities believe the shooting suspect, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

We were very saddened to hear about the loss of life in the state of Texas on a Sunday morning amid Christian worshippers, said the Rev. Sir Walter Mack, the pastor at Union Baptist Church at 1200 N. Trade St. We all are vulnerable to vicious acts.

Union Baptists security ministry meets every Sunday morning before services to discuss the past weeks events in Winston-Salem which might lead to possible threats against the church, Mack said. Church officials then deploy the ministrys members throughout the churchs interior and exterior areas.

Several members who are off-duty and retired police officers are armed, Mack said. Union Baptist is helping churches throughout North Carolina and the country with their security measures, Mack said. That program was in place before the fatal shootings Sunday in Texas.

North Carolina law allows people with concealed carry gun permits to carry guns into churches, unless the church itself prohibits them. Many churches began security ministries after nine people were killed in a church shooting in June 2015 in Charleston, S.C.

N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has joined President Donald Trump in ordering all United States and North Carolina flags at state buildings to be lowered to half-staff today through sunset on Thursday in memory of the victims.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which consists of 4,300 Baptist churches in the state, also extended its sympathies to the Texas victims and their families.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Texas who are grieving in the aftermath of Sundays act of violence, Chad Austin, a spokesman for the organization, said in an email. We are asking God to comfort the families, to encourage that congregation and to help the community realize that God is with them in the midst of this tragedy.

Scripture tells us that evil exists in the world, but incidents such as this one remind us of the hope and healing that can only come through Jesus Christ, Austin said.

The Baptist State Convention has worked with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co. of Fort Wayne, Ind., in security training seminars at several churches nationwide and in North Carolina, Austin said.

We anticipate that more churches will be interested in security issues and developing their own policies and procedures in light of the recent events in Texas, Austin said. We encourage churches to work with local law enforcement in developing and putting security measures in place.

As a result of the Texas shootings, churches everywhere have a heightened sense of awareness regarding their security, said Barry Rountree, the retired chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department and the leader of the security ministry at his church, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church at 4129 Northampton Drive.

The churchs security ministry is made up of mostly retired police officers, and the church has video surveillance, Rountree said. The church also has a Forsyth County sheriffs deputy on duty at the church during its services and events.

We are vigiliant, and we want to make sure that the church is safe, Rountree said.

Leaders at Centenary United Methodist Church at 646 W. Fifth St. are reviewing their security measures as well, said Doug Peninger, the churchs director of communications. The church also has video survellience, and a Winston-Salem police officer helps parishioners cross Fifth Street on Sundays.

The churchs ushers and welcome team also watch out for anything or anyone suspicious during Sunday services, Peninger said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday that the shooting in Sutherland Springs is evidence that church parishioners should carry guns for self-protection inside houses of worship.

Rabbi Mark Cohn of Temple Emanuel said that would be the wrong approach. His synagogue has security measures in place and an officer in a Winston-Salem police patrol car often parks at the synagogue.

I am fairly certain that increasing weapons among the citizenry or in our pews will not be a suitable solution, Cohn said. We want our sanctuary and worship space to be free from violence and having weapons present will not assist in developing a sense of safety.
WASHINGTON  The attack on Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul by his neighbor of nearly 17 years had absolutely nothing to do with eithers politics or political agenda, the attackers lawyer told Fox News in a statement Monday.

The Republican senator broke five ribs after Rene Boucher, 59, blindsided him and tackled him to the ground as Paul was mowing his lawn Friday in Bowling Green, Kentucky, according to reports.

It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial, Bouchers lawyer Matthew Baker said. We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.

While Paul was originally said to be doing fine after the attack, the situation got more complicated Sunday when the full extent of his injuries was reported. Pauls type of injury is also accompanied by severe pain that can last weeks to months, an aide said in a statement.

It is unclear when Paul will return to the Senate.

Voter records from March 2017 indicate Boucher is a registered Democrat, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

Bouchers Facebook page, which has since been taken down, contained numerous postings of news articles blasting President Donald Trump. He also frequently shared posts from the left-leaning advocacy group Occupy Democrats.

The FBI responded to the incident Friday to investigate whether it was politically motivated. Federal investigators and spokespeople have declined to elaborate to reporters on the progress of that investigation.

Paul, who ran for president in 2016, has become well-known nationally as an unrelenting advocate for small-government, libertarian policies.

Former Bowling Green City commissioner Jim Bullington, who knows both Paul and Boucher, characterized the latter as a socialist in an interview with The Washington Post.

Hes pretty much the opposite of Rand Paul in every way, Bullington said.

Boucher was held for nearly an entire day before posting $7,500 bail for his release Saturday. Law enforcement charged him with fourth-degree assault. He could face up to a year in prison for those charges.

Paul was mowing his lawn with ear plugs on when he stepped off the machine and Boucher tackled him from behind. It is unclear what immediately followed, but the senator broke five ribs.

If Pauls condition worsens, more charges could be brought against Boucher, potentially opening his case up to a more lengthy punishment, legal experts have said.

Public records indicate Boucher has worked as an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist in the Bowling Green area for decades. He is affiliated with the Medical Center at Bowling Green and appears to have run a pain management practice from his home.

In 2005, Boucher was a guest on home shopping network QVC to promote the Therm-a-Vest, a heated pain relief vest he invented.

Before his election to the Senate in 2010, Paul was an eye doctor specializing in glaucoma and cataract removal surgeries and LASIK vision correction.

The two worked together in Bowling Green when they were practicing physicians, Baker said.
PM receives PACE Co-Rapporteurs

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received PACE Monitoring Committee members, PACE Co-Rapporteurs Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Co-Rapporteurs regular visits to Armenia, which make it possible to discuss the ongoing reforms and Armenias compliance with its commitments. Since joining the Council of Europe, Armenia has been actively involved in the proceedings of the Council of Europe and its various bodies. We highly appreciate our cooperation and are grateful to the Council of Europe for extending expert support, including the development of legislative reform packages. I think that Armenia has gone a long way towards fulfilling these commitments, as evidenced by the findings of the monitoring conducted by PACE and the CoE Committee of Ministers, Karen Karapetyan said. PACE Co-Rapporteurs Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati agreed that Armenia has passed a long way in a short period of time, noting that the country has embarked upon the next stage of transformations and developments following the general elections. Issues related to the constitutional reform process, electoral reforms and the fight against corruption were discussed during the meeting. Karen Karapetyan presented the efforts made in these directions, which are aimed at ensuring effective and smooth organization of the foregoing processes. The Prime Minister noted that the anti-corruption campaign is kept in focus by his government, which besides taking specific steps to reduce corruption risks, has recorded several achievements in the legislative field. From the perspective of the fight against corruption, the Head of Government highlighted the ongoing cooperation with the Council of Europes Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the Money Laundering Committee (MONEYVAL). Karen Karapetyan advised that the RA judicial and legal reform strategy for 2018-2023 and the relevant action plan are being developed at this stage. The Prime Minister also touched upon the possibilities of economic cooperation with different integration associations and individual countries. In this context, he spoke about the improvement of the business environment, the promotion of investment activity and the attraction of investments. Our main goal is to provide every investor, both local and foreign, with all the necessary conditions for their activities. We are paying special attention to the business environment, and we can state that we have had positive results over the past one year. At the same time, we are well aware of our weaknesses and are trying to address them, Karen Karapetyan emphasized. The PACE Co-Rapporteurs welcomed the multifaceted reforms implemented by the Armenian government. Thanks are owed for two things: first, for the dignified and serious approach your country is showing to Syrian refugees, particularly the Diaspora Armenians. We are grateful for that; it is a good example that other nations can follow and rely on. On behalf of the Council of Europe, we are grateful to you for the work done by Armenian diplomats and Armenias authorized representatives in Europe, including your delegation to PACE. You may rest assured that we will continue to help you keep up the pace on the way to building the new Armenia you are dreaming about, Alan Meale said. Thankful for the words of appreciation and the readiness for assistance, the Prime Minister stated in part, Our relations with the Council of Europe will continue to deepen in line with Armenias commitments and political undertakings. Their unconditional implementation will help us promote democracy, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country as key components of security and sustainable development.
SAN DIEGO  Hillary Clinton is so thoughtful. As busy as she is peddling a book that blames her election loss on everyone but herself  including members of her own party  the 2016 Democratic nominee still makes time to worry about others.

And lately, she has been worried about, of all things, her chief nemesis: the GOP.

There are a lot of things that I worry about, she recently told ABC News. This is actually on my list, of what I worry about. The Republican Party is imploding.

The former Goldwater girl insists she is not alone in reaching this conclusion.

Weve seen in the last week, weve seen Bob Corker, weve seen Jeff Flake ... there are a lot of other people in the Republican Party who feel exactly the same way.

Neither Sen. Flake nor Sen. Corker are seeking re-election, and so they can speak freely. Both have been critical of President Trump and his policies, and theyve been hammered for their defiance on Fox News and conservative talk radio.

Clinton thinks the implosion stems from the fact that the GOP has purged the moderates and been taken over by extremists.

It is becoming a far-right, captive party to ideological religious and commercial interests, she said.

No argument. Clinton is spot-on when she talks about what has become of the Republican Party in the Trump Era.

But imagine how much more effective her criticism would be if some of it were aimed at her own party, and  even better  at herself. When she talks about the Republican Party being at the mercy of its financial backers and a cabal of leaders who ... maintain power for themselves and those who are like-minded, she could just as easily be talking about the Democratic Party. The two parties are twinsies.

Of course, Clinton wont admit that she and her husband, and all the shady dealings in Clinton World dating back to the 1970s, have hurt the Democratic Party. But its true.

Thats what made Clintons comments about how the Republicans are imploding so surreal. Apparently, she is much better at self-deflection than she is at self-reflection. Does she honestly not see that her own party is also coming apart?

Take a peek behind the Democratic curtain, and youll see its a mess back there: The elites have left behind the working-class. The white ethnics who helped put the Democratic Party on the map in the 20th century cant see any common cause with the Latino and Asian immigrants who will help define the 21st century. Democrats havent even started the homework assignment they were given a year ago when Trump vanquished Clinton; instead of coming up with an economic message to win back the disaffected white Democrats in Rust Belt states who put Trump in the Oval Office, Democratic leaders have bet the farm on Special Counsel Robert Mueller III and Russia, Russia, Russia.

Hillary has only made the mess worse. Not only did her campaign conspire with the Democratic National Committee to short-circuit Bernie Sanders, she had the gall to write a book in which she blamed Sanders for creating the impression that she was dishonest and untrustworthy. Not only did she alienate  or at least fail to inspire  Latinos, youth and African-Americans, she then blamed them for not turning out to vote for her.

Then you have the scandals. Just as Democrats want the country to focus on Muellers 12-count indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, they have to contend with questions about why the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee may have paid for a yet-unsubstantiated dossier alleging immoral and improper behavior by Trump. And there are fresh accusations from within her own party that the Democratic primary was rigged by the Clinton campaign against Bernie Sanders.

About all this, the Democratic Party would like Clinton to say, well, nothing. But she wont be ignored, or keep quiet. It was vintage Hillary who told attendees at the annual Womens Media Awards that she doesnt intend to be silenced.

Republicans have to be delighted to hear that, and Democrats must be filled with angst.

It makes you wonder: Whose side is Hillary really on? You know the answer: Hillarys.

Instead of constantly demonizing Trump, the Democratic Party needs to confront the real threat. Heres a hint: She is wearing a pantsuit.
We hold out little hope that the latest mass shooting, one that killed 26 people and injured several others in a Texas church Sunday, will wake up Washington to confront gun violence. But it should. We now have more innocent victims, ranging in age from a baby to the elderly.

The dead include Joann Ward, Emily Garza, Bryan Holcombe, Karla Holcombe, Annabelle Pomeroy and Brooke Ward. Its important to remember their names, to not let them become just statistics, just as we shouldnt forget the names of those who die in shootings that take one or two victims, shootings that occur so often across America. The latter add up, on an annual basis, to a far greater toll, but the mass shootings get our attention  and should compel us to action against all gun violence.

Each of these mass shootings is different. In the Texas case, the man armed with an assault rifle rampaged a church his mother-in law attended, killing his grandmother-in-law and others. The shooter, The Washington Post reported, a 26-year-old former Air Force member, was court-martialed in 2012 and sentenced to a year in military prison for assaulting his spouse and child, making him the latest mass attacker or suspect with domestic violence in his past. He was reduced in rank and released with a bad-conduct discharge in 2014. Hed been turned down for a gun license in Texas, CNN reported. So how was he able to buy an assault rifle? Thats what Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas would like to know. By all of the facts that we seem to know, he was not supposed to have access to a gun, so how did this happen? Abbott asked on CNN. We are in search of answers to these questions.

Congress should be searching for answers as well. Tighter background checks to ensure that criminals and those with mental problems cant buy guns are needed, as well as better communication between agencies that process those checks. A ban on rapid-fire assault rifles with large-capacity magazines is needed as well.

We believe in the Second Amendment and responsible ownership of sporting weapons. In the Texas shooting, civilians confronted the gunman, and one shot and wounded him before he was found dead in his car. We applaud their courage. Congress should match that bravery by finally tightening gun control.
The Town of Summerville formally recognized two valued groups at the Nov. 10 Council meeting, including local merchants Brad Mallett of Coastal Coffee Roasters (left in Photo 1) and Diane Frankenberger of People, Places & Quilts (right in Photo 1), as both were the recipients of a procla Read moreSpotlight on business, tribal communities
Almost two years of preparation involving over 200 meetings, 30 subcommittees, and so on. Thats just a quick look at Joyce Rabins work as Chair of Together in Israel: Our Pride, Our Purpose. Hadassahs 100th National Convention. (Hadassah, which was founded in 1912, held its first conventi Read moreS'ville resident helps organize 100th national of Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America
In one of my favorite scenes from The Wire, the great HBO television series about crime, cops, and life in Baltimore, detectives Bunk Moreland and Jimmy McNulty sit in an interrogation room across the table from a young African American man they call Cheese. The detectives suspect Cheese in one of several recent murders, and for good reason: they have him recorded, on tape. When Cheese refuses to tell them anything, Bunk re-enacts Cheeses recorded statement: Oh, he was my dawg, manI didnt sleep since I capped his ass. Lookin up at me, all bloody and shitHe had much love for me, even then. I aint never gonna find another The detectives know theyve hit pay dirt when Cheese becomes emotional, fighting back tears. They point at the pictures of the bodies of murder victims theyve put in front of Cheese, and they ask him: which one was his dawg? Which one of these is he?

What the detectives dont know, because they werent there  they have Cheeses voice on tape, but no video or other witnesses to fill in the details of the scene  is that Cheese was talking about an actual dog. The dog  a fighting dog belonging to him  had lost a fight, and Cheese killed the animal. The detectives naturally assume that Cheeses statement  he was my dawg, man  refers to a human friend or acquaintance of Cheese, because thats what dog almost always means. Everyone knows this, including Bunk and McNulty. According to the website Urban Dictionary, the slang term dawg means my close acquaintance of an African-American ethnic background.

I recalled this scene as I read about a recent case from the Louisiana Supreme Court. It seems that Justice Scott Crichton might need a lesson or two on the meaning of dawg. He might have made a mistake  though a different one than Bunk and McNultys. But he also turns out to be correct about the law.

The Louisiana case involved a police interrogation of a defendant accused of sexual misconduct. The police interviewed the defendant twice, both times advising him of his Miranda rights, including the right to an attorney; defendant waived his rights and agreed to talk without a lawyer present. During the second interview, the defendant called a halt to the questioning; he seems to have decided he didnt like the direction things were going. He said:

If yall. This is how I feel, if yall think I did it, I know that I didnt do it, so why dont you just give me a lawyer dog cause this is not whats up.

The police did not get the defendant a lawyer, and he made further incriminating statements. The defendant moved to suppress all the statements that followed, because the police had not honored his request for a lawyer. The trial court refused, and the statements became part of the evidence used to convict the defendant.

The defendant appealed, and eventually asked Louisianas Supreme Court to take the case for review. The court refused, 8-1, without writing any opinion. Refusing a case without any statement or explanation happens every day, in state and federal appeals courts and supreme courts (including the United States Supreme Court).

Occasionally, a judge writes an opinion to explain his or her vote in favor of or against taking a case up for appeal. And that was where Justice Crichton came in. He agreed with the majority of his colleagues that they should not take the case, and he could have simply voted with them, without uttering a word. But he decided to speak up and add a concurring opinion, to explain why he thought his court was right to refuse to hear the appeal. The statement of the defendant asking for a lawyer, Justice Crichton said, was ambiguous.

In my view, the defendants ambiguous and equivocal reference to a lawyer dog does not constitute an invocation of counsel that warrants termination of the interview

Because the defendant asked for a lawyer dog, it was not clear that he was asking for a lawyer. If he had asked for a lawyer, under Edwards v. Arizona, interrogation would have to cease, and the prosecution could not use anything the defendant said after that point to prosecute him. But asking for a lawyer dog isnt asking for a lawyer. End of story.

One can explain Justice Crichtons statement in a few different ways.

First, perhaps Crichton just read the words on the page in the most literal way. Whatever a lawyer dog is, he might say, it sure isnt a lawyer. Call this the Cool Hand Luke theory: what we have here is a failure to punctuate. The defendants statement should have had a comma between the words lawyer and dog. What he said, which didnt make its way onto the page, was why dont you just give me a lawyer, dog. That would make it clear.

Or perhaps Justice Crichton is one of the few people living in the U.S. today who doesnt understand that the word dog, as used in the defendants statement, means the same thing as pal or buddy. One would hope that a law clerk or a staff person, someone younger and less sheltered, or maybe just anyone who has watched television or a movie in the last 15 years, would have caught this dog reference before Justice Crichtons opinion went out, and that would have saved Judge Crichton the embarrassment. Alas, not.

So far, so funny. And the media and internet web sites and commentators have all had a good laugh over this. But the unfortunate truth is that, with or without those explanations, Justice Crichton turns out to be correct: the defendant probably did not have a right to a lawyer. And the reason for this does not turn on an omitted comma, or a stray dog. Rather it turns on the defendants use of the word if  and how that word fits into a U.S. Supreme Court case Justice Crichton cited in his opinion. Thats the real lesson here.

In Davis v. U.S., 512 U.S. 452 (1994), the Supreme Court set out rules for the moment when a defendant decides to invoke his or her Miranda rights: hearing the police officer say in the Miranda warnings that he or she has a right to have a lawyer, the defendant says yes, thats a good idea  Id like a lawyer. The facts of the Davis case explain this. In Davis, the defendant waived  gave up  his right to a lawyer, and talked. While giving statements to investigators, he seemed to change his mind midstream, saying, maybe I should talk to a lawyer. After backing away from that, and giving more statements, the defendant said, I think I want a lawyer before I say anything. Questioning then stopped.

At trial, the prosecution used the defendants statements to convict him, despite his attempt to invoke his Miranda rights. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, despite the defendants statements, he had not invoked his right to a lawyer. Speaking for the Courts majority, Justice OConnor said that to invoke Mirandas right to have a lawyer, the suspect must unambiguously request counsel[H]e must articulate his desire to have counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney. One could only understand what the defendant had said  maybe I should talk to a lawyer  as a statement that might be a request for an attorney This, OConnor said, isnt enough.

The problem with the Supreme Courts Davis opinion is that it ignores both the practicalities of how people actually communicate, and the social science that confirms what we know. When a person says maybe I should talk to a lawyer or I think I need a lawyer, we would understand that as, yes, I think a lawyer is a good idea  I want one. We would not understand them to say, in any serious conversation, hmm, Im considering that option. And the research confirms our understanding: people tend to speak in indirect, hedged speech patterns. These indirect speech patterns tend to show up most often in the speech of women and most minority racial and ethnic groups; moreover, this way of speaking also occurs most often in situations in which the person speaking (here, the suspect) confronts a person of much greater power in the context of the situation (the interrogating police officer).

Justice OConnor seems to have known this. She says, in the Courts opinion, that [w]e recognize that requiring a clear assertion of the right to counsel might disadvantage some suspects who  because of fear, intimidation, lack of linguistic skills, or a variety of other reasons  will not clearly articulate their right to counsel although they actually want to have a lawyer present. But that wasnt enough to convince her or the majority that police ought to clarify these ambiguous assertions before questioning further. Thus only a clear, direct and assertive statement  I want a lawyer  using words atypical of the way so many people, especially those most likely to be a power disadvantage in the interrogation room  will suffice.

This explains why Justice Crichton might be right after all. The defendant said, If yall. This is how I feel, if yall think I did it Those ifs seem to put the case into the Davis category of ambiguous requests.

So what Justice Crichtons opinion tells us might be funny, if we focus on the lawyer dog comment. But whats more important is the way the case highlights Davis, and its rule that speaking like we usually do  I think its time for lunch or Im not sure doing this is a good idea  doesnt count for anything in the legal system, when we want to do something as bold as exercising our rights. Thats whats unfortunate, and it isnt funny at all.

In a case like the one involving the lawyer dog statement, or Davis itself, where the suspect is trying to assert his or her rights, we ought to look for ways to respect those attempts, not excuses to disregard them.



David A. Harris is Professor of Law and John Murray Faculty Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and the host of the Criminal Injustice podcast, available on iTunes and at www.criminalinjusticepodcast.com.



Suggested Citation: David A. Harris, Dog eat dawg: Lousiana may be right but that doesnt mean theyre right, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Nov. 07, 2017, http://jurist.org/forum/2017/11/harris-dog-eat-dawg.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Erin McCarthy Holliday, an Assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary. Please direct any questions or comments to him at commentary@jurist.org
JURIST Guest Columnist Ricardo Arredondo of the University of Buenos Aires School of Law discusses the aftermath of recent violence against Argentine diplomatic facilities in Chile

On the night of October 23, both the residence of the Argentine Embassy and the Consulate General in Santiago de Chile were exposed to a violent situation [Spanish], when a group of people protesting in the streets, whose number ranged between 50 and 150 according to different sources, attacked the premises of the diplomatic and consular missions of Argentina.

People were demonstrating after the death of Santiago Maldonado outside these missions. At a certain point, they took a bus, set it on fire and blocked the Vicuna Mackenna Ave. [Spanish] where the missions are. Then, part of this large group of people destroyed objects on the public road, destroyed the entrance gate of the residence and caused important damages to the premises on the ground floors of both the residence and the consulate, including to a vehicle that was parked there. There were no [Spanish] personal injuries.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (CVDR) [PDF] establishes that the receiving State, in this case Chile, is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity (Art. 22.2). A similar provision is contained in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) [PDF] (Art. 31.3).

The protection granted is not absolute, since the VCDR requires the adoption of all appropriate steps, which should be interpreted as the adoption of all measures proportional to the risk to the security of the occasion. This obligation may be reflected in the adoption of special internal laws or may be left to the police action, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Generally, the protection is carried out by the security forces of the receiving State through certain monitoring of the premises of the mission. When it is presumed that hostile demonstrations may occur because of the state of public opinion or the existence of some tension, the receiving State should strengthen police protection. If it does not do so and the mission is damaged, the receiving State may be liable.

The receiving State does not compromise its international responsibility by tolerating certain types of manifestations. But where a receiving State has failed in its duty to protect against intrusion or damage to the premises of the diplomatic and consular missions, it is clearly liable to pay reparations to the sending State, in this case Argentina, for the damages suffered, as Argentina did when a demonstration protesting the Armenian genocide caused damage to the premises of the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Buenos Aires in 2002.

The demonstration was disbanded and two people were arrested by the Carabineros (Chilean police), which is conducting an investigation into the events. Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz condemned [Spanish] the incident, calling it unacceptable to his Government, recalled that the diplomatic and consular missions are inviolable and apologized. He stated that additional measures will be taken to ensure security and to prevent the repetition of these events.

However, he left the door open for Chile to be exempt from international responsibility by saying that the event was something massive [Spanish], implying a circumstance that went out of control of the Chilean Government precluding wrongfulness in this situation. The Argentine Government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, transmitted [Spanish] its deep concern for this violent attack.

It is still premature to reach any conclusion. It will be necessary to wait for the report of the Carabineros and the position of Chile to this event, which both countries have affirmed will not affect the good relations and the cooperation between them.

Ricardo Arredondo is a Professor of Public International Law at the School of Law, University of Buenos Aires and the author of Derecho Diplomatico y Consular, Abeledo-Perrot, Buenos Aires, 2016.

Suggested citation:Ricardo Arredondo, Attack Against the Argentine Embassy in Chile: A Violation of International Law, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Nov. 7, 2017, http://jurist.org/academic/2017/11/ricardo-arredondo-argentine-embassy-attack.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Sean Merritt, an Assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary. Please direct any questions or comments to him at commentary@jurist.org
UN Security Council (UNSC) [official website] President Sebastiano Cardi on Monday condemned [statement] violence in Myanmars state of Rakhine and urged the Myanmar government to stop using excessive military force and work with Bangladesh and the United Nations to allow the voluntary return of refugees in conditions of safety and dignity to their homes, on the basis of a 24 October Memorandum of Understanding [JURIST report] between the two countries.

According to the UN, Myanmar has engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleaning [JURIST report] against Rohingya Muslims that has caused the displacement of more than 600,000 people. Among other things, Cardi cited systematic killings, sexual violence, violence against children and destruction of homes as being among the many abuses and violence committed by the security forces.

In September Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi [BBC profile], after weeks of silence, addressed [JURIST report] the human rights violations concerns, pledging that [a]ction will be taken against all people, regardless of their religion, race and political position, who go against the law of the land and violate human rights. But Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] was skeptical of Suu Kyis statement, saying: at times she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine State. At times, her speech amounted to little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming. AI particularly pointed to the Myanmar governments refusal to allow UN investigators into the country.

Acknowledging the initial steps taken by the government to to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals in Rakhine, Cardi called on Myanmar to:

cooperate with all relevant United Nations bodies, mechanisms and instruments, in particular the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to continue further consultations on opening a country office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website]. The Security Council calls upon the Government of Myanmar to urgently grant domestic and international media organizations full and unhindered access to Rakhine State and throughout the country and to ensure the safety and security of media personnel.

Cardi further stressed that the Myanmar government has the primary duty to protect its population including through respect for the rule of law and the respect, promotion and protection of human rights. Stating that the UNSC will closely follow further developments in Myanmar, Cardi requested the UN Secretary General [official website] to brief UNSC on the situation in Rakhine within 30 days of the adoption of his statement.
The US Supreme Court [official website] on Monday overturned [opinion, PDF] a lower courts decision to enforce an original plea bargain in accordance with contract law principles, finding such application was not supported by federal law.

The case arose from a California criminal conviction. Respondent Michael Cuero was charged with a misdemeanor and two felonies, one of which was deemed a strike under Californias three-strike law. Cuero pleaded guilty to the two felonies, which yielded a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and four years on parole. After accepting the plea deal and before sentencing, the state became aware of Cueros previous four imprisonments, two of which were also strikes under California law and would raise Cueros sentencing minimum to 25 years imprisonment.

The trial court permitted the state to amend its complaint and Cuero to withdraw his guilty plea under California law, which permits the state to amend the pending complaint when prior felony charges are not included in the guilty plea. The trial court distinguished this amendment from one which adds new charges, finding it did not fundamentally alter the substance of the complaint. Cuero was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Cuero filed a federal habeas petition, and the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] reversed the trial courts decision, finding that specific performance of the original plea deal was necessary to maintain the integrity and fairness of the criminal justice system. Specifically, the court found specific performance was of the original plea bargain was the proper remedy in this case where previous court decisions treated withdraw of an agreed-upon plea bargain as a breach of contract.

On appeal, the Supreme Court considered whether the trial courts decision involved an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, as required under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 [text] to uphold the Ninth Circuits reversal. The Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuits decision, finding Supreme Court precedent did not interpret federal law as to require specific performance in situations as this. Under these circumstances, the Ninth Circuit should not have overturned the trial courts decision: [w]here, as here, none of our prior decisions clearly entitles Cuero to the relief he seeks, the state courts decision could not be contrary to any holding from this Court.'
In Nepal, former parliamentarian and prominent Maoist leader Bal Krishna Dhungel was arrested on October 31, 2017 in Kathmandu and sent to jail. He had been found guilty in 2004 of killing Ujjan Kumar Shrestha of Okhaldhunga district, in the eastern hills of Nepal in 1998, at the beginning of the Maoist Peoples War.

In 2004 the District Court convicted Dhungel of murder and sentenced him to life in prison with confiscation of property, but the Appeals Court cleared him in 2006. In 2010, the Supreme Court overturned the Appeals Court decision and upheld the District Courts 2004 verdict. The Maoist Party publicly rejected the Supreme Court verdict and protected him politically, whilst the government in November 2011 recommended a presidential pardon for Dhungel. This was rejected by the Supreme Court, but Dhungel remained active in the Maoist party and free despite an existing arrest warrant. However, he has now been arrested and ordered to serve a 12-year sentence after a contempt of court writ was filed at the Supreme Court against the countrys police chief for failing to arrest him.

The Maoist revolt in Nepal between 1996 and 2006 left thousands dead, as well as many disappeared. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2006, the Maoists joined mainstream politics, entered parliament and participated in the first Constitutional Assembly election in 2008. Dhungel ran for a seat and was elected as a Constituent Assembly (CA) member in the parliament. The Maoists formed the first elected government after the uprising.

The first CA failed to deliver a constitution, failed to deliver justice, failed to change the State structure and institutions and failed to establish truth and disappearance commissions, while victims concerns were sidelined. Instead of establishing transitional justice mechanisms, the criminal justice process has been overwhelmed with cases, often of a political nature. Both main parties, the Maoists and Nepali Congress, filed cases against each other and sought to divert the transitional justice debate. There are hundreds of war era cases sub-judice at various courts (district and Supreme), at the National Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Committee. Following the second CA election in 2013, the political course shifted, the Maoists lost their majority and split into various factions. The radical faction led by Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav) is still warning the mainstream leadership, saying it has betrayed its original position of Peoples War. It boycotted the second CA election and is now organising against the new constitution declared in September 2015.

A culture of impunity

Due to political protectionism, court orders were not implemented, and the police couldnt arrest convicted persons. Political parties have been defending their leaders and followers for years. Every government has defended Nepal Police and Army personnel suspected of serious human rights violations -- including murder, disappearances, torture and rape --, resulting in a deep-rooted culture of impunity. The government has failed to punish army officials convicted of Maina Sunuwars torture, rape and killing, and failed to investigate many conflict-related crimes. Writer and journalist Krishna Sens murderer Bikram Sing Thapa, who was also involved in the disappearances of Bipin Bhandari, DB Rai and many others, and Pitamber Adhikari who disappeared Tej Bahadur Bhandari still serve in senior positions in the Nepal police. Hundreds of alleged perpetrators sit in security and political institutions, and now many are contesting upcoming elections in November and December for federal and parliamentary representatives as per the new constitution. This poses a big challenge for Nepals democratization process and the future of justice.

Dhungels arrest has again polarized the political and human rights debate. The Maoist Party released a statement against the Court and Dhungels arrest, argued that the arrest goes against the peace process and mobilised their Young Communist League to protest against court verdicts against their leaders. Dhungels affiliated party in his home district also demonstrated against the court decision and his arrest. The Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal faction held a mass demonstration in Kathmandu and issued warnings to judges and politicians.

However, this arrest is an indication that Supreme Court verdicts cannot be easily flouted. Government must maintain the rule of law, listen to the peoples voices and respect the agenda for social justice. A holistic transitional justice process is a necessary step to respect victims rights to full investigation, truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition, for a peaceful future.
Recent weeks have seen an escalation of violence against the Rohingya in Rakhine, the poorest state of Myanmar. A tide of displaced people are seeking refuge from atrocities  they are fleeing both on foot and by boat to Bangladesh. It is the latest surge of displaced people, and is exacerbated by the recent activity of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Religious and ethnic differences have been widely considered the leading cause of the persecution. But it is becoming increasingly hard to believe that there are not other factors at play. Especially given that Myanmar is home to 135 official recognised ethnic groups (the Rohingya were removed from this list in 1982).

In analysing the recent violence, much of the western media has focused on the role of the military and the figure of the de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her status as a Nobel Peace prize laureate has been widely questioned since the latest evidence of atrocities emerged.

She continues to avoid condemning the systematic violence against the Rohingya. At least the media gaze has finally shifted somewhat towards their plight.

But there remain issues that are not being explored. It is also critical to look beyond religious and ethnic differences towards other root causes of persecution, vulnerability and displacement.

We must consider vested political and economic interests as contributing factors to forced displacement in Myanmar, not just of the Rohingya people but of other minorities such as the Kachin, the Shan, the Karen, the Chin, and the Mon.

Al Jazeera

Land grabbing

Land grabbing and confiscation in Myanmar is widespread. It is not a new phenomenon.

Since the 1990s, military juntas have been taking away the land of smallholders across the country, without any compensation and regardless of ethnicity or religious status.

Land has often been acquired for development projects, including military base expansions, natural resource exploitation and extraction, large agriculture projects, infrastructure and tourism. For example, in Kachin state the military confiscated more than 500 acres of villagers land to support extensive gold mining.

Development has forcibly displaced thousands of people - both internally and across borders with Bangladesh, India, and Thailand - or compelled them to set out by sea to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia.

In 2011, Myanmar instituted economic and political reforms that led it to be dubbed Asias final frontier as it opened up to foreign investment. Shortly afterwards, in 2012, violent attacks escalated against the Rohingya in Rakhine state and, to a lesser extent, against the Karen. Meanwhile, the government of Myanmar established several laws relating to the management and distribution of farmland.

These moves were severely criticised for reinforcing the ability of large corporations to profit from land grabs. For instance, agribusiness multinationals such as POSCO Daewoo have eagerly entered the market, contracted by the government.

A regional prize

Myanmar is positioned between countries that have long eyed its resources, such as China and India. Since the 1990s, Chinese companies have exploited timber, rivers and minerals in Shan State in the North.

This led to violent armed conflicts between the military regime and armed groups, including the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and its ethnic allies in eastern Kachin State and northern Shan State.

In Rakhine State, Chinese and Indian interests are part of broader China-India relations. These interests revolve principally around the construction of infrastructure and pipelines in the region. Such projects claim to guarantee employment, transit fees and oil and gas revenues for the whole of Myanmar.

Among numerous development projects, a transnational pipeline built by China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) connecting Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine, to Kunming, China, began operations in September 2013. The wider efforts to take Myanmar oil and gas from the Shwe gas field to Guangzhou, China, are well documented.

The Shwe Gas Movement

A parallel pipeline is also expected to send Middle East oil from the Kyaukphyu port to China. However, the neutral Advisory Commission on Rakhine State has urged the Myanmar government to carry out a comprehensive impact assessment.

In fact, the Commission recognises that pipelines put local communities at risk. There is significant local tension related to land seizures, insufficient compensation for damages, environmental degradation, and an influx of foreign workers rather than increased local employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Sittwe deep-sea port was financed and constructed by India as part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project. The aim is to connect the northeast Mizoram state in India with the Bay of Bengal.

Coastal areas of Rakhine State are clearly of strategic importance to both India and China. The government of Myanmar therefore has vested interests in clearing land to prepare for further development and to boost its already rapid economic growth.

All of this takes place within the wider context of geopolitical maneuvering. The role of Bangladesh in fuelling ethnic tensions is also hotly contested. In such power struggles, the human cost is terribly high.

Compounding the vulnerability of minorities

In Myanmar, the groups that fall victim to land grabbing have often started in an extremely vulnerable state and are left even worse off. The treatment of the Rohingya in Rakhine State is the highest profile example of broader expulsion that is inflicted on minorities.

When a group is marginalised and oppressed it is difficult to reduce their vulnerability and protect their rights, including their property. In the case of the Rohingya, their ability to protect their homes was decimated through the revocation of their Burmese citizenship.

Thomas Johnson

Since the late 1970s around a million Rohingya have fled Myanmar to escape persecution. Tragically, they are often marginalised in their host countries.

With no country willing to take responsibility for them, they are either forced or encouraged to continuously cross borders. The techniques used to encourage this movement have trapped the Rohingya in a vulnerable state.

The tragedy of the Rohingya is part of a bigger picture which sees the oppression and displacement of minorities across Myanmar and into neighbouring countries.

The relevance and complexity of religious and ethnic issues in Myanmar are undeniable. But we cannot ignore the political and economic context and the root causes of displacement that often go undetected.
Texas law enforcement authorities say the gunman who killed 26 members of a church on Sunday was shot three times, twice by a citizen.

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin says Devin Patrick Kelley was shot in his leg and torso by a citizen who pursued him after hearing gunfire. Martin says the third was, "consistent with being self-inflicted."

Authorities say they've collected hundreds of shell casings and 15 magazines that hold 30 rounds each at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, where Kelley opened fire Sunday.

The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

Authorities say 10 victims remain in critical condition and four are in serious condition.
A second trial has begun for a man, nearly three months after a judge overturned his first-degree murder conviction in the 2000 disappearance of a Tama woman whose body has never been found.

Attorneys gave opening arguments Monday in the retrial of Tait O. Purk, who was charged in connection with the disappearance of his fiancee Cora Okonski. A jury previously convicted Purk, but a judge found the verdict wasn't backed by evidence.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Purk waived his right to a jury. The case is now before Judge Ian Thornhill.

During opening arguments Monday Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren said Okonski is dead, and "the one truth is Tait Purk murdered his fiancee."

Defense attorney Aaron Siebrecht called the case "speculation and conjecture about a man who is universally disliked."
LINCOLN  Nebraska farmers made progress in the past week but still are significantly behind the average in finishing corn harvest, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service.

As of Sunday, 68 percent of the corn was harvested, compared with 82 percent at the same time last year and 81 percent on average for the past five years. Condition was rated at 64 percent good to excellent, 23 percent fair and 13 percent poor or very poor.

Soybean harvest, at 95 percent done, was equal to last year and near the 98 percent average.

Reports for other crops include:

Sorghum  Rated 79 percent good to excellent, 15 percent fair and 6 percent poor or very poor, with 66 percent harvested compared with 90 percent last year and 84 percent on average.

Winter wheat  Rated 62 percent good to excellent, 27 percent fair and 11 percent poor or very poor, with 93 percent emerged.

Pasture and range  Rated 43 percent good to excellent, 43 percent fair and 14 percent poor or very poor.
LEXINGTON  A 50-year-old man who led law enforcement on a three-county, high-speed chase in September was ordered to serve six months in jail.

According to court records, Michael Cinocco, address unknown, led law enforcement on an hour-long high-speed chase in September through Dawson and Buffalo counties, and it ended in Hall County near Wood River.

He pleaded guilty on Oct. 23 in Dawson County District Court to felony operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs. He was sentenced Friday.

His sentence includes jail time. He got 44 days credit for time served. Following jail, he must serve nine months of supervision, and his drivers license will be revoked for two years. He also will receive 44 days credit on his license revocation.

The passenger in Cinoccos vehicle, Kerstie Arnold, 19, of Aurora was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting. According to court records, she pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay $50 restitution for colored pencils she stole from a Cozad Dollar General on the same day as the chase.

The chase began at about 10 p.m. on the day of the shoplifting, court records say. The pursuit of Cinoccos tan Chevy Tahoe with Colorado plates began on U.S. Highway 30 southeast of Cozad, and he was allegedly clocked at more than 100 mph.

The Tahoe matched the description of a vehicle being sought by Cozad Police Department for suspicious activity and theft. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop.

The Tahoe went east onto Interstate 80 at the Darr interchange. Troopers successfully deployed spike strips on several occasions and deflated every tire on the Tahoe.

After driving on the rims for several miles, Cinocco eventually stopped the vehicle just after 11 p.m. near the Wood River exit.

@erikadpritchard
FRANKLIN  An Upland man accused of injuring an infant girl pleaded no contest to felony attempted child abuse in Franklin County District Court last week.

According to court records, Dalton Howard, 21, allegedly assaulted the 2-month-old girl in his care in February 2016.

Howard was charged at the time with felony child abuse, court records say, but the charge was amended to a lesser felony in exchange for Howards plea of no contest.

A person making a no contest plea neither admits nor denies guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea.

Howard faces up to 20 years in prison on the charge. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9.

According to a 2016 press release, the alleged child abuse resulted in serious injury to the baby. She was originally taken to Kearney County Health Services emergency room in Minden where she was allegedly diagnosed with a brain bleed and hemorrhaging behind her eyes. She also was alleged to have had bruising on the left side of her face and torso, court documents say.

The child was treated for her injuries at Childrens Hospital in Omaha and was taken into care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 11, 2016.
OMAHA  A former Bellevue couple known for their devotion to children and their faith were among those killed Sunday in the massacre at a Texas church.

Shani and Bob Corrigan expressed much of that commitment in their former church here, Chandler Acres Baptist Church, where Bob Corrigan worked as the music minister. He was also a chief master sergeant at Offutt Air Force Base before retiring from the Air Force a few years ago.

They were involved in vacation Bible school, mission work and with worship services, said the churchs pastor, the Rev. Dan Wills Sr.

They worked tirelessly with the children, he said. They were the genuine Christian man and woman. They not only said they were, they lived it. There was no denying. They walked the walk. ... And they loved people.

The Corrigans were among the 26 slain Sunday morning at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, when a gunman identified by officials as Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire on the worshippers.

The attack also killed eight members of one extended family, a couple visiting for the first time, the pastors teenage daughter and other churchgoers. Investigators said the victims ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

The Corrigans, who had been high school sweethearts in Michigan, were gifted musically, Wills said. Bob wrote his own music and played the guitar; Shani was a skilled vocalist.

Anything she sang, she sang well, he said.

Wills recalled an anecdote that exemplified the Corrigans. During vacation Bible school one year they purchased two bicycles, one for a girl and one for a boy, to give away. The boy and girl who brought the most guests to vacation Bible school got a new bike.

That was from them, not from the church, Wills said.

The couple were members of the church for about three years earlier this decade, before they moved to Texas.

Bob Corrigan served at Offutt from October 2012 until September 2015, said Delanie Stafford, a base spokesman. Before he retired, he was the superintendent of the 55th Medical Group, serving as the senior enlisted adviser at Offutts Ehrling Bergquist Clinic.

The Detroit Free Press reported Monday that the couple had three adult sons, one of whom, Forrest Corrigan, died by suicide not quite a year ago. His funeral was held at the Sutherland Springs church.

Their two other sons are on active duty in the military, the Free Press reported. A memorial vigil was to be held Monday night for them at Veterans Freedom Park in Harrison, Michigan, where the couple graduated from high school in 1985.

When Wills saw the news of the massacre Sunday afternoon, he recognized it as the Corrigans church. He pulled them up on his phones contact list.

I tried calling both of them and neither answered, he said. Later on we found out the reason why.

John Holcombe, another parishioner at Sundays service in Sutherland Springs, was expecting a small miracle: His wife, a mother of five, was pregnant with their first child. But the following morning, his family would bear an unspeakable burden: nearly a third of the fatalities of the shooting.

The massacre spared Holcombes life, but not the lives of his wife, three of her children, his parents, a brother and a toddler niece.

Holcombe and his 36-year-old wife, Crystal, had recently married, said Julius Kepper, who lives about two blocks from the church.

She was starting her life all over again, he said. Thats a crying shame.

Another victim was the pastors 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy. Her parents were both out of town during the shootings. Another young victim was 16-year-old Hailey Krueger, the church and family members confirmed on social media.

The grandmother of suspect Kelleys wife, 71-year-old Lula Woicinski White, was attending the service and also died in the shooting, according to family members. Her stated occupation on Facebook: doing whatever was needed at the church.

Karen and Scott Marshall had recently retired to Texas from Pennsylvania and were visiting the church for the first time when they were killed, Scotts father, Robert Marshall, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

On Sunday, Michael Ward rushed to the church after he was abruptly awakened by his wife, Leslie, when she heard gunfire from that direction as she set up a yard sale. Ward told the Dallas Morning News that he found and carried out of the church his 5-year-old nephew, Ryland, who had four gunshot wounds.

The boy was flown to a hospital in nearby San Antonio; the childs mother and two of his sisters were killed. On Monday, the yard sale was still set up, with clothes laid out or hanging on plastic racks, along with kitchen items. No one was there.
This Oct. 28, 2017 photo shows blind waiter Oscar Pitiur walking in "La Cueva de Rafa", or Rafa's Cave restaurant, located 12 meters underground in Quito, Ecuador. On the outskirts of Ecuador's capital, young couples and families venture into a pitch-black cave in search of an unlikely experience: a meal in the dark. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
In this July 16, 2013, file photo, an IBM logo is displayed in Berlin, Vt. IBM reports financial results Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. IBM pitching the B.C. government on using blockchain to track cannabis sales through the entire supply chain. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Toby Talbot
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their children Ella-Grace and Xavier walk in the Pride parade in Toronto on June 25, 2017. The New Democrats say the LGBTQ community needs Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to back up his apology for past state-sanctioned discrimination with reparations for the harm they suffered over decades. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
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FILE- In this Sept. 1, 2015, file photo, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis listens to a customer at the Rowan County Courthouse in Morehead, Ky. Davis, who spent five days in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, will run for re-election in 2018, the first chance voters will get to have a say on the controversy that dominated national news. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
Mark Lange and Kenneth Murray want people to be excited about the first Kenosha Startup Week, which kicked off Monday.

Kenosha Startup Week is a local effort, designed by entrepreneurs and supported by community partners to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders from across the region with the intention to share, celebrate and innovate.

Lange, executive director of the UW-Extension Division of Business & Entrepreneurship, said Startup Week brings together key elements, individuals and groups who combine entrepreneurs with what he calls ESOs  Entrepreneur Support Organizations.

This kind of movement says, Weve got to keep replenishing and building a pipeline for new companies coming into the community for organizations and individuals to have a positive impact on the business economy, Lange said at a kickoff event at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Murray, one of the co-organizers and manager of sales/event catering for Buzz Cafe, Sazzy B and The Garage, described the endeavor as part of a sort of ecosystem.

Thats what were trying to do, Murray said. Our goal is to strengthen the economic ecosystem for all of Kenosha County.

Lange said Startup Week brings together the two main players in the system, entrepreneurs and ESOs, to learn about each other. He wants the larger community to know how vibrant and important that is.

Theres a lot of entrepreneurial activity going on that is just not seen, Lange said.

By his calculations, Lange said, some 2,600 net new jobs were created in Kenosha County, a figure derived by taking into account other jobs lost as existing businesses close, new businesses open, resulting from what Lange called the natural turnover ... the churn.

Thats a dynamic at play that requires us to have new companies all the time, Lange said.

Numerous events

Murray noted Kenoshas schedule for the week is the second largest behind Milwaukees among nine cities participating in the inaugural Wisconsin Startup Week.

Murray said organizers hoped to schedule four events here.

They exceeded their goal by nearly six fold, with 23 events set up by more than 40 community partners who jumped on board. Admission to the events is free, but registration is required.

Murray said all 23 events this week are free and open to the public.

The education value of this weeks event is incredible, Murray said, adding Startup Week provides opportunities for hopeful entrepreneurs to connect with potential investors, co-founders and support services. This week is really about identifying whats available in this region.

To learn more about Kenosha Startup Week and see the list of events, go to www.kenoshastartupweek.com.
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Lori Wallace sits on a couch with her 11-year-old son and his new pet snake. It burrows under his armpit, as if afraid. Wallace is sure its not.

If he was terrified, he would be balled up, Wallace said. See, that is why they are called ball pythons. When they are scared, they turn into a little ball.

Wallace is dying of breast cancer, but a stranger wouldnt know. She has a pixie haircut and a warm tan. She is vibrant and chatty and looks you right in the eyes when she talks. Wallace doesnt shy away from what is happening to her. She shows her cracked feet. They bleed from the chemotherapy pills she takes.

As Wallaces cancer has progressed over the past seven years, she has become more critical of what she sees as excessive positivity in health care marketing. Its everywhere: TV ads, radio commercials, billboards. The advertisements feature happy, healed patients and tell stories of miraculous recoveries. The messages are optimistic, about people beating steep odds. The ads spread false hope, Wallace said, and for a patient like her, they are a slap in the face.

A couple of decades ago, hospitals and clinics did not advertise much to customers. Now, they are spending more and more each year on marketing, according to university professors who study advertising.

Wallace, who lives in San Jose, Calif., said she used to be a hopeful person, someone who believed you could fight through any misfortune. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39. Her son was 4 at the time. She couldnt believe it.

She is now in her fifth round of chemotherapy and it makes her brain foggy, she said. Her stage 4 cancer has spread throughout her body. Its going to kill her, she said.

The median survival of a woman with metastatic breast cancer is 33 months, Wallace said. My 33 months would have been Dec. 6 last year. So I am on bonus time right now.

Wallace pulled up an ad on her computer from UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital, in San Francisco. An announcer intones, Amid a thousand maybes and a million nos, we believe in the profound and unstoppable power of yes.

There is a similar kind of optimism at the heart of a lot of the ad campaigns by health care providers  with slogans like Thrive and Smile Out. Wallace said the subtext of the ads is that people like her  who get sick and will die  maybe just arent being positive enough.

I didnt say yes to cancer, Wallace said. I have tried everything I can. I have done clinical trials. I have said yes to every possible treatment. And the cancer doesnt care.

Karuna Jaggar is executive director of Breast Cancer Action. She said health care providers are following in the footsteps of other companies.

Its the basics of marketing, Jaggar said. In order to sell products or services, you have to sell hope.

She said health care advertisers are adopting the kind of optimistic messaging that really began in force with the pink ribbons and rosy depictions of breast cancer.

Thirty years ago, breast cancer was the poster child of positive thinking, Jaggar said. Look good, feel better, dont let breast cancer get you down. Fight strong and be cheerful while you do it.

Back then, health care providers marketed to physicians more than consumers. The ads were drier, more factual, said Guy David, an economist and professor of health care management at the University of Pennsylvania.

When the ads are more consumer-facing as opposed to professional-facing, the content tends to be more passionate, David said.

The hospital ads Wallace objects to tug at emotions, just like other advertising that is trying to win over consumers. With increasing health care costs and choices, patients are shopping around for care. These days hospitals have to sell themselves, said Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University.

Right now in health care, if you dont have some leverage, if you dont have a brand people care about, if you dont have a reason for people to pick you over competitors  well, then you are in a really tough spot, he said.

Hospitals are spending more than ever on advertising, he said, and, as with other products, that advertising is filled with lots of promises. He noted that you dont see the same promises in the pharmaceutical industry. Their ads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which is why they have to list side effects and show scientific backing for their claims.

Hospitals arent held to any of those [FDA] standards at all, Calkins said. So a hospital can go out and say, This is where miracles happen. And heres Joe. Joe was about to die. And now Joe is going to live forever.

Lori Wallace is not going to live forever. Before cancer, she said, she would have been attracted to the messages of hope. But now, she craves realism  acceptance of both the worlds beauty and its harshness. She wrote an essay about that for the women in her breast cancer support group.

The essay is titled F*** Silver Linings and Pink Ribbons. Wallace reads the whole piece aloud, from start to finish, sitting at her kitchen table. Her son is nearby with his pet snake.

Toward the middle of the essay, Wallace writes, My ovaries are gone, and without them my skin is aging at hyperspeed. I have hot flashes and cold flashes. My bones ache. My libido is shot and my vagina is a desert. The essay is open, funny and unflinching, just like Wallace.

She reads the final paragraph: I will try to be thankful for every laugh, hug and kiss, and other things, too. That is, if my chemo-brain allows me to remember.

Thats what I wrote, Wallace said. Thats what I wrote. Brutal honesty.

Sam Harnett is a correspondent, Kaiser Health News, where this article originally appeared.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
By Sandhya Sampath

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares scaled a near 10-year high on Monday, breaching the psychologically important 6,000 point mark, supported by strong commodities prices and tracking a rally in global equity markets.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose as much as 0.81 percent, or 48.42 points, to 6,002.20 at 0010 GMT, its highest level since February 2008. The benchmark fell 0.1 percent on Monday.

The rally was supported by strong oil and metal prices and comes ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy meeting later in the day, where the central bank is expected to stand pat on policy.

U.S. stocks climbed to record highs on Monday, helped by optimism about merger activity and expectations that a cut in corporate taxes would bolster earnings, while Asia shares excluding Japan rose to 10-year highs. "We are at a stage where although 6,000 is a psychological level, it is defined mainly by the valuations, which are quite stretched," said Mathan Somasundaram, market portfolio strategist at Blue Ocean Equities.

He said it will be difficult for valuations to expand further unless the price-earnings ratio improves, a development that would be vulnerable to a sudden heightening in geo-political risks.

The broad-based gains on the index were led by energy and material stocks.

The Australian energy index rose as much as 2.1 percent, tracking an overnight surge in oil prices, which hit their highest level since mid-2015 after Saudi Arabia's crown prince cemented his power with an anti-corruption crackdown. Oil majors Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Oil Search Ltd rose as much as 2.5 percent each.

The mining and materials index rose to its highest in over 3-years, boosted by an overnight surge in iron ore prices after China's top steel producing province surpassed its capacity reduction targets for the year. Global miner BHP Billiton Ltd rose 3 percent to its highest since June 2015, while peer Rio Tinto Ltd climbed for a fifth straight session to its highest since Aug. 2011.

Australia's central bank holds its monthly policy meeting later in the session and is expected to keep its cash rate at a record low of 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.1 percent, or 10.28 points, to 8,043.35, on weak performance in consumer staples.

Dairy company a2 Milk Company Ltd fell as much as 4.8 percent, while Synlait Milk Ltd dropped about 6 percent.

Financials and utilities stocks were also a major drag on the index.

(Reporting by Sandhya Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Sam Holmes)
(Kitco News) - As traders are placing bets on whether gold prices will hold onto recent gains or not, this analyst says that it is a great time to buy the yellow metal.

GLD is a screaming BUY at this juncture, Boris Mikanikrezai, precious metals analyst at FastMarkets, wrote in a Seeking Alpha post on Monday.

Despite todays earlier rally, gold prices remain under downward pressure from higher U.S. dollar and risk-on mood, according to Mikanikrezai.

Speculators cut their long position for a 7th straight week over October 17-24, the CFTC shows, while spot gold prices weakened 0.5% from $1,277 per oz to $1,270, the analyst noted. The net long fund position - at 470.50 tonnes as of October 31 - fell 6.81 tonnes or 1.5% from the previous week (w/w). This was driven exclusively by long liquidation (-28.49 tonnes w/w) and partly offset by some short-covering (-21.68 tonnes w/w).

ETF investors remained on the sidelines over October 27-November 3, due to positive global risk appetite, he added.

On Monday, the gold found support from a combination of safe-haven demand and surging crude oil prices, which hit a two-year high, said Jim Wyckoff, Kitcos senior technical analyst.

The marketplace is just a bit unnerved to start the trading week, as a major shake-up occurred in Saudi Arabias ruling system over the weekend. Saudi princes and businessmen were arrested to weed out corruption, according to the Saudi Kingdom. The news helped to lift gold and silver, also gave oil prices a boost, Wyckoff said in his PM Roundup.

As markets in Asia opened on Tuesday, spot gold on Kitco.com traded 0.16% down on the day at $1,279.60. Meanwhile, SPDR GLD  the worlds largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund  last stood at around $121.65, up 0.85% on the day.
Tom Perry, Lisa Barrington

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, a dramatic escalation of a crisis threatening to destabilize the tiny Arab country.

Lebanon has been thrust to the center of regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran since the Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech.

Saudi Gulf affairs minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the Lebanese government would be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia because of what he described as aggression by Hezbollah.

Faulting the Hariri-led administration for failing to take action against Hezbollah during a year in office, Sabhan said there are those who will stop (Hezbollah) and make it return to the caves of South Lebanon, the heartland of the Shiite community.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, he added: Lebanese must all know these risks and work to fix matters before they reach the point of no return.

He did not spell out what action Saudi Arabia might take against Lebanon, a country with a weak and heavily indebted state that is still rebuilding from its 1975-90 civil war and where one-in-four people is a Syrian refugee.

There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is both a military and a political organization that is represented in the Lebanese parliament and in the Hariri-led coalition government formed last year.

Its powerful guerrilla army is widely seen as stronger than the Lebanese army, and has played a major role in the war in neighboring Syria, another theater of Saudi-Iranian rivalry where Hezbollah has fought in support of the government.

Lebanese authorities said on Monday the countrys financial institutions could cope with Hariris resignation and the stability of the Lebanese pound was not at risk.

But the cash price of Lebanons U.S. dollar-denominated bonds fell, with longer-dated maturities suffering hefty losses as investors took a dim view of the medium- to longer-term outlook for Lebanon.

HARIRI FREE TO TRAVEL, SAUDI FM SAYS

Hariri cited a plot to assassinate him during his unexpected resignation speech broadcast from Saudi Arabia which caught even his aides off guard. He also slammed Hezbollah and Iran, accusing them of sowing strife in the Arab world.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said he will not comment on Hariris speech, calling it a Saudi statement and saying Riyadh had forced Hariri to resign.

The sudden nature of Hariris resignation generated speculation in Lebanon that his familys Saudi construction business had been caught up in an anti-corruption purge and he had been coerced into resigning.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said it was nonsense to suggest Hariri had been coerced into quitting in a CNN interview on Monday. Hariri had quit because Hezbollah had been calling the shots in the government, he said. Hariri, a Saudi citizen, was free to leave the country at any time, he said.

Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, a senior member of Hariris political party, said he was under the impression Hariri would return to Beirut within days.

A meeting between Saudi King Salman and Hariri in Riyadh on Monday proved rumors wrong, he said - an apparent reference to speculation that Hariri was detained or forced to quit.

Earlier on Monday, President Michel Aoun, a political ally of Hezbollah, appealed for national unity.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, another political ally of Hezbollah, said in a televised statement after meeting Aoun it was too early to talk about forming a new government.

The crisis could re-aggravate tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and afflict Lebanese government with paralysis once again. All of the sides have called for calm and there has been no sign of unrest since Hariris resignation.

The Hariri-led government took office last year in a political deal that made Aoun president. The deal ended years of deadlock, and last month it produced Lebanons first budget since 2005.

Hariri flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday after meeting in Beirut the top adviser to Irans Supreme Leader, who described the coalition as a victory and great success afterwards.

Reporting by Ellen Francis, Tom Perry and Lisa Barrington in Beirut, Ali Abdelaty in Cairo; Editing by Peter Graff
HANOI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Following is a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0407 GMT.

November 7 USD/VND mid-point 22,466 USD/VND interbank 22,712/22,713 USD/VND unofficial 22,790/22,810 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.47/36.69

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.6-1.2

1 week 0.8-1.4

1 month 1.5-1.9

3 months 3.1-3.6

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on a daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)
TAIPEI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Taiwan auctioned T$25 billion ($829.74 million) in 10-year government bonds at a yield of 1.009 percent, the central bank said on Tuesday. The auction yield was below the bottom end of forecasts in a Reuters poll for a yield of between 1.02 percent and 1.04 percent. ($1 = 30.1300 Taiwan dollars)

(Reporting by Liang-sa Loh; Writing by Jess Macy Yu; Editing by Sunil Nair)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
BERLIN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The German economy is at risk of overheating, a council of economic advisers to the German government has warned, according to a report published in newspaper Handelsblatt, with output expected to expand strongly this year and next.

In their annual report, due to be published on Wednesday, the five "wise men" said the economy, which they expect to grow by 2 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2018, was expanding above its capacity and heading gradually into a "boom phase".

The report urged the government to push for more fiscal consolidation and also to cut taxes, Handelsblatt reported.

(Reporting By Thomas Escritt; Editing by Paul Carrel)
HONG KONG, Nov 7 (IFR) - Asian credits were slightly wider on Tuesday, while there was mixed trading in new issues.

Investment-grade credits generally traded around 1bp wider, with Huarong's bonds remaining under pressure as the curve widened 1bp-2bp, according to a Hong Kong-based trader.

The trader said he continued to see inflow into Korean credits as Kexim's curve tightened a further 1bp-2bp.

China's 2.125% 2022 and its 2.625% 2027 sovereign bonds issued late last month were flat at 16bp and 22bp, respectively.

The iTraxx Asia ex-Japan IG index was marginally wider at 75.5bp/76.0bp. New issues priced yesterday traded mix.

ANZ's US$2.75bn four-part notes traded well with its 3-year tranche 1bp-2bp tighter and five-year piece 3bp-4bp tighter.

The Australian bank priced 3-year and 5-year fixed-rate notes 53bp and 65bp wide of Treasuries, respectively. Its 3-year and 5-year floating-rate notes had respective prices of 32bp and 58bp over three-month US Libor.

AVIC International Leasing's US$300m 3.00% 2020s were 1bp tighter from reoffer of 137.5bp wide of Treasuries.

Far East Consortium International's US$150m 4.50% 2023s fell 0.25 point to 99.75, while Guotai Junan International's US$300m 2.80% 364-day notes were flat.

In the high-yield segment, Evergrande's 7.50% 2023s rose 0.6 point to 102.1, while its 8.75% 2025s added 0.8 point to 105.1.

The company recently took in Rmb60bn (US$9.05bn) through a third round of fundraising for its property assets business, targeted for a back-door listing in Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, KWG's 5.20% 2020s fell 0.05 point to 99.244 as the Chinese property developer marketed new 7-year non-call four US dollar senior bonds at initial price guidance of 6.20% area and later tightened to 5.875%-6.00%.

Reliance Communications' 6.50% 2020s were flat, even though the Indian telecom operator said it had missed a coupon payment of about US$9.75m on the bonds.

The missed coupon was well expected and its bonds have fallen 15 points since October and were bid at 40.50 in late afternoon.

(Reporting by Carol Chan; Editing by Dharsan Singh)

Keywords: MARKETS ASIA DEBT/
By Huw Jones

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Whistleblowers in banking are being gagged and risk ending up broke and unemployed despite reforms introduced since the financial crisis, a senior British lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Lord Cromwell, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, said the American system of compensating whistleblowers should be looked at given the financial hardship that people who speak face.

"What actually happens to whistleblowers in our system is they become unemployable, they have their lives trashed, and they are heavily persecuted in the most intimidatory way," Cromwell told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference on conduct in banking.

"In America, if you are a genuine whistleblower and an eyewatering fine is imposed on the institution, you get a share of that - and you are going to need it."

"You pay for vermin control, so why do you expect people to do the right thing for nothing and then have their lives destroyed," Cromwell said.

Tougher whistleblowing rules was introduced after the 2007-09 financial crisis, but they stop short of offering financial rewards. The all-party group will now hold meetings to look at how whistleblowing is working.

The industry is also waiting to see how the Financial Conduct Authority deals with attempts by Jes Staley, chief executive of Barclays bank, to unmask a whistleblower's identity. Norman Blackwell, chairman of Lloyds bank, told the City & Financial conference there should be the option of speaking out anonymously, and a crackdown on penalising anyone for speaking out publicly.

Robert Francis, a barrister who led a government review into whistleblowing in Britain's public healthcare system, said a "re-employment" scheme for staff who often face job loss if they turn to employment tribunals, would be better than a financial reward.

"The law isn't hitting the target," Francis said.

Anthony Belchambers, chairman of Saxo Capital Markets, said that a decade after the crisis began, the industry was "shamefully slow" in improving conduct.

There was a risk that a "morass" of new codes could become a "bit of a mess" and not be enforced properly, Belchambers said.

(Additional reporting by Kirstin Ridley; Editing by Keith Weir)
LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson did not make a gaffe when he commented about the activities of jailed Iranian-British aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Britain's trade minister Liam Fox said on Tuesday.

Johnson told the British parliament's foreign affairs committee on Nov. 1 that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been teaching people journalism, a statement that the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charity organisation for which she works, said was incorrect.

"I don't believe that it is a serious gaffe. I think people in the Iranian regime ... are using this as an excuse to hold a UK citizen in the most tenuous, if not illegal, circumstances," Fox told Sky news.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year jail sentence after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment, was brought into court on Saturday, three days after Johnson's remarks, and accused by a judge of "spreading propaganda against the regime," the Thomson Reuters Foundation said.

The charges against Zaghari-Ratcliffe are denied by her family and the Foundation, a charity organisation that operates independently of Reuters News.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mike Collett-White)
MADRID, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The independence drive in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia has become the second largest worry for Spaniards, after unemployment, surging from the ninth biggest concern in September, an official poll showed on Tuesday.

The political crisis between Catalonia and the central government reached a head Oct. 1 after regional leader Carles Puigdemont called a vote on independence, considered illegal by Madrid, then declared secession before being fired and replaced.

Some 29 percent of those surveyed said that Catalonia's push for secession was Spain's largest problem in a poll taken Oct. 2 to Oct 11, up from just 7.8 percent in a previous poll taken at the beginning of September.

Unemployment, the second highest in Europe, was still 66.2 percent of Spaniard's key concern.

If a national election was held today, the ruling People's Party (PP) would hold on to its minority government, with 28 percent of the vote, according to the survey, down from 28.8 percent when it was last taken in July.

Market-friendly Ciudadanos, originally based in Catalonia, saw support rise to 17.5 percent in October from 14.5 percent in July, while the Socialists would remain the second largest party in parliament with 24.2 percent compared to 24.9 percent previously.

Some 2,487 people were surveyed as part of the poll.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Jesus Aguado)
* Foreign banks likely to be allowed to own up to 51 pct

* Non-financial Chinese firms may partner with banks

* Plan yet to be approved by China's state council

By Sumeet Chatterjee

HONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters) - China plans to allow global banks to take a stake of up to 51 percent in their onshore securities ventures for the first time and tie up with local non-financial firms, people familiar with the matter said.

The move, if implemented, would form a key part of China's pledge to ease foreign ownership curbs and would allow banks including Credit Suisse , Goldman Sachs , JPMorgan and UBS to bolster their presence in securities business - from underwriting to trading - in the world's second-largest economy.

Currently, Western banks can only own up to 49 percent of their Chinese brokerage joint ventures. That lack of control and limited contribution to revenue have long been a source of frustration.

The plan to ease ownership restrictions comes as Beijing faces mounting pressure from Western governments and business lobbies to remove investment barriers and onerous regulations that hobble foreign firms from operating in its markets.

China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) officials have informally allowed some foreign banks to work on their onshore strategies with the planned easing of equity holding restrictions in mind, two of the people said.

The details of the plan to give majority control to foreign banks are expected to be finalised and announced once approved by the state council, they said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

News of Beijing's possible easing of ownership restrictions in the securities sector comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit China as part of his five-nation Asia trip.

Trump's visit to China, which starts on Wednesday, comes amid frustration in parts of the U.S. business community, including finance, over discriminatory Chinese policies and market access restrictions in various sectors.

The CSRC, which has been encouraging foreign investment in its bond and stock markets as part of broader efforts to deregulate capital markets, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday.

"We continue to evaluate viable options to strengthen our position in China in order to better serve our clients," said a spokeswoman for JPMorgan, which in December sold its 33 percent holding in a China securities venture to its local partner.

JPMorgan, whose other financial services in China include corporate banking and asset management, is in talks to set up a new partnership in China, people with knowledge of the matter have previously told Reuters.

Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and UBS declined to comment.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

It is still possible the proposal could be altered or even shelved following feedback from senior government officials, one of the people said, adding the regulator could also take a bank-specific approach in deciding on the ownership issue.

Despite the current ownership curbs, most global banks have waited patiently for the sector to open up more - given its potential. Brokerage revenues in China reached a high of $41 billion in 2015, according to a report by Quinlan & Associates.

Assuming institutional broking revenue is 10-15 percent of the total, a 1 percent market share would produce up to $60 million in annual revenue for an equities house, the financial sector consultancy noted.

Any lifting of the cap on foreign stakes beyond 49 percent would allow Western banks to buy more shares from their partners in existing ventures or enter into new partnerships, the people said.

Management control would allow foreign banks to offer more services through their joint ventures and potentially leverage their global networks to win China market share.

Separately, allowing non-financial Chinese firms, including government entities, to enter into partnerships with foreign banks would help Western firms to better control the business, industry insiders said.

So far, Beijing has allowed only HSBC to set up a majority-owned securities joint venture in China, taking advantage of Chinese rules that favour Hong Kong-established banks over their foreign peers. In January, Morgan Stanley became the first foreign bank to receive China securities regulator's approval to boost its stake in its securities venture to 49 percent, up from a third. (Reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee, with additional reporting by Julie Zhu and Engen Tham; Editing by Jennifer Hughes and Ian Geoghegan)
(Adds Agrium Inc, Axis Bank, British utility, Anglo American, Essilor, Whitecap Resources; Updates Airtel)

Nov 7 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Tuesday:

** A Qatari investor plans to sell a 5 percent stake in top Indian telecoms carrier Bharti Airtel Ltd on Friday for about 95 billion rupees ($1.46 billion), adding to the Gulf nation's recent stake sales in foreign companies. ** India's Axis Bank will hold a board meeting on Friday to consider raising funds through a sale of shares or equity-linked securities, it said on Tuesday. ** Canadian fertilizer producer and farm supplier Agrium Inc said on Tuesday it will sell its Idaho phosphate production facility for $100 million to fertilizer company Itafos , to address concerns of U.S. regulators about its merger with Potash Corp of Saskatchewan . ** British utility SSE and German rival Innogy are in talks about merging their UK retail energy businesses to create a company that would challenge British Gas as the country's largest power supplier. ** Mining giant Anglo American is among several companies interested in buying commodity trader Louis Dreyfus's metals business, three trading and banking sources told Reuters. ** France's Essilor , the prescription lens maker, has asked U.S. regulators to bless its merger with Italy's Luxottica , the leading frame maker, to create a company that would produce everything from Ray-Bans to Giorgio Armani frames, and be the top U.S. eyeglass retail outlet as well as a leading provider of vision insurance. ** Canada's Whitecap Resources Inc and at least three other companies have submitted final-round bids for Cenovus Energy Inc's Weyburn oil facility in a deal that could fetch about C$1 billion ($782 million), people familiar with the situation said on Tuesday. ** Electric car maker Tesla Inc said on Tuesday it agreed to buy privately held Perbix Machine Co Inc, which designs automated manufacturing equipment. ** The board of the owner of Nykredit, Denmark's largest mortgage lender, has agreed with five Danish pension funds to sell a 10.9 percent stake in Nykredit for 7.5 billion Danish crowns ($1.17 billion) instead of seeking an initial public offer. ** Drug distributor McKesson Corp said on Monday it would buy drugstore operator CVS Health Corp's unit that provides various tailored services to pharma firms in a $735 million deal to expand the range of services it offers. ** Cloud-based software maker Salesforce.com Inc said on Monday it has entered into a partnership with Google's cloud platform G Suite, to support its rapidly growing global customer base. ** Canadian miner Centerra Gold Inc said on Tuesday it would buy smaller rival AuRico Metals Inc AMI.TO in a deal valued at C$310 million ($243 million). ** The head of Brazil's telecommunications watchdog, Anatel, demanded on Monday that debt-laden carrier Oi SA submit its latest restructuring proposal to the regulator before officially filing it with a bankruptcy court. ** Brazil's largest listed port operator Santos Brasil Participacoes SA said on Monday that it is looking for "strategic alternatives" for assets at the Port of Imbituba, that could include new partners or selling the assets. ** Germany's E.ON might have to pay as much as 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) if a deal to sell its stake in Uniper to Finnish power group Fortum falls through, raising the bar for any rival to enter the auction. ** India's state-owned miner NMDC Ltd plans to bid for a $9 billion diamond project in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, three sources directly involved with the plan told Reuters, competing against resources conglomerates Adani and Vedanta. ** Deutsche Telekom ended talks on a merger between its T-Mobile US business and Sprint Corp because it would not have created value, CEO Tim Hoettges told staff after the deal collapsed at the weekend. ** Chinese investor Creat Group Corp has withdrawn and will rework its application for U.S. approval of a planned takeover of Biotest amid concerns over national security, the German blood plasma products maker said, sending its shares sharply lower. ** French bank Credit Agricole's Indosuez Wealth Management arm has agreed to buy a majority stake in Italy's Banca Leonardo, in a deal which it said would add 5.9 billion euros ($6.9 billion) to its assets under management. ** A planned sale of ACR Capital, the holding firm for a Singapore-based reinsurer, to a Shenzhen government-owned consortium has been called off after the consortium flagged it would not be able to close the deal this year, ACR's chief executive said. ** South African retailer The Foschini Group (TFG) will buy British womenswear brand Hobbs for an undisclosed sum, the company said. ** South African Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said that many investors were interested in taking an equity stake in South African Airways (SAA), after the government appointed new board members to turn around the struggling national airline. (Compiled by Diptendu Lahiri and Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru)
FRANKFURT, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Tackling soured credit weighing on the balance sheets of euro zone banks is a top priority, requiring a joint effort between regulators, supervisors and national authorities, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Tuesday.

The ECB has been criticised by Italy, including by the Italian head of the European Parliament, for encroaching on regulators' prerogatives with its latest guidelines on how banks should deal with new bad loans.

"Currently the most important issue here is tackling non-performing loans," Draghi told a conference.

"We therefore need a joint effort by banks, supervisors, regulators and national authorities to address this issue in an orderly manner, first and foremost by creating an environment where NPLs can be effectively managed and efficiently disposed of," he added.

(Reporting by Francesco Canepa; Editing by Balazs Koranyi)
By Karla Mendes

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 7 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Farmer Marino D'Angelo Junior resorted to anti-depressants after a flood of mud destroyed his village when a dam collapsed at Brazil's Samarco iron ore mine two years ago, releasing millions of tonnes of thick reddish-brown sludge.

In total 19 people died after the dam - designed to hold back mine waste - burst two years ago this month, in Brazil's worst environmental catastrophe, leaving a trail of destruction over more than 600 km (375 miles). The house D'Angelo Junior called home for 22 years in a rural district of Mariana city, some 70 km from the scene of the disaster in Minas Gerais state, became unsafe because of the mud while his father-in-law's property was destroyed. "It was not only walls and bricks .. My wedding was celebrated there, as well as the baptism of my children," D'Angelo Junior, 48, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone from his new home, about 6 km away.

"The distance from people, this sudden change in my life has brought me a lot of health problems. I take two anti-depressants a day."

He was out of work for 30 days after the disaster and only received compensation after state prosecutors acted on his behalf.

Prosecutors and victims are concerned that two years after the disaster thousands of victims are still to get compensation although the dam's owners say the process is on schedule.

After the dam gave way, the equivalent of 25,000 Olympic-sized pools of muddy mine waste flowed into the Rio Doce, one of Brazil's main rivers, killing fish and fouling water supplies.

Brazilian prosecutors charged 21 people last year with qualified homicide for their roles in the collapse. The Samarco mine's joint owners, Brazil's Vale SA and Australia's BHP Billiton Ltd , and Brazilian engineering company VOGBR Recursos Hidricos e Geotecnica, which certified the dam's safety, were charged with environmental crimes.

LONG WAIT

BHP, Vale and Samarco officials rejected the charges, while VOGBR declined to comment at the time they were brought.

Prosecutors subsequently served the partners in the Samarco mine with a 155 billion Brazilian real ($47 billion) claim for the social, environmental and economic costs of cleaning up the disaster with a mid-November deadline to settle.

Thousands of victims are still waiting for new houses or compensation, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors blame an agreement through which the government authorized the mining companies to transfer their environmental, material and compensation obligations to Fundacao Renova, a third-party company created for this task.

Federal prosecutors last May filed a court case questioning the legality of the agreement and arguing the creation of Fundacao Renova is illegal as current legislation states the polluter must be directly charged for environmental crimes.

The prosecutors criticized a lack of victims' participation in Fundacao Renova's decision-making process as well as difficulties to sue in case obligations were not fulfilled.

"While signing this deal, the government gave absolute powers to companies to establish a foundation that does whatever it wants without any representative of the victims," said Guilherme Meneguim, a state prosecutor.

All 350 families in Mariana affected by the disaster received initial compensation and are getting their rent paid, while many families are receiving a monthly cash transfer.

However, the prosecutor said many victims are yet to be registered to receive final compensation and the construction of new villages to relocate people has been delayed.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation contacted Samarco but was referred to Fundacao Renova for comments.

MORE SAY FOR VICTIMS

Roberto Waak, the head of Fundacao Renova, said the compensation plan was being implemented according to schedule.

"The original plan from the beginning was to deliver the new villages until the middle of 2019. This plan is maintained," Waak told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

However, he said disaster victims should be given a more active role in decision-making, including a seat on the Fundacao Renova's board, which is expected to be announced soon.

According to Waak, although 8,000 families from outside Mariana are receiving a monthly cash transfer, 17,000 families have not received anything so far due to registration issues.

"Eighty percent of people weren't able to prove what they had because most of their activities and land properties are informal," he said, adding all these cases will be included in compensation claims.

Administrative sales assistant Janaina Cecilia das Flores Cardoso said she has been out of work for two years after the disaster forced her to move to another area.

"My life was destroyed. Not only mine, but all people's life from Mariana," Cardoso, 40, said by telephone.

The mayor of Mariana, Duarte Eustaquio Goncalves Junior, said the disaster harmed the entire city as most its income comes from mining activities.

There is no date yet for Samarco to resume its operations, which depends on the approval of environmental licenses, the company said in an Oct. 31 statement.

"We are in favor of the return of company's operation but also that justice punishes those responsible," said Goncalves Junior.

($1 = 3.3245 reais)

(Reporting by Karla Mendes, Editing by Astrid Zweynert @azweynert. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit )
PARIS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron's government postponed a long-held target to reduce the share of nuclear energy in France's electricity generation.

French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot told a news conference that it was not realistic to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the power mix to 50 percent by 2025 from 75 percent at present. He did not set a new deadline.

"We will reduce the share of nuclear in the mix as soon as possible," he said, adding that doing this in a hurry could endanger the security of power supply as well as targets to reduce France's CO2 emissions.

He also said that the Fessenheim nuclear plant, France's oldest, would be closed during Macron's five-year term.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Michel Rose; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
Tahoe Resources Inc. (TSX: THO, NYSE: TAHO) reports a net loss in the third quarter as revenue fell due to closure the Escobal mine in Guatemala, one of the largest silver mines in world, over a license issue. The company lists a loss of $8.4 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to income of $63 million, or 20 cents, in the same quarter a year ago. Escobal was shut down in early July over a license issue. The Guatemalan Supreme Court reinstated the companys mining license near end of the third quarter, but the issue must still be resolved by the Constitutional Court. Also, protesters near the town of Casillas are blocking a supply road connecting Guatemala City to San Rafael Las Flores and the Escobal mine. Tahoe listed no silver output in the third quarter, compared to 5 million ounces in the same period a year ago. Companywide revenue fell to $155.2 million from $234.7 million. However, Tahoes gold output rose to 109,000 ounces from 98,000. Although we reported a loss for the quarter, the results were negatively impacted by $14 million in costs ($0.04 per share) related to the suspension and care and maintenance of Escobal and a $9 million non-recurring pre-tax expense ($0.03 per share) at La Arena as a result of completing negotiations to fulfill historical commitments made to the community, says Ron Clayton, president and chief executive officer. Except for these items, we would have reported positive earnings for the quarter on the strength of our gold operations alone. Tahoe improved its guidance for 2017 gold output to between 400,000 to 450,000 ounces, largely due to higher grade and additional tonnes at La Arena for the year to date. Total cash cost estimates were decreased by $50 per ounce to an estimated $650 to $700 per ounce, and guidance for all-in sustaining costs were decreased by $100 per ounce to a range of $1,050 to $1,150.
(Kitco News) - Hecla Mining Co. (NYSE: HL) Tuesday reported a decline in third-quarter net income, with revenue falling from a year ago due to a strike at an Idaho mine and also the result of lower prices for precious metals.

Net income was $1.3 million, or zero cents per share, down from $25.7 million, or 7 cents, for the same period a year ago. Excluding special items, adjusted net income was $16 million, or 4 cents per share.

The company blamed the decline in net income on several factors, starting with the ongoing strike at the Lucky Friday Mine in Idaho and a build-up of product inventory during the quarter of approximately $12.9 million, primarily due to the timing of concentrate shipments at Greens Creek in Alaska. Realized silver and gold prices were lower  with silver averaging $17.01 per ounce and gold $1,283, down 13% and 4%, respectively -- although this was partially offset by higher zinc and lead prices, Hecla said. All of this led to quarterly sales of $140.8 million, down from $179.4 million in the year-ago period.

Hecla also reported a mark-to-market loss on base-metal derivatives contracts of $11.2 million, a net foreign-exchange loss of $4.8 million, plus increased interest and exploration/pre-development expenses.

The company reported Lucky Friday suspension costs of $3.7 million. While the strike continues, limited production and capital improvements are being performed by salaried staff, Hecla said.

Phillips S. Baker Jr., president and chief executive officer, said the companys operating performance, coupled with higher prices for by-product metals zinc and lead, resulted in third-quarter silver cash costs of 63 cents per share after by-product credits. This was the lowest in seven years and allowed the company to lower cost guidance, he added.

"Both Casa Berardi and Greens Creek set records for throughput, and San Sebastian had its strongest silver production of the year, the CEO said.

Hecla pre-reported mine output last month. July-September silver output was 3.3 million ounces, down from 4.3 million a year ago. Gold production climbed to 63,046 ounces from 52,126. Silver-equivalent production of 11.1 million ounces was the highest quarterly production this year, Hecla added. The company also listed by-product output of 5,370 tons of lead and 14,497 tons of zinc.

All-in sustaining costs, after by-product credits, were $6.65 per silver ounce, down 47%.

Hecla listed full-year silver-equivalent guidance of 40.6 million to 42 million ounces. Silver output is expected to be 11.6 million to 12.5 million, while gold output is listed at 230,000 to 235,000 ounces.

The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0025 per share, payable around Dec. 1 to stockholders of record on Nov. 21. The realized silver price was $17.01 in the third quarter did not satisfy the criteria for a larger dividend under the company's policy, Hecla said.
DUBAI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Most major Gulf stock markets dropped early on Tuesday because of continued jitters about Saudi Arabia's sweeping anti-corruption investigation, which could disrupt Saudi investment flows into the rest of the region.

The Saudi stock index was down 1.6 percent after 75 minutes of trade. Shares linked to people detained in the investigation led falls.

Among them, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holding plunged its 10 percent daily limit, bringing its losses in the three days since the investigation was announced to 21 percent.

The fall has wiped off about $2 billion from Prince Alwaleed's fortune, previously estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion.

Al Tayyar Travel , whose founder Nasser bin Aqeel al-Tayyar was detained, plunged 10 percent for a second day. The company said it was operating normally and had the support of the government, but the slide in its shares suggests investors feel its fate is bound up with that of its founder.

Dallah Healthcare fell 3.8 percent after its controlling shareholder, billionaire Saleh Kamel, was held. Housing builder Red Sea International dropped 6.8 percent after chairman Amr al-Dabbagh was detained.

Declining stocks outnumbered gainers by 164 to nine. In the past two days, many banks and other blue chips stayed firm, but almost all stocks were caught in the sell-off on Tuesday. Real estate firm Dar Al Arkan was the best performer, rising 1.7 percent.

However, many fund managers think the overall market may recover by the close because of buying by government-linked funds acting to prevent a panic. The market followed that pattern on Sunday and Monday.

In Dubai, the index slipped 0.6 percent with Emaar Properties dropping by that margin and DAMAC Properties tumbling 3.7 percent. Saudis have been significant investors in Dubai real estate and this flow of money could conceivably shrink because of the crackdown.

The index in Abu Dhabi , less exposed to Saudi money, inched up 0.1 percent. But Kuwait continued to slide, with its index losing 3.8 percent. National Bank of Kuwait , which had tumbled 4.5 percent on Monday, lost a further 2.1 percent and logistics firm Agility sank 3.9 percent.

Most Saudi portfolio money had already left Qatar earlier this year because of Riyadh's diplomatic dispute with Doha. But the Qatari index was still caught up in the regional downtrend on Tuesday, dropping 1.6 percent as Qatar Navigation , the most heavily traded stock, sank 2.0 percent.

(Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Larry King)
ABUJA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said the country "cannot afford to go back to dark days of insecurity" in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

In a speech to present the 2018 budget, Buhari called on all sides to maintain dialogue.

Last week, the militant group Niger Delta Avengers threatened a "brutal and bloody" return to the violence that last year slashed oil output. Oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu will visit the region this week in an attempt to maintain the ceasefire. Buhari also said the country's exemption from production cuts organized by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was a significant help to the country during its "most challenging time."

(Reporting by Paul Carsten and Libby George, editing by Louise Heavens)
MANILA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The Philippine central bank on Tuesday released the preliminary data on gross international reserves (GIR) as of end-October.

GIR Oct Sept Aug Jul Jun May (in bln $) 80.615 80.962 81.725 81.065 81.321 82.177

NOTE: The September figure has been revised.

- The central bank attributed the decline in reserves to "outflows" arising from its foreign exchange operations and to payments by the government of its obligations.

- The end-October reserves can cover 8.4 months worth of imports, the central bank said in a statement.

- The central bank said in June reserves were expected to be at $80.5 billion by the end of the year, below its earlier estimate of $84.7 billion.

- The central bank expects the country's current account balance this year to be in $600 million deficit on expectations of surging imports.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

DEBT SUPPLY

The finance ministry is expected to publish details of the supply for Thursday switch tender at 1100 GMT.

TRADE ON SUNDAY

The foreign affairs ministry said in order to introduce the planned ban on Sunday trade, the proposed legislation's compatibility with European Union rules needs to be analysed, Gazeta Wyborcza daily said. The draft bill was to be discussed in parliament this week.

BANK PEKAO Poland's No.2 lender Bank Pekao SA may present its new strategy on Wednesday, Rzeczpospolita daily said.

EMPERIA Lithuanian retail group Maxima is interested in taking over Polish Emperia Group, which owns the Stokrotka chain, Parkiet daily said.

COAL SHORTAGE

Polish energy producers complain that they lack coal just before the start of the winter heating season, Parkiet said.

EURO

Poland should immediately declare its interest in joining the euro zone to improve its position within the integrating European Union, former central bank governor and prime minister Marek Belka told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily.

Belka also said that Poland should join the euro zone at the euro rate to zloty close to the current one.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)
WARSAW, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Poland will offer to sell treasury bonds maturing in July 2020, November 2022, January 2023, July 2027 and May 2028 at a switch tender on Thursday, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. In exchange for the papers the ministry said it would buy back debt due in January 2018, April 2018, July 2018 and October 2018. Switch tenders are non-cash operations at which the ministry exchanges papers nearing maturity for longer-term debt.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Marcin Goclowski)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Nov 7 (Reuters) - British power utility SSE , the country's second-biggest energy supplier said on Tuesday it has been in talks with Germany's Innogy SE about creating a new independent UK energy supply company.

SSE said the independent supply company would merge its own household energy supply and services business in the UK with Innogy's rival UK supplier Npower. The discussions between the two companies were "well-advanced" but no binding agreements regarding the combination have been entered into, SSE said in a statement.

Reuters reported on Monday Innogy could sell Npower, or combine it with a local rival. (Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
BUDAPEST, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The Hungarian Government Debt Management Agency (AKK) sold 40 billion forints ($148.74 million) worth of three-month Treasury bills on Tuesday, as planned, it said. Series: D180214 Issue status: Auction data: AUCTION DATE 07/11/2017 31/10/2017 TOTAL BIDS (bln HUF) 64.45 88.59 ALLOTTED (bln HUF) 40.00 40.00 AVERAGE YIELD (pct) 0.01 0.00

($1 = 268.9200 forints)

(Reporting by Sandor Peto)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Britain's Debt Management Office said it generated record demand for its sale via syndication on Tuesday of 3 billion pounds ($3.94 billion) of an index-linked gilt maturing in 2048. "I think this demonstrates the strength of demand for this important asset class," DMO Chief Executive Robert Stheeman said. The syndicated offer, which generated orders worth 23.7 billion pounds, was managed by four joint bookrunners: BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley and UBS Investment Bank.

(Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Andy Bruce)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
* Trump endorses crackdown on those "milking" Saudi Arabia

* Detainees include global investor Prince Alwaleed

* Gulf markets dip on investor jitters over purge

* Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seen amassing power

(Updates market close and account freezes, adds funeral and analyst)

By Katie Paul and Stephen Kalin

RIYADH, Nov 7 (Reuters) - All major Gulf stock markets slid on Tuesday on jitters about Saudi Arabia's sweeping anti-graft purge, a campaign seen by critics as a populist power grab but by ordinary Saudis as an overdue attack on the sleaze of a moneyed ultra-elite.

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed the crackdown, saying some of those arrested have been "milking" Saudi Arabia for years, but some Western officials expressed unease about the possible reaction in Riyadh's opaque tribal and royal politics.

Authorities detained dozens of top Saudis including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in a move widely seen as an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to neuter any opposition to his lightening ascent to the pinnacle of power.

Admirers see it as an assault on the endemic theft of public funds in the world's top oil exporter, an absolute monarchy where the state and the ruling family are intertwined.

"Corruption should have been fought a long time ago, because it's corruption that delays society's development," Riyadh resident Hussein al-Dosari told Reuters.

"God willing, everything that happened ... is only the beginning of what is planned," said Faisal bin Ali, adding he wanted to see "correcting mistakes, correcting ministries and correcting any injustices against the general population."

But some analysts see the arrests as the latest in a string of moves shifting power from a consensus-based system dispersing authority among the ruling Al Saud to a governing structure centred around 32-year-old Prince Mohammed himself.

Investors worry that his campaign against corruption - involving the arrests of the kingdom's most internationally known businessmen - could see the ownership of businesses and assets become vulnerable to unpredictable policy shifts.

Saudi banks have frozen more than 1,200 accounts belonging to individuals and companies in the kingdom and the number keeps rising, bankers and lawyers said. INVESTOR NERVES

The Saudi stock index .TASI sank 0.7 percent in heavy trade, led by shares in companies linked to people detained in the investigation. The market, which was down 3.1 percent at one stage, would have finished much lower without apparent buying by government-linked funds seeking to prevent a panic, fund managers said. A mass pull-out of foreign funds was not apparent.

Among the companies, Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding plunged by its 10 percent daily limit, bringing its losses in the three days since the investigation was announced to 21 percent. The fall has wiped about $2 billion off his fortune, previously estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion.

In Dubai, where Saudis have been significant investors, the index slipped 1.8 percent. The index in Abu Dhabi , less exposed to Saudi money, fell only 0.4 percent. But Kuwait continued to slide, its index losing 2.8 percent.

The show of investor nerves coincided with sharply heightened strains between Riyadh and Tehran, reflected in a fresh denunciation of adversary Iran by Prince Mohammed over its role in Yemen, and by continuing mutual acrimony over political turmoil in Lebanon, another cockpit of Iranian-Saudi rivalry.

Displaying an apparently undimmed taste for navigating several challenges simultaneously, Prince Mohammed said Iran's supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of "direct military aggression" that could be an act of war. He was speaking in a phone call with the British foreign minister after Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired towards Riyadh on Saturday by the Houthis.

A Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally-recognised government, has been targeting the Houthis in a war which has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in one of the region's poorest countries.

Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as "destructive and provocative" and "slanders".

The coincidence of heightened Saudi-Iranian tensions and Saudi domestic political upheaval has stirred unease among some Western governments and analysts about the emergence of an impromptu policy-making style under Prince Mohammed and turmoil in a region traditionally seen as a haven of stability.

"He seems to be pushing the creation of a personalised system of rule without the checks and balances that have typically characterised the Saudi system of governance," wrote Marc Lynch, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, in the Washington Post.

"In both domestic and foreign affairs, he has consistently undertaken sudden and wide-ranging campaigns for unclear reasons which shatter prevailing norms."

PIVOTAL POWER BASE

Among those held in the anti-graft purge was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdom's tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef, known as MbN, as heir to the throne.

MbN made his first confirmed public appearance since then at the funeral for Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, deputy governor of Asir province, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. No cause has been given for the crash.

A photo shared online by a state media photographer showed MbN greeting another royal at the first major family gathering since the anti-corruption sweep began.

The crackdown removed any remaining political counterweights to the crown prince, according to Steffen Hertog, a Saudi scholar at the London School of Economics.

"This allows for fast decision-making and reduces costly involvement of princes in state contracts, but also potentially reduces internal criticism and review of new policy initiatives," he said.

A former senior U.S. intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guard's loyalties, Prince Mohammed could face a backlash. "I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion," he said.

But the purge may go some way to soothing public disgust over financial abuses by the powerful, some Saudis say.

"There is no doubt that it (the detentions) soothes the anger of the regular citizen who felt that such names and senior leaders who appeared in the list were immune from legal accountability," said Saudi-based political analyst Mansour al-Ameer.

"Its spread to the general population is evidence that no one is excluded from legal accountability, and this will eventually benefit the citizen and (national) development."

(Reporting by Gulf team; writing by William Maclean; editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Adds detail, quotes)

By Nina Chestney

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - British utility SSE and German rival Innogy are in talks about merging their UK retail energy businesses, the companies said on Tuesday.

SSE said the talks were about merging its household energy supply and services business with Innogy's UK supply business Npower.

SSE is Britain's second largest energy supplier with around 8 million energy customer accounts, while Npower has 4.7 million clients.

The discussions are "well-advanced", but no binding agreements have been entered into, the two companies said, declining to comment on the reasons for the talks. Innogy said the combined business would be listed.

SSE and Innogy shares were up 2.7 percent and 1.65 percent respectively after the news.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Innogy could sell Npower, or combine it with a local rival. Britain's energy market is dominated by the so-called big six including Centrica's British Gas, SSE , Iberdrola's Scottish Power, Innogy's Npower, E.ON and EDF Energy , which account for about 85 percent of the retail electricity market.

However, they have all been losing customers to smaller challengers over the past year or so, which has ramped up pressure on the firms which already face the introduction of a price cap on their most common tariffs, standard variable tariffs (SVTs)

Last month, the government asked the energy market regulator to come up with price caps on consumer gas and electricity prices for millions of households which will initially last until 2020. When introduced, which is not likely until next winter at the earliest, it would be the biggest energy market intervention for 30 years.

Utilities have criticised the energy cap, with some saying it would dampen competition and others saying SVTs should be scrapped altogether.

(Reporting by Nina Chestney and Radhikma Rukmangadhan; Additional reporting by Maria Sheahan, Tom Kaeckenhoff and Susanna Twidale; Editing by Greg Mahlich and Mark Potter)
(Combines Draghi, Nouy)

FRANKFURT, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank sought on Tuesday to defuse a conflict with European and Italian authorities over its plans for ridding euro zone banks of bad loans, opening the door to working with other institutions and tailoring its approach to each bank.

The ECB has come under fire for setting blanket rules for how much money banks should set aside for new unpaid loans and is due by March to draft guidelines for existing soured credit, a much bigger issue at nearly 900 billion euros.

Critics say the new rules encroach on the European Parliament's prerogatives and fail to account for countries, such as Italy, where justice is slow and the economic recovery fragile.

But President Mario Draghi appeared to extend an olive branch on Tuesday, calling for a "joint effort" between regulators, supervisors and national authorities.

"Currently the most important issue here is tackling non-performing loans," Draghi, an Italian, told an ECB conference.

"We therefore need a joint effort by banks, supervisors, regulators and national authorities to address this issue in an orderly manner," Draghi said.

His comments raised the chance the ECB's guidelines on legacy loans will be influenced by a legislative proposal that the European Commission is preparing in parallel on the matter, as reported by Reuters last month.

For Italian banks, sitting on a quarter of the euro zone's bad loans pile, the main fear is that the guidelines for new bad loans, which give banks seven years to provide for credit backed by collateral and two years for unsecured debt, may be applied to legacy ones too.

Speaking after Draghi, the ECB's chief supervisor Daniele Nouy sought to assuage those fears, stressing the approach to legacy loans will be "case by case".

"For the legacy (NPLs), well, the situation is very diverse, so it has to be only case by case assessment and solutions," Nouy told a conference. "We are working with all the banks that have too high levels of non performing exposures."

Sources had told Reuters the ECB was rethinking its approach to legacy NPLs, due in part the Italian backlash.

(Reporting by Francesco Canepa; Editing by Balazs Koranyi and Raissa Kasolowsky)
(Adds details, background)

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The World Bank has cut Tanzania's economic growth forecast for this year to 6.6 percent from the government's 7.1 percent estimate, citing policy uncertainty and sluggish private sector activity.

The World Bank said in May it expects Tanzania's economy to grow at around 7 percent over the next two years.

The East African nation has pledged to boost public investment in infrastructure, including a standard gauge railway, new roads and expanding its ports.

But investors have been unnerved by policies from the government of President John Magufuli, who is nicknamed "The Bulldozer" for his governing style.

"The Magufuli administration has prioritised efforts to improve public administration, to clamp down on corruption and to strengthen the tax administration. While these efforts are well intended, the transition has caused uncertainty within the private sector," the World Bank said in its latest economic update on Tanzania released on Monday.

"There appears to have been an overall deterioration in business sentiment due to the perceived risks resulting from the unpredictability of policy actions related to the government's intensified efforts to collect revenue and to its anti-corruption drive."

(Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by George Obulutsa and Gopakumar Warrier)
(Updates with comments on interest cap, Eurobond)

By Katharine Houreld

NAIROBI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Kenya's economy should rebound in 2018 after drought and political turmoil during a prolonged election cycle cut nearly one percent from this year's early economic growth forecast, Finance Minister Henry Rotich said on Tuesday.

The economy is expected to grow by more than 6 percent next year, Rotich said. He said growth would move towards 7 percent in the medium term, without elaborating.

He had earlier trimmed the 2017 forecast to 5.0 percent from a previous projection of 5.5 percent, which itself was a reduction from 5.9 percent. The economy grew 5 percent in the first half of the year, the government said, falling short of its full-year forecast.

"Agriculture this year will be better than last year, that is the reason why our growth looks optimistic, even at this time when we face these challenges on the investment side," Rotich told a news conference.

Rotich said that revenue collections for the first four months of the 2017/18 (July-June) fiscal year had fallen short by 40 billion shillings ($386.47 million).

Kenya's economy has faced a slowdown for the better part of the year. In addition to the drought and its political uncertainty, credit growth has slowed, partly because of a cap on commercial bank lending rates imposed last September.

Rotich said the government had no immediate plans to lift the cap, saying they were still studying its effects.

The government planned to forge ahead with its infrastructure plans, he said, including a port at Lamu to ease regional trade.

The government was also looking at issuing another Eurobond, Rotich said, although he would not be drawn on the amount or time period. Kenya issued a $2 billion Eurobond in 2014.

Kenya held presidential elections on Aug. 8, but the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's win and ordered a repeat election. Opposition leader Raila Odinga boycotted the new election, on Oct. 26, and Kenyatta won again, with 98 percent of the vote, in a campaign marred by violent protests.

On Monday, a former lawmaker filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging Kenyatta's second victory, in a last-minute move that opened the door to legal scrutiny of the vote. Kenya is a regional hub for trade, diplomacy and security. The prolonged election season disrupted its economy as investors waited to see the outcome before expanding, Rotich said.

($1 = 103.5000 Kenyan shillings)

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Kenya's economy ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Katharine Houreld; Editing by George Obulutsa and Raissa Kasolowsky)
* Trump endorses crackdown on those "milking" Saudi Arabia

* Detainees include global investor Prince Alwaleed

* Gulf markets dip on investor jitters over purge

* Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seen amassing power

(Updates U.S. State Department comment)

By Katie Paul and Stephen Kalin

RIYADH, Nov 7 (Reuters) - All major Gulf stock markets slid on Tuesday on jitters about Saudi Arabia's sweeping anti-graft purge, a campaign seen by critics as a populist power grab but by ordinary Saudis as an overdue attack on the sleaze of a moneyed ultra-elite.

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed the crackdown, saying some of those arrested have been "milking" Saudi Arabia for years, but some Western officials expressed unease about the possible reaction in Riyadh's opaque tribal and royal politics.

Authorities detained dozens of top Saudis including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in a move widely seen as an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to neuter any opposition to his lightening ascent to the pinnacle of power.

Admirers see it as an assault on the endemic theft of public funds in the world's top oil exporter, an absolute monarchy where the state and the ruling family are intertwined.

"Corruption should have been fought a long time ago, because it's corruption that delays society's development," Riyadh resident Hussein al-Dosari told Reuters.

"God willing, everything that happened ... is only the beginning of what is planned," said Faisal bin Ali, adding he wanted to see "correcting mistakes, correcting ministries and correcting any injustices against the general population."

But some analysts see the arrests as the latest in a string of moves shifting power from a consensus-based system dispersing authority among the ruling Al Saud to a governing structure centred around 32-year-old Prince Mohammed himself.

Investors worry that his campaign against corruption - involving the arrests of the kingdom's most internationally known businessmen - could see the ownership of businesses and assets become vulnerable to unpredictable policy shifts.

Saudi banks have frozen more than 1,200 accounts belonging to individuals and companies in the kingdom and the number keeps rising, bankers and lawyers said. The authorities sought to reassure the business community late on Tuesday, with the central bank saying it was freezing suspects' personal bank accounts at the request of the attorney general but not suspending operations of their companies.

"In other words, corporate businesses remain unaffected. It is business as usual for both banks and corporates," the bank said in a statement, adding there were no restrictions on money transfers through proper banking channels.

A separate statement said Prince Mohammed had directed a powerful ministerial committee, the Council for Economic Affairs and Development, to ensure that national and multinational companies, including those wholly or partly owned by individuals under investigation, were not disrupted.

"The Council recognised the importance of these companies for the national economy, and the importance of ensuring that investors could operate with confidence in Saudi Arabia," the state news agency SPA said.

In Washington, Heather Nauert, spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said it had urged Saudi Arabia to undertake any prosecutions of corruption suspects in a "fair and transparent" manner.

She said the United States had received assurances from the Saudi government that it would do so. But another U.S. official later told reporters she had misspoken and that they had no such assurances that they could discuss in public.

INVESTOR NERVES

The Saudi stock index .TASI sank 0.7 percent in heavy trade, led by shares in companies linked to people detained in the investigation. The market, which was down 3.1 percent at one stage, would have finished much lower without apparent buying by government-linked funds seeking to prevent a panic, fund managers said. A mass pull-out of foreign funds was not apparent.

Among the companies, Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding plunged by its 10 percent daily limit, bringing its losses in the three days since the investigation was announced to 21 percent. The fall has wiped about $2 billion off his fortune, previously estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion.

In Dubai, where Saudis have been significant investors, the index slipped 1.8 percent. The index in Abu Dhabi , less exposed to Saudi money, fell only 0.4 percent. But Kuwait continued to slide, its index losing 2.8 percent.

The show of investor nerves coincided with sharply heightened strains between Riyadh and Tehran, reflected in a fresh denunciation of adversary Iran by Prince Mohammed over its role in Yemen, and by continuing mutual acrimony over political turmoil in Lebanon, another cockpit of Iranian-Saudi rivalry.

Displaying an apparently undimmed taste for navigating several challenges simultaneously, Prince Mohammed said Iran's supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of "direct military aggression" that could be an act of war. He was speaking in a phone call with the British foreign minister after Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired towards Riyadh on Saturday by the Houthis.

A Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally-recognised government, has been targeting the Houthis in a war which has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in one of the region's poorest countries.

Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as "destructive and provocative" and "slanders".

The coincidence of heightened Saudi-Iranian tensions and Saudi domestic political upheaval has stirred unease among some Western governments and analysts about the emergence of an impromptu policy-making style under Prince Mohammed and turmoil in a region traditionally seen as a haven of stability.

"He seems to be pushing the creation of a personalised system of rule without the checks and balances that have typically characterised the Saudi system of governance," wrote Marc Lynch, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, in the Washington Post.

"In both domestic and foreign affairs, he has consistently undertaken sudden and wide-ranging campaigns for unclear reasons which shatter prevailing norms."

PIVOTAL POWER BASE

Among those held in the anti-graft purge was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdom's tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef, known as MbN, as heir to the throne.

MbN made his first confirmed public appearance since then at the funeral for Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, deputy governor of Asir province, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. No cause has been given for the crash.

A photo shared online by a state media photographer showed MbN greeting another royal at the first major family gathering since the anti-corruption sweep began.

The crackdown removed any remaining political counterweights to the crown prince, according to Steffen Hertog, a Saudi scholar at the London School of Economics.

"This allows for fast decision-making and reduces costly involvement of princes in state contracts, but also potentially reduces internal criticism and review of new policy initiatives," he said.

A former senior U.S. intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guard's loyalties, Prince Mohammed could face a backlash. "I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion," he said.

But the purge may go some way to soothing public disgust over financial abuses by the powerful, some Saudis say.

"There is no doubt that it (the detentions) soothes the anger of the regular citizen who felt that such names and senior leaders who appeared in the list were immune from legal accountability," said Saudi-based political analyst Mansour al-Ameer.

"Its spread to the general population is evidence that no one is excluded from legal accountability, and this will eventually benefit the citizen and (national) development."

(Reporting by Gulf team and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; writing by William Maclean; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Donny Richmond enters Country Gospel Hall of Fame



SEVIERVILLE, TN  Sevier Countys Donny Richmond was inducted to the Country Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame recently during a ceremony in Branson, Missouri. Richmond, a multiple award winning artist, is known in many countries.



Donny Richmond congratulated by CGMA President Billy Hale. Image by Donny Richmond.


By Yun Suh-young

Cellist Mun Tae-guk / Courtesy of Kumho Art Hall

The extraordinary young cellist Mun Tae-guk will perform his final concert as artist-in-residence of Kumho Art Hall on Nov. 16, with Bach's Suite for Solo Cello collection.

The recital will be his fifth and final concert at the hall this year, following a series of performances throughout January, April, August and October collaborating with artists such as violinists Jang Yoo-jin and Cho Jin-joo and pianist Sunwoo Yekwon.

The 23-year-old will be completing his term as artist-in-residence with the November performance as the one-year position comes to an end this December. He will be performing Bach's Suite for Solo Cello No.1 in G Major, BWV1007, Suite for Solo Cello No.5 in C Minor, BWV1011 and Suite for Solo Cello No. 6 in D Major, BWV1012 after the intermission.

Ahead of the Seoul performance, Mun will perform the same repertoire at the U-Square Kumho Art Hall in Gwangju on Nov. 14.

Mun was selected by the art hall to serve as the resident artist at the start of this year for his distinct artistic characteristics and achievements despite his young age. He won the Janos Starker Foundation Award last December, a prestigious award given to cellists under 30 who have begun a significant career in music. He is also the recipient of first prizes at the 2014 Pablo Casals International Cello Competition and the 3rd Andre Navarra International Cello Competition. The art hall also aims to support cellists among the plenty of pianists and violinists.

Bach's Suite for Solo Cello collection which Mun will be performing next week is a series of masterpieces bringing out the best of the cello as an instrument, both in technical and emotional expression. Because the pieces are written for solo cello performance, it is up to the artist entirely to express the abundance of sounds. Because of this challenge, the repertoire is not easily picked up.

Mun started the cello at age four and attended the Juilliard School Pre-College Division as a full scholarship student of Minhye Clara Kim. He debuted at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2004 and is now attending the New England Conservatory as a full scholarship student of Laurence Lesser.

Mun uses the 1697 Giovanni Grancino from Milan sponsored by the Samsung Foundation of Culture.

For more information, call 02) 6303-1977 or 1544-1555.
Posts of major banks' chiefs shaky



By Nam Hyun-woo





KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo Woori Bank CEO Lee Kwang-goo

Korea's financial businesses fear that massive changes are going to happen with their leadership due to scandals involving their top players.



Analysts say the recent moves might be aimed at replacing financial CEOs who were appointed during the previous administration. They cite the fact that investigative authorities have been looking into not only private companies but also public firms.



Last week, police searched KB Kookmin Bank's human resources department and confiscated computer hard drives to check allegations about unfair practices concerning the reappointment of current Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo.



The KB union has claimed that more than 80 percent of the respondents of the Sept. 5 to 6 survey said they opposed Yoon's second term two hours before the poll closed. However, it was said that 4,282 votes were cast by several persons immediately before the close and 99.7 percent of those votes were for Yoon's second term.



Though the union reported the case to the police, the KB Financial chairman nominating committee named Yoon as the sole candidate for the group's chief.



KB is scheduled to hold a general shareholder meeting to vote on Yoon, Nov. 20. Most expect he will easily win approval. But police investigations may force him to follow Woori Bank CEO Lee Kwang-goo who stepped down amid the hiring scandal there.



Last week, Lee tendered his resignation and apologized for causing any controversy over the bank's alleged illicit hiring of the offspring of government officials.



On Tuesday, the prosecution searched Woori Bank headquarters in Seoul concerning the illicit hiring scandal. More than 10 investigators searched Lee's office and the bank's human resources division to look for evidence.



With Lee's resignation still pending under relevant laws, the bank named Sohn Tae-seung, global business group head, as interim leader, Sunday, while Lee is doing "legally necessary business" at a separate office in Seoul.



Woori Bank and Lee have been under allegations that the bank hired more than a dozen people who were either the offspring or relatives of officials from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and the National Intelligence Service.



Also, lawmakers questioned whether the bank tried to receive favors and benefits from the former government. The prosecution is expected to begin investigations soon.



With the scandal growing, rumors are also spreading that it came to the fore because of a conflict between two inside factions.



Woori Bank was established by a merger between the Commercial Bank of Korea and Hanil Bank. Rumors are that the two factions are still at odds and a whistleblower from Hanil Bank reported the scandal to Rep. Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party. CEO Lee is from the Commercial Bank. Rep. Sim took issue with the bank's hiring practices during a National Assembly session last month.



Following the scandal, the finance ministry announced it will conduct nationwide probes into state-run enterprises' hiring records and methods, vowing to root out this malpractice. Woori Bank was privatized in late 2016.



NongHyup Financial Group is also under investigation over illicit hiring. The prosecution searched the office and home of the group's CEO Kim Yong-hwan on Oct. 25. Kim allegedly helped the son of a ranking official at the Export-Import Bank of Korea get a job at the FSS.



Industry insiders say they are paying attention to who will be the next target.



"It seems the government is making efforts to root out malpractice at financial businesses these days," a bank official said, asking not to be named. "Regardless of the leadership vacuum, it is time for the industry to conduct self-scrutiny and do what is right."
Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, speaks during a speech at the 44th Far East Forum held at the FEBC headquarters in central Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of FEBC-Korea



By Park Jin-hai

In his first major public appearance after retirement in June, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn spoke to Christians about their role in society.

In a speech titled "Christians' Role within Society" given at the 44th Far East Forum held at FEBC headquarters in central Seoul, Friday, Hwang urged people with faith to walk out of their churches and become more involved with society. He also revealed his thoughts on his political agenda and a possible run for Seoul mayor.

"The country is in dire straits. With North Korea escalating its nuclear threats, many voice concern over a lack of coordination in international society in dealing with the North. People's alertness on communization and their views about the state are in question, while the open spread of homosexuality is something that requires immediate attention," he said.

Calling a clause prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation as a "poisonous clause," which was withdrawn in the Anti-discrimination Act introduced in 2007 due to the outrage from conservative Christian organizations, Hwang showed his strong opposition to homosexuality.

In order to undo those wrongs, he stressed the role of the Christian community. Saying that today Christians remain within the territory of the church, which blocks them from further deep involvement with society, he mentioned the Taean oil spill incident, the worst oil spill in Korean history, as an example.

"Many Christians in early 2008 rolled up their sleeves in the voluntary cleanup projects. After that, society's belief in Christianity jumped to 2.8 percent in the following year, from the previous 2.5 percent," he said. "The resources that have been invested in growing a church should be redirected to help marginalized people in our society."

Asked about the possibility of him joining the race for Seoul mayor, he did not directly respond to but said, "In the past 50 years, I've tried hard to live my life the way God guides me, and I'm sure he will show me the way on this matter as well."
By Kwon Mee-yoo



Korea has been selected as the site for the new International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH), an institute under UNESCO, the National Archives of Korea announced Tuesday.



The center will be built in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and take charge of the preservation and follow-up management for UNESCO's documentary heritage.



Cheongju and the National Archives of Korea submitted a proposal to UNESCO and it was approved unilaterally at UNESCO's 39th general meeting in Paris, Monday.



The center will preserve documents for the Memory of the World Register, develop policies regarding documentary heritage, educate people on the conservation of documentary heritage for developing countries, and promote and support the program.



UNESCO established the Memory of the World Register in 1992 to safeguard the documentary heritage of humankind. It lists about 350 documentary heritage items from 110 countries. Among them, Korea has 16 documents registered, including the "Hunminjeongeum," which described the hangeul writing system; the Buddhist document "Jikji Simche Yojeol"; and most recently "eobo" (Korean royal seals) and investiture books from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910); the archives of the National Debt Redemption movement (1907-10); and "Documents on Joseon Tongsinsa" which lists Joseon envoys to Japan.



Korea has been actively involved in the Memory of the World program, endowing the Jikji Prize for preservation of documentary heritage since 2004.



Cheongju is where "Jikji," the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, was published in 1377. Its historical significance might have contributed to UNESCO's selection of the city.



The center is slated to open in 2019 and there will be about 20 staffers, including civil servants specializing in documentation and other experts. The National Archives of Korea will work with Cheongju for its upcoming construction.



As the ICDH is to be established here, the government expects Korea to be more influential in UNESCO's documentary heritage and the Memory of the World.



The ICDH is a category 2 center under the auspices of UNESCO, but is not funded by the organization as the member country where the center is located pays for it.



Korea has four other category 2 centers  the Asia-Pacific Centre Of Education For International Understanding, the International Information & Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, the International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement, and the International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management.




U.S. President Donald Trump, front left, walks with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul Tuesday. / AP-Yonhap



The leaders of South Korea and the United States began their talks Tuesday centering on North Korea's nuclear threats and the proposed revision of the bilateral free trade agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea earlier in the day, making him the first U.S. leader in 25 years to make a state visit to the country.

The bilateral summit between Trump and President Moon Jae-in is third of its kind since they each took office earlier in the year.





President Donald Trump, right, is greeted by United States Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks, left, as he arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday. / AP-Yonhap



Before the talks, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae offered an official welcoming ceremony for Trump. The two leaders inspected a 300-member honor guard and a military band played the official presidential anthem for the U.S. president, "Hail to the Chief."

The talks were largely expected to focus on their joint efforts to denuclearize North Korea and on ways to strengthen the countries' alliance. Pyongyang staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on Sept. 3.












U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a two-day visit that will include a bilateral summit with President Moon Jae-in.

The U.S. leader landed at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.

Trump will begin the state visit with a trip to Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in the city. He will meet with South Korean and U.S. armed service members for lunch and to be briefed on current security conditions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

His trip follows North Korea's sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on Sept. 3 and a series of missile provocations.












President Moon Jae-in listens to U.S. President Donald Trump during a joint press conference after their summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. South Korea is the second stop of the U.S. president's five-nation Asian tour. He departs for China today. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon.



Moon, Trump agree on speedy renegotiation of FTA

By Kim Rahn

South Korea will begin talks with the United States to purchase the latter's strategic arms, such as surveillance assets and nuclear-powered submarine, Cheong Wa Dae said after a summit between the leaders of the two nations, Tuesday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed on the South's purchase of cutting-edge military weapons to improve its own military capabilities during their summit.

These were their third bilateral talks and Trump's first visit to South Korea. It was also the first state visit of a U.S. president here in 25 years.

"We agreed to start talks on South Korea's acquisition and development of state-of-the-art military surveillance assets," Moon said in a joint press conference after the summit. "This is necessary to improve South Korea's own defense capabilities and the joint defense capabilities of the two nations."

Saying his country has great military equipment, Trump also said, "South Korea will be ordering billions of dollars of that equipment, which, frankly, for them makes a lot of sense and for us it means jobs, it means reducing our trade deficit with South Korea."

Regarding the agreement, a Cheong Wa Dae senior officials said the state-of-the-art strategic assets Seoul plans to adopt include a nuclear-powered submarine and surveillance assets, but exactly which weapons to acquire and how many of them to buy has not yet been decided.

"We may purchase the weapons or co-develop them with the U.S.," the official said, adding there were various things to review including technical aspects and it will take some time. "The two leaders agreed on the issues in principle during their previous summits as well, but there are things to solve when considering international norms and the characteristics of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines," he said.
Mifegyne is sold at South Korean online retailers, including Mifegyne Korea / Courtesy of Mifegyne Korea



By Rha Hae-sung

Despite laws banning medical or surgical abortion, the illegal trade in abortion pills has been steadily growing in South Korea. Law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on black markets, but the trafficking continues.

Korean online drug stores for abortion pills can be accessed within a few clicks on foreign search engines like Google. Most web pages selling the pills avoid specifying side effects while underscoring the advantages of medical abortion.

"Mifegyne is a package of medical abortion pills that doesn't entail extreme pain and thus anesthetics," an online store for abortion pill Mifegyne says in its product description. "By simply taking a pill, you can avoid the side effects that derive from surgical abortions. It is cheaper and safer compared to the surgical processes."

The drug-selling sites also have reviews that trumpet the pills' benefits and safety. But the reviews' credibility is limited as they are uploaded anonymously.

"I owe you my life, thank you so much," one of the comments said. "It is the best pharmacy ever. I've successfully aborted my pregnancy through the pills."












By You Soo-sun

When U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Korea, Tuesday, it was not just President Moon Jae-in who came to greet him  from early morning, supporters and opponents of Trump gathered in various parts of the country awaiting the U.S. leader.

At Camp Humphreys  Trump's first official destination and a newly expanded U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul  over 1,500 conservative civic group members waved American and Korean flags, shouting "We love Trump,"alongside banners hailing the two country's alliance.

On the other side, a smaller group of around 20 people stood with posters written, "No Trump, No War."

But the largest rallies took place near Cheong Wa Dae and Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, where an anti-Trump alliance of over 220 liberal civic organizations filled the streets.












By You Soo-sun



Days before President Trump's visit to Korea, Gwanghwamun Square was swarming with protesters holding signs reading, "No Trump, No War."



Kim Joon-seong, 36, who has actively participated in this movement, came to the site with his group, "Ban Trump's Crazy Action," on Tuesday, the day of Trump's two-day visit.



"His remarks have been incredibly dangerous, such as that he would totally destroy North Korea' and that if war breaks out, thousands will die on the Korean peninsula," Kim Joon-seong, 36, told The Korea Times.



"This does not just concern North Korea, but also the South. As the president of South Korea's main ally, these were very irresponsible claims."



Kim's disapproval of Trump not only stemmed from his North Korean rhetoric but also his general view on human rights issues.



Regarding this, Kim expressed his frustration with Korean politicians.



"It doesn't make sense for them to greet Trump without criticizing the discriminatory remarks he has made against women and racial minorities," Kim said.



And when Kim came to Gwanghwamun Square on Tuesday, he was upset by the new scenery of the square, surrounded by a wired fence and police bus barricades.



Pointing to the wire fence, Kim said, "President Moon Jae-in has referred to himself as the candlelit president, but now his government is obstructing us from freely expressing ourselves, a basic human right provided under the constitution. I'm very disappointed."



The main alliance against Trump which Kim is a part of consists of over 200 liberal civic organizations.



And while the members were unified in their efforts to preserve peace and keep war out of the Korean peninsula, they were not exactly together when it came to Trump.



"I don't oppose Trump's visit, but more so his rhetoric against North Korea  he has spewed incendiary words against North Korea and about war," 62-year old Yeo In-cheol who leads the preparatory committee for the Peace Treaty Action Solidarity said.



"Our organization was not formed to oppose Trump, but to oppose war. We are a group in pursuit of peace and we are calling for a peace treaty between the U.S. and North Korea," Yeo continued. "A war with just conventional arms would be catastrophic  skyscrapers, apartments would collapse, and cause great loss of life. If nuclear war were to break out, Korea would no longer be a place where humanity could live. Not only that, it could spread to include China and Russia, essentially becoming a third world war."



With this in mind, Yeo and his group plans to continue promoting peace in Korea.




By Kim Hyo-jin



U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver a speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday, with much attention on what message he will give to the Korean people.



His parliamentary speech will mark the first by a U.S. President in 24 years since former President Bill Clinton delivered one in 1993. And it is the only such speech scheduled during Trump's 12-day visit to five Asian countries.



The previous speeches of six former U.S. presidents were mainly about introducing their Asia policy and reaffirming the South Korea-U.S. alliance.



Trump is expected to follow suit, but may focus on seeking understanding on the U.S. move to re-negotiate terms for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. He could also highlight the significance of tripartite coordination between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations.



Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first U.S. President who made a parliamentary speech on June 20, 1960, mainly offered encouragement to the South Korean people, acknowledging their struggle to rehabilitate the war-torn nation following the 1950-1953 Korean War.



He also reaffirmed the "pledge of full American support" to the country, stressing U.S. commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty.



Lyndon B. Johnson put much stress on sending an ideological message during his speech, Nov. 22, 1966, during the Vietnamese War. He voiced his resolve to defend the spread of "communist aggression" and secure peace in Asia, vowing to stay resolute in the ongoing war until victory.



Ronald Reagan, who took the podium at the legislature on Nov. 12, 1983, touted the value of free trade and asked South Korea to be on the U.S. side in rejecting protectionism.



He also did not forget to reassure Koreans about the U.S. commitment to maintain security on the peninsula, noting it was the 30th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.













George Bush made parliamentary speeches twice on Feb. 27, 1989, and Jan. 6, 1992.



In the first speech, he underlined he had no plans to reduce U.S. forces in Korea, promoting its presence contributes to the peace and stability of the country.



Stressing the need to engage in active diplomacy with the North as a supplementary means of deterrence, Bush said he supported then South Korean President Roh Tae-woo's initiatives to reconcile with Pyongyang.



"I will work closely with the President to coordinate our efforts to draw the North toward practical, peaceful, and productive dialogue to ensure that our policies are complementary and mutually reinforcing," he said.



His second speech called on South Korea's active role in the world economy and peace as a U.S. ally, claiming the bilateral relations were elevated to a new level.



"What began in the heat of war as a military alliance has grown into a broader relationship anchored in shared economic interest and common political ideals," he said.



The latest speaker Bill Clinton spoke at the Assembly, July 10, 1993. Elaborating the North's missile threat, he was an advocate for better security in the pacific region by building a new Pacific community, deterring the spread of weapons of mass destruction and opening new regional security dialogues.



He also urged Pyongyang to clarify its commitment to the Nonproliferation Treaty, fulfilling obligations to IAEA inspections of undeclared nuclear sites.



Trump will speak for 22 minutes to 550 people including 299 legislators, foreign diplomats, and guests invited by the U.S. government, an Assembly source said.



He will be accompanied by his aides  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster and Chief of Staff John Kelly.

He is expected to meet National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun and party leaders during a 10-minute meeting prior to the speech.



After the speech, Trump will visit the National Cemetery in Seoul to pay his respects to fallen soldiers and then fly to Beijing.
President Moon Jae-in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during their lunch with South Korean and U.S. troops at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The U.S. military base was Trump's first stopover after arriving in South Korea for a two-day state visit. / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye

President Moon Jae-in and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, reaffirmed the strong Seoul-Washington alliance and their tight joint defense posture, Tuesday, on the first day of the latter's state visit to South Korea.

Presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Moon stressed the importance of the alliance, adding the two nations are looking to expand their comprehensive alliance even further.

The reaffirmation was made while the two heads of state visited a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, together.

President Trump began his two-day state visit to South Korea with a visit to Camp Humphreys, 70 kilometers south of Seoul. Moon made a surprise visit to the base to personally welcome the U.S. president.

"President Moon visited Camp Humphreys, a symbol of the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance, with President Trump," Park said. "They had a luncheon meeting with South Korean and U.S. armed service members at the base."

Park said the visit by the two heads of state could be an opportunity to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea against threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Park added the visit to the largest U.S. Army garrison overseas could also be a chance for Washington to reconfirm Seoul's contribution to guaranteeing the stable stationing of U.S. troops here.

Shortly after flying into South Korea on Air Force One from Japan, Trump moved to Camp Humphreys, the new home of the Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA), on the Marine One helicopter.

The new EUSA headquarters opened in Camp Humphreys in July, marking a historic relocation of American troops who had been stationed in Yongsan, Seoul, for more than 60 years since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The EUSA move was part of the large-scale relocation project for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), which is currently ongoing after a decade of planning, negotiating and building. South Korea shouldered about 8.86 trillion won ($7.9 billion), while the U.S. contributed 7.1 trillion won.

At the base, President Trump was briefed by USFK Commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks on the current security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and measures to better cope with the North's threats.

President Moon also received a briefing from Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, the commanding general of EUSA, about the ongoing situation at the base.

Vandal told President Moon it was a historic day as the South Korean and U.S. presidents jointly visited the base for the first time, according to Park.

Moon told the U.S. troops there: "You are the foundation stone and the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance."

For his part, Trump said, "I just wanted to thank Gen. Brooks and everybody that is working with us so hard on the situation in South Korea _ terrific people."

After visiting the military base, Trump left for Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul for a summit with Moon.

Before coming to South Korea, President Trump visited Japan where he had a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During their summit, Trump and Abe reiterated their strong commitment to boosting trilateral cooperation with South Korea in the face of the North Korean threat "on anti-submarine warfare, ballistic missile defense, minesweeping and information sharing," according to the White House.

After wrapping up his schedule in South Korea that includes a speech to the National Assembly, today, Trump will leave for China.

Observers say the outcome of the summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could be a decisive factor in determining the security situation surrounding the peninsula, amid growing pressure from the international community on Beijing to play a greater role in persuading the North to give up its nuclear ambitions.
By Kim Se-jeong





Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon wrote a post to visiting U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday, urging him to give a message of peace not of war.

Writing on Facebook from Colombo, Sri Lanka, Park said, "I hope this visit will pave the way for a greater alliance between Korea and the U.S., which is based on democracy, human rights and peace. And keeping these three values is a prerequisite for keeping our alliance strong."

Park is currently attending the CityNet Congress in Sri Lanka.

Trump arrived in Korea Tuesday afternoon and started his tour with a visit to the U.S. Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul. Almost 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to protect it from the North.

Park's 280-word post began with an anecdote of a man who experienced the Korean War. "In the fear of another war, he recently withdrew all of his money from his bank, although he ended up losing it all."

He reminded Trump of what Korea, and Seoul, has achieved over seven decades.

"We have lived under fear, but Koreans have strived to maintain peace and order on the Korean Peninsula. Korea has achieved industrialization and democratization at a speed that is unprecedented. Seoul is now a city that hosts many international conferences and attracts 13 million tourists per year."

Park recommended Trump take a stroll down the street in Seoul and see how the people live under constant threat of war.

"Seoul is only two hours away from Pyongyang. It's only 40 kilometers from the border. But Seoul is a place for 10 million Koreans, as well as for 10,000 Americans. Despite the threat, children in Seoul go to school in the morning and parents go to work. Babies are still born, couples get married and families sit around the dinner table. This is the peace we have achieved with courage. We love peace."

Toward the end, the mayor reminded Trump that Koreans are a peace-loving people, and asked him, "Please support Koreans' earnest desire for peace."
President Donald Trump, left, speaks as South Korean President Moon Jae-in looks on in a joint news conference at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday. President Trump began his two-day Korean peninsula visit Tuesday walking amid weapons of war but voicing optimism for peace. / AP-Yonhap



By Park Si-soo



Key remarks South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump made during a joint press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. Tuesday. Trump arrived here earlier Tuesday on a state visit, becoming the first U.S. president to do so in 25 years.



Trump

- "North Korea is a worldwide threat that requires a worldwide action."

- "It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table to make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world."

- "I think we are making a lot of progress."

- "We are making a lot of progress" on North Korea.

- Trump says is confident South Korea, US will reach free, fair FTA.
By Jane Han



Finally, after yet another long week here at home dogged with political battles and a fresh terror attack in New York, you'll be making your grand voyage to Asia.



We know it, you know it  it's not going to be any easier there.



You'll be leaving your comfort zone to embark on the longest and most consequential trip of your short presidency, and there's a lot at stake. The pressure is on.



You're certainly getting drowned with all kinds of advice  some unsolicited, some not  from all over the world, and I'd like to add to that, but hopefully with a more encouraging perspective.



At least I'm going to try.



As a Korean living in the U.S., I want to take this opportunity to speak for what many of us Koreans here have on our minds before we send you off to our motherland.



First, we'd like to instill in you a sense of optimism.



We, including you, know that this 12  gulp  day trip can end up being a complete disaster, but there is also optimism that it can be a breakthrough.



You've seen the news. There is a lot of uncertainty and hostility toward you in Korea.



The Korean police have vowed to make wide-ranging efforts to block anti-Trump rallies, but you'll inevitably see a strong sense of disapproval on display.



But you can make this visit an opportunity to dispel some of this animosity.



How?



Show and prove strong alliance with South Korea and President Moon Jae-in.



Here's what the South Korean people see now: The U.S. and Japan are far more united against North Korea, there is still no U.S. ambassador to Seoul ever since you took office 10 months ago, and you keep throwing threats that you have all the intentions to start a war with Pyongyang as if the lives of 51 million South Koreans don't mean a thing.



It is critical to present commitment and alliance not only for the sake of reaffirming Seoul and Washington's relationship, but to prove to Kim Jong-un that there is no room for divide.



Put the ''Korea passing'' paranoia to rest.



Second, don't bring up the free trade deal.



We all know how much you don't like the agreement. Yes, the agreement that the two countries have already agreed upon, a done deal.



But let's just not get into how ''unfair'' and ''only beneficial to South Korea'' it is. It's only going to bring down the mood of the trip fast.



One more thing while on the topic of unfairness.



While you're visiting Camp Humphreys, you may get tempted to get into the burden-sharing aspect of defense costs. Also not a good time to bring up that kind of sensitive issue.



Lastly, but equally importantly, don't mess up on etiquette and protocol.



As with many other Asian nations, Korea is very big on upholding manners.



Back in 2013, Bill Gates made a high-profile trip to South Korea, but the single biggest thing many South Koreans remember from that trip is that the business icon was rude to the then-President Park Geun-hye by shaking her hand with the other hand in his pocket.



Don't get names and titles mixed up, and don't question the food you're served.



As soon as you walk down Air Force One, no doubt you'll get VIP treatment.



You'll be making the first state visit to Korea by an American president in 25 years. That's understandably a big deal for the Korean government.



People often say there's two Donald Trumps  one that is rude and blatant, the other that is surprisingly humble and polite.



So which one of you will you bring to our country?





Jane Han, based in Dallas, Texas, is a freelance correspondent for The Korea Times. She can be reached at jhan@ktimes.com.




A series of sexual assault allegations involving some trusted brands, namely Hanssem and Hyundai Card, have created a public uproar.



A new female employee at Hanssem, the nation's largest furniture company, has raised accusations of rape and sexual harassment in an online community.



Hanssem's response to the accusations has enraged consumers. The company allegedly tried to persuade the victim to keep quiet. It is hard to believe such a scandal has emerged from a company with a strong female consumer base.



A female contract worker with Hyundai Card has raised her own online accusations of sexual assault, saying she was "encouraged by the Hanssem case" to speak out.



A director in her team allegedly raped her after a company dinner, just one month after she joined Hyundai Card in May. The company's irresponsible handling of the case has also caused public rage.



The victim claimed the company, when being informed of the sexual harassment, brushed it off as a "private matter between two people in a relationship."



The incident has severely tarnished the brand image of Hyundai Card, which has been popular among women in their 20s and 30s for its innovative marketing and design.



A survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed 78 percent of victims of sexual harassment chose to do nothing about it. Many women said they didn't make an issue of it because they felt their company would not do anything to help.



It is a grave negligence of duty to deal with sexual harassment allegations in the manner of Hanssem and Hyundai Card. Consumers should boycott companies that do not properly protect employees from sexual harassment. Companies that neglect sexual crimes should be subject to heavy fines and punishment.








US leader reassuring on NK, shrewd on trade







Visiting U.S. President Donald Trump has shown he is up to the job of resolving North Korea's nuclear and missile challenge through a broad international coalition.



However tattered his image may be on the home front, Trump's performance in Seoul, on the first day of his two-day visit, was reassuring. In a joint press conference after a summit with President Moon Jae-in, he stated Korea was important and there has been no skipping it in important decision making. His assurances were strong enough to put Moon's detractors to shame over their severe inferiority complex.



Trump never let up on his tactic of maximizing pressure on the North with the purpose of leading the thug state to the negotiating table. President Moon, known to be a reluctant rider on the Trump bandwagon, agreed that there was no disagreement with Trump regarding the North.



The U.S. leader notched up the pressure tactic by observing the present deployment of three U.S. aircraft carriers plus nuclear submarines near the Korean Peninsula, making the listeners, certainly North Korean leader Kim Jong-un included, appreciate how peace could be made an attack weapon of choice.



Then, Trump praised China's Xi Jinping for his efforts and made an uncalled-for reference to Russia to complete the inadvertent coalition aimed at separating the North from its weapons of mass destruction.



From Moon's perspective, he has gains and losses evened out. Trump's commitment to deploying more strategic assets will ease concerns about a second Korean War when the PyeongChang Winter Olympics are only three months away. But his hope of gaining a degree of independence in North Korean policy has been thrown into superpower politics and chewed up.



At one point in the news conference, Moon conceded establishing a peaceful regime in North Korea is premature, which is tantamount to rejecting China's peace proposal and accepting the continuation of the Cold War status quo.



In a masterstroke by Trump the businessman, he stepped unsolicited into the middle of Moon's answer and stated Korea has agreed to buy billions of U.S. weapons and there is already progress, which Trump said is good for the American people. The problem is that the purchases may include some white elephant items such as JSTARS surveillance aircraft.



Trump didn't talk about ditching the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement but still called the deal unfair for America. Seoul apparently made a drastic change on its position that the deal was mutually beneficial to accommodate the U.S. demands. That was a relief to Korea and its chief trade negotiator Kim Hyun-chong.



From the summit, Trump has proved not as unpredictable as said and, given the right incentive, he could turn into a valuable friend. That is a point the Moon government must take into account when dealing with the world's most powerful leader.




By Bernard Rowan





Many people know about Samsung, the Korean chaebol of technological renown, global success, and economic might that is "everywhere." Some people know Samsung is a major partner with Sungkyunkwan University, Asia's oldest institute of higher education. But too few people know about Sungkyunkwan's ginkgo trees. The ginkgos symbolize Korea's endurance and vitality.

My column concerns the nearly 500-year-old ginkgo trees, Natural Monument No. 59. We can find them in the beautiful complex of Confucian buildings also called Sungkyunkwan at the foot of the Seoul campus next to Daehangno. They crown this hallmark symbol of the university. They're also a symbol of Confucianism and of Korea as a civilization based on humane learning.

Confucius liked to sit by the ginkgos or sit on a platform made from their wood when he taught in Xing Tan Pavilion in his Chinese hometown. That place, the Temple of Qufu in Shandong, memorializes "apricot trees." Some experts contend the trees are ginkgos. One can find these sturdy trees in many Korean places. In particular, they adorn Confucian schools and buildings honoring the philosopher.

Confucianism has gotten a bad rap from many in the present-day period. Don't confuse conservative, patrimonial Joseon neo-Confucianism with the teachings of Confucius or Confucianism. One should separate the idea of humane treatment of all people based on cultivation of learning. It remains in Korean Confucian thinking outside Joseon stereotypes. Confucianism as a global philosophy also means more than Joseon neo-Confucianism. We shouldn't wax romantic about Confucianism. However, we don't understand Korean civilization unless we understand the importance of this living philosophy in its full potential.

Tracing the life of the ginkgos reflects the life of South Korea. With all its challenges, Korea stands among the world's powerful and advancing nations, economies, and societies! Some not insignificant part of its success relies on a Confucian cultural base, enduring practices, and cultivation of knowledge and respect for others as talismans of humanity. These trees remind me of Korea itself in this sense.

Yes, there are many other strands of thinking and living in Korea, including Buddhism, Christianity, democracy, and capitalism, just to name a few. But don't neglect Confucianism in its reality in Korea.

The ginkgo trees are wonderfully tall and encompassing of the space in front of Myeongnyundang, the old campus' lecture hall which you can see on the 1,000 won banknote. If they are old and show some effects of age, they reflect the people of Korea in their longevity and beauty.

Each year, memorial rites occur at Sungkyunkwan that celebrate Confucian learning and enlightenment for Korea and the world. They occur on or around his birthday (in late September) and on the anniversary of his passing (May). Many other buildings form the Sungkyunkwan complex, depicting the complexity and grandeur of this living philosophy.

The two trees are male, as Sungkyunkwan originally barred entry to women, even the trees. I hope someone thinks of planting female trees in this millennium, although people dislike the smell of the ginkgo fruit when it falls to the ground. The fruit has medicinal benefits though.

These trees make me think of Asan Ginkgo Tree Road. I've not visited in autumn. The online pictures are stunning. Ginkgo trees near Confucian places and on the streets of Seoul are cousins of the Sungkyunkwan trees. Preserve the beautiful places and spaces of ginkgos throughout Korea.

Standing tall and proud in Sungkyunkwan, amid one of the brightest and best districts of today's Seoul and a leading university, the two ginkgo trees reflect the hopes and accomplishments of the Korean people. They continue to live, to bring life and to provide shelter for reflection and learning in this and other places. And the Korean people continue to diffuse their knowledge, learning, skills, inventions, and accomplishments for the good of Korea, Asia and civilizations.

While Confucian ceremonies seem like mystical rituals designed for show, the effects of Confucian thinking in combination with Korea's many other value and idea streams show all around. They rise from Sungkyunkwan, ennobling Korea and the world. They benefit all lovers of learning and devotees to happiness in life.

Go and see the ginkgos of Sungkyunkwan and ponder the wonder they magnify!





Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com.
By Yoon Sung-won



Elasticsearch Korea will provide its open source search engine technologies to big data analysis enterprise RSN, the former said Tuesday.



The two companies signed an agreement for a strategic alliance on Monday. Through the partnership they aim at yielding faster and more accurate analysis results through incorporation of key technologies such as data collection, text mining and machine learning onto social big data analysis platforms and Elasticsearch's data search platform.



"I am very pleased to have acquired a Korean use case in the social big data analysis field by having RSN as a strategic partner," Elasticsearch Korea's country manager Han Sung-yup said. "Based on our experience in collaborating with global leading social media companies, we will provide differentiated big data search and analysis services for domestic social media companies specializing in the Korean market. In doing so, our products will help analyze local consumer trends and present any business insights we learn from the data."



Elasticsearch Korea is the subsidiary of open source search engine technology provider Elastic, which was established by Shay Banon in 2012. It provides search engine technology called Elasticsearch as well as data-collection and log-parsing engine Logstash and analytics and visualization platform Kibana. The three products together make up an integrated solution named Elastic Stack.



Elasticsearch has been considered an easily distributed search engine technology to install and expand and thus has been adopted by enterprises and organizations. They are eBay, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, The New York Times, Wikipedia, Verizon and NASA.



Elasticsearch Korea said its open-source technology has active technical communities and plenty of big data search references globally. It noted the feature offers advantages over its rivals in social media, which is full of variable data types and rapidly evolving programming language forms.



With natural language processing (NLP) capacity, RSN's text mining is used to process unstructured data such as language. Besides text mining, the company has a collection of morphological dictionaries as the foundation of search engines.



"RSN has the ability to collect and process massive quantities of data and to process multiple languages such as English, Chinese and Korean, which is crucial to analyzing social big data." RSN Research Center head Park Jeong-ho said.



"The partnership between the two companies, with proven solutions in both areas of social big data analysis, will enable RSN customers to experience a more powerful social big data analysis platform."




By Lee Hyo-sik

Denso and Delphi were fined for colluding on bids to supply auto parts at artificially high prices to Hyundai, Kia and other domestic automakers, the country's antitrust agency said Tuesday.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Denso Korea Automotive, a local unit of Japanese auto parts giant Denso, and Hyundam Industries, a local fuel pump maker, colluded from August 2007 to February 2009.

Prior to every bid, the two firms met to decide which was going to win supply contracts. Through the collusion, they were able to keep the prices of fuel pumps high at the expense of carmakers, the FTC said.

The agency imposed a 17 billion won ($15 million) fine on Hyundam, which controls 56 percent of the country's fuel pump market, and a 13 billion won fine on Denso Korea, which accounts for about 42 percent of the market.

Denso Korea also colluded with Delphi Powertrain to supply a variable valve timing (VVT) device to automakers at higher prices. The device helps improve performance and fuel economy by altering the timing of the valves.

When the two companies were pressured by local carmakers to lower the prices of the VVT device, they met in June 2009 and agreed not to supply the part to each other's clients, according to the FTC, which said the collusion lasted through May 2012.

Denso was fined 3.9 billion won and Delphi 3.4 billion won.

"We imposed more than 37 billion won in fines on three auto parts makers, which illegally colluded to counter price-cut pressure from domestic carmakers and maintain their profitability," an FTC official said.

"We believe the latest action will help strengthen the competitiveness of local automakers and bolster consumer wellbeing. We will continue to monitor any illicit activities among auto parts suppliers and take stern action against lawbreakers."
By Jhoo Dong-chan

Top business leaders dined with U.S. President Donald Trump at Cheong Wa Dae to discuss a range of key issues including the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

According to the presidential office, President Moon Jae-in invited 122 dignitaries from both countries to the dinner, Tuesday.

Seventy top Korean government officials and businessmen sat around 12 tables while 52 Washington officials joined the event to celebrate Trump's first state visit to Korea.

President Moon and the first lady were joined by U.S. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the head table. National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also sat at the table along with U.S. senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Marc Knapper.












PRESS RELEASE

Major Disaster Infrastructure Requests Are Multiplying

Nov. 5, 2017 (EIRNS)Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Nov. 2, "I am recommending the building of a major new dam and reservoir at Cypress Creek" just northwest of Houston. "We cannot afford to wait ten years for the Army Corps to build this reservoir. We should meet the infrastructure needs now." This dam and reservoir, among a number of new ones needed along the rivers running into the Texas Gulf Coast to prevent repeated flooding disasters, is part of the $61 billion requested from Congress Nov. 1 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, of which about $35 billion was for new water management infrastructure.

At the same hearing, Rep. Blake Farenthold, whose district includes Rockport where Hurricane Harvey made landfall, said, "Levies and reservoirs have been unfunded for years. Had they been done, the damage and loss of life would have been much less."

Congressional sources told EIR that Florida is now preparing a similarly major request for infrastructure-building funding from the Federal government, with a particular emphasis on flood control around Jacksonville but covering many needed projects in the state.

And the Trump Administration made a major announcement Nov. 3 about Puerto Rico, which effectively commits the Federal government to build new, modern economic infrastructure on the island. President Trump signed an executive order, based on an agreement with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to pay for 90% of the costs of building new power and other infrastructure, and beginning a process of lending Puerto Rico the remaining 10%. A White House official was quoted by Reuters Nov. 4, "Obviously it's going to be a big dollar figure. I know there won't be any balking at the amount of money needed from the administration." Reuters reported the order uses the Stafford Act (national emergency and disaster funds) in an unprecedented way, and

"The procedures will allow Puerto Rico to estimate the costs of big projects up frontwith help from third-party advisersand draw down from approved grants.... The agreement will also allow Puerto Rico to access hazard mitigation grants"

so that the structures are resilient to future storms.

The White House will request another emergency supplemental from Congress this month or in early December. But there is really only one way to fund this national infrastructure response quickly, and that is through a national credit institution like President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Reconstruction Finance Corporation or, better, a "Hamiltonian" national bank.
PRESS RELEASE

Saudis Escalate Against Iran

Nov. 6, 2017 (EIRNS)Events in and around Saudi Arabia over the past 48 hours show a Saudi escalation against Iran, adding further conflict to the region. The immediate focus was a Houthi missile fired towards Riyadh on Nov. 4 which was reportedly successfully intercepted by Saudi air defenses. The Saudis responded by blaming Iran.

"Irans role and its direct command of its Houthi proxy in this matter constitutes a clear act of aggression that targets neighboring countries, and threatens peace and security in the region and globally,"

the Saudi-led coalition said in a widely reported statement.

"Therefore, the coalitions command considers this a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime, and could rise to be considered as an act of war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

On a Saturday phone call, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Sultan briefed President Trump. A White House read-out yesterday said that Trump agreed with the Saudi claims on the attack.

"A shot was just taken by Iran, in my opinion, at Saudi Arabia. And our system knocked it down," Trump said, referring to the U.S.-made Patriot missile batteries that the Saudis used.

The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a unit of the Iranian military) has angrily rejected the Saudi-U.S. accusation. "The claim that the missile was delivered to Yemen by Iran is baseless," Major General Mohamed Ali Jafari, the commander of the IRGC, told reporters in Tehran yesterday. The allegations are unfounded because, basically, the Islamic Republic does not have access to Yemen to transfer such missiles, he added, reported Tasnim. "These missiles have been manufactured by the Yemenis and their military industries," the commander stressed.

The Saudi-led coalition has also responded to the missile attack by announcing that it will temporarily close all air, land, and sea ports to Yemen, supposedly to stem the flow of arms to Houthi rebels from Iran, though they claim that humanitarian work will be allowed to continue. Al Masdar News reports that Yemeni Minister of Transportation Zakaria al-Shami said today in Sanaa that the closure of the port of Hodeida, Yemens only deep water port, "would mean the death of the Yemeni people."

The Houthi missile strike, which a Houthi military spokesman said, "was in response to the massacres committed by the U.S.-Saudi coalition in Yemen," followed by only hours the resignation of Saad Hariri as Prime Minister of Lebanon. He spoke from Riyadh.

Most commentary reviewed by the news services indicate that Hariri is a Saudi asset and that his resignation was forced by the Saudis as part of a scheme to bring pressure on Hezbollah.

"The Saudis want to create a situation of political crisis, to break the political stability in Lebanon so that Hezbollah will be more busy in Lebanese internal politics than in Syria,"

Hebrew University scholar Yusri Hazran told the Jerusalem Post. "But Im not sure this will be achieved." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during an appearance on the BBCs Andrew Marr show yesterday, clearly indicated that he is aligned with the Saudi view of Iran.

"I think this is a wake-up call for everyone ... the attempt of Iran to conquer the Middle East, to dominate it and subjugate it. We should stop this Iranian takeover,"

Netanyahu said in reference to Hariris resignation.

In the middle of all of this, stands Defense Minister and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose weekend purge of at least eleven princes and other powerful figures in the Saudi hierarchy appears to be an effort to solidify his own power as the heir to the throne. Prince Mohammed led Saudi Arabia into the now two-and-one-half-year-old war in Yemen as well as the diplomatic/economic assault in Qatar.

A major opponent of Prince Mohammed died in a helicopter crash late yesterday night, in Saudi Arabia, near the Yemen border. Killed along with seven officials, Prince Mansour bin Muqrin was the son of Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, who had been crown prince between January and April 2015, at which time, he was set aside by Prince Mohammeds father King Salman.
PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Sabotages Irans Fusion Research with ITER

Nov. 6, 2017 (EIRNS)What could be more self-defeating than prohibiting scientists who are working on the great challenge of bringing into being controlled fusion energy for mankind, from working with international colleagues, and with the most advanced experiments? Yet, that is reportedly what the U.S. has done. Science Magazine reported on October 31, that the U. S. is preventing Iran from collaborating with the ITER international fusion project, by essentially vetoing its participation.

Irans promised cooperation with ITER is one of the specific "deliverables" written into the P5+1 nuclear agreement, formally, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and as EIR has covered in two interviews with the head of the Iranian delegation to ITER, the two sides have been working on formulating a formal agreement of fusion cooperation for more than a year. Iranian fusion scientists have visited and toured ITER, and been warmly received by Director-General Bigot. Bigot has been to Iran to see their tokamak experiment. Decisions regarding participation in the project are made by the ITER Council, with representatives of all of the partners, which are the U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan, China, India, and South Korea. Decisions must be unanimous. As far as the Science report indicates, the U.S. was the only partner to object.

The Iranians want to start the cooperation by training a group of their doctoral students at ITER, and scientists in Iran would conduct plasma studies on their own tokamak, in support of ITER. (There are small fusion experiments around the world that conduct research to support ITER). They hoped that, in the future, they would make substantial contributions to the international fusion experiment, and even become full partners.

As one would expect, the Iranian scientists, led by Ali Akbar Salehi, the director of the Atomic Energy Organization, who was a principal negotiator for the nuclear agreement, are angry. The head of the Iranian fusion delegation to ITER and a founder of Irans fusion program, Mahmood Ghoranneviss, said, "In fusion, there are no secrets. But in our case, science and politics are mixing." Ghoranneviss explained in an EIR interview how sanctions against Iran had already hampered any cooperation with U.S. scientists.

There has been vocal opposition in the American scientific community to abrogating the agreement. Recently, more than 90 American scientists wrote an appeal to Congress to keep the nuclear agreement with Iran. In the case of fusion research, the greatest harm is to limit the minds and talent of scientists who could contribute.
The Manhattan district attorneys office is expected to begin presenting evidence to a grand jury in the coming weeks that could result in movie mogul Harvey Weinstein being indicted for sex crimes.

Manhattan Dist. Atty. Cyrus R. Vance will begin the process of seeking the indictment against the producer in connection with the accusations, including those by an actress who said she was raped by Weinstein in 2010, according to a source familiar with ongoing criminal investigations not authorized to comment. The investigation is in the early stages.

Actress Paz de la Huerta publicly identified herself in an Oct. 25 complaint to the New York Police Department as the woman who reported being raped by Weinstein in 2010.

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A spokeswoman for Vances office said, We are not commenting on the investigation or any timeline.

The developments come just days after the NYPD chief of detectives said at a news conference that the actresss accusations of rape were credible and corroborated, but that detectives are still gathering more evidence.

It could take a couple of weeks before a grand jury makes a decision on whether to indict Weinstein, co-founder of Weinstein Co. As of last week, Weinstein was in rehabilitation in Arizona. WNBC-TV first broke the news of the pending actions by Vances office.

Weinstein representative Sallie Hofmeister has repeatedly said that Weinstein unequivocally denies allegations of nonconsensual sex.

Meanwhile, in Britain, police continue to widen their investigations into the movie mogul.

Another woman has reported to authorities that Weinstein sexually assaulted her, Londons Metropolitan Police said Tuesday. She is the eighth woman in Britain who has accused Weinstein of sexual assault.

The accuser made the report Oct. 31, saying Weinstein assaulted her overseas in 1991, police said. They said Scotland Yard detectives have provided details of the accusation to the jurisdiction where the woman said she was attacked. They did not specify the location.

The womans identity was not made public.

Tuesdays announcement comes after the New Yorker published an article saying Weinstein hired private investigators and former Israeli spies last year to dig up information on his accusers and on journalists trying to make their allegations public.

In the last month, Weinstein has faced a plethora of public allegations from several dozen women accusing him of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape spanning four decades. At least 14 have filed sexual assault reports with police in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, New York and London.

De la Huerta has said she told New York police that Weinstein raped her twice in 2010. The Boardwalk Empire actress gave a detailed account to Vanity Fair, published Thursday.

Vances office in 2015 declined to charge Weinstein after accusations were made that he groped model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. The model wore a wire for NYPD detectives to another meeting with Weinstein. In a recorded conversation, Weinstein is heard asking her to his hotel room and apparently admitting that he previously groped her. I wont do it again, he says.

Despite the recording, Vance said his office did not have enough evidence to prove the case, although he recently called the accusations sickening.

Since a New York Times article Oct. 5 first revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, accusations and condemnations have engulfed him. Weinstein Co. fired him last month. He also has been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy.

Actresses Asia Argento, Rose McGowan, Lucia Evans and Lysette Anthony have all publicly stated that Weinstein raped them or forced them to perform a sex act.

In Los Angeles, police are investigating an Italian model-actresss allegation that Weinstein forced her to have sex with him in her hotel room in 2013. It is the first case related to Weinstein to be reported to police in Southern California.

Last week, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was investigating allegations made by a second woman. A department spokesman did not provide details about the claims but said the incident occurred in 2013. The LAPD described the reported behavior as lewd conduct.

Beverly Hills police have opened at least two investigations into Weinstein. They did not provide details of the investigations but urged any potential victims to come forward.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes

UPDATES:

1:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on pending action by the Manhattan district attorneys office.

This article was originally published at 11:35 a.m.
Paramount Pictures marketing head Megan Colligan has left her job at the struggling movie studio, a person close to the Viacom Inc.-owned company said Monday.

Paramount Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Gianopulos has not named a replacement for Colligan, who first joined the studio in 2006. She has served as president of worldwide distribution and marketing for Paramount Pictures since 2014.

We are lucky to have an incredibly experienced and talented team here, Gianopulos said in a note to staff obtained by the Los Angeles Times. With Megans departure, we will assess the best direction for our marketing and distribution activities in the future.

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Colligans departure marks the latest shake-up as Gianopulos tries to get the studio back on its feet. The Los Angeles-based film company has released multiple high-profile flops this year, including George Clooneys Suburbicon and Darren Aronofskys Mother. Other costly recent bombs have included Ghost in the Shell and Baywatch.

In September, Paramount named producer Wyck Godfrey as president of Paramount Motion Picture Group, replacing Marc Evans. Also in September, the studio replaced international marketing head Nic Crawley with former 20th Century Fox executive Mary Daily.

Gianopulos joined Paramount in March, replacing Brad Grey, who died of cancer in May.

Colligan did not respond to a request for comment. However, lawyers for Colligan on Monday reportedly accused the studio of gender bias and discrimination, but did not provide specifics. Colligans attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Paramount spokesman declined to comment.

Variety first reported Colligans departure.

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

Twitter: @rfaughnder
Colony Capital is no longer interested in buying Weinstein Co., the mini-studio co-founded by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, according to two people close to the collapsed deal talks.

The company behind The Kings Speech and Django Unchained has been reeling from the scandal that has continued to widen since Harvey Weinstein, formerly its co-chairman, was accused last month of sexual harassment and assault by multiple women. He was fired Oct. 8.

Colony said in mid-October that it would provide Weinstein Co. with a cash infusion to stabilize its operations as it explored an acquisition of all or part of the studio during an exclusive negotiation period.

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But soon after, there were clear signs the deal was faltering. Colony pulled out of the agreement to provide rescue financing, and founder Thomas Barrack compared the struggling studio to a dying patient. Barrack told Bloomberg TV that no one wants a deal that would benefit Harvey Weinstein, who still owns 23% of the company.

Colony and Weinstein Co. disagreed over price. The board maintained the company could fetch roughly $300 million, said people familiar with the talks who were not authorized to comment.

Some parts of the company still are believed to have value, including the television production arm that makes Project Runway and its robust library of films. However, the association with Weinstein has depleted the value of the company, according to financing experts.

Weinstein Co. did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Colony Capital declined to comment.

Weinstein Co. is now trying to line up $20 million to $40 million in capital to stay afloat as it explores options, said a person close to the matter who asked not to be named because the talks are supposed to be private. The company hopes to use its film library as collateral against such a loan, though that would be in addition to previous financing backed by the library, one knowledgeable person said.

It remains unclear who would swoop in to provide the company with a lifeline. New York equity fund manager Fortress Investment Group had been in talks to provide $35 million in capital to the company, according to people close to the discussions, but no deal has materialized.

Colonys latest move is another sign that the company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy after years of struggles well before allegations of Weinsteins misconduct were first published by the New York Times and the New Yorker.

Weinstein Co. has engaged business advisory firm FTI Consulting to help with a possible restructuring, said people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment.

If no bankers are able to agree on terms for funding the Weinstein Co., the New York-based studio will likely have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. That process could lead to a sale of assets and protect prospective buyers from liabilities that would come with a deal.

I see no chance of anything happening outside of a bankruptcy proceeding, said Los Angeles investment banker Lloyd Greif. The only thing that surprises me is that they havent filed already.

Meanwhile, the sexual misconduct scandal has continued to spread, with new criminal investigations into Weinsteins behavior and a civil lawsuit against his company. The New York Police Department last week said it had received a credible rape allegation from an actress and was gathering evidence for an arrest warrant.

Theres also the specter of a growing legal battle between the firm and Weinstein over his ouster. On Oct. 26, Weinstein sued the company to obtain his email and personnel file, which he says will help him defend himself against allegations of sexual abuse that led to his firing.

ABC News first reported that Colony had ended takeover talks.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

Twitter: @rfaughnder

UPDATES:

2:10 p.m.: This article was updated to say Weinstein Co. has engaged a consultancy to prepare for a possible restructuring, according to sources.

11:15 a.m.: This article has been updated with additional information about Colony Capitals collapsed talks with the Weinstein Co.

This article was first published at 8:40 a.m.
Two years after opening, Walt Disney Co.s Euro Disney theme park was bleeding money. In need of a bailout for the flagging Paris property, the company turned to an unlikely source: Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a then up-and-coming investor and the grandson of the founding monarch of Saudi Arabia.

It was 1994, and the theme park now known as Disneyland Paris was on the verge of bankruptcy, stung by a European recession as well as self-inflicted wounds  including a ban on wine in a country famous for the beverage.

After months of negotiations with then-Chairman Michael Eisner, culminating in a late-night call from a satellite phone in the Arabian desert, Alwaleed agreed to buy about $300 million in newly issued Euro Disney stock, part of a pact that helped restructure the parks debt.

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It would be the first of several deals  including one earlier this year  between Disney and Alwaleed, a billionaire who is said to be among the members of the Saudi royal family arrested on Saturday in an apparent power consolidation by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

If Alwaleed loses control of Kingdom Holding Co., the investment firm in which he holds a 95% ownership stake, it could represent the loss of both a deep-pocketed investor and a powerful Middle Eastern ally for Disney.

In a statement posted on its website Sunday, Kingdom said it is continuing normal business operations.

The executive senior management team affirms its full commitment to continue the companys work, its commitment to its investors and shareholders, and affirms the support of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to the statement.

Disney did not respond to requests for comment.

Alwaleed, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at more than $16 billion, built the beginnings of his fortune in Saudi real estate and construction. But he burst onto the Western financial scene in 1991 when he invested $590 million in New York financial giant Citicorp, now Citigroup.

Kingdom still has holdings in Citi but also has a vast and diverse portfolio that includes high-end hotels  the Plaza in New York and the Savoy in London among them  as well as stakes in Twitter, Lyft, 20th Century Fox, Apple and Motorola.

Citi aside, few of Alwaleeds relationships with Western companies go as far back as his Disney connection.

After bailing out Euro Disney in 1994, Alwaleed came to Disneys rescue again in 1999, when the Arab League threatened a boycott of the company over references to Jerusalem in an Israeli exhibit at the companys Epcot Center theme park in Florida.

The prince intervened, arguing that such a boycott would be counterproductive and even contacting the late Yasser Arafat, then the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

I told him, Its not worth it. If you boycott Disney this will be seen as Mickey Mouse, Alwaleed told The Times in 2004.

A decade later, the prince again supported a Disney-led initiative at the Paris park.

In 2014, Alwaleed and Kingdom purchased 49 million euros worth of Euro Disney stock as part of a Disney-backed recapitalization of Euro Disney S.C.A, the publicly traded French company that ran Disneyland Paris. Kingdom maintained a 10% stake in the company.

The resort at the time had racked up years of losses, in part because of a large debt load that the 2014 deal reduced. The recapitalization also gave the resort $530 million in cash, some of which went to improvements and renovations.

The parks performance began to rebound but fell again in 2015 after that years terrorist attacks in Paris.

This year, the two again had dealings as Disney sought to delist Euro Disney from the Euronext stock exchange. Alwaleed agreed to exchange nearly all of Kingdoms Euro Disney shares for Walt Disney Co. shares, which allowed Disney to take full control of the park.

To delist the stock, Disney needed to hold at least 95% of Euro Disney shares. With Alwaleeds firm holding 10%, Disney needed the princes participation.

As part of the takeover, Disney also plans to spend more than $1 billion on upgrades and debt reduction at the park.

Kingdom retains a 1% stake in Euro Disney. Its not clear how many Disney shares Kingdom received as part of the deal or whether it continues to hold those shares.

Kingdom is not listed among Disneys significant shareholders, meaning it owns less than 5% of the Burbank media giants shares.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

Times Assistant Business Editor Richard Verrier contributed to this report.
For years, Apple and other multinational firms have faced inquiries from government authorities about tactics they employed to lower their tax bills.

Now, new published reports show just how some of these global corporations tapped elite tax specialists to devise clever strategies, including island havens and secretive shell companies, to avoid paying billions of dollars into government coffers.

The disclosures contained in the so-called Paradise Papers  documents and corporate records primarily from Bermuda-based law firm Appleby  immediately added fuel to the debate over the GOPs tax proposal released last week, which includes slashing the corporate tax rate to 20% from 35%.

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We are all bearing witness to the consequences of Congress failure to address offshore tax haven abuse, said Gawain Kripke, policy director for Oxfam America. Yet congressional leaders are charging forward with a tax bill which has as its primary feature a massive windfall for offshore tax dodgers.

The international antipoverty organization called for an immediate pause on the Republican tax bill and an investigation into the activities revealed by the Paradise Papers.

Apple, in response to reports based on the documents, on Monday defended its tax payments, saying the maker of iPhones is the largest taxpayer in the world and that the company pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world.

While critics have decried the Republican tax bill as a corporate handout, others argue that a tax overhaul is needed precisely because of the current system. They say the 35% tax rate leaves U.S. companies at a disadvantage against foreign rivals and motivates corporations to set up complex tax structures to reduce their tax burden, as well as to stash international profits abroad.

American businesses have long complained that the U.S. corporate tax rate is the highest among advanced economies, but the reality is that many American multinationals pay a much smaller percentage. The tax code is rife with many exemptions and special provisions, and tax lawyers and advisors have come up with creative methods to exploit loopholes in the system.

The result is that more than $100 billion in corporate tax revenue is lost annually by the U.S. government, according to analysts estimates. And while the American statutory corporate tax rate is among the highest, total U.S. corporate taxes collected, as a percentage of the economy, is about average for developed countries.

The House GOP tax plan would allow multinational companies to bring home an estimated $2.6 trillion parked in offshore entities at a rate of 12% or lower. Even so, tax policy experts doubt that the tax proposal would discourage U.S. firms from going abroad or reduce their penchant for devising tax shelters.

I dont think the tax overhaul is going to really address the flaws in our international tax rules, said Eric Toder, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute. With a 20% [corporate tax] rate, I suppose that decreases the incentive to stash money overseas. On the other hand, you still want to get the rate down to zero if you can.

Few companies are perceived to be as aggressive  and successful  in pushing down corporate taxes as Apple, making it a target of government investigations in the U.S. and Europe. One particular focus in recent years was how Apple had booked its massive earnings, much of it intellectual property generated in the U.S., to offshore tax shelters in Ireland.

A Senate subcommittee in May 2013 claimed Apple had used various methods to avoid paying federal taxes on $44 billion of earnings from 2009 to 2012. Apples chief, Tim Cook, said at the Senate hearing then that the maker of iPhones pays every single dollar of taxes that it owes.

But not long after that Senate testimony, Apple sought a new strategy and, with the help of the legal- and tax-advisory firm Appleby, eventually found a new tax haven on a tiny island in the English Channel called Jersey, according to published reports based on the Paradise Papers.

These leaked records, originally obtained by a German newspaper, have been shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which is made up of media organizations such as the New York Times, the Guardian in Britain and CBC in Canada. The Los Angeles Times is not a media partner.

In its statement Monday, Apple contended that there were a number of inaccuracies in the reports by the consortium.

The changes Apple made to its corporate structure in 2015 were specially designed to preserve its tax payments to the United States, not to reduce its taxes anywhere else, the company said. No operations or investments were moved from Ireland, said Apple, which noted that its effective tax rate on foreign earnings is 21%.

In addition to details of Apples tax-restructuring strategy, the Paradise Papers included information about the use of shell companies and other tax-reducing strategies by corporations such as Nike, Uber, Facebook and Allergan, as well as individuals.

Last year, the Obama administration sought to crack down on companies moving headquarters overseas, so-called corporate inversions, to avoid paying U.S. taxes. Officials also sought to curb another tax-avoidance practice in which multinational firms make loans or shift finances between affiliates to strip out earnings in higher-tax countries or take advantage of tax breaks such as interest deductions.

don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimes
Is Snap Inc. the next Facebook or the next Twitter?

Thats the question that lingers as the company behind one of the hottest tech IPOs in recent years continues to search for momentum ahead of its third-quarter earnings report Tuesday.

On one hand, Snap has been lauded for winning over tough-to-reach young users and continuing to unveil innovative features such as augmented reality Bitmoji lenses and Snap Maps, which allows users to keep track of friends and breaking news from across the world.

On the other hand, the social media company cant seem to drive up its user base fast enough to generate the advertising revenue it needs to impress investors.

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It doesnt help either that Facebooks Instagram and WhatsApp consistently replicate Snaps technology, preventing marketers from dedicating more of their ad budgets to the Venice-based firm and its disappearing-video app.

The challenge facing Snap is reflected in its share price, which hasnt matched its IPO price of $17 since early July. And despite modest gains the last three months, Snap shares are still down about 45% from their all-time high of $27.09, reached the day after the March 2 public offering. Shares closed Monday at $14.83.

It may be too early to tell whether Snap is a niche brand like Twitter  which has seen its user growth stagnate after it reached 300 million monthly active users in 2015  or a ubiquitous tool like Facebook, which has enjoyed soaring ad revenue and counts 16% of the worlds population as monthly active users. But the question is now being raised by analysts as a way to explain Snaps sluggish performance.

James Cakmak, an analyst for Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co., suggested in a research note to clients that grading Snaps success on user growth may be misguided.

Instead, expectations should be lowered. Snap can expect reasonable success catering to its core users and serving as a credible alternative to Google and Facebook, which together command about 60% of the U.S. digital advertising market, according to research firm EMarketer.

Whats best for these niche platforms, in our opinion, is to fully embrace they are niche platforms and to give up on the monthly active user story, Cakmak wrote. Its better to maximize and extract the most value from the most engaged users rather than to try to be everything to everyone.

Determining who Snap ultimately serves is something the company will have to grapple with sooner than later. Analysts dont expect user growth to change much from its 173 million daily active users (for comparison, Facebook revealed last week that its two Snapchat analogues with ephemeral video, Instagram Stories and WhatsApp Status, now have 300 million daily active users each).

While Snapchats product improvements may appeal to its existing user base, we do not expect any coming inflection in user growth, Michael Pachter, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, wrote in a research note. We have no doubt that Snapchat can grow its impressions and engagement among an attractive demographic, but as the company has clearly stated, it is still early days for its monetization.

Indeed, Evan Spiegel, Snaps co-founder, has repeatedly said it will take five years to realize his companys potential.

We built our business on creativity, Spiegel told The Times the day of Snaps IPO. And were going to have to go through an education process for the next five years to explain to people how our users and that creativity creates value.

Spiegel would also like investors to focus less on current growth and more on how faithfully existing users interact with the app. A dedicated user base could foreshadow a larger one in the future, the company says.

Until then, analysts expect daily active users to climb modestly. Pachter estimates just 181 million in the third quarter. And he forecasts revenue of $212 million and earnings per share of 15 cents  below analysts consensus of $238 million in revenue and earnings per share of 16 cents.

Laura Martin, an analyst for Needham & Co., had even lower expectations for Snaps user growth the last three months, estimating only 178 million daily active users.

She also questioned Snaps hardware strategy with Spectacles, the camera sunglasses that have suffered meager sales and reportedly failed to inspire long-term interest among its owners.

Typically, valuation multiples on hardware are much lower than software multiples because hardware (like Spectacles) are capital intensive and have much lower margins, Martin wrote to clients.

Martin isnt ready to give up on Snap long-term, however. The company still has the benefit of attracting the key advertising demographic of 13- to 34-year olds and its business is aligned neatly with some of the tech industrys key trends  namely mobile, video and social, she wrote.

Debra Aho Williamson, an analyst for EMarketer, said she and many of her industry colleagues were skeptical of Facebook shortly after it debuted on the stock market in 2012  not unlike Snap today.

We thought Facebook wasnt going to be able to build a mobile advertising business, Williamson said. We had egg on our faces because Facbeook became one of the largest mobile ad publishers in the world.

Snap is in a similar position, she added. They have a lot of expectations and theyre working really hard to build an ad tool and measurement abilities like their competitors. These things take time. This is a company going for it and needs to continue to put the pedal to the metal.

david.pierson@latimes.com

Follow me @dhpierson on Twitter
Russian billionaire Yuri Milner gained fame and wealth as an early backer of Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and other Silicon Valley start-ups.

Called Russias most influential tech investor by Forbes, Milners wealth has enabled him to partner with Facebook Chairman Mark Zuckerberg in scientific philanthropy, form a spacecraft initiative with famed physicist Stephen Hawking, and buy one of the most expensive homes in the U.S.

But now the technology investments that brought him riches have come under heightened scrutiny amid inquiries into possible Russian meddling in last years presidential election.

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Leaked documents known as the Paradise Papers showed that Milners Facebook investment, arranged by his investment firm DST Global, received financing from a subsidiary of the Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom.

They also showed that Milners Twitter investment had backing from VTB, a Russian state-controlled bank among the entities placed under U.S. sanctions since 2014 for Russias annexation of Crimea and its incursions in eastern Ukraine.

The revelations were reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which along with 95 media partners explored the leaked Paradise Papers files obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

No one is suggesting that Milner or his firms were involved in any wrongdoing. But revelations of the Russian governments ties to his tech-world investments come as U.S. lawmakers are investigating how Russian operatives were able to use Facebook, Twitter and other internet platforms in hopes of influencing last years election. Congressional committees held hearings on the matter last week.

Today, with all the intense conversation taking place regarding Russia, as part of due diligence people naturally want to look carefully where the money is coming from, said Thomas Cooke, a professor at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business.

Breakthrough Prize co-founders Mark Zuckerberg, left, and Yuri Milner speak at NASA Ames Research Center in 2016 in Mountain View, Calif. (Kimberly White / Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize )

Milner issued a public statement saying it was a fairy tale to suggest we were working on Russias behalf to turn social media against U.S. democracy.

When I settled with my family in Silicon Valley, I found a community that didnt care where you came from, only who you were and what you had to offer, Milner said. Since the 2016 election, however, there has been a change in the air. Just to be Russian, suddenly, is to be under suspicion.

And by the way, accepting funding from a Russian bank does not automatically make you a Kremlin agent, Milner said. In reality, DST Globals investments in Silicon Valley were motivated by pure business logic.

Milners firm divested its holdings in Facebook and Twitter several years ago after each of those companies had their initial public stock offerings.

As a passive investor DST ... had no voting rights or board seat, a Facebook spokeswoman told The Times on Monday. The investment was made eight years ago and DST Global has since sold all their holdings in Facebook  their stake ended five years ago when we went public.

A Twitter spokesperson confirmed that DST Global led a round of investments in 2011 and divested from the social media company in 2014. As a matter of policy, Twitter conducted reviews of all pre-IPO investors, the spokesperson said.

After selling those stakes, Milners DST Global continued to invest several billion dollars in many other U.S. and foreign internet-related firms that became tech-world stalwarts, including Airbnb, Spotify and Alibaba.

Milner also invested $850,000 of his personal money last year in a real-estate investing firm called Cadre that is partially owned by the family of Jared Kushner, President Trumps son-in-law and senior advisor, Bloomberg reported.

This investment, like any other, was made on a purely commercial basis, Milner said. It no more implies a personal relationship with Mr. Kushner than buying some shares in Wal-Mart gets you invited to Thanksgiving with [founder] Sam Waltons family.

DST Global noted in a statement that it was a passive investor in Facebook and Twitter and there is nothing unusual about an international investment firm accepting cash from sovereign states such as Russia.

Thats true, said Michael Maduell, president of Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, a research group that studies sovereign funds.

Every major country is doing it, he said. You have the Saudis with their public investment fund investing in Uber, you have the China Investment Corp. and the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.

In the case of Milners investments, a lot of these deals happened before the Russian sanctions, Maduell said. Russia was also getting a lot of investment before this stuff. The script flipped after Crimea. Thats when sanctions came up.

Milner, who turns 56 on Saturday, grew up in Moscow. He earned a degree in physics from Moscow State University in 1985 but later abandoned physics, studied business at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School and worked at the World Bank for three years.

He returned to Russia and later took control of Mail.ru, a major Russian internet company. With his firms initial investment in Facebook in 2009, he set his sights on the U.S. technology industry.

As his technology bets paid off, Milners wealth soared. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.5 billion.

In 2011, Milner bought a 25,500-square-foot French chateau-style estate in Los Altos Hills in Silicon Valley for $100 million, among the highest prices ever paid for a single-family home in the United States.

Exterior view of the $100 million mansion in Los Altos Hills, Calif., purchased by Yuri Milner. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press )

The wealth Milner has amassed has allowed him to promote his passion for science, devoting a chunk of his fortune to futuristic pursuits.

Milner, Zuckerberg and others in 2013 started the Breakthrough Prize, which rewards top scientists with lucrative prizes.

Two years ago, Milner and his wife co-founded the Breakthrough Initiatives, a series of programs focused on space exploration. Those initiatives include Breakthrough Listen, a $100-million program focused on finding life beyond Earth, and Breakthrough Message, a $1-million competition to create a message that could represent Earth to an alien civilization.

Last year, Milner and Hawking announced a $100-million research program, called Breakthrough Starshot, aimed at developing a proof-of-concept for a tiny spacecraft propelled by a light beam that could travel to the Alpha Centauri star system. Zuckerberg also is on the programs board.

Several billionaires have sunk their fortunes into the space industry, most notably SpaceXs Elon Musk, Blue Origins Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, who has a trio of space companies. But Milners efforts are different.

While Musk, Bezos and Branson are focused on building business models and customer bases for their commercial space plans, Milner is focused more on moonshots, said Bill Ostrove, aerospace and defense analyst for Forecast International.

These breakthrough missions are sort of a different beast, he said. They dont really seem to be focused on building a long-term business.

james.peltz@latimes.com

tracey.lien@latimes.com

Times staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this story.
The House Republican tax bill would eliminate the deduction for personal losses from wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, but keep the break for victims of the recent severe hurricanes.

If the bill becomes law, the deduction would disappear next year, but would be available for victims of the massive wildfires that struck Northern California last month  as long as they can figure out their uninsured losses and include them on their 2017 tax return.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said the tax bill would grandfather in losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Irene. It would grandfather in losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

The legislation specifically repeals the deduction for personal casualty losses. The Internal Revenue Service describes casualty losses as including those from natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. It can also include losses from fires, accidents, thefts or vandalism.

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In the case of a major disaster, Congress still would be able to pass special legislation offering tax breaks for victims, as it has done in the past.

But such bills would be difficult to pass for smaller scale incidents that still are devastating to the victims, said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Porter Ranch).

Lets say your home burns down and it isnt a disaster that CNN covers, he said. Youre affected the same way, whether its nine of your neighbors or 900 of your neighbors that lose homes.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) called the elimination of the deduction cruel and heartless. He planned to try to amend the bill and restore the deduction on Tuesday, but that amendment was expected to fail.

Theres never been a fire like this in our country, Thompson said of the Northern California wildfires.

Do you really think that were going to be able to go in, assess all of the costs, get everything cleaned up, figure out where people are going to stand in time to do their taxes? Thompson told colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday night as they began debating the legislation. Its not going to happen.

Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C) said California residents could file amended 2017 returns later. And Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the committees chairman, said he planned to introduce legislation within the next month offering special tax relief for wildfire victims.

But Thompson and some California officials are concerned that killing the deduction would hurt people in the state.

Eliminating the deduction will place even greater strain on residents of our region at a time when our county is most in need of assistance, Shirlee Zane, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, wrote to Thompson.

The Northern California wildfires last month destroyed nearly 8,800 structures and killed 43 people, she said.

Even more frustrating to some California officials is the decision by Brady to grandfather in losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Bradys district is just north of Houston, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey said that move smacks of political favoritism.

Please, lets not play politics with families who are suffering the very real impacts and challenges of recovering from this fire disaster, Coursey wrote to Thompson in urging him to fight the tax change.

The deduction for personal casualty losses is one of many individual breaks that would be eliminated in the House Republican tax bill in an effort to streamline the tax code and produce more revenue to help offset cuts to corporate, business and individual rates.

The deduction covers losses arising from fire, storm, shipwreck or other casualty, or from theft, according to a summary of the bill, which was unveiled last week.

The legislation would continue the special disaster relief tax breaks included in legislation in September aimed at victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

That bill, signed into law by President Trump, expanded the personal casualty deduction for those disasters. It waived the requirements that taxpayers itemize their returns and that losses must exceed 10% of adjusted gross income.

So the folks in Texas who lost their homes in a hurricane, you take care of them, Thompson told Brady.

But anybody else who gets a disaster, the 9,000 people in California  most of which are in my district, who just lost their homes to the worst fires weve ever seen, youd take away the ability to benefit from the tax code, Thompson said. Why would you have done that?

Brady said he hoped to pass a special disaster relief bill similar to the one for the hurricanes that would allow last months California wildfire victims to claim losses even if they dont itemize their deductions.

If youd like to work together to provide relief not just for those who itemize but [for] those who do not in those wildfires then lets work together, Brady told Thompson. Thompson said he would work with Brady on that legislation.

Sherman, whose district was hit by the Northridge earthquake in 1994, said the tax bill change would leave Americans dependent on congressional action in the case of a disaster. Such special legislation to allow personal loss deductions would add to the cost of disaster aid bills and might mean less federal funding for other recovery assistance, he said.

Imagine if, God forbid, we have an earthquake and the California delegation is back here trying to fight simultaneously for disaster relief to rebuild infrastructure on the one hand and fair treatment of individuals on the other, he said. If we have to fight two battles, we might only win one.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera

UPDATES:

2:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Porter Ranch).

This article originally was published at 10:40 a.m.
When it comes to restaurant tipping, the Trump administration apparently thinks socialism is best.

The Labor Department has notified the Office of Management and Budget that it intends to rescind an Obama-era rule preventing restaurant owners from pooling servers tips with kitchen staff.

The rule specified that tips belong solely to the server. The Trump administration wants restaurant owners once again to be able to redistribute the wealth among non-tipped workers.

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A Labor Department spokesman declined to elaborate on the agencys OMB filing, which offers no explanation for the proposed change.

But its not hard to conclude the administration is responding to lobbying by the National Restaurant Assn., which favors pooled tips as a way to boost compensation for kitchen staff rather than paying cooks and dishwashers higher wages.

Youd love to be able to pay everyone $30 an hour, said Angelo Amador, regulatory counsel for the association and executive director of its affiliated Restaurant Law Center.

But you need to be able to make a profit, he told me. If you cant make a profit, youre out of business and nobody has a job.

Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1974 to allow employers to pay tipped workers less than federal minimum wage if the workers gratuities made up the difference.

In 2010, a federal court ruled that if an employer pays tipped workers at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, it can require that gratuities be shared among the entire staff. In effect, this meant such tips belonged to restaurant owners, not servers.

In response, the Labor Department decided in 2011 that tips are the property of the employee, and that the employer is prohibited from using an employees tips to pool funds for kitchen staff.

We think this is wrong, Amador said. The people in the back of the house are contributing to the meal just as much as the server.

True. And thats why I say  and have said before  that its time we joined most other developed nations in doing away with the archaic custom of tipping.

Instead, pay all workers a living wage.

Would restaurant prices rise by 20% or more to accommodate the lost gratuities? Probably. But prices would reflect the true cost of a meal, rather than masking costs with the pretense that customers are incentivizing and rewarding good service.

Some restaurants have attempted to eliminate tipping. I wrote last year about the experience of Joes Crab Shack, which got rid of tipping at 18 of its outlets nationwide. Within a year, almost every one of those restaurants had reintroduced the tip system  at customers request.

What we know in practice is that tipping actually has little impact on service in most restaurants, Lars Perner, an assistant professor of marketing at USCs Marshall School of Business, said at the time. But it gives consumers the feeling that theyre in control.

The thing is, that sense of control is illusory. Researchers have found that most customers will tip regardless of service quality. Even crappy service will receive some reward.

As for tip pooling, such systems can be easily abused by unscrupulous restaurant owners who might cut themselves in for a piece of the action. The Obama administration sought to prevent this with its 2011 rule, which is now being litigated, possibly all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Trump administration would make that litigation moot by returning restaurant owners to the drivers seat  as theyve been seeking. (The National Restaurant Assn. spent $4.2 million on lobbying last year and $3.9 million so far this year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.)

Better to place customers in charge by allowing them to favor businesses with their patronage, incentivizing restaurant owners to provide the best overall experience possible.

In most other parts of the world, good service is simply expected, not something that costs extra. It should be the same here.

While were on the subject of tipping, heres a cautionary tale to keep in mind.

Rancho Park resident Jay Friedman and his wife joined another couple recently for dinner at Havana Mania, a Cuban restaurant in Redondo Beach. The bill came to $89.65 and included suggested gratuities of 15% ($13.45), 18% ($16.14) and 20% ($17.93).

Friedman, 91, said he and the other couple asked to split the check. When the bill for his half arrived, he glanced at the bottom and saw that the suggested gratuities at the bottom were unchanged, rather than also being cut in half.

This isnt a major crime, Friedman told me. But its outrageously deceptive.

It should go without saying that when diners split a check, theyre also splitting the tip. In this case, Friedman calculated that 15% of his share should have been $6.73. A 20% tip should have been $8.97.

The restaurants owner, Luis Montesdeoca, told me the suggested gratuities are part of the software of his vendors card-processing system. He said most patrons have no problem figuring out how much to tip for split checks.

But Friedman said misunderstandings are likely. I suspect this is more widespread than most people realize, he said.

I suspect hes right. In fact, Calabasas Hills-based Cheesecake Factory is being sued in Los Angeles County Superior Court over just this issue.

The suit alleges that customers were essentially duped  into paying double gratuity, and sometimes even more than double.

Alethea Rowe, a spokeswoman for Cheesecake Factory, responded: All gratuity amounts listed on our guest checks are suggestions only. Guests are free to tip as they please.

Like I say, better all around if they didnt have to.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
Twitter Inc. is ending its 140-character limit  and giving nearly everyone 280 characters.

Users tweeting in Chinese, Japanese and Korean will still have the original limit. Twitter says thats because writing in those languages uses fewer characters.

The company said 9% of tweets written in English hit the 140-character limit. This means people probably spent time editing down their tweets or not sending them out at all. Twitter hopes that the expanded limit will get more people tweeting more, helping its lackluster user growth.

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The San Francisco company has been testing the new limit for weeks and is starting to roll it out Tuesday.

Twitter has been slowly easing restrictions to let people cram more characters into a tweet. It stopped counting polls, photos, videos and other things toward the limit.

The 140-character limit was based on the limitations of short-message service technology, also known as SMS, which is used to send text messages. SMS has largely become obsolete to Twitter users as smartphone technology has advanced.

Gartner analyst Brian Blau said in September that he doubts that the change will have a major effect on what people post to Twitter.

Brevity is what shaped Twitters content style, and while the extra characters may change some aspects, he said, it will make the service a bit easier to read and engage with.

Times staff writers David Pierson and Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report.
Youve read the New Yorker article. Youve heard all of your artist friends talk about him. Now you can hear Chinese dissident artist Lin Bo speak at a downtown L.A. art gallery about the work that got him jailed back home.

Whats that? You havent heard of him? Well, you will.

Lins talk is the keynote of a wildly inventive art installation/theater piece known as Caught, which plunges attendees down a rabbit hole and flips them around several times. The whole affair leaves viewers with more questions than answers, which in this case is a good thing because the questions push us to think deeply about perception and truth.

Emerging San Francisco playwright Christopher Chen won an Obie Award this year for the pieces off-Broadway presentation, and Louis Ozawa Changchien, a leading player in that production, performs here. The L.A. production, though, is more fully immersive in the hands of rising New York director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, known for constructing just this sort of all-enveloping experience.

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Arriving on the second floor of a nondescript building in downtown L.A.s Fashion District, attendees step into a crisply designed exhibition of boundary-blurring, perception-challenging works that provide context to Lins.

Once Lin is introduced, he proceeds to describe the fraught, post-Tiananmen atmosphere in China and the watchfulness that led to questioning and imprisonment when he disseminated a conceptual piece that was at once art and protest.

We want to applaud his need to make a statement and his ingeniousness in trying to sneak it past the government. But wait. Is he for real? He speaks in heavily accented, somewhat stilted English, yet his phrases seem too colorful, his references too Western. And hes here to promote a book that seems designed to shoot to the top of bestseller lists.

Playwright Chen has said in interviews that one of his main inspirations was writer-performer Mike Daisey, whose The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs described troublesome working conditions at a Chinese company making Apple products. After the piece was discovered to be embellished, a national conversation ensued.

From Lins gallery talk, Caught proceeds in ever more surprising directions, each upending what preceded it.

Soon we are questioning our facile, Western assumptions about China. We might be wondering who has the right to tell a story if its not the storytellers own or if its outside his or her culture. We could pause to consider how we digest art  how what one person perceives in a painting or a play can be entirely different from what another sees. Some of us might get turned so upside-down that we begin to wonder whether we can truly know the inner workings of even those who are closest to us.

As frames of reality shift, so does the pieces form. Is this visual art? Drama? Or something else entirely? Even the gallery space is not what it seems; it keeps opening into something new. Surprise turns to laughter, and reactions just keep morphing.

Iskandar, making his L.A. directing debut, has fun further warping expectations by taking abrupt turns into Douglas Sirk social melodrama or Twilight Zone disorientation.

Among the phrases that pop out: The truth does not lie in the specific facts. America places a high premium on truth. No persons of any other culture get more defensive when questioned over their truth. I have looked for truth but have only seen lies.

The more you participate, the more you will get out of the experience. Look around. Ask questions. Keep revisiting the video slide show at the entrance; it has a tendency to change. Look closely at the promotional enlargement of Lins book cover. At the swanky reception afterward, look for something familiar flashing across the rooms video installation. Read the fortunes in the cookies.

The events multiplicity is due in part to the mash-up of its presenters: Firefly Theater & Films, VS. Theatre Company and the venue, Think Tank Gallery.

You might spot imperfections or quibble with the directions taken, but youll applaud the folks youve encountered  Changchien, Jackie Chung, Jessica Kaye and Steven Klein  as well as visual artists Mei Xian Qiu, Rafael Hayashi and Teddy Kelly; scenic designer Stephen Gifford; projection designer Jeffrey Teeter; and enough other contributors to fill a small city.

One thing thats certain: Youll leave with a better appreciation of lifes shifting perspectives, this Rubiks Cube of reality.

SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter 

         

Caught

Where: Think Tank Gallery, 939 Maple Ave., second floor, downtown L.A.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, ends Dec. 10

Tickets: $45-$80

Info: www.thinktank.gallery

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes for the main event, but come early and stay longer

daryl.miller@latimes.com

Twitter: @darylhmiller

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TV

Nov. 6, 2017, 7:40 p.m. Harvey Weinstein expelled from Television Academy for life

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The Television Academy has voted to expel disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein in the wake of sexual harassment and assault allegations.

After a hearing today, the Television Academys governance has voted to expel Harvey Weinstein from the Academy for life, the Television Academy said in a statement. The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue.

The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behavior are deeply disturbing to the Academys leadership, the statement continued. We have been in contact with leaders across the industry and share with them a deep sense of responsibility to provide clear workplace benchmarks reflecting decency and respect.

As a result, we are expediting an already-begun detailed review and revision of our Television Academy membership codes of conduct. We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment, said the academy.

Weinsteins TV credits include serving as executive producer on shows such as Project Runway and Scream: The TV Series.

The Television Academy joins the numerous professional organizations that have distanced themselves from Weinstein since allegations of sexual misconduct were first reported on Oct. 5. The claims had already led to his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the Producers Guild of America, which also voted to ban Weinstein for life.

Read The Times full coverage of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal >>
Here are the 2018 SAG Awards nominees reactions to their nods

The on-camera talent recognized during the 24th Screen Actors Guild Award nominations on Wednesday shared their excitement and gratitude for the special honor bestowed upon them by the acting community.

The SAG Awards serve up laurels for actors and ensemble casts working in television and film as voted by their peers. The awards show, hosted by The Good Place star Kristen Bell, will take place on Jan. 21.

LIST: The 2018 SAG Award nominees

In statements to the Los Angeles Times, several nominees repeatedly thanked their drama families, particularly the casts and crews of their respective projects. Heres what some of them had to say about the recognition:

Alison Brie. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Alison Brie, GLOW

It is such a great honor to be recognized by my fellow actors with this nomination. I am so proud to be part of a show that celebrates the craft of acting, with all its pitfalls and glories, and to be able to work with such a diverse group of insanely talented women. GLOW has meant the world to me and Im deeply thankful for this recognition for me and the cast. Thank you SAG-AFTRA!!

Millie Bobby Brown. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things

Screen Actors Guild! Thank you SO much for recognizing me and our cast for the second year in a row! This means the world coming from you, our peers. I am so lucky and honored to have the privilege of playing Eleven  a strong, powerful, badass, strange, wonderful character! Cant wait to celebrate with my Stranger Things family!

Timothee Chalamet. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name

What an incredible morning! This nomination is very close to my heart because its from the actor. When we made Call Me By Your Name, we had no idea what it would turn into. The experience in making the film with Armie [Hammer] was so special, and yet, we just didnt know. Simply put, Ive been blown away by the response this film has received. And, to be included in ensemble along with my Lady Bird family (congrats, Saoirse [Ronan]!) makes this recognition that much more special.

David Harbour. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

David Harbour, Stranger Things

If it isnt wildly apparent by now, Ill say it directly  I love actors! To be recognized by my peers in such distinguished company gives me a special joy. And Millie [Bobby Brown] and the show! Beyond.

When I act, when I create, I feel alive, full to bursting, and I feel of service to the mysterious goodness that firmly exists in this world. I have been rewarded with a life that indulges in the primacy of self, but at its core and at its purest and its best, it is a life of service. A service to audiences. To prod and poke when necessary, to comfort and entertain when times seem dark, to ever expand the human experience, to offer a reason to live, to celebrate to the gods the great gift and scourge that is consciousness. Sometimes it means expressing iron intellect and rigorous truth that bonds us all in the achingly profound wisdom of no escape. Sometimes it means revealing the intimate moments of endurance, of unexpected kindness, unasked for love. And sometimes it simply means making a fierce and joyful noise, to spin, to twirl, to throw your hands up with the relentless dips and climb aboard this roller coaster of life. Ya know, to dance. *insert Hopper dancing gif*

Thank you for recognizing me, as it might mean itll be easier to get more jobs doing it.

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

I am beyond thrilled to have received the honor of this nomination. And to receive it from fellow colleagues is huge to me. Guillermo [del Toro], this film and the entire cast and crew hold a very special place in my heart and always will. Each and every one of them made me better. I am truly delighted more than I can really express in words but my heart is fit to burst with pride for us all. Thank you dearest SAG members. Thank you for your embrace.

Sean Hayes. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sean Hayes, Will & Grace

I am so honored to be recognized in this category with these extraordinary actors. I love acting because I love actors. I also like to bake sometimes.

Richard Jenkins. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

I am thrilled and humbled to be nominated by my peers for a SAG Award. This union is very close to my heart. Well, the SAG card is in my wallet, so its a little further south.

Zoe Kazan. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Thank you to SAG for honoring The Big Sick ensemble with a nomination. It means so much to us, especially from our acting peers. I am deeply proud to be a part of this film and to have brought Kumail [Nanjiani] and Emily [V. Gordon]s story into the world, especially at this time. We are particularly moved to have been recognized as an ensemble, as this was such an extraordinary collaborative experience Im excited to be reunited once more with my movie family, and to share this with Kumail, Holly [Hunter], Ray [Romano], Zenobia [Shroff], Anupam [Kher], and Adeel [Akhtar] and everyone else who helped bring The Big Sick to life.

Nicole Kidman. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

What an amazing morning! Thank you to SAG-AFTRA for recognizing Big Little Lies in such a significant way. Ive been acting since I was 14 and have dedicated an enormous amount of my life to my craft so to be acknowledged by my acting family is the most incredible honor.

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Linney, Ozark

I am so proud to be included in a list of such wonderful actresses who have raised the bar so high. What an amazing year for women in television. And I am especially proud to be representing Ozark with my TV spouse, the ever deserving Jason Bateman! Thank you SAG-AFTRA!

Marc Maron. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Marc Maron, GLOW

I am stunned and excited to be recognized by other actors in this way. I really never thought this was possible in my life. It helps to be surrounded by amazing actors and to have such a defined and well written character as Sam Sylvia and to be on a show as unique as GLOW. I am just a small part. So, thanks SAG for recognizing me and the mind-blowing ensemble that is GLOW.

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick

We are so lucky to have been graced with the enormous talents of every single member of our cast. They each put a piece of themselves into our story and we are thrilled at being recognized. Thank you. And a special shout out to Holly Hunters individual nomination!

Now we have to go tell our real parents that they arent actually nominated.

Bob Odenkirk. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

I am thrilled to get this nomination from my fellow actors! At Better Call Saul I am surrounded by an ensemble of excellence  Michael McKean, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, everybody raises my game. Thank you to SAG-AFTRA.

Gary Oldman. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Gary Oldman, The Darkest Hour

No actor could ever deny the special satisfaction that comes from being recognized by your fellow artists  we all share the same challenges, insecurities, and uncertainties, chief among them, the question am I any good? this nomination, and in the wonderful company of the other nominees, is so very satisfying.

Margot Robbie. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Im so incredibly moved and excited to be nominated by my fellow actors. I feel very fortunate to be able to have had the opportunity to bring Tonyas story to the big screen. Thank you to Steven [Rogers] for his brilliant and unique script, to Allison [Janney] and Sebastian [Stan] for being such incredible screen partners and to Craig [Gillespie] for his amazing direction and perfectly capturing the tone and essence of the film. Im so honored to be recognized among the truly powerful and wonderful women in the category. I cant wait to celebrate with everyone.

Sam Rockwell. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

It is such an honor to be nominated by your fellow actors, I have been a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild for as long as I can remember. To share it with this wonderful ensemble whom I have had the pleasure to work with over the years and others I got to collaborate with for the first time is truly special. I want to thank Martin McDonagh, our director and writer, for crafting these characters, as well as Woody [Harrelson], Fran [McDormand] and the rest of the cast who brought the town of Ebbing to life on screen. I am thrilled.

Ray Romano. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Ray Romano, The Big Sick

This is awesome but I wont believe it till the recount.
The involving, deftly assembled documentary The Final Year, which takes a whirlwind look at the last 12 months of President Obamas tenure, is likely to prove quite the wistful experience for the films intended left-leaning audience  or Obama skeptics open to peering in the rearview mirror.

This you-are-there journey, directed by Greg Barker, was largely shot under the prevailing assumption that the 2016 U.S. presidential race was a likely lock for Hilary Clinton. That is, until that fateful November night that upended expectations, as well as the trajectory of the last part of Barkers film.

The elections startling results give the movie more resonance and emotional heft than it might have otherwise. A brief closing interview with Obama provides some stirring  and haunting  grace notes.

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Until that point, however, Barker focuses mainly on the work of then-Secretary of State John Kerry, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power and Deputy National Security Advisor and speechwriter Ben Rhodes as they and Obama hop the globe in a ticking-clock effort to secure Americas positions on such issues as the Iran nuclear deal, peace in Syria, climate change, terrorism and immigration.

Although the film clearly supports the Obama administration and its foreign policy decisions, Barker doesnt shy away from mentions of several of the former presidents perceived missteps.

Obamas landmark speech in Hiroshima, his unprecedented trip to Laos, his last appearance at the U.N. General Assembly and a visit to Greece  44s final foreign stop as president  are memorably covered as well.

The film also takes us inside the West Wing, plus international conference rooms, private jets and, perhaps most pivotally, a gathering of iconic women, including Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Albright, as they, along with Power, watch the presidential election returns in creeping disbelief.

And could there be a more appropriate song to play over the movies end credits than The Times They Are A-Changin?

-------------

The Final Year

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

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Takashi Miike has a recurring dream. In it hes flying low to the ground, at a slow speed. Somehow when he was younger, he remembered one recent morning in Los Angeles, he had soared higher in his slumber.

Now I want to get back to where I can fly high again, the Japanese auteur mused, and I just cant get there.

Miike might strive for loftier heights in his dreams, but in his waking life he hardly makes time for regrets. At 57, the Osaka-born director best known stateside for shocking and ultraviolent films like Audition and Ichi the Killer, is one of the most prolific creators in cinematic history.

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He got his start working as assistant director to Japanese legend Shohei Imamura in the late 1980s on films like Zegen and Black Rain. Changing times and Japans V-cinema wave of home video genre fare brought new opportunities. Miike made his move into directing in the early 1990s, churning out low-budget, direct-to-video gangster films and action-comedies at a lightning pace, and never let up.

In L.A. last weekend for the release of his 100th film, Blade of the Immortal, a period samurai action-drama about a surly swordsman who cant die, Miike emphasized that its not him but everyone else who insists on keeping count.

Its not that I had the goal of making a lot of movies; that wasnt really my intention.  Takashi Miike

Its not that I had the goal of making a lot of movies; that wasnt really my intention, he said, speaking through a translator. But by making movies at a natural pace, and also because I had a lot of work and the requests for my work just never stopped, that just kind of led to 100 movies.

He has described his younger self as far from a model student, one who skipped class and lazed away his summers. But at summers end, he says, hed always mourn the time hed frittered away.

Time, and what he does with it, seems to be ever present in Miikes mind.That much is apparent in the breakneck pace with which he still makes films. He hasnt made fewer than two films per year since 1992, often filming four to five features annually  all the while maintaining his signature audacious sensibility and persistently brash style, sending an anarchic and singular shock through the echelons of contemporary Japanese cinema.

But Miike isnt just one of moviedoms most prolific filmmakers; hes also one of its most wantonly versatile, with childrens tales, fantasy-musicals, a pastiche East-meets-Western, yakuza crime movies, and J-horror flicks all under his belt.

Gorier crossover hits like 1999s critically hailed Audition  which made audiences cringe and cower with deft use of piano wire  turned Miike into an international ambassador of Asian extreme cinema. He also became a staple of the Cannes and Venice film festivals with his movies Gozu, Sukiyaki Western Django, 13 Assassins and Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai.

Adapted from Hiroaki Samuras popular manga and far from his first samurai story, Blade of the Immortal explores some of Miikes recurring fascinations. Its hero, Manji (played by Japanese pop idol Takuya Kimura), is a samurai whose fateful actions cost him dearly, leading to the death of his sister.

Avenging her in the films opening prologue, Manji slashes his way through hundreds of enemies with furious vengeance before being saved from death  or cursed with life  by a supernatural gift of immortality. Decades later, Manji is enlisted to help a young girl avenge the violent deaths of her parents and everyone else in their family dojo at the hands of an anarchic villain.

I set out to prove this theory, or this idea that I have, about death, Miike said. In every country there is this desire to want to be immortal, or to continue to stay young, or to keep living in this world. A lot of people equate that with happiness. They equate that with a long life  maybe even an eternal life.

But we know in our hearts that thats impossible, he continued. So one of the things I wanted to say with this was, if you could have that immortality and you were able to get past the barrier of death, to get to the other side where you are immortal  is there really paradise there?

The fact that we have a short, limited life here is actually what makes it so beautiful and so enjoyable. Making it longer and making it eternal is not necessarily going to make it better.

In typical Miike fashion Blade of the Immortal is unsparingly violent and darkly comical; not even he can venture a guess as to how many souls perish in the films numerous onscreen samurai massacres.

If you have a gun you can shoot from very far away, he offered. Theres a disconnect there. But if you have a sword you have to be up close. You have to be able to feel that persons breath on you to be able to kill them with a sword. You feel the human life of the other person.

Miikes status among gorehounds and genre cineastes is underscored in the contemporaries who flocked to fete him Friday in Beverly Hills, where directors Walter Hill, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, John Landis, and Oliver Stone held court all evening at a private party held in Miikes honor.

And yet Miike, the master of Japanese shock cinema who says Tobe Hoopers Texas Chainsaw Massacre made an integral impact on him as a teenager, admits hes averse to watching extremely violent films. Horror films are scary! he laughed. I dont want to go pay money to feel scared. Thats just not where my interests lie.

With 100 films under his belt, hes nonplussed that most Western moviegoers know him for his more shocking fare. The impression that audiences have of me is really out of the scope of what I can be concerned about, he smiled. But I do make a very wide variety of productions. In Japan on Sunday mornings we have a program for 3-to-6-year-old kids, boys and girls, which is an anti-violence program. Theyre singing and dancing and learning about how to avoid violence  and also how to find happiness in life.

Its not like Im trying to strike a balance, he added. Im just glad that I was able to make the films that I wanted to make on both sides of that spectrum.

One secret to his prolificacy? Dont be picky  just create.

I make movies that I personally feel like making, and thats very important. But I also have made sure that I dont close myself off to working for low budgets, or with new producers, or from a novel subject matter. Its not about trying to make a lot of movies but being open to all those different types of projects.

And when hes making films, he says, the work is profoundly affecting him in turn. I think movies dont just change the viewer. Movies also change their creators, he said. He describes the act of directing as more than merely dictating a vision.

The film is almost making [me], and pulling [me] into it and saying, This is what I want to be. The cuts, the edits, all of that is the result of the film wanting to be made  the film making itself, with the facilitation of the director, based on the interactions of all the players.

The way that I make films, its always very visceral and directly connected to the emotion, he said. Honestly, I didnt go to film school very much. So the way that I know to make films is by finding that connection with the audience, looking at how theyre going to react, and just creating things from a visceral direct feeling. And thats not something that Im creating artificially; that is just who I am.

Miike, who was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year, is showing no signs of slowing; hes already working on his next two films back home. But even as he charges forward, that recurring dream has him longing for the past.

The feeling I get from those dreams is that I would really like to go back to when I was a child, he said. That was when I enjoyed the pure enjoyment and fun of movies the most.

jen.yamato@latimes.com

@jenyamato

ALSO:

Takashi Miike goes big with bloody action in epic Blade of the Immortal
Leaders of a group of charter schools and Los Angeles Unified School District officials were working up to the last minute to avert a public fight at Tuesdays school board meeting over district rules the charters find onerous.

By late Monday, sources on both sides said a confrontation seemed unlikely, although no one was making public statements.

Last week, school district staff recommended that 10 charter schools be shut down and six others get conditional approval  with conditions that a charter leader described as unacceptable.

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Never before had so many L.A. charter schools faced potential closure at one time  over conflicts they had instigated.

A showdown at Tuesdays board meeting had the potential to get ugly, awkward and unpredictable  something that was giving pause to the combatants.

Charter leaders have said they are taking a stand against district regulations that they described as harsh, bureaucratic, inconsistently enforced and unsupported by state law.

L.A. Unified has insisted that its oversight of charter schools is a national model and that its rules provide accountability for taxpayers and protections for students.

The nations second-largest school system has more charters than any other, accounting for about 19% of enrollment. Charters are privately managed and exempt from some rules that govern traditional campuses.

One issue framing the divide has been the role of the districts inspector general, who has conducted years-long confidential investigations. Charter operators want to narrow this power and argue that state law supports such limits.

In some cases, the inspector general has done a good job of unearthing things that shouldnt have happened, said Eric Premack, executive director of the Charter Schools Development Center in Sacramento. But its investigators also seem to feel they can just come in and push people around. A number of the charter schools have found that very burdensome.

The timing is less than ideal for charters. One recent inspector general inquiry uncovered enough concerns to prompt a January FBI raid of Celerity Educational Group. And the inspector general just opened a conflict-of-interest inquiry based on information provided by Partnerships to Uplift Communities or PUC Schools, another charter organization. Both Celerity and PUC had previously complained about the inspector general.

The path to compromise appeared when the charter group KIPP LA backed down on reining in the inspector general. L.A. Unified then recommended six KIPP schools for conditional renewal and one new KIPP campus for approval.

KIPP and the district still remained at odds over other district requirements, which could have made KIPPs conditional renewal meaningless. But in the last couple of days, the ground appeared to shift.

Both sides had motivation.

The problem for the districts charter division is that the school board might side with the charters. Since July, L.A. Unified has had its first board majority elected with major financial backing from charter supporters.

If L.A. Unified refuses to authorize them, charters also can appeal to the Los Angeles County Board of Education, which is considered pro-charter. County approval would mean that, while these charters still would be located within L.A. Unifieds boundaries, the district would no longer have authority over them.

For their part, the charters risked having to rely on the narrow four-member majority  which would include the vote of Ref Rodriguez. Prosecutors have accused Rodriguez of political money laundering, for which he faces felony and misdemeanor charges. He also is under investigation by the inspector general for alleged conflict of interest while he was an executive at PUC Schools, the charter network he co-founded.

For this reason and others, the L.A. teachers union Monday called for Rodriguez to recuse himself from Tuesdays charter votes. The union also noted that Rodriguezs legal defense fund had received a contribution of $75,000 from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who sits on the national KIPP board.

Rodriguez, who has denied any wrongdoing, did not comment on the recusal request. But a spokeswoman for L.A. Unified said the district is not aware of a circumstance that would prohibit Rodriguez from voting.

Adding to the bad optics for charters if they continued to resist is L.A. Unifieds willingness to compromise, even if late in the process.

L.A. Unified has apparently agreed to make it easier for charters to decide how they want to manage and pay for the education of disabled students. Some charters had argued that L.A. Unified wanted to force them to be part of the districts system for serving disabled students, for which they paid too much and received too little. Some district officials have insisted that charters are not doing nearly their share to help or pay for moderately to severely disabled students.

And the district also has made concessions that could make it easier for charters to use space on district-owned campuses.

The individuals who provided the details asked that their names not be used because they were not authorized to speak for either side.

We are hopeful that after months of collaboration with district staff, the outcome will be a win for students and teachers, said Jason Mandell, a spokesman for the five charter organizations that challenged the district requirements. He declined to discuss details of the talks, as did L.A. Unified.

In a letter to board members Monday, one outside group argued for more charter oversight.

Weve seen recently how the lack of access to financial and other information has limited the districts ability to hold charter schools accountable to their public trust, said Donald Cohen, executive director of In the Public Interest, an Oakland-based research and advocacy group.

howard.blume@latimes.com

@howardblume

anna.phillips@latimes.com

@annamphillips
An employee shot and killed one of two men who attempted to rob a Whittier liquor store late Monday night, police said.

Two men entered Bottle House Liquors in the 6000 block of Norwalk Blvd. around 10 p.m. Monday, according to a statement released by the Whittier Police Department. A clerk noticed that one of the men was armed with a handgun, and drew his own weapon in response, police said.

The clerk opened fire, fatally wounding one of the men, police said. The other man fled the store.

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Police did not immediately identify the suspects or the clerk. A call to a Whittier police spokesman seeking additional information was not immediately returned.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the agencys crime tip line at (562) 567-9299.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.
California authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a protected southern sea otter that had been rescued and returned to the ocean last year.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday that the dead otter was found floating in Morro Bay in September and a necropsy determined it was killed with a pellet gun.

A numbered tag identified the animal as an otter that had previously been found tangled in a fishing line. It was rehabilitated and returned to the wild in July 2016.

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The senseless shooting of any sea otter is concerning, said Mike Harris, a Fish and Wildlife senior environmental scientist who helped with the initial rescue, but to discover a case such as this, where a team of conservation organizations had already successfully treated the animal for a life-threatening entanglement, is exceptionally troubling and frustrating.

The department says the killing was the latest in a rash of crimes targeting sea otters along the stretch of coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A skinned otter was found in September. Three otters were shot to death in August 2016.

Southern sea otters are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and California law. Harming or harassing a sea otter, as well as removing or possessing a sea otter pelt or parts without a permit, are all illegal. Penalties include fines up to $100,000 and possible imprisonment.

UPDATES:

12:20 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from state scientist Mike Harris and information about sea otter protections.

This article was originally published at 11:45 a.m.
The event is being organized by Vietnam Pictorial under Vietnam News Agency and China Pictorial, to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Cutting ribbon to open the exhibition





Visitors to the exhibition





Mu Cang Chai terraced field in Yen Bai province

A communal house in Cong Hoa commune, Quoc Oai district, Hanoi

A Chinese girl welcoming New Year

Ha Long Bay

Ho Chi Minh city (Photo source: baotintuc.vn)

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Hoai Duong said the two news agencies have always supported each other in their work to uphold the bilateral relations. He hoped that the exhibition would demonstrate the effective cooperation between Vietnam Pictorial and China Pictorial.

Vietnam and China have also maintained high-ranking exchange visits of Party and State leaders. Particularly, the upcoming visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam to attend the APEC Economic Leaders Week is an important landmark in the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The event will run at No.19 Ngoc Ha street, Hanoi, until November 15th./.
A federal judge Tuesday delayed opening statements in the trial of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy amid defense allegations that there may be recorded video related to the 2014 standoff at his Bunkerville ranch that the government failed to turn.

U.S. District Court Judge Gloria Navarro pushed opening statements back to Nov. 14 to give prosecutors time to track down the surveillance footage  though she agreed it was unclear whether the equipment had, in fact, recorded anything at all.

It was yet another twist in a trial that has captivated Americans who view the Bundy trial as a fight against federal government overreach on public lands and infringement on the right to protest.

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Cliven Bundy, 71, is on trial with his sons Ammon Bundy and Ryan Bundy  along with cohort Ryan Payne  on a litany of federal felony charges including conspiracy in trying to stop the federal government from seizing cattle grazing on public land, carrying and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and threatening a federal officer.

The Bundy family and their supporters fly the American flag as their cattle are released by the Bureau of Land Management back onto public land outside of Bunkerville, Nev., in 2014. (Jason Bean / AP )

Those charges stem from the 2014 standoff with federal agents who had arrived at Bundys Bunkerville ranch to seize cattle that had been illegally grazing on U.S. Bureau of Land Management Land for free. That confrontation included armed Bundy supporters taking positions on freeway overpasses and hunkered down in washes to stop federal agents. No shots were fired, though federal agents have said they feared for their lives before they ultimately retreated.

By early Tuesday morning, a line of people  some wearing cowboy hats and more than a few in cowboy boots  waited to go through a metal detector to watch the highly anticipated opening statements in the case. Once inside, Navarro cautioned that the trial was not a sporting event and she wouldnt tolerate cheering or outbursts.

Outside the courthouse, about a dozen Bundy supporters held flags and signs  with one man wearing a plastic fence around him and a sign that said First Amendment Area.

The surveillance footage raised by defense attorneys and Ryan Bundy  who is acting in his own defense  was brought up during a hearing last week when a witness testified that she saw video feeds from a camera streaming onto a monitor during four days of the standoff.

But acting U.S. Atty. Steven Myhre said nothing had been recorded, so there was nothing to hand over to Bundys defense lawyers. Navarro, however, said you dont set up surveillance cameras for nothing as she gave prosecutors time to investigate if anything had been recorded. Ammon Bundys lawyer, Morgan Philpot, scoffed at the governments characterization that seeking the surveillance footage was a fantastical fishing expedition.

The stakes for the trial are big for both sides.

Federal prosecutors have had poor results trying to get federal felony charges to stick to the Bundy family and their supporters. Two Las Vegas juries either acquitted or deadlocked on multiple charges this year and a jury acquitted Ryan Bundy and Ammon Bundy on charges related to a 41-day standoff at an Oregon wildlife preserve in 2016.

But federal prosecutors did get Eric J. Parker, 34, of Hailey, Idaho, and O. Scott Drexler, 47, of Challis, Idaho, to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of court order last month.

Supporters see it as a chance to show the federal government has overstepped its authority by controlling hundreds of millions of acres of land. In Nevada, the federal government controls roughly 85% of the land.

Ryan Bundy wore a suit and appeared clean-shaven for Tuesdays court hearing  a stark contrast to his appearance during jury selection where he wore the red inmate jumpsuit and sported a large, bushy mustache. Payne also wore a shirt and tie, while Ammon Bundy and Cliven Bundy opted to stay in their red prison clothes. It was their choice, they told Navarro.

david.montero@latimes.com

Twitter: @davemontero
Defense attorney David Anthony faced a dilemma Monday as he argued that his client shouldnt be put to death with a new, untested lethal injection cocktail: As long as his client professes an unequivocal desire to die, saving him might prove difficult, if not impossible.

And time is running short, with Scott Dozier facing execution on Nov. 14.

Anthony cant ask for a stay of execution if Dozier doesnt want it  and Dozier has said he doesnt want one.

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These issues pose a moral dilemma, the lawyer said outside a Las Vegas courtroom where he argued for a delay of the execution.

Anthony said there also remain concerns about the use of a paralytic drug during the lethal injection. Testimony by an expert on Friday suggested it could lead to pain and suffering for Dozier. And Anthony argued that it was especially risky since it would be administered by out-of-practice prison personnel, under a new chief medical officer.

Dr. John DiMuro, an anesthesiologist who stepped down from his post as Nevadas chief medical officer about a week ago, was replaced by a psychiatrist, according to Assistant Solicitor General Jordan Smith.

That change had led to uncertainty in a state that doesnt carry out executions with regularity. The last execution in Nevada was in 2006. Anthony argued that a psychiatrist simply didnt have the same experience for overseeing the protocols for drug-based executions.

Smith argued there would be an attending physician who oversaw Doziers execution and that there would be trained medical personnel present as well.

The paralytic drug cisatracurium is at the center of the controversy. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, the state would be the first to use the paralytic during an execution in combination with fentanyl and diazepam. There are fears cisatracurium would simply act as a mask  paralyzing Dozier while his body was in pain and he experienced air hunger  the phenomenon of not being able to breathe.

Its not a shame for anyone here if we need to push the pause button, Anthony said. If its the right thing to do, its the right thing to do.

The 46-year-old death row inmate was convicted in 2007 of murdering and dismembering 22-year-old Jeremiah Miller five years prior at a Las Vegas motel. He also was convicted in Arizona 12 years ago for the murder of 26-year-old Jasen Green.

A little more than a year ago, Dozier asked to waive his appeals and sought to be put to death as soon as possible. Clark County District Court Judge Jennifer Togliatti signed his death warrant, but said she wanted to proceed with an abundance of caution.

Anthony brought in Dr. David Waisel, a Boston-based anesthesiologist, on Friday to testify that Nevadas desire to use a paralytic drug could mask any pain and suffering by Dozier as his body is injected with fatal doses of fentanyl and diazepam.

But Waisel also was critical of the states lack of practice in administering the toxic cocktail of drugs via lethal injection  noting its been 11 years since Nevada executed an inmate.

Lethal injection in Nevada is ripe for error, Waisel said in brief filed Monday. Nearly every tenet for safety is violated. It is a dramatically unfamiliar situation and location for the individuals performing the injections. Even for experienced individuals this increases risk; it is increased even more for the inexperienced, especially without high quality practice.

Smith said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the potential for errors during an execution does not violate the cruel and unusual punishment standard. And Waisel acknowledged that if the process were carried out correctly and exactly, the risk of suffering would be minimal.

Its never a guarantee that an error wouldnt happen, Smith said.

Atty. Gen. Adam Laxalts office said it would not comment on pending litigation.

Togliatti didnt rule Monday on the use of the paralytic and said she wanted Dozier present via video from his cell in Ely when the hearing resumed Wednesday.

The judge also said she wanted to give Anthony time to consult with Dozier about the risks laid out about the use of the drugs, the issue of a new medical director overseeing the states protocols he didnt establish and how the drugs would be administered.

Part of the struggle Im having is, were not a regular execution state, Togliatti said. We dont do this on a regular basis.

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Trump administration asks Supreme Court to punish ACLU lawyers who helped teen migrant get abortion

Las Vegas shooter had been losing money for two years and was going in the wrong direction, sheriff says

david.montero@latimes.com

Twitter: @davemontero
Former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor Carter Page told congressional investigators that he spoke privately with Russias deputy prime minister and several legislators during a campaign-approved trip to Moscow in July 2016, the latest member of the Trump team to belatedly acknowledge contacts with Russian officials last year.

During seven hours of closed-door testimony to the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 2, Page contradicted his previous public denials of any meetings with Russian government officials. He also urged the campaign to send Trump to Moscow instead of him to raise the temperature a little bit, according to an email obtained by the committee.



For the record: A earlier version of this article did not fully identify Trump campaign official J.D. Gordon. His role and full name have been added.

Page became at least the ninth member of President Trumps campaign team or White House staff to confirm direct contact with senior officials in Russian President Vladimir Putins government during the 2016 campaign or during the transition, a pattern that has created a growing headaches for the White House.

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Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and several congressional committees are investigating whether those meetings and communications illegally aided Moscows ambitious attempts to interfere with the U.S. election campaign through hacking of Democratic Party emails, social media posts and ads, and other efforts.

Page, a Manhattan-based energy consultant, was unknown to foreign policy veterans and diplomats in Washington when Trump, then a presidential candidate, named him to a small team of foreign policy advisors in March 2016.

After his visit to Moscow that July, Page reported to campaign officials in an email that he had received incredible insights and outreach from his discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, from members of the Russian legislature, known as the Duma, and from senior members of Putins government.

In a private conversation Dvorkovich expressed strong support for Mr. Trump and a desire to work together toward devising better solutions in response to the vast range of current international problems, Page wrote in another email obtained by the committee.

In his testimony, Page denied that his conversations were substantive, insisting that he met only briefly with Dvorkovich before they each spoke to graduates at an academic institution in Moscow called the New Economic School.

An executive from Russias largest oil company, Andrey Baranov, attended the speech and may have expressed Moscows desire to see U.S. sanctions on Russia lifted, Page said. The sanctions were imposed by the Obama administration in 2014 after Russian forces intervened in neighboring Ukraine and seized the Crimean peninsula.

He denied discussing the matter in depth with Baranov, who works with Rosneft, which is majority-owned by the Russian government. He may have mentioned it to me. I had no discussions, Page told the committee, according to a transcript of his testimony released late Monday.

Page said that he had solicited advice from other campaign aides about what to say in his Moscow speech and said that his trip wasnt a secret. He also proposed that Trump should go to Moscow instead of him.

If [Trump would] like to take my place and raise the temperature a little bit, of course Id be more than happy to yield this honor to him, he wrote to senior campaign official J.D. Gordon and another campaign aide in a May 16, 2016, email turned over to the House committee.

Gordon said in a statement that he discouraged Page from making the speech in Moscow. He eventually went around me directly to campaign leadership, Gordon said.

At a dinner on Capitol Hill, Page told then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, the campaigns top foreign policy advisor and now U.S. attorney general, and Sam Clovis, another senior campaign official, about his plans to travel to Moscow a month before he left. Page said he also spoke to Clovis about the trip after he returned.

Clovis withdrew his name from a senior position at the Agriculture Department last week after court papers indicated he had encouraged a junior aide, George Papadopoulos, to visit Moscow if possible.

Papadopoulos, who also was present at the dinner, has pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russians last year. According to court papers, he discussed his meetings with Russian officials  including a woman who he believed was Putins niece  during a sit-down session with Trump, Sessions and other top campaign officials on March 31, 2016.

That is the first evidence to emerge indicating Trump was personally told about meetings between a campaign advisor and Russian officials. Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of such contacts and denounced the investigations as a partisan witch hunt.

Sessions is scheduled to testify Nov. 14 to the House Judiciary Committee, where Democrats are expected to press him about what he knew about the meetings.

During his confirmation hearings in January, Sessions said he knew of no one from the campaign who was in touch with Russian officials. He repeated that denial in another Senate hearing last month.

In recent months, Page had repeatedly denied to reporters that he met with Russian government officials in Moscow, insisting he met only with academics and business executives he had known for years.

A former Navy officer, Page lived in Moscow from 2004 to 2007 while working as a junior investment banker for Merrill Lynch. He later started his own investment firm, Global Energy Capital, and he was largely sympathetic to Russias complaints about U.S. sanctions, human rights demands and other policies.

Pages meetings in Moscow, at the height of the presidential campaign, was one of the factors that prompted the FBI to launch a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016, the New York Times has reported.

Page left the campaign soon after he returned to Washington, and Trump and his advisors later tried to distance themselves from him.

After questions first emerged about Pages contacts with Russia, Trump called him a very low-level member of his foreign policy team and said, I dont think Ive ever spoken to him. Page has said he attended meetings with Trump but never conversed with him.

david.cloud@latimes.com

Twitter: @davidcloudLAT

UPDATES:

3 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details, including other Trump campaign advisors who had contact with Russians.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
The gunman who killed 26 people at a Texas church last weekend escaped a mental health facility in 2012 and made death threats to his superiors in the Air Force, according to newly revealed police records.

The gunman, Devin Kelley, was also accused of rape in 2013, a case that later was dropped, according to newly released documents from the county sheriffs department.

The new revelations show that Kelley had a documented history of erratic behavior and violence when he was allowed to buy four guns between 2014 and 2017, apparently because of the Air Forces failure to report his history of domestic abuse to databases used by gun dealers to perform background checks on buyers.

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Kelley had previously attended the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, but the pastor did not think that he was a good person and did not want him around his church, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CNN on Tuesday. But he said, How do I run him away from my church?

The new details about Kelleys mental health issues came in El Paso police records, first obtained by Houstons KPRC-TV, that were filed after Kelley disappeared from the Peak Behavioral Health Services center in Santa Teresa, N.M., on June 13, 2012.

Kelley suffered from mental health disorders and had apparently been sent to the facility during his Air Force court-martial proceedings on charges of beating his wife and stepson in 2011 and 2012, according to the police records.

An incident report described Kelley as a danger to himself and others as he had already been caught sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, and said that he had concocted a plan to use a bus to escape the mental health facility.

El Paso police quickly found Kelley in the city and said he did not resist or make any comments about harming himself or others to the officers.

Kelley would later plead guilty to assaulting his wife and stepson. He spent a year in a military brig and received a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force in 2014.

The Air Force confirmed Monday that it failed to transmit records of Kelleys conviction to an FBI database used to perform background checks for gun purchases, and officials ordered an internal review of the case and Air Force policies.

The rape accusation stemmed from a report on June 17, 2013, while Kelley was living in New Braunfels, Texas. The Comal County Sheriffs Office did not give more details about the case, which stalled sometime in October 2013 for reasons yet to be determined, the office said in a statement.

It is not clear whether Kelley was arrested in that case, or whether any criminal charges were filed.

On Tuesday, the Comal County criminal district attorneys office wrote a letter to the Texas attorney generals office requesting a legal opinion over whether certain records involving the rape case could be released, citing the victims privacy.

The sheriffs office also said that deputies went out to Kelleys residence on Feb. 1, 2014, after receiving a call from a female saying that her boyfriend was abusing her, according to department incident dispatch logs. According to those reports, the woman told police her arms were red and he told her to pack a bag.

The deputies made no arrests, dismissing the call as a misunderstanding and teenage drama.

Kelley subsequently moved to Colorado, and was cited for misdemeanor animal abuse in a Colorado Springs trailer park on Aug. 1, 2014.

Investigators believe Kelley acted alone in the church attack and was not motivated by any political or religious agenda, but perhaps by a domestic argument Kelley had with his mother-in-law, who is a member of the churchs congregation but who was not in attendance during the attack.

Officials on Tuesday praised Stephen Willeford, a church neighbor who shot Kelley in the leg and the torso and pursued him out of town, calling him a hero.

How can you not love that guy? said Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin. That guy did what he knew needed to be done.

Ten victims remained in critical condition Tuesday.

Special correspondent Jenny Jarvie contributed to this report from Sutherland Springs, Texas.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

More national headlines

UPDATES:

5 p.m.: This story was updated with information about a rape investigation and a domestic violence case involving Kelley in 2013 and 2014.

This story was originally published at 12:40 p.m.
There are fewer Republicans in the California congressional delegation than there are players on the roster of the Los Angeles Lakers. One half of the states 14 GOP House members represent districts that were carried by Hillary Clinton in last years presidential campaign, which has Democrats salivating at the prospect of increasing their already considerable margin in our states 55-member Capitol Hill delegation.

And as if life werent already difficult enough for these embattled California Republicans, their national party leaders last week proposed a new tax plan that could make their prospects for re-election even worse. The proposal calls for large tax cuts, which are always popular with voters. But it also eliminates a number of lucrative deductions that have benefited California taxpayers for many years. Republicans must therefore try to balance their broader philosophical support for tax relief against the specific needs of their constituents.

Like their counterparts in other high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey, many Californians have long deducted state and local income taxes from their federal obligation. Housing costs tend to be higher in these states as well, and homeowners have also profited from the mortgage interest deduction. But the current GOP proposal either eliminates or sharply limits these write-offs.

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It seems that national Republicans have decided its not even worth fighting to retain a foothold in the nations largest state.

Although these changes would primarily affect the especially prosperous and heavily Democratic Bay Area, traditional Southern California GOP bastions would take a sizable hit as well. Some voters already on the fence about the GOP may ask themselves why they remain loyal if they cant even count on Republicans for a tax break.

It seems that incumbent Republicans facing re-election fights in Orange and Ventura counties have been left hanging by their national party leadership, whose focus seems to be squarely on the needs of their colleagues in more conservative parts of the country. The leadership has opted to pay for cuts in deep red states by sticking it to Californian city slickers, beachcombers and other coastal elites.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the last Republican presidential candidate to carry California in a general election, a period that has not coincidentally coincided with the GOPs gradual reformulation as an overwhelmingly Southern, exurban and rural party. (The Democrats retrenchment has been just as extreme, as their retreat into urban cores and coastal areas has isolated them from the large expanse of so-called flyover country.) The GOP tax plan can only exacerbate this self-fulfilling geographic prophecy.

Republicans in New York and New Jersey have vocally protested the skewed nature of the tax proposal, threatening to derail the entire package if some relief is not provided for their states. California Republicans have been more publicly circumspect, perhaps because House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield is one of their own and they can deliver their message to him more discreetly. For now, quiet conversations with McCarthy can provide them with some protection from being forced to choose between standing with their party or their districts. But unless the national GOP is willing to cut California some slack, that decision cant be avoided much longer.

Lets not exaggerate. Many Republican voters here will see the overall size and scope of the tax package as enough to offset the specific downsides. The elimination of the alternative minimum tax, for instance, would mitigate losses for a good number of GOP supporters. And in a low-turnout midterm election, at least some California Republican incumbents will find other issues to help them achieve re-election.

Those who do survive, however, will do so in spite of their partys leaders. It seems that national Republicans, cognizant of broader ideological and demographic trends that will prevent California from turning competitive for the foreseeable future, have decided its not even worth fighting to retain a foothold in the nations largest state.

Dan Schnur is a professor at USCs Annenberg School of Communications. He is a former Republican political consultant who is now registered as a No Party Preference voter.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Petition drive to repeal California gas tax increase temporarily slows down By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. ( (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)) Paid signature-gatherers for a ballot measure that would repeal gas tax increases may be hard to find on the streets of California this week. Organizers say its not a money issue, adding that they needed to briefly halt paid signature-gathering to catch up on collecting petitions from volunteers. The petition drive has so far collected more than 327,800 verified signatures of the 587,407 needed to qualify the measure for the November ballot, according to Dave Gilliard, the political strategist behind the drive. We knew it was popular but the incredible pace is even faster than we expected so we outran the capacity of our verification operation over the Christmas holiday and told our crew managers to slow down so we could catch up, Gilliard said. We will be back up to speed by the end of this week. The gas tax and vehicle fee increases signed by Gov. Jerry Brown are expected to raise $5.2 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and expanded mass transit. The gas tax jumped from 18 cents to 30 cents per gallon on Nov. 1, and vehicle fees of at least $25 kicked in Jan. 1. The gas tax repeal petition is breaking records for both paid and volunteer signatures and were using the next two weeks to catch up on validation of signatures already received, said Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Councilman and conservative radio talk-show host. As a grass-roots-funded effort we are also continuously raising funds and volunteer support. We are highly confident well qualify this Initiative for the November 2018 ballot. Facebook

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State pot bureau ready to enforce Californias new marijuana laws as license applications flood in By Patrick McGreevy The state has issued 104 licenses for retail stores to sell marijuana for recreational use in California and 239 other applications for those permits are pending, officials said Tuesday. An official with the state Bureau of Cannabis Control added that the agency is prepared to begin taking enforcement action against pot shops that are not properly licensed. The bureaus enforcement team is ready to respond to any complaints it receives and start doing compliance checks and site visits at any time, said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the bureau. Selling marijuana without a license is a crime punishable by up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $500. Those convicted of engaging in any marijuana business activity without a license will also be subject to a civil penalty of up to three times the amount of the license fee for each violation. A new report issued Tuesday indicated the bureau has issued 478 temporary licenses to firms to test, distribute and sell medical and recreational marijuana, which began Jan. 1 after voters approved a legalization initiative, Proposition 64, in 2016. Businesses have received 153 licenses to sell marijuana for medical use. Another 1,458 firms have applied for licenses that are still being processed. The state Department of Food and Agriculture has separately issued 207 licenses to marijuana growers. Facebook

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Two possible instances of discrimination reported after California issues drivers licenses to immigrants here illegally By Jazmine Ulloa The California Research Bureau on Tuesday released its first report on incidents of discrimination under a 2015 state law that has provided drivers licenses for hundreds of thousands of immigrants here illegally. Researchers found no complaints have been made against government agencies tasked with enforcing anti-discrimination laws. But two possible instances of discrimination were reported in focus group interviews conducted by Drive California, a coalition of advocates studying the impact of the new law. In one case, a woman in Fresno was told her license was not a valid form of identification at a retail store, though it was unclear whether the incident reflected intentional discrimination or simple ignorance of the license marking, the report states. A MoneyGram clerk in another case denied a license holder the ability to cash a check. The same person was later rejected again at a bank. The state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued 960,000 AB 60 drivers licenses as of Nov. 30. The state research bureau produced the report for the Legislature as part of the new law, which declares discrimination against an AB 60 license holder a violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Facebook

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California lawmaker proposes requiring panic buttons for hotel workers in response to widespread sexual harassment By Patrick McGreevy More than half of hotel workers surveyed report being sexually harassed at some point. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) Alarmed by a survey indicating sexual harassment of hotel housekeepers is widespread, a California state lawmaker on Tuesday proposed requiring employers to provide panic button devices to their employees so they can summon help if abused by a guest. The bill to be introduced Wednesday by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would also require individual hotels to impose a three-year ban on guests who engage in harassment on the property. We want to protect our most vulnerable women workers, hotel maids who are going into rooms alone, from sexual harassment, said Muratsuchi, who co-authored the bill with Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward). The legislation signals that concerns over sexual harassment that dominated the state Legislature last year will continue to be an issue for lawmakers as they begin the new legislative year Wednesday. Harassment allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, comedian Louis C.K. and other high-profile men have involved sexual misconduct in hotel rooms. A survey in July by Unite Here Local 1 found that 49% of female hotel workers in Chicago had experienced a guest answering the door naked or exposing himself. The report titled Hands Off, Pants On, found 58% of hotel workers said they had been sexually harassed by a guest. Californias Unite Here Local 11 has been calling for the action proposed in the legislation. It is the intent of this measure to protect hotel employees from violent assault, including sexual assault, and sexual harassment, and to enable those employees to speak out when they experience harassment on the job, said the introduction to the legislation introduced by Muratsuchi. In addition to requiring hotels to provide panic buttons to employees who work alone in rooms, the bill requires hotels to take written complaints from employees and keep them for five years. Any complaint backed by evidence including a statement given under penalty of perjury would result in a guest being banned from a hotel for three years. Hotels would also be required to post a notice on the inside of hotel room doors warning guests about the consequences of sexual harassment. Updated at 4:10 pm to include comment from Assemblyman Muratsuchi. Facebook

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Money, Republican malaise and Tom Steyer: These are the things to watch for in Californias 2018 statewide elections By Seema Mehta Get ready, California. What had been a behind-the-scenes dash for cash closely watched by few other than political observers is about to burst into public view. Voters this year will decide who will succeed Democrat Jerry Brown as the next governor and whether they will send Sen. Dianne Feinstein back to Washington. Before the June 5 primary, candidates will ramp up their campaigns with messages on television and stuffed into mailboxes. Heres a primer on the states two marquee races. Read More Facebook

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Fickle L.A. County is pivotal in the race for California governor By Phil Willon Home to a quarter of Californias 5.2 million registered voters, Los Angeles County is the biggest prize in Californias 2018 race for governor. For two hometown Democratic candidates especially  former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang of Torrance  doing well in L.A. County is essential if they hope to best the front-runner, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Yet this overwhelmingly Democratic stronghold continually bedevils even the most adept campaigns. Read More Facebook

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A renewed brawl over single-payer healthcare in California is on deck for 2018 By Melanie Mason Carolyn Angela Chen, a registered nurse, gives a free hepatitis A vaccination to Glenn Gardner, 52, at Joshua House Clinic (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) California officials are bracing for healthcare battles in Washington to have a major impact on the states budget and programs. Activists and politicians are planning a showdown over whether or not to establish a single-payer healthcare system in the state. And prescription drug manufacturers are the target of a number of bills meant to target the rising costs of medication. Sound familiar? Turns out the brewing healthcare battles in California in 2018 arent all that different from those from 2017. Heres a primer on the upcoming healthcare agenda in California: Read More Facebook

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How California lawmakers plan to protect the online privacy of consumers in 2018 By Jazmine Ulloa (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) With federal regulation rollbacks and a rise in data breaches, California lawmakers this year are looking for ways to protect consumers and their personal information. Some legislation under consideration could give people more notice and control over what data is collected, without having to pay for privacy or better services. Other bills could provide free credit freezes for consumers and require new privacy features for products that connect to the internet. Read More Facebook

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2018 will see California motorists pay more to the state to repair roads and bridges By Patrick McGreevy The new year brings with it new vehicle fees in California ranging from $25 to $175 depending on the value of your car, but Republican lawmakers are hoping to qualify a ballot measure in November to repeal the higher charges. The fees and a 12-cent increase in Californias gas tax last year are part of a plan by Democrats to raise more than $5.2 billion annually to deal with a backlog of road and bridge repairs. Petitions to qualify a repeal initiative are circulating now. Read More Facebook

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A rent control battle tops the list of California housing issues to watch in 2018 By Liam Dillon A new-home community in Anaheim in 2016 (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers arent wasting any time in tackling one of the most contentious issues in state housing politics this year. On Jan. 11, the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee is set to hold a hearing on legislation that could lead to a dramatic expansion of rent control policies across the state. The debate over rent control could spill over onto the 2018 ballot, where Californians also could see proposals to expand or curtail the property tax restrictions ushered in 40 years ago by Proposition 13. Lawmakers will have to wrestle with how to follow up a package of housing bills that passed last year. The measures provided new funding and regulations designed to encourage homebuilding, but are unlikely to make an appreciable difference in housing costs. Read More Facebook

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Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas is resigning By John Myers Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas abruptly announced his resignation from the California Legislature on Wednesday, citing health reasons. Ridley-Thomas, a Democrat from Los Angeles, informed Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) Tuesday night. The reason for this difficult decision is that I am facing persistent health issues, Ridley-Thomas, 30, said in a written statement on Wednesday. On December 18th, I underwent surgery for the fifth time this year. Although I expect a full recovery, my physicians advise that I will need an extended period of time to recuperate. Earlier this year, Ridley-Thomas was absent from work for more than two weeks. Staff members initially said the absence was a personal leave, then said the time off was due to unspecified medical reasons. His resignation letter on Wednesday offered no additional details. When I resume public life, I intend to remain active in civic affairs, where my passion lies, he said in the statement released by his office. Ridley-Thomas was first elected to the Assembly in a 2013 special election. He is the son of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Before winning elected office at age 26, the younger Ridley-Thomas worked as an aide for Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price and managed a 2012 Assembly campaign in San Bernardino County. In a statement about his sons decision, Mark Ridley-Thomas said he and his wife more than anyone, have seen him struggle with health challenges this year, and we fully support his decision to step down from the state Legislature so that he can recuperate with complete rest, in accordance with his doctors orders. His solidly Democratic district includes the west Los Angeles neighborhoods of Westwood, Culver City, Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills. He is chairman of the influential Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, which oversees all tax-related legislation. Ridley-Thomas is a proponent of changes in the operation of the state Board of Equalization, though his plan would have allowed the agency to ultimately retain many of its duties. A more substantial shake-up was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in June. Ridley-Thomas was the author of a bill signed into law in October giving the Los Angeles Unified School District the power to preserve some of its existing single-gender schools. He was unsuccessful, though, in an effort to stop local governments from imposing taxes on streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu. Ridley-Thomas departure will require a special election in 2018. He is the fourth Southern California legislator to leave office this year. The election of Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) to Congress also required a special election. The other two lawmakers Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills)  stepped down in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct, which both men have denied. A special election to fill Bocanegras seat will be held on April 3, with a potential runoff on June 5. A special election date has not yet been set for Dababnehs seat. My colleagues and I wish Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas all the best going forward as he deals with his health challenges, Rendon said in a statement. The Assembly will continue to assist the residents of the 54th Assembly District until a new assemblymember is seated. This post was updated with comment from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, as well as more information about special elections. It was originally published at 11:10 a.m. Facebook

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California Senate Democrats are considering some ideas to counter the GOP tax plan By Liam Dillon Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Democrats in the California Senate are planning to write legislation to lessen the effects of the elimination of popular tax breaks in the GOPs overhaul of the federal tax system. To finance broad-based corporate tax cuts and reductions in individual tax rates, the GOP plan caps the deductibility of state and local income and property taxes  a benefit used often in suburban areas of California. The Republican tax scam disproportionately harms California taxpayers, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said in a statement. Our hard-earned tax dollars should not be subject to double-taxation, especially not to line the pockets of the Trump family, hedge fund managers and private jet owners. De Leon, who also is running for U.S. Senate, said the state Senate is working with law professors at UCLA, UC Davis and the University of Chicago to develop the legislation. Ideas being considered, according to a de Leon spokesman, include: Reducing state personal income taxes through a tax credit program and offsetting that amount through payroll taxes.

Allowing individuals to make voluntary gifts to the state of California, which would be deductible as a charitable donation under federal law. The deduction for the donated amount would replace the state and local tax deduction. Lawmakers return to Sacramento in January.

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L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti admits considering a 2020 bid: I am thinking about this By Seema Mehta Eric Garcetti (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Its no secret Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is interested in running for president. When reporters ask about his intentions, he has used all sorts of ways to deflect, typically by saying hes focused on his day job  for the moment. But speaking in Spanish to a Univision reporter this week, Garcetti edged ever closer to the telltale admission hes actually considering it. I am thinking about this, said Garcetti, who is partly of Mexican heritage but learned Spanish attending private school. The majority of time goes to my work as mayor of Los Angeles, but every [citizen] should think about what our role is in these difficult times, in these dangerous times. Garcetti added that he expects many mayors to run for president, and noted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently visited Iowa, which holds the first presidential nominating contest. Garcetti has long been rumored to be flirting with a White House bid, and he has fueled such speculation by traveling out of state to places such as the early presidential primary state of New Hampshire to campaign for a mayoral candidate. Facebook

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Gov. Brown makes judicial appointments, including attorney who helps train Legislature on anti-sexual-harassment policies .@JerryBrownGov makes two court of appeal and 33 superior court appointments including Lauri Damrell in Sacramento. Damrell, an attorney at Orrick, testified at the Assemblys recent hearing on sexual harassment, outlining the assemblys current prevention efforts.  Liam Dillon (@dillonliam) December 22, 2017 Facebook

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Californias former top cop forms marijuana distribution firm in new age of legalization By Patrick McGreevy Former California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer is going from enforcing laws against marijuana to legally distributing the drug under the states new rules that allow the sale and possession of pot for recreational use. With state-licensed sales of marijuana starting Jan. 1, Lockyer has co-founded a firm, C4 Distro, that will distribute packaged marijuana concentrates and edibles to stores in Los Angeles. He says Californias new regulated system has a chance to be a model for the rest of the country. For me as somebody who was on the law enforcement side for so many years, I saw the inadequacies of the effort to regulate something just by calling it illegal, Lockyer said. I think legalizing will help stabilize and help legitimize this industry and result in better consumer protection and other public benefits. Lockyer, a Democrat who served in the state Assembly and was leader of the state Senate, has co-founded the firm with Eric Spitz, who was chairman and president of the former parent company of the Orange County Register. The businessmen aim to get their products to pot shops in L.A. in late January or early February, Spitz said. Asked if he uses marijuana himself, Lockyer, 76, said, Not in any recent times, but there were college years. He said he sees his involvement in the marijuana industry as a mixture of helping to pay for his kids college tuition and public service to help the new regulations work. This whole industry has to come from the dark side to the light, he said. By focusing on delivery to as many as 700 stores that might open in Los Angeles, C4 Distro hopes to capture a targeted market while other firms distribute statewide. The business has a warehouse in southeast Los Angeles County and is close to applying for a distributors license from the state, Lockyer said. Lockyer served a quarter century in the state Legislature before he was elected as state attorney general in 1999. He left that office in 2007 when he was elected as state treasurer, serving until his retirement from politics in 2015. Before co-leading a group that bought the Register newspaper in 2012, Spitz served as chief financial officer at Narragansett Brewing Company. Spitz left the Registers Freedom Communications in 2016. 2 p.m.: An earlier version of this article mistakenly said Spitz left Freedom Communications in 2015. Facebook

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House passes disaster aid bill with wildfire funding, 18 Californians vote no By Sarah D. Wire (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Eighteen of Californias 53 House members voted no on an $81-billion disaster aid package Thursday, which includes funds for Californias recent wildfires. The 17 Democrats and one Republican voted no on the bill, which passed the House by a 251 to 169 vote. The Senate is not expected to take up the bill until January, when Congress returns from its holiday break. The entire California delegation had recently signed onto a letter asking for the disaster aid. In a speech on the House floor before the vote, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) pleaded with colleagues not to take a political stance on a disaster aid bill. Dont play politics on a vote to give aid to the people of Texas, to the people of Puerto Rico and to the Virgin Islands, to the people of Florida, and to the people of California that are still fighting the fires. Dont play politics on a bill where you hope to maybe stop another. That would be the worst of any politics Ive seen played here, McCarthy said. Here and now, right before Christmas, dont vote against aid for Americans who just lost everything. Several of the Democrats who voted no also voted against the spending bill Thursday, and said that they felt they could not support either because the bills did not include Democratic priorities for the end of the year, including protections for people brought to the country illegally as children. Others said the aid bill doesnt provide enough money for California and doesnt treat Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands fairly in terms of competing for the funds. The 18 representatives voting no were: Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro)

Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)

Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles)

Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park)

Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana)

Anna Eshoo (D-Menlo Park)

Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles)

Ro Khanna (D-Fremont)

Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)

Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove)

Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco)

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey)

Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier)

Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough)

Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin)

Norma Torres (D-Pomona)

Juan Vargas (D-San Diego) Facebook

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Three California House members cross party lines on spending bill to keep government open By Sarah D. Wire Three California House members crossed party lines Thursday on a vote to pass a spending bill that will keep the government open until mid-January. Democratic Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno and Raul Ruiz of Palm Desert joined the majority of Republicans to vote for the bill. Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of Alpine joined Democrats to vote against it. The bill, which funds the government through Jan. 19, passed the House 231 to 188, right before representatives left for the holidays. Costa said in a statement that he voted yes because keeping the government open is Congress job, but he called the vote a continuation of the dysfunction in Washington. It further illustrates the damage that results from partisan politics and irresponsible leadership. It is unacceptable that we have to resort to funding the government for weeks at a time because we cannot sit down together  Democrats and Republicans  and negotiate a real budget bill, Costa said. Hunters staff said the congressman was concerned that military spending in the bill was extended for only a short period. He had wanted the spending to be extended until September. Facebook

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Poll points to all-Democrat runoffs in California races for governor and senator By Seema Mehta Californians could see two Democrat-on-Democrat contests in the states premier races in 2018, according to a new poll released Thursday. In the gubernatorial race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom remains the front-runner with the support of 26% of likely voters in a Berkeley IGS poll. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came in second with the backing of 17%. The poll found notable demographic differences in the two mens bases of support. Newsom had strong leads in the Bay Area, where he once served as the mayor of San Francisco, as well as among white voters, liberals and the wealthy. Villaraigosa saw strong backing in Los Angeles County, among Latino voters and among those who earned less than $40,000. Republicans splintered in the race, placing businessman John Cox and Assemblyman Travis Allen in a tie for third place with 9% each. Two other Democrats, state Treasurer John Chiang and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, each won the support of 5% of likely voters. If Republicans fail to consolidate behind a candidate in the June primary, voters will for the first time see no GOP candidate on the November ballot for governor. Its a repeat of what occurred in the 2016 U.S. Senate race, and what is likely to occur again in the 2018 U.S. Senate race if the field does not grow. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has the support of 41% of likely voters in her reelection bid, but her rival, fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon, won the support of 27%, according to the poll. There is no GOP candidate in the race. Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, has enormous advantages in fundraising, name recognition and support among powerful political groups. However, the poll found that nearly one-third of likely voters said they are undecided or would like to support another candidate. Facebook

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California legislator wants to curb sexual harassment in Hollywood and eating disorders for models By Melanie Mason Fashion models show off the BCBG MAX AZRIA Spring 2016 collection during New York Fashion Week. (Richard Drew / AP) A new proposal by a California assemblyman is taking aim at two of the more criticized phenomena in the entertainment industry: sexual harassment and unhealthy body standards for fashion models. The legislation, by Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), would require the states Occupational Safety and Health Standards to adopt guidelines for fashion models in an attempt to combat the prevalence of eating disorders and excessive thinness in the industry. This is the second time Levine has tried to take on the fashion industry. His similar bill to impose standards on models sputtered in 2016. This time, Levine also is trying to address the prevalence of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry by requiring that talent agencies  which represent actors, performers and other artists  provide training on sexual harassment and how to identify and prevent inappropriate behavior. I believed women who told me their stories of abuse when I introduced legislation to provide workplace protections in the fashion industry in 2016 just like I believe them now, Levine said in a statement. Its time that law reflects societys rejection of sexual harassment in all workplaces, including Hollywood. My bill aims to address the problem before it starts, but also empowers survivors with the tools to report these cases. Facebook

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Local Indivisible group picks Democrat to endorse against Rep. Duncan Hunter By Christine Mai-Duc Ammar Campa-Najjar, 28, is running against Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine). (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) With an already crowded field of contenders hoping to unseat Rep. Duncan Hunter and months to go before the candidate filing deadline, one local activist group has made an early endorsement in the race. Indivisible CA50, made up of activists mostly in San Diego County, announced Thursday that its endorsing Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat and public affairs consultant whos challenging Hunter. The endorsement comes as liberal activists and interest groups all over the state are grappling with whether  and how  to winnow down the dozens of candidates vying for 10 GOP-held seats in California. The group held more than half a dozen endorsement meetings to allow members throughout Hunters district to vote on their preferred candidate. One of the candidates, Pierre Beauregard, dropped out of the race recently and endorsed Campa-Najjar. In a statement Campa-Najjar said in a statement that the nod represents the enthusiasm of hundreds of progressive grassroots activists. Indivisibles national political director Maria Urbina said the endorsement was the first made by any California chapter in the 2018 midterms. Aside from Campa-Najjar, two other Democrats are running for Hunters seat: Josh Butner, a school board trustee and former Navy SEAL, and realtor Patrick Malloy, who ran last year and lost to Hunter by nearly 27 percentage points. Hunter will also face at least two GOP challengers: Shamus Sayed and Andrew Zelt. Hunter is not considered to be particularly vulnerable in next years election, but an investigation into his alleged misuse of campaign funds has caused at least one election handicapper to move his race from solid Republican to the likely Republican column. Facebook

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San Francisco is getting a new mayor and creating a political star. Who will it be? By Mark Z. Barabak San Francisco is the city everyone loves, even if they hate it. The stately Victorians, like a gingerbread dream come to life. The majestic Golden Gate Bridge, standing like heavens portal above the fog. The plucky cable cars, scrabbling up its impossible hillsides. It can almost make you forget the bands of ravaged homeless, the paralyzing traffic, the scent of human waste wafting from sidewalks outside the citys posh eateries and palatial tech headquarters. San Francisco is getting a new mayor, owing to the sudden death of incumbent Ed Lee. All of the grandeur, and all of the grit, accompany the position. To say the race is wide open  Lee having died just about a week ago  is an understatement. Read More Facebook

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure over a fix for Dreamers By Sarah D. Wire California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure from activists and fellow Democrats to withhold support for a spending bill that would avert a government shutdown in exchange for protections for people brought to the country illegally as children. Feinstein said in October that protections for so-called Dreamers are the most important thing we can get done, but the senator known for her moderate bent said this week that she wont try to block the end-of-the-year spending bill over it, and has not offered an explanation. Dreamers this week flooded Feinsteins five California offices and her office on Capitol Hill. Two UCLA students refused to leave her Capitol Hill office after three hours Tuesday and were briefly detained by police. On Wednesday, about a dozen students and parents returned and were asked to leave after about 30 minutes of shouting in her office lobby. Read More Facebook

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The GOP tax plan passed. Now Democrats have another big issue to use in the midterms By Sarah D. Wire As GOP leaders in Congress met behind closed doors to hash out the details of their massive tax overhaul, a group of UC Irvine graduate students met in Rep. Mimi Walters district, fretting about how the plan could cost them money. About 20 miles north, dozens of activists in top hats stood outside Rep. Ed Royces Brea office as they chanted, Shame on you! And up in the Central Valley, protesters gathered outside Rep. Jeff Denhams Modesto office to sing Protest ye dreary congressman  Remember that he voted to take healthcare away. To save himself from taxes now, so you will have to pay. Read More Facebook

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Kevin de Leon to Feinstein: Dont come back to California without forcing a government shutdown over Dream Act By Jazmine Ulloa State Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), left, and Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), right. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) Taking direct criticism to the woman he is attempting to unseat in next years U.S. Senate race, California Senate leader Kevin de Leon on Wednesday urged Democrats to block a year-end spending bill as leverage to pass a Dream Act  clean of GOP demands for increased border security. At a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, De Leon commended Sen. Kamala Harris for pledging to block the measure, saying he could not understand why her colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein had failed to take a similar stance in pushing for legislation to protect the so-called Dreamers, immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Dreamers make up hundreds of thousands of Sen. Feinsteins constituents, and while talking a good game on Dreamers, when it comes to standing up and supporting them, she is AWOL, said De Leon (D-Los Angeles), who has attempted to position himself to Feinsteins left as he campaigns for her seat. His statements follow days of demonstrations by young protesters at legislators offices in Washington and California. The coalitions of activists have been calling on Democrats to hold up the spending bill, a move that could force a government shutdown. They want to pass Dream Act legislation that would provide protections and a path to citizenship to young people without legal residency in the U.S. At least two young protesters were arrested Tuesday outside of Feinsteins Capitol Hill office, and more demonstrations took place at her offices in Washington and San Francisco on Wednesday. Feinstein, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) have sponsored Dream Act legislation but have not pledged to hold up the spending deal. A separate bipartisan group of senators is advocating punting the issue to January. President Trump has asked Congress to come up with a solution by March. Standing next to De Leon and immigrant rights advocates on Wednesday, state Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) said advocates had to double down the shame on any Democrat who thinks its time to wait on the issue. De Leon said they had made that message clear to Schumer, saying, It is time to find your spine, sir. To Pelosi and Feinstein, he said: Dont come back to California if you havent demonstrated your leadership and your courage to stand up for these young men and women. I can tell you this, De Leon said. If the Republicans were on the other side, they wouldnt hesitate for a nanosecond to shut down the government to move forward what they believe in. Facebook

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12 California Republicans vote to support tax overhaul for a second time; Rohrabacher and Issa say no By Sarah D. Wire The House gave final approval for the GOP tax bill Wednesday, with 12 Republicans in the state delegation again voting in favor of the bill. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Darrell Issa of Vista voted no. The House and Senate both passed the bill Tuesday, but, because Democrats raised procedural objections that forced the bill to be changed in the Senate, the House had to vote on the bill again Wednesday before sending it to President Trump for his signature. Though many California taxpayers are expected to see an initial income tax cut under the plan, a significant number probably will have higher taxes because of the lost deductions. Analysts also expect the biggest cuts to flow to corporations and the states wealthiest residents. Republicans are expected to head to the White House later Wednesday for a celebration with Trump. No House Democrats, including the 39 from California, supported the bill. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk) was not present for the second vote, but she voted no on Tuesday. See the Republican votes here: Facebook

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Californias Democratic senators vote no on GOP tax bill Californias @SenKamalaHarris and @SenFeinstein join rest of Democrats in the Senate in voting no on the GOP tax bill, which passed 51-48 along party lines. Sanders, who is an Independent, voted with Democrats.  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 "At a time when wages have stagnated and working Americans are trying to do more with less, this tax plan pulls the rug out from the middle class to give billions to those who already have so much. This is an attack on our values, and Americans deserve better," Harris said.  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 "Californians will be hit especially hard by the cap on the state and local tax deduction, making it more difficult for communities to pay for services that our families rely on, Its no wonder a bill that primarily benefits the wealthy is so unpopular..." Feinstein said  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) December 20, 2017 Facebook

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GOP tax overhaul passes House with help from a dozen California Republicans By Sarah D. Wire Despite weeks of consternation from some California House Republicans, a dozen of them joined their colleagues to pass an overhaul of the U.S. tax code Tuesday. Two  Reps. Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher  voted against the plan. In the weeks before the vote, Republican Reps. Mimi Walters of Irvine and Steve Knight of Palmdale cited new caps on popular deductions as reasons they were uncertain about whether to vote for the bill. Both worked behind the scenes on changes and ultimately supported the bill, which passed the House on a near party line vote 227-203. Knight said hes satisfied the changes are enough to to turn what would have been a tax increase into a tax cut for his constituents. Read More Facebook

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More than half of Californians oppose GOP tax bill, according to new poll By Sarah D. Wire House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) arrives for a news conference about the tax plan. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) More than half of Californians oppose the GOP tax bill expected to be approved by Congress today, and just 20% believe it will have a positive affect on their families, according to a poll released Monday. Just over half of California voters, 51%, oppose the tax bill, and 30% support it, according to the newest IGS Poll, a survey by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. And the belief falls largely along party lines, with Democrats opposing the bill by a more than 4-to-1 (67% to 15%) margin and Republicans supporting it 3 to 1 (60% to 21%). The House and Senate are expected to vote on the tax bill Tuesday. Californias Republican members of Congress largely support the bill despite some concerns about how cuts to the state and local tax deduction and mortgage interest deduction might affect Californians. Democrats in the delegation oppose it and have said they will use the vote against vulnerable Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections. When asked about the impact they think the bill will have on themselves and their families, just 20% of the polls respondents said they think it will benefit them directly, while 40% foresee a negative impact. About 27% do not expect much of an impact, and 13% said they dont know if theyll be affected. The poll of a random sample of 1,000 registered voters was completed by telephone in English and Spanish from Dec. 7 to 16. Facebook

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A quick look at some of the biggest tax changes for Californians By Sarah D. Wire (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) Congressional Republicans are framing their tax cut bill as a Christmas gift that will give Americans an average tax cut of $2,059. For Californians, especially in the wealthier areas along the coast, the situation isnt as clear-cut. When the measure comes up for a vote in the House on Tuesday morning, its expected to pass along party lines. At least two Republicans say they will join Democrats in the California delegation to oppose the plan because they fear it will hurt their constituents bottom line. Take a quick look at what some of the biggest changes in the tax bill might mean for average Californians. Read More Facebook

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Lawmakers, pot growers say Californias marijuana cultivation rules favor big corporate farms By Patrick McGreevy Californias new rules allowing marijuana cultivation favor large corporate farms despite a promise in Proposition 64 that small growers would be protected, according to a group of state lawmakers and marijuana industry leaders who called Monday for the policy to be changed. The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued emergency rules last month that allow for small and medium-sized farms of up to a quarter acre and one acre, respectively, to get licenses for the first five years. That five-year head start for small farms was promised in Proposition 64, the initiative approved last year by voters that legalized growing and selling marijuana for recreational use. Individuals and businesses can get only one license for a medium-sized farm, but the new rules do not set a limit on how many small-farm licenses can be obtained by one person or business. That could allow a corporation to assemble a 20-acre farm by obtaining 80 licenses for a quarter-acre each, opponents worry. Democratic state Sens. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Mike McGuire of Healdsburg, Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) and the California Growers Assn. asked for swift action by the state agricultural department to change the rule. This is clearly a broken promise, McGuire said. For two years, every discussion has included a cap on cannabis grows and the Department of Food and Agriculture needs to fix this massive loophole they have created. This last-minute revision rolls out the red carpet for large corporations to crush the livelihood of small family farmers. With cultivation licenses set to take effect next month, the lawmakers also promised legislative hearings on why the rules were drafted to disadvantage small, mom-and-pop farms. California only has one chance to get this right, and it is already on the wrong path with this last-minute change that flies in the face of what the backers of Prop. 64 promised, said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Assn. This single decision will hand over the California marketplace to multinational corporations and a wealthy few at the expense of thousands of growers who are ready to play by the rules and provide economic opportunity in communities that until recently were criminalized or  at the very least  marginalized. The industry estimates there are about 3,500 independent growers on track to get a state license in the first half of 2018. Allens group estimates that number could grow to as many as 10,000 or 15,000 by the end of 2020, but not if large corporate farms are allowed in early. The agricultural agency issued a response later: A one-acre canopy limit has not been in proposed regulations at any point and was not included in the emergency regulations due to the fact that Proposition 64, the law guiding the process, did not provide authority to include it. However, local jurisdictions may impose that limitation on their own if it meets the needs of their constituents. Updated at 5:10 pm to include comment from agricultural agency. Facebook

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Final tax bill dramatically softens blow to mortgage interest deductions in California By Christine Mai-Duc Last-minute changes to the Republican-led tax overhaul seem to be tailor-made to entice support from California GOP lawmakers, several of whom voted against a previous version passed in the House last month. The House version, passed with the support of all but three California Republicans, had proposed capping the mortgage interest deduction at loans of $500,000 or less. Republicans in high-tax, expensive states had voiced concerns the bill would have major effects in their districts. But the final version of the bill dramatically slashed the percentage of new mortgages that would be affected if the package becomes law. *New mortgages over $500,000 include data through Sept. 2017. New mortgages over $750,000 include data through Oct. 2017. Source: Times analysis of data provided by CoreLogic The particulars of the mortgage interest provision and other popular deductions were major sticking points as House and Senate negotiators hammered out a compromise between the two versions. A previous Times analysis showed that more than half of new mortgages this year in Rep. Dana Rohrabachers coastal Orange County district exceeded the $500,000 cap laid out in the House version. Text of the new bill released Friday outlined a cap of $750,000, which would apply to just under a quarter of new mortgages there through October 2017. Rohrabacher was one of three California Republicans, along with Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) and Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) who previously voted against the measure. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) said she supported the House version after receiving assurances from leaders that the bill would be changed to account for the loss of deductions, The percentage of new mortgages over the cap dropped from 48% to 14%. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), whose district had 1% of mortgages exceeding the $500,000 cap proposed previously, saw that share drop almost to zero; 27 of 7,515 mortgages in his congressional district this year have been for more than $750,000. The House is expected to vote on the final tax bill Tuesday. Facebook

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A major change to Proposition 13 takes its first step toward the 2018 ballot By Liam Dillon A commercial property in San Bernardino County that could face higher property taxes under a proposed ballot measure (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) Proponents of making a dramatic change to Californias landmark Proposition 13 property tax restrictions took their first step to getting a measure on the November 2018 statewide ballot Friday. The change would allow the state to receive more tax dollars from commercial and industrial properties by assessing them at their current market value, an effort known as split roll because existing tax protections on homes would remain in place. Advocates of the measure, including the League of Women Voters of California and community organizing nonprofits California Calls and PICO Network said the change could raise billions of dollars that could be spent on public schools and community colleges. I think the cumulative effects of the unfair tax system have gotten to the point where its created crippling economic impacts on the state, said Melissa Breach, executive director of the League of Women Voters of California. Backers filed their proposed initiative Friday. The attorney generals office will prepare an official title and summary for the measure and it will receive a financial analysis. From there, advocates will decide if they will collect signatures to put the measure on the ballot. Proposition 13 passed in 1978 amid concerns that rising property taxes could force people out of their homes. The ballot measure limited property taxes to 1% of a propertys value at the time of purchase and ensures that the assessed value on which taxes are based can only increase by a maximum of 2% a year  no matter how much a propertys market value goes up. Split-roll measures have been long debated in state politics, but business groups and anti-tax groups have expressed substantial opposition to the idea, arguing that it would cause major harm to the states business climate. Breach said she expected an avalanche of big money against the measure should it go forward, but said that her organization wouldnt get involved without believing it could raise sufficient funding.S For the record 1 p.m., Dec. 18: An earlier version of this post said the split roll ballot measure would allow California to charge higher tax rates on commercial and industrial properties. It would allow the state to assess those properties at current market value, not charge higher rates. Facebook

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Three more women accuse California assemblyman of sexual misconduct By Melanie Mason Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills) (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) A Los Angeles woman has filed a police report alleging Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh had sex with her without consent four years ago, adding new allegations of sexual misconduct to those that led the politician to announce his resignation last week. He says her claims are false. Nancy Miret, 26, told The Times that when she was 22 and a recent college graduate, she spent time with Dababneh over two months in late 2013, primarily at his Encino apartment. At the time, Dababneh was running for Assembly to represent the western San Fernando Valley. They had consensual sex on one occasion, but after that, Miret said she had multiple nonconsensual sexual encounters with Dababneh that left her traumatized. Miret, who now works in commercial real estate, is one of three women interviewed by The Times who have made new allegations concerning Dababnehs behavior. These allegations are false and Im confident that when all the facts are in, it will clearly show that these claims are not true, Dababneh told The Times. Read More Facebook

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San Diego business is first in California to be issued license to sell marijuana for recreational use By Patrick McGreevy A San Diego medical marijuana business is the first firm to be issued a license by the state of California to sell marijuana for recreational use, officials said Thursday. Torrey Holistics received two of the first 20 licenses granted by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control this week to sell or distribute marijuana, although the licenses do not take effect until Jan. 1, according to bureau chief Lori Ajax. An additional 180 firms have applied for licenses but they are being processed. Last week, we officially launched our online licensing system, and today were pleased to issue the first group of temporary licenses to cannabis businesses that fall under the Bureaus jurisdiction, Ajax said in a statement. We plan to issue many more before January 1. The bureau is issuing temporary, four-month licenses to firms initially, but will eventually require firms to undergo background checks and pay a $1,000 application fee for yearlong permits. Tony Hall left a chemical distribution business two years ago to start Torrey Holistics with a friend and classmate at San Diego State. He said he was ecstatic to have the first recreational permit in California. He also obtained a new license to continue selling marijuana for medical uses. We feel fricking great about it, he said Thursday. Its just exciting. This is a once in a multi-generational event, he added, likening it to the end of prohibition. Added Ruthie Edelson, the firms marketing director, We will be open at 7 a.m. on Jan. 1. Last year, voters approved Proposition 64, which makes California one of eight states that allow the growing and sale of marijuana for recreational uses. Facebook

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Conservative activist group files a lawsuit over Los Angeles County inactive voter list By John Myers A Washington-based conservative-leaning activist group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging Los Angeles County officials are refusing to cancel the registrations of voters who are ineligible to cast a ballot. The legal action by Judicial Watch comes four months after the organization first accused elections officials across the state of maintaining registration lists that are larger than their voting-age population. The lawsuit also names Secretary of State Alex Padilla as a defendant and alleges the voter lists violate the National Voter Registration Act, or NVRA. They dont care about removing ineligible registration, said Robert Popper of Judicial Watch. I think we have a very strong lawsuit. The lawsuit names four Los Angeles County voters as co-plaintiffs and asserts that a countys two lists of voters  the file of active voters and those whose registration has been placed on inactive status  should be combined into a single total. The inactive list includes people who havent cast ballots in recent elections and havent responded to inquiries from elections officials. Though the names on that list are considered voters, they are not counted in official registration reports and are not mailed election material. Popper led an effort earlier this year to estimate the size of each countys voting-age population using the Census Bureaus American Community Survey. He said the surveys five-year average of county populations was then adjusted by focusing just on the estimate of those over the age of 18, and then comparing that with the combined active and inactive voter lists. Popper dismissed any concern that the resulting number might be skewed by the different standards used by counties for the inactive list, which could include names of voters who moved or died and thus be an imperfect guide. I believe that a court is going to accept our numbers, he said. Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, said his staffs practices are consistent with federal law. This lawsuit appears to fundamentally interpret the requirements of the NVRA in a manner inconsistent with ensuring voter enfranchisement and appropriate list maintenance, he said. The lawsuit also alleges that Los Angeles elections officials failed to provide Judicial Watch with requested data about the size of the inactive list, and accuses Padilla of failing to address the groups concerns about California not following NVRA rules. In a statement on Thursday, Padilla said county inactive-voter files are not out of compliance with the law. He criticized Judicial Watch for its baseless assertions, bad math, and flawed methodology. Local elections officials have said very few inactive voters show up on election day, and that any who do would be asked to cast a provisional ballot  one that isnt counted unless the voters eligibility is confirmed through additional review. Popper insisted that if the list is never used, theres no reason to keep it. Judicial Watch, which sued for access to Hillary Clintons emails in 2016, alleged that its calculations show 11 California counties with questionable voter registration totals. Facebook

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Voters in California GOP districts may get calls asking them to thank their member of Congress for tax plan By Sarah D. Wire Voters in four key Republican-held congressional districts could get a robocall starting Friday urging them to call and thank their member of Congress for supporting the tax bill. Its a last minute effort by American Action Network, a politically active nonprofit connected with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that has spent millions to shore up Republican support for the bill. The robocalls include the members office number. The four California members being targeted are Reps. Jeff Denham of Turlock, David Valadao of Hanford, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Mimi Walters of Irvine. All four represent districts that backed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and are Democratic targets in 2018. Knight and Walters had been particularly vocal about their concerns with the plan, saying it might raise taxes for their constituents. The final text of the bill is set to be released Friday, with a vote expected early next week. In total, American Action Network plans to place 1 million robocalls in 29 districts nationwide. Facebook

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Merry Christmas Republicans in Congress: Funny or Die video goes after California lawmakers over DACA By Christine Mai-Duc As members of Congress try to pass a controversial tax bill and a measure to keep the federal government funded, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is hitting Republicans hard over another unresolved issue: the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people brought to the country illegally as children who could face deportation if lawmakers dont act. Amid negotiations over a long-term spending bill, Democratic leaders have been pushing their GOP colleagues to include a fix for those who were granted temporary protection under President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA. President Trump announced an end to the program earlier this year and gave Congress a March deadline to address it. Funny or Die and BOLD PAC released a video Friday featuring comedians skewering GOP members, including two in California, for their inaction. In the video, Oscar Nunez, best known for his role on The Office, calls out Reps. Steve Knight (Palmdale), Ed Royce (Fullerton), Carlos Curbelo (Florida) and John Culberson (Texas), who get to go ahead and celebrate as thousands of Dreamers are banished from the only country theyve ever called home. How many broken promises can fit in a stocking? Nunez asks later. Im asking for a congressman. The political action committee says its spending six figures on the weeklong buy, which will go out nationwide across Funny Or Dies social media channels. They are known for blasting out irreverent, often viral parodies that play to young audiences. The video will also be targeted to constituents in each of the four congressional districts. A separate video released by the ACLU last week also urged members of Congress to strike a deal on DACA. Many California Republicans have remained mum on the issue, particularly those facing tough races in 2018. So far, only Reps. David Valadao (Hanford), Jeff Denham (Turlock) and Mimi Walters (Irvine) have pressured fellow Republicans to come up with a solution before Congress breaks for Christmas. Following Trumps decision, Knight said the issue should receive attention by Congress. Royce, who has taken hard-line stances on immigration in the past, urged his colleagues to provide a permanent, legislative solution that gives certainty to these kids. Neither elaborated on what that solution should be. Facebook

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For a prominent California consumer group and savvy political consultants, documents reveal a close financial relationship By John Myers If theres a clear mantra for Consumer Watchdog, one of Californias most visible and vocal advocacy groups, its that hidden financial relationships shouldnt shape politics and public policy. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit has spent more than three decades reprimanding politicians and interest groups for doing the bidding of those who give them money. Its official motto is expose, confront, change. We are loud, and we speak more of a populist truth than the way people usually talk to each other in Sacramento, said Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdogs president. Read More Facebook

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Regional director resigns from California Democratic Party amid sexual misconduct claims By Jazmine Ulloa A regional director with the California Democratic Party submitted his resignation on Thursday, nearly two weeks after a 23-year-old woman reported that he sexually assaulted her last year, spurring party leaders to seek his ouster. Craig Cheslog served as Region 2 director spanning the East Bay, Napa, Sonoma and the Clearlake areas. In a statement, his lawyer, Mary P. Carey, said she and her client were confident that a full and fair exploration of this matter, undertaken in an appropriate, fact-governed venue, would exonerate Mr. Cheslog. We are prepared, if necessary, to put forward the facts of this matter in just such a venue, she said. Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman and other officials initially called for Cheslogs removal in a Nov. 29 letter to state party secretary Jenny Bach. They said he was seen acting in an inappropriate and sexually aggressive manner toward a member of the party in a public area of the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, following a Nov. 18 executive board meeting. The level to which this activity advanced made a number of those in attendance uncomfortable, the letter stated. It added that another member reported that Mr. Cheslog raped her at a CDP executive board meeting the previous year. Party officers said the incident occurred during a weekend where the prevention of sexual harassment of women in politics was a dominant theme in the wake of the #metoo movement. Before the meetings conclusion on Sunday, the California Womens Caucus approved a resolution making clear that sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of abuse are grounds to lose endorsements and be stripped of party membership. Maddy Dean, who was not named in the letter, spoke at the meeting about her experiences of sexual harassment in the movie industry, and told the Times that she reported Cheslog. She said she could not provide further details about her allegation as she explores possible legal paths moving forward. This was about protecting other women and in particular other young women, she said of reporting the assault. In his own letter to Bach on Thursday, Cheslog did not acknowledge any wrongdoing. He said he was stepping down to prevent any personal misconduct allegations from creating a distraction with the party at a critical moment in national and state politics. I am confident of the results that would be forthcoming in a fair, fact-based exploration of this matter, he said. Since the report, Cheslog has been fired from his job at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that helps families navigate media and technology. He also has stepped down from his position on the Acalanes Union High School District Board of Trustees. The conduct represented a serious violation of both company policy and the way in which our employees are expected to conduct themselves in the community at large, Common Sense spokeswoman Corbie Kiernan said in a statement. We immediately suspended Mr. Cheslog and conducted an investigation. As a result of the investigation, Mr. Cheslogs employment with Common Sense was terminated. 4:05 p.m.: This post was updated with Cheslogs resignation from the school board. Facebook

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Sen. Bob Hertzberg will cooperate with investigation into unwanted hugs By Patrick McGreevy State Sen. Bob Hertzberg works at his Senate Chambers desk. He faces an investigation into unwanted hugging (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) said Thursday he will cooperate with a state investigation into complaints from a former legislator that she was uncomfortable with his repeated hugs after she asked him not to touch her. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said Thursday that a team of outside attorneys will investigate a complaint by former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman that Hertzberg has made her uncomfortable with hugs that were too close and lasted too long. Hertzberg, well-known for hugging other lawmakers, said he supports having any allegations investigated by the two outside law firms. I just learned of the investigation, and will fully cooperate, he said. The use of an independent third party investigator is essential to improving transparency and trust in the system. Halderman said Thursday she was encouraged that her concerns will be investigated, but said it was disturbing  that attorneys for one of the law firms selected, Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, contributed more than $90,000 in campaign funds to sitting legislators including Hertzberg. Halderman, a surgeon, served in the state Assembly from 2010 through 2012 and said Hertzberg hugged her multiple times even after she asked him to stop because she was uncomfortable. The last incident occurred in a hallway of the Capitol, she claimed. I told him I dont care to be hugged. Dont touch me,  Halderman recalled. He then grabbed me and pinned my arms to my side and used his hands to press my lower back into his groin and he essentially pinned me so I couldnt push off of him to get away the way I ended previous hugs. It was certainly so over the line, she added. Halderman said a current female senator and assemblywoman also have complained about inappropriate hugs from Hertzberg. However, Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) defended Hertzberg, saying she has known him for many years and he has always acted as a gentleman. I have never felt uncomfortable with him, and have always felt his hugs were a display of affection - which I appreciate, she said. I consider him a dear friend. Updated at 5:30 pm to include comment from Sen. Galgiani. Facebook

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Rep. Maxine Waters asks Justice Department to investigate fake letter tweeted by Republican opponent By Sarah D. Wire (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Rep. Maxine Waters is asking the Justice Department to look into a fake letter posted to Twitter by her Republican challenger that falsely indicated the congresswoman wants to resettle tens of thousand of refugees in her Los Angeles district. The GOP candidate, Omar Navarro, posted the letter on what looks like official House of Representatives letterhead to Twitter on Monday. The letter, which purports to be from the congresswoman, says the congresswoman wants to bring refugees to her congressional district after the 2018 election and perhaps even once I have secured the Speaker of the House position. Navarro accompanied the tweeted letter with a message: According to this document, Maxine Waters wants more terrorists, like the one who bombed NYC, in Californias 43rd District. As Congressman of CAs 43rd District, I will oppose such policies. Its been retweeted more than 680 times. But the letter is a forgery and a fake, her chief of staff, Twaun Samuel, said in a news release. The letter, dated June of this year, also contains several inaccuracies. It references multiple committees and subcommittees Waters does not serve on, and lists an address for a district office that has been closed for nearly a decade. Waters filed a complaint about the tweeted letter with the House general counsel, who forwarded the complaint to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and the fraud section of the Criminal Division for the United States Department of Justice. The complaint states that Waters has not communicated with the letters purported addressee  Teri Williams, who is president and chief operating officer of the Los Angeles-based OneUnited Bank, about any refugee resettlement program. Impersonating a federal official and misusing a federal seal are federal crimes. Navarro, who is backed by big name far-right conservatives, said Thursday that the letter was sent to his campaign through Facebook by a person he didnt know. He said neither the Justice Department or Waters staff has asked him about the letter. I dont know if its real or not, so I put it out there, Navarro said, adding that he believed his followers would help him determine if it is real. It doesnt say that I know. Its according to this document  what, am I supposed to send it to her and get an email back from Maxine? According to this document, Maxine Waters wants more terrorists, like the one who bombed NYC, in Californias 43rd District.

As Congressman of CAs 43rd District, I will oppose such policies. #VoteNavarro2018https://t.co/vO8YUsyPp3 pic.twitter.com/k7ef0H20if  Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) December 11, 2017 Facebook

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Sen. Tony Mendoza refuses to take a leave of absence amid harassment probe By Patrick McGreevy Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), left, talks earlier this year about a pending bill with Sen. Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills). (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Defying pressure from legislative leadership, state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) refused Thursday to take a leave of absence until an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him is concluded early next year. Mendoza has denied allegations by former employees that he treated three female aides inappropriately, inviting them to hotel stays and asking one to visit his home to work on her resume. I am very disappointed that certain Senate Rules Committee members are apparently asking me to take a leave of absence or resign before any investigation has even begun and without giving me an opportunity to defend myself, Mendoza said in a statement. This is contrary to the very concept of due process, which is a pillar of our American system of fairness and judicial prudence. These actions bypass any process in a rush to judgment. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) earlier Thursday called on Mendoza to take a leave of absence. Mendoza had previously been stripped of his leadership positions, including chairmanship of the Senates committee on banking and insurance. Mendoza questioned statements urging him to step down, saying they leave him concerned about the fairness of the investigation. He also said he has been disappointed that he has been told he cannot publicly address allegations. I was not appointed to the position I hold, but was elected by the voters in my district, he said. I am grateful to the voters in my district and thank them for their trust and their continued support. The Senate owes them an opportunity to hear the truth. I assure them that I will vigorously defend myself to clear my name. Facebook

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State Senate leader asks Sen. Tony Mendoza to take leave of absence amid sexual harassment investigation By Patrick McGreevy (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State Senate leader Kevin de Leon said Thursday he has strongly suggested that Sen. Tony Mendoza take a leave of absence until the completion of an investigation by outside attorneys into allegations that Mendoza sexually harassed three former aides. Given the severity of the allegations against Senator Mendoza I do not believe he can perform the duties in Sacramento right now while the investigation is being conducted, De Leon told a packed news conference in his Capitol office. I believe Its the right thing to do, its the fair thing to do, to take a leave, he said. The Senate leader also said the outside attorneys have been asked to investigate complaints by former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman that Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) inappropriately hugged her on multiple occasions in a way that made her uncomfortable, even after she asked him to stop. De Leon also announced the hiring of two law firms to handle the Mendoza and Hertzberg investigations, and all future probes of harassment and abuse involving Senate employees. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, did not immediately respond to the request to step aside. De Leon, a Democrat from Los Angeles who had been Mendozas roommate before the allegations were made public, said he made the suggestion to Mendoza in a meeting Thursday morning. If Mendoza refuses to take a leave, the Senate has the power to suspend him without pay, but De Leon said that is not currently under discussion. There is an effort underway to force his expulsion in January when the Legislature returns to Sacramento. Former Mendoza employees have claimed that he gave inappropriate attention to a female fellow and intern, inviting one to his home and hotel and giving the other alcohol in a hotel even though she was underage. Another former female aide told the Sacramento Bee that Mendoza invited her to one-on-one dinners and a weekend at Pebble Beach. Mendoza has denied the allegations. The Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher and Van Dermyden Maddux law firms have been retained for two years, according to Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), who participated in their selection. Have you experienced sexual harassment in government or politics? Tell us your story   In addition, the state is contracting with Weave, a Sacramento crisis-intervention organization for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, to provide counseling and to establish a hotline for Senate employees who are victims of sexual assault. The hotline number is 1-800-729-1443. America is finally reckoning with entrenched inequities in our personal and professional relationships and in workplaces of every type, De Leon said. Nowhere is this reckoning more important than in the halls of power  our political institutions. Facebook

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Watch live: California Senate leader addresses sexual misconduct at state Capitol Facebook

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California state senator pledges to bring back net neutrality rules just as FCC votes to repeal them By Jazmine Ulloa Demonstrators rally in support of net neutrality outside a Verizon store in New York on Dec. 7. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Moments after the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to roll back net neutrality regulations, a state senator pledged to introduce legislation that would preserve open internet protections for consumers in California. Net neutrality is essential to our 21st century democracy, and we need to be sure that people can access websites and information freely and fairly, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement. If the FCC is going to destroy net neutrality and create a system that favors certain websites just because they can pay more money, California must step in and ensure open internet access. The announcement of the proposal came shortly after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality in an expected 3-2 party-line vote, with Republicans calling for an end to the utility-like oversight of internet service providers. The Obama-era rules put in February 2015 barred broadband and wireless companies, such at AT&T Inc., Charter Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. from selling faster delivery of certain data, slowing speeds for certain video streams and other content, and discriminating against legal material online. Before the vote, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai argued loosening the regulations would allow the online economy to flourish. FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, one of the the two Democrats on the commission, said the rollback would inhibit the openness that has made the U.S. internet the envy of the world. Supporters of net neutrality are expected to file suit to try to halt the repeal plan. Weiners attempt to institute net neutrality rules in California could have challenges. The FCC order states that allowing state and local governments to adopt their own separate requirements, which could impose a heavier burden on companies, could disrupt the balance between state and federal regulations. The preemption of state and local net neutrality measures is something that could be challenged in court. Amid such legal battles state legislation could face heavy lobbying efforts from internet providers arguing against uneven regulations. A bill by Assemblyman Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) was shelved last legislative session over similar disputes. It would have enshrined in state law other FCC regulations that were rolled back this year by President Trump and Congress. The Internet privacy rules limited what broadband providers can do with their customers data. The bills defeat capped a behind-the-scenes battle that pitted telecom companies against state internet service providers and brought other bills to a halt in the state Senate as negotiations unfolded over legislation that would have had national significance. UPDATES 7:57 a.m.: This post was updated with additional information about the potential legal case. LA Times reporter Jim Puzzanghera contributed to this report. Facebook

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L.A. County sheriffs office failed to follow policy for issuing concealed weapon permits, audit says By Patrick McGreevy Handguns are displayed at the Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas in 2016. ( (John Locher / Associated Press)) The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has repeatedly failed to follow its own rules for issuing concealed weapon permits, the state auditor concluded in a report released Thursday. L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell disputed some of the key findings of the audit, saying state officials misinterpreted the policy. The department policy requires applicants to provide convincing evidence of a clear and present danger to life or of great bodily harm to get a license, but the audit found the department issued 24 licenses during the last few years without sufficient evidence. Most of the 197 active licenses in L.A. County as of August went to current or former law enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors, the audit found. The lieutenant in charge of reviewing applications told auditors that people in law enforcement satisfy the departments requirements by the nature of their jobs. However, making that decision based solely on the applicants profession both directly contradicts Los Angeless written policy  which specifically states that no position or job classification in itself shall constitute good cause for issuance  and has led the department to treat applicants inequitably based on their occupations, the audit says. McDonnell said the audit identified some legitimate issues, and the department has added a checklist to the application process in order to show requirements have been met. But he disagreed on the reports sweeping conclusion that the department consistently failed to follow its own policies. The LASD policy simply requires that the applicant provide convincing evidence that his or her life or physical safety is threatened, the sheriff said. He said the policy does not require additional documentation of that evidence if sufficient information is provided in the application. Auditors also concluded that Sacramento County issued some licenses without proper documentation and that San Diego Countys renewal process led it to inappropriately renew some licenses. Facebook

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Anti-Issa effort discloses donors: Leo DiCaprio, Jane Fonda, Ted Danson and more By Joshua Stewart A political group that has brought professional political organizers into the campaign against Rep. Darrell Issa has received its most significant contributions to date  from actress Jane Fonda and other celebrities. Fonda gave $100,000 to Flip the 49th! Neighbors in Action, which recently registered as a political committee to get Issa, R-Vista, out of office. Comedian Bill Maher gave $15,000 to the group, a rebuke of a politician who has twice appeared on his talk show. Former California Sen. Barbara Boxer gave $2,500, as did Academy Award recipient Leonardo DiCaprio. Actor Ted Danson gave $1,500. Flip the 49th gave the The San Diego Union-Tribune a list of donors more than a month before its required to disclose them to the Federal Election Commission. Read More Facebook

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California Senate GOP leader: Release Capitol whistleblowers from non-disclosure agreements By Melanie Mason California Senate Republican leader Patricia Bates is wading into the sexual harassment debate that has swept up the Capitol and is calling on her Democratic colleagues to allow whistleblowers to speak out by releasing them from non-disclosure agreements. Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) wrote in a letter to the Democratic legislative leaders  Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount)  that Senate Republicans are calling for the Legislature to allow victims or witnesses who may have signed such agreements to share their experiences publicly. This release from NDAs would empower victims of sexual harassment, create a new atmosphere for resolving sexual harassment or discrimination concerns, increase public awareness and transparency, and ensure that both the Senate and the Assembly fulfill their obligations to the public and their employees for providing a safe and welcoming workplace environment, Bates wrote in the letter, dated Dec. 12. The Republican senator also laid out suggestions to improve the Legislatures handling of sexual harassment complaints, such as jointly convening both houses rules committees  which act as the chambers human resources departments  to have a comprehensive, bicameral and bipartisan review. Bates wrote that the Joint Rules Committee should consider the assigning of an outside entity for assuming responsibility for all issues regarding sexual harassment. She said the California Highway Patrol or an inspector general could serve that function. Bates is currently serving on a panel designated by the Senate Rules Committee to select an outside law firm to investigate sexual harassment complaints. De Leon, in a statement, said he agreed with Bates that sexual harassment is a bipartisan, bicameral problem that requires bipartisan, bicameral solutions. Many of these recommendations we are already pursuing and evaluating in some form and we look forward to working in collaboration with Senator Bates  as we did with the independent selection panel  on additional reforms in the weeks to come, De Leon said. With regard to non-disclosure agreements, De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the Senate is discussing with attorneys and anti-harassment experts about what options are available without violating the privacy rights of past victims. John Casey, a spokesman for Rendon, said the Assembly does not ask for NDAs in settlement agreements. The Speaker agrees with both the Legislative Womens Caucus and the Rules Committee chair that any sexual harassment policy should be both bicameral and bipartisan, Casey said. Facebook

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California plans to send out licenses for pot sales this month  but they wont be effective until Jan. 1 By Patrick McGreevy Patrons shop at Bud and Bloom, a Santa Ana marijuana dispensary, last year. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California officials said Wednesday they plan to use email before the new year to send out some licenses to sell marijuana to speed up the transition to a regulated market. The licenses will not go into effect until Jan. 1. Proposition 64, which legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use, required the state to begin issuing licenses by Jan. 1. Because that date is a state holiday, the bureau originally planned to begin sending them out on Jan. 2. That has changed. Much of the date discussion  Jan. 1 versus Jan. 2  was based on whether or not wed be able to be open on a state holiday, said Alex Traverso, a bureau spokesman. The solution to that issue was to issue licenses with an effective date of Jan. 1 since licenses will be issued electronically. That eliminates the need to have the office open on Jan. 1. He said that, as of Wednesday, the bureau has not yet sent out any emails with licenses approved to begin operating Jan. 1. Facebook

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Californias budget director makes last ditch effort to urge GOP members to vote against tax plan By Sarah D. Wire House Republicans hold a news conference after the House passed the GOP tax bill. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) As closed-door negotiations over the final tax bill come to an end, the head of the California Department of Finance is making a last-ditch effort to convince Republicans in the states congressional delegation to vote against the plan. In a letter to the entire delegation Wednesday, Finance Department Director Michael Cohen detailed 10 issues in the current tax proposals about which the state is worried. Some of Cohens concerns may be addressed in the deal that House and Senate leaders said they reached Wednesday morning. Details of the agreement are not yet public. Cohens concerns range from potentially billions less in federal funding available to California to offset the $1.4 trillion the plan is expected to add to the federal deficit, to the environmental effect of ending green energy tax credits. Californias 39 Democratic representatives are expected to oppose the final tax bill, which could come before both chambers of Congress by early next week. Three California Republicans  Reps. Darrell Issa of Vista, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Tom McClintock of Elk Grove  voted against the original House version, and several other California Republicans have indicated they might be willing to vote against the final plan. Cohen specifically pointed to issues that have been raised by the uncertain House members, including the proposal to lower the cap on the mortgage interest deduction, the plan to limit state and local tax deductions and the elimination of a deduction for uninsured personal property damaged in natural disasters such as fires. Facebook

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California lawmakers have fought sexual misconduct on military bases, farms and college campuses. Will they police their own house? By Jazmine Ulloa Over the past decade, California lawmakers have worked to help curb sexual violence in the workplace and other spheres of public life. They have pushed college campuses to keep better track of incident reports, created whistleblower protections for military officers who file claims and established sexual harassment training for farmworkers and janitors. Now, as more than 140 women have come forward in an open letter to denounce a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in the California Legislature, activists and employment lawyers say lawmakers have not held colleagues and staffers to the same standards demanded of those in other fields. Members [of the state Assembly and Senate] are quick at pointing the finger at other folks, said Fiona Ma, a former Democratic assemblywoman from San Francisco who is now running for state treasurer. But they dont want to look inside and fix their own house, air their own dark, dirty laundry. Read More Facebook

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Californias cap-and-trade climate program could generate more than $8 billion by 2027, report says By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown signs an extension of Californias cap-and-trade program in July. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) Although Californias cap-and-trade program was designed to combat climate change, a new analysis predicts it could also provide significant cash  as much as $8 billion in a decades time  for state and regional programs. The report issued Tuesday by the independent Legislative Analysts Office projects a wide range of revenue generated by the sale of permits for companies to emit greenhouse gases beyond a state-ordered emissions cap. The most recent auction of those emission permits brought in more than $800 million. The analysis warns that annual cap-and-trade revenue beyond 2020 is highly uncertain, and offers a possible range from $2 billion in 2018 to almost $7 billion in 2030  the final year of the program under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed in July. The estimate of $8.3 billion in 2027 is the high-water mark for any year in the report. Researchers cite a number of factors that make a specific prediction impossible, including future technology that allows industries to cut greenhouse gas emissions easily and thus pass on purchasing emission allowances. While it is clear that there will be additional revenues to the state beyond 2020, the amount that will be generated annually is highly uncertain, the report reads. Money collected from the sale of pollution permits is required to be spent on programs combating climate change. A portion of the money also is earmarked for the states high-speed rail program. The report urges lawmakers to provide oversight for future decisions made by the California Air Resources Board, the agency that has taken the lead on climate change efforts. In particular, the analysts warn that allowing businesses to stockpile too many permits  ones bought at current low prices  could lead to excessive greenhouse gas emissions in future years, potentially even causing the state to miss its annual benchmark as soon as 2024. Facebook

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Vice President Pence meets with California lawmakers about massive fires By Sarah D. Wire Briefed bipartisan group of California reps on the fed response to #CAwildfires. @POTUS approved an emergency declaration last Friday & @forestservice is providing air & ground assets including 1,000 personnel. Together, we will help the people of CA restore, rebuild & recover. pic.twitter.com/zn7QdbCZOQ  Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) December 12, 2017 A handful of California representatives discussed the federal response to their states wildfires Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence. Attending the West Wing meeting were House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), Darrell Issa (R-Vista), Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara). It was a very bipartisan-spirited meeting. He clearly understood the significance of the fires and the impacts, Brownley said after the meeting. She said Pence offered federal assistance and recognized that recovery was going to be very important and that we want to work together to make sure that we can get the resources needed. President Trump signed an emergency declaration for the Southern California fires last week. Pence visited California this fall to view fire damage in Northern California. He stayed engaged and specifically wanted to make sure that FEMA and the other organizations were continuing to meet or exceed all expectations, Issa said after the meeting. We mostly thanked him for the fact that hes taken a personal interest and his team has been at the heart of the domestic coordination. There was no discussion about reinstating a federal tax deduction for uninsured damage repairs that would end up in the House and Senate tax bills, Brownley said. If you cant deduct uninsured property loss, its devastating. It would be devastating, Brownley said. Facebook

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We must talk about the health aspects of climate change, Schwarzenegger says in Paris By Kim Willsher (Thibault Camus / Associated Press) He showed up at Paris City Hall on Monday on a green bicycle and wearing a green tie to talk climate change with the mayor. But Arnold Schwarzenegger almost didnt make the trip from Los Angeles. One of the wildfires scorching Southern California was threatening his home. Luckily we have extraordinary firefighters, he told a group of officials and journalists. The actor and former governor of California was speaking in Paris as the founder of R20, a nonprofit based in Geneva that aims to help regional, state and local governments reduce their carbon emissions by developing clean energy sources. Read More Facebook

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A special recall election for state Sen. Josh Newman would cost a lot more than waiting for the June primary, state says By Patrick McGreevy State Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) faces a recall campaign (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) State finance officials said Monday it would cost about $2.67 million for a special election on the recall of state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), but only $931,000 to put his potential recall on the regular June primary ballot, which will also feature races for governor and congressional seats. The savings  and the time it took to complete the financial assessment  could give ammunition to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown to put the recall measure on the primary ballot, possibly improving Newmans chance of staying in office. The higher turnout expected in the primary might benefit Newman as he tries to fend off the Republican recall drive. The financial analysis was a new requirement of a law approved this year by the Democrat-controlled Legislature that has slowed the Newman recall. Brown and legislators now have 30 days to review the election cost report. The deadline for calling a special election was last week, 180 days before the June 5 primary, although state officials have been known to extend such deadlines. In this case, that is unlikely. Carl Demaio, a former San Diego City councilman who is leading the Republican-funded recall, denounced the lengthy new process Monday, but said it will not save Newmans political career. This is about a shameful tactic by Sacramento politicians to keep politicians who break public trust and engage in misconduct in office for as long as possible, he said. Republicans launched the recall after Newman voted with the majority of le
The launching ceremony of stamp set "APEC Vietnam 2017" (Source: CPV)

The stamp set, designed by painter from VietnamPost To Minh Trang, gives a multi-dimension message contributing to the sustainable and prosperous development of APEC forum as well as the implementation of APEC 2017 theme.

The stamp sample (Source: CPV)

The stamp features the logo of APEC Vietnam 2017 in the centre with the background image of the globe, aiming to highlight the significant role and position of the forum to the worlds economy as well as the strategic vision and role of Vietnams foreign affairs.

The lower part of the stamp carries signature images of Vietnams major cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh city, which will host important meetings for APEC Vietnam 2017./.
Democrat Ralph Northam swept to victory in the race for Virginia governor on Tuesday in a night of political retaliation against President Trump that also saw a Democratic gubernatorial win in New Jersey.

Northams victory sketched out a path that Democratic strategists hope other candidates can follow in next years contest for control of Congress.

He piled up big margins in the suburbs of northern Virginia, the most populous and voter-rich area of the state, where animosity toward the president runs deep. At the same time, Northam, the lieutenant governor, also fared better than many Democrats have in more rural areas, preventing the Republican candidate, Ed Gillespie, from running up the score in the southern and western areas of the state, where Trump trounced Hillary Clinton one year ago.

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Democrats also picked up more than a dozen seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, putting them close to a majority in the lower house with several races undecided  a result that few political analysts or state Democrats had thought likely.

The Democratic nominee in New Jersey, Phil Murphy, had been expected to win, but the Virginia race appeared closer in preelection polls. The results generated joy among Democrats who saw victories in both states as critical heading into the 2018 midterm elections.

Also drawing attention on Tuesday were races for mayor of New York and Boston. In the mayoral races, incumbent Democrats Bill de Blasio and Martin Walsh were easily reelected.

In Washington state, Democrat Manka Dhingra, a King County prosecutor, led her Republican opponent in early returns in a hotly contested state Senate race that could flip the upper house to Democrats, creating an unbroken line of blue in West Coast legislatures and governors offices. Washington conducts elections entirely by mail, so it may be several days before a winner is confirmed.

And in Maine, a referendum victory for a measure to expand Medicaid could point to a way forward on healthcare for liberal activists in states with Republican governors.

Northam, a pediatric neurologist, withstood a hammering from Gillespie that centered on divisive issues including Latino gangs, sanctuary cities, Confederate statues and restoring voting rights to felons  all appeals aimed at persuading Trump supporters to turn out for a candidate who had long been an establishment Republican.

Northams focus was less heated as he promised to continue the economic gains the state has seen under the current Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe, and expand healthcare. But he also regularly criticized Trump, making the president an unseen but dominant figure in the race.

Trump did not campaign with Gillespie but offered his support in tweets, including several sent before dawn on election day.

Shortly after the race was called for Northam, however, the president distanced himself from Gillespie.

Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Dont forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2017

Contrary to the presidents suggestion, however, the results across Virginia provided signs that Democrats had managed to turn anti-Trump sentiment into tangible results. Several counties where Democrats must succeed reported record nonpresidential turnout hours before the polls closed, even though a hard rain fell much of election day.

Among the partys victorious legislative candidates was Danica Roem, a former reporter seeking to be the first transgender state delegate. She defeated Republican Robert Marshall, a longtime legislator who had sponsored anti-LGBT measures and refused to refer to Roem as she.

The elections were wedged between a presidential contest whose reverberations are still being felt in both parties, and the 2018 elections, when control of the Republican-held House and Senate are at stake. Those elections would normally be seen as an up-or-down vote on the president, but in this fraught political environment the 2017 elections took sharper focus.

For Gillespie, Tuesday was a rerun of his 2014 loss to Sen. Mark Warner. That time, Gillespies stronger-than-expected showing  he lost by 1 point  made him the front-runner for the nomination for governor, which he secured after a contentious race against Corey Stewart, who was once Trumps state campaign manager.

Democrats faced a greater risk of embarrassment if they had lost: Hillary Clinton won Virginia by 5 points in 2016, the third straight presidential victory for the party in the state. And Democrats had the relative luxury of running against an unpopular president in a year-after election usually won by the party opposed to the just-elected president.

As the candidates sought bragging rights, they also plumbed the answers for dilemmas faced by both major parties as they head into the brawl for control of Congress in 2018.

Will Trump voters turn out to bolster other Republican candidates as they did the president himself, or is their loyalty limited? Can Democrats harness their bases anger at the president without being consumed by it?

The results suggested difficulty for Republicans and optimism for Democrats, although at this point questions remain whether the depth of the victory can be replicated when battles rage in multiple states next year.

The national importance of the Virginia race was underscored before dawn on election day, when Trump, traveling in South Korea, launched three tweets on behalf of Gillespie and sharply critical of Northam.

Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. Hes weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment and has been horrible on Virginia economy, Trump said, offering no evidence for the charges. Vote Ed Gillespie today. Ed Gillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone. Vote today, ASAP!

As Northam, an Army veteran, has often reminded Virginia voters, the states unemployment rate in September was 3.7%, below the 5.4% when Northam became lieutenant governor. While crime rose in Virginia from 2015 to 2016, the incidence of serious crimes remains far below the national average in almost all categories, according to FBI records.

Yet Northams effort had been all but drowned out for weeks by a fierce assault from Gillespie on issues meant to inspire turnout by the voters who are more naturally allied with Trump.

The race at times echoed the presidential contest in a state won last year by Clinton: a Republican willing to employ brash tactics against a Democrat so low-key that his allies worried voters might respond in kind.

Former President Obama hit that concern hard in a mid-October visit to Richmond intended to encourage turnout by African American voters.

Elections matter. Voting matters, he told thousands of supporters. You cant take anything for granted. You cant sit this one out.

The states airwaves blared with advertisements until the last minute, as candidates sought to convince a narrowing number of undecided voters.

Virginia will be the most important bellwether of what the party is doing since 2016, said Keith Brannum, the campaign manager for Democrat Elizabeth Guzman, a social worker making her first run for office in one of several highly contested House of Delegates seats. With almost all of the vote counted, she was nearly certain to defeat a veteran Republican.

It will be the test of whether the enthusiasm for Democrats can be translated into votes, and translated into an electoral coalition.

For more on politics from Cathleen Decker 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

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The latest from Washington

Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

8:35 p.m.: This story was updated with information on early returns in a Washington state race.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with results in additional races.

6:40 p.m.: This story was updated with additional results and analysis.

5:20 p.m.: The story was updated with victories by Democratic candidates in New Jersey and Virginia.

The story was first published at 10:15 a.m.
The Trump administration said Monday it will end a special program that for years has protected more than 5,000 Nicaraguans against deportation, but stopped short of ending similar protections for immigrants from Hondurans or other countries.

While the announcement means that the Nicaraguans who now enjoy so-called temporary protected status, or TPS, will become vulnerable to deportation in roughly 14 months, the decision was less severe than feared by immigration advocates.

Not only did the administration defer a decision on the status of some 86,000 Honduran immigrants, but officials from the Department of Homeland Security said the administration would support action by Congress to find a permanent solution that could allow them and other protected migrants to stay.

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The administration would support Congress effort to find such a solution, said a senior department official who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, as required by administration ground rules.

The administration had a deadline Monday on whether to extend protections for Nicaraguans and Hondurans, which were set to expire in January. Many have lived in the U.S. for years, some as long as two decades. The largest communities are in Southern California and Texas.

Elaine Duke, acting secretary of Homeland Security, determined that conditions in Nicaragua have improved enough to justify sending migrants from that country back. They will have until January 2019 to leave, the senior official said. But Duke decided she still needed more information on Honduras, the official said. She extended the temporary status for Hondurans for at least another six months, through July 5.

The Honduran government had appealed for more time, which the Nicaraguan government did not do, the senior official added.

Trump administration officials have been signaling their desire to end the protections, arguing that a program that started almost two decades ago to provide a temporary respite after natural disasters and civil wars has instead become a permanent benefit for people who had entered the country illegally.

But its now unclear whether the administration intends to kill the protections for larger groups of people who came from other troubled countries.

By far the largest number, 212,000, are from El Salvador; their protections expire in March. In all, about 325,000 residents from 10 countries, including Haiti, Syria, Somalia and Nepal, are protected under the program.

People with temporary protected status cant be detained by immigration agents. They can obtain work permits and get permission to travel outside the country.

One analysis by the Center for Migration Studies found that 49,100 Salvadorans and 5,900 Hondurans with protected status live in California, including more than 29,000 Salvadorans in Los Angeles County. Another 36,000 Salvadorans live in Texas, more than half of them in the Houston area, along with 8,500 Hondurans, the study found.

Close to half of all the Haitians with protections live in South Florida, the study found.

After Hurricane Mitch wrecked much of Central America in 1998, the U.S. extended temporary protection to immigrants who had entered the country illegally from Honduras and Nicaragua. The programs protections have been renewed periodically ever since.

Advocates for the immigrants say that even though the natural disasters that triggered the program are long past, its wrong to end the protections for people from Central American countries such as Honduras and El Salvador, which are now convulsed by drug-related violence. They also note that many of the protected immigrants have long ago put down roots in the U.S., in many cases marrying citizens and having children  or in some cases grandchildren  who are citizens.

The next deadline, later this month, will involve whether to renew protections for about 50,000 Haitians whose protection will expire on Jan. 22. Haitians were first given temporary protected status after a catastrophic earthquake in 2010, which killed more than 300,000 people, displaced more than 1.5 million and triggered a widespread cholera epidemic.

In May, then-Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly announced that he would extend the protections for Haitians for just six months, saying that the island nation had recovered sufficiently to justify sending people back.

Haiti has made progress across several fronts since the devastating earthquake of 2010, he said in a statement, warning Haitians that it was time to get travel documents and make preparations to leave.

Some humanitarian groups say that conclusion was far too optimistic. The island still struggles to recover from the quake and a series of storms, notably Hurricane Matthew in 2016, they argue. In January, a United Nations report found that 2.5 million Haitians still had need of assistance.

The protections dont apply to all immigrants from the covered countries. To be eligible, people must have been residents in the U.S. from around the time their country received the designation. Applicants must provide the government detailed information about where they live  a fact now creating anxiety among recipients who fear they could easily be found and detained once their protections are gone.

But the administration officials who briefed reporters said that immigration agents wont immediately round up people whose protections are expiring. The department still makes a priority of arresting criminals, and most TPS residents dont fit that bill, they said.

The personal information provided by the applicants wont be proactively shared with enforcement agents, they said.

Migrants from an additional 11 countries formerly had temporary protections that were allowed to expire. Most recently the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were dropped from the program. Those protections expired in May in a decision by the Obama administration.

The Trump administration recently decided to end the protection for Sudan, effective in November 2018.

Since more than 90% of the people in the program are from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, immigration advocates say that canceling their protections would be highly disruptive.

It creates a huge humanitarian crisis where there neednt be one, said Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of the Pennsylvania branch of HIAS, a Jewish refugee aid organization. They work, they pay taxes, they get involved in their schools. It really does damage to everyone, not just to them.

One of the recipients hoping for the program to survive is Maria Victoria Reyes, who left her hometown of La Union in El Salvador 18 years ago, fleeing crushing poverty.

After a series of earthquakes hit the country in 2001, she received temporary protected status, and she put down roots in Silver Spring, Md, where she now helps take care of her two granddaughters, Liliana, 7, and Sofia, 3.

The prospect of losing her status is the latest challenge for Reyes and her family, who survived a gas explosion in their apartment complex last year that killed seven people. Reyes had to leave her job as a restaurant worker and now depends on the Affordable Care Act to pay for her medical expenses. Without legal status, she would no longer be eligible for the coverage.

Recently, Liliana approached Reyes after watching the evening news.

Are they going to take away your TPS. You cant leave.You cant leave us behind, she told her grandmother.

No, baby. I hope to God they wont, she replied.

joseph.tanfani@latimes.com

Twitter: @jtanfani

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It was raining and Judy Adler had a broken gutter. What could have been a simple repair turned into an effort to capture rain and use it for her backyard pond. Since late 2009, Adler has collected up to 11,000 gallons of rain annually at her Walnut Creek home.

This is doable, she said. This is Tinker Toy stuff.

More people could follow in Adlers steps under a bill in the California Legislature. The proposal, which would encourage homeowners to collect rainwater, could make its way onto the 2018 statewide ballot.

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New construction, renovation, new ownership and some purchases for a home require a property tax reassessment, which typically increases a tax bill. A proposal from state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), SCA 9, would exclude rainwater capture systems from property tax reassessments starting in 2019.

California homeowners could see savings up to a couple hundred dollars a year off their property tax bill, depending on the type of capture system they install, Glazers office said.

Glazer said its a way to offer homeowners an incentive to conserve water and prepare for the dry season.

Its not an invisible occurrence when the rain comes to see water you could utilize at your home disappearing down the gutters, he said.

Additions and improvements such as solar capture systems, certain types of seismic retrofits, fire sprinklers and modifications for disability access are already exempt from new construction classification under state law.

Glazer plans to have the Assembly take up his bill when the Legislature reconvenes. SCA 9 would appear on the June ballot if it passes before Jan. 25. If it passes later, it would be placed on the November 2018 ballot.

California voters will see several initiatives placed on the ballot by lawmakers, including bonds for housing and parks and water system improvements, rules for how to spend revenue from the states cap-and-trade program and a guarantee that funds collected from the states gas tax increase will be used only for road projects.

Adler brought the rainwater harvesting idea to Glazer. A proposal she submitted and Glazers idea for the tax exclusion became the basis of the bill.

A 2012 law authorized California landowners to install and operate rainwater capture systems. SCA 9 and an accompanying Senate bill also authored by Glazer would allow the Legislature to exclude new rainwater capture systems from being classified as new construction.

Youre providing this clarity that you wont trigger an increased tax value, said Bob Raymer, technical director of the California Building Industry Assn., which supports the bill.

Currently, if homeowners want to install a capture system, they would apply for a building permit. Once the new construction is complete, the county assessors office examines it and comes up with a value. The assessment would factor into the propertys value and taxes.

If SCA 9 passes, the states tax agency, the Board of Equalization, will guide county assessors on how to treat rainwater capture systems as an exclusion from new construction, said Mark Nisson, a technical advisor for the board.

Additions to a home that are not considered new construction are typically not assessed until there is a new property owner, he said.

There is little evidence that excluding water harvesting systems from assessments would cause local governments to lose much revenue from property taxes. About $1 million in rainwater capture systems could equal a $10,000 loss in local revenue, according to a BOE estimate.

Gov. Brown signs 15 housing bills to help the affordability crisis 

The proposition has had almost no opposition. One group, the California Tax Reform Assn., took issue with the property tax exclusion.

By investing in rainwater capture systems, homeowners can help protect the environment without making major changes to their lifestyles, Glazer said.

For some, thats the only incentive they need, he said. The property tax exemption would be a cherry on top.

Rainwater collection systems can cost a couple hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the type of system and how many gallons can be stored. Adler said she paid about $6,000 for materials and plumbing expertise to install her system.

Raymer said water collection systems could help homeowners reduce the amount of money they spend on irrigation.

Its the best way to get the biggest bang for their buck, he said.

A homeowner living in an area that receives 12 inches of rain annually can collect up to 10,000 gallons of water from a 1,500-square-foot roof, according the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Assn., a nonprofit based in Arizona.

The League of California Cities, a coalition of city officials, supports Glazers measure because it encourages water independence. Local rain capture could help save money and reduce the need to transport water from elsewhere, said Erin Evans-Fudem, a lobbyist for the association.

Glazer said the growth and expansion of solar energy in California has made him hopeful about the potential for rainwater harvesting systems.

Its a new field, he said. It could use the advantages of small tax break to motivate people to be early adopters and hopefully make it mainstream.

Twitter: @mlcorpuz

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Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer has pulled off a rarity in this hyper-charged partisan age: He raised the ire of both President Trump and the presidents Democratic nemesis, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

That unlikely pairing is thanks to the $10 million worth of nationwide TV ads calling for Trumps impeachment that Steyer launched in late October.

The president lashed out at Steyer in a tweet, deriding him as wacky & totally unhinged. Pelosi expressed her displeasure behind closed doors, reportedly telling party leaders that Steyers campaign could distract from tangible Democratic efforts to stifle Trumps Washington agenda.

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But the ad clearly resonated with Trumps detractors and supporters: 1.5 million people have signed Steyers online petition supporting impeachment. Along with airing during the World Series, the spot ran on Fox News only to be pulled over negative reactions from viewers, according to the network.

The impeachment campaign also has stirred speculation over whether Steyer might launch a bid for office in California. Steyer has been weighing a run for California governor for more than a year, long enough for some California Democrats to express fatigue over his continuous flirtations.

Steyer also hasnt ruled out a run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who already faces a challenge from fellow Democratic state Senate leader Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles and other members of her own party. Feinstein, not coincidentally, caught heat from California liberals in September when she refused to back the idea of impeaching of Trump.

Thats on top of Steyers other forays into politics and public policy. The former hedge fund manager from San Francisco has spent millions bankrolling Democratic candidates and progressive ballot measures, registering voters across the nation and offering legal protection to farmworkers and immigrants who entered the country illegally.

He helped launch campaigns to encourage immigrants to run for office, and he supports battles against seven vulnerable California Republicans in Congress. On Tuesday, Steyer will be in Virginia to rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, whos in a tight race against former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie. And theres the tens of millions Steyers nonprofit, NextGen America, has spent on environmental and other causes.

I think were in an urgent crisis, Steyer said Thursday. Im willing to do anything, including run for office.

A governors race poll released in March by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies put Steyers support in the single digits when compared with the well-known Democrats in the race.

Thats one reason his skeptics see the impeachment ads, which feature Steyer speaking directly into the camera, soberly laying out his case for impeaching and removing a dangerous president, as a ploy to raise his profile and prospects, or at the very least compile a mega-database of potential supporters. Steyer faced similar scrutiny when he starred in ads for the successful 2016 California ballot initiative that raised tobacco taxes to help fund healthcare.

Steyer insists the impeachment campaign is not related to his political aspirations, and he dismissed the skepticism about his motives. He said the Democrats who are preaching caution are going against the will of their constituents and will have to explain themselves as midterm election day approaches in 2018.

We feel like the American people are on our side, Steyer said. This is an attempt to get around some of the convoluted parts of the Washington establishment and let people speak about how they feel. If that upsets people, they have to figure out why.

According to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll, 40% of voters say Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against Trump while 49% oppose it. The rest were undecided.

Steyer said he has not discussed his calls for impeachment with Pelosi. Pelosi told The Times in October that she was urging Democrats to be more measured, saying impeachment should only be about facts and the law not policy disagreements. According to a report in Politico, Pelosi also told Democratic leaders in Congress that she considers the impeachment campaign an unneeded distraction. The San Francisco congresswoman wants Democrats to focus on policy clashes with Trump and the Republican-led Congress. She sees that as the best strategy for Democrats to retake control of the House next year.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Porter Ranch) drafted articles of impeachment against Trump last summer, but his effort hasnt made a modicum of headway in the Republican-controlled House and, when it was introduced, faced resistance from Pelosi and Democrats who considered it premature and believed Trump would self-impeach. As House speaker, Pelosi fought the failed efforts to impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney during their second terms.

California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman is carefully choosing his words. He praised Steyer for giving a voice to the anger and the frustration of Democrats and progressives and independents all across the county.

But Bauman, channeling Pelosi, said Democrats also might benefit from staying on the sidelines. Trump already is facing heat over special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation of contacts between Russia and Trumps campaign, and because of the GOPs failure so far to pass any of its major policy priorities.

Leader Pelosis point is that sometimes when a train is coming  barreling at your opponent, the best thing to do is stand out of the way, Bauman said. Donald Trump will continue to undermine Donald Trump.

As part of his push for impeachment, Steyer also sent letters to Democratic members of Congress calling on them to make public your positions on the impeachment of Donald Trump and call for his removal from office.

Steyers letter sent a message from one of the partys most generous and active donors: He has no use for Democrats who preach patience or caution. The letter ended with a not-too-subtle warning that lawmakers responses would make it clear where we all stand for Democrats voting in 2018.

Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove), who won reelection by less than 3 percentage points in 2016 and is expected to face another tough challenge next year, said he believes Trump has put the country in a dangerous place. But Bera also is taking a careful approach when it comes to impeachment.

It takes time to build the case for impeachment, and were allowing the special counsel to have its investigation run its course, Bera said. But I think hes tapping into the frustration a lot of people feel right now.

Other Democrats are shrugging off the idea that Steyers effort could turn into any kind of litmus test for Democratic candidates next year as the party seeks to energize progressive voters to get them to the polls.

Ive been getting maybe a handful of calls to my office, but I dont think its any change from the calls that Ive been getting since Donald Trump has been elected, said Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert). There hasnt been an uptick or any ground-swelling movement because of the commercials.

Times staff writer Sarah D. Wire contributed to this report.

phil.willon@latimes.com

Twitter: @philwillon

Updates on California politics

ALSO:

Billionaire Tom Steyer is trying to reach a half a million California voters in vulnerable GOP districts

California Senate leader Kevin de Leon announces he will challenge Sen. Dianne Feinstein

UPDATES:

9:20 a.m.: This article was updated to include information from a recent opinion poll.

This article was originally published at 8 a.m.
Wait  did the president really say, Mission Accomplished? By Marc Olson Some are recalling the last time a president declared Mission accomplished, in May 2003 when George W. Bush was talking about Iraq. (Stephen Jaffe / AFP/Getty Images) President Trump on Saturday morning thanked his allies in a tweet that declared the airstrikes on Syria perfectly executed, but he might have wished hed stopped there. Instead, he ended his message with the phrase, Mission Accomplished! Thats a line that might have a previous president shaking his head. On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq under a Mission Accomplished banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. That war, which began in March 2003, grew into a prolonged conflict that didnt end until 2011. In 2008, the White House said it had paid a price for the backdrop. A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2018 Facebook

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Auditor says Pentagon is censoring key data on the war in Afghanistan By Shashank Bengali The Pentagon is blocking the release of data showing how much of Afghanistans territory lies outside government control, censoring a key metric used to gauge progress in the 16-year war, a watchdog agency said Tuesday. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, an auditing agency established by Congress, said in its latest report that the Pentagon instructed it not to release unclassified data on how many districts and people are controlled or influenced by insurgent groups. This is the first time SIGAR has been specifically instructed not to release information marked unclassified to the American taxpayer, the head of the agency, John F. Sopko, wrote in a letter. Sopko also said the U.S.-led military coalition, for the first time since 2009, classified information about the size and attrition rates of the Afghan security forces, important indicators of progress in building up army and police forces on which the U.S. already has spent $70 billion since 2002. The decision to withhold more information from congressional oversight and the public comes amid growing violence in Afghanistan and an intensifying combat mission involving a greater number of American troops. Following a series of bombings in Kabul that left at least 136 people dead in 10 days, President Trump signaled on Monday that he was focused on trying to win the conflict militarily, saying, We dont want to talk with the Taliban. But data released by SIGAR since 2015 have shown how the insurgents have gained ground against Afghan security forces. In its previous quarterly report, the watchdog said that only 57% of Afghanistans 407 districts were under Afghan government control or influence as of August 2017, the lowest level of control since it began tracking the statistic in December 2015. The steady decline in government control should cause even more concern about its disappearance from public disclosure and discussion, Sopko wrote. The watchdog also accused the Pentagon of overstating the impact of its efforts to combat drug cultivation and trafficking, among the Talibans main sources of revenue. The Pentagon touted airstrikes that destroyed 25 drug labs in November and December, saying it eliminated nearly $100 million of Taliban revenue. The labs being destroyed are cheap and easy to replace, SIGAR said. According to some estimates, they only take three or four days to replace. Facebook

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Women journalists shunted to rear for Pences visit to Western Wall By Noga Tarnopolsky The view from the womens section. (Noga Tarnopolsky / Los Angeles Times) Vice-President Mike Pences 48-hour visit to Israel stumbled into a public storm Tuesday when female reporters covering his final stop at Jerusalems Western Wall were penned behind four rows of their male colleagues. White House officials told stunned journalists that the arrangement emanated from a request made by the Western Wall rabbi, Shmuel Rabinowitz, and followed Western Wall rules. Some women journalists said they could not recall such treatment in the past. In a statement to Israels Channel 10 news, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it was exactly as it was during the visit of the U.S. president to the Western Wall last May. Later in the day, in a statement to the newspaper Haaretz, the foundation blamed the United States embassy in Tel Aviv and Israeli security officials for the segregation, and announced they would reexamine the way they handle such events. Women who covered previous VIP visits said the Pence arrangements were significantly more onerous than previous visits, when male and female journalists were separated but not offered substantially different work conditions. LIVE coverage of our male colleagues granted access to cover VP at Western Wall as we are penned into #PenceFence pic.twitter.com/k3svkxfQsa  Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) January 23, 2018 The arrangement reflected procedures at the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site, where on regular days, men have access to two thirds of the area available for prayer. Tal Schneider, the diplomatic analyst for Globes, a financial newspaper, protested that the separation of men and women may be valid for the requirements of Orthodox prayer, but no one is praying here. We are here to work. I dont appreciate being restricted in my ability to work because I am a woman, she said. The discriminatory attitude towards women is infuriating and is unbefitting of a modern country. Yael Freidson, the Jerusalem affairs correspondent for Yediot Ahronot, Israels widest circulation newspaper, said she worried that her editors could choose male colleagues for the next assignment, knowing they would have better access. Before Pence arrived, journalists were herded onto a specially constructed platform in the middle of the Western Walls esplanade, with women guided to the right behind a white fence, and men, many carrying cameras, directed to the left, where they had more than double the space. Towards the end of the vice presidents 10-minute visit, male journalists were permitted into the VIP tent where he received a gift from Rabinowitz, while the women remained in their enclosure. None of the men publicly protested the treatment of their female colleagues. Israels Association of Women Journalists filed a formal complaint with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, herself a woman. Facebook

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Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after his pardon from Trump, says hell run for Senate in Arizona By Kurtis Lee (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who last year was pardoned by President Trump in a case stemming from his enforcement tactics aimed at immigrants, announced Tuesday he will run for the open Senate seat in his home state. I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again, Arpaio, 85, said on Twitter. Hell enter a Republican primary for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. Last summer, Trump pardoned Arpaio, who was convicted in July of criminal contempt for violating a federal court order to stop racially profiling Latinos. It was Arpaios roughly quarter-century as sheriff that gave him a national reputation for his tough treatment of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Repeated court rulings against his office for civil rights violations cost local taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. In the early 1990s, Arpaio directed construction of a tent city for immigration detainees, a measure he said was intended both to alleviate overcrowding and to underscore his aggressive enforcement measures. But it was open to the burning Arizona sun, and drew widespread criticism. After Trump entered the presidential race in July 2015, Arpaio invited him to Phoenix to talk about a crackdown on illegal immigration. He endorsed Trump just before the first votes in the Iowa caucuses in 2016 and frequently spoke out on behalf of Trumps campaign. Facebook

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President Trump ends controversial voter fraud commission By Kurtis Lee President Trump signed an executive order late Wednesday ending the voter fraud commission he launched last year as the panel faces a flurry of lawsuits and criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. Trump signed the order disbanding the commission rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, created by executive order in May with the stated goal of restoring confidence and integrity in the electoral process, has faced a barrage of lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns, as the commission sought personal data on voters across the country. Read More Facebook

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Congress returns to work with slimmer GOP majority to accomplish Trumps agenda By Lisa Mascaro Congress returns to work this week with unfinished business on spending, immigration and other crucial issues, but with an even narrower GOP majority that will make it tougher to move on President Trumps agenda. The House and Senate will convene Wednesday, swearing in the newly elected Democratic senator from Alabama, Doug Jones, and Minnesotas Tina Smith to replace a fellow Democrat, Sen. Al Franken, who is resigning as the latest high-profile public figure sidelined by allegations of sexual misconduct. The change gives Republicans only a one-seat margin in the Senate. Trump, fresh off passage of the GOP tax cuts bill, is pushing lawmakers to pivot quickly on his new year priorities of infrastructure investment and immigration, as well as his foreign policy agenda. But another legislative victory seems far off. Republicans have struggled to hold their majority together and Congress first must tackle critical stalled agenda items that leaders punted to 2018. Read More Facebook

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Trump threatens to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump on Tuesday angrily threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians as punishment for what he called their failure to show appreciation or respect to the United States. Writing on Twitter, the president compared the Palestinians to Pakistan, a nuclear-armed ally that abruptly drew his ire this week and a similar threat to drastically curtail aid. He accused the Palestinians of recalcitrance in what he described as their refusal to negotiate a peace deal with Israel. Palestinian officials have said they can no longer use Washington as a broker to restart peace talks with Israel following Trumps Dec. 6 decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy and recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ultimately to move the U.S. Embassy there. The Palestinians also claim part of Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual independent state. Until now, the United States and most of the world agreed the citys political status was a matter to settle in final peace talks. The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned any effort to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, and the Palestinian leadership said it would not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who had planned a trip to the region. That trip is on hold. [W]e pay the Palestinians HUNDRED [sic] OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect, Trump wrote on Twitter. [W]ith the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? In response to Trumps tweet, Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, issued a statement saying: Palestinian rights are not for sale. By recognizing Occupied Jerusalem as Israels capital Donald Trump has not only violated international law, but he has also singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of peace and condoned Israels illegal annexation of the city. We will not be blackmailed, she said. President Trump has sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice. Now he dares to blame the Palestinians for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions! The United States does not pay large amounts of money directly to the Palestinian Authority, the government that rules over parts of the Palestinian West Bank. Instead, most money goes to the U.N., refugee or aid agencies and even Israel to pay for roads, welfare, schools, security and other Palestinian projects. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that the administration was planning to cut off one of those organizations, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, until the Palestinians return to the negotiating table. UNRWA, which receives around $300 million annually from the U.S., for years has been the lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It was not clear if Haley was threatening to cut all U.S. support for the agency. Special correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Facebook

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The White House stops short of calling for government overthrow in Iran By Brian Bennett President Trump wants Iran to give its citizens basic human rights and stop being a state sponsor of terror, his top spokeswoman said, but the White House stopped short of calling for a change of government in Tehran. If they want to do that through current leadership, if thats possible, OK, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. Sanders praised the organic popular uprising, which she said the widespread protests in Iran represented. The protests grew out of years of years of mismanagement, corruption, and foreign adventurism have eroded the Iranian peoples trust in their leaders, she said. Earlier Tuesday, Trump called Irans government brutal and corrupt and wrote in a tweet: The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Trump also blamed President Obama for foolishly giving Iran money that he said went to fund terrorism. The money he referred to were funds belonging to Iran that had been frozen by the U.S. and were released as part of the deal in 2015, which blocked Irans development of nuclear weapons. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Facebook

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Retirement of Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch clears the way for a Mitt Romney revival By David Lauter The retirement of Utahs senior senator, Orrin G. Hatch, opens the way for a widely expected Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the Republicans 2012 presidential nominee and a frequent critic of President Trump. Although Romney previously served for two terms as governor of Massachusetts (and was raised in Michigan, where his father was governor and his mother ran for the Senate), he comes from a prominent Mormon family with strong ties to Utah. He also served as chief executive of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Hes viewed as a strong candidate for the Senate seat. Romneys criticisms of Trump, however, could prompt a challenge in a Republican primary. Trump was widely reported to have tried to convince Hatch to run for a seventh term, in part to head off a Romney candidacy. Last month, Romney and Trump were on opposite sides of one of the biggest political fights of the fall  the battle over the Senate seat from Alabama. The president strongly supported Roy Moore, the Republican candidate who had been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Romney called Moore a stain on the GOP. Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 4, 2017 On Tuesday, Romney tweeted praise for Hatch, but did not immediately reveal his own plans. I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than forty years of service to our great state and nation. Read my full statement: https://t.co/YwjUpjez5y  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) January 2, 2018 Facebook

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U.S. calls on Iran to unblock social media sites amid protests By The Associated Press The Trump administration is calling on Irans government to stop blocking Instagram and other popular social media sites as Iranians are demonstrating in the streets. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein says the U.S. wants Iran to open these sites. He says Instagram, Telegram and other platforms are legitimate avenues for communication. The United States is encouraging Iranians to use virtual private networks, known as VPNs. Those services create encrypted links between computers and can be used to access blocked websites. Goldstein says the U.S. is still communicating with Iranians in Persian through State Department accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. He says the U.S. wants to encourage the protesters to continue to fight for whats right. Goldstein says the U.S. has an obligation not to stand by. Read More Facebook

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Trump blasts Democrats in advance of immigration meeting By Brian Bennett The day before a meeting of administration officials and congressional leaders on outstanding legislative business, President Trump accused Democrats of doing nothing to hammer out an immigration deal to protect from deportation people brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA  just interested in politics, Trump wrote in a Tweet on Tuesday morning, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by its acronym. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer along with the Republican leaders, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are scheduled to meet on Wednesday at the Capitol with Trumps legislative director, Marc Short, and budget director, Mick Mulvaney. The White House on Tuesday said the meeting is to discuss separate spending caps on military and domestic programs. Yet the Democrats insist the discussion also must include a variety of legislative issues that Trump and Congress punted into the new year  on immigration, the budget, healthcare and more. That stance reflects Democrats leverage: Republicans need Democratic votes to pass a government-funding bill and avert a federal shutdown when the current funding expires Jan. 19. Democrats especially want separate legislation replacing the Obama-era DACA program; Trump in September ordered a phase-out of the program, beginning March 6, and called on Congress to act before then on an alternative way to address the plight of the group. However, Trump has demanded that any alternative must be part of a package including both money for a border wall and immigration limits. Democrats are opposed. Facebook

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Pakistan hits back after Trump accuses its leaders of lies and deceit By Aoun Sahi Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies and deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. Read More Facebook

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Trump again cheers on Iran protests By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday  and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size --- were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 The presidents earlier hailing of the protests drew condemnation from Irans government. A Foreign Ministry spokesman called his comments deceitful and opportunistic. Following an overnight report of the first two fatalities stemming from the protests, Trump raised some eyebrows by expressing concern over human rights violations as authorities move to crack down on the demonstrations. During his first year in office, the president has shown scant inclination to press foreign governments to respect the fundamental rights of their citizens. The USA is watching closely for human rights violations! Trump said in his tweet Sunday. Some domestic critics have pointed to the presidents inclusion of Iranian nationals in his travel ban, suggesting he was more interested in bashing the Tehran government than in supporting freedom of speech in Iran. Even some of the presidents allies said that supporting the protesters on social media did not amount to making policy. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he had urged Trump to give a national address laying out his Iran strategy. President Trump is tweeting very sympathetically to the Iranian people, Graham said on CBS Face the Nation. But you just cant tweet here. You have to lay out a plan. Facebook

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Australian diplomats tip a factor in FBIs Russia inquiry By Associated Press Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer. (Alastair Grant / Associated Press) An Australian diplomats tip appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the U.S. election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, the New York Times reported Saturday. Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos told the diplomat, Alexander Downer, during a meeting in London in May 2016 that Russia had thousands of emails that would embarrass Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report said. Downer, a former foreign minister, is Australias top diplomat in Britain. Australia passed the information on to the FBI after the Democratic emails were leaked, according to the Times, which cited four current and former U.S. and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians role. The hacking and the revelation that a member of the Trump campaign may have had inside information about it were driving factors that led the FBI to open an investigation in July 2016, the newspaper said. White House lawyer Ty Cobb declined to comment, saying in a statement that the administration is continuing to cooperate with the investigation now led by special counsel Robert Mueller to help complete their inquiry expeditiously. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is a cooperating witness. Court documents unsealed two months ago show he met in April 2016 with Joseph Mifsud, a professor in London who told him about Russias cache of emails. This was before the Democratic National Committee became aware of the scope of the intrusion into its email systems by hackers later linked to the Russian government. The Times said Papadopoulos shared this information with Downer, but it was unclear whether he also shared it with anyone in the Trump campaign. Facebook

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Trump offers fresh support for protesters in Iran as demonstrations continue By Lisa Mascaro Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017 President Trump again offered support Saturday for anti-government protesters in Iran, where a third day of demonstrations, the largest in years, spilled across the country amid fears of a crackdown. Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! Trump wrote on Twitter. Trump took a break from playing golf near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to tweet clips from his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September when he called for Iranian democratic reforms. Iranian authorities warned of potential violence as the street demonstrations, which began over economic conditions, swelled into frustrations with the theocratic rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has maintained a hawkish stance toward Iran, sharply criticizing the landmark nuclear disarmament accord that Tehran reached with then-President Obama and five other nations in 2015. In October, Trump declined to certify the accord to Congress although the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency says Iran is complying with it. Several conservative GOP senators signaled their support for Trumps position and backed the protesters in Iran. Others in Congress did not immediately respond, however, amid conflicting reports over who had organized the demonstrations. Even after the billions in sanctions relief they secured through the nuclear deal, the ayatollahs still cant provide for the basic needs of their own people, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a Trump ally and opponent of the nuclear deal. We should support the Iranian people who are willing to risk their lives to speak out against it, he added. Trump initially tweeted his support on Friday night. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement at that time as protests spread. There are many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with the regimes corruption and its squandering of the nations wealth to fund terrorism abroad, Sanders said. The Iranian government should respect their peoples rights, including their right to express themselves. The world is watching. Facebook

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When it comes to U.S.-Russia relations, it takes two to tango, Kremlin says By Sabra Ayres The deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia is one of the biggest disappointments of 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman told reporters today. Russia would like to rebuild relations between the two adversaries, but it takes two to tango, Dmitry Peskov said today during a conference call with the press. We want and are looking for good mutually beneficial relations based on mutual respect, mutual trust with all countries, primarily with European ones, including the United States, but it is necessary to dance tango, as they say. Peskov blamed the ongoing anti-Russian Russophobia in Washington for playing a major role in blocking the two countries from moving forward in their relationship. U.S. investigations into the Trump presidential campaigns alleged collusion with the Kremlin during the 2016 U.S. election and accusations that the Kremlin tried to interfere with the electoral process continue to cast a dark shadow over the relationship, he said. Peskov told reporters that Moscow was perplexed by the investigations. The Kremlin has continued to deny having any involvement with the Trump campaign or doing anything to interfere with the American election. This is definitely a U.S. domestic affair, but in this case it naturally hurts our bilateral relations, which is regrettable, Peskov said. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been categorized as the worst theyve been since the end of the Cold War. This year, Washington and Moscow have engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat in which both sides have been forced to reduce diplomatic staff, embassy properties have been repossessed by the hosting countries and visa services have been interrupted. The U.S. diplomatic mission to Russia shrank from 1,200 personnel, including some Russian local staff, to just over 450 across all its three consulates and embassy in Moscow. In the U.S., Russia was forced to vacate its San Francisco consulate. Moscow has also blamed anti-Russian sentiments on the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian teams from wearing their tricolor uniforms or flags during the upcoming games in South Korea. The international body accused some of the Russian national teams of doping. Facebook

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U.S. and Turkey resume reciprocal issuing of visas but frictions remain By Tracy Wilkinson The United States and Turkey began issuing reciprocal visas again on Thursday, more than two months after normal visa service was suspended in a dispute over the arrest of two U.S. diplomatic staffers in Istanbul  the latest friction between the two nominal allies. The State Department said it was lifting the visa restrictions after it was assured by the Turkish government that U.S. Embassy employees would not be arrested when performing their official duties. But the Turkish Embassy in Washington denied assurances were offered concerning the ongoing judicial processes, and suggested that the arrests were legal and justified. It is inappropriate to misinform the Turkish and American public that such assurances were provided, the embassy said in a statement. The dispute has aggravated the already tense relationship between the United States and Turkey, which is a member of the NATO military alliance. The two countries have clashed over U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria and over Turkeys demands that the U.S. extradite a Turkish cleric who lives in rural Pennsylvania. After a failed coup attempt killed more than 250 people in July 2016, Turkeys autocratic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, launched a harsh crackdown on his political opponents, arresting or firing tens of thousands of teachers, police, journalists, military officers and others. Erdogan accused Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic educator and former political ally, of orchestrating the coup. Gulen, who has lived in a compound in the Pocono Mountains, has denied any involvement. The Justice Department has so far denied Turkeys repeated demands to extradite Gulen. Erdogan raised the issue again at the White House in May, but his visit ended in a public relations disaster when his security guards brutally beat peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence. Two Turkish employees of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul were arrested this fall for alleged ties to the 2016 coup attempt. The U.S. responded by suspending most visa services at its missions in Turkey in October. The Turkish government reciprocated in November. State Department officials said they have repeatedly demanded more information about any formal charges against the two employees. They reiterated on Thursday that serious concerns about the allegations remained. Facebook

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Trump: China caught RED HANDED allowing oil to reach North Korea By Brian Bennett (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) President Trump isnt taking a holiday vacation from Twitter. In one of three tweets early on Thursday from his West Palm Beach golf club, he charged that China was caught RED HANDED allowing oil shipments to reach North Korean ports. Pronouncing himself very disappointed, Trump in effect was acknowledging the failure of his months-long effort to convince China to clamp down further on energy shipments going to the isolated country, which relies heavily on Beijing, as a way to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017 Trumps tweet came after a South Korean newspaper published what it said were U.S. spy satellite images of Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean ships. The United Nations Security Council, which includes China, has voted repeatedly to restrict fuel shipments to North Korea. Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in November to cut off North Koreas oil supply entirely, the American ambassador to the U.N., Nikki R. Haley, said at the time. It is unclear if Trumps admonishment of China was based on news reports or classified information he received from U.S. intelligence officials. There was no daily intelligence briefing on Trumps public schedule Thursday. He is expected to return to Washington next week after spending the Christmas holiday and New Years Eve at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Facebook

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President Trump again falsely claims hes signed more bills than any president By Brian Bennett President Trump visits a firehouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP) After another morning at his Florida golf club, President Trump visited firefighters and paramedics at a West Palm Beach firehouse and praised his own performance as president, including with a false boast. Trump touted his administrations work to roll back government regulations and cut taxes and claimed credit for the stock market hitting record highs. He also said hes signed more bills into law than any other president, which isnt true. We have signed more legislation than anybody, Trump said, standing in front of a rescue vehicle inside the fire station. We have more legislation passed, including  the record was Harry Truman a long time ago, and we broke that record, so we got a lot done, Trump said. An analysis by GovTrack, a website that tracks bills in Congress, shows that Trump has signed the fewest bills into law at this point than any president in more than 60 years, back to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Facebook

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Trump administration urges Russia to reinstate monitors in Ukraine, lower violence By Tracy Wilkinson Sergei Lavrov (AFP/Getty Images) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked Russia on Wednesday to reinstate its military personnel at a monitoring station in eastern Ukraine intended to quell escalating bloodshed. In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Tillerson also urged Russia to lower the level of violence and underscored the Trump administrations concern over increased fighting in Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement. Russia last week withdrew its monitors from the Joint Center on Coordination and Control, which is tasked with verifying a much-violated ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists. Moscow cited what it called restrictions and provocations from Ukrainian authorities that made it impossible for the observers to do their jobs. Washington has accused the pro-Russia forces of being responsible for many of the truce violations. Late last week, the State Department also announced plans to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, a decision that angered Moscow. The State Department statement did not say whether the weapons deal came up in Tillersons conversation with Lavrov. The two also discussed North Korea, its destabilizing nuclear program and the need for a diplomatic solution to achieve a denuclearized Korean peninsula, the statement said. Russia has offered to serve as a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang, but direct talks do not seem likely at this point. Facebook

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U.S. sanctions two more North Korean officials for ballistic missile program By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration announced sanctions Tuesday against two more North Korean officials for their alleged role in Pyongyangs expanding ballistic missiles program. The Treasury Department is targeting leaders of North Koreas ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate [North Korea] and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement. The nuclear-armed country tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last month that U.S. officials said appeared capable of reaching New York or Washington, a significant milestone in the countrys growing arsenal. The Treasury Department identified the two North Korean officials as Kim Jong Sik, who reportedly is a key figure in the ballistic missile program and led efforts to switch missiles from liquid to solid fuel (which makes them easier to hide before launch), and Ri Pyong Chol, who was reported to be a key official in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The sanctions block banks, companies and individuals from doing any business with the targeted officials. It also allows the U.S. government to freeze any American assets owned by the officials. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to add more sanctions on North Korea, its third round this year. The new measures order North Koreans working abroad to return home within two years, and ban nearly 90% of refined petroleum exports to the country. In a statement published Sunday by North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency, the foreign ministry denounced the new U.N. sanctions as an act of war. We define this sanctions resolution rigged up by the US and its followers as a grave infringement upon the sovereignty of our Republic, as an act of war violating peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region and categorically reject the resolution, it said. Facebook

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Salt Lake Tribune calls on Sen. Orrin Hatch to not seek reelection in scathing editorial Perhaps the most significant move of Hatchs career is the one that should, if there is any justice, end it. The last time the senator was up for reelection, in 2012, he promised that it would be his last campaign. That was enough for many likely successors, of both parties, to stand down, to let the elder statesman have his victory tour and to prepare to run for an open seat in 2018. Clearly, it was a lie. Read the editorial>> Facebook

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Christmas Eve, Trump on Twitter: New attacks on FBI official, decrying Fake News By Laura King President Trump launched a Christmas Eve attack on FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom he accuses of favoritism toward his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, and also returned to a longtime favored theme, excoriating the news media for failing to sufficiently extol his accomplishments. .@FoxNews-FBIs Andrew McCabe, in addition to his wife getting all of this money from M (Clinton Puppet), he was using, allegedly, his FBI Official Email Account to promote her campaign. You obviously cannot do this. These were the people who were investigating Hillary Clinton.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Thank you President TRUMP!! pic.twitter.com/LKdkT0FL99  oregon4TRUMP (@shawgerald4) December 23, 2017 The Fake News refuses to talk about how Big and how Strong our BASE is. They show Fake Polls just like they report Fake News. Despite only negative reporting, we are doing well - nobody is going to beat us. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Trump, who is spending the holidays at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, also sent Christmas greetings to deployed military personnel, praising them for success in the fight against terrorism. The early-morning swipe at McCabe followed a flurry of tweets attacking the deputy FBI chief on Saturday. McCabe, who has been a lightning rod for Republican attacks on the FBI, is expected to retire early in the new year. How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wifes campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 Critics say the president and his allies are in the midst of a systematic campaign to denigrate the FBI and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is looking into potential collusion by the Trump campaign in Russias attempts to sway the 2016 presidential election. In a pair of statements on Twitter, Trump again expressed scorn regarding news coverage of his administration. For months, the president has been particularly critical of reports regarding the Russia investigation and more recently has repeatedly complained he does not receive enough credit for a booming stock market. In his video conference message to troops overseas, the president made apparent reference to the fight against the militants of Islamic State, who over the last year have lost most of the territory they previously controlled in Iraq and Syria, including former strongholds in Mosul and Raqqah. Were winning, Trump told military personnel deployed in Qatar, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay and aboard the guided missile destroyer Sampson. Reporters traveling with the president heard his address, but were ushered from the room before he took questions from the troops. The president often breaks with longtime custom and makes politically charged statements at events in which he addresses military personnel. Facebook

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Trumps Wells Fargo tweet cited in court hearing as reason to remove Mulvaney as CFPB acting chief By Jim Puzzanghera A recent tweet by President Trump about possible penalties against Wells Fargo & Co. was cited during a court hearing Friday as a reason for removing White House official Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The attorney for Leandra English  the bureaus deputy director who has said she is the rightful acting head  said Trumps tweet showed he was trying to exercise improper influence over the independent consumer watchdog. I think that [tweet] shows you this isnt just some hypothetical concern, the attorney, Deepak Gupta, told Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia during a nearly two-hour hearing. Read More Facebook

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Trump administration recognizes Honduran presidents reelection By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration on Friday formally recognized the incumbent president of Honduras, conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez, as the winner of a bitterly contested presidential election held last month. In a statement, the State Department congratulated Hernandez while also acknowledging widespread irregularities in the Nov. 26 vote and calling for a robust national dialogue to overcome political discord in the Central American country, a close ally of the administration. The Organization of American States, which monitored the election, said it was so flawed that only a new round of voting could establish a fair and transparent outcome. But the U.S. rejected that determination. Uproar over the contest led to demonstrations in Honduras that left numerous civilians dead after state security forces opened fire on the protests. Activists and others voiced criticism Friday of the administrations decision. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), a leading Democratic voice on Central American issues, said he was angry and deeply disturbed by the State Department decision. The recent elections in Honduras were deeply flawed, chaotic and marred by numerous irregularities, McGovern said. U.S.-Honduran cooperation on matters such as drug-trafficking, violence and immigration requires a credible, legitimate government that has the support of its people, in Honduras, McGovern said. Hernandezs victory also was controversial because it was the first time a sitting president was allowed to run for re-election, barred until now by the Honduran Constitution. Facebook

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Senate Leader Mitch McConnell says fixing DACA is no emergency until March By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday hes committed to allowing a vote on a bill for so-called Dreamers in January, but sees no rush to resolve the deportation threat posed by President Trumps decision to end a program protecting immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. There isnt that much of an emergency there, he said. There is no emergency until March. Well keep talking about it. Trump called for phasing out by March the Obama-era program that allows the young immigrants, many of them longtime residents, to get two-year deferrals of any deportation threat so they can legally attend school or work. Beneficiaries must be vetted for security purposes. Trump told Congress to come up with a legislative alternative for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which President Obama created by executive order, to protect those currently eligible. A bipartisan Senate group has been working with the White House, but talks stalled this week amid administration demands for curbs on legal immigration flows in exchange for protecting the DACA recipients. Meanwhile, Dreamers and immigrant advocates stormed the Capitol in recent days pressing for the help promised by Trump and Democratic congressional leaders that failed to materialize in the years final legislation. Advocacy groups say more than 120 immigrants each day are falling out of compliance without DACA renewals, putting them at risk of deportation. The number that is projected to swell to more than 1,000 a day in March. Weve been gridlocked on this issue for years, McConnell said. We want to have a signature. We dont just want to spin our wheels and have nothing to show for it. Facebook

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President Trump signs tax bill By Noah Bierman (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump on Friday morning signed a sweeping tax-cut measure  his first major legislative achievement  before heading off for a Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Fla. The president also privately signed a short-term spending bill to fund government operations through Jan. 19. Congress approved it Thursday, after Republican leaders were unable to bridge differences in their own party as well as with Democrats to get agreement on funding for the full fiscal year. The stopgap bill punts fights on immigration and other issues to January. The tax bill, approved earlier this week in Congress in largely party-line votes, slashes corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and also includes a host of other provisions for individuals, all intended to boost the economy. Critics point to nonpartisan analyses showing that the package, including changes greatly reducing the number of estates subject to taxes, steers the bulk of tax benefits to top earners and the wealthy, including Trump, despite his repeated claims that hell take a hit. Trump signed the bill quietly Friday, but held a public ceremony with Republican lawmakers on Wednesday after the bills passage; he also tweeted about the measure extensively. He is expected to hold another public ceremony after the New Years holiday. Facebook

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Pelosi urges Ryan to prevent Republicans from curtailing Houses Russia probe By Chris Megerian House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin greets House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Friday urging him to ensure the Houses investigation into Russian interference with last years presidential campaign is not cut short. The American people deserve a comprehensive and fair investigation into Russias attacks, wrote Pelosi, of San Francisco, in her letter. Political haste must not cut short valid investigatory threads. The House Intelligence Committee has been probing the issue since March 1, and Democrats have repeatedly warned that Republicans are trying to wrap up its work prematurely. Pelosi said Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, should take urgent action to ensure this investigation can continue. AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, said Pelosi simply wants to see this investigation go on forever in order to suit her political agenda. Whether it concludes next month, next year, or in three years, she will say it is too soon, Strong said in a statement. She added, The investigation will conclude when the committee has reached a conclusion. The committees work is led by Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas). His spokeswoman, Emily Hytha, said he remains committed to conducting this investigation as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible. With more interviews scheduled, the investigation shows signs of extending into next year, Bloomberg reported Friday. BREAKING: Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski have been sent letters requesting they testify to House Intel panel in early January, per @HouseInSession  Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) December 22, 2017 Facebook

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Congress votes to avert government shutdown, but Senate fails to pass disaster aid package By Lisa Mascaro ( (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)) Congress approved a temporary spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, but failed to complete work on an $81-billion disaster aid package to help California, Gulf Coast states and Puerto Rico recover from wildfires and hurricanes, as lawmakers scrambled Thursday to wrap up business before a Christmas break. The stopgap measure continues federal operations for a few more weeks, setting up another deadline for Jan. 19. But it left undone a long list of priorities that members of both parties had hoped to finish this year. Read More Facebook

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Wells Fargo says raises were not linked to tax bill passage  then backtracks By James Rufus Koren Wells Fargo & Co.s move to raise its minimum pay to $15 an hour was part of a long-term plan and not related to the passage of the Republican tax overhaul as the company implied, said a bank spokesman, who later backtracked and stated the hikes were a result of the bills approval. The bank was among several large corporations to publicly announce pay raises or new investments immediately following the final House vote in an apparent public relations offensive to boost the popularity of the tax bill The San Francisco bank had implied the direct linkage to the tax legislation in a news release Wednesday, shortly after Congress passed the tax overhaul, which slashes the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% starting Jan. 1. Read More Facebook

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Obamacare signups beat expectations, despite Trump administrations opposition By Noam N. Levey President Trump with Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Despite Trump administration efforts to discourage people from signing up, the number of people enrolling for Affordable Care Act coverage nearly hit last years level, the government revealed Thursday. Exchange open enrollment for 2018 coverage ended w/ approx 8.8M people enrolling in coverage. Great job to the @CMSGov team for the work you did to make this the smoothest experience for consumers to date. We take pride in providing great customer service.  Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) December 21, 2017 The 8.8 million people who enrolled in the 36 states that use the federal governments healthcare.gov system significantly exceeded most forecasts. The Trump administration stopped most outreach and other efforts this year aimed at getting people to sign up. The president also repeatedly said publicly that Obamacare was dead. Open enrollment continues in California and several other states that run their own healthcare marketplaces. The figures from the federal government indicate that when those states wrap up for the year, the number of people covered by Obamacare will be nearly the same as in 2017. Read More Facebook

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U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly condemns U.S. policy change on Jerusalem despite Trumps threats By Tracy Wilkinson The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted Thursday to condemn President Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Trumps threats to punish countries that voted against the U.S. position. The resolution passed in an emergency session at U.N. headquarters in New York with 128 in favor, nine opposed and 35 abstentions. The nonbinding resolution demands that Washington rescind its declaration, which included a plan to transfer the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in coming years. The resolution value is mostly symbolic, showing how isolated the U.S. is in the move. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., warned this week that she would be taking names of countries that opposed the U.S., and Trump on Wednesday suggested he might cut U.S. aid to governments that voted in favor of the resolution. Let them vote against us, Trump said. Well save a lot. We dont care. The U.S. recognition of Jerusalem reversed decades of international consensus on the political status of the divided city. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital in a future independent state. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the U.N. was facing an unprecedented test and that history would remember those who stand by what is right. Facebook

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Democrats defend Robert Mueller, saying Russia investigation must be allowed to continue By Chris Megerian Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) speaking during a committee hearing earlier this year. (Molly Riley / Associated Press) House Democrats said they will fight Republican attempts to discredit and undermine the work of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is investigating whether President Trumps associates helped Russian meddling in last years election. There is an organized effort by Republicans, in concert with Fox News, to spin a false narrative and conjure up outrageous scenarios to accuse special counsel Mueller of being biased, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said. Trump has said he has no plan to fire Mueller, but Democrats are alarmed by escalating criticism of the special counsels work. Why is the president afraid of the facts and the truth? Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said. He added, No matter what the facts are, were satisfied if the investigation is complete. A letter of support signed by 171 Democratic members of Congress will be sent to Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, and oversees his investigation. Rosenstein has defended Mueller in the face of Republican criticisms. Facebook

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U.S. blacklists Myanmar army general who it says oversaw atrocities against Rohingya Muslims By Shashank Bengali The Trump administration on Thursday blacklisted a Myanmar army general who it said oversaw human rights abuses committed by security forces against Rohingya Muslims. Imposing economic sanctions against the general, Maung Maung Soe, was the toughest action the United States has taken in response to a brutal army offensive that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described as ethnic cleansing. In a statement, the Treasury Department said it had examined credible evidence of Maung Maung Soes activities, including allegations against Burmese security forces of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrest as well as the widespread burning of villages. The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority of about 1 million people in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, also known as Burma. The United Nations says that more than 640,000 Rohingya have fled the country since August, after the army launched clearance operations in response to attacks carried out by a Rohingya insurgent group against security forces. Rohingya refugees in crowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh have described horrific violence by Myanmar forces, including mass rapes, summary executions and children being burned alive. The aid group Doctors Without Borders estimates that 6,700 people were killed in the first month of the operation. Myanmar authorities deny committing atrocities and say that only a few hundred fighters were killed. Maung Maung Soe was chief of the armys Western Command, which carried out the offensive. He was transferred from his position last month, according to news reports. He was one of 13 individuals worldwide who were blacklisted Thursday under a new U.S. law that gives the Treasury Department authority to target officials for human rights abuses and corruption. Others included former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh; Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the late Uzbekistan dictator Islam Karimov; and Artem Chaika, son of Russias prosecutor-general. Today, the United States is taking a strong stand against human rights abuse and corruption globally by shutting these bad actors out of the U.S. financial system, said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. The sanctions freeze any assets Maung Maung Soe holds in the United States and bars Americans from doing business with him. It is also a sign of how quickly U.S. relations with Myanmar have soured. Under the Obama administration, the United States forged closer ties with the former military dictatorship and eased economic and political sanctions as the country began implementing democratic reforms. But Myanmar, which does not regard the Rohingya as citizens, has lashed out at the international community over the current crisis. It has jailed journalists, blocked access to affected areas in the western state of Rakhine and this week barred a U.N. human rights investigator from entering the country. Rohingya activists said the U.S. action would not have much effect on a country that survived under economic sanctions for years. It is the whole military institution that has a policy to persecute these people, said Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist and blogger in Germany. According to the U.S.s own definition, the army is carrying out ethnic cleansing. They have a responsibility to protect these people. Sanctions on one person are really not enough. Facebook

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Dreamers will have to wait until next year for Congress long-promised protections By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)) A promised year-end deal to protect the young immigrants known as Dreamers from deportation collapsed Wednesday as Republicans in Congress  fresh off passage of their tax plan  prepared to punt nearly all remaining must-do agenda items into the new year. Congressional leaders still hope that before leaving town this week they can pass an $81-billion disaster relief package with recovery funds for California wildfires and Gulf Coast states hit during the devastating hurricane season. But passage even of that relatively popular measure remained in doubt as conservatives balked at the price tag. Rather than finish the year wrapping up the legislative agenda, the GOP majorities in the House and Senate struggled over their next steps. Read More Facebook

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Chants of protest drown out any caroling this holiday season at the Capitol By Lisa Mascaro U.S. Capitol Police arrest a man wearing a Santa Claus hat during a protest against the Republican tax bill. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Image) Outside the U.S. Capitol, the lights on a towering Christmas tree are flipped on each evening, giving the Engelmann spruce a festive twinkle; inside the marble halls, wreaths and garlands decorate doorways and alcoves ahead of the holidays. But the spirit of the season has been punctuated by other sights: a Jumbotron parked across from the Capitol reflecting pool broadcasts images of young immigrants who face deportation; Little Lobbyists, children with complex medical needs, were featured in a recent news conference; protesters filed into the visitor galleries to shout against the Republican tax plan. While its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Capitol, its also shaping up to be a holiday season of protest. Read More Facebook

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Tax bill simplifies filing for some but complicates it for others  and dont count on that postcard By Jim Puzzanghera A priority of the Republicans tax overhaul was simplification, and they drove home the point this fall with an omnipresent prop: a red-white-and-blue postcard. Were making things so simple that you can do your taxes on a form the size of a postcard, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said last month, pulling one from his jacket pocket as he and Republican leaders unveiled their bill. They gave a couple of the cards to President Trump at a White House meeting a few hours later and flashed them often during news conferences and TV interviews in the coming days. Read More Facebook

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Top U.N. human rights official reportedly wont seek reelection The top United Nations official for human rights, who has frequently criticized the Trump administration, has reportedly decided not to seek a second term, saying his work had become untenable. Zeid Raad Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, notified his staff in an email that was obtained by several news outlets, including Agence France-Presse. Staying when his four-year term is up for renewal at the end of August might involve bending a knee in supplication, AFP quoted Husseins email as saying. Hussein is a Jordanian prince who has criticized, among other things, President Trumps attempts to ban visitors or refugees from six predominantly Muslim countries. The news comes a day before the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on a nonbinding resolution condemning the Trump administrations formal declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision that went against international consensus. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has warned she will be taking names of those who vote against the United States on Thursday. Trump echoed that sentiment Wednesday, voiced support for Haley and implying to reporters that he would consider cutting off U.S. aid to countries that vote against the U.S. Well, were watching those votes, Trump said. Let them vote against us. Well save a lot. We dont care. On Monday, the United States lost a Security Council vote 14-1 on a binding resolution that would have required Washington to rescind its declaration. Haley then vetoed the resolution. Facebook

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Top Democrat warns Trump not to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation By Chris Megerian Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, one of the top Democrats involved in the congressional inquiries into Russian interference in last years election, said Wednesday that any attempt by President Trump to interfere with the separate criminal investigation would be a gross abuse of power. Warner, who is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, delivered his warning from the Senate floor as Republicans escalate their criticism of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his team of prosecutors and FBI agents. Some Democrats believe Trump is laying the groundwork to fire Mueller even though the president has publicly denied it. Mueller was appointed in May after Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey. In the United States of America, no one, no one is above the law, not even the president, Warner said. Congress must make clear to the president that firing the special counsel or interfering with his investigation by issuing pardons of essential witnesses is unacceptable and would have immediate and significant consequences. Some Democrats say the White House may try to in effect short-circuit the Mueller investigation by replacing Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who is the only official empowered to fire Mueller. Rosenstein recently told Congress that the special counsel is acting appropriately and that he would not dismiss Mueller without just cause. Facebook

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We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump says after tax bill passes By Brian Bennett President Trump at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the White House. (Chris Kleponis / Getty Images) President Trump is celebrating Republicans passage of the tax overhaul bill as a two-fer: On Wednesday, in addition to tax cuts, he checked off his promise to repeal Obamacare, pointing to a provision in the bill to end the penalty on Americans who dont get health insurance. We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. Other provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act are still in place, and Trump and congressional Republicans failed completely on the replace half of their vow to repeal and replace the program. In Trumps view, however, stripping away the laws individual mandate to get insurance or else pay a tax penalty amounts to repeal of the whole law. Congressional analysts have said that millions of people would lose insurance as a result, either by choice or because they cannot afford it without subsidies, and that premiums would increase for others as younger, healthy people drop coverage. We will come up with something much better, Trump said, adding that block grants to states could be one approach. By his comments, Trump tacitly acknowledged that repeal of the mandate is likely the best he can do following Republicans failure this year to agree on a repeal-and-replace bill. Looking back on his first year, Trump also boasted of his administrations efforts against the Islamic State and increased immigration enforcement. He said he had not given up on funding a border wall or tightening immigration law to limit citizens ability to resettle foreign relatives in the country. He said he would very shortly visit the border with Mexico near San Diego to see wall prototypes that have been built. He didnt answer a reporters shouted question about how he would personally benefit from the tax bill. Facebook

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House gives final OK to GOP tax plan, sending it to Trump By Lisa Mascaro Congress gave final approval to the GOP tax plan Wednesday, 224-201, after the House took an unusual do-over vote to clear up differences with the Senate-passed bill. The $1.5-trillion package now heads to President Trump, who plans to sign it into law. The House had approved the tax bill on Tuesday but was forced to take another vote Wednesday because a couple of provisions in the version it approved were found to be in violation of Senate procedures. Those provisions were dropped before the Senate gave its approval early Wednesday. Critics complained the Republicans rushed to pass the sweeping tax plan to deliver Trump a year-end legislative victory, but supporters shrugged off the problems as minor. The tax plan dramatically cuts corporate rates and provides some individual rate reductions, overhauling the tax code for the first time in 30 years. Facebook

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Trump administration effort to block immigrant from having an abortion fails By David Savage Scott Lloyd is director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) President Trumps lawyers rushed to the Supreme Court and U.S. appeals court in Washington on Monday evening to file emergency appeals seeking to prevent an immigrant in detention, dubbed Jane Roe in court, from having an abortion. That set the stage for a legal showdown on whether the administration can block pregnant minors in custody from choosing to have an abortion. But the legal clash, which the administration has seemed eager to have, fizzled out Tuesday when the governments lawyers admitted the 17-year-old unaccompanied minor in their custody was actually 19. They said they had obtained her birth certificate and realized she was not a minor after all. As a result, Roe, who is 10 weeks pregnant, will no longer be held in a detention center for immigrant minors, and will not be subject to an administration policy that tries to prevent minors in immigration detention from having abortions. Administration lawyers told appeals court judges Tuesday night that Roe was being sent to a facility for adults and likely would be released until her immigration status can be resolved. In a brief order, the D.C. Circuit Court agreed to put the case on hold, but told government attorneys to confirm that she will be permitted to obtain an abortion. The administration had earlier tried to delay another young woman, referred to in court as Jane Poe, from having an abortion, but officials relented on Monday because she was 22 weeks pregnant and nearing the time limit for a legal abortion. Facebook

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Senate panel rejects Trumps pick to lead Export-Import Bank, a leader in the effort to shut it down By Jim Puzzanghera A Senate committee on Tuesday rejected President Trumps nominee to lead the Export-Import Bank, extending the chaos at the embattled agency whose job is to help U.S. companies sell their goods abroad. Two Republicans joined all Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee in voting against former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) to be the banks president. Garrett had been a vocal critic of the Ex-Im Bank and a leader of a conservative effort that shut the bank down for five months in 2015 by blocking its congressional authorization. He and other bank opponents branded the banks aid as crony capitalism. Read More Facebook

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Congress proposes $81-billion disaster aid package, including funds for California wildfires By Lisa Mascaro Congress is set to consider an $81-billion disaster aid package that includes wildfire recovery money for California and other Western states as well as hurricane relief with a price tag reflecting a year of record-setting natural calamities. The legislation, the text of which was released late Monday, would provide almost twice as much as the $44 billion the White House sought last month to cover relief efforts along the Gulf Coast and in the Caribbean. Republican congressional leaders added more money after California lawmakers objected that the administration had failed to include help for areas damaged by wildfires and Democrats protested that the overall amount President Trump asked for was insufficient. Read More Facebook

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White House blames North Korea for worldwide WannaCry cyber attack By Noah Bierman The Royal London Hospital, a victim of the unprecedented global cyberattack in May. (Niklas Hallen / AFP/Getty Images) The White House officially blamed North Korea on Tuesday for the cyberattack in May known as WannaCry that infected hundreds of thousands of computers in 150 countries, affecting healthcare, financial services and vital infrastructure. Thomas P. Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, noted in a briefing with reporters that the consequences were beyond economic. He warned that North Koreas malicious behavior is growing more egregious. Bossert did not specify what evidence American officials have to blame North Korea, citing security issues, but he cited the countrys prior attacks as revealing hallmarks of how Pyongyang and its network of hackers operates. He said other allied countries had joined the United States in making the determination. The administration did not announce any penalties on the regime, which is already subject to severe sanctions over its nuclear program. They want to hold the entire world at risk, Bossert said of North Koreas rulers, referring to the nations nuclear and missile provocations as well as its alleged cyberattack. Given its isolation and international sanctions, North Korea is desperate for funds. Bossert said the country did not appear to make much money on the ransom attack, as word spread that paying a ransom did not result in getting computers unlocked. Its primary goal, he said, was spreading chaos. Bossert and Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary of homeland security for cybersecurity and communication, said the United States, through a combination of preparation and luck, escaped the worst of the attack, as a patch to the malware was found before U.S. companies and other interests were severely crippled. However, Manfra said, We cannot be complacent. Bossert added, Next time were not going to get so lucky. Manfra praised Microsoft and Facebook for their efforts to combat WannaCry and to block more recent attempts to hack U.S. systems. She and Bossert urged more cooperation and information-sharing from American and multinational companies, arguing a united front is vital to protecting against bad actors who do not differentiate between government and business. Bossert rejected criticism that the the Trump administration has more aggressively called out North Korean cyberattacks than it has Russias meddling in the 2016 election. He said the administration has continued the national emergency initiated by President Obama. Facebook

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GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land By Evan Halper When their vision of creating a scenic cycling trail through a protected alpine backcountry hit a snag, San Diego area mountain bikers turned to an unlikely ally: congressional Republicans aiming to dilute conservation laws. The frustrations of the San Diego cycling group and a handful of similar organizations are providing tailwind to the GOP movement to lift restrictions on the countrys most ecologically fragile and pristine landscapes, officially designated wilderness. Resentment of these cyclists over the longstanding ban on mechanized transportation in that fraction of the nations public lands presents a political opportunity for Republicans eager to drill fissures in the broad coalition of conservation-minded groups united against the GOP environmental agenda. Read More Facebook

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Vice president postpones Israel trip a second time in case his vote is needed to pass tax cut bill By Noah Bierman (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Vice President Mike Pence is delaying his trip to Egypt and Israel for a second time in case he is needed to break a tie in the Senate for the tax bill that is expected to pass narrowly this week. Two White House officials confirmed the changed schedule, which they say is unrelated to to protests in the region over the administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. Pence had initially been scheduled to leave last Saturday. Late last week, the White House moved the trip back a few days to Tuesday night, in case Pence was needed to break a Senate tie. But Monday, they decided to postpone the trip further, to January, given the possibility of a late Senate vote and the coming holidays. He wants to see it through the finish line, said a White House official, referring to the tax measure that is a centerpiece of the Republican legislative agenda. We dont want to leave anything to chance. The mid-January dates will allow Pence more breathing room to merge schedules with embassies and hotels, the official said. Trump still plans to address the Israeli Knesset, a high-profile venue to discuss the Jerusalem decision where it is most popular. Facebook

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Trump judicial pick who drew ridicule at hearing withdraws By Associated Press A White House official says the Trump judicial nominee whose qualifications were questioned by a Republican senator has withdrawn his nomination. Matthew Petersen, who was nominated by President Trump to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has been the subject of widespread ridicule since he was unable to define basic legal terms during his confirmation hearing Wednesday. A White House official says Petersen has withdrawn his nomination and that Trump has accepted the withdrawal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the development publicly. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy pressed Petersen, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, who testified he had never tried a case, on his qualifications to the bench. Facebook

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Trump says McCain will return to Washington if needed for tax vote By Laura King President Trump said Sunday that Sen. John McCain, who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, was returning home to Arizona for the holidays but would come back to Washington if needed to cast a vote on the Republicans tax overhaul bill. The Arizona Republicans office announced last week that McCain was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington for complications from his cancer treatment. McCains daughter Meghan tweeted earlier Sunday that her 81-year-old father would be spending Christmas in Arizona. The Senate is expected to vote early this week on the tax cut legislation, but the GOP appeared to have secured sufficient support without McCains vote. John will come back if we need his vote, Trump told reporters as he returned from a weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Hes going through a very tough time. Facebook

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Putin calls Trump to thank him for U.S. help foiling terrorist strike By Laura King Vladimir Putin phoned President Trump to thank him for what the Russian president said was CIA help in foiling a terrorist attack, the Kremlin said on Sunday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the two leaders conversation to reporters. It was the second time that the two leaders had talked in four days; Trump called Putin on Thursday to thank the Russian leader for lauding the U.S. economy. Putin, in his annual year-end news conference, had praised Trump for a strong performance by the U.S. stock market. Perhaps ironically, given his credit to the CIAs recent help, Putin at that news event dismissed as hysteria the consensus among American intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign. In reporting Putins call to Trump on Sunday, the official Russian news agency Tass said Putin thanked his American counterpart for information shared by the US Central Intelligence Agency that had helped break up a plot to set off explosives in St. Petersburgs landmark Kazan Cathedral and elsewhere in the city, which is Russias second-largest. Russian authorities last week had credited their countrys counter-intelligence service, the FSB, for foiling the attacks. They reported that seven people affiliated with Islamic State had been detained in St. Petersburg in connection with the plot. The FSB, the successor organization to the KGB, announced Friday that the group had planned to carry out the attacks on Saturday, and that one of those in custody had confessed to the cathedral bomb plot. Facebook

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Mnuchin: Government shutdown unlikely but could happen By Laura King Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said on Sunday that a government shutdown this week was unlikely but possible. A two-week stopgap spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month provided enough funding to keep the government running through Friday. A deadlock on another temporary funding measure would open the door to a possible shutdown. I cant rule it out, but I cant imagine it occurring, Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday, suggesting everyone had an interest in avoiding the government grinding to a halt and federal workers going unpaid, especially in the holiday season. I would expect that both the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, understand if they cant agree on this, they need to have another short-term extension to move this to January, the Treasury secretary said. We cant have a government shutdown in front of Christmas. In May, irate over concessions made to Democrats in hammering out a spending measure, President Trump tweeted that a good shutdown might help matters. While both parties agree that a government shutdown involves a degree of disruption that is not beneficial to either side, shutdowns in 1995-96 and in 2013 mainly caused a backlash against Republicans. The latest funding measure is to be taken up after a vote on a massive GOP tax overhaul, expected by midweek. Facebook

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Trump transition team says sensitive emails should not have been shared with Robert Mueller By Chris Megerian (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) President Trumps transition team is crying foul over how special counsel Robert S. Mueller III obtained emails for his investigation into Russian meddling in last years campaign and possible Trump campaign complicity. Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for the transition team, sent a letter to Congress on Saturday saying there was an unauthorized disclosure of emails. While the Trump transition is long over, the transition team remains a nonprofit organization. Its emails were hosted by the General Services Administration, a federal agency. Mueller reportedly obtained the emails directly from the agency. There are attorney-client communications, Langhofer said in an interview. There are executive-privileged communications. He added, What were asking Congress to do is to take some legislative action to make sure this never happens again. Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsels office, defended the process for obtaining emails. When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owners consent or appropriate criminal process, he said. The letter was first reported by Fox News. A request for comment from the General Services Administration was not immediately answered. This story has been updated with a comment from the special counsels office. Facebook

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Virginia house arrest is ending for Paul Manafort By Chris Megerian (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) A federal judge agreed Friday to end Paul Manaforts house arrest in Virginia, allowing President Trumps former campaign manager to return to Florida while awaiting trial. The decision followed a dispute between Manaforts legal team and prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who accused Manafort of violating a court order restricting public statements about the case. Under the terms of the judges order, Manafort will be allowed to live at his home in Florida as long as he stays within Palm Beach and Broward counties and obeys a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. If he misses a court appearance, he would forfeit four properties valued at $10 million total. The deal, which includes GPS monitoring, is not as permissive as Manafort originally sought. He had asked to be able to travel freely among Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington. Manafort faces criminal charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty. Facebook

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GOP negotiators enhance child tax credit to win over Sen. Rubio By Lisa Mascaro Republican negotiators slightly increased the refundable portion of the expanded child tax credit in their tax plan, raising it to $1,400 in hopes of winning back Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) support ahead of next weeks vote. Rubio announced Thursday he was withholding support after negotiators ignored his push to make the expanded tax credit, which increases from the current $1,000 to $2,000 in the proposed bill, fully refundable for lower- and moderate-income filers. The refundable portion in the original bill was $1,100. The Florida senator argued that was not enough to help working-class Americans, many of whom already view the GOP plan as tilted toward the wealthy. Rubios office was waiting to see the final text before commenting on whether the change was enough to win him over. We have not seen the bill text, and until we see if the percentage of the refundable credit is significantly higher, then our position remains the same, Rubios spokeswoman said. Negotiators meeting Friday before unveiling the bill said they thought they had the support they needed from Rubio and other holdouts. Im confident both chambers will pass it next week, said Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Facebook

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Sen. Marco Rubio opposes GOP tax bill, depriving leaders of crucial support By Lisa Mascaro 20.94% Corp. rate to pay for tax cut for working family making $40k was anti-growth but 21% to cut tax for couples making $1million is fine?  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 12, 2017 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says he is currently opposed to the GOP tax plan because it fails to include his proposed enhancements to the child tax credit, leaving leaders without crucial support ahead of next weeks expected vote. Republicans can only lose two GOP senators from their slim 52-48 majority as they push the plan forward under special budget rules to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday altered his planned Israel trip so he could be on hand, if needed, to cast a tie-breaking vote. Rubio, and GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have fought to increase the child tax credit, doubling it to $2,000 in the GOP plan, but they also want to increase its refundability. They argue it will lower taxes on middle-income families at a time when the tax plan is being criticized as tilted to the wealthy. Sen. Rubio has consistently communicated to the Senate tax negotiators that his vote on final passage would depend on whether the refundability of the Child Tax Credit was increased in a meaningful way, Rubios spokeswoman said. Lee stopped short of opposing the bill, but his spokesman said Wednesday he is undecided. GOP leaders, though, have said they believe they have the support for passage. Facebook

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White House gives Roy Moore a unsubtle shove: Time to concede By David Lauter (Alex Wong / Getty Images) The White House sent a clear signal Thursday to the defeated Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama: Its time to concede. Roy Moore refused to concede the race on Tuesday night when Doug Jones, the Democrat, was declared the winner. Election night results show Jones winning by about 1.5 percentage points, three times more than the states standard for a recount. Although a few absentee and provisional ballots remain to be counted, theres no indication they would change the result. On Wednesday, Moore notably did not call to congratulate Jones  even as President Trump and other leading Republicans did. Instead, he released a video declaring the battle rages on. Asked at the daily news briefing whether the White House thinks Moore should concede today, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, It probably sounds like it maybe should have already taken place. Sanders also dismissed the idea, pushed by some Moore supporters, that Jones victory was tainted in some fashion. Asked if the Democrat had won fair and square, she said, I think the numbers reflect that. The states Republican senator, Richard Shelby, offered a similar comment in an interview with MSNBC in which he said he was willing to work with Jones. If I was 25,000 votes behind, its not going to change much, Shelby said. Facebook

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House Speaker Paul Ryan says hes not leaving anytime soon By Lisa Mascaro House Speaker Paul D. Ryan shot down suggestions Thursday that he might soon be retiring. Stories often circulate that party leaders, especially the House speaker, are stepping aside. Ryans tenure has been as rocky as that of his predecessor, Rep. John Boehner, who abruptly resigned in 2015 amid GOP infighting. Asked Thursday if he would be leaving, Ryan answered a simple no, as he left his weekly press conference in the Capitol. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who reluctantly took over the speakers gavel after Boehners departure, had just finished talking up the GOP tax plan, which leaders hope to pass next week. He also outlined his sweeping agenda for his longtime goal of entitlement reform of welfare benefits next year. Two stories published Thursday suggested Ryan may soon be out. This is pure speculation, said spokeswoman AshLee Strong. As the speaker himself said today, hes not going anywhere anytime soon. Facebook

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GOP leaders reach tax deal, cutting corporate rate to 21% and top individual rate to 37% By Lisa Mascaro Republican leaders on Wednesday agreed on a revised plan to cut taxes that would lower the corporate rate from 35% to 21% and drop the top individual rate for the richest Americans to 37%, according to GOP senators and others briefed on the deal. The tentative accord marked a significant step in the Republican push to have a tax bill on President Trumps desk by Christmas. Leaders did not release details of the compromise or the text of a final bill as negotiations continued. Its critically important for Congress to quickly pass these historic tax cuts, Trump said Wednesday, promising that Americans could begin to reap the benefits of the plan as early as February, if passed. Critics, however, said the latest changes  particularly the lowering of the top individual rate from the current 39.6%  only reaffirmed several independent analyses that show the bulk of the savings from the Republican plan would go to businesses and the wealthy. Read More Facebook

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Farenthold to retire from House amid harassment accusations By Associated Press Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold wont seek reelection next year, two Republicans said Thursday, adding his name to the list of lawmakers leaving Congress amid sexual harassment allegations that have cost powerful men their jobs in politics, the arts and other fields. The accusations against Farenthold surfaced in 2014, when a former aide sued him alleging sexually suggestive comments and behavior and said shed been fired after she complained. The lawmaker said he engaged in no wrongdoing and the case was settled in 2015. But the House Ethics Committee said last week that it would investigate Farenthold after congressional sources said hed paid an $84,000 settlement using taxpayers money. Though Farenthold said hed reimburse the Treasury Department, such payments have drawn public criticism from people saying lawmakers should use their own money for such settlements. A House official said Farenthold spoke twice Wednesday to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), while another official said the congressman spoke once with Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) who heads the GOPs House campaign committee. Those discussions suggested that Farenthold may have come under pressure from leaders to step aside. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Last week, three lawmakers facing accusations of sexual harassment announced their resignations. Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) have already left Congress while Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has said he will step aside soon. Mike Bergsma, Republican county chairman in Farentholds home county of Nueces, Texas, said Fare
The guests enjoy Vietnamese dishes.

Accordingly, Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Tran Thi Ha Phuong gave an introduction about typical materials, spices, formula and food processing for Vietnamese traditional dishes, including pork roll, noodles, lotus seed tea, and dried longan.

After the introduction, the guests made the dishes by themselves, saying in pleasure that they would practice more to cook Vietnamese dishes for their relatives.

During the exchange, the Vietnamese image and people were also introduced through a video Welcome to Vietnam which provided guests deeper understanding about Vietnamese lifestyle and culture./.
When offered an assignment to interview a retired obstetrician/gynecologist, I jumped at the chance upon hearing his name.

I first met Dr. Louis J. Smith when I was a young teen. He was my first gynecologist.

The fear I felt anticipating the appointment immediately disappeared. He was kind and gentle and had compassionate blue eyes and a quick smile.

What a joy it was to see him again after so many years and to finally meet his wife, Dorothy. The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9.

She just turned 92 and her husband will celebrate his 93rd birthday on Thursday. They have six children and two grandchildren.

Smith started practicing in 1956 and retired in 1992. The hospital records state he delivered more than 9,000 babies at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

His career path brought him to the local area while a twist of fate led him to the love of his life.

During World War II, Smith served in the Navy. He began pharmacist training and, six months later, became a lab technician in various departments including the bacteriology.

One day, a beautiful nurse walked in with a specimen, and Smith was smitten. He invited her to a dance coming up on the weekend, but she declined, saying he was too young for her. He was 19, and she was 24.

But she had a younger sister back in Philadelphia and suggested Smith start corresponding with her and they did.

When he came home to Montana from the Navy, he asked to borrow his dads car to drive to Philadelphia to meet the younger sister named Dorothy. He traveled 2,500 miles  no freeways  only roads badly in need of repairs.

Dorothy was training to become a nurse and was wearing her uniform  gray dress and white apron.

This is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, he said. She was humble and simplistic  the kind of girl I had always wanted.

After another visit, Smith started home but stopped to call Dorothy along the way.

He asked What would you say if I asked you to marry me?

And she answered Well, ask me. He did, and she said yes.

Smith went on to apply to medical school at the University of Oregon with a fist full of sealed envelopes that carried his grades and letters from his professors. He was the first in the group to be interviewed by 12 doctors.

After they read the documents, the head of the admissions committee put his hands on his shoulders and told him, Son, were going to see you here in the fall. Just keep up the good work.

He finished his four years, moved to Los Angeles and interned at Queen of Angels Hospital. Then he started practicing in Burbank.

In the 1970s, he was delivering between 30 and 40 babies a month. During his career, he delivered two sets of triplets. He was often asked to assist other doctors with problem births.

Smith said he was interested in going into medicine as young as age 7. He was inspired to become an ob/gyn while working as a lab technician. A busy obstetrician asked him to come in and observe deliveries.

When Smith retired, then mayor Michael Hastings presented him with a Mayors Commendation. The two had met years before. Hastings and wife, Kathy, had their first two children at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

When they decided to have their third child at Providence St. Joseph, Smith was recommended by Kathy Hastings doctor at Cedars.

At first, Michael Hastings was very cautious, he said. But Smiths personality quickly won him over. Michael Hastings found him to be compassionate with a beyond-fantastic sense of humor and he was already treating many people Hastings knew.

He was just a fantastic human being beyond being a great doctor, Michael Hastings said. Hes funny, and he catches you off guard with some of his humor and thats what I just love about the man.

Those attributes are the perfect prescription for couples facing the most important, and frightening, step in their lives  having a baby.

He sets you at ease and its usually through his humor, Michael Hastings said.

Smith often stops in to say hi to Kathy Hastings, who is the patient relations concierge at the Disney Family Cancer Center.

He stops to flirt with my wife there once in awhile, Michael Hastings said, then corrected and added, Hes got a smile that lights up the room.

JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.
An actor who co-stars in the Showtime series Shameless was arrested in Burbank last Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities.

Ethan Cutkosky, 18, was stopped near the intersection of Olive Avenue and Lamer Street around 10:30 p.m. after he was seen driving erratically. Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman for the Burbank Police Department, said the actor was reportedly driving at an unsafe speed, making dangerous turning movements and straddling between lanes.

According to Green, officers noticed the smell of burnt marijuana when they spoke with the Burbank native. Green said Cutkosky admitted to police he had been smoking cannabis earlier that night.

A DUI test was subsequently conducted, including a blood draw, and Cutkosky was booked into Burbank City Jail. However, he was released several hours later and issued a citation.

The results from the blood draw are still pending, Green said.

Cutkosky has a regular role on the cable series Shameless, which stars William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum.

He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 29.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc
The famed Hotel Laguna is likely to close at the end of the year when its lease expires, the hotels attorney said Tuesday.

The news comes as Andersen Hotels Inc., which operates the hotel at 425 S. Coast Hwy.,has sued the property owner, alleging it violated lease terms to make way for a new operator.

Andersen Hotels filed the lawsuit Oct. 12 in U.S. District Court.

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Hotel officials sent letters to all employees Oct. 13, informing them of the imminent closure, said Proud Usahacharoenporn, attorney for Andersen Hotels.

Messages left with Andersen Hotels president, Georgia Andersen, were not returned.

Filing the lawsuit does not put the end of the current lease on hold, Usahacharoenpron said. The lease expires Dec. 31.

According to court records, the lawsuit lists as defendants the property owner, E.W. Merritt Farms; film director Greg MacGillivray; real estate investor Joe Hanauer; James Ray and Kimbark Group LLC, a Delaware company that does business in California.

Andersen Hotels, a family business, has operated the hotel for 32 years but learned in January that Merritt Farms had agreed to lease the hotel and property to Kimbark, MacGillivray, Ray and/or Hanauer, the suit says.

The suit claims Merritt Farms did not comply with lease terms to give Andersen the right of first refusal should Merritt Farms decide to sell the property or hotel.

Andersen alleges that Merritt Farms, Kimbark, MacGillivray, Ray and/or Hanauer structured a 99-year lease in an attempt to avoid Andersens right of first refusal.

Andersen claims it repeatedly requested information related to the alleged agreement but was ignored.

Further, Andersen alleges, the defendants concealed the requested information knowing the damage it would cause to the hotels business, according to the suit.

There are things we disagree with, said Sarah Reid, a partner with Merritt Farms, a melon grower based in Porterville.

Reid declined further comment and referred questions to attorney Robert Hillison. Hillison did not return a call seeking further details.

In a statement, MacGillivray said attorneys had advised the defendants that the allegations in the suit are without merit and were preparing a response.

Conclusions will be made public at the appropriate time, MacGillivray said. So, while our plan for guiding this iconic hotel propertys future will prove beneficial for all of Laguna  our primary interest being the preservation of Lagunas historical buildings and charm  it is premature to discuss the specifics at this point.

Hanauer said in an email, Unfortunately, as you might imagine with this lawsuit, theres not much I can say at this time.

Usahacharoenporn said Andersen has always been interested in extending the lease, but since the beginning of the year we have been shut out by the landlord. Part of the problem is [Merritt Farms] has not shared with us what deal is on the table.

Hotel Laguna is pictured from the beach on Tuesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer )

Hotel Laguna, with its Spanish arches and bell tower, is one of the most recognizable buildings in Laguna Beach.

The hotel dates to the 1880s, when it was first built. The original hotel burned to the ground and was rebuilt in 1888, according to the hotels website.

In 1928, the hotel was demolished because of concerns that its board-and-batten construction was a fire hazard. Work started on a more modern establishment, which was dedicated in 1930 and is the hotel people know today.

Through the years it has attracted Hollywood celebrities and other dignitaries.

Claes Andersen purchased the hotel in 1985 and refurbished its exterior and interior.

Andersen Hotels recently had a contract with Majestic Realty Co. to renovate the hotel, according to court records.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce

UPDATES:

3:10 p.m. Nov. 7: This article was updated with the information from Hotel Lagunas attorney that it is likely to close.

This article was originally published at 4:05 p.m. Nov. 6.
The Republican tax plan would provide relief for families and small businesses, a group of Orange County business leaders told Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and presidential daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump during a roundtable Monday in Newport Beach.

We call this the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Its as much about jobs and wage growth as it is tax cuts, Mnuchin told about 75 people gathered for the discussion in the Newport Center offices of money manager David Bahnsen.

Republicans tout their wide-ranging tax plan as lowering corporate taxes from 35% to 20%, condensing seven tax brackets into four, roughly doubling the standard deduction for individuals and married couples, scrapping the estate tax and easing the tax burden on the middle class with features such as an expanded child tax credit and simplified postcard filing.

It also features a potential repeal of the federal deduction for state and local taxes  although some congressional Republicans are walking that back  and dropping the cap on the mortgage interest deduction on newly issued loans from $1 million to $500,000. President Trump has said he wants tax reform passed by years end.

Critics have panned the plan as unfairly tilting toward business and the wealthy.

Ivanka Trump said the plan would streamline the tax code, democratize benefits and support economic growth. The child tax credit would expand from $1,000 to $1,600 per child for married couples earning up to $230,000.

Something that I feel very strongly about, and the administration is deeply committed to, is ensuring that hard-working Americans have more of their hard-earned money in their pockets at the time when they need it the most, and thats often when theyre raising children or theyre caring for adult dependents, she said.

Mostly, she and Mnuchin listened Monday.

Loreen Gilbert, a Laguna Beach resident and founder of Irvine-based WealthWise Financial Services and a member of the Trump Pence Small Business Advisory Council, said: There are 30 million small-business owners in the United States. Those 30 million small-business owners helped us get out of the recession, and now its time to help them grow their companies through reduction in taxation.

Carolyn Cavecche, president and chief executive of the Orange County Taxpayers Assn. and a former mayor of Orange, rattled off a list of figures about California taxes: highest sales tax in the nation; highest top rate in the nation for personal income taxes; highest corporate income tax in the West; second to Pennsylvania in gas tax, but highest with cap and trade.

California taxpayers really need this plan, Cavecche said. Were hoping that it will lift us up and support us. But at the very least, were looking for it to not do any harm.

She said she would like to bump the proposed cap on the mortgage interest deduction on new loans from the proposed $500,000 to $750,000, taking into account Orange Countys high housing costs.

Mnuchin, a former California resident, said hes sensitive to the states issues.

I never thought I could live anywhere that had a higher tax than New York City, he said. Weve spent a lot of time (in) New York, New Jersey, California and others making sure we understand the impact.

Mario Rodriguez, chairman of the San Clemente-based Hispanic 100 political action committee, said Latinos are statistically the most entrepreneurial group in America, so lower corporate taxes would be a win for them as a group and America as a whole. The higher child tax credit also would ease burdens for Latino families, which are generally middle-income and lower, he said.

With Latino-owned businesses being the fastest-growing business sector in the U.S., this would be a huge boon for the economy, Rodriguez said.

Mary Ann Brown, an executive vice president at Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Insurance Co., said she personally would be hurt by the proposed plan. But she said she doesnt expect any sympathy.

I just think its such a great thing for the economy, so even though Ill have to pay 10% more taxes because of losing this big California [state tax] deduction, I am very supportive of what youre doing, she said.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
The Huntington Beach City Council declined to censure Councilman Billy OConnell on Monday night following public comments he made last month about an internal city matter.

OConnell said at Mondays meeting that he regretted his comments, but in an interview Tuesday, he called the censure discussion a kangaroo proceeding that was politically motivated.



For the record: The original version of this article stated incorrectly that OConnell said he regretted his words. He said he regretted that the situation happened.It also said Gates revealed he had retained counsel for himself in response to the matter. He later said he has not.

Mayor Barbara Delgleize, Councilwoman Lyn Semeta and Councilman Erik Peterson had requested an official reprimand seeking OConnells public apology for his remarks at the Oct. 16 council meeting, which the trio considered a violation of Californias open-meetings law.

At that meeting, OConnell mentioned that he had received a memo containing allegations from a Police Department manager. He asked that Delgleize and an independent investigator look into the matter. He did not elaborate about the allegations, and on Tuesday he declined to go into detail about them.

However, OConnell said at the October meeting that he felt the case could compromise the city managers office, city attorneys office and police or give the appearance of being compromised.

After the meeting, Delgleize, Semeta and Peterson wrote in a staff report that City Hall receives such complaints all the time but that they are not subject to public disclosure while a review occurs.

They called OConnells comments an attempt to call into question the integrity and character of the city managers office, city attorneys office and the Police Department. These offensive statements were likely illegal and may jeopardize the integrity of the investigation that may occur.

On Monday, City Attorney Michael Gates noted that under the states Brown Act, the council is not permitted to discuss items not on the meeting agenda (the matter OConnell referred to was not).

Delgleize told OConnell, I felt like you were doing it on purpose to throw people under the bus rather than doing it the correct way or the way we have rules and regulations.

OConnell said he didnt mention anyone by name and didnt throw anyone under the bus.

Gates urged confidentiality, saying last months meeting was not the proper forum to announce a complaint or investigation.

OConnell said he regretted the situation happened and that moving forward, if it needs to be done differently, I have no issues with that.

That seemed to appease Peterson.

We want you to follow the rules like the rest of us.  It seems like youre willing to do that, Peterson said.

Some members of the public came to OConnells defense.

Ken Stanford, a Huntington Beach resident for 30 years, contended that nothing about OConnells statements was objectionable.

I challenge anyone to cite even one disparaging comment OConnell made, Stanford said.

Supporter Rich Gomez said he thinks the public deserves to know about the allegations.

Being honest and direct is what I expect from a council member or a politician, Gomez said.

On Tuesday, OConnell said he will continue to seek the truth about the internal matter.

Weve got some serious issues in the city that we need to take a look at, OConnell said.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint

UPDATES:

4:45 p.m.: This article was updated with OConnells comments Tuesday.

This article was originally published at 1:15 p.m.
As a community meeting to discuss sober-living homes drew to a close in Costa Mesa on Monday, two messages from elected officials became clear.

One: There is no easy way to solve all the issues surrounding such facilities, and many obstacles can stymie even incremental progress.

Two: Residents throughout the state need to mobilize and demand action for that to change.

During the 2-hour meeting at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, presented by state Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and the Assn. of California Cities  Orange County, officials touted one current effort as a step in the right direction.

Quirk-Silvas Assembly Bill 572 would require the state Department of Health Care Services to place an investigator in Costa Mesa to look into complaints against licensed treatment and recovery facilities for adult alcoholism or drug abuse.

The departments 16 investigators currently are headquartered in Sacramento.

There are complaints and we want them resolved, Quirk-Silva told Mondays crowd of about 100. But those complaints are being heard in Sacramento and theyre not being heard in a timely manner.

The bill sailed through the Assembly without a dissenting vote earlier this year. However, its been tied up in the state Senate Health Committee as that panels chairman  Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina)  hasnt brought it up for a hearing.

Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley urged supporters of the legislation to contact Hernandez and other members of the committee to make sure they know that this community cares.

We want something done, Foley said. We need the help of state elected officials to help resolve this for us in our local communities and help us to gain back some local control.

Quirk-Silva and Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) said another issue at the state level is that, while problems with the sober-living industry are pronounced in Orange County, other areas of the state have been largely unaffected, so some legislators dont see the issue as pressing.

Its going to take a citizen movement to capture the attention of the Legislature to really achieve long-term reform over this issue, Harper said. Its not going to just take one or two bills to be able to truly address this issue within Costa Mesa and within Orange County.

For years, Costa Mesa residents have complained about the proliferation of local sober-living homes. Such facilities have been blamed for increased crime and noise, additional parking and traffic problems and harm to overall quality of life.

Another major issue, Foley said, is that some sober-living operators will evict, or curb, their residents without any kind of support.

Some of those residents, particularly those brought in from out of state, end up homeless.

Basically, its human trafficking for drug addicts and they are then being kicked out once their insurance expires or if they go off the program and now theyre on our streets, Foley said.

Costa Mesa has adopted a series of regulations aimed at stemming the proliferation of sober-living facilities and addressing their effects. Under those rules, such facilities  including existing ones  must apply for permits from the city to operate in town. Some operators need conditional use permits from the Planning Commission that can be considered by the City Council on appeal. Thus far, the council has rejected all conditional use permit applications it has considered.

Orange County Deputy District Attorney Hope Callahan, who works in the insurance fraud unit, said her office has prosecuted some sober-living operators on allegations of fraudulent billing practices.

We are also very aware that there are some bad actors among many good providers who take advantage of the population of addiction to bill insurance companies millions of dollars and are pocketing the profits for their own personal gain, Callahan said. This is organized crime.

Despite Costa Mesas regulations, cities options are limited because recovering alcoholics and drug addicts are considered disabled under state and federal law.

A sober-living home thats licensed through the state and has six or fewer residents, for instance, is essentially exempt from Costa Mesas rules, such as a requirement that such facilities be at least 650 feet from one another in residential areas.

Still, officials at Mondays meeting said theyre committed to finding solutions.

We have to work on enforcement, we have to work on licensing, we have to work on addressing what works, what doesnt work, Quirk-Silva said. These are not simplistic issues.

For more information about Costa Mesas sober-living home regulations or to see how to report issues or file complaints, visit costamesaca.gov/index.aspx?page=2116.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney

UPDATES:

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a website for more information or to report issues.

This article was originally published at 2:25 p.m.
On Oct. 17, the Costa Mesa City Council approved an agreement with the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. on a 3-2 vote, with myself, Mayor Katrina Foley and Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Genis voting yes, and Councilmen Jim Righeimer and Allan Mansoor dissenting. I proudly made the motions that approved the agreement, and I would like to explain why.

The agreement followed 10 months of intense bargaining between the City Council and the CMFA. Ultimately, the agreement was fair to the city and to the firefighters. To paraphrase Mick Jagger, neither side got everything they wanted, but both sides got what they needed.

Long-term deal: Importantly, the term of the new agreement is four years, so it does not expire until 2021. Labor agreements with such a long term are unusual. The benefits to the city are stability and certainty and the ability to accurately budget our future costs.

Overdue Salary Increases: The agreement includes four salary increases of 3% spread over 18 months. The last time our firefighters received a salary increase was July 2008. During that time, their compensation dipped to among the lowest in the county. A private sector company would have sustained substantial turnover if it did not raise pay for 10 years.

Our firefighters stepped up during the recession, paying 5% of their salaries in pension contributions, despite their salary freeze. They continued to stick with the city while rising costs ate away at their net wages. If we didnt include salary increases in this agreement, we risked losing highly skilled firefighters, in whom we have invested tens of thousands of dollars, to other agencies. That was a risk not worth taking.

Increased Pension Contribution: In the agreement, the firefighters agreed to contribute an additional 9% of their salaries to their pension, making their contribution 14%, which is in line with our police and non-safety staff. The 14% pension contribution is well in excess of the amount the city could have imposed by law, and among the highest pension contributions in the county. The increased pension contributions will be phased in to coincide with the first three salary bumps.

Increased Healthcare Benefits: The agreement increased the firefighters monthly healthcare allocation to $2,119; furthermore, if the firefighters waive their city healthcare benefits, they will only receive $1,060 per month in lieu of insurance.

So why this increase? Previously, firefighters received only $556 per month to spend on healthcare. As a result, some firefighters spent $1,600 or more out of pocket to cover their families. Rising healthcare costs further eroded their net compensation. Considering the health risks our brave firefighters face, they should not have to worry about whether they have adequate healthcare for themselves and their families.

Other Savings/Benefits: The firefighters agreed to reduce their maximum vacation accrual by 15% (78 hours), substantially reducing the citys accrued liabilities. They also agreed that sick days would not count as work days when calculating overtime, providing additional savings.

No Increase to Unfunded Pension Liability: The agreement will not increase the underfunded pension liability. This is because California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) calculates the citys pension obligation based upon an actuarial analysis that assumes a 3% annual salary increase whether or not salaries actually go up. According to CalPERS, the agreement resulted in no factors that would be outside the scope of what CalPERS has already included in its calculation of Costa Mesas unfunded liability.

To illustrate this point, since 2008 when our firefighters last received a salary increase, the underfunded pension liability for our firefighters has been as low as $290,000 and is now $61 million. Obviously, the increase had nothing to do with salary increases because none were given. Other factors that increased the pension debt include unprecedented investment losses during the Great Recession, changes in actuarial assumptions, such as life expectancy, and an increased formula for calculating retirement benefits.

Likewise, because healthcare benefits are not counted when calculating retirement pay, the increased healthcare benefits do not spike Costa Mesas pension debt.

Budgetary Perspective and Fiscal Health: During the Oct. 17 meeting, Righeimer and Mansoor raised the specter of municipal bankruptcy, invoking specifically financially troubled cities, such as Stockton, Vallejo and San Bernardino, as cautionary tales. In response, some perspective is in order.

Over the course of its four-year term, the agreement increases Costa Mesas costs by about $4.9 million. This increase amounts to approximately 0.7% of our budget. Thats hardly going to drive us into bankruptcy.

Moreover, Costa Mesa was recently rated AA+ (the highest possible) by Standard & Poors. To protect against an unlikely financial calamity, the firefighters agreed that there is no minimum staffing required, nor is there layoff protection in the agreement.

Although the council bargained aggressively and effectively with the CMFA, we value our brave firefighters who rescue Costa Mesans from fires, medical emergencies, hazardous substances, car accidents and other hazards.

Our firefighters put their lives on the line. The just and reasonable (and fiscally responsible) compensation included in the agreement represents a meaningful gesture of appreciation from a grateful community.

JOHN STEPHENS is a Costa Mesa city councilman.
President Trumps political pitch at home about a bilateral trade accord with South Korea has been clear: Its a horrible, job-killing deal that hurts American workers.

South Koreans, though, dont see it that way.

Trumps repeated condemnations and threats to scrap the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement have worried local business executives, angered editorial writers and even sparked a brief dip in Korean financial markets.

Its quite confusing that Trump would say those words about a bilateral pact that has been in place for more than five years, especially his threat to get rid of the deal, said Kim Kyung-mi, an elementary school teacher from Suwon, a Seoul suburb.

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The issue, fraught with domestic politics in both countries, is likely to be a key topic between Trump and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, when the two leaders meet Tuesday during the second leg of the presidents 12-day Asia tour.

Trump has said he wants to change or abandon the agreement, enacted under President Obama, which eliminates many tariffs and other trade barriers. Many business leaders in both countries say its a useful policy propelling the $112-billion trade relationship with South Korea, the United States sixth-largest goods partner and Asias fourth-largest economy.

But Trump is concerned about a negative trade balance with South Korea, meaning the United States buys more from its longtime ally than it sells  a fact economists say is partially attributable to Americans desire for South Korean automobiles and electronics.

Hyundai vehicles are ready to be shipped to the U.S. at the companys export yard in Ulsan, South Korea, on July 13, 2017. (Lee Sang-hyun / Associated Press )

Trump has made his displeasure known not just on the campaign trail, but also in diplomatic settings. At a White House meeting with Moon in June, for example, Trump and his team complained forcefully  in front of the press.

The fact is that the United States has trade deficits with many, many countries, and we cannot allow that to continue. And well start with South Korea right now, Trump said, looking across the table at Moon.

Moons calmly responded, in part: Trade between two countries always needs to be approached critically.

Since that meeting, Trump and his trade representative have suggested the United States would scrap the deal without changes, much as Trump scrapped the Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 Pacific Rim countries, not including South Korea.

South Korea first agreed to study the United States concerns, pleading for objective statistics and logic. But that changed recently, leading newspapers to question whether Moon had surrendered to Trumps threats.

Trumps fervor on the issue has also sparked conspiracy theories among some South Koreans. One is that Trumps goal is for South Korea to purchase more American military hardware, or that his trade policies are designed to win votes in the Rust Belt.

Many people see this as as political gesture, that there is a political motivation behind this, said Jee-kwang Park, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute near Seoul.

South Korean protesters stage a rally against a planned visit by President Trump, near the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2017. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press )

Park believes many South Koreans dont fully understand the agreement, which many experts say helps keep the United States competitive with other Asian nations that have their own deals. The United States exported more than $42 billion in goods to South Korea last year, led by appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, and chemicals, such as beauty supply ingredients, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.

The trade balance has in fact nearly doubled since the deal took effect, from $16.6 billion in 2012 to $27.5 billion last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Trump remains convinced thats a problem. (Other countries, including China, Germany, Japan and Mexico also export more to the United States than they import).

His position isnt winning popular support here, though. About 65% still oppose renegotiation of the deal, according to a poll last month by the Korea Times. Only about 6% of the respondents said they had no opinion, suggesting that the trade issue has registered with average South Koreans  more so, probably, than it has with Americans.

Both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its California chapter oppose scrapping the deal. South Korea is Californias seventh-largest export destination, exporting more than $8.2 billion in goods last year.

The United States remains a key trading partner for South Korea, a democracy of 50 million people where the economy is heavily dependent on exports.

A perceived dependency on the United States, for both its economy and its safety from North Korea, is a recurring theme in conversations with South Koreans. That may be changing, however.

I grew up learning in school that we always owe the U.S. something, said Yoon Ik-hyun, a taxi driver, referring to the Korean War and the countrys ascendance since then. The younger generations dont think that. If I just grew up seeing this guy, then I dont think I would like Americans much either. They now just seem greedy and selfish.

ALSO

Trump, diminished at home, is feted abroad, as Asian leaders employ flattery to stay on Americas good side

Familys pain has never gone away. Japanese abducted by North Korea in spotlight as Trump visits Japan

Escalating tension has experts simulating a new Korean War, and the scenarios are sobering

Stiles is a special correspondent.
Under the over-arching theme of APEC 2017 Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future, the event lures the participation of 180 youth and students from 17 APEC member economies (including Australia, Canada, the Peoples Republic of China, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Thailand, USA, and host Vietnam).

The four objectives of this years VOF are:

* Enhance understanding of APEC goals and objectives; contribute to the friendship, solidarity and cooperation among youth in APEC economies,

* Enhance the effectiveness of the youth network in APEC economies to exchange ideas and knowledge on global issues, strength youth exchanges in the APEC region,

* Promote the active and constructive role of youth in the region in the process of building a common future peace, stability, development and prosperity,

* Provide opportunities for youth in APEC economies to express their views and aspiration on youth issues to APEC Economic Leaders.

Mr James Soh, Co-chair, APEC Voices Leadership Council, delivered his remarks at the opening ceremony.

Chairman of Da Nang city People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho spoke at the event.

Representatives kicked off the VOF 2017.

Group photo (Photos: ATP)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr James Soh, Co-chair, APEC Voices Leadership Council said: As our world gets increasingly connected, our future gets intertwined. Young leaders from member economies have to recognize that we all share a common future-how we want our future to turn out depends on what we do at the present moment. It is only when we strive towards contributing to a common goal that we can reap the fruit of shared prosperity and growth of our nations.

During the plenary session on November 6th, participants made presentations on how to create new dynamism, fostering a shared future among young Asian-Pacific people.

Meanwhile, Huynh Duc Tho, Chairman of Da Nang city Peoples Committee highly appreciated the importance of APEC VOF, saying that this is a good forum where young people have opportunities to approach practical knowledge shares by leaders.

The forum will help them to showcase their responsibility and contribute their voice to the future development and prosperity of member economies, together with their intelligence, youth and creativity, thus sharing their own cultural values, connecting and nourishing the friendships that lay the solid foundation for future cooperation among member economies, he stressed.

Participants will also work in four groups, focusing on topics: the contributions of the youth to APEC Vision beyond 2020 and the future; economic, financial and social integration; human resources development in the digital age and policies to support start-up; and renovation and small and medium-sized enterprises.

After having deep discussions on two priorities: promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth amongst the youth in the Asia Pacific region; Entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability-What are the challenges of start-ups and future of the digital age in the Asia Pacific region?, participants are expected to witness the APEC Youth Declaration.

As part of their working agenda, the delegates will visit several places in Quang Nam province, including attractive tourist destinations such as Tam Thanh mural village, UNESCO-recognised Hoi An ancient town and Thanh Ha pottery village in Hoi An.

As planed, at 18h00 of November 10th, Quang Nam province will host the closing program, including an art performance and exchanges between local students and their peers from member economies.

Founded in 2007, the VOF is a venue for exchanges among young students (18-25 years old) from the 21 member economies. It is held concurrently with the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, aiming to help youth know more about APEC, expand their horizons and stimulate their enthusiasm for taking on the role as future leaders, as well as promote in-depth cultural exchanges among the member economies./.
British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed Monday to stamp out the troubling abuse of power within the corridors of Westminster as a growing sexual harassment scandal engulfed some of the countrys top politicians.

Two senior members of Mays Conservative Party have stepped down and with several more lawmakers from across the political spectrum suspended, under investigation or facing allegations of impropriety, she said it was time for all party leaders to tackle the issue of sexual misconduct.

May declared that a new culture of respect was needed and vehemently condemned those lawmakers who have used their position of influence to abuse their power and thereby create an environment where their victims felt unable to speak out.

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Women and men should be able to work free from the threat or fear of harassment, bullying or intimidation, she said in a speech at the Confederation of British Industrys annual conference.

The scandal cuts to the heart of British politics and involves a slew of allegations ranging from inappropriate advances and touching, to the sending of suggestive text messages and even rape.

It comes after a multitude of abuse allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein and others that have created a ripple effect across the Atlantic and has been described as a watershed moment for British politics by Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

This isnt just unique to Westminster, this is about fundamental change to the way that power in authority is exercised, Rudd said.

What is good about this is its going to lead to fundamental change, she said. What is bad is the abuse of power. It needs to end and I hope the Westminster workplace can make the changes so many other workplaces have made so that men and women can work together with respect.

Political leaders met for a crisis meeting of sorts, where they sought to devise a plan to ensure that anyone who feels victimized has a clear means of recourse to report the issue, and have it taken seriously.

They agreed to the establishment of an independent grievance procedure that would be enforced across Parliament. It should be established by next year, the prime minister said, and a new face-to-face human resources support service and improved phone line for complaints are expected to be introduced by the end of the month.

Mays defense minister, Michael Fallon, resigned last week amid allegations that he made unwanted advances to two female journalists dating to the early 2000s as well as lewd comments to Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, who ran against May for the prime minister position after David Cameron resigned as a result of the pro-Brexit referendum outcome last year.

The culture has changed over the years, Fallon told the BBC last week after admitting his behavior had been inappropriate.

What might have been acceptable 15,10 years ago is clearly not acceptable now. Parliament now has to look at itself, he said.

Another member of Mays inner circle, her most senior minister, Damian Green, is the subject of a Cabinet Office inquiry after being accused of touching the knee of party activist Kate Maltby in 2015 and later sending her suggestive texts after she was pictured wearing a corset in a newspaper. He denies the allegations.

Conservative member of Parliament Chris Pincher resigned Sunday from his post as government whip, a job that involves enforcing party discipline, and referred himself to the police and the partys complaints procedure after the Mail reported allegations that he made sexual advances toward a party activist and former Olympic rower Alex Story in 2001 at Pinchers London home.

Allegations of harassment and misconduct have also been made against members of the Labor and Liberal Democrat parties and governments in Wales and Scotland.

Jeremy Corbyns Labor Party suspended member of Parliament Kelvin Hopkins last week over claims of inappropriate advances toward a Labor Party activist in 2004, which Hopkins denies.

The party has launched an independent investigation into allegations by Bex Bailey, a Labor activist, who has said she was sexually assaulted and discouraged from reporting the alleged attack that occurred at a party event in 2011.

Corbyn, who during a weekend conference described the Westminster culture as warped and degrading, said Monday that the behavior was not confined to politics or the film industry.

Such abuse, sexism and misogyny is, sadly, very far from being confined to Hollywood and the corridors of power, but is also widespread in our schools and universities, in our businesses and workplaces, in our newspapers and on our TV screens. It is all around us, he said at the Confederation of British Industrys conference.

That must change and business has an essential role to play. All of you need to look hard at yourselves, as we in the Labor Party are doing ourselves, to see how your processes and procedures can be improved. How it can be made easier for women to speak out and for victims to get the support they have a right to expect.

Boyle is a special correspondent.
Gunmen disguised as police officers stormed the headquarters of a television station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two employees, wounding 20 and forcing the station off the air for nearly four hours in another audacious attack in the Afghan capital.

When Shamshad TV resumed broadcasting, Parwiz Safi sat at the anchors desk, his hands bandaged from injuries he suffered in the attack.

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Were not sure who was behind the attack. That is for security forces to find out, Safi said, his voice defiant. We will continue our broadcast.

He said that 20 of his colleagues had been wounded, some seriously, and were being treated at hospitals. Safi himself was treated and released before returning to the air. His first guest was Rahimullah Samandar, head of the national journalists union.

The broadcast struck a courageous note on a day that was otherwise disheartening: militants once again managed to penetrate central Kabuls increasingly patchy veneer of security to strike at a symbol of openness and free expression.

The attack, which was claimed by supporters of Islamic State, began when two gunmen wearing police uniforms opened fire at the entrance to the TV station, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for Afghanistans interior ministry. About 150 TV station employees were believed to be inside.

Hashmat Stanikzai, a news anchor who watched the attack unfold on a CCTV camera from inside the compound, said that as he escaped the studio, he saw six people wounded and others laying on the ground, not moving.

The attackers were eventually shot and killed by Afghan security forces, Rahimi said.

Islamic States affiliate in South Asia claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to reporters. It was the groups second significant strike in Kabul in weeks, coming after a suicide bombing at a Shiite Muslim mosque last month that killed more than 50 people.

It was also the latest attack against Afghan media, one of the few success stories since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the repressive Taliban regime. A proliferation of private television channels has created one of the most vibrant journalism scenes in the region.

But Afghan journalists and media workers have also come under attack as security deteriorates across the country.

In May, six people were killed when Islamic State supporters attacked a state television station in the eastern city of Jalalabad. Two weeks later, two media workers were killed in a massive bombing in central Kabuls diplomatic quarter.

The attack on Shamshad TV is a horrific crime that tragically demonstrates the risks Afghanistans journalists face for their legitimate work, said Amnesty Internationals deputy South Asia director, Omar Waraich. The Afghan authorities must do what they can to protect the countrys media, allowing them to work freely and without fear.

Amnesty also slammed European countries for forcibly returning asylum-seekers to Afghanistan on the grounds that the country is not at war.

This latest attack also underscores the grim fact that Kabul continues to be one of the most hazardous places in the country, Waraich said.

Shamshad TV is owned by Fazel Karim, cultural advisor to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Its programming is mostly in the Pashto language spoken by Afghanistans largest ethnic group, the Pashtun, drawing audiences mainly in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Ghanis office condemned the attack, saying, Terrorists cant limit freedom of speech and media by launching criminal attacks.

Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia

UPDATES:

6:30 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting that includes additional details.

This article was originally published at 5:10 a.m.
Catalonias ousted leader vowed Tuesday to prolong the fight for independence from Spain and urged the European Union to speak out over the jailing of Catalan officials in a rebellion case.

Carles Puigdemonts comments came at a campaign-style rally in Belgiums capital attended by around 200 mayors from Catalonia who greeted the deposed president with chants of president and freedom.

The mayors raised their walking sticks, a symbol of mayoral power in Spain, in the air at the end of his speech, and the crowd sang the Catalan anthem.

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We will never renounce this ideal of a country, of this notion of democracy, Puigdemont told the mayors, gathered in a central Brussels art museum.

Flanked by four associates who fled Spain with him, Puigdemont challenged the Spanish authorities and international community to accept the results of a snap Catalan election on Dec. 21 if separatists win.

Puigdemont and his colleagues could face 30 years in jail in Spain on charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement if Belgian justice authorities agree to extradite them. Nine former Catalan government members already have been sent to jail in Spain. One of them was released on bail during the investigation.

We are the legitimate government of Catalonia, and we are going to carry on, former regional government member Meritxell Serret told the audience, her voice breaking with emotion.

Puigdemont also challenged the European Union to finally make its voice heard. Catalan officials at the Brussels event Tuesday urged EU leaders to take up the Catalan cause.

Is this the Europe you want? Is this the Europe you want to build, with a democratically elected government in jail? he said before a group of mayors held up big letters spelling Help Catalonia.

The leaders of all the EUs main institutions are party allies of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. They have refused to criticize his government, and only reacted very cautiously to police violence during the Oct. 1 independence referendum in Catalonia.

Hours earlier, Puigdemont did an interview in Brussels with Catalan public radio.

The separatist leader said that there is an absolute disconnect between the interests of the people and the European elites and that Catalonias problem is an issue of human rights that requires maximum attention.

Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of an investigation into allegations of implementing a strategy to secede from Spain. His next hearing before a Belgian court is Nov. 17.

Catalan independence is now the second cause of concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment and ahead of corruption, according to the latest government-run poll. Before the illegal independence referendum that deepened the political crisis, the issue was only ninth in the ranking of concerns by the CIS survey.

Spanish central authorities are now in direct control of the northeastern region, where the early election next month is shaping into a tight race between separatist and pro-union forces.

The civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan endeavor for secession from Spain on Tuesday called for the regions separatist political parties to run in a unified pro-independence ticket. In a statement, Assemblea Nacional Catalana said such a joint coalition should include jailed separatist activists and the members of the deposed Catalan Cabinet as candidates.

The parties have until midnight Tuesday to register an interest in forming coalitions.

We dont have any other alternative but to run all of us together, Puigdemont said in a tweet.

A recent poll by the Barcelona-based La Vanguardia newspaper predicted that the three pro-secession parties would win between 66 and 69 seats in December. Sixty-eight seats are needed for a majority.

Pro-secession parties held a slim majority in the Catalan Parliament before it was dissolved by Spanish authorities after lawmakers passed a declaration of independence on Oct. 27.

Catalonias opposition leader, Ines Arrimadas, said Tuesday she hoped that disillusionment among pro-independence supporters would help her Ciutadans (Citizens) Party and other pro-Spanish unity groups to band together and oust the pro-secessionists.

Meanwhile, judges also are gauging possible rebellion charges against the former Catalan separatist officials and lawmakers who made the vote possible. Eight former Cabinet members, including the ousted regional vice president, have been jailed, one of them released on bail. Five more, including Puigdemont, are in Belgium, where they plan to campaign while fighting extradition to Spain.

Six lawmakers, including the regional parliaments speaker, Carme Forcadell, also could be sent to jail as soon as Thursday after they testify before a Supreme Court judge on a similar probe. They also face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.
A billionaire investor, sitting Cabinet members and the prince in charge of one of Saudi Arabias three security services are among the dozens of people arrested in an unprecedented purge that has accelerated a concentration of power in the hands of King Salmans ambitious son and heir.

The sweep began over the weekend and was portrayed by Saudi officials as a crackdown on corruption, part of a plan by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attract more foreign investment and reduce the countrys historic dependence on oil.

But the arrests also sideline potential rivals and critics from other branches of the royal family that have traditionally maintained a delicate balance of power.

Authorities have not formally identified those arrested. But here are some of the names that have been widely circulated in news reports and on Saudi social media accounts.

Billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. (Majdi Mohammed / Associated Press)

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Co.

One of the worlds wealthiest men, Prince Alwaleed has amassed major holdings in major Western brands such as Citigroup, Twitter and Apple. He has also invested in real estate, hospitality and entertainment sectors.

It was not immediately clear why the prince had been targeted. Alwaleed has been publicly supportive of the crown princes attempts to woo investment, as well as as a controversial military campaign in neighboring Yemen.

Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah (Hassan Ammar / Associated Press)

Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah

A favored son of the late King Abdullah , Prince Mutaib was once seen as a possible contender for the throne. He was arrested and replaced as head of the elite national guard, the only branch of the kingdoms security services not already under the crown princes control.

Mutaib is accused of embezzlement, hiring ghost employees and awarding contracts to his own companies, including a $10-billion deal for walkie-talkies and bulletproof military gear, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.

Prince Turki bin Abdullah (European Pressphoto Agency/Shutterstock)

Prince Turki bin Abdullah, former governor of Riyadh

As deputy governor and governor of Riyadh province between 2013 and 2015, Prince Turki played a key role in the launch of a multibillion-dollar rapid transit project for the Saudi capital that is slated for completion in 2019. He is now reportedly accused of taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies.

Prince Turki bin Nasser. (Kamal Mustafa / EPA/Shutterstock)

Prince Turki bin Nasser, former head of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

The presidency of Meteorology and Environment would appear to be a poor position for amassing a fortune. But Prince Turki reportedly owns nearly 200 classic cars, a business jet and opulent houses in Beverly Hills; Barcelona, Spain; and London.

As a high-ranking military official during the 1980s and 1990s, he was involved in arms deals with the military contractor BAE Systems that led to accusations of bribery and fines in Britain and the United States. Although he was never charged with wrongdoing, news reports at the time identified the prince as a major recipient of questionable payments made by the company to win contracts.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, former deputy defense minister

Prince Fahd, who comes from a minor branch of the House of Saud, was appointed deputy defense minister in 2013 after a navy career. He was replaced just four months later; no reason was given for the switch.

Saudi Arabias then-Minister of Economy and Planning Adel Fakeih poses with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon on a visit to Seoul in October 2017. (Yonhap News Agency)

Adel Fakeih, minister of economy and planning

A veteran politician, Fakeih has served as the mayor of Jidda, minister of health and minister of labor.

King Salman appointed him minister of economy and planning in 2015. But an article in the Saudi daily Okaz the following year quoted observers describing him as ineffective and claiming that the ministry had not been actively involved in the crown princes Saudi Vision 2030 reform agenda.

Khaled Tuwaijri, former chief of the Saudi royal court

As chief of the Saudi royal court, a post he held for nine years, Tuwaijri served as gatekeeper to King Abdullah.

A Cardinal Richelieu-like figure, he was seen by many as the de facto ruler in the country toward the end of the kings life. But Abdullahs successor, King Salman, removed him from office in 2015, apparently before Abdullah had been buried.

Some on social media, especially those who felt Tuwaijri had barred access to Abdullah, celebrated his reported arrest. But others called him a loyal servant and said his detention was proof that the crackdown was motivated by more than corruption.

Saudi Arabias former finance minister, Ibrahim Assaf. (Konstantin Salomatin / Pool Photo)

Ibrahim Assaf, former finance minister

Assaf served as the countrys finance minister for 20 years and continued to represent the kingdom at international events after he was replaced in 2016.

He has been involved in many of the kingdoms top financial and business concerns, including the Saudi Fund for Development, and sits on the board of the state-run oil company, Aramco.

His arrest is likely to cause unease among investors in the run-up to the crown princes high-profile push to sell a stake in Aramco and has fueled speculation that the sale could be delayed.

Abdullah Sultan, commander of the Saudi navy

A career naval officer, Adm. Sultan was appointed to lead the force in 2014. A decree announced his sacking, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. His removal was seen as part of the effort to consolidate power in the hands of Salman loyalists.

Times staff writer Zavis reported from Irbil, Iraq, and special correspondent Bulos from Amman, Jordan.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis
Visitors at Vietnam's display area in the fair (Photo: vov.vn)

As the capital of Bourgogne region and famous for its unique and long-standing products of France, the International Tourism and Food Fair Dijon Congrexpo 2017 is one of the six largest fairs held annually in France, gathering around 600 stalls from all over France and the world and thousands of visitors.

At the fair, Vietnams display area is impressive for its central location, and highlights a harmonic decoration, imbued with Vietnamese identity.

It is decorated like an old market, with a main gate and two sub-gates, which is similar to the architecture of traditional Vietnamese village gates with curved roofs and arches. 20 stalls in Vietnams display area introduce a variety of traditional handicrafts, along with stalls of travel agencies such as Viettravel and Vietnamtours.

Especially, Vietnams food stall is warmly welcomed by visitors because they can enjoy unique Vietnamese cuisine while watching folk art programs performed by artists from Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor of Dijon city Francois Rebsamen appreciated the enthusiasm and effort of the Vietnam Cultural Centre in France to participate in the fair as an honoured guest.

"The International Tourism and Food Fair Dijon Congrexpo 2017 is happy to welcome Vietnam. Vietnam and France share the close-knit historical relationship that never fades in the memories of the two countries. Vietnam has a rich culture, a country of rivers and mountains, that always attracts French people," said Mr. Rebsamen.

In order to prepare for Vietnam's participation in this year's fair, a delegation of Dijon city was invited to visit Vietnam in late August to collect the most unique materials and images of Vietnam for communications.

In his speech at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son thanked the organizers of the fair for choosing Vietnam as the "guest of honour" this year and considered it an affirmation of the developing relations between the two countries after the "strategic partnership" was established.

He emphasized that France is leading the European countries in the number of tourists to Vietnam, and that this fair would create conditions for further promoting two-way tourism and cultural exchange.

Ms. Le Y Linh, a representative of Viettravel Tourism Company, participating in the fair, said cuisine is an integral part of tourism and the Dijon fair was an opportunity for Vietnamese cuisine to be better known on a land of Bourgogne, which is world famous for cuisine./.
Visitors at "Vietnam Little Corner" (Photo: VNA)

The event was attended by over 500 visitors, including Dutch and international friends who love Vietnamese culture and food.

The organizers introduced typical dishes of the Southern, Central and Northern regions of Vietnam, such as sizzling cake of southern region, Hue noodles of Central region and steamed rolled rice pancake of Northern region. In addition, spring rolls, noodle soup and bread, sticky rice with corn, square glutinous rice cakes and many other cakes were also served at the event.

Moreover, the stall was decorated nicely, like a small restaurant in rural Vietnam, which attracted international visitors.

Not only enjoying the unique dishes, visitors also enjoyed an art program performed by an art troupe of the overseas Vietnamese community and Vietnamese students in the Netherlands.

After the event, the organizers will extract part of the proceeds to support school fees for seven poor students in Tam Thanh commune, Nui Thanh district, Quang Nam province. Over its three years of organization (from 2015 to 2017), "Vietnam Little Corner" has become a favourite Vietnamese culinary cultural event among Dutch friends./.
Translator Do Ngoc Viet Dung receives award (Photo: vov.vn)

Do Ngoc Viet Dung, a member of the Czech Writers' Association, is one of five authors who were given the award. He is also the only foreign author honoured this time.

The Czech Literature Prize is an annual honourable award of the Czech Writers' Association for writers, poets, translators and painters who are members of the association, to acknowledge their contributions in promoting Czech literature to the world.

Since his first trip to the former Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, in 1971, Do Ngoc Viet Dung was conquered by the peaceful beauty of nature, the openness and hospitality of the people there.

He found poetic delight and romance in Czechs literary works and wished to translate them into Vietnamese to introduce Czech literature to the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.

Up to now, he has translated and written over 10 works of literature, poetry, history and culture of Czech into Vietnamese and many of them have been published by the Vietnam Writers Association.

At the award ceremony, Mr. Karel Sys, Head of the Czech Writers' Association, acknowledged the efforts of Mr. Do Ngoc Viet Dung in spreading Czech literature to Vietnamese readers, contributing to bridge the friendship between the two nations.

"We appreciate the works of Mr. Do Ngoc Viet Dung because they show his passion and burning love for Czech literature in particular, the country and the people of Czech in general," said Mr. Karel Sys.

"We are looking forward to his new works, which will not only be widely known by the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, but also in Vietnam, to contribute to promoting the literatures of the two countries, increasing mutual understanding between the two peoples, he added.

"I am very moved and proud to receive the Literary Prize of the Czech Writers' Association. This is the pride of the Vietnamese community in former Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic now, because the knowledge I want to convey aims to help the Vietnamese community know more about the country and people of the Czech Republic and vice verse. In the future, I will learn more about the themes of the community so that I can translate those which can serve the interests of the Vietnamese community living here," said Mr. Do Ngoc Viet Dung.

The translator said that he was going to complete books about history of Czechoslovakian and World Sports, the history of Czechoslovakian music, and 100 songs of Czech and Slovakia in two languages. He is also writing a collection of 500 poems and the third volume of a novel about lives of Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic over the past several decades.

Mr Viet Dung is the second Vietnamese person to be honoured by receiving this award since it was initiated by the Czech Writers Association 12 years ago./.
Local law enforcement and school districts across Pennsylvania partnered with state police last month for an enforcement and education effort targeting motorists who disobey the flashing lights of school buses.

In the Lehigh Valley, the Parkland School District and police in South Whitehall and Lehigh townships joined Bethlehem-based state police in Operation Safe Stop 2017 on Oct. 18, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

Their combined effort netted zero violations, spokeswoman Alexis Campbell said Monday.

Across Pennsylvania, however, 120 violations were noted with 56 citations issued, Campbell said. All told, 106 law enforcement agencies took part.

State police, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the results of the initiative on Monday.

"With darkness coinciding with more of our students' school-bus rides and the holiday season quickly approaching, it is important that motorists remain vigilant while sharing the road with school buses and students," PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said in a statement. "We unfortunately saw more people breaking the School Bus Stopping Law last year so we're reminding motorists of its importance."

Statewide, convictions for breaking the School Bus Stopping Law increased from 701 in 2015 to 730 in 2016, according to the announcement.

The law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop. The exception is motorists who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway; they are not required to stop when lanes of the highway are clearly separated by a divider, such as a concrete barrier or grassy median.

"The penalties if convicted of disobeying the law are a $250 fine, 5 points on your driving record and a 60-day license suspension," state police Lt. Robert Krol, director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Division in the Bureau of Patrol, stated. "But worse than these penalties, a tragedy could strike if either a driver or a student is not paying attention to their surroundings."

What do the points mean? With the initial accumulation of 6 points, the driver will receive a written notice to take a special written examination addressing knowledge of safe driving practices, PennDOT sanctions and related safety issues.

The driver has 30 days to successfully pass the exam or else the license will be suspended until the exam is passed. If the exam is passed within the 30-day period, 2 points will be removed from the driving record.

Three points are removed from a driving record for each 12 consecutive months in which a person is not under license suspension or revocation or had not committed any new violations resulting in additional points. Once a driver's record is reduced to and remains at zero points for 12 months, any further accumulation of points will be considered an initial accumulation of points.

Second, third and subsequent accumulations of six points lead to increasingly harsher penalties, including license suspension, as does the accumulation of 11 or more points.

Some safety tips for students to remember while waiting for or loading and unloading the bus include:

Get to the school bus stop five minutes early, so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus.

When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic.

Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus.

Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.

Never push when getting on or off the school bus.

Pennsylvania Department of Education Executive Deputy Secretary David Volkman stated Monday: "As the safety of students is our top priority, PDE encourages our local school districts to choose the safest locations possible for school bus stops.

"But even with added precautions of ongoing training of school staff and students on school transportation safety, we need the cooperation of all motorists to ensure that our students remain out of harm's way."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The stunning shooting of a Pennsylvania state trooper unfolded a few feet away from a mother and her young child.

Saylorsburg resident Brittany Beam said she was taking her 4-year-old daughter to a doctor's appointment when traffic started slowing on southbound Route 33.

She saw police lights ahead and kidded with her daughter that someone was in trouble.

As she inched by the traffic incident, she saw a man jump into the driver's side of his car and pull out what appeared to be a gun.

She heard popping noises, saw a state trooper fall to the ground and a second trooper duck behind the car.

"Without hesitation, I put my foot to the floor and got as far away as I could," Beam said.

State police confirmed a corporal was shot around 11 a.m. during a traffic stop at the Route 191 exit of Route 33. The state police corporal was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill. His name and condition were not immediately released.

Beam's daughter cried hysterically as she sped down the road. Within minutes she was passed by the suspect's blue Pontiac, which weaved in and out of traffic and onto the shoulder reaching speeds of 100 mph.

State police said he went to Easton Hospital shortly after the incident to seek treatment for his gunshot wounds. He has since been transferred from the hospital, according to Wilson Borough police.

The shooting took a matter of seconds but unfolded as though in slow motion in a movie, Beam said.

"We are both praying that the officer is alright," Beam said. "My 4-year-old who witnessed the entire incident has been crying nonstop and continuously asking me if the "cop is ok.'"

She never made it to the doctor's. After Route 33 was shut down, Beam drove on back roads for about an hour and a half until she made it to her mother's house. She composed herself and eventually went home.

"I have been crying since (the incident), thinking he could have easily shot a few feet to the left and would have hit my car and my child who was inside," Beam said.

Her thoughts are with the wounded corporal and his family.

"I am looking forward to the update on his condition. I pray it is good news when there is news," she said.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
UPDATE: WATCH: Dashcam captures fleeing trooper shooting suspect

A Pennsylvania State Police corporal was fighting for his life Tuesday after an arrest of a suspected intoxicated driver turned into a shootout.

The corporal was shot three times and shots were fired at his backup trooper during the incident about 10:50 a.m. on Route 33 in Plainfield Township, according to state police Capt. Richard D'Ambrosio.

The shot trooper, from the Belfast barracks, was in "extremely critical" but stable condition Tuesday afternoon, D'Ambrosio said.

At an afternoon news conference in rain and sleet outside St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, D'Ambrosio said the incident began as a traffic stop where a driver was cited and told he was free to leave.

The corporal began to drive away, when the driver flagged him down to talk about the citation, state police said.

During the conversation, the corporal came to believe the driver was under the influence and called for backup.

The suspect failed a field sobriety test, and when the trooper went to arrest him for suspected DUI, a "knock-down, drag-out fight" ensued, D'Ambrosio said.

"It got very, very violent. It was a very violent fight," D'Ambrosio said, adding he watched video of the altercation.

The suspect, who was not named by police, freed himself, grabbed a gun from his car and opened fire on the troopers, D'Ambrosio said. The troopers returned fire; the wounded trooper suffered three gunshot wounds while the driver was struck multiple times.

Law enforcement sources identified the trooper as Seth Kelly, an Upper Nazareth Township resident and husband of Forks Township police Detective Philomena Kelly.

Despite being shot, the suspect drove away, eventually going to Easton Hospital in Wilson Borough, D'Ambrosio said. The suspect was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, and was undergoing surgery as of 3:30 p.m.

The wounded trooper was flown to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, where he also underwent surgery and was in stable but extremely critical condition.

D'Ambrosio said if not for the hard work of authorities and the medical staff of St. Luke's, he was certain he would be talking about the death of a trooper instead of his recovery.

"Right now our guy is up there fighting for his life," D'Ambrosio said. "He is a warrior. Like I said, he went through a heck of a fight on the side of the road and he has a will to live. God willing, he is going to pull through this."

D'Ambrosio said more information will be made available at a new conference scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Troop M headquarters along Airport Road in Bethlehem.

Reporter Sarah Cassi contributed to this report.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
UPDATE: Trooper 'fighting for his life' after vehicle stop shootout

The trooper shot during a traffic stop on Route 33 is an Upper Nazareth Township resident who is married to a local police detective, sources said.

Two law enforcement sources confirmed the wounded trooper is Seth J. Kelly, the husband of Forks Township police Detective Philomena Kelly.

Pennsylvania State Police declined to release his identity at a press conference around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A state police captain said more information would be released at a news conference 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Kelly was shot three times during a traffic stop around 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Route 191 exit of Route 33 in Plainfield Township.

He was shot in the throat and the leg, a law enforcement source said.

State police Captain Richard D'Ambrosio said the injured trooper underwent surgery Tuesday and is "fighting for his life."

"He is a warrior. He went through a heck of a fight and he has a will to live," D'Ambrosio said. "God willing, he will pull through this."

D'Ambrosio said Kelly pulled over a driver and issued a citation. The driver started acting suspicious, so Kelly called for backup and tried to arrest him for drunken driving.

The driver fought the troopers, grabbed a gun and a shootout ensued, D'Ambrosio said. Both Kelly and the unidentified driver were shot, he said.

Kelly was promoted to corporal last year, according to a news release. He was reassigned within Troop M from the Belfast to the Bethlehem barracks, according to the news release. He joined the state police in 2004.

He and Philomena Kelly were married in 2013, according to an online wedding registry.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
The sister of the farmer attacked with Iron bars in his home in south Offaly on Saturday has said he will never return home again, RTE have reported.

Annette Meacle spoke to RTE and made a passionate plea for authorities to be better resourced in rural Ireland.

Her brother, 54-year-old Richie McKelvey, who lives alone, was viciously beaten during a burglary at his house in Brosna, near Birr in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mr McKelvey reportedly had locked himself and his dog into his bedroom in fear after a number of recent attacks. When the gang broke in on Saturday they attacked him and his dog. The gang demanded money.

The gang of four dragged the man to his yard, assaulted him a number of times before locking him in a shed. While the men fled, the injured farmer escaped and raised the alarm with a neighbour.

Hi sister called for the gardai to be better resourced in the rural Ireland, and also asked for cameras to be placed on the exits of the motorways to at least trace the movements of these criminals.

"The world seems to come alive in the dark at night in rural Ireland because they know the fear is there," she told RTE.

SHOT FIRED IN HIGH SPEED CHASE

The farmer remains in hospital after what was described as "an aggravated burglary". He suffered lacerations to his head and upper body after he was viciously beaten.

His injuries are not life threatening but Gardai are continuing an extensive investigation at Birr Garda Station such was the severity of the attack.

The farmer, who lives alone, was targeted on Saturday morning for the second time in six weeks. A small sum of money was taken from his home.

Gardai have appealed for people, especially fellow farmers and home owners in the area, to look out for discarded clothing or items in fields and ditches around their land. They also revealed that the men spoke with Munster accents and were estimated to be aged in their 20s.

Gardai are keen to trace the movements of a 4x4 vehicle used by the men, which they believe was parked up at a field during the ordeal.

Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour between 11pm on Friday night and 3am on Saturday morning are urged to contact Birr Garda Station on (057) 916 9710.
Health management could end up having to use Tallaght hospital's car park for trollies if its sister hospital in Portlaoise is downgraded under a proposal that would have national implications for patients.

Mr Austin Stack, Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee member, made the extraordinary claim and said he was utterly dismayed at plans to divert A&E services from Portlaoise as revealed in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Strategy leaked to Laois TD Brian Stanley.

He described the plan as "short sighted, irrational and illogical plan which would have national implications.

"The HSE have a clear agenda to wind up our hospital which will lead to people dying. If the A&E is closed then maternity and paediatrics will quickly follow suit.

This is a national issue and should not be seen a local one to the Midlands. The HSE want to send the 40,0000 A&E patients from Portlaoise to Tallaght which already has an overcrowded A&E, he said.

Mr Stack called on the HSE to explain where all these extra patients are going to be accommodated. He said the hospital which services Laois, south Kildare, parts of Carlow, Offaly and Kilkenny is of critical importance to the Midlands region.,

"Are they going to put trollies in the carpark of Tallaght? When the maternity and paediatrics close, as they invariably will, this will also impact on Dublin Hospitals, St. James and The Coombe.

He claimed that the HSE want a situation where there is no critical A&E cover from Tallaght to Limerick with ambulance waiting times increasing we are most definitely looking at people dying.

In its strategy the DMHG says Portlaoise A&E would be closed and replaced 24/7 Medical Assessment Unit and a 12/7 Local Injury Unit. The DMHG says Tallaght and Tullamore will pick up the slack. In 2016 nearly 40,000 people presented to Portlaoise while nearly 50,000 went to Tallaght. Some 33,200 went to Tullamore.

Almost 200,000 people attended A&Es in the five acute hospitals in the group which also includes Naas and St James'.

In calling for the hospital to be upgraded, Mr Stack said a clear investment in the Laois hospital was needed. He said its annual budget should not millions less than a nearby hospital which serves a the same population area. The DMHG says Portlaoise has a 51.7m budget with 668 full time posts.

"Kilkenny Hospital which covers a similar catchment area to Portlaoise receives 14 million more of a budget each year.

"Portlaoise is the fastest growing urban area in the country and the A&E in Portlaoise is the busiest one outside the major cities. Do our lives not matter as much as those in Kilkenny?

Mr Stack pointed out that GPs and consultants in Laois have produced an alternative plan but have been ignored on this issue.

The son of murdered Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack recently joined the reformed committee in the wake of public meeting in Portlaoise to protest a plan to downgrade Portlaoise.

He called on the people of the midlands to support the local Hospital Action Committee and ensure that those who would see people needlessly dying in our community dont get their way.
The number of trollies at Portlaoise and other 1 billion funded hospitals in Dublin and the Midlands has jumped by nearly a quarter or more than 3,300 so far this year compared to 2016.

The figures are contained in the latest Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Trolley/Ward Watch figures, for the month of October and to date in 2017. The INMO says the level of overcrowding, arising from admitted patients being left on trolleys in Emergency Departments, or wards, continues to reach record levels.

Figures for the the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (DMHG) are listed. The group includes hospitals in Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Dublin which provided local, regional and national services. To date in 2017 the number of trollies has jumped from 14,203 to 17,541 - a 23.5% increase. All of these patients had to be left on trollies because no bed could be found in the hospitals.

The number of trollies deployed at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise to the end of October reached 2,870 compared to 2,747 last year. The Laois hospital had the third highest trolley count in the DMHG.

Tallaght hospital is the busiest with 4,107 followed closely by Tullamore with 4,093. Under a new HSE plan many of the 40,000 people who present to Portlaoise A&E each year would be diverted to these two hospitals emergency departments. Tallaght's trolley numbers are up by more than 500 on 2016.

PORTLAOISE A&E CUT PLAN CRAZINESSS

A total of 2,763 had to be left on trollies in Naas General while the country's biggest hospital, St James, needed trollies for 1,854 patients so far this year - up just under 500 on last year.

Tullamore hospital was extremely busy in October. Some 422 patients had to be put on trollies in the Offaly hospital just short 425 accommodated on trollies in Tallaght in west Dublin. It was a relatively quiet month in Portlaoise with 136 trollies used in A&E and wards.

A recent new five year Strategy for the DMHG hospitals says annual funding is now over 1 billion treating more than 800,000 annually. It wants to downgrade Portlaoise and concentrate resources in Tallaght and Tullamore.

TALLAGHT HOSPITAL CAR PARK FOR TROLLIES IF PORTLAOISE DOWNGRADED

Nationally nurses say the latest figures confirm the following:

In October there were 8,903 patients, admitted for care, for whom there was no in-patient beds.

This represents a 15% increase when compared to October 2016; and

In the first 10 months of this year (January to October) there were 82,459 patients, admitted for care, with no in-patient bed available.

This represents an 8% increase, on the first 10 months of 2016, and a 96% increase in the first 10 months of 2007.

The INMO say figures also confirm that, in October, the levels of overcrowding, in Dublin hospitals, had increased, when compared to October 2016. This follows a number of months when, in Dublin, levels of overcrowding had reduced.

However in hospitals, outside of Dublin, the situation continues to deteriorate, significantly, with record levels both in the month of October and in the 10 months of the year to date.

In the month of October the hospitals with the highest number patients, on trolleys, were:

University Hospital Limerick: 719

University Hospital Galway: 679

Cork University Hospital: 635

South Tipperary General Hospital: 546

St Lukes Hospital Kilkenny: 495

However the figures also show very marked increases in other hospitals including:

Wexford General Hospital  from 55 in October 2016 to 241 in October 2017;

Letterkenny University Hospital  from 121 in October 2016 to 459 in October 2017.

The INMO says it meet with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), on 30th November 2017, following a request for unannounced inspections of all Emergency Departments/Wards. At this meeting the INMO will again be calling upon the HSA to issue directions to ensure nursing, and other frontline staff, have a safe working environment. The nurses say it is not acceptable that staff should have to work, in such overcrowded environments, on a daily basis.

Commenting on the latest figures INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said:

These figures, yet again, confirm the obvious reality that our public health service is critically short of acute hospital beds, which is having a serious, detrimental and harmful effect upon patient care. It is imperative, as we enter the winter period, that all hospitals are empowered and supported to allow the following:

Open all available beds;

Introduce incentivised packages to recruit and retain the required numbers of additional nursing staff to allow for the opening of these beds and ensure safe staffing in all EDs and wards;

Initiate rostered attendance, by senior clinical decision makers, over the extended day 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., over the seven day cycle;

Ensure all available transitional and long term care beds, home care packages and home help hours, as required, without a waiting list, are available to all community nursing management/services.

"In order to address this crisis there cannot be any restriction, on the funds available to increase the capacity of the health service, as we enter the winter period," said the INMO general secretary

The Emergency Department Taskforce is scheduled to meet on 4th December 2017. The INMO said it will be seeking confirmation, at this meeting, that all of the foregoing measures, together with any other initiatives necessary to address this crisis, have been introduced across the system.
Last February I wrote a piece for the Leader outlining the challenges facing Naas as a retail town and highlighting some of the projects that were underway to address those. Six months on some of those projects are beginning to come good and it an apt time to update on where it is all at.

At a recent meeting I held with Retail Excellence Ireland, our modern shopping habits were summed up succinctly as midweek convenience, weekend experience.

In other words, people will shop online or in bulk midweek but want to enjoy leisure and recreation at weekends. We see this in Naas with the ever growing number of quality food and drink establishments throughout the town yet the town seems quiet midweek as people pull into out of town shopping centres, including the small convenience stores, that now exist in almost every suburb of the town and surrounds.

And yet I believe the Main Street and town centre has a very strong future, and the number of new businesses opening, whilst sometimes drawing less coverage than those closing, is testament to that.

The headline news is that a big brand retailer is very hotly tipped to be heading for Naas Main Street  all the smart money is on Dunnes taking up residence in the old Superquinn site over the next couple of months. Whilst it is understood that the final details are still being worked out, very informed sources says it happening very soon.

The unfinished shopping centre continues to represent the towns tougher years but rapid progress has been made on that, even in the last few months, to move it from a stalemate situation to one where the receiver is now actively preparing the centre for sale by the end of this year.

There is no shortage of interested buyers  Ive met many of them  and the council have committed to taking the cranes down at the earliest opportunity  a change in the landscape that will be very symbolic.

Devoy developments

There are exciting developments at Devoy Quarter, just behind the council offices and the Osprey hotel where a new innovation centre is to be developed; this is collaboration between University of Maynooth, the Kildare County Enterprise Office and the Kildare Chamber of Commerce.

It will employ up to 200 people and provide hot-desking spaces and a start-up hub for new and growing businesses.

Huge capital spending projects are underway which will reinforce the infrastructure of the town and district and equip it for growth now and in the years ahead.

The Sallins bypass, the addition of a third lane to the M7 from Johnstown through to the M9 exit and the new motorway interchange with the Millenium ring road by the Kerry site will all see a massive boost to the road network.

Parking is a bug-bear of many within the town; while there are a lot more spaces than sometimes realised, particularly when you consider the multi-storey on Wolfe Tone Street and the large council carpark off the Friary road, there can still be pressure for on-street parking spaces. The good news here is that Naas will take a step closer to being clamp-free when some of the privately owned clamping car parks move over to council management in the towns new parking bye-laws shortly.

Whilst its been controversial, the Poplar Square redevelopment has got the go-ahead and this will create a new public plaza for events like the Midsummer festival, outdoor performances or just a place to sit and watch the world go and will give a very different feel to that end of the town.

With the Naas Town Development Plan to be reviewed and enhanced over the next twelve months, planners continue to project Naas, as the county town, to lead the way as a population centre and the town is projected to grow to 50,000 population within the next 20 years.

I have always believed that Naas town has a great history and will have a fantastic future  but that they may not look the same  change is the only constant in life but if we adapt we will thrive.

 James Lawless is a Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North
A planning decision on whether to grant permission for a new cemetery between Sallins and Clane is due next month.

Amendoeira Developments wants to develop a cemetery comprising 1,448 plots adjoining the side of Bodenstown Church and Graveyard.

The application also seeks permission for 30 car park spaces, an overflow parking area with gates, a new entrance for vehicles, a maintenance yard, on a 3.75 acre site.

The company has an address at Weir House in Clane and its directors are listed as Judy McCarthy and Seamus McCarthy.

A local resident, who has no objection to the development, has called for a footpath and public lighting to be put in place in the area.

The residents said that the site receives visitors throughout the year for marches and funerals and added that Bodenstown experiences heavy traffic as it has become a popular commuter route to the N7 via Kill and is currently unsafe for pedestrians to walk due to the volume and speed of traffic.

A document submitted as part of the application points out that the land is currently zoned for agricultural use.

It further points out that the local authority has an obligation to acquire or extend burial grounds as necessary and to acquire new lands for this purpose.

It also points out that the existing burial ground at Bodenstown is noticeably small and, even so, the number of plots proposed is smaller than at burial grounds approved at other locations in Ireland, all of which were approved.

It is planned that the proposed cemetery will be privately run and will be multi denominational.

According to the developer, a company will be specifically established to manage the day-to-day running of the graveyard.

SEE ALSO: Naas Columbarium wall opens in cemetery for cremated remains

An annual maintenance fee will be required which will provide a legal contract between the company the customer.

This fee will cover grave opening, foundation and headstone, grave maintenance and maintaining a purchased register of interments.

It is proposed to provide an internal pedestrian link between the proposed new cemetery and Bodenstown graveyard.

The overflow car parking area is only expected to be used during the three Sundays in June when large numbers visit the area for political party commemorations at the grave of Wolfe Tone.

It says there is minimal adverse impact on local ecology and no obvious risk to subsurface archeology.

Kildare County Council is due to decide on the fate of this unique planning application in early December.
The Ireland Glass Biennale 2017 exhibition in the NCAD Gallery is a new exhibition to shine a spotlight on excellence in contemporary glass work by international artists, designers and crafts practitioners working across the globe today. With an expert jury of selectors and open call to practitioners, the Ireland Glass Biennale is a significant new exhibition platform for glass talent hosted by the premiere national art and design institution in Ireland, the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.

On Thursday, October 26 the NCAD Gallery at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin (NCAD), opened the inaugural Ireland Glass Biennale 2017 exhibition to a packed gallery audience, showcasing the work of over 30 international and Irish artists, designers and makers working in the glass medium.

Esteemed guests included 25 members of the Ennion Society from the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, accompanied by Karol Wight, President & Executive Director, Amy Schwartz, Director of the Glass Studio, and Bill Gudenrath, Advisor, all from the Corning Museum of Glass, New York.



At the exhibition opening evening event, Amy Schwartz made reference to the importance of this biennale for contemporary glass makers, both nationally and internationally.

We have been in collaboration with the NCAD Glass Department and Dr Caroline Madden for many years in organising cross-institutional scholarships and we are delighted to be invited and to witness this wonderful new biennale exhibition with huge international potential, which is such an exciting opportunity for exhibitors and exhibition audiences that has lasting appeal.

The exhibition features works from emerging and established Irish artists including recent NCAD glass alumni Emma Bourke, Aoife Soden and Sinead Brennan. Work by these artists can be found in collections in international institutions such as The Museum of Glass, Toledo, Ohio; the National Glass Centre, Sunderland; the Ulster Museum, Belfast; the Limerick Museum, and the Museum of Ireland Collections.

Established and well known Irish artists, Peadar Lamb, Roisin de Buitlear and Alison Lowry together with designers, J HILLs Standard, present their magnificent work. Their work can be seen alongside that of international makers, including and Rothschild & Bickers (UK), Scott Benefield (UK), Davin Ebanks (US), and Vanessa Cutler (UK) amongst many more.

The exhibition is currently on-show at the NCAD Gallery, National College of Art and Design, 100 Thomas Street, and will run until Monday 13th November 2017. Admission is free and open to the public weekdays from 10am - 5pm.

The Ireland Glass Biennale 2017 Full List of Exhibitors include: Laetitia Andrighetto & Jean-Charles Miot (FR), Jonathan Ball (IE), Scott Benefield (UK), Emma Bourke (IE), Sinead Brennan (IE), Manuela Castro Martins (PT), Evy Cohen (FR), Vanessa Cutler (UK), Debbie Dawson (IE), Roisin de Buitlear (IE), Davin Ebanks (US), Karen Donnellan (US), Rachel Elliott (UK), Ursula Halpin (IE/AUS), J HILLs Standard (IE), Bryan Kekst Brown (US), Peadar Lamb (IE), Colette Langan (IE), Sophie Longwill (IE), Alison Lowry (UK), Loraine Lynn (US), Sarah Mc Evoy (IE), Michael Ray (IE), Anna Riley (US), Rothschild & Bickers (UK), Killian Schurmann (IE), Keith Seybert (US), Aoife Soden (DK), Suzannah Vaughan (IE), Ben Woodeson (UK), Peter Young (IE).



Exhibitors were selected by an esteemed panel of jurors through an open call. The Jury for the Ireland Glass Biennale 2017 included Brian Kennedy, Independent Curator working internationally predominantly in the craft and applied art area; Jiyong Lee, studio artist & Associate Professor of Art at Southern Illinois University, USA; and Dr Anna Moran, Lecturer in History of Design and Material Culture, School of Visual Culture, National College of Art & Design, Dublin (NCAD).

Exhibition continues until Monday November 13th, 2017, Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm.

Colete Langan

Colette Langan trained in the conservation and restoration of medieval stained glass at Chapel Studio in Hertfordshire, where she worked for seven years. Langan worked on the stained glass windows in Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. She was also entrusted with the restoration and repair of windows designed by prestigious artists such as Tiffany, Burne Jones and William Morris. Though training as a conservator, Langans desire was always to make her own work. In 1995 Langan returned to Leitrim and set up on her own, restoring and designing stained-glass windows.

"This work fuses my previous experience as a stained glass maker with my painting and digital media art practice. The stained glass piece breaks down an image of myself into 1232 pixels of glass, inspired by the paintings of Chuck Close; pushing the boundaries of pixilation while still retaining a recognisable image. The position of the viewer directly impacts on the legibility of the image.

"I have attempted to metaphorically and physically portray the destruction and remaking of identity, a process that is familiar to those who have endured and survived domestic abuse. The work started as a series of photographs that was inspired by the sharp light of a sunny winters morning. The work hints at the notion of original sin, unquestioned beliefs, shame, denial, constraints and the fear of speaking out. Ultimately such experiences can be subsumed into something new and bold; exchanging enforced silence for wise counsel."

Jonathan Ball

Jonathan Ball is a craftsperson who is interested primarily in the plasticity of materials. This interest has driven him to investigate and visualise how these materials can be incorporated into projects and installations in a built environment. From his studio in northwest Ireland he produces commissioned works for private and corporate clients. The ancient craft of glassblowing and forging metal are one of the studios main sources of inspiration. The acquisition and development of the skills and techniques required in theses crafts takes many years of dedication and persistence. The Leitrim based studio, has been in business for the past fifteen years and has completed a vast array of projects in Ireland and abroad. The studio offers clients a unique service and strives to produce work to the highest standards. In an age of computer generated results we visualise and create pieces that radiate the use of hand skills.
CONCERNS have been expressed about the prevalence of illegal parking near junctions in the city centre at night time.

Limerick City and County Council, which is in discussions with gardai in relation to the matter, says such parking reduces drivers sight distance and presents an unwelcome hazard to motorists.

Of particular concern, it says, is the number of cars being parked on double-yellow lines near junctions.

The comments were made in response to queries from this newspaper following a collision at the weekend which resulted in a car crashing through railings and entering a basement in the city centre.

The incident at the junction of Mallow Street and Catherine Street happened at the exact same location of a similar incident in February 2013.

The driver of the car  a woman in her 40s  was taken to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution while the occupants of a second car  three young men  were examined by paramedics at the scene.

While noting that a garda investigating into the incident is underway a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said it is satisfied that all regulatory provisions (ie stop signs) and road markings are in place at the junction to enable required sight distances and safe vehicle manoeuvres at appropriate speeds.

A spokesperson for the local authority added that all appropriate traffic lighting is operational in the area where the collision happened. Emergency services attended the scene of Saturday nights accident for a number of hours with a crane being used to remove the silver car from the basement.

There have been a number of other collisions at the same junction in recent years while there have been at least two other incidents where cars have ended up in basements following collisions elsewhere in the city  including at Pery Square and Hartstonge Street.

Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating the circumstances of Saturday nights incident and anyone with information is asked to contact them at 061 214340.
AN Aldi worker in Limerick was told his throat would be slit by a young man who threatened him with a scissors as he was walking to work.

Stephen Byrnes, aged 24, of Ballygrennan Road, Ballynanty has pleaded guilty to charges relating to an incident on March 21, 2015.

During a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Laide told Limerick Circuit Court the incident happened at Careys Road shortly before 6am.

He said the victim, who had left his home a short time earlier, was carrying a pouch containing keys to the store where he worked.

The defendant, he said, first approached the Polish national near the Peoples Park and asked him for a cigarette and later if he could use his mobile phone.

John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, said the defendant became annoyed when the victim when he ignored him and that he then produced a scissors and threatened to cut his throat.

The victim managed to escape and immediately ran to the public office at Roxboro Road garda station where he provided gardai with a description of the culprit.

Byrnes, who has a number of previous convictions, was apprehended in the Hyde Road area a short time later but could not be questioned for several hours due to his level of intoxication.

This was an intoxicated event, said Mark Nicholas SC who added that his clients admissions when he sobered up were critical.

The barrister also questioned Mr OSullivans assertion that the small nail scissors represented a potentially deadly weapon.

While accepting the incident had been traumatic for the victim, he said his client, who has a drug difficulty, had denied putting him in fear.

Judge Tom ODonnell adjourned sentencing to next month to facilitate the preparation of a probation report.
THERE are almost 30,000 people living with at least one disability in Limerick, according to new Census figures.

In Census 2016, the 29,228 people with a disability made up 15 percent of the population of Limerick.

The figure is an increase of almost 2,000 since Census 2011  when there were 27,343 people living with a disability in the city and county.

The figures also revealed that there are 149 carers under 15 years of age in Limerick. This is actually a decrease  in 2011, there were 191 carers under 15.

In Limerick, 13,727 people indicated that they had a difficulty with pain, breathing, or any other chronic illness or condition, while 2,628 indicated they had blindness or a serious visual impairment.

Almost 4,500 people reported having deafness or a serious hearing impairment.

In April 2016, the majority of those living in Limerick stated that their health was either very good (56.9 percent) or good (29.2 percent).

The 1.9 percent (3,642 people) who stated that their health was bad/very bad was above the national rate. It also represented a 12.1 percent increase on 2011.

Deirdre Cullen, Senior Statistician, said: Census 2016 was the second census in which the Irish public were asked to rate their own health so we can now make comparisons over time.

The report also provides detailed data and analysis on those with a disability while also examining changes in relation to carers, looking at issues such as the age and gender profile of carers, the number of carers in each county, and the hours of care provided.

The 8,476 people who stated that they provided regular unpaid personal help for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability comprised 4.3 percent of the countys population  an increase of 230 on 2011.

Of the carers in the county, 60.8 percent were female and 39.2 percent were male.
THERE were heavy delays on Limericks roads this Tuesday morning as Irish Rail workers kicked off a second day of action over pay and conditions.

For the second time in under a week, a picket has been set up at Limericks Colbert Station as rail services out of the city - and nationwide - ground to a halt.

With many rail passengers forced to switch to road transport as a result, there were long tailbacks at the Kilmallock roundabout stretching back to the Amber service station at 8.50 this morning.

Roadworks at the junction from Roxboro Road to Upper Carey's which reduced traffic to one lane, causing further delays.

Around 60 Iarnrod Eireann workers based out of the station are taking action, after they say they have not seen their wages increased since the onset of the recession back in 2008.

It marks the second of five proposed 24-hour nationwide protests, after Irish Rail workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action last month.

This lunchtime, Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staff Association  one of three unions backing the action  visited city workers.

On Wed @Manuel_TSSA joined striking @IrishRail colleagues on picket lines in Dublin & Tue 7 will be joining picket lines in Cork & Limerick pic.twitter.com/t1tQQ8K2tz  TSSA (@TSSAunion) November 5, 2017

Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada, who is also in Limerick today, called for Transport Minister Shane Ross to take action.

She said: I think Shane Ross is the most invisible minister we have ever seen in terms of his engagement with transport. For a minister for transport, he is very hands off. Why did he not step in at the very begining to try and prevent this from happening? Iarnrod Eireann provides a public service  its never going to make money  and the workers are right to strike because they have been continually carrying the flack for years.

Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea added: I visited the Irish Rail workers on the picket line in Limerick and none of them want to be on strike but feel they are forced into industrial action, as they have been treated very badly by management and haven't received any pay increase in 10 years.

He claimed Mr Ross had failed to honour a commitment made at the time of the Bus Eireann strike earlier this year to set up a multi-agency forum which could have prevented this action taking place.

Todays action is yet another example of the failure of Minister Ross strategy for overcoming industrial issues. His policy of ignoring the problem will most certainly not deliver a solution that protects workers, the tax payer and above all, passengers, the frontbencher concluded.

Workers are looking for a 3.75% annual increase over three years.

Irish Rail runs a number of services out of Limerick, including direct trains to Dublin, Ennis and Galway, plus indirect routes to Cork and Waterford.

The strike finishes tonight at 12 midnight.
A LIMERICK criminal is being questioned following an incident during which a shot was discharged in the direction of gardai following a high-speed chase.

The Limerick Leader has learned the 27-year-old, who has an address on the outskirts of the city, was arrested on Monday night following the incident near Monastervin, County Kildare.

Two other men  who have addresses in the Midlands  were also arrested.

In a statement, the Garda Press Office said a shotgun was produced and discharged by one of the occupants of a black Audi estate car which was stopped after it was observed driving at speed through Monasterevin.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

Around an hour later at 10.30pm, gardai from the armed Regional Support Unit stopped a silver Hyundai car at Pollardstown, Newbridge.

Three men were arrested, aged 23, 27 and 32 years, in connection with the earlier shooting and they are currently detained at Portlaoise and Tullamore garda Stations under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Investigations are continuing.

The Limerick man who has been detained has connections with an organised crime gang in the city. He has a number of serious convictions.
GARDAI in Limerick have issued a warning about financial scams as an elderly woman was the victim of an elaborate fraud.

Gardai said the woman in her 70s was the victim of a scam that saw her defrauded of 1,000 after she received a phone saying there was "suspicious activity on her bank account".

The woman, who lives alone in Patrickswell, was told that 1,500 had been withdrawn and was told that the bank could only reimburse her with amounts of 2,500.

She was told to go to her post office and transfer 1,000 to a specific Western Union account and she would receive the total amount back.

"Unfortunately, this lady did as she was told and she later realised that this was a hoax. She is at the loss of 1,000. Once Gardai were informed an attempt was made to prevent the cash from being transferred but it had already been drawn out in the Philippines," said a garda spokesperson.

In this case, the person that called the woman said he was from her bank, which convinced her that it was legitimate, gardai said, and so she followed the instructions.

"It is no harm to hang up if you are contacted by a person claiming to be from a bank or credit union and ring somebody you trust and get their advice. Ring your local gardai as the gardai always need to know the scams that are happening in the area so that they can warn others," they said.

Gardai said there was a number of ways to detect a scam and one of them is if a phone call comes out of the blue.

"If you didnt start the contact, then you should be very suspicious. In this case the lady was made to feel that she had to be very quick in her response or that she would lose her 1,500.

"This is very typical of the scammers, they want you to react immediately and not to think too deeply about it or to give you a chance to tell anybody about it," said the garda spokesperson.
FIVE young men have been remanded in custody after they appeared in court to face charges in connection with a shooting incident on the southside of the city.

A 23-year-old man sustained wounds to his chest, abdomen and elbow when he was shot near a house in Kennedy Park at around 2.15pm on July 11, last.

The shooting was allegedly connected to a feud between two criminal gangs involved in the drugs trade.

While two men appeared in court in July, the DPP directed that additional charges be preferred against them and that three other men also be charged.

The defendants are Emmett Kiely aged 26, of Maple Court, Kennedy Park; Ray Dore, aged 21, of Dromroe, Rhebogue; Keith Lillis, aged 24, of Galvone Road, Kennedy Park; Stephen Grace, aged 25, who has an address at McGarry House and William Woodland, aged 24, of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty.

During proceedings at Limerick District Court this Tuesday, Sergeant John Moloney told Judge Marian OLeary that all five defendants are to face trial on indictment at the circuit court.

Kiely, Woodland and Dore are each charged with assault causing harm and with possession of a 410 gauge Spanish made double-barrelled breech loading sawn-off shotgun.

Keith Lillis is charged, under the provisions of the Criminal Law Act, with the unlawful possession of the same firearm and with impeding the garda investigation following the shooting.

The fifth defendant  Stephen Grace  is accused of setting fire to a gold Suzuki Vitara belonging to the victim shortly after the shooting.

He also faces three charges of acting with the intention of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a suspected offender.

Opposing bail in relation to one of the accused men, Garda Bryan Guilfoyle said there have been a number of serious incidents related to the feud in recent months and that gardai have concerns somebody will be killed.

He said it will be alleged the injured man was phoned and deliberately lured to the area and that he and two associates fled on foot after he was shot.

A double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun and a number of cartridges were seized by gardai in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Judge OLeary was told other incidents connected with the alleged feud include a separate shooting incident on August 18 and a serious assault last month.

A viable pipe bomb was thrown at a house in Kennedy Park on September 22 while a potentially-lethal hand grenade was thrown at a house at Cathedral Court on October 16.

Significant quantities of cannabis and cocaine, with a street value of more than 265,000, have also been seized during follow-up searches in recent months.

All five defendants are due in court again later this month.
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Find not too frequent updates from the Livesay family here
The cartoonist Ramon Esono Ebale sits imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea for his art. Over the weekend, his journalistic brethren formally helped spotlight his case.

Ebale was awarded the Courage in Editorial Cartooning honor Saturday evening during an Association for American Editorial Cartoonists convention ceremony at Hofstra University in Long Island.

The Washington, D.C., area-based Cartoonists Rights Network International bestows the annual award upon a creator who has "exhibited great courage and self-sacrifice in the pursuit of their craft and in the exercise of free speech."

Ebale, a political cartoonist and graphic novelist born in Equatorial Guinea, has created work critical of his home nation's ruling party. He has not been charged with a crime related to his cartoons, according to the CRNI, yet he remains held at Black Beach prison.

Ebale was arrested Sept. 16 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. According to a Change.org petition seeking his release, the cartoonist was interrogated about "Obi's Nightmare," his graphic novel that satirizes the government of Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea's president and Africa's longest-ruling leader.

"Mr. Ebale's continuous refusal to be intimidated by the threats made against him, and his courage in the face of a brutal and repressive regime," led to his receiving the award, cartoonist Joel Pett, president of CRNI's board of directors, said in a statement.

In picking up the award for her husband, Eloisa Vaello Marco challenged the AAEC to send a delegation to visit Ebale and to appeal directly to authorities for his release, CRNI said.

Past recipients of the award include Turkish cartoonist Musa Kart, who was recently released from prison. At Saturday's ceremony, a statement was read in which Kart thanked the AAEC for its support on his behalf during his incarceration.
There couldn't be a more perfect musical pairing than Australia's Courtney Barnett and Philadelphia's Kurt Vile. Both create slacker-friendly indie rock that bounces between laid-back jams and more expansive guitar freakouts. And they're both clever songwriters who can make the most mundane topics interesting through an unexpected turn of phrase, a weird vocal tic or a clever joke.

Barnett says the two bonded over simple things at first: "Music, silliness and mutual friends." That grew into the nine-song album "Lotta Sea Lice," for which they each covered one of the other's songs and collaborated on five new originals and two covers. In the midst of the duo's tour behind the LP, Vile and Barnett discussed their still-budding friendship.

Q: Why do you think you two work so well together?

Courtney Barnett: I've always found Kurt's phrasing and a lot of the way he says stuff funny. Some of it can be a little bit dark and I just find it funny when it's said in an interesting, kind of roundabout way.

Kurt Vile: Yeah, I like to laugh at dark things.

Q: What surprised you each the most about the other?

Vile: I guess what surprised me, but I hoped it would happen anyway, was how quickly we all of a sudden turned this corner and had a whole album.

Barnett: It's a nice surprise how well we got on and we became such good friends. Kurt is such a nice person, even though he pretends not to be.

Vile: Some people think (I'm not nice) because they don't know that everything I say is the opposite of what's true.

Q: That's going to make deciphering this interview difficult. What's it like, for you, Courtney, when Kurt sings lead on the new version of your song "Outta the Woodwork?"

Barnett: I love Kurt singing that song. It's such a huge compliment for him to sing that. He does it real well. It suits his voice and his phrasing.

Q: And what was it like for you, Kurt, when you heard Courtney singing a new take on your song "Peeping Tom?"

Vile: It was awesome. I literally LOLed because I thought it was in a higher key but she's just singing an octave up, so she's singing it higher and it's a little bit slower and it really floats. I thought it was beautiful right away. I was listening to it on a s--ty Bluetooth speaker in Hawaii with my family and I liked it so much I laughed. I wasn't expecting it. It's very respectful in a way, not that I even demand respect.

Barnett: I put a lot of love into it.

Q: How has working with the other one changed each of your views on music?

Vile: Every time I play with somebody, your perspective gets a little extended. It always rounds you out a little more in some way.

Barnett: I'm kinda the same, just really open to all these different people and being with Kurt musically. The recording process and this tour is so much fun. It's been a really big deal for me, so I'm really grateful for it.

Vile: Me too. It will be weird to go back to my regular band.

Q: It sounds like you've both gotten a lot out of this.

Barnett: It's just been a beautiful - I don't even know how to describe it - it's been a really great experience.

Vile: Maybe when I go back to my regular band I won't get as stressed out about things. Maybe it's like the perfect antidote because you kinda went to this other galaxy. We'll see. Ask me that again when I'm back.
If even a modest mainstream hit can turn Hollywood into your oyster, than Taika Waititi's universe is now a string of pearls.

Waititi has been on the industry's radar for more than a decade, since his first film release, the 2004 short "Two Cars, One Night," scored an Oscar nomination (a short that later begot the feature film "Boy"). But he was in no hurry to make big-budget movies like his somewhat subversive new "Thor: Ragnarok," which has grossed more than $430 million worldwide.

Unlike other Marvel directors such as James Gunn and the Russo Brothers, Waititi has such an uncommon approach to directing a superhero movie that he might not even accept a shot at a sequel if Disney and Team Feige offered. It wasn't even Thor, as character or story, that particularly attracted the New Zealand native to saying yes to entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"When I think of the comics, not much" is appealing, Waititi tells The Washington Post of the Thor stories. "Other than, he's basically an alien, he has access to these different worlds, and that's a cool way of (taking) the audience on an interesting adventure. He can fly in outer space and ... meet these crazy characters that you'd never see on Earth."

(As for the Thor visuals as opposed to the comics stories, Waititi does acknowledge: "All these '70s comic books were so bright and colorful with these splash pages and bold art. ... It was a conscious decision to embrace that Jack Kirby art" in "Ragnarok.")

When talking with Waititi, you get the sense that he would get easily bored if he stuck with one genre or franchise for too long. As a kid, he says, he was attracted to painting and writing and theater and music, and filmmaking simply became a way to integrate all those passions. As a 42-year-old filmmaker, his interests seem creatively free-ranging and voracious.

Still, there are through-lines. Ever since partnering with Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords," "Moana") two decades ago in an improv troupe after meeting at university in New Zealand, the constants in Waititi's eclectic film career have been finding laughter in pain, locating relatable realism in the absurd, and exploring family dysfunction and the journeys of an outsider.

All those elements work winningly in such indie films of his as "Eagle vs. Shark" and "What We Do in the Shadows" (both co-starring Clement), as well as "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," and even his early mockumentary short "Flight of the Conchords: The Road to the Edinburgh Fringe Fest," in which he plays a clueless band manager worthy of "This Is Spinal Tap." (Even a Waititi TED talk is amusing as a self-aware intellectual walkabout - at times nearly a TED talk deconstructed.)

Yet now that Waititi's form of close-magic deadpan and perpetual irony has been embraced by "Ragnarok"-loving filmgoers, where does he go from here?

Well, one fittingly offbeat project is a stop-motion animated film that centers on Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. "It's about Michael Jackson's life a little bit," says Waititi, who has spoken of his fascination with the pop star, "but it's more about this animal is (thrust) into this very strange world."

Again, the lure of the outsider tale - be it quirky romantics dressed as eagles and sharks (hence the title of his 2007 film), or a chimp trying to make his way in Neverland.

Either way, at work is a creatively subversive free spirit that, like the fictional Neverland's hero resident, loves to fly in the face of reality armed with wit, playfulness and a killer sense of the absurd.

Hollywood now spreads out before Waititi for the taking. Whatever the path, you can be sure the flight won't be dull.
Diocese of Laredo Bishop James A. Tamayo said in a statement Monday that he was pleased and grateful that 10-year-old Rosa Maria Hernandez had been reunited with her parents.

"With deep concern for her well-being, we continue to offer prayers for the unity of her family, the full recovery of her health and a positive outcome to this situation," Tamayo said in a the statement. "I would like to thank Catholic Charities-Diocese of Laredo for offering the Hernandez family housing and other goods. It saddens me that our charitable support is necessitated by our nation's current immigration policies.
There's nothing quite like the glorious feeling of driving on a newly-completed, expanded highway.

Just ask anyone who has had the joy of traveling between NASA Road 1 and Dixie Farm Road on the Gulf Freeway lately.
With U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe restarted full-fledged diplomatic activities following the inauguration of his fourth Cabinet.

Abe will first focus on building an international net encircling North Korea, based on the further cemented Japan-U.S. alliance that serves as the axis of diplomacy and security policies.

From improving Japan-China relations to negotiating with Russia to resolve the northern territories issue, there are an array of difficult issues to deal with. The prime minister will likely face one situation after another in which his diplomatic skills will be tested.

Abe conveyed his gratitude to Trump at the beginning of Monday's joint press conference, saying: "President Trump's first Asian tour is a historic visit. He chose Japan as his first stop, which made the historical significance of this tour even greater. Donald, thank you so much."

The Japanese government had asked the U.S. side to make Japan the first destination on Trump's Asian tour, so the U.S. president could coordinate the North Korean issue with Abe before talking with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts.

Abe and Trump thoroughly discussed the situation involving North Korea over four meals they had together on Sunday and Monday. Abe appears to feel more confident in forging an international net led by Japan and the United States to tackle the North Korean issue.

From Thursday to Wednesday, Abe is scheduled to visit Vietnam to attend a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as well as the Philippines where a summit meeting related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be held.

Trump is also scheduled to visit the two countries, and the Japanese and U.S. leaders plan to join each other in urging each participating country to increase pressure on Pyongyang.

The Japanese government is working to arrange meetings for Abe with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vietnam.

In the field of bilateral diplomacy, Abe places importance on improving relations with China, aiming to stabilize the situation in the East China Sea and strengthen the economic relationship, in addition to gaining cooperation on the North Korean issue.

The Japanese side hopes to realize reciprocal visits to each other's countries by Abe and Xi next year or later.

However, with Xi's intention to make China a great power, concerns remain that Beijing may intensify pressure in the East China Sea, including waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It is unclear whether Abe will be able to improve Japan-China relations as he plans.

Abe also continues to make diplomatic efforts regarding Russia, aiming to resolve the issue of the northern territories. However, it is unlikely that Putin will compromise Moscow's position on the territorial issue ahead of the Russian presidential election slated for March. A senior Foreign Ministry official said negotiations with Russia on the northern territories "will remain at a standstill for a while."

Abe intends to maintain and enhance cooperation with Seoul on North Korea. However, South Korean President Moon Jae In has again brought up the comfort women issue, which could harm the nations' bilateral cooperation.
It was less than a week ago that Theresa May lost her defense secretary. The last thing the British leader wants to think about is replacing more senior figures in her Cabinet -- even when foreign policy blunders by two of them raise that question.

As she tries to navigate a sexual harassment scandal that has distracted her focus from Brexit, a fresh crisis has opened up on yet another front.

In Parliament, her gaffe-prone foreign secretary faced calls from the opposition to resign for jeopardizing efforts to free an Iranian-British mother currently held in jail in Iran. Boris Johnson even absorbed a put-down by a fellow Conservative lawmaker telling him to put his own ambitions in check.

Earlier, only one Tory in the House of Commons spoke in support of International Development Secretary Priti Patel -- and that was Alistair Burt, the junior minister sent out to defend her. Patel on Monday admitted going behind May's back to meet Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu during her summer vacation. En route to Africa for an official visit, Patel wasn't available to explain her own actions in Parliament.

The prime minister's spokesman James Slack insisted that May has confidence both in both. Between the two, both strong supporters of Brexit, the fate of Patel seems more uncertain.

On Tuesday, the day after Patel's first admission, Slack told reporters that on her return from her vacation in August, the international development secretary had asked her officials whether British aid money could be given to support the Israeli army's relief work with Syrian refugees in the Golan Heights. The idea was rejected -- apart from anything else, Britain doesn't recognize Israel's occupation of Golan.

Slack later confirmed that May had only learned of this proposal that morning, when the BBC reported it -- the day after Patel had apologized to the prime minister and issued a statement apparently setting out the full details of her trip. The idea of giving aid money to the Israeli army was covered by a reference in the statement to "partnership" on "humanitarian work."

He was unable to say who had paid for the work aspects of the trip. Patel said she funded the holiday herself.

For some, May's latest headache is yet another demonstration of her weakness, which draws repeated questions over her government can last long enough to see Brexit to the finish line. If more dominos drop -- in the shape of senior ministers -- the last one to fall could ultimately be the prime minister herself.

"The destabilizing effect on an already weak administration has prompted another burst of speculation that May could soon be forced to resign," Mujtaba Rahman of Eurasia Group said in a note to clients.

He thought one likely scenario is for May to be toppled if she fails to get a grip on the latest crisis and is ousted because her MPs judge that the government 'cannot go on like this' -- that is incapable of recovering the authority a prime minister needs."

With Brexit talks resuming Thursday, the back-to-back blunders underscore the degree to which May has little control over her government. Johnson is a repeat offender when it comes to gaffes yet the latest episode stood apart because of the direct impact it could have on the prospects of getting a British-Iranian charity worker freed.

Last week he told a Parliamentary committee that before Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016, she had been "simply teaching people journalism as I understand it, at the very limit." Her family and her employer, the charitable Thomson-Reuters foundation, insist she was on holiday.

According to the Foreign Office, Iran's Judiciary High Committee seized on Johnson's remarks, and said they "shed new light" on the case.

Johnson told Parliament: "I accept that my remarks could have been clearer in that respect." He also said he would be traveling to Iran in coming weeks to discuss the case and that it was "simply untrue" to link his words with the legal action against Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Emily Thornberry, an opposition lawmaker who would hold his job in a Labour government, asked him: "How many more times does this need to happen? A job like this, where your words hold gravity and your actions have consequences, is simply not the job for him."

Opposition lawmakers also repeatedly asked why Patel hadn't been fired. "It is very difficult for us to know whether is the the secretary of state for international development or the foreign secretary who has the worst relationship with accuracy," Labour's Ben Bradshaw commented. "If we had a prime minister who wasn't so weak, both of them would have been sacked."
A day after the mass killing at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a conspiracy-theory video suggesting the shooter's motives popped up as one of the top search results on YouTube. The video, which was listed under "Top News," touted unsubstantiated claims about the gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, suggesting he may have been paid to kill the churchgoers and that media organizations are conspiring to push for gun-control measures.

Investigators, who were still looking into Kelley's motives when the video was published Monday, said later that day that Kelley's actions didn't appear to be fueled by racial or religious issues but by an ongoing "domestic situation." Meanwhile, the conclusions drawn in the YouTube video remained prominently featured online, with more than 70,000 views.

While social media sites are filled with fringe theories and unverified information, the YouTube video's persistent high ranking highlights the challenges facing social platforms as they deliver news to eager audiences before key details have been vetted during breaking news events.

Americans are increasingly turning to social media to get their news, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. About a quarter of adults say they get news from two or more social media sites, and 18 percent of all Americans say they get news on YouTube, making the platform the second-most common social media news source, behind Facebook, the report said.

YouTube said in a statement Monday that the company is continuing to add new features and changes to provide authoritative results when people look to its platform for news. "There is still more work to do, but we're making progress," the company said.

YouTube isn't the only platform under Alphabet's portfolio that deals with breaking news events. When a person begins to type the gunman's name using Google search, the third term that Google suggests searching is "devin kelley antifa." Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

The deadly shooting in Texas was the most recent violent episode in America that triggered a rapid spread of misleading stories. In the aftermath of the massacre at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas last month, YouTube and other social media platforms were criticized for elevating misinformation and failing to suppress debunked claims that their services amplified.

While conspiracy theories have long been a feature of YouTube, which 1.5 billion people use every month, the distribution of fake news has drawn heightened scrutiny in recent months as Congress investigates the role played by social media platforms in the Russian misinformation campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The absence of detailed, verified information hasn't stopped people from consuming and distributing hastily crafted news and analysis.

"You can make up it faster than you can look it up, and that's the information vacuum that these people operate in," said Ben Nimmo, a fellow with the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. Unlike law enforcement, researchers and journalists, the people behind these types of social media posts are not bound by professional standards to verify claims. Nimmo said part of the purpose behind posts like the Antifa YouTube video is to "reinforce your side," to weaponize disinformation for political ends.

Monday's video was YouTube's fourth-highest-ranking post when the gunman's name was searched on Monday. It had fallen to 29th on the list as of Tuesday morning.

"I have 100 percent proof here that he is far-leftist and he's Antifa" the video's narrator says, referring to the anti-fascist protest movement. "This is a whole conspiracy right now that the media is doing. The FBI is scrubbing all these Facebook pages right now, so take these images and everything I am giving you and save them somewhere." The video was posted by an account called The Patriotic Beast.

Even as YouTube and other social media companies work to address the spread of misinformation and other objectionable content, some experts point to problems beyond technological fixes.

"There is no denying that the dominance of social media in providing news to people now has made it way, way easier to spread misinformation." said Casey Fiesler, a professor of information science at the University of Colorado in Boulder. But "a lot of people want to have what they already think verified. And if that's the case, it doesn't matter what order an algorithm might show you search results in. If you just want your existing opinions or thoughts to be verified, then you are not going to care what the algorithm thinks is more valid."
Virginians elected Democrat Ralph Shearer Northam to be their 73rd governor Tuesday, choosing him 54 to 45 percent over Republican Ed Gillespie in a Democratic sweep of statewide offices and a tide of victories in the House of Delegates that amounted to a rebuke of the figure who loomed over the race: President Donald Trump.

Democrats broke into tears as results came into the Northam campaign party in Fairfax City, the outcome beyond what most had dared hope. For all the fury unleashed on the Virginia races by Trump and his followers, who lit up social media and tried to define the contests in terms of Confederate statues and Hispanic street gangs, Northam had seemed an unlikely standard-bearer to fight back.

Even some fellow Democrats had criticized the 58-year-old pediatrician and Army veteran for his low-key campaign style. But in the end he won more votes than any previous Virginia governor, and it was a historic night for the party across many fronts. Voters energized by last fall's demoralizing loss by Hillary Clinton came out in large numbers to elect Democrat Justin Fairfax as lieutenant governor over Republican state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (Fauquier), making Fairfax the first African-American elected to a statewide office in Virginia since L. Douglas Wilder won as governor in 1989.

Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring was reelected over Republican challenger John Adams.

And Democrats were poised to pick up at least 14 seats in the House of Delegates after fielding a historic number of challengers, many of them women. Among them is Danica Roem, who defeated longtime Republican incumbent Robert Marshall in Prince William County to become the first openly transgender person to serve in the Virginia legislature.

Six more House seats were in play as of late Tuesday, with four of those headed for a recount. The Democrats needed to pick up 17 seats to gain control of the House of Delegates. That would be a stunning turnaround in a body where Republicans had a seemingly insurmountable 66-to-34 advantage. All 100 seats were up for election.

"In Virginia it's going to take a doctor to heal our differences, to bring unity to our people, and I'm here to let you know that the doctor is in," Northam said to ecstaticsupporters Tuesday night at George Mason University. "We need to close the wounds that divide and bring unity to Virginia. . . . Whether you voted for me or not, we are all Virginians. I hope to earn your confidence and support."

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the ultimate party cheerleader and a patron of Northam's political career, said he hadn't expected such a resounding set of victories - especially in the House of Delegates, where the prospect of regaining a majority had seemed out of reach.

"I always say you're going to get it back because you have to say that politically," McAuliffe said in an interview, "but in my mind I was thinking six to eight [seats gained] would have been a great night for the Democrats."

As he has traveled the country, McAuliffe said, the pressure from other Democrats to perform in this election has been enormous. He recalled that people would say to him through gritted teeth, "We need this."

"This, what a sparkplug," he said. "This is the revitalization of the Democratic Party in America. This isn't just about Virginia tonight."

The victors basked in the idea that they had just shown something to the nation.

"We are so excited tonight to celebrate some incredible victories, not just for the Democratic ticket, not just for the Commonwealth of Virginia, not just the United States but for the world," Fairfax said to his supporters. "The tide is turning for the political climate in this world. . . . We now have a chance to rise to the better angels of our nature, to take our country on a different, more positive course."

Gillespie, 56, was gracious in defeat, taking to the stage at a hotel outside Richmond to congratulate Northam and pledging to help the new governor in any way he could.

"I want to thank all those who voted today, on both sides," Gillespie said, his wife, ticketmates and campaign staffers standing beside him. "These million voters [who supported him] and our friends and family love our commonwealth, they love our fellow Virginians, and they love even those who disagree with them."

Gillespie never mentioned Trump during his concession speech, just as he almost never mentioned him on the campaign trail. But the president was quick to lash out Tuesday as it became clear that Gillespie was losing.

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for," the president tweeted before the final tally was in, and shortly before addressing the South Korean National Assembly during his trip to Asia.

Only hours earlier, he had tweeted support for Gillespie, saying that electing "Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia." But if the Republican wins, Trump said, "MS-13 and crime will be gone." He was referring to the MS-13 street gang, which featured prominently in Gillespie ads raising fears of violence and illegal immigration.

The success of Northam and his ticket was fueled by unprecedented turnout among Democrats and liberals, who traditionally have sat out Virginia elections in nonpresidential years.

Preliminary exit poll results found 28 percent of voters identifying as liberals, up eight points from the 2013 governor's race and two points from last year, when Clinton won the state by five points. Democrats composed 41 percent of the electorate, up four points from 2013 and one point from last year.

Republicans were 31 percent of the electorate, a record low in exit polling dating to 1996.

African-Americans accounted for 21 percent of voters, according to exit poll results, identical to their share in last year's presidential election and one point higher than in 2013. In total, nonwhite voters made up 33 percent of the electorate, the same as last year but up from 28 percent in the previous governor's race.

Black voters favored Northam over Gillespie by a 73-point margin, while Hispanic voters favored Northam by 33 points.

Democrats had worked feverishly in recent weeks to court African American voters, and former president Barack Obama held a rally with the ticket in Richmond last month. Obama also recorded a robo-call that went out Monday and Tuesday to encourage people to vote.

As the national Democratic Party has wrestled with fractures in recent weeks, the Virginia party may have offered a lesson in how to move ahead. After former congressman Tom Perriello mounted a progressive challenge to Northam for the Democratic nomination and lost, he became a foot soldier for Northam in the general election.

Northam also may have benefitted from the historic number of Democrats who challenged Republican incumbents in House of Delegates races. Their presence on the ballot helped bring out voters in districts all over the state who otherwise might have had little interest in a nonpresidential election.

Republicans, on the other hand, failed for most of the year to project the same kind of unity. Gillespie ran a restrained primary race and nearly lost to rival Corey Stewart, who fully embraced Trumpian bombast and made defending Confederate statues and fighting illegal immigration into central issues.

After the primary, Stewart refused to endorse Gillespie unless the candidate adopted his hard-right agenda and style. Gillespie gradually leaned in that direction as it became clear that he needed to firm up his base, especially in rural areas, but Stewart never campaigned for him.

Instead, Stewart - who has already said he'll challenge Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine next year - made late appearances with Vogel and Adams.

The governor's race had been close in pre-election polling, and Northam had been criticized by some in his party for waging a subdued campaign at a time of high passion and sharp rhetoric. But Virginians turned out in large numbers on a day of patchy rain around the state as Northam and the Democrats relied on an increasingly efficient system for getting voters to the polls, especially in the more-populous parts of the state.

Northam's victory was propelled by white, college-educated women; voters who are concerned about health care; a robust showing among Democrats; and voters who strongly disapprove of Trump, exit polls indicated.

Gillespie ultimately failed in his attempt to walk a very fine line, working for votes in a state where his party's president was deeply unpopular. He resisted even talking about the president for much of the race, while Northam called Trump a "narcissistic maniac" and pledged to be a bulwark against his policies in Virginia.

But Gillespie made a late turn toward Trumpian tactics that seemed to energize his campaign, promising to defend Confederate heritage and airing ads that seemed to equate illegal immigrants with violent gangs.

Trump never campaigned in Virginia for Gillespie, though Vice President Mike Pence appeared with him twice.

The Trump factor drove an unusual amount of national attention toward Virginia, whose election was one of only two statewide contests in the country. The other, in New Jersey, wasn't considered competitive, so Virginia became the proxy for the painful efforts by both major parties to find their way forward in the age of Trump.

Half of the more than $50 million raised by Virginia's statewide candidates came from outside interest groups, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

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The Washington Post's Pat Sullivan, Sarah Gibson, Rachel Chason, Antonio Olivo, Maria Sacchetti, Julie Zauzmer, Shira Stein, Jenna Portnoy, Scott Clement, Emily Guskin and Kristen Griffith contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - When Congress launched an effort in August to enable prosecution of online sex trafficking by amending the Communications Decency Act, the titans of the internet such as Google and Facebook rose up in opposition.

Having to police the vast amount of content on their websites would be too burdensome, they said; smaller sites without big legal teams would face overwhelming liability and who knew what unforeseen lawsuits would be made possible by changing a law known as "the bedrock of the internet"?

But now "Big Tech," whose opposition was anticipated to be a major stumbling block to amending the law, has mostly backed down. After working with Senate staff members to obtain what they see as important changes to the language of the bill, the Internet Association announced late Friday that it supports the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, also known as SESTA.

Also Friday, the two Democratic senators from California who had not weighed in on the bill, Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein, both announced their support for it. Some had thought that pressure from California-based Internet companies might sway them, but ultimately they endorsed the measure, removing yet another potential hurdle to passage.

The Senate bill, and a similar one in the House, were inspired by the numerous court victories won by Backpage.com, an online classified ads site that hosts massive advertising for prostitution, including an unknown percentage of children being trafficked by adult pimps.

Backpage has successfully cited the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from liability for posts by third parties, to evade both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. As attorney general of California, Harris launched a criminal case against Backpage for prostitution, and it was thrown out by a judge who cited the Communications Decency Act.

The Senate's subcommittee on investigations sparked congressional action when it found that Backpage was editing ads to remove references to underage prostitutes, but allowing the ads to remain online. Then, in July, The Washington Post revealed that Backpage was actively soliciting ads from prostitutes on other websites, and creating new ads for those prostitutes so that they could post on Backpage with just one click.

Some members of Congress called for the Justice Department to investigate Backpage for seemingly creating illegal content, not just hosting it. And some opponents of the new bill cited The Post story as evidence that Backpage could be prosecuted under the existing law, with no need to amend the law and possibly open up unforeseen areas of civil and criminal liability.

After the bill was introduced, tech lobbyists worked Capitol Hill trying to drum up opposition. Google issued a statement saying the proposed bill "would be a disaster" and "would actually hinder the fight against sex trafficking."

But members of the tech community worked with Senate Commerce Committee staff to tweak the language of the bill, which is scheduled for markup Wednesday. One of the keys was the definition of "participation in a venture" in an anti-sex-trafficking statute, which courts have found did not include internet sites hosting illegal content. The proposed bill originally defined participation as "knowing conduct, by an individual or entity, by any means, that assists, supports or facilitates a violation" of sex trafficking laws.

Internet companies thought the phrase "by any means" had the potential to be broadly interpreted when analyzing a website's actions. The newly amended bill changes the definition of participation to simply "knowingly assisting, supporting, or facilitating a violation" of sex trafficking laws, Senate staff members said.

The changes to the bill also amend the standard by which state prosecutors can seek to charge or sue websites, requiring them to meet the federal standard, including the new definition above, rather than those established by state law, which can vary widely.

Michael Beckerman, president of the Internet Association, which counts Google, Twitter and Microsoft among its members, said in a statement that "Important changes made to SESTA will grant victims the ability to secure the justice they deserve, allow internet platforms to continue their work combating human trafficking, and protect good actors in the ecosystem."

Beckerman said the association was looking "forward to working with the House and Senate as SESTA moves through the legislative process to ensure that our members are able to continue their work to fight exploitation."

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and other members of the Commerce Committee welcomed the endorsement from the Internet Association. "I'm pleased we've reached an agreement," Portman said in a statement. "We've reached an agreement to further clarify the intent of the bill and advance this important legislation."

John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, which has tracked how big Internet companies have aggressively fought changes to the Communications Decency Act, said: "We're quite happy they came on board. We wish they'd done it sooner." He said the grilling that executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google absorbed last week during hearings over Russian interference in last year's election may have pushed the association into endorsing the bill.

"I think that's what pushed the Internet Association into saying, 'OK, we better get on board,' " Simpson said.

Not every internet group is on board. NetChoice, another internet trade group that has brought lawsuits against state laws imposing sales tax mandates and privacy restrictions, used former congressman Chris Cox, who co-wrote the Communications Decency Act, to testify against the bill in the House last month, and remains opposed to it.

Steve DelBianco, president of NetChoice, said Monday that it was "good to see the progress made from collaborative efforts on all sides," but that the group still favored using existing laws to go after online traffickers, as Cox advocated. "Federal prosecutors are apparently having trouble bringing sex traffickers to justice - even though they're explicitly unhindered by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, DelBianco said. "We need stronger legal remedies than just amending" the anti-sex-trafficking statute, he added.
Richard Trumka, the head of America's biggest labor organization, opened its October national convention in an unusual way: the AFL-CIO president read a passage from the code-of-conduct and gave out the contact information of two people designated to field any complaints about sexual harassment or other discriminatory or inappropriate behavior.

"It's a zero-tolerance policy," Trumka told reporters that day. "We think we're on the cutting edge of that. And if we aren't, we want to be there."

Less senior activists say the country's biggest union federation - and the broader labor movement - still have a ways to go. The AFL-CIO's chief budget officer and assistant to Trumka, Terry Stapleton, resigned Monday following allegations of sexual harassment. The Service Employees International Union, the second-biggest union in the U.S., is reeling from its own harassment scandal that has seen the departure of four senior staff.

It is a high-stakes reckoning for the weakened labor movement, which champions workplace dignity and the power of unions to protect against exploitation and harassment. Dozens of current and former movement employees say the groups' leaders too often fail to protect their own staff from abuse or to take sufficient action in response, creating toxic cultures that have turned off promising young organizers.

"Sexual harassment is a reason women organize," said Kate Bronfenbrenner, a former organizer and now a lecturer at Cornell University's labor relations school. "But it can be a reason women don't organize."

"The recent news regarding sexual harassment in numerous industries has shown that no organization, including our own, is immune to a culture that has allowed both women and men to feel unsafe and threatened on the job,'' the AFL-CIO said in a joint statement from Trumka, secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler and executive vice president Tefere Gebre. "As the premier organization for working people, we recognize that we bear a special responsibility to lead by our actions and example."

Some characteristics of union organizing may make it easier for bad actors to get away with abuse, said Rutgers professor and former organizer Janice Fine. Macho norms still prevail in many unions. Staff work long hours doing emotionally draining work, often far from home. Organizers are loyal to the workers the union represents and loathe to do anything that could be perceived as damaging to a campaign.

"There's still this idea that in order to do it, you have to work 24 hours a day, you have to be willing to move, you have to put work above all other things," said Fine. That's included trying to overcome sexism by excelling at work rather than by confronting it directly. Recently, she said, that's begun to change.

Scott Courtney, an executive vice president at SEIU and a key architect of the high-profile "Fight for 15" campaign, resigned in October amid an investigation into alleged "sexual misconduct and abusive behavior." During a career that spanned decades, people who worked for Courtney say he was known for dating his subordinates. Women warned each other and raised concerns about his behavior with higher-ups over the years, former employees said. Seventeen years ago, dozens of employees presented their concerns about Courtney in writing to national leaders, according to people who participated.

Courtney did not respond to a request for comment. An SEIU spokeswoman declined to comment on specific personnel matters because the internal investigation is ongoing.

That investigation also led the union to terminate two members of the senior staff, SEIU said. Another top Fight For 15 leader, Kendall Fells, resigned on Nov. 2. Without commenting individually on the departures, the union said that day that the investigation had "brought to light the serious problems related to abusive behavior towards staff, predominantly female staff." Fells declined to comment.

"We are incredibly grateful to the people who have come forward," said SEIU Executive Vice President Leslie Frane, who described the organization's response as swift and decisive. "Our mission is about making sure that working people are treated with respect and dignity, have good wages and a voice on the job. We are committed to making sure that the work environment for our staff lives up to those values."

The AFL-CIO, a federation of 56 unions that together represent 12.5 million workers, in May settled a grievance brought by its own employees' union, which accused the group of creating a hostile work environment for employees working on the 2016 election in Pennsylvania. Supervisors there allegedly referred to female staffers as "bitches" and other epithets, according to current and former staff. David Eckstein, a former AFL-CIO official who came out of retirement to help with the federation's efforts in Pennsylvania, said he was "stunned" by what he described as colleagues "deliberately trying to push the women backwards, and out of the state."

The agreement established a process where an ombudsman could be brought in to address any future concerns, the organization said. "We pledge to double down on our efforts to ensure we stamp out the pervasive problems of harassment and discrimination of any form in our workplaces and in our society," the AFL-CIO's officers said in the joint statement.

In a separate investigation earlier this year, the AFL-CIO's Stapleton was disciplined for sexual harassment allegations, according to people familiar with the process. Stapleton, who oversaw employees' expenses and travel, allegedly sent a secretary lewd messages and urged her to come to his hotel room during a meeting of the executive council. Stapleton also suggested he could protect her job if she had a sexual relationship with him, according to the people. The AFL-CIO laid off dozens of people in February.

According to the AFL-CIO, Stapleton was sent for mandatory training at his own expense, moved to a different office and suspended for two weeks without pay. He resigned Nov. 6 after Bloomberg News raised questions about the allegations. Stapleton did not respond to a message left Monday.

Current and former AFL-CIO employees say leaders shouldn't be shocked by the recent allegations. In 2015, they say, an external consulting group prepared a report for the organization that related staff accounts of "rampant" sexual harassment and discrimination. No version of the report was ever distributed to staff, although a handful of people were allowed to read copies.

Asked about the findings, an AFL-CIO official familiar with the report said that the firm, the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance, was "not the right fit" and wasn't familiar with large unionized workforces. The AFL-CIO terminated the contract, opting to rely on its joint labor-management process instead.

"I don't think any sector is immune from this, including folks on the progressive side," said Cecilia Munoz, the former director of the President Barack Obama's Domestic Policy Council and one of several leaders asked by SEIU to serve as advisers in the wake of the Courtney investigation. "There's no question there's a larger national reckoning going on."

Women across industries say these kinds of incidents -- and cultures that tolerates them -- often drive them to quit jobs or change careers. For the labor movement, which needs all the young talent it can get, this may be especially costly.

"I'll put my body on a picket line as a supporter, but it would take a lot for me to go back inside as a staffer after how I was treated," said former SEIU employee Melissa Byrne, who alleged that when Fells was her boss, he commented on what she wore, told her she was too awkward to pick up men and said she was lucky to work for him because no one liked her. Byrne, who led the online get-out-the-vote effort for Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, said she raised concerns about Fells with SEIU officials in 2011.

Former SEIU Chicago researcher Carrie Sloan said she moved to a different office and a different campaign because of her experience with her supervisor, Chris Schwartz, who repeatedly ogled her and other women and pressured them into spending time with him outside work. When she reported him within the organization -- SEIU found conclusive evidence of his inappropriate behavior and suspended him for a week in 2009, according to internal documents reviewed by Bloomberg -- he tried to retaliate with a negative performance review, she said.

The anxiety of dealing with Schwartz, Sloan said, made her nauseated. She was unable to eat and lost 15 pounds. In 2010, current and former SEIU staff said, union leaders loaned Schwartz to the United Auto Workers union, where he remains now.

"I take full responsibility for my actions nearly 10 years ago and I'm deeply sorry," Schwartz said in a statement. "Since then, I have conducted myself totally differently and tried my best to help create supportive, respectful environments for the women I work with." The UAW said in the time Schwartz has worked there, his performance has been "exemplary."

"The message that we got from this whole thing was that he was more important than we were, and more valuable," said Sloan, who now directs research for a progressive non-profit. Her experience with Schwartz and the union leaders' response to it contributed to her decision to leave the SEIU in 2015.

Union leaders say they take sexual harassment seriously. In addition to expanding staff training and counseling as needed, SEIU has established additional channels through which employees can report potential issues. At its executive council meeting in March, the AFL-CIO approved a new, stronger code of conduct and a new process for addressing issues like sexual harassment and requiring its state and local affiliates to do the same.

"It's an epidemic, sexual harassment - we've all been there," said Laurel Brennan, secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey AFL-CIO. "We're still there."

On the last day of the AFL-CIO's convention in October, an organizer from the federation's San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council took to the floor to express gratitude to the national organization, which had ousted local leaders following sexual harassment allegations earlier this year.

One of the AFL-CIO's biggest members, the American Federation of Teachers, called on the federation to do more. "The AFL-CIO should lead, not follow, when it comes to workplace safety, which means not just reacting but creating an anti-harassment culture," AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement after an earlier version of this story was published. "Working women and their families must be able to have confidence and trust in their unions."
WASHINGTON - Republican and Democratic lawmakers who remain bitterly opposed about expanding gun-control measures are banding together to demand that federal agencies comply with existing ones, after reports indicated that the gunman who killed 26 people in a church shooting in Texas should have been prevented from buying a firearm.

The Senate's second-highest-ranking Republican announced Tuesday that he was planning to file legislation aimed at forcing federal agencies to upload required information about infractions into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and incentivizing state governments to do the same.

"Their record of compliance is lousy, it's lousy," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, complained on the Senate floor, describing the numbers of reports being filed as "staggeringly low."

Cornyn was citing NICS statistics from late 2016 that showed many agencies, including many branches of the military, have reported zero felonies, domestic violence misdemeanors or restraining orders, indictments or other areas of concern to the NICS database.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., also announced Tuesday that he was joining forces with Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., "to prevent anyone convicted of domestic violence - be it in criminal or military court - from buying a gun," Flake tweeted Tuesday.

President Donald Trump, who is traveling in Asia this week, has been silent on the proposals. His son, Donald Trump Jr., responded to Flake's effort by ridiculing it Tuesday, tweeting that Flake's bill was "incredibly proactive considering that law has been on the books since the mid 90s."

But the senators' complaint is that the federal agencies have not been complying with the law and that the military is exploiting a loophole that lets them report domestic assault as indistinct from other assaults - unlike the reporting requirements for state courts.

"There has only been one instance, just one, of military reporting a charge like this to the database," Flake told reporters Tuesday, referring to domestic violence. His bill with Heinrich would "simply clarify and actually force the military to take anything that would have been a domestic violence conviction to the state court, and report it as such to the NICS system," Flake said.

While it is not clear how many incidents have been omitted from the NICS database, lawmakers were convinced that the Texas gunman could not be an isolated case.

"This is only one example of repeated and frequent failures to report required convictions," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Blumenthal sent a letter to Defense secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday requesting a full accounting of how the Pentagon turns over such information to the FBI, as well as how the military prosecutes domestic violence cases.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., also wrote to Mattis on Monday, requesting that he "immediately initiate an audit of all military criminal investigative organizations" going back 10 years, and focusing on cases "in which the military was required to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigations of the outcome."

Democrats have long argued for expanded background checks, but sidelined those demands Tuesday in an effort to focus on improving compliance with current laws.

"Let's fix the background check system so that, as Republicans tell us over and over and over again, at least we can enforce existing law," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said on the Senate floor. Murphy has emerged as one of Congress' most vocal advocates for gun control, frequently referencing his home-state example of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The aftermath of that shooting was the last time the Senate came close to passing a gun-control measure.

Cornyn, a staunch critic of that and several other gun reform measures, offered Tuesday to work with Murphy to force the federal government to improve its reporting.

The background check system "failed us terribly here," Cornyn said, adding that current reporting practice of agencies "is unacceptable and it must change."
The potency of Ed Gillespie's law-and-order message in the Virginia governor's race may have a chilling effect on criminal justice reform efforts around the country by deterring other Republicans from taking up the issue.

In the closing weeks of the campaign, the Republican gubernatorial nominee has blistered his Democratic rival for supporting Gov. Terry McAuliffe's order that restored voting rights to felons, including a sex offender who completed his sentence and was re-arrested, but not convicted, on child pornography charges.

Both sides believe that this line of attack has been a significant factor in allowing Gillespie to close the gap with Ralph Northam in public and private polls. Democrats involved in the race believe that ads on this theme, which they say are unfair and misleading, have shrunk their lead by a couple of points - both by appealing to suburban swing voters and consolidating support for Gillespie among people who love Donald Trump but have viewed the former Republican National Committee chairman warily.

In a tweetstorm from Asia Tuesday morning, the president echoed Gillespie's closing message:

Trump tweeted: "Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. He's weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment....

".@EdWGillespie will totally turn around the high crime and poor economic performance of VA. MS-13 and crime will be gone. Vote today, ASAP!"

Conservative elites, led by the Koch brothers, have championed policy initiatives in recent years to encourage more leniency for convicts and to improve reentry programs after they get out. They've made strides around the country, even in deep red states, and came close to getting a federal bill through the Senate last year.

Criminal justice reform is a much tougher sell politically than substantively. There will always be recidivism, and bad people will fall through the cracks. If a lawmaker votes for something or a governor issues an order to give a wayward apple another chance at rejoining society, but that apple continues to be rotten, it's as easy as apple pie to produce commercials that make them eat it.

That's why the Willie Horton ad against Michael Dukakis in 1988 helped lead to a generation of tougher sentences and less sympathy, even for nonviolent drug offenders. Politicizing crime this way has led to a massive overcrowding of prisons.

Trump broke with the zeitgeist by running a lock-her-up-and-throw-away-the-key kind of campaign. Then he appointed Jeff Sessions, who has long been the single biggest obstacle to criminal justice reform in the Senate, as attorney general. Republicans like Gillespie are now following his lead.

Ambitious Republicans, especially those with 2020 and/or 2024 presidential aspirations, are watching Tuesday's off-year election in Virginia for lessons they might learn. They are already familiar with recent history. As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued more than 1,000 commutations and pardons. He got political mileage out of it at the time, but the effort backfired in 2009 when one of the convicts whose sentence he commuted killed four police officers. Vulnerability on this issue was one of the reasons he opted not to seek the Republican nomination in 2012.

-- Some background on what happened in Virginia if you haven't been following the story: "In one of the few states that permanently disenfranchises felons, McAuliffe, D, has restored the right to vote and to serve on juries to more than 168,000 felons who have completed their sentences. His action also helped them over the first hurdle to have their gun rights restored, although the felons still need judges to sign off," The Post's Laura Vozzella and Fenit Nirappil explain.

"McAuliffe had intended his original executive order to cover only felons who had served their time and completed parole, but he mistakenly restored rights to 132 sex offenders still in custody as well as to several convicted killers on probation in other states. . .

"Republican legislators, furious because the order included violent felons and those who had not paid court costs or made restitution to their victims, filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court. The GOP won, with the court ruling that the governor had exceeded his clemency powers because he restored rights en masse instead of individually. Since then, the governor has used a fast but individualized approach to restore rights to 156,000 felons - a process that passed muster with the high court."

What the narrator says in Gillespie's ad: "Last year, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam instituted the automatic restoration of rights for violent felons and sex offenders, making it easier for them to obtain firearms and allowing them to serve on juries. One of these felons, John Bowen, had his rights restored two months after being found with one of the largest child pornography collections in Virginia's history." A shorter version of the ad ends with a clip of Northam, the lieutenant governor, calling the restoration of rights "one of our greatest feats."

What actually happened: Bowen was convicted of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a minor in 2001 and served a one-year sentence. Like other felons who had completed their sentences, he had his rights restored under McAuliffe. Bowen lost his voting rights again in January when he pleaded guilty to a new felony, possession of child pornography. He is now serving 15 years in prison.

The Northam campaign cries foul: "Gillespie is running a fact-free, fear-mongering campaign in vintage Trump fashion," said spokesman David Turner. "It is a new low for him to accuse a pediatrician and children's hospice medical director of favoring felons who have hurt children."

Gillespie's campaign says he supports criminal justice reform if it's "tough, fair and smart."

A white paper released around Labor Day said he would seek a permanent legislative solution and follow the lead of former Republican governor Bob McDonnell, who simplified and accelerated the process without automatically restoring voting rights. The Koch network endorsed this approach when Gillespie unveiled the plan.

-- McAuliffe, a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2020, considers the restoration of voting rights his proudest achievement in office. He has reacted angrily to Gillespie's attack ad. "In 40 states, you couldn't run that ad because it's automatic. There's no governor involved. I just made Virginia the 41st state," he said during a get-out-the-vote rally in Fairfax over the weekend. "These people deserve second chances! They've served their time. They're back in society. . . . This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is a human rights issue!"

-- Every vote counts: Republican operative Rick Gates, the senior aide on Trump's presidential campaign who was indicted as part of the special counsel's Russia investigation, received permission from a federal judge to leave house arrest so that he can vote in the Virginia election. Northam's campaign said it doesn't object to Gates receiving permission to vote but accused Gillespie of hypocrisy for not opposing Gates's request. Gillespie aides declined to comment.

-- Gillespie is as well positioned as he could hope for going into Tuesday, but he remains the underdog. Demographics and the national environment (Trump's approval rating is 38 percent among likely voters in our poll) give the advantage to Northam. Virginia is trending blue. It was the only Southern state Hillary Clinton won a year ago. And the state has a long history of electing a governor of the opposite party from the president.

-- Three polls published Monday give Northam a slight edge but show a very close race:

Fox News puts Northam up five points (48 to 43): "By a seven-point margin, McAuliffe is viewed positively (43 percent favorable vs. 36 percent unfavorable), while President Trump is in negative territory by 15 (40-55 percent). Fully 88 percent of voters who view Trump favorably back Gillespie, while 81 percent of those who have a negative view support Northam. Interest in the election is a tad bit higher among Democrats, as 48 percent say they are extremely interested compared to 44 percent among Republicans."

Monmouth University puts Northam up by two points: "Northam's advantage in Northern Virginia stands at 59% to 30%. Gillespie, on the other hand, leads by a similarly wide 64% to 30% margin in the western part of the Commonwealth. Northam has regained the edge in his home region of eastern Virginia at 54% to 39%. Northam led in this region in July and September but Gillespie temporarily closed the gap last month. 'Gillespie is performing very strongly in the western region and may even eclipse Donald Trump's 2016 majority there. Northam is doing about the same in Northern Virginia as McAuliffe's 2013 showing and is running slightly better than the incumbent did along the Chesapeake Bay. It's all going to come down to the central part of the state. The counties surrounding the greater Richmond area are likely to determine the next governor,' said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute."

The Polling Company, a GOP firm formerly owned by Kellyanne Conway, has Northam up 1 point (45-44) in its tracking poll.

"Gillespie's focus on security . . . has played a pivotal role in energizing Republican voters and making this race a dead heat going into election day," said conservative strategist Greg Mueller of CRC Public Relations, which now owns the firm.
SEOUL, South Korea - President Donald Trump on Tuesday asserted that tougher gun laws would not have stopped the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, last weekend and in fact "hundreds more" would have died had another man not been able to "neutralize" the alleged killer with a gun of his own.

Asked during a news conference here whether he would entertain "extreme vetting" on guns, Trump appeared irritated by the question and suggested it was not appropriate to talk about "in the heart of South Korea."
William Carroll/Plainview Herald

The annual Veterans Day appreciation banquet drew a large crowd of well over 100 participants to the Pete & Nelda Laney Student Activity Center on the campus of Wayland Baptist University Sunday. The master of ceremonies was Charles N. Starnes and he led series of speakers and presenters who reminded U.S. veterans how important they are to the country.

Dr. Cindy McClenagan, vice president of academic affairs at Wayland Baptist University gave the opening prayer and greeting on the evening. McClenagan said that 30 percent of Waylands nearly 5,000 students are affiliated with the military in some way. Part of this is due to the fact that half of Waylands campuses are aligned with U.S. military bases. The other reason is simply that Wayland fosters a commitment to veterans and has designed several programs with them in mind.
Handout /Getty Images

Authorities investigating the church massacre in Sutherland Springs said Tuesday that they have the cell phone of shooter Devin Kelley but haven't been able to access its contents.

Chris Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI in San Antonio, said the phone was flown last night by DPS plane to FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, to see if experts there can break into it.
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Devin Patrick Kelley had threatened his mother-in-law in angry text messages before opening fire on First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, where she was a member, and there were no apparent racial or religious motives behind the horrific shooting that killed 26 churchgoers, investigators said Monday.

One thing that everybody wants to know is, why did this happen? said Freeman Martin, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Its a senseless crime, but we can tell you there was a domestic situation going on within this family.

Martin declined to say when the threats were made or what Kelley said. But as misinformation about the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history spread far and wide on the Internet, Martin tried to put a stop to the unverified rumors.

RELATED: Survivor: When the babies cried, the gunman shot them point blank

Now Playing: Latest updates: Sutherland Springs church shooting Video: San Antonio Express-News

We wanted to get out there that this was not racially motivated, Martin said, and authorities believe that religious beliefs also werent a motive. The FBI is helping the Texas Rangers in the investigation and has not opened a terrorism inquiry.

Public records show that Kelley, 26, had married Danielle Shields, 22, in Comal County on April 4, 2014. Shields mother, Michelle, was a member of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small, tightly knit community nearly 30 miles southeast of downtown San Antonio.

Kelleys wife and mother-in-law werent attending the church service Sunday when Kelley arrived carrying a Ruger AR-556 rifle. But according to Tambria Read, a local historian, and several Facebook posts, Shields grandmother, Lula Woicinski White, was among the victims. Authorities, however, would not confirm that Shields grandmother was among those killed.

When asked, Martin would say only that they were unaware if shes one of the victims or not. When pressed by a reporter, he said he couldnt say for sure that she was not a victim.

At an afternoon news conference, authorities avoided using Kelleys name, stating they did not want to glorify what he did. They referred to him simply as the shooter or suspect.

RELATED: Neighbor who confronted shooter speaks out

Kelley was wearing black clothes, body armor and a black mask decorated with a white skull when he stood outside the church and opened fire.

The gentleman was right underneath the (church) sign, said Terrie Smith, who witnessed the shooting from a nearby Valero gas station.

He was just shooting at the building, you could see him shooting, she said, sobbing and using her arms to simulate a rifle that was repeatedly firing.

She said, He went around (the church) and we couldnt see him, but you could still hear him. We saw him come around.  Then it got real quiet, and then we again heard a lot of rounds. A lot of rounds.

Thats when one of the victims came running out, Smith said.

He was all bloody from his arms and his face. He came stumbling this way. By then, we had gotten all the customers inside.  We let him in and and he said, Somebody went in and shot everybody! My familys in there! My familys in there! Everybodys been shot!

Inside the small church, the gunman moved freely around the cramped space, firing at children and adults.

It was just horrific, said Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr., describing what he saw after the shooting. Words cant express what was there. Its hard enough to see adults, but when you see babies, little ones, Im talking 3, 4, 5, 6 years old. 10 years old. Its just hard.

RELATED: Officials reveal gunman shot twice by pursuing citizen

Martin had said Sunday that the victims ranged in age from 5 to 72. But on Monday, he said those ages actually applied to the 20 injured victims taken to local hospitals. The actual ages of the people who died ranged from 18 months to 77 years.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will travel to Texas on Wednesday to visit family members of victims, speak with the injured and meet first responders in Sutherland Springs.

We are with you Texas, Pence wrote on Twitter.

First Baptist Church routinely records its worship services and has posted past videos on YouTube. Investigators said they obtained a copy of a video taken in the church that captured the shooting and that it will be analyzed by the FBI at its crime lab in Quantico, Virginia.

Authorities found more than 15 magazines at the church. Each holds 30 rounds. All of them were empty, they said.

Martin praised a neighbor who heard the clamor of gunshots, grabbed his own rifle and spotted Kelley as he was walking out of the church. The two men exchanged gunfire. Kelley was shot in the leg and torso, officials said.

We know that the suspect was shot, Martin said. When he dropped his assault rifle, jumped in his Ford Expedition and fled the scene, this Good Samaritan, our Texas hero, flagged down another young man from Seguin, Texas, and jumped in his vehicle, and they pursued the suspect.

RELATED: Trump: Gun control may have caused more deaths

Stephen Willeford, the man who shot and chased the shooter, told KHBS/KHOG that he took action because, the people in that church, theyre friends of mine, and theyre family. And every time I heard a shot, I knew that that probably represented a life.

I was scared to death, Willeford said in an emotional interview. I was. I was scared for me. I was scared for every one of them. And I was scared for my own family that just lived less than a block away.

During the chase, Kelley called his father, told him he had been shot and didnt think he was going to make it, Martin said. After that call, authorities believe that Kelley fatally shot himself. His vehicle crashed on the county line between Wilson and Guadalupe counties.

No divorce records for Kelley are on file in Comal County, where he lived. Three years ago, sheriffs deputies responded to a suspected domestic disturbance at Kelleys address on FM 2722 two months before his marriage to Danielle Shields, records show.

A friend had called authorities after Shields sent text messages complaining she was being abused by her boyfriend. The deputies report identifies the male subject involved as Devin, but says no action was taken and describes the situation as a teenaged drama.

Kelley was also named as a suspect in a reported sexual assault four years ago, according to redacted records released by the Comal County Sheriffs Office on Monday. The report was taken at 11:44 p.m. on June 17, 2013, and lists the offense as rape by force. The name of the victim is redacted, and no additional details were available Monday.

RELATED: Air Force admits fault in reporting shooter's past crimes

Danielle Shields wasnt Kelleys first wife. Kelley had joined the Air Force in 2009 after graduating from high school in New Braunfels, but he was court-martialed and accused of assaulting his wife at the time and a young child in 2012 at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he was a logistics readiness specialist.

It was a disturbing case of abuse  Kelley had fractured his stepsons skull, said retired Col. Don Christensen, the former head of Air Force prosecutors. Kelley was sentenced to 12 months confinement and given a bad-conduct discharge, a punitive measure similar to a dishonorable discharge, but not as severe.

Court records in New Mexico show divorce papers were filed by Kelleys first wife, Tessa, on Oct. 15, 2012.

After the conviction in military court in 2012, Christensen said this should have precluded Kelley from legally purchasing the four guns that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said he bought from 2014 to 2017.

There is no way this man should have legally owned a gun based upon what he was convicted of, Christensen said.

But the Air Force announced Monday that it didnt report the criminal infraction to the National Criminal Information Center and that it is launching a review of what went wrong.

The omission meant Kelleys conviction didnt show up in criminal background checks. Fred Milanowski, special agent in charge of Houstons field division for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Kelley had at least three guns on him  the Ruger rifle and two handguns in his vehicle.

All three of these firearms were purchased by the deceased suspect, Milanowski said. Martin said Kelley also had passed a background check by DPS when he recently began working as a private security guard as a noncommissioned officer, meaning he wasnt allowed to carry a firearm on the job.

RELATED: H-E-B employee among victims killed in Texas church shooting

In a statement Monday, Academy Sports and Outdoors said federal officials verified that Kelley bought two guns from two of their San Antonio stores, one in 2016 and one in 2017, and both sales were approved by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Kelley spent five and a half weeks working as a nighttime security guard at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels beginning in June, said Winter Prosapio, spokeswoman for the Central Texas water park. His duties included checking gate locks at night, but he was fired after his brief employment, Prosapio said.

Authorities said they wont officially release the names of the victims until all their families are notified. But church pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, announced at a tearful news conference Monday that their 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, had been killed.

We don't want to overshadow the other lives lost yesterday, said Sherri Pomeroy, who was out of town the day of the shooting, along with her husband. We lost more than Belle yesterday.

The small church in Sutherland Springs was a very close family, she said. It was a family their daughter loved fiercely, and they loved her back.

We ate together, we laughed together, we cried together and we worshipped together, Pomeroy said.

Now most of our church family is gone.

News Researcher Misty Harris and Staff Writers Caleb Downs, Kelsey Bradshaw, Zeke MacCormack, Sig Christenson and Sylvia Foster-Frau contributed to this report.

jtedesco@express-news.net
Joaquin Ramirez and Joanne Solis, a couple who survived the shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, told KSAT-TV their last-minute decision to attend church Sunday morning made them witnesses to unspeakable carnage.

They heard a hail of bullets and a warning cry from outside: Everybody get down! Theyre shooting at us!
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The gunman who killed 26 people at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, escaped from a mental health facility in New Mexico in 2012.

He had been checked into the facility following an attempt to sneak firearms into an Air Force base in a plot to carry out the death threats he made against his chain of command, according to police records.

Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, escaped the Peak Behavioral Health Services in Sunland Park, New Mexico, and was first reported missing by one of the facility's employees around 11:20 p.m., June 13, 2012, according to a police report from the El Paso Police Department first obtained by Houston's Channel 2 News.

RELATED: Gunman in church attack was convicted of fracturing stepson's skull

Now Playing: Latest updates: Sutherland Springs church shooting Video: San Antonio Express-News

The employee told police Kelley "was a danger to himself and others as he had already been caught sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base," according to the report. The employee said Kelley was "attempting to carry out death threats that [he] had made on his military chain of command."

Kelley was later located at a Greyhound bus station. The employee had told police Kelley planned to escape by catching a bus out of state, police records show.

RELATED: FBI agents can't crack Texas church shooter's cell phone, officials say

He was handed over to Sunland Park Police Department officers.

The incident occurred just months before Kelley was convicted of fracturing his stepson's skull and assaulting his wife. A jury at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico gave Kelley a 12-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to attacking his wife and the baby, said a former head of Air Force prosecutors, retired Col. Don Christensen. He received a bad-conduct discharge from the Air Force.

Questions have swirled since the shooting about how Kelley was able to pass background checks when he purchased two weapons at San Antonio sporting goods stores, despite his history. The Air Force said Monday it had failed to submit the records to the federal background check system.

Of the 20 people wounded in the shooting, 10 are still in critical condition, officials said Tuesday.

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Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, the gunman in the deadly mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, owned at least three guns. He shouldnt have been able to own any.

That he could pass background checks to purchase guns is due to a grievous error by the Air Force, which failed to notify the FBI that he had been convicted by a military court on domestic violence charges. He was court-martialed at Holloman AFB in New Mexico in November 2012 for assaulting his wife and breaking his stepsons skull. He was sentenced to 12 months. That would put his release from incarceration at November 2013. After he served this, he was reduced in rank and released from the military with a bad conduct discharge in 2014.

That is a disqualifying criminal record. Yet the sales of two guns to him in 2016 and 2017 were approved through the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. The Air Force is conducting an internal review to determine how this could have happened.

No matter where you stand on the big picture on gun control, this is an unforgivable error. What happened here is a circumvention of existing law.

Texas law says that felons and certain domestic violence misdemeanants cannot possess a firearm until five years after they have been released from incarceration or community service. But federal law says a person convicted of family violence cannot own a firearm, with no time limit imposed.

Lindsay Nichols, the federal policy director at the Giffords Law Center, formed to prevent gun violence, said had Kelley been given a dishonorable discharge, gun ownership would also be prohibited. He was, however, given a bad conduct discharge, and its unclear if that fits into the same category. But the family violence conviction should have prevented the gun sales in any case.

And now the question is how many others, in how many other military branches, have not had their family violence convictions forwarded to the FBI for inclusion in the database? And another question: How many convicted on domestic violence charges actually surrender their guns? Among the guns Kelley bought was a Ruger AR-556 assault rifle  of the type reportedly used in the Sunday attack  in April 2016 at a store in San Antonio.

We urge all military branches to begin reviews to determine if theyve let other Kelleys slip through the cracks. There is a reason that the federal government, Texas and other states bar those who have committed family violence from possessing weapons. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed, according to a 2003 study.

It is, of course, possible Kelley could have procured guns by other means, but there is no reason we should make it easier than it has to be for monsters to get guns.
1 Afghan attacks: Attacks in Afghanistan targeting places of worship, religious leaders and worshipers, including attacks against Shiite Muslims, have increased sharply in the past year and a half, the United Nations said Tuesday. A special report by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has documented 51 incidents of such attacks since January 2016 that resulted in 850 civilian casualties  273 killed and 577 wounded. The report said the figure is nearly double the number of such attacks documented between 2009 and 2015, when the total number of such casualties was 475.

2 Military aid: Iraqs highest-ranking Sunni is in Washington this week pleading for more military aid for his communitys militias, hoping the Trump administration will deliver on pledges to counter Irans growing power across the Middle East. Osama al-Nujaifis push comes with a family complication. His brother, Atheel, is the former governor of the recently liberated city of Mosul and heads a prominent Sunni militia. Sunnis represent about 40 percent of Iraq, but consistently complain about being underrepresented in Iraqs Shiite-dominated government.
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Lycoming College will host clean energy advocate Mark Szybists presentation, Pennsylvania at an Energy Crossroads: A Decade of Shale Gas, and Where We Go Now, on Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., in the Jane Schultz Room on the Lycoming College campus. The lecture is the second in the Lycoming College 2017-18 Center for Energy and the Future (CEF) Speaker Series, which is focused on Marcellus Shale gas development  where we stand ten years into development, as well as what to expect during the next decade. The event is free and open to the public.

Lycoming Colleges ideal positioning  at a gateway to the Marcellus Shale region  puts students at a unique advantage to examine the complex issues related to modern energy systems. The CEF seeks to engage the College community in the nations ongoing conversation about energy through its energy science and energy studies curriculum, student-faculty research, field experiences and internships.

Szybist is senior advocate for the Energy and Transportation Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In that role, he advocates for clean energy policies in Pennsylvania that will reduce global warming, create quality jobs and ensure environmental justice. Prior to joining NRDC, Szybist served as a staff attorney for Citizens for Pennsylvanias Future, where he focused on Marcellus Shale gas drilling litigation and policy.

We are pleased to bring Szybist to campus and to continue to expose students and the general public to a diverse array of perspectives on the critical energy system questions we, as Pennsylvanians, Americans, and indeed human beings, face, said Jonathan Williamson, associate professor of political science and chair of the department, as well as CEF director. Lycomings interdisciplinary and inclusive engagement on vital questions about our energy future exemplify the Colleges commitment to engendering students critical thinking skills and ability to seek out evidence-based truths, both hallmarks of a liberal arts and sciences education.

Szybists presentation is sponsored by the Lycoming College CEF, and in part by a Williams Community Grant.
Goal 1: Guide national and international policies and strategies to accelerate and enhance control over the elimination of targeted diseases and malnutrition.

By maintaining our presence in key partnerships and working groups linked to policy and advocacy, we continue to ensure change in policy and practice to end malaria, neglected tropical diseases and malnutrition. At the international level, we are engaged in the reformation of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. We are members of the World Health Organizations (WHO) Malaria Policy Advisory Committee and Vector Control Working Group and continue to serve on the WHO Drug Resistance Containment Technical Expert Group, which is guiding global strategies on tackling the threat of artemisinin resistance .

We partner with Ministries of Health in each country , and work with local advocacy partners in endemic areas. This year, new partnerships were formed with the Carter Centre Coalition against Malaria in Ethiopia, and with NAIMA + in Mozambique.

Where appropriate, we work with the private sector to establish sustainable channels for delivery of public health and ensure clear, regulated contributions. We also work with the commercial sector internationally, especially to assess new public health products which may support the next generation of interventions to be built into policy. Read more highlights by downloading the PDF here.
Thiruvananthapuram: The government has got the legal advice that it can continue with proceedings against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the justice Sivarajan Commission report that probed the controversial solar scam.

The report added that Saritha and Biju Radhakrishnan misused the influence at the former CM Oommen Chandy's office. Pointing that the UDF government neglected Intelligence ADGP's reports, the commission recommended the attachment of the assets of the people who indulge in such activities.

The advice was given by former Supreme Court Judge and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat. The advice has come at a time when the government is getting ready to table the report in the assembly on November 9.
Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala police team probing the sensational actress attack case is all set to file the charge sheet against actor Dileep, accused of plotting the crime.

As per the latest reports, the police will submit the charge sheet within two days. Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behra made it clear that they were checking the draft of the charge sheet.

Though earlier reports suggested that the actor might be named as first accused in the case, police sources said that he would now be named as seventh accused. The investigation team had landed in a fix after one of the key witness changed their statement in the court.

Dileep had last week sought a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry in the actress abduction case. The actor's move landed the home ministry in a fix as the actor raised some grave allegation against DGP Loknath Behra and ADGP Sandhya.
MARTINSVILLE  Its not every day an event in Martinsville is sold out  and for an English lesson, no less.

Yet each year when Dr. Elliot Engel has a lecture at Piedmont Arts, it sells out almost immediately, and such was the case Friday evening, when 120 heard his lecture The Genius of Mark Twain. Earlier that day, English students at Magna Vista High School heard (and laughed in response throughout) his lecture, The Tortured Genius of Edgar Allan Poe, through Piedmont Arts Educational Outreach programs.

Piedmont Arts Interim Director Heidi Pinkston introduced Engel, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has taught at The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Duke University. He earned his masters and doctoral degrees as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at UCLA, where he also won the Outstanding Teacher Award.

He has lectured throughout the United States and on all the continents, including Antarctica, Pinkston said. His mini-lecture series on Charles Dickens ran on PBS, and his articles have been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. In 2009, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in England for his academic work and service in promoting Charles Dickens. He is a supporter of Dickens charity, The great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital, for which sales of Engels books, CDs and DVDs raise funds.

Pinkston also thanked volunteer Betty Lou Pigg, who planned the dinner which was served before the lecture.

Engel gives public programs on a regular basis; over the next month, hell be in New Jersey, Michigan, Texas, and several cities in North Carolina. His schedule can be seen on professorengel.com/pages/speaking-schedule.

Mark Twain

From the time Mark Twain died right down to today, he has always been called the greatest writer who ever picked up a pen in the history of our country, Dr. Elliot Engel said. Mark Twain wrote one immortal work and only one. A lot of the things he wrote are excellent, but only Huckleberry Finn is defined as among the worlds greatest literature.

Twain (born Samuel Clemens) was the first American writer to write in the dialect of the regions and to use humor, Engel said. He was satirical of the wealthy, and he did the most to shed light on the plight of slaves and black people in that time period.

Twains working life started at age 11, when he had to go to work after the death of his father. He got what he called the worst job in the state of Missouri: as the assistant editor of a newspaper.

He had to get the newspaper office, and the editors adjoining apartment, warmed by a fire he built in the fireplace, then wake the editor up, make his breakfast and do chores, Engel said.

Then he would have to line up the type for the next edition of the newspaper  the metal stamp of each and every letter having to go into trays backwards.

I hated the printing business because I could never mind my ps and qs, which looked the same in their stamp forms, Twain has said.

When Twain was 18, a neighbor returned from South America, telling him he found a marvelous they could make $1 million each: Sell the coca leaves from which cocaine is made to the exhausted, distracted factory workers in Massachusetts. The man had bought 1  tons, but just needed help getting the load shipped from Chile to New Orleans to Massachusetts. Twain got on board with the job.

However, Twain got distracted on his way down there: by Horace Bixby, one of the great riverboat captains of all time, Engel said. Twain learned that riverboat captain was the third highest paying job in America.

However, that was because the job was extremely difficult to get. A riverboat captain was required to memorize every bit of the 2,142 shoreline of the Mississippi River  on both sides. A test would ask what happens mile by mile along the route.

Twain studied two years, day and night, for that test, and passed it on his first try, Engel said. However, two hours after he passed the test, Civil War is declared, and all traffic on the Mississippi River was halted.

He had to look for another job, and said that he would do anything for money except get out of bed before noon and do physical labor, Engel said.

He got the only open job at the San Francisco Chronicle, but it was as the society editor. The news he reported on came through the womens society president, the wife of the newspaper editor, Engel said  and he loathed society.

Twain was fired from the job and run out of town the day a satirical article he wrote ran in the newspaper. He had written it as a joke for a cub reporter, but through a series of blunders, that one ended up printed instead of the real one Twain had prepared.

After that, Twain wrote The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. It is not a good story, Engel said, but it is probably the single most important thing Mark Twain ever wrote.

Jumping Frog gave two gifts to American literature: It was the first story in America written in common speech as opposed to formal, and it was the first ever comedy. Twain gives us a sense of humor.

Twain then became a satirical writer for newspapers and finds out that he is a cultural hero in New York.

In 1885, one unbelievably perfect work of literature, Huckleberry Finn, came out and was a complete and utter dud. Readers could not sympathize with the characters, the child son of a dangerous alcoholic and a black slave, Engel said.

Louisa May Alcott singlehandedly rescued it by having it banned around Boston, he said. He took out huge ads in newspapers claiming that Huckleberry Finn has been banned in Boston for all of its dirty incidents, and sales shot up 115 percent the next month.

People bought it looking to be scandalized, but instead what they actually find is this touching story. The book also did more to make Americans understand the sufferings of blacks than any other book.

Holly Kozelsky writes for the Martinsville Bulletin. She can be reached at .
MARTINSVILLE  As a single mother, Amie Barker feels fortunate to now be living in her own home.

She and her three children recently moved into a house in Bassett Heights renovated for them by Habitat for Humanity of Martinsville and Henry County.

Becoming a homeowner is really a blessing, said Barker, who previously rented. Its been a humbling experience. It wasnt something that I expected.

Habitat for Humanity is an international, Christian-oriented, nonprofit organization of volunteers who build or renovate simple, affordable homes for families in need. Houses are sold to the families who will occupy them at no profit and with no interest on the mortgages. Members of families that receive homes are expected to volunteer to help build their homes or others built by the organization in the future.

The house renovated for Barker and her children has three bedrooms and 1  baths. Nancy Moore, the local Habitat chapters executive director, said the organization acquired the house through Habitat for Humanity Virginia as part of a program involving foreclosed housing in rural communities.

It was a win-win for us, Moore said. Not only was the family able to obtain a house of its own, she said, but also one was obtained in the school district that the children already were attending.

Approximately 100 volunteers worked on the house from April through September. They reworked the heating, electrical and plumbing systems, completely remodeled the kitchen, installed a new roof, laid new flooring and landscaped the yard, according to Moore.

Among the volunteers were Mike Bryant of Blue Ridge Remodeling and students in courses that he teaches at Patrick Henry Community College, she said.

The cost of the project was covered through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant, Moore said. She expressed gratitude to contractors who participated and lowered fees for their services.

Barker and her children helped the volunteers by painting and cleaning up the house and hanging blinds, Moore said.

Its really wonderful to become a homeowner, Barker said.

Her children  ages 11, 9 and 7  are super excited, she said. Theyre pleased at having their own spaces now.

To qualify for a Habitat house, a family must be living in substandard housing and prove that it has a financial need. Houses then are sold to families for the total cost of materials and financed over 15 to 20 years, a document shows.

Since it was established in 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Martinsville and Henry County has built or refurbished 37 houses. Moore said the organization has not yet begun planning to construct or rehab any others. However, anyone interested in owning a future Habitat home can call her at (540)-638-6484 for specific details about the process.

The local chapter has embarked on a campaign to raise $50,000 by the end of the year. Only about 20 percent of that amount so far has been raised, Moore estimated. Yet she expects the goal will be reached, she said, noting that some churches and businesses are anticipated to make pledges.

Anyone interested in making a financial donation can send a check to Habitat for Humanity of Martinsville and Henry County, 932 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112.
STANLEYTOWNOne Patrick County resident was killed Sunday in a single vehicle accident on Fairystone Park Highway.

According to officials with the Virginia State Police, the incident took place around 10:15 p.m. When the driver didn't return home by Monday morning, family members called law enforcement and reported him missing. The man and his 2001 Suzuki Sidekick were located soon after by Virginia State Police. According to the troopers, the Sidekick had run off the road to the left and the driver overcorrected, sending it back across the highway and over the embankment.

By 11:45 a.m. Monday, the Virginia State Police, Bassett Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. and representatives from both S&T Towing and Eastwood Towing were working the scene.

S&T and Eastwood employees worked with the fire department to attach cables to the Suzuki to pull it up the hill.

The 4-door SUV sustained severe damage, especially to the drivers side. Several windows, including the back windshield were broken and the front windshield was shattered.

The vehicles roof and body received multiple indentations and the left front tire was flat. The left front headlight was nonexistent and a portion of the rear left taillight hung by a chord.

When crews recovered the vehicle from the ravine, tree limbs and leaves jutted out of the missing rear windshield.

The driver, a 48-year-old Patrick Springs man, was the only person in the vehicle and he was ejected upon impact, according to First Sgt. Davis with the Virginia State Police. The man died from his injuries at the scene, but his name was not released, as officials have yet to inform family members.
Why I support Steve Draper

Steve Draper began serving our city as a volunteer firefighter in 1972. In 1977, he continued to serve as a firefighter and joined the Martinsville Henry County Rescue Squad. He continued to serve as a volunteer firefighter/EMS provider for the City of Martinsville until 1981 when his job at Pannill Knitting Company as Safety and Security Director became more demanding.

In 1991 Steve was elected to the Martinsville City Council where he served until he was elected Sheriff and took office in 1994.

During the 24 years Steve has been Sheriff he has successfully consolidated the Martinsville City Jail and the Martinsville City Farm, now known as the City Jail Annex houses which non-violent male offenders that are able to work on work crews throughout the city and one work crew in Henry County. Offenders volunteer to work on these work crews. The work crews save city taxpayers over $500,000 per year in labor cost per year.

In 1996 Sheriff Draper proposed to city council the construction of a 48-bed minimum security facility to be built on Church Street behind the original jail building. At the time of this proposal, the Sheriffs Office was forced to house inmates in other jails at a cost of nearly $60,000 a year. It was predicted that if the jail population continued to increase that the City would be paying in access of $100,000 a year to house inmates in other jails. Sheriff Draper with the assistance of the citys engineering department and Virginia Department of Corrections designed a facility that would house inmates and save the City from paying other facilities to hold their offenders and the total cost of this facility was $375,000. The facility paid for itself within three or four years.

Steve was elected President of the Virginia Sheriffs Association in 2008-09. As president, he assisted as a lobbyist for Sheriffs in the Virginia General Assembly. As a matter of fact, Steve continues to assist today as a member of the Virginia Sheriffs Association as a Past President. Steve has been the only Sheriff in Martinsville or Henry County that has served as President of the Virginia Sheriffs Association.

Steve has also been appointed by three different Virginia Governors to state boards or commissions. In addition, the Sheriffs have appointed Steve to the Lesion Committee of the Board of Corrections and to the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission as a Commissioner.

Locally Steve serves as the Chairman of the Boy Scouts Friends of Scouting, City appointee of the Board of Directors of Dan River A.S.A.P. and as a Board of Director member of the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy. In addition, he serves as a board member of C-PEG.

Steve is the site coordinator for the Division of Motor Vehicles basic motorcycle program through Patrick Henry Community College and has served as an adjunct instructor for the College for the Administration of Justice Program.

Roy Prillaman

Martinsville

Open Doors for Jihad in Virginia?

The terrorist incident in New York City reminds us that Islamic terrorists are among us. Election Day is here, where we Virginians vote for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The issue of sanctuary cities is one and may be the most important issue facing us. Some are naive and think nothing can happen here. You just have to be nice, simply go along and we can have peace. Many have already forgotten the well reported attempted decapitation by an ISIS sympathizer shouting Allah Akbar in the streets of Roanoke just over a year ago. Opening the door and not vetting immigrants endangers us, our children, families and friends. Our politicians primary responsibility is public safety. Northam, Herring, and Fairfax and have taken the position of open door policies, sanctuary cities and general appeasement. Beware. Herring himself campaigned at the infamous Dar Al-Hijrah mosque where two 9/11 attackers attended. He promised to interfere with federal attempts to vet immigrating Muslims. It is important for public safety that we elect Ed Gillespie for governor, Jill Vogel for lieutenant governor and John Adams for attorney general. We need strong leadership who care to guard and protect citizens from those radicals who aim to advance Jihad in America. Our communities, schools, roadways must not become war zones where terrorists can hide and strike unannounced.

Jim Enniss

Martinsville
In his latest video outlining the key events of 1917, Alan Woods - author of "Bolshevism: the Road to Revolution" - discusses the October Revolution, when the workers and peasants of Russia seized power. Alan looks at the build up to the insurrection, which took place exactly 100 years ago on 7 November (25 October, old calendar), and explains the historic significance of the Bolshevik revolution on this centenary anniversary.
The following manifesto, written by Lenin and introduced by Anatoly Lunacharsky at the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets in October 1917, announces the takeover of power by the Soviets, endorses the revolutionary overthrow of the Provisional Government in Petrograd; and calls on transfer of land to the peasants, bread to the cities and democratic control of production to the working class. Long live the October Revolution!

Presented to the Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, 25 October (JC), "To Workers, Soldiers, and Peasants!"

The Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Workers and Soldiers' Deputies has opened. The vast majority of the Soviets are represented at the Congress. A number of delegates from the Peasants' Soviets are also present. The mandate of the compromising Central Executive Committee has terminated. Backed by the will of the vast majority of the wokers, soldiers, and peasants, backed by the victorious uprising of the wokres and the garrison which has taken place in Petrograd, the Congress takes power into its own hands.

The Provisional Government has been overthrown. The majority of the members of the Provisional Government have already been arrested.

The Soviet government will propose an immediate democratic peace to all the nations and an immediate armistice on all fronts. It will secure the transfer of the land of the landed proprietors, the crown and the monasteries to the peasant committees wihout compensation; it will protect the rights of the soldiers by introducting complete democracy in the army; it will establish workers' control over production; it will ensure the convocation of the Constituent Assembly at the time appointed; it will see to it that bread is supplied to the cities and prime necessities to the villages; it will guarantee all the nations inhabiting Russia the genuine right to self-determination.

The Congress decrees: all power in the localities shall pass to the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies, which must guarantee genuine revolutionary order.

Lenin, Trotsky and the masses / Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Congress calls upon the soldiers in the trenches to be vigilant and firm. The Congress of Soviets is convinced that the revolutionary army will be able to defend the revolution against all attack of imperialism until such time as the new government succeeds in concluding a democratic peace, which it will propose directly to all peoples. The new government will do everything to fully supply the revolutionary army be means of a determined policy of requisitions and taxation of the propertied classes, and also will improve the condition of the soldiers' families.

The Kornilov men  Kerensky, Kaledin and others  are attempting to bring troops against Petrograd. Several detachments, whom Kerensky had moved by deceiving them, have come over to the side of the insurgent people.

Soldiers, actively resist Kerensky the Kornilovite! Be on your guard!

Railwaymen, hold up all troop trains dispatched by Kerensky against Petrograd!

Soldiers, workers in factory and office, the fate of the revolution and the fate of the democratic peace is in your hands!

Long live the revolution!

The All-Russia Congress of Soviets

Of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies

The Delegates from the Peasants' Soviets
Besides an aggressive team of lawyers and bullying tactics, Harvey Weinstein employed former Israeli spies and private detectives to squelch allegations of sexual assaults against the disgraced movie mogul, a new report claims.

In a piece written for The New Yorker, journalist Ronan Farrow says Weinstein employed two intelligence companies, Kroll and Black Cube, the latter of which promotes itself as "a select group of veterans from the Israeli elite intelligence units" including former officers of Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies.

Weinstein hired the firms last fall to gather information on actress Rose McGowan and other women, as well as several journalists looking into his conduct.

Two private investigators from Black Cube, using false identities, met with McGowan, who eventually publicly accused Weinstein of rape, to extract information from her. One of the investigators pretended to be a women's-rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan. The same operative, using a different false identity and implying that she had an allegation against Weinstein, met twice with a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press. In other cases, freelance journalists directed by Weinstein or the private investigators interviewed women and reported back the details.

More than 60 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault.

There are criminal investigations into Weinstein in New York, Los Angeles and London.

Farrow said he reviewed "dozens of pages of documents" and confirmed the efforts by Weinstein with seven people involved.

"The explicit goal of the investigations, laid out in one contract with Black Cube, signed in July, was to stop the publication of the abuse allegations against Weinstein that eventually emerged in The New York Times and The New Yorker," Farrow reported. "Over the course of a year, Weinstein had the agencies 'target,' or collect information on, dozens of individuals, and compile psychological profiles that sometimes focused on their personal or sexual histories. Weinstein monitored the progress of the investigations personally. He also enlisted former employees from his film enterprises to join in the effort, collecting names and placing calls that, according to some sources who received them, felt intimidating."

In the wake of the allegations, Weinstein has been fired by the company he founded. He has been expelled by the Academy of Motion Pictures and the Television Academy.
A fiery gang-related shooting between two cars driving down Massachusetts Avenue in Boston left one man in critical condition Monday night.

Police responded to a report of gunfire in the areas of Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue Monday night. The victim, only described as a man in his early 30's, drove a white car and was shot multiple times before crashing.

He was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition, according to police.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said his department was very familiar with the victim and that they "clearly believe this was a gang-related shooting."

Evans told reporters that the shooter and victim "were going at it, ramming each other" as they drove down Mass. Avenue. A photo of the victim's car door shared by WHDH shows at least eight bullet holes.

BPD shut down parts of Mass. Ave stretching from Boylston Street to Huntington Avenue following the shooting, clearing all pedestrians and cars from the area. The shooting remains under investigation.
Ukraine decreases coke production by 20%, pipes output 25% up in Jan-Oct

Ukrainian metal companies tentatively decreased coke production by 20% in January-October 2017 year-over-year, to 8.588 million tonnes, the Ukrmetallurgprom association (Dnipro) has told Interfax-Ukraine.

Pipe production grew by 25%, to 876,000 tonnes.

In October alone, 93,600 tonnes of pipes and 901,000 tonnes of coke were made.

According to the revised data, metal companies in January-October 2017 produced 15.179 million tonnes of rolled steel (15% down year-over-year), 17.66 million tonnes of steel (13% down) and 16.424 million tonnes of cast iron (17% down).

In October, 1.896 million tonnes of steel, 1.697 million tonnes of rolled steel and 1.796 million tonnes of cast iron were produced.

In October 2017, the share of steel made using oxygen-converter process was 71.7% (1.36 million tonnes). The share of steel made in blast furnaces was 22.12% (419,000 tonnes) and 117,000 tonnes of steel (6.18%) was made in electric arc furnaces.
BOSTON - Police arrested two men in connection with separate homicides over the weekend, the Boston Globe reported.

An Everett man was taken into custody by the Massachusetts State Police Friday and charged with shooting 20-year-old Kevin Raymond of Somerville to death.

Tony Harris faces a charge of murder in connection with the October 14 homicide. Police allege that Harris gunned down Raymond in the parking lot of a bowling alley parking lot.

Boston police arrested a Boston man Sunday and charged him with the shooting death of a 32-year-old Dorchester man in July.

Charles Williams, 38, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of 32-year-old Dennis Parham near the Lenox Street housing development the night of July 15. Parham was found dead at the scene.
SPRINGFIELD - A Holyoke man awaiting trial in a heroin trafficking case is facing new drug charges following his arrest Thursday during a raid on a West Springfield motel.

Stalin Castillo, 28, pleaded not guilty Friday in Springfield District Court to new heroin distribution charges. The arraignment came six months after Castillo was arrested on heroin trafficking charges in Holyoke as part of a multi-agency crackdown on drug dealing in the city.

At a prosecutor's request, Judge Matthew Shea revoked Castillo's release in the Holyoke case, effectively jailing him for 90 days. He also set $5,000 bail on the new charges.

Investigators seized 700 bags of heroin and $6,700 in cash after executing a search warrant at the Westside Inn on Riverdale Street. Castillo was arrested at the scene, and held overnight for his arraignment Friday.

The raid was conducted by West Springfield police, state police and the FBI's Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force. The motel, located at 1032 Riverdale St., was formerly known as Elsie's Motel.

Castillo is due back in court next month for a pretrial hearing in the new case.
HOLYOKE -- Medical marijuana company representatives spent over three hours Monday interviewing hundreds of job-seekers at an employment fair.

CEO Peter Kadens of GTI Massachusetts NP Corp. told the standing-room-only crowd at Gateway City Arts on Race Street the company will provide jobs at a facility on Appleton Street, and will help in other ways.

"We want to be a catalyst for bringing people together in this city. We want to be a catalyst for re-employing people in Ward 1 and Ward 2. We are committed to that," Kadens said.

Jon Thomforde of GTI said 30 to 40 positions will be filled initially and then more in the first six months and others in the first year of operation.

Construction is mostly done on the first part of the facility at 28 Appleton St. and it is scheduled to open in January, he told The Republican before the event.

In his remarks, Kadens said the cannabis industry is about second chances. The company in January will pay $10,000 for lawyers to meet with people in the community who have had marijuana convictions that have hindered their ability to get jobs, to help them seal or expunge their records and gain exoneration, he said.

People serving prison sentences and burdened with a criminal record because of convictions related to marijuana that today is legal or would be a a misdemeanor are among those demonized by the government's failed war on drugs, he said.

Also, now that marijuana for medical purposes is legalized and widely available, such treatment can help people ravaged by addictions to drugs like Oxycontin and other opioids, he said.

"Cannabis is all about second chances," he said. "That's the next second chance."

Marijuana's medical uses are available not only through smoking but by ingesting in edible or drinkable forms and as a suppository, he said.

"Here in Holyoke at 28 Appleton we will produce all of these products," Kadens said.

Jobs will include: growers, horticulturalists, manual labor related to growing the plant, processing the plant once it is harvested, placing it in extraction machines to turn the plant into gases and liquids, chemists, laboratory technicians, management, security, construction and engineering, drying, trimming, curing and processing the plants, crop maintenance and packaging, he said.

The company emphasizes a positive attitude in employees, people who come to work happy and focused on the business' best interest, he said.

"You cannot do good business with bad people. You cannot do positive business with negative people," Kadens said.

And weirdos are welcome.

"For those of you out there who think you're weird, that's cool, we want weirdos. We like weirdos. That's a good thing. So, embrace you're outer weirdo," he said.

Those who stood in the numerous job-interview lines in the Gateway City Arts bar and performance space said they were there to find work, learn about GTI or just accompany family and friends.

Lawrence Munoz, 47, of Chicopee said he has experience in security and wants to join "what is potentially going to be the biggest industry around."

"I think being in at the ground level when it opens up could create opportunities, for the near future, anyways," Munoz said.

Jessica Tait, 24, of Chicopee, a state-certified pharmacy technician, was the last person in one of the lines. Some people want to hear nothing about marijuana's benefits and others have embraced such treatment's potential, but the size of the crowd showed a belief in the business, she said.

"Clearly, if no one thought it had any medical use, it wouldn't be so packed," Tait said.

Carlos Pena, 42, of Holyoke, attended the fair to learn about GTI and its plans and not to seek a job, necessarily.

"I mean, if the job is lucrative," Pena said with a smile.

The size of the crowd impressed him.

"It's a lot of people that want to work," Pena said.

Auria Gonzalez of Springfield was among those who stayed seated after Kadens' remarks and formation of the interview lines. Her daughter was interviewing.

"I'm here to support my daughter. We come from different ways of thinking. I'm kind of old-fashioned (about marijuana). She thinks it is something to help people with their illnesses. I've never given it a whole lot of thought, but I support her," Gonzalez said.
Five years before entering a Texas church and killing 26 people, gunman Devin Patrick Kelley escaped from a psychiatric hospital after he threatened his Air Force superiors and tried to smuggle firearms onto his base, according to a 2012 police report.

KPRC published a police report filed by the El Paso, Texas Police Department showing officers were sent to a bus terminal after Kelley escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Services, a psychiatric facility located in New Mexico.

The June 2012 report says officers were warned that Kelley was a danger to himself and others and planned to take a bus out of state. The officers were also told Kelley had been caught sneaking firearms onto the Holloman Air Force base, where he was stationed, and was attempting to "carry out death threats" he made toward his superior officers.

Kelley was also facing military criminal charges, the police report said.

The Washington Post reports the escape took place the same year Kelley was court-martialed for abusing his wife and her son. The abuse occurred between April 2011 and April 2012, the newspaper reports. Kelley was sentenced on those charges in November 2012, the Washington Post reports.

A report by the New York Times says Kelley served a year in a Navy prison.

Kelley entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Sunday and opened fire on people inside. Among the 26 killed was Kelley's grandmother-in-law Lula White.

After the shooting, an armed bystander confronted Kelley and shot him, according to CNN. Kelley then shot himself in the head, the television station reports.
GREENFIELD - A city man who ran through a stop sign at Grove and Conway streets early Tuesday was charged with drunken driving for the sixth time, police said.

The incident began shortly after midnight when Officer Michael McDowell saw a gray Saab drive through the stop sign, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

After a short investigation, McDowell determined the driver, Robert Wasielewski, 57, of 23 Harris Court, was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Although this was Wasielewski's sixth offense, he was technically charged with OUI-liquor - fourth or greater, police said. He was also charged with having an open container in the vehicle.

Wasielewski was held at the Franklin County House of Correction for court or release in lieu of $1,000 bail.
SPRINGFIELD -- A saga set in motion when a city man was stopped by police for driving erratically nearly a year ago ended this week with a state prison sentence.

Edgar Johnson, 57, pleaded guilty Monday to 12 charges involving guns and drugs. He was sentenced by Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara to three years in state prison.

He has 343 days credit on his sentence for days spent in jail awaiting trial.

Police said Johnson made an illegal lane change that nearly caused an accident on November 27, so they stopped him.

Johnson had three guns in the car as well as cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card, two counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device, two counts of carrying a loaded firearm, one count of illegal possession of ammunition, and counts of possession to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin.
HAMPDEN -- Unhappy with the school district's decision to close Thornton W. Burgess Middle School at the end of this academic year, Hampden voters at Monday's special town meeting agreed to appropriate $50,000 to cover the cost of an injunction or other legal fees related to modifying the regional agreement between Hampden and Wilbraham.

After almost a quarter century of Hampden sharing a regional, seven-school district with Wilbraham, the article sets the stage for possible deregionalization -- a potentially costly and protracted process that would require approval from voters in both towns and authorization by the state Department of Education.

Hampden officials told voters that a couple of options have been discussed, including mediation or the possibility of filing an injunction to put the brakes on the school district's decision to close TWB, as Hampden's 50-year-old middle school is commonly called.

The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee voted last month to permanently shut TWB as part of a five-year, districtwide reorganization plan.

The plan begins with closing TWB before the start of the 2018-19 school year and sending TWB students to Green Meadows Elementary School -- Hampden's only other school in the regional district -- and ends with the closure of a Wilbraham school by 2022-23.

That's also when all students in grades 7-12 would begin attending Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, currently a 9-12 school.

Voters at Monday's meeting, held at Hampden's large Bethlehem Church, decisively approved spending up to $50,000 to pay for legal costs to fight the closure of TWB or any other issues related to the regionalization agreement.

An initial legal opinion indicated Hampden had no legal grounds for an injunction, but Monday's controversial article frees up funds for a second legal opinion on whether the town should pursue deregionalization.

The hand-vote in favor of appropriating the funds dwarfed the opposition vote, keeping in line with Hampden's previous voting pattern of supporting any initiative that may prolong the life of the town's two schools.

In October 2016, Hampden voters rejected a measure to amend the regional school agreement to permit TWB students to temporarily cross town lines to attend Wilbraham Middle School, viewing even a short-term merger as the first step toward permanently losing a school in Hampden.

During the temporary merger period, district officials were expected to work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on a long-range solution to address declining enrollment, including the possibility of consolidating the district's two middle schools on a single campus.

A majority of Hampden voters have made it clear they wish to maintain two schools in town, even with district officials emphasizing that the regional school system cannot financially sustain two middle schools and projections showing ongoing declining enrollment.

Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee Chairman Bill Bontempi has vowed to ensure that the committee's top priority is to continue to provide a strong education to all district students.

"As a member of the School Committee, I could never, ever in good conscience put the education of our children in the backseat because of a potential legal challenge," he said at the board's Oct. 19 meeting. "I just can't do it."

The regional school district was born in December 1993, when voters in Hampden and Wilbraham approved expanding the regional district to include all grades. Prior to the expansion, Hampden and Wilbraham students were only educated together during their high school years at Minnechaug, or grades 9-12.

By July 1994, Hampden and Wilbraham's local school districts were dissolved and absorbed into a new K-12 regional district led by one school board, as opposed to the three boards that had previously run things -- one board for Wilbraham schools, another for Hampden schools, and a regional board for grades 9-12.
SPRINGFIELD - A city woman stood in a Hampden Superior Court courtroom Monday and detailed a shockingly frightening six days at the hands of her husband.

"The worst thing he would do to me is he would strangle me unconsious," said the woman as her husband pleaded guilty to 10 charges.

The woman said Angel Perez said he liked to strangle her because it was like a "mini-killing," or "the closest thing to killing me."

Judge John S. Ferrara sentenced Perez to 10 to 12 years in state prison followed by five years probation. Assistant District Attorney Melissa G. Doran wanted a sentence of 12 to 14 years in prison followed by ten years probation.

She said of all the cases she has handled, "this may very well be the worst case of domestic violence."

Ferrara said to Perez that "your torture of your wife over six days" is "one of the cruelest episodes I've heard short of murder."

The woman said, "He swore to me if I ever went to police he would kill me."

On Feb. 17, 2015, at about 9:30 p.m. the woman left the couples' home, barely able to walk because of the damage Perez had done to her legs. She went to a Citgo station and called police, Doran said.

The woman told Ferrara she thought her death was imminent, so she left their children - ages eight and three - in the apartment temporarily and went to the closest service station.

She was too injured to carry her children, and her son was afraid what his father would do to him if he left.

Doran handed some photos of the woman's injuries to Ferrara, saying she kept back some to afford the woman some privacy.

"The impression from the meat tenderizer is very visible on her legs," Doran said. A metal meat tenderizer and a metal bat were two of the weapons Perez, 46, of Springfield, used to hurt the woman.

The woman spent a week in the hospital after she called police, getting blood transfusions because she had lost so much blood from bleeding under the skin, Doran said.

After she was released the woman had to go back in the hospital because of a bad infection in the legs. She has scars as well as areas of skin in which she has no feeling, Doran said.

The woman said she had been married to Perez since 2006 and although Perez's defense lawyer said the February 2015 week was an aberration, Perez had been violent over the course of the marriage.

Perez pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, four count of assault and battery on a family or household member and one count of strangulation or suffocation.

Doran detailed the acts in each charge, going chronologically. On Feb. 12 Perez told his wife to get down on all fours and beat her with the meat tenderizer. Later that day he grabbed an aluminum bat and struck her repeatedly with the bat. He also struck her with a belt buckle and belt strap.

On Feb. 16 Perez made the woman shovel a large amount of snow, despite the fact here legs were swollen.

On Feb. 17 he strangled her in the bathroom until she couldn't breathe, Doran said.

Perez made the woman get the bat and bring it to him so he could hit her. "He kept saying he was going to fix her or break her," Doran said.

Perez admitted he did all the things Doran detailed.

The woman said her children did not see any abuse but did hear it.

"He made me tell the kids daddy was not the bad guy," she said, saying Perez made her tell the children she was bad.

"I am terrified for myself and my children the day he is released," the woman said.

Defense lawyer Daniel R. Bergin, in arguing for a three to five year state prison sentence, said there is "absolutely no justification or excuse" for what Perez did.

He did, however, seek to explain his client's life experience. He said Perez's mother was drug addicted and Perez suffered physical and emotional abuse. He was taken from his mother and put in the foster care system at age 10, Bergin said.

Bergin said Perez joined the army and served for 11 years, becoming a sergeant. Perez served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and was involved in combat, Bergin said.

When he was honorably discharged Perez began having symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and began getting counseling and medication through the Veterans Administration, Bergin said.

Perez worked for the U.S. Postal Service for many years until in 2014 he applied for disability because of his mental health problems. Perez went off his medications.

"He tells me he was completely out of control," Bergin said of what happened in February 2015.

Although the woman told Ferrara she is terrified of Perez, Perez asked to speak in the courtroom. He told Ferrara he still loves the woman and her children and he has no "ill will" toward them.

Ferrara said he was sorry for what Perez endured as a child, and thanked him for his service in the U.S. Army.

But, Ferrara said, the torture of Perez's wife was one of the cruelest episodes he has heard.
A father and son police say attacked the man they believed was responsible for a loved one's overdose death may get off light, the pair's attorney says.

Ralph and Michael Lombardi, 58 and 26, of Sheffield -- father and brother to the late Christine Lombardi, 32 -- each face charges of kidnapping and assault in Southern Berkshire District Court.



The pair's attorney, Lori H. Levinson of Great Barrington, spoke to MassLive on Monday, calling the Lombardis "lovely people" who were "were in the throes of having just learned about" Christine's fatal overdose in Rhode Island when the alleged assault occurred.



"Their intent was to ascertain the name of the Rhode Island dealer, because they wanted to report the dealer to police there," Levinson said. "Things got out of control."



Levinson believes she can see the charges against Ralph Lombardi postponed, as he is a former U.S. Marine and could qualify for a Valor Act Diversion Program deferral.



"I've spoken to the (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), and they think he is a ripe candidate," Levinson said.



As regards Michael Lombardi, Levinson said she has been in discussions with the Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless' Office regarding his case, and has high hopes he will not be prosecuted to the fullest degree possible.



"I would love to see community service, and he would gladly put in the time," Levinson said.



On the evening of Sept. 18, police say the Lombardi men lured a third man into a van in the rural Berkshire County town of Egremont on false pretenses.

Earlier that day, the Lombardis had not only learned of Christine's fatal overdose, but gone to collect her belongings from police in Rhode Island.



Hunting her cell phone for clues, the two men discovered messages indicating a Southern Berkshire man likely was involved connecting Christine with the Rhode Island dealer who supplied her the drugs.



Michael Lombardi then allegedly contacted the man, promising money to square up a several-thousand-dollar debt "he allegedly owed to a drug dealer," according to a police report.

The two met up, and the situation spun out of control -- the man had a knife in his possession and also didn't know Ralph Lombardi was in the van before the latter allegedly grabbed him from behind.



A resident of Baldwin Hill Road in Egremont called police to the scene, where they found Ralph allegedly choking and striking the struggling man while Michael helped hold down his arms.



Both father and son were "screaming different versions of 'you killed my [expletive] daughter' and 'you killed my [expletive] sister,'" according to a report obtained by MassLive.



Ralph Lombardi, who operates a contracting company, was honorably discharged after his service.



Levinson said the two were trying to ensure police got the name of the Rhode Island drug dealer and the case did not slip through the cracks -- as so many drug overdoses do -- and had no larger scheme of vigilante justice.



Both Lombardis are still "deeply mourning" their loss and continue to assist police whereever possible in investigating Christine's death, according to Levinson, who told MassLive she took the case because she felt "completely empathetic" to the family.



The Lombardis have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their pretrial hearing, continued this week, resumes in Southern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 30.








LONGMEADOW - At its Special Town Meeting Tuesday night, Longmeadow may join more than 100 communities across the Commonwealth in banning or limiting the sale of recreational marijuana within its borders.

The 19-article Town Meeting Warrant, upon which Longmeadow residents will vote tonight beginning at 7 p.m. at Longmeadow High School, includes one that would prohibit a wide range of businesses that grow or sell marijuana. Articles 14 and 15 deal with the proposed marijuana ban.

"(A)ll marijuana cultivators, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturers, marijuana retailers, on-site consumption at a business location, any other types of licensed marijuana-related businesses, and the conducting of any such activity for commercial purposes by whichever name used, shall be prohibited within the Town of Longmeadow," Article 14, a proposed zoning bylaw, reads.

Medical marijuana facilities would not be included in the ban, the article reads.

A year ago, on Nov. 8, Massachusetts voters passed Question 4, which legalized possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in the state.

In July, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a compromise bill into law, which allows public officials in cities or towns who voted against Question 4 to opt out of the legalization of sales. It also allows cities and towns in which the majority of voters favored legalization to hold referendum votes to ban marijuana sales within the municipality.

Longmeadow voters last November voted against Question 4 by 850 ballots (4,294 votes in favor of legalization, and 5,144 against), according to election results published by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.

Other surrounding communities have already placed bans or moratoriums on recreational marijuana establishments, which could open as soon as August 2018.

In Wilbraham, where voters last November rejected legalization by just over 1,100 votes, a pair of votes at Town Meeting in May prohibited all commercial enterprise involving the production or sale of pot that is not medical marijuana.

A ballot question on East Longmeadow's June town election ballot banning recreational marijuana facilities from opening in town passed by a landslide with 1,468 for it and 440 against. East Longmeadow voted against legalization last November by a margin of 710 votes.

West Springfield, which voted against legalization by a margin of nearly 4 percent, in February approved a moratorium on marijuana facilities until Dec. 31, 2018.

Also on Longmeadow's Special Town Meeting Warrant are three proposals to amend zoning bylaws on details including lot sizes and signage.
The Roshen Corporation paid UAH 1.213 billion of taxes to the national budget of Ukraine in January-October 2017, the corporation's press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the press service, UAH 296.6 million of profit tax, UAH 10.5 million of military tax, UAH 634.1 million of VAT and UAH 135 million of single social security tax were paid.

Some UAH 136.6 million was paid to local budgets, including UAH 126.4 million personal income tax and UAH 10.2 million of land tax and other taxes.

"Mostly (about 90-95%) taxes are paid to the national budget of Ukraine. The rest is paid to the budgets of those countries where there are representative offices of Roshen, namely Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Bulgaria, the corporation said.

Roshen said that only in 2016, the corporation paid UAH 1.545 billion of taxes, and in 2015 - UAH 1.337 billion.

As reported, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Slidstvo.Info published a journalistic investigation, according to which the goal of restructuring the Roshen confectionary corporation and the creation of offshore companies was to minimize taxes, rather than transfer the company to a blind trust.

Poroshenko's lawyers, in turn, insist that they structured Roshen in such a way that all taxes are paid in Ukraine.

Roshen Corporation is one of the top 30 largest confectionery manufacturers in the world. It includes confectionery factories in Kyiv, Kremenchuk and Vinnytsia, and the Vinnytsia Dairy Plant in Ukraine; as well as the Klaipeda Confectionery Factory in Lithuania and the BonbonettiChoco factory in Hungary. The Lipetsk factory in Russia stopped production on April 1, 2017.

According to the contract signed by President Petro Poroshenko in January 2016, he transferred his 85% stake in the corporation to the independent blind trust of Rothschild Trust. The bank managing the trust also has a four-year power of attorney to negotiate the sale of assets. Roshen President Viacheslav Moskalevsky owns 13% through the Kondyterinvest investment fund, and four other top managers own 0.5% each.
Smith College has fired New Century Theatre co-founder Sam Rush after an investigation found he had committed sexual misconduct.

Rush, the Smith College Theatre Department's production and publicity manager, had worked at the college since 1991, and helped make New Century one of the most important theater companies in the Pioneer Valley.

"Following an investigation that confirmed allegations of serious violations of the college's Sexual Misconduct Policy, the college immediately terminated Mr. Rush's employment," Smith College Director of Media Relations Stacy Schmiedel wrote in an email. "He is no longer employed by Smith College. The college has offered support to the individual involved."

The college would not provide additional details about the investigation or Rush's alleged conduct.

New Century Theatre and Rush did not immediately return requests for comment.

Rush founded the New Century Theatre Company in 1991 and began working for Smith's theater department that year, according to a biography on Smith's website. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a master of fine arts in theater in 1997, and has also taught acting at Western New England University and Asnuntuck Community College.

For years, New Century held a summer residency in Smith's Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts. But in September 2016, Smith terminated its relationship with New Century -- a split described by Rush as an "amicable divorce" driven by production constraints, but which the college attributed to "policy and contract violations," the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported.

Smith declined to expand on the nature of those violations at the time, but issued a further statement to the Gazette distancing itself from Rush's company.

"Smith College's hosting of New Century Theatre does not/did not imply any administrative oversight of the program," Smith College spokesman Sam Masinter told the Gazette.

On Monday, the university would not comment when asked if Smith's separation from New Century was related to the investigation into Rush's conduct.

This year, New Century Theatre held shows at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley and at Northampton's Academy of Music, where it presented productions including "Life in the (413)," a series of short plays about the Pioneer Valley produced in the style of old-fashioned radio shows.

Academy of Music Executive Director Debra J'Anthony said she was not aware of the investigation until told of Rush's firing by MassLive.

"We're not actually [New Century's] home base. I would say most of their shows are at PVPA," J'Anthony said. "They brought two performances to the academy, 'the 413' and their last show. But all the other shows were held at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School."

PVPA could not immediately be reached for comment.
SPRINGFIELD -- A city man pleaded guilty Monday to negligent operation of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to one year probation in connection with an Interstate 91 crash in which a man who stopped to help was struck and killed by another driver.

James Sexton, 28, admitted to driving above the speed limit on Interstate 91 south about 2:15 a.m. Nov. 22, 2015. Prosecutors dropped a charge of operating under the influence of alcohol.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup said the sentence of a year's probation is appropriate under the circumstances.

Assistant District Attorney Robert A. Schmidt said Sexton was trying to change lanes when his car struck a SUV, which rolled onto its side. He said Sexton's car became engulfed in flames.

Holyoke resident Jeremy Ramos, 21, stopped to help. He was then struck and killed by a car driven by Miguel Garcia, 56, of Springfield.

Garcia is charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless driving. His case is pending.

Garcia is also charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury or death accident, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

The crash happened on Interstate 91 in Springfield near the Plainfield Street overpass.

Prosecutors charged that Garcia, after striking Ramos, ditched his car and fled the scene. Massachusetts State Police traced the license plate on the car back to Garcia. He was eventually arrested at his home, according to authorities.

Defense lawyer Arthur J. O'Donald III said Sexton, who is a manufacturing engineer with a degree in chemical engineering, has been without his license for two years since the crash. He said Sexton has been using Uber and getting rides to work with other people.

Sexton's parents were in the courtroom in support of their son.
Students, faculty and alumni at Tufts University want Anthony Scaramucci, the former communications director for President Donald J. Trump, removed from the advisory board for the institution's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

An online petition has more than 240 signatures and states Scaramucci should be removed from the board, which he began serving on since June 2016.

"For those unaware, Anthony Scaramucci, the disgraced White House Communications Director is on the Fletcher Board of Advisors," according to the petition that was started last month. "His lack of judgement displayed in his White House role was frankly enough in my opinion to have him removed from the board. His 'advice' is not worthy of our institution, and his presence on the board could be a disincentive for new students looking to attend Fletcher and alums looking to donate to the school."

The petition, started by Fletcher School graduate student Carter Banker, calls Scaramucci an opportunist. Scaramucci lasted only a couple of weeks in his communications director position for Trump before he was fired.

Banker told the Boston Globe she started the online position after Scaramucci's news site, The Scaramucci Post, sent out a multiple-choice poll asking, "How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?"

Scaramucci reportedly told media he had not seen the poll before it went up on Twitter. The poll was removed.

The Tufts Daily reports Executive Director of Public Relations Patrick Collins said "there is no precedent for removing an advisor from a board." Scaramucci, a 1986 Tufts graduate, was part of a Tufts Now article earlier this year when he was named the White House communications director.

Kate Ryan, the senior director of Development and Alumni Relations, emailed Banker to say the office was reviewing the petition, The Tufts Daily reports.
The grandmother-in-law of Texas church shooter Devin Kelley was one of the 26 people killed in the attack, according to a CNN report.

Kelley was angry with his mother-in-law at the time of the attack, authorities said Monday. CNN reported he had a history of sending his wife's mother threatening texts.

And while Kelley's mother-in-law was not the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas when he opened fire, his wife's grandmother was.

Lula White, Kelley's grandmother-in-law, was a frequent volunteer at the church and died in the shooting, CNN reported.

Kelley was later confronted and shot at by an armed bystander, and was found shot to death in his vehicle after fleeing the scene. It was not immediately clear whether Kelley shot himself, according to CNN.

Kelley was court martialed by the U.S. Airforce in 2012 for assaulting his first wife and child. He was later given a bad conduct discharge.

The attack was the largest-scale mass shooting in Texas history. Victims of the shooting ranged from 17 months to 77 years old.
One of the biggest backlashes to emerge from the Texas church shooting on Sunday revolves around the commonly used platitude of "thoughts and prayers" in response to the attack.

It's not the first time that there has been deep criticism about the issue. After the mass shooting in Las Vegas in October, there was also backlash about the use of the words that are ubiquitous in posts ranging from reaction to mass shootings and weather catastrophes to everyday Facebook pleas for support with dealing with life's problems. "Thoughts and prayers" has become the subject of ridicule, and an online game has emerged that mocks the practice.

There are defenders of the practice. Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to scold those who criticized the use of "thoughts and prayers," laying the blame at the feet of Democrats.

Mocking good hard working & God fearing Americans for praying probably isnt the best strategy for smug Dems, but they cant help themselves  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 6, 2017

The tweets that inspired Trump's response include those from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) claiming that thoughts and prayers were not enough.

Thoughts & prayers are not enough, GOP. We must end this violence. We must stop these tragedies. People are dying while you wait.  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 5, 2017

On the other side, The Washington Post republished a column written by D.C.-based commentator Kirsten Powers, which takes a look at why people are getting repulsed by the use of the empty platitude.

For those of us who identify as Christians, it's particularly painful to watch elected officials use their Christian faith to attempt to spiritualize mass murder, while their inaction leads to people traumatized, maimed, disabled or dead. Mass shootings are not acts of God. They are not natural disasters. We know they are preventable, because no other country lives with this kind of madness. Contrary to NRA propaganda, those countries that are not beset by gun violence -- such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom -- are no less "free" than the United States.

But why do we do it? The Atlantic took a look at the science side of things, pointing out that "thoughts and prayers" is a simple phrase that is easily articulated and includes a secular phrase for those who aren't religious.

"Most immediate expressions of tragedy are monosyllabic," Kevin Ladd, a professor at Indiana University South Bend who co-authored a book on the psychology of prayer, told The Atlantic. "We still are not sure what type of language will allow us to interpret what has taken place, so we default back to the most central practices for us. Prayer steps in and fills a void--creates a common kind of language."

Vox spoke with faith leaders after the Texas shooting, who gave their thoughts on the use of the platitude. While most supported the practice, Pastor Jim Kast-Keat of Riverside Church in New York finds it "utterly useless."

"Too often we find ourselves calling ourselves into our holy huddles, filled with our thoughts and prayers, while the world goes to hell around us," Kast-Keat told Vox. "As cheesy as it might sound, I want people to stop going to church and I want them to start being the church."

This echoes the frustrations of those who within the space of weeks have dealt with mass shootings in Las Vegas, in Texas, and a terror attack that killed eight in New York City.

Enough with the thoughts and prayers already. The Bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. Do something or say nothing. https://t.co/ekYTtpQhDk  Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) November 5, 2017

We have pastors, priests and rabbis to offer thoughts and prayers.



What we need from Republicans in DC is to do something. Lead.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 6, 2017

The Bible on "thoughts and prayers" when accompanied by inaction. https://t.co/V1DebdthTE  Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) November 6, 2017
GREENFIELD - Three Vermont residents were arrested Saturday morning after the car they were traveling in was stopped in Greenfield, and a subsequent search turned up more than 500 bags of heroin.

Richard Delisle, Clifford Delisle, both 27, and Amy Raymond, 31, all of Richmond, Vermont were arrested after a State Police traffic stop at the intersection of Main and Miner streets at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

In a written statement, the Massachusetts State Police said Delisles and Raymond were traveling together in a red Ford Focus, that Trooper Scott Boutell noticed had a loud exhaust system and a burned out license plate lamp. In addition, Boutell ran a computer check of the registration on the plates attached to the Ford and found they were assigned to a black Volkswagen Jetta.

With the two Delisles in the front seats, and Raymond in the back seat, Boutell began processing paperwork for the stop when he noticed Raymond trying to hide something under her leg.

All three were taken from the Ford, and during a subsequent search for weapons, a large coffee container was found with 560 bags of heroin hidden inside. A female Deerfield police officer was called to the scene and she found 14 more bags hidden in Raymond's possession.

Richard Delisle was charged with seven motor vehicle violations as well as possession of a Class A substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Clifford Delisle and Raymond were also charged with possession of a Class A substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Tax declarations for UAH 16.1 bln not accepted in seven months of automatic VAT refunds

Since the launch of the automatic VAT refunding system tax declarations or specified calculations for the amount of UAH 16.1 billion were not accepted with UAH 56.7 billion refunded, Ukraine's Finance Ministry has reported on its website.

The ministry said that as of November 2, 2017, the register received 24,590 applications for VAT refunds for UAH 88.1 billion, and applications for UAH 1.1 billion were not accepted or being challenged.

"In November, the register has received eight applications for UAH 1.8 million, the funds have not been yet repaid," the ministry said.

In September, UAH 10.5 billion was declared for refunding, including UAH 8.8 billion or 84% refunded as of November 2, 2017, while in September 2016, almost UAH 7.3 billion was declared with UAH 3 billion or 41% refunded.
When youre working full time while building your business, every minute from the moment you open your eyes has to be used productively.

Ahmed Safwan

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/292759
Soft Landing Missoula https://softlandingmissoula.org/ , a nonprofit that works to make Missoula a welcoming community for refugees is getting some national attention for its efforts in the Garden City.

Soft Landing Missoula is featured in an online video series created by coffee giant, Starbucks.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, thats what Starbuckss series Upstanders https://starbuckschannel.com/originals/upstanders-season-2/ is all about.

The online video series is in its second season, this time around that ordinary person doing an extraordinary thing is a Mary Poole, Executive Director for Soft Landing Missoula.

By Nicole Mojarro

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/36779160/soft-landing-missoula-gets-national-attention

***

City Club Missoula Presents: New Neighbors: Refugee Resettlement In Missoula, One Year Later  11/13 http://www.matr.net/article-79552.html
Thirty-five state attorneys general and the District of Columbia have signed on to support South Dakotas legal bid to collect sales taxes from out-of-state internet retailers.

South Dakota is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether retailers can be required to collect sales taxes in states where they lack a physical presence. The case could have national implications for e-commerce.
The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Lilia Hrynevych told ambassadors of the Alliance about the peculiarities of the Ukrainian law on education at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday.

"The meeting at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels has just been finished, where I told about the law on education to the ambassadors of the Alliance's member countries. The minister of education and science does not often have the opportunity to address such an audience, but since the language of our law remains a popular topic, there was a need to explain," Hrynevych wrote on her Facebook page after the meeting.

She said she told about all the details. "The main thing is that the law "On Education" is a key legislative act of the systemic educational reform on which the European future of Ukraine depends," the minister said.

Hrynevych explained that the law does not restrict any constitutional rights of Ukrainian citizens, on the contrary, it provides for broader opportunities for minority representatives to use their legal right to equal access to quality education, work and development throughout the country.

"We are a European country, so we talk with our partners, we are ready for consultations and negotiations. But every Ukrainian child must have conditions to qualitatively master the state language - this is the limit of compromise, which we won't get over," the education minister said, adding that "we were heard and supported for our openness and honesty in our own position."

As reported, the Ukrainian law on education came into force on September 28.

Among other things, the law stipulates that the state language is a language of learning at educational institutions, but one or several subjects in two or more languages, namely, the state language, English and other European Union official languages can be taught in compliance with the educational program.

People, who belong to ethnic minorities, are guaranteed the right for learning in the native language along with the Ukrainian language in separate groups of municipal pre-school and primary school institutions.

On September 28, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent the education law for examination by the Venice Commission.

The Venice Commission's opinion on the Ukrainian education law can be expected in December.
Two fast-growing technology companies in downtown Missoula have applied for state grants to create more than 100 high-paying jobs over the next two years.

Advanced Technology Group, a technology consulting business with a large Missoula Solutions Center, has 110 employees statewide and recently applied for a Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund grant to create 50 new jobs over the next two years.

LumenAd, a fast-growing digital marketing agency headquartered in the Florence Building in downtown Missoula, has a pending application with the Montana Department of Commerce to create 62 new jobs over the next two years.

DAVID ERICKSON [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-tech-companies-looking-to-add-hundreds-of-high-paying/article_b1fb1dd0-c543-5837-853b-3424ceee1221.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
"Breweries are a great social place, and this has the potential to hep the county prosper. Maybe other businesses will think of creating something here, too."

Kristen Inbody, [email protected]

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/life/2017/11/06/lewistown-lavina-anticipate-new-breweries/827507001/

***

Tapping Rural America: Craft Breweries Pour New Life Into Small Towns http://www.matr.net/article-79272.html

Family aiming to open Harlowton, Montanas first modern brewery in December http://www.matr.net/article-79252.html

In rural New Mexico, a new brewery founded by former Missoula residents Marianne Blaue and John Masterson creates momentum  Truth or Consequences looks for ways to attract a new generation of entrepreneurs http://www.matr.net/article-79373.html
After Catastrophic Fire Season, Senator Calls for Expert Voices at the Table

(U.S. Senate)Senator Jon Tester is defending Montana fire experts and calling on the U.S. Forest Service to allow them to present their research at a national wildfire conference.

Tester is demanding that Missoula Fire Lab scientists be allowed to travel to the International Fire Ecology and Management Congress Conference later this month. The Forest Service is reportedly denying requests for Montana fire scientists to attend the conference where critical research will be shared after a catastrophic wildfire season.

"The 2017 wildfire season is the most expensive one in history," Tester wrote in a letter to Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke. "In Montana alone, weve seen more than 1.2 million acres burned by wildfires, with enormous impacts to our states outdoor economy, destroyed homes and property, and the tragic loss of two firefighters. Now is the time for us to invest in better understanding wildfire and forest management, not silencing Montana voices who have seen wildfire firsthand."

Scientists from Missoulas Fire Science Lab conduct world-class, cutting-edge research on wildfire and its impact on communities and the environment.

Fighting wildfires in Montana has cost taxpayers more than $389 million this year, and almost 9 million acres burned this wildfire season across the country.

The intense wildfire season once again forced the Forest Service to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from forest management accounts to pay for fire suppression. The cost of fighting wildfires has dramatically increased from 16 percent of the Forest Services budget in 1995 to over 50 percent today.

During a Senate Floor speech last week https://youtu.be/kAGaBAvryE8 , Tester pushed the Senate to move forward with his bipartisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act to provide a long-term funding fix for the Forest Service by ending fire borrowing and funding catastrophic wildfires the same way as other natural disasters.

Testers letter to Forest Chief Tooke is available HERE https://www.tester.senate.gov/files/Letters/2017-11-06%20TO%20USFS%20Chief%20Tooke%20Wildfire%20Scientists%20Sharing%20Research.pdf
The MRIC in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology is organising the first of a series of training workshops (from the 30th Nov  4th Dec 2020) entitled: Building of a Simplified Antenna for Satellite Communication and Ground Station Operation. These workshops are in line with the First Mauritian Satellite in space initiative which the MRIC is leading .

For the period 2020-2021, the MRIC envisages to train 4 students and 1 teacher from around 100 secondary and tertiary education institutions in Mauritius and Rodrigues combined. The training programme will consist of a series of hands-on workshops being conducted over school holidays showing students how to build a simple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Antenna and a receiving station. At the end of the workshops, each participating institution will be gifted the completed antenna and accessories.

This will enable them to receive satellite telemetry and imagery from open (LEO) satellites such as weather satellites. The main aim of the workshops is to introduce our younger generation (from Mauritius and Rodrigues) to basic satellite technology and empower them with a tool with which they could explore novel initiatives and endeavours in the New Space Era1. It is envisaged that the basic training provided through these workshops, if studied further, could lead to unlocking of bigger opportunities in the New Space Era.

The first of the 6 sessions of the training programme will be held on the 30th November to 4th December 2020 at the Forest Side Girls SSS, Curepipe, in which 12 secondary schools, each comprising 1 Educator and 4 students and 5 Universities are participating. The participation to these workshops is free of cost. The honourable Minister of Education and Hon Minister of Technology will be the guests of honour for a ceremony on the 3rd of December 2020 as from 13h00.

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Board Chairman of the Kyiv-based OJSC Kuznya on Rybalsky (Kyiv, earlier Leninska Kuznia (Lenin's Smithy) Valeriy Shandra has refuted reports about the purchase of armored vehicles by the State Border Guard Service at an inflated price.

"The information that is being spread about the allegedly inflated price of supplies is not true. We have never supplied the combat modules, which appear in the reports, to the State Border Service. We supplied Triton complexes that include both combat modules, information and communication systems, and reconnaissance systems," he told reporters in Bortnychi, Kyiv region, on Monday.

Answering the question on why the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launched an investigation into such reports, Shandra said: "I think that they just confused the name of the combat module and the Triton combat system, which includes these modules."

He explained that the State Border Service purchased combat complexes for visual and technical surveillance based on the Triton armored vehicles, which the State Border Service purchased for UAH 14.876 million each, while the price of a combat module installed on these vehicles (light 12-mm caliber machine-gun installation) is UAH 3.4 million, which is included in this amount.

NABU Director Artem Sytnyk said on November 3, an investigation into a criminal case related to purchase of armored vehicles at high price by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine from the Kuznya on Rybalsky is at an initial stage. The openness of the court ruling register does not help to make the investigation unbiased, he added.

"I cannot explain what is going on there, as the investigation is underway. It is at the initial stage. One cannot make conclusions until the investigation is completed," he said.

Earlier, Kyiv's Solomiansky District Court permitted NABU detectives to have temporary access to documents of OJSC Kuznya on Rybalsky to investigate into a case on purchase of armored vehicles at high price by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The court decided to provide temporary access to a group of NABU detectives to items and documents in the possession of the Leninska Kuznia plant, located at 26, Elektrykiv St. in Kyiv, with an opportunity to study them and make copies of them.

In particular, this is design documentation of the developer and manufacturer on the armored vehicle Triton-0103, documents on repair of this equipment; documents in which the production cost and the price of one unit of Triton are reflected, estimates for production of one unit of this equipment; information about suppliers, documents for the acquisition of units, aggregates, parts for the Triton armored vehicle.

The NABU is investigating the purchase four Triton vehicles with armament for UAH 59.5 million by of the State Border Guard Service in 2015.

As the detectives calculated, the cost of the equipment was overestimated, as in 2015 UAH 161.5 million was allocated for the needs of the Kharkiv border detachment - the recipient of these vehicles - to purchase 34 combat distance modules, which, in particular, are part of the armament of the Triton armored vehicles.

The cost of one combat remote module was to be UAH 4.75 million, but in fact the cost of one unit purchased was UAH 14.876 million.

According to the NABU, following the audit of the State Border Guard Service, these vehicles were purchased before putting them into operation - in violation of the government's decision on the rules of supplying weapons, military and special equipment.

Kuznya on Rybalsky was renamed after the Ukrainian parliament passed a decommunization package of laws in April 2015. The key shareholder in the plant privatized in 1995 is the non-diversified corporate investment fund Prime Assets Capital (earlier Petro Poroshenko fund, Kyiv).
Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, who was placed on the wanted list by the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, has denied reports that he applied for German citizenship.

"Bankova [Street in Kyiv, where Ukraine's Presidential Administration is located] has begun to prepare the ground for stripping me of Ukrainian citizenship. A DW journalist issued a false news story that I applied for German citizenship," he wrote on his Facebook page on Monday, November 6.

According to him, the documents mentioned by the mayor of the village of Herzlake in the article concern a work permit in Germany, rather than the citizenship procedure.

"I applied for a working visa at the German embassy, which would give me an official right to do business in Germany. The burgomaster sent a letter of recommendation to the embassy, and the journalist invented the ultimate goal... In order to obtain German citizenship, one should first get a residence permit and then live in Germany for five years," Onyshchenko said.

On November 6, Germany's Deutsche Welle news agency, citing the burgomaster (mayor) of Herzlake, Hans Bosken, reported that Onyshchenko was applying for German citizenship. According to Bosken, Onyshchenko filed the necessary documents several months ago. The burgomaster said that he had appealed to the authorities in writing, noting the outstanding role Onyshchenko has played in Herzlake.

Onyshchenko is suspected by Ukraine's law enforcement agencies of organizing a scheme to steal funds during the extraction and sale of natural gas as part of agreements on joint activities with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, leading to about UAH 3 billion in losses to the state. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said it had launched a pre-trial investigation against Onyshchenko over high treason.

On July 5, 2016, Ukraine's parliament approved lifting deputy immunity from Onyshchenko and authorized his arrest, but the deputy fled Ukraine. He was put on the national wanted list on August 8, 2016.
The Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases has sent the case of a serviceman of the 79th border guard detachment of the Black Sea regional department of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Kolmohorov, for a new trial to a court of first instance and released him from custody.

An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that the court granted the complaint of Kolmohorov's lawyers at a meeting on Monday, November 6.

As reported, in September 2014, Kolmohorov, carrying out an order, used weapons to stop a car, killing a passenger.

On November 15, 2016, the Prymorsky District Court of Mariupol found Kolmohorov guilty of committing crimes under Part 1, Article 115, Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 13 years in prison, depriving him of the right to hold posts of a representative of law enforcement agencies for three years and stripping him of the military rank "senior soldier."

Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the court of first instance.

KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases has sent the case of a serviceman of the 79th border guard detachment of the Black Sea regional department of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Kolmohorov, for a new trial to a court of first instance and released him from custody.

An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that the court granted the complaint of Kolmohorov's lawyers at a meeting on Monday, November 6.

As reported, in September 2014, Kolmohorov, carrying out an order, used weapons to stop a car, killing a passenger.

On November 15, 2016, the Prymorsky District Court of Mariupol found Kolmohorov guilty of committing crimes under Part 1, Article 115, Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 13 years in prison, depriving him of the right to hold posts of a representative of law enforcement agencies for three years and stripping him of the military rank "senior soldier."

Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the court of first instance.
As of Tuesday morning, about 500 protesters gathered near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

People gathered on the Constitution Square, Mariyinsky Park and Hrushevskoho Street, where tents and field kitchens are set up, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

Some of the gathered people are keeping the national flags of Ukraine and the flags of the New Forces Movement party. People are talking and drinking tea. Patriotic songs are heard from the acoustic systems installed near the stage.

Law enforcement groups are on duty near all the entrances to the parliament building and committees of the Verkhovna Rada. The metal detector frames are installed again on the corners of Hrushevskoho Street.

In general, the situation at 10:00 is calm.

As reported, on October 29, the National Assembly for a Great Political Reform, Viche, was held near the building of the Ukrainian parliament, in which, in particular, the New Forces Movement party and its leader Mikheil Saakashvili took part. He called for early parliamentary and presidential elections and called the next rally near the Rada building on November 7, when the next plenary session will take place in the parliament. The protesters demand a new law on the election of people's deputies, to create an anti-corruption court and abolish the immunity of deputies.
Investigators are considering three possible scenarios behind the killing of businessman Eduard Akselrod, which is qualified as a contract killing, the head of the investigative department of the National Police's main office in Kharkiv region, Serhiy Chyzh, has said.

"Investigators put forward three versions, in particular, a deliberate murder committed for mercenary motives, revenge or hostility, a murder due to debt obligations (his personal debt or debt to him), and a murder committed in order to redistribute spheres of influence in a criminal environment in Kharkiv," he said at a briefing on Monday, November 6.

He said that Akselrod's murder was qualified as a contract killing (Part 2, Clause 11, Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Chyzh noted that investigators were checking a possible link between the businessman's murder and the murder of former State Duma deputy Denis Voronenkov in Kyiv this summer, as well as the assassination of vice-president of the Sparta industrial and financial group Hennadiy Akselrod in Dnipro in 2012.

According to the police, Akselrod was registered as a private entrepreneur and established business ties. He was not tried on Ukrainian territory. Investigators sent inquiries to other countries to find out whether he had a probable criminal record abroad.

Chyzh also said that Akselrod was shot from automatic weapons in Kharkiv. The killer fired 15 times.

As reported, Akselrod was shot dead in his car in the center of Kharkiv in the early hours of November 5.

Later, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that Akselrod was associated with the murder of former State Duma deputy Denis Voronenkov in Kyiv.

"Akselrod is the connection of Tyurin and Vasylenko in the organization of Voronenkov's murder. The PGO investigation correctly identified [Russian criminal boss] Tyurin as the mastermind," Lutsenko wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday, November 5, while commenting on a statement by MP Ihor Mosiychuk about the identity of the person killed.
The parliamentary faction of Oleh Liashko's Radical Party demands the creation of a temporary inquiry commission of the Verkhovna Rada to control the investigation by law enforcement agencies of terrorist attacks in Ukraine, which have killed people.

"Tomorrow [on Tuesday, November], the parliament should immediately consider this issue - create a temporary investigative commission, monitor the activities of law enforcement agencies, monitor the investigation and stop the rampant crime, banditry, terrorist attacks in our country," leader of the Radical Party Oleh Liashko said at the conciliatory council of the factions' leaders, groups and committees of the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv on Monday.
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There is hope for patients, as scientists have been working on a solution to kidney failure . Dr. Shuvo Roy from University of California, San Francisco and Dr. William H. Fissel from Vanderbilt University Medical Center have invented the first ever bionic kidney.It is said that inthe added advantage is that it would have a zero rejection factor. This is good news as it would be better than a donor's kidney, as donor kidneys have rejections under certain circumstances. It is said that the bionic kidney would be the size of a coffee cup, which consists of numerous microchips which would be regulated by the heart. The procedure for the bionic kidney to be placed inside the body is like a regular surgical procedure. The function of the bionic kidney is similar to a normal kidney to filter out all the toxins from the blood. It balances the levels of sodium and potassium and regulates the blood pressure as well.Thewhich isis a process which is said to be similar to that of microelectronics in computers. The device has about 15 microchips constructed in layers. It has living renal cells which grow in and around the filters of the microchip which in turn acts like a living kidney.One of the main challenges of this technique is to ensure there is no clotting while blood is being pushed through the device.which has been designed by Amanda Bucks, a Biomedical engineer.The National Institute of health in 2015 funded this project with $6 million, which the scientists have tried to put to full use. It is said thatdue to current lack of funding.There are a lot of benefits associated with the bionic kidney, such as no immunosuppressants, low risk of infection, continuous treatment, increased mobility, cost saving, and the benefit of just a single surgery for lifelong blood connection with the device.The public that are either currently on dialysis or have a loved one in need of an organ are eagerly waiting for this new invention to change their lives.Source: Medindia
Ukraine should adopt European practices of setting prices of expensive innovative medicines, applying negotiation procedures and long-term contracts, Co-Chairman of the Healthcare Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine and Partner of Marchenko Danevych law firm Borys Danevych has said.

"It is important for Ukraine to adopt the experience of most European countries that have separate approaches to the formation of prices for innovative drugs, often quite expensive, but at the same time providing a completely new level of patient treatment. These include negotiation tools with producers without intermediaries, long-term contracts, and agreements on risk sharing, where the state, for example, can pay the manufacturer not for the number of drugs, but for the number of patients cured," he told Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on the impact of medical reform on the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market.

According to Danevych, one of the consequences of the healthcare reform will be the gradual increase of the share of prescription drugs in the pharmaceutical market, mainly as a result of the development of reimbursement projects for medicines.

"The number and proportion of prescription drugs should definitely increase gradually and steadily as part of the introduction of healthcare reform. A very large number of OTC drugs sold in Ukraine today refers to symptomatic drugs that, in simple words, do not treat the patient, but only eliminate the discomfort arising in case of diseases. An increase should be expected due to the growth in the volume of public financing, not only in procurement, but more and more in reimbursement," he said.

In addition, Danevych said that the healthcare reform should influence the expansion of the practice of appropriate (corresponding treatment protocols) therapy, which in turn will promote the development of domestic pharmaceutical production and stimulate the import of drugs included in reimbursement projects.
Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Iryna Friz has said in the context of the case of a serviceman of the 79th border detachment of the Black Sea regional department of the State Border Service, Serhiy Kolmohorov, that it is necessary to regulate the activities of military justice by law.

"I think that the decision by the court of first instance and the appellate court to sentence the serviceman to 13 years in prison is a daring treatment of the law, the essence of the case. I'm sure that even a first-year student of the law faculty, after studying the materials of the case, the claims of the prosecution and the verdict, understood that this case is thinly veiled," she said live on the Priamy TV channel.

She expressed hope that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) would determine the reason for the sentencing of a serviceman who carried out an order of his commander and acted in accordance with the charter.

"Such precedents do not add public confidence in the judicial system, which is why it is now necessary to reform it decisively. From my point of view, it was the case of Serhiy Kolmohorov that showed the need to return to the legislative settlement of military justice activities. Civilian courts have not right and should not bring in verdict or make decisions in military cases," Friz said.

As reported, in September 2014, Kolmohorov, carrying out an order, used weapons to stop a car, killing a passenger.

On November 15, 2016, the Prymorsky District Court of Mariupol found Kolmohorov guilty of committing crimes under Part 1, Article 115, Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 13 years in prison, depriving him of the right to hold posts of a representative of law enforcement agencies for three years and stripping him of the military rank "senior soldier."

Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the court of first instance.

On November 6, the Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases sent the Kolmohorov case for a new trial to a court of first instance and released him from custody. Thus, the court granted the complaint of Kolmohorov's lawyers.

The case will be heard in a court of first instance in Mariupol.

The head of the investigative department of the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office, Vitaliy Panchenko, said that Kolmohorov had not been recognized as innocent by the decision of the Higher Specialized Court.
People's Front says it is target of long campaign

An attempt to include a draft resolution on for resignation of Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov shows there is a campaign against the party, Maksym Burbak, the faction's leader, has said.

"Today, the draft resolution on the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is on the agenda. This project is another manifestation of a long campaign against the People's Front," Burbak said at the morning plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

This issue is proposed to be included in the agenda, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.
Ukraine may apply for NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2020 after it reaches NATO standards through reforms, the head of the Ukrainian Mission to the North Atlantic Alliance, Vadym Prystaiko, said.

"There are a variety of approaches to this process, especially about when is the best time to do it. Should the application be filed after we achieve some results, say, in 2020, which we view as the stage when Ukraine will comply with NATO standards and be able to demonstrate its progress in multiple areas, above all, defense? There is an idea that we should seize this moment. It would be a convenient occasion to say: see, we have kept our promise," Prystaiko said in an interview with the Ukrainian government's weekly publication, Uriadovy Kurier, released on Tuesday.

The dialogue has actually begun, Prystaiko said. "Since the moment of my first conversation with the alliance's secretary general, when I delivered a letter from the Ukrainian president, we have been saying that our primary political objective is to become a member of NATO. However, that will require starting a dialogue, receiving a Membership Action Plan, and bringing it to life," he said.

Ukraine has been implementing national cooperation programs with NATO for ten years; these programs "meet the expectations of the allies in the context of the MAP" and are annually adjusted, Prystaiko said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appointed Prystaiko head of the Ukrainian Mission to NATO on July 7. In that connection, he was relieved of his duties as first deputy foreign minister on September 27.
We unequivocally condemn the missile attack of 4 November on the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The attack in question undermines international and regional security and constitutes a flagrant violation of International Law and the Law of War.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) has filed appeals against the decisions of the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv in the "backpack case," according to which all three defendants were released on personal recognizance.

"On November 6, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office filed appeals at Kyiv Court of Appeal against the decisions of investigating judges of the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv on November 1 this year in criminal proceedings in the so-called 'backpacks case', under which a measure of restraint was chosen for suspects in the case in the form of personal recognizance," the SAPO said on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

The SAPO considers this measure of restraint to be too mild and not corresponding to the gravity of the criminal offense, as well as the risks established during the pre-trial investigation.

"Prosecutors will insist on choosing a preventive measure in the form of detention for three suspects," the report says.

As reported, two individuals detained on October 31 as part of the investigation into the so-called 'backpack case' were notified on the same day of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement or taking possession of property through abuse of power). These two are former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar and Oleksandr Avakov, the son of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

Later NABU detectives notified the third detainee of suspicion in committing a crime during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry in late 2014 and early 2015. Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Serhiy Leshchenko said earlier, referring to his own sources, that NABU detectives had detained in Kharkiv head of IT firm Turboseo Volodymyr Lytvyn, who also runs a company that had to produce a batch of backpacks for the Interior Ministry.
Rada upholds at first reading election code draft by Parubiy, group of deputies

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has upheld at the first reading draft bill No. 3112-1 "Draft Electoral Code of Ukraine" by the authorship of a group of people's deputies headed by Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy.

Some 226 people's deputies voted in favor of this bill at the first reading at the plenary session on Tuesday.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has failed to support a measure calling for the resignation of Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov.

Only 31 parliamentarians voted (with a necessary minimum of 226 votes) for corresponding draft resolution (No. 5041) at a meeting on Tuesday. A total of 102 lawmakers voted against the proposal, and 56 abstained.

In particular, Avakov's resignation was backed by eight Bloc of Petro Poroshenko faction deputies, including the author of the bill, Serhiy Kaplin, 26 voted against it and 38 abstained. Sixty-two out of 81 People's Front lawmakers voted against the proposal. The interior minister's resignation was also supported by nine Samopomich deputies (one abstained) and a member of the Batkivschyna faction (three voted against it, and four abstained).

MPs from the Opposition Bloc, Vidrodzhennia and People's Will mostly did not vote, giving only three votes against Avakov's resignation. Of the 20 deputies of the Radical Party faction, no one voted to dismiss Avakov, whereas four voted against or abstained from this proposal. Thirteen independent lawmakers voted for the interior minister's resignation, four voted against it, and six abstained.

According to Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, Avakov has sufficient authority.

"I think that by voting, we must vote for support to the interior minister so that he can continue to fulfill his duty to the Ukrainian state," he said.

As reported, bill No. 5041 on Avakov's dismissal as interior minister was registered in the Verkhovna Rada by Kaplin back in August 2016 after police officers killed a man in the village of Kryve Ozero (Mykolaiv region).

The explanatory note to the draft resolution points to the massive use of weapons by police officers during detentions, which is disregard for basic human rights. In addition, the author of the document notes that the number of crimes after the introduction of reform in this area has increased, and only one in ten crimes are solved.

The question of Avakov's dismissal was raised after the "backpack case," which involves interior minister's son, Oleksandr Avakov.
The meeting of the Ukraine-NATO commission at the level of foreign ministers is planned for early December of this year 2017, head of the mission of Ukraine to NATO Vadym Prystaiko has said.

"We plan to have a high-level visit and a Ukraine-NATO commission at the level of foreign ministers at the beginning of December," Prystaiko said in an interview with the Uriadovy Kurier published on Tuesday.

At the same time, he noted that the holding of a special meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the highest level with the participation of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is a priority for Ukraine. "Now the mission is working on this," Prystaiko said.

"Also, until then, the results of the implementation of the comprehensive program of Ukraine's support from the Alliance, the work of the trust funds will have been summarized. Then it will be possible to declare a certain stage for us. And it is also planned that until that time we will receive support for our application for joining the program of expanded opportunities for special partners (Enhance Opportunity Program). That is, Ukraine should be invited to this program. We are working on it," the head of the mission said.

Prystaiko also said that the visit of Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak to Brussels to participate in the NATO ministerial meeting on November 9-10 is still in question.
NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that NATO reform measures are in large measure in response to Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

"One of the main reasons by NATO is adapting and increasing its readiness to deploy on its eastern flank is because of the events in Ukraine," he said during a press conference in Brussels.

Stoltenberg said the alliance is in solidarity with Ukraine and provides Kyiv with political and "practical" assistance. He added Ukraine would be at the center of attention at the upcoming meeting of NATO defense ministers.

The military bloc has expressed concern with the situation in Ukraine and has called for Russia to abide by the Minsk agreements, he said.
KINDE  A shed fire wound up causing an estimated $30,000 worth of damage at a Kinde-area residence over the weekend.

According to Kinde Fire Chief Adam Zimmerman, a passerby called in the fire at 1265 W. Kinde Road around 4 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, the shed was fully engulfed in flames.
Bill Nye supports marijuana legalization, even though he personally would like to stay away from pot.

The former TV host and noted Science Guy was featured in a video segment of NowThis Weed to explain why cannabis should be legal, despite all the reasons why he doesn't approve of smoking it.

Nye argues for further scientific research, which is currently hampered by marijuana's classification as an addictive drug with no medical value.

"What's happened with marijuana is it's a Schedule I drug, which means it's presumed to be addictive and it's presumed to have no medical value. Yet people are using it for all these medical applications," says Nye. "So well, let's study it. Well, you're not allowed to study it because it's a Schedule I drug... So that has to be sorted out."

But while he's intrigued at the science behind cannabis, he just can't stand the dank qualities of pot smoke.

"I don't like the smell. I just don't like it," he says to begin the clip. "One time in college I tried it, and I'm not good at smoking. I didn't put in the hours to get good at smoking."

Nye has witnessed for himself how legalization has improved the economy and quality of life as a resident of Washington.

"I lived in Washington State for a long time, and Washington State legalized it in 2012. We legalized marijuana, we tax it," Nye adds. "We have a lot of tax revenue. It's no longer criminalized. We don't spend money on the police department. We spend money regulating the industry in the same way we regulate other substances."

He joins fellow celebrity science enthusiast Neil deGrasse Tyson as an advocate, who also endorsed legalization in a September interview with rapper GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan.

Smell The Truth is one of the internet's most popular destinations for cannabis-related news and culture. This blog is not written or edited by SeattlePI. The authors are solely responsible for the content.
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POLLS CLOSED

UPDATE: 7:15 p.m.

The fracture in ANSONIA's Republican Party plainly was evident outside the Ansonia Middle School, where residents of the city's Fourth and Fifth wards cast ballots. In the parking lot, two-term Mayor David Cassetti huddled with his candidate team on one side of the parking lot. With him were Joseph Jaumann, a Bridgeport lawyer and Fifth Ward incumbent; his running mate, newcomer Chicago Rivers, as well as Martin Dempsey Jr., a Fourth Ward incumbent and his running mate, newcomer Raymond Knott, on the ballot as a petition candidate. Directly across from the group were the Republican insurgents Joan Radin, the owner of Lear's Pharmacy and an incumbent running as a petition candidate after being denied the Republican Town Committee endorsement; Richard Kaslaitis, a Fourth Ward incumbent and his running mate Ed Norman, also on the ballot as a petition candidate. Joining them were Seanna Raslan, the lone Democratic aldermanic candidate in the Fifth Ward. Cassetti vowed to stay at the polling place until it closed, despite the cold pouring rain.

UPDATE: 7:05 p.m.

In FAIRFIELD, voter turnout for a municipal election that doesnt feature a top of the ticket was running close to that in 2013, according to town officials.

A chart tracking the hourly turnout on the Registrar of Voters web page was taken down in the afternoon, after it became became a disruption for office staff, Democratic Registrar of Voter Matt Waggner said.

The political parties were calling so much we had a majority of office staff responding to their inquiries about turnout, Waggner said. Since it wasnt serving the original purpose  to reduce disruption  I suspended the collection in the afternoon.

To see the most-recent numbers, users simply had to hit the refresh button on their computer to see the updates. Waggner joked that he was thinking of offering a class before the next election to avoid this problem.

Anecdotally, turnout appears to be on par with 2013 levels, Waggner said.

In 2013, 10,775 votes were cast, a turnout of 29.95 percent.

Its a little busier than an off year, locally, Waggner added.

Though same-day registration is often a popular process during a presidential election year, the same does not appear to hold true for local elections.

According to Waggner, four people had registered and voted at Old Town Hall Tuesday.

People who are interested in this election are normally already registered, he said.

The first selectman, and the Board of Selectmen, are not on the ballot this year, and wont be up for election until 2019. This year, the outcomes in most of the races for seats on town boards are not in doubt. Because of minority-representation regulations, the political parties usually dont put up more candidates than the number of seats they can win.

The Representative Town Meeting is the one town body where that minority representation requirement does not come into play. Each district has four members.

For the 2015-17 term, Republicans held a slim two-seat majority on the legislative body and are guaranteed to pick up at least one more seat in District 4.

Thats because just one week before Election Day, it was discovered that Democrat Jennifer Hochberg-Toller, an incumbent on the ballot, had moved out of town last year. Despite moving to Bridgeport in August 2016, after getting married a few months earlier, Hochberg-Toller continued to serve on the RTM  and cast votes  and accept the partys nomination earlier this summer.

When the residency issue was discovered, she withdrew from the ballot and resigned from the RTM. However, it was too late for the Democratic Town Committee to replace Hochberg-Toller on the ballot. DTC leaders said they were unaware that Hochberg-Toller had moved.

Republican Town Committee Chairman James Millington has filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

UPDATE: 7 p.m.

Voter turnout was nearly 23 percent in STAMFORD as of 6 p.m., according to voter registrars. The 2013 municipal race drew 33 percent of registered voters.

Cloonan Middle School, the polling site for District 10, saw a steady stream of voters after 4 p.m.

Local elections are the most important, said Jason Morawski, 33 and a software engineer. Democracy only works if people vote.

UPDATE: 6:55 p.m.

Everything was reported as going smoothly at REDDINGs polls on Tuesday. The registrars office said it was a good turnout for the town.

As of the latest numbers at 5:15 p.m. about 1,730 voters of the 7,000 or so registered voters had voted, or about 24 percent. The registrars were predicting 20 to 25 percent turnout.

About 38 percent of the NEW MILFORDs registerED voters, or 6,180 people, have voted so far today. The registrars expect the turnout to be around 44 percent if this pace continues.

Registrars also said no problems have been reported at the polls.

UPDATE: 6:50 p.m.

Voter turnout in this years NEW CANAAN first selectman race is on track to surpass the numbers from the towns last municipal election with less than three hours until polls close.

About 32 percent of the towns registered voters had cast ballots to elect a new first selectman with less than three hours of the polls closing, according to the registrar of voters.

As of 4 p.m., 3,611 of the towns 13,590 registered voters had turned up to the polling locations at Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School. Districts 1 had seen 2,017 voters and districts 2 and 3 saw 1,594 voters.

Last years presidential race saw 11,304 voters in New Canaan, while the last first selectman race in 2015 saw 3,674 when Robert E. Mallozzi III ran against unaffiliated candidate Michael Nowacki.

UPDATE: 6:20 p.m.

As the work day ended for voters totals climbed in what could be the state's biggest race in its smallest city. At 6 p.m. 41% of DERBY's 6,261 registered voters had cast their ballots for either Incumbent Democratic Mayor Anita Dugatto or for Richard Dziekan, her Republican challenger. At Bradley school where the second and third wards vote 1,652 of the 3,556 registered voters had cast their ballots for a 46.46%. In the First Ward at Irving school 914 of the 2,705 registered voters had cast their ballots for a 33.79% total.

UPDATE: 6 p.m.

Election morning began on a contentious note when Megan Rutstein came to vote in WESTPORT Town Hall and noticed her husbands signs were missing.

Rutsteins husband, Greg Rutstein, a Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) candidate endorsed by the Westport Democratic Town Committee and Save Westport Now, had placed many signs listing his name as well as the names of fellow P&Z candidates Michael Cammeyer and Danielle Dobin.

When I got there this morning it was strange because I knew they had put a banner up and I didnt see any signs with any of their names, Megan Rutstein said. I went in and voted and then I went back out to make sure I didnt mistakenly not see it and I didnt see anything so I went back inside and people directed me towards the Registrar of Voters.

Westport has two Registrars of Voters, one appointed by the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) and the other appointed by the Republican Town Committee (RTC). Rutstein spoke with Kevin White, the RTC appointed Registrar of Voters, who had removed the signs.

We explained that at the time the signs were removed it was our understanding that they were not supposed to be on Town Hall property, White said, and added, That was later corrected, he added.

White didnt return the signs to their former location upon learning of his mistake. I asked where he put them and he told me he put them against the baseball field so I walked there and there were the signs on the floor and the banner all wrapped up. I moved them back but we had no space on the hill because every spot was taken, Megan Rutstein said.

After seeing the signs in the baseball field behind Town Hall, Rutstein spoke with White again. I went back and talked to him and said, Im so disappointed in this because if you realized you made a mistake, how come you didnt then fix it?, Rutstein recounted.

Westports State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat found campaigning outside Town Hall around 1:00 p.m. asked, Why did White only remove Democrats signs, and noted that in addition to Rutstein, Cammeyer, and Dobins signs, White also took down some of Democratic Board of Finance candidate Lee Caneys signs.

But Steinberg added, Signs dont win elections, candidates do.

Representative Town Meeting (RTM) District 9 candidate Sal Liccione was campaigning with Steinberg and said, This whole campaign on both sides has been disgusting. I think the temperature needs to drop after today.

In terms of turnout, White side, Its moving as expected. At the moment about the same as two years ago, maybe a little bit more. At the end of the day last year we had 86percent turnout. Were not going to see anything like that this year, he added.

As of 5 p.m., the office of the registrar of voters reported that 6,286 of 17,832 registered had cast their ballots, at about 35 percent with a little more than two hours left before polls close.

Incumbent First Selectman Jim Marpe, Republican, visited all five of the towns polling locations and said, Im feeling great. There seems to be a great turnout in voters, which is always a great thing. Its good to see Westport residents engaged in the voting process in an enthusiastic and informed way and to see candidates participating at the polling places.

Outside of the Saugatuck Elementary School polling location, Rabbi Yehuda Kantor said, This is democracy. Everyone should go in and vote for who they think is the best candidate.

First time District 2 RTM candidate Christine Meiers Schatz was also campaigning outside Saugatuck and said shes running, in part, because Its important to see people fail. I want my kids to see Mommy out there trying and to know that even if it doesnt work out, its ok.

UPDATE: 5:55 p.m.

Around 5:30 p.m., the RIDGEFIELD Registrar of Voters Office was reporting a turnout of 25 percent. District 1 at East Ridge Middle School had seen 1,404 voters so far and 1,377 residents had cast a vote in District 2 at Scotts Ridge Middle School. The office did not yet have turnout numbers for its District 3 polling location at Yanity Gym.

The registrars said, as with past elections, that they expect the most people to arrive towards the end of the day. They added that the turnout is in line with past municipal elections.

NEW FAIRFIELD First Selectman Susan Chapman, who has been receiving updates from the registrars, said the towns turnout has been steady throughout the day.

The 108th District had seen 2,340 voters and 400 residents had cast a ballot at the 138th District location, according to a 5 p.m. update from the registrars. Chapman said the numbers show a turnout of about 20 percent, which is up from the last municipal election.

UPDATE: 5:50 p.m.

DERBY's mayoral candidates were burning up the airwaves Tuesday. Richard Dziekan, the Republican challenger and Anita Dugatto, the city's first female mayor, were interviewed by Mark Davis for WTNH-News 8 at Bradley School. The interview will be shown on the 6 p.m. newscast. Earlier in the day, Dziekan was a guest on radio's WPLR's Chaz and AJ morning show and WELI's Vinny Penn show. Both Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, who are running unopposed today, appeared at Bradley School to wish Dziekan well.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m.

As voters ran from their cars to the polling places to avoid rain, Board of Selectmen hopefuls Deborah McFadden, the sole Democratic candidate, and Joshua Cole, a Republican candidate, withstood the afternoon showers as they greeted voters outside of the WILTON High School polls.

I think its important to be out and be seen connecting with people, said Cole. I think people appreciate seeing the candidates out and greeting people and meeting people, and putting a face to the name.

Cole is running for one of two seats open on the Board of Selectmen.

McFadden, who is also vying for one of the two open seats, was at Wilton polls as early as 5:45 a.m. She and her husband began the day by placing her campaign signs at each of Wiltons three polling locations.

Despite the chilly weather and late rain showers, the Democratic candidate spent a majority of the day outside of the towns polling places to greet voters. Her goal, McFadden said, was to let any voters still on the fence that she was the right choice for the job.

Im here to talk to the voters, said McFadden. Most people know, when they arrive, who they are going to vote for, but there have been a handful of people who arrived undecided and thats who Im hoping to reach.

As of 5 p.m., 3,082 voters turned out to vote in Wilton  a total of 24.6 percent of the towns registered voters, according to Democratic registrar Carole Young-Kleinfeld.

This total does not include any of the towns absentee ballots or those who registered last-minute Tuesday to vote, Young-Kleinfeld said.

With only three hours left to vote, the number of voters is significantly below the registrar's pre-election projections that that turnout might eclipse 40 percent.

Wiltons last municipal election in 2015 saw a turnout of 38 percent of voters, though Young-Kleinfeld warned that those numbers may have been bolstered by the first selectmans race.

Despite low turnout so far, Republican registrar Annalisa Stravato still managed to strike a positive note.

Weve had constant, steady flow of voters so far today, which is a positive sign, said Republican registrar Annalisa Stravato.

UPDATE: 5:15

GREENWICH voters headed to the polls in the municipal election and in one key district, a large turnout caused the deployment of more resources.

As of 4:30 p.m., the Greenwich Registrar of Voters office was reporting a turnout of 30.60 percent of all the towns registered voters. That would be in line with typical performance in a municipal election with just town offices on the ballot, which tends to range between 30 and 40 percent turnout.

But in some districts turnout is being pushed by competitive Representative Town Meeting ballots. In District 5, which covers Riverside, 30 candidates are running for 18 spots, making it the most competitive district in town. The ballot is so long that people have been taking their time in filling it out, which required the town to send more voting booths to the polling place at Riverside School.

They have been taking an extremely careful approach toward filling out their ballots, Republican Registrar of Voters Fred DeCaro III said on Tuesday afternoon. We had to send out four extra booths. This has never happened before.

The town did not need to send out more voting machines to handle the demand, just more booths to allow people space to fill out their ballots. According to DeCaro, people were taking so long to fill the ballots out it was creating a line.

At Riverside School, poll workers said they were very happy with the turnout.

Its a very strong turnout for a local election, Cyndy Anderson, a member of the towns League of Women Voters who was working as a poll worker checking IDs in District 5.

District 5s assistant moderator Sean Olbrych called it a very heavy turnout and agreed it was the RTM ballot which caused the need for extra booths.

Its taking them a lot longer, Olbrych said, saying traffic was particularly heavy from 6 to 8 a.m. and expects it to spike again before polls close at 8 p.m.

The race in District 8 is also highly competitive, fielding 37 candidates for 26 spots on the RTM. The race has been particularly closely followed as it is where RTM member Christopher von Keyserling, a former district leader, is running for re-election. In January, von Keyserling was charged with fourth degree sexual assault after allegedly inappropriately touching a town employee last year at The Nathaniel Witherell after the two had engaged in an argument.

Reports from the polling place at Cos Cob School are that turnout was very very good Mary Patricia Wiliams, moderator for the polling place, said it was not a difference from previous years though.

Things are moving very quickly here, Williams said. We always get a good turnout so we can handle it.

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

BETHEL has seen a steady turnout throughout the day, Republican Registrar Tim Beeble said. In districts 1 and 4, turnout was at 22.5 percent, while District 2 was at 25.6 percent, as of 4 p.m. He was still waiting for turnout numbers from districts 3 and 5, but estimated they would come in at the 23 to 24 percent range. Turnout town wide was at 19.4 percent as of 2 p.m.

These numbers are slightly are higher than expected, Beeble said.

There are still four more hours of voting to go, but its been very steady all day long, he said.

BROOKFIELDs turnout is at 28.1 percent as of 4:40 p.m. This is a good turnout for a municipal election, said Dotti Dori, Democratic registrar of voters.

The town is tracking voter turnout in real time on its website.

UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.

Voting in the hotly contested court and fifth ward Aldermanic races was hovering around 20% at the ANSONIA Middle School. As of 4 pm 346 of the 1,232 faith ward residents voted and 172 of the 800 fourth residents. In the fifth Joan Radin, the owner of The century old Lears Pharmacy and s three term alderwoman is running as a petition candidate after being denied the Republican nomination. Cassetti said he is spending the remaining 4 hours at the Middle School campaigning

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.

Voters in STRATFORD turned out on this gloomy day to pick a new mayor and Town Council, but whether the turnout was light, very light or exceedingly light was difficult to gauge.

And there seemed to be more than one hypothesis on whether rain predicted to arrive after sundown would throw a wet towel on turnout numbers.

Hearst Connecticut Media caught up with Democrat Stephanie Philips, whos challenging Republican Laura Hoydick for Mayor.

A big turnout would be good for us, Philips said outside of Nichols School, the polling place for District 5. Our campaign is about change, and if people want a change, theyll show up at the polls.

Its been a long slog for both Philips and her Republican opponent, state Rep. Laura Hoydick, R-120, and both candidates seemed relieved that, win or lose, the journey was nearly at an end. Also in the mix was petitioning candidate Sandra Zalik, who seemed upbeat when she was greeting voters at Nichols School.

We worked really hard and the voters have been complexly supportive of our message, Hoydick said at the District 7 polling place, Wilcoxson School. People have been great throughout the campaign.

A check of several polling places didnt reveal any lines and the polling place workers seemed to have plenty of time between voters. But the electorate tends to arrive in bunches, so they did have their busy moments. Typically, municipal elections attract about 30 percent of the electorate.

Voters will also be choosing candidates for the Planning Commission, the Zoning Commission and the Board of Education.

Key council races include District 1, where Democratic upstart and relative newcomer Bieu Tran, is going up against Republican Chris Pia and Mark T. Scheck. Also, in District 10 in the North End, incumbent Democrat Tina Manus is fighting to keep her seat against Republican Laura Dancho; the North End district traditionally leans to Republicans.

UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.

Outside Old GREENWICH School, veteran and first-time candidates for the Representative Town Meeting greeted District 6 voters. Some 28 candidates are vying for 20 RTM seats in District 6.

New candidate Victoria Young said she had seen a steady stream of voters at Old Greenwich since 8 a.m. She said she was excited to receive the results Tuesday night and would stay to watch moderators tabulate the ballots.

Current RTM member Stephen Meskers agreed that turnout seemed high and described voters as energized.

As of 3:05 p.m. some 964 voters had cast ballots in District 6, said Michael Ryan, assistant registrar. He issued a prediction: It looks to me that we will exceed 40 percent (turnout), he said.

UPDATE: 4:10 p.m.

District 12 voters were waiting outside North Mianus School in GREENWICH at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, and turnout has been steady since, said assistant registrar Patricia Kerr.

Over 900 people had cast ballots at the school as of 2:15 p.m., said moderator Rick Brooks.

It has been really quite busy, said Kerr. Volunteers ran out of stickers to give to voters.

Outside the school, opponents for the role of town tax collector greeted voters. Incumbent Tod Laudonia said North Mianus was his sixth stop of the day to meet voters.

Reception has been good, he said. Later Laudonia will return to his home district, 8, to cast his own ballot with his wife, he said.

Down the sidewalk, challenger Howard Richman gathered with Democratic Town Committee volunteers to campaign. Richman was District 10s first voter at 6 a.m. he said.

Trish Hussey, vice chair of the Democratic Town Committee, said morale was good among Greenwich Democrats on election day.

There has been much better turn out there has been for most municipal elections and very good showing of support for Sandy (Litvack, Democratic candidate for First Selectman), she said. So we are really thinking we are in the game.

UPDATE: 4:05 P.M.

As of 3 p.m. an estimated 11,500 votes had been cast in STAMFORD, equaling a turnout of nearly 17 percent, according to Republican Registrar Lucy Corelli.

At Dolan Middle School on Toms Road, the District 15 polling place, Moderator Rob Leder said there has been a steady flow of voter traffic throughout the day.

Its been strong he said. Weve had a good steady flow and I think theres a lot of interest in the mayoral race so thats probably bringing a lot of people out.

As to be expected, Leder said the polling place saw the most traffic and longest lines with the morning rush, and another uptick in traffic around midday.

I expect when people get out of work tonight, well see another rush, he said.

Leder said he has acted as a moderator the past five or six years, working in several districts in Stamford.

This is my first time in this polling place, and my perception is that this district has a higher turnout than most, he said. Other districts Ive worked in the past, I havent seen this much interest at least for a small local race, presidential yes, but this seems like a pretty good turnout for a local race.

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m.

Kevin Moynihan stopped by the New Canaan YMCA steam room. Kit Devereaux brought her dog, Louis Armstrong. While New Canaan had only seen about 21 percent of voters turn out by midday on Election Day, the candidates for several highly-contested races hit the streets to sway voters.

This years election in New Canaan will see the election of the towns first new first selectman in six years, following incumbent Robert Mallozzi III losing the Republican partys nomination in July. In his place, Republican Kevin Moynihan snagged the party endorsement and is running against Democrat Kit Devereaux. Incumbent Town Treasurer Republican Andrew Brooks is also vying against Democrat newcomer Rob Fryer.

There are also contested races for town council and constable, with six open spots on town council and four open constable slots.

By 2 p.m., 2,859 out of the towns 13,590 voters had turned out, with the majority of voters going early in the morning and during the 11 oclock hour.

Its been heavy, said Jim Walsh, the poll moderator at New Canaan High School where Senate District 36 and Assembly District 125 voted. Walsh, who has been moderating elections for about eight years, said turnout this year is akin to a national election with a steady flow of voters coming in and out of the school gym.

Its a little heavier for a local election, he said.

Both first selectman candidates were outside New Canaan High School around 2 p.m. Devereaux, there with her dog, had been out campaigning since 8 a.m., going back and forth between the high school and Saxe Middle School, another polling spot.

Kevin Moynihan said hed been out since 4:15 a.m., stopping by the polling stations, the train station and the Ys steam room to warm up.

Republicans are coming out, Moynihan said. We have the advantage with voter registration.

UPDATE: 3:22 p.m.

Connecticut Working Families emailed Wilton voters early Tuesday morning urging them to condemn Trumpism in Wilton by not voting for Board of Education Andrea Preston, who was recently under fire for old Facebook posts that some deemed insensitive and racist.

Interim state director Carlos Moreno said Prestons rhetoric should not be accepted from anyone in government, yet alone in our education system.

In her previous posts, Preston said she supported the Confederate flag, could not wait for Trump to build a wall and that Michael Brown and others got what was coming to him/them.

Andrea Preston's comments and positions demonstrate a person unfit to serve the public good. And the response from Wilton's Republican leadership demonstrates clearly the corrosive and palpable presence of Trumpism in our state, Moreno said in the email. It is time for Republican leadership to do the right thing. They must condemn Preston's backward views and rescind their endorsement.

We must resist Trumpism wherever it sprouts. Hatred has no home here in Connecticut. Voters should remember that as they cast their votes today, he added.

UPDATE: 3:18 p.m.

At the Springdale School polling location in Stamford, about 700 people--20 percent of its 3,500 registered voters--had voted by 3 p.m., according to an anonymous poll worker.

The worker said that a rush is expected around 6:30 p.m.

UPDATE: 3:15 p.m.

Only 754 of the eligible 4,190 voters in Wiltons District 1 came out to cast their votes by 2 p.m. Tuesday, poll moderator Karen Birck said.

Birck said that heaviest influx of voters arrived between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. She is predicting that another heavy flow of voters should be hitting polls between 2 and 5 p.m.

Among those who turned out was 18-year-old Nick Sirinakis. A freshman studying political science at St. Johns University, Sirinakis just became eligible to vote this past year.

I know how important voting is to the community, especially in local elections, he said. People too often dont realize how big of a deal they are.

With the states struggles to pass a budget over the past year, Sirinakis said that it was important for him to cast a vote for local officials who could, perhaps, make a change.

Unfortunately, Sirinakis said, many people his age dont share his views on how important municipal elections are.

People dont really care about politics and elections, unless its a presidential election, and thats unfortunate, Sirinakis said.

UPDATE: 2:57 PM

Wilton Poll moderator Jim Burch said there has been a steady flow of voters at Middlebrook School since the polls opened at 6 a.m. in Wilton. But he doesnt expect the ballot count to exceed 1,000.

As of 2 p.m., 639 people had cast their ballot.

I doubt that were going to hit a thousand and usually were well over a thousand, he said. I think were going to probably going to make maybe 30 or 35 percent, which is low. But I may be surprised.

UPDATE: 2:39 PM

At Shelton Intermediate School,which has 6,000 registered voters the most in the city according to Jay Zikarasonly 868 voted as of 2 p.m.

Its been steady, he said of the 13 percent turnout. Well hit 20 percent, maybe 25 percent by the time the polls close.

The most hotly contested races here are alderman and Planning and Zoning.

UPDATE: 2.25 PM

At 1 p.m Derby barely had a 25 percent turnout in the Valleys closest mayoral race.

In the first ward at Irving School 534 of the 2,705 register voters had cast their ballots. At Bradley School where the 2nd and 3rd ward vote, 1,014 of the 3,556 voters had turned out.

In the last municipal election in 2015, Derby had a 53.32 percent voter turnout - one of the highest in Connecticut.

UPDATE: 2:07 PM

Since the polls opened at 6 a.m., Darien voters have been coming out at a steady pace to elect local leaders.

According to the registrar of voters as of 1 p.m., 1,662 of 13,146 total registered voters, about 12.6 percent, have cast their ballots.

The last municipal elections in 2015 had a 30 percent voter turnout by the time the polls closed, according to the registrar of voters.

Poll workers, Janet Offut and Clara Sartori, said they got to Town Hall polls at 5 a.m. Tuesday to start setting up.

Amanda Shaw, also a Town Hall poll station worker, said voter turnout has been steady.

Gary Banks, another worker at the polls, said turnout has been better than expected.

Incumbent Jayme Stevenson, a Republican, is squaring off against Democrat Rob Richards, the first time a Democrat has run against her since 2011, and unaffiliated candidate Chris Noe who is running for the fifth time since 2009.

UPDATE: 1:25 PM

Wilton voters are turning out slightly slower than they have in recent years, said registrar Carole Young-Kleinfeld.

As of noon, the town had tallied 1,532 votes out of the 12,845 registered voters in town  approximately a 12 percent turnout.

We expected as much, since the last municipal election had a first selectman race on the ballot, but Im hopeful well pick up, Young-Kleinfeld said.

The Democratic registrar pointed out that while she was optimistic that voting would increase as the day wears on, she would refrain from making any predictions.

I would hesitate to predict, because it always surprises me she added.

UPDATE: 1:15 PM

Westport voters have turned out in the thousands in the early hours since polls opened at 6 a.m.

As of noon, the registrar of voters reported 3,565 of 17,832 total voters, or 20 percent, had cast their ballot.

In 2015, the last municipal election, 6,082 of 15,709 voters turned out, or 38 percent, by the close of polls. In 2013, the last time first selectman was on the ticket, 7,961 voted of the 16,994 registered in town, 46 percent.

In 2013, Republican incumbent Jim Marpe was elected to his first term. This year he seeks his second term, but is challenged by Democrat Melissa Kane and petitioning candidates John Suggs and Timothy J. Elgin.

Turnout in national elections is generally much higher.

In 2016, 15,890 of 18,499 registered voters went to the polls to choose their favorite for president.

UPDATE: 1:08 PM

As of noon, turnout at Fairfields 10 polling places was averaging around 15 percent, except at District 6, McKinley School, where turnout was at 9.1 percent. There are 36,707 registered voters in town, and by lunch time, 5,236 ballots had been cast.

Its a little busier in an off year locally, Democratic Registrar of Voters Matthew Waggner said, but added there have been no serious issues or problems at the polling places.

People can register to vote, and cast their ballot, at the registrars office in Old Town Hall, but that isnt apparently a big draw in a year without a race at the top of the ticket. The first selectman, and the Board of Selectmen seats are not up for election until 2019.

Waggner said they have only had four people come in to complete same day registration and voting.

UPDATE: 1:01 PM

According to the Danbury Registrar of Voters office, about 5,000 people have voted in the city as of noon. Thats on par with the election in 2013 but ahead of two years ago, when Mayor Mark Boughton ran uncontested and about 9 percent of the electorate had voted by noon.

So far in the city, nearly 13 percent of the electorate have already cast their votes.

UPDATE: 12:58 PM

Outside Western Middle School in Greenwich, RTM District 3 Candidate Ed Lopez has been greeting residents throughout the day, encouraging them to vote for him.

Everything's been pretty good, Lopez said. I just heard they're at 20 percent citywide.

Lopez also said he feels good about this year's election.

"I campaigned pretty hard," he said. "It's not like the rest of town, I think."

District 3 RTM Delegate Dawn Fortunato was also outside WMS this afternoon.

"There's a lot of competition in (District) 5 and (District) 7," she said. "We had a little competition over here too. Competition is healthy."

Fortunato also said that it was busy in the morning and guessed it would pick up after the work day ends.

As midday approached, the temperature began to go down, hitting 50 degrees, and the wind started to pick up.

RTM write-in candidate Elias Judd Cohen stood outside Western as well, letting people know they could write his name in and handing out sample ballots and postcards with his information and stance.

"I was out canvassing over the weekend," he said, "in Putnam Green, where I live. People were very responsive."

He said he had been thinking of running for the RTM and that he should have just gotten a petition with 25 people instead of standing outside in the cold. But he decided to run, he said, because the issues are important to him and District 3 was short candidates.

UPDATE: 12:50 PM

Stamford voters continue casting their ballots over the lunch hour at Stamford High School. Voting moderator Gail Karlitz said there are about 3,500 voters registered to vote at Stamford High School. While Karlitz would not say how many voters have cast their ballots she said the voting has been steady.

"In my experience there is a rush of voters that come in before work and then things lighten up," Karlitz said. "But today there has been a steady stream of people coming to vote and I think that is a good thing."

UPDATE: 12:33 PM

John Gaiser, the Republican Registrar of Voters in New Milford, said that as of noon, about 19 percent of the towns electorate have voted.

That puts the town on pace to potentially match the 51 percent turnout that the town recorded two years ago, he said.

UPDATE: 11:58 AM

Good reasons to vote.

All those years of teaching social studies and historyhow could I not vote? said Shirley Viadella, 83, of Shelton.

UPDATE: 11:56 AM

Bridgeport election officials say that turnout is relatively light, but in line with expectations for an off year with no presidential or mayoral races.

UPDATE: 10:46 AM

Turnout is extremely low in Shelton, where Mayor Mark Lauretti is running unopposed.

Just 657 people have voted at the largest polling place, Elizabeth Shelton School.

"People come to support the top of the ticket," said election monitor Don O'Patrny.

That hasn't stopped a massive Girl and Boy Scouts fundraiser here. The Girl Scouts say they've sold about 40 boxes.

UPDATE: 10:33 AM

It was handshakes and hugs all around as both Democratic and Republican candidates in Norwalk stood outside West Rocks Middle School on a brisk Tuesday morning to ask voters for their support.

Common Council candidates from both parties chatted cordially and cited a common reason for running-their strong ties to the city and their unique vision for their hometown

"I'm trying to give back to my hometown," said veteran common council candidate Doug Hempstead who has served 12 terms

UPDATE: 10:15 AM

Outside of Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, candidates for the RTM braved the cold to make a nonpartisan effort and get out the vote. Jessica Delguercio, who is running in district one, seemed excited for her first campaign. Politics are in her DNA; she scanned through her Facebook profile to find a photo of herself as a child in the New York Senate chamber, where her mother served.

UPDATE: 9:57 AM

Danbury Democrats are threatening to seek legal action if votes cast today for recently deceased City Council member Gregg Seabury are counted.

According to a letter sent to city voting officials Tuesday morning, Democrats believe any effort by citys Republican administration to keep Seabury, who died on Saturday, on the ballot is in violation of state law.

The law states that any candidate who dies within 24 days of an election but not before 24 hours should either be replaced on the ballot or their name be removed, according to the Secretary of The States office.

Republican officials said late Monday that they would keep Seaburys name on the ballot and the position would be filled like a regular vacancy by the City Council if he were to win one of seven at-large seats up for grabs.

Please be advised that any attempt to count votes for Mr. Seabury or to certify any electoral effect from any votes cast for Mr. Seabury would be illegal and unlawful, states the letter, which is signed by the Democratic Town Committee chairman, Gene Eriquez.

UPDATE: 9:50 AM

Connecticut allows same-day voter registration.

Officials are expecting dozens to register Tuesday at the Registrar of Voters office at 54 Grove St. in Shelton before voting in the municipal election.

Last year, around 500 people registered on election day, officials said.

UPDATE: 9:45 AM

James Tesei wore his best red power tie to accompany his father at Greenwichs Town Hall. As First Selectman incumbent Peter Tesei cast his ballot, his son stood behind him, observing politics in process. When asked if he was voting for his dad, he smiled and admitted that at the ripe old age of eight, he still has 10 years to go before he can exercise his right.

Youth did not keep two other young men from visiting the ballot box, either -- Theo and Elliot Ornstein watched as their mother, Christine Surette, cast her vote. Sporting matching future voter stickers, they both said they come to every election. One even has a leftover sticker from 2013, he remembered.

As voters trickled in and out of their polling station, they all seemed satisfied by the procedure. There had not been a wait time, nor had they faced many obstacles -- just a lot of names to scan and bubbles to fill, as always.

UPDATE: 9:05 AM

Irving School in Derby has logged 134 votes.

Lots of honking here, as voters struggle to park on busy Seymour Avenue.

UPDATE: 9 AM

Shelton Intermediate Moderator Jay Zikaras says turnout is spotty.

UPDATE: 8:48 AM

Voting officials at Dolan Middle School say they are encouraged with voter turnout during this mayoral race in Stamford.

Voting moderator Rob Leder said 155 voters turned out in the first two hours and 45 minutes of voting Tuesday morning.

I think it is a good turnout for a purely local election, he said inside the school, which hosts 3,500 registered voters from the neighborhood.

UPDATE: 8:15 AM

The number of Glenbrook voters turning out at Julia A. Stark School in Stamford Tuesday morning surprised voting moderator Daniela Russo.

Two hours into the day she said about 100 of the 2,966 voters registered to vote already turned out to cast their ballots.

We have had quite a few people come out, she said. Im surprised. The last mayoral (election) wasnt very busy. People are ready for a change.

UPDATE: 8:15 AM

Ever wonder about the origin of those I Voted Today stickers that poll workers give you after casting you ballot?

An Oct. 29, 1982, Miami Herald article may contain the earliest mention of such a sticker, in a discussion of how small businesses in Fort Lauderdale were offering discounts to customers wearing I Voted stickers.

A few years ago, Time magazine got a little deeper into this subject. Read it HERE.

On Tuesday, Amazon was selling 500-sticker rolls for $25.99.

It notes the stickers are American made Salt Lake City.

UPDATE: 8:01 AM

Ever wonder why candidates are kept a safe distance from where people vote?

Its because of state law, Section 9--236 to be exact.

Part of the law says:  No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy of another or himself or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election or referendum, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any polling place or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such polling place or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.

In 1969, acts provided for admission of representatives of news media to any polling place at discretion of moderator and provided that parent-teacher associations or organizations may hold bake sales or other fund raising activities on an election or primary day in a school used as a polling place provided that the activity not take place in room where election booths are located.

In Oxford, its become a tradition for groups and organizations to sell cookies outside the polls.

UPDATE: 7:41 AM

Poll moderators are reporting an uptick in the number of people casting ballots at the polls.

UPDATE: 7:18 AM

Over 100 people have voted at Milford's largest polling place.

Five enterprising Foran High School Choir students are having a bake sale.

We want to make sure the city runs well, said Gary Opin, an orthodontist who brought pumpkin bread after casting his ballot on his way to work. "And you know, it's your right.

UPDATE: 7:07 AM

Yes, its very important to get out and cast your ballot on who should lead your community.

But the sad fact is turnout is small for municipal elections.

During last years presidential election, 77 percent of Connecticuts 2.1 million registered voters cast their ballot. Candidates for the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and General Assembly were also on the ballot last November.

The last municipal election in 2015 had an average voter turnout of just 32 percent.

Communities with the higher turnouts included Derby with 53.32 percent; Sherman, 50.79 percent; Oxford, 48.36 percent and Ansonia, 48.24 percent. Prospect had the highest turnout percentage in the state with 58.7 percent.

UPDATE: 6:50 AM

Despite the death of longtime Danbury City Councilman Gregg Seabury over the weekend, city Republicans have decided to leave his name on the ballot for Tuesdays election.

A state law saying a candidate who dies within 24 days of an election, but at least 24 hours before it must be replaced by the candidates party or removed from the ballot. Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for the Connecticut Secretary of States office, said this could be done either by blacking out the candidates name or affixing a sticker over it bearing the name of a replacement.

But Danbury GOP leaders said there simply wasnt time since Seaburys death to do either.

There really is no way that we can black out his name on more than 20,000 ballots before tomorrows election, GOP Mayor Mark Boughton said Monday, Its impossible.

Democratic Town Committee chairman Gene Eriquez said the Republican plan violates the law.

They cant just replace the position like a vacancy if Seabury were to win, Eriquez said. State law doesnt allow for that.

To read more, click HERE.

UPDATE: 6:42 AM

When most people go to the polls, they have a pretty good idea of who theyll be be voting for at the top of the ballot.

But often people are unaware of very important referendum questions that could end up costing taxpayers millions of dollars for things like a new school.

Referendum questions will face voters in Bridgeport, Brookfield, Cheshire, Middletown, Orange, Oxford and Wallingford.

The Secretary of States office has a list of all those questions so you wont be blindsides.

You can find them HERE.

UPDATE: 6:27 AM

Not a bad Election Day weather forecast.

As the sun starts to rise, there is a red sky in the east.

There is the old rhyme of Red sky in morning, sailor take warming, meaning there is some upsettled weather in the forecast.

And the National Weather Service agrees.

Rain is likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Not a total washout or windswept rain.

UPDATE: 6:12 AM

There are about 2.1 million total active registered voters in Connecticut. Of those, there are 861,766 unaffiliated voters, 771,412 Democrats and 453,625 Republicans.

Voter turnout is typically low for municipal elections, roughly 30 percent. However, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says this year could be different given strong interest in some races.

Merrill says her staff recently met with the State Elections Enforcement Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation in advance of Tuesday's election. She says voters and local election officials can report any Election Day problems by calling a hotline at (866) 733-2463.

UPDATE: 6:04 AM

Polls are now open for municipal elections across Connecticut.

Polls will remain open until 8 p.m.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Ukrainian Ambassador to Serbia Oleksandr Aleksandrovych during the consultations on Tuesday discussed the relations with Serbia, paying special attention to the issue of Serbian mercenaries who are fighting in the Donbas.

"Apart from discussing the issues of Ukrainian-Serbian relations, the key focus of the consultations was the issue of Serbian mercenaries fighting in the Donbas for Russian occupation forces and the need for Serbia to comply with its international legal obligations in the field of combating terrorism," the press service said.

The interlocutors are also concerned about illegal contacts between the representatives of Serbia and Russia-occupied Crimea.

The minister and ambassador expressed hope that the Serbian side will fully respect the principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine declared by it within the framework of internationally recognized borders.

"We agreed on a plan for further actions at the bilateral and multilateral levels, including on cooperation with our European friends and partners," the Foreign Ministry said.

As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia condemned critical remarks of Aleksandrovych concerning Russian-Serbian relations and his statement about the participation of Serbian mercenaries in the conflict in the east of Ukraine.

In turn, People's Deputy of Ukraine Irina Friz (Petro Poroshenko Bloc) regarded the accusations of the Serbian side against the Ukrainian ambassador for his statements about the participation of Serbian mercenaries in the war against Ukraine and criticism of Serbian-Russian relations as attempts to divert attention from the pro-Russia position of Serbia.

Klimkin summoned Alexandrovych for consultations about Serbian mercenaries in Donbas.
It's a boy.

As Navy ships deployed to provide hurricane aid to the Caribbean slowly return to their homeports, the work of its deployed hospital ship is not yet done.

On Nov. 3, the USNS Comfort welcomed Isaias Valerio-Fonseca, the second baby born aboard the ship since it arrived in Puerto Rico. Isaias was born three weeks after the Oct. 14 birth of Sara Victoria Llull Rodriguez, the first baby born aboard the ship in seven years.

Isaias' father, Louis Borja, is a Navy veteran who had come aboard the Comfort a day before with his wife, Yaritza Valerio, and the couple's 18-month-old son, according to a Navy release. The couple is from Humacao, Puerto Rico.

"We knew that the Comfort was here," Borja said in a statement. "As a former sailor, I know the quality of the naval hospitals. So I didn't want to take any chances; we just came here. So we drove all the way from Humacao to San Juan."

Borja expressed pride that his youngest son, like him, now has close ties to the Navy. Isaias' birth at 1:38 p.m. Friday was announced over the ship's public address system.

"He will know about this. Someday, he will know about this. Of course, he will know I was a sailor, and I will tell him he was born on a Navy vessel," he said. "He was never in the Navy, and he got more honors than I did."

The Comfort, one of two hospital ships belonging to the Navy, arrived in Puerto Rico on Oct. 4 to provide medical care to those affected by Hurricane Maria.

After early reports that few were able to access the care the floating hospital provided, the ship docked in San Juan on Oct. 27, and the staff aboard treated more than 270 patients in just two days.

The Comfort is one of the few Navy assets remaining in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, on Monday after more than two months of hurricane relief efforts. The dock landing ship Oak Hill, which deployed at the same time as the Kearsarge, pulled back into port at Norfolk on Oct. 29.

According to Navy officials, the Comfort is still moored in San Juan and assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency as one component of the government's ongoing Maria relief effort.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
The Texas church shooter forever forfeited the right to be called a "veteran" with his bad-conduct discharge and criminal acts, Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said Monday.

He added that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl had also forfeited his VA benefits for life with his dishonorable discharge for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

"In my opinion, I do not consider him a veteran," Shulkin said of alleged Texas shooter Devin Patrick Kelley.

"That would give him much more respect than he deserves," he said of Kelley, who served stateside in the Air Force until he was kicked out with a bad-conduct discharge for assaulting his wife and child.

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"He is a criminal," Shulkin said, and "does not deserve to have the same title as the men and women who have served this country and have honorably been discharged."

Law enforcement officials have charged that Kelley killed 26 churchgoers and injured at least 20 others Sunday when he opened fire outside and inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town about 30 miles east of San Antonio.

The officials said Kelley was found dead in his car of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a high-speed chase by local residents.

Air Force officials said the 26-year-old Kelley joined the service in 2010 and served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

In wide-ranging remarks at the National Press Club, Shulkin said there is a distinction between those with bad-conduct and dishonorable discharges, and those with discharges under other than honorable conditions.

He said he had authorized emergency mental health treatment at the VA for those with other-than-honorable discharges. "We know they are at a higher rate of suicide and homelessness."

However, those with bad-conduct or dishonorable discharges do not deserve VA benefits or treatment, Shulkin said, "and the VA would not be providing those benefits."

He also appeared to take issue with President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who have said that Kelley was possibly mentally deranged.

In Japan on Monday on his Asian trip, Trump said the Texas shootings were a "mental health problem at the highest level," and not a "guns situation."

"I don't think we know enough about his state of mind to give him a diagnosis," Shulkin said. "Unfortunately, in this world, there are people that are evil and there are people that are criminal."

About Bergdahl, Shulkin said, "We would not recognize him as having the ability to receive benefits at VA. I don't believe he honors those who served and have worn the uniform proudly."

However, Shulkin said, as a doctor and "as a compassionate person, I certainly want him to get the help he needs and believe he should have access to treatment, but it would not be in the system that is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The driver of a 7-ton truck that rolled over and killed a Marine in 2015 will serve a year at the Camp Pendleton, California, brig for negligent homicide, a military judge recently ruled.

Cpl. Bin Guo, 28, pleaded guilty Oct. 30 to one specification of negligent homicide and one specification of reckless driving with injury, his attorney, Maj. Nelson Candelario, told Military.com.

The military judge, Col. Matthew Kent, had handed down a sentence of four-and-a-half years' confinement, reduction in rank to private, and a bad-conduct discharge, but a pretrial agreement limited Guo's time in the brig and protected him from a punitive discharge. Marine Corps Times first reported Guo's sentence Tuesday.

Military.com exclusively reported in March that Guo was facing court-martial following the Sept. 10, 2015, rollover.

Guo, then with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, had been making a return trip from Pendleton's Camp Horno range to Camp Las Flores, where his unit was headquartered, with 18 Marines in the back of the truck, according to a police report.

Shortly after passing the Camp Las Pulgas ammunition supply point, Guo took a curve fast and lost control of the vehicle. The truck skidded off the roadway and slammed into an electrical pole.

Guo was knocked unconscious and told investigators he didn't remember what happened. Cpl. Brian Lauw, 21, died on the scene as a result of blunt force trauma. Other injuries included spinal fractures, head trauma, facial lacerations and brain bleeds, according to the police report.

The report indicated that Guo had been asked by his passengers to drive more slowly on previous trips, and investigators found he had not slowed down while taking the sharp curve.

But the investigation left open the possibility that the massive Oshkosh truck's brakes had failed in the turn.

Originally, Guo pleaded not guilty, alleging he had not acted negligently ahead of the horrific crash. But Candelario said an agreement with the trial counsel had resulted in his ultimate decision to plead guilty.

Some 20 witnesses testified during sentencing, Candelario said, including Lauw's family and Marines who were injured in the rollover. Guo's parents, his wife and his psychologist also testified.

Guo also made a statement, he said, in which he apologized to the Marines in the room and Lauw's family members for the crash.

"He said he was the operator, and while this wasn't intentional, he had responsibility for the Marines over there," Candelario said. "He [addressed] the fact that a Marine was killed, and it's something he's going to have to live with for the rest of his life."

Guo, who had not been in pretrial confinement, was taken into custody following the trial, Candelario said.

"This whole situation was an unbelievable tragedy," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
The Marine Corps is getting ready to equip every infantry squad with a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle for added range and firepower.

And further out, officials are weighing the possibility of swapping out the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon, or SMAW, in combat engineer squads to give troops more options for busting enemy bunkers.

The Corps is planning to collaborate with the Army to purchase the M3E1 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapons System, or MAAWS, a new version of the 84mm Carl Gustaf made to be lighter, more compact and easier to wield, Chris Woodburn, deputy for the Marine Corps' Maneuver Branch, told Military.com.

While the Army and U.S. Special Operations Command have used previous versions of the Carl Gustaf, it's a new weapons system for the Marine Corps.

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"Right now, we have a registered capability gap for multiple-effects rocket fire," Woodburn said. "So the Army and SOCOM have the MAAWS, and we are looking to get the resourcing we need to pursue the next iteration of MAAWS."

The service expects to field one of the recoilless rifles per squad, he said. The weapon will not replace any existing elements of the squad, but will function as an additive capability for any squad member to operate.

Teaming up with the Army will allow the Corps to purchase the MAAWS at lower cost, said Kevin Finch, product director for the MAAWS at PM Soldier Weapons at the Army's Picatinny Arsenal.

Finch said he expects the Corps to order about 1,200 of the weapons, a number roughly equivalent to the Army's planned purchase of 1,111 M3E1 rifles.

The Army plan would contract for the weapons this fiscal year and begin fielding around 2023. The Marine Corps could "jump on board" and join the contract by 2019 or 2020, Finch said.

Made by SAAB Bofors Dynamics, the Carl Gustaf is used by the militaries of 40 countries. The MAAWS can fire an array of different rounds, including a high-explosive dual-purpose round; a high-explosive anti-tank round; a high-explosive round; and illumination and smoke rounds, apart from its training rounds.

The SMAW, made by Nammo Talley and first fielded in 1984, fires a high-explosive, dual-purpose round and a high-explosive anti-armor round, and has been used to discharge a novel explosive rocket that included a thermobaric warhead. This last round was used to destroy bunkers during the first and second battles of Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.

The Marine Corps is a primary customer for the SMAW, which is also used by the militaries of Lebanon and Taiwan.

Some within the Corps believe the time has come to embrace the Carl Gustaf, saying the SMAW's capabilities are limited by comparison.

Bunker-Busting Gun

The Marine Corps' current plan keeps the SMAW in place as a capability for combat engineers in support of infantry units.

But the service's future warfighting strategy, Force 2025, includes an initiative to reduce the number of SMAWs in the Corps, Woodburn said. However, there is concern whether the Carl Gustaf is a fit replacement for the task of breaching enemy bunkers.

"That's one of the things we'll have to look at is, are there bunker-busting munitions available for the MAAWS," he said. "If we were going to look at replacing [the SMAW], we would have to do that comparison."

This question is a point of some contention among military weapons experts.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, the gunner for 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, said he would like to see the M3E1 fielded to light armored reconnaissance and Marine recon units, as well as combat engineer battalions. Existing test data on the capabilities of the Carl Gustaf are dated, he said, and don't take into account powerful new rounds that have been developed.

Even the requirements are dated, he said. Documents from the 1980s call for a weapon that can destroy a Soviet earth-and-timber bunker.

"We have not yet done a side-by-side, apples-to-apples comparison of the Carl Gustaf and the SMAW," he told Military.com. "You would have to take that requirements document and figure out exactly what they mean by a Soviet earth-and-timber bunker. You have so many different choices, and we'd need to figure out which round is the apples-to-apples comparison of SMAW."

Testing Needed

The SMAW's manufacturer maintains it has the advantage for bunker defeat.

Chad Parkhill, executive vice president of Nammo's Shoulder-Fired Systems business unit, told Military.com in a statement the company believes side-by-side testing shows the SMAW high-explosive dual-purpose, or HEDP, warhead outperforms Carl Gustaf against bunkers.

"We also produce several other variants of SMAW ammunition at our facilities in the U.S. which provide the warfighter performance against other targets, such as vehicles and buildings, that is comparable to Carl Gustaf," he said. "Most importantly, the SMAW weapon system provides this advantage while weighing significantly less."

According to weapons specs, the SMAW weighs 29.5 pounds loaded. The M3E1, which knocks about six pounds off the weight of its predecessor, weighs about 32 pounds loaded.

Finch, the Army's MAAWS product director, said tests conducted by the service in Spring 2016 at its Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland, prove the Carl Gustaf's HEDP round is up to the task of bunker destruction and could destroy a bunker in a single shot up to 70 percent of the time.

"We had bunker pressure as high as 150 [pounds per square inch], and it totally destroyed the bunker," Finch said.

These tests, however, may not meet the Corps' criteria for side-by-side evaluation of the two weapons systems. Woodburn said he wasn't aware of testing proving the Carl Gustaf's bunker-breaching capabilities.

"We haven't seen the data," he said.

A Better Way to Fight?

For Wade, the MAAWS promises Marines an array of powerful new rounds, including some still in development, that match or exceed what the SMAW has to offer.

The MAAWS, unlike the SMAW, has smoke and illumination rounds. And several of its rounds boast an effective range of well over 1,000 meters, where the SMAW maxes out its effective range around 500 meters.

"The high-explosive dual-purpose round for the Carl Gustaf can shoot in excess of 1,000 meters, where the SMAW can shoot 250-300," Wade said. "The most important thing you could say to a Marine about the Carl Gustaf and SMAW is that, by putting a Carl Gustaf in his hand, he could have devastating effects on the enemy, not only outside AK[-47] range but also outside PKM [machine gun] range."

The Kalashnikov PKM, an enemy weapon of choice in Afghanistan and Iraq, has an effective range of between 700 and 1,000 meters.

Including training and practice rounds, there are some 15 different munitions the MAAWs can fire. And there are more in development, Wade said, including an 84mm laser-guided missile.

"There's so many Carl Gustaf rounds that we haven't tested," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted investigative actions on November 3 as part of a pre-trial investigation into possible illegal enrichment and possible declaration of unreliable data by Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan.

"On November 3, NABU detectives conducted investigative actions as part of the pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings registered in May 2017 regarding the possible illegal enrichment and possible declaration of unreliable data a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The investigation is underway," the NABU's press service reported, in response to media reports about searches of the home of the infrastructure minister.

As for reports about the alleged preparation of a notice of suspicion to First Deputy Justice Minister Natalia Sevostyanova, the NABU said that this information was untrue.

"Once again, we emphasize that the inclusion of information in the unified register of pre-trial investigations cannot serve as basis for accusations against a person in committing an offense. According to the current legislation of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until the conviction of the court against him enters into force," the NABU said.

As reported, the NABU conducts a pre-trial investigation into Omelyan's putting unreliable information in his income declaration and received the access to information about his phone talks over the period from December 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

According to a ruling by Solomyansky District Court of Kyiv put in the unified state register of judgments, NABU has been investigating criminal proceedings since May 26, 2017 into the declaration of unreliable information (Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and illegal enrichment (Part 3 of Art. 368-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) by Infrastructure Minister Omelyan.

During the pre-trial investigation, the NABU established that starting from December 10, 2016, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, his wife and son, lived in a house that since September 27, 2016, has belonged to his wife's first cousin once removed. Approximate value of the house is UAH 7 million.

NABU detectives pointed out that according to the information of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the wife's cousin once removed doesn't receive the income to afford buying such a house.

Also, during the period from March 23, 2009 to March 23, 2011, the mother of his wife's niece once removed issued an authorization to drive her Lexus RX 350 to Omelyan, "which indicates their confidential relationship."

The NABU petition also states that on March 29, 2017, the infrastructure minister filed an electronic declaration for 2016 stating that he actually lives in an apartment that belongs to his wife. At the same time, Omelyan did not indicate his right to use the real estate, namely, the home where he lives. NABU says that the information provided by Omelyan in the declaration for 2016 differs from the actual one by UAH 7 million, which is more than 250 subsistence minimums for able-bodied people.

Also, NABU detective noted that a pre-trial investigation established that Omelyan has been using the 2015 BMW X5 car which costs around UAH 1.59 million. The said vehicle belongs to the minister's brother. However, this car, which is used by the minister was not mentioned in his declaration for 2015 and 2016 contrary to Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Prevention of Corruption".

According to NABU, Omelyan put false information in his income declaration, so the latter's actions bear the signs of an offence under Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

NABU asked the court to provide temporary access to information from several mobile phone numbers in order to establish connections between these individuals, as well as find out the whereabouts of Omelyan during a certain period of time, "which will allow to compare where the latter lived and where he is currently living."

The Solomyansky District Court in Kyiv partially granted the request of NABU and provided the investigation with access to information about the mobile phone conversations of the infrastructure minister for the period from December 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

In his turn, Omelyan said that there was no false information in his declaration.
An Indigenous airman, who had to cut his braids when first joining the Air Force two years ago, is now one of the first in...
Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said Monday he's decided to expand the list of "presumptive" ailments for Agent Orange compensation subject to approval by the Trump administration.

Shulkin didn't disclose the expanded list -- "I'm protecting the sanctity of the process" -- but stressed, "I have made a decision. I have passed that on in the process that we follow in the federal government."

A VA official later said Shulkin's recommendations on Agent Orange compensation expansion would go to the White House Office of Management and Budget and other agencies for approval and analysis of the costs. Shulkin said he expected approval "in a matter of a few months."

Shulkin's remarks on Agent Orange on Monday at the National Press Club were in contrast to the statement put out last week by the VA suggesting that decisions on expanding the list had been delayed yet again.

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The VA faced its own deadline of Nov. 1 for deciding on whether to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, Parkinson-like tremors and other ailments to the list for Agent Orange compensation based on a report from the National Academy of Medicine that had been sitting at the VA for 18 months.

After reviewing the academy report, Shulkin said in his statement last week, "I have made a decision to further explore new presumptive conditions for service connection that may ultimately qualify for disability compensation."

Shulkin readily acknowledged the confusion on what transpired last week in regards to expanding the list. "I'm glad to clarify this situation, since I think that it may be a little bit murky," he said.

The VA had received the NAM's report in early 2016 and had been required to approve or disapprove of its recommendations within 60 days. The VA failed to meet the initial deadline in another "example of the VA not performing at an acceptable level," Shulkin said.

Rather than committing last week to "further explore" an expansion, he had actually decided to expand the list, Shulkin said. "I made made a decision," he said. "I'm not announcing it," he said, but "my intention is to do what's right for veterans."

Any ailments Shulkin might add to the VA's current list of 14 "presumptive diseases" linked to herbicide exposure, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and prostate and respiratory cancers, would make many more thousands of Vietnam War veterans eligible for VA disability compensation and health care.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Veterans denied basic mental health care service benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs because of an "other than honorable" discharge may soon be able to receive the care they need.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously passed the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act, spearheaded by Rep. Mike Coffman, a Colorado Republican and Marine Corps combat veteran.

"Today, this House sent a critical message to our men and women in uniform," Coffman said in a release. "That message is that you are not alone. We are here to help those suffering from the 'invisible' wounds of war.

"The passage of [this bill] is an important bipartisan effort to ensure that our combat veterans receive the mental health care services they need. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line," he said.

Related content:

The legislation, H.R. 918, would require the VA to provide initial mental health assessments and services deemed necessary, including for those at risk of suicide and or of harming others, regardless of whether the individual has an "other than honorable" discharge.

Currently, individuals who have such discharges, known as "bad paper," are not eligible for veteran benefits beyond some emergency mental health services. Veterans who received a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge would still be ineligible to access the services.

"It's important that we give all of our combat veterans, irrespective of the discharges they receive, access to mental health care through the Veterans [Affairs Department]," Coffman told Military.com during an interview in February, when he reintroduced the bill.

He is the only House member to serve in both the first Iraq War and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the time, Coffman said of the "bad-paper" separations, "I question the nature of the discharges in the first place, and I'm exploring that."

A May 2017 Government Accountability Office report found 62 percent of the 91,764 service members separated for minor forms of misconduct between fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2015 had been diagnosed within two years prior to separation with post- traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or other conditions that could be associated with their misconduct, according to the release.

The bill applies to those with other-than-honorable discharges who served served in a combat zone or area of hostilities; piloted unmanned aircraft; or experienced a military sexual trauma.

The VA secretary can sign off on outside care if specific care at a VA facility is clinically inadvisable; or if the VA is unable to provide necessary mental health care due to geographic location barriers.

H.R. 918 also requires the VA to establish a formal "character of service" determination process, triggering reviews of the "character of discharge" for potential eligibility of VA benefits.

High Ground Veterans Advocacy, a grassroots organization training veterans to become leaders and activists in their local communities, has advocated for the move.

"There are some veterans out there who've been waiting for this day for decades -- but there's still a fight ahead of us," said High Ground founder and chairman Kristofer Goldsmith.

"Until the Senate passes this bill, and the president signs it -- some of our nation's most vulnerable veterans, who served between Vietnam and today's Forever Wars, are being denied the holistic care that they deserve from the VA," he said in an email.

Goldsmith continued, "Today, the House recognized that the United States has failed to care for hundreds of thousands of veterans in the way that they deserve -- veterans who were administratively discharged and stripped of a lifetime of essential benefits without the right to due process.

But the problem isn't yet fixed. Until Congress holds hearings dedicated to looking at the problem of bad-paper discharges, we won't have all available solutions on the table," he said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
East Grand Rapids Mayor Amna Seibold has condemned white supremacy statements that were printed on fliers and posted around the city over the weekend of Nov. 4.

Seibold released a statement on social media late in the afternoon on Sunday, Nov. 5, and addressed the fliers during a City Commission meeting the following day.

The signs, which read, "It's okay to be white," included a link to a white nationalist blog.

"We want to make this very clear. We do not agree or support the sentiments of these messages; racism has no place in our community," Seibold said.

"If I sound upset, it's because I am. Because these people came in, whoever they are, whoever the culprits are, they tried to upset our community and we're stronger than that," she said.

Many of the city commissioners shared in the mayor's feelings.

"It's obvious to me that our community was the target of an outrageous, and I mean that, an outrageous act of bigotry and hatred," Commissioner Brian Miller said. "It's the ultimate cowardice to distribute these messages in the dark of night."

Organized racist activity happened overnight in Eastown and East Grand Rapids with the posting of hundreds of white... Posted by Equity Drinks on Sunday, November 5, 2017

According to Seibold, Public Safety officers worked Sunday, Nov. 5, to remove all of the fliers posted throughout the city.

"Many of these little posted signs, they were put on private property including some on preexisting yard signs and trees, and our officers were not able to remove these signs without the property owner's permission," she said. "And our officers did help to remove the signs as long as they were given consent by the property owner."

East Grand Rapids Public Safety Director Mark Herald said the case is an active investigation. It has been assigned to a detective and they are in contact with the Grand Rapids Police Department, he said.

Officers also have canvassed neighborhoods, are speaking with residents and have reviewed camera footage picked up by nearby schools.

"We're doing everything we can to try and solve it," Herald said.

Concerned community members and residents filled the commission chambers Monday evening to hear Seibold and fellow commissioners speak, and to also voice their concerns.

Resident Ellen Custer said she wished there was a way the city could have communicated their objections to the fliers that reached a larger number of residents in a quicker fashion.

"I think it would have helped to squelch a little bit of hearsay that was going around," Custer said.

The Public Safety Department is encouraging anyone with information to come forward and contact them at 616-949-7010.

"Our well-educated community knows that for our community, for our country, for our world, in order for us to move forward we all need to treat each other as equals," Seibold said.
LANSING, MI - A man has been arraigned on gun charges after a 15-year-old girl was shot and wounded while she sat in an SUV with her parents outside a Lansing school last week.

Kahlil Jamal Withers-Fleming, 21, was arraigned Monday on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon and a misdemeanor of careless discharge of a weapon causing injury, according to The Associated Press.

The shooting occurred in a parking lot outside Pattengill Academy in Lansing about 4:30 p.m. last Friday. The school went on lockdown after the incident. There were about 90 students inside at the time.

The injured girl was not a student there. She was in an SUV with her parents and Withers-Fleming when she was wounded.

The type of criminal charge suggests the shooting was accidental, the AP said.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan is welcoming award-winning actor, best-selling author and philanthropist Hill Harper to deliver its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium keynote memorial lecture in January.

The university announced Harper will take part in the symposium keynote address at 10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2018, in Hill Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The keynote is co-sponsored by the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives under the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business with support from the William K. McInally Memorial Lecture Fund.

"Every year our planning committee seeks to find a theme and speaker that reflects the legacy of Dr. King, to be critical of the inequities in the status quo, yet act and be inclusive in generating solutions," OAMI Associate Director Lumas J. Helaire said in a news release.

Harper is noted for his acting roles in the Spike Lee films "Get on the Bus" and "He Got Game." He later appeared as crime scene investigator Sheldon Hawkes on the CBS crime drama "CSI: NY" for nine seasons until 2013. During that time, he was the winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for three consecutive years from 2008 to 2010.

Most recently, Harper appeared in the ABC's "The Good Doctor."

Harper also is an accomplished writer, authoring several books including "Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny," "Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny" and "Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope and Healing for Inmates and Their Loved Ones."

Harper established the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, which provides under-served youth with a path to empowerment and educational excellence through mentoring, academic enrichment programming and college access skills obtainment.

A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Law School, Harper recently became the new owner of the iconic Charles T. Fisher mansion in Detroit's Historic Boston-Edison District, according to The Detroit News.

For more information on this year's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, "The Fierce Urgency of Now," visit the UM website.
MLive file photo

Veterans Day is Saturday, Nov. 11

Veteran's Day is Saturday, Nov. 11 and organizations around Washtenaw County are hosting events to honor and recognize military service members.

Take a look at some of the happenings throughout the week leading up to Veterans Day here.

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Veterans events at Washtenaw Community College

More than 30 veteran-friendly local employers are expected for the third annual Hiring Event for Veterans and their families at Washtenaw Community College.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Drive. The event is free and open to the public. Sign up for the event online.

WCC also is hosting Veterans Day ceremony and reception at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, on the second floor of the Student Center, adjacent to the Wadhams Veterans Center. Two veteran students will be speaking, including the President of the Student Veterans of America club at WCC, JT Iacovetta.

WCC also is hosting a breakfast and luncheon for its student veterans on Wednesday. If a veteran, who must be a WCC student, can't attend the luncheon, they will receive a $10 lunch voucher to Subway or the Spot Cafe during the week.

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Stories of Service at Hill Auditorium

Five storytellers who are veterans will bridge 12 wars during "Stories of Service: An Evening with Veterans" inside Ann Arbor's Hill Auditorium.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 and is hosted by veteran Noah Galloway, who lost an arm and leg during his second Army tour of Iraq. Galloway eventually rehabilitated to place third during the 20th season of "Dancing With the Stars."

Galloway is joined by James Stejskal, who served with the 82nd Airborne before qualifying for Special Forces. As a Green Beret, he deployed to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He was severely injured in by a roadside explosive device in Somalia in 1992, but recovered to serve an additional three years before beginning a second career as a senior intelligence officer with the CIA. Now a military historian and conflict archaeologist, Stejskal is the author of the book "Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956-1990."

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Matt Weigand l The Ann Arbor News

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Veterans Week at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is hosting a number of events throughout the week leading up to Veterans Day.

Panels on WWII, Korea and Vietnam are scheduled, as well as panels on women and LGBTQ in the military. On Friday, Nov. 10, a flag raising and appreciation lunch are scheduled.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the Veteran and Military Services website.

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Veterans Day observance at Eastern Michigan

A Veterans Day observance is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9 inside room 202 of Pierce Hall on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in the Lt. Colonel Kettles Military and Veteran Services Resource Center.

The reception, hosted by the Student Veterans of America at EMU, will honor area veterans. Refreshments are provided.

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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Veterans Day

The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System will host a Veterans Day program at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 inside the medical center Auditorium at 2215 Fuller Road in Ann Arbor.

U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and Tim Walberg are among the expected guest speakers. The event is open to the public.

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Junfu Han l The Ann Arbor News

Retired Lt. Col. Charles Kettles views items from his military career, displayed at the Ypsilanti Historical Museum in October. (Junfu Han/MLive.com)

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Veterans Day program at Concordia University

On Friday, Nov. 10, Concordia University will host its 10th annual Veterans Day Celebration at Concordia University Ann Arbor.

Events are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include a 10:30 a.m. chapel service with speaker Chaplain Craig Muehler of the Ministry to Armed Forces. at 11 a.m. a black box lunch program is scheduled with a presentation by Medal of Honor Awardee Lt. Charles Kettles.

To sign up for lunch, or if you have any special needs, please call Dr. Marilyn Meell at 734-995-7394 or email marilyn.meell@cuaa.edu.

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Veterans Day ceremony in Milan

The city of Milan is hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Wilson Park.

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Melanie Maxwell l The Ann Arbor News

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Additional events

If you know of any other events related to Veterans Day happening in Washtenaw County, let us know by emailing mslagter@mlive.com.
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - No charges will be filed against a 14-year-old boy whose BB gun caused a lockdown at Ypsilanti Community High School in October.

The school went into a lockdown about 12:20 p.m. Oct. 26 after a student reported that another student brought a weapon to school, YCHS Principal Cory Gildersleeve previously told MLive and The Ann Arbor News.

The student reported to have the weapon was located, isolated in a classroom, searched by a school resource officer and found to have a BB gun, Gildersleeve said. The lockdown ended when the BB gun was confiscated, and the student was detained in the school's main office.

The 14-year-old also had pellets in his book bag, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Sgt. H. Eugene Rush said.

The student had not made any threats with the BB gun and was turned over to his guardian, Rush said. No charges were filed.

Gildersleeve previously told The Ann Arbor News and MLive the student who brought the BB gun to school had been suspended. School officials declined to comment on the student's status or school disciplinary action taken related to the incident.

A new state law that went into effect in August reformed Michigan's "zero tolerance" school discipline policies that previously required expulsion in certain circumstances - like bringing a firearm or other dangerous weapon to school. Now, schools have more flexibility in determining when to expel or suspend students.

BB guns did not fall under Michigan's previous zero tolerance law anyway, said Laura Frey-Greathouse, director of staffing, student affairs and teacher retention for YCS. BB guns and air soft guns are not considered firearms or dangerous weapons, according to guidance from the Michigan Association of School Boards.

Staff writer Lauren Slagter contributed to this report.
Investigators have found the machine gun used to fire on the car used by volunteer Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) veteran Amina Okuyeva and her husband Adam Osmayev, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy (People's Front Party faction) Anton Gerashchenko has said.

"The weapon used to murder Okuyeva last week has been found. DNA traces of the person who used it have been found and are currently being analyzed by criminal forensic specialists and the police," Gerashchenko said during an interview aired by the Priamy TV channel.

As earlier reported, on October 30 Okuyeva was assassinated in the town of Hlevakha outside Kyiv. Her husband Osmayev was driving the car.

Kyiv's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has opened a criminal investigation pursuant to Point 11 of Part 2 of Article 115 (premeditated murder) of Ukraine's Criminal Code.
BAY CITY, MI -- A Wisconsin man has received federal prison time for driving all the way to Saginaw, picking up an underage girl, and driving her back to his home in hopes of making her a sex slave.

From the bench in the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington on Friday, Nov. 3, sentenced 44-year-old James D. Werner to 130 months -- or 10.8 years -- in prison. Upon Werner's release, he's to be supervised for five more years.

The judge also ordered Werner to pay a $100 assessment fee and $50,000 in restitution.

Werner in July appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris and pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

In pleading, Werner said that on April 15, he met a 14-year-old girl in an online chatroom devoted to master-slave relationships. At the time, he lived in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and agreed to drive to the girl's Saginaw home. He picked her up outside her residence and drove her back to his home, a 852-mile trip.

"The purpose of you coming and getting her is that you wanted to have sex with her, is that true?" defense attorney Bryan J. Sherer asked Werner at the plea hearing.

"Yes," Werner replied.

Questioned further by Morris, Werner admitted he touched the girl either directly or through her clothing for his sexual gratification.

The girl's mother reported her missing after she sneaked out of her window on April 15. Werner picked her up and drove through the night to his home.

Werner told investigators he and the girl slept together in his bed, clothed and under the covers.

On April 19, Werner brought the teen a tablet to communicate with him while he was away, court records state. The teen eventually used the device to communicate with others and relay her situation. On April 21, a woman who works for a nationwide crisis texting hotline alerted police of the situation/

Through information the teen provided, police were able to find her location through tracking the IP computer address of her alleged captor's Kik Messenger profile.

Soon after, Fort Atkinson Police officers went to Werner's residence and met him outside. Werner stated the girl was inside and gave police permission to get her, according to court files.

The teen was found inside a bedroom and later transported to a hospital.
DETROIT, MI - A passenger says he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw a wing on fire as his Southwest Airlines plane was about to take off.

It happened last Thursday, Nov. 2. Flight 1863 was getting ready to depart Detroit Metro Airport to St. Louis. Passenger David Fiedor of Wixom says he heard a weird noise which caused him to look out the window. What he saw next shocked him.

"I heard a muffled thud. Similar to when the landing gear is engaging. I didn't think much of it until I looked out the window and saw the wing had flames coming out from the bottom. The flames were coming out intermittently."

Fiedor estimated the plane had 80 passengers aboard, and he pretty much had the back of it to himself. He says no one else noticed the fire. He unbuckled his seat belt and walked toward the flight attendant to alert her of what he was seeing.

"I got up from my seat and went to the back to where the flight attendant was. She told me to sit down. I told her to come take a look at the wing because it's on fire. She got up and after about 5 or 10 seconds, she saw the flame, as it was intermittent."

Fiedor says the flight attendant then radioed to the cockpit.

"A couple minutes later the pilot announced there was a mechanical issue and we headed back to the gate."

Everyone had to exit the plane and either book another flight or receive a refund. Fiedor believes the plane was about 5th or 6th in line to take off.

When asked about the incident, Southwest Airlines did not acknowledge there was a fire. Instead, they said the plane was still being repaired as of Monday night.

"The pilot in command of Flight 1863 returned to the gate prior to takeoff after receiving reports of signs of a potentially mechanical issue. While there were no indications of anything abnormal, our mechanics are repairing the aircraft and the plane currently remains in maintenance. As always, the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority," the airline said in a statement.

Fiedor travels occasionally for work and said he usually tries to go to sleep before his plane takes off. But on this trip, he's glad he was awake to see the problem.
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Nestor Shufrych (the Opposition Bloc) has been summoned to Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) on December 14 to give testimony as a witness.

"MP Shufrych must arrive on December 14, 2017 at 15.30 at the PGO's Department of Special Investigations, office No. 411, in Kyiv, 18 Borysohlibska Street, to be questioned as a witness in criminal case No2014100000000209," the PGO summons says.

Department of Special Investigations chief Serhiy Horbatiuk, in turn, has said Shufrych is being summoned in connection with threats by former First Presidential Administration head Andriy Portnov directed at former Party of Regions deputy Inna Bohoslovska.

Horbatiuk said the reason for publishing the summons notice is that Shufrych has previously failed to appear to summons.

As earlier reported, on February 18, 2014 threats "were conveyed from a telephone belonging to Portnov to a telephone belonging to Bohoslovska regarding deputy activities and the active political position of a state functionary."
On Wednesday, November 8, at 12.30, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference, entitled "Construction in DOING BUSINESS-2018: Record Growth and What Should Be Done to Prevent Fall." The participants include Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing of Ukraine on Construction Issues Lev Partskhaladze, Program Manager of the Global Practice on Trade and Competitiveness in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova IFC/World Bank Group Heinz-Wilhelm Strubenhoff, Head of the Construction Sector at the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) Olena Shuliak (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. More information by phone: (050) 689 9328.
Border guard on duty determines himself whether to shoot or not - Kolmohorov

KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) - A serviceman of the 79th border detachment of the Black Sea regional department of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Kolmohorov, whose case caused outcry, has said he is convinced of the illegality of charges brought against him.

"I was ordered to stop and inspect a car. Each border guard at the State Border Service determines himself the order to shoot or not when he is on duty, according to order No. 200 [an order of October 21, 2003 on approving instructions on the use of weapons, combat technology... during the protection of the state border and the exclusive (maritime) economic zone]. All loud statements made by the prosecutor's office are cut out of whole cloth. Everything that the prosecutor's office says has no grounds," he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He said that he became a suspect in this case, because someone has a personal dislike for him.

"We will figure out this," Kolmohorov said.

The border guard said that all servicemen who are now detained and are under investigation want objective investigations and trials.

"They want to get things sorted out with their cases by law, so that there's nothing to hide and there are no falsifications. They want justice. In my case, 90% is falsification and so on," he said.

Kolmohorov said he intended to return to service after the completion of the trial on his case.

"I think that I have already had some 'rest.' I must return to the service. I will return in any case. I think it's should not even be discussed. There's no other option," he said.

As reported, in September 2014, Kolmohorov, carrying out an order, used weapons to stop a car, killing a passenger.

On November 15, 2016, the Prymorsky District Court of Mariupol found Kolmohorov guilty of committing crimes under Part 1, Article 115, Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 13 years in prison, depriving him of the right to hold posts of a representative of law enforcement agencies for three years and stripping him of the military rank "senior soldier."

Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the court of first instance.

On November 6, the Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases sent the Kolmohorov case for a new trial to a court of first instance and released him from custody.
A recent funding renewal will allow two University of Michigan (U-M)-administered programs to continue their mission of supporting collaboration among state universities and spinning off technologies developed at universities into startup businesses.

The Michigan Strategic Fundan oversight board for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)approved $1.4 million for the Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN) and $1.26 million for Technology Transfer Talent Network (T3N), funding each program for another year.

"The state continues to fund these programs because they show results," says Stella Wixom, executive director of the U-M Business Engagement Center and principal investigator of the MCRN grant.

MCRN started in 2011 as a collaboration between six state universities but has since expanded to include all 15 state universities, including Wayne State University. T3N, also created in 2011, was started with help from the MEDC to provide talent programs and resources to support the commercialization of university projects.

Talent resources provided by T3N include a fellowship program, a mentors-in-residence program, university post-doctoral fellowships, and a statewide talent resource network.

"These programs touch on three key areas that are integral parts of commercializing technology: business engagement, technology transfer, and research," says Denise Graves, MEDC university relations director. She says the renewed funding will allow both programs to "expand and refine" the work they're doing supporting all 15 public universities across Michigan.

While the focus of both programs is on finding commercial channels for university-created technologies, much of the work they do is about "building relationships," Graves says.

That relationship-building includes setting up mentorship programs and getting interns into small and medium-sized businesses.

Graves says mentors with "deep industry knowledge" are matched with faculty to help them commercialize technology, get first customers and funding, and provide feedback to faculty on what they need to do to make the technologies viable in the marketplace.

Wixom says the state is interested in exposing students to small and medium-sized companies that students might otherwise overlook. The grant money will help students get internships in those smaller companies.

"A lot of those companies are thrilled with the talent and convert those internships to full-time positions, and the students are more interested in staying after having hands-on experience at those companies," Wixom says.

Wixom says it's important to note that the collaborations among state universities to create technology spinoffs is "a really unique offering."

"It makes us competitive in the country in terms of companies locating here," Wixom says. "I've talked to folks in Texas and Mississippi who are trying to emulate this model. The partnerships and support from the state make us attractive and friendly to businesses."



Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and editor in Ypsilanti Township.
Ashok Vemuri, CEO of Conduent Incorporated, speaks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., January 3, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RTX2XDX0

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Infosys ' search for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has gathered pace and report in The Economic Times suggest the Bengaluru-based IT services company's former executives BG Srinivas and Ashok Vemuri are in the race.

The company is also mulling creation of a deputy CEO post to ensure smooth working of the management.

Vishal Sikka, the ex-CEO, had resigned from the company in August this year after a lengthy boardroom battle with the company's co-founder Narayana Murthy.

Post Sikka's resignation, co-founder Nandan Nilekani had returned as the non-executive chairman.

Infosys Nominations Committee and global executive search firm Egon Zehnder -- tasked with finding a new CEO for the tech giant -- have been actively pursuing Vemuri over the last two weeks, a previous report said.

Vemuri is the current CEO of Xerox Business Services and has previously headed iGATE Corp, which was acquired by Capgemini.

Srinivas is currently the Group-Managing Director at PCCW Ltd. Previously, he was a president at Infosys and left the company in 2014.

Infosys has interviewed other executives including candidates from Oracle and Google. The company is also looking at internal talents including interim CEO UB Pravin Rao and Presidents - Ravi Kumar S and Mohit Joshi.

However, it is not an easy ride for the company.

"The problem in Infosys is that the company is seen as having multiple power centres. While Nilekani has acceptance, he is seen as a founder. The board, which was redone recently, has older and new members who have seen the turmoil over several management changes," a company executive told ET.

Besides this, many candidates also want assurance of non-interference from the founders, he added.

Srinivas and Vemuri did not reply to mails sent by ET.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has signed an MoU with jobs portal Monster India, to aid in providing job opportunities to students and fresher candidates across India.

As a part of this alliance, Monster India will act as an interface among students, colleges and recruiters by empowering institutions approved with AICTE, to map their students talent and provide them with relevant job opportunities.

Under the MoU, Monster India will manage and monitor campus recruitment activities of over 10,360 colleges approved by AICTE with a collective intake capacity of over 36 lakh students. This comprises students from various streams- engineering and technology; applied arts and craft; hotel management and catering; management; pharmacy and architecture and town planning.

Monster India, apart from creating and managing the platform, will also provide a facility for practicing tests to check employability, identify skill gaps through assessment and suggest proactive measures to overcome them. The practice tests include two aspects- general aptitude and core subject related. These tests are currently available for engineering streams and will be soon added for other streams as well.

This non-exclusive agreement is a part of AICTEs efforts towards improving campus placements and attracting maximum employer participation.

Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE, said, Such MoU will definitely help college students and fresher candidates seeking career opportunities. It has been the endeavour of AICTE and colleges to provide the right platform and to ensure maximum students get employed. Keeping in line with this, we firmly believe that Monster India is one of the most credible names in the recruitment solutions industry to support us in making India an employable nation.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Established in November 1945 first as an advisory body and later on in 1987 given statutory status by an Act of Parliament, AICTE is responsible for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education and management education system in India.

Sanjay Modi, Managing Director (APAC & Middle East), Monster.com said, Our association with AICTE will allow greater access to students and colleges with a large pool of employers present on our data base and provide relevant job opportunities."

He added that they are aware of the huge skill demand and supply equation that currently exists in our country. However, since India has 12 million people enter the workforce every year, Modi said that the focus should be towards enhancing high level thinking skills, creativity, machine learning, and communication.
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Punjab National Bank Chief Executive Officer expects five NPA (non-performing asset) accounts from the first Reserve Bank of Indias first list of large stressed accounts to find a resolution within the stipulated timeframe and about 70 percent from the second list to be taken to the insolvency courts.

Speaking to the analysts in Mumbai, the government-owned banks CEO and MD Sunil Mehta said, Out of nine accounts we have exposure in, we expect that 5 accounts  those in steel sector- will get resolved. We are getting good number of bidders.

In June, the central bank had put out a list of 12 large corporate NPAs, accounting for 25 percent of the total bad loans in the system, to be referred to the NCLT under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Eleven of the 12 accounts have been admitted and are undergoing the insolvency proceedings to be resolved within 180 days, which will be due by December or January. These 180 days can be extended to 270 days under the IBC.

Of the 12 accounts, PNB has exposure to nine accounts worth Rs 11,000 crore. Towards this, the bank has to set aside capital worth Rs 1,080 crore as incremental provisions, of which Rs 840 crore has been already provided for and Rs 340 crore will be done in the remaining two quarters.

From the second list, I dont expect more than 30 percent will be resolved, so about 70 percent would go to NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal). We have a window till December 13, if resolution doesnt happen; 5 or 6 may be resolved, the rest may go to NCLT, Mehta said adding the bank was comfortable on provisions towards the same.

In the second RBI list sent to banks individually around August, PNB has exposure worth Rs 6,500 crore to 20 accounts of the approximately 30 accounts in the list.

The 12 accounts in the first list include -- Essar Steel, Bhushan Steel, Bhushan Power and Steel, Monnet Ispat and Energy, Electrosteel Steels, Lanco Infratech, Alok Industries, Amtek Auto, Jyoti Structures, Era Infra Engineering, Jaypee Infratech and ABG Shipyard.

Meanwhile, 11 of these 12 accounts have been admitted by the insolvency courts and another few of them have received interest from potential investors, including existing promoters.

If you see, basically, no creditor would like to continue with the same promoter, but participation of the promoter is equally necessary in maintaining the asset during the intervening period and create a threat to the bidder also, Mehta said.

A day ago, State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar also played down concerns on promoters bidding for their companies as part of the insolvency process, saying creditors will set out some preconditions before a resolution plan is finalised.

Ethically, I dont know; but legally they are within their rights to participate, Kumar said, speaking on the sidelines of a banking event. Among the conditions Kumar mentioned were that bidders should not be wilful defaulters; a forensic audit should clear them of any wrongdoing and finally, the quality of the resolution plan would be taken into account. The idea will be to enhance the enterprise value and anybody who gives the maximum enterprise value will be in the interest of the enterprise itself, the lenders and the country as a whole, Kumar had explained.

According to Mehta, The process of evaluation will be decided by the committee of creditors (CoC) and anyone who gives the highest bid will get preference. We will go by net present value. We will design uniform evaluation criteria that will be applicable to all. But we cannot deny a promoter from participating in the bidding as per the law.

KV Brahmaji Rao, Executive Director of PNB said, No defaulters is capable of bidding alone today. He will be getting some joint venture partner or an investor and only then he will be able to bid. I dont think defaulter bid just like others.

Stating the benefits of IBC, Mehta said, IBC has fast-tracked the decision process... The second is legal immunity as bankers think that whatsoever decision bankers are taking is under a legal frame work that is supervised by NCLT and under IPR so bankers are more confident in taking decisions including a haircut.

(Thirdly), promoters know they can lose control over assets they have created and the equity is already wiped out. So, it is pressure on banks to take a timely decision and also on corporates; otherwise, they will lose the assets they have created.
Japanese two-wheeler major Suzuki Motorcycle (SMIPL) has launched the baby version of the Intruder at Rs 98340 (ex-showroom, Delhi) to take on the Bajaj Avenger.

This is bike, which comes powered by 155cc single cylinder petrol engine, is a clone of the Suzuki's famous Intruder, the 1800cc, twin cylinder bike also available in India for Rs 16 lakh.

This new Suzuki bike will go head-to-head with the Bajaj Avenger 150, the only cruiser-style bike available under Rs 1 lakh. The Avenger range starts at Rs 78000 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, SMIPL said, The cruiser market in India has been on the path of continuous growth for the last few years. As a modern cruiser, the new Intruder offers riders a blend of premium appeal and distinctive-style. With its futuristic features like ABS, the new Intruder fulfills your daily commuting needs, while its great road-handling capabilities make the weekend ride with your brotherhood of bikers enjoyable and exciting as well.

The cruiser market in India is at a developing stage and growing rapidly. Thanks to a phenomenal run by Eicher Motors-controlled Royal Enfield the cruiser market has forced other bike makers to take notice.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is working on a product that could rival one of the products of Royal Enfield. This bike could be launched by 2020. UM Motorcycle, Hyosung, Triumph are some of the other companies which have cruiser bike models in their portfolio but are priced above Rs 1 lakh.
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Lupin, the country's second largest drug maker, on Tuesday said it got a combined warning letter from USFDA for manufacturing plants in Goa and Pithampur Unit II (Indore).

The company had earlier received three Form 483 observations in Goa on April 7, 2017 and six Form 483 observations in Pithampur (Unit II) in Indore on May 19, 2017.

USFDA issues a warning letter if it finds violation of good manufacturing practices by companies.

The US drug regulator had during the inspections pointed to inadequate quality control procedures and record keeping practices.

Lupin said it had responded to all the observations.

"We are deeply disappointed to have received this outcome," Lupin in a statement to stock exchanges said.

"While there will be no disruption of existing product supplies from either of these locations, there will likely be a delay of new product approvals from these two facilities," the statement added.

Lupin said it upholds quality and compliance issues with utmost seriousness and remains fully committed to be compliant with cGMP quality standards across all our facilities.

"We plan to address the concerns raised by the USFDA expeditiously and will work with the USFDA to resolve these issues at the earliest," Lupin said.

Shares of Lupin plunged 17.33 percent and were trading at Rs 858 on BSE at 2.25 pm, the benchmark Sensex declined 1.01 percent to 33,389.29 points.

To be sure, Lupin hasn't been getting new approvals from these two facilities for sometime and from the management commentary  the USFDA hasn't answered to company's response to the observations it made on the two plants earlier.

"We have been trying to push the FDA to get an answer as well and unfortunately, we really have no visibility into these processes," said Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director of Lupin in the company's earnings call last week.

"But I think typically I am seeing that the FDA seems to take 6 to 9 months to reach closure and hopefully in the next couple of months we should have answers for both Goa and Pithampur," Gupta said.

The company in the past too faced adverse observations from USFDA for its Goa plant.

Analysts tracking the company called it a huge blow as the two plants contribute around 30-40 percent of the sales and a large pipeline of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) filed from the plant were pending for approvals before USFDA.

"The resolution of a warning letter typically takes around 15-18 months," said Amey Chalke, research analyst, pharma, HDFC Securities.

Chalke said USFDA may not have been satisfied with Lupin's response to observations or the observations could be of repetitive in nature.

"This was completely unanticipated," said Vishal Manchanda, Research Analyst tracking Pharma at Nirmal Bang Equities.

"The number of observations were less in number and the expectation that these would be resolved," Manchanda said.

Manchanda added that the company will find it difficult to fight the price erosion in US without new approvals from these two facilities.

Indian generic drug makers operating in US were facing pricing erosion in the range of high single digit to low double digit.

Lupin, as on September 30, has 152 pending ANDAs for approvals, among which generic Tamiflu, generic anti-anginal medication, Ranexa, which is entitled for 180-days exclusivity and generic Renvela are some prominent opportunities for the companies.

Manchanda said he is waiting for management commentary on products filed from these two sites.

"The warning letter is negative for Lupin," said Surya Patra who tracks Indian pharmaceutical equities for PhillipCapital.

Patra said it's difficult to assess the impact at the moment.

Lupin had revenues of Rs 17,119.8 crore in FY17 of which US alone contributes close to 50 percent.

For Goa facility, USFDA observed that the company failed to review and investigate unexplained discrepancy and out of specification components of a product batch at the facility. The regulator also observed that Lupin did not have written procedures for production and process controls to assure quality of the product.

The Pithampur facility observations pointed out deviations in record keeping practices, issues with certain equipment used in manufacturing processes and packing; and failure to investigate out-of-specification batches.

The FDA issues a form 483 if its investigators spot any conditions that in their judgment may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and related laws.

Failure to take necessary action on the observations will lead to warning letter and in some case an import ban.

With the latest warning letter, Lupin joins the list of companies that are battling regulatory woes which includes Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy's, Wockhardt, Ipca.
In a major crackdown on road developers, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) terminated 20 road development contracts last week citing default. While the companies are now seeking withdrawal of this notice, NHAI will meet later today with these companies to discuss their plea.

In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Deepak Kumar, Chairman of NHAI shared his views and readings on the same.

Will tell you the final outcome only after the meeting today, let us wait for the final outcome, he said.

There is no debarment, these contracts were terminated long back and there is a clause in the general document that whosoever has been terminated, stands ineligible for further bidding for a period of two-three years, he added.

We can take all the representations into account and take further action, said Kumar.
India's Axis Bank will hold a board meeting on Friday to consider raising funds through a sale of shares or equity-linked securities, it said on Tuesday.

Any fundraising approved by its board would be put to shareholders for a vote, India's seventh-biggest lender by assets said in a stock exchange filing.

It did not provide further details.

Reports in the Indian media have said the bank was looking to raise as much as USD 1 billion from a group of investors after an increase in bad loans. The reports have named U.S. buyout group Bain Capital, Singapore state investor GIC and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board among potential investors.
Tata Coffee Ltd on Tuesday posted a 21.43 percent drop in consolidated net profit at Rs 35.08 crore for the second quarter of the 2017-18 fiscal.

Its net profit stood at Rs 44.65 crore in the same period last year, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Total income increased to Rs 387.34 crore in July- September quarter of the current fiscal from Rs 375.19 crore in the year-ago period.

Expenses remained higher at Rs 332.56 crore as compared to Rs 306.41 crore in the period under review.

Tata Coffee Managing Director Sanjiv Sarin said: "The results for the quarter have been impacted due to soft commodity prices and lower sales volume of instant coffee on a postponement of orders in one geography."

The company has achieved a breakthrough with key customers in South Asia and Australia, he said.

While climate vagaries continue to cause concern, the company has invested substantially in improving its water harvesting capability, sound agronomy practices and creating a strong key account management team, he added.

Sarin further said that the Vietnam project is making satisfactory progress, so also the project converting one of the CTC tea factories to premium Orthodox tea facility, which is nearing completion.

The company also informed that the Board accepted the resignation of Tata Coffee's current executive director T Radhakrishnan, who would be relocating as Managing Director of its Tata Coffee Vietnam.

It also approved the appointment of L Krishnakumar as an Additional (Non-Executive) Director of the company with immediate effect.

Tata Coffee, a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverage, produces about 10,000 tonnes of shade-grown arabica and robusta variety of coffee in its 19 estates in south India and is also one of the largest producers of pepper in the country.

The company has two instant coffee manufacturing units with a combined installed capacity of 8,400 tonnes. It exports green coffee to countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America.

The company's scrip fell by 1.66 percent to settle at Rs 157 apiece on BSE on Tuesday.
Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Angela Holguin will meet her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday and discuss ways to boost bilateral ties.

The Colombian foreign minister, who arrived here last evening, also said her country was "keen" on having a free trade agreement with India, and a "good start" has been made.

"Our trade minister met the Indian trade minister today, and tomorrow I am meeting the foreign minister (of India)," she told PTI on the sidelines of the 26th Sapru House Lecture here.

While delivering the lecture, organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Holguin also made a power- point presentation about Colombia and the opportunities that her country offers to the world.

The Latin American country has "15 free trade agreements in force", she said.

Asked if Colombia wanted to enter a free trade agreement with India, she said, "Yes, we are very keen. Though we have just made a beginning, but a very good beginning."

In her lecture, she said that India and Colombia enjoy very good relations. "Our trade is also good but we want to make it better," she said.

Holguin also said her country was now endeavouring to grow while implementing the Peace Accord since November 2016.

She said reconciliation was also a challenge even as she asserted that Colombia was making strides in various sectors, and that the country was going to "change dramatically".

"We had 31 airports in 2010 and now we have 42. Since 2010, 3.2 million people have been taken out of poverty and 1.4 million out of extreme poverty," she said.

The event was attended by various ambassadors and diplomats from Latin American and other countries.

On a question about the indigenous population of Colombia, the minister said, "They constitute about three per cent of the population."

She also emphasised that tourism was a big factor and the country was keen on leveraging it for its growth.

Holguin leaves India on Thursday.
Taking on former prime minister Manmohan Singh for calling demonetisation an "organised loot", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today it was an "ethical drive and moral step" while the "loot" happened under him in 2G, CWG and coal block allocation scams.

The demonetisation decision has led to a larger formal economy, cleaner economy and bigger tax base, Jaitley said, asserting that the government strongly stands by its decision a year after it made the "historic" announcement, marking an "watershed moment" for the economy.

At a BJP press conference, Jaitley said the party has a different perspective than the Congress on the issue of ethics, as its priority is to serve the nation while for the opposition party it is about serving the family.

On a day Singh launched a withering attack on the government over demonetisation, saying it had harmed India's image, Jaitley asked him to compare pre-2014 and post-2014 reputation of Indian economy.

"You were being considered an economy impacted by policy paralysis... You were off the global radar. Today, there isn't an international agency which does not eulogise the kind and quality of structural reforms India has taken," Jaitley said.

There was an ethical and moral rationale behind the note ban decision, he said, hitting out at Singh over his loot comments.

"Anti-black money drive is an ethical drive. Anti-black money step is a moral step. What is ethically and morally correct has to be politically correct. The loot had happened in 2G, CWG and coal block allocation," he said.

Listing out measures taken by the government to curb black money and corruption, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken a transformation of the economy with "structural reforms".

After coming to power, the BJP believed that it was most urgent to "shake up" the status quo. Excessive cash transaction was leading to tax evasion and honest taxpayers suffered "double whammy" as they ended up paying taxes for evaders too, the finance minister said.

Demonetisation is not a solution to all problems but it has changed the agenda, ushering in the less-cash economy, increasing numbers of tax assessees and squeezing terror funding.

Data mining has led to the identification of 1.8 million bank account holders with disproportionate income, he said.

"The Congress has a history of not taking one big step against black money. We are more than satisfied with the direction we have gone (in)," he said.

He parried a question about Raghuram Rajan's reported stand against demonetisation when he was the RBI governor, saying he would choose not to answer it as he does not find it necessary to disclose all the facts he as a finance minister is privy to.

To another query, Jaitley played down the political significance of Modi's meeting with ailing DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in Chennai yesterday, saying political and social courtesies exist irrespective of political alliances.

The Congress has sought to corner the government over demonetisation and decided to observe 'black day' tomorrow on the first anniversary of the decision which invalidated 86 percent of the currency in the system.

The BJP has announced it will celebrate 'anti-black money day' tomorrow, with its leaders fanning out across the country to highlight the "successes" of demonetisation.

Calling note ban a "reckless" exercise, Singh said during an interactive session with businessmen in Ahmedabad that "demonetisation was an organised loot and legalised plunder".
This debate refuses to die down. With the country always on election mode politician of all shades have kept the fire of reservation and quota burning.

With public sector companies either closing down, being sold off or simply getting wiser by stopping recruitment, few jobs are created in the public sector. Not happy by keeping deserving students away from low priced government educational institutions, politicians now want to exploit the private sector to help them in handling their dole and keep their vote bank satisfied.

This time around Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, has taken the initiative in raising the bogey of reservation. Defending his decision of providing reservation in jobs that are outsourced by the state government Nitish Kumar added that he was in favour of reservation for backward classes in private sector jobs.

Nitish Kumar said: It is our personal opinion that existing provisions of reservation should be extended in private sector also. But there should be a debate on the issue at the national level. A final decision on the issue will be taken by the Parliament."

Politicians have for a long time wanted to have an influence on the private sector for personal gain  monetary or political. Projects have been cleared to help the private sector in the politicians constituency or banks have been nudged to extend loans to certain companies. A substantial portion of the current non-performing assets (NPAs) in the banking system is on account of political benevolence.

But private sector has, thankfully, been spared from reservations. While there is a strong case for reservation based on economic condition a blanket extension to all backward classes based on their caste or religion that too in the private sector is uncalled for.

In any case, the private sector does more than its share of lifting. Subject to a series of direct and indirect taxes from state and central government plus various surcharges on the taxes the private sector is already burdened with various levies.

As if the taxes were not enough government in the last few years have asked companies to spend a portion of their profit on corporate social responsibility (CSR). In other words, they are being asked to do governments job of improving the living standards of the population.

The current demand is to block a portion of the jobs for the backward class. Already, companies that are setting up plants employ locals on whose land the plants are being constructed, thereby satisfying the local quota obligation. Making the private sector players recruit people based on the family into which they are born interferes with rights of the entrepreneur to choose the person he wants to work with.

Unfortunately, reservation is now being looked as a birth-right by many groups. Patels in Gujarat and Marathas in Maharashtra have through their numbers demonstrated that they can compel any government according to their will.

At a time when upgrading oneself to a higher strata of society is the norm globally, it is bewildering to see groups want to be classified as backward in India.

Reservations based on caste and religion is an idea which is surviving way past its sell-by date. Post-independence, four generations of people of backward caste have enjoyed preferential treatment. Even within these castes there are economically challenged people who are unable to enjoy the benefits of reservations. Further, there are many vacancies in the government organization that cannot be filled because they cannot find the right backward candidate for whom the seat is reserved.

There was a solid reason for reservation in the early years of independence. However, like all well-meaning policies, this too got exploited with politicians adding their own group of people based on caste to the list of backward communities.

Arm-twisting private sector players to employ people through reservation will impact their freedom of operation. Government is talking about ease of doing business and bringing in labour reforms. Under such a situation taking away partial rights of companies to select their candidates will be a jolt to good work done.

Private sector players are reluctant to invest in the country over the last few years. Such policies on employment will help them firm up their decision of not investing.

Nitish Kumar, however, is right on one count. There needs to be a debate on the reservation, but not for extending it to the private sector but to rein in reservations so that deserving students and candidates of future generations do not have to migrate in order to secure better prospects.

Since the government is taking steps to pass on benefits directly to the targeted audience through various programmes like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) it is time to pass on the benefits of reservation to the economically backward class irrespective of their caste or religion.

For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research Page
Tax rates on 150-200 items are likely to be cut from 28 percent, with the GST Council set to approve sweeping changes including simpler procedures and a single return filing form for small firms in its next meeting on Friday.

Top sources in the finance ministry told Moneycontrol that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is steering the proposed changes aimed at reducing tax and compliance burden for millions of small traders, ease rules and cut rates on many goods and services that currently fall under the 28 percent slab.

The GST Councilthe apex body for decision making headed by finance minister Arun Jaitleywill review the return filing process in its next meeting that will be held in Guwahati.

A group of ministers (GoM) headed by Bihar Finance Minister Sushil Modi will present a paper to the Council, proposing crucial changes in the return filing process, an official said.

To make the return filing process simpler, especially for small taxpayers, the GoM may recommend filing of only the summary return form GSTR3B, and doing away with filing GSTR1, GSTR2 and GSTR3.

GSTR3B is a summary form, which a business is supposed to file for July to December before the 20th of the next month. However, a taxpayer does not have to provide invoice level information in the form.

Currently, businesses have to file returns in GSTR1 (outward supplies or goods that they sell), GSTR2 (inward supplies or inputs and raw material that they buy) and GSTR3 (finalisation of outward and inward supplies of taxable items) and one annual return.

Last month, the Council approved a proposal to allow small tax payers with a turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore filing quarterly returns, compared to the earlier requirement for filing monthly returns to reduce compliance burden.

The government has also, time and again, extended return filing dates. Last week, the date for filing GSTR2 form for July, was extended till November 30 from October 31. July GSTR-3 returns for July were also extended by a month to December 11.

Since its implementation from July 1, the new indirect tax system has faced criticism owing to the teething troubles including lack of clarity on return filing, errors in invoice matching, and major technical snags on the information technology portal GST Network (GSTN), among others.

According to Pavan Peechara, CEO of a GST Suvidha Provider Adequare, filing of just GSTR3B should not be looked as a permanent option.

Filing of GSTR3B needs to be continued beyond December but it should not be looked at a permanent option. Filing of just GST3B would indicate going back to the self-declaration and audit intensive method, replacing the proposed transparent sharing of data via filing GSTR1,2 and 3, Peechara said.

Apart from easing the return filing process, rates of daily use items such as furniture, geometry boxes, furniture, cocoa products will be shifted to a lower tax bracket, another government official said.

An exhaustive list is being prepared by the fitment committee (an officials panel that proposes GST rates for goods and services). A major overhaul in rates is expected. Changes in rates may not be restricted to moving non-sin goods out of the 28 percent bracket. It could be across other slabs tax (12 and 18 percent), a senior government official said.

The fitment committee is currently doing the math, as shifting a product into a lower tax slab could have revenue implications. The officials will present its recommendation to the GST Council in its next meeting.

The GST Council has addressed a number of issues, particularly providing relief to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and exporters grappling with procedural irritants, delayed refunds and technical glitches on returns filing.

GST, billed as the country's biggest indirect tax overhaul, has consolidated a dozen of state and centre duties into one single levy. All goods and services have been fitted into four broad slab structure 5, 12, 18 and 28 percentalong with a cess on luxury and demerit goods such as tobacco, pan masala and aerated drinks.

The Council has till now rationalised rates of over 100 items and non-sin items under the 28 percent slab could also be brought down to a lower rate.

The reduction in rates will be a significant step towards simplification of GST to support the trader community ahead of the election in Gujarat that will be held in two phasesDecember 4 and 11.

Sources said that the SMEs have been hit by the implementation of the new indirect tax system and crucial steps will be taken to mitigate their challenges.
A diesel oil pump is seen at a bus terminal in Vienna, Austria May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader - RTX38D8S

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The Indian Oil Corporation's Sri Lanka operation on Tuesday received flak for the fuel shortage in the island nation with motorists lining up in long queues at petrol stations.

Petroleum authorities had turned away a Lanka IOC, Indian Oils subsidiary in Sri Lanka, shipment of gasoline last month saying it was contaminated. To make matters worse, a shipment meant for the state petroleum entity was also delayed.

"Lanka IOC shipment with petrol was rejected on October 17. We cannot accept it. We have asked the ship to go back," Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga told reporters.

Ranatunga said that LIOC should have made arrangements for an alternative shipment which they had not done.

The fuel shortage would last at least two more days, he said, adding the government was working to resolve the crisis. Another shipment is expected to arrive on Wednesday, he said.

"I apologise to consumers for this inconvenience, but we rejected the last shipment because we didn't want to give substandard product to our motorists," he said.

LIOC has a market share of 20 percent in the island nation since 2002.

The state petroleum entity trade unionists also blamed the LIOC for the shortage.

Supplies were affected across Sri Lanka and there were long queues of motorists at petrol stations in several areas.

"If they can cause such problems with just 20 percent, you can imagine the situation if tanks in Trincomalee are given to them," said Bandula Saman Kumara, a trade union leader.

Trade unions have opposed Lanka's proposed deal with India to handover the World War II oil storage tanks in Trincomalee under a joint Indo-Lanka venture.

In August, trade unions in the petroleum sector led a crippling strike. They only returned to work after the military was deployed under an essential services order.

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HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Limiteds initial public offering (IPO) opens today and its after 22 years that the group has approached the capital market. The price band for the IPO is fixed between Rs 275 and Rs 290 per share and through the offer the existing shareholders will be diluting approximately 15 percent. CNBC-TV18s Yash Jain caught up with the man of the moment, Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of HDFC Life and asked him about the strong anchor investor interest received by the company.

We had unprecedented, spectacular demand for the anchor book. Close to Rs 50,000 crore was the demand and it was more than 20 times oversubscribed. The big names include JPMorgan, Fidelity, T Rowe Price, Capital he said.

Sovereign funds like GIC, Temasek, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) also invested in IPO, he added.

At least 22 funds invested in the IPO for the first time in India.

HDFC intends to hold 50.1 percent and Standard Life intends to hold 24.9 percent. Further dilution from Standard Life will be little more than HDFC because HDFC is already close to slightly under 52 percent at this stage, said Chaudhry.

Could look at raising funds for inorganic growth by issuing shares, he further mentioned.
3:30 pm Market Closing: Benchmark indices as well as broader markets closed sharply lower on Tuesday as rising crude oil prices may impact fiscal deficit and raw material cost of companies which are dependent upon oil.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 360.43 points or 1.07 percent at 33,370.76 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 101.60 points or 0.97 percent to 10,350.20.

About 1,869 shares declined against 877 advancing shares on the BSE.

3:22 pm Merger: State-run MMTC share price rallied 17 percent intraday and State Trading Corporation of India gained 10 percent on hope of merger. Both stocks surged 19 percent in previous session.

According to CNBC-TV18 report, the Cabinet will take final call on commerce ministry proposal for STC-MMTC merger.

If it happens, then it could take 6-8 months for STC-MMTC merger process to be completed.

3:15 pm Buzzing: FMCG firm Jyothy Laboratories share price fell 14 percent despite the company reported a 46.93 percent increase in its consolidated net profit at Rs 45.71 crore for the September quarter YoY.

Total income during the quarter under review stood at Rs 433.83 crore as against Rs 435.01 crore in the year-ago period.

Revenue from personal care segment grew 46.7 percent at Rs 50.7 crore as against Rs 34.6 crore in the year-ago period, the company said.

On the outlook, Ramachandran said: "We hope that increased ad spend and concentration on marketing activities will help us to achieve a better share of voice ensuring further growth across categories."

3:05 pm Expansion: Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL), the wholly-owned two-wheeler arm of Suzuki Motor Corp, is considering setting up a new plant in the country that could entail a minimum investment of Rs 500 crore, said a top company official.

SMIPL, which today launched its new 155cc cruiser model Intruder priced at Rs 98,340 (ex-showroom Delhi), will also exit from commuter segment motorcycle to focus on premium bikes and scooters as it chases one million unit sales annually by 2020 in India.

"Our target is to sell one million units by 2020. Up to one million we can use the existing plant (at Gurugram) but beyond that we have to consider a new plant. We expect to take a decision on it by next year," SMIPL Managing Director Satoshi Uchida told PTI.

2:58 pm Buzzing: VIP Industries gained 8 percent after its consolidated net profit in Q2 grew by 27.4 percent year-on-year to Rs 23.83 crore and revenue increased 10.4 percent to Rs 309.2 crore.

Operating profit jumped 38.2 percent to Rs 36.63 crore and margin surged 238 basis points to 11.85 percent in September quarter YoY.

2:44 pm New telecom policy: The telecom department (DoT) looks to finalise the new telecom policy by February and would release its draft by December-end for public comments, Union minister Manoj Sinha said today.

"We are trying to bring new telecom policy by February. For this the working group has started the process. We expect to finalise draft by end of December and place it for public comments," the Communications Minister told reporters.

He said that the government expects to complete the first phase of Bharat net project to connect 1 lakh village panchayats with high-speed broadband by the end of November.

2:35 pm Market Check: Benchmark indices fell further, with the Sensex declining 356.79 points or 1.06 percent to 33,374.40.

The Nifty tested 10,350 level also, falling 100.50 points or 0.96 percent to 10,351.30.

About three shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

The rupee also fell sharply by 26 paise to trade at 64.93 against the US dollar on correction in equity market and rising crude oil prices.

2:28 pm Earnings: Healthcare firm Cipla has reported better-than-expected consolidated profit growth of 17.7 percent for the quarter ended September 2017, year-on-year, driven by strong operational performance and other income.

Consolidated profit during the quarter increased to Rs 435 crore from Rs 370 crore in year-ago, the company said.

Revenue from operations rose 8.8 percent to Rs 4,082 crore in July-September quarter, compared with Rs 3,751 crore in corresponding period, it added.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) grew by 18.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 804 crore and margin expanded 160 basis points to 19.7 percent in quarter ended September 2017.

2:15 pm Market Check: Benchmark indices fell sharply in afternoon, dragged by banking & financials, oil & gas, metals and pharma stocks. However, technology stocks continued to support the market.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 316.77 points or 0.94 percent at 33,414.42 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 91.80 points to 10,360.

Nifty Pharma, Metal and PSU Bank indices declined 2-5 percent while IT index gained 2 percent.

2:08 pm Auto sales: Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today reported 0.2 percent increase in retail sales at 46,418 units in October compared to the same month last year.

Jaguar retail sales were down 14.3 percent at 12,336 vehicles in October compared to October 2016, primarily reflecting lower sales of the Jaguar XE.

The company said the results reflect growing sales of the Range Rover Velar and the new Discovery model.

Retail sales in October were up year-on-year in markets such as China. H

owever, markets such as the UK, North America and Europe witnessed decline in sales, JLR said in a statement.

1:58 pm Results: Luggage maker VIP Industries today reported a 27.43 percent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 23.83 crore for the July-September quarter.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 18.70 crore during the same period of previous fiscal, VIP Industries said in a regulatory filing.

Total income during the quarter under review stood at Rs 311.95 crore as against Rs 288.10 crore in the year ago period.

1:48 pm Earnings: State-owned power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals's September quarter earnings missed analyst expectations on Tuesday as profit increased 5.9 percent year-on-year despite operational loss, aided by other income.

Profit during quarter increased to Rs 115.4 crore, compared with Rs 109 crore in year-ago. On sequential basis, bottomline reported a 42.5 percent growth.

Revenue from operations in Q2 fell 5.8 percent year-on-year to Rs 6,168.36 crore, but grew by 15.2 percent from previous quarter, the company said.

At operational level (EBITDA - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), BHEL has reported a loss of Rs 95 crore in Q2FY18 against income of Rs 155 crore in year-ago and loss of Rs 88 crore in previous quarter.

1:38 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks extended losses in afternoon trade, with the Nifty testing 10,400 level and the Sensex falling around 200 points.

Lupin was the biggest loser among Nifty 50 stocks, falling 17 percent after the US FDA has issued combined warning letter to Goa & Pithampur Unit-II sites. Nifty Pharma index was down 3.7 percent.

IT index continued to outperform, rising 2.5 percent led by HCL Technologies (up 3.7 percent), Tech Mahindra (3.3 percent), Infosys (2.7 percent) and TCS (2.2 percent).

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 185.72 points at 33,545.47 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 51.50 points to 10,400.30, weighed by Reliance Industries, HDFC and ICICI Bank.

About two shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

1:36 pm List of items under GST to be cut? Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today hinted at pruning the list of items in the highest GST tax bracket of 28 per cent after revenue in the new regime equalise collections previously.

Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime implemented from July, over 1,200 products and services have been fitted into one of the 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent tax slabs based on the principle of keeping the total tax incidence at almost the same level as previously as well as keeping revenue collections neutral.

Jaitley said some of the items should never have been in the 28 per cent slab and the GST Council in the last 3-4 meetings has slashed rates on over 100 items, thereby bringing them down either from 28 per cent to 18 per cent or from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.

1:16 pm Buzzing stock: Shares of Lupin touched 52-week low of Rs 890.10, slipping 15 percent intraday as company has received warning letter from USFDA.

The company's formulation manufacturing facilities at Goa and Indore (Pithampur Unit II) has received warning letter from USFDA.

The company earlier had received 3 Form 483 observations in Goa on April 7, 2017 and 6 Form 483 observations in Pithampur (Unit II) on May 19, 2017.

12:55 pm Buzzing: Shares of aviation companies, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, and InterGlobe Aviation, fell 3-5 percent on the back of surge in crude oil prices on a global scale.

Oil prices on Monday hit their highest since July 2015 as Saudi Arabia's crown prince cemented his power over the weekend through an anti-corruption crackdown, while markets continued to tighten.

A surge in these crude prices is generally seen as increase in fuel costs for aviation companies.

Brent crude futures were trading flat at USD 64.23 per barrel, down 0.06 percent.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightened his grip with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors including prominent billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal and the powerful head of the National Guard, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah.

12:45 pm Stake Sale: ICICI Bank said the board of directors today approved the sale of a part of its shareholding in ICICI Securities in an initial public offering, subject to requisite approvals and market conditions.

The size and other details of the offer would be determined in due course, it added.

12:35 pm Order Win: Shares of Himachal Futuristic Communication (HFCL) were locked at 5 percent upper circuit as it has bagged an order worth Rs 1,248 crore.

The company has bagged an order from Bharat Sanchar Nigam for defence communication network for DWDM equipments to be installed on pan India basis for the defence forces (under network for spectrum programme).

The order value for material and services is Rs 935 crore and Rs 313 crore is for annual maintenance contract. The contract is to be executed in 15 months.

12:28 pm Buzzing: AXISCADES Engineering Technologies share price rallied 6 percent intraday on acquisition of Mistral, a specialised embedded technology company, in Bengaluru.

"The acquisition to be completed in a phased manner will add significantly to AXISCADES' embedded practice and Make-in-India opportunities," the company said in its filing.

Mistral was co-founded by Anees Ahmed and Rajeev Ramachandra in 1997 as a niche technology company clocking Rs 132 crore in revenue last year.

The current founders and management team will continue to run the operations, AXISCADES said.

12:20 pm Crude impact: "India needs to keep a cautious eye on the surge in global crude prices as every USD 1 per barrel rise in crude prices leads to its import bill rising by USD 1.33 billion. Also, a rising import bill can put downward pressure on Rupee. India's import bill rises by USD 1.03 billion for every 1 Rupee weakening in Rupee vis-a-vis US dollar," Ajay Bodke, CEO & Chief Portfolio Manager PMS at Prabhudas Lilladher said.

He feels in a fiscally constrained environment a weakening Rupee can also lead to higher fiscal deficit if the government decides not to allow oil marketing companies to hike petrol & diesel prices for consumers and decides to absorb the increased fuel import bill.

Increased crude prices can also lead to prices of crude derivatives moving up impacting the raw material costs of companies across the sectors and leading to margin pressure. An exuberant Indian equity market needs to digest the far-reaching implications of the grave geo-political developments unfolding in the Middle-East seriously, Bodke said.

12:12 pm Market Check: Benchmark indices remained under pressure in noon on bouts of profit-booking in banks, oil & gas, banking & financials, metals and auto stocks. However, technology stocks capped losses.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 85.38 points at 33,645.81 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 26.60 points to 10,425.20 as investors continued to focus on corporate earnings.

The broader markets were alos under pressure, dragged by PSU banks. About two shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

Major losers were Reliance Industries (down 2 percent), IOC (2.5 percent), ICICI Bank (1.1 percent), Yes Bank (2.2 percent), Axis Bank (1.1 percent), SBI (1.14 percent) and HDFC (0.74 percent).

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 576.27 crore yesterday, as per provisional data released by stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 263.84 crore.

Most Asian markets were trading higher, tracking positive lead from Wall Street that ended at record levels and turmoil in Saudi Arabia sent crude prices to two-year highs. Japan's Nikkei, China's Shanghai Composite, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Australia's ASX 200 were up 0.6-1.7 percent.

11:48 am Buzzing: Global brokerage house Bank of America Merrill Lynch has initiated coverage with a buy rating on NBCC, the state-owned building construction company. The stock rallied 10 percent intraday Tuesday.

The research firm has set a target price at Rs 330 per share, implying 25 percent upside from Monday's closing price.

According to BoAML, premium valuations are expected to sustain driven by strong growth visibility and free cash flow.

The brokerage house expects 36 percent EPS CAGR in FY18-20 and sees NBCC winning orders worth Rs 35,000 crore in FY18-20.

11:36 am BHEL's Outlook: The state-owned power equipment major, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is aiming at doubling the non-power revenue by 2022 and the projects will be executed on a turnkey basis.

The areas like municipal water, Ganga mission, solar, aerospace, defense and metro and high speed rail projects have been identified as growth drivers.

"Currently, our non-power business is 20 percent and we are aiming at doubling it to 40 percent by 2022," BHEL Director Amitabh Mathur told PTI.

"Unless, we take turnkey projects like we do in power, topline will not be high," he said.

Currently, power and associated business contribute 80 percent of the revenue for the company, while the rest 20 percent have been generated by the Railways and other electrical products.

11:25 am Market Outlook: "We are of the opinion that Nifty is likely to end the calendar year 2017 with more than 25 percent gain for the year," Devarsh Vakil, Head  Advisory (Private Client Group), HDFC Securities said in an interview to Moneycontrol.

"It is our thesis that FY19 and FY20 earnings will grow at 20 percent CAGR. The Nifty may post EPS of Rs 693 for FY20, based upon that 15x earnings. If numbers fructify market doesnt look that expensive," he said.

"If earnings do not come through we may see a larger correction otherwise we rise in earnings will make markets look reasonable again," he added.

11:15 am IPO subscription: The Rs 8,695-crore IPO of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company has been subscribed 4 percent so far on first day Tuesday.

As per data available on NSE, the issue has received bids for 79.74 lakh equity shares against IPO size of 21.97 crore shares, excluding anchor investors' portion.

The insurance major on Monday raised Rs 2,322 crore from anchor investors through allocation of 8.0686 crore equity shares at Rs 290 per equity share (upper end of the price band).

Anchors investors include Blackrock Global Funds, ICICI Prudential, TVF Fund, Kuwait Investment, Eastspring, First State Asia, Dragon Peacock, Umbrella Fund, Carnegie, Pfa Kapitalforening Afdeling, Investeringsforeningen Danske Invest, Prince Street (India) Fund Pte Ltd, The Master Trust Bank Of Japan - Alliancebernstein Emerging Markets Growth Stock Mother Fund, and Ab Fcp I - Emerging Markets Growth.

11:00 am Rupee Trade: The rupee fell by 14 paise to trade at 64.81 against the dollar in late morning deals, following correction in equity market.

The Sensex was down 87.81 points at 33,643.38 and the Nifty declined 30.60 points to 10,421.20.

Yesterday, the rupee had slipped from the six-week high level to close at 64.68 a dollar, down 13 paise on fresh demand for the American currency from banks and importers.

10:52 am Tower biz sale: Debt-laden Reliance Communications today said it is renegotiating the tower business deal with all interested parties, including Brookfield Infrastructure Group.

In December last year, Reliance Communications had inked binding agreements to sell 51 percent stake in its tower business to Canada-based Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners for Rs 11,000 crore but the deal fell through after the company called off its merger with Aircel.

"The deal with Brookfield Infrastructure Group for tower transaction was condition precedent based on the demerger of wireless division of the company with Aircel, which was called off by the company and Aircel on mutual consent on October 1, 2017," Reliance Communications said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "In view of above, the company is renegotiating the tower transactions with all the interested parties including Brookfield Infrastructure Group".

10:45 am Earnings Estimates: State-run power equipment maker BHEL's second quarter profit is seen rising 64 percent year-on-year to Rs 268 crore, led by operational performance.

Revenue during the quarter is expected to increase 2.6 percent to Rs 6,841 crore, compared with Rs 6,664 crore in same quarter last fiscal.

The movement of orders from non-execution to execution category; continued constraint on execution due to operational issues; and trends in provisions, particularly for liquidated damages on project completion would be key to watch out for.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) may grow 81 percent to Rs 281 crore and margin may double to 4 percent from 2 percent YoY.

10:38 am Market Check: Benchmark indices turned lower on profit booking, with the Sensex falling 65.96 points to 33,665.23 after hitting a record high in opening.

The Nifty fell 24.90 points to 10,426.90.

The market breadth also turned negative. About two shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

10:32 am Midcap underperforms: Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices extended losses in morning, falling 1.4 percent each.

Just Dial, Adani Power, Union Bank, Bank of India, Bata India, IOC, HPCL, DLF, IDBI Bank, IRB Infrastructure, Canara Bank, L&T, Finance, Wockhardt, JSW Energy, Tata Global, HDIL and Reliance Infrastructure were down 2-6 percent.

10:20 am Cement price hike: Cement makers increased cement prices in Mumbai, reports CNBC-TV18 quoting Cogencis.

In Mumbai, India Cements raised November cement prices by 7-8 percent; ACC & Ambuja Cement by 4 percent; JK Lakshmi Cement by 2 percent; and Dalmia Bharat by 7-8 percent.

10:10 am Earnings Reaction: Shares of Just Dial declined 6 percent in morning as foreign brokerage Morgan Stanley has maintained its underweight rating on the stock with a target of Rs 360 per share.

According to Morgan Stanley, the Q2 revenue didnt show signs of pick up while margin beat was cost-led. Further, it highlighted that the firm reported first half revenue growth of 7.8 percent year on year against FY18 estimate of 10.7 percent.

A stronger-than-expected traction in search plus business is a key upside risk.

10:00 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks erase some opening gains to trade near the flat line as investors focussed on corporate earnings and developments related to PSUs.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 45.87 points at 33,777.06 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 0.10 points to 10,451.70.

About 1,231 shares advanced against 789 declining shares on the BSE.

9:55 am Management Interview: LTI, formerly known as Larsen & Toubro Infotech, continued to pave its way forward through growth in its digital business revenue in the second quarter of this fiscal, even as the company expects a strong pipeline in the current quarter.

On Monday, LTI reported revenue of Rs 1,750.8 crore, a growth of 4.8 percent from the last quarter, and net income of Rs 273 crore, a growth of 2.2 percent from the previous quarter.

We delivered strong performance this quarter because of a disciplined execution of our digital strategy. Digital revenue now stands at 32 percent, Sanjay Jalona, chief executive of LTI, said in a telephonic interaction with Moneycontrol.

The company had said last quarter that digital business accounted for 29 percent of its revenue. Jalona continues to see digital driving growth at the company.

9:42 am Buzzing: Shares of Biocon added 1.5 percent in morning as its partner Mylan has resubmitted marketing authorization applications to European Medicines Agency (EMA).

"Biocons partner Mylan has resubmitted the marketing authorization applications (MAAs) for its proposed biosimilar trastuzumab and pegfilgrastim with the EMA as per the administrative protocol, as per company release.

"This follows the earlier withdrawal of both applications in response to the audit of our aseptic drug product facility by the designated European authority," it added.

Biocon has completed the corrective and preventive actions, including the facility modifications, in response to the audit observations and expects these to be verified during re-inspection.

9:32 am IPO opens: HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, the part of housing finance major HDFC, has opened its Rs 8,695-crore initial public offering for subscription today, with a price band of Rs 275-290 per share.

It would be the third life insurance company getting listed on bourses; and is the first initial public offering by a company promoted by HDFC, since the initial public offering of HDFC Bank in 1995.

The initial public offering up to 29,98,27,818 equity shares of HDFC Standard Life Insurance, which will close on November 9, comprises of an offer for sale of 19,12,46,050 shares by Housing Development Finance Corporation and up to 10,85,81,768 shares by Standard Life (Mauritius Holdings) 2006 Limited.

The offer comprises of a reservation of up to 21,44,520 shares for purchase by HDFC Life Employees, reservation of up to 8,05,000 shares for eligible HDFC Employees and reservation of up to 2,99,82,781 shares for HDFC shareholders.

Bids can be made for a minimum of 50 equity shares and in multiples of 50 shares thereafter.

9:25 am Buzzing: Tata Chemicals gained over a percent as board has approved the sale of its Haldia fertiliser unit in West Bengal to Netherlands-based Indorama Holdings BV for Rs 375 crore.

In a regulatory filing, the company said its board approved the sale of the Phosphatic fertiliser business by way of slump sale on a going concern basis to IRC Agrochemicals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indorama Holdings BV.

"The transaction would involve transfer of Haldia plant, trading business of bulk and non-bulk fertilisers along with immovable, movable properties, working capital and product brands but excluding outstanding subsidy amounts," it said.

9:20 am DTH biz sale: Billionaire Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (RCom) has signed an agreement to sell its DTH business to Veecon Media and Television, in a bid to lower its debt.

The sale is part of a debt repayment plan that RCom had announced on October 30, under which it had promised to raise up to Rs 17,000 crore by selling assets like spectrum, towers and fibre. The company is laden with about Rs 44,300 crore debt.

"RCom entered into a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Veecon Media and Television Ltd, for sale of its subsidiary Reliance BIG TV Ltd, engaged in the business of direct-to-home (DTH) services across India," the company said in a statement.

It, however, did not disclose the value of the deal.

9:15 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks opened higher on Tuesday, with the Sensex hitting fresh record high, tracking positive global cues.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 112.99 points at 33,844.18 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 31.40 points to 10,483.20.

About three shares advanced for every share falling on the BSE.

ONGC gained 2 percent on higher crude oil prices. Brent crude oil futures climbed USD 64 per barrel.

GAIL, Vedanta, Aurobindo Pharma, Bharti Airtel and Bajaj Finance were early gainers while HPCL, BPCL, Yes Bank, Coal India and Wipro were losers.

Biocon, Reliance Communications and Tata Chemicals gained 1-4 percent.

PSU companies continued to be in focus after MMTC and STC merger news. MMTC rallied 17 percent and STC gained 8 percent on hopes of merger. Hindustan Copper, FACT, RCF, Engineers India and MTNL were up 2-4 percent.

After earnings, Bharat Seats, GTPL Hathway, AstraZeneca, Thomas Cook, GIPCL and KEC International rallied 2-15 percent while Jaiprakash Power Ventures and Just Dial fell around 2 percent.
Are you planning to retire early and start your own venture but are finding it tough to locate seed capital? In such a situation, should you think of withdrawal of your retirement corpus in your public provident fund (PPF) or use the EPF accumulation on retirement to fund your startup?

If you decide to you corpus set aside for your retirement for business, speculation or any other activity with high risk, then you are playing with fire. Financial planners feel that doing so might expose you to an uncertain financial life during your later life.

The retirement corpus accumulated through PPF or EPF over the years, as the name suggests, ideally should be used only for ones retirement. Risky enterprises like startups where there is no clarity on the success of the venture or about the business growth are not avenues where retirement corpus should be used, Chitra Iyer, COO, HappynessFactory.in says.

Also Read: Why you should consider Post Office Monthly Income Scheme for retirement

EPF and PPF accounts help substitute the income from salary that stops after retirement and provides a monthly income that is needed to meet monthly family expenses.

Iyer points out that returns from startups could be sporadic and there are duration commitments before which returns can be expected. Further, there is a high risk of return of capital when such businesses do not take off at all. The cash burn in such new setups are high and is risky.

Although the law allows you to withdraw a portion of your retirement corpus for specific reasons like marriage, medical emergency, education needs etc it is advisable to refrain from doing so unless it is absolutely necessary. Besides, there are rules on time frame and limits of sums that could be withdrawn from Public Provident Funds corpus. Also, taxes are applicable on premature withdrawal from Employees Provident Fund, Iyer said.

Also Read: Are you about to retire? Here's how your retirement portfolio should look

S Sridharan, Business Head, Financial Planning, Wealth Ladder Investment Advisors, says anyone considering quitting a job and venturing off on ones own should make sure that future goals like education of children and retirement income are taken care of. Also one should create a fund for household needs for a period of time before taking the plunge.

One should identify and separate their personal needs and official needs. They should set aside 36 months of household expenses to make sure that your family does not suffer, he said.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Idea Cellular is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 100, target of Rs 88 and PNB with a stop loss of Rs 196, target of Rs 182."

"Canara Bank is also a sell with a stop loss of Rs 400, target of Rs 375 and Union Bank of India with a stop loss of Rs 171, target of Rs 158," he added.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Jet Airways is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 610 and target of Rs 575. HCL Tech is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 860 and target of Rs 895. Future Consumer is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 58 and target of Rs 70."

"Bajaj Finance is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 1,800 for target of Rs 1,750. Chennai Petro is a sell with a stop loss of Rs 460 and target of Rs 435. Kotak Mahindra Bank is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 1,000 and target of Rs 1,065."

"Nestle India is such a dominant company as long as people need food, probably Nestle will continue to perform. Good times to buy is when the Maggi crisis happened. That way you can keeping holding on."
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Shares of Himachal Futuristic Communication (HFCL) locked at 5 percent upper circuit as it has bagged an order worth Rs 1248 crore.

There were pending buy orders of 137,963 shares, with no sellers available.

The company has bagged an order for Rs 1248 crore from Bharat Sanchar Nigam for defence communication network for DWDM equipments to be installed on pan India basis for the defence forces (under network for spectrum programme).

The order value for material and services is Rs 935 crore and Rs 313 crore is for annual maintenance contract.

The contract is to be executed in 15 months.

At 12:10 hrs Himachal Futuristic Communication was quoting at Rs 31.80, up Rs 1.50, or 4.95 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Infosys

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Information technology (IT) stocks on Tuesday soared on the back of weaker rupee. The currency fell post fall in rise in crude oil prices.

Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and HCL Technologies gained around 3 percent intraday.

The rupee slipped by 6 paise to 64.74 per dollar, paring its early gains, in late morning deals on bouts of fresh demand for dollars from importers and banks amid lower domestic equities.

The currency opened higher at 64.65 per dollar as against Mondays closing level of 64.68 per dollar at the interbank forex market.

The Indian unit gained further to 64.6050 per dollar before losing its grip by dropping to 64.77 during morning deals, it was quoting at 64.74 at 1025 hrs.

At 12:40 hrs Infosys was quoting at Rs 954.40, up Rs 25.80, or 2.78 percent, on the BSE, while TCS was quoting at Rs 2,731.45, up Rs 64.45, or 2.42 percent.

Meanwhile, Wipro was quoting at Rs 302.00, up Rs 2.50, or 0.83 percent, while HCL Technologies was quoting at Rs 876.25, up Rs 27.75, or 3.27 percent. Moreover, Tech Mahindra was quoting at Rs 474.00, up Rs 13.70, or 2.98 percent.
Shares of aviation companies, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, and InterGlobe Aviation, fell 3-5 percent on the back of surge in crude oil prices on a global scale on Tuesday.

Oil prices hit their highest since July 2015 on Monday as Saudi Arabia's crown prince cemented his power over the weekend through an anti-corruption crackdown, while markets continued to tighten.

A surge in these crude prices is generally seen as increase in fuel costs for aviation companies.

Brent crude futures were trading 26 cents higher at USD 62.33 a barrel by 1012 GMT, after hitting a session peak of USD 62.90, a 28-month high.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 25 cents to USD 55.89 a barrel, breaking above USD 56 for the first time since July 2015.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightened his grip with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors including prominent billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal and the powerful head of the National Guard, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah.

"India needs to keep a cautious eye on the surge in global crude prices as every $1 per barrel rise in crude prices leads to its import bill rising by $ 1.33 billion. Also, a rising import bill can put downward pressure on rupee ...an exuberant Indian equity market needs to digest the far-reaching implications of the grave geo-political developments unfolding in the Middle-East seriously". Ajay Bodke CEO & Chief Portfolio Manager PMS at Prabhudas Lilladher said in a statement.

At 12:05 hrs Jet Airways was quoting at Rs 603.60, down Rs 19.10, or 3.07 percent, on the BSE, while InterGlobe Aviation was quoting at Rs 1,223.75, down Rs 20.40, or 1.64 percent. Meanwhile, SpiceJet was quoting at Rs 144.30, down Rs 4.05, or 2.73 percent.
Shares of Lupin touched 52-week low of Rs 890.10, slipping 15 percent intraday Tuesday as company has received warning letter from USFDA.

The company's formulation manufacturing facilities at Goa and Indore (Pithampur Unit II) has received warning letter from USFDA.

The company earlier had received 3 Form 483 observations in Goa on April 7, 2017 and 6 Form 483 observations in Pithampur (Unit II) on May 19, 2017.

The company had responded to all the observations.

"We are deeply disappointed to have received these outcome. While there will be no disruption of existing product supplies from either of these locations, there will be likely to be delay on new product approvals from these two facilities, company said in release.

We plan to address the concerns raised by the USFDA expeditiously and will work with USFDA to resolve these issues at the earliest, it added.

At 13:24 hrs Lupin was quoting at Rs 893, down Rs 141.70, or 13.69 percent on the BSE.

The stock has touched 4-year low of Rs 845.45 during intraday trade.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
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Tata Chemicals share price gained as much as 2 percent in morning Tuesday after getting board approval for selling Haldia fertiliser unit to Netherlands-based Indorama Holdings BV for Rs 375 crore.

"The board of directors on Monday has approved the sale of phosphatic fertilisers business by way of a slump sale on a going concern basis to IRC Agrochemicals Private Limited (IRC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Indorama Holdings BV," the company said in its filing.

The transaction would involve transfer of Haldia plant, trading business of bulk and non-bulk fertilisers along with immovable, movable properties, working capital and product brands but excluding outstanding subsidy amounts, it added.

The board also approved the execution of definitive agreements between parties in this regard, subject to regulatory approvals.

Commenting on the development, Tata Chemicals Managing Director R Mukundan said, "The company continues to move forward on its strategy to focus on speciality chemicals and consumer food business while maintaining leadership in inorganic chemicals business."

Tata Chemicals said that the divestment by the company is in line with its strategic direction to focus on speciality chemical and food businesses while maintaining leadership in inorganic chemicals and exiting the fertiliser business.

Its speciality chemical portfolio includes sodium bicarbonate business, agrochemicals through its subsidiary, Rallis India in addition to the planned investments in the greenfield sites in Nellore for nutraceuticals and in Dahej for the HD Silica business.

Food business includes pulses, spices under Tata Sampann brand in addition to edible salt brand Tata Salt.

Tata Chemicals is amongst leading soda ash manufacturers in the world, with operations in India, Kenya, South Africa, the UK and the US.

At 09:32 hours IST, the stock price was quoting at Rs 741.60, up Rs 5.80, or 0.79 percent on the BSE.
Maharashtra had declared Dhasai village its first "cashless village" within a month of the Centre announcing demonetisation, which effectively turned old Rs 500 and all Rs 1,000 currency notes into illegal tender overnight.

The village, around 140 kilometres from Mumbai, was declared 'cashless' by Maharashtra's finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in December 2016.

However, a year after demonetisation, the village has more or less switched back to using cash. All has not gone according to plan and bank kiosks in the village are also unable to function, a media report suggests.

According to a report by Mint, bank officials said that the problem was bad internet connectivity in and around the village. The report further states that the situation has prevailed for the last four months.

The villagers have now demanded that WiFi must be provided as the cellular networks do not work well in the interior areas.

The project

Starting December 1, 2016, Dhasai village started making all payments in the village through plastic money. Traders, vegetable and fruit vendors and others providing goods and services in Dhasai started using swipe machines for cashless transactions.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a revolutionary step to check corruption and terror funding by banning old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. He has shown us a dream and has taken steps in that direction," Mungantiwar had said.

Dhasai, in Murbad taluka, has a population of around 10,000. Around 60 smaller villages nearby also depend on Dhasai for trade and their daily needs.

The project to turn the village 'cashless' was undertaken by Bank of Baroda who had sought help of an NGO to train the villagers in using digital methods of transactions.

The bank had distributed Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines to traders for free.

Following demonetisation, the government had encouraged citizens to switch to cashless transaction, to help digitalise the economy.
Pakistani cleric Maulana Masood Azhar (L) who was freed in exchange for hostages on a hijacked Indian plane adjusts his watch during a news conference February 4. Azhar announced the establishment of a new party by the name of Jaishe Muhammad ( the army of the prophet Muhammad) to fight Indian rule in disputed Kashmir region. At right is prominent Pakistani moslem scholar Mufti Shamzai. - PBEAHULNVDI

Terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar has claimed the responsibility for last months attack on BSF camp in Srinagar.

In an audio clip accessed by a news channel, Azhar can be heard boasting about the attack and admitting that JeM trains terrorists in Pakistan for suicide missions.

The 105-minute long audio clip is said to be a speech delivered by him at a mosque. The clip has come into the light days after China blocked a resolution to designate Masoor Azhar a global terrorist last week for the fourth time. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been on the UN's list of banned terror outfits.

"When the world says we will end this jihad, our men attack the BSF camp in Srinagar," Azhar who is alleged by NIA to be Pathankot attack's mastermind can be heard saying in the clip.

He also takes a jab at Pakistani officials who have known to be against JeM, including former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf who vowed to finish the terrorist organisation. Today, Musharraf is nowhere in Pakistan. But Jaish-e-Mohammad continues to exist. Allah has saved us all," says Azhar.

Meanwhile, three members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the Bahawalpur region in Pakistan said that they dont consider Azhar as a terrorist. Bahawalpur is the region where headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammad is located. National Assembly is the lower house of the Pakistani parliament similar to Lok Sabha.

According to a report by Hindustan Times , Tariq Bashir Cheema, an MNA refused to acknowledge that the headquarter was in Bahawalpur. Come to Bahawalpur and help me find the headquarters. I have heard of Azhar from the newspapers but have never seen him, said Cheema.
Kamal Haasan

Tamil actor Kamal Haasan, who celebrated his 63rd birthday on Tuesday, launched a mobile application called 'Mayyam Whistle' in what is being seen as a teaser ahead of the launch of his political party.

Haasan said that the mobile application will be a platform for the public to air their grievances and will help him reach out to people.

The application will be a whistleblower platform and will be used "wherever wrong happens", Haasan said, adding that he "will strive to achieve justice".

He added, however, that the application is still being beta tested and will be released by January 2018.

Talking about the possibility of launching his own political party, Haasan said that he has "to do a lot of groundwork" and that he has been "sitting and analysing".

"The reason why they (people of Tamil Nadu) want a change, is probably the reason why they will follow me," he added.

Referring to the recent controversy over his comments on 'Hindu terror', Haasan said, "I definitely don't want to hurt Hindu sentiments, as I myself belong to a Hindu family."

The 63-year-old actor also said that he plans to tour across Tamil Nadu.

"Volunteers are doing good work in all districts (of the states). All parties are appreciating our social welfare work," he said.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will address small businessmen on GST and other issues and also address the media on Tuesday to boost the Congress's prospects in the Gujarat elections.

Singh will take part in an interactive session on the current state of economy with businessmen and traders during his visit, the Gujarat Congress said in a release.

His visit comes a day before Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's likely tour of Surat as the Congress marks the first demonetisation anniversary on November 8 as 'black day'.

The session has been organised at the Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug area in the morning, the party said.

After the event, the Congress leader will address a press conference at the state party headquarters, it added.

The former prime minister is visiting Gujarat at a time the state is witnessing a heated campaigning for the assembly polls.

Rahul Gandhi has already toured the state multiple times in the last few months and addressed a number of rallies.

The note ban has been a recurring theme of Gandhi's speeches.

It is expected that the economist-politician would touch upon various aspects related to note-ban as well as the implementation of GST and its impact on the economy during his interaction with the business community.

Gjarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, goes to polls on December 9 and 14.
Vedanta Group's Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) on Tuesday said that the mining sector, which is aiming to contribute 7-8 percent to the GDP, has the potential to create 25 million jobs in the country.

"The mining sector aspires to contribute 7-8 per cent to India's GDP and if this happens, India would realise a GDP of 9 per cent in the coming years. This is expected to create at least 25 million jobs, directly and indirectly," HZL CEO Sunil Duggal told PTI.

The country, he said, has seen continuous decline in the share of the mining sector in GDP and that is holding the GDP growth.

Over the last 10 years, the contribution of the mining sector to GDP has been stagnant to nearly 1.2 per cent, which is highly alarming, Duggal noted.

Mining sector grew at a CAGR of 7.3 per cent in the last decade compared to 22 percent in China in the same period.

The sector in India, Duggal said, employs a smaller percentage of the population, just about 0.3 percent. While in South Africa it is 3.8 per cent, 1.4 per cent in Chile and 0.7 percent in China. Employment in the Indian mining sector has grown at a rate of three per cent per annum over the last 10 years, he added.

"In 2012, mining sector accounted for about 3 million direct jobs and additional 8 million indirectly. The mining sector constituted 3.4 percent of India's GDP in 1992-93, which declined to three per cent in 1999-2000 and further to 2.3 per cent in 2009-10," Duggal said.

Every one percent increase in the growth rate of mining sector results in 1.2-1.4 percent increment in the growth rate of industrial production and correspondingly increase of 0.3 per cent in the growth rate of India's GDP, he said.
File photo of the Chinese icebreaker,Xuelong.[Photo: Xinhua]

China's research icebreaker Xuelong will leave Shanghai on Wednesday to begin the country's 34th Antarctic expedition.

A 334-member team will be on board, according to Yang Huigen, head of the Polar Research Institute of China, who leads the team.

The team will complete a 36,000-nautical-mile trip and is expected to return to Shanghai in April next year.

The 34th expedition will conduct a series of surveys including preliminary work for the construction of China's fifth station in the Antarctic, which will be on west coast of the Ross Sea.

China has built four Antarctic research stations; Changcheng and Zhongshan serve as year-round stations, while Taishan and Kunlun are summer stations.

The fifth station will be a year-round research station able to independently carry out multiple scientific investigations in the Antarctic.
Outgoing Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (C) along with India's Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi (2nd R) sit after paying respects at the Rajiv Gandhi memorial on the occasion of the former Indian Prime Minister's 23rd death anniversary in New Delhi May 21, 2014. Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a female suicide bomber during election campaigning on May 21, 1991. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY OBITUARY) - RTR3Q52L

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday labelled last years demonetisation exercise as "organised loot and legalised plunder".

Speaking to small group of businessmen in Gujarat, one year after the note ban was implemented, Singh said that demonetisation and the shoddy implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had pushed millions of Indians into terrible hardship, thereby undoing the work of his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government which he said had pulled 140 million Indians out of poverty.

The bad implementation of GST only benefited China, said the former Prime Minister.



#BREAKING -- Compliance of #GST procedures has become a nightmare for small businesses: Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/IFKtzjzvxY

 News18 (@CNNnews18) November 7, 2017

He said that even a one percent drop in the GDP caused by the two major initiatives (demonetisation and GST) would be an immense loss for the economy.

Singh said, "Did the prime minister stop to consider the wisdom of the Mahatma (Gandhi) when he asked the Reserve Bank Governor to sign on the dotted line or while implementing the GST in utter haste?"

The former prime minister also questioned PM Modi if he had thought about the impact on those in the informal sector, "whose earnings have dried up because of shortage of cash".

Singh also took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by comparing with Indias first deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel.

Bravado and drama are poor substitutes for courage and conviction to execute well, Singh added.
Four years after the government's decision to "demonetise" Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, data suggest currency circulation in value and volume continuously increasing, a massive rise seen in the digital payments transaction, and seen a sharp decline in counterfeit notes detected in the banking system, according to data available on RBI. Demonetisation was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016, citizens were given 50-days to deposit old notes in banks and post-offices by December 30.

Currency notes and denominations have been a topic of key interest in the year since the government decided to do away with the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation.

Since the old notes were withdrawn on November 9 last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced four new currency notes  Rs 50, Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the currency culling exercise on November 8, 2016, the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes came into circulation. Even as the new notes arrived in banks and recalibrated ATMs, a number of rumours did the rounds.

One rumour that did the rounds was that the new notes had an electronic Nan0-GPS chip installed in them that would track the transactions and prevent counterfeiting. A news channel even devoted a segment to detailing the features of the so-called GPS chip. As it turned out, the rumours circulated faster than the currency, as the new notes were in short supply for weeks after demonetisation.

Later, the RBI issued a statement clarifying that the security features of the Rs 2,000 note included latent images, coloured strip security threads, watermarks and several other features  but no GPS tracker.



The latest inclusion of the bright yellow Rs 200 notes completed the Renard series, a series of preferred numbers first proposed by French army engineer Charles Renard which make it easier to get change for a higher value transaction.



ALSO READ: Behind the new Rs 200 note lies a story of how currency denominations are determined

In August, the central bank introduced new Rs 50 and Rs 200 notes. While the Rs 50 denomination already existed, Rs 200 was a new addition.

The four new notes contain designs that aim to showcase the nations rich and diverse culture, her struggle for freedom and proud achievements over the years. All the notes are themed around Indias heritage sites paired with myriad, geometric figures, intricate forms, and shapes along the corners.

Apart from the bright and colourful  fluorescent blue, stone grey, base-yellow and magenta  currencies, the new notes differ from the existing old notes in design, security features, dimensions, fonts in Devanagari script and the Swachh Bharat symbol.

All the currencies have security features such as a watermark, security thread, a latent image of the denomination numeral in colour shifting ink, number panels, see-through register, electrotype, bleed lines, and features designed for visually impaired citizens.

The never-seen-before notes of Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 have motifs of Sanchi Stupa and the Mangalyaan moon mission, respectively. The new Rs 50 note has a Hampi chariot motif while the Rs 500 note contains an image of the Red Fort in Delhi.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday accused the government of denting economic growth.

Addressing the media in Ahmedabad during a visit to election-bound Gujarat, the former prime minister said that India had achieved an average GDP growth rate of 7.8 percent during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

India grew at a modest 5.7 percent in the most recent quarter, triggering fears of a slowdown.

Singh said that the government needs to make a "frank admission of problems", adding that "while denigrating the past, the Prime Minister is also exaggerating what he will do in future".

A year on since demonetisation was implemented, the former prime minister said the exercise was an example of an ill-thought out plan and said that it had been forced upon the economy.

Singh said that 99 percent of cash with the public was deposited, which according to him, makes it "obvious that people with unaccounted cash have managed to deposit them".

"It took several months to get the system remonetised," he said, adding that "farmers received lower prices and as a result, labour had to migrate from Surat to home states".

Despite his criticism of government's handling of the economy, the former prime minister said he was in favour of the recently announced plan to recapitalise banks. "The recent announcement about bank recapitalisation is much needed and welcome," he said.

While addressing traders earlier in the day , Singh had labelled the demonetisation exercise as "organised loot and legalised plunder" and said that the poor implementation of GST and helped China.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari today announced setting up of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at JNPT in Mumbai and Kandla in Gujarat, which will help in generating employment opportunities.

Gadkari, a minister for Road Transport, Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, made this announcement after chairing the two-day long review meeting of various projects in ports and rivers.

He said the SEZs are planned at JNPT and Kandla ports which will bring in investment and generate employment opportunities.

"We are creating special economic zone in JNPT which would be spread across 650 acres. That will have investment to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore creating 40,000 jobs," he said.

Gadkari said there are offers from around 40 companies to set up their facilities at JNPT.

The minister said that of Rs 16 lakh crore which would be spent on Sagarmala project, almost Rs 6 lakh crore, would be spent on modernisation, mechanisation and computerisation of the ports.

The union government will also appoint a consultant to raise the standards of Indian ports to international mark, he said.

Gadkari projected that the ports will net a profit of Rs 6,000 crore for the current fiscal.

"The ministry has also suggested that the ports should have their subsidiary which will work towards turning the rivers into inland waterways," he added.

The minister also announced introduction of cruise service between Goa to Mumbai before December this year and ferry service from Goa airport to hotels.

"We are introducing ferry service from airport to hotels in Goa. The hotel can have their own jetty. This will promote tourism," he said.
Women who are sexually harassed at their workplaces in the private sector can now lodge their complaints on a government portal, Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi said today.

Launching the portal, the minister said the online complaint management system  'SHe-box' (sexual harassment electronic box)  would be hosted on the WCD's website.

Harassment could include the use of foul language or cracking of lewd jokes, she said.

The complaint mechanism, which the ministry had initiated for government employees in July, is now open for women working in the private sector, too.

"We received 346 complaints from women employed in the government sector. Seeing such a huge response we are opening SHe-box to all women who have faced any kind of sexual harassment at the workplace in India," Gandhi told reporters.

Referring to the #MeToo campaign on Twitter sparked by allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, Gandhi said, "India is the first country in the world that is responding as a government."

A cell under the ministry will look into every complaint filed online and share it with the concerned organisation's internal complaints committee (ICC), which is a mandatory requirement under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013.

Complainants will also be able to monitor the status of the inquiry initiated by the ICC.

Elaborating on the kind of offences women can complain about online, Gandhi said, "Not just physical harassment but also complaints of being transferred or terminated by an employer, discrimination due to maternity (can be filed). It is not necessary that there is physical touch but (harassment can include) men using foul language or cracking lewd jokes."

While the law requires all organisations to submit an annual report on the number of complaints of sexual harassment received, there is no mechanism to ensure compliance.

Maneka Gandhi said she would appeal to the finance ministry once again to make the disclosure of the constitution of an ICC mandatory under Section 134 of the Companies Act, 2013 -- a proposal earlier shot down.

Under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, it is compulsory for any organisation with 10 or more employees to set up an ICC for addressing complaints of sexual misconduct.

A committee should consist of a presiding officer who is a woman employee at a senior level in the same organisation, at least two employees "preferably committed to the cause of women", and a member from an NGO or a person "familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment".

The committee would have powers similar to that of a civil court and have to complete its inquiry within 90 days. An employer who doesn't constitute an ICC could face a fine of up to Rs 50,000.
The ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today slammed the NDA government at the Centre for demonetisation and said the move broke the backbone of the country's economy.

A statement issued by the MPCC said November 8, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations, would be observed as 'Black Day' by the Indian National Congress (INC).

The PM had claimed that note ban would stop black money and clandestine funding of extremists, but none of that happened, it said.

"Rather, the move led to the deaths of over a hundred people, closure of thousands of small industrial units and resulted in the economic slowdown," the statement alleged.

The state unit of the Congress also alleged that the BJP leaders had prior knowledge about the government's intention and deposited huge amount of money in banks before November 8.
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Telecom operator Aircel may have to wind up its operations due to the ongoing loses, high debt and scrapping of merger talks with Reliance Communications (RCom), a report by The Economic Times has suggested.

The merger talks with RCom had fallen apart after the Supreme Court barred Aircel from selling its 2G and 3G spectrum.

The newspaper cited multiple analysts who said the operator may try to structure a deal that could exclude the spectrum it owns. Aircel could sell other wireless assets and transfer around 89 million subscribers to a larger telecom player and sell 40,000 of its towers to a separate entity.

Aircel currently has a gross debt of Rs 20,000 crore and holds no 4G spectrum.

Analysts say shutting down the business using the bankruptcy route would invoke the bank guarantees of Maxis, its Malaysian parent company and could result into a legal battle.

The top court had earlier barred Aircel from selling its 2G and 3G spectrum and threatened to revoke Aircel's licences until representatives of Maxis appear before it.

Gurgaon-based telecom operator is currently trying to restructure its debt by shrinking its operations to focus on its stronger circles such as Tamil Nadu, the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.

Watch: Top 10 headlines of the day
Reliance Communications | In the last four months, the stock price has risen 487 percent to Rs 3.93 per share from Rs 0.67 per share on March 27, 2020.

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (RCom) on Monday said that the company is not paying interest or principal amount for the time being to any lenders or its bondholders in view of the strategic debt restructuring (SDR) scheme and consequent standstill period till December 2018.

On October 30, the company had announced that its lenders would convert part of its debt into equity to the tune of 51 percent stake in RCom. It had also outlined the plan to sell telecom towers and real estate assets to pay off Rs 25,000 crore out of the Rs 45,000 crore debt on its book.

Under the plan, lenders would not have to write off any of their loans, RCom had then stated while outlining a comprehensive debt resolution plan for its domestic and foreign lenders.

In a regulatory filing, RCom said the company is under "standstill period till December 2018" pursuant to the strategic debt restructuring (SDR) guidelines.

The company has also announced various asset sales and a comprehensive debt resolution plan. "Accordingly, for the time being, no payment of interest and/or principal is being made to any lenders and/or bondholders of RCom," it said. Earlier during the day, RCom announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its DTH business to Veecon Media and Television in a bid to cut debt.
Ramit Chitkara

Its been more than a year since the all-new corporate insolvency framework of the country (hereinafter referred to as the IBC) got notified followed by regulations over tranches. IBC is one of the biggest reforms by the government just after the GST, wherein it offers early identification of corporate distress with time-bound resolution being the essence of the Code.

Undoubtedly, it is a well-woven law striving for international standards but IBC is still in its infancy. It is evolving as various bare provisions are being integrated with technicalities and practicalities taken from the perspectives of different stakeholders.

Where does the dispute arise?

As per the provisions under IBC, on occurrence of default on part of the corporate debtor, an operational creditor is required to serve a 10-days demand notice under Section 8 of IBC, to the corporate debtor, before initiating application for insolvency resolution against the corporate debtor. Now, the corporate debtor must, either pay the dues or communicate the existence of dispute over the debt within 10 days.

The application for initiating corporate insolvency resolution could sustain in case the dues under consideration are free from any sort of dispute(s). Here, existence of dispute acts as one of the remedies to the corporate debtor; therefore, it is pertinent to analyse the meaning of the term dispute under the IBC.

Section 5 (6) of the IBC defines the term

A "dispute" includes a suit or arbitration proceedings relating to:

(a) the existence of the amount of debt;

(b) the quality of goods or service; or

(c) the breach of a representation or warranty;

Contrarily, Section 8 (2) of the IBC provides that the debtor should bring to the notice of the operational creditor existence of a dispute, if any, and record of suit or arbitration proceeding pending before receipt of the demand notice.

Questions under the scanner

The term dispute has been subject to different interpretations by various benches and its been the point of focus for various stakeholders. The questions under the scanner of interpretation are as follows:

What will constitute a dispute under IBC?

What is the relevancy of timings relating to dispute under IBC?

Whether immersion of suit or arbitral proceedings is compulsory in order to qualify as a dispute under IBC?

Whether the definition of dispute under IBC is inclusive or exhaustive?

Interpretation of relevant orders on the subject

Lets discuss the interpretation of the term dispute under IBC in light of various judgements made by different benches of NCLT.

DF Deutsche Forfait AG and Ors. (Operational Creditor) Vs. Uttam Galva Steel Ltd. (Corporate debtor)

The NCLT Mumbai bench in the matter of Uttam Galva Steel, despite acknowledging the inclusivity of the term dispute under the Code, stated that the definition has always to be harmonised with the context in which it is said in the substantive section i.e. Section 8(2).

In this case, the counsel of the corporate debtor stated that the dispute has to be understood as mere denial to the claim as dispute highlighting that the definition of dispute is inclusive definition, which was respectfully disagreed by the Mumbai bench saying that:

If reply (to the demand notice u/s 8) is given denying the claim despite default occurrence is clear, does it mean that no application can be filed by any operational creditor even though the operational creditor makes the case of default occurrence? If that is so, it will be virtually ousting operational creditor filing any case under section 9.

If this scenario emerges, then it will be nothing but throwing this law into the dust bin. We all know how much time is taken to wind up proceedings, by the time company liquidation happens, not even bones remain to creditors.

In this case, the honble bench gives teeth to provision under Section 8 (2) of the IBC which provides that the debtor should bring to the notice of the operational creditor existence of a dispute, if any, and record of suit or arbitration proceeding pending before receipt of the demand notice. The order also stressed upon the definition of the dispute which has to be construed in context of the substantive section, not otherwise.

One Coat Plaster Ors., Shivam Construction Company (Op. Creditors) Vs. Ambience Private Limited (Corporate debtor)

The Delhi bench hearing the petition almost on the same grounds analyzed the questions on existence of dispute, took a view contrary to the one ordered in the above case. The adjudicating authority promulgated that even though the bare perusal of the section shows that the dispute could be proved by showing that a suit has been filed or arbitration are pending, the definition of the term dispute is not exhaustive rather an inclusive one.

Kirusa Software Private Ltd. vs. Mobilox Innovations Private Ltd

Different benches having different views on this kept the stakeholders clueless till the NCLAT in the case of Kirusa Software Private vs. Mobilox Innovations Private on May 24, 2017 sorted the dispute on the term dispute under the Code.

The Appellate Tribunal held that the definition of "dispute" is "inclusive" and not "exhaustive". The same has to be given wide meaning provided it is relatable to the existence of the amount of the debt, quality of good or service or breach of a representation or warranty. The dispute as defined in subsection (6) of Section 5 cannot be limited to a pending proceedings or "lis, within the limited ambit of suit or arbitration proceedings, the word 'includes' ought to be read as "means and includes".

Concluding remarks



Is it mandatory that the suit or arbitration proceedings must be legally on record in order to constitute the existence of dispute?





Is it mandatory that the dispute must be formally existing before serving of Section 8 demand notice?



Basis the above case, the interpretation on existence of dispute could be clearly understood as follows:No, a mere reply by the corporate debtor to the notice issued by corporate debtor may sufficiently demonstrate the existence of dispute under IBC, irrespective of the fact whether the dispute is culminated with formal suit or arbitral proceedings or not.

No, it is not mandatory that the dispute be formally existing prior to serving of the demand notice, provided the dispute is a bonafide dispute, not the one entangled with a view to stall the insolvency proceedings under the Code.

(The writer is Deputy Manager, International Business Advisors, a financial and legal advisory firm)
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set an ambitious target of doubling farmers income by 2022 with the spotlight on the food sector.

The food processing sector is more than just output as it adds value, creates jobs, and sustains prosperity. In order to realise the potential of the food processing industry, The Free Press Journal organised a panel discussion on-Food Processing: The new goldmine in India- along with the Indian Merchants Chamber and Moneycontrol.com. The panellists including Dilip Rath, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board; Anantha Padmanabhan, MD, Alfa Laval and Cluster President, India, Middle East & Africa; and Neelkanth Mishra, MD, India Equity Strategist at Credit Suisse, discussed how food processing sector has the potential to create jobs and double income.

Lalit Kanodia, IMC President, in his welcome address said, agriculture constitutes around 15 per cent of the GDP but provides employment to about 60 per cent of the working population, which means the per capita income is very low.

In this view, food processing is extremely crucial to India. Food processing is a bridge that links agriculture and industry. An estimate says it can create nine million jobs, which is massive if you compare it with IT sector which is about 3.5 million jobs, said Kanodia.

His thoughts were resonated by Dilip Rath, who said dairy is a vital tool for doubling farmers income as it contributes about 25 per cent of the total income of the rural households. Today, we all know that a significant part of the milk produced is retained in the villages. We also know that a significant part of production is handled by the unorganised milk vendors. Between these two, the situation is that only 17 per cent comes to the organised processing sector and the untapped potential today is still huge. Even today we are present only in 50 per cent of Indias six lakh villages, he said.

When discussed about food processing, technology and innovation plays an important role. With right technology and infrastructure, the food processing in India can grow from strength to strength with more chilling units, etc.

Anantha Padmanabhan said, Alfa Laval has developed technologies worldwide and brought them to India. India, today, is a competence hub for Alfa Laval worldwide. It is a disappointment that India has not yet fully absorbed the technology to develop the quality of production and product variety, compared to our neighbours like Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries. The food processing sectors there produce very high quality of food and are quite export-oriented, which means that the domestic markets there also access high-quality products.

For India to create an efficient system and strengthen the food processing sector, private investments will have to be roped in so that a world-class infrastructure can be created.

I was told by the Canadian consulate that McCain has a very large potato processing plant in Gujarat, a single location which supplies potatoes for all of McDonald's and Burger King, very high-end quality material. So there is investment now starting to happen given that evaluation is available, electricity is available, farmers are more informed and APMC has been repealed. It is very hard to quantify whether it will be Rs 10,000 crore or 20,000 crore, but the ecosystem is now ready and it is a matter of time, said Mishra.

Rath said, We think that this represents an investment requirement of Rs 16,000 crore including creation of drying and value added product capacities. Our estimates are that the dairy industry needs to create additional capacities of about 500 lakh litres of milk per day, which will definitely need that kind of money, he said.

For co-operatives, the government has announced a new scheme, Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund, with a total outlay of Rs 10,800 crore to invest in expansion and refurbishment of processing capacities over the next three years. It will be channelised through NABARD and NDDB. The rate of interest would be 6.5 per cent, with a subsidy component too. Since cooperatives pass on about 75 per cent to 80 per cent of the consumer rupee to the milk producer, this investment is likely to see tremendous benefits flow to producers. It will help create huge employment and income opportunities in rural areas.

So, how does one take an initiative?

The key is not setting up one large unit, but tens of thousands of small units. The forces beyond public markets are needed, specifically for procurement, at least in fruits and vegetables, repealing of APMC powers has eased the process, however you still have to create a parallel system or market, said Mishra.
China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network at 7:45 p.m. Sunday. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites into space via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

The satellites were aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket which took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

This is the first two BeiDou-3 satellites launched by China, as its self-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System officially began to expand into a global network.

Named after the Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation, the BeiDou project was formally initiated in 1994. It began to serve China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region at the end of 2012.

China plans to building BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020, making it the third country in the world after the United States and Russia to operate its own navigation system.

China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network at 7:45 p.m. Sunday. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

Compared to earlier generation satellites, the BeiDou-3 is able to send signals that are better compatible with other satellite navigation systems and provide satellite-based augmentation, as well as search and rescue services in accordance with international standards.

"New technology has significantly improved the performance of the BeiDou-3, with the signal accuracy in space higher than half a meter while its positioning accuracy has reached 2.5 to five meters, said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system.

China plans to launch 18 BeiDou-3 satellites around the end of 2018 to expand the BeiDou services to the countries along the Belt and Road routes.

By around 2020, when the system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites.

"Launches featuring two or more satellites on a single carrier rocket will be conducted regularly," said Ye Chengmin, deputy chief designer of the Long March-3A carrier rocket.

All the BeiDou satellites currently in space were sent up from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, said Lin Yunan, head of the human resources department of the center.

The BeiDou-3 satellites and the carrier rocket were developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively.
One of Apples patent disputes with Samsung has finally come to a close, with the US Supreme Court turning down Samsungs appeal in the USD 120 million slide-to-unlock patent infringement case.

Back in 2014, Apple was awarded USD 119.6 million in damages by a jury, a decision against which Samsung had appealed. Three years since then, the US Supreme Court has now finally now shut down the appeal made by Samsung challenging the patent infringement.

The initial ruling was delivered in 2014, and while Samsung was able to overturn the verdict back in 216, a federal appeals court reinstated the original ruling a few months on.

Samsung had paid for damages to Apple for infringing on two patents: the slide-to-unlock gesture and quick links patent.

Also Read: Samsung mocks iPhones from the past 10 years in its latest commercial

Apple claimed that Samsung had infringed on its patent by copying the feature in their Galaxy S lineup of phones.

But heres the funny part: all the original phones involved in the battle have already been phased out of protection. Apple does not even use the Slide to Unlock feature anymore.

Although 120 million USD sounds pretty impressive, it is just a fraction of the total USD 2 billion demanded by Apples lawyers from Samsung for the infringement.

The long-continuing design patent dispute is set to continue next year as well. Apple has claimed that Samsung copied the design of the iPhone which will be taken up in court in May next year. So far, in that case, Samsung has been able to bring down the damages to by USD 57 million from an original demand of USD 930 million to Apple.

Also Read: This is how Apple makes money apart from iPhone sales

Notably, Samsung has manufactured the screens of Apple's iPhone X for its AMOLED display.

In April this year, Huawei had defeated Samsung in a patent battle in Chian where the Galaxy 8 maker was ordered to pay 80 million Yuan (USD 12 million) to Huawei for infringing its cellular smartphone technologies.

The Apple-Samsung battle had taken a centre stage in one-of-a-kind nasty rival patent wars. Other such examples in Silicon Valley include Steve Jobs versus Microsoft over who invented the Graphic User Interface (Graphical User Interface) operating system.

Back in 2007, a small Canadian tech company called i4i had sued Microsofts Office on grounds of copying an XML feature in its popular software Microsoft Word: and the feature was not included in the 2007 Microsoft Word, only to be included in 2010 by Microsoft after paying USD 290 million in damages.
Vijay Mallya

When officials of Indias home ministry met with their counterparts from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, it was in the wake of a recent London court order that could pose a barrier to Indias efforts to extradite erstwhile liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

The Westminster Magistrates court in London, which is currently handling Mallyas case, recently turned down a request from Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to extradite bookie Sanjeev Chawla. The reason cited for the refusal was "unsafe, inhuman and degrading" conditions in Delhi's Tihar jail, NDTV reported.

"I am not satisfied that there is an effective system of protection against torture in the receiving state. While the Supreme Court in India has raised concerns about prison conditions, the court has found little has changed in practice and overcrowding remains a problem. Evidence suggests... monitoring systems are not effective in practice," said District Judge Rebecca Crane, according to the report.

Crane also noted that there were "strong grounds for believing that Chawla would be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Tihar prison complex, due to the overcrowding, lack of medical provision, risk of being subjected to torture and violence either from other inmates or prison staff which is endemic in Tihar."

Chawlas lawyer presented a human rights experts evidence on the conditions at Indian jails. In his submission to the court, Dr Alan Mitchell, who is a member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, pointed out that India had not ratified the United Nations convention against improper treatment of inmates.

Two of Mitchells reports were submitted to the court, one prepared in November last year and the other in February this year. The reports were based on his visits to Indian jails but he could only visit a jail in Alipore (Kolkata) and not Tihar, since he wasnt given permission.

Mitchell noted that the Tihar jail was 227 percent overcrowded, which in itself could be considered a risk to human rights being upheld. He also referenced a report which suggested that torture remained "endemic and institutionalised" in Indian prisons and there were an "alarming number of deaths in custody, particularly unnatural deaths."

Incidentally, Mallya has also been reported as having engaged Mitchell for his case. The disgraced businessman had earlier raised the issue of conditions at Indian jails as one of the key points against his extradition.

According to a report by Times of India on August 14, the Centre had sent a report to the London court explaining the living and security conditions at Arthur Road jail, where it intends to house Mallya if and when he is brought back. The report also contained pictures of Barrack 12 at Arthur Road jail, which was earlier used to house 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab.

The TOI report also said that the Arthur Road jail, which was built in 1925, has an official capacity of 804 inmates but it currently houses more than 2,500.

Kiren Rijiju, Indias Minister of State for Home Affairs, met with his British counterpart Brandon Lewis on Tuesday and pushed for 13 extraditions in all, including those of IPL founder Lalit Modi, the above-mentioned bookie Sanjeev Chawla, and the 'King of Good Times'.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth attends The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery 70th parade in Hyde Park in London, Britain, October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay - RC1B93015C50

The leaked documents from the Paradise Papers have revealed that Queen Elizabeth II's private estate had invested over Rs 85 crore in offshore accounts.

The document was leaked on Sunday and has brought out names of several prominent firms and individuals including Queen Elizabeth II who has offshore accounts in countries that are tax havens.

As per the Paradise Papers leak, The Duchy of Lancaster, which is the Queens private estate and a chief source of income, held funds in the Cayman Islands and previously held another investment till 2010 in Bermuda - the two known tax havens.

As per reports in the BBC, during 2004-05 the Duchy invested over Rs 42 crore in Bermuda-based Jubilee Absolute Return Fund Ltd and around the same amount in Dover Street VI Cayman Fund LP.

Also Read: Paradise Papers leaked; investigation reveals trail of money in global tax havens

The amount invested in the Cayman Islands was later indirectly diverted to fund firms in the UK. The company which runs the Cayman Islands fund was later involved in buying interests as part of Project Bertie, leading to its involvement in the takeover of two UK-based retail firms. The company bought 100 percent shares in rent-to-buy retailer BrightHouse and 75 percent stakes in First Quench Retailing Ltd.

BrightHouse had shifted its headquarters to Luxembourg after takeover and structures were created to reduce its UK tax bill. However, the retail firm in which the Duchy now controls a small holding has been accused of exploiting low-income families and was ordered by financial regulators to pay over Rs 126 crore as compensation to about 2.5 lakh customers.

On the other hand Threshers, the other firm with which the Queen is indirectly linked went bust and owes around Rs 150 crore to the UK government as tax.

The spokesperson of the Duchy was quoted saying in the report, The Duchy has only invested in highly regarded private equity funds following a strong recommendation from our investment consultants. All of our investments are fully audited and legitimate. The Queen voluntarily pays tax on any income she receives from the Duchy.

Though the Queen in 1992 had declared that she would voluntarily start paying the taxes, the actual details of her payments are still a closely guarded secret.
A private television station in the Afghan capital came under attack on Tuesday by a number of gunmen who broke into the building after an explosion, officials said.

A tweet from the station's Twitter account said staffers reported several casualties inside the building and staff members reached by telephone said between two and five people appeared to have been killed.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said casualties were feared but he said the number was still unclear.

He said the attack began with an explosion at the gate of the station followed by gunmen who stormed in. One of the attackers was killed immediately but others fought off security forces with hand grenades.

As the attack unfolded, Shamshad TV, a Pashto language broadcaster, stopped normal programming, transmitting only a still image.

There was no immediate indication of the identity of the attackers but Taliban insurgents issued an immediate denial that they were involved.

The attack is the latest in a series of assaults on Afghan journalists and media workers. Last year seven members of Afghanistan's largest private television station, Tolo, were killed by a Taliban suicide bomber.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the Union government will consider each case brought out by 'Paradise Papers' on its "individual merit".

He told reporters that the government probe into the leaked documents from a Bermuda-based global offshore law firm, detailing financial holdings abroad of over 714 Indian entities and individuals, will follow the process similar to the one undertaken in 'Panama Papers' investigation

"It will be found out that who are those people with totally illegal accounts and who have plausible defence.... Every case will be considered on its individual merit," he said.

To a question, the finance minister said he would not comment on individual cases as there was a legal process in place to find out if accounts were legal or not.

A similar probe was undertaken by investigators into the Panama Papers, he said.

While some have illegal accounts, some others have said that they have followed due procedure, he said.

Official sources had said yesterday that a multi-agency group (MAG) probing the Panama Papers leak will also look into the 'Paradise Papers'.

Dubbed as Panama Papers, an investigation of a stockpile of records from Panamanian legal firm Mossack Fonseca by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalist had last year named several world leaders and celebrities who had allegedly stashed away money abroad in offshore companies.

To a question about alleged interference in a probe by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi when the UPA was in power, Jaitley said interference with investigative agencies was a regular feature then and he as the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha had written to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh about several cases.
15:49 South Korea President Moon Jae-in said he hoped a visit by US President Donald Trump would be a turning point in efforts to defuse tensions over North Korea's nuclear program as the two leaders met in Seoul on Tuesday.

The state visit in the South Korean capital was billed as an opportunity for Trump and Moon to present a united front, despite differences over how to confront North Korea's nuclear threat, as well as Trump's complaints over the two countries' trade

agreements.

14:58 Chinese President Xi Jinping has been "very helpful" in dealing with the threat posed by nuclear- armed North Korea, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a day before he heads to Beijing.

Pyongyang was "a worldwide threat that requires a worldwide action", according to Trump, but he said that Xi "really has been very, very helpful" and added: "We hope that Russia likewise will be helpful."

14:11 China is pulling out all the stops to give a "state visit-plus" welcome to US President Donald Trump when he arrives in the country on Wednesday on his maiden trip as Beijing seeks to avert any semblance of friction with America.

Projected by officials as a defining moment in China-US ties, Trump's visit is taking place in the "new era" of Xi Jinping, who commenced his second tenure less than a fortnight ago as the most powerful leader of the country after Mao Zedong.

Trump is also putting pressure on Xi to press China's close ally North Korea to give up the nuclear and missile programme which has become a major threat to US.

13:22 Reviewing American forces along the Korean peninsula, President Donald Trump met with US and South Korean military leaders on Tuesday at the start of a two-day visit centred on pressuring the north to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump has repeatedly struck a hard line against Pyongyang and South Korea was warily watching Trump as he was poised to deliver bellicose warnings in the shadow of the North Korea.

Shortly after arriving in South Korea, Trump travelled by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, where he briefly addressed the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit.

Speaking before an operational briefing at the base, Trump said he would be meeting with generals about North Korea, declaring: "Ultimately it will all work out. Because it always works out. It has to work out."

12:24 US President Donald Trump is seeking an additional USD 4 billion in defence budget for urgent missile defence improvements citing increasing threat posed by North Korea.

In a communication to the Congress on Tuesday, Trump also sought USD 1.2 billion to support sending additional 3,500 troops to Afghanistan as part of his new South Asia strategy and a further USD 0.7 billion to repair damage to US Navy ships.

Trump is currently on a nearly two week-long trip to Indo-Pacific region with North Korea being one of the focus areas during his entire trip.

Trump said his request for an additional USD 4 billion is to support urgent missile defeat and defence enhancements to counter the threat from North Korea.

11:26 The US Navy carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, conducted three days of drills with a Japanese destroyer and two Indian warships in the Sea of Japan, Japans navy said on Tuesday.

The exercise involving five ships, which ended Monday, came amid heightened tension in the region over North Koreas ballistic missile and nuclear tests and as US President Donald Trump began a 12-day tour of Asia beginning in Japan on Sunday.

The exercise helped improve fighting skills and deepened cooperation with India, Japans Maritime Self Defence Force said in a press release.

10:45 US President Donald Trump arrived in Seoul on Tuesday vowing to "figure it all out" with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, despite the two allies' differences on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North.

As tensions over Pyongyang's weapons programme have soared, the US president has traded personal insults and threats of war with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but the South's capital and its 10 million inhabitants would be on the front line of any conflict.

"Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman," Trump tweeted early on Tuesday from Japan, the first stop on his Asian tour, adding: "We will figure it all out!"

10:30 Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea in response to the continuing threat posed by the reclusive nations missile and nuclear programmes, Japans top government spokesman said on Tuesday.

The sanctions, mentioned by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a joint news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, will freeze the assets of nine organizations and 26 individuals, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

The North Korean missile and nuclear issue is a pressing threat unseen before. Its provocative actions, in which it has ignored the severe warnings of international society, are totally unacceptable, he said.

The organizations are North Korean banks, several of them based in China, while the individuals are based in a number of nations, including China, Russia and Libya.

NOVEMBER 7

16:14 Namibia dismisses UN expert's claims on North Korea ties

Namibia's government on Tuesday rejected accusations by the coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea who accused the southern African nation of not complying with UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang, according to Reuters.

Namibia said that it rejected allegations that it had not submitted a report for more than a year to the Security Council's sanctions committee on North Korea.

15:56 Tunnel collapse may have killed 200 after North Korea nuclear test: Japanese broadcaster

A tunnel at North Korea's nuclear test site collapsed after Pyongyang's sixth atomic test in September, possibly killing more than 200 people, Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi said on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation, Reuters has reported.

About 100 workers at the Punggye-ri nuclear site were affected by the initial collapse, which took place around Sept. 10, the broadcaster said.

A second collapse during a rescue operation meant it was possible the death toll could have exceeded 200, it added.

Reuters has not been able to verify the report.

14:07 Considering to designate North Korea as terrorism sponsor: White House

The US is mulling to designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House has said, as President Donald Trump embarks on his five-nation Asia trip today during which the issue of the reclusive nation will be taken up prominently.

"That is an option that's under consideration," the National Security Adviser H R McMaster told reporters at a White House news conference when asked if designating North Korea a State Sponsor of terrorism is an option for the United States.

Considering to designate North Korea as terrorism sponsor: White House The US is mulling to designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House has said, as President Donald Trump embarks on his five-nation Asia trip today during which the issue of the reclusive nation will be taken up prominently. "That is an option that's under consideration," the National Security Adviser H R McMaster told reporters at a White House news conference when asked if designating North Korea a State Sponsor of terrorism is an option for the United States.

13:22 China says has made best effort on North Korea ahead of Trump visit

A senior Chinese diplomat said on Friday China has made its best efforts to resolve issues on the Korean peninsula, ahead of US President Donald Trump's state visit to Beijing next week when he is expected to press China to do more on North Korea, Reuters has reported.

Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said the North Korean nuclear issue would be an important topic up for discussion at the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump.

China firmly opposes conflict on the Korean peninsula and believes using force is not the correct way to resolve the issue, Zheng told reporters at a briefing in Beijing. China and the United States have a shared interest in peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Zheng said.

12:43 In meeting, Trump to push a reluctant Xi to rein in North Korea

President Donald Trump will further pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping in talks next week to take tougher measures against North Korea, as the United States compiles information for possible new sanctions on Chinese banks working with Pyongyang, according to Reuters.

Senior administration officials say Trump will try to convince Xi when they meet in Beijing to squeeze North Korea with steps such as limits on oil exports, coal imports and financial transactions.

It is the latest attempt by Trump to have China, North Korea's only major ally, rein in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions but it is far from clear if Xi, who has just consolidated his power at a Communist Party congress, will agree.

11:56 Trump, dogged at home, heads on longest presidential Asia trip in years

Beset by challenges at home, President Donald Trump on Friday embarks on the longest trip to Asia by an American president in more than a quarter century, looking for help to pressure North Korea to stand down from a nuclear crisis, according to Reuters.

Trump's tour of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from Friday to November 14 will take him out of Washington as is preoccupied with several issues.

These include an intensifying federal investigation into Russian meddling in last year's election, New York's recovery from an attack that killed eight people and debate over a tax-cut plan that if approved by Congress would be his first major legislative victory.

11:20 Treasury Blocks Chinese Bank From U.S. Financial System Over North Korea Ties: WSJ

The Trump administration has officially cut off a small Chinese bank from the US financial system on Thursday, accusing it of helping North Korea develop its illegal ballistic missile program, according to a report by Wall Street Journal.

The White House had in June said that it planned to sever the Chinese Bank of Dandong from the worlds most important financial system.

The move marked a new phase in an escalating sanctions regime against North Korea as the White House sought to choke off illicit financial networks.

10:50 US bomber drills aggravate North Korea ahead of Trump's Asia visit

Two US strategic bombers conducted drills over South Korea on Thursday, the US Air Force said, raising tensions with North Korea just days before President Donald Trump visits the region seeking to shut down Pyongyang's nuclear programme, according to Reuters.

News of the drills was first reported by North Korean state news agency KCNA on Friday, which said the exercises involving South Korean and Japanese fighter jets were a "surprise nuclear strike drill".

"The reality clearly shows that the gangster-like US imperialists are the very one who is aggravating the situation of the Korean peninsula and seeking to ignite a nuclear war," KCNA said.

10:32 China's Xi says hopes to promote relations with North Korea: North Korean news agency

Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's congratulatory message on China's Communist Party Congress, saying he hopes to promote ties between the two countries, North Korea's state news agency said on Thursday.

The friendly exchange is relatively routine, but it comes as China has come under intense pressure from the United States to do more to rein in the North's missile and nuclear tests, which have raised tensions globally, according to Reuters.

China has been increasingly frustrated over ally North Korea's weapons tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions, repeatedly calling for restraint and urging all sides to speak and act carefully.

10:23 South Korea spy agency sees signs of planned new missile test by North

With just a few days before US President Donald Trump visits Seoul , South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that North Korea may be planning a new missile test, after brisk activity was spotted at its research facilities, Reuters has reported.

North Korea has carried out a series of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, but has not launched any missiles since firing one over Japan on September 15, the longest such gap this year.

10:05 Trump will not visit DMZ during Asia trip

A senior administration officials have said that US President Donald Trump will not go be visiting the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the border of North Korea and South Korea during his upcoming Asia trip, Reuters has reported.

"The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule," the official told reporters in a background briefing.

However, Trump will be the first American president to visit Camp Humphreys, a military installation south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

"We thought that would make more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there," the official said.

09:51 World 'running out of time' on North Korea, Trump to tell Asia: White House

US President Donald Trump will tell leaders on a five-nation Asia tour the world is "running out of time" on North Korea's nuclear crisis and that he will give his strategy to isolate Pyongyang a few months before making adjustments, a top aide said on Thursday.

Trump will be heading to for Hawaii on Friday. He will then undertake an Asia tour where he will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. It will be the longest Asia visit undertaken by an American president in more than 25 years.

Trump's goal will be to increase international support for an effort to deprive North Korea of resources as leverage to coerce it to give up nuclear weapons, according to Reuters.

09:46 US bombers train over South Korea ahead of Trump visit

Two US strategic B-1B bombers conducted drills over South Korea on Thursday, the US Air Force said, days before President Donald Trump arrives in the country amid high tensions with North Korea over its nuclear weapon programme, according to Reuters.

News of the drills was first reported by North Korean state news agency KCNA on Friday, which said the exercises involving South Korean and Japanese fighter jets were a "surprise nuclear strike drill".

"The reality clearly shows that the gangster-like U.S. imperialists are the very one who is aggravating the situation of the Korean peninsula and seeking to ignite a nuclear war," KCNA said.
No 5 | US President Donald Trump's official account | @POTUS | 23.6 million followers (Image: Reuters)

South Korea will immediately start talks with the United States on developing the Asian nation's military capabilities, including deploying the latest surveillance assets, the South's presidential office said on Tuesday.

The pact was made during a summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, Blue House spokesman Yoon Young-chan told a news briefing.

The leaders also agreed to continue joint three-way efforts with Japan for practical responses to North Korean threats, he added.
November 07, 2017 Defeated Elsewhere, Saudi Tyrant Declares War On Lebanon The Saudi clown prince Mohammed bin Salman is purging all potential internal resistance and solidifies his dictatorial position. (The move includes a huge money grab. All assets of those accused of corruption are confiscated by the state which, in Saudi Arabia, is the tyrant himself.) The internal consolidation of power is the prelude for a larger external venture. At the same time as the internal purges proceed, MbS implements an extremely aggressive foreign policy agenda targeted at Iran and its allies. Having been defeated in Iraq and Syria and at stalemate in Qatar and Yemen the Saudi ruler decided to try his luck in Lebanon. The Saudi declares war on Lebanon and will put enormous economic and political pressure on it. But all of that will be to no avail. The war will only cause Lebanon to move deeper into the "resistance" camp an join its forces with Syria, Iran and Russia. (The recap below is mostly an accumulation of sources. My own analysis will follow in a later piece.) The Saudi plans are well coordinated with the United States and have the full support of the Israeli government. The point man in the Trump administration for all Middle East issues is Trump's son-in-law (and arch Zionist) Jared Kushner. He made three trips to Saudi Arabia this year, the last one very recently. The Washington Post's David Ignatius brown noses: [L]ast month, Jared Kushner, Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law, made a personal visit to Riyadh. The two princes are said to have stayed up until nearly 4 a.m. several nights, swapping stories and planning strategy. A week ago the Saudi minister (and extremists) Thamer al-Sabhan called for toppling Hizbullah and promised "astonishing developments". Friday night the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al Hariri was ordered back to his home-country Saudi Arabia and pressed to read a resignation statement on a Saudi TV station. None of his advisors in Lebanon knew that this was coming. It is claimed that Hariri did not voluntarily resign and is now under house arrest. There is even a Free Hariri Clock counting the hours, minutes and seconds of his ordeal. The Lebanese President has not accepted the PM's resignation and demands that Hariri returns to Lebanon. We called the resignation The Opening Shot Of The Saudi War On Hizbullah. On Saturday the Saudi ruler engaged in the night of the long knives and arrested all his potential internal competition. In the same night a missile launched by Houthi/Saleh forces in Yemen hit near the airport of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Such missile attacks are in retaliation for the intense two years of Saudi bombing of Yemen which by now probably killed more than a hundred-thousand people. While this was likely unrelated to the other events it added to the general anti-Iranian narrative the Saudis propagate. The Saudis claim that Yemeni missiles are of Iranian origin and launched by Iranian specialists. Iran denies this. Weapon experts at IHS Janes refute that claim: Burkan-2 missile launched by Houthis is Scud derivative and is unlike variants made by Iran or DPRK. The Houthi in Yemen are supported by elements of the Yemeni army under command of the former Yemeni President Saleh. The Yemen army has for decades owned and used variants of Scud missiles. It is unlikely that it needs help to modify and launch these. The Saudis nominally support Yemeni forces under Saleh's successor Hadi. The former(?) President of Yemen Hadi is, like the former(?) Prime Minister of Lebanon, held under house arrest in Saudi Arabia. The former(?) Palestinian President Abbas, long beyond his legal term, was also summoned to Riyadh. One wonders if he will ever return. Yesterday the Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan declared war on Lebanon: Saudi minister of Gulf affairs, Thamer al-Sabhan, said on Monday that Lebanon had declared war against Saudi Arabia because of what he described as aggression against the Kingdom by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. We will treat the government of Lebanon as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia due to the aggression of Hezbollah, he said in response to the recent decisions taken by the Lebanese government.

...

The Saudi minister said that Hariri and the Lebanese government would not accept the positions of Hezbollah militia, stressing that talk about forcing Hariri to resign lies to disperse Lebanon. Lebanon is kidnapped by the militias of Hezbollah and behind it is Iran, he said. It seems crazy that the Saudis would open another front in their chaotic war against presumed Iranian influences. Their forces were defeated in Iraq and Syria. Their wars on Yemen and Qatar are in a stalemate. Each of their moves has led to an increase of Iranian influence and power. It is hard to understand why they would want to repeat that experience in Lebanon. It is even harder to understand why the U.S. and Israel support that losing move. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump - 3:03 PM - 6 Nov 2017 I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.... The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahoo activated his diplomats to lobby for the Saudi position: Barak Ravid @BarakRavid - 12:11 PM - 6 Nov 2017 1 \ I published on channel 10 a cable sent to Israeli diplomats asking to lobby for Saudis\Hariri &against Hezbollah

2 \ The cable sent from the MFA in Jerusalem to all Israeli embassies toes the Saudi line regarding the Hariri resignation

3 \ The Israeli diplomats were instructed to Demarch their host governments over the domestic political situation in Lebanon. Very rare move

4 \ The cable said: "You need to stress that the Hariri resignation shows how dangerous Iran and Hezbollah are for Lebanon's security"

5 \ "Hariri's resignation proves wrong the argument that Hezbollah participation in the government stabilizes Lebanon", the Cable added

6 \ The cable instructed Israeli diplomat to support Saudi Arabia over its war with the Houthis in Yemen

7 \ The cable also stressed: "The missile launch by the Houthis towards Riyadh calls for applying more pressure on Iran & Hezbollah". END There is no common border between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia but there are many economic relations. The Saudis have for years sponsored Sunni clans in Lebanon. Many Gulf Arabs have invested in Beirut. It is their preferred vacation destination. Lebanese companies provide many services within the Gulf countries. There is little the Saudis can do militarily hurt Lebanon. They might want to move their Al-Qaeda and ISIS fighters from Syria to Lebanon but that will require Turkish cooperation. Even those forces would be no match for Hizbullah as it is deeply anchored within the population of Lebanon. The Saudis will, like with Qatar, use economic means to squeeze Lebanon. It is quite obvious that such measures will mostly hurt their own constituency in Lebanon. How does that change the situation to their advantage? Analysts agree that the Saudi measures will in fact hurt. But they will also increase Hizbullah's, Iran's and Russia's influence. Elias Muhanna @QifaNabki - 1:36 PM - 6 Nov 2017 Short of outright war, how might Saudi Arabia put pressure on Hizbullah? (THREAD) 1/

A Saudi minister has announced that the very existence of Hizbullah in the Lebanese govt amounts to a declaration of war. 2/

Short of attacking Lebanon (which Hizb Sec-Gen Nasrallah scoffed at over the weekend), what could Saudi do? 3/

Saudi Arabia might issue a list of demands to the Lebanese govt, similar to what it did with Qatar. 4/

Demands might include: Hizbullah must not be in the government; must disarm; cease all military activities beyond Lebanese borders. 5/

Unless demands are met, KSA could freeze relations w/ LB, close its own borders to LB business, cease all support of LB institutions. 6/

Saudi Arabia wields a huge amount of power over Lebanon; probably more than it does over any other country besides Bahrain. 7/

With this hard-line policy, it sends the signal to Iran that Hzb has grown to be too large and too dangerous. 8/

Hizbullah's weathered such storms b4 when Israel made threats to hold the Leb govt accountable. 9/

But thumbing nose at Israel w/ Arab world behind you is different from staring down Saudi blockade. 10/ Another analyst, who long lived in Lebanon, has a slightly more positive view. (edited for readability): Elijah J. Magnier @ejmalrai - 7:50 PM - 6 Nov 2017 Saudi Arabia is preparing a war against Lebanon: hitting finance first, blocking air traffic exchange, inviting other Arab countries to follow.

Saudi Arabia is bulling Lebanon and is expected to gradually escalate procedures:

Lebanon will have to turn towards Syria for its economy/travel and towards Russia as the USA is turning a blind eye.

Qatar and Iran will support Lebanon's economy: a new front and solidarity against Saudi Arabian bulling will be created.

Saudi Arabia (wrongly) believes it can lead the Middle East: USA made the same mistake before and that brought Russia in.

Saudi Arabia never had a clear foreign policy, is unaware of diplomacy and is adopting a tribal mentality: with me or against me.

Because @realDonaldTrump has no clue what ME policy is and accepts anything Saudi Arabia is doing more instability is expected.

Israel doesn't need to act against Hezbollah or #Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is doing the job on its behalf. The question is: how long can Saudi Arabia hold internally and regionally? Even if not for long, ME is so unstable today ...

When Saudi Arabia says: "'Lebanon is hijacked by Hezbollah and Iran, Saudi will treat Lebanese gov as an enemy of its state" it means that KSA is at war.

But Saudi Arabia is presenting Hezbollah as a kind of" superpower" and/or a "state" to stand against, magnifying it.

The same style is usually used by Israel before taking action against #Hezbollah: Saudi Arabia is copying the rhetoric. Bahrain, Emirates will have to join Saudi Arabia sooner or later to show KSA is not alone: expect fresh accusations.

Arabs have wealth in Lebanon, proprieties and business, all may be soon affected by Saudi Arabia's belligerent attitude.

Saudi Arabia seems to enjoy unlimited support: money is powerful, sure. But learn from Syria and the 6 years of war.

Saudi Arabia wants to see a Lebanese government without any Hezbollah minister.

Hezbollah's influence in #Lebanon doesn't emanate from the presence of a couple of ministers.

Saudi Arabia wants for Hezbollah to pay the price of its effective role in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, in the defeat of ISIS.

Saudi Arabia wants also to protect the tens of thousands Al Qaeda still in Idlib and it wants to deprive Iran from its arm.

"Defeating" Hezbollah would leave Lebanon unprotected from Israel and pave the road to an Arab official relationship with Tel Aviv. Even if PM Hariri leaves Saudi Arabia, to Beirut, his family remains behind and he can never go against Saudi will.

The return of Hariri to Lebanon won't solve the problem but will give more background to the events: no big deal. Posted by b on November 7, 2017 at 8:41 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Photo by Ren Dong from chinanews.com

Visitors on Sunday flock to Dianchi Lake in southwestern Chinas Yunnan province to witness the arrival of nearly 10,000 black-headed gulls. Every winter, about 40,000 black-headed gulls migrate from Siberia to Dianchi Lake.
Thanks to Nigel the Nutcracker from The Warehouse, we are granting wishes across the country!
Christian Tellez, a student at the North Carolina School for the Deaf, stood at the entrance of the new Goodwin Center with an oversized pair of scissors ready to slice a ribbon that represents a new beginning for him and many other students.

The Goodwin Center for Professional and Outreach Services for Children with Hearing Loss was officially opened for students and staff to see after more than a year of renovations was completed.

What used to be a three-story recreation building built in 1924, has now been transformed into a professional services center and is home to the new Pre-Kindergarten classrooms.

Several state and local officials, including Cecilia Holden, the North Carolina State Board of Education, director of legislative affairs; Lisa Godwin, the NC Teacher of the Year; Shelby Armentrout, policy advisor for the House of Representative Speaker Tim Moore; Representative Hugh Blackwell (R-86); Senator Warren Daniel (R-46); and Dr. Jim Burnett, were onsite to celebrate the newly renovated facility.

The building will house rooms for occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology and other support services, said Kristin Todd, a professional support services supervisor with NCSD.

The occupational therapy room, where the NCSD pool used to be, has several different tools and equipment used to help students be able to function and perform normal activities in daily life.

As requested by many in the community who have special memories of the recreation center pool, a portion of the pool floor that says Shallow End. No Diving was kept visible under a glass in the new occupational therapy room.

I am excited to see this building open, said K-12 Principal Dave Clark to the crowd standing outside the building during the ceremony. I recently went in to look around and it is awesome. You all are going to be amazed and you wont even recognize the building.

They will be contracting the building out to other outside programs as well to use the facility for students who do not go to NCSD.

The outreach intention is to be a (hub) for the western end of the state where younger children can come who are working with lots of different agencies, Todd said.

A Pre-K program that was once active at NCSD, and dissolved more than 15 years ago, is being reinstated and, Todd says, it is crucial to have within the deaf community.

A child has a certain length of time when their brain plasticity is optimum where they learn the best, Todd said.

That age is said to be from when they are born until they turn 5 or 6 years old. Students would start the program at the age of 3 or 4, she said.

If we are waiting and getting these students when they are 5 or 6, they have already lost all this time for language learning and, essentially, it puts them way behind, Todd said.

She says there is a possibility to expand the program in the future to be open to ages from birth to 3 year old.

After Tellez, along with help from others, cut the ribbon, the facility was officially open. Students, faculty and state and local leaders walked through the building to observe the renovations and see what the building will offer the students and many more in the community.

Staff Writer Jonelle Bobak can be reached at jbobak@morganton.com or 828-432-8907.
U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad on Monday said that the upcoming Xi-Trump meeting was "very historic and significant."

"There are a lot of excitement and feelings that this could be very historic and significant for Trump-Xi meeting here," Branstad said during a group interview in Beijing.

U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming state visit to China, from Nov. 8 to 10, will see his third meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I think the chemistry between the two leaders is good and that bodes well. If the two leaders can get along well and work out some of the differences, hopefully that can help the rest of us to work things out well," he said.

Hailing the frequent interaction between Xi and Trump, he said that meetings between the two leaders were helpful in solving "thorny issues."

On top of Trump's agenda during the trip will be the Korean Peninsula issue and bilateral trade, according to Branstad.

There will be a delegation of U.S. business accompanying Trump, and a number of MOUs are expected to be signed, covering various sectors including manufacturing and energy, according to the ambassador.

"We want to advance economic cooperation and prosperity in America as well as in China. We want to build on the progress and success that we already had to improve the relationship between our two countries," he said.
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Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions new regulations governing underwriting practices  set to take effect at the beginning of next year  have been the source of much acrimony in the mortgage industry, and some are wondering if the federal government is deliberately sabotaging some lenders to benefit large banks.Two industry veterans echoed each other in stating that certain lenders, like mortgage finance companies, will not be able to keep their heads above water.Additionally, both not only questioned why credit card debt isnt a topic of conversation if household debt is, indeed, reaching disquieting levels, but they both believe many first-time homebuyers will be precluded from entering the housing market.Before the latest regulation amendment, the Department of Finance updated lending practices in October 2016.I thought last years changes were more than enough, said Fisgard s Senior Vice President of Residential Mortgage Investments & Broker Relations, Hali Strandlund-Noble. The problem I have with that is Im a believer that household debt being on a mortgage is something tangible. Why are they not dealing with unsecured lines of credit, credit cards at 19.99%-plus? Theres no talk about that, no talk about qualifying those people. Thats a big concern of mine. Im okay with healthy mortgage debt.While Strandlund-Noble agrees that housing prices in Vancouver and Toronto need to come down, shes confounded by the governments one-size-fits-all policy because she sees small cities and first-time buyers being pilfered. Atlantic Canada and the Prairie provinces are among large swaths in which she sees trouble brewing.I would love to see [the federal competition bureau] step in and take a look, she said. I would have thought they would have stepped in by now, and if they dont step in this time, especially with how its affecting monolines and mortgage finance companies, I dont think they will. Its very disappointing.Asked how precarious the rule changes will be for consumers, Strandlund-Noble said, I dont know if precarious is the right word. Its lack of opportunity to become a homeowner at this particular time in their life cycle of buying, selling or renting. Many will have to wait, save and maybe even get rid of some credit cards. Theres a lack of opportunity, definitely for first-time homebuyers. Its hard enough for them to get in.David Mandel, president of First Source Mortgage, concurred with Strandlund-Noble about the government needing to rein in credit card companies as opposed to telling Canadians how much they should spend on a home and where they should live.But Mandel also blames the government for the astronomical cost of housing because they did precious little to solve the supply issue. Given the governments immigration policy, he believes they exacerbated the supply problem by not ensuring enough inventory was available in the marketplace.If youre going to maintain a policy of steady immigration and bring in 300,000 people annually, most of whom will try to settle in the GTA, you need to deal with the supply of developable land and remove the red tape associated with change-of-use of existing lands so that builders and developers can readily convert or create infill projects to meet demand through higher density, he said.This can create more urban sprawl which would be at odds with growth plans  he added.Mandel ultimately believes lenders and consumers are getting fleeced by government policy that he says is convoluted enough to fly beneath the average Canadians radar.The banks are going to win huge at the expense of the monolines, and what we see, ultimately, that nobody is talking about, is further concentration in the banking industry in Canada, he said. Theres no competition for them.Unfortunately, I think thats anti-Canadian, anti-North American, and its anti-competitive  and thats wrong. I think Canadians are getting a raw, raw deal and I think its a little too sophisticated and widespread for the average person to understand.
The Toronto residential market exhibited noticeably improved sales activity and price growth in October after several months of cooling demand and declining prices, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board said.The Board attributed these movements to consumers improving sentiments surrounding recent developments in the market.It appears that the psychological impact of the Fair Housing Plan, including the tax on foreign buyers, is starting to unwind, TREB director of market analysis Jason Mercer stated, as quoted by Bloomberg.Late last week, the TREB released new data that showed a 12% month-over-month increase in sales volume in October, an above-average move that pointed to stronger fall market conditions. This is despite overall transactions being down by 27% from a year earlier.Average prices climbed 2.3% to $780,104 in October from a year earlier, and were up almost 1% from September, the second straight monthly gain. That followed a summer where they fell more than 15% between May and August after the provincial government introduced new rules to cool things down.Benchmark prices, which are weighted to account for differences in home type, fell 0.4% from September, the fifth straight monthly decline. Prices in Greater Toronto are down 8.4% since May.The frenzy that drove the average price of a home in Canadas largest city to almost $1 million dissipated in May, the month after the provincial government announced policies that included a tax on foreign buyers. Other regulations introduced recently include stress testing for borrowers and tightening access to mortgage insurance for commercial banks.Read more: Toronto might see activity surge soon due to new mortgage rules Sales have dropped on an annual basis every month since May, and price growth slowed from its 2016 double-digit pace, prompting economists and brokers to say the Toronto market was in a correction.Forecasters at mortgage lenders and the government housing agency predicted prices to rebound nationwide in 2018, led by a recovery in Toronto. Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. said in October that it is expecting balanced conditions to enter the market as land constraints drive prices up for the next two years.The heat in the detached market has shifted to condominiums. In October, average prices for high rise units jumped 22% from the prior year to $523,041, more than any other housing type.
Workers install wiring in an electric bus at a BYD factory in Lancaster, California, in September 2016. ZHANG CHAOQUN/XINHUA

Despite US President Donald Trump's lambasting of a variety of trade deals, experts believe that a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between China and the United States could still be concluded in the coming years.

China and the US accelerated BIT negotiations in the last two years of the Obama administration, but still fell short of reaching an agreement.

Colin Grabow, a policy analyst at Washington-based Cato Institute, said the good news was that US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer has not shut the door on the BIT, but indicated that there were still some issues to clear up before moving on to a BIT.

"So they can move on these issues maybe the US and China can get the BIT done by the end of Trump's four years," Grabow told China Daily ahead of Trump's trip to Asia. "That would be nice to see."

Asked at his confirmation hearing in March whether the Trump administration would pursue negotiations with China for a BIT, Lighthizer said the Trump administration places a high priority on utilizing a broad range of tools to ensure that China treats the US, US exports and US companies fairly with respect to trade and investment.

"We will be reviewing the full range of potential tools, including the US-China bilateral investment treaty negotiation, to assess the best path for the administration to achieve this objective," he said.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the US-China Business Council (USCBC) in June that a BIT with China is on the Trump administration's agenda, even though it is not a top priority.

The Trump administration, after withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has been busy renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS, as well as reexamining other trade deals which Trump described as "horrible" or a "disaster".

Mireya Solis and David Dollar of the Brookings Institution noted in an Asia economic policy paper that it would not be easy to reach a BIT with China, but continuing the negotiations was important.

Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said Trump should support the BIT because he prefers a bilateral deal, saying "it is a good deal for America".

In the past years, the USCBC, which represents more than 200 US companies, has called on both the Obama and the Trump administrations to conclude a BIT with China.

A BIT would provide protection for both countries' foreign investment. While US companies would gain greater access to the Chinese market, especially in the services sector, the growing number of Chinese investors would also enjoy fair treatment in the US.
A Toronto brokerages bank accounts have been ordered frozen to protect consumer deposits after Ontarios real estate professional regulatory body discovered a substantial amount missing.The Real Estate Council of Ontario decreed a freeze for the first time in around six years on November 1 against RE/MAX Right Choice Inc.This is very rare, RECO spokesman Daniel Roukema told The Canadian Press.Roukema did not elaborate further on the sum of money in question. The Toronto brokerage, located at Centerpoint Mall in the north part of the city, did not immediately respond to requests for comment and its website appeared to be down.RECO discovered the discrepancy between how much money the brokerage should have held in trust in its accounts and the amount it possessed last week during a routine check, Roukema said.People making an offer to buy a home in Ontario must provide proof of a deposit  typically about 5% of the sale price  to the seller either when the offer is made or shortly thereafter. The brokerage of the realtor representing the buyer will hold the deposit in the brokerages real estate trust account until it must be paid to the seller on the closing date.RECO froze the brokerages accounts to protect consumers from further harm, Roukema said. The Council is urging homebuyers and sellers who are involved with the agency or their lawyers to contact the council, he said.If anyone has deposited money, then they do have options to file a claim, he noted. The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation protects eligible deposits at its member financial institutions up to $100,000.RECOs investigation is ongoing and the council has not been in contact with police, Roukema said.RE/MAX Integra, a sub-franchisor that represents about a third of the worldwide RE/MAX network, terminated Right Choice as one of its franchises on October 23  prior to RECO beginning its investigation, said Galen Wright, a consultant with Toronto-based FleishmanHillards reputation management practice.We recognize that buying a home is one of the most important decisions a person can make, Wright said. We pride ourselves on the values of honesty, fairness, and accountability, and we support RECO in their efforts to protect consumers.RE/MAX Integra is unable to provide further details on why it terminated the brokerages contract, he said.
China and Finland on Monday agreed to further lift bilateral ties through pragmatic cooperation and enhancing exchanges between legislative bodies.

The pledge came as Finnish Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and held talks with Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang in Beijing.

Li told Lohela China had always adhered to a policy of mutual respect and equality, which was an important principle in safeguarding world peace and multiculturalism.

He said China was willing to enhance cooperation in the areas that Finland had advantages, such as innovation, clean energy, environmental protection and vocational education.

Lohela said Finland was ready to work with China to take a long-term perspective to develop bilateral ties.

During her talks with Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), later on Monday, Lohela was briefed by Zhang on the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Calling Finland a major Nordic country and EU member, Zhang said he hoped Finland could exert a positive influence on the development of China-EU relations.

He suggested the NPC and the Finnish Parliament intensify exchanges at various levels to enhance mutual understanding and political trust.

"The two legislatures need to create a better policy and legal environment for the economic cooperation on key areas of innovation, green development and coordinated development," Zhang said.

He also called for closer cultural exchanges and local cooperation.

Lohela said Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Finland last April consolidated and lifted bilateral ties.

"The Finnish Parliament is willing to work with the NPC to create a sound environment for bilateral cooperation in areas of economy and trade, culture, tourism, small and medium enterprises investment from a new starting point," she said.

Lohela is here for a six-day visit, which started Sunday, at the invitation of Zhang.
The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau did not violate federal election law, according to findings by the US Office of Special Counsel.It has long been rumored that CFPB Director Richard Cordray is considering a run for the governorship of Ohio. However, as an executive-branch employee, Cordray is prohibited from participating in political activities under the Hatch Act. In simple terms, that means Cordray would have to resign his position as head of the CFPB prior to running  or even making preparations to run.This summer, several prominent Republicans demanded that Cordray be investigated for possible Hatch Act violations after rumors surfaced that he discussed a possible run with other political figures. The Republican Governors Association filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records related to a possible violation of the act, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) demanded an investigation by the OSC.The OSC did conduct such an investigation, according to a letter to Cordray from Erica S. Hamrick, deputy chief of the offices Hatch Act Unit. According to Hamrick, the OSC found no evidence that Cordray violated the act.Hamrick said that taking the preliminary activities directed toward candidacy  such as filing for candidacy or soliciting campaign contributions  would indeed violate the act.However, merely discussing with family or close friends the possibility of running; fact-finding to learn what would be required to run; or making inquiries to understand the current political landscape would not violate the candidacy prohibition of the Hatch Act, she said.Hamrick said the OSC was closing its file on the investigation without further action.
Earlier this year, the Mortgage Bankers Association launched mPact  a network for young professionals in the real estate industry. We spoke to two of the professionals behind the innovative program.



MPA: Tell us a little more about MBAs mPact  the young professionals network at MBA



Ashley Gunn, associate director of commercial real estate finance, at the Mortgage Bankers Association: We formed mPact, at least on the commercial side, a few years ago. It came out of our internal and external MBA leadership as a way to get more young folks engaged in the industry and engaged in the MBA.



It was rebranded last spring under mPact and  the rebranding included both the residential and commercial side of MBA.



MPA: Why is it important to get millennials more engaged and interested in the industry?



AG: I think right now in this day and age theres just a lot of different industries people can get into. Real estate is a very technical industry but its also a very rewarding industry. I think its important to get people engaged and retained at a young age with the real estate industry because I do think it has a long-term impact on their individual career and individual development.



Youre giving people new homes and youre working in the commercial space. Its just a very rewarding industry and millennials tend to jump around from industry to industry  thats sort of their stereotype. So we want to make sure we retain them and keep them engaged from the beginning.



Jordan Bucher, research associate, residential policy and member engagement, at the Mortgage Bankers Association: Being someone who is a year out of college, Im working at mPact but I see the value in it personally for myself as well. Its a platform that connects people to their industry peers; Im able to grow and develop professionally through the opportunities that we host.



Another goal that Ashley touched on us well is to help strengthen our members relationship with the MBA.



MPA: What does the real estate industry need to do to keep millennials engaged and within it, growing up the ranks?



JB: To keep them engaged, thats one of the reasons or the main reason why MBA launched mPact to begin with. We officially launched in April of this year and we hosted, for the first time at a major conference, mPact events at our annual (conference) in October.



We hosted four events; three of them were networking opportunities and one was an educational component. Thats just one example of keeping the younger professionals in this industry engaged. Thats the main reason MBA launched this initiative because it is important for our industry.



MPA: How do you think Millennials will change the real estate industry?



AG: Im seeing a shift right now with older millennials that they are moving back to the suburbs, they are buying houses, they are contributing to the economic development.



Thats a difficult question to answer right now but I do think millennials will have a very impactful outcome on the current housing market as well as the greater real estate market, for sure.



JB: The Millennial generation is the largest and most diverse in American history, its literally changing every industry, but it will especially change real estate and real estate finance.



It's important to encourage and retain those who are 35 and under in our industry because not only do they have the ability to understand this generation's homebuyer mindset but will change the way we do business, in light of shifting lifestyle habits and evolving industry technology.



MPA: Is there anything else youd like to add?



AG: Were really excited  we think were doing something really exciting with mPact right now. We think we have a chance to really attract and retain a young, great set of new talent. Were really developing ways to try to enhance their own personal growth within real estate but also strengthen their MBA membership.



We just want to highlight the fact that this is something thats new and innovative and were really excited to see where it goes.



Our industry, both residential and commercial, is driven by the choices that people make: where they want to live, for what they want to shop, how they want to commute to work, how do you use new technologies to improve your life, and so on. Having a workforce that understands and reflects the demographics and culture of the broader society is vital for this industry, in particular.



For more info on mPact, click here.


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Fifth-graders at Santa Rita Elementary School on Friday  Texas Arbor Day -- assisted Keep Midland Beautiful TreeKeepers and the city of Midland plant 20 trees at Santa Rita Park, 5603 Whitman Drive. Students received a short lesson on tree planting and care and then helped backfill and mulch the trees that were provided by TXU Energy, The Texas Trees Foundation and KMBs 2017 Premier Beautification Partners, Chevron and Karmen and Billy Bryant. Irrigation supplies were donated by June and Mark Walter, according to KMB. Also at the event, winners were announced in the student poster/poetry contest.
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Filmmaker Michael Moore recently tweeted a disturbing fact following Sunday's mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

"As of yesterday, Columbine is no longer one of the 10 worst mass shootings in US history," Moore said. "3 of the top 5 are all in the last year & a half."

In 1999, two high school seniors in Columbine, Colorado killed 13 people before committing suicide. Moore directed the 2002 documentary "Bowling for Columbine" exploring the massacre and gun violence in the U.S.

POLICE: Texas church shooter sent threatening texts to mother-in-law before attack

Now Playing: Victims of the Texas church shooting Video: Fox 26 Houston

The Columbine massacre remained among the top 10 deadliest shootings in modern U.S. history for 18 years.

The tragedy, which ignited the gun control debate in the U.S., is now one of the many mass shootings that populate a growing list.

Dr. Duwe Grant, an expert in criminology and author of the 2007 book "Mass Murder in the United States: A History," told Chron.com in October that the America had seen an unprecedented rise in mass public shootings over the last half-century.

HARD TO BELIEVE: Photo shows surreal nature of tragedy in small Texas town

"Mass public shootings have become more deadly overall," Grant said. "The mass public shooting rate (per 100 million of the U.S. population) over the last 10 years hasn't been any higher than it was during the 1980s and early 1990s, but the number of victims killed and wounded per incident has increased."

The First Baptist Church shooting in Sutherland Springs is now the fifth deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

See tragic photos from the Sutherland Springs shooting above.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.
What are the hardest languages for native English speakers to learn? According to the U.S. State Department, Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean are super-hard languages, which means Chinese is exceptionally difficult for native English speakers to learn.

The US State Department categorizes foreign languages according to the time required for a native English speaker to learn them. For example, Chinese is classified as a Category IV language, or a super-hard language, because it takes about 88 weeks (or about 1.7 years) to achieve general proficiency. Chinese is also a priority language, which means it is of critical importance to US foreign policy and difficult to find people who can speak it.

Why are they so difficult to learn?

Learning a super-hard language is hard, even with resources and support. According to an inspection report of States Foreign Service Institute, the overall success rate for beginner students in the super-hard category was 68% for FY 2011 and 63% for FY 2012. More than one-third of the students did not succeed.

What makes these languages so hard to learn? Both Japanese and Chinese have thousands of characters to memorize, Arabic has less vowels than English and almost no words similar to European languages, and the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Hangeul, is hailed as one of the most logical writing systems in the world and its sentence structure and grammar are challenging.

For example, Korean uses a subject-object-verb sentence structure to express things, while English uses a subject-verb-object sentence structure. So, in Korean you should say I lunch eat rather than I eat lunch.

Learning a language has a lot of benefits

Learning a new language is time-consuming and laborious, but its benefits go far beyond merely facilitating international travel and ordering food in foreign restaurants. Studies show that learning a new language can improve cognitive functions, help stave off dementia, boost memory, and improve concentration and attention.

In addition, it can also change the way we look at the world. Researchers have found that language can shape the way we think, how we see ourselves, and even the way we perceive colors. In Chinese, for example, asking someone if he or she has eaten expresses concern for their well-being. It is a polite way of asking how they are doing.

Lastly, language helps bring us together. Who could forget the moment when US President Donald Trumps granddaughter Arabella showed off her Mandarin-speaking skills in honor of President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuans official visit to the United States in April 2017? There are currently 400,000 Americans learning Mandarin Chinese, according to the US-China Strong Foundation, and one million American students could be studying Mandarin Chinese by 2020. If our countries are going to do more together around the world, then speaking each others language, truly understanding each other, is a good place to start, former US President Barack Obama said in a joint press conference in September 2015 with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Mandarin Chinese might be a super-hard language to learn, but learning Chinese is the best way to understand China.
Participants compete in a contest of grass dragon dance in Mulao Autonomous County of Luocheng, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 6, 2017. Local people gathered to celebrate the traditional solar term of the Beginning of Winter, which falls on Nov. 7 this year. (Xinhua/Long Tao)
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Progressive activists delivered 12,000 petitions to the leaders of the state House and Senate Monday, calling on them to convene legislative inquiries into whether Gov. Rick Scott illegally deleted voicemails left on his cell phone by the administrator of the South Florida nursing home where more than a dozen seniors died amid sweltering conditions in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Voicemails warned that nursing home's A/C system had failed

State Attorney General declined to probe incident last month

Activists admit new tactic faces much longer odds

The voicemails, which the administrator of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills says warned the governor that the nursing home's air conditioning had failed and that an evacuation would be needed, were transcribed by Scott's staff at the state Emergency Operations Center in the hours following Irma's landfall last month. An evacuation, however, was slow in coming, a delay that turned out to be deadly.

In deleting the voicemails, the activists said the Scott administration could have been attempting to cover up its complicity in the tragedy.

"It shows the callousness of Governor Rick Scott when it comes to the frailest, most vulnerable old people, and the disabled, that are in our nursing homes," said Barbara DeVane of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, one of the groups that sponsored the petitions.

Last month, the governor's critics asked Tallahassee-area State Attorney Jack Campbell to open a probe into the incident. Campbell declined, calling the voicemails 'transitory' under Florida's Sunshine Law and thus not covered by prohibitions on deleting official correspondence.

In turning to House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron for action, the activists are facing what even they admit are much longer odds that their request will be granted. The two leaders are, like Scott, Republicans, and will be dependent on his signature to secure many of their priorities during the upcoming legislative session.

The controversy over Scott's handling of the nursing home deaths tragedy has taken on political contours as the governor eyes a 2018 campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by three-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott's optics-oriented staff had gone to great lengths to project the governor as a storm-hardened emergency manager, only to see much of that effort undercut by the deaths.

"We're talking to all of our nursing homes, our ALFs, because they're trying to make sure they have the power to take care of their citizens," the governor told reporters at the state Emergency Operations Center the day after the storm, just as the crisis at the Rehabilitation Center was about to peak.

Scott's office contends there is no contradiction between the governor's public statements and the way the voicemails were handled.

"In each instance, the calls were promptly returned by state officials, and the voicemails were immediately deleted so the voicemail box had room for more incoming messages. In none of these calls did the staff indicate that any of their patients were in danger," the governor's office said in a statement.

But Scott's critics disagree about the nature of the voicemails, which is one reason they say they shouldn't have been deleted.

"It matters, because we need to know that they called and he did not answer the call," DeVane said.
A Brevard County music teacher has been nominated for a music educator of the year Grammy.

Music teacher Joani Slawson nominated for Grammy

Slawson is a semifinalist for music educator of the year

Slawson will find out if she's in the top 10 in December



I was astonished, it was exciting, I was overjoyed, said Joani Slawson, a Saturn Elementary School teacher.

Slawson is one of 25 semifinalists across the country nominated for the award, and her students have no doubt shes deserving.

I was excited, I am so proud of her because not many teachers can do what Mrs. Slawson can do, said fifth-grader Bella Foster.

Slawsons interest in music began in high school, and after a 20-year career, her passion is still teaching.

I always thought Id be a high school choral director, but then I started in Elementary school and Ive been there ever since, Slawson said.

More than a few people have noticed her drive and determination. It was just a few weeks back when she got the call that she was nominated and a semifinalist.

But its still a waiting game  Slawson will find out if shes made it to the top ten in December.

Whats most important for me is to instill a lifelong love of music and that they can find their passion and what really moves them in this music room, Slawson said.
While it's not an even-numbered year, many Central Florida voters have a chance to vote Tuesday on local elections in five counties.

FIND YOUR CITY RACES:

Among the big races are the three Orlando City Council seats up for re-election. Incumbents Jim Gray (District 1, Lake Nona area), Robert Stuart (District 2, College Park area) and Regina Hill (District 5, Parramore, Pine Hills areas) all face challenges, with the challengers questioning how the incumbents have handled growth and development in their neighborhoods.

In Seminole County, Longwood and Oviedo have city elections.

In Brevard County, Cape Canaveral, Indialantic, Malabar, Melbounre Beach and Rockledge have city council or commission races.

Melbourne Beach is also asking voters to decide whether the Town Clerk should be under the exclusive authority of the Town Manager.

In Lake County, voters in Umatilla will decide on eight referendums. Voters in five cities will also vote in city races: Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte, Minneola and Mount Dora.

And in Volusia County, Lake Helen voters will decide on a new mayor, and on a city commission race.

Voting Tuesday opens at 7 a.m. If you need voting precinct information, you can find a link to your county's elections office on the map below.
Chinas employment hit 776 million by the end of 2016, surpassing the gross population of Europe, according to statistics by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS), Peoples Daily reported on Nov. 7.

Statistics show that a total of 65.24 million jobs were created in China in the past five years. Employment in China has registered steady growth, with some 13 million urban jobs created each year.

Employment in China maintained a rising momentum in the first three quarters this year, said Lu Aihong, a senior MHRSS official, adding that 10.97 million jobs were created during the period, up 300,000 on a year-on-year basis.

The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.95 percent this year, down 0.09 percent compared with the previous year and the lowest level since the global financial crisis in 2008, Lu noted.

However, China must still create 15 million urban jobs each year, He Weida, a professor at the Donlinks School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, pointed out.

He added that there is still a large number of unemployed people and surplus rural labor in China. The contradiction between the capacity of employees and the needs of the employer also needs to be solved.

Lu stressed that China will step up efforts to improve the quality of employment through adopting necessary measures in the future, including providing more quality posts and vocational training, encouraging entrepreneurship, and safeguarding interests and rights of laborers.
Two accused associates of the Mexican Mafia were found guilty by a federal jury in the killing of a Balcones Heights police officer.

Jesse Jay Santibanez and Alfredo Freddy Low Cardona face up to life in prison when theyre sentenced at a later date. They were convicted on racketeering and weapons charges in connection with the May 2, 2014 killing of Julian Pesina.
The Lone Star Brewery has been saved from being sold at a foreclosure auction Tuesday, even after its owner defaulted on a $7.4 million loan, according to the lawyer who was appointed to run the sale.

Local lawyer Dale Weyand said in an email that he had been instructed to pull the sale by NCC Financial, a Houston firm that loaned the $7.4 million to the brewerys owner, Lone Star Brewery Development Inc., in 2015. Weyand said NCC instructed him not to release any more information.
Wayne DAmico, who led the Meriden Economic Development Corp. during the early stages of the downtown redevelopment, died Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

DAmico, 50, who moved to Ivoryton about 10 years ago, was a commercial real estate broker who worked closely with Dunkin Donuts franchisee Michael Batista in Meriden, Middletown and Cheshire. DAmico was also instrumental in bringing Stop & Shop to the corner of East Main and Broad streets, Wal-Mart to Wallingford and more.

DAmico was also part of the Meriden Economic Development Corp. and the development of the City Center Initiative which eventually drafted the plans for the flood control and economic development project downtown. Sean Moore, president of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce, got to know DAmico through Meriden Kiwanis.

He was instrumental in the original City Center Initiative, the work that brought us the Meriden Green, said Sean Moore, president of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce, who with his wife, Kelley Moore performed as a musical trio with DAmico.

Wayne, Kelley and I were regular performers at the Cabin Restaurant, Moore said. Wayne started sitting in for a couple of sets and the rest was history. We had so many things in common, from a music and economic development perspective. He had a love and interest in making Meriden better.

DAmico lived in Meriden for more than 40 years,. He was a commerical real estate broker for more than 25 years. He was a member of the CCIM Institute for more than 15 years. He served on the board of directors, various committees and was elected president of the institute in 2013.

DAmico recently fulfilled a personal dream to work in New York City, as a vice president for corporate development and strategic relations with Xceligent based on Madison Avenue.

He graduated New York University with a bachelors degree in real estate and finance and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was a member of two different Rotary clubs for more than 25 years, where he served on many committees helping to raise funds for those in need. He was also a trustee of Essex Savings bank.

Damico is survived by his parents Judith and Armand DAmico, his wife Betsy and their two children James and Max.

The CCIM foundation has created the Wayne DAmico Memorial Fund with $10,000 to be used to provide financial assistance for his sons college education. To donate visit https:www.ccimef.org/give-now.asp to the donation page and click on the In Memory/Honor of: Wayne DAmico, CCIM. Checks can also be addressed to: The CCIM Foundation, 430 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 700, Chicago, Il 60611.

mgodin@record-journal.com

203-317-2255

Twitter: @Cconnbiz
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Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee said they oppose a move by their colleagues in the House of Representatives to scale back the wind production tax credit.

"We think that issue has been dealt with," South Dakota Senator John Thune, the Senates No. 3 ranking Republican, said in an interview. "There may be folks who would like to follow the House approach, but I dont think thats what we are going to able to do over here."

RELATED: Gulf Coast wind farms become vital to Texas energy mix

With this comment, three GOP senators -- each of them on the tax-writing committee -- have now said they oppose changes to the wind tax credit. Republicans hold a 52-48 advantage in the upper house. Democrats are largely opposed to the tax overhaul bill, and so the bill writers need the support of nearly every Republican in the Senate in order for the measure to pass.

The subsidy, which provides a $23 per-megawatt-hour credit, is already scheduled to phase down and expire in 2020. It was extended in 2015 as part of a broader congressional compromise that also ended the ban on most crude-oil exports.

But, in a surprise move, the House tax bill released last week cut the credit by more than a third, and made it harder for projects still under construction to get the credit. Those changes reduced value of the credit by as much as 45 percent, according to an analysis by Clearview Energy Partners LLC.

"We regard the PTC proposal as possible negotiating collateral for a potentially contentious House-Senate reconciliation of very different tax reform bills, and we do not expect it to survive in its current form," the Washington-based consulting firm said in a research note.

RELATED: Wind farm construction grows across U.S.

If the House tax plan were to become law the amount of new wind power forecast to be installed in the U.S. would drop by half from 38 gigawatts through 2020 to 19 gigawatts, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The wind energy production tax credit is already being phased out under a compromise brokered in 2015," Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement last week. "It shouldnt be re-opened. Im working within the Senate Finance Committee to see that the commitment made to a multiyear phase-out remains intact.

Senate tax writers, who plan to release their version of a massive rewrite of the tax code as soon as Thursday, are still negotiating the details of the bill, Senator Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican, said in an interview.

"Im hoping for a favorable result at the end of the day," Heller said. "Im in support of the tax credit."

To contact the reporter on this story: Ari Natter in Washington at anatter5@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Mark Drajem, Elizabeth Wasserman
Florida Christian School in Miami put a few order forms on its website to make school supply shopping easier. Parents can purchase their children T-shirts bearing the schools logo or some snugly winter wear. Or, for $120, they can buy them bullet-resistant panels designed to slip into their backpacks in case of a school shooting.

The nondenominational, kindergarten through 12th grade school hasnt been the scene of any gun violence, but its private security wants to be prepared just in case. The panel is a tool to help protect children in case of a horrific event, just its sound-enabled surveillance cameras and active shooter drills, according to George Gulla, the schools head of security.

Id rather be prepared for the worst than be stuck after saying Wow, I wish we wouldve done that, Gulla told the Miami Herald.

The panel comes from Applied Fiber Concepts, a body armor company based in nearby Hialeah and owned by Alex Cejas, who has two children at the school. He attended one of Gullas active shooting drills last year and suggested the company make custom armor plates for students.

While books and stuff in your backpack may stop a bullet, theyre not designed to, Cejas told the Miami Herald. I wouldnt bet my life on it.

The slim panels, which weigh less than a pound, can slip easily in the students backpacks among their school books. Theyre reportedly able to protect students from bullets such as a .44 Magnum or a .357 SIG, both pistol cartridges. Stopping rifle bullets would require heavier armor.

Students are taught to hold their backpacks containing the panels over their chests in case of an active shooters.

We want to protect our students center mass, Gulla said.

His company isnt the only business marketing bulletproof accessories to schools in the aftermath of mass shootings across the county. Bullet Blocker, a Massachusetts company, began developing a range of products after the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 that left 32 dead. The companys products include bulletproof backpacks, fleeces, briefcases - and even binder inserts to place among loose-leaf paper.

After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six educators, Bullet Blocker saw a spike in bulletproof backpack sales  selling about 10,000 in three weeks, even though it normally sold 20 a week, Marketplace reported.

The focus isnt only on backpacks. For instance, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore purchased hundreds of bulletproof whiteboards in 2013, as did the Minnesota Rocori School District, where a shooting left two students dead in 2003.

Its a writing tablet that doubles as a bulletproof shield, university spokesman William Robinson told CNN Money.

Not everyone believes buying students ballistic armor is the best way to protect them. School safety consultant Kenneth Trump is among the loudest voices decrying the practice.

Focus on fundamentals and get back to the basics, Trump told NPR. There is a security product for every possible need that your budget will buy. The question is, is that the best use of limited resources?

For Florida Christian School however, Gulla thinks the option to buy the backpack inserts might calm some parents.

We thought, yeah, lets offer it to anyone who wants it, he told the Miami Herald. Its not required. But if it gives you extra peace of mind.

Its out of the norm, but what is the norm? he added.
Ikea has inked a 1 million-square-foot warehouse lease in Baytown.

The Swedish furniture retailer announced plans Tuesday to hire 200 workers to staff its new customer-fulfillment center, located within two buildings at Cedar Port Industrial Park. The Baytown center represents the fourth Ikea fulfillment center in Texas, following ones in Houston, Round Rock and Dallas. Two more centers are planned in the state.

"As we expand across the country and grow our online presence, we want to ensure we have sufficient warehouse capacity to support the efficient and timely delivery and shipment of products to our customers," Lars Petersson, IKEA's U.S. president, said in a statement. "Our goal is to increase accessibility to the IKEA product selection, and these two fulfillment centers will help us meet the home furnishing needs of many American customers."

RELATED: Baytown site of latest big-box logistics project

Ikea also announced plans for a 646,000-square-foot fulfillment center in American Canyon, Calif. The company did not disclose financial details of its two new leases.

Now Playing: And they called on some of the world's best designers to help. Video: Delish

The projects complement Ikea's network of five regional distribution centers to deliver products to online shoppers and those purchasing larger furniture items at a store.

Baytown's location near the Port of Houston and petrochemical plants along the Gulf Coast have attracted several large industrial leases and projects in recent years. Walmart and Home Depot have large distribution centers there.

Earlier this year, Houston-based Pontikes Development announced plans to develop a 3 million-square-foot industrial park in Baytown to serve companies handling products from plastic pellets to finished retail goods.
A stalled Metro bus is snarling Tuesday morning rush hour traffic on Interstate 69 at Dairy Ashford.

The bus is blocking two inbound lanes of traffic, causing commuters to drive at a sluggish pace, according to the Houston Police Department's official Twitter.
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FAIRFIELD  The owner of an unlicensed day care is facing five years in prison after she pleaded no contest Monday to killing a 4-month-old Shelton boy with an overdose of Benadryl.

Carol Cardillo, who operated the unlicensed day care out of her Edgewood Road home in Fairfield for 11 years, pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter for the March 22, 2016, death of Adam Seagull who had only been in her care for 11 days.

Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin in Bridgeport told Cardillo under a plea bargain she faces 10 years, suspended after she serves five years in prison. But he is going to allow her lawyer, Eugene Riccio, to argue for a lesser term when Cardillo is sentenced Jan. 25.

The plea came as jury selection was beginning for Cardillos trial.

The babys parents, Matthew and Michelle Seagull, declined comment.

The baby died after being put down for a nap at Cardillos day care. At the time, there were seven other children in Cardillos care, ranging in age from 4 months to 4 years old.

Police said they received a 911 call around 3 p.m. about an unresponsive infant. Adam Seagull showed no signs of trauma, and before the autopsy, it was assumed he died from sudden infant death syndrome.

The autopsy revealed the baby had 41,000 nanograms per milliliter of Benadryl in his system; 5,000 nanograms per milliliter and above is a reportable limit.

Drugs like Benadryl are not supposed to be given to children under the age of 2. The babys parents later told police their son had not been given any medications during his short life, and they did not give Cardillo any permission to do so.

Police said Cardillo repeatedly denied giving the baby Benadryl and said she did not have any in her home. However, police said records obtained from a CVS pharmacy showed between Jan. 1, 2013, and May 24, 2016, Cardillo purchased 90 bottles of Benadryl, the last one purchased a week before the baby died.

The purchases consisted of both 4-ounce and 8-ounce bottles, the majority of which were childrens bubble gum or cherry flavored, police said.

Police said Cardillo told them Adam Seagull was alert and responsive during the morning. She have him a bottle of Enfamil around 11:45 a.m., and brought him upstairs for a nap after his feeding. He was put down for a nap around 12:30 p.m., and Cardillo told police she checked on him around 1:45 p.m. and observed his chest moving up and down.

An hour later, however, she went into the room to wake him from his nap and found that he was blue and stiff.

Cardillo told police she picked him up and began to scream for help, but did not know or attempt to perform CPR. One employee stated, according to police, She knew the boy was dead immediately upon seeing him.

Another employee, following the instructions of the 911 dispatcher, attempted CPR.
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STAMFORD  Brandon Pierce, senior minister at Stamford Church of Christ since June, knows how death can rock a small, rural community and its local place of worship.

As a minister in Junction, Texas, Pierce grieved with his congregation when a 16-year-old church member died in a car accident last April.

Painful as that tragedy was, Pierce cant imagine what Sutherland Springs, Texas, must be feeling now, after a gunman with an assault rifle opened fire on a group of church-goers Sunday morning, killing 26 people.

Pierce, 31, isnt the only Texan with the Stamford Church of Christ. Minister of music Edward Pleasant, 55, grew up in Midland, Texas, which is about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Sutherland Springs. But he also spent a lot of time in San Antonio performing with the Texas All-State Choir, just 45-minutes away.

When you hear of a tragedy in your home state, theres an extra connection, Pleasant said. You have an immediate connection because, being a Texan, you have an idea of what Texans are like. Sunday mornings are sacred.

In the aftermath of Sundays massacre, church communities across the country are once again faced with the alarming realization that even a place considered sacred is not off limits to Americas gun violence. Just two years ago, nine people were killed at an African American church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Pierces and Pleasants faith hasnt been shaken, though. If anything, its stronger than ever.

My faith transcends these things, Pleasant said.

[Shootings] dont cause a crisis of faith, Pierce said. My faith provides a ground for seeing past what can be a very difficult frame of mind.

This doesnt mean that Pierce, who studied Bible theology at Abilene Christian University in Texas, is numb to the countrys problems, or how his faith can play a part in remedying them.

He said that small communities, and their churches, can be exclusive and tight knit, which can alienate some people; Sutherland Springs is a community of just a few hundred residents.

The shooter, 26-year-old Devin Kelly, was discharged from the Air Force for assaulting his wife and child. According to reports, he had grown increasingly anti-Christian in recent months to the point that people stopped communicating with him.

Ive seen the power of isolated counseling services and the power of a community that someone can belong to, and they have profound effects, Pierce said.

Pleasant said that since Charleston, hes been more vigilant. Hes opened his mind to the realization that it could happen anywhere. Its not lost on him that the Stamford Church of Christ is a major church on a major road adjacent to a major highwaybut hes not afraid.

Pleasant, an African American, said he grew up around bad attitudes in Midland. But by high school, at Robert E. Lee High School, he said that he was part of an integrated student body. He didnt feel held back, and he even got a major role in the schools rendition of Sound of Music. He was the only black person in the cast; he knows the value of being accepted into a community.

This is a time for all of us to take a moment to do some soul searching and ask ourselves, What am I doing to help my fellow man? he said.

Both Pierce and Pleasant believe action is required, whether it be gun regulation or better mental health services. Pleasant, who used a .22 hunting rifle growing up, doesnt support the Second Amendment rights argument for a second.

The argument has never been about Second Amendment rights, but there are those who dictate to people that gun control is an infringement on their rights, which it isnt, he said. The issue is money, which the NRA has a lot of, and has a lot of power and influence through money.

However, both believe that true change happens at the local level.

I keep going back to Love thy neighbor and thyself, Pleasant said. A lot of issues would be remedied if we remembered that.

tclark@stamfordadvocate.com
ABCNews.com(WASHINGTON) -- The mass shooting at a rural Texas church Sunday is the latest instance where President Donald Trump did not call for immediate policy changes when the suspect in a large-scale attack has no apparent ties to other countries or foreign terror groups.



Trump has condemned the American-born Sutherland Springs, Texas, church shooting suspect, but blamed a mental health problem at the highest level," without demanding government action.



That contrasts to his response to mass attacks like the deadly truck-ramming attack in New York City, just five days before the Texas shooting. After the truck attack on a bike trail, he almost immediately reiterated his frequent demands for an overhaul of the immigration system, but also called for the end of a specific visa lottery program.



It fits a pattern, according to one expert.



"The policies of this administration focus much more attention on mass casualty attacks in which the perpetrator can be connected in some way to a foreign terrorist organization and therefore validate the administration's rhetoric on the need for a travel ban and stronger immigration enforcement," said John Cohen, an ABC News consultant and former counterterrorism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.



Such a focus is "ironic" because "many more casualties caused over the last several years in particular were through attacks by individuals who were born and raised in this country," Cohen added.



The statistics bear that out: Four of the five deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history involved American-born perpetrators, though one was the son of an Afghanistan immigrant. Seven of the 10 deadliest mass shootings were committed by white Americans in particular.



But White House press secretary Sarah Sanders denied a day after the Manhattan truck attack that Trump was trying to make political hay out of the event. The president has been talking about extreme vetting {of some immigrants] and the need for that for the purpose of protecting the citizens of this country since he was a candidate, she said at a press briefing.



Sanders added, "This isn't a new argument. This isn't a new position."



Deranged people



Trump has used a number of adjectives to describe different kinds of assailants.



In his Oct. 2 comments after the Las Vegas concert shooting, Trump simply referred to U.S.-born shooter Stephen Paddock as "a gunman," but in a tweet two days later, he called him "the demented shooter."



After the Oct. 31 truck ramming attack in New York City, Trump tweeted that the driver, Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov, was a very sick and deranged person. In another tweet, Trump wrote that ISIS just claimed the Degenerate Animal who killed, and so badly wounded, the wonderful people on the West Side.



Trump was in Japan Sunday when news of the church shooting in Sutherland Springs broke, and his first public reaction came in the form of remarks that suspect Devin Kelley a very deranged individual.



Some of his most harsh comments were reserved for Omar Mateen, the shooter at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016. Then-candidate Trump said the shooter, the U.S.-born son of an Afghanistan immigrant, slaughtered clubgoers and, in another tweet, shared a link to a story connecting this savage from Orlando to Trumps discredited claims that people were cheering after the 9/11 attacks.



Pointing to policy, but only in some cases



In cases that involve perpetrators with foreign ties, which in the past years have included the 2015 San Bernardino, California, shooting, the Pulse nightclub shooting and the Halloween truck attack in New York City, Trump has pivoted toward policy change suggestions within days, or sometimes hours, of the incident.



Trump made the connection between certain shootings and his administrations then-planned policies clear in one of his responses immediately after the Pulse nightclub shooting, in which Mateen killed 49 people.



What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough, Trump wrote in a tweet less than 14 hours after the first shots were fired.



During his speech to the National Rifle Association in April 2017, when he became the first sitting president since Ronald Reagan to speak to the lobbying group, Trump singled out three mass casualty incidents that involved individuals he has referred to as radical Islamic terrorists.



"Weve seen the attacks from 9/11 to Boston to San Bernardino. Hundreds of individuals from other countries have been charged with terrorism-related offenses in the United States," he said in the speech.



He did not mention any mass shootings that occurred on U.S. soil, many of which were committed by American-born perpetrators.



Demographic breakdown



Four of the five deadliest shootings in modern U.S. history were committed by men who were born in the United States: Stephen Paddock, who committed the Las Vegas shooting last month, Mateen, who was responsible for the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Adam Lanza, who opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, and now Devin Kelley in Texas.



The remaining individual -- Seung-hui Cho, who was responsible for the Virginia Tech shooting -- was born in South Korea but was a permanent U.S. resident at the time of the 2007 shooting.



When looking at the top 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, the killers break down into seven white male shooters and three shootings that involved non-white perpetrators.



Cohen, who has spent three years studying mass casualty attacks in the United States and Europe at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said the research is finding a lot of behavioral and psychological characteristics that are common across this group of people, whether theyre motivated by ideological objectives or something else.



"There is no religious, ethnic, or socio-economic profile  even among those motivated by extremist ideologies such as those of terrorist groups like ISIS," Cohen said. "Regardless of motive, many of these offenders present common behavioral, psychological, and life experience characteristics."



Cohen listed a number of such characteristics, including several that could apply to Kelley, such as a history of violent behavior and criminal activity or a series of work and other life failures. Its unclear whether others  such as underlying mental health or behavioral health issues, or feelings of exclusion or the experience of perception of victimization -- might apply in the latest mass shooting.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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Five centuries ago, on Oct. 31, long before the day became Halloween, a monk in a small German town made history by challenging teachings of the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther, a Catholic monk and professor, according to the BBC website, nailed 95 letters on a church door in Wittenberg criticizing Catholic practices such as selling indulgences. Luther's actions almost cost him his life, but they were the first steps in a religious movement that forever altered Christianity.

People all over the world have been celebrating the 500th anniversary of Luther's Reformation, including Protestants in Katy.

Christ Church, a Presbyterian Church in America location on Gaston Road, marked the anniversary with its sixth annual Reformation Day Party on Oct. 31. German-themed food, such as sausage on a stick and root beer, was offered as a pastor dressed like Martin Luther greeted attendees.

Senior Pastor Fred Greco said the event was mostly geared toward young kids, but anyone in the community was welcome.

Christ Church is also hosting a 5-week series on the Five Solas, or doctrines covering ideologies from the Reformation.

"The Reformation is important for us because it is, if I can put it this way, it's kind of the refoundation of our faith," Greco said. "It's not that Christianity and the Church didn't exist before that, it certainly did, but it was a going back to the Bible and the roots of what the Bible teaches after what we consider some corruption in the church and a forgetting of some of the biblical truths."

Greco said he decided to take a break from the planned Sunday morning subjects to discuss ideas of the Reformation.

Ideology from the Reformation impacted the founding of the United States, according to Greco.

"The whole concept of religious liberty in the First Amendment was absolutely unique to the world and is a product of those first Protestants who came and decided that religious liberty was the path for peace and prosperity in America," Greco said.

Memorial Lutheran Church, a Lutheran Missouri Synod church on Third Street, celebrated the anniversary the Sunday before with a blend of Reformation era and modern hymns.

"We normally have a service at 8 a.m. and 10:45, but instead we had one large combined service followed by a German dinner, with Brats, sausages, sauerkraut, and other German-esque sides," Director of Discipleship Nathan Engman said in an email.

New sections of the Memorial Lutheran Church building were recently completed, so Engman said the congregation had a lot to celebrate that day.

"The day was a combination of the Reformation past, Memorial Lutheran's past, the current present, and the hopes for the future to come," Engman said.

Other local churches in Katy and the Houston area hosted similar celebrations, Sunday morning sermons and historical lessons.

To find out more about local anniversary celebrations, research Reformation events at churches in your area.
Hope For Three

Hope For Three Autism Advocates, a local nonprofit, addresses the need to provide resources and support, including financial assistance, to children with an autism spectrum disorder.

The organization held a Nov. 2 reception to recognize community partners supporting the organization since inception.
President Donald Trump has put America at odds with the rest of the world when it comes to the goal of combating climate change.

At an international climate conference in Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday, Syria announced its plans to join the Paris climate accord - an agreement forged in 2015 for nations to ban together to slash global carbon emissions. That now leaves the United States as the only country to disavow the deal, after Trump this year announced intentions to withdraw from the agreement.

According to news reports and people who were present Tuesday, the Syrian delegation to the talks announced the war-torn country's intention to ratify the Paris agreement. Separately, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency, lawmakers in Damascus last month "approved a draft law on ratifying Syria's accession to the Paris Climate Agreement."

The move comes after the only other remaining holdout, Nicaragua, announced its plans to join the Paris agreement in September. Nicaragua initially had refused to join the agreement in 2015 because its leaders felt the accord did not go far enough in compelling nations to reduce their carbon emissions. But in joining the deal this fall, the country's president noted that it is the "only instrument we have" to unite the world around the goal of staving off the most catastrophic effects of global warming.

Syria's decision to join the accord brought another round of rebukes for the Trump administration.

"As if it wasn't already crystal clear, every single other country in the world is moving forward together to tackle the climate crisis, while Donald Trump's has isolated the United States on the world stage in an embarrassing and dangerous position," Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement.

In June, Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement, an extraordinary move that baffled American allies and threatened to undermine global efforts to slow the warming of the Earth's atmosphere.

Trump's decision drew swift, sharp condemnation from foreign leaders, environmental groups and corporate titans, who argued that the U.S. exit from the Paris accord would represent a failure of American leadership in the face of irrefutable scientific evidence.

Trump, who has labeled climate change a "hoax" and appointed climate change skeptics to top administration posts, argued the Paris agreement and Obama-era regulations to curb emissions were crippling businesses and killing jobs.

"I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," Trump proclaimed at the time. He added that he would consider rejoining the deal if the United States could reenter on more favorable terms. Other countries rejected that notion, saying individual countries already have the freedom to alter their pledges to reduce emissions.

The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris agreement cannot actually be finalized until near the end of Trump's term, due to the legal structure and language of the accord.

But with the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases essentially walking away from the pact, scientists and policymakers have said it would be nearly impossible for the world to realize its goal of limiting global warming to below a 2-degree Celsius (3.6-degree Fahrenheit) rise above preindustrial temperatures.

The withdrawal also marked a staggering reversal from the previous administration. President Barack Obama considered the accord a signature and critical diplomatic achievement, and during his second term made it a top priority to convince other world leaders to embrace the deal.

- - -

The Post's Chris Mooney contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - House Republicans on Monday again rejected President Donald Trump's push to use their tax bill to repeal a critical piece of the Affordable Care Act, instead making only modest changes to their legislation as they attempt to move it closer to a vote on the House floor.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, offered an amendment that would tweak the way the bill would tax the earnings of investment managers, cross-border transactions by multinational corporations and the endowments of private universities.

The amendment did not make other, more costly changes to business taxation or repeal the Affordable Care Act's insurance mandate, which requires most Americans to obtain some form of health insurance.

Brady said at a day-long Ways and Means markup session Monday that "we are not including various health-tax related measures as part of our tax reform efforts," though he did not specifically rule out repealing the ACA's individual mandate.

"We will move to these important policies separately and immediately after conclusion of our tax reform efforts," Brady said, referring to bipartisan efforts to repeal ACA taxes on medical devices, over-the-counter drugs and health insurance premiums.

Trump had personally pushed Brady to include the mandate repeal, a change nonpartisan analysts say would save the government more than $400 billion over a decade but would also leave 15 million more Americans without health insurance. The plan would give Republicans more flexibility in crafting their bill, but it would complicate the bill's already difficult path through the Senate, where internal Republican divisions and unanimous Democratic opposition have thwarted multiple efforts at repealing the heath care law.

Brady's changes, which were adopted on a party-line committee vote late Monday, came as Republicans battled new evidence that their tax plan, which they are promoting as a middle-class tax cut, will instead deliver uneven benefits to American workers while delivering outsized benefits to corporations and the wealthiest tier of individuals.

Thomas A. Barthold, chief of staff of the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, testified Monday that up to 38 million Americans with annual incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 would, on average, see a tax increase starting in 2023 under the House GOP plan.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the legislative centerpiece of Trump's economic agenda, aims to deliver a $1.5 trillion tax cut to stimulate economic growth, and Republicans have promised an immediate $1,100 tax cut for a family of four making $59,000. The cliff in 2023, they argue, is due to the planned expiration of a tax credit that Congress will most likely act to extend. But several Democrats on the panel quizzed Barthold, who testified on his office's fiscal analysis of the plan, on the apparent temporary nature of the bill's benefits for some middle-class families.

Barthold also testified that the bill, if passed, would have the immediate impact of greatly reducing the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions - from the current rate of 29 percent to a projected 6 percent in 2018.

That reflects the GOP plan's substantial increase in the standard deduction, which could mean simpler filing for tens of millions of taxpayers - a Republican priority. But the drastic reduction in itemization could carry major implications for the housing and nonprofit sectors, which have respectively come to rely on tax deductions to encourage taxpayers to buy homes and donate to charity.

The debate over the middle-class benefits of the bill came as House Republican tax writers negotiated behind the scenes to keep the legislation on track.

The suite of changes Brady unveiled Monday included a change to the way the federal tax code handles "carried interest," a provision allowing investors to pay tax on some income at the lower capital-gains rate rather than the standard rate for earned income. Among those who take frequent advantage of the provision are managers of hedge funds and private equity firms. Supporters say the provision is an incentive for better performance by investment managers, but critics say it's a loophole for the super-rich.

The change requires any asset to be held for three years before a taxpayer could claim the carried-interest provision. The change, Brady said in a Monday morning CNBC interview, would "make sure it really is focused on those long-term, traditional real estate partnerships" rather than hedge funds. But it would stop well short of the complete repeal long advocated by Democrats who argue that carried interest allows investors to recast ordinary income earned for services rendered as investment income subject to a lower rate.

The proposed change comes as Democrats criticize the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy - a charge Republicans deny - and several nonpartisan analyses have suggested the very wealthy would enjoy an outsize share of the measure's proposed $1.5 trillion in tax cuts over a decade.

Brady rebutted recent studies, including from the Joint Committee on Taxation, that suggest that the GOP tax bill is heavily tilted in favor of businesses and the wealthy. According to the JCT's analysis, more than two-thirds of the $1.5 trillion tax cut would go to businesses and wealthy families who would avoid the estate tax.

"We want a dramatically more pro-growth tax code where our companies, whether they are local or global, can compete and win anywhere in the world, including here at home," Brady said, adding that the rewrite was "about flattering the tax code, making it understandable and fair."

The amendment unveiled Monday also appeared to address concerns from multinational firms who opposed a new 20 percent tax on certain transactions between corporate affiliates meant to discourage those firms from shifting profits to lower-taxed countries. It also reduced the reach of a new 1.4 percent tax on large university endowments, applying it only to institutions with assets of $250,000 per enrolled student or more, versus the $100,000 threshold in the initial bill. Also protected is the current $5,000 per year exclusion for employer-provided dependent-care savings accounts.

Brady introduced the bill last week as part of his party's effort to make the biggest changes to the U.S. tax code since the Reagan administration. The Ways and Means markup session could stretch into Thursday as committee Republicans and Democrats propose, debate and vote on amendments to the measure. Republican leaders hope to pass their bill through the House by Thanksgiving.

The debate turned heated at times Monday, with several Democrats raising their voices to accuse Republicans of rushing the process and misrepresenting the effects of the bill.

"Why are you doing this?" Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., shouted to Brady at one point. "You are desperately looking for something to pass."

Other changes that Republican tax writers discussed Sunday in a closed-door meeting were not included - such as an increase in the bill's proposed $500,000 limit on the mortgage interest deduction or the preservation of existing tax incentives for adoptive families.

Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., a Ways and Means member who is pushing to maintain the adoption incentives, said discussions were continuing. "We want to make sure that it really, truly takes care of those children that are most in need," she said.

GOP lawmakers also did not change the treatment of "pass-through" businesses - firms where earnings are passed to its owners to be taxed as individual income. Lawmakers are exploring how to expand eligibility for a new 25 percent rate on that income, in part to address the concerns of the National Federation of Independent Business, a lobbying group. But any expansion could explode the cost of a provision already estimated to cost roughly $450 billion over the coming decade.

The NFIB said last week it would oppose the initial version of the bill because it "leaves too many small businesses behind" by leaving them ineligible for the lower rate. "We believe that tax reform should provide substantial relief to all small businesses, so they can reinvest their money, grow, and create jobs," the group said.

And serious discussion remains about repealing the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, which could give the tax writers room to make these or other costly changes without exceeding a $1.5 trillion limit on the total cost of the bill over the coming decade. Repealing the mandate would mean fewer Americans would purchase insurance using federal subsidies, leading to less government spending.

Although the Congressional Budget Office estimated last year that a repeal would have a $416 billion positive deficit impact, updates to the nonpartisan scorekeeper's model have significantly reduced that figure, according to GOP officials. One of the officials said Monday that the new analysis will not be available until later in the week.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to unveil its version of a tax bill Thursday once the House committee's proceedings end, according to multiple aides familiar with the plans, setting up its own markup next week.

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The Washington Post's Damian Paletta contributed to this report.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The gunman who killed more than two dozen people in a small church outside San Antonio on Sunday had a string of troubling episodes in recent years, including an escape from a mental health facility in 2012 after he was caught sneaking guns onto an Air Force base "attempting to carry out death threats" against military superiors, according to a police report.

Devin P. Kelley's young life was riddled with warning signs, mounting during and after his time in the Air Force, including a conviction for beating his then-wife and stepson, charges of animal cruelty, mental health concerns, investigations for domestic assault, threats against his family members and a motorcycle crash that left him with lingering physical pain.

Interviews and police and military documents depict Kelley as a distressed - and at-times, violent - man in the years before authorities said he walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and fired round after round into the congregation gathered for Sunday morning services.

Police in El Paso, reported that five years before the church massacre, officers were dispatched to a bus terminal after Kelley escaped from a nearby behavioral facility. Officers wrote they were told Kelley, who was serving in the Air Force, "was a danger to himself and others" at the time and "was also facing military criminal charges." While it is unclear why Kelley was at the behavioral facility and whether he ever faced military discipline for the threats, he was court-martialed that same year and convicted of abusing his wife and stepson.

But the Air Force has acknowledged that it did not tell federal authorities about the domestic violence conviction, which should have prevented him from buying firearms, and the revelations about Kelley's stint in a mental health facility and making threats against his superiors raised new questions about the service's handling of Kelley and his discharge.

The Air Force is investigating the lack of reporting of Kelley's conviction to a national crime database, and an Air Force spokeswoman did not immediately provide additional information about the threats and 2012 escape.

Authorities, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, have questioned how it was possible for Kelley to have passed background checks for jobs and gun purchases, checks that should have made it difficult for him to obtain the weapons he used in Sunday's slaughter. The domestic violence conviction should have raised red flags as he purchased four guns, one in each of the past four years.

Domestic concerns appeared to follow Kelley through two marriages. His first marriage ended in divorce after he was jailed for abusing his wife, and authorities said domestic problems involving Kelley's in-laws - officials said he had been sending his mother-in-law threatening texts - preceded his attack on the church his wife's family attended.

Kelley's anger exploded outward on Sunday when Texas law enforcement officials said he targeted the small church outside San Antonio "with a purpose and a mission."

One woman who was wounded during the carnage said Kelley fired at churchgoers who tried to leave and pumped bullets into those cowering or wounded on the church's floor. David Brown, whose mother, Farida, was shot in her legs, said she described Kelley firing four shots into the torso of a woman on her left.

"With every shot, she was crying," Brown said of the woman. "She was just staring at my mom while she tried to comfort her." As he fired rounds into the woman, Farida Brown held her hand, telling her she was heading to heaven.

Authorities said they were still reconstructing what happened inside the church, and are unable to say how long the gunman fired or how many shots were fired - he reloaded several times and appeared to have emptied 15 magazines, which could mean several hundred shots. They said he spent considerable time firing at churchgoers, first shooting at the front and side of the building before heading inside and continuing his rampage.

"When the first call came in, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office arrived within four minutes," Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a briefing Tuesday. "I can tell you four minutes is a long time during an active-shooter situation."

When the gunfire ended, nearly everyone inside had been injured or killed, Martin said. Officials said the 26 people killed included the unborn child of a pregnant woman who was killed. Another 20 people were injured, and half of them remained in critical condition Tuesday.

Kelley, who was shot twice by a local man who heard what was happening at the church and responded, fled and shot himself in the head about 10 miles from the church, officials said.

Investigators have not publicly identified a motive for the shooting, but they pointed to Kelley's rage at his own relatives, particularly his mother-in-law, who attended the church but was not there during the massacre. "We know there was conflict," Martin said. "He was upset with the mother-in-law."

Kelley's mother-in-law told a local schoolteacher, Tambria Read, 59, that even with the familial strife, she was shocked by what Kelley had done. Kelley had visited the church with his family five days ahead of the attack, attending a fall festival, an event conceived as an alternative to Halloween. Members of the church and their children appeared at the event in costume.

"She said that she did not think he would do anything like this," Read said Tuesday. "She said they were having family issues and they thought things were getting better, that there was improvement in the relationship in the family because they had taken the children to the fall festival."

Attempts to reach Kelley's mother-in-law have been unsuccessful.

Martin said law enforcement officials believe further details about the dispute might be found on Kelley's cellphone. The FBI said Tuesday that while they have obtained the phone and brought it to their facility in Quantico, Virginia, they have been unable to access its data.

Federal authorities have been critical of the encryption they say has kept them off of devices crucial to investigations, an issue that notably flared into a lengthy dispute between the FBI and Apple over an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, attackers; the bureau later said an outside group helped them unlock that device.

Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division, said the FBI had never investigated Kelley before Sunday's attack. But Kelley had repeatedly come to the attention of local and military authorities in Texas and New Mexico.

In June 2012, the El Paso police were called to the Greyhound bus station there in response to a missing person, according to a police report first obtained Tuesday by two Texas television stations, KVIA in El Paso and KPRC in Houston.

Officers wrote that they were told Kelley, at the time serving at Holloman Air Force Base, had escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Services, a facility just over the border in New Mexico, and intended to hop a bus out of town.

That same year, Kelley was court-martialed by the Air Force. He was charged with abusing his wife and her son - including a serious head injury to the toddler - between April 2011 and April 2012 and sentenced in November 2012, according to Air Force documents. Because the Air Force does not operate prisons, Kelley served his sentence at a Navy brig in San Diego.

At the time of Kelley's May 2014 discharge, his duty title was "prisoner," according to the Air Force.

Local police also encountered him when he returned to south Texas. Deputies with the Comal County Sheriff's Office in Texas were called to Kelley's house 17 times over the years, Sheriff Mark Reynolds said in an interview Tuesday. Most calls were for loose livestock and brush fires, but two of them "raised flags," the sheriff said.

In June 2013, Kelley was accused of sexual assault, but details of the case are being withheld because it is still open and under investigation - although Reynolds acknowledged there appeared to be little follow-up by investigators after October 2013. In February 2014, officers were again called to the home to investigate a disturbance. A friend of Kelley's then-girlfriend, who he later married, summoned law enforcement saying that she had received a text alleging abuse at the home. Police found no evidence of abuse and Kelley's girlfriend denied anything had happened.

"Officers thought, 'Maybe this is just a misunderstanding and teenage drama,' " Reynolds said. "They didn't see anything that substantiated that type of abuse."

Around the same time as that episode, Kelley was involved in a motorcycle crash that, he wrote on Facebook, left him with neck and head pain up until his final days. He had been riding a 2009 Harley Davidson down a four-lane county road in New Braunfels when 91-year-old Bessie Mulhollan pulled her Buick out in front of him, according to police records.

"She was pulling out of a parking lot and didn't see him," said Beth Hawes Mulhollan, the woman's daughter-in-law, who was not present for the accident but was told about it later by Bessie, who died in 2015. "He ended up running right into the side of her car."

Police records say Kelley was treated at the scene of the crash but that he declined further medical aid.

Just days before the shooting rampage, Kelley posted messages on Facebook complaining about lingering neck pain from the crash. The posts were shared with The Post by a Facebook friend of Kelley's who took screenshots before his page was taken down.

"My motorcycle injury in my neck is acting up again," Kelley wrote on Facebook last week. "4 years later it still causes me major neck pain."

In another post, the day before the shooting, he added: "Damn," with a frowning emoticon. "My heads been hurting for 3 days now."

On the morning of the shooting, he posted: "I'm a wreck."

In Comal County's court records, a little yellow flag is posted on Kelley's electronic file, denoting that he has psychiatric issues. It was not immediately clear when the flag was added - Cecilia Delgado with the district clerk's office said the flag dates back to at least 2012, when the courthouse moved to a new computer system. The system is only countywide, and individuals are typically flagged upon entering the county's jail.

Kelley was flagged by the Comal County Sheriff's Office, Delgado said, but Reynolds confirmed that Kelley had never entered the jail and was not immediately sure when the flag was added.

"We're taught to look for the flags," Reynolds said.

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Berman and Lowery reported from Washington. Eva Ruth Moravec in New Braunfels, Texas; Joel Achenbach and Peter Holley in Sutherland Springs, Texas; Bob Moore in Alamogordo, N.M.; and Brian Murphy, Samantha Schmidt, Alex Horton and Julie Tate contributed to this report.

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Video: Residents of Sutherland Springs, Texas, grapple with the mass shooting that took 26 lives from the community. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

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Rep. Ted Lieu's national profile skyrocketed as he became the acerbic foil to the nation's tweeter in chief, blasting President Donald Trump with incessant and sharply worded responses to presidential posts.

But the California Democrat's recent foray into social media took aim at other legislators who he said were not doing enough to beef up the nation's gun control laws in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting at a Texas church.

While his colleagues were inside the House chambers on Monday, having a moment of silence for the victims, Lieu was outside, phone in selfie position, being the opposite of silent.

"My colleagues are doing a moment of silence in the House of Representatives chamber. I respect their right to do that and I myself have participated in many of them, but I can't do this again," he told his Facebook followers.

"I've been to too many moments of silences. In just my short career in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred. I will not be silent. What we need is we need action. We need to pass gun safety legislation now."

It was a spray of gasoline on the already incendiary debate about guns in the United States - particularly concerning access to the most dangerous weapons that have been used to take dozens of lives in violent moments.

Lieu, who is Catholic, told The Washington Post he prayed for the victims on Sunday, but got angry when he saw the congressional calendar. It contained the moment of silence, but no legislative action.

"This is all we do in Congress," he told The Post. "We do this brief moment of silence, and then nothing happens. It's not as if we're business people. We make laws. We're actually in a position where we can do something about this."

His ire grew for most of a day, and when the moment of silence began Monday, he grabbed his phone and walked out.

Before Lieu had finished the video, he had already received praise from people who say he got to the meat of the issue and criticism from those who derided him for making a political point during a moment of mourning.

"So glad you are MY REPRESENTATIVE. So proud of you," one woman wrote during the video.

"Your an idiot," a man wrote a few milliseconds later. "To leave a moment of silence to do a political rant is not cool. Total disrespect for those killed."

"One minute is all you needed to wait," another commenter said. "It's an embarrassment that you couldn't show 60 seconds of respect before you started grandstanding."

Lieu was not the first to raise the gun control issue. Others brought it up in the hours after the shooting, which left 26 dead in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

For President Barack Obama tweeted "May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst."

As the debate raged on, investigators were trying to parse out how the suspected killer got his guns despite a violent criminal past.

The Air Force said it did not follow policies for alerting authorities about Devin Kelley's criminal history when he served at a New Mexico base, as reported by The Washington Post. He should not have been allowed to buy a gun because of his domestic-violence conviction in 2014.

Trump said Tuesday that tougher gun laws would have made "no difference three days ago." He said "hundreds more" people would have died had another man not been able to "neutralize" the alleged killer with a gun of his own.

A month ago, a similar debate raged about "bump stocks," a contraption that can be used to legally increase a rifle's firing rate. Several rifles with bump stocks were found in the room of the shooter who opened fire on a concert crowd on the Las Vegas Strip last month from an upper hotel floor, killing 58 and injuring more than 500.

After the Las Vegas mass shooting, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a bill specifically targeting bump stocks and similar inventions.

A month later, Lieu ended his moment of non-silence with a call to action, saying Congress should pass "reasonable gun safety legislation including a universal background check law."

He told The Post that he got the irony of his predicament - that more people are listening to him because of his sharp tweets toward Trump.

"For whatever reason, in me tweeting, it has resulted in more people paying attention, and I do think that while I have this opportunity, I should try to affect sentiment while I can."

He also sought to blunt criticism that skipping out on a congressional moment of silence was in some way disrespectful to victims. Not being silent, he said, was pretty much the point.

"I think the best way for me to honor victims of mass shooting is to try to prevent further mass shootings."
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The Main Street Program Coordinating Board met Monday at lunch to discuss a variety of items, one of the issues was the need for volunteers outside of the board members themselves.

The issue came up as part of the discussion of the Main Street 10 Point Criteria Report, specifically criteria number five, which requires specific input from the board. When the board got to the section of the criteria dealing with volunteers, which specifically asked whether there were other active volunteers who serve either on particular projects/activities or on committees. The board members said that generally outside of the board members themselves there are few if any volunteers. Members agreed that they would like to see more volunteers participate in projects and that they would look to work to bring in more volunteers from the outside. The other aspects of criteria number five were met according to agreement of the board members.
"President Trump has actually laid out a lot of the right things we need to do."

Now there's something you don't hear every day. But when it comes to taxes and regulations, Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, thinks the president's framework is the right one. "We need to reform the tax code. We need to change our regulations," MacGuineas said.

"Some need to be fewer. Some need to be more, but we need to look at our regulatory burden in this country."

But the tax legislation under consideration by Congress melds the need for tax reform with an insatiable desire for tax cuts. You have to understand the difference between the two to understand why what is being proposed doesn't meet CRFB's fiscally responsible standards.

"Tax reform is when you change how you tax, what you tax, how much you tax, all in an effort, mainly to grow the economy," MacGuineas explained. "Tax cuts, basically, is everybody pays less in taxes today, and we borrow that from our kids."

She added later, "Tax cuts have moved into the discussion because the problem with tax reform is that when you cut one person's taxes or one company's taxes, you have to raise somebody else's, if you're actually doing revenue-neutral tax reform."

MacGuineas explain "the good, the bad and the ugly of the House tax bill."

We talk about the borrowing, the suddenly devil-may-care attitude of Republicans about debt and deficits and the need to get rid of favored tax deductions for things such as mortgage interest and state and local sales taxes.

"The things that we want to do and we advocate for usually are the least popular," MacGuineas said of CRFB's discussions with members of Congress. "That is the tough role of being the fiscal skunk at every party."

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"Cape Up" is a weekly podcast talking to key figures behind the news and our culture.

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COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh - They may be out of harm's way, for now, but their ordeal continues. Over the past two months, more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees have crossed the border from Myanmar, also known as Burma, to seek shelter in Bangladesh. Not since the Rwandan genocide has a humanitarian crisis unfolded so fast and on such a scale. If one counts the hundreds of thousands who were already based here, driven out by earlier waves of violence in Rakhine state, there are now more than a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

At first, the new arrivals were welcomed. Across Bangladesh, there is an outpouring of sympathy for the persecuted minority who have been driven from their homes by a harrowing campaign of torture, rape, killings, arson and other human rights violations. The Bangladeshi government, which had long been ambivalent towards the Rohingya, embraced them. On a visit to the camps last month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared that if Bangladesh could feed 160 million people, it could feed hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. Across the Cox's Bazar district, she is shown consoling refugee children on placards that hail her as the "Mother of Humanity."

Now, the mood is slowly giving way to anxiety. Bangladeshis are keenly aware that the humanitarian crisis has enhanced their prestige abroad, but there are worries about how their poor, densely populated country will cope. With an eye on next year's elections, which are clouded by fears about how the religious right might exploit the crisis, ministers routinely grumble about the insupportable burden they are forced to carry. There is no sign that the refugees will be able to return to their homes anytime soon, and there is no plan to provide for their long-term needs.

As far as Myanmar's generals see it, they have successfully executed a plan to finally rid themselves of the Rohingya. Stripped of their citizenship, denied recognition as an ethnic group, the Rohingya have long been subject to an entrenched system of discrimination. The heart-rending testimonies of the past two months bear a chilling consistency with reports from the late 1970s, when 200,000 Rohingya were also driven out of their villages amid a frenzy of violence.

Back then, many Bangladeshis found it easy to sympathize with the plight of the Rohingya. The memories of 1971, when the Pakistan army carried out large-scale human rights violations and drove millions of refugees into India, were still fresh. But that didn't stop the government from trying to force them back. "We are not going to make the refugees so comfortable that they won't go back to Burma," a minister said at the time. Within the space of six months, 10,000 refugees had died in the camps of hunger.

The desire to see the refugees return to Myanmar appears to dominate the current Bangladeshi government's thinking. It has refused to grant the Rohingya refugee status, leaving them without any legal status on either side of the border. That decision may seem trivial, but it's of fateful significance, since it prevents international humanitarian aid agencies from mobilizing the kind of support needed. Also against the wishes of the humanitarian community, the government is constructing what may become the world's largest refugee camp.

The Kutupalong refugee camp, assigned to Rohingya refugees who fled here during the early 1990s, has now been extended in every direction. Scattered across 3,000 acres of previously forested land, it will become home to more than a million people. Plans are underway to coax earlier arrivals of Rohingya refugees out of the makeshift dwellings and onto the rambling hills where they have been assigned shelter. There is no direct access by road; supplies have to be delivered by foot.

The weather is oppressive. The searing heat is only interrupted by monsoon rain or severe gusts of wind. The thought of the camp's fate during the coming cyclone season fills the humanitarian community with dread, as do other looming hazards. A fire in a tent, or the outbreak of disease, will sweep across the camp with a fury that will be difficult to tame. Doctors Without Borders has described health conditions in the camp as a "time bomb." The government is still toying with the reckless idea of moving the Rohingya refugees offshore, to a pair of uninhabited and uninhabitable silt islands that have barely emerged into view. Meanwhile, criminal gangs, human traffickers, armed groups and others who sense opportunity in misery are a constant menace.

Every refugee I spoke to said they wanted to go home - but not before "shanti," or peace, returns. It will not be enough for the violence to stop. The cruel, entrenched system of discrimination and segregation that made them so vulnerable in the first place has to be dismantled. The Rohingya cannot be left living in fear of a fresh wave of violence that will drive them across the border yet again, condemned to their tragic status as a perpetually unwanted people.

For that to happen, Myanmar's military must be held accountable and Bangladesh's government must be helped with its burden. This is not a crisis that will disappear any time soon, and unless there is a determined global response over the long-term, it could become worse still. The plight of the Rohingya is a test - a moment that demands the international community demonstrate that the words "never again" still carry some meaning.

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Omar Waraich is deputy South Asia director at Amnesty International.
New York

New York City police officer Wayne Isaacs, who was charged with killing an unarmed man in an apparent road rage shooting, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges by a Brooklyn jury on Monday.

Isaacs was off duty on July 4, 2016 when he and Delrawn Small got into a traffic dispute.

Small got out of his car and confronted the officer, who responded by shooting him through the driver's side window. Isaacs said he fired in self-defense.

"We are devastated and outraged that the jury failed to ensure justice," Small's siblings said in a statement, adding that "our society must confront the problematic issues related to race and power that lead grand juries and juries to fail to hold officers fully accountable when they kill people of color." Small was black, as is Isaacs.

The trial marked the first time the state attorney general prosecuted a police shooting of an unarmed victim since Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the office that role in August 2015.
Saudi Arabia said it has only frozen the bank accounts of individuals and not those of the companies they own or manage, as the kingdom seeks to ease tension among global investors over a crackdown that's seen princes and billionaires arrested.

The action, described by Saudi authorities as an anti-corruption drive, applies only to individual accounts held by "persons of interest," and not to corporate ones, Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Governor Ahmed Abdulkarim Alkholifey said in a statement on Tuesday. "It is business as usual for both banks and corporates," he said, adding that there are no restrictions on money transfers "through proper banking channels."

The arrests, which included Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the world's richest men and a shareholder in such global companies as Citigroup Inc. and Apple Inc., have reverberated across board rooms and financial institutions in the biggest Arab economy and globally.

Earlier, three people with knowledge of the matter said the central bank ordered banks in the kingdom to freeze the accounts of dozens of individuals who aren't under arrest. Already, as much as $33 billion in personal wealth belonging to the richest detainees has been put at risk.

More may be on the way: The regulator sent a list of hundreds of names to lenders, telling them to freeze any accounts linked to them, two of the people said. They asked not to be identified because the information is private. The Saudi attorney general said in a statement released Monday that weekend arrests of princes, businessmen and officials were only "phase one" of the anti-corruption drive.

The detentions drew support from President Donald Trump but also raised concern among analysts that a power grab was underway. In all, 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of former ministers and well-known businessmen were taken into custody, according to Saudi media and a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The arrests were under the auspices of an anti-corruption commission that King Salman set up on Saturday, headed by his son and heir, Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The king also dismissed Prince Miteb bin Abdullah from his post as head of the powerful National Guard, taking out one of the last princes who had survived a series of cabinet reshuffles promoting allies of the crown prince.

The events have reinforced speculation that King Salman was clearing any remaining obstacles to his son's accession to the throne. But they were also lauded by many Saudis bearing the brunt of low oil prices who have long complained that the kingdom's elite was above the law.

The benchmark Tadawul All Share Index fell as much as 3.1 percent on Monday before trimming losses to 0.7 percent in Riyadh. Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding plummeted 10 percent; it's down 21 percent since the arrests.

"It's almost the equivalent of arresting Bill Gates to have Prince Alwaleed bin Talal under arrest," Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Bloomberg TV on Monday.

A genuine push against corruption would add to the credibility of Prince Mohammed's push to prepare the economy for the post-oil era, including selling a stake in Saudi Aramco and bolstering non-oil revenue, he said. "If it turns out to simply be a power grab, then I think it's going to hurt the Saudis in the long run, and certainly hurt this crown prince."

The crackdown also comes amid an escalation in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Shiite-ruled Iran, its chief regional rival.

Pro-Iranian Yemeni rebels fired a ballistic missile on Saturday that targeted Riyadh's international airport for the first time, a move Saudi officials said could amount to an "act of war" by the Islamic Republic. Iranian officials denied any involvement. Earlier that day, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri -- a Saudi ally -- unexpectedly resigned in a speech from Riyadh, blaming Iran for destabilizing his country.

"Investors have been hammered with bad news on the geopolitical front," said Nabil Al Rantisi, the managing director of Abu Dhabi-based Mena Corp. Financial Services. "It's not easy to see what is coming next."

Saudi Arabia has welcomed Trump's promise of a tougher policy against Iran, which he has described as a "rogue state." Trump's backing came in a tweet Tuesday morning from Japan.

"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," the president said.

A senior Saudi official denied the crackdown had any other purpose than to fight corruption. The accused "will be subject to investigation according to the regular procedures adopted in the Kingdom," he said.

According to the official, the charges against Prince Alwaleed include money laundering, bribery and extortion of some officials. Prince Miteb is charged with embezzlement, fraudulent employment and the awarding of projects to his own companies. Another royal family member, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, is accused of corruption related to a train project, using his influence to win projects for companies affiliated to himself, the official said.

---

Bloomberg's Glen Carey contributed.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's crackdown on some of Saudi Arabia's richest and most powerful men has put $33 billion of personal wealth at risk.

The stunning series of arrests has implicated three of the country's richest people, including Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who's No. 50 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index ranking of the world's 500 richest people, with $19 billion. Also being held are the kingdom's second- and fifth-wealthiest people, as well as a travel-agency mogul and Bakr Binladin, a scion of one of the country's biggest construction empires.

The arrests, which the crown prince said are part of a fight against corruption, reportedly have led the government to freeze the accounts of the more than three dozen men detained and believed to be held at the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton.

Alwaleed bin Talal, $19 billion

Owns stakes in Twitter, News Corp. and Citigroup. Nephew of the late Saudi ruler, King Abdullah. Son of Prince Talal and Princess Mona El-Solh, daughter of Lebanon's first prime minister, Riad El-Solh. Made his first billion dollars trading land and acting as a point man for multinational companies seeking local contracts.

Alwaleed's publicly traded Kingdom Holding Group released a statement saying it "enjoys a solid financial position" and the government has "full confidence" in the company.

Mohammed Al Amoudi, $10.1 billion

Controls an empire that has investments across Africa, Europe and Saudi Arabia. Born in Ethiopia to a Saudi father and Ethiopian mother. Moved to Saudi Arabia as a young man and made his first billion in the late 1980s through construction, aided by an early government contract to help build the country's underground oil storage facility. Assets include Sweden's largest oil refiner, Preem AB, real estate and numerous contracting businesses. In Ethiopia, where he's said to be the biggest private investor, he owns hotels and a gold mine, and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in large-scale farms growing coffee and rice.

Tim Pendry, Al Amoudi's London-based spokesman said in a statement Monday that the arrest "is an internal matter for the kingdom and we have no further comment to make other than to say that the overseas businesses owned by the Sheikh remain unaffected by this development."

Saleh Kamel, $3.7 billion

Self-made finance and healthcare entrepreneur started running bus services for Hajj pilgrims and later founded the kingdom's first driving school. Regarded as one of the pioneers of Islamic finance, a method of banking that complies with Islamic law and is today a $2.2 trillion industry. Kamel founded Manama, Bahrain-based Albaraka Banking Group, an Islamic bank with $23.4 billion in assets at the end of 2016. Carved out an early niche for himself by becoming the first non-government company to sell services to consumers. Jeddah-based holding group, Dallah Albaraka, owns more than a dozen businesses, spanning hospital operator Dallah Healthcare Co., real estate developments and snack-food factories.

Albaraka Banking Group's Egypt subsidiary said in a statement that the arrest didn't have a direct impact on the company and that Kamel didn't serve on the subsidiary's board. Kamel is chairman of the board at the parent company.

Nasser Al Tayyar, $600 million

The 60-year-old amassed a fortune that's tied to publicly traded Al Tayyar Travel Group Holding Co., one of Saudi Arabia's largest travel agencies. Founded the business in 1980 with four employees and about $300,000 after a stint in the reservations department of Saudi Arabian Airlines. The company books airfare and hotel rooms, and also organizes specialized travel, like foreign medical trips, and Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Islam's holy cities. Al Tayyar's shares slumped 10 percent at the close in Riyadh reaching their lowest since June 2012.

The company said in a statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange that its operations are continuing, and that it's safeguarding the interests of its customers and shareholders.

Bakr Binladin

The brother of Osama Bin Laden heads one of the kingdom's largest construction companies, Saudi Binladin Group. The closely-held firm was started by Bakr's father, Mohammed, in 1931, and has built some of the kingdom's biggest and most notable projects, from the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, to airports and King Abdullah Economic City. The company had revenue of $3 billion in 2016, and ownership is split among more than 20 descendants, according to Orbis, a database of company information published by Bureau van Dijk.

Phone calls made to the company headquarters after hours went unanswered.

Two of the four Saudis on the Bloomberg index haven't been detained in the sweep: hotel magnate Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber, who has an $8.3 billion fortune and splits his time between Paris, London, Vienna and Jeddah, and Prince Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Kabeer, the biggest individual shareholder in food processor Almarai Co., who has $4.7 billion.
Speaking with CNBC's Hadley Gamble over the weekend, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said he would not stay one more day as president against the will of the Egyptian people

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told CNBC over the weekend that he respects the country's constitution, which places a limit of two four-year terms on the presidency.

Referring to the provision in Egypt's 2014 constitution permitting presidents to serve no more than two four-year terms, El-Sisi said: "We will not interfere with it."

"It doesn't suit me as a president to stay one more day against the will of the Egyptians," El-Sisi told the American news channel in an interview published on its website late on Monday.

"This is not talk for TV, those are principles I embrace and am keen on," he said.

Speaking with CNBC reporter Hadley Gamble, the Egyptian leader said: "I am with preserving two four-year terms and not changing it."

He continued: "There is no president who will sit in the chair [of the president] without the will of the Egyptian people. He will not be able to continue another term without the will of the Egyptians."

El-Sisi came to office in 2014 with a landslide victory at the polls, a year after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following massive protests against his turbulent one-year rule.

El-Sisi told CNBC that the next presidential elections will take place around March or April 2018, without confirming his intention to run for a second term when his current tenure ends.

His supporters have, however, been petitioning for him to run for the 2018 vote.

On Monday, Egyptian human rights lawyer and opposition leader Khaled Ali announced that he will run against El-Sisi next year, becoming the first person to announce a presidential bid in the upcoming elections.

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In an extensive interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed Egypt's strategic relations and the crises facing nations across the region

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has expressed his concern over the prospect of Israeli military action against militias linked to Hezbollah and Iran in Syria near the occupied Golan Heights, saying further military intervention will not bring peace to the region.

The president made the comments in an interview with pan-Arab newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum held in the Sinai resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

In the exclusive interview, published on Tuesday, El-Sisi covered a wide range of international issues, including water security, Egypt's key strategic relations and the various regional crises, particularly in Lebanon and Syria.

He addressed the possibility of Israel engaging in military action against militias linked to Hezbollah and Iran, both in south-western Syria and the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, saying that such actions might provoke further conflict.

I hope this does not take place; the region has had its share of disturbances. Experiences throughout history show that wars do not solve problems, and whats more dangerous than the military intervention itself are its further consequences," El-Sisi said.

"I call for the respect of Syrias sovereignty and security and stability; more wars wont solve the problem."

Referring to the conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen, he stressed Egypts support for the "territorial integrity of nation states against attempts at division over race or doctrine."

Crisis in Lebanon

On Lebanon and the possibility of a deterioration in Lebanese affairs following the recent resignation of Prime Minister Saad El-Hariri, El-Sisi said the maintenance of security and stability in Lebanon depends on achieving a "balance" between various parties.

Such a balance needs to be maintained without any foreign interference, he said, adding that any weakness in the state would give space to chaos and disorder.

The president's statements on Lebanon followed his meeting on Sunday with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, during which he expressed Egypts desire to preserve peace and security in Lebanon. In Egypt's first official comment since the resignation of El-Hariri, the Egyptian president stressed the importance of averting internal tensions as well as religious or doctrinal extremism.

Gulf 'brothers'

El-Sisi also discussed the latest developments in Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypts relationship with the Gulf country.

I place on record my appreciation and respect for the Kingdoms steps on various levels, which will have a positive impact, domestically and internationally, El-Sisi said, describing the steps as "bold and well thought out".

He added that he was reassured by those elements in Saudi Arabia involved in fighting extremism and accentuating the values of openness and coexistence.

On relations between the two countries, as well as with the United Arab Emirates, El-Sisi said that it was important to protect the security of Arab nations.

Were always together. Its clear. Stability in the Kingdom means stability for Egypt, and vice versa. This also applies to the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, he added.

He said that he and his "brothers" in the Gulf and other Arab states can fight terrorism if they are united, adding that those "evil powers" who seek to target Egypt are the same powers that seek to target the whole region.

'Evil powers'

El-Sisi elaborated that the "evil powers" are comprised of extremist organizations and countries in the region that aim to undermine stability, although he refrained from directly naming those states that sponsor terrorism.

Our stance is clear. We have stated  with my brothers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain  the names of those who support terrorism through money and weapons and the media, he said.

When asked about Qatar, El-Sisi reiterated the demands put forward by Egypt, along with other Arab states boycotting Doha, including a halt to "Qatars sponsoring of terrorism, a halt to interference in other countries domestic affairs, and respect for the sovereignty of other nations."

Our demands are legitimate, and the ball is in Qatars court. We want neither to impose our policies on others nor to interfere in their affairs, so we expect similar behaviour, he said.

Nile water

El-Sisi also discussed negotiations with Ethiopia on the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its possible impact on Egypts share of Nile Water, describing it as a "pivotal and sensitive issue".

We approach the issue based on a principle of preserving Egypts interests while acknowledging others' interests. We are not exaggerating when we say that the Nile for us is a matter of life or death, El-Sisi said, stressing that all parties must persevere to reach a solution that benefits everyone.

The US and Russia

The Egyptian president also commented on the latest developments in Egypt's relations with the United States and Russia.

We consider our relationship with the US a strategic one, and we are keen on it being stable, despite this relationship facing pressures in 2011, he said.

According to El-Sisi, Egypts relationship with the US, specifically during the administration of President Donald Trump, will return to the firm ground of previous times, "and even more".

Egypt normally receives $1.3 billion annually in military assistance from the United States and nearly $250 million in economic aid.

In August, the US administration decided to withhold $195 million in aid and cut $95 million to Egypt, citing concerns over Cairos record on democracy and human rights.

El-Sisi and Trump met in the US in September, where the possibility of resuming aid was discussed.

On Russia, El-Sisi said Egypt was keen on expanding its fields of cooperation with other countries.

Its not necessary that a relationship with one state comes at the expanse of relations with another. The truth is we need cooperation in various fields, including combating terrorism, which is the most dangerous enemy to us, he said.

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Less than a year ago, Pastor Frank Pomeroy of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs presided over a memorial service after the death of Forrest Corrigan, 25, of Floresville.

His parents, Robert and Shani Corrigan, had joined the rural community church in 2015.

In his opening prayer, the preacher asked God to give comfort in a time of death, trial and confusion.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you will touch the hearts of those who are here. Dry the eyes and fill their hearts with the peace that passeth all understanding. Let them know, that just as you wept, you understand their weeping, he said.

RELATED: Sutherland Springs survivor recounts harrowing experience

Now Playing: Latest updates: Sutherland Springs church shooting Video: San Antonio Express-News

On Sunday, the two Corrigans as well as Pomeroys 14-year old daughter Annabelle were among those killed in a horrific attack on the church that took 26 lives. Annabelles parents both were out of town at the time.

The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, of New Braunfels died later after being shot three times, one of which was self-inflicted.

In the tearful aftermath of the tragedy, those in Texas and elsewhere who knew the Corrigans have joined their voices in grief and praise.

The best thing about Bob was that working with us was the least important thing in his life, and that was just amazing, said Debra Bentley, Corrigans supervisor at WellMed Medical Management, where he began after retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 2015 as a chief master sergeant. He was incredibly bonded to his family, his community and service to his community.

RELATED: Remembering victims of the Sutherland Springs church shooting

She added: He was probably the smartest man I ever met. But he was very in line with the Christian spirit, not talking about what you do, but just doing it because it was the right thing to do.

Lisa Schmidt, a WellMed vice president, had met Corrigan years ago in the Air Force and later recruited him to work as an instructor.

The two most important things to Bob were his unwavering faith and his family. He always put others first without hesitation, she said, adding, He and Shani were a compassionate couple who cared deeply for others.

High school sweethearts in Harrison, Michigan, the Corrigans traveled widely and had three sons during his 30-year Air Force career. Their two surviving sons are active-duty military.

RELATED: Killer celebrated with Sutherland Springs churchgoers five days before the bloody rampage

One of their early military stops was San Antonio. One of Robert Corrigans last tours was Offutt ABF in Nebraska, where was superintendent of the 55th Medical Group.

Along the way, the Corrigans made many friends in the Air Force who, in the wake of the shooting, were quick to share their memories and grief on social media.

This hits a little too close to home for me. Airman Robert Corrigan reported to Wurtsmith AFB (Michigan) as his first duty station and was assigned to the obstetrical unit. I was his charge nurse, Jeanette Sunie Splonskowski wrote on Facebook. He was 51. My heart is breaking.

He was one of those rare souls who sincerely cared about the people he worked with, Cecilia Shifflett wrote, adding: Chief, please look down from the heavens and know you and your wife are honored, respected and truly missed.

RELATED: Grandmother sacrifices self to save grandson in Sutherland Springs shooting

Sam Medaris, who served with Corrigan at Offutt AFB, wrote: (Ret.) Chief Msgt. Robert Corrigan and his wife were among the saints killed in Sutherland Springs, Texas. I knew him only briefly but he was a good man with a heart for God.

Corrigans mother, Jean Ann Corrigan of Michigan, did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday about her son.

In remarks to other news media, she said: He was beautiful and full of happiness.

God is in control and I know my son and my daughter-in-law are in the arms of Jesus. I know that, she told WNEM TV5 News in Michigan.

jmaccormack@express-news.net
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When former North Carolina State Senator Malcolm Graham got the news that dozens were gunned down during church services in South Texas, he thought, "Here we go again."

Back in June 2015, Graham's sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed by a gunman during bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Hurd was one of nine killed that night.

Sunday morning, as parishioners filed into services at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, they were unaware a man toting a rifle would enter the building moments later, killing 26 and wounding at least 20 others.

RELATED: Sutherland Springs church shooter went to New Braunfels High School, worked at Schlitterbahn and HEB

Parallels to the Charleston church shooting were almost immediately drawn. Twitter users reached out to mySA.com reporters, asking if members of the Sutherland Springs church were black, like those of Emanuel AME.

Now Playing: Latest updates: Sutherland Springs church shooting Video: San Antonio Express-News

Maybe it was racially motivated, they suggested.

Investigators said Monday afternoon that it appears the gunman, Devin Kelley, 26, was involved in a dispute with his mother-in-law. He previously sent threatening texts to his mother-in-law, who attended services at the First Baptist Church, they said.

"You would think the house of worship is a sacred place," Graham said.

When Graham first got word shots rung out at Emanuel AME two years ago he called his sister. The church was woven into the fabric of their family's life  Ward got married at the church, their mother was in the choir there, and Graham often attended bible study when he was in town.

First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs was a tight-knit community, where it appears everybody knew everybody and lived nearby. The church recently began posting its services on YouTube, which show the small building the congregation was housed in. And on Sunday, the majority of them were shot.

"When (Ward) didn't return my phone call within the hour, I immediately got scared," Graham said. "She would have called. You just get this sick feeling inside and it's denial and then obviously at some point the truth sets in."

RELATED: Area resident hailed as hero for engaging Texas gunman

On Sunday, similar stories emerged. Families and friends dialed family and friends to see if they were okay.

"When I heard the news, I called Karla right away," said Debbie Bolf, executive director of All City Youth Programs in Floresville. "The phone kept ringing, and I knew she was dead, and I cried."

Bolf is a longtime family-friend of the Holcombe family, which lost eight people.

Karla and Bryan Holcombe, their son Danny Holcombe, daughter-in-law Crystal Holcombe, and four grandchildren were killed Sunday at the church. Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, was married to John Holcombe. Together they had five children.

John Holcombe and two of his children survived the massacre.

For now, the best advice Graham can give the families is to try and be strong, he said.

"Be strong and love one another and work together as a community," he said. "Remember your loved ones as they lived, not how they died."

As the press leaves Sutherland Springs, and families attempt to settle back into regular life, all that will be left is community.

"Get to work for a better community and a better Texas," he said.

Staff writer Caleb Downs contributed to this report. | Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
Two adults and two children remain in "serious to critical" condition at San Antonio's University Hospital, two days after they were shot during a church service, officials said.

A total of 10 shooting victims remain in critical condition at various hospitals, law enforcement officials said in a press conference Tuesday.
In the second part of his interview with CNBC that aired late on Monday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hailed US President Donald Trumps efforts in improving security in the Middle East.

I see that President Trump is managing foreign policy in our region. Can I say in short that the United States has regained its weight in the region and its role, and is preserving the security of the region and its countries, El-Sisi told CNBC reporter Hadley Gamble.

"We are completely supporting and cooperating with President Trump on this," El-Sisi added.

Trump and El-Sisi have demonstrated a rapport since Trumps election as president, often vowing support and trading praise.

In response to a question about whether he is closer to Trump or Russian President Vladimir Putin, El-Sisi laughed and said that this is "old politics."

"I very much admire President Trump. I anticipated his victory and I anticipate that he will succeed in managing a country as big as the US," he said. But El-Sisi adde that Cairo also has "very good relations" with President Putin who developed stronger political and military ties with Cairo since El-Sisi took power.

On the US supporting Egypt's efforts in the fight against terrorism, El-Sisi said that this has "completely changed for the better since Donald Trump came to power."

Terrorist attacks have taken a toll on Egypts economy over the past few years by driving away tourists, El-Sisi told Gamble.

However, El-Sisi said that the situation is "much better compared to past months and years."

The president also talked about a number megaprojects currently underway in Egypt, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone, road networks and energy projects, which he said have already employed 3 million people in a country where almost 12 percent of the population is unemployment.

El-Sisi also called on countries in the Middle East to preserve stability in the region.

"The stability of the region is very important and we all have to protect it," El-Sisi said.

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A boy who was fatally shot Saturday night while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle may have been the victim of road rage, according to District 4 Councilman Rey Saldana.

I woke up to a call about a senseless tragedy that led to the loss of young three-year-old life, Saldana said in a statement, sharing the news he received in a conversation with San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus.

Rene Blancas Jr. died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office.

RELATED: Jury renders verdict in Mexican Mafia slaying of S.A.-area cop

Investigators said the boy was shot about 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of New Laredo Highway and Briggs Avenue.

Now Playing: San Antonio police say a three-year-old boy was shot while traveling in the back of a family vehicle Saturday night, Nov. 4, 2017. The victim later died at University Hospital. Video: 21 Pro Video

The shooter pulled up in another vehicle behind the one Rene was in and fired a single round that went through the trunk and struck him in the head.

Saldana said that police believe road rage led to the reckless shooting of a firearm into the vehicle.

The heartless reaction of the alleged perpetrator prevented a young boy from living to see his fourth birthday, Saldana said. There are no words to describe the agony and devastation his family is enduring because of this inexcusable occurrence.

RELATED: Student sues S.A.-area district over teacher's sexual assault

Rene would have turned 4 Wednesday, according to the medical examiner.

The woman driving the vehicle with Rene drove him to Southwest General Hospital, police said. From there, Rene was taken by AirLife to University Hospital.

He was pronounced dead at 1:23 a.m. Sunday according to the medical examiners website.

Police are searching for a gold or beige four-door 2000 model Honda Civic. Police are handling the case as a capital murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP (7867).

For those community members in the area, please channel any frustration or anger toward gathering information to assist our SAPD homicide detectives so this person can be brought to justice, Saldana said.

jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
After 12 days of early voting that yielded Bexar Countys lowest pre-Election Day turnout in at least eight years, voters will head to polling sites Tuesday to decide several municipal races and local propositions.

Also on the ballot are seven state constitutional amendments, including a property tax break for spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty. Other state propositions would establish new term limits for gubernatorial appointees and make several changes related to home equity loans, including a lower cap on loan fees.
For those who want stricter gun-control laws, the tragedy in Sutherland Springs is a lesson in how the current laws failed to protect those killed and wounded by a gunman using a weapon he never should have been able to buy.

But for those seeking to protect the rights of gun owners, the fact that an armed resident who rushed to the scene was able to disarm the gunman and send him fleeing is a lesson that a good guy with a gun can stop the bad guys.

The gap in how gun-control and gun-rights advocates interpret the events of Sutherland Springs, the deadliest shooting in Texas history, underscores the difficulty of talking about gun violence in a divided America.

For gun-control advocates such as Ed Scruggs of Texas Gun Sense, the key question out of Sutherland Springs is this: How was the shooter able to obtain a weapon despite his history of domestic violence?

For me, major problems have been exposed in our background check program and our reporting program, Scruggs said. Something went very wrong. This should have never happened. He should have been stopped.

Like many other mass shooters, Devin Kelley had a history of domestic violence.

In recent years, police have been called to the Kelley family home in New Braunfels on domestic violence complaints involving his second wife.

But theres an even more serious example of violence in his background. In 2012, the Air Force court-martialed him after he pleaded guilty to fracturing his stepsons skull and assaulting his wife.

That should have barred him from being able to buy a gun, according to retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, who was the services chief prosecutor at the time. He also should have been blocked by an amendment barring those with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions from owning guns.

Nevertheless, Kelley was able to buy four guns in the last three years, two in Colorado and two in Texas, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Kelley bought the AR-15 variant he used in Sundays attack, a Ruger AR-556, at a San Antonio Academy store.

Texas Gun Sense is an organization pushing for stricter gun control laws in a deeply conservative state. The group does not advocate banning guns, Scruggs said. Instead, the group wants to focus on addressing background checks and domestic violence. The group is lobbying for laws allowing a family member to request a hearing on whether an abuser is competent to own firearms.

Lawmakers such as Republican Sen. John Cornyn have also called for a look into possible gaps in the firearms background-check system.

A Gallup poll last week indicates 60 percent of Americans feel gun laws should be stricter, although the same poll found 58 percent of voters think gun-control laws would have little to no effect on the number of mass shootings in the U.S.

That perceived inability to limit mass shootings is one reason that those who favor gun rights see the lesson of Sutherland Springs as the benefit of having a good man with a gun.

Johnnie Langendorff, the man who helped chase down Kelley, told reporters he saw his neighbor confront Kelley outside the First Baptist Church. After being fired at, Kelley dropped his rifle and fled, authorities said. When Kelley drove off, Langendorff and the unidentified neighbor piled into Langendorffs truck and pursued him.

Kelley shot himself after a crash shortly afterward. Langendorff told reporters he made a simple calculation in chasing Kelley: He just hurt so many people, he affected so many peoples lives, why wouldnt you want to take him down?

In an interview from Japan, President Donald Trump praised reports of the man who shot back at Kelley: Fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise  it wouldve been much worse.

Trumps statements reflect the view of NRA leader Wayne LaPierre, who coined the phrase the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun after the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre.

Its a philosophy that many Americans agree with. A recent Gallup poll found that a little more than half of Americans believe they would be safer if more people carried concealed weapons.

For concealed-carry advocates such as Ron Wilson, formerly a Democratic state legislator, the Sutherland Springs shooting shows how bystanders with weapons prevented the death toll from climbing even higher. Those people in those kinds of situations are our only hope, Wilson said.

Few people can speak to what its like to be the victim of a mass shooting like Suzanna Hupp. In 1991, Hupp was wounded in what was previously the deadliest shooting in Texas: a shooting at a Lubys near Killeen. After the surviving the attack, Hupp testified in favor of concealed carry legislation in Texas, helping to get it passed. She later served as a state representative.

Hupp cheered reports of a man shooting back at Kelley. She said a gun wouldnt have helped in a shooting such as Las Vegas or in a small domestic violence shooting, but said that being able to fire back may stop a mass killer in their tracks.

The world is filled with genuine evil, she said. I cant begin to get across to people what its like to be a fish in a barrel, Hupp added. Youve got to give me some opportunity to change the odds and fight back, even if its isnt a guarantee.

For his part, Gov. Greg Abbott said the states gun-control laws did work: Kelley applied for a license to carry a gun in Texas, but the state denied him.

Any discussion about guns becomes very personal, gun control advocate Scruggs said. Scruggs said he, personally, doesnt want a world where everyone is carrying weapons.

A Good Samaritan intervening did have an impact in this case, but massive deaths did ensue before that intervention, Scruggs said. Youre treating the symptom, not the disease. Being armed for self-defense may help the symptoms, but its not doing anything to take on why these things happen.

A recent Pew poll shows a polarization between gun owners and those without guns. Around three-quarters of gun owners say they could never see themselves without owning a gun, with around half of gun owners saying all or most of their friends own guns, too. Meanwhile, fewer people have a gun in their home than in 1961.

Scruggs said gun violence is a national discussion worth having, and that goes across the political spectrum.

If this incident proves anything, its no one is immune to the gun violence problem, whether youre a city or country, red state or blue, a highly armed population or no arms, Scruggs said.

jlawrence@express-news.net | Staff Writers Kelsey Bradshaw, Sig Christenson, Guillermo Contreras, Fares Sabawi contributed to this report.
Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he plans to propose legislation to curb the type of error that allowed Devin Patrick Kelley to purchase the gun he used to kill 26 people in a Sutherland Springs church on Sunday.

The U.S. Air Force said Monday it had failed to submit Devin Kelley's conviction for domestic violence to the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. Kelley admitted to fracturing his step-son's skull and received a bad-conduct discharge from the Air Force.
Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection officers discovered more than $3 million in drugs in the span of a few days, according to news releases sent out by the agency.

The first discovery came Thursday, when an Air and Marine Operations helicopter utilized a camera sensor to track a pickup loaded with several bundles near Rio Grande City. When the driver of the pickup saw agents monitoring him, he and a passenger ditched it and fled back to Mexico on foot.
Police are searching for a gunman who shot a man in the leg with a shotgun early Tuesday on the East Side a few blocks away from downtown.

The victim, a man in his 50s, was sitting on his bike around 3:50 a.m. at the corner of Wyoming Street and South Olive Street when someone in a pickup truck rolled up to him and asked for drugs.
Texas law enforcement authorities say the gunman who killed 26 members of a church on Sunday was shot three times, twice by a citizen.

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin says Devin Patrick Kelley was shot in his leg and torso by a citizen who pursued him after hearing gunfire. Martin says the third was, "consistent with being self-inflicted."
Egypt's Court of Cassation overturned on Tuesday death sentences and ordered a retrial for four defendants accused of belonging to a terrorist cell in Tanta and Alexandria.

The court also overturned 10 to 15-year prison sentences for eight other defendants in the same case.

A Cairo criminal court had convicted the 12 defendants in 2016, and one defendant was acquitted.

The defendants were charged for crimes committed between August 2013  when security forces dispersed a sit-in protesting the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi  and March 2014.

The defendants stood trial for forming an illegal organisation, joining a terrorist group, possessing weapons and plotting to attack army and police personnel.

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini earlier Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum where they discussed the countries' bilateral relations, Egypt's foreign ministry reported.

Shoukry discussed the latest positive developments in Egypt's economic reforms programme, which began in 2014, noting recent praise from International Monetary Fund representatives.

Positive appraisal from the IMF is key to attracting investments from European corporations such as Finland's, especially in the fields of logistics and port services surrounding the Suez Canal development project.

The Egyptian minister also talked in the meeting about the importance of the EU's adopting of a complete vision regarding Egypt, taking in consideration the country's efforts to achieve stability while meeting challenges like terrorism and other regional developments.

The pair also discussed Egypt's efforts to stop illegal immigration both at the executive and legislative levels.

Regarding recent developments in the wider Middle East, Minister Soini listened to Egypt's assessments about developments in Syria, Libya, and Iraq, as well the most recent developments affectign Lebanon.

Minister Timo Soini began his two-day official visit to Egypt on Monday and is expected to meet with more Egyptian officials, as well as with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

In statements to Egypt's state-owned MENA news agency, Finnish Ambassador to Cairo Laura Kansikas-Debraise said that preparations were underway for a future visit by the Finnish parliamentary speaker to Egypt, which will occur soon.

She also added that a Finnish business delegation is set to visit the country next year.

Soini's visit is the first by a Finnish foreign minister to Egypt since 2009.



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A draft law, which has been provisionally approved, bans the use of remotely operated aircraft that might be used in terrorist attacks, stipulating fines and prison terms for any violations

Egypt's parliament provisionally approved a law on Tuesday banning the use of electronically and wirelessly operated aircraft  commonly called drones  that could potentially be used for terrorist attacks.

Article 1 of the law bans those drones capable of carrying explosives or weapons systems that could pose a danger to the countrys national security and that could be operated by a remote-control system. The article states that the Ministry of Defence will be the only institution authorized to license the use of such aircraft.

Article 2 states that local administration units, such as public ministries, local councils, public institutions, companies and individuals, will be banned from the import, manufacturing, assembling, handling, possession and trading in drones. They will need prior approval from the Ministry of Defence for any such activities.

Article 3 states that violators of Articles 1 and 2 could face prison terms ranging from one to seven years, as well as fines ranging from LE5,000 to LE50,000. Violators could also face the death penalty if they use drones in committing terrorist acts. The Article gives the Ministry of Defence the right of sequestrating any technologies of this sort that could be used in launching terrorist attacks.

However, Army Major General Mamdouh Shahin, deputy defence minister for constitutional affairs and military justice, told parliament in a plenary session on Tuesday that the law does not impose a total ban on the use of drones.

It allows the use of such drones only with prior and exclusive approval from the Ministry of Defence, said Shaheen.

He added: As such drones could be used in useful economic and sport activities, the ministry of defence refrained from imposing an absolute ban in this respect.

The law was quickly approved by a majority of MPs, who agreed that recent developments showed that terrorists  particularly in North Sinai  could have access to drones in mounting terrorist attacks.

Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said the final approval of the law will be postponed until it has been revised by the State Council in legislative and constitutional terms and in line with the constitution.

As this law directly affects a certain public freedom, which is trading in certain technologies in the form of import and export, it has to be revised first by the State Council to see whether it is in line with the constitution, said Abdel-Aal.

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has returned home from Angola says during his one day official visit to Angola explained to his counterpart Cde Joao Lourenco the circumstances that led to his assumption of the leadership of Zanu PF and the government of Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa started his story beginning from Zanu PF interface rallies held countrywide and how the change of guard took place and in line with the supreme law of the land.

Cde Mnangagwa was in Angola on his second leg of his mission to pay courtesy calls on regional leaders after assuming the leadership of Zimbabwe in November last year.

He has explained to both the SADC troika chairperson President Joao Lourenco and the Zimbabwean diaspora the circumstances that led to his assumption of the party and government leadership beginning from the interface rallies and how the change of guard took place and according to the supreme law of the land.

Speaking in Angolan Luanda capital where he was on his second leg of his mission to pay courtesy on regional leaders after assuming the leadership of Zimbabwe in November last year, President Mnangagwa assured Angolan President and Zimbabweans working in that country that his government will take care of former President Cde Robert Mugabe and restore his legacy which was threatened by criminals who were surrounding him.

In another development President Mnangagwa has agreed with his Angolan counterpart to further strengthen and deepen economic relations between Angola and Zimbabwe through economic ties and trade.

Pres Mnangagwa also said a Chinese company has expressed interest in reviving Zisco and urged the business people and diasporans in Angola to take advantage of SADC Concession, COMESA and other agreements offered by trading blocks to intensify trade and economic exchanges for the benefit of the two countries.

Some of the diasporans expressed willingness to support and work with the new dispensation and appealed to government to avail ballot papers in Luanda for them to take part in this years harmonised elections.

The two Presidents have agreed that the Angolan national air carrier should resume flights to Harare and Victoria Falls in order to increase tourist arrivals in both countries.

Zimbabwe and Angola are expected to hold a joint commission soon to chat the way forward in deepening economic relations between the two SADC brothers.

Meanwhile, Cde Mnangagwa has returned home and was welcomed at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by the two vice presidents Rtd General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga and Cde Kembo Mohadi, service chiefs and several senior government officials.

 ZBC

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It was a Tipperary one-two in one of the world's great horse races, the Melbourne Cup, earlier this morning.

Joseph O'Brien trained the winner Rekindling with second place going to his father, Ballydoyole maestro Aidan O'Brien, with Johannes Vermeer.

It was an astonishing success for Joseph, a top jockey when riding for his father and Ballydoyle, who has already enjoyed remarkable success in his early days as a trainer at his Piltown yard.

Rekindling was his first runner in one of the world's most presigious races and came home first under a great rider from jockey Corey Brown.

The Melbourne Cup, one of the biggest sporting events in Australia, has been described as the race that brings a nation to a standstill.

The Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite finished third to complete a clean sweep for Irish trainers in the two-mile feature.

O'Brien said: "I can't quite believe it yet. I'm so delighted for Lloyd and Nick (Williams, owners). They suggested to bring him down and that he would have a good chance in the race.

"His prep went really well. Corey gave him an unbelievable ride and I'm just so delighted for everyone - all the lads at home and the lads that have been down here have done an unbelievable job.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet to be honest.

"He had a very light weight and Corey gave him a great ride. It's not often in a big race like that the whole run goes so well. I'm over the moon.

"I spoke to my dad and he's delighted".

It has been a remarable couple of weeks for the Tipperary father and son with Aidan breaking the world record for the most Group One winners in a calendar year recently.
A Tipperary pizza parlour that was shut down for five days because of food safety concerns had areas black with dirt, a smelly fridge and did not allow adequate hand washing by food handlers

The Nationalist reported last week that New York Pizza, Main Street, Ballina, had been closed and was now reopened, on the directions of the HSE.

The Food Safety Authority has now published the shocking details of the HSE inspectors report.

In the EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (OFFICIAL CONTROL OF FOODSTUFFS) REGULATIONS 2010 CLOSURE ORDER notice sent to the company secretary of Dhaka Food Ltd, trading as New York Pizza the following reasons for closure were set out:

 Wooden shelf underneath the wash up sink was black with dirt.

 Wall/floor junctions throughout service and back kitchen area were black with dirt.

 Food debris and dirt were noted on the wooden boards supporting the ' fridge' and the small white freezer.

 Ceiling tiles throughout the service and back kitchen areas were discoloured yellow and brown.

 Black side door leading to back yard was dirty.

 A wooden crate overflowing with paper cartons and other waste items were stored on the table beside open containers of spices.

 Plastic containers storing cooking utensils/knives were encrusted with dirt.

 Storage containers in use were in a dirty and damaged condition, namely the grey container storing uncooked chips and the white container storing flour for pizzas.

 The small white fridge in the back kitchen was dirty throughout. Wet newspaper was stuck to the back of the fridge, shelving was dirty and a foul odour was evident.

 The surface of the six ring hob of the ' ' oven was dirty.

 Shelving storing kettles and other unused equipment was in a dirty condition.

 Shelving above the wash up area was sticky and dirty to touch.

 The floor of the potato chipping room was filthy and engrained with black dirt.

 Onion skins and loose food debris was noted on the floor underneath the pallets in the potato chipping room.

 Large blue chip bins were worn and in a dirty condition in the potato chipping room Walls, ceiling and the flyscreen in potato chipping room were heavily cobwebbed.

 Light switches and door handles throughout the premises were dirty and sticky to touch.

 The vent in the staff toilet was clogged with dust.

 The poor standard of hygiene and cleanliness observed posed a risk of contamination to food prepared and stored on the premises.

Problems were also highlighted in the areas of

Structure  Non-compliances prevent effective cleaning and disinfection of these food preparation and storage areas and thereby pose a risk of contamination to food.

Maintenance  A wooden block and piece of newspaper was wedged in front of the pizza oven door to hold it shut.

Equpiment  The ventilation system was not turned on at the time of inspection. Dripping grease was running down the outside of the canopy.

Services  Non-compliances did not allow adequate hand washing by food handlers to take place thereby posing a risk of contamination to food and prevented effective cleaning and disinfection of food preparation, storage areas and utensils.

The full notice can be read on the Food Safety Authority website.
Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali said on Tuesday that Egypt currently hosts refugees from 59 countries without restrictions or limitations on their freedoms.

Wali made the comments on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh.

"Refugees in Egypt are not profiled and are afforded full services available to Egyptian citizens in healthcare and education," Wali added.

The Egyptian minister said that her country does not isolate immigrants in camps as other countries have done.

Egypt has the highest rate of enrollment of Syrian children in schools at 40,000 children, who receive proper education and services just like Egyptian citizens.

Egyptian representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Karim Atassi said that the commission is working to assist Egyptian humanitarian efforts to host refugees, describing Egypt as a pivotal state in the region.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in 2016 that Egypt hosts five million refugees and immigrants despite facing its own economic challenges.

Egypt is actively participating in international forums to develop frameworks on dealing with and protecting immigrants and refugees.

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Ever fancied building bridges like Leonardo da Vinci or learning more about electrical circuits or engineering?

Well now you can do so at the very first Tipperary Festival of Science which was launched this week at MIC, St Patricks Campus, Thurles.

To celebrate Irelands National Science Week, Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in collaboration Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Science Foundation Ireland are bringing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) to Tipperary as part of the newly established Tipperary Festival of Science which will take place across the county from November 12  19 2017.

Led by Dr Maeve Liston, Director of Enterprise and Community Engagement and Senior Lecturer in Science Education at MIC, the Tipperary Festival of Science comprises of a jam-packed week of inspiring and engaging activities for primary and second level school students. These include interactive Science Shows and inquiry based hands-on workshops: STEM Design and Make Workshops and the Ugly Animal Show in MIC Thurles; Science Outdoors and STEM in Sport workshops in LIT Thurles; The Farthest Film Screening at the Source Theatre Thurles; Building Arches & Bridges Like Leonardo da Vinci in Nenagh Library and Science through Story in Thurles Library.

Speaking at the launch Dr Liston explained that All these events aim to encourage young people to become engaged and interested in STEM and promote awareness and understanding of the importance and relevance of STEM to everyday life.

This festival is not just for the young as there will be a number of public evening events which, according to Dr Liston, will stimulate interest, excitement and debate about STEM through accessible and entertaining interactions with the public and to engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. The public events will reach a wide range of audiences including families, young people and adults, providing them with experiences of STEM that are fun and engaging and inspire curiosity.

Highlights will include The Fantastic Physics Show in MIC Thurles, Investing in Rural Ireland: A Social and Economic Right? Talk in LIT, Thurles, Brown Bag STEM Challenges and Electrical Circuits and Engineering Activities in Foroige Nenagh, and a STEAM Workshop in the Bookworm Workshop Thurles.

Dr Liston thanked the many local businesses and organisations for their generous cooperation in hosting these events specifically Foroige, Tipperary County Council, and the Source Theatre, Thurles.
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Health services in South Tipperary received a significant boost on the double this week with major developments at Clonmel hospital.

The new 12 bay overflow unit in the Emergency Department was opened on Monday and on the same day came confirmation that the planned forty bed modular unit is going to tender.

TDs have welcomed the major developments at South Tipperary General Hospital which remove much of the uncertainty over servics at the hospiatl that has been a worry for decades.

Independent TD Michael Lowry said much of his support for the government in the present Dail was determined by their commitment to develop services at the hospital.

I have personally invested a huge amount of time and effort convincing the decision makers of the absolute imperative of investing in South Tipp General Hospital and I am satisfied that my political role and my interaction with all stakeholders has made a decisive difference, he said.

He described this week's developments as a huge step forward for South Tipperary General Hospital.

This is the start of ongoing investment in the hospital. It eliminates any doubt about the future status of the hospital.

 It allows for an increase in bed complement and extra staff. This will enable better and easier access by the public to the hospital services and also improve standards of patient care, he said.

Clonmel TD and chairman of the Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee, Seamus Healy, said the announcements were the latest stage in a misson that began when 15,000 people marched through Clonmel in a bid to stop the removal of services from Clonmel to hospitals in Waterford and Kilkenny.

He welcomed the outcome of Monday's collaborative and consultative meeting with officials of the South West Hospital Group and South Tipperary General Hospital.

He said the process, agreed with Minister for Health Simon Harris on his recent visit, is designed to ensure local input into the delivery of the 40 bed modular unit for the hospital in an efficient and timely fashion.

Labour Party Health spokesman Alan Kelly also weclomed the developments, describing them as very good news for South Tipperary General Hospital and its patients.

However Independent TD Mattie McGrath said that while he 'cautiously' welcomes the news, he has concerns that the pre-planning requirements for the Modular Unit have not been fully or adequately addressed.

My view remains consistent; that announcements and confident assurances about the capacity to deliver this modular Unit must be tested by results and action.

I am assured that funding will be made available for the project, but again, what we want to avoid is a repeat of the situation that occurred from 2014-2016, he said.

The tender documents for the forty bed unit will be circulated thisweek and the closing date for receipt of tenders is the first week of December.

It is expected that a contract will be awarded on December 15.

The combined initiatives of the overlow bays and new beds unit will amount to a total interim investment of 8 million.
Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Egypts Al-Azhar  the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning  discussed international peace with Roman Catholic Pope Francis at the papal headquarters in the Vatican on Tuesday.

In a speech at an international forum in Rome titled East and West: Towards Civilized Dialogue, El-Tayyeb said that he aims to do all that is necessary to promote the notion of global coexistence.

El-Tayyeb asserted that all religions prohibit bloodshed, stressing that Muslims have suffered the most from terrorism.

He added that wars that are said to have been caused by religion were in actuality sparked by the politicisation of religion and exploitation by clerics to serve certain interests.

While in Rome, the Grand Imam is scheduled to meet with a number of top Italian officials, including Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, to discuss "efforts to spread a culture of coexistence and peace and renounce violence, hatred and intolerance," Al-Azhar said in a statement.

On the sidelines of the gathering, Muslim clerics and members of the Muslim Council of Elders, which El-Tayeb chairs, will take part in a panel discussion on "Religions and the Nation State."

The Muslim Council of Elders, an independent international body, was founded in 2014 with the aim of promoting peace in Muslim communities.

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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that Iran's supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of "direct military aggression", Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

The supply of rockets to the Iran-allied rebel Houthi movement could "constitute an act of war against the Kingdom," SPA quoted the crown prince as saying in a telephone call with the British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson.

Saudi air defence forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired towards Riyadh on Saturday by the Houthi militia which controls large parts of neighbouring Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in the country's civil war.

Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as "destructive and provocative" and "slanders".

In an interview with CNN television on Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused the armed Lebanese Hezbollah group of firing the missile at Riyadh from Houthi-held territory.

"With regards to the missile ... that was launched on Saudi territory, it was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen."

He said the missile was similar to one launched in July at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and was manufactured in Iran, disassembled and smuggled into Yemen, then reassembled by the operatives of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah, "then it was launched into Saudi Arabia."

In reaction to the missile, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country.

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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With the first anniversary of demonetisation approaching, the government has raised the pitch to prove that its decision to ban high-value notes has worked and the fight against black money and corruption would continue unabated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, claimed that over three lakh shell companies have downed shutters as a direct result of demonetisation. Fraud to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore has been detected during a probe into 5,000 such firms, he added. And, more such cases could tumble out going forward as investigations progress in other firms.

Meanwhile, the Corporate Affairs Ministry on Sunday issued a detailed statement with numbers supporting this claim. It said cash deposits worth Rs 17,000 crore were put into the bank accounts of some 35,000 companies, which were later struck off the government records for not following rules. It added that these deposits were later withdrawn, hinting at possible laundering of dirty money.

In a major anti-black money drive by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, nearly 2.24 lakh companies have been struck-off for remaining inactive for a period of two years or more and 3.09 lakh Directors have been disqualified who were on the Board of Companies that did not file Annual Returns for three financial years.

Preliminary Enquiry on the basis of information received from 56 banks in respect of 35,000 companies involving 58,000 accounts has revealed that an amount of over Rs. 17,000 crore was deposited and withdrawn post-demonetization.

The ministrys note narrates one particular incident, in which a company had a negative opening balance on Nov 8, 2016  the day demonetisation was announced  but deposited, and withdrew, as much as Rs 2,484 crore post the note ban.

In the initial days of demonetisation, the government had put restrictions on the amount of money that could be deposited and withdrawn through bank accounts. To surmount this, firms with unaccounted money tried many tricks, including opening multiple bank accounts. Subsequent probes detected many companies operating as many as 100 bank accounts. In one curious case, a company was found to have a whopping 2,134 accounts to deposit and withdraw cash.With respect to deregistered companies, state governments have been advised to disallow registration of properties of such entities, the Corporate Affairs Ministry said.

The information with respect to such companies have been shared with enforcement authorities, including Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for further necessary action. Companies have also been identified for inquiry/inspection/investigation under the Companies Act, 2013 and necessary action is underway, the Government said.

The Government has also undertaken a major exercise to strengthen the regulatory mechanisms including provision for penalising the erring professionals.

With a view to checking the problem of Dummy Directors, action is underway to seed DIN with PAN and Aadhaar at the stage of DIN application through biometric matching for new applications. The same may be extended to legacy data in due course, the Government said in a release.

With a view to strengthen regulatory mechanism, a separate initiative is underway to develop a State-of-the-Art software application to put in place an 'Early Warning System' (EWS), which will be housed in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

Following the action of striking-off defaulting companies, restrictions have been imposed on operation of their bank accounts.

Apart from the restrictions on bank accounts, action has also been taken to restrict sale and transfer of moveable and immoveable properties of struck-off companies until they are restored. The State Governments have been advised to take necessary action in this regard by disallowing registration of such transactions, the statement said.

The Prime Minister's Office has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) under the Joint Chairmanship of Revenue Secretary and Secretary, Corporate Affairs, to oversee the drive against such defaulting companies with the help of various enforcement agencies. The Special Task Force has so far met five times and action has been initiated against several defaulting companies, which is expected to help in the drive against black money.

Preliminary enquiry has revealed that over 3,000 disqualified Directors were Directors in more than 20 companies each, which is beyond the limit prescribed under the law.

In the light of the evidence relating to abuse of the Corporate Structure through multi-layering, not more than two layers are now permitted beyond the wholly owned subsidiary. This is in addition to the existing restriction which prohibits a company to make investment through more than two layers of investment companies, the release further said.

In order to address the criminality angle, the Director, Additional Director or Assistant Director of SFIO has been recently authorized to arrest any person believed to be guilty of any fraud punishable under the Act. Under Section 447 of the Act, which defines fraud, stringent punishment including imprisonment up to 10 years is stipulated. Further, reference has been made to the Ministry of Finance to include it as a Scheduled Offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, according to the release.

The Government has also constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) for suggesting revamp of the disciplinary systems of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries and Cost Accountants. Steps are underway for setting-up National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), an independent body, to check Financial Statements, prescribed Accounting Standards and take disciplinary action against errant professionals.

NEW DELHI: With the first anniversary of demonetisation approaching, the government has raised the pitch to prove that its decision to ban high-value notes has worked and the fight against black money and corruption would continue unabated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, claimed that over three lakh shell companies have downed shutters as a direct result of demonetisation. Fraud to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore has been detected during a probe into 5,000 such firms, he added. And, more such cases could tumble out going forward as investigations progress in other firms. Meanwhile, the Corporate Affairs Ministry on Sunday issued a detailed statement with numbers supporting this claim. It said cash deposits worth Rs 17,000 crore were put into the bank accounts of some 35,000 companies, which were later struck off the government records for not following rules. It added that these deposits were later withdrawn, hinting at possible laundering of dirty money. In a major anti-black money drive by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, nearly 2.24 lakh companies have been struck-off for remaining inactive for a period of two years or more and 3.09 lakh Directors have been disqualified who were on the Board of Companies that did not file Annual Returns for three financial years. Preliminary Enquiry on the basis of information received from 56 banks in respect of 35,000 companies involving 58,000 accounts has revealed that an amount of over Rs. 17,000 crore was deposited and withdrawn post-demonetization. The ministrys note narrates one particular incident, in which a company had a negative opening balance on Nov 8, 2016  the day demonetisation was announced  but deposited, and withdrew, as much as Rs 2,484 crore post the note ban. In the initial days of demonetisation, the government had put restrictions on the amount of money that could be deposited and withdrawn through bank accounts. To surmount this, firms with unaccounted money tried many tricks, including opening multiple bank accounts. Subsequent probes detected many companies operating as many as 100 bank accounts. In one curious case, a company was found to have a whopping 2,134 accounts to deposit and withdraw cash.With respect to deregistered companies, state governments have been advised to disallow registration of properties of such entities, the Corporate Affairs Ministry said. The information with respect to such companies have been shared with enforcement authorities, including Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for further necessary action. Companies have also been identified for inquiry/inspection/investigation under the Companies Act, 2013 and necessary action is underway, the Government said. The Government has also undertaken a major exercise to strengthen the regulatory mechanisms including provision for penalising the erring professionals. With a view to checking the problem of Dummy Directors, action is underway to seed DIN with PAN and Aadhaar at the stage of DIN application through biometric matching for new applications. The same may be extended to legacy data in due course, the Government said in a release. With a view to strengthen regulatory mechanism, a separate initiative is underway to develop a State-of-the-Art software application to put in place an 'Early Warning System' (EWS), which will be housed in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Following the action of striking-off defaulting companies, restrictions have been imposed on operation of their bank accounts. Apart from the restrictions on bank accounts, action has also been taken to restrict sale and transfer of moveable and immoveable properties of struck-off companies until they are restored. The State Governments have been advised to take necessary action in this regard by disallowing registration of such transactions, the statement said. The Prime Minister's Office has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) under the Joint Chairmanship of Revenue Secretary and Secretary, Corporate Affairs, to oversee the drive against such defaulting companies with the help of various enforcement agencies. The Special Task Force has so far met five times and action has been initiated against several defaulting companies, which is expected to help in the drive against black money. Preliminary enquiry has revealed that over 3,000 disqualified Directors were Directors in more than 20 companies each, which is beyond the limit prescribed under the law. In the light of the evidence relating to abuse of the Corporate Structure through multi-layering, not more than two layers are now permitted beyond the wholly owned subsidiary. This is in addition to the existing restriction which prohibits a company to make investment through more than two layers of investment companies, the release further said. In order to address the criminality angle, the Director, Additional Director or Assistant Director of SFIO has been recently authorized to arrest any person believed to be guilty of any fraud punishable under the Act. Under Section 447 of the Act, which defines fraud, stringent punishment including imprisonment up to 10 years is stipulated. Further, reference has been made to the Ministry of Finance to include it as a Scheduled Offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, according to the release. The Government has also constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) for suggesting revamp of the disciplinary systems of Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries and Cost Accountants. Steps are underway for setting-up National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), an independent body, to check Financial Statements, prescribed Accounting Standards and take disciplinary action against errant professionals.
By IANS

SRINAGAR: An Indian Army soldier and three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed overnight in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Tuesday.

One of the three militants killed in the encounter is Talha Rasheed, nephew of Masood Azhar, a JeM spokesperson told news agency ANI. He said that the other two militants killed in the encounter are Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai, a non-local and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam in Pulwama.

Masood Azhar is the founder of the UN-designated terrorist group.

The militants who belonged "to the same group" attacked a police check-post in Rajpora on Saturday.

A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

Doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else, we aim at neutralizing all terrorists no matter where they belong: Army Chief pic.twitter.com/Ky4JwG30ax  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, troops of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with the security forces to disrupt the terror operation.

Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, said a police spokesman.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.

The injured were sent to hospital. Identification of the dead bodies was underway.

(With ANI and online desk inputs)

SRINAGAR: An Indian Army soldier and three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed overnight in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Tuesday. One of the three militants killed in the encounter is Talha Rasheed, nephew of Masood Azhar, a JeM spokesperson told news agency ANI. He said that the other two militants killed in the encounter are Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai, a non-local and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam in Pulwama. Masood Azhar is the founder of the UN-designated terrorist group. The militants who belonged "to the same group" attacked a police check-post in Rajpora on Saturday. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants. Doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else, we aim at neutralizing all terrorists no matter where they belong: Army Chief pic.twitter.com/Ky4JwG30ax  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, troops of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had surrounded the village on Monday evening. As the cordon was being tightened, hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening. The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with the security forces to disrupt the terror operation. Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, said a police spokesman. Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours. The injured were sent to hospital. Identification of the dead bodies was underway. (With ANI and online desk inputs)
Aishik Chanda By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched her social media war against the Centre on Monday by urging people to change their Twitter DPs into black to protest against the sudden invalidation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8 last year.

Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claimed tirade against black money as a 'disaster', the Banerjee tweeted:

#Noteban is a disaster. On #Nov8BlackDay to protest against this scam that destroyed the economy, let us also change our Twitter DP to black pic.twitter.com/yrheSPiZE5

 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2017

Banerjee was one of the first politicians to tweet against the move, calling it a 'total disaster' just half-an-hour after the Prime Minister's iconic speech on November 8. She has sharpened the pitch of her attacks on the central government since then.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also claimed that Centre was taking revenge against her criticism of demonetisation by using central investigating agencies to hound her after two of her party's Lok Sabha MPs Tapas Pal and Sudip Bandopadhyay were arrested by the CBI on December 30 last year and January 3 respectively for their alleged involvement in Rose Valley scam.

The West Bengal chief minister was expected to sharpen her attacks against the Narendra Modi government after it came to light that the Centre was mooting to direct National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of blasts, deaths and arms haul during the 104-day-long Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal since June.

In another tweet on Monday, Mamata Banerjee also fired a salvo against another controversial move of the Narendra Modi government by calling GST (Goods and Services Tax) as 'Great Selfish Tax'.

Great Selfish Tax (GST) to harass the people.To take away jobs. To hurt businesses. To finish the economy. GoI totally failed to tackle #GST

 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2017

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched her social media war against the Centre on Monday by urging people to change their Twitter DPs into black to protest against the sudden invalidation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8 last year. Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claimed tirade against black money as a 'disaster', the Banerjee tweeted: #Noteban is a disaster. On #Nov8BlackDay to protest against this scam that destroyed the economy, let us also change our Twitter DP to black pic.twitter.com/yrheSPiZE5  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2017 Banerjee was one of the first politicians to tweet against the move, calling it a 'total disaster' just half-an-hour after the Prime Minister's iconic speech on November 8. She has sharpened the pitch of her attacks on the central government since then. The Trinamool Congress supremo also claimed that Centre was taking revenge against her criticism of demonetisation by using central investigating agencies to hound her after two of her party's Lok Sabha MPs Tapas Pal and Sudip Bandopadhyay were arrested by the CBI on December 30 last year and January 3 respectively for their alleged involvement in Rose Valley scam. The West Bengal chief minister was expected to sharpen her attacks against the Narendra Modi government after it came to light that the Centre was mooting to direct National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of blasts, deaths and arms haul during the 104-day-long Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal since June. In another tweet on Monday, Mamata Banerjee also fired a salvo against another controversial move of the Narendra Modi government by calling GST (Goods and Services Tax) as 'Great Selfish Tax'. Great Selfish Tax (GST) to harass the people.To take away jobs. To hurt businesses. To finish the economy. GoI totally failed to tackle #GST  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 6, 2017
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Belgium's Royal Couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on Tuesday received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here.

Belgium's King met President Ram Nath Kovind in the presence of Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Belgium's King said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here."

"Been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time we are here for a state visit and we hope to improve very good contacts that already exist because I think in today's globalise world there's a lot we can do together," he added.

Delhi: Belgium's King Philippe meets President Ram Nath Kovind; Queen Mathilde, PM Modi & other dignitaries also present. pic.twitter.com/zsYJUufHBf  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Meanwhile, the Royal Couple attended the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday.

This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

"The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence," a press release by Ministry of External Affairs stated.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion .

NEW DELHI: Belgium's Royal Couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on Tuesday received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, here. Belgium's King met President Ram Nath Kovind in the presence of Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. Addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Belgium's King said, "This (India) is a country we love very much, we have many friends here." "Been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time we are here for a state visit and we hope to improve very good contacts that already exist because I think in today's globalise world there's a lot we can do together," he added. Delhi: Belgium's King Philippe meets President Ram Nath Kovind; Queen Mathilde, PM Modi & other dignitaries also present. pic.twitter.com/zsYJUufHBf  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 Meanwhile, the Royal Couple attended the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in New Delhi for a seven-day visit on Sunday. This is King Philippe's maiden visit to the country following his ascension to the throne in 2013. "The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence," a press release by Ministry of External Affairs stated. India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union. In 2016-17, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion .
By IANS

AHMEDABAD: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the "twin blow" of demonetisation and the "badly-designed" and "hastily-implemented" Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a "complete disaster" for India's economy and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to lower the democratic discourse by calling his critics anti-national or anti-development.

A day before the first anniversary of the government's November 8, 2016 decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes, Manmohan Singh in his address to small businessmen and traders in this city of election-bound Gujarat said the move was a "black day for our economy and indeed for our democracy".

He said the measure to recall large currency notes to curb tax evasion and black money had been suggested to earlier governments too but "we never took such a drastic measure because the... cause of demonetisation always exceeded the benefits very substantially".

"One must also remember that nowhere in the world has any democracy undertaken such a coercive move (of) withdrawing 86 per cent of legal tender in one single (stroke). Neither would anyone advise bringing out even more high currency notes of Rs 2,000 after elimination of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes."

To promote a less cash economy coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective. Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country. To promote less cash economy coercive steps like Demonetisation are ineffective, he said.

This twin (#Demonetisation & GST) blow is complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses: Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/fyCSQ88YfM  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

The noted economist said he still remembered how "shocked" he felt when Modi announced the decision on the night of November 8 last year.

"I wonder who advised him to inflict such a reckless step on our nation and whether any considerable thought went into it. Black money and tax evasion are a menace that the country needs to tackle," he said, adding "the demonetisation was clearly not the solution".

He said the measure had failed its ostensible purpose of curbing wealth accumulated through tax evasion as it was known by now that none of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met.

"The fact that more more than 99 per cent of the (spiked) currency came back into the banking system has punctured the government's claim. There are also widespread reports of the rich converting their black money into white while the poor have undergone immense suffering," he said "invoking the memory of more than a hundred people who lost their lives last year in the wake of the demonetisation".

"Demonetisation has proved to be a mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped."

He reiterated how he described the measure in Parliament "as an organised loot and legalised plunder".

He said while the demonetisation had reduced economic growth to 5.7 per cent, it was still a "gross underestimate as the pain of the informal sector is not adequately captured in the calculation of the GDP".

"Every one per cent loss of our GDP growth rate annually costs our nation Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Think of the human impact on the lost jobs, the youth whose opportunities have vanished, the businesses who had to shut down."

He said what was "more tragic is that none of the lessons from this monumental blunder have been learned by the Modi government.

"Instead of providing relief to poor and marginalised farmers, traders and small and medium business... the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST. This twin blow is a complete disaster for our economy. It has broken the back of small and medium enterprises of India."

He said the measures had deeply impacted the production sector of India, and China on the other hand benefited from demonetisation and GST.

"In the first half of fiscal year 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1.69 lakh crore. And in the same period in fiscal 2017-18, the import from China increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore. This unprecedented increase of imports by more than Rs 45,000 crore which is a 23 per cent increase in a year can be attributed largely to demonetisation and GST."

He said along with demonetisation, GST had sown a "deep rooted fear of tax terrorism among the business community".

He said good governance involved both the "head and the heart and it pains me to say that the Union Government has failed to do its duty on both fronts".

Manmohan Singh also criticised the government for the bullet train project to run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, calling it "an exercise in vanity" that won't benefit the nation as a whole.

He said the priorities of the government were "misplaced" and it should have instead improved the safety infrastructure of India's railway network.

Manmohan Singh said people should be allowed to ask the government about its public policy.

"By questioning the bullet train, does anyone become anti-development? By questioning demonetisation and GST does anyone become anti-national?

"This attitude of suspecting everyone to be a thief or anti-national, low level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse."

AHMEDABAD: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the "twin blow" of demonetisation and the "badly-designed" and "hastily-implemented" Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a "complete disaster" for India's economy and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to lower the democratic discourse by calling his critics anti-national or anti-development. A day before the first anniversary of the government's November 8, 2016 decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes, Manmohan Singh in his address to small businessmen and traders in this city of election-bound Gujarat said the move was a "black day for our economy and indeed for our democracy". He said the measure to recall large currency notes to curb tax evasion and black money had been suggested to earlier governments too but "we never took such a drastic measure because the... cause of demonetisation always exceeded the benefits very substantially". "One must also remember that nowhere in the world has any democracy undertaken such a coercive move (of) withdrawing 86 per cent of legal tender in one single (stroke). Neither would anyone advise bringing out even more high currency notes of Rs 2,000 after elimination of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes." To promote a less cash economy coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective. Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country. To promote less cash economy coercive steps like Demonetisation are ineffective, he said. This twin (#Demonetisation & GST) blow is complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses: Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/fyCSQ88YfM  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 The noted economist said he still remembered how "shocked" he felt when Modi announced the decision on the night of November 8 last year. "I wonder who advised him to inflict such a reckless step on our nation and whether any considerable thought went into it. Black money and tax evasion are a menace that the country needs to tackle," he said, adding "the demonetisation was clearly not the solution". He said the measure had failed its ostensible purpose of curbing wealth accumulated through tax evasion as it was known by now that none of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met. "The fact that more more than 99 per cent of the (spiked) currency came back into the banking system has punctured the government's claim. There are also widespread reports of the rich converting their black money into white while the poor have undergone immense suffering," he said "invoking the memory of more than a hundred people who lost their lives last year in the wake of the demonetisation". "Demonetisation has proved to be a mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped." He reiterated how he described the measure in Parliament "as an organised loot and legalised plunder". He said while the demonetisation had reduced economic growth to 5.7 per cent, it was still a "gross underestimate as the pain of the informal sector is not adequately captured in the calculation of the GDP". #WATCH Live: Former PM Manmohan Singh addresses the media in #Gujarat's Ahmedabad. https://t.co/egmK5n0eqO  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 "Every one per cent loss of our GDP growth rate annually costs our nation Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Think of the human impact on the lost jobs, the youth whose opportunities have vanished, the businesses who had to shut down." He said what was "more tragic is that none of the lessons from this monumental blunder have been learned by the Modi government. "Instead of providing relief to poor and marginalised farmers, traders and small and medium business... the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST. This twin blow is a complete disaster for our economy. It has broken the back of small and medium enterprises of India." He said the measures had deeply impacted the production sector of India, and China on the other hand benefited from demonetisation and GST. "In the first half of fiscal year 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1.69 lakh crore. And in the same period in fiscal 2017-18, the import from China increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore. This unprecedented increase of imports by more than Rs 45,000 crore which is a 23 per cent increase in a year can be attributed largely to demonetisation and GST." He said along with demonetisation, GST had sown a "deep rooted fear of tax terrorism among the business community". He said good governance involved both the "head and the heart and it pains me to say that the Union Government has failed to do its duty on both fronts". Manmohan Singh also criticised the government for the bullet train project to run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, calling it "an exercise in vanity" that won't benefit the nation as a whole. He said the priorities of the government were "misplaced" and it should have instead improved the safety infrastructure of India's railway network. Manmohan Singh said people should be allowed to ask the government about its public policy. "By questioning the bullet train, does anyone become anti-development? By questioning demonetisation and GST does anyone become anti-national? "This attitude of suspecting everyone to be a thief or anti-national, low level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse."
By AFP

KABUL: Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding two dozen others in the latest deadly attack targeting Afghan journalists.

The assault, claimed by the Islamic State group, lasted about three hours before Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers, who were armed with guns and grenades, and freed staff trapped inside the building.

"The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued," Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air in an act of defiance just moments later.

"This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us," Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas told rival Tolo News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues were being treated.

The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire at security forces.

A Shamshad news presenter, his hands bandaged after cutting his hands on glass as he fled the attackers, told viewers that 20 colleagues had been wounded. Six were in a critical condition.

"We have all come back (to work), all our journalists and colleagues are back on duty," he said boldly.

Special forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster.

"I was in my office when gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked the building," Ehsas said.

"They killed one of our guards and entered the building and started firing. Most of us were able to flee but some were wounded and some jumped out of the windows."

He said the station had not received any threats before the attack.

Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes during the assault as more and more security forces and emergency services swarmed the area.

Afghan security personnel arrive at the spot | AP

At least one employee told AFP he had seen three attackers entering the building on security cameras.

"They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said one employee had been killed and 24 people wounded, including four firefighters.

In a tweet the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) renewed its call for "the government to take all preventive measures to protect" the media -- sentiments echoed by Amnesty International.

President Ashraf Ghani pledged to take "serious measures" to protect journalists in a statement condemning the attack.

Media under attack

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement released by their Amaq propaganda agency. The Taliban had earlier released a Twitter statement denying involvement.

Pashto is one of the official languages in Afghanistan and is spoken mainly in the south where the Taliban have a large presence.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State group step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

The attack spotlighted the dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as security worsens. Violence against Afghan journalists surged in the first half of 2017, a media watchdog said in July.

Attack on Shamshad TV in #Kabul , 1 journalist dead nd 20 people wounded. Prays for all of them. pic.twitter.com/Af5LvEKcXO  Abaidullah Aslam (@Abaidulah_Aslam) 7 November 2017

Last year the country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists, according to the AJSC, with at least 13 media workers killed -- 10 by the Taliban. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria.

In January last year seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel near the bombing site. Like Shamshad on Tuesday, it managed to resume operations within a few hours.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing.

But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people.

KABUL: Gunmen disguised as policemen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding two dozen others in the latest deadly attack targeting Afghan journalists. The assault, claimed by the Islamic State group, lasted about three hours before Afghan special forces overpowered the attackers, who were armed with guns and grenades, and freed staff trapped inside the building. "The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued," Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air in an act of defiance just moments later. "This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us," Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas told rival Tolo News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues were being treated. The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire at security forces. A Shamshad news presenter, his hands bandaged after cutting his hands on glass as he fled the attackers, told viewers that 20 colleagues had been wounded. Six were in a critical condition. "We have all come back (to work), all our journalists and colleagues are back on duty," he said boldly. Special forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster. "I was in my office when gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked the building," Ehsas said. "They killed one of our guards and entered the building and started firing. Most of us were able to flee but some were wounded and some jumped out of the windows." He said the station had not received any threats before the attack. Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes during the assault as more and more security forces and emergency services swarmed the area. Afghan security personnel arrive at the spot | AP At least one employee told AFP he had seen three attackers entering the building on security cameras. "They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said one employee had been killed and 24 people wounded, including four firefighters. In a tweet the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) renewed its call for "the government to take all preventive measures to protect" the media -- sentiments echoed by Amnesty International. President Ashraf Ghani pledged to take "serious measures" to protect journalists in a statement condemning the attack. Media under attack Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement released by their Amaq propaganda agency. The Taliban had earlier released a Twitter statement denying involvement. Pashto is one of the official languages in Afghanistan and is spoken mainly in the south where the Taliban have a large presence. Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State group step up offensives against security installations and mosques. The attack spotlighted the dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as security worsens. Violence against Afghan journalists surged in the first half of 2017, a media watchdog said in July. Attack on Shamshad TV in #Kabul , 1 journalist dead nd 20 people wounded. Prays for all of them. pic.twitter.com/Af5LvEKcXO  Abaidullah Aslam (@Abaidulah_Aslam) 7 November 2017 Last year the country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists, according to the AJSC, with at least 13 media workers killed -- 10 by the Taliban. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria. In January last year seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them. It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001. Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others. That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel near the bombing site. Like Shamshad on Tuesday, it managed to resume operations within a few hours. Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing. But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people.
The Saudi-led coalition's decision to close off Yemen's air, sea and land borders prevented the United Nations on Monday from sending two humanitarian aid flights to the war-torn country, a UN spokesman said.

UN officials are in talks with the coalition to get permission for the flights to deliver aid to Yemen, where some seven million people are on the brink of famine.

"There were no flight clearances granted to our flights today," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq. "We expected to have two flights going and those are on hold for now."

The coalition sealed off Yemen's borders following a weekend missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels that was intercepted near Riyadh airport.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile.

The coalition as well as the rebels have been regularly criticized by the United Nations for blocking aid to civilians.

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million Yemenis in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine and cholera causing more than 2,000 deaths.

Last month, the United Nations put the coalition on its blacklist for killing and maiming 683 children during the conflict in 2016 and for carrying out 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals.

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By AFP

MOSCOW: Russian authorities were reluctant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on Tuesday, with just low-key events being held to mark an uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule.

President Vladimir Putin, who has made "stability" the keyword of his 17 years in power, would be treating the day as any other, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously.

Russian media had an ambiguous reaction to the centenary, with pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda asking on its front page: "Great celebration or big tragedy?"

Moscow will see a march and rally organised by the Communist Party - still the largest opposition party in parliament - to glorify the anniversary.

The party said its slogans will include "Lenin-Stalin-Victory!" and "Let Lenin's ideas live!"

But authorities have allowed just 5,000 participants for the afternoon rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin, the TASS state news agency reported.

Leftwing radical group The Other Russia, led by writer Eduard Limonov, is also set to hold an event in the capital.

IN PICS | A historic event that had a lot more than just 'Lenin', 'Bolsheviks' and the 'Reds'

Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with a public holiday which included pomp and military parades on Moscow's Red Square.

Under Putin, November 7 became a regular working day in 2005.

This year there was again a parade on the square, but the event was to mark the 76th anniversary of a parade during World War II, rather than the centenary of the revolution.

The centenary is the last landmark event before a presidential election in March that Putin is widely expected to contest and win.

'No celebrations'

Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg.

The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 - which is November 7 according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar - after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship.

One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called "deeply symbolic" after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers.

Vladimar Putin | AP

Putin said this month that the revolution was "an integral, complex part of our history", emphasising the need for "treating the past objectively and respectfully".

The Kremlin has charged a committee of politicians, historians and clerics with organising this year's festivities.

Organiser Konstantin Mogilevsky stressed at a presentation last month that the events were "not celebrations" of 1917 but were intended to be a "calm conversation about revolution, aimed at understanding it".

Russia's leadership is desperate to avoid repeats of the "colour revolutions" in other ex-Soviet countries, he said.

New period dramas on television have been some of the main forums for re-examining history.

One depicts revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky as a "rock 'n' roll hero", according to its makers, while another examines Germany's role in fomenting the Bolshevik Revolution.

But many Russians are barely aware of the anniversary, commentators said.

"The country that once counted its existence from October (1917) is now seeing in its centenary in deafening silence," wrote historian Ivan Kurilla in the Vedomosti business daily.

"For an ordinary Russian, the centenary is passing by unnoticed," he added.

A report commissioned by the Communist Party found that 58 percent of Russians were not aware of the anniversary.

November 7 is still a day off in neighbouring Belarus under the Soviet-style rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.

But the last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, cancelled its November 7 public holiday this year.

MOSCOW: Russian authorities were reluctant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on Tuesday, with just low-key events being held to mark an uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule. President Vladimir Putin, who has made "stability" the keyword of his 17 years in power, would be treating the day as any other, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously. Russian media had an ambiguous reaction to the centenary, with pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda asking on its front page: "Great celebration or big tragedy?" Moscow will see a march and rally organised by the Communist Party - still the largest opposition party in parliament - to glorify the anniversary. The party said its slogans will include "Lenin-Stalin-Victory!" and "Let Lenin's ideas live!" But authorities have allowed just 5,000 participants for the afternoon rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin, the TASS state news agency reported. Leftwing radical group The Other Russia, led by writer Eduard Limonov, is also set to hold an event in the capital. IN PICS | A historic event that had a lot more than just 'Lenin', 'Bolsheviks' and the 'Reds' Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with a public holiday which included pomp and military parades on Moscow's Red Square. Under Putin, November 7 became a regular working day in 2005. This year there was again a parade on the square, but the event was to mark the 76th anniversary of a parade during World War II, rather than the centenary of the revolution. The centenary is the last landmark event before a presidential election in March that Putin is widely expected to contest and win. 'No celebrations' Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg. The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 - which is November 7 according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar - after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship. One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called "deeply symbolic" after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers. Vladimar Putin | APPutin said this month that the revolution was "an integral, complex part of our history", emphasising the need for "treating the past objectively and respectfully". The Kremlin has charged a committee of politicians, historians and clerics with organising this year's festivities. Organiser Konstantin Mogilevsky stressed at a presentation last month that the events were "not celebrations" of 1917 but were intended to be a "calm conversation about revolution, aimed at understanding it". Russia's leadership is desperate to avoid repeats of the "colour revolutions" in other ex-Soviet countries, he said. New period dramas on television have been some of the main forums for re-examining history. One depicts revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky as a "rock 'n' roll hero", according to its makers, while another examines Germany's role in fomenting the Bolshevik Revolution. But many Russians are barely aware of the anniversary, commentators said. "The country that once counted its existence from October (1917) is now seeing in its centenary in deafening silence," wrote historian Ivan Kurilla in the Vedomosti business daily. "For an ordinary Russian, the centenary is passing by unnoticed," he added. A report commissioned by the Communist Party found that 58 percent of Russians were not aware of the anniversary. November 7 is still a day off in neighbouring Belarus under the Soviet-style rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. But the last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, cancelled its November 7 public holiday this year.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas held talks with Saudi King Salman on Tuesday on his first visit to the kingdom since last month's landmark reconciliation accord between rival factions Hamas and Fatah.

"During the session, the (two leaders) reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian arena," state-run Saudi Press Agency said in a brief statement.

Under an Egyptian-brokered deal signed between Abbas's Fatah and the Islamist Hamas movement on October 12, the Palestinian Authority is due to resume full control of the Gaza Strip by December 1.

Abbas's visit to Riyadh comes after Hamas handed over control of the Gaza Strip's borders with Egypt and Israel to the Palestinian Authority last week, in the first key test of the accord.



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Rogers project faces $20 million shortfall. What's next.

The numbers are a part of the construction firms 60% Construction Documentation Estimate, one of the deliverables requested by the city.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Light snow this morning. Then remaining cloudy this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low near 25F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Silvio Berlusconi was Monday celebrating a return to centre-stage in Italian politics as a right-wing coalition he helped put together claimed a convincing victory in Sicily elections seen as a key test ahead of a general election next year.

With 60 percent of votes counted after Sunday's election, the Berlusconi-backed candidate for regional president, Nello Musumeci, had 39.27 percent, comfortably clear of Giancarlo Cancelleri of the populist Five Star Movement (M5S), on 35.05 percent.

Declaring the latest triumph in his chequered career, 81-year-old Berlusconi said on his social media platforms: "Sicily has chosen the road of real, serious and constructive change, based on honesty, competence and experience."

Fewer than half the 4.5 million eligible voters cast ballots with turnout predicted to be slightly down from other recent votes on the mafia-plagued island where disillusionment with politicians runs deep.

The outcome represents a significant setback for M5S, which had harboured ambitions of taking control of its first region after claiming the mayorships of Rome, Turin and a string of smaller municipalities last year.

It also underlined the significant problems facing the ruling Democratic Party as it struggles to unite Italy's divided left in time for a general election due in the first half of 2018.

Summing up the lessons of the vote, Luiss university politics professor Giovannia Orsina said: "Berlusconi is still going and the right is competitive again."

Five Star did double its popular vote from the last round of regional elections and claimed a moral victory on the grounds that it was projected to get more votes that any other single party.

Fabrizio Micari, the Democratic Party (PD) candidate, claimed 18 percent of the votes counted, having suffered slightly less slippage than expected to a rival from the far left.

PD regional secretary Fausto Raciti warned that the vote, which means the party will lose control of the Sicilian regional assembly, had worrying implications for the left.

"As we wait for the definitive results, we can only recognise a clear defeat. I hope that this outcome will trigger reflection across the left on the need for unity," he said.

As things stand, the PD will enter the general election with former premier Matteo Renzi as its candidate to lead the country.

A centrist, Renzi is loathed by many on the left of his own party and in other factions. They accuse him of adopting right-wing policies in the guise of reforms aimed at bolstering Italy's flagging competitiveness.

Renzi also carries the baggage of his defeat in a 2015 referendum on constitutional reform that led to his resignation and replacement by current premier Paolo Gentiloni.

In contrast, Berlusconi is on the rise again and victory in Sicily will strengthen his hand as he prepares to tie down the terms of a general election alliance with the far-right Northern League.

"This marks the start of a wonderful new chapter for the united right," said Giovanni Toti, governor of the northern region of Liguria and a key lieutenant of the revitalised Berlusconi.

Four-time former premier Berlusconi, famous for his 'Bunga Bunga' sex parties, penchant for plastic surgery and serial gaffes, had been written off as a spent political force after a series of scandals and open heart surgery last year.

He is barred from public office as a result of a conviction for tax fraud, but is hoping to have the ban lifted. Even if it is not he will be a central figure in what promises to be a highly unpredictable election.

With the left struggling to overcome its divisions and M5S losing momentum, a Forza Italia-Northern League alliance looks well-placed to emerge as the biggest force at the polls, which will be fought under a new electoral system favouring broad alliances.

M5S has denounced the electoral reform as rigged against it. The party, which styles itself as an anti-establishment force, has thus far ruled out entering into any alliance.

Its candidate for prime minister, Luigi Di Maio, had been due to debate Renzi on national television on Monday but pulled out as the disappointing Sicily results emerged.

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Bengaluru: Software major Infosys is opening an innovation hub in Indiana and would hire 2,000 people for it, with plans to set up many more such hubs in the U.S., Infosys Non-executive Chairman Nandan Nilekani said on Tuesday.

"We are working closely with the Indiana government and hiring people locally both from universities as well as experienced people," he said.

Nilekani said Infosys was using its infrastructure in capacity building for future.

"This is just a part of many innovation hubs that Infosys will be opening in the US. We are talking to many of the states," he said.

Nilekani saw a huge potential in the business relationship between U.S. and India in the wake of new start-ups emerging in the country.

He was addressing a two-day trade meet 'Unlocking U.S.-India Trade Potential",organised by the US Consulate General, Chennai, in association with Atlantic Council South Asia Center.

Nilekani said the challenge before companies like Infosys was to get people to be up-to-date on current technology, current development and how they learn the latest.

Nilekani, the first chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India that implemented the Aadhaar project, said Microsoft has integrated its Skype video interaction facility with Aadhaar to verify the identity of callers from India.

He said many companies are using Systems Applications and Products (SAP), which they combine with their products to

create better solutions.

"To give you a few examples, Microsoft has Skype,which is a video thing. And Skype has been integrated byMicrosoft into the Aadhaar system."

"So if somebody wants to interview somebody and you want to make sure that thecandidate is a genuine person, then you can do an Aadhaarauthentication on Skype to verify that he is the realcandidate.

So this is an example of how a U.S. company hascombined their SAP for Window and Skype with Aadhaar SAP," he said.

Elaborating further, he said the digital infrastructure India has created is very sophisticated, giving every Indian resident a digital identity.

He added that India has reached an era where every individual would have a bank account.

"When everybody has a bank account, a mobile phone and everybody has a digital identity, then that allows you to do all kinds of things in delivering services to a billion peoplein a very effortless way on their phones."

"They can receive and send money from their phones. They can sign contracts on their phones," said Nilekani.

Steps for unlocking the US-India trade potential would be explored by American, Indian and international businesses with trade experts at the meet.

Around 100 conference attendees will explore the economic partnership between the U.S. and India, factors that pose impediments to growth and potential solutions at the conference.

The trade conference would address themes, including ease of doing business, expanding defence cooperation and energy cooperation, US Consulate General, Chennai, said.

The conference would enable conversation and collaboration among key stakeholders, thought leaders and policymakers, the Consulate said.
Mumbai: Citing improved capital buffer following the massive recapitalisation, global rating agency Moody's has revised upwards credit outlook on Bank of India, Union Bank and Oriental Bank to stable from negative and also retained these state-run lenders' Baa3 deposits ratings.

For Bank of India, Moody's has affirmed the Baa3 rating on its MTN programme and also the Baa3 ratings on its unsecured debt issued from its London and Jersey branches.

Similarly, for Union Bank, Moody's has affirmed the MTN programme rating at Baa3 and the senior unsecured debt rating at Baa3 for debt issued from its Hong Kong branch.

The agency has also affirmed the standalone credit profiles or baseline credit assessments of these three banks at Ba3, Moody's said in a note today.

At the same time, it has changed the outlook to stable from negative for BoI and its London and Jersey branches, Union Bank and its Hong Kong branch, and also that of Oriental Bank of Commerce.

Moody's cited the massive Rs 2.1 trillion (USD 32 billion) recapitalisation plan for public sector banks as the main reason for the changes in the ratings, saying "the quantum of the plan is large enough to help improve the capitalisation levels of these banks."

The additional capital will help the banks take accelerated provisioning for their problem assets, which will in turn improve their capacity to take haircuts on those assets in a resolution process. It will also help them raise capital from markets that will further support their capitalisation profiles, it said.

"The revision in the outlooks for BoI, Union Bank and OBC's ratings to stable from negative, reflect our view that government's capital infusion plan alleviates some of the downside risks to their baseline credit assessment and ratings.

"Prior to this rating action, the BCAs of these three banks were under pressure due to the deterioration in their asset quality, as well as our expectation of pressure on their profitability, as they continued to build loan loss buffers," Moody's said.

It also pointed out that their capitalisation profile is somewhat weaker than other rated banks, and thus their ability to generate internal capital is limited.
New Delhi: The idea that was sold as the big tax reform, one that would replace the outdated multiple-tax regime with One Nation, One Tax, has left more questions than answers for small traders across the country.

As News18 travelled across the country to assess the impact of GST on small and medium businesses, it found cycle manufacturers grappling with multiple GST slabs, met people working in brass industry wondering why yellow-coloured bells were not in the same slab as silver-coloured bells.

The exercise that was started to simplify taxation for Indias industries seems to have tied manufacturers up in knots. So much so, that small-scale businessmen like BR Durga have been pushed to near-bankruptcy. Micro-ancillary units have suffered a massive blow due to their inability to understand GST.

Durga is an owner of one of those micro units that are close to being shut down. He has no orders from larger manufacturers because he cannot afford to hire a chartered accountant to handle GST inclusive bills.

We were first hit by demonetisation and before we could recover, the government has imposed this devil-tax on us. We dont understand governments intentions. And because of these big changes now we are being forced to spend huge sums, out of our working capital, on hiring CAs, said Durga.

But some havent been able to make sense of this tax reform even after hiring CAs.

We are unable to grasp what is GST. There is too much confusion. Even our accountants are unable to fully comprehend it. Small manufacturers like me are the worst hit, says Rajinder Singh Sarhali, a cycle manufacturer in Ludhiana.

The exercise of simplifying the old tax regime has hit small traders the hardest. Take for instance, those in the cycle industry.

Different raw materials that go into manufacturing bicycles have been categorised under different codes. As a result, a manufacturer has to purchase raw materials at different slabs and he sells the finished product at a different GST slab.

Cycle- Its 28 % GST to get the cycle painted, 12% GST on other cycle parts, 18% GST on the Cycle lock, 5% GST on the tyre - and on this finished bicycle that you and I purchase- there is a 12% GST- It is this ambiguity of multiple slabs that is confusing the small scale traders.

It would have been far simpler if the government would have categorised one sector under one slab. We have to allocate a lot of our time and resources at calculating our GST on sale and purchase of items under GST, says Avtar Singh Bhogal, Chairman, Ludhiana Cycle Manufacturer Association.

Just like cycle manufactures, the badminton manufacturers in Jalandhar face a similar difficulty. Their purchase involves multiple slabs of GST and their final product is sold at a different slab. The gap has to be paid to the government every month.

The Badminton string which is made of plastic attracts 18% GST, manufactuer must pay 28% GST to get the racket painted, 18% GST is imposed on badminton frame made of aluminium and finally the complete Badminton Racket is sold at 12% GST at retail shops.

We purchase raw materials by paying a higher percentage of GST and we sell at our items in a lower GST slab. This difference is paid to the government. Three months after its introduction there still is no clarity on new taxation among most manufacturers and suppliers, said Shyam Sundar of JJ Jonax Sports.

Just like their colleagues in Punjab, manufacturers in UP seem equally, if not more, hassled by the new tax regime.

According to Azam Ansari, Chairman, Moradabad Karkhanedaar Association, Moradabads brass industry is not only facing losses worth crores of rupees but is also losing its world-renowned artisans.

Brass industry has an annual turnover of around Rs 20,000 crore and according to some estimates, business has gone down by as much as 50%, and because of it around 5 lakh artisans working with this industry are feeling the heat of GST.

The cost of raw material has gone up and the demand for our product has gone down. We only work 2-3 days in a week now, says Dilshad Hussain, an artisan who resides in Moradabads Katar Shaheed locality.

Manufactures say that customer dont want to pay the additional GST on products. And they claim that GST slabs defy logic.

Why is a small-sized brass pooja bell exempted from GST while a big brass pooja bell comes under 18% GST slab. It becomes difficult to explain this to a customer, says Munna Ahmad, a worker.

He goes on to add, that what further confuses the customers and manufactures is the fact that a silver-coloured brass decorative is put under 18% bracket while yellow-coloured brass bell comes under 28% GST slab.

Cycle- Its 28 % GST to get the cycle painted, 12% GST on other cycle parts, 18% GST on the Cycle lock, 5% GST on the tyre - and on this finished bicycle that you and I purchase- there is a 12% GST- It is this ambiguity of multiple slabs that is confusing the small scale traders.
New Delhi: A special court in New Delhi on Tuesday said that it needs more time to give a verdict in the 2G scam case against former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi and others.

CBI Special Judge OP Saini had on October 25 deferred the matter observing that documents filed in the case are voluminous and technical in nature which were still under perusal. He had set November 7 as next date of hearing.

The judge on Tuesday said that the court needs more time to decide on the case, which is perhaps the biggest scam in Independent India.

He said it might take substantial time and deferred the matter for November 7 for further clarification if required.

The court has also asked all the accused to be present for the hearing and also issued production warrant against Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and Bollywood producer Karim Morani.

The 2G spectrum scam is said to be the biggest scam in the history of Independent India. The Time Magazine has called it the second biggest instance of the abuse of executive power  just a notch below Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal.

On November 16, 2010, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the supreme auditing body of the country, came out with its report on the issuance of licenses and allocation of 2G spectrum by the Department of Telecom.

CAG, then headed Vinod Rai, revealed 2G licenses had been issued to telecom operators at throwaway prices causing a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer. Moreover, licenses had been issued to ineligible applicants who had deliberately suppressed facts, disclosed incomplete information, submitted fictitious documents and used fraudulent means for getting licenses and thereby access to spectrum.

Now, there are two separate cases related to 2G spectrum cases that are being looked into by the special court. One of them is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the other by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

On April 26, the court had concluded final arguments in the case.

According to the CBI, Raja was biased in allocating 2G mobile air waves and operating licences to telecom firms, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

The CBI chargesheet said Rs 200 crore was transferred from DB Group to Kalaignar TV, which were kickbacks in lieu of allocation of 2G spectrum to Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd.

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a separate case related to money laundering alleging that a conspiracy was hatched by Raja, Kanimozhi and DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal besides others and that the Rs 200 crore was the proceeds of crime.

All accused, including Raja, are out on bail.
New Delhi: Demonetisation had found its personification last year when the photograph of an old man, breaking down after missing his spot at a bank had gone viral. He had waited in the queue for days to collect his pension.

A year later, the struggles for the man who was once braving bullets in the India-Pakistan war are still the same  hardships intact.

Nand Lal, the ex-army naik, earns a monthly pension of Rs 8,000. The widower stays alone in a dingy 10x10 feet room and has a help who looks after him. His daughter resides in Faridabad and visits him once in every six months. She sends him Rs 6,000 every month.

We have been trying to get him to stay with his daughter but he doesnt listen, said the woman who cooks and cleans for Lal.

The 79-year old man pays Rs 2,000 as room-rent. Lals landlord hasnt increased the rent in several years now. It is only here that he gets to stay, if he looks for a house somewhere else, they wont keep him, said Lals neighbor who has been staying in the adjacent lane for the last 12 years.

Old man cries in Gurgaon after missing his spot in a long queue... and they said only the rich will cry. Photo by @parveenkumar_ht pic.twitter.com/Cn4Hkp3BD7 Anupam Thapa (@anupamthapa) December 14, 2016

Journalists no longer land up outside Lals house, asking him questions, clicking his photographs. I did not ask anybody to click my photograph. Why did someone photograph me without asking me, he asked. The anger was palpable.

The man is so irritated at the interference of reporters that he does not mind raising his stick and often shouting: Everything is fine with me. I have no problems. Stop visiting me.

Towards the far end of the national capital region, past the last metro station in Gurugram is a place named Bhimnagar  thats where Lal lives. It wasnt difficult to find his house. Fauji na? (the man who was in the army, right?) is all it took to locate his house.

The match-box of a place where the man puts up at is dark, small and lonely. The surroundings are symbolic of the life this ex-armyman leads. Quiet and unflashy. On having enquired about the man, the neighbours seemed sour about the presence of a media personnel.

Lals life was not always this isolated.

The ex-army man owned a place in Bhimnagar, Gurugram where he stayed with his wife. The couple did not have a child and adopted a baby girl. I made her study and she became an engineer, he said.

The family later sold their house and moved to Faridabad once their daughter got married. Things went downhill ever since.

After Lals wife passed away, he did not get along well with his extended family and moved back to Bhimnagar, renting the room that he now stays in. But his army training and infused principles have stuck. He refuses to take any help from relatives and goes to a nearby restaurant for dinner on days his help does not show up.

Circumstances and continuous struggles have made the man not only wary of people around him but life in general. He has ongoing tiffs with his landlord. Lal is also not in good terms with his neighbours.

It was a similar day when he had taken a rickshaw to withdraw money from the nearby bank as he had to pay for his daily chores. He had to be in queue for three days. He was completely out of cash and I gave him money to take a rickshaw, said Lals neighbour, who is not particularly in good terms with the man but couldnt see him suffer.

Vehement debates around One Rank One Pension (OROP) have been doing the rounds in the recent past. Lal, however, is not a party to it. Not because he does not need pension, but because he does not own an Aadhaar card. As the Narendra Modi-led government talks about mandating Aadhar for pensions, this man is facing troubles getting an identification proof.

Demonetisation was just another crisis in the life of this 79-year-old. The year following the note-ban has not been any less difficult for Lal, who served the army for two decades. The government claims to have recovered black money and bumped up digital transactions through demonetizationbut for Lal, life poses the same trenches it used to last year.
Washington: The recent decision by China to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, as a global terrorist, is doing "material harm" to its ties with India, top American experts said Tuesday.

Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India s move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.

"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammed s founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.

Rossow alleged that China continued to use the international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".

"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washington s stronger rhetoric against Pakistan s support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.

"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistan s benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI.

The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN s list of banned terror outfits.

Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15- nation UN Security Council to put a hold on India s application.

The other 14 members supported New Delhi s bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.
New Delhi: As the nation still debates if marital rape is a criminal offence, the Gujarat High Court has called upon itself to determine whether a husband can compel a wife to indulge in oral sex and if such an act would amount to rape and cruelty.

Calling it an issue of utmost public importance, Justice JB Pardiwala chose to examine whether such an act can be criminalized under IPC.

If the husband compels his wife to indulge in oral sex, whether the same would constitute an offence of cruelty within the meaning of Section 498-A of the IPC. This court would also like to examine the question whether forcing a wife by the husband in oral sex would amount to rape punishable under Section 376 of the IPC, reads the order.

The court has now asked the government to reply to these key questions. It has also asked, Can a wife initiate prosecution against her husband for unnatural sex punishable under Section 377 of the IPC? If the husband forces his wife to indulge in oral sex, will the same constitute an offence under Section 377 of the IPC?

The court has also severely criticized the debate over marital rape and said it has led to women in India bearing a scar throughout their lives.

Marital rape exists in India and it is a disgraceful offence. It has scarred the trust and confidence in the institution of marriage. A large number of women are still bearing the brunt of non-criminalization of marital rape. It is a non-consensual act of violent perversion by a husband against a wife, where she is abused physically and sexually, noted the HC judge.

The case has its roots in a three-year-old marital dispute, in which the woman left her marital home and filed an FIR against her husband and in-laws in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat.

Advocate Jigar Gadhavi, who was appearing for the husband prayed that there was no separation between the husband and wife and that they were living together. The wife cannot allege a violation of Section 377, especially with regard to oral sex.

Justice Pardiwala also laid down the three kinds of marital rape prevalent in India and denounced them.

The Gujarat HC termed the first kind of marital rape as battering rape, in which rape may follow a violent physical episode where the husband wants to makeup and coerces his wife to have sex against her will.

According to the judge, the second category is force only rape, in which husbands use only that amount of force, as it is necessary to coerce their wives.

The judge has stated that the third is obsessive rape, in which assaults involve brutal torture and/or perverse sexual acts and are most commonly violent in form. Justice Pardiwala also termed it as sadistic rape.

The matter has now been directed to be on top of the board.
Washington: An Indian man who came to the United States to study was sentenced Monday to more than 27 years in prison for sending funds to Al-Qaeda and plotting to kill the federal judge in his trial.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 39, was one of four men including his brother arrested in September 2015 and charged for sending $22,000 to US-born cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, a leader of Yemen-based Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Mohammad and two others traveled to Yemen in 2009 in hopes of hand-delivering the money to Awlaki, one of the most influential recruiters for Al-Qaeda. They did not meet him, but had the money delivered to him by a third party.

After they were arrested in 2015, Mohammad also tried to hire someone to kill the judge in his case, the Justice Department said.

"He threatened the safety of our citizens, a judge and the independent judiciary. Now he is being held accountable," said US Attorney Justin Herdman.

Mohammad came to the United States to study at Ohio State University in 2002. He married a US citizen in 2008.

A year after the his arrest, Mohammad offered another inmate in the Lucas County, Ohio jail $15,000 to kidnap and kill US District Judge Jack Zouhary.

The inmate connected Mohammad with an assassin who was in fact an undercover FBI agent. A member of Mohammad's family paid a $1,000 downpayment to the "assassin."

He pleaded guilty in US federal court in Toledo, Ohio to one count of conspiracy to provide and conceal material support or resources to terrorists and one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

In a plea deal, Mohammad agreed to 27.5 years in federal prison, after which he will be deported.

The three other men arrested still face trial. All pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Srinagar: Three militants, one of whom was Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar's nephew, were gunned down in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday in an encounter in which an Army jawan was also killed.

Azhar's nephew Talha Rashid was a resident of Drabgom. Security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kandi belt following information about the presence of some militants.

"An Army jawan was killed in the encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Aglar area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district," Army sources told PTI.

A civilian also suffered injuries in the crossfire. The search operation by security forces led to a gunbattle after the militants fired at them. "The firing has stopped and the search operation is continuing," an Army official said.

On November 2, two Army soldiers were killed and a CRPF jawan suffered was injured in an encounter with militants at Samboora in Pampore area of Pulwama. The encounter ended with the gunning down of a militant.

(With PTI Inputs)
Malian soldiers killed by a French military strike in northern Mali last month were deserters who had joined an Islamist militant group, a French source close to the matter said on Tuesday.

That contradicted comments from the Malian Defence Ministry, which said on Monday that the soldiers killed in the Oct. 23 strike, a raid on a camp of the Ansar Dine militant group, had been its hostages.

The French source said the raid was carried "on the basis of detailed intelligence against a camp that included Malians who had joined the Islamist ranks. They were hit, amongst others."

"They were not prisoners," the source told Reuters, declining to say how many were killed or captured in the raid.

The source accused Malian authorities of spreading propaganda in the run-up to presidential elections, which are scheduled for November 2018.

A French defence ministry source added: "We have a real trust problem with the Malians."

Malian officials were not immediately available for comment.

The French army previously said that 15 members of Ansar Dine, which is loosely affiliated to other militant groups operating in northern Mali, were taken "out of action" in the raid.

The Malian government is struggling to contain Tuareg and Islamist violence in the country's north, some of which is spreading south. Attempts to place officials in northern towns have sometimes failed, raising questions about the government's ability to maintain stability ahead of the elections.

Islamist militants seized northern Mali in 2012 and French forces intervened a year later.

Around 4,000 of its troops remain in West Africa's Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane, a cross-border anti-terrorism operation.

France has also been at the forefront of organising a regional force as part of efforts to find a long-term strategy to exit the region.

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Chennai: Superstar Kamal Haasan has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Tuesday and instead meet people affected by the torrential rains in Chennai.

Kamal Haasan met those present at a medical camp set up by his welfare movement in Pallikaranai for the rain-hit people of Chennai. The actor made it clear that he will not be using his meet for political mileage.

"This year he (Haasan) has decided not to celebrate his birthday while Chennai people are distressed by the rains. Instead, he will be visiting a medical camp, set up by his Narpani Iyakkam (welfare movement) at Avadi," Haasan's spokesperson said.

Haasan, who has been hinting at his political foray, would be "reaching out to people with his special message and plans for the future," the spokesperson said without divulging further details.

Later, the actor took to Twitter to explain the reason for not celebrating his birthday.

To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations pic.twitter.com/hkSPJj97C9 Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 6, 2017

The actor has recently pledged to send about five lakh of his volunteers and supporters for refurbishment of water bodies in the wake of the torrential downpour and resultant waterlogging in parts of the state including Chennai.

On Monday, Haasan said that the first step in his political journey will be the launch of a mobile app on his 63rd birthday that will enable him to be in touch with the fans and also keep a track of the donations he receives from fans.

Haasan said his political party launch will happen in a calm manner later and the mobile app launch will come first. He said his fans would contribute funds for the party.

According to him, there is no shame in stretching out one's hands for the welfare of the people. If only the rich pay their taxes properly, the country would not have a debt issue, he said.

(With PTI Inputs)
Jodhpur: Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists in Jodhpur are now distributing a booklet on love jihad that claims that Hindu women are being converted by Muslim men for money.

Speaking to CNN-News18, the state vice president of VHP said that the booklet also mentions the rate at which Hindu girls are being converted to Islam.

This is a dangerous trend. Muslim men convert these Hindu girls and then physically abuse them, after which they are left to fend for themselves. Were in touch with some of these girls who were rejected by Muslim men. We are talking to them and it has made us aware of the realities of the world, said Amit Dadhich, VHP state president.

He further added that the entire conversion racket has links to Pakistan and that it has spread across the country.

Police will be held responsible if there is any untoward incident. The trend is known to everyone and the police are not doing anything about it. When Hindu families come and complain about their daughters going missing or showing unusual behavior, the cops blame the parents for not taking care of their children. The police is absolutely negligent, he said.

The statement and release of booklet comes just days after a 22-year-old Hindu woman, who appeared in a burqa in the Rajasthan High Court, declared that she had married a Muslim man. She was asked to stay in a government-run women shelter.

The court was hearing a petition by Payal Sanghvi's brother, Chirag Sanghvi, who says his sister went missing on October 25 from their home.

He told the court that he had gone to the police, which is when he was told that his sister had declared in writing that she had married one Faiz Mohammad in April. Singhvi and his family have however alleged that she was kidnapped and blackmailed, adding that her marriage certificate was forged.

Judges Gopal Krishna Vyas and Manoj Kumar Garg questioned the state government on its handling of religious conversions and also on whether there is any law regulating them in Rajasthan.
New York: Ravi Bhalla, the Indian-American Sikh, who is running for Mayor in New Jersey's Hokoben has said that the city will "not let hate win".

"A flyer with the word terrorist and my picture was circulated in Hoboken. Of course, this is troubling, but we won't let hate win," tweeted Bhalla.

Flyers targetting Bhalla, the first Sikh to hold elected office in New Jersey, were placed on car windshields in Hoboken. They carried a photo of the councilman, labelled him a terrorist and carried a message in red letters saying, "Don't let terrorism take over our Town!"

I want people to know that Hoboken is a welcoming community where my wife and I are proud to raise our children. No matter your race or ethnicity, you are welcome here in our city. I want to use the incident to affirm the value of living in a diverse community where we are judged by the content of character, not by the colour of skin or how we worship. At a time when our President is seeking to divide us, it is critical we come together as a community and stand up for American values, tweeted Bhalla.

The leaflets appeared to be a modified version of mailers sent out by another Hoboken mayoral candidate, Mike DeFusco. The original flyers accused Bhalla of having a potential conflict of interest.

Later, DeFusco condemned the altered flyers in a statement. "Today I spoke out not only against the racist, disgusting flyers targeting Ravi Bhalla that appeared last night and was made to look like it came from my campaign, but also against the rest of the hate that has been shamefully displayed throughout this race," DeFusco said.

DeFusco said he has also been the victim of hateful rhetoric accusing him of being a part of a "crime family" and attacking his sexuality.
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his blog posted on 7 November attributed demonetisation for reduction in stone pelting and protests in Jammu and Kashmir saying the note ban affected their fundings.

The reduction in incidences of stone pelting, protests in J&K and naxal activities in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts are also attributed to the impact of demonetisation as these miscreants have run out of cash, said Jaitley in his blog.

However, it is interesting to note that stone pelting is not the only form of violence that Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under.

South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP), a database that records the number of fatalities caused due to terrorism, says the number of deaths in the Valley due to terrorism were 267 in 2016 and jumped to 298 till 29 October in 2017.

The last year witnessed 14 civilians, 88 security force personnel and 165 terrorists losing their lives while 53 civilians, 67, 178 killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

The death toll was 174 in 2015.

The Finance Minister on the eve of demonetisation completing a year also wrote about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commemorating the occasion by observing Anti-Black Money Day on 8 November.

Talking of cash seizures by the Income Tax Department, Jaitley said, Cash seizure has more than doubled in 2016-17 when compared to 2015-16; during search and seizure by the Department Rs.15,497 crore of undisclosed income has been admitted which is 38% higher than the undisclosed amount admitted during 2015-16; and undisclosed income detected during surveys in 2016-17 is Rs.13,716 crore which is 41% higher than the detection made in 2015-16.

Jaitley went on to write about reduction in black money and the country moving swiftly towards a cashless state. This process will gain momentum under Operation Clean Money launched on January 31, 2017, wrote Jaitley further reinstating the fact.
Hyderabad: With less than a month left, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati still seems far from ensuring a secured release on December 1. Now, a BJP MLA in Telangana has threatened to burn theatres that screen the film on the Rajputs.

According to a Hindustan Times report, MLA T Raja Singh has alleged that the film distorts history and disregards the Rajputs and Rajasthani culture. Singh, a Rajput himself, was speaking at an event when he made the statements. His views were later shared on his Facebook page, which went viral.

While director Bhansali and the films cast including Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has time and again clarified that the film doesnt show a romantic link between Rani Padmavati and Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji, several Rajput communities and BJP leaders have protested against this alleged love angle.

Singh too, on Sunday, was reacting to the alleged attempt at distorting history and defaming Rajputs.

Hindustan Times has quoted Singh as saying, The fact was that Khilji had attacked Chittorgarh, causing mass self-immolation (Jauhar) by more than 16,000 women who lived in the fort at the time.

A few back ago, BJP had written to the Gujarat Election Commission saying the films release should be delayed or stopped owing to the sensitive nature of the film and considering the upcoming elections in Gujarat during the same time.
Two novels about the Nazis took France's biggest literary prizes on Monday, with Eric Vuillard's story of how German industry and finance backed Adolf Hitler winning the top Prix Goncourt.

L'ordre du Jour ('Agenda' in English) had been among the favorites for the Goncourt prize -- the most prestigious in the French-speaking world.

Vuillard, 49, said he was taken aback on hearing he won for his elegant, 160-page book which charts how the financial support of German industrialists was crucial to Hitler's rise. "One is always surprised, sometimes fatally," he told reporters at the Paris restaurant where the winner was announced. Asked whether the book was a warning for our own populist times, the writer said he wanted to set out how the "elites and industrialists slid into a situation where they compromised themselves".

The Renaudot award, which is often seen as a consolation prize for those not shortlisted for the Goncourt, went to The Disappearance of Josef Mengele about the secret post-Holocaust life of the Nazi war criminal. Journalist Olivier Guez tells how the SS doctor, notorious as the 'Angel of Death' at the Auschwitz concentration camp for his often lethal experiments on prisoners, managed to evade arrest and even get a West German passport in his own name in the 1950s while living in Argentina.

While Vuillard gets only 10 euros ($11) in prize money, the Goncourt almost guarantees a boost in sales of 450,000 copies or more, placing it instantly among the year's top bestsellers. Although his book was greatly admired, many critics had tipped Veronique Olmi to make history by becoming the second woman writer in a row to win the century-old prize.

Her novel, Bakhita, based on another real-life story, this time of a Sudanese slave girl who became a Catholic saint, is already a bestseller. It has won the FNAC prize and is also in the running for the Femina prize, which will be decided on Wednesday.

"We did not choose the winner on the basis of the sex or origin of the writer, nor their publishers," said the doyen of French letters, Bernard Pivot, who chairs the jury, adding, "The book is all that counts," he told AFP.
The 39-year-old owner of a storied lakeside inn in the French Alps was on Monday crowned France's chef of the year by the Gault & Millau gastronomic guide.

Jean Sulpice won the coveted award a year after taking over L'Auberge du Pere Bise, a century-old hotel on the shores of Lake Annecy which has played host to the likes of Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Richard Nixon.

Gault & Millau's owner Come de Cherisey praised Sulpice for his lightning rise through the rarefied world of French cuisine.

"He is working his way up a high mountain pass," he said.

On his website Sulpice describes his food as being "filled with the riches of the mountains" where he grew up.

His menu gives pride of place to regional products, such as venison, brown trout and Beaufort cheese.

Sulpice ran a two-star Michelin restaurant in Val Thorens ski resort -- Europe's highest -- before snapping up the property on Lake Annecy, 100 kilometres (62 miles) to the north, in 2016.

After a facelift costing several million euros the stately Auberge reopened to the public in May.

Among the other winners of Gault & Millau's 2018 awards were 32-year-old Cedric Grolet of the five-star Le Meurice hotel in Paris, named the country's top pastry chef.

Born in the Loire region to a truck driver father and hairdresser mother Grolet has gained a huge following on Instagram for his colourful, fruity creations.

Gault & Millau publishes an annual guide of 3,800 eateries across France, over two-thirds of which offer dishes costing under 30 euros ($35).

It is less well-known than the Michelin guide, whose stars are seen as a sort of culinary holy grail.
At Vietnam's Old Flames market, curious customers peruse love letters and pick through perfumes, candles and clothes -- relics from failed relationships put on sale by forlorn lovers.

Entrepreneurial exes meet once a month, bringing their baggage -- emotional and literal -- to a converted cottage on a leafy Hanoi street to find a new home for items they can no longer bear to look at.

It's also a means of moving on.

"(After a breakup) I'm very sad, I can't drink or eat... but after a while I pick myself up. The past is in the past," said Phuc Thuy, 29, who was selling clothes, purses and even a tube of toothpaste she acquired during a former romance.

The market has steadily grown since it opened in February, especially among Vietnam's social-media obsessed youth, unabashed about sharing intimate details of their everyday lives.

"Young people are more open-minded and they want to share deeply and widely to overcome pain, without suffering alone," said founder Dinh Thang, as a visitor strummed love songs on a guitar nearby.

He started the market after a few bitter breakups left him with unwanted paraphernalia from a now extinguished passion.

He proudly displays love letters, heart-strewn birthday cards and sentimental scrapbooks from his ex as a reminder that such memorabilia need not be painful forever.

He's also opened the doors to vendors selling new items, and is planning to duplicate the concept in Vietnam's commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City next year.

For those who haven't quite reached Thang's stage of emotional post-breakup enlightenment, he's set up a message board to pen notes to exes.

"To all my ex-lovers, I'm sorry because I feel like we never really knew each other," read one remorse-tinged message. Another was more succinct: "I'M FINE!!!"

Thang hopes the market will make the topic of breakups less taboo in Vietnam, a conservative communist nation of 93 million where just a generation ago arranged marriages were more common.

Social attitudes have changed as the country has become increasingly globalised and as its vast young population -- more than 50 percent of the country is under age 30 -- embrace western dating norms.

That includes internet dating.

"Many young people meet online, date online and break up online," said Bui Manh Tien, Youth Programme Officer at United Nations Population Fund in Vietnam.

Today, men and women are waiting longer to get married and divorce rates are also ticking up, according to official figures.

"We don't want to give up our freedom too early and get tied to family responsibility when we're young, we want to enjoy life before getting married," Tien, 25, added.

For some, the Old Flames market is simply a place to make new connections, romantic or otherwise.

"I came here to meet people and to see the goods, explore why they used to be a very beautiful memory," said Tieu Khuy, before picking up a used copy of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".
Mumbai: Actor Kunal Kapoor says he has immense respect for Bollywood's 'Khiladi' Akshay Kumar as he takes his work "very seriously, but not his stardom".

Kunal will soon be seen with Akshay in Gold. Directed by Reema Kagti, the film is about India's first Olympic medal win as a free nation in the year 1948 at the 14th Olympic Games in London. It will release on Independence Day next year.

"Akshay is someone that I have a lot of respect for. I can't think of many actors that have constantly reinvented themselves the way he has," Kunal told IANS.

"From being the country's biggest action star to the king of comedy and now putting his weight behind socially relevant films and stories that very few actors would have the courage to back. He is warm, supportive and great fun to be around.

"What I really like about him is, he takes his work very seriously, but not himself or his stardom. He never lets you feel like you are working with such a huge star," added the actor, who is the brand ambassador of fashion brand Indian Terrain.

The actor also appreciates the trend of making films based on true and inspiring stories.

"It is about time that we started celebrating our real-life heroes. As a country, we have such an incredible history, and so many fascinating stories to tell. And as an actor, I am grateful, that I have a chance to be part of some of those stories," he added.

Kunal has featured in films like Rang De Basanti, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein and Dear Zindagi.
It is undoubtedly an important day for Salman Khans fans. For the makers today released the much-awaited trailer of Tiger Zinda Hai starring Bhai, and Katrina Kaif.

As expected, the trailer has left many in awe with its stunning visuals, incredible screenplay and of course jaw-dropping fight scenes. To add to the impact is a real dreadful story of Indian nurses taken hostage by ISIS in 2014.

Yes, the film which has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar has been inspired by true events that happened in 2014 wherein 46 Indian nurses were taken hostage by ISIS in Iraq who were rescued from them after Indian Government intervened. And in Tiger Zinda Hai, it is Salman Khan who is given the responsibility along with Katrina Kaif to rescue a group of 22 nurses.

Editor-turned-filmmaker Mahesh Narayanans debut Malayalam movie Take Off, released earlier in March, was also inspired by the real-life rescue operation of Indian nurses who were stranded in Tikrit, Iraq, during its occupation by ISIS in 2014.

The movie revolves around the life of its female protagonist Sameera (Parvathy) who travels to Iraq with her husband for work. But things turn ugly when IS militants take control of their hospital.

While the Malayalam film Take Off was a survival thriller, Tiger Zinda Hai is listed as a spy thriller with trailer showing Salman as an incredible RAW agent who can shoot, sprint, smash bones with utmost ease. Hes way wittier than the baddies he is pitted against, an aspect well explained in the trailer.

In the Malayalam film, which seems closer to the real sequence of events, there are no big heroisms, with the 19 stranded nurses relying on the wit and prayer of Sameera and the unofffical interventions of different governments to emerge from ISIS-held territory.
Related Indonesia threatens to block WhatsApp messaging over obscene content

Indonesia said on Tuesday it will summon executives of messaging services and search engines, including Google, to demand they remove obscene content, but dropped a threat to block WhatsApp Messenger after "GIF" images were taken off the service.

The Internet is already partly censored in Indonesia, but the latest steps mark an escalation against a background of growing conservatism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

"We will call all providers, including Google to clean up their network," said Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesia's communication and informatics ministry.

Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ministry vowed on Monday to block Facebook Inc's WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) images were removed.

WhatsApp said on Monday that message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services.

It said it had asked the government instead to work with those providers, which integrate their technology into WhatsApp to allow users to enter keywords to search for GIFs.

Tenor Inc, one of the third parties, said on Tuesday it had "already implemented a fix for the content issues".

Users of Whatsapp Messenger on iPhones were unable to access Tenor GIFs on Tuesday.

"We see now that they have done what we asked," Pangerapan said. "Therefore, we won't block them because they have responded to us."

WhatsApp Messenger is widely used in Indonesia. Civil servants and ministers, including Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara, are among the heaviest users.

Giphy Inc., a New York City GIFs company that also works with WhatsApp, did not respond to requests for comment. Giphy offers partners a feature to filter inappropriate images.

Indonesia's warning did not appear to target Gboard, a keyboard app developed by Google that provides comparable GIF search results but must be installed separately from WhatsApp on most devices.

Rudiantara has vowed in the past to clamp down on pornography sites and, after meetings with representatives of Google, Twitter Inc and Facebook in August, he said his ministry's priority was to protect Indonesians from content that promoted radicalism, terrorism and drugs.

Rudiantara, who uses one name, said however that the government was not trying to foster "a regime of censorship".

Netizens Sceptical

Indonesia blocks access to websites offering criticism of Islam, dating services and sex education, research published in May by Tor Project, a non-profit maker of Web browsing tools, showed.

Indonesia had 69 million monthly active Facebook users by the first quarter of 2014, ranking it fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil, company data showed.

Some reaction on Indonesian social media to the threatened block of WhatsApp was sceptical.

"While youre at it, why dont you block Twitter too, (and) if necessary all browsers in the Playstore, because its way easier to search for porn there than on WhatsApp," wrote one Twitter user, with the handle @jnessy.

The countrys regulators have reached settlements with several technology companies after threatening to shut them down. In August, Indonesia announced it would block Giphys website for showing gambling-related ads. Access was soon restored after it agreed to cooperate with regulators.

Bans were similarly rescinded in recent years on social media websites, such as Tumblr, and the chat app Telegram, which regulators had said was "full of radicals and terrorist propaganda."

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had urged the communications ministry to block pornographic GIF images accessible via emoticons, complaining that children could easily reach them, according to news website kompas.com. Terms of use for WhatsApp, Tenor and Giphy specify users must be at least 13.

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Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's wife, named among those in the 'Paradise Papers' accused of parking their wealth in tax havens abroad, says all her financial dealings are above board.

Dilnashin figures among the 714 Indian links named in the 'Paradise Papers', said the Indian Express in a banner story done as part of a global probe carried out by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

Her spokesperson said in a statement: "As per the requirements of provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, all the properties, company or body corporate or shares in any company are declared in the balance sheet."

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been named as part of the leaks, regarding shareholding in a Bermuda company acquired before the 2004 Liberalised Remittance Scheme kicked in.

A day before the big story broke, Amitabh had penned his thoughts on being named in the Bofors scandal and the earlier Panama Papers leaks.

"Tomorrow there could be more... And the process of our cooperation shall continue," he wrote in a blog post on Sunday.

On the Panama Papers of last year, he wrote: "We were asked for reactions, for responses, for justification or not, for replies to their investigative queries... Two instant replies were given out by us... Of denial and misuse of name. They were printed... but the questions continued.

"The fullest cooperation has been extended at all hours as dutiful citizens.. And even after, if there is any more query that needs to be addressed, we shall comply."
Mumbai: Actress Sunny Leone has flown to Canada to attend her cousin's wedding.

"I am very close to my uncle and cousin since I was a kid. We had great times together. Now it is her wedding (Monday night) and there is no way I could have missed it. It is a surprise for her and I am looking forward to see the look on her face," Sunny said in a statement.

Her husband Daniel Weber is staying back in Mumbai to care of their daughter Nisha.
Ever since Ali Abbas Zafar announced his next venture Tiger Zinda Hai, featuring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in key roles, the fans have been excited to get their hands on anything and everything concerning the film. But the wait is now over as the makers decided to unveil the film's trailer today.

Both Salman and Katrina play intelligence agents- while Tiger is an Indian agent, Zoya is a Pakistani spy, who travel to five different countries, fighting against the odds to save the nurses who're taken hostage by ISIS in Iraq.

As can be seen in the trailer, the film is based on real-life incident wherein 46 nurses were held hostage by ISIS in Iraq in 2014. The film is an extension to the 2012-film Ek Tha Tiger, wherein both Tiger and Zoya set out on a life-threatening joint mission.

Quite interestingly, the film has been shot across various destinations in Austria, Greece, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India. From filming in the cold weather of Austria to the hot climate of Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi- it seems the entire cast and crew have pushed themselves to get the desired results.

In a statement, Zafar shared, "Katrina has really pushed herself for the part. She has also gone the extra mile to train in important nuances like aggressive hand-to-hand combat. The action that Katrina has done looks very real onscreen, despite being mounted on a grand scale. It was essential to understand how such agents think and operate. So, we got Katrina to train with real agents, used their expertise and experience. For instance, as intelligence agents, you have to train in a certain way to keep your mental balance in direst situations."

The makers, in fact, have been extra regular in sharing behind-the-scene photographs from the sets. Just a day before the trailer release, they shared a photograph of Salman as Tiger riding a black horse.

They also shared a small video snippet and wrote, "Never awaken a wounded Tiger. Get ready for #TigerZindaHai Trailer #2DaysForTZHTrailer @BeingSalmanKhan #KatrinaKaif @aliabbaszafar @yrf."

Sharing another video featuring Katrina as Zoya, the makers wrote, "Spies & Agents. Espionage & Drama. Get ready for #TigerZindaHai #3DaysForTZHTrailer @BeingSalmanKhan #KatrinaKaif @yrf @aliabbaszafar."

The film is slated to release on December 22.
Chennai: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met DMK chief Karunanidhi in Chennai, the party decided to cancel its protest against demonetisation on Wednesday.

The DMK has cited incessant showers as the reason for cancelling the protest in eight rain-ravaged districts of Tamil Nadu. However, political observers see this as a major development ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The opposition has planned nationwide protests on November 8, the anniversary of demonetisation.

On Monday, PM Modi met Karunanidhi at the latters Gopalpuram residence in Chennai. Vanakkam, Sir, Modi greeted Karunanidhi as he sat near the 93-year-old and held his hand.

Accompanied by Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan, Modi was with the DMK leader for about 10 minutes before winding up his visit to the city during which he took part in the 75th anniversary celebrations of Tamil newspaper Dina Thanthi.

Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin, who was on a visit to Sharjah, cut short the trip and returned to receive Modi at Karunanidhi's residence. Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi's daughter, and Rajathi, Karunanidhi's second wife, and DMK General Secretary Durai Murugan were also present.

The Prime Minister was briefed about Karunanidhi's health by his doctor. This is the first time Modi has met Karunanidhi at his residence.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundarajan told reporters that Modi invited Karunanidhi to his home in Delhi. Karunanidhi reciprocated with a smile, she said.

Karunanidhi has been off active politics for about a year now since age-related ailments have kept him home-bound.

The 10-minute meeting comes amid political turmoil in the state where the EPS-OPS faction of the ruling AIADMK is struggling to retain majority in the face of TTV Dinakarans defiance against stepping aside.

The BJP had helped broker peace between the E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam camps earlier this year, but the combine has not yet been able to retrieve the partys two-leaves symbol which was frozen by the Election Commission.
Ahmedabad: Blaming demonetisation for rampant job losses, Manmohan Singh in an event in Ahmedabad said the textile sector in Surat had to face 21,000 layoffs.

60,000 looms were discarded in Surat. On an average 35 jobs were lost per loom amounting to 21,000 losses in the city in one specific sector alone, said Singh.

The former Prime Minister began his speech by blaming demonetisation for more than 100 lives lost during the chronic days.

Singh went on to describe the BJP-led government's demonetisation exercise as a reckless step and that scrapping higher value currency notes was organised loot and legalised plunder.

"As I said in the Parliament, demonetisation was organised loot and legalised plunder," he said during his visit to poll-bound Gujarat.

The senior Congress leader also criticised the fact that 99% of the cash came back into bank accounts, puncturing the idea of eliminating black money.

Hitting out at the government over the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax, Singh said compliance requirements under GST had become a nightmare for small businesses.

GST broke the back of the informal sector and seriously impacted the medium and small industries sector, added Singh.

He also criticised the Centre's ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project and dubbed it an exercise in vanity.

Singh's visit comes a day before Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to tour Surat on the anniversary of the government's announcement of the demonetisation exercise. Opposition parties are observing 'black day' on Wednesday.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has once again hit out at the Centre, calling its 'demonetisation drive" an act of devil that led to the loss of nearly Rs 3 lakh crore to the GDP.

In a social media post, the Chief Minister said, "Crores of workers, particularly in the informal sector, lost their jobs. Several farmers were left to starve and over 100 people lost their lives.

Mamata accused the BJP of using note ban to their own interest, saying demonetisation was a big scam, and it will be proven so, only if a thorough investigation was carried out.

"We believe that the note ban was done not to combat black money but to convert black money into white money for vested interests of the political party in power. Black money became white fund for them and the country was plunged into darkness.

She claimed that economy had suffered a lot and growth rate was affected badly because of demonetisation.

The GDP fell to 6.1% growth in between January and March 2017 compared to 9.1% in the previous year. It further plummeted to 5.7% between April and June 2017, compared to 7.9% in the previous year. More than 75,000 industrialists were compelled to leave India and settle abroad and become NRI because of harassment in the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra wrote a letter to the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley condemning the sufferings of small industries, including handloom workers, due to the hurried implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Referring to the hardships faced by the business community, he said:In Surat alone, 90,000 out of the 7 lakh handlooms had to be sold at throwaway prices, as there is little business to be done now. People are angry because of the price hike. Even bigger traders are unsatisfied due to complexity in return filing under GST. As a result, the filing of returns, which was 80% in July, has dropped to 60% in August.

Post-GST many household consumer items have fallen under the 28% bracket of the GST. Apart from cigarettes and other tobacco items, the 28% bracket should be changed to 18%, he said.

He also pointed out that the consumer items falling under the 18% tax bracket should be brought under the 12% bracket.

Ever since the announcement of demonetisation on November 8, 2016, Trinamool Congress has not just protested against the drive but also demanded its withdrawal.

On Wednesday, TMC will observe a "black day" across the state against demonetisation.
Chennai: Superstar Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said that his political affiliation will not be to the Left or the Right, instead, he will take the middle route.

I have arrived. There is no question of me not having taken the political plunge. Why are people still speculating if I will enter politics, I am here to say that I am launching a party, said Kamal.

When quizzed if he would contest the local body election set to be announced soon, Kamal said it was a matter of being ready. We have to be ready first, only then will we launch a party or contest a poll. We are looking at achieving a larger goal. We have to define our policy and manifesto. We have to work out our structural policy. Only when everything is set, will we truly arrive, said the actor.

Kamal also clarified that he would not lean towards a certain caste or section of the society. I do not believe in caste. I am not an enemy of the Hindus, as most would like you to believe. While I cannot deny the fact that I was born in a Brahmin family, I have stepped away from it. I am neither proud nor ashamed of it. I want every person to accept me, said the star, popularly known as Ulaganayagan (Hero of the World), before adding that he doesnt like the word atheist, as it was given by the 'believers'.

During his meeting with the media, Kamal Haasan also said that he would be launching an app in January, which will play the role of a whistleblower. We are at the beta testing stage of the app. It can be used by one-and-all to report any misdoings, he said.

Kamal was speaking to the media on the occasion of his 63rd birthday, which he decided not to celebrate and instead spend it with meet people affected by the torrential rains in Chennai.
New Delhi: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel on Monday wrote to Gujarat Police saying he did not want any police protection. Soon after, the police team stationed outside Patels house was removed. But Patel is not the only one to refusing a police detail. On Monday, Jignesh Mevani, who, like Patel, has been openly campaigning against the ruling BJP, said that he was given police protection without asking for it.

Patel has alleged, The state government wants to spy on me. I do not need any police protection, I have my community (Patidars). The Patidar leader went on to write to the Gujarat Police, assuring them that he is not at risk and does not need protection. Following this, his police detail was removed.

Similarly, Mevani also told a newspaper: Two armed police personnel were sent to my home on Saturday night I had never asked for it, neither did I receive any threats. The police may have found me vulnerable in their security assessment, which could be the reason for this deployment. I suspect that the ruling BJP may even plant something in my house or vehicle to book me because I have been constantly raising my voice against the BJP government.

While both Patel and Mevani kept the Congress guessing till the last moment, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor had declared much earlier that he would join the Grand Old Party in his fight against the BJP for the December elections.

                          !! Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) November 6, 2017

It was only as recently as this week that Patel openly announced that he would support Congress. However, he stopped short of confirming whether he would seek votes for the Congress in the Assembly elections, which is barely a month away.

For both Mevani and Patel, their fears perhaps stem from the series of meetings the two have had with leaders of the Congress brass. Both activists claim that this is an attempt by the state government machinery to keep a track of their movements ahead of the polls.

Last month, some local news channels aired CCTV footage of Hardik Patel leaving a hotel, after an alleged meeting with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

Patel had later denied that he had met Gandhi and said that he had, instead, met AICC Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot, who slammed the channels for invading Patels privacy.

Meanwhile, Mevani recently met Gandhi and put forth a charter of 17 demands seeking social justice for the Dalit community in Gujarat. Soon after the meeting, he had claimed that Gandhi had accepted 90% of his demands.
New Delhi: Former Samata Party President Jaya Jaitly, in a startling claim, has said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a hand in the infamous Tehelka sting Operation West End that ultimately led to then Defence Minister George Fernandes resignation.

According to an IANS report, she has also claimed that when UPA was in power, Gandhi had asked then Finance Minister P Chidambram to ensure that Tehelka's alleged financiers are not treated in an "unfair" or "unjust" manner.

Jaitly has made these claims in her upcoming autobiography "Life among the Scorpions: Memoirs of a Woman in Indian Politics", which is due to be released on Tuesday.

Informed sources have confirmed that Jaitly has presented a copy of the letter in the book. It also has a copy of a two-page letter from First Global, the alleged financiers of Tehelka, petitioning Sonia Gandhi, the then Chairperson of National Advisory Council.

In the autobiography published by Rupa, Jaitly also recalls that when Fernandes insisted on resigning, then Union Ministers LK Advani and Jaswant Singh advised against it. Soon after, Jaswant Singh brought Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's message to the Defence Minister, accepting his resignation.

"George Fernandes was only too eager to oblige," she says. However, Jaitly was miffed that she had also been asked to resign as Samata Party chief by Vajpayee, while she had made her stand clear in her own party that she had done nothing wrong and would not resign.

She also claims that the Congress, which was then in Opposition, was the ultimate beneficiary of the sting by Tehelka, which allegedly received hawala funds.

Jaitly also recounts her experiences during the investigations under the Commission of Inquiry, instituted after the Tehelka sting. When the matter was suddenly and arbitrarily sent to a court, she says she feared that the judge, who convicted former BJP president Bangaru Laxman of bribery and was hearing her case too, would eventually convict her irrespective of her arguments.

In the book, Jaitly further recollects her meeting with alleged arms middleman Christian Michel, and how he bragged about helping Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao to spy on Sonia Gandhi and then went on to offer her an opportunity to make a "huge pile of money" for her party.

In the context of her revelations on how defence deals are done in India, Jaitly mentions a meeting with an unnamed senior Congressman where he informed her that people were willing to pay "twenty lakh rupees to have a cup of tea" with her. When she asked him why, he explained that "it cuts the competition".

This, according to the book, was during the first NDA Government and Fernandes the Defence Minister.

(With inputs from IANS)
Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met him recently but did not indicate if his party would pull out of the BJP-led government amid a growing rift in the ruling BJP-Sena alliance.

Pawar told the state NCP's two-day brainstorming session at Karjat in the neighbouring Raigad district which concluded on Tuesday that Uddhav Thackeray and Sena MP Sanjay Raut met him in Mumbai last week.

"In our meeting, they did not look satisfied (with the BJP-led government in Maharashtra) but they did not say if they are going to pull out," Pawar told reporters. Pawar said it did not matter to his party even if the Sena pulled out of the government.

"Our stance is clear. We (NCP) aren't going to help anyone in this process," Pawar said. Asked if the Sena were to offer a "helping hand" to NCP, the Maratha leader said, "We are not available to anyone for help."

"If the time comes, we will have discussion with like-minded parties," Pawar, whose party was in power in Maharashtra with the Congress for 15 years, said. Pawar's remarks came days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Sena of playing the role of the opposition despite being in the government in the state and at Centre.

Addressing party workers at the chintan baithak, Pawar alleged: "Authoritarianism on the rise at the Centre. There have been curbs on people's basic rights and democratic values".

The NCP chief also targeted the Fadnavis government over its advertisement campaign on farm loan waiver and other welfare schemes.

"In the last few days we saw advertisement saying 'I am the beneficiary' (of the government schemes). Now we should come out with an advertisement saying 'we are insulted' by the government which made public their (the cultivators') debt position to the world through the advertisement," Pawar said.

"Farmers are being insulted in the name of loan waiver," the veteran politician said, claiming farmer suicides were onthe rise.

The NCP leader said the agrarian economy was in danger as the government did not have a policy for agricultural produce.
Egyptian exports to Russia increased to $387.9 million (27.4 percent) year-on-year between January and July of 2017, state-run news agency MENA quoted Egyptian ambassador to Moscow Ehab Nasr as saying during a roundtable held by the Egyptian Businessmen Association on Tuesday.

The boost was driven by an increase in agricultural exports including potatoes, onions, garlic, strawberries, fresh and frozen grapes, medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as home appliances and furniture.

Russia's exports to Egypt reached $1.978 billion  a 12.2 percent increase  between January and June 2017, compared to $1.763 billion in the same period in 2016, Nasr added.

Wheat made up 33.9 percent of Russian exports to Egypt between January and July at $669.7 million, while petroleum exports made up 12.4 percent of exports at $245.3 million, Nasr said.

Trade between Russia and Egypt increased 32.2 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2017, reaching $3.2 billion, according to Reuters.

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New Delhi: With Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise visit to the Gopalapuram residence of ailing DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, the BJP has signalled unequivocally that it is open to doing business with the DMK. But will the upcoming verdict in the 2G spectrum allocation cast a spanner in the works  especially because Karunanidhis daughter Kanimozhi is an accused and former DMK Telecom Minister A Raja is the main accused?

An incriminating verdict will not be an impediment to a potential DMK-BJP alliance says Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy. Speaking on FaceOff at on Monday night, Thirupathy said, A guilty verdict is against individuals not against the party. DMK as a party will continue to flourish even if Raja and Kanimozhi are found guilty. If Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are convicted in the National Herald case, it doesnt mean the Congress as a party will be finished. Verdicts are always against individuals not against political parties.

Although this flies in the face of the BJPs stated objective of Congress-mukt Bharat it seems to have given away the BJPs new strategy in Tamil Nadu. Till some time back the BJP was even planning to induct the AIADMK into the NDA and Prime Minister Narendra Modis Council of Ministers. But now those plans have been laid to rest. At least for the time being.

Also on the show, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan welcomed the BJP spokespersons remarks seconding his hypothesis of individuals are guilty as opposed to institutions.

On Tuesday, there was news that the DMK has cancelled its anit-demonetisation protests in at least eight districts which were hit by rain. Even though the party has officially blamed it on the rains, it seems like the DMK is already watering down its oppositon to DeMo. This is a big blow to the combined oppositions protests slated for November 8, which they intend to mark as Black Day.

The DMK was one of the big regional parties after the then Samata party to join the NDA and become part of Atal Bihari Vajpayees government from 1999 to 2004. The party walked out of the NDA to stitch together a rainbow coalition which swept Tamil Nadu 39-0 in the 2004 general elections. This clean sweep explained why Karunanidhi had extraordinary heft in UPA 1.

Privately, DMK leaders will also confess they felt let down by the Congress in their handling of the 2G scam. They feel like DMK leaders were the only ones hung out to dry when it should have been the collective responsibility of the Cabinet. A known evil is better than an unknown good, is how a DMK leader put to me when asked about a potential DMK-BJP alliance in the run up to 2019.

The winds of change are once again blowing, from the South upwards.


Indonesia said on Tuesday it would summon representatives of messaging services and search engines, including Alphabet's Google, to demand they remove obscene content, a day after threatening to shut down WhatsApp Messenger. The Internet is already partly censored in Indonesia, but the latest steps mark an escalation against a background of growing conservatism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. "We will call all providers, including Google to clean up their network," said Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesia's communication and informatics ministry.

The ministry vowed on Monday to block Facebook Inc's WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) images were removed. "They have to follow the rules of the host," Pangerapan said of WhatsApp Messenger, which is widely used in Indonesia - prolifically by some ministers and bureaucrats. WhatsApp said on Monday that message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services. It said it had asked the government instead to work with those providers, which integrate their technology into WhatsApp to allow users to enter keywords to search for GIFs.

Tenor, one of the third parties, said on Tuesday it had "already implemented a fix for the content issues". Users of Whatsapp Messenger on iPhones were unable to access Tenor GIFs on Tuesday. The company "regularly" worked with "local entities to make sure our content reflects the cultural mores and legal requirements," spokeswoman Jennifer Kutz said in a statement. Giphy, a New York City GIFs company that also works with WhatsApp, did not respond to requests to comment. Giphy offers partners a feature to filter inappropriate images.

Indonesia's warning did not appear to target Gboard, a keyboard app developed by Google that provides comparable GIF search results but must be installed separately from WhatsApp on most devices.

NETIZENS SCEPTICAL

Indonesia blocks access to websites offering criticism of Islam, dating services and sex education, research published in May by Tor Project, a non-profit maker of Web browsing tools, showed. Indonesia had 69 million monthly active Facebook users by the first quarter of 2014, ranking it fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil, company data showed. Some reaction on Indonesian social media to the threatened block was sceptical.

"While youre at it, why dont you block Twitter too, (and) if necessary all browsers in the Play store, because its way easier to search for porn there than on WhatsApp," wrote one Twitter user, with the handle @jnessy. The countrys regulators have reached settlements with several technology companies after threatening to shut them down. In August, Indonesia announced it would block Giphys website for showing gambling-related ads. Access was soon restored after it agreed to cooperate with regulators.

Bans were similarly rescinded in recent years on social media websites, such as Vimeo and Tumblr, and the chat app Telegram, which regulators had said was "full of radicals and terrorist propaganda." The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had urged the communications ministry to block pornographic GIF images accessible via emoticons, complaining that children could easily reach them, according to news website kompas.com. Terms of use for WhatsApp, Tenor and Giphy specify users must be at least 13.

strong>Watch: Apple iPhone X | First Look
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc launched sales in Spain on Tuesday, its first foray into Western Europe as it revs up a stalled global push into other developed markets around Europe and the United States. Xiaomi will initially sell its flagship Mi A1 smartphones, priced at 229 euros ($265.85) in Spain from Wednesday as well as internet-connected products including scooters, air purifiers and coffee makers.

"It's proof we are very, very serious to be a global company, not only a Chinese company and not only working in developing countries," Wang Xiang, head of Xiaomi's global business, told Reuters ahead of the launch. "We want to expand our ambitions to developed areas like Western Europe, and that's just the first step." Xiaomi, which in 2014 was briefly the world's most valuable startup, saw sales stall in 2016 amid an unwieldy international expansion and intense competition from local rivals Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Vivo and Oppo.

News18.com Presents Tech and Auto Awards 2017 | Smartphone of Year: Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone 8 Plus? Vote And Win

At the time it pulled back from several overseas markets including Brazil and Indonesia, but this year it has launched and re-launched sales in dozens of countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine. "We are more focused now, we also have more resources," said Wang, who added the company has learnt lessons from previous failed entries and was now hiring heavily overseas. Wang took over the role earlier this year when high-profile executive Hugo Barra left the company to join Facebook Inc's augmented reality team.

In July, Xiaomi secured a $1 billion loan to drive its overseas expansion and help roll out brick-and-mortar stores. Xiaomi's sales have also been recovering this year, and it has overtaken Apple Inc to become China's fourth-largest smartphone vendor by sales, driven in part by a focus on offline stores, according to research firm Canalys. Lucio Chen, Singapore-based analyst at Canalys, said Xiaomi's value-for-money lure had been undercut in recent years by the rise of local rivals, but its offline push was now helping drive a "resurgence" in its home market.

It has a strong presence in India, where it ranks second behind Samsung Electronics Co Ltd by smartphone sales, and plans to open 1,000 global stores in the next two years. As of the middle of last year, Xiaomi had sold about 10 percent of its smartphones outside China, the latest Canalys data show.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 is now up for sale at a largely discounted price on e-commerce website Flipkart. In the ongoing sale as a part of the Samsung Mobiles Fest, the previous years Samsung flagship is being offered at a discount of more than Rs 16,000, bringing its final price down to Rs 29,990. Originally priced at Rs 46,000, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is also being available with an accompanying exchange offer that brings its effective price down even further by a whopping Rs 25,000 margin. The ongoing sale will run from November 6 to November 8 on Flipkart.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 was priced at Rs 48,900 at the time of its launch back in March 2016. Since then, the Samsung smartphone has seen more than Rs 10,000 price cut as it is being available on other e-commerce platforms like Amazon India for Rs 37,000. At Samsungs own online store, the smartphone is available for Rs 43,400. This is still much less than Flipkarts indicated value for the smartphone of Rs 46,000. It seems like Flipkart is boasting of a much higher discount on the Galaxy S7 than it really is.

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A thing to note here is that Flipkart is offering Rs 25,000 as an exchange offers only upon the exchange of Apple iPhone 7 Plus. So in order for the effective price of Samsung Galaxy S7 to be Rs 5,090, the deal requires an exchange of an Apple iPhone 7 Plus, thus making it an unappealing offer for most.

In addition to the Samsung Galaxy S7, the ongoing Flipkart sale is offering discounts on Samsung Galaxy On Max (Rs 2,000 off), Galaxy C9 Pro (Rs 7,000 off) and Galaxy On Nxt (Rs 4,000 off) as per Flipkarts price indications.

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Beijing: China must step up vigilance against plots to grab power, as political corruption is the worst form of corruption, Wang Qishan, the country's still influential former top graft-buster, wrote on Tuesday.

Wang, a key ally of President Xi Jinping, stepped down in a leadership reshuffle last month at the end of the five-yearly Communist Party Congress, but could assume a new role, say sources with ties to the leadership, though an announcement might not come for a few more weeks.

As the feared head of the party's anti-corruption watchdog for the past five years, Wang has spearheaded Xi's battle on graft, overseeing the jailing of dozens of former top officials, including the domestic security chief, Zhou Yongkang.

China has rebuffed criticism that the corruption campaign is as much about settling political scores as about stamping out genuine criminal acts.

Writing in the party's official People's Daily, Wang said the fight against corruption went beyond battling the pilfering of assets or hedonism and was a political battle.

"Political corruption is the biggest corruption," Wang wrote in comments drawn from a collection of essays released after the congress, but not previously published in full by state media.

The collection included pieces by former members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the height of power in China.

Aspects of political corruption include the formation of special interest groups to try and seize power, and the organisation of activities outside party parameters, aimed at breaking party unity, Wang wrote.

"There are many new historical special characteristics to carrying on this great fight, the most important of which are to ... prevent them from seizing political power and changing the party's basic character," he added.

Wang explicitly linked some of the most notorious cases to political crimes, mentioning not only Zhou but also the former party bosses of the southwestern city of Chongqing, Bo Xilai and Sun Zhengcai, two former top generals and a former top aide to retired president Hu Jintao.

In these cases, the party had "eradicated interest groups which mixed political and economic corruption", Wang wrote.

Bo was jailed for life in 2013, while Sun was put under investigation for corruption in July.

There can be no challenges to the party's power, Wang added.

"North, south, east, west and at the centre, the party leads everything. If there is no forceful and strong leadership by the party, then the Chinese people are simply a loose plate of sand."
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a move by Saudi Arabias future king that tightened his grip on power through the arrests of royals, ministers and investors in an anti-corruption purge.

The endorsement cemented a US-Saudi relationship that has improved dramatically under Trump's presidency, partly because of both leaders' vision of confronting Riyadh's arch-rival Iran more aggressively in the region.

Trump tweeted on Monday that he had "great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia" following the mass arrests - the biggest such purge of the kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history.

Trump also tweeted that "they know exactly what they are doing," adding: "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years."

The purge was the latest in a series of dramatic steps by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MbS as he is commonly referred to in Western circles, to assert Saudi influence internationally and amass more power for himself at home.

A US official who declined to be named told Reuters that MbS "has become the primary driver of Saudi policy-making. He has moved aggressively to sideline opponents, concentrate decision-making authority, and establish himself as the undisputed heir to the al Saud legacy."

"He seeks to reinvigorate the publics confidence in the Saudi monarchy by diversifying the economy, loosening religious restrictions, and carrying out wide ranging social reforms, the official said.

'IMPRESSIVE FEAT'

Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the president's senior adviser, who has cultivated a close relationship with MbS, recently returned from Saudi Arabia, fuelling speculation on whether he may have had wind of MbS' plans.

The White House said at the time the trip was reported that it was within the context of Kushner's efforts on Israeli-Palestinian peace conversations.

Among those arrested were billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal, who is one of the kingdoms most prominent businessmen and whose investments in companies like Twitter make him the most recognized Saudi name on Wall Street.

"It's an impressive feat to have basically neutered virtually all of the sources of potential opposition, dissent rivalry, whether it's religious, media, political, military," said Rob Malley, vice president for policy of the International Crisis Group.

"On the other hand... it's always risky to make too many enemies at the same time. It's not clear how those enemies can react," said Malley, a former senior adviser on Middle East affairs under President Barack Obama.

Also detained was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdom's tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne.

A former senior US intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guard's loyalties, MbS could face a backlash.

"I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion."

ANTI-IRANIAN CONFRONTATION

US-Saudi ties had been strained under Obama, who Riyadh felt considered their alliance less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.

But the Trump administration has vowed to confront Iran much more aggressively in the region, where it shares the Saudi view that Tehran is fomenting instability via a number of proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen among other countries. Tehran denies the allegations.

Events in Saudi Arabia in recent days appeared to open the prospect for a sharper confrontation with Iran and its proxies.

Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of what it called aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah.

Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, announcing his resignation from Riyadh and blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech.

Also on Saturday, Saudi Arabias air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from warring Yemen over the capital, Riyadh.

The Pentagon praised Saudi Arabia for "exposing" Iran's role in Yemen and Tehran's provision of missile systems to Houthi militia fighting there.

"Between that (Hariri's resignation) and the missile launch on Riyadh ... the coincidence of those two does mean that the prospect of some escalation, some strike either against Hezbollah or against Iran or against both is more likely, certainly than it was a few days ago," Malley told Reuters.
Camp Humphreys, South Korea: Reviewing American forces along the Korean peninsula, President Donald Trump met with US and South Korean military leaders Tuesday at the start of a two-day visit centered on pressuring the north to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Trump has repeatedly struck a hard line against Pyongyang and South Korea was warily watching Trump as he was poised to deliver bellicose warnings in the shadow of the North Korea. Shortly after arriving in South Korea, Trump traveled by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a military base about 40 miles south of Seoul, where he briefly addressed the interlocking issues of security and trade at the heart of his visit.

Speaking before an operational briefing at the base, Trump said he would be meeting with generals about North Korea, declaring: "Ultimately it will all work out. Because it always works out. It has to work out."

The president also said he had a "terrific" meeting scheduled on trade, adding, "hopefully that'll start working out and working out so that we create lots of jobs in the United States, which is one of the very important reasons I'm here."

Trump also sat with troops for lunch in a large mess hall. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in was also seated at the table. "Good food," Trump told reporters as he chatted with US and Korean service members.

US and South Korean officials have said the base visit was meant to underscore the countries' ties and South Korea's commitment to contributing to its own defense. Burden-sharing is a theme Trump has stressed ever since his presidential campaign.

South Korea is the second stop on Trump's five country Asian tour. In Japan, he refused to rule out eventual military action against the north and exhorted dictator Kim Jong Un to stop weapons testing, calling the recent launches of missiles over American allies like Japan "a threat to the civilized world and international peace and stability."

Trump is skipping the customary trip to the demilitarized zone separating north and south  a pilgrimage made by every US president except one since Ronald Reagan as a demonstration of solidarity with the South. A senior administration recently dubbed the border trip as "a bit of a cliche" and several other members of the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, have visited the DMZ this year. And the White House believes that Trump has already made his support of South Korea crystal clear.

Trump and Moon agree on the need to pressure the North with sanctions and other deterrence measures. But Trump has warned of unleashing "fire and fury," threatened to "totally destroy" the North, if necessary, and repeatedly insisted that all options are on the table. Moon, meanwhile, favors dialogue as the best strategy for defusing the nuclear tension and vehemently opposes a potential military clash that could cause enormous casualties in South Korea.

Trump backed up his strong words about North Korea by sending a budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday for $4 billion to support "additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners."

And as he departed for South Korea, he tweeted that Moon is "a fine gentleman," adding, "We will figure it all out!"

On a personal level, Trump and Moon have not developed the same close rapport as Trump has with Abe or even China's Xi Jinping. Part of Moon's mission during the visit will likely be to strengthen his personal ties with Trump, said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution.

"Now poor President Moon is playing catch-up ball because everyone acknowledges that he's not bonding quite as much with Donald Trump as the rest of the region," said O'Hanlon. He said Moon could face pressure "to deliver a stronger relationship" whereas "in most other parts of the world, people are trying to keep their distance from Donald Trump."

Trump will spend Tuesday in meetings with Moon, hold a joint press conference and be feted at a state dinner.

Trade also is expected to be a major topic of discussion: Trump has considered pulling out of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, also known as KORUS, blaming it for the US-South Korea trade deficit.
Kabul: Gunmen stormed a television station in Kabul on Tuesday killing at least one person in an ongoing attack, officials said, in the latest deadly assault targeting Afghan journalists.

The militants were firing rocket propelled grenades at heavily armed security forces surrounding Shamshad TV, an AFP photographer said, as some staff remained trapped inside the building.

Security forces were trying to blast their way through a wall of the compound in order to enter the Pashto-language broadcaster, which had gone off the air and was transmitting only a holding image.

"I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland, who escaped through a back door, told AFP.

"Many of my colleagues are still in the building," he added.

An AFP photographer saw security forces helping two employees escape the compound.

Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes as more and more security forces swarmed the area.

"A group of armed men have entered the building and security forces are fighting them," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told AFP.

"The security forces have been able to rescue a large number of Shamshad TV staff. Initial information on casualties shows at least one guard has lost his life."

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said as many as three attackers were involved in the assault.

"The security forces have been able to bring one down and the operation is ongoing," Danish told AFP, adding that "most" staff have been rescued.

Taliban not involved

There was no immediate claim of responsibility in the attack, but in a Twitter statement the Taliban swiftly denied it was involved.

Kabul has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks as the Taliban and Islamic State insurgents step up offensives against security installations and mosques.

Violence against Afghan journalists surged in the first half of 2017, a media watchdog said in July.

Last year the country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists, according to AJSC, with at least 13 media workers killed -- 10 by the Taliban. That made it the second most dangerous place for reporters in the world after Syria.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001, and spotlighted the dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

Security in Kabul has been ramped up since a May 31 truck bomb exploded on the edge of the so-called "Green Zone", killing around 150 people and wounding 400 others.

That attack also caused extensive damage to 1TV, a private news channel located close to the bombing site. In an act of defiance, the news channel managed to resume operations within a few hours.

Special truck scanners, barriers and permanent and mobile checkpoints have been rolled out across the city since the May bombing.

But a suicide bomber struck again in Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter last week, killing at least five people, showing that militants can still hit the heart of the city despite tighter security.
Kabul: Gunmen disguised as police killed a security guard and opened fire on staff at a private television station in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday and Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

After a sporadic gun battle lasting about two hours, Afghan special forces suppressed the attack on Shamshad TV, a private Pashto-language broadcaster based close to the national stadium. Police said at least two people were killed and 20 wounded.

"People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another," Abed Ehsas, Shamshad's news director told broadcaster Tolo News TV.

"Others got into our building and started firing. Some of our colleagues were hit, though, thank God, many others managed to get out. Some were wounded by gunshots, falling glass and when they jumped from higher floors."

Some two hours later the station, which had replaced regular programmes with a still picture as the fighting went on, resumed normal service, its newsreader appearing with a bandage on a hand injured in the attack..

The attack, which underlined insecurity in Kabul, came on the day NATO announced an increase of some 3,000 troops in its Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan as part of a bid to break the stalemate with Taliban insurgents.

Amid the crack of gunfire, a special forces unit blasted a hole in the concrete wall around the compound and entered the site as police blocked off surrounding streets. At least one attacker was killed during the operation, while another died at the compound entrance.

In a statement on its news agency Amaq, Islamic State claimed responsibility, without giving evidence.

The group, based mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, has claimed a number of attacks on civilian targets in Kabul but uncertainty remains over whether all the attacks the group claims are actually its work.

Shortly after the beginning of the attack, the Taliban's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, issued an immediate denial of involvement.

Suicide bombings are part of life in Kabul but the latest attack on journalists and media workers was described by human rights group Amnesty International as an "horrific crime".

"The Afghan authorities must do what they can to protect the country's media, allowing them to work freely and without fear," the group said in a statement.

Last year a Taliban suicide bomber killed seven members of Afghanistan's largest private television station, Tolo. In May, Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on state broadcaster RTA in the eastern city of Jalalabad..

Tuesday's attack took place about three weeks after a series of attacks including one on a Shi'ite mosque in the city in which more than 50 people were killed.
Islamabad: The 2008 Mumbai terror attack has tarnished Pakistan's image internationally and done an "irreparable damage" to the Kashmir cause, former foreign secretary of Pakistan Riaz Mohammad Khan has said.

The terror attacks in November left 166 people dead and many more injured. Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive and was tried in a court before being hanged in a jail in India.

"Besides tarnishing Pakistan's image, the attacks also did an irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause," the Dawn quoted Khan as saying.

He was addressing a gathering at the Kashmir Day event held at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Sunday, the report said, adding that India's blaming of Pakistan for the attacks did hurt Islamabad's image in the world capitals.

Ambassador Touqir Hussain, another senior former Pakistani diplomat, who now teaches diplomacy at the Georgetown University, emphasised the need to provide political and moral support to the Kashmiri struggle.

Hussain said that as US' interests brought Washington closer to New Delhi.

"Kashmir has become a victim of the geo-politics of the region," he said.

Hussain also referred to a recent statement by America's UN envoy Nikki Haley in which she said the Washington had asked India to keep an eye on Pakistan.

Hussain said that Haley was trying to diminish Pakistan's influence to help India suppress the Kashmiri struggle.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhary alleged that the Indian government was using brutal violence to suppress the Kashmiri freedom movement.
Egypt is participating in the World Travel Market in London, one of the largest international travel trade shows

Egypts tourism ministry has approved an increase in incentives for charter airlines for every flight carrying a certain number of passengers on international flights coming to Luxor, Aswan, Marsa Matrouh, Taba, and Alamein, deputy tourism minister Adla Ragab told Al-Shorouk Tuesday.

The minister said that the incentive has been increased to $3,000 from $2,000 per flight provided each plane is carrying a minimum number of passengers.

The announcement came on the sidelines of the international travel trade show World Travel Market in London, which is running until Wednesday.

The incentives are part of the ministrys efforts to revive tourism in Egypt, along with local and international tourism campaigns and the tightening of security procedures at Egyptian airports.

The number of tourists who visited Egypt in the first half of the year was 3.5 mn tourists, a 52.3% y-o-y increase compared to the same period last year, according to Tourism Ministry data.

The numbers are still below the record number of 14.7 million tourists in Egypt in 2010.

Ragab also said the ministry will pay off all dues to foreign charter airlines as part of the incentive programme approved last year.

In 2016, the tourism ministry reduced the requirement of filling charter flights to qualify for incentives to 50 percent from 70 percent for flights to El-Alamein, Marsa Matrouh, Luxor and Aswan, and reduced incentives to $2,000 from $3,000 per flight, Al-Borsa reported at the time.

The tourism sector has recently seen a revival with an increase in flight booking for most Egyptian tourist destinations, and is expected to see a full recovery to pre-2011 levels by next year, Egyptian Tourism Authority Chairman Hisham El-Demery at the event.

British tourism in Egypt has also seen a revival recently, El-Demery said.

On Tuesday, an Egyptian delegation of tourism representatives met with UK tour operators, as well as German operator FTI, to discuss increasing flights to Egyptian destinations including Hurghada, Luxor, and Marsa Alam.

A session titled Egypt Tourism: A Bright Outlook was held on Monday at the travel trade show, followed by an Egyptian Tourism Authority Press Reception and Networking event.

A meeting between tourism minister Yehia Rashed and Thomas Cook representatives is also scheduled for Wednesday, according to Al-Shorouk.

FTI and Thomas Cook have announced that they are doubling their weekly flights to Cairo from 70 to 144 starting this month, according to Al-Shorouk.

Last week, Thomas Cook resumed flights from Birmingham to Marsa Alam.

Tour operators have been calling on the UK government to lift a ban on UK flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, El-Demery said.

The UK imposed the ban following the crash of a Russian charter jet in November 2015, which killed all 224 people on board. Egypt has repeatedly called on the UK to lift the ban.

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Manila: The Philippines has started upgrading military facilities on the biggest features it occupies in the disputed South China Sea, its defence secretary said on Tuesday, asserting Manila's claims in the strategic waterway.

Delfin Lorenzana said a contractor was building a beach ramp on Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa (hope), the largest of nine features the Philippines holds in the Spratly islands.

"While construction is ongoing, albeit intermittently, depending on good weather, we expect its completion by early 2018," Lorenzana said, adding the monsoon rains have been hampering the building of the beach ramp.

"No construction can proceed without a good beaching ramp."

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the waterway where more than $3 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year.

Recent satellite imagery has shown Chinese vessels gathering around Thitu, in what some experts say could be an attempt to deter the Philippines from cementing its claim. China's ambassador has played that down, insisting his country has no ill intent.

The two countries have long been at odds over the South China Sea, although ties have warmed substantially under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who says it is smarter to do business with China than pick a fight with its far superior military.

Lorenzana said the ramp was important to allow large naval ships to deliver construction materials to repair and upgrade the island's airfield, fix structures and build a new port for fishermen.

A small community lives on Thitu, ostensibly to prop up the country's claim, although conditions are basic compared to those enjoyed by Vietnamese and Chinese on other islands in the Spratly chain.

Defence department spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the government would spend more than 1.3 billion pesos ($25.3 million) for the upgrades on Thitu.

The military has defended the work, saying almost of all South China Sea claimants have been doing the same.

China has built seven artificial islands, installing radar and anti-aircraft guns and missiles on several. Experts have predicted fighter jets will soon be deployed on those islands.
Moscow: Russia is to hold low-key events on Tuesday to mark a century since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, with authorities reluctant to celebrate an armed uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule.

The Kremlin is not holding any special events on Tuesday, an ordinary working day, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed.

"What reason is there for us celebrate this?" Peskov asked journalists last month.

The centenary is the last landmark event before presidential polls in March that Putin is expected to contest and win.

Moscow will see a march and rally organised by the Communist Party -- still the largest opposition party in parliament -- to glorify the anniversary.

The party said its slogans will include "Lenin-Stalin-Victory!" and "Let Lenin's ideas live!"

But the rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin has permission for just 5,000 participants, TASS state news agency reported.

The party members will then raise glasses at a reception at a Moscow hotel.

Leftwing radical group The Other Russia led by writer Eduard Limonov is also set to hold a rally in the capital.

'Not a celebration'

Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg.

The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 -- which according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar is November 7 -- after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship.

One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called "deeply symbolic" after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers.

Putin said this month that the revolution is "an integral, complex part of our history", stressing the need for "treating the past objectively and respectfully".

The Kremlin has tasked a committee of politicians, historians and clerics with organising this year's festivities.

Organiser Konstantin Mogilevsky stressed at a presentation last month that the events are "not celebrations" of 1917 but are intended to be a "calm conversation about revolution, aimed at understanding it".

Russia's leadership is desperate to avoid repeats of the "colour revolutions" in other ex-Soviet countries, he said.

New period dramas on television are one of the main forums for reexamining history.

One depicts revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky as a "rock 'n' roll hero", according to its makers, while another examines Germany's role in fomenting the Bolshevik Revolution.

Many Russians are barely aware of the anniversary, commentators said, however.

"The country that once counted its existence from October (1917) is now seeing in its centenary in deafening silence," wrote historian Ivan Kurilla in Vedomosti business daily.

"For an ordinary Russian, the centenary is passing by unnoticed," he added.

A report commissioned by the Communist Party found that 58 percent of Russians were not aware of the anniversary.

Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with pomp and military parades on Moscow's Red Square.

This year there will again be a parade on Red Square, but the event is now billed as a reenactment in vintage uniforms of a historic 1941 parade during World War Two.

Similar retro-styled parades will be held in other cities including Samara on the River Volga.

November 7 is still a day off in neighbouring former Soviet Belarus under the long-term Soviet-style rule of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko.

The last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, this year cancelled its November 7 public holiday.
Beirut: Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, a dramatic escalation of a crisis threatening to destabilise the tiny Arab country.

Lebanon has been thrust to the centre of regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran since the Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech.

Saudi Gulf affairs minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the Lebanese government would "be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia" because of what he described as aggression by Hezbollah.

Faulting the Hariri-led administration for failing to take action against Hezbollah during a year in office, Sabhan said "there are those who will stop (Hezbollah) and make it return to the caves of South Lebanon", the heartland of the Shi'ite community.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, he added: "Lebanese must all know these risks and work to fix matters before they reach the point of no return."

He did not spell out what action Saudi Arabia might take against Lebanon, a country with a weak and heavily indebted state that is still rebuilding from its 1975-90 civil war and where one-in-four people is a Syrian refugee.

There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is both a military and a political organisation that is represented in the Lebanese parliament and in the Hariri-led coalition government formed last year.

Its powerful guerrilla army is widely seen as stronger than the Lebanese army, and has played a major role in the war in neighbouring Syria, another theatre of Saudi-Iranian rivalry where Hezbollah has fought in support of the government.

Lebanese authorities said on Monday the country's financial institutions could cope with Hariri's resignation and the stability of the Lebanese pound was not at risk.

But the cash price of Lebanon's U.S. dollar-denominated bonds fell, with longer-dated maturities suffering hefty losses as investors took a dim view of the medium- to longer-term outlook for Lebanon.

HARIRI FREE TO TRAVEL, SAUDI FM SAYS

Hariri cited a plot to assassinate him during his unexpected resignation speech broadcast from Saudi Arabia which caught even his aides off guard. He also slammed Hezbollah and Iran, accusing them of sowing strife in the Arab world.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said he will not comment on Hariri's speech, calling it a "Saudi statement" and saying Riyadh had forced Hariri to resign.

The sudden nature of Hariri's resignation generated speculation in Lebanon that his family's Saudi construction business had been caught up in an anti-corruption purge and he had been coerced into resigning.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said it was "nonsense" to suggest Hariri had been coerced into quitting in a CNN interview on Monday. Hariri had quit because Hezbollah had been "calling the shots" in the government, he said. Hariri, a Saudi citizen, was free to leave the country at any time, he said.

Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, a senior member of Hariri's political party, said he was under the impression Hariri would return to Beirut within days.

A meeting between Saudi King Salman and Hariri in Riyadh on Monday proved "rumours" wrong, he said - an apparent reference to speculation that Hariri was detained or forced to quit.

Earlier on Monday, President Michel Aoun, a political ally of Hezbollah, appealed for national unity.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, another political ally of Hezbollah, said in a televised statement after meeting Aoun it was too early to talk about forming a new government.

The crisis could re-aggravate tensions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims and afflict Lebanese government with paralysis once again. All of the sides have called for calm and there has been no sign of unrest since Hariri's resignation.

The Hariri-led government took office last year in a political deal that made Aoun president. The deal ended years of deadlock, and last month it produced Lebanon's first budget since 2005.

Hariri flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday after meeting in Beirut the top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, who described the coalition as "a victory" and "great success" afterwards.
Dubai: Saudi Arabia's crown prince said Iran's supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of "direct military aggression" that could be an act of war, state media reported on Tuesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman's comments were published after Saudi air defence forces intercepted a ballistic missile that Saudi Arabia said was fired towards Riyadh on Saturday by the Iran-allied Houthi militia, which controls large parts of neighbouring Yemen.

Saudi-led forces, which back the internationally-recognised government, have been targeting the Houthis in a war which has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in one of the region's poorest countries.

The supply of rockets to the Houthi movement could "constitute an act of war against the kingdom," state news agency SPA on Tuesday quoted Prince Salman as saying in a call with British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson.

Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as "destructive and provocative" and "slanders".

In reaction to the missile, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country.

The United Nations on Tuesday called on the coalition to re-open an aid lifeline into Yemen, saying food and medicine imports were vital for 7 million people facing famine.

"The situation is catastrophic in Yemen, it is the worst food crisis we are looking at today," Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told a briefing in Geneva.

The missile launch was "most likely a war crime" Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday but also urged Saudi Arabia against restricting aid access to Yemen, where the United Nations estimates nearly 900,000 people are infected with cholera.

"This unlawful attack is no justification for Saudi Arabia to exacerbate Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe by further restricting aid and access to the country," it said.

The coalition said aid workers and humanitarian supplies would continue to be able to access and exit Yemen despite the temporary closure of ports but the Unted Nations said it was not given approval for two scheduled humanitarian flights on Monday.

The United Nations and international aid organisations have repeatedly criticised the coalition for blocking aid access, especially to northern Yemen, which is held by the Houthis.

The Saudi-led coalition has been targeting the Houthis since they seized parts of Yemen in 2015, including the capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee and seek help from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with CNN television on Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused the armed Lebanese Hezbollah group of firing the missile at Riyadh from Houthi-held territory.

"With regards to the missile...that was launched on Saudi territory, it was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen."

He said the missile was similar to one launched in July at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and was manufactured in Iran, disassembled and smuggled into Yemen, then reassembled by the operatives of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah, "then it was launched into Saudi Arabia."
Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir dismissed as "nonsense" on Monday allegations that the kingdom had forced Lebanon's prime minister to resign, blaming militant group Hezbollah for the country's political crisis.

"Hezbollah did by its actions. Hezbollah did by hijacking the political system in Lebanon. Hezbollah did it by threatening political leaders," Jubeir said in an interview with CNN.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri quit in a surprise broadcast from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, plunging the coalition government into political uncertainty.

Jubeir said Hariri was free to leave the kingdom at any time.
Riyadh: With his sweeping royal purge, Saudi Arabia's future king has upended a decades-old system of governance adopted by previous rulers in what analysts describe as a bold but risky power play.

Dozens of political and business figures were arrested at the weekend in what Saudi authorities have dubbed an anti-corruption swoop, including billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, while powerful royals such as the national guard chief were sacked.

The dramatic clampdown on business figures could deal a blow to investor confidence, potentially derailing sweeping Vision 2030 reforms, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The purge underscores an unprecedented restructuring of the kingdom as Prince Mohammed dismantles a governance model involving consensus within the royal family, while he amasses extraordinary power.

"The structure of dynastic rule established over the past few decades is being reshaped into a more centralised monarchical system," said Jane Kinninmont, of London-based think tank Chatham House.

"MBS is disrupting the model of Saudi government," Kinninmont told AFP, using an acronym widely used for the crown prince.

Saudi authorities hailed the dramatic crackdown as a bold initiative to root out corruption.

But analysts question whether the issue serves as a guise for Prince Mohammed to consolidate power by eliminating rivals opposed to his reform drive and eventual succession as king.

"The dismissals and detentions suggest that Prince Mohammed rather than forging alliances is extending his iron grip to... counter opposition," said James Dorsey from Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

"It raises questions about the reform process that increasingly is based on a unilateral rather than a consensual rewriting of the kingdom's social contract."

'Potential of resistance'

Prince Mohammed's supporters lionise him as an enlightened disrupter of the status quo as he pursues dramatic social and economic reforms to modernise the kingdom and prepare for a post-oil era.

His anti-graft campaign follows other bold moves, including a royal decree allowing women to drive from next June and clipping the powers of the religious police.

His ambitions were on display at an investor summit in Riyadh two weeks ago, where global business titans were shown blueprints for multibillion dollar projects, including a futuristic megacity with robots and driverless cars.

The venue of the summit, Riyad's Ritz Carlton hotel, is now rumoured to be the site where many of the arrested elites are being held. Police cars surround the palatial complex, with its imposing gates clamped shut.

"The anti-corruption sweep has included individuals who had been seen as potential sources of resistance to elements of MBS's various projects," said Kinninmont.

The sweep has triggered uncertainty among businesses at a time when the kingdom is seeking to attract badly needed investments amid a protracted oil slump.

Among those being held, aside from Prince Al-Waleed, is Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of the influential Arab satellite network MBC, as well as construction tycoon Bakr Bin Laden and billionaire Saleh Kamal.

Research firm Capital Economics said the arrests could deal a short-term "blow" to the economy as opposition towards Prince Mohammed builds, potentially threatening his reform drive.

Geneva's Mirabaud Securities warned that the purge, including the arrest of Prince Al-Waleed who has invested billions in companies around the world, could spook the private sector in the short term and "intensify capital flight" from Saudi Arabia.

'Power grab'

But seemingly unfazed, government social media channels have replayed a months-old interview with Prince Mohammed in which he stressed that neither ministers nor business tycoons will be spared if found guilty of corruption.

It is a message that resonates with the masses who seethe over a culture of privilege among old-generation royals.

"Cynics calling it a power grab but actually power had been already consolidated," tweeted Ali Shihabi, director of the Washington-based Arabia Foundation who is said to be close to the establishment.

"This is about reshaping elite behavior by picking high profile symbols. (Its) message is that house cleaning starts at the top."

But experts warn that the purge could trigger a backlash especially as Prince Mohammed seeks to consolidate his control over the security services.

He ousted Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, the 64-year-old son of the late king Abdullah, as the head of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. The internal security force has long been seen as a local of tribal power and a stronghold of king Abdullah's family.

In June, he also toppled the previous crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, ousting him from the interior ministry.

"Such dramatic changes are bound to meet some resistance and opposition," Kinninmont said.

"Since there are few permitted avenues for expressing opposition and criticism in Saudi Arabia, (we) inevitably wonder whether opposition is brewing behind the scenes."
The Ritz Carlton hotel chain says it is evaluating the situation" at its hotel in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, after reports it is being used to house some of those detained in a wave of arrests of princes and former government officials. Ritz Carlton spokeswoman Sarah Walker-Kerr declined to discuss what was happening at the hotel. (Image: Reuters)
Two men connected to the killing of Lynchburg teen Raymond Wood in March were indicted by a Bedford County grand jury on capital murder charges Tuesday.

A Bedford County grand jury indicted Kevin Josue Soto Bonilla, 20, and Cristian Jose Sanchez Gomez, 22, on charges of capital murder, robbery, abduction for profit, and gang participation, according to a release from the Bedford County Office of the Commonwealths Attorney. Authorities have said Wood was killed by MS-13 gang members.

Soto Bonilla was arrested Sept. 19 in New York and Sanchez Gomez was apprehended Oct. 5 in Albemarle County, according to the Bedford County Sheriffs Office. The two men initially were charged with second-degree murder. Both are being held without bond at a Blue Ridge Regional Jail facility.

Also on Tuesday, Bedford Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Phillip Figura, chief prosecutor with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, has joined the prosecuting team for the case, which Nance said may yet grow.

According to the release, Figuras addition to the case will help to open new avenues of prosecution both of this crime and the criminal gang allegedly associated with it.

Soto Bonilla and Sanchez Gomez are two of five defendants charged in Woods slaying in late March. Three defendants arrested shortly after his death are facing similar charges in Bedford County. Lisandro Posada Vasquez, 24, is scheduled for a jury trial on May 29. Trials for the other two  Josue Moses Coreas-Ventura, 21, and Victor Arnoldo Rodas, 20  havent been scheduled yet.

Last month, another alleged MS-13 gang member was named in a federal indictment that connected him with a killing in Bedford County on March 27. The indictment identifies the victim as Victim-5.

Nance on Tuesday confirmed that refers to the Wood slaying.

The indictment states Michael Eduardo Contreras, 22, of Silver Spring, Maryland, arranged for members of the Sailors Clique of MS-13 to travel from Maryland to Lynchburg, Virginia, where they met with other MS-13 members and associates. Those gang members murdered Victim-5 in Bedford County on March 27, the indictment states.

Court documents filed in connection with the Contreras case state that the person he sent other MS-13 members to Lynchburg on March 27 to kill was found with his hand cut off and nearly decapitated.

Contreras has been charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO, with being a leader within MS-13 and conspiring to distribute cocaine in furtherance of the gang, according to the indictment.

Extensive social media evidence further demonstrates Contreras ties to the Sailors Clique and facilitation of the organizations illegal drug and extortion operations, according to an Oct. 19 order filed in federal court that denies Contrerass motion to be released from custody into complete home detention.

Nance said the prosecuting team will exhaust every avenue we have at our disposal in connection with the case. Anyone with information that may be helpful with investigation is asked to call the Bedford County Sheriffs Office at (540) 586-4800.
The deals include a $3.5 billion industrial project and the $500 million financing of Sonker and DP World Sokhna's liquid bulk terminal

The Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority signed on Tuesday seven contracts for projects with $40 billion in investments with several international companies at the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The deals include a $3.5 billion contract between a consortium of real estate companies and the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority for the industrial development of 5.5 million square meters of land in Ain Sokhna.

The consortium includes Ardak Development and Real Estate Investment, ASEC Engineering and Management, and Polaris Al-Zamil Industrial Park company, a joint venture between Polaris International Industrial Parks, a Turkish-Egyptian company, and Saudi-based Zamil-Holding investment company.

The project will be executed over several phases, starting with the development of 1 million square metres, Ardak CEO Ashraf Dewidar said.

An agreement was also signed for the $500 million financing of Sonker Bunkering Company and DP World Sokhna's liquid bulk terminal at Port Ain Sokhna, marking the end of obstacles that had delayed the project's implementation, according to Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

The terminal will be used to import and store gasoil and liquefied petroleum gas in the third basin of Port Ain Sokhna.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation and CIB announced in 2016 they were providing $341 million of the project's cost to Sonker, according to a February 2016 press release.

"The new infrastructure will accommodate the docking of two floating storage and regasification units and the handling of LNG imports to the nearest national gas grid," the press release said.

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Update, 7 p.m.: Polls have closed in Virginia.

Update, 6:15 p.m.: As of 5:45 p.m., 1,381 of 2,500 voters had cast votes at First Presbyterian Church on V.E.S. Road.

Chief precinct officer Natalie Robinson said that was 55 percent of registered voters in that precinct.

She said there had been no problems with voters or machines so far.

Everything is good today, she said.

She added that that precinct is one of the more populated ones with residents from Westminster Canterbury registered there.

Its been busy all day, she said.

John Saylor said he tries to vote in almost every election since its his constitutional right.

We should all participate, he said.

He is anti-abortion and a supporter of gun rights so those were deciding factors for him in this election.

It is our constitutional right to bear arms, he said.

Updated 5:09 p.m.: More than 39 percent of total registered voters cast their ballots in person or through absentee voting by 4 p.m. on Election Day, Bedford County Registrar Barbara Gunter said Tuesday around 5 p.m.

More than 20,590 people voted in-person by 4 p.m., which represents about 37.2 percent of 55,352 total registered voters in the county.

With absentee ballots, Gunter said 39.4 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots either in-person or through absentee ballots.

Polls close at 7 p.m.

Updated 4:43 p.m.: Bethany Harrison has been hitting precincts since 6 a.m., when she started at her own voting precinct at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Harrison, the Republican candidate for Lynchburg commonwealth's attorney, is currently the second-in-command in the commonwealths attorney office.

She is running against Democrat Carlos Hutcherson, a defense lawyer.

Harrison said the primary responsibility of the commonwealths attorney is to be a minister of justice and to be a voice for victims of crime and domestic violence.

She has been jumping between Bedford Hills Elementary School, First Presbyterian Church and St. Pauls Church.

She said she has been receiving positive feedback from a number of people who have said they would be voting for her.

She said several initiatives have been started in her office to create crime prevention for victims.

They have said they are grateful for the campaign being so positive, she said. We are cautiously optimistic of a possible victory.

Update 4:25 p.m. Canceled classes boosted voter turnout at Liberty University, according to Precinct Chief Vicky Bradley, who saw a surge at the polls after the school announced the cancellation of afternoon classes.

At around 3:30 p.m., Bradley reported that turnout at LUs Vines Center was 965.

She added that 5,547 residential students were registered and eligible to vote on campus.

Early this morning LU President Jerry Falwell Jr. took to social media to encourage students to vote, and promised no penalties for missing class. LU later canceled classes between 12:45 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Still plenty of time time to vote @LibertyU students. If turnout continues to be strong until 7 pm, all students will get an extra [convocation] skip!, Falwell tweeted around 2 p.m.

Students  voting or not  also received free pizza and hot dogs outside of The Vines Center.

LU employee Morgan Hanson said they had ordered 40 pizzas every half hour since 11 a.m.

The free food came with a side of politics, as campaign volunteers outside of Vines Center urged students to vote for their candidates. Delegate Scott Garrett of the 23rd District also was on hand.

Garrett said he had been at LU for about two hours and hit six other polling sites today.

At Liberty, Garrett said he had spoken to around 80 students who came out to cast their ballots.

Most folks want to know where we stand on life values, Garrett said. A good question that [Liberty students] have had is tuition assistance theyre very concerned that might go away.

Connor Metz, a sophomore from New Jersey, braved the rain to encourage his fellow student to vote for Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate Cliff Hyra over Ed Gillespie or Ralph Northam.

A lot of students have been somewhat open to the ideas of Cliff Hyra and his Libertarian tendencies, Metz said. A lot of kids at Liberty do have Libertarian ideals. The biggest thing for them is theyre nervous to vote for a third party, because theyre all about the lesser evil and stopping Democrats, so what I tell them is to vote your conscience and that voting for a lesser evil is still voting for evil. If you want to be ethically consistent, vote for someone you can get behind.

Non-voting high schools students are also getting in on the Election Day action.

Raven Jones, a junior at Heritage High School, served as a page for election officials at LU.

She said it was a good chance to volunteer and observe the democratic process. Though, at age 16, shes too young to vote, Jones said she was looking forward to the opportunity to cast a ballot.

Im about to be 18, I get the chance to vote in two years, Jones said.

Update 2:45 p.m.: Voters lined up at Bedford Hills Elementary School this afternoon around 2:15 p.m. to cast their vote.

By 12:30 p.m. 19.8 percent of voters in Lynchburg had showed up to the polls, Kim Conner, deputy registrar said.

She added there had been no problems with machines at the precincts today.

Myra McDaniel, chief of the precinct, also said there had been no issues today.

She said during lunch and into the afternoon there had been a spike in more voters showing up.

By 2:15 p.m. the elementary school had 1,280 voters.

Joyce Guthrie said she votes in every election because she wants to voice her opinion.

"If we don't go to the polls and vote, we don't have a choice," she said. "We shouldn't voice our opinions if we don't vote."

She said it is very important to her to have a new governor.

"I'm looking for a change," she said. "All the platforms are very important and we need a change in direction."

She said the weather did not stop her from coming out to vote.

As off 2 p.m., 4,231 people have voted in Nelson County, which is 39 percent of registered voters.

Update 1:34 p.m.: BEDFORD -- Nearly 25 percent of registered Bedford County voters had cast their ballots by 1 p.m. on Election Day, Bedford County Registrar Barbara Gunter said Tuesday.

About 13,770 cast their ballots in-person as of 1 p.m. out of 55,352 total registered voters in the county, Gunter said.

More than 90 percent of precincts reported their 1 p.m. total vote counts, Gunter said, adding there are 31 precincts in the county, not including the central absentee precinct which counts absentee votes.

More than 210 election officials are working in the county today, Gunter said.

Update 11:55 a.m.: The damp and cold Tuesday morning in Lynchburg didn't seem to deter voters from turning out to vote in their state and local elections.

For voters reporting to R. S. Payne Elementary School, the only contested local race on their ballots was that of the Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney position, for which Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Bethany Harrison and defense attorney Carlos Hutcherson are running.

For Angel Poindexter, a Lynchburg resident who had her voting rights restored last year since she had been convicted of a felony, Hutcherson was the candidate for her since she feels he's representative of Lynchburg residents.

"I love the way he speaks to the public and to the people," she said. "I believe he would do good."

Voter Nakesha Moore said she appreciated Hutcherson's stance on restoring voter's rights as well and voted for him.

"I think people of color need to be more represented in the judicial system," she said, which has been a point of emphasis in Hutcherson's campaign.

As of around 10:30 a.m., poll workers at First Presbyterian Church said 627 voters had checked in to cast their ballot, or about a quarter of the precinct. Out of the precincts she had visited, Patricia Bower, chair of the Lynchburg Electoral Board, said the precinct was getting the largest turnout she'd seen.

With a classically high number of active voters in the precinct, the church was a stumping site for a few local candidates in the morning. Harrison, uncontested city treasurer candidate Robert Bailey and Del. Scott Garrett greeted voters before they headed into the polls.

Leaving that polling place, Jennifer Anderson said an important issue for her when considering delegate candidates has been the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and choosing someone who will speak up for environmental issues.

"I also feel strongly about making sure we have more balance of voice within our commonwealth," she said.

Earlier: Anne Day at the Amherst County Registrars Office said things have been running pretty smoothly and theres been a moderate voter turnout so far. She said there havent been any glitches or excitement at any of the polling stations and is keeping her fingers crossed for no problems.

As of 10 a.m., 2,401 Nelson County residents have cast their ballot. Nelson County Registrar Jackie Britt said everything was running smoothly for Election Day.

Monelison Middle School and Elon Elementary School polling chiefs are reporting a smooth morning and good turnout. Michelle Maynard, Elon Chief said the polling station has had a steady flow of people all morning and waiting lines have been kept to a minimum.

Just prior to 9:00 a.m. Maynard said more than 340 people had come out to vote.

Voters have expressed mixed feelings this morning for the ability to elect School board members this year. While many have said it's a good thing for the county, others say they didn't know enough about the candidates to vote for them.

Amherst resident Samuel Bullington said he comes out to vote every year to support his party and he likes the new option on the ballot to vote for school board members.

Youre voting on the person you feel could do the job [better] than someone appointed, Bullington said. Thats the way it should be done, it should be voted on. I think thats an option that should be carried out all the time rather than appointing [representatives].

Amherst resident Lynn Cash and granddaughter Jayde Staton, fourth grade, braved the soggy weather this morning to cast their ballot at Monelison Middle School. Cash said being able to vote for school board representatives this year is fantastic and gives the public a voice.

Its unexpected , Cash said. Finally the countys coming around, its not the good ole boys club anymore, like a lot of stuff in Amherst County.

Maynard said voters have inquired about school board candidates, seeking additional information. Voters seem to be informed of their options in most of the races, Maynard said, with the school board option drawing the most questions.

As of 8 a.m. 1,293 people have voted in Nelson County. Theres been a steady turn out at both precincts in Afton and Nellysford.
The exhibition is organised by Studio Khana and features the work of eight young artists in different media

The multimedia group exhibition titled 'Lemon jam never killed anyone' will open at Cairo's Contemporary Image Collective on 15 November.

The exhibition is the second held within the Students Council Program, a long term educational and research-based project started by Studio Khana for Contemporary Art in 2014 with the aim of supporting young artists' work and actively involving them with the contemporary art scene.

The works of eight participants who completed the program this year will be exhibited at the CIC: Aya Abdelrahman, Aya Turk, Karam Ahmed Ali, Nay Noshy, Noha El-Gharabawy, Samar Samy, Sara Atwa, and Yasmine Abdelaziz.

The media range between video, installation, sound, painting, text, and digital images.

A common theme to the projects is the questioning of one's surroundings.

"The works shown engage with concepts related to education and parental authority and the assumption of 'protection' inherent to them."

The complexity of communication, states of being, and emotions such as loss and isolation are some of the further themes they address.

In creating the individual works, the group engaged with the Lewis Caroll novel Alice in Wonderland, excerpts of which will be exhibited alongside the works.

Among the displayed excerpts will be the following: "Who am I in this world? Ah, that's the great puzzle."

Founded in 2012, Studio Khana is a non-profit artist collective concerned with providing alternative art spaces for young artists and art students and curating exhibitions.

Programme:

The exhibition opens on 15 November at 7pm and will run till 7 December

Open daily 12  9pm, except Fridays

Contemporary Image Collective, 22 Abdelkhalek Tharwat St., Downtown Cairo

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Slavery caused the Civil War. A failure to compromise had nothing to do with it.

Yes, I know a thousand people have made that point in the days since White House Chief of Staff John Kellys nonsensical assertion on Fox News that the lack of an ability to compromise is what tore America apart. Allow me to be the 1,001st. There are things that need saying here, and I need to say them.

Its not just that there is no compromise between slavery and freedom. It is also that Kellys use of that word is painfully ironic in a nation that has always been all too ready to bargain with the humanity of African-American people.

In 1776, in his first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson condemned slavery. Southern states balked, so he compromised.

In 1820, North and South argued whether the new state of Missouri would permit slavery. Congress intervened, and they compromised.

In 1877, there was a disputed election. Someone suggested giving the presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes if he agreed to withdraw federal troops that had been protecting former slaves in the South. The two sides compromised.

In 1961, the Freedom Riders pulled into Mississippi. The federal government made a deal with the state that if Mississippi guaranteed no violence, it could arrest the riders, though they had done nothing illegal. They compromised.

And so on. Historically, America always seems to find a way to sell black people out.

Kelly is just the latest in a long line of those who lack the guts to face this straight on. They hide out in textbooks where slaves become settlers, flee from Roots because it is depressing. And they insist on moral equivalence between people sellers and the people they sold, lynchers and the people they lynched, traitors who fought to destroy America and patriots who fought to preserve it.

Robert E. Lee was an honorable man, added Kelly in the Fox interview  an interesting take for a military man on an enemy general in a war that killed more Americans than Hitler, Hirohito and bin Laden combined.

All of our leaders have flaws, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders in defending Kelly. As if Lees ordering two men and a woman stripped to the waist and whipped (Lay it on well, he said) for the crime of seeking freedom was in the same moral universe as Barack Obamas cigarette jones.

I can anticipate how all this will land among certain people. Theyll call it racist. Theyll call it divisive. Theyll call it everything but untrue.

They are, you see, deeply invested in the myth that struggles with poverty, mass incarceration, joblessness and miseducation arise from something African-Americans chose or did, while the rest of the country, innocent as the dawn, did nothing to cause or benefit from any of it. They will be angry at the reminder that this is ridiculous.

As if this was about them. As if we should give a damn about their anger.

This country stole from black people. It stole their bodies, their children, their names, their land, their lives. Now, some of us seek to steal the very memory of the crime.

Well, let them tell a thousand lies. Let them treat truth like the money card in a game of three-card monte. Let them salve history with the balm of false equivalence. But let them know that some of us find strength for our own trials in knowing the trials of our mothers and fathers.

So we will not be fooled and we will not be robbed.

We will remember  and demand they do the same.

No compromise.

Pitts is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Miami Herald. Email him at lpitts@miamiherald.com.
GOP tax bill aids only the rich

Having just finished reading the article in the Nov. 5 issue of The News & Advance, Winners and Losers: Who is Happy with GOPs Tax Overhaul, I felt compelled to write this letter urging people to let our lawmakers know we oppose this bill.

Here are the winners.

Big corporations and the super rich (the current Republican Party wants Americans to think the estate tax applies to everyone, but it does not; only those making more than $4.4 million). Another winner is anyone paying the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is only the wealthiest Americans. Trump is very eager to get the AMT repealed as he paid $31 million more in 2005 (the only year we know anything about his taxes) because of the AMT.

Here are the losers: home builders, some small business owners (the National Federation of Independent Businesses opposes this tax bill), the working poor and charities.

Please call our members of Congress urging them to oppose this bill. Repealing the AMT, repealing the estate tax and reducing the corporate tax rate by such a draconian percentage will explode the deficit (adding $1.5 trillion to the debt) and all this only benefits the wealthiest 1 percent in this country. If youre not in that 1 percent, you should contact your legislator as soon as possible urging him to stand up for his constituents, not the big corporations and the wealthiest Americans.

Here are the phone numbers for our congressmen: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Sixth District, (202) 225-5431; and Rep. Tom Garrett, Fifth District, (202) 225-4711.

GAYLE DALY

Lynchburg

A misdemeanor, not a felony

I agree with the headline of Sundays editorial, Time for a Robust Debate on Decriminalizing Pot. However, if we are going to debate this issue, lets debate the facts and not erroneous assumptions.

In two separate parts of your editorial, you claim that simple possession [of marijuana is] a felony in Virginia. The truth is that in Virginia simple possession of marijuana is, and has been for at least the 33 years I have been a prosecutor, a misdemeanor. A first possession offense is punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a fine of $500. And unless the person charged objects (a rare circumstance indeed), the charge is deferred for a period of time and ultimately dismissed. In addition, in Lynchburg and many other localities across the commonwealth, the Commonwealth Attorneys Office before trial waives the possibility of any jail sentence, active or suspended, if the person is convicted.

A second or subsequent simple possession offense is still a misdemeanor, although the maximum penalty for that is 12 months in jail (the reality is much less than that). So even if it is a defendants 18th or 50th simple possession charge, the crime remains a misdemeanor.

Thats not to say there are not collateral consequences to a marijuana possession conviction but they are far less severe than the consequences that follow a felony conviction.

So lets debate the facts about all the consequences. Lets debate whether decriminalizing marijuana will have an adverse consequence on the rate of driving under the influence of drugs, on our teenagers experimenting with marijuana and other drugs, on law enforcements ability to investigate the possession, use and distribution of those other hard-core drugs like cocaine and heroin, or on a myriad of other consequences.

But the debate and the decision should be based on facts and not misinformation. The News & Advance does the public discourse disfavor by not checking its facts about simple possession of marijuana more thoroughly.

MICHAEL DOUCETTE

Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney

A debt of gratitude

Thank you, Casey Gillis of The News & Advance, for the great article in the Nov. 5 paper about Lynchburg artist Jen Ayers, She lived from the gut.

When I first came to Lynchburg in 1959, I volunteered back stage at the Little Theater on Rivermont Avenue and took art classes at the old Art Center on Court Street. Thats where I first met Jen  at the Wednesday art classes under Bob Harmon.

I was somewhat in awe of her, her talent and her sense of self. She was a true independent spirit. She and the other women artists in the group were wonderful mentors to a young woman trying to find her way in a new town and a new country. Women such as Epps Perrow, Kitty Gibson, Jimmie Kyle and Corinne Hovda were exceptional role models, not to mention grandfatherly Abe Schewel, who was also in that class.

The Lynchburg arts community owes a lot to Jen Ayers and those forerunners who, with their generosity of spirit, paved the way for the vibrant art scene in downtown Lynchburg today.

ANN VAN DE GRAAF

Lynchburg
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ZANU-PF National Secretary for Transport and Welfare Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri was yesterday hauled over the calls by the partys Womens League representatives in Manicaland for sowing hatred and fuelling factionalism in the province. Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri also stands accused of blocking other women in the ruling party from occupying leadership positions in the province.



This emerged at the ZANU-PF Manicaland Provincial Extraordinary Coordinating (PEC) meeting held in Mutare yesterday. The women have also recommended the expulsion of Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri from the party for being Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwas accomplice in trying to unseat the President. Similarly, Manicaland unanimously agreed to have Cde Mnangagwa chucked from his position as the countrys Vice President. First to dig into Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri was Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Mandi Chimene who said she once warned the politician for supporting Cde Mnangagwa.



When Mai Muchinguri was removed from the position as the Governor, I later met her in Penhalonga. She was driving, so I went to lean on the window of her car and there were some light showers. We exchanged some greetings before she started castigating the President.. People should not just follow others without knowing the direction they will be taking. Those people will be having their agendas, she said. Mutasa South legislator Cde Irene Zindi had no kind words for Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri either, vowing to fight her to the end. Cde Zindi accused Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri of calling her names.





During the liberation war, I was a political commissar. I trained as a political commissar. When I came here in Manicaland, I was harassed by some of my comrades. I suffered a lot when I came here. Ndakaenda paChimbetu, ndakaona moto. I remember when we were at a conference in Harare, there is a woman called Mai Mugabe. She spent the whole night crying after being harassed for supporting me, said Cde Zindi.





I was not on talking terms with Mandi (Chimene) when this woman (Muchinguri) was here. We only started seeing each other when she was removed from the position of the Governor. She would go to the Politburo meeting to say I am the daughter of a prostitute. She would go all the way saying my mother was a prostitute as a way of decampaigning me. Today, I am a living testimony. I wish my mother was alive. I wish my father was alive. I was going to ask her because I was not there when she conceived and I am very emotional about that.





Ari kuti ndakamurambidza kushandisa surname yekumusha kwedu nokuti mwana wehure. I dont hold any influential position; I am just a party cadre. It will not end like that. I know where my father and mother were buried. I will go for DNA tests, she said. Cde Zindi also accused Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri of plotting to unseat her in Mutasa South constituency by supporting a candidate who wanted to contest against her in the forthcoming elections. Mutare South MP Cde Nyasha Chikwinya also castigated Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri for her actions, particularly of sidelining women, saying Section 17 of the Constitution gave equal opportunities to both women and men.





As we go towards the 2018 harmonised elections, equal opportunities are going to be given on a 50-50 basis. We are going to start with those women in positions and we move in with other women and not remove them (sic). Even in Zanu-PF as a party, we are going to promote each other in that matter. The issue of removing a woman is a non-starter, she said. Zanu-PF Womens League secretary for administration Cde Letina Undenge also joined the onslaught, saying Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri must stop working against Cde (Irene) Zindi. Herald
For unruly children during that time, when parents or elder siblings could not put up with our energy levels, they would simply shout Hokoyo naChitanduro  Here comes Chitanduro! It was like being told that a lion was just about to devour you! Elders would warn us that if we did not behave, they would invite Chitanduro, who would put us one by one into his drum and do the singing for him from inside that drum around the villages. The imagination of being in that drum was worse than a nightmare.
The Harare City Council and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) enforcement team tasked to restore order in the city centre has begun using metal spikes again, the Daily News can reveal.



The team, which is not only targeting vendors but pirate taxis (mushika shika) and kombis, has been using the controversial metal spikes in defiance of President Robert Mugabe who condemned the dangerous practice saying its illegal.



This journalist observed that ZRP do not handle the illegal objects but instead, municipal officers are the ones actually in charge of the metal spikes.



The enforcement team indiscriminately throws them at fleeing kombis and mushika shikas, oblivious of the dangers they pose to passengers and pedestrians.



According to Section 38 Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter IV throwing spikes in front of moving vehicles is a criminal offence.



Any person who  (a) throws or propels or prepares to throw or propel any missile, article or thing at any person, motor vehicle, boat, aircraft or building with the intention or realising that there is a real risk or possibility of causing damage or injury; or (b) without lawful excuse, the proof whereof lies on him or her, overturns or attempts to overturn a motor vehicle, boat or aircraft . . . shall be guilty of obstructing or endangering the free movement of persons or traffic and liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or both, the Act reads.



However, despite the Daily News witnessing the use of spikes, council spokesperson Michael Chideme said the city had stopped. We are not using spikes anymore, but it is important to note that they have not been outlawed, he said.



Deputy Home Affairs minister Obedingwa Mguni told the Senate in July that police will soon be using spikes in a far advanced way. Mguni said he wanted to copy the South African style of using spikes.



There is an electronic system that we will introduce when we are integrated which detects a vehicle that may not have paid its licence.



Then those who are about 400 metres will be telephoned to inform them about this vehicle.

That is when the driver will see a spike on the ground when he is approaching, Mguni said.

The dispute that I have come across in Zimbabwe most of the times is that  I am not sure whether the taxi driver refuses to stop and then police run to throw the spike.



If it is like that, we issued a statement that it is illegal to throw a spike on a moving vehicle. We said this constitutes three years imprisonment for a police officer. daily news
No Charges for Cops

in Killing of Man Who

Was 'Biking While Black'
While promoting her new movie, A Bad Moms Christmas, on Conan Thursday night, actress Mila Kunis waded deep into the culture wars, and now it looks like she may have taken a beloved brand of bourbon with her. During her interview, Kunis admitted to Conan O'Brien that she's been donating to Planned Parenthood in the name of Vice President Mike Pence, the Hill reports. Unhappy with Pence's stance on abortion, Kunis says she set up the recurring monthly donation "as a reminder that there are women in the world that may or may not agree with his platform." Which means every month, Pence receives a card from Planned Parenthood informing him a donation has been made in his name.

The Conan crowd applauded Kunis' story, but not everyone is happy about the actress' act of resistance. Over the weekend a campaign began on social media calling for a boycott of Jim Beam, the bourbon manufacturer whose spokeswoman is none other than Mila Kunis, USA Today reports. "#BoycottBeam" is now a hashtag on Twitter, with numerous people taking to Twitter to voice their displeasure with Jim Beam and its spokeswoman. "Jim Beam = for selling baby body parts and abortions," wrote user Covfefe Deplorable on Sunday, while others swore their new allegiance to competing bourbons like Jack Daniel's and Wild Turkey. There has been no comment yet from Jim Beam. (Read more Mila Kunis stories.)
Jacob Thompson is celebrating Christmas early because this year's holiday will likely be his last one. The Maine 9-year-old, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 5, was told in early October the cancer would likely take his life in a month. But his request for his final Christmas is simple: He wants cards. "He got some cards from this Halloween, and he opened up and saw them and it was like getting a gift. He read it to us and had a big smile on his face and his nose scrunched," Jacob's dad tells CNN. "He was excited to see what people had to say and it just brightened his day." Now the family is asking for people everywhere to send their son holiday cards.

Jacob's early Christmas celebration will take place this weekend, WCSH reports, and will also include snow, a decorated tree, and a visit from Santa Claus. He's already received thousands of cards, including one from Antarcticaparticularly exciting because Jacob loves penguins. For those looking for ideas of what type of card Jacob might like, he also loves Minecraft, Legos, Star Wars, photography, singing, and comedy. Anyone who wants to send more can send iTunes gift cards to help Jacob play SimCity, his dad says. Any toys sent to him will be shared with the other children at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center. A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for Jacob's eventual funeral expenses. CNN has the address where cards to Jacob can be mailed. (Read more cancer stories.)
Following the death of a student at a party this past weekend, Florida State University has indefinitely banned all fraternities and sororities. Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old civil engineering student and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, was found unresponsive Friday, the morning after a chapter party, and pronounced dead at the scene, USA Today reports. In response, FSU President John Thrasher announced an indefinite suspension of Greek life and a ban on alcohol at all student events. All of our student organizationsGreek organizations and the other recognized student organizations on campusmust step up," Thrasher said Monday. "They will have to participate in the solution.

Tallahassee police say that while they have reason to believe alcohol played a role in Coffey's death, they are waiting for the results of an autopsy. Pi Kappa Phi has faced disciplinary action numerous times over the last five years, the Sun-Sentinel reports, including for alcohol violations. And the FSU chapter was sanctioned by the national office in 2012, 2014, and 2015, though no misconduct allegations were filed in the last year. Twenty-two percent of all FSU undergraduates belong to a Greek organization. "For this suspension to end, there will need to be a new normal for Greek Life at the university," Thrasher said. "There must be a new culture, and our students must be full participants in creating it." (Read more Florida State University stories.)
In 1985, Vernon Madison shot and killed Mobile, Ala., police officer Julius Schulte after Schulte responded to a domestic call involving Madison; prosecutors say he crept up on the officer as he sat in his police car and shot him twice in the back of the head, the AP reports. In the ensuing decades, Madison, variously reported to be either 66 or 67, has suffered several strokes and says he cannot remember the crime that sent him to Alabama's death row, where he is one of the longest-serving inmates. But on Monday, the US Supreme Court ruled the state can execute him regardless of that, the New York Times reports. "Madison is competent to be executed becausenotwithstanding his memory losshe recognizes that he will be put to death as punishment for the murder he was found to have committed," the court wrote.

Hours before Madison was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection last year, he was granted a stay by a lower court and the Supreme Court upheld that stay, AL.com reports. In Monday's ruling, the high court reversed that decision. Though the decision was unanimous, three justices wrote concurring opinions noting that the court should return to the legal questions raised by Madison's case; they simply didn't find his case an appropriate vehicle to address those questions. Justice Stephen Breyer, for example, pointed out that the "unconscionably long periods of time" that prisoners often spend awaiting execution could be a constitutional problem, as "we may face ever more instances of state efforts to execute prisoners suffering the diseases and infirmities of old age," the Washington Post reports. Alabama is seeking a new execution date, WKRG reports. (Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
A lawyer for the neighbor accused of assaulting Sen. Rand Paul outside his Kentucky home says the "unfortunate occurrence" had nothing to do with the political beliefs of either man. "It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial," says Matthew Baker, attorney for 59-year-old physician Rene Boucher. How trivial? Another neighbor tells CNN that Boucher and Paul have been "quibbling" for years over leaves and other yard waste blowing onto each other's lawns in their gated community outside Bowling Green. The neighbor says he didn't witness Friday's altercation, so he can't say if yard waste was the problem this time.

Boucher, who allegedly "blindsided" Paul, was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, but police say he could face more serious charges because the senator's injuries are worse than first believed, the Washington Post reports. Paul has five rib fractures, including three potentially dangerous displaced fractures, according to his spokesman, Doug Stafford. A spokesman for the Kentucky State Police says after the arresting officer has submitted his report, prosecutors will decide whether Paul's injuries are serious enough to upgrade the charge to a felony. Boucher, who has been Paul's neighbor for 17 years, was released on $7,500 bail Saturday. (Read more Rand Paul stories.)
A Sept. 5 blog post on PopFront took Taylor Swift to task for not taking a stand against the white supremacists twisting her music to promote their cause, noting her silence was akin to support. Swift's response has only drawn more reproach. In what an ACLU lawyer calls "a completely unsupported attempt to suppress constitutionally protected speech," Swift's lawyer threatened a lawsuit on Oct. 25 if Meghan Herning's "defamatory" piece wasnt removed, report Variety and NPR. But as criticism of a public figure, especially opinion, is protected by free speech, Herning wasn't intimidated. Rather than remove the article, she contacted the ACLU, which notes "not even in your wildest dreams" does Herning's commentary "constitute defamation."

"Criticism is never pleasant, but a celebrity has to shake it off, even if the critique may damage her reputation," continues the ACLU, taking up Swift's own lyrics against her. The civil liberties group also published the letter Swift's lawyer sent to PopFrontwhich included a denunciation of white supremacydespite the lawyer's claim that it was protected from publication by copyright law. It is not because "this is not a commercial use," says the ACLU. "I am not backing down," adds Herning, per Variety. "The press should not be bullied ... or frightened into submission." While Swift's camp has yet to respond, the Washington Post notes celebrities often send cease-and-desist orders in an attempt to erase negative stories even when there's little chance of winning a defamation suit. (Read more Taylor Swift stories.)
A powerful storm with at least nine confirmed tornadoes tore roofs off factories, ripped away storefronts, and destroyed homes across Indiana, Ohio, and into Pennsylvania, AP reports. Scuba divers found the bodies of two men inside a home's flooded basement, where they were seeking shelter Sunday during a tornado warning in Erie, Penn., authorities said. Six people were hurt, though none seriously, at a restaurant in the western Ohio city of Celina on Sunday when a tornado touched down. Gaping holes could be seen in the concrete walls and roof of a nearby factory that makes heavy equipment.

The National Weather Service said Monday that at least six tornadoes hit northern and western Ohio, including one that began in Indiana and hopped along nearly 40 miles before hitting Celina. Several large livestock barns were flattened and neighbors pitched in to save nearly 400 cows at one farm in Mercer County. The other tornadoes in Ohio touched down in Ashland, Crawford, Sandusky, and Erie counties. In Indiana, survey teams confirmed at least three other tornadoes hit the cities of Salem, Muncie, and Springville. Close to 40,000 people near Cleveland and Akron were without power Monday morning and some were told it could take a few days before electricity was restored. A handful of polling locations in northeastern Ohio were moved for Tuesday's election because of power outages.

(Read more Ohio stories.)
The man who killed 26 people in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Sunday should not have been able to buy the rifle he used, the Washington Post reports. On Monday, Air Force officials admitted that Devin Kelley's 2014 court-martial conviction for domestic violence should have precluded him from legally buying firearms and body armor, but that the Air Force failed to alert federal law enforcement to the crime. According to an Air Force statement, Kelley's record was never entered into the National Criminal Information Center database, in violation of Pentagon guidelines. Kelley was convicted on two counts of domestic abuse against his wife and infant stepson in 2014 while serving in the Air Force. He was sentenced to a year in prison and released from the military with a bad conduct discharge.

The Air Force inspector general has been ordered to conduct a review of the Kelley case, alongside the Pentagon inspector general, the New York Times reports. The Air Force also says it will be looking into whether any other cases have gone unreported. The service will also conduct a comprehensive review of Air Force databases to ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly, the statement reads. (Read more Devin Kelley stories.)
President Trump is in South Koreaand he hasn't repeated his rhetoric about bringing "fire and fury" down on its northern neighbor. In a joint press conference with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, Trump said he'd seen a "lot of progress" in dealing with Pyongyang and urged the country to make a deal to end its nuclear weapons program, the AP reports. "It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said. "I do see certain movement." Moon added that the two leaders had agreed to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue in a peaceful manner.

Trump arrived in South Korea, the second country on his five-nation Asia trip, at the Camp Humphreys military base 40 miles south of Seoul, the Washington Post reports. He had lunch with American troops in a mess hall on the base before speaking with military commanders, telling them: "Ultimately, it will all work out. It always works out." Trump will address the South Korean National Assembly on Wednesday, and aides say he's likely to denounce North Korea's human rights abuses. Bloomberg reports that Moon's administration has its differences with Trump over issues including trade and North Korea, though the South Korean leader praised Trump for making "America great again" at the start of their Tuesday meeting. (In a speech in Japan Monday, Trump refused to rule out military action against North Korea.)
In what turned out to be a futile attempt to avoid his downfall, Harvey Weinstein hired an "army of spies" to target women accusing him of sexual assault or harassment and the journalists trying to report on their claims, Ronan Farrow writes in his second explosive Weinstein story in the New Yorker. Farrow says that around a year ago, Weinstein employed private security agenciesincluding Black Cube, which is run by former agents of Israel's Mossad spy agencyto try to suppress the allegations. Agents met with actresses and journalists under false pretenses, including one who met with Rose McGowan several times, claiming to be a women's rights advocate.

Weinstein supervised efforts to target "dozens of individuals, and compile psychological profiles that sometimes focused on their personal or sexual histories," Farrow writes. Weinstein also spoke to current and former employees to try and identify people who might speak out against him, and enlisted the help of journalists and allies including Dylan Howard at National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. to try to discredit accusers. Some of the women targeted say the use of private security agencies made it even tougher to speak out against the powerful producer. "Ex-Mossad operatives? The biggest international security firms in the world on your case?? And these women STILL spoke up!!," tweeted Anthony Bourdain, partner of Weinstein accuser Asia Argento, adding that Howard is "beneath whale s---." (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
A member of a French hunting party was killed Monday in what authorities are calling an exceedingly rare accident. Police say the unarmed 62-year-old man was acting as a beater (meaning trying to get game to leave their cover) for a hunting party in Compiegne national park, around 50 miles northeast of Paris, when the animal charged, piercing him with an antler, AFP reports. Regis Levasseur, described as a seasoned hunter, died of internal bleeding before emergency services got there.

Authorities say hunting injuries involving wild boar are a lot more common, though ones involving deer are not completely unheard of. "It remains a wild animal, with unpredictable reactions," Guy Harle, the chief of the regional hunting association, tells Courrier Picard. "It is a dangerous animal, contrary to what people think. The antlers of the stag are like many knives piercing you, there is nothing you can do." As for Levasseur, "For him, hunting was more than a hobby, it was his life," Harle adds, per the Local. (Scientists have spotted a grisly first among deer.)
They were mostly between the ages of 14 and 18, and 26 of them are now dead. CNN reports on the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea and describes an appalling scene: teenage girls' bodies floating lifelessly beside a nearly submerged rubber dinghy that survivors tried to cling to. The AFP reports 23 of the bodies were recovered Friday, with another three subsequently found. Their remains were brought ashore in Salerno, Italy; Salvatore Malfi, the police prefect there, tells NPR they appear to have drowned, but the bodies will be autopsied Tuesday to determine cause of death as well as whether the girls had been sexually abused.

The BBC reports some are questioning whether the girls, believed to hail from Niger and Nigeria, were abused and murdered. They were en route to Europe via Libya, which CNN calls "a hotbed for human traffickers." The AFP quotes Malfi as apparently trying to tamp down on that line of thought: "The sex trafficking routes are different. Loading women onto a boat is too risky, the traffickers would not do it as they could lose all their 'goods'as they describe themin one fell swoop." Per the UN's migration agency, the migrant death toll along the main Mediterranean route stands at 2,639 for the year through Nov. 1, versus 3,615 for the same period last year. (This smuggler reportedly deliberately drowned 50 migrants.)
Earlier this year, President Trump noted "I just don't want a poor person" in charge of economic posts in his administration, then touted Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross as "a very rich person" who was up to the task. But just how rich Ross really is is now up in the air, Forbes reports, noting it's yanked Ross off its billionaires list after a one-month probe revealed that $2 billion or so or Ross' alleged fortune "never existed," and that Ross had engaged in an "apparent sequence of fibs, exaggerations, omissions, fabrications, and whoppers" with the magazine going back 13 years. The discovery came when Ross, 79, contacted Forbes in October to refute his ranking: Last year he was listed with a net worth of $2.9 billion on the Forbes 400; he claimed he was worth closer to $3.7 billion. Then Forbes talked with 10 of Ross' ex-employees at his private equity firm, who noted a "penchant for misleading" that affected fellow workers and investors and spurred big fines, suits, and refunds to backers.

"Wilbur doesn't have an issue with bending the truth," one longtime colleague says, while another is more blunt: "He's lied to a lot of people." The magazine delves into Ross' back story, including how, when he first made the Forbes billionaires list in 2004 with a net worth of $1 billion, "everyone that I knew that worked with Wilbur knew it wasn't true," per a former colleague. When Forbes told Ross he was being removed from its billionaires club, Ross retorted the magazine wasn't counting family trusts that he wasn't obligated to inform the feds aboutin the amount of "more than $2 billion," assets Ross said he put into the trusts sometime "between the election and [my] nomination." When Forbes asked to see a paper trail proving that, Ross cited "privacy issues"and the magazine lays out other problems with Ross' story on the supposed $2 billion transfer. Read the in-depth findings here. (Read more Wilbur Ross stories.)
Rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison on probation violations Monday by a Philadelphia judge who said the musician had wasted several chances to clean up his act following a 2009 gun and drug case. The sentence rounded out a roughly decade-long back-and-forth between the 30-year-old musician and Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley that has dogged Mill's career as he'd been jailed and called to court multiple times on various infractions, reports the AP. "I've been trying to help you since 2009," Brinkley said, citing a failed drug test, failure to comply with a court order restricting his travel, and two other arrests for reckless driving and assault. "You basically thumbed your nose at me."

The sentence came after a prosecutor recommended that Mill not be imprisoned for the violations, saying he has been clean since January and has grown as a person since his original conviction on gun and drug possession charges. Brinkley said the prosecutor was too new to the case to understand how Mill just "does what he wants." Mill owned up to the violations and said that jailing him would likely end his musical career. He said that he has battled addiction to the prescription painkiller Percocet and only tried to escape a life of crime. "I may have made a mistake, but I never had the intention of disrespecting you," he said. His lawyer vowed to appeal as Jay-Z, Kevin Hart, and rapper TI expressed their support for Mill, per People.

(Read more Meek Mill stories.)
In a move that further isolates the US from the international community, Syria has officially agreed to sign the Paris climate accord. The announcement was made at a climate summit in Germany on Tuesday, reports Politico. That means the USwhich will withdraw from the deal on the basis that it hurts US business, according to President Trumpis the only country not to support it. Nicaragua, the only country apart from Syria not to sign the deal in 2015, did so last month. Despite Trump's plans, the wording of the deal makes clear that no country can withdraw until 2020, per the BBC. (Read more Paris Agreement stories.)
A male passenger aboard a Detroit-bound Delta flight claimed a woman "had fallen asleep in his lap" after those seated nearby complained that she'd actually been performing oral sex, according to a police report. The pair, strangers who'd booked seats in separate rows on the Oct. 29 flight, had used a single blanket in an attempt to hide the sex act in Row 26 while a man apparently slept beside them, per a police report cited in the Detroit Free Press. Others nearby were conscious of what was happening and complained. The 28-year-old man and 48-year-old woman were removed from the plane when it landed in Detroit.

The womandescribed as "highly intoxicated" with eyes that were "bloodshot and red"didn't go quietly, however. The report notes she was "continuously disruptive" and "yelled and screamed" throughout her exit. She was later found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.11, per the Detroit News. The manwho had a BAC of 0.06later told an officer that the woman had been taking a nap. And while he admitted he'd "grabbed her breasts on the outside of her clothes," he said they didn't have intercourse, per the report. A witness contradicts that, describing how the woman sat up when addressed, while the man "tried to apologize." (Read more mile high club stories.)
On Nov. 26 of last year, Robert and Shani Corrigan lost their 25-year-old son to suicide. They held his memorial service at Sutherland Springs' First Baptist Church in Texas, where the Michigan couple had moved years prior to start a new life. Less than a year after his death, they were killed at the same church during Sunday's shooting rampage, the Detroit Free Press reports. "They were trying to deal with the loss of a child, which occurred months ago. Now this? I can't imagine how their other two children are having to deal," said one childhood friend of the couple, who were high school sweethearts. "Things like this aren't supposed to happen."

Another friend wrote on Facebook that at least the Corrigans are "hopefully back together" with their son now. "Bob loved playing guitar for the church music ministry more than anything elseand was likely doing that when him and Shani were killed," the friend added. Robert Corrigan had retired from the Air Force a few years ago, reports the Omaha World-Herald; he had also been the music minister at the couple's church in Nebraska when they lived there. He was known for playing the guitar and writing his own music, and his wife sang: "Anything she sang, she sang well," the reverend of their Nebraska church recalls. The couple leaves behind two other sons, who are both in the military. (Read more mass shootings stories.)
The tax overhaul in the works has drawn controversy over possible changes to 401(k) plans and deductions for homeowners, but another, lower-profile topic has emerged as a sore point. The House plan unveiled last week would eliminate a one-time tax break for families that adopt children. The break can be a substantial oneit's $13,570 in 2017, which can take the sting out of adoption costs that can approach $40,000 if done through an agency, per the Hill. The issue has become a flash point on the right because conservatives equate the credit with supporting pro-life, pro-family values. "Being pro-life means being pro-adoption," tweeted GOP Sen. Ben Sasse. "Congress must remember this as we work through the details of tax reform." Now the Washington Post highlights a different wrinkle: The House's top tax writer has two adopted sons.

Rep. Kevin Brady, chair of the House Ways and Means panel, has called his adoptive kids the "biggest blessing," but he defends the credit's elimination. It's "not working," he tells the Post, saying that some families can't claim it because they don't pay enough in taxes or don't itemize. A piece at Vox notes that the credit is indeed "nonrefundable," meaning that parents who don't make enough to owe federal taxes aren't eligible. Those in the middle or upper-middle class, making between $100,000 and $200,000, claim the credit the most. Brady argues that tax overhaul will help all families in a more general sense by, say, increasing the child tax credit. Still, expect the issue to remain contentious. Congress "may end up funding Planned Parenthood while abolishing the adoption tax credit," writes David French in the conservative National Review. "Thats intolerable." (Read more adoption stories.)
Five years before killing 26 people in a Texas church, Devin Kelley escaped from a psychiatric hospital after trying to sneak weapons onto his Air Force base and making death threats against his superiors, the New York Times reports. Kelley was sent to Peak Behavioral Health Services in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in 2012 after he was charged with assaulting his wife and young stepson, who was left with a fractured skull. He would later plead guilty to those charges and spend a year in a Navy prison. According to KRPC, Xavier Alvarez, former director of military affairs at the psychiatric hospital, said in a police report at the time that Kelley "was a danger to himself and others."

Prior to hopping a fence to escape, Alvarez tells NBC News that Kelley was caught using the hospital's computers to order weapons and tactical gear, which he was having shipped to a PO Box. In the police report, he said Kelley "was attempting to carry out death threats" against "his military chain of command." Following his escape, Kelley was apprehended at a bus station in El Paso. Alvarez says he told the arresting officers he would go for their guns if he got the chance. "This kidhe was hollow," Alvarez says. "I could never reach him." Meanwhile, authorities are still trying to piece together a motivation for Sunday's shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, hampered by an inability to unlock Kelley's cellphone. (Read more Devin Kelley stories.)
Harvey Weinstein could be indicted as early as next week, NBC New York reports. An unidentified senior official says the Manhattan district attorney's office is expected to present its case in front of a grand jury in the coming days. Last week, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said police were gathering evidence for a possible arrest after actress Paz de la Huerta accused Weinstein of raping her twice in 2010. District Attorney Cyrus Vance says his office is working with police but wouldn't offer specifics on the case. "I really can't comment but we'll move as fast as we can to resolve the outstanding issues," he says.

An unnamed source reportedly tells Page Six that Vance's plan to go to a grand jury and wait for an indictment next week goes against the NYPD's plan to arrest Weinstein as soon as possible. The source says the NYPD and district attorney's office are butting heads over the case, with the district attorney's office apparently mad about police saying last week they were waiting on it for an arrest warrant. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports London police said Tuesday another woman has accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her. Police say the alleged assault happened in an unspecified foreign country in 1991. The unnamed woman is the eighth in Britain to accuse Weinstein. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
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New Delhi :

Google is a great search engine, and it was proved yet again when police reached the home of an alleged mobile snatcher, thanks to the Google image saving feature.



Actually, on November 2, the culprit snatched the mobile phone from a lady-teacher who teaches in a school in Darya Ganj, Central Delhi and fled. After committing the crime he clicked a selfie, unaware of the fact that his selfie is getting saved on Google Drive.



The teacher lodged a complaint with the police at the Darya Ganj Police Station following which a police team swung into action and using the location locator reached right to the doorsteps of the snatcher who somehow managed to escape but left the mobile phone behind.



Initially, the teacher was hesitant to approach the police but next day when she logged into her Gmail account she was shocked to see a selfie. On taking a closer look she realised that the man in the selfie is none other than the man who snatched her phone.



The selfie which was saved in the Google Drive was carrying the date, time and location. Then she approached the police and told them the entire story.



The police have recovered the mobile phone and have registered a case and are on the trail of the accused.
New Delhi :

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted dense to very dense fog very likely in the morning hours of Wednesday over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, North Rajasthan and a few places in West Uttar Pradesh.



Also, heavy rain is very likely at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands and south Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.



On Tuesday, Delhiites woke up to dense smog and haze with many complaining of burning eyes and sore nose and throat. The air quality index of Delhi touched the severe level of 451 where anything above 100 is considered unhealthy.



This prompted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to order the closure of schools on Wednesday. The order will be extended to the day after if the need arises.



"Outdoor activities including assemblies should not take place in schools," Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.



District Magistrate Ghaziabad has also directed all schools in the region to shut on Wednesday and day after on account of air pollution.

Also read: Delhi Smog: EPCA instructs govt to start preparing for odd-even scheme



Also read: Delhi Air Pollution: Kejriwal 'requests' Sisodia to shut schools for few days
Mumbai:

It is not clear if the actor knew about the Paradise Papers beforehand or that his name was going to figure in the list.The actor's post began as a response to a BMC notice sent to him for alleged "illegal construction" on his property and went on to discuss his experiences after he was named in the Panama Papers, another ICIJ investigation, and the Bofors gun payoff scandal. It did not mention the Paradise Papers.

"At this age and time of my life, I seek peace and freedom from prominence... To be left to lead the last few years of my life with and within myself...,"

Amitabh posted on his blog on Sunday. The 75-year-old actor said he is yet to receive the notice from BMC authorities but, trusting the media reports, his lawyer has already given a statement on the matter.

"In recent months I find my name appears again in the leaks of Panama, as produced by the Indian Express... the paper has asked for reactions, for responses, for justification or not, for replies to their investigative queries.

"The actor said two "instant replies" were given out by him of "denial and misuse of the name" but the questions continued."Immediately after this, the system took over and since its revelation in the Express, has summoned me... at least 6 summons have been served to us and continue to come...Each one of them, he said, was "diligently, dutifully and duly replied to".

Personal appearances were ordered and he complied -- at different agency offices, both in Mumbai and in Delhi, both from Tax and Enforcement Departments and of their respective Intelligence Wings.

The actor said some queries take time as the matter is more than 25 years old.

"It takes a while to dig out old files and to compile all that they want... the fullest cooperation has been extended at all hours as dutiful citizens... and even after, if there is any more query that needs to be addressed, we shall comply... It is the norm...," he said.

Bachchan said he will continue to cooperate if there is any fresh issue as he believes in abiding by the law of the land.The actor also spoke about allegations against his family and him in the Bofors scandal.For years, he and his family were "grilled, declared traitors, abused and humiliated by the hour".

When it became unbearable, they moved the court to the United Kingdom."...we moved against a UK paper and won...," he said, adding that while he suffered, those who accused him never faced anything.The actor said it took 25 years for him to know that his name was planted.

Many in the media, he said, asked whether he would seek retribution after his name was cleared or seek information on who had planted his name.Will retribution take away the "years of suffering and mental torture" that he and his family went through, Bachchan asked in return and said he had told the media that the matter was over for him.

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Los Angeles:

Model-actor Paris Jackson has apologised for her "insensitive" tweet in the wake of a mass shooting in Texas in which 26 people were killed.



"Why the f**k do people keep dying," the 19-year-old actor had posted on Twitter before the shooting incident in Texas.



The actor, however, apologised for her "insensitive" tweet and clarified that it was not related to the shooting incident.



"Whoa just now hearing about Texas, and realised how insensitive to the families my last tweet must seem... to clarify, that was about a friend," wrote Jackson.



"My heart is with everyone affected and in pain during this tragic time," she added.



A court-martialled former US Air Force airman armed with a powerful assault rifle sprayed bullets on worshippers at a Sunday service at a rural church in Texas, killing at least 26 people, including 12-14 children in the latest gun-related massacre to shock the country.

Also read: George Clooney: I lived on rent and sold a tequila company for billion dollars



Also read: Land of the Little People shows impact of militarisation on Israeli children, watch trailer

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New Delhi:

Bihar Police arrested two youths for allegedly harassing, beating and robbing a British couple camping on the bank of river Ganga in Patna.

The British couple somehow managed to escape the duo criminals and lodged a complaint with the Patna police with the help of locals on Monday evening.

Police said, the British couple  Matthew Kidd, 30, and 28-year-old Jessica Kidd are school-teachers in Scotlands Glasgow  are on a 78-day journey from Haridwar to Howrah sailing on the the river Ganga. The two had stopped near Pandarak in Bihars Patna district to rest when they were attacked by miscreants.

The British couple in their complaint have mentioned that two youths manhandled and harassed them and tried looting them. According to the complaint filed by the Matthew, the two youths had sticks and sharp weapons.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaj said, A special team was formed soon after we received a complaint from the British couple. Sketch was made and raids were carried out on the river -waters and bank sides.

The youths were arrested from the banks of river Ganga and the couple have restarted their sail in Howrah, added the SSP.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked his deputy Manish Sisodia to close schools in the country capital as choking blanket of smog descended one of the worldas most populated city.

Kejriwal on Twitter on Tuesday morning tweeted, aConsidering high level of pollution, I have requested Sh Manish Sisodia, Education Minister, to consider closing schools for a few days.a

In his tweets the Delhi CM added, aEvery year, during this time of the year, Delhi becomes a gas chamber for almost a month. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining statesa

In Delhi, last time the air quality was declared severe on October 20, a day after Diwali. Since then the state capital pollution level has been reported as avery poora.

Considering high level of pollution, I have requested Sh Manish Sisodia, Education Minister, to consider closing schools for a few days a Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 7, 2017

The Indian Medical Association declared an "emergency" as PM2.5 level has reached 703 . According to weather experts 300 is considered as hazardous.

Delhi was classed has worldas most polluted capital. With air quality levels worse than Beijing in 2014 by World Health Organisation.

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New Delhi:

Two Delhi youths used the Darknet and online currency bitcoins to run drugs syndicate in the National Capital Region until they were busted by the police.

The fact came to surface after Delhi Police arrested two persons identified as Kamal Kalra, a resident of Rohini and Mahesh Goyal, a resident of Dwarka were arrested.

Delhi Police said that the two were supplying contraband drugs including LSD, MDMA, MDA, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, and amphetamine to largely to rave parties and in-house parties.

The Delhi Police officers added that the whole syndicate worked on the Darknet. There was never a physical contact between the supplier and buyer. They contacted each other via Darknet network.

The Delhi Police on intelligence inputs had arrested Karla. Police had recovered around 100 ills of Ecstasy (MDMA), a psychotropic substance. On his tip off police arrested Goyal.

Delhi Police on interrogating the duo learnt that the duo had never met each other in person but successfully managed to run the syndicate on the darknet. They made the payments through bitcoins.

Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Alok Kumar said, Goyal and Karla used to the ordered the drugs online using the darknet. Every consignment payment was made through Bitcoins. The duo made their buyers make payments through Bitcoins and once the coins were transferred to their account they would deliver the contraband at the doorsteps.

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Chennai:

A Qatar Airways flight was forced to land in Chennai after an Iranian woman got into a heated altercation with her husband and created ruckus mid-air.

According to Qatar Airways officials the flight from Doha heading to Bali was forced to land in Chennai on November 5, when a woman in inebriated condition created ruckus after she found out that her husband was cheating on her.

The officials added that the Iranian woman who was travelling along with her husband and their young child. They had boarded the flight from Doha to Bali. "On November 5, at about 10 am, Qatar Airways flight QR-962 (Doha-Bali) was diverted to Chennai after a lady along with her husband and a child. They were offloaded, which had no stopover as the woman created a ruckus and misbehaved with crew members inflight, said a security officer in Chennai.

According to Chennai airport officials the Iranian woman who suspected her husband of cheating, unlocked his phone by putting his finger on its scanner and after checking contents got into a heated argument with him.

The official added that when the Qatar Airways crew members intervened and tried to control the situation the Iranian woman misbehaved with them. Seeing situation getting out of hand, Qatar Airways crew members decided to offload the family in Chennai.

Officials in Chennai kept the family in the airport campus till the woman got sober. They were later boarded on a plane to Kuala Lumpur and from where they were taken to Doha by a connecting flight.

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New Delhi:

Jaish-e-Mohammed chiefs Masood Azhars nephew was one of the three terrorist gunned down by joint security forces in an encounter at Pulwamas Aglar Kandi on Monday evening.

One of the gunned down terrorist in Pulwana was identified as JeMs chief nephew, Talha Raseed, by the banned terrorist groups spokesperson. The other two militants have been identified as the divisional commander Muhammad Bhai and Waseem, a resident of Pulwamas Drubgam.

inspector general of police (IG) Munir Khan said, "The JeM themselves have claimed one of the militant killed is a Pakistani and nephew of Masood Azhar."

The security forces have recovered two AK-47, US made carbine M4 and several rounds of ammunition from the encounter site. The three killed militants body have also been recovered.

"This is the first time an US-made rifle M4 has been recovered, " said Indian Army GOC BB Raju, while Khan said, "How JeM militants got the US-made rifle is part of investigation. The M4 is no challenge for the force."

The Indian Army chief Vipin Rawat, "It does not matter who he is. Be it Azhar Masood's nephew or anyone. Army will keep neutralising militants."

A senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officer who wished anonymity told News Nations that the operation was launched on Monday after they had received intelligence input regarding terrorists involved in last weeks attack on police patrolling party camping in the forested area in Pulwama.

The officer added that as security forces marched towards Aglar Kandi, terrorists opened fire. Security forces taking position with the first round of firing by the militants retaliated leading to the killing of the three. One security personnel also suffered bullet injuries in the gunbattle, who later succumbed to his injuries.

The joint operation was carried out by Armys 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

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New Delhi :

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized demonetised currency worth Rs 36.3 crore and arrested 9 persons in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) terror funding case.



During the investigation, it had emerged that persons/entities linked to the separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency which they could not deposit / convert during the period earmarked by the government.



Surveillance was mounted on such persons/entities. This led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein a gang of such persons/ entities were making an attempt to convert this demonetised money into valid currency.



On November 6, the NIA team intercepted the gang members at Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place, New Delhi. They were carrying 28 cartons filled with demonetised currency notes of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in 4 luxury vehicles. A total of 7 persons were initially apprehended and brought to NIA HQ for further questioning.



The demonetised currency notes having face value equivalent to Rs 36,34,78,500 were duly seized and brought to the HQ. Three other associates of this gang were apprehended later in the evening and were brought for questioning to the NIA HQ.



After initial questioning the said 9 persons have been arrested in the J&K Terror Funding case and they will be produced in the Special NIA Court on Wednesday.



Names of persons arrested are Pradeep Chauhan; Bhagwan Singh; Vinod Shreedhar Shetty; Shahnawaz Mir; Deepak Toprani; Majid Yousuf Sofi; Ejajul Hassan; Umar Mushtaq Dar; and Jaswinder Singh.



The vehicles include BMW X3 (Blue), Creta SX (White), Ford EcoSport Titanium (Black), and BMW X1 (White).

Also read: NIA conducts raids at Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's residence in Jammu and Kashmir



Also read: Was in regular touch with Hafiz Saeed, separatist leader Shabir Shah confesses to ED

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New Delhi:

Former Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that he had already said that the demonetisation was an organised loot and legalized plunder.

Here are the live updates-

# This attitude of suspecting everyone to be thief or anti-national, low level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse: Manmohan Singh

# By questioning bullet trains does one become anti-development? Does questioning GST & Demonetisation make one a tax evader?: Former PM Manmohan Singh

# When undertaking endeavour of 1 nation 1 tax if PM had taken inspiration from resolve of great Sardar Patel, outcome would've been different- Dr Manmohan Singh

# Did PM consider the alternative of the high speed train by upgrading broad gauge railway?: Former PM Manmohan Singh

# Bullet train, launched with much fan fare, is an exercise in vanity: Former PM Manmohan Singh

# Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 Cr, a 23% increase in a year, and it can be attributed largely to demonetisation, GST: Manmohan Singh

# I can proudly say that we lifted 140 million people out of poverty: Manmohan Singh

# In the 1st half of 2016-17 India's imports from China stood at Rs 1. 96 Lakh Crore. In 2017-18 it increased to Rs 2.41 Lakh Cr: Manmohan Singh

# The fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest: Manmohan Singh

# We had to run for Chinese imports at the cost of Indian jobs: Manmohan Singh

# This twin (Demonetisation & GST) blow is complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses: Manmohan Singh

# I repeat what I said in the parliament, this was organised loot & legalized plunder: Manmohan Singh

# To promote less cash economy coercive steps like #Demonetisation are ineffective: Manmohan Singh

# Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86% of the currency: Manmohan Singh

# Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country: Dr Manmohan Singh

# 8th November was a black day for our economy & indeed our democracy: Dr Manmohan Singh



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Ujjain:

Madhya Pradesh Police arrests two persons for having alleged links with ISIS. Police said the arrests have been made from Ujjain.

The arrests came two days after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested terror-accused Abu Zaid a suspected ISIS member from Mumbai. UP ATS earlier in April 2017 had arrested 4 terrorists. Zaid is a resident of Azamgarh and was living in Saudi Arabia for the last few months. Police believes he was working to inspire and indoctrinate people from India into banned international terrorist group .

(More details awaits)

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New Delhi:

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed Congress saying that the grand old party is trying to defame the government on the economic front.

He said the Demonetisation and GST are strong economic measures. The home minister said the fact is foreign investments are rising.

aHad India's economy not been strong no foreign investor would've come here. Fact is foreign investments are rising,a he said.

While replying to Pulwama encounter which took place on Monday, Rajnath said Pakistan indulges in unholy practices but co-ordination among our security forces is so good that terrorists are being regularly neutralised.A

Congress is trying to defame the central govt on economic front. Demonetisation & GST are strong economic measures: HM in Shimla pic.twitter.com/zQ1o3dClPR a ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

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Kolkata:

A Kolkata court held one of the six accused as guilty in the Ranaghat nun rape case, while five persons have been convicted for robbery on Tuesday.

A 72-year-old nun in 2015 was raped by a group of suspected Bangladeshi nationals in a convent at Ranaghat in West Bengals Nadia district. The senior nun was raped in the Convent of Jesus and Mary on 14 March 2015 after a group of seven broke into the convent and later decamped with cash.

In May 2016 the trial was shifted from a court in Ranaghat to the Kolkata Sessions court by the Calcutta High Court on a petition by the victim. The nun shifted to Delhi after the incident, had sought transfer of the case to Kolkata stating she feared threat to her life as the accused had strong criminal links in Ranaghat.

The accused have been charged with and tried for gangrape, dacoity, attempt to cause death or grievous hurt, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means and criminal conspiracy.

The six accused, who were in judicial remand, are Ohidul Islam, Milan Kumar Sarkar, Nazrul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh, Gopal Sarkar and Khaledar Rahman .

The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) probing the case has arrested six people, while one of the accused is still absconding.

The accused were charged with attempt to gangrape, dacoity, grievous hurt and attempt to murder and causing hurt by dangerous weapons.

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New Delhi:

While a bunch of existing research detect the time and possible reasons behind the destruction of our planet Earth, British physicist Stephen Hawking has claimed something new regarding the same.

According to Stephen, the dreadful time is not so far when human will be disappeared from the surface of Earth and the planet will turn into a sizzling fireball. Growing population and soaring power consumption are the main reasons which are leading our species towards annihilation. As per Hawking's claim, the tragedy is going to take place in less than 600 years.

To survive on earth for another million years, Hawking suggests human being to "boldly go where no one has gone before." The world-renowned scientist said so in a video appearance at the Tencent WE Summit in Beijing.

Also Read: Most ancient spiral galaxy A1689B11 discovered by scientists

Hawking appealed to investors to back his plans to travel to the closest star outside the solar system, with the hope that a habitable planet might be orbiting it, The Sun reported. Alpha Centauri is one of the closest stars to our solar system, located four billion light-years away.

Scientists believe that it may host planets that could foster life, just like earth. Hawking is backing Breakthrough Starshot, a venture to reach this system within two decades using a tiny aircraft that could travel at the speed of light.

"Such a system could reach Mars in less than an hour, or reach Pluto in days, pass Voyager in under a week and reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years," PTI quoted Hawking as saying.

(With PTI inputs)

Also Read: Scientists find best place to host black-hole merging

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New Delhi:

Accomplishing a landmark feat, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has measured the X-ray polarisation of the Crab pulsar (star) in the Taurus constellation using the multi-wavelength space telescope AstroSat, the space agency said.

According to ISRO, to measure the X-ray polarisation of the star was a difficult task to accomplish and they have done it for the first time during 18-months of its study.

"AstroSat accomplished the difficult task of measuring X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar in the Taurus constellation during 18-months of its study for the first time," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement.

The pulsar spins 30 times per second, hence the telescope measured the variations of polarisation, said ISRO.

"The telescope measured the variations of polarisation as the magetised object (pulsar) spins 30 times per second," said the statement quoting from a paper published in "Nature Astronomy" journal.

The CZT (Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride) imaging instrument of the satellite challenges theories of high energy X-ray emission from pulsars.

"Indian scientists using data from the CZT Imager have performed the most sensitive measurement of X-ray polarisation of the Crab pulsar, the rotating neutron star which is the main energy source of the nebula," the scientific paper pointed out.

"The universe is home to many such exotic objects with conditions quite different from the Earth. It is essential to study them to ensure our predictions describe what goes on in and around them. They are less than a few tens of km but have masses more than that of the Sun and are known as compact objects," noted the statement.

Also Read: Russian boy claims he lived on Mars, was killed in war

What is pulsar?

A pulsar is a neutron star or white dwarf which rotates and emits electromagnetic radiation. Two examples of such objects are the neutron stars and black holes.

In the present zodiac, Taurus is the second astrological sign and spans the 30-60th degree of the zodiac.

The X-ray polarisation:

Measuring the X-ray polarisation has been a daunting task and the measurement obtained worldwide so far is for the pulsar in the Crab Nebula  the ghostly remains of a massive stellar explosion known as supernova, observed in 1054 AD.

With mass condensed in a small volume, the pulsars possess strong gravitational and magnetic fields, both trillion times that on the Earth. They are also sources of intense X-ray radiation, electromagnetic waves similar to light but have ten to hundred thousand times higher energy, which carries vital clues to understand them as well as the physical processes responsible for the radiation.

Astronomers have studied properties of this radiation to make a picture of compact objects and their surroundings.

"The idea of using CZT Imager for X-ray polarisation measurement has been around for a while, but this is the first time the idea was tested on ground before launch and then employed in space. This makes our measurements credible," said ISRO's Ahmedabad-Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Professor Santosh Vadawale in the paper.

Another feature of the measurements is the study of polarisation properties at different rotation phases of the pulsar, which has not been done so far, reiterated Vadawale, lead author of the paper and part of the CZT Imager team.

Also Read: Proxima Centauri may have suitable atmosphere to host planetary system

According to Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Professor and Imager's principal investigator A.R. Rao, the team had to observe the Crab pulsar many times and combine data of months given its small rotation period.

"To get the micro-second accuracy for combining the data, the AstroSat team sought help from one of the world's best radio telescopes - the Indian Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT), at Khodad near Pune.

Professor Bhal Chandra Joshi and a team from NCRA, Pune, monitored the radio pulsations from Crab with GMRT and Ooty radio telescope, corrected anomalies and provided accurate ephemeris to the imager.

The CZT-Imager was built by a consortium of Indian academic and research institutes, including ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram and the Satellite Application Centre in Bengaluru, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) at Pune and the Space Application Centre at Ahmedabad.

PRL provided the polarisation detection algorithm and ground calibration.

Also Read: Most ancient spiral galaxy A1689B11 discovered by scientists

About AstroSat:

On September 28, 2015, AstroSat, the first dedicated space observatory was launched by ISRO from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (rocket) carried the AstroSat.

Rs 180 crore were spent to build the 1,513 kg space observatory which has five scientific instruments to study celestial objects in the universe at optical, ultraviolet and x-ray wavebands simultaneously, for the first time.

The instruments are a soft x-ray telescope, an ultraviolet imaging telescope, an imager and a scanning sky monitor.

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New Delhi:

A Russian boy has startled scientists and space experts with his knowledge on Mars and claims that he lived on the Red Planet before he was reborn on Earth. Boriska Kipriyanovich, a resident of Volgograd, claims that he lived on a 'war-ravaged' Mars before being born to a human mother on Earth.

According to Kipriyanovich's claims, he was a pilot and killed in war with neighbouring tribe. I was killed in Mars, all were killed in Mars. I was killed in 1996 and was reborn in Earth the same year.

Kipriyanovich, 20-year-old, claims that seven-foot-tall people still live underground on the Red Planet and breathe carbon dioxide like humans breathe oxygen on Earth. According to the youth, the Mars people stop aging after they reach 35 years and are immortal.

The Russian boy also claims that the people of Mars have highly advanced technology and are capable of interstellar travel. I dont remember the names. People from Mars traveled in many galaxies and planetary systems.

The Russian boy talks about various kinds of ships and planes being used by people of Mars to travel in space. There were ships of an airplane type. They were triangular and there were ships like a drop. Ships with plasma engines travelled only in Solar system.

He also claims that Martians have a strong connection with Earth, especially ancient Egypt civilisation. According to Kipriyanovich, life on Earth will dramatically change once the Gizas Great Sphinx monument in unlocked. The Gizas Great Sphinx is a key which will open paths. I do not remember how the key works, says the Russian boy.

Kipriyanovich parents claim that he was able to speak a few months after he was born and would discussed on subjects never taught. He would talk about aliens and their civilisation in Mars.

His mother, a doctor by profession, says that he had amazed the doctors as he was able to read, write and draw even below the age of two. She claims that the first indication they received he was special when only a few weeks after his birth his could hold his own head unassisted.

She adds, From Early childhood we had a lot of books on Astronomy. When he was 3-years-ol he opened these books and started to tell is numbers of the galaxies although they were in Latin.

Boriskas mother further said, I think he was around four-year-olds when he was showing some elements of what he was talking about, but at the age of six years he started giving out much more clear information on what he was speaking.

Boriska is said to have displayed much higher than average intelligence from young age. He first became famous in Russia after holding adults startled with his Mars tales. His teachers were also said to be amazed and astonished over his superior language skills and memory.

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Washington:

The recent decision by China to block a bid at the United Nations to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant

group, as a global terrorist, is doing "material harm" to its ties with India, top American experts said on Tuesday.

Last week, China had blocked a bid at the United Nations by the US, France, and Britain to list Azhar as a global terrorist, citing a lack of consensus among the members of the UN Security Council.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

"I think it's an unfortunate move on China's part and I question the logic of continuing to block sanctions on known Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations," Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation told PTI.

Smith said that China was "clearly" seeing its action as a favor to its all-weather friend, Pakistan.

"But the policy is increasingly undermining China's own strategic interests and stated foreign policy objectives," he said, noting that in September, China had, for the first time, relented to including specific criticism of JeM and other Pakistani terror outfits in the statement issued at the BRICS

summit in Xiamen.

"It grievously undermines an increasingly prominent Chinese narrative about the need to take a tougher line on terrorism broadly, and in Afghanistan specifically," Smith said.



"It's actions are also doing material harm to the health of a China-India relationship already under duress," he said.



The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations said that the Committee discussions over whether to add an individual or entity to the 1267 sanctions list are confidential to the committee.

"However, we would support efforts to list Azhar, Jaish-e Mohammed's founder and leader, on the 1267 Sanctions List and would encourage others to support his listing as well," a spokesperson for the US mission in New York told PTI.

According to Rick Rossow from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think-tank, China's latest move affirmed Delhi's belief in Sino-Pakistani collusion.

"By supporting this decision, China could have taken an important step to restart its ties with Delhi, yet Beijing chose a different path," Rossow told PTI.



Rossow alleged that China continued to use an international system where it saw fit, "such as this vote", while undermining the international system in other areas, "such as maritime law".



"The timing is significant, coming on the heels of Washington's stronger rhetoric against Pakistan's support for terrorism. Much like the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, this decision was another Chinese lifeline to Islamabad at a precarious time," Rossow said.

Director of Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute think tank, Aparna Pande, said she was not surprised by Beijing's decision.



"While China worries about Islamist radicals it is concerned primarily with Uyghurs and on that front it will apply pressure on Pakistan," she noted.

"When it comes to Jihadis that target India, China does not see it as in its interest to force Pakistan. Further, being seen as Pakistan's benefactor in the international arena is another benefit for Beijing," Pande told PTI.



The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits.



Last year in March, China was the only member in the 15- nation UN Security Council to put a hold on India's application.



The other 14 members supported New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.



Azhar is accused of several terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Pathankot air force station in January 2016.



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New Delhi:

Unidentified gunmen stormed the studio of Afghanistanas Shamshad TV channel in Kabul city and opened fire on 7 November, TOLO news reported.

aAttackers have entered their compound and gunshots can be heard,a a Shamshad TV employee said.

According to the reports, Shamshad TV went off air after the gunmen entered the building.

The television station stopped broadcasting shortly after the Tuesday attack. It is not clear how many were left dead or injured. However, ambulances and security forces have arrived in the area.

The Taliban have denied any involvement in the attack, as per reports.

Live Updates

# "I saw three attackers on security cameras entering the TV station building. They first shot the guard and then entered the building. They started throwing grenades and firing," said Shamshad TV reporter Faisal Zaland

#A Casualties feared, ambulances & security forces at the spot

Afghanistan's Shamshad TV goes off air after attackers storm building.Casualties feared, ambulances & security forces at the spot: TOLO News a ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

#A Afghanistan's Shamshad TV goes off air after attackers storm building

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New Delhi :

The statement calls on Myanmar to cooperate with the United Nations and encourages UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special advisor on Myanmar. British Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen said despite the decision to drop the resolution, the council was issuing astrong, united message.

"The important thing is the content," Allen told reporters. "Gaining a very strong, unanimous statement I thinkwas the real prize here." The council statement was agreed as Guterres prepares to travel to Manila this week to join leaders of the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) bloc for a summit.

The Rohingya refugee crisis is expected to be a top issue of discussion at the summit, to be attended by US PresidentDonald Trump, who will dispatch US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Myanmar later this month. Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet and are calling for sanctions against thoseinvolved in the atrocities in Rakhine.

"Going forward, council members should be clear that they won't be held hostage by China's objections, and will insteadbe driven by the needs of victims and realities on the ground, not what makes China comfortable," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch deputy UN director.

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New Delhi:

Indian national Yahya Farooq Mohammad, an engineering student at Ohio State University during 2002-04, was sentenced to around 27 years in prison in the United States after he pleaded guilty of providing thousands of dollars to slain al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki and soliciting murder of the judge hearing his case.

Mohammad and three other accused including his brother Ibrahim Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim and Sultane Room Salim were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2015. The case against them is pending as the three men have pleaded not guilty.

The convicted, Mohammad will be deported from the US after he completes his sentence under the terms of his plea agreement.

A statement issues by the US department of justice said, admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants to travel to Yemen to provide thousands of dollars, equipment and other assistance to Anwar Al-Awlaki in an effort to support violent jihad against US military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al-Awlaki designated as a global terrorist in 2010 was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011.

Also read: Rajnath says world facing challenges like terrorism, cyber terrorism, radicalisation



According to the statement, Mohammad travelled with two associates to Yemen to meet al-awlaki. They were unable to meet the al-Qaeda leader but ensured that he recieved the money through a courier.

Also read| UK big consumer of online terror content: Report



US department of justice statement also read that Mohammad has also admitted to soliciting an undercover FBI operative to kidnap and murder district judge Jack Zouhary.

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DANBURY  Despite the death of longtime City Councilman Gregg Seabury over the weekend, city Republicans have decided to leave his name on the ballot for Tuesdays election.

A state law saying a candidate who dies within 24 days of an election, but at least 24 hours before it must be replaced by the candidates party or removed from the ballot. Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for the Connecticut Secretary of States office, said this could be done either by blacking out the candidates name or affixing a sticker over it bearing the name of a replacement.

But Danbury GOP leaders said there simply wasnt time since Seaburys death to do either.

There really is no way that we can black out his name on more than 20,000 ballots before tomorrows election, GOP Mayor Mark Boughton said Monday, Its impossible.

The mayor noted that another state law bans the defacing of any official election ballot.

More News Danbury council member Gregg Seabury dies

Seabury was one of seven GOP candidates for at-large seats on the council. If he were to win Tuesday, Boughton said, the party would appoint someone to replace him, as would be done in the case of any other vacancy.

Democratic Town Committee chairman Gene Eriquez said the Republican plan violates the law.

They cant just replace the position like a vacancy if Seabury were to win, Eriquez said. State law doesnt allow for that.

Its a very tragic situation that has brought us here, Eriquez added, but we have a responsibility to make sure the elections are fair for everyone.

Currently all at-large seats on the council are held by Republicans. If Seaburys name were to be blacked out, it would leave an opening for a Democrat to win an at-large seat.

But Mike Safranek, vice chairman of the city GOP, said the fact that Seaburys death occurred over the weekend is critical.

A reasonable person can conclude that the legislative intent was a window of 24 business hours, he said, citing that the Town Clerks Office opened Monday at 7:30 a.m. Our position is that we are within the 24 hours.

The Legislature had the opportunity this year to clarify the situation and they didnt take any action, Safranek continued. We believe we are in the right.

A legislative fix proposed this year would have allowed a party to keep a deceased candidates name on the ballot if he or she died within 42 days of the election. In the event of victory, the vacancy would be filled according to the town charter.

The change was intended to update state statues to conform with new voting technology and to allow for updating absentee ballots if necessary. The proposal made it through committee but was never voted on by the Legislature.

As a result, Boughton said, Its something that may end up going to court.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
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DANBURY  State election officials said Tuesday the citys Republican-led administration violated state law by keeping recently deceased Councilman Gregg Seabury on the ballot.

It is of great concern to read news reports this morning that Danbury officials have apparently decided to ignore the clear requirements of Connecticut law, said Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for the Secretary of the States Office.

Rosenberg said office lawyers informed city officials Monday that Republicans must either name a replacement candidate by 2 p.m that day or take Seaburys name off the ballot. The law applies in any case where a candidate dies within 24 days of an election but more than 24 hours before it, Rosenberg said.

Tuesday evening, the secretarys office told town officials not to report vote totals for Seabury.

Seabury, a Republican running for re-election to an at-large seat, died on Saturday.

But Republican officials said late Monday they would keep Seaburys name on the ballot and, if he were to win, fill the position as if it were a normally occurring vacancy.

Danbury Democrats sent a letter to City Hall Tuesday morning threatening legal action if any votes for Seabury are counted.

Please be advised that any attempt to count votes for Mr. Seabury or to certify any electoral effect from any votes cast for Mr. Seabury would be illegal and unlawful, states the letter, which is signed by the Democratic Town Committee chairman, Gene Eriquez.

The Democrats said they might seek a court injunction or take other civil action if any attempt is made to count Seaburys votes.

Mike Safranek, vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee, maintained Tuesday that the city never received a written opinion from the Secretary of the States office on the issue, and that officials were concerned about violating other state laws that forbid the defacing of a ballot.

We havent received anything in writing and we dont want to deface a legal document, only to find out later that we shouldnt have done that, Safranek said.

Safranek also said that because Seabury died on Saturday, Monday should be considered the first official day of business for any calculations.

The government doesnt do any business on the weekends, he said. When April 15 falls on a Saturday, the IRS gives you until Monday to file.

The law, written before electronic vote-counting machines became common, actually requires that stickers  blank or bearing a replacement candidates name  be placed over a deceased candidates name on every ballot, Rosenberg said. But because such stickers would have jammed the machines, state officials said Monday the city could have blacked out Seaburys name instead.

Mayor Mark Boughton on Monday said even that remedy would have been impractical, given that Seaburys name appears on more than 20,000 ballots.

A proposed update to the ballot law failed in the legislature this year.

All seven at-large seats on the City Council are held by Republicans. If Seaburys candidacy is disallowed, it would leave an opening for a Democrat to win an at-large seat. Before Tuesdays election, Democrats held six seats on the 21-member board.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
In honor of Veterans Day, Entrepreneur is highlighting the work of former military entrepreneurs who are building their own businesses, chasing their dreams, and kicking a whole lot of ass in the process. (Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Who are you and what is your business?

I am Andrew O'Brien, Founder of Vetpreneur Tribe, a business that brings military veteran entrepreneurs together to help each other grow and scale businesses. I employ five people.



What branch did you serve?

I served in the Army from 2007-2011 and was deployed to Iraq from 2008-2009.



What does the word entrepreneur mean to you?

It means someone who has decided to take control of their life and their future while also making a long-lasting impact on our world. Entrepreneurs want to create a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Related: How the Memory of His Fallen Brothers Powers Dakota Meyers Passion



Tell us about your proudest moment while serving.

My proudest moment was two days before coming home. My commander called me out in front of our company formation and presented me with a coin for my work as a lead gunner during my deployment. It was the first time in my life that I was actually proud of something I had done.



What did being in the military teach you about risk?

It taught me that when something is important enough, you put it all on the line to accomplish it. Something I took from my military experience is "succeed or die" and those are the words I live by when it comes to my business. Death isn't an option, so the only true option is to succeed.

Related: Why Being Early to Meetings Is Hurting Your Reputation, According To This Green Beret



What was the biggest problem your business faced and how did you overcome it?

My biggest problem in business was passion -- or lack thereof. I built a successful seven-figure publicity business. Money was flowing, revenue was increasing, credibility was growing and yet I was miserable. I hated waking up every morning and checking my email. I did not believe in what I was doing. I decided to fire myself as the CEO of my publicity business and hire someone else. That allowed me to switch focus to Vetpreneur Tribe, something I'm actually excited to wake up and see what's going on. If you don't love what you're doing, you will never succeed to your fullest potential.



What should people understand about what theyll get when they hire a vet, or go into to business with a veteran entrepreneur?

If you are looking for an emotional connection or hugs, a vet is probably not the right person for you. But, if you're looking for someone to get you results and get them quickly, then vets are the route you should take. The best way I can say it is this: Do you want a puppy to cuddle with and make you feel good, or do you want a wolf who will hunt for you and keep you fed?

Related: The One Trick This Navy SEAL Used to Turn Failure Into Success

Describe your leadership style.

My leadership style relies on trust. I give you my trust until I feel like it's been broken. I do not believe in micromanaging. I give my team a task and trust them to get it done. If it's not done when I think it should've been, then I will confront them. But otherwise, I don't look over people's shoulders. My team makes full-time salaries and works only 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. They take vacations whenever they want. I don't care about the hours of work they're putting in, all I care about are the tangible results I'm getting from their work.

Is there a quote and saying that inspires you?

"You can spend your life quoting world-changing influencers, or you can become the world-changing influencer who people quote." -- Andrew O'Brien

Related Video: The Secret Business of Training Navy SEALs

Related:



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


Quarterly revenue increased by 4% to $20.8 million

Quarterly adjusted EBITDA decreased from $3.8 million to $1.5 million

Cash position strong at $70.3 million

CALGARY, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Solium Capital Inc. (TSX: SUM) ("Solium" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017.

Financial and operating highlights for the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same periods in 2016:

Revenue increased by 4% to $20.8 million in the third quarter of 2017 and by 9% to $63.6 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 ;





in the third quarter of 2017 and by 9% to for the nine month period ended ; Adjusted EBITDA 1 decreased by 60% to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2017 and by 17% to $9.0 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 ;





decreased by 60% to in the third quarter of 2017 and by 17% to for the nine month period ended ; Earnings from operations decreased by 41% to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 and increased by 23% to $6.7 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 ;





in the third quarter of 2017 and increased by 23% to for the nine month period ended ; Net earnings decreased from $1.9 million to a net loss of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 and increased by 29% to $4.1 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 ;





to a net loss of in the third quarter of 2017 and increased by 29% to for the nine month period ended ; For the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 , Solium incurred capital expenditures of $5.2 million , primarily relating to the build out of the Company's new Calgary headquarters, as well as expansion of its data centre.

Acquisition and bought deal financing

Subsequent to the quarter end, in October 2017 , the Company announced the acquisition of Capshare Inc., a U.S. company that provides a cloud-based platform for cap table management, electronic share tracking, modeling and waterfall analysis and compliance for private companies, for consideration of $13.5 million ;





, the Company announced the acquisition of Capshare Inc., a U.S. company that provides a cloud-based platform for cap table management, electronic share tracking, modeling and waterfall analysis and compliance for private companies, for consideration of ; On November 1, 2017 , the Company closed a bought deal financing for gross proceeds of CAD $46 million . These funds provide Solium with the flexibility to move quickly on acquisition opportunities as they arise.

Key factors affecting financial results in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017:

License revenue  License and subscription fees increased by $2.0 million or 16% during the third quarter of 2017 and $3.5 million or 9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , as compared to the same periods in 2016. Based on local currencies, the growth was 15% during the third quarter and 9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Growth in license revenue is largely driven by the Morgan Stanley and UBS license agreements in the U.S. entered into in November 2016 and May 2017 , respectively.





License and subscription fees increased by or 16% during the third quarter of 2017 and or 9% for the nine months ended , as compared to the same periods in 2016. Based on local currencies, the growth was 15% during the third quarter and 9% for the nine months ended . Growth in license revenue is largely driven by the Morgan Stanley and UBS license agreements in the U.S. entered into in and , respectively. Transaction activity  In addition to the recurring license revenue that Solium collects for the use of its Shareworks platform, the Company also collects re-occurring transaction based revenue. Transaction based revenue decreased by $0.3 million or 5% during the third quarter and increased by $2.0 million or 11% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , as compared to the same periods in 2016. The per-participant trading activity was 14% lower in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 and 6% higher than the historical five-year Q3 average.





In addition to the recurring license revenue that Solium collects for the use of its Shareworks platform, the Company also collects re-occurring transaction based revenue. Transaction based revenue decreased by or 5% during the third quarter and increased by or 11% for the nine months ended , as compared to the same periods in 2016. The per-participant trading activity was 14% lower in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 and 6% higher than the historical five-year Q3 average. Operating costs  Operating expenses (excluding a change in estimate to Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SRED) tax credit claims in 2016 and sales tax adjustment) increased by $3.4 million or 20% during the third quarter of 2017 and $7.4 million or 15% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , when compared to the same periods in 2016. The increase is primarily as a result of planned hiring to support the Morgan Stanley and UBS partnerships. The Company had 611 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) at the end of the third quarter of 2017 compared to 502 FTEs at the end of the third quarter of 2016.

Selected financial information for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017:

(Expressed in thousands of USD except per share amounts and percentages)









Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017 $ 2016 $ % Change 2017 $ 2016 $ % Change Revenue 20,796 19,928 4% 63,643 58,343 9% Operating expenses 19,563 17,847 10% 56,934 52,868 8% Adjusted EBITDA1 1,531 3,846 (60%) 9,002 10,804 (17%) Earnings from operations 1,233 2,081 (41%) 6,709 5,475 23% Net (loss) earnings (112) 1,857 NM(a) 4,103 3,169 29%













Net (loss) earnings per share2













Basic (0.002) 0.037 NM(a) 0.081 0.064 27%

Diluted (0.002) 0.037 NM(a) 0.080 0.063 27%













Issued and outstanding













Common shares





50,984 50,149 2%

Diluted3





54,781 53,637 2%

















(a) NM denotes non-measurable.

Regional breakdown of results:

(Expressed in thousands of USD except percentages)

Currently included in the International reportable segment are the results relating to the U.K., Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong operations.







Three Months Ended September 30,

Canada U.S. International Consolidated

2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues 7,165 7,180 10,327 9,060 3,304 3,688 20,796 19,928 Adjusted EBITDA1 1,561 2,037 1,000 1,899 (1,030) (90) 1,531 3,846 Adjusted EBITDA %1 22% 28% 10% 21% (31%) (2%) 7% 19% Earnings (loss) from operations 1,019 1,089 1,329 1,208 (1,115) (216) 1,233 2,081







Nine Months Ended September 30,

Canada U.S. International Consolidated

2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues 22,006 20,971 30,648 27,078 10,989 10,294 63,643 58,343 Adjusted EBITDA1 6,067 6,469 3,849 5,141 (914) (806) 9,002 10,804 Adjusted EBITDA %1 28% 31% 13% 19% (8%) (8%) 14% 19% Earnings (loss) from operations 4,970 3,547 2,931 3,074 (1,192) (1,146) 6,709 5,475

Basic net loss per share was $0.002 in the third quarter of 2017 (2016: net earnings per share of $0.037) and $0.081 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 (2016: $0.064).

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company had an overall net increase in cash and cash equivalents of $6.6 million from year end December 31, 2016 (2016: $8.1 million). Changes in working capital and cash tax payments brought total cash inflow from operations to $6.4 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 (2016: $5.2 million).

Working capital as at September 30, 2017 was $71.2 million (December 31, 2016: $63.2 million). Included in working capital was trade and other receivables of $18.7 million (December 31, 2016: $16.4 million) and trade and other accruals of $11.2 million (December 31, 2016: $8.8 million).

Outlook

In Q4 2016, Solium entered into a license agreement with Morgan Stanley, whereby Morgan Stanley's corporate customers and their respective employee participants will transition to a Morgan Stanley branded version of Shareworks. In order to execute on this agreement, Solium added headcount and committed additional resources in 2017 to ensure the success of this project. Solium anticipates migrating the first group of Morgan Stanley customers onto Shareworks before the end of 2017.

In Q2 2017, Solium entered into a license agreement with UBS Financial Services Inc., where UBS's corporate customers will transition to a UBS branded version of the plan administration modules of Shareworks. During Q2 and Q3, Solium started to add additional employees to support the UBS implementation, and this hiring is anticipated to continue throughout the remainder of 2017 and into 2018. Solium anticipates migrating the first UBS customer to Shareworks before the end of 2017.

In October 2017, Solium announced the acquisition of Capshare Inc. The acquisition positions Solium to compete in the rapidly emerging early-stage angel and venture backed private company market. Shareworks is well positioned as the leading platform for late-stage private companies, including those seeking an Initial Public Offering. Capshare will allow Solium to provide a targeted, lower-cost solution that meets the unique requirements of earlier stage private companies. In Q3 2017, Solium also incorporated Solium Analytics LLC to provide 409A business valuation services to private companies. Solium plans to commit additional resources to both the Capshare and Analytics businesses.

Solium continues to be in an investment phase and remains committed to investing for future revenue growth over the course of 2017 and 2018, resulting in further pressure on profitability in the near-term. The Company continues to invest in its capabilities and infrastructure  ensuring best-in-class technology and service  to drive long term investor returns.

Notes:



1. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS financial measures which do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to users as they reflect the net earnings prior to the effect of non-operating expenses such as finance income, income taxes, depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, foreign exchange gain or loss (on translation of working capital), gain on derecognition of liability, sales tax adjustment, and change in estimate of scientific research and experimental development ("SRED") investment tax credits. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA in measuring the financial performance of the Company. Management monitors Adjusted EBITDA against budget and past results on a regular basis. The measure is a component in determining the annual bonus pool for staff and management.









The following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net earnings:









Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjusted EBITDA 1,531 3,846 9,002 10,804 Foreign exchange (loss) gain (649) 391 (604) (853) Gain on derecognition of liability - - - 445 Sales tax adjustment included in operating expenses 941 (85) 941 (250) Change in estimate for SRED investment tax credits - (683) - (2,185) EBITDA 1,823 3,469 9,339 7,961









Finance income 223 166 606 479 Depreciation of property and equipment (621) (337) (1,345) (914) Amortization of intangible assets (618) (660) (1,889) (1,980) Income taxes (919) (781) (2,608) (2,377) Net (loss) earnings (112) 1,857 4,103 3,169













2. Diluted net earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method.

3. Diluted shares as presented equals issued and outstanding common shares plus the effects of dilutive outstanding stock options and restricted share units.

About Solium Capital Inc.

Solium Capital Inc. (TSX: SUM) provides cloud-enabled services for global equity administration, financial reporting and compliance. From offices in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong, our innovative software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology powers share plan administration and equity transactions for more than 3,000 corporate clients with employee participants in more than 100 countries. Follow us @Solium and visit us at solium.com.

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements or information typically contain statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to the projects with Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services Inc. including the financial impact of new hires and plans to hire additional employees, the anticipated timing of migrating the first Morgan Stanley and UBS customers to Shareworks, the Company's investment strategy, including plans to commit additional resources to the Solium Analytics LLC and Capshare Inc. businesses, the Company's acquisition strategy and the Company's ability to compete in the private company market. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including assumptions with respect to the ability of the Company to identify, hire, train, motivate and retain qualified personnel, the Company's ability to maintain or accurately forecast revenue from its products and services, the competitive environment in which the Company operates, and the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits from its investment in the partnerships with Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services Inc. Although Solium believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements or information because Solium can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information are based on Solium's current expectations, estimates and projections, and are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including general business and economic conditions, actions of competitors and partners, the regulatory environment and product capability and acceptance. The foregoing is not exhaustive and other risks are detailed from time to time in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company does not intend to nor does it assume any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements or forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The Management's Discussion and Analysis and the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the quarter and period ended September 30, 2017 referred to herein will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under Solium Capital Inc., or at www.solium.com.

SOURCE Solium Capital Inc.

For further information: Investor relations: Heidi Christensen Brown, NATIONAL | Equicom, 416.848.1389, [email protected]
MONTREAL, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Yellow Pages Limited (TSX: Y) (the "Company"), a leading Canadian digital media and marketing company, released its operational and financial results today for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Financial Highlights (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except percentage, per share and customer count information)











For the three-month periods

ended September 30, For the nine-month periods

ended September 30, Yellow Pages Limited 2017 2016 2017 2016









Revenues $181,366 $201,142 $562,093 $615,256 Adjusted EBITDA1 $46,172 $56,949 $137,072 $177,773 Adjusted EBITDA1margin 25.5% 28.3% 24.4% 28.9% Net (loss) earnings ($4,446) $3,774 ($2,968) $27,878 Diluted (loss) earnings per share ($0.17) $0.14 ($0.11) $1.00 Cash flow from operating activities $36,788 $73,364 $87,800 $130,239 Capital expenditures, net of lease incentives received $17,581 $14,602 $42,819 $42,930 Free cash flow1 $17,855 $28,930 $49,090 $76,338 Customer count2 233,500 243,000 233,500 243,000

Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2017

Yellow Pages Board of Directors named David A. Eckert President and Chief Executive Officer, refreshing the Company's leadership through the appointment of an executive with a keen understanding of the industry and a proven track record of improving business performance.

and Chief Executive Officer, refreshing the Company's leadership through the appointment of an executive with a keen understanding of the industry and a proven track record of improving business performance. On October 19, 2017 , the Company solidified its capital structure with the refinancing of Senior Secured Notes and the amendment and restatement of its Asset Based Loan facility, giving the Company no material debt maturities prior to 2022.

, the Company solidified its capital structure with the refinancing of Senior Secured Notes and the amendment and restatement of its Asset Based Loan facility, giving the Company no material debt maturities prior to 2022. Digital revenues decreased 4.2% year-over-year to $132.8 million . Digital revenues accounted for 73.2% of total revenues.

. Digital revenues accounted for 73.2% of total revenues. Total digit visits ("TDV") to the Yellow Pages network of properties grew over 54% year-over-year to 169 million. This increase is a result of Yellow Pages syndicating listings and content across its owned and operated media properties and strong partnership network.

Customer count decreased 3.9% year-over-year. Yellow Pages will place increased emphasis on growing the customer base through the acquisition of high potential customers and the retention of existing customers to stabilize and grow the Company's revenues.

Yellow Pages began piloting evergreen contracts and the MyTime solution with customers in Q3 2017. MyTime is a cloud-based all-in-one commerce platform for SMEs, providing online booking, messaging and payment capability to customers. 3

Yellow Pages expects to meet its 2017 guidance targets communicated on

August 10, 2017 for adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and customer count. The Company now expects full year revenue to be between $750 million and $760 million .

for adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and customer count. The Company now expects full year revenue to be between . As a result of weaker than expected performance in the Agency and YP segments, the Company no longer expects to report digital revenue growth this year.

"The team at Yellow Pages is focused on building a great company that delights our customers and provides fair returns to investors," said David A. Eckert, President and CEO of Yellow Pages Limited. "Our recently completed debt refinancing is an important milestone on this journey, giving us greater flexibility and time to strengthen our performance. As we identify and take the steps required to build the great company we all want, I am committed to keeping our stakeholders up to date on our priorities and progress."

Segmented Information

Following the announcement of its updated corporate strategy, the Company has made changes to how it manages, allocates capital and assesses performance of the business. The Company's operations have been divided into the following four segments:

YP  digital and traditional marketing solutions, including owned and operated media, provided to small and medium sized enterprises ("SMEs");

Agency  national advertising services to brands and publishers, primarily through Mediative, Juice and Totem subsidiaries;

Real Estate  media and expertise to help Canadians buy and sell their homes, via ComFree/DuProprio ("CFDP") and Yellow Pages NextHome subsidiaries; and

Other  diversified portfolio of media properties, including 411.ca and local lifestyles magazines specific to the Western Canadian market.

An overview of each segment and the performance of each segment for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 can be found in the November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis. Yellow Pages will provide quarterly results on a segmented basis going forward.

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2017

Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 decreased 9.8% year-over-year to $181.4 million, mainly due to lower print revenues. Digital revenues totalled $132.8 million, down 4.2% from the same period last year due to declines in the Agency and YP segments. Print revenues decreased 22.4% year-over-year to $48.5 million, mainly due to a decline in the number of print customers as marketing spending shifts from print to digital.

Adjusted EBITDA totalled $46.2 million for the third quarter 2017, compared to $56.9 million during the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.5% compared to 28.3% in the prior year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin was mainly impacted by lower overall revenues and changes in product mix, offset by cost saving initiatives.

Net loss for the third quarter 2017 was $4.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $3.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period last year. The decline in net earnings was primarily due to lower Adjusted EBITDA and the impairment of certain available-for-sale investments, as well as the write-off of an investment in a jointly controlled entity.

The Company generated free cash flow of $17.9 million for the third quarter of 2017, down from $28.9 million the previous year due to lower Adjusted EBITDA.

Net debt amounted to $354.2 million at September 30, 2017.

2017 Guidance

For the year ending December 31, 2017, Yellow Pages anticipates:

Total revenues between $750 million and $760 million ;

; Adjusted EBITDA between $170 million and $180 million ;

; Free cash flow between $50 million and $55 million ;

; Customer count of approximately 230,000; and

Capital expenditures, net of related lease incentives, of less than $65 million .

As part of establishing the above guidance, the Company made the following assumptions:

Economic conditions in Canada will not deteriorate;

will not deteriorate; The decline in print revenues will remain at or below 25% per annum;

The Company will be able to introduce, sell and provision the new products and services that support our customer base and Average Revenue per Customer ("ARPC") assumptions;

The revenue mix between the Company's digital owned and operated, services and resale solutions will not materially change from anticipated levels;

Performance of the Agency segment will not differ materially from anticipated levels;

Investments in marketing will evolve legacy perceptions and boost awareness of our digital media platforms and marketing solutions;

The Company will be able to realize efficiency gains in its cost structure to support profitability and cash flow generation; and

Guidance is based on current accounting standards and policies.

The Company cautions that the assumptions used to prepare the guidance provided above, although currently reasonable, may prove to be incorrect or inaccurate. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from expectations as set forth above. The guidance provided above should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, the section Forward-Looking Information beginning on page 1 of the November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis.

Conference Call & Webcast

Yellow Pages Limited will hold an analyst and media call and simultaneous webcast at 8 a.m. (Eastern Time) on November 7, 2017 to discuss third quarter 2017 results. The call may be accessed by dialing 416-340-2219 within the Toronto area, or 1-800-478-9326 outside of Toronto.

The call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company's website at: https://corporate.yp.ca/en/investors/financial-reports.

The conference call will be archived in the Investors section of the site at: https://corporate.yp.ca/en/investors/financial-events-presentations/.

A playback of the call can also be accessed between November 7 and December 8, 2017 by dialing 905-694-9451 within the Toronto area, or 1-800-408-3053 outside of Toronto and entering passcode 8773031.

About Yellow Pages Limited

Yellow Pages Limited (TSX: Y) is a Canadian digital media and marketing company that creates opportunities for buyers and sellers to interact and transact in the local economy. Yellow Pages holds some of Canada's leading local online properties including YP.ca, RedFlagDeals.com, Canada411.ca, 411.ca, Bookenda.com, DuProprio.com, ComFree.com and YP NextHome. The Company also holds the YP, YP Shopwise, YP Dine, RedFlagDeals, Canada411, 411, Bookenda, DuProprio, ComFree and YP NextHome mobile applications and Yellow Pages print directories. In addition, Yellow Pages is a leader in national advertising through its businesses devoted to servicing the marketing needs of large North American brands, including Mediative and JUICE. For more information visit www.corporate.yp.ca.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the objectives, strategies, financial conditions, results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements are forward-looking as they are based on our current expectations, as at November 7, 2017, about our business and the markets we operate in, and on various estimates and assumptions. Our actual results could materially differ from our expectations if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. As a result, there is no assurance that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Risks that could cause our results to differ materially from our current expectations are discussed in section 6 of our November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law, even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason.

1 Non-IFRS Measures In order to provide a better understanding of the results, the Company uses the terms Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from operations before depreciation and amortization, impairment of intangible assets and restructuring and other charges. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as the percentage of Adjusted EBITDA to revenues. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not performance measures defined under IFRS and are not considered an alternative to income from operations or net earnings in the context of measuring Yellow Pages performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin do not have a standardized meaning and are therefore not likely to be comparable to similar measures used by other publicly traded companies. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to evaluate the performance of its business as it reflects its ongoing profitability. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIDTA margin to measure a company's ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or to value companies in the media and marketing solutions industry as well as to evaluate the performance of a business. As well, free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure generally used as an indicator of financial performance. It should not be seen as a substitute for cash flows from operating activities. Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities, adjusted for the change in operating assets and liabilities, less additions to intangible assets and additions to property and equipment. Free cash flow is not a standardized measure and is not comparable with that of other public companies. Management considers free cash flow to be an important indicator of the performance of its business as it reflects the Company's ability to generate overall cash earnings and reflects the net cash generated available for debt repayment, acquisitions or other activities. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use free cash flow to value a business and its underlying assets as well as to evaluate a company's performance. Free cash flow for comparative periods presented has been restated to conform to this year's presentation, which includes an adjustment for the change in operating assets and liabilities. The change to this measure has been made to remove the movements in working capital items to better reflect the underlying performance of the business. Net debt is a non-IFRS measure and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to comparable to similar measures presented by other publicly traded companies. Net debt is defined as current portion of long-term debt plus long-term debt and exchangeable debentures, less cash. Management considers net debt to be an important indicator of its financial leverage as it represents the amount of debt that is not covered by available cash. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use net debt to determine a company's financial leverage. 2 For the twelve-month period ended September 30. 3 Yellow Pages entered into a Canada-wide exclusive licensing agreement with MyTime, as disclosed on July 5, 2017.

SOURCE Yellow Pages Limited

For further information: Investors, Kevin Chan, Senior Manager, Corporate Planning & Investor Relations, Tel.: (514) 938-6727, [email protected]; Media, Joelle Langevin, Senior Manager, Communications, Tel.: (514) 934-6979, [email protected]

Related Links

corporate.yp.ca


WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday urged six GOP House members from Upstate New York to put aside partisan politics and oppose the Republican tax reform plan in Congress for the good of their state.

The state's top two Democrats warned that the GOP tax overhaul legislation unveiled last week will take away 71 percent of the federal tax deductions claimed by New Yorkers, or about $52 billion per year.

President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders say the biggest overhaul to the U.S. tax code in 30 years will give a typical middle-income family of four (earning the median household income of $59,000), a net tax cut of $1,182.

But Schumer and Cuomo said that won't be the case in New York, a high-tax state where about 3.4 million taxpayers deduct their state and local income, sales or property taxes.

The GOP plan would eliminate the federal deduction for state income and sales tax, and cap the property tax deduction at $10,000 per year.

"President Trump said this is a Christmas gift," Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters. "If it's a Christmas gift, New York gets a lump of coal from Santa Trump on this one. So it's bad medicine for the entire country, but it is an arrow pointed at the heart of New York."

GOP leaders say most people will no longer choose to itemize their taxes with the doubling of the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. But Schumer said many families will see any savings erased by the elimination of the $4,000 personal exemption.

Citing their concerns about the loss of the deductions, all 18 House Democrats from New York and seven of the state's nine House Republicans opposed a budget resolution last month that paved the way for consideration of the tax reform package.

House GOP leaders say they want to pass the legislation before Thanksgiving. So far, three New York House Republicans (Reps. Peter King, Lee Zeldin and Dan Donovan) have joined Democrats in saying they can't support the bill in its current form.

In Central New York two House members -- Reps. John Katko, R-Camillus, and Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford - say they want to negotiate changes to the bill before making their decision.

Schumer said it's one of the most important decisions Katko and Tenney will face in Congress.

"Everyone's looking to New York here," Schumer said. "The eyes of the nation are on New York because we are hurt the most...If the rest of the country sees New York is not standing up, they're much less likely to stand up."

Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
CAPE VINCENT, N.Y. -- A missing town of Clayton man was found dead today in a wooded area in Jefferson County.

Marvin Dorr, 60, did not return home from hunting on Friday, and New York State Police officers announced Sunday that they were searching for him.

Dorr's body was found in a wooded area near Sam Adams Road in the town of Cape Vincent where Dorr was last seen.

Police are continuing to investigate.
By Olivier Ferret 7 November 2017 - 14:42





After the back-to-back races in Austin and Mexico City, the Sauber F1 Team is heading to Sao Paolo for the penultimate race of the 2017 Formula One season. After making some progress throughout the last two races, the Sauber F1 Team goes into the next round with a positive mindset.

The first free practice session at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos will be driven by Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc. It will be Leclercs fourth free practice session driving for the Sauber F1 Team. Regular driver Pascal Wehrlein will take over the cockpit of the Sauber C36-Ferrari from FP2 onwards.

Marcus Ericsson

"The Brazilian Grand Prix weekend is always a special one. The fans are very passionate and the race itself has a lot of history. During the last race in Mexico I was able to fight my way into the midfield, which was a progress compared to the previous GP weekends. Therefore, I am optimistic that we will be building on that and making further improvements. It is definitely good to get back in the car in Interlagos."

Pascal Wehrlein

"I look forward to returning to Brazil. We always get a warm welcome from the fans and the atmosphere at the track is great. The unpredictable weather in Interlagos adds some excitement to the weekend, as you never know what to expect. As a team, we have made some progress over the past two race weekends, so I am heading to Sao Paolo with a positive feeling. I look forward to being back in the car and to continuing to work in the right direction."

Track facts

The traditional circuit at Interlagos offers a relatively high number of challenges, considering the short lap distance. Balancing the demand for speed on the two long straights with the stability and grip requirements of the infield will be challenging for both the drivers and engineers. Moreover, the ever changeable weather often adds to that challenge at this time of the year.
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BRIDGEPORT  The two people who started the Greater Bridgeport St. Patricks Day Parade are scheduled to be honored by the parades committee on Thursday.

Former Bridgeport Mayor Leonard S. Paoletta and City Clerk Catherine Brannelly Austin will be honored by the committee at Circolo Sportivo Italian Club  2500 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The ceremony is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 9.
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WALLINGFORD  The only thing that was missing was a train.

The towns new $21 million commuter rail station opened with great fanfare Monday as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, along with state and other political leaders, took part in a ceremony celebrating the completion of work on the facility. Construction of the station, at 343 Cherry St., got underway in December 2014.

It is one of three new stations being built along the so-called Hartford Line between New Haven and Springfield, Massachusetts, and is the first to be completed. The new Meriden station is expected to be completed by the end of this year and one in Berlin will be completed sometime early next year,

Commuter service along the new Hartford Line wont commence until next May, but Amtrak trains began using the Wallingford station Monday. Amtrak currently has six daily round-trip trains coming through the station, according to state officials, although none of them passed by during the ceremony.

Malloy noted that the new station represents a return of commuter rail to Wallingford. There previously had been commuter rail service between Wallingford and Fairfield County, but that ended during the 1980s.

We shot ourselves in the foot when we did that, Malloy said of ending the commuter rail service. Quite frankly, this is something that never should have ended.

After the end of the previous version of commuter rail service, Amtrak removed some 25 miles of track along the New Haven to Springfield line in a cost-cutting move, converting what was then double-tracked line to a single track with passing sidings.

When the Hartford Line begins operating, the number of daily round-trip trains between New Haven and Hartford will go from the current six per day to 17, with 12 providing continuing service to Springfield. Two companies, TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts Inc., are working as partners to operate the line, which has cost about $569 million to build.

Tom Moritz, Amtraks assistant vice president for infrastructure access and investment, said the new station will set a tone of better things to come for the town.

A train station is the first impression that many people get of a town, Moritz said.

Malloy said that in order for Connecticuts economy to move forward, there needs to be more investments in transportation projects similar to this one. Next years election will allow voters to consider whether they want support a constitutional amendment that would create a transportation lock box, a fund for projects that cant be raided by state lawmakers to help balance the state budget, he said.

We have underinvested in transportation in the past, Malloy said.

Proposed fares for the Hartford Line were announced last month. A one-way trip from New Haven to Springfield will cost $12.75, and $8 from New Haven to Hartford.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Kelly Pinos, 15, cried when she started to talk about her father.

The Wilbur Cross High School sophomore is worried what will happen to her family if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials deport Nelson Pinos Gonzalez to Ecuador by the end of month.

Nelson Pinos is the sole support of his partner for the past 17 years and their three U.S. citizen children, all of whom live in New Haven, according to his attorney Yazmin Rodriguez. She said the childrens mother provides full-time child care and does not work outside the home.

Kellys other sibblings are Arley Pinos, 12, a who is in seventh grade at Betsy Ross Arts School, and 5-year-old Brandon Pinos, who is in kindergarten at John S. Martinez School.

If my father leaves, everything will be so different. My mom does not work. How is she going to take care of three kids by hersef?, Kelly asked, as she stood outside Immigration Court in Hartford Monday morning with a group of activists who came to show their support.

We also need a fathers view on life. It cant just be a mother. I love my father with all my heart. I have a 5-year-old brother who has no idea what is going on. My brother still has so many years to grow up with my dad. ... I beg immigration to let him stay ... He has never done anything wrong, Kelly said. His home is here with us.

Pinos, 47, came to the U.S. in 1993, arriving in Minneapolis and later moving to New York City before coming to New Haven in 1999. He said he was picked up by ICE in Minneapolis, but didnt realize he had been issued a final order of deportation until later.

Pinos said he was granted several stays of deportation from ICE in New York when he tried to rectify his status.

An ICE official in Hartford did not answer an email seeking information about the case.

I want to finish raising my kids, Pinos said outside the courthouse before he stopped to show ICE the plane ticket he has bought, as ordered, to self-deport by Nov. 30.

Im just asking for an opportunity to be here with my kids and live the right way like any other American. I havent done anything wrong other than being in this country illegally, Pinos said.

He feared that Monday might be the last day of his employment. Later in the day, Rodriguez said Pinos was told not to come back to work until his status had been adjusted.

Rodriguez said she filed a stay of removal with the ICE office in Hartford on Sept. 6, but it was denied two days later.

The granting of a deportation stay through prosecutorial discretion was more common under President Barack Obama for immigrants who had no criminal record. ICE, under President Donald Trump, has been denying extensions of those stays as immigrants have been reporting to their offices for required check-ins.

Rodriguez said to have it denied in two days administratively doesnt make sense ... It is not just an application. You submit a lot of evidence to substantiate that the person has been here for a long time and about the equities (of the case.)

She accused the current administration of arbitarily and capriciously separating families.

Rodriguez said Pinos has been employed by the same company for 15 years, beginning as a machine operator and later promoted to machine assemblist. Rodriguez said his long employment has allowed him to cover his childrens basic needs, as well as extra curricular activities for them.

His hard work has meant his family has never sought assistance from the U.S. government or state aid programs, Rodriguez said.

She said he has paid taxes and has never been arrested or charged with a criminal offense.

He is doing everything that a model citizen should be doing and within 48 hours, officers from immigration and customs enforcement got to determine whether or not he gets a stay. You tell me if that is not arbitrary and capricious, the attorney said.

She said her firm is exploring legal avenues for him to be able to continue to fight his case while in the United States.

This is happening with so many families, Rodriguez said.

She said she and her colleagues are being pushed to be more creative and to be activists as well as lawyers.

Rodriguez said is important for activists to show up and stand up against this administration and against this lack of humane treatment. It has nothing to do with following a process or a policy. It has to do with being human and treating people with dignity and respect, the lawyer said.

This is not happening and I often wonder if ICE officers in charge of removing individuals, what they would do if their families were in that situation. Would their values at that point change? I dont know. I hope so, Rodriguez said.

Some 17 advocates from Unidad Latina en Accion and the Connecticut Bail Fund rallied on the sidewalk in front of the Immigration Court early Monday.

Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here, they chanted. Not one more deportation.

Nine Hartford police officers quickly arrived on the scene and told the group there would not be any issues as long as they did not block the courthouse entrance.

John Lugo, who heads Unidad, said they have to start organizing in every town and come together when needed to call attention to cases before the Immigration Court.

The enemy is this administration and this system, Lugo said.

Jesus Morales Sanchez, also of Unidad, said if elected officials do not make significant improvements in immigration law we are going to sit around and wait. ... We are going to protect our families. We are going to protect our communities.
CTNewsJunkie File Photo / CTNewsJunkie File Photo

HARTFORD  Connecticut voters are heading to the polls until 8 p.m. today to vote for their mayors, first selectmen and all the members of their local boards and commissions.

There are 2.1 million registered voters in Connecticut who are eligible to cast their ballots, including 861,766 who registered unaffiliated, 771,412 Democrats, and 453,625 Republicans.
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In a bid to solicit the support of the Senate in delivering the campaign promises of the Buhari administration, the newly-appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation visited Saraki on Monday.

In a bid to solicit the support of the Senate in delivering the campaign promises of the Buhari administration, the newly-appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation visited Saraki on Monday.

The newly-appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and leadership of the National Assembly, Premium Times reports.

Mr. Mustapha said the visit was to solicit the support of the Senate in delivering the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari.

As SGF, my responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of government policies and to ensure that these policies are synergised in such a manner that we will be able to deliver to the good people of Nigeria the good things of life which they rightly deserve, he said.

I wont be able to succeed in that task if I do not get the cooperation of the National Assembly. That is why Im here today. To extend a hand of friendship. To extend the hand of soliciting (for) the cooperation of the National Assembly.

He continued: Whatever that has been lost in the past, we can quickly regain and recover and make progress so that by the time the four-year first mandate comes to an end, we can show on our profile.





Mr. president is passionate about the three approaches he has promised. One, to fight for the security and defeat insurgency in every part of the country, two is to diversify the economy and thirdly to fight corruption. None of these three can be achieved if we do not get the support of the National Assembly, particularly now the Senate.

Mr. Mustapha thanked the Senate President for his role in the 2015 presidential campaign and for personally attending his inauguration as SGF.

We are here on a courtesy call to truly thank you personally for taking out time for attending my swearing-in ceremony as SGF and to also convey the gratitude of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire government on the leadership you have given the National Assembly as a whole.





Let me put it on record that your leadership has helped tremendously in stabilising the polity and also given a purposeful direction that we require by the Presidency to ensure that we deliver on the promises that we made to Nigerians when we sought for their mandate in 2015.





You ran for the Senate in your constituency in Kwara State and I remember vividly serving as the Director of Campaign you were all over the place campaigning to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari won the election and we did. Thank you so much for what you have done for APC victory.
The late Ian Squire (Photo:Guardian UK)

A British hostage kidnapped last month in southern Nigeria has been killed and three others freed, the Foreign Office has confirmed. Ian Squire was one of four Britons taken by suspected militants on 13 October from the oil-rich Delta area.

The British High Commission and Nigerian authorities negotiated the release of Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan. The FCO said it had been a "traumatic time" for those involved.

It said the Nigerian authorities were investigating the kidnapping, adding: "Our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families."

British charity workers

The four Britons taken hostage had all been working for a medical charity in the town of Enekorogha. Mr Squire, an optician, had been administering free medical aid to local people.

It is believed the group were taken at about 02:00 local time on 13 October, when suspected militants stormed a rural community they were living in.

According to reports, Dr and Mrs Donovan have lived in Nigeria for the past 14 years, running a charity called New Foundations, which gives aid to remote villages in the Niger Delta.

Ms Carson, a Specsavers optometrist, is now staying with her family in Northern Ireland, according to her employer. Relatives of the four said they were "delighted and relieved" that Ms Carson and Dr and Mrs Donovan had returned safely.

"Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death," they said in a statement issued on their behalf.

The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to much of Delta state, saying there is a "high threat of criminal kidnap".
A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has posited that until the party was ready to work honestly and collectively, it will not grab the leadership of the country on a platter of gold.He spoke when he received officials of the Sokoto State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, who paid him a courtesy visit.Speaking further, he said: The media is the live wire of any society, but it will only succeed if practitioners are fair and fearless. Democracy without the media is like tea without sugar.Journalists that kill stories, kill themselves. What is killing to Nigerias democracy is armchair journalism.Bafarawa, who is also the proprietor of Garkuwa FM, appealed to Nigerian journalists to engage in investigative journalism.
Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Vice President, on Tuesday condemned the latest bomb attack in Madagali and Gulak areas of Adamawa state.

Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Vice President, on Tuesday condemned the latest bomb attack in Madagali and Gulak areas of Adamawa state.

The former Vice President and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who took to his Twitter handle described the attack as cowardly.





The attack on innocent people by Boko Haram Terrorists deserves continued condemnation and action. The latest attack on Adamawa is cowardly!, he wrote.





Residents of Madagali and Gulak in Adamawa State had fled their town following attack by members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram on Monday night.





Audu Bakoji, a local vigilante in the area said the attack commenced at about 7: 30pm as the insurgents stormed the village and opened fire on residents.





He said they have seen corpses of six people as they fled the town of Madagali last night, as the insurgents fierce attack could not give them the space to count deaths and damages done.




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday traced N860m to the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada; and a former acting governor of Taraba State, Sani Danladi.While N500m was traced to Wada, N450m was traced to Danladi.The money was said to be part of the N23bn allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, through the then Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman.It was learnt that Wada arrived the EFCC office around 12pm and was still in custody around 9pm.The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Wada was detained by the commission.He said, Yes, he was invited by the EFCC over N500m Diezani money. He is still in our custody.The Gombe zonal office also quizzed Danladi in respect of the N450m collected by him through Senators Joel Dallami Ikenya and Mark Useni during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.Danladi, in his statement on oath, told interrogators that he chaired the eight-man committee that disbursed the money for Taraba State.The EFCC stated, He further stated that, he and the other members of the committee shared N36m among themselves while the balance of N414m was distributed to other stakeholders across the 16 local government areas of the state and one Development Area Council.Danladi was arrested and detained in Abuja last week and later released on bail to reliable sureties, but asked to report to the EFCC Gombe zonal office for further investigation.Last week, the commission detained a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, for his role in the disbursement of the Diezani sleaze.It was learnt that at least 20 former ministers and governors who are members of the PDP may be detained by the commissionIn the states which were ruled by the PDP, the governors were said to have taken possession of the funds while in states that had no PDP governors, the ministers handled the money.They were alleged to have received a minimum of N450m each.Some of the former governors and ministers that may be picked up soon include a former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil (Borno); and a former Minister of Science and Technology, Alhaji Abdu Bulama (Yobe).Others are former governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State (now a member of the All Progressives Congress), the immediate past governor of Kebbi State, Saidu Dakin Garin; former governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, former governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, former governor James Ngilari of Adamawa State; and a former governor of Zamfara State, Mamuda Shinkafi.Sheriff allegedly received N40m from the N450m said to have been received by a former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil.Also, a former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen, and a former Secretary to the State Government of Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, may be re-invited for allegedly collecting N700m from the Diezani fund.The source said many of the PDP chieftains had promised to return some of the funds but had failed to do so and therefore had to be invited.
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Monday in Austria said his major preoccup...

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Monday in Austria said his major preoccupation now was to leave a better Nigeria for the next generation.Magu stated this after the opening ceremony of the 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCA) holding at the U.N. House in Vienna, the capital.In a statement, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC boss made the remarks while speaking with a group of fellow participants who approached him to ask what had been his driving force in the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria.Among members of the EFCC boss audience was Gilean Dell, the Coordinator of UNCAC Coalition, a Global anti corruption movement, Uwujaren said.I have conscience, in spite of the deliberate act to annoy me and make me think of throwing in the towel.My conscience tells me that I should not give up. I shall continue to fight the corruption war until my last breath.My dream is to leave a better Nigeria, free of corruption to the next generation. We cannot continue the way we are going; otherwise, there will be no Nigeria for the next generation.This rubbish called corruption was caused by my generation, so it is our duty to fight it and annihilate it. We must leave a better life for the next generation, he reportedly said.The anti-graft czar also said he was encouraged by the political will of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.We have a President who has a zero tolerance for corruption. I, therefore, have no excuse not to take advantage of the situation to make an indelible mark in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, Magu said.
Journalists from some section of the media, mostly online and a few from some print and electronic media have been barred from covering the 2018 budget presentation by President Buhari at the National Assembly.The budget presentation billed to commence by 2p.m today Tuesday 7th November, 2017 saw some journalist denied entry into the National assembly premises.Journalists from Premium Times, who were among those barred said they were denied entry despite presenting their official and National Assembly identity cards to the security operative who rather told them point-blank that a circular was earlier circulated in that regard.He said names of some journalists from some media organisations were missing an accreditation list prepared by the Research and Information Directorate of the National Assembly.
Nigeria has been elected Vice Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruptio...

Nigeria has been elected Vice Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday.Uwujaren said the election took place at the 7th Session of UNCAC, which opened on Monday in Vienna, the capital of Austria.The election, according to him, was ratified by all the African countries participating in the five-day conference.He quoted the President of the session, Thelma Aldana, as saying that the feat was a boost to Nigerias efforts at nipping corruption in the bud.It is an election well deserved. Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable determination in the fight against corruption, and the election into this exalted position is therefore a boost, she said.COSP, the main policy-making body of UNCAC, supports states parties and signatories in their implementation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).It also gives policy guidance to UNODC to develop and implement anti-corruption activities.Uwujaren listed issues discussed at Mondays proceedings to include understanding the links between corruption and violent extremism and citizens engagement in fighting against corruption.He said Nigerias delegation to the forum was led by the Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, Vivian Okeke..Members of the delegation include Akabogun Chinwuba, Acting Under Secretary, Regions and International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the EFCC.(NAN)
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture in this interview with select journalists in Lagos spoke on efforts being made by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to revamp the economy, Mainagate scandal and the recent threats by Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to resume bombing of oil installations. Excerpts:The fact that Mr. President, immediately the issue came to his knowledge ask for Mainas disengagement is the most important thing. That to me is a clear signal that we do not condone corruption. There is no better way to handle the issue than this.As you are very much aware, this administrations contract with Nigerians sits on a tripod: the fight against corruption, tackling insecurity and reviving the economy. Even our worst critics acknowledge the progress we have made in fighting corruption and tackling insecurity. But one area in which they have consistently criticised us is the economy. Right from the inception of this administration, we chose the path of seeking a lasting solution to the economic crisis plaguing the nation instead of engaging in a quick fix that may attract accolades but will not endure. We chose to be painstaking instead of engaging in palliatives. I am happy to inform you today that we are winning! As you are very much aware, this administrations contract with Nigerians sits on a tripod: the fight against corruption, tackling insecurity and reviving the economy. Even our worst critics acknowledge the progress we have made in fighting corruption and tackling insecurity.But one area in which they have consistently criticised us is the economy. Right from the inception of this administration, we chose the path of seeking a lasting solution to the economic crisis plaguing the nation instead of engaging in a quick fix that may attract accolades but will not endure. We chose to be painstaking instead of engaging in palliatives. I am happy to inform you today that we are winning! Our well-thought-out policy, encapsulated in the administrations Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), launched on April 5th 2017, is working and the results are beginning to show. In September, we exited recession and returned to the path of growth, after five consecutive quarters of contraction. As we said then, taking Nigeria out of recession did not happen by accident. It was the culmination of months of hard work by the administration and fidelity to its well-articulated economic policies. This administration will not relent in its determined effort to usher in a new dawn for Nigeria. We are winning the battle to revive the economy. We are fighting corruption like never before. We are tackling insecurity with a renewed vigour. While the naysayers, who are obviously in the minority, persist in their pastime of acting as a distraction, discerning and well-meaning Nigerians will continue to appreciate and encourage the good work of our administration.I have two burdens. The first is that I happen to be the face of the opposition and PDP has not forgiven me and they will never forgive me. I think they look at the magnitude of what has happened to them and they hold me solely responsible; which is not fair. But, I did my bit. Now becoming the face of government again, so it is automatic that whatever comes from Lai Mohammed, we must shoot it down as fake news and a lie. Unfortunately, my father gave me the name Lai also. So, it makes it very easy for them. But what I challenge them every time is please, give me one thing I said that is not true. Emotionally, you may not agree with me but in terms of facts and figures, I have never said anything which they can dispute. You dont have to like it but you cant deny that they are facts.
NEWARK -- On the first full day of deliberations in U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's federal corruption trial, the jury had one question: what is the defense definition of a "senator"?

Attorneys for the Democratic lawmaker and Salomon Melgen, the wealthy Florida ophthalmologist accused of bribing Menendez, returned to the courtroom after jurors passed a note to the judge indicating they had a question.



One of the jurors, U.S. District Judge William H. Walls told attorneys, wanted a read-back of defense attorney Abbe Lowell's closing remarks "apropos the definition of a senator."

While it was unclear what the juror meant by "definition of a senator," Lowell -- the lead attorney on the senator's defense team -- had argued in closings that there were certain official acts Menendez could have taken on Melgen's behalf in his role as a U.S. senator -- such as crafting legislation or holding hearings -- but did not.

The Justice Department has accused Menendez, 63, of intervening on Melgen's behalf at the highest levels of Health and Human Services and the State Department in exchange for lavish bribes.

Attorneys for the lawmaker have argued the senator's meetings with government officials in the case -- including former U.S. ambassador Bill Brownfield and former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius -- were part of routine legislative activity involving policy matters of concern to Menendez.



After conferring with both parties, Walls called the jury back to the courtroom and instructed the panel of seven women and five men that they were to rely solely on their "individual and collective memories of what was said by Mr. Lowell."

Walls, who directed jurors to a section of the jury charge instructing them to consider as evidence only testimony elicited from witnesses or exhibits introduced as such, did not read back Lowell's closing remarks.

Walls excused the jury for the day at 4 p.m. at the jurors' request. Deliberations are expected to resume Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached by email at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached by email at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
TRENTON -- As voters head for the polls and elect New Jersey's next governor, state homeland security officials say there are no credible threats to the state's election system, which critics contend remains vulnerable to attack.

Russian attempts to undermine last fall's presidential election shone a bright light on the integrity of electoral systems across the country, but state authorities say they're confident in New Jersey's tight election security measures.

"On both fronts, from a technical standpoint and a physical site security standpoint, we are secure," Office of Homeland Security spokesman Patrick Rigby said Monday. "We want to make sure that there is no threat to the actual cyber security elements of the machines. It's equally important that the polling stations are completely secure.

But state Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, said New Jersey's election infrastructure needs to be upgraded.

Gusciora, who filed a lawsuit in 2004 looking to force upgrades and has since sponsored legislation seeking to improve New Jersey's voting system, said it remains vulnerable to equipment glitches, programming errors and tampering.

Gusciora wants the states machines retrofitted to spit out a receipt after a voter casts their ballot, creating a paper trail to manually count and cross check results.

"We seem to accept out electronic results at face value," he said.

New Jersey is one of just a handful of states, along with Georgia, Delaware, Louisiana and South Carolina, with only paperless machines, according to The Huffington Post.

A recent report from The Center for Investigative Reporting found that it's not just tampering that needs to be guarded against. Dozens of voters for Cumberland County Democratic Committee were mis-recorded in 2011 because of an elections administrator's programming error, the report noted.

A law passed more than a decade ago requiring hard copies of vote tallies was later suspended for lack of funding. Sponsors of a similar measure introduced this spring have said that electronic machines that produce a paper record are now more widely commercially available.

"It's costly. It's in the millions of dollars. But you have to ask yourself, what's the cost of reliable democracy?" said Gusciora.

The Office of Homeland Security said in a statement it has beefed up security with tamper-evident seals on all voting machines, instituted training classes on voting machine security, required criminal and security background checks on everyone working on voting machines and installed anti-virus software on election management computers.

NJ Advance Media staff writer S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
TRENTON -- On the eve of the election that will determine who will replace him, Republican Gov. Chris Christie wasn't lobbing any political bombs at the Democratic candidate.

Instead, he took aim at his own mentor.

Christie accused former Gov. Tom Kean of revisionist history when talking about his own state budget while defending Republican candidate for governor Kim Guadagno at a campaign event on Sunday. He suggested that Kean's state budgets weren't as frugal as the former governor let on.

Kean defended Guadagno on her promise to lower property taxes. The plan lacks specific details. But Kean, speaking at the weekend rally, had her back.

He said he didn't doubt Guadagno could find millions of dollars in government waste to help fund a $1.5 billion property tax cut plan because he slashed state government.

"Don't tell me that government can't be cut because I did it," Kean said.

Christie, who once considered Kean a mentor, said he was off the mark.

"I'm sure Governor Kean is confused with the passing of the years because the state budget in his years more than doubled in state appropriations," Christie told NJ Advance Media by phone.

It was the first time Christie has publicly gone after Kean.

Christie declined to discuss his reason he wanted to set the record straight on Kean's time in office.

But it could have something to do with the former governor's remarks when Guadagno was pressed why Christie wasn't at her campaign event.

Reporters asked: Kean and former GOP Gov. Christie Whitman are here with you, where's Christie?

Gov. Chris Christie.

"This campaign is about me," Guadagno responded.

Pressed again, Kean was asked whether Christie, who's set to leave office in January as the state's most unpopular governor of modern times, should have been at the event.

Kean put a finer point on why Christie, who hasn't campaigned with his two-time running mate, was absent: "Look, Phil Murphy would like Chris Christie here. He's trying to make the campaign about Chris Christie. It's not about Chris Christie."

Murphy has continually linked Guadagno to Christie in campaign ads.

The relationship between Christie and Kean goes back decades. It started, in part, when Christie knocked on Kean's door when he was 14 years old and asked how he could get involved with politics. Kean was in the state Legislature then.

Later, Christie worked on Kean's gubernatorial campaigns.

But things frayed immediately after Christie won re-election in 2013 and attempted to oust Kean's son, Tom Kean Jr., from his Senate minority leader post.

In the weeks and months that followed, Kean took a handful of public jabs as Christie eyed a White House run. At one point, Kean went as far in an interview with The Washington Post to question how Christie would behave in the Oval Office.

"On the one hand, I think he's got a lot to offer. I think he's the most able politician since Bill Clinton," Kean said in the interview. "On the other hand, you look at these other qualities and ask, do you really want that in your president?"

Christie bit his tongue and didn't swing back. Instead, he told reporters he had "enormous respect and admiration for Gov. Kean" and that he "always will."

As for the battle of the budgets, Department of Treasury figures show Kean inherited a $5.7 billion budget from his predecessor and left office with a $12.4 billion budget.

"That's because we got federal funds," said Kean, who served during economic boom times that sometimes provided billion dollar surpluses. "We got a whole bunch of federal funds."

Christie's current treasurer disagreed, saying the figures account for state funding.

Kean, meanwhile, would not wade into why Christie was taking a shot at him.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Frank LoBiondo, the New Jersey Republican who most often breaks with his party, announced his retirement Tuesday with a blast at the partisanship that has taken over U.S. politics.

"I always looked for solutions that produce real world results built upon cooperation and partnerships," said LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist. "Regrettably, our nation is now consumed by increasing political polarization; there is no longer middle ground to honestly debate issues and put forward solutions."

His retirement puts the congressional district up for grabs in the 2018 election.

LoBiondo, who first elected in 1994 as Republicans ended 40 years of Democratic control of the House and has served 11 terms on Capitol Hill, said the timing was right for him to leave because term limits required him to give up his aviation subcommittee chairmanship and his seat on the House Intelligence Committee.

"Furthermore, as some of my closest colleagues have also come to realize, those of us who came to Congress to change Washington for the better through good governance are now the outliers," LoBiondo said. "A vocal and obstinate minority within both parties has hijacked good legislation in pursuit of no legislation."

LoBiondo's most recent act of defiance against his party came last month when he voted against the congressional budget resolution targeting the deduction for state and local taxes. He also was one of three House Republicans from New Jersey to oppose health care legislation that the Congressional Budget Office said would leave 23 million more Americans without insurance.

Last year, LoBiondo, 71, crossed party lines and voted with a majority of Democrats against a majority of Republicans 16.9 percent of the time, putting him ninth among all House GOP lawmakers, according to Congressional Quarterly.

This year, he was one of only nine House Republicans to oppose repealing regulations on coal companies in order to protect streams and drinking water supplies.

He also fought President Donald Trump's proposals that could lead to offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and was one of 24 House Republicans who introduced a resolution in March calling for actions to combat climate change, which the president has called a Chinese hoax.

"With LoBiondo retiring, New Jersey is losing one of the last of our moderate-on-the-environment Republicans," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Pro-environment and climate-change-protection Republicans have become an endangered species."

LoBiondo also was a strong supporter of organized labor. He received $335,000 in contributions from unions in 2016, more than any other House member running for re-election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.

He was one of only three House Republicans who earlier this year opposed repealing a regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration making it easier to track workplace injuries.

While the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named LoBiondo as one of the four New Jersey House Republicans it was targeting, he did not receive the attention as the other three, Reps. Tom MacArthur, R-3rd Dist., Leonard Lance, R-7th Dist., and Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-11th Dist.

A retired teacher, Tanzie Youngblood of Woolwich, is seeking the Democratic nomination.

The two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, both rated LoBiondo as a safe bet for re-election.

His retirement, however, "opens up a very competitive seat that President Obama easily won twice," DCCC spokesman Evan Lukaske said.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
One good reason why Mondays in New Orleans are better than anywhere else
A man was wounded in a shooting at Farragut and Lawrence streets in Algiers on Monday (Nov. 6, 2017), according to New Orleans police. The NOPD initially reported the shooting location as the 1600 block of Casa Calvo Street, about one block from the updated location at Farragut and Lawrence streets.
The New Orleans Coroner's Office has moved from its post-Katrina makeshift location to a new $14.8 million building on Earhart Blvd.(NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune file)
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House with an announcement Tuesday night. Trump is looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party may be waning. The former president had hoped to use the GOP's expected gains in last week's elections as a springboard to win his party's nomination by locking in early support and keeping potential challengers at bay. Instead, Trump now finds himself being blamed for backing a series of losing candidates in last week's midterm elections.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin on Monday rejected the idea that revelations about an unauthorized waiting list at Omahas veterans facility reveal a broader return of wait list issues across the VA.

The department has come a long way since 2014, when there were systemic problems in the way that patients were being scheduled, Shulkin said during remarks at the National Press Club.

But look, lets put this situation in Omaha into context, Shulkin said. He said two Omaha employees left VA employment over the issue in a system with 350,000 employees. To label the entire Department of Veterans Affairs as having a systemic issue ... would be irresponsible.

The unauthorized Omaha list came to light following a story published Oct. 15 in The World-Herald that was based on redacted documents obtained using the Freedom of Information Act. The list delayed mental health care for 87 veterans this year.

The unauthorized list echoed a nationwide scandal in 2014 at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix, where veterans died while waiting months for medical care on lists that were kept secret. An internal VA audit in June 2014 found that, in all, more than 120,000 veterans waited 90 days or more or never got care.

Omaha VA officials have disclosed some details about the Omaha wait list in response to inquiries from U.S. senators representing Nebraska and Iowa. Omaha VA Director Don Burman also penned an opinion piece that stated once the unauthorized spreadsheets came to their attention, they stopped the practice, launched an internal investigation, reported the activity to offices in Washington and took disciplinary action against employees involved, two of whom chose to leave.

Deputy Secretary Thomas G. Bowman recently visited VA facilities in Nebraska and met Saturday with Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general. After the meeting, Bacon said in a statement that Burman ensured proper procedures were followed and disciplined those involved, ensuring this will never happen again.

Shulkin said that Omaha VA officials were doing what theyre supposed to do in discovering and acting on the problem. He said with tens of thousands of employees responsible for scheduling appointments, the department must always be vigilant in monitoring systems, retraining employees and improving.

But this does not necessarily represent that the VA has fallen back to the problems that we had in 2014, Shulkin said. Far from that. Were making progress. We still have a ways to go. We will stick at this until we get this better and better. But each day I think were getting better.

Asked about protecting whistleblowers, Shulkin said the department is working to shield them from retaliation, but also said one issue is people falling short at their jobs and then trying to avoid accountability by declaring themselves whistleblowers.

Shulkin was asked about the Omaha situation during a speech on broader issues facing the VA system.

In his prepared remarks, Shulkin talked about the history of veterans benefits in America going back to 1636 when the pilgrims of Plymouth at war with Native Americans passed a law saying disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony.

Over the past 150 years, the country has adopted various benefits without giving much strategic thought to how they fit together, he said.

They just kept on piling on benefits without any clear objective in mind other than patriotic gratitude and political expedience  sometimes more of the latter than the former, he said.

Shulkin said he has priorities that include simplifying benefit determinations, emphasizing service-connected ailments rather than age-related issues, focusing on benefits that encourage and enable veterans to be independent and continuing to support those who are truly dependent on their benefits.

He said the effort is intended to transform the VA into a department that works better for future veterans.

This is not about taking benefits away from veterans, Shulkin said.
The following editorial ran Nov. 1 in The Quad-City Times:

U.S. Sen Chuck Grassley is the king of understated code-speak. But Monday was no time for parsing words as indictments and plea deals rolled out of the probe into Russian interference in last years presidential election.

Either Grassley is willing to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from President Donald Trump or hes not.

Grassley wasnt entirely mute after Mueller announced charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a plea deal with former adviser George Papadopoulos.

But Grassleys position atop the Senate Judiciary Committee basically barred a standard no comment. Instead, in classic Grassley fashion, he drove headlong into the weeds while offering a smidgen of substance served with a twist of deflection and confusion.

As always, its important to let our legal system run its course, Grassleys statement reads. While we dont have any more information regarding the current status of the special counsels investigation other than what has already been made public, its good to see the Justice Department taking seriously its responsibility to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

He then went on about enforcement of FARA, which requires disclosure from those working with foreign entities, which former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is accused of violating. Nowhere did Grassley mention Manafort, Trump or the campaign. He even offered the old Democrats do it, too defense. Later Monday, Grassley turned tail and fled a press conference before reporters could ask about the news of the day.

So, in essence, the only statement with any political weight was let our legal system run its course.

What does that mean, exactly? And, of greater import, is he prepared to push back should Trump succumb to his rage and crush Muellers investigation, a possibility that, in less partisan times, would create a legitimate constitutional crisis? Grassley intentionally ducked the matter altogether, a troubling signal to send to a White House with a history of leaning on investigators.

Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wasnt afraid to demand Muellers investigation continue without interference. Same goes for Utah peer Sen. Mike Lee. Neither of these men are liberals. Both have a long conservative records.

And yet, unlike Grassley, they were willing to unequivocally demand that the White House leave Mueller to his work. Its a testament to the seriousness of the situation.

A pair of bills would make it much more difficult to fire Mueller. But those two pieces of legislation are basically stalled. Yet, legislation in the House thats gaining traction among Trumps allies would hamper Mueller by starving him of cash. These are the realities of the moment. No matter how uncomfortable, Grassley has a duty to defend the judicial system against political meddling. His politically driven lack of clarity was especially concerning due to his incessant attempts at justifying investigations of Democrats who do not reside in the White House, a transparent effort to deflect and distract.

One cannot stress the importance of this moment. Trumps former campaign chairman, the man who kept twitchy delegates in line at the Republican National Convention, faces a raft of charges, including conspiracy and failing to disclose his work for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. That same day, a plea deal with Papadopoulos was made public. Papadopoulos attempted to collude with Kremlin-linked agents and then lied about it.

Grassley is no small fish here. His committee wields oversight authority over the Justice Department. Several of the presidents most reactionary partisan allies  who have spent weeks attempting to tarnish Muellers credentials  again pressed for Muellers firing. Trump, mind you, couldnt directly sack Mueller. He could, however, summon the ghost of Richard Nixon and purge the Justice Department until he found a lackey who would quash the investigation into Trumps presidential campaign.

But Grassley would rather talk about something  anything  else.
Thirty-five state attorneys general and the District of Columbia  among them Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller  have signed on to support South Dakotas legal bid to collect sales taxes from out-of-state Internet retailers.

South Dakota is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether retailers can be required to collect sales taxes in states where they lack a physical presence. The case could have national implications for e-commerce and carries critical implications for Council Bluffs. South Dakota is seeking to overturn legal rulings issued mostly before the online shopping boom that hamstring officials who want to collect sales taxes from out-of-state retailers.

Current Iowa law requires companies with a nexus in the state to collect sales tax for online purchases. That means retailers with a brick-and-mortar presence such as Barnes & Noble, Target and Wal-Mart are required to collect Iowa sales tax for their online orders from residents of Iowa. For retailers such as Amazon that do not have a physical presence here, the burden has been on the customer to send the state an equivalent use tax. While corporate entities do so, individuals rarely do.

Five years ago, the National Council of State Legislatures estimated that Iowa lost more than $180 million in sales and use tax revenue in 2012 to Internet sales.

Last December, Amazon, the giant online retailer, notified the Iowa Department of Revenue it would begin collecting Iowas 6 percent sales tax on purchases made by Iowans beginning Jan. 1. Amazon is not collecting Iowas 1 percent local option sales tax. Whether Amazon will continue with the voluntary collections remains to be seen. Ohio State University research on household spending in states that require e-commerce sites to charge sales tax found that shoppers spent 8.3 percent less for products on Amazon. The same study found that sales of big-ticket items  purchases of more than $250  declined by 11.4 percent.

For Council Bluffs, the impact of increasing Internet sales, currently largely untaxed, offers two pitfalls. First, the growth of Internet sales negatively impacts local retailers that not only collect sales tax but also pay property taxes.

Equally important, untaxed Internet sales threaten the Iowa mechanism funding a major portion of the cost of repairing the levees that protect the western portions of Council Bluffs from Missouri River flooding. The states flood mitigation payments are based on sales tax. When the program was approved for Council Bluffs the baseline was set as Council Bluffs sales tax receipts in 2013. Under the Iowa flood mitigation program, Council Bluffs received 65 percent of sales tax revenue above the 2013 baseline. If sales tax revenues fall to or below the 2013 baseline, state payments to Council Bluffs would dry up. Should those funds dry up, Council Bluffs would likely have to consider a bond issue to fix the levees, which would increase property taxes.

If the levees are not repaired and certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, increasing flood insurance rates for the area west of Eighth Street would be devastating for Council Bluffs.

Miller is right in joining the effort.
Three Florida men were arrested near North Platte on Sunday after Nebraska State Patrol found dozens of ID and credit cards in their vehicle.

A trooper stopped a black SUV on Interstate 80 for speeding, but conducted a search after detecting the odor of marijuana, according to a press release. In the SUV, the trooper found a stolen handgun, 47 ID cards, 81 credit cards, six Social Security cards and other forms of identification.

The three men  Juan Souza, 25; Montague Jackson, 19; and Brandon Davis, 32  were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of stolen IDs, among other allegations.
A 60-day deadline has passed for Great Lakes Basin Transportation to appeal in federal court the rejection of its application to build a 261-mile freight railroad from LaPorte County to southeast Wisconsin.

The Surface Transportation Board rejected GLBT's application on Aug. 31, starting the 60-day period.

"The failure of GLBT to appeal certainly brings an end to the current proceeding," said Howard Learner, executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center, which is among the groups that has battled GLBT in court.

Learner said any new application would require GLBT to show financial resources it did not show in its rejected application.

In that ruling, the STB said the company had "failed to provide the board with accurate financial information upon which the board can rely to make a determination on the transportation merits of the project."

GLBT's financial position, the STB ruled, was "so clearly deficient for purposes of constructing a 261-mile rail line that the board will not proceed with this application given the impacts on stakeholders and the demands upon board resources."

GLBT could still petition the STB for administrative reconsideration, but that petition would need to show "material error, new evidence, or substantially changed circumstances" from the STB's original ruling.

Learner argued neither appeal process  judicial or administrative  would have worked.

"You can't just go into the board and say 'I have an idea,'" Learner said. If a proposal is to work, GLBT "would have to show them the money."

Company officials declined Monday to comment on any future plans. They had previously argued that potential investors were awaiting federal approval before committing to the project.

The railroad would have allowed freight trains passing through Chicago to avoid the congested city by looping around it. Plans called for it to have 26 connections to other railroads, including two in Lake County and six in Porter and LaPorte counties.

The construction cost was estimated at $2.8 billion.

Chairman Frank Patton founded Great Lakes Basin Transportation in 2011. An environmental review process, overseen by the STB, began last year, but was suspended in December at the request of GLBT so it could concentrate on completing the now-rejected application.

Passage of the deadline for judicial review reassured project opponents, including Porter County Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, who said it helps lift the "cloud of uncertainty" the area had been living under.

"The STB really stepped up and did their job, and thats great to see," Blaney said.
Jewel-Osco is launching home delivery and online ordering for store pickup across Chicago starting Tuesday, and plans to soon expand the service to Northwest Indiana.

This gives people another option when shopping for groceries, Jewel-Osco President Doug Cygan said. The Jewel-Osco e-Commerce Department allows for the company to come full circle as we began delivering tea in 1899.

Initially, 11 supermarkets in Chicago will deliver orders of at least $30 for $5.95 to $7.95 within a window of the customer's choosing, with free delivery for first-time customers. Jewel-Osco hired 100 people and bought sixty new trucks designed for fresh food delivery.

Six of the stores also will have in-store pickup for online orders.

Jewel-Osco spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco said the service would be expanded to Northwest Indiana "in the near future," but had no timetable.

Instacart currently delivers for Jewel-Osco, Strack & Van Til, Meijer, CVS and other retailers. Meijer also offers home delivery through Shipt throughout Northwest Indiana.

Strack & Van Til first rolled out online ordering with curbside store pickup in Northwest Indiana more than a year ago.
It's been eight years since Ciao Bella appeared on the Northwest Indiana dining scene.

Joe Scalzo, owner of Ciao Bella, will celebrate the restaurant's anniversary with a wine-pairing party Thursday.

A multicourse dinner will be paired with wines from Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery from Healdsburg, California.

Scalzo said he wanted to highlight special wines from California in light of the fact that was so much devastation from recent wildfires.

After Thursday's event, Scalzo said whenever a guest purchases a California wine during the rest of November and through December, the restaurant will donate money to a wine relief program in Napa and Sonoma.

"We want to help support the beautiful wineries that got destroyed," he said.

Cost for Thursday's anniversary dinner and party is $88 per person plus tax and tip. Representatives from the winery will be on hand to talk about the selections available.

Welcoming cocktails will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Ciao Bella is at 1514 U.S. 41, Schererville. Call 219-322-6800.
CALUMET TWP.  The children at Longfellow Elementary New Tech School raised hundreds of dollars for the Operation Combat Bike Saver organization in Cedar Lake to support their work for veterans.

Longfellow Principal Deb Carlson said all 487 students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade were at the presentation.

"We do something every year to honor our veterans. We want the kids to know about the sacrifices that the veterans and the families make," she said.

"We've had some students here whose fathers have been deployed. They understand firsthand what families are going through, and we wanted all of our students to understand the sacrifices."

The program is organized each year by music teacher Lindsay Berndt to support local veterans. In October, the school held a jeans day for three days allowing students and teachers to wear jeans. Teachers were asked to donate $5, and students were asked to contribute $1.

"My goal for this was $300 and we far exceeded my goal. We raised a total of $702.35," Berndt said as she handed a white container to the veterans stacked with bills and coins.

The students sang three songs they've been practicing since school started in August. They also studied about military veterans and recited comments about their service, and the country's appreciation for military veterans.

Fifth-grader Noah Conover said his family has a friend who serves in the military and is stationed in Japan.

"I've been wanting to be in this program since I was little. I used to see the older kids at school doing it, and it was really important to me to be in it," he said.

Fifth-grader Madelynn Robinson said she was honored to be in the program, because the veterans sacrificed their lives for the freedom Americans enjoy.

Jason Zaideman, president and founder of Operation Combat Bike Saver from Cedar Lake, said the program the students put together as well as the money they donated to the organization was awesome.

He said the organization builds motorcycles for veterans as a way of providing therapy and camaraderie.

"We help each other every day," he said. "These students are learning about being selfless and service at a young age. The older they get, the more they will understand. Maybe they will want to serve in the military one day."

Carl Moore, who lives in the Schererville Heights neighborhood of unincorporated St. John Township, is an Army veteran who visited the school because his two great-grandchildren are students there. "It's important that children honor veterans and know about what veterans have done for this country," he said.

Army veteran Thornton Harrision, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, said his Sunday School class invited him to the program.

"I think this was wonderful. I didn't think there was that much patriotism left in the United States as there is here. You don't often see it. That was a lot of work to put together. I worked with kids as a Sunday school teacher myself before I went to the service and again afterwards," he said.
MICHIGAN CITY  A not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Decoys bar owner Gordon Gardner on Tuesday morning in LaPorte Superior Court.

Gardner has been charged with three felonies following a fight early Oct. 29 in his bar, Decoys Bar & Grill, 1729 U.S. 20, Trail Creek, which injured a woman.

According to court records, Gardner waived his initial hearing Tuesday morning, and the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. An omnibus hearing was set for Dec. 28.

Police responded to the bar about 2:24 a.m. Oct. 29 following a call for a disturbance. The Trail Creek officer who arrived found 15 to 20 people in the parking lot who appeared to be in a physical altercation. A total of 10 police units from Michigan City, LaPorte County and Long Beach also responded to the call.

Police found a woman bleeding from her mouth, according to records. She told police that Gardner had thrown a liquor bottle at her and it struck her, causing her lip to tear open and a tooth to break. She sought medical attention at a nearby hospital.

She told police, according to court records, that the incident started when the woman paid the tab with her debit card, but did not put a tip on the debit card. She said she told Gardner she intended to leave the tip in cash. Gardner became upset and began making comments to the woman. A man in the group poured a drink on the bar. As they were leaving, Gardner allegedly threw the bottle.

Gardner, who police said smelled of alcohol, told police he had thrown the bottle, but intended to throw it at the man and mistakenly hit the woman.

Gardner has been charged with aggravated battery, battery and criminal recklessness. He turned himself into police on Friday and was held on a $25,000 cash bond. He has since been released on bond.
SCHERERVILLE  A 24-year-old Griffith man has pleaded guilty for his involvement in a September 2016 armed robbery at a Speedway gas station.

Kacey Sean Rauner pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop one charge of armed robbery, Lake Criminal Court records show.

Police say anonymous tips and the release of surveillance footage led them to Rauner, court records show.

Rauner entered the Speedway gas station at U.S. 30 and Austin Avenue at about 3:40 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2016, brandished a handgun, and threatened to hurt the cashier if she didn't open the cash register and hand him $100 bills, according to court records.

Surveillance video showed Rauner wore tan pants, a navy hooded sweatshirt, ski mask and gloves, court records show. His girlfriend was the alleged driver of a black Chevy Malibu and was waiting for him at the beauty salon across the street, according to the affidavit.

Two anonymous tips led police to a residence, where they met with Rauner's girlfriend and searched the Malibu to find an empty gun box and some clothing.

The girlfriend allegedly told police it was a "spur of the moment thing," and that she didn't know he was going to the Speedway to rob the store.

A person at the home that day told police Rauner told him he robbed Speedway and used a "silver pocket rocket."

Rauner will serve three years in the Indiana Department of Correction, according to his sentencing agreement.
CROWN POINT  A 35-year-old man from Crete, Illinois, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony charges to avoid trial on allegations he fired a gun at his ex-girlfriend and two other people outside the woman's home in Highland.

John Burton III pleaded guilty in Lake Criminal Court to criminal confinement, a level three felony, and criminal recklessness, a level five felony.

The state agreed in the plea agreement the criminal sentence for the two offenses would run concurrent, meaning Burton would face a prison sentence of three to 16 years.

Judge Salvador Vasquez took the plea agreement under advisement and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 4.

Burton allegedly shot at his ex-girlfriend's vehicle with a .380 semiautomatic pistol shortly after 1 a.m. April 15 outside her apartment in the 2100 block of Porte De Leau Court, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The woman said she sped off from the complex in her vehicle, which was also occupied by a babysitter and another man, the affidavit states.

Bullets damaged the vehicle, but no one was injured, the affidavit states.

Burton was initially charged with three counts of attempted murder, criminal confinement and criminal recklessness. The state filed three additional counts of pointing a firearm, a level six felony, against Burton in October.

The attempted murder and firearm charges would be dismissed after sentencing, as per the plea agreement.
CROWN POINT  A 56-year-old former Illinois policeman who had prior child molestation convictions overturned on appeal will appear at trial on those charges again in February.

James E. McGee, of Yorkville, Illinois, was convicted in March 2010 of three counts of child molestation on allegations he repeatedly sexually abused a female from the ages of 9 to 15, according to The Times archives. The acts allegedly occurred in East Chicago.

McGee was a police officer for the Robbins Police Department in Illinois at the time of his arrest, archives state.

McGee was sentenced to 40 years prison, but the conviction was overturned in July 2015 by the Indiana Court of Appeals, according to court records. The appellate court determined that McGee, who was defended by attorney John Cantrell, was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel.

The appellate court's decision states the girl made the molestation claims after she was admitted into a psychiatric hospital in May 2009. The girl allegedly claimed she was pregnant, though tests proved otherwise, and was diagnosed with a nonspecific psychosis.

That information was not provided to the jury during McGee's trial, though it presented a significant challenge to (the child's) credibility, the decision states.

Cantrell said Tuesday he argued that the information should have been admitted at trial, but Judge Clarence Murray denied his request, citing the state's rape shield laws, which limit the defense's ability to introduce evidence of a victim's past sexual behavior.

McGee is now represented by defense attorney Kerry Connor. The presiding judge is Salvador Vasquez.

Vasquez ordered Tuesday a new trial to begin Feb. 12. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 9.
CROWN POINT  A jury deliberated Monday for less than two-and-a-half hours before finding Thomas J. Snow guilty of two murder counts in the killings four years ago of his parents, Clifford and Joyce Snow.

The decision came at the end of a more than two-week trial, where deputy prosecutors argued Snow bludgeoned and strangled the 68-year-old retired shop teacher and his 66-year-old wife in September of 2013.

The bodies rotted in the family's home in West Creek Township for several weeks, wrapped in tarps and carpets, until police made the gruesome discovery Oct. 18, 2013.

Deputy Prosecutor Mark Watson presented jurors in closing statements an amalgamated timeline of store receipts, pawn tickets, motel room registries and witness statements that he argued provided a road map of the 38-year-old defendant's whereabouts after his parents' killings.

The deputy prosecutor argued Snow killed his parents sometime between Sept. 18, 2013, and Sept. 22, 2013, at the family's home in the 14500 block of West 197th Avenue.

The defendant then began to tell neighbors his parents were traveling in Europe, Watson said, meanwhile using forged checks from his parents' bank account to purchase cleaning supplies, odor suppressants and surveillance cameras, which he installed outside the family's home and a pole barn on the property.

He also wrote several forged checks to Joey Montgomery, a drug dealer from Ford Heights, Illinois, who said in a taped deposition that he sold Snow thousands of dollars of crack-cocaine around the time of the murders. A recording of the deposition was played for jurors Monday morning.

Snow fled from Lake County police during a high-speed chase Oct. 5, 2013, escaping his pursuers by driving his father's vehicle through a corn field west of Cedar Lake.

Montgomery said in the deposition he and Snow were towing a vehicle to the scrap yard when they were stopped by police. Snow bolted, and he was left sitting in the disabled vehicle.

The statement for his father's credit card suggested Snow fled south several days later to Mississippi and Louisiana, but returned to the county and rented a motel room in Hebron on Oct. 14, 2013.

Snow was arrested Oct. 19, 2013, after a second high-speed chase in Minnesota.

Snow was defended at trial by attorneys John Maksimovich and Arlington Foley.

Foley hammered in closing statements on evidence missing from the state's case  no murder weapon, no exact date for the parents' death or even a definitive cause of death.

He pointed to forensic lab results that showed Montgomery's DNA was found on a bloodied latex glove discovered by police on the property.

Montgomery said in his deposition he cut his hand while stealing property from the Snow's pole barn several days after the high-speed chase. He said he stole an engine and several power tools, which he scrapped to pay a drug debt owed him by Snow.

Snow was also found guilty at trial of resisting law enforcement, being a habitual traffic offender and two counts of reckless driving in connection to the high-speed police chase Oct. 5, 2013

Judge Samuel L. Cappas presided over the trial. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.
HAMMOND  Two Gary residents have entered into plea agreements in connection with their alleged involvement in a credit card scheme.

Darryl Hall pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Hammond to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after entering into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. The maximum penalty on the first charge is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty on the second charge is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the plea agreement, he is entitled to a reduction in his offense level for accepting responsibility. Hall's sentencing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. March 26.

Jakiya Buford also has entered into a plea agreement in which she said she will plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The first charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the second charge a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and a $250,000 charge. According to the plea agreement, she is also entitled to a reduction in offense level for accepting responsibility.

In Buford's plea agreement, she acknowledged that between May and August 2015 she worked with Hall to make and use counterfeit credit cards to purchase goods. Hall admitted to purchasing unauthorized personal information, including names and credit card numbers, from a website and using the information to create counterfeit credit cards.

The government contended in its indictment that the goods purchased were later sold at discounted prices.
INDIANAPOLIS  Former state Rep. Mike Braun, R-Jasper, is leapfrogging two sitting congressmen to become the first of the 2018 Republican U.S. Senate candidates to introduce himself to Hoosier voters through television and radio advertising.

In the commercials, set to air statewide beginning Tuesday, the southern Indiana auto parts magnate talks about his experience running a growing business, and the need for outsiders to stand up to career politicians and "the Washington swamp" that is "ruining America."

"I started a national company right here in my hometown. But Washington's inaction has cost our country trillions in debt and lost opportunity," Braun says in the ads that describe him as a "businessman, conservative and outsider."

"I'm tired of watching Congress do nothing," he says. "I'm running for United States Senate to get Washington moving again."

Braun is one of three GOP Senate candidates that federal records show had more than $1 million in the bank as of Sept. 30  thanks in part to a $850,000 loan from Braun to his campaign account.

The others were U.S. Reps. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville; and Munster native Todd Rokita, R-Brownsburg.

Braun's decision to go on the air almost exactly six months before the May 8 Republican primary suggests the closely watched contest for the right to challenge U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., could prove to be expensive for the candidates and their supporters.

Messer and Rokita so far mainly have stuck to the GOP county dinner circuit to promote their campaigns among Hoosier Republicans, while simultaneously seeking backing from deep-pocketed donors in Indiana and elsewhere.

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said Braun's early ads are "proof that he's intent on buying himself a Senate seat."
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CROWN POINT  The city hopes to solve two real estate challenges, acquiring a long-shuttered greenhouse property as the proposed site for a new City Hall and police building.

Mayor David Uran announced the plan Monday at the Crown Point City Council meeting. The council approved a resolution for the purchase agreement Uran presented on behalf of the city.

The cost of the purchase and other financial information related to the deal was not available Monday.

Uran said the greenhouse property is ready for a repurposing and for the "highest and best use of that property."

The Lake County Greenhouse, at the intersection of North Street and Indiana Avenue, closed more than a dozen years ago.

For years, it has looked apocalyptic, with trees growing through the rooftops of several of its glass greenhouses.

Now Uran said the city wants to purchase and transform the 7-acre property into a new City Hall and police building contiguous with the nearby youth sportsplex.

Building a new City Hall and public safety center will further spruce up an area quickly becoming a city gateway, provide needed modernization for the city's marquee building and allow for alternative uses for the existing City Hall and Civic Center sites downtown, Uran said.

"We think we found a great location," Council President Laura Sauerman, District 4, said at Monday night's meeting.

The city's announcement Monday gives new potential life to the long-shuttered site on a heavily traveled local corridor.

In 2016, it appeared a new restaurant and brewery would take over the greenhouse site, but those plans fell through.

Also in 2016, the city began planning for a new police station, which officials said would take priority over the need for a new City Hall. The current station on North East Street is connected to the fire station and was built in 1991. The number of officers has about doubled since then. When the police force moves into its new facility, it is expected that the existing building will be renovated to accommodate a growing Fire Department.

The city later decided to consider housing the police station and City Hall together. In August, it approved a site assessment contract with Wheaton, Illinois-based architectural firm McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie Inc. The assessment included the highest and best use of property, a cost analysis, public access and the option of building a new facility or using an existing one.

"This is fantastic to finally getting something to happen there," Councilman at-large Chris Retson said.

Once the city closes on the property, the city hopes to start razing buildings immediately.

The target date to put "shovel in the ground" for the new building is June or July 2018, Uran said.

The Crown Point Board of Works is scheduled to vote on the agreement for the project during its Wednesday meeting.
LAPORTE  The LaPorte community took a giant step Monday on its way to becoming healthier.

The Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte awarded 61 grants totaling more than $2.8 million to 44 organizations during a luncheon at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium.

"This is the first step to achieve an ambitious vision to become one of the healthiest communities in Indiana," said foundation CEO Maria Fruth.

The funds came from the sale of LaPorte Hospital and were received by the foundation in March 2016.

LaPorte County is the 76th healthiest county of Indiana's 92 counties, said Jeff Bernal, foundation board chairman. The foundation's vision is for LaPorte to be ranked in the top 10 healthiest communities in the state by 2030.

"It is all about change, change in our community," said Bernel, adding that the foundation's staff and board are "passionate" to meet the mission.

LaPorte Mayor Mark Krentz praised the group's efforts to move the city toward becoming "a healthier, more vibrant community."

The city received $310,304 in grants for park development and programs; a police anti-drug program and the fire department automatic defibrillator program.

Swanson Center received the largest grant, $663,000 for its Detox Now program, which will allow those in crisis to immediately receive help, despite barriers of not having the finances or insurance to pay for inpatient treatment, said center CEO Matthew Burden.

Burden said his group will partner with Recovery Works in Merrillville to provide inpatient detox services to addicts. The services, thanks to the grant, will be free of charge.

Burden said there are 100 people to 300 people in LaPorte County today in need of the services.

Fruth said the foundation will also fund a three-stage study to be conducted by the Center for Health Policy  Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health on opioid abuse in LaPorte County. LaPorte County will be the second county in the state to authorize such a study. The study will assess the problem, look at the county's capacity to address opioid abuse and make recommendations to address the problem.
INDIANAPOLIS  A top official in the LaPorte County prosecutor's office, who eavesdropped on private conversations between accused criminals and their attorneys on at least two occasions, has been suspended from practicing law.

The Indiana Supreme Court, which oversees attorney discipline in the state, on Monday voted 5-0 to prohibit Robert Neary from working as a lawyer for a four-year period, without automatic reinstatement, beginning Dec. 18.

The state's high court concluded that Neary, while LaPorte County's chief deputy prosecutor, used methods of obtaining evidence that violated the legal rights of a third person and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

According to the ruling, Neary and several detectives used remote audio and video feeds to listen in on a confidential conversation between a homicide suspect and his attorney in an interview room at the Michigan City police department on March 14, 2014.

Neary also separately viewed a video recording of a 2012 "defense strategy" conversation between an attorney and a suspect in a Long Beach homicide that inadvertently was taped in a police interview room during an interrogation break, court records show.

"Respondent's conduct in both cases fundamentally infringed on privileged attorney-client communications and, at an absolute minimum, has caused significant delays and evidentiary hurdles in the prosecutions of (the suspects), even assuming they still can be prosecuted at all," the court said.

While the high court's disciplinary commission recommended Neary be disbarred, the Supreme Court justices said Neary's lack of prior discipline and standing within the community, among other reasons, persuaded them "that the door should not permanently be closed on (Neary's) legal career."

Neary did not respond to a telephone message left at the LaPorte County prosecutor's office seeking comment on the disciplinary ruling.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas  The gunman who killed 26 people at a small-town Texas church went aisle to aisle looking for victims and shot crying babies at point-blank range, a couple who survived the attack said.

Rosanne Solis and Joaquin Ramirez were sitting near the entrance to the First Baptist Church on Sunday when they heard what sounded like firecrackers and realized someone was shooting at the tiny wood-frame building.

In an interview with San Antonio television station KSAT, Solis said congregants began screaming and dropped to the floor. She could see bullets flying into the carpet and fellow worshippers falling down, bloodied, after getting hit.

For a moment, the attacked seemed to stop, and worshippers thought that police had arrived to confront the gunman. But then he entered the church and resumed "shooting hard" at helpless families, Solis said.

The gunman checked each aisle for more victims, including babies who cried out amid the noise and smoke, Ramirez said.

The couple survived by huddling close to the ground and playing dead. Solis was shot in the arm. Ramirez was hit by shrapnel.

"The lord saved me because I know it was my last day," Solis told the station.

About 20 other people were wounded. At least five were still hospitalized Tuesday.

Investigators collected at least 15 empty magazines that held 30 rounds each at the scene, suggesting the assailant fired at least 450 rounds.

The gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, had a history of domestic violence that spanned years before the attack and was able buy weapons because the Air Force did not submit his criminal history to the FBI as required by military rules.

If Kelley's past offenses had been properly shared, they would have prevented him from buying a gun, the Air Force acknowledged Monday.

Investigators also revealed that Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of the church, before the attack, and that sheriff's deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at his home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife.

Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for a 2012 assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull.

At a news conference in South Korea, President Donald Trump was asked if he would support "extreme vetting" for gun purchases in the same way he has called for "extreme vetting" for people entering the country. Trump responded by saying stricter gun control measures might have led to more deaths in the shooting because a bystander who shot at the gunman would not have been armed.

"If he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead," Trump said.

In the tiny town of Sutherland Springs, population 400, grieving townspeople reeled from their losses. The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

"Our church was not comprised of members or parishioners. We were a very close family," said the pastor's wife Sherri Pomeroy, who, like her husband, was out of town when the attack happened. "Now most of our church family is gone."

The couple's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy, was among those killed.

Kelley's mother-in-law sometimes attended services there, but the sheriff said she was not at church Sunday.

The massacre appeared to stem from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated, Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said. He did not elaborate.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders, one of whom was armed, and crashed his car.

The 26-year-old shooter also used his cellphone to tell his father he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

While in the military, Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and her child and had served a year of confinement after a court-martial. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes such as assault should be submitted to the FBI's Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

Stefanek said the service is launching a review of its handling of the case and taking a comprehensive look at its databases to ensure other cases have been reported correctly.

A few months before he received the bad-conduct discharge, sheriff's deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend. People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

Also in 2014, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in Colorado after a neighbor reported him for beating a dog. Kelley initially refused to speak with officers about the incident. He denied abusing the animal but complied with an order to pay almost $370 in restitution. He was also the focus of a protective order issued in Colorado in 2015.

Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of the church, and had recently started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort.

As he left the church, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident  later identified as Stephen Willeford  who had grabbed his own rifle and exchanged fire with Kelley.

Willeford had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. The armed resident asked to get in Langendorff's truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

"He jumped in my truck and said, 'He just shot up the church. We need to go get him.' And I said 'Let's go,'" Langendorff said.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph (145 kph). Willeford told Arkansas TV stations KHBS/KHOG that he kept a 911 operator advised of the situation during the chase. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed.

Willeford walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the attacker did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Langendorff said.

The assailant was dead in his vehicle. He had three gunshot wounds  two from where the armed man hit him in the leg and the torso and the third self-inflicted wound to the head, authorities said.

"There was no thinking about it. There was just doing. That was the key to all this. Act now. Ask questions later," Langendorff said.

___

Weber reported from New Braunfels. Associated Press writers John Mone in Sutherland Springs, Nomaan Merchant in Houston and Diana Heidgerd in Dallas also contributed to this report.
SEATTLE  Housing prices are soaring here thanks to the tech industry, but the boom comes with a consequence: A surge in homelessness marked by 400 unauthorized tent camps in parks, under bridges, on freeway medians and along busy sidewalks. The liberal city is trying to figure out what to do.

"I've got economically zero unemployment in my city, and I've got thousands of homeless people that actually are working and just can't afford housing," said Seattle City Councilman Mike O'Brien. "There's nowhere for these folks to move to."

That struggle is not Seattle's alone. A homeless crisis is rocking the entire West Coast, pushing abject poverty into the open like never before.

Public health is at risk, several cities have declared states of emergency, and cities and counties are spending millions  in some cases billions  in a search for solutions.

San Diego now scrubs its sidewalks with bleach to counter a deadly hepatitis A outbreak. In Anaheim, 400 people sleep along a bike path in the shadow of Angel Stadium. Organizers in Portland lit incense at an outdoor food festival to cover up the stench of urine in a parking lot where vendors set up shop.

Homelessness is not new on the West Coast. But interviews with local officials and those who serve the homeless in California, Oregon and Washington  coupled with an Associated Press review of preliminary homeless data  confirm it's getting worse.

People who were once able to get by, even if they suffered a setback, are now pushed to the streets because housing has become so expensive. All it takes is a prolonged illness, a lost job, a broken limb, a family crisis. What was once a blip in fortunes now seems a life sentence.

Among the findings:

Official counts taken earlier this year in California, Oregon and Washington show 168,000 homeless people in the three states, according to an AP tally of every jurisdiction in those states that reports homeless numbers to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That is 19,000 more than were counted in 2015, although the numbers may not be directly comparable because of factors ranging from the weather to new counting methods.

During the same period, the number of unsheltered people in the three states climbed 18 percent to 105,000.

Rising rents are the main culprit. The median one-bedroom apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area is more expensive than it is in the New York City metro area, for instance.

Since 2015, at least 10 cities or municipal regions in California, Oregon and Washington have declared emergencies due to the rise of homelessness, a designation usually reserved for natural disasters.

The West Coast's newly homeless are people who were able to survive on the margins  until those margins moved.

For years, Stanley Timmings, 62, and his 61-year-old girlfriend, Linda Catlin, were able to rent a room in a friend's house on their combined disability payments.

Last spring, that friend died of colon cancer and the couple was thrust on Seattle's streets.

Timmings used their last savings to buy a used RV for $300 and spent another $300 to register it. Now, the couple parks the RV near a small regional airport.

They have no running water and no propane for the cook stove. They go to the bathroom in a bucket and dump it behind a nearby business.

After four months, the stench of human waste inside the RV is overwhelming. They are exhausted, scared and defeated, with no solution in sight.

"Between the two of us a month, we get $1,440 in disability," he said. "We can't find a place for that."

Nationally, homelessness has been trending down, partly because governments and nonprofit groups have gotten better at moving people into housing. That's true in many West Coast cities, too, but the flow the other direction is even faster.

"So everybody who was just hanging on because they had cheap rent, they're losing that ... and they wind up outside," said Margaret King, director of housing programs for the nonprofit DESC in Seattle. "It's just exploded."

Above all, the West Coast lacks long-term, low-income housing for people like Ashley Dibble and her 3-year-old daughter.

Dibble, 29, says she has been homeless off and on for about a year, after her ex-boyfriend squandered money on his car and didn't pay the rent for three months. She sent her toddler to live with the girl's paternal grandparents in Florida. She and her new boyfriend were sleeping under tarps near Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, when an outreach team referred them to a new shelter.

With an eviction on her record and little income, no one will rent to her.

"I've had so many doors slammed in my face, it's ridiculous," Dibble said, wiping away tears.

All along the West Coast, local governments are scrambling for answers  and taxpayers are footing the bill.

Voters have approved more than $8 billion in spending since 2015 on affordable housing and other anti-homelessness programs, mostly as tax increases. Los Angeles voters, for example, approved $1.2 billion to build 10,000 units of affordable housing to address a homeless population that's reached 34,000 people within city limits.

Jeremy Lemoine, an outreach case manager with REACH in Seattle, called it the situation a refugee crisis.

"I don't mean to sound hopeless," he said. "I generate hope for a living for people  that there is a future for them  but we need to address it now."

___

Associated Press writers Janie Har in San Francisco, Amy Taxin in Anaheim, Julie Watson in San Diego and Chris Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. AP photographer Ted Warren and AP videographer Manuel Valdes in Seattle also contributed.

Follow AP's complete coverage of the homeless crisis here: https://apnews.com/tag/HomelessCrisis
SEOUL  Donald Trump faces obstacles when he arrives for a state visit that have nothing to do with unruly mobs trying to shout loudly enough over mega-loudspeakers for him to hear them across rows of policemen in body armor.

No doubt Trumps handlers will come up with the proper verbiage to reaffirm the historic bond between the two countries. Words and phrases like ironclad and no daylight between us come to mind.

Comforting statements gushing from the Trumpster and his entourage might remind us of another line, The more things change, the more they remain the same.

The first problem that needs covering up with bland cliches is simple: the United States and Republic of Korea leaders may not think alike on North Korea.

Yes, President Moon Jae-in has disappointed pro-northers by supporting rather strong U.N. sanctions against North Korea. He has also gone along with the U.S. military exercises and intimidation flights of U.S. and South Korean warplanes across South Korea after North Korean nuclear and missile tests.

Moon draws the line, though, at talk by Trump, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and others about holding out the military option against the north. You wont hear Moon yakking about any option that might precipitate an artillery barrage across the Demilitarized Zone, much less a second Korean War.

Trump isnt going to say, Look, Mr. President, weve gotta do what we gotta do. Hes going to assure Moon  on the best advice from Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster  that the United States is not thinking of doing anything without the full approval of the ROK.

There will, however, be some catches to the happy talk. Moons security adviser on unification is all for freeze-for-freeze  the idea the United States and South Korea should halt the war games while the north suspends its nuclear and missile tests. Then, while both sides calm down, they should sit down and talk.

The Americans see that stream-of-consciousness as a hoax. While North Korea would go on doing whatever it wished, short of testing, the Americans and South Koreans would have their hands tied.

Moon himself is not such a fantasist. He knows perfectly well theres no point in talks with the north, even if hes getting differing shades of advice from members of his staff. There are, however, other pressing issues that are quite sensitive and may not be easily resolved.

What about OPCON, the acronym, in capital letters, for Operational Control of troops in time of combat? Right now the commander of U.S. Forces Korea is also the commander of the Combined Forces Command and the United Nations Command, a legacy from the Korean War that includes troops from 16 countries. Isnt it about time to put a Korean four-star general in charge of CFC at least?

Senior Americans beat around the bush on that one. Mattis before leaving Seoul last weekend came up with this circumlocution.

We have an integrated process, he said. We are working together  the U.S. is assisting the ROK as we move forward on the issue.
Whether you're for or against the pending school referendums in Hobart and Hammond, don't allow poor voter turnout to hold sway over the results at today's polls in those two cities.

Last week, our editorial board encouraged residents in those two municipalities to support the respective referendums as an investment in long-term viability and quality of public education.

But whether you agree with us isn't really the issue. Regardless of their stances, Hammond and Hobart residents are obligated  as citizens  to cast their ballots on the issue.

In Hobart, school officials are asking residents to approve two separate referendums, one that would generate $2 million annually for six years in new operating funds for classroom programs and student transportation needs. The other would raise $41 million in capital funds for building a new elementary school and constructing a high school swimming pool.

In Hammond, school officials are seeking approval of one referendum that would generate $70 million in total operating costs while another would garner $110.6 million for capital improvements.

We ask that residents see these referendums as an opportunity for investing in one of the most important quality-of-life factors in any community.

Regardless, if you live in Hobart or Hammond, you have both a privilege and a duty to vote. If you haven't already done so through early voting, don't forget to visit the polls between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Locate your polling location through the Lake County government website, https://www.lakecountyin.org by clicking on the "Election and Voter Registration Board" link.

There's no place for apathy on this important issue of both taxpayer expense and community investment.
New Zealand commodity prices fell in October as dairy prices eased although they fared better in New Zealand dollar terms after the kiwi fell to its lowest level in more than a year on a trade-weighted index basis, BusinessDesk reported.The ANZ Commodity Price index slipped to 294.6 in October, down 0.3% on the month and up 10% in the year.In New Zealand dollar terms, the index was at 220.1, up 2.5% on the month and 14% on the year as "local exporters received a further boost as the NZD continued its descent," said ANZ Bank New Zealand senior economist Phil Borkin.The kiwi dollar has come under significant pressure due to political uncertainty after the change in government. The TWI recently traded at 73.36 and is about 3% lower than it was prior to the announcement of the new government."Strong New Zealand dollar prices bode well for rural incomes and profitability, and this will support the economy over 2018," Borkin said.Dairy prices fell 3.1% in the month, "courtesy of rising milk supply in the US and Europe," said Borkin. Butter prices dropped 6.5% as the supply-demand balance improved in Europe, while whole milk powder prices slipped 2.8% despite a slow start to milk supply for NZs new season.Meat and fibre prices eked out a 0.8% increase. Beef prices rose 1.7%, supported by tight Oceania and US supply, good US retail and foodservice demand, with solid economic conditions, he said. Wool prices fell 7% as short-term buying interest from China reduced.Horticulture prices lifted 2.8% in the month, bolstered by higher prices for large kiwifruit sizes and a product mix that included more of the premium gold variety. Seafood prices were up 0.4% in the month.A lift in log and wood pulp prices pushed the forestry group up 1.9 in the month as log export values underpin the market. Wood pulp surged 8% on low inventories and strong Chinese demand, Borkin said.Aluminium prices were up 1.9% on the month and are now 28% higher on the year.
The National Social Security Fund has handed over Shs 131 million raised from this year's NSSF Kampala Hash seven Hills Run to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for the renovation of structures in selected public primary schools.

Richard Byarugaba (C) hands over a dummy cheque to KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi

Proceeds from this years run are going towards the renovation of Makerere primary school, Summit View Army primary and completion of works at Nakivubo Settlement school.

During the handover of the proceeds today at Nakivubo Settlement, NSSF managing director, Richard Byarugaba, said that the Fund chose to support KCCA because of the appalling conditions at most of their schools.



The NSSF Kampala Hash seven Hills Run is a vehicle through which we will progressively raise funds to improve learning conditions in public schools. So far, Nakivubo Settlement primary school and St. Ponsiano Kyamula primary school have benefited from this initiative. With this years proceeds, more schools will be renovated, he said.



According to KCCA, 90 per cent of the 79 government aided schools under their custody require refurbishment among other needs.

I applaud NSSF for keeping their promise to support us. With this support, we are able to address one of the most pressing needs in providing quality education for the underprivileged children, said Jennifer Musisi, KCCA executive director.
At the start, they thought it was something Kampala would not buy.

A number of artistes, even deejays, have held concerts before celebrating how long they have been in the industry. But after a lot of thought, Radio and Weasel decided they should hold a concert marking their 10 years on the music scene.

The concert happened on Friday and left the writing on the wall, proclaiming them as one of East Africas best dynamic musical duos.

From security, to production, execution, costumes and floor management, they scored highly. Their fans did not let them down as they showed up in droves, filling up Kyadondo Rugy grounds.

Goodlyfe fans turned up in big numbers

The sponsors, MTN Uganda, offered Sim cards at discounted prices to the early birds and Bell Lager had revelers buying beers at discounted prices.

There was a lot of buzz before the concert, most of it negative, with comments on social media suggesting the duo was washed out and had nothing more to offer.

However, the pair promised fire, and they indeed delivered fire. Daggy Nice, who had the emcee role, did a fantastic job, ensuring the crowd remained hyper throughout, dispensing facts on the duo.

Curtain raisers included DJ Michael, King Saha and Gravity. There was also Pallaso, who has improved a lot on his stage usage and engaging the crowd.

At around 10pm, the duo stepped on stage backed up by the UB-5 band. They kept on mentioning new-socialite-on-the-scene, Bryan White, who had apparently donated to them Shs 10m prior to the concert.

They took the crowd on a roller coaster ride with their hits songs Zuena, Talk And Talk, Gutamiza, which they performed with B2C, Amasso, Breathe Away, Ngendamasso, Magnetic, Bikoola, Neera, Obudde, to mention but a few.

At midnight when the KCCA curfew struck, they had delivered the promise and walked the talk.
In July this year, UN Women trained 250 LC-III women councillors from ten districts about their responsibilities in local leadership. They were encouraged, among others, to form caucuses that would help them push a female-sensitive agenda during council meetings.

As JOSEPH KIMBOWA reports, the trainings have already created an impact in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Kotido and Kaberamaido.



Ruth Anna Kiyonga does not know the meaning of gikwateko or togikwatako.

She recently heard over radio that there was a fight in parliament over the presidential age limit and people threw chairs at one another. But this is a topic everyone fears to discuss here.

Of Kampala politics, she is sure about one thing: Yoweri Museveni, the man who saved her beloved Karamoja from cattle rustlers, is the only president.

That is all.

The 48-year-old (she looks way over 65) loves it here in remote Lopeer village in the north-eastern Ugandan district of Kotido, some 420 kilometres from Kampala.

Kiyonga with her grandchild

Although the current hullabaloo in Kampala about scrapping the constitutional presidential age limit frightens her, Kiyongas immediate need is to take care of her aging husband, fend for her eight children and be a good local leader.



EXEMPLARY LEADER

In this well-knit typical Karimojong manyatta community of Patongor parish  proudly termed the biggest village in east Africa by residents here  Kiyongas household is well respected.

She is a model farmer (rears cross-breed goats), a leader and landlord. Her husband Micheal Lopuri has been the LC-I chairperson for 17 years and she has been the area NRM chairperson for a decade. She has six rental rooms in this wards trading centre where tenants pay Shs 10,000 per month.

Life is good, she quips with a shy smile revealing a gap left by two missing lower frontal teeth.

Also the LC-III woman councilor representing Patongor parish, Kiyonga was one of over 20 women councilors from Kotido district trained by UN Women in July 2017 through Forum for Women in Democracy (Fowode) about their roles and responsibilities in local councils.

When I visit her along with a team from UN Women, it is evident that Lopeer residents look up to her.

After receiving us from the villages trading centre, she leads us through a series of wood-fenced manyattas lining in parallel curves on either side to her homestead.

Then we literally crawl into her organized compound where she offers a wooden bench.

I am sorry that you found me dirty, she says, looking down her fading t-shirt donated by USAid.

Kiyonga then testifies that since the training, she now has a purpose.

Kiyonga (2nd L) talking to a team from UN Women

You know women here are usually sidelined. But since the training, we now understood our roles and capabilities and have been able to make our voices heard, she says.

One component of the trainings was to encourage women councilors to form caucuses to collectively push female-sensitive issues during council meetings.

This formula has proved magical in Lopeer.

Previously, fellow women would shout you down for being disrespectful of men even when you are raising an issue concerning them. But through caucuses, we know that we must speak with the same women voice, Kiyonga says.

Their caucus has since convinced stubborn Karimojong men that girls should be in school and menstruating ones should be provided with sanitary towels.

They are responding, she says. We have even convinced many families to dig pit latrines. Many other women have learnt from us and are planning to contest for LC-I positions.

However, Kiyonga says education is still a far-cry in this part of the country. Indeed, this is evident as many children can be seen farming or grazing cattle during school time and those that go to school reach as late as 11am and leave shortly after 3pm.

So, when I tell parents to take girls to school, they ask me if I am going to also pay the school fees, she laments.

Primary school fees here averages Shs 10,000 per term.



LIVES CHANGED

Kiyongas case mirrors many others of 250 sub-county women councilors from ten Ugandan districts trained by UN Women in partnership with Fowode about gender-responsive measures to improve their leadership skills and participation in politics.

According to Primrose Kibirigi, working with UN Womens political participation and leadership unit, many women enter political offices without an idea about their responsibilities and end up being overshadowed by male voices.

These trainings aimed at equipping these women with the confidence and knowledge to push the female agenda as well as gender equality in decision-making, Kibirigi says.

Basing on the recent follow-up visits in Gulu, Kitgum, Kotido and Kaberamaido, Kibirigi is convinced the trainings were not in vain.

The short-term results are amazing. Lives are being changed. The commitment exhibited by these women is unbelievable! she says.

In all four districts visited, the feedback was positive and linear.

In Orom sub-county of Kitgum, for instance, the caucus lobbied local leadership to alter budgeting priorities and buy three motorcycles to transport pregnant mothers to the district hospital. This sub-county is the biggest and most remote in Kitgum.

In Gulu, primary schools have been tasked to provide changing rooms for menstruating girls.



DARING MEN

In Amida sub-county of Kitgum, the women caucus helped push through a by-law where if a household was found with a girl out of school, local officials would confiscate and sell any valuable items such as goats and chicken. The money is then used to pay for the girls school fees and the balance is given back to parents.

Besides pushing the female agenda, councilors were also trained on how to use their positions to encourage other women or themselves to compete against men.

Kaberamaido women councillors during the meeting with UN Women

And we find Rose Oliva Longoli of Kotido is already in campaign mode. Equipped with a diploma in public administration from Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development, Longoli is convinced that she is the right candidate to take Kotido SS Ward to the next level.

I am educated and liked by people here. And since the UN Women training, I am confident because I can even stand in front of people in church and read the Bible without shaking, says the 28-year-old mother of one.

Her counterpart Bena Elasu, 55, in Kaberamaido bases her competence on experience. She has been the LC-I chairperson for Headquarters Cell in Alem sub-parish since President Museveni assumed power in 1986.

Although she served as area LC-II councilor between 2011 and 2016, she declined to stand again last year, targeting the LC-I chair, which she believes is her calling.

People love me here. I am incorruptible. No man can beat me in this village, she confidently says, before asking UN Women to bring more trainings to empower more women.

Back in Gulu, Proscovia Laloyo is eying bigger things. Currently the Laroo division speaker, Laloyo is looking forward to contesting for the division chairmanship in the next election.

I am really proud of the training by UN Women. Now men can feel us. I am the speaker and it is easy for women to have their voice heard since I am the final ruler, she says with a grin.

She, however, wants UN Women to take all women it trained for benchmarking in other districts; to compare notes.

UN Womens Kibirigi says Laloyos example is a step in the right direction.

This is a five-year running programme. We target women leaders immediately after they enter office and follow them through their terms of office as we prepare them to contest for the same or bigger offices in the next election, she says. It is encouraging to hear that some are already eyeing bigger offices.

Forget togikwatako or gikwateko. What Laloyo, Elasu or Kiyonga have in common is the new-found inspiration that politics is no longer a pastime and mens activity, but a passion and purpose for many rural women of impoverished northern Uganda and Karamoja.



kimbowa@observer.ug




The minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Maj. Gen Kahinda Otafiire has said changes in the Constitution including lifting of the age limits are inevitable.

Otafiire was responding to Bishop Robert Muhiirwa's comments on the amendment of the Constitution to remove the presidential age limits.



Bishop Muhiirwa used his sermon in a mass for Catholics from Mbarara Archdiocese on their annual pilgrimage to the Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo on Sunday to remind leaders about the oath they take while holding the bible.



"The word of God must not be played with. The leaders of this country must not joke with the Bible. They held a bible in their right hand and swore to defend the Constitution," he said.

Minister Otafiire (R) arrives for a meeting with NRM leaders

However while meeting National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders from Fort Portal municipality and Kabarole district on Monday in Fort Portal town, Otafiire said that although he respects Muhiirwa's opinion on the age limit, amendments and changes in society are inevitable.



According to Otafiire, Jesus left only one church under St. Peter but now there are many churches with different religious leaders implying that the constitution of the church was changed which led to the emergence of different religions and bishops.



He added that since there is change in religion, the same should apply in politics.



"Jesus left only one church under St Peter but there are four bishops in Kabarole. If they had not changed the constitution of the church, how would the different denominations have arisenSo like theres time for change in religion there is also time for second thoughts in politics", Otafiire said.



Muhiirwa and Reuben Kisembo, the Bishop Ruwenzori Diocese have been consistent so far on their stance against removing the age limits. They have spoken at different functions and written letters urging President Yoweri Museveni to retire and allow another leader to take over.



Otafiire also criticised some NRM members of parliament who are against the amendment of the constitution. He said that as party members, they are supposed to support and respect decisions taken by the party's organs.



After speaking to the leaders, Otafiire then ordered journalists out of the hall, saying that the leaders were going to discuss internal matters of the party. He also ordered his army escorts to ensure the journalists were not in the vicinity of the venue.



Margaret Muhanga, the member of parliament for Burahya county and a supporter of removal of the age limit, said that some NRM members of parliament and members of the opposition are wasting time opposing the proposed amendment of the constitution.



Displaying a list of names, Muhanga claimed that 330 NRM MPs and all the 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces-UPDF representatives are in favour of amending the constitution.
Chen Ming, a young video-game designer from Shenzen, China, recently sparked the envy of iPhone fans all around the world, after buying 25 brand new iPhone X smartphones and arranging them in a heart shape to propose to his girlfriend.

To pull of the over-the-top marriage proposal, Chen Ming pre-ordered 25 iPhone Xs, and, on November 3, when the newest Apple handheld officially launched in China, he arranged them all in the shape of a heart on a bed of red rose metals, with an engagement ring in the middle. To make sure that his girlfriend didnt suspect a thing, Chen enlisted the help of her friends, asking them to bring her to the specified location of the surprise.

When the unsuspecting girlfriend  named only as Lee  arrived and saw the lavish display of luxury phones and Chen down on his knee holding the engagement ring, she couldnt help but be touched by his romantic gesture and accepted his marriage proposal.

In case youre wondering why Chen Ming opted for iPhone Xs, of all things, he and his girlfriend are apparently big fans of mobile video games. The two met two years ago through a game that Chen had developed and gaming has reportedly been a big part of their relationship ever since. But why 25 of them, though? The number was reportedly meant to symbolize Lees age.

So what is the lucky bride-to-be supposed to do with 25 new iPhone X smartphones? Well she and Chen decided that 25 is a bit too much for one person, so they gifted them to the friends that helped pull off the unique proposal.

Photos of the romantic iPhone X display recently went viral on Chinese social media, leaving people wondering why anyone would spend so much money on a bunch of phones when they could have bought a new car or put a down payment on a house for the same amount. Prices for the iPhone X start at 8,388 yuan in mainland China, which means Chen must have spent at least 210,000 yuan ($31,500) on them.

Chen Ming should consider himself lucky that his girlfriend accepted to be his wife. Three years ago, another Chinese man got turned down after spending nearly $100,000 on a stack of iPhone 6 phones, because his girlfriend wanted diamonds instead.

via ET Today
In Hanoi Vietnam, a young entrepreneur called Dinh Thang has found a creative solution to the post break-up blues. Instead of wallowing among the leftover relics of failed relationships, such as love letters and clothing, Thang has boxed them up and put a price tag on them. In February 2017 he founded the Old Flames Market where the broken hearted can gather together and sell the remnants of their affairs to curious customers.

This fair is only one of those many cool ideas my friends and I came up with after a chit chat about ex-girlfriends, boyfriends, and things, Thang told Vietnam News*. After the break-ups, we found there were many objects left in our homes by old lovers, and we do not want to see them again since they remind us of unhappy memories. However, these things were still in good shape. It would harm the environment if we tossed them away. Then, we thought we should make an exchange with other people, so the objects would find new owners. They can buy new, good objects and we protect the environment. Its a win-win.

Photo: Old Flames Market/Facebook

The first couple of times Old Flames Market was organized, only 10 people showed up to sell off memorabilia from their failed relationships, but within months it had attracted more people wanting to sell mementos than could be accommodated.

Today, only a few of those wanting to participate get a stall in the small cottage that Thang is able to use free of charge. Admission is free for buyers and sellers alike, but if a seller brings new goods to sell, they pay 30 percent of their profits to the organizers. All sellers at the fair first join the Old Flames Facebook page where they share the story behind their objects, and then the market organizers choose those allowed to sell at the next market. Priority is given to those who post earliest.

Photo: Old Flames Market/Facebook

Thang has set up a message board in the market where people can write notes to their exes as a means to help them move on. He hopes that the market will help make the topic of breakups less taboo in Vietnam, where until recently arranged marriages were common. And judging by the reaction of those participating in the project, his idea is working.

I come here mostly for fun, and to share my love memories, not for profit. I what to contribute something for the true spirit of this fair, one of the sellers said.

Photo: Old Flames Market/Facebook

Another seller said she also came for connection rather than profit. I think it should be the sole purpose of this fair. I find this idea inspiring. Since they are old stuff, and we dont need them, we sell for a better goal, for people who truly need them, and we even give things away for free.

Not everyone agrees with the purpose of the market, as one buyer said to Vietnam News: I see some sell their books, scarves, and even diaries and love letters. I think these are so sacred and are something between two lovers, so they should not be sold. Its like they sell their private lives for a bit of money.

Photo: Old Flames Market/Facebook

Thang disagrees with the criticism, saying that the market is therapeutic for many of the sellers, helping them to let go and move on from a painful part of their lives. He is planning to expand the concept into Vietnams commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City, in 2018.

Breakups apparently inspire people to come up with really creative ideas. A few years ago, we also wrote about the Museum of Broken Relationships, in Zagreb, Croatia, a popular tourist attractions featuring all kinds of items donated by people who ended their romantic relationships.
In a remote region of the western Pacific, just north of the equator, lies the ruins of the ancient and enigmatic city of Nan Madol. The magnificent ruin, built in a lagoon on the east side of Micronesian island Pohnpei, consists of 92 artificial islets constructed on coral reefs which are linked by a network of canals, giving it the nickname Venice of the Pacific.

Nan Madol is an engineering wonder, with massive basalt walls reaching 16 meters high in some places. Carbon dating indicates the structures are around 900 years old, but the islets themselves date even further back to the 8th and 9th centuries AD. The basalt stones originated on the opposite side of Pohnpei from a volcanic plug, where magma had hardened within the vent of an active volcano. What has modern archeologists mystified is how these massive stones were moved from one side of Pohnpei to the other using what primitive technology would have been available at the time. Furthermore, once the basalt had been successfully transported, it would have then been hoisted to heights of 16 meters. The effort required to build the megalithic structures would have rivaled that of the Egyptian pyramids, with a total area of 75 hectares, and an estimated total weight of 750,000 metric tons.

Photo: NOAA

Experts have suggested that the giant rocks may have been transported to the coral islands making up Nan Madol with the help of rafts, but they have yet to come up with a theory for how they were originally moved from their distant quarries and used to erect impressive structures. Its location, so far away from civilization, is also a mystery.

Why would somebody build a city out on the middle of the ocean? Why here, so far away from any other known civilisation? Dr Patrick Hunt, archaeologist, told Science Channel series What on Earth?

Photo: Hobe

Theres something strange going on off the coast of the Micronesian island of Ponhpei, explorer George Kourounis recently said. There are these tiny islands almost 100 of them that are remarkably similar and geometrically shaped. The reason? Its not so clear.

Mythology offers an explanation where science fails, as according to Pohnpeian legend the city was constructed by twin sorcerers Olisihpa and Olosohpa. The brothers sought a place to build an altar so that they could worship Nahnisohn Sahpw, the god of agriculture. They performed rituals to levitate the massive basalt into the form of Nan Madol. Olosohpa eventually became the first Saudeleur, the dynasty that went on to rule Nan Madol until about 1628. Their reign ended with the invasion by the legendary warrior Isokelekel, who also resided at Nan Madol, and implemented the Nahnmwarki system of a tribal chiefdom, which continues into the modern era. Most Pohnpeians still believe that the ancient city was the work of sorcery.

Photo: CT Snow

However it came to be, it is known to have been a sacred site founded by The Saudeleur dynasty, and populated by chiefs and priests, as well as commoners to serve them. The Saudeleur rulers required local nobility to reside in the city as a means to monitor their activity and maintain control. The subjugated Pohnpeians brought food and water to the city, as there were no means to grow food or collect water on the reef. It was this logistical problem that may have eventually led to the abandonment of this incredible city.

The mystery of the ancient citys existence and purpose has also inspired some legends of spirits and ghosts, making it a scary place to visit for most, despite its UNESCO World Herritage status. While similar sites receive hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, only around 1,000 tourists come to Nan Madol, many of them ghost hunters.

In 1985, Nan Madol was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Interior Department, the only such site in the Federated States of Micronesia, and in 2016 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The ruins are threatened by encroaching mangroves, as well as the temperamental Pacific weather, earning it a place on the World Heritage in Danger List as well.*
Global tech firm The Hoffman Agency has launched a new operation in Indonesia.

Hoffmans Jakarta office, which officially opened yesterday, comprises the independent agencys seventh outpost in the Asia Pacific region (Hoffman opened its first Asia Pacific office more than 20 years ago and now maintains operations in Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo).

Lou Hoffman

Hoffman's Jakarta location currently staffs three and plans to add more employees as the operation grows. It will be led by Cici Utari, who formerly led Jakarta-based PR shop Qycomms. Hoffman previously collaborated with Qycomms on numerous PR assignments in Indonesia.

CEO Lou Hoffman told ODwyers that the decision to launch a Jakarta office comes in light of historic growth in the tech landscape across Southeast Asia. PricewaterhouseCoopers recently predicted the Indonesian economy will be the worlds fifth largest by 2030.

We view Indonesia and Southeast Asia in general as a massive opportunity thats underserved by communication consultancies. Most people are surprised to hear that Indonesia will be a top five global economy in 2030. Of course, 2030 is many years away, but the point is this is a market undergoing massive growth. We wanted to get in early.

San Jose, CA-based Hoffman celebrates its 30-year anniversary this year.


Mariana Agathoklis



Verizon has tapped Mariana Agathoklis for the VP-corporate communications post that was formerly held by Torod Neptune, who left in March after a nearly two-year stint for Lenovo.

The ex-VP communications at MTV takes charge of external communications and issues, reporting to Jim Gerace, chief communications officer from her perch in Basking Ridge, NJ.

At MTV, Agathoklis worked on its series, specials, awards & news programming across the digital, mobile and social platforms. She also was responsible for corporate/brand initiatives, as well as promoting the Viacom unit's leadership team.

Agathoklis joined MTV in 2005 from Porter Novelli.

Known for its wireless network, Verizon's Oath unit includes social/digital/video brands such as AOL, TechCrunch, Yahoo, HuffPost, engadget, MAKERS and tumblr.
Frank Tortorici

The recent debacle surrounding the hacking of credit reporting bureau Equifax, which exposed millions of customers proprietary and contact information, is just further evidence that cybersecurity issues are not going away and will remain at the forefront of international business concerns.

One cybersecurity matter very rarely examined, however, is how corporate communications firms, often charged with aiding and buttressing other businesses corporate reputations, handle a situation that imperils their own online data and programs.

Communications firms and public relations agencies are often the experts people turn to in any matter of crisis and they are the purveyors of plans and programs designed to protect companies in times of struggle and disaster.

What happens when one of them is hacked?

PR agencies generally have a more-than-usual amount of sensitive information, because they have their own proprietary data, as well as reams of private material from a number of clients. Along with data loss, many organizations fear the reputational damages that they would incur as the result of a cyberattack. Case in point: Equifax.

Agencies that handle crisis communications are typically part of the process when responding to a cyberattack. Nation-state adversaries that want to control the narrative may specifically target such agencies precisely to meet that objective  controlling the narrative or to obtain information that could be otherwise damning.

Everyone should be concerned with protecting employee, client, and company data including financial details  that goes without saying, said James Taliento, CEO and Founder of Cursive Security, a Long Island-based cybersecurity solutions company. But PR is all about the communication and the content. Unfortunately, they would be an ideal attack point for a disruptor aiming to harm as many individuals and companies as possible.

Taliento believes that the top attack vectors would include those communication channels such as email, phone or messaging. Other areas of interest would be where sensitive information is being stored. Media outlets generally use highly accessible services to transfer such information: specifically, file storage services like DropBox, Drive and Box. Convenience is a necessity, but that information must be safeguarded to prevent further crisis to clients.

Global Ransomware attacks in June affected some communication companies, including British advertising agency WPP. Expert hackers know that going after a PR, marketing communications or advertising firm will likely bear them a treasure trove of private data.

Since many communications firms take pride in crisis preparations programs for clients, it makes sense that they should bulk up security themselves for all the client data they possess. Yes, one must always remember that any information stored on a computer doesnt belong to you simply because you entered it.

According to anti-malware company Malwarebytes, there are many steps that firms can take to safeguard information and communications firms especially should take heed of these.

The first is to constantly update your OS and other software so that hackers cant take advantage of outdated safeguards in your security programs. PR firms should invest in even more sophisticated technology such as Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.

It also goes without saying that you should rid all traces from any devices you sell or discard. One tip that is often ignored is to not use open Wi-Fi, which is easily accessible to most hackers. The best way to do this is to use an encrypted password.

Some more obvious solutions are to create difficult passwords which you should change frequently and lock devices and make timeouts fairly short. Several services offer two-factor authentication which makes hacking much more difficult.

Also, be sure not to link accounts. If you work for a PR firm, be especially sure that you dont comment on a social media site using your personal Facebook or Twitter when youre speaking for the company or on client matters.

And although storing things on the cloud is convenient, keep client sensitive information off the cloud. Be sure to log activity for clients on private servers to which only trusted company personnel have access.

A question that has been floated around more than once in the cybersecurity industry is whether PR agencies and communication firms are indeed targeted more than other companies by hackers. Its difficult to say this categorically, but such attacks are rising.

Who is targeting communications and PR companies on the internet and why is it becoming more common? To answer this question, according to Matti Kon, CEO of New York-based cyber-security solutions firm InfoTech, its important to understand that cyber-attacks are divided into two major categories:

Random attacks

Random attacks are usually performed by a malware thats not prejudiced; it doesnt care if youre a major business or a small store, or whether youre a PR company or a hospital. If an everyday average form of malware makes its way into your system it will destroy anything it can. Everyday malware has flooded its way throughout the Internet and can automatically replicate itself and continue to spread by compromised systems. This is also applicable to Ransomware, which is a specific type of malware that will hold your organization ransom for payments, which you either make or your data will be published/stolen/destroyed, etc.

Specifically-targeted attacks

In these cases, the PR or communications company is targeted by an entity who would like to penetrate the system and get information about clients, projects or bank account information. These arent random attacks, but are probably the result of individuals using the Internet and weaknesses in your systems in order to penetrate your organizational information and steal it, perhaps to get ahead of their competition.

These are similar in nature to the cases in which the Russians are blamed for compromising the American electoral system during the last election. This is targeted criminal activity.

A PR company, although probably holding more sensitive information than other types of businesses, has to safeguard its interest on the Internet just like any other company. Whether it has to protect itself from a random attack or from a targeted attack, every communications and PR company should employ a dense, strong cyber security footprint, and train its employees regularly as cybersecurity should be a top priority. Kon says that its highly recommended to have somebody on staff that is proactive in protecting the company from cyber threats. But if the company cannot afford a full-time person to monitor its systems, it should retain a cybersecurity technology organization that would be responsible for protecting its footprint. This concern should report directly to the senior management of the communication/PR company because its success can literally save the firm from dissolution caused by clever and insidious hacking.

***

Frank Tortorici leads Marketing Mavens business and professional services practice out of their NYC office. He can be reached at [email protected]
West Corp., the Omaha-based telecommunications technology company, said Monday that its chief executive would step down, effective immediately.

The move comes after a New York-based private equity firm last month purchased West for $5.2 billion. It wasnt clear whether the change in the executive suite was tied to the purchase. A West spokesman didnt return a request for comment.

West said Thomas Barker, who had been chief executive since 1998, would retire after 26 years with the company; he will stay on in an advisory role to assist with the transition to a new CEO, the company said in a statement.

John Shlonsky will become Wests new chief executive. He previously was a senior executive vice president of TSYS, a payments and financial services company, the company said. It isnt clear whether Shlonsky will be based in Omaha.

Matt Nord, chairman of the Wests board, announced Shlonskys appointment in the same statement. Nord is a senior partner of Apollo Global Management, the private-equity firm that completed its deal to buy West in October.

Johns track record and experience in private equity speaks for itself and we look forward to working with him in this next phase of Wests corporate development, Nord said of Shlonsky.

Last week, West told The World-Herald that it had eliminated a number of positions in Omaha, where the company recently had employed 1,200 people. It wasnt clear when the positions were cut; a spokesman wouldnt say how many peoples jobs were affected.

After the sale, spokesman Dave Pleiss said West still would be run from Omaha with the same executive team. He said at the time that nothing would immediately change for the companys local workers.
LINCOLN  Nebraska asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss much of a federal civil rights lawsuit complaining about extreme overcrowding in the states prison system.

The states motion filed in U.S. District Court claims that ACLU of Nebraska had overreached in its lawsuit, filed in August.

Attorney General Doug Peterson asked that all claims against the State Board of Parole be dismissed, as well as those allegations based on a federal civil rights act.

 ... The blunt instrument of adversarial litigation is a poor and costly tool for effectively shaping policy, the lawsuit stated.

However, it added that a federal court might be the ideal forum for deciding the grave and strident claims of the ACLU, which it called agenda-driven.

Overall, Mondays motion seeks to narrow the issues and those named in the ACLUs lawsuit. It is the first return salvo in what is expected to be a months-long legal debate over conditions in Nebraska prisons, which have been at 160 percent of capacity and higher in recent months.

After years of threatening it, the ACLU filed the suit in late August, alleging that prison overcrowding had caused needless suffering and death of inmates, as well as unsafe conditions for staff. Five inmates have died violent deaths in state prisons since May 2015, and assaults on prison staff have increased.

ACLU of Nebraska Director Danielle Conrad said Mondays response from the state contained nothing unexpected.

She called on the state to come to the table to negotiate changes in state prisons to end the needless pain and suffering in our prisons and move the state forward.

The ACLUs lawsuit named the State Department of Correctional Services; its director, Scott Frakes; and the Nebraska Board of Parole among its defendants.

The 87-page suit alleged that inmates, especially those with disabilities and mental health problems, have been denied adequate health care. It also charged that some inmates spend months and years in solitary confinement, sometimes shackled, which particularly harms those with mental illnesses.

Those conditions, the ACLU said, violate inmates constitutional rights to a community standard of health care and violate federal statutes governing care for inmates with disabilities.

The state, in its response Monday, said the ACLU had failed to show that any inmates had been harmed by actions of the Parole Board, or even if any of the inmates named in the lawsuit were parole-eligible.

The ACLU, whose attorneys include those who prevailed against the State of California in a similar prison lawsuit, has until Dec. 11 to respond.

World-Herald staff writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.
Omaha police are keenly aware of a recent spike in violent crime, Chief Todd Schmaderer said Monday evening. And the department has beefed up staffing to focus on the problem.

Police say they believe that some of the violence is tied to one gang, Schmaderer said, adding that one gangs violence can affect other gangs. The department is focused on that gang, with officers working overtime, and homicide and gang units working closely together.

The police chief said he could speak only vaguely about the situation, to avoid compromising police work.

Over the weekend, one Omaha man was killed and three others were shot in three separate shootings. Two people were stabbed, one in a home invasion and the other in a neighborhood fight. Robberies at two gas stations turned dicey when, in one case, a customer was robbed and another assaulted, and in the other instance, robbers fired at vehicles in the area. And a little more than a week ago, burglars stole 30 weapons from a pawnshop (20 have been recovered). Police have not said which, if any, of these acts were tied to gang violence.

Still, the Omaha Police Department said in a statement Monday that, compared with previous years, violent crime is down in Omaha. The statement said the department understands the reasons behind the current outbreak, but did not elaborate.

Road rage did not appear to be a factor in the shooting death of an Omaha man Sunday on the North Freeway, police said in the statement.

Xavier Bass, 21, was slain and Marcus Eiland, 24, was wounded in the freeway shooting, reported at 12:45 p.m. near the Hamilton Street overpass.

Police are investigating and had not announced any arrests as of Monday night.

A First Responders Prayer Walk was held overlooking the site Monday evening.

The prayer walk took place just after the sun set, on a hill above the spot on the North Freeway where Bass and Eilands vehicle came to a stop. People gathered in an empty lot on the southwest corner of 28th and Charles Streets.

These kinds of tragedies, Lord God, they just cut to the heart, prayed the Rev. Bruce Williams, who led the service. We all know this never should have happened to Xavier.

About 45 people attended, arms on each others shoulders, heads bowed. Two women held each other as one of them sobbed.

During the service, Williams asked people to say things about Bass. Comments came back: Real. Good dude. Hard worker.

Beautiful dimples, a woman said, and then many laughed. And he was an excellent cook.

One attendee, Omaha Public Schools board member Yolanda Williams, 43, said Bass set a positive example to other young men, keeping them on a positive path, including one of her own children.

He was an amazing young man who touched a lot of young lives in a positive way, Williams said.

Bass mother, Shalonda Bass, 39, had said earlier in the day that she wasnt sure she was up for the public gathering. But she arrived as it ended, and as many of her sons loved ones lingered, she embraced them in long hugs and spoke briefly with Willie Barney of Omaha360.

In a phone interview earlier, she said she hoped her sons death would cause people to think twice about their actions.

People really need to think about what they do before they do it. Because its senseless. Its really senseless, she said.

She said Xavier was very intelligent  so much so that he was able to skip fifth grade.

He wasnt mature, but he was smart, she said. He was really intellectually smart.

His father, Corey Bass, was shot to death in 1996, when Xavier Bass was only a month old.

This is just like replay for me and its devastating, she said. I lost my husband at 21 and Xavier just turned 21 not even two weeks ago.

His mother said her sons organs have been donated to others. (Its) a good thing that came out of this, she said

Anyone with information on the slaying, or any other crime, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 444-STOP, or go to www.omahacrimestoppers.org.
Omaha police have identified a man who was injured in a shooting Sunday.

Lionel Johnson, 56, was wounded in the shooting near North 37th Street and Meredith Avenue, police said.

Lt. Kyle Steffen said police found Johnson on a sidewalk about 6:30 p.m.

Police were called to the area by activation of the departments ShotSpotter gunshot detection system and 911 phone calls.

Johnson was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said Monday afternoon that she could not release Johnsons condition, but police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa  Russ Kurth, a member of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, died in a grain bin accident Tuesday.

The accident occurred as Kurth and another person were trying to determine the cause of a leak in the bin, said Harrison County Sheriff Pat Sears. At some point, the bins door malfunctioned, spilling corn out on top of Kurth, who was buried underneath. The other person, who has not been identified, was able to escape.

The Missouri Valley, Mondamin and Logan Fire and Rescue Departments responded to the scene on private property north of Missouri Valley, near Kennedy Avenue and Highway 183. The incident remains under investigation.

Sears said the bin, which was new, was full of corn.

Kurth, 63, was elected to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors in 2014.

He graduated from Iowa State University in 1977 with an animal science degree. He met his wife, Peggy Moffatt of Beebeetown, there.

Among the positions hes worked are soil conservationist in Logan, area resource conservationist in Shenandoah, and Harrison County District Conservationist.

Gene Esser, a retired school teacher and bus driver at Logan-Magnolia Community School District, described Kurth and his family as active in the community and selfless.

Esser and Kurth both attended St. Annes Catholic Church in Logan, and Kurth was the grand knight for the Knights of Columbus chapter there.

He helped so many organizations, the school board and much more, Esser said.

Farming was Kurths true passion, as his parents owned a farm near Le Mars that was recently sold.

Its just incredibly sad. The whole family, theyre community people and are always helping others, Esser said.
Light snow was possible this morning across parts of northeast Nebraska and maybe flurries or sprinkles in the Omaha area, forecasters said.

Total amounts in northeast Nebraska should remain under an inch or so, with the heaviest amounts along a line from Albion to Norfolk and Wayne.

In the Omaha area, the weather service called for a slight chance of flurries or sprinkles this morning, mostly cloudy skies and a high around 40. Tonight, expect a low in the lower 20s.

The National Weather Service office in Valley said lower-than-normal temperatures will continue through the rest of the week.

Ryan McPike, a meteorologist at KMTV, said normal highs for early November are the mid-50s and normal lows are the mid-30s.

Wednesday in the Omaha area will be sunny with a high in the upper 40s and Thursday will also be sunny with a high in the mid- to upper 30s. Overnight lows are to be in the 20s.

Friday will turn breezy with a high around 45, the weather service said. Friday night, there is a slight chance of rain after midnight with a low in the mid- to upper 30s.

Forecasters said there also is a slight chance of rain Saturday and Saturday night. Expect a high in the lower 50s and an overnight low in the lower to mid-30s.

Sunday in the Omaha area is forecast to be sunny with a high around 50, the weather service said.
A South Omaha park carries the name of Miguel Keith, a Marine Corps lance corporal who received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War after he died charging an enemy position to save other men in his unit.

Now the Navy is bestowing an even bigger honor on the Omahan, who was only 18 when he died: It is naming a ship in his honor.

Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced Saturday that one of five Expeditionary Sea Base ships being built for the Military Sealift Command will be named in Keiths honor.

How wonderful is that? Thats huge! said Mary Easley of Omaha, whose late husband, John, was Keiths closest boyhood friend.

The USNS Miguel Keith is already under construction at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego and is expected to be delivered in March 2019, according to the companys website. The flat-top ship will measure 784 feet with a helicopter flight deck of 52,000 square feet above spaces for storage of fuel, equipment and ammunition; equipment repair; and mission planning.

The ship is the first to be named by Spencer, a Marine veteran, since he was sworn in as Navy secretary Aug. 3. The series is being named for Marine heroes. Others have been named for astronaut John Glenn, decorated Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lewis Chesty Puller, and Hershel Woody Williams, a Marine hero from the World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

Lt. Joshua Kelsey, a Navy spokesman, said suggestions were sought from the Naval History and Heritage Command, which is the official historical branch of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Its a singular honor, said retired Marine Col. John Folsom of Omaha, who has worked with Easley to donate Keiths medals to the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. We have to recognize our heroes, and this is a great chance.

Keith was born in San Antonio, but his family moved to Omaha when he was a boy. He attended Omaha North High School but left at age 17 because he badly wanted to be a Marine. His mother, Delores, reluctantly signed a consent form to allow him to enlist.

On May 8, 1970, one year and one day after he enlisted, Keith was a machine gunner with the III Marine Amphibious Force in Quang Ngai Province. He was severely wounded when his platoon came under heavy attack but kept firing his weapon, killing three attackers and chasing off two others.

Then a grenade blew up near him and inflicted still more wounds. Though weak from loss of blood, Keith charged a group of 25 enemy soldiers, killing four of them before being killed himself.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha.

Easley said Keiths death devastated his family, who later moved back to Texas. Miguel Hernandez Keith Park was dedicated in 1994. In 2013, a monument in his honor was added. Easley is working to raise $35,000 to add a life-size bronze statue of Keith, but the effort so far has netted $10,000.

That was my husbands last request, to keep Mikes story out there, said Easley, using the name Keith was known by to friends and family. Weve got a long way to go.

The naming of the ship in his honor could help to raise awareness of Keiths heroism, which is not well-known even in his hometown.

What an awesome thing for the Hispanic community, said Rebecca Barrientos-Patlan, a community leader who has worked with Easley to maintain and improve Miguel Keith Park. We need heroes for our kids to look up to.

* * *

To donate

Donations for the casting of a bronze statue of Vietnam war hero Miguel Keith as well as other improvement projects in South Omaha's Miguel Hernandez Keith Park may be made through the Miguel Keith Project Fund at the Midlands Community Foundation.

To donate online, go to midlandscommunity.org/current-funds and scroll down to the Miguel Keith Project Fund.

Or, mail a check to:

Midlands Community Foundation

c/o Miguel Keith Project Fund

217 N. Jefferson St.

Papillion, NE 68046
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., has a new home on Capitol Hill.

Sasse paid $926,000 for a Victorian town house at 403 Constitution Ave. NE, according to the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.

The purchase was first reported by the Washington Business Journal, which quoted Sasse spokesman James Wegmann saying the property would be rented out much of the year and Sasses primary home will continue to be in Nebraska.

Sasses office declined a World-Herald request for comment on the purchase or on whether the rentals could raise conflict-of-interest questions if, for example, Sasse rents to lobbyists.

The 1,448-square-foot house was listed as three apartments with one bedroom and one bath each.

Sasse often talks about commuting from Nebraska to Washington each week Congress is in session, drawing laughs by suggesting he brings along whichever of his three kids wife Melissa is most sick of at the time.

Wegmann told the Washington Business Journal the Sasse family typically spends weekdays in Washington for a few months each winter, hopping from one short-term rental to another. Now, he said, they can stay in one place while in Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump is coming to Korea Tuesday for a two-day visit. He and First Lady Melania Trump are expected at Osan Air Base around noon.

Trump will be welcomed by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Korean ambassador to the U.S. Cho Yoon-je and his wife.

He first visits Camp Humphreys, the new U.S. Forces Korea headquarters in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where he will address Korean and U.S. soldiers and have lunch before being flown to Seoul by helicopter.
OK! Magazine 16 Nov 2022

Former POTUS Donald Trump revealed that he is vying for the White House yet again, unveiling his 2024 presidential campaign.
Nine out of ten Koreans who took a trip overseas this year want to do it again next year, a survey suggests.

In the survey of 1,000 people by the Korea Tourism Organization released Monday, 90.3 percent of respondents said they want to go abroad again next year.

Some 62.5 percent said in the summer. Their favorite destinations are Asian countries, with Japan taking up the largest proportion or 48.7 percent, followed by Vietnam (36.8 percent) and Thailand (29.2 percent).

Only 16.7 percent want to visit China in the wake of the spat over the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here and Chinese boycott.

Respondents went overseas on average 2.6 times from January to September, up 0.5 times on-year. Their overseas trips more than doubled over the past four years. They stayed overseas for an average of 5.9 days, up from 5.7 days on-year.


In another round of musical chairs in party politics, nine lawmakers with the splinter Bareun Party have re-defected to what is now the Liberty Korea Party. They include veteran Kim Moo-sung.

The lawmakers made the announcement in a press conference at the National Assembly on Monday. That will reduce the Bareun contingent in the National Assembly from 20 to 11 and cost it its status as a negotiating bloc.

The LKP, ex-President Park Geun-hye's old party, will see the number of its National Assembly seats rise to 116. "We are witnessing the self-righteousness of the Moon government without the power to do anything about it because the conservatives remain fractured," they said in a statement.

"For the future of the country, we believe conservative forces should be united, overcoming conflict and internal divisions."
by  Graham Pierrepoint



The alt-right has emerged largely as a result of politicians such as Donald Trump emerging as popular figureheads in US politics  and with it, several commentators and personalities have been using the mainstream media and Twitter alike to communicate their own politics and twists on whats been occurring in the outside world. To many left of the right wing, their emergence has been either an annoyance or a concern  however, a major alt-right commentator has recently been outed as an outright troll  thanks to a report into potential Russian interference during last years US general election.

Its been reported by the Daily Beast that Jenna Abrams  who, at last count, had over 70,000 Twitter followers  is in fact an account that was created back in 2014, largely becoming more and more political in the run-up to last years big election  and that it was the Internet Research Agency, based in St Petersburg, who was responsible. Abrams tweets have picked up controversy and division as well as extreme agreement online and in the mainstream media over the past year or so, particularly with Twitter becoming more and more the platform to flock to for political discourse. This has never been truer thanks to President Trump using the service to advise of his own thoughts and positions on various world events. Even the mainstream media are tuning into the little blue bird to find out whats happening in the world  as social media evolves slowly into the place to discuss matters.

Abrams outing has resulted in account suspension and further concerns being raised as to the true nature behind the so-called Russian troll farm  and just how deep the rabbit hole goes. The ongoing investigation into alleged Russian interference behind the scenes of the US election continues  and the emergence of this popular alt-right mouthpiece being a fake is only adding to the controversy and the fascination that lies behind the allegations.

Its thought that, as the rabbit hole goes deeper, more details will emerge in the coming weeks and even those close to Trump could be implicated  as the FBI continues to research the links that supposedly exist. Its shaping up to be an incredibly dramatic year for US politics  and, as a result, for the world at large. Where will it all end  and what could happen next?
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A Portland-area company that brokers cadavers and body parts is under FBI attention over distribution of its acquisitions, unidentified sources told Reuters.

MedCure is among the largest brokers of cadavers and body parts in the United States. From 2011 through 2015, documents obtained under public-record laws show, the company received more than 11,000 donated bodies and distributed more than 51,000 body parts to medical industry customers nationally.

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele confirmed to Reuters a search of the MedCure facilities but would not comment on specifics. Read the Reuters exclusive.

MedCure was in expansion mode for the past several years, The Oregonian/OregonLive has reported

During the Great Recession, it saw a dramatic growth in body donations.
Chin's Kitchen, a nearly 70-year-old Chinese restaurant in Northeast Portland's Hollywood neighborhood, has long been easy to dismiss. The restaurant, fronted by a large, animated neon sign with the restaurant's name in a brushstroke font; an animated quasi-caricature of Mr. Chin wearing a Tang suit, eating from a bowl; and an old-fashioned motto -- "Portland's Original Chinese Food to Go" -- looks like the kind of faded Chinese restaurant you might find in some forgotten corner of outer Portland, a place where the General Tso's mostly exists to justify the video poker.

Looks, as they say, can be deceiving. Years ago, I remember skulking down the narrow, one-way street behind the Hollywood Theatre toward Chin's Kitchen's flashing neon one rainy night, stepping inside and walking unnoticed to the back dining room. There I found tables inset with burners and a tall shelf filled with thin-sliced vegetables, seafood and meats. This was back when you could count Portland's hot pot parlors on one hand.

Chin's Kitchen, in other words, has had its moments. But despite that inadvertent hot-pot speakeasy and that impressive neon, it's never been a particularly interesting restaurant, let alone a great one. At least until now.

In July, sisters Wendy and Cindy Li took over the restaurant, keeping the name but throwing out the menu of mostly Americanized Chinese fare in favor of dishes drawn from their hometown, Harbin, in Heilongjiang province about 750 miles northeast of Beijing. Today, chef Cindy Li can often be seen pulling noodles, folding dumplings or arranging bowls of purple-tinted wild rice on the ledge of the restaurant's new window-wrapped prep kitchen. Wendy Li, who worked in imports and exports and has little previous restaurant experience, manages the dining room.

Harbin's food, and the cuisine of the larger Dongbei (literally "Northeast") region, has many influences, from the Shandong province immigrants who arrived after the Cultural Revolution to the ingredients and techniques introduced by neighboring Russia, Korea and Mongolia. Still, the biggest inspiration seems to be the cold. Harbin, China's northernmost city (geographically, it's in China's Maine; culturally, it's more like Michigan), hosts a sprawling annual snow festival with elaborate ice carvings that can stay frozen outdoors for months. At Chin's Kitchen, the Lis have introduced a wealth of aromatic stews, braised meats, fermented vegetables and hearty dumplings -- food built for a place where the weather can dip below -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Those dumplings were the first thing I heard about Chin's Kitchen. They're good, with thick, dimpled skins wrapped around a half-dozen fillings, including shrimp and egg and the classic Dongbei combo of pork and Chinese sauerkraut.

But it's the stewed, braised and slow-roasted meats that have impressed me most: the downright Teutonic bone-in pork and cabbage 'kraut; the jiggling, soy-drenched ham hock similar in size, shape and texture to a 1950s Jello mold; the supremely tender stewed beef, carrot and just-cooked potato under scallions in a hot, oily broth.

Supremely tender stewed beef with potatoes and carrots at Chin's Kitchen.

Sit at one of Chin's Kitchen's booths or brushed metal chairs, the nearby walls decorated with black-and-white photos of New York City, and you'll be given a small bowl of lightly salted peanuts and some sweet, watery kimchi. If the weather outside is Harbin-esque, order the stewed beef and potatoes, each cube layered with gorgeous rendered fat and glistening with that fragrant, oily broth. That same beef is the star of an otherwise unassertive beef noodle soup (consider adding chili oil to unlock the flavors of the hand-pulled noodles and broth). In its own way, this inexpensive beef cut's transformation to luxurious winter warmer is just as impressive as the finest fatty brisket from Matt's BBQ.

Dongbei-style la pi at Chin's Kitchen.

Beyond preferring aromatic spices such as cumin and star anise to the fiery chilies and Sichuan peppercorns common in China's southern provinces, Dongbei food distinguishes itself from other regional cuisines by its embrace of raw vegetables. The la pi, a sort-of noodle-vegetable salad (listed here as "Classic Northeastern Handmade Clear Noodles Cold Plate in Sauce") is a work of art, with hundreds of cucumber, carrot and purple cabbage matchsticks arranged around a pile of Cellophane-clear mung bean noodles under a handful of crispy red chiles and fresh cilantro. Toss this colorful mandala in its oil and vinegar dressing before eating.

Nicknamed the Moscow of the East for its European architecture, including the byzantine Saint Sophia Cathedral (the largest Russian Orthodox church east of the Volga river!), Harbin established itself as an important stop on the Trans-Siberian railway at the start of the 20th Century, serving as an early shortcut between Moscow and Vladivostok and, later, as a link to Beijing. The city is also home to China's oldest brewery, built by a German immigrant to serve Russia's rail workers. (Beer selection at Chin's Kitchen is limited to Tsingtao and Mirror Pond Pale Ale, though the corkage fee is low.)

Dongbei -- formerly and somewhat controversially called Manchuria -- sits at a historical crossroads, its people having launched the Qing dynasty and its three centuries of imperial rule, its land more recently controlled, occupied or fought over by Russia, Japan and, eventually, the People's Republic of China. As such, there are plenty of avenues of Dongbei food left for Chin's Kitchen to explore: breads and corn cakes made possible by the region's large-scale agriculture, lamb dishes introduced by neighboring Mongolia (the restaurant's cumin beef will do for now) or the famous dessert of fried sweet potato or taro tossed in sugary syrup that hardens to a candy crunch when dipped in cold water.

But right now, the restaurant's menu is limited by the creaky kitchen equipment inherited from the previous owners, Wendy Li says. That explains why an early hit, the crisp, honey-colored slices of Harbin-style, ginger-garlic-spiced sweet-and-sour pork, far more nuanced that the candy-sweet American version, has disappeared. The dish took up too much real estate on the restaurant's balky stove.

And there's already plenty to explore. On a recent visit, some friends and I filled the table with ribbons of spicy, goose-pimpled tofu skin and similarly sized strands of clean, white tripe doused in a smooth sesame sauce. Wok-fried garlic vegetables retained their vibrant green, warm slivers of potato and green pepper arrived in tart vinegar, while whole slow-cooked croaker fish arrived bone-in and dripping in a mellow orange sauce. Wendy Li recommended the stir-fried pig kidney, but we didn't have room.

Wendy Li takes guests' orders at Chin's Kitchen in Northeast Portland.

Outside of the large Chinese communities in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles and the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York, Dongbei cuisine is almost impossible to find in the United States. To have such a fine example here in Portland, where the majority of traditional Chinese restaurants specialize in either Cantonese or Sichuanese food, seems doubly impressive. According to Wendy Li, that difference has been a draw for her Chinese and Chinese-American customers. "What do we eat if we don't want spicy food?" Li says they ask.

Right now, the Li sisters' Dongbei menu feels new and exciting, a fitting revival for a forgotten restaurant and a version of Chinese food unlike anything Portland has seen before -- one perfectly suited for the coming winter. As Li's customers have already discovered, Chin's Kitchen is the answer to a question we didn't even know we needed to ask.

Lunch and dinner, Tuesday-Sunday; 4132 N.E. Broadway; 503-281-1203; portlandchinskitchen.com

-- Michael Russell
Peacock Lane, the Southeast Portland street best known for its elaborate Christmas lights display, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Residents announced the decision by the National Park Service on Monday. The neighborhood pursued the listing after a developer bought a home on the street last year and signaled plans to build a new house on part of the lot.

"There's nothing else like this in the state of Oregon," said Barbara Bushell, a Peacock Lane resident who led the effort to form the historic district. "It was really important to us to preserve that. You don't buy a house on Peacock Lane to tear it down or add a big addition."

Thousands of visitors stroll or drive through Peacock Lane's four blocks of holiday lights and decor each year, a tradition that dates to the 1940s. Participation is voluntary on the part of residents.

Homes on the street were built by a single developer, Richard F. Wassell, an architect who designed the homes mostly in the English Cottage and Tudor Revival styles.

The new home on Peacock Lane is already under construction, but residents raised nearly $4,000 on the fundraising website GoFundMe to support the costly effort, which requires a comprehensive survey of historic and non-historic buildings within the boundaries of the district. The lane includes 27 historic buildings, and six that are not.

With the new designation, demolishing any of the historic buildings would require the approval of the Portland City Council. There's no automatic restriction on razing non-historic buildings, nor building new ones.

The city could enact design guidelines that would require new development to conform to the character of the existing historic structures, but that too would require the approval of the city council.

Brandon Spencer-Hartle, the city's Historic Resources Program manager, said those discussions would likely begin soon.

Neighborhoods have turned to the national registry as one way to stymie development during a construction boom that's seen the demolition of older homes to build new, usually larger, ones.

The neighborhood association in nearby Eastmoreland also proposed forming a historic district in response to new development. That effort exposed deep divisions among its residents before it eventually stalled because of a discrepancy regarding the count of property owners within the proposed district's boundaries.

Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood is also seeking a historic designation.

Peacock Lane's nomination to the National Register easily won the approval of the Portland Landmarks Commission. Spencer-Hartle said the proposal was straightforward and popular among the residents of the district, and it included a relatively small number of properties.

"It has a compelling historic story known to people through the region -- not just the history of the Christmas lights," he said. "This is a street built by one developer in a new model that was relatively uncharted at that point in time."

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus
The Republican Congress, including Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, have betrayed hardworking middle-income families. Republicans promised a tax cut for middle-income workers. Instead, the proposed tax plan will increase the burden on Oregonians.

Oregon homeowners who itemize will be the real losers in this Republican plan. The deduction for state property taxes -- that are higher in Oregon than most states -- will be scaled back and partially eliminated. The mortgage interest deduction will be capped. Taxpayers will no longer be able to deduct Oregon income taxes.

Oregon voters should not be fooled by the small change in marginal (bracket) rates. The loss of deductions and the elimination of personal exemptions will result in higher taxes overall for the middle-income taxpayer.

The most dangerous aspect of the Republican scheme is that the deficit is predicted to skyrocket. Walden and House Speaker Paul Ryan are well aware that the ballooning deficit caused by this tax plan will inevitably lead to calls to eliminate all homeowner deductions and curtail Medicare and Social Security benefits.

As a taxpayer, I would love to see Congress enact real tax reform. But I want my elected representative to work for fair tax reform that has real benefits for all hardworking Oregonians. Walden has proved that he does not care about the tax problems of his fellow Oregonians. It's time to get someone in office who does care.

Howard McEwan, Ashland
BY TRACY PRINCE and STANLEY PENKIN

Guess what's illegal in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego? Voting to give yourself millions while serving on a city advisory committee. Yet, it's currently legal in Portland to vote on your own or your client's financial interests while serving on a city advisory committee. Portland City Council must make this illegal by requiring advisory committee members to recuse themselves from voting on their own or their clients' financial interests.

As the City Ombudsman has stated - and local media reported -- members of the West Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee had financial interests in specific properties or had been hired by developers of those properties. Thus, the "advice" they gave to raise heights, remove long-standing protections for view corridors and increase floor area ratios was ethically-conflicted advice. We have little doubt that conflicts of interest have occurred on other committees as well since the city lacks specific city rules for advisory committees. Portland shouldn't be doing business this way.

In Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego, these "advisers" would receive a hefty fine for voting to benefit themselves or their clients. In San Francisco, they could receive jail time. In most of these cities, advisory committee members must recuse themselves if they have direct or indirect financial interests in the matter being discussed.

In Los Angeles, a committee member who has more than three recusals in a year indicates a "significant and continuing conflict," which requires that member to quit committee service. That prevents those with patronage relationships from advocating for their clients' interests, such as architects who serve on commissions and advocate for developers who frequently hire them.

In Seattle, you can't bid on a competitive process for a year, if, as an advisory committee member, you helped design the contract, the scope of work or the process to be used. In San Diego and Seattle, advisory committee members must recuse themselves if a client or anyone who has paid them more than $500 in the past year has a financial stake in the matter.

These are best practices that Portland should be emulating.

We agree with the Oregon League of Women Voters' stated goal for 2017 to protect "democracy by minimizing the influence of money in politics." Portland must remove the influence of money in our advisory committees, commissions and boards. Portland should be at least as ethical and transparent as these other major West Coast cities by requiring recusals and asking those who stand to gain financially to leave the room during discussions.

It's inexcusable how far Portland lags behind other cities. We are the only major West Coast city that allows people to vote to give themselves or their clients more money while "advising" the city. We admire the council's efforts to bring greater transparency to the committee process and appreciate the addition of a disclosure requirement. But, Portland City Council must also include required recusals as the law.

As City Council now deliberates on changing the way advisory committees function, this is the opportunity for our city to get it right.

Tracy Prince, Ph.D., is a historian and vice president of the Goose Hollow Foothills League. She lives in Southwest Portland. Stanley Penkin is an arts and community activist who lives in Northwest Portland.

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LAS VEGAS -- A federal judge Tuesday delayed the long-awaited Bundy trial for a week, pressing prosecutors to provide more details about one or more FBI surveillance cameras trained on the family ranch as the April 2014 standoff unfolded in Nevada's high desert.

Defense attorneys learned for the first time during a court hearing last week about the existence of at least one camera set up on a hill overlooking the ranch in the southeastern corner of the state.

The lawyer for ranching family patriarch Cliven Bundy, accused of instigating the armed confrontation with federal officers, filed an emergency motion to find out if the camera recorded images and if so, why they weren't shared with the defendants.

Starting the trial without that information would bring "irreparable harm'' to the defense, attorney Bret O. Whipple argued just before jurors were about to enter the packed courtroom to hear opening statements.

Cliven Bundy, sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy and supporter Ryan Payne each face 16 federal charges, accused of amassing armed supporters to thwart federal rangers and contractors from rounding up Bundy cattle unlawfully grazing on public land near Bunkerville.

Prosecutor Steven Myhre responded that the government wasn't aware of any video captured from a camera outside the ranch. The images were broadcast on a live feed and "did not record,'' Myhre told the court.

"We have turned over all video surveillance the government is aware of,'' he said.

That includes aerial surveillance and personal surveillance taken by people on public land watching the ranch, Myhre said.

He said he believed there was one camera up for nearly a day, possibly only a half-day on April 6, 2014, before someone destroyed the camera in the field. That conflicted with testimony last week from a National Park Service ranger, who said that the camera images she saw in a live feed set up on a large TV screen in the government's command center trailer ran for four days.

But Myhre said: "We've done our due diligence to discover, and we've not found anything. None exists.''

Defense lawyer Brenda Weksler said she found it hard to believe that federal investigators had "hundreds of hours of cows being recorded'' and "not the Bundy residence.'' Even if prosecutors aren't aware of potential recordings, it's the government's duty to investigate further, she argued.

U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro agreed, saying she wants to explore the matter more fully and set an evidentiary hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

"It's difficult for the court to imagine there was a camera placed with no one watching it and making notes,'' the judge said. "It seems there should be somebody who has documentation or testimony as to why a camera was used.''

Defense lawyers and the prosecutor wrangled for more than an hour about the camera controversy before the judge decided to delay what is expected to be a four-month trial.

Two of the defendants, Ryan Bundy, and Payne had swapped their red jail scrubs for civilian clothes in anticipation for the trial's opening. Ryan Bundy wore a three-piece black suit and white dress shirt and Payne wore a blue dress shirt and gray slacks.

Cliven Bundy, 71, Ammon Bundy, 42, Ryan Bundy, 45, and Payne, 34, have pleaded not guilty to a list of charges including conspiring against the United States, conspiring to impede or injure a federal employee through threats, force or violence, using or carrying a firearm in a crime of violence, assault and threatening a federal officer, obstruction of justice and interfering with commerce by extortion.

They're accused of organizing a "massive armed assault" to block rangers who were trying to carry out court orders to impound Bundy cattle. The armed rangers were forced to retreat when confronted by hundreds of Bundy supporters, including snipers perched on an overpass overlooking the operation.

The prosecutor tried to convince the judge that the surveillance camera outside the Bundy residence didn't catch anything that was worth noting.

But the judge wasn't convinced.

"I think if it was potentially useful information, the defense is entitled to it. It should not be too difficult to find who or what team was in charge of surveillance, '' Navarro said. "I'm not convinced something doesn't exist ... and I think the burden is on the government to determine if it exists.''

The judge said she wanted to know how many surveillance cameras were out or near the family ranch, who was in charge of them, if they recorded any images or if FBI agents or others watching the cameras took notes.

Only with that information can the court determine whether the material should be provided to the defendants, she said.

In a related action, Payne's defense lawyer said he had a motion pending for three weeks on other potential evidence in the case that had not gotten a response from prosecutors. The motion is sealed, but other court documents suggest it relates to former U.S. Bureau of Land Management special agent Daniel P. Love, the incident commander for the cattle impoundment.

In preparing for trial, defense lawyers found out that Love was involved in unrelated misconduct. The U.S. Office of Inspector General found that Love mishandled evidence in another criminal investigation and told a subordinate to conceal his conduct, raising concerns about Love's role in the Bunkerville standoff.

The judge set a hearing for that matter next Monday.

Cliven Bundy's lawyer also repeated his request that the senior Bundy be released from jail pending the trial. Ryan Bundy, who is representing himself, asked the same thing, arguing that he's at a disadvantage in working on his case while in custody.

If the judge wants to treat everyone equally, Ryan Bundy suggested she have Myhre, the prosecutor, "placed in a jail cell next to me to prepare his case.''

Prosecutors objected to any change in the defendants' detention and noted that Payne also is being held on a federal conspiracy conviction in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a charge he pleaded guilty to in federal court in Oregon last year.

The judge seemed open to reconsidering keeping the Bundys in jail and set a hearing for Thursday. She asked pretrial service officers to prepare new reports on the defendants.

"It's possible that a halfway house setting could be devised,'' Navarro said, though she pointed out that she still has serious concerns because the defendants don't respect or follow the rules and regulations of federal officers.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed executive orders on Monday to impose sweeping green energy mandates on new construction and help triple the number of electric vehicles in the state by 2020.

The governor signed the orders at a ceremony in Portland, before she travels to Germany later this week to attend the United Nations climate talks.

The goal of Brown's two executive orders is to "drive the state's efforts forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," she told reporters after the event. "Buildings, both residential and commercial, consume about 30 percent of Oregon's energy use."

Under the governor's first executive order, new homes built after September 2020 must be equipped for solar panel installation and commercial buildings must meet the same mandate by October 2022. By October 2022, all parking structures for new homes and commercial buildings must be wired for at least one electric vehicle charger.

And by October 2023, Brown has directed the state's Building Codes Division to require all new homes to be "zero-energy ready." California has adopted a similar goal for new homes to generate as much energy as they consume. New commercial construction will also face energy efficiency mandates, and all new construction must use high-efficiency water fixtures.

The governor's second executive order sets a goal of at least 50,000 registered electric vehicles in the state by 2020, a huge increase over just three years from the 16,000 currently registered.

State government will help Oregon meet that goal, through mandates in the governor's executive order to increase state purchases of electric vehicles and install more charging stations on government property.

The surprise imposition of major new regulations on the construction industry upset Sen. Alan Olsen, a Republican from Canby who is a general contractor. Olsen is also vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

"Why didn't she bring it to the Legislature?" Olsen asked, before answering his own question. "Because she knew she couldn't get it passed."

Olsen said Brown was "taking a page out of the playbook of Barack Obama," referring to the president's use of executive orders. Presidents of both parties, including Donald Trump, have used executive orders to enact policies that lacked legislative support.

"You talk about not being able to afford housing," Olsen said. "That's going to add to the cost of a house. It's going to be astronomical."

Others applauded Brown's executive orders. The nation's most powerful trade group for car manufacturers said in a press release that "Brown's leadership in committing such resources to jump-start an (electric vehicle) marketplace sets an example for other states who have committed to similar goals."

The group Climate Solutions also hailed the new mandates. "Governor Brown's executive order on energy efficiency will help make all new buildings highly efficient from the start," said David Van't Hof, the group's acting Oregon director, in a statement. "Today's action, on the first day of the international climate talks, demonstrates the importance of local leadership and positions our legislature to take the next critical step in 2018: passing Oregon's Clean Energy Jobs bill."

Brown couldn't say on Monday how much the executive order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings would cost the state. But she pointed out the executive orders do contain escape clauses that allow for delays if the actions would be too costly.

The governor told The Oregonian/OregonLive her staff would provide information on cost, but no one had done so as of Monday evening.

Some of the initiatives outlined in the orders are not new. For example, the governor directed the state's environmental agency to set up an electric vehicle rebate program that lawmakers had already passed as part of the transportation funding package earlier this year. Brown also called for the Oregon Public Utility Commission and other state agencies to follow through on mandates to boost electric vehicles as called for by a 2016 law. That law doubled Oregon's renewable energy mandate and will require utilities to stop purchasing coal power.

There are new initiatives as well, however. The state will again change the low-carbon fuels program, to "support greater electric vehicle adoption," and Oregon will use up to 15 percent of the state's Volkswagen settlement over emissions test cheating to install electric vehicle charging stations. The state will come up with a plan to install electric vehicle chargers for both the state fleet and employee cars. It was unclear whether the governor planned to provide free access to state employees, but Oregon's ethics commission has in the past found the state could only legally do so if it counted the charges as compensation.

Finally, the executive orders assign new tasks to Oregon's much maligned Energy Department. Lawmakers and Brown have mostly ended the agency's scandal ridden energy incentive programs over the years. But the governor's executive orders would assign the agency more than a dozen new tasks, from tracking energy use at state buildings to helping ensure all new state buildings permitted starting in 2022 are carbon neutral.

-- Hillary Borrud; 503-294-4034; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud
Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Hood River, resigned from the Legislature on Monday to take a job as president and chief executive of Oregon Business & Industry, the state's largest business lobbying group. His move vacates a swing district seat Democrats will likely eye during next year's elections.

Johnson made a name for himself during his six-year legislative career as a moderate willing to cross party lines to find policy solutions. His major achievements include working with Democrats to establish a free community college program and rising to vice-chairman of the House energy and environment committee.

In a statement, Johnson, who had a career as a general contractor, said he is grateful for the relationships he made with Capitol colleagues and constituents.

"I continue to believe that if we can set aside the partisanship and focus on doing right by the people of Oregon, there is no limit to what we can accomplish regardless of the role we are serving in," said Johnson, 60.

County commissioners from Hood River, Clackamas and Multnomah counties will select a person to fill his seat during 2018.

House Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, described Johnson as a "policy wonk, a problem solver, and a friend to many."

"Our caucus will greatly miss his intellect and his work ethic," McLane said.

House Democrats will likely look to flip Johnson's district, where increasing numbers of voters are registering as Democrats. (Democrats are one vote shy of a supermajority in the Oregon House and Senate.) The district includes Hood River, Sandy, Cascade Locks and parts of east Multnomah and Clackamas counties.

The seat will be up for election in fall 2018. The appointed incumbent normally enjoys an advantage in such contests.

Johnson is the latest of several state lawmakers to leave the Legislature.

John Huffman, who represented The Dalles and much of central Oregon as a Republican, resigned Oct. 28 to take a Trump administration job. Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, and Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, are due to resign later this year if confirmed for lucrative appointments to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council.

All those seats would be filled by county commission appointments, much like Johnson's will be.

Other seats are already known will be vacant when the 2018 election rolls around. Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, has said he will retire and Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, will forgo re-election to the House to run for governor.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman
UPDATE: The victim in Tuesday's deadly shooting has been identified as Diego Tejeda-Manzo, 21, of Vancouver, authorities said Wednesday.



The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office determined Tejeda-Manzo died of homicidal violence as a result of a gunshot wound.



Portland Police Bureau Homicide Detail have asked people with information about the case to contact Detective Rico Beniga at 503-823-0457 or Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov

-----------------------------

A shooting early Tuesday left a man dead near the core of the Portland State University campus downtown, police said.

Officers found the man on the ground outside the Subway restaurant at the Vue Apartments building off the South Park Blocks, and medical responders determined he was dead, Portland police said in a news release. Police didn't find a shooting suspect while searching the area.

Police, who responded about 12:55 a.m., said early information indicates a disturbance occurred before the shooting. Witnesses told police they saw several people run from the scene after hearing gunfire.

Detectives don't think the public is in danger. PSU officials said the victim wasn't affiliated with the university and classes weren't canceled.

The shooting happened on private property, said university spokesman Kenny Ma. The scene is across the street from university buildings and next to the Park Blocks.

Apartment building managers sent an email to tenants about the shooting.

"As you are probably aware, a shooting occurred early this morning near our community," the message said. "The shooting resulted in the death of a yet-to-be identified person. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim, their family and friends and to the Portland community at large."

Police will publicly identify the victim after an autopsy and family has been notified.

The Portland Police Bureau is investigating.

Police ask anyone who has information about the shooting to contact Detective Rico Beniga at 503-823-0457 or Rico.Beniga@portlandoregon.gov.

 Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
A homeless man accused of stealing the wallet and wedding ring off MAX stabbing victim Ricky Best apparently moments after Best died pleaded guilty Monday to four crimes and is expected to be sentenced to 13 months in prison next week.

George Elwood Tschaggeny, 51, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, tampering with physical evidence and two counts of identity theft for his crimes on May 26, as Best lay motionless at the Hollywood MAX station.

His plea agreement calls for the prison time and then after his release, five years under the watch of a drug treatment court called START. The court requires participants to check-in regularly. The court typically orders counseling and substance abuse treatment.

Tschaggeny had been scheduled to go to trial next week, before he entered his new pleas.

Prosecutors allege Tschaggeny used Bests credit cards five times on the day of the theft.

Police say Tschaggeny was caught on TriMet surveillance video leaving the crime scene with two bags. Police say that was minutes after Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, stabbed Best and two other men in the neck during a racist, Islamophobic rant as the MAX train pulled up to the Hollywood stop.

Best, 53, and Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, died. Another man, Micah Fletcher survived.

Christian has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges. Christian is scheduled to appear in court next week for a hearing about the conditions of his incarceration, which include being held in jail without the chance of being released on bail.

-- Aimee Green
Portland police supervisors and then-Mayor Charlie Hales ignored protocol that called for an immediate internal investigation last year when Chief Larry O'Dea shot a friend on a camping trip, marking "an organizational failure of the highest order," the city's police watchdog found.

O'Dea misled his three assistant chiefs and Hales about the case, the independent review concluded.

O'Dea, who later faced a criminal indictment and retired under fire, first told them about the off-duty shooting four days after it occurred in a 7 a.m. phone call to the mayor and an 8 a.m. meeting with his assistants.

The chief said then that he had already told the police internal affairs captain and the Sheriff's Office in Harney County, where the shooting happened, about his role.

But he actually hadn't done either yet, according to reports released Monday by Constantin Severe, director of the city's Independent Police Review.

The extensive transcripts and new details in the full reports released Monday chronicle the web of misdirection and manipulation from the mayor's office to the chief. They also revealed that rank-and-file officers were angered by what appeared to be a disturbing "double standard'' at play, noting that officers must notify their supervisor immediately if they're under criminal investigation, not four days later. An assistant chief and the police spokesman said they felt betrayed by O'Dea.

Severe noted that the mayor didn't understand police protocol, nor did his chief of staff, and that the only one in his office who had such knowledge, his public safety policy director, was kept in the dark.

Severe launched his own review of how the Police Bureau and mayor handled the April 21, 2016, shooting after learning about it for the first time from media accounts a month after the fact. His division, under the city Auditor's Office, investigates complaints of alleged misconduct by police supervisors of the rank of captain and higher.

The investigation found O'Dea brought discredit to the city, delayed reporting his April 2016 off-duty shooting of a friend and then lied to Independent Police Review investigators about the incident while he was still chief.

O'Dea shot his friend, Robert Dempsey, while he and friends were camping and shooting at ground squirrels in the Catlow Valley area of Harney County. The hollow-point bullet hit Dempsey in the lower back and fragmented. Dempsey was released from the hospital the next day, the bullet still lodged in his body.

O'Dea retired in late June 2016 as he was under criminal investigation. A grand jury indicted him on a negligent wounding charge. But a Harney County judge agreed to a civil compromise that allowed dismissal of the charge.

On the Monday after returning from his vacation, O'Dea told the assistant chiefs and the mayor that he had accidentally shot his friend, but that his friend would be OK. O'Dea was never clear about who would investigate his shooting but told each of his assistant chiefs to keep word of his shooting quiet.

"The only thing I remember talking about was needing to keep the information secure, so you know, until the deputy's able to follow up and finish his investigation," O'Dea recalled telling his assistants.

When O'Dea talked to the internal affairs head, Capt. Derek Rodrigues, about the shooting later that same Monday, he brought up the shooting as an aside at the end of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Rodrigues said O'Dea didn't share much information about the shooting with him, other than saying it was an accident and he felt horrible about it. It came up briefly during a personal discussion when O'Dea also asked Rodrigues about his wife's serious illness and offered Rodrigues to take as much time off as he needed.

"For me it was, you know, he was letting out, he was just kind of venting, just kind of ... I mean, he was sincere, and he was very, very sad that he injured his friend,'' Rodrigues told the investigator. "I just was trying to encourage him that, hey, you know, over time, you know, things will be okay."

Rodrigues said O'Dea never mentioned that the Harney County Sheriff's Office was investigating.

"There is nothing that in me resonated, 'Hey, I've got to contact" the Independent Review Division'' Rodrigues said.

While O'Dea admitted to his colleagues that he was responsible for the shooting, he hadn't informed Harney County deputies that he was at fault. When a deputy initially responded to the shooting call, O'Dea suggested that his friend accidentally shot himself with his own pistol.

The chief also didn't share any information about the shooting with the Police Bureau's public information officer at the time, Sgt. Pete Simpson.

Simpson found out about it when a reporter asked about an off-duty shooting involving a high-ranking officer on May 20, 2016. He said he went to O'Dea and asked if he was aware of anything.

O'Dea's face turned an ashen color  "like the blood drained from his face and he said, 'Shut the door,''' Simpson told investigators.

As Simpson worked to write up a news release, O'Dea advised him not to use the word "hunting'' in it.

When O'Dea told the mayor and his chief of staff that the media had learned of his shooting, Hales' chief of staff Joshua Alpert sent O'Dea a message, "Oh no chief! We've got your back.''

Hales wrote to Alpert that his primary concern was "supporting a good person.''

"Larry (O'Dea) has earned my, and Portland's support and encouragement in a difficult time,'' Hales wrote, according to the investigative documents.

Hales told investigators that he didn't see a need to put O'Dea on paid leave until Harney County was done looking into O'Dea's "regrettable accident.'' Hales expected the sheriff's investigation to be confidential.

When the Oregonian/OregonLive published a story that May quoting Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward saying O'Dea hadn't admitted to the Sheriff's Office that he had shot his friend, then-Assistant Chief Donna Henderson urged the mayor's office to place O'Dea on leave.

Hales said The Oregonian's report, quoting the sheriff, contained conflicting information from what O'Dea had originally shared and he placed the chief on leave.

In his interview with the review division, O'Dea said the trip marked his 28th year going on an annual camping trip with friends. He advised against calling it a "hunting trip'' and said it was more of an "exploring trip.''

He said he was shooting a Winchester Lever Action Model 9422, but was having problems with it during the day. It wasn't extracting a round or a casing out of the chamber, he said.

He said he had coffee with a splash of Irish Creme that morning but hadn't had any beer that day, and got up from his lawn chair to get a beer can from his truck. He said he picked up his beer can  may have just "popped it'' open -- and put down his gun and heard a loud noise, according to an interview transcript.

He said he surmised that his friend, Dempsey, had accidentally shot himself, noting that Dempsey had been drinking. "He had been drinking some, but I wouldn't say that he was drunk,'' O'Dea told the investigator.

Dempsey recalled that O'Dea, in coming to his aid and lifting up Dempsey's shirt, instructed others on the trip to look for a self-inflicted wound.

Dempsey, who said he was dealing with the most intense pain he's ever felt, recalled yelling, "I didn't f'ing shoot myself.'' Dempsey told an investigator that he felt "pissed'' when he heard O'Dea suggest that scenario.

When O'Dea learned a month after the shooting that reporters had started asking questions, O'Dea sent text messages to the mayor, his chief of staff and the mayor's public safety liaison.

"Had to get out sometime. We're ready,'' the mayor texted back. Hales apparently was confident the matter would blow over, adding. "Today's newspaper. Tomorrow's fish wrap.''

In the aftermath, Severe has recommended police policy changes to guard against future mishandling of a chief's misconduct, including requiring the internal affairs captain to inform the review division whenever an officer could face an internal investigation and ensure that the internal affairs captain and assistant chief of investigations jointly monitor any outside criminal investigation of a Portland officer.

The bureau found allegations against the three assistant chiefs unfounded, yet Rodrigues will face a two-day suspension for failing to report the shooting to the division as required.

Rodrigues, now captain of the family services division, will appeal the discipline to the city's civil service board, his lawyer said. His lawyer was out of the country when the bureau scheduled a mitigation hearing for Rodrigues to argue his case. His lawyer Mark Makler said O'Dea "skewed information'' about the shooting so no one had the full story, including Rodrigues.

Rachel Mortimer, assistant director of the city's Independent Police Review, wrote that she supported the discipline finding for Rodrigues but said she was concerned all the fault was being placed unfairly on Rodrigues' shoulders. "He should have spotted this as a case requiring notification, but he was not served well by the way he was notified or the structure of the current system,'' she wrote.

Rodrigues' lawyer agreed.

"Everyone  the assistant chiefs, the mayor  got a pass on this except for Derek,'' said Makler. "Derek is left holding the bag.''

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Johnnie Langendorff stumbled into the crossfire in a total accident.

Sunday morning was all routine until then. Langendorff - a lanky Texan with a fuzzy chin beard and the long horns of a bull's skull tattooed across his neck - had finished breakfast. Then he drove his truck on the dusty back streets toward his girlfriend's house nearby. When he approached the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, he noticed something odd.

As he passed the churchgoers' vehicles parked around the white wood front of the building, he saw that one vehicle's engine was running. It was a pearl-colored SUV, a Ford Explorer, he said. The driver's door was open. A man clad all in black was walking toward the vehicle with a pistol. He was trading shots with another man holding a rifle.

"I never got a look at him," Langendorff explained to reporters later, his mouth working a toothpick, when asked about the black-clad shooter. "I never really saw him. I saw the gunfire."

The man in black hauled off in his SUV. The second man with the rifle - a neighbor identified Monday by Arkansas-based 40/29 News as Stephen Willeford - approached Langendorff. The two men were strangers.

Willeford said his daughter heard gunshots at the nearby First Baptist Church and told him she'd seen a man in all-black attire, according to 40/29 News. A former NRA instructor who had many friends who attended the church, Willeford immediately sprung into action.

"Every time I heard a shot, I knew that that probably represented a life. I was scared to death," he told the news station. "I was scared for me. I was scared for every one of them. I was scared for my own family, who live less than a block away."

Willeford raced across the street to the church and confronted Kelley before Langendorff joined him.

Langendorff said Willeford "briefed me quickly on what had just happened and said he had to get him."

"So that's what I did."

As the two men shot off in pursuit in Langendorff's truck, 26 First Baptist worshipers were dead or dying on the sanctuary's maroon carpet. Dozens more were wounded. Sunday's burst of violence would later be recognized as the fifth worst shooting in modern U.S. history, arriving just a month after 58 concertgoers were slain in Las Vegas.

The Texas victims' ages ranged from 5 to 72, according to authorities, though one family said a 1-year-old died. The shooter, who authorities identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, first opened fire on the outside of the church just after 11 a.m. with a Ruger assault rifle. Kelley, clad in black tactical gear, then sprayed the building's inside with bullets. He hastily fled the scene after engaging in a gun battle with Willeford.

Langendorff wove his truck at high speed through traffic while trying to catch the fleeing SUV. The speedometer crossed 95 mph while the driver narrated everything to law enforcement. "I was on the phone with dispatch the entire time," he said. "I gave them the direction we were going, on what road and everything, and that the vehicle was in sight and that I was getting closer and closer to him."

Kelley's vehicle, however, veered off the roadway and into a ditch about 11 miles north of the church. Langendorff pulled his own truck within 25 yards.

"The gentleman that was with me got out, rested his rifle on my hood and kept it aimed at him, telling him to get out, get out. There was no movement, there was none of that. I just know his brake lights were going on and off, so he might have been unconscious from the crash or something like that, I'm not sure," he said.

Police were on the scene within five to seven minutes, Langendorff said Sunday night. Freeman Martin, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told The Post that authorities had yet to determine whether Kelley was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound or hit in the gunfire at the church. Multiple weapons were found in Kelley's vehicle.

An autopsy of Kelley showed that he was shot twice - once in the leg and again in the torso - before shooting himself in the head, Martin said during a briefing later Monday.

On Sunday night, Langendorff explained that his reaction - jumping into a car chase - was a simple calculation. "He just hurt so many people, he affected so many people's lives, why wouldn't you want to take him down?"

Willeford told 40/29 News Monday that four generations of his family have lived in the Sutherland Springs area.

"I'm no hero. I am not. I think, my God - my Lord - protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done," he said. "I just wish I could've gotten there faster."

---

Travis Andrews contributed to this report.
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The 4th Congressional District race just got a little more interesting with the addition of two Democratic candidates. Dion Adams and Mark Bignell will face off in the Aug. 28, 2018 primary with the winner advancing to face incumbent Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland.

"Friends and neighbors of Michigan's 4th Congressional District, I am happy to announce I have officially entered the race to unseat J. Moolenaar," Adams stated Oct. 30 on his Facebook page. "I look forward to meeting, listening and working together to solve the challenges we face in our district, state and nation."

The Big Rapids resident graduated from Ferris State University with an associate's of applied science in heavy equipment technology and is the retired owner of Underdog Diesel.

Currently, the journeyman is vice-chair of the Mecosta County Democratic Party. He has filed with the Federal Election Commission, but has not been required to report any contributions or expenses as of Nov. 6.

"The issue of wealth and income inequality is the great moral issue of our time, it is the great economic issue of our time, and it is the great political issue of our time," Adams said.

Adams describes his platform priorities as:

"1. The Environment. Science and facts matter. Climate change is real. Without a healthy environment, nothing else matters.

"2. Single Payer Universal Healthcare including preventive, dental, vision and mental health care. This alone will exponentially improve the livelihood and employment mobility of everyone. The only people who oppose this are those profiting from the current scam. It's time to put people before profit.

"3. Education. Our public school funding has been decimated over decades. It's time we reinvest in our public schools and vocational centers and provide tuition-free education. Our best hope for a better tomorrow is a healthy and educated youth.

"4. $15 minimum wage and investment in infrastructure. Many jobs are being replaced by technology. Investments in renewable energy and infrastructure generate those jobs not affected by that trend. What job is not worth a living wage?

"5. No more drug war!"

On Sunday, Bignell announced his candidacy for the 4th Congressional seat.

"As of today, I officially announce my candidacy for U.S. Representative in Congress, Michigan 4th District. I have come to the conclusion there is in fact a desire for a blue collar candidate. My message has been welcomed, and accepted when and where it has been delivered," he said on his Facebook page.

Taking inspiration from the Declaration of Independence, the "I Have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King Jr. along with President Barack Obama's first Inaugural Address, Bignell decided to seek elected office. He said he realized there was a hunger, a starving in the people, for their voices to be heard.

"I look forward to the race, and know it will be a spirited and welcome challenge," Bignell said. "In the end; I will consider myself successful, because I will have given voice to those left ignored and taken for granted."

The father of three earned an associate's degree in accounting at Montcalm Community College before transferring to Grand Valley State University. He later went on to West Michigan CDL before taking a position with a Wisconsin trucking company -- Roehl Transport. Later, he worked at Larsen Trucking.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Chemical City Post No. 3651 invites citizens of Midland to participate in a Veterans Day ceremony Saturday at the Veterans Memorial in front Midland County Courthouse.

The event begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and will recognize all veterans of the U.S. armed forces who have served the country with dignity and honor.

The date of Veterans Day is of significance as it symbolizes the armistice of World War I. The armistice was called the end of "the war to end all wars," and the cessation occurred at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The first Armistice Day was commemorated Nov. 11, 1919, and later the commemoration became Veterans Day, which is recognized at 11 a.m. every Nov. 11.

The keynote speaker in Midland will be Iraqi War veteran Col. Rhoda K. Daniel, who served in Iraq during the 2007-2008 surge as the communication officer and the acting chief of staff for the 177th Military Police Brigade. During this deployment, Daniel earned the Combat Action Badge, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

She has served 32 years in the Army while raising three children with her husband, Ronald Daniel, also an Army officer. Two of their children attend Midland High School, and one is currently attending Grand Valley State University. Rhoda K. Daniel earned a bachelor of science degree in biology ecosystems from Eastern Michigan University and a master's in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Other guest speakers for Veterans Day will be U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and state Sen. Jim Stamas. VFW Commander Wayne "Butch" DeVerney will serve as master of ceremonies.
Hero of Mollywood's first musical hit 'Thiramala' shares his Hollywood stint, directing Prem Nazir and more
Midland County Probate & Juvenile Court Judge Dorene S. Allen has received a state honor with her selection to lead a state group of judges.

Allen is the new president of the Michigan Probate Judges Association, a group of 120 probate and family court judges.

She has served the local court for 17 years, bringing about change for the better as the court deals with juvenile delinquency, neglect, wills, estates, guardianships, adoption, juvenile competency and truancy.

Probate court has a jurisdiction that touches many local lives. Her leadership is why Midland's court has a success rate in dealing with many of these social issues.

We suspect Judge Allen will take her leadership skills to all corners of the state. At the same time, she will gain new ideas from elsewhere and bring those ideas back to Midland County.

An added benefit is to bring the judges' association summer conference to our community, to get to know our attractions while seeing how our court and its support network functions.

She called the association a great group, and helpful to the probate judges because it is a bench like no other.

There is a thread of humanity, in dealing with delinquency, neglect and more. The caseloads are heavy.

Midland County is fortunate to have a Dorene S. Allen as its probate judge. She is to be congratulated.

We think the Michigan Probate Judges Association will experience similar benefits with her being its leader.
BLOOMINGTON  As the grain department manager for Evergreen FS, Steve Dennis has seen a lot of farmers sweat out the harvest season, wondering if they were going to get their crops in on time with high enough yields to make a profit.

This year, Dennis has talked to his share of nervous farmers, anxious to get the crops out of the fields but frustrated by a soggy fall.

We are a little bit behind because we got about a two- to two-and-a-half-week later start than normal, he said. It seemed like the crop matured rather slowly, probably because of a cooler-than-average August.

Central Illinois farmers arent the only ones behind. As a result, Gov. Bruce Rauner declared a statewide harvest emergency to assist farmers and grain handlers, allowing trucks hauling agricultural commodities on state routes (excluding interstates) to exceed their permitted gross vehicle weight limits by 10 percent.

Illinois is home to 72,000 farms on 26.7 million acres, and we are among the top three corn producers in the nation, Rauner said while visiting Stewart Farms in Yorkville on Sunday afternoon. Moving corn and other crops in a timely and efficient manner affects the bottom line of hardworking farmers. This declaration is an appropriate response to an urgent need.

The declaration issued Sunday is in effect for 45 days.

Local authorities also can waive the weight requirement on their roads.

The 2017 harvest is taking longer than usual, said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. Erratic weather is a contributing factor.

"Further, for the fourth straight year, farm income is expected to be near or below break-even. Permitting farmers and truck drivers to haul larger than usual loads of grain will speed the process in getting harvested crops from field to grain elevator to final destination.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 83 percent of Illinois corn was harvested, which was 11 percentage points behind the prior year and eight percentage points behind the five-year average. The Illinois soybean harvest was at 92 percent Sunday, two percentage points behind the prior year and the five-year average.

The harvests in the northwest, northeast and east regions are especially hard hit. Harvesters of a variety of crops made up ground toward the end of October, but early delays still are causing backups in the transportation chain.

This designation will certainly assist the farmers and the crops are actually turning in better yields than expected, and that in turn, creates a little bigger workload, Dennis said.

When you start a couple of weeks later, that pushes the tail end back," Dennis said. "One week in the early harvest is worth about three weeks at the end of harvest because of the wet, cool conditions you are likely to have.

Travis Barnes, who farms near Chenoa, said the designation will help farmers across the state, especially those with concerns about low yields.

Someone asked me yesterday why there was still so much corn still in the fields and I told them it was the same reason why there are still so many leaves left on the trees, he said. Mother Nature has had a real impact on the harvest season this year, even though it may not be noticeable to everyone.
BLOOMINGTON  When Krishnamohan Seshadri moved to Bloomington from India 17 years ago, he never imagined he'd be shopping in an Indian supermarket.

"We had a very limited availability at that time. We had to go to Peoria. Sometimes we even went to Devon (Avenue) in the Chicago area to shop at the Indian grocery stores there," he said.

"This is much closer," said Seshadri about the new Namaste Plaza Indian grocery store that recently opened at 908 S. Eldorado Road.

Seshadri also is looking forward to the opening of a restaurant in the store that will feature Indian street food.

Owner Keyur Patel said the installation of a new kitchen and restaurant is nearing completion and expects to open the eatery that can seat up to 40 diners the first week in December.

"There are a lot of people dying to eat the Indian street food," said Patel, adding that the restaurant will feature one of the most popular Indian fast foods  Samosa, a puffed pastry stuffed with peas, lentils, cilantro and spices.

He and his wife, Pinky, used to offer Samosa as a take-out item at their original store, which they opened in 2008 at 704 S. Eldorado Road.

"We are very famous for the Samosa that we make at the store, and we make it from scratch," said Patel, adding he has customers who drive from Champaign, Springfield and Peoria to pick up orders of Samosa.

The restaurant's name, Swagruha, translates to "you are welcome in my house."

Patel said the store is the second largest Indian grocery store in the Midwest, with the largest located in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg.

Patel purchased the former Hancock Fabrics building because its size enabled him to expand the store's merchandise and add the dine-in restaurant.

"We were running out of space at the other store," he said. "My growth stopped because of the space issue."

The new, 15,000-square-foot store is three times larger than the Patels' original store. The $3 million investment includes store inventory, Keyur Patel added.

About 80 percent of the store's inventory is Indian products, but it also sells Asian, including Korean and Japanese, and African foods.

The store also offers fresh Indian organic foods, including lentils, Moong dal and chickpeas as well as frozen Indian meals that are popular because they can be purchased cheaper at the store than ordering them at a restaurant, said Patel.

Santosh Nistala, a Twin City resident since 2011, said the store reminds him of those where he grew up in southern India.

"There is nothing we don't get here, so it's very much like home away from home," said Nistala, adding the store's size is "massive."
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
NORMAL  Unless Americans re-learn how to be civil to one another, American society is in danger of disintegrating, a poet and cultural critic said Monday at Illinois State University.

Carole Boston Weatherford, a New York Times best-selling author, told The Pantagraph following her keynote address at a "Bridging Divides, Becoming Allies" conference that she has been thinking about the lack of civility in the United States, especially after Sunday's shootings at a small Texas community church, where 26 people were killed and more than 20 were wounded.

"Civility is such a problem in our nation right now," said Weatherford, a professor of English at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. "Our future as a nation is at risk."

"Civility is a problem because it is not being modeled by our leaders," said Weatherford, an author of 50 books, whose poems and prose frequently are inspired by actual events. "Our First Lady's platform is to stop cyber-bullying, yet she sleeps next to the biggest cyberbully in the world."

"A lot of this is because of social media, where people can hide behind their words in cyberspace," Weatherford said.

Weatherford recommended that people "unplug" and disengage from social media from time to time. "Take a break from the circus," she said.

Spend that time doing your part to make society better, she advised.

"Choose one thing that you can do  maybe it's getting more involved in your church, maybe it's helping at a homeless shelter," she said.

"When you do that, you're taking the focus off of 'I' and when you are contributing to something larger than yourself, you meet people who are different from you and you learn from each other," she said. "That needs to be done face-to-face."

Earlier Monday, about 370 people listened to Weatherford's remarks at ISU's Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom, where she urged attendees to get to know different people by sharing meals and traveling.

She said all world religions have a variation of the Golden Rule: Do to others what you would have them do to you.

Divisions between groups over race and sex are encouraged by people who wish to preserve the imperfect status quo, she said.

"Don't let greed and insecurities lead you," she said. "You are better than that."

The purpose of the two-day conference, which continues Tuesday, is to make the ISU campus and Bloomington-Normal area more inclusive for people of color and various religions, women and members of the LGBTQ community, said Stacey Hardin, ISU assistant professor in special education and conference chairperson, and Jennifer Carrillo, mission impact director of YWCA McLean County.

ISU's Culturally Responsive Campus Community and YWCA are partnering on the conference, which is expected to attract 700 people.

"When you have diverse perspectives, the conversations are more robust, you have more new ideas and you can get way more accomplished," Hardin said.

"God meant for you to soar," Weatherford said.
PONTIAC  The family of a woman killed when she was struck by a Pontiac Police Department squad car in August has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the department and the officer involved.

According to an Illinois State Police report, Rita Murphy, 55, was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle about 1:10 a.m. Aug. 21 on Route 66 about 200 feet north of North Howard Street in Pontiac. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:58 a.m.

The lawsuit identifies the officer as Jace Koerner, who joined the department in June 2016.

Pontiac police previously declined to identify the officer, but told The Pantagraph the officer was placed on nondisciplinary, paid administrative leave following the incident.

Pontiac police declined to comment on the pending lawsuit or Koerners current status.

Illinois State Police also declined to comment on the crash details, saying the investigation was continuing.

The suit seeks a minimum of $50,000 in damages on each of four counts involving negligence and/or willful and wanton conduct by the defendants.

The plaintiffs are listed as the estate of Rita Murphy, her husband, John, and her daughters, Megan Lanning and Kirsten Murphy. The suit seeks compensation for the grief, sorrow and mental suffering of the family.

Peoria attorney Jennifer Bonesteel is representing the plaintiffs.

The suit contends that Koerner was changing lanes and speeding at the time of the incident.

Murphy had been a legal secretary for a Pontiac law firm. She was a Pontiac native and 1979 Saunemin High School graduate.
BLOOMINGTON  Russ Hagen was a seminarian working at a church on Bloomington's west side when he became acquainted with Lighthouse, the not-for-profit drug treatment program, as he helped a congregant addicted to amphetamines.

When he graduated from seminary, the head of Lighthouse asked Hagen if he was interested in working for the organization.

"I thought it would be an appropriate ministry," Hagen told The Pantagraph on Tuesday. "That was in 1974. It's been everything I hoped it would be and so much more."

Hagen, 68, of Bloomington, announced Tuesday that he was retiring, effective Jan. 7, from the organization, which became Chestnut Health Systems, after 43 years, including the past 36 as CEO.

When he joined Lighthouse, the drug treatment program had two dozen employees and a budget of $300,000. Today, Chestnut is a diversified health care organization with a $50 million annual budget and 700 employees across Illinois and beyond.

Hagen will continue to work part-time over the next two years, supporting Chestnut's global employee assistance program. Chestnut's board of directors will meet later this month to discuss succession plans.

"Russ has been a pioneer with behavioral health and addiction recovery services both in our community and internationally for many years," said Colleen Kannaday, president of Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal.

"His visionary leadership at Chestnut has benefited many through the growth and expansion of services," Kannaday said.

"Russ Hagen is one of the most quietly impactful men in health care that I have known," said Dr. Paul Pedersen, vice president of medical affairs at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

Chestnut, based at 1003 Martin Luther King Drive, Bloomington, is experiencing is second executive change in recent months.

In June, Chief Operating Officer Alan Sender, 63, announced his retirement, effective July 7, after 29 years with Chestnut. He remains a part-time consultant.

But Sender and Hagen said both retirements had been in the works for several years and the timing had been coordinated.

"In the last two years, we have been training and mentoring younger leadership who have been assuming more responsibilities," Hagen said. "I'm confident in the sustainability of the organization in the future."

Chestnut has 256 employees in Bloomington-Normal, 417 in the Metro East area and 37 at other locations.

Chestnut's lines of business are substance abuse treatment for adults and adolescents, mental health treatment, substance abuse research and training, employee assistance programs for U.S.-based and multinational companies, mental health stabilization, substance use detoxification, consumer credit counseling and primary health care through federally qualified health centers on Chestnut Street in Bloomington and in Granite City.

"Chestnut has grown primarily because we always stayed in touch with the communities we serve," Hagen said. As Chestnut helped to identify community needs  such as adolescent substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, employee assistance programs and substance abuse research  the organization sought partners and responded.

"Russ Hagen," Sender said, "is the essence of collaboration."
BLOOMINGTON  The Illinois House is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of legislation to create the Student Loan Bill of Rights.

The Illinois Senate voted 37-19 to override on Oct. 25. Thirty-six votes were needed to override.

However, 71 votes are needed for an override in the House, which originally approved Senate Bill 1351 by a 63-48 vote. All Pantagraph area lawmakers voted against the bill.

However, state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, is reconsidering his vote.

Brady said he is still concerned about the cost of having the state license loan service providers, which he was told could be $300,000 to $400,000 annually.

But indications that the federal government might be backing away from policing the loans has him "keeping an open mind" about "how best we are going to protect student borrowers."

State Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston, a Democratic candidate for governor, and state Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat, sponsored the bill drafted by the office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Student loan debt has surpassed credit card debt nationally. More than 44 million borrowers owe more than $1.4 trillion, according to Madigan.

Earlier this year, Madigan sued Navient, among the larger student loan servicers, accusing it of deceptive collection practices and failure to offer proper repayment options.

The bill would require student loan servicers to provide borrowers with clear information about all options for repayment. It also would create a student loan ombudsman in the attorney general's office and require student loan servicers to be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Madigan dismissed the argument that the bill encroaches on the federal government, saying Monday, they're doing nothing.  It's kind of been the Wild West.

Reforms that had been instituted during the Obama administration were removed by the Trump administration, she said, putting their corporate profit ahead of student borrowers.

She compared the student loan default situation to the mortgage loan crisis.

Just as the number of complaints about mortgages was going on, her office saw an increase in complaints about student loan servicers, she said.

Also, as happened during the mortgage crisis, Madigan said the borrowers are falling prey to scam artists who offer to help them reduce their debt but collect fees while doing little or nothing to help.

Rauner said in his veto message that students should not be defrauded  purposely or through incompetence  by their loan servicer. He called for a more narrowly tailored bill.

The attorney general's office has about five people cross-trained in several areas, including helping people who have complaints about student loan servicers, according to Madigan. She said they will continue doing that work even if Rauner's veto stands.

However, passage of the bill would make the loan ombudsman a statutory part of the office even after the departure of Madigan, who is not running for re-election.
Beware the low-level volunteer.

Virtually unheard of before Monday, when the FBI indicted two of President Trump's campaign staffers, George Papadopoulos is either the key to Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election  or a lying "low level volunteer," as the president tweeted early Tuesday morning.

But contrary to Trump's dismissive, never-heard-of-him shrug, Papadopoulos was also known within the campaign as Trump's foreign affairs adviser. It was within the latter capacity that Papadopoulos tried, unsuccessfully, to arrange meetings between the Trump campaign and Russians close to the Kremlin, ostensibly to learn dirt on Hillary Clinton.

He may be the key to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that led to Monday's indictments of the president's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and crimes against the United States. Papadopoulos himself was offered a pre-indictment plea bargain on charges that he had lied to the FBI during an earlier point in the investigation.

In response to the indictments, Trump has done everything but burn an effigy of Hillary Clinton  as distraction or, well, what? In the swamp, one is never sure whether movements beneath the surface are gators or mere shadows. Trump's history has taught us, however, that when he's under attack, Clinton will feel it. Like the Ghost of Election Past, she haunts Trump's dreamscape.

"But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?" he tweeted soon after the news broke.

Indeed, on Capitol Hill, some Republicans, who've been scurrying away from the indictment news as fast as their little mice feet can carry them, have moved to open an investigation into the Obama-era sale of Canada-based Uranium One, which had licenses to mine U.S. uranium, to a subsidiary of a Russian state-owned energy corporation. A committee composed of representatives from several U.S. government agencies, including the State Department  at the time led by Clinton  had to approve the sale, which transpired after the Clinton Foundation received $145 million in donations from Uranium One investors.

This would probably be a good time to grab a sheet of graph paper and a pencil. You're going to need them to chart the many possible overlaps in this Venn diagram of Russian propaganda/possible collusion/corruption/sleaze/lies/more lies  and wires. As of yet, we have seen no videotape, though it's possible that Papadopoulos has been wearing a wire in recent months.

Also, keep your eraser handy. People have people, you know, and others get fired. Or pardoned. But speculation that Trump would pardon Manafort and Gates is probably irrelevant. Manafort and Gates's alleged federal crimes almost certainly could not have happened without committing state crimes. State attorneys general could build cases off of Mueller's investigation and effectively neuter Trump's power. A president can only pardon federal crimes.

The question now is: Who's next? And what bigger fish could Manafort or Gates offer up in a plea that would spare them potentially up to 80 years and 70 years, respectively, in prison? Former national security adviser Michael Flynn's name keeps coming up, as does Wilbur Ross'. The commerce secretary was vice chair and a major investor in the Bank of Cyprus, the largest bank in a nation known to be a haven for money launderers and tax evaders, especially Russians. According to Monday's indictments, some of Manafort's and Gates' laundered money came from the Cypriot institution.

None of this affirms or even bolsters a case that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election, especially given that many of Manafort's relevant business dealings preceded his association with the campaign. All we know for certain is that Russia did influence the election, thanks to astounding testimony by social media leaders Tuesday.

Twitter identified 36,746 accounts associated with Russia that generated election-related content; Google found about 43 hours of election content in about 1,100 videos suspected to be of Russian origin; Facebook estimates that about 126 million people were exposed to Russian-produced stories leading up to the election.

If Trump benefited from these virtual incursions, there's no proof that he knew about it. Then again, we've likely only seen the tip of the iceberg, which must loom large to swamp-dwellers. Plus remember, Chicago crime boss Al Capone was brought down not on murder or racketeering, but on tax evasion.
100 years ago

Nov. 7, 1917: The Joe Everett identity became more clear when north side neighbors told the story of a Eureka man, son of a Methodist minister. From the details, it appears hes the same Joe Everett who tossed a bottled message overboard as his ship sank three years ago.

75 years ago

Nov. 7, 1942: At least one noteworthy Democrat winner in this weeks election: Dr. Lester Hunt, governor-elect in Wyoming. Hes originally from Atlanta. If you see a Wyoming license plate with the bucking bronco on it  know that he put it there as secretary of state.

50 years ago

Nov. 7, 1967: Normal City Council approved over $15,000 for five civil defense sirens. Theres some interest in placing one of the sirens on the ISU campus, and the town will try to work out a cost-sharing arrangement with the university.

25 years ago

Nov. 7, 1992: A citizens group in Wapella has won its fight. The regional school board has granted the groups petition to dissolve the Wapella school district. This summer it will be merged into the Clinton schools. High taxes in the Wapella district led to the petition.
What are the Paradise Papers? The Paradise Papers is a set of 13.4 million confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investment, leaked to the public on 5 November 2017 mostly from the offshore law firm Appleby, along with corporate registries in 19 tax jurisdictions, which reveal the financial dealings of politicians, celebrities, corporate giants like Apple and business leaders. There are two larger reports out today on the subject of the Paradise Papers in context with Apple.

The BBC reports that "The 13.4 million records were passed to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Panorama has led research for the BBC as part of a global investigation involving nearly 100 other media organizations, including the Guardian, in 67 countries. The BBC does not know the identity of the source.

The world's most profitable firm has a secretive new structure that would enable it to continue avoiding billions in taxes, the Paradise Papers show.

They reveal how Apple sidestepped a 2013 crackdown on its controversial Irish tax practices by actively shopping around for a tax haven.

It then moved the firm holding most of its untaxed offshore cash, now $252bn, to the Channel Island of Jersey.

Apple said the new structure had not lowered its taxes.

It said it remained the world's largest taxpayer, paying about $35bn (26bn) in corporation tax over the past three years, that it had followed the law and its changes "did not reduce our tax payments in any country".

In order to keep its tax rates low, Apple needed to find an offshore financial centre that would serve as the tax residency for its Irish subsidiaries.

In March 2014, Apple's legal advisers sent a questionnaire to Appleby, a leading offshore finance law firm and source of much of the Paradise Papers leak.

It asked what benefits different offshore jurisdictions - the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey - could offer Apple.

The document asked key questions such as was it possible to "obtain an official assurance of tax exemption" and could it be confirmed that an Irish company might "conduct management activities without being subject to taxation in your jurisdiction".

They also asked whether a change of government was likely, what information would be visible to the public and how easy it would be to exit the jurisdiction.





Leaked emails also make it clear that Apple wanted to keep the move secret.

One email sent between senior partners at Appleby says: "For those of you who are not aware, Apple [officials] are extremely sensitive concerning publicity. They also expect the work that is being done for them only to be discussed amongst personnel who need to know."

Apple chose Jersey, a UK Crown dependency that makes its own tax laws and which has a 0% corporate tax rate for foreign companies.





Paradise Papers documents show Apple's two key Irish subsidiaries, Apple Operations International (AOI), believed to hold most of Apple's massive $252bn overseas cash hoard, and Apple Sales International (ASI), were managed from Appleby's office in Jersey from the start of 2015 until early 2016.

This would have enabled Apple to continue avoiding billions in tax around the world. You could read more of the BBC report titled "Paradise Papers: Apple's secret tax bolthole revealed." The BBC report has a couple of videos on the matter relating to Apple and the Paradise Papers.

The Guardian's report adds that "The Paradise Papers show two of Apple's Irish subsidiaries, AOI and ASI, in the process of changing tax residency to Jersey.

Apple refused to discuss the details. But the Guardian understands ASI is now a dormant company.

Apple refused to say where the valuable economic rights once owned by ASI had been moved to but it is understood all its Irish operations are now run through companies tax resident in Ireland.

Apple refuses to say how much money it makes through its Irish companies, making it difficult to assess the significance of the sum.

Apple's financial statements indicate that it has continued to enjoy a low tax rate on its international operations. The firm made $122bn in profits outside the US during that same three-year period, on which it was taxed $6.6bn  a rate of 5.4%.

At the end of the Guardian's report they quote Cook: "At Apple, we follow the laws, and if the system changes we will comply. We strongly support efforts from the global community toward comprehensive international tax reform and a far simpler system, and we will continue to advocate for that."

The company has repeatedly defended its tax affairs over the years. Its chief executive, Tim Cook, told the US Senate committee that Apple paid all the taxes it owed and complied with both "the laws and the spirit of the laws."

The company has also condemned attempts by the European commission to get it to pay a record $14.5bn in unpaid taxes.

"The finding is wrongheaded," Cook told the Irish broadcaster RTE. "It's not true. There wasn't a special deal between Ireland and Apple. When you're accused of doing something that is so foreign to your values, it brings out outrage in you."

You could read more on the Guardian's report titled "Apple secretly moved parts of empire to Jersey after row over tax affairs."

In the last 24 hours an explosion of videos have poured onto YouTube about various entities avoiding tax exposed by the Paradise Papers. You could check it out starting here. Apple has yet to comment on the leaked documents.







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.
The U.S. Catholic bishops are, unsurprisingly, angry at the Trump administrations plan to cancel the DACA program that gave amnesty to minor-arriving illegals. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called the decision reprehensible; locally, Cardinal Cupich called it heartless in a statement. They reference scriptural calls to care for the stranger, as if this is a black-and-white issue, that Catholic doctrine apparently calls for open borders, and open-ended stranger-welcoming should be a matter of law, rather than personal action.

In the meantime, Breitbartian and ousted Trump advisor Steve Bannon gave an interview on 60 Minutes, in which he said, of the Catholic Churchs position,

The bishops have been terrible about this. By the way, you know why? You know why? Because unable to really  to  to  to come to grips with the problems in the church, they need illegal aliens, they need illegal aliens to fill the churches. Thats  its obvious on the face of it. Thats what  the entire Catholic bishops condemn him.  They have  they have an economic interest. They have an economic interest in unlimited immigration, unlimited illegal immigration. And as much as  . . . As much as I respect Cardinal Dolan and the bishops on doctrine, this is not doctrine. This is not doctrine at all. I totally respect the pope and I totally respect the Catholic bishops and cardinals on doctrine. This is not about doctrine. This is about the sovereignty of a nation. And in that regard, theyre just another guy with an opinion.

And the bishops fired back:

It is preposterous to claim that justice for immigrants isnt central to Catholic teaching. It comes directly from Jesus Himself in Matthew 25, For I was hungry and you gave me fooda stranger and you welcomed me. Immigrants and refugees are precisely the strangers we must welcome. This isnt Catholic partisanship. The Bible is clear: welcoming immigrants is indispensable to our faith. Our pro-immigration stance is based on fidelity to Gods word and honors the American dream. For anyone to suggest that it is out of sordid motives of statistics or financial gain is outrageous and insulting.

So lets start with the fact that, regardless of their true motives, the Catholic bishops have a clear conflict of interest. They may indeed be motivated by nothing other than pure-hearted desire to care for the stranger. But at the same time, according to Crux,

A 2015 study from Pew Research found that Catholics are more likely than other Americans to be immigrants or children of immigrants. More than a quarter of U.S. Catholics were born outside of the United States. . . . In his interview with Crux, Dolan said he opposed the rescission of DACA because a good chunk of the immigrants are our people. Theyre Catholics and we love them.

Bannon is correct that the Catholic church has lost large numbers of members, who grew up in the church, and have left it for other denominations or have abandoned any sort of religious belief or practice entirely, and at the same time, those pews have been filled by new migrants. Granted, theyre not filling the church coffers  theyre simply much poorer than those theyre replacing, and, it seems to me (though this is just a hunch), dont have that same sacrificial support of the church that enabled immigrants of past generations to build the masterpieces which are now decaying in our cities, despite equal poverty. But theyre keeping the numbers up, and their devotion to the church, perceived or real, is likely a great emotional if not financial boost to leaders, particularly in a time when their successful handling of clergy abuse is questioned.

Fundamentally, its simply part of human nature to see things from the perspective of your group, and illegal immigrants are a definite constituency, even if only a minority. Would be that celebratory of these immigrants if they were Protestants, if they filled up the pews of declining Lutheran, or Methodist, or Episcopalian churches?

And, yes, I believe that some form of legal residency should be offered to illegal immigrants, of whatever age, who have been here long enough that it would be a true hardship to return to their home countries, if for no other reason than because it was our governments own failure to deport them in past years that got us to this situation. But we simply cannot do this without putting in place measures (E-Verify, prosecution of employers hiring workers under the table) that will end this situation for the long-term future.

But whenever the bishops speak of immigrants as if they have a right to come here, and wholly ignore the violations of law when they obtain false IDs or work under the table, and treat these as those sorts of actions which are not really wrong anyway  as if their lives in their native countries were so wretched, and their right to come to the U.S. so compelling, that these laws are really to be treated as unjust laws, in the same way as it was a matter of justice, not criminality, for Jews in Nazi-occupied territory to forge ID documents  well, Im sorry, but that just makes me want to dig in my heels. They are not being prophetic witnesses when they condone violations of the law. And their incessant pro-immigrant statements rarely, if at all, acknowledge the right of a nation to control its borders. And what, after all, about the bishops in Mexico, and Central America, and all the other sending countries  do they not have the responsibility to encourage their flock to improve, rather than flee, their homes?

So thats todays rant.

Image: from pixabay.com; https://pixabay.com/en/border-mexico-usa-united-states-62866/
Evangelicals have been working to gain political influence in a visible way since the 1970s. They made some progress under Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II, gaining considerable influence in the House in between. But in a strange twist of fate, evangelicals seem to be gaining their greatest influence yet under the presidency of a billionaire philanderer.

When Beverly LaHaye founded Concerned Women for America in 1979, the organization positioned itself as an outsider. No longer.

As Feministing reports:

Trump intends to nominate a woman named Penny Young Nance as ambassador-at-large for global womens issues. As such, shed be responsible for managing the State Departments programs to fight gender-based violence and promote women and girls educational and economic achievement. Heres the problem: Penny Young Nance has made her career standing in the way of girls and womens rights. Nance is the President and CEO of Concerned Women For America (CWA), an organization whose mission statement says it protects and promotes Biblical values and Constitutional principles in America.

Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America, ambassador-at-large for global womens issues. Im not sure theres much that better incapsulates the backwards nature of these appointmentsexcept perhaps Betsy DeVos. Appointing a woman who had spent her career dismantling the public schools to head the Department of Education ranks right up there with appointing a woman who spent her career standing in the way of girls and womens rights as ambassador-at-large for global womens issues.

Lest you think Feministing is exaggerating, here are some specifics:

CWA opposed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, partly because it creates new protections for homosexuals and partly because it encourages the dissolution of marriages. Of course the only marriages that VAWA helps dissolve are abusive ones, but I guess Nance is more concerned with the nuclear family than the 12 million people abused by intimate partners in the United States every year.

Evangelicals like those at Concerned Women for America tend to oppose divorce even in case of abuse, valuing the intactness of the traditional family above the safety of women and children. Prominent evangelical John Piper has argued repeatedly that even an abused woman must continue being submissive to her husband (click here for Sarah Moons excellent treatment of Pipers various statements).

Of course, CWA has continually claimed that they do care about preventing domestic violence. Its just that they disagree on what prevents domestic violence. An article since removed from their website alleged that there is no proof that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which funds rape crisis centers and hotlines and provides legal aid for survivors of domestic violence among other things, actually helps prevent domestic violence. Other CWA articles on the VAWA took on a similar themedomestic violence is bad, but the VAWA is a waste of money, and we need to focus on policies that actually prevent domestic violence. What policies, exactly?

An analysis of the CWA website turns up a pattern. CWA invokes domestic violence when opposing same-sex marriageclaiming that domestic violence rates are higher in same-sex relationshipsand when opposing abortioncalling abortion the biggest act of domestic violence against women and children. In fact, CWA blames no-fault divorce for higher rates of domestic violence.

Have a look at this:

The statistics are staggering. More than 40% of marriages end in divorce, and about 41% of children are born out of wedlock. That statistic is absolutely heartbreaking for the African-American community, with more than 70% of children born out of wedlock. These statistics, and the negative consequences associated with them, are the direct result of the policies our society has supported in recent years. It is estimated that when no-fault divorce laws began to be passed in 1969, the divorce rates in the different states went up about 25%. We [as a society] have promoted these policies, despite overwhelming evidence telling us that communities with a higher percent of healthy marriages enjoy many benefits, including: 1. Higher rates of physically healthy citizens 2. Higher rates of emotionally healthy citizens 3. Higher rates of educated citizens 4. Lower domestic violence rates

How does CWA propose to protect women from domestic violence, in other words? By discontinuing gay marriage, banning abortion, and ending no fault divorce.

CWA also seeks to reduce domestic violence by promoting marriage, based on a profound misunderstanding of statisticsit is true that married couples have lower domestic violence rates than cohabitation couples, but it does not follow that if all cohabiting couples married domestic violence rates would fall accordinglysuch a claim assumes that marriage is the only difference between these two groups, ignoring income, education, and the reasons a cohabiting couple has chosen not to marry. (Read more here.)

CWA actually spends very little webspace addressing domestic violence, compared with the space they devote to opposing birth control and abortion. CWA claims not to take a position on birth control, but we draw a hard line on abortion and abortion-inducing drugs. What are abortion-inducing drugs, pray? The IUD, the implant, and the birth control pill, among others. But lets note something elsenot taking a position on birth control means not promoting non-hormonal forms of birth control, such as condoms.

The ability to make ones own reproductive choices has long been recognized as central to the wellbeing and empowerment of girls and women around the globeespecially in developing areas. Education is also viewed as central to empowering women and girls, as is delaying marriage. How would Nance stack up, if given the responsibility of shaping State Department priorities to take girls and womens issues into account? It is unlikely that Nance would feel comfortable promoting birth control; her devotion to traditional marriage structures, though, is perhaps only more concerning.

Lets be very clear about this: CWA does not believe in gender equality. Beverly LaHaye founded CWA to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment. Even today the organization speaks out against feminism at every turn. CWA opposed the creation of the National Museum of Womens History, which was founded in 1996 and constructed in the 2000s. As CWA explains, the museums online exhibits tout the progressive era and feminism but do not acknowledge their ramifications, the destruction of marriage and the family.

At this point I think we need to pause and look at the job description of the ambassador-at-large for global womens issues. The Office of Global Womens Issues is a division of the State Department created under Obama in 2009. According to its website:

As a policy office with a small stable of innovative programs, the office serves as a resource for U.S. diplomats in Washington and around the world. It also leads on the Departments priorities around gender equality, including gender-based violence, womens economic empowerment, womens participation in peace and security, and adolescent girls.

Concerned Women for America is not pro-woman. It is pro-family. Lest you think that is a distinction without a difference, consider CWAs promotion of banning no-fault divorce as a way to fight domestic violence.

Concerned Women for America has also had a fairly laser-like focus on the U.S. A piece published by CWAs Beverly LaHaye Institute in 2005 argued that juggling a demanding career and family life is frazzling and stressful and that when women have a career it is often at childrens expense. In another article, Nance wrote about what she called the feminist myth of work-family balance. How would this approach to womens issues and family life translate globally?

In many areas of the world, particularly those that are less advantaged, womens lives are filled with constant work. Their work looks different, of courseit is often labor that takes place within the home, whether domestic or paid. The Netflix series Daughters of Destiny provides a compelling picture of the sort of female labor common across the globe. Daughters of Destiny follows a group of poverty-stricken girls attending a school for untouchable childrena school designed to propel the girls into white collar careers that will enable them to raise their families and communities out of poverty. What would Nance have to say about this project?

Womens economic empowerment does not appear on the CWAs list of issues. Nor does gender-based violence or gender equality. What does appear on their list? Have a look:

Sanctity of Life: CWA supports the protection of all innocent human life from conception until natural death. We also support alternatives to abortion and healing for mothers suffering from the results of abortion. [Read More] Defense of Family: CWA believes that marriage consists of one man and one woman. We seek to protect and support the Biblical design of marriage and the gift of children. [Read More] Education: CWA supports reform of public education by returning authority to parents and also accessibility to alternatives forms of education. [Read More] Religious Liberty: CWA supports the God-given rights of individuals in the United States and other nations to pray, worship, and express their beliefs without fear of discrimination or persecution. [Read More] National Sovereignty: CWA believes that neither the United Nations nor any other international organization should have authority over the United States in any area. We also believe the United States has the right and duty to protect and secure our national borders. We believe in budget restraint which embodies responsible spending, small government and a budget in which the U.S. government spends within its means and ceases to steal from future generations. [Read More] Sexual Exploitation: CWA endeavors to fight all pornography, obscenity, prostitution, and sex slavery. [Read More] Support for Israel: CWA believes that the people and nations who stand with Israel and the Jewish people will be blessed by God. We believe that any foreign policy effort to withdraw U.S. support for Israel is in direct contradiction to Americas national interests. [Read More]

The only items on this list that could translate effectively to global womens issues are education and sexual exploitation. But even here, when you click read more you find a position statement littered with Bible verses, an approach that wouldnt translate well to many areas of the world. Furthermore, education has literally nothing to do with educating or empowering girlsits about eliminating sex education and providing parents with taxpayer funded religious schools.

Now wait. Were not talking about Trump nominating Concerned Women for America to run the office of global womens affairs. Were talking about him nominating Penny Nance to run it. Sure, Penny Nance is the CEO of concerned Women for America, but perhaps she has experience outside of this organization that mitigates some of the things outlined above? Lets take a look.

Areas of Expertise: American Exceptionalism, Family, Sanctity of human life, Education, Health care reform, Religious liberty, Abortion, Sexual exploitation of women and children, Planned Parenthood government funding, economic issues realities, Marriage, National sovereignty, Support for Israel, Sex trafficking, Pornography,/Indecency and other cultural issues.

What does it mean that Nance has expertise in American Exceptionalism? Unless shes a historian or political scientist, thats a very odd thing to lead with. If Im reading this right, Health care reform means resisting the Obamacare birth control mandate; Planned Parenthood government funding means trying to defund planned parenthood; and economic issues realities means talking about how women cant have it all. National sovereignty, presumably, means taking pot shots at the U.N.

Nance graduated from Liberty University in 1988. She spent five years as Legislative Director for Concerned Women for America. During that time she  also consulted for other non-profit organizations, including Prison Fellowship Ministries, the Center for Reclaiming America, and the Christian Music Industry and served on the staff of Congressman Pat Swindall (R-Georgia). While her biography does not list any dates, Nance was listed as the former Legislative Director for Concerned Women for America when she went on Bill Mahers show in 1999.

Nance indicated that she took a break from her career when she had children, and she was identified as a suburban stay-at-home mom when she was a guest on Fox in 2004. However, as Media Matters pointed out at the time, that wasnt exactly fair. By 2004, Nance had founded the Kids First Coalition, served as its president, and was registered as a lobbyist for the group. In 2003, according to the organizations website, Nance attended a world conference on sex trafficking, worked on bills relating to sex trafficking, and met with the president of the FCC.

What was the Kids First Coalition? It is unclear when exactly the group was founded and when it shut its doors, but the wayback machine first archived the groups website in 2002 and the website was defunct after 2009. According to the organizations website, via the wayback machine:

Kids First Coalition will work to promote and encourage traditional families as well as to help those in crisis pregnancies or difficult circumstances. Our work as an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves will make the U.S. stronger and more caring.

Nances CWA biography described the Kids First Coalition as a non-profit focused on educating  on a variety of issues related to children. Media Matters described it as an anti-abortion nonprofit organization. While the groups mission statement (above) indicates a focus on abortion via crisis pregnancy work, the group lobbied on issues such as the child tax credit, education, adoption, crime, pornography, and abortion. In 2003, the current issues section described Kids First Coalition action on child pornography, decency in broadcasting, sex trafficking, cloning, and abortion.

Nances work with CWA and the Kids First Coalition led to a position with the FCC, which she took in 2005:

Nance most recently served  as Special Advisor for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where she advised the Chairman and the Commissioners on media and social issues. In this capacity, she served as a liaison and provided outreach to Congress, public interest groups, and industry leaders. Mrs. Nances key responsibilities centered on the protection of children, including broadcast indecency and the media task force on childhood obesity.

According to a 2005 LA Times article:

An outspoken anti-pornography advocate has been hired by the Federal Communications Commission to advise the agency on consumer issues involving the cable and broadcast industry, which has been under scrutiny for airing racy material. Penny Nance, who previously ran the Kids First Coalition, which advocates on the issues of adoption, crime, pornography, abortion and computer safety, has been hired as a part-time advisor in the FCCs Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, an agency spokesman said. Nance, a self-described religious conservative, has testified before Congress and has been interviewed on cable television about Internet child pornography.

It was during the Bush years that Nance got her position with the FCC, and during the Bush years that Nance ran the Kids First Coalition, pushing right-wing traditional family positions and focusing on abortion, sex trafficking, and child pornography. During this period she likely built upon the networking shed done as Legislative Director for Concerned Women for America in the 1990s.

Nance became the CEO of Concerned Women for America in 2010. However, she had never really left Concerned Women for America after giving up her position as Legislative Director. Instead, she served on the organizations board in the intervening years. Nance also now serves on President Trumps Life Advisory Council; her biography states that she is speaking as a modern day Esther to both the President, Vice-President and key staff. Grammatical issues aside, it takes a serious misreading of the book of Esther to come to this conclusion.

I think it is safe to conclude, after this brief look at Nances career, that the beliefs and ideas promoted by the CWA are the same beliefs and ideas Nance holds.

Nances work on sex trafficking is the only thing she has going for her in terms of qualifying to serve as ambassador-at-large for global womens issues, but even that is undermined by her backwards and dangerous approach to domestic violence. Everything elsefrom her opposition to abortion and hormonal birth control to her belief that no-fault divorce should be eliminated and her focus on the importance of women being stay-at-home momswould be a disastrous fit for an office that focuses on gender-based violence and womens economic empowerment.
During a press junket for his Nov. 22 film, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington boldly shared his Christian faith to a roundtable of faith-based media, including Reel Faiths DeWayne Hamby. The actor, joined by writer-director Dan Gilroy, also a believer, discussed lessons from the life of the fictional title character. Washington also shared some life-changing words his mother spoke to him in recent years:

It was prophesied that I would travel the world and preach to millions, it was prophesied when I was 20, he said. I thought it was through my work and it has been. My mother said to me when I was 59, she said, Denzel, you do a lot of good. You have to do good the right way and you know what Im talking about. I dont drink anymore. I dont do any of those things. Im all about it the message to the degree that I know and Im I unashamed and unafraid to share it. So you have to be unashamed and unafraid to share it in the way that your millennial generation knows how.

Washington called Gilroy his prayer partner through the film and mentioned that the director would send a Word of the Day Scripture to the cast and crew every morning, a habit thats being repeated on the set of Washingtons new film, the sequel to The Equalizer.

Targeting the concept of information overload specifically, the actor mentioned how the Spirit is constantly warring against the ideas and principalities of the world.

It is so difficult to believe that Jesus died for our sins, because the mind never shuts off, especially in this world where youre given so much information, he said. What did he say on the boat? Go to bed. Then it said, But the wind began to We know, but we forget, moment by moment.

The two-time Oscar winner also spoke about conversations he had with his father on The End Times and how the generations today have a part to play in Gods program.

Theres a reason, you may not like whats going on but the boss has a reason, he said.

More information about Roman J. Israel, Esq., including conversations with Gilroy and co-star Carmen Ejogo, will be available on this column in the coming days.

For the full audio interview, listen to the podcast below:
Patna: The body of 21-year old grandson of noted gynecologist Shanti Rai arrived in Patna on Monday morning after which it was cremated at the Gulbi Ghat in the presence of dozens of family members and loved ones.

Jayant Rai, the eldest son of Dr. Himanshu Rai and Dr. Sarika Rai, also a gynecologist, died on early Sunday morning in a road accident in Belgaum in Karnataka.

The body was brought from airport to Dr. Rai's residence in Kankarbagh where family members, friends, and a number of prominent doctors from Patna had already gathered to provide emotional support to the family in their hour of need.

Amidst crying and wailing, the body was then taken to the Gulbi Ghat where the family members performed his last rites.

As reported, Jayant was returning from a short trip to Goa with his friend Nisha and Anshuman in a car on Sunday morning when he reportedly lost control and slammed the vehicle into a road divider between Hubli and Belgaum. The car then turned over a few times and fell several feet below in a gorge killing Jayant and Nisha on the spot. Anshuman was rushed to a hospital where his condition is said to be critical.

Jayant was a student of the Belgaum Medical College.
Patna: Police in Mokama on late Sunday night arrested two men who tried to rob a Scottish couple who were sailing in the Ganges starting their journey from Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh with the goal to end it in Hooghly in Kolkata.

According to a police report filed by the duo, the two arrived at Mokama Ghat on Sunday night on a small sail boat. After securing their belongings at the bank of the river, the couple walked into the town to take pictures and find some place to eat.

Within minutes, a local gang of thugs approached them and demanded their pictures taken with the couple. After that, the criminals tried to rob them and made lewd advances towards the Scottish woman.

The two somehow managed to run back to their kayaks and rowed away until they reached Pandarak where they told some locals about their plight. However, due to language barrier, the local people could not understand what were they saying so they took them to the police station where the couple filed a police report about the incident.

A police team led by DSP Manoj Kumar went to Mokama where two men, after being identified by the couple, were taken into custody.

Attempts were on to apprehend others who were involved in the shameful incident.
Iran's Rouhani Writes to Supreme Leader On Dispute Over Suspended Zoroastrian Council Member

11/07/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has condemned the recent suspension of a Zoroastrian member of a city council as "illegal" and asked the supreme leader to intervene in the growing dispute that has highlighted divisions within the state.



Sepanta Niknam, Zoroastrian member of Yazd city council



In a meeting with members of the Tehran City Council on November 6, 2017, "Mr. Rouhani made some remarks about Sepanta Niknam's situation and said he had written a letter to the supreme leader stating that the suspension is against the law and national interests and expressed hope that the matter could arrive at a final resolution," said the council's spokesman, Ali Eta.

Except for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, most senior Iranian officials have stated their position on Niknam's suspension from the city council of the city of Yazd in September 2017, for being a member of the Zoroastrian faith.



Read coverage of Rohani's letter by Shargh daily



News of Rouhani's letter to Khamenei came on the heels of a statement by the spokesman for the Guardian Council reiterating its view that electing non-Muslims to local councils in Muslim-majority constituencies is not only un-Islamic but also against Iran's "interests."

The Guardian Council is a body of six clerics and six jurists that vets laws and elections for conformity with Islamic principles.

On October 30, Guardian Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaei said the council maintains the authority to reject any law it considers un-Islamic.

"If legislators have a different point of view, they have to follow legal procedures," he said.

For weeks, Iranian state officials have been debating the validity of the Law on the Formation, Duties, and Election of National Islamic Councils, which permits followers of all religions recognized in Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution-Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism-to run as candidates in elections.

The dispute broke out in September 2017, following a ruling by the Administrative Court in Yazd suspending Niknam, who was re-elected to the city council in May 2017.

The ruling was in favor of Ali Asghar Bagheri, a Muslim candidate, who lodged a complaint after failing to receive enough votes to win a seat in the council.

The court based its decision on the April 2017 declaration by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the ultra-conservative chairman of the Guardian Council, banning non-Muslims from representing Muslim-majority constituencies.

In Yazd, Akbar Ghafouri, the Guardian Council's local representative stated on November 4 that if the law had not been declared un-Islamic, "we could reach a point in the future where all members of the city council would be religious minorities."

He claimed more than two-thirds of the people who voted for Niknam in the May 2017 national elections for local councils were Muslims, adding, "We cannot allow religious minorities to represent Muslims."

In his October 31 remarks, Chief Justice Sadegh Larijani said that the ban was the Guardian Council's prerogative as the country's highest authority in determining legislative compliance with Islamic principles.

"There's nothing wrong with the decision of the Guardian Council's theologians to investigate this issue from the point of view of Islamic law," he said. "That's their job."

The Rouhani government has consistently spoken out against the ban.

"The Zoroastrian faith is one of our country's officially recognized religions in the Constitution," said spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, on October 31.

"Zoroastrians enjoy the rights of citizenship and our laws allow them to exercise those rights," he told reporters at a press conference.

"We are looking for ways to resolve this issue before it escalates further," he added. "The president has asked the interior minister to look into this matter and hopefully come up with a solution."

On October 18, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, the judiciary chief's brother, condemned Niknam's suspension as illegal and threatened to refer the dispute to the Expediency Discernment Council for arbitration.

"In my talks with Ayatollah [Ahmad] Jannati, the honorable chairman of the Guardian Council, I emphasized that local councils should be handled according to the law," said Larijani in a meeting with a group of city councilors.

"If this matter is not resolved, we have no choice but to refer it to the Expediency Discernment Council for a final resolution," he added.

Yazd is home to some of the world's most revered Zoroastrian religious sites. Followers of the ancient pre-Islamic faith have lived in the region for thousands of years.

Recognized in the Constitution, the Zoroastrian population in Iran had dwindled to about 25,000 as of 2011, according to a national census.

Niknam, 32, is the head of the Zoroastrian Association, which is based in Yazd.



Sepanta Niknam among members of Zoroastrian community

(photo by amordadnews.com)

Gholamali Sefid, the chairman of the Yazd city council, has consistently defended Niknam's right to maintain his position.

"The suspension of the Zoroastrian member of the city council will put Islam in a bad light in the eyes of the people, said Sefid on November 4.

"We don't want Islam to be harmed."

"The argument that non-Muslims cannot rule over Muslims does not apply here because members of the councils are representatives of the people, not their rulers," he added.

"Also, according to many [Shia] religious leaders, local councils are not ruling over people because they only deal with daily municipal affairs," he said.
As a result, the perpetrators are making enormous profit without honouring their tax obligations to the government.



This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam at the GOIL Dealers and Trade Area Awards last Friday in Accra.



The minister ,therefore, called for a strong collaboration among players in the petroleum industry to help curb the influx of smuggling and illegal activities confronting the downstream petroleum sector in the country.



He said the collaboration should precede the creation of a robust petroleum sector that would thrive on a strong commitment to ethics rather than fueling people who were bent on collapsing the industry, as well as deny the government of the necessary revenue to develop the country.



I urge you to be ambassadors of your own industry and help us arrest those who are bent on killing the industry, Dr Adam said.



He explained that the sales margins of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) declined by 13 per cent for diesel and six per cent for petrol every year as a result to the perennial smuggling of products in the country.



What this means is that apart from the sales margin of these OMCs going down, their profitability levels are also going down and their income for which they are able to pay their workers is also going down and unemployment is likely to occur if this is not addressed, he articulated.



But apart from this, those doing legal business who sales volume had gone down are unable to pay the taxes they paid when their sales volume were high and this is how the government loses money, he noted.



He said this revenue could have supported the government in the areas of education, health and infrastructure for its citizenry across the country.



Therefore, it is incumbent on all of us to join the government to be able to tackle this illegal trade in the petroleum industry, Dr Adam said in response to a called made by the Group Chief Executive of GOIL, Mr Patrick Akorli.



The master plan



He said the ministry was in the process of developing a petroleum infrastructure master plan to serve as a blueprint to transform the downstream petroleum industry in Ghana.



The master plan, which is expected to be tabled before cabinet for approval before the end of the year, is to serve as a national document to regulate how petroleum infrastructure such as ports, petroleum depots and refineries will be deployed across the country.



He observed that plans were far advanced for the preparation of the documents to regulate the downstream petroleum industry in the country.



We are developing a petroleum infrastructure master plan to help transform the downstream petroleum industry in terms of how to regulate the establishment of petroleum infrastructure such as ports, petroleum depots and refineries across the country.



He said such a master plan was to guide and detail the establishment of petroleum infrastructure where to deploy it and which partners needed to be able to develop such infrastructure.



Industry challenge



Mr Akorli said the greatest challenge confronting the downstream petroleum sector today was the influx of illegal products which was having enormous strain on the viability of many OMCs and denying the government huge revenue.



The illegal activities of perpetrators are in three fold.



First, there are those whose products get certified to be exported but clandestinely return and dump the products cheaply on the local market, denying the state of revenue.



The second category of these illegal transactions involve the illegal importation of oil products which are not captured for duties and levies. The state thus loses huge revenues.



The third practice sabotaging the sector is the ploy where subsidised diesel meant for fishing vessels find their way onto the retail market.



The Group CEO called for a collective approach to fight these illegal activities which could destroy the downstream petroleum industry.

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.

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Mr Charles Abugre, has appealed to the government to consider some preferential policies for the agricultural sector in the northern savannah zone of the country.



He said those who had tried to cultivate crops such as maize and rice in the northern part of the country had faced challenges such as high energy and diesel for pumping.



Mr Abugre therefore, called for a preferential policy on energy, for instance, was critical to making agriculture work in the savannah region.



He made this submission at the GRAPHIC BUSINESS-Stanbic Bank breakfast meeting in Accra on the theme: Securing the Economy with Agriculture.



The event was attended by stakeholders within the agricultural sector value chain, most of whom commended the GRAPHIC BUSINESS and Stanbic Bank for creating such a platform to discuss a major sector in the economy with the potential to transform the countrys economic fortunes.



Savannah features



Mr Abugre said savannahs all over the world had over 65 percent of plain arable land, suitable for grains and livestock.



He said feasibility analysis in the last two and half years in the northern savanna suggests that only sorghum, shea butter and to some extent, groundnut, among others, could thrive close to maximum yields without irrigation.



They need irrigation. Fortunately, in the northern savannah, every year, well over 40 million table metres of water on the average pounce on the ground and runs off.

A strategy for organising that water and channelling it to irrigation is critical for any of these crops to thrive, Mr Abugre said.



He said the soil in the savanna suffered three main problems: acidity; it had serious phosphoric deficiency and serious organic matter deficiency but was endowed with large quantities of limestone.



The transformation of the Brazilian savannah was based on harnessing such large quantities of limestone to address acidity. If that could also be a priority policy of the ministry, it will augur well, he said.



He added that crops had a maximum impact on the economy if they were so organised and they also promoted processing and value addition.



He said they were also closest to the areas of production, but that required organising infrastructure such as roads, energy and water and to ensure volumes that required a mixture of farm sizes, small, medium and large.



That, he added, meant that the strategy should also include clustering and deliberately organising the situation that would stimulate it.

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.

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An agronomist, Dr, Abu Sakara Foster, has said the government should give a lot more attention to the establishment of large commercial farms to accelerate the growth of the Agric sector.



He said there was the need to encourage large-scale farming because the economy could only be transformed through agriculture if the focus was not always on small-scale farmers but on medium and large-scale ones as well.



Speaking at the Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting on agriculture in Accra last Tuesday, on the theme, Securing the economy with agriculture, he said: We need to refocus on large farms; from subsistence to a thriving enterprise; from old, tired farmers to vibrant, entrepreneurial and heavy investments; one that does not make us thirsty even when we live in water.



Dr Sakara argued that concentrating on smallholder farmers alone at the detriment of medium and large-scale ones, as was being practised presently, could not drive the transformation needed in the Agric sector that would, in turn, transform the economy.



We cannot continue on the basis of having only small-scale farmers. There has to be an evolution from small to medium and large-scale commercial farmers. If that evolution is not taking place, then the transformation is not taking place and that also determines how much we invest in each category of farmer. I think sometimes we focus only on the small-scale farmers to the exclusion of the medium to the large and commercial-scale farmers, he added.



He, therefore, called on the government to resource smallholder farmers who were largely uneducated and lacked the required knowledge to access the needed finance to expand their farms.



Dr Sakara said when smallholder farmers had access to finance; it would help them to transition into medium and large-scale commercial farmers to substantially contribute to food production.



And by the way, who says uneducated farmers cannot count money? he questioned.

Source: Daily Graphic









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Commonwealth nations, particularly the developing ones, are at risk of undermining their own efforts towards accelerated development if they continuously rely on foreign aid.



He said the developing nations are at risk of losing the trust of their people if they fail to mobilize the needed revenue to meet their expectations.



President Akufo-Addo disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf to officially open the 38th Annual Technical Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) yesterday in Accra.



The five-day event, hosted by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), is being held under the theme: Leveraging technology to enhance revenue administration.



That is why since assuming office in January 2017, I have championed a policy of Ghana beyond aid, the President said, adding I believe it is time developing countries relied as much as possible on domestic revenue mobilization to fund their development agenda.



President Akufo-Addo said that when technology is fully utilized and properly leveraged, it could provide vast opportunities to increase voluntary compliance.



Technology has developed to the extent that Commonwealth Tax Administrators, especially the developing ones, will be doing themselves a great deal of disservice if they fail to take advantage of the opportunities associated with it.



We, as a government, recognize the challenge GRA faces in its attempt to cast the tax net wider to embrace as many operators as possible especially from the informal sector. As part of the solution, the government has already leveraged technology to introduce a digital property addressing system and will soon introduce a national identity card system.



Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, who was a guest speaker, pledged the governments commitment to supporting GRA to achieve the desired outcomes from the many tax reforms initiated.



A modernized and reformed tax administration will inure to the benefit of our country through efficiency which hopefully will translate into maximizing revenue mobilization.



Acting Commissioner General of GRA, Kofi Nti said GRA has been embarking on what he called a series of tax, administrative, structural, and procedural and process reforms aimed at modernizing the Ghanaian tax administration and improving service delivery to taxpayers.



Sudhamo Lal, Director General of the Mauritius Revenue Authority, who is currently the chairman of CATA, said the new generation of taxpayers no longer considers paper-based channels as the most effective ways of communicating and transacting with tax administrations.

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.

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The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante, has said he does not feel safe with the current rise of pro-government party vigilantism in the country.



There have been about 20 recorded cases of outbursts of chaos from groups aligned to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the wake of the partys 2016 electoral victory.



The groups had resorted to the seizure of toll booths, public toilets, closure of public offices, to a series of protests against presidential appointees.



Recently, the NPP youth clashed with the police in Sissala and chased out the District Chief Executive for the area, Mohammed Bako, because their preferred candidate was not appointed as the coordinator for the Micro-Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) for the district.



Rev. Asante, reacting to the recurrent outburst of chaos by the youth on Accra-based Starr FM yesterday said he did not feel safe.



Why would I feel safe if other people do not feel safe? No matter what my position is, and no matter what I put in place to protect myself or what clout I have, if an ordinary citizen of this country is not safe, I, as a citizen of this country, Im not safe also and you are not safe,he stated.



He charged the Interior Minister, Mr Ambrose Dery, and the police to put their jobs on the line to make sure the youth do not act with impunity, and that, persons who break the law are severely punished.



We should all ask the police who have been given that mandate to ensure the peace of this country to account for that. They should be held responsible, and responsibility goes with accountability and I think that it is important the Ghana Police Service rise to the occasion, he added.



According to Rev. Prof. Asante, the IGP or the Interior Minister resigning for not being able to restore law and order in the country will indicate the maturity of our democracy that when something like this happens, people responsible for it are made to answer for what is happening.



He continued: Citizens should call on such people to resign because they have reneged; they have not been able to do what is expected of them. I trust the Minister of Interior, I know him very well, I worked with him, and I want to encourage him to truly put his job on the line and address this issue because this cannot go on in a country where we have accepted the rule of law. People cannot do this; we are not living in the jungle, he stated.

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.

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The Africa Centre for Energy Policy has introduced a new digital platform to help encourage tax compliance among the citizenry.



Dubbed: Opentaxghana, the platform seeks to promote voluntary compliance on the part of the public by providing tax education and tax law enforcement through the cooperation of the citizenry.



The new platform was designed in partnership with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and supported by the United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID), to help increase domestic tax revenue.



The Executive Director of the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Mr Benjamin Boakye, at the launch in Accra, said it had become important for citizens to be fully engaged in supporting the laws and administrative processes that deal with the challenges of tax revenue mobilisation in the country.



He said through the platform, the gaps that allow tax evasion schemes to occur could be identified and addressed as it provided opportunity for the public to share experiences on practices that deprive the state of tax revenue.



Also, he stated that there was a whistle-blower section that enabled people to anonymously report tax evasion schemes.



He explained that the whistle-blower was already protected under the Whistle-blower Act, 2006 (Act 720) and would be rewarded with 10 per cent of tax revenues that the GRA would successfully recover following tax evasion reporting.



The platform also improves transparency and accountability by providing information to citizens on government revenue trends and how these are utilised. The public can also determine their tax obligations with assistance from the platform., Mr Boakye said.



The executive director observed that the indication that tax to the gross domestic product (GDP) ratio was about 15.4 per cent in 2016 was an indication that Ghanaians were demanding more from the government than they contributed.



ACEP believes that as the public engage with the platform to support the GRA in fighting the problem of tax evasion to increase tax revenue mobilisation, more resources will be made available to support the development Ghana needs.



This will enhance the legitimacy of the public to demand more accountability from government, he added.



Collective approach



Mr Boakye said there was the need for the citizenry to adopt a collective approach to help encourage tax compliance in the country.



The approach, he said, should precede the creation of an improved domestic tax revenue mobilisation to reduce dependence on debts for development financing.



Domestic revenue mobilisation through taxation is very weak, evidenced by tax evasion schemes across many sectors of the Ghanaian economy, Mr Boakye said.



For instance, according to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the state lost an estimated GH850 million in revenue in 2016 as a result of illegal trade in petroleum products in the downstream petroleum sector.



The executive director noted that there was a bigger challenge with the collection of tax from the countrys rather large informal sector which needed to be addressed immediately.



About 1.2 million people are recognised taxpayers, out of which only 200,000 come from the informal sector. Addressing the challenges of tax revenue mobilisation, particularly from the informal sector, is the function of the state through the tax authorities.



However, the general public has a crucial role to play in this, particularly where the capacity of the state to detect complex tax evasion schemes is limited, he said.



GRA to strengthen operations



A Senior Revenue Officer at the Communication and Public Affairs of GRA, Mrs Anita Naadu Anaba-Ania, lauding the initiative, said the platform had come at an opportune time where authority was taking steps to strengthen its operations in the country.



She said the authority had already launched national tax compliance campaign which was aimed at increasing voluntary tax compliance of tax obligations by the citizenry.



Going forward, she noted that the authority intended to intensify its campaign on tax compliance to help improve domestic tax revenue mobilisation to help develop the country.

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.

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Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has applauded the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust (GHCT), managers of the Canopy Walkway at the Kakum National Park, for its enviable safety record.



She noted that two-decades of existence of the eco-tourism facility, located at Abrafo-Odumase in the Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region, without any incident was highly commendable and described the Trust as a pacesetter in safety management.



The Trust, a non- governmental organisation, manages the National Park and is responsible for the daily maintenance of the canopy walk way. It also manages some monuments including the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Fort Saint Jago at Elmina which are recognized world tourists sites.



Mrs Afeku made the recommendation in a speech read on her behalf at a colourful durbar to inaugurate a childrens park and an Animal Viewing Zone at Abrafo.



Organized by the GHCT, the new sites aim at giving tourists interesting varieties of new packages to sustain their interests.



The occasion was also used to solicit technical and financial support for an Exhibition Centre Restoration project.



The childrens park which has a large playground, a mini walk-way, two sculptured antelopes, and a resting area, would also host other social activities, while the Animal Viewing Zone would offer visitors the opportunity to see and feel different wildlife species in their natural habitat.



Mrs Afeku noted that the Tourism Sector contributed about 7.1 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and an estimated six billion cedis to the Nations economy, and therefore, more enabling environment would be created to encourage private sector participation to boost activities in the sector to rake in more revenue.



The development of tourism and the expansion of tourist facilities is one way of creating employment opportunities for our unemployed youth and a major source of revenue generation for the rapid development of the economy, she indicated.



She said the pace of rehabilitation works which had resumed on the deplorable road networks of the area would be fast tracked to attract more visitors to the Park.



Dr. Kojo Yankah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, GHCT, recounted how the Trust took over the management of the facility amidst glowing tributes to the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) and its founding fathers and announced that 30 youth from the area would soon receive training to work at a bamboo village to be set up soon.



He said as part of the project, more bamboo farms would be cultivated to feed the factory, which would add about 200 new bamboo products to create jobs and also boost revenue generation in the area and called on the youth to avail themselves for the training.



Ms. Maisie Howell, Acting Executive Director of the GHCT, said the Trusts mandate since its inception was to promote the conservation and preservation of historic attractions in the country, adding that it would not compromise on safety with strong maintenance culture it had adopted over the past two decades.



She said the Trust marked its 20th anniversary since it took over the management of the Park this year.



She thanked the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Museums and Monuments Board, and the surrounding communities for their invaluable support in diverse ways.



Nana Akomea Ntrakwah III, Akyeamehene of the Denkyira State, said the facility had been well maintained.



He appealed to the authorities to build a clinic and provide potable water in the town.



He called for scholarship schemes to be awarded to students from the area to help them pursue higher education and reduce poverty.



The Kakum National Park one of the major tourist attractions in the country, which was gazetted in 1992 and opened to tourists in 1994, lies in the Atandansu Rainforest Reserve.



It is home to a variety of fauna and fora including the endangered Diana Monkey, elephants, antelopes, deer, butterflies, bees, birds, tree species like Odum, Mahogany and many others with medicinal and nutritional values.

Source: GNA









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Former President John Mahama has dared President Nana Akufo-Addo to exact punishment on his appointees just as he (Mahama) did when he was president.



Speaking to a crowd of National Democratic Congress members in Central Region after a Unity Walk, Mr Mahama berated the wisdom in forking out GHS15 million to local IT firm Vokacom for the development of a digital addressing application system which, according to him, already exists on mobile phones free of charge.



In Mr Mahamas estimation, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who led the whole project, has brought embarrassment to President Akufo-Addo.



How can you launch a whopping GPS system that is freely available on our mobile phones and say it is the best national addressing system? Mr Mahama wondered, adding: Its such a pity.



Why would you embarrass the president so much? he said.



Prior to the launch of the application, Dr Bawumia has said: It is more advanced than [those in] the United States or the United Kingdom or Germany because they are stuck to old technology and we are leap-frogging.



We are going to a new technology; we are going to GPS-based technology, Dr. Bawumia said on Wednesday, 4 October when he delivered a lecture titled: Developing Stronger Economies for the African Continent: the Missing Link at the 3rdAdvancement Lecture Series 2017 organised by the Institutional Advancement Office of the University of Cape Coast.



The digital address system, he noted, has unique postcodes for every location in Ghana, adding that: We have been able to put together 16.1 billion addresses: every five by five metres square apart in Ghana has a unique address.



Mr Mahama, however, said President Akufo-Addo must hold somebody accountable for giving state funds away for something that already existed free of charge.



 And when you talk about accountability, this is where the president should show that he is serious about corruption. Somebody must account for GHS15miliion given away free of charge.



Contrasting the digital addressing application issue with the bus branding corruption saga that happened during his tenure of office, Mr Mahama said: When I was in office, there was a bus branding incident, GHS3.6million, a minister of state resigned because of GHS3.6million. When you come into office and you want to cover up, you can cover up. When things happen you just refuse to investigate them.



The toughness of the fight against corruption is that you are able to take action against your own people and that is what we did when we were in office. Here the NPP seems unable to take, the president seems unable to take self-action in anything, Mr Mahama added.





Source: classfmonline.com









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"Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Flavors)" is the tagline for Han Dynasty's Wu-Tang Clan-inspired beer dinner.

The Philadelphia Szechuan restaurant is offering up a special 20-dish meal for the event. Accompanying those 20 dishes will be 16 beers from Dogfish Head Brewery and Founders Brewing Company.

Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah will be performing as well.

The dinner will be held on Nov. 21 at Han Dynasty's Old City location in Philadelphia (123 Chestnut St.). The fun begins Tickets are $158 and can be purchased by emailing eatdrinkhappy.hdoc@gmail.com.

A similar event will also take place in the restaurant's Brooklyn, New York location (1 Dekalb Ave.). Tickets for the New York version, which also includes a performance by Ghostface Killah, are $185 and can be purchased by emailing handynastybrooklyn@gmail.com.

This isn't the first Wu-Tang-inspired dinner for Han Dynasty. The dinners started in 2014, according to Philadelphia Magazine. In the past, the dinner has featured 36 dishes instead of 20.

Han Dynasty was named the best Chinese restaurant in Pennsylvania by The Daily Meal earlier this year. It has nine different locations in the New York and Philadelphia area and is famous for its Dan Dan Noodles, a Szechuan street food made up of spicy egg noodles. To learn more about Han Dynasty, visit handynasty.net.

The Wu-Tang Clan are a hardcore hip-hop group that rose to prominence in 1993 with the album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." The group is made up of rappers and producers Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, RZA and U-God. Founding member Ol' Dirty Bastard died in 2004.

Want more stories about Philly? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love.

This story has been updated to correct the current members of the Wu-Tang Clan. It previously included Ol'Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004. The email address for the Philadelphia event has been corrected.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP) -- The gunman who killed 26 people at a small-town Texas church went aisle to aisle looking for victims and shot crying babies at point-blank range, a couple who survived the attack said.

Meanwhile, investigators continued analyzing the gruesome crime scene Tuesday and tried to gain access to the shooter's cellphone, a longstanding challenge for the FBI in thousands of previous cases.

Rosanne Solis and Joaquin Ramirez were sitting near the entrance to the First Baptist Church on Sunday when they heard what sounded like firecrackers and realized someone was shooting at the tiny wood-frame building.

In an interview with San Antonio television station KSAT, Solis said congregants began screaming and dropped to the floor. She could see bullets flying into the carpet and fellow worshippers falling down, bloodied, after getting hit.

For a moment, the attack seemed to stop, and worshippers thought that police had arrived to confront the gunman. But then he entered the church and resumed "shooting hard" at helpless families, Solis said.

The gunman checked each aisle for more victims, including babies who cried out amid the noise and smoke, Ramirez said.

The couple survived by huddling close to the ground and playing dead. Solis was shot in the arm. Ramirez was hit by shrapnel.

"The lord saved me because I know it was my last day," Solis told the station.

Authorities aimed to conclude the crime-scene investigation at the church by Wednesday evening. Investigators have no reason to believe anyone conspired with Kelley, who acted alone, said Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin.

Martin repeated earlier statements that the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic dispute involving Kelley and his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended services at the church but was not present on Sunday.

"We don't know what he was thinking or what was in his mind," Martin said. "There was conflict. He was upset with the mother in law."

The gunman's phone was flown to an FBI lab for analysis, but agents have yet to access it, said Christopher Combs, who is in charge of the agency's San Antonio division.

The inability to access the shooter's phone highlights a longstanding frustration of the FBI, which said it has been unable to retrieve data from half the mobile devices it tried to access in less than a year.

Director Christopher Wray said last month that in the first 11 months of the fiscal year, agents were unable to access the content inside more than 6,900 mobile devices, an issue he said stymies investigations.

The FBI and other law enforcement officials have long complained about being unable to unlock and recover evidence from cellphones and other devices seized from suspects even if they have a warrant. Technology companies have refused to help, insisting they must protect customers' digital privacy.

The long-simmering debate was on display in 2016, when the Justice Department tried to force Apple to unlock an encrypted cellphone used by a gunman in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. The department eventually relented after the FBI said it paid an unidentified vendor who provided a tool to unlock the phone and no longer needed Apple's assistance, avoiding a court showdown.

The Justice Department under President Donald Trump has suggested it will be aggressive in seeking access to encrypted information from technology companies. But in a recent speech, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein stopped short of saying exactly what action it might take.

Kelley had a history of domestic violence that spanned years before the attack and was able buy weapons because the Air Force did not submit his criminal history from his time in the military to the FBI, as required by military rules.

If Kelley's past offenses had been properly shared, they would have prevented him from buying a gun, the Air Force acknowledged Monday.

Investigators also revealed that Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of the church, before the attack, and that sheriff's deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at his home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife.

Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for a 2012 assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull.

At a news conference in South Korea, President Donald Trump was asked if he would support "extreme vetting" for gun purchases in the same way he has called for "extreme vetting" for people entering the country. Trump responded by saying stricter gun control measures might have led to more deaths in the shooting because a bystander who shot at the gunman would not have been armed.

"If he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead," Trump said.

Investigators collected at least 15 empty magazines that held 30 rounds each at the scene, suggesting the assailant fired at least 450 rounds. About 20 people were wounded.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders, one of whom was armed, and crashed his car.

While in the military, Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and her child and had served a year of confinement after a court-martial. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes such as assault should be submitted to the FBI's Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

Stefanek said the service is launching a review of its handling of the case and taking a comprehensive look at its databases to ensure other cases have been reported correctly.

A few months before he received the bad-conduct discharge, sheriff's deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend. People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of the church, and had recently started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort.

By JIM VERTUNO, WILL WEISSERT and PAUL J. WEBER. Weber reported from New Braunfels. Associated Press writers John Mone in Sutherland Springs, Nomaan Merchant in Houston and Diana Heidgerd in Dallas also contributed to this report.
A day after Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people and injured 20 others in a shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs Texas Sunday morning, efforts aiding the victims, the church and families affected are asking for support and donations.

Among the 26 dead were several children, a pregnant woman and the pastor's 14-year-old daughter and three generations of a family. Kelley's victims range in age from 18 months to 77 years old.

Kelley was shot by an armed passerby before fleeing the scene to Guadalupe County and crashing his car. Authorities found him dead in his vehicle having been shot twice by the armed citizen, but likely dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Authorities pointed to the gunman's issues with his relatives, saying that Kelley had been sending "threatening texts" to his mother-in-law, who was not at church when he opened fire.

The Hardest Hit Family Relief Fund (HHFRF) is collecting money for victims and families affected by the shooting via a GoFundMe campaign, Sutherland Springs shooting fund. Donations are also being accepted through the HHFRF website. The goal just over $20,000 of the $200,000 goal had been raised at the time of this post.

A separate fundraising campaign for First Baptist Church is aiming to raise $50,000 for the church and its parishioners. So far $21,800 has been raised. The organizer of the campaign launched the fundraiser because the church's website continues to crash.

A family friend of Sarah Slavin created a GoFundMe to benefit her family following shooting that tragically robbed her of numerous family members and her best friend. Slavin's father, Bryan Holcombe was preaching Sunday and died in the shooting, as did her mother, pregnant sister-in-law, five nieces and nephews, and her best friend. Seeking to raise $250,000 for the Holcombe's, the campaign has raised more than $150,000 at the time of this post.

John Alexander, a relative of Joann Ward, launched a fundraising campaign for his niece and two great nieces killed in the mass shooting. Ward's husband and two other children survived the attack. Funds will go to funeral costs and medical costs, according to the GoFundMe page.

Locally, South Texas Blood and Tissue Center sought blood donors to help treat those wounded. Reports say many have turned out to donate blood in the aftermath of the shooting. Additionally, H-E-B Grocery took donations Monday as a part of its Helping Here campaign for shooting victims and their families. The San Antonia Medical Center and University Hospital where many of the injured victims were taken for treatment is accepting money for its general fund.

The American Red Cross is accepting donations for its disaster relief fund, as well as blood donations.
Devin Patrick Kelley, the suspect accused by police of gunning down 26 people inside a church outside San Antonio, reportedly escaped from a mental health facility in 2012.

The Washington Post reports Kelley escaped from the facility after he was caught sneaking guns onto an Air Force base and "attempting to carry out death threats" made against military superiors, according to a police report.

Kelley, who was 21 at the time, was committed to a mental health facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, but at some point escaped and was later found by police at a bus station in downtown El Paso in June 2012.

Among the victims in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs was a man from Beaver County.

Witnesses also said Kelley went aisle to aisle looking for victims and shot crying babies at point-blank range.
Pennsylvania's Capitol was lit in the colors of the Texas state flag Monday, in a display of solidarity with the people of Sutherland Springs a day after a gunman opened fire in a church there and killed 26 people.

It was just a little more than a month ago that the Capitol was lit in the colors of the Nevada flag, in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1.

Gov. Tom Wolf also has ordered all commonwealth flags on the Capitol Complex, at Commonwealth facilities, and throughout the state lowered to half-staff out of respect for the victims of the attack at the First Baptist Church.

How to help victims of the Texas church mass shooting

All commonwealth flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday. The White House has also ordered the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday.
The Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline owner has asked for clarification of a court order that has stopped work on the nearly $3 billion project.

Williams Partners of Tulsa, Okla., Tuesday sought clarification of the administrative stay issued Monday by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.

It says it needs to know whether the stay applies just to construction activity and whether it affects work outside Pennsylvania.

If the stay is applied beyond the commonwealth it could impede service to existing customers, the filing states.

The appeals court said it issued the stay at the request of environmental groups to give it the opportunity to consider their emergency motion seeking to have the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission extend its permitting process.

The Atlantic Sunrise pipeline would run through 10 Pennsylvania counties, including Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

FERC last February issued a certificate of public convenience for the project that will increase the capacity to transport Marcellus Shale gas into the South.

"Atlantic Sunrise has undergone a nearly four-year, extensive review process and is operating and being constructed in compliance with all state and federal permits," said Michael Dunn, Williams' chief operating officer.

He expressed hope the court will complete its review expeditiously. He noted the stay is not related to the project's compliance with federal and state regulations.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is among the organizations urging the court to lift the stay so the "critical infrastructure project" can continue.

"The growth of the energy sector across Pennsylvania has spurred a number of related industries and companies to grow and thrive," chamber president and CEO Gene Barr said in a written statement.

"This project remains critically important for Pennsylvania and especially so for the skilled laborers and highly trained workers who now find themselves wondering what comes next," said Kurt Knaus, spokesman for the PA Energy Infrastructure Alliance.

A number of environmental groups, including the Appalachian Mountain Advocates and the Sierra Club, claimed in their appeals court motion that the FERC review of the project did not meet the standard for evaluating greenhouse gas emissions.

In granting the stay, the court said its decision should not be construed as a ruling on the merits of the motion.

Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of Williams, began construction of 186 miles of pipeline in Pennsylvania Sept. 17 after required easements were obtained either through negotiations or court orders.

Approximately 2,300 people are expected to be employed during peak construction periods as the pipeline is built in 10 counties, including Lebanon and Lancaster.

An order of nuns and others opposing the project have staged protests recently in West Hempfield Twp. where the pipeline crosses land owned by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

The order has appealed a federal court ruling that dismissed its suit, which claimed the pipeline interferes with their religious rights.

Besides work in Pennsylvania, the project includes revised piping in six compressor stations in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to permit natural gas to flow in both directions.

A portion of the capacity created by these modifications has been placed into service, Williams says.
A federal court has issued a temporary halt to work on a controversial gas pipeline crossing several central Pennsylvania counties.

The stay was issued for work on the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline by the U.S. Court of Appeals after an emergency motion was filed Oct. 30 by those opposing the project, according to Lancaster Online.

Pipeline builder seeks clarification of order

Work on the Williams Partners pipeline stops until the Federal Emergency Regulatory Commission does a comprehensive environmental review of the impacts of the pipeline and public need for it.

The order halts work on the pipeline on land near Columbia where an order of nuns and others opposing the pipeline have staged protests, as well as Lebanon County and eight other counties.

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, owner of the land, have appealed a federal court ruling that dismissed their suit claiming the pipeline interferes with their religious rights.

Protestors were arrested at the site in West Hempfield Township Oct. 16 and 22.

The $3 billion pipeline will traverse 197 miles in Pennsylvania, including 37 miles in western and southern parts of Lancaster County. It is scheduled for completion in 2018.
A unanimous vote by the Wrightsville Borough Council ended its police chief's tenure Monday evening, according to a York Dispatch report.

Chief Ron Hege was removed three months after being suspended for undisclosed reasons. Wrightsville Mayor Michael Albert told the York Dispatch he was unable to discuss the reasons behind Hege's suspension and subsequent removal because Hege has a right to a hearing regarding the borough council's decision, according to the report.

Hege was suspended with pay in August before pay was removed in October. Hege, who was not present at the borough council meeting, will be presented with the official decision and within five days. Hege will then have 10 days to request a hearing after being formally notified, according to the report.

Officer Adam Schaum has been the acting chief since Hege's August suspension. According to the York Dispatch, officials have not determined a plan for replacing Hege.
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township police say they'd like to speak to a man who told a Muslim woman waiting outside a Northumberland County store "all terrorists should be shot."

Was the comment protected speech? Or a threat?

That is what Sobhi Ammar wants to know.

The comment was made to his wife Sonia about noon Saturday. Sobhi Ammar had gone to get a shopping cart and his wife was talking on her cell phone outside a store on Route 11, near Northumberland.

The man, who was accompanied by a woman, made the statement, then pointed his finger in the air and made sounds like an automatic weapon, Ammar told police.

The man did not saying anything else, Ammar said. Had he not made a sound imitating gunfire, Ammar said he likely would have ignored the encounter.

"I was not sure if he had a gun," Sobhi Ammar said.

The couple went into the store, and called 911. Ammar took a cell phone photo of the man, and later took a picture of his vehicle and wrote down the license number.

Police confirm they have the pictures and the plate number. Chief Josh VanKirk said he would like to determine why the man did what Ammar said he did, and determine if it was speak with the individual.

One of the questions the investigation will need to answer is whether his comment was protected speech or intimidation, which could be a crime, the chief said.

Ammar said his wife is recognizable as a Muslim because she wears a hijab. Both are natives of Palestine. They are U.S. citizens and have lived in the Sunbury area since 1989. Ammar and his wife are president and vice president, respectively, of the Sunbury Islamic Center.

Hate fliers have appeared in Sunbury twice but Police Chief Timothy S. Miller said there is no evidence of any connection between them and Saturday's incident.

"We need to figure out how to be good neighbors," said the Rev. Ann Keeler Evans, a pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley and whose church is next to the store.

She responded there at the request of Sonia Ammar, who she described as a good friend.
Remember those "You've got a friend in Pennsylvania" license plates?

Another new slogan will be sending out a new, positive message to those entering the commonwealth.

All 37 welcome signs placed along the Interstates, national highways and state roads entering Pennsylvania's borders will greet drivers with the new slogan:

"Pennsylvania. Pursue Your Happiness."

"It ties into Pennsylvania's legacy," said Rich Kirkpatrick, spokesman for PennDOT. "This is the cradle of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The state's new slogan ties into the quote from the Declaration of Independence, signed in Philadelphia, which officials say still captures the spirit of Pennsylvania.

So far, 24 of the 37 signs have been manufactured in-house by PennDOT and shipped out for installation, costing roughly $200,000, Kirkpatrick said.

Two signs have already been installed - one on Interstate 80 in Monroe County on Oct. 25 and the other on I-78 into Northampton County the following day.

The existing signs have been in place since 1997, already exceeding their 18-year lifecycle, he said.

Replacing the signs coincided with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's new branding efforts to promote a positive image of Pennsylvania, particularly to tourists coming in from across the border.

"We're making it known that Pennsylvania is an attractive place to live, work and visit," Kirkpatrick said.
The state police corporal shot during a traffic stop Tuesday morning is undergoing treatment in a hospital and a suspect is in custody, state police say.

The corporal was flown by helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, where he is undergoing treatment for multiple gunshot wounds.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Tyree C. Blocker announced that the wounded corporal is being treated in the intensive care unit at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem. "The thoughts of every Pennsylvania State Police employee are with our wounded member at this time," said Commissioner Blocker. "We remain grateful to the multitude of first responders and medical professionals who have provided care, and to all Pennsylvanians for their continued support." More information will be released as it becomes available.

Governor Tom Wolf released the following statement:

"Frances and I are praying for this trooper, the family and every member of the Pennsylvania State Police. This senseless act of violence is a reminder of the sacrifices made daily by all our brave men and women in uniform. Across Pennsylvania, our troopers are keeping communities safe by putting themselves in harm's way. We must never forget that. I ask all Pennsylvanians to join us in keeping all those affected, especially the corporal, in their thoughts today."

The corporal was shot just before 11 a.m. during a traffic stop on Route 33 near Route 191 in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, state police say. He was outside his vehicle when he and the suspect exchanged gunfire.

The suspect drove himself in a blue Pontiac sedan to Easton Hospital, where he was taken into custody by police. He is being treated for gunshot wounds.

Workers near the area of Route 33 and 191 reported hearing the shots, reports Lehigh Valley Live.

The search for the suspect extended to the Route 248 exit and I-78 before his car was spotted in the Easton Hospital parking lot.

Route 33 had been shut down in the area of the shooting. Route 33 remains closed northbound from Route 191 to Belfast, and southbound from Route 512 to Route 191.

Wilson Area School District schools were locked down after the car was spotted at Easton Hospital, and a partial lockdown was put into effect at Easton Area High School.

A heavy police presence remains at St. Luke's Hospital, where the corporal is being treated.
By Cynthia Hooper



"And what, exactly, is there to be celebrating?" snapped Vladimir Putin's press secretary on Oct. 25, a little more than a week before the 100th anniversary of what, in Soviet times, was lauded as the country's greatest victory.

Cynthia Hooper (The Conversation, photo)

On Nov. 7, 1917, Vladimir Lenin seized power in St. Petersburg. Soviet authorities glorified that day as the dawn of the world's first successful communist revolution - and the creation of the first country to promise racial, gender and even economic equality.

In 1967, to honor the Soviet Union's first half-century, leaders staged countrywide displays of mass jubilation. They ordered sausages be made with the number "50," in white fat, running through every slice.

But today, though Lenin still remains embalmed and on show in a giant mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow is strangely silent. Putin - whose grandfather cooked for Lenin - has simply called the event "ambiguous."

Why this official disinterest, even as the upcoming centennial generates global headlines?

Perhaps because if you wish to project an image of a strong state and united people, then it's awkward to toast the overturning of a seated government and beginning of civil war.

All the more when Bolshevik actions in 1917 can be compared to those of Euromaidan protestors in 2014 Ukraine, who ousted a pro-Russian president in a move the Kremlin condemned as "an anti-constitutional takeover and armed seizure of power."

While he's capable of acknowledging the complexity of the Soviet origin story, Putin apparently sees no need to broadcast such confusion. Instead, he promotes an idea of "Russian greatness" in which history is used selectively, not to inform as much as to inspire. The Russian Revolution, however politically inconvenient, is no exception.

A popular uprising in name only?

In the Soviet era, the tricky thing about Revolution Day was that it was a holiday celebrating an uprising of the masses that didn't, in fact, actually happen.

On that day, Lenin's followers stormed into all of two buildings in the capital city of the Russian Empire. Occupying only the Winter Palace and the Central Telegraph Office, they proclaimed a government in the name of the people.

Exactly how the Bolsheviks managed to go from controlling two buildings to taking over an empire that spanned one-sixth of the world is, admittedly, quite a story. But there's no getting around the fact that the initial, much-exalted Soviet "revolutionary moment" was little more than a coup. It was conducted by a ragtag group of political extremists who understood, at the time, that they were emphatically not acting with the support - or awareness - of most Russian citizens.

People walk past the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, which the Bolsheviks seized in November 1917. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo

But if the Soviets struggled to recast Nov. 7 as a day when the poor turned against their rich oppressors, Russia, 100 years later, now has to grapple with the fact that it's a capitalist country, a place where, according to Credit Suisse, 111 people control almost 20 percent of the country's wealth. It's also a nation that's been ruled for 17 years by the same man - one who's about to declare his candidacy for what would be a fourth presidential term.

At a time when Putin is keeping a tight lid on any potential opposition, the last thing the Kremlin wants to do is condone the violent overthrow of an oppressive, undemocratic regime.

Filling a symbolic void

Most pressing is the desire to project state power and national pride.

These aims were already evident in 2005, when Putin canceled the Nov. 7 holiday altogether and replaced it with a Nov. 4 "National Unity Day."

To the extent that the Kremlin is acknowledging the upcoming centennial at all, it is with this theme of solidarity in mind. On Oct. 26, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that it will host an international conference titled "100 Years of the Russian Revolution: Unity for the Future." The message of the event is clear: Focus on achievements to come rather than past conflict.

It's not that Putin or his people are anti-Soviet. Putin, in his own memoir, has unapologetically cast himself as a patriot, eager to serve in the KGB and incensed when the Berlin Wall was allowed to come down in 1989. He has called the disintegration of the USSR a "geopolitical catastrophe."

Above all, he has been deeply critical of the Yeltsin era and the early years of Russia's transition from communism to capitalism. During this period of mass economic hardship, Russia's natural resources were auctioned off for laughably small sums.

Vladimir Putin - along with many Russians - view Boris Yeltsin's presidency with disdain. Boris Yurchenko/AP Photo

The collapse of the Soviet Union also left a huge symbolic void. Faced with a history of submission - first to ruthless and opulent tsars, and then to ruthless and slightly less-opulent Soviet dictators - Russians found themselves with little to be proud of.

Everything is great

Putin and his people changed that, but largely by cherry-picking their way through the past.

For the president, the Soviet era wasn't about repression. Nor was it about the upending of traditional order. Instead, he portrays it as a giant modernization project, marked by the defeat of Nazi Germany, the launching of the first satellite into space, and advances in education and industry.

But in contemporary Russia, the aristocratic era that the Bolsheviks swept away isn't depicted as all that bad, either.

Recent films of the period tend to ignore the fact that, in 1917, at least 80 percent of the population were abjectly poor peasants laboring in a country that possessed only 165 tractors. (At the time, 85,000 were operating in U.S. fields.) Instead, such dramas celebrate the beauty, broad spirit, sense of honor and daring of the Russian aristocracy (including the ability of great men to absorb prodigious amounts of alcohol).

The horrific violence involved in transforming this imperial empire into a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics tends to be glossed over.

Take, for example, the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. There, dancers telling a story of Russian history needed only a brief interlude of darkness and snow to move from a ballroom waltz - a nod to a famous scene in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace," which celebrates the country's defeat of Napoleon - to an acrobatic march amid giant pieces of machinery.

In the blink of an eye, glamorous aristocrats defending their empire from invasion morphed into smiling proletarians carrying ladders and building up their country.

A right and a wrong way to do history

Such "happy stories" can be sustained only by discouraging critical examination.

Soviet censors used to argue that open discussion of past wrongdoing could serve only to demoralize the people, tarnish their achievements and weaken the regime. Kremlin pronouncements today remain in line with such principles.

Lavrenti Beria. Wikimedia Commons

Here it's worth remembering that Putin comes out of the same security milieu as did Lavrenti Beria, a notorious leader of Stalin's secret police and a lifelong proponent of doing whatever it takes to promote state power. After Stalin's death, Beria warned his fellow Politburo members against any public critique of the great leader.

He scorned Nikita Khrushchev's ideas of reexamining the cases of political prisoners serving time in labor camps and setting free those found to have been unjustly condemned. Release prisoners early for economic reasons, he argued, but never, ever admit the government made a mistake.

Beria lost the succession struggle, only to be unjustly condemned and shot as a spy. But his ideas live on.

This year the Kremlin did not participate in local services commemorating the anniversaries of two hostage tragedies and a nuclear submarine accident that took place during Putin's presidency. All three incidents involved controversial government responses that the Kremlin has never acknowledged as flawed. In April, Moscow officials angrily rejected a finding by the European Court of Human Rights that Russia had been guilty of "serious failings" in its handling of one - a shootout at an elementary school in Beslan, in which 330 people were killed.

This strategy of denial extends into the cultural sphere. For example, a new British film, "Death of Stalin," hasn't yet been licensed for screening in Russia - but it's already received blistering reviews in the Russian press. Various sources have deemed the political satire "more like a circus performance of clowns than a movie," a "provocation" and "a new form of psychological warfare."

In contrast, the minister of culture recently extolled an upcoming, domestically produced movie called "To See Stalin," about the man who designed the Soviet T-34 tanks in WWII. He called it "a great example of correct Russian film."

Coverage of the revolution in state-sponsored media outlets similarly tends to downplay any unsavory aspects. Rather than focus on class conflict and coup, programs highlight the admirable qualities of the various the Russian leaders involved: Leon Trotsky, Lenin and even the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II. They aim to make citizens feel proud of their past, however problematic that past might be.

A visitor walks among Vladimir Lenin sculptures at the exhibition 'The Century of Leaders' in the State of Urban Sculpture museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo

As Putin remarked last December in regard to 1917: "It is not permissible to drag the schisms, animosity, insults, and callousness of the past into our contemporary life."

The Soviet-era politician Leonid Brezhnev was less circumspect.

Rejecting a poet's appeal for permission to publish a diary recounting the terrors of Nazi invasion, Brezhnev proclaimed: "The main truth is that we won. All other truths fade before it."

That is the message the Kremlin sends today. The mistakes, abuses, and countless individual tragedies of history should not drag the country down.

The Conversation

All should be subsumed within an overarching narrative of Russian glory.

Cynthia Hooper is an associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross. She wrote this piece for The Conversation, where it first appeared.
By Steven Klein

Barricades and police helicopters aren't the usual preparation for a campus speaker, but on the morning of Oct. 17, we were not preparing for a normal speaker.

Steven Klein (Washington Post photo)

The famous white supremacist Richard Spencer had finally succeeded, by threatening a lawsuit, in booking an auditorium here at the University of Florida, where I recently started as an assistant professor in the Political Science Department. And he was coming along with his band of neo-Nazi acolytes. The university had to take precautions.

The Friday before, as I was trying to decide how to talk to my students about Spencer's planned visit, I noticed the Arendt Center at Bard College quoting statements from a speech by far-right German politician Marc Jongen on its official Twitter account.

I learned that the center had invited Jongen, the "party philosopher" and newly elected representative of Germany's new far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AFD), to speak at its annual conference.

He had spoken for about 20 minutes about populism and Germany's refugee crisis, received some polite pushback from his interlocutor Ian Buruma and the audience, and then the conference had moved on.

Shocked that the center would invite such a figure, I talked to some other concerned colleagues and helped draft the initial version of what would become an open letter to Bard, calling on the college to distance itself from Jongen.

Meanwhile, when Spencer spoke at my university, he was met with jeering protesters and denunciations from university officials, including President Ken Fuchs.

I found myself unexpectedly on the front lines of both these controversies over far-right political figures and their interactions with the academy, just as we're searching as a nation for a clear answer for how to handle the speech of people such as Spencer and Jongen.

Here, academics face a real dilemma. Suppress the speech of extremists and they can play the victim -- or accuse their opponents of being afraid of their views.

Yet, argue in good faith with someone like Jongen or Spencer, and they can present their positions as reasonable options among many in the marketplace of political ideas. They have their right to speak. But we should take seriously our right not to listen.

Jongen's talk at Bard was unnerving in part because it was so uneventful. Presented as a philosopher rather than a representative of the AfD, his fellow participants were generally polite even as he was calling German President Angela Merkel's refugee policy an act of violence against the German people.

Jongen was no doubt aware of the propaganda coup handed to him by his appearance at a center named for Hannah Arendt, a refugee from the National Socialist regime. Right after, he posted the talk on his website and called it a victory for the AfD's "cause."

Groups like the AfD and individuals like Jongen and Spencer exploit our society's openness and respect for differences to make their views seem more innocuous than they are. By debating Jongen as a philosopher, we are treating his party and their views as valid positions among many different ones -- which lends them a form of legitimacy in our liberal society.

Extremist groups exploit that tendency to make the formerly unspeakable speakable. They then manipulate people's legitimate sense that their concerns aren't being heard by ensconced political elites to advance their much more radical agenda of rehabilitating extreme forms of racialized nationalism.

In other words, it is easy to claim the cause of free speech when you have no real commitment to it. Individuals like Spencer and Jongen are seeking legitimacy from institutions such as universities that pride themselves on taking all views seriously, but their goal isn't to contribute to open ways of thinking that promote free inquiry. Rather, their hope is to establish oppressive systems of culture and government that exclude the most vulnerable from participation in public life. How can we respond to their interest in speaking -- and honor our genuine commitment to free speech -- without helping them advance their causes, which are fundamentally opposed to freedom?

It's clear that we shouldn't follow Bard's lead and treat a leader of a far-right party as just another individual with whom to have a polite academic conversation. But that doesn't mean people like Spencer and Jongen shouldn't be allowed to speak at all: In fact, I supported Spencer's right to speak here at my campus and declined to sign a faculty petition opposing his visit. But the right to speak is distinct from a right to polite debate and a legitimizing academic reception.

Today, we've conflated a right to speak with a right to be taken seriously and debated. But while the former is a right, the latter is a privilege, and one that should be reserved for ideas that do not fundamentally threaten the foundations of our free and democratic society.

The response to Spencer -- aggressive questioning and even heckling -- was spot on. Spencer is not entitled to respect because his odious ideas undermine the open debate he claims to want -- which was why I thought the deferential reception of Jongen at Bard was so perplexing.

Although we can't (and shouldn't) block the far right from speaking in public, we also shouldn't help it by providing its leaders with prestigious academic invitations that grant their ideas the illusion of normalcy.

We must challenge their efforts to present themselves as simply one more participant in an ordinary political debate. We should instead confront them, vocally and visibly, as a real political movement that threatens our fundamental norms of open, democratic life. Only then can we hope to contain the far right, and ultimately defeat it.

Steven Klein is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Florida, specializing in democratic thought and European intellectual history. He wrote this piece for The Washington Post, where it first appeared.
Two former Alberta government cabinet ministers and a police chief are part of a group that is working to promote the legal recreational marijuana industry. Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis comments on the Auditor General's August 2014 Special Duty Report on the Expenses of the Office of Premier Redford and Alberta's Air Transportation Services Program, in Edmonton on Thursday, Aug 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Sue O'Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. Making sure those who experience the biggest impacts of crime have the support they need would do a lot to speed up the wheels of justice, says the federal ombudsman for victims of crime. "We have to have a criminal justice system that is effective and efficient," Sue O'Sullivan said in an interview ahead of today's release of a set of reports on how the Liberal government could keep victims in mind as they prepare to introduce reforms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Laura Miller, former deputy chief of staff to ex-Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, arrives at court in Toronto with her lawyer Scott Hutchison on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Miller and her boss, David Livingston, have pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally destroying documents related to the Liberal government???s controversial 2011 gas plants cancellations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
A member of the FBI's Evidence Response Team works on the crime scene of the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
FILE - In this photo taken on June 6 2017, hooded police officers sit in a police car after a man attacked police officers patrolling in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris. Ten people suspected of using encrypted social networks to prepare a possible attack were arrested Tuesday in counterterrorism operations in France and Switzerland, according to French officials. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2016 file photo, Hillary Clinton speaks in Washington. Time has not healed the Democratic partyAos wounds. On Election Day 2016, Democrats suffered a devastating and shocking loss. A year later, theyAore still sorting through the wreckage. The infighting, the divisive personalities and the questions about how it happened are still front and center, threatening to hold the party back in elections on Tuesday and into next yearAos midterms. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)
In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 photo, a poster of outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri hangs on a street in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The abrupt resignation of Hariri was bizarre even by the often twisted standards of Lebanese politics: Saad Hariri made the announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned station. The poster in Arabic reads, "We are with you." (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Matthew Busch/Bloomberg G roup raises forecast for shale oil output in annual report. Shale producers show resilience and ability to bounce back' By Angelina Rascouet

OPEC said shale oil production will grow considerably faster than expected over the next four years after the group's output cuts triggered a crude-price recovery that helped U.S. producers.

North American shale output will soar to 7.5 million barrels a day in 2021, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its World Oil Outlook report on Tuesday. That's 56 percent higher than it forecast a year ago. The revised outlook illustrates OPEC's dilemma: with supply curbs also helping its rivals, demand for the group's crude will remain little changed until shale oil output peaks after 2025.

U.S. shale oil most strikingly exceeds previous expectations after showing the resilience and ability to bounce back, OPEC said. This growth is heavily front-loaded, as drillers seek out and aggressively produce barrels from sweet spots in the Permian and other basins.

OPEC assumes shale oil production growth will mostly originate from the U.S., with some contribution from Canada, Argentina and Russia over the forecast period to 2022. North American shale production for 2017 is now seen at 5.1 million barrels a day, up by almost a quarter from last year's World Oil Outlook report.

OPEC and its partners, including Russia, are meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30 to decide whether to extend the deal to curb production beyond the end of March. Since Jan. 1, they've targeted output cuts of about 1.8 million barrels a day in a bid to reduce global stockpiles.

Brent crude has rebounded more than 10 percent this year, trading at more than $62 a barrel in London.

OPEC expects shale oil production to peak after 2025 and decline from about 2030. OPEC will then be required to increase its own output from about 33 million barrels a day in 2025 to 41.4 million in 2040, according to the report.

OPEC raised its forecast for global oil demand by 2.3 million barrels a day in 2021 compared with last year's report. The group said demand growth will be particularly robust in 2020 as regulations to reduce shipping pollution kick in, leading to higher refinery runs to provide the required fuels.

OPEC also raised its oil demand forecast in 2040 by 1.7 million barrels a day to about 111 million barrels. China and India will lead the demand growth, offsetting declines in developed nations, it said.
Activists in Seattle renamed the citys municipal building as Comcasts City Hall on Nov. 2 with lights during the mayoral campaign. They say Comcast and other telecom companies have derailed plans for a municipal broadband network. Read more

With Tuesday's election to determine Seattle's next mayor nearing, an activist group lit up the outside walls of city hall there on Thursday night with "Comcast City Hall?"

Upgrade Seattle's purpose was to bring attention to Comcast Corp.'s influence in local politics and a stalled plan for a city-owned broadband network to compete with Comcast and phone giant CenturyLink.

Mayoral candidate Cary Moon supports a municipal network that could offer faster speeds and lower prices, while opponent Jenny Durkan does not support a city-owned internet network, said Devin Glaser, policy and political director at Upgrade Seattle.

Local elections in recent years have become referendums on internet services in some parts of the country. And Tuesday's election is no exception, as towns and cities have clamored for 1 gig speeds and sought to calm residents who complain about high prices and bad customer service.

Comcast is the nation's largest residential internet service provider, with about 25 million internet customers.

Voters in Fort Collins, Colo., will vote Tuesday on changing the city charter to authorize the city to build its own broadband network, the second step in authorizing municipal broadband. In 2015, voters approved a measure exempting Fort Collins from a state law that prohibits municipal broadband networks in the state.

If it passes, Fort Collins officials believe, they could advance the municipal broadband network that its supporters say would cost $150 million and halve prices for 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) service to $70 a month from $150, a local official said.

"Comcast has pretty much cornered the high-end of the [broadband] market and CenturyLink has the low end because they are relying on DSL technology," Glen Akins, a leader in the Fort Collins Citizens Broadband Committee, said Monday.

Boosting internet speeds in Fort Collins to 1 Gbps throughout the city would improve the quality of life, allowing the region to market its "beers, bikes, and broadband," Akins said.

Television advertisements opposing the referendum question say Fort Collins government should pay more attention to traffic and public safety rather than concern itself with a municipal broadband network.

Last year, 26 communities in Colorado voted on municipal broadband measures and all passed, meaning those municipalities can now explore building their own networks. In total, more than 100 communities in Colorado have voted in favor of measures to bypass the state's law banning municipal networks, according to published reports.

Comcast said that the circumstances in each municipality is different as they relate to city-owned networks and that local governments many times enter into the business with unrealistic expectations and positions, leading to taxpayer boondoggles.
The Rev. W. J. Rideout III, pastor of All Gods People Church from Detroit, uses the bullhorn to spur his congregation to chant in front of the Comcast building last January. Members of the All Gods People Church from Detroit protested outside the Comcast Center in the hopes of having Comcast not drop the Word Network from its lineup. Read more

Comcast Corp. didn't do anything wrong when it kicked the Word Network off seven million cable-TV homes in early 2017, a federal regulatory agency says.

The Word Network, a Detroit-based African American religious network that charges preachers for airtime, claimed in a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission that Comcast had discriminated against its programming by cutting the number of homes that could see the network's preaching shows to five million from 12 million homes.

The Word also said that Comcast improperly sought exclusive rights to the Word Network's digital content, which it alleged violated the terms of an agreement that Comcast signed with the FCC when it acquired NBCUniversal.

In an Oct. 27 decision, the head of the FCC's media bureau, Michelle M. Carey, disagreed with the Word Network, saying that the network failed to make a case for its claims.

Officials from the Word Network could not be reached for comment.

Comcast said it had no comment.

In justifying its action, Comcast told the FCC that the cable channel isn't owned by African Americans and that the company replaced it with an African American-owned religious channel, the Impact Network, with similar preaching shows.

Hundreds of people bused from Detroit protested outside the Comcast Center in Philadelphia over the company's decision to curtail distribution of the Word Network.
The Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery along the Schuylkill River, in South Philadelphia. Read more

The Philadelphia region's embattled oil refiners are stepping up a campaign to persuade the federal government to relax ethanol-blending rules for Northeast states, to ease the "severe economic harm" that Gov. Wolf says the refiners are experiencing.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions, operator of the South Philadelphia refining complex, on Tuesday urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to find a "reasonable compromise" that would reduce the "exorbitant and unsustainable" cost for merchant refiners to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Last Thursday, Wolf asked Scott Pruitt, the EPA administrator, to reduce the implied amount of ethanol blended into fuel in Northeast states to 9.7 percent to alleviate the burden on independent refiners. The EPA's current national mandate requires that 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol be added into fuel, an implied blend of 10.7 percent.

The ethanol lobby says aging oil refiners have failed to adapt to the biofuel mandate.

"For Gov. Wolf and refiners to unfairly blame the RFS for bad business decisions just isn't right," Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, said in a statement.

Following is a discussion of issues in the RFS debate.

What is the renewable fuel standard?

Congress created the RFS program to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and expand the nation's renewable-fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. The program was authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

How does it work?

The RFS requires an increasing amount of fuel derived from renewable sources (biofuel) to be blended into gasoline and diesel. For gasoline blends, the current standard is 15 billion gallons of conventional corn-based ethanol.

Whats the problem?

With increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, and the anticipated growth of electric vehicles, motor-fuel consumption is in decline. Since the amount of biofuel that must be sold is fixed, the percentage of ethanol in a gallon of fuel is growing ever larger. Auto manufacturers say it threatens to surpass the 10 percent "blend wall"  the point at which ethanol could damage conventional car engines.

What is a Renewable Identification Number (RIN)?

RINs are how the government assures compliance with the law. A RIN is a credit assigned to every gallon of biofuel that enters the market. Distributors that blend fuel generate RINs. The law obligates refiners and importers of motor fuel to buy RINs, either by blending the fuel themselves or by buying the RINs on the market.

What does this have to do with independent oil refiners?

Merchant refiners such as Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Monroe Energy in Trainer, and PBF Energy, which operate refineries in Paulsboro, N.J., and Delaware City, Del., sell unblended fuel to distributors. So they must buy RINs on the market. They complain that the market is manipulated by traders, and that the 3- to 5-cent price for each RIN has increased, climbing to 90 cents in recent years, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the refiners' costs. The refiners and their supporters, including former Govs. Tom Corbett and Ed Rendell, say the burden threatens local jobs.

Why not obligate fuel distributors who blend the ethanol to buy the RINs instead?

The program is easier to manage and enforce if the obligated parties are the 100 or so refiners and fuel-import terminals in the country, rather than the more than 1,000 distributors that blend ethanol into motor fuel. EPA has resisted efforts to shift the point of obligation, arguing that the refiners have the financial resources and regulatory expertise to comply.

Why dont refiners blend the ethanol themselves and generate their own RINs?

Some refiners do blend fuel at the point of sale, especially integrated oil companies that also control their own distribution systems. But merchant refiners like PES say they're not in the business of blending fuel, which often is done at remote locations just before the fuel is distributed to retail outlets.

Why not abolish the Renewable Fuel Standard altogether?

With the growth of domestically produced oil in the last decade, many have argued that it's time to sunset the RFS and require ethanol to compete on its own in the market. But the law's supporters, especially in corn-growing states, say the biofuel mandate is good for the economy, national energy security, and the environment.
Chief executive and co-owner Alan Levin, left, explains his companys window manufacturing process to Patrick T. Harker, right, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, during Harkers tour of Northeast Building Products Corp. in Northeast Philadelphia on Monday. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer Read more

Alan Levin has 25 job openings at his 550-employee factory, Northeast Building Products Corp. in Northeast Philadelphia.

Now if only he could find some workers who aren't high on drugs to fill them.

"Turnover is the highest it's ever been," Levin told Patrick Harker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. "For every 100 applicants, we can get maybe two, because they can't even pass a drug screen."

Nate Mell's custom ceramics business, started when he was a waiter, has been growing, and now Felt & Fat LLC in Kensington has five employees, three partners and, once again, a need for more space.

Now if only he could gain more business know-how.

"I'm a fine arts major  not too gifted in business," he told Harker, who visited both organizations Monday morning as part of a field trip designed to help him and federal policymakers learn how manufacturers large and small could be assisted by the government.

Harker asked Mell if he still had time for the creative sculpting that started his business, which now supplies custom-designed, elegant dishes to restaurants worldwide, including one in an upscale hotel in Qatar. "Just building this business has been a creative endeavor for me," Mell said.

At the end of the tour, which included a walk through partly finished, partly raw industrial space being assembled into MaKen, the branding name associated with a major real estate play in the Kensington area by Shift Capital LLC, Harker took a rest in an empty room and talked about what he had learned.

"There is no one-size-fits-all approach," Harker said. Some need help with capital, some need help with workforce, some need help with business smarts. But, he said, he's more convinced than ever that manufacturing is a key path to lead neighborhoods like the ravaged ones in the un-hip parts of Kensington into something resembling prosperity.

"When you get these islands of despair, when people there have no hope, it leads to behaviors that people know is not in their best interests," and then they can't work because they are too high, or too lacking in imagination, or don't understand what's required to keep a job, he said.

"Companies can't find the people they need, and people need hope," he said. With the low unemployment rate plus the demand for workers, "we're at a point in time where we need to help solve the problem," perhaps adding more social services to the workforce and investing more in education.

Accompanying Harker on his field trip Monday were officials from the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, a national nonprofit research organization that is studying manufacturing in about 15 urban locations, with an in-depth look at six cities, including Philadelphia.

In 2015, 21,345 people held manufacturing jobs in Philadelphia. That's just 56 percent of those available in 2003, when company payrolls numbered 38,353. In the region, manufacturing employment fell to 169,091 from 228,682 in 2003, according to a report on manufacturing that the alliance and the Fed are releasing this week

Although manufacturing has declined, remaining factories still offer the best-paying possibilities to people with lower education levels. Also, there is a small resurgence in the sector. The idea, said Lee Wellington, head of the alliance, is to find out how policymakers can encourage the resurgence and retain existing jobs.

"There are gaps" in policymakers' knowledge of the sector, she said. It can be as basic as how manufacturers identify themselves. Some adopt the title of maker or designer rather than business person or entrepreneur.
Drug distributor AmerisourceBergen in Valley Forge has set aside $575 million to settle claims with the Department of Justice. Read more

Drug distributor AmerisourceBergen has set aside $575 million to settle civil charges for distributing oncology support drugs from a facility not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

The Valley Forge pharmaceutical wholesaler said in an SEC filing Nov. 2 that it was in "advanced settlement" talks with the Justice Department to resolve claims that it illegally distributed injectable drugs from a facility that was not FDA compliant.

AmerisourceBergen pleaded guilty in September to a criminal charge in the same case and agreed to pay $260 million. The additional $575 million will bring the company's total liability to $835 million.

Between 2001 and 2014, two AmerisourceBergen subsidiaries based in Alabama prepared millions of syringes that had been prefilled with oncology support care drugs. The syringes were shipped to medical centers, physicians, and oncology centers for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said that the vials were prepared in an unclean, unsterile environment and that some contained particles that did not meet quality or purity standards.

"Medical Initiatives Inc. was licensed and passed all inspections by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy, but the case brought by the U.S. Attorney's office primarily stems from a lack of registration with the U.S. FDA," said AmerisourceBergen spokesman Gabe Weissman. "The filings in this case do not include any specific allegations of patient harm, and during the government's investigation they did not issue warning letters, corrective action plans, and/or stop Medical Initiatives operations."
Overseas visitors to Philadelphia increased last year, helped by more tourists from China and Asia including India. Read more

The number of overseas visitors to Philadelphia notched up 0.9 percent in 2016, helped by more travelers from China and India even as the strong U.S. dollar made travel to the United States more expensive.

Last year, 644,200 international travelers came to Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), based on data from Tourism Economics in Wayne. About 638,000 foreign visitors came in 2015.

The top five countries for international travelers were the United Kingdom, China, Germany, India, and France. The number of visitors from the U.K. rose 2 percent, while the biggest growth came from Asia: China was up 12.4 percent with 66,581 visitors in 2016 from 59,229 in 2015, while India increased 4.2 percent, with 53,811 travelers last year vs. 51,667 in 2015. China surpassed Germany, which had 62,441 visitors in 2015, and 60,198 last year.

"The strong dollar had an impact and Brexit had an impact, and will continue to have," said Erik Evjen, PHLCVB's director of research. "It's reflected in the overseas visitor spending, which was $593 million in 2016, compared to $595 million in 2015.

"We're thrilled to see a slight increase in visitors, especially when the country as a whole had such a hard time last year," he said. Nationally, overseas visitors decreased 2 percent in 2016.

For the second year, the PHLCVB used Tourism Economics data that estimates trends using 10 sources including the U.S. Commerce Department, airline bookings, and hotel stays.

By contrast, the Commerce Department Office of Travel and Tourism surveys travelers leaving the country about where they went. On that basis, the department estimated an 8 percent decrease in overseas visitors in 2016, excluding Canada and Mexico.

The disparity is that the Commerce Department estimated 680,000 overseas visitors in 2016, while Tourism Economics said the number was only 638,000. The Philadelphia CVB reported the lower 638,000 number last year, which represented a 3 percent tourism boost over 620,000 visitors in 2014.

"In the end, the numbers are actually very similar in 2016, but less volatile on the way there," said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics.

Philadelphia ranks 19th among the 25 most popular U.S. cities for overseas visitors, according to the Commerce Department. Pennsylvania ranked 12th among the most visited states with 974,000 overseas travelers, down 5 percent from 1 million in 2015.

The top destination was New York City, with 9.8 million visitors, followed by Miami, with 5.4 million, and Los Angeles, with 4.9 million international visitors, the Commerce Department said.

Orlando took a 5 percent hit in attracting travelers from abroad, and overseas visitors were down 10 percent in Chicago, down 13 percent in Atlanta, and down 16 percent in Seattle in 2016.

"The strong dollar really had an impact," said a Commerce official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the government. "It was far more expensive to come to the USA. Hotel prices held their own all year, so they weren't getting the bargains on the hotels. Airfares were decent, but not enough to offset the strong U.S. dollar."

Also contributing to fewer overseas visitors in 2016 was high unemployment in some European countries, and confusion caused by Brexit, the vote by U.K residents to leave the European Union. "U.K. travel to the United States was down" but visitors from Britain remained the largest overseas tourists group.

The flow of tourists to the U.S. through May declined 2.8 percent compared to the same period last year including international visitors from Canada and Mexico, the Commerce Department said. Visitors from Mexico were down 6.1 percent, while Canadian travel was up 4.7 percent. Whether the decrease was an effect of President Trump's proposed travel ban on visitors from six majority-Muslim countries or threats of an expanded wall along the Mexican border is unclear.

"We continued to see strong growth from the Asia region, despite not having a direct flight there," said Evjen. "China, South Korea, India, and other countries in the Asia Pacific region continued to bring visitors here. A lot of the growth we saw came from that region."
From front left, Hong Kong activist Nathan Law, Joshua Wong and Alex Chow were found guilty of leading or encouraging an illegal rally in September 2014 that kicked off the demonstrations known as the Umbrella Movement. Read more

When President Trump sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping, you can bet there's one topic he won't be raising: Xi's unrelenting campaign to repress any dissenting voices. Not just on the Chinese mainland but in quasi-democratic Hong Kong.

In times past, U.S. presidents have raised human rights concerns in private with Chinese leaders. Those days are gone (Trump praised Xi just hours after jailed Chinese Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo died in a state hospital). One can only hope Trump mentions the case of Liu's widow, Liu Xia, who is still under house arrest.

But the case I'm sure he won't mention, and which I find especially poignant, is Beijing's effort to crush three young Hong Kong democracy activists who had the gall to challenge the new Mao in Beijing. All students in their 20s, Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow were tossed in jail in April on trumped-up charges meant to dissuade other pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong.

I interviewed Wong and Law in Hong Kong a year ago, and was awed by their courage and determination to resist Beijing's efforts to undercut Hong Kong elections. Although the three are out on appeal, Beijing appears determined to bankrupt them with legal costs, bar them from running for political office, and sentence them to more jail time. And China will no doubt pressure supposedly independent Hong Kong courts to fall in line.

The story of this pro-democracy troika is especially important because they set an example for those who despair of democracy's future worldwide. They are unwilling to despair and believe their Sisyphean struggle is worth suffering.

"It's a long-term battle for us," Wong told me. "We are fighting against the largest communist dictatorship in the world. We hope for the best, prepare for the worst."

To understand this trio's struggle, a little history is needed. Hong Kong, with its fabulous harbor and skyscrapers set against Victoria Peak, was handed back to China by its British colonial masters in 1997. But Beijing agreed to let the city maintain many democratic freedoms for 50 years  including legislative elections, an independent judiciary, and a free press  under the rubric "one country, two systems."

Beijing has been steadily eroding those freedoms  squeezing educators, the judiciary, and the media. But it was Beijing's advance rejection of fully democratic elections for Hong Kong's chief executive set for 2017 that brought tens of thousands of students and democracy activists to occupy the streets for 79 days in 2014.

The then-17-year-old high school student leader Wong led the so-called Umbrella Revolution. You may have seen the photos of 100,000 people sitting under an endless canopy of umbrellas, in pouring rain, braving tear gas. "Our movement was not just young people, but also middle-class professionals and the elderly," Wong told me.

Beijing refused to budge. But Wong and fellow activists refused to give up, moving into electoral politics, fielding candidates for the Legislative Council. They won an astonishing 30 seats out of the 70-member council (which is rigged by Beijing-enforced rules so that activists can't take a majority). Six of them were under age 40.

Law, at 23, was the youngest elected member of the council. Wong was too young to run.

Of course, Beijing struck back, ousting several of the younger lawmakers, including Law, for allegedly failing to properly swear a required oath of allegiance to Beijing. In addition, Wong, Law, and Chow have been found guilty of "unlawful assembly" on charges dating back to the Umbrella movement protests. And Beijing is pressing Hong Kong courts to give them an even tougher jail sentence.

I can't help remembering the boyish Law, looking like a teenager, standing in his legislative office in December in front of a window overlooking Hong Kong's harbor and telling me how he had the strength to continue. "I'm not blindly optimistic," he said. "But it is important to recognize that we are fighting a long battle and everything we do gains a little for the future. I am not afraid of being defeated as long as we have the courage to continue the war."

Law, like his colleagues, comes from a family of modest means. His mother, who raised three sons alone by working as a janitor, told the New York Times of her fear for his future. She remembered the Cultural Revolution and urged her son to avoid politics. She recalls his answer: "If everyone is selfish, society will not change."

So, as many Americans fret about the future of our democracy, I hope we can summon a fraction of these young Hong Kongers' faith in the democratic idea and their perseverance when confronting challenges.

When I met Joshua Wong in Washington a year ago, he had an argument for Trump. "Apart from the moral question, it is also necessary for businesses and investors to care about Hong Kong because it is the most important financial center in Asia," he told me. "How Beijing puts aside the rule of law and independence of the courts in Hong Kong affects business interests and the stock markets."

I don't know if this argument would impress Trump. But as Trump heaps adulation on the autocratic Xi, Americans should pay attention to how Hong Kong courts treat this pro-democracy trio. I only wish we could do more.
As the long autumn night descended upon across Manhattan last November 8, 2016, Brendan McGinn was certain of two things. Hillary Clinton was about to become the first female president of the United States, and this evening was going to be the best birthday that McGinn (who celebrates his 40th this Wednesday) was ever going to have. That's because he and his girlfriend had scored the most sought-after tickets in New York, to watch the live broadcast of Stephen Colbert's HBO Election Night special that was bound to be both celebratory and hilarious.

But the couple still had to wait on a long line outside the Ed Sullivan Theater to be seated, and it was during those moments that everything that McGinn thought he knew about the U.S. of A. changed forever. Almost everyone on the line seemed to be constantly re-loading an election tracker from the website FiveThirtyEight.com on their phones, and nobody could believe what they were seeing. Donald Trump had a 30 percent chance of winning, then suddenly a 40 percent chance. "This is not good," his girlfriend whispered. "Trump's gonna win."

By the time the two reached the head of the line, Trump's odds were 91 percent and they had no interest in sitting inside a theater and pretending to laugh at Colbert. They instead headed for a nearby bar where McGinn "pounded" a couple of Guinness pints. That was just the beginning. "It was the rest of the week though that sticks with me, the absolute silence in the city," McGinn  who lives in Astoria, Queens  told me by email. "Trains full of people, nobody making a noise. Discarded 'I voted' stickers littered everywhere. And women every morning the rest of that week, crying in public on their commute to the city."

Welcome back, my friends, to a uniquely American nightmare that never ends. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the most stunning  and without question the most meaningful  presidential election upset in our nation's 241-year history. This week, there'll surely be a lot of TV talking-head chatter about how we've changed as country since the night that some, of course, celebrate but that at least 65 million of us might instead call "the unfortunate events of 11/8." As a columnist, my life for the last year has been devoted to chronicling the practically radioactive fallout from what happened on that brisk fall night  the non-stop lying from the presidential podium; the epic levels of corruption at the top of the U.S. government; and the bullying and threats against a free press, an impartial system of justice, and the other democratic norms that once sustained the American Experiment.

But there's something else about November 8, 2016, that still fascinates one year later: An obsession  at least among the not-always-silent majority who strongly disapprove of Trump and his presidency  with re-living that night: Where we were and who we were with, the exact moment that an early sunset's firm if not totally unwavering confidence of the Clinton victory (as predicted by every pollster and seemingly credible pundit) morphed into the dark realization of Trump's victory, the various stages of denial, grief and not-exactly acceptance.

It may seem silly and even highly inappropriate to some, but for a lot of citizens, what happened on November 8, 2016, reminded them painfully of the sadness and emotions they felt on September 11, 2001 or November 22, 1963, the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Of course, no one died an unnatural death on Election Night 2016  despite the many heart palpitations  and unlike the 2001 terror attack, this was like an emotional neutron bomb that only devastated half of the nation. Yet those three epic dates in modern American history share one common bond. People went to bed on those nights with the gut-wrenching feeling that things in the United States  important things, fundamental things  were not what we thought they were when we had arisen that morning.

That was especially true for journalists, so certain were we in our smug belief (backed by every poll, but still ) of a Clinton victory. I still remember a Daily News meeting the Thursday before where we debated whether to even bother preparing "Trump wins" material in advance (we did, thankfully); a rushed trip that gray Tuesday afternoon to the leafy Woodlands Cemetery in Southwest Philly to find women leaving notes on the grave of suffragette Mary Grew to mark the anticipated victory for a woman president, and finally the moment around 8:45 p.m. when  struggling with the dissonance of the "Clinton wins" column I was writing and the actual results coming into my headphones from CNN on my laptop  I ripped off the earbuds and turned to see 40 Philadelphia journalists staring at a newsroom TV, jaws dropped, in total, stunned silence.

The neutron bomb did not hit everyone equally. For most journalists or political insiders, the biggest blow that night was that sudden loss in confidence that we even understood the country we get paid to write about or analyze. And make no mistake, for many among the 62-million-member minority who voted for Trump, that comeuppance for arrogant elites is why they still celebrate November 8, 2016, even as their resentful chants of "CNN sucks" continue to bounce off arena walls. This week, to mark the one-year anniversary, Esquire published a remarkable oral history that focuses heavily on how the night felt for top campaign officials and Beltway journalists. "I was thinking everything from, 'I'm gonna have to rewrite my piece' to, 'Can we stay in the U.S.?' the author Rebecca Traister told Esquire. "I texted my husband, 'Tell Rosie [her young daughter] to go to bed. I don't want her to watch.'"

But here's the thing: Whatever the privileged folks felt that night, it pales to the emotions that raced through the marginalized  many immigrants, including and especially those here legally, openly wondered if they could stay here after Trump's xenophobic build-the-wall vow  and others who'd been deeply insulted and disrespected by the Republican's bombastic and sometimes racist campaign. That was especially true for the women (not all women, as Trump won a narrow majority of white females) and their male allies who couldn't believe that America could elect a president after he'd been caught on tape bragging about his groping of female body parts.

"How are you supposed to reconcile your own values with the 46 percent who were okay voting for a man accused of sexual assault a dozen times?" the New Yorker McGinn asked  the most common refrain among those who still remain most devastated over Trump's election.

"It wasn't so much Trump that did it  we all knew he was terrible," J.B. Yelsky, who lives in the Ohio suburb of Moreland Hills and helps run family gravel and construction businesses in the Midwest, told me in an email. "It was those nice normal people that I've known my whole life, that I thought cared about social justice as it applied to just the basics: food, shelter  medicine"  and yet they voted for Trump. Also deeply troubled by The Donald's racist appeals against Mexicans and African-Americans, Yelsky said he went to bed "depressed, sad, scared" and woke up on November 9, 2016 pouring some Crown Maple into his morning coffee.

"I think there's a way that we connect with others through our pain," George James, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Council for Relationships and program director of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Thomas Jefferson University, told me when I called to ask why so many people cling to their bitter memories of last November. In other words, he said, it's human nature to seek out others for the comfort of those who shared the same feelings and emotions, no matter how terrible those emotions were.

What's more, he said that clinging to memories of how it felt in the deadness of night, when Donald Trump was declared the victor, can be a motivator to stay focused on positive change, whether that meant voting in this week's local elections or taking part in other political activities. There are some people, James noted, who hold on to a terrible report card or a job rejection letter for motivation, as way of saying, "This is reality. This happened. What am I going to do about it?"

I felt a shock of personal recognition from that last point. My other unerasable memory  technically it was from November 9  was finally leaving the newsroom around 1:30 in the morning, arriving home just in time to see the chyron across the bottom of my TV screen: "Donald Trump Elected President of the United States." I briefly thought to take out my phone and take a picture  but I didn't need to because that moment, which felt like the end of one thing and the beginning of something else, has never left me. That feeling has fueled me to never stop writing about the clear and present danger, no matter how hard Trump and his minions have tried to exhaust me and you and every other American with their non-stop lies and corruption. And it's a something of a relief to know that many positive things  the Women's March, or the citizen resistance that so far has saved Obamacare  were born from that same despair.

It's not at all a bad thing that so many of us can't stop thinking and talking about how low we felt on November 8, 2016. What would be truly terrible is if we forgot.
Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller in May announcing findings in the investigation into the death of Penn State fraternity pledge Tim Piazza. Read more

Pennsylvania State University has imposed punishments ranging from probation to expulsion on seven students for their roles in the fraternity pledge party that led to the death of pledge Tim Piazza, the university announced Tuesday.

The sanctions were for violations including hazing and "creating a condition that endangers," the school said.

The seven were among 32 students investigated after Piazza's death in February, which came after an alcohol-fueled pledge event at the now-defunct Beta Theta Pi fraternity. An additional 19 students who were included in the probe withdrew from school before the disciplinary process was complete, the university said. Six others were not charged with any violations.

Citing student privacy, the school did not name the students who were punished or withdrew. Nor did it say if the 32 students investigated all were members of Beta Theta Pi.

"We remain resolved to focus, as we always do, on student safety and well-being, and will continue to hold accountable any individuals or student organizations that put others in danger," Penn State president Eric J. Barron said in a statement.

The university's student-conduct process is separate from ongoing criminal charges pending against 14 members of the fraternity.

Eighteen students initially were charged in Piazza's death, eight of them with felony aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter. A Centre County judge in September dismissed the aggravated-assault and involuntary-manslaughter charges after a lengthy preliminary hearing that spanned several days, but Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller recently refiled those charges against the eight. Six more students face lesser charges, including hazing.

Piazza was forced to drink large quantities of alcohol during a drinking gauntlet, prosecutors alleged, and later fell down the stairs at the large fraternity house. No one called for help for nearly 12 hours, and Piazza later died of a head injury, ruptured spleen, and collapsed lung.

Penn State permanently banned the fraternity and announced a crackdown on its Greek system.

"Dangerous drinking and negative behavior within the Greek Life community are longstanding issues impacting campuses nationwide, and we have said enough is enough," Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs, said in a statement.

The university also on Tuesday announced it had revoked recognition of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity through the end of the fall 2018 semester, following violations of university rules. It did not elaborate.

It becomes the fifth fraternity suspended since Piazza's death. The others are Delta Upsilon, Pi Lambda Phi, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Alpha Mu. Under 80 fraternities and sororities remain in operation at the university.
Rapper Meek Mill arrives at the Criminal Justice Center with his lawyer, Brian McMonagle. Read more

Celebrities and music artists including Kevin Hart and Jay-Z have come forward in support of Meek Mill after a judge sentenced the Philadelphia rapper Monday to two to four years in prison.

Common Pleas Court Judge Genece Brinkley handed down the sentence, which stems from a probation violation in a drug and gun case dating to 2008. Violations included failed drug tests and Mill's not following a court order restricting his travel.

Saying that Mill "thumbed [his] nose at this court," Brinkley added that the rapper's sentence would be served in state prison, and that he would be eligible for parole after two years.

Fellow Philadelphian Hart posted a message of support for Mill on Instagram, writing that "God sometimes puts the toughest battles on his strongest soldiers" and that "this storm will pass." Hart recently made headlines with a cheating and extortion scandal.

Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith wrote that Mill's sentence was "more proof that our criminal justice system is a joke" because such a harsh sentence for "misdemeanor violations is just a waste of money."

Rap mogul Jay-Z released a similar statement, writing that Mill's sentence was "unjust and heavy-handed" in a message posted to Facebook on Monday. The rapper's Roc Nation manages Mill. Mill recently joined Jay-Z on stage when the 4:44 rapper headlined this year's Made in America festival on the Parkway.

"We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career," Jay-Z's statement read.

Jay-Z is an outspoken advocate of criminal justice reform, lobbying New York state, among other actions.

Mill's label Maybach Music Group posted support via Twitter and changed its profile picture to an image of Mill:

Label boss Rick Ross also posted about Mill:

Rapper T.I., who served 11 months in prison for a probation violation in 2010, also while he was at the height of his career, posted on Instagram about Mill's predicament, saying, "God places the heaviest loads on the strongest backs.":

Mill's ex-fiancee, rapper Nicki Minaj, has stayed quiet on her own social media channels. The two broke up in January. Mill's former rival Drake also kept mum on Twitter and Instagram.
Olivia Mae, a 10-pound therapy dog, has been coming to work at the VNA hospice since August in a stroller after she fell off the bed and broke her foot. Read more

When Olivia Mae, a 22-month-old, 10-pound, Havanese therapy dog, glides through the hospice in her doggie stroller, staff members bend down to stroke her curly fur and grin into her brown eyes. Patients and family members at the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia's inpatient hospice on Henry Avenue shower her with baby talk and, if Olivia's owner, chaplain Donna Geiger, lets them, tiny bits of cheese.

Lately, Olivia has been a bit under the weather herself, but Geiger said Olivia's injury  she broke a foot in three places when she fell off a bed in August  has only made the dog better at her work. Her job, Geiger said, is "helping people smile" in a place where smiles are precious. Her cast and stroller have made conversations about illness richer and given people a distraction from the grief and fear in their lives.

"For that short period of time, they're thinking about something different than their loved one being in hospice," Geiger said.

She met her pet and coworker  Olivia has her own volunteer badge  when she was an eight-week-old, 2-pound, $2,000 puppy in Florida. After much research, Geiger, whose last dog weighed 135 pounds, decided that a Havanese would be the perfect addition to her ministry. The American Kennel Club calls the breed, developed in Cuba, outgoing, smart, and eager to please.

Geiger had to prove to the breeder that she would be a worthy owner. Olivia has had months of training to be a therapy dog, meeting nine out of 10 standards for certification. The sticking point: conquering separation anxiety. It's possible that Geiger, who clearly dotes on the dog and her "agape love," may have some separation anxiety herself.

Olivia visits patients and staff at the inpatient facility and in homes two days a week. Ultimately, she may do three, Geiger said. The two sit beside a patient or family member while people talk about faith, dogs they've loved, what makes them feel good in tough times (often dogs) and whatever else comes to mind. Olivia doesn't have to do much besides love a lot of strangers eager for a soft touch. She's a natural.

On a recent afternoon, Geiger took Olivia to see Robert Redding and his wife, Lenora Skinner. Redding's sister, who has leukemia, was asleep, and the couple looked glum when Geiger arrived. They laughed as they talked about the dog.

"I do hope that she helped to lighten your heart a little bit," Geiger said as she stood to leave.

"She did," Skinner said. "She is just so beautiful."

They also saw Rita Wilson, who was at the hospice for respite care while her husband was in the hospital. She is 70, with multiple health problems, and has outlived her doctors' predictions. "God is using me to set a record," she said. "Nobody can tell you when you're going to leave here but the Lord."

Wilson seemed the kind of person who lights up easily, and she beamed as Olivia sat next to her and accepted treats. She sang Olivia a hymn. "I know that the Lord, he'll take care of me" she sang in a strong voice for someone on oxygen. "How about that?" she said afterward with a hearty laugh. She and Geiger sang "How Great Thou Art." Wilson remembered how a dog she'd once owned howled along when she sang. She and Geiger clasped hands and prayed.

Wilson said she hadn't been this close to a dog in years. She thanked Geiger for bringing Olivia, and they talked about getting together again. "I haven't petted a dog in so long," she said. "That was just precious. That's a precious visit."
What can be done about negative stereotypes that portray older adults as out-of-touch, useless, feeble, incompetent, pitiful and irrelevant?

From late-night TV comedy shows where supposedly clueless older people are the butt of jokes to ads for anti-aging creams equating youth with beauty and wrinkles with decay, harsh and unflattering images shape assumptions about aging. Although people may hope for good health and happiness, in practice they tend to believe that growing older involves deterioration and decline, according to reports from the Reframing Aging Initiative.

[Read more: If we can't call old people 'old,' what's the right word?]

Dismal expectations can become self-fulfilling as people start experiencing changes associated with growing older  aching knees or problems with hearing, for instance. If a person has internalized negative stereotypes, his confidence may be eroded, stress responses activated, motivation diminished ("I'm old, and it's too late to change things") and a sense of efficacy ("I can do that") impaired.

Health often suffers as a result, according to studies showing that older adults who hold negative stereotypes tend to walk slowly, experience memory problems and recover less fully from a fall or fracture, among other ramifications. By contrast, seniors whose view of aging is primarily positive live 7.5 years longer.

Can positive images of aging be enhanced and the effects of negative stereotypes reduced? At a recent meeting of the National Academies of Sciences' Forum on Aging, Disability and Independence, experts embraced this goal and offered several suggestions for how it can be advanced:

Become aware of implicit biases. Implicit biases are automatic, unexamined thoughts that reside below the level of consciousness. An example: the sight of an older person using a cane might trigger associations with "dependency" and "incompetence"  negative biases.

Forum attendee Dr. Charlotte Yeh, chief medical officer for AARP Services Inc., spoke of her experience after being struck by a car and undergoing a lengthy, painful process of rehabilitation. Limping and using a cane, she routinely found strangers treating her as if she were helpless.

"I would come home feeling terrible about myself," she said. Decorating her cane with ribbons and flowers turned things around. "People were like 'Oh, my God that's so cool,'" said Yeh, who noted that the decorations evoked the positivity associated with creativity instead of the negativity associated with disability.

Implicit biases can be difficult to discover, insofar as they coexist with explicit thoughts that seem to contradict them. For example, implicitly, someone may feel "being old is terrible" while explicitly that person may think: "We need to do more, as a society, to value older people." Yet this kind of conflict may go unrecognized.

To identify implicit bias, pay attention to your automatic responses. If you find yourself flinching at the sight of wrinkles when you look in the bathroom mirror, for instance, acknowledge this reaction and then ask yourself, "Why is this upsetting?"

Use strategies to challenge biases. Patricia Devine, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies ways to reduce racial prejudice, calls this "tuning in" to habits of mind that usually go unexamined.

Resolving to change these habits isn't enough, she said, at the NAS forum's gathering in New York City: "You need strategies." Her research shows that five strategies are effective:

Replace stereotypes. This entails becoming aware of and then altering responses informed by stereotypes. Instead of assuming a senior with a cane needs your help, for instance, you might ask, "Would you like assistance?"  a question that respects an individual's autonomy.

Embrace new images. This involves thinking about people who don't fit the stereotype you've acknowledged. This could be a group of people (older athletes), a famous person (TV producer Norman Lear, now 95, who just sold a show on aging to NBC) or someone you know (a cherished older friend).

Individualize it. The more we know about people, the less we're likely to think of them as a group characterized by stereotypes. Delve into specifics. What unique challenges does an older person face? How does she cope day to day?

Switch perspectives. This involves imagining yourself as a member of the group you've been stereotyping. What would it be like if strangers patronized you and called you "sweetie" or "dear," for example?

Make contact. Interact with the people you've been stereotyping. Go visit and talk with that friend who's now living in a retirement community.

Devine's research hasn't looked specifically at older adults; the examples above come from other sources. But she's optimistic that the basic lesson she's learned, "prejudice is a habit that can be broken," applies nonetheless.

Emphasize the positive. Another strategy  strengthening implicit positive stereotypes  comes from Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale University and a leading researcher in this field.

In a 2016 study, she and several colleagues demonstrated that exposing older adults to subliminal positive messages about aging several times over the course of a month improved their mobility and balance  crucial measures of physical function.

The messages were embedded in word blocks that flashed quickly across a computer screen, including descriptors such as wise, creative, spry and fit. The weekly sessions were about 15 minutes long, proving that even a relatively short exposure to positive images of aging can make a difference.

At the forum, Levy noted that 196 countries across the world have committed to support the World Health Organization's fledgling campaign to end ageism  discrimination against people simply because they are old. Bolstering positive images of aging and countering the effect of negative stereotypes needs to be a central part of that endeavor, she remarked. It's also something older adults can do, individually, by choosing to focus on what's going well in their lives rather than what's going wrong.

Claim a seat at the table. "Nothing about us without us" is a clarion call of disability activists, who have demanded that their right to participate fully in society be recognized and made possible by adequate accommodations such as ramps that allow people in wheelchairs to enter public buildings.

So far, however, seniors haven't similarly insisted on inclusion, making it easier to overlook the ways in which they're marginalized.

At the forum, Kathy Greenlee, vice president of aging and health policy at the Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City and formerly assistant secretary for aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, called for a new wave of advocacy by and for seniors, saying, "We need more older people talking publicly about themselves and their lives."

"Everybody is battling aging by themselves, reinforcing the notion that how someone ages is that individual's responsibility" rather than a collective responsibility, she explained.

Underscoring Greenlee's point, the forum didn't feature any older adult speakers discussing their experiences with aging and disability.

In a private conversation, however, Fernando Torres-Gil, the forum's co-chair and professor of social welfare and public policy at UCLA, spoke of those themes.

Torres-Gil contracted polio when he was 6 months old and spent most of his childhood and adolescence at what was then called the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in San Francisco. Back then, kids with polio were shunned. "It's a real tough thing to be excluded," he remembered.

His advice to older adults whose self-image is threatened by the onset of impairment: "Persevere with optimism. Hang in there. Don't give up. And never feel sorry for yourself."

Now age 69, Torres-Gil struggles with post-polio syndrome and has to walk with crutches and leg braces, which he had abandoned in young adulthood and midlife. "I'm getting ready for my motorized scooter," he said with a smile, then quickly turned serious.

"The thing is to accept whatever is happening to you, not deny it," he said, speaking about adjusting attitudes about aging. "You can't keep things as they are: You have to go through a necessary reassessment of what's possible. The thing is to do it with graciousness, not bitterness, and to learn how to ask for help, acknowledging the reality of interdependence."

KHN's coverage related to these issues is supported in part by The John A. Hartford Foundation and The SCAN Foundation.
The 2018 winners of Franklin Institute science awards, clockwise from top left: Adrian Bejan, mechanical engineering; Helen Rhoda Quinn, physics; John Goodenough, chemistry; Manijeh Razeghi, electrical engineering; Philippe Horvath, Bower Award in Science; Susan Trumbore, earth and environmental science; Robert E. Kahn and Vinton Gray Cerf, computer and cognitive science Read more

More than 260 years ago, Benjamin Franklin wired together a series of lead-lined glass panes to store electrical charge. He called his contraption a battery, and he coined two related terms that also remain in use today: positive and negative.

What would he make of the early 21st century, when batteries are so lightweight and powerful that they can run pocket-size computers and wrist-mounted video screens?

The man largely responsible for that revolution is coming in April 2018 to the museum that bears Franklin's name.

Battery pioneer John B. Goodenough, still electrifying his field at age 95, is the newest winner of the Franklin Institute's annual award in the field of chemistry, the museum announced Tuesday. Seven other scientists are to receive awards for work in such diverse fields as genetics, computer networks, and global warming.

The elite group comes to Philadelphia for a week of lectures and outreach, culminating with a black-tie ceremony April 19. And on one morning the scientists will stand behind tables laden with hands-on exhibits, fielding questions from any museum visitors who happen to walk by.

"The opportunity to interact with these rock stars is really special," said Karen Elinich, the institute's director of science content.

Goodenough was a force in the budding field of electronics starting in the 1950s, when his research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology helped pave the way for the development of RAM  the short-term "random access memory" that enables computers to juggle tasks and retrieve data.

His best-known contribution to batteries came in 1979, while he was at the University of Oxford.

Other researchers had determined that ions of lithium, a lightweight metal, could be used to shuttle electrical charge back and forth between a battery's positive and negative electrodes, but early versions stored limited amounts of energy.

Goodenough determined that positive electrodes made from a material called lithium cobalt oxide allowed for a significant boost in energy storage. Batteries based on that discovery led to an explosion in portable electronic devices, chief among them cellphones. Not that they have been much use to Goodenough himself.

"I don't carry a cell telephone," he said in an interview, laughing gleefully. "I'm the only one that doesn't use one."

Now an engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Goodenough says he is not satisfied with the ubiquitous batteries made possible by his research. Among other shortfalls: The lithium ions travel through a liquid medium called an electrolyte, which can overheat and catch fire under certain conditions. Goodenough and UT colleague Maria Helena Braga think they can eliminate that problem with solid electrolytes made from glass, improving battery life in the process.

He also sees a big future for large-scale rechargeable batteries that would store electricity generated by wind turbines and solar panels.

"We would like to help emancipate the dependence of modern society on fossil fuels," he said.

Such ideas are a long way from Franklin, whose initial batteries were not even batteries by today's definition. Technically, they were capacitors, a different type of charge-storing device.

Goodenough is a fitting heir to the 18th-century statesman-inventor, said battery researcher Yury Gogotsi, a professor of materials science and engineering at Drexel University.

"He really is a living legend in the field of materials science," Gogotsi said.

The other Franklin award winners include:

Philippe Horvath, Bower Award for Achievement in Science. A senior scientist at DuPont Nutrition and Health, Horvath helped pave the way for a widely used gene-editing method called CRISPR-Cas. In 2007, Horvath demonstrated the biology behind that technique, showing that bacteria could borrow genetic sequences from viruses to boost their immune systems.

Vinton Gray Cerf and Robert E. Kahn, computer and cognitive science. The pair are being recognized for their development of TCP/IP, the set of rules that govern communication between computers via the internet. Cerf is now at Google, while Kahn is chief executive officer of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives, a nonprofit organization that promotes research on communications infrastructure.

Susan Trumbore, earth and environmental science. A geochemist at the University of California, Irvine, and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Germany, Trumbore measures the levels of carbon in plants and soil. She is among the pioneers of this technique, an important tool in understanding the role of greenhouse-gas emissions in climate change.

Manijeh Razeghi, electrical engineering. A professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University, Razeghi is being honored for developing high-power lasers that could be used for wireless communication, detection of explosives and chemical weapons, and medical imaging.

Adrian Bejan, mechanical engineering. Bejan is being honored by the Franklin Institute for his work in the fields of thermodynamics and "convection heat transfer." A professor at Duke University, he is known for applying science beyond its traditional boundaries, this year publishing research that explored how the laws of physics relate to wealth inequality.

Helen Rhoda Quinn, physics. A professor emerita at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University, Quinn is being recognized for her study of interactions between subatomic particles. She also is acclaimed for her role in developing rigorous standards for the teaching of science at the elementary and high school levels.

The Franklin Institute has bestowed its awards in various forms since 1824, recognizing such luminaries as Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Marie Curie, and Jane Goodall. Many have gone on to win Nobel Prizes, most recently this year. Columbia University professor Joachim Frank is among this year's winners of the Nobel in chemistry, and he won a Franklin Institute award in 2014.
Attorney Michael Malloy (center) addresses a rally November 7, 2017 outside Chester City Hall in support of the authorities re-opening the murder case which Leroy Evans was convicted of back in 1980. In the front seated is Evans mother, Alice Evans, 83. CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer Read more

Over the phone, Leroy Evans Jr. sounded upbeat. His voice gave no indication that for the last 37 years he has been imprisoned for a murder in which he insists he had no part.

"I'm very hopeful," Evans said. "But it's been such a long road."

Evans, 60, of Chester, called Tuesday from Chester County Prison, where he awaits a hearing later this month at which his attorney, Michael Malloy, will request the testing of DNA evidence he said could exonerate his client.

During the call, Evans spoke not only to a reporter but also to more than a dozen family, friends, and supporters gathered outside Chester City Hall to drum up support for reopening the case of the 1980 murder of Emily Leo.

"It is a blessing," Evans said. "I thank God for everyone" spreading the word about his story.

Evans' 83-year-old mother, Alice Evans, held a piece of white poster board, which bore an American flag image and three words: "Free Leroy Evans."

"He always said he's known that he's innocent," Alice Evans said, "and he always said God knows that he is innocent."

Her son exhausted all his appeals last year. Even Malloy, who has worked on the case for about a year and a half, acknowledges that the Nov. 21 hearing could likely be Leroy Evans' last hope.

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office said Monday it would not have enough time to review the case file and make a statement by Tuesday. But, in the past, it has maintained that Evans is guilty of the crime.

In private, Malloy said, Evans has said he has made peace with the fact he will most likely die in prison and harbors no resentment toward his co-defendant, Anthony Tyrone Jones, whose testimony put Evans behind bars.

"Over time, the case began to become more complicated," Malloy said. "There were problems with the evidence. There were problems with the testimony."

Last year, Jones provided Malloy with a 73-page sworn statement in which Jones said he alone committed the crime. Jones told Malloy he implicated Evans to spare himself the death penalty.

Leo, a part-time sales representative for Avon cosmetics, went to Jones' home in Chester on Nov. 11, 1980, according to court documents.

Authorities said Evans and Jones lured her there to rob her and in doing so, choked her with a clothesline, beat her with an iron, and took her to a nearby lot. She died a week later from severe head trauma and blood loss.

Evans later admitted burning some of Jones' bloody clothes but denied taking part in the murder. Jones, who was 17 at the time, testified otherwise.

But in the 2016 statement, Jones recanted, saying he lured Leo to his home by himself.

Evans' family and friends said they could never imagine him being violent.

"He was the savior of the block when we were growing up," said childhood neighbor Pearl Moses, 53, of Chester. "He made sure we didn't get into trouble."

He once ran into a burning house to save those inside, including one of his sisters, Moses added.

Several women affiliated with local religious orders also were present Tuesday. They said they were moved by Evans' ability to forgive.

Sister Sheila Galligan, an Immaculate Heart of Mary nun who teaches at Immaculata University, said she first heard of Evans' story when Malloy spoke to one of her classes. She has followed it ever since and even visited Evans in prison.

Galligan beamed as she talked on the phone with him Tuesday.

"I got to meet your mother," she exclaimed, before promising to visit again soon.

"He is a unique guy," Malloy said. "I don't think he's got an angry bone in his body despite what happened to him."

In his short time working on the case, Malloy has started a podcast about Evans and a fundraising page to help pay for evidence testing. Malloy was hired by Evans' family and is working pro bono.

"It's a long time coming, but the truth has finally been revealed in Jones' statement," Malloy said. "We really need somebody to take a look at the case."
It was a spur-of-the-moment shooting, a spontaneous incident over a petty gripe that left a 13-year-old boy dead from a bullet to the head.

Now, Christopher Southerland, 18, of Nicetown, faces up to 20 years in prison for participating in the fatal assault against Khisser Davis-Papther. Southerland pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, forgoing the potential of being tried for murder and related charges.

Southerland was not accused of pulling the trigger during the encounter March 10 inside the Gold Fish Chinese takeout in Nicetown. Assistant District Attorney Ed Cameron told Common Pleas Court Judge Kathryn Streeter Lewis that video showed Southerland standing in the doorway of the restaurant while a friend, wearing a mask, shot Davis-Papther in the head.

Prosecutors have charged Tymear Johnson, 19, with being the gunman, saying he fired at Davis-Papther after the younger teen and his friends made some kind of gesture toward the older teens when they got off a SEPTA bus outside the restaurant.

James Clark, captain of the Police Department's Homicide Unit at the time of the crime, described it in April as "about as senseless as it gets."

Johnson is imprisoned while awaiting trial. Southerland, who said little during Tuesday's hearing, will be sentenced at a later date, likely after Johnson's fate is determined.

Davis-Papther's family sat quietly during the hearing and declined to comment afterward.
Rapper Meek Mill, center, arrives at the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia with his lawyer Brian McMonagle, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. Read more

As far as his fans are concerned, the sentencing Monday of rapper Meek Mill to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating probation was a travesty of justice.

"The time does not fit the crime," Sakinah Lester wrote on Facebook. "His behavior shows he lacks common sense, but this sentence screams, 'Unjust!' "

A lot of fan ire was directed to the fact that one of the violations was Mill getting arrested and pleading guilty to reckless driving charges for performing wheelies and other stunts on a dirt bike in New York.

"Damn popping wheelies gets u jail time," Orlando Nicks wrote on Facebook.

On Twitter, a user named Just wrote: "Meek mill is going to prison for 2-4 years for violating probation. Cops walk free when they kill people ON camera. Smh [shaking my head]."

The Upper Darby Police Department, known for having fun with its Twitter account, wrote: "Please don't call us begging to free Meek. It wasn't us."

Twitter user Money Mitch wrote: "Judge would've thrown Meek back in jail for double parking. Didn't matter what he did smh."

When another user commented that Meek's career might be over, Money Mitch disagreed.

"Nah the streets love Meek. We gone be waiting for [fire] when he get home."
Laura Torres, right, and Sonia Yanez visit a line of crosses before a vigil for the victims of Sundays First Baptist Church shooting, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Read more

After shots were fired at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people were killed in Sunday's mass shooting, Julius Kepper, who lives nearby, grabbed his gun and ran toward the sound of gunfire, according to the Wall Street Journal, where he saw another neighbor, also armed, confront the suspected killer. Kepper later said, "You just can't conceive of this happening in a small town like this." Carrie Matula, who works nearby, told NBC News, "I never thought it would happen here," adding, "This is something that happens in a big city."

Not so. Mass shootings occur in rural, suburban and urban settings. In recent years, mass shootings have occurred at gathering places and houses of worship of many different faiths: churches, an Islamic center, a Jewish community center, a Sikh temple. There was Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, the Pulse nightclub in 2016, and, a few weeks ago, an outdoor country music show in Las Vegas where a gunman opened fire, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds.

Mass shootings can happen anywhere, at any time. It's imperative that everyone know how to react.

Dave Grossman, author of On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, speaks regularly on the subject and often begins his lectures with this question: How many kids in America have died from a school fire in recent years? His answer: None. Meanwhile, according to a 2014 FBI study, active shooters killed 117 people in schools between 2000 and 2013. Schools conduct fire drills and adhere to fire codes, but they generally don't do nearly as much, Grossman insists, to train students for a scenario far more likely to kill kids in schools: an active shooter. Most adults lack preventive training, as well.

Talking about these attacks can be difficult and heart-wrenching. But we can't avoid preparing ourselves just because the topic is disturbing. As my colleague James Hamilton  who served for years in the FBI and provides training to corporations, government agencies and security personnel for public figures  says, "You must be an active participant in your own survival."

Be an active participant in your own survival

In the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, a lone gunman had two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He entered the second floor of Norris Hall and began the final phase of a killing spree that, in total, left 32 students and faculty members dead.

One lesson from that tragedy is that the types of action taken by students and professors inside different classrooms influenced their chances of survival. In Room 206, where students hid beneath their desks, the gunman killed 10 students and wounded several as he walked up and down the rows of desks. In Room 204, however, where two students were killed, several students jumped out of the second-floor windows, and all of those who managed to escape survived. In Room 205, students barricaded the classroom door with tables and chairs, holding it all in place while lying flat on the ground. Despite the shooter's attempt to breach the barricade, firing two inaccurate rounds into the room, he never entered and everyone inside survived.

During an active-shooter event, as the recent attacks in Texas and Las Vegas sadly demonstrate, some things are outside our control. Yet, like the students in Rooms 204 and 205, we can take actions that may improve the chances of survival.

Take time to prepare an emergency action plan

Recently, in a coffee shop with my wife, I nodded toward the door and asked her, "What would you do if a man holding a gun walked through that door right now?" She answered, "I would throw my hot coffee at his face and distract him long enough to run out that side door." I loved her response. She had a plan.

When I asked a security professional and colleague, Nick Perez  who attended the Las Vegas concert with his girlfriend  what he credits most for their survival, he said, "I had a plan." Before attending the show, Perez reviewed the festival's app on his phone. He noted the venue's layout, including the entrances and emergency exit points. He said, "I thought ahead because I'm trained to do so. I always want to know a location's layout in case I need to make a quick exit or find on-site security or medical services. And, to be honest," he said, "I wasn't thinking about a mass shooting but more common occurrences like a medical emergency or a fight."

In the world of bodyguards and close protection, we call his actions "advancing" a location  preparing for the arrival of our protectee. We want to know the location of on-site security and paramedics, exit points and, most of all, our planned evacuation routes in case we need to evacuate because of an emergency, such as a fire or a shooter.

When you're out in public, before settling into your seat or spot, ask yourself: If there's an attack, what will I do? It only takes a moment to answer this question before you sit back, relax and enjoy your outing. Think of it as making regular deposits in a survival bank and then, if an emergency arises, being able to make a potentially lifesaving withdrawal.

At theaters and concerts, consider choosing seats on the aisle and close to exits. At restaurants, sit with your back to the wall and face the entrance. And before you relax, identify your escape routes and exit points, including turnstiles, doors, scalable fences and accessible windows. If escaping a building isn't a viable option during an attack, consider moving into rooms where you're able to barricade yourself and others from the attacker. If the attacker breaches that room, be ready to use an improvised weapon  fire extinguisher, scissors, pen, etc.  to incapacitate him with speed, surprise and violence of action.

Practice situational awareness

Perez told me that he stood with his girlfriend just 30 feet from the stage when gunfire tore through the crowd. "After the second burst of gunfire," he said, "I knew it wasn't firecrackers, I knew we were under attack." How did he know? "I saw a police car racing down Las Vegas Boulevard, toward the hotel." "Right then," he said, "I grabbed my girlfriend's hand and sprinted in the opposite direction to the exit I remembered from the venue's layout on the festival app."

When arriving at a new location, such as a restaurant or hotel lobby, in addition to considering your emergency action plan, pause for a moment and allow your senses to absorb all that's "normal" within the new environment  the sights, the sounds, the smells, etc. Once you establish a baseline of normalcy, it's easier to identify all that is not normal, and possibly, dangerous. At the gun range, firearms and gunshots are normal. Nearly everywhere else, they are not. At a concert, yelling is normal. At a restaurant, it is not. Anything that "is not" catches my attention as "not normal" for that environment and is possibly an indication of danger.

If I saw a man walk through the front entrance of an establishment dressed in a wool trench coat on a hot August day, his winter attire would disrupt my baseline sense of normalcy. As a result, I'd observe his behavior a bit longer. If his actions continued to suggest abnormal behavior and cause me unease, I'd listen to my intuition like any animal bent on survival and respond to the perceived danger. That response might simply be continued observation or something more, like me moving closer to the exit. And if the strange-acting man, who I'd now be intuiting as possibly dangerous, revealed a rifle beneath his wool coat, I wouldn't need to hear the first shot. I'd already be executing my evacuation plan before anyone else.

Get out of the kill zone

When one of the teachers at Columbine High School heard shots fired during that school's 1999 mass shooting, she ran into the library and called 911. At one point, she told students in the library to "get down" and hide under desks and tables. When the gunmen entered the library, it became a kill zone and teenagers, caught sitting statically underneath those tables, began to die.

If you're caught by surprise in a kill zone, getting down is beneficial if the shooter is firing from a position level to yours. But whatever you do, don't stay down for long. As soon as it's possible, "move off the X," as we say in personal security. Hiding under a table or desk offers little protection and provides the shooter a static human target to shoot. And, in the case of Columbine and Virginia Tech, to shoot at close range. Targets moving through the kill zone, however, are harder to hit. And targets that have evacuated the kill zone altogether are much harder to hit.

If you're being shot at and you know the gunman is firing from an elevated position, do not "get down" or stay down. Doing so creates a stationary human target with a larger surface area for his barrage of descending bullets. Instead, flee the kill zone immediately toward your preplanned exit points and eventually find cover, either terrain or structures that can probably stop bullets.

If like many of the Las Vegas concertgoers, you don't know the killer's location and you lack nearby cover, you can still attempt to flee the kill zone. It's your best option. And when you evacuate the kill zone, try to take others with you. If more people are running away from the kill zone than remaining paralyzed in it, others will follow.

Ed Hinman is a director at Gavin de Becker & Associates, an international security consulting firm. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served for eight years as a Marine Corps infantry officer.
Sutherland Springs, Texas, resident Kevin Langdon owns about 50 guns. In the small town, he said, Everyone has everyone elses back, and guns are how we keep one another safe. Read more

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas  Many of this small town's residents had just learned, mostly by word of mouth, the names of the people slain or wounded at the First Baptist Church, and the horror unleashed by a gunman was too fresh for anyone to process fully. But one thing was emphatically clear Monday: These Texans weren't about to embrace gun control.

This is a place where people carry firearms as routinely as they wear boots. They carry them out of sight, tucked in a waistband or in a pocket like a billfold. Or they carry them openly.

"There are lots of guns in the community. Most people own guns in Texas," Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said Monday. "But guns don't kill people, people kill people."

The gun rights community has long had a favorite saying: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. What happened Sunday offered for that community a resounding echo of their belief. A local man  described by officials as "our Texas hero"  who lives near First Baptist grabbed his own weapon and shot gunman Devin Patrick Kelley outside the church, forcing him to flee.

Then the man, along with another resident, got in a vehicle and chased Kelley at high speeds. Kelley was found dead in his vehicle on the side of a road about 10 miles from the church. He had been hit twice  in the leg and the torso  and also had a self-inflected gunshot wound, according to his autopsy. The resident who shot Kelley did not answer his door, and a sheriff's deputy said the family did not want people on the property.

The second resident, Johnnie Langendorff, described his actions as "act now, ask questions later."

What some people were saying Monday was that the massacre could have been stopped sooner had the worshipers in the church been carrying. The attack could signal that a change is needed, said Brandy Johnson, 68, an evangelical minister who moved to Sutherland Springs a few months ago. Even in a church service in a one-stoplight town, someone should be tapped to be on the lookout for trouble, she said.

"I think there should be some designated watchers and some designated firearm carriers," she said.

Johnson said she worked for many years for the Department of Homeland Security and was trained to be observant: "Look for the weird. Look for twitches. Look for nervousness."

Pastor A.T. Tor, 39, brought a group of worshipers from San Antonio, about 40 minutes away, and he saw this as a spiritual crisis rather than one involving powerful firearms.

"I don't think this is a gun issue. I think it is a condition-of-the-heart issue," he said. "If this was a gun issue, you'd have this way more. Think about how many people around here have guns. It is the person behind the gun."

Resident Mike Jordan, 50, has a tattoo on the right side of his lower leg that he said embodies everything he stands for: two smoking 1847 Colt Walkers beneath a state of Texas, colored red, white and blue.

For rural Texans like Jordan, who grew up around guns, the weapons are not just symbols of self-reliance, they're a way of life.

"At any given time, you might see me with an AR-15 on my shoulder walking in my neighborhood," said Jordan, who estimated that he owns about 20 guns.

While the majority of Sutherland Springs residents don't take advantage of the state's liberal open-carry law, residents said, most people do carry concealed weapons, and most households own at least one weapon and usually several more. Seeing high-caliber weapons out in the open, especially if the muzzle is pointed down and the gun is strapped to the owner's shoulder, doesn't cause alarm.

Hearing multiple shots fired in town is more likely to bring to mind hunting, rather than a gunman on a killing spree. A day after the church massacre involving an assault-style rifle, residents said their resolve to carry those weapons had only strengthened.

"What happened in that church should show everybody that it's not a gun problem, it's a people problem," said Jordan, whose grandson was nearly shot by Kelley. "A screwdriver in the hands of the wrong person can be a deadly weapon."

Kevin Langdon doesn't carry a screwdriver, but it's not unusual to find the retired 62-year-old teacher carrying multiple guns  usually small arms he uses to kill rattlesnakes and copperheads. At home, on the south side of Sutherland Springs, Langdon owns about 50 weapons, ranging from Civil War-era antiques to modern guns, such as an AK-47, which he uses to kill wild hogs that wander onto his 10-acre property and destroy his crops. Without an assault rifle, a charging hog can be deadly, he said.

It's people, however  not snakes or wild hogs  that locals worry about most. Langdon's neighbors, who have formed an unofficial watch program, all own rifles, he said. They use the scopes to monitor one another's properties in case a stranger approaches  a constant concern because of the traffic that passes through town along Highway 87, bringing big-city strangers from nearby San Antonio, he said.

"If someone were to hit a woman at a gas station, there'd be 20 men on top of him beating a new lesson into him," he said. "Everyone has everyone else's back, and guns are how we keep one another safe."

But it was a man with local ties, not a stranger, who ended up being the greatest danger to the community Sunday  a man who shouldn't have been allowed to purchase guns in the first place because of a domestic-assault conviction while he was in the military. It was the lack of guns in that church, Langdon and other locals said, that put Sutherland Springs residents at risk.

"If everyone was armed with a gun in that church, how many people would've been killed?" he said. "Probably zero."

Authorities revealed that Kelley had been in the midst of a domestic dispute with relatives, including his mother-in-law, who has worshiped at First Baptist but was not present Sunday. The method of the attack seemed to draw inspiration from other recent mass shootings. Kelley dressed in pseudo-commando clothes: all-black "tactical" gear and a mask. He chose a soft target: people effectively trapped in a confined space. He used a semiautomatic rifle.

Rick Schultz, 58, who retired from the military, said: "You pass a bunch of laws  who is going to obey those laws? Law-abiding citizens. . . . We just need to harden up soft targets. Having someone in there with a concealed weapon."

Sutherland Springs is a town nowhere in particular, with a single blinking light at the main crossroads. The land here is wide open under a big sky. There's no downtown to speak of, just a string of businesses, including a Dollar General, a Valero gas station with a convenience store, and the post office.

Most of the people in town Monday were strangers  the media, law enforcement personnel, people from the Red Cross or the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, and so on. A forest of cameras had arisen a block from First Baptist. Makeshift tents, erected overnight by authorities, extended from the front of the church, creating a crime-scene zone out of sight of overhead helicopters or drones.

"INCIDENT AHEAD" declared a road sign at the edge of town. Religious pilgrims had arrived, coming from far away to pray at the scene of the massacre.

The grieving families found shelter and comfort a mile up a country road, far from the media scrum, at a church guarded by sheriff's deputies.
Matthew Mata and Erika Gonzalez participate in a memorial service for the victims of Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. Read more

As Farida Brown lay on the floor in the last row of pews in Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church, the 73-year-old woman felt certain she would be the next one killed.

And she almost was.

The gunman had fired numerous rounds into her legs. She was shot four times, but they all struck soft tissue. None of her bones were broken, and no arteries were hit, her son said. But the man was revisiting those he had shot to make sure they were dead and if they weren't, he was shooting them once more.

Brown's recollections of the horror that she and others in the church experienced, as told to her son, are among the first offered by one of the 20 wounded Sunday in the rampage that killed 26 churchgoers. The son, David Brown, told her story to reporters Monday, including CNN and The Washington Post.

The first inkling that there was something wrong, David Brown told The Washington Post, was when she heard shots being fired through the windows from outside.

Then, when the gunman entered, Farida Brown had heard the relentless pop-pop-popping as he opened fire on worshipers. She had watched him shoot anyone who attempted to flee.

The Sunday school teacher to her right told her to get down on the floor. He then fled.

She told her son that the shooter paced back and forth, firing into the pews and shooting at cellphones anytime someone tried to call police. He shot at her phone at least three times.

As the gunman fired shots into the congregation, "everyone was running around trying to escape," said David Brown, but most lay on the floor, hiding.

The gunman fired four shots into the torso of the woman on Farida Brown's left, David Brown said.

"With every shot, she was crying," Brown said of the woman. "She was just staring at my mom while she tried to comfort her." As he fired rounds into the woman, Brown held her hand, telling her she was heading to heaven.

Up until that point, Farida Brown had only sustained shots to her legs. But as the shooter fired into the woman next to her, Farida Brown prepared to be slain.

"Then she thought that it was her turn," David Brown told The Washington Post. "She just started praying."

At that moment, she heard a shot fired from a different man, at the front door.

The gunman has since been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley.

The other man, the one who confronted him, was Stephen Willeford, who lives near the church. Willeford, a certified shooting instructor, grabbed his own rifle and raced out of his house barefoot.

"I kept hearing the shots, one after another," Willeford told 40/29 News, "very rapid shots, just 'pop pop pop pop.' and I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they weren't just random shots.

"He saw me and I saw him," Willeford told the station.

It was Willeford's presence that distracted Kelley.

Willeford hit Kelley at least once, authorities said. Kelley then dropped his rifle, jumped in his Ford Expedition SUV, and fled. Willeford, with the help of Johnnie Langendorff who had stopped in his truck when he saw what was happening, gave chase at high speed, until Kelley's car careened off the road into a ditch. Kelley was dead, with three gunshot wounds, including a self-inflicted shot to the head, authorities said. Monday. Willeford apparently hit him in the leg and torso, according to Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Farida Brown survived.

She sustained bullet wounds and bullet fragments and shrapnel in her legs, groin and left hip.

David Brown first heard about the attack through a text message from his sister. "There's been a shooting at Mom's church," the message read, he said. "She's been shot."

"What kind of a sick joke is this?" he said he thought.

He immediately packed a bag and drove from Houston to the hospital in Floresville, Texas, where his mother was undergoing surgery. Farida Brown emerged from surgery about 45 minutes after he arrived.

The next day, when she had begun to recover from surgery, she described the scene in further detail to Texas Rangers authorities and to hospital staff, with her son in the room, he said. She did not feel comfortable speaking to news outlets on Monday, and asked her son to recount her experiences.

Two other survivors, Joaquin Ramirez and Joanne Solis, told KSAT that when the babies in the church cried, the gunman would shoot them point blank.

Solis was shot in the arm, near the front door, while Ramirez was struck by shrapnel.

"Everybody started screaming, yelling," Solis told KSAT. "Everybody got down, under, wherever they could hide."

They huddled on the ground, pretending they were dead, and watched as bullets hit the church's carpeted floor.

"I hear firecrackers popping. Ta-ta-ta," she recalled. "It was so scary. He was shooting hard."

David Brown's nephew, who arrived at the church shortly after the shooting, described it as "walking into a scene in a movie."

"There were just dead bodies laying everywhere," Brown said his nephew told him.

Farida Brown still does not know the identity of the woman on her left, her son said, nor whether she survived the shooting. She doesn't know what happened to the Sunday school teacher after he fled the church.

"She's wondering why none of her church friends have called," David Brown said.

In many cases, it's because they didn't survive.

Farida Brown has been a member of First Baptist Church for about 10 years.

"She never misses a Sunday," Brown said. "All of her friends she hangs out with during the week all go to the church."

Every Thursday morning, she helps serve a breakfast for a Bible study class at the church.

"She knows she was blessed," Brown said. "She told me she would have gladly taken 15 more shots to the legs" if it could have saved more lives, he said.

He said "it's amazing" that his mother is already walking around with a walker. Her legs are still covered in bandages from ankle to hip, and her knee has "swollen up really big," but Farida Brown should be released from the hospital by Tuesday, her son said.

"In two or three weeks she'll be dancing again," David Brown said.
WASHINGTON  District of Columbia prosecutors have decided to give up pursing a criminal case against an activist who was arrested after laughing during Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Senate confirmation hearing in January.

The decision was quietly entered into the record on Monday, nearly four months after the chief judge of the D.C. Superior Court threw out a May jury conviction for Desiree Fairooz on two misdemeanor charges of unlawful conduct on Capitol grounds.

A retrial had been set for November for the 61-year-old woman, who faced up to six months in jail.

But prosecutors dropped the case one week ahead of the planned court date. "The U.S. Attorney's Office typically does not discuss charging decisions, and has no comment on the decision to dismiss this particular case," according to a statement issued by the office's spokesman, Bill Miller.

Fairooz could not be reached on Tuesday. Her attorney, Samuel Bogash, did not return calls. Fairooz had earlier described the case as a waste of time and a dangerous precedent for free speech.

Fairooz had attended Sessions's Jan. 10 confirmation hearing along with about two dozen members from Code Pink, a progressive activist group that regularly protests at Congress. Fairooz laughed moments after Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) stated that Sessions' record of "treating all Americans equally under the law is clear and well-documented."

Prosecutors described Fairooz's outburst  actually two  this way: Fairooz "let out aloud [sic] burst of laughter, followed by a second louder burst of laughter," according to a government filing. The document says that Fairooz "grew loud and more disruptive" as police led her out of the Kennedy Caucus Room, "eventually halting the confirmation hearing."

Jurors who convicted Fairooz in May told the Huffington Post that they based their decision on the defendant's outburst after she had laughed. Her group's co-founder said there would have been no outburst had police not wrongfully arrested her for laughing.

Chief Judge E. Robert Morin of District of Columbia Superior Court ruled in July that the jury that convicted Fairooz overstepped. The Huffington Post said Morin ruled that prosecutors improperly argued that laughter alone was enough for a conviction.
After a massacre at a church in a small Texas town in which gunman Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people during worship services with an assault rifle, Google's autocomplete function is mistakenly sending some users searching for information about the shooting to links featuring false conspiracy theories.

Investigators have concluded that the shooting, the deadliest in the history of Texas, appeared to stem from a "domestic situation," and was not racially, religiously or politically motivated.

But when Google users search for Devin Kelley, the algorithm that powers the site's autocomplete function returns "Devin Kelley Antifa," providing numerous links both debunking and propping up false claims he was a member of antifa, a group that opposes fascism and is known for its militant tactics.

"DEVIN PATRICK KELLEY ANTIFA CONFIRMED *PROOF*" proclaims the headline of one of the top links, pointing to a YouTube video on a channel called The Patriotic Beast, which has just three videos and 363 subscribers.

Another link that shows up in Google's results, which points to a separate YouTube video, proclaims, "Devin Kelley is ANTIFA, American Terrorist and Democrat."

The issue was replicated on various computers, and the Daily Beast's Ben Collins and the Wall Street Journal's Jack Nicas both noted Google's suggestions. YouTube is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet.

"Autocomplete predictions are algorithmically generated based on users' search activity and interests. Because of this, terms that appear in Autocomplete may be unexpected or unpleasant," Google said in a statement. "In this case, there is great interest in the topic which is being reflected in the tool. We try to be careful with autocompletions on names, and in this case, our system did not work as intended. We're currently working on our system for name detection to improve this process moving forward."

Google, Twitter and Facebook have been under intense scrutiny by legislators after the depth and scope of Russia's use of the platforms to promote false information during the 2016 president campaign has become apparent.

Last week, the House Intelligence Committee revealed 2,750 fake Twitter accounts created by employees at the Internet Research Agency, a "troll farm" funded by the Russian government. Among the fake accounts were two females popular in right-wing media circles that were retweeted by former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Vice President Mike Pence followed five different accounts tied to the Internet Research Agency, according to the Daily Beast.

In the immediate aftermath of the Texas shooting, right-wing figures like Mike Cernovich, Jack Posobiec and InfoWar's Alex Jones, known for pushing fake news stories about liberals, were quick to falsely report that Kelley carried an Antifa flag and told churchgoers "this is a communist revolution." The only evidence presented were fake images they claimed appeared on Kelley's Facebook page, and a screenshot of a made-up conversation via text message.

"Photos of Texas shooter is consistent with the profile of an Antifa member," Cernovich wrote in one tweet that was shared more than 2,000 times. "This is looking more and more like Antifa terror."

After having been called out for pushing the bogus conspiracy theory about Kelley, Posobiec told Newsweek that he simply shared a screenshot that had been posted on a Facebook page.
Suzanne OMullan, leads her son Danny, who has autism to the podium to testify before the marijuana review panel in Trenton on Feb. 20. Read more

The list of ailments that qualify a patient to use marijuana in New Jersey doesn't cover all the people it could help, says a panel of doctors and health professionals that studied the issue for 19 months.

Migraines, Tourette's, and anxiety and chronic pain stemming from various maladies should be added to the current list of 13 ailments, according to the New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel. The panel voted, 5-1, late last month to make this recommendation to the health commissioner, after listening to hours of emotional testimony at hearings, examining petitions from 68 patients, and analyzing the research and statements from doctors who reported their patients had success using medical marijuana.

"The recommendation is based only on available scientific evidence, not opinion," said Alex Bekker, an anesthesiologist who chaired the panel. "We had lots of deliberation, lots of discussion, and it was revealing and interesting."

The new ailments could bring an estimated 200,000 new patients into a program that now has 14,600 participants, according to medical marijuana advocates who lobbied for an expanded list.

Medical marijuana was legalized in New Jersey nearly eight years ago. Pennsylvania expects to implement a similar program next year.

Among the 13 ailments that appear on New Jersey's list are cancer, when conventional treatments fail or cause side effects and chronic pain; Crohn's disease; multiple sclerosis; epilepsy; and glaucoma. The majority of those who use medical marijuana in the state are diagnosed with intractable skeletal muscular spasticity.

The decision on whether to expand the list rests with Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett, and she's leaving her post Thursday.

Bennett, a Haddonfield resident who was appointed by Gov. Christie, will become president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association.

She has declined requests for an interview.

A spokesperson for the Health Department said the commissioner would have 180 days to act on the panel's recommendation.

It's up to Christie to appoint the next commissioner, or an acting commissioner, and that person might only serve a couple of months since Christie's two-year term expires in January.

"It's unclear, even to the Health Department, whether it will be the current or future commissioner who will decide," Bekker, the head of the department of anesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, said in a recent interview.

The governor's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Christie has said that he opposes expanding the list, and his administration delayed creating the review panel for five years.

In May, the health panel took an initial vote, and said it would approve the use of medical marijuana to combat chronic pain or anxiety stemming from nearly 40 conditions or ailments that were noted in the petitions it received. Those conditions include autism, Alzheimer's, opiate use disorder, arthritis, back and neck pain, lupus, and fibromyalgia.

Marijuana is "not a treatment for disease, but for the manifestation of a disease," Bekker said last week.

In a July 2017 letter to Bennett that outlined the panel's recommendations, Bekker also said that "there is strong scientific basis to consider cannabinoids (chemical compounds in marijuana) as a therapeutic intervention for patients requiring high doses of opioids. This would have the secondary impact of helping to curb the opioid epidemic.  Patients with chronic pain who were treated with cannabis were more likely to experience a significant reduction in their pain symptoms."

Some say the question of expanding the medical marijuana list could be moot if Democrat Phil Murphy, a candidate for governor, is elected. He has said he would legalize marijuana for recreational use and polls show he is ahead of his opponent, Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who has said she would support decriminalization.

Her husband, retired Appellate Division Judge Michael Guadagno, last month wrote a legal opinion while on recall to the bench ordering the state to consider lowering the classification of marijuana, which currently is Schedule I, deemed among the most dangerous drugs in the state.

But medical marijuana advocates and some lawmakers say full legalization would not replace the medical marijuana program. In other states where marijuana is legal, medical marijuana patients either pay a lower tax rate or are not taxed at all.
Rabbi Tiferet Berenbaum, 34, one of the few African American female rabbis in the country, was installed in July at Temple Har Zion in Mount Holly. She made a long spiritual journey from her familys Southern Baptist roots. Read more

Tiferet Berenbaum, 34, one of the few female African American rabbis in the United States, arrived in July at Temple Har Zion in Mount Holly after a lifelong spiritual journey from her parents' Southern Baptist roots.

Her childhood Sundays in a Boston church and her teenage experience at a friend's bat mitzvah were religiously different but equally powerful guideposts on her winding path from Christianity to Judaism and her ordination as a rabbi.

"Even as a child, I was looking for an authentic experience," said Berenbaum, who first found one at Southern Baptist church services in Boston, during her suburban Brookline childhood.

"I loved what's called the Holy Ghost," she said. "People would feel the Holy Spirit and jump up. The music was playing really fast and someone would shout out and people would shout back and run up and down the aisles and jump up on the pews.

"I was sitting there in the pews," she said, "listening to the sermons or reading the Bible, looking for a way to authentically connect. Watching other people have authentic moments was satisfying for me."

But she didn't find her own authentic moment until she went to the friend's bat mitzvah.

"I remember the first time I saw the Torah come out," she said. "I was mesmerized. The whole congregation stood. As the Torah procession went around, people rushed from the pews to touch it, kiss it, wanting to be near the Torah. And I wanted a relationship with the Torah. I wanted to rush and embrace it."

But she couldn't. "A friend said, 'You're not allowed to do that. That's for Jews only.' I felt very excluded at that moment. I carried away that moment of exclusion and that desire to touch the Torah."

Before committing to Judaism, Berenbaum gave her Christian family roots one more try. She went to a church near Tufts University, where she was studying Judaism and psychology, to meet the pastor.

"When I walked in, a woman said, 'Can I help you?' " Berenbaum said. "Her attitude was so unfriendly and accusatory that I said, 'No,' and walked out the door."

When she thought about it later, Berenbaum realized that the incident had a surprising result. "We're all angels," she said. "We're all doing the work of God in the world. That was that woman's role in that moment. Her role was to shift my path. I wanted to have an authentic experience, and I didn't see a way to have it in the church."

The more she studied Judaism at Tufts, the more she knew that "I had a Jewish soul that got lost somewhere and I was coming home," she said. "I just had to wake it up."

In the spring of 2002, Berenbaum went to her mother and said, "Mom, I think I'm Jewish. I want to convert to Judaism."

Far from being surprised, her mother said, "We always knew you were Jewish."

She converted in 2003, when she was a sophomore at Tufts, taught Hebrew school in Cambridge for two years, and eventually earned her master's degree in Jewish education and her ordination as a rabbi in 2013 from Hebrew College in Boston.

She served as the rabbi at Reconstructionist Congregation Shir Hadash in Milwaukee from 2013 until last June, when she decided to return to the Northeast after her mother experienced a medical emergency.

Berenbaum said Temple Har Zion, which chose her from several candidates, is a transdenominational Jewish Renewal synagogue "in the spirit of the Conservative movement" that has the traditional elements of Judaism she loves.

Berenbaum said she's proceeding slowly with her congregation of 100 because she succeeded Rabbi Richard Simon, who retired on July 1 after 32 years, and almost immediately began planning and preparing for the High Holy Days in September.

She said she needs to "reestablish the spirit of safety and security, because they don't know me yet. I don't want to just come in and change anything. That would be inauthentic to the legacy of the temple and the rabbi that came before me and the rabbis that came before him."

She's also mindful that mutual trust will eventually allow conversations about race, as it did in Milwaukee. "I'm not afraid to have those conversations as people get to know me," she said. "I'm not afraid or offended when people ask questions, seeking understanding. I'm looking forward to it. Those kinds of conversations require trust and safety. I did just walk in the door."

Deb Wolff, who has been a member of Temple Har Zion for more than 20 years, said Berenbaum is a perfect fit for the small, eclectic synagogue.

"We choose not to affiliate with a particular denomination," she said. "Our focus is really on helping people connect to their own path, and that's what she brings. I think it's her joy and her passion for all this that has been so important for us to see.

"We call ourselves the best-kept secret in Southern New Jersey," Wolff said. "Everybody likes to say they're warm and welcoming. We tend not to say it because we just do it. We give a hug when you walk in the door. We joke that we never use the front door because we always use the back door and everybody goes through the kitchen."

Berenbaum married her longtime boyfriend, Joel Berenbaum, in 2014, and they are now the parents of a 10-month-old daughter, Gayla Bracha, which Berenbaum said means "revelation of God's blessing" in Hebrew.

She said that while she builds trust with her congregation, one on one, she keeps studying the Torah, Hassidic literature, and ancient Kabbalah mysticism, looking for the revelation of God's blessing in every aspect of daily life.

"I started a conversation with God when I was 11 years old," she said, "and I haven't stopped since."
Voters are heading to the polls in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for an off-year election. Read more

Polls are now closed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Voters braved a chilly rain on Tuesday to cast ballots in an off-year election that featured a mix of state and local races, high and low.

Key results

Where to find more results:

What was on the ballot

Turnout was expected to be higher in New Jersey than in Pennsylvania because voters in the Garden State were electing a new governor to replace Chris Christie and casting ballots for all 120 seats in the Assembly and state Senate.

In Pennsylvania, the main statewide races were to elect judges to the Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court and in Philadelphia the marquee contests were for District Attorney and City Controller.

Residents were also called on to elect local government and board of education officials in suburban municipalities in both states. Our voter guide has a full rundown of the races.

Scenes from the polls

Turnout was steady but quiet late afternoon at United Calvary Methodist Church at the corner of 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia.

Patricia Albright, 50, said she voted for Larry Krasner for district attorney, who she also casted a ballot for during the spring primaries.

Albright said Trump's presidency "absolutely" influenced her decision to support the progressive candidate and that being able to fulfill her civic duty for yet another year was also very important to her.

At Holy Eucharist Catholic Church, a Cherry Hill polling place, turnout was brisk in the morning.

Jim Doyle, 76, did not hesitate when he cast his ballot for the successor to Christie. Doyle pushed the button for Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

"I'm just turned off by Murphy," said Doyle. "He's a Wall Street guy."

Doyle said he was largely pleased by the direction of President Trump's administration so far, and that he wanted to keep the momentum going.

"I think he's done a lot," said Doyle, who is retired. "He's Just having a lot of difficulty with the swamp. The opposition is not giving up  they don't like him because he's not an insider."

Machines not working

Things got off to a rocky start at one polling place in Philadelphia. Voters arriving to cast ballots at Ward 59, Division 17 at the Mastery Pickett Charter School in Germantown could not cast ballots because the machines were not working. Repairmen were called and they were up and working later in the morning.

A candidates incomplete name

Another problem emerged during the day when it emerged that Republican Commonwealth Court candidate Christine Fizzano Cannon's full name did not appear on some ballots in Philadelphia and instead was listed only as "Christine Fizzano."

What politicians were up to

Christie, who could not seek a third term, voted in Mendham and said he did not think the outcome of the race for his job between Guadagno and Democrat Phil Murphy was a referendum on his performance over the last eight years, though Murphy has sought to frame it as such,

While voters went to the polls, politicians held their regular election day gatherings at their favorite luncheon spots.

At the Famous Fourth Street Deli, another politico gathering spot, some electrician union members appeared caught in a time warp, hold giant photos of Mayor Kenney, who was on the ballot two years ago and is not up for reelection until 2019.

Voting information and resources

Around the region, officials are on stand-by to handle problems at polling places.

Polls close at 8 p.m. in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and rain has started falling in Philadelphia.

What you need to know about the races and ballot questions in both states can be found here.

The Committee of Seventy, an independent watchdog group, in the meantime asked voters to rate their experience at the polls.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf started the morning with a get out and vote appeal.

Staff writers Kristen A. Graham and Patricia Madej contributed to this story.
A Pennsylvania state trooper was shot Tuesday morning during a traffic stop in Northampton County and a wounded suspect was taken into custody after driving to a hospital.

The state police corporal, who was shot multiple times, was flown to St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem, where he was undergoing treatment for his wounds, the State Police said in a statement. It provided no other information about his condition.

State Police said the corporal was outside his vehicle when he got into a shootout with a motorist during the stop about 11 a.m. on Route 33 in the area of Route 191 in Plainfield Township.

The suspect fled in a blue Pontiac sedan and drove to Easton Hospital in Wilson, where he was taken into custody.

There is no information yet about why the trooper stopped the car.

News helicopter video from the scene showed a blue car with a shot out rear window at the hospital's emergency room entrance.
This notice is going out to Philadelphia polling places, according to the Christine Fizzano Cannon campaign. Read more

Commonwealth Court candidate Christine Fizzano Cannon may have had a major problem Tuesday in Philadelphia:

Her last name was incorrect on an untold number of voting machines, perhaps as many of half of the machines citywide, according to her campaign.

Fizzano Cannon, a Delaware County Republican judge running for Commonwealth Court, appears on some Philadelphia voting machines only as "Christine Fizzano."

Lawrence Tabas, a lawyer for the campaign, said the missing word is significant  particularly in a low-profile judicial race without household names  because her campaign ads featured her full name.

"She went on TV, mail, the internet. You broadcast your name as Christine Fizzano Cannon and somebody going into the polling place not seeing the Cannon might think that's not the candidate," said Tabas, former general counsel for the state Republican Party.

Tabas said he was told by City Commissioner Al Schmidt that the error could be widespread. Schmidt is the lone Republican on the three-member board in charge of Philadelphia elections.

"It's just some sort of mistake, error, carelessness," Tabas said.

Pete Peterson, a spokesman for Fizzano Cannon, described it as a "colossal screwup."

"It is hard to fathom how, out of 67 counties, this would only happen in the city of Philadelphia, where Fizzano Cannon's principal opposition is a sitting Philadelphia judge," Peterson said.

Schmidt said the name was shortened by one of the city's plotters, or large ballot printers. The city has two plotters; the problem was with the older one.

"Everything was proofed every step of the way  correct, correct, correct," Schmidt said Tuesday afternoon. "When it went to one of the two plotters, it curtailed the last name because of its length."

The commissioners learned of the problem about 10 a.m. Tuesday, after getting a call from Fizzano Cannon's lawyer, Schmidt said.

In response, the commissioners posted a notice on their website "immediately," Schmidt said, and sent 22 teams out to post notices at the entrances to polling places around the city. They began distributing them before noon, Schmidt said.

"A whole bunch of issues pop up on Election Day," Schmidt said. "This is one that I haven't seen before."

Tabas said the error is particularly "bizarre" because he had checked ballots in all 67 Pennsylvania counties prior to the election. He did that because Fizzano Cannon's name had appeared incorrectly in about a dozen counties in the primary.

Philadelphia's general election ballot looked fine prior to Tuesday, Tabas said, but somehow the error still occurred in some voting machines.

Fizzano Cannon, a judge in Delaware County, is running against Democrats Ellen H. Ceisler, a Court of Common Pleas judge in Philadelphia, and Irene McLaughlin Clark, a Pittsburgh lawyer, and Republican Paul N. Lalley, a Pittsburgh lawyer. They're vying for two Commonwealth Court seats.

Tabas said he doesn't think Fizzano Cannon's name was deliberately altered in Philadelphia, where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 7-1.

"I have no reason to believe there's any partisanship involved," Tabas said. "But it's happening to the Republican."

Peterson, however, said the mistake "raises some questions."

"Out of the three female Commonwealth Court candidates the only name they have wrong is the Republican, even after our campaign reviewed and approved a draft of the ballot that was correct," Peterson said.

Schmidt said the problem couldn't have been human error.

"That would suggest that somebody would have purposely manipulated the ballot in some way and expected no one to find out about it, which is completely implausible," he said. "The ballot that we approved was correct."

Schmidt doesn't know how widespread the error was.

"We won't know until we get the voting machines back," he said.
An employee of the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office contends in a lawsuit that Sheriff Jewell Williams repeatedly sexually harassed her, openly discussing his genitalia and hers, and smeared her name around the office as a "home wrecker" and "whore" after she rebuffed his advances and began dating another employee.

The lawsuit, which names the city, Williams, and Deputy Sheriff and Staff Inspector Paris Washington as defendants, alleges that from 2013 through spring 2015, Williams and Washington tormented administrative assistant Vanessa Bines with sexual come-ons and lewd comments, and later with retaliatory hostility after she filed complaints with city and federal employment discrimination offices.

After reviewing her claims, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gave her a right-to-sue letter in July 2017, according to the lawsuit.

"This is what happens to women in 2017. You would think that we would have learned our lesson," her attorney, Gregg L. Zeff, said. He likened the case to claims against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, whom dozens of actresses and other women have accused of sexual harassment.

"Women who don't have power, and bosses and bosses of bosses who do have power, still in 2017 seem to think that they can get away with treating people this way," Zeff said.

In a statement released Monday evening, the office said Williams, 60, "categorically, and in the strongest possible fashion, denies" the allegations outlined in the complaint and has striven to "create a workplace where everyone is respected and treated equitably." The statement did not address specifics of the claims but said "the sheriff looks forward to the day when he and this office are fully and completely vindicated from the allegations, and ask the public to allow the court to do its job before passing judgment."

Bines, 40, who is seeking injunctive relief and damages, declined to be interviewed.

In her complaint, Bines contends the harassment was so intense it affected her health. "From the end of 2016 through January 2017 plaintiff took medical leave so that she could have some time to manage her depression and insomnia," the suit states.

Hired in 2012 as a temporary administrative assistant, Bines became a full-time non-civil service employee in 2013, according to the lawsuit. A single mother, she is dating a deputy sheriff who serves as Williams' driver, Zeff said.

Before Bines began that relationship in April 2015, Williams showed a romantic interest in her, often hanging around her desk and inviting her to expensive dinners after work, the suit said.

"Subsequently, Sheriff Williams gained knowledge of plaintiff being intimate with his driver and immediately shared this information with multiple people within the Sheriff's Department," according to the lawsuit. Eventually, Williams allegedly began referring to her as a "home wrecker" and "whore" to department employees due to her relationship with the married driver.

"It's like All My Children or Peyton Place," Zeff said.

Williams, a former state representative and Temple University police officer, has been sheriff since January 2012, winning reelection in 2015. He oversees a workforce of 372 employees, most of whom are deputy sheriffs who provide security in six city court buildings, transport prisoners to court appearances, serve warrants, and execute foreclosures and tax sales.

The 11-count civil complaint alleges that Williams and Washington violated city, state and federal laws by subjecting Bines to sexual harassment, a sexually hostile work environment, and retaliation for reporting them.

The lawsuit states that Williams made sexually harassing comments, including in the spring of 2014, "while plaintiff was at the water cooler, Sheriff Williams said to plaintiff, 'You know what they say about guys with big feet,' referencing the size of his genitalia,'" the suit said.

Washington, the suit states, also engaged in making sexually harassing comments to Bines, including wondering aloud what she had between her legs, and making an oral-sex joke at her expense to a coworker.

At Williams' urging after Bines began dating his driver, the suit states, Washington began monitoring Bines more closely than other employees. "He would watch her on camera and scrutinize her time sheet," the suit states. In February, the lawsuit states, a Philadelphia Police Department captain who is a friend of Washington's contacted Bines' landlord in an attempt to have her evicted from her home and terminated from the Sheriff's Department.

Bines is also alleging that her application to become a city civil service employee was denied as a result of retaliation for her reports to the equal employment offices and the city's Ethics Department and controller.
New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney hopped on top of a firetruck in a parking lot off Broad Street in Woodbury, grabbed the megaphone, and cut to the chase.

"We're going to send a message that we cannot be bullied, that one group does not control the state of New Jersey," Sweeney told about 250 volunteers gathered Saturday morning, most of them members of building trades unions.

Less than a mile away, on Evergreen Avenue, dozens of members of the state's largest teachers' union cheered as the group's president declared they wouldn't tolerate Sweeney's "bullying, intimidation, and betrayal of public-school employees."

Then volunteers in both camps fanned out across South Jersey's Third District, knocking on doors and urging voters to support their respective candidates in what has improbably become the most expensive legislative race in New Jersey history.

On paper, Sweeney's opponent in Tuesday's election is Republican Fran Grenier, a supervisor at PSEG Nuclear's Salem plant and former Woodstown Borough councilman.

But Sweeney, the state's top-elected Democrat, is also up against the 200,000-member New Jersey Education Association, which vowed in March to defeat the senator and has spent millions on television ads to try to accomplish that goal.

"Our members demanded an aggressive campaign," Marie Blistan, the group's president, said in an interview Saturday at the union's Woodbury office.

Sweeney may represent just one district, but the campaign has statewide implications: The Senate president is among the most powerful positions in Trenton. He can stall or advance the governor's agenda by controlling what legislation or nominations are considered for votes.

Hence the deluge of ads in this rural South Jersey district in a year when all 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature are up for election. The governor's mansion is also in play; Republican Gov. Christie has served the maximum two terms and will leave office in January. Democrat Phil Murphy, a former Wall Street banker and diplomat, is leading in the polls against Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, a former prosecutor and sheriff.

In its latest ad, an NJEA-affiliated political group depicts Sweeney snapping his suspenders and smoking a cigar. "South Jersey is a mess, and it's time to take out the trash," the narrator says, as a truck dumps a heap of garbage at a landfill.

The teachers' union and a Sweeney-aligned super PAC started buying broadcast and cable ad time in midsummer. Those two groups, Sweeney's campaign, and another pro-Sweeney PAC will have spent an estimated $8.7 million on TV ads in the Philadelphia market come Election Day, according to the GOP media-buying firm Jamestown Associates.

Overall, the candidates and independent political groups are projected to spend at least $17 million, according to campaign-finance regulators, more than doubling the record.

Sweeney's sins, according to the teachers' union? He cut deals with Christie, underfunded schools, and broke a promise to hold a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have mandated pension funding for public employees.

"He has not been a friend of education," said Christine Onorato, 52, a teacher at Delsea Regional Middle School and longtime NJEA member.

Onorato, of Mantua, blames Sweeney for championing legislation that required public employees to contribute more money toward their pensions and health care. Now Onorato says she tutors and works weekends to make up the difference.

Sweeney, vice president of an ironworkers union, has represented the Third District  which spans Salem and parts of Gloucester and Cumberland Counties  since 2002. He was elected Senate president by his colleagues in 2009.

He says the NJEA's endorsement of Grenier, a supporter of Christie and President Trump, makes no sense. "He's against everything they stand for," Sweeney said.

Grenier couldn't be reached for comment.

The senator and his supporters argue he has fought for fairer distribution of school aid and worked to shore up the pension system.

Some Senate Democrats have argued that the union's campaign against Sweeney has diverted resources from battleground districts where the party was hoping to win seats, but the union chafes at the suggestion that it's an "arm" of the Democratic Party.

Democrats control the Senate, 24-16, and Assembly, 52-28. While those margins may change, Democrats are expected to retain their majorities.

Some analysts and Sweeney allies believe that if he wins, the union's leadership will face a backlash among rank-and-file teachers wondering why they spent so much money on a losing cause against the state's most powerful elected Democrat.

The election also comes months after the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would consider invalidating a law that requires public employees to pay union fees for collective bargaining.

The high court split 4-4 on a similar case last year. Now that Trump has appointed a conservative, Neil Gorsuch, to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, labor unions in New Jersey and across the country are worried.

That Grenier can even compete is almost remarkable. As of Oct. 24, Sweeney had raised $1.5 million for his individual campaign account  10 times as much as Grenier  and $2 million for his joint account with his Assembly running mates.

Not long ago, it seemed likely that Sweeney would face a multimillion-dollar race this year  for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

But Sweeney decided not to run for governor, and he was expected to cruise to reelection.

Then the NJEA stepped in.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on November 7, 2017. Read more

SEOUL, South Korea  President Donald Trump asserted Tuesday that his administration is making "a lot of progress" on North Korea, and he urged dictator Kim Jong Un to "make a deal" at the negotiating table on the rogue nation's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

"I believe it makes sense for North Korea to do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world," Trump said during a joint news conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in after a bilateral meeting at the Blue House.

"I do see certain movement, yes, but we'll see what happens," he added, without offering any details.

Trump's remarks came as he prepared to deliver an address to the South Korean National Assembly on Wednesday in which advisers said he intends to call on countries to rally against the growing threat from Pyongyang. On Tuesday, he praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he will meet in Beijing for a three-day summit starting Wednesday, for being "very helpful" and added that China is "trying very hard to solve the problem." He offered hope that Russia will "likewise be helpful." Trump has said he expects to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin at a regional summit later in the week in either Vietnam or the Philippines.

"This not the right time to be doing this, but that's what I got," Trump said, complaining that his predecessors at the White House had failed to solve the issue. "This is a problem that should have been taken care of a long time ago."

The president avoided the type of heated rhetoric he has employed in the past while talking about North Korea, but he emphasized that the United States is "showing great strength."

North Korea "knows we have unparalleled strength," Trump said. "There's never been strength like this." He cited the presence of three aircraft carriers and a nuclear submarine in the region.

Trump appeared to touch on the themes of his upcoming speech to the South Korean parliament when he urged "people all across the globe to come together to confront North Korea and to prevent North Korea's dictator from threatening millions of lives. He's threatening millions and millions of lives so needlessly."

Before the news conference, the president toured Camp Humphreys, the third military base he has visited since leaving Washington on a 12-day trip to the Asia Pacific that began last Friday.

The president landed at the $11 billion base, 40 miles south of Seoul, on Marine One and, after saluting several commanding officers on the tarmac, went to the mess hall to have lunch with troops. He sat down on a bench at a long table in between soldiers dressed in green military fatigues. Trump was accompanied by Moon, as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Chief of Staff John Kelly and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Wearing a navy-blue suit and bright solid blue tie, Trump smiled and waved at reporters.

"Ultimately, it will all work out. It always works out. It has to work out," Trump said at the start of a briefing with military commanders at the base.

The tour of Camp Humphreys comes on the heels of Trump's visits to Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

"The United States remains committed to the complete, verifiable, and permanent denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," McMaster said last week. "President Trump will reiterate the plain fact that North Korea threatens not just our allies, South Korea and Japan, and the United States  North Korea is a threat to the entire world. So all nations of the world must do more to counter that threat."

But South Koreans are on edge for Trump's visit, and police have worked to keep protesters at bay. Trump has low public approval numbers here amid concerns that the president's heated rhetoric toward dictator Kim Jong Un's regime could lead to a military confrontation. The president has emphasized that military options remain on the table, though he declined to be specific.

Foreign policy analysts said the stakes are high for Trump to deliver a speech on Wednesday that clearly spells out his administration's North Korea policy. The administration has made progress in ramping up pressure on the North, but analysts said many in Seoul, as well as Tokyo and Beijing, remain confused because Trump and his senior aides have offered mixed messages.

"People want clarification," said a former State Department official who worked on Asian affairs during the Obama administration. He spoke on condition of anonymity because his current job outside government did not allow him to speak on the record. "There's a lot of nervousness in South Korea."

Camp Humphreys is located in Pyeongtaek, a sleepy rural city that was chosen because it is outside the range of much of the North's heavy artillery trained on Seoul, where the previous base was located. Recent U.S. presidents have visited the heavily guarded Korean demilitarized zone, but Trump aides said Moon invited the president to tour Camp Humphreys instead. The move was made in part over concerns that a DMZ visit would ratchet up tensions with the North at a time when the Moon government is preparing to host the Winter Olympics early next year.

A senior administration official said Trump will use his speech to highlight the North Korean regime's long history of human rights abuses  on its own people and abroad. Trump lashed out at Kim after the North released Otto Warmbier, an American college student who had been detained for 17 months, comatose. Warmbier died shortly after arriving home in Ohio.

In the speech, there will be "some focus on the often-overlooked question of the human rights conditions of North Korea," said the administration official, who was not authorized to speak on the record in a briefing for reporters in Tokyo on Sunday. "I heard one journalist recently described it as the most totalitarian state in the history of humankind. I don't think that's an overstatement."

The official added that "whether it's bombing airliners or terrorist attacks abroad, or the hundreds of attacks that have taken place over the decades against U.S. and South Korean personnel, or the abductions of Japanese citizens and, of course, South Koreans who have been abducted over the years as well  it would take a lifetime to be able to meet with all of the people who have been victimized by that regime and are still alive to talk about it."

In Tokyo on Monday, Trump met with the families of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korean agents four decades ago to help the regime learn the Japanese language and culture. Five abductees were released more than a decade ago but at least a dozen remain in the North, according to the Japanese government.

In a news conference Monday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump dismissed suggestions that his rhetoric has created more risk for the United States and its allies. Trump vowed during a United Nations address in September that his administration is prepared to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary, and he has dubbed Kim the "Little Rocket Man" in a series of tweets.

"Some people said that my rhetoric is very strong, but look what's happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years," Trump said. "Look where we are right now."

Yet as he has traveled to the region, Trump also has offered notes of encouragement for North Korea citizens, calling them "great people."

"They're under a very repressive regime, and I really think that, ultimately, I hope it all works out," he said.
Good morning, Philly. Newsletter Editor Aubrey Nagle here, happy to join your morning routine with all your need-to-know news. My first order of business: remind you that it's Election Day! We've done all the prep work for you, so don't say you didn't have enough info to cast a ballot. But bring an umbrella, it's going to be a rainy day.

If you like what you're reading, it's free to sign up to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and feedback, so please email me, tweet me @aubsn, or reach our social team on Facebook.

 Aubrey Nagle

 READ MORE: Its Election Day and the polls are opening

We've barely stopped talking about last year's election, but once again it's time to vote. Before you head to the polls, don't miss our comprehensive Voters Guide. It has everything you need to know about the Pennsylvania and New Jersey general election races, from candidate profiles to ballot questions.

The Inquirer Editorial Board has put together its own Endorsement Guide, too. They've thrown their support behind Beth Grossman for Philadelphia district attorney and Rebecca Rhynhart as the city's first female controller. In New Jersey, they've endorsed Phil Murphy for governor and Steve Sweeney for state senator.

Keep an eye on our results coverage as polls close tonight. Or, get some shut-eye and I'll let you know what happened in the morning.

 READ MORE: Philly police officer takes to Facebook to attack Rizzo critics

"Play with me with my job and see what happens." Kristine Gillespie-Amato, an officer in the 9th District, wrote this and a few more foul-mouthed Facebook comments Friday to supporters of the Frank Rizzo statue's removal from Thomas Paine Plaza. She made over 40 comments on the "Vintage Philadelphia" page, appearing to call Mayor Kenney an "ugly miser looking pu mayor." Yikes. The Police Department is looking into it.

Gillespie-Amato is far from the only one resisting the statue's removal; the decision has stirred an intense debate. The statue's sculptor is disappointed. Columnist Ronnie Polaneczky thinks it's time to switch it up. And our readers' reactions run the gamut, naturally.

 READ MORE: The latest on the Texas church massacre

Authorities now believe Sunday's shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, stemmed from a "domestic situation." Suspected gunman Devin Patrick Kelley, a former U.S. Air Force airman, was also previously sentenced to a year in military prison for assaulting his wife and child.

But the Air Force failed to submit record of his domestic violence conviction to the FBI as required by Pentagon rules. If the records had been shared, they should have prevented him from purchasing the weapon he used to kill 26 members of the small town community  including eight members of one family.

You'd be wrong to think the people of Sutherland Springs are embracing gun control after the attack. They're looking to "the good guys with guns," like Texan Stephen Willeford. He exchanged gunfire with Kelley and gave chase with a stranger who happened to be driving past First Baptist Church as the gunman exited.

What you need to know today

 READ MORE: #OurPhilly

We want to see what our community looks like through your eyes. Show us the park that your family walks through every weekend with the dog, the block party in your neighborhood or the historic stretch you see every morning on your commute to work.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out to build those followers!

Thats Interesting

Opinions

"Enough with the thoughts and prayers. Those thoughts and prayers seem never to include thoughts about how to prevent the next shooting, how to make sure the next person intent on doing harm doesn't get that gun or those bullets."  Shira Goodman, executive director of gun violence prevention organization CeaseFirePA,  Shira Goodman, executive director of gun violence prevention organization CeaseFirePA, responds to Sunday's mass shooting in Texas

What were reading

A Daily Dose of | Good Dogs
Peter Binzen often told the story of how one of Frank Rizzo's "tough guys" came up to his desk in the busy newsroom of the Bulletin in 1977 and said, "Mr. Rizzo hasn't read your book, but he wants you to know that if you got anything wrong, he'll have your ass."

The book in question was a biography of Rizzo, The Cop Who Would Be King: The Honorable Frank Rizzo (Little, Brown), written in 1977 by our fathers, Peter Binzen and Joseph R. Daughen. It was a clear-eyed look at one of the most polarizing figures in 20th century American politics.

In the current debate about statues and Rizzo's legacy, we are all viewing a complex figure from the past through the lens of today's political climate. We have no easy answer to this debate, but we can offer a bit of history on the subject. Rereading the book now, with Donald Trump in the White House, we find Rizzo's controversial behavior full of foreshadowings.

As noted in the New York Times' 1977 review of the Rizzo book:

"What [Daughen and Binzen] say in this blowbyblow account of Mayor Rizzo's life and rise to power makes us understand that if Mr. Rizzo hadn't come along, Philadelphia probably would have found someone else just like him. He was of course the ideal cop in a year, 1971, which came to be known as 'the year of the cop.' He was of course the answer to the prayers of the white ethnics who, by the beginning of the 1970s, had grown tired and frightened of the civil rights movement and all the money and attention that had been spent  uselessly, they believed  to balance America's accounts with black people. That Mr. Rizzo understood instinctively how to exploit these circumstances  that he quickly mastered the crude art of blaming 'rapists' and 'hoodlums' (i.e. blacks) and wishy-washy judges for all of Philadelphia's troubles  was so much icing on the cake."

As Daughen said of Rizzo recently, "He gave people an outlet for their prejudices." But the Rizzo our dads profiled was not one-dimensional. At the same time that he appealed to blue-collar whites, Rizzo had some supporters in the African American community. Among them was John Saunders, then managing editor of the black-owned Philadelphia Tribune and a member of YIPAC, a group of young African American professionals living in the West Philadelphia neighborhood Rizzo once worked as a police captain. YIPAC was an organization that had filed many grievances against Rizzo before ultimately finding that he was more ally than enemy.

In the book, Saunders recalls, "Complaints seemed to follow Rizzo . . .but not many of them could be substantiated. He always treated us graciously. . . ,I can tell you, if I needed a policeman, he'd be the one I'd want coming to save me." Daughen and Binzen reported that by the time Rizzo left West Philadelphia in early May 1952, most of YIPAC's members had come to view him favorably.

Much of Rizzo's controversial behavior may seem familiar in today's landscape. Rizzo's relations with the press might also have a familiar ring. At one point, at Rizzo's behest, his supporters in the trade unions picketed the headquarters of the Inquirer and Daily News, forcing a temporary shutdown of the papers and compelling their attorneys to file a restraining order. One picket's sign read: "When is the Inquirer going to start telling the truth?" Not long afterward, Rizzo boasted during a potential recall election that he was more popular than he'd ever been with the voters.

Daughen and Binzen note that "in the past, whenever he found himself in a tight spot, Rizzo invariably had tried to wriggle out of it by playing the tough cop. He would denounce rapists and murderers, soft judges and bleeding-heart liberals. He would be telling the rowhouse Philadelphians that if it wasn't for Mayor Frank Rizzo, the thugs would own the streets. It had always worked, even though crime and violence steadily marched forward, oblivious to Rizzo's bluster."

Shortly before the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, Rizzo requested that the federal government send in 15,000 troops to protect the city from the "leftists and radicals" he claimed were headed to Philadelphia to disrupt the event. On June 21, 1976, the Justice Department rejected Rizzo's request. Rizzo said the day before the actual Bicentennial: "I hope and pray that nothing occurs, but I know this  a lot of people are coming to this town who are bent on violence." There were no "radicals" or "leftists" arrested on July 4 and there were no disturbances in the city. The then-executive director of the ACLU's Philadelphia chapter said Rizzo "just hates these radical groups. . . .The surest way to have a violent confrontation is to deny people the right to assemble and then call out the troops when they do. I can't imagine a better recipe for trouble."

The cover of The Cop Who Would Be King notes, "Once in a generation, a unique character comes on the political scene. And all hell breaks loose." In the 1970s, Frank Rizzo was that character. The fact that 40 years later Rizzo still sparks controversy speaks to his polarizing power. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Rizzo is in the news again today in the age of Trump.
Former Pa. Treasurer Barbara Hafer (right) and her attorney, John Knorr, walk out of the federal courthouse in Harrisburg. Read more

Former Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer got off with a wrist slap  three years' probation and a $50,000 fine  after lying to federal agents about the nearly $700,000 she pocketed from a middle man who made millions off the state.

The case illustrates how the rules often differ for public officials. It also underscores the need for stricter campaign finance measures in Harrisburg, where pay-to-play often drives public policy.

Hafer, 74, was charged with two counts of making false statements after she misled FBI and IRS agents about $675,000 in payments her consulting firm received from Chester County businessman Richard Ireland after she left office. He made more than $10 million in fees from the state while Hafer ran the Treasury Department between 1997 and 2005.

Investigators caught Ireland boasting on tape that he had taken care of Hafer. The tape was secretly recorded by another former treasurer, Rob McCord, who was cooperating with federal authorities. McCord pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2015.

In 2005, Ireland paid Hafer's firm $500,000  two-thirds of the firm's business that year. Yet, Hafer told agents in 2016 that she had not received any money from Ireland or any of his businesses.

Hafer pleaded guilty in June to one count of lying to the FBI. At her sentencing last week, Hafer apologized and told U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III, "I did it. It was wrong."

Hafer's attorney offered a comical defense, arguing her false statements to federal authorities were the "result of a poor decision made in response to a high-stress situation." Hafer's daughter provided character testimony, claiming her mother is "by far the best person I know and love."

Few admitted felons who lie to the FBI, and then claim poor decision-making, are lucky enough to just get probation. Hafer's kid-gloves treatment sends a message that public officials are above the law and undermines public trust in government.

No wonder. Too often, public service turns into elected officials serving themselves and their deep-pocketed campaign donors. Typical taxpayers are an afterthought, if that.

Pay-to-play, greed, and cronyism also undermine the work of those elected officials who are truly dedicated to public service. Harrisburg particularly is largely run by insiders for insiders.

One way to limit the influence-peddling that ensnared Hafer is through stricter campaign finance laws. Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states with no limits on campaign contributions. Gerrymandered districts also help keep elected officials in power and beholden to major donors.

To his credit, current state Treasurer Joe Torsella made good on a campaign pledge to prohibit the use of placement agents, such as Ireland, who helped private firms land lucrative contracts to manage a portion of the state office's up to $16 billion in investments.

But that pledge is only as good as Torsella's word. Who knows what will happen when he is no longer treasurer? His policy should be codified by state lawmakers to prevent future treasurers from backsliding to the pay-to-play culture.

The same policy should be instituted for the state's pension funds, which manage tens of billions of dollars more than the treasurer, yet continue to use placement agents.

Meanwhile, stricter campaign limits for all elected officials would help reduce the influence of money in Harrisburg. So too would tougher sentences for corrupt public officials.
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A Pennsylvania state police corporal was shot during a traffic stop Tuesday morning in Northampton County after a "knock-down drag-out" fight and is in "extremely critical but stable" condition after surgery, state police said. Photo: Pennsylvania State Police/Facebook

Police said the corporal was shot about 10:40 a.m. and taken by medical helicopter to the hospital, reports the Morning Call.

"He has a will to live; God willing he will pull through this," Capt. Richard D'Ambrosio, commander of Troop M barracks in Bethlehem, said outside the hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Police said the corporal had surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.

The suspect drove himself to Easton Hospital in Wilson where he was taken into custody and also underwent surgery, police said.

D'Ambrosio said two troopers stopped a vehicle for speeding and the corporal gave the driver a citation and said he was free to go. But the troopers then suspected the driver was under the influence, D'Ambrosio said, and the troopers did a field sobriety test and went to arrest the driver when a "knock-down drag-out" fight on the side of the road erupted.

The driver then got away and got a gun from his car and opened fire on the troopers, hitting the corporal three times, he said.
In 1986, over three decades ago now, SureFire introduced the 6P Original. This revolutionary light was a fraction of the size of a traditional flashlight, yet its high-performance incandescent lamp cranked out an amazing (at the time) 60 lumens of light, enough to overwhelm the dark-adapted vision of an aggressor and cut through the darkness. It also featured a thumb-activated switch on its tailcap, which made activating the light simply a matter of covering the switch with your thumb and pressingno more fumbling around on the lights body to find and activate the switch like with a conventional flashlight. This little light was a hit with law enforcement and the military professionals, and soon thereafter, with civilians who wanted the same flashlight the pros carried. With the 6P, a whole new genre of illumination tool was born: the tactical flashlight. And this was several years after SureFire had already invented weapon-mounted lights and established the whole new genre of WeaponLights.

Chosen by elite tactical professionals on the battlefield and trusted by hardcore outdoorsmen voyaging into the Great Outdoors, SureFire lights are a proven performer. Tools you can trust to get the job done and help you get home safely. Tools durable and reliable enough to handle anything thrown your way. Tools that live up to the SureFire name, a name synonymous with quality in the industry we helped create.

We set the bar, and now were raising it. Experience the new gold-standard in illumination with SureFire. Each Monday we will be releasing a new product that sets the standard in the illumination industry.Checkin Mondays to see whats new  because the best is yet to come.
The F-511 truck at the Volant Performance booth at the SEMA Show. (Photo: 5.11 Tactical)

5.11 has partnered with Ernie Manansala, Doug Nagy, and the Kolab Agency team to complete a custom build-out of a Ford F-150 Raptor truck. The world's first 2017 Ford Raptor complete with a custom one-off design is being built in partnership with Doug Nagy of Streetwise Motorsports, Alec Ossenmacher in the new e-commerce venture overland911.com and rendered by Chong, Paolo, and Ernie's new design firm, Phrenetic, says 5.11 Tactical. The build of the, appropriately named, F-511 is an extension of the 5.11 Always Be Ready brand campaign. The vehicle debuted at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV last week.

5.11 makes purpose-built gear for tactical professionals and outdoor enthusiasts to help them prepare for any mission. The 5.11 and Kolab agency teams worked together to create the ultimate cobranded display of readiness in one of the fastest and strongest 4x4 trucks on the planet in the Ford F-511, according to the company.

Integrating this readiness mentality into the build of the F-511 truck was a major priority for the 5.11 and Kolab teams. By including numerous interior modifications to the F-511 including MOLLE on the seatbacks holding various 5.11 pouches and attachments, 5.11 packs, bags, hardcases, and 5.11 breaching tools on the exterior racks, 5.11 and Kolab built a truck to prepare a driver for any mission.

"We wanted to create a vehicle that embodies the same level of readiness that our product does, and Ernie and his team nailed it," said Willem Driessen, Vice President of Global Marketing for 5.11. "Readiness, foremost, is a mentality. You work toward it with your training, then it expands to your gear, and can certainly be extended to your vehicle  be it in the Ready Bag behind your back seat, or the seat fabric itself." Driessen continued, "It took some serious teamwork to complete this truck, and it has really been an honor working on the F-511 with Ernie, Doug and the entire Kolab Agency crew."

"This year, we wanted to devote a build for SEMA to the servicemen and women of America," said Kolab Agency owner, Ernie Manansala. "I grew up in a town where I grew up knowing all the firemen, police officers, and armed service members." Manansala continued, "To provide them with the most authentic vehicle possible, and one that could meet the demanding needs of those in public service, I knew early on that 5.11 was our ideal partner. With their heritage rooted in producing gear for servicemen and women, they understand the importance of innovation and preparedness  two of the aspects that really drove the design of the F-511." Manansala concludes, "It has been an amazing experience working alongside the 5.11 team on this project."

For more information on the Ford F-511, visit the Tactical360 Blog. To learn more about 5.11's Always Be Ready campaign, visit http://www.511tactical.com/AlwaysBeReady.
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Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, put another nail in Trumps coffin after Carter Page admitted that he not only met with high-level officials in Russia but that he also notified his supervisors on the Trump campaign about the meeting.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA. Rep. Schiff said:

During many public appearances prior to his November 2, 2017 testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in open session, Carter Page characterized his July 2016 trip to Russia as a private one in which his interactions with Russian individuals were largely confined to the man on the street. In his testimony, however, he was forced to acknowledge that he communicated with high level Russian officials while in Moscow, including one of Russias Deputy Prime Ministers. He also admitted notifying the fact of his meetings to his campaign supervisors.

Perhaps most important, Page  after being presented with an email he sent to his campaign supervisors, and which he did not disclose to the Committee prior to the interview and despite a subpoena from the Committee  detailed his meetings with Russian government officials and others, and said that they provided him with insights and outreach that he was interested in sharing with the campaign. Pages invitation to Moscow and his July 2016 trip was paid for by Russian sponsors and followed his appointment as a Trump campaign foreign policy advisor. Page also testified that he was aware of Papadopoulos meeting with a professor with links to the Kremlin, even as he had been invited to Moscow by another professor with connections to the Russian government.

He also acknowledged a separate trip to Moscow in December 2016 and an early September 2016 trip to Budapest for meetings with Hungarian government officials, the details of which he would not elaborate. Additionally, Page detailed other conversations he had with senior Trump campaign officials, including now-Attorney General Sessions, making clear that senior campaign officials were informed of his Moscow trip.

We look forward to the continued cooperation of Mr. Page with our investigation, and his production of documents to the Committee in a timely manner, consistent with the revised production date of November 16, 2017 relayed to him during the interview.



There are two important takeaways from Pages testimony. The Trump campaign knew about and had blessed Pages trip to meet with Russian officials, which means that the plausible deniability of blaming a few rogue actors inside the campaign has gone up in smoke, and if Jeff Sessions knew about the meetings, the revelation means a whole new world of trouble for the Attorney General. The knowledge of the meetings will add another layer to the lies that Sessions has told Congress.

The Trump campaign was reaching out to Russia and trying to collude. The Russia collusion reached the highest levels of the campaign, and the White House is trying to cover-up the facts.

The Russia scandal is growing fast, and there is nothing that Trump can do to prevent it from catching him.
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Rachel Maddow dismantled Donald Trumps response to the Texas mass shooting on Monday night, specifically targeting the presidents comments that it was mental health, not guns, that led to the massacre in a Sutherland Springs church.

Maddow outlined the vast disconnected between Trumps post-shooting rhetoric and the actions hes taken so far during his presidency.

Video:

Rachel #Maddow Takes A Sledge Hammer To Trumps Hypocrisy On Mental Health Issues pic.twitter.com/tXDwo8zdD9  Sean Colarossi (@SeanColarossi) November 7, 2017

Maddow dismantled Trump:

If the president did believe that the mental health of the killer was the issue here, then somebody should probably ask the president why one of the very first things he signed as president  the first meaningful thing he signed as president  was a change in regulation specifically and only to make it easier for people whove been adjudicated mentally ill to obtain firearms. If the president believes that theres no gun problem here  the only issue here is a mentally ill person obtaining and then misusing a gun  well, this president took overt action as soon as he became president to make it easier for mentally ill people to get guns.

As Maddow noted, a quick examination of Trumps actual record as president shows that his response to the shooting was a complete and total scam meant to distract Americans from the real issue of gun violence.

His post-inauguration move to relax gun laws for mentally unstable individuals is proof of that, yes, but so too is his ongoing effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act  a law that has expanded access to affordable mental health treatment.

So, no, Trump doesnt care about addressing mental health issues any more than he does about curbing gun violence or learning how many countries are in the world. What he is passionate about  and actually good at  is changing the subject.

Trumps newfound, phony interest in mental health issues quickly disintegrates after two minutes of scrutiny. Its just another distraction the American people shouldnt fall for.
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By Jon Herskovitz and Lisa Maria Garcia

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (Reuters)  A man thrown out of the U.S. Air Force for beating his wife and child shot and killed 26 people in a Texas church where his in-laws had sometimes worshipped before shooting himself, officials said on Monday, in the latest in a string of U.S. mass shootings.

The gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, walked into the white-steepled First Baptist Church in rural Sutherland Springs carrying an assault rifle and wearing black tactical gear, then opened fire during a Sunday prayer service. He wounded at least 20 others, officials said.

After he left the church, two local residents, one of whom was armed, chased him in their vehicles and exchanged gunfire, and Kelley crashed his car and shot himself, dying of his wounds, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CBS News in an interview on Monday morning.

At this time we believe that he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Tackitt said.

Tackitt said Kelleys in-laws sometimes attended services at First Baptist, which was cordoned off by yellow crime-scene tape on Monday morning.

I heard that they attended church from time to time, Tackitt told Reuters. Not on a regular basis.

The attack came a little more than a month after a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting by a sole gunman in U.S. history.

The initial death toll matched the fatalities at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where a man shot and killed 26 children and educators and his mother before taking his own life in December 2012. Those attacks now stand as the fourth deadliest by a single gunman in the United States.

POWDER KEG

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS there was evidence that Kelley had mental health problems and that he had been denied a Texas gun permit.

Its clear this is a person who had violent tendencies, who had some challenges, and someone who was a powder keg, seeming waiting to go off, Abbott said.

Abbott and other Republican leaders were quick to say that the attack did not influence their support of gun ownership by U.S. citizens  the right to bear arms protected under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

This isnt a guns situation. I mean we could go into it but its a little bit soon to go into it, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters while on trip to Asia. But fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise  it would have been much worse. But this is a mental health problem at the highest level.

Democrats renewed their call to restrict gun ownership following the attack.

How many more people must die at churches or concerts or schools before we stop letting the @NRA control this countrys gun policies, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter.

The victims in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 people, located about 40 miles (65 km) east of San Antonio, included the 14-year-old daughter of church pastor Frank Pomeroy, the family told several television stations.

One couple, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, told the Washington Post they lost eight extended family members, including a pregnant granddaughter-in-law and three of her children.

In rural areas like Sutherland Springs, gun ownership is a part of life and the states Republican leaders for years have balked at gun control, arguing that more firearms among responsible owners make the state safer.

John Stiles, a 76-year-old retired U.S. Navy veteran, said he heard the shots from his home about 150 yards (137 m) from the church.

The wind was blowing and there was a bang, bang, bang. It was the gunshots, Stiles said. My wife and I were looking for a peaceful and quiet place when we moved here but now that hasnt worked out.

Kelley served in its Logistics Readiness unit at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child, and given a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 12 months and a reduction in rank, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Kelleys Facebook page has been deleted, but cached photos show a profile picture where he appeared with two small children. He also posted a photo of what appeared to be an assault rifle, writing a post that read: Shes a bad bitch.

(Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas, Phil Stewart in Washington, and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Jeffrey Benkoe)
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Trump could barely hide his jealousy over the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, rounding up and arresting his political opposition.

Trump tweeted:

I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

.Some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017

What Mohammed bin Salman is doing is rounding up his political opposition that may challenge him for the throne. Under the guise of anti-corruption sweep, the crown prince is consolidating his power and removing political opponents. Donald Trump had crowds chanting lock her up at his rallies in 2016, but bin Salman really is locking them up. This is not the kind of behavior that the United States of America should be endorsing, but it is what Trump wishes he could do his opponents in the United States.

The leaders that Trump idolizes on the world stage are all authoritarians. Trump has praised Putin, the Chinese leadership, and now the Saudi crown prince.

Trump is an enemy of democracy, and his jealous admiration toward events in Saudi Arabia should worry every American.
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Donald Trump may be trying to convince the country that he wasnt in the loop regarding his campaigns many secret contacts with Russia, but nearly 60 percent of the country thinks he was well aware of what was going on.

In a new poll released by CNN on Monday, 59 percent of Americans say Trump himself knew that his associates were communicating with Kremlin-connected operatives during the presidential campaign.

More from CNN:

Almost six in 10, 59%, say they think Trump himself knew last year that anyone associated with his campaign had contact with suspected Russian operatives, while only 35% think the then-GOP nominee did not know about those contacts. Fewer (39%) see last weeks legal actions as signs of a widespread effort within the campaign to coordinate with Russia; 44% say they represent an effort to coordinate that was limited to just a few people.

To make matters worse for Trump, an even larger number of Americans  nearly two thirds  believe that the ongoing investigation into the presidents ties to Russia is a serious matter that needs to be thoroughly investigated.

More from the report:

About two-thirds (64%) now say the investigation into Russian efforts to influence the US presidential election in 2016 is a serious matter that should be fully investigated, while just 32% see it as an effort to discredit Trumps presidency. That figure is down from 38% saying so in August. Just 34% approve of the way Trump is handling that investigation, 54% disapprove, though that represents an improvement since August, when 59% disapproved.

The poll numbers reflect a massive disconnect between Trumps own rhetoric and the way the vast majority of the American people view this still-developing scandal.

Trump repeatedly calls the Russia story fake news or a hoax, and right-wing media outlets help him perpetuate this lie, but Robert Muellers special counsel investigation into the matter continues to ramp up with some of the presidents close associates facing charges, with more likely to come.

The president can and will likely continue to shield himself from reality and speak only to the 36 percent of Americans who believe his dumpster fire presidency has been a success, but the vast majority of the country is rightly concerned that his campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the election.

As the special counsel investigation continues to pull in more of Trumps inner circle, these numbers will only get worse for the sinking president.
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Instead of doing his job and passing legislation, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan told people to pray away mass shootings and gun violence.

Video:

Ryan was asked about his calls for prayer instead of legislative action during an interview on Fox News, and he said, You know, its disappointing. Its sad, and this is what youll get from the far secular left. People who dont have faith, dont understand faith. I guess Id have to say. The right thing to do is pray in moments like this because you know what? Prayer works! And I know you believe that, and I believe that and I know when you hear the secular left doing this thing, no wonder youve got so much polarization and disunity in this country.

Prayer and faith have immense spiritual value if a person chooses to believe. What prayer cant do is stop a bullet, or make it more difficult for a violent or mentally ill person to easily acquire a high power weapon and go on a killing spree. Prayer cant stop a bullet, and it is certain that Speaker Ryan wouldnt want to test the power of prayer to stop someone with a gun on himself or others.

What was especially insulting about Ryans answer is that he sold the myth that there are no people of faith on the left. The Democratic Party is made up of white Christians, non-white Christians, and people who dont identify with any religious faith.

Paul Ryan wants the 20-30 million Americans who will lose their healthcare if Obamacare is repealed to pray. People should also pray after Ryan cuts their Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Prayer will be needed after Paul Ryan and the Republican Party increase taxes on the middle-class and poor so that they can give the rich a big tax cut.

Remember this moment, but it describes Paul Ryans philosophy of non-governing perfectly.

Prayer can stop mass shootings. It cant, but it is much easier for Speaker to tell people to pray and accept mass killings as a normal part of American life than it would be for him to defy his NRA masters by doing his job.
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A House Republican who was going to be a top target of Democrats in 2018, Rep. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey will retire.

Jonathan Martin tweeted:

 A New Jersey Republican conforms: LOBIONDO, Class of 94, is retiring. S Jersey seat was +8 Obama in 12, but +4 Trump in 16  Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) November 7, 2017

Retirements from long-term swing state Republican incumbents like LoBiondo send a clear message about the climate that they expect to be facing in 2018. There has been a wave of Republican retirements in the House and Senate, and they all share some common themes. Right-wing extremists who represent deep red states or districts arent the people who are heading for the exits. Moderate Republicans and those who represent swing districts see the writing on the wall.

The odds are growing by the day that voters are going to take out their discontent over Trump on the Republican congressional majority. The now open seat in South New Jersey is a pick up waiting to happen for Democrats. Trump may have carried the district in 2016, but in 2018, Democrats will be ready to swing the district blue.
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THE LUX AND THE LANGUID: FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF PORTOFINO

Portofino "crumbly European chic meets New Traditional" ie. genteel decreptitude and faded grandeur brought into the 21st century with a few new glossy accents. I felt right at home in: a neat, petite, and ready-to-eat village with my kind of flavour combination - shiny and luxurious in some parts, yet rustic and rural in others. I've always been drawn to an aesthetic best described asie. genteel decreptitude and faded grandeur brought into the 21st century with a few new glossy accents. Portofino captures that contradiction beautifully; with upscale fashion houses and yachts making up a playground for the international jet-set in this tiny coastal village on the Italian Riviera. Off the bat, it's obvious that Portofino was destined for a reputation of exclusivity based on its geography alone - the crescent-shaped village sits on its own peninsula, bound by the Natural Regional Park and Marine Reserve.

Portofino has two faces. The iconic delfini (dolphins). The two sides of the coin form a Piazzetta, the meeting-up point for the international jet-set, is the symbol of the village's glamorous side; while the port with its famous pastel-coloured houses is the icon of Portofino 's maritime heritage - whose inhabitants were so skilled at sea navigation that the ancient Greeks and Romans called them(dolphins). The two sides of the coin form a sea resort with encapsulate both the distinctive 'Mediterranean luxury' and 'Riviera romance' personalities that have inspired so many artists, writers, and composers.




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Duke Energy's Oconee Nuclear Power Station is on the shoreline of Lake Keowee in the South Carolina Upstate. Provided/Duke Energy
Kalyn Oyer is a Charleston native who covers arts & entertainment and food & bev for The Post and Courier. She's a music festival & concert photographer and used to write about music for the Charleston City Paper, among other publications.
Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for The Post and Courier. She previously covered the same beat for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com in Michigan. When shes not reporting, Angie enjoys teaching yoga and exploring the outdoors.
The proposed project employing 1,800 workers in the Columbia-area would nearly double the record for an economic investment in Richland County, a plant that makes White Claw beverages. Read moreRichland County courting record $970M manufacturing deal: 'Its going to be awesome'
A North Charleston police officer and a State Law Enforcement Division agent stand outside the scene where an officer shot and wounded a suspect who had taken a hostage in 2014. A prosecution group is pushing for a new unit in charge of investigating officer-involved shootings. File/Staff
Workers with Robert Collins Company in September took beach sand from the edge of Breach Inlet on the Isle of Palms to build dunes next to beach front homes. The dunes were washed away by recent storms. Brad Nettles/Staff
President Trump has begun a 13-day trip through Asia, beginning in Japan. His meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seems to have gone very well. Abe presented Trump with hats saying, Donald and ShinzoMake Alliance Even Greater.

But of course, in the eyes of the liberal media, the president must never be allowed a success of any kind. So the press invented a gaffe for Trump. At one point during his visit, Trump and Abe both fed koi, i.e., Japanese carp. Big deal. But reporters ridiculed the president for ultimately dumping the remainder of his box of food into a pond. CNN, in particular, went nuts on this theme. It is hard to imagine anything more trivial, but for the press, no opportunity to smear President Trump can be foregone. This is via Twitchy.

Trump spoon feeds koi fish at Akasaka Palace. He ended up just dumping the whole box of fish food into the pond, per @justinsink at scene. pic.twitter.com/ICAxXMlMsA  Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) November 6, 2017

Per pool, Trump & Abe were each feeding koi in a pond spoonfuls of fish food. Then this happened: https://t.co/1eI8IbA8hc  Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) November 6, 2017

Trump scooped out some feed for the coy in the pond below before opting to just dump the whole box. Rex Tillerson, standing nearby, laughed.  Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) November 6, 2017

President Trump feeds fish with PM Shinzo Abe in Japan, then pours the entire box of food into the koi pond. pic.twitter.com/CQjGGf5k0J  Veronica Rocha (@VeronicaRochaLA) November 6, 2017

CNN went so far as to publish a misleading video. It failed to show, and the derisive tweets failed to acknowledge, that Prime Minister Abe first dumped his box of fish food into the pond, and Trump followed suit.

MSM getting upset over how Trump feeds fish is bad enough. But refusing to report that Abe dumped his food first takes it to next level. pic.twitter.com/9heAA7BDGN  Andy Grewal (@AndyGrewal) November 6, 2017

As noted above, it would be hard to find a more trivial basis on which to misleadingly smear our president. But that is the point: pretty much everyone understands that reporters and editors are constantly on the prowl, looking for stories (real or imagined) that will advance their agenda by making President Trump look bad. If they cant report honestly on how he feeds carp, what reason is there to think they play it straight when the stakes are higher? None. Which is why no one trusts the press.
The New Yorker is running a piece by Jeffrey Toobin called Is Tom Cotton the Future of Trumpism? Toobin is a left-wing hatchet man. Ed Whelan has called foul on him several times, including here (for his treatment of Justice Scalia) and here (for his treatment of then-Judge Gorsuch). Adam White did so here.

Toobins treatment of Cotton is far from fair and balanced. Consider this ludicrous passage:

In describing his preferred approach to negotiations with Iran, Cotton said, One thing I learned in the Army is that when your opponent is on his knees you drive him to the ground and choke him out. In response, a questioner pointed out that killing a prisoner of war is not American practice. (It is, in fact, a war crime.)

Tom certainly wasnt calling for the literal choking out of Ayatollah Khamenei and Im quite sure he wasnt talking about inflicting such treatment on prisoners of war in Iraq, either.

In his article Toobin compares Tom to the unemotional, analytical, literal-minded Mr. Spock of Star Trek. Yet, when it serves his purpose of making the Senator look bad, Toobin is the absurdly literal one.

During the time Tom was stationed near Washington, D.C., we got together once every month or two for drinks. The personality Toobin ascribes to Cotton isnt the one I observed.

Toobin also blasts Cotton for the nature of his opposition to the lenient criminal sentencing reform legislation that made its way out the Senate Judiciary Committee in late 2015. Toobin writes:

Cotton took the public lead in making statements about the proposal which, as with his comments on Guantanamo, skirted the edge of demagoguery. I dont think any Republicans want legislation that is going to let out violent felons, which this bill would do, Cotton said.

Toobin fails to show, or even make an argument, that this was close to demagoguery. Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project, conceded that yes, [the legislation] would release some violent offenders.

Readers of Toobins piece will spot other instances of unfairness, but lets focus now on the question the author raises. Is Tom Cotton the future of Trumpism?

Its clear from Toobins discussion of Cottons foreign policy views that, although Toobin may missed the fact, Cotton is not a down-the-line Trumpist. Ive long thought, and probably written somewhere on Power Line, that Tom might well be the one to synthesize Trumpism and traditional conservatism.

This view may be outdated, though, because Trump himself seems to be working on that synthesis  with Toms help on certain issues.

So yes, Tom Cotton may be the future of Trumpism, but not in the sense Toobin has in mind. Toobin has in mind the shallow notion that to make that next leap [to the presidency], Cotton expresses the militarism, bellicosity, intolerance, and xenophobia of Donald Trump, but without the childish tweets.

I have in mind that Cotton may help Trump shape Trumpism into a functional, more traditionally conservative but still nationalistic approach to governing, and then, after Trump exits, continue that process.
President Andrzej Duda

Poland's President Andrzej Duda sent a letter of condolence to US President Donald Trump in relation to Sunday's massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

"Shaken by the dramatic events in Texas, where tens of people were killed, including women and children, I offer you, Mr President, my deepest sympathy", the Polish head of state stated.

President Andrzej Duda emphasised that the deaths of so many people "fill one with enormous regret and provoke fierce opposition".

"I can assure you that in these painful moments, the Polish Nation unites in grief, mourning and prayer with the American Nation", he wrote to his American counterpart.

"In the face of this barbaric act - the president continued - we share in solidarity the pain of the victims' close ones, wishing all the people who have been injured a prompt recovery", the Polish head of state concluded. (PAP)
China and Finland on Monday agreed to further lift bilateral ties through pragmatic cooperation and enhancing exchanges between legislative bodies.

China and Finland on Monday agreed to further lift bilateral ties through pragmatic cooperation and enhancing exchanges between legislative bodies.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The pledge came as Finnish Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and held talks with Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang in Beijing.

Li told Lohela China had always adhered to a policy of mutual respect and equality, which was an important principle in safeguarding world peace and multiculturalism.

He said China was willing to enhance cooperation in the areas that Finland had advantages, such as innovation, clean energy, environmental protection and vocational education.

Lohela said Finland was ready to work with China to take a long-term perspective to develop bilateral ties.

During her talks with Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), later on Monday, Lohela was briefed by Zhang on the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Calling Finland a major Nordic country and EU member, Zhang said he hoped Finland could exert a positive influence on the development of China-EU relations.

He suggested the NPC and the Finnish Parliament intensify exchanges at various levels to enhance mutual understanding and political trust.

"The two legislatures need to create a better policy and legal environment for the economic cooperation on key areas of innovation, green development and coordinated development," Zhang said.

He also called for closer cultural exchanges and local cooperation.

Lohela said Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Finland last April consolidated and lifted bilateral ties.

"The Finnish Parliament is willing to work with the NPC to create a sound environment for bilateral cooperation in areas of economy and trade, culture, tourism, small and medium enterprises investment from a new starting point," she said.

Lohela is in Beijing for a six-day visit, which started Sunday, at the invitation of Zhang.
Over 100 Dutch small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) attended "China Business Week", an annual event organized by a network of Dutch economic government institutions on Monday.

Over 100 Dutch small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) attended "China Business Week," an annual event organized by a network of Dutch economic government institutions on Monday.

Jaap Smit, governor of the Province of Zuid-Holland, said opening the event that his province is planning a new economic and trade mission to China in May next year. Since taking the post in 2014, the governor has visited China three times.

"The cooperation between the Netherlands and China is mutual-benefiting. It enables us to better address the challenges facing the humanity, climate change, global food supply, and urban sustainable development in particular. Work together to innovate, we can play an important role in these fields," said Jaap Smit.

The openness and the inclusiveness advocated last month at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will inject new opportunity for business cooperation, said Smit.

Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken said the Dutch business world faces a historical opportunity as China develops and transforms, opens up and works together with the world via the Belt and Road Initiative.

"In 2017, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries, the Dutch exports to China are expected to exceed 10 billion U.S. dollars for the first time; and Dutch companies invested in more than 3,200 projects in China," Wu told the entrepreneurs looking to expand their international business and build overseas relations.

"China Business Week" is organized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and supported by the Dutch economic government network in China.

Apart from the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates-Generals in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Chongqing, there are 6 NBSOs (or Netherlands Business Support Offices) in Dalian, Jinan, Qingdao, Nanjing, Chengdu and Wuhan.

In the coming days, a delegation of the economic government network will travel to four Dutch cities for talks with local companies around industries such as environmental protection, horticulture and smart cities.
Question: Are the Vibes Hi-Fidelity earplugs you recently wrote about also OK to use for operating leaf blowers and stuff like that?  J.F., Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Answer: I contacted the manufacturer and it says the earplugs can be used with light machinery, providing their specified 22 dB of reduction. While not as effective as over-ear protection, they certainly are better than not using protection at all. discovervibes.com

Question: I have a Sony digital SLR with an 18mm-135mm Sony zoom lens. I would like something with a bit more reach but the fast, pro-grade 70-200mm 2.8 lenses are expensive ($2,500) so I have been saving up to buy one. I recently came across a used photo equipment site called keh.com and they had older Tamron and Sigma 100mm-300mm autofocus lenses on sale in Minolta mount (which works with Sony) for only $17 each, with a coupon code for 15 percent off. The coupon code expired, but they still have the lenses available for $17 so I may just get one and use it as a stopgap. Which would be better, and do you think I am wasting my time trying this?  J.T., Atlantic City

Answer: I visited keh.com and was able to find the lenses you are asking about. Both are early-2000s vintage and were designed for use with film. They will work fine with your Sony body, although autofocus speed will be slower, and they will likely be a bit noisier when they focus as well. On your camera they will behave like 150mm-450mm equivalent lenses, which is really quite a lot of reach.

The optical quality is likely to rate as fair compared to what you are used to, but I think it is worth a shot. KEH is a good outfit and very easy to do business with. Given the lenses are only $17 each, I would buy both of them. Put your camera on a tripod, take pictures with each of them at the 100mm, 200mm and 300mm settings and compare the images. Keep the one you like better and return the other for a refund.

If you want to bypass this testing and get a good lens, KEH also has a Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6 DG Macro lens for $76. This is a modern lens designed for digital that is quite good, and given your $2,500 goal the $76 wont set you back very much. Even when you have your 70mm-200mm 2.8, the extra reach of 300mm will be useful sometimes, and the Sigma lens is much smaller and lighter, too.

See my home generator installation: Reader questions and comments about generators and home power backup have been pouring in ever since I first wrote about the topic. Just in time for Winter Weather Awareness Week (Nov. 13-18), I have posted a full-length feature on my website detailing my home backup power solution from start to finish. You can see it by visiting soundadvicenews.com and looking for the post called, Home backup power with the Briggs & Stratton QuietPower Q6500 Inverter Generator and manual transfer switch, published Oct. 29, or by using the address tinyurl.com/donsgenerator to go directly to the page.

While it is unlikely I will have complete columns devoted to generators in the near future, there are lots of excellent questions on the topic I will answer in the weeks ahead.

Contact Don Lindich at www.soundadvicenews.com.
The average person most likely cant go one day without coming across someones political opinions in a Facebook post, tweet or Instagram.

Election Day voters had a message for those people: If youre going to argue, complain or publicly take a stance on issues, you better get out to the polls.

South Jersey residents rushed through the cold from their cars and into polling places Tuesday afternoon, some with their kids, friends and spouses. While voting differently, many locals stressed the importance of having a voice in community and statewide leadership and initiatives, especially if they want change.

Some people think their vote wont matter, but this is your right, said Anne Torrell-Loguidice, of Linwood. If you dont come out and vote, but you want things to change, how do you think thatll happen?

Torrell-Loguidice voted Tuesday afternoon at the Bellhaven Ave School in Linwood, which saw a steady stream of individuals and families heading in to cast their votes.

Just a few miles away, Anthony and Heather Reo, of Northfield, stopped by the Northfield Community School around noon to vote for the states next governor, local candidates and on the two public questions.

Noticeably two of the younger voters that afternoon, at 33 and 32 years old, Anthony said they felt an obligation to take part in local and statewide voting as residents and constituents, recognizing that they didn't vote in their 20s.

This year, they voted in favor of funding New Jersey public libraries and a gubernatorial candidate who would legalize marijuana. Even though they arent smokers themselves, Anthony said he would like to see revenue from sales taxes go toward funding other state programs.

I think the library funding is so important for kids who are not yet at the age to research and look for information on a computer by themselves, Heather said. People also dont realize that libraries offer a lot of other community resources and programs that can help.

Anthony said voting is the least anyone can do, especially for those who complain about issues on Facebook or social media and want things to change.

By voting, we can say that we did our part and we voted the way we would like things to go, he said.

Kathy Englert, of Northfield, said she brings her son Lucas, 12, with her every time to show him how easy and quick it can be to vote.

I think its our duty, she said. This is a huge day for everyone. If people want to say something, even just on Facebook, they should come out. People may think their vote wont make a difference, but I think part of the national election last year was the result of people not voting.

Voting turnout among younger generations is slowly rising, national reports indicate, but less than half of eligible Millennial voters participated last years presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center.

Many South Jersey voters Tuesday said they hope that will change and more young residents will take part in voting on local, statewide and national issues.

Election Day for Michele and Matt McCully was a family affair as their daughter, Molly, went into the voting booths with her parents to see how votes were made and what the process was like.

We always keep up on the issues, especially in this crazy world right now, she said.
ATLANTIC CITY  As mothers themselves, Darlene Pettus and Derma Jones know moms need baby diapers and wipes for their children no matter how much a family struggles to afford other things.

Pettus and her late sister, Earlene Russell, formed Atlantic County Residents Outreach Associations Inc. seven years ago to provide these items and baby formula for less fortunate families.

On Dec. 9, Pettus and Jones, who works with Pettus in the organization, will host a tribute to the late state Sen. Jim Whelan and honor people who have helped the women with their mission.

The event at the All Wars Memorial Building also will serve as a fundraiser, so the women can keep assisting mothers who need help with the essentials.

We have helped 2,800 families since 2010. We have an annual diaper drive, Pettus said. Im passionate about what I do because Im blessed.

The women have more than 200 diapers left over from their most recent diaper drive, but they are running low on baby wipes and formula. Families that receive diapers are asked to donate two canned goods in exchange.

Pettus, 64, and Jones, 57, who both live in the resort, run the 1st Consignment in Atlantic City store on South New York Avenue. People bring in items to be sold over a 60- or 90-day span.

If a clothing item does not sell, the owner can take it back or choose to donate it to the store, Pettus said. The women have been known to give away donated clothes to the needy.

The Dec. 9 dinner will honor individuals, but local businesses that have helped the women with their mission include Boscovs, Target, Walmart, J.C. Penney, Hard Rock Cafe, One Stop Bait & Tackle on Atlantic Avenue and Hannah Gs in Ventnor.

Retail stores donate to us, or we go in our pockets, Pettus said. These organizations and businesses have been helping for five years.

The women are honoring Whelan because Pettus said he never missed one of their events. Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, also will be honored for appearing at their fundraisers.

I knew Sen. Whelan for more than 40 years, Pettus said.

In an unusual move, Kathy Doles, who had been Whelans chief of staff since 2012 and now serves in the same capacity for Sen. Colin Bell, D-Atlantic, will be honored in her own right.

Anything I would ask, she would never let me down, Pettus said.

Doles, who sees herself as a support person, said the office treats everybody the same.

Im happy to be included, so that I can say a few words on his (Whelans) behalf, Doles said. Im thrilled that she (Pettus) thinks so much of me.

Two other people who will be honored Dec. 9 are Rafael Maldonaldo, owner of Citywide Towing on Fairmount Avenue, and Derek Brock, owner of Mutual Taxi Limousine and Beach Vans on North Kentucky Avenue.

Maldonaldo has donated money in the past. Brock uses his van to pick up items being donated to the outreach association and bring them to 1st Consignment. Pettus takes the items from the store to the mothers in need if they cannot come in themselves.

I give because I want to help people, said Brock, 51, who lives in the resort. Atlantic City is a family-oriented town. I believe in Atlantic City.
Longtime South Jersey congressman Frank LoBiondo will retire at the end of his term and not seek re-election in 2018.

LoBiondo, 70, announced Tuesday that his terms as chairman of a pair of House subcommittees are expiring, so now was the right time to retire.

He also criticized gridlock in Washington, D.C., and said a vocal and obstinate minority within both parties has hijacked good legislation and produced no legislation.

From Day One I have always put South Jersey first and people before politics, giving 200 percent to representing our interests while promoting our way of life, LoBiondo said in a statement. From increasing veterans services and strengthening the footprint of our homeland security bases to growing our aviation industry and protecting our tourism-based economy through beach-replenishment projects, I am immensely proud of the record I have accomplished.

LoBiondo has been in Congress since 1995, when he succeeded Democrat Bill Hughes, and is the chairman of the House Transportation Aviation Subcommittee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence subcommittee on the CIA.

He is also part of the Tuesday Group, an informal caucus of about 50 moderate Republicans, and has been consistently praised by environmental activists for his voting record and advocacy for the environment.

With LoBiondo retiring, New Jersey is losing one of the last of our moderate-on-the-environment Republicans, said Jeff Tittel, director of the Sierra Clubs New Jersey chapter. He led efforts for an important sign-on letter against permit applications for seismic activity in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. He voted against mountaintop mining and has opposed offshore drilling. He has spoken out against Trumps environmental, and other, rollbacks and at times stood against other Republicans.

LoBiondo recently voted against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and said he would vote against a tax-overhaul plan because it would negatively affect New Jersey residents.

The retirement could create a competitive race for the House of Representatives in the 2nd District for the first time in years.

Democrat Tanzie Youngblood, who is a retired teacher, launched a campaign to run against LoBiondo in July.

National Democrats have tried to get state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, to run several times, but he has declined.

This time, however, Van Drew says he is seriously considering putting his name in for Congress.

Cape May County Democratic Chairman Jeffrey Sutherland said Tuesday night he has never been more optimistic about being a Democrat in Cape May County, despite Republicans outnumbering them 28,104 to 15,860.

I do (see an opportunity) because President (Barack) Obama won the 2nd Congressional District in both elections, he said.

Steve Stivers, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said LoBiondos leadership in Congress will be missed.

For more than 20 years, Congressman Frank LoBiondo has proven to be a steadfast advocate for veterans and utilized his private-sector experience to champion vital reforms for his constituents in South Jersey, Stivers said in a statement. While Franks leadership will be sorely missed, I am fully confident a strong Republican nominee will hold the seat and continue delivering results for the 2nd District.

The 2nd District, which encompasses much of South Jersey, has voted for both Democrats and Republicans on the national level. In 2016, the district supported President Donald Trump with 50.6 percent of the vote. Former President Barack Obama, however, was the districts choice in 2008 and 2012.
The Faroe Islands, a remote archipelago that juts out of the cold seas between Norway and Iceland, doesnt even appear on some world maps. But as of last week, the verdant slopes, rocky hiking trails and few roads of the 18 islands are on Google Street View  and a team of camera-toting sheep helped get them there.

When the islands tourism board decided last year that it wanted to get the companys attention, it knew it would need an unusual pitch. It also knew that its rugged terrain would not be easily traversed by those Google cars that ply city streets worldwide, snapping photos. So it strapped solar-powered, 360-degree cameras onto the backs of a few shaggy Faroese sheep and began uploading the resulting, and very breathtaking, images to Street View itself.

The whole sheep idea  which the tourism board called Sheepview 360  was not such a stretch. Sheep are a big deal in the Faroe Islands, an autonomous nation within the Kingdom of Denmark whose name translates to islands of the sheep. The islands distinct breed is believed to have been imported by Norse settlers in the 9th century, and today about 80,000 sheep live there, far outnumbering the 50,000 people. Tourism official Levi Hanssen said most Faroese have some connection to raising sheep, about one-third of which are slaughtered for meat; the others are used for wool and dairy products.

And although all the sheep are owned, they roam freely  usually.

Its not very easy putting cameras on sheep, Hanssen, the content manger for VisitFaroeIslands.com, said in an interview. We would just stand there, and they would stand there and look at us. You have to, in some way, get them to move.

Move they eventually did, and the tourism board was soon posting videos and maps of the sheep videographers movements on its website. It held a naming contest for one sheep on the crew. (The winning submission: Baaa-bra.) Locals and visitors were encouraged to share photos of the Faroe Islands on social media with the hashtags #WeWantGoogleStreetView and #VisitFaroeIslands.

It didnt take long for the media-friendly story to make its way to Google, which pronounced it shear brilliance. Last summer, the company visited the islands and loaned out one of its eyeball-like Street View Trekkers, as well as some 360-degree cameras for human use. In a blog post, the former tourism board employee who spearheaded the campaign, Durita Dahl Andreassen, explained that those would be handed out to locals and tourists alike and that they would be attached to sheep, bikes, backpacks, ships and even a wheelbarrow.

We, obviously, couldnt map the whole country with sheep, Hanssen said.

Last week, the Faroe Islands made its debut on Google Street View. Most images ended up being captured by humans, and they included all public roads and hiking trails. But Hanssen said the tourism board decided to leave some spots out to preserve a bit of the islands mystery.

Sheepview was charming, but it was at heart a marketing bid  and a successful one, said Hanssen, who said it had a PR value we could never have bought ourselves. Hotel reservation rates, the countrys primary yardstick for measuring tourism, are up at least 10 percent this year, he said. Visitors tend to be outdoorsy types, but the islands are also increasingly attracting gourmands who come for really good, locally sourced food, Hanssen said.

The tourism board has moved on to a new, sheep-free effort to get Google Translate to include Faroese, which descends from old Norse.

As for the sheep that made Street View happen? They retired from filming, Hanssen said. He wasnt sure, however, whether any ended up as someones locally sourced dinner.

Their job, he said, was done.

* * *

Video: How the Faroe Islands were added to Google Street View
The race to fill the state Senate seat vacated by the late Jim Whelan has come down to the final day in what is one of the most hotly contested races in New Jersey this year.

Candidates Chris Brown and Colin Bell spent the day before the election making calls and knocking on doors in an effort to get people out to vote in what many experts predict will be a low-turnout election.

Brown, who has been in the state Assembly for two terms, holds a slim three-point lead over Bell heading into election day, according to a poll released by Stockton University on Friday.

Browns lead falls within the polls margin of error.

The Senate race in Atlantic County has become one of the most expensive of the year in New Jersey, with both Republicans and Democrats spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the candidates.

The state Assembly race has also garnered attention in the area. Heading into Election Day, Democrats Vince Mazzeo and John Armato held comfortable leads over Republican challengers Vince Sera and Brenda Taube.

Mazzeo is on top of the field with 31 percent of the vote, followed by Armato with 27 percent, according to the poll. Sera and Taube trail the Democrats with 17 percent and 18 percent of the vote, respectively.

 John DeRosier
TIRANA, Albania, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Prime Minister Edi Rama today unveiled a major multi-agency plan to tackle organized crime, bring its leaders to justice and confiscate illegally-acquired assets.

Releasing a detailed report outlining the plan, the prime minister said the program will bring together all relevant departments, institutions and agencies with a view to ridding the nation of criminal elements which have developed and infiltrated Albanian society.

"This new anti-crime structure will be in charge of the most intensive and long-term operation ever undertaken against organized crime," he said. Called Operation Power of Law, the program was approved today by Albania's Council of Ministers. Implementation will be led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with a Central Task Force, appointed today by a prime ministerial order.

New judicial bodies and other law enforcement elements will be required at the national and local levels. The government will be seeking further assistance from international partners, including the EU and Europol, Interpol, neighbouring countries such as Italy and Greece, and the FBI in the United States.

The report Mr. Rama released acknowledged a number of weaknesses in the nation's past efforts to combat organized crime. It states:

"Organized crime has severely damaged the system of democratic, social and economic values of the country through the distortion of the market economy parameters. This situation and the failure of the criminal justice organs to fight it efficiently has created a problematic situation which is clearly perceived as such by the public. These results were reflected in periodic reports of the Albanian law agencies and in the monitoring reports or opinions of international partners of Albania over the years. Crime in general and especially criminal groups that commit offenses with the object of trafficking or illegal financial benefits have been and continue to be a serious threat to national security as well.

"Previous strategies and action plans which have envisaged such issues have taken only a partial approach, expressed mainly as a need and opportunity or as evidence to meet the interests of the daily political struggle or specific electoral interests."

Announcement of the program and release of the report follow last week's report by Italy's Guardia di Finanza showing a dramatic decline in Albanian cannabis cultivation, which has been the source of billions in illegal revenues to various criminal groups.

The Italian authorities' report was presented on Friday in Tirana to a conference of MPs, international diplomats and experts. It was based on aerial surveillance flights by Italy which revealed just 88 suspected cannabis plantations, compared with 2,086 the previous year.

"This represents major progress for our joint efforts with our Italian and European Union partners towards our goal of eradicating cannabis production in Albania once and for all," Prime Minister Rama said.

The Rama government has begun a number of initiatives aimed at tackling illegal drug production and trafficking, including the establishment of an Anti-Cannabis Task Force in January 2017. Chaired by the Prime Minister, the task force involves the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice, General Prosecutor's Office, State Police, General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering in the Ministry of Finance and the National Intelligence Service.

Fatmir Xhafaj, Albania's Minister for Internal Affairs, said his ministry together with local police forces have made major progress against the illicit drugs trade. However, he confirmed that the trans-shipment of imported drugs is the next challenge.

"What we're finding is that while domestic production is at last being reduced, the people and machinery previously devoted to the export of cannabis are now being deployed to import cannabis and other drugs and to re-export them. This is a growing problem which requires joint co-operation by all the nations involved - including Albania as a trans-shipment point, but also the producing and consuming countries," Mr Xhafaj said.

Following today's announcement, Prime Minister Rama said it should be clear how seriously his government takes the threat arising from organized crime. He said the new program will engage all parts of society with the police and the judicial system charged with detecting, trying and punishing offenders, and the rest of society engaged in programs of prevention.

He listed three main objectives:

1. Identification and destruction of organizations and criminal groups through the collection, exchange of information and interaction among law enforcement agencies and individuals.

2. Protection of the economy from infiltration by the products of crime and criminals.

3. Weakening the economic power of organized crime through confiscation of illegal assets and products of criminal activities.





For further information:

Endri Fuga

Director of Communications

Government of Albania

+355-4-227-7349

Endri.Fuga@kryeministria.al

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office of Albania
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597933/Denise_Kaufmann.jpg )



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597934/Jo_ann_Robertson.jpg )



Kaufmann has led the London office since 2013, and in that time she introduced the operation's integrated approach, which has served as a model for the larger Ketchum network. During Kaufmann's tenure in London, the office was consistently rated as one of the best places to work in the U.K. by the Great Place to Work Institute and received numerous honors, including being named the Public Relations Consultancy Association's International Consultancy of the Year and CorpComms Magazine's Agency of the Decade . In 2015, Robertson was promoted to deputy CEO and began supporting Kaufmann in leading the office.

"Together, Denise and Jo-ann have made a powerhouse team for one of our largest and most successful offices," said Barri Rafferty, partner and president, Ketchum. "I am confident that the office will continue to thrive under Jo-ann's leadership as Denise returns to her U.S. roots to focus on the client experience in our largest and most critical region."

Kaufmann will be based in Chicago, where she started her Ketchum career 20 years ago. Throughout the course of her Ketchum career spanning three continents, she has run several of the firm's largest global client engagements, including spending 10 months seconded with a client's in-house team. In her new role, she will focus on providing the highest level of client counsel for the firm's North America-based clients. She will report to partner and chief client officer Michael O'Brien and work closely with client directors across the region to continuously improve client engagements and facilitate borderless growth.

"Denise is a charismatic team builder, a creative problem solver, and an extraordinary counselor," said O'Brien. "She is known for delivering top-notch service to clients, having a razor-sharp focus on attracting and retaining the industry's very best talent, and for creating an environment that encourages our employees to reach their full potential."

In January, Robertson will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the London office, which includes securing and retaining top talent and building on the office's strong base of brand, corporate, healthcare, public affairs and technology clients. She will report into partner Mark Hume, COO and CFO, Europe.

As deputy CEO, Robertson has successfully pursued new opportunities in the marketplace while ensuring continued excellence in client service, maintaining a highly motivated and productive team, and leading integrated, cross-practice collaboration. Robertson joined Ketchum in 2011 as managing director of corporate and public affairs where she tripled the size of the team. She was named partner in 2013. Prior to Ketchum, Robertson spent eight years at Weber Shandwick, leading its U.K. corporate and public affairs team, and began her career as a political activist and a TV reporter in Scotland.

"Jo-ann is a highly strategic, pragmatic leader with an eye for mentoring talent and a proven track record of business generation, and she is one of our best client counselors," said Hume. "Having worked side by side with Denise over the past two years to strategically grow this critical hub for global client engagements, I could not think of anyone more perfectly suited for this role than Jo-ann."

About Ketchum

Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 45 Cannes Lions and an unprecedented five PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit http://www.ketchum.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE Ketchum Ltd
LONDON, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Dmitry Leus of East-West Connect published an article in EU Today ahead of the 20 November 2017 General Affairs Council vote to decide which European city will host the European Banking Authority when the institution leaves its London home after Brexit takes place. The candidate countries are Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg City, Vienna and Warsaw. In his article Mr Leus examines the contest to win the host status and the issues and candidates.

Mr Leus writes: "Host status also brings prestige and it is perhaps this more than anything that the cities are competing for, with a view to taking London's crown as Europe's financial centre." However he adds that there will be additional and more tangible benefits in addition for the successful host city: "Given that it is one of the EU's three supervisory authorities, it is safe to say that the presence of this agency in a city will attract banking and law firms, as well as increased tax revenues."

Mr Leus also comments on the criteria that the General Affairs Council will use to make their selection: "Contenders need to show that they can complete the new office space by the time Brexit happens. They need to be in an accessible location and have international schools as well as job opportunities for spouses and family members of the agency's staff. They also need to demonstrate that they can provide 'business continuity'. The other element is 'geographical spread', meaning that EU agencies should not be too heavily concentrated in any particular EU country or region."

He adds that the decision-making essentially takes place on two levels: "At the 'surface level', each bid will be formally measured against the set criteria; but behind the scenes there is a lot of horse-trading and deal making. "Mr Leus gives the example of Frankfurt's bid. He writes: "Frankfurt is very keen to host the EBA, and the city has already become a major target for banks fleeing the U.K. as a result of Brexit. Paris is not really seen as a serious option simply because they already host a major financial regulator, the European Securities and Markets Authority. France is also campaigning for Lille to win the European Medicines Agency (EMA). So the chatter for some time was of a Franco-German pact, resulting in the EBA going to Frankfurt and the EMA to Lille. But then rumours have been swirling around that France would rather back the Brussels bid than hand a prestigious agency to Germany."

Mr Leus highlights Dublin and Luxembourg as other contenders. "Dublin has the advantage of being a Euro member with a developed financial services sector and good transport links. Ireland has been praised for their economic recovery and willingness to stick to austerity measures. It would also fit with the current mood to allow a smaller country host, rather than a heavyweight member state such as France or Germany. But does Ireland have the allies to help swing the vote?" In terms of Luxembourg, Mr Leus noted the city's proximity to the European Investment Bank and the European Stability Mechanism, already located in the city. They also argue that their communications links would be an advantage, being within two hours travel of the European Central Bank and bodies in the financial sector in Frankfurt, Paris, and Brussels."

In conclusion Mr Leus writes: "Whatever the outcome of the contest, we can expect to see frenetic lobbying in the final run up to the vote in just under two weeks' time. The decision to relocate the agencies will bring home to the United Kingdom the real cost in terms of lost international prestige, and the loss of more than 1 000 highly paid professional jobs in London, as Britain's total bill for 'Brexit' starts to accelerate."

About East-West Connect

East-West Connect is a London-based forum focused on investment risk and opportunity in Central and Eastern Europe. We provide news and analysis about the investment and economic climate of the region.

East-West Connect was founded by Dmitry Leus, an entrepreneur and banking and financial services professional.

SOURCE East-West Connect
Revolutionary peer-to-peer travel booking platform that gives travellers access to travel industry rates, continues global expansion.

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TRVL is the smartest and fastest growing travel booking platform. It's revealing the secrets of the Travel Industry. It gives travellers full access to industry rates and exclusive deals, pays a commission of up to 15% on every booking, and provides peer-to-peer travel advice.

This video explains TRVL.

TRVL received US$ 3.5million in funding to become a global player with millions of users. Launching in South Africa is part the global roll out.

For entrepreneurial travellers TRVL provides a "Make Money From Home" earning model: on every booking they can earn a commission.

Paul English, founder of Kayak:

"Love the concept. TripAdvisor with an earning model."

Founder Jochem Wijnands sold his previous company Prss to Apple for an undisclosed amount. Prss is the mobile publishing platform that became Apple News.

Wijnands: "We're living in the DIY age of travel bookings, and TRVL is rewarding you for acting like your own travel agent. TRVL also gives access to unbelievable industry discounts of up to 65%, normally off-limits to travellers."

Wijnands: "With TRVL, the local experience of other travellers is available during the booking process; on demand and personalized. This is the next logical step in peer-based travel advise."

TRVL's research shows that 91.7% of the respondents value personal recommendations highly or very highly.

One of TRVL's industry partnerships is with Booking.com, global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay. Bryan Batista, Senior Director of Partnerships at Booking: "Consumers explore new ways to discover and book trips, we're always looking to make that experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. TRVL's peer-based concept is interesting, and we're happy to offer more than 1.4 million unique places to stay via their platform.

TRVL's COO is Arthur Hoffman, a travel industry veteran. Hoffman: "When deciding where in Africa to launch first, the choice was easy. South Africa is a nation of passionate travellers." This reflects in the most recent market research:

Online travel sales to recorded current value growth of 9% in 2017 to reach ZAR36.5 billion. Source Euromonitor Sept 2017.

TRVL media kit

TRVL's story: Power to the Traveller!

Video "Why do we travel?"

Contact: Jochem Wijnands

jochem@trvl.com

+31 653453135

Related Links

http://www.trvl.com



SOURCE TRVL
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
Abu Dhabi, Nov 2 : Government departments, organisations, private sector companies, schools, colleges and people on Thursday celebrated the UAE's Flag Day with a plethora of activities to signify their shared love of the country.

Postal operator Emirates Post Group (EPG) joined in with Flag Day activities by hoisting the national flag at its head office in Ramool and in all post offices and subsidiaries as part of nation-wide celebrations.

The Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) joined public and private sector organisations across the United Arab Emirates to mark the day.

Tayeb Al-Rais, AMAF's Secretary-General said: "The UAE Flag Day gives us a perfect opportunity to renew our loyalty and allegiance to our beloved country, and reaffirm our commitment to its advancement and to achieving the goals of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021."

Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi's business and lifestyle destination, joined government departments, the public and private sectors, to celebrate UAE Flag Day.

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, during the ocassion said that the country attained remarkable achievements under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Also, a flag-raising ceremony was also observed at Dubai Customs headquarters and Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.
Hanoi, Nov 3 : Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday urged Vietnam to immediately release all political prisoners.

The rights group asked world leaders, who will be attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Da Nang from November 6 to 11, to ask Vietnamese authorities to stop persecuting dissidents, reports Efe news.

"Foreign officials in the country for APEC should not turn a blind eye to the over 100 political prisoners those very same leaders have put behind bars," said Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director.

Adams warned that while Vietnam is warmly welcoming foreign delegations arriving in the country for the summit, the country's authorities "are intensifying their crackdown on anyone with the courage to speak up for human rights and democracy".

In the last year, the police have arrested at least 28 people for criticising the authorities, according to the HRW.

A 24-year-old student blogger became one of the latest political prisoners in Vietnam after being sentenced to six years in jail on October 25 for "conducting propaganda" against Vietnam.

Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights and other organisations have also been asking the Communist regime in Vietnam to put an end to arbitrary imprisonment of activists and bloggers and called for the release of all political prisoners.
New Delhi, Nov 4 : Internet television network Netflix has decided to not be involved with any further production of "House of Cards" that includes actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

"Netflix will not be involved with any further production of 'House of Cards' that includes Kevin Spacey. We will continue to work with MRC (the production company for the show) during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show," Netflix spokesperson responded with a statement on Saturday.

"We have also decided we will not be moving forward with the release of the film 'Gore', which was in post-production, starring and produced by Kevin Spacey."

Among other artistes, eight current and former employees who worked on "House of Cards" accused Spacey of sexual assault, said reports.
Armed with sticks, bows and arrows, Van Suraksha Samiti memebers, led by Jamuna Tudu (in front), fought forest mafia to protect forest land around their village in Jharkhand. Image Source: IANS News

Jamuna (the one tying the rakhi) and other women tie rakhis to sal trees in the forest on the occassion of Raksha Bandhan pledging to protect them. Image Source: IANS News

Jamuna Tudu held several meetings with her village community, including men and women, to convince them of the need to protect forests. Image Source: IANS News

Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Nov 5 : Armed with just water bottles and sticks, a group of poor tribal women in Muturkham village of Purbi Singhbhum district of Jharkhand trekked miles to the sal forest that surrounded their habitat. Their mission: To save the forest from being plundered and denuded by the "forest mafia".

Accompanied by just a dog for their safety, these determined women made frequent forays into the deep forest -- with which they shared a symbiotic relationship -- and have been able, over the years, to successfully conserve 50 hectares of forest land and its flora and fauna deep in the heart of a territory that has also been a battle zone between government forces and left-wing extremists.

This group was brought together by Jamuna Tudu, 37, who has spent the last two decades of her life fighting against deforestation. It was in 1998, after her marriage, that Jamuna took up this challenge of preserving the forest by making villagers develop a stake in it.

Today, her Van Suraksha Samiti (Forest Protection Group) has about 60 active women members who patrol the jungle in shifts thrice a day: Morning, noon and evening. And sometimes even at night, as the mafia set fire to the forests in random acts of vandalism and vengeance.

Jamuna's fight has not gone unnoticed. The President of India has honoured her conservation efforts.

"Few days after my marriage, when my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and a few other women from the village took me to the forest to cut wood and get it to cook food, I felt that if we keep cutting the trees this way, all our forests will be wiped out," Jamuna recalled to IANS in an interview.

In her quest, she had to battle against the mafia that was chopping down trees for their precious sal timber with complete disregard for the law or the tribal tradition that prohibits cutting of the trees.

Realising that she would get little help from authorities, who may well have been hand in glove with the mafia, she took matters in her own hands. She spoke to a few women of the village who were quite aghast at the task she had taken on. We won't do it; this will require us to fight the men in the village, they told her.

But Jamuna, who has studied up to Class X, foresaw a bleak green-less future for herself and her community with no trees and forests to sustain or protect them.

'Jungle nahi rahega toh paryavaran kaise bachega (how will we protect the environment if the forest is destroyed)?' she asked.

Jamuna's clear understanding of the issue soon trickled down to the other women and even men in her village.

"I was brought up with a love and respect for nature. My father used to plant numerous trees in our farms in Odisha. That's where I learnt the importance of the environment," she said.

Pointing out how the mafia was exploiting the wood from Muturkham to fund their alcohol needs, she said she was bewildered by the passive response of the community at their habitat being slowly destroyed.

"I went on to speak to a few women in the village. I held a meeting with them several times to be able to convince them that we needed to protect our beautiful forests," she said.

Gradually, she mobilised a group of 25 women from the village and armed them with bows and arrows, bamboo sticks and spears, they marched into the forest to take on the forest predators.

With time, many men also became part of the campaign against deforestation, but most of the effort has continued to be from women, said Jamuna.

There are many daunting challenges that came their way, but their single-minded dedication towards their cause kept them going.

"There were too many altercations with the village people initially.. many scuffles with the mafia... and I told those women that in this journey, we would come across both good and bad times, but we have to struggle to keep the forest," said Jamuna.

The group convinced the railway authorities to bar the plundered wood from being exported.

"Some time in 2008-09, we were brutally attacked by the mafia," she said.

"They pelted stones at us while we were coming back from the railway station after speaking to the station master. Everybody got injured," she added.

For obvious reasons, Jamuna, the woman whose initiatives were hampering their business, was their main target. She and her husband suffered most in the assault.

"My husband got hit on his head as he tried to save me. It was dark and we somehow managed to run away. We narrowly escaped death that day." But she did not give up.

Over 15 years of many fierce encounters with the mafia and relentless sensitisation of the community, Jamuna, and the Van Suraksha Samiti that she formed, have succeeded in protecting and conserving the 50 hectares of forest land not just surrounding her village, but around many others as well.

Tribal communities cannot survive without wood. They need it for various things -- mostly to cook food. But they ensure that their requirements remain within sustainable limits.

"We don't cut trees on purpose any more and use the fallen trees and branches for all our needs," Jamuna said. "The amount we are able to save up during the rains is sufficient for the whole year."

The Forest Department has "adopted" her village, which has led to Muturkham getting a water connection and a school.

In 2013, Jamuna was conferred with the Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award in the 'Acts of Social Courage' category and this year in August, she was awarded with Women Transforming India Award by the NITI Aayog.

Today, she runs awareness campaigns through various forest committees in Kolhan Division. Around 150 committees formed by Jamuna, comprising more than 6,000 members, have joined her movement to save the forests.

She wants to do a lot more. "I wish to do a lot... to make a lot more difference, but I am bound by limited resources. I can't in many ways afford to go beyond the villages in my state."

But if I get more support, many more forests like ours can be saved, she declared.

(This feature is part of a special series that seeks to bring unique and extraordinary stories of ordinary people, groups and communities from across a diverse, plural and inclusive India, and has been made possible by a collaboration between IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Mudita Girotra can be contacted at mudita.g@ians.in)
Beijing, Nov 5 : China has hoped that a US-brokered quadrilateral meet that includes India, Japan and Australia is not aimed at China and would "comply with the trend of times" which it identified as peace, development, and cooperation.

A senior US government official had said last week that Washington was keen to have India, Japan, and Australia on board for a "productive" engagement, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to propose the same arrangement between the four powers when President Donald Trump visits Tokyo on Monday.

India has responded positively to the proposal, saying it has "an open mind to cooperate with countries with convergence but obviously on an agenda which is relevant to us".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it has noted the development and hopes that such an arrangement will promote mutual trust among countries in the region and not harm Beijing's interests.

"China has noticed the relevant news reports. We hope the collaboration among relevant countries could comply with the trend of times, which refers to peace, development, and cooperation and shared benefits, and also conform to the prospects of the regions and nations for common security and development," the ministry told IANS in a statement.

"We hope it would be beneficial for improving the mutual trust among countries and regions, at the same time safeguarding and promoting peace, tranquillity, and prosperity within the area, without targeting or damaging a third party's interest," it added.

The US, India, Japan and Australia have growing concerns over China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and its ambitious Belt and Road connectivity project.

Last week, Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, said the US was "looking at a working-level quadrilateral meeting in the near term".

She also referred to the freedom of navigation without mentioning the disputed South China Sea, where the US and Chinese navies have had several run-ins.

During his India visit last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly talked about building a network of roads and highways with India that will be an alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative.

India opposes the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road project whose key artery, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, cuts through the part of Kashmir held by Islamabad.

A section in the Australian government also believes that it is not a mere economic project, as claimed by Beijing, but also a geopolitical one.

After returning home, Tillerson had described the US, Japan, India and Australia as "anchors" in the Indo-Pacific region which includes the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

China's presence has increased in the Indian Ocean, causing India worry.

Japan also worries about China's growing naval strength. Both powers have disputes over the islands in the East China Sea.

(Gaurav Sharma is the IANS correspondent in Beijing. He can be contacted at gaurav.s@ians.in &sharmaguarav31@gmail.com)
New Delhi, Nov 5 : The US will change its attitude towards the Paris Agreement and play a big role at the UN Climate Change Conference that begins on Monday in the German city of Bonn, says Erik Solheim, head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The crucial 12-day long negotiations on how to keep rising global temperatures from reaching catastrophic levels will involve nearly 200 nations with an aim to advance the 2015 Paris Agreement implementation.

"What is clear is that increased use of fossil fuels is not the answer. We have to do precisely the opposite. Even despite a push from the White House for coal and gas, we are still seeing many US cities and states embrace renewable technology," Solheim told IANS in an interview.

"This is not because of climate change but because it makes sound business sense."

In many parts of the US, wind and solar energy present a very compelling business proposition.

In states like Texas and Nevada, they are cutting costs and providing greater energy security, said an Solheim, who believes corporate sourcing of renewable electricity can be a major driver of the transition to a robust, zero-emission economy.

Two years after the world united around the Paris Climate Agreement and a year after its entry into force, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) 197 parties will reconvene for the 23rd annual climate change talks (COP 23) in Bonn from November 6 to 17 in the backdrop of the US decision to pull out of the climate agreement.

The Bonn talks are expected to take a number of decisions necessary to bring the Paris Agreement to life, including meaningful progress on the agreement implementation guidelines, to achieve a goal of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius with an aim to cut greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

The UNEP head foresees the US will play a big role at the Bonn talks on shaping the Paris Agreement.

"We certainly hope that will be the case. There's been a season of devastating wildfires and hurricanes, and this highlights the importance of the climate change issue to the US.

"At the same time, President Trump has expressed doubts over climate change and announced his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. We sincerely hope that that will change and, therefore, continued constructive US involvement in the process is welcome."

But changes to opt renewable technology taking place in China and India are extraordinary and extremely positive.

"For me, there are two aspects that make this progress very important. Firstly, there is a technical dimension: the shift taking place in China has helped bring the technology such as solar and energy storage to scale. This has helped drive down prices and make renewable energy solutions incredibly competitive.

"Secondly, there is an important moral dimension. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has described climate action as an article of faith', saying that inaction would be a crime against future generations. While the conference (COP23) is grounded in practicalities and technicalities, it's important to never lose sight of this moral dimension," Solheim said.

India and China are also great advocates for the bounties to be reaped from making the shift.

"The positive fact is that the nations who are taking action are getting a head start in building the sustainable, inclusive economies of the future," said Solheim.

Favouring the need to develop greater partnerships, and unlock the global barriers that renewables encounter, he said: "This includes bringing governments together, also the private sector. I'd like to see India emerge as a big player in solar energy mega-installations."

World's third-largest energy consumer India aims to tap 40 per cent of its energy needs through renewable technology by 2030.

"Private sector engagement is crucial, and we're already seeing many firms adopt sustainability as part of their business plans," Solheim felt. "We need to reinforce this trend, reward companies who are making positive change and make sure the polluters pay."

Now is the time to invest further in renewable technologies, not look to the past, he added.

In June, US President Donald Trump announced his administration's intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, throwing into doubt its role at UN climate talks, and related bodies like the Green Climate Fund.

"It is finally happening for our great clean coal miners!" Trump tweeted on November 2.

He has promised to revive coal by rolling back regulations on carbon emissions from thermal power plants.

At COP 23, attention will turn to whether the US and its allies will continue to advance an agenda focused mainly on mitigation, carbon markets and transparency of action, while neglecting or foot-dragging on other key issues such as adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology transfer, capacity building, transparency of support, compliance, and the global stocktake.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 5 : Following a complaint of theft at the Aam Aadmi Party's office in Delhi, a thief and three scrap dealers were arrested on Sunday from central Delhi, police said.

Police said the accused thief, Mohammad Kajim, 55, is a homeless person living on the streets near Minto Road while his accomplices Furkan, 40, Kaiyum, 42, and Saffuddin, 38, are scrap dealers. The AAP's stolen campaign material has been recovered from the four, police said.

Kajim was involved in 10 cases registered under the Arms Act and for robbery and snatchings.

"Kajim was caught on closed-circuit television footage while committing theft at the AAP office in central Delhi. He later sold the items to the scrap dealers," Deputy Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Randhawa said.

The AAP leaders had complained to Delhi Police regarding a theft at the office on Saturday.

"Election campaign material was stolen from our party office at 206, Rouse Avenue, on Saturday morning," AAP leader Vikas Yogi told IANS.

A complaint of theft was submitted to the Indraprastha police station along with the CCTV footage.

In October, a blue Maruti Wagon R car belonging to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was stolen from the Delhi Secretariat.
Washington, Nov 7 : President Donald Trump has decided to continue the national emergency with Iran for one year to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to national security, foreign policy and economy of the US, the White House said.

Trump said that the decision was pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Our relations with Iran have not yet normalized and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is ongoing," said Trump.

"For this reason, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2017."

The US national emergency with respect to Iran was first declared on November 14, 1979.
Cairo, Nov 7 : Egyptian rights lawyer Khaled Ali has announced that he will challenge President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in the 2018 elections, a media report said.

"We decided today to start our campaign in preparation for my candidacy in the presidential elections," Xinhua news agency quoted Ali as saying at a press conference on Monday.

"We will strive to snatch guarantees for the integrity of the presidential elections."

The lawyer was in September sentenced to three months in jail due to a case related to a reportedly rude and obscene hand gesture he made after a court order, which he has already appealed, but it still raises a possibility for his disqualification as a presidential candidate.

Ali was among the leading figures, who opposed Egypt's handover of the two controversial Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

The rights lawyer ran for President in 2012 elections.
United Nations, Nov 7 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed condolences over Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs in the US state of Texas, his spokesman said.

"The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the horrific shooting in a Baptist church in the small town of Sutherland Springs, Texas. He extends his condolences to the bereaved families and to the government and people of the United States and hopes for a speedy recovery of those wounded," Xinhua news agency quoted Guterres' spokesman Farhan Haq as saying.

A gunman opened fire on worshippers in a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday morning, killing 26 people and wounding two dozens more in the Texas town.
Cairo, Nov 7 : Egypt has reaffirmed its support to China's Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative and called for increased Chinese investment, a media report said.

"Egypt supports the Belt and Road Initiative that connects China with the world's continents through massive networks of land and sea routes," Ibrahim Mahlab, Egyptian President's assistant for strategic and national projects, told a forum in Cairo on Monday , Xinhua news agency reported.

Describing the China-Egypt ties as "strong, unique and sustainable", Mahlab expected the initiative to "restructure the traditional models of world trade".

Highlighting the significance of Egypt's strategic location for the Belt and Road Initiative, Mahlab said "being a central point between Africa and Asia, Egypt is also a focal axis of Arab and African trade".

He noted that Egypt has carried out massive infrastructure projects over the past three years that have greatly upgraded the country's energy supplies and road networks which could help future investors in the country.

Egyptian and Chinese officials, businessmen, representatives of financial and economic institutions as well as a delegation from the Communist Party of China on Monday attended the forum entitled "Belt and Road... Together for Better Future".

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative, officially called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims at building trade and infrastructure networks along the ancient trade routes to link Asia with Africa and Europe.
Washington, Nov 7 : US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose name cropped up in the "Paradise Papers" investigation into offshore tax havens, said the appropriate authorities knew of his controversial investments, a media report said.

Ross told CNBC in an interview on Monday that the claim that he tried to keep his relationship with the Venezuelan oil firm hidden is "totally wrong" and that he filled out in triplicate the documentation requested by the US Office of Government Ethics to disclose his business interests, Efe news reported.

According to the the investigation undertaken by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and reported on Sunday, Ross failed to fully disclose to Congress his investment interest in a shipping firm with close ties to people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and also investments in Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA.

Putin's son-in-law Kirill Shamalov and Russian magnate Gennady Timchenko, one of Putin's inner circle who has been sanctioned by Washington for his activities linked to the Russian leader, are two of the owners of Sibur, a company that has provided more than $68 million to Navigator in the last three year.

"A company not under sanction is just like any other company, period. It was a normal commercial relationship and one that I had nothing to do with the creation of, and do not know the shareholders who were apparently sanctioned at some later point in time."

When asked if he had considered resigning because of the fact that these controversial holdings have come to light, Ross said that was a "silly question" since he had done "nothing wrong".

The Paradise Papers are a trove of millions of documents leaked to Germany's SAddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, which then called in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to examine them, that show huge amounts of cash held in offshore tax havens by leaders, magnates and celebrities all over the world.

The Department of Commerce initially said in a statement on Sunday that Ross "was not involved with Navigator's decision to engage in business with SIBUR, a publicly-traded company, which was not under sanction at the time and is not currently".

"Moreover, Secretary Ross has never met the Sibur shareholders referenced in this story and, until now, did not know of their relationship," the statement said.

"The Secretary recuses himself from matters focused on transoceanic shipping vessels, but has been supportive of the Administration's sanctions against Russian and other entities."
Tripoli, Nov 7 : Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel has said that his country is seeking an emergency session of the UN Security Council to take action against recent war crimes in eastern Libya.

Messahel made his remarks in a telephone conversation with the Libyan Head of the Higher Council of State, Abdarrahman Swehli, to "discuss developments of the political and security situation in Libya and its repercussions on the region", according to the media office of the Council.

"The Algerian Foreign Minister expressed his country's solidarity with the Libyan people in face of violations of human rights and terrorism and its support for the efforts of political solution in accordance with the UN action plan within the Libyan political agreement," Xinhua news agency quoted the media office as saying.

The eastern-based army denied responsibility for a recent air strike by an unidentified warplane on the eastern city of Derna, which killed 47 people, including civilians.

In October 2016, military prison patrols in Benghazi also found 10 unidentified bodies with signs of torture and bullet marks in the city.

In July 2016, 14 handcuffed bodies were found near the headquarters of Benghazi Social Security Fund.
Mexico City, Nov 7 : US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall between the US and Mexico would be an environmental "disaster", a United Nations official said.

"The wall is going to be a disaster for different reasons ... and one of the ways is that it is going to be a disaster at the environmental level," Xinhua news agency quoted John Knox, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, as saying on Monday at a forum on biodiversity.

"Biodiversity and the ecosystems don't care about political borders, they don't stop where the wall begins," he added.

Knox said that a solid physical barrier could interfere with the movement and survival of regional species.

In October, it was reported that eight prototypes of the wall have been erected along the border between the US city of San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.
Islamabad, Nov 7 : Pakistan has confirmed that a diplomatic official of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Afghanistan's eastern Jalalabad city was shot dead at a shop near his residence.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the Afghan Charge d'Affaires to the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest against this heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators of this act of violence should be apprehended and brought to justice, the Foreign Ministry said, Xinhua news agency reported.

He asked for foolproof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan.

Expressing condolences on behalf of his government, the Afghan Charge d'Affaires assured provision of security to Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan and promised to bring to justice the perpetrators of this terrorist act.

The statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said the Pakistan Government strongly condemns the diplomatic official's killing.

"The President and the Prime Minister in separate messages strongly condemned this heinous act and conveyed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family."
Cashless economy is coming

A non-cash society is coming to Vietnam, Chairman of Alibaba Jack Ma told the Vietnam E- Payment Forum (VEPF) held on November 6 in Hanoi with the main topic Mobile Payments.

















He said that 54 per cent of Vietnams population use mobile phones but they use both mobile payments and cash.

He also fully agrees with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc about mobile payments: financial inclusion will help reduce corruption.

Mr. Tran Cong Quynh Lan, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Trade and Industry (Vietinbank), said that mobile payments will bring a new revolution to Vietnam regarding payment methods and be accompanied by many benefits. The operations of commercial banks, however, remain inconsistent, he said.

Commercial banks, he added, must cooperate together to ensure advantages are provided to customers and mobile payments increase.

Mr. Ma noted that, in the past, Alibaba did not have many relationships with banks but he told his colleagues that they should start to do so right now. We believe that within ten years we will succeed, he said.

Talking about AliPay, Alibabas mobile payment service provider and a prominent example for the forum, Mr. Ma said that 14 years ago, when he got the idea for AliPay, many people told him that it would be impossible because Chinese people are too fond of cash payments.

He also spoke of policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Success, he said, must bring people together and all young people must be given opportunities. Only 20 per cent of enterprises in the global economy are large enterprises, while the remaining 80 per cent are SMEs. The focus should therefore be on providing them with proper support.

Member of the Government Advisory Group, Vu Viet Ngoan, asked Mr. Ma whether there is space for SMEs and startups given the dominance of leading tech companies. We do not dominate the market but support local businesses, Mr. Ma said. This is a great way to help small businesses grow in the local market and reach out to the outside world, especially in areas where they want to do business. We do not compete; we support you, he said.

The forum attracted nearly 700 representatives of the business community, mostly bankers, financiers, tech companies, online payment providers, and startups.

Jack Ma is a Chinese business magnate who is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, a conglomerate of internet-based businesses.

He is one of richest men in China and in Asia, with a net worth of $47.5 billion. He has become a global icon in business and entrepreneurship, one of the worlds most influential businessmen, and a philanthropist known for expounding his business philosophy. He was ranked second on the Fortune 2017 Worlds 50 Greatest Leaders list.

He is one of the worlds most powerful people and been a global inspiration to many, giving numerous lectures and advice throughout his life and career.

VN Economic Times
Srinagar, Nov 7 : Three militants of the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit were killed in an overnight gunfight with the security forces in Aglar village of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

"One soldier of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was martyred and two soldiers and a civilian injured during this operation," police said, adding the encounter has ended.

"The slain militants included two Pakistani nationals and a local. The martyred soldier has been identified as Sham Sunder."

The injured are being treated in the hospital.

"Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site," said police spokesman, adding the identification of the dead bodies are being done.

"It is the same group that was wanted for the attack on the police check-post in Rajpora."

A joint team of Army's 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off the village after inputs about the presence of militants there.

As security forces tightened the cordon, the hiding militants fired at them after which a gunfight started there late last evening.

Showkat Ahmad, a civilian, was injured when protesters clashed with the security forces to disrupt the operation against the militants.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.
Srinagar, Nov 7 : An Indian Army soldier and three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed overnight in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Tuesday.

Sham Sunder of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was killed in the gun battle in Aglar village with the militants who belonged "to the same group" who attacked a police check-post in Rajpora on Saturday.

Two other soldiers and a civilian were also injured in the operation that has now ended, police said. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, troops of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with the security forces to disrupt the terror operation.

Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, said a police spokesman.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.

The injured were sent to hospital. Identification of the dead bodies was underway.
Tokyo, Nov 7 : US President Donald Trump left Japan on Tuesday for South Korea, the second stop on his five-nation tour through Asia.

Trump will meet his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Seoul to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, Efe news reported.

Pyongyang has conducted a series of nuclear tests this year that has escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula. It also lead to UN sanctions and increasingly hostile rhetoric from Trump.

The Air Force One, took off from the Yokota US Air Base near Tokyo around 10 a.m. It will land at the Osan US Air Base, west of Seoul.

Trump is scheduled to have lunch with US troops deployed there.

On Monday in Tokyo, Trump said that "the era of strategic patience is over" with regards to North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his trip.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.
Seoul, Nov 7 : South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook will serve homemade traditional refreshments to US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump during teatime after they arrive here on Tuesday.

President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to have tea with Trump right after their summit talks along with their wives, at Sanchunjae, a wooden traditional Korean house inside Cheong Wa Dae (presidential office), reports Yonhap News Agency.

The refreshments for the reception are reportedly chocolate-coated dried persimmons, called "gotgam" and herb tea, dubbed "Serene Morning of PyeongChang".

PyeongChang is an hill station in South Korea and venue for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

To make gotgam, Kim personally picked the persimmons from trees inside Cheong Wa Dae weeks ago, and hung them to dry.

In Korea, gotgam, which requires more than a month to make, is traditionally used as a refreshment or as an ingredient in other foods.

Kim made "gotgam ssam" by stuffing walnuts into dried persimmons and then coating them with chocolate.

Meanwhile, the police have beefed up security at the US Embassy in Seoul, as well as on roads leading to the Cheong Wa Dae.

Iron fences were set up around Gwanghwamun Plaza across from the U.S. Embassy, and a larger number of police personnel were deployed around the mission, as some liberal civic groups have vowed to hold rallies opposing Trump's visit at the plaza.

Officials said they will allow civic groups to hold lawful rallies inside the iron fences at the plaza, but plan to keep protests under control around the time Trump's motorcade passes through the area.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his trip.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.
Hanoi, Nov 7 : The death toll due to massive flooding caused by typhoon Damrey in Vietnam has increased to 49 with 22 others reported missing, disaster management officials said on Tuesday.

In the provinces of Khan Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Phu Yen, nearly 80,000 houses were damaged and some 35,000 people were evacuated after the typhoon made landfall over the weekend.

A Vietnam Disaster Management Authority official told CNN that his agency would post updated figures to their website later Tuesday, as authorities were still in the process of collecting information.

Floodwater and landslides have disrupted road and rail transport.

The typhoon has hit the Southeast Asian country ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit the coastal city of Da Nang for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum as part of his two-week trip across the Asia-Pacific region.

He will also travel to the capital, Hanoi, for an official state visit with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.

The APEC will see participation of some 10,000 delegates, 2,000 chief executive officers of leading firms in APEC economies, and 3,000 reporters.
Seoul, Nov 7 : US President Donald Trump arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day visit that will include a bilateral summit with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in.

The US leader landed at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 km south of Seoul, from Japan, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Trump is the first US president in 25 years to make a state visit to South Korea. Seoul is Trump's second stop of his five-nation Asia tour.

Upon his arrival, Trump headed to Camp Humphreys, a US military base in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul where he was greeted by President Moon.

"Today is a very historic day because it marks the first time the two presidents of South Korea and the United States have come together to a US military base in South Korea to encourage their troops," Moon said while jointly hosting a lunch with Trump for South Korean and American service members.

"I wish to express my appreciation and respect to all South Korean and US service members... It is said hard times will always reveal true friends. You are our true friends who bled with us when South Korea was at its worst."

Moon highlighted the importance of the Korea-US alliance, calling it a cornerstone of peace and prosperity not only on the peninsula but in the entire region.

"You are the very strong cornerstone and future of the Korea-US alliance. Let us together create peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," Yonhap News Agency quoted Moon as saying.

"Hello everybody! Good food. Thank you all," Trump said amid applause from the soldiers.

Camp Humphreys, is the largest US military installation abroad. Currently, it accommodates around 26,000 US service members, their families and civilians, along with some South Korean soldiers.

Trump is scheduled to receive a security briefing after the lunch meeting.

A formal welcoming ceremony will be held later on Tuesday at Cheong Wa Dae (presidential palace), before the two leaders hold their third bilateral summit.

Trump's trip follows North Korea's sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on September 3 and a series of missile provocations.

He will hold a bilateral summit with Moon at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.

They have held two bilateral summits and two rounds of three-way talks involving Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On Wednesday, the US President is expected to deliver a speech to the South Korean Parliament before heading to China for the next leg of his trip.

He is also scheduled to stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summits in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Open Source technologies like Linux have helped innumerable tech start-ups to flourish and one company that can take credit for providing entrepreneurs with a solid IT foundation is North Carolina-based Red Hat.

Over two decades ago, Red Hat began with the idea of collaborating with IT leaders, open source advocates, developers and partners to create an Open Source ecosystem that spans Cloud, Middleware, Operating Systems, Storage, Virtualisation and Management. It is now ready to exploit today's most promising opportunity -- the mobile space.

India, with ever-increasing mobile and Internet consumption, offers a unique opportunity for Red Hat that has expanded its operations and increased the headcount in the country by nearly 25 per cent in the last year alone.

Mobility has become a top priority for Indian enterprises as it promises to drive innovation and streamline operational efficiency -- besides delivering customised customer experiences -- and here, Red Hat is keen to drive growth for the government, banking and financial services and insurance (BFSI), telecommunications and manufacturing sectors.

"There is faster adoption of technology and creation of new services in the digital space, be it positioning your bank for a better mobile experience or putting together scalable service delivery platform for a telco. The growing mobile and app-delivery space is now a key growth engine for us," Rajesh Rege, Managing Director at Red Hat India, told IANS in an interview.

Red Hat Mobile Application Platform enables users to develop and deploy mobile apps in an agile and flexible manner. Recently, leading life insurance firm DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company Ltd (DPLI) implemented the platform to strengthen its mobile app presence.

While the Asia-Pacific region is Red Hat's second-largest R&D set-up outside the US (third-largest globally), Pune houses the company's second-largest engineering facility outside of North America (also third-largest globally).

"Red Hat has a strong presence in metros and is investing in people and partners to meet customer interest in Open Source solutions in 20 cities such as Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Ahmadabad and Coimbatore," Rege told IANS.

The company that registered $723 million in revenue (up 21 per cent year-over-year) in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 that ended August 31, has helped the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) rejig their data infrastructure.

"We helped the EPFO consolidate data from some 17-18 data centres into one consolidated environment to host several tens of millions of accounts," Rege noted.

A recent survey by Red Hat with market research firm Forrester Consulting said that Indian IT decision-makers are turning to Open Source to drive digital innovation and support their businesses with new capabilities.

The study surveyed 455 CIOs and senior IT decision-makers from nine countries in the Asia Pacific region. Respondents from India anticipated that use of Open Source will increase in Internet of Things (IoT) by 45 per cent whereas 43 per cent believe that Open Source will help increase their agile hybrid Cloud infrastructure, application development and DevOps environments.

Not just India, Red Hat has a strong presence in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Working with Cloud partners such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, Red Hat is uniquely positioned in the Cloud space through its technology pieces -- be it Public, Private or Hybrid Cloud.

"We have an efficient partner ecosystem that can provide firms the Red Hat environment in their Cloud. When it comes to start-ups, our experience worldwide is that they are eventually starting their journey in Cloud with Open Source solutions," Rege said.

On helping over 51 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country embrace Cloud, Rege said the Red Hat model comes in handy for them.

"We have local Cloud partners who have created several Cloud-enabled apps and services which these SMEs can easily embrace," added the Red Hat India executive.

Red Hat's most popular offering Linux, besides the OpenStack Platform that delivers core Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), is highly secure too.

"Have you heard about any data security lapse regarding Linux? The Open Source community is very strong when it comes to security. There are at any point of time multiple global users eyeballing the solutions, searching for security issues and potentially coming up with reliable answers," Rege said.

Red Hat is constantly working with the community in India as well as a rich portfolio of technology partners to help architect, build and deploy Open Source solutions for customers.

"Our approach is to build robust solutions in the first place with adequate testing and bug fixes to avoid any vulnerability in the product," Rege said.

(Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in)
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in building India's global appeal for investors seems to have finally yielded returns in terms of the country's performance in the World Bank Doing Business rankings. India witnessed its highest-ever jump of 30 places in the rankings, reaching the 100th place among 190 countries. Subsequently, it also joined the list of top 10 improvers for the first time and became the first South Asian country to achieve the feat.

The World Bank measures this in terms of a Distance to Frontier (DTF) metric, which shows the distance of the economy from the best performer in each category on a scale of 0 to 100, with the latter representing the frontier. India has shown a drastic improvement of 4.71 points over the last year from 56.05 to 60.76. To put things in perspective, China has witnessed an increase of 0.40 points.

India's performance has been impressive by any standard. It has moved closer to the global standards in nine of the ten parameters on which the Doing Business rankings are based and has enforced reforms in eight of these categories over the last year. The three key reforms among these were resolving insolvency, ease of paying taxes online and protection of minority investors. Despite these improvements, the general sentiment has been to dismiss the rankings mainly for the flaws in its methodology.

First, the rankings are based on perception surveys of few entrepreneurs or professionals based on questions that are mostly subjective in nature. Second, they are not even based on the economic conditions of the entire economy but on one or two cities within a nation. For India, it is based on Delhi and Mumbai alone. However, the critics miss the point.

If India performs poorly even on such a limited study that chooses the best cities in the country, it speaks volumes of the business conditions across the country and is indicative of the scope of improvement that remains. Moreover, rankings are relative by definition and since the World Bank chooses a maximum of two cities for other countries as well, it should depict a near accurate performance of any country on a relative scale. Therefore, any improvement up the ladder cannot be summarily dismissed.

Further, reforms considered by the World Bank include a mix of central and state initiatives. Passing of central legislation like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, that helped India jump from 136 to 103 in the "resolving insolvency" parameter have pan-India benefits and are not just limited to Delhi and Mumbai. Therefore, it would be incorrect to presume that merely focusing on a few cities is disassociated from reality even though the actions of state governments are not reflected.

Incidentally, India performs poorly in parameters where state government interference is maximum: Getting an electricity connection, starting a business and registering a property. This underlines the importance of policy coordination between the states and the Centre. Nevertheless, credit needs to be given where it is due for an improvement in rankings majorly driven by reforms undertaken by the central government over the last few years. It must be noted that the rankings have not taken into account the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Therefore, considerable potential remains for further improvement.

But it should also be kept in mind that these rankings are not an end in themselves and are far from perfect. A lot of it is based on policies which are on the books and do not necessarily capture the real experiences on the ground. After reforms are initiated to ease the business environment, the main task of implementation begins where the real problems emerge. For instance, the World Bank applauded India's efforts at increasing access to credit with the adoption of a new insolvency and bankruptcy code. However, the parameters fail to recognise the problem that India is going through one of its slowest phases of credit growth and that banks are wary of lending so easily.

Moreover, a lot more parameters, apart from the ones considered in the Doing Business rankings, need to be considered to understand the business environment in India. The country's dismal performance in the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom (in which it is ranked 143, below most of its South Asian neighbours) and Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (ranked 79th), reflect the areas that the country still needs to improve upon to better the business environment.

Therefore, the chest-thumping around the Doing Business ranking improvements needs to be seen in conjunction with these factors and worked upon to ease the problems faced by common businessmen. A premature celebration can be counter-productive.

(Amit Kapoor is chair, Institute for Competitiveness, India. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in and tweets@kautiliya. Chirag Yadav, senior researcher, Institute for Competitiveness, India has contributed to the article)
Srinagar, Nov 7 : Three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants, including the nephew of terror outfit chief Masood Azhar, were killed in an overnight gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Tuesday.

Quoting a JeM statement, local news agency GNS said Talha Rasheed, nephew of Azhar, was among the three militants killed in the gunfight with security forces in Aglar village of Pulwama district.

IGP Kashmir zone, Muneer Khan said: "We will ask Pakistan to collect the body of Masood Azhar's nephew as JeM has owned it. The matter will be taken up through proper channels."

Besides the three militants, army soldier Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was killed in the gun battl.

Two other soldiers and a civilian were also injured in the operation that has ended, police said.

The militants had attacked a police check-post in Rajpora on Saturday.

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, troops of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, the hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with security forces to disrupt the operation against the hiding militants.

Three weapons, including one Kalashnikov, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, said a police spokesman.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.
Los Angeles, Nov 7 : Actress Ellen Pompeo says writer-director James Toback once asked her to get naked in a movie.

"I actually did have a situation with James Toback where I kind of told him to go f**k himself," usatoday.com quoted Pompeo as saying.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star recalled: "It was held in a public place and I brought a man -- my friend Tony. And he didn't like that at all. And I could tell that. I could tell instantly that he was, like, no good.

"The minute my friend left, he asked me if I would get naked in a movie. And I was like, 'Really, dude? My friend has been missing all of 30 seconds and now you say that?' I kind of laughed in his face."

The publication also requested for a comment from Toback's last-known representatives, who said they do not work with him. No other publicist, agent or attorney could be identified.

Toback has been accused of sexual harassment or assault by approximately 40 women, often inviting them to his apartment or hotel rooms under the guise of private auditions. The accusations began with an exposA in the Los Angeles Times last month.
Taipei, Nov 7 : Human rights groups in Taiwan on Tuesday urged US President Donald Trump, a day before his China visit, to demand the release of Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che detained in Beijing since March.

The groups organised a meeting with the press in which they repeated their call for the discharge of Lee, whose case was tried by a court in Hunan with the sentence expected to come out soon, reports Efe news.

Lee, who was arrested on arrival from Macau in March, confessed to criticising the Communist Party of China and spreading propaganda on Western democracy during the trial which Taiwanese activists described as staged.

"Although the sentences of similar cases usually take less than three months, this time it may take longer so that it does not coincide with Trump's visit to China," Chairman of Strategic Studies at Tamkang University, Li Da-jung told Efe.

Human rights activists in Taiwan believe that Lee can be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years or a maximum of a life sentence in prison.

Both Lee's wife and the rights groups launched an international campaign for Lee's release that even received backing from US congressmen and parliamentarians of the European Union.

Lee was an employee of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and is a professor at a community college and a volunteer in the non-profit group Covenant Watch in Taipei.
Srinagar/New Delhi, Nov 7 : The nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar was among three militants killed in an overnight gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. A US-made M4 carbine used by NATO forces was recovered from the slain militants, pointing to complicity between militants and the Pakistan army, police said.

Talha Rasheed, nephew of Azhar, was among the three militants killed in the gunfight with security forces in Aglar village of Pulwama district, according to a JeM statement given to local news agency GNS.

IGP Kashmir zone, Muneer Khan said: "We will ask Pakistan to collect the body of Masood Azhar's nephew as JeM has owned it. The matter will be taken up through proper channels."

Besides the three militants, soldier Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was killed in the gun battle.

Two other soldiers and a civilian were also injured in the operation.

Addressing a media conference in Srinagar with senior officers of the army and paramilitary forces, Muneer Khan said: "A US-made M4 carbine rifle was recovered from the Jaish-e-Muhammad militants killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Pulwama district.

"The recovery of the US made carbine shows the complicity between JeM and Pakistan."

Maj. Gen. B.S. Raju, commander of the Rashtriya Rifles' Victor Force, told the media conference, "This US made M4 carbine is presently with a lot of armies with the NATO.

"This is used by the special forces of Pakistan Army, so we have a reason to believe that this weapon was given by Pakistan Army to JeM cadres."

The Jaish militants had attacked a police check post in Rajpora on Saturday.

Following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, personnel of the 44 RR, Special Operations Group of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded the village on Monday evening.

As the cordon was being tightened, the hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces. The gunfight started late on Monday evening.

The civilian injured is Showkat Ahmad, who along with other protesters had clashed with security forces to disrupt the operation against the hiding militants.

In New Delhi, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said the recovery of an assault rifle used by NATO forces in Afghanistan with the killed Jaish terrorists showed that they were getting support from across the border, in a reference to Pakistan.

"Operations are going on. As I said, the operations will continue. If any terrorists carry out activities that put the life and property of our citizens at risk, if they target any building, police station or army, they are troubling the citizens. Our attempt would be to neutralise whoever is involved in terror activities," General Rawat said on the sidelines of an event.

"Whether it is the nephew of Maulana Masood or anyone else, we are concerned only with finishing terror. We are not concerned what is their religion or other things," he said.

Along with Rasheed, two more terrorists - Mehmood Bhai, a foreign terrorist, and Wasim Ahmed Ganai, a local terrorist were killed.

Among the items recovered from the terrorists, were M4 carbines, a shorter and lighter variant of the American origin M-16 A2 assault rifle. The seizure comes days after a picture of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was circulated on social media holding another variant of the M-16 rifle.

The American origin gun is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, and questions have been raised how it reached the terrorists.

Asked about the presence of the weapon with the terrorists, Rawat said: "You can see sometime back this weapon was shown in media that they (terrorists) have this weapon. It shows they are getting support across the border."

The forces also recovered AK-74 rifles, pistols, and matrix sheets from the terrorists.

Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.
Ranchi, Nov 7 : An interesting love triangle, also being portrayed as "Love Jihad", has surfaced in Jharkhand where a married Hindu woman is living with her lover without a formal divorce from her husband.

Vinod Kumar, who works in Muscat in Oman, arrived in steel city Jamshedpur two days back to seek custody of his two children. His wife Priya Rani alias Priya Ashik has been living with her Muslim lover Sadik since 2010 in Jamshedpur.

The issue came to light when Vinod Kumar on October 31 approached Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das through Twitter, seeking his help to trace his "abducted" wife and children. He was advised to contact Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Vinod Kumar then contacted the Jamshedpur SSP and apprised him of the story of his missing family.

According to Vinod Kumar, his wife was abducted in 2010 from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Acting swiftly, Jamshedpur police traced his wife Priya who was living with Sadik. Police arrested Sadik and sent him to jail.

"I have come here to take custody of my children. Priya is mature and she can take any decision. But being the biological father of both children, I have a right to get their custody. She is living with Sadik without taking divorce from me," Vinod Kumar told reporters on Tuesday.

Vinod Kumar also alleged that the names of both children had been changed to Muslim ones. He also suspected that his son's "khatna" (circumcision) has been done, but that only a medical test would confirm, the police said.

Priya, on the other hand, has alleged that Vinod was torturing her in Muscat and therefore, she decided not to stay with him there.

Vinod Kumar and Priya got married in 2005, and he got a job in Oman in 2007. She went to Oman twice, in 2007 and 2009. In 2010, when she had to go to Oman again, she did not.

According to police, she called Sadik to the Delhi airport and they went to a hotel. She lived in the hotel with Sadik for three days, after which she decided to live with her lover along with her children. She did not contact her husband after that.

Since then Priya has been in a live-in relationship with Sadik, according to police.

Priya and Sadik are residents of Nalanda district of Bihar. Priya's father is a politician and he ended his relationship with her after she eloped with Sadik in 2010.

No one from Priya's family reached Jamshedpur after the issue came to light a few days back, police said, adding that Priya and Sadik might have been in love since childhood and she might have been forced to marry Vinod Kumar.

The police also said that Priya had tried to commit suicide in Oman after her husband had discovered a message from Sadik in her mobile.

The issue is in court now and the court will decide on the custody of the children.
Kabul, Nov 7 : At least four persons, including two attackers, were killed and 20 injured in an attack on a television station here on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the morning after two terrorists, disguised as police officers, attacked Shamshad TV, a private Pashto language channel, in Chaman-e-Huzuri neighbourhood. The attackers lobbed grenades before storming the building, the Afghan media reported.

The Islamic State through its Amaq News Agency said it carried out the attack in which a security guard, a female worker of the TV station and two attackers were killed, Tolo News reported.

Afghan special forces had to blast their way through a concrete wall protecting the station to enter the site. The assault ended after a three-hour shootout inside the Shamshad TV building.

The TV station's news director Abid Ehsas said the staff had been in their offices when the attackers entered the building wearing police uniforms.

"They threw hand grenades at our security guards." The attackers then stormed news offices and started shooting at anyone in their sight, said Ehsas. He said most of the TV station's staff escaped, even by jumping out of the windows.

"This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us," he said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, an independent media safety group, strongly condemned the incident.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the group was not involved in the attack.

In May, a group of armed men attacked the National Radio Television station in Afghanistan's Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern Nangarhar province, during which the three attackers and two civilians were killed.

A week ago, at least three people were killed in an attack in the diplomatic area of Kabul where several embassies and government offices are located.
Jaipur, Nov 7 : Film distributors in Rajasthan are wary of releasing Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati", scheduled to hit the screens on December 1.

"I can talk about my company... We will not like to buy the distribution rights of the film till the controversy is resolved," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor here, told IANS.

Echoing similar views, another distributor on condition of anonymity, said: "No one would like to be part of controversy... So I would not like to buy the distribution rights."

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community and the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, a Brahmin community organisation, have decided to oppose the release of the film. According to them, historical facts have been distorted in the film.

"They are trying to defame Padmavati by distorting historical facts. It is not acceptable," an activist of Sri Rajput Karni Sena said.

There are around 300 screens in Rajasthan and it will be a loss of around Rs 5 crore if the film is not released in the state, sources said.

"We are demanding that Bhansali's team should screen the movie for historians and intellectuals before releasing it as was promised by them a few months back. We are apprehensive that historical facts have been distorted in the movie," Vishavbandhu Rathore, Pradesh Mahasachiv, Sri Rajput Karni Sena, told IANS.

In January, activists of Sri Rajput Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of "Padmavati", claiming Bhansali was distorting historical facts in the movie.

The movie sets out to tell the tale of Rani Padmavati - the legendary Mewar queen known as much for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her courage, her husband Maharawal Ratan Singh - a glorious Rajput ruler and a warrior king who fought till his dying breath to defend his kingdom and his wife's honour and Sultan Alauddin Khilji - an ambitious and obsessive invader.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, along with other organisations, had called for a Chittorgarh bandh on November 3. Along with like-minded organisations, the Karni Sena plans to organise a big rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on November 12 against the movie.
Chandigarh, Nov 7 : Taking a tough stance against stubble burning which was leading to health and environmental concerns, authorities in Haryana have booked over 1,000 farmers and imposed a fine of nearly Rs 12 lakh on them, a minister said on Tuesday.

Haryana Environment Minister Vipul Goyal said that in view of the orders given by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, the Environment Department has taken a tough stance on cases of stubble burning.

"Given the air pollution from stubble burning, the Pollution Control Board has started a statewide campaign. Under this till now, 1,011 farmers have been identified for burning stubble across the state. The department has filed police cases as well as imposed fines on them," he said.

He said cases have been filed against 227 farmers who were caught by the Pollution Control Board and 454 farmers have been slapped fine of over Rs 11.89 lakh.

"Not only paddy, burning the residue of any crop is harmful to the environment. It is not only deteriorating the environment, but also reducing the fertility of the lands of farmers," the minister said.

Area in the northern region, comprising Punjab, Haryana, ChandigarhAand Delhi have been engulfed by smog with the onset of winter with farmers in agrarian states openly burning paddy stubble despite strict orders from both state governments against the practice.
Ahmedabad, Nov 7 : Former Prime Minister and leading economist, Manmohan Singh on Tuesday lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led NDA government over the "twin blow" of demonetisation and GST, which he termed a "complete disaster" for the economy and said that winds of change are blowing in Gujarat and time has come for Gujaratis to repose faith in the Congress party.

Reiterating his earlier statement when he termed demonetization an economic blunder, Manmohan Singh said that due to the effects of demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Chinese imports have grown by a whopping 23 per cent in just one year.

In his speech campaign for the Congress party at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial auditorium, Singh hit out at the NDA government for the two drastic steps taken said that November 8 was a 'Black Day' for the economy and democracy of the country.

"The cash in circulation after one year is close to 90 per cent of previous levels. The fact that more than 99 per cent of the demonetized currency came back into the system has punctured the government's claims of its success."

Addressing more than a thousand from the businessmen and traders fraternity, Singh said, "The pain of the informal sector is inadequately captured in the GDP calculations, as the 5.7 per cent under the new calculation is bound to be a gross underestimate. What is even more tragic is that none of the lessons from this monumental blunder has been learnt by the government."

"Instead of providing relief to the poor and the marginalized farmers, traders and small and medium businesses as I had requested in the Parliament, who suffered the brunt of demonetization, the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST."

According to the former Prime Minister, "this twin blow was a complete disaster for our economy, breaking the back of small and medium business in India".

"India's imports from China stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore in the first half of 2016-17. During the same period in 2017-18, it increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore, an unprecedented increase of 23 per cent in imports, attributed mainly to demonetization and GST."

"What is terrible for the country is that, the fear of tax terrorism has eroded confidence of businesses to invest. The growth in private investment is at a 25-year low. Did the Prime Minister stop to consider the wisdom of Mahatma when asking the Governor to sign on the dotted line of demonetization or while implementing GST in haste? Did he think about the impact on those who toil in informal sector whose earnings dried up because of shortage of cash? Did he think about the millions of people who lost jobs and had to return to their villages in despair? If the Prime Minister had paid attention to the Mahatma's talisman, the poor of India would not have to suffer the way they did," said Singh.

On the GST front, he said, "When undertaking the endeavour of One Nation, One Tax, if the Prime Minister had taken inspiration from the resolve and attention to detail of Sardar Patel, the outcome would have been different. Bravado and drama are poor substitutes for courage with conviction and the ability to execute well."

"Today, one year after demonetization, large sections of the country feel that they have been taken for a ride by their government. Their trust has been betrayed," said Manmohan Singh.

The former Prime Minister even criticized the 'Bullet Train' project. He said, "While our existing passenger rail network is lanquishing and needs a dire infusion of funds to improve both safety and speed, the 'Bullet Train' project was launched with much fanfare, sadly an exercise in vanity and which will neither benefit the 6.5 crore Gujaratis nor the nation. The past year saw the highest number of deaths due to derailment accidents in more than a decade, but the government's priorities are misplaced."

"Did the Prime Minister consider the alternative of introducing high speed rail network across India and upgrade the existing infrastructure? Instead of the Bullet Train project, the UPA government had requested the Japanese to fund the 'Dedicated Freight Corridor' and signed the deal in 2005. The UPA project will create a multiplier effect on the economy with upgradation of transportation technology, increase productivity and reduction in unit transportation costs," Singh added.

Questioning the rationale behind the anti-nationalistic slur thrown on those who question Narendra Modi and the NDA, Singh asked, "By questioning the Bullet Train, does one become anti-development. By questioning the outcome of demonetization and GST, does one become a tax evader? Does questioning the drop in GDP make one an anti-national?"

"My friends, questions must be asked again and again on the soundness of policy and the lack of transparency," he said.

Coming to the issues faced by Gujarat state, which has been dubbed as the model state in the country by the BJP, Singh said, "While across India, the title deeds to the forest dwellers and tribal have been disposed of at the rate of 87 per cent, Gujarat lagged behind with a poor 44 per cent. On every social indicator like infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, female literacy, Gujarat has fallen behind the best performing states like Himachal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka."

On the numerous agitations among the youth of different sections of society in Gujarat, Singh said, "The winds of change are blowing in Gujarat. The agitations are an indication of the deep dissatisfaction with the performance of successive BJP governments in Gujarat. The Congress will ensure the voice of every Gujarati, regardless of caste, creed, gender or class will be heard."
Srinagar, Nov 7 : Over 30 delegations from various organizations and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have called on Dineshwar Sharma, the special representative appointed by the Central government, so far, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials said since Sharma arrived here on Monday to start a sustained, multi-layered dialogue in the state, 32 delegations have called on him at the Hari Niwas state guest house .

Prominent among those who called on Sharma on Tuesday included Waheed Parra, youth leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Sanjay Saraf of the Janata Dal-United, delegations of erstwhile Panchayat members, some local youth delegations and those of the Sikh community in the Valley.

Commenting on his meeting with Sharma, Parra said: "This is a meaningful dialogue process because the Central government has owned and institutionalized this process."

Touseef Raina of the Global Youth Foundation said he raised issues related to youth with Sharma because the local youth are the real stakeholders who should be taken into confidence.

Another delegation leader, Abida of NGO JK Seva that called on Sharma, said that they raised women-related issues.

Saifullah of the JK Human Welfare Association, which represents former militants, said: "We spoke to him in a good atmosphere and told him that India, Pakistan and Kashmiris must be brought on the table to solve the Kashmir issue."

Shafiq Mir, chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Former Panchayat Members Association, said: "Democratic institutions are not strong in Kashmir. We put forward ground level problems of people since the panchayats form a bridge between state and people.

"We demanded that the state Panchayati Act should be strengthened. We have also raised the issue of killings of Panchayat members in the Valley."

Sharma is likely to meet Yusuf Tarigami of the CPI-M, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Hakim Yaseen, three prominent opposition mainstream leaders on Wednesday before concluding his three-day visit to the Valley.
Seoul, Nov 7 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected the need for a debate on tougher laws regarding possession of arms and said more restrictions might have left hundreds more dead in the Texas church shooting.

Trump -- referring to a Sutherland Springs (Texas) resident who, with his own gun, confronted the attacker -- said if he didn't have the gun and had he not shot at the shooter, the number of victims could have been in the hundreds.

A total of 26 people were killed and some 20 wounded on Sunday during a service at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs after a man opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle.

"If he didn't have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead, so that's the way I feel about it," the US President said here while replying to questions about gun control in the wake of the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

He said the city with the strongest gun laws was Chicago and that it was "a disaster", Efe news reported.

The US President, who is on a state visit to South Korea, held a joint press conference alongside his counterpart Moon Jae-in, where he again defended his stance over arms.

Trump had said a day earlier in Tokyo that the shooting occurred due to a mental health problem at the highest level and not because of arms.

The church suspect was identified as Devin Kelley, a 26-year-old former service member, who was expelled from the Air Force for misconduct and who committed suicide after being shot by a resident, Stephen Willeford.
Bengaluru, Nov 7 : With bilateral trade between India and the US reaching $115 billion last year, US is now India's "number one trade partner", a US diplomat said here on Tuesday.

"The United States is now India's number one trade partner and US exports of goods in services to India support more than 200,000 US jobs," US Consul General in Chennai Robert G. Burgess said at the inaugural session of "Unlocking US-India Trade Potential", a two-day trade conference being held in the city by US Consulate General in Chennai.

The bilateral trade between the countries that expanded to nearly $115 billion in 2016 was an "all-time high", said Burgess.

"We are seeing cooperation expand in new areas. Bilateral defence trade has risen from near zero to more than $15 billion in the last decade. We aim for that upward trajectory to continue," he said, adding India and the US are "natural and highly influential partners".

Burgess said that last month, there was the first export of US crude oil to India in more than 40 years, which could add $2 billion annually to bilateral trade.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who had visited India on October 24, has laid out an "expansive plan" to take the US-India partnership to "new heights" not just for the duration of this administration, but for the next 100 years, he said.

Nearly four million Americans of Indian descent call the US their home, Burgess said, adding, "Over 600 American companies operate in India and Bengaluru hosts the largest concentration of US businesses in India"

Tillerson had noted the exchange of technologies and ideas between Bengaluru and Silicon Valley is "changing the world", Burgess added.

"He (Tillerson) made clear that the US will work with India to provide crucial technologies to enhance its capacity to contribute to regional security."

The conference, being held in the city on November 7-8 is timed ahead of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will be co-hosted by India and the US in Hyderabad on November 28-30.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advisor to US President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump will be present at the GES 2017, along with hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors from both the countries.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Doctors at a Delhi hospital provided a new lease of life to a toddler from Bangladesh who had developed acute liver failure.

Two-year-old Aman Jawad Uddin developed jaundice, vomiting and irritability, which was later diagnosed as acute liver failure due to Hepatitis A at a Dhaka hospital.

His condition deteriorated to coagulopathy, also called a bleeding disorder, in which the blood's ability to coagulate (form clots) is impaired.

Aman slipped into coma due to Hepatic Encephalopathy -- the loss of brain function when a damaged liver doesn't remove toxins from the blood.

The child was later airlifted from Dhaka to Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi on September 20 for an urgent liver transplant.

Within 36 hours of arriving in Delhi, Aman successfully underwent a living related liver transplant, his mother being the donor, doctors said.

"It was a very critical case because the child was already in Stage 3 Hepatic Encephalopathy. This meant that his liver was not removing the toxins from his body which were damaging his brain function," Anupam Sibal, Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"A liver transplant in a child with acute liver failure is more demanding than a standard liver transplant. The clotting was severely damaged and that provided extra challenges," added Neerav Goyal, Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon at Apollo.

Aman made a remarkable recovery and was discharged in three weeks, Sibal said.
Mumbai, Nov 7 : Cybersecurity is a cause of concern to every financial company and bankers are facing great difficulty in ensuring it, State Bank of India MD (Risk, IT and Subsidiaries) Dinesh Kumar Khara said on Tuesday.

"Threats are of concern to any financial company. Our employees in the core banking should be informed about and must perceive this threat. Otherwise, they are not vigilant enough," Khara said at a two-day Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci)-Indian Banks' Association (IBA) Annual Banking Conference (FIBAC) 2017 here.

He said bankers should remain vigilant with their vendors and all applications must be insulated from risks.

S. Ganesh Kumar, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India, said that cybersecurity is an important concern and the RBI will come up with guidelines in this regard.

Explaining that India has matured and does not need to be micro-managed, he described security as a "marriage between convenience and confidence".

"Customer perceptions also keep changing, with the younger lot having a different view of privacy. This makes it difficult for the regulator. But the RBI has taken up the challenge and is trying to keep ahead of the curve. They have got a repository of data," he said.

Neetu Chitkara, Principal, Boston Consulting Group, said there were two types of companies: those who are hacked, and those who will be hacked.

"The problem now is so intense that it is the domain of the CEO or the board at the highest level in any organisation. The number of records breached in 2016 was 1.8 billion," she said.

"And these are just the ones that are reported. The hackers could be sitting anywhere on the planet, learning from the Internet and hacking in India. It is a constant war without borders," she added.

Peter Gartenberg, General Manager, Enterprise Commercial, Microsoft India, said slow upgrade cycles facilitated exploitation of vulnerabilities in the software.

He advocated use of cloud as a far more secure environment because it incorporates the latest in terms of cybersecurity.

Debopama Sen, Managing Director, Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions, Citi South Asia, felt it will be hard for institutions to be ahead of cyber criminals. "They just have to get it right once, and we have to get it right every single time."

"The working generation is still one of digital immigrants, not with the same mobility as digital natives. It is a work in progress," she said, pointing out that the situation in India is no different from that in other parts of the world.

The emphasis is on training and simulation, so that everybody knows how to react in case of an incident, she said.

Balsingh Rajput, Superintendent of Police of Maharashtra Cyber, said "IT development and cybersecurity are two different fields".

"Cybersecurity is not a technology problem. It is your business continuity problem. If technology, processes and people work together, the system works well. If one of them misbehaves, there is a threat to business," he said.

"Deterrence is to the human, not to technology. Hence, we must try to understand the enemy. People should not be shy about reporting to police about a cybercrime," he added.

Sriraman Jagannathan, Vice President, Payments, Amazon India, said that the concept of cybersecurity evokes fear.

"If all of us deal with this topic as a fearful thing, majority will not engage with it deeply. If cybersecurity is synonymous with fear, it will be difficult to contain it in a rapidly changing world. It needs to be understood, and the desire should be to do better each time," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : A year into demonetisation, the opposition and the government on Tuesday exchanged verbal blows over the action with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling it disastrous while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rejected the charge saying there was an ethical and moral rationale behind the decision which had given a "new direction" to the economy.

Jaitley, however, acknowledged that the "benefits may not be immediately visible" but would make future generations proud.

Fielded by the party in poll-bound Gujarat, Manmohan Singh said the measure had failed its ostensible purpose of curbing wealth accumulated through tax evasion as it was known by now that none of the stated objectives of eliminating black money, terror financing and counterfeit currency have been met.

"The fact that more more than 99 per cent of the (spiked) currency came back into the banking system has punctured the government's claim. There are also widespread reports of the rich converting their black money into white while the poor have undergone immense suffering," he said, "invoking the memory of more than a hundred people who lost their lives last year in the wake of the demonetisation".

Calling the withdrawing of 86 per cent of legal tender in one single stroke as undemocratic and a coercive move, the former Prime Minister said "the demonetisation was clearly not the solution" to end the menace of black money and tax evasion in India.

"Demonetisation has proved to be a mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped," he said, again calling it "an organised loot and legalised plunder".

He said while the demonetisation had reduced economic growth to 5.7 per cent, it was still "bound to be a gross underestimate as the pain of the informal sector is not adequately captured in the calculation of the GDP".

What was even more tragic, he said, is the fact that none of the lessons from this "monumental blunder" has been learnt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Instead of providing relief to the poor and the marginalized farmers, traders and small and medium businesses, the government chose to inflict on them a badly designed and hastily implemented GST".

Manmohan Singh said if anyone had benefited from the "twin blow -- a complete disaster for our economy" it was China whose imports to India have grown by a whopping 23 per cent in just one year.

He questioned the rationale behind the anti-nationalistic slur thrown on those who criticize Modi and the NDA government. "This attitude of suspecting everyone to be a thief or anti-national, the low-level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse and has real consequences for how we relate to one another as citizens. Political leaders must stick to the high end."

Hours after the former Prime Minister's speech, Finance Minister Jaitley strongly defended the economic reforms calling note ban a "watershed moment in the history of the Indian economy".

"The next generation will view the post November 2016 national economic development with a great sense of pride as it has provided them a fair and honest system to live in," he said in his Facebook post.

The Finance Minister said one of the important objectives of demonetisation was "to make India a less-cash economy and thereby reduce the flow of black money in the system".

While Prime Minister Modi did not mention about the aim to reduce cash transactions in his November 8 speech last year, the government, however, later said the note ban was also aimed at to make India a less-cash economy.

Jaitley took a dig at Manmohann Singh, saying "anti-black money drive is (an) ethical drive, a moral step and what is morally and ethically correct has to be politically correct".

He said the BJP believed that economic status quo needed to be shaken up to end corruption. "Less cash in the system may not end corruption but makes corruption difficult," he said, claiming terror funding had been "squeezed" after demonetisation.

"Demonetisation is not a one-stop solution to end corruption. It cannot be, but it did change the agenda. And that changed agenda is that we should go towards less-cash economy. Individual tax payers' number has increased, digital transactions have gone up and terror funding has squeezed," Jaitley elaborated.

The central government also came under a sharp attack from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who changed the display picture of her Twitter account to black in a protest against note ban. She has instructed Trinamool Congress workers to observe "Black Day" on Thursday to mark its first anniversary.

"Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved," Banerjee said.

She said demonetisation was not to combat black money but was aimed at to "convert black money into white money for vested interests of the political party in power".

In a harsh criticism against the move, she branded it as a "devil act" and said the Indian economy has been "ruined".
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday barred exit polls related to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat starting 8 a.m. on November 9 up to 6 p.m. on December 14.

Invoking its powers under Section 126A of the Representation of People Act 1951, the poll panel has barred conducting of any exit poll and "publishing or publicising by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any manner the result of any exit poll" in connection with the two state assembly elections between the notified period.

Voting in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to be held in a single phase on November 9 while in Gujarat, voting will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

Noting that there are instances of violations of the rules by some television channels in the telecast of their panel discussions, debates and other news and current affairs programmes, the poll panel warned that violation of Section 126 is "punishable with imprisonment upto two years, or with fine or both".

The ECI also drew the print media's attention to the Press Council of India guidelines to be observed during elections, which urge the press to give objective reports about elections and the candidates and avoid reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or hatred among people on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language.

The guidelines also ask reporters to not accept hospitality or other facilities offered by or on behalf of any candidate or party.

Drawing the electronic media's attention to similar guidelines issued by News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), the ECI said that news channel shall not disclose any political affiliations, either towards a party or candidate.

"Unless they publicly endorse or support a particular party or candidate, news broadcasters have a duty to be balanced and impartial, especially in their election reporting," one of the guidelines read.

The guidelines also ask news broadcasters to resist all political and financial pressures and to maintain a "clear distinction between editorial and expert opinion" carried on their news channels.

"News broadcasters are required to scrupulously maintain a distinction between news and paid content. All paid content should be clearly marked as 'Paid Advertisement' or 'Paid Content' and such content must be carried in compliance with norms," the ECI said quoting guidelines.

"Special care must be taken to report opinion polls accurately and fairly, by disclosing to viewers as to who commissioned, conducted and paid for the conduct of the opinion polls and the broadcast. If a news broadcaster carries the results of an opinion poll or other election projection, it must also explain the context, and the scope and limits of such polls with their limitations.

"Broadcast of opinion polls should be accompanied by information to assist viewers to understand the poll's significance, such as the methodology used, the sample size, the margin of error, the fieldwork dates, and data used. Broadcasters should also disclose how vote shares are converted to seat shares," it further said.
Thiruvananthapuram, November 07 : Kerala state womens commission chairperson M C Josephine has rejected national womens commission (NCW) chief Rekha Sharmas charge that there were forced religious conversions of women in Kerala.

The national womens panel chief the other day, after calling on Akhila aka Hadiya at her home, had stated that Hadiyas was a case of forced conversion.

Addressing a press conference in Kozhikode on Tuesday, Ms. Sharma reiterated the charge that there were forced conversions in Kerala and that extremist groups were behind this.

Kerala womens panel chief Ms. Josephine told reporters on Tuesday that Ms. Sharma made the charge of forced conversions in Kerala without fully understanding the situation in the state.

Denying that forced conversions were happening in the state, Ms. Josephine charged that the national womens panel chiefs remarks were but an attempt to portray Kerala in a bad light at the national level.

Ms. Josephine also took exception to the national womens panel members calling on Hadiya without intimating the state womens commission.

Prior to visiting Hadiyas house, the national womens panel neither informed the state commission of the visit nor sought a report from us, Ms. Josephine lamented.

Ms. Josephine also asserted that the state womens panel has taken the correct stand in the Hadiya issue.

Hadiyas case drew public attention after her parents approached the Kerala high court with a habeas corpus petition saying that their daughter, then named Akhila, has been misled and converted to Islam by her muslim friends with the intention to take her out of the country to join the islamic state (ISIS).

During the hearing of the case, Hadiya got married to a muslim youth named Shafin Jahan. Taking exception to this, the court annulled the marriage and sent Hadiya to her parents custody.

On a petition filed by Shafin Jahan before the supreme court challenging the decision of the Kerala high court, the apex court ordered a national investigation agency probe to look into whether it was a case of love jihad, where Hindu woman are allegedly wooed by Muslim men with the aim of converting them to Islam.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Surat in Gujarat on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the government's demonetisation decision, which the party is observing as "Black Day".

In what will be his second visit this month, Gandhi will hold informal meetings with industry representatives and workers during the day, according to the party.

The Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

The party said Gandhi will have interaction with traders at Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium, Adajan Gam in Surat and later be part of candlelight vigil near Vivekanand Statue in Chowk Bazar, Surat.

His visit comes after senior party leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in Ahmedabad on Tuesday where he addressed a large crowd of businesspersons against demonetisation and GST.

The Congress party will observe November 8 as "Black Day" with country-wide protests against demonetisation with the theme "Bhugat Raha hai desh" (the country is suffering).

After Surat, Gandhi is likely to visit North Gujarat from November 9 to 11.

He had visited the poll-bound state twice in October.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to seek an FIR against the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for ordering police firing on 'kar sevaks' in Ayodhya in October 1990.

The kar sevaks had assembled in the town as part of an agitation for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Petitioner Rana Sangram Singh, a resident of Lucknow district, challenged a May 3, 2016, order of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court that rejected his plea on the matter.

His plea before a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Additional District and Sessions Judge were also dismissed on August 28, 2014, and February 11, 2016, respectively.

The petitioner wants registration of a case based on Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement of February 6, 2014, at a public meeting in Mainpuri and Gonda that he had ordered the police firing on October 30, 1990, which killed several persons. These remarks were reported by newspapers the next day.

Raising a question of law, the petitioner asked under what provisions of law a Chief Minister could order police firing.

The petitioner also asked who had the power under the Code of Criminal Procedure to take steps to disperse an unlawful assembly by force without taking the help of armed forces.
Chennai, Nov 7 : The DMK will organise protests as part of the Opposition's "Black Day" campaign on Wednesday against the Centre's demonetisation decision, notwithstanding speculation that the BJP was cosying up to the regional party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call on the ailing DMK President M. Karunanidhi.

M.K. Stalin, DMK's Working President, left for Madurai to participate in a protest there while his sister Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha member, will be present in Coimbatore.

The party called off the protests only in rain-affected Chennai and other coastal districts but decided to go ahead with it in other districts.

The DMK in a statement urged traders, workers and others affected by demonetisation to wear black badges on Wednesday.

Modi's meeting with Karunanidhi on Monday had sparked speculation that the two parties may be on a path of reconciliation with reports even saying the party had called off the anti-demonetisation protests.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday that investigations related to the Paradise Papers about offshore financial holdings will be on the lines of the Panama Papers and said that each case will be dealt on "individual merit".

"The process which we followed in Panama Papers, almost same process will be followed in Paradise Papers so that it could be identified which account is legal and which is illegal. Each case will be considered on individual merit," Jaitley said in response to a question on how the government is going to probe the Paradise Papers disclosures.

He said the names that figured in Panama Papers were investigated after sending notices.

"They were some two-three types of cases. Among them some accounts were completely illegal. After tracing them action was initiated on the basis of evidences. Some said their accounts were legal and they had their own defence. Such cases are considered on the basis of merit," he said.

The government on Monday directed that investigations in cases of Paradise Papers will be monitored through a reconstituted Multi Agency Group, headed by the Chairman, CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) having representatives from CBDT, ED (Enforcement Directorate), RBI (Reserve Bank of India) and FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit).

There are 714 Indian entities and individuals having financial holdings abroad, the Indian Express said in a front-page banner story done as part of a world-wide International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) probe.

In India, as it did with Panama Papers, the Express investigated these records - involving Indians and Indian entities -- for over 10 months to come up with the India findings which it said will be published in over 40 investigative reports.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Delhi University (DU) teachers on Tuesday staged a demonstration in the campus against the non-payment of salaries at 12 colleges -- fully funded by the Delhi government -- for the previous one month.

The Delhi government funds 28 colleges of DU, 12 of which are 100 per cent funded by it while in the rest the government's funding contribution is five per cent.

The teachers of these 12 colleges, including Maharaja Agrasen College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Bhagini Nivedita College and Shaheed Sukhdev College, have not received their pay for the last month owing allegedly to the absence of governing bodies there.

"We are of the view that the teachers have nothing to do with the tussle between the University and the government over the formation of governing bodies," Vice President of Delhi University Teachers' Association Sudhanshu Kumar told IANS.

"Teachers have no role to play in their formation. We have asked for the immediate release of the salaries of the teachers."

Dean of Colleges Devesh Sinha said that the varsity has approached the state government to release funds for the salaries.

"We have requested the Delhi government to pay the salaries and form the governing bodies," Sinha told IANS.

The governing bodies have not been formed in the state government-funded 28 colleges for a year and a quarter due to the disagreement between government and the varsity over the names of the suggested members, Kumar said.

Each governing body is constituted of 10 members with the government and the university reserving the right to select five each.

The long-pending issue of regularisation of ad hoc teachers was also raised by the teachers, who demanded that those working as ad hoc for a long time should be made permanent.

There are approximately 4,500 ad hoc teachers in DU, many of them for years, in contravention of the niversity Executive Council 2007 resolution, which stipulates that any extension in a casual vacancy filled with an ad hoc beyond a period of four months should be explained by the college.

"But as the situation prevails, nobody is required to do any explaining as nobody is doing any asking... Moreover, the colleges, despite a Delhi High Court order of filling all such seats with permanent appointments by July 31 this year, failed to do so," Kumar said.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised currency and arrested nine persons here in its ongoing probe into the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

Following inputs, an NIA team seized the currency on Monday on Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place -- a business and financial hub of Delhi situated not more than eight km from the counter-terror agency's headquarters.

"Seven gang members were initially apprehended while carrying 28 cartons filled with the demonetised notes in four luxury vehicles. Their other accomplices were apprehended later in the evening. We seized Rs 36,34,78,500 from their possession," NIA Spokesperson Alok Mittal told IANS.

He said after initial questioning at the NIA headquarters, the nine were arrested on Tuesday in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. They will be produced in a Special NIA court on Wednesday.

Those held were Pradeep Chauhan, 47, Bhagwan Singh, 54, Vinod Shreedhar Shetty, 47, Shahnawaz Mir, 45, Deepak Toprani, 60, Majid Yousuf Sofi, 27, Ejajul Hassan, 38, Umar Mushtaq Dar, 27, and Jaswinder Singh, 53.

Three hail from Jammu and Kashmir, two from Delhi, two from Mumbai, and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Nagpur.

NIA investigators said they received inputs about persons/entities having links with separatists/terrorists and still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency, which they could not deposit or convert during the period earmarked by the government.

"Surveillance was mounted, which led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein these persons were trying to convert the demonetised money into valid currency."

In the case, the NIA has so far arrested seven separatist leaders, one businessman, and two stone-pelters for receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terror activities and stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir.

The assertion came amid opposition claims that the November 8, 2016, decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes (almost 86 per cent of the currency in circulation then) had made no significant impact on curbing terrorism and its financing from across the border.
Chandigarh, Nov 7 : Agrarian states Punjab and Haryana have procured over 220 lakh tonne of paddy this season so far, Food and Supplies Department officials said here on Tuesday.

Punjab has procured over nearly 158 lakh tonne of paddy while in Haryana, over 63 lakh tonne has been procured.

Punjab is all set to set an all-time record of procuring over 182 lakh tonne of paddy this season. It had procured over 168 lakh tonne of paddy in a bumper crop season last year.

The paddy arrival in Haryana is much higher than the 57 lakh tonne paddy that arrived in grain markets in the corresponding period of last year.

Government agencies have procured 98.4 per cent of the paddy arriving in grain markets in Punjab.

In Haryana, government agencies have procured nearly 95 per cent of the paddy arrivals. The rest of the paddy has been procured by rice millers and traders.

The procurement of paddy began in both states on October 1. The paddy arrival and procurement will continue till the end of November.

The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned an amount of nearly Rs 28,263 crore to Punjab to make payments to farmers for the paddy, while the state government had sought over Rs 33,800 crore this Kharif season.

Both states are expecting a bumper crop this year and officials said that this could be nearly 230 lakh tonne this season.
Ghaziabad, Nov 7 : In view of air pollution touching alarming levels, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari on Tuesday ordered the closure of both government and private schools up to Class V for two days, said a senior officer.

Besides, the district magistrate also ordered a complete halt to construction activities in the city for a week, sprinkling of water on roads and penalising citizens if found disposing off garbage in the open.

"The District Magistrate has also recommended to close 15 polluting industrial units and impose penalties on five construction companies for violating orders," said District Information Officer (DIO) Raj Bahadur Singh.

According to him, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), municipal corporation, Jal Nigam, Public Works Department and the National Highway Authority of India have been asked to take extraordinary measures to curb pollution.

"We have immediately complied with the orders of the DM, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Authority, with immediate effect. Water was sprinkled on all major roads in Indirapuram, link roads, and parts of NH 24 and NH 58, among others," said GDA Secretary Ravendra Madhukar Godbole.

"We are complying with the order to stop construction activities at sensitive locations in the city," added Godbole.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that prima facie it appears that it was obligatory for the Delhi government to intimate the Lt Governor of all decision taken by the Council of Ministers as it observed that the difference between the Lt. Governor and the Chief Minister should not be over trivial matters.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra also said that while differing with the decision taken by the Council of Ministers, the Lt. Governor should keep in mind the citizens' trust and the august office he was holding.

The five-judge constitution bench, also comprising Justice A.K.Sikri, Justice A.M.Khanwilkar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan, said that it was not necessary for the Lt. Governor to concur with every aid and advice given by the Council of Ministers and there are certain areas where Delhi government has to take prior consent of the Lt. Governor before taking any decision.

It further said that the areas where Lt. Governor acts on the aid and advise of the Council of Ministers is limited because unlike the states, the executive powers of the Delhi government being a union territory are limited.

The court said this as senior counsel Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the Delhi government, told the constitution bench that once they had the legislative powers, the Lt. Governor is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

As Subramanium said that in the event of differences beten the Lt. Governor and the Council of Ministers, the former was duty bound to refer the matter to the President for decision, Justice Sikri asked him if in that situation, the President would decide the matter on his own or act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

He said that the matter would be decided by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs looking after union territories.

The constitution bench is hearing a batch of petitions by Delhi government and others challenging Delhi High Court order holding the Lt. Governor held the primacy and had final say in the administration of Delhi.

The bench repeatedly confronted Subramanium with the proviso 4 in the Constitution's Article 239AA which says that Council of Ministers will aid and advise the Lt. Governor on the matters on which the state assembly can make laws and in the event of difference of opinion, the Lt. Governor would refer the matter to the President for decision. In the intervening period, if Lt. Governor feels that matter requires to be attended to urgently, then he would take the decision.

Article 239AA spells out special provisions with respect to Delhi.

The bench also read to Subramanium Article 239(1) which says that President would administer the union territory through Lt. Governor who will be the administrator.

Addressing the query from the bench, Subramanium said that the Proviso 4 should read as an integral whole of the Article 239AA and not separately. He then dwelt on the principle involved in the interpretation of a constitutional provisions that includes constitutional morality, equality, welfare of people and public trust.

He said that a proviso can't subsume the main Article.

Referring to the instances where Lt. Governor sat on the decisions taken by the Arvind Kejriwal government, Subramanium said he took one whole year in clearing the file for setting up of Mohalla clinics, and the file for the hiking of the minimum wages.
Jaipur, Nov 7 : With the release date of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" approaching, its troubles seem to be mounting as well. After protests by the Karni Sena and also a Brahmin group, now the former royal family of Jaipur has opposed release of the film "if historical facts are distorted".

Former princess, Diya Kumari in a statement said that no film should hurt the sentiments of a community by "twisting historical facts".

Diya Kumari is a BJP MLA.

The director of the film "Padmavati", Sanjay Leela Bhansali should not wrongly depict the story of Queen Padmavati of Chittor. He should get the facts in the film verified by a forum of historians and then release the film, she said in a statement.

Diya Kumari said that "Rajputs will not allow any distortion of the valiant history of Rajasthan and sacrifice of its people in fighting barbarians".

Diya Kumari said if the movie does not display authentic history or takes any liberties, it will not be allowed to be released.

The latest development comes as film distributors in Rajasthan have expressed unease over releasing the film, scheduled to hit the screens on December 1.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, and the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, a Brahmin community organisation, have decided to oppose the release of the film. According to them, historical facts have been distorted in the film.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, along with other organisations, had called for a Chittorgarh bandh on November 3. Along with like-minded organisations, the Karni Sena plans to organise a big rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on November 12 against the movie.
Udaipur, Nov 7 : Farmers' income can be increased without adopting Genetically Modified (GM) crops, said a Rajasthan Minister on Tuesday, adding that his government had achieved the feat by bringing innovations in traditional farming practices and encouraging farmers to harvest cash crops.

The state government's efforts to convince farmers to harvest commercial and exotic crops such as olives, quinoa had paid off, said Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini on the sidelines of Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet here.

"We do not want any interference with our traditional mustard varieties. Also, we do not need GM technology since our non-GM varieties are yielding more. With the help of integrated farming that include poultry, fishery, we have already increased farmers' income. In addition, we have started cultivation of dates, olives, quinoa, which are cash crops," Saini said.

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a regulator under the Union Environment Ministry, deferred approval to the commercial release of GM variety of Mustard.

Saini added that the government had generated revenue of Rs 189 crore in last two years by promoting commercial harvest of medicinal plants and forest produce.

"We have also started aquaculture despite water scarcity in the state," he said.

The government said that the state's agriculture growth rate had increased to 6.37 per cent this year from 3.12 per cent a year ago.
Hyderabad, Nov 7 : After lying low for three years, veteran actress and former Member of Parliament M. Vijayashanti is set to become active in politics as she called on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday.

Congress party leader incharge of party affairs in Telangana R. C. Kuntia and state party chief Uttam Kumar Reddy were also present during the meeting.

Vijayashanti told Rahul that she will work for the victory of the party in 2019 elections. Party sources said she may get an important responsibility in the organisation.

The actress-turned-politician was away from active politics since her defeat in 2014 elections.

"Lady Amitabh", the nickname she earned for her action roles in Telugu films, had joined Congress on the eve of 2014 elections after she was suspended from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for anti-party activities.

Vijayashanti began her political career with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1997 and served as General Secretary of the party's women's wing. She quit BJP in 2005 to float a separate outfit to fight for separate statehood to Telangana.

She later merged "Talli Telangana" with TRS and was elected to Lok Sabha from Medak constituency in 2009.
Hyderabad, Nov 7 : Banks in India are likely to replace the existing ATMs with more innovative and multi-function machines in the next three to four months, said officials of NCR Corporation, a global leader in omni-channel solutions.

The multi-function ATMs will have innovative features like face recognition and biometrics and will facilitate customers in transferring money and depositing cash and cheques. The machines will not run out of money as the cash deposited by customers will be dispensed.

NCR, which has a 50 percent ATM market share in India, has come out with innovations like Interactive Teller ATM and EMV contactless ATM from its research and development centre in Hyderabad.

The ATM market in the country has gone down in the country post demonetization but NCR believes that with the replacement of existing ATMs, the market would return to 9 percent annual growth rate as the progression to cashless economy will be slow.

The existing ATMs were deployed 8 to 10 years ago and with the deployment of multi-function machines in metros, the existing ones will be moved to tier II and tier III cities.

The company executives shared these thoughts while announcing opening of their research and development centre in Hyderabad, its largest R&D centre outside the US.

Spread across 140,000 square feet and 1,200 employees, the software is working on innovative products and platforms for channel transformation and digital enablement.

Paul Langenbahn, Executive Vice President, NCR Software said that the R&D centre in Hyderabad would focus on the development of innovative technologies to assist customers across the industries NCR serves.

Eli Rosner, Chief Technology Officer, NCR Corporation said the centre will be developing and supporting innovative software and services that global institutions use to empower consumers through self-service applications.

Hyderabad facility is responsible for innovations including the Interactive Teller ATM, EMV contactless ATM, mobile payments solutions, retail self-checkout lanes, CRM platforms and cinema and stadium systems management solutions.

NCR's manufacturing facility in Chennai has manufactured 200,000 ATMs since 2004. The company exports 70 percent of the machines manufactured in Chennai facility.

With about $7 billion global revenues, NCR has 30,000 employees including 3,600 in India.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The NIA on Tuesday said it had taken over the case wherein Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight was diverted to Ahmedabad on October 30 following a security threat.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said the case was taken over by the agency as Gujarat Police registered the case under the anti-hijacking law and arrested Birju Kishore Salla, a Mumbai-based diamond businessman.

The flight 9W-339, with 122 passengers, including seven crew, made an emergency landing at the Ahmedabad airport after a letter warning about a hijack and bomb threat was discovered in the plane's toilet.

The pilot had alerted the Ahmedabad airport authorities about the threat letter, reported to be in Urdu and English.

The plane was taken to a remote bay at Ahmedabad airport and all passengers disembarked and screened. It was later cleared for take-off.
Beijing, Nov 7 : China on Tuesday denounced as "gas and speculation" the reports about the US and Japan teaming up to ensure "free and open" Indo-Pacific region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said media reports, especially "Japanese, about such partnership between Japan and the US to contain China are gas and speculation".

US President Donald Trump, who is visiting Asia, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed Indo-Pacific region as Washington wants Tokyo, New Delhi, and Canberra to join a dialogue in the region.

Last Sunday, a US official said that instead of the term Asia-Pacific, Washington would like to use the phrase Indo-Pacific because it "captures the importance of India's rise".

"We have indeed noted that recently this concept has been mentioned many times," Hua said when asked about such arrangements was to counter China in Indo-Pacific region and its Belt and Road Initiative.

Describing the Indo-Pacific as the dynamic region which has the biggest potential in the world, she said stability and peace is of great significance to bring prosperity in the region.

Indo-Pacific region includes the Indian Ocean and some part of the South China Sea.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised currency and arrested nine persons here in its ongoing probe into the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

Following inputs, an NIA team seized the currency on Monday on Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place -- a business and financial hub of Delhi situated not more than eight km from the counter-terror agency's headquarters.

"Seven gang members were initially apprehended while carrying 28 cartons filled with the demonetised notes in four luxury vehicles. Their other accomplices were apprehended later in the evening. We seized Rs 36,34,78,500 from their possession," NIA Spokesperson Alok Mittal told IANS.

He said after initial questioning at the NIA headquarters, the nine were arrested on Tuesday in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. They will be produced in a Special NIA court on Wednesday.

Those held were Pradeep Chauhan, 47, Bhagwan Singh, 54, Vinod Shreedhar Shetty, 47, Shahnawaz Mir, 45, Deepak Toprani, 60, Majid Yousuf Sofi, 27, Ejajul Hassan, 38, Umar Mushtaq Dar, 27, and Jaswinder Singh, 53.

Three accused hail from Jammu and Kashmir, two from Delhi, two from Mumbai, and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Nagpur.

NIA investigators said they received inputs about persons/entities having links with separatists/terrorists and still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency, which they could not deposit or convert during the period earmarked by the government.

"Surveillance was mounted, which led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein these persons were trying to convert the demonetised money into valid currency."

With the arrest of the nine persons the total number of arresting in the terror funding has now reached 19.

The agency has so far arrested since June has arrested seven separatist leaders, one businessman, and two stone-pelters for receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terror activities and stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir.

On July 24, the NIA arrested seven persons -- Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah -- on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India.

Altaf Ahmad Shah is the son-in-law of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who advocates Jammu and Kashmir's merger with Pakistan.

Islam is a close aide of moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. WhileAKhandey is the spokesperson for the Geelani-led Hurriyat.

The agency also arrested businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in mid-August, who is accused of acting as a conduit for channelling funds for separatists and terror activities in the valley.

He was allegedly collecting funds from Pakistan and banned terrorist organisations and transferring the same to various Hurriyat leaders.

On September 5, two alleged stone-pelters --AJaved Ahmad Bhat of Kulgam and Kamran of Pulwama -- were arrested in connection with an ongoing probe into terror funding to stoke unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

A highly placed NIA source told IANS that the agency officials had apprehended two more persons from Ambala in Haryana and seized Rs 4.5 lakh in demonetised currency.

The source said the two were apprehended from Brara in Ambala district on Tuesday. The agency is investigating if they are linked to the nine persons arrested in the terror funding case.

The development came amid opposition claims that the November 8, 2016, decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes (almost 86 per cent of the currency in circulation then) had made no significant impact on curbing terrorism and its financing from across the border.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Nearly three months after a retired postmaster complained of theft of jewellery from his east Delhi house, police has registered an FIR, but only after the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Surender Kumar of Jheel Khurenja area informed Police Control Room on August 9 about the theft of 20-carat jewellery he had bought from his savings made over the last 21 years for his daughter's marriage in March 2018.

"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji, I dedicated my entire life for the country as a postmaster and remained so for 35 years. I never cared whether it was summer or winter. My wife passed away on August 23 due to trauma due to theft at our house as she had kept the jewellery for our daughter's marriage but it was stolen by unidentified neighbours on August 9," Surender Kumar said in letters to the PMO and MHA.

"When I realised that Geeta Colony police will not register a theft case, letters to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) were my only hope. On August 12, I wrote letters to them to plead for help and intervene," the retired postmaster told IANS.

"Modi ji, you said good days will come. Since I am poor, police is not taking my case seriously. This is your 'sapnon ka Bharat' (India of your dreams). You have done good work on Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation, but thieves robbed me of my savings of 36 years. Now, I have lost almost everything," he wrote in a letter to te PMO, which forms a part of the FIR.

Surender Kumar, 62, had worked at the Post Office headquarters at the ITO and retired two years ago.

He said though an FIR was registered, he had lost hope that police will arrest the thives and restore his stolen jewelery to him. He said he is working as an insurance agent to save some money for his daughter's impending marriage.
Rome, Nov 7 : The Italian government, a leading Catholic charity and Evangelical and Waldensian churches on Tuesday renewed agreement to help refugees enter Italy legally and safely, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The accord was signed in Rome by Italy's Foreign and Interior Ministries, the Catholic Community of St Egidio charity, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Church, the ministry saidd.

The 'Opening of Humanitarian Corridors' project should help 1,000 refugees in Lebanon and Morocco, the ministry said.

A thousand people - mainly Syrians - entered Italy from Lebanon in 2016-2017 under the project, the ministry said.

The project aims to assist the most vulnerable refugees, including women travelling alone with children, elderly, disabled and sick people, and potential human trafficking victims.

Assistance provided to refugees under the project includes Italian lessons, job placements and enrolling children in schools, according to the ministry.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 7 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will deliver his maiden address to schoolchildren on television on Children's Day on November 14, a Minister said on Tuesday.

The 45-minute speech meant for more than 6,60,000 students from around 62,000 schools across the state will be aired on Doordarshan from 11.15 a.m. to noon on November 14.

School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra said the Panchayati Raj Department will organise the event.

He said District Collectors have been directed to make necessary arrangements at the block and panchayat levels for the programme.

The School and Mass Education Department has asked schools' authorities to make arrangement for television sets, including hiring devices in case they do not have one.

Debates and essay writing competitions would also be held in schools on that day.
New Delhi, Nov 8 : Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Tuesday said that a detailed report has been sought from budget carrier IndiGo regarding the incident at Delhi airport last month, when a passenger was manhandled by the airline's staff.

The incident which took place on October 15 surfaced on Tuesday after a video showed passenger -- Rajiv Katiyal -- being manhandled by the airline's staff after a verbal altercation.

Katiyal, who arrived from Chennai, was waiting for the bus inside the airport when the incident happened. Its not clear exactly who started the verbal altercation.

"IndiGo passenger incident from October 15 is deplorable and unfortunate. Passenger safety and security is our top-most priority," Sinha said in a series of tweets.

"MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) has already asked for a detailed report from Indigo by tomorrow... Indigo senior executives have personally apologised to the passenger."

"We hope that the passenger will file a criminal complaint. This will enable us to take appropriate action."

On its part IndiGo airline's President and Whole Time Director Aditya Ghosh said: "I acknowledge the unpleasant experience our passenger went through, while engaging with our staff at Delhi airport. My personal apologies as this does not reflect our culture."

"I had personally spoken to the passenger and asked for an apology... Under the code of conduct violation, this incident was investigated and stern action was taken against the staff."

Referring to the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGI airport, Sanjay Bhatia said a compromise was arrived at between Katiyal and IndiGo staff Jubi Thomas after a complaint was made over a phone call to police.

Meanwhile, former Air India Chief and Railway Board Chairman, Ashwani Lohani also condemned the manhandling of airline passenger as "shameful" saying it was inhuman.

"The shameful manhandling by two airline (Indigo) employees in beating up a passenger on the tarmac is inhuman, disgusting to say the least and not at all acceptable in a civilized society," Lohani wrote on social media networking site facebook.

Slamming the airlines for terminating its employee -- Montu Kalra -- who shot the video and turned a whistle blower in the manhandling case, Lohani said: "The subsequent action of the airline in sacking the whistleblower is the icing on the cake of gross misconduct. It is apparent that such an act is borne only out of the false sense of pride that the company has started displaying since their market share has started knocking on 50 per cent."

"Indifference towards the very passengers who took them there is indeed sad. That the role of the national carrier in maintaining a sense of sobriety in airline operations and also fares may soon come to a halt in light of the ongoing disinvestment process is also a cause of concern in light of such incidents.

"What happened on the tarmac is just unacceptable and the government needs to step in with a very heavy hand and that too without delay," the former Air India chief added..
Brussels, Nov 8 : The US Ambassador to Nato Kay Bailey Hutchison has called on Pakistan to help in stabilising Afghanistan by not supporting terrorist networks.

"We would like to see Pakistan come in, in a positive effort to help stabilise Afghanistan by not supporting terrorist networks," Bailey told reporters in Brussels.

"India is going to be a great ally in this. India is looking forward to and pledging more support, more monetary support, more infrastructure support, more training support, and India is a great ally of the US as well as of Afghanistan," said Hutchsion .

She was briefing reporters on the agenda of the meeting of Nato defence ministers on Wednesday and Thursday. Afghanistan and North Korea are two main topics on the agenda.
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO) is collaborating with Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) on a project-based, semester-long program. The primary goal of this Industrial Design IV course is for students to design a line of eyewear products, including a 3D prototype.

Its win-win for both the students and us, said Casandra Barrett, GROs Optical Director. We have the privilege of working alongside fresh, creative minds and seeing their ideas come to life while, at the same time, sharing our expertise with the next generation of designers.

GRO will be involved at every stage of the process; their optical professionals will engage directly with students through presentations, discussions, mid-progress critiques, and ultimately reviewing the students final projects at the end of the semester.

This is one of the best courses Ive taught, said Tom Edwards, the KCAD Industrial Design Professor leading this project. There are pragmatic criteria for eyeglasses to be functional yet they can also be a fashion statement. This project leverages a wide range of technology from digital modeling to 3D printing and challenges the students with creating a branded family of products.

The collaboration between GRO and KCAD provides students a realistic working experience with a local company as well as the opportunity to enhance their product design portfolios.

About Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO)

Founded in 1982, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology is the largest fully-integrated eye care medical group in West Michigan. It offers a full suite of eye care services from routine eye exams, contact lenses and glasses, to the most advanced medical and surgical treatments such as LASIK, cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastics, pediatric, and both cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. GRO employs the largest number of eye care specialists and professionals in the region: 11 ophthalmologists, 19 optometrists, 40 certified opticians, and 300 support staff in 12 locations throughout West Michigan. For more information, visit: http://www.seeitclear.com.

About Sterling Partners

Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. Founded in 1983, Sterling is guided by its stated purpose, INSPIRED GROWTH, which describes Sterlings approach to investing in differentiated businesses and growing them in inspired ways. Sterling focuses on investing growth capital in middle-market companies in the healthcare services and business services industries. Sterling provides valuable support to the management teams of the companies in which the firm invests through a deep and dedicated team of professionals, including a strong network of outside directors and advisors. The people at Sterling believe in ideas and ideals, in people and in partnerships that drive long-term success. For more information, visit: http://www.sterlingpartners.com.

About KCAD

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) is committed to creating lasting impact in West Michigan and beyond through collaborative partnerships, cultural innovation, and an educational model that prepares students for leadership in the visual arts, design, art history, and art education; provides innovative, collaborative education that fosters intellectual growth and individual creativity; and promotes the ethical and civic responsibilities of artists and designers, locally and globally. For more information, please visit http://www.kcad.edu.
We are thrilled to partner with D2GO in launching the next generation of resort innovation

Digital2Go Media Networks (D2GO), a consumer engagement and marketing intelligence company, and RCI today announced a partnership to bring D2GOs powerful intelligence platform to thousands of hotels and resorts throughout Latin America.

D2GOs engagement solutions will enable resorts to take advantage of a variety of wireless signals, including Bluetooth beacons, WiFi, and GPS to deliver highly-relevant mobile content directly to guests smartphones based on their precise location on resort grounds or while away. In partnership with RCI, D2GO will provide affiliated resorts and hotels with the ability to tailor mobile messages, content and services they deliver to guests based on collected information such as demographics, location, time, behavior, interests, and more. D2GOs mobile audience targeting allows resorts to engage guests in the moments that matter, and is powered by online and offline data along with real-world device behaviors and insights, and will help resort owners make business intelligence decisions across a wide variety of engagement initiatives.

Speaking to the value placed on this new partnership, Fernando Alonso, president of D2GO LATAM said, The travel and tourism industry in Latin America is a $400B industry, with over 35M annual international visitors to Mexico alone. The market is dyamic and evolving, and the use of mobile device data alongside our dMosaic platform will drive new experiences, increase guest interaction and occupancy rates, and will help revolutionize the industry. RCI is the premier partner in this industry that will help us make an indelible impact, and we cant wait to share more exciting news as our partnership unfolds.

RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, offering the worlds largest vacation exchange network and providing unrivaled products and services to enhance the vacation ownership experience. More resorts trust RCI to deliver vacation exchange services to their owners than any other company across the globe. RCI helps its members take the vacations of their dreams and explore the world through approximately 4,300 affiliated resorts in nearly 110 countries. Ana Laura Acevedo, special programs vice president of RCI, had this to say about the partnership: RCI has been a leader in providing premium vacation experiences to members all over the world since 1974. As we look to the next generation of these exciting resort experiences and maintaining our leadership position, it became clear that we needed to do something special. The team at D2GO brought us an exciting solution that allows us to further strengthen our leadership position, while offering our affiliated resorts an incredible platform to interact with guests, members, and non-members, and provide a cultivated and unique resort experience. We are thrilled to partner with D2GO in launching the next generation of resort innovation.

According to data from Statista and Travel Leaders Group, Latin Americas travel and tourism industry made a total contribution of more than $371.8 billion U.S. dollars to the regions GDP  including $135.6 billion directly contributed by the industry. By 2026, the total GDP contributed by the Latin American travel and tourism industry is expected to rise to around $600 billion U.S. dollars. Last year, Latin America welcomed over 100 million international tourist arrivals, with Mexico receiving the most. That same year, international visitors to Mexico spent $18 billion U.S. dollars in the country.

About Digital2Go Media Networks, Inc.:

Digital2Go (D2GO) is a consumer engagement and marketing intelligence company focused on redefining mobile engagement. The D2GO dMosaic platform provides advanced audience segment targeting, combined with powerful data collection capabilities to enhance brand value through targeted mobile device engagement. Headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in Mexico City, Mexico. To date, the company has deployed its solutions to over 10,000 locations in the US and Mexico.

About RCI:

RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with over 4,300 affiliated resorts in nearly 110 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through the RCI Weeks program, the week-for-week exchange system, and the RCI Points program, the industrys first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its 3.8 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCIs luxury exchange program, The Registry Collection program, is the worlds largest program of its kind with approximately 200 affiliated properties either accessible for exchange or under development on six continents. For additional information visit our media center or rciaffiliates.com. RCI also can be found on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .
Nationally acclaimed consulting and accounting firm Cherry Bekaert LLP (the Firm) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC (FDH), one of Nashvilles largest certified public accounting firms. This strategic joining of forces expands Cherry Bekaerts service footprint into the Nashville, Tennessee, market.

In combining with FDH, Cherry Bekaert enters the Nashville market as one of the ten largest CPA and consulting firms servicing Middle Tennessee, with eleven partners and more than 50 associates in the new Nashville practice. Cherry Bekaert targeted Nashville for expansion possibilities due to the citys diverse and growing economy and innovative business climate that attracts and caters to the Firms core industry sectors of technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, distribution, transportation, logistics, healthcare, education and nonprofits.

Cherry Bekaert has the desire to expand into growing markets that can benefit from our industry-focused, growth advisory service approach, so Nashville has been at the top of our list for some time, commented Howard J. Kies, CPA, Firm Managing Partner of Cherry Bekaert. Given its longevity and strong reputation for client service, FDH was a perfect match to help us enter the Nashville market. THInc, our specialty practice that serves the innovative needs of technology, health and life sciences, and industrial clients, will be a key growth driver for our combined firms going forward.

Founded in 1975 by Charles Frasier, FDH established a tradition of trust and reliability in working with a wide cross section of clients in Middle Tennessee. Mr. Frasiers commitment to his clients, colleagues and the larger community serves as a lasting legacy to his fellow partners and associates who make personal attention a hallmark of their service approach.

FDH professionals joining Cherry Bekaert as Partners include Barry Dean, Stephen Dolan, Jeffrey Fox, Edd Haynes, Jason Hoard, David Howard, Gay Moon, Steven Riley, Jeffrey Smith, and Robert Weatherly. Chase Wright, CPA, an Assurance & Advisory Partner with Cherry Bekaert, will also be a part of the Nashville practice.

Our clients will benefit from Cherry Bekaerts expansive suite of specialty services, said Barry Dean, Co-Managing Partner of FDH and new Partner at Cherry Bekaert. Cherry Bekaerts reputation with industries important to Nashvilles economy will serve as an ongoing catalyst for our growth as one firm.

The professional staff of FDH will continue to operate at 3310 West End Avenue, Suite 550 in Nashville.

About Cherry Bekaert LLP

As a nationally recognized, growth-oriented firm, Cherry Bekaert has the resources to take your business as far as you want to go. The Firms industry specialists already know your marketplace, so they can help you make the most of emerging opportunities while minimizing compliance headaches. With their down-to-earth style and wealth of practical advice, you will find Cherry Bekaert an indispensable part of your team.

Ranked among the largest accounting firms in the country, Cherry Bekaert specializes in offering solutions that impact their clients ability to grow. For 70 years, global corporations, private businesses, government entities, nonprofits, emerging firms and successful individuals have relied on Cherry Bekaert to guide them forward as their growth partner.

Cherry Bekaert LLP is an independent member of Baker Tilly International. Baker Tilly International is the worlds 8th largest accountancy and business advisory network by combined fee income of its independent members. Baker Tilly International member firms specialize in providing accountancy and business advisory services to entrepreneurial, growing businesses and mid-market listed corporates worldwide. | cbh.com
Were proud to see so many people in our community come out and join us to help fund research into Alzheimers, and our team is committed to being Agents of Change and working to support charities in our area

The Betty Skinner Insurance Agency, a family managed firm with offices that serve communities throughout the greater Seattle metropolitan region, is issuing a number of details regarding a recently concluded charity event to help raise donations for research into cures and treatments for Alzheimers.

The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Washington was a rousing success, and generated both awareness and support for the cause within the Seattle community. The event happened on October 16th and the Betty Skinner Insurance team was honored to have one of their own team members, Maggie Wilson, walk in support of her grandmother who is presently living with Alzheimer's.

Were proud to see so many people in our community come out and join us to help fund research into Alzheimers, and our team is committed to being Agents of Change and working to support charities in our area, said Betty Skinner, owner and chief executive of the Betty Skinner Insurance Agency.

The Skinner team reported that much of the success of the charity event hinged on the use of social media and email channels to galvanize support and inform participants in the Seattle area. Additionally, the firm produced a full length article discussing the charity event in their online magazine Our Hometown, which was widely read by area residents: http://bettyskinnerinsurance.com/magazines/.

The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's was only one of several major charity events undertaken by the Betty Skinner Insurance Agency since 2015. As regional representatives of the Agents of Change movement, the firm works closely with new local charitable causes on a quarterly basis.

For more information on the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's, or to find out more about the ongoing Alzheimers charity initiative in Seattle, readers are invited to review the following page provided by the Betty Skinner Insurance Agency: http://bettyskinnerinsurance.com/causes/walking-end-alzheimers/. Details on other charity events hosted by the Betty Skinner Insurance team are provided on the agencys Community Causes page: http://www.bettyskinnerinsurance.com/community-cause.

About Betty Skinner Insurance Agency

As a Personal Finance Representative in Bremerton, agency owner Betty Skinner knows many local families. Her knowledge and understanding of the people in her community ensures that clients of Betty Skinner Insurance Agency are provided with an outstanding level of service. Betty and her team look forward to helping families protect the things that are most important - family, home, car and more. Betty Skinner Insurance also offers clients a preparation strategy for achieving their financial goals. To contact an expert at Betty Skinner Insurance Agency, visit http://www.bettyskinnerinsurance.com/ or call (360) 479-9850.
VoloCAN is expected to be available worldwide in Spring 2018. VoloCAN helps BMW and Harley riders to maximize their visibility during normal ride, braking, and even when pulled off on the side of the road

Vectolabs Corp is excited to announce the launch of VoloCAN, a CANBUS accessory controller from Vectolabs that is compatible with BMW and *Harley motorcycles. The product will be unveiled for the first time at EICMA (Hall 8, Booth B63) in Milan, Italy on November 7, 2017.

As of October 16, 2017, the product is constantly on multiple field testing, and is expected to be available for retail globally in Spring 2018.

About VoloCAN

Vectolabs believes that VoloCAN is the CANBUS controller of choice for riders who place importance in visibility and safety. When installed, the rider will be able to control motorcycle accessories using factory controls and functions on the handlebar. For example:



When the horn is pressed, the auxiliary lights flash to increase the riders visibility.

Auxiliary lights brightness is adjustable with Wonder Wheel.

10A output for heated jacket or other accessories.

One of the best ways to stay safe on the motorcycle is to be visible. VoloCAN helps BMW and Harley riders to maximize their visibility during normal ride, braking, and even when pulled off on the side of the road said Faizal, the Co-founder of Vectolabs.

During EICMA, press kits will be handed out and a product video is also created to improve recognition. Furthermore, distributors and dealers who are interested can register with us and receive a special offer. Early bird pre-orders will receive a limited edition Vectolabs T-shirts. More information can be accessed at official page https://vololights.com/.

About Vectolabs

Vectolabs started out of a humble garage in Oceanside, California in 2013, and the company is now based in Buckley, Washington. Vectolabs is the creator of the best-selling motorcycle brake lights in the US, Vololights. Vectolabs also provides technological solutions to your everyday life and focuses on industrial sensors and Internet of Things (IoT).

For more information, visit http://www.vololights.com or connect with Vololights on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

*To be released Fall 2018
Kelsey Zook, loan officer with MidAtlantic Farm Credit As a native of Berks County, I look forward to serving the agriculture community in southeastern Pennsylvania, and helping our customers succeed.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit recently announced the hiring of Kelsey Zook as a loan officer. She will be based in the associations Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania office.

Were excited to have Kelsey join our sales team, says Darin Miller, regional lending manager for MidAtlantic Farm Credit. Her knowledge of both agriculture and our region will make her an asset to Farm Credit and our customers.

As a loan officer with Farm Credit, Zook will assist new and current customers with finding the financial solutions that will fit their needs. I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Farm Credit family, and to learn from the dedicated team, says Zook. As a native of Berks County, I look forward to serving the agriculture community in southeastern Pennsylvania, and helping our customers succeed.

Zook graduated from Delaware Valley University with a bachelors degree in animal science. She then earned her masters degree in business administration from Wilkes University. Prior to joining Farm Credit, she was a project associate with ClimeCo Corporation. Zook resides in Oley, Pennsylvania.

About MidAtlantic Farm Credit

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its memberborrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has over 11,300 members and over $2.68 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America.
Were grateful to be a part of this esteemed list of companies and we want to thank our clients; our success is truly predicated upon the partnership they entrust in us. -Jerry Schroeder, enCOMPASS President

The 2017 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. is the most competitive crop in the lists history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year average growth of 481%. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue is $206 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 619,500 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

"The Inc. 5000 is the most persuasive evidence I know that the American Dream is still alive. The founders and CEOs of the Inc. 5000 tell us they think determination, risk taking, and vision were the keys to their success, and I believe them. -Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg

CONTACT: Founded in 2006 by Jerry Schroeder, enCOMPASS has been an award-winning advertising agency since its establishment. As a full-service digital agency, enCOMPASS is able to offer its clients a complete spectrum of services ranging from website design and development to SEM, SEO, display, pre-roll, social media, digital radio, email marketing, mobile conquesting and more! Our holistic approach to traditional and the latest in digital can be best described by our trademarked term Interactive Marketing Intelligence (IMI).

For more information on enCOMPASS Advertising, visit https://www.encompassagency.com or email at imi(at)encompassagency(dot)com 704.896.9978 ext. 301.
Digital farming. Photo: Yara It is another important contribution to our mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet.

In line with Yaras strategy to accelerate its investments in digital farming, Yara completed the acquisition of ATC, which offers farmers and advisors solutions such as Adapt-N and N-Insight to optimize fertilizer use on individual field zones. Combining scientific multi-variable modelling of crops, weather, and field data, ATCs solutions enable online diagnostic and simulation of farmers choices to maximize yield, input cost efficiency, and the sustainability of farming.

ATC will help us implement our farmer-centric strategy and is an important building block in expanding our position in Digital Farming, said Terje Knutsen, Executive Vice President, Crop Nutrition, Yara. It is another important contribution to our mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet, Knutsen continues.

The scientific focus and experience of the ATC team will further strengthen Yaras position as the leading crop nutrition provider. We are impressed with the accuracy and quality of Adapt-Ns recommendations compared to other products in the market, and are excited about the opportunities that arise from combining the highly complementary digital solutions of the two companies, said Stefan Furnsinn, Senior Vice President, Digital Farming, Yara.

ATC combines an experienced cross-functional team of agronomists, modellers, software developers and entrepreneurs. The companys Adapt-N solution builds on decades of research initiated by Cornell University and involving dozens of leading partner organizations, resulting in broad scientific validation. The company, which is based in both New York and Silicon Valley, already has a strong commercial position in corn in the US, and is expanding to other crops and geographies, which will now be significantly accelerated together with Yaras global footprint and knowledge.

Our team is excited about Yaras digital solutions and the companys genuine commitment to helping farmers improve their financial and environmental performance. Joining our advanced technology and data-driven capabilities with a leading crop nutrition company like Yara provides a tremendous opportunity to scale globally, innovate across a wider product portfolio and crop base, and maintain focus on the success and sustainability of all farmers and those who serve them, said Steve Sibulkin, CEO, ATC.

Contacts

Stefan Furnsinn, SVP Digital Farming, Yara

Tel.: +49 160 97951531

E-mail: stefan.fuernsinn(at)yara(dot)com

Steve Sibulkin, CEO, ATC

Tel.: +1 866 208 3276 x5

E-mail: steve(at)agronomic(dot)com

Kristin Nordal, Media Relations, Yara

Tel.: +47 900 15 550

E-mail: kristin.nordal(at)yara(dot)com

About Yara

Yaras knowledge, products and solutions grow farmers, distributors and industrial customers businesses profitably and responsibly, while protecting the earths resources, food and environment.

Our fertilizers, crop nutrition programs and technologies increase yields, improve product quality and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices. Our industrial and environmental solutions improve air quality by reducing emissions from industry and transportation, and serve as key ingredients in the production of a wide range of goods. We foster a culture that promotes the safety of our employees, contractors and societies.

Founded in 1905 to solve emerging famine in Europe, today Yara has a worldwide presence, with close to 15,000 employees and sales to about 160 countries.

http://www.yara.com

About Agronomic Technology Corp

Agronomic Technology Corp provides a recommendation platform to help tackle key challenges in agriculture. The company leverages the power of cloud technology, proven science, and data to deliver large-scale, field-specific solutions that break the tradeoff between financial and environmental performance. Adapt-N, the leading independent nitrogen management solution, has been operated by ATC since the companys founding in 2013.

http://www.adapt-n.com
MedCurrent Corporation

MedCurrent, a leading provider of clinical decision support (CDS) solutions, today announced that it has appointed John Adziovsky as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. Mr. Adziovsky joined MedCurrent as President in 2017 as a recognized expert in the health informatics and radiology industries. Previously, he held leadership positions at Radimetrics, Bayer Healthcare, Montage Healthcare Solutions, and most recently Nuance Communications.

Were operating in an exciting market that requires constant focus and agility, said Mr. Adziovsky. In the time I have been with MedCurrent, we have already realized several new partnerships and opportunities. The global clinical decision support market is rapidly growing and MedCurrent has proven itself to be a clear leader in technology, user experience and improved outcomes. I look forward to building on our growth strategy to ensure MedCurrent continues to be at the forefront of intelligent design and development.

Joe Manget, Executive Chairman added, As President, John has already had a significant impact on MedCurrents direction and we look forward to seeing him further accelerate our growth as CEO. Johns product roadmap includes expanding MedCurrents offering to include machine learning, and his global experience is opening doors in new markets for us. 2018 will be a transformational year for the company under Johns leadership.

With Mr. Adziovskys leadership, MedCurrent will continue to deliver its best-in-class clinical decision support solution, OrderWise, to customers internationally while expanding its clinical and technical capabilities.

About MedCurrent:

MedCurrent is a physician-founded Clinical Decision Support (CDS) company focused on improving the quality of care and managing health system costs through our innovative and scalable solution, OrderWise. Our solution enhances the clinical decision-making process with real-time, evidence-based guidelines integrated at the point of care to improve health and healthcare delivery. Deep healthcare experience, superior technology and business agility make MedCurrent a global leader in CDS solutions. More information about MedCurrent is available at http://www.medcurrent.com.
Little by little, toy by toy, we all can draw smiles on childrens faces and have a positive impact on their lives.

McCullars & Lincoln Insurance & Retirement Planning has unveiled a new charity campaign for Toys for Tots of East Central Alabama as part of their innovative community involvement program. Toys for Tots has been a landslide win since the very beginning. From the 5,000 toys collected and distributed in 1947, spearheaded by Major Bill Hendricks of the USMCR, the program has grown and spread like wildfire. Now in its 70th year, The Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots has become a nationwide, 90-day community action project which last year resulted in $280 million in revenue  the second best year to date. To donate money to this worthy cause, readers may visit https://www.crowdrise.com/gifting-hope-this-holiday-season.

In addition to being tax-deductible, its good to know that a whopping 97.4% of all money raised goes straight to the program, meaning that millions of underprivileged children have the opportunity to feel the excitement that comes from being given a bright, shiny new toy and knowing they werent forgotten. Best of all, all toys collected stay right in the community, helping less fortunate kids at home to have a happier Christmas. The forward-thinking Marines at Toys for Tots believe that with each toy comes a kind message of hope that will assist children in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. But uniting communities across America in a common cause for three months isnt all. Fun activities are organized throughout the year to increase visibility, community support and donations.

Little by little, toy by toy, we all can draw smiles on childrens faces and have a positive impact on their lives, said Chad Lincoln, principal of McCullars & Lincoln Insurance & Retirement Planning. Its a perfect fit for our new community enrichment program. What higher calling could there be in this season of giving than passing joy and hope to a struggling neighbors child?

Utilizing its own resources and seeking the help of its vast network of customers and business partners, McCullars & Lincoln marches on to ensure customers, friends, family and neighbors are always in good hands. Social media and an email awareness campaign will be used to help the agencys caring team to spread the word about the campaign for Toys for Tots. They have also featured the cause in their monthly magazine, Our Hometown, which is delivered to thousands of households in the greater Anniston metro area. The electronic Flipbook version of the current and past issues may be viewed by visiting http://mccullarsandlincoln.com/magazines/.

Supporting a joyful holiday for all the communitys children has never been easier, as McCullars & Lincoln has promised to donate $10 to Toys for Tots for each and every referral they receive for an insurance quote, with no purchase necessary. Readers who would like to view the campaign, refer a friend or make a personal donation may do so at http://mccullarsandlincoln.com/causes/gifting-hope-holiday-season/. Those who wish to drop off new, unwrapped toys are also welcome to do so at the agencys offices on S. Quintard Ave. in Anniston.

McCullars & Lincolns recently launched master charity program pledges to choose a new local organization, family or person every three months to receive targeted support. To learn about past campaigns, please visit http://mccullarsandlincoln.com/community/.

About McCullars & Lincoln Insurance & Retirement Planning

Serving families and businesses from offices in Anniston, AL, McCullars & Lincoln is committed to bringing local people an agency which understands their needs. As a knowledgeable 23-year veteran of the industry, Chad Lincoln and his team of dedicated professionals have worked with carriers to assemble a variety of products and services to ensure clients peace of mind. From all of the insurance products a typical consumer needs (auto, home, business, boat, ATV, etc.), to developing long-term financial planning strategies, McCullars & Lincoln delivers consistently superior service. Their caring experts may be reached by calling 256-237-1100. For more information on the agency, please visit http://mccullarsandlincoln.com/.
WWU Blue png Looking ahead at recruiting qualified pilots, United remains committed to creating an inclusive work community.

The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) today announced a renewed Diamond Elite-level sponsorship with United Airlines. United will serve as presenting sponsor of NGPAs flagship West Coast Event, the 2018 Palm Springs Winter Warm-Up, as well as the 2018 NGPA Industry Expo. Both events will be held this February in Palm Springs, Calif.

United Airlines is a very important partner for the NGPA, said Executive Director David Pettet. As a first-in-class Diamond Elite-level sponsor, United Airlines clearly understands the important impact that a strong diversity and inclusion vision can have. Their continued commitment to this vision sends a positive message to their global customers and employees about the corporate values that drive the flyer-friendly mission.

Over the last several years of partnering with NGPA, our growing relationship has played an important role in our broader diversity strategy. Looking ahead at recruiting qualified pilots, United remains committed to creating an inclusive work community, said Gregory Jones, chief diversity officer of United. Our partnership with NGPA ensures that the LGBT community is included in our search for United Pilots.

In 2017, NGPA received more support from airlines, aviation organizations, and members than ever before in its 27-year history. Since its founding in 1990, donations have supported programs and scholarships to further LGBT equality within the aviation community, including education and careers in aviation. This year, NGPA and NGPA Education Fund are pleased to announce that over $100,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

Current sponsors include several airlines, aviation corporations and flight institutions that provide year-round support of NGPAs mission. The association expanded globally in 2017, and now supports the LGBT aviation community in more than 14 countries and growing.

About the NGPA

Founded in 1990 in Washington D.C., the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pilots and other aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Through education, outreach programs, and social events, the organization encourages members of the LGBT community to begin piloting careers; fosters equal treatment of LGBT aviators through advocacy and outreach; promotes aviation safety, and provides an affirming social and professional network for LGBT aviators. Follow the NGPA on Facebook and Twitter. More information is available via the associations website, http://www.ngpa.org.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 337 airports across five continents. In 2016, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 143 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 751 mainline aircraft and the airlines United Express carriers operate 489 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to more than 190 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Contacts

David J. Pettet

Executive Director, National Gay Pilots Association

866-800-NGPA (6472)

david.pettet(at)ngpa(dot)org

United Airlines

Worldwide Media Relations

872-825-8640

media.relations(at)united(dot)com
Tina brings the depth of knowledge and experience to launch our redesigned cohort-based program in 2018. I have confidence that with Tina on our team, we can lead entrepreneurs of green and social impact start-ups to viability and success, says Veronique Marier, Executive Director

Tina Arreaza joins Bethesda Green as the Be Green Hub Managing Director. Bethesda Greens mission is to accelerate the sustainable economy locally with a focus on innovation, impact and community. Be Green Hub is Bethesda Greens sustainability-focused incubator program: https://bethesdagreen.net/be-green-hub

Arreaza is an expert in impact investing, or investments that intend to generate social and/or environmental impact alongside a financial return. Most recently Tina was on the investment team at Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment fund founded by Pam and Pierre Omidyar of eBay.

Coming from the investment side, I understand what investors are looking for when they make investment decisions, she says. This investor lens will be helpful when working with incubator companies to raise capital.

In 2012, Arreaza reached out to Bethesda Green to volunteer as a mentor. She later joined the Bethesda Green Board of Directors. Now she takes on a new role as Managing Director of the Be Green Hub incubator. Tina brings the depth of knowledge and experience we felt we need to launch our freshly redesigned cohort-based program in 2018. I have confidence that with Tina on our team, we can lead entrepreneurs of green and social impact start-ups to viability and success, says Veronique Marier, Executive Director of Bethesda Green.

Arreaza succeeds Bob Snyder, who is well known in the region for his commitment and contribution to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Snyder will continue on as a Senior Advisor to Be Green Hub. Arreazas first task is to recruit the 2018 cohort of new companies to join the incubator. The cohort will include up to 10 companies across two verticals: environment and food. The ideal participant is a start-up with high growth projections, past the ideation stage.

Be Green Hub uniquely combines the experience of both an accelerator and incubator.

Other similar programs provide either an accelerator experience (a short-term boost) or an incubator experience (long-term support). The Be Green Hub offers both, with the initial 6-month accelerator experience serving as an opportunity to propel a business to viability. The incubator then continues to work closely with each start-up to nurture the business as it grows.

The 2018 cohort will experience a new and improved curriculum that leverages Bethesda Greens Be Impact initiative (https://bethesdagreen.net/be-impact/) to develop, measure and express impact to various stakeholders. In addition to the curriculum, Arreaza will build on the mentorship and partnership opportunities for the cohort participants. She will also help advise cohort participants on how to raise funds from investors.

The intellectual capital in this community is outstanding, she says. There are many excellent mentors on our Board and in our network. We have a targeted mentorship program of both generalists and specialists so we can meet the specific needs of our cohort participants.

Applications to join the 2018 cohort are now live, with a rolling review through December 1st. To apply, visit https://bethesdagreen.net/be-green-hub/ or contact Tina Arreaza: tina (at) bethesdagreen (dot) org

About Bethesda Green:

Bethesda Greens mission is to accelerate the sustainable economy locally with a focus on innovation, impact and community. Bethesda Green is an Incubator, a Connector, and a Community Partner, acting in synergy, with Impact. The organization was co-founded in 2008 by Seth Goldman, co-founder and CEO-Emeritus of Honest Tea, and George Leventhal, councilmember of Montgomery County.

Bethesda Greens incubator program started in 2009 as the first sustainability-focused incubator in the Washington, DC region. The Be Green Hub nurtures green and social impact start- ups to accelerate their success as companies with purpose. To date, the incubator has worked with over 40 companies, of which 80% remain in business.

For more information about Bethesda Green, visit http://bethesdagreen.org.
Training not only keeps end users, OEMs and service technicians up-to-speed on all the latest DEUTZ technology, but it also gives us a chance to regularly interact with our customers on various levels.

Russell Sauer is DEUTZ Corporations new manager of technical training. Sauer will be responsible for day-to-day training operations in the Americas, which includes coordinating and supporting training programs taught by 16 certified instructors at 15 different locations. Sauer will also develop training materials designed to address existing and future technological challenges in the diesel and natural gas engine industries.

Sauer started his DEUTZ career in 2006 as a warranty service technician. In 2011, he was promoted to the position of corporate trainer; in 2015, he became the supervisor of technical training.

Russell spent many years working as a technician, which really helps him personally relate to the individuals attending our classes, said Steven Corley, DEUTZ Corporation chief sales officer. That experience, combined with his knowledge of training principles and course development make him the ideal person to manage our technical training department.

DEUTZ Corporations unique approach to technical training provides attendees with the information and hand-on instruction they need to operate, understand and maintain their DEUTZ engines. The companys Train the Trainer network is composed of 16 fully trained and certified instructors  now under the guidance of Russell Sauer  who are employed by key DEUTZ distributors. These instructors attend updated training seminars each year in addition to the core classes needed to maintain their certification levels. They provide training at three levels:



Level CC1 is intended for engine end users and includes maintenance, operation and overview coverage of the DEUTZ product line.

Level CC2 is for OEM customers, providing deeper coverage of key technologies including fuel and emissions systems.

Level CC3 is for the DEUTZ service network and addresses every aspect of DEUTZ engines from the perspective of the technicians who maintain and repair them.

Our technical training programs primary goal is to enable our service network to efficiently support our customers, Sauer said. However, I think theres far more to be gained through our training initiatives. Training not only keeps end users, OEMs and service technicians up-to-speed on all the latest DEUTZ technology, but it also gives us a chance to regularly interact with our customers on various levels.

As I begin this latest chapter in my DEUTZ career, Im excited to find new ways to elevate our technical training program, making it as engaging and enlightening as possible. I plan to work closely with our certified trainers and our customers, using their feedback to improve and extend our training capabilities throughout the Americas.

To learn more about DEUTZ Corporation, as well as its complete line of diesel and natural gas engines, please visit http://www.deutzamericas.com.

ABOUT DEUTZ CORPORATION:

For more than 150 years, DEUTZ engines have supplied customized, cost-effective power to a broad array of machine types and market segments. The nine millionth DEUTZ engine was produced in 2015. From its headquarters in Norcross, GA, DEUTZ Corporation, a subsidiary of DEUTZ AG, supports its product range of 30- to 700-hp diesel and natural gas engines. The company is committed to providing optimized power solutions from the drawing board to prototype to production release. The organization serves as a sales, service, parts, and application engineering center for the Americas, employing nearly 200 people. DEUTZ Corporation also operates a value-added production facility for some of its key OEM partners, as well as an engine remanufacturing facility in Pendergrass, Georgia. Strategically located DEUTZ Power Centers and Service Centers are designed uniquely support both OEM partners and end users. For more information, visit http://www.deutzamericas.com.
Harvest at Famighetti Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley We're looking forward to some great 2017 wines. The quality of the grapes is high, and remembering all that our North Bay community has weathered will make tasting this vintage even better.

With fermentations almost complete and wines going into barrel, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) are finally catching up on some much-needed rest after a tumultuous 2017 harvest season. This year began with heavy rain in winter and spring, but the summers 100+ degree heat spikes meant that almost all grapes were harvested before the wine country fires. Yields are somewhat lower than average, but quality is reported to be excellent -- in particular for Dry Creek Valleys renowned zinfandel.

Mark Farmer, who grows seven acres of grapes at Famighetti Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, reported 43 more inches of rain than 2016, but a comparable yield size. He harvested all four varieties he grows by September 15, citing the 15 days of 100+ degree weather between June 1 and October 1. Farmer says, All in all, I would say we were happy considering the weather extremes we have seen in 2017 here in Sonoma County. Fruit quality is as good or better than last year.

David Mounts of Mounts Family Vineyards relies on heat for flavor development in his grapes. He says, A warmer summer like this years helps the flavors in the skins to develop riper flavors at low sugars. He explains that, as long as the heat is contrasted with cool nights, the grapes retain good acidity. Mounts approached this vintage with a unique style, separately picking and vinifying blocks with grape clusters that set well from those with shatter, then blending them together.

At Segheshio, Head of Grower Relations Ned Neumiller confirms, Shattered clusters normally lend themselves to high quality wines.

Dry Creek Valley wineries were not evacuated during the fires that swept Sonoma County, so our winemakers are relieved that they got to tend to their wines on basically a normal schedule in the cellar, says WDCV Executive Director Ann Petersen. We're looking forward to some great 2017 wines. The quality of the grapes is high, and remembering all that our North Bay community has weathered will make tasting this vintage even better.

For information, image or interview requests, contact Chelsea Kurnick at chelsea(at)mccuecommunications(dot)com or 213-985-1011.

About Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley:

Dry Creek Valley is a premium winegrowing region in northern Sonoma County, California, anchored by the charming town of Healdsburg. Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) is a 501c6 non-profit trade association of over 60 wineries and 150 winegrape growers. Formed in 1989, the association represents a multi-generational family community of vintners and growers committed to growing high-quality fruit, producing world-class wines, and welcoming visitors to experience Wine Paired with Life. Being good stewards of the land means that we are preserving the quality of our wines and the unparalleled beauty of Dry Creek Valley for future generations to discover. For more information, visit http://www.drycreekvalley.org.
Freightliner Trucks and the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) presented the seventh annual Influential Woman in Trucking award to Daphne Jefferson, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The winner was announced during the panel discussion of Four Steps Women Take to Become Successful Business Leaders at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Kansas City, MO. Jefferson was presented the award by Mary Aufdemberg, director, used truck acquisitions and operations, Daimler Trucks North America, and Chairwoman of WIT.

"As the female demographic grows in our industry, more and more women are gaining recognition for their outstanding leadership and professionalism," said Aufdemberg. "Women In Trucking is an important organization and I am proud to be part of this community and honored to present this award to Daphne Jefferson."

The Influential Woman in Trucking award recognizes women in the trucking industry who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility, and mentor and serve as a role model to other women. The award was developed in 2010 as a way to honor female leaders in trucking, and to attract and advance women within the industry.

We are truly honored to have such a positive relationship with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration through Daphne Jefferson. She took the time and made the effort to spend two days in the truck with two of our female drivers in order to better understand the industry from the drivers perspective, and this helped her lead the agency. She is one of the most influential women in the trucking industry and we are pleased to recognize her with this award, said Ellen Voie, President and CEO, WIT.

As Administrator of the FMCSA, Jefferson is the senior career official responsible for truck and bus safety on our nations roadways. The safe and efficient movement of freight is essential to our nations economy, and I strive to make sure that the needs of all stakeholders are represented at the Department of Transportation. Every day our FMCSA employees in every state are focused on preventing crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving large trucks and buses, she said.

In 2016 Jefferson received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service, the governments top award for excellence in civil service.

The Pew Research Center did a study about women and leadership. Even though women are as capable as men in positions of power, barriers continue to persist. As a public servant on the regulatory side of the trucking industry, I try every day to remove the barriers and dispel any myths about women in this industry and in leadership, said Jefferson. It is important that women such as myself and the other nominees for this distinguished award serve as a pipeline for future female leaders. When one of us succeeds, all of us succeed!

The finalists of the 2017 Influential Woman in Trucking award also included Tana Greene, CEO and Founder, Blue Bloodhound and Traci Crane, Sr. Manager Fleet Services, Contract Freighters, Inc.

Contacts:

Women In Trucking: Lana Nichols, 920-737-9490

Freightliner Trucks: Jennifer Edwards, 803.578.3207

# # #

Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Daimler Trucks North America, BMO Transportation Finance, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ryder System, Inc., U.S. Xpress, and Walmart. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. For more information, visit http://www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 5-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the worlds leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. For more information, go to http://www.Freightliner.com
Over the course of the past month, The Center for Health Affairs facilitated a number of lawmaker meetings with representatives from Northeast Ohio to discuss the impact of Ohios recently passed biennium budget. Embedded in Ohios biennial state budget were several provisions that have the ability to directly affect hospital providers, including drastic cuts to the Ohio Medicaid program. The purpose of the regional lawmaker meetings was to inform local legislators of the economic impact the cuts would have on the region, both in terms of revenue and employment.

As part of the discussion, The Center provided legislators with its recently released 2017 Hospital Fact Sheet. The annual publication highlights how Northeast Ohio benefits from its robust healthcare economy, with a specific focus on the regional impact of hospitals on the economy in terms of community benefit, tax payments and total employment. Based on this years figures and the impending cuts to reimbursement, The Center and its members estimate that the region stands to lose tens of millions of dollars from the states Medicaid program beginning next year. Many believe these cuts will have a devastating effect on the regions local economy, both in terms of employment and taxes collected.

Moving forward, The Center will continue to facilitate regional lawmaker meetings to stress the importance of sustained funding for healthcare services in the region, in hopes that a solution to the reduction in reimbursement will be reached by the end of the year.

Contact us to learn more about past meetings or to participate in future lawmaker meetings.

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With a rich history as the Northeast Ohio hospital association, dating back to 1916, The Center for Health Affairs serves as the collective voice of hospitals and the source for Northeast Ohio hospital and healthcare information. As the leading advocate for Northeast Ohio hospitals, The Center aims to enhance the effectiveness of the healthcare community and the health of the communities it serves by providing expertise, resources and solutions to address the challenges faced by the regions healthcare providers. The Centers efforts focus on areas that benefit member hospitals from a regional approach, including healthcare workforce; emergency preparedness; public policy and advocacy; finance and reimbursement; and community initiatives. And because of its business affiliation with CHAMPS Healthcare, The Center has the resources to provide a broad level of professional services to its members. The Center, located in downtown Cleveland, is proud to advocate on behalf of more than 35 acute-care hospitals located in six counties. For more, visit neohospitals.org. The Center for Health Affairs is honored to be named as one of The Cleveland Plain Dealers Top Workplaces in 2014 and 2015, as well as to ERCs NorthCoast99 List in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
David brings deep technology, product development and management, and leadership experience. He has a rich history of bringing breakthrough software products to market in diverse industries such as banking, healthcare, communications, web scale consumer applications, and mobile technology.

INEO, LLC, the leading provider of global mobility assignment software, tax, and financial solutions today announced that software industry executive David Blatherwick has joined the company as Vice President, Development, Global Mobility Software. David will be responsible for all technology and processes employed by Ineo to deliver global mobility software products of highest quality, value, and impact to customers worldwide.

David Santora, Ineo CEO, stated, David Blatherwick brings a vast knowledge of innovative technology solutions to Ineo. His experience and success with building and maintaining leading software platforms is unparalleled. As Ineo continues to expand its global footprint, David will be working directly with Dan Duffy, Chief Product Officer, on the delivery of Ineo's comprehensive suite of global mobility software solutions. We are thrilled to welcome David to the Ineo team.

David brings deep technology, product development and management, and leadership experience. He has a rich history of bringing breakthrough software products to market in diverse industries such as banking, healthcare, communications, web scale consumer applications, and mobile technology.

David has worked in a leadership capacity for high growth technology companies including Humanify, Teletech, and Sybase - an SAP company - where he led the development and delivery of the IBM MQ Integrator product suite, served on the Microsoft BizTalk Steering Committee, and the Sybase Strategic Vision Committee.

David earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Colorado.

ABOUT INEO Ineo is the global mobility industrys premier technology, tax, and financial services company, and the industrys most trusted knowledge source. We were the first to bring deep tax and technology expertise to the business of relocation services. Today we continue to lead our increasingly complex industry with customized solutions to meet each clients specific challenges. Come know the world with Ineo. http://www.ineomobility.com
I'm looking forward to Shop Small this year, because it was so successful for our shop last year, and we have so much fun meeting new people and greeting our locals, too.

The Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce in Fort Bragg on the northern coast of California is promoting a local version of the popular annual nationwide Shop Small Saturday event sponsored by American Express, on November 25, with more than 25 local merchants already signed up to participate.

Welcome centers for the event will be headquartered in two locations: Town Hall in Fort Bragg, and locally owned grocery Harvest Market in Mendocino. Both welcome centers will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Shoppers can visit the welcome centers to enjoy refreshments, pick up a map to all participating merchants, get a free shopping bag, and snap photos with holiday elves. Shoppers will then fan out into the streets in both towns and stop into local boutiques and retail shops to pick up their shop small cards from merchants and enter to win a variety of gift baskets stuffed with merchandise donated by participating stores. Purchase not necessary to get the cards, but the hope is that people will find something special for their holiday shopping, and even come back again during the month of December.

This year's theme, "Show Love, #Shop Small," segues perfectly with a "Love it" campaign that will be promoted on the Mendocino Coast Chamber and Visit Fort Bragg Facebook pages. Everyone will be encouraged to press the "love" button instead of the like button on posts about the event and show their support of shopping in friendly, local boutique businesses instead of big box stores.

All the businesses on the shop small map will hand out Show Love #Shop Small cards all day Saturday, and customers will be eligible to win a wide array of prizes donated from varied businesses like Gallery Bookshop, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, Pippis Longstocking, The Outdoor Store, Astoria, ER Energy, Wren's Boutique, Reynolds Menswear, Interior, The North Coast Brewing Company, The Front Porch, Blacq Door, Whistlestop, Fractalize, Understuff, Dot and Twine, Partners Gallery, and many more.

Local merchant Laura Augusta is excited about this year's event. She's already donated a shopping bag full of prizes from her elegant home store, The Front Porch. " I'm looking forward to Shop Small this year, because it was so successful for our shop last year, and we have so much fun meeting new people and greeting our locals, too."

The chamber of commerce is encouraging all participating local merchants to take photos of key items in their shops and post them on Instagram and Facebook with the campaign hashtag Show Love, #Shop Small so that everyone participating in the event has an opportunity to boost their individual presence and draw more people into their stores. The event is open to all small businesses in Fort Bragg and Mendocino, whether or not they are chamber members. The goal of the promotion is to encourage both locals and visitors to stay away from big box stores, and enjoy the nostalgic experience of small town shopping without all of the traffic, crowded malls, and stress many people experience as they begin shopping for the holiday season. Local merchants in Fort Bragg and Mendocino are ready to welcome customers and provide excellent service with a friendly "home town" feeling.

The Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce serves the Mendocino Coast from Westport to Gualala, CA. Their Mission Statement: To promote, support and improve the business and economic climate within its citizenry, and encourage a stronger sense of community.
The event entitled Bold and Brazen: Raising the Bar will celebrate the organizations 3rd year of assisting women in the Houston area, and pay tribute to Ms. Reed as an indispensable partner in the work of the foundation. Founder Shantera Chatman said of Reed: Vanessa Reed has been boldly advocating for and mentoring women in our community for a long time. Were excited to be able to thank her publicly for her work with us, as well as shine a spotlight on her dedication as a PowHerful model that other women can follow.

The foundation will award scholarships to this years recipients in three categories:



Women building their own businesses

Women going back to school

Women transitioning from shelters

In addition, this year the foundation will award assistance to applicants who have been displaced by hurricane Harvey. We always want to honor women, but especially those in need. Harvey wreaked havoc on a lot of people, and we hope the awards can help these women put their lives back together. Chatman added.

Tickets to the awards dinner are on sale until Tuesday, November 7th, and donations are also being held open for this years awards until November 7th to allow the foundation to give the most assistance possible. Tickets can be purchased at http://TCWFAwardsDinner.eventbrite.com and donation information is at the foundations website https://www.chatmanwomensfoundation.org/giving.
SearchBlox for Amazon Elasticsearch Service SearchBlox was an early adopter of Elasticsearch and continues to leverage new features of Elasticsearch to offer our customers a robust and highly scalable enterprise search solution. said Timo Selvaraj, Co-Founder and VP of Product Management at SearchBlox.

SearchBlox Software, a leading provider of enterprise search, sentiment and text analytics solutions recently announced that the SearchBlox Enterprise Search Platform has been chosen as one of KMWorlds Trend-Setting Products of 2017. SearchBlox is the leading replacement solution for the now discontinued Google Search Appliance and Google Site Search products and has migrated more than 100 customers from Google Search Appliance (GSA) to the SearchBlox Enterprise Search platform.

SearchBlox will be a participating vendor at the Enterprise Search and Discovery conference in Washington, DC. Nov. 7-9, showcasing its enterprise search solution incorporating the Amazon Elasticsearch Service.

SearchBlox for Amazon Elasticsearch Service is an enterprise search solution for AWS Cloud that uses the Amazon Elasticsearch Service, the fully managed and scalable Elasticsearch service available on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Using SearchBlox, customers can build a zero-downtime, fully-managed enterprise search solution on AWS within minutes. The solution includes an integrated web crawler, file system crawler and connectors for more than 75+ data sources, as well as indexing of more than 40 document formats, fully customizable search front-ends and a Web-based admin console. The service also offers secured search, and high availability using multiple search servers and data replicated across two AWS availability zones. Data can be indexed from AWS services like Amazon S3, Amazon Elastic File System and Amazon RDS.

SearchBlox was an early adopter of Elasticsearch and continues to leverage new features of Elasticsearch to offer our customers a robust and highly scalable enterprise search solution, said Timo Selvaraj, Co-Founder and VP of Product Management at SearchBlox. SearchBlox offers the best-value enterprise search solution for customers and this accolade is further recognition of the innovation from SearchBlox to deliver a world-class search solution.

About KMWorld

KMWorld (http://www.kmworld.com) is the leading information provider serving the Knowledge Management systems market and covers the latest in Content, Document and Knowledge Management, informing more than 30,000 subscribers about the components and processes - and subsequent success stories - that together offer solutions for improving business performance.

KMWorld is a publishing unit of Information Today, Inc. (http://www.infotoday.com)

About SearchBlox

Since 2003, SearchBlox has been providing businesses with simple, affordable solutions for their data management needs including web-based administration and integrated data connectors to index enterprise and web content. SearchBlox was recently included in KMWorlds 2017 list of 100 Companies that Matter in Knowledge Management, and was featured as the KMWorlds Trend-Setting Product in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Based in Richmond, Virginia, SearchBlox is considered a marketplace leader for search technologies, and proudly serves more than 400 customers in 30 countries. For more information, visit https://www.searchblox.com/
Linket Corp. has been awarded US Patent 9792101 "Capacity and automated de-install of linket mobile apps with deep link" with 19 claims. ( http://bit.ly/2AlMNZO )

The invention describes how a mobile on demand worker controls their own direct mobile brand, called a Linket, which acts like a domain. The Linket points to a mobile app and the network address of the worker. Mobile users click the Linket to directly interact with the worker via the app, in a streamlined experience.

Interactions between the Linket owner and a user are stored in the blockchain. Producing verified social network data that can enhance the usefulness of Facebook and LinkedIn.

The patent lets the blockchain be used to schedule events. A gig worker who owns a Linket can subcontract a gig to another worker who can verify details in the blockchain. The Linket owner can scale to a 365x24x7 business.

A blockchain can have its own Linket brand. This anticipates when there are competing blockchains and branding becomes vital.

Chief Marketing Officer Susan Kessler says -

"There is a lot of kerfuffle with blockchains. Many companies are doing ICOs and calling themselves blockchain companies. But aside from using the ICO to raise money, their business intrinsically has little if any to do with blockchains. Several firms are just a skimpy white paper written shortly before ICO. In contrast, Linket's patent is for technology made 2 years ago. The US government has judged that we are first in the world with our blockchain uses. We were awarded a very broad set of 19 claims, a stark contrast to competitors. We have a full technology stack of 13 other patents pending for many mobile branding uses. This includes 2 other pendings that focus on blockchains.

Linket is independent of the mobile app that the linket uses. If the app goes out of business the Linket owner points it to another app. We protect the owner's investment of time and money in the brand. A key distinction of our technology. Other apps that let users have brands have the drawback that the brands live only in those apps."

Linket Corp. is a Delaware C Corporation based in Los Angeles. Its website is http://linket.info.

For more information, please contact the CMO, Susan Kessler ( susan(at)linket(dot)info ) or call (626) 656-3309
This PPC-10G link is intended to connect two university campuses on distance of 3940 m (2.45 miles) over rural area. Omnitrons and RUBs Computing Networks Department personnel worked together on this project to establish true 10 Gbps wireless connectivity.

ELVA-1 is well-known supplier of mm-wave scientific equipment for German universities, while 10 Gbps E-band links is new promising equipment for this academic market. The radio is equipped with 60 cm antenna by default; however, other antenna sizes are also available. The PPC-10G is normally mounted in a rooftop or tower location, and contains slots for SFP/SFP+ modules to connect to a LAN/WAN network.

Andreas Klipp from RUB Computing Networks Department has commented the link installation  We have chosen ELVA 10 Gbps to speed-up of setting new 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection between Ruhr-Universitat Bochum buildings. The other reason was to save money as for 10G fiber rent we would pay 4500  per month and huge development costs of 60000  to bring the fiber between the buildings. More over, we were interested to try this modern 76 GHz wireless technology in our university. PPC-10G is significantly less expensive.

PPC-10G is IP radio link, providing up to 10 Gbps full-duplex throughput. The link is intended for point-to-point applications such as 4G/LTE/5G Backhaul, Corporate Campus Networks, IPTV, and other Wireless ISP backbones. All ELVA-1 links are designed for interconnection between remote WAN/LAN segments that located on the sites with no fixed line broadband connection. Typically, this is for landscape or industrial barriers or ecology restrictions for ground cable laying like national park, river, lake, airport/railway area, private land, etc.

The PPC-10G link site in Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) is available for guest visit and demo.

Please arrange your guest visit to RUB and all PPC-10G talks with Omnitron.

Your contact person is Marc Bezani, email: bezani[at]omnitron.de tel mobile: +49 173 681 05 05.

Please send all other inquiries on PPC-10G via email to ELVA-1: sales[at]elva-1.com

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About Ruhr-University Bochum

The Ruhr-University Bochum is one of the largest universities in Germany and part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the most important German research funding organization. Ruhr-University is financed and administered by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Currently, 42K+ students are enrolled, and the university employs around 5,600 staff (400+ of which are professors), making it one of the ten largest universities in Germany. RUB Computing Networks Department provides information and communication and media technology for research, teaching, study and administration.

About OMNITRON

Since 1977, OMNITRON has become established as a competent partner. As suppliers of a comprehensive range of products, we offer individual solutions that address complex tasks and challenges in the fields of mobile power supply and digital microwave equipment. Over the many years we have been in this business, we have gained a wealth of experience that is unrivalled in this fast-paced industry. High-quality materials and primary products as well as our "Made in Germany" production of accu packs ensures a high level of quality. We integrate new technologies in order to enhance product features and we work hard to ensure the sustainable operational reliability of installed systems. We seek to offer excellent customer service, including active after sales support for our customers.

About ELVA-1

Founded in 1993, ELVA-1 is well known player at industrial and scientific instrumentation markets as supplier of components and systems for frequencies from 30 GHz to 1THz. Since 2000, ELVA-1 designs and manufactures ultra high speed radio links according to ECC and FCC requirements. The link operating frequencies include 40.5-43.5GHz, 71-76 & 81-86 GHz, and 92-95 GHz with emphasis on 71-76 & 81-86 GHz as FCC streamlined licensing rules for E-band. Similar, European regulations CEPT channel plan (ECC Recommendation(05)07) for 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz frequency bands radios opens EU wireless fronthaul, backhaul and network extension markets for point-to-point fixed wireless system
BRM Institute and TBM Council Strategic Alliance A strong BRM capability converges cross-functional teams and eliminates value-depleting organizational siloes. We are proud to build this alliance with TBM Council to further the success of technology leaders.

Business Relationship Management Institute (BRM Institute), the worlds foremost authority in strategic business partnering and business value assurance through a business relationship management (BRM) capability, announced their entry into a strategic alliance today with the Technology Business Management (TBM) Council. Through this alliance, TBM Council and BRM Institute will expand value for their communities through collaborative projects and events designed to uplift knowledge and awareness of both disciplines.

CIOs and other IT leaders who have invested in business relationship management capabilities have already shown the commitment to collaborating with their line-of-business executives on the tough tradeoffs they must make to grow, compete and transform, said Josh Harbert, General Manager of the TBM Council. Our alliance with BRM Institute will help us more formally bridge the capabilities of BRM and TBM, helping our professional members achieve better outcomes for their companies while advancing their own careers.

A BRM capability strengthens business-IT collaboration and assists in driving a culture of creativity, innovation, and shared ownership across the enterprise. This transformation results in an increase in holistic and innovative strategies created to deliver their intended business value results. When paired together within an organization, TBM and a BRM capability work to elevate IT from the position of a cost-based service provider to that of a converged strategic partner and peer, states BRM Institute CEO Aaron Barnes. A strong BRM capability converges cross-functional teams and eliminates value-depleting organizational siloes. We are proud to build this alliance with TBM Council to further the success of technology leaders.

About Business Relationship Management Institute, Inc.

BRM Institute is the worlds premier membership, professional development, and official certification organization, dedicated to serving the global business relationship management (BRM) community. Incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in February 2013, BRM Institute provides world-class professional membership and development programs to advance the art and discipline of business relationship management and help maximize the BRM capability in organizations worldwide. BRM Institutes mission is to inspire, promote, and develop excellence in business relationship management around the globe through unifying business and business functions such as IT, HR, finance, and more, which results in outstanding business value for organizations and the professional fulfillment of every individual member of the BRM community.

About the TBM Council

Founded in 2012 the Technology Business Management (TBM) Council is a nonprofit organization governed by an independent board of business technology leaders from a diverse group of the world's most innovative companies like AIG, Aon, Cisco Systems, DuPont, ExxonMobil, First American, Microsoft, Nike, and more. The Council is focused on developing a definitive framework for managing the business of IT by establishing standards and providing ongoing collaboration and education opportunities.
'Groove crafted an experience that allows our customers to have a deep, immersive experience,' said Jeremie Moritz, Elyxs Director of Digital.

Groove, an eCommerce website design and development firm, announced today the launch of a revolutionary new interactive digital experience for its partner, Absolut Elyx, that creates a user journey as unique and authentic as the exclusive handcrafted spirit. Absolut Elyx is a Single State, Copper Crafted, luxury expression of Absolut Vodka. Every bottle is made with soft winter wheat harvested from a single estate, in Ahus, Sweden.

Based on the concept of the popular Create Your Own Adventure storybooks, Elyxs new site lets the user to create their own journey throughout the site. Consumers can move effortlessly from a tour of Elyxs proprietary copper-distillation process to the Rabelof Estate in in southern Sweden where the vodkas soft winter wheat is grown. Each journey is unique and highlights the Copper Distillation process that makes Elyx special.

The Elyx brand is progressive luxury, highlighted by our dedication to integrity in the making from seed to bottle, elevating hospitality with our Copper Universe and not forgetting to give back via our partnership with Water For People. Groove crafted an experience that highlights all of these aspects, and allows our customers to have a deep, immersive experience, said Jeremie Moritz, Elyxs Director of Digital.

This approach to the site grew from a vision Groove had to give the site an audience-centric narrative, and organize the content around the compelling history of this Single Estate Winter Wheat Vodka doing things differently. By employing this creative way to tell the Elyx story, Groove created not just an aesthetically beautiful site but one that makes the journey different for every visitor.

Other highlights of the site include original recipes and a tie-in to User Generated Content with third-party vendor Stackla, adding another socially engaging component to the site.

ABOUT GROOVE COMMERCE:

Groove is an integrated digital agency that provides a suite of services to online storefronts including eCommerce website design and development, managed eCommerce consulting, and digital marketing. Groove is based in Baltimore, Maryland and can be found on the web at http://www.gotgroove.com.

ABOUT ABSOLUT ELYX:

Absolut Elyx is a Single State, Copper Crafted, luxury expression of Absolut Vodka. Every bottle is made with soft winter wheat harvested from a single estate, in Ahus, Sweden. Elyx is distilled using sacrificial copper and further rectified by hand using a copper vintage still from 1921. This unique use of copper in the distillation process removes unwanted impurities and gives Elyx a distinct character and unparalleled silky smoothness.

Jonas Tahlin, CEO of Absolut Elyx, and his team are knowledgeable to oversee the century-old distillation process that has been passed down through generations of Swedish vodka-makers. Absolut Elyx has joined forces with Water For People to drive awareness and support for long-term solutions to the global water crisis. Through their partnership, every bottle of Elyx sold in the USA and every purchase from the Elyx Boutique will provide one week of safe water to those in need. Since the launch of the partnership in September 2015 Elyx has provided access to safe water to over 30,000 people.

Discover more about Elyx at http://www.absolutelyx.com, http://www.elyxboutique.com and on Instagram @AbsolutElyx.
Rob Ceravolo, CEO of Tropic Ocean Airways We are extremely grateful for Textron Aviations and Wipaires commitment to Tropic Ocean Airways and look forward to expanding our relationship even further as we implement new services. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX product has been the cornerstone of our success.

Tropic Ocean Airways, the largest Cessna Grand Caravan EX seaplane operator in the World and the fastest growing seaplane operator in the Americas is pleased to announce that it has placed a purchase order with Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, the manufacturer of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX, and Wipaire, the manufacturer of the Wipline 8750A seaplane floats, to take delivery of four (4) new Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft equipped with Wipline 8750A floats during 2018, with options to purchase additional aircraft over the next five years to support Tropic Ocean Airways rapid growth and expansion into new markets. The addition of the early 2018 deliveries will bring Tropic Ocean Airways fleet of aircraft to fifteen (15).

Additionally, Tropic Ocean Airways and Textron Aviation have begun a process to authorize Tropic Ocean Airways Maintenance Department headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to expand its capability to perform maintenance on its own fleet of Textron Aviation aircraft in accordance with the aircraft manufacturers highest standards. The companies are also exploring the development of the worlds first dedicated Cessna Grand Caravan seaplane training facility.

Rob Ceravolo, Tropic Ocean Airways Chief Executive Officer, said, We are extremely grateful for Textron Aviations and Wipaires commitment to Tropic Ocean Airways and look forward to expanding our relationship even further as we implement new services. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX product has been the cornerstone of our success.

Rob Scholl, Textron Aviations Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said, Tropic Ocean Airways is an outstanding operator and excellent ambassador for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX, an aircraft they have relied on to fulfill their mission since 2012. This new aircraft order shows the great trust and confidence they have in this product and the company behind it.

Wipaires Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Clint Clouatre echoed Textrons comments saying, Tropic Ocean Airways is Wipaires largest U.S. based operator and has become a strategic customer since its inception.

Tropic Ocean Airways made its announcement at the exclusive Wings Wheels Water event held at Sheltair Aviation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 1, 2017. Tropic Ocean Airways currently provides scheduled and charter air service throughout Florida, The Bahamas, and seasonal air service in the northeast United States utilizing its fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft.

About Tropic Ocean Airways:

A United States certificated commuter air carrier, founded by United States Navy TOPGUN fighter pilot Rob Ceravolo in 2009, which safely transported over 15,000 passengers in 2016. Tropic Ocean Airways is the recipient of the highly-coveted ARGUS gold rating for safety and enjoys a 5-star customer service rating on TripAdvisor. Mr. Ceravolo and his team of experienced professionals have developed and implemented standard operating procedures borrowed from the United States military which ensure the highest levels of safety and service onboard each Tropic Ocean Airways flight. Tropic Ocean Airways fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft are extremely versatile and capable of safely landing on water and land; thereby making Tropic Ocean Airways the airline of choice for the discerning air traveler.



For more information, contact Media Director at 800-767-0897, extension 122, or via email at media(at)flytropic(dot)com or visit us at: http://www.flytropic.com
By making the Jamcracker Cloud Management Solutions available on the Azure Marketplaces, Jamcracker is providing customers with added deployment and operational flexibility. They can deploy the Jamcracker solution from the Azure Marketplace and be up and running within minutes.

"Jamcracker's commitment to Microsoft Azure provides world class security and compliance, enabling customers with the best in cloud services available. We are happy to have our virtual appliance-based products listed in the Azure Marketplace and the Azure Government Marketplace, making it easy for our customers and government agencies to benefit from our products." said Mahendra Soneji, Vice President Product Management and Customer Success. "Jamcracker's Cloud Management, and Governance Platform for Cloud Brokerage is a market leading and comprehensive solution for cloud management, governance, and spend management solution, that provides a seamless experience for MSPs, enterprises, service providers, and government entities."

Jamcracker delivers comprehensive cloud management and brokerage solutions to provision, bill and manage public/private clouds and 3rd party ISV products. The Jamcracker cloud management solutions focus on improving the cloud implementation strategy, cloud life cycle management and operational excellence across enterprises and service providers. These solutions are offered in different packages that range from Cloud Spend Management, Cloud Policy-based Usage Control, and Hybrid Cloud Management. Jamcracker Platform capabilities provide advanced and comprehensive Multi-Cloud Management and Cloud Service Brokerage. For more information on Jamcracker Cloud Brokerage and Cloud Management Solutions, visit https://www.jamcracker.com/jamcracker-cloud-brokerage-and-cloud-management-solutions

Jamcracker has its Appliance packages listed in the Azure Marketplace, making it easy for customers to consume and benefit from the Jamcracker products from a trusted source. In addition, the Jamcracker Appliances are also listed on Azure Government Marketplace for government customers and agencies for their easy consumption. Jamcracker Appliances are listing as Bring Your Own License (BYOL) products.

As an example, Jamcrackers CSB Standard package, a purpose built appliance for Service Providers that provides a cloud brokerage solution for SaaS and IaaS products and automates order management, provisioning and billing, is now available on the Azure Marketplace for customers to start using immediately - https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps/jamcracker.jamcracker-csb-standard-v3

Jamcracker Hybrid Cloud Management package, for managing multi-cloud and hybrid cloud deployments including Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Bluemix, VMWare vSphere and OpenStack is also available on Azure Marketplace for immediate use - https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps/jamcracker.jsdnapp_hybrid_v3

About Jamcracker, Inc.

Jamcracker (a Gartner cool vendor)

Jamcracker, a Gartner Cool Company, is a cloud services management and cloud governance solutions company, with more than a decade of experience providing industry leading software and services. The Jamcracker Platform powers cloud services provisioning, cloud governance, spend management, and operations for enterprise and government organizations, telecom service providers, managed services providers, systems integrators, distributors, value added resellers and technology providers.

Jamcracker helps organizations manage, deliver, and govern their public, private, and hybrid multi-cloud services in addition to brokering third-party ISV cloud services and Unified Communication services. Using Jamcracker solutions, IT organizations, service providers, and government agencies can unify and optimize cloud services delivery for their employees, customers, and channels.

Jamcracker is headquartered in Santa Clara with offices in Europe and India. For more information, visit https://www.jamcracker.com or follow Jamcracker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JamcrackerInc
Shaji Ravi awarded 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2017' by Dr. M. Manikandan, Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology Shaji's relentless energy and focus on creating a technology-driven and analytics-enabled revenue cycle business process services company has been one of the key reasons for Access Healthcare's success in the marketplace. - Vardhman Jain, Vice Chairman, Access Healthcare

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has announced Shaji Ravi, President, and Managing Director of Access Healthcare as the Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 at CIIs Connect 2017 conference in Chennai. The award recognizes Shajis relentless strategic work as an entrepreneur in building and growing Access Healthcare from three employees to over 8,000 employees in less than six and a half years. The award was conferred by Dr. M. Manikandan, Minister for Information Technology, in the presence of other reputed dignitaries from the industry, government bodies, and academia.

Says Shaji Ravi, "I thank CII for selecting me as their Entrepreneur of the Year. I believe that Access Healthcare's success is anchored on creating differentiated people, process, and technology capabilities to deliver the business outcomes our customers seek. We are now looking at several strategies to take our organization to the next level".

As the President and Managing Director of Access Healthcare, Shaji Ravi oversees the strategic direction for the company and focuses on building people, process, and technology capabilities to deliver business results to revenue cycle customers. Before Access Healthcare, he led operations at Dell Services during a period of heightened activity and global expansion by other healthcare companies in India and grew the healthcare revenue cycle practice to over 3,500 associates.

Says Vardhman Jain, Vice Chairman of Access Healthcare, "Shaji's relentless energy and focus on creating a technology-driven and analytics-enabled revenue cycle business process services company has been one of the key reasons for Access Healthcare's success in the marketplace. We have also assembled a leadership team with over 150 years of cumulated revenue cycle experience. I would like to thank CII for the Entrepreneur of the Year initiative and hope that this recognition bestowed to Shaji will inspire many other entrepreneurs to emulate his success."

CII has been organizing CII CONNECT in Chennai, India for the past 15 years. The CONNECT series has been the forum for Indian ICT industry to confer on latest trends and developments. This premier annual Conference and Exhibition on Information and Communication Technology has been focusing on Tamil Nadus growth in the ICT Sector.

About Access Healthcare

Access Healthcare provides business process outsourcing and applications services, and robotic process automation tools to healthcare providers, payers, and related service providers. We operate from 12 delivery centers in the US, India and the Philippines, and our 8,000+ staff is committed to bringing revenue cycle excellence to our customers by leveraging technology, emerging best practices, and global delivery. Based in Dallas, we support over 125,000 physicians, serve 80+ specialties, process over $50 billion of A/R annually, and ascribe medical codes to over 10 million charts annually. To learn how Access Healthcare can help your organization boost its financial performance, visit accesshealthcare.org.

About CII

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a premier business association in India which works to create an environment conducive to the growth of industry in the country. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded in 1895, India's premier business association has over 8,500 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 200,000 enterprises from around 250 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
Kredivo, a digital credit card pioneer is now the first Indonesian digital payments provider to become a featured app on Google Plays Indonesian home page. Featuring on the Play store is Googles official stamp of approval for the highest-quality apps, reserved for less than 1% of all Android apps. The Play store is Googles official platform for searching and finding Android apps.

Kredivo was selected for a range of criteria that include:

 Rating: Kredivo is a top-rated app with a 4.4 average rating.

 Downloads: Kredivo has been downloaded more than 1 million times and is consistently in the top 10 most downloaded finance apps.

 Uniqueness: Due to the lack of credit card penetration in the market, Kredivo is filling a much-needed gap in the market.

 High-quality design and architecture standards: Kredivo uses Material design as a philosophy, has extremely low crash rates and is regularly updated with feature improvements.

Being featured on the Google Play store really validates our vision of providing credit access to Indonesian customers in a fair, convenient and transparent way through a hi-quality and beautifully designed digital app. We thank the Google Play team for the recognition but more than anyone else, we are thankful to our loyal user-base without which this recognition would have never happened. To us, this recognition is a meaningful step towards closer cooperation with Googles Android team for launching several more innovative and Android-centric products for Indonesia over the coming years, said Akshay Garg, CEO of FinAccel, the parent company of Kredivo.

In less than 1.5 years since its launch, Kredivo has become one of the fastest growing and stickiest digital payment channels for ecommerce in Indonesia. Now live on more than 130 merchants, including six of the top 10, Kredivo is available to residents of Jabodetabek, Medan, Palembang, Semarang, Bandung, Surabaya and Denpasar who are at least 18 years old and earning an income. With an entirely digital application process that requires a user to upload KTP and connect a few digital accounts (Facebook, ecommerce and bank), Kredivo instantly approves users for credit limits of up to IDR 20 million over 12 months.

END

About FinAccel

FinAccel is a financial technology company that leverages deep data analytics across users digital footprint to automate credit risk scoring and access to credit in Southeast Asia, the 7th largest economy in the world and home to nearly 10% of the worlds population. FinAccels flagship product, Kredivo Buy now, Pay later, enables ecommerce buyers to apply and qualify for instant credit and pay back over time. Merchants using Kredivo benefit from providing Point of Sale financing using a 2-click checkout to all eligible buyers. To know more about Kredivo and FinAccel, visit http://www.kredivo.com and http://www.finaccel.co.
Sugarfina Candy Boutique SuiteRetail listened to how our business works and went above and beyond our requirements. The POS is very easy to use and streamlines our checkout process for both clerks and customers, said Ryan Nelson, Vice President of Retail. They are super-passionate and knowledgeable when it comes to retail

Sugarfina is on pace to double revenue this year. Over 40 stores have opened in the US, and next year Sugarfina plans to expand internationally.

Sugarfinas stunning, elegant fashion-forward confectionaries and packaging, a hit on social media channels such as Instagram, is a fresh and exciting take on candy. A unique online and in-store experience compliments the product and results in the perfect box of sweets for special gifts or events.

To execute their vision and effortlessly scale across new locations and channels, Sugarfina implemented Oracle NetSuite as their ERP solution on the back-end. For in-store sales, they turned to SuiteRetail, makers of SuitePOS, the leading point-of-sale solution for NetSuite. However, while SuitePOS is known for its native, seamless integration to select ERPs, along with a modern and super-fast checkout process, it couldnt offer functionality out-of-the-box that matched up with Sugarfinas unique shopping experience.

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When a customer walks into a Sugarfina store, they may be looking for a wedding-party custom themed box of confectionaries, or a standout gift of curated chocolates for someone special. The customer selects a Bento Box, flat-priced based on size, and then hand-picks each piece of candy to go into the box. Some of the candies may incur additional costs (eg. gold-plated chocolates), they may opt for a unique sleeve for the box, and there are matching up-sell recommendations or combos the customer may want to consider.

SuiteRetail worked with Sugarfina to come up with the most efficient and intuitive way for clerks to guide a customer through this process. A new SuitePOS module, Dynamic Options was born and the result was a reduction in checkout time and user errors along with an increase in average revenue per transaction. SuiteRetail also accommodated several other features to optimize all aspects of their in-store checkout process.

"SuiteRetail listened to how our business works and went above and beyond our requirements. The POS is very easy to use and streamlines our checkout process for both clerks and customers", said Ryan Nelson, Vice President of Retail. "They are super-passionate and knowledgeable when it comes to retail".

In the past, a retailer like Sugarfina would have had to consider expensive custom development requiring ongoing maintenance and costly support. By incorporating the functionality as a standard module, SuiteRetail is able to deliver the entire POS as a service, maintaining and supporting the solution without Sugarfina worrying about stability or legacy lock-in.

When we launched SuitePOS a few years ago, objective #1 was to provide a simple, fast and modern POS with native integration to select ERP systems. We said No to a lot of feature requests, said Jeff Schneider, Co-founder of SuiteRetail. Now we are ready to say Yes, and the success of SuitePOS for Sugarfina proves its possible to deliver enterprise-ready POS as a service, along with features to support amazing retail experiences. This is disruption at its finest. We want to send a message to larger retailers: You dont have to maintain your clunky and aging POS solutions any longer.

About Sugarfina:

Sweethearts Rosie ONeill and Josh Resnick have dreamed of opening a luxury candy boutique ever since their third date, a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They fell in love over the unique and delicious candies they tasted while traveling and were inspired to bring a new concept in gourmet candy to the United States. Named one of the worlds most beautiful candy shops by Architectural Digest, Sugarfina opened November 2013 in Beverly Hills and now includes 26 boutiques and 14 Nordstrom shop-in-shops in North America in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and Vancouver. Before Sugarfina, Rosie and Josh had every kids dream job - Rosie was Director of Marketing for Barbie, and Josh was the co-founder and President of Pandemic Studios, a major video game developer.

About SuiteRetail:

Several years ago we set out to develop a Point-of-Sale solution to transform the way retailers work. Today our Apple-based product, SuitePOS, is deployed at some of the most modern and sophisticated omni-channel retailers in the world running Oracle NetSuite and Salesforce technologies. Solutions from SuiteRetail are built around SuitePOS which fulfills a wide-range of in-store requirements. SuiteRetail is managed completely in the cloud as part of one integrated omnichannel ERP/CRM suite. SuitePOS supports rapid multi-lane and mobile POS checkout, special orders, customer management, reporting and use of leading-edge hardware.
Cuhaci & Peterson, a long time participant in Canstruction Orlando, was part of the 2017 event that concluded, Sunday, November 5, 2017. Eight teams in total built structures completely out of non-perishable food items that were donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida after the event.

During the summer of 2017, the theme of Honey I Shrunk the Hunger, was announced by Canstruction Orlando. After that announcement local teams, including the C&P team began brainstorming what they could build within the parameters of that theme. The Cuhaci team decided to pay homage to the late 1980s film, Honey I Shrunk the Kids and build the laser shrink ray that is a main component of the storyline.

After modeling the proposed structure in REVIT, the team approached local business partners regarding sponsorships to purchase the cans needed to build the structure. T&G Constructors, Williams Company, Mulligan Constructors, J. Raymond Construction and WindCrest all donated funds that went toward nearly 4,000 food items for the build.

On Sunday, October 22, all of the teams met at the Orlando Fashion Square Mall for build day. The following Monday, judges looked at several parameters of the structures, including the nutritional content of the food items and the physical structures themselves. An awards ceremony was held on Thursday, October 26th at the Second Harvest Headquarters off of Mercy Drive, in Orlando. The Cuhaci team was presented with the War on Hunger award the Patrons Choice for favorite overall structure.

C&P team captain, Melissa Sucre shared, Congratulations to all of you, all the hard work paid off not only because of the awards but because we get to donate almost 4 thousand cans of food for people right here in central Florida. Thank you once again and keep in mind its never too early to start thinking about next years awesome structure! with the team after the Canstruction awards ceremony.

The structures remained on display for the general public until the mall closing on November 5th, when volunteers held a Decanstruction event that involved taking down all of the structures and packaging the food up to be taken to the Second Harvest facility. Canstruction Chair, David Stone estimated that there were about 16,000 food items that would be available to the local community thanks to 2017s Canstruction event, a win for everyone.
JLG Industries Honored With Pillar of the Industry Award

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recently honored JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE:OSK] and a leading global manufacturer of aerial work platforms and telehandlers, with its Pillar of the Industry award. This award recognizes a companys work to improve the business environment for the equipment manufacturing industry.

AEM presented the award to JLG during its annual conference Nov.1-3, in Palm Beach, Florida, citing JLGs efforts this year to advocate for pro-manufacturing solutions to elected leaders and voters and for their participation in AEMs I Make America grassroots program.

With a new Congress and administration in Washington this year, equipment manufacturers did a better job than ever at communicating our industrys priorities to our elected leaders, said AEM President Dennis Slater. AEM is thrilled to honor JLG Industries as a Pillar of the Industry for their outstanding commitment to advancing policy priorities essential to the equipment manufacturing industry.

Frank Nerenhausen, executive vice president at Oshkosh Corporation and president of JLG Industries, Inc., accepted the award on behalf of JLG. We are honored to be recognized by AEM and proud to be part of the work they do on behalf of equipment manufacturers. I cant overstate the importance of staying informed and taking an active role in the political process to advocate for our industry and the thousands of jobs it supports.

The November award presentations coincided with the seventh anniversary of AEMs successful I Make America campaign, AEMs principal grassroots advocacy program that engages AEM member companies and their employees to become champions for the industry on manufacturing issues.

For more information about the I Make America campaign visit http://www.imakeamerica.com. For more information about JLG, visit http://www.jlg.com.

About AEM

AEM is the North American-based international trade group representing more than 900 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, and utility sectors worldwide.

About JLG Industries, Inc.

JLG Industries, Inc. is a world-leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of access equipment. The Companys diverse product portfolio includes leading brands such as JLG aerial work platforms; JLG and SkyTrak telehandlers; and an array of complementary accessories that increase the versatility and efficiency of these products. JLG is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK]. For more information about JLG Industries, Inc., visit http://www.jlg.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

Founded in 1917, Oshkosh Corporation is 100 years strong and continues to make a difference in peoples lives. Oshkosh brings together a unique set of integrated capabilities and diverse end markets that, when combined with the Companys MOVE strategy and positive long-term outlook, illustrate why Oshkosh is a different integrated global industrial. The Company is a leader in designing, manufacturing and servicing a broad range of access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency, military and specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies under the brands of Oshkosh, JLG, Pierce, McNeilus, Jerr-Dan, Frontline, CON-E-CO, London and IMT.

Today, Oshkosh Corporation is a Fortune 500 Company with manufacturing operations on four continents. Its products are recognized around the world for quality, durability and innovation, and can be found in more than 150 countries around the globe. As a different integrated global industrial, Oshkosh is committed to making a difference for team members, customers, shareholders, communities and the environment. For more information, please visit http://www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

,  All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, should, project or plan or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the cyclical nature of the Companys access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, which are particularly impacted by the strength of U.S. and European economies and construction seasons; the Companys estimates of access equipment demand which, among other factors, is influenced by customer historical buying patterns and rental company fleet replacement strategies; the strength of the U.S. dollar and its impact on Company exports, translation of foreign sales and purchased materials; the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and international defense customer procurement of products and services and acceptance of and funding or payments for such products and services; higher material costs resulting from production variability due to uncertainty of timing of funding or payments from international defense customers; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures, sequestration and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; the impact of any DoD solicitation for competition for future contracts to produce military vehicles, including a future Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle production contract; the Companys ability to increase prices to raise margins or offset higher input costs; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; risks related to facilities expansion, consolidation and alignment, including the amounts of related costs and charges and that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; global economic uncertainty, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Companys intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Companys cyclical businesses than Company or equity market expectations; projected adoption rates of work at height machinery in emerging markets; the impact of severe weather or natural disasters that may affect the Company, its suppliers or its customers; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Companys products; risks related to production or shipment delays arising from quality or production issues, including any delays as a result of a recent accident at the Companys Dodge Center manufacturing facility; risks associated with international operations and sales, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; the Companys ability to comply with complex laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating and responding to a data security breach; and risks related to the Companys ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this news release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Companys next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.
MobilityWorks, the nation's largest retailer of wheelchair accessible vans, has opened a brand new van showroom and service location in Woburn, MA, just north of Boston. MobilityWorks in Woburn is located at 299 Washington Street, Suite, H, Woburn MA 01801-2795 just south of the I-93 & I-95 Interchange. This is the companys 71st location across 24 states.

MoblityWorks is very excited to announce our newest store opening in Woburn, which will serve the Greater Boston community, said Andy Faraone, Northeast Regional Manager of MobilityWorks. This will be our third store in Massachusetts that will be able to provide adaptive solutions for the unique needs of our clients.

At MobilityWorks, specially trained Certified Mobility Consultants work together with their clients to understand their specific needs in order to provide a vehicle that enables them to stay better connected with who and what matters most in their lives, said Chris Paczak Vice President of Business Development. The company also provides solutions for stowing and transporting mobility scooters, in addition to other adaptive equipment such as hand controls and turning seats.

Many of our staff members are native to the Woburn area and have previously served in our military. The opportunity to give back to our local community, is a tremendous honor. We are excited for the chance to offer exceptional service to our friends and neighbors and look forward to seeing you at our new facility, said General Manager, Roger Brown.

The general public is welcome to stop in at MobilityWorks in Woburn to ask questions and to view the many different types of vehicle options that are available. Their inventory features Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, and Toyota models as well as pre-owned vans. Showroom hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM M-F, with Saturday hours from 8 AM to 12 noon. Pre-scheduled appointments are recommended for arranging a free needs analysis.

About MobilityWorks

MobilityWorks (aka WMK) is a Cleveland, Ohio-based company that employs specially trained Certified Mobility Consultants to work closely with its clients to understand their specific transportation needs in finding the right vehicle solution. Founded in 1997 with one location, MobilityWorks now has 71 van showrooms in 24 states. MobilityWorks Commercial is the largest provider of commercial wheelchair vans in the country. TransitWorks, located in Akron, Ohio, is the manufacturing division of WMK, LLC and is Ford Motor Company's largest mobility upfitter. The 12-time Inc. 5000 Honoree has over 1,000 full-time employees. Learn more about MobilityWorks at http://www.mobilityworks.com.
Were excited to have Dr. Groshen open WCRIs annual conference. With Ericas insights into labor force trends and the impact of technology in todays fast-changing world, attendees are sure to leave with actionable information they can use to prepare their organizations for the future.

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) announced today that Dr. Erica L. Groshen, former Commissioner of Labor Statistics and head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, will be the opening speaker at its 34th Annual Issues & Research Conference, March 22 and 23, 2018, at the Westin Copley Place Hotel in Boston, MA.

Were excited to have Dr. Groshen open WCRIs annual conferenceour biggest event of the year, said John Ruser, WCRIs president and CEO. With Ericas insights into labor force trends and the impact of technology in todays fast-changing world, attendees are sure to leave with actionable information they can use to prepare their organizations for the future.

Dr. Groshen became the 14th Commissioner of Labor Statistics and served from January 2013 to January 2017. Before that, she taught economics at Barnard College at Columbia University and has worked for numerous high-profile economic institutions, such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Groshen has a bachelor's degree in economics and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

WCRIs two-day program highlights the Institutes latest research findings while drawing upon the diverse perspectives of highly respected workers compensation experts and policymakers from across the country. The following are among the questions the conference will be addressing using the latest research:



What challenges face the workers compensation system, and how might the system evolve to meet them?

Does opioid use have an effect on return to work?

How is the prescription drug crisis impacting American employers, and how are they responding?

What do providers, regulators, and payors have to say about value-based care?

Can low fee schedules create access-to-care issues for injured workers?

The WCRI conference is a leading workers compensation forum for policymakers, employers, labor advocates, insurance executives, health care organizations, claims managers, researchers, and others. Conference participants will leave with new insights, valuable networking contacts, and a better understanding of key issues in todays competitive environment.

A discounted, early-bird conference registration rate as well as a special conference hotel rate is available for a limited time. To learn more or to register, visit https://conference.wcrinet.org/.

ABOUT WCRI:

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Cambridge, MA. Organized in late 1983, the Institute does not take positions on the issues it researches; rather, it provides information obtained through studies and data collection efforts, which conform to recognized scientific methods. Objectivity is further ensured through rigorous, unbiased peer review procedures. WCRI's diverse membership includes employers; insurers; governmental entities; managed care companies; health care providers; insurance regulators; state labor organizations; and state administrative agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
"The Road of the Strong" - Front cover - ISBN 978-1-934431-16-0. Groslier glorifies the colonizing power of France, while celebrating a Khmer art of living.

A chance encounter on a French country road in 1922 irrevocably intertwines the fate of Pierre Terniera colonial administrator visiting from Cambodiawith successful car manufacturer Roland Gassin and his attractive wife Helene. The story then moves to the rural Cambodian province of Battambang, where Terniers primary duties are constructing and repairing the French Protectorates rapidly expanding road network. Through Terniers warm hospitality, Helene is captivated by the rural Khmer lifestyle and the charming villagers. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Helene is a woman with a secret. And this secret would soon change their lives forever.

Born in Cambodia in 1887, author George Groslier developed a profound attachment for the country and spent his life protecting and developing its ancient art-forms, having crisscrossed the country and walked deep into the jungle to document its millennium-old monuments. In addition to establishing and running the countrys National Museum and setting up the School of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, the countrys capital, Groslier had written seven non-fiction books and dozens of academic publications by the time his first novel "La Route du plus fort" ("The Road of the Strong") was published in 1925.

Nearly forty years old at the time, Groslier was in a perfect position to create compelling fiction that reflected reality and accurately portrayed both the French and Cambodians of that era. As Professor Henri Copina specialist of French colonial literature with an international reputationexplains Groslier glorifies the colonizing power of France, while celebrating a Khmer art of living. His protagonist lives his life in devotion to his mission: to the roads that link beings, bring villages into the world, open up economies, and guarantee security and peace.

Groslier would die weeks before the end of World War II in 1945, while being interrogated by the Japanese during their occupation of Cambodia. During the war, Frances Vichy regime collaborated with Nazi Germany to let its Japanese ally operate in IndochinaFrances territories in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Since the French preferred to downplay events of that era in Southeast Asia, Grosliers death was kept quiet and his publications fell into obscurity.

In 2008, Kent Davis, an independent researcher and DatAsia Press editor, started working with Grosliers daughter, Nicole Groslier Rea, not only to reprint Grosliers works in French, but also to publish them in English for the first time.

The National Endowment for the Arts awarded a grant to literary translator Pedro Rodriguez to create the first English version of The Road of the Strong. This 396-page special edition includes a foreword by Copin, maps, 100 illustrations, supplemental materials, publisher's notes, the complete original 1925 French text, and a 75-page feature article on Colonial Battambang Today by Tom KramerBattambang City in the province by the same name is in the process of seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for its French colonial heritage.

The Road of the Strong by George Groslier. First Edition. Florida, USA: DatAsia Press, 2017. Published simultaneously in the UK and USA. ISBN 978-1-934431-16-0. US$24.95.

Four other works by George Groslier are available in English from DatAsia Press: Cambodian DancersAncient and Modern (2011); In the Shadow of AngkorUnknown Temples of Ancient Cambodia (2014); Return to ClayA Romance of Colonial Cambodia (2014); and Water and LightA Travel Journal of the Cambodian Mekong (2016).

DatAsia Press specializes in fiction and non-fiction books about Southeast AsiaCambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnamfrom ancient times to the 20th century. DatAsia publications include important academic analysis, expanded restorations of rare, obscure and out-of-print works, and other works of colonial and Belle Epoque literature in French and in English translation.
These three new acquisitions strengthen Alera Group's med-mal insurance, wealth management and employee benefits expertise.

Alera Group - a leading national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm - completed three acquisitions effective November 1, 2017. These acquisitions expand the locations and resource offerings of Alera Group throughout the nation, specifically strengthening their med-mal insurance, wealth management and employee benefits expertise. Terms of the transactions were not announced.

HealthFirst, located in Berwyn, PA, specializes in cost management, benefit administration technology, monthly reporting, compliance support and HR support. Their unique approach provides superior support to provide clients with tailored plans that meet their specific needs. HealthFirst will join Alera Group through Pentra, an Alera Group company in Villanova, PA.

Somerset Capital Advisors, located in Berwyn, PA, offers investment advisory services utilizing the industrys best technology and products. Somerset Capital Advisors seeks to provide service that brings clarity, flexibility and confidence to each client, particularly in the areas of retirement plan and investment management needs. Somerset Capital Advisors will join Alera Group through Pentra, an Alera Group company in Villanova, PA.

Flagship Healthcare, located in Chicago, IL, is a physician-owned insurance brokerage specializing in professional liability insurance solutions for healthcare providers. Flagship Healthcare strives to educate and collaborate with each of their clients, meeting their individual malpractice insurance needs. Flagship Healthcare will join Alera Group through local firm GCG Financial in Chicago, IL.

Were excited to welcome these firms to Alera Group, said Alan Levitz, CEO of Alera Group. They are each excellent representatives of our vision and values, and these strategic additions continue to expand our expertise across the country.

These acquisitions are the latest announcement from Alera Group, as the firm continues to grow organically and through acquisitions since its formation in December 2016. For more information on partnering with Alera Group, visit Partnership Opportunities at http://www.aleragroup.com.

About Alera Group

Based in Deerfield, IL, Alera Groups over 800 employees serve more than 20,000 clients nationally in employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management. Alera Group was created by merging 24 high-performing, entrepreneurial firms across the U.S. It is the 14th largest independent insurance agency and the 7th largest independent employee benefits firm in the country. For more information, visit http://www.aleragroup.com or follow Alera Group on Twitter: @AleraGroupUS.
Gardant Management Solutions CEO Rod Burkett The Supportive Living Program has become a wonderful model on affordable assisted living. This is a program that is working in Illinois, and we should be focused on doing what we can to expand that for people with Alzheimers disease. We need to put the focus back on the purpose of helping people. Past News Releases RSS New Affordable Assisted Lifestyle...

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On behalf of the nearly 250,000 older adults in Illinois who have Alzheimers disease, Gardant Management Solutions  the operator of 42 of the states supportive living communities  joins the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) and many of the associations members in appealing to the Governors Office to change the process for reviewing applications to expand memory care options.

The Illinois Department of Health and Family Services announced plans last year to expand a successful dementia care pilot that currently includes five memory care communities across the state. Of the 80 memory care expansion applications that were submitted this spring, three out of four were denied.

Denial notifications were sent at the end of last month. The high denial rate raised concerns about what appears to be unclear application instructions, possible flaws in the screening process to evaluate applications and rejections based on clerical errors.

The Illinois Supportive Living Program has become a wonderful model on affordable assisted living. This is a program that is working in Illinois, and we should be focused on doing what we can to expand that for people with Alzheimers disease, said Gardant Chief Executive Officer Rod Burkett. We need to put the focus back on the purpose of helping people instead of getting stuck in the bureaucratic process.

Leaders in the supportive living industry are asking the Governors Office to make the application process fair, equitable and transparent with clearly outlined screening expectations.

HFS has adopted a new approach that excludes essential factors that would determine a projects economic viability and is denying many strong applicants from being considered. HFS has indicated that denied expansions are not eligible for appeal.

With previous expansion projects, applicants have been given an opportunity to clarify, correct and submit additional information during an interview. The same process should be available for this expansion, assisted living leaders have said.

The memory care expansion comes at a critical time. Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimers, and as many as 16 million will have the disease in 2050, according to the Alzheimers Association. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimers and related dementia is estimated to be nearly $259 billion this year and increase to $1.1 trillion by midcentury.

The need for memory care communities is growing every day, and the dementia care provided under the Illinois Supportive Living Program will help individuals and families who would not otherwise be able to afford care, Burkett said. The program saves the state and federal government because the cost for an individual on Medicaid in supportive living community is less than nursing home care and the environment is much more appropriate.

The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition is a not-for-profit membership organization made up of individuals and entities that develop or operate affordable assisted living projects and their business partners that have an interest or involvement in Illinois' Supportive Living Program.

Gardant Management Solutions is the largest provider of assisted living in Illinois. It operates more than 40 assisted living, senior living and memory care communities in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, the Metro East area of St. Louis, and other locations in northern, central and southern Illinois. The company also manages properties in Georgia, Indiana and Minnesota, ranking as the 12th largest provider of assisted living in the country.

For more information, visit http://www.gardant.com or call 877-882-1495.
Godfrey Grech, PhD Head, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta

Cancer research diagnostic services in pathology laboratories worldwide have been negatively impacted by a lack of fresh-frozen tissue samples, the degradation of DNA and RNA in archival tissue, and tumor heterogeneity. To achieve accurate and reproducible gene expression and amplification results using archival material, a more precise test that adapts to current clinical research workflows is needed.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, has developed a comprehensive portfolio of Invitrogen immunoassays based on Luminex xMAP (multianalyte profiling) technology, a high-throughput solution enabling simultaneous detection and quantitation of multiple proteins.

Presented as part of the Protein and Cell Analysis Education Series Virtual Event, this webinar will discuss the benefits of multiplexing and Luminex technologies, as well as the use of QuantiGene Plex Assays to accurately measure RNA from archival tumor sections. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with the experts.

The speaker for this event will be Dr. Godfrey Grech, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathology at the University of Malta.

Grech is an associate professor at the University of Malta and currently responsible for the Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory and Director of Biotech Innovations, a spin-off company. The main research topic aims to identify biomarkers to classify breast cancer patients into a specific therapeutic group that shall benefit from activation of phosphatases as a main therapeutic option.

LabRoots will host the webinar on November 7, 2017, beginning at 8 a.m. PST. To learn more about this event, discover the continuing education credits that will be offered, or to register for free, click here.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of more than $20 billion and approximately 65,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands  Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services  we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive services. For more information, please visit http://www.thermofisher.com.

About LabRoots

LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website, which provides daily scientific trending news, as well as produces educational virtual events and webinars, on the latest discoveries and advancements in science. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community.
Dealer Inspire, an industry leader in automotive websites, digital retailing, and consumer communication tools, has announced its full support for open standards in Google Analytics (GA) to document consumer events and conversion goals. Dealer Inspire joins the growing movement to empower auto dealers with accurate data to improve their marketing mix using the PCG Companies Specification for GA.

Dealer Inspire has been working closely with PCG Companies to natively integrate consumer engagement indicators in their website platform, chat software Conversations, and digital retailing platform Online Shopper. Consumer interactions on the Dealer Inspire platform will now be visible in Google Analytics using predefined event names and goals.

Joe Chura, Chief Executive Officer, will be representing Dealer Inspire at the upcoming Automotive Analytics & Attribution Summit (AAAS) in Boca Raton, November 8th and 9th. Joe will be sharing their insights into sales attribution models in his workshop entitled Meet Roxanne: A Technology Breakthrough To Measure Attribution Through Events and Customer Intent.

"PCG Companies has created a sustainable, open standard for Google Analytics," said Joe Chura. "Our company has built its reputation on supporting open standards and we believe that this effort will help all dealers and website providers improve website reporting. Our customers should be able to see trusted conversion and engagement data from all of their marketing campaigns in Google Analytics, if they wish to use that software platform."

PCG Companies created the public specification to allow automotive dealers to verify marketing reports and claims through Google Analytics, an independent reporting platform. The specification was published in 2016 and now has wide support in the automotive industry.

Dealers do not always trust the reports that their technology partners provide, said Brian Pasch, Founder of PCG Companies. Dealer Inspire has always believed in transparent reporting to provide a high level of customer support. Today, they are demonstrating their willingness to be held accountable in Google Analytics as well. Dealer groups, with multiple website platforms, will now be able to see the performance of Dealer Inspire websites compared to their peers.

To learn more about the upcoming Automotive Analytics & Attribution Summit (AAAS), visit: http://automotiveattributionsummit.com/

About Dealer Inspire

Dealer Inspire is an innovative and award-winning website development SAAS company specializing in the automotive retail industry. Founded in 2012, Dealer Inspire is focused on creating more than websites, but rather sustainable platforms to enhance and promote the sales process and customer experience. The Dealer Inspire products are comprised of a next gen website platform, AI powered messaging/chat software, an online car buying tool, and dynamic inventory advertising software.

Dealer Inspire has been selected as the certified website and digital advertising provider for 17 of the world's leading automotive brands and works with thousands of clients across U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

About PCG Companies

Founded in 2005 by Brian Pasch, PCG Companies is a leading automotive consultancy and analytics firm serving the automotive industry. PCG Companies is a recognized leader in Tier 3 automotive marketing education through their hosted conferences, books, and online training courses. The fastest growing division of the company is VistaDash, a trusted cloud-based data reporting and analytics platform which fuels marketing insights for single point and multi-store dealer groups. (http://www.vistadash.com)
What do you get for someone who has everything? Nothing! (Nothing, that is, but the gift of time and love.)

What do you get for someone who has everything? Nothing! (Nothing, that is, but the gift of time and love.) Patrick McDonnell, creator of the beloved MUTTS comic strip, is inviting holiday gift-givers around the world to participate in The Gift of Nothing Day  a day to celebrate the companionship of loved ones  on December 30, 2017. The occasion will occur annually on the Saturday after Christmas and is inspired by McDonnells critically acclaimed picture book The Gift of Nothing.

The book, which features MUTTS stars Mooch the cat and Earl the dog, is a perennial holiday tale about the true meaning of gift-giving. It's an expression of love.

For a special holiday present, McDonnell encourages gift-givers to create their own gift boxes filled with nothing for friends or loved ones. Each box should contain a personal promise  a coupon or certificate of sorts  to spend quality time with the recipient on December 30. Activities for The Gift of Nothing Day can include volunteering or enjoying a home-cooked meal, going on a long drive, dancing in your living room, having a slumber party, or even turning off the TV and enjoying a quiet evening together (doing nothing)!

It is encouraged that the giver find, decorate, and/or construct a box by hand. However, for those who wish to buy theirs, a keepsake The Gift of Nothing Box is available for sale at the online MUTTS Shop (along with The Gift of Nothing book).

On December 30, participants can tag or search #TheGiftOfNothingDay on social media to share their special moments with others around the globe!

For more information about how to participate, visit TheGiftOfNothingDay.com or The Gift of Nothing Day Official Facebook Page.

About The Gift of Nothing Book:

The Gift of Nothing (published in 2005 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) was McDonnells first childrens book, and it quickly became a New York Times bestseller. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said: Both MUTTS fans and newcomers will appreciate McDonnell's clever wordplay and lovable characters, who prove that nothing can be everything. In 2014, the story was transformed into a childrens play commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. In 2016, McDonnell released a board book adaptation titled The Little Gift of Nothing.

About MUTTS:

Patrick McDonnell created the MUTTS comic strip in September 1994. Distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate, it now appears in more than 700 newspapers in 20 countries. The strip revolves around two central characters  Earl the dog and Mooch the cat  and celebrates love, kindness, and interspecies friendships. McDonnell has received numerous awards for this strip, including the National Cartoonists Societys highest honor, The Reuben; five Harvey Awards for Best Comic Strip; Germanys Max and Moritz Award for Best International Comic Strip; and the Swedish Academy of Comic Arts Adamson Statuette. McDonnell is collaborating with 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios (The Peanuts Movie, Ice Age, Horton Hears a Who) to create a full-length, animated MUTTS movie.
The evidence suggests that spiritual care needs to be part of the culture of every health care providing system or institution

HealthCare Chaplaincy Network (HCCN) and its affiliate, the Spiritual Care Association (SCA) have released their newest white paper on the integration of spiritual care in the medical field for the role of a physician entitled Spiritual Care and Physicians: Understanding Spirituality in Medical Practice.

The white paper  an evidence-based literature review  is designed to help guide the field, empowering physicians to better integrate basic levels of spiritual care into their practice, raise their comfort levels in addressing spiritual issues and understand when to refer to professional chaplains to provide in-depth support.

The evidence suggests that spiritual care needs to be part of the culture of every health care providing system or institution, said Rev. Eric J. Hall, President and CEO of HCCN and SCA. This paper offers a guide for physicians, not because of some religious agenda or sentimental persuasion, but because the evidence validates the importance of caring for the human spirit.

The American Medical Association (AMA) advised that inquiry into, as well as discussion and consideration of, individual patient spirituality is an important component of health and that physicians should promote access to spiritual care. However, many physicians have little to no training in this area which can lead to not fully understanding its value and integration into health care. Among the questions explored in this groundbreaking paper are: What can a physician do to address the spiritual needs of a patient or family member? How is spirituality the same or different from religion? When should a physician refer a patient or family to a professional chaplain? Is it ever okay to pray with a patient or to share the physicians own faith and religious resources?

With contributions by Deborah B. Marin, M.D., Vansh Sharma, M.D., Rev. David Fleenor, BCC, (each from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) and Richard Powers, M.D. (University of Alabama at Birmingham), this document lays out the roles of physicians as spiritual care generalists and professional chaplains as spiritual care specialists. The paper notes that providing proactive spiritual care has been proven to have a positive impact on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and cost, which echoes the work of SCAs Medical Advisory Council, to which Marin and Powers are active in. View online: http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/physicians

This white paper is the third produced by HCCN and SCA in an ongoing effort to introduce the value of spiritual care in a health care setting. The inaugural document, SPIRITUAL CARE: What It Means, Why It Matters in Health Care was released in October 2016. This was followed by Spiritual Care and Nursing: A Nurses Contribution and Practice in March 2017. View all white papers online: http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/white-papers.
Advantech Wireless, a global leader for Satellite broadband communications solutions, announced the release of the new Tactical SATCOM Network Architecture for Drones and UAVs.

The requirement for UAVs is growing exponentially. At the same time, their capabilities need to increase in terms of data rates, area coverage and operation in a hostile environment.

The ASAT II VSAT System technology, developed by Advantech Wireless is designed to provide extended capabilities for low rate surveillance data and instantaneously switch to support both large video feeds as well as high data transmissions rates from and to the UAV. These high value capabilities need to be offered in the most cost efficient way and have to solve key technological issues today.

The UAV Satellite Market, demands operation in a hostile environment. The ASAT II System core network is designed for HTS satellites, with built-in beam switching technology, very low latency, multiple up link carriers from several teleports and perfectly synchronized forward and return links, stated Cristi Damian, VP Global Sales & Business Development, RF and Microwave Products at Advantech Wireless. The ability to access large pools of bandwidth from the remote UAV, combined with low latency and high bandwidth efficiency, opens tremendous opportunities for UAV SATCOM networks, added Mr. Damian. Synchronized forward and return frequency assignment means resilience against jamming and low probability of intercept for large tactical UAVs. Fast beam switching, and very short data frames, enables perfect coordination for Drone Swarms concept.

Visit Advantech Wireless at Global MilSatCom 2017. November 7-9, 2017. London, UK.

About Advantech Wireless

Advantech Wireless supports the critical need for High Throughput Satellite communications in a rapidly expanding digital environment. Our proven, low-cost, and highly reliable system solutions are meeting the ever-increasing need for high-bandwidth communications essential to military and government solutions, as well as cellular network providers, broadcasters, robust corporate networks, and security. We integrate award-winning research and development engineering into our designs. The result: custom solutions with lowest overall capital and operating costs, together with an unparalleled commitment to lead the industry in innovation, design and reliability. Find out more about us at advantechwireless.com.
Axiad IDS is a Trusted Identity solutions provider for enterprise, government and financial organizations. Our vision is to provide customers with the freedom to confidently access online information and perform digital transactions anytime, anywhere and from any device. With Utimaco, we reinforce this vision and make it a reality. - Yves Audebert, Axiad IDS Chairman, President and co-CEO

Axiad IDS, a leading provider of Authentication and Identity and Access Management solutions for enterprise, healthcare, government and financial organizations, today announced it has partnered with Utimaco to strengthen its position in helping organizations prevent data breaches. Utimaco is the fastest growing manufacturer of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) in the world, with their cryptographic hardware devices serving as the root of trust to protect critical digital infrastructures and high value data assets  especially those tied to the Internet of Things.

As part of our holistic approach, we integrate best-in-class products and services that enable our solutions to address the wide-ranging identity needs of our customers. Utimaco has been an industry leader for more than 20 years in Europe, and we are excited to bring their expertise to our customers in the U.S., said Yves Audebert, Axiad IDS Chairman, President and co-CEO. Our vision is to provide customers with the freedom to confidently access online information and perform digital transactions anytime, anywhere and from any device. With Utimaco, we reinforce this vision and make it a reality.

The Internet of Things has presented a whole new challenge in securing digital transactions between users, machines and devices. Utimacos HSMs are a perfect complement to Axiad IDSs complete trusted identities solutions providing a simple, cost effective, highly secure and flexible product.

Hardware Security Modules are essential components of many cybersecurity solutions. They provide the encryption and digital signing capabilities required to protect identities and data in compliance with standards and regulations. For example, HSMs are the backbone of Public Key Infrastructures that protect high value information assets such as software code, patient data, payment data or intellectual property. HSMs are also used in diverse applications such as user authentication, credential management, online banking, database encryption, secure document signing, electronic invoicing or time stamping. Utimaco HSMs are universally usable as a root of trust whenever cryptographic keys need to be generated and secured.

Axiad IDS specifically chose to add Utimacos HSM solutions to its offering for its unique benefits to both the channel and end-users:

*Best-in-Class Hardware Security Modules



Utimacos sole focus is on developing and producing HSMs

20+ years of experience; built in Germany, assembled in California

highest level of certification: NIST FIPS 140-2 level 3 overall / 4 physical

*All-inclusive pricing model/total lower cost for customers



no additional fee per client or application

no additional fee per algorithm (including ECC/ECDSA)

no limit to the number of keys or slots

no licensing costs for use of firmware modules

*Testing and evaluation made easy



easy to use HSM simulator

replicates all the features of the hardware

free to download and use; free support from Utimaco

Both customers and VARs can test proof-of-concepts with the Utimaco free HSM simulator, which works without any installations of hardware and is available for both Windows and Linux systems. It is available for download free of charge.

We are excited to partner with Axiad IDS to strengthen our presence in the U.S. As part of Axiads industry-leading portfolio, our best-of-breed HSM products will allow more organizations to leverage the latest security technologies and better adapt to the constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape, said Eric Tocatlian, Vice President of Global Sales, Utimaco. Axiad IDS deep know-how and holistic approach to delivering trusted identities for breach prevention aligns with our commitment to serve as the root of trust for IoT networks and devices across all industries.

To learn more about how Axiad IDS and Utimaco might help you achieve secure digital transactions, visit: http://www.axiadids.com

About Utimaco

Utimaco is a leading manufacturer of hardware security modules (HSMs) that provide the Root of Trust to the IoT. We keep cryptographic keys and digital identities safe to protect critical digital infrastructures and high value data assets. Our products enable innovations and support the creation of new business by helping to secure critical business data and transactions. Utimaco HSMs are deployed across more than 80 countries in more than 1,000 installations. Utimaco employs a total of 200 people, with offices in the US, Germany, the UK and Singapore.

About Axiad IDS

Axiad IDS is a Trusted Identity solutions provider for enterprise, government and financial organizations. Axiad IDS was founded by industry experts with extensive backgrounds in developing, deploying, and managing identity and access management solutions. These experts have experienced first-hand the challenges associated with implementing and managing mission-critical identity systems, and are experienced in overcoming those challenges, enabling their success. Axiad IDS is driven by its customers business needs, addressing business objectives with innovative and cost-effective solutions. Axiad IDS was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.
AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce the promotion of Rodrigo Cacho to the position of Business Development Manager. Rodrigo will be responsible for the development, maintenance, and expansion of product sales to multinational customers throughout the world.

In his most recent role with the company as Latin America Sales Manager, Rodrigo provided unsurpassed support to customers within the region, solidifying AIMs presence in Latin America and positioning the company for success. Rodrigo will transition into his new role as Business Development Manager over the next few months, working with the sales team to ensure customers within the region a seamless transition.

Since joining AIM in 2004, Rodrigo has been a key contributor to AIMs continued success, said AIMs Vice President - Sales, Andy Dolan. We are confident that his experience will allow him to excel in his new role.

Rodrigo Cacho can be reached by email at rcacho(at)aimsolder(dot)com.

About AIM

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, AIM Solder is a leading global manufacturer of assembly materials for the electronics industry with manufacturing, distribution and support facilities located throughout the world. AIM produces advanced solder products such as solder paste, liquid flux, cored wire, bar solder, epoxies, lead-free and halogen-free solder products, preforms, and specialty alloys such as indium and gold for a broad range of industries. A recipient of many prestigious SMT industry awards, AIM is strongly committed to innovative research and development of product and process improvement as well as providing customers with superior technical support, service and training. For more information about AIM, visit http://www.aimsolder.com.

Upcoming Events:

November 14-17, 2017  Productronica Germany  Munich, Germany

November 16, 2017  SMTA New England  Worcester, MA

November 29, 2017  SMTA Silicon Valley  San Jose, CA
The Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale does a remarkable job at changing the lives of women and children with its commitment to hard work, empowering of women, and leadership training.

Exults, a South Florida digital marketing agency, is a contributing sponsor of the Junior League JULE 80th anniversary celebration in Fort Lauderdale Beach on November 9th. The inaugural Fall Fundraiser event will take place each year and aims to celebrate the tremendous efforts made by the hardworking, dedicated women of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

The non-profit organization is committed to developing the potential and providing leadership training women in the community. Fort Lauderdales Junior League has assisted in creating several of Broward Countys most impactful charitable organizations, including the Museum of Discovery and Science and Kids in Distress. For more than 80 years, the women of Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale have given their time and hard work, raised millions of dollars, and created several resources to help improve the lives of women and children in South Florida.

Being part of Junior League has been an incredible experience. I am constantly amazed at the power giving back can have. The women in this league touch so many lives in our community- I couldnt be more proud to call myself a member, said Danielle Enzinna, Exults Director of Operations, and active member of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Exults dedication to the community doesnt start or end with this event. Exults hosted a Thanksgiving food drive and a holiday toy drive in 2016 to benefit Kids In Distress of Broward (KID), an agency working for the prevention of child abuse, preservation of the family, and the treatment of abused and neglected children.

Whether we are working to raise childrens spirits in the holiday season or hosting a food drive to benefit the community, supporting non-profit organizations that are trying to better the lives of South Floridians is a core value of Exults, said Zach Hoffman, the CEO of Exults. The Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale does a remarkable job at changing the lives of women and children with its commitment to hard work, empowering of women, and leadership training.

The 80th Anniversary Celebration JULE event and silent auction will take place at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach on November 9th. Tickets include open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and a Tastings & Delights menu from local restaurants and chefs. The evening will feature a silent auction with items from both near and far, as well as an exclusive Kendra Scott jewelry pull. All tickets also include a special copy of Paradise Served: South Floridas Culinary Destination, the Junior Leagues cookbook.

Exults is a full-service internet marketing company that is results driven for its clients and offers a complete range of internet marketing services to reach its clients goals. Exults premier services include Website Design, Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click Management, Social Media Marketing, Video Optimization, Image Enhancement and Digital PR. For more information, please visit the Exults website or call us at 954-763-1130.
Dr. Amarik Singh Offers Laser Therapy to Treat Gum Disease in Elmhurst, IL

Dr. Amarik Singh, a celebrated periodontist with Periodontal Implant Associates, is pleased to announce that he is now accepting new patients suffering from gum disease in Elmhurst, IL, who may be in need of the REPaiR implant protocol. This treatment uses BIOLASE WaterLase laser technology to target gum disease around dental implants, a condition known as peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis only affects those with dental implants. The condition causes damage to the bone and gum tissue that support implants, which compromises the implants ability to safely and effectively function. Gum disease in Elmhurst, IL, may be to blame, but there are other factors, such as genetics, that could also be at play. Some of the most common symptoms of peri-implantitis include:



Redness and inflammation in the immediate areas around the implant

Pain around the implant location

Presence of pus around the implant

Bleeding gums

To keep patients from losing their implants, Dr. Singh recommends receiving the REPaiR protocol. This protocol was designed specifically to help clear away disease and allow patients to heal, saving their implants. It involves using minimally invasive laser technology to eradicate the bacteria causing disease and stop the damage from progressing. This allows the bone and soft tissue to heal and for the supportive tissues around the implant to become strong enough to maintain the load required of them.

If left untreated, gum disease and peri-implantitis could cause patients to lose their implants. Patients should always seek qualified treatment before the disease progresses and they lose a dental implant. As a board-certified periodontist who specializes in periodontal care and dental implants, Dr. Singh has placed over 15,000 implants and is happy to have dedicated his practice to helping improve his patients lives and progressing in his field. Those who would like to learn more can contact the doctor by calling 630-424-9404.

About the Periodontist

Periodontal Implant Associates is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients in Oak Brook, IL and the Chicago area. After graduating from Northwestern University Dental School, Dr. Amarik Singh went on to obtain his Specialty Certificate in Periodontics and earn his Masters from Northwestern University. Dr. Singh is deeply committed to continuing education and prides himself on remaining on the cutting-edge of the newest techniques and technology in dentistry. Dr. Singh has placed over 15,000 dental implants using minimally invasive techniques and is part of an elite group of dental professionals at the forefront of the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST), a revolutionary new approach to repairing gum recession. To learn more about the periodontal services available at Periodontal Implant Associates, please visit http://www.pidentists.com or call 630-424-9404.
The Folio: Digital Awards is the industry's top honor in the digital space, recognizing outstanding social media, web and mobile initiatives among publishers of digital content. The early entry deadline is December 12, 2017, with a final deadline of December 19, 2017.

More Information

Our ultimate goal for the Folio: Digital Awards is to recognize and celebrate the innovative spirit thats transforming magazine media, says Caysey Welton, Content Director at Folio:. This program honors the people, products, platforms and strategies that position our industry for a successful future. We cant wait to see this years nominees!

The winners and honorable mentions will be honored at an awards breakfast in New York City in April 2018. Entries can be submitted online here.

Categories Include:

Campaign/Product Awards



App

Digital Brand Extension

Digital Edition

Digital Excellence

Digital Momentum Award

Data Visualization

Ecommerce

E-letter Design

Integration with Print

Microsite/Custom Website

Mobile Site Design

New Digital Product

Podcast

User Experience

Website Redesign/Relaunch

Website Launch

Use of Archives

Use of AI/Machine Learning

Individual/Team Awards



Digital Hall of Fame

Digital Executive of the Year

Digital Team of the Year

Digital Editor of the Year

Social Media Genius

Product Developer of the Year

Product Team of the Year

To be eligible to enter, the content, program or campaign must have been executed (either in part or full) between December 1, 2016 and December 1, 2017. Some of the work must have occurred during this time, but it's not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period. The campaign/program can still be in progress.

More Information

For any questions regarding the Folio: Digital Awards, or assistance entering, contact Jessica Coonan at jcoonan(at)accessintel(dot)com.

About Folio:

Folio: is a multi-channel resource for the magazine and online media industry. Our primary mission is to help media companies generate revenue and increase audience engagement. For more information, please visit http://www.FolioMag.com.
The Chertoff Group At Chertoff Group, we help our clients develop comprehensive strategies to manage risk without building barriers that get in the way of carrying on their business

WHAT:

Hosted by Security Magazine, the 11th Annual SECURITY 500 Conference will bring together top security executives, government officials and industry leaders to kick off the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) week in Washington, D.C. The exclusive event will provide security industry executives with the opportunity to network and share their strategies and solutions on how to elevate and enhance internal and external security programs.

Michael Chertoff, executive chairman and co-founder of The Chertoff Group and former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will participate in an insightful panel discussion, titled Over the Horizon - What Should CSOs and CEOs Be Thinking About Relative to Emerging Risks and Threats to Their Enterprise? Inspired by Secretary Chertoffs recently published op-ed in Security Magazines October issue, the panel discussion will explore the broad range of issues and concerns that enterprises may face in the near and distant future.

Joining Secretary Chertoff will be William Crowell, partner at Alsop Louie Partners, and Alfred Grasso, board of trustees member and former president and CEO of The MITRE Corporation. Lynn Mattice, conference chair and managing director at Mattice Associates, will moderate the discussion.

WHEN:

Monday, November 13, 2017

4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. EST

WHERE:

SECURITY 500 Conference

Panel Discussion: Over the Horizon - What Should CSOs and CEOs Be Thinking About Relative to Emerging Risks and Threats to Their Enterprise?

Ritz Carlton Pentagon City

1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, VA 22202

For more information about the conference and to register, visit: http://www.security500.com/.

WHO:

The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, The Chertoff Group

As Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, Michael Chertoff led the country in blocking would-be terrorists from crossing our borders or implementing their plans if they were already in the country. He also transformed FEMA into an effective organization following Hurricane Katrina. His greatest successes have earned few headlines  because the important news is what didnt happen.



At The Chertoff Group, Mr. Chertoff provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on a broad range of security issues, from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery. Risk management has become the CEOs concern, he says. We help our clients develop comprehensive strategies to manage risk without building barriers that get in the way of carrying on their business.



Before heading up the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Chertoff served as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Earlier, during more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted cases of political corruption, organized crime, corporate fraud and terrorism  including the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Mr. Chertoff is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College (1975) and Harvard Law School (1978). From 1979-1980 he served as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, Jr.



In addition to his role at The Chertoff Group, Mr. Chertoff is also senior of counsel at Covington & Burling LLP, and a member of the firms White Collar Defense and Investigations practice group.

About The Chertoff Group:

The Chertoff Group is a premier global advisory firm that provides security risk management, business strategy and merchant banking advisory services. We apply our insights into technology, threat and policy to help our clients improve their resiliency, build competitive advantage and accelerate growth.

With a particular focus around security and technology, The Chertoff Group provides a broad array of professional services to help our clients at every stage of the business lifecycle. We leverage our deep subject matter knowledge around important policy matters and security operations to build and execute effective strategies that enable companies to capture new opportunities and create lasting competitive advantage. For those organizations that require tactical security support, we work hand-in-hand with clients to better understand todays threats and assess, mitigate and monitor potential dangers and evolving risks in order to create more secure environments for their business operations.

Headquartered in Washington D.C., The Chertoff Group maintains offices in Menlo Park and New York City. For more information about The Chertoff Group, visit http://www.chertoffgroup.com.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is a sponsor of the Commercial Finance Associations (CFA) 73rd Annual Convention, Nov. 8-10, at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago. The CFAs Annual Convention brings top thought leaders, regulators, and business innovators to bring focus to the opportunities and challenges ahead. Additionally, Bethani R. Oppenheimer, an associate in the firms Atlanta office, will speak.

Oppenheimer will moderate an informative panel during the Women in Commercial Finance Reception on negotiating tactics featuring winners from CFA's 40 Under 40 Awards. Additionally, Oppenheimer will introduce the panel A View from the Top: Large ABL Lenders, which will review what is different now in ABL from before, what observations they have as an "outsider" coming in, and how ABL has changed.

Oppenheimer is an associate in the firms Financial Institutions Practice. She focuses her practice on representing banks and other financial institutions in a variety of asset-based lending transactions, including loan syndications and participations, revolving and term loan facilities, secured and unsecured credit facilities, intercreditor arrangements, and acquisition financings.

David B. Kurzweil, shareholder, co-chair of the Financial Institutions Practice and chair of the Atlanta Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice, is a longtime CFA member. He is a member of the CFAs Executive Committee.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A single entity worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
SVN | Holloway Managing Director, Kenny Holloway

SVN International Corp. (SVN), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN brand, announced the addition of its newest franchise office, SVN | Holloway in Southern Mississippi. Led by Managing Director Kenny Holloway, the firm specializes in providing commercial sales, leasing, property management and consulting services throughout the Mississippi market. SVN | Holloway is the second SVN office in the state of Mississippi, expanding the companys full-service, collaborative approach to commercial real estate in the region.

As the SVN brand continues to grow both nationally and internationally, we strive to build our franchise network with market leaders who share our vision of a collaborative, open approach to commercial real estate, which we have defined as SVNs Shared Value Network, said Kevin Maggiacomo, President & CEO of SVN. SVN | Holloway is a highly beneficial addition to SVN, with strong roots in Southern Mississippi, providing us the opportunity to further expand our brand and provide best in class service in this market.

Holloway brings 10 years of experience in commercial real estate to SVN | Holloway, where he will lead a team of Advisors focused on commercial real estate advisory within the local market including Harrison, Jackson, Hancock, George, and Pearl River counties. The firm plans to leverage SVNs international platform to support the firms growth and reach, as well as the cutting-edge commercial real estate technology available to all SVN franchises to help advance its offerings to the local market.

We recognized the need for a full-service commercial real estate brokerage in the region that is supported by a market-leading platform with an international reach and extensive market expertise, said SVN | Holloway Managing Director, Kenny Holloway. SVNs ability to offer the tools for success and growth, as well as training and networking, provided the perfect partnership to drive our goals in providing exceptional client service throughout Southern Mississippi.

The SVN brand was founded in 1987 out of a desire to improve the commercial real estate industry for all stakeholders through cooperation and a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues and communities. SVN currently has more than 200 offices serving 500 national and international markets. By tapping into this broad network, SVN | Holloway is able to offer its clients expanded reach for finding, acquiring and arranging commercial investments.

SVN is the only major commercial real estate brand that markets all of its qualified properties to the entire brokerage and investment community. Participating in more than $10 billion in sales and leasing transactions in 2016, SVN Advisors shared commission fees with co-operating brokers in order to close more deals in less time and at the right value for clients. Advisors also reap the benefits of SVN | Live Open Sales Meetings, cloud-based leading-edge technology, and national product councils. This open, transparent and collaborative approach to real estate is the SVN Difference.

All SVN offices are independently owned and operated. To learn more about becoming an SVN commercial real estate business owner, visit http://www.svn.com/franchising-opportunities/

# # #

About SVN:

The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues and our communities. The SVN brand is comprised of over 1,600 advisors and staff in more than 200 offices across the globe in six countries. Our brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation and inclusivity that enables all our advisors to collaborate with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVNs unique Shared Value Network is just one of the many ways that SVN advisors create amazing value with our clients, colleagues and communities. For more information, visit http://www.svn.com.
Driven Brands Logo

Three leading companies among the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands have been ranked in Franchise Times magazines Top 200, the most comprehensive ranking of the 500 largest U.S. franchise systems. Collectively, the three showcased automotive brands have more than 2,000 locations, primarily in North America, and delivered more than $1.8 billion on sales.

Recognized by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise Times Top 200 placed CARSTAR North America 108th on the list with more than 550 independently owned collision repair facilities. Meineke Car Care Centers was ranked 136th, with nearly 1,000 locations. Maaco Auto Painting and Collision Repair was 140th with more than 500 locations. Among top 10 automotive franchises, CARSTAR ranked fourth, Meineke was seventh and Maaco was eighth.

Its an honor to be recognized among the top companies in the world, said Dennis Elliott, Vice President of Development and Franchising, for Driven Brands. Through the past year, we have strengthened our operational and financial performance at these three dynamic companies, grown tremendously, integrated our operations and developed new cross-functional opportunities for all three brands. This an excellent sign of these accomplishments.

The Franchise Times Top 200+ is an annual ranking of the 500 largest franchise systems in the United States by global systemwide sales, based on the previous years performance. In a five-month research process and building upon a database that began in 1999, the research team uses a combination of companies voluntary reports and publicly available data, including the franchises most recent franchise disclosure documents and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of North Americas leading automotive aftermarket brands across four distinct verticals: Repair & Maintenance, housing Meineke Car Care Centers; Paint & Collision, housing Maaco and CARSTAR North America; Distribution, housing 1-800-Radiator & A/C; and Quick Lube, housing Take 5 Oil Change. Driven Brands has more than 2,500 centers across North America, and combined, all businesses generate more than $2.3 billion in system sales. For more information, visit http://www.DrivenBrands.com.

About the Franchise Times Top 200+

The Franchise Times Top 200+ is the only ranking by systemwide sales and locations of the largest 500 U.S.-based franchise brands. Published in the October issue and available in a searchable database online, the Franchise Times Top 200+ also analyzes industry sectors based on percentage change in sales growth, reports the 10 fastest-growing franchises by four different measures, and includes exclusive news stories about the biggest names in franchising. The rankings and full report, and the searchable online database, are available at http://www.franchisetimes.com.
Being a national sponsor of ADA Camps bridges our business with our culture of giving back through health and wellness

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) and its employees are heading to camp to help kids fine-tune their diabetes management skills and build healthy habits. As a new, national sponsor of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), PHLY is contributing $100,000 to the ADAs Camp program. ADA Camps provide a fun and unique experience for children and families living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and those at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

PHLY employees are raising money and volunteering nationwide to promote diabetes awareness. To kick off the partnership last month, PHLY employees:



Packed healthy lunches as part of ADAs National Healthy Lunch Day

Organized clothing drives

Participated in spin class fundraisers

Were trained to host health fairs on behalf of the ADA

PHLY offices are also participating in Step Out 5K Walk and Run events across the U.S. and will be engaging with the ADA in November for National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Diabetes is a serious, but manageable disease. Working together with the American Diabetes Association is a unique opportunity for our employees to make a difference in the lives of young people, shared Bob OLeary, president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. For years weve excelled at being a premiere insurance carrier for non-profit and human service organizations, camps, and other businesses. Being a national sponsor of ADA Camps bridges our business with our culture of giving back through health and wellness.

For nearly 70 years, the ADA has hosted camps for children with diabetes across the country, serving more than 6,000 campers annually. A dedicated medical staff and more than 2,000 volunteersthe majority of whom are health professionals and community championsare onsite 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, often using their vacation time to be there to help campers. Many of the campers return to be camp counselors because in addition to learning how to better manage their diabetes, they develop social skills, self-confidence, and lifelong friendships.

At the American Diabetes Association, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes, and our Camps program is an essential part of our mission, said Kelly Mueller, managing director of youth, young adult and family initiatives for the Association. Support for Camps allows us to provide this life-changing experience for thousands of children every summer and throughout the year. While we are all aiming for a cure, we stand firmly with families as they overcome the daily challenges of managing this disease.

Since 1980, PHLY and its employees have donated nearly $35 million to charitable causes and organizations.

About Philadelphia Insurance

Philadelphia Insurance Companies designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. The Company is rated A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and AA- for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poors. In business for over 50 years, PHLY is nationally recognized as a member of Ward's Top 50, one of the Best Places to Work in Insurance, and one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. The organization has more than 50 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit http://www.PHLY.com.

About the American Diabetes Association

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. The American Diabetes Association (Association) is the global authority on diabetes and since 1940 has been committed to its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To tackle this global public health crisis, the Association drives discovery in research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and provides support and advocacy for people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn)
Our people are our greatest asset, and we commit to a positive workplace culture by remaining a transparent organization, says Kathie Belkowski, director of People Engagement at Esys Automation.

Esys Automation, a full-service automation equipment integrator serving the automotive, construction vehicle, and general manufacturing industries, has been awarded a Top Workplaces honor by the Detroit Free Press for the fourth year in a row. The Top Workplaces list, which is based solely on the results of a third partyadministered employee survey, measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection.

According to representatives of the Detroit Free Press, a Top Workplaces recognition is neither a popularity contest nor based on fancy perks and benefits. To be named to the Top Workplaces list, companies must meet strict standards for organizational health. Research has shown that whats important to employees is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, knowledge about how its going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together.

Our people are our greatest asset, and we commit to a positive workplace culture by remaining a transparent organization, says Kathie Belkowski, director of People Engagement at Esys Automation. Transparency fosters trust and engagement, which is crucial to our culture. We share data across the board, from our financial position and outlook to our future growth plans.

We are currently expanding our engineering and sales workforce to support our growth in the automation market, Belkowski continues. Growth brings in new ideas and encourages employees to share different viewpoints, creating a collaborative, diverse environment. Our team members enjoy a high level of autonomy and responsibility that promotes innovative thinking and a sense of ownership.

About Esys Automation

Esys Automation is a leading full-service automation solutions provider to the automotive industry. Esys provides automation design, simulation, and machine building, including advanced robotic systems and industry-specific software solutions. Esys specializes in vehicle assembly applications in areas such as press, powertrain, plastics, body assembly, paint & sealer, final assembly, and tire & wheel. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Esys Automation operates globally, with additional offices in Greenville, South Carolina. Learn more about Esys Automation at esysautomation.com.

PRESS CONTACT:

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1670 N. Opdyke

Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Office: (248) 754-1900 x470

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Inter Valley Health Plan President and CEO Ronald H. Bolding (center) receives WesternU's Access to Caring Award at "A Tribute to Caring" Nov. 4, 2017 at the Disneyland Hotel. (Jeff Malet, WesternU)

Supporters have helped Western University of Health Sciences attain new levels of innovation, cutting-edge research and clinical excellence.

With a steampunk theme reflecting the role of innovation through the years, WesternU held its annual A Tribute to Caring gala Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. About 600 guests helped WesternU raise more than $320,000.

WesternU students make many personal and financial commitments to becoming the very best healers they can be, so all the support provided at ATC will be used for scholarships that will help them meet those commitments, said WesternU Vice President for University Advancement Diane Abraham, PhD, CFRE. You are, quite literally, helping our students make their dreams come true, she said.

Health professions education, like health care, is constantly changing, and it requires a nimble and adaptive mindset that WesternU has always embodied, Abraham said.

Part of what makes our university so special is our commitment to strategic growth, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, Abraham said. Campus resources like our Virtual Reality Learning Center and our new Center for Innovation promise to yield knowledge, inventions and applications that will develop more creative health professionals and enhance our universitys reputation as a leading-edge institution. Thank you for your generous support and I hope you will be excited about investing in our very bright future.

WesternU honored Inter Valley Health Plan, represented by President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald H. Bolding, with its Access to Caring Award. This award is given to a person or organization that has made a difference in advancing health care access and availability to underserved people in our community.

Inter Valley Health Plan is a not-for-profit, Medicare Advantage HMO health plan based in Pomona, California. It provides health insurance products for more than 25,000 people with Medicare throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties and portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The HMO was formed in 1979 by Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and local doctors.

In 2009, the company implemented its signature annual Helping Hands Week program. For one week, employees volunteer their time to support the Plans mission of health and vitality in the communities they serve. Each year, Inter Valley Health Plan and its employees actively support more than 40 charitable and community organizations.

I am greatly honored and fantastically appreciative of the fact that this honor has come to Inter Valley Health Plan, Bolding said. We know that just providing a business environment that works efficiently is not sufficient to have a life that is meaningful. We look for things that are purpose driven, and we get that in partnership with many organizations, and certainly WesternU is one of those.

Several WesternU students attended ATC and were able to meet some of the donors who contributed to student scholarships. Second-year College of Podiatric Medicine student Samantha Zdanowicz said receiving scholarships as an undergraduate helped her and her family a lot. She is the first person in her family to graduate from a four-year college, and she is appreciative of the support.

You are investing in our future, she said. Hopefully we will be donating to this event as alumni.

Special thank you to our Silver Sponsors: Dr. Hong Shue Chen, Inter Valley Health Plan, the Sarkaria Family and Wells Fargo Bank.
Progressive Dental Marketing attended the four-day Pikos Symposium hosted by the Pikos Institute in Orlando, FL. Three company team members, including Vice President, Gerritt Cora, spoke with attendees on current trends in dentistry and Progressive Dental Marketings unique approach to dental marketing. A leader in dental consulting, Progressive Dental Marketing teaches how to maximize practice growth potential, and reach and convert new patients for high-dollar, niche procedures.

The Pikos Institute takes pride in offering clinically relevant and evidence-based education to dental clinicians and staff. The 2017 Full Arch Immediate Implant Reconstruction Symposium covered topics ranging from treatment planning of full arch dental implant cases to complications of tilted and zygomatic implants. During this hands-on and lecture-based symposium, Sixteen Master Clinicians, including esteemed oral surgeon and founder of the Pikos Institute, Dr. Michael A. Pikos, shared insights and knowledge on surgical and restorative aspects of full arch dental implant cases.

Progressive Dental Marketing frequently attends events within the dental industry to showcase innovative dental consulting services. This dental marketing company, founded by CEO Bart Knellinger in 2009, provides comprehensive consulting and marketing services to clients including its continuing education course, Catalyst. Focused on helping clients reach maximum practice growth, the company brings cutting-edge strategies and techniques to each individual clients marketing plan to connect them with and convert high-dollar patients. PDMs innovative approach to dental consulting and marketing has gained the trust of many dental industry leaders and organizations across the United States.

To learn more about the services offered by Progressive Dental Marketing or the Catalyst dental CE course, visit http://www.progressivedentalmarketing.com. To receive a complimentary dental marketing consultation, call 727-286-6211.

About the Company

Progressive Dental Marketing (PDM) is a one-stop consulting firm specializing in marketing and promoting dental professionals through individualized marketing campaigns, practice development, continuing education, advertising and more. PDM has become one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, due to constant innovation, growth and long-term client retention, and ranked on the Inc. 5000s list of fastest-growing private companies in America in 2016, and on the Inc. 500s list in 2014 and 2015. The company has partnered with some of the largest dental organizations in the country, and continues to offer its full-range of services to dental clinicians around the world. For more information about Progressive Dental Marketing please visit the website at http://www.progressivedentalmarketing.com or call 727-286-6211 to schedule a complimentary dental marketing consultation.
VEXXHOST Adds OpenStack Consulting Service Backed by Years of Operational Experience VEXXHOST consultants and engineers have been running the companys current line of services, OpenStack based public, private and hybrid clouds, for over six years. The operational experience gained from running these infrastructures is at the core of the companys new consulting service.

VEXXHOST, a leading OpenStack infrastructure-as-a-service provider, announced today the launch of its new OpenStack consulting service. This service is aimed to provide companies with the assistance and guidance needed to get any OpenStack project up and running smoothly.

VEXXHOST consultants and engineers have been running the companys current line of services, OpenStack based public, private and hybrid clouds, for over six years. The operational experience gained from running these infrastructures is at the core of the companys new consulting service. VEXXHOST consultants can offer guidance in implementing OpenStack projects such as compute, network, object or block storage, orchestration, load balancing, big data, file sharing, cloud images and container services as these services are all currently offered on the VEXXHOST suite of cloud services.

VEXXHOSTs new OpenStack consulting service can also provide help to companies looking to deploy a new OpenStack environment, which can be a very overwhelming project. VEXXHOSTs consultants can help by understanding the needs and requirements of the organization and advising on best practices to reduce both time and risk. VEXXHOSTs consultants can also assist with upgrading an existing OpenStack infrastructure to newer releases.

There is no doubt that an OpenStack infrastructure can provide benefits to many companies, though we have noticed that the complexity of the software has made some organizations wary of it. Our goal with this service is to provide consulting to help organizations leverage OpenStack without the complexities that come with it, says Mohammed Naser, CEO of VEXXHOST and a longtime OpenStack contributor. We are excited to officially have consulting as part of our OpenStack solution lineup, something which we have provided in the past directly for large enterprise customers.

"The OpenStack vendor community continues to grow, evolve and mature. That rich ecosystem includes services that help make OpenStack faster to deploy, easier to consume and tailored to the unique demands of specific industries and workloads. Vexxhost has been an important participant in the OpenStack project, and the addition of services to their lineup will only expand the value and insights they can bring back to the community at large." Heidi Bretz, Director of Business Development at OpenStack.

VEXXHOST is currently offering a free initial 30-minute consultation. For more information or to request a quote, please visit https://vexxhost.com/openstack-consultation/

About VEXXHOST Inc.

Founded in 2006, VEXXHOST Inc. is a Canadian cloud computing provider offering OpenStack public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud and consulting solutions to customers, from small businesses to governments, from over 150 different countries. VEXXHOST Inc. delivers a high level of expertise to help clients optimize cloud infrastructure so they can focus on their core competencies. For more information, visit https://vexxhost.com or follow VEXXHOST on Twitter @vexxhost.

All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Every year, hundreds of people nationwide come to the PIJAC Legislative Update, said moderator Robert Likins, PIJACs Vice President of Government Affairs. This year was no different, except that the focus was much sharper due to the threats facing the industry.

Court decisions could close the Hawaii ornamental fishing industry. Detecting the illegal use of cyanide in fishing is being studied. And state-level aquatics and invasive species issues are being tackled by lawmakers and the industry in Michigan.

These issues dominated the annual Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Aquatic Experience Legislative Update on Friday, November 3. Hundreds of Aquatic Experience attendees  including aquatic and fish hobbyists, full-time professionals, retailers, and industry experts  flocked to the town hall-style event at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Every year, hundreds of people nationwide come to the PIJAC Legislative Update, said moderator Robert Likins, PIJACs Vice President of Government Affairs. This year was no different, except that the focus was much sharper due to the threats facing the industry.

Attorney Jim Lynch called in to address court decisions that could close much or all of Hawaiis ornamental fishing industry. Andrew Rhyne, Ph.D., an expert in marine biology, likewise called in to describe a study he is conducting on the accuracy of the accepted method for detecting the use of cyanide in fishing.

In addition to Rhynes work, Chris Buerner of Quality Marine described how a PIJAC-funded study examining the detection of cyanide in ornamental fish could better identify when it has been used.

Likins, Buerner and other speakers were in-person for their presentations. Preuss Pets owner Rick Preuss, who is based in Michigan and also runs a pet industry radio show, told attendees about challenges in his state related to invasive species and other aquatics issues.

Sandy Moore, President of Segrest Farms and Co-Chair of the PIJAC Aquatics Committee with Buerner, spoke on industry funding of aquaculture efforts and the limitations and ecological benefits of both farm raised and wild caught aquarium fish.

Buerner closed out the Legislative Update by asking attendees to donate to PIJACs efforts in Hawaii. He, Moore, PIJAC Board Chair Laura Peach Reid, and other town hall attendees across the breadth of the aquatics industry presented PIJAC with donations to assist with the associations fight against industry opponents.

This funding is necessary to fight two recent court decisions that may shut down Hawaiis professional and hobby fishers, as well as to work with state officials on an environmental impact study, Buerner and Moore said after the Legislative Update. These alone will easily cost the industry more than $200,000  in addition to activists efforts in Maine, Michigan, and elsewhere.

Much of this is borne by PIJAC in its role as the responsible pet trades association, said Moore and Buerner. We urge the industry to donate as much as it can for the legal, legislative, regulatory, and compliance fights ahead.

I couldnt be more proud of PIJACs hard work on behalf of the aquatics industry, which showed throughout the Legislative Update, said Reid, who is also CEO of FishMart, Inc. The World Pet Association deserves the entire industrys thanks for hosting not only Aquatic Experience, but also this town hall-style information session so that fish professionals, hobbyists, and experts can understand the serious threats facing the industry.

I was proud to donate on Friday, and to continue to support PIJAC in any way that I can, concluded Reid. It is PIJAC that is standing between the aquatics industrys survival and the extinction of our industry desired by extreme activists.

For more information, contact Dustin Siggins at (202) 452-1525 ext. 1080 or dustin@pijac.org.

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About the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council

Since 1970, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has protected pets, pet owners and the pet industry  promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, fostering environmental stewardship, and ensuring the availability of pets. PIJAC members include retailers, companion animal suppliers, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, manufacturers representatives, pet hobbyists, and other trade organizations. http://www.pijac.org
Caryn Botknecht

Haute Residence welcomes acclaimed broker, Caryn Botknecht to its exclusive real estate network. As a Haute Residence partner, Botknecht represents the high-end real estate market in East Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

South Florida native, who was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Botknecht has a deep expertise in the different communities throughout the area and the changing landscapes over the past few decades.

At the beginning of her real-estate career, she set a goal for herself to stand out in this hard-to-navigate industry. In the years since, she has done just that. Botknechts listening and negotiating skills, strategic thinking, follow through and quick responsiveness are just some of the reasons her clients and fellow agents love working with her.

Botknecht also brings integrity, passion and transparency to every detail of the real estate transaction. For each buyer and seller she works with, she highlights the best parts of their new community, making a new house a home. She often shows her clients the newest restaurants, theaters and local flair only a native Floridian would know. Botknechts noteworthy career in sales, major gift fundraising and relationship building have led her to be the accomplished luxury real estate agent she is today.

About Haute Residence:

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.

The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts.

HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting: http://www.hauteresidence.com
U.S. Lawns Works "Our brand position as a franchisor is to Improve Your Community. Improve Your Life," said U.S. Lawns President Ken Hutcheson.

U.S. Lawns, a commercial grounds care company with a nationwide franchise network in over 250 locations, is proud of their Home Office Team and local franchisees for volunteering time to help Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. In just one Saturday afternoon, U.S. Lawns, along with other volunteers, were able to organize and box up 8,138 pounds of food for a total of 6,782 meals.

Second Harvest Food Bank works with 550 local feeding partners and last year provided 54 million meals to families, kids and seniors. Through their distribution network, this food is often in the hands of people in need later the same day it arrives in their warehouse. They are also a member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that helps feed people across the country after natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, etc.

Second Harvest also transforms dozens of lives directly every year. Economically-challenged adults graduate from their 14-week culinary training program and are placed in better than minimum wage jobs that set them and their families on a path to self-sustainability.

"Our brand position as a franchisor is to Improve Your Community. Improve Your Life," said U.S. Lawns President Ken Hutcheson. "Theres no greater cause than providing food for families, seniors and others who may otherwise not receive what they need. Thats why we chose to help out Second Harvest. And Second Harvests culinary training provides hope and courage to people to help them transform their future."

U.S. Lawns is committed to doing their part to give back to communities nationwide, and honored to support Second Harvest Food Bank because they reflect the essence of the U.S. Lawns vision.

About U.S. Lawns Founded in 1986, U.S. Lawns services commercial customers through a nationwide franchise network in over 250 locations, providing professional grade, customized grounds care and snow & ice management services to corporate campuses, retail centers, industrial parks, multi-family residential communities and other commercial customers. For more information, visit http://www.USLawns.com and http://www.USLawnsFranchise.com.
With the addition of Raizlabs, were forming the agency of the future.

Rightpoint, an independent customer experience agency, announced today the acquisition of Raizlabs, a leading mobile innovation and emerging technologies firm. With Raizlabs, Rightpoint brings together the best customer experience talent to create seamless digital experiences driven by insight, design, technology, and expanded mobile innovation and emerging technologies, to evolve the way clients do business.

Rightpoint will enhance its innovative customer experience solutions by leveraging Raizlabs capabilities in mobile technology  specifically its recent work in medical and ecommerce mobile  as well as voice, IoT, wearables, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality offerings. Raizlabs further strengthens Rightpoints technology ecosystem with the addition of partners Google, Apple and Amazon. In addition, Rightpoint will grow its portfolio of marquee brands with Raizlabs clients, including Six Flags, AAA, Perkins School for the Blind, L.L. Bean, and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

We are excited to welcome Raizlabs innovative and creative product development teams to Rightpoint, said Rightpoint Co-founders and Co-CEOs, Ross Freedman and Brad Schneider. With the addition of Raizlabs, were forming the agency of the future, bringing together a diverse team of people who are doing innovative work in a variety of backgrounds. Together, we have the best customer experience talent to build our clients digital futures, today.

Gregory Raiz, founder and CEO of Raizlabs, will join Rightpoints leadership team as Chief Innovation Officer, based in Boston. As Chief Innovation Officer, Raiz will continue building the culture of innovation throughout Rightpoint, and working with clients to help them digitally transform their businesses using innovative technologies.

Rightpoint and Raizlabs have been holistically digital from the start, with innovation at the heart of what we do. We at Raizlabs are eager to team up with Rightpoint in order to expand our vision to improve lives through design and technology nationally, said Raiz. Were excited about the potential that this change brings and the impact it can have on the future of digital offerings for our clients.

This move brings Rightpoint to 400 employees across nine offices in the U.S., deepening the agencys foothold in the Western and Eastern regions, and complementing its growth in the central region. The Raizlabs office in Oakland, California will become Rightpoints ninth U.S. office, while the Raizlabs and Rightpoint Boston offices will join forces.

This marks the second major acquisition by Rightpoint in the past 18 months, following its acquisition of Agency Oasis in April 2016.

For more information visit:

http://www.rightpoint.com

http://www.raizlabs.com

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About Rightpoint

Rightpoint is an independent customer experience agency with technology at our core. We create seamless digital experiences driven by insight, strategy, design, technology, and mobile innovation and emerging technologies via Raizlabs, to evolve the way our clients do business. Rightpoint serves more than 250 Fortune 1,000 companies and has been named one of Crain's 50 Fastest Growing Companies in Chicago for four consecutive years. Rightpoint is the largest independent agency with 400 employees across nine U.S. offices. For more information, visit rightpoint.com.
ZoneGuard - Roadway Worker Protection By Miller Ingenuity

Miller Ingenuity, a rail product manufacturer focused on revolutionizing traditional safety solutions for railway workers, has entered into a collaborative agreement with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to install ZoneGuard, Millers award-winning electronic roadway worker protection system, on the Maryland Transit Administrations (MTA) Baltimore light rail lines.

Our number one mission is to bring these men and women home to their families at the end of the day, said Steve Blue, President and CEO of Miller Ingenuity. We have engineered ZoneGuard to coincide with existing safety rules and exceed FRA safety recommendations and regulations. The ZoneGuard design incorporates requirements from literally dozens of customer discussions, many of whom have already implemented legacy solutions and are demanding better performance. We focused our development on eliminating false alerts, superior performance in all rail-related environments, and offer fail-safe features including sensor redundancy.

The ZoneGuard system provides various options, including a combination of Train Detection Modules (TDM) and Train Alert Modules (TAM). The systems modules are set up to create a robust communication network that is triggered once a track vehicle is detected approaching an on-track worker or work crew. The train detection and communication network architecture provide highly accurate warning times when detecting track vehicles, eliminating costly false alerts commonly found in similar systems in the industry. ZoneGuard can also be outfitted with wearable devices  one configured for the watchman/lookout, one for the roadway-worker-in-charge (RWIC), and one for each crew member  that will provide equipped workers with an alert of the impending train approach.

For more information on ZoneGuard or to schedule a demo, contact Kevin Smith, SVP of Global Sales and Marketing at sales(at)milleringenuity(dot)com.

ABOUT MILLER INGENUITY

Miller Ingenuity, a manufacturing company based in Winona, MN, is a global supplier of lifesaving, high-technology safety systems and services that surpass rail-safety standards. For more than 65 years, the organization has demonstrated the ability to conceptualize, design, produce and deliver railroad parts that meet the current and emerging needs of the industry. For more information, visit MillerIngenuity.com or follow Miller on Twitter @Milleringenuity.

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Rich Cisek, CEO of Peco-Inspx Corporation, a leading provider of advanced X-Ray inspection solutions for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, is delighted to announce that Hamish Wiig has joined the Company as VP of Global Sales.

Peco-InspX works in a CPG environment with an ever-increasing focus on food safety, while demand for our products and services continues to accelerate. In response to this, it is critical we develop the companys capability to better serve our customers world-wide said Rich Cisek.

Based in Houston, Texas, Hamish will be responsible for scaling Peco-InspXs global sales and service capability, including channel partner network expansion and development. Mr. Wiig will also immediately assume management of relationships with many of Peco- InspX key strategic clients.

A New Zealander by birth, Hamish has worked in a variety of sales and marketing leadership roles over the last 15 years and has spent time living in both North and South America. As a result, he is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese.

With broad experience in the hi-tec sector, I am excited to join another technology leader that is first-in-class. Designed in Silicon Valley, its little wonder Peco-Inspxs cutting edge X-Ray inspection solutions are the number one in terms of performance and aesthetic appeal. And its now my job to deliver that message to the world.

To learn more about Peco InspX, please visit: http://www.peco-inspx.com/

About Peco InspX

Peco InspX Corporation and InspX Corporation are leading providers of advanced technology inspection solutions for the food and beverage industries. With headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA, the company serves customers around the world and inspects over 120 million food and beverage containers daily. The company specializes in accurate high speed package inspection in machines that are easy to use with a low cost of ownership.
Community Health Network announced today the expansion of the Diagnotes secure communication platform to their entire organization, which includes more than 250 care locations across Central Indiana. Both organizations are headquartered in Indianapolis. To streamline care coordination across their network, Community users will begin using Diagnotes for secure texting and real-time management and access of provider on-call schedules.

Patients expect a high degree of care coordination across the continuum, said Michael Shrift, MD, chief medical information officer and senior vice president for Community Health Network. Diagnotes allows clinicians throughout Communitys integrated care network to communicate with each other using any device, and identify who is on call for any speciality."

Community cardiologists were the first to use Diagnotes for more efficient handling of after-hours calls, followed by Community Hospital Easts emergency department for on-call scheduling. The popularity and use of the Diagnotes platform steadily grew to include additional Community emergency departments, prompting Community and Diagnotes to formalize an enterprise-wide agreement.

Weve collaborated with Community for several years to develop a clinical communication platform that meets the real-world demands of caring for patients with tools were comfortable and familiar using, said Dave Wortman, founder and chief executive officer of Diagnotes. We take great pride in this expansion agreement because it demonstrates our ability to listen to our clients and build tools that add value for the enterprise and improve care for patients.

About Community Health Network

Ranked among the nations most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indianas leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need themin hospitals, health pavilions and doctors offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 250 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Communitys full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.

About Diagnotes, Inc.

Diagnotes provides healthcare enterprises across the country one simple platform for all clinical communication and care coordination. Diagnotes makes it possible for users to access the most recent and relevant patient data enabling informed clinical communication via text, voice and video. The platform supports all roles across the care continuum  physicians, nurses, patients and caregivers, administrators and staff. With Diagnotes, users can communicate securely in a familiar way - using any combination of text, voice and video from any location on any device, ensuring compliance and improving efficiency, collaboration and patient and provider satisfaction. For more information about Diagnotes, visit http://www.diagnotes.com.
Safe drinking water is one of the most important global challenges of the 21st century. --Lani Dolifka, Clean Water Here

Clean Water Here (http://www.cleanwaterhere.org) and 1x.com are partnering to support UN World Water Day by creating a global photography exhibition documenting the current issues surrounding safe drinking water.

Submissions are now being sought for the photo exhibit, to be unveiled on March 22, 2018 UN World Water Day. Submissions for eligible photo entries is open through February 28, 2018. To enter your photo submission, visit https://beta.1x.com/cleanwaterhere.

Clean Water Here, a global movement started in the U.S., created the worlds largest social media campaign on safe drinking water with more than 750 million social media voices on UN World Water Day 2017 that included celebrity supporters Pitbull, Pink, Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams, Kesha, Sting, Fergie, Ryan Seacrest, Jason Derulo, and others.

To build upon this momentum 12 extraordinary photographers will be selected by world-renowned photographers Martin Schoeller, Kristen Ashburn and Robert Clark for the Clean Water Here global photography exhibit at the United Nations headquarters in New York. World Water Day has been observed since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as the annual World Day for Water.

Safe drinking water is one of the most important global challenges of the 21st century, said Lani Dolifka, the creator of Clean Water Here. This unique partnership we will give the public a better understanding of the issue - especially as it relates to underserved communities both here in the U.S. and around the world. We will use social media to help show why safe drinking water is critical to every man, woman, and child.

These photographs will educate the public on the issues of safe drinking water and travel to additional cities around the world including Paris where they will be featured at the world headquarters of UNESCO. The global exhibit will benefit World Vision, the largest non-governmental supplier of clean water in the developing world.

Photographs are so powerful when it comes to raising awareness, because they talk directly to your feelings, no matter which language you speak, said Ralf Stelander, founder of 1x.com. By encouraging people to take pictures, we also engage on a deeper level, since you have to make your own interpretation and really start thinking. What we have learnt from curating the best photos in the world for 10 years is that seemingly ordinary pictures are sometimes the most extraordinary, because you can relate to them and they make you feel, like all successful photos do. We are very proud to support World Water Day and UN-water with this exhibition.

In addition to Clean Water Here, 1x.com and UN World Water Day, World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org), Watermill Express (http://www.watermillexpress.com) and Cause Flash (http://www.CauseFlash.org) are all supporting the project.

To learn about Clean Water Here visit: http://www.cleanwaterhere.org.

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About:

CLEAN WATER HERE

Clean Water Heres mission is to improve the worlds access to sustainable safe drinking water by raising awareness, supporting research & education, and advocating for underserved communities in the US and abroad. Research indicates risks associated with contaminants, infrastructure, and universal and equitable access. For more information visit http://www.cleanwaterhere.org

UN WORLD WATER DAY

Coordinated by UN Water in support of the 193-member nations of the UN, this day is devoted to implementing recommendations and promoting concrete activities within their countries regarding the worlds water resources. In addition to the UN member states, several NGOs promoting clean water leverage World Water Day as a time to focus public attention on the critical water issues facing the world. For more information visit http://www.worldwaterday.org

1X.COM

1x is an online photo community with a difference, because professional curators select all published photos. We started 1x because we wanted to promote photography as a form of art and because we think art is a basic human need that everyone should have access to. Our mission is to gather the best photography in the world, photos that make people feel. Now we want to help out giving access to an even more basic need - water. For more information visit http://www.1x.com
Smiths growth in this region relies on building long-term relationships with local customers and supporting them with the procurement and service programs they need to succeed.

Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces the relocation of its Guadalajara sales office. The new location will provide Smith proximity to major local customers and a base of operations for future expansion in the region.

Guadalajara is Mexicos electronics manufacturing services hub, and Smiths new office is located in a bustling area of the city that gives Smith greater access to local EMS providers and other customers, allowing increased support and service. Additionally, this location will provide a strategic outreach point to other key Mexican cities as Smith continues pushing its plans for Latin American expansion.

Smiths growth in this region relies on building long-term relationships with local customers and supporting them with the procurement and service programs they need to succeed, said Renato Souza, Smiths Vice President  Latin America. We will work closely with customers across industries to help them achieve their goals.

The new office is located at:

Torre Ganesh

Calle Ahuizotl 2276  Oficina 5B

Ciudad del Sol

45050 Zapopan, Jalisco

Mexico

Tel: +52 334.624.3662

About Smith

Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 16 cities around the world, from Silicon Valley to Seoul, Smiths 475 employees communicate in 36 different languages and buy and sell components 24 hours per day, with global annual sales in excess of $1 billion. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. With testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam, Smiths processes focus on critical issues, from quality management to counterfeit prevention and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time inventory and logistics visibility anywhere in the world. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number 11 among all global distributors. Smiths Intelligent Distribution model adapts to ever-changing demands by providing reliable global electronics sourcing and logistics, regardless of distribution channel or locale. For more information, please visit https://www.smithweb.com, or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call +1 713.430.3000.

For more information, contact:

Margo Evans

Smith, VP of Marketing

+1 713.430.3966

mevans(at)nfsmith(dot)com
Hobsons, the global leader in education technology, today announced that Scott James, Data Scientist at Hobsons, will present at the 2017 National Symposium on Student Retention (NSSR) in Destin, Florida, on Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9. The event is sponsored by the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE), which requires that all papers pass rigorous peer review prior to being accepted for the symposium.

James and his distinguished peers will discuss the implications that course withdrawals have on students, academic advisors, faculty leaders, and future research conditions, as well as the primary factors that contribute to online student retention rates. The two papers accepted for this conference are:

Are Course Withdrawals a Useful Student Success Strategy?



Wednesday, November 8 | 11:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET

Scott James, Data Scientist at Hobsons

Patrick Akos, Professor in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Online Learning Gets a Passing Grade: How Online Course Taking Impacts Retention for University Students



Thursday, November 9 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET

Karen Swan, Stukel Professor of Education Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield

Scott James, Data Scientist at Hobsons

Hobsons is committed to furthering student success at all levels, and this latest research is part of our ongoing efforts to help identify, and ultimately mitigate, the roadblocks that prevent students from achieving success in their education, said Howard Bell, Hobsons Senior Vice President for Student Success and General Manager of Starfish. We are honored to have Scott and our university partners present their findings at this distinguished convening. We look forward to continued collaboration with higher education leaders to help students across the nation achieve their academic goals.

The paper Are Course Withdrawals a Useful Success Strategy? was recently showcased at a Hobsons webinar, The Predictive Power of Course Withdrawals: Recent Research.

Members of the Starfish client community also presenting research at NSSR include Ohio University, Rowan University, SUNY College at Brockport, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, University of Dayton, University of Houston-Downtown, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and William Paterson University.

About Starfish by Hobsons

The Starfish Enterprise Success Platform helps more than 380 colleges and universities efficiently scale their student success programs so that more students can achieve their academic and life goals. Starfish supports millions of students each term, using its analytics solution to identify at-risk students, pinpoint areas of concern, and connect students with valuable services. It also helps higher education institutions use reliable, actionable data to assess which services and interventions are working to keep students on track.

About Hobsons

A global leader in education technology, Hobsons helps students to identify their strengths, explore careers, create academic plans, match to best-fit educational opportunities, and reach their education and life goals. More than 12,000 K-12 and higher education institutions partner with Hobsons and leverage our solutions -- Naviance, Intersect, and Starfish -- to improve college and career readiness, holistic college admissions, and higher education student support for millions of students around the world.
An art educator and pioneer, Roanoke, Virginia born Paul Franklin Miller, Jr. (January 23, 1932March 29, 2012), has a breadth of work spanning mediums, sparking innovation alongside inspiration. Miller mastered lace-like bronze welds, likened to golden crochet, which he used in everything from intimate, yet multifunctional jewelry to large-scale art objects and decor. A newly launched website serves as a resource for those seeking information regarding Paul Franklin Millers work and life, with a wealth of imagery and descriptions regarding his techniques and inventions.

The landing page at http://www.paulfranklinmiller.com features four distinct images of work, and the site can be entered on the upper right. From there, the main navigation is divided into four parts: Sculpture, 2 Dimensional Works, Jewelry, and the About section. In the sculpture area, there is a drop-down separation of his welded, fabricated and ceramic works. His welded pieces became synonymous with his style, as he adopted geometry and merged it with bronze and brass, lace-like textures.

Mask motifs influenced many of his pieces, as seen throughout the pages, and his wife, Nancy Miller, spearheads the cataloging of Pauls artwork and writing. At times his masks were consciously created, and at other times their form was subconsciously placed within works, reflecting attention to the ceremonial. Transformative power consumes them, whether in copper or print.

Paul Miller wrote, regarding his sculpture, "I have always been deeply interested in the continual importance of art in ritual, the way the two seem inseparable. My welded pieces are an attempt to create that awe-inspiring affect. I used metals of precious color, studded with pearls and garnets, which were some of the earliest precious stones used. He employed geometry to achieve the meticulous symmetry upon which all of his welded work was based.

The fabricated sculpture section houses images of his treasured pre-human figures and creatures, which grew over time to become three to nine foot sculptures. The charming and amorphous forms were an instant hit, signaling a new venture in design, circa 1974. Nancy Miller, recalling what inspired the figures, says, Almost every decision Paul made automatically passed through his ecological filter. Our home was filled with chandeliers and spice racks made of recycled juice cans. Fabric scraps went into a quilt loosely based on color field painting. His Fellas, starting with the wrapped mummies, represented a notion of extinct creatures from pre-history. Even though they are mummy-wrapped, one can still feel the musculature, and sometimes the mood, of the creature. In case somebody missed the extinction message, he finished it off with the trophy heads."

A modern day renaissance man, Miller also pushed the boundaries of technology for the sake of art. In the early 1990s, Millers obsession with welded symmetry led him to conceive and invent the symmetricon, alongside two physicists. It allowed him to photograph a segment of his welded sculpture and project it as a completely realized welded piece. Symmetrical, virtual sculptures could be created in minutes, instead of monthsthe usual Miller timeframe. From the repeating, kaleidoscope-like pattern of images, he created giclee prints, using natures symmetry for inspiration, culminating in a one-man show.

In jewelry, Paul Franklin Miller applied his mastery of welding bronze to a smaller scale, incorporating functionality. Many of his works are hair combs that double as pendantsyet they retain the interwoven, geometric mystique of his recognizable aesthetic.

Millers depth, creativity, and ability to impart his knowledge and inspire landed him a 1969 Artist-in-Residence at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, where he created the first Art & Technology curriculum. An inspiring artist and inventor, http://www.paulfranklinmiller.com seeks to engage and educate those yearning for more information about his work. A video regarding the artist can be found on Youtube at bit.ly/2wstVoK.

For more information about Paul Franklin Miller, contact Nancy Vaughan Miller via the website contact page, or by calling 201-892-7578. For press inquiries, contact Olga Gonzalez at info(at)pietrapr(dot)com, or call 212-913-9761.

About Paul Franklin Miller

Inspired by ancient art and symmetry, Paul Franklin Miller (January 23, 1932March 29, 2012), mastered sculpture, jewelry, welding and innovated a new platform for projecting patterns in print. As an art educator, he motivated students to explore their talent and means of expression. Entwined in the New York art scene, he produced hundreds of works that continue to adorn, from private homes to public space. For more information, visit http://www.paulfranklinmiller.com
ABCNews.com(SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas) -- One of the survivors of Sunday's massacre at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, described the terror she felt when suspect Devin Kelley unloaded a hail of gunfire on the churchgoers.



Rosanne Solis told ABC News that she was certain she was going to die when the gunman began firing. "I'm gonna die, I knew I was gonna die, I knew 'cause the shots were going to close to my head," she said. "... I didn't want to die."



Solis said that at first, everybody started screaming when the suspect began shooting, but then it grew silent as he made his way through the church, stopping to reload several times.



"He was shooting the people on the floor, they were on the ground already bleeding," she said. "... They were scared. Nobody was about to say a word. ... I would not even move, I would not even make a sound."



She added: "You could hear a pin drop in there, silence. Real quiet. ... I knew if I said something he was gonna kill me, he was looking for people to shoot more people to shoot."



As she lay on the ground, Solis prayed for help, she said, and played dead so as not to attract the shooter's attention.



"I played dead and I made sure that I hid myself good under [a] bench," she said, adding that a boy and a woman hid with her.



When Solis was hit by one of the bullets, she said she didn't even feel the pain. That came later, she said.



After help arrived, Solis said she saw bodies scattered around her as she stumbled out of the building. Twenty-six people died in the shooting, which is the worst mass shooting in state history. Eight members of the extended Holcombe family were among the dead.



Kelley, 26, later took his own life, according to officials. While authorities have not released a specific motive, they said this morning the suspect's mother-in-law had attended the church and that the suspect had "expressed anger toward" her and sent "threatening texts."



Solis, who was shot in the shoulder and only just returned home this evening, said she didn't know why she survived but is thankful she did.



"I feel so sorry for the people that lost their loved ones," she said.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Tesla is ramping up investment in its manufacturing process amid Model 3 production problems.

The automaker and energy company said on Monday that it had acquired a factory automation company called Perbix Machine Company.

Tesla did not disclose terms of the deal, but it did say that it purchased the Minnesota-based company with cash and shares.

Here's what we know about the company.

Perbix specializes in designing and building highly automated manufacturing equipment and has been a supplier for Tesla for almost three years, according to a Tesla filing with the SEC.

Tesla purchased the company to help it further automate its factories.

"With the acquisition of Perbix, Tesla further advances its efforts to turn the factory itself into a product  to build the machine that makes the machine," Tesla said on its website.

Musk has been focused on turning Tesla's factories into a product itself for some time. This is because the more automated a factory is, the more efficient it becomes, thus helping to keep down the price of products.

"The biggest epiphany I've had this year is that what really matters is the machine that builds the machine, the factory," Musk said during an interview with Y Combinator's Sam Altman in September 2016. "And that this is at least two orders of magnitude harder than the vehicle itself."

Tesla also purchased Grohmann Engineering, a German automation company, last November to help with this endeavor.

Musk has said that the manufacturing process for its Model 3 is the most automated system yet. However, the company has run into trouble with one of the assembly lines at the Gigafactory where it makes its batteries.

Musk said during a third-quarter earnings call last week that a third-party supplier who was responsible for the part of the assembly line with issues "dropped the ball," causing production problems.

Tesla said in a statement to the StarTribune, though, that Perbix "has executed flawlessly on a number of extremely complex automation projects."

Perbix was founded in 1976 by Tom Perbix and sold to its current owner, Jim Dudley, in 2001.

Perbix's website was taken down after its deal with Tesla was announced, but on a cached version of its website, the company said that the majority of its sales come from services that were started after Dudley took over.

This includes high-machining services and design and build services, according to the cached webpage. Under Perbix, the company focused primarily on machining parts and assembly.

As part of the deal, Dudley got 34,772 Tesla shares, which is the equivalent of about $10.5 million at the current stock price of about $300 per share.

The company is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and currently employs some 150 people. Tesla said, though, that it plans to grow its workforce in the Twin Cities.

"We want to hear from the best engineers in the area who are interested in working with us to help design the factory of the future," Tesla said to the StarTribune.

In fact, Tesla has already listed several job postings for different positions at the Minnesota facility.

The company will continue to operate as part of Tesla in Minnesota, where it has a 70,400-square-foot facility. According to a cached version of its website, about half of this space is used for machine shops and assembly bays.

Some of Perbix's partners include the robotics companies Denso Robotics, Kuka, and Rockwell Automation, according to a cached version of Perbix's website.

While the company's website has been deactivated, the company's YouTube page still has a video posted from 2012 that talks about its business. You can check it out below.
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That said, the entire process could happen in just a few short minutes. The following is a transcription of the animation.

It can take the US government just minutes to launch a nuclear weapon. Here's how it would work.

The president has the sole authority to call for a nuclear strike. Once the call is made, a series of critical steps follow.

The president first meets with top military advisers. The meeting would take place in the Situation Room. If the president is traveling, a call is made on a secure line.

If the president still wants to go through with the strike, the order is verified. To authenticate the order, a challenge code is read to the president. It's usually two phonetic letters like "Delta-Echo."

The president then receives the "biscuit", a laminated card that's always near the president. The biscuit has the matching response to the challenge code.

The Pentagon then broadcasts an encoded message to missile crews. The message is only about the length of a standard tweet.

It includes the war plan, "Sealed Authentication System" or (SAS) codes, and the actual missile launch codes. When the launch crews get the message they open lock safes to obtain the SAS codes. These codes are compared with the SAS codes included in the message.

If fired from a submarine the captain, executive officer, and two others authenticate the launch order. Fifteen minutes after receiving the order, the missiles could be ready to launch.

If fired from land, there are 50 missiles controlled by 5 launch crews in different locations. Each crew "votes" for the launch by turning their keys at the same time.
The chances the US will provide lethal aid to Ukraine increased last week, after National Security Adviser Army Gen. H.R. McMaster was given three options for how Washington could do so.

Both the State and Defense departments are pushing for the option that would give the Ukrainian government a $47 million grant to buy "defensive arms" from US companies. Among the weapons that could be purchased are antitank missiles  possibly the FGM-148 Javelin, which the Ukrainian government has asked for in the past.

While the plan could give Ukraine access to advanced weaponry that could make a difference in combat, providing lethal aid to Ukraine could be counterproductive at best and catastrophic at worst.

Ukraine has been asking NATO countries  specifically the US  for weapons to fight Russian-backed separatists in its southeastern region, known as the Donbass, for some time. Ukraine has received nonlethal military aid from the US, but no weapons have ever been sent.

"Blankets, night-vision goggles are also important. But one cannot win the war with blankets," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a speech to Congress during his first official visit to the US. He added that his country's soldiers "need more military equipment, both lethal and nonlethal, urgently need."

However, providing Ukraine with costly and advanced US weaponry may only intensify the conflict.

Due to the Minsk peace agreements, the war in the Donbass is currently limited to skirmishes and artillery barrages  not massive offensives by armies seeking to gain territory. Antitank missiles would be of little assistance in this type of environment.

Though sending such weapons to Ukraine could deter future offensives and may help in skirmishes on the battlefield, the greater risk lies in the Russian response.

As the commander of the US Army in Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said in 2015, "if the US policy changed to provide, say, Javelins, for example, that would probably lead to increased lethality on the battlefield for the Ukrainians. It would not change the situation strategically in a positive way, because the Russians would double down  they would dramatically increase more violence, more death, more destruction."

Sending weaponry from the US to Ukraine would likely result in an immediate and forceful response by the Russian military before those weapons could be used effectively on the battlefield.

Russia has appeared willing to step into Ukraine militarily on multiple occasions. Western and Ukrainian officials said it was conducting cross-border artillery operations as early as 2014 and that it launched a direct military intervention in August that year, virtually reversing all the progress the Ukrainian military had made in the region.

Other problems with sending lethal aid to Ukraine include issues like Ukraine's In addition to creating supply problems for the Ukrainian military, that could result in some of the US hardware ending up in the hands of adversaries.
Early Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page bypassed his direct superiors and asked senior campaign officials for permission to travel to Moscow last year, according to Page's then-boss.

J.D. Gordon, then the director of the campaign's National Security Advisory Committee, told Business Insider that then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski approved Page's request to travel to Moscow last July.

"I discouraged Carter from taking the trip to Moscow in the first place because it was a bad idea," Gordon said. "Since I refused to forward his speech request form for approval, he eventually went around me directly to campaign leadership."

Gordon said he was copied on the email Page sent to Lewandowski requesting to travel to Moscow to speak at the New Economic School.

"I had tried to dissuade Carter from taking the trip, so he eventually went directly to Corey," Gordon said.

Lewandowski told USA Today earlier this year that he "granted nobody permission" to travel to Russia. But Page told the House Intelligence Committee that Lewandowski gave him permission in an email exchange that he still has and could provide to Congress.

Page responded to Gordon's comments on Tuesday.

"It you guys want to collectively continue making something out of nothing, you might want to remind him of reality: Tell him to look up the email I sent to him, Corey, and someone else on June 19, 2016," he told Business Insider.Corey replied first. We are all reaching the heights of irrelevancy."

Page told the House Intelligence Committee last week that Hope Hicks, the campaign's spokesperson at the time, was also copied on the email.

Questions were raised again on Monday about who approved the Moscow trip after the House Intelligence Committee released its transcript of Page's November 2 testimony.

Gordon said on Monday that he didn't "recall all of Carter Page's emails."

"I was getting thousands of emails on the campaign and didn't read all of them," he added.

Gordon has similarly denied any knowledge of Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos' consistent efforts to set up a meeting between then-candidate Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Achimota SHS who placed second, followed by Accra Girls SHS in third position, Aburi Girls SHS fourth and Nungua SHS taking the fifth position.

READ MORE:Presec wins 2017 robotics championship

The winning school received received a projector, a projector screen and a laminator, whiles the second took away a projector and a projector screen, the third had a 40inch Plasma television (tv) set and a laminator, fourth grabbed a 40inch Plasma tv whereas, fifth received a 30inch Plasma tv.

Marks were awarded in the competition based on bridge efficiency, aesthetics, design and record, and creativity.

The 2017 Competition which was on the theme Building bridges-connecting people challenged science departments of the five participating schools to design a model bridge for construction.

The students were challenged to design a model bridge for construction, using wood, strings and glue.

The competitors were, however, given guidelines as well as materials such as wood, strings and glue to carry out the task.

Activities that marked this years edition were a bridge display by schools, presentation and demonstration by schools.

Others are an overview of bridge building rules, bridge inspection and testing by judges.

Mr Jeffrey Coffin, Regional Manager for KP Consulting, West Africa, said the programme was in line with the companys vision of providing skills training for the youth.

He said as part of the Companys Corporate Social Responsibility, KP Consulting was dedicated to support the educational sector and so decided to highlight civil engineering based on the level of participants.
In a Facebook post, Mahama wrote: "I was in Swedru on Sunday to visit my friend, the good old Super OD. He is such a good company always."

The actor who has been off our screens for some years has revealed that he is seriously sick.

During the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) Unity walk in Cape Coast in the Central Region on Sunday, Mahama took the opportunity to visit Super OD.

READ MORE: Bawumia urges Mahama to refrain from propaganda

Super OD, who had a blissful acting career spanning from the 1970s to the 90s, was very popular for his roles in local Ghanaian series, Akan Drama on GTV.
This is part of an effort to reform morals in Burundi in the East African country.

The order follows the launch of a campaign by the President "to moralise society" in the nation which for two years has been in the grip of sometimes violent political upheaval.

In May, President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a new law which the government says will help protect women and create a more moral society, but some disagree.

The government insists a legal document recognising a marriage helps protect women and their children, especially when it comes to issues such as inheritance. However, others say the new marriage law infringes on people's religious beliefs, customs and practices.

READ MORE: Owusu Bempah denies saying Jesus Christ is an imposter

According to reports by AFP, the country was facing a population explosion which he blamed on "illegal marriages," polygamy, bigamy and "hundreds of schoolgirls getting pregnant".
The chief further claimed that majority of lives that have been lost so far to the conflict between the locals and the Fulani herdsmen were indigenes from his town.

Nana Danso Agyei blamed successive governments for doing little to address the nomadic herdsmen crisis, hence the decision to surrender the menace to the gods of their land.

He said Since I poured libation and called on the ghosts of our ancestors to deal with the issue, it has yielded results. Some people who went to the bush saw dead bodies and dead cattle. Im very happy.

Nana Danso Agyei strangely vowed that I will gladly offer my head to safeguard the lands for the future.
Nyaho Medical Centre, Accra Central, provides prompt access to high quality clinical care in a serene and state-of-art set up and offers advanced features for faster diagnostics, telemedicine support for remote specialist input and real-time access to patient records.

This means patients have their information co-ordinated and intact irrespective of location, as Doctors have real-time access to all patient folders electronically whether they visit The Octagon branch or Airport Residential main centre.

The Accra Central branch of Nyaho Medical Centre is sited at the convenience of employees and beneficiaries working and living within the central business district of Accra and is open between the hours of 7am and 7pm on weekdays.

Patients have access to over 50 top-level Specialists, tried and tested referral pathways as well as effective and safe clinical care.

Heres what Dr. E. C. Tamaklo, Managing Director of the Hospital, has to say about the new facility, with the growing demands of patients' quest for quality healthcare solutions at their convenience, it is imperative that as a patient-centred organisation, we get closer to the doorsteps of our corporate clientele.

With the use of innovative solutions and collaborative healthcare, clients at the Accra Central branch have access to the one-stop-shop model at Airport. The only marked difference is that the main Centre runs 24hours non-stop while the Accra Central branch is open on weekdays only. For patients, this means consultation, diagnostics, laboratory services, medication and health and wellness packages are all within reach in one comfortable setting. For cases requiring escalated care, there is an in-house ambulance on standby to transport patients.

Clients who require the results of their diagnostic images to be shared remotely with doctors in other geographic locations, can have this done using our Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) which enables x-rays and scans of patients to be transferred electronically.

Key features the new branch of Nyaho Medical Centre offers include:

Andrea, a first-time mom and accountant who usually takes a full day off work for her antenatal visits due to tedious travel times to her hospital and the long wait times spent there, shares her excitement about having Nyaho Medical Centre at The Octagon, I cant wait to check-in and pop out in a matter of minutes.
Mr. Daniel Appiannin who is the head of the District's Security Council said he was unaware of the presence of military officers in the area detailed to supervise a clamp down on illegal mining which led to the death of Major Maxwell Mahama.

"...in fact, he [Major Maxwell Mahama] is said to be the leaderI am shocked they are not briefing you very well but rather claiming they are here to fight galamseyers," the DCE said.

Social media descended heavily on the DCE's condemning the comments which many believed was insensitive and ignorant.

He was later suspended for comments he made after the murder of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.

The decision to suspend Daniel Appianin was taken by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

But Kennedy Agyapong speaking on Adom TV appealed to the President to lift the suspension on the DCE.
Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM Tuesday, Mr Anyidoho said that instead of the Akufo-Add administration focusing on the Special Prosecutor Office, it should rather aim at working to fulfilling the promises they made to Ghanaians ahead of the December 2016 elections.

"We are not afraid of the Special Prosecutor.the Special Prosecutor is not an angel, he said, questioning, the Special Prosecutor.the Special Prosecutor, who is he and where is the Special Prosecutor? he asked.

READ ALSO: NDC MPs reject Special Prosecutor

He further stated that members of the past Mahama administration were ready to face the Special Prosecutor, an office he believes would deal with members of the NPP government as well.

The Office of a Special Prosecutor was a major campaign promise of Nana Akufo-Addo while he was the opposition candidate in the December 2016 elections.
I regret ever criticizing former president John Agyakum Kufuor in his time in office. He is the best ..one of the best politicians I have ever met, he said.

I have to respect for people who have been presidents of this country, so I have got respect for President J.A Kufuor. I swear; I will do everything to respect his image, his pedigree, as well as his style of life, he added.

Mr Allotey made this known on Monday on Kumasi-based Hello Fm on the stations morning show Kokrokoo.

During the term of the former president, Mr Allotey Jacobs on many occasions criticized the administration and made some corruption allegations.
The sector Minister John Peter Amewu said state lands were given away to cronies like kelewele [fried pieces of plantain] without following due process.

He told Accra-based Joy FM that a committee has, therefore, been formed to look into the land sale.

The sale of state lands and properties have always been under every regime has always been met with controversies.

The Rawlings administration was accused, under a divestiture programme, of selling state properties including the Nsawam cannery to the then first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.

The Kufuor administration was also accused by some Ga youth of selling Ga lands to cronies.

The previous Mahama administration is also alleged to have done same.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia should have leave the responsibility of responding to Mahama for the party communicators, apparatchiks and commentators.

Bawumia has chastised Mahama after the latter accused him of "embarrassing" Nana Addo with a "419" digital addressing application which cost Ghana $2.5 million (GHS9.9m) when it already existed on mobile phones.

He said Mahama, while in office, engaged in propaganda which did not inure to his benefit and so wondered why he would still be wallowing in it while in opposition.

Dr Bawumia also hinted that the government would soon start prosecuting officials of the Mahama administration for corruption.

But Ransford Gyampo in an interview on Accra-based Starr FM argued that he [Bawumia] should have bequeathed the responsibility of responding to Mahama to party officials.
The spiritual leader of the world's almost 1.3 billion Catholics in April became the first pope to visit the headquarters of Tayeb.

The grand imam said after the meeting that Islam was facing "a war against itself," and underscored that Muslims too were "victims of terrorism".

"It is a cancer which has metastasised to different parts of the world," and Al-Azhar -- of Egypt's highest institution of Sunni Islam -- "is offering its resources and a greater contribution for a permanent collaboration aimed at finding solutions to terrorism," he told a meeting organised by the Sant'Egidio, a Christian community officially recognised by the Vatican.

Tayeb also evoked his meeting with the pontiff earlier in the day, saying: "We discussed several issues tormenting the world and we sought to ... find ways together to reduce the suffering of the poor and the unfortunate."

He said the pope "has a heart filled with love and a desire that humanity benefits from inter-cultural exchanges.

"I wish to state my conviction of the necessity for a dialogue between religions, between the wise, or we risk falling back into periods of violence and darkness," he said.
The four, who were working with a Christian medical charity providing free health treatment in southern Nigeria's Delta state, were kidnapped on October 13.

Ian Squire was killed, while Alanna Carson, David Donovan and his wife Shirley survived their ordeal.

"We are grateful for the support received by the, and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release," the families of all four abductees said in a statement via the Foreign Office.

"We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.

"This has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who were kidnapped and for their families and friends here in the UK."

Kidnapping for ransom is rife in southern Nigeria, where high-profile individuals and their families are a frequent target for criminal gangs.

Victims are usually released after a few days once payment is made.

"We are supporting the families of four British people who were abducted on October 13 in Nigeria, one of whom was tragically killed," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.

"Our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families.

"We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations."

Militants suspected

Nigerian police believed militants who have attacked oil and gas pipelines in the oil-rich Niger delta region were behind the kidnapping.

They said on October 19 that four people had been arrested in connection with the abduction.

Nigerian intelligence sources said the Britons were thought to have been taken to militant camps in the creeks and swamps of the delta.

The four had been providing "free medical care and religious activities" in the Burutu area of Delta state, said Chief Theo Fakama, from the local Enukorowa community.

Fakama said locals were "saddened" by the kidnapping as the group had "brought succour to residents of the community for the past three years".

Delta state police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka said on October 18 that the Britons had been providing humanitarian services.

"But unfortunately, they didn't let the authorities know of their presence in the area all this while," he said.

"There is a militant group that has been operating in the area and we believe they are the ones behind the abduction."
Granted, Michael had undergone a medical procedure by the 1990s to alter his skin colour, but what critics did not know was that Jackson had a condition that was slowly but surely already altering his skin.

Vitiligo is a skin condition that destructs the melanocytes; which are pigment cells. The condition causes depigmentation of the skin resulting in noticeable white spots on a persons skin. Although vitiligo affects all races, its presence is pronounce among people with dark or brown complexion. About two percent of the worlds population has vitiligo.

Every time we went to the hospital, the doctors said there was nothing wrong with me. But this thing kept spreading, says Enam Heikeens Honya, a vitiligo ambassador in Ghana.

Her first patches emerged when she was seven years old. The family roamed hospitals in Ghana and abroad in search of answers on what was a strange condition to them at the time. This thing turned out to be vitiligo, which in Enams case had been passed on genetically.

Honya, 24, says living with vitiligo can be a very isolating and traumatising experience.

"Growing up wasnt easyPeople really stigmatised. You have to go to school and people will not even like to talk to you." she articulated, " You go to an occasion and people wouldnt like to shake hands with you. Even your course mates wouldnt like to sit beside you or go to lunch break with you."

One day a woman shouted witch! witch! upon seeing Enam on a bus.

Ending it all

The rejection got to Enam and on three occasions, she attempted suicide.

A Nightingale

Honyas day job is in the health service as a nurse in Ho, Volta Region, which she describes as an awesome feeling.

After senior high school (at Keta Business Senior High School), I decided that since vitiligo is health related, why dont I go and learn about health, details about my skin and have a fair idea of the anatomy of the human body?

You get to meet your patients asking questions [about vitiligo] and you have the opportunity to explain it to them. Its one awesome feeling. Though some patients really get weird with the questions, I believe it is just one way of telling them that no matter your skin colour, you can be who you want to be.

[Also] kids get scared when I am attending to them at first At the end of the day, some of the children even like to play with my skin.

However, there have been times that her service has been rejected by patients because of her skin.

[In one of the cases] I had to explain to the other nurse on duty that it is Patients Right and [that the patient] said I shouldnt attend to her so can you kindly go and attend to her? I went back later on and I tried to educate her about vitiligo and she said she was sorry and that she didnt know. Though you feel bad, you just have to get along with it because they dont know.

Some of the nuggets of information Enam dispenses to her patients include the fact that vitiligo is not contagious, not the same as albinism, nor the result of an acid attack or sorcery.

Social media, especially the photo sharing platform Instagram, is also helping Enam broaden the education about vitiligo.

Challenging beauty stereotypes

Before donning the green and white, she had and still has dreams of working in television. She reckoned it would be an uphill task getting a job in the media because of her skin condition.

She has ventured into the glossy and superficial world of the fashion and modelling industry which she hopes would be a stepping stone to the mainstream media. Her aim is to challenge the concept of beauty in Ghanaian society.

She has worked with designers such as Quame Owusu, Afiyo Creations and Vogo Designs, a Nigeria-based fashion label founded by Ogo Maduewesi, a leading global advocate for vitiligo awareness.

Enam the advocate

A chance meeting with the campaigner Love Violent (also living with vitiligo), introduced Enam to the world of advocacy through the Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation (VITSAF Ghana).

"What I really hope to achieve with my advocacy is that I want each and every person with vitiligo to stand proud, be unique in their own way and standing to achieve what they want to be in life despite what people might say or the discrimination [they face] and have the kind of fulfilment that an individual with vitiligo can really stand proud and achieve something unique."

Despite the unbridled and sometimes unnerving stares from ordinary Ghanaians, Enam Honya is steadfast in her decision to reject treatment.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill didn't mince words when addressing opponents of his state's voter ID law, which requires voters show a government-approved photo ID at the polls.

"People are entitled to their own opinions. But they're not entitled to their own facts," Merrill told Business Insider in October. "Everybody in Alabama that wants a voter ID has one."

Voting rights activists, who have long dismissed voter ID laws as discriminatory tactics that disenfranchise minority voters, disagree. They say the time it takes people to travel to the office where they need to pick up their IDs and the added cost for the underlying documents required to get the ID in the first place are just too burdensome for many voters.

This will discourage many people from voting, civil rights defenders say, in the special election on Tuesday for the US Senate seat in Alabama between Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones.

While much of the nation's attention has focused on the embattled Moore  whom multiple women have accused of pursuing them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s  there is a much less talked about factor that could end up swaying the race.

Voting rights activists say the landmark 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision  which struck down parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) and helped pave the way for Virginia's voter ID law  is what people should really be paying attention to.

"We anticipate that there will be voters who are unable to vote because of the voter ID law and voters who stay home because of the voter ID law. And they will primarily be African-Americans and Latinos," Deuel Ross, a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), told Business Insider in October.

In 2015, Ross and the LDF filed a lawsuit against Alabama officials, including Merrill. The civil rights group says the state's voter ID law disenfranchises minority voters.

Merrill argues that the law hasn't, in fact, made it harder for certain groups of people to register and vote. Record turnouts in last year's presidential election help his case.

You can register to vote on the toilet!

Alabama has made significant strides in recent years  often at the behest of court orders  to expand voter registration and get more people to vote.

Last year, for example, more than 2.1 million Alabamians took to the polls in what was the highest voter turnout in the state history. Another record: Donald Trump received more votes than any previous presidential candidate to appear on Alabama's ballot.

The number of active registered voters also spiked nearly 9% from 2012 to 2016, even though the state's population only increased by 1.7% from 2010 to 2016.

Merrill says those numbers, coupled with an estimated 2017 budget of $389,000 for total election awareness efforts  including a 30-second ad broadcast on radio and TV  prove voter discrimination does not occur in his state.

DECEMBER 12 Senate Special Election Reminder: Secretary John Merrill

He also touts the Vote for Alabama mobile app, which he introduced in May 2016 to make it easier for Alabamians to register to vote. It's so convenient, Merrill said, "you can do it on the toilet if you'd like!"

Civil rights defenders welcome this progress, but note an exception.

"Even if turnout is up overall, it doesn't mean that for certain racial or economic sub-groups that it hasn't been more difficult for them to turn out," said Jonathan Brater, an expert on voting rights at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Racism is over

In 2013, the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision struck down Section 4 and invalidated Section 5 of the VRA, which required states to get government approval before changing local voting laws and procedures. Section 5 was written to prevent states from implementing rules, like restrictive voter ID laws, that might discriminate or disenfranchise minority voters.

While the Court ruled that Section 4 was simply outdated, many others interpreted the decision as a declaration that racism in America was "over."

In total, nine states with a history of voter discrimination against minority voters  including Virginia and Alabama  were freed to amend their voting rules without pre-clearance. Parts of six others states covered by the VRA, including California and New York, were also affected.

Merrill praised the SCOTUS ruling.

"I think that rulings that have been made or laws that have been passed in the past need to be reviewed and evaluated from time to time," he said.

Edgardo Cortes, who as state commissioner is responsible for running Virginia's elections, told Business Insider in November that he thought the decision "was unfortunate."

"The pre-clearance provision had previously prevented changes in a variety of places that would've had a negative impact on voters' ability to participate," Cortes said.

He also thinks Virginia's voter ID law, which was passed by a Republican-led legislature in 2013, is an "unnecessary" requirement that doesn't solve any actual problems. Scientific research has shown that voter fraud is exceptionally rare.

While Cortes must implement the law as it stands, he says he has helped mitigate its impact. And Cortes said Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, has been working on making it easier for eligible people to vote since he became Virginia's governor in 2014.

From extending the voter registration deadline, to restoring the voting rights of more than 200,000 convicted felons, to opposing a proposal requiring voters to show documentary proof of citizenship before registering, Cortes says McAuliffe has "done a lot to simplify and modernize" the voting process.

The 2013 Supreme Court ruling on the VRA, however, ushered in some changes that not even McAuliffe is able to challenge.

Room for abuse

For decades, the US Department of Justice deployed election observers to states to monitor potential voter discrimination or intimidation.

But after Shelby, the DOJ could no longer send nearly as many observers to protect minority voters who might have otherwise been harassed at the polls.

In Alabama alone, from 2000 to 2012, the DOJ sent trained, federal election officials to counties across the state 20 times, amounting to 233 observers, because it feared there would be discrimination against African-Americans.

The US Office of Personnel Management, which the DOJ tasked with deploying observers before 2013, confirmed to Business Insider in November that it would not be sending officials to Virginia or Alabama to monitor elections. But the DOJ did not confirm whether its Civil Rights Division, which deployed more than 500 personnel in the 2016 election, would be sending observers to either state.

If states like Alabama and Virginia don't have those officials specifically monitoring incidents of discrimination or intimidation anymore, the only recourse for voters facing problems on election day in those states would be to call a government complaint hotline or to reach out to a civil rights defender willing to take legal action.

While there will still be poll workers employed by the state at the local level to make sure elections run smoothly, the lack of federal oversight has left more room for abuse, according to an elections expert at Georgetown University.

"We do a very good job across the country of having lots of observers and fairly trained people watching and making sure nothing goes wrong," Hans Noel told Business Insider in October.

"But I do worry that in some places the only people that are going to be monitoring are local, and if they collectively want to do something about disenfranchising a certain group, they can even inadvertently make that happen."

Rules that wouldnt have been acceptable before

Like clockwork, many southern states moved to pass stricter voting regulations following the Shelby decision, citing concerns about voter fraud and election integrity. These included bans on same-day registration, voter roll purges, a reduction in early voting periods, and massive cuts in the number of polling locations.

States don't have free range to enact potentially discriminatory laws carte blanche. Section 2 of the VRA still stands. It allows the DOJ to sue states that discriminate against voters on the basis of race, color, or language.

But since states no longer had the federal government weighing over their decisions, they could proceed with legislation that had previously been blocked or delayed.

"It's now possible for those states to pass rules that wouldn't have been acceptable before," Noel said.

Just hours after the ruling, Texas officials, for example, said they would begin enforcing a strict photo ID law that was previously found to be discriminatory against black and Hispanic voters. Officials in Mississippi, Virginia, and North Carolina made similar moves.

Alabama made an even more aggressive push, implementing the voter ID law that Merrill now supports. The state's Republican-dominated legislature passed the measure in 2011, and was finally able to enforce it in 2014 after the Shelby ruling.

Earlier this year, the LDF commissioned Zoltan Hajnal, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, to investigate whether Alabama's voter ID law hurt minority turnout in the 2016 presidential race.

Hajnal found that it did. Turnout in minority communities fell 4.1 points more in Alabama than in similar states around the country, according to his study.

Researchers in other states, including Wisconsin and Texas, have also found voter ID laws make it harder for minorities to vote. In 2016, 300,000 eligible voters in Wisconsin lacked valid state photo IDs before the election.

Some are calling for reform, including Loretta Lynch, the former Attorney General under President Barack Obama. In a speech last year, Lynch criticized the Shelby decision and urged Congress to restore the VRA to "its full effect."

But that won't be easy, says Noel, the Georgetown professor.

"The Congress with the current majority probably is not going to prioritize trying to replace the elements of the Voting Rights Act that the court eliminated," he said. "Politically, I don't see Congress wanting to do that."

If you face any issues trying to vote in Tuesday's election, contact the Department of Justice Civil Rights Department by phone (1-800-253-3931), email (), or .
An NBC News report on Sunday that the special counsel Robert Mueller had gathered enough evidence to indict the former national security adviser Michael Flynn could bolster an obstruction-of-justice case Mueller is reportedly building against President Donald Trump  and it could be Flynn's signal for a presidential pardon.

Mueller is investigating Flynn, Trump, and others as part of his inquiry into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election. He's also examining whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in Trump's favor.

Flynn was forced to resign in February when it emerged that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Sergey Kislyak, then Russia's ambassador to the US, during the transition period. Three weeks earlier, Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, warned the White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail over his conversations with Kislyak.

Trump also ignored advice during the transition period from President Barack Obama, who fired Flynn as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, to steer clear of Flynn.

The FBI was already investigating Flynn when he resigned. He informed the Trump transition team in January, before the inauguration, that he was the subject of a separate FBI investigation related to his lobbying work for Turkey. He joined the administration as national security adviser shortly after.

The evidence Mueller has against Flynn relates to his lobbying work through the latter half of 2016, while he was a top Trump campaign surrogate, NBC News reported. At the time, Flynn was lobbying for Ekim Alptekin, a prominent businessman with ties to the Turkish government. Flynn did not register with the Department of Justice as a foreign agent, as required by federal law, until March.

Flynn's activities came up in a February conversation between Trump and the FBI director at the time, James Comey. Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee in June that soon after Flynn resigned, Trump approached him and asked him to "let this go," referring to the bureau's investigation into the former national security adviser. Comey said he refused to assure Trump that the FBI would do so.

Trump fired Comey in May, later citing "this Russia thing" as a factor in his decision.

A Flynn indictment could serve to "complete the circle" in an obstruction case against Trump, said Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor who is currently a white-collar defense attorney at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.

"If there was any doubt that the substantive investigation against Flynn  which had to do with the Russia investigation and which did touch the administration  was the reason the president approached Comey, asked him to back off, and then fired him when he didn't, this would complete the circle," said Cotter, who has worked with Mueller in the past. "That's something a prosecutor always wants to do. You want to tie up all the loose ends."

In addition to investigating whether president attempted to obstruct justice by firing Comey, Mueller is also looking into the role Trump played in crafting a misleading statement in July about his son Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting in June 2016 with a Kremlin-connected lawyer at Trump Tower. Emails released days later by Trump Jr. showed that the meeting was accepted on the premise that the campaign would receive dirt on Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

The statement had to be amended several times as details about the meeting emerged, and Trump's defense lawyers initially said the president had no knowledge of the meeting or any role in drafting his son's initial statement.

In late July, however, The Washington Post reported that Trump had "dictated language for" Trump Jr.'s statement, against the advice of aides, while he was aboard Air Force One. Mueller was planning to interview six aides, many of whom were also witness to critical discussions before Comey's firing, The Post's report said.

Leaking information about possible charges now is in everybodys interest

News of a possible Flynn indictment comes amid reports that Trump is probing the boundaries of his pardon power.

The president's power to pardon federal crimes is very broad and has few constitutional limits, and legal experts have suggested that Flynn is hoping for a pardon before any charges are brought against him.

The NBC News report said Mueller was increasing pressure on Flynn following last week's indictments of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, and Rick Gates, a longtime associate of Manafort's.

It emerged in September that the special counsel was also investigating Flynn's son, Michael Flynn Jr., in connection with his work for his father's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group.

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, wrote that the report suggested Mueller's team had contacted Flynn about cooperating with the investigation by using a possible indictment of his son as leverage, and that it was likely Flynn's team was the source of the report.

Mariotti said that though Mueller had a reasonable chance of gaining Flynn's cooperation because of the substantial prison sentence he could face, Trump could still be expected to pardon Flynn, given Trump's February request to Comey and previous statements expressing support for the former national security adviser.

Flynn's son has also aggressively gone after Mueller on social media, retweeting accounts criticizing him while posting reminders of his father's staunch support for Trump. The tactic "suggests that Flynn Jr. knows he'll be charged and refuses to flip," Mariotti said.

Cotter echoed that view and emphasized Trump's apparent loyalty to Flynn, who was one of his most prominent campaign surrogates before becoming national security adviser.

"The president of the United States, who has virtually unlimited pardon power, has gone on the record, in public, and said he doesn't think Flynn should be prosecuted," Cotter said.

"If you're Flynn's attorney, the possibility of a pardon is something you'd think about," he added. "It's an amazing thing to have the president, before your client is charged, saying publicly that he doesn't think they should even be investigated, much less charged."

If charged, Flynn could be subject to what's known as a speaking indictment, or relatively lengthy indictment that includes more facts and allegations than legally required. The indictments against Manafort and Gates were speaking indictments, and it's likely that one against Flynn's indictment would be as well.

Given that, Cotter said, it's possible that Flynn's defense lawyers were the source of the NBC News report because it "could serve as a nudge to Trump" to pardon Flynn sooner rather than later to prevent the release of a list of allegations damaging to both Flynn and Trump.

Neither Flynn's attorney nor the White House immediately responded to a request for comment.
Now is not the time to make easy but costly mistakes.

To help make Election Day as seamless as possible for you, we've rounded up some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the more practical side of voting in this election.

How do I find my polling place?

To figure out where you vote, start by Googling it!

You can look up your polling place on your state's board of elections page, or via the portal on the website for the National Association of Secretaries of State.

How do I know who will be on my ballot?

Rock the Vote has a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide you can customize.

Put in your information, and the site spits out what choices you have to make.

For the congressional races, the site provides short bios of the candidates and gives you links to their campaign pages and social media accounts. If you create a profile, you can even save which candidates you want to vote for and send them to yourself so you have a reference for Election Day.

Do I need ID to vote?

This Election Day, 34 states will have ID laws in effect, and seven have strict photo IDs requirements, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

To look up requirements specific to you, select your state on Rock the Vote's website. It'll tell you if you need ID and, if so, what kind.

Proponents of voter ID laws say they aim to prevent voter fraud, although research has concluded it is incredibly rare. But critics say the laws disenfranchise low-income and minority voters who may have trouble getting ID.

If you have any more questions about what kind of ID you may need or how you can get one, call the hotline from VoteRiders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping eligible citizens vote, at 1-844-338-8743.

Can I use my phone at the polling place?

Many states prohibit taking pictures inside the polling place, especially of your ballot. (It can even be a felony offense.)

If you want to use your phone as a resource to remember whom you want to vote for, it's probably best to ask an election official before taking it out.

Many states have rules against any phone use, too. You might want to write down your choices on paper beforehand just to be safe.

What happens if I'm in line when the polls close?

Many (if not all  I couldn't find any that didn't follow this rule) stateshavelawson the books requiring that every person in line when the polls close must be able to vote.

"It's one of the most basic principles of electoral democracy," Ned Foley, director of Ohio State University's Election Law @ Moritz, wrote for Medium before the 2016 election.

"If you go to the polls when they are open, and you are a registered and qualified voter, then as long as you wait in line, you are entitled to cast your ballot even if the line is so long that you must wait until after the scheduled time for the polls to close."

If this happens to you, stay in line and call the nonpartisan voter-protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for more information.

What do I do if I have any problems trying to vote?

If you encounter any problems trying to vote, contact the Justice Department's civil rights division by phone (1-800-253-3931) or email (voting.section@usdoj.gov), or submit a complaint on its website.

You can also call the nonpartisan voter-protection hotline  from groups including the ACLU and Rock the Vote  at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) if you believe your rights were violated or you saw someone else's were.

Is Election Day a national holiday?

Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be.

Of the nonvoters surveyed by the Census Bureau about the 2008 presidential election, the 2012 presidential election, and numerous other elections, the most commonly cited reason for not voting was being too busy or having conflicting work schedules.

According to Pew Research data, voter turnout in the US trails most developed countries. While countries such as Belgium, Sweden, and Turkey saw more than 80% of their estimated voting-age populations cast votes in their recent elections, only 53.6% of the estimated voting-age population in the US voted in the 2012 presidential election.

To ensure "that everyone has the time and opportunity to vote," Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to designate "Democracy Day" a national election holiday. The bill sits before a Senate committee.

Others, including former President Barack Obama, businesses, and advocacy groups have voiced their approval of celebrating Election Day as a national holiday.

However, only Congress could make Election Day a national holiday, and so far no bills proposing such action have passed.

Can I get time off work to vote?

If you're wondering whether you can come in late or leave work early to cast your vote in this year's presidential election, the short answer is quite possibly  it depends where you work.

The majority of states have time-off-to-vote laws, also referred to as voter-leave laws, and have different requirements and exceptions for employers and employees.

While some states guarantee paid time off, for example, others do not. And the time guaranteed for employees to vote varies state-by-state.

Of course, your employer may offer leave to vote even if your state does not.

But since not everyone's employer is so generous, you'd be well advised to learn about the specific voter-leave provisions in your state.

Can I get in trouble for sharing who I voted for at work?

As an employee expressing yourself at work, you have fewer protections than you'd think  and if your boss doesn't like what they hear, you could get fired for it.

Your company may have rules prohibiting political paraphernalia or using social media to express your political affiliations, so it's always a good idea to get acquainted with your employee handbook.

And unless you signed some sort of contract that says otherwise, it's likely you're an at-will employee. This means that your boss can fire you whenever they want without having to establish just cause.

Of course, labor laws exist in this country to protect people against adverse employment actions due to discrimination. So if your boss fires you, for example, simply because you're a woman, that's wrongful termination, and you could sue them for that.

But very few laws exist that truly protect private-sector employees against getting fired for expressing their political affiliation. A handful of states, such as New York and California, have laws that offer protections for political affiliation, but even some of those are fairly limited.

What's more, talking heatedly about politics at work could be construed as creating a hostile work environment, and people could file a harassment complaint against you for that.
"Indo-Pacific" is the official term the Trump administration is now using for Asia.

Forgoing the more popular "Asia-Pacific," the White House repeatedly referred to the Indo-Pacific region ahead of US President Donald Trump's current visit to Asia. The term change, which subtly shifts the focus from China to India, could frustrate China and have real implications for how the region allocates its resources in the coming years and decades.

A recent statement from the White House containing Trump's Asia itinerary twice stated the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific region" while National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told the press more than once that Trump had called "Indo-Pacific leaders" ahead of his trip.

And last week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave a speech that used the phrase Indo-Pacific 23 times.

This indicates a shift away from China

This language change signifies a desire to move away from a China-centric narrative of Asia and promote the US relationship with India, say experts.

"As China seeks to dominate the Asia-Pacific, the Trump administration is broadening the geographic area to South Asia and the Indian Ocean since it is not likely that India will fall into the Chinese orbit," Stanley Rosen, a specialist in Chinese politics at the USC US-China Institute, told Business Insider.

"The US and India have a common interest in not having an assertive China dominating the region," said Rosen.

The shift has strengthened in the last few weeks ahead of a likely "quadrilateral" meeting between the US, India, Japan, and Australia during Trump's Asia tour.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recently said she welcomes the meeting "to maximize our opportunities within the Indo-Pacific region in which international law and the rules-based order is respected."

"Rules-based order" is often a veiled reference to China's more authoritarian rule.

The term is new for the White House, but not internationally

The phrase Indo-Pacific has existed for some time and is commonplace in India and Australia  the two countries that mark the region's edges  particularly with policy experts.

"It didnt start with the Trump Administration," S. Paul Kapur, a national-security professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School told Business Insider. "For example, the 2015 US Maritime Strategy referred to the region as the Indo-Asia-Pacific."

But the term is a clear shift away from policies of the Obama administration, which still referred to the Asia-Pacific on Obama's last visit to the region in September 2016. A search of the Obama White House archives for "Asia-Pacific" returns 837 results, while "Indo-Pacific" has just six.

It's also a departure from previous Republican administrations. White House archives for George W. Bush contain 537 documents referring to the Asia-Pacific but not a single one mentions the Indo-Pacific.

New terms will affect how the region develops

While changing four letters seems small, it can have huge implications. How a region allocates resources, prioritizes security of regional partners and grants membership to diplomatic organizations can all shift based on which countries are included in a specific region.

And the US is hoping that treating the region holistically will shift the balance of power.

"The Chinese government would not be unreasonable in viewing this as part of an effort to offer the region a liberal alternative to Chinas socialist and more authoritarian approach to regional development and integration," said Kapur.

"The US is approaching the region in this holistic fashion in the hope that liberal norms and structures such as the rule of law, free markets, mechanisms for deliberative dispute resolution, and open access to commons emerge not in piecemeal fashion, but rather in a single institutional web stretching from the United States westward to India and beyond."

It's a shift China is unlikely to be thrilled about.
WASHINGTON  Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee have a very narrow path forward if they want to derail or engage Republicans' attempt to overhaul the federal tax code, using their allotted time to raise issues with the parts of the bill they deem to be bad policy.

The next few days in the House, as tax writers mark up the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was unveiled just last Thursday, will be crucial to the fate of the bill. Because Democrats are essentially frozen out of the process, partly because of their dwindling numbers on the committee, all they can do is speak out  loudly.

"I don't think we have the luxury of determining that," Rep. Mike Thompson of California said of engaging in any bipartisan fashion. "This is their show and they set the rules and they're driving the bus and they've decided that they're not going to allow Democrats to participate. And this is a huge mistake, I think, when you're doing something as big as once-every-30-whatever-years tax reform."

Democrats will be allowed to offer their own amendments going forward but are outnumbered 24 to 16 in Congress' oldest continuous committee.

Since it is likely that every Democratic amendment would fail, and most Republican ones have very high chance of passing, Thompson said all Democrats could do was raise issue with the GOP lawmakers' proposals.

"We're going to try and get smart on the amendments that they have," he said. "We're going to raise issues of concern that we have."

But that becomes more difficult when the amendments are introduced without notice. "They've made no effort" to engage Democrats ahead of time, Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan told Business Insider.

"They just sprung out an amendment with a number of pieces and they want to combine it," Levin added. "They never talked to us. We didn't find out anything about it until they handed it to us. So even when it comes to amendments, they don't want to work together."

Things are already getting testy

Levin and Kevin Brady, the Republican Ways and Means chairman, engaged in a heated back-and-forth on Monday when the amendments were introduced without notice. Levin raged at Brady for not introducing the amendments separately or allowing for what he considered ample discussion on each one, calling it "disgraceful" and making "a mockery out of this committee."

"Are you people essentially authoritarians?" Levin asked Brady. "And you just throw this down to us. This is utter disgrace. Don't you have enough confidence in your own position to present these in advance to us and let" Thomas Barthold, the Joint Committee on Taxation chief of staff, "discuss each and every one of separately?"

The amendments passed Monday evening 24-16 on party lines. But Brady may not be done springing amendments on the committee in the coming days.

"There's a possibility that there will be more amendments by me that incorporate solutions as we get to them in these areas," Brady told reporters later Monday evening. "It depends upon how the solutions are designed and moving forward."

Republicans dispute the notion that they are excluding Democrats from the process. Rep. Peter Roskam, the Illinois Republican who chairs the subcommittee on taxation, told Business Insider, "We've proposed any number of opportunities for the Democrats to engage this process." He said he hoped they would cooperate over the next few days.
President Donald Trump appeared to endorse major changes in Saudi Arabia's government in a series of tweets on Monday evening.

"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," Trump tweeted while on a big foreign trip to Asia.

"Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years!"

Trump is likely referring to an anti-corruption purge that led to the arrest of 11 Saudi princes and dozens of government ministers. The arrests were widely seen as a move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power.

Trump made his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia in May. Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner has also made several trips to Saudi Arabia, including an unpublicized visit in October.

Trump spoke with Saudi King Salman on Saturday, according to a White House readout.

The two leaders discussed fighting the terrorist group ISIS and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, as well as Saudi Arabia's arms purchases from the US.
We visited Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts to see what makes it the best high school in America. The school is often confused with Phillips Exeter. There are 1,154 students on Andover's campus. Tuition for students living on campus is $53,900. Tuition for day students is $41,900. Andover has a "need-blind" admissions policy which means they accept students based on merit, not wealth. There are 44 states and 44 countries represented in the current student body. Following is a transcript of the video.
Director Christopher Nolan revealed that he wrote Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos an apology after calling Netflix's movie strategy "mindless," in an interview with Variety.

I should have been more polite, Nolan said. I said what I believe, but I was undiplomatic in the way I expressed it. I wasnt giving any context to the frankly revolutionary nature of what Netflix has done. Its extraordinary. They need appropriate respect for that, which I have.

In July, the director heavily criticized the streaming company's movie strategy and its resistance to the theatrical window, during an interview with IndieWire, and even accused Netflix of trying to shut down theaters.

I think the investment that Netflix is putting into interesting filmmakers and interesting projects would be more admirable if it werent being used as some kind of bizarre leverage against shutting down theaters, Nolan said at the time. Its so pointless. I dont really get it.

But Nolan isn't the only one that's criticized Netflix's strategy: Netflix has clashed with the theater industry thanks in large part to its release strategy.

Netflix releases its films both in theaters and on its site simultaneously, without waiting the traditional theatrical window. This stands in contrast to the theater-friendly policy of Amazon, which respects the traditional window. As a result, Netflix has been blacklisted from releasing its films in most major theater chains.

Netflix achieved a major film milestone this year when two of its films  "Okja" and "The Meyerowitz Stories"  were admitted into the Festival de Cannes. But criticism from the old guard prompted the festival to add a new rule dictating that any films that wished to be included in the festival next year would have to have a theatrical release in France.

In a Facebook post, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings responded to the festival's ruling saying that he felt theater chains were trying to "block" Netflix from entering the "festival competition."
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According to reports, the Vatican is likely to grant the ages old request by priests to be allowed to marry, as the subject matter has gotten a special mention by Pope Francis himself.

According to Yahoo News, the latest request to lift the ban on marriage was made by Brazilian bishop Cardinal Claudio Hummes, who reportedly asked the Pope to consider viri probati, meaning married of great faith, as priests.

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Meanwhile, Derry priest, Father Paddy OKane is reported to have suggested that Pope Francis may move to end celibacy early this month, saying there was support amongst the church for the idea.

He reportedly cited Brazilian liberation theologian Leonardo Boff, who said, The Brazilian bishops, especially the popes own personal friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes, have expressly requested Pope Francis to enable married priest in Brazil to return to pastoral ministry.

I have recently heard that the pope wants to fulfil this request  as an experimental, preliminary phase for the moment confined to Brazil. SAID Father Paddy OKane

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Pope Francis is on record to have told Die Zeit newspaper that, We must consider if viri probati is a possibility. Then we must determine what tasks they can perform, for example, in remote communities.
Meek Mill sentenced to 2 -4 years in prison

Meek appeared in a Philadelphia court on Monday, November 8, where the judge reportedly ruled that the rapper violated probation from his 2009 drug and weapons case.

In March, Meek, 30, was arrested in St. Louis and charged with misdemeanor assault for an altercation with two airport employees.

According to the judge, the rapper also violated probation when he was arrested for reckless driving in New York City.

Although both cases were dropped, the judge said the arrests alone were violations.

The court consequently jailed Meek for two to four years.
A statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, states that the terrorists had laid a noiseless siege on Barkin Dutse village of Madagali in the night of Monday, November 6, 2017, before their plot to unleash terror on the community were thwarted.

The insurgents, it was gathered, had converged on Barkin Dutse and were advancing towards Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali LGA before they met their Waterloo in the hands of the combat-ready troop.

The insurgents had reportedly targeted the attack and capture of Gulak town but while advancing in the dark, information was relayed to the troops who responded swiftly by engaging them in a fierce gun battle, leaving scores of the attackers dead.

A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force [CJTF], Usman Surakat, who spoke to newsmen in the aftermath of the battle, said the insurgents launched the ambushed at night at about 8 pm and had the intention of capturing Gulak.

Our vigilant people sent out signals immediately to troops and they responded before the terrorists could reach their target of Gulak. It was a serious fight.

The CJTF and the local hunters assisted the soldiers in the fight and after the ensuing fire, we counted 42 dead bodies of the terrorists who came to torment us.

The insurgents could not bear the heat. They started moving back and with the troops advancing with more gunfire and reinforcements, and at a point, the terrorists could not bear the heat and had to run away,  Surakat said.

Another eyewitness, Aminu Song who narrated the fear that gripped the community following the invasion, also said:

I think what helped was the quick information sent out to the soldiers and their rapid response. If not so, they would have caused a terrible damage or even recaptured Madagali.

But when the soldiers came and engaged them in the fierce battle, they had no option but to flee. They abandoned some of their weapons and managed to run away with those injured.

I can say this ambush turned out to be the greatest mistake by the terrorists who had to retreat immediately. They never thought soldiers will react immediately until they had done the damage and gone like before.

A local hunter who identified himself as Bulus, who said he also featured in the background in assisting soldiers to repel the attacks, said after the attack, 42 bodies of the insurgents were counted.

"We counted 42 bodies of the insurgents but we are yet to cross check with the local authority. But there was confusion as soldiers exchanged gunfire with the terrorists; people panicked and ran out of their homes to safer areas.

Some ran to mountains and hills. So, in a situation like this, the possibility of more death cannot be ruled out. But what I know is that the insurgents were not allowed to strike Gulak.

One of the leaders of CJTF in Madagali who identified himself as Usman Kabiru praised the military for their bravery and rapid response which he said was the only saving grace of the people of Madagali.

I want to thank and encourage all those who acted by hinting of the movement of the terrorists in this incident. Let them keep the spirit.

Our military really impressed us because they were alerted and acted instantly, though it was in the night, Kabiru said.
Their letter came in response to a recent letter written by Lt. Gen. Buratai to the team in which he encouraged the troops in the battlefield never to give up in their quest to bring back lasting peace to the volatile region.

In the letter Lt. Gen Buratai sent to the troop, he had assured them that the two-months outstanding allowances owed them would be paid immediately following an anonymous letter written by a disgruntled soldier over the deplorable conditions they are made to go through.

The troops, in the letter sent to the President and the COAS, said the recent letter to them in the battlefield was a boost to their muscles.

The letter jointly signed by Pte. Samson Okwudili, Sgt. Aliyu Bala, WO2 Bode O. Ola, assured President Buhari and the Army Chief that they wont relent until the insurgency battle is totally won.

Read the letter here:

Sir, on behalf of Nigerian troops of the 'Operation Lafiya Dole,' we acknowledge with joy, the receipt of your endearing letter of encouragement, commendation and assurances to the Nigerian Army troops on special assignments within and outside Nigeria, dated, November 5, 2017.

Similarly, we are extending our heartfelt appreciation to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari [GCFR], and the Minister of Defence, Gen. Monsur Dan Ali [rtd], for their endless support and encouragement of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian military generally, in the face of the daunting and multifarious insecurity challenges confronting our dear country, Nigeria.

We also seize this unique opportunity to send our special salute to you, the Corps Commanders and Commanders of Nigerian Army Training Institutions in Nigeria.

Sir, we cannot conceal our excitement over the good news conveyed by your letter to us at the war front.

We are disarmed and encouraged by the soothing words of encouragement, commendations, and assurances from your splendid and patriotic leadership of the Nigerian Army in the last two years.

We dare say, your mail to us is timely, comforting and a morale booster to greater determination and result-orientated military expeditions by the troops of 'Operation Lafiya Dole' in Maiduguri.

We cannot pretend that your humble message to us has enlivened our spirits and energized our strengths to unfathomable depths.

It has, again, reactivated our sense of patriotism, loyalty, commitment and rededication to our professional duties.

We are indeed motivated and in high spirits to defiantly pursue the cause of the defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country, Nigeria, by ensuring the final termination of Boko Haram Terrorism and other sects of armed local conflicts afflicting the nation.

Sir, may you be informed that troops are not unmindful of the tendency of insurgents to attempt a bounce back any time to undermine the successes so far recorded by the military in the counter-insurgency operations.

We are not unaware that some unscrupulous elements within and without, may set out to mastermind such aberrations by sowing seeds of discord among troops and their commanders.

Please, you have our assurances never to neither let you down or allow terrorism in whatever guise to sprout or fester in any part of the country.

We are prepared never to accept unwholesome influence in our fold until collectively, the final song of victory against terrorists is chorused.

We further wish to especially acknowledge you, our Chief Commander and COAS, for your sterling leadership qualities and purposeful leadership of the Nigerian Army.

We have all come to know you as not just as the astute leader of the Nigerian troops, but a reformist, performer, comforter, a humanist, a welfarist, an exceptional officer and stickler for high professional discipline and performance.

We pray God to continue to replenish your wisdom and strength to lead us to further victories in battle.

Therefore, we wish to end with our open appreciation of the priority, premium, and seriousness you attach to matters of the welfare of troops.

The prompt and timely payment of salaries and allowance of troops, especially those at the war front, the expeditious attention to the medical needs of troops, particularly, those injured on the battlefield, the special attention you pay for the welfare of our families back home and your economic enhancement packages for soldiers, have infinitely endeared us to you and your leadership.

We are obliged to reciprocate same through impressive performance.

Lastly, we are impressed with the unflinching support extended to your leadership of the Nigerian Army by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Defence.
John Boyega is one of the by-products of the mass movement of the 80s and 90s.

Born to Nigerian parents in 1992, the young British-Nigerian is one of the most promising young talents in Hollywood. He made history as the first black lead in the franchise Star Wars.

Then there is UK Grime star Skepta. His real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga. Skepta who is at the forefront of Grimes resurgence on a global scale regularly shows off his Nigerian roots. He even visits his parents who retired and moved to Nigeria years ago.

How can we forget Wale? He is arguably the biggest example of how the brain drain and mass exodus of many years ago have benefited other countries.

The Maybach Music rapper is one of Americas top Hip-Hop stars and a child of Nigerian migrants.

There are so many Nigerian Brits and Nigerian Americans out there. A quick glance at the rising forces in Hollywood will reveal film starlets with Nigerian first names or surnames.

There are millions of Nigerian adults overseas whose parents left the country to secure a better future for their kids. At the time they left, Nigeria was hardly a stable country with military coups and terrible economic policies.

The failure of our leaders has helped Western countries to groom a crop of young people with Nigerian roots who are ready to take on the world.

Imagine if the parents of these stars never left the country. Imagine a Skepta, Wale, Jidenna or John Boyega born and bred in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: How Nigerians get to overseas illegally

The exodus was a loss to Nigeria and this generation. The worst thing is that this exodus has not stopped.

Nigerian doctors are leaving the country in hordes as the health sector is on the brink of total collapse.

Most black doctors in America are Nigerian. Sadly most of them will never come home because of the situation here.

As long as our leaders do not stop the rot, the best of Nigerian minds will leave for greener pastures.
This happened because they had regained their freedom and were tired of the racism in Brazil. Also, a heavy tax was placed on these freed slaves. Instead of living in such harsh conditions they decided to go back to their roots. These returnees also came from the island nation of Cuba.

Called 'Aguda' or 'Maro', these Afro-Brazilians landed in Lagos for the first 1835 but it wasn't of their own accord. Many of them had been deported after a Yoruba and Hausa rebellion had happened in the city known as Salvador.

ALSO READ: The life and times of Candido da Rocha

After this happened, other former slaves took the hint and travelled back home to start a new life. Thirty years later, the Brazilian returnees made up of 9% of the Lagos population. By 1920, Afro-Brazilians stopped migrating to Lagos.

Many of the returnees settled in Lagos for commerce reasons and also because there were wars going on in the Yoruba hinterland. The Brazilians were received warmly by the locals.

ALSO READ: Lagos state government demolishes Ilojo Bar

A place in the Eastern part of Lagos Popo Aguda was reserved for the returnees. These areas were soon known as the Brazilian Quarters and you can still find some of their homes till today.

Many of the Brazilians were Catholics although you could find some Muslims too. Others were idol worshipers.

Lagos Brazilians were gifted in areas of commerce. Men such as Angelo Campos, Esan da Rocha and Joaquim Branco were titans of the trade during their era.

The legacy of these Lagos Brazilians can be found on Lagos Island. The homes of some of the returnees still stand today. The Fanti Carnival is a remnant of the Brazilian culture.
In a lengthy Instagram post he shared on Sunday, November 5, 2017, he stated his belief in political resistance as the way forward. This form of resistance is such that aims at resisting against all elements of political enslavement and underdevelopment which promotes confusion and deepens poverty amongst the Motherland masses which seize the opportunity of the movement to politically exploit our people both nationally and internationally.

Later in his post, he also wrote: in other words, if we see as a people do not see politics as our business and foremost interests, the resistance of our political class as our national duty, then we would never have the representation that we desire/want.

Seun Kuti has hit the nail on the head. We should not expect a change in our political system and leadership setup if all we do is protest and rage on Twitter.

Real change comes when we the youth of Nigeria are actively involved and engaged in the political process. This does not include ranting on social media and hashtags.

Dont get me wrong. Social media is good for starring up a conversation that charges people to challenge the way things are but as we all know, if the narrative doesn't go beyond a post or 140 characters then nothing happens.

And when it does move beyond Twitter like the Occupy Nigeria protest in 2012, it ends up falling flat. Like Seun Kuti wrote in his post, protest doesn't do anything to the political cabal. We protest today and tomorrow we go back to our homes, adjusting to the new way of life.

What should be done is for young people all over the country to be actively involved in the political process. We need to hold our leaders accountable starting from our local government chairmen.

Politics starts from the grassroots. If we cannot be a part of the political process in our local government then nothing will change. We need to be involved from the ground up. Many of us are doing it reverse.

This political resistance movement requires a lifelong dedication to getting things right. In 2019, and we will be galvanized to vote. After the elections, we go back to our homes and grumble. No.

After the elections are when we should be vigilant and hold all political officers accountable. We should be on their necks to constantly do better and fulfil their campaign promises.

This is how we can be part of the resistance by being eternally vigilant and challenging corrupt and inept office holders.
The collection pulls in bold yet subtle hues including lavender, lemon/yellow, purple and blue in ready-to-wear and red carpet worthy styles favouring luxurious silk and chiffon print fabrics, viscose, cotton and jersey for a soft, sensual finish to the styles.

Floor grazing bandeau maxi dresses, clavicle baring sling tops paired with layered tulle detailed skirt, chic print dresses, print co-ords, detailed print jumpsuits, ruffled top paired with print shorts.

ALSO READ:Christie Brown dares mix prints on the most chic pieces for one of her best presentations

Chic flared print pants, rich lavender evening piece, print shirt dresses, skirts, playsuits, body grazing styles, Grecian themed dresses and so on were featured in the summery collection.

The pieces were named Agata, Olasupo, Anita, Anna and Dany, Anna and Ola, Anna and Sande, Barbs and Ola, Barbs and Sande, Candace, Dimi, Jeli and Dany, Jeli and Sande, Jowy, Lauraa, Masee, Mirimo, Omatu, Quiet and Storm for a sort of personality tied to each look.

The creative director and designer of the brand Omatu Fulani was largely inspired by Young M.A's 'Quiet Storm' which the collection is aptly named after.

'Sex and the City' author Candace Bushnell reportedly mentioned how she felt like royalty after wearing a piece off the collection to the 'Women Of The Year Gala' in Vienna where she received a lifetime achievement award.

ALSO READ:Maki Oh comes through with eternally effortless chic Adire pieces

Check out all the looks from the collection in the gallery below.

Credits:

Photography: Stefan Gergely @stefan_gergely

Model: Jacqueline Sappert @senoritachiquita

Makeup & Hair: Sandy Charles

Designer: Omatu Fulani @fulanifashion
An official of the hospital told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity in Enugu on Tuesday, that Ekwueme is still in Memfys Hospital."

Former Vice President, , is alive, stable and responding to treatment.

The official further told NAN that Ekwueme was receiving the best attention from the hospital.

He is recovering and doing well; people should not spread false information."

The family members are always here, the official said.

Similarly, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Oko community in Orumba North Local Government of Anambra, corroborated the hospitals position.

The traditional ruler, who is also the younger brother of the former Vice President, told NAN in a telephone interview in Awka on Tuesday that people had bored the family with phone calls.

You people should stop disturbing me with all these calls. Ekwueme is alive and recovering, please, he said.

It would be recalled that barely a week ago, Ekwueme was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu.

Due to his critical condition, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his treatment abroad.
While the three others namely Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan were released after negotiations with the British High Commission and Nigerian authorities, Squire was not so lucky to make it out alive.

Taking to his Twitter account on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Atiku said the act was barbaric and sickening.

He tweeted, "Saddened by the killing of Ian Squire, the British missionary by kidnappers. This barbaric event must be condemned. Missionaries and volunteers have been partners for education in Nigeria for centuries. That anyone would think of hurting them is sickening."

According to Chief Theo Fakama, from the local Enukorowa community, the four were working with a Christian medical charity and had been providing "free medical care and religious activities" in the Burutu area of Delta state.

Atiku also took time minutes later to condemn the 'cowardly' attack by terrorist group, Boko Haram, in his native Adamawa state on Monday, November 6.

He tweeted, "The attack on innocent people by Boko Haram terrorists deserves continued condemnation and action. The latest attack on Adamawa is cowardly!"

ALSO READ: Atiku says video of him declaring to run for President is Fake News

In the attack, terrorists invaded Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa state, and opened fire on residents who fled into nearby bushes, mountains, and hills.
Ayade said that the incident occurred because of the full implementation of the anti-grazing bill in Benue state.

The Governor said that security personnel have been deployed to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Ayade also called on the Federal Government to boldly address the issue of grazing in the country.

According to Daily Post, he said We have already deployed the military, police and other security agencies to ensure that the situation is brought under control and as we speak, the area is calm and peaceful.

During our meeting, we did an analytical appraisal of the situation and we have come out with a very strong active point that must be implemented urgently.

One of such measures is to immediately institute a mediation team comprising the security operatives, the fulani community, and my Special Adviser on non-indigene affairs as well as the leader of Hausa/ Fulani community in the state.

We in Cross River have lived with the herdsmen peacefully over time but obviously, with the passage of the Anti-Open-Grazing law and its full implementation in Benue, it is having its effect on us. Currently, the situation is where the farmers feel a deep sense of loss with the continuous grazing on their economic crops while the herdsmen are desperately searching for pastures to sustain their cattle.

If the federal government does not come to lend its support to the state, what will happen is that they are leaving the farmers and the herdsmen to take on themselves, he added.

Anti-grazing law

According to reports, the Benue state government started implementation of the anti-grazing law in November 2017.

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, had warned that any herdsman, who decided to breach the anti-open grazing law would have to face the wrath of the law.
The state government recently announced the dismissal of the teachers who purportedly failed the primary four exams conducted for primary school teachers and also announce the recruitment of 25,000 teachers to replace them

This decision has been causing rancour in the state as the Nigerian Union of Teacherskicked against the move.

Supporting their teachers, pupils from Sabon Gari and Zaria local government areas have reportedly trooped out to register their displeasure with the government decision about their teachers.

The pupils who were seen carrying leaves were shouting ''Ba muso'' which means 'they dont want the planned sacking of their teachers'.

Some of the pupils according to reports said they don't want their teachers to be sacked.

The pupils also threatened they would not return to school until their teachers are reinstated.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the pupil's involvement in the row between government and teachers.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai said the government will not tolerate endangerment of minors by adults who are sending them to the streets.

"It is a callous and despicable act to involve young pupils in illegal, politically-inspired demonstration. The Kaduna State Government has received reports of primary school pupils being pushed to the streets by their unqualified teachers for illegal protests. These unlawful acts have included getting young children to block highways.

ALSO READ:One of the teachers sacked for failing competency test reacts on Facebook
The government said it would arrest and prosecute anyone that marches in the state in the name of the outlawed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

A statement, signed by the spokesperson to the governor, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday said government was concerned by reports of violent clashes between the outlawed movement and security agencies in a neighbouring state.

Aruwan said that Kaduna State has put the security forces on alert against any threat to peace.

The Kaduna State Government has warned members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria to steer clear from the borders of the state.

Security agencies have been alerted to arrest and prosecute anyone found demonstrating or carrying out a procession within the state in the name of an outlawed group,

The government will not shirk its duty to enforce the law and uphold order. Security agencies have been directed to mount surveillance in all parts of the state, especially in border communities."

According to him, procession from any state into Kaduna by members of an unlawful society is not allowed.
The state Chairman of the union, Mr Audu Amba, said this at a news conference in Kaduna on Monday.

Amba said that the union had issued a two-week ultimatum to the state government to reverse its decision to disengage 21,780 primary school teachers for failing its competency test.

He explained that the decision to embark on the strike was taken after the unions executive council meeting, with the support of the national body of the union.

He said that if the government failed to reverse its decision, the entire public secondary and primary schools in the state would be shut down.

We supported the competency test on the grounds that 60 per cent would be the pass mark and those that failed would be re-trained.

The Governor (Nasir El-Rufai), however, pegged 75 per cent as pass mark and released the names of 21,780 that failed for disengagement."

We wrote a letter to the governor to reconsider his decision, but he went ahead to announce the list of teachers to be disengaged."

We have even approached the National Industrial Court to determine whether the state government had the mandate to conduct competency test for teachers, he said.

Meanwhile, pupils of Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Kawo, Kaduna, on Monday, took to the streets to protest the disengagement of 77 teachers in the school.

The pupils said they would not return to school until the governor rescinded his decision.

A teacher, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity, said that the protest began when the pupils learned that 77 teachers had been pencilled down for disengagement.

There are 103 teachers in this school and based on the list released yesterday, only 26 teachers passed the competency test, meaning that the remaining 77 teachers would be disengaged.

When the people heard that most of their teachers would be disengaged, they became emotional and began hugging their teachers in tears.

Before we knew it, all the pupils came out from their classrooms and took to the streets in protest of what they described as unfair treatment of their teachers.

They said they would not come to school again until the government reversed its decision.

The teacher, who said she had been teaching for 22 years, said: I was shocked when I didnt find my name on the list of those that passed the test.

Also, a head mistress, at a public school in Mahuta, Kaduna, said that 18 names of the 23 teachers in the school were missing in the qualified list of teachers, including her own name.

She expressed fears about the welfare of her family if she lost her job as she is the breadwinner.

NAN reports that the states Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had on Sunday released the names of about 11,220 primary school teachers who passed the competency test.

The board Chairman, Malam Nasiru Umar, told newsmen that 33,000 primary school teachers sat for the examination while 21,780 failed the test.

Umar added that those who are above five years would be retired but those below five years would be disengaged.

He said that three months notice would be given to those who failed the competency test for disengagement.

Nonetheless, he said that all teachers, including those who failed the test, should continue with their working pending for further directives.

The chairman said that the Kaduna State Executive Council had approved the outcome of the teachers competency test and had directed the immediate commencement of the process of recruiting 25,000 new primary school teachers.

No more sharing of appointment of teachers among the officials. This time around, government is determined to employ competent teachers as part of efforts to revive education in Kaduna State.

We have so far received over 13,000 applications at the SUBEB headquarters.
The chairman made appeal in a statement in Abuja on Monday signed by Mrs Clara Braide, Special Adviser Communication to the Chairman, NDDC.

He urged the group to sheathe their swords and also advised that violence will lead nowhere but aggravate the situation.

He stressed that the damage done would be felt by the region that is already overstretched and earnestly needs rapid development.

The NDDC Chairman said that the Commission is doing all it can to intervene towards finding a lasting solution and appealed that dialogue be maintained with the Federal Government toward a path of peace and sustainable development.

He said: Our environment is already polluted and is in dire need of restoration, destroying oil pipelines and installations would further destroy our environment and expose our people to sickness and untold hardship.

It would worsen our already bad situation and expose innocent women, children and youths to grave danger.

We appeal to NDA to still give the Government and Stakeholders more time. Resuming hostilities will be detrimental to all parties involved whether the NDA, the Region or the Government.

At the end of the day it is the region that will be badly damaged and set backwards.

NDDC is not resting on its oars in our efforts to finding a peaceful and permanent resolution of issues of development as the Commission has strategic intervention plans that should transform the region. To achieve this, however, peace is a must."

Ndoma-Egba, however, emphasised that President Muhammadu Buhari means well for the Niger Delta region and has already demonstrated this in various ways and would continue to address the issues.

The region is the Goose that lays the Golden Egg; it is our collective patrimony and should not be destroyed.

We would be doing a great disservice to ourselves and our future generations if we continue to destroy our own God given heritage in order to prove points that are already proven.

I passionately appeal to the conscience of our people to give the region a chance to heal. Give us a chance to rebuild and restore the glory of our region, he said.

NAN recalls that the militant group, which halted attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region last year following various appeals from the Niger Delta leaders, has renounced the ceasefire.

The group in a statement by its spokesperson, self-styled: Maj.-Gen. Murdoch Agbinibo, disowned the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, who are intermediaries between it and the government.
He made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki in Abuja.

He said the Presidency would not be able to succeed in implementing policies for the good of Nigerians without the lawmakers.

He added that I am here today to extend hand of friendship and to solicit for the cooperation of the National Assembly because our constitution is very explicit when it comes to the principle of Separation of Powers.

I will say this and I will say it quite frankly; we are not in competition with National Assembly; we are not rivals with the National Assembly; we are partners in this enterprise.

If the National Assembly does not cooperate with Presidency, I am not very sure we will be able to achieve the desired result that we want to see, given the mandate that we have freely received from the people of Nigeria.

So, this is basically to come and assure you that in every area that you are soliciting for cooperation of the Presidency, being the SGF, I will ensure that the National Assembly receives that cooperation.

Whatever was lost in the past, we could quickly redeem and recover and make progress.

Mustapha said the only way to effectively implement President Muhammadu Buharis change agenda was through cooperation.

He added that this is because none of the three-pronged approach of the president  security, diversification and fight against corruption  can be achieved if we do not receive the support of the National Assembly.

He explained that to diversify the economy, bills must come from the National Assembly and be debated upon and eventually return to the President for assent.

We cant fight corruption if we do not have institutional framework which is strengthened in every ramification to ensure that corruption is dealt with.

It is a big menace that has constituted a source of embarrassment and we cant fight insurgency unless we put machinery on ground that requires the support of the National Assembly.

He added that the role of the National Assembly was distinct, specifically to promote good governance, provide oversight and ensure that funds were used judiciously for the purposes they were meant for.

He commended Saraki for his style of leadership, which he said contributed immensely to good governance.

The President of the senate congratulated the SGF on his appointment, saying the visit marked a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature and a good omen for democracy.

Saraki said I got the notice rather short but it was important that we meet. Your visit truly shows your intention to ensure we truly work together to make Nigeria great.

You are very right. In the Presidential system that we run, it is not possible to achieve all our goals if the Executive and Legislature do not have  not just an okay relationship but fantastic and very close relationship.

What you have done this afternoon has really brought that closer and I am sure that all my colleagues are going to appreciate that on the floor tomorrow when I communicate this to them.

You have started on a very good note and I thank you for all your kind words when you talked about some of the work we have done in the past in bringing the government together and we will continue to work to ensure that we deliver on our promises.

As you said, the Constitution is very clear on what our responsibilities are. You did not write it and I did not write it, neither did any of us in the National Assembly today, but we all swore to it and we must continue to ensure that we work with it for the interest of Nigeria.
Speaking when he visited Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Chambas said the UN system in Nigeria will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure peace and sustainable development in the country.

A statement issued in Sokoto by Tambuwal's spokesman, Malam Imam, quoted Chambas as saying that the global body firmly believes in the unity of Nigeria, and will continue to support all its organs for rapid socio-economic development.

"The peace and unity of Nigeria is very important to the global community. We commend efforts aimed at promoting peace in the country. Let me applaud the work done by the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led peace committee especially during the transition period in 2015.

"As the next election circle approaches, we expect others to play similar or related roles in ensuring peace and stability," he added.

In his remarks, Tambuwal sought support from leading international organisations for end to proliferation of small arms not just in Nigeria, but in all conflict prone areas of the world.

He commended Chambas for his concern about peace in the country, saying as someone who spent a large part of working life in Nigeria, he has become a stakeholder in the Nigeria project.
He said that the lorries were intercepted at Okpuno Awka area in a hotel by eagle eyes security operatives.

The materials were all INEC sensitive materials for the conduct of Nov.18 governorship election in Anambra and the trucks were discovered in a hotel at Okpuno Awka area, he said.

Oye blamed opposition political parties to be behind the act and called on the federal government to thoroughly investigate the matter to uncover the bigwigs behind the act.

We are suspecting that opposition parties were behind this dangerous act and we call for adequate and thorough investigation of the matter by the Federal Government, he said.

The APGA national chairman said that the party would not tolerate any form of sharp practices in the forthcoming election, and will resist any attempt by any group to rig the election.

He said the news conference was to draw the attention of Nigerians and the world on the negative development ahead of Anambra governorship election.

Oye said that APGA believed in the capability of INEC and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the state.

We are saddened by these developments, and we call on the federal government to do something immediate to reassure the people of the state of its neutrality in Nov.18 poll, he said.

Anambra police dismisses report

When contacted, the Anambra State police command denied knowledge of the interception of any sensitive electoral material in Awka.

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar Garba told NAN that no such materials were intercepted anywhere in the state.

I am yet to be informed of any such seizure anywhere in Anambra and I feel the claim is untrue, he said.

Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra also told NAN that the commission was not aware of any such development.
Hol up. Whats ForLoop?

Its the largest community of software developers and tech enthusiasts across Africa. And they are just getting started. There are already networks, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya.

Within the next one year, they plan to be in 10 African countries.

In just 18 months of existence, ForLoop has become an integral part of the tech ecosystem. Known most notably for its meetups and hackathons held across venues in Nigeria, nothing seems to be bringing the ecosystem together like ForLoop.

The hashtag style has always been #ForLoopX, where X is a city, or a University campus, or now as we see, a country.

Back to #ForLoopGhana

The lineup of speakers at the event are an experienced, diverse bunch.

Theres Bubunyo Nyavor, Founder at @AFRadioHQ. Hell be speaking on Being World Class.

Miishe Addy, Co-Founder of Skilltapp, will be speaking on Humility and Home Court Advantage: Why Africa is the Frontier for World Class Leadership.

Neo Ighodaro, Hotels.ngs CTO, will be speaking on Building For The Bad Guys.

Christian Nwamba, a Code Beast, and all-round great guy, will be sharing 10 Audit Tips to Improve Website Performance for Poor Connectivity.

Agbo Tettey Soli, a University Lecturer and Software Engineer, will be speaking on System Analysis and Design.

The ForLoop mentorship program will be launched and interesting things built by Ghanaian developers, will be showcased.
The US and Turkish embassies in Ankara and Washington announced on Monday they would start processing visa applications for each other's citizens after an almost month-long suspension.

"The resumption of visa services, even if limited, is a positive step," Yildirim said during a press conference at Ankara airport before he was due to fly.

He will meet with Vice President Mike Pence during the visit expected to last until Friday.

The diplomatic row began after the US decided to stop handing out visas in Turkey from October 8, which was followed almost immediately by a tit-for-tat move by Ankara to stop issuing Turkish visas for Americans.

The US move was in response to the arrest of a US consulate staffer accused of having links to the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. The employee remains in custody.

Ankara blames Gulen for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, charges the preacher strongly denies.

The US embassy in Ankara said it resumed visa services after the Turkish government gave "assurances" that no other US mission employee in Turkey was under investigation and that Turkey would inform the US in advance if further arrests were made.

But the Turkish embassy in Washington said late Monday it could not provide "any assurances regarding files that are subject of ongoing legal processes".

Yildirim said it would "not fit with the principles of the rule of law" to either give or ask for such reassurances.

Several American citizens are in custody in Turkey including pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir.

He has been held since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Turkey continues to call for Gulen's extradition, a bone of contention between the NATO allies and a subject Yildirim again brought up.

"Everything has been done for the extradition," Yildirim said, referring to files sent to the US.
EU finance ministers meeting for regular talks in Brussels are due to discuss the practice on Tuesday after a trove of leaked documents exposed the great lengths the global elite will go to avert paying a fair tax.

The findings have emerged as part of the Paradise Papers released late Sunday by the US-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which was behind the similar Panama Papers made public last year.

"This new scandal shows once again that some companies and rich individuals are ready to do anything to not pay tax," said European Economics Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici ahead of the two days of talks.

"In light of these shocking revelations, I call on member states to rapidly adopt a European tax haven blacklist, as well as other dissuasive measures," he said.

Much as with the Panama Papers report and LuxLeaks, the latest leak also exposes the secret ways the rich and multinationals, with the help of accountancy firms, shift profits across the globe to drastically cut tax.

Perfectly legal, these methods helped divert billions in profit from the tax man, using well established wealth hubs such as Luxembourg, the British Virgin Islands and Switzerland.

EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager, who has cracked down on EU countries making illegal tax breaks to Apple and Amazon, lauded the journalists who made the latest revelations.

"Congratulations and thanks to ICIJ for all the work done on Paradise Papers. It enables the work against tax avoidance, for transparency," said Vestager in a tweet.

Despite the tough talk from Brussels, Europeans have struggled to agree on the basis of an EU-wide tax haven blacklist.

Britain, Malta and other smaller EU nations are reluctant to include zero or near-zero corporate tax rates as one of the criteria to land on the EU's blacklist.

The EU ministers are due to bridge their differences and draw up an official list of unwanted tax havens in December, whittling down an initial list of 92 countries finalised last year.
Armed men -- whom the leaders are too afraid to name, even in hiding -- showed up in their village and publicly threatened them, putting a five-million peso ($1,500) bounty on their heads for pushing their communities to end the illegal cultivation of coca leaves.

They fled their region of Alto Mira y Frontera and are now in hiding in Tumaco, the port of the southwestern region of Narino, a 50-minute drive from their homes.

"Alto Miro is the largest area for the cultivation of coca leaves in the world," said Jacome, the 40-year-old president of the government assembly of community councils.

The area was legally given over to descendants of slaves who once worked in the gold mines of neighboring Barbacoas, but of its 60,500 acres (24,470 hectares), 17,000 (42,00 hectares) are planted with coca, the base material for cocaine. Colombia was the world's largest producer of cocaine in 2016, turning out 866 tons of the drug, according to the United Nations.

A splintering of armed groups

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, were for half a century Marxist rebels who turned to drug production in recent decades to finance their struggle.

Their disarmament in a landmark peace deal with the government last November triggered a bloody power struggle between 15 rival factions made up of FARC splinter groups, former right-wing paramilitaries and rebels from another left-wing guerrilla organization, the ELN, according to Christian Visnes, director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

"And there are other groups starting to spring up that we don't even know about," he said.

Narino contains 20 percent of the 360,700 acres (146,000 hectares) of land under coca cultivation across the country.

Afro-Colombians in the area follow a traditional lifestyle of fishing and growing cacao beans and palm trees, and reject any responsibility for the "colonos," as they call the peasant farmers from neighboring areas who followed the FARC into the sector when they took control of it around 15 years ago.

Strategically placed on the border with Ecuador, Tumaco's Pacific coast is a maze of inlets and mangrove swamps that provide access for smuggling boats and escape routes from the police, a combination of factors that have turned this town of around 200,000 people into an epicenter of drugs trafficking.

The authorities regularly break up cocaine labs, arrest traffickers and seize mini-submarines used to smuggle the drugs.

Local coca leaf growers, known as "cocaleros," have denounced the forced destruction of their harvests and what they deem insufficient government aid to help them switch to alternative cash crops. Six of them were killed when police cracked down on a protest march in October.

Jacome, whose predecessor Genaro Garcia was murdered in 2015, appealed to both the government and the former guerrillas, who have reinvented themselves as a political party. "If the FARC and the government negotiated the substitution and the eradication of coca, it is they who have to underwrite it."

Too much blood spilled

Local community leaders in the region are the go-betweens between armed groups and the state, something that "puts them in a very difficult position," said Visnes of the NRC.

So the 13 surviving leaders of Alto Mira y Frontera communities have remained in hiding for more than a month, under the scant protection of three police officers who log the identity of any visitors in a large black book.

"We are living like rats," Jacome told AFP, tears in his eyes. "You don't even dare lean out the window."

He recalled how the council's spokesman, Jose Jair Cortes, got a little too confident. He was riddled with 17 bullets on October 17.

"He said everything was quiet out there ... right up to the moment when he was tragically assassinated."

Under the pale neon lighting of their house, 41-year-old Luz Dari, piped up: "The government and the FARC have a debt to pay for our dead. There's been too much blood spilled here, too many widows and orphans."

The community leaders have been told the council will pay for their food and accommodation until November 26, but after that their fate is murky. The authorities in Tumaco declined to comment to AFP about what would become of the group after that date.
Health minister Lydia Mutsch told a press conference that the government aims to limit marijuana use to people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses.

"This must be an exception in a controlled and secure setting," Mutsch said as she introduced the proposed legislative changes.

The authority to prescribe such treatment "should be limited to certain specialists like oncologists, neurologists and internists," the minister added.

Health and social security ministers also plan to discuss terms and conditions for reimbursing patients who use the drug.

Mutsch intends to present amendments to the draft governing medicinal use of drugs by year-end.

The draft will then go before parliament for debate and a vote. The pilot project would start after the new law is adopted, probably in 2018.

Since 2012, Luxembourg has authorised the use of medicines with cannabis ingredients, but not raw forms of marijuana.

The health ministry's drugs advisor Alain Origer warned that visitors will have to be aware of their own country's laws if they enter Luxembourg for medical marijuana prescriptions and return home to use it.

Some 177,000 workers from neighbouring countries daily enter Luxembourg, a country of 590,000 people.
President Donald Trump has told Congress that he can no longer "certify" that the 2015 accord in the US national interest, leaving its fate in the hands of skeptical senators.

Mogherini, therefore came to Washington -- while Trump and her opposite number Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were touring Asia -- to sit down with legislators on Capitol Hill.

While she insisted Brussels does not want to interfere in Washington politics, she sent a clear message that Europe opposes any new US law that would breach the terms of the deal.

Senator Bob Corker, the head of the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, and his Republican colleague and rising star Senator Tom Cotton are working on such a bill.

While it has not be finalized -- and its supporters insist it is designed to strengthen enforcement of the Iran deal rather than to destroy it -- opponents fear it will do just that.

Speaking to reporters after talks with US lawmakers, Mogherini said she had sought and received reassurances that the bill would keep the United States "compliant with the deal."

"We are exchanging views with legislators on the need to make sure, before a bill is presented, that its contents does not represent a violation," she said.

In a fact sheet to explain the proposed law, the senators propose that US nuclear-related sanctions on Iran would snap back if Tehran violates "enhanced and existing restrictions."

These "enhancements" to restrictions would end so called "sunset" clauses that would see some restrictions on Tehran's program phased out between eight and 15 years from now.

But supporters of the deal argue changing these provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by Iran and six world powers would itself collapse the deal.

Renegotiation not an option

Mogherini pushed back strongly on the idea that the 2015 deal, under which Iran submitted to nuclear controls in return for sanctions relief, would "sunset" at all.

"The JCPOA has no sunset clause," she said. "There are different arrangements within the JCPOA that have different durations... some will last forever.

"Article Three of the agreement says that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon, for instance."

And, she added, under the "foreseen ratification" by Iran of the International Atomic Energy Agency's "additional protocol ... certain commitments will become permanent."
Speaking in Washington, Mogherini stopped short of criticizing US President Donald Trump's warm support for Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's aggressive anti-Iranian stance.

But she made it clear that in Europe, in any case, officials would like to see both sides calm their rhetoric and seek a "minimum of common ground" on which to build peace.

"I know that this is not the wind that is blowing as the majority voice in the world of today," Mogherini told reporters at the EU mission in Washington.

"But allow me to bring a little bit of wisdom as the European voice in a world that seems to go completely crazy here: It's dangerous." she warned.

Neither Trump nor Mogherini's opposite number US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were in Washington for her visit -- both were in Asia for talks dominated by North Korea.

But Trump has taken time on his voyage to tweet support for Mohammed bin Salman's "anti-corruption" drive, which has seen 11 royal princes and dozens of political and business leaders arrested.

The United States, in the person of ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, has also supported a Saudi claim that Iran supplied a missile that Yemeni rebels allegedly fired at Riyadh.

Prince Salman has branded Saturday's apparently intercepted ballistic missile strike a "direct military aggression" on Iran's behalf, and Riyadh claims the right to respond.

Mogherini was cautious on the Saudi crackdown and mass arrests, saying that Europe would support any moves to fight corruption and modernize the kingdom's economy.

But she would not comment on Trump's enthusiastic tweeted support for Prince Salman, including his "harshly treating" figures who had been "milking" their country.

Instead, she noted that the European Union and Canada were among "very few" governments that can claim human rights and the rule of law are central to their foreign policy.

"Here, I know, the thinking has gone in a different direction," she added, in an implicit reference to Trump's "America First" approach to world issues.
"Argentines worship friendship... and they were here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of graduating from the same school, of shared lives and dreams," Macri said at the site of the attack.

"Unfortunately, five families were destroyed" in this "cowardly attack," he said, laying a wreath of white flowers at the site alongside his wife.

"But this tragedy must unite us even more, and reaffirm our commitment to peace," said Macri, at the start of a three-day visit to New York.

"We live 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) apart, but we feel a tremendous sense of unity, a deep connection right now, and we share the same heartache, the same grief," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who accompanied the Argentine president.

The remains of the five Argentines killed in the attack arrived in Argentina earlier, en route to their hometown of Rosario for burial.

An Argentine national is also among the 12 people hurt, while four other Argentines -- all from the same group -- survived the attack unscathed.

Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan, is under arrest on terror charges for allegedly carrying out the October 31 attack.

The charging document said he confessed to acting in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group and "felt good about what he had done," even demanding to hang the jihadist organization's flag in his hospital room.
The five men were friends celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation from a prestigious Rosario high school. Eight people in all died in the attack on the day of Halloween.

An Argentine national is also among the 12 people injured, while four other Argentines -- all from the same group -- survived the attack unscathed.

A military honor guard on horseback raised their arms in salute as the funeral cortege made its way under police escort from the airport to the highway leading to Rosario, some 300 kilometers (180 miles) north of the capital.

Also aboard the flight from New York were the four Argentine attack survivors, and relatives of the victims.

In a statement, relatives of the victims pleaded for "love to overcome hatred, and for life to prevail over death."

The remaining friend in the group remains hospitalized in New York.
Ursula von der Leyen sparked the row when she told a German television talk show that "the healthy democratic resistance of the young generation in Poland needs to be supported".

Appearing on the show Thursday, Von der Leyen applauded Poland and the Baltic countries' fight for independence during communism and successful bids to join the European Union.

She also insisted that the countries of that region must not be left out of changes taking place in the EU.

However, Poland has recently faced EU concerns that the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government's controversial court reforms, which have sparked street protests, will erode judicial independence in the former communist state.

Berlin later claimed the minister's comments had been taken out of context.

Ministry spokeswoman Anna Peziol-Wojtowicz told reporters Monday: "The Polish defence ministry considers it unacceptable that a minister of a NATO alliance member is calling the citizens of another state to anti-government activity."

A German defence ministry spokesman said Monday: "I am under the strong impression that the quotes that sparked excitement in Poland at the weekend were ripped out of context and were changed in social media."

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski later appeared to downplay the spat on Monday, saying Warsaw "does not want to start a big political debate".

He repeated however that "a country that is a friend and an ally within EU and NATO should not be disciplined" by German politicians, "especially considering the delicate ties" between the neighbouring countries.

Relations between Poland and the EU and Germany have been strained since German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in August that Berlin could "not stay silent" on EU fears about the rule of law in Poland, calling it a "serious issue".
The dramatic move came after a tense weekend in which Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe -- who were seen as the leading candidates to replace the 93-year-old president -- openly traded barbs.

"The vice president has consistently and persistently exhibited the traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability," Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo told a press briefing in Harare as he announced the removal.

On Saturday Mugabe openly threatened to fire Mnangagwa, accusing him of fanning factionalism to garner support ahead of the ruling ZANU-PF party's special congress due in December, after his wife was booed at a rally.

She shouted back at the hecklers: "If you have been paid to boo me, boo, go ahead... I don't care, I am powerful."

"We are denigrated and insulted in the name of Mnangagwa. Did I make a mistake in appointing him as my deputy?" the president asked the crowd following the incident.

Mugabe has given no indication that he will step down soon. His ZANU-PF party has already named him as its candidate for next year's presidential election.

'We need someone acceptable'

No one has yet been named to replace Mnangagwa as the government's number two and it is not thought it will happen before the party congress next month. The date for the meeting has yet to be released.

Phelekezela Mphoko continues to serve as second vice president.

But the ZANU-PF's powerful youth league quickly endorsed Grace Mugabe to replace Mnangagwa.

"We need someone who is acceptable and with unquestionable loyalty to the party and its principal, the President Comrade R. G. Mugabe," ZANU-PF youth league leader Kudzai Chipanga told journalists. "The only person possessing such qualities is... the first lady."

The main opposition MDC party said that the move showed the government could not be trusted with the country's future.

"ZANU-PF has been reduced to a Mugabe dynasty... We are urging Zimbabweans to join the big opposition tent and confront this collapsing dictatorship," MDC spokesman Obert Gutu told AFP.

Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said that Mnangagwa's sacking would effectively disqualify him from the race to replace the nonagenarian head of state -- leaving Grace in poll position.

"Two years ago it was inconceivable that Grace Mugabe would become deputy president but right now anything is possible," he told AFP.

He warned that powerful figures in Zimbabwe could seek to destabilise the ruling party in protest at the decision to remove Mnangagwa, who was appointed vice president in 2014.

He took over from Joice Mujuru who was axed after Grace Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.

Despite being widely touted as the obvious successor to Mugabe who has led the country for 37 years, Mnangagwa had been accused by Mugabe loyalists of undermining the president and fanning factionalism in the ZANU-PF.

Mnangagwa was last month stripped of his role as justice minister, in a cabinet reshuffle widely considered part of a campaign to reduce his powers and quash opposition within the government.
The French-drafted resolution would extend the mission known as MINUSCA until November 2018 and increase the number of uniformed peacekeepers by 900, to a ceiling of 11,650, along with 2,080 police and 480 military observers.

The question is whether the United States will support a bigger mission in the Central African Republic after pushing for a $600-million cut to the UN peacekeeping budget this year.

Guterres, who last month paid a visit to the country, has said he expected a "positive understanding by all the members of the Security Council including the United States" on the need to shore up the mission.

The council is scheduled to vote on the resolution on November 15.

The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

France intervened militarily to push out the Seleka alliance but the country remains plagued with violence pitting groups competing for control of resources and areas of influence.

Ongoing clashes

The draft resolution expresses the council's "concern at the degradation of the security situation in the southeastern part and the northwestern parts of the CAR due to the ongoing clashes between armed groups."

It condemns widespread human rights violations including sexual violence against women by rebel groups and expresses grave concern over continued allegations of rape by MINUSCA peacekeepers.

During a council meeting on Monday, MINUSCA head Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said the 900 extra peacekeepers "should include highly mobile troops that would provide the force with greater flexibility to rapidly deploy in areas of heightened threat to civilians."

Italian Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, who holds the council presidency in November, told reporters that there was "a fair amount of understanding" that the request for more troops "is a good one."

MINUSCA deployed in 2014 with a strong mandate to protect civilians, but the draft resolution would include language on ensuring the peacekeepers have a "robust posture."
Twenty-three people were detained in the protest on Monday on the city's central Nevsky Prospect, organised by writer Eduard Limonov who heads the Other Russia movement.

Six people were convicted of "holding an unauthorised protest" and "defying police orders" and jailed for terms ranging from eight to 33 days, spokeswoman for the Other Russia Lyubov Shatokhina told AFP.

Others were sentenced to fines, she said.

Other Russia succeeded the banned National-Bolshevik party that had also been created by Limonov.

About fifty protesters walked through Saint Petersburg's streets yelling "Revolution!" and "We don't need oligarchs!" before police moved in to disperse the gathering.

Limonov himself was not at the rally, but his movement's co-chair Andrei Dmitriyev was sentenced to 20 days behind bars, Shatokhina said.

Other Russia is set to hold a rally in the capital Tuesday, after receiving permission from Moscow city hall.

In a separate incident, an Other Russia supporter was arrested on vandalism charges Tuesday for setting fire to a monument to late president Boris Yeltsin in Yekaterinburg, Russian agencies reported.

Hundreds of people were also detained Sunday in the course a different anti-Putin protest in Moscow, called by nationalist Vyacheslav Maltsev who had fled the country amid accusations of extremism.
As we ready to observe Veterans Day Saturday, we're happy to report that our community's mission to put a face to a name for every local soldier lost to the Vietnam War is tantalizingly close to completion.

Thanks to the efforts of relatives, readers, veterans groups, librarians and others, photographs have been found for most of the more than four dozen fallen Vietnam veterans from Rock Island, Henry, Mercer and Whiteside counties who had gone missing from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund virtual Wall of Faces.

But we can't and won't say, "mission accomplished," until we find photos for the last three missing local vets. So once again we're asking resourceful, caring readers to join others who have gone the extra mile to honor these heroes.

Take, for example, Erie High School graduate Larry Steele and his wife Meg. The East Moline couple not only provided us with a yearbook picture of John M. Smith of Albany to add to the wall, they helped us locate family members, and we're hoping to add additional photos to help tell more of his story.

Every veteran who appears on the wall is more than a name. All have a story to tell. It is our duty to honor their lives and to remember their sacrifice on Veterans Day and throughout the year.

We suspect many of our readers haven't had the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Veteran's Wall in Washington, or catch traveling versions which stopped in our community.

The virtual wall offers a good substitute. It's impossible to view even a fraction of the 52,000 photos already collected there and not be moved by the enormity of our nation's and their sacrifice in southeast Asia.

Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of VVMF said three years ago, These men were real people, who had dreams and aspirations just like the rest of us. When you look at them you can truly humanize what The Wall represents.

With the finish line in sight, please take a close look at the updated list of still-missing faces. Perhaps you or someone you know has a photo to share. Perhaps, like Mr. Steele, you went to school with one of these fallen heroes and can help us locate a family member, neighbor or former classmate.

Images can be sent to us at letters@qconline.com or contact the virtual wall directly. Get details at vvmf.org/how-to-submit#sthash.uLzHzCvm.dpuf.

Still missing are:

-- Army PFC Wayne Morris Lenderman of Rock Island was born March 28, 1951. He died Oct. 12, 1969 in Binh Dinh province. According to a post on the site, he is buried at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, WI.

-- Army PFC Leroy Alphus Rost of Moline was born Nov. 11, 1948. He died Nov. 13, 1967 in Kontum Pronvince. According to a post on the site, he is buried at Highland Cemetery, Waynesboro in Wayne County, Tenn.

-- Marine PFC Lawrence Edward Howard of Morrison was born July 31, 1947. He died Sept. 16, 1967 in Quang Nam province. According to an undated and uncredited newspaper clipping posted to website, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Howard, Route 1, Morrison.
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HKL says it expects to sign a contract with the winning bidder by the end of November.

The project will be implemented using an alliance model based on a mutual contract between the two cities, the construction consortium, and the project design team, which comprises Ramboll Finland, Sito, and VR Track.

The double-track line will link Keilaniemi, Otaniemi and Leppavaara in Espoo with Haaga, Pakila, and Oulunkyla in northern Helsinki before terminating at Itakeskus in the east.

The 33-station line will closely follow the route of Line 550, Helsinki's busiest bus line, with peak services operating at three-minute intervals.

The total budget for the line is 275m excluding rolling stock, with construction costs estimated to be between 205m and 225m.

Funding is being provided by the cities of Helsinki and Espoo and the Finnish government, which committed 84m to the project in April 2016.

HKL awarded Skoda Transportations Finnish subsidiary Transtech a contract to supply 29 Artic low-floor LRVs for the line in November 2016.

Construction is expected to begin in 2019.
Trials are expected to begin shortly after the delivery of the first train to the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) depot in the second week of December.

Scheduled to open in April 2018, the 29.7km line will serve 22 stations, including 13-at-grade, seven elevated and two underground stations. Trains will operate at a commercial speed of 35km/h with services running at 5-10-minute headways. The project has an overall budget of Rs 50.5bn ($US 775m).

CRRC Nanjing Puzhen was awarded a Rs 8.4bn ($US 121m) contract in March 2016 to supply 19 four-car trains, each capable of accommodating up to 1034 passengers. In the initial phase of operations, NMRC will require 11 trains to operate the timetable.

NMRC says it expects to receive trains at 15-day intervals from December onwards.

According to NMRC officials 98% of civil works have been completed, with only seven of the lines 2500 girders still to be lifted.
New Columbia, Penn., was the site of a celebration for the Union County Industrial Railroad and GAF Materials Corp., as the latter hosted an inaugural railcar ribbon cutting at its new roofing materials facility along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Local elected officials, Chambers of Commerce, and other area leaders joined in at the event, which culminated a near-two year process to bring the industrial customer to central Pennsylvania. GAF Plant Manager Joe Gregory and his staff welcomed around 30 dignitaries to the new facility, which included speakers Miranda Ritter, GAF Human Resources Manager; Lauren Bryson, FOCUS Central Pa. Executive Director, and Joe Kantz, UCIR Business and Development Manager.

Union County Industrial is an affiliate of the North Shore Railroad Co., Railway Ages 2017 Short Line Railroad of the Year. Formed in 1995, the 18.2-mile short line interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Northumberland and Canadian Pacific Railway in Sunbury.

Kantz and UCIR Chief Marketing Officer Todd Hunter first met GAFs North East Rail Manager at a rail conference in Rhode Island in October 2015. We just happened to share a lunch and after that, many emails, phone calls, and site visits ensued, Hunter said. We are happy to have GAF here in our area and look forward to serving them as one of our many valued customers.

Headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., GAF purchased the former New Columbia Joist plant in 2016 and began renovations. When completed, the facility will manufacture two different roofing products utilizing automation throughout its production facilities. Twenty-six employees have already been hired  23 locally  and the company is looking to hire an additional 26 employees over the next couple months, with a starting rate of $21 per hour.

Gregory said the company had looked at five other sites before settling on New Columbia, and Bryson spoke of the importance of having that type of building in the for-sale inventory in the area, to attract new businesses. With all of these critical location requirements, we are thrilled and appreciative that GAF has chosen our region for its investment and future, said Bryson. Most importantly we appreciate GAF bringing quality careers opportunities for families of Central Pennsylvania.

Kantz added that GAF will bring in 30 to 40 contractors every month as they become certified installers of its TPO roofing system, meaning more money spent at area hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.

My guess is that once they see the beauty of this area and the attractions, some of them will return with their families for vacation.
Ex-penitentiary deputy director put in detention on suspicion of taking $2 mln bribes

ST. PETERSBURG, November 7 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  The Smolninsky District Court of St. Petersburg has ordered the detention of ex-deputy director of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Nikolay Barinov suspected of taking about 110 million rubles (about $2 million) in bribes, according to the Unified press office of St. Petersburg courts.

Barinov petitioned for under house arrest or release on a 3-million-ruble bail, the press service told RAPSI. However, the court granted investigators motion and put the suspect in detention until December 31.

According to investigators, between May 2007 and December 2012, the suspect, acting as the FSIN deputy director and supervisor of building a detention facility in St. Petersburg, regularly received bribes from top managers of firms engaged in the construction.

In particular, he promised two businessmen, Ruslan Khamkhokov and Viktor Kudrin, to assist in execution of necessary documents on rendered services for the money reward in the amount of not less than 12% of each funds transfer of funds allocated for the work performance to the companies accounts. The construction companies heads transferred the money through ex-deputy chief of the FSIN St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region directorate Sergey Moiseyenko.

Allegedly, Barinov received around 110 million rubles in total.

Khamkhokov and Kudrin, who stand charged with corruption and economic crimes, as well as Moiseyenko charged with bribery and murder organization, have been earlier put in detention.
Russian citizen sentenced to 5 years in prison for attempt to join ISIS

MOSCOW, November 7 (RAPSI) - The North Caucasus District Military Court has sentenced a 29-year old man to 5 years in prison for preparing to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization prohibited in Russia, the Krasnodar Territorys prosecutors office reports on its website.

The court found that in February 2017, a resident of the Krasnodar Territory embracing extremist ideas attempted to enter Turkey through Georgia for joining ISIS and participation in terrorist activities in Syria. His criminal intent was stopped by law enforcement officers in Russia.

The Islamic State, an organization which is prohibited in Russia, is currently one of the major threats to global security. Over three years, these terrorists have managed to seize large areas of Iraq and Syria. Currently, various forces combat the organization in both countries with battle for Iraqi Mosul as one of the most crucial directions.
Two former regional ministers get prison terms for abuse of office

MOSCOW, November 7 (RAPSI)  A court has sentenced former ministers of the Omsk region Rita Fomina and Oleg Ilyushin to 2 and 6 years in prison respectively for abuse of power that caused a 1.3-billion-ruble damage ($22 million), the Investigative Committees press service reports Tuesday.

Investigators and court found that former regional minister of transport system development Ilyushin acting in the interests of the Mostovik construction firm intentionally issued two illegal written directives as part of government contracts on construction of a road and hydroelectric complex in the region and violated provisions of state contracts and government procurement legislation in December 2013.

In 2014, Ilyushin conspired with ex-regional finance minister Fomina gave 205 million rubles ($3.5 million) of budget funds to Mostovik on the request of ex-CEO of the company Oleg Shishov as an advance under a construction contract. The company has not fulfilled the obligations under the agreement and has not returned the money.

The defendants caused a 1.3-billion-ruble damage to the region, investigators claim.

Shishov was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison for evading 500 million rubles of taxes ($8.5 million) in September 2016. He pleaded guilty and requested his case to be reviewed under a special procedure envisaging no examination of evidence.
Russian government commission approves bill on volunteer activity

MOSCOW, November 7 (RAPSI)  Russian governments commission on legislative activity has approved a bill on volunteering, a statement of the cabinet of ministers reads on Tuesday.

The bill is supposed to establish uniform approach to regulation of volunteering. The document is codifying status of volunteer organizations, organizers of volunteer activity and volunteers as well as listing requirements for said organizations and persons.

Authors of the bill propose to expand legal grounds of volunteer activity that can be codified in civil contracts between volunteers and beneficiaries or legal entities. The bill regulates powers and code of conduct for authorities in sphere of support of volunteer organizations.

According to the governments statement, these changes will increase legal security of volunteers by providing them with additional guarantees.
Forget Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, just a few of the countries in which Saudi Arabia is fighting a proxy war with Iran, its long-time enemy. The Saudi royal family now appears to be at war with itself. Regardless of who wins, the conflict could destabilize Saudi Arabia, which was already weakening anyway.

Palace Intrigue

Whats happening in the country is the definition of palace intrigue. The king, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, took the throne in January 2015 following the death of his half brother, Abdullah, a son of the nations founder who had ruled the country for two decades. It was a relatively straightforward succession. Its now common knowledge that it took a behind-the-scenes power struggle for King Salman to crown his son, Mohammed bin Salman, a prince and name him his chosen successor. But on Nov. 4, the power struggle became brazenly public. That day, Salman and his son had more than a dozen princes and former high-level officials arrested, including a world-famous billionaire. The reason for their detention is simple: Salman is trying to remove obstacles that could prevent Mohammed bin Salman from succeeding him.

King Salman is the first monarch in the history of the modern kingdom to buck this particular tradition. Usually, a successor is chosen by consensus among the sons of the founder of the kingdom. But now that the second generation is nearly all dead, and now that there are too many third-generation princes to convene, it has become more difficult to choose who will become the next king.

He has bucked other traditions too. Salman has strengthened his sons claim by bestowing on him sweeping powers over security and economic affairs. Mohammed bin Salman is the defense minister, the head of a strategic economic council, controller of Saudi Aramco and, after Nov. 4, the chief of an anti-corruption agency. And Salman did all this by removing from power his half brother and his nephew, both of whom were crown princes. He has also sidelined powerful members of the clerical and tribal establishments.

Some rumors suggest that the purges were made in response to a plot against Mohammed bin Salman. Its unclear if that is actually the case. But whether the rumors are true or whether the arrests were pre-emptive, the outcome is the same: There are fewer threats to a Mohammed bin Salman reign. One of the princes arrested, Mitab bin Abdullah, for example, was the minister of the National Guard  the parallel military force to the regular armed forces under the Ministry of Defense. He and Mohammed bin Salman shared responsibility for Saudi Arabias armed forces. Until Nov. 4, that is.

Mitabs brother, Turki bin Abdullah, was also arrested. (He was removed from his post as governor of Riyadh in 2015, the year King Salman took the throne.) Perhaps the most famous target was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. He is an entrepreneur who is mostly disinterested in politics, but his father is a known liberal who opposed Salman as king and now opposes Mohammed bin Salman as his successor.

Facing the Facts

Arresting these individuals accomplishes two things. First, it guarantees their capitulation to Mohammed bin Salman. Second, it gives the Salman faction more mileage out of the anti-corruption drive. Between that and their calls for a more moderate version of Islam, the king and his son are moving away from the traditional sources of support (clerics and tribal establishments) and toward new ones: popular appeal among the countrys youth, which makes up about two-thirds of the population. The old guard is an obstacle for the reforms needed to move the kingdom beyond its current impasse  put simply: depending almost solely on oil revenue  and thus a threat for the leadership. They are using populism to inoculate themselves from the potential consequences of their power grab.

In the process, though, they are inadvertently laying the foundations for the next crisis. Relying on popular support means they will be forced to enact more reforms than they actually want to  or are even capable of. Despots who try to be populists usually end up being neither and, in their failure, lose power.

It is too early to tell what will be the outcome of the power struggle. Whoever comes out on top will be unable to ignore the fact: that Saudi Arabia is a country in decline, largely because of low oil prices but also because of the general disarray in the Middle East. In this context, then, the events of Nov. 4 are more than petty power grabs  they are attempts to make the country pliable enough to accept necessary reform at a time of increasing regional chaos.

The kingdom cannot both change its nature and hope to meet the external challenges at the same time. It has to consolidate at home before it can act effectively beyond its borders. But this sequence of priorities is not a luxury that the Saudis enjoy. Their historical enemies the Iranians are gaining ground, and they cannot simply focus on domestic politics.

Take, for example, another thing that happened Nov. 4. The leader of Riyadhs main proxy in Lebanon, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, resigned after criticizing Iranian interference in his country. By having Hariri pull out of the coalition government in Lebanon, the Saudis hope to weaken Irans premier proxy, Hezbollah, which benefits from the coalition government in Beirut. But its a weak and probably ineffective move. Now that the Islamic State is weakened, Iran has the advantage in Iraq and Syria.

Riyadhs inability to deal with external threats, if anything, will only intensify its domestic ones. Even though the king and his son have the upper hand, an inability to effectively counter the Iranian threat could weaken their position at home and thus aggravate the infighting.
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Finance ministers from Congress-ruled states say they have alerted the Centre about the problems in GST for several months, but it is only now with the Gujarat assembly election around the corner that the Modi regime has started heeding these suggestions.

Archis Mohan reports.

Finance ministers from Congress-run states will demand an overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax at the next GST Council meet in Guwahati on Friday, November 10.

These ministers will make specific suggestions to the Narendra D Modi government to provide succour to the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector, and give tax exemptions to those working in such industries, including jewellery, leather, textiles and bicycles.

The FMs said they have been flagging the problems in the GST regime for several months, but it is only now with criticism on the ground and the Gujarat assembly election around the corner that the Centre had started to pay heed to these suggestions.

"Still, the changes being made are too little, too late. The economy has entered a dark alley with no exit," Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said.

Congress finance ministers, Badal said, will not make suggestions to score political points, but to improve the indirect tax regime.

GST meetings are minuted and the Congress suggestions made at the Srinagar and Hyderabad meetings are on record, the ministers added.

The Congress believes the Centre has not lived up to the ideal of 'cooperative federalism' that Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have frequently espoused, particularly in the context of the GST Council being an example of pooled sovereignty of states.

Karnataka Finance Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said all voices should be heard in the GST Council.

"Voices and suggestions should be heard on merit, not on size. That is the real spirit of cooperative federalism and the GST Council," Gowda said.

The Congress, along with other Opposition-run state governments, does not have the numbers to push an amendment through voting.

But Badal said the party didn't want to force any issue to a vote, even if to make a symbolic statement.

"The GST Council is not a Vidhan Sabha. I hope it never comes to a vote," Badal said.

The Congress will also suggest that number of tax returns that businesses need to file be rationalised.

"Currently, a taxpayer needs to file 37 returns a month if they run their businesses in each state and Union Territory, which in a year comes to 1,332 returns," Badal said.

The Congress also sees a problem with the compensation being paid to the state governments.

Gowda said initially it was estimated that only seven or eight states would require compensation.

But in the first cycle comprising the first two months of the regime, nearly all states had required compensation.

"There is no clarity if the government will manage the shortfall, or raise other taxes," the ministers stated.

They said they will raise the issues that the textile, tourism and constructions sectors are facing.

The party had flagged the problems with the GST Network, as a result the government constituted a group of ministers, it said.

The Congress ministers are not in favour of any Central Bureau of Investigation probe against Infosys -- which created the GSTN -- for glitches in the network.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
On November 7, which marks 100 years of the Russian Revolution, Syed Firdaus Ashraf recalls a conversation he once had on Communism.

November 7, 2017 marks the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution, '10 Days That Shook The World,' as John S Reed, the American journalist who reported on those tumultous events 100 years ago, called it.

The call Karl Marx issued to the 'workers of the world' to unite was first realised when Lenin established a Communist State in Tsarist Russia.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics survived for 74 years till the USSR quickly dissolved into independent nations on December 26, 1991.

As my taxi stopped at a traffic light last week, a child started vigorously knocking on its window, asking for money.

There were several other children like him around, knocking on windows of the many cars waiting at the traffic light.

And then there were children frantically running from vehicle to vehicle to find someone interested in buying the stuff they were selling, mostly flowers.

I observed the child outside my taxi closely.

He had a running nose, uncombed hair, and was wearing an over-sized, torn, t-shirt.

As the traffic light turned green, all the cars sped away. And the kids went back to the kerb, waiting for the red light once again.

What I saw that afternoon I have seen for years.

In these 40 years, only the faces of these children have changed.

India may be on the cusp of being a self-declared economic superpower, but the poor have not disappeared from our streets.

As a teenager, I used to get very angry about the poor in our country.

I wanted answers.

Why were these children forced to beg?

Why were they not going to school like me?

Why were they hungry?

Why was God not helping them?

Then one day, I met my father's friend. 'Uncle', as we respectfully hail our elders in this country, is a hardcore Marxist.

Instead of answering my questions on poverty, he told me, "Let me tell you Firdaus, there is enough food in this world for everyone. Still, people go hungry. You find out why, and then come to meet me."

His reply opened a new box of questions for me: When there is enough food in the world, why are so many people hungry?

What is God doing? Can't He see?

What is our government doing? Why are people poor? And so on.

After a sleepless night, pondering over such questions, I called on 'Uncle' the next day.

What he said turned me into something of a Marxist for several years to come.

"The problem," he said, "lies with the distribution of food."

"In the capitalist system, the rich and bourgeoisie seize all the food as they have money. The poor, on the other hand, are left to die on the streets. The food is not properly distributed and therefore you see those beggars on the streets."

"Why can't the government do something about it?" I asked.

"In a democracy," 'Uncle' asserted, "the government is for the bourgeoisie, by the bourgeoisie and of the bourgeoisie. Only a Communist system can change the situation for which the workers of the world must unite."

"I've read that phrase," I said, "but never understood its meaning."

'Uncle' then enlightened me about Marx and his call to the world's workers.

"The worker uses one part of a labour day to cover the expenses of maintaining himself and his family (by earning wages). During the other part of the day," 'Uncle' said, "the worker toils without remuneration, creating surplus value for the capitalist, the source of profit, the source of the wealth of the capitalist class."

The doctrine of surplus value, 'Uncle' explained, is the cornerstone of Marx's economic theory.

"Till the time the rich don't distribute their surplus value -- or riches -- poverty will never be solved," he said.

"The rich are too greedy to part with their wealth," he said, "so one day the poor, peasants and workers, will have to grab it forcefully."

"That is why," he added, "Marx said, 'Workers of the world unite'."

History, he argued, moves in stages.

"The French Revolution abolished feudalism in favour of the bourgeoisie. And the abolition of bourgeois property will lead to a Communist State which will get rid of poverty."

Quoting Friedrich Engels, Marx's colleague, he said, "Just like Charles Darwin discovered the origin and evolution of species, Marx discovered the evolution of human history."

"Humankind must get food, shelter and clothing before they can pursue politics, science, religion, art etc."

In other words: 'Roti. Kapda. Makaan (Food. Clothing. Shelter).

"You have given many years of your life to Communism," I asked 'Uncle', "do you foresee a future India where there will be no beggars?"

In response, he quoted Sahir Ludhianvi's song, "Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi (That morning will dawn someday)."

"And who," I asked, "will bring that revolutionary change in India?"

'Uncle' turned again to Marx: "Philosophers have only interpreted the world differently; the point is to change it."

"Lenin did it in 1917 by bringing the revolution to Russia. Now, you bring the revolution to India or keep seeing children begging on the streets."

"Me?!!!" I exclaimed. I guess he meant the younger generation.

More than 25 years later, I often recall that conversation when I encounter children begging on the streets.

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green, I feel Communism will never die as long as children beg on the streets.

Photograph: Reuters
What Shekhar Gupta would have liked to know more about from Pranabda:

Why did Sonia prefer Dr Singh to him as PM?

Why did he deny finance first, why did he accept it 5 years later, and why did he make such a mess of it?

How did he force Sonia to nominate him for President and not Hamid Ansari?

And how does he justify that most toxic legacy -- the Vodafone tax amendment?

The history of Pranab Mukherjee's five-decade public life tells you that no one who dared to engage him in an argument has won, and not just because he would never concede one.

His knowledge of political history and evolution, the nuances of the Constitution, and that wonderful thing in governance, 'the precedent', is phenomenal. It is matched only by the network and goodwill he has built through these decades.

I am fully conscious of this while picking up an argument with his latest book, The Coalition Years, published last month to mostly superlative reviews.

The most important thing about his series of political memoirs is that these got written. It may be part of the great democratic tradition around the world -- Barack Obama being the latest on the list -- but in India, it was never born.

Jawaharlal Nehru, our most literary leader, did his writing before coming to power and died in harness.

No top leader has put pen to paper since except P V Narasimha Rao and I K Gujral. Some were not left the time and energy to do so by their advancing years, some didn't just have the scholarship, notes, or even a story to tell.

One who has all three attributes, Dr Manmohan Singh, seems too cautious to go there -- at least yet.

You'd also believe that too many of our public figures are shy of saying something substantive because they still have their horses in the race, mostly their offspring, in a dynastic profession.

It is creditable, therefore, that Mukherjee or Pranabda, or simply Dada, has produced this body of work, three full volumes and a fourth on his Presidential years expected next.

These are invaluable in simply documenting our political history, but also flawed in concealing too much and talking too often in bureaucratic cipher, cryptography, and semaphore.

It was understandable in the first two volumes. These were published while he was still in Rashtrapati Bhavan and was bound by its maryada. Now, this excuse wasn't available.

But that is only the first and the gentler of our quibbles.

The larger and tougher point is how he has used his latest for self-justification on too many contentious issues and decisions in the United Progressive Alliance decade, and also for blaming some of his peers by innuendo. We would have expected greater clarity and candour from him.

Here is my list of the turning points involving Pranabda in the UPA's 10 years that we would have loved more clarity on:

Why did Sonia Gandhi prefer Manmohan Singh to him as prime minister and how did he cope with that?

Why did he deny finance first up, why did he accept it five years later, and why did he make such a mess of it?

How did he outmanoeuvre Sonia and force her to nominate him for President and not Hamid Ansari?

And how does he justify leaving that most toxic legacy of the (Vodafone) retrospective tax amendment?

He does address these but mostly skirts around them.

He claims he had told Sonia in 2004 he didn't want finance.

Then why did he accept it in 2009, especially since his reason for ruling it out in 2004 was that 'Manmohan Singh and I held differing views on economic issues'?

He is at his most candid, even cutting best, explaining his economic philosophy.

He says on his differences with P Chidambaram: 'While I was conservative and believed in reforms as...gradual transformation of the economy -- a controlled regime. He is a pro-liberalisation and pro-market economist.'

Elsewhere, he takes Chidambaram apart for earning fame for his 1997 'dream' Budget, but getting his numbers all wrong.

So he pre-emptively refused finance in 2004 because he fundamentally disagreed with Manmohan Singh.

And yet, five years later, happily (there is no hint of reluctance in his account), he accepted the same ministry, succeeding Chidambaram, with whom too he had differed with.

This is troublesome. Because his stint in finance was a disaster, growth stalled, and hasn't really recovered since.

All the initiatives he took or pursued (Financial Stability and Development Council, Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission, Direct Taxes Code, Government Debt Management Office) remained incomplete.

He makes no secret of his disagreements with the then Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr D Subbarao, who 'had been thrust upon me'.

It is evident that he wanted to create a super-regulator in the finance ministry and thus change the power balance in India's monetary and economic regulatory institutions that Manmohan Singh disagreed with (Pranabda's account).

Yet, he persisted, and any surprise then that his failure in all these pursuits was spectacular.

He avoids talking about some key events.

The most important is the scams and the funny goings-on between his office and the prime minister's over the 2G scam.

He does himself a disservice by writing a 278 page book without mentioning Baba Ramdev when his biggest misstep as finance minister was going to Delhi airport to meet him on the black money issue.

It was among the biggest humiliations for the UPA in that phase.

To Dada-watchers it was a big surprise that he fell for such a nonsensical trap of some busybody hangers-on.

An inside out reading of his account would give the other side of his brilliant career.

He was denied what he sees as his due too many times: Prime ministership by the Gandhi family's inside operators after Indira Gandhi's assassination; again in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi who didn't trust him with the home ministry, which he would have preferred; then, the Presidency in 2007 and almost again in 2012, when he pulled out all his guile and goodwill to leave her no choice.

There is the odd hidden gem that tells us Dada is also human -- like his walking away from a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on June 2, 2012, with the 'vague impression' that she would elevate Manmohan Singh to Rashtrapati Bhavan and make him prime minister instead.

This was because: 'I had heard a rumour that she had given this formulation serious thought while on a holiday in Kaushambi Hills.'

And then Sonia Gandhi turned the knife by telling him, after he had admonished Sushma Swaraj and restored sanity in the Lok Sabha, 'This is why you can't be President.'

There is more. M J Akbar, he says, was 'working hard to further the cause of my Presidential nomination' (in the Bharatiya Janata Party, of course).

He came to meet Pranabda on May 27, 2012, told him about his informal discussions with L K Advani and Jaswant Singh, and 'insisted that both of them were supportive'.

He says he had hoped this could make his election unanimous. Now nobody knows if he told his party that he was also engaging with the BJP for support. How they would have reacted you can guess.

Pranabda tells us later how Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel were mad with him for meeting Balasaheb Thackeray to thank him for support despite her disapproval.

Since Pranabda's tone is so consistently preachy and he keeps saying that he is an 'organisation man', it is fair to ask if all this was fully Congress-like in 2012.

His longest lasting and, unfortunately, negative legacy is the retrospective tax amendment, which he persisted with despite persuasion from Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Chidambaram, and Kapil Sibal, as he says.

He also says that a senior 'colleague' came to his house with a top Vodafone official, but again doesn't tell us who, so we can name our usual suspect through his innuendo.

He takes pride in the fact that in the past five years no finance minister has been able to repeal it.

But none has gone ahead to recover the money either, and Vodafone is on its way out of India in disgust.

So everybody's the loser, except the cause of bad old statism.

But didn't he tell us early enough that he preferred a 'controlled regime'?

Why he had to recreate one under a prime minister who had dismantled it in 1991 we will need a less partisan biographer to find out.

By special arrangement with ThePrint

IMAGE: Former President Pranab Mukherjee and former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the launch of The Coalition Years. Photograph: Kind courtesy @CitiznMukherjee/Twitter
'Anything that is anti-growth is demonised because growth is the biggest religion.'

'Growth has become synonymous with progress, well being, comfort.'

'Actually, it is the opposite. Growth is what has caused environmental damage, depleted ground water.'

'Exponential growth is cancer.'

Part 1: The hit filmmaker who left it all to tend cows

IMAGE: Mansoor Khan at his farm stay in Coonoor. He left the success of Bollywood behind for a quieter life. Photographs: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com

Mansoor Khan made two of Hindi cinema's most adorable films -- Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, made a couple of other films, then turned his back on Bollywood.

He abandoned showbusiness and the city to begin life on a farm in Coonoor 15 years ago.

He has nurtured the farm in the hills into a green paradise. An assortment of trees, plants, birds thrive and flourish.

Elephants, porcupines, the barking deer come by to visit.

Khan and his wife Tina also have 12 cows that graze freely and provide milk for their small cheese business. The couple runs a home stay and gives lessons in cheese-making.

Khan is a persuasive evangelist for saving the planet and brings out the horrors of civilisation's excess evocatively. "I'm sorry I'm hijacking your interview with my views, but this is me," he says.

"People tell me just because you say it people are not going to change. I say to hell with it, just because people don't want to hear it, doesn't mean I won't say it."

"Just because I can't remove the iceberg doesn't mean it is not coming!"

Mansoor Khan discussed his passion for Planet Earth with Rediff.com's Archana Masih and made sure she listened.

In the place that you have here and have built, what are some of the things you are proud of?

I am against the word 'proud'. Like when they say you should be proud of your child, proud of your country. Nationalism is a very powerful drug.

Pride is not a good thing. I am compassionate about my country and love my country.

I am not proud, but happy and content that I was able to do some small things -- not using pesticides, removing mono crops, trying to grow multiple kind of trees, rain water harvesting, solar water heating, making our own bricks, a gobar gas plant.

India is one of the leading countries in gobar gas technology, but since it is considered low tech it does not get much publicity.

Our government is doing a lot of good things at a lower level like giving incentives for gobar gas.

WATCH: Mansoor Khan explains why our understanding of the world is inverted.

You dropped out of some of the best colleges in India and America. What is wrong with our education?

Our schools are instructional places for industrial manufacture. They have nothing to do with enlightenment or sensitivity or holistic thought.

Our education system consciously trains people not to connect dots. Connecting dots makes you a holistic thinker, which is anti-religious to industrial thinking.

Sustainable growth is an oxymoron. We have dumbed down generations through our industrial education system.

Anything that is anti-growth is demonised because growth is a religion. It is the biggest religion. The primary reason you vote for somebody is if he brings growth.

Growth has become synonymous with progress, well being, comfort. Actually it is the opposite.

Growth is what has caused environmental damage, has depleted ground water.

Exponential growth is cancer. And you have embedded that in your financial thinking.

People don't understand the correlation between growth and energy.

Energy is the key resource. Energy is shakti.

Energy makes the earth spin, the grassland to grow.

Energy defines what is possible.

How do you apply your beliefs to everyday life?

In my own way, the most honest and useful thing I can do is to share this perspective.

I am not trying to change the world. This 'change the world' is a bit arrogant.

People say just because you say it, people are not going to change. I say to hell with it, just because people don't want to hear it, doesn't mean I won't say it.

Just because I can't remove the iceberg doesn't mean it is not coming!

Civilisation is an amazingly stupid culture. Amazingly dumb.

IMAGE: Cows graze on Mansoor Khan's farm stay. There are 12 cows. The milk is used to make cheese.

Your thoughts about the depletion of earth's resources -- is that what your book The Third Curve is about?

A sliver of it. We are the viruses on the planet. We think we are the most 'evolved' culture on the planet; (that) we are at the pinnacle of evolution, but life is not a pyramid.

The model of a pyramid is hierarchical. We have a hierarchical, linear, symbolic view of everything.

My book is about money, energy and economics.

What is your grassroot belief in modern economics, tell me.

Progress. Money. Growth?

Yes, growth.

We need a completely new understanding that perpetual growth is impossible.

Growth happens because of cheap energy and without energy there is no growth.

The idea of perpetual growth is embedded in modern economics. Can anything grow forever?

No.

Then why do we believe in it?

Money is a token of exchange. What actually runs the world is energy.

Economics is a bogus field. Energy is the real field.

Everything runs on energy principles, and you cannot fudge them because they are embedded in the laws of thermodynamics.

The arrogance of human intellect makes you believe that we can solve any problem. But this is not a problem. It is a predicament.

The laws of geology are a predicament. The laws of thermodynamics are a predicament. You can't circumvent it.

It sounds very alarming...

We are living on stored energy. On fossil fuels.

Pre 1750, the world used to run on sunlight.

The sunlight collected for 500 million years became two trillion barrels of oil -- and we have burnt half of that in 250 years.

The corporates are facing the pain today. Layoffs are happening, banks and countries are going bust.

India has non performing assets of Rs 8 lakh crores! Actually it will be much more.

We are living in a floating world. And that is why the next crash is eminent.

A culture that understands reality through symbols is going to have a shallow view.

It has allowed us to bulldoze all of reality. To cut whole mountains, dam rivers and remove communities for it.

IMAGE: Cheese is kept on wooden shelves. Different kinds of cheese are made at the small unit.

And got our planet into a crisis?

All of earth behaves in a bell curve. We have reached the peak.

We are facing the geological limits of the planet. This is fundamental and we don't accept it.

We are infinity lovers and mind worshippers.

That's how America was taken over. The 400-year White Man's history peaks with the landing on the moon, but no one gives any credit to those Native Americans who preserved that continent for thousands of years.

Is it true you put all your savings into starting this farm stay?

We put in a fair amount of money, not all, thankfully. This just about pays back for its running.

We will probably never recover the capital cost, the way we run it.

Also, we wanted to make this place more accessible to more people. We didn't want it only for the elite, but for an average family.

We serve home style food, don't change the bed sheets every day, no clockwork room service.

Once in a while, we have had guests who automatically expected a change of sheets every day, we do that for them, but I find that a bit odd.

What were the challenges?

The challenges were not that of building this up. The real challenge is that the Tamil Nadu government gives no incentive to a home stay, which Kerala does. So our electricity is commercial, we have to obtain 12 licenses every year.

We have five rooms for which we need 12 licenses!

Apart from this hassle, we get joy from the fact that people genuinely like the place, we get a chance to interact with interesting people.

Tina has taught over 200 people how to make cheese. We have been featured on our own strength in flight magazines, National Geographic, travel magazines. We have not pushed for it. This is what I believe is advertisement at a genuine level.

We don't advertise. I believe people should discover my place.

IMAGE: A panaromic view of the farm stay. The 22 acres are covered with trees and plants.

2017 marks 70 years of India's freedom, how far do you think we have come?

We are going down a tunnel and we don't know where the end is.

We are going to hit our head against that wall called 'limits'. Western countries have already faced this mess.

India is blazing down this tunnel. Every given moment the intrinsic traditional understanding of its people is being erased.

The poor average villager's traditional knowledge has been ignored. He was told he needed pesticides, fertilisers.

It made his soil harder and he needed a bulldozer each time to till it. It's a downward spiral.

Masanobu Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution is a wonderful book on modern agriculture versus natural agriculture.

He says modern agriculture is an outward spiral, where from nothing you need a lot. While in natural farming it is the opposite. It is a brilliant, beautiful, book.

Who are the people you admire?

I admire him (Masanobu Fokuoka). Medha Patkar. I don't believe in idol worship or celebrityship. I admire them, but I won't worship them.

There are many thinkers in small pockets that you need to go out and discover.

You won't find them in environmental magazines, definitely not in the mainstream media.
Padmavati is facing fresh trouble in Rajasthan as film distributors have said that they will not buy its distribution rights unless a controversy surrounding the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed movie is resolved.

Starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the film is slated for release on December 1.

Various Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, have threatened to disrupt the screening of the movie, accusing Bhansali of distorting historical facts.

Karni Sena and other Rajput community leaders are protesting against the film over alleged distortion of historical facts. We are also against the distortion of historical facts and will purchase the distribution rights only after the controversy is settled, said Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor.

Let them reach an amicable solution, then only we will purchase the rights of the film, he said.

Another distributor, Sanjay Chatar, said that the filmmaker and those objecting to the film should settle the controversy first.

There should be no distortion of historical facts in the film, he said.

There are over 300 screens in the state.

Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Diya Kumari too joined in the chorus against the film.

I will not allow any distortion of the valiant history of Rajasthan & sacrifice of its people in fighting barbarians by movie #Padmavati, Diya Kumari, who hails from the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, said on Twitter.

Bhansali has been facing trouble since the beginning as the sets of the movie were vandalised and the director was slapped by some members of the Karni Sena in the beginning of this year.

The set of the movie was again vandalised in Kolhapur, with the miscreants burning the costumes in March this year.

Bhansali and his team have repeatedly assured that there are no romantic scenes between Rani Padmavati, played by Deepika Padukone, and Alauddin Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh.

There is no romantic scene or dream sequence between #Padmavati & #AlauddinKhilji in @FilmPadmavati, Shoba Sant, CEO Bhansali Productions tweeted recently.

Photograph: @deepikapadukone/Twitter
The BJP is the frontrunner, but incumbent Virbhadra Singh is the most popular chief ministerial candidate.

Aditi Phadnis reports.

Recent election surveys have thrown up surprising conclusions about the Himachal Pradesh election, due on November 9.

The India Today-Axis survey conclusions are that while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the government in the state, it is the current Congress incumbent, Virbhadra Singh, who is the most popular chief ministerial candidate.

How could this be? Not so hard to understand.

For one thing, Singh belongs to Kangra, the region that sends the largest complement of seats to the legislative assembly (16 of the 68). The district also has a quarter of the state's population.

Veteran BJP leader and former chief minister Shanta Kumar belongs to Kangra. In the 2012 state polls, the Congress won 10 seats in Kangra, followed by the BJP at three.

The other districts that have a significant number of assembly seats are Mandi (10) and Shimla (8). Together, they can swing the election for any political party.

While the BJP's slogan is 'Hisaab mange Himachal (Himachal seeks accountability)', the Congress' slogan is 'Jawab dega Himachal (Himachal will respond)'.

Corny as they may sound, the slogans are being discussed widely as part of the election discourse.

The only thing is, this election represents the shortest-ever campaign period although the Model Code of Conduct will stay in force for the longest stretch ever.

While the poll code will remain enforced for 69 days up to December 20 (till the government is formed after results are declared on December 18), parties and candidates have got 12 days for campaigning.

The campaigning ends today, November 7.

During the 2012 elections, the code was enforced on October 3, the filing of nominations commenced on October 10, the last date of withdrawal was October 20, while the polling was held on November 4, and 13 days were given for campaigning.

Judging by the difficulty both the Congress and the BJP have had in announcing their list of candidates, a truncated campaign period is probably not such a bad thing. Both parties have been racked by internal squabbles.

While Virbhadra Singh is intensely unpopular in his own party -- possibly owing to the fact that he has been around for so long, he has dwarfed the development and growth of a second-generation leadership in the Congress -- the BJP is no better.

Recently people were witness to an unedifying scrap between Anurag Thakur -- former chief minister P K Dhumal's son and the BJP's chief ministerial nominee -- and J P Nadda (who has come in for lavish public praise from Prime Minister Narendra D Modi at meetings).

The issue was the location of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which Thakur insisted must be in his Lok Sabha constituency, Hamirpur.

How much factionalism and sabotage can damage the outcome is clear from a factoid.

In the 2012 assembly election, 105 candidates contested as Independents and took away 410,393 votes, which were 12.14 per cent of the votes polled.

Five Independents even won.

In the last election, there was a tough contest in eight assembly seats in which the victory margin was fewer than 800 votes.

The issues are diffuse. Himachal Pradesh has a very large population of government servants.

The primary occupation is agriculture and the politics of setting a purchase price for apples is a major election issue.

Farmers say they don't get a fair price for their fruit and are asking the government to lobby with the Centre to increase the rate of duty on imported apples.

Delay in subsidies is another contentious issue, with farmers waiting for relief since their subsidy claims of 2013-2014.

Like the rest of the country, demonetisation and the goods and services tax are major poll issues in Himachal Pradesh.

Cash ban and the tax reform have hit small traders and migrant workers in the state. The traders could tilt the vote in the ruling Congress' favour as the party continues to target the government on this issue.

The Himachal Pradesh campaign and election might not draw as much national attention as the one in Gujarat. But for a small state that has had its share of administrative successes (especially in education) and failures (in the employment field), it is an interesting poll exercise to monitor the issues that move people politically.

IMAGE: Women with Modi masks at an election rally in Sunder Nagar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Photograph: PTI Photo
Countrywide protests in the form of processions, rallies and candle-light marches are being planned by the Congress and other Opposition parties to mark the first demonetisation anniversary on Wednesday, as their leaders would observe it as black day.

The Congress, which described the note ban decision as the biggest scam and the largest government-abetted money laundering scheme, has asked all its state units to organise protests, processions and marches to mark the day.

It has also asked all its leaders to participate in such protests and strongly highlight the demerits of the decision, which it said is a colossal and completely avoidable failure.

The leaders have also been asked to take out their protests with Desh Bhugat Raha hai and India suffers as the central theme for the day, besides organising press conferences and aggressively participating in TV debates to ensure good publicity.

While Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will interact with traders in Surat, the hub of diamond industry in poll-bound Gujarat, other top leaders will participate in protests in Delhi and all state capitals. Gandhi will later lead a candlelight march in Surats Chowk Bazar area.

The Congress, on its website, also put out an article on demonetisation, dubbing it as a Modi-Made Disaster.

Even the undeclared emergency in Indias newsrooms have failed to contain the news spreading like wildfire through India. Demonetisation was a colossal and completely avoidable failure and the largest government-abetted money laundering scheme in history, the article said.

It further alleged that demonetisation failed to curb black money as 99 per cent of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were returned. This was expected as black money is not usually stored in currency, but property, bullion and more easily convertible currency like dollars.

It said note ban failed to stem terror attacks and insurgency as there were 23 more attacks in Kashmir after the announcement. It didnt tackle the counterfeit problem, given only 0.0013 per cent of the notes returned were fake.

The truth is the prime minister expected to make a tidy profit of 4 lakh crore from dispossessing those who werent able to exchange their notes. Instead, 21,000 crore rupees of our tax money was squandered on printing notes, while only 16,000 crore were left unclaimed, the article said.

According to the Opposition, the decision to ban currency notes of higher denomination was totally ill-conceived and had bad effect on the economy and the poor and downtrodden of the country have suffered most.

It said that hundreds of people died while standing in queues and thousands suffered and the impact of demonetisation has been so bad that lakhs of workers lost their jobs and thousands of small and medium scale industries have shut.

As part of the black day observance, the Congress will organise processions and rallies across the country during the day while carrying placards and banners.

When the clock strikes 8 in the evening, coinciding with the prime ministers announcement last year, candle light processions in every state capital will be taken out to pay homage to those who lost their lives due to demonetisation.

Image: Congress workers stage a protest against the BJP government on the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation in Mulund, Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo
#FIFA World Cup Captain Son Heung-min willing to risk health for fans It would be too risky for any athlete to return to competition less than a month after suffering facial fractures. But Son Heung-min, the beloved captain of the South Korean men's ...
Title Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Right to respect for private and family life

Publication Date 31 August 2020

Cite as Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Right to respect for private and family life, 31 August 2020, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a016ebe4.html [accessed 16 November 2022]

Comments For other languages, see the website of the ECtHR.
Freedom of the Press 2017 - United Kingdom

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - United Kingdom, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a20e26.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Free

Total Score: 25/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 9/30

Political Environment: 9/40

Economic Environment: 7/30

Quick Facts

Population: 65,600,000

Freedom in the World Status: Free

Net Freedom Status: Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 92.0%

Key Developments in 2016:

In November, Parliament passed the Investigatory Powers Act, which codified existing, controversial surveillance practices that could compromise journalists' ability to keep their sources confidential, and discourage investigative journalism.

In September, authorities confiscated the passport of a Syrian journalist, apparently at the request of the Syrian government.

A new charter governing the public British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) shifted regulation of the broadcaster from an internal trust to the official broadcast regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). It also contained a controversial provision requiring the BBC to disclose the names of staff who draw annual salaries of greater than 150,000 ($200,000).

An unpopular print regulator was granted official status via a royal charter, raising the possibility that publishers who do not register with it could face financial penalties when involved in media-related court cases.

Executive Summary

The United Kingdom (UK) is home to a largely open and pluralistic media environment where journalists may operate freely, without fear of attack or serious extralegal harassment. The country has a strong tradition of editorially independent public broadcasting. Private outlets generally maintain their independence from political pressure and convey a range of views, but a few large companies control a disproportionate number of these outlets. Press regulation is still in flux six years after a phone-hacking scandal involving the News of the World prompted an extensive government inquiry that gave way to a yet unresolved standoff between publishers and the government.

Existing concerns about government surveillance of citizens, and of journalists, increased after the November 2016 approval by Parliament of a comprehensive bill that formally gives massive powers to security agencies and, according to critics, does not grant sufficient protection to journalists or their sources. Under the law, authorities are not obligated to inform journalists that they are being surveilled, which could compromise their ability to protect their sources, as well as their ability to ensure their own security when reporting on sensitive topics.

In October, the Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS) was legally recognized as the country's official print regulator, but only about 40 publications have joined it; most instead belong to a self-regulatory body, the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO). The establishment of a royal chartera"approved regulator raises the possibility that officials may invoke Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, through which tough financial penalties can be imposed on publications that fail to register with it.

A new charter governing the BBC was published in December, and will take effect in 2017. Under the document, regulation of the BBC shifted from an internal trust to Ofcom. The charter controversially requires the BBC to disclose which employees draw annual salaries of greater than 150,000, raising concerns that interview subjects could use that information against BBC journalists during interviews.

Separately, in September, authorities confiscated the passport of Zaina Erhaim, a Syrian journalist and critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as she flew into Britain to appear at a literary festival. Allegedly, the Syrian government had reported that Erhaim's passport had been stolen. However, UK authorities did not return the passport to the Syrian government, and Erhaim was able to leave and return to the UK because she had a second passport with a valid visa.

Legal Environment: 9 / 30

The legal framework provides for freedom of the press, and the government generally respects this right in practice. However, several laws that weaken press freedom remain in place. Some provisions of the 2006 Terrorism Act criminalize speech considered to encourage terrorism, even in the absence of a proven link to a terrorist act. The 2006 Racial and Religious Hatred Act criminalized incitement of religious hatred or violence, and using threatening words or displaying or broadcasting any threatening material is considered an offense if the intended purpose is inciting religious hatred. While there have not been relevant cases against media organizations under this legislation, the UK's interpretation of what constitutes hate speech tends to be broad.

A privacy injunction can be sought to prohibit the publication of private or confidential information. On rare occasions in the past, the courts have imposed so-called superinjunctions that forbid the media from reporting on the existence of the injunction itself.

The 2013 Defamation Act redefined the threshold for defamation to include only "serious" harm, shifting the balance between reputation and free speech in favor of the latter. The act also protects website operators, internet service providers, and other intermediaries from being sued based on user-generated content, and establishes that foreigners can bring libel cases to the UK only if they prove it is "clearly the most appropriate" place for the suit.

The Freedom of Information Act, which came into force in 2005, contains several broad exceptions. "Absolute" exemptions act as unconditional barriers to the disclosure of information. With "qualified" exemptions, a determination is made as to whether the public interest is better served by withholding or disclosing the information, and a ruling is made on whether to reveal which information has been withheld.

Broadcast media are regulated by Ofcom. Until recently, the print sector operated under a self-regulating mechanism, overseen by a Press Complaints Commission (PCC) whose rulings had no legal force. In response to the 2011 phone-hacking scandal, Lord Justice Leveson led a public inquiry and published a report which recommended establishing an independent regulatory body for print media with statutory underpinnings. (There were supposed to be two parts to the inquiry, one on press ethics, the other on hacking, but the second part had not begun at the end of 2016. In November, the government started a consultation on whether this second part should be conducted.) The majority of the newspaper industry opposed any state-backed regulation, even if based on self-regulatory mechanisms, and launched its own regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO), which replaced the PCC without seeking legal recognition. IPSO regulates over 2,500 publications, including most national newspapers. Critics, including the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), argue that IPSO is not a credible watchdog because it is controlled by the same newspapers that it should oversee and regulate.

In October, the Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS) was legally recognized as the first and only self-regulator under the new system amidst vociferous protests by newspaper publishers. Only about 40 publications have joined it so far, with a combined readership of about two million. The formal recognition of IMPRESS means that it is now theoretically possible to implement Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, which stipulates that, in media-related court cases, publishers who are not members of a recognized self-regulator may be ordered to pay their opponents' legal costs, even if they win. These provisions were proposed to incentivize publishers to join a recognized self-regulator, but have been vocally opposed by the industry. At year's end Section 40 was not yet in force.

The BBC's governance and duties are established in a Royal Charter, a new version of which was published by the government in December 2016 and will be effective from 2017. Under the new document, the BBC will no longer be regulated by an internal BBC Trust, which exercised this role for its first 94 years of existence, but by Ofcom, as are all other broadcast media. The charter also created a new governing board, the majority of whose members are appointed by the BBC, with responsibility for ensuring that the broadcaster's strategy, activity, and output are in the public interest. The financial outlook of the BBC was put on a more solid footing by ensuring that the current license fee will continue for at least 11 years. Controversially, the charter also stipulates that all BBC employees and freelancers who earn more than 150,000 annually must be named, a rule that has prompted concerns that politicians may raise interviewers' salaries in attempts to discredit or intimidate them during interviews. Finally, the duration of the charter was changed from 10 to 11 years, to isolate charter renewals from the political cycle.

Mass surveillance of the public continues to be carried out, and police have used surveillance legislation to obtain journalistic material. In November 2016, Parliament passed the Investigatory Powers Act, which legalizes surveillance practices that British authorities had been using for at least 17 years, but which raised public outcry after the program was exposed in 2013. The law mandates that providers of internet and phone services store their customers' web browsing histories for twelve months, and enables security agencies to access personal data from computer and mobile phone networks in bulk. This data can then be accessed by a wide variety of government agencies. The bill also enables government agencies to ask British technology companies to remove encryption from their communications. Although the law requires judicial rulings for police requests to view data on journalists' phone and web activities, it does not require authorities to notify journalists that they are being surveilled, which could compromise journalists' ability to protect sources, as well as their own security when covering war zones or organized crime.

Political Environment: 9 / 40

The United Kingdom has a strong tradition of public broadcasting. The BBC is funded by a mandatory license fee and is editorially independent from the government. Private media outlets in the UK generally maintain their independence from political pressure and convey a range of views, with some tending to support or oppose particular parties or governments.

Journalists are generally able to conduct their work freely and safely, and attacks against media are rare. However, a troubling episode occurred in September 2016, when British authorities confiscated the passport of Zaina Erhaim, a Syrian journalist and critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as she flew into Britain to appear at a literary festival. Allegedly, the Syrian government had reported that Erhaim's passport had been stolen. However, UK authorities did not return the passport to the Syrian government, and Erhaim was able to leave and return to the UK because she had a second passport with a valid visa.

Economic Environment: 7 / 30

Ownership of private print media outlets is concentrated in the hands of a few large companies, but a variety of national newspapers cover the full range of the political spectrum. The first three national newspaper publishers have a combined share of over 60 percent of industry revenues.

At the local level, where the first four publishers enjoy two-thirds of industry revenues, more than half of Britons live in an area not directly served by a local newspaper. The BBC offers a wide range of regional and local radio stations, but few commercial news radio stations exist. There are many independent terrestrial television news channels, and satellite and cable channels are capturing a growing share of the market. There are no restrictions on internet access in the UK. In 2016, 95 percent of the population accessed the internet.

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Freedom of the Press 2017 - Tunisia

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Tunisia, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a211a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Total Score: 54/100 (2) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 18/30 (1)

Political Environment: 18/40

Economic Environment: 18/30 (1)

Quick Facts

Population: 11,300,000

Freedom in the World Status: Free

Net Freedom Status: Partly Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 48.5%

Key Developments in 2016:

At least three journalists were charged in military court for allegedly insulting the army through their work.

In March, the parliament passed a new access to information law that civil society groups welcomed as a step toward greater transparency.

Journalists continued to face police interference while attempting to report on protests.

A journalists' union reported in December that difficult economic conditions had contributed to the dismissal of some 180 journalists and delayed wages for about 480 others over the past year.

Executive Summary

Tunisia is home to one of the freest media environments in its region. The 2014 constitution includes protections for press freedom, and the pluralistic media collectively convey a variety of views. However, journalists continue to face restrictions under criminal and military laws that predate the country's 2011 uprising and transition to democracy, and the media landscape suffers from partisanship and polarization, as many outlets have links to political parties or politicians.

In a January 2016 speech, President Beji Caid Essebsi blamed journalists and media outlets for amplifying social turmoil in the country as demonstrators protested persistent unemployment. Such hostile rhetoric from senior officials during the year indirectly encouraged arrests and other mistreatment of reporters. Between September and November, journalists Jamel Arfaoui, Mohamed Naem Haj Mansour, and Rached Khiari were arrested and charged by military prosecutors with insulting the armed forces.

According to the Tunis Center for Press Freedom, a local media monitoring group, acts of aggression against journalists decreased in 2016 compared with 2015, but the last month of 2016 featured an increase in assaults or interference by security forces. Authorities repeatedly blocked reporters attempting to cover newsworthy events during the year, including protests and demonstrations. Separately, in at least one case in April, a news website was hit with cyberattacks after reporting on the Panama Papers, a trove of leaked documents revealing possible money laundering and tax evasion by wealthy individuals around the world.

The parliament finally passed a law on access to information in March 2016, in keeping with Article 32 of the constitution. Civil society activists had campaigned for such a law, and hailed it as a positive step, though some found fault with provisions that could allow the government to withhold information in certain circumstances. It remained to be seen how the new law would be implemented and interpreted by state officials and the judicial branch.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Tunisia, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

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Freedom of the Press 2017 - Thailand

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Thailand, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a213a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 77/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 27/30

Political Environment: 33/40

Economic Environment: 17/30

Quick Facts

Population: 65,300,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Net Freedom Status: Not Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 39.3%

Key Developments in 2016:

In July, a journalist was arrested under the provisions of the 2016 Referendum Act, which banned the expression of opinions "inconsistent with the truth." The act effectively prohibited campaigning against a military-written draft constitution that was put to a referendum in August, and was ultimately approved.

Authorities banned over 1,000 websites following the death in October of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and interrupted broadcasts by foreign, English-language news outlets about his passing.

In December, the government approved an amendment to the 2007 Computer Crimes Act (CCA) that expanded authorities' power to monitor internet activity and censor online content.

Executive Summary

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta that in 2014 ousted the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and installed a junta, has systematically used censorship, intimidation, and legal action to suppress journalists and media outlets. Authorities aggressively enforce defamation and lese majeste laws, and have summoned journalists for meetings at which they are pressured to stop producing coverage critical of the NCPO.

In 2016, the NCPO took efforts to curtail free speech during the lead-up to an August referendum on a draft constitution authored by a military-appointed committee. These included the approval of the Referendum Act, which banned the expression of opinions "inconsistent with the truth" and effectively prohibited campaigning against the draft constitution. Violations of the act carried penalties of up to 10 years in jail. In July, Thaweesak Kerdpoka of the online news site Prachatai was arrested alongside three other people under the Referendum Act's provisions after authorities found campaign material urging a "no" vote in the referendum in a search of their vehicle. They were later released on bail, but the status of the case against Thaweesak appeared to be unresolved at year's end. Prachatai's offices were also searched in the wake of Thaweesak's arrest.

Authorities also cracked down on coverage of the death of the Thai king in October. Following his death, authorities banned more than 1,000 websites that carried coverage of the monarchy that was deemed objectionable, and also censored broadcasts by foreign news outlets about the king's passing.

In December, the government passed an amendment to the CCA that allowed authorities to request, without a court order, that internet service providers disclose information about web users and web traffic. It also allowed authorities to request the removal of online content deemed morally offensive or threatening to national security, also without court approval.

Legal Environment: 27 / 30

The declaration of martial law and the suspension of the 2007 constitution in May 2014 effectively annulled any legal safeguards for freedom of expression. The interim constitution issued in July 2014 gave unchecked power to the NCPO. The repressive Article 44 of the interim constitution allows the NCPO chairman to issue orders with no oversight or accountability. In an environment tightly controlled by the NCPO, voters in August 2016 approved a new constitution, but it had not been ratified by year's end.

Restrictive legislation put in place before the coup have continued to limit media freedom. Convictions under Thailand's lese-majeste laws can carry as long as 15 years in prison, and lese-majeste defendants are almost always denied bail. Between May 2014, when the coup was launched, and May 2016, 68 people were charged with lese majeste. Of those cases, 21 involved material on Facebook, including 5 that centered remarks sent through its Messenger service. The 2007 CCA assigns prison terms of up to five years for the online publication of forged or false content that endangers individuals, the public, or national security, as well as for the use of proxy servers to access restricted material. In December 2016, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved amendments to the CCA that allowed authorities to request, without a court order, that internet service providers provide information about web users and web traffic. It also allowed authorities to request the removal of online content deemed morally offensive or to threaten national security, also without court approval.

The 2016 Referendum Act banned the expression of opinions that were "inconsistent with the truth," and effectively prohibited campaigning against the draft constitution. Violations carried penalties of up to 10 years in jail. In July, Thaweesak of the online news site Prachatai was arrested under its provisions, alongside three other people, after authorities found campaign material urging a "no" vote in the referendum and other political materials in a search of their vehicle. Thaweesak and the others were released on bail, but the status of their cases appeared unresolved at year's end. Additionally, following Thaweesak's arrest, Prachatai's offices were searched by police officers, who were reportedly looking for evidence the website had published material that violated the Referendum Act. No material was seized during the search, for which police had produced a warrant.

The adjudication of media-related cases remains problematic due to the courts' lack of independence. The military court system has been central to the NCPO's crackdown on dissent. Thai military courts do not meet international human rights standards, including the right to a fair trial. They regularly try civilians for lese-majeste, threats to national security, and sedition, and generally impose harsher sentences than civilian courts. There is no right of appeal, and rulings are handed down without announcement or any form of public observation.

Thailand enacted a freedom of information law in 1997, but it includes exceptions for information that might put the monarchy in jeopardy, threaten national security, or impede law enforcement. Historically the legislation has been poorly understood and unevenly applied.

The introduction of commercial digital terrestrial television licenses in 2013 reshaped the media landscape and ended an oligopoly enjoyed by the country's six analog channels. However, the digital transition process still favored major players with the resources and market share to run a successful broadcast station in a newly competitive sector.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is responsible for allocating broadcast licenses and regulating both broadcast and online media. It is not independent in practice. After the coup, it worked closely with the NCPO to enforce military orders and shut down or block media outlets as deemed necessary by the junta. In July 2016, the government invoked Article 44 of the interim constitution to grant legal immunity to the NBTC for regulatory actions it imposes on channels that broadcast material deemed harmful to national security.

Journalists and their professional organizations have been subject to increased monitoring by authorities since the coup, affecting their ability to operate freely. Self-censorship has reportedly increased since rumors circulated toward the end of 2014 that the military had new technology capable of detecting keywords linked to lese-majeste online.

The NCPO actively encourages civilian informants to report anticoup activity or opinions, and has suppressed civil society events at which freedom of expression and other human rights were to be discussed. In June 2016, a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) highlighting the human rights abuses committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar was abruptly halted, in what appeared to be an attempt by the Thai junta to block criticism of Myanmar's visiting State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Separately, in May 2016, journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk was barred from leaving the country to participate in a World Press Freedom Day event in Finland. Pravit said authorities had informed him that the travel ban came in response to his continued criticism of the NCPO.

Press institutions such as the Thai Journalists Association and the National Press Council have been criticized for supporting the military government, even as they have issued calls for the regime to revoke restrictions on the media.

Political Environment: 33 / 40

Most mainstream media and many individual journalists remain highly polarized between the "yellow shirts," meaning royalists opposed to the various governments associated with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and "red shirts," who support Thaksin's political movement. Meanwhile, coverage is also shaped by pressure from the NCPO. In August 2016, two journalists with Voice TV were suspended for 10 days each in connection with coverage critical of the NCPO; the suspensions were reportedly issued in order to avoid penalties from the NBTC.

Access to official sources is tightly controlled. Critical outlets continued to be censored during 2016. According to government sources, the regime shut down 1,370 websites in October after the death of the Thai king, more than the 1,237 that had been shut down over the previous five years. (Of those, 974 were censored in the first two years after the coup.) Notably, some reports about the death of the king by foreign, English-language broadcasters, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), were replaced with blank screens reading "Programming Will Return Shortly." Authorities issued a statement claiming that unnamed foreign broadcasters had behaved irresponsibly by underreporting the number of people who took to the streets to mourn the king.

Journalists practice self-censorship to avoid reprisals from the government, with many notably reluctant to report on topics involving the monarchy. Many media outlets, including newspapers known previously for their spirited commentary and analysis of domestic politics, have been comparatively subdued since the coup.

With many media outlets harassed, attacked, or closed, Thais have access to fewer viewpoints than before the coup, and the available outlets are less able to provide information on sensitive topics such as corruption, the trafficking of Rohingya refugees in Thailand, and the monarchy. Online news sources and social networking sites contain more diverse content than traditional media, though censorship and self-censorship are still common.

The NCPO restricts who may enter the country on journalists' visas, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reporting in February 2016 that at least five media visas had been denied since the 2014 coup. The same month, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued guidelines for media visas that permitted authorities to reject applications from reporters whose work or behavior constituted a threat to "public order or to the security of the kingdom."

Since the coup, the NCPO has used summonses, arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, and harassment as means of silencing dissent. In areas outside the capital, many were quietly "invited" for discussion without public announcements. As a condition for their release, most detainees had to sign agreements that they would not engage in politics or travel without permission. In many cases, authorities collected detainees' personal information, including passwords for social media accounts, and a number of detainees report having been tortured in custody. Although the government claims that those who are merely summoned are not regarded as having engaged in wrongdoing, several who have not responded to the NCPO's invitation have been charged with criminal offenses. The NCPO refuses to provide information about people who are summoned or detained, and often responds aggressively when questioned on the issue by journalists.

Economic Environment: 17 / 30

Large conglomerates and prominent families, some with political ties, own the majority of print outlets, while state entities  including the armed forces and police  have traditionally controlled the country's free-to-air television stations and the roughly 700 officially registered radio stations. The state's long-standing domination of broadcast media has been undermined in recent years by the availability of cable, satellite, and internet-based television, and the growth of community radio. Thailand has 6 analogue terrestrial television channels and 24 commercial digital terrestrial channels, along with 661 cable, satellite, and online television services. There are also thousands of community radio stations and more than a dozen national newspapers. In addition, digital television spectrum space has been set aside for 12 national public-service channels and 12 regional community channels. Internet penetration reached approximately 48 percent in 2016, and social media platforms like Facebook and Line are popular.

The fast-changing media landscape and poor economic conditions in the country have shaken many outlets' financial sustainability. One notable closing was that of the popular daily Baan Muang, which, citing financial difficulties, announced that it would end operations at the end of 2016.

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Freedom of the Press 2017 - Sweden

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Sweden, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a215a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Free

Total Score: 11/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 2/30

Political Environment: 5/40

Economic Environment: 4/30

Quick Facts

Population: 9,900,000

Freedom in the World Status: Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 90.6%

Key Developments in 2016:

Media outlets were accused of failing to report on sexual assaults police documents said had been committed by refugee men in 2014 and 2015. Police additionally failed to publicly disclose the attacks, and their eventual revelation in January prompted concern that journalists were self-censoring in order to avoid making statements that could be perceived as offensive, or sparking politically charged controversies.

In June, an industry group reported an increase in reported threats against journalists.

Executive Summary

Sweden's media environment is one of the world's most open, with a variety of outlets that are generally free from political pressure. However, the Swedish Union of Journalists and others have reported increasing self-censorship in Sweden due to both threats, and fears of making statements perceived as offensive or sparking politically charged controversies, particularly when dealing with sensitive issues like immigration and Islam.

In January 2016, Swedish journalists and outlets were accused of failing to cover reports that young girls had been sexually assaulted by groups of refugee men from Afghanistan at an annual Stockholm music festival in 2014 and 2015. Police were also criticized for failing to publicly report the attacks in assessments of their activities at the festival. It was not until similar attacks were reported at a 2015 New Year's Eve event in Cologne, Germany, that news of the Swedish attacks emerged in domestic media. Separately, in 2015, coverage of the killing of three young people in the city of Uddevalla was extremely opaque, as media outlets refrained from reporting the details of what may have been a conflict within a Muslim immigrant community.

Physical violence against media workers is rare. However, Utgivarna, an interest group representing the major Swedish media publishers, in June 2016 reported that threats against journalists and media workers had increased in recent years. Respondents to its survey reported nearly 150 instances during the previous 12 months in which they had received threats.

In September 2016, an extensive media debate took place after the annual book fair in Gothenburg first welcomed, and then banned, the right wing extremist magazine New Times from the event. After heavy criticism, organizers reversed their position again, allowing New Times to participate.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Sweden, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Saudi Arabia

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Saudi Arabia, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a217a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 86/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 29/30

Political Environment: 32/40

Economic Environment: 25/30

Quick Facts

Population: 31,700,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Net Freedom Status: Not Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 69.6%

Key Developments in 2016:

Writers and journalists critical of the Saudi regime continued to face legal harassment. In January, Samar Badawi, the sister of imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi, was arrested in connection with her activism on social media.

In December, prominent journalist and author Jamal Khashoggi was banned from writing in print media and appearing on broadcast outlets after he criticized Donald Trump, then the U.S. president-elect.

The Saudi government continued to shape media coverage of its war in Yemen, cracking down on critical local reporting and restricting access to Yemen by foreign journalists.

Executive Summary

Despite pro-modernization rhetorical shifts, Saudi Arabia continues to have one of the most restricted media environments in the world. Social media has provided a conduit for access to news, but it too is being suppressed as the government seeks to silence criticism of its domestic policies and its war in Yemen, even as initiatives largely spearheaded by the kingdom's deputy crown prince aim to project an image of liberalization to the west.

Throughout 2016, the government aggressively pursued legal charges against a number of high-profile journalists, writers, bloggers, and social-media activists. Several received lengthy prison sentences, while those who avoided punishment experienced sustained official harassment.

Legal Environment: 29 / 30

Article 39 of the 1992 Basic Law, which covers mass media, does not guarantee freedom of the press, and the authorities are given broad powers to prevent any act that may lead to disunity or sedition. The Basic Law also prohibits publishing materials that harm national security or that "detract from a man's dignity." Defamation is a criminal offense, and truth is not a recognized defense in such cases. The 2009 cybercrimes law criminalizes defamation on the internet. Any form of expression that insults Islam is potentially punishable by death, as is the crime of apostasy. The 2003 Printing and Publication Law governs the establishment of media outlets and stipulates penalties for press violations, such as fines and imprisonment. A 2005 royal decree transferred jurisdiction over the media from the court system to the Ministry of Culture and Information, which is authorized to shut down any outlet that it finds to have violated the press law. In addition, since 2011, all online newspapers and bloggers have been required to obtain a special license from the ministry. In practice, a variety of courts hear cases against traditional and online media outlets.

In 2011, as uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa gained momentum, the monarchy issued a decree banning the reporting of news that contradicts Sharia (Islamic law), undermines national security, promotes foreign interests, or slanders religious leaders. The decree amended several articles of the 2003 media law, allowing authorities to impose lifetime professional bans on journalists and levy fines of up to 500,000 riyals ($133,000) for violations. Other amendments barred publication of anything harmful to the state and the coverage of trials without prior authorization from judicial officials.

The Penal Law for Crimes of Terrorism and Its Financing, which took effect in February 2014, defines terrorism as any action intended to "insult the reputation of the state," "harm public order," or "shake the security of society," among other vague descriptions. The scope of the law raised concerns that it could be used to criminalize ordinary journalistic activity. Further regulations issued the following month allow police to make arrests for virtually any criticism of the government; ban "promoting" protests, meetings, or group statements, as well as anything that "harms the unity or stability of the kingdom by any means"; and target "sowing discord in society."

A number of Saudi journalists remain jailed, including blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to a 10-year prison term and 1,000 lashes in 2014. In October 2016, it was reported that Badawi was set to receive a new round of lashes as a part of that sentence. In January 2016, Badawi's sister, prominent human rights activist Samar Badawi, was arrested in connection with her activism on social media. She was released on bail the next day before the charges were ultimately dropped, though she has been subject to continued harassment and interrogation by the police. In March, journalist Alaa Brinji was sentenced to five years in prison, an eight-year travel ban, and a large fine over a series of tweets in which he accused the Saudi government of rights abuses. That same month, writer and Islamic scholar Mohanna Abdulaziz al-Hubail was sentenced to six years in prison for violations of the cybercrime law, including insults against the state. And in April, human rights activist Issa al-Hamid was sentenced to a nine-year prison term on a variety of speech-related charges, including defamation, insulting the state, and violations of the cybercrime law.

Even Saudi commentators with historic ties to the country's leadership can find themselves in legal jeopardy. In December 2016, Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist, was banned from writing in print media and appearing on broadcast outlets after criticizing Donald Trump, then the U.S. president-elect.

Saudi Arabia has no freedom of information law that provides for public access to state-held information, and officials do not disclose details related to sensitive topics such as government spending or allocations to the royal family.

Political Environment: 32 / 40

According to official media policy, the press should be a tool to educate the masses, propagate government views, and promote national unity. Media hews to views considered acceptable by the Saudi government and religious authorities; reporting critical of the Saudi system of governance or Wahhabi Islam is staunchly suppressed, as is unfavorable reporting on Saudi foreign and domestic policy. This has intensified amid the Saudi-led military coalition's ongoing offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen: reporting that does not support the military action has been suppressed in local newspapers.

Despite the environment, nearly 74 percent of the population accessed the internet in 2016. Many Saudis have turned to the internet to express political opinions and expose government corruption. Saudi Arabia has as many as five million Twitter users, about half of whom are considered "active." Widespread discussion of a topic on Twitter often forces traditional news outlets to cover stories that would otherwise be considered too sensitive. The Saudi government has aimed to restrict online expression, unleashing a set of new laws in 2015 requiring online outlets to be registered and licensed. Since the onset of the war in Yemen, the Saudi government has sought to silence criticism of its military action on Twitter. Influential imams are pressured to support the war and curb their criticism of the government's policies on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Although they do not obstruct large, internationally hosted social-media platforms like Twitter, the authorities are able to monitor and block various websites with relative ease. These include those the government considers immoral, blasphemous, or critical of the regime. Politically sensitive websites, including those associated with the country's disadvantaged Shiite Muslim minority, are blocked routinely. Protests in Shiite areas are not covered by the local press unless the Ministry of Information releases an official statement. In September 2016, the U.S.-based news website Huffington Post was blocked in the country after it published an article critical of the Saudi regime.

The media have been allowed to observe and report on the functions of some state entities, such as the Shura Council, but access may be arbitrarily withdrawn and is not guaranteed by law. The government has been known to directly censor both local and international media, and journalists routinely practice self-censorship and avoid criticism of the royal family, Islam, or religious authorities.

Physical harassment of journalists is relatively rare. However, both local and foreign reporters frequently face difficulty covering the news in person, especially when trying to access Eastern Province. The Saudi government has used its control of Yemen's land borders to limit access of foreign journalists to the war-torn country.

Economic Environment: 14 / 30

More than a dozen daily newspapers publish in Saudi Arabia. All are privately owned but controlled by individuals affiliated with the royal family. Members of the royal family also control two popular London-based dailies, Asharq al-Aswat and Al-Hayat, that serve a wider Arab audience. The government owns and operates all terrestrial television and radio stations. Although satellite dishes are illegal, satellite television has become widespread and is an important source of foreign news. Key regional satellite channels, including the popular Al-Arabiya news channel, are controlled by Saudi investors and adhere to local media norms.

Owing to the high costs of entry, the ability to establish digital media outlets is largely limited. Regulations passed in 2015 requiring online sites to have physical offices have further raised the cost of entry.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Rwanda

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Rwanda, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a219a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 79/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 23/30

Political Environment: 34/40

Economic Environment: 22/30

Quick Facts

Population: 11,900,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Net Freedom Status: Partly Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 18.0%

Key Developments in 2016:

In August, Sana Radio journalist John Ndabarasa disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and had not reemerged at year's end.

A journalist with the public broadcaster was elected chairperson of the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), a self-regulatory body established in 2013. The RMC had been without permanent leadership since its previous leader, Fred Muvunyi, fled Rwanda in 2015 after learning of ambiguously worded threats against him.

A number of independent or opposition-aligned online news outlets remained inaccessible.

Executive Summary

Media freedom in Rwanda remains severely restricted, despite assurances by government officials of their commitment to review the situation. Journalists risk arrest under a variety of restrictive laws, and can face long jail terms if convicted. Journalists also face intimidation from authorities, as well as arbitrary detention and arrest on trumped-up charges unrelated to their work. Many have fled the country to avoid persecution and reprisals, but even in exile Rwandan journalists have experienced extralegal intimidation, leaving a chilling effect that extends beyond the country's borders. Most private outlets do not cover controversial topics, though a few radio stations have shown a willingness to criticize government policies. Progovernment newspapers and radio stations dominate the media landscape.

In 2015, RMC Chairman Muvunyi fled the country after learning of ambiguously worded plans to "remove" him; Muvunyi was known for successfully pushing back against government infringements on press freedom, and his departure left the body's independence in question. In December 2016, Christopher Barore, a journalist with the public broadcaster, was elected to a three-year term as chairperson of the RMC. Barore had served as the RMC's acting chair after Muvunyi left Rwanda.

Government censorship of internet content has increased in recent years. Several independent or opposition-aligned news outlets remained inaccessible in 2016, including the websites of Inyenyeri News, Veritas Info, the Rwandan, and Leprophete.

Journalists continued to face trumped-up charges and arbitrary arrest and detention in connection with their work in 2016. In January, writer and editor John Williams Ntwali, whose reporting had been critical of the government, was arrested, accused of the rape (later reduced to indecent exposure after evidence of an attack failed to materialize), and illegally detained for 13 days. In February, Ivan Mugisha of the East African weekly newspaper was arrested on legally dubious grounds, and interrogated about his reporting on a tax investigation into a Rwandan stone quarrying company.

In August, Ndabarasa, a journalist with Sana Radio, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and had not reemerged at year's end. A friend said they had received a message, purportedly from Ndabarasa, explaining that he had gone abroad. However, his family stated that they did not believe he left the country, and media watchdogs have expressed uncertainty about the message's provenance.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Rwanda, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - North Korea

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - North Korea, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a21da.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 98/100 (1) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 30/30

Political Environment: 39/40 (1)

Economic Environment: 29/30

Quick Facts

Population: 25,100,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Key Developments in 2016:

In May, North Korea expelled a reporter, cameraperson, and producer with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), accusing them of filing reports critical of the regime.

In September, Agence France-Presse (AFP) opened a bureau in Pyongyang, joining just a few other foreign outlets that have a permanent presence in the country.

Executive Summary

North Korea has one of the most repressive media environments in the world. All domestic media outlets are state controlled and closely monitored, and produce propaganda with the aim of ensuring absolute loyalty to Kim Jong-un, who assumed the country's leadership after the death of his father and predecessor, Kim Jong-il, in 2011. Reports suggest that the political environment in North Korea became more repressive in 2016, as Kim increased state oppression amid the continued deterioration of the economy.

Access to foreign and independent media is tightly restricted, and those found consuming unauthorized news content face severe punishment. A handful of journalists working underground intermittently produce independent news reports, but these are generally unavailable within North Korea, and are consumed by audiences abroad.

Despite restrictions on media, in recent years there has been an increase in the flow of news and information into the country. Foreign radio stations and organizations produce news broadcasts from across the border that can be heard in North Korea. Smuggled foreign DVDs have also become an important source of information about life outside North Korea. However, according to North Korean defectors, Kim has intensified efforts to curb the inflow of outside information, including by tightening security along the country's borders. Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected in August 2016, said during a news conference that the regime closely monitors diplomats who returned to the country from abroad in order to prevent them from spreading outside news.

Access to the country by foreign journalists is limited. However, the regime does on occasion invite foreign journalists to cover events that shed a favorable light on the state; they are assigned North Korean minders, who accompany them on state-planned itineraries. In May 2016, authorities expelled a team of three BBC journalists who were covering a research trip to the country by a group of Nobel laureates; officials reportedly objected to their coverage of life in Pyongyang, and of the country more generally. However, in September, AFP opened a North Korean bureau, joining just a few other foreign news organizations with a permanent presence in the country. These include the Associated Press (AP), Russia's RIA Novosti, Japan's Kyodo news agency, and China's Xinhua news agency.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in North Korea, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Nicaragua

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Nicaragua, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a21fa.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Total Score: 55/100 (1) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 14/30

Political Environment: 24/40 (1)

Economic Environment: 17/30

Quick Facts

Population: 6,300,000

Freedom in the World Status: Partly Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 19.7%

Key Developments in 2016:

Daniel Ortega was reelected for a third consecutive term as president in November, at which point he had not held a formal press conference in more than nine years.

In June, authorities arbitrarily expelled a U.S. researcher investigating the country's interoceanic canal project, adding to a pattern of secrecy surrounding the controversial enterprise.

In October, the magazine Confidencial reported that members of the military and ruling party had questioned and intimidated its journalists and attempted to spy on its operations.

Executive Summary

Nicaragua has some legal protections for media freedom. However, the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) has maintained restrictive media policies since the party took power in 2007, including preferential treatment for the progovernment press and denial of official advertising worth millions of dollars to independent and opposition outlets. Nearly all television stations are owned by either the president's family or Mexican media mogul Angel Gonzalez, whose outlets avoid criticism of the government. Several other news sources are controlled by FSLN-affiliated owners. Progovernment media bias was especially apparent in the period surrounding the 2016 elections.

The Ortega administration tightly restricts access to information. The politically powerful first lady, Rosario Murillo, is the government spokesperson and presides over the unofficial Communication and Citizenship Council, which acts as a clearinghouse for government information and routinely denies journalists' requests. Murillo was elected vice president on her husband's ticket in November 2016.

Journalists investigating the interoceanic canal project have come under immense pressure in recent years, as the government seeks to suppress reporting on public opposition to the construction, allegations of corruption and malfeasance, and potential environmental damage, among other concerns. In June 2016, a researcher sponsored by the U.S. government was expelled from the country less than a day after he arrived to conduct interviews about the canal.

In October, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, director of the magazine Confidencial, accused the army and the FSLN of attempting to spy on the outlet and its journalists. He issued a complaint to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) after two employees were questioned in late September regarding the magazine's operations and information security and told that the magazine was harming the FSLN's election campaign.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Nicaragua, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - El Salvador

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - El Salvador, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a221a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Total Score: 41/100 (2) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 10/30 (1)

Political Environment: 18/40 (1)

Economic Environment: 13/30

Quick Facts

Population: 6,400,000

Freedom in the World Status: Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 26.9%

Key Developments in 2016:

Community radio director Nicolas Humberto Garcia, who had been threatened for his station's programming on violence prevention, was killed in March, though it remained unclear whether his murder was in reprisal for his work.

In May, the Legislative Assembly approved changes to the 1997 Telecommunications Law that allowed for the legal recognition and licensing of community radio stations.

In October, the Inter American Press Association criticized the administration of President Salvador Sanchez Ceren for a pattern of withholding information from journalists and for attempting to discredit the Supreme Court, which had upheld information requests.

Executive Summary

El Salvador's constitution protects press freedom, and a number of media outlets engage in critical coverage of the government and opposition parties. However, the government has increasingly taken antagonistic stances toward the media, and journalists' work is further impeded by organized crime and general insecurity.

Imprisonment for slander, libel, and defamation was abolished in 2011, but such offenses are still adjudicated under the penal code, which prescribes fines and professional suspensions. Journalists can also be sued for defamation in civil courts. In April 2016, businessman Enrique Rais filed a criminal defamation case against the codirector of the magazine Factum, Hector Silva Avalos, seeking $500,000 in damages over an article that accused Rais of bribery. A trial was pending at year's end.

The administration of President Sanchez Ceren, who took office in 2014, has often failed provide government data under the 2011 Access to Public Information Law. Appeals of denied information requests have increased dramatically since they were first allowed in 2013, and officials are known to deny reporting access to private outlets that have been critical of the government. The president regularly refuses to answer questions from journalists, and in July a journalists' association denounced the Legislative Assembly for barring photographers and camera operators from certain legislative sessions.

In May, the Legislative Assembly approved reforms to the outdated 1997 Telecommunications Law that had been mandated by the Supreme Court. Among other provisions, the changes ended the automatic renewal of broadcast licenses and established mechanisms for obtaining a license other than public auctions, which had catered to commercial outlets and effectively excluded the nonprofit community radio sector.

Journalists and media outlets continued to face intimidation and violence during the year, including pressure from politicians and threats from security forces while reporting at crime or accident scenes. The March murder of Nicolas Humberto Garcia, director of the community radio station Expressa in Ahuachapan, was apparently linked to criminal gangs. Colleagues said Garcia had been threatened for reporting on youth violence prevention.

The newspapers La Prensa Grafica and Diario de Hoy have suffered cyberattacks allegedly carried out by associates of San Salvador's mayor, Nayib Bukele. With the suspects facing trial during 2016, Bukele and allied politicians denounced the two papers and called on the public to boycott them. A journalist with La Prensa Grafica reported receiving threats via social media in November.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in El Salvador, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Ecuador

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Ecuador, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a2234.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 66/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 23/30

Political Environment: 27/40

Economic Environment: 16/30

Quick Facts

Population: 16,500,000

Freedom in the World Status: Partly Free

Net Freedom Status: Partly Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 48.9%

Key Developments in 2016:

Ecuador's media regulator, the Superintendence of Information and Communication (SUPERCOM), continued to aggressively enforce the broadly worded 2013 Communications Law. According to Fundamedios, a free expression group, 168 cases involving alleged violations of the law were filed against the media in 2016.

Public television and radio outlets provided robust coverage of the presidential campaign launch event of ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno, but failed to offer similar coverage for other candidates.

Several news websites experienced cyberattacks apparently intended to prevent the publication of a report on corruption at the state oil company.

President Rafael Correa continued to verbally attack critical media outlets.

Executive Summary

Ecuador retains a relatively vibrant media scene despite severe pressure against journalists, who risk prosecution under various laws and overt hostility from government figures, including President Correa. Self-censorship is becoming more pervasive as journalists seek to avoid prosecution and extralegal harassment.

In 2016, SUPERCOM continued to aggressively enforce the 2013 Communication Law, which created powerful media and telecommunications regulators and imposed a range of vaguely worded content restrictions. According to Fundamedios, 168 cases of alleged violations of the law were opened in 2016, and many such cases appeared politically motivated. In August, journalist Janet Hinostroza was accused of "media lynching," an offense defined by the Communication Law as the repeated dissemination of information intended to harm a person's reputation or credibility, over a series of investigative reports on corruption in the government's acquisition of medical supplies.

Journalists faced prosecution under various other laws in connection with their work during the year. In November, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Fernando Villavicencio on charges of publicizing private communications between Correa and the country's attorney general, in connection with a 2013 article on a legal dispute between the government and Chevron, a U.S. energy corporation. He faces three years' imprisonment if convicted. Villavicencio has faced prosecution over his work in the past, including on allegations of defaming Correa. Also in 2016, a number of online news portals as well as Fundamedios were blocked by the National Secretariat of Communication (SECOM) over claims they had violated copyright laws. The alleged violations were often connected to pictures of Correa the outlets had published.

In October, public television and radio outlets provided live coverage of a campaign launch event for Moreno, the presidential candidate of Correa's ruling Alianza PAIS party, at which Correa had given an address. Public outlets failed to offer similar coverage for other candidates. Meanwhile, Correa continued to harass critical journalists and outlets. In April, the president used his Twitter account to attack journalists and outlets that reported on the Panama Papers, a trove of leaked legal documents that revealed potentially corrupt business activities by powerful individuals around the world, including in Ecuador. In September, President Correa called the El Universo newspaper "perverse" and "corrupt," and claimed it was running a media campaign against the government.

Fundamedios documented 44 incidents of verbal attacks and 34 physical attacks against journalists during 2016. Among them was the beating in March of journalist Jean Cano, who was attacked by participants of an antigovernment protest who had erroneously identified him as a "government infiltrator." Separately, in May, the Focus Ecuador website was brought down by a cyberattack, just as its staff was about to publish a report on corruption at the state oil company. The Plan V and Mil Hojas websites were also taken down in similar cyberattacks after they published the corruption report from Focus Ecuador.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Ecuador, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Cambodia

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Cambodia, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a224a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 70/100 (1) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 24/30 (1)

Political Environment: 27/40

Economic Environment: 19/30

Quick Facts

Population: 15,800,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Net Freedom Status: Partly Free

Internet Penetration Rate: 19.0%

Key Developments in 2016:

In January, the Ministry of Information launched a website to gather public opinion on a draft freedom of information law, but the measure  which had been in development for several years  was not adopted by the end of 2016.

In May, authorities arrested several human rights activists and threatened human rights organizations with closure as part of a broader crackdown on dissent during the year.

Political commentator Kem Ley was shot and killed in July, a few days after he spoke on Radio Free Asia about a highly sensitive Global Witness report detailing the vast wealth accumulated by the prime minister's family.

Executive Summary

Despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom, the media are tightly controlled by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and its allies. Vaguely worded laws, including criminal defamation laws, are used to suppress reporting and commentary that are critical of the authorities. Khmer-language newspapers tend to be either associated with or sympathetic to the ruling party, and nearly all television and radio stations are owned by the CPP or the family and associates of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Although the government offered the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) a television license in 2014, it has since raised a series of obstacles to prevent the formation of an opposition station, and no such station was operating by the end of 2016.

During the year, as the CPP sought to consolidate its power ahead of the 2017 local and 2018 national elections, independent journalists and political and civic activists suffered from an increase in criminal charges, threats, and physical attacks.

A telecommunications law that took effect in December 2015 gave the government sweeping powers to monitor personal communications and punish speech on national security grounds, and individuals continued to be prosecuted under existing laws for criticizing the authorities online, which encouraged self-censorship. Those facing charges during 2016 ranged from senior opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who remained in exile throughout the year, to university student Kong Raiya, who was sentenced in March to 18 months in prison for a Facebook post that called for a "color revolution."

Authorities repeatedly used the 2015 Law on Associations and Nongovernmental Organizations (LANGO) to intimidate activists defending freedom of expression and other human rights. In May, the government threatened to shut down the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) under LANGO after the group published a list of Cambodian political prisoners. Similarly that month, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) was threatened with closure under LANGO by progovernment groups, the government's Cambodian Human Rights Committee, and a municipal court.

Human rights defenders also faced charges as individuals during the year. One former and four current ADHOC staff members were charged in May with bribery of a witness in a criminal case against CNRP acting president Kem Sokha. A staff member from the Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was also initially accused, but that case was apparently dropped. In September, the former ADHOC staffer, Ny Chakrya, was convicted of criminal defamation for comments made during a 2015 press conference in which he questioned the handling of two land-dispute cases in Siem Reap Province; he was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 6 million riels (US$1,400).

In recent years, physical attacks on journalists and a culture of impunity have had a chilling effect on the media community, and the July 2016 murder of prominent political commentator Kem Ley intensified the problem. He was shot and killed in broad daylight at a gas station in Phnom Penh, days after speaking on Radio Free Asia about a new Global Witness report that examined the enormous economic and political power amassed by Hun Sen's family. Police arrested a suspect who said he had killed Kem Ley over an unpaid debt, but observers noted serious flaws in the investigation and the suspect's account of the crime. Kem Ley's family, fearing for their safety, fled the country.

In another suspicious death, journalist Meng Chhoeun was killed in January in Kompong Speu Province. His small monthly newspaper, Rasmei Preah Vihear, reported mainly on illegal logging and gambling. Local authorities alleged that he was killed by a mob after being accused of stealing a motorbike, but the victim's wife, his employer, and a journalists' organization questioned that account. Journalists and activists who focus on illegal resource extraction are considered to be especially at risk of physical violence in Cambodia.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Cambodia, see Freedom of the Press 2015.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Burundi

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Burundi, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a226a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Not Free

Total Score: 85/100 (5) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 35/30

Political Environment: 37/40 (4)

Economic Environment: 23/30 (1)

Quick Facts

Population: 11,100,000

Freedom in the World Status: Not Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 4.9%

Key Developments in 2016:

Two radio stations that were banned amid severe civil unrest in 2015 resumed broadcasting after their directors signed an agreement with the National Communications Council (CNC) in February. However, the agreement undermined the outlets' independence by requiring them to be "balanced and objective," and to refrain from coverage that could undermine national security.

In July, Jean Bigirimana, a journalist with the weekly independent newspaper Iwacu, disappeared, reportedly after receiving a phone call from a source within the national intelligence service. His whereabouts remained unknown at year's end.

The Burundian Union of Journalists (UBJ), which had called attention to the media crackdown in the country, was banned in October.

As repression of the media exacerbated self-censorship among journalists, Burundians increasingly turned to social media as a source of news.

Executive Summary

Journalists in Burundi face overt hostility from officials, prosecution under repressive laws, and severe intimidation including arbitrary arrest and detention, death threats, and physical attacks. The government shut down nearly all private media in 2015 amid severe civil unrest triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision to run for a third term in office, which he won in a disputed election later that year. In October 2016, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that over 100 journalists had fled Burundi since the previous year's crackdown on media began.

In 2016, the directors of Radio Insanganiro and Rema FM, which were among the private radio stations forced off the air in 2015, signed an agreement with the CNC that allowed them to resume broadcasting. However, the agreement undermined their independence by requiring them to offer "balanced and objective" coverage that did not threaten national security. The CNC, which is widely considered to be controlled by the executive branch, continued to pressure journalists and outlets and to hand down suspensions in 2016. An October CNC communique announced a month-long suspension against a program on Radio Insanganiro in connection with its airing of a song titled, in the Kirundi language, "Human Rights for Journalists." The same document announced a month-long ban against another private station, Buja FM, that had recently changed its name from Radio 10 in an attempt to sidestep pressure from authorities. Finally, the document reminded outlets that they could be prosecuted for employing journalists who had not officially registered with the government. In December, Burundi's communication minister remarked during a parliament hearing that radio stations operating within official regulations were easily controlled.

Separately, in October, the country's interior minister banned five civil society groups including the UBJ, which had called attention to the media crackdown in the country.

A number of Burundian and foreign journalists were detained during the year. In January, two French journalists were detained on suspicion of associating with an armed opposition group, but were released without charge after a day in custody. In October, Voice of America (VOA) journalist Fidelite Ishatse was detained for several hours in Bukemba, with authorities saying she had not registered her presence in the town with local authorities. Also in October, police detained a U.S. journalist and her Burundian fixer, who were held overnight; a police spokesperson claimed they had been attempting to "destroy evidence of crimes committed by insurgents." Journalists are frequently subject to harassment and threats by police and the Imbonerakure, the ruling party's youth wing.

In July, Bigirimana of the independent weekly newspaper Iwacu disappeared, and had not resurfaced at year's end.

All of these factors have contributed to severe and deepening self-censorship among the few independent journalists who continue to operate in Burundi, allowing state-run and government-friendly private outlets  including a new community radio station launched in 2016 by the president of the Senate  to fill the resulting information vacuum. With a dearth of independent voices, many Burundians have turned to WhatsApp as their main source of news, as well as Twitter and Facebook. However, these networks also carry propaganda and unverified reports, and many people lack the technology to access them.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Burundi, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Burkina Faso

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Burkina Faso, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a228a.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Total Score: 41/100 (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 16/30

Political Environment: 12/40

Economic Environment: 13/30

Quick Facts

Population: 19,000,000

Freedom in the World Status: Partly Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 11.4%

Key Developments in 2016:

In February, the official media regulatory agency issued a one-month suspension against the newspaper L'Evenement after it published the locations of obsolete military armories, information the regulator deemed military secrets. A court later lifted the suspension after the newspaper appealed.

In September and October, journalists and technicians from state-owned outlets held strike actions to protest pressure by members of the new administration of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, and to demand better working conditions.

In June, a court ordered the Journal L'Opinion newspaper to pay a fine of 1 million CFA francs ($1,700) and an additional 3.5 million CFA francs ($6,000) in damages and legal fees over an article claiming that a prominent lawyer and civil society activist had benefitted from an illegal land transaction during the country's recent political transition. It was the first case prosecuted under 2015 media legislation that decriminalized defamation.

Executive Summary

The environment for media has improved since mass protests in 2014 brought an end to former president Blaise Compaore's 27 years in power. Since then, defamation has been decriminalized, reporters at the public broadcaster have experienced less political interference, and self-censorship among journalists has eased. Nevertheless, libel convictions still carry onerous financial penalties, journalists experience pressure from government officials, and the economic environment for media workers remains difficult.

In September 2015, a transitional government adopted legislation that abolished prison sentences for libel and other press offenses, but prescribed fines of up to 3 million CFA francs ($5,100) for offenses  enough to put some sanctioned outlets out of business, according to journalists. In the first case to be prosecuted under the new legislation, in June 2016 a court ordered the Journal L'Opinion newspaper to pay a fine of 1 million CFA francs ($1,700) and an additional 3.5 million CFA francs ($6,000) in damages and legal fees over an article claiming that Guy Herve Kam, a lawyer and civil society activist, had benefitted from an illegal land transaction during the recent political transition.

The official media regulatory agency, the High Council of Communication (CSC), is nominally independent. However, of its nine members, six are state appointees and only three are drawn from professional media groups, giving the government outsized influence over media regulation. In February 2016, the CSC suspended the newspaper L'Evenement for one month after it published locations of obsolete military armories, information the body deemed "military secrets." However, a court nullified the CSC's decision after the newspaper appealed.

While political interference at state-owned outlets has decreased since the end of Compaore's regime, journalists there still experience pressure from officials. In July 2016, the Autonomous Syndicate of Information and Culture Workers (SYNATIC) condemned Communications Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou for saying that journalists at state media not supportive of the government should resign, and that public broadcasts should prioritize coverage of state officials. In September and October 2016, journalists and technicians from the state-owned newspaper Sidwaya and public broadcaster Radiodiffusion Television du Burkina (RTB) held strike actions to protest interference by members of the new administration, including by Dandjinou, and to demand better working conditions. (Separately, Dandjinou holds shares in a relatively new private television station, Burkina Info.)

In February 2016, two employees of the radio station Omega FM  which had been founded by Foreign Minister Alpha Barry, a former journalist  were suspended. While the suspensions were formally issued over professional misconduct, activists claimed they were linked to the journalists' coverage of an arrest warrant for Guillaume Soro, a prominent Ivorian politician, who was allegedly involved in a failed coup in Burkina Faso that took place in September 2015.

Cases of harassment and physical violence against journalists are generally rare; however, in June 2016, a television reporter was threatened by gendarmes while covering an event.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Burkina Faso, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Freedom of the Press 2017 - Bolivia

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 7 November 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Bolivia, 7 November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a01a22aa.html [accessed 16 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Total Score: 53/100 (4) (0 = Most Free, 100 = Least Free)

Legal Environment: 16/30 (1)

Political Environment: 23/40 (2)

Economic Environment: 14/30 (1)

Quick Facts

Population: 11,000,000

Freedom in the World Status: Partly Free

Net Freedom Status: Internet Penetration Rate: 45.1%

Key Developments in 2016:

Senior government officials openly condemned media outlets that reported critically on President Evo Morales, with Presidency Minister Juan Ramon Quintana saying such outlets comprised a "cartel of lies," and Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linero calling for critical journalist to be incarcerated.

Journalist Humberto Vacaflor recanted an allegation that Morales had been involved in the 2000 murder of a police officer after a court agreed to hear a criminal defamation case Morales had filed against him.

In December, cinemas across the country screened, at no charge, a government-backed film entitled The Cartel of Lies, which scrutinized press outlets and reporters who had reported critically on Morales. The film was also posted to the Ministry of the Presidency's YouTube page.

Executive Summary

Independent media in Bolivia are active, but face worsening conditions under the administration of President Morales, which exerts pressure on journalists and outlets through lawsuits and verbal harassment by officials. Meanwhile, public advertising contracts are disproportionately awarded to government-friendly outlets, which have become more prevalent due to media acquisitions by businesspersons aligned with Morales. Recent years have seen a number of politicized dismissals and resignations of prominent journalists who reported critically on the government. Journalists engage in self-censorship, with many fearing that they could lose their jobs in connection with reporting critical of authorities or of advertisers.

In February 2016, voters rejected a referendum that would have permitted Morales to run for a fourth term. The vote was widely viewed as a rebuke to the president, who responded to it with an attempt to crack down on online media, which he appeared to blame for the referendum's defeat. Soon after the vote, the government created the General Directorate of Social Networks, a body within the Ministry of Communications tasked with coordinating the government's interactions with online communities. This mission involves efforts to disseminate government-friendly messages online and to engage with government critics on social media, often aggressively. Authorities also proposed a pair of measures that would have imposed greater regulation on online outlets, but they were never implemented. Additionally, in June, Bolivia joined 16 other countries including Venezuela and Cuba in rejecting a UN Human Rights Commission resolution affirming the right to a free, uncensored internet.

Separately, in August, a criminal court announced that it would hear a defamation case Morales had filed against Vacaflor, a journalist who in a televised interview had suggested that Morales was involved the 2000 murder of a police officer and his wife. In September, under pressure from the court, Vacaflor recanted his accusation, and the charges were later dropped.

Top government officials continued to verbally harass journalists in connection with their work, undermining legal protections for media and contributing to a hostile operating environment. In June, Vice President Garcia Linero singled out a number of outlets who had reported critically on Morales ahead of the February referendum, alleging his involvement in a corruption scheme relating to the Chinese company CAMC Engineering, and claiming that he had fathered a child with a former romantic partner who was linked to the company. Garcia Linero deemed the outlets members of a "political media mafia" and added that they should be jailed. A month earlier, Presidency Minister Ramon Quintana had labelled the same group of outlets a "cartel of liars" in connection with their coverage of Morales. In October, Ramon Quintana ordered the production of a documentary, entitled The Cartel of Lies, which argued that the outlets were conspiring to destabilize Morales's government. Journalists' associations sharply criticized the project, and noted that it was produced with public funds. In December, the film was screened free of charge at a number of cinemas across the country, and was published to the Presidency Ministry's account on the video-sharing website YouTube.

In August, President Morales signed the Adaptation for Broadcast Operators Law, which extended radio and television broadcasting licenses until 2019, and created the possibility of automatically renewal for another 15 years if broadcasters complied with content requirements to be set by the government. These requirements are unclear, but some observers, noting that presidential elections are scheduled for 2019, expressed concern that authorities might use the renewal process to press outlets for positive coverage of the ruling-party candidate. Broadcasters that do not see licenses renewed automatically under the new rules would have to go through a public tender process.

Explanatory Note

This country report has been abridged for Freedom of the Press 2017. For background information on press freedom in Bolivia, see Freedom of the Press 2016.

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The pharmacy market is one of the biggest potential new targets for Amazon.com.

In June, the online retail giant moved into the roughly $800 billion U.S. grocery space by buying Whole Foods Market Inc. Drugs, a $450 billion industry in the U.S., are likewise most often sold from brick-and-mortar stores. Shoppers filling prescriptions frequently pick up toiletries, beauty supplies and dish soap-all retail items Amazon already sells. And the distribution chain for drugs has lots of middlemen whose markups Amazon can seek to undercut.

No wonder shares of drugstore chains CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. have dropped sharply since analyst speculation about Amazon entering the pharmacy business intensified last month. On Monday, CVS Health said it would begin same-day delivery in several cities in early 2018, an apparent defensive move. Amazon has never commented on its pharmacy ambitions.

Drugs, which are light and don't require in-person selection, "are a perfect match" for Amazon, said SSR Health analyst Richard Evans in a recent report.

Here are six ways the retailer could overturn the American pharmacy market:

1. Use its shipping power to destroy rivals. Amazon has a massive logistics operation and could easily start its own mail-based drug-delivery business, cutting out drugstores and distributors in the process.

Drug delivery would also add to the value of Amazon Prime membership. Customers who pay the $99-per-year price for Prime membership are its most loyal customers, and Amazon is constantly looking for ways to increase the value of membership to keep shoppers from using competitors. The company launched its two-hour delivery service, Prime Now, in 2014 with inventory that overlaps with the convenience items found in drug stores.Amazon has a big emphasis on replenishment. It helps parents keep homes stocked with diapers and wipes and sells Dash buttons so you can reorder laundry detergent with the push of a button mounted to your washer. Drugs are an additional replenishment product that Amazon can use to go deeper into its customers' lives-taking business away from traditional retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart Stores.

2. Become the ultimate buyer of cheap generics: There's no reason the e-commerce behemoth couldn't use its buying power to offer customers cut-rate generics for cash, which would appeal to uninsured patients and those on high-deductible plans. In generics especially, there are numerous markups along the way that Amazon could eliminate or pare back to capture market share.

To gain access to the far larger market of insured patients, Amazon could cut deals with insurers that aren't already heavily focused on mail drug delivery. This could include Humana, Anthem, Cigna and even UnitedHealth Group Inc., according to the recent analyst note by SSR Health's Evans. Amazon could also makes drug discount deals directly with large employers, Leerink Partners analyst David Larsen said in a report on Oct. 31.

3. Turn Whole Foods into Whole Drugs: Now that Amazon owns Whole Foods, it has a physical presence in which it could set up pharmacies or pickup points in addition to a mail or same-day-delivery operation. In addition to Whole Foods, Amazon could supplement this by partnering with local independent pharmacies, allowing patients to order medicines online for pickup at these stores or to have them delivered, according to Evans from SSR Health.

4. Buy into the pharmacy business: Amazon could buy a drug distributor or a pharmacy benefit manager, such as Express Scripts Holding Co., which already has one of the biggest mail-order operations.

One downside of an exclusive partnership is that competitors would probably bar plan members from filling prescriptions at Amazon, limiting potential customers. So instead of buying a PBM, Amazon could buy a specialty pharmacy, such as Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., to help gain access to the fast-growing market for costly drugs for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious diseases, according to SSR Health.

5. Launch a startup of its own: Amazon already owns wholesale distribution licenses in at least 13 states and could build its own pharmacy business from scratch, restructuring the drug supply chain in the process. For now, these wholesale licenses may be part of Amazon's business-to-business sales effort, which would focus on hospitals, doctors' offices and dentists. In the longer term, however, the drug-distribution licenses could be the first step in building a hub-and-spoke model for drugs that could eventually serve consumers, Leerink's Larsen wrote in his recent note.

To become a drug store, Amazon would also need to get pharmacy licenses in states to which it wants to ship pharmaceuticals. It could hire several pharmacists in each distribution center, allowing it to be licensed and serve consumers in nearby states.

6. "Alexa, refill my Lipitor:" Should it go into prescription drugs, one obvious priority for Amazon will probably be to improve the consumer experience in shopping for drugs online or on mobile devices. For refills, using Alexa, Amazon's voice-activated virtual assistant, would be just the start.

There are thousands of different drugs and dosages with prices that vary widely among drugstores and insurance plans. This makes it hard for patients to know when they are getting the best deal. Amazon could buy or partner with Rx Saving Solutions, which has an app that peers into patients' insurance plans to help them find low-cost drugs. It could also develop programs similar to that offered by online pharmacy startup PillPack, which presorts pills into date- and time-stamped packets for patients with multiple prescriptions.
WASHINGTON  State funding for Region 12s Agriscience-STEM academy finally came through this week with Gov. Dannel P. Malloys signature on a state budget.

The 1,000-page document finalized Wednesday includes nearly $24 million for the project, about 80 percent of its $29.9 million total cost. The district can now pursue a plan to offset shrinking enrollment by attracting students from outside its three constituent towns: Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington.

The academy, to be housed in an expanded Shepaug Valley School, will focus on the STEM subjects  science, technology, engineering and math  and on agriculture-related fields such as as plant sciences where job growth is expected to be strong. Without the academy to attract students from outside the region, district enrollment was projected to decline for years to come, putting its schools in jeopardy of eventual closure, school board members have said.

The project has long been controversial, with some critics saying it was too expensive and would not attract the projected number of students. The plan was eventually scaled back to meet similar objections from the Malloy administration. At one point, the administration was ready to reject the project entirely, but area legislators managed to keep it alive.

We managed to tough our way through, said Greg Cava, a Region 12 board member who chairs its Building Committee. I think this is a great step forward for Region 12, and now were focused on getting it built.

State Rep. Arthur ONeill, R-Southbury, who represents all three Region 12 towns, agreed, and praised school officials for seeing the project through.

They have earned it with their hard work, he said.

Superintendent Pat Cosentino said in a prepared statement school officials are thankful to all the stakeholders who stood by us as we awaited state funding to make this dream a reality.

We are very excited for the opportunities this school will bring for students in Region 12 and across the area, she added.

Cava said the next step is for the district to complete schematic work and put construction plans out to bid in the spring. Construction will likely start next summer, and the academy is slated to open in September 2019.

blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton
As U.S. President Donald Trump heads to China on the third leg of his Asian tour, Chinese officials promised an "in-depth and strategic exchange" on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, calling for a return to the negotiating table amid a more conciliatory tone from Washington.



In a departure from personal insults and his earlier "fire and fury" rhetoric, Trump called at a news conference in Seoul for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying it "makes sense for North Korea to come to the table."



He said Kim should "do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world," adding that he "hoped to God" he wouldn't have to take military action to resolve the standoff.



North Korea is believed to be close to developing a nuclear missile that could hit the mainland United States, according to recent media reports.



Trump had earlier threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the United States, referring to Kim as "Rocket Man," while being called a "dotard" by Pyongyang in return.



In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the ruling Chinese Communist Party is willing to work with Washington, amid growing concern by activists and experts that human rights won't figure prominently on the agenda.



"We are willing to maintain close communication and coordination with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and make unremitting efforts to promote the proper and peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue," Hua told a regular news briefing on .



She also called for "restraint" regarding joint naval drills in the Western Pacific by three U.S. aircraft carriers, which will coincide with Trump's visit to the region.



"The situation on the Korean peninsula is highly complex and grave," Hua said. "All relevant parties should exercise restraint, avoid provoking each other [and] jointly stay committed to abating tensions."



'Friction and confrontation'

Beijing-based political activist Zha Jianguo said that while Xi will likely use Trump's visit to boost his own image in the wake of last month's leadership reshuffle, his administration won't simply dance to Washington's tune when it comes to North Korea.



"[Xi] will need to clamp down ever more tightly on dissenting opinions within party ranks, as well as any political opposition," Zha said. "Externally, we will see moderation from Xi with regard to the Western world led by the United States, despite the many sources of friction and confrontation."



Zha said Beijing is unlikely just to do as it is told with regard to the North Korean nuclear standoff. However, it will likely seek to boost trade ties by increasing Chinese direct investment in the United States, he said.



Hua said Beijing wants to preserve peace through political and diplomatic means, as part of President Xi vision of an expanded role for China on the world stage.



"[China wants] a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation," Hua said, and would cooperate with the U.S. on that basis.



But rights groups have expressed concerns that there are signs of a worsening climate for human rights in China.



Veteran Mongolian dissident Hada, who is currently under tight surveillance at his home the regional capital Hohhot, said he hoped Trump would use his visit to draw attention to China's rights record.



"In particular, ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups in China who face persecution," he said.



'Torture and ill-treatment'

London-based rights group Amnesty International said on it is concerned about the detention of 60-year-old rights lawyer Li Yuhan, held under criminal detention for nearly a month without any official information about the charges against her.



Li has been incommunicado since Oct. 9, and is "at risk of torture and other ill-treatment" in the police-run No. 1 Detention Center in the northeastern city of Shenyang, the group said in an Urgent Action bulletin.



"There are concerns for Li Yuhans health, she suffers from a heart condition and, as a result, had major surgery in ," the statement said.



"Detained incommunicado, without confirmed access to a lawyer of her choice, Li Yuhan is at risk of torture and ill-treatment."



Meanwhile, U.S.-based Chinese studies expert Xie Xuanjun said Trump is likely to receive a warm welcome in Beijing following President Xi Jinping's visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in April, with Chinese officials saying they are keen to reciprocate.



"I heard that [Xi] will hold his meeting with Trump in the Forbidden City," Xie said, referring to the ancient imperial palaces to the north of the communist-era Tiananmen Square. "That way, both of them will be able to indulge their taste for playing at being royalty."



But activists in the Chinese capital said police have already sealed off roads around the city's diplomatic quarter ahead of Trump's visit, creating huge inconvenience for local people.



"No vehicles are being allowed in at all for the time being," an employee who answered the phone at the nearby International Trade Center told RFA on . "This whole section ... of the street will be like that until Nov. 10."



Reported by Gao Shan, Gao Feng and Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A group of 17 non-governmental organizations wrote a joint letter on Tuesday urging world leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this week to press host Vietnam to free bloggers and rights defenders.



The letter targetted U.S. President Donald Trump, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, among other leaders set to join the main summit of the 21 member APEC on Friday and Saturday in Da Nang.



"In a series of sham trials, the Vietnamese government has orchestrated the wrongful conviction and sentencing of prominent human rights defenders and bloggers," said the letter.



The letter mentioned Tran Thi Nga, Nguyen Van Oai, and Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh. Quynh, arrested in October 2016 and Nga, arrested in January of this year were sentenced to 10 and nine years imprisonment respectively. Oai was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of house arrest for resisting police officers and leaving his home while on probation



"The Vietnamese government has used unsubstantiated national security concerns to justify, and illegitimate charges to carry out, the criminalization of free expression, dissemination of information, and peaceful advocacy," said the NGO letter.



"Arbitrary detention, censorship, and state-sponsored violence against activists and human rights defenders are not only an affront to our common humanity but a grave violation of international human rights laws and standards," read the letter.



Among the 17 NGOs tat signed the letter are Access Now, Brotherhood for Democracy, English PEN, Frontline Defenders, the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam, Reporters Without Borders, the Viet Labor Movement and Viet Tan.



Tuesday's letter came a week after a group of 40 Western and Vietnamese scholars and experts on Vietnam sent a statement to Hanoi government and Communist Party leaders, denouncing the jailing of Quynh and Nga.



The statements 40 signatories include foreign and Vietnamese scholars from leading universities in Australia, Canada, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and The United Kingdom as well as engineers and independent researchers.



By Amnesty Internationals count, Vietnam is currently holding at least 84 prisoners of conscience, the highest number in any country in Southeast Asia.
Its almost time to deck the workplace halls for the holidays, which means the traditional concerns around offending employees or customers likely will occur.

These discussions should center around listening to the concerns of others, while understanding the legal ramifications of celebrating holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Many concerns at work involve holiday decorations. The law on this is relatively settled.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency charged with enforcing federal discrimination laws, has weighed in on private sector holiday decorating. According to its guidance, employers are generally free to decorate the workplace with Christmas, Hanukkah or other displays without violating the law.

The EEOCs guidance provides the following example:

Each December, the president of XYZ corporation directs that several wreaths be placed around the office building and a tree be displayed in the lobby. Several employees complain that to accommodate their non-Christian religious beliefs, the employer should take down the wreaths and tree, or alternatively should add holiday decorations associated with other religions.

The EEOC sides with employer, stating, Title VII does not require that XYZ corporation remove the wreaths and tree or add holiday decorations associated with other religions.

The outcome under Title VII on these facts would be the same whether in a private or government workplace, since Title VII applies to both the private and public sector, according to the agency.

Of note, the EEOC also provides a brief discussion of the impact of the Constitutions establishment clause on private employers.

It states, Although it is beyond the scope of Title VII enforcement, we note for the sake of completeness that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that wreaths and Christmas trees are secular symbols, akin to items such as lights, Santa Claus, and reindeer, and thus government display of these items does not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

The EEOC also notes, correctly, that in the private sector, the establishment clause constraints would not apply. However, the EEOC recommends as a best practice that all employers may find that sensitivity to the diversity of their workplace promotes positive employee relations.

A good percentage of your workforce and customers will get joy from seeing the Christmas or Hanukkah decorations around the workplace, and employers shouldnt avoid displaying these decorations because a few employees take exception.

With that in mind, employers should listen to employees who have concerns. Some objecting employees may believe that its illegal for employers to display wreaths and Christmas trees.

In addition, some people dont understand that the constitutional restrictions on establishing a religion, or free speech, do not apply to the private sector.

Regardless, Christmas is a festive and fun time of the year, and a decorated workplace brings happiness to most customers and employees.

Employers should consider using decorations like ornaments, trees, wreaths and garland as opposed to more formal and clearly religious symbols such as Nativity scenes or a menorah.

Decorating in this way might provide a better balance to enjoy the holidays while not explicating recognizing specific religions.
Capital One Financial Corp., the largest private employer in the Richmond area, is exiting its home mortgage origination and home equity business, which will affect about 10 jobs here.

Companywide, 950 jobs will be cut, primarily in Plano, Texas, which will lose 750 positions in the origination and home equity business. An additional 130 positions will be cut in St. Cloud, Minn., followed by 25 positions in Melville, N.Y., with smaller cuts made at other locations including the Richmond area.

Affected employees were notified Tuesday, a company spokesman said. They were given at least 60 days notice and offered transition assistance.

Home lending is a complex and highly competitive business, the company said in a statement. It is a crowded field with multiple players and borrowers have a broad range of options. Were in a structurally disadvantaged position, given the challenging rate environment. Were not in a position to be both competitive and profitable.

The McLean-based credit card issuer and bank will service its existing and pending mortgage loans. It will continue to offer specialized multifamily financing to the real estate development and investment community as well as lending in affordable housing support for low- to moderate-income homebuyers.

The Dallas suburb of Plano was dealt a double blow. In a separate announcement also made Tuesday, Capital One said it will shutter a call center associated with its retail bank there, resulting in the loss of an additional 200 jobs in Plano.

Our retail and direct bank customers are increasingly able to service through their preferred channel, whether in a branch, a cafe, our mobile tools or our contact centers, the company said. This has reduced our overall call volume and shifted the types of service our contact center agents provide customers.

The transition will take place over the next several months until the call center closes in early summer 2018. The decision does not affect other call centers, including one in Chesterfield County, a spokesman said.

Even after the cuts in Plano, Capital One will employ about 5,000 people there.

The Richmond area is the hub of operations for the company, employing about 11,000 people, mostly at the companys offices in the West Creek office park in Goochland County. Companywide, Capital One employs 49,000.

The company said the decisions to exit a business and close a call center were not made lightly, as it recognizes the impact on employees.

Employees may apply for other jobs at Capital One. If they are not transferred into other positions, they will be eligible to receive severance packages, including retraining assistance and outplacement services.
A federal judge on Monday granted former Donald Trump campaign aide Rick Gates, who is under house arrest in Richmond, permission to leave his West End home on Tuesday to vote in Virginias general election.

Gates made the motion asking permission to vote Monday through his lawyers.U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted the request but said he must notify the officers supervising his confinement about when and where he plans to vote and how long he expects it to take. Gates home in the Westmoreland Place neighborhood is about six blocks from his polling place.

Gates was indicted last week alongside his business partner, Paul Manafort, who served as Trumps campaign chair, in special prosecutor Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the election. He is charged with money laundering and failing to disclose his lobbying efforts on behalf of a foreign government.

Both have been ordered held under home confinement and subject to electronic GPS monitoring until a bond hearing is held.
Frustrated members of the public urged the Richmond School Board on Monday to take action on the school systems far-reaching problems with its facilities.

In a packed meeting room at City Hall, community members criticized the boards lack of action. The meeting came three days after Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney sent a letter to the board also criticizing its inaction on the issue.

Stoney asked the board to present a plan Monday that would help fix the facilities.

RPS interim Superintendent Tommy Kranz presented an overview of the administrations plan Monday night, but a full plan isnt expected for the next few weeks.

The community members who spoke Monday night said they want action soon.

You have been here for 11 months in this position and theres no reason we shouldnt have looked at a facilities plan by now, Mariah White said, referring to the School Board. These facilities need to be done.

Its got to stop here, she added. You just cant keep putting it off.

About a dozen members of the community spoke, with most addressing the facilities problems.

The school system is facing crumbling facilities across the city. One school, George Mason Elementary, required about $130,000 in improvements just to keep the school open this year.

The School Board inherited the problems after years of deferred maintenance and neglect. Plans were presented, but none came to fruition. The latest version of a facilities plan, known as Option Five, was approved by the School Board in 2015. It would have closed 16 schools, built seven new schools and renovated the remaining 21 over 15 years with a combined estimated cost of $563 million.

Option Five stalled because of the citys limited debt capacity. Community members asked the board to reconsider the plan, but a completely new plan is being drafted.

Theres no need to reinvent the wheel, said community member Brenda James. Weve been having this discussion on facilities for far too long.

The boards initial deadline for an updated facilities plan was Oct. 16. That deadline was missed  something Stoney said he was disappointed by in his letter Friday. Kranz hopes to have a full plan for the boards Nov. 20 meeting before a more extensive conversation at its Dec. 4 meeting.

We want to make sure this is right, said 3rd District representative Cindy Menz-Erb, the chair of the boards facilities and rezoning committee. These are the hard decisions we have to make and I think its our time to make sure we get this right.

In the overview of the new plan  for fiscal years 2018 through 2027  presented Monday, Kranz focused on the school systems projected enrollment numbers.

Kranz posed the question of how large schools should be and whether they need to be larger. A possible new E.S.H. Greene Elementary School that Kranz showed to the facilities committee on Oct. 23 could fit 1,036 students, which would almost double the schools size. The committee has also discussed adding K-8 schools.

The school systems projections, which also go through 2027, show a decrease in enrollment at the elementary level and an increase in middle schools and high schools, especially in South Richmond.

Kranz said that while its recommended the division gets about $17.4 million per year for annual maintenance, its current total is $5.5 million.

He listed the next steps for the plan as a presentation to the facilities committee and then the full board, community meetings, and eventually a joint meeting of the School Board and City Council.

Any plan that gets developed is a comprehensive plan, Kranz said, adding that any plan would require rezoning. You have to use all the tools in your toolbox.

With every new construction component, theres a rezoning component.

Richmond voters could help force the citys hand Tuesday when they vote on a facilities referendum.

If it passes, the referendum would go to the Virginia General Assembly with hopes that the city charter would be changed to require the mayor to craft a plan to modernize RPS facilities without raising taxes or say it cant be done.

In a tweet Monday afternoon, Stoney said that while he expects the referendum to pass, he will not be voting for it on principle.
A Reynolds Metals heir facing charges in a 1998 kidnapping and sexual assault in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., told investigators that he visited Florida 10 times during his lifetime and when younger had a problem with cocaine.

Redacted Lee County, Fla., court documents released Tuesday state that in a June interview, Cornelius Neil Florman, 51, told a Florida detective and a Virginia State Police special agent that he had been to Key Biscayne Bay, Key West, Miami and Tampa, but could not recall if he ever visited Fort Myers or Fort Myers Beach.

In 1998, Florman lived in Louisville or Frankfurt, Ky., where he worked several different jobs for two years. During this time, Florman claimed he was never arrested for violation of his probation. Florman added that during his 20s and 30s, he had a problem with cocaine and other drugs. Whenever Florman traveled, it was likely that he was abusing drugs, says the affidavit from Erik Hurd, a detective with the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Florman is being held on a $2 million bond at the Lee County Jail. Florman, a great-grandson of Reynolds Metals founder Richard S. Reynolds Sr., has been on trial in high-profile cases before. Once, he was convicted of a 1986 rape in Chesterfield County. In another case, he was not convicted of a 1986 rape in Henrico County.

He was charged with a 1986 attempted rape in Louisville and pleaded guilty to lesser charges. In 1992, he was convicted of two misdemeanors in Dallas County, Texas, for assaulting a hotel maid. In 1993, he was convicted of exposing himself inside a Henrico department store.

Florman is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 4 in the Florida case.

His lawyer, Melvin S. Black of Miami, wrote in an email Tuesday that, At the arraignment, Neil Florman will assert his innocence by entry of a plea of not guilty. We look forward to the trial. Our justice system is based upon the time-tested and fair rule that a verdict is reserved until all the facts are thoroughly evaluated by a jury. We hope that your readers will refrain from a rush to judgement.

As part of a national effort to test backlogged physical evidence kits in sexual assaults, authorities in Lee County sent evidence recovered from a 1998 rape victim in Fort Myers Beach to a DNA lab. A search of offender databases produced a hit last year, matching the Florida suspects DNA to Florman.

Florida authorities sought a court order from Alleghany County for a DNA sample from Florman in June to confirm the results  confirmed on Sept. 11  and Florman, then living in Low Moor, near the West Virginia state line, agreed to make a statement at his lawyers office in Covington.

Among other things, Florman said that when he was young, he went to Key West to visit an aunt who was married to the former sheriff there.

On an unknown date, Florman drove down to Florida with his friend ... to visit his brother, Kelly Florman in Tampa Bay, Fla. During that visit, Florman(,) Kelly and (his friend) went to several bars where the(y) consumed alcohol, Hurd wrote.

Asked if he had ever blacked out in Florida, the affidavit states that Florman said he had blacked out several times in his life but could not recall doing so in Florida. Florman also stated he does not recall having any negative or violent contact with anyone in Florida, Hurd wrote.

Florman can only recall one trip to Tampa, Hurd reported. Tampa is about 150 miles north of Fort Myers Beach.

The 1998 victim said she left a bar early on the morning of June 22, 1998, and encountered Florman, known to her as Cody, in the parking lot where he asked for a ride. She agreed to give him a short lift, but after she began driving, he punched her, knocking her unconscious.

She was taken to a wooded area and raped, she told sheriffs deputies. Due to the suspects strength, her consumption of seven lite beers and her injuries, she was too weak to resist the attack, the affidavit states.

After the assault, she asked the assailant to take her back to her residence. When the suspect stopped at a light, the victim fled from the vehicle on foot and ran to the Citgo on Estero Boulevard where she notified the Lee county Sheriffs Office at approximately 3:00 a.m. Hurd wrote.

He added that due to her level of intoxication and injuries, the deputies who responded were unable to get more details. She was interviewed later that day and provided more detail.
BLOOMFIELD, N.J.  Hackers temporarily redirected people looking for hundreds of local school websites across the U.S.  including Gloucester Countys  to a video in support of the Islamic State extremist group.

The FBI is trying to determine who was behind the hack. School websites in Newtown, Conn.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Bloomfield, N.J., were among those affected.

The Bloomfield school district said its website displayed the Islamic State video for about two hours Monday before it was taken down.

SchoolDesk, the Atlanta-based company that maintains the site, said in a statement that technicians discovered a small file was injected into the root of one of its websites. That redirected approximately 800 school and district webpages to a YouTube video containing an audible Arabic message, unknown writing and a picture of Saddam Hussein.

It looked like it was some sort of ISIS recruitment or support video, SchoolDesk founder Rob Frierson told NJ.com.

SchoolDesks statement said the hack also affected other organizations, including private and government websites. The company said it has added more protections and is requiring users of its websites to reset their passwords.

The Bloomfield district said no confidential student or teacher information was compromised.
A little less than an hour before polls closed Tuesday night, Virginia Elections Commissioner Edgardo Cortes declared the election, headlined by a gubernatorial contest that had the eyes of the nation upon it, a relatively hiccup-free affair.

Things have gone exceptionally well today. Weve had the usual very localized issues that had a very quick remedy once they were brought to someones attention, Cortes said, of the election, which drew the highest turnout for a gubernatorial race in 16 years. We didnt have any major voting equipment issues, which I know a lot of people were concerned about heading into this election with new equipment being out there.

Topping ballots were Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, and longtime lobbyist and former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, who were vying to replace Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in an election that also featured contested races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, all 100 House of Delegates seats and a smattering of local races.

In September, the state Board of Elections voted to discontinue use of all touch-screen voting machines, a decision that forced 22 cities and counties to order new equipment. Despite that relatively last-minute change, there were no reported problems from any of the localities that switched machinery, Cortes said.

Richmond General Registrar J. Kirk Showalter said turnout in the city was about 37 percent as of 4 p.m., which she described as typical for a gubernatorial year.

But Showalter said some students at VCU who attempted to vote at the new precinct established in the University Student Commons after the 2016 election were frustrated to discover that they must vote where they are registered, which in some cases has turned out to be their home cities and counties.

Students who lived in that area formerly voted at Dominion Place on West Grace Street, which was overwhelmed last year, Showalter said, prompting the citys electoral board to establish a new precinct on campus. Students who didnt show up as registered were allowed to cast a provisional ballot, she said.

In Chesterfield, new General Registrar Constance Tyler, speaking shortly after polls closed, guessed that turnout there would approach 50 percent. Chesterfield experienced a glitch at precinct when an election worker accidentally shut down an electronic poll book early.

That close-out process locks the ability to add more voters, because at the end of the night you dont want to let anybody else change that file, Cortes said. Somebody triggered that early.

The remaining voters, about 100 people, were able to cast provisional ballots that will be counted during the canvas tomorrow, Tyler said.

Henrico Registrar Mark J. Coakley said just before 1 p.m. that the county was getting slammed, reaching 30 percent by midday. Coakley could not be reached Tuesday evening for an update.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, statewide turnout was more than 47 percent, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Turnout for a governor's race hasnt risen above 46 percent since 2001, per state Department of Elections records.
PULASKI  A lawsuit brought by the father of Noah Thomas, a 5-year-old boy who drowned in a septic tank in 2015, may go forward against the familys former landlord, a judge ruled Monday.

But Pulaski County Circuit Judge Lee Harrell also ruled that Paul Thomas, suing on behalf of his sons estate, will not be able to seek punitive damages from Gary and Sharon Meadows.

The Meadowses owned the Dublin mobile home where the family lived and the septic tank in which Noah was found after a four-day search.

Paul Thomas had also sued Tuf-Tite, the maker of the septic tank lid, but the company was dropped from the suit Monday with agreement from lawyers on both sides.

Noahs father filed the $5.3 million civil suit in March, alleging that his former landlords and the lids maker were responsible for the dangerous environment that led to his sons death. The Tuf-Tite brand lid, which covers an access hole for tank maintenance, was not securely attached, the suit claimed.

The filing further claimed that the lid rotated or swung open, causing Noah to fall inside. The suit claims the lid then continued to rotate and returned to its previous position, leaving no outward indication of Noahs whereabouts.

William Wallace, attorney for the Meadowses, argued that the suit should be dismissed because the theory of how the lid performed is illogical and preposterous.

Even if the theory is presumed correct, Wallace argued, the Meadowses are guilty only of simple negligence, which does not justify the awarding of punitive damages.

Tim Kirtner, attorney for Paul Thomas, argued that the court could not rule on the plausibility of the plaintiffs theory on how the septic tank lid operated the day Noah fell in before expert testimony and other evidence are presented.

He further argued that in failing to properly secure the lid after working on the septic tank, Gary Meadows was reckless and disregarded the danger of his actions.

Harrell ruled that evidence may be presented at trial on whether Gary Meadows was negligent. However, the judge said, because the lid appeared to be secured after Meadows worked on the septic tank, that level of negligence wouldnt support punitive damages. Kirtner may amend the complaint on the matter of punitive damages, the judge said.

Asked after the hearing if he would amend the complaint, Kirtner said: Well see.

Last year, Paul Thomas and Noahs mother, Ashley White, were both convicted of child neglect and abuse for leaving Noah and his infant sister unattended on two separate occasions on the day of the boys death.

White also was convicted at trial of an additional more serious count of abuse leading to injury.

In September, the Virginia Court of Appeals reversed that conviction.

Evidence photos presented in criminal court show the Tuf-Tite lid as a round piece of black plastic, about 2 feet in diameter.

The lid sat flush with the ground on top of an opening to the tank. It wasnt attached with hinges and was designed to detach completely when removed.

The photos show the words danger and do not enter embossed on top of the lid. There are also arrows labeled safety screw pointing to holes that were supposed to be used to fasten the cover down.

But all but one of those holes were empty when Noah was found, and the one screw remaining wasnt attached to anything.
LYNCHBURG  Virginia State Police were investigating the death of a woman by Lynchburg Police Department gunfire after an hourslong incident Sunday night into Monday morning.

Police officers and Lynchburg Fire Department medics responded to a residence in the 2900 block of Triangle Place at 10:35 p.m. Sunday for reports of a suicidal woman, according to a news release from the Lynchburg Police Department.

Information provided by the caller indicated an adult female subject was armed with a knife and had already harmed herself, the release said. The caller also said there was another individual inside the residence in extreme danger.

Trained negotiators and officers tried to help the woman while she was barricaded in a room for a few hours, according to police.

The woman then emerged from the room with a knife at about 2 a.m. Monday and advanced on the officers in a threatening manner, according to the news release. The officers used nonlethal force when the woman refused to drop the knife, including using a Taser, then shot her when she continued to advance on the officers.

The woman, whose identity was not released, received medical treatment at the scene but died, according to police. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke was to perform an autopsy on her remains.

No police officers were injured. The news release said one officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay, as per the departments policy, but didnt identify the officer.

The Lynchburg Police Department said Monday that it is not releasing any further information.

Gail Parrish, who lives in the house next door to where the woman was shot, said at about noon Monday that she hadnt slept all night. She said she first heard doors slamming next door about 10:30 p.m. and then watched as the whole street was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Normally, its a peaceful, quiet neighborhood, said Parrish, who added that she has lived in the area for nearly 40 years.

At least two individuals have died in the custody of Lynchburg police in the past 10 years. In September 2006, Clarence Beard Jr. died outside his James Crossing apartment. An investigation determined that police had done nothing wrong and that Beard died of heart failure.

After the death of Levon DeShawn Martin in 2014, an investigation determined that his death was caused by a fatal combination of cocaine and PCP.
Note: The seventh paragraph below incorrectly says Ralph Northam offered only one paragraph of campaign boilerplate on the opioid crisis. To the contrary, Northam issued a lengthy and detailed proposal for dealing with it in early October. My sincere apologies to Northam and the readers for missing this.

- ABH

Virginias next governor will confront many pressing needs but few burning oil platforms  except one. The opioid crisis just keeps getting worse.

Drug overdoses, which now constitute the leading cause of death for anyone in America not yet old enough to join AARP, topped 64,000 in 2016. That represented a nearly one-fifth increase over 2015. The other day The Wall Street Journal reported that from January 2016 to January 2017, drug overdose deaths rose another 21 percent. Opioids are driving most of the fatalities.

The figures for Virginia are equally grim. According to the latest report from the state medical examiners office, drug overdoses have been the leading cause of unnatural death in the commonwealth for the past four years. And they are getting worse: From 2015 to 2016, heroin overdoses rose 31 percent; overdose deaths from all drugs rose 39 percent; and deaths from fentanyl and fentanyl analogs spiked by 174 percent.

Measured by Seung-Hui Chos massacre at Virginia Tech, which took 32 lives, the drug epidemic in Virginia is now inflicting the equivalent of roughly one Virginia Tech massacre per week.

President Trump has declared the opioid scourge a national emergency, but his solution is tissue-thin: a few minor tweaks to federal policy, such as relaxing Medicaid rules regarding treatment facilities, and a promise of really great advertising  perhaps a rehash of those old 1980s commercials with the eggs: This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?

Which will accomplish nothing. As The New York Times reported recently, a meta-analysis of rigorous studies collectively examining over 180,000 people reported that the average effect of mass media campaigns on drug use in randomized studies was essentially zero.

Ed Gillespie produced a substantive and thoughtful  albeit insufficient  plan to address the drug crisis. It began with the recognition that addiction is a disease  not a moral failing and that We cannot arrest our way out of the current epidemic of addiction. Gillespie also insisted on getting immediate help for people in crisis and encouraging a focus on recovery in the criminal justice system. Democrat Ralph Northam, unfortunately, offered all of one paragraph of campaign boilerplate  precious little from a physician, who ought to know better.

Gillespie certainly was right that trying to stop the drug crisis by arresting people will not work. It would have been nice if conservatives had recognized that point earlier  say, during the heyday of the crack epidemic, which afflicted largely poor urban blacks rather than affluent suburban whites, and which was met with get-tough crime policies. But better late than never.

In any event, in recent decades the number of people serving time for drug offenses has increased more than tenfold  from 40,000 in 1980 to half a million today. Americas war on drugs has cost taxpayers more than $1 trillion. If locking people up stopped drug use, the entire country should have been clean by now.

Realization about the drug war is dawning all over. Those who say we tried to beat addiction into submission but failed include the editors of National Review, Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, former U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, and many others.

Which should not have been news. The war on illegal drugs cant cure addiction any more than Prohibition cured alcoholism.

And this gives Virginias next governor an opportunity to break with the useless past. He should declare Virginias part of the war on drugs over, and announce a different policy to replace it: Virginia is the new Portugal.

Virginia currently is considering  ever so gingerly  the possibility of decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Sixteen years ago, Portugal decriminalized not only pot but all drugs, including the hardest. At the time, the move elicited warnings about a parade of horribles. But the results have been remarkable.

Portugals approach is two-pronged. It still treats drug dealers harshly and sends pushers to prison. But those caught with small amounts for personal use are sanctioned through an administrative, not a criminal, process. They are first sent to a dissuasion commission, through which casual users are steered away from progression to habitual use. Addicts are sent to treatment.

And it has worked. While Portugal still has a drug problem (Business is still pretty good, one drug dealer told The New York Times in September), it does not have anything like a drug crisis. Drug-related HIV infections have dropped 90 percent, thanks to needle distribution programs. Drug use rose slightly after decriminalization, but it is now lower than it was before decriminalization.

Most important: Drug-induced deaths have plunged, and are now five times lower than the average for the European Union. The countrys drug overdose death rate, per million residents, is three to six, depending on the year.

In the United States, its 312.
A meteorologist can expect many questions about our changeable conditions, and a few about things that seem to repeat.

With showers in store for Tuesday, it seems like a good time to investigate how often Virginia deals with wet weather on Election Day.

There was a time when Whats up with rain on Election Day? was as frequently asked as:

Why do we always get rain during the festival (or fair, or race)?

And: How is it that storms keep missing me to the north (or south, or west) every time?

The answers all involve some degree of random variability in day-to-day weather, with a dash of perception.

Just like playing in the snow on Christmas, the memory of waiting in a long line at a polling place when its rainy and 42 degrees might stand out more than those times when it was just sunny and 65 degrees.

A pattern of repeat weather during an event can exist for a while (or seem to), but things smooth out over time.

When you consider every November Election Day over the past 70 years (which can vary from Nov. 2 to Nov. 8 on the calendar), Richmond had measurable rain on 18 instances. That works out to 26 percent.

Compared with the climatological chance of seeing rain on any early November day, its essentially the same: That background probability for this time of year is about 27 to 29 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

Its a similar story in other nearby cities.

Since 1947, Roanoke saw 18 Election Days with rain, Norfolk had 20, and Washington totaled 22.

If theres a perception of wet Election Day weather, perhaps it came from a stretch in our recent past when a rainy hand was dealt more frequently.

Rain coincided with elections about 50 percent of the time in the 1990s and 2000s, and Richmond measured some rain on four years in a row from 2005 to 2008.

Since then, most corners of the state have enjoyed a decade of dry weather on Election Day.

The last time that Virginias gubernatorial election took place with widespread showers was 1985.

That contest happened in the middle of devastating flooding that began in the mountains of Virginia, the result of extreme rainfall in the days leading up to the Nov. 5 election.

The effect of disasters and foul weather on voter turnout is a worthy topic, but a bit too nuanced for this quick tour of history.

For what its worth, theres no modern example of Election Day snowfall in Richmond.

In 1962, roughly 1 inch of snow fell the day before the election, but just a trace was left by the morning.

Southwest Virginia can look back to Nov. 2, 1954, when 1 to 6 inches of snow and sleet covered the region between Abingdon and Lynchburg while polls were open.

In addition to the rain, Tuesday will bring the coldest weather for Virginias voters since 2012.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Its time for mini med school in Roanoke, and this years theme is focused on military medicine and healing.

The event that is free and open to the public will be held this Thursday and next at the Virginia Tech School of Medicine. A medical background is not required to attend or understand the presentations.

The school is also hosting an art show that pays tribute to military personnel and their families.

This Thursday at 6 p.m., Tara Leigh Tappert, an art scholar who researches art in the military and how it is used to facilitate healing and integration, will begin the presentation. Tappert might be familiar to some in Roanoke as she was the curator in 1990 for the Art Museum of Western Virginia.

In addition, Rusty Noesner, a former Navy SEAL who participated in art therapy programs at Walter Reed after returning from service in Afghanistan, will talk about the company he founded, War Paints, that provides a place for veterans to sell their arts.

On Nov. 16, local physicians and medical researchers will talk about the type of medical care, programs and resources that are available for veterans in the Roanoke Valley.

The medical school is located on Riverside Circle with plenty of free parking available. The medical school and the research institute hold periodic free public events and lectures to make their work more accessible to people living in the Roanoke Valley.
Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a woman by Lynchburg Police Department gunfire after an hours-long incident Sunday night into Monday morning.

Police officers and Lynchburg Fire Department medics responded to a residence on the 2900 block of Triangle Place, situated a few blocks off Campbell Avenue toward William Marvin Bass Elementary School, at 10:35 p.m. Sunday for reports of a suicidal woman, according to a news release from the Lynchburg Police Department.

Information provided by the caller indicated an adult female subject was armed with a knife and had already harmed herself, the release states. The caller also said there was another individual inside the residence in extreme danger.

Trained negotiators and officers tried to help the woman while she was barricaded in a room for a few hours, the release states.

The woman then emerged from the room with a knife at about 2 a.m. Monday and advanced on the officers in a threatening manner, according to the release. The officers used non-lethal force when the woman refused to drop the knife, including using a Taser, then shot her when she continued to advance on the officers, the release states.

At least two individuals have died in the custody of Lynchburg police in the past 10 years. In September 2006, Clarence Beard Jr. died outside his James Crossing apartment. An investigation determined police had done nothing wrong, and Beard died of heart failure. Following the death of Levon DeShawn Martin in 2014, an investigation determined his death was caused by a fatal combination of cocaine and PCP.

The release states the woman received medical treatment at the scene but died. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke will perform an autopsy on her remains. The Lynchburg Police Department didnt identify the woman.

Gail Parrish, who lives in the house next door to where the woman was shot, said at about noon Monday she hadnt slept all night. She said she first heard doors slamming next door at about 10:30 p.m. and then watched as the whole street was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Normally its a peaceful, quiet neighborhood, she said, adding shed lived in the area for close to 40 years.

Parrish said she still feels safe. Other neighbors also commented on how the area is pretty quiet. Louis Durant, who lives down the street, said he was up all night trying to figure out why there were so many law enforcement officers and ambulances in the area.

I just cant believe theyve been out here so long, he said Monday afternoon.

No police officers were injured during the incident, according to the news release. The release states one officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay as per the departments policy but didnt identify the officer.

Department policy also states officers involved in a use of force incident that results in death will receive mandatory counseling. A department supervisor not involved in the incident also is required to investigate the use of force, and another lieutenant is required to review that investigation.

All LPD officers are required to take use of force training at least once per year, and a department captain creates a use of force analysis report for the department every year.

The Lynchburg Police Department said Monday it is not releasing any further information.

According to The Washington Post, 17 individuals in Virginia were shot and killed by police in 2016.
Virginia State Police have identified the Lynchburg woman fatally shot early Monday by city police.

Pamela L. Webber, 54, barricaded herself inside a room at a home in the 2900 block of Triangle Place, state police said in a news release Tuesday .

Lynchburg Police spent the rest of the night and into the early morning hours of Nov. 6 trying to negotiate Webbers peaceful surrender, state police said.

During the course of the negotiations, Webber exited the room armed with a knife and advanced on the officers. Despite their use of less-than-lethal tactics, she continued to advance on the officers and was shot. Webber died at the scene.

State police continue to investigate and will turn their findings over the commonwealths attorneys office for review.
A meteorologist can expect many questions about our changeable conditions, and a few about things that seem to repeat.

With showers in store for Tuesday, it seems like a good time to investigate how often Virginia deals with wet weather on Election Day.

There was a time when "What's up with rain on Election Day?" was as frequently asked as:

"Why do we always get rain during the festival (or fair, or race)?"

And: "How is it that storms keep missing me to the north (or south, or west) every time?"

The answers all involve some degree of random variability in day-to-day weather, with a dash of perception.

Just like playing in the snow on Christmas, the memory of waiting in a long line at a polling place when it's rainy and 42 degrees might stand out more than those times when it was just sunny and 65 degrees.

A pattern of repeat weather during an event can exist for a while (or seem to), but things smooth out over time.

When you consider every November Election Day over the past 70 years (which can vary from Nov. 2 to Nov. 8 on the calendar), Richmond had measurable rain on 18 instances. That works out to 26 percent.

Compared with the climatological chance of seeing rain on any early November day, it's essentially the same: That background probability for this time of year is about 27 to 29 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

It's a similar story in other nearby cities.

Since 1947, Roanoke saw 18 Election Days with rain, Norfolk had 20, and Washington totaled 22.

If there's a perception of wet Election Day weather, perhaps it came from a stretch in our recent past when a rainy hand was dealt more frequently.

Rain coincided with elections about 50 percent of the time in the 1990s and 2000s, and Richmond measured some rain on four years in a row from 2005 to 2008.

Since then, most corners of the state have enjoyed a decade of dry weather on Election Day.

The last time that Virginia's gubernatorial election took place with widespread showers was 1985.

That contest happened in the middle of devastating flooding that began in the mountains of Virginia, the result of extreme rainfall in the days leading up to the Nov. 5 election.

The effect of disasters and foul weather on voter turnout is a worthy topic, but a bit too nuanced for this quick tour of history.

For what it's worth, there's no modern example of Election Day snowfall in Richmond.

In 1962, roughly 1 inch of snow fell the day before the election, but just a trace was left by the morning.

Southwest Virginia can look back to Nov. 2, 1954, when 1 to 6 inches of snow and sleet covered the region between Abingdon and Lynchburg while polls were open.

In addition to the rain, Tuesday will bring the coldest weather for Virginia's voters since 2012.
In the movie Citizen Kane, the newspaper publisher Charles Foster Kane runs for governor of New York. Theres one scene where hes in the newspaper office on election night. His editors have prepared two different front pages. One declares: KANE ELECTED. The other: FRAUD AT POLLS!

Perhaps that was an early foray into what today we might call fake news. Still, the editors then were wise to be prepared for either outcome, and so are we today as Virginians go to the poll to elect a new governor. In that spirit, we want to get a jump on tonights results by offering two different sets of explanations for whatever happens.

If Democrat Ralph Northam wins . . . The tenor of the commentary will depend on whether he wins by a little or by a lot. Either way, they begin from the same starting point:

This was to be expected. Virginia has been trending Democratic for the past decade or so now. The states gone Democratic in three straight presidential elections. Its elected two Democratic U.S. senators. Its voted Democratic in three of the past four gubernatorial elections; Northam would make it four of five. This poses a serious problem for Republicans going forward: Northam was not a particularly exciting candidate, and Ed Gillespie was a strong, credible contender. If a mainstream center-right Republican like Gillespie cant win against an earnest but low-key Democrat, who can?

The states gone Democratic in three straight presidential elections. Its elected two Democratic U.S. senators. Its voted Democratic in three of the past four gubernatorial elections; Northam would make it four of five. This poses a serious problem for Republicans going forward: Northam was not a particularly exciting candidate, and Ed Gillespie was a strong, credible contender. If a mainstream center-right Republican like Gillespie cant win against an earnest but low-key Democrat, who can? The economy helped Northam. Gillespie argued that he would turn around the states economy but voters evidently didnt think the economy needed to be turned around. Virginias unemployment rate is down to 3.7 percent, the lowest its been since April 2008. Voters generally liked outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe and saw no reason to make a change in parties.

Gillespie argued that he would turn around the states economy but voters evidently didnt think the economy needed to be turned around. Virginias unemployment rate is down to 3.7 percent, the lowest its been since April 2008. Voters generally liked outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe and saw no reason to make a change in parties. If Northam wins big, thats evidence of a backlash against President Trump. While Democrats have won a lot in Virginia lately, they havent won by much; most have topped out at 52 percent. Gillespie was a stronger Republican candidate than Ken Cuccinelli was four years ago and in normal times might have won this year. But with Trump, nothing is normal. Anything north of 52 percent for Northam is sign of how much Trump is provoking a voter backlash.

While Democrats have won a lot in Virginia lately, they havent won by much; most have topped out at 52 percent. Gillespie was a stronger Republican candidate than Ken Cuccinelli was four years ago and in normal times might have won this year. But with Trump, nothing is normal. Anything north of 52 percent for Northam is sign of how much Trump is provoking a voter backlash. Virginia is changing culturally. Gillespie was an honorable candidate who ran some dishonorable ads that were designed to instill fear in white voters. Once upon a time, that Confederate imagery would have worked in Virginia; this time it didnt, and instead repulsed even some Republicans. His pandering to racists & neo-Confederates is reprehensible, complained Bruce Bartlett, a former adviser to Ronald Reagan. Doug Stafford, a strategist for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, tweeted an obscenity to describe his reaction to one ad. The dog whistle is a little loud, Ed, he said about another. Virginians made it clear they wouldnt tolerate that sort of thing.

If Republican Ed Gillespie wins . . .

This is a huge shock because it runs counter to national trends that have benefited Democrats, but isnt that surprising given Virginias electoral history. Yes, Democrats have won in presidential elections, but the turnout for these has been 70 percent-plus. Theyve had a much harder time winning off-year elections, when turnout is in the 40-percent range. The Democrats who did win in the past have barely won, so a Northam win was never an automatic thing. The fundamentals always pointed to a close race; the only wild card was how much Trump would skew the results.

Yes, Democrats have won in presidential elections, but the turnout for these has been 70 percent-plus. Theyve had a much harder time winning off-year elections, when turnout is in the 40-percent range. The Democrats who did win in the past have barely won, so a Northam win was never an automatic thing. The fundamentals always pointed to a close race; the only wild card was how much Trump would skew the results. Northam didnt have a message; Gillespie did. Gillespie was able to articulate a clear message: The states economy is sluggish and he has a plan to fix it. Northam spent a lot of time talking about Trump but he never offered a clear description of what hed do as governor.

Gillespie was able to articulate a clear message: The states economy is sluggish and he has a plan to fix it. Northam spent a lot of time talking about Trump but he never offered a clear description of what hed do as governor. Gillespie did a better job uniting his party and energizing it than Northam did. Both candidates began with a handicap  they were mainstream candidates who didnt fire up the more extreme elements of their party. Gillespie fixed his problem, even though it meant talking about Confederate statues and immigrant gangs. A sober, serious Northam, historically a centrist, never did inspire liberal Democrats who pined for a more combative champion. Northam also failed to connect with environmental voters who were opposed to natural gas pipelines which McAuliffe supported and Northam said he wouldnt oppose. That left some voters unenthusiastic come election day.

Both candidates began with a handicap  they were mainstream candidates who didnt fire up the more extreme elements of their party. Gillespie fixed his problem, even though it meant talking about Confederate statues and immigrant gangs. A sober, serious Northam, historically a centrist, never did inspire liberal Democrats who pined for a more combative champion. Northam also failed to connect with environmental voters who were opposed to natural gas pipelines which McAuliffe supported and Northam said he wouldnt oppose. That left some voters unenthusiastic come election day. Gillespie ran a perfect campaign; Northam ran a lackluster one. Gillespie had to thread the needle between the Trump wing of his party and the non-Trumpers. He pulled that off. He never embraced Trump, but managed to get enough support from Trumps base anyway by invoking cultural issues. Those work wonders for Republicans. Critics thought Gillespie was parroting Trump; he actually was running more like George H.W. Bush did in 1988 against Michael Dukakis. Gillespie becomes a textbook example of how an establishment Republican can win in the Trump era. Northams handlers, meanwhile, made some strange strategic decisions that come close to campaign malpractice. The Democratic candidate had some very interesting ideas that he never really talked about  such as cutting the food tax or waiving certain taxes for businesses that open in rural areas. Decades ago, Henry Howell made that the food tax centerpiece of his campaign for governor. Northam barely mentioned it. Why didnt Democrats make No Food Tax this years equivalent to Republican Jim Gilmores famous No Car Tax slogan of 1997?

Northams campaign also made some glaring mistakes. It offended some African-American voters when running mate Justin Fairfax was dropped from one piece of literature because the union that requested the piece hadnt endorsed him. No Democratic candidate for governor had ever skipped the traditional Labor Day parade in Buena Vista; Northam did  sending a signal to rural voters that Democrats werent really interested in the western part of the state. The Latino Victory Funds ad showing a white man in a pick-up chasing down minority kids was intended to reach Hispanic voters but instead provoked a bigger backlash from white voters who felt they were being called racists.

To some extent, all these narratives are true. We just dont know yet which one will prevail. The beauty of our system is you get a say in all this. The polls are open until 7 p.m.
Luke Combs is the winner of the Country Music Association Awards' coveted entertainer of the year trophy. Combs thanked the country music community for making his dreams come true. It was the second time in a row he won the show's top honor, and he also won won album of the year for Growin' Up. Wednesday's show in Nashville, Tennessee, opened with Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire playing tribute to the late country queen Loretta Lynn. The superstar trio performed a medley of Lynns hits including You Aint Woman Enough, Dont Come Home A-Drinkin and Coal Miners Daughter. Leading nominee Lainey Wilson took home two trophies and Alan Jackson accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.
BARRISTERS representing three men on trial for sexually assaulting a young girl more than 20 years ago have claimed it is a case of mistaken identity or the alleged victim is lying about the abuse.

The Masbrough men all deny indecent assaults allegedly committed between 1994 and 1995, when the complaint, now 35, was aged 12 or 13.

Sajid Ali (38), of James Street, is charged with seven counts, Zaheer Iqbal (40), St John's Avenue, five and Riaz Makhmood (39), of Falding Street, three.

Cross-examining the woman today (Tuesday), Glenn Parsons for Ali, said: Like many people in Rotherham, you would have known about the issues in relation to Asian men and young girls, you would have seen about that in the media, yes?

The complainant, now aged 35, answered: Yes.

Mr Parsons said: By 2014 these allegations had been in the Rotherham community for a number of years.

There was a large amount of media coverage over those years."

She answered: I told my sister-in-law before it was all out in the media. Watching and seeing it on TV did make me want to come forward.

Mr Parsons asked: You were aware of allegations concerning Asian men and young girls in Rotherham before 2014?

She answered: Yeah, I suppose.

He asked: You had not seen any media coverage of that at all?

She answered: Not that I recall.

The barrister asked if she had seen the Panorama documentary about child sexual exploitation in Rotherham which he said had been aired on September 1, 2014  four days before she reported her abuse to police.

The witness said she had seen the documentary but could not remember when.

The court heard the girl had initially thought Ali, who she knew as Sos, was her boyfriend.

Mr Parsons said around the time of the allegations Ali would have been around 15 and 16 and she had mistakenly identified him or made it up.

She repilied: He was old enough to know better.

The woman said she believed all the men had been aged around 19-20 at the time of the alleged abuse.

When Mr Parsons asked if the name Sos had been suggested to her before her police interview, she replied: No, somebody didn't suggest it, its not something I would forget.

Mr Parsons said the girl might have drunk cider in Masbrough and might have been aware of something going on but she had not been part of it and her abuse "never happened.

The alleged victim replied: It did happen, why would I say something like that.

Its ripped me apart even saying it. What have I got to gain from it, why would I say it?

He replied: One of the things that was said on a number of occasions by you was you felt the need for attention.

The woman, who began crying, added: Its something I have had to live with all them years, for you to stand there and think I have made it up.

Mr Parsons said she had never performed oral sex on Ali, to which she replied: Youre going to say that. I know different.

The woman said she had known Iqbal by the name of Booty and that he was small and smelt of smoke.

Andrew Dallas, for Iqbal, said: You have given his name and picked somebody you said was Booty quite some time later when they (the police) eventually got round to doing an ID procedure with you.

Apart from that, you can't remember anything else about him, for example where he lived or how old he was at the time?

She answered: He was about 19 or 20.

Mr Dallas added: Im going to suggest Booty was a non-smoker and he was someone onthe fringes with people that used to hang around and not one of those who was a pal of Sos.

He would pass by and stand and talk and you never had direct dealings at all.

You were confused, the distinctive name of Booty and the distinctive situation is someone else.

She answered: I am not confused at all.

Zaiban Alam, for Makhmood, said the first time the woman had mentioned her client by name was in her police interview in 2016.

Ms Alam said: In that interview you told police his name was Raz or Razza.

That was when you gave police the fifth account of these incidents  why could you not give his name to the police previously?

She answered: His face sticks in my mind even if his name doesnt.

The trial continues.
Laura Caddick

BEAUTY queen Laura Caddick will get a second chance at taking a top title after having success in this years contest.

Bartender Laura (25), of Rainborough Court in Brampton Bierlow, came fifth in the Miss British Isles competition this year after getting a wildcard chance to enter.

Now she is all set for the 2018 contest in March and aims to represent Rotherham and do the town proud.

Prior to this years competition, Laura had never taken part in a beauty pageant before.

Laura, who is now being sponsored by Authentic Mental Health, said she is looking forward to the upcoming contest in Chester.

She said: I have been put in the final after placing fifth last time and will compete again in March representing Rotherham, my home town.

I am aiming high to win this time. I have been working very hard to build my modelling portfolio. I did a photoshoot recently for Miss British Isles and I have got a few more in the run up to the final in March.

I am very excited and keen to compete again as Miss Rotherham 2017/18.

It was an amazing experience last time and its an honour to be in the final once again.

Prior to competing in this years Miss British Isles contest, Laura had done make-up for Miss Great Grimsby finalist Anna Stacey.
Jenny Middleton, editor of the Nursing Times; Vanessa Hague, healthcare assistant; Mandy Platts, deputy head of service; Carole Traunter, business manager; Linda Mills, head of service; Professor Jean White CBE, chief nursing officer for the Welsh Government.

AN EAR care service for over-55s has won a national award for its innovative approach.

The Ear Care and Audiology Service won the Care of Older People category at the Nursing Times Awards, held in London on Thursday.

The service, part of Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, combined two teams to offer an ear and hearing service at Rotherham Community Health Centre.

Previously, patients might have to wait six months and attend several appointments before receiving a hearing aid.

Now, a one-stop-shop approach means most patients get their hearing aid on the same day as their first appointment.

Judges praised the range of training offered by the team to nurses, doctors and audiologists from around the country, with the proceeds reinvested in NHS services.

Linda Mills, who heads up the team, said: We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award.

We have an amazing, multi-disciplinary team who work extremely hard to provide our patients with a high quality service.

She added: Our patients think it is great that they can see the right healthcare professional and potentially go home with a hearing aid on the same day.

Visit www.earcarecentre.com to find out more about the service, or the training courses it delivers.
Kerala becomes the first state to introduce uniform gold price based on bank rate Kerala becomes the first state in India to launch uniform gold price based on the bank rate. The decision to introduce a uniform price on 916 purity 22-carat gold was taken at a meeting between officials of Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the largest...

De Beers earns $450 mln from ninth rough diamond sale De Beers realised $450 million from the ninth rough diamond sales cycle of 2022 compared to $438 million, a year earlier. The revenue dropped 12.1% when compared to $508 million realised during the eighth sales cycle of the year.

Diamcor realises $266.81/ct from latest diamond sale Diamcor Mining sold 5,518.74 carats of rough diamonds at its first tender and sale of rough diamonds recovered from the processing of quarry material from the Krone-Endora at Venetia project for about $1,5 million, resulting in an average price of $266.81...

Gembridge sees record Q3 sales Digital marketplace Gembridge posted its highest ever sales in the third quarter of 2022, and boosted its listings of high-quality gemstones and jewelry. The jump in transactions coincides with a sharp increase in the number of listings.
Thailand hosted the annual World Jewellery Confederation meeting or CIBJO Congress 2017, emphasizing the countrys position as worlds gems and jewellery trading hub. The event welcomed renowned gems and jewellery traders worldwide, opening n opportunities to seek international partnerships, says a Press note from the organisation.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, who presided over the CIBJO Congress 2017 opening ceremony on November 6 said:  The gems and jewellery industry is an important part of Thailands economy, creating jobs and income for both large and small companies that employ over 1 million people in total. Related jobs in this industry range from stone selectors, craftsmen, cutting professionals to general labor while the gems and jewellery industry also creates value for other related industries.

Thailand is determined to develop products to elevate the countrys gems and jewellery industry, with the goal to establish itself as the worlds gems and jewellery trading hub by 2021, the PM added.

This year, Thailand received the honor to host the annual World Jewellery Confederation meeting which is an important gathering of professionals in the gems and jewellery industry worldwide where over 300 business people in the industry from 42 countries joined in the meetings, said Mrs. Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce.

According to the statement, in 2016, Thailand ranked as the country with the tenth-highest value of gems and jewellery exports including gold, worth $14.246 bn in 2016 or 3.49 percent of the countrys GDP. In the first 9 months of 2017, export from this industry brought in over $10.6 bn and is one of the top-three exports of the country.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




Mozambique-focused miner, Mustang Resources, said its recent ruby auction held in Mauritius accrued $713,456 against millions that had been projected.

Only eight bid schedules were sold from 21 that had been placed under the hammer.

The company said it accepted bids for 29,463 carats from the 405,000 carats it took to the auction.

Bids, it said, ranged from $6 to $1944 per carat.

The Western Australian reports that debate had raged on social media and stock market forums questioning the value and quality of the rubies Mustang took to the three-day event that closed on Monday.

The feedback from buyers and the results make it very clear that we need to offer increased quantities of rubies in each category, said Mustang managing director Christiaan Jordaan.

This is because buyers and their jewellery customers need to be certain that there are enough similar rubies available to enable them to produce the required number of any particular jewellery item.

He said the company would now focus on building the inventory required by the market.

As part of this, we have decided to delay the planned plant upgrade at Montepuez, which will reduce our expenditure and allow us to focus on preparations for our second tender, said Jordaan.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

Ontario is establishing a High-Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board to provide strategic support and community engagement as the province pursues plans to build a high-speed connection between Toronto and Windsor.

According to the province, the landmark project would be Canadas first HSR service and would slash peoples travel times, providing a faster, greener travel option that creates new opportunities for workers, businesses and anyone traveling in this part of the province.

High-speed rail will dramatically change whats possible for people in Southwestern Ontario. Whether thats giving people a faster, greener way to get to a great job in the tech industry, allowing family members to visit more often or helping people discover more of our beautiful province. Canadas first high speed rail service will also help companies along the Toronto-Windsor corridor to continue to attract top talent and take their business to the next level, said Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

The province explains that by expanding Ontarios Innovation SuperCorridor to Windsor, high-speed rail will support and enhance opportunities for economic growth in Southwestern Ontario and across the province. High-speed trains between Toronto and Windsor would travel at up to 250 kph (155.3 mph) on a combination of existing track and new dedicated rail corridors. At these speeds, travel between the two cities would take two hours instead of the current four hours.

In addition to providing strategic advice on major business issues associated with the project, the HSR Planning Advisory Board will engage with the private sector, stakeholders and Indigenous communities. The team members will bring a breadth and depth of expertise to the project, including in the high tech and innovation sectors; engineering, environmental sciences and transportation planning; and the financing and delivery of infrastructure projects. Members will include the best and brightest in these fields from across Ontario and Canada.

The corridor was selected because it is a hub for leading startups, research institutions and the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and the region is growing faster than its current transportation network can accommodate. The proposed stops are Windsor, Chatham, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Toronto Union Station, with a connection to Pearson International Airport.

High-speed rail will have a transformative impact on travel in Southwestern Ontario, helping people to innovate, connect with each other and travel for work, study and play. This is just one part of our plan to invest in transit across the province  connecting communities and supporting growth in jobs and the economy, said Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca.
ENSCO Rail

Canadian Pacific (CP) awarded a contract to ENSCO Rail to provide inspection systems for a new track evaluation car.

ENSCO Rail says the car will be the newest track evaluation car in the CP fleet and will be equipped with state-of-the-art track measurement and imaging system technology.

We are proud of our continuing relationship with Canadian Pacific and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to deliver the track inspection systems for Canadian Pacifics new track evaluation car, said Boris Nejikovsky, president of ENSCO Rail.

The company says the sophisticated system suite aboard the vehicle will provide important indicators of track quality and safety. Specifically, the installed systems on the new CP car will include a track geometry measurement system, rail profile measurement system, deployable gauge restraint measurement system, joint bar inspection system, track component imaging system, driver view imaging system, and track view imaging system. ENSCO Rail explains that together, these systems provide the data needed to make decisions to improve track maintenance and reduce operating costs.

ENSCO Rail has delivered solutions on more than 50 inspection cars throughout the world to meet the needs of the railway industry.
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC) announced the company's revised outlook for 2017 includes: adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of $0.59 to $0.74; and revenue of $18.9 billion to $19.1 billion. Previously, the company projected adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of $0.69 to $0.99; and revenue of $19.1 billion to $19.4 billion.

Ronald Rittenmeyer, CEO, said: "Reflecting on the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and a softer volume environment, we are lowering our full year 2017 Adjusted EBITDA Outlook to $2.375 billion to $2.425 billion. We are partially offsetting the volume declines with tighter cost controls, but the one-time impacts are difficult to recover in a short period of time. We are challenging ourselves to improve accountability, agility and decision making, changing how we manage our day-to-day, and reiterating our focus on quality and service."

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Business News
Indian shares opened higher on Tuesday, tracking firm cues from Asia after the major U.S. averages hit fresh record closing highs overnight, boosted by rallying oil prices and corporate dealmaking news.

The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 100 points or 0.29 percent at 33,830 while the broader Nifty index was up 15 points or 0.14 percent at 10,466.

ONGC and Oil India jumped around 2 percent each after oil prices posted their biggest gains in six weeks on Monday amid turmoil in the Middle East.

Reliance Communications added 1.3 percent after the telecom company signed an agreement to sell its non-core DTH .

Torrent Power rallied almost 4 percent after its Q2 net profit more than doubled.

Bank of Maharashtra rose half a percent after cutting its lending rates.

Muthoot Capital Services edged up 0.4 percent on fund raising reports.

Tata Chemicals climbed over 1 percent after selling its phosphatic fertilizers business.

Just Dial tumbled 3.8 percent on disappointing quarterly results.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Finland's foreign trade deficit widened in September from a year ago, as imports grew faster than exports, preliminary figures from Finland Customs Office showed Tuesday.

The trade deficit rose to EUR 210 million in September from EUR 103 million in the corresponding month last year.

Both the value of exports and imports advanced by 8.0 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively in September from last year.

Exports to EU countries grew 8.0 percent and those to non-EU countries by 9.0 percent.

During the first nine months of the year, total trade deficit of the country was EUR 1.7 billion versus a shortfall of almost EUR 2.1 billion in the same period of 2016.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
French shares were marginally higher on Tuesday as investors monitored U.S. President Donald Trump's Asian tour and awaited a speech by European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi in Frankfurt later in the day for direction.

The benchmark CAC 40 index was up 3 points or 0.06 percent at 5,510 in late opening deals after losing 0.2 percent the previous day.

Lender Credit Agricole rallied 1.4 percent after it agreed to buy Italy's wealth-management specialist Banca Leonardo SpA for an undisclosed amount.

Eiffage shares rose about 1 percent. The construction firm reiterated its full-year guidance after reporting a 6 percent increase in quarterly sales.

Semiconductor company Riber jumped nearly 8 percent on winning a

multi-million euros order in Asia.

Resource management firm Veolia Environnement was little changed after unveiling its earnings results for the nine months ended September.

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Market Analysis
(Agencia CMA Latam) - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia defended the creation of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) by the South American country's Congress as "fundamental for the effective fulfillment of international obligations in the field of human rights."

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace is the model of transitional justice agreed upon in the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) former guerrilla group.

The jurisdiction aims at investigating and bringing to justice people responsible for crimes related to an armed conflict that resulted in thousands of deaths over more than a half-century.

The OHCHR stressed that the compliance to the JEP by all the parties is a way of guaranteeing the clarification of the truth and the reparation to the victims.

"The granting of judicial benefits to those responsible for international crimes outside this framework may entail the international responsibility of the State," the agency warned.

"Despite the efforts promoted by the State in the fight against impunity, serious challenges remain to ensure effective judicial protection for the victims, and this mechanism represents hope for accountability in the country," the U.N. OHCHR concluded.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
(Agencia CMA Latam) - Egyptian companies are interested in several products from Argentina, such as meat, wheat flour, refined oils, fishery products and balanced foods, according to an Argentinean trade mission sent to the African country.

The mission was organized by Argentina's Ministries of Agribusiness and Foreign Affairs and the South American country's Agency for Investment and International Trade. The Argentinean companies made contact with almost 90 Egyptian groups, from different areas, from vegetable oils, grains, balanced and processed foods, to the provision of stock silos.

Also, they proposed projects, such as the formation of the Argentinean-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, the holding of an event to promote meat, the possible installation of a food distribution center and Egyptian missions to Argentina.

by Agencia CMA Latam

For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Media conglomerate Walt Disney Inc. (DIS) has lifted the ban it had imposed on the Los Angeles Times critics' attending its film screenings after the banning created huge uproar among journalists.

"We've had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we've agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics," Disney said in a statement.

Last week, Disney had banned Los Angeles Times critics from attending film screenings after the paper published a critical coverage of its dealings in Anaheim.

Several number of news outlets, including The New York Times and the A.V. Club, showed their support for Los Angeles Times and said they would boycott all advance screenings of Disney films.

On Tuesday, members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics jointly announced their decision to disqualify Disney's movies from year-end award consideration unless the blackout was "publicly rescinded."

"Disney's actions are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility towards journalists," the organizations said in a joint statement.

The row had started after the Los Angeles Times published an investigative series in September explaining the relationship between Disneyland and the city of Anaheim. The author, Daniel Miller, wrote that Disney used aggressive carrot-and-stick strategies to squeeze Anaheim for subsidies, incentives, rebates and protections from future taxes despite generating huge profits.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday claimed it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised notes during its probe into the Kashmir terror funding case.

"We have seized demonetised currency of face value Rs 36,34,78,500 and arrested nine persons in this connection in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case," the NIA said.

However, details of the seizure were not known immediately or whether the arrests included separatist leaders and Kashmiri businessmen who are in Tihar Jail on charges of terror funding.

The claim came amid opposition claims that the November 8, 2016 decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes (almost 86 per cent of the currency in circulation) had made no significant impact on curbing terrorism and its financing from across the border.

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Nov-07-2017 14:15 TweetFollow @OregonNews 500 Undocumented Portland Pot Plants in Custody Mature marijuana plants were confiscated weighing 2,998.2 pounds (stalks and all).

This too large medical marijuana grow had allegedly applied for their OLCC license but still the Vice Squad cleaned out the warehouse of drying plants. Photo: Portland Police Bureau

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The pot plants were being trimmed and otherwise processed for medical and recreational use, or so the warehouse owner alleges. Either way, they were taken by the police. 500 plants in custody. It began when the Portland Police Bureau's Drugs and Vice Division received an anonymous tip about illegal marijuana processing, and on Friday, they responded to that tip with an official visit to 6000 SE 111th Ave. During the preliminary investigation, officers learned that subjects were delivering hundreds of harvested marijuana plants to a warehouse. Officers then contacted a person associated with the warehouse. The person claimed to be responsible for the warehouse and the delivery of the marijuana. Officers entered the warehouse. There they discovered a 16-person crew working within the building. The people were processing the drying plants, as are cannabis farmers everywhere this time of year. Officers also contacted several individuals who provided documentation about the marijuana. According to the documents, the marijuana was being grown for five patients under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. The individuals claimed they were in the process of obtaining their "Recreational License" through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), but no license had been granted. Whether or not they had applied and paid their fee is unknown. Based on that information, the officers believed the operation was in excess of the total 30 mature plants allowed under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program guidelines. Officers processed the operation and seized an estimated 500 mature marijuana plants weighing 2,998.2 pounds (stalks and all). The case is being reviewed by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. If any community members are worried about illegal drug activity in their neighborhood, simply call the cops. The phone number for the Portland Drugs and Vice Division Drug Complaint Hotline is 503-823-3784, and they want to hear whatever you've got to say. Source: Portland Police Bureau #Oregon #Oregonmarijuana #OMMP #Potbust #PortlandOregon _________________________________________

Prohibition | Marijuana | Marijuana | Oregon | Most Commented on





Articles for November 6, 2017 | Articles for November 7, 2017 |
The Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, received the Ambassador of the European Union to Samoa, Julian Wilson, yesterday.

Mr. Wilson presented his credentials to his Highness Tuimalealiifano at his Motootua office yesterday.

Mr. Wilson was accompanied by his spouse, Claudine Elysee, and the Head of Cooperation, Christoph Wagner.

Mr. Wilson said the European Union (E.U.) and Samoa have a long standing tradition of co-operation and partnership dating back to the mid-1970's.

The E.U.'s ambition is to further consolidate its role as a committed, reliable and predictable partner for the Pacic negotiations on the new partnership between the E.U. and the African, Caribbean and Pacic countries beyond 2020, he said.

Samoa is a key partner of the E.U. in the Pacic and plays an important role in consolidating the alliance between the E.U. and Pacic island countries. For example, a crucial area of this strategic cooperation is climate change."

All eyes are now directed towards Bonn and we are working together towards a successful outcome at the ongoing C.O.P. 23 meeting under Fiji's presidency.

Strategic relations include also other issues such as global (in particular maritime) security and strengthening common values on environment, democracy and human rights.

Samoa's intention to accede to the existing Economic Partnership Agreement (E.P.A.) with the E.U. is very welcome, said Mr. Wilson.

The E.U. invited Samoa as an observer to the E.P.A. Trade Committee in October and looks forward to deepening the work on technical issues, but also on how to upgrade Samoa's capacity and competitiveness."

The focus of the E.U.'s development cooperation with Samoa is on water and sanitation. Supply of quality water is a fundamental aspect in the battle to alleviate poverty."

It reduces eases of water home diseases such as diarrhea and improves general living standards, especially for the most vulnerable in society."

We also support the strengthening of civil society in Samoa, including important issues such as gender equality."

ln addition, Samoa benets from E.U.'s regional programme and cooperation that extends to areas such as agriculture, disaster risk reduction, addressing root causes of violence against women, public nance management, waste management and marine protection.

His Highness, Tuimalealiifano said the European Union has provided immense assistance in key development sectors of Samoa economy such as water and sanitation, hydro-electrication, education, health, agriculture given through sector budget support, the Civil Society Support program and through.

As a small island developing State, Samoa continues to face challenges that are beyond our control, the Head of State said. Climate change and sea level rise, the degradation of our oceans and the resources therein, and vulnerability to natural disasters."

We appreciate the role of the European Union in addressing these challenges through the E.D.F. bilaterally and regionally."

Samoa takes note of the delayed Economic Partnership Agreement with the E.U. and is preparing for participation in the interim E.P.A. - we acknowledge the E.U.s assistance in this regard."

I am condent that during your tenure as the Ambassador and Head of the Delegation to the Pacic you will endeavor to use your good office to further promote the Samoa-EU partnership.

ABOUT Wilson

Mr. Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Economics of Africa and Asia at London University in I983. Later that year he began his career in journalism at the Economist Group where he was also an editor and consultant.

In I991, he pursued and completed his M.B.A. at the City of London Business School. In 2001, he was assigned by the European Union (E.U.) as the Head of Operations at the E.U. Delegation to Afghanistan.

Mr. Wilson was assigned to many of the following posts: Head of Unit in the Director General for External Relations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives (2003-2005); the Ambassador and Head of E.U. Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives (2005-2008); Ambassador and Head of E.U. Delegation to Indonesia, Brunei and A.S.E.A.N. (2008-2013); before becoming the Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacic in European External Action Services (2016).

Mr. Wilson is now currently the Head of Division for the European External Action Services for Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacic. Mr. Wilson will depart Samoa tomorrow and will return to the E.U. ofce in Suva, Fiji.
Saint Don Bosco Pre-School at Sinamoga opened its new school building yesterday.

The Pre School is located at the compound of the Catholic Church at Sinamoga.

The cost of the school building is $25,000 and was mostly funded by New Zealand High Commission with assistance from families and friends of the school.

We want to thank the High Commissioner of New Zealand for accepting our application, thats why we have this beautiful school building, Father. Petelo Vito of the Catholic Church, Sinamoga.

Thank you very much we never forget your support here in St. Don Bosco Pre-School.

According to the schools President Lagi Schwenke, the main aim in setting up the pre-school was when the church sees the growing numbers of young ones not only to their church but also to nearby villages.

We all know that pre-school education is a very important aspect of childs development, Lagi said.

Many people especially parents and grandparents are becoming aware of its importance for its has a lot of benefits to the life of children of our church, village and nearby areas.

The other thing that benefits our children from this school, is because it increases their academic skills and enhances the social and emotional attributes.

She believes that teachers and parents plays similar roles in bringing up a child.

Thats the truth, parents and teachers both need to play their role in the development of a child and its a must for every child to attend pre-school before going up to another level.

Because it will enhance their personality, social interaction and also provides a sound platform for them to develop their abilities at an early stage of their lives.
The Land Transport Authority donated $1,000 to the Samoa Cancer Society on Monday.

Land Transport Authority Manager of Corporate Services, Tevaga Viane Tagiilima, handed over the donation to the Societys Patient Support Officer, Faavaivai Fiu.

The contribution will help provide assistance to cancer patients who are at their homes and also for cancer patients who are leaving for overseas treatment, said Mr. Faavaivai

The money was collected during L.T.As Pinktober event held last week.

The Land Transport Authority aims to help patients who are battling cancer and also create more awareness in Samoa.
Its Amys last day in Samoa and she did not waste a single minute as she set up by the pool complete with her tanning lotion and a book ready to work on her tan.

Dear Tourist sat down with Amy who was more than happy to share her travelling experience so far in Samoa.

Amy is here with her three good friends that she met in a mothers group when her eldest child was born and over the years they have remained close.

Over coffee last year, the friends decided then and there to plan a trip together and tickets were bought to Samoa, a place none of them had been to.

I didnt know what to expect, Amy said.

I liked the fact that I was coming to something new. We flew into Samoa while it was dark so I had no idea it was this beautiful as we drove to the Taumeasina.

But walking through this hotel has just been amazing and having this beautiful beach here is fantastic.

The ladies discovered Chef John Tours on the Taumeasina website and booked a tour with him to Savaii, and Amy told Dear Tourist that it was one of the most amazing experiences she had ever had.

We were so lucky, we booked a Chef John tour and we went over to Savaii with him on the second day we were here. We loved it; that was the most amazing experience Ive ever had, she said.

It was because it didnt seem too commercialized and we got out there and saw different things. It was nice and fun, we got to play our own music in the car and sing along.

Chef John was great about letting us have our own time but also popping in from time to time. Also the fresh food, we got to go to the markets and see things that we may not have been able to see had it not been for Chef John.

And the food, hands down  the best meal Ive ever eaten. To have our meal on the beach with no one else around, it was just amazing.

Amy and her friends had such an amazing time in Savaii with Chef John that they decided to follow him again to To Sua.

Ive always wanted to do a cooking tour on other travels and for whatever reason I missed out but this time it seemed to line up, we loved the Thursday Chef John tour to Savaii so much that we rebooked for the Saturday tour with him when we went down to the Ocean trench, which we loved.

Amy will never forget her experience in Samoa and even with last weekends earthquake that jolted our island nation, she maintained that it did not deter her and she would return when she could.

When I felt the earth shake last Saturday, I wasnt scared because I looked around and nobody seemed to be in any urgent hurry. It did make me wonder though what the earthquake evacuation policies were at the hotels especially considering we are sitting out on the water here.

I mean where do we go? And how do we get there? However I would absolutely return if I get another opportunity to come back. I would tell everyone back home to just do it and come over to Samoa; you will never ever experience something else like this. I love the people and I love the stories behind the villages and your culture.

I worked for a travel insurance agency and Ive started to see some advertising on Samoa tourism back home in Sydney. I feel like now is the time for Samoa, youve got your national carrier now. I hope you promote it and get people here.
The Rotary Clubs biggest annual fundraiser brought the fun of Australias biggest horse race, the Melbourne Cup, to Samoa yesterday.

Locals and expats gathered for the Melbourne Cup Extravaganza at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima where they enjoyed the festivities.

The crazy unique hats, great company, overflowing drinks, food and the enjoyment of some great horse racing was the reason of the day.

According to Rotary Samoa Club member Titilia Tuileva, this has been an ongoing annual event.

The Rotary Samoa club has been using this Australian exciting event to raise funds for all the projects that we are working on, she said.

She said this was the major fundraiser of their club.

The Rotary Samoa Club has different sorts of projects. We do community projects, and all projects regarding education.

Back in Melbourne, Rekindling the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

The youngest horse in the field, Rekindling gave 24-year-old Joseph O'Brien something his father has yet to achieve  a Melbourne Cup victory.

The British horse came in first ahead of Johannes Vermeer and Max Dynamite over 3,200 metres at Flemington.

Rekindling made a late charge down the straight, narrowly edging Johannes Vermeer in the final 200 metres.

"I can't believe it," Joseph O'Brien said. "His preparation went really good, and Corey gave him an unbelievable ride.
The Samoa Meteorology Office has issued a "Heavy Rainfall Warning" for all of Samoa. Continuous heavy rainfall will lead to flood in all low lying areas including areas close to rivers and streams.

We therefore, advise the general public: DO NOT cross rivers, streams and fords if flooded; boil drinking water before consumption; ensure you have enough water around your home for use in case of water service disruption; ensure you have candles/torch in case of power disruption; do not allow your children from playing in flood water; if you live close to rivers and streams, monitor river levels and evacuate if necessary.

Keep your aiga safe #Plan #Prepare #Protect
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  It's obvious to anyone who looks at a map but also, this week, especially noteworthy: The leaders of two nations that have squared off with harsh words and the threat of nuclear war are now closer to each other than New York City's Trump Tower is to the White House.

That's presuming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in fact in Pyongyang, which is likely, though not as definite as U.S. President Donald Trump's presence in Seoul, the South Korean capital. The American leader was there on Tuesday, meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and urging Kim to "come to the table" and "make a deal."

The proximity of Trump and Kim this week is an interesting blip and, probably, little more. But it underscores a daily fact of life for the residents of the two Koreas' capitals: Their seats of government, mortal enemies linked by a common heritage, spend every day virtually breathing down each other's geographic necks.

Seoul, home to the Blue House where South Korea's president works, is just 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square and the heart of the North Korean regime. New York City, by comparison, is 205 miles (330 kilometers) from Washington, D.C.

Many recent presidents have gone even closer to Pyongyang by visiting the Demilitarized Zone that marks the border between North Korea and South Korea.

For direct comparison, here is an assortment of approximate distances:

 Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia: 120 miles (195 kilometers)

 Beirut to Jerusalem: 150 miles (240 kilometers)

 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: 200 miles (320 kilometers)

 London to Paris: 215 miles (345 kilometers)

 Miami to Havana: 230 miles (370 kilometers)

 Johannesburg to Cape Town, South Africa: 785 miles (1260 kilometers)
In the heart of San Diegos biomedical community, in a tourist-friendly setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean, civic leaders officially kicked off a program to attract wealthy patients and their families.

DestinationCare San Diego unites four local health care systems along with the San Diego Tourism Authority to market the region.

Related: San Diegos next tourism craze: medicine

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The message is that San Diego has a rare combination of a tourist-friendly climate, advanced research expertise in critical areas such as genomics, and excellent clinical care. So while patients are cared for, their friends and family members can enjoy all San Diego County has to offer.

The announcement was made Monday at the Worth Health Summit, held at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the kind of high-end resort affluent travelers frequent.

Speaking were Joe Terzi, the tourism authoritys president and CEO, and Malin Burnham, a veteran philanthropist who provided $100,000 to get the program off the ground. The tourism authority is also supplying funding.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer endorsed the initiative in a brief appearance.

The summit included a presentation by genomic pioneer J. Craig Venter, whose enterprises include Human Longevity, a La Jolla company that offers in-depth health examinations with the newest technologies.

UC San Diego Health System, Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare and Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego constitute the programs four anchors. Its expected that other quality health care providers will be added, Terzi said.

But first, the program has to get off the ground.

The goal has been to start with this nucleus, because they are the primary (health care) institutions in the San Diego,  Terzi said. So once we start to move out, there is a discussion about where do we extend, and how far. Because we want the treatment to be rated very highly.

Rankings by U.S. News & World Report will guide addition of other institutions, Terzi said.

Advanced biomedical centers such as Human Longevity are absolutely on the list to be included, Terzi said.

The goal is to start with hospitals that offer the best care for the sick, and then to extend to programs such as Human Longevity, which are more concerned with helping people live a long and healthy life by detecting problems early on, he said.

DestinationCare San Diego is meant to become self-sustaining, Terzi said. Options to be considered include commissions from hotels on visiting patients, payments from hospitals, or other sources.

But right now we have identified the money necessary to get to the second year. After that well decide what the best approach is.

Burnham said he got involved in the project because it would be good for San Diego. Getting the leaders of the four hospital systems together was challenging, he said, because repeated attempts at scheduling failed.

Then Burnham hit on the idea of inviting them to dinner at his house.

Finally, we agreed on a date, and I will tell you that the meeting was perfect, Burnham said. Everyone was cooperative.

At that meeting, each leader agreed to assign a senior executive to represent their organization, he said.

Science Playlist  On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020
With the growing popularity of Amazon Echo and Google Home, consumer appetite for high-end sound systems appears to be taking a backseat to demand for cheap smart speakers. But San Diego-based ComHear is proving that audiophiles are hungry for something that is both compact and powerful.

The sound technology startup is coming off an unexpectedly successful fundraising campaign for its soon-to-be released 3-D soundbar, the Yarra 3DX. Instead of raising a desired $50,000 from backers on Kickstarter, the company collected nearly $740,000 from more than 1,800 believers anxious to get their hands  or ears, rather  on the device.

Traditionally you see crowdfunding being used to raise money to develop a product. Our product is developed, but our challenge is, how do you introduce three-dimensional sound to the consumer?, said Gerry Chastelet, CEO of ComHear. You can videotape experiences, but if you dont have a three-dimensional soundbar, you cant provide 3-D music, 3-D audio, the 3-D experience.

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Thus, the company set out on a road trip of sorts, providing a number of in-person demos to influential folks who could vouch for the all-encompassing audio experience.

Were using Kickstarter really to bring 3-D audio into the market as a reality, as opposed to from a development point of view, Chastelet said. The idea is to get the first 3,000 to 5,000 units into the field.

ComHears patented technology, called MyBeam, packs 12 individual speakers into a single soundbar to create 3-D sound, which Chastelet describes as wrapping sound around the users listening zone, whether thats a small desk or a larger room. The technology is based on research done at the Spatial Audio Lab at UCSD under the direction of Peter Otto, who is now ComHears chief science officer.

The consumer-facing Yarra 3DX system is designed for young audio enthusiasts  as in, 20 through 50 year-old home theater buffs, video gamers and music purists. Its meant to replace both high-end headphones and more traditional multi-speaker home theater setups.

In the third quarter of 2016, 48 percent of U.S. broadband households owned speakers, 23 percent owned a soundbar, and 6 percent owned an Internet-connected multi-room music system, according to data supplied by Parks Associates.

As much as industry leaders see the artistic and market potential of the high-resolution movement, consumer demand for high-resolution audio is unclear, said Dina Abdelrazik, a research analyst with Parks Associates. Most people can discern the difference in quality between lousy MP3 files and lossless CD quality files  . However, most may not value the quality difference enough to overcome new demand of higher resolution files  and the cost of device upgrades.

Even still, the Consumer Technology Association shows, from its 2015 survey, that more than half of audio product purchasers were interested in high-resolution audio, she added. And a new wave of products, such as the Google Max and the Apple HomePod, is revitalizing the value proposition for premium quality speakers, Abdelrazik said.

Though minus an intelligent assistant, ComHears Yarra soundbar and accompanying subwoofer system, which goes into the production at the beginning of 2018, will eventually retail for $599.

Kickstarter supporters were offered the package on a pre-order basis for $299 before the campaign ended at the end of October. ComHear, however, is still accepting pre-orders through crowdfunding platform Indiegogo with the Yarra 3DX system selling for $349.

The company expects to fulfill orders in March of next year.

Founded in 2013, ComHear is funded by $12 million in equity financing. The San Diego firm employs a team of 12 in a University City office, and expects to grow its business primarily through licensing efforts, as opposed to selling the technology direct to consumers. The startup is already in talks with several device manufacturers, and also expects to power audio experiences in retail and theme park environments, Chastelet said.

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jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin
Broadcoms interest in acquiring Qualcomm apparently wasnt solely triggered by the San Diego companys lagging stock price this year.

Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan brought up combining the two companies with Qualcomm in August 2016, when Qualcomms shares traded at significantly higher prices.

Thats according to a letter that Tan sent to Qualcomms board of directors on Monday making his official $103 billion buyout offer.

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As you know from prior discussions between our two companies, Broadcom has been interested for some time in combining Qualcomms mobile business with the Broadcom platform, Tan wrote to Qualcomms board. We continue to believe that such a combination will deliver substantial benefits to our respective stockholders, employees, customers and other stakeholders.

Qualcomm is evaluating the offer and declined to comment. Broadcom was unavailable to comment by press time.

Its uncertain whether Broadcom can pull off such a large, complex acquisition. Qualcomm likely will deem this initial offer as too low, say analysts. Broadcom said it believes the transaction would be completed within 12 months  if both sides can reach an agreement.

The deal could create a semiconductor colossus with $51 billion in annual revenues and $22 billion in annual operating profit  after cost cuts and Qualcomms pending acquisition of NXP Semiconductors.

Broadcoms bid had been seen by analysts as an offensive move that takes advantage of Qualcomms lagging stock price, which was down 18 percent over the trailing 12 months before Broadcoms takeover offer.

We arent sure Qualcomms management team would be so eager to sell, but we suspect investors would be significantly more pliable, said Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with Bernstein Research, in a written report.

Qualcomms shares have been weighed down by its nasty legal battle with Apple over patent royalties, fines from anti-trust regulators and slow progress on its planned $38 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors.

Meanwhile, Broadcoms shares are surged nearly 50 percent in the past 12 months as it completed the Broadcom/Avago Technologies acquisition, paid down debt and increased revenue and profitability.

Broadcoms offer represents a 28 percent premium over Qualcomms stock price on Thursday, the day prior to news leaking about a potential offer.

Though massive, the deal is not contingent on Broadcom getting financing. The company said it expects to maintain an investment grade debt rating and has received highly confident letters from investment bankers on debt issuance to fund the deal.

In addition, private equity firm Silver Lake Partners has pledged $5 billion convertible debt to jump start financing.

Broadcom said its offer stands whether or not Qualcomm completes the pending purchase of NXP Semiconductors.

Wall Street analysts say the deal could face hurdles with regulators, and Qualcomms board is likely to view it as under-estimating its potential in upcoming 5G wireless networks and the expansion of cellular technology into cars, health care and other industries.

But Qualcomms depressed stock price opens the door for Broadcom to gain support from Qualcomms shareholders, including institutional investors that might deem Broadcoms offer less risky than waiting for Qualcomms disputes with Apple and anti-trust regulators to be resolved.

Qualcomm management will and should fight like hell not to be acquired, said Steven Re of Fairbanks Capital Management in Rancho Santa Fe. But Qualcomms management better think realistically. They are between a rock and a hard place.

Broadcom has grown through several acquisitions in the past, and has a history of selling off business units it deems non-essential. With Tan at the helm, its also know for keeping a lid on costs. Analysts estimate that it could wring out $1 billion to $2 billion in annual costs from the Qualcomm deal.

Broadcom is a long-time supplier to Apple, and analysts speculate that it could be more willing to reconcile the patent royalty spat than Qualcomm.

Jim McGregor of industry advisory firm Tirias Research, thinks Broadcoms offer sets up a proxy fight for control of Qualcomms board. The company typically holds its annual shareholders meeting this spring.

I dont think management wants (to be acquired) and I dont think this is good for Qualcomm, but we have seen odder things happen, said McGregor. Its kind of perfect timing. Their stock is down. A number of board members are up for election or re-election. From a strategic standpoint, Broadcom couldnt have planned this better.

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
An Oceanside gun instructor accused in what authorities said was a botched murder-for-hire plot testified in his own defense this week, and said there had been no conspiracy to kill.

Weldon McDavid Jr. said Monday that if he had intended to shoot to kill someone, he would not have missed, even in the dark.

I could hit that person  center mass  100 yards away without any problem, he said.

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McDavid took the stand in a Vista courtoom Monday afternoon, and again Tuesday morning, and admitted that hed lured the estranged husband of one of his students out to a dark dirt path in Carlsbad last year.

The 50-year-old weapons expert also said that he was in the bushes, armed with a gun, when the man and a friend approached. And he said that he had fired the bullet that tore into the mans side  but that he had not planned to shoot or kill him.

Rather, McDavid said, he was aiming for a bicycle light in the mans hand. He thought the man had a gun, so he was trying to remove the mans tactical advantage.

The shot that I missed was the flashlight, McDavid testified. I did not miss a man-sized target.

Testimony wrapped up Tuesday in the trial for McDavid and the woman, Diana Lovejoy, 45, who each have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and attempted murder in the shooting of her then-husband, Greg Mulvihill, on a path off Avenida Soledad about 11 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2016. Mulvihill was struck in the side but survived.

Attorneys for the pair refute accusations of conspiracy, and said there was no attempt to murder Mulvihill.

McDavid testified; Lovejoy did not take the stand. The jury is set to return to court Thursday for closing arguments.

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Trial starts for woman, gun instructor accused of murder

Lovejoy and Mulvihill were two years into a contentious divorce and bitter custody battle over their young son, a legal fight that included a restraining order against Mulvihill, as well as allegations of abuse and drug use. The child turned 4 years old the same month his father was shot and his mother was jailed.

Lovejoy, a software technical writer, met McDavid at the gun range where he worked. McDavid later installed a security system in her home.

McDavid said Lovejoy had told him about her allegations of abuse. He said she agreed to pay him $2,000 to get information on her estranged husband to use against him in the custody battle  not to harm him.

On questioning by his attorney, McDavid said that he had instructed Lovejoy to buy a burner phone so he could lure Mulvihill to a dark, semi-secluded spot under the pretense that he was a private investigator with evidence that Mulvihill had been abusive.

McDavid had no such evidence, but said the idea was that anyone who would show up after such a sketchy phone call must be guilty of wrongdoing. Otherwise, there would be no reason to go. So if Mulvihill showed up, McDavid said, then Lovejoy could use that against him in court.

But, when Mulvihill and a friend showed up, Mulvihills flashlight shined onto McDavids position, about 60 feet away.

McDavid said he heard Mulvihill say that he had a gun, so McDavid fired off a round aiming for the light in Mulvihills hand.

Neither Mulvihill nor his friend had a gun, but one of them yelled gun after spotting a gun barrel in the bushes.

The former Marine and School of Infantry instructor said that he fired six additional rounds  not directly at the men, but intentionally over their heads as they ran off.

During cross examination by the prosecutor, McDavid said that rather than wait down the road in his car to watch whether Mulvihill showed up, he felt it was safer for him to be tucked in the bushes, dressed in camouflage and pointing an AR-15 gun.

McDavid also acknowledged that he was forced out of the Marine Corps in 2009 against his will, following at least three arrests while off-duty, including two instances of carrying a concealed weapon. He said the administrative separation process that led to his dismissal included false evidence, and implied his dismissal was a forgone conclusion because his executive officer wanted me out.

The defendant said that he and Lovejoy were friends, but that theyd had sex three times between June and September 2016, and I regret it. McDavid is married and had a newborn infant at the time of the shooting.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT

UPDATES:

This story was initially posted at 6:30 p.m on Nov. 6. It has been updated with additional details.
The San Marcos Unified School District is reviewing a charter petition from Pivot Charter School, which offers a mix of online coursework and on-site instruction to 130 students in the community.

The board considered the request at a meeting in October, and will vote next month on whether to establish the school within the district.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independently operated organizations that are authorized under existing school districts, but exempt from many regulations governing traditional public schools.

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Pivot Charter is a nonprofit California corporation run through the Roads Educational Organization. It offers a hybrid model of education for students in grades k-12. The program combines online coursework and tests with resource centers that provide on-site instruction as needed, school spokesman Ryder Smith said.

The digital testing shows where they are struggling, and teachers can teach to that specific area of weakness, Smith said. Teachers are on-site every day. Some students come four days per week, some one day per week.

The schools serve students who struggle with academic or social issues -- such as bullying or anxiety -- in conventional schools, as well as those who need a flexible schedule, including sponsored athletes who travel for competitions, Smith said. Pivot opened its first location in San Marcos in 2010, and subsequently added three more sites in Corona, Chico and Santa Rosa.

The San Marcos center is now under charter with Mountain Empire Unified School District near Alpine. But a 2016 appellate court ruling, Anderson Union High School District v. Shasta Secondary Home School, determined that charters that run independent study programs authorized in one district cant open resource centers for students in other districts in the same county.

As a result, Pivot submitted a charter petition to San Marcos Unified school board in September. On Oct. 17, the board heard testimony on the school from staff, students and parents. And on Nov. 17, it will decide whether to grant the charter.

Gina Bishop, assistant superintendent for instructional services with San Marcos Unified, was not available for comment. In a board presentation, however, she outlined the factors the board must consider when evaluating a charter request.

The school board can reject a petition if it doesnt provide full details about its plans or the requisite number of signatures, or if the board deems it to be an unsound educational program or unlikely to successfully carry out its plans. The board has to provide written documentation for those findings if it denies the request.

Board members cant refuse a charter because they dont think the school is needed in the community, or because it would financially harm the district and its other public schools, she stated.

If the board approves the charter, it sets out written standards for student achievement and financial management, and reviews them annually to see if the school is meeting those targets, according to her presentation.

We have been a part of the community for seven years and look forward to many more, Jayna Gaskell, executive director of Pivot Charter School, said in a statement to the Union-Tribune. SMUSD is a great district delivering an excellent education to a large number of kids, and Pivot can deliver a great experience for those kids who need something different to succeed.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
North County communities are set to gather in honor of Veterans Day. Heres a lineup of some events, including patriotic ceremonies, parades and concerts:

CARLSBAD

The Army and Navy Academy Cadets and the Rotary Club of Carlsbad will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the academys Stephen M. Bliss Stadium. Guest speaker and honorary commander of troops is John Stryker Meyer, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. Honorary Commander of Troops will be Carlsbad resident Charles Pedrotta, who flew combat missions over Germany during World War II as a U.S. Army Air Forces pilot. Highlights include flyovers of vintage war planes. armyandnavyacademy.org

Congregation Bnai Tikvah holds a Veterans Day event at 7 p.m. Friday at 2510 Gateway Road, with Presentation of the Colors by Jewish War Veterans and Honor Guard, North County Post 385, blessings for the country led by Rabbi Ben Leinow and patriotic songs with Cantor Larry Kornit. Leinow will receive an award for his work as police chaplain from the Escondido Police Department. Refreshments follow the program. Free. Call (858) 472-0303; visit bnaitikvahsd.org.

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ENCINITAS

American Legion Post 416 hosts a Community & Veterans Open Surfing event at Moonlight Beach at 9 a.m. Saturday. A Flying Leathernecks Sky Dive will be at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch at 11 a.m. at Post 416 at 210 F St. and a Veterans Day Tribute by the post commander. Visit calegionpost416.org or call (760) 753-5674.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido Allied Veterans Council will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Military Tribute Wall of Courage at Grape Day Park. The ceremony will include a patriotic program with music and veterans serving as guest speakers. A fried chicken lunch will be at the American Legion Post 149, 230 E. Park Ave., after the ceremony for a $5 donation. Call (760) 745-1159 or email adjutant149@gmail.com.

A concert, A Salute to Our Veterans, featuring Peter Gach performing music by American composers including Joplin, Gershwin and Ives is at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church of Escondido, 1800 N. Broadway. Freewill offering. A Meet the Artist reception follows in the fellowship hall. Sales of Gachs CDs and book will benefit Regaining Balance for Women Veterans with PTSD. Visit fcceonline.org.

FALLBROOK

A Veterans Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. Saturday along Main Street from Fallbrook Street to Village Square Park, where a ceremony honoring veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants include VFW Post 1924 Color Guard, marching veterans, Civil Air Patrol, Fallbrook High School marching band and Scout troops. Visit fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org

OCEANSIDE

The 24th annual Veterans Day Program hosted by El Camino High School, in partnership with the San Luis Rey Rotary Club of Oceanside will be at 8 a.m. Thursday in the school auditorium, 400 Rancho Del Oro Drive. The featured speaker is Tim Lickness, who served as a platoon leader in both Korea and Vietnam and is a Vietnam-era historian. Email tom.voris@oside.net or call (760) 429-3449.

The Veterans Association of North County will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at the VANC Resource Center, 1617 Mission Ave. The guest speaker is Marine Col. Sam Porter, Assistant Chief of Staff G2, 1st Marine Division. Refreshments served. Call (760) 722-1277.

A patriotic salute dance will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday with music by the Billy Harper Band at the El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive, hosted by the City of Oceanside Parks & Recreation Division. Cost: $5 per person. Call (760) 435-5041.

RANCHO BERNARDO

A Veterans Day ceremony will begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial in Webb Park (Avena Place off Bernardo Center Drive). The Hon. William V. Gallo will be the keynote speaker and retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nick Herbka will be the master of ceremonies. The invocation and benediction will be given by Lt. Col. Rick Blank, Deputy Command Chaplain CA State Mil Reserve, Chaplain Corps. Retired Marine Lt. Col. Paul Atterbury, a RBVMA Board member, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. A patriotic musical prelude will be from 10:45 to 11 a.m. The Westview High School JROTC Color Guard will present and retire the colors. Members of VFW Post 7766 and General J.P. Holland Chapter, Military Order of World Wars, will post the Service, MIA, MOWW and VFW flags. Visit rbvma.org

SAN MARCOS

A Veterans Day celebration will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Helen Bougher Memorial Park, 1243 Borden Road. The event features ceremony, patriotic displays, music and retiring of the flag followed by free cake and coffee reception. Visit san-marcos.net

Cal State San Marcos Veterans Services holds the universitys Veterans Day observance to honor veterans at noon Thursday at the Veterans Center on campus, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road. Speakers include CSUSM President Karen Haynes, Command Master Chief German Lira of the USS Rafael Peralta and Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez. Free and open to the public. Call (760) 750-4827.

Palomar College hosts a Veterans Day ceremony with the theme, Staying Positive, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road near the Veterans Memorial. The featured speaker is Marine veteran and Palomar College alumnus Karlins Borrero. The Palomar College Performing Arts Department will perform music; a student veteran will sing the national anthem. Lunch will follow ceremony. Call (760) 744-1150, ext. 2365. Visit palomar.edu.

The Music Men Chorus of the Palomar-Pacific chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society of America, will give free patriotic concerts to honor veterans at 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave., and 11 a.m. Friday at the McClellan Senior Center in Vista, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. The chorus will sing a medley of theme songs from each of the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. As each branch is serenaded, veterans will be recognized for their service. Visit musicmenchorus.org.

SOLANA BEACH

The city of Solana Beach and Solana Beach VFW Post 5431 will host a ceremony with a Feathers From Heaven doves release from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave. The Camp Pendleton Young Marines will serve as honor guard and the Santa Fe Christian School Band will perform patriotic songs. Call (858) 720-2453.

VALLEY CENTER

The Valley Center History Museum features a one-day expanded salute to veterans exhibit, Honoring Our Local Heroes, on Saturday. Military memorabilia will be shown, including historical documents, medals, uniforms, dog tags and original Civil War discharge certificate and profiles of 12 local residents who served in the Civil War. The museum at 29200 Cole Grade Road is open from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Free admission. Visit vchistory.org or call (760) 749-2993.

The Valley Center Pauma Music Boosters hosts its free annual Veterans Day concert at 1 p.m. Friday in the Maxine Theater, 31322 Cole Grade Road. The concert will feature 175 student performers and features patriotic songs, including jazz, big band and marches. Lunch will be sold starting at noon for $5-10, with desserts and drinks for $1. Visit vcpmusicboosters.org.

VISTA

In honor of veterans, the Gloria McClellan Senior Centers Out and About Transportation Program is offering Vista veterans, ages 60 years and older, one free ride during the month of November. Call (760) 639-6161.

The Gloria McClellan Senior Center will hold a Veterans Day Luncheon on Friday at 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Veterans are encouraged to bring a picture of themselves for the Honoring Veterans board. The Music Men will perform at 11 a.m. followed by lasagna lunch or soup and salad. Suggested donation is $4 for ages 60 and older; $8 for those younger than 60. Reserve by 1 p.m. Thursday at (760) 643-5288.

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Linda McIntosh U-T

linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com
NATIONAL CITY - The new playground at Las Palmas Park will feature swing sets and a triple slide, a kid-sized tic-tac-toe board and shade structures for their watchful moms and dads.

It sounds pretty typical as playgrounds go. The difference here is that its going to be built in less than a day by families eager to use the new equipment, along with other community volunteers. Think of it as a giant Swedish furniture kit with 200 to 250 partners fitting the pieces together, turning the Allen wrenches  and then admiring the results.

National City is signing up volunteers (age 15 and up) for the build, which begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Las Palmas Park, 1810 E. 22nd St. It follows two smaller site-preparation days, to conducted Wednesday and Thursday. (To register, go online to nationalcityca.gov and look for a notice on the home page.)

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The equipment replaces a playground that at 15-plus years had exceeded its life expectancy and didnt meet todays standards for children with disabilities, said Lauren Maxilom, management analyst in the city managers office. Community members were asked for input into the final playground design; thats where the ideas for additional shade and nearby picnic tables came from.

The DIY ethic and the new equipment comes courtesy of KaBoom!, a national nonprofit that has built more than 300 playgrounds for children since 1996. In National City, its financing partner is the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, along with Wrigleys Supermarket.

Diana Robles plans to show up for the build with her 9-year-old son, Santiago, and 11-year-old daughter, Chantal.

Im ready to help out the community, Robles said. The park does need a fun, colorful playground.

She characterized the parks previous playground equipment as drab and unattractive. It was falling apart, Robles said.

Volunteers will be cutting plywood for picnic tables, hammering and nailing structures, hauling mulch and everything else needed to assemble the components, Maxilom said. The city advises its helpers to be prepared to get dirty and to wear closed-toe shoes.

The all-at-once approach is standard procedure for KaBoom! Projects: The city has scheduled the build for about six hours, and by the close of the event, we will have a ready-to-go playground, Maxilom said.

The more a city can get a community involved and take ownership of a parks project, she added, the more pride they will feel with the outcome.
Kudos to you if you can get up on a weekend morning and bake cinnamon rolls or coffee cake, or make pancakes or waffles from scratch. But how about doughnuts? Or, more specifically, crullers?

Not sure what a cruller is? Well, there are actually two kinds: hand-twisted cakelike doughnuts and the French version with dough thats more like a pate a choux (cream-puff pastry). Theyre light and fluffy when done right. And, like doughnuts, crullers are deep fried and then topped with powdered sugar, icing or a glaze. A very simple, straightforward pastry, right?

Well yes, unless youre Kristianna Zabala. Zabala is the executive pastry chef and co-owner of Nomad Donuts, which last August opened a new bakery in North Park. Zabala comes to doughnuts  and pastry in general  from the perspective of the savory chef she had started out as in her career. Before joining Nomad Donuts, she was the executive pastry chef at Mr. As. So, fine dining to doughnuts as a career move? It was admittedly a weird transition, but when Zabala talked to the original owners and learned that they wanted something out there and that she could be even more creative than a restaurant would allow, she made the move.

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Today, Zabala makes doughnuts  and Montreal-style bagels  from local ingredients in small batches. She often draws from her Filipino heritage to create doughnut varieties like Ube Taro Coconut. She mixes flavors in intriguing ways, like Pomegranate Rosewater or Haupia Custard (a Hawaiian coconut-based custard) Blueberry Ginger. Zabala makes vegan-friendly varieties as well. And she makes a mean French cruller. Try her Chocolate Orange or Chai Tea.

Or try the ones she taught me to make: White Chocolate Mint Glaze with Jalapeno Passion Fruit Drizzle, Brown Butter Sage with Hazelnut (one of her favorites), and Almond Cardamom with Blueberry Drizzle. Here, you can really see the influence of her savory background in the brown butter sage, for instance, and the addition of jalapeno to passion fruit. She explained that she likes to use herbs because they counter extreme sweetness.

Because crullers arent yeast based, you can have close to immediate gratification. Theres no waiting for dough to rise. And the choux dough is fairly forgiving. You dont even have to make the dough by hand. Ive always stirred my choux with a wooden spoon. It never occurred to me to use my stand mixer, but thats exactly what Zabala pulled out to make her dough. As with all chouxs, be sure that as youre making it, you let the boiled wet ingredients mixed with the flour cool before you add the eggs so they wont curdle. Mixing them on low will help speed up the cooling process. Then you can add the eggs and mix until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.

Zabala uses a pastry bag with the number 848 large star tip to form the doughnuts so they have their distinctive ridges. Use a large container to hold the bag (with the top folded over the container) while you fill it with dough. Zabala ties off the top of the bag with rolled up plastic wrap and then squeezes out 3- to 4-inch circles onto a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Youll need to freeze them for up to an hour so theyll hold their shape when you move them to the fryer.

Then its time to hit the fryer. Use palm oil heated to 350 degrees. Let the crullers fry for two minutes, then flip each one over (Zabala uses a pair of chop sticks very efficiently for this), give them another two minutes, then one last flip, where theyll finish up in another two minutes. You can see the brown edge creeping up and a slight separation around the ridges will tell you theyre done. Its cool to watch them dance and turn in the oil.

Once you pull them out of the fryer, theyll need to cool. If you didnt already make them while the crullers were in the freezer, now you can make your glazes. Fair warning  lots of powdered sugar is involved. All of the ingredients for the glazes are easy to find, but one may throw you off: vanilla paste. Zabala prefers it to vanilla extract because it is a paste of pure vanilla bean seeds. Yes, you can substitute vanilla extract, but the flavor will be less intense. You can find vanilla paste on Amazon or at Sur la Table and locally at Specialty Produce. You can also find passion fruit and blueberry purees at Specialty Produce.

Youll gently dunk the top of the crullers into a glaze and use another pastry bag with the tip cut off to leave a small hole to drizzle the drizzle. Put them on a rack so the excess can drip off before serving.

Now if you find you have leftover glaze, dont toss it. Zabala said you can enjoy it over ice cream, drizzled over cheesecake or cookies, fruit salad, or even some savory dishes. Think Brown Butter Sage With Hazelnut or Almond Cardamom W ith Blueberry Drizzle over pork tenderloin or even a simple baked sweet potato.

Golden is a San Diego freelance food writer and blogger.

Basic Cruller Dough

Makes 30 crullers

8 ounces butter

1 1/3 cups water

1 1/3 cups whole milk

3 tablespoons kosher salt

6 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla paste

425 grams all-purpose flour

6 large eggs

2/3 cup egg whites

Palm oil for frying

Place butter, water, milk, salt, sugar and vanilla paste in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Add flour and stir until well combined. Continue to cook on medium low heat another 5 to 10 minutes to dry out. After the dough starts sticking to the bottom of the saucepan, transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer.

Using the paddle, set to medium speed and mix until theres no more steam coming from the dough.

Gradually add the eggs and egg whites, allowing the dough to mix well between additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to mix for another minute.

Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Pipe into 3.5-inch circles onto the parchment and freeze from 40 minutes to an hour  or just long enough so you can peel them off the parchment while they keep their shape.

Bring palm oil to 350 degrees. Add the frozen dough to the oil and fry on that side for 2 minutes. Flip and fry for another 2 minutes. Flip a final time and fry for 2 minutes. Remove crullers from the fryer and let cool about 15 minutes before glazing.

White Chocolate Mint Ganache Glaze With Jalapeno Passion Fruit Drizzle

454 grams white chocolate

 teaspoon kosher salt

 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

10 grams fresh mint leaves

200 grams powdered sugar

Place white chocolate and salt in a bowl.

Pour heavy cream and vanilla extract into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and pour over the white chocolate and salt. Let sit for 2 minutes, then whisk the ingredients to melt the chocolate and combine all the ingredients.

Pour into a blender container, add the mint leaves, and pulse blend until the mint is finely chopped.

Pour back into the bowl and whisk in the powdered sugar.

133 grams passion fruit puree (make fresh from passion fruit or you can purchase ready made)

 jalapeno chili, including seeds

2 teaspoons corn syrup

 teaspoon salt

660 grams powdered sugar

Pour passion fruit puree and jalapeno into a blender container and blend until the jalapeno is pureed.

Pour into a bowl and whisk in salt, corn syrup and powdered sugar.

Pour into a pastry bag or plastic bag and when youre ready to drizzle, cut a small tip from a bottom corner of the bag.

To make the crullers, dunk the top half of each cruller into the ganache and set on a rack to drain the excess. Then, using the pastry bag, drizzle the jalapeno passion fruit mixture lightly over each cruller.

Brown Butter Sage Glaze

112 grams melted brown butter (see note)

 cup whole milk

11 grams fresh sage leaves

 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon corn syrup

550 grams powdered sugar

 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts

Note:To make brown butter, place butter in a light-colored heavy bottom saucepan and heat gently over low heat until melted, swirling or stirring as it melts. As the butter melts, it will foam, with the color going from yellow to tan to a toasty brown. Youll also smell a nutty aroma. Thats when youll take it off the heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl to cool, leaving as much of the milk solid sediments in the pan.

Pour milk into a blender container with the sage leaves. Blend until the leaves are finely chopped.

Pour the mixture into a bowl and whisk in salt, corn syrup and powdered sugar. Add melted brown butter and whisk until well combined.

To make the crullers, dunk the top half of each cruller into the brown butter sage glaze and set on a rack to drain the excess. Then sprinkle the chopped hazelnuts lightly over each cruller.

Almond Cardamom Glaze

1 cup soy milk

90 grams toasted, sliced almonds

2 cardamom pods

 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon corn syrup

700 grams powdered sugar

Place soy milk, almonds and cardamom in a blender container and blend until smooth.

Pour the mixture into a bowl and whisk in salt, corn syrup and powdered sugar.

Blueberry Drizzle

212 grams blueberry puree (make fresh from blueberries or you can purchase ready made)

 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon corn syrup

700 grams powdered sugar

Whisk everything together in a bowl until well combined.

To make the crullers, dunk the top half of each cruller into the glaze and set on a rack to drain the excess. Then, using the pastry bag, drizzle blueberry mixture lightly over each cruller.

Recipes from Kristianna Zabala of Nomad Donuts.
Mexicos ambassador to Washington warned that if the United States pulls out of the North American Free Trade Agreement there will certainly be less willingness in Mexico to engage on other areas.

NAFTA has been the backbone of the bilateral relationship for the past 25 years, ambassador Geronimo Gutierrez said in a weekend interview. North American competitiveness very much depends on the health of NAFTA.

Gutierrez was in San Diego on Saturday to receive a lifetime achievement award from the pro-immigrant group Border Angels during a dinner held at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. His fellow honorees included former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Attorney Michael Pancer.

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Gutierrez, who said that the U.S.-Mexico relationship is at a critical, defining moment, also met privately earlier in the day with a small group that included Mexican federal immigration and customs officials in Tijuana, the head of the Mexican section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, as well as representatives of the private and non-profit sectors.

The ambassadors message, delivered both to the smaller gathering and to several hundred who attended the Border Angels dinner, was for those that believe in the importance of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship.its a very good time to raise their voice in whatever way they can, he said. We need to find common ground on our differences and leave no stone unturned.

Numerous U.S. business groupsincluding the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commercewant to see NAFTA extended, saying the treaty has increased trade and been beneficial to the U.S. economy. But President Trump has maintained that the treaty has cost numerous U.S. manufacturing jobs, and repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the negotiations. A fifth round of talks is scheduled for later this month.

Mexicos position is that we are very much interested in keeping a trilateral agreement, Gutierrez said. Mexico is open to remaining in the treaty with Canada if the United States withdraws, he said.

Even if negotiations fail, there are many areas of cooperation (with the United States) that in our view are in our interest and we certainly look to maintain them, he said, but added that the overall relationship will suffer if no agreement is reached on NAFTA.

No matter what the fate of the negotiations, were not going to stop working together with the United States or any other country regarding counter-terrorism, Gutierrez said. But it would be much more difficult to have the political will in Mexico to continue to further that collaboration which is very much needed.

During his talk at the Border Angels dinner, Gutierrez spoke to an issue of foremost concern to many members of the audience: the future of young, undocumented Mexicans known as Dreamers.

Mexicans make up about 80 percent of this group of 800,000 young people who have faced growing uncertainty about their status since President Trump in September ended an Obama-era program that allowed them to work and study in the United States, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The president gave congress a six-month deadline to resolve their situation through a legislative package that would include hard-line immigration measures such as building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and toughening laws for those seeking asylum.

We would love to have them back in Mexico, they would be a great transfer of human capital to our country, Gutierrez said of the Dreamers. But we recognize theyve grown up hereMexican by origin, but Americans by choice.

The Mexican government remains committed to supporting their choice to remaining in the United States. They benefit and enrich this country every day, Gutierrez said.

In the interview, Gutierrez said I think its possible, that an agreement can be reached on DACA before the March 6 deadline.

If Dreamers are are forced to return to Mexico, we are working on different tracks to do whatever we can to ensure that if someone is returning for whatever reasons, he does so in the best conditions, Gutierrez said.

He said the Mexican federal government has been working to address issues affecting deportees and others who return to Mexico that include recognition of U.S.academic credentials, opening bank accounts, and finding jobs in Mexico.We would do everything to make their return as good as possible, Gutierrez said.

On one issue directly affecting the Tijuana-San Diego regioncross-border sewage spills the ambassador has had more than passing familiarity.

We do have a problem, said Gutierrez, who was formerly managing director of the North American Development Bank, an institution jointly funded by the United States and Mexico for border infrastructure projects. The problem that we have is rapid growth in the city along with simply aging infrastructure.

With a plan calling for some $300 million in improvements to the system, Gutierrez said there is a very good sense of what is needed in the medium and long term, and the challenge right now is quite frankly the financing.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
The Breeders Cup has wound down, but the excitement hasnt for Nisan Gabbay. The 1995 Torrey Pines High grad scored more than half a million dollars in the two-day event.

The tech entrepreneur, who lives in San Francisco, won the Breeders Cup Betting Challenge. His $537,000 contest check was the biggest win in tournament history.

Gabbay parlayed $7,500 into $187,000 over the two days of races, putting him in the winners circle. Added to that was the $350,000 prize for placing first in the horseplayers wagering tournament with 437 participants.

He did it in a bold, come-from-behind gamble. Gabbay says he was down to $6,800 with only two races to go. But he bet big ($4,000 to win) on Talismanic, a 14-1 long shot in the next to last race. In the final race, he bet heavily on Gun Runner, who went all out to win the Breeders Cup Classic.

Gabbay, who said he is saving his winnings to buy a house in Solana Beach, is no stranger to the handicapping leader board. He and his Del Mar horseplayer buddies, Kevin McFarland and Christian Hellmers, have long been known as the Pick Six Boys. They earned that nickname when all three chose five of six winning horses on a Pick Six bet on a live TV broadcast.

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Race notes: On his way to the Breeders Cup, TV personality Carson Kressley said he stopped in Scripps Ranch on Friday to visit his friends at Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds ranch. Kressley, a longtime Saddlebred equestrian, rides in the Tournament of Roses parade with the Scripps gang.

The fashion icon revealed that his stylish attire was from Hermes, except for the horse-studded shirt. That was from Macys.

Actress Bo Derek is confident the event will return to Del Mar. The former California Horse Racing Board commissioner said the feedback she has gotten has been completely positive. I was with international racing people last night and they were very happy.

Actor Dean Norris was hoping to run into trainer Bob Baffert, who had let him film a scene for Secret in Their Eyes in his paddock at the Santa Anita track two years ago.

Someone asked Norris if he let his young daughter, Zoe, who was by his side, watch Breaking Bad, the AMC series in which Norris plays DEA agent Hank Schrader. No, he responded, she can wait until shes older.

Pressed against the home stretch fence to view the final race was Mel Brooks, director of Blazing Saddles. He must have left a happy man. He confided that he had picked No. 5  Gun Runner.

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1518

Twitter: @dianebellSD

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As San Diego Superior Court officials begin final preparations for the long-delayed move into the new, 22-story courthouse downtown, they will also have to plan to get ready for a few more bills to pay.

Though the $555 million cost for the building at Union Street and C Street was paid for via a special assessment on court filings, the actual costs of moving into the facility arent covered by those fees.

Instead, the local court has to pay for it.

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A spokesman for the state Judicial Council, which oversaw construction of the building, said that is standard practice for local courts moving into new courthouses.

At this time, Superior Court spokeswoman Karen Dalton said, the cost for moving about 800 employees from three different buildings downtown over the course of several weekends is estimated to cost between $140,000 and as much as $300,000.

There will be additional expenses as well, Dalton said. The court will have to pay for security guards for the move, as well as cleanup of the vacated buildings. The cost of those services is not yet known, she said.

The move is set to begin Dec. 13. The bulk of the work will be done in January and is scheduled to be completed by Feb. 2.

The move will overlap with final work on construction of a new trolley station located in front of the courthouse on C Street. Court officials and the San Diego Sheriff vigorously opposed placing the station there back in 2015, writing letters in late 2015 and early 2016 citing security, traffic and overall access concerns.

Their efforts to get it moved failed. Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) chief executive Paul Jablonski said moving the station a block to the east or west was impractical. In a Jan. 8, 2016 letter provided to The San Diego Union-Tribune following a Public Records Act request, Jablonski said a different location would affect traffic flow on nearby streets, or require narrowing Front Street, among other impacts.

Sheriff Bill Gore had said that the construction of bulb outs  curb extensions at street corners that narrow the roadway  would create a traffic hazard.

Vehicles will be stopping to drop off pedestrians and then quickly try to get back in the lane of traffic, he wrote in a response to Jablonski later that month. He said that would create a funnel effect potentially backing up traffic and creating a security concern.

He also noted the trolley station platform would be below a pedestrian bridge linking the new building with the Hall of Justice.

A security emergency  from a disturbance in the courthouse to an unattended bag on the platform  could lead to shutting down the bridge as part of an emergency response.

Over the following months, MTS agreed to some modifications and additions to the plan, such as adding fencing around a parking lot for county cars behind the Hall of Justice, according to emails obtained in the records request.

Construction began in the late spring. But in October court officials indicated they were caught off guard when work tearing up the streets got underway, according to an e-mail from Ming Yim, the courts director of facilities.

There has been no prior warning or coordination with the Court, Sheriff, DA, etc. on the MTS work activity scheduling and traffic closures, he wrote to an MTS official.Today the jack-hamming (sic) and loud noises are making it very difficult for someone to work and talk near the exterior windows. The lack of coordination with the courthouse users is making a lot of building users unhappy.

In response MTS promised to provide daily work schedules as well as as two-week look ahead schedule to the court.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
Scripps Health is embarking on a $2.6 billion building boom that its chief executive says is the largest in the organizations 125-year history.

The ambitious plan, which Scripps plans to announce Tuesday, aims to make improvements at all five of the health systems major medical campuses by 2030.

Largest on the list is the $1.3 billion replacement of Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest. Plans also call for a large new patient tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and for a smaller three-story acute care structure at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. Seismic retrofitting work is planned for Scripps Mercy Chula Vista and Scripps Green Hospital in Torrey Pines.

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Scripps also plans to cement an affiliation with Houstons MD Anderson Cancer Center by building a stand-alone oncology building near Mercy Hospital and adding onto its existing radiation therapy center across the street from Green.

Chris Van Gorder, Scripps chief executive, the plan is intended to fully address state laws which require all hospitals to meet stringent earthquake standards by 2030 or cease operation.

Its probably the biggest and most inclusive initiatives Scripps has seen in its history, Van Gorder said.

These projects remain on the horizon, however. None of them break ground until 2021 and some may not finish until close to 2030. And, while it might seem like spending nearly $3 billion would mean that Scripps is doubling or tripling its current number of patient beds, thats not the case.

Though specific bed counts for the new buildings are not yet available, Van Gorder said they would be roughly similar to those in existing buildings. This is because, he said, more and more hospitals services are delivered on an outpatient basis, meaning that fewer beds per capita will be needed in the future.

Van Gorder stressed that all schedules are tentative and subject to revision.

We expect to be able to do this, but if the conditions change, the plan will change as well, Van Gorder said.

Funding is the largest variable in this construction equation. Van Gorder said that Scripps is counting on significant fundraising, as it has for other recent projects, to make the numbers pencil out. Scripps also plans to borrow against future revenue and to spend from its reserves which are listed at more than $2 billion on the systems most recent financial disclosures to bondholders.

Politics can also get in the way.

Much about how health insurance companies and federal programs such as Medicare pay hospitals is currently in flux, and big changes could force Scripps to reconsider its project list. The most recent example, Van Gorder said, is the current GOP tax proposal which calls for elimination of tax-exempt status for private activity bonds often used by nonprofits like Scripps to finance hospital projects.

That proposal could add extra cost. Though its hard to say exactly what the impact would be without a full and approved proposal, Van Gorder said that even a 0.5 percent increase in financing costs on $1 billion in borrowing would increase costs $150 million over 30 years.

And thats if its only half a point. This is not insignificant for California hospitals since the regulations and approval process make our hospital construction more expensive than any other state in the country, Van Gorder said.

Scripps building boom comes after many hospitals across the region have already been rebuilt or significantly upgraded. Its a trend that goes far beyond San Diego.

Projects like this do signal a robustness in the ambitions of hospitals and hospital systems to modernize their facilities, said Niall Brennan, president of the Health Care Cost Institute in Washington.

In San Diego, all of the new facilities that have opened in recent years have had private rooms with spacious designs that look more like hotels than traditional hospitals. Thats been the case, Brennan said, in other big cities. While patients may like the look and feel of new facilities, the long-term debt that they generate is substantial.

If people are really paying attention, they should be outraged because somebodys got to pay for these new facilities, and who will pay will be employers and consumers in the form of higher premiums and copays and deductibles, Brennan said.

But Van Gorder said his facilities plans are driven in large part by state seismic mandates and a need to become more efficient as reimbursement becomes more difficult. He said financing this slate of projects does not assume future price increases.

I dont think, looking forward, we are going to reasonably have the ability to increase charges, Van Gorder said.

The new seven-story tower slated for La Jolla will include a womens health center, labor and delivery, post-partum beds, an obstetrical surgery area and a neonatal intensive care unit. Plans are to build it on a currently-vacant triangular parcel directly adjacent to the $456 million Prebys Cardiovascular Institute which opened in 2015. Once the project is complete, much of the existing hospital will be torn down.

Thats also the case at Mercy. Plans call for the hospitals main tower, which opened in 1966, to be razed once a new replacement tower is built just to the south of the existing hospitals trauma and emergency department.

For now, Scripps smaller hospitals in Chula Vista and Torrey Pines are getting retrofits rather than total reworking. Van Gorder said those facilities need less seismic work overall, with larger overhauls likely needed in the future.

We will ultimately, I believe, will need to replace those facilities, but it may not be in this timeframe, Van Gorder said.

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

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California and the European Union will discuss the possibility of creating a common carbon market to cut greenhouse gas emissions, another sign of the state assuming a global role in the fight against climate change.

Gov. Jerry Brown announced the move Tuesday in Brussels after meeting with Miguel Arias Canete, the European Union commissioner in charge of climate action and energy, and other EU leaders to discuss how California and the region could work together to combat climate change, which Brown called an existential crisis.

A European official said a common carbon market might include China, and Brown said it would be better to create a carbon trading agreement on a global scale.

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Browns announcement came as political leaders and scientists from across the world gathered for a major conference on climate change and as Syria said that it would finally sign the Paris climate accord  two actions that highlight the Trump administrations outlier position on climate change.

Syrias action would leave the United States as the only United Nations member to not abide by the Paris accord, if the U.S. follows through on President Trumps threat to leave the pact.

European leaders contrasted Browns proactive stance with that of the Trump administration, which has questioned how much human activity has contributed to climate change.

The approach of Mr. Trump at a global level is not necessarily as helpful as it might be. But we are delighted to have Gov. Brown here because it shows there is a strong commitment from the U.S., said Antonio Tajani, the president of the European Parliament.

Canete said that we see the Paris agreement and the low-carbon transition for what it is, the irreversible growth engine of our economies and the key to protecting our planet. The vacuum left by the current U.S. federal administration is being filled by new broad committed climate leadership.

Browns visit to Brussels is part of a 10-day European trip that includes a major United Nations conference on climate change in Bonn. EU politicians emphasized Browns disagreement with Trump on climate issues during the governors first public appearance in the Belgian capital. He will speak again in the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Brown called climate change an existential crisis that is destroying the environment and human health. He insisted that countries must work together to minimize those effects.

Do we have to go much, much further? Yes. Whos we? We are all the countries in the world, he said. In a nod to the nationlike size and influence of two U.S. states, he included them when naming countries that could do more on climate change  the United States, Texas, California, Russia, India.

The governor has vowed to stick to the Paris agreements commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Trump sent shock waves through Europe when he announced in June that the U.S. will exit the deal.

Trigg Talley, the U.S. deputy special envoy for climate change, told delegates at the start of the U.N. conference on Monday that the U.S. will stay involved in negotiations on how to implement the 2015 Paris agreement. The U.S. has not yet withdrawn from the deal.

Brown said he does not think that Trumps decision to leave the Paris agreement is slowing down other countries that are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Theres different levels of commitment among different nations and different regions in different nations, he told reporters.

The European Union continues to tighten down on the restrictions and make their goals more ambitious. And so do many places in America.

During Tuesdays discussions in Brussels, Brown discussed the possibility of setting up a common carbon market between the European Union and California. Such an effort might create a link with Californias cap-and-trade program, which creates permits for greenhouse gas emissions, and the bloc of 28 European countries. The EU currently has the worlds largest emissions trading system.

Tajani, an Italian center-right politician, said the EU should learn from Californias good example on climate policies.

Brown and the EU leaders also agreed to cooperate more on improving zero-carbon transportation.

California climate policies and programs have cut carbon emissions, helped create clean technology jobs and spurred partnerships across the United States and around the world to fight climate change, the European Commission said in a statement after Canetes meeting with Brown.

One EU official said the bloc is exploring how it might replicate Californias policies as one way to encourage car manufacturers to produce lower-emission vehicles.

Browns meetings in Europe serve as a fresh reminder of how he and a group of other American leaders have pushed back against Trumps climate policies. He is also visiting the southwestern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which has a climate agreement with California, and will meet with scientists in Norway on his European tour.

But Brown said that he does not anticipate that delegates at the U.N. climate conference will be confused by mixed messages coming from the U.S. federal government and California.

The governor did not mention Trump by name during his remarks on Tuesday.

People know very clearly that I speak for the largest state of America, Brown said.

The fact that the national leader or state leader may hesitate doesnt mean that in the very place where these hesitant leaders live there arent very imaginative and aggressive mayors, corporate CEOs, presidents of universities, leaders of nonprofit organizations. One way or the other, we are pulling the world in the direction of a very low- and zero-carbon future, he added.

One European politician pushed back slightly against Browns crusade to fight climate change.

If you take the United States as a whole, its not as easy to decide everything on climate issues like in California itself, said Jerzy Buzek, a former Polish prime minister who is now a center-right member of the European Parliament.

We support very much everything that is going forward in California, but its one very big and very important state in the whole United States, he added. Poland relies on coal for much of its energy supply.

Stupp is a special correspondent.
Two inmates who were on the lam after they walked away from a halfway house in Kearny Mesa Thursday were tracked down and arrested in Los Angeles Sunday, authorities said.

Karen Flores, 26, and Gisselle Rivas, 20, removed their ankle electronic tracking devices and escaped from the center on Armstrong Street shortly before noon Thursday, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials.

Staff at the Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program facility found one of the womens ankle monitors ditched on the property, officials said.

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Investigative leads led a specialized corrections unit and a San Diego fugitive task force to Flores and Rivas, who were arrested while they were standing outside in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Western Avenue, not far from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

They were detained without a struggle and taken to a state prison in Corona, officials said.

Both women were set to be released from state custody next year.

Flores was sentenced in Los Angeles County in August 2016 to two years and eight months in prison for robbery and grand theft. She had been at the Kearny Mesa center since May and was scheduled to be released in September.

Rivas was sentenced in January, also in Los Angeles County, to four years in prison for burglary and vehicle theft. She had been at the Kearny Mesa facility since June and was slated to be released in April.

The re-entry program allows eligible inmates to serve the end of their sentences at centers that provide a range of rehabilitative services.

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An international team of scientists has discovered a large hidden cavity within Egypts Great Pyramid of Giza, and they did it by looking for muons  particles sent to Earth by cosmic rays from space.

The mysterious cavity, described Thursday in the journal Nature, is at least 30 meters long. And though the researchers arent sure whether its straight or inclined, whether its one large space or a series of smaller ones, the discovery has already triggered interest among archaeologists as to the purpose of the void.

What we are sure about is that this big void is there, said Mehdi Tayoubi, president of the nonprofit Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute in Paris, which led the effort. But we need to understand [it] better.

How scientists used particle physics to see inside the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built during the rule of the Pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, whose reign lasted from 2509 to 2483 BC. The largest of the pyramids, it stands some 139 meters high and 230 meters wide. Tourists enter the pyramid from a tunnel that was dug at the behest of Caliph al-Mamun around AD 820.

Three known chambers sit within this enormous structure at different heights: an underground chamber, the Queens chamber, and finally the Kings chamber. All three are connected by corridors, the largest of which is the Grand Gallery, which measures 8.6 meters high, 46.7 meters long and up to 2.1 meters wide. The Kings and Queens chambers each have two air shafts that were mapped by robots between 1990 and 2010.

But much of the pyramids interior structure has remained a mystery, in part because there are very few documents from Khufus time describing the buildings design and construction.

Other research teams have searched for hidden chambers by measuring tiny variations in the pyramids gravity or by using ground-penetrating radar. The results of those efforts have been inconclusive.

An aerial view of the pyramids at Giza. Khufus Pyramid is in the foreground. (ScanPyramids mission)

For this project, a team of researchers attempted to boost their odds of success by adding muons to their scientific toolkit.

Muons are subatomic particles that are produced when cosmic rays  high-speed atom fragments that hurtle through space  smash into the atmosphere. They carpet-bomb Earth at a rate of 10,000 per square meter per minute.

These tiny particles can pass through hundreds of meters of rock before decaying or being absorbed. This turns out to be very handy for scientists who want to probe a pyramid somewhat in the way that doctors use X-rays to examine a bone inside your body.

This technique had been pioneered decades ago by Nobel laureate Luis Alvarez of UC Berkeley, who used muon tomography to probe the smaller Khafre pyramid nearby. He concluded that there were no large hidden voids within the structure.

Scientists with the ScanPyramids project who are studying the Great Pyramid had already found hints of what appeared to be a corridor behind the chevrons on the structures north face.

Equipment is placed inside Khufus Pyramid. (Philippe Bourseiller / ScanPyramids mission) Researchers from Nagoya University prepare to inspect an interior chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza using muon radiography imaging. (Philippe Bourseiller / ScanPyramids mission) A previously known grand gallery inside the pyramid. (ScanPyramids mission)

In their latest work, they placed detectors in the Queens chamber and discovered an enormous space that stretches at least 30 meters long and lies about 21 meters above ground level. The muon levels in that space show that it must hold roughly as much volume as the Grand Gallery, which lies below it.

The muon signal was so strong that the scientists could detect it from outside the pyramid entirely.

The discovery is a vindication of Alvarezs technique, said Jerry Anderson, a retired physicist who worked with Alvarez back in the 1960s.

I am very excited and very pleased, Anderson said.

Alvarez had looked at Khafres pyramid instead of Khufus because so little was known about the smaller pyramid, Anderson said.

I wish we had worked in the Great Pyramid, now that I look back on it, he said with a laugh.

Members of the research team use augmented reality to visualize the pyramids void. (ScanPyramids mission) An artists impression of the mysterious void discovered inside the pyramid. (ScanPyramids mission)

Peter Der Manuelian, an Egyptologist and director of the Giza Project at Harvard University , praised the work of the ScanPyramids team.

I think its a big discovery and an important one, said Manuelian, who was not involved in the research.

But he was quick to note that it was too early to say what this space was for  or whether it was intentionally made at all.

The Great Pyramid is a magnet for speculation, both reasonable and unreasonable, Manuelian said. So whenever anything new pops up, the imagination tends to fly.

The study authors said they avoided calling the space a chamber because they do not yet know its purpose. They invited Egyptologists to begin to probe the nature of this strange space.

There are still many architectural hypotheses to consider, they wrote in Nature.

Christopher Morris, a nuclear physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who was not involved in the work, pointed out that there are limits to what muons can reveal. He said he hoped the researchers would soon be able to get a bots eye view of the space.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and "like" Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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This story has been updated throughout.

This story was originally published at 5:20 a.m.
The cash-only marijuana industry needs help safely transferring taxes to the state, and may get it from the California Treasurers Office in the form of armored couriers who would pick up payments.

State Treasurer John Chiang is exploring the idea as a way to assist the industry, which will greatly expand on Jan. 1 when the sale of cannabis to adults becomes legal. The state estimates that $7.6 billion in marijuana will be sold by 2020.

Cannabis companies have been effectively barred from banking services because marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

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Banks dont want to run afoul of the federal government, forcing the marijuana industry to largely use cash. That makes the companies the potential target of robbers.

Our entire industry is desperate for a solution, said Will Senn, founder of Urbn Leaf, which operates marijuana dispensaries in San Diego.

Being a cash business makes it hard to pay taxes (most agencies dont accept cash), and its hard to pay our landlords. We need banks that will let us write checks.

Last year, Chiang appointed a blue-ribbon committee to look into the problem. The group came back with recommendations on Tuesday. Its report says, The state taxing agencies should work with the State Treasurers Office and financial institutions to contract with an armored courier service that will collect state tax and licensing payments made in cash from businesses in California, including cannabis businesses.

The group views the idea of one of several steps that could eventually lead the federal government to name banks a safe harbor for funds from the marijuana industries.

The group says an interim step could involve creating a publicly owned or supported financial institution in California to serve the industry.

Such an institution might have a broad mission to expand banking for underserved groups, including the cannabis industry, or it might be a narrowly focused cannabis financial institution primarily serving cannabis producers, distributors, and retailers.

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gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com
The San Diego Chinese Historical Society and Museum is being sued by a former executive director who claims the organization wrongly fired her after she raised questions about the charitys business and investment practices.

Tiffany Wai-Ying Beres, who was hired as associate director just over two years ago and promoted to the top position last year, said in a wrongful termination claim that the museum was awarded fraudulent tax benefits by inflating the value of donated artifacts.

She also alleged the museum violated state labor laws by not paying overtime, terminated one worker over an unsubstantiated theft allegation and turned its multimillion-dollar endowment over to a personal friend of the board chairman.

Beres claimed in the seven-page lawsuit that she was fired for trying to institute better management practices across the nonprofit, instead of operating it as a club for family and friends. Her claim is that she was wrongfully terminated as retaliation for whistle-blowing.

San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre represents the museum. He said the board parted ways with Beres because she not a good fit for the organization.

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She was fired because she was a destructive, uncaring insensitive employee who has retaliated with false allegations against the longtime management of the museum, Aguirre said. What she really wants to do is take over the museum.

Beres was terminated in June in a closed-session vote by the board of directors. The meeting has subsequently become the subject of a separate lawsuit challenging the decision and also raising broader governance issues. The lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs including former San Diego Councilman Tom Hom, a co-founder of the museum.

Founded in 1986 by several prominent San Diego Chinese-Americans, the museum was formally incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit in the 1990s. The organization operates out of a modest two-story building in downtown San Diego at the northwest corner of J Street and Third Avenue, where the museum is open to the public. It has an annex across the street.

Because the museum operates as a public-benefit corporation, donations of cash and artifacts may be listed as deductions on personal income tax filings.

According to the suit, the museum improperly valued gifts donated to the museum by creating records saying the items were worth more than they were. The excessive valuations provided significant tax benefits to contributors, it says.

The complaint also accuses museum officials of displaying fake artifacts, in part to bolster the likelihood of receiving county and city grants.

It further claims the board chairman put a personal friend in charge of the nonprofits $2 million endowment. The adviser took commissions without informing the board, the lawsuit said.

The adviser was hiding the manner in which she was taking fees and commissions for her services, the suit states. When Beres caused this report to be made, the board chair tried to cover it up by changing SDCHSMs board minutes.

Aguirre said Beres is making up allegations to bolster her lawsuit.

If she thought there were violations, why didnt she speak out at the time or quit? he asked. Shes making unfounded allegations because her case has no merit.

The suit was filed by San Diego attorney Dan Gilleon, who said the museum nearly doubled the number of annual events while Beres was in charge. She also attracted more than 100 new donors and created a $100,000 budget surplus.

My client is a highly qualified Chinese art historian who could have made this museum legit, but it would have required the museums board to remedy the significant legal problems Ms. Beres uncovered, he said. Instead, they tried to sweep those problems under the rug, including firing my client to keep her quiet.

In addition to special and general damages, the lawsuit seeks punitive damages, attorney fees, court costs and unspecified relief.

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jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
They used to strike all of America like thunderbolts, these tragedies like Sundays horrific assault on churchgoers in small Sutherland Springs, Texas, that left at least 26 dead and 20 wounded. But now, the massacre of so many people  one of the five deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history  doesnt stop us in our tracks. Its becoming routine.

Upon hearing the news, millions of us merely went about our weekends, and Sunday became Monday almost like any other day on the job for some of the TV anchors who were so grave and somber after such tragedies as the 2012 killing of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. These anchors were hardly the only ones who didnt dwell on the tragedy  or turned away. The much-worse Las Vegas attack was just 35 days ago. Many of us seem numb to mass killings.

Behind this numbness  this quick filing away of an atrocity  is a sense of deja vu and powerlessness. The standard script is already playing out in response to troubled gunman Devin Kelleys act of domestic terror. Just as happened after a gunman killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in June 2016 and after a gunman killed 58 people in October at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, there are impassioned voices calling for much stronger gun laws  and they will get some lip service from Republicans in Congress before eventually being ignored.

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The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board is definitely among the voices calling for better laws. We acknowledge that mental health is a key part of the problem, and that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible, law-abiding people. We acknowledge the fact that the strength of state gun laws doesnt necessarily correlate with less gun violence, and we acknowledge that Second Amendment advocates fear losing legitimate rights.

But cant we finally move past the slippery slope argument and do basic things to make it more difficult for deranged individuals to get hold of military-style semiautomatic weapons that enable mass murder? Cant we have a federal gun law that doesnt allow these individuals to take advantage of the many states (unlike California) with lax laws?

Everyone who buys a gun should be subject to background checks and waiting periods. The database used for the background checks should be regularly updated and include not just criminal histories but military courts martial, terrorist watch lists and evidence of mental problems. Dealers should be monitored to ensure they comply with their obligations. Devices like bump stocks used by the Las Vegas shooter that turn semiautomatic rifles into de facto automatic weapons should be banned. Limiting magazine rounds used in semiautomatic weapons would also be a practical way to limit carnage. Most importantly, weapons designed for military use should be limited to military use.

The United States is the only First World nation where mass gun killings occur regularly. Second Amendment rights wouldnt be infringed by reasonable gun laws that end this grotesque distinction.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Ever since Donald Trumps unexpected election as president last November, not just the pundit class but plenty of Americans across the ideological spectrum have come to fear that the Republican businessmans triumph wasnt a one-off event triggered by economic and cultural anxieties and a weak Democratic opponent. Increasingly, Trumps successful scorched-Earth campaign seems to be a sign America is a meaner, darker place than many people thought. After the fall of Harvey Weinstein, its incongruous to think back to Trumps relentless belittling of his women accusers as horrible, sick and phony  and that was just one example of Trumps contempt for the norms of civic discourse.

This fear of a mean-spirited America is stoked by every transgressive presidential act, such as when Trump got into a spat with the newly widowed wife of an American soldier. But there has also been reason for optimism. For months, elected Republicans have largely steered clear of the Trump playbook of inflammatory comments, personal attacks on critics and constant media-bashing. While they may share the presidents aggressive, divisive views on immigration, they still seem to grasp that civility and decorum matter. This has generally seemed to be true for most elected Democrats as well.

Until the Virginia governors race, which concludes with voting Tuesday. Once a conservative redoubt, Virginia has become steadily more Democratic in recent years. Both its senators are Democrats, as is termed-out governor Terry McAuliffe, and its voters have backed Democrats in three straight presidential elections.

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To break this losing streak, GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie  previously a mainstream, moderate, big tent Republican National Committee chairman and aide to President George W. Bush  is running a campaign built on hot-button Trump-like takes on culturally freighted issues. One of his ads assert that his Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a pediatric neurologist, is fighting for the violent MS-13 killer gangs because of his tie-breaking vote in the state Senate to allow cities to reassure unauthorized immigrants they will not be targeted by law enforcement. Another ad blasts Northam for supporting McAuliffes program to restore voting rights to criminals  considered a civil rights issue by African-Americans in Virginia  after their release from prison.

But a Democratic group has an anti-Gillespie ad that is at least as toxic as anything the Republican has released. The Latino Victory Fund put out an ad in which minority youths are being chased by a pickup truck that is flying the Confederate battle flag and has a Gillespie bumper sticker.

Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis made the case last week that there was nothing unusual or even Trump-inspired about the Virginia governors race, saying previous governors races often dealt with culturally sensitive issues.

Maybe. But from a distance, this benign assessment seems hard to swallow. This is a governors race in which white voters are told they risk death at the hands of nonwhites, and nonwhite voters are told they risk death at the hands of whites  and both sides defend their tactics.

When politicians shove certain people out of their tents instead of seeking new supporters, that portends an ugly future. If this is the new normal for American politics, we will be a diminished nation.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
As authorities continued investigating the strange case of an apparent dispute between two neighbors that left one of them with five broken ribs and bruised lungs outside his home, Americans were asking questions Monday about the well-known victim: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky.

The mystery persists, but heres what seems clear: Rene Boucher, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist, allegedly came from behind and tackled the senator outside his Bowling Green, Kentucky, home on Friday, the Bowling Green Daily News reported. Police say Boucher, 59, admitted to it.

Boucher was charged with fourth-degree assault, the Bowling Green Daily News reported, but The Washington Post later reported that the severity of Pauls injuries could lead to felony charges. CNN reported Paul suffered five rib fractures  three displaced fractures  and bruised lungs.

The Bowling Green Daily News described it as lung contusions.

Was it personal? Was it politics? Was it a neighborly dispute over landscaping?

Bouchers attorney, Matthew Baker , said in a statement that the altercation had nothing to do with politics.

It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial, Baker said, adding that Paul and Boucher had been neighbors for 17 years.

If not politics, what then?

Politicos and journalists on Twitter did not seem to buy the explanation that a doctor could cause such severe injuries on a U.S. senator over a trivial matter. Some went looking for answers.

A reporter with The New York Times, Jonathan Martin, said two local Kentuckians said it was a dispute over a planting or flora issue. A third Kentuckian, Martin reported, said it may have had to do with a man-made lake between the two properties.

Manu Raju, a CNN correspondent, reported that it may have had something to do with yard waste and leaves blown on each others lawns for years.

What exactly happened on that lawn that day  Paul was wearing headphones and mowing his lawn when he was allegedly tackled, NBC News reported  may not be known until later, but that did not stop Twitter from jokingly musing at the possible trivial scenarios that led to an altercation between two neighbors.

We hope to know more in the coming days, about Pauls path to recovery, the time he may be away from Washington, D.C., and the Republican road forward on things like tax reform in a divided Congress in which every vote counts.

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

Read The Conversation on Flipboard.
In the Copan archaeological excavation, Honduras archaeologist Jorge Ramos (left) and Li Xinwei analyze an ancient structure. [Photo courtesy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]

In recent years, Chinese archaeological teams have been working far afield uncovering the secrets of the past. Yang Jianxiang and Qu Ting report.

On a sunny, humid morning in an open area of tropical forest in Honduras, a group of 16 locals and two Chinese men are on an archaeological dig. Suddenly a snake slithers into view. Frightened and yelling, the locals use spades, sticks and anything they have at hand to scare the snake away.

To Li Xinwei, an archaeologist from Beijing, the red-skinned snake was similar to the red-banded snakes he had seen in the fields at home. But from the speech and gestures of the head worker, who was wielding a machete, he realized the snake was extremely poisonous. A bite on the arm might require cutting off the limb to save the victim's life, he was told.

That was in November 2015. Li and his colleague were on an excavation resulting from an agreement signed with the Honduras government more than a year before. The Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Honduras Institute of Anthropology and History were cooperating on a five-year project. The Anthropology Department of Harvard University also had a part.

The role of the Chinese archaeologists was to excavate and reconstruct Group 8N-11, a sub-royal elite residential compound, in Copan, Honduras.

Not long after, they unearthed carvings of serpent-headed supernatural birds with outstretched shell-shaped wings and maize-like god heads. This reflected the death and rebirth cycle of the maize god, according to ancient Mayan beliefs.
The China pavilion at the World Travel Market in London on Monday attracts the attention of visitors. China is raising its profile as a tourist destination. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

An initiative next year will be a milestone in enhancing tourism between China and the European Union, said the chief representative of the China National Tourism Administration in the UK.

China-EU Tourism Year fits well with China's aim to attract more European visitors, said Kuang Lin, who was speaking ahead of the World Travel Market, an international travel trade show running in London until Wednesday.

Kuang said China has become the fourth most popular destination country for tourists and drew around 138 million visits in 2016, a 3.5 percent rise on the previous year.

In addition to the classic tours of such favorites as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Guilin (a city in Southern China famed for its dramatic landscape of limestone karst hills), Kuang said tourists are also now visiting such places as Shangri-La, cruising on the Yangtze River, and traveling on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

In 2016, more than 594,000 British tourists visited China, one of the largest group among European countries.

"Over the past 15 years, the market has achieved a steady growth of nearly 5 percent per year," said Li Gang, a professor of tourism economics at the University of Surrey. He said he believes the number of British tourists will continue to rise.

James Kennell, principal lecturer in tourism at the University of Greenwich,said China is still a great unknown for potential British visitors.

He suggested China's national tourism agency raise the countrys tourism profile by funding television programs, and developing greater travel trade and travel media awareness of China through public relations efforts, paid-for-content, and familiarization trips.

"Hosting large events with an international television audience and making use of celebrity endorsements is vital for a contemporary destination seeking to raise awareness in new markets," he said.

Kuang said the administration is working closely with new media to keep building the brand "Beautiful China" and to make China a more popular travel destination.

Peter Ball, a video editor from Guisborough in Northeast England, spent five days in China in 2015, during which he visited Lijiang River in the South and took a high-speed to train to Beijing, where he toured the Palace Museum, which is also known as the Forbidden City, and took a trip to the Great Wall.

"China is a massive country with lots of famous natural and historical sites to visit," he said. "It's also a nation that is changing rapidly and has an ever-increasing role to play in the world, so that's why I wanted to visit."
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One hundred years ago today, Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks in their takeover of the Russian Provisional Government. Their anthem was LInternationale, a stirring song about striking the iron while it is hot. A catchy tune has always worked to galvanize the oppressed, wretched, and poor into action. The lyrics of revolutionary songs range from fearmongering warnings to prideful exaggerations to simple ridicule. The music varies among regions and time periods, though it often accompanies a march.

American Revolution: Yankee Doodle

The upbeat tune traces back to Europe, centuries before the American Revolution, but British soldiers sang Yankee Doodle in mockery of the colonists. The lyrics were meant to describe the foolish, classless American soldiers. However, the Yankees claimed the derisory tune as their own (and had the last laugh).

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French Revolution: La Marseillaise

The French national anthem was written in 1792 as a rousing call to Frenchmen to fight against the Austrian invaders (Theyre coming right into your arms / To cut the throats of your sons, your women!). La Marseillaise gained its name from its popularity among the federes (volunteer soldiers) from Marseilles in the French Revolution.

Young Turk Revolution: Mshag Panvor

Grikor Mirzaian Suni wrote the anthem of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Farmer, Laborer. The ARF was involved in the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, which led to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. The ARF went underground during Soviet control of Armenia, but since the fall of the Soviet Union the party has once again gained influence in government.

Easter Rising: The Foggy Dew

Canon ONeills ditty, The Foggy Dew, was written in Ireland in 1919 about the Easter Rising, a five-day armed rebellion in Dublin in 1916. ONeills tune comes from other traditional Irish folk songs, but the lyrics reflect many Irish opinions of the time that Irish soldiers leaving to fight in World War I for the British ought to have stayed home to fight for their own independence. The most popular recording of the song is by Sinead OConnor with The Chieftains in 1995.

Russian Revolution: LInternationale

Eugene Pottiers ubiquitous socialist hymn was the anthem of the Russian Revolution as well as the Soviet Union and many other leftist entities worldwide. Vladimir Lenin wrote in 1913: In whatever country a class-conscious worker finds himself, wherever fate may cast him, however much he may feel himself a stranger, without language, without friends, far from his native country  he can find himself comrades and friends by the familiar refrain of the Internationale. Pottier wrote the lyrics after the fall of the Paris Commune in 1871.

Mexican Revolution: La Cucaracha

The traditional Mexican folk song, La Cucaracha, wasnt originally sung with lines about marijuana, but Pancho Villas army added in lyrics when they sang it during the Mexican Revolution. Their version of the mariachi song also contained revolution-specific lyrics about hardship and referred to President Huerta as the cockroach in question.

Cuban Revolution: Hasta Siempre

The Nueva Trovo movement in Latin America in the 1960s focused on culturally significant, authentic music as opposed to commercial projects. Carlos Pueblas Hasta Siempre, Comandante was written to Che Guevara when the revolutionary departed Cuba to stoke uprisings elsewhere after the Cuban Revolution ended successfully in 1959. We will carry on / as we followed you then / and with Fidel we say to you / Until forever, Commander! ends Pueblas Cuban folk song.

The Cultural Revolution: The East is Red

Mao Zedong disseminated a heroic image of himself in various forms of propaganda during The Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. One of them was The East is Red, an unofficial anthem of the Peoples Republic of China during that time. The lyrics proclaim Chairman Mao loves the people / He is our guide / to building a new China / Hurrah, lead us forward!

Romanian Revolution: Desteapta-te, romane!

Didnt we have enough of the blinded despotism / Whose yoke, like cattle, for centuries we have carried? goes the Romanian national anthem, an old song called An Echo written during the revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire. Later titled Wake Up, Romanian!, the song was stripped of its national anthem status in 1947 during the countrys stint of communism, and it made a resurgence in the Romanian Revolution in 1989.
Minden, NV -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/07/2017 -- Roger Price, a self-taught artist from Nevada, United States has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise awareness for some of the most beautiful creatures in nature, Butterflies. The project is called 'Butterflies of the Western United States' and it truly depicts the passion Roger has for nature and butterflies in particular. His obsession with butterflies started at a very young age and he is now welcoming everyone to support him in raising awareness for the blissful creatures through this campaign.



"I am drawing 26 to 30 butterflies with a black pen, ink and colored pencils and some of these butterflies will be from the endangered species list." Said Roger Price, while introducing his project on Kickstarter. According to the artist, he is starting this project to raise awareness of the plight of the butterfly by drawing 26 to 30 different butterfly pictures. Moreover, the goal of this project is to raise a sum of $3100 via Kickstarter and the artist is offering several rewards with worldwide shipping to the supporters.



The Kickstarter Campaign is located on the web at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/butterflies5001/butterflies-of-the-western-united-states and supporters from around the world can pledge from $10 to $90 or more. For each pledge, they will get a reward with one or multiple prints on heavy acid free paper and that too with international shipping.



About Butterflies of the Western United States

Butterflies of the Western United States is an inspiring art project launched by Roger Price, an American artist from Nevada. His aim with this project is raising awareness for the butterflies and preserving nature so that they can thrive and survive. Roger is now welcoming everyone around the world to support this nature loving project by making generous pledges to his campaign on the crowdfunding platform of Kickstarter.



Contact:

Contact Person: Roger Price

Company: butterflies of the western united states

City: Minden

State: Nevada

Country: United States

Phone: 928-278-7043

Email: rlprice02@gmail.com

Website: www.kickstarter.com/projects/1422851441/butterflies-of-the-western-united-states
IFAD president Gilbert Houngbo makes the case for a rural transformation backed by affordable technology.

Gilbert Houngbo took over the presidency of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in April this year, following posts with other UN agencies and a four-year term as prime minister of Togo.

At the UK parliament last week (October 31), the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture hosted Houngbo for a talk on how IFAD is supporting rural communities as a provider of financing to smallholders through government loans. Theres a need to go beyond agriculture, he said, to achieve a rural transformation so that people are motivated to stay rather than move to cities. Houngbo spoke to SciDev.Net about what that transformation means and about making the necessary technologies not just available, but affordable.

You spoke about the need for a rural transformation, not just improving agriculture  what does that look like to you?

It doesn't matter who you are  if you find yourself in a rural area, where you don't have reliable energy, or reliable internet access, or to just go into the city and come back is a pain, or your kids cannot go to the central school of course you're going to look for leaving that rural setting as soon as you can. Let's be honest. It doesn't matter if you improve your productivity by ten-fold or not. So for me it's really about starting to make the rural area an area to have a decent life. Of course with a focus on agriculture as a way of earning enough income, as well as starting to create more non-farm activities. It's what I would call a comprehensive concept.

How does technology fit into this bigger vision and IFADs loans?

Technology is essential. What I'm advocating is for technology to be not only available, but affordable. So sometimes our [IFADs] loans to the government can be a way to help producers access that technology. Let me give you a clear example. Technology could be access to Internet. And therefore the loan that governments take can be used to make sure that you have wi-fi at the rural level; or to increase the availability of small solar electricity. Another dimension of making technology available is purely making sure that information is accessible to smallholders, and that there is training for them to know what technology is best to use. It can be in terms of how you want to plant, for example.

Are there particular examples where that has worked?

In IFAD we have several countries where we helped introduce improved planting techniques that have been developed by the government in Brazil [through the EMBRAPA (Agricultural Innovation Marketplace) programme].Before that can happen  and that's part of South-South cooperation  you need to make sure that your farmers know how to use the equipment. You cannot force them. They have to say yes, I really want to have this. So preparing that ground is a non-lending activity first. Sometimes it's also the know-how that you bring from one country to another.

You talked about making the actual farming work less painful. Do you have specific improvements in mind?

For me this is where I almost 100 per cent link it to the technology. You just have to go to some countries in Africa or Asia, and you will notice that the equipment being used is still so rudimentary. There's no way you're going to interest a youngster today, who has access to social media, to go and do that for a living. So technology is important for all the equipment you need  from preparing the soil to planting, improved seed, small irrigation, and having that small-solar access so that in the evening you can listen to music or charge your cellphone, or produce an activity that complements your farming And it is not just about having the technology, it's being able to produce it at a cost that's much more affordable. Because if poor smallholders see technology that is nice but don't even think about it, this is five years of savings for me, they won't even think it's something they want to have.

What needs to happen for that cost to drop?

It's the scientific research first. And also sometimes the international community, such as IFAD, contributing to really make the matter known, so that the private sector can start making the necessary adjustments from an impact investment perspective  with a scenario where those companies that are developing that technology can make their money, but maybe at a return rate lower than what usually they would expect.

This Q&A was edited for brevity and clarity.
The Ugandan government has proposed funding for aiding R&D but critics say it is misplaced, Esther Nakkazi writes.



In efforts aimed at boosting innovation, the Ugandan government has made a bold move and set aside funds to help innovators to commercialise their products.

The government has committed 30 billion Uganda shillings (about US$9 million) to support innovations and technology, and has allocated an additional US$4 million to finance the talented youth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, according to the country 2016/2017 budget statement.



We shall give support to innovation by building a critical mass of highly skilled ICT, science, technology and engineering professionals to drive industrialisation, said Matia Kasaija, the minister of finance, planning and economic development in a speech on the budget read on 8th June 2017.

This first round of funds will be given mostly to individual innovators who already have products in place.



Critics of the initiative

Critics say that giving these funds to individuals rather than institutions undermines efforts to build an innovation ecosystem where innovations can be nurtured, and innovators are supported.

Putting the funds at the end of the innovation cycle is not what governments in the South should do, critics add. But the officials in charge of the initiative disagree.

We have been given instructions to support innovations that are already in place. Elioda Tumwesigye, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

We have been given instructions to support innovations that are already in place so that the scientists can actualise their innovations, said Elioda Tumwesigye, the minister for science, technology and innovation (STI) at the 5th CAMTech Uganda annual meeting at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in August this year.

Peter Ndemere, the executive secretary of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, tells SciDev.Net that there have been so many products produced by Ugandan scientists and innovators that hardly reach consumers.

Now, the president wants to see these products off the shelf and graduated to the local, regional and international markets, Ndemere notes. I think this also represents a policy shift; it is not to just do research but for income generation and industrialisation.



Wrong products for investments?

Some of the products to be funded include banana juices made by William Kyamuhangire, an associate professor and manager of the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre, Makerere University; Artavol, a malaria prevention beverage by Patrick Ogwang, a pharmacist and lecturer at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), and Tooke, an instant matooke (banana) flour by Florence Isabirye Muranga, head of the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development.

Other innovators to be supported are Byarugaba Bazirake, the director of Afribanana Products Ltd, for his vacuum sealed bananas matooke agribusiness incubator, and Moses Kizza Musaazi, a professor at the Faculty of Technology, Makerere University, for Makapads, a sanitary napkin made from papyrus.

But some critics are wondering why most of the innovations that are to be commercialised are edible products.

Most of the products that are going to receive this funding include juices and wines and these cannot even lead to industrialisation or take Uganda to the middle-income status that the government is promoting, says John Kintu, a young innovator.

What needs to be supported are commercially viable innovations that will revolutionalise major sectors of the country, he adds.

The innovation fund, which is a brainchild of President Yoweri Museveni, is also aimed at promoting Uganda-made products through the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda or BUBU policy that took effect on 1 August 2017.

The initiative, which is expected to promote patriotism, also seeks to boost technological innovations to drive economic development in Uganda.

It should be the government funding the initial stages of innovations including the end user acceptability studies. Nuriat Nambogo, CAMTech Uganda

Some critics worry that this process of supporting individual scientists may well not be sustainable and could favour just a few innovators.

This funding should not be to individuals and if it is given to a project it should have deliverables and in a given timeframe, says Moses Mulumba, the executive director of the Uganda-based Centre for Health Human Rights and Development.

Mulumba tells SciDev.Net some people may get the funding because they are privileged. Instead, he is vouching for funding through a system, preferably a university setting.

Data Santorino, a paediatrician and a lecturer at the MUST and one of the innovators behind the augmented infant resuscitator that monitors in real-time and captures data on the quality of resuscitation of babies, says Uganda is not short of ideas and prototypes.

Santorino also heads the annual CAMTech Uganda Hack-a-thons, an event where hundreds of undergraduate students participate to showcase medical technology developments.

It is at the early stage that governments in the South should put their money, not at the end because most traditional funders position themselves to take on approved proof of concepts or almost finished products, he explains.

Nuriat Nambogo, a research and grants development officer at CAMTech Uganda, adds that many innovators are asked to do initial acceptability studies, but they do not have the money to do that.

Research for promotions or innovation?

It should be the government funding the initial stages of innovations including the end user acceptability studies, says Nambogo.

According to Santorino, scientists in academic institutions mainly teach and conduct research for publications to get promotions and peer recognition, an issue that needs to be looked into.

Maybe we should have an incentive system structured differently in academic institutions. An innovation has commercial value and industrial application but a publication has knowledge value, Santorino explains. When we reach an extent where they will use commercial output from innovators other than publication, we shall see more innovations come out.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
DARLINGTON, S.C.  The November version of the Darlington County Council meeting was a whirlwind of activity regarding first, second and third readings of no less than six ordinances Monday night at the County Courthouse Annex.

The topics ranged from personnel to fee structures, and land boundaries to lease agreements.

In the third readings category, which is the final step before ordinances become enforceable, development fees for churches and nonprofits saw a reduction in their schedules.

The plan review fees were reduced from $500 to $250 for three to five lots. Applicants also must be compliant in seven additional areas throughout the application and review process.

The council also approved a fee structure relating to the Freedom of Information Act, where government entities must provide the public or a media outlet with public information upon request.

The cost of $0.25 per page for normal copies and $1 for oversized copies will be assessed per request. There is also a research fee that is a prorated charge per hour of the lowest paid employee who has the skill to fulfill a FOIA request. If the request requires more than five hours of labor, then a deposit of 25 percent of the total cost of the request will be required.

On a second reading, the council repealed Chapter 40, Article II dealing with residency requirements of department heads. The county is doing away with the stipulation that department heads reside inside Darlington County. Ordinance 17-12 has one more reading to pass before it can be enacted.

The council also wants to amend a current agreement with Lee County with respect to the joint industrial and business park shared by the two.

The council wants to amend the previous agreement so it can enlarge to a parcel that is owned and operated by Fiber Industries, LLC. The original agreement between the two counties dates back to 1998.

Finally, the first steps to crafting a solar farms ordinance was met with no resistance in an ordinance first reading setting up a schedule of fees-in-lieu of ad valorem tax incentives. The first reading is the introduction point, but no discussion is involved. There was an opportunity for a public hearing before the council meeting, but there was no one who wanted to speak on the issue.

The fees-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes is a 30-year agreement designed to entice business to move into an area without the worry of property tax increases over a long period of time. A prospective business would pay an agreed flat fee over the prescribed period.

In past meetings, the issue of solar farms has sparked highly agitated comments from the countys citizenry who might be adjacent to or near such a facility. This ordinance has to clear two more readings before it becomes finalized.
KINGSTREE, S.C.  Jim Moore, the Williamsburg County Economic Development Board executive director, said the board is working to host local meetings that could help prepare citizens for jobs that are expected to come to the county.

Moore announced at a council meeting in July that Starcyl Cylinders, United Phosphorous Incorporated (UPI) and LHSC have plans to startilocations in Williamsburg County. Starcyl Cylinders, a company that develops pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders and presses, is expected to open in Hemingway. UPI, a company that makes agricultural products, and LHSC, a textile company, are both expected to open in Kingstree.

Moore said at Mondays council meeting that the county wants to make sure it is getting citizens ready to be able to go after the jobs. He said a workforce summit was held in August at Williamsburg Technical College.

We talked about a lot of these jobs that are coming and what folks would be able to do through the programs at Williamsburg Tech, Moore said. We also had folks from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, as well as S.C. Works, who came out and talked to us and talked about how to overcome the barriers that folks may have on the way to getting some of these jobs.

Barriers could include citizens not having a high school diploma, drivers license or certain skills needed for the job.

And when theyre prepared, they would be able to have a leg up on competing for these jobs that way, Moore said.

The meetings that are being planned for different areas in the county are expected to be similar to the summit, but on a smaller scale. The summit lasted two days.

The meetings are being planned to help assist potential employees and will include some of the same agencies that were at the summit.

Present at one of the public meetings could be representatives from Williamsburg Tech, S.C. Works, the Department of Employment and Workforce and folks knowledgeable about obtaining GEDs, Moore said.

A meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Kennedy Center in Greeleyville and at 5 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Chavis One-Stop in Hemingway.

In other business, the council approved a HGABUY inter-local contract, which is the cooperative purchase agreement to allow the county to purchase a fire truck. Williamsburg County Attorney W.E. Jenkinson III said the agreement allows the county to purchase through a bulk company that would provide a lower price for the fire truck.

The first purchase of the agreement would be a firetruck for South Lynches, and this would allow us to purchase it at a discount, Jenkinson said. I think the savings would be around $15,000.

The purchase of the fire truck is a one-cent sales tax item, according to Jenkinson.

Other passed ordinances and resolutions included:

>> Third Reading-Ordinance 2017-005  Authorizing and providing for the issuance of a waterworks and sewer system revenue bond, series 2017a or such other appropriate series designation (water-service connections project) of Williamsburg County in the amount of $1,411,900; authorizing the county supervisor and chairman of the county council to determine certain matters relating to the bond; providing for form and details of the bond; providing for the payment of the bond; providing for the disposition of the proceeds thereof; and other matters relating thereto.

>> First Reading-Ordinance 2017-007  Ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee agreement by and between Williamsburg County and LHSC, Inc. providing for a payment of a fee in lieu of taxes and other matters related thereto.

>> Resolution No. 2017-013  An agreement for $743,777.40, effective Nov. 1, 2017, between Williamsburg County and Complete Utilities, LLC for providing construction services related to the installation of approximately 203 residential water services assemblies, 266 water service connections and related appurtenances.

>> Resolution No. 2017-014  Resolution to approve mutual aid agreements for fire protection services between Williamsburg County, Florence County, Georgetown County and the State of South Carolina, effective Nov. 6, 2017.
Press Release

November 7, 2017 Gatchalian Seeks Strict Penalties for Hazing Cover-Up Senator Win Gatchalian on Tuesday called for the imposition of strict penalties on fraternity members who participate in the cover-up of hazing incidents, such as the actions taken by resident and alumni members of the Aegis Juris Fraternity in the wake of the suspected hazing death of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III. The senator proposed that the act of any member of a fraternity, sorority, organization, or other institution to conceal, prevent the discovery, or otherwise obstruct the investigation of law enforcement officials into reported incidents of hazing be punishable by the penalty of reclusion temporal (imprisonment from twelve years and one day up to twenty years). "We can see that the fraternity is trying to conceal and cover up what happened. So, we also have to put it in the law that members who did not actually participate in the hazing, but participated in the cover-up, should be put in jail," Gatchalian had said in an ambush interview after the third Senate inquiry on the death of Castillo. "It's alarming how their elders or senior brods who are practicing lawyers, some are even working in the government, are the ones teaching the younger brods how to cover-up and conceal what happened," Gatchalian added. The senator also expressed grave disappointment towards UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina and the Office of Student Affairs of the University of Santo Tomas for their lack of competence in preventing hazing within the school. "Naghuhugas kamay ang Office of Student Affairs at si Dean Divina. Naglagay sila ng adviser na sabi nakatutok sa mga aktibidad ng Aegis Juris, pero for six years, wala silang na-detect na hazing sa kanilang eskwelahan. So it's safe to say that the school was ineffective in stopping hazing," he said. Gatchalian's proposed Senate Bill No. 199, which seeks to replace the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995 (Republic Act 8049), aims to increase the liabilities of educational institutions in the hopes of completely abolishing hazing. The bill would impose a fine of one million pesos on an educational institution if it approves the written application for a fraternity, sorority, or organization to conduct initiation rites, and hazing occurs during said rites, or when no representatives from the school were present during the initiation as required by the law. Addressing the parents of Atio, Gatchalian assured them: "Atio's death will not be in vain. We will work hard to completely abolish this senseless and unnecessary act of hazing."
Press Release

November 7, 2017 Hontiveros seeks probe of Cebu hospital accused of asking deposit before treating wounded cop The principal author of the recently passed Enhanced Anti-Hospital Deposit Law is asking the Department of Health (DoH) to investigate an incident involving a Cebu-based private hospital which was accused of asking for deposit before treating a wounded police officer. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is in Cebu on Tuesday to attend a Youth Conference on Family Planning where she is one of the main speakers, expressed concern regarding a report that Chong Hua Hospital allegedly asked for a deposit before treating Police Officer 3 David Naraja Jr., who was hit in the face after he was shot by a gun-for-hire during a police operation last October 16. Chong Hua Hospital denied the accusation saying that the family of Naraja merely "misinterpreted" the hospital's partial billing amount quoted by its staff as a demand for deposit. Naraja was later transferred to the Cebu Doctors' Hospital where his hospital expenses were covered by the hospital management. "Zero tolerance" "This is no way to treat our selfless police personnel who are risking life and limb to keep us all safe. Whether this incident was intentional or not, this must not be tolerated. There should be zero tolerance for cases such as this," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros, who is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that she has already requested a dialogue with Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and the DoH Regional Office. The Senator said that her office will also talk to the private hospital to get its side. "Through these dialogues, I hope to get to the bottom of this issue and for the appropriate authorities, especially the DoH, to find ways of being more proactive in responding to reports such as this, and properly implementing the Enhanced Anti-Hospital Deposit Law. The policy of asking for any deposit as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment of a patient must become a thing of the past. It has no space in any democratic society," Hontiveros said. Under Hontiveros' law, stricter penalties would be served on hospitals that would demand any deposit or other forms of advance payment in exchange for medical treatment of an emergency patient. Penalties now include imprisonment of up to four to six years and fines ranging from P 100,000 to P 1,000,000. The measure also gives authority to the DoH to revoke the license of a health facility after three repeated violations. It was reported that Chong Hua Hospital already issued a written apology to Naraja and PRO 7. However, Espino said that the hospital's letter of apology will be referred to Camp Crame's legal office for resolution.
Press Release

November 7, 2017 Legarda: Stronger Support for Farmers Needed to Achieve Rice Self-Sufficiency In observance of National Rice Awareness Month this November, Senator Loren Legarda said it is possible to achieve rice self-sufficiency through public awareness and stronger government support for farmers. Legarda expressed support for the Department of Agriculture's (DA) program to encourage the public to eat only the right proportion of rice and try other forms, like brown rice, which is healthier. "We need to encourage the public to avoid rice wastage and try equally nutritious food such as corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana as rice substitutes, as well as brown rice. In my Senate hearings, we encourage this by serving saba for snack and brown rice for lunch," she said. "Meanwhile, to support our agriculture sector, we must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improve water governance and land use policies, provide better forecasting tools and early warning systems, create a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification, and access to credit and crop insurance," she added. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that there is stronger support for farmers through improved funding under the proposed 2018 national budget. There is an allocation in the amount of P2.6-billion for subsidy of irrigation service fees (ISF) being paid by farmers to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which was first introduced in the 2017 national budget; while P2.669 billion is appropriated for the construction, restoration or improvement of small-scale irrigation projects; and P4.281 billion is allocated for the construction of facilities and procurement of agricultural machineries and equipment. The amount of P20.209 billion is allocated for the national programs of DA for rice, corn, high value crops development, organic agriculture and livestock with priority to provinces that are major producers and provinces with areas suitable for conversion to organic agriculture and the local government units (LGUs) with local ordinance on the promotion and development of organic agriculture; areas where the majority of small farmers and fisherfolks registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) are located; and provinces or regions where the absolute number of poor farmers and fisherfolks and the incidence of poverty are high as identified in the latest official poverty statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The DA is also urged to increase the resilience of agricultural communities through implementation of disaster-resilient agricultural infrastructure projects and the distribution and development of seeds, which are optimally adaptive to present and future climate conditions. It should also conduct seminars and trainings for LGUs and farmers on the importance of rainwater catchments and organic farming approaches, among other elements of sustainable land use. Moreover, the amount of P1 billion for Quick Response Fund (QRF) has been lodged under the DA as a standby fund to be used for the provision of seeds and other planting materials, minor repair of small-scale irrigation systems, among others, in order that the situation and living conditions of people living in communities or areas stricken by calamities, epidemics, crises and catastrophes that will occur in the last quarter of 2017 and in 2018 may be normalized as quickly as possible. "Our farmers continue to face various challenges, especially with the impact of climate change and stronger natural hazards. Through these budget provisions, we hope to provide the much needed support that our farmers need. Moreover, by providing stronger support, the government would entice more Filipino farmers to plant rice anew. Through these efforts, we hope for our country to eventually meet our own rice requirements without resorting to importation," Legarda concluded.
Press Release

November 7, 2017 GRACE POE ON PAL's P6-B DEBT SETTLEMENT TO FUND FREE TUITION IN SUCs, LUCs Given that the outstanding arrears of PAL amounts to P6.91 billion for navigational charges, I think that the settlement of P6 billion is acceptable. The amount is actually more than what the government can substantiate with invoices, which is only P3.6 billion. In addition, the money will go to a noble and much-needed govt program -- that of free tuition for SUCs, the funding of which is an immediate concern. The settlement will also prevent time lost on protracted litigation and allow both parties to save on expenses for legal fees. The settlement expedites the collection proceedings and for me, this is a good compromise.
Even by hour 36 of the long flight from LAX to Dhaka, my family still hadn't ended the debate. Should we risk it? Passionate arguments were whispered across the tiny aisle as we unwrapped our preportioned stir-fried beef in oyster sauce. Our attempts to keep the discussion to ourselves proved futile, and eventually, the mostly Bengali-speaking cabin erupted into a town hall meeting, with each opinion more persuasive than the last.

"I know the best chaatwalla in Shyamoli! It's very clean, he only uses bottled water!"

"Don't take the risk of the street, there's a great dhaba in Gulsan!"

"Wait until your last night; then by the time you get sick, you'll already be back in the States."

The debate, of course, was over if, when, and where we would eat chaat, the broad term for the various snacks sold by street vendors across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Regardless of the logical rebuttals, our answers were ultimately yes, right away, and the first place we could find, respectively.

What's a Chaat?

"Chaat" is the moniker used to describe a set of South Asian snacks that are a powerhouse of flavor and texture. They manage to mesh together salty, sweet, spicy, tart, and more without skipping a beat. They are impossibly compelling, somehow featuring everything crave-able in a single checkered paper boat.

Deep within the bewildering assortment of chaat lies a rough outline that defines it as a dish. The foundation is usually a starchy component, such as crisp puffed rice or fluffy lentil-and-rice dumplings. That base is then topped with anything from hard-boiled eggs to fried lentils to radiant, ruby-colored pomegranate seeds. The only requirement for an ingredient to make its way into a chaat is that it has to bring some serious punch to the party.

Every chaat is made slightly differently, not just from city to city and vendor to vendor, but also according to each patron's taste. Extra chili? No problem. Not a fan of raw onion? You got it.

I've never turned down panipuri chaat, a rendition with crisp fried shells stuffed with spiced potatoes and filled to the brim with a fiery and bright tamarind water. It's meant to be eaten immediately, in one bite, and never fails to satisfy.

My father is a fool for bhel puri chaat, a crunchy combo of puffed rice, roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and razor-thin slices of Thai green chili. It's all tossed together with pungent mustard oil and served up in an inky newspaper cone, ready for a walk through the teeming market. There are heartier chaats as well, such as the greedy samosa chaat, in which a samosa is smashed open and buried under warm stewed chickpeas, cool yogurt, perky chutneys, and a fistful of sev (wispy fried threads of chickpea batter).

Although "chaat" is the word used to identify these various bold snacks, more importantly, chaat is a social event. Going out for a chaat is akin to a happy hour, where the versatile bites are enjoyed in between meals and after work with cups of sweet, milky tea and peppery gossip. In addition to the street-corner carts, there are also mini food courts devoted to chaat, where manifold vendors, armed with their arsenal of spices, brawl for your business. Menus fly, fryers bubble, and the diner always wins.

Chaat is pervasive throughout South Asia, though some scholars believe its origins are in the state of Uttar Pradesh, home of the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra. During the time of their dynasty, Mughals held court in Agra, which quickly developed into a bustling commercial hub for traders throughout the empire. As a result, stalls sprouted within the city selling poori, paratha, kebab, and chaat to travelers and merchants. These culinary traditions likely spread from the imperial city to other regions, where the dish evolved into the many forms found today.

The Key to Chaat: Chaat Masala

At first glance, the dizzying array of chaats can seem overwhelming. Chaat is so diverse that you can refute almost any statement made about it, but the one thing they all have in common is the balance of salty, sour, spicy, and sweet flavors. Each component in a chaat will bring at least one of these qualities to the table.

The real heart of chaat, though, is the spice mixture called "chaat masala"; it finds its way into every iteration, whether sprinkled liberally on papris* or stirred into chutney by the spoonful. All on its own, this single spice blend adds salty, funky, spicy, and sour flavors to anything it touches. It's such an essential chaat flavoring that merely sprinkling it on sliced fruit or mixed nuts can conjure the chaat experience.

For more on papris, see below.

The components that make up chaat masala are best understood by the qualities each adds to the whole.

Funky and Salty: Kala Namak

The key element in chaat masala is pungent and funky kala namak, which also goes by the name of Himalayan black salt. Not to be confused with black lava salt or Hawaiian black salt, kala namak is a mined salt that is actually pink in color and owes its unique, eggy aroma to trace amounts of sodium sulfate, along with a few other impurities. On its own, the sulfurous aroma can be off-putting, but when skillfully incorporated into dishes, kala namak adds a bossy bit of savory funk. It is the backbone to chaat masala, with no real substitute.

It can be purchased in its most rustic form as large, dusty mahogany crystals, or you can find it ground into a fine, millennial-pink powder, ready to dissolve into any chutney. Besides its prevalence in chaat recipes and spice blends, it's traditionally used in savory buttermilk lassis and cooling cucumber raitas. It's also a staple in vegan cooking, making tofu scrambled "eggs" taste closer to the real deal.

Pucker Up: Green Mango and Tamarind Powders

Every chaat packs intense, tongue-prickling pucker. You need a forceful sour punch to cut through the richness of deep-fried doughs and balance the sweet chutneys. It's the biting acid that keeps your mouth watering and taste buds wanting more. The tart element in a chaat can come from the addition of lime juice or diced ambarella, but a good chaat masala should also offer up plenty of acid.

Most often, chaat masala gets its sour and fruity punch from green mango powder. This tart spice is made from unripe mangos that have been sliced and dried before being ground into a fine powder. Many packaged chaat masalas also include citric acid, a shortcut to that Sour Patch flavor. I prefer a blend of green mango and tamarind powder for my chaat masala. Tamarind powder is made by drying the sticky pulp found inside the russet pods of the tamarind fruit. It offers up a pleasant astringency through the tartaric acid it naturally contains, which pairs well with green mango powder's sour-candy zing.

Bring on the Heat: Chilies, Black Pepper, and Ginger

The heat in chaat masala is a triple threat of capsaicin from Kashmiri red chili powder, piperine from black pepper, and gingerols provided by ginger powder. Kashmiri red chilies are mild and fruity, loaded with floral and citrus notes. The powder has become one of my go-to spices, offering up much more than just heat to whatever dish you add it to.

Some historians attribute the extensive use of spices in regions with hot climates to their antibiotic properties, which suppress the bacteria and fungi that spoil foods. It is a happy accident that we've also become attached to the way these spices get your endorphins flowing.

The Aroma Chorus: Cumin, Coriander, Fennel, Mint, and Ajwain

Cumin and coriander are the loudest spices in chaat masala, with fennel seeds, dried mint, and ajwain (which has an aroma similar to that of dried thyme) providing some background noise. Together, they add nutty, pungent, floral, citrus, woodsy, and refreshing aromas and flavors.

Mastering the Mix

Although there are many preblended chaat masalas available online or at your local Indian grocery store, nothing compares to making your own blend. Even in ideal conditionskept away from light, in an airtight container, in a cool space in your hot kitchenground spices will be at their peak for only about three months. After that, they quickly deteriorate into nothing more than mildly aromatic sawdust. This is because the aromatic compounds in spices are highly volatile, quickly dissipating like a puff of smoke; when the spices are finely ground, there's that much more surface area from which those essential aromatic compounds can escape. Whole spices keep more of those molecules locked away, remaining fragrant for up to a year and waiting to be released as soon as you pulverize them in your spice grinder or mortar and pestle.

The other benefit of making your own chaat masala is that you can tweak it to your personal preferences. Chaat is all about customization, and by blending your own chaat masala, you truly can have it your way. The main spices in chaat masala are kala namak, cumin, chili powder, and green mango powder; from that starting point, the possibilities are endless. Many traditional recipes use yellow chili powder in place of red; some include asafetida, and others use garam masala (another spice blend common in Indian cooking) as a jumping-off point. Every auntie has her own blend, often with a secret ingredient or two, so treat the recipe as more of a guide rather than a hard-and-fast rule.

Whether you've decided to try my chaat masala or experiment on your own, properly toasting the whole spices will bring out the best qualities from each one. To ensure even toasting, it's best to start in a cool, dry pan, roasting one spice at a time over medium heat. Fennel seeds toast at a different rate from coriander seeds, so you'll achieve optimal flavor by giving each one some special attention. Keep the seeds in constant motion in the pan, and roast them until they're warm to the touch and fragrant. Once they're toasted, remove the seeds from the hot pan to prevent them from scorching over the residual heat.

In a pinch, I've ground whole spices with a muddler in a pint glass, but a more traditional tool is a mortar and pestle. For larger quantities, I've found that nothing beats a high-speed blender. It can quickly yield a fine powder, and you won't have to sift out any husks or seeds gone astray. A spice grinder or blade coffee grinder also makes quick work of the task, though these often require processing the spices in batches.

Chaat Up Your Life: How to Make Chaat at Home

In South Asian cities, it's difficult to walk a meter without tripping over a chaatwala, but in other parts of the world, the search for good chaat can become an endless march. If you've grown up eating chaat, the other obstacle can be finding one that tastes true to your memories. I'm never satisfied by papri chaat if it doesn't taste exactly like the one my parents would use as a bribe to take me sari shopping during my tomboy age.

Making chaat at home allows you to make it to your personal specs, but requires expert shopping, devoted prepping, and a lot of fryer oil. Even though each individual component in chaat is quite simple, there are a lot of them to make. Luckily, there are many ways to make chaat at home, whether it's for a first taste or to relive a flavor experience you haven't had in years.

The Quick and Easy Route

Given how central chaat masala is to the flavor of chaat, just having the spice mix is enough to arm you with all you need to chaat up your life. You'll still have to plan ahead by ordering the specialty spices online or hiking through the aromatic aisles at your local Indian grocery store, but once you have the spice mixture made, there are endless easy ways to use it to create a chaat experience at home.

Sprinkle it on fruit with a dollop of zesty Greek yogurt, and you've instantly made a fruity, chaat-y snack. Combine it with chickpeas, hard-boiled egg, tomato, and onion, and you've re-created a classic chana chaat. The acidity in the spice blend works well with seafood, so a dusting over lime-marinated shrimp is all it takes to make a ceviche chaat.

A favorite gas station snack of mine has always been Chex mix. The erratic combination of cereals and seasonings reminds me of bhel puri chaat, which is what inspired me to make a chaat-spiced version of the classic. I made the mix to my taste, with extra corn and rice Chex, few wheat Chex and pretzels (because who needs 'em?), and an absurd amount of chaat seasoning. I admit, it's probably more seasoning than necessary, but, as someone who's known for digging through a bag of Doritos for that one extra-cheesy chip, I don't see the point of snack foods if they don't leave your blood pressure elevated.

Feel free to turn the volume down if you prefer a sane level of salt and spice, but definitely don't skimp on the sugar. Sweetness is the one area where chaat masala falls short, and without sugar, the balance just won't be right. When you slowly toast the un-spiced snack mix in a low oven, the cereals crisp and the sugar melts into a sticky glaze, allowing the chaat masala to coat every crevice. In my first batch of testing, I tossed the mix with the chaat masala before baking, resulting in scorched, bitter spices. I've found it best to instead shower on the spices right out of the oven, while the sugar is still tacky and warm.

This hybrid snack combines easy-to-find ingredients with chaat masala to create something that has the complexity of chaat, but comes together in a snap.

Down and Dirty: Papri Chaat From Scratch

If you're feeling particularly brave, and have an afternoon (or weekend) to kill, then dive into this recipe for papri chaat. Papris are crispy chips made from a simple wheat dough. Much like nachos, the papris are topped with assorted accoutrements of complementing and contrasting textures and flavors, all of it always dusted generously with chaat masala.

Traditionally, you find the papris buried under fluffy boiled potatoes, tender chickpeas, cool yogurt, bright mint chutney, sweet-and-sour tamarind chutney, and crunchy sev. The recipe can look intimidating at first, but just like with nachos, you can save time and effort by purchasing some or all of the more labor-intensive componentslike the papris, sev, and chutneysand assembling them at home, adjusting the ratios to your tastes.

Papris:

Papri dough is traditionally made with atta, which is milled from durum wheat. Durum is a hard wheat with a high percentage of protein that uniquely forms strong gluten networks without becoming very elastic, unlike bread flour, which is very elastic. This property makes it ideal for rolling into thin flatbreads and extruding into pastas. However, atta has very different qualities from the flour used to make pasta.

Grains consist of three parts: the germ, the bran, and the endosperm (the starchy part).** For pasta, only the endosperm from the durum wheat is milled into semolina flour, unlike with atta, for which the entire kernel is milled. If you don't have access to atta flour, a good substitute is whole wheat flour, which is similar in flavor.

** Read our guide to whole grains for more.

Warm water helps the dough come together easily by hand; it will become smooth and taut with just a few minutes of kneading. For easier rolling, it's best to let the dough rest for at least an hour, or up to overnight. This dough can be used to make two kinds of papris. If docked (pricked all over), it will fry into flat, crisp chips, but if left undocked, it puffs up into crunchy pockets that can then be filled.

I like to flavor the papris with nigella seeds, which add a mild peppery aroma and a touch of pleasant bitterness, but a more traditional addition is ground ajwain seed.

The nigella seeds also act as a guide for rolling the dough to the perfect thickness. If the papris are rolled too thick, they'll remain chewy in the center after frying, rather than crisp all the way through, while dough rolled too thin will never become puffed and flaky. Rolling out the dough just to the thickness of a nigella seed gives you perfect papris every time.

Chutneys:

Making the mint chutney at home is simple and straightforward, and homemade is much more vibrant than store-bought. Fresh mint and cilantro are blended togetherstems and allwith just enough water, a touch of lime, a pinch of salt, and a hint of fresh green chili. For a brighter color, you can blanch the mint and cilantro in salted boiling water and shock them in an ice bath before blending, although the chutney is plenty vivid without this step. On its own, the mint chutney may taste bland and vegetal, but in the chaat it offers welcome relief and freshness, keeping the heavier ingredients from falling flat.

It's rare to find mint chutney without its partner in crime, sweet-and-sour tamarind chutney. Store-bought and restaurant versions are often sickly-sweet, loaded with corn syrup and sugar. Instead, my homemade-chutney recipe gets its body and mellow sweetness from chewy dates and earthy palm sugar.

Tamarind can be found in many forms, from jarred concentrates to dried whole pods. Here, I've used seedless tamarind paste, which gives all the flavor of the fresh pods without any of the fuss. A quick steep in hot water softens the date and tamarind and melts the palm sugar, readying it all to be blended into a smooth chutney.

Sev:

Sev are crunchy fried noodles made from a dough of chickpea flour and water. Chickpea flour, also called gram or besan flour, is a staple in South Asian cooking. It can be made from either raw or roasted chickpeas and is very crunchy when fried. It's often used to batter and fry vegetables in a manner similar to tempura.

Traditionally, the dough is very stiff and pressed through a brass extruder into hot oil. This stiff dough yields dense and sturdy sev, but it is impossible to cook without a sev extruder. I prefer a thick batter instead, which can be readily extruded with just a piping bag. The sev made from this batter has a more reserved crunch, but it's a compromise I'm happy to make if it means I can abstain from purchasing such a specific unitasker. Stored in an airtight container, sev stays crisp for a long time, making it ideal for preparing in large batches.

Putting It All Together:

An assembled chaat is a ticking time bomb, rapidly counting down before it self-destructs. Much like a carefully formed nigiri or an al pastor taco, chaat needs to be eaten immediately, before the contrasting textures all become mush and the flavors grow muddy. For maximum satisfaction, chaat is best assembled on small plates and devoured ravenously.

Layer the papris with boiled potatoes and chickpeas seasoned with chaat spice, then splatter and scatter it with yogurt, chutneys, sev, and diced raw onion for bite. Eat and repeat.

Regardless of what route you choose to take, traditional and from-scratch or an unconventional snack-mix version, there's no wrong way to chaat.
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When Terry Sanders saw the glow on the horizon on Oct. 8, and felt the heavy wind in his face, he knew there was trouble.

But the Santa Rosa resident and Oakland firefighter didnt realize the magnitude until he headed a few hundred feet down the road from his home to talk to the only man left at Fire Station 5.

I knocked on the door and said, So Im sure you know about the fire, Sanders remembers. And he goes, Which one? There are six of them.

The first wave of North Bay fires destroyed Sanders Fountaingrove neighborhood that night; even Fire Station 5 was reduced to ashes. Sanders, a musician whose previous band once opened for Sammy Hagar, lost a custom amplifier and more than a dozen guitars, including one gifted to him by Carlos Santana.

What happened next still has his friends in awe.

Once his family was safe, the off-duty Sanders  part Batman, part Bob Dylan  threw on his yellow fire jacket and started working behind the scenes, checking on houses behind evacuation lines and assisting his friend Lou Ratto, who was delivering an 1,800-gallon water truck that was used to help save several homes in Calistoga.

All the while, Sanders gave video updates on his Facebook page, offering neighborhood-by-neighborhood information and reassuring words, while explaining from a firefighters perspective what was happening.

I couldnt watch the news. It was too raw. He was basically my only source of what was going on, says Cynthia Alexander, who lost her home in Kenwood that same night. Thats not something you usually tell your friend: Youre my hero. But I sincerely meant it.

The 48-year-old firefighters final social media update was his most personal: A passionate solo guitar and vocal performance of a song called Sonoma Shine.

Fire up a pickup truck/ Cruise down Highway 12/ Oh Lord, shed his grace on thee/ It feels good to call this home/ Home is where I belong/ Oh Lord, shed his grace on thee.

Now Playing: Terry Sanders was once a session musician and band member whose path crossed with everyone from Digital Underground to Van Halen. He became an Oakland firefighter in 1999, settled in Santa Rosa with his wife and son, and plays guitar and sings with the blues and R&B band The Dylan Black Project. After Sanders Fountaingrove neighborhood was destroyed during the North Bay fires, he helped the community with video updates and other good deeds. And with a borrowed guitar  all of his were destroyed in the fire  he performs Sonoma Shine, the bands love letter to the region. Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Talking about the past few weeks, Sanders, who has served as an Oakland firefighter for 18 years, deflects praise to others. First on the list is his wife, Debra, whose Sonoma County Office of Education job includes assisting homeless children, work that has continued through her own displacement. He mentions Ratto and his wife, Julie, who helped gather pillows and sleeping bags for Sanders Oakland Engine 21 colleagues, who were deployed to Santa Rosa with little notice to help fight the fires.

Sanders moved from Oakland to Santa Rosa on accident, he says, in 2006, knowing nothing about the city the day he and Debra drove up to check out their future neighborhood. But they fell in love with it quickly. They lost one son to illness while living in the home and raised Isaac, who is 11 now.

The community is tight. Its really tight, Sanders says. I came from San Francisco, and I didnt know my neighbors in the city. Here, you know your neighbors, and you know theyve got your back.

Sanders wears borrowed clothes and a trucker hat that says It Is What It Is, telling part of his story while circling the remains of his once-grand Fountaingrove home. Rain starts to fall, but the firefighter doesnt seem to notice. Other than a concrete stairway climbing two stories into thin air, only the stunning views remain.

He narrates the scene with a mix of resignation and humor. There is no anger or self-pity. Occasionally Sanders apologizes for the jokes.

I find humor in the fact that my wife spent that day, Sunday, cleaning our barbecue grill, Sanders says, pointing at the charred remains. Man, she did a fantastic job. That grill was bangin.

That attitude was part of what made Sanders such a valuable resource to his neighbors in the chaotic days after the fire started. He appeared on MSNBC, joking on Facebook about the makeup process, and coined his own phrases. (If the ash is gray or brown, you can stick around. If the ash is red and glowing, you better get your ass going.)

In that moment, you want to do something  anything you can, Sanders says. I wasnt working in an official capacity, but I think people appreciated having a place to turn.

Sanders spent most of his 20s as a working musician, performing in bands including the all-black heavy metal outfit Othellos Revenge.

He was reluctant to form a garage band after so many thrilling professional moments, including session work for rap group Digital Underground and jamming with the Gap Band. But he found three good dudes who can play  drummer Greg Saunders, bass player Elmar Kurgpold and keyboardist Steve Seydler  and formed the blues/R&B group the Dylan Black Project.

The band seemed like a distant memory when the fires hit. Saunders own Coffey Park house was miraculously spared, surrounded by burned-to-the-ground homes.

But with gifted and borrowed equipment from local music shops Loud and Clear, Bananas at Large and amplifier builder Two Rock Amps, the Dylan Black Project is set to play a pair of benefit concerts Saturday, Nov. 11.

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RAMIN RAHIMIAN/Special to The Chronicle

The members had their first practice since the fires on Friday, Nov. 3, and both Sanders and Saunders report it was fun, emotional and cathartic. Like the city, the band feels permanently changed, but maybe a little closer.

There was no doubt about it. This band is solid, says Saunders. Last night was part of piecing it back together. The songs do sound a little different now.

Sonoma Shine definitely takes on new meaning.

Sanders wrote it before the fires, as a statement of love for the region. But the lyrics have an eerie connection to the tragedy: Floating on a breeze/ Theres fire on the leaves/ No matter where I go/ Im coming back to you/ Sweet Sonoma shine.

Sanders just got keys to a rental home, which they hope to move into this week. His family still hasnt decided if theyll rebuild and return to the same plot of land.

But he knows they wont leave Sonoma County.

Id rather have a house, Sanders says, but if Ive got to go through this, Id rather go through it here than any other place in the world.

Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub

North Bay Fire Aid benefit concert: Event begins 2 p.m., with the Dylan Black Project scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Suggested donation $10-$100. Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa.
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A mellow off-year election could get an intriguing boost Tuesday when voters in two Bay Area cities consider marijuana taxation measures  but for those uninspired by ganja, local ballots also will feature rent control, an urban growth boundary and a school parcel tax.

Voters in the cities of Pacifica and Cotati will decide whether to levy taxes on the gross receipts at cannabis dispensaries. The measures, both called Measure G, would raise an estimated $360,000 in Pacifica and $300,000 in Cotati, but the new taxes would also likely jack up the price of cannabis for consumers.

The two cities are among a very few Bay Area communities going to the polls Tuesday, including several cities in Sonoma County where recent fires and a decision to accept only mail-in ballots are expected to result in an exceedingly low turnout.

The town of Windsor is voting on a resolution to extend its urban growth boundary to the year 2040 and add a few extra parcels for commercial development. The Wilmar Union School District, just west of Petaluma, is seeking an annual $65 parcel tax that would last eight years, supporting the 240 students at Wilson Elementary School.

Two candidates are running for one seat on the Timber Cove Water District, in the tiny coastal hamlet of Sea Ranch.

The cannabis tax in Cotati has generated the most interest, though. The 7,500 residents of the suburb just south of Rohnert Park will decide whether to place a tax of up to 8percent on the gross receipts of pot cultivators, or up to $25 per square foot of cultivation. The measure would also tax manufacturing, distribution and retail sales. That would mean Mercy Wellness of Cotati would have to implement an initial tax of 2percent on sales, which would increase to 3percent in three years.

The owners at Mercy, the only cannabis dispensary in Cotati, said they would have to raise prices as a result of the tax, but the issue isnt foremost on the minds of Sonoma County residents as they recover from the disastrous fires that raged through their communities last month.

It doesnt help that all polling stations in Sonoma County will be closed Tuesday because of an executive order Gov. Jerry Brown issued after the fires. As of Friday, only 20percent of total ballots had been mailed in.

The stakes may be higher in Pacifica, where the Cannabis Wellness Center on Palmetto Avenue has been operating without a license because none have been issued. The Marijuana Operations Tax would levy a 6percent tax on the gross receipts at recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries, which the City Council would have the option to raise to 10percent after two years.

Jay Pasco, co-owner of the Cannabis Wellness Center, said he plans to apply for a state license Jan. 1 to sell both medical and recreational marijuana if the measure passes. If voters reject Measure G, cannabis sales would be illegal and his dispensary could be shut down.

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No arguments were submitted against the measures in Cotati and Pacifica, which are both attempting to reap tax benefits from the passage last year of Proposition64, which legalized recreational sales of marijuana in California starting in January.

Pacifica voters also will vote on Measure C, which would limit rent increases in apartment buildings constructed before Feb. 1, 1995 to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Rent control is a big issue for tenant activists, who are determined to hold down skyrocketing housing costs in the Bay Area. The Pacifica measure would specify conditions under which a landlord could evict a tenant, including failure to pay rent, breach of lease, criminal activity and demolition of the rental unit.

A seven-member commission would be appointed by the City Council to enforce the law, which has generally garnered opposition from landlords and support from tenants.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
The fears escalated for Harpreet Singh Kohli under the glow of a TV screen last year, when his daughter broke down at the sight of the words strung across the screen: TRUMP WINS 2016 ELECTION.

This is not good for our country, his daughter, then 8, cried. Even at her young age, she knew she was a U.S. citizen  and her father was not. This is not good for you.

One year later, as Kohli sits with his family in a sprawling Sikh temple in San Jose as he does nearly every Sunday, he worries his daughter may have been right. For the thousands of foreigners like him who hold an H-1B visa, it has been a dizzying year of anti-immigrant rhetoric, memos and executive orders from an administration that is seeking to stem the flow of foreigners coming into the country.

The day after the election, worries about what the new president would do to the H-1B visa program manifested in different ways: One H-1B holder from India put off buying a house. Another immediately filed for citizenship in Canada. Another left his car and home keys with a friend before leaving for an overseas business trip  just in case he wasnt allowed back into the country.

To the casual observer, these reactions might seem extreme. The H-1B program is enshrined in law, and Congress, tied up in disputes over health care and taxes, hasnt taken up immigration reform. Companies are still able to sponsor prospective employees for the visa, which allows foreigners to live and work in the U.S. for three to six years. And, just like every other year, 85,000 qualified foreigners were chosen in the April lottery.

But as the Trump administration looks to curtail a program officials say is rife with loopholes and abuse, many changes are rolling out through quieter means than legislation  executive orders and policy memos little noted outside the circles of immigration lawyers and recruiters. Separately, the tweaks to the H-1B program seem insignificant and incremental. Yet taken together, these subtle shifts have left aspiring Americans like Kohli wondering if their green cards will ever come.

Every few months, you feel like, OK, Will I be able to continue? Kohli, who has lived in the U.S. on and off for a decade, said while sitting outside the San Jose temple on a recent Sunday afternoon. Its a painful process, to be really frank.

Anirban Das, president of Skilled Immigrants in America, says the Trump administration has created hassles for H-1B holders.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to end rampant, widespread H-1B abuse that he said led to the loss of Americans jobs. Shortly after he was inaugurated, the administration suspended premium processing, which meant companies couldnt pay to expedite foreigners applications. Then the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo in April that suddenly changed who qualifies for the visa. Soon after, there was the Buy American, Hire American executive order, which over the next few months would be used to justify extra scrutiny on applications.

The latest shift affects H-1B holders who are looking to extend their stays in the country, who can no longer rely on earlier judgments for speedy renewals.

What the administration is doing is just putting more roadblocks in to make life more frustrating and irritating, Das said. I guess on paper everyone is fine. But whenever you have to go for a renewal or an amendment, youre like Oh my God, here we go again.

Even those like Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, a group that wants to reduce immigration, are frustrated when it comes to the H-1B program  but for a very different reason. He feels the president hasnt done enough.

There has been some movement ... on squeezing out some of the fraud in the system, Beck said. But Silicon Valley companies find it easier to recruit from India than Indianapolis.

Dave Holden, a 56-year-old engineer who lives in Burlingame, feels similarly.

Holden said he was laid off from a big tech company, which he declined to name, a few years ago. Two foreign workers were hired in his place, he said, and were paid much less than he was. He is part of the mass of critics who believe companies use H-1B visas to squeeze out American workers in favor of foreigners willing to work for less.

Startups and larger tech companies like Microsoft and Google say they use the visas to staff high-skilled engineering positions they could not otherwise fill. Yet in 2016, the majority of H-1Bs went to large Indian outsourcing companies such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro, who offer to take over routine technology and business operations for corporate clients.

Holden supported Trump because he believed he would put more jobs into the hands of Americans. But I havent seen anything tangible yet, he said.

He notes that there is a sizable number of foreign-born engineers in the Bay Area.

And do I think thats a good thing? he said. No.

Back at the Sikh temple on a recent Sunday, thousands of people dressed in vibrant Indian garb descended into the prayer hall. This temple, called the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib San Jose, was founded in 1984 as the Indian community rapidly grew in Santa Clara County. Its members all have their own reasons for coming to the U.S.: a job, a spouse, a better life.

Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle

Inside a tiny office in the temple was Dr. Dalvir Pannu, a dentist who comes by every Sunday to give volunteer checkups to people who dont want to go to a traditional dentist because they either cant afford it or are worried about their immigration status.

After his weekly session, he sat on a couch and talked about how he felt some hope as he watched the election results pour in. As a small business owner, he wants to use the H-1B system to bring in superior talent from overseas. But he hasnt been able to, he said, because of how larger companies have taken advantage of the lottery system.

He thought shining a spotlight on alleged abuses would make room for the people who are using it for the right reasons.

Pannu worries the country is going to experience a reverse brain drain and push immigrants, regardless of their status, further into the shadows.

And each week, he said, the line for his free clinic seems to get longer.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
Fitbit Inc. has been selected to provide wristband activity trackers for one of the National Institutes of Healths largest-ever research programs  an ambitious effort to recruit and collect health data from 1 million people in the United States  as the San Francisco device maker looks to position itself as a health company.

The NIH initiative, called All of Us, was created in 2015 to help researchers better understand how peoples genes, lifestyle and environment influence their overall health, an approach to medical treatment often called precision medicine. The program will collect genetic information from participants and use wearable devices to track health-related metrics including heart rate and sleep patterns. Fitbit is the first device maker to be selected for the program, which is the NIHs first pilot project with wearables, and will initially provide 10,000 wristbands.

Enrollment began in May and about 8,000 people have volunteered to participate so far, said Dr. Steven Steinhubl of the Scripps Translational Science Institute, one of several research institutions helping to lead the program. Researchers hope to track participants for at least a decade.

We know the wearable sensors are going to be a large part of the information were going to be collecting, Steinhubl said. Everything we can learn about things as simple as resting heart rate and sleep patterns (is) going to be a start of learning more and more about people.

Unlike many medical studies, the data collected from the participants will be shared with them  though what format the information comes in, and what participants choose to do with it, remain to be seen.

Well have to learn how to best provide information in a way that doesnt just create distress, Steinhubl said. Some may want every bit of data. Others may want a small amount of actionable information. It might mean sharing the information with their doctor. ... Well fail if all we do is say, Heres all your information, if you have questions, see your doctor. Thats not going to work.

Fitbit, which has struggled in recent years to maintain its dominance in the fitness wearables market, has been pushing to brand itself as a health company whose products can detect medical conditions like sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, rather than just a fitness company.

In October, Fitbit presented data at a health conference in Boston that showed that pulse-tracking sensors in its wristband can detect atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality that can lead to shortness of breath or a greater risk of stroke. Larger clinical studies are being planned to validate these early results. The company is also looking into whether a sensor in its new smartwatch Ionic can detect sleep apnea.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
State Treasurer John Chiang proposed a stopgap Tuesday for a weighty issue cash-based cannabis businesses face: He recommended the use of armored cars to collect what might amount to $1 billion in annual taxes when recreational cannabis becomes legal for sale Jan. 1.

Chiang announced the proposal for transporting cash securely as part of the findings of a year-long study on cannabis banking.

Access to financial services has been a nettlesome problem for medical dispensaries in California and in other states like Colorado where recreational cannabis has been legalized. Because the drug remains federally illegal, most banks wont handle money from cannabis businesses, leaving them without access to credit card payments, checking accounts and electronic tax payments.

This will become an even bigger problem in 2018, when the treasurers office estimates the states cannabis industry will have about $7 billion in sales. The industrys reliance on cash has raised major security concerns, which Chiang hopes will be alleviated by the use of armored cars.

It is unfair and a public safety risk to require a legal industry to haul duffel bags of cash to pay taxes, employees and utility bills, Chiang said. The reliance on cash paints a target on the back of cannabis operators, and makes them and the general public vulnerable to violence and organized crime.

Chiang recommended that the state contract with a private courier service to transport the large amounts of cash to a secure counting facility, before depositing it with the Federal Reserve or a commercial bank willing to take the funds. These collected taxes would then be transferred to taxing authorities.

How to pay for the service still needs to be worked out, the treasurers office said, and tax-collecting bodies will ultimately determine whether armored cars will be used. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration will handle the collection of the cash, and its director, Nicolas Maduros, said that its too early to say whether this proposal is feasible.

This is not a new issue for us, Maduros said. Were very concerned about collecting cash in our offices for those taxpayers who cant get access to banking services, so weve looked at every possible alternative and have not yet found a great solution, especially one thats feasible in the immediate term. He said, however, that if the treasurers office is able to come up with a workable plan, his agency would support it.

Our main concern is the safety of our staff and the safety of the public, Maduros said. Thats the primary concern, much more so than cost.

Safety remains an issue in the industry. There have been a number of cash robberies at dispensaries across the country, including one in San Diego in September. Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association, said that he believes such thefts are vastly underreported.

Many cannabis businesses dont feel comfortable reporting theft, but as these businesses become normalized over the next few years itll become clear that its a common problem, Allen said. It happens frequently.

Allen, who was part of the working group that produced the report, supported the idea of armored cars for tax collection, but emphasized the need for other solutions. I think the approach the treasurer and the attorney generals offices have taken to focus on the most essential transactions and reduce the public safety impact makes sense, Allen said. But there are all sorts of other impacts that need to be considered. Theres the human impact. Its really tough to get a mortgage if you dont have a bank account and credit.

In Colorado, five years after recreational sales were legalized, these issues linger. Adam Weiss, who runs a cannabis business in Boulder, Colo., said that armored cars are commonly contracted to protect cash. Or youll get someone riding along with it who has a right-to-carry license, Weiss said. Weiss said this is becoming less common, as some credit unions and banks within the state have opened their doors to business.

Chiang admitted that the armored cars were a short-term step for businesses that were trying to get into the new market, rather than an ideal long-term solution.

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Its not my view that this ought to be the states principal role, Chiang said. But there are those who want to engage in this effort, and there are still unresolved issues related to a state bank and existing banking services, so if we can engage and move quickly using the private sector, Im not averse to that approach.

The report also featured several more long-term recommendations, including the creation of an online portal that would collect data from local governments and state regulatory agencies. This would help banks fulfill a federal obligation to know your customer before taking money from businesses. Since marijuana businesses have had to operate on a cash basis, data about them are scarce.

It also recommended a study to explore the option of a state-backed financial institution, an idea that has had growing public interest but faces concerns over viability.

Chiang said a public-sector bank might be a positive alternative, but it was too early to say. Is it like a potato chip? he asked. It might taste good going down, but ultimately be of no nutritional value.

The report also recommended the formation of a multistate consortium to lobby the federal government, do outreach and education, and serve as a resource for states where cannabis is legal.

In the meantime, the cash will still have to roll in, one way or another. Maduros said that when the first round of taxes from legal sales is due in late February, the agency will collect them. We expect to be prepared one way or another to collect the tax, Maduros said.

Sophie Haigney is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney
Police are investigating a shooting near a Concord high school that left a 17-year-old student dead.

The shooting occurred at 1:32 p.m., police said, at the corner of Salvio and Beach streets, just down the street from Olympic Continuation High School.

A passenger in a black sedan exited the car and approached a group of people off campus just as school let out for the day, police said. One person was hit as the group ran away from the shooter.

The victim ran onto the school campus, where police said he was treated by school staff, paramedics and responding officers. The victim, a senior at the high school, was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries, Mount Diablo Unified School District officials said.

No other injuries were reported. Anyone who witnessed the shooting can contact police at (925) 671-3333.

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Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15
Supasit Puttikaew knew he wanted to open his first restaurant in the Bay Area a few years ago, but he wasnt rushing to pursue the project. He was fine being the chef de cuisine of Hawker Fare in San Francisco, learning the subtleties of Thai and Laotian-inspired dishes from Michelin-starred chef James Syhabout.

Then one day he mulled over the pros and cons of the project with his wife, kicked around the concept with Syhabout, and learned he could afford a space in the East Bay. He decided to go for it.

The 33-year-old recently worked his last day at Hawker Fare and is now dedicating all of his time to launching the Funky Elephant, a Hawker Fare-esque Thai restaurant taking shape in the former Doughnut Dolly space in Berkeley. If all goes as planned, the restaurant will be up and running by early next year.

The menu is still in the works, but its going to have pad Thai. Im taking what I used to eat as a young person and transferring it to the customer, he said. Simple comfort food I cook at home for my wife and family and even the staff at Hawker Fare.

Puttikaew is the second CDC of a Syhabout restaurant to be involved with a new project this year (Keone Koki is working with Syhabout as a partner on the upcoming Hawking Bird in Oakland).

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Berkeley is basically a love letter to Thai food. Chick N Rice, the fast-casual restaurant from the founders of the food delivery app Caviar, opened earlier this year. And Bangkok Thai Cuisine, Imm Thai Street Food, and Anchalee Thai (among others) are all still rolling along. Puttikaew says hes not intimidated by the market.

In the East Bay, there's a lot Thai places but most of them, the old ones and new ones, theyre different from what Thai food is supposed to be, he said. With the Funky Elephant, Im bringing a passion and love for this style of cooking that I think Thai restaurants need to have but are missing.

The Funky Elephant will have about 12 seats inside the restaurant and maybe another 15 in the outdoor seating it shares with the nearby Philz Coffee, Puttikaew said.

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I dont know what authentic Thai food is, or even classic Thai, because everyone claims they serve that, especially in the Bay Area, Puttikaew said. All I know is that this is the food I used to eat from 1984 until now. This is all i know. I cant tell you if its the best pad Thai anywhere because theres some many versions, but I can tell you what I have is an old school one.

The Funky Elephant: 1313 Ninth St.; Opening early 2018

Justin Phillips is San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
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Chestnut Streets Seed + Salt is closing at the end of the month.

Its been almost three years since Seed + Salts vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free offerings debuted in the Marina. Owner Mo Clancy says the place has never been more popular. In fact, Seed + Salt had its most profitable month ever in October.

Were at the height of everything right now, Clancy says.

But the unprecedented growth in popularity has produced logistical nightmares for the team, Clancy says. Over the last few months she said shes mulled over everything from an expansion into the space next door, opening a commissary kitchen, focusing on online sales and maybe even moving to Los Angeles.

Nothing seemed to fit, she says, so the restaurant will close at its 2240 Chester St. space on Nov. 28. Clancy says shes taking a three-month hiatus to evaluate the brands evolution and how to manage it.

Its kind of ironic when you think about it, she says.

While Clancy plots the course for Seed + Salts future, the global mash-up restaurant Dabba will move into its Marina space. The Bay Areas first Dabba outpost opened in SoMa last summer. Clancy said the workers from Seed + Salt are joining the Dabba staff.

Seed + Salt will be back, she says, just not in the way people might think. As for what that means, Clancy admits she isnt quite sure yet.

Its such a mix of emotions. It feels like when you send a kid off to college. Youve done all this work, but you know it has to go for now and it wont gone be forever, she says. Its going to morph into something bigger and better. You just have to let it go for it to be able to do that.

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Seed + Salt: 2240 Chestnut St.; closes Nov. 28

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
From the founding of the United States as a nation, there has been Islamic influence.

The Islamic nation of Morocco was the first to recognize America as a nation, in 1777. Muslims fought in the Revolutionary War to win our freedom. Muslims were brought to America during the slave trade. Some of the American founding fathers had copies of the Quran, most notably Thomas Jefferson.

The U.S. Constitution itself is said to be influenced by the spirit of the Holy Quran in that it recognizes the inherent rights of the individual, the community, and the universal thread of humanity that connects us all.

Islam itself goes beyond the bounds of religion, geography and ethnicity; it addresses the nature of the human being to submit only to God. In this sense it outlaws slavery, it equalizes men and women, and it imposes no compulsion on the individual to serve anyone, including God.

Shariah law, contrary to popular belief, is not some strict law put down in books that metes out punishment if someone steps outside the law. Shariah is the guidance of the Holy Quran itself that shows the person the path of life recommended by Allah. It is only when that person ignores the guidance that they suffer the consequences of their own disobedience. When societal laws are broken, then the law of the land is applicable.

Those who commit acts of terror on the innocent, as we saw in New York City on Oct. 31, are not only ignorant of the true concepts of the faith, but have refused to understand the faith. They are led to acts of terror by those who hold influence over them and harbor hatred for any who do not share their way of thinking. Neither the teacher nor those they control are considered Muslim.
President Trump on Monday attributed the slaughter of 26 people in a Texas church  the nations third mass killing in five weeks  to a mental health problem, saying it wasnt a guns situation.

Hes wrong on two counts, said Michael Stone, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University and author of The Anatomy of Evil, who has studied 360 of the most notorious mass murders of the past century. It is a gun issue. And there are very few mass murderers who are certifiably crazy.

Critics say blaming mass killings on mental health problems is not only medically inaccurate, it is politically disingenuous  a fig leaf, to make it appear that Trump is doing something about gun violence.

Politically, Trumps reactions to the recent mass killings have been inconsistent.

When green-card-holding Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov allegedly killed eight people with a rented truck in New York City last week, Trump called for ramping up extreme vetting for immigrants and blamed Democrats for the Diversity Visa Lottery immigration program that enabled Saipov to move to the United States.

Trump described Saipov, who said he committed his crime in the name of the Islamic State, as a very sick and deranged person, but the presidents response focused on the political, calling the immigration program a Chuck Schumer beauty  a dig at the New York senator who helped create the program in 1990. Stone said it is more likely that Saipov acted because he was radicalized by political and religious factors.

Trumps reaction was different when a white, native-born American killed 58 people in Las Vegas last month and another one killed 26 at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday. Trump attributed those slaughters to mental illness.

This isnt a guns situation. This is a mental health problem at the highest level, Trump said of the Texas killings while visiting Japan on a 12-day trip through Asia. Its a very, very sad event. A very, very sad event, but thats the way I view it.

That may be Trumps view, but Stone said very few of the mass killers he has studied had a serious mental illness. And even though Stone had never examined Texas shooter Devin Patrick Kelley, he believes it is unlikely that mental illness was the reason for Kelleys actions. Kelley, like roughly half of the mass killers Stone has studied, died shortly after committing the crime, preventing further firsthand interviews about his motives. He was 26.

Experts said Kelleys history of domestic violence would be a more likely predictor of further violent outbursts. On Monday, the Air Force admitted that it failed to enter Kelleys domestic-violence court-martial into a federal National Crime Information Center database, which would have barred him from buying a weapon. Kelley passed the background checks and purchased weapons last year and this year.

Yet in the aftermath of the mass violence that has become commonplace in the United States, Trump, and other politicians before him, often quickly attribute a mass killers actions to mental illness.

Its easy to dub them that, because the average person thinks (a killer) must be crazy to commit such a horrible act, Stone said. It feels comfortable to the public, because they dont know very much about mental illness.

Trump is not the only person who jumps to that conclusion. It is a popular misconception that people who commit mass shootings must be crazy, said Liza Gold, a forensic psychiatrist who teaches at Georgetown University and edited Gun Violence and Mental Illness.

The idea has permeated the public consciousness. One of the few points of widespread agreement Americans share when it comes to guns concerns mental illness.

A July Pew Research survey found that 89 percent of both gun owners and non-gun owners thought people with mental illness should have their gun access restricted. A 2015 Washington Post/ABC News Poll found that more than twice as many people (63 percent) thought mass shootings were more attributable to inadequately treating people with mental health issues than it was to inadequate gun control laws (23 percent).

But analysts said that shared sentiment might be misdirected.

Most gun violence  98 percent  is not attributable to people with mental illness, Gold said Monday.

If people with mental illness have access to a gun, experts say, theyre most likely to use it on themselves, not others. Also, truly mentally ill people are unlikely to be coherent enough to handle the myriad details involved carrying out a mass attack.

Stone and others say the root of the gun violence isnt medical but political, and can be traced to the National Rifle Association, which wants no curbs on guns. The organization has cowed lawmakers away from funding federal studies into the root of gun violence, which might provide fact-based reasons for why people commit mass murders.

Last year, the organization spent more than $50 million backing Trump and six GOP Senate candidates. It lost only one race, an open seat in Nevada that was held by retiring Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks money in politics.

During the presidential race in October, the NRA sponsored 1 of every 9 TV ads that aired in swing state North Carolina, 1 of 8 in Ohio and 1 of 20 in Pennsylvania, according to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity.

Blaming mental health is an old, tired NRA tactic meant to paralyze the country and make it seem like gun violence is akin to floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters over which we dont have any control, said Peter Ambler of Oakland, executive director of Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, the organization started by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot in 2011 while meeting with constituents in Tucson.

It gives (Trump) a fig leaf to make it seem like hes caring about another shooting, Ambler said. That he has something to say about it beyond offering his thoughts and prayers.

Ambler said that if Trump were sincere about linking mental health to gun violence, he wouldnt have signed a bill in February rolling back an Obama-era law that made it more difficult for people with mental illness to buy guns.

Instead, Gold said, by harping on mental illness as the cause, we inevitably cant move forward. We remain frozen, having developed a sense of learned helplessness.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Amid the chaos of the Vietnam War across the Pacific Ocean and the protests at home, a conflict in the Bay Area proved inevitable.

Fifty years ago, anti-war demonstrators took a stand, shutting down the Oakland Induction Center, a governmental hub where draftees were processed before being sent to the armed services. The response from authorities was swift and, at times, savage. The images from the conflict in mid-October 1967 remain stunning.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the draft was a cloud that lingered over the nation and, especially, the heads of those born from 1944 to 1950. More than 600,000 young men were drafted in 1966-67, and more than 200,000 of them were sent to the theater of war, where U.S. casualties topped 11,000 in 1967 alone.

Nationwide protests escalated, with Stop the Draft Week in mid-October 1967 in the Bay Area building into the largest demonstration of the anti-war movement.

In San Francisco, young people were urged to turn in their draft cards at the Federal Building. The Rev. Anthony Nugent summed up the feelings of the resistance: If a young man wants to fight in Vietnam, thats one thing. But I dont think he should be drafted into a war he morally opposes.

In Oakland, the weeks organizing committee announced that rallies designed to close the induction center would begin the morning of Oct. 16, stating participants in this action should expect arrest. An article in The Chronicle on Oct. 17 reported that while 125 people were arrested, including Joan Baez and her mother, the demonstrations were relatively calm with the group composed almost entirely of pacifists. There was an air of entente cordiale between the Oakland Police Department and demonstrators, the story read. The days activities, however, proved to be the calm before the storm.

The headline across the top of The Chronicles Oct. 18 front page read THE BIG DRAFT BATTLE then A bloody attack by police  clubs, tear gas and boots. The previous day, Oakland police had faced off against at least 2,500 protesters, mostly students from UC Berkeley and Stanford University. In a turn from the relative peace of the previous gathering, violence was the order of the day.

Chronicle reporter Charles Howe provided a vivid description of the events. Demonstrators started showing up at 2 a.m. at the Oakland Induction Centers examining station. By 6 a.m., hundreds ringed the building, marching, chanting and singing. A police order to disperse came from a bullhorn. Within a few minutes, police, sheriffs deputies and CHP officers came pouring out of a parking garage.

Shortly after 7 a.m., police made their move, Howe wrote, beating their way through a thin, running line of frightened demonstrators. ... Charging down Clay Street, officers squirted liquid Mace and rattled clubs against anyone who didnt move out of their way fast enough.

Halfway down the block, 100 demonstrators were blocking the side entrance to the station, sealing it off with their bodies. After facing off for a few minutes, officers suddenly surged, their hard wooden sticks mechanically flailing up and down, like a peasant mowing down wheat, Howe wrote.

Several members of the media were beaten and Maced during the melee. Among them were Chronicle photographer Gordon Peters and KGO-TV news anchor Jerry Jensen. Oakland Police Chief Charles Gain said the media had been ordered twice to clear the area. Police had a job to do, Gain said, and the press were where they didnt belong. The journalists said they never heard a warning to leave the area.

The violent force used by police had made headlines not only in The Chronicle; this was coast-to-coast front-page news. A statement released by Lt. Gov. Robert Finch on behalf of Gov. Ronald Reagan, however, saluted law enforcement officers for their exceptional ability during the demonstrations. The statement read: Their actions in upholding the law are to be commended and should serve as a reminder throughout all California that law must be obeyed.

After the fighting, dozens of arrests and incidents of violence sprang up in the last three days of Stop the Draft Week in Oakland, but police tactics were more restrained. The Oakland Induction Center was the site of many more protests and arrests into the early 1970s, but the riots of October 1967 remained the bloodiest confrontation.

On Jan. 28, 1973, Defense Secretary Melvin Laird announced an end to the draft, and the all-volunteer army era began again.

Bill Van Niekerken is the library director of The San Francisco Chronicle, where he has worked since 1985. In his weekly column, From the Archive, he explores the depths of The Chronicles vast photography archive in search of interesting historical tales related to the city by the bay.
Kosta Browne, the wine brand that defined an era of California Pinot Noir style, is embarking on big changes. This spring, for the first time ever, the Sebastopol winery will open a tasting room  a reversal of its long-held stance of exclusivity. And founders Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, who have been gradually transitioning toward personal projects for years, are officially stepping down from the company.

Kosta Browne is among California wines greatest contemporary success stories. What began as two sommeliers scrappy garage project in the late 1990s is now a 30,000-case powerhouse with decade-long wait lists. It claims the only Pinot Noir ever awarded as Wine Spectators Wine of the Year. The company has been sold not once but twice to private-equity firms  the first time for a reported $40 million, the second time almost certainly for much more.

Yet Scott Becker, the winerys president and CEO, believes that Kosta Browne must now change or perish. We were at the risk of becoming victims of our own success, he says. To be relevant and successful for the next 20 years, we have to recognize that the consumer is changing.

As much as Kosta Browne was the paradigm for a new, generous, riper style of Pinot Noir in the mid-aughts, in this decade it has become the establishment against which a younger generation of winemakers rebels.

We got typecast into being this super-extracted Pinot Noir, says Dan Kosta. You look at (wine organization) In Pursuit of Balance, or the conversation in Oregon. People trying to make a restrained style would use us as an example of what they didnt want to do.

Becker tells an illustrative story. He and Nico Cueva, Kosta Brownes current winemaker, recently visited New York City on a sales trip. They were sitting at the Breslin, a top restaurant where any producer would hope to sell his wine, and Cueva was wearing a T-shirt that said Jolie-Laide  the tiny, ultra-hip label from winemaker Scott Schultz, known for oddity wines like Trousseau Gris and Melon de Bourgogne.

The Breslins sommelier asked Cueva, Jolie-Laide  is that your label? I love those wines. No, Cueva responded, it was his friend Scotts; he was with Kosta Browne. What was that? Kosta Browne, Cueva repeated.

Never heard of it, the sommelier shrugged.

It was as if Taylor Swift, wearing a St. Vincent T-shirt, had encountered a music producer who loved St. Vincent but had never heard of Swift.

And the thing hit me right between the eyes, Becker says. Thats what were up against. In an era where top New York sommeliers can recite the ranks of obscure, micro-size Trousseau Gris producers, where does Kosta Brownes derided style of ripe Pinot Noir fit in?

Did Kosta Brownes success make it a scapegoat?

John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

Kosta Brownes origin  which has now become the often-recounted tip jar story  goes like this. In 1997, Dan Kosta and Michael Browne were sommeliers at Santa Rosas John Ash & Co., and mostly broke. They decided to make some wine together. To finance it, every night after their shift, theyd put $10 in an envelope. When harvest rolled around, they had $800, which bought them a half-ton of Russian River Pinot. To buy a barrel, John Ash chef Jeffrey Madura ponied up $400  their first investor.

The two men managed to fundraise from friends and acquaintances over the next few years  enough to make 3,600 cases of Lake County Sauvignon Blanc in 1999, and a larger amount of Pinot Noir in 2000. Kosta suggested they call their nascent brand Alterra, high earth, but one of their investors had already registered a trademark for that name, and threatened to sue them.

I said, Dan, lets just use our names, like Burt Williams and Ed Selyem, Browne recalls, referring to pioneering Sonoma Pinot producer Williams Selyem. It had to be Kosta Browne, though, because Browne Kosta sounds like a venomous spider. Browne would make the wines, Kosta would handle sales and marketing, and their friend Chris Costello would manage the business.

Kosta Browne found its stylistic signature in 2002, when they unexpectedly came into some fruit from Sebastopols Kanzler Vineyard at the last minute. Late in the harvest season, the grapes were already at 25.2 brix, a measurement of grape sugar. I was in this mind-set of, Ive gotta make Burgundy, Ive gotta 23.5 it, Browne says, referring to the lower sugar levels at which some French winemakers harvest their Pinot Noir. But this fruit tasted great. Like a peach Id had in Washington state one time  that perfectly ripened fruit. We made the wine, and it was just perfectly exhilarating.

That turned me on to picking fruit when it tasted good, rather than when people are telling me, Browne says. The better tasting grapes you get, the better the wine. Id never thought about it that way until then.

Browne followed that new mandate the following year, in what turned out to be a hot  read: extra-ripe  vintage. And it was that vintage, 2003, that proved Kosta Brownes breakout. Wine Spectators James Laube awarded its 2003 Kanzler 96 points and its 2003 Sonoma Coast 95, calling the latter one of the greatest Pinot values Ive ever tasted. (It was $28 then; the 2015 bottling of that wine is now $68.)

The brand built a strong direct-to-consumer business; it sells only 15 percent of its wine through wholesale. And thanks to Costello, it thrived on limiting customers allocations, which helped stoke demand for the wines. Even today at 30,000 cases, Becker says the wait list for the appellation wines is 3.5 years, and 12 years for the 100-case 4-Barrel cuvee.

By 2009, the original set of investors wanted to sell. We had friends and family-type investors, they werent gazillionaires, Kosta says. And KB was this salmon swimming upstream amid this economic disaster around it. Vincraft, a Sonoma investment firm co-founded by Bill Price and backed by the Texas Pacific Group, bought a controlling stake in the winery that year for a reported $40 million. In 2015, Boston private-equity firm J.W. Childs bought Vincrafts share.

Admittedly, both co-founders have had a foot out the door for a while. I knew we were going to transact, Browne says, and by 2008 hed devised a backup plan. That was Cirq, a small Sonoma Pinot label, for which J.W. Childs helped Browne secure investors. Meanwhile, Kosta and New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse co-founded a Sonoma Pinot brand, Alden Alli, named for their wives.

When asked why they would want to leave Kosta Browne behind, the co-founders respond as if the shift were preordained. I equate it with the inevitability of sending your kid off to college, Kosta says. They both say they want more freedom, and to be more hands-on with smaller volumes of wine, which Cirq and Alden Alli can afford. Both, however, will continue to share in Kosta Brownes success: They remain investors in their namesake company.

Curiously, all parties  those remaining with Kosta Browne and those leaving it  seem eager to distance themselves from the winerys reputation for ripe, rich, hedonistic wines.

Kosta emphasizes that the Alden Alli wines have less oak, less extraction and a certain savoriness, as well as lower alcohol, around 14%. Browne mentions hes using more whole-cluster fermentations on the Cirq wines.

John Storey / Special to the Chronicle

For the Kosta Browne lineup, meanwhile, Cueva says: I dont want to have over-the-top, opulent, blow-your-lid-off wines. The head winemaker since 2015, he is using lighter-toast oak, trying native fermentations and experimenting with vessels like foudres. These are techniques youd expect from Jolie-Laide, not Kosta Browne.

The companys 2016 purchase of the 60-acre Cerise Vineyard, a cool-climate Anderson Valley site best known as the source of elegant, lean Pinot Noirs from Littorai Wines, indicates a commitment to these professed stylistic goals.

Still, Cueva qualifies those goals. Theres no way that KBs going to become some lean, super tannic, acid-driven Pinot Noir. Thats not whats going to happen. (I can confirm it hasnt happened; see tasting notes here.)

Wine style is one thing; wine business is another. Just as Kosta Browne is trying to position itself as a source of lighter, less extracted wines, so is it trying to win consumers who arent as impressed by limited allocations and exclusivity as an earlier generation.

The consumer is changing, says Becker. Look at the rise of the Whole Foods scene. The influence of the sommelier. Kosta Browne was so successful with the mailing list because people couldnt get the wines, but I worry: In the future, will people still be willing to wait for wine?

On the other hand, will chasing experience-hungry Millennials and New York sommeliers alienate the customer base that gave Kosta Browne its success in the first place? The somm at the Breslin may want Trousseau Gris, but Id wager the majority of Sonoma Pinot Noir consumers  especially those willing to pay $90 for a Kosta Browne wine  still like their wines rich and ripe.

We became such a lightning rod for that extracted style, and I dont think it was totally fair. Those hot vintages defined us, Kosta says. Well take it. It was great. But we want the right to grow stylistically.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. E-mail:emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
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A police raid on a residence in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco led to the arrest of one man and the seizure of about 70 pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of heroin and more than $46,000 in cash, officials said Monday.

Narcotics officers served a search warrant on a home near 25th and Sanchez streets on Wednesday. They arrested Alejandro Alvarez, a 44-year-old San Francisco resident. Alvarez has been charged with possession of narcotics, intent to sell, and maintaining a place for the purpose of selling narcotics.

Officer Robert Rueca of the San Francisco Police Department said that officers had made contact with Alvarez earlier in the day and found narcotics on him. Police then obtained a search warrant for his residence.

They found evidence on him showing that he may have had more narcotics, and based on their training and experience, they believed that he was in possession of more narcotics for sales, Rueca said.

Rueca also said that Alvarez has an arrest record thats related to narcotics, but declined to comment further.

The investigation is ongoing but as of now, Rueca said, they have no suspects outstanding.

Neighbors on the quiet, mostly residential blocks where the bust occurred expressed surprise and some bewilderment about the drug charges. Ian Moon moved in several months ago.

Compared to other friends who had just moved to the city, I thought this was the safest possible neighborhood, said Moon. He hadnt seen or experienced anything that indicated a large-scale drug operation might be happening in a neighboring house.

Maricar Lagura, who works at Spin City Coffee on the corner of 26th and Sanchez streets, had heard about the drug bust, but was in disbelief.

A meth lab in Noe Valley? Seriously? Lagura said.

She said she had never seen Alvarez in the upscale neighborhood, despite working there every day. Maybe he could afford the rent, she said jokingly.

Sophie Haigney is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney
While his colleagues were bowing their heads in a moment of silence for victims of the Texas church shooting Monday, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., was out in the hallway speaking to his constituents over Facebook Live.

The Democratic congressman, who represents the west side of Los Angeles County, walked out of the chamber in protest.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., requested all representatives rise for a 15-second moment of silence Monday evening, as members of the Texas delegation gathered near the front. A gunman killed 26 people and injured 20 more during a church service in Sutherland Springs, Texas Sunday.

ALSO READ: Sutherland Springs shooter allegedly escaped from mental health facility in 2012

Lieu said to his Facebook followers that while he respected the show of support, he couldn't participate in good conscience.

"I can't do this again. I've been to too many moments of silences," Lieu said. "In just my short career in Congress, three of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history have occurred. I will not be silent."

Now Playing: Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., explains why he walked out during the House of Representatives' moment of silence for victims of the Sutherland Springs church shooting. Video: Ted Lieu / Facebook

Lieu went on to advocate for gun safety legislation, including a universal background check law, a ban on assault rifles, and a ban on bump stocks.

"Now I gotta go back to vote," Lieu said, wrapping up the one-minute live stream.

READ MORE: Killer celebrated with churchgoers five days before the bloody rampage

Lieu was asked in an interview on HLN whether he intended to politicize the mass shooting.

"I view it as doing my job to highlight this issue because you don't want Congress to just do moments of silences every time a mass shooting happens," Lieu told the CNN-affiliated network. "You want us to take action to try to prevent the shooting from happening in the first place."

Despite a prior domestic violence conviction, gunman Devin Patrick Kelley was able to purchase the assault rifle used in the attack because he had been found guilty in an Air Force court-martial, not a civilian court. The Air Force reportedly failed to enter Kelley's name in the federal database used to conduct background checks for gun purchases.

In a press conference from South Korea Tuesday, President Trump said he believed tougher gun laws would not have prevented the shooting in Sutherland Springs. Instead, he argued that more restrictive laws could have resulted in more casualties.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.
"Pink lungs matter," say some Tenderloin residents irked by the smell of wood smoke wafting from the chimney of a new deli-market in the neighborhood.

Meraki Market opened in October with the promise of delivering upscale deli-style food to San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. But locals say the Stanlee Gatti project has brought more than cold-salted chicken legs and cave-aged gruyere to Post Street.

"I open my windows and it's smoke filling the air, smoke filling my apartment," said Alex Folsom, who lives across from Meraki.

The smoke emanates from the market's wood-burning stove, as first reported by Eater SF, where employees grill a variety of proteins and vegetables over flames fueled by almond and mesquite wood, the latter of which emits an aroma reminiscent of Texas barbecue.

"It is high-quality hard wood and one of the best for cooking food on an open grill," Gatti told SFGATE. He said mesquite, which is often shipped from Texas and therefore pricier than traditional stove fuel, imbues the food with a flavor and fragrance "appealing to most people."

Gatti said the marketplace underwent extensive permitting, especially for the stove, and recently hired a ventilation systems company to uncover ways to assuage those bothered by the smell. He has no plans to burn alternative fuels.

Folsom and a cohort of neighborhood activists aren't so interested in flavorful meats, but clearing their airways.

"My eyes itch and water, my throat is dry," said longtime Tenderloin resident Latasha Poindexter, who claims she can taste the burnt wood when the oven gets really fired up in the morning and afternoon.

The concerned citizens didn't think much of the smoke just after the market opened in October; any scents from Meraki were masked by hefty plumes blown into the city by way of the Wine Country fires.

But as the northern blazes reached containment and the gray haze cleared, Poindexter said the smoke remained. After complaining to Meraki management, Poindexter took her gripes to the street last week, chanting "No smoke! No smoke! No smoke!" outside the marketplace.

Folsom heard Poindexter's protest from his apartment, and the two, along with a handful of other locals, decided to join forces. Last week they filed a complaint with local government agencies and Poindexter launched a hyperlocal movement called "Pink Lungs Matter."

An inspector with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) paid Meraki a visit Friday and found everything in order.

"The facility is operating in accordance with local requirements with an approved ventilation hood system," said DPH spokesperson Rachael Kagan.

Kagan said the use of a wood-burning stove falls within the purview of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), although the market must comply with citywide "Mandatory Burn Ban" days. The agency forbids burning materials such as garbage and plastic. Mesquite wood, though fragrant, is permitted in residential and commercial devices.

That doesn't cut it for the neighborhood smoke-watch group.

"I find it hard to believe there wouldn't be a health concern when I can smell smoke and see the particles settling," Folsom said. Public safety concerns aside, he said the smell itself is pungent enough to warrant governmental action.

Pink Lungs Matter has looped in Supervisor Jane Kim with the hopes she'll take up their cause.

This is not the first time Meraki sent ripples through the neighborhood. San Francisco Chronicle food writer Tara Duggan explained:

"With a suited security guard posted outside, the market is part of the slow-and-steady gentrification happening in the neighborhood, where food shopping needs previously could only be met at corner stores, produce markets and Vietnamese grocers, along with a few supermarkets on the periphery of the district."

Said Poindexter, "I've been in the Tenderloin since July of 1993 and have no intentions of getting driven out by this market."

Kagan said complaints may be made to the BAAQMD by calling any of the following numbers:

(415) 749-4900 / 1-800-HELP-AIR / 1-800-334-6367 / 1-877-466-2876

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.




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Wealthy homeowners whose properties were threatened during last month's Wine Country fires were able to enact a lesser-known perk in their insurance policies.

A private firefighting service.

During the fires that claimed 43 lives and destroyed 8,889 structures in the North Bay in October, insurers such as Chubb and American International Group Inc., deployed private firefighting groups to make sure certain clients had homes to return to, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

Turning over photographic evidence and keeping in contact with homeowners, these firefighting services coordinate with local firefighters, with the goal of trying to stop the fires from spreading to certain addresses under an insurance provider's protective umbrella.

VISIT WINE COUNTRY: Wineries open for business in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties after October's fires

The price of that protection? Policyholders could pay "anywhere from thousands of dollars in annual premiums" to "more than $100,000" depending on the property and other items covered, according to the Wall Street Journal.

These firefighting groups were often sent to addresses before the flames were at a property's doorstep. They would clear away flammable items around the outside of the homes, such as brush, patio furniture and leaves in gutters. Sprinkler systems were set up outdoors by the groups, and occasionally a fire retardant would be deployed around (or on) the house.

Cal Fire told the Wall Street Journal they often coordinate with the insurance crews, who aren't necessarily holding the fire hoses when a fire approaches.

"[Our employees are] working before the fire and after the fire doing supplemental roles to prepare the structures to be more survivable, and then check on them very quickly after the fire passes," Wildfire Defense Systems President David Torgerson, whose company contracts with United States Automobile Association told Marketplace in 2015.

GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS: In wake of fire, Wine Country rallies around Napa Valley Film Fest

The practice of employing these groups is a relatively recent one, with insurance companies starting to take on firefighting duties around 2005, according to the New York Times. AIG first offered the protection to areas of California and Colorado, then expanded to more clientele, attributing it to more homeowners moving into "areas that have burned historically."

Other companies have since gotten into the privatized firefighting game, like Chubb in 2008. The Wall Street Journals says "tens of thousands" nationwide are now covered by these types of services.

The total insured losses from October's wildfires were expected to top $3 billion, according to the California Department of Insurance.
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For decades, traffic-clogged Interstate 80 has been the only Bay Area freeway to require that vehicles contain at least three people to legally enter the carpool lane. But it could lose that distinction.

Stretches of three other Bay Area freeways  Interstate 880 in the East Bay, Highway 237 in the South Bay and Highway 101 on the Peninsula  are now being eyed for the three-or-more requirement as their carpool lanes slow to a crawl.

Transportation officials, local politicians, business and environmental groups, and commuters will start discussing the idea in public meetings beginning early next year  and Steve Heminger, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, knows the discussion will be contentious.

This is going to stir up some ruckus, he said at a meeting of an MTC committee last week. People are very particular about these lanes. They have been accustomed to expect that, with the exception of the Bay Bridge corridor, two people is a carpool. Were going to try to change that so three people is a carpool, and change is always hard.

But change is necessary, transportation officials say. As Bay Area traffic congestion thickens, carpool lanes have slowed well beneath federal standards, and Caltrans is obligated to do something to speed them up.

Federal regulations consider a carpool lane degraded if the average traffic speed during the morning or evening commute falls below 45 mph for more than 10 percent of the time over a six-month period.

In the Bay Area, 250 of the regions 406 miles of carpool lanes, also known high-occupancy-vehicle or HOV lanes, failed the test in 2016. Thats an increase in underperformance of 2 percent in a year. But whats worse, said Ashley Nguyen, an MTC planner, is that the percentage of lanes considered extremely degraded, or failing to meet the standard 75 percent of the time, increased by 253 percent.

Caltrans is required by the federal Transportation Department to try to speed up the carpool lanes by changing some of the rules. Federal law allows state transportation departments to set entry requirements, including among other things the per-car occupant requirement, whether to allow clean-air vehicles with only a driver, whether to permit solo drivers who pay a toll when traffic allows, and whether to charge tolls for carpoolers to use the lanes.

Electric and other less-polluting vehicles with state-issued decals are currently allowed to use carpool lanes even if the driver is the only occupant, and although critics maintain that those vehicles are part of the reason for the carpool slowdowns, ejecting them is essentially off the table, said Joe Rouse, Caltrans managed lanes manager. Thats because Gov. Jerry Brown has said he wants to do all he can to promote sales of cleaner cars, and the ability to use the special lanes is part of that strategy.

Legislation signed by the governor last month extended the Clean Air Vehicle program, which had been set to expire Jan. 1, 2019, until Jan. 1, 2025. Significant changes were made in the decal program, however. Decals issued after Jan. 1, 2017, were extended for three more years, and decals issued after Jan. 1, 2019, will be valid for up to four years. The bill also restricts people exceeding certain incomes from obtaining a decal and a tax rebate for buying a clean car.

Meanwhile, Caltrans officials in the Bay Area are focusing on raising the minimum number of occupants allowed to get into carpool lanes on particularly congested freeways. Nguyen said the idea is to create a ring around the bay with carpool lanes on Interstate 880, Highway 237 and Highway 101 on the Peninsula on which the minimum occupancy would rise from two to three. Lanes leading to the Dumbarton and San Mateo bridges would also require three occupants for a carpool toll discount.

MTC officials are approaching the issue gingerly, saying only that they want to begin a public conversation.

We know its a big lift publicly and politically, Nguyen said, and we want to take the time to think through the strategy.

Some commissioners are urging a different strategy: pulling over and ticketing more carpool lane cheaters. The strategy has been suggested before but has never gone anywhere.

A 2016 study by the MTC found that nearly a quarter of vehicles in the carpool lanes around the Bay Area were there illegally. Informal surveys by The Chronicle have found violation rates as high as 40 percent.

Unless we get to grips with enforcement first, theres no point in changing the signs to require three people in a vehicle, said Nick Josefowitz, a BART director and MTC commissioner from San Francisco. Its just going to create an extra few hundred thousand HOV violators instead of any sort of accelerated speeds on our HOV lanes.

Rouse said California Highway Patrol officials in Sacramento have told him that officers will cite carpool-lane cheats but that its not a priority.

They have a culture of wanting to deal with issues of motorist safety, he said, and HOV (enforcement) is not that. Giving the CHP more money for enforcement could help, Rouse said.

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, another MTC commissioner, repeated a proposal that a special unit be created to enforce carpool lanes, express lanes and toll bridges and deal with ticket scofflaws.

A CHP spokesman said Rouses remarks seemed lost in translation. While the CHP strives for driver safety, enforcing the Vehicle Code is a way of achieving that goal, said Sgt. Robert Nacke of the CHPs Golden Gate Division.

I would not say our culture prevents us at all from enforcing carpool lanes, he said.

More three-occupant carpool lanes may be necessary to keep them flowing, MTCs Heminger said, but so is a sustained crackdown on drivers who dont belong in them.

CHP enforcement is nowhere on the list, Heminger said of Caltrans ideas for speeding sluggish carpool lanes. Thats crazy.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2016

Chariot, a private commuter-van service, has settled a federal investigation into its access for people with disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The San Francisco company will pay a $50,000 civil penalty and change certain policies. It must now operate enough accessible vehicles to ensure equal service for passengers with disabilities; allow disabled passengers to book their trips the same way as other passengers, rather than having to make a separate phone call; and conduct training in the Americans with Disabilities Act for employees who interact with customers or design its smartphone app.
The homeless man accused of fatally shooting Kate Steinle on San Franciscos Pier 14 had just one gunshot residue particle on his hands when he was arrested an hour after the incident  which could possibly mean the gun he handled went off accidentally when he picked it up in a cloth, a forensic consultant testified in court Monday.

However, James Norris, a former head of the San Francisco police crime lab, emphasized that accidental firing was just one of many possibilities, given the evidence gathered in the case.

Norris kicked off the defense for 45-year-old Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, with attorney Matt Gonzalez calling him to the stand as his first witness in an effort to discredit the prosecutions assertions that Garcia Zarate aimed a gun at Steinle and pulled the trigger on July 1, 2015. Prosecutors are trying to prove the shooting was an intentional act showing the malice needed for a second-degree murder conviction.

Steinle was strolling with her arm around her father when she was struck in the back by a single bullet that had skipped off the concrete ground after being fired from a pistol. Gonzalez said Garcia Zarate  an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, with a history of drug crimes and deportations whose release from San Francisco jail before the killing sparked controversy  had accidentally discharged the gun after finding it bundled in a T-shirt or cloth under a seat at the pier.

Norris testified Monday that most laboratories would not consider the one gunshot residue particle that was found on Garcia Zarate to be a positive finding, as particles can be transferred to the individual from police officers and police vehicles during transport.

And although Norris told the courtroom it was possible the lack of gunshot residue particles could support the defenses claim that it was wrapped in a cloth when it discharged  a key component of the accident argument  he acknowledged that anything could be considered possible with the evidence gathered.

He cant say it is or it isnt because hes a legitimate expert, Gonzalez said outside court. But I think, for the first time, theres a realization for the jury that you have to be a little bit more careful with the evidence. For me, the consistency of it being an accident is sufficient.

Norris also testified that by looking at the damage on the recovered bullet and the divot it made when it struck the pier, it was impossible to determine if someone had purposefully aimed the gun at Steinle and squeezed the trigger.

Based on the evidence, the gun was pointed at the ground and fired at about knee-height, 11/2 feet to 2 feet from the ground, Norris said.

If your desire is to injure someone, this is not a high-probability way to do it, he said.

The bullet uncovered a set of tiny stones on one side of its path when it struck the concrete, which is a mix of smooth cement, sand and rock. Norris said that stones could have provided a little wall that curved the bullet to the right and toward the direction of Steinle, an assessment that clashes with the prosecutions theory that the bullet traveled in a straight line from Garcia Zarate to the ricochet spot to Steinle  a distance of about 90 feet.

Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia attempted to attack Norris credibility in her cross-examination, asking if he had conducted any of the investigation or written any reports of his findings. She jumped on his testimony about the trigger pull of the gun, a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun that had been stolen four days earlier from the nearby parked car of an off-duty federal ranger. No one was arrested in the burglary.

The defense has argued that the fully loaded pistol had a light trigger pull in single-action mode  when the hammer is already cocked  and it was possible that Garcia Zarate inadvertently set off the trigger when he fumbled with the cloth bundle he said he found on the pier.

Do you agree that the only way this gun can be fired is to pull the trigger? she asked.

Something pulled the trigger, yes, Norris said.

You dont have any objective evidence in this case that this gun was fired for any reason than a finger pulling the trigger, correct?

Norris said he could not answer if the gun discharged because a finger tugged on the trigger or if something else had pressed on it and set the gun off.

Later, he said, It doesnt have to be a finger that pulls the trigger.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
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When Keith Harris friends heard that he hadnt shown up at a San Francisco software company for work, they started to worry.

When they couldnt get a hold of him, they started to panic.

His emergency contact in New York called Harris building superintendent to check on him. When the superintendent opened the door to Harris Hayes Valley apartment, they discovered he had been killed, friends said.

Authorities identified Harris on Monday as the 48-year-old man found stabbed to death in his residence on the 300 block of Hayes Street on Thursday.

Who did it and why? Im just really confused because Keith was just really generous. Its the worst thing possible. You dont want that for any of your friends or loved ones. Its surreal, said one of Harris friends, Arthur Patterson, 53, of San Francisco.

No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified in the killing.

Harris lived with a boyfriend, who has been missing since the stabbing, Patterson said.

San Francisco police did not release additional information on the killing.

When Harris arrived in San Francisco in 2014 from Los Angeles, he moved in briefly with Patterson, who helped him find the apartment on Hayes Street. The two met in 1999 while they worked at the Hollywood Reporter.

They became fast friends through their love of hiking and biking throughout Los Angeles.

Keith was just a very kind person, he was really smart and he was really generous just with his time, Patterson said. Hes the person you would call if you had to put together an Ikea piece of furniture, and he was really strong, too.

Friends said Harris was most known for his loyalty and compassion.

Abdullah Max, 27, of Los Angeles, flew to San Francisco once he heard the news of Harris death. He walked past Harris building on Monday in hopes that it was all a nightmare and Harris death never happened.

I was waiting for him to come down, Max said, crying.

He said Harris always encouraged him to be confident and put his feelings first.

He was like an angel. He never hurt anyone. He was never mean to anyone. He never yelled, Max said. I never thought I would ever lose him like this, in my life. Keith was someone I loved more than myself, and I just cant believe someone could do something like this.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The gunman who slaughtered 26 people at a Texas church was able to buy weapons because the Air Force failed to report his domestic-violence conviction to the federal database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers, authorities said Monday.

Federal officials said the Air Force didnt submit Devin Patrick Kelleys criminal history even though it was required to do so by Pentagon rules.

Kelley, 26, was found guilty of assault in an Air Force court-martial in 2012 for abusing his wife and her child and was given 12 months confinement and a bad-conduct discharge in 2014. That same year, authorities said, he bought the first of four weapons.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes like assault should be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database. The federal database is used to conduct background checks on citizens looking to purchase a firearm.

Its the kind of lapse that gun-control advocates say points to loopholes and failures with the background check system.

At issue is the Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996. It was designed to prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from buying or possessing a firearm regardless of whether the crime was a felony or a misdemeanor.

This is exactly the guy the Lautenberg Amendment is supposed to prevent from possessing a firearm, said Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former judge advocate. Of course, the law only works if folks are abiding by the law.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email that the service is launching a review of its handling of Kelleys case and taking a comprehensive look at Air Force databases to make sure other cases have been reported correctly.

An initial review indicates that Kelleys conviction was not entered into the federal database by officials at Holloman Air Force Bases Office of Special Investigations, the Air Force said.

Kelley served at Holloman in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. He was in logistics, responsible for moving passengers and cargo.

Law enforcement authorities said Kelley owned four guns, including the three he had with him during the attack: a Ruger AR-15 that was used in the church and two handguns that were in his car. The weapons were purchased  one each year  from 2014 to this year.

A 2015 report by the Pentagons inspector general found lapses in the militarys reporting to civilian authorities of domestic violence convictions.

From Nov. 30, 1998, until last week, firearms purchases in the U.S. were denied 136,502 times because of a domestic violence conviction, according to Justice Department statistics.

The fact this guy was even court-martialed at all indicates it reached a certain level of severity that should act as a red flag that this is a dangerous person and shouldnt have a gun, said Lindsay Nichols, the federal policy director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, named after former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was gravely wounded by a gunman in 2011.

Lisa Marie Pane and Robert Burns are Associated Press writers.
President Trump called the Texas church gunman deranged, the New York bike-path attacker a very sick and deranged person, and the Las Vegas massacre shooter a sick, demented man.

Its a common reaction to mass violence  who in his right mind would commit these senseless crimes? But the truth is more nuanced.

Even if it is eventually determined that one of them had been diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder or some other psychiatric illness, experts say that alone isnt a risk factor for violence.

Most people with mental illness are not violent, and only 3 to 5 percent of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website says.

Jeffrey Swanson, a Duke University psychiatry professor, says traits that are much more strongly linked with violence are being young and male and having a history of childhood maltreatment, substance abuse and exposure to violence. So is a history of committing violent acts, he said.

In a study a few years ago, Swanson found that about 1.5 percent of Americans with impulsive anger that doesnt necessarily amount to mental illness are carrying around guns with them. With expansion of concealed-carry laws, those numbers are probably higher today, Swanson said.

Thats a bigger problem than besmirching 10 million people with serious mental illness in this country, Swanson said.

After Sundays attack at a rural church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Trump said that, based on preliminary reports, the shooter was a very deranged individual. He said it was a mental health problem at the highest level, but offered no details at a press conference during a visit to Tokyo. White House officials declined to elaborate Monday when asked about Trumps mental health reference.

Texas officials have not mentioned mental illness in describing the 26-year-old suspect, Devin Kelley. On Monday, they said the shooting was connected to a domestic situation in the family. He had previously been accused of domestic abuse and animal cruelty.

Kelley was found dead when his car when it crashed; authorities say he may have fatally shot himself.

Antonio Puente, president of the American Psychological Association, said Kelleys past behaviors were red flags. Calling the shootings a mental health problem distracts our nations leaders from developing policies and legislation that would focus on preventing gun violence through a scientific, public health approach, Puente said.

In New York City, extremist beliefs are thought to be behind the bike path rampage last week. Suspect Sayfullo Saipov, 29, survived being shot and has been charged with terrorism offenses. In the case of the dead Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, Stanford University scientists are studying his brain for damage or signs of disease that might be a clue to the violence. An autopsy showed no abnormalities. Authorities have not said whether the 64-year-old Paddock had a diagnosed disease.

Dr. Debra Pinals, a University of Michigan forensic psychiatrist who works with people who are mentally ill and accused of crimes, said committing mass violence is clearly outside of normal behavior but that doesnt mean perpetrators all have mental illness or are driven to these actions due to mental illness.

The few who do have mental health problems are often grappling with other challenges, said Pinals, director of the universitys program in psychiatry, law and ethics.

Lindsey Tanner is an Associated Press writer.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas  The gunman who carried out the massacre of 26 people at a small-town Texas church briefly escaped from a mental health center in New Mexico in 2012 and got in trouble for bringing guns onto a military base and threatening his superiors there, police reports indicate.

Devin Patrick Kelley was also named as a suspect in a 2013 sexual assault in his Texas hometown of New Braunfels, about 35 miles from the scene of the church attack.

The records that emerged Tuesday add up to at least three missed opportunities that might have offered law enforcement a way to stop Kelley from having access to guns long before he slaughtered much of the congregation in the middle of a Sunday service. Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders and crashed his car.

The Air Force confirmed Tuesday that Kelley had been treated in the facility after he was placed under pretrial confinement stemming from a court-martial on charges that he assaulted his then-wife and hit her child hard enough to fracture the boys skull.

Involuntary commitment to a mental institution would have been grounds to deny him a weapon provided that records of his confinement were submitted to the federal database used to conduct background checks on people who try to purchase guns.

Kelley also was caught trying to bring guns onto Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico when he was stationed there, according to an El Paso, Texas, police report released Tuesday.

While in the military, Kelley, who was 21 at the time, made death threats against superior officers, according to the June 2012 report, which also mentioned the military charges. He was eventually sentenced to 12 months of confinement for the assault.

The Air Force acknowledged Monday that it did not enter Kelleys criminal history into the federal database as required by military rules, another way he could have been denied a weapon.

Had Kelley been convicted of sexual assault, he would likely have been prevented from purchasing a gun because federal guidelines prohibit sales to anyone convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison. The Comal County sheriff said he was reviewing whether his department mishandled the sexual assault investigation.

Authorities recovered a Ruger AR-556 rifle at the church and two handguns from the shooters vehicle. All three weapons were purchased by Kelley, said Fred Milanowski, the agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Houston.

The El Paso report notes that Kelley was committed to a mental health facility in Santa Teresa, N.M., but at some point escaped and was later found by police at a bus station in downtown El Paso in June 2012.

Deputies were called to Kelleys home in New Braunfels in June 2013 about the rape case and investigated for three months, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said. But it appeared that they stopped investigating after they believed Kelley left Texas and moved to Colorado. Reynolds said the case was then listed as inactive.

The sheriff said he was trying to determine how deputies came to believe Kelley had moved and why they did not continue to pursue the case, either in Colorado or after Kelley returned to the area later.

Meanwhile at the First Baptist Church in tiny Sutherland Springs, investigators continued analyzing a gruesome crime scene and tried to gain access to the shooters cellphone, a long-standing challenge for the FBI in thousands of other cases.

Nomaan Merchant, Jim Vertuno, and Will Weissert are Associated Press writers.
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SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas  The gunman who killed 26 people at a small-town Texas church had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist, before the attack in which he fired hundreds of rounds at helpless worshipers, authorities said Monday.

A day after the deadliest mass shooting in state history, the U.S. military acknowledged that it did not submit the shooters criminal history to the FBI, as required by the Pentagon. If his past offenses had been properly shared, they would have prevented him from legally buying a gun.

Investigators also revealed that sheriffs deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at Devin Patrick Kelleys home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife. Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for a 2012 assault on his ex-wife in which he choked her and struck her son hard enough to fracture his skull.

In the tiny town of Sutherland Springs, population 400, grieving townspeople were reeling from their losses. The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

Our church was not comprised of members or parishioners. We were a very close family, said Sherri Pomeroy, the wife of the church pastor, who, like her husband, was out of town when the attack happened. Now most of our church family is gone.

The couples 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy, was among those killed.

Kelleys mother-in-law sometimes attended services there, but the sheriff said she was not at church on Sunday.

The massacre appeared to stem from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated, Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said. He did not elaborate.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders, one of whom was armed.

The 26-year-old shooter also used his cell phone to tell his father he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

While in the military, Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and her child and had served a year of confinement after a court-martial. Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes such as assault should be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database. The federal database is used to conduct background checks on citizens looking to purchase a firearm.

Stefanek said the service is opening a review of its handling of the case and taking a comprehensive look at its databases to ensure that other cases have been reported correctly.

A few months before he received the bad-conduct discharge, sheriffs deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend. People in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

Also in 2014, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in Colorado after a neighbor reported him for beating a dog. Kelley initially refused to speak with officers about the incident. He denied abusing the animal but complied with an order to pay almost $370 in restitution. He was also the focus of a protective order issued in Colorado in 2015.

Once the shooting started Sunday, there was probably no way for congregants to escape, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said.

The gunman, dressed in black tactical gear, fired an assault rifle as he walked down the center aisle during worship services. He turned around and continued shooting on his way out of the building, Tackitt said. About 20 people were wounded. Ten of them were still hospitalized Monday in critical condition.

Investigators collected hundreds of shell casings from the scene, along with at least 15 empty magazines that held 30 rounds each.

Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles north of the church, authorities said. Investigators were reviewing social media posts he made in the days before the attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.

Less than two months ago, Kelley had started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort. He seemed like a nice guy and did not cause any problems, said Claudia Varjabedian, manager at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels.

On Sunday, the attacker pulled into a gas station across from the church, about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. He crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, then continued firing after entering the white, wood-frame building, Martin said.

As he left, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident who had grabbed his own rifle and exchanged fire with Kelley.

The armed man who confronted Kelley had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. The armed man asked to get in Langendorffs truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

He jumped in my truck and said, He just shot up the church. We need to go get him. And I said Lets go, Langendorff said.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. The armed man walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the attacker did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Langendorff said.

The assailant was dead in his vehicle. He had three gunshot wounds  two from where the armed man hit him in the leg and the torso and the third self-inflicted wound to the head, authorities said.

Three weapons were recovered. A Ruger AR-556 rifle was found at the church, and two handguns were found in the gunmans vehicle, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The church often posted videos of its Sunday services on a YouTube channel, and authorities said they were reviewing footage recorded inside the church.

In a video of its Oct. 8 service, a congregant pointed to the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting a week earlier as evidence of the wicked nature of man. That shooting left 58 dead and more than 500 injured.

Jim Vertuno, Will Weissert and Paul J. Weber are Associated Press writers.
WASHINGTON  A former Trump campaign adviser told Congress he had a private conversation with a Russian deputy prime minister during the 2016 presidential campaign and that at least two members of the presidents team were aware, providing more details to what is publicly known about Moscows access to President Trumps circle, according to a congressional transcript released late Monday.

Ill send you guys a readout soon regarding some incredible insights and outreach Ive received from a few Russian legislators and senior members of the Presidential administration here, the former adviser, Carter Page, wrote in a July 8, 2016, email to campaign staff members after he spoke with Arkady Dvorkovich, the deputy prime minister.
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The San Francisco Ballet is promising to turn the city into the epicenter of the dance world next spring with a new festival opening in late April. Unbound: A Festival of New Works offers a packed two-week display that includes more than 17 performances, 12 of which will be world premieres by international artists.

The performances have been divided into four programs of three works each. In addition to those central pieces, the festival is carving out room for a dance film series, a symposium on the Ballets future and various pop-up events. Those pop-ups, held in public venues and bars, are designed to attract a younger audience that might not be as tuned-in to the Ballets annual program.
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San Joses Abhinaya Dance Company specializes in building dazzling narratives through South Indian dance. This fall, the company presents Apoorva Katha, Remarkable Tales, which recounts the story of Cesar Chavez and is performed in the classical Bharatanatyam style.

Working within this colorful and highly symbolic tradition, the company, directed by Mythili Kumar and accompanied by live musicians, portrays Chavezs work and leadership, highlighting his embracing of Gandhis nonviolent principles.
Joan Marcus/The Marsh

You know how you can tell when someones rich? They dont like to be called rich!

Thats just the first of many incisive points about class in Kate Robards Aint That Rich, her solo show at the Marsh. The piece dissects with wry wit and sharp detail the socioeconomic strata of Robards native Orange, Texas, a little, swampy Gulf Coast town on the Texas-Louisiana border. There, youre wealthy if you own a funeral home, and within the label of poor lie myriad sub-levels. You might be poor enough to steal from one person, but well off enough that someone even poorer steals from you.
NEW DELHI  The toxic haze blanketing New Delhi was so severe on Tuesday that politicians announced plans to close schools, flights were delayed and the chief minister of Delhi state said the city had become a gas chamber.

For Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon for more than three decades, the situation is adding to a growing health crisis in the region. I dont see pink lungs even among healthy nonsmoking young people, he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. The air quality has become so bad that even if you are a nonsmoker you are still suffering.

The thick, acrid fog is not new to Delhi, where it settles around this time every year, covering the capital in vehicle emissions and smoke from the burning of crops in neighboring states and from fireworks from Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. But in recent years, the problem appears to have worsened.

On Tuesday, levels of the most dangerous air particles, called PM 2.5, reached more than 700 micrograms per cubic meter in parts of the city, according to data from the U.S. Embassy. Experts say that prolonged exposure to such high concentrations of PM 2.5 is equivalent to smoking more than two packs of cigarettes a day.

Officials have struggled to control pollution in the National Capital Region, which includes Delhi and is home to more than 45 million people. A ban on the sale of firecrackers before Diwali in October appeared to keep the problem in check, but the illegal burning of crops, which contributes significantly to pollution at this time of the year, has just started.

The situation prompted the states chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, to say on Twitter: Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a solution to crop burning in adjoining states.

Imran Hussain, the environment minister of Delhi, said on Twitter in August that he had written to officials in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh requesting a reduction in agricultural fires, but no action had been taken, a government spokesman said on Twitter on Tuesday.

The fires, combined with car exhaust, smokestack emissions and the burning of garbage, contribute to pollution levels that often hover in the severe category.

An article last month in the medical journal The Lancet found that pollution was responsible for up to 2.5 million deaths in India in 2015, more than in any other country.

Hari Kumar and Kai Schultz are New York Times writers.
1 Spain secession: Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont on Monday contrasted his freedom in Belgium with the jailing of other Catalan nationalists in Spain, in his first online comment since being released from custody while he fights extradition to Spain for allegedly plotting a rebellion. Free and without bail, Puigdemont posted on his Twitter account. A Brussels judge released Puigdemont and four allies late Sunday on condition they stay in Belgium and attend court sessions. Belgian authorities are meanwhile considering Spains request to extradite them. The five fled to Belgium after Spanish authorities fired them Oct. 28 for seeking secession for Catalonia. Nine other deposed Cabinet members were sent to jail in Madrid, eight of them without bail.

2 Diplomatic spat: U.S. missions in Turkey have resumed processing visa applications by Turkish citizens on a limited basis after Turkey reassured Washington that no local staff would be detained or arrested for performing their duties, the U.S. Embassy said Monday. Last month, the U.S. halted most visa services for Turkish citizens after Turkish authorities arrested Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, deepening already strained ties between Ankara and Washington. The Turkish Embassy in Washington on Monday also announced that it was resuming limited visa services.
SEOUL  President Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, telling him the weapons hes acquiring are not making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger.

In a speech delivered hours after he aborted a visit to the heavily fortified Korean demilitarized zone due to bad weather, Trump called on all nations to join forces to isolate the brutal regime of North Korea  to deny it any form of support, supply or acceptance.

Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us. And do not try us, he told South Korean lawmakers. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty.

Trump had been scheduled to make the unannounced early morning trip to the DMZ amid heightened tensions with North Korea over its nuclear program.

The Marine One presidential helicopter left Seoul at daybreak and flew most of the way to the DMZ, but was forced to turn back just five minutes out due to poor weather conditions. Reporters traveling in a separate helicopter as part of the presidents envoy saw fog through the windows, and weather reports from near the heavily fortified border showed misting conditions and visibility below 1 mile. Pilots, officials said, could not see the other helicopters in the air.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was disappointed he couldnt make the trip. I think hes pretty frustrated, she told reporters. It was obviously something he wanted to do.

Before he left for Asia, a White House official had ruled out a DMZ visit for Trump, claiming the president didnt have time on his schedule and that DMZ visits have become a little cliche.

But Sanders said the visit had been planned well before Trumps departure for Asia. The trip was kept secret for security reasons, she said.

Trump had been scheduled to make the visit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who traveled separately and landed about a 20-minute drive from the DMZ. Sanders said the military and the U.S. Secret Service had deemed that landing would not be safe, and Trump deferred to them.

After returning to Seoul, administration officials had hoped they might be able to wait out the bad weather and make a second landing attempt. At the U.S. Armys Yongsan Garrison landing zone, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Sanders frequently glanced up at the clouds to see if the sky was clearing. But time wouldnt allow it.

The aborted visit came hours before Trump addressed the South Korean National Assembly before closing out his two-day visit to the nation and heading to his next stop, Beijing.

The attempted visit was scheduled for a day after Trump made a striking shift in tone for a president, who for months has issued increasingly dire threats to answer any hostile North Korean action with fire and fury. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would totally destroy the nation, if necessary, and has derided Kim as little Rocket Man.

Jonathan Lemire and Jill Colvin are Associated Press writers.
SEOUL President Trump again showed how quickly his tweets can outrun U.S. foreign policy planning, after he backed Saudi Arabias king and crown prince over the arrests of dozens of officials before the State Department had completed its review of the moves.

While Trump had talked with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about Saudi Arabia as they toured Tokyo together Nov. 5 and 6, there was no formal consultation before he tweeted early Tuesday that King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman know exactly what they are doing.

A second tweet said some of those they are harshly treating have been milking their country for years!

The tweets were only the latest time Trump has set U.S. foreign policy in 140 characters. It effectively gave the crown prince the full weight of the U.S. backing despite serious questions remaining about Saudi Arabias commitment to the rule of law and its ability to guarantee financial transactions.

Having the United States in many ways supporting a position that is seen as quite controversial can be problematic for the region, Raihan Ismail, an associate lecturer at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra, said by phone. Regional instability will continue to spook foreign investors. The Trump administration is seen as erratic.

Trump was responding to King Salmans order, announced on Nov. 4, to detain 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of former ministers and businessmen, including Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the worlds richest men, as part of an anticorruption drive led by the crown prince. The move reinforced speculation that he was clearing any remaining obstacles to his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans accession to the throne.

Trumps tweeting once again threatens to roil a complex international situation and one of the U.S.s most critical relationships, and may embolden the crown prince at a time when some administration officials fear he is moving too far too fast.

Until Trumps tweet, the administration had largely withheld comment, with State Department spokespeople referring reporters to the Saudi government. With Tillerson and the rest of Trumps national security team with him on the Asia tour, there has been little time to hammer out a response.

Nick Wadhams is a Bloomberg News writer.
Welcome to Shakesville, a progressive feminist blog about politics, culture, social justice, cute things, and all that is in between. Please note that the commenting policy and the Feminism 101 section, conveniently linked at the top of the page, are required reading before commenting.
New Zealand King Salmon Investments, the world's largest aquaculture producer of king salmon, doesn't expect to spend any more on the consultation process involving the possible relocation of six farms but says it's too early to tell whether a new government will affect the process.

The Minister for Primary Industries began a consultation in January to relocate up to six of the company's salmon farms from their historic locations to higher water flow sites more suitable for fish and the environment. A public process was carried out in May. So far King Salmon has spent $1.2 million and managing director Grant Rosewarne told shareholders at today's annual meeting in Blenheim that "we do not anticipate further material spend to complete the project."

However, "at this early stage, it is not possible to say what effect, if any, the change of government has had on the MPI process," he said in speech notes published on the NZX. The new government signalled it will split the Ministry for Primary Industries, naming Damien O'Connor as Agriculture Minister, Stuart Nash as Fisheries Minister, and Shane Jones as Forestry Minister.

King Salmon's Rosewarne reiterated that if some or all of the farms are relocated, the first harvest from those farms would be unlikely to come before the 2020 financial year.

"The higher flow sites should permit an overall increase in the volume of salmon harvested in addition to improved environmental outcomes," and each site would require some $6 million  or a maximum total expenditure of $36 million if all proposed relocations are approved. "We are confident that increased volumes readily justify the associated investment," he said.

If none of the farms are relocated and the company can't renew one of the sea farm consents, Rosewarne said total production might be lowered by 700-750 tonnes, adding "we note that we have successfully renewed all consents in the past."

The shares rose 4.8 percent at $2.40 and are up 80 percent this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Bishop John J. O'Hara, Episcopal Vicar of Staten Island, celebrated the 34th annual Red Mass Monday evening in Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, a sacred ceremonial event that drew several hundred to the age-old West Brighton church.

The Mass was con-celebrated by Monsignor Peter Finn, dean of the Staten Island vicariate; Rev. Louis Jerome, pastor of St. Charles R.C. Church; Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of Holy Rosary R.C Church; and the Rev. Roland Raj, parochial vicar.

From the podium at the West Brighton church, Bishop O'Hara welcomed all who participated in the Mass. He would then reference the horrific state of affairs as a result of the tragic events in New York City and elsewhere over the last several weeks, and the sadness that families have been forced to endure.

And conversely, he spoke poignant words about all the good that happens within the community and beyond -- and cited examples where individuals and families who've been effected by illness worship together each week to ask for God's blessings.

"Those who've been afflicted with illnesses never lose hope," he said. "And they look to their caregivers as someone to lean on and provide strength."

And in speaking of the legal community, he noted: "We have been blessed on Staten Island to have such a strong legal community, and a Bar Association that's second to none. And we want all of you to know that we appreciate your service."

Originating in Europe during the High Middle Ages, the Red Mass was so named for the red vestments that are traditionally worn by the celebrant to symbolize the tongues of fire (the Holy Spirit) that descended on the apostles at Pentecost.

Dioceses throughout the United States invoke God's blessing upon the members of the bench, bar, legislature, law enforcement and governmental agencies, who protect and administrate the law.

The Red Mass also serves as a way to remember members of the legal community who have passed during the last year.

The names were read by Cerrachio and a candles lite to remember each of them.

Ronald M. Cerrachio, chief clerk in the Surrogate's office, and Mario Esposito Jr., of the district attorney's office, co-chairpersons of the event, acknowledged all in attendance and asked for continued guidance and strength for the coming term of the Court.



The tradition of celebrating the Red Mass here was initiated more than 30 years ago by now retired New York State Supreme Court Justices John A. Fusco and Charles A. Kuffner Jr.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Tuesday is Election Day, with races for mayor, borough president, public advocate, comptroller, City Council and Civil Court judge.

Here's what you need to know before you go to the polls:

Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click

New York state law doesn't allow you to take photos of a completed ballot -- so keep your smart phone in your pocket when at your polling place.

The state law also doesn't allow any electioneering at the polls or within 100 feet -- that means no candidate paraphernalia can be worn or carried to the polls.

Starting at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, we'll be providing live Election Night coverage as the evening unfolds.

Here's what to look for on the ballot:

MAYOR

Democrat Bill de Blasio is running for his second term as New York City's mayor.

Staten Islander Nicole Malliotakis is running against him on the Republican party line.

Sal Albanese is the Reform Party candidate.

Bo Dietl is running on the Independent line.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT

Republican James Oddo is running for his second term as borough president.

Democrat Tom Shcherbenko is running against him on his party line.

Hank Bardel is running on the Green Party line.

PUBLIC ADVOCATE

The incumbent is Democrat Letitia James.

Republican Juan Carlos Polanco is running against her on his party and the Reform lines.

Michael A. O'Reilly is running on the Conservative party line.

James C. Lane has the Green Party line.

Devin Balkind has the Libertarian line.

COMPTROLLER

Democrat Scott Stringer has been the city comptroller since 2013.

Michael Faulkner has the lines of the Republican, Conservative and Reform parties.

Julia Willebrand has the Green Party line.

Alex Merced has the Libertarian line.

CITY COUNCIL -- DISTRICT 49

CITY COUNCIL -- DISTRICT 50

CITY COUNCIL -- DISTRICT 51

CIVIL COURT JUDGE



Republican Lisa Grey and Democrat Teresa Nuccio are running for a Civil Court judge seat opened by Philip Straniere's mandatory retirement at the age of 70.

PROPOSAL 1: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on whether or not a constitutional convention will be held.

The state constitution requires that every 20 years this question be posed to voters as to whether or not a convention should be held for the opportunity to revise and amend the New York State Constitution.

If voters say yes, three delegates from each state Senate district will be elected, as well as 15 at-large delegates statewide, for a total of 204 delegates.

The convention would run much like the state legislative session and would last as long as it takes for the delegates to decide their proposals.

Once proposals are made, New Yorkers then vote to decide if the proposals are approved, ensuring that the public has a say in any changes.

PROPOSAL 2: FELONIOUS PUBLIC OFFICIALS

The second proposal on the ballot would allow the courts to revoke or reduce the pensions of a wide range of "public officers" convicted of certain felonies that have a direct and actual relationship to the performance of their duties.

PROPOSAL 3: UPSTATE PARKLAND

The third ballot proposal allows for pieces of land in the Adirondack and Catskill parks to be used for crucial public works projects by towns that have no alternative but to use the land. To compensate, 250 acres of land will be added to the forest preserve.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It was about 1 a.m. on Tuesday when Giovanni Balsamo learned it was a childhood friend who was one of two men who died in a fatal crash on Richmond Avenue in Bulls Head.

"As soon as I found out it was Danny..." said Balsamo, fighting through tears during a telephone interview Tuesday with the Advance. "I still can't believe he's gone."

Daniel Castellano, 19, of Bulls Head, was behind the wheel of a 2009 Ford Fusion that made impact with parked car, telephone pole and ultimately a construction site late Monday night on the 1900 block of Richmond Avenue, according to a NYPD spokesman.

Both Castellano and his passenger, Sebastian Serrano, 17, of Arden Heights, were pronounced dead on arrival at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Castellano, a graduate of Moore Catholic High School, had recently returned home from U.S. Army training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, according to his Facebook page.

According to a fundraiser on GoFundMe.com, Castellano was an honors student at one point and made it through boot camp.

"No matter what obstacles he had to over come he was a great kid," the fundraiser says.

Balsamo, who last spoke with Castellano about a year ago, said he had been meaning to catch up with his old friend, who by all accounts had come back from the military, "...with a clear mind, ready to take on the world."

But he never got the chance to see it for himself.

"I got caught up with work and everything else," he said. "After this, I'm definitely gonna try harder to make time for friends. You never know."

Balsamo called off work Tuesday and headed to the scene, where he taped a farewell letter to a telephone pole.

"I wanted to take time out of my day to show how much I appreciated him as a friend and a person."

A man who answered the door at Castellano's home declined to comment on Tuesday.

Balsamo said he met Castellano they were 11 or 12 years old, and at one point spent nearly every day together. He described his friend as a dedicated older brother.

"If Danny heard his sister was getting picked on, he always was the first one trying to find out where it came from," he said.

A source told the Advance that speed is believed to be a factor in the crash, which police say remains under investigation.

A female friend, around the same age as Danny, wrote the following on Instagram in the hours following his death:

"I will always love you for your carefree spirit and constant joking and trying to make people laugh... safe passage on your travels until your final journey, may we meet again."
(Update: The teens, ages 17 and 19, have been identified by police)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two teens were killed in Bulls Head Monday night after the car they were in crashed, police said.

The 19-year-old driver of the black Ford Fusion, and his 17-year-old passenger were transported to Richmond University Medical Center after the 8 p.m. car wreck, and were pronounced dead on arrival, a spokesman for the NYPD said.

The two males were traveling north on Richmond Avenue near Signs Road when the car struck a parked car, a pole, and careened into a construction site, police said. It was unclear what exactly caused the car to crash.

A black car appeared to have crashed into the back of a Chevy pickup truck on the northbound section of the road. The back of the car had broken through a wall at a construction site on the block.

The driver's side of the car looked to have suffered serious damage. The door was completely mangled.

Police had the north-bound side of Richmond Avenue blocked off between Signs Road and Carnegie Avenue.

A man standing near the scene of the accident, who would only give his name as Tony, said he heard a loud collision.

Jenny S., who lives nearby, said she was in her living room when she heard the car go by before hearing a loud crash.

"It sounded like a plane taking off," the woman said. "I said 'God bless them,' and when I was done, I heard the loud bang."

She said cars speeding on the block is a frequent problem, and that at least four serious accidents had happened over the course of the summer on the block.
Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The World Series has been over for a few days, so it's time for the most exciting part of the offseason ...

Free agency.

The signing period begins at 5 p.m., EST on Monday.

The Yankees could lose six players: Starting pitchers CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Jaime Garcia, designated hitter Matt Holliday, third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Erik Kratz.

Only Sabathia seems to have a shot at returning next season on a new deal.

MLB Trade Rumors and Jim Duquette of MLB.com are predicting Frazier signs with the Mets.

MLB Trade Rumors has Pineda signing a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and Garcia landing a two-year deal with the Kansas City Royals. Pineda is expected to miss at least the first half of next season recovering from July 2017 Tommy John surgery.

Kratz probably will sign a minor-league contract with someone while Holliday likely will settle for a one-year contract for about $4 million or retire.

Here are eight free agents for Yankees GM Brian Cashman to consider:

Shohei Otani, RHP/DH

Why Yankees will be interested: Every franchise will be interested in this hitting-pitching superstar, who is intent on leaving Japan ASAP to sign with a Major League club. Otani will come cheap because he's leaving Japan too young to be treated like a regular free agent. His move to North America, however, currently is on hold until MLB and Nippon Professional League work out a new posting agreement because the old one ($20 million) expired last week. We're going to predict the sides work out a deal fairly soon, then Otani will get to choose between whichever teams are willing to pony up a posting fee to his Japanese club. Otani's salary next season will be whatever teams can offer from their available international bonus poll money. The Yankees are believed to have about $3.5 million, which probably is $3 million fewer than some clubs, but Otani likely would command bigger endorsement dollars if he plays in New York.

Yu Darvish, RHP

Age: 31 (32 on Aug. 16, 2018)

2017 salary: $11 million

2017 stats: Texas Rangers, 6-9, 4.01 ERA, 22 starts, 137 IP, 148 K. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, 3.44 ERA, 9 starts, 49.2 IP, 61 K. Totals, 10-12, 3.86 ERA, 31 starts, 186.2 IP, 159 hits, 83 runs, 80 ER, 27 HR, 58 BB, 209 K.

Career stats: 56-42, 3.42 ERA, 131 starts, 832.1 IP, 674 hits, 337 runs, 316 ER, 92 HR, 307 BB, 1,021 K in five seasons with Rangers (2013-14, 2015-17) and Dodgers (2017).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Chicago Cubs for 6 years, $160 million.

Why Yankees will be interested: We rank Darvish over Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta as the best free agent starting pitcher available after Shohei Otani, and the Yankees' chances of making another long playoff run next season greatly improve if they land one or both. Darvish ultimately probably will be top pricy this offseason for the Yankees, who are intent on getting under the luxury tax threshold and thus likely won't take on someone who would cost them $25 million next season. If the price unexpectedly drops though, it wouldn't be shocking to swoop in and get Darvish.

Lance Lynn, RHP

Age: 30 (31 on May 12, 2018)

2017 salary: $7.5 million

2017 stats: St. Louis Cardinals, 12-11, 3.03 ERA, 31 starts, 175.1 IP, 172 hits, 66 runs, 59 ER, 13 HR, 68 BB, 167 K.

Career stats: 72-47, 3.38 ERA, 183 games, 161 starts, 977.2 IP, 890 hits, 398 runs, 367 ER, 86 HR, 369 BB, 919 K in six seasons with Cardinals (2011-15, 2017).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Texas Rangers for 4 years, $56 million.

Jim Duquette of MLB.com prediction: Signs with Seattle Mariners.

Why Yankees will be interested: Lynn has been a top-of-the-rotation starter throughout his career and will be much cheaper than Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta. If the Yankees don't get Otani, Lynn could be slotted in as the No. 3 for next season behind Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.

CC Sabathia, LHP

Age: 37 (38 on July 21, 2018)

2017 salary: $25 million

2017 stats: Yankees, 14-5, 3.70 ERA, 27 starts, 148.2 IP, 139 hits, 64 runs, 61 ER, 21 HR, 50 BB, 120 K.

Career stats: 237-146, 3.70 ERA, 509 starts, 3,317 IP, 3,142 hits, 1,487 runs, 1,364 ER, 336 HR, 1,009 BB, 2,846 K in 17 seasons with Cleveland Indians (2001-08), Milwaukee Brewers (2008) and Yankees (2009-17).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Re-signs with Yankees for 2 years, $24 million.

Jim Duquette of MLB.com prediction: Re-signs with Yankees for 2 years, $28 million.

Why Yankees will be interested: Sabathia is coming off his best season since 2012 and is hoping to return. It'll be a tough call on bringing him back or moving on. He provides veteran leadership and almost always gives the Yankees a chance to win, but he rarely pitches deep into games and staying off the DL has been and will continue to be an issue. The guess here is that Sabathia passes on a one-year offer from the Yankees for a two-year deal for more dollars elsewhere.

Alex Cobb, RHP

Age: 30 (31 on Oct. 7, 2018)

2017 salary: $4.2 million

2017 stats: Tampa Bay Rays, 12-10 record, 3.66 ERA, 29 starts, 179.1 IP, 175 hits, 78 runs, 73 ER, 22 HR, 44 BB, 128 K.

Career stats: 48-35 record, 3.50 ERA, 115 starts, 700 IP, 648 hits, 290 runs, 272 ER, 65 HR, 204 BB, 570 K in six seasons with Rays (2011-14, 2016-17).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Minnesota Twins for 4 years, $48 million.

Jim Duquette of MLB.com prediction: Signs with Chicago Cubs.

Why Yankees will be interested: Cobb likely would be a backup plan for the Yankees if they don't land Otani, Lynn or Sabathia. He'd be a solid middle-of-the-rotation addition who could win 14 games annually as a Yankee.

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Age: 29 (30 on Sept. 11, 2018)

2017 salary: $8.7 million

Bats: Left

2017 stats: Kansas City Royals, .272 average, 555 AB, 75 runs, 151 hits, 24 doubles, 38 HR, 85 RBIs, 0 SB, 0 CS, 34 BB, 94 K, 148 games.

Career stats: .251 average, 3,038 AB, 342 runs, 764 hits, 163 doubles, 4 triples, 119 HR, 379 RBIs, 11 SB, 9 CS, 214 BB, 515 K, 836 games in seven seasons with Royals (2011-17).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Braves for 5 years, $85 million.

Jim Duquette of MLB.com prediction: Re-signs with Royals.

Why the Yankees will be interested: The prediction here is the Yankees won't make a hard push for a big bat, but if they do, Moustakas would be a great fit as a third baseman until No. 1 prospect Gleyber Torres is ready and then as a designated hitter. With the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, his homer total easily could jump from 38 to 50. The guess is the Yankees wouldn't get serious about signing Moustakas unless they fail to add Shohei Otani, who likely would get a lot of at-bats as a left-handed-hitting DH as well as being their No 1 starter.

Mike Minor, LHP

Age: 29 (30 on Dec. 26, 2017)

2017 salary: $4 million.

2017 stats: 6-6, 2.55 ERA, 6 saves, 65 games, 77.2 IP, 57 hits, 23 runs, 22 ER, 5 HR, 22 BB, 88 K

Career stats: 44-42, 3.93 ERA, 176 games, 110 starts, 730.1 IP, 696 hits, 334 runs, 319 ER, 87 K, 209 BB, 654 K in six seasons with Atlanta Braves (2010-14) and Royals (2017).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Los Angeles Dodgers for 4 years, $28 million.

Why the Yankees will be interested: The only thing missing in the Yankees' great bullpen is a standout situational left-hander, and Minor was among the best in this role last season, his first as a reliever. Lefties hit just .163 (15-for-92) last season against Minor, who missed all of 2015 and made just 10 starts in 2016 (all in the minors) due to shoulder surgery.

Alex Avila, C

Age: 30 (31 on Jan. 29, 2018)

2017 salary: $2 million

Bats: Left

2017 stats: Detroit Tigers, .274 average, 219 AB, 30 runs, 50 hits, 11 HR, 32 RBIs, 77 games. Chicago Cubs, .239 average, 92 AB, 11 runs, 22 hits, 3 HR, 17 RBIs, 35 games. Totals, .264 average, 311 AB, 41 runs, 82 hits 13 doubles, 1 triple, 14 HR, 49 RBIs, 0 SB, 1 CS, 62 BB, 130 K, 112 games.

Career stats: .243 average, 2,564 AB, 306 runs, 622 hits, 10 doubles, 8 triples, 87 HR, 342 RBIs, 7 SB, 8 CS, 425 BB, 851 K, 852 games in nine seasons with Tigers (2009-15, 2017), Chicago White Sox (2016) and Cubs (2017).

MLB Trade Rumors prediction: Signs with Yankees for 2 years, $16 million.

Why Yankees will be interested: Avila would be an upgrade as a No. 2 catcher over Austin Romine, who is a good receiver but doesn't have a strong throwing arm and isn't much of an offensive threat. Avila is a solid defender, but has a better bat and more power than Romine.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
You Americans have it all wrong. You believe what you read in the papers.

Thats what a Russian man told Steven Rosenbaum 83 when he was visiting the country. It is what inspired him to understand fake newsthough that may not have been the phrase for it at the time. After this discussion, Rosenbaum flew back to Skidmore, where he was news director of WSPN. He gathered his team and unplugged the Associated Press wire service, encouraging the station to stop reading the news. Now, over a quarter-century later, hes analyzing the same topic.

Professor Andrew Lindner 03 may not have been inspired by a spontaneous intercultural discussion, but he also has investigated the fake news phenomenon. His research is focused on citizen journalism, which he defines as people who are not trained reporters, and maybe not even paid, reporting the newswhatever they construct as newsin their own way. Rosenbaum also highlighted this new means of reporting in his TED Talk, given while participating in the TED Residency program, considering livestream tools such as Facebook live that anyone with an account has access to.

Rosenbaum argues what is a generally unpopular opinion: Fake news is a good thing. Fake news is the end of an era, and that we are arriving at the beginning of a new one. An era that I would suggest is awake news he explains. To become more awake, or aware of what is credible and what is not, Lindner advises considering the source and investigating whether the source is owned by a larger corporation. Rosenbaum would agree with this advice, adding that we must be responsible news consumers by exercising restraint and responsible social sharing. Otherwise, we are only contributing to the spread of a false narrative.

Listen to this and other episodes of This is Skidmore, Skidmore's award-winning podcast here.
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Abbotsford police officer dies following shooting on Monday

Rest in Peace, my heartfelt condolences go to the family, friends

The Abbotsford Police department is mourning the loss of one their own today, after an officer was fatally shot Monday morning.According to Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich, the incident began at 11:35 am, when police received police received a call about a possibly stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping complex in the 3200 block of Mt. Lehman Road.Speaking to media outside the Abbotsford Police detachment, Rich said the caller was so sure the vehicle was stolen, he blocked the suspects vehicle in while waiting for the police to arrive.Rich said it was then that a man emerged from the vehicle and began shooting at the caller  and others  with a shotgun.Police received several 911 calls about the shooting itself which Rich said happened at about 11:52 am.APD officers arrived in the area and attempted to engage and arrest the suspect and there was an exchange of gunfire, said Rich.It was at this point the APD officer was shot by the suspect. He was taken to hospital with very serious injuries.The suspect then fled the area in the stolen vehicle, but was arrested in the intersection of Mt. Lehman Road and Fraser Highway.The suspect, a man in his 60s from Alberta, was then taken to hospital with injuries that are believed to be non-threatening.Abbotsford Police officer is a heroThe injured APD officer was pronounced dead at the hospital, shortly after he arrived.Rich said he met with the victims spouse to deliver the news and it is something I never wanted to have to do in my life.Rich said the actions of all the officers involved in the incident were absolutely heroic.He added that officers responded to the incident in a way that was designed to protect the public.The officer who gave his life, said Rich, is a hero. He was protecting his community. He will always be my hero.IHIT and IIO are both now involved and the investigation continues.Sad to see this kind of violence in Canada, but a great example why we need capital punishment in Canada.
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Forget looking to the punters at the racetrack today - are the real fashionistas out in the field as opposed to at it?

The Science at ANU Facebook page posted a hilarious take on Melbourne Cup fashions on Tuesday morning.

There is ANU alumnus and ACT Government worker Dr Dan Starrs who knows his stuff when it comes to hosiery.

If you want to know about how to accessorise, you could take some cues from exchange student Jesse.
Belconnen's Northpoint Plaza is for sale, with the building's agent suggesting a buyer could use the block for apartments or a hotel.

The sale of the 6200-square-metre, four-level office building leaves the future for its tenants unclear. Centrelink leases about 16 per cent of the building, which also houses Quest Training, Sonic Healthcare, Marist Youth Care, medical and other offices.

Belconnen's Northpoint Plaza is home to Cenrelink and other offices

CBRE ACT managing director Michael Heather said Northpont Plaza, on Chandler Street, was built in 1987 and was formerly occupied by the Australian Taxation Office.

"Northpoint Plaza presents a compelling value-add opportunity that will be acquired at below replacement cost, yet is 75 per cent occupied and provides substantial passing income," Mr Heather said.
A Canberra excavation company has been fined $60,000 for safety breaches at the botched demolition of a Mr Fluffy house.

The ACT Industrial Court heard miscommunication between workers prompted an excavator driver to smash his bucket into the roof of the Torrens home, sending a plume of dust into the air, before workers had started to spray it with water.

The empty block of land at Darke Street in Torrens where the Mr Fluffy home was demolished. Credit:Graham Tidy

But Industrial Magistrate Lorraine Walker said on Tuesday there had, "fortuitously", been no asbestos contamination as a result of the demolition despite initial fears workers, including a WorkSafe ACT inspector, had been exposed to deadly fibres.

Samarkos Earthmoving pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its duty under workplace health and safety laws for failing to ensure adequate water suppression and effective communication between workers and machinery operators at the property.
Taking place throughout November, the DESIGN Canberra Festival features over 100 events, exhibitions, talks and tours, as well as open studios and homes. An opening-weekend party and auction will kick off the festival on Friday night. Events on this weekend include Art after Dark at Canberra Glassworks, where visitors can make their own glass paperweight while enjoying a Brodburger and Capital Ale served in a Glassworks stein that is theirs to take home, and design tours of Parliament House. For the full festival program, and to buy tickets for events, visit: designcanberrafestival.com.au .

In their final Llewellyn Hall concert of 2017, the Canberra Youth Orchestra will be joined by Australian jazz icon James Morrison. Morrison is an ARIA-award winning performer, best known for his trumpet playing. Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, the orchestra will play Gershwin's An American in Paris and Copland's Appalachian Spring. The concert is on at Llewellyn Hall at 7.30pm on Saturday night. Tickets $15-$25 from ticketek.com.au.

3. TASTE OF BRADDON

Celebrating the food and drink culture of Lonsdale Street and surrounds, Taste of Braddon will be held in Haig Park on Saturday and Sunday. Beer, burgers, live music and art will keep visitors hydrated, full and entertained. Furry, four-legged creatures are an exciting addition of the event, as poodles, pugs and dachshunds compete in races and goats take part in yoga classes. A secluded area of the festival will host the Braddon Food and Wine Frolic, where wine lovers will be able to sample local blends. The festival will be open from 11-6 on both days. See inthecitycanberra.com.au/taste-braddon-coming-soon-2017.

The Australian War Memorial will hold the Remembrance Day National Ceremony to mark the 99th anniversary of the armistice on Saturday. The ceremony will begin at 10.30am and will be open to members of the public. As is custom, a one minute silence will be observed at 11am. A formal wreath-laying will take place, and students from all around the country will attend to represent the youth of Australia. Free tickets for general admission seating are available at trybooking.com. There will also be standing space available - no tickets required.
A tartan jacket from a vintage store in Queensland, paired with a wooden cane belonging to his late grandfather, helped Canberra man Joshua Burgess take out the male fashions on the field category at Thoroughbred Park.

The 27-year-old manager of a gutter cleaning business, Joshua traded in his usual T-shirt and shorts for the vintage jacket, a Zenetti waistcoat and a dark grey fedora, beating 15 other men to win the best dressed title.

Fashions on the field winners Cobie Sheehan and Joshua Burgess. Credit:Jamila Toderas

"My preparation just came together during the week," Joshua said.

"I got lucky with this outfit, I found this suit jacket while on holiday and it happened to fit me which was really lucky - and then built an outfit from there."
An iconic steel sculpture in Canberra's north has been targeted by vandals, the latest in a spate of graffiti to hit Belconnen in recent weeks.

The public work Tumbling Cubes by Bert Flugelman has long greeted visitors to Margaret Timpson Park but last month it was scrawled over with graffiti tags and red paint.

Graffiti on the Bert Flugelman steel sculptures in Belconnnen. Credit:Alastair Wilson

Alastair Wilson's home overlooks the park and he was distressed to see the work of a famous artist "desecrated".

Other residents said they had long been concerned about the condition of the sculptures, which had been "jumped on", bashed and neglected.
Commonwealth Bank's first-quarter profits have lifted 6 per cent to $2.65 billion, helped by increases in rates for customers with interest-only home loans, and lower bad debts.

A trading update from CBA said the bank posted operating income growth of 4 per cent in the September quarter, due to wider profit margins and increases in credit volumes and deposits.

CBA and rivals lifted rates on interest-only home loans in June, which is known as "repricing" in the industry, and the bank said this was one factor that helped the result.

Net interest margins - which compare a bank's cost of funds with what it charges for loans - increased from the June half, it said.
Had you blinked around 11am you would have missed one of the most significant events in Australian capital markets in years  the stock market hit the 6000-level, the highest it has been since the global financial crisis.

Had you already starting tucking in for the first celebratory Melbourne Cup drink you may still not be aware November 7, 2017, was a milestone  after several attempts over the past few years the market finally went a little further than flirting with the magical index mark.

Rising ever so slightly above 6000 means it has broken through a significant psychological barrier even though the index eased back a little in the early afternoon as investors started selling in order to take profit.

But just when it looked like it might have been a false start, the market took off again in a far more convincing sprint to the end of the trading day at 6014.
Box Hill A 690sq m office building at 5 Court Street has passed from one non-profit organisation to another for $3.5 million. Savills Australia's Julian Heatherich, Dorothy He and Benson Zhou brokered the deal, achieving a land rate of $5,804 per sq m. Mr Heatherich said ongoing demand for freehold offices fuelled the strong result, which reflected a tight initial yield of 2.6 per cent. Sunshine West A small warehouse office at 80 Enterprise Way has sold for $1.25 million. CVA's Leo Mancino and Anthony Carbone said the industrial property sold with a 3 + 3 year lease in place returning $81,600. Thomastown

The private sale of an office-showroom at 188 Mahoneys Road has been negotiated by Gray Johnson's Scott Ashby for $1.7 million. A Melbourne automotive business purchased the two-level building that was previously occupied by an ARB four-wheel-drive components distributor and became vacant on its relocation to larger premises. Carrum Downs An 817sq m warehouse and office building at 22 Access Way has been sold by James Dodge and Joshua Monks from Nichols Crowder for $1.127 million. The clear span warehouse had 3-phase power, a motorised roller door and office with reception. Nearby in Cheltenham, Julian Vautin and Niki Drendel sold a vacant brick warehouse at 257 Bay Road after auction for $2.35 million. And in St Kilda, Mr Vautin sold a 155sq m, two-storey office at 4/83-87 Wellington Street via an EOI campaign for $865,000. Heidelberg A new shop on the ground floor of Crema Constructions' Heidi development at 120 Burgundy Street has sold to a local investor for $1.44 million. The property was sold by Vinci Carbone's Stephen Speck on a yield of 3.8 per cent. Down the road at 40 Burgundy Street, Mr Speck also sold a 92sq m shop in conjunction with Paul Evans of Miles & Co for $800,000.

Hallam A private investor paid $660,000 for a 491sq m office warehouse at 10 Astro Court on a yield of 5.4 per cent. The property, on its own title, included a small side yard, Knight Frank's Luke Crozier said. South Yarra Medical centres continue to prove popular investments. A private investor has paid $640,000 for a medical clinic at 8 Oban Street. The 70sq m clinic achieved a solid sales rate of $9140 per sq m on an initial yield of 5.4 per cent. Knight Frank's Paul Pellegrino brokered the deal. Collingwood

Dean Alexander and Alex Browne of Gorman Commercial have sold Suite 1/70-80 Wellington Street for $572,100. Mr Alexander said there was strong demand from owner-occupiers looking to secure small to medium-sized city fringe offices. LEASES Hawthorn East The home of the Young's Auction house, which closed in 2015, has been leased to the successful operator behind Vietnamese restaurant St Cloud. The new tenant secured the 208sq m space at 2/225 Camberwell Road on an eight-year lease with net annual rental of $120,000, Knight Frank's Paul Pellegrino said. Port Melbourne

Sydney-based Fresh Venture Group has leased a modern warehouse at Unit 3/2 Phillip Court on a three-year lease for $72,000 per annum gross. Lemon Baxter's Ned Kukic handled the deal. In another deal, Amy Jones leased a warehouse at 8/339 Williamstown Road, also in Port Melbourne, to Gangi Electrics on a five-year lease with 5+5 year options. The deal was struck with no vacancy period for $200 per sq m. In nearby St Kilda Road, Ms Jones leased Andrology Australia space on Level 2 at 492 St Kilda Road for $285 per sq m. Tullamarine An international freight company has leased a corporate office/warehouse on the logistical precinct at 71-93 Western Avenue. The 1536sq m site was taken on a 4 + 3 year lease for $130,000 per annum, Anthony Carbone from CVA said. The building has an open plan and partitioned office over two levels, two container roller shutter doors, a high clearance warehouse and 12 on-site car spaces. Dandenong South Plastic product manufacturer FSP Australia will relocate to a 547sq m office/warehouse at 67 Elliott Road after signing a lease for net annual rental of $40,000, Knight Frank's Luke Crozier said.

Kensington A city fringe office warehouse at 348 Arden Street has been leased by a marketing company for $60,000 per annum on a 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 year lease term. Anthony Carbone from CVA said the lease was struck at a building rate or $81.52 per sq m. MOVERS AVID Property Group has appointed two new people to its leadership team. Peter Vlitas has joined as general manager of Victoria and Danny Boubli has come on board in a newly-created project director role to drive the company's focus on apartments and medium density dwellings. Ben Parkinson has joined Savills Australia as the state director of capital transactions, a newly created role for the Melbourne office. Savills also appointed Bonnie Ziegeler as public relations manager in another newly created role.
Australian companies that lead the way in promoting women's leadership do 10 things in common a new study has found.

The research by the Australian Business Council of Australia, Workplace Gender Equality Agency and McKinsey & Company said the top performing companies started with making a clear case about why gender equality was good for their organisation.

Honorary blokes: women who have made it to the top by out-toughing the men are often keen to stress they are not like other women. "If the only way to get ahead is to run like hell away from other women, some women are going to do that," says Professor Joan Williams.

The ten strategies companies follow to increase the number of women in top jobs included providing role models to demonstrate the company's commitment to inclusion and the sponsorship of women rising through the ranks.

Roles were also made more flexible for both men and women across different levels of management. Traditional views of merit in recruitment and evaluation were also challenged.
Local youth hope the public will buy a few items and help hurting people at the same time.

The First Lutheran Youth (FLYs) group will host a Colossal Garage Sale this weekend in the Mission Center of the church, 3200 Military Ave., in Fremont.

Area residents are invited to the event which runs from 5-8 p.m. Friday. There will be a $5 Early Bird admission cost.

There is no admission cost on Saturday. The event continues that day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More than 20 youth will work at the sale, hoping to raise funds to travel to either Florida or Texas for hurricane relief this summer, said Shawn Bridgman, church member.

Theyre going to go wherever the need is greatest and this will help offset the cost, Bridgman said.

Some proceeds will be used to help youth get to their destination. Other proceeds will be used to help in the rebuilding efforts.

Would-be shoppers should be able to find a variety of merchandise at the sale.

The entire Mission Center is full of stuff, Bridgman said.

Items include: furniture, clothing, household goods, toys and holiday decorations.

Concessions will be sold. A bake sale and a quilt raffle is planned as well.

Theres a lot going on, Bridgman said. It should be a fun event for the community.

Were hoping a lot of the Fremont community comes and will feel welcome in our space.

Bridgman believes youth are learning from the project. Theyve collected items from members houses and loaded furniture into vans and trailers. Theyll help set up the sale and put prices on items.

Theyll learn from that process and then from the opportunity to go this summer and help people who need the help, Bridgman said.

Bridgman believes the summer trip will help youth see how fortunate they are.

And, she said, theyll probably learn they have skills and God-given gifts that can be used to help others.
Among its many other sterile and irrelevant activities, as we await a new prime minister, parliament is examining the "benefits and risks of a bipartisan defence agreement". The futility of this is self-evident. The moment either party sees the briefest glimmer of political gold, they'll rush to trash any pretence of unity.

And that's exactly as it should be.

Malcolm Turnbull, backed by special forces, announces a new ADF focus on counter-terrorism in July. Credit:Ben Rushton

There are two excellent reasons this proposal will never be passed. First, people can't even agree about how the world works. No matter how obvious it may be, for example, that the sun has finally set on the British Empire, the Tony Abbotts of this world still sigh, close their eyes tight and hope very hard that it (or something like it) lingers. Labor's foreign policy chief, Penny Wong, on the other hand, knows Britain closed RAF Butterworth back in 1957 and the Malaysians assumed complete control in 1988.

That's a small example, but it touches on something deep: how individuals conceive of the world.
I don't like reading industry advertising codes. I like reading gambling regulations even less. Sadly, this became my lot as I tried to work out just what we could do about the damaging gambling marketing that bombarded consumers ahead of this year's Melbourne Cup.

I've been working on online gambling policy for Financial Counselling Australia. Gamblers, or their family members, contact me. Initially they want to get help dealing with gambling-related debts but after life has stabilised, many drop me a line to share just how hard it is to stop gambling.

Behind the hats and suits of the spring racing carnival, gamblers are struggling and gambling advertisements are making matters worse. Credit:Tamara Voninski

Anthony, a recovering compulsive gambler, recently contacted me about an offensive advertisement from the new online gambling company Neds, which glorifies deceiving your loved ones or employer in order to continue gambling.

There are five in the series. The building site one, where the hapless owner is frustrated because all her tradies are on their phones gambling, each with an excuse for why they are not working. Another has the setting of a family dinner with the in-laws, where the young husband manufactures an excuse to leave the dinner table to gamble. Then there is one where a guy in a crowded lift presses every button, so he has longer to gamble while the lift with weary co-workers stops at each floor. And so on.
The citizenship saga continues to rage on, with a swag of prominent parliamentarians set to be referred to the High Court after it was revealed today that they all share an aunty. Federal pollies who grew up watching too much ABC TV could well find themselves classified as British citizens by way of cultural exposure. Andrew Stark East Gosford I am a dual citizen, British by birth, Australian by choice through naturalisation. But my parents, who migrated to Australia in 1950, were Welsh, and like many British migrants never became Australian citizens. My father served 20 years in the RAAF, as did my Welsh-born brother. They never contemplated renouncing their British citizenship. So how likely is it that John Alexander's father would have taken this step? There was no need. He could vote and had all the rights of a person born in Australia. Wishful thinking is no excuse for non-disclosure of the facts. Dr Marilyn Dodkin Bowral

The PM must be relieved that your headline reads "PM seeks end to crisis"  and not "Crisis sees end of PM". Edward Loong Milsons Point John Alexander will sign a $100,000 contract in St. Louis on Saturday week. Sports Management Corporation a new entry on the tennis off-court promotion scene, will sign Alexander (pictures) for four years with a guarantee of $25,000 a year. November 21, 1967. Credit:Fairfax Media It's not really that surprising to learn that John Alexander (above) might be playing doubles. Ross Duncan Potts Point

How many ineligible members of Parliament and senators will pass Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's bill to impose citizenship disclosures? It's still one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us. Any other Australian ruled ineligible for something in the eyes of the Commonwealth government wouldn't receive such quarter, or presumption of innocence. John Townsend Croydon Park The news that Mr Turnbull is suggesting a register for MPs' citizenship is totally inadequate. It's too late, as the MPs need to verify that they do not have dual citizenship before they stand as a candidate. If they do not do this and are dual citizens, they are breaking the law and if they win, the election will have been a waste of time and money. They are not entitled to become an MP, or even be paid as an MP, if they have dual citizenship. With the number of politicians declared to be illegally elected increasing by the week, what is the government going to do about the illegal payment of salaries they have received? The decisions they have been part of, when they should not even have been in Parliament? How long will the legal challenges go on in the courts? What a mess. Sarah de Jong Gladesville

How appropriate that Malcolm Turnbull has concluded the trifecta towards his political demise at Melbourne Cup time. Leg one was the decision to call a double dissolution and lose a healthy majority. The second was spending millions on the marriage equality plebiscite, which has encouraged a greater number of younger people than usual to register for voting and who will mostly support non-Coalition parties at the next election. And the jackpot has been hit with his "citizenship register", which could result in more of his members being ruled ineligible and the early downfall of his government. Punters beware, and shy away from any horse that Malcolm backs. Tony Re Georges Hall Motorists slam motorway boss over toll comments The taxpayers of NSW finished paying for the M4 in 2010. For the government to reintroduce tolls to pay for the WestConnex extension is tantamount to larceny and double dipping ("Return of M4 toll called exciting", November 7). Rest assured the motorists who use the M4 are not "excited". The change of conditions was achieved by "one stroke of the pen" by the NSW government without any consultation. Jan Wilson Glebe

Dennis Cliche would say that, wouldn't he? He's not Sydney Motorway Corporation chief executive for nothing, that's clear. Terry Lavis Coogee So Mr Cliche thinks it is "exciting" to extract a tax from western Sydney drivers and joke about people's concerns on pollution and health. This is another example of the unearned privilege of the big end of town. For his monstrous salary he obviously enjoys inflicting financial pain on those mere pawns in his game. For many of the road's "clients", the toll represents a "tax" in excess of 2 per cent of their income. How about we levy a tax toll of 2 per cent of his salary? Duncan Cameron Lane Cove Dennis Cliche of the Sydney Motorway Corporation is the sort of company executive who 40 years ago would have said he had no problems living in a house with asbestos.

Cornelius van der Weyden Balmain East The intemperate remarks of Mr Cliche, the chief executive of the company building WestConnex, have left him up a creek without a paddle. Speaking about his excitement at raiding the pockets of motorists and truckies while dismissing the health concerns of local residents, he faces a diabolical public response to his attempt to promote the success of his efforts. Doug Walker Baulkham Hills Liberals show they lack compassion Sadly, Oliver Yates' description of Liberal Party climate policy could easily be applied to so many more policies such as asylum seekers, welfare, health and education through which the Liberals have "knowingly and willingly" inflicted damage on others. Moreover, they consistently blame the victims rather than themselves further demonstrating their lack of compassion and understanding. This is what happens when you meld the cold heart of economic rationalism with an arrogant sense of entitlement.

Philip Cooney Wentworth Falls Is seeking asylum a crime? No. Is smuggling people a crime? Let's assume that it is. Since when do we punish victims of crime for the crime committed upon them? David Corbett Albury With her offer to take in 150 refugees languishing in Australia's offshore refugee concentration camp on Manus Island, PNG and Nauru, NZ PM Jacinda Ardern showed the human face of the NZ government and the people it represents. By rejecting the magnanimous offer what has the Turnbull government shown the world? Its cruel character?

Rajend Naidu Glenfield If you incarcerate people for years with their future being potentially dependent on their current compliance then it is no wonder freedom in PNG is a daunting prospect. Sally Shepard Port Macquarie Unfortunately our parliamentary leaders are too busy caring about their own futures instead of worrying about a solution to the refugee crisis. Denis Suttling Newport Beach

I often talk to taxi and Uber drivers, many who come from India, China and the Middle East. Frequently these immigrants have come to Australia with masters degrees and doctorates. This level of education would have no doubt accelerated their process of immigration. Once here however they are faced with years of "re-education" at prohibitive cost to qualify locally. At a time when we could use qualified people in regional and remote areas is there not a better way to expedite their local qualification? Or is it, as I suspect, just another aspect of the business model we rationalise in modern-day higher education. This seems to me yet another example of the Australian government's talent for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Jessica Revill Newtown Aborigines need voting power Turnbull's outright dismissal of a referendum to give Indigenous Australians a voice in Parliament was poor politics. Turnbull should have at least floated the idea in Parliament. ("Turnbull's referendum response condemned", November 7). Turnbull characterised such an advisory group as a "third chamber of Parliament". But such a group could not be a "third chamber of Parliament" if its role is purely advisory, and it has no power of veto or to vote on legislation. A right to give advice is not the same however, as a right to vote. It is nigh time that Aboriginal Australians exercised some real voting power in Australia.

Although a referendum to change the Constitution would be difficult, perhaps Australian voters would accept a number of Indigenous seats in the House of Representatives based on Indigenous numbers. While this would mean only four or five seats in a total of 150, this number could have a significant voice as part of the crossbench. Obviously registered Aboriginal voters couldn't "double dip" at elections. They would choose to vote for their local candidate or vote for an Aboriginal candidate, but not both. Geoff Black Caves Beach Tax havens do harm The Western world has often introduced sanctions against countries deemed to be harmful to the world order. Why do we not have sanctions against tax haven countries, who do us great harm, by harbouring tax dodging companies and the super rich ("Let's name and shame those who seek to hide", November 7). Paul Doyle Glenbrook

If they were still around today it'd be interesting to hear what F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway would have to say about the Paradise Capers. When Fitzgerald wrote: "The rich are different to you and me", Ernest replied via a later story with the smart remark: "Yes Scott, they have more money". Their quotes should now be updated to add: "And they'll go to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying taxes". The rule for the super rich is clearly too much money is never enough. I suspect most won't be in the least surprised by the Paradise revelations. What would be truly amazing would be the election of a government prepared to change the rules and so close the growing gap between the very wealthy and everybody else. Nick Franklin Katoomba

Trump's inconsistent rules Yet again a gun massacre in the US, perpetrated by a white man with a machine gun and President Trump finds it inappropriate to discuss gun laws. Contrary to this however, immediately after an horrific terrorist incident committed in the US, President Trump doesn't hesitate to bring up the topic of a death sentence, imprisonment in Guantanamo, slashing of migration numbers, curtailing citizens' abilities to bring in family members with the intention of reuniting families and barring visitors from selective Muslim majority countries. As usual, different rules for different folks. Rosie Elsass Brighton Figures don't add up for country's economy Where did the money go?

Debates over how far we have progressed can be complex. But to simplify, 30 years ago you could go to university and TAFE for free. You could own a house and raise four kids on one income. With 20 plus years of uninterrupted growth we have to ask, where did all the money go? Glenn Holmes Katoomba . On ya bike problem I suspect this bike problem is a cyclical thing. Bill Carpenter Bowral

Airport confusion Thanks to Rowan Wigmore for pointing out the airport is named Ayres Rock to avoid confusion with Uluru (Letters, November 7). It would avoid a bumpy landing too! Ian Cox Kenthurst Fake news failure Amanda Vanstone's short history of "fake news" ("Fake news not new, it's just dressed up bias and bulldust", November 6) avoided the Children Overboard Affair of the Howard era. I wonder why?

Ian Ferrier Paddington Bishop next in line Of course Julie Bishop will be the next PM. If you know you're going to lose, you give the job to a woman. Just ask Joan Kirner and Kristina Kenneally. Keith Binns Goulburn Life expectancy skewed
Just think about that for a moment: after acquiring the most advanced knowledge that Australia had to offer, PLA-linked researchers apparently decided to make their cutting-edge research findings publicly available and, conveniently for us, in their second language.

These are serious allegations that deserve an airing and further investigation. At the same time, what is the evidence being offered? A swath of scientific papers co-authored by researchers who had worked or studied at Australian and Chinese institutions, many published in leading peer-reviewed, English-language academic journals.

The most recent claim is that Australian universities are collaborating with top military technology universities in China to the benefit of the People's Liberation Army, and to the detriment of our security ally, the United States.

Sometimes Australia can slip into panic mode when confronted by China's rapid rise. Australian universities are now the centre of attention. They increasingly employ Chinese citizens and Chinese-Australians as researchers, and nearly 40 per cent of the fee-paying, international students they host are also from China.

What high-tech fields don't have potential for military applications? Credit:AP

There is another possible explanation  highly skilled Australian and Chinese researchers have forged productive and mutually beneficial partnerships, and then done what all academics do, which is publish or perish.

Such commentaries are also keen on stressing that collaboration is occurring in "high-tech fields like materials science, artificial intelligence and computer science", which are areas that have "many military applications". But no university is engaged in low-tech research. And what high-tech fields don't have potential for military applications? Does this mean we stop collaborating with the world's best on the technologies of the future?

And that's where we need to be really careful. In many areas China is well ahead of us. It has the world's most extensive high-speed rail network. Mobile payments technologies mean that in China you can go for months without ever needing to reach into your wallet. In 2016, China had 10 universities (12 if you include Hong Kong) in the world's top 50 for engineering/technology and computer science. Australia meanwhile? Just one  take a bow, University of NSW. Is it just a coincidence that the highest-ranked Australian university is also the one that has arguably been the most successful in forging China links?

China has had the world's fastest supercomputer since 2010. The latest Chinese machine to hold the title is built entirely with locally produced microprocessors. Over the past five years artificial intelligence patents lodged by China jumped by 186 per cent. On this measure China is now second only to the US, and well ahead of the EU and Japan. China has just launched the world's first quantum satellite. This is connected to the world's longest quantum communications link between the political capital of Beijing and the commercial capital of Shanghai.
An unusual mix of researchers from Australia and abroad will set sail later this month in a bid to locate and then propagate "super corals" that appear best able to survive bleaching caused by climate change.

The 21-day expedition is the first to be launched by the Great Barrier Reef Legacy, a non-profit group that raised funds for the venture from the tourism industry and crowd-sourcing to find research gaps.

Researchers will be studying which corals have survived the heatwaves best, and why. Credit:Brett Monroe Garner/ GBR Legacy

It will leave Port Douglas on November 15 and head as far north as the Torres Strait, examining areas that have had little more than aerial surveys since mass bleaching first took place in the 2015-16 summer.

"This was the section that was most hard hit, with some reefs suffering up to 90 per cent coral cover lost," said Dean Miller, a marine biologist and GBR Legacy director.
The number of people who have returned their marriage postal survey has reached 12.6 million or 78.5 per cent of those entitled to vote.

In the final hours before the survey ended at 4.30pm on Tuesday, same-sex marriage supporters urged those who had not posted their vote to hand deliver them.

The bureau will announce the result of the survey at 10am on November 15.

The ABS continued to receive last-minute returns drop-off locations until 4.30pm.
Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court has rejected an application to restore operations at the now-decommissioned Manus Island processing centre, further increasing pressure on the almost 600 men who have been refusing to relocate to three new "transit centres".

The last-ditch application, filed last week by lawyers representing Iranian refugee and journalist Behrouz Boochani, sought to re-establish the compound's power, water, food, sanitation and medical services, arguing their termination was in breach of the PNG constitution's human rights protections.

Declining to issue the injunction, Chief Justice Salami Injia said "there is no real good reason why [the detainees] should not voluntarily move" to the new facilities. He declared that Boochani's rights "may have been breached" by the Manus closure but that he should seek damages from PNG and Australian authorities instead.

He also said the Australian government's responsibility for the welfare of the asylum seekers "ended with the closure of the [Manus regional processing centre], which it operated, and it falls squarely on the government of PNG to take full responsibility".
You can pay a celebrity to turn up to the races but apparently you can't make them wear what you had planned, as Myer learned on Cup Day.

International guest Paris Jackson, the daughter of the late Michael Jackson, was widely tipped to wear Alex Perry to attend her first Melbourne Cup, as a guest of the department store and the Victoria Racing Club.

But when she arrived at Flemington about 12.15pm, she was wearing a rust-coloured dress by Morrison, which is also stocked at Myer, a headpiece by Ann Shoebridge and ankle boots.

According to sources close to Myer, Jackson wasn't a fan of the Perry option and instead opted for the rusty-coloured dress with ruffles and sheer sleeves.
I was born 33 years ago with from what I've been told was a normal pregnancy, back in the mid-1980s in western Sydney. By the time I came to the world, however, all hell broke loose. My kidney had failed to form correctly, I seemed to have a tumour in my bowel and my bladder hadn't formed, all of which caused a medical emergency. My parents were told I'd be dead within a week.

Another emergency was also present, a social emergency. I couldn't be determined to be a boy or a girl; my genitalia was ambiguous. I had internal gonads (undeveloped tissue that hadn't developed into testes or ovaries) and this caused confusion with the doctors. Apparently they had not seen this before and were unsure how to respond.

Born without clear sex markers, doctors decided Alex David was a girl. They were wrong.

I recently spoke to my dad about this for the first time in my life, in far more detail than I ever thought I would. My mum had died a few months earlier, and my relationship with my parents was always tense at best  especially after my intersex status had been revealed to me back in December 2001.

I still wanted to know exactly what happened, though. What happened at my birth, why did the doctors make the decisions they did, why was I allocated as a girl before undergoing surgery to create a vagina out of my ambiguous genitalia, as well as hormone treatment to make me grow to the size of an average female  and why was I put on female sex hormones at the age of 13, which I rejected a few months into taking it?
In some of Brisbane's most affluent suburbs more than 90 per cent of high school students go to private schools, Australian Bureau of Statistics census data has revealed.

A whopping 91 per cent of secondary school students in Ascot and Hawthorne go to independent schools.

New data shows in certain suburbs, more than 90 per cent of high school students attend private schools. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The data showed that while high proportions of high school students from those suburbs attend independent schools, in primary school the percentage is much lower.

In St Lucia, for example, only 10 per cent of students in primary school go to Catholic or independent schools, but in high school that number jumps to 61 per cent.
People applying for life, disability, trauma, income and protection insurance must disclose any personal genetic test results they have received. Disclosing she had Lynch syndrome also made it "extremely difficult" to get travel insurance, and when approved, the loading and premiums were "ridiculous". "What I find really frustrating is that people who know they have a genetic mutation would be more likely than someone in the general population to take preventative steps," Ms Sawyer said. The 50-year-old has had regular colonoscopies since her mother died. She underwent a total hysterectomy and a prophylactic mastectomy knowing people with Lynch syndrome are also at increased risk of other cancers, including endometrium, ovarian and stomach cancers. "I've spent a huge amount of time and resources taking precautions and to make sure I'm as healthy as I can be."

She worries the risk of being denied life insurance could be a major deterrent to individuals with family histories of serious conditions undergoing genetic testing and subsequently missing out on treatment. But her own children  who have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the gene mutation  will "absolutely" get tested. "It's hugely important that they are armed with the knowledge they need to protect their health," she said. Insurers are able to discriminate against individuals who undergo genetic testing, and that threatens to hobble genomic research, bioethics and law experts have warned in a recent paper published in Public Health Genomics. Anyone who receives their results of genetic testing as part of a research project needs to disclose them to insurers if asked, despite the Human Genetics Society of Australasia calling for research findings to be excluded.

Insurers can deny cover or hike up premiums for healthy individuals who discover they carry a mutation for a condition they may never develop based on the testing results, the authors warned. Laws designed to prevent insurers from discriminating against individuals have wide exemptions, said lead author Associate Professor Ainsley Newson, bioethicist at the University of Sydney. "There is already evidence that fears of insurance discrimination are putting people off either having a clinically indicated genetic test, or participating in research projects as volunteers," Dr Newson said. An updated insurance industry policy launched in March this year by the Financial Services Council (FSC) "waters down protections for consumers", Dr Newson said. The policy does not apply to health insurance. "There are all kinds of reasons why genetic research results are given to participants. The researchers may want to see how they cope as part of a psychosocial evaluation or to follow up on patients to see if they do go on to develop the condition of interest."

Dr Newson said it was imperative that individuals had the freedom to participate in research without the fear of it impacting their ability to buy insurance, especially when genomic medicine was in its critical early stages. "A lot of research is speculative by nature  [and] genomic information is very dynamic and its meaning is changing quite rapidly and frequently, and can be uncertain," Dr Newson said. "We are concerned insurers don't have the proper expertise to do the kind of analysis that is necessary." The policy also implies that individuals need to tell their potential insurer that they are even "considering" genetic testing. "This takes disclosure beyond the realm of medical information and into an individual's thoughts and intentions, which is too far," said co-author Jane Tiller ethical, legal and social adviser at Monash University's Public Health Genomics.

The authors argued there was little evidence to back the insurance industry's concerns that if they are not allowed to use genetic test results to inform decisions, applicants may sign up for larger premiums if they know they will develop a disease in the future. Senior author Dr Paul Lacaze said Australia currently allowed the profit-driven life insurance industry to develop its own rules around what can and can't be done with people's genetic information. "This is a conflicted situation and fundamentally inappropriate," Dr Lacaze said, characterising the policy as a "black cloud" over Australia's ability to advance its genomic research. "Most other countries have banned the use of genetic information in insurance altogether, or have stricter independent government oversight." The authors urged the Australian government to intervene and enforce stringent regulations on the industry that provides greater transparency and accountability over how premiums decisions are made and protect genomic research participants form discrimination.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter has criticised community sector employers for hiring staff in permanent positions knowing that their government contract had an end date.

The comment in a letter to Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia has sparked an angry response from the Australian Services Union which accused the Minister of suggesting community sector workers should all be employed in insecure work.

Australian Services Union NSW branch secretary Natalie Lang.

The rape and domestic violence service recently lost a major government contract and needs to find funds for redundancy payments to staff.

Natalie Lang, secretary of the ASU NSW and ACT branch said more than 200,000 social community services workers were employed in non-government organisations that relied on government funding contracts.
A Wagga Wagga teenager has been charged with the murder of chef Allecha Suzette Boyd, 89 days after she disappeared from the NSW Riverina area.

Ms Boyd, 27, was last seen in the township of Coolamon, north of Wagga Wagga, on the afternoon of Thursday, August 10.

Homicide police formed a strike force in September after suspecting that she may have met with foul play.

On Tuesday evening, they arrested a 19-year-old man at a home in Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga. A shortened rifle, believed to be the weapon used to kill Ms Boyd, was seized at the home.
Queensland's Liberal National Party will push ahead with its plan to name and shame domestic violence offenders despite the state's Law Reform Commission branding the scheme as "risky".

The LNP released its five-point domestic violence plan on Tuesday, with promises to roll out the public Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme if elected to office on November 25.

Opposition domestic violence prevention spokeswoman Ros Bates. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

The scheme - which would be known as Tara's Law, named after Gold Coast mother Tara Brown who was murdered by her ex-partner in 2015 - would allow people to inquire about the domestic violence or child sex crime history of any potential new partners.

The DVDS was first flagged by the LNP in 2015, however a report into the scheme published earlier this year by the Queensland Law Reform Commission recommended it be scrapped.
Indian energy company Adani has not yet lodged an investment case for the $900 million it has requested from the $5 billion Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility as a loan.

Adani applied for the loan in November 2016 to partially cover the cost of a rail line to connect its Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin to the port at Abbot Point near Bowen.

Labor's election campaign has been dogged by anti-Adani protesters. Credit:Darren England/AAP

The loan has to be paid back over 30 years.

Despite the loan request, Adani Group has already paid $1.83 billion for a 99-year lease on one terminal at the Abbot Point port.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she does not like doing cash-for-access meetings and tries to limit the number she does.

At the Tony Fitzgerald lecture on Monday night, former Queensland Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo said electors trust in politicians was at an all-time low, taking aim at cash-for-access events to politicians, organised by the major parties.

Former Queensland Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo said electors trust in politicians was at an all-time low.

Perhaps, like me, they have been watching Netflixs fictional House of Cards, she said.

More likely, they are concerned about real issues such as the Palaszczuk government, despite its pledge before the last election to follow the Bligh governments positive initiative, continuing to allow cash for access.
A woman locked herself to the steering wheel of a car parked across train tracks, causing major delays for Melbourne Cup commuters, in a protest against the treatment of refugees on Manus Island.

Almost 200 people were on board the Flemington-bound train when 20 protesters flooded the tracks, letting down the tyres of the vehicle near a level crossing in Ascot Vale about 1.15pm.

Metro Trains said 55 people disembarked and walked along rail line in response to the delay, creating a "significant" safety risk.

Police and firefighters were forced to extract the 27-year-old woman from the locked car before she was arrested.
A fleeing driver wanted over a hit-run crash in Melbourne that critically injured a 13-year-old girl has been given one last chance to hand herself in  or she could be publicly named by police.

Detectives are a step closer to finding the driver after locating the car they believe was involved in the incident.

A damaged, dark grey BMW was seized in a laneway behind shops in Sunshine North, in the city's west on Tuesday night, a police spokesman said.

Police are still trying to find the driver wanted over the Sunday evening hit-run crash in Coburg, but revealed how they have the suspect in their sights.
Plans for a permanent park at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets have been postponed until after a $40 million revamp of an office building on the corner has been completed.

A temporary pop-up park will be rolled out on the strip until River View House's owner Fivex begins work on a new five-storey tower on the building's podium in February 2018.

Artist's impression of pop-up park designed for Elizabeth Street between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street.

The City of Melbourne has been working on a pedestrian-friendly park for the eastern side of Elizabeth Street, between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, for some time but the permanent park will have to wait until early 2019.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said: "There's no doubt the southern end of Elizabeth Street has become a pedestrian zone."
A suspected "fire bomb" has gutted two cars and caused nearly $300,000 property damage to an Inglewood home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

At around 4am, firefighters were called to respond to reports of two vehicles on fire outside a house on Park Street.

The damage to three cars at the property. Credit:Anthony Anderson

The fire ripped through both cars and caused minor damage to a third vehicle parked near the home.

It then spread to the home through the garage and a couple sleeping inside the property were forced to evacuate to the backyard.
The last member of the so-called "Evil 8" group of paedophiles has been found guilty of participating in the sexual abuse of a young Perth girl over a two-year period.

Alfred John Impicciatore pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexually penetrating a child.

Alfred John Impicciatore, 47, pleaded not guilty to the child abuse charges. Credit:LinkedIn

He appeared in the WA District Court on Tuesday afternoon where Judge Mark Herron found him guilty on all charges following a short judge-only trial.

Impicciatore will be sentenced at a later date.
Perth police are looking for a 13-year-old boy who's been reported missing from Gosnells in the southern suburbs.

Police said Ronan Spicer has not returned home from being out at the weekend of the 4th and 5th of November.



However, police said he had been sighted in the Thornlie area.

13-year-old Ronan Spicer is missing from the Gosnells area. Credit:WA police

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Police want anyone who sights Ronan to contact Gosnells Police on 9398 0000 with the Incident Number 06111723558152.
Sutherland Spring, Texas shooter Devin Kelley. Credit:AP "I had always known there was something off about him. But he wasn't always a 'psychopath' though," a longtime friend, Courtney Kleiber, posted on Facebook on Sunday. He was, she said, "happy at one point, normal, your average kid. We had a lot of good times together. Over the years we all saw him change into something that he wasn't. To be completely honest, I'm really not surprised this happened, and I don't think anyone who knew him is very surprised either." Kleiber did not respond to a request for comment. A law enforcement official crosses a highway near the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Credit:AP Kelley had threatened his mother-in-law - who sometimes attended the church - over text messages before attacking the church on Sunday.

But she was not in attendance as Kelley entered the church during worship services, shooting congregants with a 5.56 mm Ruger semiautomatic rifle while wearing a bullet-resistant vest and a black mask with a white skull on it, officials said. Two women embrace after the fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs,Texas. Credit:AP When Kelley left the building, he was confronted by a neighbour who had armed himself with an AR-15-style rifle. The two had a gunfight that ended when the neighbour shot Kelley in the leg and the torso, prompting Kelley to drop his rifle and flee in his SUV, with the neighbour and another bystander in pursuit. The sun sets behind 26 crosses placed in a field before a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting. Credit:AP

As the men chased Kelley out of town, the suspect used his mobile phone "to notify his father that he had been shot and that he didn't think he was going to make it," Martin said. "Subsequently, he shot himself" in the head. His car drove off the road and crashed. It was unclear whether Kelley shot himself before the crash. Martin said Kelley's cause of death would be formally determined by a medical examiner. The mass shooting - the deadliest in the modern history of Texas - has launched national scrutiny over how Kelley was able to buy four guns over the last four years in Colorado and Texas after being convicted of domestic violence in a military court. Johnnie Langendorff says he and another man chased after the gunman after he fled the church. Credit:AP Earlier Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, referred to Kelley, who served in the Air Force from 2010 to 2014, as "a very deranged individual" who exhibited signs of mental illness long before he was discharged from the military for "bad conduct" after he was court-martialed for assaulting his wife and their child. He was sentenced to 12 months' jail. Though Kelley applied for a legal permit to carry a gun in the state of Texas, he was denied that permit, Abbott said. It was after that he obtained an assault rifle, authorities said.

Investigators found a .22-caliber Ruger and a 9-mm Glock in Kelley's crashed vehicle. Investigators still don't know if Kelley's military discharge should have barred him from buying guns, said Fred Milanowski, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Houston field office. "In general, if an individual has a dishonourable discharge from the military, they would be prohibited," said Milanowski, adding that the ATF was still awaiting records from the military. Sutherland Springs is a rural farming community about 50 kilometres south-east of San Antonio. As the sun rose on Monday, throngs of reporters had descended on the church, which was still cordoned off with yellow police tape. A large tent had been set up outside. Those killed ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years, authorities said on Monday. Among the victims was the preacher's daughter, 14-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy.

"We were a very close family," her mother, Sherri Pomeroy - who was out of town with her husband when the attack happened - said of the congregation in a televised news conference Monday. "We ate together, we laughed together, we cried and we worshipped together," Pomeroy said. "Now most of our church family is gone. Our building is probably beyond repair ... Our sweet Belle would not have been able to deal with losing so much family yesterday." The 20 others wounded are 5 to 73 years old, officials said. As of Monday, six were stable or had been released from the hospital, four were in serious condition and 10 were in critical condition. "Right now, our hearts are going out to all the family members that have lost family, or have family in the hospital," said Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt. The previous evening, at least 100 people, including Abbott, had gathered for a candlelight vigil near the church. They cried, hugged and prayed.

"This is evil, but all things work for good for those who love the Lord," said George Hill, 60, a resident whose pregnant niece and three of her children were killed in the shooting. "We'll pull together." Despite its pain, the community was resilient and bonded by its deep religious faith, Abbott said Monday after speaking with families of the victims. "You could feel the weight of the room as I began to speak," he said. "But we talked about what they wanted to hear the most. ... The only thing they wanted to talk about was prayer to God, connecting with God, looking to God for healing and for grace. ... You could tell that this was a community that was coming together." US President Donald Trump declared that the mass shooting at a church in Texas that killed at least 26 people was not "a guns situation". "I think that mental health is your problem here," Trump said. "Based on preliminary reports, a very deranged individual, a lot of problems for a long period of time".
Osan: US President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea, the closest he has come to the frontlines of the nuclear stand-off with North Korea, intent on demonstrating his hardline resolve against Kim Jong-un.

Landing at Osan Air Base outside the capital Seoul on Tuesday, Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began his 24-hour state visit with a ceremonial military honour guard arrayed on the airport tarmac.

Trump then visited Camp Humphreys, a US garrison, where he praised cooperation with South Korea and said he planned to address trade issues in discussions with President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.

"There is great cooperation," he said. "We have a terrific meeting scheduled on trade in a little while with President Moon and his representatives. And hopefully that will start working out and working out so that we create a lot of jobs in the United States which is one of the reasons that I'm here."
Sky News might have sacked former Labor leader Mark Latham in March, but he still appears online thanks to a Canadian online media venture driven by a controversial personality Ezra Levant.

Latham has pursued a sometimes controversial career as a political commentator, including at Fairfax Media. His sacking from Sky News came on the heels of several incidents, including calling teenagers who had made a video about feminism "dickheads" and adding "I thought the first guy was gay."

Since April, Latham has found a new home online, Mark Latham's Outsiders, on Rebel Media, the website founded by Levant, a Canadian right-wing activist, in 2015.

Latham didn't respond for a request for comment for this article.
Beijing: Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday with the red carpet rolled out by his hosts for a "state visit plus".

China's attempts to reciprocate the personal touch of Trump's Mar a Lago hospitality, where the US President's grandchildren recited Chinese poetry, in Chinese, to Xi Jinping, will make for a global TV spectacle.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in April. Credit:AP

The cameras will also watch the incongruity of Trump, whom Chinese media politely describe as having a "strong personality", strolling the ancient Forbidden City.

Chinese officials say the Twitter question  will he or won't he, in a land where tweeting is officially banished by the Great Firewall  is resolved. He can.
Danang: The death toll from a typhoon and ensuing floods in Vietnam has surpassed 60 and the government is warning some reservoirs are dangerously near capacity after persistent rain.

Typhoon Damrey tore across central Vietnam at the weekend just days before the region is due to host the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, among them Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, US President Donald Trump, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

People wade through a flooded street of Hoi An ancient town, Vietnam, on Monday. Credit:AP

The Search and Rescue Committee said 61 people had been killed and 28 were missing as of Monday night. Some victims were in vessels that capsized at sea. Others were killed in landslides.

More than 2000 homes had collapsed and more than 80,000 had been damaged, it said.
London: British politics was rocked on Tuesday after a suspended Labour minister in the Welsh parliament was found dead in his house just days after he vowed to clear his name of what he said were "shocking and distressing" but unspecified allegations against him.

North Wales police said they were called to a home in Connah's Quay at around 11.30am, local time, following a report "that the body of a man had been found".

Welsh government minister Carl Sargeant has resigned from his post last week after allegations of misconduct. Credit:AP

"The man has been formally identified as Carl Sargeant," police said in a statement.

"North Wales police are not treating his death as suspicious."
PHILIPSBURG:--- Patrons attending the Portraits and Poetry event, held on Sunday, November 5th, 2017 at the Marigot Waterfront, left feeling inspired and rejuvenated by the display of art, music, and culture they experienced during the three-hour event. Representing the Collectivite of French St. Martin was Honorable Member of Parliament and Vice President of the Tourist Office, Mr. Alex Pierre, who opened with a short address that emphasized the contentment of the French Side being able to collaborate with their Dutch counterparts and the willingness to continue to work together in the future. Following his speech, Honorable Minister Silveria Jacobs echoed the same sentiments and gave an insight into all the events leading up to St. Martin Day and whats in store for the people of St. Martin on November 11th, 2017, which highlights unity of the people of St. Martin.

Artists from both sides of the island took the stage and performed their pieces that reflected not only the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria but the resilience and strength of St. Martin people. Some poets also addressed the current situations happening on both sides of the island in their thought invoking poems. The event had a mixture of poetry, singing, rapping and ended with a hair-raising twenty-minute poetry in motion piece that brought all patrons to their feet. Local professional photographer, Mr. Robin Pieters, was also on site with a spectacular display of photography of St. Maarten before and after Hurricane Irma.

MC and coordinator of the event, Ms. Angelique Romou, closed off the evening with a vote of thanks where a special thank you was given to Esdra Richardson of Poets Lounge who collaborated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport in organizing the events as well as Melissa Fleming who created the Poetry in Motion piece.

This event formed part of the Road to St. Martins Day calendar of events. For this final week leading up to St. Martins day, the emphasis will be placed on tree planting activities within the communities and schools on the island. The Ministry also promises a spectacular St. Martin Day lineup and urges all citizens to keep their eyes and ears open as the team will be flooding the media with information. For more information regarding the 2017 St. Martin Day festivities, please feel free to contact Janelle Presentacion on weekdays at 520-1638 between the hours of 10am and 3pm or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We invite you to visit our website www.sintmaartengov.org to view our program of events for St. Martin Day 2017.

Press Release from the Ministry of ECYS
Huawei Demonstrates IoT Enabled Predictive Maintenance at Huwei eco-Connect Europe 2017

BERLIN, GERMANY  (Marketwired)  11/06/17  Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, hosted Huawei Eco-Connect Europe 2017, where key decision-makers gathered to discuss how we can future-proof digital life & business in Europe. Digital ecosystems and technologies will power this innovation, and open up new possibilities across industries. One key issue for organisations stems from ensuring maintenance processes are fit for purpose today, and into the future.

Maintenance is essential to optimising machine health, but it can be time-consuming, inconvenient, and costly. So, it is vital that maintenance is kept to a minimum.

During the conference, Huawei introduces new technologies that are opening up possibilities for streamlining maintenance processes. Smart organisations are moving beyond preventative towards predictive maintenance  where decisions are data-driven and based on real-time information. The internet of things (IoT) has triggered a data explosion. Data is now continuously collected by these increasingly connected devices. If leveraged effectively, this data can inform predictive maintenance  opening new opportunities for monitoring, analysing and applying generated data. Big data analytics in the cloud can predict faults in industrial and commercial systems, helping to minimise downtime and reduce maintenance costs.

Schindler manufactures, installs, services and modernises elevators, escalators and moving. Their products can be found in buildings throughout the globe, from office buildings and airports, to shopping centers and retail stores. With more than 1 billion people using Schindlers solutions every day, efficient management of its assets is critical. On average, each elevator undergoes two days downtime per year for maintenance. Collectively, that amount of downtime stacks up over time, so Schindler knew they wanted to reduce this.

Schindler worked with Huawei to develop an Internet of Elevators application. This solution transmits elevator data to centrally connect and manage its millions of elevators worldwide. This reduces the need for physical inspections, which in turn significantly reduces equipment maintenance costs. Ultimately, this solution improved service reliability through reducing downtime, which will benefit billions of people around the world who use Schindler products every day.

This type of predictive maintenance can bring benefits for various sectors. Holmer Mechanical Engineering develops, manufactures, and services agricultural machinery. Traditional maintenance techniques could not ensure maximum efficiency for its machinery, so it set about implementing a predictive maintenance solution. Holmer collaborated with various industry partners to install up to 200 sensors in a combine harvester. These sensors collect data and transmit it to the cloud via a Huawei IoT gateway.

This data is then run through Huaweis IoT platform that applies maintenance predictive maintenance logic. Holmer can then pinpoint the problem using the real-time data collected by the sensors in the harvester, so it can quickly perform necessary maintenance. This solution has reduced both fault time and maintenance costs.

Predictive maintenance can transform the lifecycle of industrial machinery, but only if it is leveraged effectively. New technologies are giving visibility to the health of individual equipment components. This means that faults can now be diagnosed remotely, minimising the need for physical inspections. More importantly, faults can be identified before they compromise safety and equipment health. This can help improve workplace health and safety, as well as enabling maintenance to be planned in advance, without the need for urgent repairs.

Maintenance does not have to be inconvenient  adding intelligence to maintenance processing can help businesses improve their productivity, lengthen the lifecycle of equipment, and deliver more reliable equipment to their customers.

Huawei Eco-Connect Europe 2017 was held from October 26th  27th at Berlin City Cube in Berlin, Germany. For more information, please go to:

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huaweis 180,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the worlds population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees. For more information on Huawei, please visit .

Contact:

Sylvie Su

+8675536372160
Avnet accelerates growth of tech startup community in Asia Pacific

Posted by Publisher Hardware

HONG KONG, CHINA  (Marketwired)  11/06/17  continued its ongoing investment in the regions startup community through its participation in the 2017 Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC) as a diamond sponsor.

Frederick Fu, Avnets Asia Pacific president, had the privilege to be one of the judges to evaluate innovative pitches by 100 startups in a 60-second elevator ride up the International Commerce Centre, hosted by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).

At the Angel x Angel Conference, Frederick was joined by a venture capitalist and financial investor to share insights and advice on the support needed, and the critical fundaments for early stage tech companies to overcome their challenges and grow these startups into successful businesses.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic in the technology industry and startups. Avnet presented its LPWAN capabilities at this event, including Sigfox, LoRa, and NB-IoT among others. Avnets ecosystem provides solutions that connect technology from components to devices, services and platforms.

Frederick Fu said, The startup community is not afraid to reinvent the wheel to bring in a new wave of innovation and trends. But they are often challenged by the lack of resources and financial support in getting their products to market. At Avnet, we have invested to develop the connected ecosystem to help startups become the next unicorn. Avnet has a large customer base of startups, which we have guided and supported at every stage of their product lifecycle to turn their designs to production.

The Hong Kong government and organizations such as HKSTP actively promote the development of startups. With Avnets expertise and capabilities, together with partners like HKSTP, we nurture entrepreneurs and technopreneurs. Avnet is committed and will support Hong Kong in becoming one of the worlds top startup cities, he added.

The challenges faced by technology startups have become more complex over time. Apart from technological innovation, they need to develop a viable business model to support their sustainable growth. As a leading institution that takes innovation and technology advancement to our heart, HKSTP will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders like Avnet to create a favorite and vibrant ecosystem for the startups to turn their ideas into reality. EPiC, supported by Avnet, is a great testimonial of our joint determination to help startups thrive and grow, said Albert Wong, CEO, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

From providing a community platform to the know-how, Avnets design and supply capabilities, coupled with its global line card presence, bring prototypes to volume production. The addition of (including its ) and last year expanded Avnets reach to an active community of more than 750,000 entrepreneurs, makers and engineers worldwide, and broadened its portfolio of design tools and technical solutions as well as 24/7 e-commerce expertise. Through its business it is simplifying the manufacturing process  helping customers understand manufacturing costs and schedules, find factories and manage production as they scale their businesses, particularly in projects advancing the Internet of Things (IoT). These initiatives are all underpinned by Avnets electronic components and design and supply chain capabilities encompassing the entire cycle from idea to finished product.

More recently, Avnet and Dragon Innovation partnered Kickstarter to launch , which helps hardware creators plan ahead for manufacturing before they launch on Kickstarter.

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From idea to design and from prototype to production, Avnet supports customers at each stage of a products lifecycle. A comprehensive portfolio of design and supply chain services makes Avnet the go-to guide for innovators who set the pace for technological change. For nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at .

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Yeap Wei Ting

Avnet Asia Pacific

+65.6580.6611
LexisNexis launches dedicated energy sector platform

Posted by Publisher Software

LexisPSL Energy module to support lawyers advising in the energy sector

London, 7th November 2017  LexisNexis UK (www.lexisnexis.co.uk), a leading provider of content and technology solutions, has launched LexisPSL Energy, the UK legal markets first online module dedicated to lawyers advising in the context of the energy sector.

The groundbreaking Energy module is part of LexisPSLs wider strategy to provide lawyers with guidance arranged by sector as well as by practice area.

LexisPSL Energy helps lawyers get to the right answer more quickly, through providing collated content across the breadth of the energy sector. Coverage spans the electricity and upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas arenas, including materials relevant to conventional and unconventional oil and gas, flexible capacity, renewable energy, nuclear energy, energy networks, and energy supply.

The structure of the platform recognises the wide range of contexts in which legal advice relating to the energy sector is given, with over 50 subtopics structured around project type, regulatory structures, and practice area providing a user-friendly way into content for all users.

Uniquely, the LexisPSL Energy subtopics curate over 200 bespoke practice notes, precedents, checklists, toolkits/trackers, overviews and Q&As alongside legislation; links to industry codes, rules, licences and guidance; and news updates and analysis from external legal experts and LexisPSL legal teams.

Nicola Johns, Head of LexisPSLs Built Environment group, said: We are listening to our customers and innovating. As sector focus becomes the most prevalent way of doing business, lawyers need to arm themselves with sector knowledge to stay up to date and understand their clients businesses.

Elaborating on Johns comment, Matthew Brow, Energy Lawyer for LexisPSL Energy, explained: The energy sector continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. Technological progress and the growing political focus on the sector means that lawyers need to be well equipped to advise clients in the context of evolving regulations, transaction types and challenges. LexisPSL Energy provides lawyers with a unique platform that gives them rapid access to the primary resources as well as to the robust and forward looking practical guidance that they need to advise their clients.

Other sectors covered by LexisPSL include TMT, Information Law, Insurance and Reinsurance and Life Sciences.

LexisNexis launched LexisPSL in the UK in 2005 to provide the legal profession with practical guidance that would complement the global companys long-established legal resource, LexisLibrary.

Find more information at lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/energy/home
Structure Research to Host the Inaugural infra // STRUCTURE Summit

Posted by Publisher Hardware

TORONTO, ON  (Marketwired)  11/07/17  , an independent research and consulting firm focused on cloud and data centers, today announces it will host the first annual conference, taking place June 13-14, 2018, at the in Toronto. The vendor-neutral event will provide cloud and data center executives throughout the industry with a wide range of educational, networking and business development opportunities.

infra // STRUCTURE is a new summit focused on the next-generation ecosystem emerging around public cloud and infrastructure services. The event will feature a compelling agenda of relevant and thought-provoking presentations, and offer C-level and senior executives a venue at which to connect, and collaborate with new partners and meet business prospects in a single location.

The cloud and data center community needs a vendor-neutral event that brings together the many disparate parts of the infrastructure ecosystem for high-value networking and business development, says Philbert Shih, Managing Director, Structure Research. Legacy events have simply not kept to pace with the rapidly shifting currents of the industry, and infra // STRUCTURE is being developed to rectify that situation and chart a new course.

infra // STRUCTURE will feature Structure Researchs findings, data and perspectives on the current and future trajectory of the cloud and data center infrastructure industry. The summits educational sessions will provide attendees with timely research and information designed to shape the conversation throughout the cloud and data center community.

Registration for this premiere data center and cloud focused event will open in January 2018. For sponsorship opportunities, please email Candice Rodriguez at . To schedule an analyst meeting with Structure Research, please email Phil Shih at .

For more information about the event, visit .

Structure Research is an independent research and consulting firm with a specific focus on the cloud, hosting and data center segments within the internet infrastructure market. We are devoted to understanding, tracking and projecting the future of infrastructure service providers. Our mission is to publish the best research and analysis, and supply the most comprehensive data sets about the internet infrastructure services market. We provide the information and perspective necessary to make accurate strategic decisions.

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Philbert Shih

+1.647.822.1404.
CrowdStreet Gains Momentum as it Delivers on Vision of Expanding Access to Commercial Real Estate Investing

PORTLAND, OR  (Marketwired)  11/07/17  , provider of the leading commercial real estate investment platform for investor acquisition and relationship management, is making its commercial real estate investment marketplace for sponsors and investors a reality. CrowdStreet, a pioneer in this space, is putting the power in the hands of consumers and providing investors with a superior way to build wealth through commercial real estate. Historically, investors have been unable to directly invest in commercial real estate offerings and have paid exorbitant fees to access market offerings. At the same time, the developer and operator community, known as sponsors, have had to rely on spreadsheets and manual processes to manage their investor base, which has hampered their ability to scale and grow. With offerings for both investors and sponsors, CrowdStreet has created efficiencies that break down these barriers for commercial real estate investing, significantly reducing fees and lowering the time it takes to close transactions.

With its innovative integrated online investor marketplace and software as a service (SaaS)-based investment lifecycle management solution, CrowdStreet has increased investment dollars managed on its platform by 4x, reaching $4.2 billion in 2017, and doubled the number of investors year-over-year to more than 61,000. These results signify a major shift in confidence in online commercial real estate investing as this illustrates.

Individuals have become accustomed to leveraging the internet to make investments and track their progress. But there wasnt a comparable platform for those interested in investing directly in commercial real estate, said CrowdStreet CEO Tore Steen. Technology and automation is making it possible for the commercial real estate market to now join other financial sectors. CrowdStreets platform is playing a key role in this transformation, enabling companies to attract a wider base of potential investors, lower the hurdles to investing for investors, and drive greater efficiency in the commercial real estate funding lifecycle.

During the past year, CrowdStreet has launched new products and features that have helped propel usage of its platform, increased opportunities for firms to expand their universe of potential investors and generated significant returns, while improving the user experience for investors:

A complete user interface revamp providing a premium user experience.

New features and a modern user experience that provide more tools for relationship management and investor engagement, enabling firms to better manage the investment lifecycle.

Powerful and modernized email tools, such as HTML emails, secured attachments and delivery statistics, which enable sponsors to better engage with investors.

Multi-signer DocuSign support and online ACH payment processing speed up the time to close.

Digitizing document distribution improves investor engagement and saves firms time and money.

In 2017, CrowdStreets technology platform has seen more than $745 million distributed back to investors, a 3x increase from $245 million last year. The marketplace investment run rate also grew by over 3x reaching $250 million of equity raised his year, compared to $76 million in 2016.

New laws enabling commercial real estate companies to use the internet to market directly to investors have dropped barriers to entry, resulting in significantly reduced fees for direct-to-investor models. An internet-based platform, like CrowdStreets, offers companies an efficient way to extend their reach and draw in new investors at lower minimums and lower costs, while providing access for more people to invest in commercial real estate projects. This new model removes the middleman, which reduces costs and provides an unprecedented degree of deal transparency.

A recent case in point is KBS, one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate companies in the United States, which recently announced its direct-to-investor online platform  KBSDirect.com  for accredited investors and advisors, powered by CrowdStreets software platform. KBS is applying CrowdStreets technology with KBSs 25-year history and $34 billion-plus track-record of acquiring and managing institutional real estate assets to offer the $500 million KBS Growth & Income REIT directly to investors and their advisors. KBS Growth & Income REIT already owns nearly $150 million in commercial office properties in Portland, Ore.; Irvine, Calif.; and Houston, Texas; and has more acquisitions pending.

We are very pleased to have worked with CrowdStreet on KBSDirect.com in making KBS Growth & Income REIT available for direct investment by accredited investors and their advisors in a professionally managed portfolio of institutional-quality commercial real estate assets with no loads or upfront fees, said KBS CEO Chuck Schreiber. Across almost every investment sector, online platforms have increased transparency and reduced transaction costs. Now, by combining the innovative structure of KBS Growth & Income REIT with new technology, we have been able to do the same for the commercial real estate sector.

CrowdStreet, the only company offering solutions for both investors and sponsors, continues to add to its strong foundation, which will help it maintain its market leadership and meet current and potential market demands. Today, the company also the appointment of two new senior executives and the formation of an advisory board, which is comprised of members with broad industry expertise who will offer strategic guidance to support CrowdStreets continued growth.

Direct investing in commercial real estate is inevitable, and technology platforms like CrowdStreets will enable it to scale on a global basis, said Christopher Keber, a former senior managing director at Hines who is now a CrowdStreet advisory board member and serves as head of investments and strategy at McCourt Global. CrowdStreet is getting better sponsors and better offerings, which attracts more, high-quality investors. The platform is an amazing way for investors to get access to assets of this type, which was previously unavailable to them.

is a financial technology (fintech) company that is transforming the $15 trillion U.S commercial real estate industry through its innovative and integrated approach to online fundraising and investor lifecycle management. CrowdStreet solutions allow real estate developers and operators to accelerate their fundraising processes while achieving enhanced visibility and control over all aspects of investor relations and lifecycle management. Sponsors are able to use the CrowdStreet Marketplace to gain instant access to a nationwide audience of accredited investors. Enterprise-level sponsors are able to present investment offerings to their existing investors under their brand and through their own website by deploying CrowdStreet Sponsor Direct. Both solutions democratize access to commercial real estate investment opportunities by connecting accredited investors, family offices and institutions directly with real estate sponsors for no-fee co-investing with a modern digital portfolio management experience. Headquartered in Portland, Ore., CrowdStreet was founded in 2013 by a senior leadership team with over 80 years of combined experience in commercial real estate, software development and private equity. For more information, please visit .

Theresa Maloney

Cogenta Communications

415-225-5261
Savvius Ships Omnipeek 11.1

WALNUT CREEK, CA  (Marketwired)  11/07/17  , the leader in actionable network visibility, today made available  11.1, the companys best-in-class software for network performance monitoring and diagnostics. Omnipeek 11.1 enhances Voice and Video Flow Visualizer with new graphs for Jitter and R-CQ. It now generates detailed VoIP reports that identify quality distribution, quality of service, jitter, call problems, and more. Version 11.1 improves performance of Savvius Omnipliance and Omnipliance Ultra with faster forensic searches and by supporting the 64-bit Linux XFS file system. XFS offers Guaranteed Rate I/O (GRIO), improving capture-to-disk (CTD) performance.

Version 11.1 is available now in all Omnipeek configurations: Enterprise, Professional, and Connect, and for all models of Omnipliance and Omnipliance Ultra. Contact your Savvius for details.

Savvius sets the standard for actionable network visibility with software and appliance offerings relied on by leading enterprises around the globe. Trusted by network professionals at over 6,000 companies in 60 countries, Savvius solutions provide unparalleled insight into network performance with real-time analysis and seamless packet capture. Learn more: visit us at and follow Savvius on , and .

Mark Chisholm

+1-253-444-5477

Susie Taylor

+44-788-608-9041

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Kerryn Nelson

+ 61-3-9785-3050
The Prince of Peace Parish is hosting a piano recital by Diego Delvalle, a visiting Paraguayan music professor, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at St. Adalbert Church.

The evening will feature 40 minutes of Paraguayan classical piano music.

Mr. Delvalle teaches at two music schools in Paraguay, one of which is very poor. The Music Conservatory in Pilar, Paraguay, has no pianos for their students to use. Only a few electric keyboards are available to them. Pittsburgh Festival Opera is assisting Diego in fundraising, and shipping second hand pianos to the school

All are welcome to attend the recital. There is no admission fee, but a free will offering will be taken. Donations of playable used musical instruments are also appreciated and may be brought to the recital.
Jose Irizarry accepts that hes known as the most corrupt agent in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration history, admitting he became another man in conspiring with Colombian cartels to build a lavish lifestyle of expensive sportscars, Tiffany jewels and paramours around...
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The Kansas Royals confirmed Monday that the club will give qualifying offers to free agents Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain, ensuring some level of compensation should those players sign elsewhere this offseason.

All three players have 10 days to accept or decline the qualifying offer, according to the terms of the latest collective-bargaining agreements. All three players are among the top free agents on the market this winter and will almost certainly decline, which will send them to the open market.

The qualifying offer for 2018 is a one-year contract at $17.4 million.

The Star reported the Royals desire to hand out three qualifying offers last week. The club had nine players become free agents in the last week, including reliever Mike Minor, who declined his half of a mutual option for 2018.

The Royals are not expected to extend qualifying offers to Minor, starting pitcher Jason Vargas or shortstop Alcides Escobar. Outfielder Melky Cabrera and right-handed pitcher Trevor Cahill are not eligible because they were traded midseason. The other free agent is reliever Peter Moylan.

So if Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain decline the qualifying offer, why is it important? Because it will set the Royals up to gain three additional draft picks in 2018 if all three players leave.

Lets review the compensation rules: The Royals will receive a compensatory, or additional, draft pick following the first round if a player declines a qualifying offer and signs a contract of more than $50 million. If the player declines the Scholarship Organization has made more than $10,000 in scholarships and in-kind funds available to more than 50 young women throughout South Carolina.

Winners of the annual Miss South Carolina competition are eligible to compete in the Miss America competition held every September in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

For more information, contact Angela Clark at 407-353-3244, by email at info@thecrowngroup1.com or visit www.thecrowngroup1.com.Scholarship Organization has made more than $10,000 in scholarships and in-kind funds available to more than 50 young women throughout South Carolina.

Winners of the annual Miss South Carolina competition are eligible to compete in the Miss America competition held every September in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

For more information, contact Angela Clark at 407-353-3244, by email at info@thecrowngroup1.com or visit www.thecrowngroup1.com.offer and signs for less it is a second-round comp pick.
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To fans, Miley Cyrus will always be Hannah Montana, Adam Brody will always be Seth Cohen from "The O.C.," and Robert Pattinson will always be a vampire.

However, for an actor taking on various characters, looks and motivations for different parts, sometimes it be hard to break away from the roles that defined the.
Think of it as a high-brow version of American Idol or The Voice.

For the past year, the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra has been looking for a new music director, but in a very public way by having the four finalists each oversee a concert in front of an audience.

Two of the candidates conducted last season, one led the orchestra last month and another, Eric Mahl, will be the final auditioner on Dec. 3. The RSO will announce the name of the next music director in January. (The ensembles previous conductor, Gerald Steichen, resigned last year to lead the Macon Symphony in Georgia.)

Everyone is getting to have their say, RSO executive director Laurie Kenagy says of the feedback after each concert. Weve sent out surveys to all of our patrons after each concert. One also goes to our musicians and the board fills one out, too. It has been very exciting because the feedback has been tremendous.

Connecticut is in a time of transition in local classical musical organizations, with the orchestras in Stamford and New Haven also presenting public auditions for new leaders. The process is one part of a broader attempt by orchestras to generate more excitement, to create new, younger audiences and to make concerts into experiences you wont be able to have at home listening to recordings or watching YouTube clips.

These days, conductors have to be more than musical leaders of an orchestra; they must also communicate with the audience and potential new subscribers.

Musicianship and skill has to be a given, Kenagy explains of the talent hunt. But other things have to come across too. Can you stand and talk about music in an entertaining and sincere manner? Can you run master classes for kids?

Norwalk Symphony Orchestra music director Jonathan Yates, who is in his sixth season of leading the organization, says since the decline of music education in elementary and high schools, conductors are compelled to communicate with the audience at every concert.

What people are really hungry for now is to be engaged and informed, Yates says. People tend to come into a concert hall with less (musical) exposure than they did 30 or 40 years ago. You can either be depressed by that fact or treat it as an opportunity.

Fortunately, I love to babble about music, he adds, laughing.

Kenagy says longtime New York Philharmonic leader Leonard Bernstein was way ahead of his time 50 years ago when he presented special young peoples concerts and talked about each piece being played. At that time in the early 1960s, great orchestras around the country were led by somewhat forbidding men like Eugene Ormandy, of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Georg Solti in Chicago, who focused almost all of their energy on the music.

(Bernstein) was one of the first who could communicate with the musicians and the audience, Kenagy says. We find in all of our surveys that audiences want the conductor to speak to them. To connect with them beyond the conducting. This is even more important with younger audiences because they want to have an experience  they want to feel connected when they go to a concert.

Yates says his three-word mantra before each performance is Engage, engage, engage.

The answers are many and sometimes challenging, the conductor says of trying to build audiences for classical music in the 21st century. He has no time for nostalgic snobs who sneer at such recent crowd-pleasing special events as the New York Philharmonic playing the West Side Story score live while the 1961 film was projected behind the ensemble. It is incumbent on every music director to come up with their own ideas on how to make a concert an experience.

In the Ormandy and Solti eras, conductors tended to stay in one job for decades, shaping orchestras to their own particular musical tastes, with the result being a distinctive sound and repertoire for each ensemble. Now music directors can travel the globe with ease and move from one job to another after much shorter stints.

Kenagy says it would be tough for any one conductor to influence the RSO the way the Bernsteins and Ormandys shaped their orchestras. For one thing we only have four or five concerts a year.

But the leadership of the RSO is expecting their new music director to help the orchestra go to the next level. (Changes in) rehearsal style and programming (will have a major impact).

After each of the candidates appearances, the musicians have been asked a key question: Do you think he or she is the right fit?

The orchestra-conductor relationship is interesting, Kenagy says. But it comes down to two things with the musicians: raising the overall level (of the RSO) and to be treated respectfully.

jmeyers@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @joesview
In honor of Veterans Day, Entrepreneur is highlighting the work of former military entrepreneurs who are building their own businesses, chasing their dreams, and kicking a whole lot of ass in the process. (Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Who are you and what is your business?

I am Andrew Weins and I am the owner and operator of the Menomonee Falls, WI territory of JDog Junk Removal & Hauling. I also own and oversee territories in northern Chicagoland and San Diego. JDog is a national company that awards franchise territories exclusively to military veterans and veteran family members -- people who understand the notion of service to our country, hard work, and dedication.

How many people do you employ?

I currently employ 20 full-time employees and two part-time employees.

What branch did you serve?

I have served overseas in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During my deployment to Iraq, I took part in 93 combat missions. I am currently serving in the United States Army Reserves as an Army Career Counselor with the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Related: Why Being Early to Meetings Is Hurting Your Reputation, According To This Green Beret

Tell us about your proudest moment while serving.

I cant say that there was a single moment, but as a platoon sergeant, it is the overall pride that comes from watching young soldiers develop into respectable, honest and good people. At the end of the day, I have more appreciation for being able to make an impact on someones life than I have for helping to liberate Iraq in one war. Its the reason that I am still in the Army Reserves as an Army Career Counselor. I love it because I still have that romantic idea that what I do is for the greater good. How you impact those around you is really whats important.

What did being in the military teach you about risk in business?

Being in the military taught me to risk it all early and to risk it all often. No matter how hard business gets, we are all coming home every night. The same isnt always true overseas. Overseas, you give up your freedom to protect other people -- it sounds ridiculous in theory, but its who you become afterward that makes it all worth it. I used to look death in the face daily, so those experiences have certainly prepared me to take risks. I know that no matter how bad things get, I always have to keep pushing forward.

As an entrepreneur, I have to put everything at risk every day. Its remarkably easy to continue doing what youve done the day before and the day before that, but I have learned that if youre not willing to take a risk, then you will stop growing and you will not be successful.

What does the word entrepreneur mean to you?

To me, an entrepreneur is someone who is willing to work 80 hours a week for themselves before working 40 hours a week for someone else -- at half the pay. Entrepreneurship is at the core of what we do as Americans. Entrepreneurship is not a job or a title. Its a feeling and a lifestyle more than anything.

Related: The One Trick This Navy SEAL Used to Turn Failure Into Success

How do you balance work and life?

People ask me all the time -- do you ever not work? And frankly, the answer is no. An entrepreneur has to be ready to work at all times -- even if that means working at 9 p.m. on any given night. Im not saying that entrepreneurs put their work before their families, but they do find a way to make both work together hand in hand. Sometimes when I pick up my three-year-old daughter Ill drop by the yard to check in on the business. But I dont do it just for the business, I also do it because my daughter loves seeing my guys and they love seeing her. We drive massive camouflage Jeeps, Hummers, and trucks -- so my daughter gets so excited to see what she calls my dog dog Jeep. So, Ive learned to include my family in my work and Ive created a balanced relationship between the two.

Related: Check Out This CIA Operative's 9-Step Hotel Safety Checklist

What motivates you?

An entrepreneur has the freedom to create his or her own work environment. So when I see something that I am working on succeed, Im motivated to push forward and launch myself into whats coming next.

What should people understand about what theyll get when they hire a vet, or go into to business with a Veteran entrepreneur?

Frankly, veterans have a greater threshold for pain and bullshit. The worst day in business will never be as bad as the worst days of war. Veterans are extremely loyal because they know what worse looks like. For me, I understand that snipers had worse days in Afghanistan than they would have in a day of hauling junk. So my interviews usually sound like this: Whats your name? and When can you start?

Related: How the Memory of His Fallen Brothers Powers Dakota Meyers Passion

Describe your leadership style.

My employees, vendors and customers know that I am very direct and transparent. Ive been described as the tall loud guy who looks angry and swears a lot. Thats pretty accurate, but aside from my tough exterior, I am willing to take the time to explain things and willing to go the extra mile to be flexible with my employees. My passion for what I do is what ultimately brings me success. I genuinely love what I do -- it would be amazing if everyone felt the way that I felt about my job.

Is there a quote or saying that inspires you?

I have a few quotes to live by. One I like is, Never neglect an opportunity for improvement. It is written on a sign that has been hanging in my parents kitchen for years. It taught me to realize that once Ive gotten out of the kill zone, then I need to take the time to reflect and learn from my experience. How many times do we see opportunities and walk away from them? Every experience is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Related Video: The Secret Business of Training Navy SEALs

Related:

The 10 Best Career Paths for Veterans After Leaving the Military

This Military Vet-Turned-Fintech Entrepreneur Uses Education and Communication to Grow His Business

SpaceX Wins Contract to Make US Missile Tracking Satellites



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Combat veteran Sen. Joni Ernst says her experience in Kuwait and Iraq didnt prepare her for what she experienced on a fact-finding trip to a naval flight station.

It was a terrifying experience for me. Ill be honest about that, Ernst, who retired from service as an Iowa Army National Guard lieutenant colonel after 23 years, said Tuesday about participating in flight training exercises at Naval Station Norfolk to learn about physiological episodes jet fighter pilots experience.

It wasnt just the death by PowerPoint presentations Ernst sat through before passing a swim test in flight gear and flying along as a Navy pilot practiced landing an F-18 Super Hornet on an aircraft carrier.

Ernst made the trip over the past weekend to gain more information in support of her amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. It would require the Secretary of the Navy to provide quarterly updates on the progress of the Navys Physiological Episode Team and their efforts to combat physiological episodes in jets.

According to the Navy, physiological episodes occur when aircrew experience a decrease in performance due to the cabin pressure fluctuations, contamination of breathing air or other factors in the flight environment.

The experience changed her mind about the reports of flight students refusing to fly because of the physiological effects of flight at supersonic speeds.

When I heard reports of students refusing to fly it was like, Shame on them,  Ernst told reporters on a conference call. However, after going through oxygen deprivation simulations and the flights, the chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee said she understands it is a very real thing.

To learn what pilots sometimes experience, Ernst donned an oxygen mask and her oxygen level was reduced to simulate hypoxia  a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

My face got hot and flushed. My fingers started tingling and got numb. My legs started tingling. It was very hard to concentrate, Ernst said. It was horrible.

She experienced nothing like that while leading the Iowa Army National Guard 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait and southern Iraq and serving as a protection detail outside Camp Arifjan in Kuwait in 2003 and 2004.

Sandstorms were the worst thing ... and then you just pulled over on the side of the road, Ernst said with a laugh.

Her experience put the physiological effects in perspective.

One. Im not an aviator, but to be flying a high-dollar jet at supersonic speed to go through an episode like that and know how to respond to that and land safely or get to a point where you can get the appropriate level of oxygen, it was a very good demonstration, Ernst said.

Learning how to prevent hypoxia and how to deal with it are important for the safety of pilots, as well as the very expensive jets they fly, Ernst said.

So, one, if we can save a life, and, two, if we can save the equipment, we have to do it, she said.

It was important to experience the physiological impact firsthand, Ernst said, so she can tell others this is a very real issue and weve got to get it fixed.

Were going to stay on top of this until we find a fix, Ernst said, adding she believes all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee support her amendment.
CLEAR LAKE | The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce is holding a program to educate its members on the challenges of keep Iowa's water clean and healthy.

The program is 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, at the Best Western Holiday Lodge.

Jennifer Terry, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, will be the speaker. The council is made up of 70 non-partisan organizations statewide that advocate for clean water.

The luncheon program is $20 per person.
MASON CITY | Mason City man was arrested Sunday after strangling a known woman and threatening to kill her in October if she called police.

Jacob Daniel Johnson, 28, is accused of beating a known woman in the 600 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue around 9 a.m. Oct. 19.

According to court documents, Johnson allegedly assaulted the victim by hitting her face several times with his hand and placing his hands around her throat, causing pain and redness as he attempted to cut off her airway.

Johnson has a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic assault of another person, police say.

When the victim was going to call 911 during the assault, the defendant told the victim not to call because he would kill her, court documents said.

Johnson ran from two plainclothes police officers in the 600 block of North Pennsylvania Avenue around 8:57 p.m. Sunday.

Johnson ran after the officers identified themselves, court documents say. The officers gave chase, and one fell down during the foot chase, resulting in a scrape on his left elbow.

Police caught Johnson in the 200 block of Seventh Avenue Northeast.

Johnson has been charged with domestic abuse assault strangulation, first-degree harassment, interference with official acts  bodily injury and fraudulent practice.

He was also wanted for a fraudulent practice charge Oct. 7 involving food services.

Johnson is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $9,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Cerro County District Court on Nov. 16.

 Courtney Fiorini
MASON CITY | A Mason City woman was arrested Friday night for methamphetamine and hiding a glass pipe in her bra.

Jayanna Long, 58, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance  third or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, Mason City police arrested Long 8:32 p.m. Friday at her residence in the 200 block of Fifth Street Northeast.

Long attempted to conceal two small baggies of meth by kicking them underneath her kitchen table, police wrote in the criminal complaint.

Police also found her in possession of a glass pipe used to smoke meth, which they say was hidden in her bra.

Long is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $9,000 bond, which includes charges from a previous incident. No court date has been set.

 Courtney Fiorini
A teacher has been placed on leave after a racial slur was used by students acting out a scene in a social studies class at West Iredell High School.
To be considered on time and to avoid late penalties, mailed payments for 2022 tax bills must be postmarked by the USPS on or before December 31st 2022. All mail in this area goes to a St. Louis facility to be postmarked. Dropping a letter in the mail in the last few days of December,
MASON CITY | A man is charged with two counts of first-degree murder after two bodies were found in a Mason City home Tuesday.

Codie Matz, 25, of Mason City, had been taken into custody about 3 p.m. and was charged in the evening. He is held without bond. No court date has been set.

MASON CITY | A man considered to be a witness in the deaths of two people found in a Mason City home Tuesday is in custody, police said Tuesday afternoon.

The Mason City Police Department announced Codie Matz, 25, of Mason City, had been taken into custody about 3 p.m. He was later charged with two counts of first-degree murder and held without bail in the Cerro Gordo County Jail. An initial court date has not been set.

Two bodies were discovered during a welfare check of a home in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest about 7:43 a.m., the department said in a news release Tuesday morning. Police have not identified the people who died.

Police asked for public's help in locating Matz, who had not been seen since 8 a.m. Tuesday.

He was believed to have been heading south from Mason City, Cedar Falls Police Chief Jeff Olson confirmed. Matz had contacts in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area, Olson said, but his department didnt have any contact with him Tuesday.

Matz was taken into custody in Bondurant, KCCI-TV reported Tuesday afternoon. Bondurant is located in Polk County and is a northeastern suburb of Des Moines.

Matz lived in the single-story blue house in southwest Mason City, according to court documents. The house, which is located across the street from the former Madison School property, was surrounded by yellow police tape Tuesday morning.

A neighbor confirmed the home is owned by an older married couple. The Globe Gazette is withholding the names of the homeowners, as police havent identified the people found dead in the house.

Letha Markwardt has lived in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest since the mid-1960s. She said she has talked to the couple in passing, who she said were "always very nice."

Markwardt also met Matz, who she said was "cordial" to her.

She said it was tragic and shocking to hear what happened in her neighborhood.

"This area has had its difficulties, but you just don't think this would happen," Markwardt said late Tuesday morning.

She woke up around 5 a.m., and noticed police activity at her neighbors' single-story blue house around 7 or 7:30 a.m., she said.

I didnt know what was going on, but I didnt think it could be good, Markwardt said.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who is investigating with the Mason City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, arrived on the scene about 12:45 p.m.

Several social media posts and comments claimed the Mason City Family YMCA, located about a mile from the house where the bodies were found, was on lock down Tuesday morning. The Globe Gazette confirmed with the Mason City YMCA that it was never on lock down.

Police said they will release more information as the investigation continues.

Previous story:

MASON CITY | A man considered to be a witness in the deaths of two people found in a Mason City home Tuesday is in custody, police said Tuesday afternoon.

Mason City Police Department announced Codie Matz, 25, of Mason City, has been taken into custody. Matz has not been charged with a crime. Police said Matz is being transported back to Cerro Gordo County.

Police said they will release more information as the investigation continues. They have not identified the two people who died.

Previous story:

MASON CITY | The house where police found two bodies Tuesday morning is owned by an older married couple, a neighbor confirmed.

Letha Markwardt has lived in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest since the mid-1960s. She said she has talked to the couple in passing, who she said were "always very nice."

Police have not released the identities of the bodies found inside the house.

"This area has had its difficulties, but you just don't think this would happen," Markwardt said late Tuesday morning. Police said the bodies were discovered during a welfare check about 7:43 a.m., but haven't provided any further information.

She woke up around 5 a.m., and noticed police activity at her neighbors' single-story blue house around 7 or 7:30 a.m., she said.

The house, which is located across the street from the former Madison School property, is surrounded by yellow police tape. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrived on scene about 12:45 p.m.

Markwardt had also met Codie Matz, who she said was "cordial" to her. Police say Matz, a Mason City resident, is wanted as a "material witness in the ongoing situation."

Matz, 25, was last seen the Mason City area around 8 a.m. Tuesday, police said. He may be in a dark green 1996 Chrysler Sebring with Iowa license plate LE007 and may be armed, according to police.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636.

Several social media posts and comments claimed the Mason City Family YMCA, located about a mile from the house where the bodies were found, was on lock down this morning. The Globe Gazette confirmed with the Mason City YMCA that it was never on lock down.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more information.

Previous story:

MASON CITY | Two bodies were discovered Tuesday morning during a welfare check at a residence in southwest Mason City, according to police.

The Mason City Police Department said in a news release the bodies, who have not been identified, were discovered during a check of a home in the 300 block of 27th Street Southwest about 7:43 a.m.

The single-story blue house, which was surrounded by police tape, is owned by a male and female with the same last name, according to online property records. It is located across the street from the former Madison School property.

Police are asking for the public's help in locating Codie Michael Matz, a 25-year-old white male from Mason City. Matz is wanted as a "material witness in the ongoing situation," police said.

Matz may be in a dark green 1996 Chrysler Sebring with Iowa license plate LE007, police said, and may be armed.

He was last seen in the Mason City area around 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the police department at 641-421-3636.

The deaths are being investigated by the Mason City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more information.
President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that a significant delay in the amendments to the tax legislation would be required, adding that the January 1, 2018 deadline for their application is inopportune.

"We have all seen that besides the initiators, everyone is against these changes. I think anyone who wants to make so wide changes and sees that no one wants to go along should pause and think. It requires a significant delay, at the very least, a very well-grounded study, and then things can be discussed peacefully. I think it is totally inopportune to aim for January 1, 2018 as the implementation deadline," Iohannis said after attending a gala of the Association of Romania's Municipalities hosted by the Athenaeum in Bucharest, according agerpres.ro.

He reiterated that the amendments to the tax legislation represent a fiscal and budgetary "cavorting" of the Government.

"I think you remember that a few days ago, last week, I showed my whole skepticism about the changes in the tax legislation. I called this PSD behaviour cavorting in the tax and budget area and everything I have seen on television and all I heard today confirms that my assessment was as accurate as possible. I would have preferred to see today a Government determined to make serious assessments, to come up with real-world simulations to see if these measures are really the best or not; I did not see that, I saw instead meetings between the same politicians who came out with the same opinions," said Iohannis.

He added that he had not talked with Prime Minister Mihai Tudose.
Some area cardiologists say a landmark study released last week wont change the way they practice, but it will help them to inform some patients about the need for a stent.

A study of 200 patients in the United Kingdom is raising questions about the effectiveness of stents for certain patients who experience chest pain because of a clogged artery.

Since its release on Thursday, the study has had medical professionals buzzing as the results challenge the need for stents, tiny devices that have become overused, according to some physicians.

Stents are tiny mesh tubes that are threaded into a clogged artery and used to prop open the artery to improve blood flow to the heart. When blood flow is blocked it can cause chest pain and limit a patients activities.

The study compared how chest pain improved for stable patients who received a stent and those who did not. What made the study novel was that some patients underwent a sham procedure, according to the study, published in The Lancet.

The study showed that stents are no more effective than other treatments, including medications, at relieving chest pain, said Dr. David Brown, a professor and cardiologist at Washington University School of Medicine who was one of the authors of an editorial published in the Lancet about the study.

Although the 200 patients underwent similar procedures, some received stents and some did not. The authors said it was a way to ensure against the placebo effect. Previous studies did not have a control group, or a set of patients who went without treatment, in this case a stent.

The patients and providers did not know who received the stents and who did not.

Six weeks after the procedure, participants were evaluated to see how those who had stents fared compared with those without stents.

In one important measure, the study found that time on the treadmill before experiencing chest pain was no different for those with stents and those without them.

Thats a very important finding, Brown said.

I find it significant that patients symptoms dont get better after a stent for angina, or chest pain, he said.

Its significant, he said, because stents are overused and theres a prevailing belief that stents are more effective in improving chest pain than other therapies, such as medications.

The editorial accompanying the study said the findings challenged what had become a routine, ingrained and profitable procedure in the U.S.

But other cardiologists said it was important to understand the nuances.

Dr. Michael Lim, an interventional cardiologist at St. Louis University Hospital, said it is important to note that the study was focused on a very specific set of patients with coronary artery disease.

It analyzed patients who had only one blocked artery, Lim said. That group is a very small portion of the patients he sees in a given year.

The study estimated that 500,000 individuals worldwide fit the category of a stable patient with one blockage.

The study did not assess patients who are considered unstable because of a heart attack or patients with multiple blockages.

Whats important for patients to know, Lim said, is that there is no cure for coronary artery disease, so patients and doctors weigh the options available to improve the patients quality of life, which can include a stent.

This study allows doctors to give more information to patients during that conversation about the benefits, Lim said.

In other words, the study shows that patients fared just as well with either treatment option  a stent or no stent.

That is the beauty (of this study), we can actually tell people that now, Lim said.

Brown, the Washington University professor, said the study armed patients with more and important information. Now, they know they may not do any better if they elect to have a stent.

But Brown said patients currently with a stent should not worry. No one should feel like they have this ticking time bomb in their chest, Brown said. But the study may give them an answer as to why a stent didnt alleviate their chest pain, he said.

Dr. Anthony Sonn, an interventional cardiologist with Mercy, said he found the study interesting but not a revelation. His practice already has metrics in place to determine whether a stent is appropriate.

And in some cases, even if there is one blockage, depending on its location, using a stent would not be appropriate.

This is idea provoking and we need to study this further, Sonn said of the studys findings.

Brown agrees.

If it doesnt work for a milder form of the disease, why would you expect it to work for a more severe form? Brown said of the difference between one blockage and multiple blockages.
BRUSSELS  France on Tuesday asked its European partners to agree on curbing international funding of states that provide tax shelters, following the huge leak of documents showing the tax affairs of the rich and famous. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, ahead of a meeting of European Union peers, called for a "credible" blacklist to be drawn up of tax havens and for sanctions for those who do not cooperate.

Talks on a blacklist, initially planned for December, were brought forward by the EU ministers after media reports citing the "Paradise Papers," a trove of financial reports leaked mostly from Appleby, a prominent offshore law firm.

Though tax avoidance is legal in many circumstances, the papers have dragged in famous names, including Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

The documents were obtained by Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and some media outlets. Reuters has not independently verified them.

Le Maire called for the EU to look at the funding of countries that provide shelter.

"We are thinking, for instance, about the possibility of cutting financial support of the international institutions like the IMF (International Monetary Fund) or the World Bank on the states that would not provide the needed information on tax," he told reporters before the meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels.

He said he would present these proposals to his EU counterparts on Tuesday.

The debate is part of a new EU effort to contrast tax havens, as ministers consider setting up an EU blacklist of offshore jurisdictions that do not cooperate on tax matters.

The EU has been working for more than a year on the common blacklist that would replace largely toothless national lists. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has called for sanctions for countries in the list, without giving details on the possible measures.

But some states remain cautious about the project.

Luxembourg's Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna said on Tuesday that blacklisting countries "is always a difficult exercise" and stressed all EU countries needed to agree on the plan. Other EU tax reforms have collapsed in past years because of opposition from some member states.

Blacklist

Le Maire said an existing list of tax havens compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a global group of mostly rich nations, was not enough to counter tax avoidance.

The OECD list currently includes only Trinidad and Tobago. By contrast, the European Commission is currently screening about 50 countries that may not respect EU criteria on tax cooperation.

The final number is likely to be much lower than that, if an EU blacklist were agreed, officials said.

Many of Britain's Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, such as Guernsey and Bermuda, were subject to an initial screening by the EU Commission of 81 countries and jurisdictions deemed at risk of breeching EU criteria on tax transparency.

The inclusion of these territories in an EU blacklist may further complicate relations with Britain, as the country negotiates its divorce from the EU.

Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop.
WASHINGTON  During the eight years of President Barack Obama's administration, business lobbyists often found the gates to the White House closed tight.

They are open now under President Donald Trump. That is not altogether unexpected as the New York real estate developer did campaign during the 2016 presidential election on a promise to elevate the needs of business, which he argued would fuel economic growth.

What does surprise lobbyists, however, is the sheer number of wins in getting the Trump administration to roll back or delay unfavorable regulations in its first 10 months. And it is occurring despite White House dysfunction and distraction.

The lobbyists say it is a stark departure from the approach of the Obama administration, which had a reputation for aloofness toward business and sought to limit the influence of lobbyists, whom it saw as beholden to special interests. The Trump White House is listening to them, they say. It is returning their phone calls. And it is working to eliminate regulations they view as detrimental to the ability to prosper.

When 15 lobbyists and business leaders recently held talks with Trump administration officials on energy infrastructure and climate change, they were surprised by the officials' opening question: "Do you have a regulation that we could put on a list to try to eliminate? Is there something that is impeding you from growing?"

In that moment, one of the lobbyists at the meeting knew it was a new era. "That as an opening was not the way the Obama administration approached meetings," she said.

"It's night and day," between the Trump and Obama administrations, said James Thurber, a professor in the public affairs school at American University, who studies lobbying and its effects.

Trump promised to "drain the swamp," an oath that came with plans to curb lobbying and end a "culture of corruption." The campaign stump speech line had a populist appeal, but one person's swamp dweller is another's job creator.

Some of the 16 lobbyists spanning nine different industries interviewed by Reuters acknowledged that many people view them as part of the problem in Washington, not the solution, and that their growing influence may be seen by those as a negative.

Spending so far this year on lobbyists is on pace to exceed spending in 2016, according to the OpenSecrets website, with $2.43 billion spent over the first nine months compared to $2.38 billion at the same point in 2016. After taking office in January, Trump quickly made it easier to get into the White House.

He reversed Obama's restrictions that sought to keep lobbyists at bay by physically barring many of them from the White House  a rule that critics said did nothing more than move meetings with lobbyists to coffee shops across the street. And Trump has stopped the public disclosure of White House visitors' logs, so now lobbyists come and go with less concern that their presence at the White House will be scrutinized.

Most lobbyists refused to speak on the record because they did not want to reveal anything about their private discussions with the administration. Lobbyists are also acutely aware that anything they say will be used by critics who think Trump has tilted too much toward corporate interests.

The White House did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this article.

The coal, steel, oil and gas industries are some of the clear winners, with easier access to the Trump administration and more deregulation of their industries, said Stan Veuger, a fellow at the conservative thinktank American Enterprise Institute who studies politics and the economy. That business has been given more access and even more control of certain regulatory issues is fair criticism and praise if you want to call it that, said Veuger.

There are big losers, too. Consumer advocacy and environmental groups warning about the perils of climate change, who enjoyed easy access to the Obama White House, have largely been shut out of a Trump White House that is more skeptical of climate change and believes Obama over-reached with some of his measures to protect consumers.

Some wins

It was no secret that Trump wanted to greenlight the Dakota Access Pipeline to move oil from North Dakota to Illinois despite the fierce opposition of environmentalists and American Indian tribes whose land was being used. He spoke about it frequently during the campaign. Then Trump gave the energy industry more than they had hoped for.

The American Petroleum Institute, which represents all the large refiners, had asked the administration to speed the permitting process for drilling and building new facilities. When Trump signed his executive order authorizing the pipeline only four days after taking office, he also granted this wish. A number of business trade groups asked the Trump administration to suspend a rule, created during the Obama years, that would require companies to disclose to the government any communications they have with employees during union disputes. In June, the Trump Labor Department did just that, citing the opposition from business.

Among the other wins for business, the Labor Department delivered on a top priority of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce business lobbying group and Wall Street brokerages when it reversed an Obama-era rule aimed at brokers who recommend inappropriate retirement investments.

The administration also side-stepped the process to repeal regulations by implementing delays and holds on rules.

For instance, in the final months of the Obama administration the Bureau of Land Management created a rule governing methane and waste prevention over the strong objections of groups representing oil and gas companies.

API wrote to Ryan Zinke, Trump's secretary of the interior, in May asking him to postpone implementation of the rule. The Trump administration announced it would and even cited the lobbyists' objections as the reason.

Of course, it is not perfect harmony between Trump and business. Dozens of corporate leaders abandoned advisory business councils set up by Trump after he appeared to side with white supremacists following a white nationalist rally in Virginia that resulted in the death of a protester.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent the past few weeks ringing alarm bells over Trump's various positions on the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

And yet, said Neil Bradley, one of the top lobbyists for the chamber, "I have even found in times when we may not see eye to eye with the administration on something, we have cordial, timely discussions that are substantive."
Multinational companies including Apple, Pfizer and Ford would face a new tax on payments they make to offshore affiliates under the House Republicans' tax bill  a surprise provision that has stunned tax experts.

The new 20 percent tax is "the atomic bomb in the draft" legislation, said Ray Beeman, co-leader of Ernst & Young's Washington Council advisory services group. "We're trying to get our arms around the implications."

So far, many big U.S. companies have kept quiet on the proposal. But already, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady has tweaked the provision to lessen its impact, part of a package of changes the tax-writing panel adopted Monday night. The committee will continue debating the bill Tuesday.

House tax writers say the proposed excise tax is aimed at preventing U.S. companies from shifting their earnings offshore to subsidiaries in tax shelters  and it moved into the spotlight this week amid a series of global investigative reports on corporate tax avoidance. But tax practitioners say the provision has far larger implications for consumer prices on a range of goods.

"It's a very big gorilla in the living room," said Gary Friedman, a tax partner at Debevoise & Plimpton. Tech companies, pharmaceutical makers, automakers and reinsurers are the companies most likely to be concerned, he said.

A Pfizer spokeswoman said it was premature to comment, and an Apple spokesman declined to comment. Ford did not respond to requests for comments.

The tax would apply to billions of dollars in intellectual-property royalties that technology and pharmaceutical firms make to their overseas affiliates each year  payments often linked to tax-avoidance strategies. But it would also hit U.S. companies' imports of generic drugs, cars and other products from their affiliates. Global insurers would incur the levy on the cost of "reinsurance" they buy from foreign affiliates.

The provision, which is estimated to raise $154 billion over a decade, "could trigger a trade war," Friedman said  stirring other countries to tax their companies' imports from U.S. units.

For investors, the impact would appear as higher overall expenses in corporate financial statements across a range of industries  potentially depressing earnings, said Robert Willens, an independent tax and accounting expert.

For consumers, the result might be higher prices for imported goods and insurance premiums  a message that various lobbying groups have been eager to share with House tax writers.

"We expected significant feedback there, and it's exactly what we got," Brady told reporters Monday. He added: "Insurance is an industry where I think there are some unintended consequences from the first draft. I am re-examining those provisions to make sure we got it right."

The Coalition for Competitive Insurance Rates, a lobbying group that includes the U.S. arms of Zurich Re, Allianz Re and Swiss Re, came out swinging after the bill appeared.

In the wake of recent hurricanes that ravaged Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, "it is unfathomable" that the bill proposes "a measure that will shrink competition in the insurance marketplace and increase the cost of insurance for consumers," it said in a Nov. 2 statement. Large global insurers, not smaller U.S.-only ones that wouldn't face the tax, typically insure against most major disasters.

House tax writers envisioned the 20 percent tax as a way to shore up the U.S. corporate tax base, which has been eroded for years by companies sending their earnings overseas. As part of a tax overhaul that would cut the U.S. corporate tax rate to 20 percent  down from 35 percent  the House bill would also remake the U.S. approach to international business taxation.

Unlike most other developed economies, the U.S. taxes companies on their global earnings, but it allows them to defer paying taxes on overseas earnings until they're returned to the U.S. As a result, companies have stockpiled an estimated $3.1 trillion offshore, beyond the reach of U.S. corporate taxes.

The House bill would end that practice, apply a cut-rate tax to the stockpiled earnings and use the new excise tax to try to keep more U.S. income at home in the first place.

The excise tax would apply to many payments that U.S. based companies make to foreign affiliates  be they subsidiaries, sister companies or parent companies. That would include royalties, but also payments for inventory later sold to consumers  essentially, any payment to a foreign affiliate on which the U.S. company could take a tax deduction immediately or over time.

The tax wouldn't apply to payments between two U.S. affiliates of the same U.S. company. And it wouldn't apply to interest payments  another method companies use to send profit overseas that would be curbed under a separate bill proposal.

Because the tax would apply to payments for inventory, some have compared it to the controversial "border-adjusted tax," or BAT, that House Speaker Paul Ryan proposed last year. That proposal would have placed a 20 percent tax on companies' domestic sales and imports, while exempting their exports. Ryan gave up on the idea after retailers and others argued that it would raise consumer prices.

"Our concern is that the tax ends up getting passed on to consumers and winds up being a consumption tax, similar to the border-adjustment tax," said Levi Russell, a spokesman for Americans for Prosperity, a group backed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch that also opposed the BAT.

Here for America, a lobbying coalition of international automakers including Honda, Toyota and Volvo, all with manufacturing, R&D and sales operations throughout the U.S., said in a Nov. 5 statement that the tax was "discriminatory" against global companies. The current tax bill, it said, "is flawed and disadvantages companies that are a backbone of American manufacturing and job creation."

The bill does contain an escape hatch, of sorts  a way for companies to cut the amounts they'd pay under the excise tax.

Companies can either pay the 20 percent excise tax on the payments they make to an overseas affiliate  or they can make the affiliate itself subject to a tax on its net profit.

Choosing the second option might be more beneficial for most companies, tax experts said, because most U.S. companies pay their foreign affiliates a premium  a price that includes profit.

Consider a case in which the U.S. company pays its foreign affiliate $100 for a particular good. If it chooses to pay the excise tax on the payment, that's a tax bill of $20.

But let's say it costs the affiliate $60 to produce the good in question. Its profit would be $40, and its tax would be just $8. The company could cut its potential tax bill in half  but there'd be a different kind of price to pay: It would have to disclose more to investors  and therefore, perhaps, to competitors  about its profits on particular product lines.

Currently, companies tend to make such disclosures on broad segments of the products they offer, not particular lines. "This bill allows the IRS to define what a product line is," said Seth Green, a principal in KPMG's Washington National Tax practice.

Choosing the extra disclosure and the lower tax bill is the better option, said Michael Mundaca, co-director of Ernst & Young's National Tax practice  even if it does subject foreign affiliates to more scrutiny from the IRS.

"Neither choice is good," he said, "but the second one is better, even with increased reporting."

With assistance from Colleen Murphy of Bloomberg BNA.
MASON CITY | Some Vote Yes signs reported missing from Mason City residents' yards have been recovered, according to police.

The Mason City Police Department on Facebook asked for the public's help in locating the signs.

We hope that residents will support the political process by being respectful of other's opinions and property, the post said. Support your favorite candidates and your position on the River City Renaissance Project by voting on Tuesday, not by engaging in activity that can be criminal.

Over the weekend, several signs were recovered in Clear Lake and returned to the campaign Sunday.

We appreciate the community's help in trying get them returned, the department wrote in an update to the post.

 Courtney Fiorini
VALLEY PARK  A Ballwin couple have reached an out-of-court settlement with a Lutheran day care in Valley Park after accusing a teacher of hog-tying their 4-year-old daughter with duct tape.

The couple filed on Monday a motion to dismiss their civil lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court against Zion Lutheran Learning Center at 531 Meramec Station Road, the Zion Lutheran Church, its board of directors and several day care employees.

Court records say that the amount of the settlement is confidential and that a portion of the proceeds payable to the child will be deposited into an account accessible to her when she turns 18 in 2030.

In June, Terry Joseph Day and Laura Day accused the day care of false imprisonment, assault, battery, negligence and civil conspiracy, claiming that their daughter, during a bath at home in March, told her mother that one of her teachers, Joshua Reeves, had recently wrapped duct tape around her ankles to prevent her from running around during nap time.

According to the lawsuit, after the Days questioned the day care in March about its response and why Reeves had not been disciplined or fired, Zions director replied that he would not be suspended until the state caseworkers finished an investigation. The suit also claimed the day care tried to cover up the incident by not immediately informing the Days about it or reporting it to the churchs board of directors.

The day care issued a statement to a St. Louis television station in June admitting that one of its teachers duct-taped a child as discipline for running around during nap time. The teacher realized the error and immediately removed the tape. This was an inappropriate classroom management response. The teacher was disciplined by the schools administrator. 

The statement also said Zions board of directors required the teacher to undergo professional retraining in handling disruptive children.

The statement said that Zion had reported the incident to the state and St. Louis County police and that all agencies found no need to further investigate the situation and were comfortable with the schools response.

Attorneys for the Days and the day care could not be reached Monday.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis County felon on Tuesday admitted scamming other felons, medical professionals and his girlfriend out of $452,000 by claiming connections to local lawyers and federal officials.

David E. Schultz, 50, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two wire fraud charges. It will be his third conviction in U.S. District Court in St. Louis involving financial frauds since 2000.

Schultzs most recent scam involved, in part, pretending he could reverse criminal convictions and restore medical or pharmacy licenses. From August 2013 to earlier this year, Schultz claimed he was a nonpracticing attorney with connections to two prominent Clayton lawyers, a federal judge, a U.S. attorney, FBI agents and the director of the Missouri Department of Corrections. He took gold, silver, jewelry and other items that could quickly be converted to cash, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins said in court during the plea.

Schultz admitted taking $50,000 from a pharmacist whose license was suspended by promising a letter of exoneration and a lucrative contract with the Department of Corrections.

He took $81,000 from the owner of a health care products distribution firm who had been convicted of health care fraud in 2015 by claiming he could have the conviction overturned, and then producing false documents to that effect.

He took $17,000 from another person convicted of health care fraud, saying he was in close contact with the sentencing judge and would have the conviction expunged. He then scammed that victims sister out of $22,000 with promises of a plan to open several dollar stores with her brother.

A cardiologist twice convicted of health care fraud lost $162,000 to Schultz, whod claimed he could restore the doctors medical license as well as provide immunity.

He even scammed a girlfriend with promises of marriage and false claims that he was about to receive large cash payouts from overseas accounts, his plea says. He claimed to be a hard money lender and a wealthy real estate investor. His victim borrowed from relatives, drained her savings and retirements accounts and opened credit accounts, losing $120,000 to Schultz.

In 2000, Schultz was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to repay $860,000 after tricking people into handing over money with false claims of an inheritance.

In 2006, he was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to repay $127,000 to about a dozen people who had fallen victim to a similar scam. He was sentenced to an extra year in jail in 2014 for lying to officials about his employment and other matters, and failing to pay his restitution, court records show.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Schultz could face years more in prison for the current case at his sentencing in February.
MASON CITY | The speeches, forums and campaigning are over. Now it is time for the people to speak with their ballots.

Voters throughout North Iowa and across the state will elect new leaders Tuesday.

Some voters will make decisions on specific issues that will impact their communities.

In Cerro Gordo County, the biggest example is in Mason City where voters will elect a new mayor, two new council members, park board members and will decide on two measures related to the city's River City Renaissance downtown renovation plan.

One of the measures asks for consideration on whether to enter into a lease agreement with Southbridge Mall concerning the proposed ice arena/multipurpose center. The other measure asks voters to decide on whether to issue up to $14 million in bonds for costs related to a proposed hotel.

North Iowa Voting Need-to-Know Where do I vote? See a list of Cerro Gordo County polling places here. If you live outside 

Interest in the issues has drawn an all-time high in early voting in Mason City with 1,717 casting absentee votes as of 3 p.m. Monday, easily surpassing the previous high of 1,385 in 2013. It also tops the total turnout in 2015 of 1,397, a 7 percent turnout.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Mason City, Clear Lake and Ventura. They are open noon to 8 p.m. in all other areas of the county.
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 for a 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 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.
MASON CITY | The fate of the River City Renaissance Project is in voters' hands Tuesday, as results for two key ballot items will signal whether the roughly $39 million project continues as planned.

The ballot items ask voters the following:

Whether the city should enter into a lease agreement to construct an ice arena/multipurpose center with a total construction and lease cost not to exceed $18 million And whether the city should issue urban renewal bonds for construction of The Music Man Square and hotel, skywalk and performing arts pavilion, not to exceed $14 million.

Both items require a 60 percent approval (or "yes" votes) to pass. If one or both fail to pass or reach the 60 percent threshold, city officials say the overall project dies.

The plan has been in the works for years, and the city and participants in the project have held several forums to educate people about its different parts, the funding structures and who is involved in each aspect of it.

Supporters of the project have pointed to a need for more downtown development, and amenities that will draw more young people and families to Mason City.

Critics are concerned about who is involved in the project, along with how certain aspects of it would be funded.

Currently, the overall project will cost $38.77 million dollars. The Iowa Economic Development Authority has already granted $7.1 million in a preliminary award; that award could increase up to $10 million if the ballot items pass.

The project has been supported by city council members, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, and past Mason City mayors.

"We need to send a message that we're open for business," Roger Bang, mayor from 2005 to 2009, previously told the Globe Gazette.

Other former city officials, including former city administrator Pat McGarvey, are skeptical of how the city is financing the project, and what impact it will have on taxpayers. McGarvey previously told the Globe Gazette that the arena should be owned by the city, not rented.

"This will be the biggest, finest recreational facility in the history of the city and we're giving it away," he said.

Polls for the two ballot issues and citywide elections close at 8 p.m.
It was a bitterly cold night in the mountains of southern Afghanistan. A raw wind tugged at my clothes as I stepped out of my simple quarters, and I was instantly enveloped in darkness. Standing on the abandoned helipad at the center of our forward operating base, the darkness was so complete that I felt like it swallowed me up. It felt threatening as it blinded me to the presence of the walls around the compound, almost like it could allow the Taliban to ooze through our security perimeter. With our base on black out conditions, I spied light leaking around the doorway of our primitive hospital and I let it vector me in. As I opened the door to the hospital, the warm light washed over me like a veil of safety and protection.

Darkness has long been associated with fear, a sense of abandonment, and the presence of evil. We as humans have always tried to extinguish darkness by using anything possible from fire to electric light. So this summer, it was somewhat ironic that for a few minutes our nation gathered to celebrate darkness. In August, the great eclipse of 2017 sliced cross the country and my home in South Carolina was right in the middle of it. We gathered in the backyard, and using our special glasses, we watched the moon slowly take bites out of the sun. Then in an instant, it was dark. We saw the lights of Greenville begin to wink on from our mountain home. The cicadas began to thrum and an otherworldly darkness came over the landscape. It was then that we were able to put down our glasses, and we saw a magical site. A crown of light rippled around a black sphere. The light seemed to pulse around the darkness. We all stared skyward with childlike fascination and joy. After less than two minutes of magic, the sun burst back out around the moon.

All of us face dark seasons in our lives, times when hardships are thrust upon us like the loss of loved ones, unemployment, illness, and financial hardship. Every Nov. 11, our country pauses to honor and remember those who have faced a different type of darkness, the darkness of war.

War moves across a soldiers life like the moon blotting out the sun. Under the shadow of death, destruction, despair, and loss, some soldiers are swallowed up by the dark and their lives begin to unravel and shred. But at times, wars shadow reveals the corona of courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice in those who have put on a uniform. The suns corona is an aura of plasma that surrounds the star and is 150 to 450 times hotter than the surface. Even though the corona is always there, it is normally visible only during an eclipse. For some soldiers, character traits unknowingly harbored and hidden under the trappings of everyday life, are revealed in the trials of war. And in those times of conflict, these traits are exposed and surround the dark sphere of war with the hope and promise of who we can be.

I witnessed the corona during my deployment to Afghanistan as a combat surgeon. We had just arrived in country, green, untested, and scared, a 14-person medical team of reservists plucked from our civilian jobs and dropped into a front-line forward surgical hospital. Only two of us had been in a war zone before, and most had never even cared for a gunshot wound. Just a few days into getting our bearings in this new place, our brick and mud eight-bed hospital went on alert as the radio crackled with news. After an intense firefight between the Taliban and some Afghani soldiers, we had multiple casualties inbound. We set up stretchers, spiked IV bags, stacked bandages and prepared for bedlam. I studied my team and their nervous looks hardened with resolve, their fear was tamped down as their firmness of purpose kicked in. The doors flew open, and then chaos and noise overwhelmed us. Six wounded were lined up on stretchers. The air filled with the coppery smell of blood, as the white linoleum floor began to run red. The muscle memory of medicine kicked in for all of us. Orders were given, vitals were called out, wounds were inspected and packed. Our once timid team hit its stride, and I could see their confidence soar.

As my team worked with focused purpose, I felt my own doubt grow as I examined the most critically injured patient. After sustaining a head injury, he was showing signs of an intracranial hemorrhage and progressive neurologic decline. My trauma training had taught me the answer to this problem: he needed a burr hole, a hole drilled in the skull to emergently vent the life-threatening blood that was putting pressure on his brain.

As a general surgeon who worked mainly on the abdomen and on breast cancer, I had never done a burr hole. I looked up and feeling intimidated said to the nurse assisting me, He needs a burr hole. Without missing a beat, she said, I have helped on many of these. I will get you the drill. The next thing I knew she handed me the drill like it was no big deal. Drawing upon her undeserved confidence in me, I let training take over and drilled a hole in the soldiers skull. The blood immediately drained and he showed instant improvement. As I reexamined him, I felt my own confidence grow as the darkness of doubt receded.

After all the casualties had been cared for, we began to cleanup. As we mopped the floor and restocked the shelves, the people around me had changed. We had survived our first encounter with the enemy. My team stood a little taller, spoke a little more confidently, and the resolve and tenacity that many of them did not know they had, flickered to life amidst the shadow of war.

On Nov. 11 as our country pauses and takes time to honor those who have donned the uniform and served this country, we also need to remember the cost of that service for each soldier, sailor, airman and Marine. The darkness of the eclipse of war has left many veterans living in the shadows, the shadows of PTSD, the shadows of broken bodies and broken families and in a darkness that many cant escape.

This Veterans Day look for a chance to shine the light of thanks on a veterans life. It can be a word of thanks, an act of kindness, or attending a Veterans Day ceremony. Take time to visit a veteran in a nursing home or in a VA hospital. Ask them their story.

Our nation has stood tall for over 200 years because brave men and women have shone bright and offered us not only an example of light coming out of dark times, they have ensured the light of freedom for all of us.
It was the Civil War originally, when this holiday was begun, known as Decoration Day, it was to honor all soldiers who fought in this nation's bloodiest conflict.

The name has changed, the wars have multiplied, and the observance has taken on a kind of generic tone. Honor the dead, honor the "Old Soldiers," honor all those who fought to keep the country united and free.

When you start talking about honoring soldiers, you must include combat journalist Ernie Pyle.

Pyle was the most celebrated war journalist of World War II. He sent his dispatches from every front, sharing the foxholes and the rest of the discomforts of that war while getting to know the simple front-line soldier.

He was what we call today "embedded" with the 177th Infantry on a Pacific island west of Okinawa when killed by a sniper's bullet in April of 1945. He did not get to see all those simple old foot soldiers make it home. Nor was he able to relish in the unprecedented successes of the "Greatest Generation" and their harsh realities of not only the death and ungodly physical injuries, but the lifelong psychological haunting of what we now know is PTSD.

Remember that of the 16 million active American veterans serving in World War II; only 558,000 remain alive today with 362 dying every day. In Iowa today, we have 7,568 living WWII veterans left. Their selfless virtues are worthy of us whom followed them, whom had them as teachers, police officers, construction workers and all other vocations while we were becoming of age. Then rendering our own service in Korea, Vietnam and the OIF/OEF to cherish having a day to honor them every year on what is now called Veterans Day.

In his five-year supply of "hometown" dispatches, Pyle had immortalized the American GI coupling common man prose and detailed facts with the dark, but powerful warfare cartoons of Bill Mauldin.

Make no mistake; Pyle did not glorify the soldiers he wrote about, nor did he glorify war. His strength and the gift he brought to his readers on the home front, was the easy way he had of looking over a new place and understanding quickly how things were, a way of standing in the corner and listening. His skill was putting himself in the line soldiers' boots.

Pyle's dispatches were a cross section of America and printed in nearly every newspaper of the day at a time when newspapers were No. 1. Loved ones in the states were anxious for every article as they were sure that Ernie, the G.I. journalist, would interview and write about their soldier.

The writings were real and diverse. No hometown overlooked. No race overlooked as black, Hispanic, Jewish, and all immigrant soldiers were equally likely to have Ernie Pyle cross their path and get their news home via the highly covered and anticipated dispatches. No sound bites, no sensationalism, no distortions. Just getting the words of our line soldiers home to their loved ones and our patriotic population.

After the war ended, an officer serving in three wars, then over 60, returned home as a gentleman rancher and forever would talk of his conversations with Ernie Pyle as the glue that held him together.

This officer's three wars made him an expert on soldiering. He was appalled, his family remembers, at television coverage that brought the Vietnam War into American living rooms. "We'd never have allowed that, we had Ernie." he would say.

However, when the Korean conflict began, and again when Vietnam escalated into a full-scale war, this soldier, now over 80 years of age said, "You know, if I were just a little younger, I'd go again." These are the soldiers we are losing. The best times in America came at their hands and courage. God bless their America.
Trustpower Limited has delivered a substantial lift in profit for the six months ended 30 September 2017, reporting a net profit after tax for the half year of $82 million, an increase of $37 million or 82 per cent.

Trustpowers diverse and flexible fleet of generation assets, together with sound operating decisions, has allowed it to take advantage of above average prices and record a strong result, says Chair Paul RidleySmith. Trustpowers total shareholder return over the six months has been 24 per cent.

It is pleasing to see this improved performance reflected in our share price, says Paul. We also remain committed to delivering longterm sustainable value for investors.

Trustpowers retail earnings of $29 million are a positive sign its investment in growth is paying off, says chief executive Vince Hawksworth.

Our multiproduct retail business strategy bundling lifes essential utilities including power, gas, internet and phone, is gaining momentum, says Vince.

The strategy is backed by a robust innovation and technology programme to ensure the company delivers a great customer experience and remains one step ahead in an evolving customer world, says Vince.

When you place your customer at the heart of your business, results follow. We have continued to invest in developing a strong service and technology platform, providing new options for our consumer queries including virtual agents and web bots. Its great to see more customers are choosing to engage with us digitally. Forty three per cent of our customer interactions are now handled by our virtual workforce.

While the energy and telecommunications markets remain highly competitive, Trustpowers bundled proposition resonates well with customers who can see its value, says Vince.

About 80 per cent of new customers who join Trustpower now purchase more than one product.

Trustpower is seeing its retail revenue grow by focusing on service and value rather than just price.

Our overall revenues of $520 million were up by $18 million or four per cent on the same period last year, with growth in all product groups, says Vince.

It is fantastic to see the high number of customers who have remained with Trustpower once their initial contract period has ended.

Direct cost of sales increased in line with revenue, resulting in a retail gross margin increase of $11 million or 18 per cent. Other retail operating costs were $3 million or six per cent lower than the prior year.

Our continued focus on technology improvements is expected to both enhance customer experience and drive a reduction in costtoserve and costtoacquire, says Vince.

New Zealand Generation

New Zealand generation production lifted 20 per cent due to the impact of strong hydrological inflows, resulting in operating earnings of $127 million, up 24 per cent on last year. This reflects Trustpowers geographically diverse fleet of generation stations that allow it to take advantage of record high inflows in some parts of New Zealand while other parts are facing extremely low inflows.

Australian Generation

The three generation schemes in New South Wales are all associated with irrigation schemes and as such they generate predominately in summer. Early indications are that generation volumes this summer will be consistent with Trustpowers forecast predictions.

We are continuing to work through our strategic review of the New South Wales assets and expect to have this completed by early 2018, saysPaul. These assets are performing well, but due to their size and distance from New Zealand are a less strategic part of our portfolio.

Growth in customer numbers has been modest, with retail acquisition campaigning put on hold during the period while the company leveraged high wholesale electricity prices. Trustpowers current marketing campaign for new bundle customers is proving very successful and the company is on track for a 20 per cent increase in telecommunication customers this year, says Vince.

An interim dividend of 17 cents per share, fully imputed, has been declared and is payable on December 8, 2017. The company expects to be able to increase the dividend payable at the year end.

Trustpower is actively managing its debt level and composition and will be repaying the retail bond maturing on December 15 2017 and replacing it with bank debt.

Trustpowers retail business continues to make solid progress. Total utility account holders reached 390,000, a one per cent increase from 385,000 at March 31 2017. Customers with two or more products reached 94,000, a four per cent increase from 90,000 at March 31 2017.

Half year results 2018 compared to half year 2017.

Net profit after tax of $82 million, up $37 million or 82%

Operating earnings (EBITDAF) of $159 million, up 44%

Retail earnings (EBITDAF) of $29 million, up 109%

Generation earnings (NZ and Australia) of $134 million, up 21%

Underlying earnings after tax of $84 million, up $28 million or 48%

Interim dividend of 17 cents

Earnings per share of 25.8 cents, up 79%
A kiwi chick with rare white feathers has hatched at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua  the first with white feathers around its leg in almost a decade.

Bloomers, aptly named for its white feathers that resemble a pair of knickers half on, hatched at the countrys largest kiwi hatching facility on September 29.

Chapter Three: Eating a lot of food so I can get big and strong.

I have really been enjoying getting my daily dose of ox heart, fruit and veggies. The food here ensures I am getting enough vitamins, proteins and other good stuff to help me grow big and strong. Welcome to chapter three...

I LOVE FOOD. Lets just put that out there now. I have really been enjoying getting my daily dose of ox heart, fruit and veggies. In the wild I would most likely be eating insects and fallen berries by now, but here at Kiwi Encounter the menu is little more extensive. The food here ensures I am getting enough vitamins, proteins and other good stuff to help me grow big and strong.

While I am small I would be susceptible to predators in the wild like stoats (raise your hand or wing if you dont like stoats!). But the rule here is once kiwi are 1kg in weight we are strong enough to fend off any danger, and can ultimately leave the Kiwi Encounter nest.

Im lucky enough to be heading to Motutapu Island  a completely predator free island, where I can grow up safely and become an important part of a kohanga kiwi or founder population. This means that when Im big enough to find a partner and have chicks of my own, they can go off to other safe places around New Zealand and start new kiwi populations to make sure numbers keep increasing for generations to come!

Because reaching that 1kg weight is my main goal, life for me right now is pretty much eat, sleep, repeat  with a little foraging in my hutch and some snuggling with my room-mate. The humans check on us once a day, and we have regular weigh-ins and health checks to make sure everything is going okay. Ive become quite fond of the humans.

The other day they got me out to be weighed, and the funniest thing happened. I was being carried over to the weigh station when I noticed a whole load of humans Id never seen before standing behind a panel of glass. One of the other kiwi have since told me these humans are visiting the Encounter and some have never even seen a kiwi before! That explains why they were pointing and smiling at me.

Im still a little shy, but how awesome is it that the humans are interested in me? After all, its their interest that means Kiwi Encounter can continue to help my species.

Save Kiwi Month

Were now at the end of Save Kiwi Month. Running throughout October, this month is all about celebrating and raising awareness of the incredible work humans do for kiwi conservation.

Did you know Kiwi Encounter is the largest kiwi hatchery in the world? They do incredible work for chicks like me here  looking after our eggs, raising us to 1kg, and either sending us to our forever homes or raising us for a while longer in outdoor enclosures.

This month alone 36 kiwi chicks have hatched here! This special month also brought us an amazing milestone and a new friend for me: we had our 1700th chick hatch! The humans were pretty excited about it, and so they should be. Its taken a lot of hard work, sweat and tears from many, many humans to hatch and raise nearly 2000 of us.

I would just like to say, on behalf of all my kiwi pals, thank you humans  for helping save our species.

In my next blog, Ill be telling you all about my release into the wild. Stay tuned to see what happens and where I end up
NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP achieved another seminal post-Halliburton II victory in the Second Circuit today for investors in Strougo v. Barclays PLC, 16-1912 (November 6, 2017). The Second Circuit affirmed the district courts February 2, 2016, Opinion and Order granting Plaintiffs motion for class certification, holding that direct evidence of price impact is not always necessary to demonstrate market efficiency, as required to invoke the Basic presumption of reliance and was not required here; that defendants seeking to rebut the Basic presumption must do so by a preponderance of the evidence, which the Defendants, in this case, failed to do; and that the district courts conclusion regarding the Plaintiffs class-wide damages methodology was not erroneous.



The case, which involves claims pursuant to Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, concerns defendants concealment of information and misleading statements over a three-year period regarding its management of its LX dark pool, a private trading platform where the size and price of the orders are not revealed to other participants. In certifying the class in February 2016 following a thorough analysis of the parties briefing, expert reports, and an in-depth evidentiary hearing, Judge Scheindlin concluded that under the Supreme Courts Basic fraud-on-the-market doctrine, reliance by investors on Defendants affirmative misleading statements could be presumed, because Barclays American Depository Shares trade in an efficient market. The district court rejected defendants argument that to show market efficiency, plaintiffs must provide event studies showing that the market price of the companys stock price reacted quickly to the disclosure of new material information about the company. While plaintiffs did, in fact, proffer an event study, the court held  consistent with a vast body of case law  that no one measure of market efficiency was determinative and that plaintiffs could demonstrate market efficiency through indirect evidence of market efficiency. In so holding, the court observed that event studies are usually conducted across a large swath of firms, but when the event study is used in a litigation to examine a single firm, the chances of finding statistically significant results decrease dramatically, thus not providing an accurate assessment of market efficiency. The district court then found, following its extensive analysis, that plaintiffs sufficiently established market efficiency indirectly, and thus direct evidence from event studies was unnecessary.

Leaving no ambiguity, the Second Circuits decision affirming Judge Scheindlins opinion cited another Pomerantz victory in Petrobras, 862 F.3d at 276, and made clear that, We have repeatedlyand recentlydeclined to adopt a particular test for market efficiency. This decision is a significant win for plaintiffs as it conclusively holds that direct evidence of price impact under Cammer 5 is not always necessary to establish market efficiency and invoke the Basic presumption. The Court made clear that the burden on plaintiffs is not onerous and that there would be little point to considering factors looking at indirect evidence of market efficiency if they only came into play after a finding of direct efficiency through an event study.

The Second Circuit also put an end to the effort by defendants to minimize their burden of rebuttal. The Court made abundantly clear that defendants seeking to rebut the Basic presumption must do so by a preponderance of the evidence. In so holding, the Second Circuit recognized that the Basic presumption would be of little value if defendants could overcome it easily. Specifically, the Courtpointing to language in Halliburton II stating that defendants could only rebut the Basic presumption by making a showing that sever[ed] the link between the misrepresentation and the price a plaintiff paid and that any such evidence must be direct, more salient evidence held that it would be inconsistent with Halliburton II to allow[] defendants to rebut the Basic presumption by simply producing some evidence of market inefficiency, but not demonstrating its inefficiency to the district court. The Court rejected defendants contention that Federal Rule of Evidence 301 applies and made clear that the Basic presumption is a judicially created doctrine and thus the burden of persuasion properly shifts to defendants to rebut the Basic presumption by a preponderance of the evidence. The Court placed the burden of showing there is no price impact upon defendants and confirmed that plaintiffs have no burden to show price impact at the class certification stage.

Jeremy Lieberman, Managing Partner of Pomerantz, commented: We are very gratified by the Second Circuits decision. In reaching it now, and the Petrobras decision this past summer, the Second Circuit has unambiguously reaffirmed Halliburton II and Basics guidance that class certification for widely traded securities such as Barclays and Petrobras was a common sense proposition. For too long, defendants have tried to obscure this guidance by attempting to require arcane event studies at the class certification stage, which had little to do with the merits of the case or the damages suffered by investors. This decision debunks that effort, providing a far easier and more predictable path for securities class actions plaintiffs going forward.

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
A little-known war story has inspired Toi Ohomai student, Mita Tahata, to make a short film which has been selected to screen at the Pollywood Pasifika Film Festival in Auckland this month.

His documentary, Vaka 500, takes its name from the art exhibit curated by Pasifika artist NiaVal Ngaro Tali to honour the 500 Cook Island soldiers that fought for New Zealand during the First World War.

When Mita heard about the soldiers, he was immediately captivated.

I didnt know there was Polynesian soldiers in WW1; that really grabbed my attention. I found out that ninety-two percent of them didnt know English when they signed up to fight for New Zealand. They wouldve gone from bare feet to army boots.

Mita, who is studying the Bachelor of Creative Industries degree majoring in graphic design, needed a project for his final year. He offered his creative services to NiaVal who, running the project on a shoestring, gladly accepted.

Mita joined the Vaka 500 exhibition as it left New Zealand for Europe. He filmed as it debuted in London, then travelled onto France where a group of Cook Islanders paid homage to the soldiers at the Wall of Remembrance in Arras, France.

Private Solomon Isaacs on the Wall of Remembrance at Arras. Photo: Mita Tahata.

We were the first group of Cook Islanders to visit two of the headstones and lay shells on them. These soldiers helped dig the underground tunnels, Mita explains.

They were underground day and night for over a year, digging and laying explosives, fighting the Germans.

Mita appreciates the support from his tutors at Toi Ohomai who suggested he contact BOP Film as he committed to take on the documentary project as part of his studies.

I had so much help from Anton Steel and Tessa Blackett from BOP Film, and from [historian] Sue Baker-Wilson who helped to get us down into the tunnels.

While admitting that war research is tragic, Mita says its crucial to keep the stories alive.

We can bring these stories into a better light through art. We can tell the story again and introduce it to people. Ive educated my whole class and all my tutors. Its given me a passion to continue to make short stories, films and documentaries.

Vaka 500 is one of eight short films being shown at the Pollywood Pasifika Film Festival in Auckland this month.

The films will be screened at the Mangere Art Centre on November 4 and at the Auckland Art Gallery on November 18.

Private Solomon Isaacs carved his name on a wall in the tunnels of Arras 100 years ago. Photo: Mita Tahata.
Its been really disheartening for me to have the parents of kids who have been the victims of bullying at schools feel the need to book an appointment with their local Member of Parliament, says Todd.

As a parent of three children myself, I really empathise with what these families are going through. For things to have escalated this far, for me, is a sign that things have got out of hand.

I know there are some people out there who will put this down to kids being kids, but there comes a time when we need to say enough is enough and take a stand as a community.

This week Ive written to the Principals of our local schools to get a sense of whether they feel the Ministry of Education guidelines are appropriate and to see if they have any thoughts as to how they could be improved. If they are not strong enough, we need to sort them.

I have also asked about their policies for addressing bullying and whether they have been reviewed recently.

We need to have the right frameworks in place so that kids being bullied can come forward and have confidence in the system to address the issue. I get a sense that too many cases are flying under the radar  particularly with the insidious role social media can play.

We cant just leave this to schools alone to address. We all have a role to play  as the saying goes it takes a village to raise a child.

As far as Im concerned, I have zero tolerance for bullying in any context  whether that is at school, work, or in the home.

Our kids deserve the opportunity to learn in a supportive environment where they feel safe  thats what school is all about.
NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HC2 Holdings, Inc. (HC2) (NYSE:HCHC), a diversified holding company, announced today that its insurance subsidiary, Continental General Insurance Company (CGIC), has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Humana Inc.s (NYSE:HUM) long-term care (LTC) insurance business, KMG America Corporation (KMG).

As of June 30, 2017, KMGs subsidiary Kanawha Insurance Company (Kanawha) had approximately $150 million in Statutory Capital and Surplus with approximately $2.3 billion of cash and invested assets. Once the proposed acquisition has been completed, CGIC will have cash and invested assets of approximately $3.5 billion.

The transaction requires Humana to make a $203 million cash capital contribution to Kanawha prior to closing. Humanas capital contribution is subject to adjustment based on certain items. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to CGICs Risk Based Capital ratio and statutory capital.

The acquisition of Humanas long-term care insurance business marks another significant milestone in the growth of our insurance subsidiary, said Philip Falcone, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of HC2. We closed our initial acquisitions of American Financial Groups long-term care insurance businesses almost two years ago as the first step towards building a platform focused on acquiring LTC businesses. Since then, under the leadership of James Corcoran, Executive Chair of Continental Insurance Group, weve steadily built our insurance platform infrastructure in Austin, Texas and looked at numerous potential acquisitions in the space. We are extremely pleased to have reached this mutually beneficial agreement with Humana as it represents another key stepping stone for our platform. In addition, we believe this transaction is further validation of our platform and our strategy and represents industry recognition as the counterparty of choice for future LTC transactions. We look forward to leveraging this platform to generate meaningful growth.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the South Carolina Department of Insurance. CGIC expects the transaction will close by the third quarter of 2018.

Please refer to HC2's Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete description of the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Continental General Insurance Company. Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is acting as legal advisor to Continental General Insurance Company.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor to Humana. Locke Lord LLP is acting as legal advisor to Humana.

About HC2

HC2 Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded (NYSE:HCHC) diversified holding company, which seeks opportunities to acquire and grow businesses that can generate long-term sustainable free cash flow and attractive returns in order to maximize value for all stakeholders. HC2 has a diverse array of operating subsidiaries across seven reportable segments, including Construction, Marine Services, Energy, Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Insurance and Other. HC2's largest operating subsidiaries include DBM Global Inc., a family of companies providing fully integrated structural and steel construction services, and Global Marine Systems Limited, a leading provider of engineering and underwater services on submarine cables. Founded in 1994, HC2 is headquartered in New York, New York. Learn more about HC2 and its portfolio companies at www.hc2.com.

About Humana

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools  such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions  combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the companys web site at www.humana.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains, and certain oral statements made by our representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements include information describing actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are generally identifiable by use of the words believes, expects, intends, anticipates, plans, seeks, estimates, projects, may, will, could, might, or continues or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release include without limitation statements regarding our expectation regarding building shareholder value and future cash and invested assets. Such statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of HC2's management and the management of HC2's subsidiaries and portfolio companies. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and the Companys actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, that may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Such important factors include, without limitation, issues related to the restatement of our financial statements; the fact that we have historically identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, and any inability to remediate future material weaknesses; capital market conditions; the ability of HC2's subsidiaries and portfolio companies to generate sufficient net income and cash flows to make upstream cash distributions; volatility in the trading price of HC2 common stock; the ability of HC2 and its subsidiaries and portfolio companies to identify any suitable future acquisition opportunities; our ability to realize efficiencies, cost savings, income and margin improvements, growth, economies of scale and other anticipated benefits of strategic transactions; difficulties related to the integration of financial reporting of acquired or target businesses; difficulties completing pending and future acquisitions and dispositions; effects of litigation, indemnification claims, and other contingent liabilities; changes in regulations and tax laws; and risks that may affect the performance of the operating subsidiaries and portfolio companies of HC2. These risks and other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to HC2 or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and HC2 undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For information on HC2 Holdings, Inc., please contact:

Andrew G. Backman

Managing Director - Investor Relations & Public Relations

abackman@hc2.com

212-339-5836
Meek Mill AP photo, 2017

by Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com

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Meek Mill sentenced to prison

Meek Mill has been sentenced to 2-4 years in prison after violating his probation. The 30-year-old rapper was arrested twice this year while under probation for a 2008 drug and weapons case that put him behind bars for eight months. Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was charged with misdemeanor assault for an airport altercation in March and charged with reckless endangerment for illegally riding his dirt bike in August. A member of Williams' legal team tells TMZ the judge knew him from growing up in Philadelphia and had a "personal vendetta," and they plan to appeal. Jay-Z and other stars have already criticized the conviction as "unjust and heavy handed."

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JAY-Z, T.I. and more are speaking out about Meek Mill's prison sentence https://t.co/Yv5Q56oKkA pic.twitter.com/KzM5Idigrh  XXL Magazine (@XXL) November 7, 2017

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'Veronica Mars' actor dies

Former "Veronica Mars" star Brad Bufanda is dead at 34. The actor reportedly committed suicide on Wednesday, Nov. 1, by jumping off a building. TMZ sources say Bufanda wrote letters to family and friends day before he took his life and left a suicide note with the names of his parents, surprising those close to him that say had been no signs of distress. Bufanda played Felix Toombs on "Veronica Mars" and was also known for roles in "A Cinderella Story," "Co-Ed Confidential" and "Days of Our Lives."

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My childhood  RIP Brad Bufanda  pic.twitter.com/9KyduFXVoP  Moe (@MOEXOXO__) November 3, 2017

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Sia fights nude photos... by leaking nude photo

"Chandelier" singer Sia Furler found out a photographer was trying to sell nude photos of her on Tuesday, and decided to beat them to it. "Save your money, here it is for free!" the 41-year-old hitmaker wrote on Twitter, along with an image of herself standing naked on a balcony. "Everyday is Christmas!" she added, plugging her upcoming holiday album. The Daily Mail reports someone was threatening to release an "additional 14 images" apparently shot from a long distance, through a window and without permission.

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Journalists boycott Disney

Several journalists are boycotting coverage of Disney movies after the studio banned the Los Angeles Times from previewing its upcoming holiday films. The newspaper published a story in September that unfavorably explored connections between Disneyland and the city of Anaheim. Disney said the publication "showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards" and refused to let its writers see "Thor: Ragnarok." Now writers for The A.V. Club, Flavorwire and the Washington Post are protesting the "dangerous precedent that Disney is setting" by refusing to write about its films until the ban on the L.A. Times is lifted.

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In response to Disney blocking L.A. Times from screenings over a story, journalists are curbing their coverage https://t.co/T5EP8Vkb6C  CNN Entertainment (@CNNent) November 7, 2017

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This critic boycott of Disney is great. Maybe we can avoid Last Jedi spoilers on Twitter now.  Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) November 7, 2017

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More Buzz

U2's Bono 'stressed' by Paradise Papers over tax havens ( DM

Rosie O'Donnell dating woman 22 years younger, won't remarry ( ET

'Shameless' actor Ethan Cutkosky arrested for DUI ( NYDN

'Sharknado' studio sues theater over ripoff play ( TMZ

Bespoke porn: Fans can pay stars for custom videos ( RS

Co-stars defend 'Stranger Things' actor for not greeting fan ( E!

Antonio Banderas announces mother Ana has died ( ET

Neil Armstrong biopic 'First Man' begins filming with Claire Foy ( DM

'Hot convict' Jeremy Meeks' estranged wife suffered miscarriage ( DN

Harvey Weinstein banned for life from Television Academy ( TMZ

Conspiracy theory that Paul McCartney is dead continues ( RS

Jessica Chastain interested in 'It' sequel role ( SF

112 returns with new song 'Dangerous Games' ( ET

Ryan Reynolds trolls wife Blake Lively with 'no filter' photo ( DM

Diddy now says he was joking about 'Brother Love' name change ( P

2 people shot at Lil Boosie concert ( TMZ

AM Buzz is a weekday morning feature on syracuse.com where we'll post the latest in viral videos, trending topics, celebrity gossip and entertainment news.
Deputies and a Syracuse police officer eventually shot at the suspect after he "intentionally drove toward officers and pedestrians while on West Street near Gifford Street," Onondaga County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jon Seeber said.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A lengthy chase in the city of Syracuse Monday afternoon that left destruction in its path ended with a stolen AAA flatbed tow truck with six bullet holes through its windshield.

The truck was stolen when a AAA worker was helping a driver whose vehicle had broken down on North Townsend Street. A man walking by hopped in the tow truck and drove off.

The driver was eventually shot by police. He was in stable condition Monday night at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and remains hospitalized this morning.

At least three police officers and a civilian were injured -- none seriously -- during the chase, police and firefighters said. At least a dozen vehicles were damaged by the tow truck, authorities said.

Deputies and a Syracuse police officer eventually shot at the suspect after he "intentionally drove toward officers and pedestrians while on West Street near Gifford Street," Onondaga County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jon Seeber said.

Deputies say they will release the suspect's name after he is formally charged.

Deputies plan to update the media on the investigation at an unrelated news conference at 2 p.m.
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Americans are grappling with yet another massacre. This time, a Texas church's Sunday morning service was interrupted by a masked gunman who sprayed parishioners with bullets. Air Force veteran Devin Kelley killed 26 people -- many of them children -- and injured 20 more in what authorities have called a "domestic situation."



The weapon he used, according to authorities, was an AR-15 assault rifle.



The AR-15 rifle is favored by hunters for its magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic action. It can also be easily customized.



The AR-15 was invented by American engineer Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite Inc. in the late 1950s. From its inception, it was prized for being lightweight, accurate and able to fire multiple rounds quickly.



The National Firearms Act of 1934 bans the possession of machine guns by civilians. But AR-15s are classified as modern sporting rifles by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and not subject to the law.



Ronald Turk, associate deputy director and chief operating officer of the ATF, said AR-15s and similar firearms are now standard for hunting activities.



According to a National Rifle Association blog post titled Why the AR-15 is America's Most Popular Rifle, the weapon's design mimics that of the automatic M-16 rifle, used by American soldiers.



And its the rifle that appears again and again as a murder weapon in American mass shootings.

These are the five most recent AR-15-involved mass shootings in the U.S.:



Las Vegas, Nevada: 58 people and injured over 500 people killed on Oct. 1, 2017



Perched from his two-room hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old retiree and avid video poker gambler, fired on hundreds of country music fans attending an outdoor music festival.



The killer checked in to the room on Sept. 28 with 10 bags containing at least 23 guns, including AR-15-style and AK-47-style rifles and a "large cache of ammunition."



Some of rifles were rigged with bump stocks: devices that dramatically increase the rate at which semi-automatic weapons can fire.



Paddock set up surveillance cameras inside and outside his suite. He ultimately committed suicide, authorities said, when SWAT teams responded to his room.



Orlando, Florida: 49 people killed, 53 wounded on June 12, 2016



In the early morning of June 12, 2016, 29-year-old Omar Mateen crashed a night of partying at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people and injuring 53 others.



Mateen took clubgoers hostage before slaying them. He died after engaging in a firefight with authorities.



Mateen used an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun purchased from a federally licensed dealer near his home in Fort Pierce, Florida.



San Bernardino, California: 14 people killed, 22 people wounded on Dec. 2, 2015



Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, stormed the Inland Regional Center during a Department of Public Health training session and holiday party where they shot and killed San Bernardino county workers.



Farook was an employee with the division and worked alongside many of the victims for years. According to the FBI, he used two semi-automatic AR-15 rifles in his attack.



After the killing spree, Farook and Malik were killed by police as they tried to escape.



Colorado Springs, Colorado: 3 people killed on Oct. 31, 2015



That Halloween morning, Noah Harpham, 33, armed with an AR-15 rifle, a 9 mm pistol and a .357 revolver killed a bicyclist and two women before being shot by police.



Witnesses reported Harpham walking down a street carrying a rifle and two gas cans.



Chattanooga, Tennessee: 4 people killed, 3 people wounded on July 16, 2015



24-year-old Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez shot and killed four Marines, and wounded three others, when he opened fire on the Naval Operation Support Center and an Armed Forces Recruiting Center.



Abdulazeez, of Hixson, Tennessee, was killed in a firefight with responding police officers.



Investigators said the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduate possessed a Kalashnikov variant rifle, a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Saiga-12 semiautomatic shotgun. An AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle was discovered by investigators at his familys home.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (TSX-V:NVO) (OTCQX:NSRPF) (Novo or the Company) is pleased to announce its strategy for certain ancillary assets, particularly the Companys 100%-controlled Tuscarora property in Elko County, Nevada (the Tuscarora Project), and several tenements (the Novo Tenements) in Marble Bar, Western Australia which surround Calidus Resources Limiteds (Calidus) Warrawoona project.



Calidus Warrawoona Project, Western Australia

The Novo Tenements are comprised of four exploration licences and three prospecting licences. Further to the Companys news release dated September 19, 2017, Calidus has completed its due diligence and satisfied or waived all conditions precedent and has advised that the preparation of formal earn-in and joint venture agreements is underway. Given the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, Calidus will issue to Novo 20,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares. Combined with Novos participation in Calidus AUD $0.041/share private placement (please see Calidus news release dated September 27, 2017), Novo will own approximately 5.48% of Calidus outstanding shares once all aforementioned shares have been issued.

In order to earn a 70% interest in and to the Novo Tenements, Calidus must incur exploration expenditures of AUD $2,000,000 over three years. If Calidus earns its 70% interest, Novo and Calidus will then be subject to a fund or dilute obligation whereby any interest below 10% will automatically convert into a 1% net smelter returns royalty.

Novo is committed to its strategy in the Pilbara, commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Chairman, President, and a director of Novo Resources Corp. Given Novos focus on its Karratha projects, we believe that becoming a Calidus shareholder and engaging Calidus as a joint venture partner are the most efficient and productive methods by which Novo shareholders can realize value from the Companys non-core assets. We look forward to working with the Calidus team to advance their Warrawoona project.

Tuscarora Project, Nevada, USA

The Company signed an option agreement with American Pacific Mining (APM) on November 6, 2017 whereby APM has the option to acquire the Companys interest in 24 unpatented mining claims in Elko County, Nevada, which comprise the Tuscarora Project.

Upon the earlier to occur of the listing of APMs common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange and January 31, 2018, APM will pay to Novo CAD $375,000 and issue CAD $200,000 worth of APM common shares in three equal annual instalments. Beginning on the first anniversary of APMs listing date, APM will also be required to incur annual expenditures of USD $100,000 on the Tuscarora Project. APM will grant to Novo a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty which APM can repurchase for USD $500,000 at any time. APM will also assume all of Novos royalty obligations under its original option agreement underlying the Tuscarora Project between Novo and Nevada Select Royalty, Inc.

We believe that the Tuscarora Project is a quality asset with promising mineralization, commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh. We look forward to seeing American Pacific Mining further develop the Tuscarora Project and we are excited to participate in its true potential as shareholders of American Pacific Mining.

Grant of Stock Options

The Company also reports that it has granted incentive stock options to a director to purchase up to 400,000 common shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to its stock option plan. The options are exercisable on or before November 6, 2022 at an exercise price of CAD$7.94 per share. The options are subject to certain vesting conditions.

About Novo Resources Corp.

Novos focus is to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 12,000 sq km. Novo also controls a 100% interest in approximately 2 sq km covering much of the Tuscarora Au-Ag vein district, Nevada. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.

Quinton Hennigh

Quinton Hennigh

Chairman and President

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 news release.

Forward-looking information



Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the implied statement that definitive agreements covering the Novo Tenements arrangements are expected to be signed in due course and the expected listing of APMs common shares on the CSE. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the Companys ability to negotiate terms, to its satisfaction, of definitive agreements with Calidus and the ability of APM to satisfy all CSE conditions to the commencement of trading of APMs common shares.
Syracuse pursuit of a stolen AAA flatbed truck ends near the Rescue Mission.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As a AAA worker helped a driver whose vehicle had broken down Monday afternoon on North Townsend Street in Syracuse, a man walking by hopped into the tow truck's cab and drove off, police said.

The suspect, who led police on a lengthy chase through the city, was eventually shot by police. He is in stable condition Monday night at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

At least three police officers and a civilian were injured -- none seriously -- during the chase, police and firefighters said. At least a dozen vehicles were damaged by the tow truck, authorities said.

After the truck was stolen, the AAA worker who was changing a customer's tire, called 911 and his employer. AAA used the tow truck's GPS to quickly track it to the Shop City area, Onondaga County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jon Seeber said.

Deputies said they were alerted to the truck's location and spotted the stolen vehicle traveling west on Court Street about 1 p.m. They tried to stop the truck, but the driver refused to pull over, Seeber said.

Instead, deputies watched as the suspect "began ramming patrol vehicles in an attempt to flee," Seeber said in a news release.

Deputies, along with Syracuse police officers chased the stolen AAA truck through the city.

During the pursuit, the suspect struck two Syracuse fire trucks, two Onondaga County sheriff's patrol cars, a marked Syracuse police transport van, two marked city police cars and several civilian vehicles.

A female Syracuse police officer was injured when her car was struck by the stolen truck, said Sgt. Richard Helterline, a spokesman for the Syracuse Police. The officer was treated at Upstate University Hospital and released, he said.

Two male Onondaga County sheriff's deputies also were injured when the stolen truck crashed into their patrol cars -- one on North Salina Street and the other outside the Rescue Mission, Seeber said.

Both deputies were taken to Upstate University Hospital's Community Campus in the town of Onondaga, he said. They were still being treated Monday night.

After the stolen AAA truck hit the deputy's patrol car on North Salina Street, the patrol car was pushed into a Chevrolet Avalanche, a witness said. The driver of the Avalanche also was taken by ambulance to a local hospital after the crash. (See video)

A half-dozen police cars continued to chase the stolen AAA truck, as it headed toward Gifford and West streets.

Syracuse pursuit of a stolen AAA flatbed truck ends near the Rescue Mission.

Syracuse police say the suspect "intentionally struck" a marked city police transport van and several other vehicles in the area of Gifford Street.

"The tow truck driver continued to drive in a reckless manner, attempting to strike other vehicles in the area," Helterline said.

Deputies and a Syracuse police officer eventually shot at the suspect after he "intentionally drove toward officers and pedestrians while on West Street near Gifford Street," Seeber said.

"The suspect continued to evade police for another block before colliding with a Syracuse fire truck on Dickerson Street, near the Rescue Mission," he said.

The stolen AAA truck also struck several vehicles in the Rescue Mission parking lot. One car had its driver's side door stripped off.

The tow truck sat nearby with six bullet holes that shattered the front windshield.

Onondaga County sheriff's deputies say they will release the suspect's name after he is formally charged. The names of the deputies and city police officer involved in the shooting will not be released for 72 hours, per department policy.

Both the sheriff's office and city police say they are continuing to investigate the incident.

Reporter Patrick Lohmann contributed to this report.
TEANECK, N.J., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Dynamics, a leader in intelligent file management, today announced its Senior Vice President of Field Operations, Cuong Le, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming NetApp Insight conference taking place November 13-16, 2017 (Messe Berlin, Germany). As a Sapphire sponsor of the event, attendees are invited to visit the Data Dynamics Booth SA5 to see firsthand how its recently launched StorageX 8.0 solution empowers enterprises to seamlessly analyze, move, manage and modernize data assets from creation to archive for business transformation.



Cuong Le Session Details:

Session #1:

Data Dynamics: Unleash the Power of the Cloud with Intelligent File and Object Management

When/Where:

November 14 at 3:00 p.m., Lindau 6 7.1.1

Why Attend:

Enterprises today are struggling to unleash the power of their data that is locked behind proprietary, storage silos. In addition, multiple management tools make it impossible to determine where their data resides and where it should live for business agility. In this session, Cuong Le will introduce StorageX 8.0  the latest release of the leading file management platform by Data Dynamics. Learn how StorageXs intelligent data management solution empowers enterprises to analyze, move, manage and modernize their critical data assets for digital transformation. Using open standards, StorageX delivers support for S3 compliant storage and comprehensive file management from the data center to the cloud  eliminating data silos and vendor lock-in for competitive advantage.

Session #2:

Data Dynamics: What My Customer Did When I Wasnt Looking

When/Where:

November 15 at 12:45 p.m., Inform and Delight Theater at Insight Central

Why Attend:

File management has become a strategic initiative for both IT and line of business owners to ensure business agility. In this session, find out how Data Dynamics customers have achieved huge value through the use of its StorageX 8.0 intelligent file management solution to unlock the power of their data assets trapped behind multiple storage resources giving users the freedom to choose their future storage and cloud direction. Data modernization is furthered in StorageX with support for S3-compliant object storage, as well as the ability to support DevOps projects with efficiency utilizing APIs for storage management automation and orchestration across hybrid, cloud and object-based storage infrastructures.

About Cuong Le:

Cuong Le brings over 20 years of IT experience in enterprise infrastructure sales, marketing, and development for leading enterprises in financial services, healthcare and manufacturing. His domain expertise in storage, server, and systems management are instrumental in helping customers innovate and address their business requirements to drive greater business agility, speed of delivery and to maximize the value of their investments long-term. Prior to joining Data Dynamics, Cuong was the Executive Director of Enterprise Technical Sales at Lenovo and was responsible for leading the world wide technical sales community for the Lenovo Enterprise Business Group. Prior to his role at Lenovo, he was the Director of Worldwide x86 and Pure Systems Technical Sales at IBM and was responsible for transitioning the IBM x86 technical sales organization to Lenovo as part of Lenovos acquisition of the IBM x86 business. In his role in development at IBM he was awarded 17 patents. Le earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Arizona.

About StorageX 8.0

StorageX 8.0 features support for S3 compliant storage and comprehensive file management from the data center to the cloud  eliminating data silos and vendor lock-in. This latest release is the eighth generation of StorageX, an intelligent solution providing a holistic view of all data assets that are locked behind multiple storage silos. File management has become a strategic initiative for both IT and line of business owners to ensure business agility. StorageX serves as a central command center for this increasingly critical operation, enabling organizations to view and manage data - regardless of where it is stored. Using a standards-based approach, the powerful platform removes the barriers that exist across heterogeneous storage types giving enterprises the freedom to adapt quickly to changing business demands. StorageX provides insight into who is accessing the data and the ability to remove or change security permissions.

Tweet this: .@DataDynamicsInc SVP, Cuong Le Featured Presenter at #netappinsight Berlin 2017 https://www.datadynamicsinc.com/news/ #intelligent #file #management

Follow Data Dynamics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/datadynamicsinc

About Data Dynamics

Data Dynamics is a leader in intelligent file management solutions that empower enterprises to seamlessly analyze, move, manage and modernize critical data across hybrid, cloud and object-based storage infrastructures for true business transformation. Its award-winning StorageX platform eliminates vendor lock-in and provides a policy-based, storage management platform to provide the insight, agility, and operational efficiency to transform your data assets into competitive advantage. Used today by 24 of the top Fortune 100 companies, StorageX has optimized more than 160 PB of storage, saving more than 80 years in project time and $80 million in total storage costs. For more information, please visit: http://www.datadynamicsinc.com.

PR Contacts:

Sabrina Sanchez

The Ventana Group

ssanchez@theventanagroup.com

(925) 785-3014

Nicole Gorman

The Ventana Group

ngorman@theventanagroup.com

(508) 397-0131
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Remote Technologies Ltd. (Global Remote or the Company) (CSE:RGT), (OTCMKTS:RGTZF), (Frankfurt:GR9), wishes to inform its shareholders that it is currently reviewing several Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and Fintech acquisitions. Once a letter of intent has been signed, the company will update its shareholders. Closing of any transaction will be subject to Exchange approval, which may include, among other things, the requirement for shareholder approval.



About Global Remote Technologies

The objective at Global Remote Technologies is to identify and develop technologies to increase shareholder value. Current objectives are to reduce operational costs in the energy domain with unique proprietary techniques and technologies that support upstream, midstream and downstream processes. Services are developed to create custom solutions that improve performance, improve health and safety standards, and bring significant savings to clients. GRT operates in rugged locations around the globe, with offices in Canada, Mexico, Oman, and the United States. Global Remote Technologies is a public company, traded in Canada and Germany under the symbols CSE: RGT and FRA: GR9.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Akash Patel

CEO, President and Director

Further information about the Company is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com, on the CSE website, www.thecse.com, and on its website, www.grtcse.com .

Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Companys management 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 cannot provide any assurance that it 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 recent outrage over Oxbridge admission statistics, which show that a disproportionate amount of the intake come from around London or the South-East of England, is undoubtedly valid. Oxbridge is elitist. 40% of students at Oxbridge came from private or independent schools. Only 1.5% of offers go to black British applicants compared with a nationwide total of 3%. 80% of offers go to the most privileged students, whose parents are employed in professional or managerial roles. Oxbridge is elitist.

This had led to calls from a wide variety of commentators for a plethora of radical proposals to remedy this problem. Imposing quotas, making Oxbridge postgraduate centres of excellence or even abolishing Oxbridge altogether have all been suggested. Yet all of these proposals attempt to solve the symptom, not the problem.

The actual cause of the disproportionate representation of certain social groups at Oxbridge lies in economic and social inequality. Indeed, this is a problem that is exacerbated by government policy. A report led by Professor Stephen Gerard, from the University of Durham, concludes that the governments academy schools are creating greater segregation between pupils from rich and poor homes. This was echoed in September 2017 by 4000 secondary school head teachers across England who wrote to parents to warn that there is simply not enough money in the system to fund schools properly. This comes in spite of a 1.3 billion cash injection from the government, which amounts to a real-terms cut of 4.6% by 2020 compared with 5 years earlier.

The huge geographical discrepancies in school funding also highlight the problem. A report undertaken by independent think-tank, the Social Market Foundation, found that geographical inequality in educational outcomes has grown over the last 30 years. Government statistics themselves reveal that a secondary school in York would get an average of 4,700 per pupil in 2018-19, compared with 6,450 per pupil in Greenwich, London  regardless of class size. Second worst off among secondary schools were those in Barnsley, where schools get an average of 4,729 per pupil followed by Leicester, with 4,730. It is no coincidence that those areas that receive comparatively less funding send fewer students to Oxbridge.

Given such disparity exists, it is not surprising that only three people from Middlesbrough applied to study at Oxford in 2015, of whom none were accepted. This gives an appalling rate of 1.6 applicants for every 1,000 eighteen-year-olds living in the town. This compares poorly with Kensington and Chelsea, where there were 121 applicants per 1,000. When private schools can boast class sizes up to one third smaller, enjoy charitable status and possess far more resources to channel at fewer students, the problem of inequality is further underlined.

Such systemic inequality has inevitable consequences for the attainment of students. Why were more offers to Oxbridge made to students at Eton than those on free school meals in the entire country? Because the inequality in our educational system favours those who can pay. Indeed, as long as independent schools exist, there will remain a fundamental divide between two kinds of students. This problem is particularly pronounced at Oxbridge and will continue to see private school students massively overrepresented.

Let us be clear, abolishing Oxbridge is not a good idea. Nor is ending its intake of undergraduate students. Oxford and Cambridge are vehicles of academic excellence. They have immense cultural value in Britain and are institutions that command international respect.

To attempt to artificially alter Oxbridge admissions by imposing quotas would be to obscure the roots of the problem of diversity and to demean the core criteria of Oxbridge admission; that of academic excellence. It may make for better statistics, but the fundamental causes of unequal attainment geographically would remain.

In this sense, outreach programmes and shadowing schemes are helpful in opening up Oxbridge to those areas who have historically not sent many students. The Universities themselves must also be prepared to reform in order to improve diversity. But such efforts can only brush the surface of a much deeper problem.

This issue of Oxbridge elitism matters because if such discrepancies exist in such an important area as education, it is indicative of something wrong in our society. We must look beyond meaningless, ideological nonsense about the various merits of a particular policy, whether privileging choice, selection or comprehensivisation. Equality of opportunity must be at the heart of any educational policy, and this is demonstrably not happening when such inequality and imbalance is evident in the British education system.

The elitism and lack of diversity that pervades Oxford and Cambridge is merely a symptom of this much broader problem. To solve it, we must have a simultaneous and far-ranging discussion about economic disadvantage and inequality.
AJ-got-BHP BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Calcutta Posts: 797 Thanked: 4,464 Times

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Figo explores the Kingdom of Bhutan : The Land of the Thunder Dragon Kuzuzangpo La !! The thirst to travel in a nomadic soul is difficult to satiate. Wherever you go, it somehow becomes a part of you in some way or the other. That is why it is important to travel and see the world. For me it was important to spend some quality time with my family and the quest for spending such quality time with them is taken care of on such trips. Yes, the company of a trusted steed is always important and the Figo always has been the more trusted and closer to the heart bet.



It was almost a year that I had hit the highway for a Road Trip or taken a day off from work or had had a vacation to myself. A road trip was calling me and I did not know when, how and where ? The answers came through at the onset of the Durga Puja vacations but the destination was not being finalized as there was unrest in Darjeeling and that we had done West Sikkim last year. Though there were other places in the North East which were pending to be done in our To Do List, but with little children we did not want to exert ourselves much and wanted to have a relaxing getaway.



The foreign soil started calling. The nearest and the dearest neighbouring Kingdom of Bhutan was a wise option. However, we were not prepared to queue up at the Phuntsholing border for getting our Human Permits to enter Bhutan as it would have been difficult to manage the Kids all by ourselves and do the necessary paper work there. We tried our luck by visiting the Bhutan Consulate in order to get our permits done from Kolkata. We knew we were too late for that too. However, we chanced our luck. On the first visit, we were rejected outright as they told us that they had stopped issuing permits from Kolkata. However, after a lot of persuasion, we were called again after a couple of days. A short Intro with the Consulate General helped the situation. His understanding of the fact that we will be driving from Kolkata with very young kids, he allowed us to apply for the permits and got it issued in a matter of 5 days or so as a special case. We were delighted !!



A copy of the Bhutan Entry Permit Application Form :

Bhutan Entry Permit Application Form from Bhutan Consulate.pdf



Another mishap happened when my wife Eshita was hit by Viral Fever just before the trip and we felt that we will have to call the plan off. Against all odds, she recovered very speedily and was fit to travel just a day before the trip was supposed to commence. I guess it was completely her will power and the thirst for a vacation which made this happen.



"A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not where it is supposed to be." A teaser pic of the Figo with reference to the quote which was raring to hit the highway and the hills after a long time :





The Land of Gross National Happiness has lots to offer and our initial plan was to go up to Trongsa. However, as per information in Kolkata from the Consulate, from the RSTA Phuntsholing and from the locals of the Hotels in Bhutan it was told to us that it was not a good idea as it would get very difficult for the Figo since the road widening work from Trongsa to Bumthang was underway and that the road was currently motorable by 4WDs only as it was in a very bad condition. We anyways did not alter our plan and thought of changing the plan as the need would arise. We were lucky to get all reservations done in Bhutan at the last minute as there was a scarcity of Hotels in Bhutan thanks to it being peak season time for them.



The Plan (as it was executed) :

DAY 1 : Kolkata to Gorumara

DAY 2 : Gorumara to Phuntsholing

DAY 3 : Phuntsholing to Thimphu

DAY 4 : Thimphu

DAY 5 : Thimphu to Wangdue

DAY 6 : Wangdue to Punakha to Gangtey

DAY 7 : Gangtey to Phobjikha Valley to Paro

DAY 8 : Paro to Haa Valley and back to Paro

DAY 9 : Paro to Siliguri

DAY 10 : Siliguri (As I had some work in Siliguri)

DAY 11 : Siliguri to Kolkata



So now my dream to drive my car on Foreign Soil was about to materialize and I was excited about it. The packing was underway and the kids were excited; so were we.



The Tool Kit and Car Essentials that would go in 1 Small Bag :





My 1.5 Year Old Son Mivann at his wits while we packed :







DAY 1 : 24/09/2017 : Kolkata to Gorumara : 636Kms

It was on the 24th of September 2017, Sunday that we finally set sail for Gorumara. All I can say is that this was one of my worst drives to this region in all these years of driving where nothing was right. The roads & the traffic played a spoilt sport all throughout. The road condition from Kolkata to Gorumara is elaborated in the relevant thread of the Forum as per the Link :



Daughter Ishanvi @ Shaktigarh :





A picture enroute :





We reached our Hotel at Gorumara at around 10:00pm after a 636Kms of driving. We had placed the order for our dinner with the Hotel while we were on our way and it was served hot as soon as we arrived at the property which was very welcoming.



Night stay at : The Reserve @ Gorumara

My Review of the property : https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserR...st_Bengal.html The thirst to travel in a nomadic soul is difficult to satiate. Wherever you go, it somehow becomes a part of you in some way or the other. That is why it is important to travel and see the world. For me it was important to spend some quality time with my family and the quest for spending such quality time with them is taken care of on such trips. Yes, the company of a trusted steed is always important and the Figo always has been the more trusted and closer to the heart bet.It was almost a year that I had hit the highway for a Road Trip or taken a day off from work or had had a vacation to myself. A road trip was calling me and I did not know when, how and where ? The answers came through at the onset of the Durga Puja vacations but the destination was not being finalized as there was unrest in Darjeeling and that we had done West Sikkim last year. Though there were other places in the North East which were pending to be done in our To Do List, but with little children we did not want to exert ourselves much and wanted to have a relaxing getaway.The foreign soil started calling. The nearest and the dearest neighbouringwas a wise option. However, we were not prepared to queue up at the Phuntsholing border for getting our Human Permits to enter Bhutan as it would have been difficult to manage the Kids all by ourselves and do the necessary paper work there. We tried our luck by visiting the Bhutan Consulate in order to get our permits done from Kolkata. We knew we were too late for that too. However, we chanced our luck. On the first visit, we were rejected outright as they told us that they had stopped issuing permits from Kolkata. However, after a lot of persuasion, we were called again after a couple of days. A short Intro with the Consulate General helped the situation. His understanding of the fact that we will be driving from Kolkata with very young kids, he allowed us to apply for the permits and got it issued in a matter of 5 days or so as a special case. We were delighted !!Another mishap happened when my wife Eshita was hit by Viral Fever just before the trip and we felt that we will have to call the plan off. Against all odds, she recovered very speedily and was fit to travel just a day before the trip was supposed to commence. I guess it was completely her will power and the thirst for a vacation which made this happen.A teaser pic of the Figo with reference to the quote which was raring to hit the highway and the hills after a long time :has lots to offer and our initial plan was to go up to Trongsa. However, as per information in Kolkata from the Consulate, from the RSTA Phuntsholing and from the locals of the Hotels in Bhutan it was told to us that it was not a good idea as it would get very difficult for the Figo since the road widening work from Trongsa to Bumthang was underway and that the road was currently motorable by 4WDs only as it was in a very bad condition. We anyways did not alter our plan and thought of changing the plan as the need would arise. We were lucky to get all reservations done in Bhutan at the last minute as there was a scarcity of Hotels in Bhutan thanks to it being peak season time for them.The Plan (as it was executed) :DAY 1 : Kolkata to GorumaraDAY 2 : Gorumara to PhuntsholingDAY 3 : Phuntsholing to ThimphuDAY 4 : ThimphuDAY 5 : Thimphu to WangdueDAY 6 : Wangdue to Punakha to GangteyDAY 7 : Gangtey to Phobjikha Valley to ParoDAY 8 : Paro to Haa Valley and back to ParoDAY 9 : Paro to SiliguriDAY 10 : Siliguri (As I had some work in Siliguri)DAY 11 : Siliguri to KolkataSo now my dream to drive my car on Foreign Soil was about to materialize and I was excited about it. The packing was underway and the kids were excited; so were we.The Tool Kit and Car Essentials that would go in 1 Small Bag :My 1.5 Year Old Son Mivann at his wits while we packed :It was on the 24th of September 2017, Sunday that we finally set sail for Gorumara. All I can say is that this was one of my worst drives to this region in all these years of driving where nothing was right. The roads & the traffic played a spoilt sport all throughout. The road condition from Kolkata to Gorumara is elaborated in the relevant thread of the Forum as per the Link : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post4288449 Daughter Ishanvi @ Shaktigarh :A picture enroute :We reached our Hotel at Gorumara at around 10:00pm after a 636Kms of driving. We had placed the order for our dinner with the Hotel while we were on our way and it was served hot as soon as we arrived at the property which was very welcoming. Last edited by AJ-got-BHP : 23rd October 2017 at 12:59 . Reason: Changes
English French



Paris, 7 November 2017

Q3 2017 net sales increased +7.5%

Branded business sales decreased -4.9%

Other Businesses top-line grew +25.3%

YTD net sales growth of +5.1%

Action plan in place to address operating challenges

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (Euronext: MBWS; ISIN code: FR0000060873), today announced its consolidated non-audited net sales for the Q3 2017 reporting period. MBWS reported Q3 2017 net sales of 111.4m, a +7.5% increase compared to the previous year. For the year-to-date period at 30/9/2017 net sales totaled 323.9m, an increase of +5.1% versus the same period in 2016.*

"MBWS' sales increase of +7.5% in Q3 2017 comprises two realities," commented Jean-Noel Reynaud, CEO of MBWS. "The company's tactically important Other Businesses grew dynamically, by more than 25%. However, the -4.9% sales decrease generated by MBWS' Branded Business in Q3 2017 is disappointing and below our expectations."

Mr. Reynaud continued, "Net sales during the period were impacted by three specific headwinds: 1) weak sales delivered by Fruits and Wine in France, on-trend with the market; 2) a sales decrease of clear Krupnik in Poland's traditional trade due to pricing pressure; and 3) lower than expected shipments of Sobieski in the United States. We have identified the issues that are curtailing our performance in each market, and are executing an action plans for each business that should lead to better results going forward," concluded Mr. Reynaud.

Q3 2017 Net Sales by Cluster





Q3 2016 Restated** Organic Growth Currency impact Q3 2017 Organic growth (excl. currency impact) Organic growth (incl. currency impact) WEMEA 33.6 -2.5 0.0 31.1 -7.5% -7.5% France 27.1 -1.7 0.0 25.5 -6.1% -6.1% Rest of WEMEA 6.5 -0.9 0.0 5.6 -13.4% -13.4% CEE 20.7 0.6 0.3 21.5 2.6% 3.9% Poland 13.5 -0.3 0.3 13.4 -2.6% -0.7% Rest of CEE 7.2 0.9 0.0 8.1 12.4% 12.4% Americas 5.7 -1.1 -0.3 4.3 -19.0% -23.8% Asia Pacific 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.9 10.3% 10.3% Sub-Total Branded Business 60.9 -3.0 0.0 57.9 -4.9% -4.9% Other Businesses: Sobieski Trade 20.1 6.3 0.5 27.0 31.4% 33.9% Private Label 22.2 4.4 0.0 26.6 19.7% 19.7% Sub-Total Other Businesses 42.3 10.7 0.5 53.5 25.3% 26.5% TOTAL MBWS 103.2 7.7 0.5 111.4 7.5% 8.0%

* All percentage growth rates in this document are expressed in organic terms and exclude foreign currency impact, unless stated otherwise.

** Q3 2016 net sales restated for comparability to Q3 2017. Restated figures reflect the end of the Mateus and Ferreira contracts in WEMEA, the reclassification of Pulco in Spain to Private Label activity, and the sale of the Augustowianka water brand in Poland (Sobieski Trade).

Western Europe, Middle East and Africa

Net sales in the Western Europe, Middle East and Africa cluster (WEMEA) totaled 31.1m in Q3 2017, a -7.5% decrease compared to the year-ago period. Net sales in France were 25.5m, a -6.1% decline versus year ago. In the rest of the cluster, sales decreased by -13.4% to 5.6m.

In France, results were primarily affected by weak sales delivered by Fruits and Wine, in a category that declined -14.8% in the quarter (source: IRI P7 through P9 2017). This performance is consistent with the weak top-line results reported by most weather-sensitive spirits and consumer goods categories in France during the third quarter of the year, as they were uniformly affected by unfavorable summer weather. Despite the weak sales that resulted in a top-line decrease, Fruits and Wine outgrew its category and reached 30.0% market share, a gain of +0.8 point (source: IRI P9 YTD 2017).

William Peel has gained half a point of market share year-to-date in a declining scotch whisky category, for a share of the market of 24.8% (Nielsen YTD P09 2017). Sobieski continued to outgrow the vodka category, further consolidating its position as the second largest vodka brand in France, and gaining one point of market share over the first nine months of the year to a share of 15.4%.

Change in Volumes

vs. 2016 Market Share Market MBWS MBWS Change France William Peel -1.8% +0.3% 24.8% +0.5 pt Sobieski +2.9% +10.0% 15.4% +1.0 pt Fruits and Wine -9.3% -6.9% 30.0% +0.8 pt Source : Nielsen YTD P9 2017 ; IRI YTD P9 2017

The rest of the WEMEA cluster was most significantly affected by the net sales decrease delivered by MBWS-Spain. MBWS is executing an action plan to reverse this performance.

Action Plan

The acceleration of commercial excellence is the company's priority in France. MBWS-France's senior management has been strengthened and given the assignment to increase revenue generation and profitability via: 1) category management; 2) ensuring greater visibility in stores; and 3) more efficient promotional activity.

MBWS is reviewing the strategy for Fruits and Wine.

In Spain, MBWS is reviewing its distribution contracts, pricing structure, and promotional strategy. The company is also leveraging innovation by introducing a new Marie Brizard brand product to expand its targeted consumer base.







Central and Eastern Europe

Net sales in the Central and Eastern Europe cluster (CEE) totaled 21.5m in Q3 2017, an increase of +2.6% year over year, driven by the strong performance of the vodka portfolio in Lithuania and growth in Bulgaria. Those two markets together delivered a 12.4% growth in net sales to 8.1m.

Net sales in Poland decreased by -2.6% to 13.4m. On-going extreme competition in the clear vodka segment continued in the quarter, and Krupnik was at a disadvantage in the traditional trade where its level of distribution is not as widespread as its competitors'. Weakness in the traditional trade resulted in a -5.4% volume fall-off year-to-date for the brand. This decrease was partially offset by the ongoing dynamism of flavored Krupnik.

Change in Volumes vs. 2016 Market Share Market MBWS MBWS Chge POLAND Krupnik Clear -0.8% -5.4% 14.9% -0.7 pts Krupnik Flavored

Krupnik Total Brand +8.6%

+1.4% +19.8%

-3.4% 4.9%

12.5%



+0.5 pts



-0.6 pts Source : Nielsen YTD P09 2017

Action Plan

Ongoing execution of the recent distribution agreements and "push" strategies to ensure MBWS' better visibility in the traditional trade channel ("perfect store" program).

Defense of clear Krupnik's market share via pricing effectiveness.

Development of flavored Krupnik to reach 20% of brand volume sales.

Acceleration of the distribution of William Peel and MBWS' other pillar brands.

Americas

Net sales in the Americas cluster decreased -19.0% to 4.3m in Q3 2017, impacted by ongoing destocking, and exacerbated by the hurricanes in September. This result in shipments does not reflect the improvement in depletions in July and August of this year.

In spite of an ongoing difficult macroeconomic backdrop, MBWS-Brazil's top-line returned to slight growth in Q3 2017.

Action Plan

Execution of the distribution agreements with Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits (SGWS) and Empire Merchants, along with greater promotional efficiency.

Planned re-launch of Sobieski with new brand packaging.

Acceleration of the distribution of Marie Brizard, building on the brand's recipe for success and best practices in the on-trade channel in Great Britain.

Asia Pacific

On-going investment in the Asia Pacific cluster drove third quarter 2017 net sales to increase +10.3% to 0.9m versus the year-ago period. MBWS continued to ramp up its business in that region, primarily in China.

Q3 2017 Pillar Brand Performance

Q3 2017 Q3 YTD 2017 Volume Growth Net Sales Growth Volume Growth Net Sales Growth William Peel -0.8% -0.9% 3.0% 1.3% Sobieski -7.7% -13.6% -4.7% -6.6% Krupnik -15.9% -3.5% -15.3% -3.5% Cognac Gautier 119.8% 143.4% 81.8% 93.2% Marie Brizard 8.2% 4.6% 6.7% 7.1% Fruits and Wine -20.7% -21.1% -7.8% -10.2% Total Pillar Brands -9.1% -3.4% -6.2% -0.7%

Other Businesses: on-going double-digit growth

Other Businesses drove top-line growth in Q3 2017, increasing 25.3% vs year-ago to 53.5m. Dynamic sales growth of 31.4% to 27.0m at Sobieski Trade was driven by increasing coverage of the traditional trade, a more robust client list, and a broadened portfolio of products distributed. The Private Label business grew its top-line by +19.7% to 26.6m, due to growth in third party bottling activities.

Outlook

The action plans being carried out in each market should enable MBWS' Branded Business to return to dynamic growth. MBWS confirms its Mainstream business model for the long term, and reiterates its growth strategy objectives to 2020.



Annex

Net Sales Results - Q3 YTD 2017

Q3 YTD 2016 Restated* Organic Growth Currency impact Q3 YTD 2017 Organic growth

(excl. Currency impact) Organic growth (incl. Currency impact) WEMEA 101.3 -3.9 0.0 97.5 -3.8% -3.8% France 83.5 -2.6 0.0 80.9 -3.1% -3.1% Rest of WEMEA 17.9 -1.2 -0.0 16.6 -6.9% -6.9% CEE 61.9 1.8 0.9 64.5 2.8% 4.2% Poland 41.2 -1.1 0.9 40.9 -2.7% -0.6% Rest of CEE 20.7 2.9 0.0 23.6 13.8% 13.8% Americas 17.8 -2.5 0.3 15.5 -14.3% -12.7% Asia Pacific 2.1 0.5 0.0 2.6 24.7% 24.7% Sub-Total Branded Business 183.1 -4.1 1.2 180.1 -2.3% -1.6% Other Businesses: Sobieski Trade 61.3 13.3 1.6 76.2 21.7% 24.3% Private Label 61.1 6.5 0.0 67.6 10.6% 10.6% Sub-Total Other Businesses 122.4 19.8 1.6 143.8 16.1% 17.5% TOTAL MBWS 305.5 15.6 2.8 323.9 5.1% 6.0%

* Q3 YTD 2016 net sales restated for comparability to Q3 YTD 2017. Restated figures reflect the end of the Mateus and Ferreira contracts in WEMEA, the reclassification of Pulco in Spain to Private Label activity, and the sale of the Augustowianka water brand in Poland (Sobieski Trade).

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits produces and sells a range of wine and spirits across four geographic clusters: Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. MBWS has distinguished itself for its know-how, the range of its brands, and a long tradition and history of innovation. From the inception of Maison Marie Brizard in Bordeaux, France in 1755, to the launch of Fruits and Wine in 2010, MBWS has successfully developed and adapted its brands to make them contemporary while respecting their origins. MBWS is committed to providing value by offering its customers bold, trustworthy, flavorful and experiential brands. The company has a broad portfolio of leading brands in their respective market segments, most notably William Peel scotch whisky, Sobieski vodka, Krupnik vodka, Fruits and Wine flavored wine, Marie Brizard liqueurs and Cognac Gautier. MBWS is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, Compartment B (ISIN code FR0000060873, ticker MBWS) and is included in the EnterNext PEA-PME 150 index, among others.





Press:

Stephane Pedrazzi

stephane.pedrazzi@mbws.com

Tel: +33 1 76 28 40 71

Investors:

Raquel Lizarraga

raquel.lizarraga@mbws.com

Tel: +33 1 43 91 50 18

Simon Zaks, Image Sept

szaks@image7.fr

Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 63
Dr. Anna Konopka, an 84-year-old physician from New Hampshires New London, lost her license after the medical board learned that she did not know how to use a computer. The elderly doctor appeared in state court on Friday, Nov. 3, in an effort to regain her medical license.

No Computer: An Old Filing System For Keeping Medical Records

Konopka has insisted that her filing system for managing the records of various prescriptions and medical conditions for her patients works fine. However, the New Hampshire Board of Medicine is in disagreement and challenged the doctors decision making, prescribing practices, and record keeping.

Konopkas office does not have a computer and neither does she know how to operate one. Her office is inside a 160-year-old clapboard house where she keeps her patients records in two filing cabinets.

The problem now is that I am not doing certain things on computer, Konopka said. I have to learn that. It is time consuming. I have no time.

A part of the boards concern is about the physicians remedial computer skills, which prevent her from accessing and using the mandatory electronic drug monitoring program of the state. New Hampshire signed a program in 2014 that requires opioid prescribers to register in an effort to reduce overdoses.

The allegations against the physician reportedly began with a complaint related to a 7-year-old asthma patients treatment. Konopka was accused of patients treatment failure regarding daily inhaled steroids and leaving the medication dosing levels of one drug to the parents.

In May, Konopka agreed to a board reprimand. However, the doctor added that she did not harm the patient, and the problem was that the patients mother did not follow her instructions. Since then, four more complaints have been filed against the physician.

In September, the state board voted to go ahead with a disciplinary hearing on those complaints. The physician agreed in October to give up her license before the hearing was held. However, she said that she was actually forced to do so.

Effort To Regain Medical License

The doctor appeared in court on Friday without an attorney and pressed the Merrimack County Superior Court judge to order the states medical board to reinstate her. The 84-year-old told the court that the board threatened to revoke her license if she did not give it up voluntarily.

Incidentally, several of Konopkas patients have written letters on her behalf to support the doctor in her ongoing fight, in addition to being in constant touch with her to check on the case. Fridays hearing saw many of her patients attend, who also said that they have been struggling since the doctor stopped seeing them.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Broadcom proposed to acquire Qualcomm in a deal worth $130 billion, which would be the biggest tech acquisition ever if it pushes through.

There were reports over the weekend that Broadcom was considering to make a bid of more than $100 billion to buy Qualcomm, sending the chipmaker's stocks soaring. The offer is now official, but will Qualcomm really benefit from a takeover?

Broadcom Offers $130 Billion For Qualcomm

Broadcom announced through a press release its $130 billion proposal to acquire Qualcomm. It would be the largest tech acquisition in history, taking over the throne from Dell's $67 billion purchase of EMC in 2015.

The transaction includes $70.00 per Qualcomm share, broken down into $60.00 in cash and $10.00 in Broadcom shares, for a total of about $105 billion. On a pro forma basis, the offer's value goes up to $130 billion as it includes the payment of $25 billion of net debt.

If the acquisition pushes through, it would make Broadcom the third-biggest chipmaker in the world, behind Intel and Samsung.

Moment Of Weakness For Qualcomm

Qualcomm is preparing to rebuff the offer, with the argument that it undervalues the company despite the per-share price on a 25 percent premium. However, the chipmaker is currently struggling in a rare moment of weakness due to its ongoing legal battle with Apple.

The legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple, centered on Apple's claims that Qualcomm is charging too much for its chips, recently entered a new chapter. The chipmaker filed a new lawsuit against the iPhone company for allegedly giving rival Intel access to chip technology owned by Qualcomm. The dispute has gotten so bad that Qualcomm even filed a lawsuit last month to stop Apple from selling its iPhones in China.

The pressure is now largely on Qualcomm, as Apple is reportedly planning to stop using Qualcomm components in future iPhones and iPads. If this pushes through, it will be a big blow for Qualcomm, as 20 percent of its sales last year, or $3.2 billion, was to Apple.

Will Qualcomm Benefit From The Takeover?

It is believed that Broadcom, if it is able to acquire Qualcomm, will help smoothen the issue between the chipmaker and Apple.

However, things might not go well for Qualcomm if the takeover proceeds. Tech analyst Patrick Moorhead tweeted that Broadcom would "slice, dice, destroy" Qualcomm. This would end the chipmaker's run as major source of innovation in the industry.

As PC Magazine's Sascha Segan wrote, Qualcomm may find a way to settle its dispute with Apple and focus on 5G technology, or it could succumb to a takeover by Broadcom and be bogged down by cost-cutting measures that will likely come its way.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new study suggests that more animals changed their behavior when non-avian dinosaurs no longer walked on the face of the Earth.

Mammals Evolved After Dinosaurs Disappeared

In the study conducted by University College London and Steinhardt Museum of Natural History of Tel Aviv University, it was noted that the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago resulted to an explosion in the number of mammals several thousand years after.

Fossil records show that the types and number of mammals ballooned in the absence of dinosaurs. Researchers found out that this growth was due to more animals coming out of the dark and exploring their surroundings during daytime  a behavior that provides a glimpse on mammalian evolution.

Researchers used information gathered from 2,415 mammalian species that still exist today. By applying computer algorithms, they retraced steps of the animals' ancient ancestors and recreated the most probable behavioral patterns.

By analyzing family trees from two different mammals from varying time lines, study proponents deducted that mammals literally let go of their nocturnal existence and switched to more daytime activity as dinosaurs were wiped out. The change was not rapid, however. Over millions of years, the animals went through an intermediate state of mixing daytime and nighttime activity.

While the study is not entirely conclusive, the researchers find the correlation significant.

"It's very difficult to relate behavior changes in mammals that lived so long ago to ecological conditions at the time, so we can't say that the dinosaurs dying out caused mammals to start being active in the daytime. However, we see a clear correlation in our findings," Professor Kate Jones of the UCL Genetics, Evolution and Environment and coauthor said.

Simian Primates Developed Better Visual Acuity And Color Perception

Among all other mammals, the ancestors of simian primates such as gibbons, gorillas, and tamarins were among the first to come out of the dark. This strongly correlates with the knowledge that these simian primates are the ones with comparable visual acuity and color perception with diurnal birds and reptiles.

The researchers believe that populating the mammalian family tree will provide a better picture of this behavioral evolution and that the study could greatly strengthen its claim by conducting another research including an actual observation of a living mammal.

Professor Tamar Dayan, coauthor and chair of The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History of Tel Aviv University, says that fossil evidence alone cannot give a concrete information whether a particular animal exists nocturnally or not. Dayan reiterates that evidences of eventual evolution on daylight existence lie in soft tissues.

The study is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on Nov. 6.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Amid the rapid growth of artificial intelligence proponents, Stephen Hawking warns that artificial intelligence would eventually render humans obsolete. AIs can do more harm than good if humans become too aggressive in developing them.

AIs Outperforming Humans

This is not the first time the renowned physicist warned about the AI apocalypse. He previously said that rapidly advancing technology may spell doom for humans several years from now.

During the launch of Artificial Intelligence Center at Cambridge University last October, Hawking already expressed his fear that AIs are like double-edged swords  they could be one of the greatest inventions, but they can also be mankind's worst nightmare. While its development could help technological advancement, they also have the potential to wipe out the humanity  a prediction he keeps on reminding everyone.

In his recent interview, Hawking shared that time will come when artificial intelligence will already reach a potential where they will be more effective than humans, rendering us powerless against them.

"I fear that AI may replace humans altogether," said Hawking. "If people design computer viruses, someone will design AI that improves and replicates itself. This will be a new form of life that outperforms humans."

Technology Is Good But Approach With Caution

Hawking acknowledges that technology has a handful of benefits for the humans. It can help end terminal diseases and curb poverty, but without caution, it can also be deadly.

He also warns that the mankind should prepare for possible consequences. Experts and stakeholders should be aware of its potential dangers and recognize and manage them before it becomes out of hand.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk echoed the sentiments of Hawking. However, Musk believes that the government must make a strong stance regarding AIs by creating laws to regulate it.

In his previous interview, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates seems to downplay the threat.

"The so-called control problem that Elon is worried about isn't something that people should feel is imminent," said Gates. "We shouldn't panic about it."

Hawking stressed the need for everyone to immerse in the study of science. He explained that gaining knowledge to surpass the theoretical debate on AI development is necessary to prepare for the future.

"You all have the potential to push the boundaries of what is accepted, or expected, and to think big," Hawking shared. "It is an exciting  if precarious  place to be and you are the pioneers."

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acrow Bridge, a leading international bridge engineering and supply company, today announced it is currently training British Army military engineers on the Acrow Panel Line of Communication Bridge, which is being used by the Combined Joint Task Force Group (CJTF) in Iraq and Syria for Operation Inherent Resolve. The 20 Royal Engineers, who are members of the 8th Engineer Brigade 25th (CS) Engineering Group, required training on the Acrow system prior to deployment to Iraq, where they will assist the Iraqi Military Engineers in rebuilding key infrastructure there. The training is taking place at Acrows facility in Lafayette, New Jersey and will conclude on November 9.



While Acrow has trained military engineers from around the globe, Acrow's Vice President of Engineering Scott Patterson was able to tailor the training to the requirements of the Royal Engineers. The two-week program is a balanced mixture of classroom and hands on training. Under the guidance of Acrow's lead trainer, Lennox Duggan, CSM U.S. Army (Ret), the engineers will build and launch a 120'-long bridge and then delaunch and dismantle the structure. Other Acrow personnel assisting in the training are Eugene Sobecki, National Sales Manager, and Military Sales and Marketing Manager, LTC Steve Danner U.S. Army (Ret).

The Acrow 700XS bridge system has been selected as a standard Line of Communication Bridge for logistical support by military organizations around the world, including the U.S. Army, the Canadian Army, the Australian Defence Force, the National Army of Colombia, the Chilean Army, the Israeli Defense Forces, the Indonesian Army and United Nations Peacekeeping operations, said Sobecki. Used all over the world, Acrow bridges are capable of supporting large armored tanks and other heavy vehicles under a variety of conditions. They are durable and easy to maintain, and the components are easily transported and reused wherever a temporary or permanent bridge is needed. Designed for fast assembly and disassembly, the Acrow modular bridging solution is a portable system that can be used over and over again by military organizations on the move.

About Acrow Bridge

Acrow Bridge has been serving the transportation and construction industries for more than 60 years with a full line of modular steel bridging solutions for vehicle, rail, military and pedestrian use. Acrows extensive international presence includes its leadership in the development and implementation of bridge infrastructure projects in over 80 countries, covering Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.acrow.com.

Contact:

Tracy Van Buskirk

Marketcom PR

Main: (212) 537-5177, ext. 8

Mobile: (203) 246-6165

tvanbuskirk@marketcompr.com
The BBC took seven prizes, Channel 4 won two and Netflix picked up one at last nights 45th annual Grierson British Documentary Awards.

BBC2s Exodus: Our Journey to Europe won the coveted best documentary series prize, while the best single documentary award went to BBC2s Hillsborough.

The best historical documentary award, sponsored by Televisual, went to Netflixs 13th, directed by Ava DuVernay.

BBC2s Muslims Like Us won the best constructed documentary series category, while another BBC2 documentary Wild Ireland: The Edge of the World was the surprise winner of the best natural history category, beating blockbuster Planet Earth II.

Grayson Perry made it a personal hat-trick as Best Presenter, winning for his work on Grayson Perry: All Man. His previous wins were in 2013 (All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry) and 2015 (Who Are You?).

Former Natural History Unit boss and the head of Siverback Films Alastair Fothergill was presented with the Grierson Trustees Award.

The awards were presented at a star-studded ceremony hosted by Stephen Mangan at Londons The Mermaid last night.

Chair of The Grierson Trust, Lorraine Heggessey, opened the evening saying: "Documentary filmmakers are crucial for giving us insight, provoking thought and telling stories that might otherwise be overlooked (or twisted) by the larger media. With so much media to tap into, its important that storytellers are able to frame things in a larger, more detailed context. In this era of fake and manipulated news, authentic voices and those who doggedly pursue the truth are needed more than ever.



The winners in full



Nyman Libson Paul Best Entertaining Documentary

999: Whats Your Emergency?  Nobody ever said, When I grow up I want to answer 999 calls"

James Incledon, Sam Barnes, Chris Rowe for Blast! Films; first shown: Channel 4

Televisual Best Historical Documentary

13th

Ava DuVernay for Forward Movement LLC & Kandoo Films; first shown: Netflix

Highly Commended

Aberfan: The Green Hollow

Pip Broughton for BBC Studios in Wales in association with Vox Pictures; first shown: BBC Four



The Open University Best Current Affairs Documentary

Goodbye Aleppo

Christine Garabedian for BBC Arabic; first shown: BBC Arabic

Yaddo Best Documentary Short

Fish Story

Charlie Lyne for Loop; first shown: BFI Future Film Festival

ITV Best Student Documentary

Acta Non Verba

Yvann Yagchi for NFTS; first shown: University/College screening

Evolutions Best Constructed Documentary Series

Muslims Like Us

Production Team for Love Productions; first shown: BBC Two

Isle of Media Best Natural History Documentary

Wild Ireland: The Edge of the World  Episode 1

John Murray, Cepa Giblin for Crossing the Line Productions; first shown: BBC Two



Channel 4 Best Single Documentary  International

Machines

Rahul Jain for Jann Pictures, IV Films & Pallas Films; first shown: General theatrical release

Highly Commended

Last Days of Solitary

Dan Edge, Lauren Mucciolo for Mongoose Pictures in association with FRONTLINE PBS; first shown: BBC Four

Grant Thornton Best Arts Documentary

Paula Rego: Secrets and Stories

Nick Willing for Kismet Film Company; first shown: BBC Two

Bertha DocHouse Best Cinema Documentary

Weiner

Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg for AWD Films LLC; first shown: General theatrical release



Sargent-Disc Best Science Documentary

Forces of Nature with Brian Cox: Episode 2, Somewhere in Spacetime

Stephen Cooter for BBC Studios Science with PBS co-produced by France Televisions; first shown: BBC One

Warner Bros TV Production UK Best Documentary Presenter

GRAYSON PERRY for Grayson Perry: All Man

Neil Crombie, Arthur Cary for Swan Films; first shown: Channel 4

BBC Grierson Trustees Award

Alastair Fothergill

Splice Best Single Documentary  Domestic

Hillsborough

Daniel Gordon for Very Much So Productions and Passion Pictures; first shown: BBC Two

Envy Best Documentary Series

Exodus: Our Journey to Europe

James Bluemel, Jack MacInness, Paul Glynn, Robin Barnwell for Keo Films produced in partnership with The Open University; first shown: BBC Two

The Awards also took time to celebrate The Grierson Trusts training and mentoring scheme DocLab, run in partnership with Bertha DocHouse.

59 individuals have taken part so far  exploring documentary making and learning key skills; gaining access to leading filmmakers, production companies and commissioning editors at Sheffield Doc/Fest; and, working with industry mentors and sourced paid work placements with production companies and broadcasters, proving an invaluable first taste of the profession.

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Audio post production house, Warner Bros. De Lane Lea is moving to a brand new home in Soho after 47 years at its current Dean Street address and is significantly growing its offer with new colour grading suites among other changes.

The company, bought by Warner Brothers Studios five years ago, is working in partnership with Soho Estates and will develop a new world class sound and picture post facility within Ilona Rose House, a new development currently under construction in Greek Street.

From its new address, the company will create a cutting-edge, 25,000 sq ft facility which will offer a wide range of creative talent and services. This purpose-built facility, along with our world class talent, will open up a new level of creativity and client servicing for the UK post production community, said Dan Dark, SVP and md, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. This is a rare opportunity to take a new site in the heart of Soho.

John James, MD of Soho Estates said: We at Soho Estates see this as a worthwhile contribution to the legacy of the film industry in Soho which, without such investment, could be lost to Soho forever.

The new location will include four sound re-recording stages, one of which is on a scale that rivals those operated in Hollywood. Additional facilities will be colour grading suites for feature films and TV, 40 picture cutting rooms and an ADR stage all complemented by client lounges and a cafe/bar.

Kim Waugh, SVP Worldwide Post Production Services, Warner Bros. Studio Facilities said: This marks a significant growth in our business as we take this opportunity to expand our services for television and feature clients with the introduction of new colour grading facilities thus ensuring we can offer our clients a full range of post-production creative services. As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, its fitting that we have secured the future of the company in the heart of Soho, for many years to come. Under the leadership of Cara Sheppard we will continue our heritage of creative excellence by attracting and retaining award winning talent.

Philip Thompson, Investment and Development Director of Soho Estates added: This has been a genuinely collaborative partnership and we are delighted that the resulting facility will be an exceptional addition to our portfolio.

WBDLL is expecting to move in 2021 when Ilona Rose House opens and will continue to operate in its current location at 75 Dean Street until that time.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtru, a trusted provider of data protection and data privacy solutions to more than 7,000 organizations announced today that it is expanding support for the Microsoft ecosystem and that it was selected for the prestigious Microsoft Accelerator. These announcements highlight the value that thousands of Microsoft customers have already seen from Virtru and the companys potential to deliver breakthrough solutions on the Azure and Office 365 platforms.



Virtru recently expanded its Office 365 email protection offering, which allows customers to easily protect regulated information and intellectual property shared inside and outside their organizations. Built on the open standard Trusted Data Format (TDF) and leveraging patented technology to streamline the user experience, Virtru allows organizations to maintain complete control of sensitive information regardless of where its created, stored, or shared. This allows organizations to share information more freely and in ways that were not possible before.

Virtru Secure Email has enhanced care coordination with Community Providers through multiple methods of exchanging health records and multiple modes of communication improving the care the Veteran receives, said David Shulkin, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Congressional testimony.

As one of only 11 companies chosen for the Microsoft Accelerator (Seattle Cohort), Virtru engineers and product managers will work directly with the Microsoft team to rapidly deliver new, innovative data protection products to market. In addition, Virtrus participation will accelerate its go-to-market strategy with sales, marketing, and channel enablement programs and the company is aligning with Microsoft's go-to-market teams to promote and co-sell Virtru products to Microsoft customers.

Virtru impressed us with their cross platform, easy to use data protection solutions for Microsoft cloud customers, said Raghav Kher, Managing Director, Microsoft Accelerator - Seattle. "Were excited to work closely with their team to accelerate their product and go-to-market initiatives.

Microsoft Accelerators program is tailor-made for growth stage companies looking to scale their business and capture enterprise customers. Unlike traditional accelerator programs that help early-stage startups identify product-market fit and educate with basic curriculum, Microsoft Accelerator is designed to take mature startups and turn them into enterprise-ready companies by scaling every aspect of their business. Recently selected by the Security Innovation Network (SINET) as one of the 16 most innovative new companies in cybersecurity, Virtru plans to leverage the Accelerator to extend its technical and market leadership position.

This announcement is a significant milestone for us because it recognizes the need for easy-to-use, cross-platform data protection and control as organizations move to the cloud, said John Ackerly, Chief Executive Officer at Virtru. Billions of people and millions of businesses around the world use Microsoft products. Participation in Microsoft Accelerator reflects Virtrus strong and growing position within the Microsoft ecosystem.

About Virtru

Virtru eliminates the tradeoff between data protection and ease of use. More than 7,000 organizations trust Virtrus data protection platform to easily protect and control sensitive informationsuch as regulated content and intellectual propertyregardless of where its been created, stored or shared. Based on open standards, the Virtru platform allows users anywhere, on any device, to work the way they do todaywithout requiring a separate log-in, user interface, download, or application. Virtru is offered as a SaaS platform for access control, policy enforcement, and key management. Data protection policies are enforced through seamless integrations with applications including Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Exchange email, and SaaS business applications. Data protection policies are configured and enforced centrally, with optional warnings and on-demand controls for end-users. The company has raised more than $31 million in funding from leading investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Samsung, and others.
Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced today that it has created a named scholarship fund in honor of Dick Morley, a longtime ISA supporter, founder of Modicon (now part of Schneider Electric) and the initial designer of the first Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)a primary component in modern-day automation. Morley, 84, passed away on 17 October. His obituary can be found here.

Morley was an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, consultant and author who contributed significantly to a wide range of revolutionary, high-technology advancements over more than four decades. An internationally recognized visionary and expert in computer design, artificial intelligence, automation and factories of the future, Morley held more than 20 US and foreign patents.

The scholarship fund, named the Richard E. Dick Morley Innovation Scholarship, will be funded by ISA with a $50,000 endowment. ISA has also pledged to match the next $50,000 of donations. Click here for more information about the scholarship fund and to donate.

Dick Morley wasnt just the inventor of modern-day automationhe was also a mentor and a friend to many of our members and leaders around the world, said ISA President Steve Pflantz. He was a one-of-a-kind person, someone you could never forget. His humor and wit, along with his incredibly creative way of looking at life, made him a force for good in our industry, our society, and the world. He will be missed.

Morley is best known for developing the programmable logic controller (PLC), a breakthrough in the growth and advancement in industrial automation. PLCs are integral to factory automation and industrial processes, controlling a wide array of applications from lighting functions to environmental systems to chemical processing plants.

His initial PLCwhich he designed for continuous processing applicationswas demonstrated at GM in 1969 as Bedford Associates Modicon 084 solid-state sequential logic solver.

Driven by his inventiveness and ingenuity, Morley founded numerous technology companies. His breakthroughs in research and development blazed a pathway for ongoing discoveries and innovations.

For many years, Morley hosted the annual Geek Pride Day festival in New Hampshire, where he lived with his late wife, Shirley. Morley and his wife had three biological children and 27 foster children.

We know that one of the most important parts of Morleys life was his work with young people, commented Pflantz. He was passionate about giving kids a chance to innovate, to redefine their lives, and to make a difference in the world. We intend to make sure that this scholarship fund continues that legacy in some small way.

ISA will announce more details about the application process for the scholarship fund in the coming weeks. To make an individual or corporate donation, visit the Richard E. Dick Morley Innovation Scholarship fund page. For questions, contact ISAs Director of Marketing & Communications, Jennifer Halsey, at jhalsey@isa.org or +1 (919) 990-9287.

More about Morleys contributions and honors

Morley was awarded patents on products such as the parallel interface machine, hand-held terminal and magnetic thin film and storage (floppy disk). He also played an important role in the development of anti-lock brakes, automated vehicle control, building automation and the cool shaft.

His education in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology formed the basis for his interest and expertise in computer design, artificial intelligence, automation and futurism.

For many years, Morley was a contributing columnist to Manufacturing Systems Magazine. He also wrote articles for magazines and journals worldwide, including Manufacturing Automation Magazine and Wired,Control, and inTech magazines.

Morleys peers acknowledged his outstanding contributions with numerous honors and citations. Morley has been honored by several leading organization, such as Inc. magazine, the Franklin Institute, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Engineering Society of Detroit. He also has been inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Other awards and recognitions he received include:

ISA and SME life member

SME Manufacturing Enterprise Council Member

Process Automation Hall of Fame ( Control magazine)

magazine) Automation Hall of Fame Prometheus Award

SME Fellow

Parallel Processor Design  Flavors

Howard N. Potts Award

Entrepreneur of the Year

Gould Science & Engineering Fellow

Boeing Technical Excellence Award

Morley previously served as: Chairman of the Board of National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Inc. (NCMS); Director at Large for the Society Manufacturing Engineers (SME); Member of the Manufacturing Advisory Board for Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI); Member of Advisory Board at Agilepath Corporation; and Director of Memex Inc.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a nonprofit professional association that sets the standard for those who apply engineering and technology to improve the management, safety, and cybersecurity of modern automation and control systems used across industry and critical infrastructure. Founded in 1945, ISA develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 36,000 members and 350,000 customers around the world.

ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation, an association of non-profit organizations serving as The Voice of Automation. Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23602139-e058-4641-b470-1c11019ad299
A Biloxi business owner known for his po-boys found a missing Baton Rouge woman after stopping by a house he is building to check on supplies.

A construction worker employed by Keith Fayard of Fayards Poboys on Popps Ferry Road had found Linda Thompson, but didnt know who she was or what to do about it.

Thompson, 67, had been missing since she was last seen at her home Oct. 27. Her 2005 Lexus was found later that day in the median on Interstate 10 near Interstate 110 in DIberville.

Her car had run out of gas, Biloxi Police Sgt. Christopher De Back said after she was found Monday morning, about 145 miles from her home.

For the original version of this story, click here.

Thompson had spent the night in a home Fayard is building on Lucious Drive, just off Brodie Road. Fayard lives in a subdivision nearby and is building the home to sell.

Fayard said he was surprised when he stopped by the construction site and worker told him there was a lady in one of the bedrooms.

Sun Herald: Missing Baton Rouge woman found alive in Biloxi A missing Baton Rouge woman whose abandoned vehicle was found near DIberville was found Monday in a home under construction in Biloxi, police said.

She was sitting up in bed and had a Bible in her hand. I asked, How are you doing and what are you doing here?

The woman told him she had just stayed at the home Sunday night, and had been staying all over before that, he said.

He asked if she was hungry and when was the last time shed eaten.

She said she hadnt, Fayard said.

She told me, God is taking care of it. I told her God is taking care of it. God sent you here so we could find you.

There was no sign of food or drinks in sight. He offered to get her some food.

Thats what you do if somebodys hungry, Fayard said.

Fayard left and returned with a hamburger and some roast beef sandwiches and told her to stay there and eat while he drove over to Home Depot to pick up some building supplies for his worker.

On the way, he called his friend Bobby Mahoney, of Mary Mahoneys Old French House restaurant, and told him about the woman.

Mahoney remembered seeing a news report of a missing Baton Rouge woman. He copied a picture of the missing woman from a news report and sent it to Fayard. It was Thompson.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation had issued a Silver Alert for her on Friday.

As far as police know, Thompson doesnt know anyone in Biloxi, Police Major Christopher De Back said.

Missing Baton Rouge woman's car found abandoned in Mississippi, police say D'IBERVILLE, Miss. (AP)  Police are searching for a Louisiana woman whose car was found abandoned along an interstate highway in Mississippi.

She didnt look homeless, Fayard said.

She looked in great shape. But I dont know how she made it that long without food and water. Theres a faucet outside so she may have gotten some water from the faucet.

Fayard said he returned to the house and asked the woman if she is Linda Thompson. She said yes.

We had a good talk about running away, getting along, about depression, he said.

I told her everybody has issues. I told her, its not safe for you to be alone.

Police came and took her to the police department and she received a medical checkup, an official said.

Its just astonishing what can happen in a day and that everything turned around right, Fayard said.

God bless her. Im really happy that shes going to be OK.

For the original story from The (Biloxi) Sun Herald, click here.
Latest, Nov. 15

Wilbert Jones is expected to be released from prison Wednesday. Read the latest here.

Original story

A state district court judge has overturned Wilbert Jones' 1974 conviction in the abduction and rape of a Baton Rouge nurse, saying "highly favorable" evidence was withheld from the defense.

Attorneys for Jones filed a motion in court Tuesday seeking their client's immediate and unconditional release from prison in light of Judge Richard Anderson's ruling in the decades old case. Failing that, they argued, Jones should be allowed to post a minimal bail.

The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office, however, said they will ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to review Anderson's ruling in Jones' case.

Emily Maw, the director of Innocence Project New Orleans, which represents Jones, said in an interview that an appeal would be a waste of taxpayer money.

"This case has been an unthinkable tragedy for Wilbert Jones and his family," she said. "Nobody can undo this tragedy, but the court can and should end it right now and order his immediate release. The law permits it and morality compels it."

Jones' attorneys said the 64-year-old Baton Rouge man is frail, aging and innocent and has been wrongly imprisoned for more than 45 years. He is serving a life sentence.

"Any further incarceration of Mr. Jones is a violation of his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment and his right to humane treatment," Maw and her fellow Innocence Project New Orleans lawyers  Kia Hall Hayes, Jee Park and Richard Davis  argued in a court filing Tuesday.

Jones was found guilty in the Oct. 2, 1971, rape of a young Baton Rouge General Medical Center nurse who was abducted from the hospital parking lot. Another young woman was kidnapped Oct. 29, 1971, from the parking lot of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical and raped. Both were abducted at gunpoint.

+2 Judge hears arguments in Baton Rouge man's 1971 rape case; he's serving life, wants new trial A jury may not have convicted Wilbert Jones of abducting and raping a nurse in 1971 if it had heard that several weeks later, a "strikingly si

Anderson ruled the state was obligated to turn over information about the second rape to Jones' trial attorneys but failed to do so. He said "there is a reasonable probability that, had the information been disclosed to competent counsel, the result of the proceeding would have been different."

The judge added that the "strong similarities" between the two rapes are "almost too numerous to list." He also stated that the nurse's physical description of her attacker is "an almost identical match" to Arnold Ray O'Conner, who was convicted of armed robbery in a September 1973 home-invasion rape near Baton Rouge General.

O'Conner's fingerprints were found on the car of the woman kidnapped from the Our Lady of the Lake parking lot and raped, but Anderson said he was arrested but never charged in that incident.

The nurse in the Baton Rouge General rape case died in 2008. The filing Tuesday by Jones' attorneys includes an affidavit from her husband.

"I am aware that Mr. Jones' lawyers have evidence that the crime was committed by another man. I don't know whether Mr. Jones is innocent or not. But if he is innocent I strongly support his application for release," he says in the May 5 affidavit. "It would be a tragedy if he was in prison this long for a crime that someone else did."

Jones' attorneys stated in their court filing Tuesday that it is "difficult to conceive how the State could re-prosecute Mr. Jones."

In his ruling last week, Anderson said the kidnapper-rapist in both October 1971 incidents ordered the women to drive around the surrounding neighborhood while he sat in the back seat, and eventually ordered them to stop their vehicles.

The Baton Rouge General nurse's attacker ordered her to get out of her vehicle and to put her arm around his waist while they walked to a secluded area, the judge said, while the Our Lady of the Lake victim was ordered to get out of her vehicle and hold his hand while they crossed Scenic Highway into a secluded area.

After each sexual assault, the perpetrator wiped himself clean with the victims' clothing and rummaged through their purses, taking 50 cents from the nurse and $4 from the other woman, Anderson said. The attacker left behind a pick hair comb at each scene, he added.

The judge found "equally disturbing" the fact that the nurse's assailant then drove her to 28th and Slate streets, where he fled east in the direction of the 2900 block of Slate, which was where O'Conner lived at that time.

"Based on the striking similarities between the rapes  as well as the similarities between the perpetrators of the rapes, the Court finds that the evidence withheld from the defense was highly favorable to Jones' case," Anderson wrote.

The judge also stated that the case against Jones was "weak, at best." The state's entire case rested entirely on the nurse's testimony, and questionable identification of Jones that came more than three months after her rape. The victim "admittedly was not certain about her identification of Jones, and she even expressed doubts to officers regarding the identification," Anderson said.

The Supreme Court earlier this year ordered Anderson to hold a hearing in Jones' case to determine whether evidence was withheld from the defense in violation of his constitutional rights. The judge conducted the hearing Aug. 31 and Sept. 5.

+2 Baton Rouge man serving life sentence in 1971 kidnap, rape seeks new trial Wilbert Jones has spent more than 45 years behind bars for a rape the Baton Rouge man and his attorneys contend he didn't commit, but the man 

East Baton Rouge Parish Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings noted during the hearing that the Baton Rouge General nurse was raped at the then-East Baton Rouge Special Education Building, and Jones was in special education.

O'Conner, now 63, was called to testify at the hearing earlier this year but refused to answer any questions about the October 1971 abductions and rapes.

A judge's order signed the year after Jones' 1974 rape conviction gave police permission to destroy physical evidence in the case, including a pair of pantyhose, a dress and slip, and two combs.
Two Baton Rouge police officers served suspensions in September for separate, racially-charged comments each made during the first week in May when the U.S. Justice Department decided not to pursue civil rights charges in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling.

As the city  and its police force  were bracing for protests in response to the federal decision about the case, in which a white police officer fatally shot Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, both a white and black Baton Rouge police officer made comments that offended another member of their agency, warranting discipline, according to the department's internal affairs division.

The white officer, Blaine Dupuy, was suspended for 20 days  from Aug. 26 to Sept. 14  after an internal affairs investigation found he sent a text message May 4 with an animated photo depicting a chimpanzee along with the phrase, "I'va biggen CHIMP OUT," according to investigative documents. Dupuy sent the image to the 11-members of his squad in a group text message as they were discussing the possible protests.

BR officer suspended after alleged racial message about Alton Sterling protesters A Baton Rouge police officer has been suspended amid allegations he sent a racially charged image to a group of colleagues who had been exchan

Donald Steele Jr., a black officer in that group message, responded to the text, saying it was a racist term and reminded everyone that there were black people in the group text. He also said there are certain words he won't say around white people.

Steele then formally filed a complaint about the text message to internal affairs, saying he found it derogatory and racist.

The online Urban Dictionary defines "chimping out" as a slur describing "when a black person removes his/her facade as a civilized human being and releases his/her inner chimp; as in to start acting violent and out of control."

Dupuy has continually stated he "meant the phrase as a joke and had no idea that it could be considered racist," a letter from interim Chief Jonny Dunnam says.

Steele was also later suspended for three days beginning Sept. 1 following an internal affairs investigation that found during that first week in May he approached three fellow officers  one of Middle-Eastern descent and two white  in a convenience store and said: "I don't know why you hanging around them white folk, they don't want you," directing his comments to the officer of Middle-Eastern descent, investigative documents say.

Two of those three officers later submitted formal complaints to internal affairs, calling the comments "extremely offensive" and "unprofessional," according to the investigation.

No one interviewed by internal affairs could give investigators an exact date when the incident occurred except that it happened during the first week of May, though all three officers said they heard Steele's comments, the documents say.

Broome: Racially charged text message another sign BRPD needs top-down change A Baton Rouge police officer's racially charged text message that resulted in his suspension has become the latest cause du jour in Mayor-Pres

Steele has denied ever making the statement, according to investigative documents. He is set to appeal the suspension Nov. 16 at the Municipal Fire & Police Civil Service Board.

The two officers who formally complained about Steele's statement also called it hypocritical.

"A double standard should not be in place when it comes to racial allegations and racial business," one of the complaints says.

However, Steele alleges the complaints about his conduct were in retaliation to his accusation against Dupuy.

"I think this is retaliation due to me writing a letter on his friend," Steele said during an internal affairs interview, according to the investigative documents. "If that incident did occur as he said it did, I believe he would have said something on that date and time and not wait until I wrote a letter on someone else on the squad."

Dupuy was placed on administrative leave May 18 so the internal affairs division could investigate the text message, according to the documents.

On May 23, the day after The Advocate published a story about Dupuy's investigation, the first officer filed a formal complaint that Steele had made the offensive comments. Two days later, the second officer filed a similar complaint, documents show.

One of the officers said he didn't come forward and complain about Steele sooner because he was "willing to swallow some pride," and see that "we are all blue," instead of skin color, according to the complaint. But, he said, "I feel this must be addressed at this time with the current investigation going on (about Dupuy's text)."

Dupuy, a three-year veteran of the force, was disciplined for violating policies regarding "command of temper, respect to fellow members and conduct unbecoming of an officer," according to the documents. Dupuy was off duty at the time of the incident.

+4 Citing 'insufficient evidence,' U.S. attorney says no federal charges in Alton Sterling shooting A 10-month investigation into the confrontation with two Baton Rouge policemen that left Alton Sterling dead did not uncover enough evidence t

Steele, an officer for the last two-and-a-half years, was disciplined for violating "command of temper," documents say. Steele was on duty at the time of the incident.

Both Steele and Dupuy have completed their suspensions and returned to work, said Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola.

Dupuy could not be reached for comment Monday, and it was not clear whether he has an attorney.

Sgt. C. Bryan Taylor, the president of the Baton Rouge police union, did not return calls seeking comment.

Sgt. Myron Daniels, the Capital Area president of the Magnolia State Peace Officers Association who is representing Steele in his appeal of the department's discipline, declined to comment until after the appeal hearing.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said she agreed with the disciplinary action taken.

"I stand by my original sentiment that blatantly racist messaging of any type is appalling," Broome wrote in a statement. "We will continue to study and implement best practices in all areas to ensure that our citizens are served by officers who understand and implement 21st Century policing practices and standards. This includes respecting the people they swear to protect and serve, as well as each other."

Editor's note: This story was updated Tuesday, Nov. 11 to include the statement from Mayor Broome.
Louisiana's drive to meet higher standards for A-rated schools stalled during the past school year, according to state figures released Tuesday.

The percentage of students who earned the fourth highest of five achievement levels  mastery  or higher was unchanged for the 2016-17 school year compared to the previous year.

Just one in three students  33 percent  scored mastery or better when English/language arts, math and science scores are combined. That is the same as the 2015-16 school year.

They are important because mastery represents the new standard for achieving top-school status, and Louisiana clearly has ways to go to meet the raised academic bar.

The results were part of the annual announcement on how public schools are faring, and what letter grades they earned.

The overall average for public schools is a B, up from a C last year.

The Zachary school system was ranked No. 1 for the 13th consecutive year.

While letter grades still spark arguments, they are used as a simple way for parents and other taxpayers to see how public schools are faring.

The exams, which are taken in the spring, are called the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, or LEAP.

A total of 42 percent of students scored mastery in English/language arts, up from 41 percent last year.

In math, 32 percent of students did so, a decline from 34 percent in the previous year.

Another 24 percent of students reached mastery in science, the same as the 2015-16 school year.

"We have raised academic expectations in Louisiana in order to prepare more students for success in college and the workplace, and it is encouraging to see our students and educators embracing these expectations and achieving at levels competitive with other states," state Superintendent of Education John White said in a statement.

"But there remains more work to be done," White said.

The results apply to students in grades three through eight.

Under the previous rules, schools could earn an A-rating if students averaged the third highest of five scoring levels  basic. That bar is gradually being raised, and students will have to average mastery, and meet other standards, for a school to earn an A-rating by 2025.

"No question that this system is getting more challenging in future years," White told reporters Tuesday. "If history stands as a precedent then schools will meet that challenge."

State officials often note that, in previous years, test scores have gradually rebounded, after an initial dive, when the academic bar is raised.

Changes in how students and districts are graded have sparked months of arguments in education circles, including Louisiana's top school board.

The percentage of students who scored mastery since 2015 has inched up in all three subjects.

That includes English, up 5 percentage points; math, 2 percentage points; and science, 2 percentage points.

Historic gaps between white students and black students, and different income levels, showed up too.

A total of 45 percent of white students earned mastery for the 2016-17 school year compared to 19 percent of black students.

Just 25 percent of students classified as economically disadvantaged scored mastery compared to 52 percent of those from families with higher incomes.

Students without disabilities earning mastery outpaced those with disabilities by 24 percentage points  35 percent to 11 percent.

"The results provide further evidence that we must do more to close gaps that persist between historically disadvantaged students and their peers," White said.

+2 No more curve: School letter grades on Tuesday will be last of their kind When public school letter grades are released on Tuesday, it will mark the end of a generous scoring system sparked mostly by the tougher acad

The results mark the last time that the state will use a curve in allocating scores for schools and districts. The generous scoring, which lasted for four years, was started during the move to more rigor in English, math and other subjects.

Boosting the standard for A-rated schools is aimed at addressing the state's longtime gap in achievement requirements here and elsewhere.

"We can say an A-rated school in Louisiana would be an A-rated school in Massachusetts, California and anywhere in between," White told reporters.

School districts are assigned school performance scores based on test results, and those scores are linked to letter grades.

The Livingston Parish School District got a waiver because of the 2016 flood, and the East Baton Rouge Parish school system got something similar.

After Zachary the top-scoring school districts are the Plaquemines, Central, Ascension and Vermilion systems.

Much of Tuesday's announcement focused on an online reporting system that spells out how well child care centers, not just schools, are preparing children from birth through 12th grade.

The system, called Louisiana School Finder, is the first of its kind in the nation, state officials said.
State education leaders on Tuesday are unveiling their latest consumer tool for Louisiana families shopping for a public school.

Its called Louisiana School Finder. Its the new home for public school report cards but goes far beyond report cards of the past.

This system is designed for families. All the information included is information families say they wanted, said Sydni Dunn, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Education.

+2 No more curve: School letter grades on Tuesday will be last of their kind When public school letter grades are released on Tuesday, it will mark the end of a generous scoring system sparked mostly by the tougher acad

The new website, louisianaschools.com, goes live Tuesday morning. Thats around the same time the Louisiana Department of Education is releasing annual performance scores and letter grades for public schools and school districts. Also being released are new performance profiles for child care centers.

Louisiana School Finder will have a range of information, well beyond whats typically been included in traditional school report cards:

Listings of course offerings, clubs, enrichment and extracurricular activities.

School-level teacher information such as annual attendance and retention rates, as well as the racial diversity of the faculty. Information will also include percentages of certified teachers, except for charter schools which by law dont have to hire certified teachers.

Interactive tools to search for and compare schools.

Thats in addition to basic information about schools, including their addresses, locator maps, websites, hours of operation, and the principal or director's name.

Similar information will focus on the states hundreds of licensed child care centers. And theres a link to a separate database of health and safety inspections of those same centers.

The new site also links to a web video on the letter grade system that the state uses to judge schools as well as a video explaining the numerical grades the state has started giving some child care centers. Centers that participate in the federally funded Child Care Assistance Program earn grades of up to 7 points.

Dunn said the new sites inclusion of so much information on early childhood centers stands out.

Weve been able to confirm by talking with other states that Louisiana is the first state to offer an online tool of this sort to give information from birth all the way through grade 12, she said.

The new website includes the information on school report cards such as assessment results, graduation rates and college enrollment. It also pulls in information the state Department of Education has collected for years but has heretofore not included in school report cards, information such as rates of out-of-school suspension, chronic absenteeism by students and student-to-computer-device ratios.

The site is reminiscent of EnrollNola, the home of OneApp, the government-run site families in New Orleans have used for years to apply to public schools in that city, a place replete with educational choices. But the new site is not limited to New Orleans and it includes information that site does not.

Louisiana School Finder is far from alone. Commercial services such as GreatSchools and SchoolDigger have long offered a range of online information about Louisiana schools, going beyond School Finder in certain respects.

Dunn said Louisiana School Finder is still a work in progress. She said it will be updated regularly and checked monthly for accuracy. Old information is still being loaded in and new features will be added over time, including data on the academic growth of students over time.

Louisiana's hotly debated plan to revamp public schools gets federal approval Louisiana's controversial plan to revamp its public schools has won federal approval, officials said Tuesday.

Dunn said the decisions about what to include and what not to include drew on the information gathered over the past year as Louisiana developed its implementation plan for the federal Every Child Succeeds Act. School data not included in School Finder remains available on the departments main website, www.louisianabelieves.com. And old report cards are still at https://www.louisianabelieves.com/data/reportcards/.

We put in everything that families prioritized, because we couldnt publish everything, she said.
Like a ghost of elections past, a political action committee with ties to John Flemings 2016 U.S. Senate campaign is about to launch attack ads on a contender for a Louisiana House race in St. Tammany Parish.

Republican Rob Maness, who is in the Nov. 18 runoff for the House District 77 seat with Covington City Council member Mark Wright, also a Republican, said the television ads are payback for his refusing to drop out of the U.S. Senate race last year. Both Maness, a retired Air Force colonel from Madisonville, and Fleming, then a U.S. congressman from Minden, were competing for the same tea party-driven constituency.

Nonsense, said J Hudson, chairman of the Better Louisiana PAC, which he formed last week to help good conservatives get elected.

Better Louisiana has received two donations and bought time on cable television to run spots, starting Tuesday, on Fox News and ESPN that castigate Maness as a perennial candidate with frightening political views.

Hudson was on Flemings campaign team in last year's race to replace David Vitter in the U.S. Senate.

The PAC reported having $20,200  $200 from Hudsons firm and $20,000 from a Plano, Texas woman who shares a name with one of Flemings children who also lives in a Dallas suburb. Also, the Brooklyn Bolin who donated to the Better Louisiana PAC had the same address as Brooklyn Fleming Bolin who contributed $8,100 to Flemings Senate campaign.

Hudson refused to comment on the donor or whether she is Fleming's daughter.

Rob Maness says he's been asked to resign the Senate race Louisiana Senate candidate Rob Maness said Tuesday he was asked to drop out of the race and throw his support to GOP opponent John Fleming in 

Dr. Fleming isnt involved. We solicited donations but when it comes to the operation of the PAC, these are solely my decisions, Hudson said.

Flemings medical office and his cell phone went unanswered Monday as did a phone call to Bolin.

The PAC also carries the same name as a federal PAC that supported Fleming during the 2016 U.S. Senate campaign. The federal group raised $220,000 and spent most of that money on opposing two other Republican candidates in the 2016 Senate race: U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, of Lafayette, and John N. Kennedy, of Madisonville and eventual winner.

Hudson said that despite the name, the two political action committees are not related.

But the largest donor to the federal PAC was a Shreveport company headed by Paul Dickson, a lavish giver to Republican causes and candidates. Dickson met with Maness in October 2016 at the Abita Roasting Company cafe in Madisonville.

Maness said Dickson threatened that if he did not drop out of the Senate race and endorse Fleming, he would be finished as a politician. Dickson, at the time, called Maness assertions absolutely false but wouldnt say what was discussed.

The guy told me, Your career will be over, Maness told The Advocate Monday.

I guess this closes that loop, Maness said about the Better Louisiana PAC commercials.

He would be wrong, Hudson said of Maness interpretation. This has nothing to do with the Senate race. This has everything to do with his views on the issues and their inconsistencies with what is best for Louisiana.

Maness attracted national attention and the endorsement of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin when he made his first run for public office in 2014. Backed by tea party groups around the state, Maness attracted 14 percent of the total vote in a bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu. Bill Cassidy, a more moderate Republican, eventually won the election, after a highly touted endorsement from Maness.

Maness was often mentioned as a possible candidate for several statewide offices. But in his only other try for public office, the 2016 Senate race, Maness received only 5 percent of the total vote.

+2 Rob Maness and Mark Wright headed for runoff for House District 77 seat Rob Maness, who twice ran for the U.S. Senate, had better success in pursuing a state legislative seat, leading a field of four candidates for

Maness, 55, and Wright, 47, outpaced two others in the October primary for a seat left open by John Schroder's resignation to run for state treasurer.

The Covington-based House District 77 is comprised of much of western St. Tammany, including Madisonville and parts of Folsom.

Early voting for the Nov. 18 election continues through Saturday, except Friday when state offices are closed for Veterans Day.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lions Gate Metals Inc. ("Lions Gate" or the "Company") (CSE:LGM) is pleased to announce that it is proposing a change of business to become an Investment Issuer. The Company intends to transition to an investment issuer focused on companies in the blockchain technology industry.



Completion of the change of business is subject to a number of conditions, including Canadian Securities Exchange and shareholder approval.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed change of business and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

On Behalf of the Board,

Emily Davis

Director

Tel: 604-628-5616

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements are in respect of the proposed change of business. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements, including, the risks and uncertainties related to the proposed change of business not being completed and the required Canadian Securities Exchange and shareholder approvals not being obtained. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that the proposed change of business will proceed and be completed as planned; and the required Canadian Securities Exchange and shareholder approvals will be obtained. The Company 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 otherwise required by applicable law.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy joined joined other members of Congress and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week to assess damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

"Following similar disasters, Louisiana has experienced the generosity of others, and we are prepared to show the same to our fellow Americans," Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, said in a statement Monday. "In the days ahead, Congress will help ensure the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have the resources they need to fully recover."

Murkowski, R-Alaska, last month announced that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee would hold a hearing in the coming weeks on the hurricanes' impact on the U.S. territory islands.

The delegation visited the Knud Hansen Hospital and the Schneider Medical Center in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday and visited the Joint Field Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday. According to a release from Cassidy's office, they received several briefings on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and surveyed damage on the island by helicopter.

Gov. John Bel Edwards last week led a delegation of top disaster recovery leaders from Louisiana to Puerto Rico for meetings with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello and others. The group toured some of the hardest-hit areas on the island and also surveyed damage by helicopter.

Louisiana has deployed more than 300 members of its National Guard and a state-wide donation drive collected 100 pallets of needed items for hurricane victims there.

+2 Gov. John Bel Edwards returns after touring areas of Puerto Rico battered by Hurricane Maria SAN JUAN  Gov. John Bel Edwards capped off a trip to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Tuesday with visits to some of the hardest hit areas of
News, analysis, and archives on the grassroots in Haiti. Nouvel, analiz, ak achiv sou baz yo an AYITI. Noticias, analisis y archivos sobre el pueblo de Haiti.
Canberrans who are yet to fill in their same-sex marriage surveys can still take part by handing in their forms by late Tuesday afternoon.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics office in Belconnen will be open to receive completed survey forms from 8.30am until 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The same-sex marriage postal survey closes on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Bureau deputy statistician and taskforce lead, Jonathan Palmer, said this would be "absolutely" the last chance to join the estimated 12.3 million other eligible Australians who have already participated.

"When you get to the ABS office, you should hand your completed form to an ABS officer so it can be securely stored and counted in the final results," Mr Palmer said.
We are up to our ankles in mud when Amina approaches us. Pregnant and with three young children clinging to her arms, Amina explains through tears that her husband is missing after fleeing their village in Myanmar.

Amina and her children travelled by foot for 18 days to reach this camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. After finally reaching the camp in the middle of the night, she was so exhausted that she slept through the morning's aid delivery. The family of four have nothing but the clothes they are wearing.

My Bangladeshi Red Crescent colleague acts quickly, arranging for a meal, a tarpaulin for shelter and a few other survival necessities. The next day Amina returns to thank us. Her smile is a ray of hope in this heaving new city of close to a million people within eyesight of Myanmar.

This is the best we can hope for right now: to give people what they need to survive the coming days.
How would you feel about having to pee in a cup for help? I ask because this is what the federal government wants some people to do from January 1 in order to qualify for welfare, and I think we should all wonder how we would feel if this was us. Because in a sense it is us, or at least should be us if we support this policy and don't believe in selective morality.

Under the trial plan, which is still before the Senate, 5000 new welfare recipients will be tested for drugs. Those who test positive will have 80 per cent of their payment quarantined onto a debit card that can't be used to buy drugs or alcohol. After a second positive test (which, in a nice touch, the unemployed person will have to pay for), the recipient will be forced into drug treatment. Refusal to take a test will, of course, result in welfare payments being cancelled immediately.

You can see why this plan appeals to politicians. It's not just that there are always votes in being seen to come down hard on supposed dole bludgers. It's that the policy has a first-look veneer of reasonableness. It's hard to argue with the position that taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to support drug habits. And this plan, it is claimed, offers help to the addicted; it gives them a path out of hopelessness. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has even gone so far as to say it is "a policy based on love".

But take a closer look at the plan and you can't help but think that, if this is love, then we need less love.
Ms Ardern expressed her shock in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the "first cat of New Zealand" was hit by a car and killed on Tuesday.

She thanked people for their thoughts and asked people to "please be kind to the SPCA".

Paddles - the first cat of New Zealand - has been killed. Credit:Twitter @FirstCatofNZ

The cat, who had a Twitter feed dedicated to his antics after the election, had already amassed a following of more than 11,000 fans.

The FirstCatOfNZ account has put out a message saying "sad PR Guy here.Tysm for loving Paddles, the whole world will mourn her.Not bad for a lil SPCA puss. #PrrpForever."

Ms Ardern's partner, Clarke Gayford, has asked that people donate funds to the SPCA in memory of Paddles if they want to, as the double-thumbed Paddles was an SPCA cat.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has conceded there could be "consequences" for his wafer-thin hold on government if more Coalition members of the House of Representatives are found to be ineligible because of their dual citizenship.

But Mr Turnbull pushed back against a call for a constitutional change that would allow dual citizens to sit in Parliament, saying the more immediate issue was MPs being disqualified by foreign laws that granted them citizenship even if they were unaware of it.

Following Fairfax Media's revelation that backbencher John Alexander faces doubts over his eligibility, the Prime Minister said Mr Alexander had restated his belief that he is not a dual citizen

"If the High Court concluded there are a number of members of the House of Representatives that were not eligible to sit in the Parliament, then there would be a series of byelections. Depending on the result of the byelections, that could have consequences for the government," Mr Turnbull told ABC radio.
If John Alexander had been a British citizen when Australia's constitution was adopted in 1901, his position as an Australian parliamentarian would surely have been perfectly safe.

There were no Australian citizens in 1901  or for the next half century.

The founding fathers, in short, would have been altogether confounded by today's uproar about dual citizenship concerning those who might be declared British.

Most Australians until 1948 were simply British subjects, owing their allegiance to the British crown.
It said success had been incremental but due to a number of push-and-pull forces, which after decades are bearing fruit. First, in Iceland, women call out problems where they see it. Or, as the ministry officials put it, they make "invisible realities of women visible". Iceland women began agitating more than 40 years ago. On October 24, 1975, there was a massive wave of professional and domestic strikes.

Icelander women had refused to carry out domestic work and childcare to prove that society would be paralysed without women's labour. Decades on, such protests continue. In October last year, thousands of women across Iceland walked out of their workplaces at 2.38pm. Women's rights groups had calculated the pay gap meant that, after that time each day, women were working for free. Such agitations have led to a number of law changes  the other main cause of Iceland's success on gender equality.

Iceland now has one of the most gender equal parliaments in the world, with 48 per cent of lawmakers being women in 2016. In 2008, Iceland passed a law that requires at least 40 per cent of each gender to be represented on boards and in senior management in public corporations. In 2010, Iceland's government adopted a 40 per cent gender quota for private company boards, which took hold on September 1, 2013. Despite a declining gender gap its government is determined to reduce it further. It has pledged to eradicate the gender pay gap by 2022.

The government wants to make it compulsory for all companies with 25 employees or more to develop a certification scheme for gender pay equality. On International Women's Day it said its aim was to ensure that all jobs of equal value are paid the same  that is, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality or nationality. According to opinion polls, Icelanders generally support quotas. It is unlikely the majority of Australians would support moving to a quota system despite there being the need for one. The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) had set a target for 30 per cent of board seats to be filled by women by the end of 2018.

It wanted ASX 200 companies to voluntarily meet it, rather than face government mandates. It's clear now that target is now not going to be met. At the end of August there were 25.4 per cent female directors across the ASX 200  only marginally above the 25.3 per cent achieved by the end of 2016, and still 11 boards with no women. Public buy-in is essential for quota systems to work. There has also been criticism in Iceland that there are no penalties for companies that fail to abide by the rules.
A distraught Khaled Arnaout, who was first on the scene, after discovering two boys had died. Credit:Nick Moir "I looked at the car and someone said, 'they are stuck under the car, help us, help us'. We lifted up the car straight away and just got him," Mr Arnaout said. "He was a critical one, we took him to a room. We took them all inside to the office and straight away got him into CPR and put another kid in a recovery position. Scenes from Banksia Road Primary School in Greenacre as parents run to get their kids. Credit:Nick Moir "He was pretty bad, he had a big gash on his head. I kept doing CPR until [the ambulance] got there and then they took over."

Mr Arnaout said he could see that the driver, who had been able to clamber out of the wreck physically uninjured, was in shock. People gather for a vigil at Banksia Road Public School after the accident. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer "I actually felt sorry for her but I couldn't give her any attention. I just left her there," he said. The boys and three other children, two girls aged eight and a third girl aged nine, were rushed to The Children's Hospital at Westmead. An aerial view of the school and location of the crash. Credit:ABC News

But the two boys could not be revived. One of the girls remained in a serious condition on Tuesday afternoon. Their families were rushed to hospital only to be told the tragic news as waves of relatives descended on the school's two entrances. Paramedics assessed 17 other children and their female teacher before they were placed back into the care of immediate family. Acting traffic and highway commander Superintendent Stuart Smith said early investigations suggested the incident was not deliberate. "We're not looking at this as an intentional act. It is a crash investigation," he said.

"We're working with forensic services group, we're methodically working through the circumstances of this crash. We have a 52-year-old local woman who is with police at this time. She's co-operating with blood and urine testing and the processes that accompany that investigation. "This is a horrific, you know, this is a horrific incident for all." Year 4 student Mariam Issmail was in a nearby classroom and said everyone in the class was very scared. "We were just doing our work and all of a sudden we just heard this big bang," she said. "We were crying. Kids were screaming and saying, 'I want my mum, I want people, I want help'.

"We had to stay in the classroom and stay until our parents came." Mariam's mother Khadije said she was shocked upon hearing the news. "My neighbour told me," she said. "I couldn't even speak." Ambulance Service of NSW Superintendent Stephanie Radnidge said paramedics arrived to "a scene of carnage". "[There were] a number of distressed and overwhelmed children and teachers at a scene of a horrible accident," she said.

"Obviously they were crying, they were distressed, some were asking for their parents, that's a natural response in such a terrible set of circumstances. "It is very, very hard because we are parents ourselves, we are human beings. "To those persons who have assisted in this terrible tragedy prior to paramedics arriving, of course the families, paramedics and everyone involved want to say thank you for going above and beyond for caring to those people in that terrible time of adversity." Crash investigators were still attempting to discover what may have caused the vehicle to gather speed and career into the building from a small carpark within the school grounds. The driver was taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. She was charged late on Tuesday with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and bailed to appear in court later this month.

The Education Department said in a statement that the classroom was a permanent weatherboard building of sound structural condition. "While asbestos containing materials have been identified inside the building, the removal of any asbestos that may have been disturbed in the damaged building will be managed in compliance with SafeWork NSW requirements," a spokesman said. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said his thoughts were with the school community. "I cannot begin to comprehend the sadness being felt by the parents and families of the two young boys who have died in today's tragic accident at Banksia Road Public School. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and the entire school community," he said in a statement. Loading "Our first priority is to support students, staff and parents by any means necessary and allow them time to properly grieve. This will not be a quick process and we will work together with the school community to provide whatever assistance we can.
Pauline Hanson says she hopes the media will spring for a better bottle of champagne when her party wins at least 10 seats at the Queensland election.

The One Nation leader indulged a Nine network reporter when she used a "cheap" bottle of bubbly he had given her to christen her "battler bus" before it hit the road on Monday.

Pauline Hanson christens the bus.

"Channel Nine bought that bottle of champagne and asked me to do it - and (it was) a cheap bottle of champagne I must say," she told Nine's Today show host Karl Stefanovic on Tuesday.

"When we actually win these double-digit seats you can buy me a better bottle of champagne to celebrate."
The sentencing hearing of a Gold Coast mother who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son Tyrell Cobb has been shown confronting post-mortem pictures of the child's bruised body.

Heidi Strbak appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as her contested sentencing hearing began before Justice Peter Applegarth.

The court was shown a series of graphic photographs during the evidence of pathologist Beng Beng Ong, depicting bruises and abrasions on the child's face and body.

Asked by crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy about one of the markings, Dr Ong agreed it was consistent with the application of blunt force, such as a slap.
Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale allegedly took more than $60,000 worth of goods and money intended for charity organisations, court documents show.

Mr Pisasale was in court on Tuesday to answer to six charges brought about as part of an investigation by Queenslands Crime and Corruption Commission.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale leaves the Magistrates court on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Pisasale has faced court on six more charges stemming from a corruption watchdog investigation. Credit:AAP

On October 10, the CCC charged Mr Pisasale with one count each of official corruption, misconduct in public office, perjury and possession of a restricted drug as well as two counts of fraud.

He was released on bail with his matters adjourned until December 11.
Protesters who disrupted Melbourne Cup festivities are warning of escalating action against Australia's treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

Two separate groups intervened in Cup celebrations; one delaying racegoers by parking a car across a train track and the other unfurling a banner from a crane above the Flemington track.

A spokeswoman for the group that abseiled the crane has threatened ongoing action in support of the men at the Manus Island detention centre.

Charlotte Lynch from Whistle-blowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance said the two women were up the crane for about four hours.
A man has been charged with sexual assaulting an elderly woman at a train station in Melbourne's south-east.

The 87-year-old woman was on the platform at Aspendale about 11am on September 22 when a man asked her if she wanted money.

When she declined, the man kissed her on the cheek and allegedly sexually assaulted her, a police spokeswoman said.

The woman, who had a walking frame, managed to break free and boarded her train.

It's believed the man got on a Frankston-bound train, disembarking at Carrum Station.
For 32 years, they've stood amongst the chaos and carnage and spearheaded clean-ups for some of the world's biggest sporting events. Racegoers at the end of a long day. Credit:AAP Their company Incognitusis has led the clean-up campaign for the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne. Between them they've managed the clean-ups at Formula One Grand Prix races around the globe and the last seven Olympic and Commonwealth Games but there is none bigger than Derby or Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Punters party at Flemington.

"It's a great team effort of recovery let me tell you," he said. "It's always a magnificent challenge." On Derby Day, he estimates his team of 600 staff worked around the clock for 24 hours to clear 250 tonnes of rubbish and on Cup Day it's about 150 tonnes. Late in the day at Flemington. Credit:Eddie Jim The bulk of the rubbish, he said, is bottles, cans and beer cups, of which about 90 per cent is recyclable. That's not including, however, another 100 tonnes of liquid waste which is collected largely from the portaloos.

A tired race-goer at the end of the day. Credit:Justin McManus "We won't get too deep into that genre, but let's just say there is another 100 tonnes of that, and it's a big job," he said. And no matter how many years they've been doing it, it never gets dull. Coats and blankets proved essential during the chilly day. Credit:Justin McManus One time, the cleaners found a neatly folded men's suit, complete with a tie and a pair of leather shoes, left behind in marquee.

"Sometime you just have to wonder how people got home?" Mr Lovett mused. "It as if he'd taken it off and neatly placed it on the floor." The seagulls were the main winners at the end of the day. Credit:AAP Entire women's outfits, including fascinators, shoes, dresses, bras and underwear have been found hidden in toilets. Another year, hidden in the depths of the trash, Mr Lovett said a cleaner found a bookies bag with $47,000 inside. Friends enjoy a drink at the end of the day. Credit:Justin McManus

"You just never know what you're going to get, that's the beauty of it," he said. And for some, the party is just beginning. The Park precinct was the place to be at the end of the day. Credit:AAP As the last of the revellers leave the grass, hundreds of seagulls descend from the grey sky heading straight to the lawn to swoop on the leftovers. Eric Bashtannyk has been cleaning the Flemington Racetrack after each spring carnival for 32 years.

Seemed like a good idea at the time. Credit:AAP He said he and his team have cleared up more than 5000 camping chairs this year. "People just leave them behind as soon as the last race," he said. Unlike other years, when Derby is typically the most rowdy race day, Mr Bashtannyk said he'd spent the better part of the afternoon cleaning vomit. "I call them protein spills," he said. "And I've never seen them as bad as I have in the women's toilet this year."

For backpackers Jessica Langelaan, Mila Kloos and Ryan Ball the Melbourne Cup lived up to all the hype. "The atmosphere is like nothing else I've ever experienced," said Ms Langelaan, who is visiting Australia from Holland said. "Everybody here was having a good time and having a laugh but I think there will be a few sore heads tomorrow." Loading While the trio didn't back a winner, they did take some trusty advice from some Australian friends and packed pairs of thongs in their bag for the end of the day trek home.
Melburnians speak more than 250 languages but, contrary to popular perception, English is not our common tongue ... according to oBike at least.

The Singapore-based bike-sharing company is looking to hire its first spin doctor in Melbourne almost five months after launching in the city  and one of their first tasks might be rewriting their job description.

An oBike job ad for posted over the weekend listed 20 features of its ideal public relations and communication manager in Melbourne as well as qualifications they would hold.

That ideal candidate would "continue to grow REVENUES and RIDERSHIP!!!" and have "entrepreneurial DNA and fear tolerance of a honey-badger," the ad listed.
Detectives are in the process of tracking down the owners of hundreds of BMWs similar to one that struck a 13-year-old girl and left her life hanging in the balance in Melbourne's north.

Two days of intense investigative work has yielded no strong clue as to who was driving the dark grey BMW 1 Series E87 that hit the teenager as she rode her bike across Bell and Sussex streets in Coburg about 8pm on Sunday.

But police are firmer in their view that a woman was behind the wheel.

Major collision investigation unit detectives are now knocking on the doors of hundreds of BMW owners in Melbourne in a painstaking process of elimination.
An elderly woman is calling on Perth parents to take responsibility for their children after she was viciously bashed by a group of youths while dining at a popular Northbridge restaurant last week.

Leita Acquarola told Nine News Perth she was enjoying a night out at Sorrento Restaurant on Halloween when she witnessed three people, a man and two women, harass a group of alfresco diners.

Leita was eating at Sorrento Restaurant when she was attacked. Credit:9 News Perth

"I said to him 'do you mind [leaving]' and then he came up and he pushed me," she said.

The man knocked Ms Acquarola to the ground, before viciously assaulting her and then leaving the restaurant.
Australia's leading environmental scientists have urged the WA government to upgrade the Helena and Aurora Range as a Class "A" National Park to protect it from mining.

Conservation Commission WA chair John Bailey sent the McGowan Government the Helena and Aurora Range Science Declaration, an open letter from scientists and academics on the importance of the range.

The state government is being urged to protect the Helena and Aurora Range from mining. Credit:Photographer: Rob Neave

The declaration comes amidst concerns that commercial interests may impact the ranges' protection from mining.

"The Helena and Aurora Range is the most significant intact banded ironstone formation range left in the Yilgarn Region of WA," Professor Bailey said.
A man who volunteered at a primary school north of Perth sexually assaulted an eight-year-old girl more than 10 years ago, detectives claim.

Police spokeswoman Susan Usher said a 63-year-old man from Karrinyup, who helped out at the Lake Gwelup Primary school, has been charged with three counts of indecent dealing with a child under 13.

The alleged child sex abuse happened at the Lake Gwelup Primary School in 2005 and 206. Credit:Viki Lascaris

The charges date back to incidences in 2005 and 2006, which happened during school hours.

Detectives seized a computer and electronic storage devices containing child exploitation material after a raid on the man's home last Wednesday.
London: Saudi Arabia is shutting Yemen's land, sea and air borders after accusing Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of a missile attack on its capital, as tension escalated between the kingdom and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia on Monday, local time, accused Iran of war crimes after a ballistic missile reportedly fired by the Shia rebels from Yemen landed near Riyadh's international airport over the weekend.

Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Credit:AP

"We see this as an act of war," the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said on CNN. "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps."

"The kingdom reserves the right to respond in a timely manner to the hostile actions of the Iranian regime," he warned. Saudi Arabia and Iran are opposed in disputes and conflicts across the Middle East, from Yemen and Syria to Qatar and Lebanon.
Los Angeles: When a van ploughed through revellers on London bridge in June, people were warned to "Run, hide, tell".

After the latest mass shooting in the United States, a Los Angeles County Deputy Sherriff posted a similar, but more confronting, American version of the message.

Gun shop owner Tiffany Teasdale-Causer poses with a Ruger AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in Lynnwood, Washington. Gun-rights supporters have seized on the Texas church massacre as proof of the idea that the best answer to a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Credit:AP

"We are saddened by another senseless tragedy," wrote Deputy Sherriff Dan Paige on a local neighbourhood online billboard, Nextdoor, on the afternoon of the mass shooting at a church service in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that claimed 26 victims.

"We are thinking about the victims & their families".
Perth man Thomas Harman will be released from a Bali jail within days after he was sentenced to three and a half months' prison for stealing a pair of Gucci sunglasses.

The 31-year-old from Nedlands appeared relieved as he accepted his sentence and later grinned broadly as he emerged from Denpasar District Court, saying it had been "a bit of suspense".

Thomas Harman arrives at Denpasar District Court. Credit:Wayan Nambi

"Once again I apologise to the people of Indonesia for the crime," he told reporters.

Harman may only spend another few days in prison, as he has already served most of his term, having been arrested on July 31.
Palermo: Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is looking poised for a stunning political comeback as his rightist alliance claims victory in an election in Sicily.

The regional Sicilian ballot, held on Sunday, was seen as a dry run for the nationwide election next May, with many of the island's problems reflecting those of the country as a whole - high unemployment, a debt mountain and sluggish economic growth.

Italian former PM and leader of 'Forza Italia' party, Silvio Berlusconi, greets his supporters during an electoral meeting to support the center-right Forza Italia party. Credit:AP

An influx of migrants, many of whom arrived in Sicily after being rescued in the Mediterranean, was also a key issue.

Sicily is traditionally a centre-right stronghold which was poached by the Democratic Party in 2012. This time, Berlusconi reunited the coalition behind a widely respected leader with a far-right background.
A law enforcement official crosses a highway near the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Credit:AP After Kelley was discharged from the Air Force in 2014, he remarried in Texas, to Danielle Lee Shields, in April of that year, according to state records. A few months later, he registered to vote in Colorado Springs, Colorado -- a city with several Air Force bases -- listing his address as parking space 60 at the Fountain Creek RV Park. The sun sets behind 26 crosses placed in a field before a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting on Monday in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Credit:AP A woman living in a camper next door, who gave her name only as Susan, said a man of similar age and description lived in spot 60 for a few months during that time, but she never learned his name.

"He was kind of off, lived here with a woman," she said as she loaded blankets into one of the RV park's washing machines. Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Credit:AP He said hello a few times in passing but was never friendly and stayed only a few months, she said. She never heard any arguments from his trailer. "The only thing that sticks out about him was his dog," she said. He had a pit bull puppy that he kept tied up in the sun all day outside of his RV, she said. She also recalled an incident in which the police were called because the man had struck the dog in the head.

The police arrived and there was a standoff for approximately an hour, she said, in which her neighbour refused to come out of his trailer. Records show Kelley was charged with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanour, in August 2014. The case was dismissed. He moved out a few weeks later, she said. Kelley, whose father, Michael Kelley, is a computer programmer and accountant, enlisted in the Air Force soon after graduating from New Braunfels High School in 2009. Devin Kelley served as a low-ranking airman in a logistics readiness unit. A LinkedIn account in his name says he worked in cargo and distribution before his court-martial. The account says that after the military, Kelley worked as an aid at a Bible school in Kingsville, Texas, "helping their minds grow and prosper." Friends on Facebook said that in recent years, Kelley had become vocally anti-Christian, to the point where many stopped communicating with him. His Facebook page, which has been deleted, listed that he liked a number of atheist groups.

"He was always talking about how people who believe in God were stupid and trying to preach his atheism," one of his Facebook friends, Nina Rosa Nava, posted on the site, saying she unfriended him because of it. In June of this year, Kelley was hired as an unarmed night security guard at Schlitterbahn, a water park in New Braunfels. Less than six weeks later he was "terminated," a spokeswoman for the park, Winter D. Prosapio, said Monday, adding, "He was not a good fit." By 2017, he had returned to a house in New Braunfels that records show was owned by his parents. The house was about an hour from the church where the shooting occurred. According to local law enforcement, Kelley had become estranged from his second wife, who at times attended the church. The cover photo on Kelley's Facebook page appears to show a Ruger 8515 rifle, equipped with additional aftermarket products, including a red-dot aiming sight for faster target acquisition and perhaps a two-stage trigger for greater accuracy. Such rifles have been legal to manufacture and sell to civilians in most of the United States since the federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, and have become popular among many firearms owners.

Kelley seemed enamoured with the weapon. He posted a photograph of it on October 29 with the caption: "She's a bad bitch." On Sunday, police cars from the Comal County Sheriff's Department lined the gunman's driveway on a rural stretch of land in New Braunfels. Wire fences kept visitors from the house, which was hidden by cactus and brush that fills the property. Signs on a cattle gate at the entrance read "no trespassing" and "beware of dog." Neighbours said they didn't know the Kelleys. "Out here, people tend to keep to themselves," said Tim Daughtrey, who cuts cedar for clients in the area, and lives in walking distance from Kelley's home. Daughtrey, 40, said the town was mostly uneventful, as far as crime goes. "I see a barroom fight every now and then, he said, but not shootings.
New Braunfels: The gunman who killed 26 people in a rural Texas church on Sunday escaped from a psychiatric hospital while he was in the Air Force, after making death threats against his superiors and trying to smuggle weapons onto the base where he was stationed, a 2012 police report shows.

Police took the man, Devin P. Kelley, into custody at a bus station in downtown El Paso, where he apparently planned to flee on a bus after escaping from Peak Behavioral Health Services, a hospital a few kilometres away in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was sent there after being charged in a military court with assaulting his wife and baby stepson, charges he later pleaded guilty to.

The report filed by the El Paso officers says that the person who reported Kelley missing from the hospital advised them that he "suffered from mental disorders," and that he "was attempting to carry out death threats" against "his military chain of command." The man "was a danger to himself and others as he had already been caught sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base," it added.

The police report was published on Tuesday by KPRC, a Houston television station.
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, and Bryan-College Station voters can cast their ballots at any of Brazos County's 26 voting locations.

In Bryan, voters will choose between incumbent City Councilman Mike Southerland and former councilman Mitch Morehead for the Single Member District 4 seat.

Incumbent Bryan school board member Julie Harlin is being challenged for her Place 2 seat by Diektrich Morgan.

Voters in Bryan also will be asked to decide on 13 changes to the city's charter, which controls the way the city operates.

In College Station, there are two contest races for City Council seats. The Place 1 seat being vacated by outgoing Councilwoman Blanche Brick is being sought by her husband, Bob Brick, and Planning and Zoning Commissioner Elianor Vessali. Place 3 Councilwoman Linda Harvell is seeking a full three-year term on the seat that she was elected to last November to fill the year left on Karl Mooney's unexpired term when was elected mayor. She is being challenged by Dallas Shipp.

College Station school board member Michael Schaefer is seeking re-election to the Place 6 seat. He is being challenged by Jackie Huff. Geralyn Nolan and Shana Elliott are both running for the school board's Place 7 seat.

Voters must present one of the following: a Texas driver's license, a Texas election identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, a Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS, a U.S. military ID card or a U.S. passport. To view a sample ballot and find a list of vote centers, go to www.brazosvotes.org.
On the day after a black-clad gunman stormed into their Texas church killing at least 26 worshipers, including their teenage daughter Annabelle, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs and his wife spoke briefly to the news media.

The Rev. Frank Pomeroy choked up and repeatedly wiped away tears as he tried to talk about the tragedy. In the wake of the killings, he is grieving the death of his 14-year-old girl while also ministering to his shattered flock, many of whom are now planning funerals and attending to injured family and friends.

"What do you tell the other grieving families?" a reporter asked him.

"I'm still working on that," the pastor said softly before politely adding, "But thank you."

His wife, Sherri, read a prepared statement that said reporters had been "bombarding" them with requests to speak about Annabelle and celebrate her life. They preferred not to focus on their individual loss, she said.

"As much tragedy as that entails for our family, we don't want to overshadow the other lives lost yesterday," she said. "We lost more than Belle yesterday. And one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement is the fact that Belle was surrounded yesterday by her church family that she loved fiercely and vice versa."

Frank and Sherri Pomeroy were traveling Sunday and not at the church when Devin Patrick Kelley stormed into the 11 a.m. service and rained down bullets from a semiautomatic rifle. Kelley, 26, who lived in a town 35 miles north of the church, kept shooting until a local man heard the attack and fired upon him, hitting him twice, officials said. Kelley then fled in an SUV and later took his own life while being pursued by two civilian residents.

Kelley was discharged from the Air Force in 2014 for bad conduct after being court-martialed and sentenced to a year in a military prison for assaulting his wife and stepson. Based on the conviction, he should not have been able to buy the firearms used in the killings. On Monday, the Air Force said it failed to report Kelly's conviction to the FBI, so it was never entered into a entered into a national database used to conduct background checks for people who purchase firearms.

Authorities also said Monday that some of Kelley's relatives attended the Sutherland Springs church. Among them was his mother-in-law, to whom police said he had sent "threatening texts."

That did not necessarily constitute a motive for the attack, they said. "There are many ways that he could have taken care of the mother-in-law without coming with 15 loaded magazines and an assault rifle to a church," Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety said at a news conference. "I think he came here with a purpose and a mission."

On an average Sunday, the little church draws 30-40 people, members said. The shooting victims ranged in age from 18 months to age 77, officials said.

In her prepared statement, Sherri Pomeroy said the church was more than a just a collection of members.

"We were a very close family," she said. "We ate together. We laughed together. We cried together. And we worshiped together. Now most of our church family is gone. Our building is probably beyond repair. And the few of us left behind lost tragically yesterday."

When asked how he makes sense of the tragedy, the pastor said, "I don't understand, but I know my God does."

He said he's telling people to "lean into the Lord."

"Whatever life brings to you, lean on the Lord rather than your own understanding," he said.
COP21 will be remembered for the historic Paris Agreement that saw an important step towards global action on climate change. For observers of this year's global gathering in Bonn, I recommend keeping an eye on discussions about water resilience.

Too little or too much - climate change will be felt most through its impact on the water cycle. I'm at COP23 to work with colleagues from around the world to continue to push for water to become an even greater priority.

Addressing water issues across the water cycle is key to adapting to climate change and reducing the impact of water-related disasters.

Voice the vulnerabilities

Climate change increases the intensity and frequency of natural disasters and water-related crises, including unpredictable rainfall, floods and droughts.

In addition, water is critical to successful climate change mitigation, since many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.

Governments must make water figure prominently within their Nationally Determined Contributions, their National Adaptation Plans and other UNFCCC programs and mechanisms.

It is significant that Fiji is presiding over the 23rd session of the COP being held in Bonn. Fiji is the first Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to assume the Presidency of the UNFCCC COP process.

This represents an opportunity to voice the vulnerabilities and challenges facing SIDS and other low-lying coastal areas.

Human health

It is crucial for the world to fully realize that the climate is changing around the world, although not at the same rate.

For example, sea level rise in areas of the Pacific Ocean is currently four times the global average, coupled with enhanced storm-surge, this is potentially devastating.
A project by Trees for Life relocating red squirrels to their old forest homes in northwest Scotland has been boosted by evidence of breeding and natural expansion by the new populations.

The conservation charity is reintroducing squirrels to suitable native woodlands in the Highlands, from which the species has been lost. Because reds travel between trees and avoid crossing large open spaces, they can't return to these isolated forest fragments on their own.

"Early indications are that this could be a real wildlife success story. The new squirrel populations are not only flourishing and breeding in their new homes, they are also starting to spread out into new areas  with squirrels being sighted as far as 15 kilometres away," said Becky Priestley, Trees for Life's Wildlife Officer.

Scottish squirrels

The project's initial relocations took place between the springs of 2016 and 2017, with the first 33 squirrels from Inverness-shire and Morayreleased at Shieldaig in Wester Ross.

This was followed by 22 more released at the Coulin Estate next to Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve near Kinlochewe, and 30 at Plockton, which is owned by landowners including The National Trust for Scotland.

Trees for Life now has evidence of the relocated squirrels breeding two years in a row at Shieldaig, and also of breeding at Plockton.

Natural recolonisation of other areas appears to have begun from Shieldaig. During 2016, the squirrels spread throughout much of the habitat, with one sighting 13 kilometres away beyond Loch Torridon. There have been further sightings in the same area during 2017, and others two kilometres further away, at Inveralligin.

Although annual monitoring at Coulin and Plockton will not begin until next spring, Trees for Life has seen evidence of feeding across the Coulin woodlands, and has captured images of squirrels by using specialised cameras. There have been regular sightings at Plockton since the release earlier this year.
Personal Publicity / Contributed photo

Gad Elmaleh, known as the Jerry Seinfeld of France, was all set to try New Haven pizza, and joke about such everyday American fare, in a visit to the College Street Music Hall in February. But a snowstorm in Connecticut canceled his show in the city.

Fast forward to Wednesday, when the observational comic is slated again at the College Street theater. We asked him if hes doing a lot of social media or other media to spread his name in America.
It can be tough to find the perfect holiday gift for the beer snob in your life, but Samuel Adams is making it a little easier this year.

The brewery announced in late October the release of its 2017 Utopias line. Sam Adams releases a batch every two years, according to Fortune.com, and the most recent creation is a doozy.
NORWALK  Two men were charged with trespassing Sunday after, police said, they broke into the former YMCA on West Avenue.

Around 2:40 p.m. police were called to the building at 370 West Ave. on a report that two men were seen entering the building carrying long black bags.
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NORWALK  Polling places will be open citywide from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday for voters to cast ballots in the citys 2017 municipal election.

Elected offices ranging from selectmen, constable, city treasurer, city sheriff and town clerk to Common Council, Board of Education and mayor will be up for grabs. Taxing district offices are also on the ballot.

The Registrar of Voters Office reminds that roughly a third of voters will cast ballots at polling places different than those where they voted in last years state and federal elections. Thats because district boundaries change between the two election cycles.

A lot of them dont vote in the same district as last year, said Stuart Wells, Norwalks Democratic registrar of Voters. Its a municipal (election) year and there are some differences in the district lines, as for the taxing districts. About a third to three-eighths of the town is in different districts.

As such, the registrars office advises voters to check on its website or call the office at 203-854-7996, before heading out to cast a ballot.

Voters may find their polling location and other voting information, including sample ballots, by visiting http://www.norwalkct.org/350/Registering-Voting.

More Information Polling places A1 Tracey School 20 Camp St. A2 St. Mary Hall 669 West Ave. A3 Kendall School 57 Fillow St. A4 Nathan Hale School (back gym) 176 Strawberry Hill Ave. B1 Columbus School 46 Concord St. B2 Odyssey Learning, Inc. (formerly Nathaniel Ely Center) 11 Ingalls Ave. C1 Marvin School 15 Calf Pasture Beach Road C2 Nathan Hale School (front gym) 176 Strawberry Hill Ave. D1 Ponus Ridge School 21 Hunters Lane D2 West Rocks School 81 West Rocks Road E1 Brookside School 382 Highland Ave. E2 Rowayton School 1 Roton Ave. E3 Fox Run School 228 Fillow St. Source: Norwalk Registrar of Voters Office See More Collapse

Karen Doyle Lyons, Norwalks Republican registrar of voters, said voters should bring a form of identification such as a drivers license or other photo ID, a utility bill or credit card with pre-printed name and signature to their polling place.

Once there, voters should go to the check-in table and provide their street name, house number and name. The checker will mark the voters name on the check-in list. The ballot clerk will provide the voter a ballot for him or her to take to a voting booth.

Unregistered voters may register themselves and cast a ballot by availing themselves of Election Day Registration, which will be held in the Community Room of City Hall, 125 East Ave.

They can come to City Hall, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Doyle Lyons said. Because the computers are shut down at 8 p.m. and they (the registrations) have to be fully processed, they should come early. Dont wait until the last minute.

Doyle Lyons isnt venturing a guess on turnout in Tuesdays elections. Norwalk voter turnout has ranged from roughly 30 percent in municipal elections to as high as 80 percent in presidential elections.

Wells predicts that about 15,000 voters will cast ballots Tuesday. That would translate to 29.6 percent of Norwalks 50,615 registered voters.

Of those voters, 21,105 are registered as unaffiliated, 18,916 as Democrats, 9,567 as Republicans, 933 as Independents and 94 as belonging to smaller parties, according to the registrars office.

A number of voters already have weighed in by requesting and returned absentee ballots. As of early Monday afternoon, the Norwalk Town Clerks Office had issued 601 such ballots and received back 508.
After shots were fired at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., where 26 people were killed in Sunday's mass shooting, Julius Kepper, who lives nearby, grabbed his gun and ran toward the sound of gunfire, according to the Wall Street Journal, where he saw another neighbor, also armed, confront the suspected killer. Kepper later said, "You just can't conceive of this happening in a small town like this." Carrie Matula, who works nearby, told NBC News "I never thought it would happen here," adding, "This is something that happens in a big city."

Not so. Mass shootings occur in rural, suburban and urban settings. In recent years, mass shootings have occurred at gathering places and houses of worship of many different faiths: churches, an Islamic center, a Jewish community center, a Sikh temple. There was Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, the Pulse nightclub in 2016 and, a few weeks ago, 58 people were killed and hundreds were wounded by a gunman firing on an outdoor country music show in Las Vegas.

Mass shootings can happen anywhere, at any time. It's imperative that everyone know how to react.

Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society," speaks regularly on the subject and often begins his lectures with this question: How many kids in America have died from a school fire in recent years? His answer: None. Meanwhile, according to a 2014 FBI study, active shooters killed 117 people in schools between 2000 and 2013. Schools conduct fire drills and adhere to fire codes, but they generally don't do nearly as much, Grossman insists, to train students for a scenario far more likely to kill kids in schools: an active shooter. Most adults lack preventive training, as well.

Talking about these attacks can be difficult and heart-wrenching. But we can't avoid preparing ourselves just because the topic is disturbing. As my colleague James Hamilton - who served for years in the FBI and provides training to corporations, government agencies and security personnel for public figures - says, "You must be an active participant in your own survival."

VIDEO: Are gun violence and mental illness rates truly related?

Be an active participant in your own survival

In the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, a lone gunman had two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He entered the second-floor of Norris Hall and began the final phase of a killing spree that, in total, left 32 students and faculty members dead.

One lesson from that tragedy is that the types of action taken by students and professors inside different classrooms influenced their chances of survival. In Room 206, where students hid beneath their desks, the gunman killed 10 students and wounded several as he walked up and down the rows of desks. In Room 204, however, where two students were killed, several students jumped out of the second-floor windows, and all of those who managed to escape survived. In Room 205, students barricaded the classroom door with tables and chairs, holding it all in place while lying flat on the ground. Despite the shooter's attempt to breach the barricade, firing two inaccurate rounds into the room, he never entered and everyone inside survived.

During an active-shooter event, as the recent attacks in Texas and Las Vegas sadly demonstrate, some things are outside our control. Yet, like the students in Rooms 204 and 205, we can take actions that may improve the chances of survival.

Take time to prepare an emergency action plan

Recently, in a coffee shop with my wife, I nodded toward the door and asked her, "What would you do if a man holding a gun walked through that door right now?" She answered, "I would throw my hot coffee at his face and distract him long enough to run out that side door." I loved her response. She had a plan.

When I asked a security professional and colleague, Nick Perez - who attended the Las Vegas concert with his girlfriend - what he credits most for their survival, he said, "I had a plan." Before attending the show, Perez reviewed the festival's app on his phone. He noted the venue's layout, including the entrances and emergency exit points. He said, "I thought ahead because I'm trained to do so. I always want to know a location's layout in case I need to make a quick exit or find on-site security or medical services. And, to be honest," he said, "I wasn't thinking about a mass shooting but more common occurrences like a medical emergency or a fight."

In the world of bodyguards and close protection, we call his actions "advancing" a location - preparing for the arrival of our protectee. We want to know the location of on-site security and paramedics, exit points and, most of all, our planned evacuation routes in case we need to evacuate because of an emergency, such as a fire or a shooter.

When you're out in public, before settling into your seat or spot, ask yourself: If there's an attack, what will I do? It only takes a moment to answer this question before you sit back, relax and enjoy your outing. Think of it as making regular deposits in a survival bank and then, if an emergency arises, being able to make a potentially lifesaving withdrawal.

At theaters and concerts, consider choosing seats on the aisle and close to exits. At restaurants, sit with your back to the wall and face the entrance. And before you relax, identify your escape routes and exit points, including turnstiles, doors, scalable fences and accessible windows. If escaping a building isn't a viable option during an attack, consider moving into rooms where you're able to barricade yourself and others from the attacker. If the attacker breaches that room, be ready to use an improvised weapon - fire extinguisher, scissors, pen, etc. - to incapacitate him with speed, surprise and violence of action.

VIDEO: Chris Young: Vegas shooting was 'scariest night of my life'

Practice situational awareness

Perez told me that he stood with his girlfriend just 30 feet from the stage when gunfire tore through the crowd. "After the second burst of gunfire," he said, "I knew it wasn't firecrackers, I knew we were under attack." How did he know? "I saw a police car racing down Las Vegas Boulevard, toward the hotel." "Right then," he said, "I grabbed my girlfriend's hand and sprinted in the opposite direction to the exit I remembered from the venue's layout on the festival app."

When arriving at a new location, such as a restaurant or hotel lobby, in addition to considering your emergency action plan, pause for a moment and allow your senses to absorb all that's "normal" within the new environment - the sights, the sounds, the smells, etc. Once you establish a baseline of normalcy, it's easier to identify all that is not normal, and possibly, dangerous. At the gun range, firearms and gunshots are normal. Nearly everywhere else, they are not. At a concert, yelling is normal. At a restaurant, it is not. Anything that "is not" catches my attention as "not normal" for that environment and is possibly an indication of danger.

If I see a man walk through the front entrance of an establishment dressed in a wool trench coat on a hot August day, his winter attire would disrupt my baseline sense of normalcy. As a result, I'd observe his behavior a bit longer. If his actions continue to suggest abnormal behavior and cause me unease, I'll listen to my intuition like any animal bent on survival and respond to the perceived danger. That response might simply be continued observation or something more, like me moving closer to the exit. And if the strange-acting man, who I'm now intuiting as possibly dangerous, reveals a rifle beneath his wool coat, I don't need to hear the first shot. I'm already executing my evacuation plan before anyone else.

ALSO READ: Relative: Pregnant woman, 3 children, in-laws slain in Texas

Get out of the kill zone

When one of the teachers at Columbine High School heard shots fired during that school's 1999 mass shooting, she ran into the library and called 911. At one point, she told students in the library to "get down" and hide under desks and tables. When the gunmen entered the library, it became a kill zone and teenagers, caught sitting statically underneath those tables, began to die.

If you're caught by surprise in a kill zone, getting down is beneficial if the shooter is firing from a position level to yours. But whatever you do, don't stay down for long. As soon as it's possible, "move off the X," as we say in personal security. Hiding under a table or desk offers little protection and provides the shooter a static human target to shoot. And, in the case of Columbine and Virginia Tech, to shoot at close range. Targets moving through the kill zone, however, are harder to hit. And targets that have evacuated the kill zone altogether are much harder to hit.

If you're being shot at and you know the gunman is firing from an elevated position, do not "get down" or stay down. Doing so creates a stationary human target with a larger surface area for his barrage of descending bullets. Instead, flee the kill zone immediately toward your preplanned exit points and eventually find cover, either terrain or structures that can probably stop bullets.

If like many of the Las Vegas concertgoers, you don't know the killer's location and you lack nearby cover, you can still attempt to flee the kill zone. It's your best option. And when you evacuate the kill zone, try to take others with you. If more people are running away from the kill zone than remaining paralyzed in it, others will follow.

- - -

Hinman is a director at Gavin de Becker & Associates, an international security consulting firm. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served for eight years as a Marine Corps infantry officer.
Today is the last day for people to cast ballots in a contest that could bring $5,000 to the canine units of the Grand Island Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.

People have been voting in the contest since Oct. 11. A company called Aftermath will award a total of $15,000 in grants to five departments that either have or are planning a K-9 program.

Votes will be received until 11:59 tonight CST. To cast a ballot for GIPD or the Nebraska State Patrol, visit http://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/?department=D05204.

The contest is administered by Aftermath Services LLC, based in Aurora, Ill. Voting is free.

Grants will be awarded to the five departments that receive the most votes. The first-place finisher will receive $5,000, followed by $4,000 for second place, $3,000 for third place, $2,000 for fourth place and $1,000 for fifth place.

The Grand Island Police Department has one active canine, Haus, handled by Officer Jeremy Gildersleeve. Another dog, handled by Officer Bourke Bowen, is nearing the end of its training.

The Nebraska State Patrol uses 12 K-9s, spread throughout the state. The number is currently 10 because there are two vacancies.

Three of the State Patrol canines are used by Troop C, based in Grand Island.

Lt. Gordon Downing said the State Patrol could use the $5,000.

Yeah, it would certainly help us out. I mean, we pay the same price for dogs as everybody, said Downing, whos in charge of the State Patrols Police Service Dog Division. Theyre in demand, so we take any money that we can to try to help offset the cost of a dog.

In buying a dog, Nebraska agencies have to go up against the Department of Defense and agencies across the country.

The State Patrol and Grand Island Police Department buy their dogs from Pam Rogers, who lives near Huntsville, Ala. Rogers gets the dogs overseas.

When we need a dog we go to her because we can get the quality from Europe, said Downing, who is based at Troop D in North Platte.

In Europe, the animals are used for dog sport and law enforcement and military use, Downing said. People go over there worldwide to pick dogs. So theres some competition in the purchasing.

Downing was in Grand Island Monday for a patrol training camp at the Law Enforcement Training Center.

In addition to the State Patrol, the camp is being attended by the Lincoln Police Department, the Dodge County Sheriffs Department and a police officer from Newton, Kan. Three people at the camp are handlers trying to become patrol dog instructors.
Police/Sheriff

Anyone with information about any crime in the state may call the Grand Island-Hall County Crime Stoppers, (308) 381-8822. Callers will remain anonymous.

A reward of up to $1,000 will be paid after law enforcement agencies have determined the seriousness of the crime and the usefulness of the information.

Inmate custody status can be obtained by calling the VINE hotline at (877) NE 4 VINE or by visiting www.vinelink.com. Information is available 24 hours a day.

If you see a crime happening, call the Grand Island-Hall County Emergency Center  911.

Grand Island Police

The following felonies were reported:

 Rochelle Knapp reported a scam of $2,500 Friday.

 Elvis Machado was contacted inside a vehicle early Monday morning at 3212 S. Locust. While being contacted, police say, the suspect attempted to destroy drug evidence. He was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and destruction of evidence (tampering).

 A woman who lives on South Oak reported Sunday receiving several text messages that caused her to fear for her life.

 A 16-year-old male was referred for charges Friday after he was found in possession of a controlled substance on Wood River High School property.

 Clyber Garcia-Morales reported a robbery Saturday morning after he was assaulted by two unknown males who forced entry into his residence at 2323 Bellwood Drive.

 The Hotel Grand Conference Center reported an attempted burglary to a detached garage Thursday or Friday at 2503 S. Locust.

 Araceli Trejo reported a burglary to a residence at 261 S. Kimball between Oct. 10 and Saturday.

 While attempting to place Jose Ramirez Juarez under arrest early Saturday morning at 1416 N. Huston, Officer Tyler Herrold was struck. The suspect was arrested for assault of an officer, third-degree assault and obstruction.

 Billy Castillo was arrested early Saturday morning at North Custer and West North Front Street for possession of a controlled substance (meth), obstructing a peace officer, first-offense resisting arrest and possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

 Police contacted Sabastian Camper Saturday morning at West 11th and North Boggs after receiving a report of a suspicious person looking into cars and backyards. After contact was made, Camper was arrested for first-offense carrying a concealed weapon (knife), possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, unlawful acts relating to drugs and possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

Hall County Sheriff

Law enforcement arrested seven people on warrants in 11 cases. There were 95 calls for service.

For more information visit www.hallcountyne.gov and click on the sheriff link.

 Donald Deines reported a vehicle theft from 201 Harb Road in Cairo Sunday.

Court report

Hall County Court

 Katie J. Wamsley, 36, North Loup, attempt of a Class 4 felony, $75 fine, nine months probation, $225 probation fee.

 Gerald A. Beyersdorf, 62, Grand Island, was charged with terroristic threats, enhanced DUI or refusal to be tested with two prior convictions, attempt of a Class 2A felony and criminal mischief totaling $0 to $500, all on Saturday. Preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11.

 Billy A. Castillo, 41, homeless, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, obstructing a peace officer, first-offense resisting arrest and possession or use of drug paraphernalia, all on Saturday. Arraignment set for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

 Elvis J. Machado, 22, unknown address, was charged with possession of 1 oz. or less of marijuana, first offense, possession or use of drug paraphernalia and tampering with phyical evidence. Preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 12.

 Sabastian S. Camper, 24, homeless, was charged with possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon-first offense, unlawful acts relating to drugs and possession or use of drug paraphernalia, all on Saturday. Preliminary hearing set for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

 Tyrone J. Copeland, 35, Grand Island, was charged with terroristic threats and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, both on Saturday. Preliminary hearing set for 11 a.m. Dec. 11.

 Michael J. Decoff, 31, Colorado Springs, Colo., was charged with failure to appear when on bail for a felony on Sept. 19. Preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 15.
Congress began grilling Facebook, Twitter and Google last week for allowing Russian agents to hijack their social networks. The grilling is long overdue.

When Mark Zuckerberg took his company public in 2012, he said his mission was to bring people closer together and create a more open culture, not merely to make money. Facebook made plenty of money and reunited lots of old high school friends. But it also created a vast electronic swamp that mixes real information, misinformation, foreign propaganda and scammery, without helping users to distinguish one from the other.

Along the way, it became the countrys most powerful news organization, but a news organization that seems to operate without an editorial brain  unless you count the algorithms that fail to notice all the fake stuff.

Case in point: the 2016 election campaign.

As Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday, content produced by Russian operatives may have reached as many as 126 million Americans over the last two years. Their aim, he said, was to sow division and discord and to try to undermine the election.

Twitter said more than 36,000 Russian bots sent 1.4 million tweets during the campaign. The company allowed one Russian account to label itself the unofficial voice of the Tennessee Republican Party for 11 months, even though the real GOP told them it was fake.

Google said it had discovered 1,108 campaign-related videos from Russian sources on YouTube, the video service it owns.

No one knows if the election outcome would have been different without Russian interference. But its impossible to argue that all that disinformation had no effect at all.

Besides, this isnt only about who won the election. Russia wanted  perhaps above all  to stir up divisions among Americans.

One Russian-authored Facebook group, Blacktivist, urged African Americans to retaliate against police violence, an eye for an eye, according to researcher Jonathan Albright of Columbia Universitys Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Another, aimed at white conservatives, said Black Lives Matter activists should be immediately shot.

Some of that evil stuff has continued after election day. In March, a Russian account on Facebook attacked immigrants in the United States illegally, saying: The only way to deal with them is to kill them all. And Twitter accounts linked to Russia have been attacking the credibility of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, whos investigating Russias role in the campaign.

Its not hard to see how weve come to this pass. Facebook and the other social media companies sell access to their networks to all comers; thats how they make their money. Much of their selling is automated and anonymous; they dont always know whos buying. And theyve long insisted that it isnt their job to police the content that travels across their systems, at least when it comes to political speech.

The digital executives who testified this week all acknowledged, profusely, that they needed to do a better job. Theyve already shut many of the offending accounts down, they said. Facebook is hiring 3,000 human editors to help its algorithms figure out when noxious content is flowing across its network.

What else do they need to do?

More transparency is the easiest answer  more information about advertisers, more clarity about the true sources of content, more outside researchers to analyze whats going on. Better enforcement of existing standards should be easy, too, even though it will require expensive human labor to do. Facebook, for example, already bans sexual content and appeals to violence. Those Russian groups that called on black and white Americans to shoot each other were breaking the rules.

But the next step is more complicated: Should social media companies do something to distinguish between good information and bad  between truths and falsehoods?

Facebook understands that it has a responsibility to democracy, said Peter Eckersley, chief computer scientist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. It would be very shortsighted of them to put short-term profit ahead of that.

Whether the social networks like it or not, they are already the de facto arbiters of whats true and false in American public discourse. Whats posted on Facebook determines what society thinks is true or false, Eckersley said. When we see something on Facebook that tends to confirm out viewpoint, we tend to share it.

So yes, please, lets take action. But at this point, lawmakers should stick to transparency, otherwise they risk heading down the road to censorship. The bill introduced by Sens. Mark Warner, Amy Klobuchar and John McCain to require the networks to disclose political ads sources is a sensible first step. It wont be the last.

The companies need to get serious too, and live up to Googles long-ago motto: Dont be evil.
With Nebraska Winter Weather Awareness Day coming up on Thursday, our attention turns to preparation for the winter weather we know is coming, although hopefully it wont be here for a while yet.

The best news related to the arrival of winter weather locally is an agreement worked out between the city of Grand Island and Hall County on snow and ice removal.

Last week the Hall County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement through which county crews and equipment traveling on city streets to get from one county snow route to another will clean those city streets as well. The city will reciprocate, cleaning specific areas of county roads when possible.

As Hall County Public Works Director Casey Sherlock explained to the county board last week, Shady Bend Road is a good example of a road where part of it is within city jurisdiction, while other parts are maintained by the county.

Instead of us skipping over portions that were city or city skipping over portions that were county, we just figured out where it would be best and most beneficial for us for the county to plow through those types of areas and the city vice versa, Sherlock said.

To make this possible, the city and county worked together to come up with a list of county and city roads involved in the agreement. The final total was 14.73 net miles of city streets where the county will do snow removal.

According to the agreement, the city will annually pay the county $7,364, regardless of how many times the county plows the city streets during the snow season.

There are years with lots of heavy snowfall and others when snow plowing is kept to a minimum.

But considering the law of averages, the costs of different years will balance out. This kind of agreement was necessary in order to make the plan workable and it sounds like both the city and county will benefit from this cooperation.

Government bodies typically arent known for their flexibility and cooperative approach. Its great to see the city and county come together on such a common-sense agreement.
For farmers in rural Nebraska, few federal policies are more important than the renewable fuel standard (RFS), which guarantees that biofuel producers can offer consumers homegrown fuel options made from farm crops, as well as agricultural waste. Thankfully, Nebraska has outstanding champions such as Sen. Deb Fischer and Gov. Pete Ricketts who have been willing to go to bat for farmers and workers at biofuel plants like those we operate in Aurora.

The fight has not been easy. Oil companies are taking every opportunity to roll back targets for homegrown fuel and eliminate growth in a market that drives the entire rural economy. They have sought to hijack the regulatory process at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and slash the targets for growth set by Congress and embraced by President Trump. In fact, targets the agency proposed in July would roll back the RFS, with deep cuts to cellulosic ethanol, which represents an exciting growth opportunity for U.S. energy production and a valuable new source of revenue for hard-pressed farmers.

With support from champions like Sen. Fischer and Gov. Ricketts, the White House recently pushed the agency to protect rural growth under the RFS. Lets hope the EPA is listening.
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Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 08:11 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27b3f9b 4 Editorial Japan,#Japan,infrastructure,infrastructure-development,#infrastructure,patimban-seaport Free

Both the Indonesian and Japanese governments need to explain to the public the true reasons behind the apparent delay of the Patimban Port construction project in Subang, West Java. The project is not only strategic in terms of the economy, but also crucial for the continuation of bilateral relations between the two long-time friends.

It is simply hard to accept the four-month postponement, from the original schedule of January 2018, as stemming from technical matters, knowing Japans strict management discipline. As reported by this newspaper on Mondays front page, Indonesian officials insisted that the new port would commence operations as scheduled in March 2019 despite a delay in the start of the construction.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are committed to completion of the project as planned. Jokowi knows very well that Patimban has a very special meaning for PM Abe after Japans defeat to China in the tender for the Jakarta-Surabaya highspeed railway project in September 2015.

The port, as well as an offer to revitalize the 725-kilometer railway between Jakarta and Surabaya, is widely regarded as a consolation prize for Japan. Japanese investors, especially automotive business, urgently need a new port as an alternative to the congested Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta.

On the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam and the East Asia Summit in the Philippines, Abe will naturally demand Jokowis clarification on what is really hampering the project and how to clear the hurdles together. As a businessman, Jokowi must understand Japans eagerness to remain a leading partner for Indonesian development in the wake of Chinas amazing rise. Although Japan is ready to accept whatever Indonesia decides concerning the seaport project, such patience should have a limit.

According to the original plan, the port was to be built in Cilamaya in Karawang, about 80 km east of Jakarta. However, the government cancelled the project in April 2015 despite completion of its feasibility study. Vice President Jusuf Kalla then demanded Japan find a new location in West Java. Japan agreed to move farther to the east to Subang, perhaps because PM Abe kept hoping that Japan would win the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway project.

Japan has been playing a pivotal role in the countrys development for decades, especially by pouring in loans and investments. Japans role is declining as investment from China and South Korea steadily grows.

Japan has become and will continue to be a strategic partner for Indonesia in a mutually beneficial relationship. Indonesia should not have to be dependent on China, and therefore it needs to maintain a strong and stable relation with Japan, the worlds third-largest economy.

For Tokyo, Jakarta is geopolitically important because of its traditionally extra-cautious stance against China. Likewise, Indonesia needs a strong Japan.

When meeting PM Abe this weekend, President Jokowi needs to brief the Japanese leader honestly about the port issue. Jokowi cannot repeat the same tactic he adopted when offering the high-speed train project two years ago.
Here are some ways to talk to your partner about money, eight clever ways to use aloe vera, and more videos to improve your life.
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Linkedin Leong Hoe Nam (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Tue, November 7, 2017 16:12 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27cef8a 3 Opinion Asia,#Asia,health,#health,flu,#flu,vaccine,vaccination Free

Most deadly yet. Calls for urgent action. Nation in crisis. These were some headlines this year, all related to flu outbreaks. During July in Hong Kong, Chief Executive Carrie Lam called for local health authorities to take urgent measures to cope with one of the city's worst flu outbreaks on record. In Northeast Asia, avian flu swept across the region, from South Korea to Japan to the Philippines.

Epidemics and outbreaks happen very quickly  anywhere and without warning. While scientific advancements have equipped us to better handle the flu, Asias continued growth in recent years and lack of sufficient infrastructure have made it difficult to handle large-scale outbreaks, cope with hospitalization numbers and contain transmission between individuals. These factors have made it easier for viruses to spread within local communities and across the region, putting everyone at risk.

Asia has suffered the consequences of headline-grabbing flu outbreaks in its recent history. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infected more than 8,098 and caused 774 deaths. The Asian Development Bank estimated the economic impact of SARS at around US$18 billion in East Asia alone. Seven Asian nations were included among the top-ten countries affected.

The swine flu (H1N1) outbreak of 2009, which spread from Mexico to over 200 countries, reached Thailand, China and South Korea, caused an estimated 284,500 deaths. Among the 15 countries that reported human cases of infection of the H5N1 virus, four countries were in Southeast Asia with 228 reported cases and 181 fatalities in 2004.

Despite all these incidents with the influenza virus, Asia still has a long way go to in preparing for the next viral flu outbreak. When it does come, it will have the potential to affect masses of the regions population.

Globalization has led to larger movements of people, improved modes of transportation, and greater interconnectivity between countries, further enabling the spread of viral flu. By 2020, close to 400 million business travelers and tourists are expected to travel through the region annually.

Asia also continues to experience population growth and rapid, uncontrolled urbanization. The United Nations projects that by 2050, half of the worlds urban population of 6.3 billion will be concentrated in Asia, undoubtedly affecting the number people who could be infected by future outbreaks.

Additionally, shifting demographics are an important consideration. The elderly population is labelled as a high-risk age group for seasonal-influenza, and this segment of the population is projected to reach nearly 923 million in Asia alone, by the middle of this century. This is bound to add increased pressure on healthcare systems, which, in many cases, are already struggling.

To this day, vaccination remains the most effective measure, second only to water, which in turn, enables proper hygiene and sanitation, as well as being identified as one of the most cost-effective tools of prevention by the World Health Organization (WHO). For this reason, continued research and development is important in ensuring the necessary preventative action is taken early.

Although the efficacy of vaccines as a mode of prevention cannot be denied, increased challenges come with administering them. The logistics of developing and sourcing the vaccine, as well as delivering the adequate doses of anti-influenza medication make exercising them difficult during epidemic times.

Moreover, an overall sense of nonchalance among the population has been shown to hinder prevention efforts. The lack of awareness of influenza prevention, whether coming from masks, hand hygiene or vaccination, all play a contributing role to the failed attempts at adequately preventing outbreaks.

Increased collaboration is therefore essential to alleviate the human, social and economic ramifications of these outbreaks across the region. Initiatives are in place at a broader global and regional level, with the WHO acting as a leader for better disease prevention by providing frameworks to its member nations to help pre-empt and better manage health emergencies such as flu outbreaks.

ASEAN too has been a key player in increased regional collaboration, recently reiterating its commitment to making communicable and emerging health threats a priority area of collaboration for 2017 to 2018.

More can be done at the national level, however. Countries should aim to replicate Sri Lankas successful eradication of malaria, also an infectious disease with high burden, which was achieved through joint efforts from multiple agencies collaborating with the countries healthcare system.

The lack of preparedness in Asia and the relatively porous borders for infections make the region the prime target for any outbreak. After all, an infection in all but the most remote corner of the region can make its way to a major city, such as Singapore or Hong Kong, in a day or less.

Everyone has a part to play in ensuring a safe, public health environment for all, and in reducing the public health and socio-economic burden of influenza. Although a lot still needs to be done to actively face future outbreaks, continued collaboration, emphasizing prevention and education, will help alleviate the burden of flu outbreaks across the region, remembering that vaccination has the power to greatly reduce disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide.

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to academia@jakpost.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin JIS (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Wed, November 8, 2017

Indonesias Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) continues to move forward in its efforts to nurture local talents who possess a flair for lifelong learning and who will evolve into global citizens contributing great things to the world, under the leadership of new head of school Tarek Razik, Ed.D.

JIS was established in 1951 as the Joint Embassy School as one of Indonesias first private schools to offer an international curriculum. The school changed its name to Jakarta International School in 1978, and was renamed Jakarta Intercultural School in 2014.

The school offers four programs  early childhood, elementary school, middle school and high school  at its three campuses in South Jakarta: the Cilandak campus located on the Jl. Terogong Raya No. 33 and Pondok Indah campus, Jl. Duta Indah, the Pattimura campus in Kebayoran Baru, located on the Jl. Pattimura.

According to Razik, the uniqueness of the schools curriculum lies in its inquiry-based approach to learning, a defining characteristic of Western-style education.

Tarek Razik, Ed.D, Head of School (Photos courtesy of Jakarta Intercultural School/.)

A lot of our teaching is built around inquiry, extending thinking processes and developing critical thinking skills. We want children to ask why  why is the sky blue? Then they go out and find answers to that question, Razik told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

To achieve this, Razik said the school strove to create more problem-based learning projects in which teachers help students to translate the concepts they learned in real life.

In a particular class, for example, we discuss respect for different cultures and nationalities. We ask the students to do some research first, then they are presented with different situations where their cultural values might come into conflict with those of another person. We ask them to solve this conflict in a respectful manner, he illustrated.

He said the output of this approach was not only quantitative, as measured by the students grade averages or how many students get accepted to prestigious universities, but was also qualitative: They are equipped to become good citizens for the world by applying these thinking and emotional skills.

We arent saying we want to be the best in the world, because that implies competitiveness; we want to contribute to the world.

Best For The World

The world has so many conflicts because people dont show respect. This is an example of how our curriculum feeds our mission and tagline to help students strive to be the best for the world. We arent saying we want to be the best in the world, because that implies competitiveness; we want to contribute to the world, he explained.

The schools effort to nurture global citizens involves people from both within and without its campuses. The school has a student body comprising 62 different nationalities, of which Americans, South Koreans, Indonesians, Australians and Britons make up the majority. Its teachers also hail from different countries, with most of them coming from North America.

Thanks to advancements in technology and related local facilities, the school is now able to connect its students with their counterparts overseas. Global connection is now become a reality to prepare the students in their development as global citizens.

Lets say science students are studying the rainforest. The teacher might use Skype to connect them with a group of students in Brazil living in the Amazon and the students can ask, whats it like living in a rainforest? Razik illustrated.

. (Photos courtesy of Jakarta Intercultural School/.)

Safe Environment And Professional Development

Razik said that inquiry-based learning was actually suitable for students, as children were inherently curious. Teachers, however, face an enormous task in nurturing this trait by providing a safe environment for children to explore and try things, as well as learning from their failures without feeling ashamed.

Therefore, I continue to strive to create a safe environment for children, to protect them from cyberbullying, while providing a space where they arent afraid to fail, instilling the idea that failure is OK as long as you learn from your mistakes and grow and move forward, he said.

Having recently arrived to his new post in Jakarta after his previous role as the head of the International School of Beijing in China, Razik said the Indonesian culture, which placed high importance on harmonious relationships among people, provided an ideal environment for education.

Indonesians are also concerned about deep human relationships, rather than just taking care of business. I like it, because education is about deep connections, he said.

JIS provides constant professional development for its teachers, sending them to local and international workshops on inquiry methods.

In the old days, teachers told [students] what you needed to know in front of the classroom and would give you a test. Now, teachers are more like facilitators. They have to structure lessons that will extend the learning process beyond content. Our trainings seek to equip them with such skills, Razik said.

Pedagogy exchanges for teachers

. (Photos courtesy of Jakarta Intercultural School/.)

Aside from equipping its own teachers with inquiry-based learning methods, JIS also partners actively with local Jakarta schools in a teacher exchange program to introduce the Western pedagogy approach to Indonesian teachers.

To make this goal a reality, the school has just established partnerships with the Emmanuel Foundation and Mentari School Jakarta, as well as launched the Innovative Schools Program (ISP) with the Jakarta Education Agency. The program involves the participation of teachers and principals of about 15 public elementary schools across Jakarta to strengthen their quality of education.

Either we bring their teachers here for training or we send our teachers there. Its really an exchange; we also learn a lot about Indonesia from the local teachers, Razik explained.

We want our teachers to grow together as Indonesia grows. We want to be supporting this [socio-economic] growth in Indonesia, he added.

In order to reach out to a wider segment of Indonesians, Razik was eager to cooperate with relevant national education stakeholders to expand the ISP to schools beyond Jakarta.

Key words/ topics : JIS, Jakarta Intercultural School, jakarta international school, life long learning, inquiry based, global citizen
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 17:19 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d6ac5 1 Lifestyle Kahiyang-Ayu,bobby,Jokowi,family,wedding-ceremony,traditional,Javanese-culture,wedding Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's daughter Kahiyang Ayu is set to tie the knot with Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution on Wednesday in Surakarta, Central Java, but a series of traditional Javanese ceremonies has been taking place since Monday.

Speaking to the press on Monday, Jokowi said the upcoming wedding has been more complicated than that of his son Gibran Rakabuming, which took place on June 11, 2015.

"Yes, it's a little bit more difficult, but basically the preparation has been the same," Jokowi said, as quoted by kompas.com.

The weddings of both of Jokowi's children have featured traditional Javanese cultural ceremonies, with several stages taking place over several days, including wilujeng kenduri, siraman, midodareni, akad (wedding ceremony) and the reception.

"Based on Javanese adat [way of life], the woman is called Mantu, and the man is called Ngunduh Mantu," Jokowi explained of the bride and groom's status at the marriage event.

According to Javanese tradition, the ngunduh mantu procession is not mandatory. However, some parents still want to do it as a form of thanksgiving for the marriage of their beloved son.

Read also: Carriage escort to grace Kahiyang-Bobby wedding

With each event holding its own meaning and philosophy, Monday began with wilujeng kenduri, which consisted of joint prayers to hope for a smooth procession. Jokowi said the family had also invited the neighbors to join in the prayers.

During the wilujeng kenduri, traditional Javanese food is usually served in the form of tumpeng (rice-cone), which is decorated with various ubo rampe (side dishes).

Susanto, a Javanese cultural and historical expert from Sebelas Maret University, explained that wilujeng kenduri is an early stage in the marriage, it is a ritual to ask for blessings from god.

"This process toward marriage is a very important stage because marriage itself is a bond to build the future. That is why the wilujeng kenduri procession is very important," Susanto said.

Susanto further explained that the tumpeng also had its own meaning within the ritual, as it symbolizes a mountain and depicted the universe.

"On a mountain there is water, animals and plants that are symbols of the universe. Meanwhile, the universe is the place where life takes place," Susanto said.

Read also: First Daughter showcases beauty of Indonesia in pre-wedding photos

The accompanying ubo rampe, or side dishes, served with the tumpeng also act as a symbol to repel danger.

The ceremony on Tuesday is followed by siraman, or splashing of water, which would be carried out separately by the bride and groom in their respective places.

For the bride, the siraman would be followed by the sadeyan dawet ritual and midoderani.

"Siraman is actually a way for the child to bid farewell to both parents. This suggests the child is no longer 'showered' or bathed by both parents," Susanto said.

Susanto further added that the meaning of sadeyan dawet in the procession series symbolizes that the child is ready to navigate life and earn a living.

Before the bride's siraman ritual, there will also be an installation of bleketepe, or coconut leaves that are still young and weaved into an average size of 50 cm x 200 cm. The ritual would be conducted by the father of the bride, Jokowi himself.

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo hangs bleketepe (row of plaited coconut leaves) in front of his private residence on Jl. Kutai Utara, Sumber, Surakarta, Central Java, on Nov. 7, 2017. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

"The meaning of this bleketepe installation is like a parent's invitation to purify the heart," said Susanto. "The ceremonies and rituals are important especially since the time of the Mataram kingdom." (liz/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse)  Tue, November 7, 2017 17:08 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d5a5a 2 Food Michelin,michelin-guide,Taipei,restaurant,food,#food Free

After Singapore and South Korea, Michelin has announced plans to launch a new guide for Taipei by spring 2018.

When the Michelin Guide Taipei hits bookshelves and goes live next spring, it will be the guides 30th selection.

The launch is part of the brands aggressive international expansion plans in Asia, which in recent years saw it dispatch Michelin inspectors in Seoul, Singapore and Bangkok for the first time. The inaugural guide for Bangkok is expected to drop at the end of the year.

Read also: Singapores Michelin-starred street food vendor opens in Jakarta

We are particularly happy to continue our deployment in Asia with the launch of this new selection of the Michelin Guide dedicated to Taipei, said Michelin brands and external relations spokesperson Claire Dorland-Clauzel in a statement.

The diversity and quality of the citys culinary scene, combined with its strong potential for development in the years to come, convinced us in our choice to set up in Taipei as from next year.

Our inspectors have already started working on-site and are delighted to be getting acquainted with the local cuisine, rich in so many influences from all around Asia.

The Michelin Guide Taipei will be available in both English and Chinese.
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Linkedin Alain Jean-Robert and Fiachra Gibbons (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Tue, November 7, 2017 12:33 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c1fe4 2 Art & Culture nazi,Book,#books,Literature,#literature,Prix-Goncourt Free

Two books about the Nazis took France's biggest literary prizes on Monday, with Eric Vuillard's story of how German industry and finance backed Adolf Hitler winning the top Prix Goncourt.

"L'ordre du jour" (in English "Agenda") had been among the favourites for the Goncourt prize -- the most prestigious in the French-speaking world.

Vuillard, 49, said he was taken aback on hearing he won for his elegant, 160-page book which charts how the financial support of German industrialists was crucial in Hitler's push for power.

"One is always surprised, sometimes fatally," he told reporters at the Paris restaurant where the winner was announced.

Asked whether the book was a warning for our own populist times, the writer said he wanted to set out how the "elites slid into a situation where they compromised themselves".

His novelistic account of Hitler's rise, which sticks doggedly to the facts, turns on a secret meeting in February 1933 between Hitler and the heads of Krupp, Siemens, Opel, IG Farben and other major industrial groups where they agreed to bankroll his election campaign.

As they left the room, Hermann Goering laughed, "These elections will be the last for 10 years and maybe for a century."

The Renaudot award, often seen as a consolation prize for those not shortlisted for the Goncourt, went to "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele", another book about the Nazis which walked the tightrope of historical fact.

Journalist Olivier Guez spent years retracing the secret post-Holocaust life of the SS doctor, notorious as the "Angel of Death" at the Auschwitz concentration camp for his often lethal experiments on prisoners.

Read also: US author George Saunders wins 2017 Man Booker Prize

'Mediocrity of evil'

Mengele managed to escape to Argentina and even got a West German passport in his own name in the 1950s so he could return for a holiday in his hometown.

"I wanted to understand what is left of a person after they have done that kind of evil," Guez told AFP after he won.

"I wanted to know what Mengele's life was like afterwards, whether he had been punished or not. I think in Europe today (with the rise of the far-right) we need to understand the extraordinary mediocrity of evil," he added.

While Vuillard gets only 10 euros ($11) for winning the Goncourt, the prize almost guarantees a boost in sales of 450,000 copies or more, placing it instantly among the year's top bestsellers.

Although his book was greatly admired, many critics had tipped Veronique Olmi to make history by becoming the second woman writer in a row to win the century-old prize.

Her novel, "Bakhita", based on another real-life story of a Sudanese slave girl who became a Catholic saint, is already a bestseller. It has won the Fnac prize and is also in the running for the Femina prize, which will be decided on Wednesday.

In the third round of voting for the Goncourt, however, she lost out to Vuillard by six votes to four.

Among the other finalists was Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing", a powerful account of an Algerian "harki" family who sided with the French during the bloody nine-year Algerian war of independence that ended in 1962.

"We did not choose the winner on the basis of the sex or origin of the writer," said the doyen of French letters Bernard Pivot, who chaired the jury.

"The book is all that counts," he told AFP.
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Linkedin Syafrizaldi (The Jakarta Post) Bandar Lampung  Tue, November 7, 2017 09:32 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27b66d5 4 Environment wildlife,animal-conservation,sumatran-rhino,rhinoceros,endangered-animal,endangered-species,#wildlife,#AnimalWelfare,#EndangeredSpecies Free

Delilah, a young female rhino, was leaning against her mother, Ratu, and demanded attention.

The smart calf was playfully running around her mother. Ignoring the babys behavior, Ratu guided Delilah back to their enclosed compound.

The rhinos live in a dense forest within the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) at Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) in Lampung province.

The Indonesian Rhino Foundation (YABI) manages the park, where Delilahs horn markings on tree trunks prevent her from getting lost.

Delilah is now capable of looking for food all by herself, though sometimes Ratu still offers guidance.

Delilah has also learned to make a mudhole for wallowing in, SRS-TNWK veterinarian Made Verawati said.

Rhinos are indeed fond of rolling around in mudholes to cool off. The mud also functions as a repellant of bloodsucking, disease-transmitting insects.

In less than two hours, Delilah finished the mud-bathing ritual that morning and left the enclosure to return to the forest with Ratu.

Read also: Sumatran elephant and Kalimantan orangutan born at Batu Secret Zoo

Rhinos should not interact too much with people; they are sensitive and human presence often disturbs them, explained Made.

Play time: Delilah (left) plays around with her mother, Ratu. (JP/Syafrizaldi)

As Made recalled, Delilahs birth at dawn in May last year was tense.

Delilah was only 20 kilograms at birth but grew quickly. By 10 months old, she had already grown to 270 kg.

Ratu was rescued from poachers in the TNWK in 2005 and lived alone for some time before mating with Andalas, a Sumatran rhino that had been

raised at a United States zoo. Ratu was around 15 years old when she gave birth to Delilah. A female rhino can bear only three to five calves in its lifetime, and has a gestation period of 15 months.

Sumatran rhinos like Delilah and Ratu are currently in a precarious situation, requiring concrete conservation efforts.

Keeping Sumatran rhinos in captivity requires special attention because the species cannot be totally confined and needs a lot of open space to live.

Delilahs enclosure is a half-open space with fences made from iron and wire. A shelter is provided for health checks and food storage.

The 100-hectare SRS has six enclosures built around the sanctuary, each covering no more than 700 square meters, with the remaining area as space where the rhinos can roam and interact with nature.

In the middle of the SRS, a mating area is provided for the rhinos, which is far smaller than the six enclosures.

Female rhinos are ushered to the area when they show signs of estrus (sexual receptivity). They have a maximum period of fertility of only four days, during which pheromones are excreted.

Keeping it natural: Workers at the SRS plant seeds that will become the main food source for the rhinos living in the sanctuary. (JP/Syafrizaldi)

Male rhinos can smell the pheromones from several kilometers away. Intensive observations are required to detect the estrus cycle. Their solitary character makes the mating process very fragile, Made noted.

Delilah and Ratu are two of the seven rhinos currently living in the SRS, the only rhino captive breeding center in Indonesia that aims to release the rare mammals into the wild when possible.

As of now, Delilah and her friends cannot return to the wild because the overall conditions outside the sanctuary are not yet safe.

Outside the sanctuary, there are hunters and recurring wildfires that endanger Delilah and her friends should they be released.

The TNWK is close to the coastal waters east of Lampung, thus allowing open access to the zone. The parks 1,300-square-kilometer lowland forest constitutes the last habitat expected to restore the population of Sumatran rhinos.

Holistic protection is crucial to increase their population because of their solitary nature.

Sumatran rhinos life expectancy is between 35 and 40 years, another factor that makes conservation difficult, according to the communication and outreach manager of the Tropical Forest Conservation Action (TFCA)-Sumatra, Ali Sofiawan.

Queen rhino: Ratu, the only female Sumatran rhino to have given birth at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS). (JP/Syafrizaldi)

Routine patrols and monitoring in the parks natural habitat is therefore a must, and TFCA-Sumatra supports this effort.

If their relocation is needed, TFCA-Sumatra is ready to assist. Our target is to raise the [Sumatran rhino] population by at least 10 percent, Ali said.

Up until now, there has been no official data on the Sumatran rhino population.

Ali estimates that there are only 100 Sumatran rhinos currently living in their habitats. They are scattered around the TNWK, the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) in Lampung and the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) in Aceh.

The situation is distressing. Sumatran rhinos are on the brink of extinction. Unless protection is carried out intensively, their fate is no better than the other species that have already been wiped out. Future generations will only see them in pictures or at museums, Ali said.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 21:49 1834 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27e1e8a 1 City Allianz-Life,lawsuit Free

Insurance company PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia plans to file a lawsuit against lawyer Alvin Lim, who represented two of the companys clients, for allegedly making discredited statements to the media.

Alvin represented Ifranius Algadri and Indah Goena Nanda, two Allianz Life clients who previously reported the company to the police for allegedly refusing to pay their claims.

The company also reported some of its clients to the Jakarta Police on Oct. 17 for allegedly submitting false claims.

"The case is currently being investigated for the protection of Allianz Life's rights and image," the insurance company stated in a press release received by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The legal process was initiated to protect the interests of its investors, clients and other parties, it added.

Adrian DW, head of corporate communications for the company, said the parties that had been reported to the police were not Ifranius and Indah.

However, he refused to reveal the identities of the reported clients.

The Jakarta Police earlier named two former executives of the company, Joachim Wessling and Yuliana Firmansyah, suspects for allegedly violating the consumer protection law.

Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Tuesday afternoon that Ifranius and Indah had dropped their reports against Allianz.

Argo said the police would question them regarding the reasons for their decision.

The police had yet to decide whether they would release information regarding the accusations involving Joachim and Yuliana, Argo said.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 16:43 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d48c0 1 National MK,Civil-Administration-Law,Constitutional-Court,Constitution,indigenous-faiths,religion,religious-beliefs Free

The Constitutional Court granted a judicial review request on Tuesday to challenge the 2013 Civil Administration Law that will pave way for Indonesian native-faith followers to have their beliefs officially recognized by the government.

Reading out its ruling in a hearing presided by Justice Arief Hidayat, the court said articles in the law that required people adopting indigenous native faiths to leave the religion column in their ID cards blank were discriminatory.

Article 61 [2] and Article 64 [5] of the Civil Administration Law contradict the 1945 Constitution and these articles are not legally binding, Arief said Tuesday.

The judicial review was filed in 2016 by followers of four indigenous faiths who argued that the law violated the principle of equality before the law.

Justice Saldi Isra said the disputed articles provided no legal certainty and violated principles of equal justice for all citizens. The articles had also created difficulties for native-faith followers to obtain e-ID and family registration cards.

By leaving the religion fields blank, indigenous-belief followers had also suffered problems in exercising their rights, including difficulties in marriage registration and accessing civil administration services, Saldi said.

The religion field on family registration and e-ID cards of people adopting indigenous beliefs should now show that they are "penghayat kepercayaan (native-faith followers)" without details about their native faith, Saldi added.

According to Culture and Education Ministry data, there were about 1,200 native-faith groups with at least 12 million followers across the Muslim-majority country in 2016. (ebf)
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Linkedin Nova Safo (AFP) Sutherland Springs, United States  Tue, November 7, 2017 08:00 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27b3a0f 2 World Texas,Texas-church,Texas-shooting,Texas-church-service,fatal-attack,shooting,shooting-incident Free

A family dispute may have sparked the rampage by a US Air Force veteran who killed 26 people with an assault rifle in a small-town church, the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history, officials said Monday.

Ten people remained in critical condition a day after Devin Patrick Kelley, a 26-year-old private security guard, burst into the rural Baptist church during Sunday morning services and sprayed bullets at the congregation.

Investigators were focusing on reports that Kelley had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the church but was not there on Sunday.

Victims of the massacre included an 18-month-old baby, eight members of a single family, and reportedly the gunman's own grandmother-in-law. Twenty people were wounded.

Governor Greg Abbott said Kelley, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and two handguns, had been denied a gun permit in Texas and should not have legally had access to weapons.

President Donald Trump, who is travelling in Asia, said meanwhile that the United States was living in "dark times" but brushed off calls for stricter gun control, saying the latest tragedy, which left eight members of one family dead, "isn't a guns situation."

The authorities said Kelley apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his car after fleeing the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a rural community of rolling hills and ranches of nearly 400 people near San Antonio.

Kelley, who was kicked out of the Air Force for domestic violence, was dressed in black and was wearing a bulletproof vest and a black mask with a skull face when he walked up and down the aisle of the church shooting people in the pews, officials said.

Two men -- Stephen Willeford, 55, and Johnnie Langendorff, 27 -- were being lauded as heroes for confronting Kelley after he mowed down nearly 50 churchgoers with gunfire.

Willeford grabbed his own AR-15 rifle and shot and wounded Kelley as he emerged from the church and headed for his car.

Willeford then flagged down a passing pickup truck driven by Langendorff and they pursued Kelley at high speed until he crashed his vehicle into a field.

- 'Domestic situation' -

Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety said 10 people were in critical condition, four were in serious condition and six were in stable condition.

Sunday's carnage came just five weeks after the worst gun massacre in modern US history, the murder of 58 people by a heavily armed retired accountant who opened fire on a country music concert in Las Vegas.

"This was not racially motivated, it wasn't over religious beliefs," Martin said.

"There was a domestic situation going on with the family and in-laws," he said. "We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in-law."

Governor Abbott said Kelley was "a man who had some mental health issues apparently long before this."

According to the Air Force, Kelley served at a base in New Mexico starting in 2010 before being court-martialed in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and a child.

He was sentenced to 12 months in confinement and received a "bad conduct" discharge in 2014, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Officials said Kelley was armed with a Ruger AR-15 rifle and had two handguns in his vehicle, a Glock 9mm and a Ruger .22 but Abbott said Kelley should not have been allowed to have a gun at all.

"He tried to get a gun permit in the State of Texas and was denied that permit," Abbott said. "Under the current system of federal law he should have been prevented to make this purchase."

- 'Let the buzzards pick at him' -

Kelley was from the town of New Braunfels, 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Sutherland Springs, and his in-laws attended the church, officials said.

Willeford, who shot and wounded Kelley as he emerged from the church, told The Dallas Morning News he was "terrified while this was going on."

"I didn't want this and I want the focus to be on my friends," he said. "I have friends in that church."

Langendorff said he and Willeford pursued Kelley for about 10 to 12 minutes at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour (150 kilometers per hour).

"I had to make sure he was caught," he told CNN.

Kelley crashed his car while being chased and was found dead inside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Martin said Kelley called his father from the car before he crashed and said he was wounded and "didn't think he would make it."

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo as part of his Asia tour, President Trump dubbed the gunman "deranged" and said the most recent mass shooting to hit the United States "isn't a guns situation."

"I think that mental health is your problem here," Trump said when asked if gun control could reduce the rampant firearms violence plaguing the country.

Late Sunday, mourners held a candlelight vigil for victims in the tiny town, with another service planned on Monday.

"We lost a lot of good friends," said Robert Kunz, 50, owner of Sutherland Springs Tire & Battery.

"I feel like the guy got what he deserved," he said. "You're going to hate me for this, but I think they need to let the buzzards pick at him." (**)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, November 7, 2017 17:21 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d703f 1 National Medan,flood,disaster,North-Sumatra,Langkat Free

A flood that hit several areas in North Sumatra a few days ago has forced thousands of residents to leave their homes for temporary shelters.

In the provincial capital of Medan, hundreds of homes were evacuated in Aur subdistrict, Medan Maimon district, early morning on Tuesday.

Floodwater one meter in depth inundated the houses.

A subdistrict official, Yahdi Sabil, said the flooding was caused by an overflow of the Deli River, following heavy downpour in the past few days.

He said that some residents living in multi-story houses chose to stay behind.

According to the Medan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Medan Maimun and Medan Johor were the districts most affected by the flood.

Read also: Personnel deployed as thousands affected by flooding in Malang

The operation and control manager at BPBD Medan, M. Yunus, said the agency had set up public kitchens in the temporary shelters.

"The flooding in Medan was also caused by an increase in the volume of water at the Babura River," he said.

Outside Medan, flooding was also reported in Langkat regency.

The overflowing Batang Serangan River resulted in the inundation of thousands of houses in six districts in the regency.

A man lifts up a large piece of debris that was swept by floodwater in Aur subdistrict, Medan Maimon, Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday. (The Jakarta Post/Apriadi Gunawan)

Iwan Syahri of BPBD Langkat said the hardest hit district was Tanjung Pura, where floodwater one meter in depth forced 699 families to leave their homes.

Other affected districts in the regency include Padang Tualang, Babalan, Sei Lepan, and Sawit Seberang.

The flood also damaged 978 hectares of agricultural area, as well as several schools and worship places," Iwan said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no casualties were reported. (bbs)
A pair of local law enforcement officers were recognized Monday for their work in serving victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs deputy Greg Holmlund and Helena police officer John Kaleczyc received the Officer of the Year Award given out by the Helena Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Working Group and The Friendship Center. The awards were presented by Attorney General Tim Fox.

Every day theyre responding to very tense and very complicated situations, especially in domestic and sexual violence cases, said Abbie Chermack, interim director for The Friendship Center. There are high expectations from all the parties involved and sometimes it can be a thankless job.

The way uniformed officers approach victims plays a critical role, she said, building trust for law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

Fox detailed several statistics, including that one in four women experience domestic violence and 40 percent of women experience physical violence, rape or stalking. The Friendship Center saw more than 3,000 crisis calls last year, he added.

Domestic violence has a devastating impact on victims, family members and the community at large, he said, and takes many forms.

Fox praised Kaleczyc, who was not in attendance, and read several statements from those who nominated him. Since joining the force in 2012, he has been nominated for the award three times.

Jaime Gabrielli, a senior crisis response advocate at The Friendship Center, said she looks forward to working with Kaleczyc because of his trauma informed approach, ability to show compassion to victims and his strong relationship-building skill, Fox said.

HPD Chief Troy McGee accepted the award on Kaleczycs behalf.

Holmlund is a five-year veteran of the sheriffs office, and colleagues recognized him for going above and beyond in cases of domestic or sexual violence, Fox said. Reading a statement from detective Dan OMalley, Fox continued, He understands the people he serves and has the incredible ability to put individuals at ease in almost every situation he encounters."

Holmlund said he was honored by the award and added that many people were also well-deserving.

We are fortunate in Montana to have a very high level of professionalism and dedication in our law enforcement professionals. They do their work with passion and they do it with a lot of heart that I really appreciate, Fox said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 13:08 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c4840 4 Business electric-car,preparation,Trade-Ministry Free

Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto says his ministry is preparing various measures to achieve the governments targeted 20 percent market share for electric cars by 2025.

One of the measures is conducting tests on several electric cars in December in a bid to chose one for a pilot project.

The ministry has carried out a number of activities related to technical work, including preparing machinery, batteries, energy sources and materials for electric car batteries, kompas.com reported on Monday.

Airlangga said the government has considering using fuel cells, which use hydrogen.

The minister said the country was rich in resources that could be used to produce hydrogen. Indonesia has large amount of coal that could used to produce hydrogen, he added. (bbn)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 12:14 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27bfc35 1 Business Regulations,supervision,Inpres-presidential-instruction Free

In a bid to avoid overlapping regulations, a presidential instruction (Inpres) has been issued that requires ministers, high-ranking officials and heads of non-ministerial institutions to report any new regulations they want to issue to the relevant coordinating minister's office and/or the President .

Ministries, the Cabinet Secretariat, non-ministerial government institutions, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Attorney General's Office and the police are also required to carry out impact analysis and public consultation before drafting regulations to avoid public dispute.

The requirement became effective on Nov. 1, when Inpres No. 7/2017 on the supervision and monitoring of policy implementation in ministries and non-ministerial institutions was issued.

Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Lembong said the Inpres was issued because ministries and other institutions had failed to coordinate with each other when they issued regulations.

How many regulations have been issued that coordinating ministries arent aware of? he said Monday.

Businesspeople have complained that overlapping regulations often lead to confusion. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 16:02 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27cdb03 1 National Jokowi,Joko-Widodo,kahiyang,Kahiyang-Ayu,surakarta,Central-Java,wedding,wedding-ceremony,#firstdaughterwedding Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo could not hold back his tears upon seeing his daughter, Kahiyang Ayu, undergoing a series of Javanese rituals on Tuesday before her wedding procession with Bobby Afif Nasution the following day.

Opening the wedding rituals, Jokowi hung bleketepe (plaited coconut leaves) in front of his private residence on Jl. Kutai Utara, Sumber, Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday morning. This was followed by siraman, or bathing the bride, as well as other rituals.

"Pak Jokowi was calm when the siraman procession took place. He shed tears during Kahiyang's sungkeman procession, which took place after the siraman, said Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo.

(Read also: Carriage escort to grace Kahiyang-Bobby wedding)

During the sungkeman, Kahiyang asked for the blessing of her parents, Jokowi and First Lady Iriana. Jokowi asked Kahiyang to be patient in her married life  both as a wife and as a mother. He also wished his only daughter to have good marriage with Bobby.

Jokowi and Iriana later carried out another ritual called sadeyan dawet, during which the President and First Lady offered dawet -- a traditional Javanese dessert -- to their visitors. Each visitor must exchange a glass of dawet for a kereweng  an earthenware coin. This procession symbolically expresses the hopes of the parents of a bride that their daughter and her husband can make their way in life.

Visitors and Jokowi's neighbors rammed the dawet booth as they wanted to get the special drinks. According to traditional Javanese belief, the more people that get the dawet during the ritual, the more blessings the couple will get during their marriage. (mos/ebf)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 19:20 1834 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27de9df 1 Politics e-ID,setya-novanto,#SetyaNovanto,#KPKInquiry,corruption,Febri-Diansyah Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed it had issued a new sprindik (letter ordering the start of an investigation) related to the high-profile electronic identity (e-ID) graft case.

Its a new sprindik with the name of the suspect in it, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told reporters on Tuesday.

However, he refused to disclose further details when asked about the viral image depicting a notification letter of the investigation (SPDP), where House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto was named a suspect in the e-ID case.

The letter depicted in the image bears the KPK letterhead and was signed by KPK director of investigation Brig. Gen. Aris Budiman on Nov. 3. The letter also implied that a new sprindik on Setya had been issued on Oct. 31.

Read also: Dozens of netizens face charges over Setya memes

Setya had previously been named a suspect for his alleged role in corruption pertaining to e-ID procurement from 2011 to 2012, which has allegedly resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion (US$170 billion) in state losses.

Former Home Ministry high-ranking officials Irman and Sugiharto have been found guilty in the case. Businessmen Andi Agustinus aka Andi Narogong and Anang Sugiana Sudihardjo were also implicated, with the former currently on trial.

Golkar Party member Rudy Alfonso responds to journalists' questions at the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday. Rudy attended a questioning session at the KPK as a witness of the high-profile electronic identity (e-ID) graft case. (The Jakarta Post/Kharishar Kahfi)

Setyas lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, brushed off the circulating image saying he had never received such a letter.

KPK questioned several former and current lawmakers as witnesses in the case on Tuesday, including Golkar's Chairuman Harahap, Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, and Rudy Alfonso, as well as Teguh Juwarno from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Miryam S. Haryani from the Hanura Party. (bbs)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 12:46 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c2b3c 1 Politics KPK,setya,setya-novanto,e-ID,Golkar,corruption,GolkarParty,house-of-representatives,#SetyaNovanto Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is currently questioning three Golkar Party members in relation to the high-profile e-ID graft case.

The party members, namely Chairuman Harahap, Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa and Rudy Alfonso, appeared at the KPK office on Tuesday morning even though they had not be scheduled for questioning.

Chairuman and Agun remained tight-lipped about their questioning on Tuesday, while Rudi gave a brief response to journalists' questions.

[This is] about SN, he said, referring to Setya Novanto, the House of Representatives speaker and Golkar chairman.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah confirmed that investigators would question several witnesses in the e-ID graft case. The questioning is aimed at developing our investigation into the graft case, Febri said, refusing to give further details.

Read also: Setya takes the stand in e-ID graft trial

The anti-graft body previously named Setya a suspect in the graft case, which caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$170 million) in state losses, but the South Jakarta District Court ordered that the status be lifted in a pretrial hearing in September.

Since then, public pressure has mounted for Setya to be rename a suspect in the case. The KPK has repeatedly said it is doing its best to build a solid case against Setya. (ebf)
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Linkedin Anna Malpas (Agence France-Presse) Moscow, Russia  Tue, November 7, 2017 18:30 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27dc21d 2 World communist,Russia,BolshevikRevolution,Putin Free

Russian authorities were reluctant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on Tuesday, with just low-key events being held to mark an uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule.

President Vladimir Putin, who has made "stability" the keyword of his 17 years in power, would be treating the day as any other, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously.

Russian media had an ambiguous reaction to the centenary, with pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda asking on its front page: "Great celebration or big tragedy?"

Moscow will see a march and rally organised by the Communist Party -- still the largest opposition party in parliament -- to glorify the anniversary.

The party said its slogans will include "Lenin-Stalin-Victory!" and "Let Lenin's ideas live!"

Russian Communist supporters walk along the Red square to lay flowers at Lenin's mausoleum in Moscow on Nov. 5, 2017, to celebrate the forthcoming 100th anniversary of The Bolshevik Revolution. Russia is set to hold low-key events to mark a century since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on Nov. 7, with authorities uncertain how to assess the uprising that led to 70 years of Communist rule. (Agence France -Presse/Mladen ANTONOV )

But authorities have allowed just 5,000 participants for the afternoon rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin, the TASS state news agency reported.

Leftwing radical group The Other Russia, led by writer Eduard Limonov, is also set to hold an event in the capital.

Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with a public holiday which included pomp and military parades on Moscow's Red Square.

Russian Communists pose for a picture after laying flowers at Lenin's mausoleum on the Red square in Moscow on Nov. 5, 2017, to celebrate the forthcoming 100th anniversary of The Bolshevik Revolution. Russia is set to hold low-key events to mark a century since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on Nov. 7, with authorities uncertain how to assess the uprising that led to 70 years of Communist rule. (Agence France -Presse/Mladen ANTONOV)

Under Putin, November 7 became a regular working day in 2005.

This year there was again a parade on the square, but the event was to mark the 76th anniversary of a parade during World War II, rather than the centenary of the revolution.

The centenary is the last landmark event before a presidential election in March that Putin is widely expected to contest and win.

'Not celebrations'

Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg.

The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 -- which is November 7 according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar -- after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship.

One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called "deeply symbolic" after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers.

Putin said this month that the revolution was "an integral, complex part of our history", emphasising the need for "treating the past objectively and respectfully".

The Kremlin has charged a committee of politicians, historians and clerics with organising this year's festivities.

Organiser Konstantin Mogilevsky stressed at a presentation last month that the events were "not celebrations" of 1917 but were intended to be a "calm conversation about revolution, aimed at understanding it".

Russia's leadership is desperate to avoid repeats of the "color revolutions" in other ex-Soviet countries, he said.

New period dramas on television have been some of the main forums for re-examining history.

One depicts revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky as a "rock 'n' roll hero", according to its makers, while another examines Germany's role in fomenting the Bolshevik Revolution.

TV estatal rusa estrena serie sobre Leon Trotsky, a los 100 anos de la revolucion https://t.co/iFDofren0Q  Francisca Guerrero (@PULSO_FGuerrero) November 6, 2017

But many Russians are barely aware of the anniversary, commentators said.

"The country that once counted its existence from October (1917) is now seeing in its centenary in deafening silence," wrote historian Ivan Kurilla in the Vedomosti business daily.

"For an ordinary Russian, the centenary is passing by unnoticed," he added.

A report commissioned by the Communist Party found that 58 percent of Russians were not aware of the anniversary.

November 7 is still a day off in neighboring Belarus under the Soviet-style rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.

But the last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, cancelled its November 7 public holiday this year.

Topics : communist Russia BolshevikRevolution Putin
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 17:26 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d7b50 1 City Hanura-Party,Jakarta-council,corruption,Councilors,inauguration Free

Jakarta Council speaker Prasetio Edi Marsudi inaugurated a new council member from the Hanura Party in a plenary session at the councils building on Tuesday.

The new member was inaugurated to replace former member Fahmi Zulfikar, who was involved in a corruption case of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) procurement.

Fahmi Zulfikar will be replaced with Romli H. Sowo from Hanura, Prasetio said as quoted by kompas.com.

The case [which was handled by] Bareskrim [National Polices Criminal Investigation Department] had been decided yesterday. Therefore we decided to replace [Fahmi], he said.

The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Fahmi to spend six years in prison after being found guilty of corruption. (ecn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 18:46 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27dd0b0 1 City reclamation,Islet-C-and-D,tax Free

Jakarta Police plan to summon three officials from the citys Tax and Levy Board (BPRD) on Wednesday in connection with alleged bribery relating to the taxable value of property (NJOP) of the reclamation of islets C and D in Jakarta Bay.

Tomorrow, on Wednesday, we will summon three witnesses; Joko, the BPRDs regulatory department head; Yuandi, the BPRDs planning department head; and Andri, a member of staff at the board's Penjaringan office , said Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono on Tuesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The police will ask for clarification regarding the NJOP of the islets, which has been set at only Rp 3.1 million (US$229) per square meter, which is deemed to be too low for the reclamation islets.

The NJOP, Argo added, should be based on Finance Ministry Regulation No.139 on the NJOPs classification and determination, and the investigators aim to find out whether it has been implemented based on that regulation.

The NJOP of reclamation islets C and D should be between Rp 25 million and Rp 30 million per square meter. So far, the developer of both islets, Kapuk Naga Indah, has paid NJOP of Rp 200 billion before obtaining the building use permits (HGB).

Hence, the police will investigate how the NJOP was determined and the process of obtaining the HGB. (wnd)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 18:10 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27dbc85 1 City murder,Depok,domestic-worker Free

Police have arrested the alleged killer of a pregnant domestic worker, identified as Samsiah, 40, who was found dead at her employers house at the Pesona Mungil II housing complex in Depok, West Java on Sunday night.

We arrested him in Pasar Minggu [in South Jakarta],Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday, adding that the alleged perpetrator was a 22-year-old man.

The home was empty when the body was found, as her employers had been away since Saturday, Depok Police crime unit chief Comr. Putu Kholis Aryana said.

A post mortem examination of her body revealed that Samsiah suffered stab wounds and strangle marks to her neck. A team of doctors at the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, confirmed the cause of death was blunt object trauma, which broke her neck.

Police alleged Samsiah was killed because of a personal dispute. The perpetrator only took the victim's phones and some cash before leaving.

Putu said her team found a pair of scissors, which the perpetrator used as the murder weapon at the scene. (yon)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 15:32 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27ccd17 4 Business railway,Christmas,New-Year,Transportation Free

State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) plans to add 40 trips to anticipate the surge of passengers ahead of Christmas and New Year.

Christmas and New Year trains will operate from Dec. 21, 2017 to January, 2018. The number of seats during the period will increase by about 5 to 6 percent, said PT KAI president director Edi Sukmoro when visiting Gambir Station in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

The additional journeys would bring the total number of trips to 375 during the 17-day period, Edi said, adding that 20,880 seats were available in the additional trains.

Besides the additional trains, the company still had 153 train cars as reserves that could be operated whenever demand increased, Edi added.

Customers can buy tickets for the additional trains through all official channels of PT KAI starting on Nov. 1, Edi added as reported by tribunnews.com. (bbn)
Everything and nothing has changed since the last time President Donald Trump addressed the National Rifle Association convention.

Trump returns to the powerful lobby group's gathering Friday with national gun politics evolving after recent massacres but with the status quo of federal gun laws largely intact.

Last year, Trump's visit to the NRA was a hero's homecoming after the group helped put him in the White House following his unequivocally pro-Second Amendment campaign.

"You came through for me and I am going to come through for you," Trump told thousands of gun rights activists at last year's convention in Atlanta.

This time, Trump is more of a supplicant, needing vigorous turnout from pro-gun voters to offset what many Republicans fear could be a midterm election disaster in November.

The President is likely to highlight his staunch support for the Second Amendment and modest steps he has taken, under intense political heat, on gun safety this year.

Since he will be in a friendly crowd, there's no guarantee he will stick to gun issues: In such company, Trump is prone to wander off into monologues of political red meat -- from touting the confirmation of conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch to the potential success of his North Korea policy.

But even a welcoming space such as the NRA convention may bring a subliminal reminder of the cloud that has haunted him since his earliest days in the White House: allegations of election collusion with Russia.

The group is bracing for fresh scrutiny over its finances following allegations that a lifetime member and Russian government official, Alexander Torshin, had funneled money through the NRA to bolster the Trump campaign in 2016.

CNN's Sara Murray reported exclusively last week that the NRA is preserving years of documents related to the Kremlin-linked banker ahead of a possible investigation. The NRA declined to comment on the report.

Surge of activism

Whatever the President says in Dallas on Friday, Democrats are increasingly optimistic that their days of being pummeled on gun politics in state and national elections may be in the past.

Advocates of restrictions on guns point to a changed political environment after the surge of teenager-led activism that followed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February, which killed 17 people.

"I think the most dramatic shift has indeed happened post-Parkland," said Isabelle James, political director of the gun safety group Americans for Responsible Solutions, which was launched by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly. The Arizona Democrat survived a mass shooting in 2011.

James said that many voters are beginning to connect the inability of Congress to act after horrific tragedies afflicting American kids with the influence of the gun lobby.

Dana Loesch, the spokeswoman for the NRA, sought to offer constructive solutions after the massacre, reinforcing the NRA's position that mentally ill people should not have access to firearms.

"I don't believe this insane monster should have ever been able to obtain a firearm," Loesch said in the wake of Parkland. "We have to start ... following up on red flags."

During a searing CNN town hall event in Florida in February, Sen. Marco Rubio, a staunch NRA backer, earned some plaudits for facing a passionate, largely hostile crowd thoughtfully, while still making his pro-gun case.

"The positions I hold on these issues of the Second Amendment, I've held since the day I entered office in the city of West Miami as an elected official," the Florida Republican said when asked about NRA donations to his campaign. "People buy into my agenda, and I do support the Second Amendment."

'We have to fight them every once in a while'

Trump will also be appearing before NRA members for the first time since he chided Republicans who he said were scared of the lobby group and vowed to fight it if necessary.

He made his remarks in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, when he was under crushing political pressure to act on gun laws.

"Half of you are so afraid of the NRA. ... You know what, if they're not with you, we have to fight them every once in a while," the President said back in February.

His remarks raised some hopes that a Republican President could break the stranglehold that the NRA exerts over his party.

Then, in a surreal meeting with lawmakers at the White House, Trump proposed a comprehensive gun safety bill and vowed that, unlike his predecessors, he would enact change.

"It's time that a President stepped up and we haven't had them," Trump said.

But despite promises to raise the age for long-gun purchases from 18 to 21 and improvements in the background check system, his efforts largely fizzled.

Trump's eventual formal proposals largely met the approval of the NRA, a group that spent $30 million to help him win the White House, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and seemed as much under its sway as other Republicans.

Congress did pass legislation to improve compliance and reporting on background checks and allocated more money for school safety. But the measures were modest and did not fundamentally change the nation's guns laws.

Trump also ordered the Justice Department to issue regulations to ban bump fire stocks, which convert semiautomatic weapons into rapid-firing rifles like the ones used in the massacre of concertgoers last year in Las Vegas.

Midterm implications

The President set up a commission to consider other measures -- a move seen by many advocates of gun restrictions as a way of putting them aside. Significant changes to background checks, age restrictions and bump stock restrictions have passed in states like Florida, Oregon and Vermont this year.

Polling also suggests that guns could begin to be almost as much a motivating factor for liberal voters as they have long been for Second Amendment conservatives.

A March Quinnipiac survey, for instance, showed that 61% of voters wanted the President to do more to reduce gun violence, while 68% also wanted Congress to do more.

It's data like that, as well as the evidence of activism stirring in the states, that makes advocates of restrictions confident that Trump's visit to the NRA could fire up Democratic voters as much as it motivates Trump's Republican base.

"We have always known that the gun safety movement has the numbers on our side in terms of the policy support and it was just that intensity gap. I absolutely think that is starting to close," said James, citing the hundreds of thousands of people who took part in "March for Our Lives" events across the US in March.
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara  Tue, November 7, 2017 15:27 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27cb43f 1 National National-Police,Royal-Malaysian-Police,West-Lombok,West-Nusa-Tenggara,NTB,drugs,drug-abuse,drug-offenses,narcotics,Bareskrim Free

Representatives of the Indonesian National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police have sounded out a possible partnership for eliminating the distribution of illicit drugs during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

The Lombok meeting is the 11th bilateral meeting between the two law enforcement institutions, which was first held in 2015.

Narcotics Criminal Investigation head Police Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohmad Bin Salleh and NTB Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Tajuddin attended the meeting, which was closed to the public.

Eight members of the Royal Malaysian Police and 14 personnel of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) were also present at the meeting, as well as the heads of several regional narcotics divisions from across Indonesia.

Bareskrim chief Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto told journalists on Tuesday that the bilateral meeting discussed improving cooperation between the two countries' police forces, especially in battling drug-related crimes.

We also exchanged the latest information and data, including new types of drugs and narcotics that we should be aware about. This partnership has been running for 11 years and we want it to grow stronger, he said.

Bareskrim's records show that as of September, the National Police had confiscated more than 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine. Meanwhile in Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Police had seized more than 600 kilograms of crystal meth during the same period.

We are facing similar problems, said Ari.

A long coastline and many small coastal islands in both Indonesia and Malaysia have made the two countries vulnerable to transnational drug crimes. (ebf)

Fighting drugs: Narcotics officers from Malaysia and Indonesia discuss efforts to combat drug crimes at a bilateral meeting between the National Police and the Royal Malaysian Police on Nov.7 in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. (JP/Panca Nugraha)
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Linkedin Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 17:53 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d8585 1 National Constitutional-Court,Constitution,religion,native-faiths Free

Jakarta-based rights group Setara Institute has lauded a Constitutional Court ruling that paves the way for native faith followers to declare their faiths on their ID cards, saying the ruling could end long-standing discrimination against minority groups.

Setara said in a statement that the court's ruling, issued on Tuesday, should be followed by efforts to acknowledge the rights of all citizens.

The Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday in favor of native faith followers who had challenged provisions on religion within the 2006 Law on population administration that prevented them from obtaining ID cards.

The court concluded the provisions were discriminatory and unconstitutional, thus allowing the country's native belief followers to state their native faith on civil documents, instead of leaving them blank as stipulated by the law.

The 1965 blasphemy law only recognizes six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.

"Ideally the state would not discriminate against its citizens when they declare their religious identity on the population administration register," Setara said.

Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, who manages population administration, said on Tuesday that the ministry would abide by the ruling, adding it would coordinate with related agencies to compile data on native faiths in Indonesia.

"The Home Ministry, through the Directorate General for Population and Civil Administration, will combine those local beliefs with the existing population administration system," Tjahjo said in a statement. (ahw)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura  Tue, November 7, 2017 16:42 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d401f 1 National TNI,Tembagapura,Mimika,Timika,assailant,separatism,separatists,Boy-Rafli-Amar Free

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed two platoons as reinforcements to the police to hunt down armed assailants blamed for a recent series of attacks in the area.

Last week, an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen on Utikini Bridge in Tembagapura resulted in the death of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer First. Brig. Berry Pramana Putra.

"Soldiers have been deployed to help the police. We want the perpetrators arrested," Cendrawasih Military Commander Maj. Gen. George Elnadus Supit said on Monday.

He said the assailant group consisted of 30 to 50 people, with half of them believed to be armed.

Five kiosks owned by local people in Kampung Utikini, Mimika, Papua, were set ablaze by an armed group at 2 a.m. on Sunday. There were no casualties in the incident. (Courtesy of Papua Police/file)

He said the group often used civilians as "human shields."

"They also fraternize with residents. So, be patient, we need time. We don't want to be reckless. We don't want innocent people to become victims," George said.

Read also: Separatist group behind shootings at police station in Papua, TNI commander says

Meanwhile, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar led a joint briefing in Timika, Mimika, Papua, on Monday, to launch a joint operation to hunt down the unidentified assailants.

"This operation is a state duty to safeguard the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia]. The operation focuses on tackling security disturbances that have seen victims from officers to civilians and mining workers in Tembagapura," Boy said.

"I hope this operation can be carried out with prudence, awareness, intelligence and respect for human rights," he added. (bbs)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 14:00 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c5670 1 Business Trade-Expo-Indonesia,visitors,increase,Trade-Ministry,Enggartiasto-Lukita Free

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said the number of Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2017 visitors increased by 78 percent from last years figure.

The number increased to 27,711 people from 117 countries during the five-day event in October at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) hall in BSD, Tangerang, Banten, from the 15,567 visitors last year, the Trade Ministry announced on Monday.

The event ran well at a venue sufficient for an international level expo combined with more interesting product zoning based on market demand  The venue is more comfortable for negotiations and purchases, said Enggartiasto during a post-TEI press conference.

Transactions booked a 37.36 percent increase to US$1.41 billion from $1.02 billion last year -- $1.28 billion from goods purchases and the remainder from services transactions.

The biggest goods buyers came from Laos, with mostly coal purchases, followed by India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Italy.

Coal, coffee, essential oil, processed food and crude palm oil accounted for the highest transactions in terms of value.

That was the first TEI conducted at ICE BSD and the first TEI held without relying on the state budget. Previously, the fair had been held at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran in Central Jakarta for more than 30 years.

TEI 2018 ran from Oct. 24 to 28 at ICE BSD. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New Delhi  Tue, November 7, 2017 16:37 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27d376e 2 News Airlines,airplane,flight,India,passenger,cheating Free

An enraged woman forced an airliner to make an emergency landing after she discovered mid-flight that her husband was apparently cheating on her.

The woman, an Iranian national, was travelling from Doha to Bali with her husband and child on a Qatar Airways flight on Sunday, India's Hindustan Times reported Tuesday.

As her husband slept, she used his hand to unlock his fingerprint-protected phone, revealing the alleged affair in all its sordid detail.

Angered by the discovery, the woman reportedly started to hit her husband. The cabin crew intervened but were unable to calm the situation.

Read also: Half of married Korean men have cheated: Study

With the inflight episode spiraling out of control, the pilots decided to make an unscheduled stop in the southern Indian city of Chennai.

The woman, her husband and their child were taken off the plane, which then resumed its journey to Indonesia, an unnamed security official told the paper.

"The family spent the day at Chennai airport and was sent to Kuala Lumpur by a Batik Air flight. No police action was taken," the official said.

Qatar Airways was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.

Topics : Airlines airplane flight India passenger cheating
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 14:05 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c6205 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,tourism-promotion,Phinisi,sumba,Nihiwatu Free

From Borobudur Temple and Bali, to Komodo Island, Lake Toba and Raja Ampat, all of Indonesias most popular destinations are on display at the World Travel Market (WTM) London event held at ExCel London building, United Kingdom, on Nov. 6-8.

Meanwhile, the Indonesia's booth at the exhibition has been transformed into a replica of traditional phinisi boat.

Phinisi [boat] is internationally recognized as Bugis sailors had traveled the world using the boat. They visited the entire continents of the world using phinisi. It truly represents the Indonesian identity, thats why we always use this design at every international travel market events, explained Tourism Ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana.

The phinisi boat also boasts the image of Indonesia as the biggest archipelagic country in the world and its in line with President Joko Widodos vision of placing maritime in the top five priority development list.

Inside the booth that is located at AS900 Hall, there are 50 industry players who are ready to welcome WTM London visitors. The booth also has a big LED screen playing Wonderful Indonesia commercials, including the tourism video that recently won two awards at the UNWTO Video Competition 2017.

Theres also a presentation of Sumbanese traditional house called Uma Mbatangu (tower).

Read also: 'Pasola': Centuries old ritual of Sumba

Its a way to promote Nihiwatu Resort in Sumba Island to British tourists; the resort has been named the worlds best hotel for two years in a row by Travel+Leisure magazine, told the ministry's deputy assistant for Europe, the United States, Middle East and Africa tourism promotion Nia Niscaya.

UK contributes the highest number of European travelers who come to Indonesia.

According to the ministry data, last year there were one million tourists from Europe who visited Indonesia, of which 328,882 were from UK. It was an increase of 21.9 percent from 2015 that welcomed 269,798 British tourists.

Up until August this year, there were 244,638 tourists from the UK who traveled to Indonesia. Hopefully we can hit the 384,000 mark by the end of this year, Nia added.

To achieve the target, the ministry is also doing promotions in other places apart from the WTM London event.

We also conduct other promotional programs such as placing the Wonderful Indonesia logo on London taxis, said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. (kes)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 13:02 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c3f0c 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,yogyakarta-tourism,festival,wayang Free

At least 1,000 young puppet masters consisting of elementary and junior high school students in Yogyakarta are taking part in Jogja International Heritage Festival (JIHF) 2017 that runs from Nov. 5-11.

These puppet masters are set to perform at Jl. Margautama.

This event is to celebrate International Wayang [shadow puppets] Day that falls on Nov. 7. In this event, we are presenting wayang as one of world's heritage objects while also implementing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2002, said Yogyakarta Cultural Agency head, Umar Priyono.

The theme is 'Gelar Sanding Dalang 1000 Bocah' [A Show of 1000 Young Puppet Masters]. Theres going to be a birthday celebration for the recognition of wayang as a world cultural heritage and a presentation of it as a traditional, contemporary and popular product, Umar added.

Read also: Next generation of wayang puppet masters

Moreover, the festival also features a workshop on tatah sungging process and wayang sodo making process for students in Yogyakarta and two seminars on Supporting Wayang in the 21st Century and the different kinds of contemporary and classic shadows puppets.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the festival is in line with creative industry and tourism.

This event can inspire artists to further exploring their own work. It can also support the creative economy industry as these shadow puppets can be purchased by tourists, told Arief. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London  Tue, November 7, 2017 18:01 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27db04e 2 News Peru,tourism,#tourism,campaign Free

From backpacking in the Andes to luxury Amazon river cruises, Peru has positioned itself as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. Peru has enjoyed a growing tourism industry with more and more people visiting the country year on year.

Now, the Peruvian government intends to build on this increase by launching a campaign to double the number of tourists visiting the country by 2021. The campaign focuses on illustrating Perus cultural, natural and culinary riches, revolving around the idea that Peru is the richest country in the world.

The campaign was launched at this years World Travel Market event in London. When you come to Peru, you will become more enriched by experiences says Elizabeth Hakim, PROMPERUs UK and North American markets coordinator.

PROMPERU is reacting to a new and redefined understanding of wealth, the focus is no longer purely on material wealth, but also on wealth of opportunities, connections and culture. Peru fully meets this new landscape with a wealth of authentic and diverse experiences. Not only can visitors enjoy the breathtaking sights of one of the worlds seven wonders in Machu Picchu, but the country now offers a vast range of life enriching moments for each and every visitor.

Peru is blessed with a rich diversity of landscapes, we have beaches, mountains, jungles and more explains Katty Vilchez-Michie of Setours, one of the tour operators supporting the campaign.

This natural advantage allows Peru to offer a vast range of experiences from South Americas first luxury sleeper train which winds through the Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, to trekking in the dense amazon rainforest and experiencing the Gocta waterfalls, the worlds third largest.

Read also: Chasing the end of the rainbow in Vinicunca, Peru

Fans of culture and archaeology can explore the wonders of Inca and Pre-Inca cultures like the Chachapoyas of Perus andean Cloud Forests whilst food lovers can delve into Perus rich culinary culture. Known around the world for its excellent coffee and cacao, Perus culinary tradition is sure to win over any visitors with an emphasis on sustainable, healthy and local superfoods.

There has also been a big focus on improving infrastructure for Perus tourism industry, this year saw the opening of a brand new cable car to the 1200 year old Kuelap mountain citadel and an increase in direct flights from Lima to Perus rich northern region.

Along with the government campaign, thirty companies from Perus tourism industry have pledged to support the campaign encouraging tourism in Peru. Peruvians are really friendly and welcoming people and they want more people to come to Peru according to Claudia Alfaro of Lima Tours.

This friendly nature is at the heart of Perus appeal, a place where visitors can relax and explore to enrich themselves whilst making genuine connections with Peruvians in some of South Americas most breathtaking backdrops.

PROMPERU hope to have 7 million annual visitors to Peru by 2021 by building on the countrys well known tourist sights and offering and broad and diverse selection of life enriching moments through Perus myriad of opportunity, biodiversity, heritage and culture.

Tourism is one of Perus most important industries, representing nearly 4% of the countrys GDP and employing nearly one and a half million people meaning that this is more than a campaign, its a national movement towards welcoming more and more people to Peru, creating timeless getaways, soul enriching breaks from the ordinary in what Peruvians deem the richest country in the world.
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Tue, November 7, 2017 14:06 1835 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a27c6a5e 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Tourism-Ministry Free

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya was among the participants of CNN Cocktail Dinner at the World Travel Market (WTM) London on Nov. 5 at Heron Tower in London.

The event was held one day before the 37th World Travel Market London that runs from Nov. 6 to 8.

At the dinner gathering, the minister was seated next to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) secretary general Taleb Rifai and CNN news anchor Richard Quest.

Arief was then asked to give a farewell note for Taleb whose term of office will end this year.

Of course I said thank you to Taleb Rifai for his policies in developing the tourism industry in the world, told Arief.

Arief also thanked the secretary general for developing tourism through the support of several studies.

Early in the afternoon, Arief went to visit the new Indonesian Embassy office in London while also checking up on the ministrys promotional activities in London.

Read also: National Gallery Singapore annual conference to feature Indonesian speaker

Throughout the months of October until November, the Wonderful Indonesia campaigns are being put on three billboards in London. Up to 180 units of black cabs have also been painted with Wonderful Indonesia campaign since Oct. 16.

For the World Travel Mart London 2017, Indonesia is bringing 50 industry players to sell popular destinations and attractions such as Borobudur Temple, Bali, Komodo, Lake Toba and Raja Ampat to visitors.

The Indonesia's booth located at the AS900 Hall ExCel London building has been transformed into a replica of the traditional phinisi boat.

According to the ministry data, United Kingdom contributes the highest number of European travelers to Indonesia. (kes)
In Venice, one of the best things you can do is become lost on an obscure, winding street and stumble into a baraci (a working class pub) for a glass of wine and a leisurely snack. Back in 2007, the stretch of Division Street just to the west of Ludlow Street felt like one of those Venetian hiding places, says Kama Geary, owner of Bacaro.

Today Bacaro has become a local favorite at 136 Division St., while the block has transformed in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Division Street, bursting with food and nightlife establishments, is no longer a secret. Like Cafe Katja, which we profiled the other day, Bacaro recently celebrated 10 years in business on the Lower East Side.

Geary runs the restaurant with her husband, Alain Levitt, who is a familiar presence behind the upstairs bar several nights a week. A lot has changed for Bacaro as well as for Geary and Levitt personally during the past decade. While Dulcinea DeCarlo (wife of Peasant chef Frank DeCarlo) was an original partner in the Lower East Side venture, Geary is in the process of taking over full ownership. Several years ago, Geary and Levitt moved from the East Village to the Grand Street cooperatives, where they started a family. The couple has two daughters, Ludivine, almost 5, and Rima, whos 2-and-a-half.

Bacaro was a sensation when it first opened, in part, because the lower level is one of the most unusual and beautiful spaces in all of downtown. The dramatic cave-like dining room features exposed brick, vaulted ceilings and tables nestled into semi-private nooks and crannies.

While the basement is ideal for larger groups, we generally find ourselves gravitating to the bar on the main level, or to an adjacent big communal table with giant windows that open to Division Street on warm evenings. Its in this room that Levitt often serves as host to a mix of grizzled local residents, artists, skateboarders, world travelers, etc.

When Bacaro first opened, the New Yorker referred to the restaurant as an art world clubhouse. Geary first met Levitt, a street photographer, years ago when he asked to take her picture. They were very much part of the 1990s downtown scene and today, even though their lives have changed pretty dramatically, the couple still embrace whats left of the neighborhoods creative spirit.

Bacaros menu is full of simply prepared, well executed Venetian specialties. Favorite dishes of ours include the anchovy & green bean salad, fried rice balls, baccala (creamed codfish over polenta), Spaghetti Nero (in a sauce of cuttlefish ink) and marinated sliced steak with greens. Geary oversees a very good wine list, while Levitt handles mixed drinks (Bacaro is great place to enjoy a well-made Martini or a Negroni). Theres also an excellent selection of grappa to end your evening.

The restaurant is closed during the daytime. You will find Geary and Levitt, strollers in tow, just about every weekend morning at the aforementioned Cafe Katja, enjoying brunch with the kids. Theyre locals now. Its one reason why Bacaro is looking ahead to a second decade on Division Street, even if its no longer their little secret place.
Devin Patrick Kelley had previously attended the small Texas church where he killed more than 20 people over the weekend but he was not welcomed there, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CNN Tuesday.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy of First Baptist Church knew Kelley from his attendance at church events, according to Tackitt. The pastor wanted him out.

There were no threats but Pomeroy told authorities Kelley "was not a good person to be around."

"He did not think that he was a good person and did not want him around his church," Tackitt said of the pastor. "But he said, 'How do I run him away from my church?'"

On Sunday, Kelley reappeared at the church. This time, he was armed with an assault rifle, 15 loaded magazines and an obsession with a family dispute.

As investigators try to piece together a picture of Kelley, more clues have emerged in the deadliest shooting in modern Texas history. Authorities placed the death toll at 26, including an unborn child. The dead parishioners from the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs ranged in age from 17 months to 77 years old.

Kelley, who had a record of violence, was consumed by a dispute with his mother-in-law and spent time posting anti-God and pro-gun statements on Facebook in the months before the shooting, according to officials, as well as acquaintances and former classmates.

He sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law and texted her as recently as Sunday morning -- not long before he sprayed bullets at the people in the church with an assault rifle, authorities said. He may have thought she was at church on Sunday.

"There are many ways that he could have taken care of the mother-in-law without coming with 15 loaded magazines and an assault rifle to a church," said Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Latest developments

Kelley escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Systems in New Mexico in June 2012, months after being accused of abusing his ex-wife and her child, according to documents from the El Paso Police Department obtained by CNN affiliate KVIA.

The FBI now has the shooter's cellphone, but has not yet accessed its content due to encryption, a growing challenge for law enforcement, Christopher Combs, FBI special agent in charge, said at a Tuesday news conference.

As of Tuesday, 10 of the wounded remained in critical condition, Martin said.

In an October 29 Facebook post, Kelley posted a photo of a Ruger AR-556 rifle -- the same type used in the shooting -- on a white couch, former classmates and members of the community told CNN. The caption read, "She's a bad bitch." It's not clear if it was the same weapon he used on Sunday.

A crime victims compensation fund will provide $6,500 to families of the victims for funeral expenses, officials said. A funeral company has donated caskets.

The US Air Force acknowledged it did not relay information about Kelley's court martial conviction for domestic assault to civilian law enforcement, something that could have prevented him from purchasing the firearms used in the shooting. The Air Force and Department of Defense are investigating how records of his domestic violence conviction were handled.

Kelley, 26, had three gunshot wounds. He was shot in the leg and torso by an armed citizen, and had a self-inflicted shot to the head, authorities said. It wasn't clear which gunshot killed Kelley, but evidence at the scene "indicates the subject may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Martin said. He was found dead in his vehicle.

Kelley was denied a license to carry a gun in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said. But he passed a background check required for the purchase he made in April 2016 of the Ruger AR-556 rifle he is believed to have used in the shooting.

Learning more about the shooter

Officials had said there was a domestic situation involving Kelley, but didn't go into any details.

"This was not racially motivated. It wasn't over religious beliefs. There was a domestic situation going on with the family and in-laws," said Christopher Combs, the special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division.

Kelley had also expressed anger toward his mother-in-law, Martin said.

His grandmother-in-law was killed during the attack, multiple friends of the woman told CNN. Lula White was the grandmother of Kelley's current wife and often volunteered at the church, according to friends and her Facebook profile.

Public records, and those who knew Kelley, describe a troubling history.

Christopher Leo Longoria went to high school with Kelley. He said his former classmate would focus on women's reactions and that it would "creep out the ladies." Longoria said he had recently unfriended Kelley on Facebook because of personal attacks against his friends.

"He was also posting a lot of non-God beliefs, atheism, a lot of gun violence and a lot of weapons that he was into," Longoria told CNN.

Longoria described Kelly's Facebook posts as "a ridiculous amount of nonsense." Kelly's page has been taken down but people in the community have confirmed its existence and content.

His social media suggested a fascination with mass shootings, said a law enforcement official.

Kelley served at the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico beginning in 2010, but was discharged in 2014. He was court-martialed in 2012 for assault on his spouse and child. Kelley served a year in military prison and received a bad conduct discharge, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

Kelley was involved in "multiple occasions of domestic abuse" against his ex-wife and stepson, said Don Christensen, who was the Air Force chief prosecutor when Kelley was sentenced.

He said Kelley "violently" shook the child, causing fractures in his skull and a subdural hematoma, a severe head injury in which there is bleeding between the skull and the brain.

Kelley "admitted to, out of anger, pushing his son down and injuring him," Christensen said.

In June 2012, Kelley escaped from the behavioral health facility in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, according to El Paso police documents. Kelley was picked up after the facility listed him as missing. The documents said officers had been warned that Kelley was a danger to himself and others and that he had sneaked firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base, where he reportedly threatened his commanders.

Kelley had been also arrested in August 2014 on an animal cruelty charge in El Paso County, Colorado, after a witness said he had punched a dog, grabbed it by the neck and dragged the animal. Kelley denied the account and was issued a summons but didn't spend any time in jail.

'Most of our church family is gone'

Authorities said 4% of the small town's population was killed in the shooting. As of Tuesday morning, 12 victims remained hospitalized.

The church's visiting pastor was among the dead, Sheriff Tackitt said. A family member identified the visiting pastor as Bryan Holcombe.

In all, eight members of the Holcombe family, spanning three generations -- including a pregnant woman and three of her children -- were killed, said Ron Scott, the visiting pastor's first cousin.

Standing outside the family farm in Floresville, Texas, Scott Holcombe tearfully spoke about his deceased parents, Bryan and Karla Holcombe, and the rest of the family members lost in the shooting.

He said he had met the gunman and was confident Kelley would have known and spoken to every single person in the church community.

Kelley emptied 15 magazines -- about 450 rounds -- at the First Baptist Church, leaving such extensive destruction that the pastor's wife, Sherri Pomeroy, said: "Most of our church family is gone, our building is probably beyond repair."

As Kelley left the church, he was confronted by Stephen Willeford, who lives near the church and ran out of his house barefoot with his gun when he heard the shots. Kelley was shot twice by Willeford, law enforcement said. Then Kelley fled in a car, chased by Willeford and another man, Johnnie Langendorff.

After Kelley was shot, he called his father, telling him he didn't think he was going to make it, Martin said. That's when Kelley shot himself.

The chase ended with his car in a ditch and the gunman dead in his vehicle.

The pastor, Pomeroy, and his wife had been out of state when the shooting occurred, but their 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy, was killed in the attack.

CNN's Brian Todd, Amanda Watts, Alex Marquardt, Holly Yan, AnneClaire Stapleton, Joe Sterling, Andrea Diaz, Ed Lavandera, and Evan Perez contributed to this report
Its Election Day in New York City. Polls are open until 9 p.m., so you have plenty of time to get out there are participate in the democratic process. Only 11% of registered voters participated in the Democratic Primary. We can do better than that! Click here to find your polling station.

Heres a summary on who/whats on the ballot on the Lower East Side.

Two-term City Council member Margaret Chin faces three challengers in District 1, including Christopher Marte (Independence Party), Bryan Jung (Republican) and Aaron Foldenauer (Liberal Party). Marte nearly defeated Chin in the Democratic Primary.

Carlina Rivera is an overwhelming favorite to succeed her former boss, Council member Rosie Mendez, in District 2. Other candidates include Jasmin Sanchez (Liberal Party), Jimmy McMillan (Republican/Rent is Too Damn High), Donald Garrity (Libertarian) and Manny Cavaco (Green Party).

Brian Kavanagh is virtually assured of victory in a special election to replace Daniel Squadron in the 26th State Senate District. Squadron resigned in the middle of his term. Kavanagh is currently a state assemblyman. The undemocratic process of choosing a Democratic nominee was a controversial issue early in the fall. His Republican opponent is Analicia Alexander. The Lower Manhattan/Brooklyn district is heavily Democratic.

Proposal #2, which would allow judges to revoke state pensions from lawmakers convicted of certain crimes, is also on todays ballot. The proposal was inspired, in part, by the conviction of former State Assemblyman Sheldon Silver. He was able to keep his pension.

Well have results tonight after the polls close.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly beating an ex-cop and stealing his gun during an apparent botched robbery on Eldridge Street. Rafael Calderon, who lives on Forsyth Street, was taken into custody yesterday. [Daily News]

Downtown political activist Pete Gleason backed away from a write-in campaign to unseat DA Cy Vance, whos under fire for failing to go after Harvey Weinstein. Gleason is urging voters to write-in another candidate, Marc Fliedner. Vance, by the way, didnt make many friends locally by prosecuting a small Chinatown bank for mortgage fraud. [Daily News]

Extra Butter, the cutting edge sneaker store, reopens today on Orchard Street after almost $1 million in renovations. During the evenings, the shop will morph into a movie theater: a screen drops down from the ceiling along with two projectors  one facing the screen from Allen Street and the other from Orchard Street. [Footwear News]

Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy speaks out, saying that female chefs are treated like second class citizens in the New York food/media world. [Esquire]

New documents filed with Community Board 3 hint at the possibility that esteemed San Francisco pizza destination Una Pizza Napoletana might be headed for Orchard Street, through a collaboration with Contra co-owner Jeremiah Stone. [Eater]

The Continental is closing on St, Marks Place to make room for a 7-story office building. [EV Grieve]
As many of you know, my calendar keeps me very busy and on the go - nearly every week is filled with important meetings, media events and business travel. This week, I am shooting another season of "Martha Bakes" for PBS - you're going to love all my new recipes and tips. And, over the last couple of weeks, I have made several appearances in New York City.

Not long ago, I appeared at Adweek's Elevate: Publishing Summit, an event that gathers together key media industry stakeholders to discuss business, and share insights. I also appeared on "Know Your Value" with Mika Brzezinski, an all-day conference focused on developing an "empowered community" for women. I enjoyed an evening at the "Legends" dinner hosted by Vanity Fair and John Hardy to honor actress, Julianne Moore. On another night, I appeared at a lovely event honoring designer, Karl Lagerfeld. And, I presented a wonderful award at The Fashion Group International's annual "Night of the Stars" - it's been very busy, but also lots of fun.

Here are some photos - enjoy.
As Montanans, American Indians, and members of the Montana Legislature, we share the frustration of people all across Montana. As the potentially devastating effects of these cuts have become clear over the past few weeks, Montanas elected leaders must continue working to ensure that critical government services remain available and effective, eliminate unnecessary spending, and discuss ways to increase revenue. We stand ready to join our colleagues from both parties to do our job.

However, some of our colleagues in the Republican majority continue to insist that the only way forward is to cut essential services. Recently, members of the Republican leadership authored the column Montana has a spending problem, in which they callously attacked essential services that benefit working Montanans as government bloat.

As Indian legislators, we are intimately familiar with how many of these cuts will devastate Montana Indians. We cannot allow tax giveaways to the wealthy and out-of-state corporations to harm so many families who are trying to make better lives for themselves. We know Montanans want their leaders to move past empty political slogans, and so we would like to invite the authors of Montana has a spending problem to our communities so they can see first-hand the benefits of the programs they love to disparage.

Tribal and community leaders continue to work hard to create jobs and economic prosperity. In fact, Montana tribes contribute over a billion dollars a year to our local economies, primarily by directing tribal lease revenues to essential services that are repeatedly recycled into the state's economy. But despite these efforts, Montanas Indian communities continue to suffer because critical federal and state responsibilities are perennially underfunded. Tribes struggle to make up these deficiencies despite severe limitations on their authority to raise revenue through taxation. As a result, every Indian Country community is on the poverty watch list. And Montana Indians have the highest rates of suicide in a state with the nations highest suicide rate.

In the face of these disturbing facts, the already insufficient amount of funds spent on services essential to our survival should not be cut at the expense of a tax system that only benefits the rich. In our communities, every dollar that supports Montana Indians is essential. Funding for public schools, language preservation, economic development and Medicaid expansion; our communities cannot afford to pay the price of political posturing. And the benefits to these programs are exponential. They contribute to local economies, train work forces, reduce the costs of health care to all Montanans, ensure educational opportunity, and even help to preserve Montana Indian languages.

These programs are a matter of life or death for many of our community members and they cannot be cut or experience any more cuts. And, let's not pretend that the rich don't also benefit from critical services and infrastructure.

We are grateful to those who remain committed to protecting funding for Indian programs and we appreciate all those legislators, both Democrat and Republican, who have supported our work to improve social and economic conditions for all Montanans. Its time for us to gather in Helena, roll up our sleeves and restore our constituents faith in our public institutions.

Our state government can work for all Montanans if we set aside the rhetoric, bench the propaganda and work in a bipartisan manner to find solutions. The survival of our histories, cultures and communities depend on it.

This opinion is signed by members of the Montana Indian Caucus: Rep. Shane Morigeau, Sen. Lea Whitford, Sen. Frank Smith, Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, Rep. Bridget Smith, Rep. George Kipp III, Rep. Susan Webber, Rep. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy and Rep. Rae Peppers.
Spanish retail chain ZARA hasnt had the cleanest track record when it comes to ethical branding. Back in 2013, it came under fire for using slave labour in Argentinian factories, where children would be forced to work a 16-hour day with no breaks. Last year, ZARA was accused of copying an LA-artists designs without permission. The company have also been linked with harmful environmental practice at some of their factories.Now, customers in Istanbul have reported finding notes sewn into the pockets of their purchases. One allegedly read I made this item you are going to buy, but I didnt get paid for it. A change.org petition has also been launched by the workers, who were employed by textile manufacturers Bravo Tekstil, campaigning for basic rights. The third-party manufacturers, who also produce garments for retailers Next and Mango, shut down overnight, according to the Associated Press. The move has left workers short of at least three months pay. The 140 Bravo workers say creditors marched into their workplace and seized all valuables and machinery, while their boss disappeared with their wages. Theyre now targeting ZARA itself for the missing pay and for better working standards, with over 20,000 signatures so far. The retailer, worth 8.6 billion with over 2,200 stores worldwide, claimed last month it was working with the International Labour Organisation to improve labour conditions at all levels of the garment sector value chain.
With winter well and truly upon us, and the festive season fast approaching, Netflix is treating us to an array of new releases and original films. Get settled in  its time for some cosy nights

1) Elle -

1st November

The dark revenge thriller is finally on Netflix. It follows the successful CEO (Isabelle Huppert) of a video game company as she tries to learn the identity of the man that raped her.

2) 6 Days -

3rd November

In April 1980, gunmen storm the Iranian Embassy in London. Highly trained SAS operatives prepare a counterattack, hoping to end the hostage situation in one swift blow.

3) Grandma -

4th November

A misanthropic poet (Lily Tomlin) takes her granddaughter (Julia Garner) across Los Angeles in search of the money she needs to terminate her unwanted pregnancy.

4) La La Land -

8th November

The film of the year, La La Land is one for the books. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their similar passions, but as their success mounts, their fragile affair begins to diminish. The dreams they worked so hard to make real just might tear them apart.

5) The Killer -

10th November

Western films are making a comeback  at least, they are according to Netflix. In lawless badlands, reclusive Cabeleira sets out to discover the fate of his gunman father and grows to be a feared assassin.

6) Mudbound -

17th November

In the racially charged post-war Mississippi, a black and a white man forge an unlikely friendship based on their similar wartime experiences.

7) John Wick -

21st November

The legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retires after finding love, but her sudden death leaves him in mourning. When mobster Tarasov (Alfie Allen) steals his prized car and kills his cherished puppy, John reverts back to his former self  a remorseless killing machine.
A University of Hartford student who boasted about poisoning her black roommate has been arrested and expelled.

Eighteen year-old Brianna Brochu bragged on Instagram about rubbing used tampons on her roommate Chennel Jazzy Rowes bag, pouring mouldy clam dip in her lotion and putting her toothbrush inside her rectum.Local police confirmed they had arrested Brochu, charging her with criminal mischief, breach of peace and intimidation based on bigotry.

Rowe revealed the details in a Facebook video where she told viewers she had been ill since moving in with Brochu.

"I thought maybe because its colder up here, Im just catching a cold. After a month it got to the point where I had extreme throat pain that I couldnt sleep, to the point where I couldnt speak.

"Im spending my own money that my parents give me for food and groceries, the health centre on campus is not free  in fact theyre expensive."

Rowe was even prescribed antibiotics by the campus doctor to help with the bacteria in her throat. However, after the relationship between the roommates became more hostile, Rowe decided to move out.

It was during the moving out process that Rowe was shown Brochu's posts by a neighbour.

Upon learning that her roommate was moving out, Brochu posted the following on her Instagram:

Finally did it yo girl got rid of her roommate!! After 1 1/12 month of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesnt shine and so much more I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie.

Rowe stated that she had every intention of pressing charges but nothing can be done by anybody until the schools public safety finishes the investigation.

In a statement to The Tab, University of Hartford President Greg Woodward condemned what he considered was a deeply upsetting incident of bullying.

Let me be clear: the accused students behavior was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution. Let me also be clear that I am confident the University has taken all steps to pursue this matter seriously, and will continue to do so.

The accused student was subsequently arrested by the West Hartford Police Department and her case will proceed through the legal process.

Brochu has since been arrested and her case moved from community to civil court.
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Gibraltar resident Courtney Mashke is seeing voting from a new perspective as she works the polls for the first time in her hometown.

Mashke, who works for Quicken Loans in Detroit, jumped at the chance to work the polls to fulfill her employers requirement of volunteering 15 hours each year. The mortgage lending company requires its employees to give back to the cities they live, work and play in, according to its website.

I feel like its pretty eye opening, Mashke said about the experience. You dont really understand what goes on behind the scenes, like what (poll workers) have to do to set up in the morning, but its pretty cool.

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Mashke arrived at the Gibraltar Community Center at 6 a.m.  an hour before the polls officially open  and plans to work until 9 p.m.  an hour after the polls close.

She said the job is a learning experience that has shown to be fast paced at times when many voters show up at the same time. And theres also an element of organization and concentration involved, she said.

Everything has to match and if it doesnt, then its a problem, she said, referring to the number of voters compared to the tallied results. So, its kind of cool because you have to pay very close attention to detail.

She said she hopes the voting machines and the system to which theyre networked doesnt fail because, if our system goes down or our numbers dont match, we have to hand count every single vote.

Sorting through a dilemma like that, she said, could take until 2 a.m. Of course, Mashke and the team of poll workers hope that isnt the case.
DECATUR  Pastors and church leaders in Macon County are thinking more about security for their own buildings after a mass shooting that killed 26 people in a small-town Texas church Sunday.

"It saddens me that it's gotten to the point that we have to be suspicious at church. After prayer and putting some procedures in and policies, we have to come up with some viable solution," said the Rev. Wayne Dunning, pastor of Faith Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on Decatur's east side.

The reflections came Monday, a day after the deadliest mass shooting in Texas state history. In the tiny town of Sutherland Springs, population 400, grieving townspeople were reeling from their losses. The dead ranged from 18 months to 77 years old and included multiple members of some families.

The tragedy caused church leaders in Decatur and across the country to reflect on emergency plans and security measures, balancing how to welcome outsiders without endangering members.

Dunning knows of churches that lock their doors after a certain time, and people who arrive late for services have to be buzzed in. He said he also knows of a large Michigan church that employs armed guards because the weekly offering is in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Pastor Wayne Kent and the staff of Decaturs First Christian Church have procedures in place for violent incidents, as well as fire and tornadoes. Whenever the building is in use, the church has areas of the building for lockdown. They provide extra safety for their special congregation.

Kent said he may go over the churchs current safety procedures again in light of Sunday's shooting.

It will be a matter of discussion in the days ahead, he said.

The Rev. Steven Arisman, pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Mount Zion, said the church already had an active shooter plan in place. Church leaders have also been working on other safety plans for the last month.

However, Arisman is aware churches are difficult to protect. People are facing forward, and they walk in from the back, he said.

The gunman who attacked the church in Sutherland Springs had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist, before the attack, authorities said Monday.

Investigators revealed that deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in 2014 at Devin Patrick Kelley's home involving a girlfriend who became his second wife. Later that year, he was formally ousted from the Air Force for assaulting his ex-wife and a child in 2012.

"Our church was not comprised of members or parishioners. We were a very close family," said Sherri Pomeroy, the wife of the church pastor, who was out of town with her husband when the attack happened. "Now most of our church family is gone."

The couple's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy, was among those killed.

Kelley's mother-in-law sometimes attended services there, but the sheriff said she was not at church on Sunday.

The massacre appeared to stem from a domestic situation and was not racially or religiously motivated, Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said. He did not elaborate.

Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders, one of whom was armed, and crashed his car.

The 26-year-old shooter also used his cellphone to tell his father he had been shot and did not think he would survive, authorities said.

The investigation showed that Kelley had displayed a pattern of violence spanning years.

While in the military, Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

He was discharged for the assault involving his previous wife and had served a year of confinement after a 2012 court-martial.

When sheriff's deputies went to his home to check out the domestic violence complaint involving him and his then-girlfriend, people in the house said there was no problem, and no arrests were made. Kelley married the girlfriend two months later.

Also in 2014, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in Colorado after a neighbor reported him for beating a dog. Kelley initially refused to speak with officers about the incident. He denied abusing the animal but complied with an order to pay almost $370 in restitution. He was also the focus of a protective order issued in Colorado in 2015.

Once the shooting started, there was probably "no way" for congregants to escape, Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr. said.

The gunman, dressed in black tactical gear, fired an assault rifle as he walked down the center aisle during worship services. He turned around and continued shooting on his way out of the building, Tackitt said.

About 20 other people were wounded. Ten of them were still hospitalized Monday in critical condition.

Authorities said Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles north of the church. Investigators were reviewing social media posts he made in the days before the attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.

Less than two months ago, Kelley had started a job as an unarmed security guard at a nearby resort.

He "seemed like a nice guy" and did not cause any problems, said Claudia Varjabedian, manager at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels.

On Sunday, the attacker pulled into a gas station across from the church, about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. He crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, Martin said.

As he left, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident who had grabbed his own rifle and exchanged fire with Kelley.

The armed man who confronted Kelley had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. The armed man asked to get in Langendorff's truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

"He jumped in my truck and said, 'He just shot up the church. We need to go get him.' And I said 'Let's go,'" Langendorff said.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. The armed man walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the attacker did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Langendorff said.

The assailant was dead in his vehicle.

Three weapons were recovered. A Ruger AR-556 rifle was found at the church, and two handguns were recovered from the gunman's vehicle, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The assailant did not have a license to carry a concealed handgun, Martin said.

The church has posted videos of its Sunday services on a YouTube channel, and authorities said they were reviewing footage recorded inside the church.

Sunday's attack came on the eighth anniversary of a shooting at Fort Hood, between Austin and Waco, where 13 people were killed and 31 others wounded by a former Army major.

The previous deadliest mass shooting in Texas had been a 1991 attack in Killeen, when a mentally disturbed man crashed his pickup truck through a restaurant window at lunchtime and started shooting people, killing 23 and injuring more than 20 others.

One of the most infamous mass shootings in American history happened when Marine sniper Charles Whitman climbed a clock tower at the University of Texas' Austin campus in 1966 and began firing on people below. He killed 13 and wounded nearly three dozen others after killing his wife and mother before heading to the tower. One victim died a week later, and medical examiners attributed a 17th death to Whitman in 2001.
The state's first budget in three years has created problems for the city of Decatur's annual spending plan. The city will be receiving less income tax revenue than it had anticipated, City Manager Tim Gleason said.

Four other stories you should see are a Halloween candy buy-back for the troops, Eisenhower Class of '97 donates a buddy bench, Jerseyville couple charged in child's death and Pontiac police are sued in death of pedestrian.

City of Decatur budget facing $1M shortfall

While the city's budget picture for 2018 is not yet complete, City Manager Tim Gleason said Decatur City Council members could face a deficit of over $1 million, assuming no new revenue or cuts are made.

The cause stems from the $36 billion state budget enacted in July, after Illinois went over two years without one. The deal increased the state income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent for individuals, but Gleason said it wasn't until mid-August that city leaders realized they would receive less income-tax revenue than the previous year.

Also Tuesday night, more than 100 city residents are confirmed to attend the first volunteer meeting of the neighborhood revitalization project, a city initiative that officials hope will alleviate issues stemming from disinvestment and blight in some of Decatur's oldest neighborhoods located near downtown.

Candy buy-back sends treats to troops overseas

Four-year-old Anderson Fultz thought all of her Halloween candy was special, but she was willing to give it up  at least some of it.

The little girl donated her candy to the Candy Buy Back program hosted by Jerger Pediatric Dentistry. Throughout the day Monday, the staff collected unopened Halloween candy in exchange for money. Children received $1 per pound, up to five pounds per child.

The candy will be sent to military troops serving overseas through Operation Enduring Support, which organizes local efforts to send care packages to military personnel. The staff expected to collect 400 pounds of Halloween candy. Although the candy could be exchanged for money Monday, families can still drop off candy until 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Eisenhower Class of '97 donates buddy bench to Enterprise

Making new friends sometimes is as simple as kids being aware someone is lonely. That's where a 'buddy bench' can make a difference, and Enterprise Elementary School now has its own, thanks to the Eisenhower Class of 1997.

Beth Creighton, who is also a member of the school board, said that when her class graduated, the students' gift to the school was a day of service and the planting of a tree in memory of a classmate.

Our 20th class reunion was in July, and we were trying to think of a gift we could give back to the community, Creighton said. We wanted to do a project that would be around for a while, and we liked the concept of the buddy bench."

Jerseyville father, stepmother charged in boy's death

A father and stepmother have been charged with first-degree murder in the starvation death of their 6-year-old boy who authorities say weighed just 17 pounds when he died last week.

The pair, both 42, also face a felony count of child endangerment related to the boy who died and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for their treatment of their 7-year-old son. They remained in custody Tuesday after a judge ordered their bail be set at $500,000 each.

Pontiac police sued in death of pedestrian

The family of a woman killed when she was struck by a Pontiac Police Department squad car in August has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the department and the officer involved.

According to an Illinois State Police report, Rita Murphy, 55, was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle about 1:10 a.m. Aug. 21 on Historic Route 66 about 200 feet north of North Howard Street in Pontiac. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:58 a.m.
Former Trinamool Congress heavyweight Mukul Roy, who has switched over to the BJP, on Monday claimed he felt suffocated due to the lack of democracy in his former party and accused it of shrinking the political space in the state like never before.

This (Trinamool) is a one-man party. None of the party ministers or MLAs can say with hands on their heart that they are free to convey their opinions. I am against one-man parties anywhere in India. Be it Congress, Mayawatis party or AIADMK. I felt suffocated within the party (Trinamool), he said during an interview with a television news channel ABP Ananda.

During the Left Front rule (in the state from 1977 to 2011), they did not conduct a free and fair election process but at least they allowed the opposition to do politics. But under this government, the opposition parties are not permitted to even hold rallies or meetings.

Be it the Left, Congress or BJP  no one is given permission for holding political events. That is how much the political space has shrunk under this government, alleged Roy, who was formally included in the BJP three days back in Delhi.

The Trinamool founding member also accused the Bengal government of conducting a police-raj in the state in the name of administration.

There is no administration in Bengal. Police-raj is going on. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is being reshuffled to slap fake cases on political leaders. It is all being done in the name of the administration, he said.

Mukul Roy alleged that the states ruling party has taken the rivalry with the centres ruling party BJP to such a level that the federal structure was being affected, leading to the suffering of the people.

He also claimed by vehemently opposing BJP since the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool is ignoring the popular opinion that gave BJP undisputed majority in the country and chose Narendra Modi as the countrys Prime Minister.

There can be political rivalry between two parties without hampering the federal structure. But opposition should not be taken to a limit where the state has to suffer, the people have to suffer and popular opinion is ignored, Roy said.

He also claimed that the Trinamool leadership has no aspirations to spread the partys influence beyond Bengal and their frequent change of stance about their main political rival has wiped it out from a few states.

The party leadership has not tried to spread the partys influence outside Bengal. I tried my best but it is a collective game. These things cannot be achieved individually. Where is Trinamools presence in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujrat, or Tripura? They have no presence anywhere outside Bengal, Mukul Roy said.

The main source of strength has been opposing the left. But now they are secretly tying up with the CPI-M for the compulsion of national politics. This has destroyed Trinamools presence in states like Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, he added.
Sir William Mark Tully  arguably more Indian than most Indians  had a very British childhood. The acclaimed broadcaster and writer, now in his 80s, once wanted to become a priest and even pursued a degree in theology. But the turn of events was such that he found his way back to India. Journalism wasnt his choice, he says, but destiny willed otherwise. And India, which he was not initially allowed to identify with, is now home .

Tully was born in India in 1935, one of six children; his father was a successful businessman who worked in what was then Calcutta.

My mothers side had lived in India for long; in fact, they were living here even before the first war of independence in 1857. My great great grandfather was an opium agent in eastern UP, my great grandfather was a trader and my grandfather dealt in the jute business. My father had never been to India and knew no one on this side, but my mother was born in what is now Bangladesh. I was born in Calcutta. We had a very British life, Tully recalled in an interview with IANS.

We were not allowed to identify with India at all; we were sort of discouraged from becoming a part of this culture. Our European nanny stopped us from learning Hindi or other languages and insisted that we spoke only in English.

It was customary for British children to be sent home for education during those days, but while Tully was growing up, the Second World War was wreaking havoc in the Western world. Mark was sent to Darjeeling for his preliminary education.

Those were wonderful days. I loved the place and it was very close to nature. I wasnt under much of adult supervision and I had a very liberal headmaster. We went around the bazaars and roamed freely, he recalled.

And then his father got a job in Manchester and off went Tully along with him, spending his childhood in boarding schools of Britain. India was left far behind, out of sight and out of mind. There was no question of returning.

I went to Cambridge then and because I wanted to become a priest, I pursued a degree in theology and history. I really wanted to become a priest but that did not work out. The Archbishop thought I was not priest material and I respected the Church enough, as I still do, to not let it down, he added.

For the next four years, Tully worked for an NGO and then, in 1964, he joined the BBC, not as a journalist but as personnel manager of middle seniority. The very next year, in 1965, all of a sudden, came an opportunity to work as a junior administrative assistant in New Delhi.

He returned to the country of his birth of which he had fond memories. It was destiny. I was meant to return to India and it happened. In the following months, he recalled, he was promoted to news correspondent, reporting for the BBC World Service on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

BBC was the most trusted source of news at that time. Many people did not trust the government-owned broadcasters and I travelled the length and breadth of the country. I loved it and found out, to my surprise, that journalism too was my destiny, he said.

During the Emergency of 1975, Tully  along with 40 foreign correspondents, including those of The Guardian and The Washington Post  was thrown out of the country and he found his way back to London. When the emergency ended, he was back  as the Chief of Bureau.

He has lived in India ever since and has written some fascinating books like No Full Stops In India and India In Slow Motion.

His latest  Upcountry Tales: Once Upon A Time In The Heart Of India (Speaking Tiger/Rs 599/ 285 Pages)  is a supremely engaging collection of short stories, marked by warmth, wit and a keen and compassionate eye for the everyday human theatre in rural north India. Tully uses his vast experience and draws interesting characters and stories  each more charming than the next.

The Indian government honoured him in 1992 with the Padma Shri and in 2005 with the Padma Bhushan, the fourth and third highest civilian awards. He was knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2002 for services to broadcasting.
A top industry body on Tuesday asked the GST Council and the government to help exporters receive their tax refunds at the earliest and called for easing rules for GST administration on exports to maintain the growth momentum.

The growth in exports has picked up, providing momentum which must be maintained by making our goods competitive. We should fully tap the uptick in the global economy to our advantage. It is pertinent to ensure that our exporters remain fully funded and do not face any working capital shortage, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) said in a statement.

Significant amount of refunds pertaining to pre-GST period are yet to be granted to the assesses. The refunds are stuck either due to delay in processing of the refunds or in the litigations relating to eligibility/ procedural aspects for refund claim. This has caused significant amount of funds blockage for the exporters.

Assocham has listed several issues such as refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on capital goods, export obligations, transfer of drawback scrips and early clearances of their dues on account of tax refunds for resolution by the GST Council and the Finance Ministry.

The chamber is engaged with the GST Council, Finance Ministry and tax authorities for ironing out the GST roll-out issues.

Assocham said that as per section 16 of the Integrated GST Act, the exporters have an option not to pay any IGST on the exports and claim refund of the GST paid on procurement of inputs and input services. However, no refund is available for GST paid on the capital goods per section 54(8)(a) of the CGST Act. Since in case of exporters, there is no output GST liability, this results in blockage of credit of GST paid on capital goods, impacting the financial health of the exporters.

Also in the GST regime, for non-fulfilment of export obligation on imports made during pre-GST regime, while the importer is required to repay the customs duty saved, including Countervailing Duty (CVD) and Special Additional Duty (SAD) component, its credit is not available in absence of enabling provisions under GST law. This results in such CVD and SAD component becoming a cost to such exporters in GST regime, it said.

In the pre-GST regime, the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) scrips were allowed to be used to pay excise duty/ service tax on the procurements.

However, similar facility is not available under GST law and now the MIES and SEIS scrips can be used only for making payment of the basic customs duty. Due to such restriction, the exporters are not able to fully derive the benefits under these schemes and this impacts their financial health, Assocham added.
Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were on Tuesday arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in the island nations territorial waters, in the third such detention this month.

The fishermen from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district were arrested on the charge of poaching fish near Neduntheevu along the Sri Lankan coast, District Assistant Director of Fisheries Kumaresan said.

Their boat was also impounded and they were taken to Kangesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka, he added.

With this, a total of 25 fishermen from the state have been detained by the Lankan Navy this month.

Earlier, eight fishermen from Nagapattinam district were arrested on November 5 while 13 others from Pudukottai on November 2 on the charge of poaching fish in Sri Lankan waters.

Three mechanised boats of the Nagapattinam fishermen had been seized.

The state government last month urged the Centre to take steps to secure the release of 54 fishermen and 140 fishing boats in the custody of Sri Lanka as of then.

Expressing concern over the recurring detentions, Chief Minister K Palaniswami in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him to take up the alarming and frequent abduction of the state fishermen in their traditional waters with highest authorities in Sri Lankan government.
A 29-year old grocer was duped on Monday as he got a half blank Rs 2000 note from the DCB Bank ATM in Jamia Nagar.

Shabad Chaudhary debited Rs 10,000 from the ATM machine and collected four notes of 2000 denomination (one fake), three notes of 500 denomination and five of 100 denomination, said Romil Banya, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South East Delhi.

Shabad told The Statesman: I needed cash urgently. My friend asked me for Rs 10,000 as he had to pay up in AIIMS for the treatment. I went to DCB bank ATM machine which is situated in Shaheen Bagh near the vegetable market. I used my YES Bank debit card. When I checked the cash, I found one 2000 denomination note was half the original note and half was blank paper. Immediately I showed the note to the people nearby and they suggested I call DCB Banks customer care.

He added, I did not get any assurance from customer service. Then I called the manager of my bank, Varun, and he advised me to give him a written complaint of the incident. I have done that.

Varun, 28, said, We have received Shabads complaint and have forwarded it to the concerned bank manager. Its a serious issue and we are looking forward to an outcome from this case.

Shabad also filed a complaint at Jamia Nagar police station in South East Delhi. A written complaint has been filed by Shabad. We are checking the CCTV footage of the ATM to verify such an incident. Following which case under section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of Indian Penal Code has been registered at Jamia Nagar police station. The notes which the complainant collected were all original. One note was half original and half blank paper. We asked the complainant to submit his note in the police station for forensic examination but the complainant refused, said an investigating officer of the case.

Banya said they are analysing the CCTV footage and verifying with eyewitnesses.
Kareena Kapoor is known for making heads turn, especially with her airport look. The actress was recently spotted at the airport wearing an oversized denim jacket, and it would be shocking for most of you to know that the jackets worth is insane amount.

Yes! The begum wore a jacket from Balenciaga brand which costs around Rs. 84,000; even more than what many earn in a span of five to six months. Isnt that insane?

Well, Kareena has always managed to pull crowds and doesnt really bother to shed out huge amount on a simple jacket.

The pictures were shared on Twitter by her fan page.

More pictures of Kareena from the airport as she left for Phuket to start the next schedule of #VeereDiWedding pic.twitter.com/q206Xv5ACD  Kareena Kapoor Khan (@KareenaUpdates) November 6, 2017

Kareena looks no less than a hot diva in black denims, shoes and chose to wear a striking red colour lip shade. The actress, who has been juggling between work and family, was off to Thailand to shoot for a song from Veere Di Wedding.

She is excited to work in this Rhea Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor production venture.

Kareena will share screen space in the film along with Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.

The first look of the film has already thrilled the viewers and there is much more in pipeline. There is a lot of buzz around this film, which also marks Kareenas comeback on screen post pregnancy.

READ ALSO: Kareena Kapoor Khan was amazed by veteran actors cooking!
With bilateral trade between India and the US reaching $115 billion last year, US is now Indias number one trade partner, a US diplomat said here on Tuesday.

The United States is now Indias number one trade partner and US exports of goods in services to India support more than 200,000 US jobs, US Consul General in Chennai Robert G Burgess said at the inaugural session of Unlocking US-India Trade Potential, a two-day trade conference being held in the city by US Consulate General in Chennai.

The bilateral trade between the countries that expanded to nearly $115 billion in 2016 was an all-time high, said Burgess.

We are seeing cooperation expand in new areas. Bilateral defence trade has risen from near zero to more than $15 billion in the last decade. We aim for that upward trajectory to continue, he said, adding India and the US are natural and highly influential partners.

Burgess said that last month, there was the first export of US crude oil to India in more than 40 years, which could add $2 billion annually to bilateral trade.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who had visited India on October 24, has laid out an expansive plan to take the US-India partnership to new heights not just for the duration of this administration, but for the next 100 years, he said.

Nearly four million Americans of Indian descent call the US their home, Burgess said, adding, Over 600 American companies operate in India and Bengaluru hosts the largest concentration of US businesses in India

Tillerson had noted the exchange of technologies and ideas between Bengaluru and Silicon Valley is changing the world, Burgess added.

He (Tillerson) made clear that the US will work with India to provide crucial technologies to enhance its capacity to contribute to regional security.

The conference, being held in the city on November 7-8 is timed ahead of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will be co-hosted by India and the US in Hyderabad on November 28-30.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advisor to US President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump will be present at the GES 2017, along with hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors from both the countries.
DECATUR  While the city's budget picture for 2018 is not yet complete, City Manager Tim Gleason said Decatur City Council members could face a deficit of over $1 million, assuming no new revenue or cuts are made.

The cause stems from the $36 billion state budget enacted in July, after Illinois went over two years without one. The deal increased the state income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent for individuals, but Gleason said it wasn't until mid-August that city leaders realized they would receive less income-tax revenue than the previous year.

That's because of a 10-percent "withholding fee" the state lawmakers placed on the tax's revenue when the city's portion gets paid out from Springfield.



The state budget also includes a 2 percent "administrative fee" on local shares of the state sales tax, according to City Treasurer Gregg Zientara. Together, the losses for Decatur total nearly $1.2 million.

Perhaps to shield the blow, state officials notified local governments they will be catching up on delayed payments of state income taxes to the city in the next six months. Zientara said in October that will add $3.2 million of revenue city was not expecting, but that money has always been figured into city finances. It's not additional revenue.

Gleason said in his first year at the city, "I felt strongly that we would be able to go through the next three, maybe four years without a tax increase, and I think that'll be true to form."

Volunteer residents report to revitalization meeting

More than 100 city residents are confirmed to attend Tuesday's first volunteer meeting of the neighborhood revitalization project, a city initiative that officials hope will alleviate issues stemming from disinvestment and blight in some of Decatur's oldest neighborhoods located near downtown.

Gleason said the volunteer residents will be asked to participate in one of 10 working groups, each of which will tackle one topic.

"(Officials will) send the groups home with some homework in preparation for Session Two," he said.

Officials are planning for the groups to meet six times before they present final plans to council members next spring.

Some of those topics will include local government regulations, beautification, jobs and job readiness, and housing development and rehabilitation.

The participating residents responded to the city's recruitment process through the city manager's office and decaturil.gov

Gleason said he received interest from some 200 residents, and more than 100 confirmed the first scheduled meeting, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. at MacArthur High School.

Warehouse cleanup still a go in 2017

The eyesore and public nuisance on North Illinois Street in Decatur's east side is still set to get cleaned up by the end of the year, Gleason said.

The Aaction Equipment Warehouse burned down nearly three years ago in one of Decatur's largest fires in recent memory. Since then, neighbors say it has been a site for illegal dumping, animal nesting, and even scavenging for valuable copper piping.

Gleason said he's still making arrangements to make sure the expensive project is as cost-effective as possible. The project will be financed through the city budget. Officials filed criminal charges against the site's owner months after the fire, but the case was put on hold after he died in 2016.

Decatur wins neighborhood award for third year

Susan Barnhart made it a three-peat for Decatur at the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference by winning the Stella Stewart Doing Good in the Neighborhood Award.

Last year's winner from Decatur was Francie Johnson , who worked closely with neighborhood groups for years through her job at Dove Inc. and continued to volunteer after state funding led to her position being cut. Jeanne Mears , an active volunteer with the Park City Neighborhood Organization, won in 2015.

The conference covers issues related to urban neighborhoods and services, and draws groups from cities in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel and Convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch Jignesh Mevani have been provided armed security by the Gujarat government to their dismay.

Police officials state that the security has been provided with the intent to impede any potential threats to the Patidar leader Hardik and the young Dalit leader Mevani.

Hardik Patel has been staging protests and blatantly talking against the BJP over his demand for reservation to Patidars under the OBC category. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal has already submitted a report on reservation for the community to party chief Sonia Gandhi. The Congress is expected to declare its decision on the reservation for Patidars by 8 November.

On the other side, Jignesh Mevani, too, has been in discussions with Congress over land rights for the Dalit community. Mevani had earlier denied joining or supporting the Congress, however, he changed the discourse. Mevani was also fretful about BJP lending an ear to the Patidar community regarding reservations and ignoring the Dalits. He also labelled BJP as Janvirodhi in one of his previous comments.

Though it shall be a tough decision for the Congress to side with Patidars and grant them reservation as doing this could anger other OBCs.

Hardik and Mevani stated that they had never requested for any police security and dont feel any threat to their lives. The probable reason for such security would only be to keep a close eye on the movements of the two ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat, they said.

On Monday, the young Patel leader said on his Twitter account that he had to make space for the police man in his vehicle and also offer him meals. Patel said he is ready for police protection provided the police make arrangements for separate vehicles and meals for the security personnel.

Why do they have to place a personnel alongside with me in my car and keep a check on whatever I am doing, whom I am calling or talking to? They can keep their security in another vehicle which can go alongside my vehicle, he tweeted.
Calling demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) strong economic measures, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday accused the Congress of trying to defame the Centres economic policies.

Speaking to the media while campaigning in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, Rajnath Singh said: Congress is trying to defame the Central government on economic front. Demonetisation and GST are strong economic measures.

Had Indias economy not been strong no foreign investor wouldve come here. The fact is foreign investments are rising, he added.

The Congress partys political campaigning in both Himachal and Gujarat has repeatedly raked up the issues of demonetisation and GST terming them a complete failure and a blunder committed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress attack spearheaded by party Vice President Rahul Gandhi has targeted the Centre accusing it of slowing down the countrys growth due to demonetisation and ruining small businesses by GST.
In a bid to counter Congress Vice Presidents new and aggressive avatar in poll-bound Gujarat, BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday launched the partys door-to-door campaign with an intent to reach out to every single voter in his home state.

Named the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasampark Abhiyan, several Union Ministers along with Shah will pitch in during the six-day drive from November 7 to 12 that was launched by Shah from Ahmedabads Naranpura.

As part of the campaign, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers, right from the local to the national level, will approach voters individually at their doorsteps with the message of development.

As per the BJP, state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar, JP Nadda, VK Singh, Thavarchand Gehlot, and state Ministers would visit Gujarat during the campaign.

Chief Minister Rupani will kick off the campaign from Rajkot, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel from Mahesana, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani from Bhavnagar, former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel from Ghatlodia, BJP Gujarat-in-charge Bhupendra Yadav from Ahmedabad.

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Smriti Irani, Sitharaman, Javadekar and Nadda will address the media on different days.

Meanwhile, Shah will visit various places, including Ambaji Mandir, in Naranpura constituency on Tuesday morning.

Literature featuring development works by the BJP government will be distributed among the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modis message will also be handed over to people.

Shah has completed the visit to assembly seats of 16 districts so far, and on Tuesday 20 assembly seats will be toured by him. Thus Shah will tour total 36 districts to guide party workers.

There is speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the Mahasampark Abhiyan on November 9.

(With inputs from agencies)
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Congress has lost Himachal Pradesh elections even before the results are declared.

Addressing a rally in poll-bound Himachals Chamba, Rajnath Singh said: People tell me that Congress has lost Himachal Pradesh even before the declaration of result.

He further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believed that politics should be used as a tool to build the nation.

We believe that we must be in politics not only to form government but also to build the nation, he said.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had said that the Congress had conceded defeat in the hill state as no senior Congress leader was campaigning there.

Addressing a public rally in Kangra, Modi had said that the Congress had left Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to his fate.

The hill state will go to polls for 68 assembly seats on November 9 and with just a few days left, both the Congress and the BJP have upped the ante against each other, desperate to woo the voters.

While, the BJPs has gone full throttle in its campaigning with a battery of top ministers including Modi regularly holding rallies, the Congress campaigning has been lackluster in comparison.

The results will be declared on December 18, the day the votes cast will be counted along with those in Gujarat.

In Himachal Pradesh, Congress won 36 of the 68 seats in 2012 with a vote share of 42.81 per cent, while the BJP bagged 26 seats with a 38.47 per cent vote share.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the government would follow the same investigation procedures in the Paradise Papers leaks as it did in probing the people named in Panama Papers.

The investigation is going on and notices have been sent to the people whose names figured in the Panama Papers. There are some people whose accounts are illegal. Action is being taken against people. Some people have said that this is our legal transaction and we have done it with the permission of the RBI. Some people say that this money belongs to NRIs. So on the basis of merit we will consider these defences, he said.

The process which we had followed at the time of Panama will be followed in Paradise. All the cases will be considered on the basis of individual merit, Jaitley said at a press conference.

On Monday the Central Board of Direct Taxes announced formation of a multi-agency group for carrying out investigations into the Paradise Papers leaks which included public names of prominent politicians, actors among others.
Seizing on the Paradise Papers revelations detailing the offshore financial transactions of the worlds rich and powerful in global tax havens, the principal Opposition Congress party on Monday sought to turn the heat on the Narendra Modi government, alleging that it has betrayed the people of the country with zero action against Indians black money stashed overseas.

The Paradise Papers reportedly include data on 714 Indian individuals and corporate entities.

Attacking the Modi governments abysmal trackrecord on curbing black money, the Congresss chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said : No FIR has been registered in the (2016) Panama Papers expose and now 714 Indian links of the Paradise Papers have revealed new tax havens.

Maintaining that even 41 months after coming to power, PM Modi has allegedly not taken any action against black money, Surjewala demanded that his government should immediately order investigations into the Paradise Papers expose and bring to book the wrongdoers.

Highlighting the inclusion of names of Union Minister Jayant Sinha and a BJP Rajya Sabha MP and founder of Security and Intelligence Services (SIS) R K Sinha in Paradise Papers, the Congress demanded action against them along with some other BJP leaders like

Abhishek Singh, son of Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, whose names had allegedly figured in the Panama Papers.

It is another matter that the Indian names figuring in the Paradise Papers also reportedly include a firm Ziqitza ~ with Congress leader Sachin Pilot and former Minister P Chidambarams son Karti as its early honorary/independent directors ~ linked to the Rajasthan ambulance scam being probed by the CBI.

On its part, the BJP appeared in a quandary after names of Jayant and R K Sinha appeared in the leaked Paradise Papers.

Jayant was quick to refute the allegation, saying that he had no longer any links with the foreign companies named in the Paradise Papers.

After leaving Omidyar Network, I was asked to continue on the D Light Board as an Independent Director. On joining the Union Council of Ministers, I immediately resigned from the D Light Board and severed my involvement with the company, Sinha tweeted.

He said he had already informed the authorities about his role in the company named in the Paradise Papers.

Whatever we did was completely bonafide and legal. There is no reason to doubt. This was at a time when I was not active in the political arena. Whatever was done was on behalf of the company, and not for any personal reason, he said.

R K Sinha, however, has kept mum over the allegations against him. He had reportedly

taken a vow to remain silent for seven days
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said the Army would neutralise any terrorists entering Indian territory after Indian forces killed the nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar in Pulwama in a gunfight.

The Army chief also said the recovery of an assault rifle used by NATO forces in Afghanistan with the killed Jaish terrorists showed that they were getting support from the other side of the border, in a reference to Pakistan.

Talha Rasheed, the nephew of Masood Azhar, was among three militants killed in a gunfight with forces in Aglar village in Pulwama in south Kashmir on Monday night.

Operations are going on. As I said, the operations will continue. If any terrorists carry out activities that put the life and property of our citizens at risk, if they target any building, police station or Army, they are troubling the citizens. Our attempt would be to neutralise whoever is involved in terror activities, General Rawat said on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.

Whether it is the nephew of Maulana Masood or anyone else, we are concerned only with finishing terror. We are not concerned what is their religion or other things, he said.

Along with Rasheed, two more terrorists  Mehmood Bhai, a foreign terrorist, and Wasim Ahmed Ganai, a local terrorist were killed.

Among the items recovered from the terrorists, were M4 carbines, a shorter and lighter variant of the American origin M-16 A2 assault rifle. The seizure comes days after a picture of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was circulated on social media holding another variant of the M-16 rifle.

The American origin gun is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, and questions have been raised how it reached the terrorists.

Asked about the presence of the weapon with the terrorists, General Rawat said: You can see sometime back this weapon was shown in media that they (terrorists) have this weapon. It shows they are getting support across the border.

The forces also recovered AK-74 rifles, pistols, and matrix sheets from the terrorists.

One Army soldier was also killed in the firefight.
The genesis of the article is derived from the vast flow of anti-army chief comments on social media, mostly from the veterans community. This article is not intended to defend any individual or institution but to project realities which are being glossed over. The present army chief assumed his appointment on 31 December 2016.

He was vice chief prior to his promotion, hence would possess knowledge of current issues. Since his assumption the army has been in the limelight for a variety of reasons, mostly not favourable. Recent ones include removal of the OROP agitators by force from Jantar Mantar, the Gogoi incident in J and K, the equivalence commission, attempts at degradation of the force by the bureaucracy and the ministry, clearing garbage in remote areas and construction of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) in Mumbai.

The veterans community is hurt by most of these issues, hence are vociferous. This is also a period of intense social media exploitation by veterans and other so-called security experts. Almost everyone considers himself as an authority on national security and matters related to the armed forces, especially the army.

Being at the helm of affairs, the chief is the individual who faces flak in every form of media. Flak flowed from human right activists and opposition politicians on the Gogoi incident and from veterans on a variety of other issues.

At the drop of a hat, social media is abuzz with calls for him to resign, to refuse government orders and even advice on how to disregard government directions. It is a fact that the serving fraternity is bound by silence while their sole voice remains the veterans, who appear to have taken it upon themselves to address all ills which the system faces. They feel that they form the know all fraternity and can correct ills by raising voices and seeking resignations. They are right to the extent that the public needs be informed about forcible attempts by the government to degrade the service, however accusing the hierarchy of not acting may be far-fetched.

There is a difference between criticising the head of the institution against criticising the government, which permits derogatory actions to be undertaken under its watch while maintaining a stoic silence.

The army chief, in his capacity as the head of the largest and most powerful force in the nation, has immense responsibilities. He is involved in a perpetual battle to make up deficiencies in equipment profile, manage a hostile internal environment where the bureaucracy is seeking to degrade military ranks, meet the aspirations of the force as also of its veterans, each category demanding priority and special attention.

This is compounded by the fact that he is not part of the government, despite the usage of the term Integrated HQs. The service HQs have deliberately been left out of the government machinery, placed under a civilian-run defence ministry, solely to restrict the ability of service chiefs to influence the system, as also being involved in national decision making.

For every decision they need to process cases through the ministry, which has and would always remain a stumbling block as it visualises itself in competition with the very armed forces it has been created to support. Hence issues concerning the force which would also concern the chief, as he is responsible for those he commands, would need to be progressed deliberately, at times involving multiple ministries, none of whom are in a hurry to respond.

Government decision-making is slow, especially if it concerns an organisation which can never protest nor apparently influence political vote banks. Government rules also prevent the armed forces from openly participating on social media, holding press conferences to project their viewpoint or contradict actions of the government. The only individual who does interact with the media on a variety of issues is the chief.

Being a mature responsible officer, who must have faith in the political leadership despite negative actions of the bureaucracy, his views cannot contradict those of the national leadership, even if he has reservations. Thus, we veterans need to consider the constraints under which our chief serves, rather than seeking to comment negatively at every stage. In all probability, he would also have been hurt by the treatment meted out to veterans and non-implementation of OROP.

Meeting agitating veterans would send a wrong message to the government, hence has been avoided. He would be involved in behind-the-scenes discussions trying to ensure OROP is processed early and also would have raised maltreatment against veterans at appropriate fora.

These may not be topics which he could discuss in media conversations, hence are deliberately left out. No chief would ever sell his service for personal post-retirement benefits. It is a fallacy which has flourished over the years, solely because a few were awarded with post-retirement appointments. Bureaucrats battle us because we dominate headlines, are more efficient and get more respect from the nation than they do. Jealousy causes more harm than good.

Blaming the hierarchy or seeking resignations of service chiefs is not the answer. Resigning solely to project anger against government apathy is akin to disregarding orders, which would harm service reputation more and enhance the pleasure within the bureaucracy.

Has any bureaucrat ever resigned or owned responsibility? Let us stop seeking resignations and criticising. The chief is capable and knows what his job entails and would be working for the benefit of the organization. Politically we are ignored because we as veterans have never been able to impact vote banks, since we remain a fractured community. Even our own veterans who now form part of the government are the first to ignore us because we are not united.

If we are to be a force to reckon with and ensure the government accepts our just demands then we veterans need to unite, break the shackles of groupism and become a force which can change the fate of governments by the ballot box.

The famous story of the US Bonus army, spreading across social media, is an example. Till then we will always face degradation and be ignored. The organisation would only gain if we support the chief, rather than accuse him.

Let us as a veterans community join hands to pressurise the government to act on the threat of the ballot while trusting and supporting our serving hierarchy.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army)
Ostensibly their attack was directed at the Aam Aadmi Party, but in reality it was to P Chidambaram that the lesser lights of the Congress party put the embarrassment-laced question asked by the caption to this commentary.

For if Kejriwal & Co. had committed a crime in engaging the services of the former cabinet minister and Senior Counsel to present to the apex court the Delhi governments case for greater authority than what the Lieutenant-Governor/home ministry concedes, surely Chidambaram too had sinned when accepting that brief. Along with the BJP description of political opponents as termites, the inability of Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit, Sharmista Mukherjee etc to perceive the distinction between wearing a professional hat and a political one confirms the depths to which the national debate has now degenerated.

The claim by the local Congress that in seeking the legal services of Chidambaram the AAP had exonerated him from all the charges it levelled when he was a minister in the UPA government is ridiculous. Almost as silly as the condemnation to which Ram Jethmalani had been subjected when defending the alleged assassins of Indira Gandhi ~ that one of them was acquitted by the Supreme Court is a testament to the rule of law prevailing in the country.

Alas, that nicety goes above the heads of Maken & Co. The Delhi Congress continues to agonise over the deep wounds it had suffered at the hands of AAP, hence it is making an issue over Chidambaram.

Is the Trinamul a less hostile adversary ~ no fuss was created when Kapil Sibal recently represented the West Bengal government in an Aadhaar-related action in the apex court? Surely there is much merit to the AAP spokesmans contention that Chidambaram had been selected because of his experience as a lawyer and has nothing to do with politics. The nothing to do with politics argument is one that does not find too many takers in an era when political action is being taken in the courts as much as the legislatures, and somehow the memory conjures up reminders of Indira Gandhis call for committed officials, judges etc.

It was in her regime that the contention if you are not with us you are against are us took root. This concept now finds powerful expression in the current era when allegations of being anti-national and charges of sedition are slapped against anyone who dares to think differently. Or they are advised to go to Pakistan.

With the nation now in virtually permanent election-mode politics dominates almost every move in public life. Sometimes the spin-off actually hinders movement ~ several would-be travellers have been missing their trains because the model code of conduct (in force because of upcoming polls in Himachal and Gujarat) prevents publication of the revised railway time-table.
OnePlus recently confirmed the existence of OnePlus 5T in a tweet with an image of smartphones edge including 3.5mm headphone jack.

Now, on Monday, OnePlus has finally announced an event date for the launch of OnePlus 5T. The company is hosting an event in Brooklyn, New York on November 16 where we will finally see the phone.

The event teaser with a tag line A New View highlights edge-to-edge full-screen display, similar to Galaxy S8. If rumours are correct then, OnePlus 5T will feature a 6.01-inch full HD+ display with a 10802160 pixels resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio.

OnePlus tweet reads, Guess which city were going to party in for the #OnePlus5T launch! [sic] The tweet also features an image that shows the intersection of West 34th Street and Broadway, located in Manhattan, New York City. All this points to the New York City launch of the new OnePlus smartphone.

Recently, a press render image of OnePlus 5T had surfaced over web courtesy Evan Blass. Some reports say that OnePlus 5T is likely adopt the design of the OPPO R11s, since both companies are owned by Chinese multinational BBK Electronics and we have seen few OnePlus smartphones sharing similar design language.

For specifications, OnePlus 5T is rumored to feature a 6-inch full-HD+ (1080 x 2160 pixels) 18:9 Optic AMOLED display. The front facing camera is expected to be 20MP shooter, but the rear dual-camera is expected to be same 16MP + 20MP shooter. Other than that, it is expected to pack same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC with 6GB and 8GB of RAM, just like the OnePlus 5.
MOUNT ZION  Bailey Huddleston, a junior at Mount Zion High School, died Monday after a long battle with osteopetrosis, a rare form of brittle bone disease.

Mount Zion High School Principal Cheryl Warner told parents and students about Bailey's death in an audio recording Monday evening.

Her sweet, positive spirit will be greatly missed by all, Warner said, adding that the district had implemented a plan to support students as they grieve.

We all should expect and try to understand there may be a variety of emotions and responses to this loss, Warner said. The most important thing we can do is be supportive and encourage open expression of feelings.

Bailey was diagnosed with osteopetrosis shortly after birth and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2010. A community of volunteers worked together that year to build a new house that would provide a more sterile environment for Bailey.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi said it expects 30 percent of its sales in India to come through offline stores by this year-end.

The company, which forayed into the Indian market by selling its handsets online only, has been gradually ramping up its offline presence through partners.

Offline is growing at a fast pace for usIn July- August (this year), about 20 per cent of our sales was coming through offline channels. We hope this will increase to 30 per cent by end of the year or early next year, Xiaomi India Head Manu Kumar Jain told reporters here.

Xiaomi sells its products through offline channels like large format stores, multi-brand outlets and its own Mi Homes.

Apart from a few thousand retail points, we are also well on track with the expansion of our Mi Homes. We had said we will have 100 of those in 2 years and nine are already in place, Jain said.

Xiaomi, which competes with the likes of Samsung, Lenovo, vivo and Oppo in India, had earlier in the year said it expects to clock revenues in excess of USD 2 billion (Rs 12,867 crore) from its India operations this year, doubling its topline over 2016.

Xiaomi today launched a new smartphone series with two devices  Redmi Y1 and Redmi Y1 Lite  aimed at selfie enthusiasts.

The devices will compete with those from the stables of Oppo and vivo and are priced at Rs 6,999 onwards.

Besides, it has also unveiled the global version of its operating system MIUI 9 that includes new features designed for India.

Redmi Y1 is our first phone in India which boasts a Selfie-light. This, paired with a 16 MP front facing camera, ensures selfies come out bright and clear even in challenging conditions, Jain said.

Redmi Y1 Lite features 5.5-inch display, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (expandable upto 128GB), 13MP rear and 5MP front camera, and 3,080mAh battery. It is priced at Rs 6,999.

The Redmi Y1 features 13MP rear and 16MP front camera.

The 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant is priced at Rs 8,999, while 4GB/64GB variant will be available for Rs 10,999.

The devices will be available from November 8 across Amazon.in, Mi.com, Mi Home stores, and Xiaomis offline partners.
A double dome 180 metres in diameter, offering horizontal, perfectly radiating geometry, a randomly perforated woven material, providing shade punctuated by bursts of sunlight.

Beautifully inspiring, that is the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum as explained by the architect. The museum, which looks out of the world, opens to the public on Saturday.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is described as a universal museum on a mission to create human connections through art  from prehistory to the present.

This will be a place where visitors can connect, a place of cultural understanding and international exchange. said Mohamed Al-Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the Tourism Development and Investment Company, according to reports.

Heres a low down on the Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. He said that the architecture makes it a place of convergence and correlation between the immense sky, the sea-horizon and the territory of the desert.

It is the first museum outside France which bears the name of the museum in Paris. The Louvre in Paris opened in 1793 after the French Revolution.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island at the Arabian Gulfs coastline. The architect stressed the waterfront location at the coastline because water reflects, inspires and stands for the ongoing flow of the mind when inspired by art.

The Arabian-style dome museum covers a collection of 23 permanent galleries across 6,400 sq metres.

As many as 1, 600 rare pieces of artwork will be on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The artwork at the museum includes Vincent van Goghs Self-Portrait, Auguste Rodins Jean dAire and the sculpture Apollo Belvedere by Primatice.

Ancient masterpieces include a white marble Head of Buddha from China. Highlights from later periods include a red Chinese lacquer chest of drawers produced in France by Bernard II van Risenburgh.

Twenty-eight artefacts at the Louvre Abu Dhabi are borrowed from Arab cultural institutions.

Some works on display are loaned from the museums 13 partner museums in France.

The museum has a section for temporary exhibitions, a museum for children, auditoriums and a research centre.

The Abu Dhabi Government loaned the name for 30 years and six months under a 1-billion Euro contract ($1.15 billion) as a part of the agreement between the UAE and France.

The next time you visit the country, make sure to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi for a completely awe-inspiring experience.

(With inputs from agencies)
You love them wild and the sea. So, are you planning to look up some cute baby leopard seals or the sea leopards as they are called. Probably you should head to Tasmania in Australia, as juvenile Antarctic leopard seals are increasingly flocking to Australian shores.

A beautiful island off Australias south coast, Tasmania remains quite isolated and its sea and forest reserve areas remain conducive for both marine and wildlife.

This year, more than 10 juvenile leopard seals have been spotted in the last few months as against three to four in the previous years, according to Sam Thalmann, a marine biologist based in Tasmania. The increase in their number occurs every seven years or so, the expert said.

Tasmania is known for its rugged wilderness and protected reserves and national parks. While you are here, you can wheel your time away from its capital Hobart into the wilderness and learn about the indigenous aboriginal culture there.

The Mount William National Park is one of the more popular parks there. A 30-km environment awareness walk  Wukalina Walk around the park is being organised sometime next year. The guided walk aims to showcase indigenous aboriginal culture and life in northeast Tasmania and their close relationship with the land.

This 26th largest island in the world, with its vast natural reserve forest, was home to the originals for over 40,000 years before the British colonisation. And to this day, the beauty of the indigenous culture and life is alive in this isolated island state.

Other fascinating national parks worth visiting include the breathtaking Freycinet National Park and the Cradle Mountain. the mesmerising blue Dove Lake lies in Cradle Mountain. Through all of its beautiful landscape, the locals peculiar way of living, unique wooden constructions and structures are worth the visit.

Apart from it natural reserves and unique life that is truly inspiring, tourists flock to the place to visit its one of a kind open-air museum  Museum of Old and New Art. Hobart, with colourful colonial neighbourhood, houses some of the most interesting museums and galleries. Take a good time to visit the state and enjoy the pleasant uniqueness of the place and its history.
Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of death of 26 teenage girls whose bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea, the media reported on Tuesday.

The girls, aged 14-18, were believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria who had embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya over the weekend.

Lorena Ciccotti, a senior police official, told CNN on Monday night that autopsies would be carried out on Tuesday and that coroners would be investigating whether the girls had been tortured or sexually abused.

Their bodies were found close to a flimsy rubber dinghy that had all but sunk when rescuers arrived, Ciccotti said.

The girls rescue was one of four separate rescue operations carried out in the Mediterranean over the weekend. In total, 400 people were brought aboard the Spanish vessel Cantabria before disembarking at the Italian port town of Salerno.

Among them were 90 women and 52 minors, including a week-old-baby, CNN quoted authorities as saying.

On Monday, Italian police arrested two men, an Egyptian and a Libyan accused of human smuggling.

Since the start of this year, 2,839 migrants have died on the central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organization for Migration.

A total of 150,982 migrants have reached European shores, of which around 74 per cent were Italian arrivals.
US President Donald Trumps talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week will define the future course of the relations between the worlds top two economies, officials here said on Monday.

Trumps first presidential visit to China from Wednesday will be the first by a head of state since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which conferred a second five-year term on Xi.

The Xi-Trump talks will define the future of the China-US ties, a report in the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted top officials as saying.

Trump, who started his first Asia tour yesterday, is currently in Japan and will arrive in Beijing on a three-day visit on Wednesday after visiting South Korea tomorrow.

We have everything that is required for a state visit, but we want more than that, Chinese ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said.

Apart from the red-carpet ceremony, formal talks and banquet, Xi, 64, and Trump, 71, will have some informal get- togethers, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said.

Though the details of these informal arrangements have not been made public, Cui said that there will be some special arrangements for Trump and the first family to learn more about the Chinese history, culture and people.

During Trumps stay, the two presidents will have sufficient time for a top-level, strategic conversation which is extremely important for the development of bilateral relations, Cui said.

Xi and Trump spent over seven hours in talks in April in Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in the US state of Florida where the two leaders worked out a 100-day plan to boost economic cooperation.

After a deal to reopen the Chinese markets to the US for beef in July, American beef is back on Chinas menu. China says the action plan has produced some tangible results.

Progress in bilateral cooperation has also come via four high-level dialogue mechanisms focusing on diplomacy and security; the economy; law enforcement and cyber security; and social and people-to-people exchanges.

Trump has said the massive trade deficit in bilateral trade is a shame, and has been pressuring China to open Chinese markets more for US products and firms.

US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated USD 648.2 billion in 2016 in which China had a lions share with about USD 478.9 billion exports. The US exports to China stood at USD 169.3 billion, according to US trade figures.

The informal arrangements will create a good atmosphere for a sound working relationship and personal friendship between the two leaders, said Da Wei, director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Trade cooperation and the Korean Peninsula are among the key topics for Trumps discussions in Beijing. Trump has been pressuring China, North Koreas close ally, to prevail on its dictator Kim Jong-Un to ramp down his nuclear programme.

The two leaders will also discuss major issues of common concern, Zheng said, noting that the meeting is of great significance to Sino-US relations and to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Also expected to figure in Trump-Xi discussion is the US new South Asia policy which is piling up pressure on Pakistan, Chinas all-weather ally, to dismantle terror safe heavens.

China is also apprehensive about the US trying to work out a quadrilateral with India, Japan and Australia.

Japan has proposed the four countries to work out a new Silk Road plan to counter Chinas ambitious and multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

China and the US are working to ensure Trumps state visit is a historic success, Zheng said.

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is expected to bring a business delegation to Beijing during Trumps visit.

Trumps visit comes shortly after the key Congress which reaffirmed a mutually beneficial, win-win opening up strategy.

It outlined the future of Chinas diplomacy, Jia Xiudong of the China Institute of International Studies said, noting that China-US ties are crucial to a new type of international relations and the community of shared future for humanity.

Since Trump took office, the two have maintained a close contact, including face-to-face meetings, phone conversations and sending messages on issues of common concern.

Frequent communication between the two presidents helps avoid misunderstandings, manage differences and strengthen cooperation, the Xinhua report added.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Snow this morning will become lighter this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with snow showers around before midnight. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
A Democratic lawmaker walked out of a moment of silence for the Texas shooting victims on Monday night to protest a lack of action on gun safety after mass shootings in the United States.

Rep. Ted Lieu of California, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, said he walked out of the House chamber because he wants to pass a universal background check law, a ban on assault rifles and a ban on bump-fire stocks.

"My colleagues right now are doing a moment of silence," he said during a Facebook Live from the hallway. "I respect their right to do that and I myself have participated in many of them. But I can't do this again. I've been to too many moments of silences. Just in my short career in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in US history have occurred. I will not be silent. What we need is we need action, we need to pass gun safety legislation now."

He continued: "I urge us to pass reasonable gun safety legislation ... We need to do that. We cannot be silent. We need to act now."

When asked later by HLN's Carol Costello if he meant to politicize the moment, Lieu clarified his intentions.

"I view it as doing my job to highlight this issue because you don't want Congress to just do moments of silences every time a mass shooting happens," he said in an interview Tuesday. "You want us to take action to try to prevent the shooting from happening in the first place."

Gunman Devin Patrick Kelley, who killed 26 people inside a small Texas church on Sunday, was armed with an assault rifle and 15 loaded magazines in the deadliest shooting in Texas history.

Kelley was denied a license to carry a gun, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. But he passed a background check required for the purchase he made in April 2016 of the Ruger AR-556 rifle he allegedly used in the shooting.

CNN's David Wright contributed to this report.
Organization: Abt Associates

Funding Source: United

States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About Abt:

Abt Associates is an international development organization composed of

dedicated professionals who provide technical assistance, research, analysis,

and practical training services in more than 128 countries.



Project: About USAID Vector Control TaskProject:

Abt Associates, a major American business and government research,

technical assistance, and consulting company, manages the USAID-funded Vector

Control Task Order 1. Task Order 1 will support the U.S. Presidents Malaria

Initiative (PMI) and USAID to plan and implement an integrated vector control

approach with the overall goal of reducing the burden of malaria. Abt has

implemented indoor residual spraying (IRS) for PMI since 2009, delivering

high-quality IRS programs and gathering the most comprehensive vector control

entomological data in the world. Under this contract, Abt will expand

entomological monitoring to guide programs focused on insecticide-treated

mosquito nets and IRS and continue to assist PMI in reducing the burden of

malaria through IRS and capacity building in 22 African countries where malaria

is endemic. Abt also will continue to support PMI in IRS monitoring and

evaluation, as well as environmental compliance.

Job Summary: The Driver

operates and maintains project vehicles to meet the transportation needs of the

program. Follows schedule of routine vehicle maintenance. The jobholder keeps

detailed records of vehicle movements and maintenance performed. The jobholder

also supports the project office by performing general service tasks, repairs,

deliveries, etc.











Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:



The ideal candidate for the USAID Project Driver

job placement should have completed secondary school (desirable)



Hold a valid drivers license



One year of commercial driving experience.



Automotive mechanics expertise.



Proven ability to work with minimum direction

and supervision.



Demonstrated ability to work both as a member of

a team and as a team leader, with the ability to accept the inputs of other

team members.



Strong management and planning skills of project

tasks and budgets.



Demonstrates leadership and team work and

produces high quality work in a timely, cost effective manner and has excellent

writing skills.



Excellent interpersonal communications and

organizational skills.



Excellent computer skills, computer software

programs, including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.



Previous experience with USAID funded programs

and/ or other international development experience.



English language fluency.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their

applications to VectorControl_Uganda@abtassoc.com with the position title in

the subject line of the email.

NB: Documentation required

to be considered includes a Cover Page, CV, biodata

form, payslip from the most recent position held, copies of educational

certificates/degrees, and contact information of at least 3 references we can

contact (must include email addresses and phone numbers). Documentation requiredto be considered includes a Cover Page, CV,, payslip from the most recent position held, copies of educationalcertificates/degrees, and contact information of at least 3 references we cancontact (must include email addresses and phone numbers).



find us on our Facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline






A day before the first anniversary of demonetisation, former prime minister Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, while insisting on his earlier statements that the note ban was an organised loot and legalised plunder.

Singh, who is in Gujarat which goes to polls in December, interacted with traders and businessmen in Ahmedabad before speaking to media. He said that demonitisation had proved to be a mere bluster to reap political dividends while the real offenders have escaped.

The economist par excellence said that nowhere in the world has any democracy undertaken such a coercive move, withdrawing legal tender status of 86 per cent of currencies in one single swoop. Nobody would advise to bring out an even more high value currency note of Rs 2,000 after invalidating 500 and 1,000 rupees notes.

The fact that more than 99 per cent of the demonetised currency came back into the banking system, has punctured the government's claims, he said.

Demonitisation, he said, was thrust upon the economy with not enough prior thought about its likely impact and undesirable side effects.

The former prime minister also criticised the current form in which the GST was introduced and said that there were loopholes in the administrative arrangements for the implementation of the tax.

Speaking to the media, he said that he was surprised when prime minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress and the Congress-led Central governments have always hated Gujaratis. Nothing can be farther from the truth, he said.

Tearing apart Modi's claims that nothing has been done in 70 years before he became the prime minister, Singh put forth certain figures. He said that at the time of independence, life expectancy was 31 years and now it was 71. Literacy was 18 per cent and now it was 76 per cent.

Specifying that he was not claiming that the achievements were of the Congress or the Congress-led governments, he said that these were achievements of the people as well. I wish the prime minister would find more dignified ways of impressing crowds and seeking their votes without resorting to statements which denigrate our country, he said.

Singh expressed doubts over the prime minister's claims that India would become a developed country by 2022. I would be the happiest person in the world if he can deliver that. But is he really aware of what it implies, questioned Singh.

He said that our per capita income is about $ 5000 based on what is called purchasing power parity. At the lower end of the developed countries we have Greece with a per capita income of around $ 25000. That, he said, was five times our per capita income level. To increase our income five fold in five years, we would have to achieve a growth rate of 35 per cent per year. No country has ever done this. Is Modiji promising he will do that, remarked Dr. Singh.

Singh also took on Modi on the latter's pet project  the Bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai  ground breaking ceremony for which was held some time ago.

According to him, the bullet train project launch with much fanfare was sadly an exercise in vanity and would not benefit either 6.5 crore Gujaratis or the nation. He said that Rs 88,000 crore through a 'soft loan' may seem like easy money, but still needed to be repaid to the Japanese, and Gujarati entrepreneurs know very well that. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

Singh said that project requires the creation of a parallel infrastructure while our existing passenger rail network is languishing and needs a dire infusion of funds to improve both safety and speed. The past year, he said, had seen the highest number of deaths due to the derailments in more than a decade, but the government's priorities were misplaced.

Referring to the criticisms by the prime minister on the Narmada issue, he said that Modi had never met him on the issue.
A legislator of BJP from Hyderabad has threatened to burn down theatres in Telangana if they screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, which is slated for release next month.

T. Raja Singh, a member of Telangana assembly, called upon people to boycott the movie, saying as an attempt is being made to denigrate Rajput community.

The MLA even announced that he will bail out youth if they are arrested for setting afire the theatres.

Padmavati starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is slated for release on December 1.

Singh, himself a Rajput, issued the threat while addressing a meeting of a Rajasthani organisation here. He termed the movie a conspiracy to show Rajputs in poor light by defaming their queens.

The MLA posted on facebook his speech delivered at the meeting on Friday.

He called Bhansali a "dog" for allegedly portraying Padmavathi as a lover of Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji. He claimed that 16,000 brave women immolated themselves when Chittorgarh fort was attacked.

He said the filmmaker had still not responded to the demand from Rajput and Kshatriya organisations that the movie should be shown to them before releasing in theaters.

"If the film depict history without any distortion and highlights the valour of Rajputs, we will welcome it but if it portrays them in poor light then we will not allow its release in theatres," he said.

The MLA said producers were producing such films to make money as more people were going to theatres to watch them due to the controversies. He said PK earned Rs 500 crore as more people watched it after the protests.

"If you are true patriots and true Hindus, you should boycott such movies. You should not help them make money. If the film flops, no other filmmaker will dare to make such movies," said Singh, who represents Goshamahal constituency and is known for making controversial statements.




Kollywood actor Kamal Haasan, who celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, has canceled the celebrations as a gesture of goodwill to people who are suffering because of the recent heavy rains in the state. Instead, the actor chose to visit a medical camp in one of the rain-hit areas.

To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations pic.twitter.com/hkSPJj97C9  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 6, 2017

Haasan, who turns 63 today, visited a camp which has been set up by his fans in Avadi near Chennai city. According to ANI, the actor said there is no connection of this camp with politics.

Haasan said people have been commenting that I am dreaming big. I want to tell them that it is dream which ultimately gets materialised, reports ANI.

He further said the government has been arranging water outlets in water logged areas.

Even as there are a lot of talks about his political plunge, the actor is expected to meet the media to announce a "special message".
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said the body of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhars nephew, Talha Rasheed, will be handed over to the militant outfit soon.

It was an excellent operation, nicely coordinated between the police, the army and the CRPF. I am thankful that for the first time they have owned up that he is the nephew of Masood Azhar. We will ask them (the JeM) to collect the body because they have accepted him as one of their own, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Munir Khan said while addressing a press conference.

The terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has confirmed that the three terrorists gunned down by the security forces yesterday in an encounter in Pulwama district's Aglar Kandi village included Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and the outfit's divisional commander.

"Three militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and outfit's divisional commander," a JeM spokesman said in a statement.

He said the two other terrorists who were killed in the encounter included Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam, Pulwama.

One security personnel Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh lost his life in yesterday's encounter.

A civilian was also got injured in the gunfight.

Two AK-47s and a pistol were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Troops of 182 battalion and 183 battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the region when the encounter broke out.
Raising the political temperatures, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday revealed that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray recently met him and they discussed the need for an "alliance of like-minded parties" in the country.

"Uddhav, accompanied by (party leader) Sanjay Raut, met me at my Mumbai residence 10 days ago," Pawar told media persons on the sidelines of the ongoing two-day brainstorming session of NCP at a luxury resort in Karjat here.

"We also discussed the need for an alliance of all like-minded parties in the country," he said, indicating the parties opposing the BJP policies.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the Sena is unhappy with its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party at the centre and in Maharashtra, but it has yet to take a stand on whether it will continue or walk out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The revelation comes a day after senior NCP leader Praful Patel said at the 'Chintan Shibir' that Pawar could be in the race for Prime Minister after the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

However, in his characteristic style, the elder statesman told the party leaders to "banish the idea of him becoming the PM" and instead work hard on building and expanding the NCP.

Incidentally, five days ago, Thackeray and his son Aditya had called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who appreciated supported the Sena stance of criticizing the BJP as "doing the right thing."

Earlier on Tuesday, Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray penned a severe critique of the BJP in a blog in which he termed the intent behind the demonetization exercise as "dubious", and one which had failed the hopes of the people and even the country.
Whatever may be the merits or demerits of the ongoing agitation by a group of armed forces veterans at the Jantar Mantar site in Lutyens' Delhi, the treatment meted out to them by the Delhi Police on October 30 marks a dark day for Indian democracy.

The armed forces have been mandated by the constitution to safeguard not only the nation but the statute as well. Armed forces veterans form a pool of trained and disciplined manpower with nationalism ingrained in them and need to be treated as an asset. The armed forces form an important pillar of national strength and its members willingly forgo many of their fundamental rights and basic necessities of a dignified life to ensure the safety of the nation's frontiers.

The constitution mandates them to carry their ranks with them even after retirement. The constitution recognises the uniqueness of the Indian armed forces and their members, both serving and retired.

How did Delhi Police dare to treat veterans and ladies in the manner they did in front of cameras? The same police forces are the first to disappear whenever a serious law and order problem occursand the army is called in to rescue them and handle the adversity. At whose behest did they display such brutality against the peaceful veterans?

The courage, discipline, sense of sacrifice and love for the nation among veterans needs to be imbibed in every citizen of this country if we wish to become a superpower. Their ill-treatment can have long-term implications on national security and can be ignored at its own peril by the government.

In this era of electronic and social media, which has penetrated all frontiers, news travels instantly everywhere. The police action against veterans can lead to alienation of a large segment of disciplined and patriotic people. It definitely will adversely impact the morale of the serving soldiers.

It is not only that today's serving soldier is tomorrow's veteran but that today's veterans are also fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other relatives of the serving soldiers. The blood of those who would have watched the high-handedness of the police or read about it must be boiling, but the discipline ingrained in them prevents them from reacting.

Money spent towards modernisation of the armed forces cannot compensate for the morale of the man behind the gun. It is ultimate and the nation has watched the grit, determination and high morale of the Indian Army soldier on the barren and daunting heights of Kargil. Can the nation afford to have the morale of its soldiers in their boots? Imagine the impact it would have on national security.

Will any young man who would have watched the police brutality against the senior retired officers be ever motivated to join the armed forces? If the armed forces fail the nation in future, will the responsibility for their downslide be owned by the political leadership or the bureaucracy?

Civilian control of the armed forces does not imply control by those in civvies. In the garb of civilian control, the bureaucracy in India is trying to control the armed forces, negating their uniqueness as enshrined in the constitution.

In fact, Jantar Mantar is the manifestation of the growing civil-military divide in our country towards which every successive government has contributed. The state of affairs is not only saddening but alarming. The bureaucracy is hell bent to downgrade the status and financial equivalence of the armed forces, which becomes obvious with every Pay Commission report since the third Pay Commission.

The armed forces make up 30 per cent of the government's work force. That they are not represented in any Pay Commission displays the disdain with which successive governments have treated them. The serving soldiers and veterans are only demanding their due and not looking for any extraordinary largesse, they are fighting for their pride and status that have been continuously eroded by the babudom in Delhi.

The warrant of precedence is tweaked to suit the convenience of the bureaucrats. A Major General was equated to a Joint Secretary with 30 years' service. The 30-year clause has been conveniently removed and today a Joint Secretary with 18 years of service equates himself with a Major General.

Nowhere in the world are police allowed to wear the badges of ranks of the army except in India, to achieve a false sense of equivalence. The most ridiculous is an attempt to equate the ranks with the Armed Forces HQ services cadre which was raised as a subordinate support cadre to assist the armed forces officers so that the availability of serving officers in active units was not affected. How can commissioned officers be equated with any other service, let alone a subordinate service? It happens only in India in the garb of civilian supremacy.

The present government granted One Rank One Pension (OROP) which previous governments denied. There was dissatisfaction in some quarters and the government accepted that anomalies exist. The one-man Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission was appointed in 2016 and submitted its report in November 2016, but its contents are yet to be made public. The neglect is hurting the veterans, eroding the credibility of the government and adding to the widening civil-military rift.

The Ministry of Defence, supposedly the custodian of the interests of the armed forces, is the most distrusted organ of the state as far as serving soldiers and veterans are concerned. The distrust is due to substantial acts of omission and commission. The government needs to act immediately to stop this trend and act on various reports submitted concerning the revamping of the ministry and integration of Armed Forces headquarters with it. - IANS
Terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad on Tuesday confirmed that three terrorists who were gunned down by the security forces on Monday in an encounter in Pulwama district's Aglar Kandi village of Jammu and Kashmir included Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and outfit's divisional commander.

"Three militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and outfit's divisional commander," a JeM spokesman told in a statement.

The JeM spokesman identified Masood Azhar's nephew as commander Talha Rasheed.

He said two other terrorists who were killed in the encounter include divisional commander Muhammad Bhai, a non-local Waseem, a resident of Drubgam, Pulwama.

Meanwhile, one security personnel Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh lost his life in the encounter.

A civilian was also got injured in the gunfight.

Two AK-47s and a pistol were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Troops of 182 battalion and 183 battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were carrying out a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the region, when the encounter broke out.
The Supreme Court's directive to the Centre for setting up special courts to exclusively try criminal cases involving politicians assumes significance in the context of the judiciary trying hard to end the politico-criminal nexus.

The apex court move, seen as part of its attempts to tackle criminalisation of politics, is bound to create a flutter among the netas. The SC is keen on establishing a time-bound and exclusive judicial mechanism to expedite trials involving politicians.

The court requires the Centre to provide details of the funding necessary to set up special courts, and wants state governments be involved in the exercise. A few prominent leaders have been successfully tried and sentenced, but these are exceptions rather than rule.

However, establishing special courts may not be the ideal way to expedite cases. The accused might feel aggrieved with the idea as it could smack of victimisation and engender a feeling of being chosen for discriminatory treatment.

While corruption charges against public servants are being handled by special courts, questions have arisen whether there can be special treatment for offences under the Indian Penal Code solely on account of the accused being a politician.

At the same time, it is in public interest to expedite cases in which those in public life face serious charges. The ideal remedy will, however, be a speedy trial in regular courts.

The political-criminal nexus calls for strong corrective action rather than persisting with the status quo. However, the court observed cases against politicians stretched for two decades by when they have completed multiple terms in office. Almost 34 per cent of them have criminal cases of which 20 per cent are of a heinous nature. The impediments in this regard is institutional.

Even as states are enthusiastic about funding special courts for trying politicians, there is an acute shortage of judges partly because of the delay in finalisation of the Memorandum of Procedure for the appointment of more judges.

Records reveal about 1,500 people with criminal records contested the elections. Considering the manner in which justice is delivered, is it prudent to set aside resources, human and material, to expressly try such a small lot?

As a first step, the communication gap between the judiciary and the EC needs to be bridged. The EC is often unaware about convictions and politicians unabashedly continue in their posts. The EC has come out in favour of a lifetime ban for convicted politicians. The question is will swift justice deter corruption among this influential class.

The rationale behind this move is that the longer political functionaries with charges against them continue in office, the more their chances to manipulate the system. Since political parties are not averse to those against whom charges have not been proven, one way of tackling it is to lessen the judicial delays in concluding the cases.

For now, a member of Parliament or state assembly found guilty of a criminal offence punishable with two years or more in jail immediately loses the membership of the house. The court's 2013 judgement also bars a convicted politician from contesting elections for six years from the date the sentence ends.

It is now up to the Narendra Modi government to respond positively to the judicial interventions or pursue a legislative approach for achieving the same end. With both the courts and the Election Commission of India on the same page, criminals would find it difficult to continuing in politics.
Every minister either at Centre or states takes oath: "I, [the name], do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such minister."

Similarly every MP or Legislator in State Assemblies takes oath: "I, [the name], having been elected (or nominated) a member of the Council of States (or the House of the People) do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter."

The ministers and legislators have a duty to reveal the information that may be required for the due discharge of their duties as minister. The information like progress of work under MPLADs scheme shall be disclosed as that would be required in due discharge of the duties. They have to uphold integrity of India, which cannot be done without integrity of individual members of legislature, and if the anti-corruption measures including transparency are not ensured.

The Supreme Court in many of its cases has declared that the Right to Information is not just a legal right under RTI Act, but also a fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which the members have taken oath to bear true faith and allegiance.

A voter-appellant wanted to know the progress/status of developments in the Parliamentary constituency of Madhubani under Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in Khatauna block of Madhubani district, Bihar. The voter has every right under the RTI to know about selection of works, progress, incomplete works, the delay, reasons thereof and possible time of their completion.

The CPIO and First Appellate Authority failed to respond. He sought CIC to impose penalty against refusal. He asked, if the CPIO of the Ministry does not respond, whom should he ask? Whether MP or his party would answer me?

It is pertinent to note that from the tax payers money, each parliamentarian is getting Rs 5 crore per annum, besides all his primary and VVIP standard facilities. Each Member of Parliament is privileged to allocate from his Rs 5 crore annual fund for the developmental activities in his constituency which is called Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Under this scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest various works in his constituency to the District Collector to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum. The representatives of the Ministry stated that actual progress on the field could be ascertained by the local authorities like District Magistrate and his subordinates. Regarding how the works were chosen, the officers said that it was totally in the discretion of the MP concerned and no authority could intervene in it.

The voters also should know how the works were selected. This information is partly held by the Ministry for program implementation, District Collectors/Magistrates in the Constituency, the MP, his legislature party and the original political party, if they have any guidelines or policy regarding allocation of funds for the works in the constituencies. All of these authorities have a duty to answer to the voter-citizen.

As the BJP, the ruling party of the Government of India, proclaimed its commitment to transparency and clean government, the Commission recommends to voluntarily disclose the criterion for selection of works under MPLADS along with constitution wise works list and their progress with regular updating on the official website/websites of the party or Legislature Party or individual MPs, if they have any, to fulfil their democratic obligation to inform the voters of India, within reasonable time.

The Commission invited the views/contentions of the Government Chief Whip, the leader, and deputy leader (LS) of BJP, or any other authorised representative as to why the BJP Parliamentary Party should not be declared as public authority under 2(h) of RTI Act, 2005. This invitation was extended to all political parties and public spirited bodies. While people unanimously wanted them to be public authorities, the political parties chose to be silent.

In principle, every legislature/parliamentary party shall be considered as public authority. Either because of RTI Act, or because of their Constitutional obligation to give good governance or because of their oath under the Constitution, every legislator and their group called Legislature/Parliamentary Party or their Original Political Party as defined under the Constitution (Tenth Schedule), have moral, legal and constitutional obligation to disclose at least the MPLADS related information on their own under Section 4(1). The Commission recommended every legislator fulfil this obligation as they have promised this nation to work as per the Constitution.

After CIC intervention, the Ministry and other offices gave appellant a bunch of papers. However, CIC directed the Ministry to pay a token compensation of Rs 1,000 to the appellant for depriving him of his rightful information and compelling him to file this second appeal.

The Commission referred to status of funding in Bihar from the website concerned and submissions. As on October 16, 2017, in the year 2017-18, among Bihar Lok Sabha constituencies, Rs 12.5 crore was used out of Rs 200 crore entitlement and among Rajya Sabha MPs entitlement Rs 5 crore was released out of Rs 80 crore. In 2016-17, Rs 87.5 crore was released out of Rs 200 crore entitlement for Lok Sabha MPs, and for Rajya Sabha MPs, only Rs 25 crore is released out of Rs 80 crore entitlement.

In Delhi, the utility of MPLADS by MPs of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha is zero in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 as on October 16, 2017, against entitlement of Rs 35 crore for Lok Sabha and Rs 10 crore for Rajya Sabha MPs. Rs 1620 crore was released/utilised out of total fund of Rs 2725 crore entitled under MPLADS scheme for MPs in Lok Sabha, Rs 673 crore out Rs 1,225 crore was released/utilised for MPs in Rajya Sabha in 37 states/UTs in 2016-17 as on October 16, 2017. Rs 370 crore was released/utilised out of total fund of Rs 2725 crore entitled under MPLAD Scheme for MPs in Lok Sabha, Rs 162 crore out 1,225 crore was released/utilised for MPs in Rajya Sabha in 37 states/UTs in 2017-18 as on October 16, 2017.

The tables given in the official website of MPLADS revealed the utility of the funds by MPs and need for their accountability and answerability. All district authorities shall also disclose the progress reports of the works in terms of percentage of completion, the work left out, and possible date of completion, in their respective websites to give effective meaning to the voters (including this applicant) right to know the progress of works in their constituency. In fact, this information forms part of Section 4(1)(b) of RTI Act.

As per the MPLAD Scheme, neither the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation nor the district administration of the MP concerned can answer the questions about non-utilisation of funds. In the interim order, it was explained that there is no answerability for MPs discretion power in accepting certain requests and rejecting the other regarding development works in their constituency. There is men, money and machinery but MPs do not have will to use all the money for the people of their constituency. In spite of having a system, mechanism and funds, most of the MPLADS funds are lying unutilised or underutilised. They spend hundreds of crores to get elected but surprisingly do not spend Rs 125 crores of MPLADS for those elected them. Its pathetic that certain Rajya Sabha MPs did not even choose the area where they could have spent money for development and thus there was no utilisation of funds at all.

Commission strongly recommended that the Legislature party of original political party having elected MPs in either of the houses own up the duty of 100 per cent proper utilisation of MPLADS funds by each MP besides being accountable and answerable to the voters under RTI Act.

(See decision dated October 18, 2017 in CIC/MOSPI/A/2017/176195, Vishnu Dev Bhandari V. PIO, M/o Statistics & Programme Implementation)

Sridhar Acharyulu is a law professor and a member of the Central Information Commission. Views are personal
Years before he walked into a Texas church and gunned down 26 Sunday worshippers on November 5, Devin Kelley proved capable of fearsome violence, convicted of fracturing his infant stepsons skull and accused of beating his dog with his fists.

In 2012, while stationed at an Air Force base in New Mexico, Kelley was court-martialed and sentenced to a years confinement for abusing his wife and child. The Air Forces chief prosecutor at the time told the media that Kelley broke his stepsons skull.

Two years later, soon after he was given a bad conduct discharge for his crime, Kelley was cited for animal cruelty after neighbours told police he viciously punched his dog outside his trailer home, according to a report from the El Paso County sheriffs office. Court records show the case was dismissed after he paid a fine.

His behavioural problems appear to have started much earlier. A former girlfriend said Kelley engaged in years of harassment, bordering on stalking, after a brief relationship nearly a decade ago, and classmates from his Texas hometown described a loner who became increasingly disturbed as a teenager.

Domestic problems may have triggered Sundays shooting, as well. Authorities said on Monday that he had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs but was not there on Sunday when Kelley opened fire.

There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws, Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters. Kelly was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after fleeing the church.



Harassment allegations

The former girlfriend, Brittany Adcock, said she dated Kelley nearly a decade ago, when he was 18 and she was only 13.

The relationship lasted for about four months, but Kelley would harass her with phone calls from blocked numbers and Facebook messages from fake accounts for years afterward, she said in an interview.

Adcock said she once called police to try to file a complaint and had to change her number to stop Kelleys calls.

He just started getting really weird, Adcock, now 22, said.

He last contacted Adcock about six months ago via Facebook, when he sent her a topless photo of someone else he had found online and appeared to think it was her, she said.

Kelley graduated from New Braunfels High School in Texas in 2009 and joined the Air Force soon thereafter, serving on a base in New Mexico. He and his first wife divorced in 2012, the same year of his court-martial, and he was discharged in 2014.

That year, he married Danielle Shields in Texas, and they lived in Colorado Springs for a time before returning to New Braunfels, according to public records. Attempts to reach Shields or her parents were unsuccessful.



Read more: Trump says Texas shooting due to 'mental health problem'

Mental health problems

Former schoolmates of Kelley said he may have had some mental health problems even as a teenager.

Reid Mosis, 26, who attended school in New Braunfels with Kelley from 6th through 9th grades, said in an interview that Kelley was always a bit of a loner.

I know his parents had him on heavy doses of meds in middle school, Mosis said. A lot of friends that knew him said he was too sick in the head to deal with by senior year of high school.

In recent years, Kelley shared posts on Facebook about atheism and his assault weapon, Mosis said. A cached photo of Kelleys Facebook page, which was deleted in the wake of the shooting, showed a photo of a rifle under which Kelley wrote, Shes a bad bitch.

Another New Braunfels native, Courtney Kleiber, said on Facebook she was close with Kelley in middle and high schools and that he had slowly changed from a normal kid into one with emotional or mental problems.

Over the years we all saw him change into something that he wasnt, she wrote. To be completely honest, Im really not surprised this happened, and I dont think anyone who knew him is very surprised either.

 Reuters
A former US serviceman who shot 26 worshipers to death during Sunday prayers on November 5 in Texas was embroiled in a domestic dispute with his in-laws and had sent threatening text messages to his wifes mother before the massacre, officials said Monday.

The Pentagon separately disclosed that it had failed to furnish information about the gunmans criminal record from his US Air Force service to a national database that should have prevented him from legally purchasing the firearms he bought.

The killer, Devin Kelley, 26, was convicted by court-martial of assaulting his first wife and step-son while serving in an Air Force logistics readiness unit and spent a year in detention before his bad-conduct discharge in 2014, according to the Pentagon.

The Air Force acknowledged on Monday that Kelleys 2012 conviction on two counts of domestic violence were never entered into the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) system, a U.S. government data bank used by licensed gun dealers for conducting background checks on firearms purchasers.

Federal law forbids anyone from selling or giving a gun to someone convicted of a crime involving domestic violence.

A sporting goods retail chain has said Kelley passed background checks when he bought a gun in 2016 and a second firearm the following year.

Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations San Antonio division, said there was nothing in the NCIC or two related databases that would have barred Kelley from legally buying any of three weapons police recovered from their investigation of the slayings.

Details of a background of violent, disturbing behavior emerged a day after Sundays rampage in southeastern Texas, which ranks as the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in the state and one of the five most lethal in modern US history.

Kelley was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after a failed attempt to make his getaway from the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, authorities said.

Stepping out of the church, Kelley was confronted and shot twice - in the leg and torso - by an armed area resident later identified as Stephen Willeford.

Still, Kelley managed to flee in a sport utility vehicle as Willeford waved down a passing motorist, Johnnie Langendorff, in a pickup truck. The two good Samaritans then chased after the suspect at high speeds, before the gunmans vehicle crashed in a ditch, authorities said.

Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, hailed Willeford as our Texas hero, crediting him with preventing further carnage. Authorities said Kelley had called his father during the pursuit to say he had been shot and might not survive.

It appeared family problems may have been a factor in Sundays bloodshed. Kelley was involved in a domestic dispute with the family of Danielle Shields, a woman he married in 2014, and the situation had flared up, according to officials and public records.

There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws, Martin told reporters outside the church on November 6. The mother-in-law attended the church ... she had received threatening text messages from him.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the family members were not in the church during Kelleys attack.

Martin put the number of victims killed in the attack at 26, including the unborn child of a pregnant woman who died. The dead otherwise ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years. Ten of the wounded in Texas remained in critical condition, officials said.



Violent tendencies

Wearing a black bullet-proof vest and skull mask, Kelley used a Ruder AR-556 semi-automatic rifle in the attack, authorities said. They recovered two other weapons, both handguns, from his vehicle.

The gunman walked up and down the church aisles shooting people on the ground in between the pews, according to a media report, David Brown, the son of one of the wounded survivors, 73-year-old Farida Brown, who was shot in both legs.

Brown said his mother told him the first shots came through the windows, then the assailant walked through the front door and started shooting, opening fire even at those diving on the floor for cover or attempting to flee.

Farida Brown was in the last pew, beside a woman who was shot multiple times, her son told the media.

She was pretty certain she was next, and her life was about to end. Then somebody with a gun showed up at the front of the church, caught the shooters attention. He left and that was the end of the ordeal, David Brown said.

The attack came about a month after a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting by a lone assailant in modern U.S. history.

Martin said investigators found hundreds of spent shell casings inside the church after the church, as well as 15 30-round ammunition magazines, all of them empty.

In rural Texas and in other states, gun ownership is a part of life, and Republican leaders for years have balked at gun control measures, arguing that responsible gun owners can help deter crime.

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott told the media, there was evidence that Kelley had mental health problems and had been denied a state gun permit.

Its clear this is a person who had violent tendencies, who had some challenges, Abbott said.

Abbott and other Republican politicians said the mass shooting did not influence their support of gun ownership by US citizens  the right to bear arms protected under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter that he will travel to Sutherland Springs on November 8 to meet with victims families and law enforcement.

This isnt a guns situation. I mean we could go into it but its a little bit soon, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters while on a trip to Asia. Fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise ... it would have been much worse.

Democrats renewed their call to restrict gun ownership.

How many more people must die at churches or concerts or schools before we stop letting the @NRA control this countrys gun policies, Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Twitter, referring to the powerful gun lobby the National Rifle Association.

The attack stunned Sutherland Springs, a community of about 400 people with just one blinking yellow traffic light. One family, the Holcombe, lost eight people from three generations in the attack, including Bryan Holcombe, an assistant pastor who was leading the service, a relative said.

John Stiles, a 76-year-old retired US Navy veteran, said he heard the shots from his home about 150 yards (137 m) away: My wife and I were looking for a peaceful and quiet place when we moved here but now that hasnt worked out.

 Reuters
Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on November 7 that Irans supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of direct military aggression, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

The supply of rockets to the Iran-allied rebel Houthi movement could constitute an act of war against the Kingdom, SPA quoted the crown prince as saying in a telephone call with the British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson.

Saudi air defence forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired towards Riyadh on Saturday by the Houthi militia which controls large parts of neighbouring Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in the countrys civil war.

Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as destructive and provocative and slanders.

In an interview with the media on November 6, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused the armed Lebanese Hezbollah group of firing the missile at Riyadh from Houthi-held territory.

With regards to the missile ... that was launched on Saudi territory, it was an Iranian missile launched by Hezbollah from territory occupied by the Houthis in Yemen.

He said the missile was similar to one launched in July at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and was manufactured in Iran, disassembled and smuggled into Yemen, then reassembled by the operatives of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah, then it was launched into Saudi Arabia.

In reaction to the missile, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday it would close all air, land and sea ports to the Arabian Peninsula country.

The move is likely to deepen a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that according to the United Nations has pushed some seven million people to the brink of famine and left nearly 900,000 infected with cholera.
High street fashion chain New Look was the latest retailer to warn of tough trading conditions for retailers as it swung to a loss in in its first half of the year.

The retailer, which is owned by South African investment group Brait, also announced the return of Alistair McGeorge to his previous post as executive chairman and the return of Danny Barasso to his previous role of UK & Ireland managing director.

New Look booked an underlying operating loss of 10.4million in the six months to September 23, compared to a 59.3million profit in the same period last year.

Falling sales: UK like-for-like sales were down 8.4 per cent in the period

UK like-for-like sales were down 8.4 per cent in the period, while total revenue fell 4.5 per cent to 686million. The group is also struggling under a 1.2billion debt mountain and is reportedly in talks with its lenders about restructuring.

The half-year results add to declining performances of other retailers like Next, which last week warned of a sales collapse in the run-up to Christmas.

Next chief executive Lord Wolfson said customers were buying only 'as and when they need'. His sentiments echo warnings issued by John Lewis and Debenhams last month.

Also, figures by the British Retail Consortium out today show Britons cut back their spending in non-food retailers in October, leading them to their worst performance since 2011.

Clothing and footwear sales were particularly hard hit, and although the warm weather may have not helped, this was unlikely to be the only reason why stores have not sold clothes, according BRC and KPMG.

Alistair McGeorge, who has returned to the firm following the abrupt departure of chief executive Anders Kristiansen in September, said the results reflect a challenging retail environment on the UK high street.

The immediate focus in this period of transition will be to deliver stability and get the business back to basics by reconnecting with the New Look customer and recovering our broad appeal.

Whilst we're not anticipating a reversal in fortunes overnight, I am confident we will implement the necessary changes to get the company back on track.
DECATUR  Democrat Chris Kennedy, during a campaign stop Monday in Decatur, promoted himself as an anti-establishment candidate for Illinois governor.

Kennedys have always been oppositional to the entrenched interest, said Kennedy, noting his father, Sen. Robert Kennedy, ran against sitting President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his uncle, Ted Kennedy, had a primary challenge against President Jimmy Carter. We love the Democratic Party, but we love America more.

The stop in Decatur was brief, with Kennedy in town to grab lunch at Pacos Sol Bistro and meet with a handful of local supporters before heading to a candidate forum Monday night in Urbana. The stop marked a return for Kennedy to his first home in Illinois.

After graduating from Boston College in 1986, Kennedy moved to Decatur to work at Archer Daniels Midland Co.

With an interest in combating world hunger, Kennedy said he wanted to work at ADM so he could learn more about how food was grown and distributed." A search for a phone number eventually led Kennedy Dwayne Andreas, the longtime chairman and CEO of ADM and a prolific donor to political causes, who eventually hired the fresh-faced Kennedy and placed him in the companys training program.

From there, Kennedy would set his roots in Chicago, later becoming chairman of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, president of Merchandise Mart Properties in Chicago and chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Though he was in Decatur for less than a year, Kennedy said he enjoyed his experience. Yet, when he visits now, Kennedy says he finds a region that has started to lose faith in the American dream.

To turn that around, Kennedy promised that he is the lone candidate who would take on his own party, as well as incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner, in order to root out corruption and take the state in the direction it needs to thrive.

Kennedy is seeking the Democratic nomination in the spring in a crowded field that includes state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston; Madison County Regional Schools Superintendent Bod Daiber; Chicago community organizer Tio Hardiman; and J.B. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune.

Jeanne Ives, a Wheaton Republican lawmaker, also has announced her plans to seek the GOP nomination against Rauner.

The candidates have raised more than $100 million in the past year combined. Kennedy put $250,100 in his campaign fund in March and another $250,000 more recently.

On Monday, Kennedy railed against lawmakers such as House Speaker Michael Madigan who serve in the General Assembly in addition to working as property tax appeal lawyers. He spoke at length about how he hoped to make it illegal for lawmakers to hold such positions, saying such practices harmed children and increased property taxes on the community.

Our elected officials, a handful not all of them, are making money on a system that is dooming our children to a life of economic servitude, destroying our economy, pushing our kids so that they may not be able to remain in our communities, and destroying the future of our state, Kennedy said.

An October Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll showed Pritzker up 39 percent to 15 percent among the 1,154 likely Democratic primary voters surveyed. Kennedy on Monday said he expects his message of change will resonate with voters. He plans to start running television ads by January.

If you think its time to end the property tax racket, If you dont like people making money as elected officials with side jobs and destroying your kids future, raising the taxes on your house, wrecking your communities, then come help me out, Kennedy said.
MANZINI  A family was left baffled after a 30-member gang attacked them out of the blue.



Nomphumelelo Sihlongonyane of Galeni area in Lwandle; under Chief Nkamane, still lives in fear after an old vendetta took another twist on Sunday. Sihlongonyane said it was at around 8am when they were preparing to go to church when about 21 young men from Masekweni approached her home. She said the gang pelted the family members who were outside the house with stones and further insulted them.



While the family was still shocked at what was going on because the men did not state why they were assaulting them, one of the men only shouted that it was d-day for her family to die.



In a bid to scare the gang, Sihlongonyanes 16-year-old son tried to fight them but he was outnumbered. Meanwhile, another group emerged from another direction of the home. After a lengthy period of insults and stone throwing, Sihlongonyane said the mob retreated.



We thought it was over, not knowing that more people were still to come, she said. Later on, more men arrived armed and ready to fight. Then groups emerged from all directions surrounding the Sihlongonyane homestead. They allegedly threw stones at the main house smashing all its windows.



Even though they were outnumbered by the gang, Sihlongonyanes two sons were brave enough to face the furious men who forcefully entered the compound and wrecked havoc on all the property. All this time, the men allegedly threatened that they would kill everyone in the family.
MBABANE  Tell us when our bonuses will be paid or the whole country will be in darkness.



This was said by livid employees of the Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC) during a strike action that took place at the head office, Eluvatsini House, yesterday.



According to the employees, they had worked hard and deserved to earn the bonuses, especially because they did not receive the cost-of-living adjustment.



The employees defied a court order stopping the strike action. SEC management ran to court to try and stop the strike which was voted for by the employees during a meeting on Saturday.



From as early as 9am, employees had assembled before the Eluvatsini House where they demonstrated, demanding to see the companys Managing Director (MD) Meshack Kunene. There was strong police presence as they were monitoring the demonstration to ensure that there was no violence.



Just after 12:30pm, the MD came out in readiness to address the protestors who anxiously waited for him.

Before the MD could address them, employees told him what had brought them to the head office. The employees told Kunene point- blank that they had come to fetch their bonuses for the financial year 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. They said executive and management have been meeting regarding the matter with no solution.



According to the employees, they did not trust the management and wanted clarity from the MD.

Further, they told Kunene that it was all in his power to pay out the bonuses and its incumbent upon him to withdraw the 2015/2016 bonuses matter which was in court and settle it.
For the first time as US President, Donald Trump will be in Kim Jong Un's immediate neighborhood.

The US President landed in South Korea on Tuesday, his second stop in Asia on a nearly two week-long trip, where the standoff with North Korea is likely to loom large.

The threat posed by North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles has been a top foreign policy priority for the Trump administration. The worry is that should Pyongyang successfully pair the two technologies, the reclusive country would have the potential to launch a devastating strike against a US city.

In the South Korean capital Seoul, Trump will find people who have lived with that reality for decades.

"It's crucial for Trump to show that he's willing to defend and protect South Korea because there's a lot of questions and concerns on the part of South Koreans about his commitment to that alliance, and that has fed fears here in South Korea that they may be abandoned," said Jean Lee, a global fellow at the Wilson Center and former Pyongyang bureau chief for The Associated Press.

Seoul has sat in range of North Korean artillery since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953. Experts believe that if war were to resume on the Korean Peninsula, the city would see tens of thousands of people killed in the first hours.

Many in South Korea, especially those who carry more liberal views, worry Trump's heated rhetoric, mocking and name-calling of North Korea's leader is exacerbating that danger.

A spokesman for the South Korean President's office urged citizens to warmly welcome Trump, though a handful of protests have been organized ahead of the visit.

"If he comes in here rattling his saber and using that sort of militant rhetoric, it's going to go down very poorly because this is the place that suffers the consequences," said John Delury, a professor of international relations at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul.

Trump won't visit the heavily-fortified demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea -- foregoing what has been a symbolic opportunity for US commanders in chief to stare into the Hermit Kingdom -- declaring it a "little bit of a cliche."

'Trump's the wild card, not the reassurance guy'

By contrast, the South Korean government, led by President Moon Jae-in, will be looking to Trump for reassurance that the two countries are in this together, according to Van Jackson, a strategy fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

"Trump's visit is a huge variable. It's a great opportunity to show a unity of purpose against North Korea and reinforce the larger US commitment to Asia, but there's also a risk of provoking North Korea," Jackson told CNN in an email.

"We should brace for more heated rhetoric and some attempt to reassure South Korea. For most presidents, those tasks would not be mutually exclusive. The problem is Trump's the wild card, not the reassurance guy."

When he arrived at Camp Humphreys outside Seoul, Trump met with his South Korean counterpart and spoke to service members from both countries. He is later expected to address the National Assembly in Seoul, according to the White House.

Trump's first Asia stop was in Tokyo, where he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Those two have developed a good rapport and both share a hawkish stance toward Pyongyang.

Despite the fact that both the United States and South Korea continually stress the importance of their enduring alliance, Trump and Moon don't appear to share as close a relationship as Trump and his Japanese counterpart do.

Moon favors more engagement with Pyongyang and Trump's hard-line public stance on North Korea has added to the perception that a rift has opened up between the two men.

"Hopefully Trump visiting Korea will give him greater appreciation of what's at stake in Korea in a human and war fighting sense if things go awry," said Jackson of Victoria University.

Arms race

Trump will also come face-to-face with a South Korean public concerned they're being bypassed in the decision-making process when it comes to North Korea policy, according to Lee.

Those security fears have helped fuel a once-niche belief that is now gaining popularity: that South Korea needs its own nuclear weapons if it can't rely on the United States, though Moon has publicly ruled out that possibility.

A Gallup survey in September found 60% of South Koreans supported some form of nuclear capability for the country. At present, South Korea is defended by the US nuclear umbrella, a guarantee by Washington to defend the country in the wake of an attack.

"This is reflective of the sense of insecurity on the part of the South Koreans that they don't have that protection from the United States and the United States may be more willing under President Trump to really throw them under the bus," Lee said.

Trump is also seeking to renegotiate the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which experts believe could further strain the alliance at a time when they should be showing unity and resolve.

Quiet in Pyongyang?

Although Pyongyang has revived a threat to test a hydrogen bomb above the Pacific, the country has been relatively quiet when it comes to actions the United States considers particularly provocative: testing missiles and nuclear weapons.

Though Trump's visit would be an opportune time for Pyongyang to remind the world of its weapons program, experts were loath to make predictions about Kim Jong Un's intentions.

"They've been bathing in Trump's attention all year and I think they know that they are kind of the center of his trip. I think they will be tempted to act somehow to kind of remind everyone that they are an independent actor here and you can't just go to everyone around the neighborhood," Delury said. "Whether that means a missile test I don't know."

The US has been flexing its naval muscles in the region ahead of Trump's visit with three aircraft carriers conducting exercises in the Pacific for the first time since 2007.

Delury said, with Pyongyang quiet, US military maneuvers risk putting Washington in the role of provocateur.

"This is why Trump needs to show that they're serious about diplomacy and they're not just practicing gunboat diplomacy or aircraft carrier diplomacy," Delury said.

CNN'S James Griffiths and Brad Lendon contributed to this report
Dr. Roach Writes: It is nearly flu season, and I want to discuss the options for vaccines available this year in North America. I do not recommend the nasal vaccine, as expert groups have questioned its effectiveness. There are seven influenza vaccines available.

For most people, any vaccine is acceptable. The usual flu shot offered at your doctor or pharmacy most likely is the standard-dose trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine. The trivalent protects against three strains of flu expected to be prevalent (two "A" strains and one "B" strain), whereas the quadrivalent adds a second "B" strain. If both are available, I'd recommend the quadrivalent, but don't skip the trivalent if that's the only one available.

Adults older than 65 may benefit more from the high-dose trivalent vaccine (Fluzone High-Dose) or from Fluad, which contains an adjuvant (a substance added to the vaccine to make it work better). Adults age 18-64 with fear of needles might consider the intradermal low-dose quadrivalent vaccine (Fluzone intradermal). This uses a tiny (1.5-mm), ultra-thin needle. Another option for people with needle phobia is the standard trivalent vaccine (Afluria) using a jet injector device. (It is like the hypospray in "Star Trek." I have yet to talk to anyone who has gotten this, so please write me with your experience if you get this.) People with severe egg allergies can get the Flucelvax, produced in cultured mammalian cells, not eggs, or Flublok, made with recombinant DNA technology, which comes in both trivalent and quadrivalent.

That's a lot of choices, but the bottom line is that any of the approved vaccines will give some protection against the flu, which is always an unpleasant experience but can be a life-threatening illness: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 12,000 to 56,000 deaths from flu in the U.S. each year. Most of these are in people who are not vaccinated.

* * *

Diabetes has become epidemic in North America. The booklet on it provides insight on its diagnosis and treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 402, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL, 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
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When the Rev. Philip Allen heard about the church massacre in Sutherland Springs, his mind thought back to a Sunday morning three years ago.

That was the day a deranged man burst into Mass at St. Mary's Church in tiny Indian Lake and headed for Allen at the altar. The man was reaching for a pistol when parishioners at the Catholic church tackled him, perhaps saving the priest's life.

The rural Adirondack community seemed an unlikely place for violence. The gunman targeted St. Mary's randomly.

"It just happened to be near where he lived, and there were people there," Allen said. "He was angry that day."

Had the circumstances been different, had the Indian Lake gunman been faster on the draw or armed with more potent weaponry, the result could have been more tragic. It might have resembled what happened in Sutherland Springs, a speck on the Texas prairie.

Authorities say 26 people, including many children, were killed during the Sunday rampage, which happened five weeks after 58 people were killed by a shooter at a country-music festival in Las Vegas.

At first glance, a concert attended by 20,000 might not seem to have much in common with a small gathering in a country church. But they share something important.

Concerts and churches are among the places we go to connect with something greater than ourselves  where we gather to be part of a community and experience joy.

Which is exactly what makes them so attractive to losers with guns.

I know that the next few paragraphs are out of sync with the Christian forgiveness expressed so beautifully by the families of those killed two years ago at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling that right now. I am incensed at these pathetic outcasts who kill. I don't want to learn their names. I don't want to learn about their supposed motivations. I don't want to see their awful faces.

We know full well who these failures are, and we shouldn't grant them their sought-after moment of fame and glory. They are pieces of toiler paper stuck to the heel of civilization. They are boys who failed to launch and become men.

They are weaklings who shoot to feel empowered. They are misanthropes jealous of happiness. The Sutherland Springs killer massacred children, for God's sake.

It says nothing good about our society that we seem to be producing more of these wounded egoists. Although the power of modern weaponry is terrifying and obviously dangerous, I'm more worried about why more people are choosing to kill this way than the method they choose to use.

Unfortunately, that question  why?  is so difficult to answer. There is no easy solution. Guns and other weapons aren't going away.

But I'm pretty sure that gathering together, be it for fun or worship, is an antidote to rage and isolation. It is a way we can return to health.

So we have to keep gathering. If we let fear keep us from concerts, churches, movies and fairs, we'll be a country with more anger and less joy. If our interactions continue to become more virtual and less personal, we risk fueling the isolation and despair that seems to produce mass killers.

It helps to remember that our country is much less murderous today than during recent decades. We are safer  even if high-profile massacres at concerts, churches, malls and schools make it feel as though everything is spinning beyond control.

I'm not a regular churchgoer, but I've been to enough religious services to know that they are places of warmth and kindness. They are also defenseless, almost by definition.

How can you love strangers if you are suspicious of them? How can you invite outsiders if the doors are locked or guarded?

"We welcome everybody," said the Rev. Allen, who noted that little changed at St. Mary's after the attack in the summer of 2014.

"It's a whole change in society that's needed," he said. "We need better ways of dealing with angry people."

Allen said anger is addictive and, for some, seductive. It is easier than kindness or forgiveness.

The man who barged into St. Mary's died as he thrashed around while being restrained. Allen spoke of him sympathetically and expressed sorrow for his family.

I asked the priest how often he thinks of that morning.

"All the time," Allen said. "It's part of my life."

Mass killings have become part of all our lives. Our hearts sink when we hear the news. We live with low-grade fear. We look warily around the mall or movie theater.

We wonder which town will be the next to grieve. We feel powerless to make it stop. We wait for another slaughter with dread.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Every step and each conversation take police closer to finding Tammie McCormick and closing a 25-year-old missing persons case, city police Sgt. John Catone said Friday.

Catone and Investigator Glen Vidnansky, working with the State Police, discovered information last year that led them to a suspect, former correction officer Arthur Mason Slaybaugh II, who is now deceased. Through the course of the investigation, the police have talked to 100 people, each one filling in blanks and corroborating others' stories.

It's been a longer process than Catone anticipated, he said, but worth the trips to Vermont, Buffalo, Fulton County and, most recently, Arkansas and Jacksonville, Fla. A file that once fit into a slender manila folder now fills four thick binders.

"As long as the information you're gathering is pointing in the same direction, it's worth it," he said.

Tammie was 13 when she left her home on Deerleap Place in Geyser Crest in April 1986 and never came home.

Tammie's mother, Nancy Hieber, has been working with police. Some of Tammie's siblings still live in the Geyser Crest neighborhood.

Although police consider Slaybaugh a suspect, Hieber said because the evidence gathered so far is circumstantial, she isn't ready to think of anyone as a suspect.

"There are still leads to digest. The important part is to stay focused on the information coming in," Hieber said Friday.

Some said at the time Tammie made it to the city's junior high school, where she was in the seventh grade. Others say she never showed up. Catone said he now knows she went to Slaybaugh's apartment near Brown's Beach on Saratoga Lake. The interviews he and the other investigators are doing now center on where Slaybaugh hid the girl's body after he allegedly killed her.

Slaybaugh was 41 when he died in 2001 of a heart attack. He left behind children, brothers and sisters who have been upset by the investigation.

Catone said the investigators still have five or six people left to interview, and then they need to figure out a logical way to search for Tammie's body in an area that could include 1,000 acres near the lake.

"It's not a matter of grabbing a shovel and a backhoe and going out," he said.

A search is not likely until the fall, Catone said.

Hornbeck can be reached at 454-5352 or by email at lhornbeck@timesunion.com.
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Colonie

Donna Lavender clutched her walker, stood over a grave in the Norwalk, Conn., cemetery and studied the name carved in stone.

Lavender did not know what to feel. There was a moment of disorientation, a tinge of numbness. Gradually, she was suffused by a profound sense of peace. This was the final leg of a long journey of discovery that spanned nine decades. She finally knew the whole truth.

The grave belonged to Lavender's biological mother, an unwed teenage girl who in 1931 surrendered to an orphanage an infant she had named Audrey Grace. The baby was left at the Lund Home in South Burlington, Vt., founded in 1890 as the Home for Friendless Women.

More Information Contact Paul Grondahl at grondahlpaul@gmail.com See More Collapse

Teen pregnancy was taboo in that time and place, and the truth got buried in the small Vermont town.

"How could I be mad at her?" asked Lavender, 86, a retired minister in the United Methodist Church who lives in Colonie. "She gave me life, after all."

A childless couple, Guy and Grace LaFrancis, adopted the 2-month-old girl and brought her home Oct. 1 that year. They named her Donna. They told her she was born Sept. 27, 1931, to Grace, who was 40. Guy was 42. The couple repeatedly denied she was adopted. So did her adoptive parents' relatives.

They lived on a small farm in Poultney, Vt., and her father worked as a butcher. Donna attended a nearby one-room schoolhouse. A girl in her class teased Donna about being adopted. They argued. The girl's parents said Donna was adopted because her mother was never visibly pregnant.

When she got home, Donna confronted her mother with the revelation. "Oh, she's just jealous of you because you can play piano and sing," her mother replied.

Lavender grew up believing the false narrative. She was an only child. She studied the piano. She never questioned why she was brown-eyed and raven-haired, while her parents were both blue-eyed and fair-skinned. An invalid aunt and grandmother who lived in their house never betrayed the secret.

"I accepted it as it was," Donna recalled.

After graduating from Poultney High School, she studied music at Green Mountain College a few blocks from home. She worked as a waitress at the college during summer conferences. One morning, she played a Mozart concerto on a piano outside the cafeteria. A young minister attending a clerics conference was drawn to the source of the music. It was love at first sound.

Donna LaFrancis and the Rev. Melvin Lavender of Troy were married two months later. They wanted to be sure that Donna's father, who was in the final stages of terminal cancer, could witness the wedding. "It happened so fast, but I just felt right about it," she said.

Their family grew to four, a girl and three boys. He served as a United Methodist pastor at churches in Rotterdam Junction, Valley Falls, Argyle, Fort Plain and Cohoes. He also helped run his father's Troy bookstore, Lavender's Bookshop, which closed in 1973 after 47 years.

When she was 39, Donna Lavender needed to fill out paperwork that required a birth certificate. She didn't have one and called the vital records department in Burlington, Vt. She gave her birth date as Sept. 27, 1931. The clerk put Lavender on hold. She returned and said, "Your birth date is July 24." Lavender insisted there was some mistake. The clerk reviewed the document, paused and said, "You do realize this is an adoption, don't you?"

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the telephone line.

Lavender did not confront her mother, who was 79 years old at the time. She died at 93 and never discussed it. Lavender chose not to probe the secret.

"Grace LaFrancis was a formidable woman. You didn't question her," said Donna's daughter, Carol, who lives in Hudson and runs a thrift shop, The Second Show.

Lavender studied to become a minister and served as a choir and music director at several churches. She helped out with her husband's pastor assignments. She is a mother of four, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of five. Her husband died in 2012 at 95. Last summer, her son, Stephen, a high school music teacher who lives in Lancaster, Pa., decided to search the internet for information on Lavender's biological mother. He eventually tracked down the siblings her mother had never known. On her 86th birthday, the actual one, July 24, her son called her on the phone.

"Are you sitting down?" he said. "I've found your family."

Donna first met an aunt in Vermont named Dolly. "I always wondered where you were," her aunt said. She learned as a teenager there was a baby born out of wedlock.

Her biological mother grew up dirt-poor in Jericho, Vt., married twice and had four children. She was remembered as a hard-working and dutiful maternal presence. Lavender wished to protect her privacy and asked me not to reveal her name.

She met her other siblings, including Harry Rilling, the Democratic mayor of Norwalk, Conn., and the city's former police chief.

"They've been so welcoming to me," Lavender said. "They've brought a lot of joy to me, late in life."

She talks almost nightly to her Aunt Dolly. They are planning more family gatherings.

"It has rejuvenated my mother," Donna said.

"It's a miracle," Lavender said. "Or, as I like to call it, a God incident."

Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com.
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Polls are now closed across the Capital Region and the state, and the tallies have started.

Scores of local government seats are in the balance, as are three statewide propositions and the proposal to change Saratoga Springs' charter.

Turnout appeared to be strong Tuesday in Capital Region communities including Saratoga Springs, where both a mayoral race and a contentious charter vote were on the ballot.

Colonie also saw early interest, as the town supervisor, clerk and town board seats were contested.

In the Spa City, Republican Mark Baker and Democrat Meg Kelly are opposed in their quest to succeed Democrat Mayor Joanne Yepsen.

Polling places have been steady with more 50 percent of voters weighing in by 4 p.m.

"It's been busy," said poll worker Robert Naples in district six.

There have been complaints by some Saratoga Springs voters about a group of Skidmore College students at the City Center taking an exit poll. Bill Fruci, county commissioner of elections, said they fielded about six complaints saying the students were not standing 100 feet away from the polling location.

"I think we have it settled now," Fruci said.

Meanwhile, supporters of charter change were at the main intersection of Broadway and Lake Avenue with signs reading "Vote Yes."

In mid-afternoon North Greenbush Democrats said there were problems with the layout of the ballot for Rensselaer County Legislature and that 40 ballots had to be recast. East Greenbush election officials were noticing the same issue.

Turnout also was strong in the city of Rensselaer where the longtime mayor faced a challenge. Other cities voting are Mechanicville, with a mayoral race, and council races in Troy and Schenectady.

Voting was brisk Tuesday in Colonie, where Supervisor Paula Mahan faced a challenge from Albany County Legislator Frank Mauriello as she tries to retain her seat.

Mahan, a Democrat, is going for her sixth two-year term against Mauriello, a Republican who is a longtime county lawmaker.

At Sand Creek Middle School in Colonie, turnout was much higher than in neighboring Albany, where Mayor Kathy Sheehan, a Democrat, is expected to easily win re-election in a city dominated by her party.

By 8:50 a.m., 91 people had voted at the Colonie polling place. Poll workers said voters did not seem to be confused about the need to flip the ballot to vote on whether to hold a state Constitutional Convention and other ballot initiatives.

Turnout was steady and matched the turnout expect during a year when voters casting ballots in local government races, said poll workers in East Greenbush  one of the Rensselaer County communities where voters will choose among Republican Steve McLaughlin, Democrat Andrea Smyth and the Green Party's Wayne Foy in the county executive's race.

At one Albany polling place, the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Ontario Street, turnout was low during the early morning, a time when it is usually highest.

A poll worker said only about 12 people had voted by 8 a.m., a lower number than expected even in a non-presidential election year.

Voters across the Capital Region cast ballots in a number of hotly contested races:

Supervisor hopefuls vie in towns including Malta, Wilton, Moreau, Guilderland, Bethlehem, Knox and Milton.

In Rensselaer County, McLaughlin, Smyth and Foy are battling to succeed Kathy Jimino as county executive.

Sheehan has three rivals, but all appear on third-party lines. Nine of the 15 Common Council races are more contested, with choices for treasurer, auditor and judge on the ballot. Supervisor seats are up for grabs in Guilderland, Colonie, Bethlehem, Knox and Coeymans.

Niskayuna Supervisor Joe Landry faced newcomer Yasmine Syed. Rotterdam and Princetown supervisor candidates did battle. Schenectady residents decide on three city council seats, and a county legislative seat is in play.
ALBANY  Will gun control supplant abortion rights as the primary wedge issue in the ongoing battle for control of the New York State Senate?

The chamber's fractured Democrats have long campaigned against Republicans for their refusal to codify abortion rights in state law. The issue has been a rallying cry for many Democratic voters for years; Republicans, fearful of upsetting conservative members of their base, havent allowed a full abortion rights measure to come to a vote.

But in the wake of recent mass shootings, including Sundays murder of 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Democrats are poised to renew their push for tougher gun laws when Januarys legislative session begins.

And it's possible that gun control may take center stage in what will likely be an ongoing debate between Democrats and Republicans.

This legislation would already be in law if the Senate were run by the Democratic majority the voters elected, the chamber's Democratic Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins said this week, referring to a bill that she said would let law enforcement officers temporarily confiscate firearms from homes where domestic violence has taken place.

Soon after Texas gunman Devin Kelley opened fire inside a Baptist church Sunday, it was revealed that he had been court-martialed and given a bad-conduct discharge from the Air Force for assaulting his wife and fracturing the skull of his stepson, a toddler at the time.

That prompted Manhattan Democratic Sen. Brad Hoylman to reintroduce his plan for a domestic violence gun-confiscation bill, a measure that never got out of committee during the 2017 session.

Hoylman has also called for a ban on "bump stocks" which can increase the rate of fire from an assault-style rifle. Such a device was used in October by gunman Stephen Paddock, who killed 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas.

Stewart-Cousins reference to a Democratic majority was a slap at the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference, as well as Brooklyn Sen. Simcha Felder. Both Felder and the IDC are aligned with the Republicans, who are technically outnumbered by Democrats 31-32 but have managed to maintain control of the chamber.

Gun control advocates bemoaned the partisan divide over the issue. "It's problematic that political partisanship has prevented progress for the past several years," said Rebecca Fischer, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

Still, if history is a predictor, Senate Republicans will likely reject tougher gun control laws. Many represent rural upstate districts where there are significant numbers of hunters and gun enthusiasts. A number of GOP senators have pointed to their opposition to the 2013 SAFE Act gun control law as proof of their Second Amendment bona fides.

The issue follows geographic lines, though. Senate Republican Majority Leader John Flanagan for example, voted for the SAFE Act along with fellow members of the suburban Long Island coalition.

The SAFE Act was pushed through by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting in which 26 children and six adults were killed.

While popular in many urban and suburban areas, its expansion of the ban on assault-style weapons and other changes continue to enrage Second Amendment purists, who have proven to be a cohesive voting bloc in upstate senate races.

At least one Republican, Sen. George Amedore of Rotterdam, in 2014 attributed his win in a close race for the 46th District in part to his opposition to the SAFE Act.

"It's still a very unpopular law," among many gun owners, said Tom King, president of the state Rifle and Pistol Association.

And others have been quick to highlight what theyve done to combat the law. Oneonta Republican Sen. Jim Seward, for example, was eager to announce a 2015 agreement in which the Cuomo administration and Senate Republicans agreed to essentially freeze development of an ammunition database that was supposed to be created as part of the SAFE Act. The gun manufacturer Remington Arms has a plant in Seward's district.

Still, with polls showing a majority of those in New York City and its suburbs supporting the SAFE Act, Senate Democrats heading into the 2018 elections will likely push for more gun control, both because their constituents want it and because it can serve as a potent tool for motivating voters.

And Republicans, cognizant of the lingering anger over the SAFE Act, will likely resist that call.

Its part of their platform now, King said of the Democrats.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
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Federal prosecutors are seeking to use campaign contributions to Gov. Andrew Cuomo as evidence in the upcoming corruption trial of a former top Cuomo aide and three others.

"The government does not contend, and will not argue, that the campaign contributions were unlawful," acting Manhattan U.S. District Attorney Joon Kim wrote in a recent filing in U.S. District Court. "However, the defendants' contributions are highly probative evidence of the genesis and evolution" of relationships between alleged co-conspirator Joe Percoco, a former top Cuomo aide, and lobbyist Todd Howe, who has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government, Kim added.

Federal prosecutors are seeking to use the evidence at the upcoming trial of Percoco and two executives of the Syracuse firm COR Development, as well as Peter Kelly, a former official at Competitive Power Ventures, which is based in Maryland. Percoco is charged with taking bribes from the companies in exchange for government favors.

Kim wrote that campaign contributions were a critical part of the relationship between the alleged co-conspirators. At the trial, the government said it intends to show that the COR executives made contributions to Cuomo to "strengthen connections with the office of the governor and its senior officials, which they believed would, in turn, lead to benefits and opportunities."

The government alleges Percoco made specific requests to Howe for COR officials to contribute to the Cuomo campaign, which were passed along by Howe.

"Percoco knew, including through Percoco's awareness of the general number and size of the campaign contributions made by [COR], that the Syracuse defendants were eager to increase their influence ... and he believed that they would therefore be willing to pay him bribes in exchange for helpful state action," Kim wrote. "As a result, when Howe suggested, on or about January 15, 2014, that Percoco could give Aiello a role in influencing the governor's upcoming reelection campaign as it related to Syracuse, Percoco responded, 'only if that other thing happens!' referring to his expectation that the Syracuse developer would pay him personally."

Kim's office also says Kelly arranged for CPV to make multiple contributions to the Cuomo campaign to ingratiate himself to Percoco and the governor's office. In addition, Kelly arranged at Percoco's request for CPV to provide a private jet to transport Cuomo to campaign events in the days before Cuomo won election as governor in November 2010, according to Kim.

All eight defendants  in two separate but related upcoming trials  have maintained their innocence. Cuomo's office has repeatedly said that campaign contributions never influence administration policies.
State Police credited social media after a man they say stole Red Bull several times from supermarkets turned himself in.

Donald J. Gendron III, 32, of Schroon Lake faces four counts of petit larceny. Police investigated for several months after four larcenies of a large amount of Red Bull from two local Price Chopper supermarkets between July and October.
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TROY  Convicted killer Joseph Vandenburgh was resentenced Monday in Rensselaer County Court at the request of the state due to missing paperwork.

Vandenburgh was brought to court by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision from the Elmira State Correctional Facility to be resentenced to a 25-years-to-life prison term for stabbing William Chamberlain to death while he was walking his dog the week before Christmas 2015.

DOCCS is required by state law to review an inmates sentence to ensure it complies with the law. If the agency finds the legal requirements arent met, the agency has to write the court to request the inmate be resentenced to comply with the statute.

Monday morning's proceeding was necessary because Vandenburgh's file was missing the 30-year-olds 2007 conviction for first-degree burglary, a violent felony. The document was necessary for his sentencing as a repeat violent felon, and also impacted the charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Judge Debra Young, who received the letter from DOCCS regarding Vandenburgh, handled the resentencing.

District Attorney Joel Abelove presented the certificate of conviction for Vandenburgh. Outside the courtroom, Abelove said this was done since Vandenburgh had refused to admit to the prior conviction. The district attorney said the certificate resolved the paperwork issue.

Young resentenced Vandenburgh to 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and seven years for the weapons charge, running concurrently.

The judge asked Vandenburgh if he wanted to speak at the resentencing. He shook his head no  similar to his response when asked the same question at his initial July 21 sentencing.

Vandenburgh was out on parole from Mid-State Correctional Facility when he killed Chamberlain, 56, by stabbing him at least 25 times the night of Dec. 17, 2015. Vandenburgh jumped Chamberlain down the street from his Wynantskill home as he walked his dog. When the dog came home alone, Nancy Chamberlain went searching for her husband and found his body about a block away.

Defense attorney Danielle Neroni said Vandenburgh "is looking forward to his appeal."

He will be eligible for parole in 2041.

Chamblerain was involved in much of the city's day-to-day operations. John Salka, a spokesman for Mayor Patrick Madden, said the city would consult with the Chamberlain family on a suitable remembrance.
Photo courtesy of the Albany County Sheriff's Office

ALBANY - A Watervliet man is facing up to 12 years in prison after bringing an elderly person with a "decreased mental state" to a bank to withdraw thousands of dollars for him.

Frank Chrysler, 49, pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny as a hate crime for his role in bringing the elderly victim to the bank to withdraw money, which he then took without permission, according to Albany County District Attorney David Soares.
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Erika Hurt had become the face of drug addiction.

The young mother was captured in a photograph by police, passed out in the driver's seat of her car outside a Dollar General store in Hope, Indiana - an empty syringe still resting between the 25-year-old addict's fingers.

The snapshot captured yet another horrifying moment in the worsening U.S. opioid epidemic.

What was not seen that Saturday afternoon last October was her 10-month-old son, buckled into his car seat in the back.

When Hurt first saw the photo, she was humiliated.

"I was angry and I wanted to blame the police for putting my business out there and showing the world my private addiction and everything like that," she told NBC News, a year after the image went viral.

But the photo, she said, eventually had a sobering effect.

"I'm thankful now that the cop did take the picture. The fact that I'm able to look back on that picture and see where the addiction had taken me, and I'm able to use that picture now to show others that addicts can recover."

Hurt reposted the picture over on Facebook to celebrate one year of sobriety.

"I've decided to repost the picture simply because it displays exactly what heroin addiction is," she wrote. "Also because I do not want to ever forget where the road of addiction has taken me.

"Little did I know that day, my life was about to change, drastically. Today, I am able to focus on the good that came from that picture. Today, I am a mother to my son, again. Today, I am able to be grateful to actually have solid proof where addiction will only lead you, and today I am able to say that I am ONE YEAR SOBER!"

Hurt could not immediately be reached for comment by The Washington Post.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, calling it the "worst drug crisis in American history" and vowing to focus the nation's attention on resolving it.

"As Americans, we cannot allow this to continue," he said. "It is time to liberate our communities from the scourge of drug addiction. We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic. We can do it."

Despite Trump's call to action, critics questioned the merits of his pronouncement, given that it did not include an immediate request to Congress for emergency funding.

"America is hemorrhaging lives by the day because of the opioid epidemic, but President Trump offered the country a Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet," said Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. Markey called the announcement "nothing more than a dog-and-pony show in an attempt to demonstrate the Trump administration is not ignoring this crisis."

Since 2014, more than 28,000 people in the United States have overdosed on opioids and died, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specifically, heroin overdose deaths have quadrupled since 2010, accounting for nearly 13,000 deaths in 2015, according to the data.

Behind the grim statistics are haunting scenes of overdosed victims - and the children affected by their parents' addictions.

Disturbing photographs and videos depicting scenes such as the one in which Hurt was found unconscious have become common as the epidemic rages.

In September 2016, a chilling photograph distributed by authorities captured the innocence lost on a 4-year-old's face in East Liverpool, Ohio, where a man and woman were seen slumped over after overdosing in a vehicle, the boy still strapped into his car seat in the back.

A week later and 600 miles away, at a Family Dollar store in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a hysterical toddler was captured on a cellphone video as she tried to wake her mother after an apparent drug overdose.

Hope Town Marshal Matt Tallent, who originally released the photo of Hurt, could not immediately be reached for comment.

But he told NBC News that he never intended to embarrass Hurt; he simply wanted to bring awareness to the public-health crisis.

"For this girl to have her life ripped up and then come back and be sober after everything that's happened to her, that's a story of success," Tallent told NBC.

Hurt had tried to get sober before - going through rehab only two weeks before her overdose photo spread across the internet, and then relapsing, she said.

In October 2016, she recalled, she was "miserable."

"I was driving home and I just knew that at some point, I wanted to use, because I didn't want to feel the pain that I was feeling," she told NBC this week.

"My son was asleep in his car seat," she said, "and I used the justification that he's too young. and he doesn't know what's going on if he does see me."

As The Post's Kristine Phillips reported, police believed Hurt had overdosed on heroin and was given two doses of Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses in emergency situations.

Hurt ended up in jail, where she said she first saw her photo, splashed across TV screens.

"I was just shocked, I was humiliated. I really had no words," she told NBC affiliate WTHR.

Now, she said, she is "very thankful that someone decided to capture that moment."

"I'd been struggling with addiction for a long time," she said, telling WTHR that she had been battling addition since she was 15, taking prescription painkillers for a staph infection. "I've been to the point where I was wanting to get clean and didn't know how. I was trying but always failing."

Being able to see what her addiction looked like has enabled her to overcome it, she said.

"Before, when I've relapsed, I've always forgotten where my addiction has taken me," she told NBC News. "I get so far away from that miserable state, and that's when I begin to start relapsing again. So I'm able to always have that picture in my mind and always look back at it to see that that's always where addiction is going to lead me."
An op-ed by Beverly Beckham of the Boston Globe in 2006 describes how it feels when your kids leave for college: "It's not a death. And it's not a tragedy, but it's not nothing either."

Boy, did I feel that as I packed up my beloved only child for her freshman year at New York University in the fall of 2016. A bright student with an impressive array of accomplishments on her applications, she'd had plenty of choices. We visited many colleges and I cheerfully assessed each one with an enthusiastic mom-like, "Oh, isn't this a gorgeous (read safe) campus!"

But the bright lights of the city that never sleeps had already captured my girl. I was petrified. She hedged her bets in the admissions game with one early decision application. Just before Christmas, the college gods smiled broadly upon my daughter and broke my heart just a little: Welcome to the NYU Class of 2020.

That she took to New York City like a fish to water is a gross understatement. She was delighted and thrilled with every aspect of it. No freshman blues coming from this kid. In fact, unless she was out of money, I rarely heard from her.

I felt guilty when I ran into friends in the grocery store telling me stories of their students crying on Skype every night. My daughter actually cried when I came to pick her up in May, so distraught was she to leave what she now called home. She had found her place, and I relaxed. She was safe, she knew her way around, she had made friends, she had done well in her courses. New York City was fine, NYU was great. I could breathe again. Until yesterday.

My phone started beeping last Tuesday at about 3:15 p.m. I was in a meeting so I hit the silencer. When I finally looked at it, I saw 15 missed calls. I listened to one message as a friend explained what had happened in the city just a half hour earlier. I glanced at the texts messages and other calls. Nothing from Lucy.

Beckham writes in her piece: "Always is what you miss. Always knowing where they are. At school. At play practice. At a ballgame. At a friend's. What she wore that day."

Always? I had no idea. She had gone off to her sophomore year so independently and so excitedly that I didn't even know her class schedule. I had a vague idea where her internship on Park Avenue was, but not much else.

I did, however, know that the location of this terrorist attack and the location of her dormitory were very close. I had a moment where I literally could not breathe. I started the bargaining and foxhole praying. Please God, not this.

I tried to find Lucy's class schedule but my hands were shaking so badly I couldn't log onto to the NYU portal. People continued to text, I continued to panic.

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At 4:24 the text came through "Hi Mom, I'm safe and I'm in class. I'll talk to you later." I wept with relief.

I would be disrespectful to all the families who experienced such agony for so long on 9/11 to even suggest that I "really get it now." I lost 40 coworkers on 9/11...I know a little bit about that pain. This was short and nothing like that. And the likelihood that Lucy would have been in that exact location at that time was slim.

Yet many of life's tragedies come about by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lucy takes long walks. She takes photos. She wanders the city. She could be anywhere.

And that's how it is when you're here and they're there. Always is what you miss.

Ellen S. Roesch is an Albany lawyer.
In four years Promise and Promiscuity has delicately romped all over the world from Stewart Island to Regina, Saskatchewan to Edinburgh to Adelaide to Bath. This one woman multi character musical has charmed and delighted thousands with its wit, innuendo and satirical sparkle.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a theatre scriptmust be in want of an audience. Charmingly accomplished Penny Ashton (Austen Found, Hot Pink Bits, Good Morning, Poetry Idol) mashes up the Regency, bonnets and big ballswith alacrity!

Follow the fortunes of Miss Elspeth Slowtree as she battles literary snobbery, her mothers nerves and Cousin Horatios digestions, all armed with a superior wit, excellent ukulele skills and generally being quite bright you know for a girl. Balls will be attended, crosses will be stitched and manners will be minded, all with not one ankle in sight. As Elizabeth Bennett herself says Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.

And so should you.

Featuring classical masterpieces, reworked by Robbie Ellis with lyrics by Penny Ashton, and 33 direct quotes of Jane Austens various books and letters.

In this year, the 200th anniversary of Jane Austens death, Nenagh Arts Centre is delighted to bring you the 5th great niece of Austens very own Limerick born flirtation, Thomas Langlois Lefroy, in her award winning one woman show.

At Nenagh Arts Centre on Friday 10th November at 8pm. Tickets 18/16.50 (plus 1 Booking Fee).
Tipperary Labour Party TD Alan Kelly has put pressure on his party leader to up the ante over the next six months or face a possible showdown.

However, the heat could be turned up on Deputy Kelly this Tuesday at the party's parliamentary party meeting when Deputy Howlin and his backers are expected to launch a scathing attack on the Tipperary TD over comments he made on national TV.

Deputy Kelly made his comments in a TV3 interview with Sarah McInerney this Sunday in which he said that while Brendan Howlin has his support, he would need to start improving the party's standing in the opinion polls.

Labour has languished between 4 per cent and 6 per cent in most polls since the 2016 general election and would seem to be relegated to the sidelines when it comes to having a major national profile.

Following the election, Deputy Kelly failed to get support to challenge Deputy Howlin for the party leadership when Joan Burton stood down.

However, it would appear he has either set his sights on the top job in the short to medium term for himself or will act as a stalking horse for another candidate. At no point did he threatened to seek a party leader contest if things don't improve.

Brendan Howlin has my support, however, however - let me say this very clearly - we need to see a dramatic change in how our support base is responding to us, he said on TV. We also need to see changes across a whole range of other issues.

Asked if he would give Mr Howlin six months to improve the partys performance, Mr Kelly said: I would say less than that.

He said: We need to see a dramatic change in the coming months for the support base of the Labour Party.

Deputy Kelly declined to make any further comment when asked by the national media.

After the interview a spokesperson for Deputy Howlin insisted all members of party should focus on pulling in the same direction.

Labour lost the majority of its TDs in the general election, going from 37 to just seven. However, it did pick up a number of Seanad seats and it is thought the party favours either Aodhan O'Riordan or Ged Nash to be the next leader. Both Limerick TD Jan O'Sullivan and Sen Nash came out on Monday and said that Mr Howlin was the party leader and that he would lead them into the next election.

The party also lost seats on Tipperary County Council, in the 2014 local elections, retaining just one with the election of Deputy Kelly's cousin Fiona Bonfield at the first time of asking.
A passenger in a black Audi estate suspected of being used in burglaries across Tipperary fired a gunshot over the head of a Garda detective this Monday, after the car was chased through Kildare.

The Audi estate - with a partial registration of 151 G - was suspected of being involved in a number of burglaries in the Cork and Tipperary area.

In one incident in New Inn a high-powered vehicle and a gun safe with three firearms was stolen.

The Audi was spotted driving at speed by Gardai around the Monasterevin area of Kildare at around 9.30pm this November 6.

The Gardai followed the car, stopping it at Larch Hill.

A man sitting in the front passenger seat got out of the car armed with a shotgun, and fired a shot over a detective's head.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

A number of armed Garda units were made aware of the incident and responded.

At 10.30pm, a silver Hyundai car was stopped at Pollardstown in Newbridge.

Three men - aged 23, 27 and 32 years of age - were arrested and are currently in custody in Portlaoise and Tullamore Garda stations.

The latest incident comes as Gardai are battling to curb a renewed blitz of rural burglaries conducted by Dublin-based crime gangs.

More than 40 burglaries have been recorded in one area of Cork since mid-October with suspected burglaries by Dublin gangs also taking place in Tipperary, Waterford, Limerick, Offaly, Laois and Kilkenny.

The Tipperary Star revealed last week that a special anti-burglary unit has been set up in the Nenagh Garda Division to tackle the high number of break-ins over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, a Limerick gang is believed to have been involved in the aggravated burglary of a 54-year-old Offaly farmer last weekend.

During the burglary, carried out by a four-member gang with distinctive Munster accents, the raiders beat the farmers dog until the animal fled the farmhouse.

The farmer was then beaten with an iron bar before being dragged out to the farmyard and locked in a shed.

The 54-year-old farmer managed to free himself from the shed and raise the alarm in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The man is said by locals to be very shocked by the incident.

Gardai suspect the gang fled the area in a 4x4 Jeep-type car.

The robbery took place on a farm at Glasderrybeg, Brosna, near Birr, and just off the N62 road.

Supt Martin Cashen said it was a very serious incident.

We would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or even something just out of the ordinary in the area to contact us, he said.

In particular, we would like to hear about any suspicious persons or vehicles in the Drumakeenan and Glassderrybeg areas on the N62 Birr to Roscrea road that was noticed in the days leading up to the incident.

Gardai are also checking CCTV security camera footage from towns and villages in the area to try to trace the movements of any vehicles matching the description of the 4x4 used.

While inquiries are only at a preliminary stage, gardai do not believe that Dublin gangs who have been terrorising parts of the Midlands and Munster over recent weeks are responsible for the attack.

It is believed the raid may have been conducted by the Limerick-based gang who have repeatedly targeted farms across Munster and south Leinster for cash and valuable farm machinery such as generators, quad-bikes and chainsaws, which are then sold on.
Ever fancied building bridges like Leonardo da Vinci or learning more about electrical circuits or engineering? Well now you can do so at the very first Tipperary Festival of Science which was launched this week at MIC, St Patricks Campus, Thurles.

To celebrate Irelands National Science Week, Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in collaboration Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Science Foundation Ireland are bringing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) to Tipperary as part of the newly established Tipperary Festival of Science which will take place across the county from November 12  19 2017.

Led by Dr Maeve Liston, Director of Enterprise and Community Engagement and Senior Lecturer in Science Education at MIC, the Tipperary Festival of Science comprises of a jam-packed week of inspiring and engaging activities for primary and second level school students. These include interactive Science Shows and inquiry based hands-on workshops: STEM Design and Make Workshops and the Ugly Animal Show in MIC Thurles; Science Outdoors and STEM in Sport workshops in LIT Thurles; The Farthest Film Screening at the Source Theatre Thurles; Building Arches & Bridges Like Leonardo da Vinci in Nenagh Library and Science through Story in Thurles Library.

Speaking at the launch Dr Liston explained that All these events aim to encourage young people to become engaged and interested in STEM and promote awareness and understanding of the importance and relevance of STEM to everyday life.

This festival is not just for the young as there will be a number of public evening events which, according to Dr Liston, will stimulate interest, excitement and debate about STEM through accessible and entertaining interactions with the public and to engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. The public events will reach a wide range of audiences including families, young people and adults, providing them with experiences of STEM that are fun and engaging and inspire curiosity.

Highlights will include The Fantastic Physics Show in MIC Thurles, Investing in Rural Ireland: A Social and Economic Right? Talk in LIT, Thurles, Brown Bag STEM Challenges and Electrical Circuits and Engineering Activities in Foroige Nenagh, and a STEAM Workshop in the Bookworm Workshop Thurles.

Concluding Dr Liston thanked the many local businesses and organisations for their generous cooperation in hosting these events specifically Foroige, Tipperary County Council, and the Source Theatre, Thurles.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 58F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 41F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
[November 07, 2017]

South Korea's Leading 3D Printer Manufacturers to Attend The Event Formnext 2017 in Germany on the 14th-17th of November

JINCHEON, South Korea and FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- South Korea's leading IT companies will attend Formnext 2017 held in Frankfurt, Germany from November 14th to 17th under the organization of National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).

Under the 'Korea Pavilion', six companies will participate in the G78, 3.0 Hall, Frankfurt, Messe.

South Korea's latest 3D printing technology and advanced products will be on show at this event.

First, Carima developed and manufactured the first DLP 3D printer in South Korea. They have focused on manufacturing 3D printers for export. Now, they have released a desktop 3D printer DP110E, Jewelry IM-J printer. They have developed C-CAT technology that can print 1cm per minute with high resolution in 2015. Carima export into over 35 countries like USA and China.







SONA Global has various "Post curing machines" for Universal use, Dental, Jewelry and big curing size models, large quantity curing machines. In particular, they will exhibit CureM-R102(Dental) having curing and sterilization dual functions.

A Team Ventures will exhibit the popular 3D printer 'CREATABLE D3' perfect for beginners, educators, and professionals. This product offers high resolution enabling precise control of belt tension, boasting top quality. They will display the product 'Waggle' which is the simplest remote controller for 3D printers.

DREAMTNS.LTD has launched several software versions for modeling and surveying large infrastructures. They will show the iPointShape 3D Scanner which has up to 40 microns of scan accuracy and has 3 scanning fields that allow to capture different sized objects from 1cm to 5m.

CATECH, offering everything about 3D service, will display the Compact 3D printer 'MOBIUS 2010'. MOBIUS 2010 is a compact-sized product family, reducing the burden of price for conventional SLA-type 3D printers.

RYUJIN LAB (a.k.a TEAM OWL WORKS) successfully collaborated with MORPHEUS delta in 2016. The company exhibits upcoming new models at the event. They will display the products including the MORPHEUS MK5 (latest version of MORPHEUS; large build-volume desktop) and MORPHEUS delta (a personal 3D printer).

As South Korea's advanced 3D printing technology and premium products will be on display, many have shown keen interest in the Korean Pavilion Booth at Formnext 2017.

Contacts

National IT Industry Promotion Agency(NIPA)

Han Jong Yoo

Land line : +82-43-937-5000

Hot line : +43-931-5754

SOURCE National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA)
[November 06, 2017] AccelStor Expands Its NeoSapphire High-Availability Series for Business-Critical IT Services

AccelStor, the software-defined all-flash array provider, today announced its new high-availability all-flash array, the NeoSapphire H510. Targeting the business-critical IT segment such as data center, OLTP, media production and database applications, AccelStor has taken a unique and a "from the ground-up" approach to designing a high availability storage system. AccelStor leverages the shared-nothing architecture and blended it with the unique algorithm of the FlexiRemap technology, further enhancing the availability and reliability of the system, resulting in an all-flash storage infrastructure that consistently runs at peak performance with 360K sustained IOPS for 4KB random writes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106005046/en/ The latest NeoSapphire H510 all-flash array delivers premium performance and 99.9999% reliability. (Photo: Business Wire) AccelStor Vice President, David Kao, said "AccelStor is thrilled to be continuing and expanding our NeoSapphire Series with this iconic H510 model. Powered by FlexiRemap technology, the H510 all-flash array meets the most stringent demands for enterprises seeking to increase productivity, reliability and agility, while promoting business continuity and disaster recovery. With NeoSapphire H510, we are able to provide high-availability storage devices that provide astounding performance as well as great endurance and seamless reliability." True High Availability with 99.9999% Reliability Experiencing unplanned system downtime is always a nightmare for business. The stunning marriage of AccelStor's executive FlexiRemap flash-oriented technology and shared-nothing architecture delivers a true high availability flash array, the NeoSapphire H510, provides 99.9999% reliability and essentially zero downtime. The H510's design includes fully redundant hardware, no single point of failure, guaranteeing no data loss during operation. Symmetric Active-Active Architecture to Simplify Deployment AccelStor NeoSaphhire symmetric active-active controller design also dramatically simplifies deployment and enables full usage of node bandwidth so individual data volume throughput can constantly grow. Typical asymmetric active-active storage systems can be very complex to configure in an IT environment. Using a Symmetric active-active architectur can avoid the performance degradation experienced by asymmetric active-active systems as they will pass I/O between nodes or controllers. Asymmetric active-active systems can also lead to performance or path failover issues if there is any setup or management issues. The H510's symmetric active-active architecture will require less management time from IT professionals and ensure no risk of path thrashing.



End-to-End Data Protection and Rich Data Service Feature AccelStor always considers data protection as a top priority. Some vendors adopt NVRAM as a write cache and use supercapacitors to provide energy to write the RAM (News - Alert) content into flash in the event of a power failure. However, supercapacitor can still cause a single point of failure. AccelStor aims to provide comprehensive data protection. With the special write-through design, its NeoSapphire AFAs acknowledge the completion of incoming I/O only when 100% of the data has been written on the SSD. As well as data protection, the NeoSapphire H510 also provides a rich set of enterprise-level data service features. Efficient array-based snapshots, replication, Free Clone, thin/thick provisioning and FlexiDedupeTM help to reduce the storage space consumption. The H510 also supports self-encrypting drives (SED), which provide strong security for data at rest and prevent unauthorized data access. SED also offers the ability to cryptographically erase the drive ensuring the drive has been wiped clean and there is no data remaining. All these features ensure that the H510 complies with the latest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of EU.

Always Performing with Non-Disruptive Maintenance For the controller maintenance and software upgrades, the H510 requires no maintenance window and has zero impact on performance thanks to the shared nothing architecture and the modular design. You can simply perform the maintenance on a single node while receiving the full performance and capabilities of the secondary node. This design makes H510 a perfect storage solution for any primary storage applications, such as data centers, OLTP, media production and database. Additional Resources Download the NeoSapphire H510 product sheet Learn more about the High-Availability NeoSapphire series Learn more about FlexiRemap Technology Follow AccelStor on Twitter (News - Alert): @AccelStor Follow AccelStor on Linkedin Follow AccelStor on YouTube About AccelStor, Inc. AccelStor is accelerating the paradigm shift from conventional disk arrays to modern all-flash storage. AccelStor's NeoSapphire all-flash arrays, powered by FlexiRemap software technology, deliver sustained high IOPS for business-critical applications. With streamlined storage management, multi-protocol support, and front-access, hot-swappable solid-state drives, the NeoSapphire series promises to resolve performance bottlenecks for I/O-intensive applications like artificial intelligence, IoT, data center, virtualization, high-performance computing, database, media processing, fintech and gaming. For more information about AccelStor and NeoSapphire, please visit www.accelstor.com. AccelStor, FlexiRemap and NeoSapphire are trademarks or registered trademarks of AccelStor, Inc. in the United States of America and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106005046/en/

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[November 06, 2017] Consumption Segment Dominates the Global Smart Grid Cyber Security Market | Technavio

According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global smart grid cyber security market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 10% during the forecast period. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006141/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global smart grid cyber security market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) This research report titled 'Global Smart Grid Cyber Security Market 2017-2021' provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. This report also includes an up to date analysis and forecasts for various market segments and all geographical regions. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. The market research analysis categorizes the global smart grid cyber security market into the following type of application. They are: Consumption

Generation

Distribution and control 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 including the market size and forecast, drivers, callenges, trends, and more.



Consumption The consumption segment in the smart grid cyber security market accounted for more than 37% of the total market share in 2016. The growing electricity demand will increase the need to deploy smart grids for power supply. Smart meters, which are installed at consumer's premise, transmit consumer usage data to electric utilities. Smart meters are used for reading the power consumption in real time, provide accurate billing, and to identify electricity theft. They also allow consumers to manage electricity consumption of home appliances, which can be monitored either by a mobile application or personal computer.

According to Thanikachalam Chandrasekaran, a lead analyst at Technavio for power research, "Many government authorities have set guidelines, aimed at protecting smart meters from cyber-attacks. This leads to an increased adoption of safety measures such as data authentication and encryption, which will drive the demand for smart grid cybersecurity solutions for consumption applications over the forecast period." Generation In 2016, the generation segment in the smart grid cyber security market occupied for more than 34% of the total market share. The increasing demand for electricity has put pressure on utilities to produce more power. As per the US EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2017, the cumulative planned electricity generation capacity addition in the US during 2017-2021 is expected to be 40.6 GW. Renewable energy is being increasingly integrated into power generation plants. As per IEA's World Energy Outlook 2016, power generation from renewables is expected to increase from 23% of the global power generation in 2016 to 37% by 2040. "The increase in power generation demand by EV use can be met through grid modernization, which also increases cybersecurity concerns. Protection of generation assets is of prime concern for operators. In case of a cyber-attack, failure of generation assets will lead to a severe power failure that translates to high T&D and monetary losses. Thus, the introduction of SCADA systems will fuel development in the global market," says Thanikachalam. Distribution and control The distribution and control segment in the smart grid cyber security market accounted for around 29% of the total market share in 2016. Power grid modernization enables grid system operators to centralize the control and monitoring of their distribution assets. Incorporation of SCADA into the grid has allowed operators to effectively manage the load and decrease the outage time, thereby increasing the reliability of the grid. SCADA system can record data and analyze it to prevent any severe incidents to occur. The top vendors highlighted by Technavio's market research analysts in this report are: BAE Systems (News - Alert)

IBM

IOActive

Lockheed Martin Browse Related Reports: Global Solar Freezer Market 2017-2021

Global Food Contaminant Testing Market 2017-2021

Global Cleanroom Luminaires Market 2017-2021 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 [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006141/en/

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[November 06, 2017] BCE announces agreement to acquire AlarmForce Industries

Bell leveraging its technology leadership and #1 brand in residential communications to expand the connected home opportunity MONTREAL and TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. (Bell) (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced it will acquire AlarmForce Industries Inc. (TSX: AF), a Canadian leader in home security and monitoring services, in a transaction valued at approximately $166 million. "Bell is excited to welcome the AlarmForce team as we pursue the significant growth and innovation opportunities represented by the connected home. It's a natural next step for Bell as one of Canada's most trusted brands in residential services," said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada. "Leveraging Bell's network and service leadership and our place in millions of Canadian homes, we look forward to growing our nascent position in security and automation services to ensure Bell residential customers are at the leading edge of connected home innovation." AlarmForce is one of the largest home and business security companies in Canada with more than 100,000 subscribers, and offers solutions such as intrusion alarms and smoke, flood and carbon monoxide detection; automation services including lighting, climate and lock control systems; and in-home and mobile medical alert systems. Combining the assets and experience of an established home security and monitoring provider like AlarmForce with Bell's strength in networks, customer service and distribution will enable Bell to quickly expand into the connected home sector in Ontario and Quebec. Bell currently provides residential and business customers in Atlantic Canada and Manitoba with security and monitoring services from Bell Aliant NextGen Home Security and AAA Security, a Bell MTS company. Alongside new service bundling and technology development opportunities, Bell expects to achieve significant synergies in network connectivity, distribution, installation and customer service operations from the integration of AlarmForce with its existing residential services business. Details of the transaction

The AlarmForce acquisition will be completed through a plan of arrangement under which Bell will acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of AlarmForce for $16.00 per share in an all-cash offer, for a total transaction equity value of $184 million. AlarmForce shareholders may elect to receive BCE common shares in lieu of cash, subject to proration, capped at 49.5% of the total equity value. Subject to customary closig conditions, including, without limitation, court, AlarmForce shareholder and stock exchange (TSX and NYSE) approvals, the transaction is expected to close in January 2018.



Caution concerning forward-looking statements

Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements. These statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the proposed acquisition by BCE Inc. ("Bell") of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of AlarmForce Industries Inc. ("AlarmForce"), the expected timing of, and certain benefits expected to result from, such proposed transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the proposed transaction referred to above and its expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The completion and timing of the proposed transaction are subject to customary closing conditions, termination rights and other risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, court, shareholder and stock exchange (TSX and NYSE) approvals. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the terms and conditions, or at the time, contemplated in this news release. The proposed transaction could be modified, restructured or terminated. There can also be no assurance that the benefits expected to result from the proposed transaction will be realized. Notice to U.S. shareholders of AlarmForce Industries Inc.

The transaction contemplated by this news release involves the securities of Canadian companies and will be subject to Canadian disclosure requirements that are different from those of the United States. The BCE Inc. common shares to be issued pursuant to a plan of arrangement described herein will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of such Act. Financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the circular relating to the transaction will have been prepared in accordance with Canadian accounting standards and may not be comparable to the financial statements of U.S. companies. About AlarmForce

AlarmForce provides security alarm monitoring, personal emergency response monitoring, video surveillance and related services to residential and commercial subscribers throughout Canada. More information about the Company's products and services can be found at www.alarmforce.com. About BCE

Canada's largest communications company, BCE provides a comprehensive and innovative suite of broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services from Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and Bell MTS. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca. The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day, and provides significant Bell funding of mental health care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Media inquiries:

Marc Choma

613-785-0622

[email protected]

@Bell_News Investor inquiries:

Thane Fotopoulos

514-870-4619

[email protected] SOURCE Bell Canada

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APX Group Holdings, Inc. to Host Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call

APX Group Holdings, Inc. ("APX Group," "Vivint" or "Company") announced its plans to host a conference call to discuss its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The Company plans to release its results after the close of the financial markets on November 14, 2017.







Third Quarter Results Conference Call Details Date: November 14, 2017 Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time Dial-In: 1-866-393-4306 (U.S. and Canada) 1-734-385-2616 (International) Conference ID: 5389009 Webcast: http://www.investors.vivint.com/events-presentations/events

A replay of the webcast will be made available for 30 days on the investor relations page of the Company's website at www.investors.vivint.com.

About Vivint Smart Home

Vivint Smart Home is a leading provider of smart home services in North America. Vivint delivers an integrated smart home system with in-home consultation, professional installation and support delivered by its Smart Home Pros, as well as 24/7 customer care and monitoring. Dedicated to redefining the home experience with intelligent products and services, Vivint Smart Home serves more than one million customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.vivint.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006546/en/
[November 06, 2017] Keagan Center Awarded $10K to Feed and Tutor At-Risk Kids

Kim Thibodeaux, founder of the nonprofit Keagan Center, pours her heart into nurturing children. The $10,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) funds awarded last week by St. Martin Bank & Trust Company and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) will help the nonprofit cover costs of feeding them and providing after-school tutoring and activities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006549/en/ $10,000 in Partnership Grant Program funds were awarded to Keagan Center by St. Martin Bank & Trust and FHLB Dallas to cover costs of food and after-school tutoring and activities. (Photo: Business Wire) The center is named after Ms. Thibodeaux's son, Keagan, who died in a 2011 car wreck at the age of 21. "I was a hairdresser for more than 25 years," Ms. Thibodeaux said. "God put this on my heart to feed these children. Loving these children has given me a purpose. This grant will help Keagan Center continue to provide a safe, nurturing environment for those in need." Ms. Thibodeaux said se hopes to eventually open a full-time kitchen and community center.



"Providing nutritious meals to our community's children is one of the first steps toward success in school and beyond," said Amanda Richert, CRA specialist at St. Martin Bank & Trust Company. "The life-skills programming Keagan Center offers is essential to help our children and youth meet everyday challenges while preparing them for the future." Awarded annually via a lottery system, PGP awards provide grants up to $12,000 to community-based organizations (CBOs), like Keagan Center. FHLB Dallas matches a member's contribution to a CBO of $500 up to $4,000 at a 3:1 ratio. PGP funds may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant-and funding-application assistance or contractual services.

Located approximately 60 miles northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana, Elton is a rural community of nearly 1,150 residents. "These grants make meaningful connections between our member institutions and CBOs," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "We are honored to partner with St. Martin Bank & Trust to support the services of Keagan Center for children and youth in need." In 2017, FHLB Dallas awarded $300,000 in PGP funds through 31 member institutions to assist 30 CBOs. Combined with the $104,550 contributed by FHLB Dallas members, a total of $404,550 was awarded to the organizations. About St. Martin Bank & Trust Company St. Martin Bank & Trust Company, an independently owned state-chartered bank, began its operations with one location in St. Martinville. Today, it has 11 banking locations across St. Martin Parish, Lafayette Parish, Acadia Parish, and Jefferson Davis Parish. It offers a wide variety of products to help individuals and businesses make the most of their money. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $66.4 billion as of September 30, 2017, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 840 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006549/en/

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[November 06, 2017] Epicor Channel Director, Sally Craig, joins BCS ProSoft as VP of Sales & Marketing

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BCS ProSoft, a business software and technology consulting firm, has hired Epicor channel executive, Sally Craig, as its Vice President of Sales & Marketing. In her new role, Craig will be tasked with guiding the sales, marketing and account management efforts for BCS ProSofts NetSuite, Deltek and Sage ERP practices.

Sally Craig, VP of Sales & Marketing, BCS ProSoft



A photo accompanying this announcement is available a //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cad81c46-5358-40c4-b436-37d9bae1df75



Craig has distinguished herself with over 30 years of success, leadership and commendation in the ERP software space. She most recently served as Senior Director of Channel Sales for Epicor, where she focused on accelerating on-premise and cloud revenue growth strategy for the Americas. While at Epicor, Craig was selected as a CRN Women of the Channel List honoree. CRN editors pick the Women of the Channel honorees "based on their professional accomplishments, demonstrated expertise, and ongoing dedication to the IT channel."

Craig worked with Sage Software for over 20 years  where she accumulated numerous accomplishments. She built and led the North American sales team responsible for a diversified ERP portfolio consisting of eight product lines and over $85 million in revenue. She was recognized for her work at the Sage President's Circle from 2005 to 2011. "Were incredibly excited to have Sally join our team," said BCS ProSoft President William Vespe. "Were fortunate to have someone of her caliber to take or sales and marketing department to the next level."



About BCS ProSoft BCS ProSoft is a leading provider of ERP, CRM, HRMS and document management software solutions as well as professional services in implementation, strategy, consulting, project management, staffing, and operations. Combining years of experience and specialized skills across the A&E, Distribution, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Rental industries  BCS ProSoft works at the intersection of people, processes, and technology to help clients improve performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX and regional offices in Houston, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu and Monterrey, Mexico  we help more than 1,500 clients improve the way they manage their business. Visit us at www.bcsprosoft.com. BCS ProSoft

2700 Lockhill Selma

San Antonio, TX 78230

(210) 308-5505

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[November 06, 2017] Former US Congressman Dennis Kucinich to Join Jim Rogers as Keynote Speaker at The MillionaireAsia Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Summit

SINGAPORE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The former chairman of the Government Oversight Sub-Committee on Domestic Policy during the 2007-08 financial collapse will join Investment Legend Jim Rogers as they address Blockchain tech, cryptocurrencies and the future of money. The MillionaireAsia Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Summit will be held in Singapore on 29 November 2017. The investor focused conference on cryptocurrency and Blockchain technology will be headlined by investment legend Jim Rogers, who will be speaking on 'The Future of Money', and Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich who will address the topic of Government Regulation Dynamics of Emerging Global Markets (including Cryptocurrency): how to swiftly put self-regulatory best practices standards into place'.



Former US Congressman Dennis Kucinich (1997-2013) served as chairman of the Government Oversight Subcommittee on Domestic Policy during the 2007-08 financial collapse. As Chair he uncovered and investigated the lapses, failures and illegal activities that led to the sub-prime meltdown, and the lack of oversight by the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Congressman Kucinich scrutinized top executives of the US government, Wall Street and the banking industry in his hearings. This puts him in a unique position to talk about governance and internal standards while helping to facilitate a timely conversation within the Cryptocurrency and Blockchain space. For a full list of confirmed speakers, and their topics click here.

Please do let us know if you would be interested to include an event listing and/or editorial highlighting the illustrious speakers at this event. To attend this event please mail [email protected] for media accreditation. About the MillionaireAsia Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Summit Rapid advances in digital technology are transforming the financial services landscape, with Cryptocurrencies leading the foray with combined market capitalization skyrocketing from US$18 billion at the start of the year to US$100 billion in July. This threshold break is due largely to Bitcoin which recently hit a record high of over US$6,000 (over SG$8,000) with a market cap of over US$70 billion. Interest in Blockchain technology and Cryptocurrencies has also spiked, with numerous industries set to be disrupted, including Government, Legal, Insurance, Real Estate, Travel, Energy, Banking and Financial Services and many more. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is suggesting that banks invest in cryptocurrencies and has urged the fintech industry to provide solutions for consumers related to trust, security, financial services, and privacy in this area. Addressing this rising interest, The MillionaireAsia Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Summit will offer Top-level keynotes from industry experts, solution-based case studies with a focus on learning and building partnerships in the Blockchain space, panel discussions on raising capital through ICOs and sound investment advice from both sides of the crypto pond. Who should attend? This summit is targeted at Cryptocurrency investors, corporations planning an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), government officials in charge of monetary policy & regulators, analysts and media covering Cryptocurrency and Blockchain, disrupted industries including Banking & Financial Associations and anyone interested to find out more about Blockchain technology, its applications and potential. Early bird rates have been extended till 13 November 2017. For registration and more information on The MillionaireAsia Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Summit please visit: http://millionaireasia.com/blockchain-cryptocurrency-summit/ For Media Accreditation: Please email [email protected] or call +65 6838 5010 to RSVP by Friday 24 November 2017. Video - http://static.prnasia.com/pro/media/mnr/video/20171106MillionaireAsia.mp4 SOURCE MillionaireAsia

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On November 8, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic), the OSCE Mission will conduct a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, to the north from Martakert town.

From the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh, the monitoring will be conducted by Field Assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova) and Ognjen Jovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have expressed their readiness to assist in conducting the monitoring and to ensure the security of the OSCE Mission members.
[November 06, 2017]

Speakers from Accenture, PT Microsoft Indonesia, MasterCard Indonesia and many more lined-up for November's Digital Summit SEA 2017

JAKARTA, Indonesia and SINGAPORE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Summit SEA's upcoming event is happening tomorrow, promising to be a jammed-packed day of practical learning through a mix of panels, case study and company presentations.

The Summit, which takes place on 8th November at Hotel Mulia Jakarta will see expert speakers discuss topics ranging from Digital Transformation in retail, how the digital revolution that has precipitated a massive shift in retail and how to achieve and keep the new generations of customers' demands going digital -- the transformation of retail bans.







Hear from a success case study, Maxx Coffee on how digital disruption is happening and are you ready or not?

And in the session by PT Microsoft Indonesia, learn the key concepts of "Artificial Intelligence in Retail: It's Time Now!". National Technology Officer, Tony Seno Hartono will examine a few cases where AI is making a difference in retail.

Tickets are selling out fast. We currently have only 10 tickets left for the Summit on 8th November.

The next edition of Digital Summit SEA, Indonesia Jakarta takes place on 25-26 April 2018. www.digitalsummitsea.com

Media Contact:

Claudia Adrianto

+62 812 1010 404

[email protected]

SOURCE Digital Summit SEA
[November 06, 2017] Global Communications Consultancy Expands to Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hoffman Agency (HA), an independent global consultancy, today announced the launch of its Jakarta office, the company's seventh in the Asia Pacific region. Hoffman Agensi Indonesia will apply the same creative and collaborative approach so unique to the Hoffman brand in helping companies build their public profiles in Southeast Asia's largest economy. The firm believes its storytelling methodology travels well, but with a local twist. "Just like McDonald's prepares Bubur Ayam in Indonesia, we will localize content to align with the needs of Indonesian journalists." Not a newcomer to the market, the company has undertaken client assignments over the past six years ranging from building brand awareness for cybersecurity expert Avast Indonesia and increasing the Green Building agenda in Indonesia with Build Eco Xpo to helping companies understand the intricacies of product certification with TUV SUD Indonesia. The Hoffman Agency handled previous assignments in Indonesia in collaboration with Qycomms based in Jakarta. Cici Utari, principal ofQycomms, now becomes part of the founding team of Hoffman Agensi Indonesia.



"There's a connection with Cici that's tough to quantify. Both agencies share plenty of common ground, not the least being a client-centric mentality. A Hoffman-branded office in Indonesia was really a natural progression of the relationship," said Caroline Hsu, managing director, Asia Pacific at The Hoffman Agency. The firm's Indonesian team fills a void in a market where mega shops that include Edelman, Burson-Marsteller, Fleishman Hillard, Ogilvy and Weber Shandwick operate alongside local agencies.

"We deliver the best of both worlds -- the sophistication and international standards of a big player with a high-touch mentality normally associated with boutique shops," explained CEO Lou Hoffman. He added that this is a long-term investment, similar to the company's entering China in 1999. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that Indonesia will represent the fifth largest economy in the world by 2030, with an estimated figure of $5.424 trillion. Hsu, who previously spent seven years at Google, noted, "There's a reason Google has made Indonesia a market of focus with activities such as the Gapura Digital initiative to bring Indonesian small businesses online to updating the Waze app with a feature based on the last number of license plates to help Jakarta drivers follow the regulations of the odd-even traffic policy." The Hoffman Agency entered Asia in 1996. As the only international communications consultancy that tilts toward Asia -- more than 50 percent of its staff members are based in Asia -- the firm's regional operation includes offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo. "By not emphasizing individual office P/L like other global agencies, we're better equipped to take on multi-market assignments involving Asia as well as the U.S. and Europe," said Hoffman. At the global level, The Hoffman Agency generated record global revenue in 2016 at US$11.3M and expects 2017 to be another record year with 20-plus percent growth. About the Hoffman Agency The Hoffman Agency (www.hoffman.com) is an independent PR agency that helps companies in markets of technical complexity communicate compelling messages across the world. Thanks to a unique global infrastructure and culture, The Hoffman Agency takes a collaborative approach to implementing multi-country programs. The Hoffman Agency comprises ten offices across the globe, including San Jose, California and Vancouver, Washington, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. For media enquiries, please contact: Gladys Chow

The Hoffman Agency

[email protected]

+852-2231-8115 Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171107/1985563-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171107/1985563-1-b

Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170523/1858477-1LOGO SOURCE The Hoffman Agency

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[November 07, 2017] Uniview Launched Latest Products at CPSE

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Uniview, a leading video surveillance manufacturer, attended China Public Security Expo (CPSE) in Shenzhen from October 29 to November 1. With rich experience in high-end projects in China, Uniview showcased cutting-edge technologies, algorithms, architecture and products. Moreover, Uniview brought latest products and solutions for international visitors, including more complete Ultra 265 product line, upgraded StarView series, Navigator PTZ dome and Ultra 265 Kit. Redefine Starlight by Upgraded StarView Series UNV StarView is a mature extreme low light technology which redefines starlight technology with outstanding image at super low illumination during the night for both static and moving scenes, easier instructions for users, and an affordable price. Now, Uniview launched the upgraded StarView series with 2MP and 5MP series. As high resolution become the trend in the industry, the pixels increases while the light-sensing area of each pixel decreases at the same size of sensor. Customers also expect that low light function can be enabled on high resolution cameras. UNV 5MP StarView series meets these requirements perfectly. They applied 1/2.7" backside illumination technology sensor (BSI), to deliver enhanced low light sensitivity and a wide field of view.



2MP StarView series includes motorized models, the IK10 dome, eyeball camera and bullet cameras. The motorized lens is unique with 2.7 to 13.5mm focal length. And it is a 5 times vari-focal lens. The iris of this lens is constant as F1.2 to ensure the starlight image. Brand New Mechanical Design in Navigator PTZ Dome

UNV Navigator PTZ dome has a completely new mechanical design. Movement is stable and smooth using an accurate stepping motor driving without any mechanical jerks. The camera module inside has over 22X zoom and Electronic Image Stabilizer functions. The pan speed is up to 300 degrees per second. The Navigator PTZ dome also features with IP66, PoE, Ultra 265 and various smart functions. First Ultra 265 Kit Uniview released the first Ultra 265 Kit in the industry at CPSE. It combines 4 IP bullet cameras and 1 PoE NVR which has 1 hard disk installed into one kit. Both cameras and NVR have plastic and metal options to choose from. The bullet cameras have many features, including IP67, 3 streams with full fps, 30 meters smart IR and 2D/3D DNR. The NVR supports Ultra 265, cloud upgradeability, zero configuration and fan-less design. "Uniview will never lose tension on developing industry leading products and technologies," said Ximen Yan, President of Uniview International Business Department. "With endless pursuit of high quality and profound IT experience, Uniview has become No.7 in the global video surveillance industry. We will continue to rely on the unlimited accelerated market, product and technology development. We hope to bring a new view to the whole industry ecosystem by enriching the local competitive market, balancing industry development, and maximizing the benefit of all stakeholders." About Uniview Uniview is the leading supplier of video surveillance products and solutions. With more than 12 years' experience in IP video surveillance, Uniview now is the 7th largest manufacturer worldwide (IHS Markit). For more information, please visit Uniview's website at http://www.uniview.com. Facebook: @UniviewHQ

Twitter: @UniviewTech

Youtube: Uniview View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uniview-launched-latest-products-at-cpse-300550529.html SOURCE Uniview

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[November 07, 2017] What Winning Companies Do to Transform Themselves

NEW YORK, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The ongoing bull market obscures huge challenges for many companies. At any point, about a third of large US companies endure a severe, two-year decline in their ability to create shareholder value. And of those companies, about a third fail to recover within the following five years, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).



To stay ahead of the curve, companies must fundamentally transform themselves in ways that dramatically and sustainably improve performance. And they must do this over and over, according to a new report from BCG, The Transformations That Workand Why. In this era of always-on transformation, most companies need to undergo transformation at least once during any five-year window, the report says. On the basis of its experience with more than 750 transformations across industries and regional markets, and by applying statistical analysis, BCG has identified several indicators of transformation success. A company whose transformation effort includes three crucial featuresstrategic investments in R&D; a well-communicated, formal transformation plan; and the appointment of action-oriented leaders who have a disruptive mindsetcan increase long-term shareholder returns by almost 14 percentage points, according to the report. Many companies arent doing enough to get ready for the future. For example, while profit margins are up 21% since 2010, investment in R&D has been flat and capital expenditures almost even, said Lars Fste, a senior partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. Bumper profits and low reinvestment harmonize badly with the level of disruption. The BCG report explains the indicators that lead to success in company transformationthat is, success in increasing long-term company value: Spending on R&D and Innovation with a Long-Term Focus on Revenue Creation. In the long term, revenue growth is the biggest factor in transformation success. But a company cant cut and trim its way to top-quartile performance. Instead, it should aim to grow by spending on innovation that has a clear link to sales growth.



In the long term, revenue growth is the biggest factor in transformation success. But a company cant cut and trim its way to top-quartile performance. Instead, it should aim to grow by spending on innovation that has a clear link to sales growth. Tking a Formal Approach to Transformationand Communicating It. CEOs and leaders need to show compelling plans, take immediate action, and lay the groundwork for leading with a clear vision and solid objectives. This kind of bold action and clear communication can help establish credibility with investors and other stakeholders.







CEOs and leaders need to show compelling plans, take immediate action, and lay the groundwork for leading with a clear vision and solid objectives. This kind of bold action and clear communication can help establish credibility with investors and other stakeholders. Appointing Action-Oriented Leaders Who Have a Disruptive Mindset. To transform a company, the CEO and senior leaders must be willing to change the business dramatically. Often, new CEOsparticularly if they come from outside the companyincrease the long-term odds of a successful transformation. On average, after five years, companies that hired new CEOs externally generated total shareholder returns (TSR) 12.9% higher than they achieved before the transformation. The corresponding TSR figure for companies with new CEOs hired internally was 8.4%, according to the report. The caveat is that returns from new external CEOs show greater variability, meaning that when they fail, they fail worse than insiders do. Incumbent and insider-selected CEOs must not underestimate the disruption necessary for transformation.



To transform a company, the CEO and senior leaders must be willing to change the business dramatically. Often, new CEOsparticularly if they come from outside the companyincrease the long-term odds of a successful transformation. On average, after five years, companies that hired new CEOs externally generated total shareholder returns (TSR) 12.9% higher than they achieved before the transformation. The corresponding TSR figure for companies with new CEOs hired internally was 8.4%, according to the report. The caveat is that returns from new external CEOs show greater variability, meaning that when they fail, they fail worse than insiders do. Incumbent and insider-selected CEOs must not underestimate the disruption necessary for transformation. Taking Rapid Action Toward Transformation Goals. Instead of trying to reinvent the company all at once, leaders should work to immediately kick off rapid moves that are easy to implement in the first 100 days and can generate results in 3 to 12 months. Rapid action and an iterative and agile approach can establish the CEOs credibility with investors and deliver the greatest possible short-term difference in performance. Effective transformations often require leaders to meet the following challenges successfully, according to the report: Applying Both Directive and Inclusive Leadership. Transformation takes more than traditional, directive leadership; it also calls for inclusive leadership, such as fostering collaboration, soliciting feedback, and empowering teams. Inclusive leadership is always important, but during these times of constant change, people are often exhausted and in need of not only clear direction but also encouragement, said Jim Hemerling, a senior partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. The CEO, in conjunction with human resources, needs to determine how the transformation will affect people throughout the company and what new kinds of talent and leadership the company will need to sustain the change into the future.



Transformation takes more than traditional, directive leadership; it also calls for inclusive leadership, such as fostering collaboration, soliciting feedback, and empowering teams. Inclusive leadership is always important, but during these times of constant change, people are often exhausted and in need of not only clear direction but also encouragement, said Jim Hemerling, a senior partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. The CEO, in conjunction with human resources, needs to determine how the transformation will affect people throughout the company and what new kinds of talent and leadership the company will need to sustain the change into the future. Building a Diverse Leadership Team. Company leadership should include people from both inside and outside the organization. Its important to strike the right balance between external hires, with new ideas and capabilities, and internal talent, with deep knowledge of the business and organization. CEOs face other transformation-related challenges as well. For example, CEOs must continually balance short- and long-term objectives, new CEOs must quickly reset investor expectations, and CEOs must develop a clear purpose for the change effort. The report describes four transformation imperatives for new CEOs: prepare the journey, fund the journey, reinvent for the future, and organize for sustained performance.

This is evidence-based guidance for leadership teams, said Martin Reeves, a BCG senior partner, director of the BCG Henderson Institute, and coauthor of the report. Rather than going on instinct and hunches, CEOs can capitalize on this kind of statistical analysis and give themselves an edge in launching major transformation programs. In a related report, BCG screened the S&P Global 1200 Index for companies that had experienced a significant decline in revenue, profit margins, and/or market capitalization since 2010, followed by a clear rebound. It found 11 examples of companies that successfully transformed in the face of unprecedented challenges. The share price of those 11 companies jumped by 87% between January 2013 and August 2017, compared to an increase in share price of only a 41% for the overall S&P Global 1200 Index. That report, The Comeback Kids, will be published on November 13, 2017. To read The Transformations That Workand Why, visit: http://on.bcg.com/2yryx4t. To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or [email protected]. About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the worlds leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with more than 90 offices in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com. About The BCG Henderson Institute

The BCG Henderson Institute is The Boston Consulting Groups internal think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration from the Institute, please visit https://www.bcg.com/bcg-henderson-institute/thought-leadership-ideas.aspx

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[November 07, 2017] Korean Advanced IoT Tech Firms to Open up Japanese Market

PANGYO, South Korea and CHIBA, Japan, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MSIT (Ministry of Science and ICT), a government organization to support ICT industry promotion in Korea, and KISA (Korea Internet and Security Agency) will host an exhibition with ten selected IoT tech firms to open up the Japanese market. The participating firms will make their first foray into the Japanese market with their products for various IoT-applicable industries such as transportation, agriculture, distribution, authentication and business solutions. They will seek technical and business partners in Japan through the exhibition. They also expect the exhibition to offer numerous collaboration opportunities with Japanese companies and local distributors considering business by utilization of IoT technology. The delegations will host exhibition named 'Korea IoT Highlights' within '8th Japan IT week Autumn', taking place from November 8th-10th, in Makuhari Messe, Japan. *Location: IoT/M2M center A-382, Makuhari Messe Hall 4 to 7 *Apply for a free ticket: http://www.cloud-japan.jp/To-Visit_Aki/Outline/ MSIT and KISA, are looking forward to vigorous technology exchange through the event, implementing strategic partnership between Korea and Japan in loT to amplify the synergy in both countries. *Exhibitors:







Nare Trends Inc. ARCLOW The state-of-the-art electricity safety device which can prevent fire by detecting and blocking electric spark, Arc www.naretrends.com Dongwoo Engineering ColdChain System Cold chain keeper solution which can transfer real-time data for transport status and path www.dongwooeng.com bluesignal Predictive Driving technology AI algorithm for autonomous vehicle which allows prediction of future traffic conditions such as driving risk by analyzing driving pattern, real-time road conditions, and past traffic data www.bluesignal.co.kr BETOKOREA BETO SLEEPCOACH Infant sleep training system using IoT device www.betosleepcoach.com SmartBox Smartbox Parcel storage using IoT based door lock www.smartbox.co.kr/eng winning I Biometrics Technology & Contactless Palmprint, Fingerprint Authentication Solution SW type authentication solution which can authenticate palm and finger printer using smartphone camera www.winningi.com NTELS Cloud-based IoT Business Support Solution Cloud-based IoT Business Support Solution www.ntels.com/en Technonia Inc Personal Environment Monitor Personal environment monitor to check radioactivity, electromagnetic wave, ultraviolet ray, temperature, and humidity http://www.technonia.com Toy's Myth Smart IoT Customer Analytics Solution Smart scanner to collect and analyze customer information using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals http://toysmyth.com/ab-2844 People & Technology Real Time Location Solution 'IndoorPlus+' Real-time indoor location positioning technology and service based on BLE/Bicon http://www.pntbiz.com

SOURCE KISA (KOREA INTERNET & SECURITY AGENCY)

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[November 07, 2017] PrintStop Introduces Co-branded Visiting Cards

MUMBAI, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Visiting cards are an important tool for marketing any company's products and services. They act as a snapshot of the company and help people follow up on their offerings. They are one of the easiest ways to connect with clients and prospects. However, companies often fail to recognise this and settle for low-quality visiting cards. A nicely designed and printed visiting card can elevate a company's brand to the next level. Companies can now say goodbye to branding problems with the unique Co-branded Visiting Cards from PrintStop, and give away high quality visiting cards at meetings, conferences, booths, etc. SMEs are unable to brand themselves due to their limited budget and lack of access to good designers, which is why PrintStop is launching free co-branded visiting cards from 1st November, 2017 for a limited period of time. Co-branded visiting cards from PrintStop are the ideal solution for SMEs to brand themselves while saving time and money. PrintStop is on a mission to distribute visiting cards to over 10,000 businesses as their humble contribution to Startup India, the initiative of the Government of India to promote Indian start-ups.



PrintStop plans to give out 10,00,000 visiting cards at no cost to start-ups and SMEs. Milap Shah, one of the Co-founders of PrintStop, said: "Clients judge a company based on their visiting card. If you hand someone a shoddy card, they will assume your company is not up to the mark. PrintStop wants to help start-ups and SMEs change this perception and hence plans to give out 10,00,000 high quality visiting cards."

Here's how small businesses and start-ups can benefit: 100+ designs

Customise it with company details and Checkout

Use the coupon code '100FREE'

Just pay (Rs. 50.40 including all taxes) for shipping anywhere in India . The cards will just have the text 'Printed at www.printstop.co.in ' in a small font on the back. A pack of quality visiting cards will be delivered to the recipient's address anywhere in India. About PrintStop PrintStop is India's leading online store for customized brochures, flyers, stationery, promotional items and visiting cards. It is a one-stop solution for all business printing requirements. PrintStop was founded in 2007 in Mumbai by Milap, Pratik and Siddhi. The PrintStop brand story is a story of three entrepreneurs who through exploration and experimentation broke the rules of a primarily technically-challenged printing industry and ushered in smart technology-enabled solutions. For Media Enquiries

Pratik Shah

[email protected]

+91-22-4270-5050

Co-founder

PrintStop India Pvt. Ltd.





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[November 07, 2017] Healthcare Industry Players Can Improve Their Brand Awareness with the Help of Closed-Loop Marketing, Says Quantzig

Quantzig, a global analytics solutions provider, has announced the completion of their new closed-loop marketing study on the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry client wanted to understand the marketing effectiveness and customize marketing strategies according to customers' needs and preferences. The healthcare client wanted to build appropriate solutions to match the needs with the help of closed-loop marketing. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006627/en/ Promoting Marketing Effectiveness for A Renowned Healthcare Client through Closed Loop Marketing. (Graphic: Business Wire) According to the closed loop marketing experts at Quantzig, "The current healthcare industry is in dire need of robust clinical innovations. Consequently, major organizations in the healthcare industry are adoping closed-loop marketing solutions to deliver promising results."



The global healthcare industry is changing with a firm focus on improving the quality of care delivered. The leading healthcare providers are facing economic uncertainties due to which leading players are relying on promising marketing solutions that can stimulate their growth prospects. Closed loop marketing helps businesses collaborate more effectively with the sales team to improve customer knowledge and better promote their marketing activities. Request a free demo to see how Quantzig's solutions can help you.

The solution offered by Quantzig helped the healthcare provider to devise effective marketing campaigns and create a better winning strategy. The client was able to identify the challenges in the healthcare space and increase customer satisfaction levels. Additionally, the client was able to understand communication strategies better and determine the efficacy of their marketing campaigns. This closed-loop marketing solution provided benefits that helped the client to: Track the marketing efforts

Identify the challenges in the healthcare space

To know more, request a free proposal This closed-loop marketing solution offered predictive insights on: Tracking visitors and gaining actionable insights on the traffic updates

Feeding marketing campaigns and increasing sales

To know more, request a free proposal View the complete closed-loop marketing case study here: https://www.quantzig.com/content/closed-loop-marketing-healthcare About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 12 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on all of Quantzig's services and the solutions they have provided to Fortune 500 clients across all industries, please contact us. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171106006627/en/

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[November 07, 2017] Huntkey Releases A New Product Called The USB-C Adapter

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntkey, a global leading provider of power solutions, has recently released its new product - the 60W USB-C laptop adapter, which is applied with the latest USB3.1 SuperSpeed and intelligent charging technology. Huntkey USB-C Notebook Adapter:

https://en.huntkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/60W-USB-Type-C-Adapters.jpg In order to keep pace with the trend that USB-C is slowly replacing the previous USB types, Huntkey has been consistently investing on and developing USB-C products to meet the increasing market demands. As one of the key products of Huntkey, the 60W USB-C laptop adapter is durable and reliable, and designed with a pocket size, smaller than the iPhone X for an easy carry and convenient use. The 60W USB-C adapter is equipped with a reversible connector that allows the users to connect it to the electronic devices in either way, which kills off the irritating problem of connection. Its intelligen charging allows the users to charge multiple devices from cell phones, power banks and tablets to laptops, drones and printers.



It is built with all-round protections including SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), OTP (Over Temperature Protection) and OCP (Over Current Protection). Not only will it protect itself, but also keep the charging devices safe under any circumstances. For more information about this adapter, please visit https://en.huntkey.com/product/60w-usb-type-c/, or contact local Huntkey retail stores.

About Huntkey Huntkey Group, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shenzhen, is a member of The International Power Supply Manufacturer's Association (PSMA) and a member of The China Power Supply Society (CPSS). With branch companies in the USA, Japan and other areas, and cooperating factories in Brazil, Argentina, India and other countries, Huntkey has specialized in the development, design, and manufacturing of PC power supplies, industrial power supplies, surge protectors, adapters and chargers for many years. With its own technologies and manufacturing strength, Huntkey has served Lenovo, Huawei, Haier, DELL, ZTE, Bestbuy and many other large enterprises for years, and has received unanimous recognition and trust from many customers. For more information about Huntkey, please visit https://en.huntkey.com/ Media contact: Homer

Phone: +86-755-89606545/ +86-13763373238

Email: [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huntkey-releases-a-new-product-called-the-usb-c-adapter-300550714.html SOURCE Huntkey Enterprise Group

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[November 07, 2017]

ActiveOps Appoints Chief Technology Officer

READING, England, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ActiveOps, leaders in cloud-based back office workforce optimization solutions, announces the appointment of Kevin Evans as Chief Technology Officer. The creation of the CTO role underlines the continued growth of ActiveOps and Workware as an innovative and increasingly comprehensive back office workforce optimization solution.

"Kevin brings extensive knowledge and experience of artificial intelligence, SaaS software development, information security and management together with proven business acumen to this newly created role within ActiveOps." commented Richard Jeffery, CEO of ActiveOps.

"The appointment of a CTO is a yet another milestone in the evolution of Workware, following the recent introduction of a mobile application and support for Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

Responsible for our international development, customer and application support teams, Kevin will be working closely with customers and partners to accelerate our plans to incorporate artificial intelligence within Workware, thereby ensuring ActiveOps staysin the forefront of the digital transformation of back offices."







Kevin holds a BSc (Hons) (First Class) in Technology Management and is currently studying for a PhD in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Information Security at the University of Bradford. Kevin joins ActiveOps from Sun Branding Systems where he held the position of Chief Information Officer. Previously, Kevin held senior roles at Access Intelligence Plc, Vital Technology Group and Wingas UK.

About ActiveOps

Manage Differently

Since 2005, ActiveOps has been committed to helping organisations improve their operational efficiency by helping managers and teams deliver their best possible performance. ActiveOps provide cloud based software and services to meet the increasing market demand for back office workforce optimization.

Workware, our cloud based SaaS software, is purpose built for the back-office to quantify work and time, measure productivity by efficiently measuring both human and robotic resources in real-time. It enables capacity to be optimized, reducing costs and improving service delivery across diverse and complex back office operations.

The Active Operations Management (AOM) method enables 'teams of teams' to collaborate and sustain higher productivity through a consistent management framework. Better communication and improved control results in higher staff engagement and reduced stress.

ActiveOps operates across the globe from offices in the UK, Australia, India, South Africa and North America supporting back office operations in financial services, shared service centres, government organizations and Business Process Outsourcers (BPOs).

Media Contact:

Zoe Rogers

[email protected]



activeops.com



SOURCE ActiveOps
[November 07, 2017] Nokia and Vodacom collaborate to shape the future of 5G in South Africa

Press Release

Signing of the MoU picture



Nokia will use its innovative technology to support Vodacom's objective of being the first to launch 5G in South Africa

Companies sign agreement to jointly conduct lab and network trials of new services and business cases using Nokia 5G technology

Focus on bringing benefits of digitalization to industries such as healthcare, energy and manufacturing and consumer services to support economic growth 7 November 2017 Espoo, Finland - Nokia and Vodacom have signed an MoU under which the companies will trial Nokia 5G technology to accelerate the launch of the new technology and enable Vodacom to drive digitalization for the benefit of businesses and individuals in South Africa. Nokia has a 5G portfolio that will allow operators to gain an early-to-market advantage in the delivery of ultra-fast mobile broadband services that leverage multi-Gigabit speeds and ultra-low latency. Working with Vodacom in a series of workshops and trials, Nokia will share its latest 5G innovations including massive MIMO Adaptive Antennas, AirScale Radio Access, AirGile Cloud-native Core, Multi-Access Edge Computing, and end-to-end Mobile Anyhaul transport networks to test how they can be used to meet ever-changing demand in the country. Initially the companies will focus on the delivery of Ultra-HD and virtual reality video services, leveraging the enhanced mobile broadband and utra-low latency capabilities of 5G. Vodacom and Nokia will also collaborate to understand how 5G can drive continued economic growth in vertical industries important to South Africa including manufacturing, mining, healthcare, media, energy and transportation.



Nokia will leverage expertise from its Bell Labs Consulting arm to work with Vodacom and identify where, when and how to evolve its network to 5G. Andries Delport, Vodacom Group Chief Technology Officers commented: "As the leading mobile network provider in South Africa, with the best 3G and 4G networks, it was crucial for us to partner a formidable player such as Nokia as we're gearing ourselves for the next generation of wireless networks, 5G. This collaboration comes at a time when we have a firm mandate from the Vodacom Board to propel Vodacom Group to become a leading digital company. It is my firm belief that the adoption of 5G will help us to deliver against some of the digital technologies in areas such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things. Quite crucially, Africa is in the middle of a mobile connectivity boom, and as such, 5G will help us to deliver faster internet speeds to our almost 70 million customers across the Group."

Rajen Naidoo, head of Vodacom South Africa Cutomer Team at Nokia, said: "We have defined a technology path that allows operators to transition to 5G at their own pace. Working with Vodacom, we can help it identify how 5G can support growth in the country and the steps it should take in its own transition to best meet individual subscriber and enterprise needs. Additional Information Web Page: Start building commercial 5G networks today

Web Page: AirGile Cloud-native Core

Web Page: Mobile Transport Connect with Nokia Subscribe to receive information on specific areas of interest

Website

Blog

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook About Nokia

We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. From the enabling infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, to emerging applications in digital health, we are shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. nokia.com Media Enquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: [email protected] Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/301cf667-fc18-4c98-8ffc-690011500d23

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today hosted visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Wencai Zhang.

Sargsyans press office writes: The Armenian president highly appreciated ADBs mission and role in promoting economic development in Armenia, stressing that during the 12 years of cooperation with the Bank which has become a reliable partner for the country, numerous programs have been implemented in Armenia, covering both the public and private sectors. President Sargsyan expressed the hope that the effective cooperation will continue ahead.

Wencai Zhang said that the nearly three dozen major programs, implemented in several important sectors of Armenias economy have improved the countrys economic development.

Read full press release HERE
[November 07, 2017] Omnichannel Cloud Contact Center Provider, Bright Pattern, Expands Presence in Japan

TOKYO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Pattern, award-winning provider of global contact center software, is pleased to announce opening a local office in Tokyo, Japan. Bright Pattern launched a local cloud point of presence in Japan early in 2017 and now has established an office. "Japan has always been a strong market for the Bright Pattern product and our expansion and local office will provide close-knit and personalized support to our Japanese partners and direct customers," said Konstantin Kishinsky, CEO of Bright Pattern. "In a world where much of the business can be done online with minimal human interaction, we are trying to bring a personal touch to our Japanese market with our local sales and technical support team. At Bright Pattern our customers are faily and we believe they should be treated as such."



Bright Pattern's highly available and scalable solution is built for global enterprise-grade clients. "Global companies demand a high level of excellence for software reliability, security, compliance and manageability," said Bright Pattern Product Manager, Sergey Menshikov. "Bright Pattern addresses all of the key requirements for successfully operating global, enterprise-grade customer support teams." "I am very excited to be joining the Bright Pattern team," said Kenji Hatomi, Director of Business Development in Japan for Bright Pattern. "I have been working in the contact center industry for over 20 years and Bright Pattern is truly bringing an innovative product to the market with their 5.0 release."

Additional Information Follow @BrightPatternUS on Twitter

Become a fan of BrightPattern on Facebook About Bright Pattern

Bright Pattern's cloud contact center software simplifies omnichannel customer service for customers, agents and contact center managers. Bright Pattern's Cloud Contact Center solutions are used globally in over 26 countries and 12 languages by companies of all sizes. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omnichannel-cloud-contact-center-provider-bright-pattern-expands-presence-in-japan-300550612.html SOURCE Bright Pattern

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[November 07, 2017]

Phoenix New Media to Announce Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results on November 13, 2017

BEIJING, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix New Media Limited ("Phoenix New Media", "ifeng" or the "Company") (NYSE: FENG), a leading new media company in China, today announced that it will report its third quarter 2017 financial results on Monday, November 13, 2017 after the market closes. The earnings release will be available on ifeng's investor relations website at http://ir.ifeng.com.

Following the earnings release, ifeng's management team will hold a conference call on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (or Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time) to discuss the financial results and operating performance.

To participate in the call, please dial the following numbers:

International: +6567135440

Mainland China: 4001200654

Hong Kong: +85230186776

United States: +18456750438

Conference ID: 7682549

A replay of the call will be available through November 20, 2017 by dialng the following numbers:







International: +61290034211

Mainland China: 4006322162

Hong Kong: +85230512780

United States: +16462543697

Conference ID: 7682549

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.ifeng.com.

About Phoenix New Media Limited

Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) is a leading new media company providing premium content on an integrated Internet platform, including PC and mobile, in China. Having originated from a leading global Chinese language TV network based in Hong Kong, Phoenix TV, the Company enables consumers to access professional news and other quality information and share user-generated content on the Internet through their PCs and mobile devices. Phoenix New Media's platform includes its PC channel, consisting of ifeng.com website, which comprises interest-based verticals and interactive services; its mobile channel, consisting of mobile news applications, mobile video application, digital reading application, fashion application and mobile Internet website; and its operations with the telecom operators that provides mobile value-added services.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Phoenix New Media Limited

Nicole Shan

Email: [email protected]

ICR, Inc.

Rose Zu

Tel: +1 (646) 405-4883

Email: [email protected]

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phoenix-new-media-to-announce-third-quarter-2017-financial-results-on-november-13-2017-300550747.html

SOURCE Phoenix New Media Limited
[November 07, 2017] Schrodinger and ShanghaiTech University to Establish Center of Excellence (COE) and Form Strategic Partnership

NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Schrodinger, Inc., a world-leading provider of advanced molecular simulations and drug discovery software solutions, and ShanghaiTech University in China have reached an agreement to develop a strategic partnership and establish the Shanghai Center of Excellence (COE) in Computational Chemistry at ShanghaiTech University. Schrodinger and ShanghaiTech University will embark on joint research projects to solve challenging scientific problems in molecular recognition of the human body that can lead to co-discoveries. Under the terms of the agreement, Schrodinger will provide software as well as educational and training support to researchers at the COE. Three entities at ShanghaiTech University  iHuman Institute, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, and the Library  will share joint priority access to Schrodinger's software, with iHuman Institute leading the collaboration with Schrodinger. "Schrodinger is a world leader in the area of computational chemistry. We are thrilled to be partnering with them in our mission to both train and mentor the next generation of scientific global leaders in the area of computational chemistry," said Professor Ray Stevens



"We are very pleased to be collaborating with ShanghaiTech University's leading scientists in the field of molecular recognition in the human body to accelerate the understanding/discovery novel molecules that have the potential to treat unmet biomedical needs," said Schrodinger's President and CEO, Dr. Ramy Farid, "We believe our industry-leading platform can play an important role in helping ShanghaiTech achieve its goal of innovation in China." About Schrodinger

Schrodinger is a leading provider of advanced molecular simulations and enterprise software solutions and services for its clients, which include all major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide, as well as leading materials science researchers. Schrodinger also establishes deep partnerships and collaborations with companies in such fields as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics, and helped found the biotech companies Nimbus Therapeutics, Morphic Therapeutic, and others. Schrodinger's investors include David E. Shaw and Bill Gates. Through significant long-term investments in basic research, Schrodinger has made scientific breakthroughs across many areas of drug discovery and materials science. Hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications by Schrodinger scientists are frequently among the most heavily cited in their fields. Founded in 1990, Schrodinger has over 300 employees and operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, and India, as well as business partners in China and Korea. For more information, please visit www.schrodinger.com.

About ShanghaiTech University

ShanghaiTech seeks innovative solutions to address the challenges that China is facing in the field of energy, material, environment, human health, thus to improve productivity driven by innovation, and contribute to the restructuring and development of China.

SOURCE Schrodinger

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[November 07, 2017] Simplilearn Announces New Office Facility in Raleigh, North Carolina

RALEIGH, North Carolina, November 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, the leading digital economy training company, today announced its plan to expand its business and operations center by opening up a new office space in Raleigh, North Carolina. The new facility will enable the company to grow its enterprise and academic learning business across North Carolina, and leverage the area's diverse talent pool. The talent from the regional office will contribute towards sales, strategic partnerships, customer relationship and marketing business units. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg )

Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn said, "Research Triangle has been the hub for innovation, technology and educational excellence. Our Raleigh location presents a great opportunity to partner with local enterprises and universities as we help them prepar their employees and students to enter the digital workforce. We intend to increase awareness on the need for upskilling for the 21st century and also become active members of the local business community in Raleigh. That, combined with North Carolina's impressive talent pool, makes it a promising location for us to invest in."



Adding to the company's existing offices in Bangalore and San Francisco, the new Raleigh office will enable Simplilearn to better support the learning needs of enterprises and universities. In June 2015, Simplilearn set up operations in the U.S. through the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based digital marketing training company, Market Motive. About Simplilearn

Simplilearn's mission is to help professionals around the world acquire the skills they need to succeed in today's digital economy. The company provides online training in disciplines such as Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Digital Marketing, Data Science and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco, California and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 500,000 professionals and companies across 150+ countries get trained, acquire certifications and upskill their employees. Its training courses are designed and updated by renowned industry experts. Simplilearn's blended learning approach combines online classes, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, relevant, applied projects and 24/7 teaching assistance. Leading global training organizations have recognized Simplilearn as an official provider of certification training. The company has been named the 8th most influential education brand in the world by LinkedIn. For more information, visit https://www.simplilearn.com.

Media Contact

Rushitha Samavedam

+91-9538207070

[email protected]

SOURCE Simplilearn

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[November 07, 2017] Shape Security introduces Blackfish artificial intelligence system to protect consumers whose passwords have been stolen in data breaches

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shape Security, a provider of advanced security and fraud technology for the worlds largest companies, today launched Blackfish, the first system that can autonomously identify passwords stolen from a data breach before the data breach is reported or even detected. With this technology, organizations worldwide can eliminate the use of stolen usernames and passwords by identifying compromised credentials used to take over accounts, months or even years before the credentials show up for sale on the dark web. Blackfish is built upon the Shape global network, which is the primary line of application defense for the worlds leading companies, including three of the top four banks, three of the top five airlines, two of the top five hotel chains, and two of the top five U.S. government agencies. Credential stuffing attacks are responsible for more than $10 billion in fraud losses, identify theft, and brand damage every year. Shapes network data shows that in many industries, such as retail, more than 90% of all login attempts to websites often come from credential stuffing attacks instead of from real users. In these attacks, cybercriminals use advanced automation to test stolen passwords on other websites, simulating real users to take over large groups of accounts en masse. One of the greatest dangers companies face today is the long window of time between when breaches occur on third-part websites like Yahoo, and when those breaches are discovered and announced. This puts users everywhere at risk, said Derek Smith, CEO of Shape Security. Blackfish changes this entirely. By automatically detecting credential stuffing attacks on the largest, most targeted websites in the world, we are able to quickly identify newly stolen credentials and nullify them globally. That stolen data becomes useless to cybercriminals.



Shapes Blackfish technology will enable a unique defense across its customer network, which represents the largest companies in the industries most targeted by cybercriminals. Blackfish machine learning sensors analyze hundreds of signals in login attempts on major websites to automatically identify credentials being used by anyone other than their rightful owners. It then protects all other sites against account takeover attempts which use those credentials. To ensure that its knowledge base is secured, Blackfish does not store any credential information but instead leverages Bloom filters to create probabilistic data structures to perform its operations. As a result, the compromised credentials themselves are not stored anywhere and Blackfish can use the information about compromises to improve security while maintaining full data privacy.

In June, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued the recommendation that all companies check their users credentials against breached password corpuses, said Sarah Squire, co-author of the NIST Digital Identity Guidelines (SP 800-63). "Shape is going one step further by enabling companies to cross-reference with a breach corpus that is actively exploited and not dependent on companies self-disclosing breaches in a timely manner. The problem of credential stuffing cannot be fully solved without dealing with the stolen passwords themselves, said Ted Schlein, General Partner at Kleiner Perkins. Blackfish is the first technology that can identify compromised credentials before a data breach is discovered and ensure that cybercriminals cannot use them. The Blackfish system is also a strong demonstration of the power of Shape's network data, from protecting the world's largest organizations to providing a new level of defense for companies and their users. To learn more, visit: https://shapesecurity.com/blackfish. About Shape Security

The worlds leading financial, retail and travel companies and government agencies rely on Shape Security as their primary line of defense against fraud and attacks on their web and mobile applications. The Shape platform, covered by 45 patents, was designed to stop the most dangerous application attacks enabled by cybercriminal fraud tools, including credential stuffing (account takeover), product scraping, unauthorized aggregation, and other threats. Shape has prevented over $1 billion in fraud losses for its customers and protects more than 1.3 billion user accounts. Shape is headed by industry leaders from Google, Cisco, IBM, Raytheon, Palo Alto Networks, and the Pentagon. Media Contact

Leigh Ann Benicewicz

P: (415) 315-9301

[email protected]

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[November 07, 2017] Ensure Your Family is Prepared When the Topic is Fire Safety and Prevention

Canadians claim to be knowledgeable on home safety

and fire prevention but recent survey reveals significant room for improvement

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - While most Canadians believe they are well-informed when it comes to fire safety and prevention in their homes, a new national survey** commissioned by First Alert Canada, reveals that there is a need for Canadians to be more informed about the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and key safety steps. "On average 73 percent of fire fatalities occur in residential homes**," said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for First Alert, a leader in residential fire and carbon monoxide detection devices. "Many of these tragedies could be prevented with proper placement and maintenance of working smoke alarms, as well as prior emergency and escape planning. At First Alert, we aim to help Canadians understand the importance of practicing fire safety and involving their whole families when discussing the topic." Ensuring properly functioning smoke and CO alarms are installed throughout the home  one on each level and in every bedroom, as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends  is the first line of defense for fire prevention. Additionally, alarms must be regularly tested and alarms do not last forever and must be replaced at least every 10 years. On the question of how many smoke alarms are present in their homes, the survey revealed that a sizeable number of Canadians do not have the recommended number smokes alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. According to the study, nearly one in five two-story homes had just one smoke alarm in place despite guidelines or laws requiring at least two alarms. The survey also revealed that Canadians need to be more attentive when it comes to maintaining their smoke alarms. Battery checks and proper maintenance are critical, yet 67% of Canadians do not replace their alarm batteries as often as they should, usually waiting until the alarm begins to chirp. The NFPA recommends testing alarms regularly and replacing batteries at least every six months. Beyond alarms, having fire extinguishers  and knowing how to use them  is an important part of maintaining a safe home for you and your family. Place extinguishers in each area of the home where a fire could potentially occur, including the kitchen, living room, each bedroom and garage. Canadians should also be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide. It is an invisible and odorless gas produced when fossil fuels like oil, gas or coal burn. Exposure to lower lvels over time can cause sickness. High levels of CO exposure can lead to death.



While carbon monoxide alarms are also a key element of home safety, and required by law in Ontario and Quebec, the survey revealed that more than a third of Canadian homes do not have any CO protection. Significantly fewer homes comply with the CO detector legislation in Quebec with nearly two thirds (58%) without a alarm currently in the home. Furthermore, the survey shows that the Atlantic (56%) and British Columbia (48%) homes do not have a CO alarm installed. Another critical component of fire safety is having  and frequently practicing  an escape plan with your family. As part of this plan, equip second-floor sleeping areas with escape ladders, and discuss how to use them. In the event of an emergency, it is important to exit the home, stay outside and wait at the predesignated meeting area. Call 911 and wait until officials clear your home to re-enter it safely.

The survey reveals that just 56% of Canadians have a fire escape plan, and among those that do, just one in five said they practiced it twice a year. Breaking results down by city, Ottawa residents ranked lowest on fire escape planning, with just 46% saying they have a plan in place. Surprisingly, 20% of poll respondents said they did not even know if their home had a fire escape plan in place. "Fire prevention and safety is our number one priority," says Wey. "Smoke alarms help give you an early warning and play a pivotal role in the safety and security of your home. It is important for homeowners and renters to test their alarms regularly and ensure that their alarms are working and up-to-date. We all have a part to play in reducing the risk of fires at home." The NFPA recommends equipping homes with alarms of both types of smoke detection  photoelectric and ionization. Consider your home's specific needs regarding placement, making sure to install alarms in the basement, in or just outside every bedroom area and placing CO alarms on every level of the home. A variety of smoke alarms, including combination and 10-year battery powered models, are available to meet specific needs and local requirements. To obtain information and other resources regarding 10-year alarms and safety tips for protecting your family from smoke, fire and carbon monoxide, visit www.firstalert.ca . **The online national survey involved 1,505 Canadians and was conducted from September 20 by Research and Incite on behalf of First Alert. **Public Health Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/home-safety/fire-safety.html) ***National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) About BRK Brands, Inc.

BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Newell Brands. For 50 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray, Onelink by First Alert smart home products, a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com or http://www.newellbrands.com. About Newell Brands

Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate, Sharpie, Dymo, EXPO, Parker, Elmer's, Coleman, Jostens, Marmot, Rawlings, Oster, Sunbeam, FoodSaver, Mr. Coffee, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Graco, Baby Jogger, NUK, Calphalon, Rubbermaid, Contigo, First Alert, Waddington and Yankee Candle. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play. This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company's website, http://www.newellbrands.com. 2017 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504. All rights reserved.

First Alert is a registered trademark of The First Alert Trust, Aurora, IL 60504.

BRK Electronics is a registered trademark of BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504.

NYSE is a registered service mark of NYSE Group, Inc. SOURCE First Alert Canada

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[November 07, 2017] Yellow Pages Limited Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial and Operating Results

MONTREAL, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Yellow Pages Limited (TSX: Y) (the "Company"), a leading Canadian digital media and marketing company, released its operational and financial results today for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017.







Financial Highlights (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except percentage, per share and customer count information)











For the three-month periods

ended September 30, For the nine-month periods

ended September 30, Yellow Pages Limited 2017 2016 2017 2016









Revenues $181,366 $201,142 $562,093 $615,256 Adjusted EBITDA1 $46,172 $56,949 $137,072 $177,773 Adjusted EBITDA1margin 25.5% 28.3% 24.4% 28.9% Net (loss) earnings ($4,446) $3,774 ($2,968) $27,878 Diluted (loss) earnings per share ($0.17) $0.14 ($0.11) $1.00 Cash flow from operating activities $36,788 $73,364 $87,800 $130,239 Capital expenditures, net of lease incentives received $17,581 $14,602 $42,819 $42,930 Free cash flow1 $17,855 $28,930 $49,090 $76,338 Customer count2 233,500 243,000 233,500 243,000

Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2017 Yellow Pages Board of Directors named David A. Eckert President and Chief Executive Officer, refreshing the Company's leadership through the appointment of an executive with a keen understanding of the industry and a proven track record of improving business performance.

and Chief Executive Officer, refreshing the Company's leadership through the appointment of an executive with a keen understanding of the industry and a proven track record of improving business performance. On October 19, 2017 , the Company solidified its capital structure with the refinancing of Senior Secured Notes and the amendment and restatement of its Asset Based Loan facility, giving the Company no material debt maturities prior to 2022.

, the Company solidified its capital structure with the refinancing of Senior Secured Notes and the amendment and restatement of its Asset Based Loan facility, giving the Company no material debt maturities prior to 2022. Digital revenues decreased 4.2% year-over-year to $132.8 million . Digital revenues accounted for 73.2% of total revenues.

. Digital revenues accounted for 73.2% of total revenues. Total digit visits ("TDV") to the Yellow Pages network of properties grew over 54% year-over-year to 169 million. This increase is a result of Yellow Pages syndicating listings and content across its owned and operated media properties and strong partnership network.

Customer count decreased 3.9% year-over-year. Yellow Pages will place increased emphasis on growing the customer base through the acquisition of high potential customers and the retention of existing customers to stabilize and grow the Company's revenues.

Yellow Pages began piloting evergreen contracts and the MyTime solution with customers in Q3 2017. MyTime is a cloud-based all-in-one commerce platform for SMEs, providing online booking, messaging and payment capability to customers. 3

Yellow Pages expects to meet its 2017 guidance targets communicated on

August 10, 2017 for adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and customer count. The Company now expects full year revenue to be between $750 million and $760 million .

for adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and customer count. The Company now expects full year revenue to be between . As a result of weaker than expected performance in the Agency and YP segments, the Company no longer expects to report digital revenue growth this year. "The team at Yellow Pages is focused on building a great company that delights our customers and provides fair returns to investors," said David A. Eckert, President and CEO of Yellow Pages Limited. "Our recently completed debt refinancing is an important milestone on this journey, giving us greater flexibility and time to strengthen our performance. As we identify and take the steps required to build the great company we all want, I am committed to keeping our stakeholders up to date on our priorities and progress." Segmented Information Following the announcement of its updated corporate strategy, the Company has made changes to how it manages, allocates capital and assesses performance of the business. The Company's operations have been divided into the following four segments: YP  digital and traditional marketing solutions, including owned and operated media, provided to small and medium sized enterprises ("SMEs");

Agency  national advertising services to brands and publishers, primarily through Mediative, Juice and Totem subsidiaries;

Real Estate  media and expertise to help Canadians buy and sell their homes, via ComFree/DuProprio ("CFDP") and Yellow Pages NextHome subsidiaries; and

Other  diversified portfolio of media properties, including 411.ca and local lifestyles magazines specific to the Western Canadian market. An overview of each segment and the performance of each segment for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 can be found in the November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis. Yellow Pages will provide quarterly results on a segmented basis going forward. Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2017 Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 decreased 9.8% year-over-year to $181.4 million, mainly due to lower print revenues. Digital revenues totalled $132.8 million, down 4.2% from the same period last year due to declines in the Agency and YP segments. Print revenues decreased 22.4% year-over-year to $48.5 million, mainly due to a decline in the number of print customers as marketing spending shifts from print to digital. Adjusted EBITDA totalled $46.2 million for the third quarter 2017, compared to $56.9 million during the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.5% compared to 28.3% in the prior year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin was mainly impacted by lower overall revenues and changes in product mix, offset by cost saving initiatives. Net loss for the third quarter 2017 was $4.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $3.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period last year. The decline in net earnings was primarily due to lower Adjusted EBITDA and the impairment of certain available-for-sale investments, as well as the write-off of an investment in a jointly controlled entity. The Company generated free cash flow of $17.9 million for the third quarter of 2017, down from $28.9 million the previous year due to lower Adjusted EBITDA. Net debt amounted to $354.2 million at September 30, 2017. 2017 Guidance For the year ending December 31, 2017, Yellow Pages anticipates: Total revenues between $750 million and $760 million ;

; Adjusted EBITDA between $170 million and $180 million ;

; Free cash flow between $50 million and $55 million ;

; Customer count of approximately 230,000; and

Capital expenditures, net of related lease incentives, of less than $65 million . As part of establishing the above guidance, the Company made the following assumptions: Economic conditions in Canada will not deteriorate;

will not deteriorate; The decline in print revenues will remain at or below 25% per annum;

The Company will be able to introduce, sell and provision the new products and services that support our customer base and Average Revenue per Customer ("ARPC") assumptions;

The revenue mix between the Company's digital owned and operated, services and resale solutions will not materially change from anticipated levels;

Performance of the Agency segment will not differ materially from anticipated levels;

Investments in marketing will evolve legacy perceptions and boost awareness of our digital media platforms and marketing solutions;

The Company will be able to realize efficiency gains in its cost structure to support profitability and cash flow generation; and

Guidance is based on current accounting standards and policies. The Company cautions that the assumptions used to prepare the guidance provided above, although currently reasonable, may prove to be incorrect or inaccurate. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from expectations as set forth above. The guidance provided above should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, the section Forward-Looking Information beginning on page 1 of the November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis. Conference Call & Webcast

Yellow Pages Limited will hold an analyst and media call and simultaneous webcast at 8 a.m. (Eastern Time) on November 7, 2017 to discuss third quarter 2017 results. The call may be accessed by dialing 416-340-2219 within the Toronto area, or 1-800-478-9326 outside of Toronto. The call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company's website at: https://corporate.yp.ca/en/investors/financial-reports. The conference call will be archived in the Investors section of the site at: https://corporate.yp.ca/en/investors/financial-events-presentations/. A playback of the call can also be accessed between November 7 and December 8, 2017 by dialing 905-694-9451 within the Toronto area, or 1-800-408-3053 outside of Toronto and entering passcode 8773031. About Yellow Pages Limited

Yellow Pages Limited (TSX: Y) is a Canadian digital media and marketing company that creates opportunities for buyers and sellers to interact and transact in the local economy. Yellow Pages holds some of Canada's leading local online properties including YP.ca, RedFlagDeals.com, Canada411.ca, 411.ca, Bookenda.com, DuProprio.com, ComFree.com and YP NextHome. The Company also holds the YP, YP Shopwise, YP Dine, RedFlagDeals, Canada411, 411, Bookenda, DuProprio, ComFree and YP NextHome mobile applications and Yellow Pages print directories. In addition, Yellow Pages is a leader in national advertising through its businesses devoted to servicing the marketing needs of large North American brands, including Mediative and JUICE. For more information visit www.corporate.yp.ca. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the objectives, strategies, financial conditions, results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements are forward-looking as they are based on our current expectations, as at November 7, 2017, about our business and the markets we operate in, and on various estimates and assumptions. Our actual results could materially differ from our expectations if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. As a result, there is no assurance that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Risks that could cause our results to differ materially from our current expectations are discussed in section 6 of our November 7, 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law, even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason. 1 Non-IFRS Measures In order to provide a better understanding of the results, the Company uses the terms Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from operations before depreciation and amortization, impairment of intangible assets and restructuring and other charges. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as the percentage of Adjusted EBITDA to revenues. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not performance measures defined under IFRS and are not considered an alternative to income from operations or net earnings in the context of measuring Yellow Pages performance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin do not have a standardized meaning and are therefore not likely to be comparable to similar measures used by other publicly traded companies. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to evaluate the performance of its business as it reflects its ongoing profitability. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIDTA margin to measure a company's ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or to value companies in the media and marketing solutions industry as well as to evaluate the performance of a business. As well, free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure generally used as an indicator of financial performance. It should not be seen as a substitute for cash flows from operating activities. Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities, adjusted for the change in operating assets and liabilities, less additions to intangible assets and additions to property and equipment. Free cash flow is not a standardized measure and is not comparable with that of other public companies. Management considers free cash flow to be an important indicator of the performance of its business as it reflects the Company's ability to generate overall cash earnings and reflects the net cash generated available for debt repayment, acquisitions or other activities. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use free cash flow to value a business and its underlying assets as well as to evaluate a company's performance. Free cash flow for comparative periods presented has been restated to conform to this year's presentation, which includes an adjustment for the change in operating assets and liabilities. The change to this measure has been made to remove the movements in working capital items to better reflect the underlying performance of the business. Net debt is a non-IFRS measure and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to comparable to similar measures presented by other publicly traded companies. Net debt is defined as current portion of long-term debt plus long-term debt and exchangeable debentures, less cash. Management considers net debt to be an important indicator of its financial leverage as it represents the amount of debt that is not covered by available cash. Management believes that certain investors and analysts use net debt to determine a company's financial leverage. 2 For the twelve-month period ended September 30. 3 Yellow Pages entered into a Canada-wide exclusive licensing agreement with MyTime, as disclosed on July 5, 2017. SOURCE Yellow Pages Limited

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[November 07, 2017] OwnBackup Announces Winter '18 Release, Raises the Bar for SaaS Backup, Recovery and Replication

FORT LEE, N.J. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dreamforce 2017  OwnBackup, a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) data backup and recovery vendor, today announced the availability of its Winter 18 release. Advanced new features tighten SaaS data backup and recovery security, offer greater control and access, and improve backup and recovery performancemaking data protection easier, faster and better integrated with existing security systems. Weve relied on OwnBackup for almost two years, and it has paid for itself many times over. Having the tool in place gives us peace of mind that we can quickly restore from a data disaster, and we look forward to using the latest version for other business needs as well. The new compare feature is amazing for managing sandboxes, and the data alerts feature is a proactive way to monitor data health, said George Davis, Salesforce Administrator at Axon Enterprise Inc. Built on the Salesforce Platform, OwnBackups award-winning backup and recovery service technology is available on the AppExchange. As a pioneer in the cloud-to-cloud backup, recovery and replication space, OwnBackups latest release continues to push past previous boundaries. Highlights include the ability to: Advanced Key Management: Users may now add an extra layer of protection by generating their own encryption keys for use on their data. New keys may be rotated as frequently as required by their own security policies.

Users may now add an extra layer of protection by generating their own encryption keys for use on their data. New keys may be rotated as frequently as required by their own security policies. Activate OwnBackup services automatically from apps : A new OwnBackup API enables users to integrate the OwnBackup service directly for automatic operations such as backup on-dmand, export and download data, access audit logs, and check backup statuses.

: A new OwnBackup API enables users to integrate the OwnBackup service directly for automatic operations such as backup on-dmand, export and download data, access audit logs, and check backup statuses. Filter and find the right data to restore faster : OwnBackups new consolidated Restore tool brings together all recovery capabilities, enabling users to restore multiple objects, and their related records, in a single operation. Deeper recovery and iterative refine-and-preview capabilities, including query-based filtering and alerts, enhance the user experience, especially under pressure.

: OwnBackups new consolidated Restore tool brings together all recovery capabilities, enabling users to restore multiple objects, and their related records, in a single operation. Deeper recovery and iterative refine-and-preview capabilities, including query-based filtering and alerts, enhance the user experience, especially under pressure. Pinpoint corruption faster and audit data over time with field-level Compare: Easily isolate changes to specific fields with advanced filter options and drill-down comparison of previous to current data values.

Easily isolate changes to specific fields with advanced filter options and drill-down comparison of previous to current data values. Search within attachment contents : Users gain a new capability that allows them to search within the content of attachments. Users can now search for keywords within PDFs, MS Word documents, MS Excel files and other attached file types.

: Users gain a new capability that allows them to search within the content of attachments. Users can now search for keywords within PDFs, MS Word documents, MS Excel files and other attached file types. Better meet compliance and reporting requirements : The new OwnBackup Reports Dashboard helps users more easily meet compliance and reporting requirements with comprehensive, consolidated online reporting, available by custom date ranges.

: The new OwnBackup Reports Dashboard helps users more easily meet compliance and reporting requirements with comprehensive, consolidated online reporting, available by custom date ranges. Create the Perfect Test Data set: This release also enhances filtering and performance features in the OwnBackup Sandbox Seeding product to further accelerate development and QA cycles.

This release also enhances filtering and performance features in the OwnBackup Sandbox Seeding product to further accelerate development and QA cycles. Easily accomplish data protection tasks: Consolidated features and functions, and the enhanced look and feel of the new OwnBackup User Interface makes it easier for data protection specialists to do their job.



For complete details on the latest OwnBackup offering, please visit: https://www.ownbackup.com/products

About Salesforce AppExchange Salesforce AppExchange, the worlds leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With more than 4,000 solutions, 5 million customer installs and 70,000 peer reviews, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses. Additional Resources Like Salesforce on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/salesforce

Follow Salesforce on Twitter: https://twitter.com/salesforce Salesforce, AppExchange, Dreamforce and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, Inc. About OwnBackup

OwnBackup, a leading data backup and recovery vendor, provides secure, automated, daily backups of SaaS and PaaS data, as well as sophisticated data compare and restore tools for disaster recovery. OwnBackup covers data loss and corruption caused by human errors, malicious intent, integration errors and rogue applications. Co-founded by seasoned data-recovery, data-protection and information-security experts, OwnBackup is a top-ranked backup and restore ISV on the Salesforce AppExchange and was selected as a Gartner 2015 Cool Vendor in Business Continuity and IT Disaster Recovery. Headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey, with R&D, support and other functions in Tel Aviv, Israel, OwnBackup is the vendor of choice for some of the worlds largest users of SaaS applications. For more information, visit http://www.ownbackup.com. Media Contact: Erica Camilo Connexa Communications for OwnBackup C: 610.639.5644 [email protected]

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[November 07, 2017] SpotX to Provide Ad Serving and Programmatic Enablement to PCH/Media

DENVER, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Video ad serving platform SpotX today announced that PCH/Media, the digital arm of Publishers Clearing House, has selected SpotX to provide programmatic infrastructure and ad serving across its primary desktop properties.

Rather than relying on cookies to draw inferences about their audience, PCH leverages first-party user registration data which gives them a unique level of insight into each individual impression. By leveraging SpotXs ad serving platform, PCH/Media (PCH) will be able to deploy the full gamut of direct and programmatic sales techniques to monetize desktop inventory in transactions enhanced by industry-leading audience data. Our user registration process makes it possible for advertisers to leverage true identity data to improve the relevance and effectiveness of every ad served, said Spencer Scott, Head of Media Platforms, PCH/Media. SpotXs platform will allow us to make our high-performing inventory available to new sources of programmatic demand, improving outcomes on both sides of the transaction. In addition to powering transactions through private and Curated Marketplaces, SpotX will also provide mediation for PCHs own direct-sold deals. Through this partnership, PCH can leverage SpotXs dedicated Demand Facilitationteam which has already helped structure hundreds of deals and assisted in fostering relationships with a host of new DSPs.



Were thrilled to provide advanced ad serving capabilities to make PCHs unique audience segments available programmatically, said Ryan Kenney, VP, Platform Services at SpotX. Our suite of monetization tools will increase efficiencies in the buying process, allowing PCH to realize maximum returns on their high-viewability inventory. Media contacts:

SpotX: Erin Smith, [email protected]

PCH/Media: Emma Willis, [email protected]

About SpotX

SpotX is a video ad serving platform providing media owners with monetization tools for desktop, mobile and connected devices. The platform features modern ad serving and programmatic infrastructure, and other monetization tools, like solutions for OTT and outstream video ad units. SpotX gives publishers the control, transparency and actionable insights needed to understand buyer behavior, manage access and pricing, and maximize revenue. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and has offices in Amsterdam, Belfast, Hamburg, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Stockholm, Singapore and Sydney. In October 2017, RTL Group, a leader across broadcast, content and digital, completed its 100% acquisition of SpotX. For updates, follow SpotX on Twitter and LinkedIn. About PCH/Media:

As a publisher and retailer, Publishers Clearing House (PCH) combines first-party identity and purchase data from our customers to offer deep insights about what motivates them. In the past, PCH has used this data to fuel its rapid growth. Now, PCH/Media has made this data available to marketers too, with digital media and targeting solutions that persuade people to action.

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[November 07, 2017] AIG Names Lex Baugh as Chief Executive Officer, North America General Insurance; George Stratts to Lead Lexington

American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) announced today the appointment of Lex Baugh as Chief Executive Officer, North America General Insurance. In this newly created role, Mr. Baugh will oversee AIG's U.S. and Canada General Insurance business, with responsibility for the development and execution of a profitable, client-focused strategy. He will report to Peter Zaffino, Chief Executive Officer, General Insurance, as a member of the General Insurance Executive Leadership Team. The appointment is effective immediately. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005931/en/ Lex Baugh, Chief Executive Officer, North America General Insurance (Photo: Business Wire) Most recently, Mr. Baugh served as President of Liability and Financial Lines at AIG, overseeing the largest part of the global Commercial portfolio. Prior to that, he was President of Global Casualty at AIG. Mr. Baugh also served as Chief Risk Officer and Head of Strategic Planning for AIG Property Casualty, and previously as President and Chief Executive Officer of Chartis Europe Holdings Limited. "Lex brings an enormous amount of leadership experience to this role, with over 30 years at AIG," said Mr. Zaffino. "I look forward to working with Lex and Chris Townsend, who we recently appointed as CEO of International General Insurance, to transform our business globally into a profitable and growing organization, aligned with the market and with the needs and expectations of our clients and distribution partners." As part of the change in General Insurance, George Stratts will be named Chief Executive Officer of Lexington Insurance Company, the largest Excess and Surplus (E&S) underwriter in the U.S. In this role, he will report to Mr. Baugh and serve on the General Insurance Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Stratts will be responsible for growing the Lexington franchise and delivering specialized capabilities, roduct innovation, and distribution strategies focused on the needs of clients and brokers in this segment.



"George's deep expertise in the E&S market and proven leadership in property insurance represents the commitment we're making to dedicate our best resources to this strategically important business," said Mr. Zaffino. Mr. Stratts has over 25 years of commercial property insurance experience in both admitted and non-admitted markets. Most recently, he was President of AIG's Property and Special Risks division globally and prior to that, served as Executive Vice President of Lexington Insurance Company. Before joining AIG in 1999, Mr. Stratts held various positions in the property and marine businesses at Chubb for eight years.

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only AIG's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside AIG's control. It is possible that actual results will differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results contemplated by these statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed throughout AIG's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. Founded in 1919, today AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement products, and other financial services to customers in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube (News - Alert): www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter (News - Alert): @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005931/en/

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The lawyer for political activist Andreas Ghukasyan, who ran for president of Armenia in 2013 and is now being tried on charges stemming from the 2016 Sasna Dzrer incident, today motioned that the presiding judge in the trial recuse himself.

The motion was denied.

Attorney Karen Mezhlumyan accused the judge, Vardan Grigoryan, of not being impartial during the trial. As proof, Mezhlumyan said that the judge disallowed publication of the preliminary testimony of a main prosecution witness. The attorney says that testimony differs substantially with what the witness is claiming today.

State Prosecutor Petros Petrosyan dissented, saying that Mezhlumyas accusations were totally subjective.
[November 07, 2017] Empowering Teens through Smart Spending

MISSION, Kan., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) Helping teens learn to handle money can be a tricky proposition. Mistakes can quite literally be costly, but theres really no substitute for hands-on practice when it comes to managing finances.

Photo courtesy of Jeannette Kaplun, HispanaGlobal.net.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/35c24f1c-0d06-4846-884c-129b5033a7cb Children are the ultimate investment, so teach your teen to be a smart spender with these savvy tips: Start with saving. As a first step, open a savings account for your teen and involve them in the process. Use this opportunity to teach god habits, such as putting away a percentage of every paycheck, creating an emergency fund and setting savings goals for big purchases. Visit the bank together and explore the account options. Many banks offer incentives for high-balance accounts, and while your teen likely wont qualify, its a valuable lesson to see the incentives available to big savers.



Move on to basic checking. Although most banks still refer to their most accessible accounts as checking accounts, chances are that your teen is more likely to shop with a debit card or cash rather than checks. Still, knowing how to write a proper check is an important life skill  as are conducting debit transactions and understanding any fees associated with using the account. Create safe zones. Even after teaching them the fundamentals, letting teens make their own purchasing decisions can be a frightening prospect. Fortunately, if you know where to look, there are options available that offer teens a customizable level of autonomy while still under the oversight of a parent. For example, Amazon introduced a way for teens ages 13-17 to shop using their own, independent login linked to a parents account. In addition to product recommendations, order histories and lists tailored specifically to the teen's shopping history and interests, teens can exercise smart shopping decisions with access to customer reviews and comparison shopping tools.

Parents have the option to review and approve every purchase, or set spending limits that offer teens the freedom to place orders up to a certain dollar amount on their own. In either case, parents receive notifications for every order and shipment. Find more details at Amazon.com/forteens. Set a budget. Part of smart spending is learning to shop within your means. Whether your teens income is from a part-time job, allowance or a combination of the two, building a budget that defines expenses and expectations is essential. Like any budget, it should include all income sources and all expenses he or she is responsible for, including auto maintenance, gasoline, insurance and beyond. Reinforce the importance of saving by including a regular savings allocation. Putting all of these numbers to paper lets your teen see clearly where the money is going and how much is left over for extracurricular spending. Put safety nets in place. No matter how much planning is done in advance, surprise expenses will inevitably pop up. Teens can prepare for these expenses while also guarding against mistakes and the temptation to over-spend by taking advantage of special services available through banking institutions, such as setting a per-transaction or daily spending limit and investing in overdraft coverage. Ultimately, money management skills come with time and practice. Creating a safe environment for your teen to practice these life lessons sooner rather than later can pay dividends down the road. Michael French

[email protected]

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free  with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.

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[November 07, 2017] Elemica Delivers Predictive Visibility to Global Industrial Supply Chains

WAYNE, Pa., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elemica, the leading Business Network for the process industries, introduces unprecedented new levels of extended end-to-end supply chain visibility with Elemica Pulse, a new solution that provides real-time predictive visibility from customer order to supplier delivery and the complete order-to-cash and procure-to-pay process.

Elemica Pulse enables companies to have greater ability to satisfy customer service levels, mitigate supply chain risk, and streamline cash collection and payments. Leveraging predictive intelligence, Elemica Pulse uses innovations in machine learning to help predict outcomes and correlate the dynamic influencers on their supply chain anomalies. By measuring the contributing impact, companies then achieve competitive advantage by adding value-added solutions that improve the customer experience while reducing cost to serve. While supply chain visibility is not new, the ability to gain deep visibility with embedded predictive analytics is. Gleaning historical data from disparate enterprise systems including the customer, supplier, and logistics providers is wht businesses have been needing for a long time, said Rich Katz, Chief Technology Officer of Elemica. Elemica Pulse is the next generation of visibility, utilizing machine learning to deliver unprecedented end-to-end supply chain visibility.



Most significantly, Elemica Pulse features the Elemica Reality Check . As the Elemica Business Network captures event and transaction data across the entire network, it creates a critical mass of historical business information that is used to generate strategic and actionable insights. For example, if a carrier promises next-day delivery, Elemica Reality Check analyzes network data using proprietary algorithms to make an accurate prediction of delivery, alerting users on a high probability of late delivery. Todays businesses expect the same customer experience that consumers get from their online vendors with full visibility in real time, regardless of mode, said Adrian Gonzalez, President of Adelante SCM. Therefore, the need to convert data into actionable insights is more important than ever, and industry business networks, which enable trading partners to connect, communicate, and collaborate in more scalable and efficient ways, are responding by innovating their platforms with machine learning, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics capabilities.

Elemica Pulse: Provides visibility from end-to-end, allowing all parties to track orders, cash, and status through the entire cycle: order capture, shipment, receipt, invoice, and payment.

Utilizes machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide more accurate predictions of shipping and delivery dates, leading to improved customer satisfaction.

Gives a comprehensive picture of business performance both inside and outside the four walls.

Leverages an easy-to-use, exception-based management dashboard allowing drill down access. About Elemica

Elemica is the leading Business Network for the process industries. Elemica transforms supply chains by replacing manual and complex approaches with efficient and reliable ones. Launched in 2000, customers like BASF, BP, Continental, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, LANXESS, Michelin, Shell, Solvay, Sumitomo Chemical, Wacker and more process nearly $400B in commerce value annually on the network. Elemica drives bottom line results by promoting reduced cost of operations, faster process execution, automation of key business processes, removal of transactional barriers, and seamless information flow between trading partners. For more information, visit www.elemica.com. For More Information, Contact:

Becky Boyd

MediaFirst

(770) 642-2080 x 214

[email protected]

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[November 07, 2017] KNect365, an Informa Business, Mission Critical Technologies and International Wireless Communications Expo Collaborate to Offer New Opportunities for the Global Critical Communications Industry

ATLANTA and LONDON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- KNect365, an Informa Business, Mission Critical Technologies, the global exhibition and conference dedicated to next-generation public safety technologies, and International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE), the premier annual event for communications technology professionals, are collaborating to bring new opportunities for critical communications technology vendors and professionals globally. The two sister brands are joining forces as part of Knect365's Public Infrastructure Group to provide communications technology professionals all the information they need to get their jobs done well. There is tremendous synergy between Mission Critical Technologies and IWCE as well as other brands within KNect365 including Africacom, 5G Franchise and the IoT/Smart Cities franchise. The two events are partnering around conference program sessions and editorial content. Both Mission Critical Technologies and IWCE exhibitors and attendees can now reach the international critical communications industry by exhibiting, attending and sponsoring any of the Informa critical communications events throughout the world. "Our industry is rapidly transforming," said Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Manager, Mission Critical Technologies. "As the former producers of the Critical Communications World event for 19 yers, we are very excited to work with the IWCE team to offer expanded opportunities in the United States."



Gregg Herring, VP & Market Leader, Public Infrastructure said, "We've received inquiries from exhibitors and attendees about an international presence. We are thrilled to now be able to share these international events with the IWCE community. By collaborating on these events throughout the world, we know we can help grow our customer's businesses and industry knowledge." Mission Critical Technologies showcases the technological progression of public safety organizations through a two-day exhibition with over 100 organizations showcasing their solutions. Mission Critical Technologies also educates its community through CPD accredited conferences. Mission Critical Technologies will be held June 13 -14 2018 in London, as part of London Technology Week. For additional information, visit: https://tmt.knect365.com/techxlr8/. Mission Critical Technologies regional events include: Mission Critical Technologies Asia (October 2018), Mission Critical Technologies Africa (November, 2018) and the 8th Annual Critical Control Rooms (December, 2018).

For over 40 years, IWCE has been the leading industry event where communications technology professionals come together to network, connect with their vendors and take part in our robust conference program. The exhibit hall features 400 exhibitors and conference program offers 100+ workshops, short courses, power sessions and trainings. Over 7,000 individuals attend from a diverse group of industry professionals including product distribution, government, public safety, critical infrastructure and business enterprise. IWCE 2018 will be held March 5-9, 2018 in Orlando. For more information, visit www.iwceexpo.com. About Informa

Mission Critical Technologies and IWCE are part of Informa, the international business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events group. Informa serves commercial, professional and academic communities, helping them connect and learn, and creating and providing access to content and intelligence that helps people and businesses work smarter and make better decisions faster. Informa has over 7,500 colleagues in more than 20 countries and a presence in all major geographies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. MEDIA CONTACTS

Nadira Ramatally

Director of Marketing

IWCE

(770) 618-0121

[email protected] Georgie Beer

Campaign Marketer

Mission Critical Technologies

+44 (0) 20 701 76583

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/knect365-an-informa-business-mission-critical-technologies-and-international-wireless-communications-expo-collaborate-to-offer-new-opportunities-for-the-global-critical-communications-industry-300550891.html SOURCE International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE); Mission Critical Technologies

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[November 07, 2017] Drillinginfo Strengthens Its Solutions Around Well Spacing, Unitization and Historical Well Records in Oklahoma and New Mexico

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Drillinginfo, the energy industry's leading SaaS and data analytics company, has acquired Oklahoma City-based Oil-Law Records (OLR), one of the first oil and gas industry information providers in the U.S. Throughout its 62-year history, Oil-Law Records has developed an unrivaled reputation for quality records-keeping and timely updates used in the exploration and production of oil and gas. The combination of Oil-Law Records' data and Drillinginfo's cutting edge information, software and analytical solutions provide a solid foundation for the discovery phase of leasing and drilling activity, which helps landmen, geologists, engineers, regulatory compliance teams and others involved in the Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) process. "Bringing our two resources together reinforces our commitment to meticulously capture data and produce meaningful intelligence. This serves a diverse mix of stakeholders  from landmen to lawyers and planning to permitting teams  and drives efficiencies for those focused on doing more with less, a critical goal of every company in energy right now," said Jeff Hughes, CEO of Drillinginfo. OLR's Source spacing database is the only fully interpreted database of spacing information in existence. With it, users have the power to quickly ie together historical spacing information up and down geological strata  across geography and across time  which establishes new spacing and reveals opportunities for well development and in-fill drilling.



In addition to its proprietary database of historical spacing units and expertise in regulatory processes unique in these basins, Oil-Law Records was instrumental in digitizing New Mexico's historic well records, hearing and administrative orders. The result is an extremely robust database with tens of thousands of New Mexico well records that are proprietary to OLR, as the originals were destroyed by the state commission in the early 2000s. "The pairing of these two highly complementary systems clearly demonstrates that the sum is greater than its parts," said J. Brad McPherson, Chief Executive Officer of Oil-Law Records Corporation. "We've worked with Drillinginfo as partners for more than ten years. Adding our historical data to DI's best-in-class solutions is something that will benefit everyone interested in Oklahoma and New Mexico, including the SCOOP/STACK, and Permian Basins," said McPherson.

About Drillinginfo:

Drillinginfo is the leading energy SaaS and data analytics platform that provides predictive tools and technology to drive exploration decisions, evaluate rapidly evolving opportunities and achieve better, faster results. The company delivers actionable intelligence over mobile, web and desktop to analyze and reduce risk, conduct competitive benchmarking, and uncover market insights. Drillinginfo serves more than 3,000 companies globally from its Austin, Texas headquarters and has more than 400 employees. For more information visit drillinginfo.com. About Oil-Law Record:

Founded in 1955, Oil-Law Records provides the oil and gas industries of Oklahoma and New Mexico with innovative efficient solutions to address information gathering challenges. Every day, Oil-Law Records compiles, analyzes and abstracts state-level oil and gas filings and distributes that information to thousands of end users. OLR allows its users to harness the most precious of all assets: time. For additional information, please see www.oil-law.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drillinginfo-strengthens-its-solutions-around-well-spacing-unitization-and-historical-well-records-in-oklahoma-and-new-mexico-300550224.html SOURCE Drillinginfo

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[November 07, 2017]

Beringer Capital Acquires Full Service Digital Commerce Provider BrandShop

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Beringer Capital (www.beringercapital.com), a private equity firm investing in technology products and services for brands, announced today the acquisition of full service digital commerce provider, BrandShop (www.brandshop.com). BrandShop's management team retains a significant equity interest in the company.

This partnership will provide BrandShop with the capital needed to continue scaling its direct to consumer digital commerce services for Fortune 1000 clients with respect to enabling them to expand sales channels, access and analyze critical transaction-driven consumer data, and drive greater consumer brand loyalty.

"The world's biggest brands are standing at the cusp of a massive market shift and BrandShop has played an integral role in building these new direct-to-consumer experiences," said Reuben S. Hendell, co-founder and CEO of BrandShop. "Beringer's commitment and support will allow us to continue creating new opportunities for brans that are informative, delightful and effective."







"The vast majority of ecommerce solutions in the market today are designed to serve retailers, but we see a significant need to assist and serve consumer brands by helping them unlock the power of the data and corresponding analytics that come from enabling direct commerce," said Brian F. Martin, Vice Chairman of Beringer Capital. "We are excited to partner with BrandShop and to provide them with the resources they need to expand upon their success and explore broader, deeper capabilities."

Earlier this year Beringer acquired Blue Acorn, an award winning digital commerce service provider.

The acquisition of BrandShop is the fourth of Beringer Capital's third fund.

About Beringer Capital

Beringer Capital is a leading private equity firm that invests in technology-led companies that serve leading brands. Beringer Capital partners with founders and management teams to build significant businesses through a combination of organic growth and add-on acquisitions.

For more information, please visit: http://www.beringercapital.com/

About BrandShop

BrandShop is the leading provider of brand digital commerce solutions for Fortune 1000 companies. BrandShop fuses technology, design and analytics to streamline the way products are discovered and purchased delivering unprecedented insight to the brands. Co-founded by Reuben S. Hendell, BrandShop works with more than 50 clients including Casio, Cuisinart, Ping, Jaguar, Georgia-Pacific, Land Rover, Hershey's, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and Waterpik.

For more information please visit: http://www.brandshop.com/

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beringer-capital-acquires-full-service-digital-commerce-provider-brandshop-300550997.html

SOURCE Beringer Capital
[November 07, 2017] CyberSeek Details Supply and Demand of U.S. Cybersecurity Workers

DAYTON, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The demand for cybersecurity professionals remains strong across the United States, new data from CyberSeek released here today at the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Conference & Expo 2017 reveals. U.S. employers posted 285,681 cybersecurity job openings during the 12-month period that ended in September 2017, according to CyberSeek, a free workforce and career resource developed jointly by CompTIA, the leading technology industry association, and labor market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies. "The demand for skilled and certified cybersecurity professionals is surging from coast to coast and border to border," said Matthew Sigelman, chief executive officer at Burning Glass Technologies. "In every state the demand for cybersecurity talent significantly outstrips the supply of available workers." CyberSeek's alignment with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework provides unprecedented visibility into the job roles most in demand. The data reveals that the categories of Operate and Maintain, Securely Provision, Protect and Demand, and Analyze account for the bulk of the job postings. "The range of ob roles cited in CyberSeek reflects the multi-faceted approach that's required to defend against an ever-expanding cybersecurity threat landscape," said Todd Thibodeaux, CompTIA president and CEO. "The reality is that everyone needs some level of cybersecurity knowledge and skills, whether they have 'security' in their job title or not."



According to CyberSeek, the metro regions with the largest absolute number of cybersecurity job openings are Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago. The new data also reveals that cybersecurity job openings are most heavily concentrated in the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and San Jose markets. New CyberSeek features bring more clarity to nation's cybersecurity workforce

Several new features have been added in the second iteration of CyberSeek to provide greater visibility into the supply and demand of cybersecurity workers at the national, state and metropolitan levels. One key new feature of the CyberSeek heat map is the ability to track data on cybersecurity job demand overall, and within the public and private sectors. For the 12 months ending in September 2017, public sector entities posted 12,100 job openings for cybersecurity workers. That's in addition to the estimated 31,634 public sector workers employed in cybersecurity-related jobs in 2016. The CyberSeek career pathway, which maps to the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, has been enhanced to help both individuals interested in cybersecurity careers and employers looking to fill job openings. The expanded, interactive career pathway includes information on 10 core cybersecurity roles and 5 tech jobs that often serve as "feeder roles" to cybersecurity positions. These feeder job roles are functional domains that have significant skill overlap with some of the core cybersecurity roles and represent potential stepping stones into cybersecurity. The updated site also includes embeddable heat map and career pathway widgets. Anyone interested in the cybersecurity workforce can embed versions of the heat map and career pathway on their websites, with links back to CyberSeek.org. CyberSeek was created by CompTIA and Burning Glass Technologies through a grant awarded by NIST, a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. Contacts:

Steven Ostrowski

CompTIA

[email protected]

630-678-8468 Scott Bittle

Burning Glass Technologies

[email protected]

(617) 804-1549 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyberseek-details-supply-and-demand-of-us-cybersecurity-workers-300550192.html SOURCE CompTIA

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[November 07, 2017] Yack.net Launches First Call-Transcription Collaboration Tool

A UK start-up is adding an extra dimension to teamwork with the launch of a new platform that 'captures all forms of conversation'. Yack.net is the first collaboration tool that combines instant messaging with technology that records and transcribes video and voice calls. The technology, which has taken more than a year to develop, lets up to six people talk on a call. It will identify who said what, then store the verbal recording and the voice-to-text transcript in the history of that 'Yack' chat room. Having a paper trail linked to the voice record allows team members to easily search for specific information shared verbally, and read a transcript or replay the appropriate part of the call. This improves team collaboration providing greater efficiency, accuracy and accountability. Primary targets for the new platform are small to medium enterprises that use project management systems, particularly those with distributed teams. Having accurate and easily accessible records of conversations is also expected to appeal to HR departments, financial services professionals, lawyers and journalists. "Yack.net was built following the realisation that in every business, people understand things differently or sometimes miss the point. These misunderstandings waste time and create fractured projects and relationships, a problem which is compounded by evermore geographically dspersed teams," explains Alan Mortis, founder and CEO of Yack.net.



"We believe Yack.net will bring huge added benefits, enabling increased transparency and a more equal distribution of knowledge within SMEs. It makes it easier to keep people in the loop and for others to catch up on discussions. Being able to have cloud-based evidence of who said what means people can be more accountable, avoiding doubts or misunderstandings. "Our mission is to make businesses more effective by providing simple, searchable access to all data generated by a team," he adds.

-END- About Yack.net Users can choose to access Yack.net through a web browser with full support in Chrome and Firefox. Alternatively, iOS, Android (News - Alert) and Windows 10 apps are available for download from their respective app stores. It is free to use Yack.net with a 'basic user' account and there is a range of three premium packages which are free to try for seven days. The premium versions include the ability to make outgoing recorded and transcribed calls, increased data storage, third-party user invitations and dedicated support, amongst other features. Yack.net has been created and funded to date by Connected Digital, a technology consultancy that provides app, publishing and web solutions, designed to help businesses connect with customers. Yack.net is currently fundraising to accelerate its product development and expansion programme. The Yack.net website is at https://yack.net/ Follow Yack.net: Blog, Twitter and Linkedin View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006246/en/

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[November 07, 2017] Thanksgiving Day Help On-Line

MODESTO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Whether it be surfing the Web or dialing a toll-free phone number, California consumers will have plenty of help this holiday season in preparing the perfect Thanksgiving meal. The California Poultry Federation (CPF) offers a convenient one-stop location on its website -- www.cpif.org -- for those consumers looking for timely tips on preparing the perfect holiday meal. CPF is the state's only trade association representing all segments of the poultry industry, including turkey production and marketing companies. Consumers can find the perfect fresh turkey for roasting, meal preparation tips and tasty recipes on the websites of CPF members: Foster Farms  https://www.fosterfarms.com/turkey-tips/

Zacky Farms - www.zacky.com

Pitman Farms - Mary's Free Range Turkeys www.marysturkeys.com

Willie Bird Turkeys - www.williebird.com

Mrs. Cubbison's - dressing and recipes www.mrscubbisons.com

Volk Enterprises - home of the Pop-Up Timer http://www.volkenterprises.com/consumer/



Foster Farms Foster Farms Helpline is available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST . Consumers can call 1-800-255-7227 with turkey questions.

Foster Farms Helpline is available Monday through Friday . Consumers can call 1-800-255-7227 with turkey questions. Zacky Farms Zacky Farms helpline is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., PST . Consumers can call 1-800-888-0235.

Zacky Farms helpline is available Monday through Friday, . Consumers can call 1-800-888-0235. USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline For food safety tips and more, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. The hotline is available year round Monday through Friday. "The CPF website offers us the ability to provide 24-hour-a-day turkey preparation information to consumers," noted CPF President Bill Mattos. "With time being such a short commodity these days, we hope this site helps consumers access the information they need quickly and efficiently."

California turkey producers expect to sell approximately 15 million birds this year, with an estimated 40-45% of those sales coming during the holiday season, points out Mattos. Consumers looking for a fresh bird need to keep an eye out for the "fresh" label, advises Mattos, to make sure they are getting a truly fresh bird. "The vast majority of our turkey sales are of fresh product," explained Mattos. "California consumers have shown a preference for fresh and our advice is that consumers look for the fresh label to make sure they are getting a bird that has been kept at 26 degrees Fahrenheit or above. If the label doesn't say fresh, it's probably frozen." Mattos cautions consumers that demand will be high this Thanksgiving and they should place their orders early. "As always, we urge California consumers to let their supermarket and/or grocer know that they want a fresh California turkey. Our fresh local birds are the first to sell, and California's producers and processors appreciate consumers who always help us sell out over the holiday season," says Mattos. Annual per-capita turkey consumption in California is 19 pounds, compared to 16.5 pounds per-capita in the United States. Nationwide, nearly 250 million turkeys are expected to be sold this year. California ranks among the top 7 turkey-producing states. (Editors note: Further information about California turkey production and supply for the holiday season is available by contacting Mattos at (209) 576-6355). View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thanksgiving-day-help-on-line-300551062.html SOURCE California Poultry Federation

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[November 07, 2017] New President Appointed at Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After a nationwide search, Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School (CRSJ), the college-preparatory high school for underserved students in San Jose, announced the appointment of Margaret M. Higgins, Ph.D., as President. Currently the Senior Director of Development and Scholarship Initiatives at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA, Dr. Higgins has an extensive background in executive positions at primarily Catholic universities, with roles in development, administration, and student affairs. Dr. Higgins' tenure at CRSJ will begin on December 15, 2017. Current Board Chair of CRSJ, John A. Sobrato, was excited to announce the decision, stating, "We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Higgins. She brings a strong record of success not only ensuring the current and future financial stability of institutions, but also promoting student development through aademic excellence and participation in school activities, which aligns with CRSJ's college prep plus work-study model." He continued, "Her commitment to mission, belief in the development of the whole person, and dedication to success and diversity will inspire the CRSJ community, particularly our students, to achieve even more, no matter their circumstances."



Dr. Higgins' interest in CRSJ was driven by her desire to contribute to the transformation of young lives and by the mission of the school, which empowers underserved students to achieve their potential through its challenging academic environment and integrated corporate work experience. She enthused, "I relish this unique opportunity to lead a school which does not compromise the spiritual, intellectual, or professional development of the next generation of San Jose's college graduates and community leaders. I can't wait to meet the students and families that will be a big part of the next phase of my career and life, while we work together to create and sustain an environment in which all will feel a sense of belonging and challenge." Higgins holds a B.S. in Communication Disorders from The College of Saint Rose in New York and a master's degree in education from Springfield College; she earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School is a Jesuit, Catholic school that empowers students from underserved communities to be men and women for others who are prepared spiritually, academically, and professionally to complete college and become accomplished leaders. It incorporates an innovative Corporate Work Study Program: each student works at a business once a week, which provides hands-on, white-collar work experience and allows students to help finance their education. Founded in 2014, CRSJ is part of the Cristo Rey Network, the largest network of high schools in the country that exclusively serves low-income students. More information available at: www.cristoreysanjose.org View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-president-appointed-at-cristo-rey-san-jose-jesuit-high-school-300550752.html SOURCE Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School

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[November 07, 2017] EPFR Platform Provides Financial Institutions with Actionable Ideas that Perform

BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Informa Financial Intelligence's EPFR ("EPFR"), an industry leader in fund flow and allocation data, released their new platform this week. The new platform is a scalable research and analytics site, utilizing flow and allocation data to drive investment signals, create data visualizations, and support analysis and insight. EPFR provides strategists, researchers, traders and investors with information on changing global investor sentiment, as well as how their peers are allocating assets amongst countries, sectors and industries. EPFR's fund flows (the amount of cash flowing into and out of funds worldwide) are broken down by asset class, fund group and investment manager, then even further to the individual fund and share class levels. EPFR tracks over $30 trillion in assets under management (AUM) and can deliver data monthly, weekly or daily. Its core datasets are fund flows and fund allocations, which feed into hybrid datasets including country and sector flows. "EPFR delivers a complete picture of institutional and individual investor flows and fund manager allocations driving global markets," said Cameron Brandt, Director of Research at EPFR. "The new platform fully integrates our comprehensive flow data, customizable strategies, and timely research. This makes it easie to identify trends and spot inflection points that otherwise may have been missed."



The flexibility of the EPFR platform allows clients to customize data and strategies so they align with their goals. Also, IFI developed the platform structure in a way that allows for continuous addition of new data sets, like stock flows and stock allocations, as they become available. For more information about the EPFR platform, visit the EPFR Platform launch page.

About EPFR

EPFR, a part of Informa Financial Intelligence, provides strategists, researchers, traders and investors with fund flow and asset allocation data and insights to financial institutions around the world. EPFR tracks both traditional and alternative fund flows and asset allocation data from nearly 90,000 conventional and alternative mutual funds domiciled globally with over $30 trillion in total AUM. Collecting data from thousands of global sources around the clock with a proprietary collection and quality control process, our core data sets are verified by both algorithms and humans to ensure the highest quality for your decision-making. Clients use our data in both discretionary trading and systematic investment strategies. Our research team provides back-tested strategies, from regional through dedicated country to global sectors, on which to base actionable investment ideas. For more information, please visit our website. About Informa Financial Intelligence

Financial Intelligence, part of the Business Intelligence Division of Informa plc, is a leading provider of critical decision-making solutions and custom services to financial institutions. From the big picture to the smallest detail, Informa Financial Intelligence's leading-edge financial information and decision-making products provide specialized industry research, intelligence, and insight. For more information, please visit https://financialintelligence.informa.com. Media Contact:

Amiee Watts

JConnelly

[email protected]

(973) 850-7312 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epfr-platform-provides-financial-institutions-with-actionable-ideas-that-perform-300551199.html SOURCE Informa Financial Intelligence

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I am a

Canna



What Flower

Are You?



table width="145">"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."
[November 07, 2017] Syngenta recognized as an Analytics 50 company for leadership in advanced analytics

Syngenta was presented with an Analytics 50 award by Drexel University's LeBow College of Business during a ceremony at the university's Philadelphia campus on Nov. 2. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006677/en/ Gregory Doonan, head of oilseeds genetic projects at Syngenta, accepting the award on Nov. 2. (Photo: Syngenta) Joining the ranks of top professional services and consumer companies, Syngenta was recognized for its development of data-driven tools that help farmers make more strategic decisions when selecting soybean seed varieties. "Selecting which seed varieties to plant, from among the hundreds of options available to them, is one of the most important decisions a farmer makes affecting the success of their business," said Dan Dyer, head of seeds development at Syngenta. "While farmers have historically relied on brand loyalty, personal experience and anecdotal data to make their seed decisions, our efforts show that leveraging an advanced analytics approach can help navigate the complexities of choosing seed varieties that will perform in unique production environments." Using analytical modeling, Syngenta researchers have in recent years developed predictive models for soybean crop yields by seed variety, taking into account numerous variables such as local field conditions and environmental factors. The resulting dashboard, which is used by Syngenta sales representatives and agronomy service representatives, helps provide detailed product selection and product placement recommendations at a field level. In addition to building farmer confidence in the performance of Syngenta seed varieties and informing optimal seed placement decisions, Syngenta's marketing analytics program has improved the company's ability to market seed varieties. "The transparency of our data is driving open discussions with customers and generating a different selling and engagement approach," said Gregory Doonan, head of oilseeds genetic projects at Syngenta. "We are using advanced analytics and geospatial information to dial in on a farmer's field, understand their needs and equip them with the right information to make an informed and proftable seed-buying decision."



For more information about Syngenta, visit www.Syngenta-US.com. Join the conversation online - connect with us at social.SyngentaUS.com. About Syngenta

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more, visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

About Analytics 50

The Drexel LeBow Analytics 50 is a national recognition of analytics innovation honoring 50 organizations using analytics to solve business challenges. Connecting academia and industry, the initiative's goal is to share best practices while identifying innovative analytics solutions across industries. Honorees were selected by a panel of researchers and practitioners who judged nominations based on the complexity of the business challenge, the analytics solution implemented, and the solution's business impact on the organization. Winning organizations were recognized at an awards ceremony on November 2, 2017, at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business in Philadelphia. Web Resources:

Know More, Grow More

Syngenta Newsroom

Syngenta U.S.

Thrive Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect,' 'would,' 'will,' 'potential,' 'plans,' 'prospects,' 'estimated,' 'aiming,' 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract there for. 2017 Syngenta, 9 Davis Dr. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The Syngenta logo is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006677/en/

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[November 07, 2017] AgJunction Appoints M. Brett McMickell, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President of Global Product Development

HIAWATHA, KS, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - AgJunction Inc. (TSX: AJX) ("AgJunction" or the "Company"), a leader in automated steering and machine control technology for precision agriculture, has appointed M. Brett McMickell, Ph.D, as senior vice president of global product development. In his role, he will lead all engineering and product development, as well as drive the technology road map for AgJunction. For the past twelve years, Dr. McMickell held various management positions, including senior director of program management at Honeywell Aerospace. For the past year-and-a-half, he was responsible for a team of 180 engineers focused on new product development for aircraft and space actuation systems. Prior to this, Dr. McMickell led the development of the strategic and operating plans for Honeywell's Orion Space Programs. "Brett brings to AgJunction a wealth of technical expertise in both control systems and autonomous platforms," said Dave Vaughn, president and CEO of AgJunction. "His experience driving major software and hardware development programs not only required interaction with multiple major corporations, but also the coordination and cooperation of engineering teams around the world. We believe this will add tremendous value to our engineering team as we move closer to the agriculture machine manufacturers." Dr. McMickell holds an MBA in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and received his Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He has been recognized by both the industry and Honeywell for his outstanding achievements and has received numerous patents in the area of space and control systems. About AgJunction

AgJunction isa leading provider of innovative hardware and software solutions for precision agriculture worldwide. AgJunction holds fundamental steering and machine control patents and markets its products and services under leading brand names, including Outback Guidance and Satloc. Its autosteering and machine control solutions are critical components in over 30 of the world's leading precision Ag manufactures and solution providers. AgJunction is headquartered in Hiawatha, Kansas, with facilities in Silicon Valley, Arizona, Canada, and Australia, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "AJX." For more information, please go to www.agjunction.com.



Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on the expectations, estimates and projections of management of each of AgJunction as of the date of this news release, unless otherwise stated. The use of any of the words "may", "will", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking information concerning: the value to be added to the engineering team with the addition of the new officer. Such forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to its current and future operations. Investors are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information contained in this press release. In respect of the forward-looking information, AgJunction has provided such information in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including, but not limited to expected synergies; and the value added to the engineering team. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, such information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to the failure to realize the expected synergies, departure of key personnel or consultants; and the failure to add value to the engineering team. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on other factors that could affect the Company's operations or financial results, are included in reports of AgJunction on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to, AgJunction's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016 which may be accessed on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and each of AgJunction undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Agjunction Inc.

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[November 07, 2017] Mayor Emanuel Joins Glassdoor To Open Company's New Chicago Office In Fulton Market District

CHICAGO, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Glassdoor, one of the world's largest and fastest growing job sites 1, to open the company's newest office located in Chicago's rapidly developing Fulton Market District. Located at 1330 W Fulton Street, the office is currently home to 200 people, primarily focused on sales-related functions. "It's been incredible to witness Glassdoor's Chicago expansion. In less than two years, this office has grown into one of Glassdoor's largest employee centers with a dynamic and talented group of people dedicated to helping companies recruit and hire," said Robert Hohman, Glassdoor CEO and co-founder. "We selected Chicago because of its midwest location, its vibrant community, and incredible talent pool and we have been pleased with our decision. Our new office has beautiful modern workspaces and expansive views of Chicago's skyline ... and we're hiring!" "The talent of our residents, vibrancy of our innovation community and diversity of our expanding economy make Chicago the ideal home for a world-class tech company like Glassdoor to grow," Mayor Emanuel said. "Glassdoor and other companies of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy are choosing to create jobs in Chicago, move to Chicago and invest in Chicago because they recognize the unmatched assets our great city has to offer." "Congratulations to Glassdoor on their expansion. Their investment in our state's digital business community is a welcome development," said Governor Bruce Rauner. "Their decision helps substantiate Chicago's growing presence as a center of technology advancement and tech talent. We look forward to supporting their growth in the future." Glassdoor officially announced it had selected Chicago for its expansion in late 2015 and opened its first temporary office location in the city in February 2016. The company announced it had selected the ulton Market location for its permanent Chicago home in May 2016. In under two years the company's Chicago office has grown from 30 employees to more than 200, and it is continuing to grow.



Glassdoor signed a long-term lease for the 52,000-square-foot office in the Fulton West building, managed by Sterling Bay. The Glassdoor space was architected in collaboration with Skender Construction and design firm Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. "The Glassdoor office is Chicago," said Joseph Valerio, principal at the Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, the lead architect for the Glassdoor space. "We integrated activity nodes that shape and curve space in a way that reflects both new initiatives and a continued commitment to employee empowerment."

Glassdoor's collaborative, open office space incorporates Chicago themes throughout its design, including sweeping views of the city's skyline. The art and graphics in the space were developed in collaboration with Glassdoor's own brand design team and Media Objectives, an interdisciplinary design studio housed within Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. The office will have access to a diverse rotation of lunch options from local food vendors brought onsite for employees, along with easy access to nearby food and restaurants. Parking is available, along with proximity to public transportation and the building's shuttle services to nearby train stops. Glassdoor is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and employs more than 750 people around the world. Offices are located in Chicago, Mill Valley, Calif., San Francisco, Canton, Ohio, Dublin and London. Check out Glassdoor Chicago Jobs to see the latest job openings or Glassdoor Jobs to see all opportunities to work with the fast growing startup. About Glassdoor

Glassdoor is one of the largest and fastest growing job sites in the world today. Set apart by the tens of millions of reviews and insights provided by employees and candidates, Glassdoor combines all the jobs with this valuable data to make it easy for people to find a job that is uniquely right for them. As a result, Glassdoor helps employers hire truly informed candidates at scale through effective recruiting solutions like job advertising and employer branding products. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor now has reviews and insights for approximately 700,000 companies in more than 190 countries. For labor market trends and analysis, visit Glassdoor Economic Research. For company news and career advice and tips, visit the Glassdoor Blog and for employer-related news and insights to help employers hire, visit the Glassdoor for Employers Blog. Visit Glassdoor.com or download our apps on iOS and Android platforms. "Glassdoor" and logo are proprietary trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. 1 Comscore September 2017 Media Metrix; Compared to Indeed.com, CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com and ZipRecruiter.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mayor-emanuel-joins-glassdoor-to-open-companys-new-chicago-office-in-fulton-market-district-300551314.html SOURCE Glassdoor

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[November 07, 2017] Frost Bank Recognized for $8.8 Million to Affordable Housing

Frost Bank, a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), was recently honored with FHLB Dallas' 2017 CARE Award. An acronym that stands for "Community Area Revitalization Efforts," the CARE Award recognizes Frost Bank's affordable housing achievements over the past 20 years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006748/en/ Frost Bank recently was honored with the 2017 CARE Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, recognizing Frost's $8.8 million invested in Texas affordable housing since 1998. At left: Frost Bank Senior EVP Bill Sirakos, Frost Bank Senior VP and CRA Officer Donna Normandin, FHLB Dallas First VP and Director of Community Investment Greg Hettrick, Frost Bank VP Jacob Cavazos and FHLB Dallas President and CEO Sanjay Bhasin. (Photo: Business Wire) "Frost Bank is committed to making a positive impact on the community through revitalization and partnerships with those who share in our mission," said Donna Normandin, senior vice president and CRA officer at Frost Bank. "Giving back is important to us. It's part of who we are as a company." In conjunction with the award, FHLB Dallas contributed $7,500 to a community-based organization of Frost Bank's choice. After working with Houston-based nonprofit, Change Happens, for the last eight years, Frost Bank selected the organization to receive the funds because of its Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the community. Established in1989, Change Happens is a 501(c)(3) that provides outreach services to Harris County. Since the inception of the partnership with Change Happens, Frost Bank has donated almost $80,000 and many volunteer hours in support of the nonprofit's mission.



Change Happens CEO and Founder, the Rev. Leslie Smith, said he was thrilled to learn of the unexpected funding, which will be used to further the organization's mission. "At Change Happens, we work tirelessly to provide services to adults and at-risk youth in Houston with the goal of empowering those individuals to become positive and productive contributors to the community," said Rev. Smith. "The funds from Frost Bank help us further our mission, and we couldn't be more thankful."

Since 1998, Frost Bank has invested more than $8.8 million in Texas communities using FHLB Dallas' Affordable Housing Program (AHP), which assists in the purchase, construction and/or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental and transitional housing, as well as other grant programs offered by FHLB Dallas. These programs focus on promoting and strengthening relationships between community-based organizations, small business development, home rehab for special-needs and elderly residents and down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. "Frost Bank has been a strong contributor to many of the affordable housing and economic development projects in Texas," said Sanjay K. Bhasin, president and CEO of FHLB Dallas. "Congratulations to everyone at Frost Bank on this well-deserved award. It is our distinct honor to partner with them to serve Texans in need." FHLB Dallas provides members with grant programs targeted specifically to the needs of low- to moderate-income communities in addition to favorably priced advances (loans) and other banking services. About Frost Bank Frost is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company with $31 billion in assets at Sept. 30, 2017. One of the 50 largest U.S. banks by asset size, Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services to businesses and individuals in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost has helped Texans with their financial needs during three centuries. For more information, visit www.frostbank.com. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $66.4 billion as of September 30, 2017, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community investment by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 840 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107006748/en/

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Former Kansas City Councilman Chuck Weber dies at 81 Former Kansas City Councilman Chuck Weber, one of several public figures caught up in a swirl of public corruption cases in the 1990s, died Oct. 28 at age 81. Weber was councilman from the 1st District at-large from 1987-95. Weber was a strong advocate for the Northland who eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe a public official.

Newspaper tribute to a beloved local Council Dude who was nabbed on corruption charges despite the fact thatnever prosecuted the people who purportedly bribed him. Here's dead-tree media legacy report that seems quaint in remembering the long ago era before thecorporatewhich exists today. Take a peek:
Courthouse Insider: "Given the current state of gridlock . . . Don't expect the legislature to give him an inch on the budget. He might try another veto but they'll just come back and override him again. Sad thing is, all of this could have been avoided if Frank would've simply taken a more active role in doing his job and keeping the Legislators involved in the conversation. He's still not showing up to meetings and that signals to everyone that he doesn't want to learn. Going forward, if the Executive keeps going down this path. He doesn't have a future at the County."
Hoopz: "Trump is adding to our adversity. The president and others have pushed the good guy with a gun narrative, praising the good Samaritan who shot at Kelley when he emerged from the church. Fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction. Otherwise it wouldnt have been as bad as it was, it would have been much worse, Trump said. Another guy with a gun didnt stop the killing. The shooting was over."

IS THIS THE WORST OP/ED THE KANSAS CITY STAR HAS EVER PUBLISHED OR IS HOOPZ JUSTIFIED IN CASTING BLAME ON PREZ TRUMP???

And let's be honest about where we live, in both Missouri and Kansas gun rights and strident defense of The 2nd Amendment have nearly universal support from both Democratic Party leaders and all Republicans.

In possibly one of the most horrific pieces of opinion writing every penned in Kansas City, a newspaper columnist has targeted the President of the United States for blame in the aftermath of a mass shooting massacre.Here's the word . . .because they always get a bit scared after the push back they get from posting this kind of garbage . . .Money line . . .And so . . .There's no word of former Prez Obama's ineffectiveness on the topic of gun control and the mention of Congress offers very little deets about Democratic Party supporters of the 2nd Amendment.What's more interesting is that "Hoopz" continues to write one reactionary screed after the next with little or no push back, challenge or questions from mainstream journalists or pundits other than a few Conservative websites and the much more eclectic and feisty denizens of our blog community.You decide . . .
A Kansas City man has been charged in a fatal beating last month on the city's northeast side. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker charged Joseph M. Parker, 36, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Lovell J. Smith's body was found in an alley on Oct. 23.
The Johnson County District Attorney's Office says a man has been charged in connection with a September auto burglary, and an aggravated burglary in a home in Prairie Village. Authorities said back on September 30, multiple cars were damaged, and one vehicle was stolen from the 7400 block of Fontata in Prairie Village.
Say Goodbye To Kansas City Glory Days

Royals give qualifying offer to Eric Hosmer KANSAS CITY -- The Royals on Monday extended qualifying offers of $17.4 million each to first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Each player has 10 days to accept or decline the offer, during which time they can negotiate with other teams.

Urban Core Blaze Aftermath Today

2 displaced following fire in Kansas City on East 27th, Walrond Firefighters responded to a fire at a home on the northeast corner of East 27th Street and Walrond Avenue. The fire call came out around 6:57 p.m. on Monday evening. When firefighters arrived on the scene, fire was showing from the second floor of the two story house.

Cutback Solution For Inner Suburbs???

Raytown aldermen propose greater oversight of police department RAYTOWN, Mo. - Pam Clark has lived in Raytown her entire life. "My parents started this business on Jan. 2, 1957," she said of Clark's Appliances, located at E 63rd St. and Raytown Trafficway. Nearly one year ago, her family's beloved business burned to the ground.

Kansas City Citizen Media Clip

While recording house fire, neighbor captures moment KC firefighter falls from the roof KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A house fire near 39th Street and Flora Avenue sent two people -- the homeowner and a firefighter -- to the hospital Monday afternoon. The bulk of the damage took place on the second floor of the KCMO home. Neighbor Gerald Williams caught it all on his smartphone.

Kansas City Insect Journalism

For 128 years, bug stuck in Van Gogh's painting went unnoticed Countless pairs of eyes have gazed at Vincent van Gogh's "Olive Trees" and not seen it. Yet, it's been right there in the foreground, embedded in the paint, for 128 years. A grasshopper. Well, part of one. It's missing its thorax and abdomen, but it's definitely a real grasshopper.

Newsie Bun In The Oven

Abby Eden surprises her FOX 4 Morning Show family with a pregnancy announcement KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Everyone familiar with the FOX 4 Morning Show team knows how much they love snacks... so when FOX 4's Abby Eden brought in Cinco de Mayo snacks on November 6th, well.... the team was easily distracted. And then she dropped the bomb. Watch in the video above....

Newsie Bun In The Oven

Same old story I don't have a crystal ball. That's an unfortunate truth that has a rather large effect on both my personal an professional life. If I had a crystal ball, for example, I could predict exactly what my wife would want to eat in advance of date night, rather than having an infuriating conversation in which she says she's "OK with anything" but then shoots down 10 ideas in row.

Hottie Alice and her daring fashion choices inspires this compilation of the top Kansas City news links for tonight. Take a look:And this is theFor right now . . .
FINAL POLLING FUN FACT: LOW TURNOUT FAVORS SUPPORTERS OF THE NEW AIRPORT QUESTION #1 AND THAT'S WHY THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN DECIDEDLY LOW KEY!!!

Media insider . . . In the last weekend of the campaign more than $100K worth of television adverts were PULLED because more people voting trended toward larger percentage gains of NO Votes.

Numbers Coming In Low

Kansas City Election Board expects low turnout for KCI vote Kansas City voters decide Tuesday whether to move forward with a new terminal at KCI airport. While voter turnout is projected to be low, anxiety could be high for supporters of the plan to replace the 45-year-old horseshoe-shaped terminals. The day before the election, Kansas City election board director Shawn Kieffer hoped people wouldn't second-guess getting out to vote.

Push Among Pilots

Pilots share mixed opinions on possible new KCI terminal KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A day before the vote on the future of Kansas City International Airport, metro pilots weighed in on the issue and expressed mixed reactions on if a new terminal is needed. Wes McCullough, who retired as a commercial pilot in 1998, flew for TWA for more than 30 years.

National Look At KC's Plight

Kansas City's $1B airport revamp hinges on vote by residents (Photo: Kansas City International Airport) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A nearly $1 billion remodel of Kansas City International Airport will either provide an important boost to the city's economy, air service and national reputation, or it will be colossal waste of money designed to line the pockets of airlines and contractors while making air travel less convenient.

Here's why the soft sell has been working for out-of-town consultants . . . Basically, Kansas City Democracy is failing.Today's testimony . . .Proof . . . There have been few yard signs for residents and a surprisingly low number of signs clogging up the right of ways, fewer billboards and mostly fake news for people who have already made up their minds or need talking points to keep from being convinced otherwise.And here's the MSM round-up of some of the better links offering insight into what we've already reported . . .You decide . . .
Workers renovating the power distribution unit in Turkey's northeastern Gumushane province discovered a 1,407-year-old Byzantine sarcophagus cover, assumed to belong to a "blessed" figure, near the ancient city of Satala, reports said Friday, according to the following article by dailysabah.com:

Workers immediately informed authorities after unearthing the 2-meter long ancient cover in Gumushane's Kelkit district, Anadolu Agency reported.

Gumushane Museum officials announced that there was a writing on the cover, saying "Blessed Kandes sleeps here" in Greek characters.

Museum Director Gamze Demir told reporters that the cover is from 610 AD and the sarcophagus is believed to be located under the ground.

"The discovery of the full sarcophagus will give us a clue about who it was built for" Demir noted.

She continued by adding that there are houses near the site where the cover was found, indicating that the excavation site could be extended to cover a larger area.

Demir also pinted out that the village has been under protection of the Culture and Tourism Ministry since 1998 and carrying out excavations without the permission of museum officials is prohibited.

Meanwhile, Professor Sahin Yldrm from Bartn University's Archaeology Department said that archaeological excavations need to be carried out near the site where the sarcophagus cover was located.

He underlined that researchers should try to figure out if the site around the sarcophagus was a necropolis.

"If it [the area] was a necropolis, there must have been an important structure near it" Yldrm argued, adding that there could have been a church near the area.

Situated in the village of Sadak, Satala was an important military camp of the Byzantine Empire. The Hittites, Persians, Romans, Pontic Greeks, Urartu and Byzantines ruled over the area.

History of Satala

According to the ancient geographers, the settlement of Satala was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, a little north of the Euphrates, where the road from Trapezus to Samosata crossed the boundary of the Roman Empire, when it was a bishopric, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see. Later it was connected with Nicopolis by two highways. Satala is now Sadak, a village of 500 inhabitants, in the Kelkit district of Gumushane Province in Turkey.

This site must have been occupied as early as the annexation of Lesser Armenia under Vespasian. Trajan visited it in 115 and received the homage of the princes of the Caucasus and the Euxine. It was he doubtless who established there the Legio XV Apollinaris and began the construction of the great castra stativa (permanent camp) which it was to occupy till the 5th century. The town must have sprung up around this camp; in the time of Ptolemy it was already important. In 530 the Persians were defeated under its walls. Justinian I constructed more powerful fortifications there, but these did not prevent Satala from being captured in 607-8 by the Persians.

In the Middle Ages and Ottoman period an important east-west route between Erzurum and Sivas or Tokat ran past Satala; however by that time Satala had ceased being an important settlement.

Satala, then called Sadagh or Suddak, was visited by J. G. Taylor in 1868: he copied a damaged Latin inscription mentioning Domitian found on a Roman votive altar; found a large figurative mosaic fragment, a "magnificent specimen", being reused as the base of a fireplace; found more and larger mosaic fragments scattered about the village (all of them having been dug out of the top of a hill overlooking the village); and reported the existence of Byzantine epitaph inscriptions. Taylor reported that cut stones had been removed from the site to construct government buildings at Erzincan.

The first detailed investigation of the site was by Alfred Biliotti, the British vice-consul at Trebizond. He visited Satala in September 1874 as a response to the finding of bronze statue fragments including the piece now known as the Satala Aphrodite, producing a description of the site and a plan of the ruins. Lightfoot considers Biliotti's account to be "by far the most accurate and valuable description of the remains at Satala". Although Sadagh was assumed by Taylor to be the site of Satala, and indicated as such by Kiepert in his maps, the site's identification as Satala was not conclusively established until 1894 when two British scholars, Vincent Yorke and D. G. Hogarth, found several tiles at the site bearing the stamp of Legio XV Apollinaris. Yorke described Satala in 1894 as a Turkish village of about 150 houses, constructed mostly from reused stone blocks. Yorke identified as an aqueduct a 5-arched structure that Biliotti had identified as part of a basilica church and Taylor as part of a bathhouse, a misidentification that continued into the 1990s.

Archaeological remains

Some remains of the walls of the rectangular legionary fortress survive, though much ruined. Their line can be traced in part on all four sides of the fortress that encompassed an area of 15.7 ha (smaller than most legionary fortresses). These walls probably date from the 6th century AD when, according to Procopius, Satala's fortifications were extensively rebuilt by Justinian, but in places they reuse the foundations of earlier walls. Within the walls little remains, and ruined structures noted by Biliotti have been demolished. The legionary base had a civilian settlement to the north of the north wall, but no traces of any substantial buildings survive. A ruinous structure consisting of a row of arches stands at some distance to the southeast of the fortress. Biliotti described it as a basilica, but since then it was frequently regarded as the remains of an aqueduct leading to an as yet unidentified lower city. This theory is now considered obsolete and the ruin has been reconfirmed as that of a basilica church. Lightfoot speculates that it might have been a martyrium church dedicated to the patron saint of Satala, St. Eugenius.

The famous Satala Aphrodite, a larger than life-size head from an ancient Hellenistic bronze statue, was found in a field outside Sadak in 1872. It is now on display in the British Museum.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Ghanevalilik License: CC-BY-SA
With more than three million tourists having already visited Cyprus through September, officials arent taking anything for granted and 50 of them are taking part in the World Travel Market show going on in London.

Businessmen, hoteliers and tour operators have the opportunity have through Nov. 8 to make their pitch and try to line up contracts for the all-important summer season for 2018 as the sector has helped the island recover from an economic crisis that exploded in 2013 when banks teetered and the government had to seek a 10-billion euro ($11.61 billion) international bailout.

Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Yiorkos Lakkotrypis will hold a number of meetings with British airline representatives and tour operators and will lead a business delegation from Cyprus which will take part in a networking event with British business executives, the Cyprus Mail said.

He was to present prospects for investment in Cyprus especially in the fields of hydrocarbons, commerce and tourism.

The delegations visit was organized by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation as well as the Cyprus  British Business Association. Also present at the exhibition is Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) chief Angelos Loizou.

According to the CTO between January and September 2017 Cyprus welcomed 3,001,603 visitors, an increase of 14.7 per cent compared with the same period last year. Of these, 1,039,783 visitors came from the United Kingdom, the islands former Colonial ruler which still keeps a military base there. They showed an 8.9 per cent increase over the previous year.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: AyianapaProtaras License: CC-BY-SA

Source: thenationalherald.com
Al Mal Capital (AMC), a subsidiary of Dubai Investments and a diversified, multi-line investment institution, has signed a partnership agreement with Azimut Group to jointly launch a Middle Eastern equity fund.

The fund will be established by AZ Fund Management, Azimut Luxembourg fund management company within its UCITS umbrella fund.

The fund will integrate the distinctive investment advisory capabilities of AMC with the groups global portfolio management team, comprising more than 100 professionals across its international network. The fund will be branded AZ Fund Al Mal Mena Equity to reflect the strategic partnership between the two companies. Azimut will add the fund to its global franchise, including third parties distribution channels, a statement said.

The strategic cooperation signed by the two companies also includes joint marketing initiatives to cater to the demand from the respective commercial franchises; access to Azimuts existing range of investment capabilities for regional investors through AMCs wealth management platform, it said.

Naser Nabulsi, vice chairman and CEO of Al Mal Capital, said: The partnership with Azimut is a major milestone for Al Mal Asset Management growth strategy. With more than $50 billion in assets under management, Azimut is one of the largest and fastest growing asset managers in Europe and we are very pleased to have them as a partner. Thanks to Azimut UCITS umbrella platform and their global distribution footprint, Al Mals highly successful Mena equity strategy will now be accessible to institutional and private investors around the world.

Sergio Albarelli, CEO of Azimut Holding, comments: "The strategic partnership with Al Mal Capital is a key step forward in our strategy across the MENA region which also aims to leverage our presence in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) through AZ New Horizon, our local integrated financial advisory platform. The new Fund will complement our regional expertise centered on AZ Fund Global Sukuk, which is today one of the largest Shariah compliant UCITS funds investing in the asset class.

This partnership fosters Azimuts commitment in strengthening its global investment management platform, including strategic product partnerships for specialized regional strategies, as well as the Groups continuous investment towards active management to generate value for clients versus passively managed portfolio."

AMC is one of the largest independent asset management companies in the United Arab Emirates and since 2005 manages Middle East and UAE focused stocks portfolios with AUM of $250 million currently, through onshore funds and mandates for local investors.  TradeArabia News Service
Indosuez Wealth Management, a wealth management brand of Credit Agricole Group, said that its subsidiary CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) has signed an agreement to acquire 67.67 per cent of Banca Leonardo, a leading wealth manager in Italy.



CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) signed the agreement with GBH S.p.A., Exor S.A., Eurazeo S.A., Swilux S.A., and Torreal S.A., the main shareholders of Banca Leonardo.



It will offer the other shareholders of Banca Leonardo to purchase their shares at the same price and conditions, so that CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) may ultimately own up to 100 per cent of Banca Leonardo.



Acquiring Banca Leonardo will allow Indosuez Wealth Management to further enhance its existing wealth management capabilities and offering in the Italian market, adding 5.9 billion euros (($6.8 billion) (as of June 30, 2017) in assets under management (AuM).



The acquisition will bring a client portfolio predominantly composed of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs). The combined business will provide added-value services to new and existing HNWI clients, as well as support to Credit Agricole Italia through active cooperation, enhancing client satisfaction and profitability.



The deal is fully in line with Credit Agricole Groups Medium-Term Plan Strategic Ambition 2020.



Paul de Leusse, chief executive officer of Indosuez Wealth Management, commented: We are delighted to have reached this agreement with the shareholders of Banca Leonardo, a strong and recognized wealth manager in Italy.



The acquisition is in line with our Shaping Indosuez 2020 strategic plan, which includes selective acquisitions in our key domestic markets in Europe. The wealth management sector in Italy, which is expected to grow at a rate of four per cent per annum, offers great opportunities for growth and innovation and we look forward to working with our new colleagues from Banca Leonardo to enhance our positioning and expand our business in Italy.



Gerardo Braggiotti, chairman of Banca Leonardo, said: On this important day for the staff and clients of Banca Leonardo, I would like to express my gratitude to our talented teams who have contributed to building the banks profile to become a leading wealth manager in Italy. I am confident that this deal will support Banca Leonardo in playing a leading role in the consolidation of the wealth management sector in Italy. This process will be beneficial for both our staff and our clients.



Giampiero Maioli, senior country officer for Credit Agricole in Italy & CEO of Gruppo Bancario Credit Agricole Italia said: "This transaction is another major milestone during a very eventful year for the Credit Agricole group in Italy.



With the acquisition of Pioneer by Amundi, the agreement to acquire CariCesena, CariRim and CR San Miniato, expected to be completed by year-end, as well as the further development in Italian Commercial Banking, Credit Agricole Group has further demonstrated its commitment to Italy, its second largest market.



This strengthening of our offering in wealth management will allow the Group to better serve High net worth individuals and further develop synergies between the different activities of the bank to the benefit of our customers, stakeholders and staff. It reinforces our already strong position in Italy and broadens the range of products and services offered to our 3.5 million clients, Maioli added.



Indosuez Wealth Management will work closely with Banca Leonardo to ensure a smooth process for the transaction and to release the full potential of the acquisition for both employees and clients.



The transaction will be subject to the approval of the relevant supervisory authorities. It is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2018.



The impact of this transaction on the CET1 ratio of Credit Agricole S.A. and of Credit Agricole Group will be below 5 basis points.  TradeArabia News Service




The real estate sector is likely to become a costlier investment across the GCC region following the implementation of value-added tax (VAT), according to a survey of local chartered financial analysts (CFA).



With VAT set to be applied on the first sale of properties, 87 per cent of investment professionals said that some or all of the additional expenses incurred by real estate firms will be passed on to investors, stated the survey which assessed the views of CFA society members in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.



Other key findings showed that over half (54 per cent) of the members believe that retail investors will be impacted more than institutional investors from the roll-out of VAT, with only four per cent stating that institutional investors would face greater impact.



Additionally, a majority of the investment expert indicated that their international business partners were not being deterred by the introduction of VAT, with only 18 per cent saying that this is creating a negative reaction from them, the survey found.



Amer Khansaheb, CFA, the president of CFA Society Emirates, said: "The concerns regarding VAT in the region is largely one of perception rather than policy. While it is true that certain areas of the economy will witness marginal higher costs being incurred, this should not deter regional and international investors in a significant way."



"Additionally, with the government revenue this will generate, liquidity levels in the market are expected to improve; which should increase investor confidence and appetite," he added.



Khansaheb pointed out that in the eyes of investors, creating a more regulated environment with greater financial transparency should be a positive development since this is the model in developed economies.

"Given that taxation at higher rates is a norm around the world, the GCC will continue to be attractive as average tax rates are lower than almost all other major markets," said the industry expert.



With regional financial markets expanding, the potential MSCI inclusion for Saudi Arabia, investment in commercial infrastructure and economic diversification programs underway, the GCC will continue to remain a market of opportunity for the investment community.



Respondents also indicated that their companies are either in the process of getting ready (37 per cent) or unprepared (25 per cent) for VAT implementation in January 2018; with 22 per cent saying that their firm has made the adequate preparations for VAT implementation.-TradeArabia News Service
The Kuwaiti government has announced plans to build a special gold and jewellery city, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, over a total 100,000-sq-m area in the capital city, said a report.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has asked Kuwait Municipality to allocate an appropriate plot for the mega project, which will include a building to administer precious metals and special lounges for both local and imported jewellery, reported Kuwait Times.

The gold city will also boast labs for examining diamonds, offices for 300 employees, an archives section, laser and chemical labs and an employee training hall apart from a central well-secure safe in addition to one in each section, it stated.

The other facilities include a 10,000-sq-m car park for employees in addition to a centre for customer reception and a separate VIP hall, it added.

In another development, a report by Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare revealed a drastic cut in the estimated budget of five housing projects during the 2013-2015 period.



The costs of these project have been trimmed from KD1 billion ($3.29 billion) to KD447 million ($1.47 billion), down more than 50 per cent, stated the Kuwait Times.



For instance, the cost of West Abdullah Al-Mubarak project cost had been estimated at KD58 million ($191 million), which was reduced to KD46 million ($151 million), it added.
GAC Saudi Arabia, a leading provider of shipping, logistics and marine services, was recently honoured with the Best Ship Agency title at the IMC Excellence Awards 2017  Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Chapter.



The award recognises GAC Saudi Arabia as the agency that has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and contributed towards the development of the maritime industry, said a statement from the company.



Factors measured included leadership, statutory and regulatory compliance, innovation, management and administration and trade and export services, it said.



Stewart Hendry, head of shipping and oil and gas, GAC Saudi Arabia, said: We are committed to being a compliant and ethical business and adopting professional customer management practices.



We have also taken steps to work closely with our customers in light of new legislative changes, such as the roll-out and compliance with new ballast water management regulations which came into force earlier this year, he said.



Such initiatives have made GAC Saudi Arabia the front-runner in the industry and a recognised force in the region, something we are delighted to see confirmed by this award, he added.



David Burck, managing director, GAC Saudi Arabia, said: It gives us great pleasure to win the title, ahead of the celebration of 60 years of operations next year.



It would not have been possible without the dedication of our staff, support from our companys colleagues worldwide and trust from our valued customers and partners, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Microsoft has launched its Microsoft 365 Business in Bahrain, a multifaceted workplace solution to cover productivity, admin and security needs of the SME sector.



Combining Windows 10 Pro and Office 365 with Enterprise Mobility and Security, Microsoft 365 Business is a new solution designed for SMEs bringing together the productivity and collaboration capabilities with device management and security solutions to safeguard business data.



According to a 2017 international entrepreneurship analysis, the Global Entrepreneurship Development Institute (GEDI) ranked Bahrain 34th out of 137 countries and fifth in the Mena region. It is estimated that around 90 per cent of businesses in Bahrain are SMEs, and their contribution accounts for about 30 per cent of the kingdoms GDP. Recently, the World Bank listed Bahrain among the worlds top 10 most improved economies for adopting reforms that make it easier to start and operate small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMES).



As Bahrain continues taking its ambitious journey towards economic diversification, its small and medium enterprise sector will continue to play a leading role in that story, said Mohammed Arif, regional director, Microsoft 365 Business Group, Microsoft Gulf.



SMEs in this country have a prime opportunity to capitalise on projected growth, through the digitally transformative power of Microsoft 365 Business. The solution is purpose-built for growing small and medium businesses to help them to empower their people, safeguard their data and simplify IT management, leaving them with more time and resources to innovate and focus on their core business.



Microsoft 365 Business is an integrated security, management and productivity solution that allows businesses to protect mission-critical operations while empowering employees to be mobile and collaborative.



Smooth interaction between Office 365, Windows 10 Pro, and Microsofts device-management and security tools, creates a truly modern workplace, means employees can work whenever, wherever and however they want, a statement said, noting that communication and connectivity tools allow meaningful collaboration in real time.



Also added to the offerings is the Microsoft StaffHub, a new application that helps first-line workers manage their workday, allowing business owners and employees to easily create and manage schedules, assign and complete tasks, and communicate with one another.



As businesses across the world become increasingly modernised, become more vulnerable to data breaches. A recent global survey reveals 43 per cent of cyber-attacks target small businesses, while only 14 per cent of small businesses rate their ability to mitigate cyber-risks, vulnerabilities and attacks as highly effective. The report further reveals that 60 per cent of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyber-attack.



Through Microsoft 365 Business, SMEs benefit from best-of-breed malware protection for all their Windows devices, with Windows Defender. App Protection for Office and Mobile Device Management for Windows, protects sensitive data from attacks on employees Windows, iOS and Android devices.



Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of security breaches, said Arif. They cannot bounce back from downtime or data theft the way a Fortune-500 company can. That is why Microsoft took care to include some of our most advanced, industry-leading security features in Microsoft 365 Business  so SMEs can concentrate on growth without worrying about the treacherous cyber-threat landscape.



In addition to security and productivity, Microsoft 365 Business also offers SMEs many time-saving benefits for IT admin tasks. Through a single console, businesses can quickly set up new employees, configure device security policies, and manage user identity and access, as well as ensure all staff are most up-to-date with versions of Windows 10 and Office. And the single per-user, per-month subscription streamlines costs and simplifies management.



Microsoft 365 Business was built for our small and midsize customers that may have limited or no IT resources on staff, but still want best-in-class security, productivity and collaboration capabilities, said Arif.



Microsoft 365 Business works efficiently, always ensuring that systems are secure and up to date, without the need for constant monitoring.  TradeArabia News Service
The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has signed an agreement with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), a leading exploration company in the sultanate, to build a planetarium in Qatar.



As per the MoU, the duo will also set up a first-of-its-kind observatory in the country, reported The Gulf Times.



This agreement is a significant step in co-operation, exchange of experiences, workshops and training between the two parties in the astronomy field, stated the report.



In 2000, PDO had built the sultanates first planetarium as an annex to the Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre as a gift to the Omani nation.



Under this deal, PDO will train some employees from Katara on relevant aspects regarding the facility in Oman, it added.


The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) is taking part in the 37th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM), which is being held in London till November 8.



The event is one of the main international platforms that attracts travel and tourism industry experts.



The delegation, headed by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, includes representatives from the Bahrain Economic Development Board, At Bahrain, Visit Bahrain, the national carrier Gulf Air, Bahrain International Circuit and TTN, along with a number of leading hotels and travel agents.



BTEAs participation in this exhibition comes in line with the its long term strategy to further develop the kingdoms tourism sector and strengthen its position on a regional and international level under the slogan of Ours.Yours., which contributes towards the kingdoms economy and the 2030 Economic Vision.



During the international event, our efforts will focus on promoting Bahrain as an ideal tourist destination in the region with an aim of attracting new and international markets. We will also focus on highlighting the key international events and attractions available in Bahrain, said Al Zayani.



Further commenting on the event, the CEO of BTEA Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa stated: Our participation in the WTM 2017 is intended to showcase Bahrain's tourism potential and enhance its position as a leading family tourism destination in the region. We are pleased to announce the launch of the pearl diving trips and activities where visitors can enjoy a diving experience in the Arabian Gulf with professional trainers to search for oysters which is spread over 400 square meters of sea floor and those who are lucky enough to find any pearls get to keep it for themselves.



At the exhibition, BTEA will be promoting the upcoming Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix where visitors of the stand can participate in the daily fastest lap competition and get the opportunity to win two Formula 1 tickets along with two airline tickets as well as complimentary accommodation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The BTEA will also focus on promoting the pearl diving project which aims to revive Bahrains long-standing history in this area.



Bahrain has taken great strides to position itself as an ideal destination for experiential travel, and offers visitors unique experiences that leave lasting memories by putting emphasis on its history which differentiates it from any other country in the Arabian Gulf.



BTEAs strategy largely focuses on hosting major international events and all efforts are aimed at attracting family and business tourism. The authority has developed an integrated calendar of events to attract different segments.



WTM 2017 offers the opportunity to discover the world under one roof, and be inspired by industry leaders discussing trends, issues and innovations in the travel industry. The three-day event brings together around 5,000 destinations, technology and private sector exhibitors networking with 51,000 travel experts, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and Tourism Ministers. - TradeArabia News Service
Demand for international tourism remained strong during the Northern Hemisphere summer peak season as international tourist arrivals in July and August totalled over 300 million for the first time according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.



Many destinations reported double-digit growth, in particular in the Mediterranean.



Between January and August, destinations worldwide welcomed 901 million international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors), 56 million more than in the same period of 2016. This corresponds to a robust 7 per cent increase, well above the growth of previous years. With upbeat prospects for the remaining months of the year, 2017 is set to be the eighth consecutive year of continued solid growth for international tourism.



Results reflect the sustained growth in many destinations combined with the recovery of those suffering from security challenges in recent years.



By UNWTO regions, growth was strongest in Africa (up 9 per cent) and Europe (up 8 per cent), followed by Asia and the Pacific (up 6 per cent), the Middle East (up 5 per cent) and the Americas (up 3 per cent).



This strong performance is confirmed by experts from around the world surveyed for the UNWTO Confidence Index, who evaluated the May-August period very positively. Prospects for the last four months of 2017 remain also buoyant according to the experts consulted.



Tourism is a major economic engine and employment generator, contributing to the improvement of livelihoods of millions of people around the world stated UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai in London, ahead of the World Travel Market.



As we draw to the end of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, we must reflect on how to manage tourism in a responsible and sustainable way beyond 2017. Maximising the social and economic benefits of tourism while minimising any negative impacts on host communities and the environment should remain at the forefront of our efforts in the years to come, with policy-makers, companies and travelers all contributing to this shared objective, Rifai added.



Regional Results

In Europe (up 8 per cent), international arrivals rebounded in both Southern and Mediterranean Europe (up 12 per cent) and Western Europe (up 7 per cent) following a weak 2016. Arrivals grew by 6 per cent in Northern Europe and by 4 per cent in Central and Eastern Europe between January and August 2017.



Africa (up 9 per cent) recorded the fastest growth of all five regions, thanks to the strong rebound in North Africa (up 15 per cent) and the sound results of Sub-Saharan Africa (up 5 per cent).



South Asia (up 10 per cent) led growth in Asia and the Pacific (up 6 per cent), followed by South-East Asia (up 8 per cent) and Oceania (up 7 per cent), while results in North-East Asia (up 3 per cent) were rather mixed.



Most destinations in the Americas (up 3 per cent) continued to enjoy positive results, led by South America (up 7 per cent), followed by Central America and the Caribbean (both up 4 per cent). In North America (up 2 per cent), robust results in Mexico and Canada contrast with a decrease in the US, the regions largest destination.



Results in the Middle East (5 per cent) are mixed, with some destinations strongly rebounding from negative growth in previous years, while others reported declines through August.



Strong outbound demand from major source markets, rebound from Russia and Brazil



Inbound visitor growth across world destinations was fuelled by strong outbound demand from the majority of source markets.



Among the top 10 markets, international tourism expenditure grew fastest in China (up 19 per cent), the Republic of Korea (up 12 per cent), the US (up 8 per cent) and Canada (up 7 per cent). Expenditure from Germany, the UK, Australia, Italy and Hong Kong (China) grew between 3 per cent and 5 per cent, while France reported a modest 1 per cent increase.



Worth noting beyond the top 10 source markets is the significant recovery in demand from the Russian Federation (up 27 per cent) and Brazil (up 35 per cent) after a few years of declines in tourism expenditure abroad. - TradeArabia News Service
Demonstrating its continued commitment to providing excellent customer service and a seamless passenger experience, Oman Air announced the soft opening of its new call centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 2.



The newly opened call centre, which will be managed by call centre experts Interglobe Technologies, will provide support in Thai, Malay, Bahasa, Tagalog, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese) languages eight hours on a daily basis and will offer support in English 24 hours on a daily basis one week after the soft opening.



The call centre will serve customers from around the world and will be staffed by a professional team.



Oman Air currently flies to/from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta, and Guangzhou in China in the region.



Mahfood Ali Al Harthy, senior vice president Sales GCC, Middle East and Africa, said: Oman Air continues its expansion programme in the communication field. The opening of the new call centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is part of a series of new communications centres enabling us to provide the best customer service and support to our valued guests in Asia.



The opening of the new call centre in Kuala Lumpur forms an integral part of Oman Airs journey to become the best.



Oman Air currently operates a call centre in the sultanate and one in India as well. - TradeArabia News Service


ON THE MOVE: Credit Suisse Lands Galietto for US Trading Head

Credit Suisse has hired Paul Galietto as head of Americas equities trading, according to an internal memo first seen by Reuters, in a move to boost its stock business. Galietto most recently was the chief of equities Americas at UBS Group AG and before that he worked more than 20 years at Merrill Lynch. Credit Suisse has made a number of senior hires this year in its stock trading unit under new equities head Mike Stewart. Those hires include Michael Ebert, who joined as global head of equity derivatives from Bank of America; Doug Crofton, who was brought over from Bank of America to run U.S. equities sales and trading, and David Bleustein, who became head of Americas equity research and had worked at UBS.

If you have a new job or promotion to report, let me know at jdantona@marketsmedia.com

Goldman Sachs lost one its technologists, David Ha, to Googles Brain division. Ha spent the last 8 years at the white glove broker and departed as the Tokyo-based co-head of Japanese rates trading.

Cowen has appointed Larry Wieseneck and Dan Charney as Co-Presidents of the company. Both will report to Jeffrey M. Solomon, CEO of Cowen and Company and President of Cowen Inc. In their roles as Co-Presidents, Cowens investment banking, capital markets and credit divisions will report to Wieseneck and the equities, prime brokerage and securities lending divisions will report to Mr. Charney.

The firm also announced the establishment of a Management Committee which will be responsible for the execution of the Companys long-term strategy. The Management Committee, reporting to Peter A. Cohen, CEO of Cowen Inc., and Mr. Solomon, includes executives from across the organization:

Dan Charney, Co-President, Cowen and Company

Robert Fagin, Director of Research, Cowen and Company

Fred Fraenkel, Head, Cowen Investment Management

John Holmes, Chief Operating Officer, Cowen Inc.

Stephen Lasota, Chief Financial Officer, Cowen Inc.

Owen Littman, General Counsel, Cowen Inc.

Tom Strauss, Chairman, Cowen Investment Management

Larry Wieseneck, Co-President, Cowen and Company

Also at Credit Suisse, both Tish Ghosh and Andrew Pidgeon, have departed the firms Hong Kong office to join hedge funds. Ghosh, a Credit Suisse MD and head of equities delta one and systematic trading for Asia Pacific, moved to Millennium Capital Management as a portfolio manager. He had been with Credit Suisse since June 2014 and previously spent three years as Asia Pacific head of equities systematic trading at Merrill Lynch. He was a Barclays Vice President before that.

Pidgeon, who was a director in Delta One and Derivatives trading at the bulge firm, departed for Seganti Capital Management. He spent 7 years at Credit Suisse and also worked at Macquarie in Hong Kong as a derivatives trader.

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Azores Airlines will again offer Bay Area travelers direct flights to Terceira Island, Azores, beginning on June 12, 2018 from Oakland International Airport. All Azores Airlines will flights conveniently connect with inter-island flights in the Azores and to Porto and Lisbon.



(TRAVPR.COM) USA - November 7th, 2017 - Oakland, CA  Portugal is one of the hottest travel markets in Europe, and Azores Airlines will offer new flights to connect the Bay Area to Portugal next year. Azores Airlines will again offer Bay Area travelers direct flights to Terceira Island, Azores, beginning on June 12, 2018 from Oakland International Airport. All Azores Airlines will flights conveniently connect with inter-island flights in the Azores and to Porto and Lisbon.

The weekly Terceira flight is offered until September 18th, 2018. The aircraft is an A340 with three classes of service and 273 seats Tickets are now available for purchase at https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en/home. For more information and reservations, contact your travel agent, or Azores Airlines at 669-292-5454.

Oakland International Airport is Californias fourth largest airport, with more than 11 million passengers passing through its gates every year. Today, 13 airlines offer nonstop service to a growing list of 55 international and domestic destinations.

The sapphire blue and emerald green lakes, fertile prairies, volcanic cones and craters, colorful hydrangeas and azaleas, 15th century churches and majestic manor houses make the Azores unlike anywhere else on earth.

###
Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 7

A hearing of the solid waste management plant located on the Mansa road was held at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi yesterday.

The NGT has summoned officials of the biomass and power plants in the 100-km radius of the city to be present in the next hearing scheduled for November 10 over the issue of not purchasing RDF prepared at the solid waste management plant.

During the last hearing, the JITF company told the NGT that the refuse derived fuel (RDF) being prepared by the plant was not purchased by any power and biomass plant, due to which the company was facing losses and problems in running the plant.

The company officials also stated that the MCB was not cooperating with them.

After the NGT directions, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued a letter to seven bio-mass plants in and around the district.

The biomass plants include Whiten Energy, Talwandi Sabo Power Plant Limited, Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, Universal Biomass, Malwa Power Limited and D Development Engineer.

Officials of these seven plants will have to disclose the reason for not purchasing RDF prepared at the solid waste plant.

Significantly, according to the Solid Waste Rules 2016, it is mandatory to purchase RDF prepared at the plant.

During the last hearing held on October 26, the NGT had asked for a report on the current situation of the solid waste plant.

At the same time, the company and the government were also asked to submit a report on the problems faced by them.

The NGT had made it clear that the solid waste plant was to be run in each and every situation.

In this case, the order to resolve the dispute with the company regarding the plant was also issued by the NGT to the government and the Local Bodies Department.

Company faces losses, problems

A hearing of the solid waste management plant located on the Mansa road was held at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi on Monday.

During the last hearing, the JITF company told the NGT that the refuse derived fuel (RDF) being prepared by the plant was not purchased by any power and biomass plant, due to which the company was facing losses and problems in running the plant.

.
New Delhi, November 7

Ride hailing app Ola on Tuesday announced a global partnership with tech giant Microsoft for building a new-age 'connected vehicle platform' for car manufacturers worldwide.

Under the partnership, Ola will use Microsoft cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and productivity tools to enhance rider experience as well as for predictive maintenance of the cars.

The offerings will also be taken by both the companies to car manufacturers globally for integration with vehicle systems.

"There are synergies... The two companies working together can accelerate the future of mobility, especially in India and beyond," Ola co-founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal said at the India Today Conclave Next 2017.

Aggarwal, who was sharing the dais with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, outlined the broad contours of the alliance that would also harness the power of new technologies like AI and Internet of Things.

Microsoft will be a preferred cloud provider and its Azure cloud platform will be used to power Ola's existing connected car platform - Ola Play.

Ola Play will leverage Microsoft's AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance, and provide auto manufacturers with custom digital experiences for their customers.

Ola Play customers will be able to use productivity tools like Office 365 and Skype for business during their rides.

Besides, the partnership will allow smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, in the process enhancing safety and security.

"Today's car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we are focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers," said Nadella, who is currently on a two-day visit to India.  PTI
London, November 7

Britains senior-most Indian-origin minister Priti Patel has issued a formal apology for holding undisclosed meetings, including with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while holidaying in the Jewish country.

The secretary of state for international development admitted meeting Netanyahu among other senior figures without following the usual procedures but claimed it was simply the result of enthusiasm to engage.

This summer I travelled to Israel, on a family holiday paid for myself. While away I had the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was aware of my visit while it was under way, she said in a statement.

In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be misread, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it, she noted.

Ministers are required to tell the Foreign Office when they are conducting official business overseas, but a BBC report had claimed last week that British diplomats in Israel were not informed about these meetings.

Downing Street had dismissed it as a private holiday with nothing to investigate, but Prime Minister Theresa May had a follow-up meeting with the minister over the issue.

The prime minister welcomes the secretary of states clarification about her trip to Israel and has accepted her apology for her handling of the matter. The prime minister met the secretary of state this morning to remind her of the obligations which exist under the ministerial code, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Opposition parties had called for Patel to resign if it emerges that she breached the ministerial code of conduct.

The BBC report had revealed that Patel had been accompanied by pro-Israeli Conservative party lobbyist Lord Polak during several meetings on the 13-day visit in August.

Among her 12 meetings, now made public, included an interaction with Yair Lapid, the leader of one of Israels main political parties (Yesh Atid), and visits to charity organisations.

The senior Conservative MPs meeting with the Israeli PM, including discussions on her family background and her experience growing up in an area of the UK with a thriving Jewish community.

The two leaders also discussed the Israeli domestic political scene as well as his forthcoming visit to the UK which took place last week.

Patel also discussed prospects for closer collaboration between Israel and the UK on development and humanitarian issues.

The FCO (Foreign Office) are clear that UK interests were not damaged or affected by the meetings on this visit, the Department for International Development (DfID) said. PTI
NOW we have another list, the Paradise Papers that has named hundreds of suspects, including ministers, actors, media barons and corporate honchos, taking shelter in tax havens for alleged evasion. Some of these Indian elites had earlier figured on the list of Panama Papers, a similar expose that took place in April last year. The latest revelation forced the government to issue a status report about the ongoing Panama Papers investigation that includes the names of over 400 Indians or persons of Indian origin.

As expected, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley quickly announced a multi-agency panel to probe the leaked financial documents that allege links of certain Indians with overseas entities in the no tax or low tax havens. But, the past experience with the probe panel stratagem is not very encouraging. After spending over 18 months scrutinising 426 cases highlighted in the Panama Papers, the probe panel could so far separate 147 actionable cases involving a mere Rs 792 crore, which is, on an average, about Rs 5 crore per case. It is intriguing: why would a person take so much pain and risks for such a small amount? It is natural for the rich and mighty, involved in these cases, to pull strings and get their names cleared. The government must ensure that the probe panel has examined each case diligently, without any fear or favour. There is also a need to expedite the process of framing specific charges against the culprits and taking action against the guilty. The name-and-shame strategy would also help in dissuading other potential offenders.

The multi-agency probe panel, investigating the Panama Papers, has exonerated 279 entities because they did not violate any law. Similarly, one should be careful before concluding that all individuals listed in the latest expose are tax evaders until proven guilty. The law allows individuals and corporates to invest overseas within a prescribed limit. A sustained investigation by the probe agency is a must before concluding culpability of individuals named in the expose. Meanwhile, businessmen, politicians, cine-stars and other elites of society must learn to remain transparent in their dealings because nothing remains a secret forever.
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, November 7

Members of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh launched a jail bharo stir at all district headquarters in the state on Tuesday.

Members of the mahasangh assembled at Mansarovar Park in Rohtak and marched towards the local mini-secretariat. Police personnel deployed there stopped them on the way following which the protesting employees courted arrest. Employees leaders pointed out that a delegation of representatives of their association had met the Chief Minister at his residence in Chandigarh on September 18.

The meeting went on for three hours in presence of top officers. The state authorities conceded their 12 main demands, including regularisation of temporary employees, issuance of a notification on cashless medical facility, provision of allowances on a par with Central government employees and so on, they said.

They claimed that the state authorities had promised to issue a notification in this regard by November 1 but it was yet to do so.

Protest in front of DC office

Panipat: The protesters led by Narender Khokhar, a former state vice-president, raised slogans against the government and also tried to gheroed the DC office.

Ranbir Sharma and Tejbeer Mann, state joint secretary and Circle Secretary, respectively, said the protesting employees courted arrest when they were prevented from gheraoing the DC office by the police deployed at the mini-secretariat. The police later let off the protesting employees at the Barsat turn.

CM had accepted demands, says mahasangh leader

Sonepat: Hundreds of government employees under the banner of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh on Tuesday courted arrest here outside the mini-secretariat and were taken away in buses. Before their arrest, they demonstrated outside the mini-secretariat and raised slogans against the state government. Jagmohan Antil, employees leader, said at a rally of the mahasangh in Karnal, it was decided that if the government did not accept their demands, its members would start jail bharo agitation on November 1. On September 17, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had accepted the demands and promised to announce it during the Haryana Diwas celebrations on November 1. However no such announcement was made, he announced.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6

Little less than two years after Haryanas senior police officers magically appeared at Sukhdev Dhaba and escorted women up to Delhi border, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked for the call details of the officers in the Murthal rape case.

Taking up a suo motu (court on its own motion) case, a Division Bench asked the state government to provide the call details of the IG, SP, DSP, SHO and other police officers present in Murthal area. Justice AK Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal made it clear that the call details from February 19 to 22, 2016, were required to be furnished.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Bench also called for the statements of all 573 witnesses recorded under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the Haryana Police during the course of its investigations after the High Court took cognisance of reports carried in these columns on the rape in the fields of Murthal.

The orders came after amicus curiae (friend of the court) Anupam Gupta submitted that he was not in a position to ascertain whether the investigation was proceeding in the right direction, in the absence of statements of the witnesses and other related record.

Seeking directions to the state to provide case-related details, Gupta referred to Supreme Court judgments on providing amicus curiae access to documents pertaining to investigation of cases.

Restating the demand for a CBI probe, Gupta submitted that investigation by the premier agency was the only hope for unveiling the truth behind the rape. Gupta reiterated that information available with him suggested that the dhaba owner, Amrik Singh, knew the truth.

After that several senior cops magically appeared at the dhaba and escorted all women up to Delhi border. Something had happened at Murthal. Amrik Singhs dhaba was not ransacked by the protesters because he had paid protection money. The call details of the cops present at his dhaba on that day could be helpful in this case, Gupta added.

Asking for the copies of statements of all 573 witnesses, Gupta said the probe by the special investigation team was an attempt to push the truth under the carpet of secrecy. The case will now come up on November 22.

Gupta, on the previous date of hearing, had claimed that nine rapes took place at Murthal during the reservation stir in February last year. Refusing to shut its eyes to the rape, the High Court had earlier made it clear that the Bench might consider handing over the probe to the CBI if the special investigation team failed to come out with anything substantive.
Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, November 7

The police have arrested two persons in connection with the sexual assault on two minor girls studying in Class IX at a government senior secondary school in Yamunanagar.

One juvenile surrendered in a Jagadhri court this evening, but was later taken to the Duty Magistrate as the Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board was not present. The Duty Magistrate sent him to the observation home in Ambala.

Sheelawanti, SHO, womens police station, said one of the accused, Sajid, was arrested on Saturday. He was yesterday produced in a Jagadhri court, which sent him in judicial custody, she said. She said another accomplice, Narinder Kumar, was arrested yesterday. He was today produced in court, which sent him in judicial custody, she said.

Narinder had been running the shop where the girls were sexually assaulted, she said. One juvenile, who sexually assaulted one of the girls, surrendered in court today, she said.

Dr Richa, District Child Protection Officer, Yamunanagar, lodged an FIR against Sajid of Mumidi village and the juvenile under Section 4 of the POCSO Act.

The FIR was converted into complaint against the juvenile as per juvenile law today. The police booked the principal and five other staff members of the school for not reporting the offence.

Paramjit Singh Badola, Member, Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, had got information of sexual assault by two youths on October 24. He visited the school with Dr Richa and other officers on November 3. Badola told mediapersons that the victims told their teacher about the incident the next day.

He said the teacher had brought the matter to the notice of the principal, but he did not report the crime to the police and higher authorities of the department. He said the victims told the principal that the accused took them to a shop-cum-restaurant and sexually assaulted them.
Shimla, November 7

The high-octane campaign for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections marked by acrimonious exchanges between the two contenders for power  the state's ruling Congress and main opposition BJP  ended on Tuesday.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Though the BJP announced Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial face just a week ago, the saffron party's campaign was virtually spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lacerated the Congress over corruption, while Rahul Gandhi mounted a spirited counteroffensive, targeting the Centre over note ban and the GST.

BJP president and its master strategist Amit Shah, besides a host of Union ministers and top leaders from both sides criss-crossed the state.

The 73-year-old Dhumal, a two-term chief minister, is seeking to thwart the Congress's chief ministerial candidate Virbhadra Singh's record seventh shot at power.

Singh, 83, the tallest Congress leader in the state, is facing graft cases and is locked in a bitter feud with state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu whose ouster he sought but failed to ensure ahead of the elections.

The old Congress warhorse also has to contend with the possible anti-incumbency.

Internal squabble may cast a shadow on the Congress' chances of storming back to power despite the party reposing faith in Singh to bail it out at a time when it has been facing a string of electoral reverses.

The BJP organised 197 rallies while Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh alone addressed 200 meetings across the state for the Congress during the past two-and-a-half months.

Prime Minister Modi addressed seven meetings, Amit Shah six, Rahul Gandhi three, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh three and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke at seven public meetings.

There are 337 candidates left in the field after the death of a candidate in Badsar constituency while a BJP rebel in Chamba retired in favour of the party candidate.

Significantly, Himachal Pradesh goes to polls a day after the first anniversary of the Centre's demonetisation decision.

While the Congress and some other opposition parties are observing November 8 as 'black day', the BJP had declared it would celebrate it as 'anti-black money day'.

Modi and other BJP leaders repeatedly targeted Virbhadra Singh and his government for alleged corruption.

Addressing a rally on Sunday, Modi claimed that the hill state needed to be freed of 5 Mafias - 'Mining Mafia', 'Forest Mafia', 'Drug Mafia', 'Tender Mafia' and 'Transfer Mafia'.

A combative Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice president, hit back a day later during his public meetings and accused Modi of speaking selectively on corruption while also asking where the jobs promised by the BJP had gone.

Gandhi also lambasted the government over the manner in which the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was rolled out.

"We will completely change the GST after coming to power in 2019 to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by it," he asserted while addressing poll rallies at Paonta Sahib, Chamba and Nagrota yesterday.

Apart from Modi's charm, the BJP also tried to cash in on the charisma of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

High-profile BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and J P Nadda, who hails from the state, sought to swing the electorate in the saffron party's favour.

While the battle for the state may be tough, the going is likely to be easy for Virbhadra Singh from the Arki seat where he faces greenhorn Rattan Singh Pal of the BJP in a four-cornered contest.

Leader of opposition Dhumal is pitted against Rajinder Rana (Congress) in a five-cornered fight in Sujanpur.

Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh is making his electoral debut from Shimla (Rural) constituency where he is facing a stiff challenge from Pramod Sharma, a former protege of his father now contesting as the BJP nominee.

Another contest that would be keenly watched is for the Mandi seat where former Union minister Sukhram's son Anil Sharma is contesting as the BJP candidate. Anil Sharma quit the Congress in the run up to the elections.

State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti is facing Satpal Singh Raizada of the Congress in a five-cornered contest in Una, while state Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu is pitted against sitting BJP MLA Vijay Agnihotri in a six-way fight in Nadaun.

About a dozen rebels of both the parties are also in the fray, trying to spoil the chances of official nominees.

The counting of votes would be taken up on December 18.

The Congress and BJP are contesting all 68 seats, CPI(M) has fielded 14 candidates while 187 candidates of small parties and independents are also in the fray.

As per the latest photo electoral rolls, there are 50,25,941 electors including 25,68,761 male, 24,57,166 female, 14 third gender electors.

As many as 7,521 polling booths have been set up which include 983 that have been declared vulnerable and 399 declared critical. A highest 297 vulnerable polling stations are in the Kangra district.

The Kaa polling station in Kinnaur has the lowest number of eight votes while the highest poll stations of Hikkim, situated at a height of 15,000 feet, has 134 voters.

Besides 40,000 police and security men, 65 companies of para military forces have reached the state for ensuring free and peaceful polling, Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpender Rajput said.

Sullah Assembly constituency in Kangra has the highest number of 96,145 electors while tribal Lahaul and Spiti constituency has lowest number of 23,231 electors.

There are 19 women candidates in the arena with six candidates fielded by BJP and three by Congress.

Independent India's first voter, 101-year-old Shyam Singh Negi, would be casting his vote in the fifteenth Assembly poll in a row at Kalpa polling booth in Kinnaur Tribal constituency.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Solan, November 7

The poll din settled into an eerie silence with both BJP and Congress winding up their campaign this evening.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh addressed a poll rally at the Padam Singh Stadium at Kunihar for his home seat of Arki where he had found little time to campaign given his overwhelming demand from the other parts of the state.

Addressing the rally, he claimed that it was appalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had crossed limits of decency while addressing poll rallies and he reminded people about former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee who, he said, was a thorough gentleman.

Vajpayee always gave liberal financial support to the state whenever required unlike Modi who had failed to live up to his expectations, he said.

He claimed that the BJP had named PK Dhumal as the chief ministerial candidate as a face-saving exercise as they were going to lose the polls and the Modi factor had failed to have any effect in the state.

Facing flak for choosing Arki as his poll arena, the CM said he had chosen this segment for the partys victory as this seat had been lost twice by them due to infighting. He said there was no dearth of capable leaders in Arki, but infighting had cost the party dear. He showered praises on the partys organisational structure in Arki and said the party had been strengthened due to their hard work.

He assured the people of ensuring all-round development of the segment and said he had undertaken unprecedented development of the constituencies which he had represented in the past. He urged the people to vote for the Congress and ensure that the state ushered into an era of development. Poll rallies were also addressed by senior congress leaders at Parwanoo and Baddi.

The BJP leaders on the other hand had begun their door-to-door campaigning after completing all their rallies yesterday.
Pratibha Chuahan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 7

Even as the poll din fell silent today with campaigning for the November 9 polls coming to an end, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh took out time to seek votes for himself in the Arki segment from where he is contesting and in Shimla (Rural) from where his son Vikramaditya Singh is making his electoral debut.

A total of 50.25 lakh people will decide the fate of 338 candidates, including 19 women.

The counting of votes will be done on December 18. A total of 7,525 polling stations have been set up, some in the rugged and harsh terrain of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, posing a challenge to parties.

BJPs chief ministerial candidate PK Dhumal addressed election meetings in the Lad Bhadol area of Jogindernagar in Mandi district.

Despite the campaign period being very short as the elections were announced on October 12, the state this time witnessed an aggressive campaigning. The star campaigners included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Anand Sharma and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arun Jailtley and Piyush Goel. As compared to the flamboyant and shrill campaign by the BJP, the Congress was far more subdued, both in holding election rallies and in poster war.

The reputation of many stalwarts in the Congress like Virbhadra Singh who is contesting from Arki (Solan) and his son Vikramaditya Singh from Shimla (Rural), Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur (Darang in Mandi), his daughter Champa Thakur (Mandi Sadar) and Speaker BBL Butails son Ashish Butail from Palampur is at stake. The outcome of the polls will also decide the fate of BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti (Una) and HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu (Nadaun).

The Congress projected Virbhadra as its CM candidate right at the outset, but the BJP did it only recently, in a major deviation from its policy of not declaring its CM candidate beforehand.

Even though unemployment and failure of the government to create sufficient jobs remained uppermost in the mind of 11.78 lakh voters in the 18-29 age-group, the allegations and counter-allegations on corruption, dynastic politics, nepotism, mafia raj, GST backlash, demonetisation and price hike made a shrill noise.

Though voters were critical of the GST and price rise, it now remains to be seen whether Himachal will live up to its reputation of never repeating a government since 1985. The main Congress plank in the polls was development, while the BJP accused it of shielding the drug, land, transfer, liquor and forest mafias.
Pritam Singh

Demonetisation, hyped as an economic policy of 'surgical strike' against black money and terrorism, can be viewed with hindsight as more of 'carpet bombing' on Indian people especially those in the informal economy.

Demonetisation was paraded as a big leap towards creating a cashless economy in India. The work of Prof Barbara Harriss-White of Oxford University and of the late Arjun Sengupta had conclusively demonstrated that the informal sector, dependent on cash transactions, constituted the overwhelming sector of the Indian economy. As this research was well known in economic policy circles, the demonetisation move indicated both its flawed nature as an instrument of economic management as well as aloofness, or even perhaps contempt, for ordinary working people of the country.

The constant references to demonetisation as an economical 'surgical strike' akin to the Indian military's 'surgical strike' against a neighbouring country and terrorism of a certain brand also revealed a thinly disguised political attempt to seek approval for the move by invoking majoritarian communal and sectarian sentiments.

The hollowness of the claim that this move was aimed at curbing black money becomes clear from a report 'Measures to tackle black money' produced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in 2012. This report, in an understated way, argued that demonetisation might not be a solution for tackling black money or economy because black money is held largely in the form of benami properties, bullion and jewellery. Income tax investigations showed that black money holders kept only six per cent or less of their wealth as cash. Targeting this cash as a central component of anti-black money strategy is plainly ridiculous if not criminal negligence.

This raises the question: why did the BJP-led government launch this policy? What were its political motives as no economic policy anywhere in the world is without political motives of the ruling party. The answer lies in understanding the close ties between BJP and the big business, and the party's social-electoral base. It has been reported in media that the Indian banking sector was bedevilled with large loan defaults by top corporates . Consequently, the banks, especially public sector ones, were virtually starved of funds to lend and thus creating a condition of credit crunch. The BJP's big business ties meant that it could not hit the large corporate defaulters to recover the loans but it needed banks to have sufficient funds to lend to its social-electoral base in the small and medium trading communities.

Demonetisation was viewed as a way of recapitalising the banks to ensure sufficient lending to BJP's socio-electoral base but without hitting the ruling party's corporate friends.

Demonetisation has failed in meeting its stated objective of attacking black economy cash as well as in its consequences for the Indian economy. A recent RBI annual report revealed low efficacy of demonetisation. It pointed out that of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore taken out of circulation, Rs 15.28 lakh crore had returned to the system by way of public deposits. Most of this was already 'white' coming out of the earnings of millions of ordinary households and if there were black money holders, they have made it 'white' now.

Its consequences have been devastating for certain social groups who are not normally BJP's vote bank. Farmers and informal sector workers such as weavers, embroiderers, tailors and crafts persons in the textile/apparel activities were particularly hit hard. Industrial production has also suffered. According to one estimate, demonetisation had led to a loss of GDP of Rs 2.25 lakh crore.

Overall, it was a badly designed policy with sectarian political objectives. It had negligible gains, if any, but huge losses in the form of cost of printing new notes, adverse impacts on agriculture, industry and GDP; destruction of many livelihoods and causing many deaths.

 The writer is Professor of Economics, Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 7

The Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today said that efforts were being made to rescue both Onkar Singh and Reena Rani of Nawanshahr district.

The families of Onkar Singh (29), who has been stuck in Saudi Arabia for the past two years and Reena Rani (23), whose mother Gurbaksh Kaur had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, had met Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh and requested him to approach the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The MLA, through an email, had approached the Embassy, to which the Embassy today replied: The Embassy is closely working on the case of Onkar Singh and he will be back to India soon and we will also get success in Reenas case too.

The family of Reena said she had shared her location on WhatsApp around 10 days ago. The location is Unayzah city in Al Qassim province in Saudi Arabia.

Reenas mother Gurbaksh Kaur had arrived in Nawanshahr three days ago, while Reena is yet to return.

Onkars case

Onkar had left for Saudi Arabia five years ago to earn a living and help his family overcome financial problems. He had started earning well, but when he asked for leave to visit his family, his employer, who owns a private company, refused.

Around a year ago, his younger brother Jaspreet died. Onkar again sought leave, but failed to get it. Resham Kaur is now living with her widowed daughter-in-law Kiranjit Kaur. Kiran said it was becoming difficult to live as Onkar Singh was the only bread winner of the family.

Resham Kaur, his mother had said the company had not paid her son for the past two years. After the company denied him leave and stopped payment, my son filed a case in a labour court. Later, the company fired him and his friend Rana, she added.

Reenas case

Reena and Gurbaksh were duped by agents as they had promised them to send them to Malaysia. Instead they sent them to Saudi Arabia. Gurbakshs husband Gurmel Singh (50), who works as a labourer, had lodged a police complaint, demanding action against the agents. He had alleged: The agents told us that if I want my wife and daughter back, I will have to pay them Rs1 lakh along with the ticket cost.
Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7

After relying on variants of Kalashnikov rifles for nearly three decades, the insurgency in Kashmir has now added a new weapon to its arsenal: Colt M4 Carbine of the US Armed Forces.

The US-made assault rifle is the newest addition to the weapons used by militants in Kashmir and was recovered by security forces from the site of a gunfight in south Kashmirs Pulwama district.

Three militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad, among them a nephew of the groups founder Masood Azhar, were killed in the gunfight at Aglar village of Pulwama on Monday night. Later, the police had recovered three weapons, including a short-barrel AK-47 Draco rifle, a pistol and the prize catch, M4 Carbine.

The rifle  which has an effective range of 600 m  is likely to have been brought along by the Jaish-e-Mohammad militants, who infiltrated into the Kashmir valley in recent months.

The recovered M4 Carbine was later shown by Kashmir police chief Muneer Khan at a press conference in Srinagar. General Officer Commanding of Armys south Kashmir-based Victor Force Major General BS Raju was also present at the meet.

This weapon (M4 carbine) is with the special forces of the Pakistan army. So we have reasons to believe that this was given by the Pakistan army to Jaish cadres, Raju said.

The recovery has come at a time when a militant from south Kashmir was seen with a similar rifle in a picture that had gone viral on social networking sites.

According to the rifles manufacturer, Colt, the M4 rifle is the only 5.56 mm carbine that meets or exceeds the stringent performance specifications required for acceptance and use by the US Armed Forces.

It is for the first time that a US-made rifle has been recovered from militants in Kashmir, Muneer Khan said.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7

A nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar Masood is among the three militants killed in a gunfight in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, police sources said.

An Army jawan was also killed in the gunfight that erupted on Monday evening when joint teams of police, army and CRPF laid a cordon at Aglar village in Pulwama district, 45 km from here.

Police sources said the slain militants included two Pakistani Jaish militants--Mehmood Bahi, divisional commander of the outfit, and Talha, Azhar Masoods nephew. The third militant was identified as Waseem, a resident of south Kashmir.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

A senior police officer in south Kashmir said they knew Azhar Masoods nephew was operating in the district for some time.

The three weapons recovered from the gunfight site includes a US-made M16 rifle.

Recently, a picture of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sameer Bhat alias Tiger of Pulwama holding an American M-16 rifle had gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that following credible leads an operation was launched in Aglar Kandi.

While the cordon was being laid militants opened fire in which an army jawan and a civilian got injured. The army jawan attained martyrdom whereas the injured civilian was evacuated and shifted to hospital. His condition is said to be stable, he said

It is the same group that was wanted for the attack on a police naka on Saturday that left a cop dead and another injured, he added.
Srinagar, November 6

An Indian soldier and three militants were killed on Monday in an ongoing gunfight between the security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to police a soldier identified as Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was killed during the encounter in Aglar village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

A civilian identified as Tariq Ahmad sustained a bullet injury during simultaneous clashes between protesting civilians and the security forces near the encounter site. The protesters were trying to disrupt the operation against the holed up militants.

Police said the injured civilian was shifted to hospital and reinforcements have been rushed to the area to augment the strength of the security forces engaged in the gunfight.

Following special intelligence inputs troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded Aglar village on Monday evening.

As the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, they were fired at, triggering the gunfight that was still ongoing when this report was filed.

Meanwhile, Internet facility in Pulwama district has been suspended to check the spread of rumours in the area.  IANS/ TNS


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Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7

People from different sections of society met the Centres interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, for the second consecutive day today with a hope for restoration of peace in Kashmir.

Most of the organisations, including youth groups, which queued up since the morning to put forth their point of view before Sharma, were optimistic over the attempt by the Central government to reach out to the people of J&K for restoration of peace in the trouble-torn region.

Youth from different areas of the Valley discussed basic to larger issues during their discussions. Tauseef Raina of Global Youth Foundation, Baramulla, favoured engagement of all in the dialogue process. We must all talk. Some people do not want to engage in the dialogue process, it is their choice. However, talks are a necessity, he said. Lamenting that Kashmiri youth, be it a militant or a policeman, were being killed in the conflict, he said, dialogue is the only option.

Tauseef said the Hurriyat Conference should step forward as it was necessary for restoration of peace. Hopefully, it will be a fruitful exercise, he added. We told Sharma about our issues, including the issuance of passports, which are being denied on various grounds, and withdrawal of FIRs against some youths, he said.

Another youth leader, Sofi Arafat, representing Be the Change organisation from Anantnag in south Kashmir, said their focus was on sincere dialogue that would yield positive results. There are multiple dimensions to the Kashmir conflict. There is a need to touch all issues ranging from the basic to the larger ones, he said after the meeting.

Merajuddin Rather, who represented Voice of Youth from Sumbal in Bandipora district, said they talked about frustration and problems among the youth. Many youths do not get passports due to militant links of relatives, unemployment is theresteps have to be taken to address these matters, Rather said.

Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Wellcare Civil Society, Handwara, said, We must not waste any opportunity. Talk to the youth, even if others do not want to negotiate. Youth want peace, take them into confidence. The Government of India seems to be sincere this time, he said.

Jagmohan Singh Raina, leading a delegation of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, said: We want peace in Kashmir as early as possible. For this, Delhi needs to speak to people of the state. Many interlocutors in the past have been engaged, but without any results.

The majority community has been angry in Kashmir for many decades. You need to know the reason for their anger. They were not agitated even when Sheikh Abdullah joined hands with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, said Raina, adding, The youth from the majority community have not been getting their due share in jobs.

We told the leaders that the Hurriyat cannot be ignored. They should also talk to other sections of society, such as Gujjars and Shias. Problems of the people need to be looked into. Our demands included minority status for the Sikhs in the state, he said.

All J&K Panchayat Conference chairman Shafiq Mir said, People from different shades of opinion need to be involved in the talks. Democratic institutions are weak because of the lack of seriousness on the part of various governments. Panchayati raj is not visible at the grassroots level.
As many as 700 contestants from 20 SIP Learning Centres representing Punjab and HP competed in the 5th Regional Abacus, Brain Gym & Mental Arithmetic Competition held in Chandigarh on November 5. The competition was organised by SIP Academy India Pvt Ltd.

Students in the age group of 6 to 12 years from various regions of North India showcased their calculation ability through abacus, an ancient tool of calculation. The children were required to do 260 sums in 11 minutes. 140 sums of addition/ subtraction in 8 min. & 120 sums of multiplication/ division in 3 min. The students were tested on their concentration, confidence, intelligence, speed and accuracy. It is heartening to see the competitive spirit amongst these children and their self-confidence. Essential for life said Jagdeep Singh, State Head - Punjab of SIP India Academy Pvt. Ltd.

SIP Academy India is the only Abacus Company in the world which guarantees 5 times improvement in the childs mental calculative skills.

Thapar varsity convocation

As many as 1,731 degrees were awarded at the 31st convocation of Thapar University, Patiala, last week. These included 73 PhD degrees, 693 masters in engineering, sciences, humanities and management and 961 bachelors degrees in engineering.

Professor Joseph Klafter, President, Tel Aviv University, was the Chief Guest. Dr G. Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor of the VIT University, Vellore, was the Guest of Honour. Gautam Thapar, President Thapar University, presided over the function and awarded medals. The award winners included Divanshu Kapila who received the Presidents Medal for securing the highest CGPA, Celeste Goel won the S. Ranbir Singh Memorial Medal for Best All-Round performance. Shreya was awarded the Prof V. Rajaraman Computer Science Engineering Award, and Naman Garg was awarded the S. Ram S. Sidhu Memorial Medal. The 61-yr old Thapar University has partnerships with other esteemed and globally ranked universities including with Trinity College Dublin and Tel Aviv University Israel.

Spirit of Community awards

Application window for the 8th Annual Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is open now. The programme that is organised by DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance (DPLI) in India now invites individual and group applications from students in Classes VI-XII, who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through consistent volunteer community service. The application forms can be filled online or downloaded from www.spiritofcommunityindia.com.

Deadline:December 31, 2017.

HR Conclave

Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram, organised the third edition of HR Conclave HR Agility: Conquering the Chaos on November 4. Organised with an aim to discuss current challenges the companies are facing owing to the fast-changing and unpredictable business environment, the conclave opened with a welcome address by Prof. D. P. Goyal, Dean , Graduate Programmes and Prof. Sumita Rai, Chairperson, PGP-HRM. Rajiv Jayraman, Founder-CEO & CPO, Knolskape, was the chief guest.

Daikin India signs MoU with Manav Rachna University

An MoU was signed between Manav Rachna University (MRU) and Daikin Air-Conditioning India Pvt. Ltd. (DAIPL) to establish a Daikin Centre of Excellence at the MRU campus recently. While sharing the purpose behind this MoU, APS Gandhi, GM, Services, Training & Development, DAIPL said, This tie-up will ensure hands on practical exposure for the students and help them acquire the new technologies being practiced in the air-conditioning industry including the VRV technology, refrigerant technology and inverter technology. Daikin is already a global leader in these technologies.  TNS
Pervin Malhotra

Q.I am an insurance agent by profession, but I absolutely adore dogs (we have four of them at home). People say that I have a way with animals. I would like to take up dog training as a second vocation. Is this a good option?  Umesh Paliwal

A.Every dog has its day and canines in India have never had it so good. Today pet boutiques and exclusive parlours cater to every whim and fancy of the pampered pooch that's become an intrinsic part of the dog lover's family. Consequently, the need for skilled trainers who can work independently or with pet boutiques has also gone up in India. To become a successful dog trainer you must love working with animals (which you do), understand the animal's psyche and of course possess loads of patience. There are no formal courses on how to train dogs except those offered by the Army so civilian dog trainers learn on the job or apprentice with an experienced trainer. Yet others, pick up the tricks of the trade by working with the police or BSF dog squad.

However, be prepared for occupational hazards like taming the recalcitrant Rottweiler or a particularly unmanageable, puppy whose bite may, in fact, be dangerous. Pets are trained for two main purposes, guarding and discipline.

Dog trainers are also hired for training pets to participate in dog shows, TV commercials and films. If you're philanthropically inclined, you can also offer your services to train dogs to be guides for the blind and senior citizens (There are already some breeding and training schools for guide dogs in some of the leading metros).

Then, you can also specialise in handling problem dogs - somewhere between a dog trainer and a pet therapist or psychiatrist, in which case you'll be working with the dog as well as its 'adopted family'.

In the wild, dogs live in packs. When showered with excess of attention and love, they instinctively assume that they're the leader of the pack. Which is when the trouble starts - disobedience and aggressiveness and jealousy are common symptoms that need to be dealt with.

Experienced dog trainers charge hefty fees. The training usually lasts for three months with 4-5 visits per week. Many trainers prefer to freelance  advertising their services online, on pet forums or through word-of-mouth via vets and pet clinics.

Scope in Army for women

Q.I am a Class XII student of NIOS in a village school in HP. I am very keen to serve in the armed forces. Is there any way I can join after Class XII, or do I have to wait till I complete my graduation?  Anisha Rajput

A.In a bold and major step towards breaking the gender barrier, the Indian Army is now looking at inducting women Jawans also. The process will be kick-started with the recruitment of about 800 women into the military police corps. While the Military Police does not undertake frontline combat work, its work is to keep police cantonments and army establishments secure, prevent breach of rules and regulations by soldiers, maintain movement of soldiers and logistics during peace and war, handle prisoners of war and extend aid to civil police whenever required. Women's inclusion in the Corps of Military Police will also help in investigating allegations of gender specific crimes. Currently, women are allowed in select areas such as officers in the medical, legal, educational, signals and engineering wings of the Army.

As part of this path-breaking move, roughly 52 women will be inducted annually as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Jawans.

Currently the armed forces have a strength of around 3,500 women officers, all of whom are in non-combat roles. However, things are changing. India's first batch of female Indian Air Force pilots is completing the last leg of training in readiness for flying war planes.
Amarjot Kaur

Among charged-up debates and stinging criticism, two conflicting political narratives have come to demonstrate the year-long journey of demonetisation and its impact on the countrys economy as well as social order.

The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced that the ruling party will be celebrating the day when Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes ceased to be a legal tender as Anti-Black Money Day. However, 18 opposition parties will observe Black Day on November 8.

Though a series of songs, released soon after the note ban, tried to put peoples sentiments into perspective with their content, both for and against the drive, the trend continues even on the first anniversary of demonetisation. While Oscar-winning composer AR Rahmans The Flying Lotus, released in October, leaves the demonetisation drive open to interpretation, Rahul Ram poked fun at the governments decision with his sardonic-wordplay on the rendition of Bollywoods song Woh Chali.

Scathing note(s)

On October 31, a Mumbai-based band called The Banned uploaded on their Facebook page a scathingly worded parody on demonetisation, which they call the biggest parody in India, in the YouTube link to their song Baar Baar Fenkoa spin-off on Baar Baar Dekho from the 1962 movie China Town. A six-member band comprising Rossi Dsousa Dhammarakshit, and Siddharth; the song has been written by Mayank, who also plays the congo and djembe, and is directed by Ramneek Singh and Mithun.

Mayank, a former television journalist, says the song was an outburst of sorts that voices the painful experiences of common people, after the implementation of demonetisation. He has a grouse with those who are labelling the band as Congress people. First, he chooses to clear the stance on his political leaning. I, and my band members, am anti-establishment. So, I would sing against Congress too if it were in power and had inconvenienced the masses with note ban, he says. The recently formed band has people coming not from different streams, but different extremes, he adds. Mithun, who is a street-vendor, sells vegetables on footpath in Andheri, near my house. He visited me frequently and would borrow books. Now, he writes poetry and is also studying BA. Dhammarakshit and Siddharth are Dalits from villages in Maharashtra and are true-blue Ambedkarites, while Ramneek is a Kashmiri Sikh, says Mayank.

Social eye

Through a cultural uprising of sorts, the members of The Banned have been vociferously addressing political and social issues with poetry and music. I met Rossi at protests and we started singing together there, and Ramneek I met at a poetry event. Through poetry and music, with an initiative called Morche Pe Kavi, we have been addressing issues like the death of Jharkhand-based woman Santoshi, who didnt get ration because she did not have an Aadhar-linked ration card, Gauri Lankeshs murder, and the Gorakhpur incident, he elaborates. The band members get together on the last Saturday of every month at Carter Road in Mumbai to talk about such issues.

The funny side

The song on demonetisations anniversary came to me after a session of Morche Pe Kavi on October 28. We sat down to make a song about all that we, and people around us, faced due to the drive, he shares. A florist near my house died on the day note ban was announced and her family members had no money for her cremation; I suffered an accident and was struggling to get treated because of the withdrawal limit in ATMs. The point is not that we suffered all this and survived it. The question is what is the result of this drive? What became of the black money? And the notes are still being counted? Thats the reason we thought this historical event commands a ceremonious parody.

Mayank opined that the song was a cover of a Bollywood song because he wanted it to slip through the tongues of common people with much ease. I wanted people to connect with it and sing it. Our next song on Aadhar Card is a bhajan called Aadhar Na Aaradhana and another one is called Oh behre meet mere, sun le zara geet mere, he signs off.

amarjot@tribunemail.com
Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 7

The tall claims made by the government to provide essential medicines for free at government hospitals fall flat, as many patients visiting the Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital in Ludhiana are asked to purchase medicines from private drug stores located outside the hospital.

According to the instructions, the Civil Hospital authorities should ensure the availability of all required medicines at its pharmacy. But, several medicines being prescribed by the doctors are unavailable at its pharmacy.

The medicines which are unavailable are very expensive, patients visiting the Civil Hospital told The Tribune. They said the consultation fee at the hospital is just Rs 10, but they spend hundreds of rupees on purchasing medicines from outside.

Besides, a Jan Aushadi store, which offers medicines at lesser prices, is also running at the Civil Hospital, but it fails to provide relief to many needy patients, as medicines that are unavailable at the pharmacy, are not available at this store as well.

A doctor on the condition of anonymity said: Some patients need those medicines which are not included in the list of essential medicines being provided for free.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Kulwinder Singh said: The government provides essential medicines for free and these are available at our pharmacy. If any medicine is unavailable, the doctors write its generic name only.

When contacted, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Mahinder Singh said: There are clear instructions by the government to doctors to prescribe only those medicines that are available at the hospital. If any other medicine is required, the Senior Medical Officer has the power to use collected funds to purchase that medicine.

I asked the SMO concerned to ensure the availability of all requisite medicines for free at the Civil Hospital so that patients dont have to purchase these from outside, he said.
New Delhi, November 7

The last prince of Awadh was found dead on September 2 in Delhi's Malcha Mahal, police said.

Under ordinary circumstances, that would have conveyed the story, followed by a brief obituary narrating his lavish life and times.

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But the story of Ali Raza, known as Cyrus, is no ordinary tale.

The "last prince of Awadh", who lived in abject penury, was found dead on September 2 in Delhi's 'Malcha Mahal', a Tughlak-era hunting lodge, tucked deep inside a patch of forest, overrun by moss and disrepair.

He was the last surviving member of a family that traced its lineage to the royals of Awadh -- a claim that was never verified.

The news of the death was broken by a section of the media yesterday, over two months after a team of police officers found him lying motionless inside the derelict 14th century structure.

He had been staying here since 1985, after his imperious mother Begum Wilayat Mahal, who allegedly swallowed crushed diamonds to death in the early 90s, forced the then Union government to provide them with accommodation behoving their royal antecedents.

She claimed she was a direct descendant of the kings of Awadh, who were known for opulence and luxury.

Armed with an unparalleled sense of entitlement, the Begum started camping in a first class waiting room of the New Delhi Railway Station in the '70s, demanding recognition for the sacrifice made by her family during the 1857 war of independence, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Sometime in 1985, the Begum and her two children -- Cyrus and his sister Sakina -- moved into the lodge, which was then known as 'Bistadari ruins'.

Old pictures show the Begum posing in regal attire inside the lodge, its beds covered in Persian carpets and table holding expensive porcelain crockery.

"She hung a metal sign outside: Entry restricted.

Cautious of hound dogs. Proclamation: Intruders shall be gundown (sic)," the BBC reported.

Subsequently, the place came to be known as 'Malcha Mahal' for its close proximity to Malcha Marg, which houses the Delhi elite, including diplomats, businessmen and authors.

The family chose a life of isolation and notorious hostility such as letting loose a pack of ferocious dogs on outsiders who came knocking as they zealously guarded their royal status and studiously avoided the commoner.

Foreign correspondents posted to New Delhi were treated somewhat better.

"Ordinariness is not just a crime, it is a sin," Sakina had declared to a reporter, the BBC reported, adding how the prince once dismissed the Mughals as "common as dirt".

However, over the years, the bloodhounds perished, as did the Begum and her daughter.

And now Cyrus.

"The body of the prince was found on September 2. There were some contact numbers found from the spot but none of them could be reached. We waited for 72 hours for anyone to come and claim the body but no one came.

"We sought help from the Delhi Waqf Board and he was buried near Delhi Gate on September 5. A post-mortem was carried out and it said that he died due to natural causes.

No foul play was found. A detailed autopsy report is awaited," a senior police officer said.

The tenth and last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, ruled Awadh for nine years till 1856, and died near Kolkata in 1887.  PTI
Anand (Gujarat), November 7

At least 13 people were killed and eight others injured when their jeep rammed into a stationary truck on the Ahmedabad-Indore Highway in Kheda district in the early hours on Tuesday, the police said.

The family of a labourer and some other residents of Sejawada village in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district were returning home from Dholka near Ahmedabad when the mishap took place around 3 am, an official said.

"The jeep in which they were travelling collided with the stationary truck on Ahmedabad-Indore Highway near Kathlal town of Kheda district," Kathlal police station's sub- inspector A G Rathod said.

"Twelve people, including six women, died on the spot while a child succumbed to injuries in hospital," the SI said.

The deceased also included the jeep's driver, he said.

The eight injured people have been taken to a hospital in Kathlal, Rathod said.

There were total 25 people, including the driver, in the jeep when the accident occurred, he said.  PTI
Guwahati, November 7

A retired Armyman here has been served a notice to prove his citizenship, a month after a Foreigners Tribunal in Assam had sent a similar notice to a retired Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army.

Mahiruddin Ahmed, who retired as a havildar from the Army in 2004, along with his wife, was served notices by a foreigners tribunal in Barpeta district on September 16.

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The notices claimed that both of them had entered India from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, without any valid papers. The tribunal had asked him to appear before it yesterday with the proof of his citizenship, Ahmed told reporters.

It is very painful and shocking that we are subjected to such humiliation after serving in the Army, he said.

Stating that he was born in 1964 in Barpeta, Ahmed wondered how could he have joined the Army if he was not an Indian citizen.

Last month, Mohammad Azmal Hoque, who had been a JCO in the Army, was asked to prove his Indian citizenship and that he was not an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant by a foreigners tribunal, which had charged him with entering the country in 1971 without proper documents.

Hoque, who had retired from the Army on September 30 last year, after serving in the force for 30 years, was living in Guwahati post-retirement. He had received a notice from the tribunal, which placed him in the Doubtful Voter category and asked him to appear before a local tribunal on October 13 with relevant documents to prove his citizenship.

Why do I have to be humiliated so many times? I request the Prime Minister, President and Home Minister to put an end to this harassment of a citizen, said Hoque, adding that he was not the first person from his family to be served such a notice as in 2012, his wife Mamtaj Begum was also summoned by the tribunal to prove her citizenship.

The Assam Police, however, later apologised to him as it was a case of mistaken identity. The foreigners tribunals were set up in the state under the Foreigner (Tribunal) Order of 1964 to determine the status of citizens whose Indian nationality is found to be doubtful.

The number of foreigners tribunals was increased from 36 to 100 in 2015 following an increase in the number of cases related to alleged illegal migrants.

The Assam Accord signed in 1985 between AASU (All Assam Students Union) and the Centre had fixed March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.  PTI
Guwahati, November 7

The Assam CMs vigilance cell today arrested the state Director of Information and Public Relation (IPR), Ranjit Gogoi, in connection with over Rs 30 crore scam that took place in the department towards the fag end of previous Congress regime just before the last Assembly election in 2016.

Gogoi was today summoned for questioning and then arrested. He was produced before the court of special judge and remanded in three-day custody. The previous Congress regime launched a campaign Vision Assam, Mission Assam worth over Rs 30 crore to publicise the government achievements. It was carried out with an inordinate hurry that allegedly resulted in siphoning off government funds as per a case filed by Atul Bora, sitting BJP MLA representing Dispur.  TNS
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev on Tuesday advocated dialogue between India and China to resolve their differences over the One Belt One Road (OBOR) project.

Calling OBOR an economic venture from Russias perspective, the envoy said: We will favour China and India coming to some sort of understanding bilaterally for preferred routes, ways and means of communications, of connectivity.

The envoy was speaking at an event to release a report jointly produced by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Vivekananda International foundation (VIF) titled 70th anniversary of Russia-India Relations: New Horizon of Privileged Partnership. The report studies ties between India and Russia  a relationship that appears to increasingly losing momentum in the wake of changed regional and global dynamics.

The growing friendship between Russia and China, as well as Moscows appreciation of the Belt & Road Initiative and the plans to co-develop the Eurasian Economic Union with the Silk Road Economic Belt, are being watched closely by India. India has reservations about the geopolitical consequences of the Belt & Road Initiative, as it will serve to consolidate Chinas power in Indias neighbourhood. India has particular concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it involves issues of its sovereignty, report says, as it suggest ways to better the relationship.

This comes as growing ties between The Kremlin and Beijing, as well as Indias preparation for a quadrilateral security dialogue in the Indo-Pacific with US, Japan and Australia.

About Indias growing partnership with the US, Kudashev said it was the American position  and not India  that bothered Moscow.

Our concern does not lie on Indian side  it lies mostly with the US, whose agenda doesnt look positive and constructive for us as of today. Possibly things could change.

Our sincere expectation is that three of us could work for some non-confrontational, regional security architecture, economic cooperation free of crisis and free of exclusive approaches like America first, he said.

He also tried to allay Indias fears about The Kremlins growing closeness with Beijing  especially given the latters position in the UN Security Council over Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant Masood Azhar  by saying Russia shared Indias concerns over terrorism. Russia and China are both veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council.

China has repeatedly blocked a UN resolution for sanctions on Azhar  the latest one coming a week ago.

Putting Azhar on UNs 1267 sanctions list would mean an asset freeze and travel ban on the militant who has been accused of having been involved in several militant attacks in India, including last years attack on a Indian military base in Pathankot.
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev today advocated dialogue between India and China to resolve differences over the One Belt One Road project.

Terming OBOR as an economic venture from Russias perspective, the envoy said, We will favour China and India coming to some sort of understanding bilaterally for preferred routes, ways and means of communications of connectivity.

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The envoy was speaking at an event to release a report jointly produced by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Vivekananda International foundation (VIF) titled 70th anniversary of Russia-India Relations: New Horizon of Privileged Partnership.

The report takes a close look at the privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia that seems to be losing its momentum in the wake of changed regional and global dynamics.

The growing friendship between Russia and China, as well as Moscows appreciation of the Belt & Road Initiative and the plans to co-develop the Eurasian Economic Union with the Silk Road Economic Belt, are being watched closely by India. India has reservations about the geopolitical consequences of the Belt & Road Initiative, as it will serve to consolidate Chinas power in Indias neighbourhood. India has particular concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it involves issues of its sovereignty, says the report.

It also suggests ways to reset ties even as Russia is working closely with China, while India is now all set for a quadrilateral security dialogue in the India-Pacific with the US, Japan and Australia.

The Ambassador sought to dismiss concerns about Indias growing proximity to the US stressing that it was the American position, not Indias, that bothered Moscow. Our concern does not lie on Indian side, it lies mostly on the US side whose agenda doesnt look positive and constructive for us as of today. Possibly things could change, he said. Our Sincere expectation is that three of us could work for some non-confrontational, regional security architecture, economic cooperation free of crisis and free of exclusive approaches like America first, he added.

Hoping for bilateral trade to reach a target of $30 billion by 2025, Kudashev underlined that despite intense competition for Indias arms market, Russia had retained its unique position in terms of supplies and co-production of defence and military equipment while sharing razor-edge defence technologies.

On Russias closeness to Beijing despite its support to Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in the Security Council, Kudashev said Russia and Indias views were almost identical on counter-terrorism.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7

The Congress is all geared to observe the first anniversary of demonetisation as Black Day tomorrow.

Advance preparations are on at the party headquarters with the Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation Janardan Dwivedi writing to all state chiefs to wear black bands tomorrow as a mark of agitation.

All state Congress unit presidents have been told through a letter to organise rallies during the day and candlelight processions sharp at 8 pm when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced demonetisation of high denomination currency notes, leading to the flushing out of 86 per cent cash from the economy.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would first meet traders in Surat and then join protests in the city. Dwivedi has in his letter explained the various ills of demonetisation and asked all state chiefs to speak on its demerits to the people.

As you are aware, on November 8 at 8 pm, the PM announced demonetisation of 86 per cent of the currency. Subsequently, the Congress and the entire Opposition across the country questioned this decision inside and outside Parliament. The PM garnered support for the move by taking a plea that this move is against black money, printing of fake currency and terror financing but none of the objectives has been met. The economy has suffered pain and slowdown, Dwivedi says in the letter.
Ahmedabad, November 7

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that he could proudly say that the previous UPA government had lifted 140 million people out of poverty.

Speaking a day ahead of demonetisation anniversary in Ahmedabad, Singh blasted the BJP government saying that nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that sweeped off 86 per cent of the currency.

He said: I repeat what I said in Parliament, demonetisation was an organised loot and legalised plunder.

He said the fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest.

He said: In first half of 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1. 96 lakh crore. In 2017-18, it increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore.

He said unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 crore was registered, a 23 per cent increase in a year, can be attributed largely to demonetisation and GST.

Manmohan Singh termed bullet train project an exercise in vanity. ANI
Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, November 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an open letter to the people of his poll-bound home state Gujarat, has hit out at the Congress for its dynastic politics and spreading communalism and urged them to embrace development which is the only solution for all the problems.

Without naming the Congress, he said: The same elements which in the past spread poison of communalism in Gujarat just for their political interest, have again become active for the same purpose.

He said to ensure bright future for youth and achieve new heights for Gujarat, it is everybodys responsibility to stay away from communal and dynastic elements and embrace development.

The letter, written in Gujarati, is being distributed by the BJP cadres during their Maha Sampark Abhiyan, a door-to-door campaign launched by party chief Amit Shah today. While Shah was moving around contacting each voter in person in his erstwhile state Assembly constituency of Naranpura in Ahmedabad city, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched it in his home town Rajkot, Deputy CM Nitin Patel in Mehsana and state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani in Bhavnagar.

Modis letter claimed that Gujarat and development had become synonymous over the past two decades. People are getting round the clock power supply. The state has recorded high agricultural growth and ensured security for all. Gujarat is the soil of opportunities for those who want to grow, he claimed.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 7

Six of the nine high-profile targeted killings over the last two years in Punjab were the handiwork of a terror module run by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), possibly in collusion with Sikh radicals, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced at a press conference today.

He said the police had arrested four persons involved in the killing of RSS state vice-president Brig (Retd) Jagdish Gagneja, Punjab Shiv Sena labour wing head Durga Prasad Gupta, Sri Hindu Takht publicity manager Amit Sharma, Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and his son Ramesh, pastor Sultan Masih and Ludhiana RSS leader Ravinder Gosain.

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Suspect Jimmy Singh, a Jammu resident who had recently returned to India from the UK, was picked up from Delhis IGI airport a week ago while Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national, was nabbed in Jalandhar.

The third suspect, Dharmender alias Guggni, a gangster from Meharban (Ludhiana), supplied weapons to the killers. The fourth suspect, the main shooter, was caught this afternoon. Details about him cannot be disclosed. His

interrogation is on. The cops have forensic and ballistic proof against him, he said.

Suresh Arora, state DGP, said gangster Guggni was lodged in the Nabha jail, which strengthened the suspicion of a nexus between radicals and gangsters. Three weapons  9mm, .32 and .30 bore pistols  were used in all the cases, he said.

Though handed over to the CBI, the Punjab Police had been able to crack the Gagneja case with the smashing of the terror module  the eighth since the Congress government took charge, the CM said.

He said interrogation of the four conspirators revealed they had been trained abroad and were using encrypted mobile software/apps to communicate with their handlers in Pakistan and some countries in the West.

Praising the Intelligence and counter-Intelligence wings and Batala and Moga police, Arora said a team comprising IG-Intelligence Amit Prasad, DIG (Counter-Intelligence) Ranbir Khatra, SSPs Ranjit Singh, Opinderjit Ghuman, Rajinder Singh and Wazir Singh, DSPs Sulakhan Singh and Sarabjit Singh, CIA Inspector Kikar Singh and ASI Haripal had busted the module.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7

The nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was among the three militants killed in a fierce gunfight that also claimed the life of a soldier in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Monday evening.

Masoods nephew Talha Rahid, JeM commander Mehmood Bahi, and local militant Waseem Ganai of Pulwama were killed in a four-hour gunfight at Aglar Pulwama, 45 km from Srinagar. Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh, 30, of Armys 44 Rashtriya Rifles was also killed in the gunfight. He belonged to Bulandshahr, UP.

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Police sources said Talha had been active for the past three months in Pulwama and had infiltrated as part of group of around 10 Jaish militants, mostly fidayeen, in August.

A police officer said Mehmood and Talha had planned the recent attacks in Pulwama, including the fidayeen attack at District Police Lines that left eight soldiers dead.

Kashmir IG Munir Khan said they would ask Pakistan to take the body of Azhars nephew. A US-made M4 carbine colt rifle and AK-47 Draco rifles were recovered from the slain militants. The Army said the recovery of a US-made rifle pointed to the link between the Pakistan army and the JeM. The M4 weapon is used by NATO forces and by Pakistan armys Special Forces. We believe this weapon was given by the Pakistan army, said an Army officer.
New Delhi, November 7

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking to transfer a cash-for-vote scam case relating to the 2015 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council election, to the Central Bureau of Investigation.



A Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the petition will be heard along with another plea challenging the Hyderabad High Court decision setting aside a trial court order directing the anti-corruption bureau to probe the role of alleged suspects including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The plea, filed by YSR Congress party MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, has sought direction from the apex court to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to hand over the probe to CBI.

"Proposed accused being the Chief Minister of the State is a highly influential person in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh especially in the capital city of Hyderabad. In view of the same, the investigation in the crime has come to a complete standstill after the filing of the initial charge sheet," the plea said.

Reddy also alleged that the state police was not acting or carrying out investigation in the matter and was not in a position to conduct a fair and impartial probe.

"Therefore in the interest of justice, the investigation be hand over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or otherwise the guilty will escape the clutches of the law," the plea said.

The Supreme Court had on March 6 issued notice to Naidu on Reddy's plea challenging the high court order.

The Hyderabad High Court had in December last year set aside the Special ACB Court's order directing the Telangana ACB to conduct probe into the role of suspects, including Naidu, in the scam.

The matter had surfaced when Telangana TDP legislator Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31, 2015, for allegedly offering Rs 50 lakh to nominated MLA Stephenson in order to make him vote for the TDP-BJP candidate in the elections to Telangana's Legislative Council.

ACB, which had laid a trap on a complaint by Stephenson, had also arrested Revanth's aides.

In November last year, an ACB court ordered that Naidu's reported role in the case be probed. PTI
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7

As smog engulfs the National Capital Region (NCR), the Delhi High Court today asked the Centre and the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to explain why they had not taken concrete actions to control air pollution caused by stubble burning despite its orders.

A Bench headed by Justice S Ravindra Bhat, which had on September 22 issued a series of directions to the Centre and the four state governments to stop the practice of stubble burning by farmers, expressed serious concern over the deteriorating air quality.

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Until the government treats the issue as something which is of concern to all of us, nothing is going to change, the Bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, said and asked the Centre and the governments of Delhi and the four states to submit reports on steps taken by them to stop stubble burning.

The order came after amicus curiae senior advocate Kailash Vasdev told the Bench that despite court orders, state governments had hardly done anything.

Stubble burning begins in October and continues up to January, affecting air quality in the NCR. According to affidavits filed in the court, 14 million tonne of paddy straw is burnt in Punjab alone. The emission of particulate matter from this stubble burning is beyond any acceptable human endurance, or danger levels. The figures regarding particulate matter emissions for Haryana are equally large.

Punjab contended it had prohibited indiscriminate burning of agricultural waste. The court had on September 22 issued directions to Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi and Rajasthan to implement the ban on stubble burning.

Smog-hit Delhi shuts schools
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7

The system of governance in Delhi is different from those at the Centre or in states where President or Governor was generally bound by the advice of council of ministers, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

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A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said under the Transaction of Business Rules, there were two categories of issues and one of it specifically mentioned that the elected government must communicate its decisions to the LG in advance.

But decisions on issues falling under the second category could be enforced forthwith by simply informing the LG, the Bench pointed out during hearing of issues relating to tussle for power between AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal and the Centre-appointed LG in the national capital.

"Unlike other states, if you (Delhi government) take a policy decision, then you have to intimate the Lieutenant-Governor. You are bound to intimate the LG, but you cannot say that the LG has to concur. This is the range," said the bench, which also included Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.

This is the second time that the top court has reminded the Delhi government of its limited powers under the Constitution.

"Article 239AA is unique to Delhi. Prima facie it appears that it gives more power to Lieutenant-Governor unlike other Union Territories. LG in Delhi has the primacy under the ConstitutionLaw is very clear at present that LG partially enjoys delegated powers of President and partially he has to work in aid and advice of council of ministers. If there is a difference of opinion, then he may refer the matter to the President for early resolution," the Bench had said on November 2.

On Tuesday, however, the Bench said the LG cannot differ with every administrative decision of the Delhi government and that his disagreement with the elected government should not be trivial or contrived, but substantive.

It said aid and advice of the elected government should generally be accepted unless there was an abuse of authority. The LGs intervention does not mean he will have confrontation. It should be fact and issue oriented on objective parameters, said the CJI.

There was no need for "fundamental concurrence" of LG in every aspect and there should be "real good reason" in case of difference of opinion over the decision of government.

On behalf of the AAP government, senior counsel Gopal Subramanium submitted constitutional provisions demanded a harmonious construction and that primacy to the LG was contemplated for egregious situations and not day-to-day functioning.

The CJI said, Subject to what the other side argues...we can't carve out the areas of difference. We can only say the rangethe kind of differences (in which LG can intervene).

The discussions were centered on Article 239AA, Government of NCT Act 1993 and Transaction of Business Rules which together provide a mechanism to run the Delhi government. The tussle for power is because of Delhis unique position as a Union territory with an elected government which doesnt enjoy much power over important agencies and has hardly any say on important issues.

The Bench said a balance was needed between powers of the LG and those of the council of ministers led by the Chief Minister. Every file was not required to be placed before the LG, but only those which were mentioned in the Transaction of Business rules, it clarified.

"As a responsible government, we cannot contest it, said Subramanium even as he said the constitutional schemes should be given the widest interpretation.
Pandarak (Bihar), November 7

Two men have been arrested for allegedly misbehaving and robbing a British couple in Bihars Pandarak.

According to Matthew, the British national, the incident occurred at a time the couple was camping at the bank of the Ganga.

The miscreants armed with weapons and sticks tried to rob the couple.

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We somehow managed to cross the river with the help of the boat and went to the nearby village, from where we called police for help, Matthew said.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said the belongings of the couple had been recovered from the two accused.

The men were arrested within two hours. A speedy trial will be done and it will be seen that such incidents do not recur, Maharaj said.

The incident came days after a Swiss couple was assaulted in Uttar Pradesh. ANI
Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 7

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar today stirred up Maharashtras complex political cauldron by revealing that he had a meeting with Shiv Senas executive president Uddhav Thackeray recently over the future of the saffron alliance in the state.

Uddhav Thackeray met me at my Mumbai residence 10 days ago. He was not in a mood to be part of the saffron alliance I told him he should first decide on whether or not to continue in government with the BJP, Pawar told reporters at a party conclave held at Karjat near Mumbai.

The news of Thackerays meeting with Pawar comes days after he called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit to Mumbai.

Pawars own colleagues in the NCP have hinted at a nationwide anti-BJP alliance to take on the ruling saffron party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The year 2019 will be the year of the Nationalist Congress Party and Sharad Pawar, senior party leader Praful Patel said at the partys conclave on Monday.

Given the current changing political situation, Pawar could fulfil his dream. He could become the Prime Minister, Patel told reporters.

The NCP, whose leaders are facing the heat from the Devendra Fadnavis government over allegations of corruption, have for long been critical of the Shiv Sena for opposing the BJP even while being part of the government. We have always been asking the Thackerays to quit the government before criticising it, NCP leader Majeed Memon told reporters here.

However, the Shiv Sena is wary of Pawar cutting a deal with the BJP and extending support to it should the saffron alliance split. Shiv Sena leaders point out that it was the NCP that made the first move to extend support to the BJP when it did not have a clear majority after the 2014 elections.

But on Monday, NCP leader Praful Patel insisted that the NCP would not join hands with BJP should the Shiv Sena walk out of the alliance. Pawar, for his part, has maintained an enigmatic silence on the issue.
Nahan, November 7

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would undergo sweeping changes to provide relief to traders, consumers and other sections hit by it, after his party comes to power at the Centre in 2019.

"We will completely change the GST after coming to power in 2019 to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by it," Rahul Gandhi said addressing poll rally at Paonta Sahib.

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Responding to the claims of BJP leaders that the tax was passed with Congress support, he said that GST that has been implemented by the Modi government was not what was proposed by his party.

"The government implemented the GST in haste with the highest tax slab of 28 per cent and a very complicated procedure of filing returns which has ruined businesses," the Congress vice-president said.

He said the agitation planned by the Congress on the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 was aimed at highlighting the plight of small businesses, youth, women and farmers, who had suffered the most.

Demonetisation and GST have not only resulted in big job losses but also destroyed the basic structure for creating job opportunities, he claimed adding that the government policies were helping only a few corporate houses. PTI
Washington, November 7

The 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs, was celebrated here with an evening of divine classical music.

Its a universal message and a message of global importance, said Navtej Singh Sarna, Indian Ambassador to the US, during a panel discussion ahead of the music performance by the Raj Academy Conservatoire.

The Indian-American Congressman from Illinois, Ro Khanna, was among those who attended the musical concert along with the Singaporean Ambassador to the US.

Organised by the Indian Embassy in association with the Asian Cultural History Programme of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, a large number of Sikhs from in and around Washington and several from across the country gathered here yesterday to celebrate the 350 years of the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh.

Sarna, who is considered as an authority on Sikhism, said, The 10th guru was multi-talented whose preaching has universal relevance and acceptance.

His message, story and his work is far too important to be contained so to speak to one community, or one state or one country. Its a universal message and a message of global importance, Sarna said.

Eminent Sikh scholars also participated in panel discussions on Guru Gobind Singh and his legacy with presentations by Paul Michael Taylor, Nikky-Gurinder Kaur Singh, Jasvir Kaur Rababan, Sonia Dhami, Cristin McNight Sethi and Surinder Singh.

Prof Nikky-Guninder K Singh, Crawford Family Professor at Colby College in Maine, said Sikhs had come a long way indeed in the US.

Centuries earlier, the 10th Sikh guru, born in 1666 in Patna, had kindled the fire of freedom in our hearts and minds, she said as she shared with the audience the four freedom fires he ignited.

The message of the 10th guru, she asserted, is very much relevant to the present times. Indeed, it is universal, she added. - PTI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/New Delhi, November 7

Rift within the Aam Aam Aadmi Party over Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khairas suspected links with a convicted drug smuggler grew wider on Tuesday, with 14 of the partys 20 lawmakers asking for action against dissenters.

Fourteen AAP lawmakers met on Tuesday to authorise Deputy State Convenor Aman Arora to recommend action against the six dissenting legislators  among them Deputy Leader of Opposition Sarvjit Kaur Manuke and Talwandi Sabo legislator Baljinder Kaur.

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Khaira held a press briefing soon after the meeting in an attempted show of strength.

The development comes as chorus for action against Khaira grows both within and outside AAP. The dissidents want the leader to resign in keeping with the partys ethos. The party on the other hand accuses the six lawmakers of goingagainst its official line.

Shiromani Akali Dals Delhi unit held a protest in Delhi on Tuesday to demand action against him, prompting police to use water cannon.

A court issued non-baliable warrant against Khaira and some other leaders in connection with a cross-border heroin smuggling case that dates back to 2015 last week.

Khaira is suspected of having links to Gurdev Singh, a former chairman of the Dhilwan Market Committee who was sentenced to 20 years of jail on drug charges on November 2.

Khaira has denied all wrongdoing.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 7

The Punjab Police on Tuesday claimed to have solved most of the cases of targeted killings, including the sensational Gagneja case, with the arrest of four persons.

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Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbances and destabilise the state, hatched by the ISI in Pakistan and other countries, was unearthed.

Though the state government had handed over the case of the killing of RSS state vice-president Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd) to the CBI, the state police had cracked this case too with the busting of a terror module, Capt Amarinder claimed.

Last months murder case of another RSS leader, Ravinder Gosain, has also been solved with these arrests, which have been linked to most of the cases of targeted killings that have taken place in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since January 2016, the Chief Minister told a press conference, citing police investigations and interrogation of the suspects.

The conspirators who have been arrested include a gangster, Dharmendra alias Guggni, lodged in Nabha jail, the CM added.

Giving details, Capt Amarinder said the interrogation of the four conspirators showed that they had met and been trained in various places abroad and had been using encrypted mobile software/apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries.

The ISI was always looking out to disturb the countrys peace, said the CM in response to a question, asserting that the state government would not allow the peace and harmony of Punjab to be disrupted.

Amarinder said it was evident from the investigations that the targeted killings were aimed at fanning communal disturbances to further ISIs anti-India game-plan since there were strong indications of the active involvement of Pakistani intelligence operatives based in Pak and foreign soil.

Three of the suspects have been identified as Jimmy Singh, a Jammu resident who recently returned to India from UK after spending many years there, and was picked up a week ago from Delhis IGI airport, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national who got married just last month and was apprehended in Jalandhar; Dharmender alias Guggni, a gangster from Meharban in Ludhiana who was supplying weapons to the killers.

The fourth culprit, who was the main shooter in the various cases, was caught this afternoon and details about him could not be disclosed at this juncture as his interrogation was still continuing, said the Chief Minister, adding that the police had both forensic and ballistic evidence against him.

DGP Suresh Arora said the assailants were leaving behind their footprints with every case. Similar weapons were used in Durga Das and Brig Jagdish Gagneja (Jalandhar) cases, as were done in Amit Sharma case in Ludhiana.

Investigations also showed that the same kind of weapons were used in the February 2017 Khanna killings of DSS follower Satpal Kumar and his son, July 2017 Ludhiana killing of Christian Pastor Sultan Masih and last months Ludhiana murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain.

In fact, the same kind of weapons were also used in the Ludhiana RSS Shakha case of January 2016 and Amit Arora murder case of February 2016, said the DGP, adding that the weapons used by the criminals in all the eight cases were standard 9mm, .32 and .30 bore pistols.

The DGP attributed the success in busting the terrorist module to the team effort of the intelligence and counter-intelligence wings as well as the district police of Batala and Moga. The team consisted of Intelligence IG Amit Prasad, DIG (Counter-Intelligence) Ranbir Khatra, Moga SSP Ranjit Singh, SSP Batala Opinderjit Ghuman, SP Rajinder Singh, SP Wazir Singh, DSPs Sulakhan Singh and Sarabjit Singh, Inspector, CIA Moga, Kikar Singh and ASI Haripal.
SOME time ago the Times published a letter from Sir Douglas Owen under the heading "Tropical Australia-an Opening for Indian." The writer suggested that as India was teeming with millions of people who were in a state of poverty, tropical Australia, which could not be peopled by the white races alone, might as well be opened for Indian settlement. But this provoked the adherents of "white Australia" and notably Lord Sydenham, who can hardly be expected be breathe easy while such things were being talked about. He has come out with some of his sophistries urging that Indians should be confined to India. He said: "When I was in India there was always a shortage of labour in the Bombay Presidency and elsewhere. On the other hand, there were congested districts in parts of India, which will tend to disappear as labour becomes more fluid.
Kabul, November 7

A defiant Kabul TV station was back on the air today moments after the end of an attack by gunmen who had stormed the broadcaster, killing at least one person and leaving two dozen wounded.

The assault on Shamshad TV by militants disguised as policemen, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, highlights the risks facing journalists who are increasingly targets in the war-torn country.

After about three hours of fighting Afghan Special Forces overpowered the attackers, who were armed with guns and grenades, and freed staff trapped inside the building.

The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued, Shamshad TV announced as it went back on the air.

A Shamshad news presenter, his hands bandaged after cutting himself on glass as he fled the attackers, told viewers that 20 colleagues had been wounded. Six were in a critical condition. We have all come back (to work), all our journalists and colleagues are back on duty, he said.

Shamshad news director Abid Ehsas, interviewed by rival Tolo News at a hospital in the Afghan capital where some of his wounded colleagues were being treated, said: This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us.

The station reported that one attacker blew himself up at the gate. Another went inside and shot at staff before going up to the roof to fire at security forces. Special Forces had to blast their way through a wall of the compound to enter the premises of the Pashto-language broadcaster.

I was in my office when gunmen wearing police uniforms attacked the building, Ehsas said. They killed one of our guards and entered the building and started firing. Most of us were able to flee but some were wounded and some jumped out of the windows.

He said the station had not received any threats before the attack. Gunshots could be heard inside the building every few minutes during the assault as more and more security forces and emergency services swarmed the area.

President Ashraf Ghani pledged to take serious measures to protect journalists in a statement condemning the attack.  AFP

NATO to boost Afghan mission by 3,000 troops
Rome, November 7

Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of death of 26 teenage girls whose bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea, the media reported on Tuesday.

The girls, aged 14-18, were believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria who had embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya over the weekend.

Lorena Ciccotti, a senior police official, told CNN on Monday night that autopsies would be carried out on Tuesday and that coroners would be investigating whether the girls had been tortured or sexually abused.

Their bodies were found close to a flimsy rubber dinghy that had all but sunk when rescuers arrived, Ciccotti said.

The girls rescue was one of four separate rescue operations carried out in the Mediterranean over the weekend. In total, 400 people were brought aboard the Spanish vessel Cantabria before disembarking at the Italian port town of Salerno.

Among them were 90 women and 52 minors, including a week-old-baby, CNN quoted authorities as saying.

On Monday, Italian police arrested two men, an Egyptian and a Libyan accused with human smuggling.

Since the start of this year, 2,839 migrants have died on the central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

A total of 150,982 migrants have reached European shores, of which around 74 per cent were Italian arrivals. IANS
BEIJING/SEOUL, November 7

Chinese tour operators based in the border city of Dandong have been told to halt trips to the North Korean capital Pyongyang, five sources told Reuters on Tuesday, the day before US President Trumps first official visit to China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host Trump in Beijing on Wednesday, with North Koreas development of nuclear weapons expected to top their agenda. The United States has been pressuring China to do more to rein in its neighbour and ally.

Tourism is one of the few remaining ways North Korea earns hard currency, as the United Nations has ramped up sanctions on the country over the past year, curbing key export industries including coal, seafood and textiles.

It was very unexpected, we had no idea this was going to happen until we received the notification today, said a Chinese tour operator who runs trips to North Korea out of Dandong.

This is devastating news for us, he said, adding the order had come from the Dandong Tourism Bureau. The Dandong Tourism Bureau was not immediately reachable for comment late on Tuesday. Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent after working hours on Tuesday night.  Reuters
Seoul, November 7

North Korea poses a worldwide threat that needs worldwide action, President Donald Trump said in Seoul today, but insisted we are making a lot of progress in reining in the rogue state.

The US leader, standing alongside his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, reiterated he was prepared to use the full range of American military might to halt Pyongyangs march towards becoming a full-fledged nuclear power. But he added: It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table to make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world.

Trumps tone in Seoul, whose 10 million inhabitants would find themselves on the front line of any conflict, was in marked contrast to previous rhetoric.

Only a day earlier, Trump had declared in Tokyo on the first leg of his Asia tour that the time was over for strategic patience with Pyongyang, which in September carried out its most powerful nuclear test to date.

Trump has traded personal insults and threats of war with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, raising fears of possible US military action and rapid escalation.

But in the South Korean capital, just 35 miles south of the Demilitarised Zone that divides the peninsula, the US president was reassuring. Ultimately, it will all work out, he said. It always works out.

Trump goes on China tomorrow after addressing the South Korean parliament.  PTI

South in talks to buy N-submarine from US
RACINE  Downtown Racine could be home to a new craft brewery next April.

Mark and Christine Flynn, the owners of DP Wigley, 234 Wisconsin Ave., have been working since about 2010 toward their goal of opening their own craft brewery. They brew beer at home on a smaller scale and operate Hop to It, a home brewing and wine-making supply store. The pair now hopes to open Littleport Brewing Co. next year across the street from DP Wigley on Third Street, aiming for an April opening.

The brewery would include a taproom where customers could try the six beers the Flynns plan to brew and sell. The flavors will include an India pale ale, a Welsh pale ale and stouts. Theyll also sell a lighter beer for people who do not like the full-flavored beverage.

Mark Flynn said they expect to brew about 442 barrels in the first year, containing 31 gallons each. They hope to eventually scale up production to 3,000 to 5,000 barrels in a year. Unlike home brewing, in which they make 5 to 10 gallons at a time, theyll brew 310 gallons at time at Littleport, Mark Flynn said.

He said they plan to create four full-time jobs at the brewery in its first year and hope to sell their products at restaurants and bars.

We like making beer, he said. We dont like staying up until midnight serving.

He said the project was previously delayed by financial matters, which are now largely settled.

The Flynns originally expected the project to cost about $1 million, but cut the estimate in half by acting as their own contractor. Some of the planned work will be financed with a facade grant from the City of Racine.They also plan to apply for a grant from the citys

. That program, started this year, funds work on older buildings to bring them up to code so they are habitable for new businesses.
Osan, South Korea, November 7

US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, the closest he has come to the frontlines of the nuclear standoff with North Korea, on a visit that could further aggravate tensions with Pyongyang.

Landing at Osan Air Base outside the capital Seoul, Trump stepped down from Air Force One onto a red carpet as he began his 24-hour state visit with a ceremonial military honor guard arrayed on the airport tarmac.

The White House says Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate US resolve over his hardline approach to North Korean nuclear and missile threats, but many in the region fear that further bellicose presidential rhetoric could increase the risk of a devastating military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Three US aircraft carrier strike groups will conduct exercises together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a show of force rarely seen in the region, US officials said, as Trump continues his 12-day Asia tour aimed at forging a united front against North Korea and developing trade.

Pyongyangs recent nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions and an exchange of bellicose insults between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised the stakes in the most critical international challenge of Trumps presidency.

On the second leg of his five-nation trip, Trump on Tuesday was due to tour the main garrison for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the sprawling Camp Humphreys, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea. He will later hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Trump is seeking to further ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang following his visit to Tokyo, where he declared that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed to do so, suggesting that the Japanese government take a stance it has avoided until now.

The South Korea leg of Trumps trip is an effort to present a united front despite differences with Moon over how to confront North Korea, as well as Trump's complaints over the two countries' trade agreement and South Korean defense spending.

Trump has rattled some US allies with his vow to totally destroy North Korea if it threatens the United States, for deriding Kim as a Rocket Man on a suicide mission and for dismissing as pointless any diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

Kim, who has also made clear he has little interest in negotiations, at least until North Korea develops a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States, has called Trump a mentally deranged U.S. dotard. Reuters
Peshawar, November 7

Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a temporary check post in the restive northwest Pakistan, killing two policemen, an official has said.

The gunmen riding a car were asked to stop by the police as their vehicle came near the Shago naka check post in Mardan district bordering Malakand agency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, but responded by opening fire at the security officials, the police official said.

He said one of the policemen died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injures at the hospital.

After the firing incident, the police officers reached the spot and launched a search operation to nab the killers, the officer said.

The police had set up the temporary check-post after receiving prior information of a bid to smuggle narcotics into the area. PTI
Photo courtesy of Today's Trucking

PIT Group have been busy on a project first launched in 2014 that aims to examine the effects of optimized programming on commercial vehicle engines. The Quebec-based PIT Group is a research and engineering outfit focused on improving fleet maintenance and operations.

Todays engines, PIT says, feature nearly 200 programmable parameters, making it possible to optimize engine operation. So in theory, if optimally performed, programming adjustments should provide improvements in fuel efficiency and performance. We know that, but PIT's discussions with engine manufacturers brought to light their interest in a project that would demonstrate and quantify this potential.

It's no secret that most engines leave the factory and then the dealer's yard without ever being programmed to meet the user's specific operational conditions.

With that in mind, FPInnovations, through the PIT Group, launched a project in 2014, aimed at assessing the impact of optimized programming. It's been carried out with government funding received through Transition energetique Quebec, and was supported by major partners, including Cummins Eastern Canada and several carriers that agreed to take part.

The 26-month project had three main objectives: to develop standard programming based on specific applications, to compare the energy and environmental efficiency of vehicles using these programs, and to disseminate the results within the transportation industry.

The first series of track tests were conducted in September 2016 and included school buses, specialized-haul trucks, and regional-haul trucks. A second series of track tests was performed in February 2017 in order to gather more data. These tests included two categories of vehicles: school buses and local delivery trucks. Unlike the tests of September 2016, three different driving techniques were used: aggressive driving, normal driving, and eco-responsible driving.

Overall, the project led to promising results, which are briefly presented below:

Local transportation: 4-28% reduction in average fuel consumption in the city and 3-14% on highways, depending on the period and test vehicle

School buses: Significant reduction in average fuel consumption, up to 12.4% in the city and up to 9.5% on highways, depending on the period and test vehicle

Long-haul transportation: At a constant speed, track tests showed fuel savings up to 7% when power and speed were reduced.

A pilot project, underway now, sees Cummins offering truck operators the opportunity to improve their performance through detailed analysis and programming of ECU parameters. Interested clients are invited to meet with an advisor to validate the return on investment and evaluate the economic potential on their equipment. Some companies have already taken advantage of this service. For those who miss this promotion, they will have the opportunity to obtain this service by contacting Cummins directly.

The findings of the project will be released next spring in a final report.

Rolf Lockwood is the vice president, editorial, at Newcom Business Media which publishes Today's Trucking and the executive contributing editor at HDT. This article was used under a cooperative editorial sharing agreement between HDT and its Today's Trucking.
Trucking giant Schneider National Inc. on Tuesday reported increased costs and severe weather in parts of the country kept its third quarter profit from rising significantly when compared to a year earlier.

Net income totaled $36.9 million, or 21 cents per share, versus $36.8 million, or 24 cents per share, for the third quarter of 2016.

Revenue moved higher to $1.11 billion from $1.05 billion primarily due to improved demand versus capacity balances, according to the company. Also, increased revenue was generated from demand in intermodal and logistics, productivity in truckload, the company's leasing business, and fuel surcharge revenue.

Schneiders income from operations declined to $64.1 million compared to $70.8 million a year earlier.

In the third quarter, we saw improved demand-supply balance and increased economic activity, resulting in accelerating pricing," said Chris Lofgren, CEO "This was offset by cost pressures from driver recruiting and pay, continued refining of our cost structure in the first to final mile service offering, as well as lost revenue and productivity from the hurricanes.

The companys truckload segment reported revenue excluding fuel surcharges totaled $551.7 million, an increase of 2% compared to third quarter 2016 while income from operations was $41.1 million, a decrease of 23% from a year earlier.

The drop in income from operations was attributed to the impact of the hurricanes due to lost revenue and increased costs, decreased gains on sales of equipment, account start-up costs, and continued refining of the cost structure in the company's first to final mile service offering, partially offset by improvements in freight selection and truck productivity.

Intermodal revenue excluding fuel surcharges was $196 million an increase of 4% compared to third quarter 2016 while income from operations increased 12% to $12.2 million.

The increase in revenue was due to an 8.3% increase in orders, partially offset by a 3.6% decrease in revenue per order, that resulted from the competitive pricing market and growth in the East, which has a shorter length of haul, according to the company.

Logistics revenue excluding fuel surcharges increased 8% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016 to $209.1 million primarily due to a growth of the companys brokerage business.

Brokerage volume increased 8.8% over the same period in 2016. Brokerage revenue, excluding fuel surcharges was 74% of logistics revenue excluding fuel surcharge for the third quarter of 2017 compared to 71% a year earlier.

Looking ahead, Lofgren said Schneider expects the trucking market to continue strengthening for the foreseeable future, especially given the significant amount of building materials that will need to be moved into Texas, Florida, and the Southeastern U.S. following the hurricanes, as well as the enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate that takes effect in December.

The availability of new jobs in the construction industry in the South will put additional pressure on driver hiring and retention, he said. That said, we are encouraged by our success in hiring drivers in the third quarter. The interplay of continually improving price, partially offset by costs due to driver availability, will determine market dynamics in 2018.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, Country Corner Fire District General Election. Osage County Election Board Secretary Andrea Conner offered voters tips on how to make their votes count.

Conner said that a valid ballot marking a filled-in box (in either blue or black ballpoint ink) is important. If voters make mistakes marking their ballots, they should not try to correct those errors. Instead, a voter should return the spoiled ballot to precinct officials, who will destroy it and issue a new ballot to the voter.

Conner also urged voters to take their voter identification cards with them to the polls. Your voter ID card (issued by the County Election Board) can help precinct officials find your name in the Precinct Registry, and it may help them resolve the problem if you are not listed in the Registry for some reason. Alternatively, voters can bring an unexpired photo ID card issued by the U.S. government, the state of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government.

Voters without ID, or whose names are not found in the Precinct Registry, or voters who disagree with the information shown in the Registry, may always cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is sealed in a special envelope and counted after election day if the voters information can be verified by the County Election Board.

Conner said that voters who want to get through the line quickly should vote at mid-morning or mid-afternoon, because those usually are the two slowest periods.

Anyone who is eligible and in line at the polling place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, will be entitled to vote, the Osage County Election Board Secretary added.

Following is a list of the precinct polling places in the November 14, 2017, elections:

Country Corner Fire District General Election:

Precinct 203  First Baptist Church, 825 W Rogers Blvd, Skiatook

Precinct 204  Country Corner Fire Station, 6983 W 113 St N, Sperry

Conner also advised voters, candidates, campaign officials, and volunteers to be very aware of and careful to not violate state election laws Tuesday, November 14, 2017.

Conner said that all known election law violations will be reported to the proper law enforcement authorities, usually the County Sheriff and District Attorney. Precinct officials will be watching very closely on election day for illegal electioneering by candidates, zealous campaign staff, and their volunteers. Its unlawful in Osage County and across the State of Oklahoma to electioneer within 300 feet of a ballot box.

To electioneer means to work for or against election of a particular candidate, political party, or issue. This includes the illegal placement of any campaign signs inside the 300 feet boundary limit away from the ballot box, reminded Conner.

Election law violations sometimes committed accidentally by voters include disclosing how one voted while within the election enclosure or removing a ballot from the polling place. Other violations by voters include taking a ballot into or out of the polling place or taking intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling location. It is unlawful for any person to disclose how he or she voted to any other person while inside the election enclosure. Conner said it also is against the law for anyone other than voters waiting in line to vote and for precinct or other election officials to be within 50 feet of a ballot box during the election.

Citizens can find these and other state election laws in Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statutes. For more about this topic and other Oklahoma election-related information, please visit www.elections.ok.gov.

Registered voters in Osage County who become physically incapacitated after 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, wont have to miss the November 14, 2017, Country Corner Fire District General Election County Election Board Secretary Andrea Conner said today.

Conner explained that state law permits registered voters who will be unable to go to the polls because they became incapacitated after 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, to vote on an emergency basis. Physical incapacitation includes a variety of conditions injury, illness, childbirth that prevent a person from voting in person at the polls on election day.

Aside from unplanned emergencies, state law also allows a registered voter who is physically incapacitated on an ongoing basis or a person who is charged with the care of a physically incapacitated person who cannot be left unattended to submit an application for absentee ballot by an agent.

The agent may be any person of the voters choosing who is at least 16 years of age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot. Also, a person may serve as an agent for only one person at any election, Conner explained.

If you think that you or someone you know fits into this category, please contact the Osage County Election Board office as soon as possible for more information.

Registered voters in Osage County who want to vote by mail absentee ballot in next Tuesdays General Election have until this Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. to request one, Conner said today.

If absentee voters miss Wednesdays deadline, they arent out of luck, however, Conner said.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots still can do so in person at the County Election Board office on Thursday, November 9, 2017, or Friday, November 10, 2017. A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday to assist absentee voters.

In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office. They are not required to give any reason for voting absentee, Conner said. They are required to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling place on election day.

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot can track their ballot using the Oklahoma State Election Boards Online Voter Tool available at http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/.

According to Conner, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voters registration information. Then, the Board issues all the appropriate ballots to the voter. The voter marks the ballots in a voting booth and then casts them in the voting device. It is very much like voting at a precinct polling place.

Sample ballots are now available on the Oklahoma State Election Boards Online Voter Tool at http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/ and on our website www.osage.okcounties.org for voters who want to get a preview of what will be at stake in the November 14, 2017, Country Corner Fire District General Election.

Sample ballots are also available at the Osage County Election Board office.

Andrea Conner, Secretary of the Osage County Election Board, said that sample ballots can be viewed at the Election Board office, located at 630 Kihekah Ave. in Pawhuska, during regular office hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sample ballots also will be posted outside every precinct polling place on Tuesday so that voters can review them before casting their votes.

Ballots that will be issued to voters include the following:

Country Corner Fire District General Election

For more election-related information, call the Osage County Election Board at (918) 287-3036, e-mail at oceb@sbcglobal.net, visit www.elections.ok.gov or our website at www.osage.okcounties.org

Follow me on Twitter @SkiatookJournal.
RACINE COUNTY  If you want to get somewhere in eastern Racine County and dont have a car or anyone to drive you, you have a couple choices other than walking or riding a bike.

You can call a cab or use a ridesharing service, but if you cant afford those options, there is the city bus, or Ryde.

The service costs $2 per trip and serves Racine, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia and Sturtevant, as well as the Grandview Industrial Park just west of Interstate 94 in Yorkville. But as users and local leaders will attest, it is not always the most convenient way to get to work or elsewhere in the community.

Federal and state funding cuts, as well as local budget woes, have eroded service over the years, resulting in fewer routes and longer waits between buses. Now the Village of Sturtevant says it will cut its $50,000 annual contribution to Ryde, citing longstanding frustrations with the system.

As the region prepares for a Foxconn manufacturing campus expected to employ hundreds of construction workers in the short term and up to 13,000 employees in long term, The Journal Times asked area lawmakers and leaders how the region should address the looming transportation need, and if there might be the political will in Madison to allow for regional transit authorities.

While Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who was part of the effort to abolish RTAs in 2011, remains largely opposed to the idea, fellow Republicans, state Sen. Van Wanggaard of Racine, and state Rep. Thomas Weatherston, of Caledonia, say they are open to discussing possible solutions, including RTAs.

Current situation

Used in many states, RTAs have taxing authority or can ask voters to approve taxes  in many cases a sales tax  dedicated toward funding a regional transit network. Six years ago state lawmakers passed legislation essentially prohibiting RTAs. Transit advocates have long lobbied for the state to allow the systems, but those efforts have largely failed.

The idea of creating an RTA to address Foxconn transit needs was most recently brought up by Racine City Administrator Jim Palenick.

Ryde costs about $9.8 million annually to operate, and is funded through a variety of sources, including state and federal funding, fares and money from the City of Racine, Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia and Yorkville.

Under the current funding system, Sturtevants decision to defund Ryde could mean service being eliminated to Gateway Technical Colleges iMet Center, 2320 Renaissance Blvd., in Sturtevant, which is preparing for a $5 million-plus expansion to train future Foxconn employees.

Worth exploring

Asked about the situation, Weatherston said that he was open to the idea of RTAs.

I would like to know more about what that really entails, but I am at least open to talking about it and learning more. With Foxconn coming its something we should talk about, Weatherston said.

Wanggaard said he would be willing to discuss RTAs, but stressed transit discussions should begin with local municipalities.

I think (an RTA) is definitely going to be part of the discussion, that being said, the first part of the discussion has to be about the expectation of each one the communities, he said.

Asked for the countys position, M.T. Boyle, Racine Countys chief of staff, said county officials realize that transportation can be a barrier to employment.

That concern has been discussed extensively in our Workforce Solutions effort in light of not just Foxconn, but as an ongoing issue, Boyle wrote in an email. Until state legislators change the law prohibiting RTAs, the county will continue to work with the tools and resources we have.

Sturtevant Village President Jayme Hoffman, whose village board has been suddenly thrust into the middle of the Foxconn transit debate, said hed like to see service issues addressed before discussing RTAs.

Racines mayor-elect, state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, could not be reached for comment despite numerous attempts; nor could Mount Pleasant Village President Dave DeGroot. The massive Foxconn manufacturing campus is slated to be located in southwest Mount Pleasant.

Recent efforts, obstacles

As lawmakers and local leaders contemplate available solutions to transit needs, state Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said Democrats in the both houses of the state Legislature continue to push for RTAs.

A budget amendment that would have allowed regions across the state to create the systems failed along party lines this year, as did an effort to pass an amendment to the Foxconn legislation that would have allowed Milwaukee, Waukesha, Kenosha, or Racine counties to form RTAs. Legislators in the Fox Valley and Chippewa valley areas have unsuccessfully pursued similar efforts.

Vos, who leads the Republican majority in the Assembly, hasnt changed his position on RTAs.

From my perspective, I look and say the City of Racine, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Caledonia can already form an entity that allows for them to coordinate and cooperate on transportation if they choose, Vos said. I think what they are looking for is more money from taxpayers.

He added that he hasnt heard from area constituents or business leaders who say they would like the ability to tax for such service.

I guess before Im convinced we would need revenues to expand service, I want to make sure that the service we are providing is as efficient as it can be, and it is going to where jobs actually are, he said.

When asked for Gov. Scott Walkers position on regional transit authorities, a Department of Administration spokesman did not directly address the issue, but instead pointed to the roughly $250 million in funding for Interstate 94 included in the Foxconn legislation.

Asked again about public transit, DOA Communications Director Steve Michels said: The state will work with local employers, municipalities, and partners to make sure the skilled workforce needed in the region is available.

Despite the lack of support from Republicans, Barca, whose district includes a portion of southeastern Racine County, said he believes that those in power increasingly recognize that transportation needs to be a part of the Foxconn initiative.

He plans to continue introducing legislation to allow RTAs, and working to build support.

The problem is there is no easy solution, Barca said. Not that an RTA is easy, but it is one proven solution that has worked in other states very effectively.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Early Monday afternoon, Oklahoma Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall, R-Atoka, urged the Senate to take action on bills sent across the rotunda during the current special session.

He might not have gotten the results he wanted.

The Senate passed a House bill, all right, but it wasnt any of the ones McCall has been talking about lately. Cheered on by Gov. Mary Fallin, the Senate took one largely ignored since it failed to get 76 votes in the House two weeks ago, amended it to include a gross production tax bump, and got one vote more than the required three-fourths majority.

That knocks the ball back into the Houses court, where bills that need supermajorities go to die. It is unclear whether the House will take up the bill, House Bill 1035, or get close to 76 votes.

Fallin urged the House to take up the bill immediately, but McCalls office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In its current form, HB 1035 is the same grand bargain proposed by the Senate 10 days ago and blocked in the House by a combination of gamesmanship and a fear of the gross production tax.

The bill would almost close a $215 million hole in the state budget and, going forward, would allow for a $3,000 boost in the minimum teacher pay scale, $1,000 state employee raises and a restoration of the refundable state earned income tax credit.

To pay for that, the bill also would increase the modified gross production tax on new horizontal oil and gas wells to 4 percent from 2 percent, raise fuel taxes by 6 cents per gallon, raise cigarette taxes by $1.50 per pack, and raise taxes on other tobacco products and on low-alcohol beer.

The Senate vote was 37-5, one more than the 36 needed. Six members were absent or did not vote.

Significantly, all six Democrats present voted for the measure after Minority Leader John Sparks, D-Norman, spoke in favor of it.

Republican Sens. Josh Brecheen of Coalgate, Nathan Dahm of Broken Arrow, Julie Daniels of Bartlesville, Dan Newberry of Tulsa and Anthony Sykes of Moore cast the dissenting votes.

President Pro Tem Mike Schulz, R-Altus, also endorsed the measure, saying it was a chance for the Senate to do the right thing.

This will be one of the most agonizing votes of your career, he said. Take time to ponder. This is an historic moment.

Schulz said the bill begins to address some of the structural problems with the state budget.

Sparks noted that the credit-rating agency Moodys issued a negative outlook for the state earlier Monday.

The alternative to Mondays bill, he said, was cash and cuts, neither of which will solve the states long-term problems.

Revenue bills must originate in the House, so the Senate needed a House bill to act. HB 1035 was written in such a way that even though it failed to get a three-fourths majority in the House, it remained alive as a potential ballot referendum.

In its original form, HB 1035 included all of the elements of the current version except the increase in gross production tax.

The gross production tax hike was later rolled into another bill that failed in a House committee on an 11-11 vote, after all but one Democrat voted against it and seven Republicans didnt vote at all.

Last week, Democrats and about 20 Republicans came within a few votes of reviving the language on the House floor.

Even if McCall allows the bill back onto the House floor, getting to 76 votes is unlikely to be easy. It hasnt happened in more than two decades, and the fractured Republican majority is badly divided on tax issues.

The Houses 28 Democrats have, for the most part, opposed accepting anything less than a 5 percent modified gross production tax. One who has advocated accepting the lower rate, Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, praised the Senate vote in a tweet and said: Its time for the OK House to do the same.

Said Fallin: Im hoping now that the House of Representatives will put this measure on the board and vote for it one way or the other. Lets find a way forward for our state.
Didier William in his studio at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

Contributed by Sharon Butler / Stopping by Didier Williams studio in Philadelphia recently, I was surprised and impressed to find that his colorful abstract paintings had taken a darker, more figurative turn. Born in Haiti in 1983 and raised in Miami, William told me that since the Trayvon Martin killing, he has felt a new urgency to communicate his ideas and anxieties in a more deliberate and straightforward way than abstraction allowed. The disastrous American presidential election a year ago affirmed and amplified that urgency. In We Will Win, his solo show on view at Tiger Strikes Asteroid New York, William presents plaintive new work that combines art-historical references and traditional techniques such as wood carving, printmaking, and collage in a moving, constructively confrontational narrative.

Didier Williams studio wall.

Drawing on sources such as Jacques-Louis Davids 1793 masterpiece The Death of Marat, carved and inked black figures emerge from swarms of writhing, fish-like eyes, with decorative woodcut prints and drawings collaged onto incised wooden panels. The figures are both conjured and replaced by these schools of unblinking eyes. For me, these powerful paintings also reference Gustav Klimts decorative patterning and, among contemporary artists, the densely layered figurative collages of Njideka Akunyili Crosby, a Nigerian-born artist who came to the United States at the turn of the century and received a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in 2006 from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where William now leads the MFA Program.

Didier William, close-up view of his carved eyes.

Other influences include Jacob Lawrence, whose reductive figurative paintings document important events in African-American history, and, perhaps less overtly, Barkley Hendricks and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, who likewise have appropriated and updated portraiture tropes from the art-historical canon. William builds on their work by exploring and developing the power of the gaze to conjure and distort.

Didier William, installation view at TSA New York.

In addition, Williams eye motif recalls an early Kerry James Marshall painting, on view in his retrospective at The Met Breuer, that depicts a deep black figure against an almost equally dark background, the most visible feature being a pair of watchful eyes. Like Marshall, William is driven to revise not merely art history, but also American history writ large, which for too long has under-appreciated the cultural and political contributions of the nations black community. With this forceful new direction, William has audaciously advanced that cause.

Didier William: We Will Win, Tiger Strikes Asteroid New York, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. Through November 19, 2017.



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Interview: Leslie Smith III in Madison, Wisconsin

Quote: Kerry James Marshall
| By Patricia Fanning

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) has become the setting of a series on dental education in which three students are being introduced to the nation by the American Dental Association (ADA).

On Nov. 6, the ADA News launched Becoming a Dentist, a four-year series in which the students will share their experiences over the course of their education with the organizations 161,000 members.

University of Maryland School of Dentistry students Ben Horn, upper left, LaShonda Shepherd, upper right, and Dan Yang, lower right, are shown in this illustration by the ADA News for its series, Becoming a Dentist," in which these members of the Class of 2021 will become known to members of the American Dental Association. Credit - ADA News

The ADA project is an ambitious undertaking that promises to be interesting and informative  and that, I hope, will bring national recognition to and discussion about the comprehensive biomedical and clinical education our dental students receive during their years here, said Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, dean and professor.

I am extremely proud that the School of Dentistry was selected to showcase the educational experience of its students, he said.

The series, which also appears in the print edition of the publication being distributed to dentists across the county, focuses on Ben Horn, LaShonda Shepherd, and Dan Yang. These are some of the faces of the University of Maryland's School of Dentistry class of 2021, says the article.

The writer is ADA News Washington Editor Jennifer Garvin, MSJ, who provided this introduction of those whom she plans to follow through classes, clinics, and, to some extent, their lives at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB):

Because you're going to get to know them through the series, we'll be using their first names in the text of the stories:

Ben, the former naval aviator turned dental student.

LaShonda, the public health advocate who dreams of improving access to dental care in her hometown.

Dan, the passionate health care enthusiast who just wants to help people.

For these three and thousands of other first-year dental students in the United States, admission is the first hurdle. More than 79,000 people apply for some 6,100 spots each year. At UMSOD, roughly one student for every 20 applicants was admitted in 2016. And once enrolled, dental students become members of the association, as an article accompanying the series explains.

The ADA considers dental students to be a vital part of our organization, said ADA President Joseph P. Crowley, DDS. All dentists remember their own dental school experience and how hard they worked to get where they are today. We hope members new and old will enjoy reading this series. Todays students face many challenges, from the stress of paying for school to where to practice after graduation to the constant changes to technology. We want them to know that organized dentistry is here to help."

In a letter to the UMSOD community about the ADAs project, Reynolds thanked the three students for their willingness to share aspects of their lives for the good of the school and the profession.

Heres more about their individual stories, as reported in the article:

Ben, a 34-year-old graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, has deployed three times and is the married father of two toddler girls, Kendall, 3, and Parker, 1. "When I get to school at 6:50 a.m., I either find a spot in the dental school or library to continue studying or I go get a quick workout in at the UMB gym facility, and I mean quick, like 20-40 minutes because I know I need to study." he tells Garvin.

The decision to go back to school was not taken lightly by Ben and his wife, Caitlin, the article continues. In 2013, while still flying F-18s full-time for the Navy, he began the long process of taking all the required prerequisites for dental school. In 2016, he applied  and received  a Navy Health Services Collegiate Program scholarship. After dental school, he will resume his Navy service, this time as a dentist.

In the articles introduction of the other two students, both alumni of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), Garvin mentions a similarity in their having shadowed dentists to help prepare for the future.

LaShonda ... shadowed Dr. Demion Cornwall at private dental practices in Oxon Hill and La Plata, Maryland, and volunteered at Community Clinic Inc., a public health clinic in Silver Spring, Maryland, so she wouldn't be totally removed from the field, Garvin writes of the period when Shepherd was working at a nonprofit and taking night courses to complete her prerequisites.

Now that her dental school career is in full swing, she's still trying to find balance between studying, commuting and squeezing in time with her fiance, Victor, the article says.

Dental school is intense, she tells Garvin. Upon completion of the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, Shepherd hopes to return to Grady, Ala., where she was raised.

Yang, whose family immigrated to the United States from China when he was 8, majored in bio-engineering at UMCP and took a job in research at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The article says an opportunity to shadow Dr. Katelyn Niu convinced him dentistry was where he wanted to be."

I always knew that I wanted to be in health care because I really enjoy that special patient-health care provider interaction/relationship," he says. "Dental school made a lot of sense to me because I really enjoy working with my hands."

No doubt the saga of the three members of the UMSOD Class of 2021 will be noted by the 24,000 student members of the ADA, many of whom are active at UMB and elsewhere as members of the American Student Dental Association.

ADA Senior Vice President Michael Graham, MPP, government and public affairs officer in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to speak Nov. 10 at noon at a lunch and learn session being held by the UMSOD chapter of the ASDA. He will be accompanied by Garvin, who is likely to become a familiar figure at the school in the months and years to come.
Ibrahim Ickbal is from Mahajanga, Madagascar. To date, many Karana remain unable to access any nationality.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

MAHAJANGA, Madagascar  Since he was 15, Ibrahim Ickbal, a 50-year-old father of two, has worked in the same jewellery shop in the city of Mahajanga, on Madagascars northern coast. Although he barely earns enough to rent the two-room house he shares with his wife and children, he considers himself lucky to have a job of any kind.

Ibrahim belongs to Madagascars Karana community, an ethnic minority group. Although his family arrived in Madagascar from India more than a century ago, Ibrahim does not possess Malagasy nationality. Like a significant portion of the Karana in Madagascar, and like his father before him, he is stateless.

While there are no exact figures, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates that there are currently millions of people around the world who lack any nationality. The majority belong to ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities.

When Madagascar won independence from France in 1960, most Karana were not given citizenship. Until recently, Madagascars nationality law only granted citizenship to children born to at least one parent with Malagasy nationality, meaning that statelessness was often passed from one generation to the next. The Karana are thought to number at least 20,000 and while some manage to run successful businesses, without access to education and formal employment, many others live in poverty.

Stateless minorities: The Karana of Madagascar

Despite living in Madagascar for generations, stateless Karana must obtain residency permits to remain in the country legally. Recently, Ibrahim had to take out a loan from his employer in order to pay for a new biometric residence permit. With my modest salary, it will take two years to pay back the loan, he said. This has been an enormous financial investment, and I still cannot vote or travel.

Ibrahims new residency card describes his nationality as undetermined.

Olivia Rajerison, 35, knows only too well how statelessness impacts the lives of thousands of people in Madagascar. She works as a lawyer for Focus Development Association, UNHCRs implementing partner in Madagascar, assisting stateless people to access public education and health care. In addition, were it not for a recent change of the law, Olivias own daughter would have been born without Malagasy nationality.

Were it not for a recent change of the law, Olivia's daughter would have been born without Malagasy nationality.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

Omar Hussein and his wife Fatimabay Jacob from Mahajanga, Madagascar. Their identity documents indicate their nationality to be "undefined".  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

Aziz Asgaraly from Mahajanga, Madagascar, helps poor Malagasy children and orphans at Karana community funded projects.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

Mahamadhoussen Chamimakatomme from Mahajanga, Madagascar, attends a UNHCR stateless workshop.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

Omar Houssen belongs to Madagascar's Karana community. UNHCR estimates that there are currently millions of people around the world who lack any nationality.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

View over the port town of Mahajanga, Madagascar. Despite living in Madagascar for generations, stateless Karana must obtain residency permits to remain in the country legally.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

Olivia is Malagasy but she is married to a French citizen. Until earlier this year, when Madagascar amended its nationality legislation, Malagasy women married to foreign nationals could not pass on their nationality to their children. Some women got around the law by having children with their foreign partners first and marrying them later, but Olivias fourth child was born after her marriage. Under the previous nationality law, her daughter would not have been able to obtain Malagasy nationality and would have been considered a foreigner in the country of her birth. In cases where a father was unable to pass on his foreign nationality, children ended up stateless. Thanks to the amendment, men and women now have equal rights to pass on nationality to their children, thereby reducing their risk of statelessness.

I feel relieved that my daughter does not have to worry about her nationality. I also feel proud that I have been able to be part of this positive change in my country through my work, Olivia said, adding: We still have a long way to go. There are many others who are facing great uncertainties, limitations and suffering in their lives due to lack of nationality.

Besides the Karana, there is an unknown number of people belonging to other minority groups in Madagascar who remain stateless. In addition, the recent amendments to Malagasy nationality law still do not allow women to pass on their nationality to foreign spouses. Such a change to the law would offer a solution for people like Ibrahim whose wife is Malagasy.

In 2017, UNHCR organized consultations with the Karana community and other stateless minorities in Kenya and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, to better understand how being stateless impacts their lives. Their testimonies were then presented in a report entitled: This is our Home Stateless Minorities and their Search for Citizenship.

The nationality law reform is an encouraging and important step in reducing statelessness in Madagascar, commented Melanie Khanna, head of UNHCRs Statelessness Section, based in Geneva. UNHCR encourages further amendments to the nationality law to bring it in line with international standards that help to prevent and reduce statelessness.
A Rohingya mother and child in Unchiprang refugee camp, Bangladesh.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has just completed the first phase of Rohingya refugee family counting, where more than half a million refugees from Myanmar have so far been counted.

UNHCR has met the Minister of Home Affairs overseeing the individual biometric registration exercise and briefed on the progress made on the family counting. The exercise, conducted jointly by UNHCR and Bangladeshs Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC), took place in the Kutupalong camp, makeshift and extension areas and Balukhali makeshift areas and is now extending to further south. Going from shelter to shelter, more than 100 UNHCR-hired enumerators have so far gathered data on 120,284 families comprising 517,643 refugees.

In an innovative and revealing family counting exercise, UNHCR teams found that one-third of the families are vulnerable. As many as 14 per cent are single mothers holding their families together with little support in harsh camp conditions. Others are struggling with serious health problems or disabilities. There is also a high proportion of elderly people at risk, unaccompanied and separated children  some of them taking care of younger siblings. Children made up 54 per cent of the total population; women 52 per cent.

Most of those counted (72 per cent) arrived in Bangladesh after violence erupted in Myanmars northern Rakhine state in late August, whereas the remaining sought refuge in Bangladesh prior to the latest influx. The majority (70 per cent) came from Maungdaw township, with smaller numbers from Buthidaung and Rathedaung.

The mobile data collection was designed in such a way that data can be collected with GPS even when the team has no network coverage. As soon as the mobile device is on the network, the collected data is automatically uploaded to a secure server. This design has allowed UNHCR to collect the necessary data and consolidate, analyse and visualise it quickly.

The RRRC-UNHCR exercise will quickly extend its coverage further south into Teknaf in the coming weeks. The geotagged data of each family and the barcoded RRRC Family Counting Card has given a shape to Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh in terms of demography and location.

The design and methodology of this family counting exercise are somewhat unique in UNHCR's emergency registration history. Because the refugees are still on the move and site zoning is still in progress, the enumerators visit their shelters individually, meaning that refugees do not have to queue to be counted.

The information collected in this ongoing exercise will be useful not only for UNHCR and the Bangladeshi authorities but also for all humanitarian partners in their planning and 'interventions' for the benefit of the refugees.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Volker Turk UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection visiting refugees at Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

DHAKA, Bangladesh  The UN Refugee Agencys Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Turk, concluded his visit to Bangladesh today with a call to mitigate the impact of refugees on host communities and to respect the right for the Rohingya to return to a place they can call home.

During his five-day visit, Turk met with some of the estimated 600,000 refugees who have fled violence in Myanmars northern Rakhine state since late August. He saw first-hand the link between statelessness and forced displacement.

The situation today is the result of a long series of discrimination over the years  the lack of documentation, freedom of movement, access to livelihoods, said the Assistant High Commissioner. The refugees told me they feel like they dont belong.

"We had to cross 11 hills and spend 12 days hiding."

In an extension of Kutupalong camp in Coxs Bazar district, he met Abdul Salam, a man nearing 100 years old who had fled Buthidaung with his wife and two daughters in early September.

In total I escaped to Bangladesh four times, said Abdul Salam. In 1942 when the Japanese came, then again in 1978. The third time I cant remember [likely 1991]. But this time was the most difficult. We had to cross 11 hills and spend 12 days hiding in the forest. I couldnt walk or see, so they had to carry me.

His wife Mostaba Khatun, 60, has been a refugee three times: In 1978, people demanded: Show us your papers, you dont belong here. So we were forced to leave.

Husson Ali, 38, described how his village in Rathedaung was razed in mid-September. So many people died when they were trapped in their burning houses. Those who could run fled to the forest. There is no one left in our village.

Housed in a UNHCR tent in Kutupalong Extension, he has no idea what the future holds. His priority today is to feed his pregnant wife and four young children with the food rations theyve received.

Volker Turk UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection visiting refugees at Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

UNHCR is working with the Bangladesh government and its partners to provide life-saving assistance and protection for the refugees. This includes providing food, clean water, shelter and health care, as well as trauma counselling and reunification for separated families.

The agency is also aware of the impact this influx has had on the host communities which are themselves impoverished.

See also: First results of family counting in Bangladesh find every third refugee household vulnerable

Its crucial to engage with both the refugees and their local hosts in ways that will meet their needs, said Turk. We can turn this crisis into an opportunity by mobilizing development actors and the private sector to develop the area  as we have done since the 1990s by investing in roads, bridges, schools and health centres to everyones benefit.

Since 1992, UNHCR has spent millions of dollars to build or improve these community projects. Most recently, the agency contributed US$2 million towards the building of an access road to Kutupalong Extension, and donated medical equipment to several local hospitals to help them cope with the increased patient caseload. It is also supporting staffing needs to extend consultation hours to 8 pm in the main hospital in Coxs Bazar.

"There has to be safety and guarantees of protection."

Asked about his plans, new arrival Husson Ali said matter-of-factly, If things improve and we are accepted as Rohingya in Myanmar, we can go back and stay with the other communities.

UNHCRs Turk agreed: For return to happen, its clear there has to be safety and guarantees of protection. There has to be a very serious commitment to immediately implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission report that was launched and validated by the State Counsellor. We really need to see urgent action that will build the confidence of different communities. They will need to find a way to live together again, as they have done in the past.

He appealed to Abdul Salam as a community elder to help bring the communities together in future. The old man nodded, Yes, we have to make peace.

The Assistant High Commissioner completed his visit to Bangladesh by meeting with UN and NGO partners as well as officials from the Prime Ministers Office and the relevant Ministries.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi meets Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa during his visit to Canada.  UNHCR/Michelle Siu

OTTAWA, Canada  UNHCR's chief Filippo Grandi has praised Canada for being a "champion" of refugees with its far-sighted and generous resettlement efforts, but in view of a record number of forcibly displaced people worldwide he urged Canadians and others to do even more.

Meeting government officials in Ottawa on Monday, Grandi said Canada was among the top 10 donors to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he hoped the country would continue to be a global leader for refugees.

He stressed that last year only one per cent of the worlds refugees were resettled, while 84 per cent of refugees live in low- and middle-income countries.

Civilians pay the price of war more than in the past, and women are mercilessly targeted.

Grandi proposed that Canada, which has adopted a Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), consider doing more for refugee women and girls at risk. The policy is designed to ensure that at least 95 per cent of the country's foreign aid helps improve the lives of women and girls.

He said this could include increasing the numbers of vulnerable women resettled and supporting more programmes for traumatized women who are struggling in refugee-hosting countries.

Civilians pay the price of war more than in the past, and women are mercilessly targeted, he said. They are raped, kidnapped, forced into marriage. We must collectively do more to protect them and help them heal.

Trudeau says credit "mostly goes to Canadians".

I can only take a tiny bit of the credit, Trudeau replied. It mostly goes to Canadians who have realized that weve built an extraordinary country. People are coming here and building a better future for themselves, and therefore for all of us.

Two years ago, Canada received global attention when it announced a special program to resettle 25,000 refugees from Syria and the prime minister personally welcomed refugees arriving at the airport.

However, at a time when some countries such as the United States are slashing refugee resettlement numbers, Grandi lamented that only one-tenth of resettlement targets were met last year. Last week, Canada pledged to resettle 27,000 refugees in 2018, of whom some 9,000 are UNHCR-referred resettlements. This is a slight increase on last year, but remains a fraction of the 1.2 million vulnerable refugees UNHCR has identified worldwide.

During his visit, Grandi recognized Canadas exemplary resettlement programme that also relies on the generosity of private sponsors. He noted that a number of countries are studying the private sponsorship programme as a model that would rely on referrals from UNHCR to target the most vulnerable.

If we can share some of our solutions and modestly impress upon people theres a better way to do things, then were playing our role, Trudeau said.

In a meeting with Grandi, Celina Caesar-Chavannes, parliamentary secretary to the international development minister and one of the architects of the FIAP, committed to championing the cause of women refugees.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (centre) attended a breakfast meeting in Ottawa with young people involved in refugee issues.  UNHCR/Michelle Siu

In Ottawa, Grandi also met Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and welcomed a directive he issued on Monday committing to keeping child asylum-seekers out of detention and ensuring families stay together.

The High Commissioners four-day visit began in Montreal, where he met Quebec officials to discuss a surge of asylum-seekers at the Canada-US border. Accompanied by Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCRs Canada Representative, Grandi spent time with members of civil society and community organizations, many of which are hoping to improve the resettlement experience.

Work is dignity. Work is identity. Work gives you life.

At the Montreal Refugee Centre, a student-led initiative, developers demonstrated new applications meant to better assist refugees in Canada. This is an extraordinary project, said Grandi after watching the demonstrations. Its a group of young refugees who are developing technology to help other refugees navigate the asylum system of Canada and start to integrate in society.

With members of the Montreal business community, he met refugees in the work force. Economic integration is key, Grandi said. Of course you need a job, you need to be self-reliant. You need to get out of dependency on aid as soon as possible.

But also work is dignity. Work is identity. Work gives you life.

To better understand the challenges facing refugees in Canada, Grandi and Canadas Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, himself once a refugee from Somalia, met young people in Ottawa. I don't think my story would be possible in any other country, Hussen told attendees. [Canada] welcomes people who are seeking a second chance.

However, some of the young people many of whom came to Canada as refugees themselves, said they believed there was room for improvement.

A lot of the rhetoric around refugees is that Canada has to help them because they can't help themselves, said Efrem Berhe, 23, who fled Eritrea at the age of 14 and arrived in Canada in 2009. We need to change this.

Nobody dreams of becoming a refugee. It's a circumstance that you're forced to accept.

Grandi also met refugee students who received full scholarships to study in Canada from Canadas World University Service. He said refugee scholarships were an important pathway to help young refugees living in limbo in poor countries to have access to higher education.

He travelled to Canada after addressing the UN Security Council last week in New York, where he urged international leaders to find political solutions to the worlds conflicts and enable the swelling numbers of forcibly displaced people to return home.
After WhatsApp threat, Indonesia steps up Internet obscenity purge

By Cindy Silviana

JAKARTA, Nov 7 (Reuters) Indonesia said on Tuesday it would summon representatives of messaging services and search engines, including Alphabet Inc's Google, to demand they remove obscene content, a day after threatening to shut down WhatsApp Messenger.

The Internet is already partly censored in Indonesia, but the latest steps mark an escalation against a background of growing conservatism in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

"We will call all providers, including Google to clean up their network," said Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesia's communication and informatics ministry.

The ministry vowed on Monday to block Facebook Inc's WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) images were removed.

"They have to follow the rules of the host," Pangerapan said of WhatsApp Messenger, which is widely used in Indonesia - prolifically by some ministers and bureaucrats.

WhatsApp said on Monday that message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services.

It said it had asked the government instead to work with those providers, which integrate their technology into WhatsApp to allow users to enter keywords to search for GIFs.

Tenor Inc, one of the third parties, said on Tuesday it had "already implemented a fix for the content issues".

Users of Whatsapp Messenger on iPhones were unable to access Tenor GIFs on Tuesday.

The company "regularly" worked with "local entities to make sure our content reflects the cultural mores and legal requirements," spokeswoman Jennifer Kutz said in a statement.

Giphy Inc., a New York City GIFs company that also works with WhatsApp, did not respond to requests to comment. Giphy offers partners a feature to filter inappropriate images.

Indonesia's warning did not appear to target Gboard, a keyboard app developed by Google that provides comparable GIF search results but must be installed separately from WhatsApp on most devices.

NETIZENS SCEPTICAL

Indonesia blocks access to websites offering criticism of Islam, dating services and sex education, research published in May by Tor Project, a non-profit maker of Web browsing tools, showed.

Indonesia had 69 million monthly active Facebook users by the first quarter of 2014, ranking it fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil, company data showed.

Some reaction on Indonesian social media to the threatened block was sceptical.

"While youre at it, why dont you block Twitter too, (and) if necessary all browsers in the Playstore, because its way easier to search for porn there than on WhatsApp," wrote one Twitter user, with the handle @jnessy.

The countrys regulators have reached settlements with several technology companies after threatening to shut them down. In August, Indonesia announced it would block Giphys website for showing gambling-related ads. Access was soon restored after it agreed to cooperate with regulators.

Bans were similarly rescinded in recent years on social media websites, such as Vimeo and Tumblr, and the chat app Telegram, which regulators had said was "full of radicals and terrorist propaganda."

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had urged the communications ministry to block pornographic GIF images accessible via emoticons, complaining that children could easily reach them, according to news website kompas.com. Terms of use for WhatsApp, Tenor and Giphy specify users must be at least 13.

REUTERS SV 1124
New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Hitting out at sources beyond the border from where the terrorists were getting the support, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said that they will continue their operations in eliminating militants in Jammu and Kashmir.



We can easily understand from where these terrorists get support. It is clear that from beyond the border, they are getting assistance, the Army Chief said without naming Pakistan on recovery of a United States Army-issue weapon, appearing to be a Colt-manufactured M4 carbine from the hideout during the operation.



In the morning, the armed forces killed Jash-e-Muhammad Chief Masood Azhars nephew Talha Rashid in a Jammu and Kashmir Police-led operation.



Addressing reporters here, Gen Rawat said, The operation will continuously take place. If the terrorists attack the people, buildings, police stations or political entity, the Army will try to neutralise them as soon as possible.



Reacting to his killing, the General said, Our main aim is to end terrorism whether the terrorist is nephew of Masood Azhar or from other religion.



Two days ago, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had visited the forward area post in Arunachal Pradeshs Kibihutu for the first time after assuming the charge of defence ministry, to which China has protested, saying the area was disputed land.







The Army Chief said, The Raksha Mantri (defence minister) visits the forward areas to meet the troops in person and understands various issues engulfing them. Visits by the Raksha Mantri are always a source of motivation for the troops. The minister has to visit the areas where the troops are deployed. After all, its the ministry of Defence which provides support to us.







Prior to Ms Sitharamans visit, the Chinese administration had also raised question over spiritual guru the Dalai Lamas visit in Tawang in April this year and Prime Minister Narendra Modis tour in 2015.







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Border crossing closed as body of Pakistani diplomat shot in Afghanistan returned

By Jibran Ahmed

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (Reuters) The Khyber Pass border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was closed to all traffic on Tuesday for the return of a Pakistani diplomat who was shot dead in Afghanistan by unknown gunmen.

Pakistan summoned the Afghan charge daffaires in Islamabad to protest against the killing of consular official Nayyar Iqbal Rana on Monday near his residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad, Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement.
Mah Police Inspector commits suicide in his room :Police 16 Nov 2022 | 5:17 PM Mumbai, Nov 16 ( UNI) A Police Inspector Pravin Kadam age 52 years of the Police Training Center committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Dhule near Nashik. see more..

Japanese Film, Music fest in Chennai from Nov 25-27 16 Nov 2022 | 5:16 PM Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) The Japan Film and Music Festival will be

held here November 25 to 27 to commemorate the 70th anniversary

of diplomatic relations between Japan and India

The Japan Foundation, in association with the Japanese Embassy in

India and PVR Cinemas (Venue Partner), will be organizing the Fest

at PVR SPI Escape, Express Avenue Mall in the city. see more..

PNB ATM looted at Pandogha in Una district 16 Nov 2022 | 5:13 PM Una (HP), Nov 16 (UNI) A case of robbery has come to light in the ATM of Punjab National Bank located at Pandogha Kaswa in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh. There was the cash of about 10 lakh rupees in the ATM. The cash was extracted by cutting the ATM machine with a masked cutter. The incident took place on Tuesday night, according to a spokesman of the Police department. see more..

UP: Girl shot dead by father in Aligarh 16 Nov 2022 | 5:08 PM Aligarh (UP), Nov 16 (UNI) A 17-year-old girl was shot dead by her father allegedly over family discord in Madrak area of Aligarh district here in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, police sources said here. see more..
Germany says it would be "wrong signal" to withdraw mission from Iraq

BERLIN, Nov 7 (Reuters) Germany's foreign minister urged parliament on Tuesday to extend a military mission training Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq, saying to withdraw the German force would raise the risk of a new civil war there.

Germany resumed its military mission last month after a brief suspension following a referendum for independence in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. The vote was rejected by Baghdad and triggered an Iraqi military offensive that recaptured disputed areas of the north from the Peshmerga.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who will step down soon as his Social Democratic party returns to opposition after heavy losses in the Sept. 24 election, was appealing to likely participants in the next government, particularly the Greens, not to oppose an extension of Berlin's military mission in Iraq.
Hong Kong democracy activists win last chance to appeal jail terms in highest court

HONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters) An appeal against the controversial jailing of three young democracy activists will be heard in Hong Kong's highest court in January, after the Court of Final Appeal decided on Tuesday to allow it.

Hong Kong's appeals court jailed Joshua Wong, 21, Alex Chow, 27, and Nathan Law, 24, leaders of the Chinese-ruled citys democracy movement, in August, for illegal assembly.

They are serving six, seven and eight-month jail terms, respectively.
Delhi Court to pronounce order on Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's bail plea on Nov 17 16 Nov 2022 | 5:06 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) A Delhi Special Court adjourned till November 17 its order on bail plea of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has been arrested under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). see more..

Save the Children, UNICEF to work for evolution of CRBP 16 Nov 2022 | 3:44 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Marking 10 years of Child Rights and Business Principles (CRBP), core partners - Save the Children and UNICEF, along with Partners in Change, convened multiple stakeholders to showcase the evolution of CRBP in business practice. see more..

PM condoles loss of lives in Mizoram quarry 16 Nov 2022 | 3:30 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to a stone quarry collapse in Mizoram. see more..

MCD polls: Delhi ACB arrests 3 in cash-for-ticket case 16 Nov 2022 | 2:13 PM New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch arrested three people, including kin of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA in an alleged cash for ticket scam for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi election, the probe unit said on Wednesday. see more..
Jailed Hong Kong democracy activists win last chance to appeal

HONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters) A Hong Kong court on Tuesday allowed three jailed young activists, who spearheaded pro-democracy protests that brought much of the Chinese-ruled city to a halt in 2014, a final chance to appeal against their sentences.

Hong Kong's appeals court jailed Joshua Wong, 21, Alex Chow, 27, and Nathan Law, 24, in August for illegal assembly, a ruling that angered rights activists who fear creeping interference by Communist Party rulers in Beijing in the former British colony.

The three are serving six, seven and eight-month jail terms, respectively but have been released on bail.
Papua New Guinea court rejects bid to restore services to asylum-seeker camp

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court rejected an application on Tuesday to restore water, electricity and food supplies to an Australian-run detention centre for asylum seekers where nearly 600 men have been barricaded for a week.

The men in the remote Manus Island facility have defied attempts by Australia and Papua New Guinea to close the camp, refusing to move to three transit centres despite having little food or drinking water.
Russia's Lavrov says hopes Syrian congress to happen soon

MOSCOW, Nov 7 (Reuters) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday he hoped that an international Syrian peace congress would take place in the near future.

The Russian-sponsored Syrian peace congress scheduled for Nov. 18 was postponed after objections by Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said over the weekend.

Asked whether the congress was postponed, Lavrov told a briefing that the date had not been officially announced. He added that he hoped that the United Nations would support holding the congress.
South Sudan commander defects to rebels amid showdown with ex-army chief

By Jason Patinkin

MOYO, Uganda, Nov 7 (Reuters) A South Sudanese military commander said he had defected with more than 200 soldiers to the country's largest rebel group, amid a showdown between President Salva Kiir and his former military chief.

Lieutenant Colonel Chan Garang, an ally of former army chief Paul Malong, defected to join the largest rebel group fighting Kiir, he said. All three men are ethnic Dinkas and any split within the powerful group could represent a threat to Kiir.
New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday called on the Belgium King, the King Philippe

SushmaSwaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

"His Majesty King Philippe would be the first State visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013. The visit would further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence,"

the Ministry of External Affairs has said in a statement last week.

'India is Belgiums second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU. In 2016-17, our bilateral trade amounted to 13.28 billion dollars of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for 5.65 billion dollars while imports from Belgium accounted for 6.62 billion dollars,' it said.

The King of Belgium and Queen Mathilde were also given ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

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Turkey issues detention orders for 53 soldiers over Gulen links - Anadolu

ISTANBUL, Nov 7 (Reuters) A Turkish prosecutor has issued detention warrants for 53 active sergeants over alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating last year's attempted coup, state media said on Tuesday.

Twenty of the suspects have so far been detained in the operation across 12 provinces, state run Anadolu Agency said. Thirty-three other soldiers were currently being sought, it said.

The interior ministry said on Monday that nearly 700 people had been detained over the previous week on allegations of ties to what Ankara calls the "Gulenist Terror Group".
Turkish court upholds 25-year jail term for opposition lawmaker

ANKARA, Nov 7 (Reuters) A Turkish court rejected on Tuesday an appeals court order to retry a lawmaker from the main opposition party, upholding his 25-year jail term, CNN Turk reported.

Enis Berberoglu became a symbol for more than 50,000 people detained in the wake of a failed coup in July 2016.

The chairman of his secular Republican People's Party (CHP) held a 425 km (265 mile) protest march from the capital Ankara to Istanbul when Berberoglu was convicted and sentenced in June for military espionage.
The state Senate looks ready to send Gov. Scott Walker a bill rolling back a two-decade-old restriction on mining for metals such as gold, copper or zinc.

The Senate was scheduled to convene in session Tuesday.

Among the bills to be taken up is one to lift the state's "Prove it First" requirement for sulfide mining.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson and lawmakers -- including Walker, then a state representative -- enacted the requirement in 1998, which requires sulfide mining applicants to prove a similar mine has operated in North America for a decade without polluting and a similar mine has been closed for 10 years without polluting.

The state Department of Natural Resources has never found any mining applications met those standards, leading critics to brand the statutes a "moratorium" on mining.

Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, sponsored the bill to scrap the requirement, calling it an impediment to creating much-needed mining jobs in economically stagnant northern Wisconsin.

The bill passed the state Assembly earlier this month.
Discussion on CoSP7 sidelines underscores need for judiciaries to balance integrity with independence

7 November 2017 - "Finding the perfect balance between integrity, transparency, accountability and judicial independence is absolutely essential," said UNODC's Oliver Stolpe who leads the Office's efforts in supporting Member States in the implementation of the groundbreaking Doha Declaration adopted at the 13th United Nations Crime Congress in Doha in 2015.

Mr. Stolpe was speaking at a special event on preventing corruption in the justice sector held on the margins of this week's Seventh Session of he Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

His presentation highlighted UNODC's work on promoting a global culture of lawfulness designed to tackle corruption and related issues. To support this work, said Mr. Stolpe, UNODC is creating the Global Judiciary Integrity Network aimed at connecting judges, creating and improving access to knowledge resources, while exchanging training materials once it launches in April 2018.

He described the network as a platform for peer-to-peer support reflecting UNODC's long experience in promoting judicial integrity and based on the view, "Judges like to learn from each other." Mr. Stolpe added that the network was also building partnerships and offering judicial ethics training.

Tilman Hoppe, a consultant with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH , emphasized the visible results seen in the form of new judicial councils and support for the Bangalore Principles on Judicial Conduct adopted in 2002. Mr. Hoppe, however, said the overall global picture was sobering and he stressed the need to "spread the message of integrity, to train people and to reach out to young people."

Participants also discussed the efforts needed by judiciaries, Governments, international development bodies and other stakeholders to implement key global standards on judicial integrity, and to assist judiciaries in preventing corruption among the ranks of judges.

Central to these standards is Article 11 of the UNCAC, which states that each party shall, "without prejudice to judicial independence, take measures to strengthen integrity and to prevent opportunities for corruption among members of the judiciary". Christina Tarna, an anti-Corruption Expert in the Republic of Moldova, affirmed the importance of global standards when she said, "It is not only possible, it is necessary to have a common set of values when it comes to the judiciary."

These standards underscore the fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that everyone is entitled to a "fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of rights and obligations and of any criminal charge".

Judge Rafael Menezes, vice-president of the International Association of Judges, one of three judges at the event, appeared to sum up the majority verdict on judicial integrity when he said, "We are shocked about the corruption. But we don't need to hide that there's corruption in the judicial system."

Further information:

Global Judicial Integrity Network

Seventh Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UNCAC

UNODC's anti-corruption work
State lawmakers have made Wisconsin the 28th state to request an unprecedented national convention to amend the countrys founding document, the U.S. Constitution.

The state Senate voted 19-14 Tuesday to pass a resolution that completed Wisconsins application for a convention, which does not require the governors signature. The state Assembly passed the resolution in June.

The vote moves the nation one step closer to a process outlined under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, in which a national convention occurs if two-thirds, or 34, of state legislatures request it.

A resolution that passed the Senate Tuesday, as in the other 27 states, says the convention would be to propose amendments for the limited purpose of requiring the federal government to operate under a balanced budget.

But critics, which include Democrats but also some conservatives and Republicans, call that meaningless. They say theres no way to enforce limits on the conventions scope once its underway.

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and others fear a runaway convention, what they describe as a free-for-all in which other far-reaching proposals could surface  even ones that undermine basic constitutional freedoms.

There is no safeguard for what gets dealt with when this constitutional convention gets started, said Vinehout, D-Alma.

Supporters say that any amendments emerging from the convention would need to be ratified by three-fourths, or 38, of the states. They say the greater threat to the nations future is a Congress that cant control federal spending.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said the country is too sharply divided to undertake something as momentous as a constitutional convention.

It is not our time in history to think we have the right to do this, Erpenbach said.

Proponents of the convention said critics are ignoring the countrys mounting $20 trillion national debt. The sponsor of the convention resolutions, Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said he has little faith in lawmakers to address the problem.

Sen. David Craig, R-Town of Vernon, described the debt as the chief threat to national security.

Ive talked to Democrats in other states who recognize that we have a debt problem, Craig said.

Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald initially resisted Assembly Speaker Robin Vos push to fast-track the convention resolution. Fitzgerald said in March that he had questions about the scope of such a convention.

Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who voted for the resolution, acknowledged after Tuesdays vote that hes not convinced restrictions on the scope of a convention could be enforced once its underway.

It depends on who you talk to, Fitzgerald said. It always should be a concern when you have something that could be wide open.

Gov. Scott Walkers approval of the resolution applying for the convention is not required, but he has said he favors it.

Whether to put a time limit on Wisconsins call for the convention looked like a potential point of contention among Republicans who control the Senate.

Senate President Roger Roth, R-Appleton, proposed an amendment that would sunset the convention call in seven years.

Roth withdrew his amendment on the Senate floor during debate Tuesday evening. He later became the only Republican senator to vote against the measure.

A related bill passed Tuesday would require, if the convention were held, the Legislature and the governor to appoint seven delegates to attend and represent the state. The bill also allows a majority of the states convention delegates to vote to dismiss one of their fellow delegates if he or she voted to consider or approve an unauthorized amendment, or one outside the expected scope of the convention.
Mental Health Awareness Day Scheduled Nov. 9 at UW

The University of Wyoming Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center, and the University Counseling Center will host Mental Health Awareness Day Thursday, Nov. 9. All events are free and open to UW students and the public.

Among the strategies and support for the day are providing students with the information on how to balance school, work, social life and hobbies.

Events for the day are:

-- 12:15-12:45 p.m.: Let Stress Melt Away with Drop-in Meditation will include an introduction to meditation, followed by a 15-minute body scan and 10-minute walking meditation. Wellness Center, Room 117.

-- 1-1:50 p.m.: Where Does the Time Go? Geared toward students who are struggling to balance school, work, a social life, hobbies, and how to recognize tendencies and habits. Lunch provided. Wyoming Union, Room 203.

-- 2-3 p.m.: FAQ About Wellness and Well-being. A question-and-answer session is scheduled. Wellness Center, Room 117. Snacks provided.

-- 3-3:50 p.m.: Roses are red, violets are blue, if your relationship is over we can help you. Learn about breakups and how to transcend them. Wyoming Union, Room 203.

For more information about Mental Health Awareness Day, call Toi Geil, University Counseling Center associate director, at (307) 766-2187 or email tgeil@uwyo.edu.
Powerful employer and health care groups are clashing over a proposed workers compensation bill that would set fees for medical care in the state program.

The Workers Compensation Employers Coalition, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and more than 40 other groups, says workers comp medical costs are going up, and care costs much more for work injury patients than people covered by regular health insurance.

Employers are seeing that theyre paying more, and they just dont quite understand why, Chris Reader, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerces director of health and human resources policy, said Tuesday at a Wisconsin Health News panel debating the bill expected to be introduced in the Legislature soon.

Mark Grapentine, the Wisconsin Medical Societys senior vice president of government relations, said overall workers comp claims in Wisconsin run about the same as the national average, in part because workers use fewer medical services and return to their jobs three weeks shorter than average.

Although the vast majority of states use fee schedules, the proposal in Wisconsin is a solution in search of a problem, Grapentine said.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association and groups representing chiropractors and physical therapists also oppose the bill, saying an 8.5 percent drop in workers comp premiums for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 shows the system works well.

In a decades-old process, the Workers Compensation Advisory Council, which has members from labor and management, hash out proposed changes to the program in a bill each two-year legislative session.

The councils 2013-15 bill including a fee schedule didnt pass. Its 2015-17 measure containing other changes did.

The group incorporated the fee schedule again into its proposed 2017-19 bill, which also calls for curbing opioid use and other changes.

The fee schedule would set rates for medical care at 2.5 percent higher than the average negotiated prices for regular health insurance plans.

Joanne Alig, the hospital associations senior vice president of policy and research, said those rates arent fair because health care providers get something in return for the discounts they give to other payers: prompt payments, along with large volumes. More than 70 percent of health insurance bills are paid within 30 days, but for workers comp its 8 percent, Alig said.

Theres a time value to money, she said. No other business would wait to get paid 12, 18 months down the road.

Charlie Burhan, assistant vice president and senior public affairs officer for Liberty Mutual Insurance, said, the problem is most employers cannot negotiate on (workers) comp. It is a small volume, high margin business.

Wisconsin, the first state to pass an approved workers comp program, in 1911, had about 93,000 claims in 2015, for which about $691 million in benefits has been paid so far.

Under the program, companies agree to pay for the economic cost of work-related injuries, and workers give up the right to sue for negligence.
Herman Goldstein, a professor emeritus at the UW-Madison Law School whose theories on effective policing in free societies have been applied by police agencies around the world, was named Tuesday as the winner of the prestigious 2018 Stockholm Prize in Criminology.

An international jury for the Stockholm Prize called the 85-year-old Goldstein, who joined the UW Law School in 1964, the worlds most influential scholar on modern police strategy. His Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) strategy, including pioneering work at deterring crime, is widely credited with curbing violent crime and other offenses, according to a statement from the jury issued through Stockholm University.

The Stockholm Prize has been awarded at a ceremony in Sweden since 2006 and honors outstanding achievements in criminology research and the applications of research for the reduction of crime and the advancement of human rights. There have been 21 previous winners, including 11 Americans. The prize sum is 1 million Swedish krona, or about $119,000.

Goldstein became an expert on policing despite never having been a police officer, lawyer or criminologist.

I found it an extraordinary intellectual challenge to understand the police and their very complicated function and having to deal with so many diverse, varied tasks. I cant think of an occupation that has a greater challenge, he said.

Goldstein was especially elated to win the prize because he said it honored his concepts that showed that criminologists, police and local governments can work effectively together. His concepts also opened doors for rank-and-file officers because their success often depended on their previously untapped knowledge and expertise, Goldstein said.

I think the community stands to gain from that and the police officers stand to gain from that in the sense that they get some satisfaction in solving these problems and contributing to the refinement to the responses, he said.

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said Madison has been truly blessed to have Goldstein in the area as a member of the UW Law School faculty. He was the only non-lawyer in their midst at the pinnacle of his research and publication days, Koval wrote in his blog Tuesday. I give the UW huge plaudits for having had the progressive vision to acknowledge the role of police in a free society and understanding that the police have to be studied as the proverbial `gatekeepers to the entire criminal justice system.

UW Law School Dean Margaret Raymond said Goldsteins work at the Law School embodies learning, teaching and studying the law, not just as it is written but as it is experienced.

Professor Goldsteins books on policing are renowned classics of his field, and his work continues to inform and advance contemporary thought and best practices on policing, she said in a statement.

One of the most notable applications of Goldsteins strategy occurred in Boston in the late 1990s when Boston police and Harvard researchers helped stem gang violence through focused deterrence, which combined the support and control over known violent offenders by courts, families, community and church leaders, and social service providers.

The tactics of these partners tried to persuade violent offenders to either desist from violence or expect a wide range of negative consequences, the Stockholm Prize statement said. This approach was followed by substantial homicide reductions in Boston, far beyond expectations.

Since then, the approach has been copied in dozens of other cities in the U.S. and abroad, the statement said.

In 2008, a Norwegian government-supported review found over 5,500 reports on the use of Problem-Oriented Policing around the world. The study found an overwhelmingly positive impact of POP.

The jury also recognized Goldsteins lifetime of pioneering work on broader police issues such as discretion, political accountability, corruption, how police function in society and their relationships to the criminal-justice system.

From 1960 to 1964, Goldstein served as an executive assistant to O.W. Wilson, the head of the Chicago Police Department whose main task was reforming Chicago police after a major scandal. Prior to that, Goldstein was an investigator and analyst of police departments in many of the countrys biggest cities for the American Bar Foundation survey of the U.S. criminal justice system. He is a graduate of the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.

The prize ceremony will take place in June in Sweden. Goldstein plans to attend with his family.
iPhone maker Apple prevailed in the US Supreme Court a US$120 million patent suit against Samsung, one of several legal battles between the tech giants. (AFP/Elijah Nouvelage)

The US justices let stand without comment a 2016 appeals court verdict reinstating the award for Apple, which sued Samsung over patents for "slide to unlock" and other features used on smartphones.

The case is separate from a bigger patent court battle in which Samsung was initially ordered to pay US$1 billion to the iPhone maker. That case is set for a new trial over some elements of the damages awarded.

Monday's ruling involved some smartphone features Apple alleged were copied by the South Korean electronics giant. Samsung had claimed these features were "obvious" and thus not able to be patented.

Apple had sought some US$2.2 billion at trial, only to have a jury award the California-based company US$119.6 million. An appeals panel overturned that verdict, but the full appellate panel reinstated the award in October 2016 by a vote of 8-3.

Samsung said in a statement its argument was supported "by many who believed that the court should hear the case to reinstate fair standards that promote innovation and prevent abuse of the patent system."

The company noted that one of Apple's patents at issue in this case has been invalidated by courts "and yet today's decision allows Apple to unjustly profit from this patent, stunts innovation and places competition in the courtroom rather than the marketplace."

Apple did not immediate respond to an AFP query on the decision.

Samsung and Apple agreed in 2014 to drop all patent disputes outside the United States, marking a partial ceasefire in a seemingly relentless legal war between the world's two tech giants.

The companies have battled in close to a dozen countries, with each accusing the other of infringing on various patents related to their flagship smartphone and tablet products.
The proposal by Singapore-based Broadcom, which has announced plans to return its domicile to the United States, would consolidate two major players in the semiconductor sector.

Broadcom's unsolicited offer amounts to US$70 per share, including US$60 in cash and US$10 in Broadcom stock, or 28 per cent above the closing price of Qualcomm on Thursday before reports of the deal surfaced.

"This complementary transaction will position the combined company as a global communications leader with an impressive portfolio of technologies and products," said Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan in a statement.

"With greater scale and broader product diversification, the combined company will be positioned to deliver more advanced semiconductor solutions for our global customers and drive enhanced stockholder value."

Qualcomm, based in San Diego, California, said it would "assess the proposal in order to pursue the course of action that is in the best interests of Qualcomm shareholders."

News of the deal came days after Tan appeared at the White House with President Donald Trump to announce plans to move the tech company back to the United States from Singapore.

It comes as Qualcomm seeks a US$47 billion acquisition of Dutch rival NXP, a deal that is the subject of an European Union anti-trust probe.

Broadcom, meanwhile, is seeking to buy US rival Brocade Communications in a deal being reviewed by Washington.

Broadcom and Qualcomm are both major makers of semiconductors used in the latest tech gadgetry. The US firm is the leader in processors for smartphones and is expanding into new sectors, while Broadcom makes an array of chips for wireless communications, set-top boxes and electronic displays.

On Wall Street, Broadcom shares rose 1.4 per cent and Qualcomm added 1.1 per cent.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanan said in a research note that the deal "makes both financial and strategic sense" for Broadcom.

US$51 BILLION GIANT

Combining the firms would create a behemoth with some US$51 billion in revenues, including those from NXP.

But any deal would need to pass muster with Qualcomm shareholders and could face regulatory scrutiny in the United States and other markets.

Qualcomm has been facing a series of investigations around the world linked to its dominance in the smartphone chip segment.

Last month, Qualcomm was fined more than US$770 million in Taiwan for abusing its market dominance. It is facing similar challenges in several countries, including the United States. China and South Korea have already imposed heavy fines.

Qualcomm and Apple have also been locked in legal battles over royalty payments and patents.

Apple filed a US lawsuit in January accusing Qualcomm of abusing its market power for certain mobile chipsets to demand unfair royalties, and has also joined efforts in other countries where Qualcomm faces probes from antitrust authorities.

Qualcomm responded with its own claims against Apple and argued that the iPhone maker had been providing "false and misleading information" to antitrust authorities in an effort to reduce its royalty payments to Qualcomm.

ABI research analyst Stuart Carlaw said a combined Qualcomm/Broadcom operation would represent the third largest global semiconductor supplier.

"The Qualcomm shareholders are likely to be split with many viewing this opportunity as a solution to the worsening relations with Apple, whom Broadcom has a good relationship with," Carlaw said.

"The potential merger raises significant questions surrounding the difficult takeover of NXP by Qualcomm and much is still to be discerned regarding the value of the Qualcomm patent holdings and its associated lucrative high-margin revenue stream."

Broadcom was founded in 1991 by California researchers and moved its corporate headquarters to Singapore as part of a merger with Avago Technologies Ltd. while keeping many of its operations in Silicon Valley.
Portugal's Finance Minister Mario Centeno (left) and Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna attend an Eurogroup ministerial meeting at the European Council in Brussels. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP)

BRUSSELS: European Union finance ministers wrangled on Monday (Nov 6) over differences in plans to reform the euro common currency in the wake of last year's shock Brexit vote.

The ministers were laying the groundwork for a leaders' summit on Dec 15 that will discuss proposals by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

The 27 EU ministers - minus Britain - discussed three key issues that go to the heart of making the euro more politically and economically unified, so it is more resilient against future crises.

They zeroed in on creating a eurozone rainy day fund, simplifying the EU's budgetary discipline rules and finally completing a "banking union" that removes restrictions between lenders across the bloc.

"We will try to boil it down so that we can report to the European leaders in December," said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the Eurogroup of 19 countries that use the single currency, after the discussion.

But Britain was left out in the cold as it is set to leave the EU in 2019 before most of the planned reforms will take effect.

ANNUAL BUDGET?

One of the most complex challenges will be simplifying rules for national budgets, which eurozone governments have to keep under tight control to escape sanctions from Brussels.

But if the Europeans agree on the need for reform, they are divided on how to achieve it with France traditionally taking a more easy-going line than Germany, which cherishes a balanced budget.

"Debt will become more and more the issue," said Dijsselbloem, with public debt levels in several countries more than double the EU limit.

The question of the eurozone building common spending power, an old idea recently dusted off again by Macron, is also complicated.

Paris wants a big budget as a show of European solidarity in the face of financial shocks, whereas Juncker wants to make it small and symbolic - a line favoured by the Germans.

"We don't need an annual budget for that," said Juncker-ally Klaus Regling, the head of the European Stability Mechanism, the eurozone's current rescue fund, though he said a debate was still needed.

Banking union and a system of deposit guarantees to prevent bank runs will also be on the agenda, with the EU keen to finally finish plans that have been on the drawing board since the eurozone debt crisis started.

One further issue not discussed was the next head of the Eurogroup, to replace Dijsselbloem, who steps down in January.

There is no official candidate but rumoured frontrunners include Portugal's Mario Centeno, Luxembourg's Pierre Gramegna and Slovakia's Peter Kazimir, the only one so far to publically announce his intention.

A formal decision will be made on Dec 4.
The very first Vietnam Business Summit has begun today

Under the theme "Vietnam: We Mean Business," Vietnam Business Summit (VBS) sees the participation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, various government officials, leaders of ministries and 63 cities and provinces, representatives of international organisations, and CEOs of many local and foreign groups and firms, and investors as well.

The summit is an opportunity for foreign investors to learn about economic development policies, along with the investment and cooperation potentials in Vietnam.

The conference covers topics of smart agriculture, financial services for development, healthcare and education, infrastructure and connectivity, tourism and special economic zones, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMES), startups, and innovation.

In parallel with the summit is the Vietnam: We Mean Business exhibition held to introduce cities and provinces typical products and projects calling for investment as well as their diversified economic potential in agro-forestry-fisheries, industry, and services. This event also displays the outstanding achievements of the Vietnamese economy, and introduces and promotes traditional domestic and export products.

PM Phuc said that the VBS will bring about clear and comprehensive visions for the economy and favorable development policies for Vietnam.

At the same time it will usher in immense vast opportunities for successful investment and business links with Vietnam, a fast-growing country with great development potential that is pursuing extensive renovation and an open-door policy, he stressed.

We will continue creating the best conditions for all of you here, Phuc continued. We strongly believe that the success of enterprises is that of Vietnam, and the success of each member economy contributes to the prosperity of our APEC community. Vietnams investment and business has significantly improved, attracting more and more foreign investment."

Vietnams business environment has significantly improved, with the World Bank raising the countrys business climate index by 14 ranks  a record improvement over the past many years.

The World Bank has issued its high-profile Doing Business 2018 report, which stated that Vietnam has implemented the most reforms in the past 15 years, with 39 reforms. Today, an entrepreneur in Ho Chi Minh City spends 22 days and 6.5 per cent income per capita registering a new company, compared to 61 days and 31.9 per cent in 2003.

In the report, Vietnams business climate index rose to 68th out of 190 economies surveyed, from the 82nd in last years survey.

Phuc also highlighted Vietnams active integration into the global trade community, having signed and participated in 12 free trade agreements (FTAs) and negotiating four separate new-generation FTAs.

Philipp Rosler, managing director of the World Economic Forum, also told the summit that Vietnam has made impressive progress in boosting economic growth and attracting investment.

However, he noted that the right policies and proper legal framework are key factors in improving the countrys labour capacity and productivity.

Rosler also noted that the biggest asset of Vietnam is not its oil infrastructure, but its young people, who are a key factor in attracting more foreign investment.

VBS is an initiative of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Billionaire panellists to talk at the 2017 APEC CEO Summit

Three billionaires and several leaders of top enterprises around the world will attend APEC activities this year.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

Thao is the founder and CEO of Vietjet Air. Thao pursued her further education in economic management in Russia and grew her business portfolio with numerous Vietnamese- and foreign-owned enterprises in fields of finance-banking, aviation, real estate, and consumption. Thao used to be a member of the board of directors (BOD) in several commercial banks in Vietnam before joining Ho Chi Minh Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank) as vice president of BOD.

According to Forbes, Thao is currently the first and only self-made woman billionaire in Vietnam. Her net worth is estimated at $1.94 billion, which is $1.2 billion more than her debut in the Forbes list in March.

In this year's APEC CEO Summit, specifically in the fifth session, she will address the conference Connect to Develop, alongwith Chan Min SimonCEO of Alpha King, Scott Priceexecutive vice president of Global Leverage for Walmart International, and Jin Liqunpresident of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer (COO) of Facebook with a net worth of $1.6 billion. Sheryl is regarded as the right hand of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder and CEO. Sheryl was responsible for coordinating with Mark before the gigantic social networking site launched its initial public offering.

Sandberg is well-known for her book about how women define themselves in the workplace titled Lean In. She graduated at the top of her class at Harvard Business School. At the age of 25, she worked for tje World Bank under the guidance of Larry Summers, former vice president of the United States Secretary of the Treasury. After this, she returned to Harvard to receive her degree certificate. Sheryl used to work for Google before Facebook.

At the APEC CEO Summits twelfth session, she will be a panellist of the discussion Building Connection and Community in a Technology-enabled World, with Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia.

Nathan Blecharczyk

Blecharczyk is the 34-year-old co-founder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb, a peer-to-peer room and home rental company. Nathan was the fist engineer of the company to work with Chesky and Gebbia. Currently, Airbnb is present in more than 65,000 cities in 191 nations. Blecharczyk was also estimated at a remarkable net worth of $3.8 billion by Forbes.

At fourth session of the APEC CEO Summit, Nathan will discuss Job Creators with Ning Tangfounder and CEO of CreditEase Holdings, Chrystia FreelandCanadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Duong Thi Mai HoaCEO of Vingroup.

Robert S. Franklin

Exxon Mobil is an American multinational enterprise and currently the worlds largest publicly-traded international energy and petrochemical company specialised in energy exploration and exploitation on the entire globe.

Franklin has held multiple positions at the firm since 1999. Currently, he is the vice president of Exxon Mobil Corporation and president of ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company, a subsidiary.

At the APEC CEO Summits eleventh session, he will attend the discussion on Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Growth with Mark Konyngroup chief invest officer of AIA, Jacinda ArdernPrime Minister of New Zealand, and Thai Huongpresident of TH true MILK JSC.

Scott Price

Scott Price is the executive vice president of Global Leverage for Walmart International.

The firm currently owns more than 6,200 retail stores and more than 774,000 associates in 27 countries outside the US.

Scott Price is leading global sourcing, international technology, international logistics, fresh manufacturing, and key strategic leverage initiatives for the international segment.

Before joining Walmart, Scott used to be CEO of DHL Express Europe, and has 10 years of experience working at Coca-Cola.

At the APEC CEO Summits fifth session, Scott will attend the discussion on Connecting for Growth, with Jin Liqunpresident of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Nguyen Thi Phuong ThaoCEO of Vietjet, and Chan Min SimonCEO of Alpha King.

David Cunningham

In January, Cunningham was appointed as president and CEO of FedEx Expressa subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, the world-leading cargo airline.

Cunningham is in charge of the FedEx Express group, which includes FedEx Express and TNT. Cunningham is also a member of FedEx Corporations Strategic Management Committee.

In the sixth session on New Frontiers in Trade, he will share his point of view with Pedro Pablo Kuczynskipresident of Peru, Carrie Lamchief executive of Hong Kong, China, and Richard Adkersonvice chairman, president & CEO of Freeport-McMoran Inc.
America doesnt need an unprecedented and dangerous constitutional convention to balance its federal budget.

It needs real leadership, more courage and cooperation in Washington.

President Donald Trump and the Republican-run Congress, for example, should be able to simplify the tax code without adding $1 trillion or more to the nations $20 trillion of debt.

They should be able to slow spending increases on entitlements and the military without a constitutional requirement to do so.

They should be able to pay for basic government services, such as roads, by raising fees on motorists for the first time in more than two decades, rather than borrowing to get by.

Those are the kinds of responsible actions it will take to balance the federal budget  not opening up our nations most sacred document to the risk of wild revisions.

The Wisconsin Senate today should reject Assembly Joint Resolution 21, which seeks a national constitutional convention to pass a balanced budget amendment. The Assembly OKd the measure in June.

Proponents of holding such a convention for the first time since 1787 contend its the only way to get Washington to live within its means. Interestingly, the proponents of the resolution in Wisconsin are Republicans  the same party that controls Congress and the White House. Dont Republicans in Wisconsin have faith in their GOP colleagues in Washington to make tough decisions and get the job done? Apparently not.

Nonetheless, a constitutional convention isnt the answer to Americas serious fiscal problems. If such a requirement were actually enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, it could force huge spending cuts or giant tax increases in the face of wars or recessions.

And that assumes Congress would abide by a balanced budget amendment. More likely, Congress would find clever ways around such a requirement if lawmakers really wanted to keep spending and cutting taxes.

The Wisconsin Senate knows how this works. For years, state leaders have passed budgets that are balanced on paper. But when generally accepted accounting principles are applied, large deficits appear.

Yet the real danger of a constitutional convention is that its delegates  likely state lawmakers from around the country  would stray from their stated goal and push dramatic changes to our democracy and rights.

Allowing state legislators to monkey with the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights could have disastrous results, such as new limits on free speech, or government intrusions on privacy. Wisconsin shouldnt become the 28th of 34 states needed to prompt a constitutional convention.

AJR 21 would put far too much power in the hands of other states politicians to rewrite the Constitution.
Protesters in France last week urged Apple to "pay your taxes" in a reference to its dispute with EU authorities over back taxes. (AFP/ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT)

Protesters in France last week urged Apple to "pay your taxes" in a reference to its dispute with EU authorities over back taxes. (AFP/ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT)

WASHINGTON: New revelations on Monday (Nov 6) from the "Paradise Papers" shed light on Apple's tax avoidance strategy which shifted profits from one fiscal haven to another as well as loopholes employed by Nike and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.

They are the latest disclosures from a trove of documents released by the US-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) concerning secretive offshore deals that have proved deeply embarrassing.

According to documents cited by the New York Times and BBC, the offshore legal services firm Appleby helped the iPhone maker shift tens of billions of dollars from Ireland to the Channel Islands when it appeared to face a tougher stand on taxes by Dublin.

The report said Apple transferred funds to the small island of Jersey, which typically does not tax corporate income and is largely exempt from European Union tax regulations.

Apple did not immediately respond to an AFP query on the report but told the New York Times it follows the law in each country where it operates.

At a 2013 congressional hearing, Apple chief Tim Cook denied the use of "gimmicks" to avoid taxes. The company is now facing an EU demand for some US$14.5 billion in taxes based on a ruling that its tax structure in Ireland amounted to illegal state aid.

HAMILTON'S JET

The BBC and Guardian newspaper reported Hamilton avoided paying taxes on his private jet using an elaborate scheme now under investigation by British tax authorities.

The leaked documents showed the driver received a 3.3 million (US$4.4 million) tax refund in 2013 after his luxury plane was imported into the Isle of Man - a low-tax British Crown Dependency.

Representatives for Hamilton could not be reached by AFP for comment.

A separate report appearing in France's Le Monde said Nike used a loophole in Dutch fiscal law to reduce its tax rate in Europe to just two percent compared with a 25 per cent average for European companies.

The tax savings came from Nike's use of an offshore subsidiary which charged royalties to the company's European subsidiaries, the report said.

TRUMP OFFICIAL'S RUSSIA TIES

Separately, the documents showed the Russian connection of US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross through a complex web of offshore investments.

They revealed Ross's 31 per cent stake in Navigator Holdings partnership with Russian energy giant Sibur, which is partially owned by Putin's son-in-law Kirill Shamalov and Gennady Timchenko, the Russian president's friend and business partner who is subject to US sanctions.

The cabinet member's ties to Russian entities raise questions over potential conflicts of interest, and whether they undermine Washington's sanctions on Moscow.

The US imposed sanctions on Russian entities and individuals over the annexation of Crimea and the crisis in Ukraine.

The billionaire investor told Bloomberg on Monday he was not intending to hold onto his stake: "I've been actually selling it anyway but that isn't because of this."

On Monday, Russian politicians played down the leaks, saying the deals mentioned were legal and not politically motivated.

In a statement reported by Russian news agencies, Sibur voiced its "amazement at the politically charged interpretation in some media of ordinary commercial activity."

Earlier reports highlighted offshore holdings of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and a top fundraiser for Canada's prime minister.

The documents showed around 10 million (US$13 million) of the queen's private money was placed in funds held in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, as first reported in Britain by the BBC and the Guardian newspaper.

Theresa May's spokesman said the British prime minister "wants people to pay the tax that they owe," while cautioning that holding offshore investments was not an automatic sign of wrongdoing.

"We have been clear that avoidance and evasion is never acceptable," he said, ahead of the British parliament discussing the Paradise Papers on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the Duchy of Lancaster, which provides the monarch with an income and handles her investments, said: "All of our investments are fully audited and legitimate."

The documents also suggest that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top fundraiser and senior advisor Stephen Bronfman, heir to the Seagram fortune, moved some US$60 million (52 million) to offshore tax havens with ex-senator Leo Kolber.

The 13.4 million documents were first obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, and shared with the ICIJ and partner media outlets.

The findings were described as a "scandal" by European Economics Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici.

"In light of these shocking revelations, I call on member states to rapidly adopt a European tax haven blacklist, as well as other dissuasive measures," he said in Brussels.
PM delivers keynote speech at Viet Nam Business Summit

In his opening speech, the PM extended his best regards to the delegates, representatives from organizations and businesses, experts and investors, from both at home and abroad, warmly welcoming them to the VBS 2017.

He expressed his belief that the VBS will offer participants with a true and comprehensive view about Viet Nams economy and development policies, whilst opening up numerous connection opportunities for successful investment and business in Viet Nam, a country with huge development potential and vigorous reforms.

The VBS is an initiative of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), aiming to help Viet Nam to make optimal use of the investment promotion opportunities while meeting with the leaders and chief executive officers (CEO) of leading companies in the region.

The VBS 2017, which is being held under theme Viet Nam  We Mean Business, will focus on discussing business opportunities, with the participation of the leaders of ministries and sectors, directors of domestically and globally renowned firms, and representatives from international organizations.

The summit offers a platform for international investors to get an insight into the economic policies and the investment cooperation potential in Viet Nam. Enterprises, from both at home and overseas, will meet and share information about the trade and international integration trends, as well as their cooperation experience in Viet Nam and the APEC region.

The VBS 2017 will focus discussion on six topics, including smart agriculture, financial services, health and education, infrastructure, tourism and exclusive economic zones, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startup and innovation.

A trade promotion exhibition, entitled Viet Nam  Trusted and Potential Business Partner, is being held on the sidelines of the VBS on an area of approximately 1,100 square meters, featuring 80 pavilions representing 63 cities and provinces across Viet Nam.

The exhibition aims to introduce Vietnamese localities and their investment incentive policies, whilst calling for investment in the sectors of agro-forestry and fisheries, industry, transport and tourism services.
Qatar Airways has bought a stake in Cathay Pacific, giving the Doha-based airline a toehold in the potentially lucrative Asian aviation market. (Photo: AFP)

Qatar Airways has bought a stake in Cathay Pacific, giving the Doha-based airline a toehold in the potentially lucrative Asian aviation market. (Photo: AFP)

The state-owned Gulf carrier said it had acquired a 9.6 per cent stake in Cathay, which would make it the third largest shareholder in the Hong Kong airline.

Bloomberg News said the deal was worth US$662 million (570 million).

Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al-Baker said in a company statement that Cathay was "one of the strongest airlines in the world", adding it had "massive potential".

The acquisition comes during the ongoing political crisis in the Gulf, the worst to hit the region in years.

Since June, Qatar has been isolated by neighbouring countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

As part of that dispute, Qatar Airways has been stopped from flying to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, previously popular destinations for the carrier.

The deal with Cathay Pacific also comes after Qatar Airways halted a bid in August to buy a 10 per cent stake in American Airlines.

Corrine Png of Singapore-based research firm Crucial Perspective described the acquisition as a "trophy win" for Qatar Airways but not without potential obstacles.

Qatar and Cathay's two other major shareholders, Swire Pacific and Air China - which own 45 and 30 percent respectively - have "different corporate cultures" with "potentially conflicting interests and strategic focus", said Png.

"Moreover, Air China and Qatar Airways have non-economic political interests given that they are state-owned enterprises," Png told AFP.

Cathay shares dropped around 4.4 per cent in early trade but pared losses mid-morning and in the afternoon.

The troubled Hong Kong carrier in August reported a massive net loss of HK$2.05 billion (US$262 million) for the first half of 2017 as it struggled with intense competition from rivals.
Joann Ward and her two daughters were among other victims of the mass shooting. (Photo: JoannWard@Facebook)

Joann Ward and her two daughters were among other victims of the mass shooting. (Photo: JoannWard@Facebook)

Fourteen of those killed were children, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told NBC News on Monday.

Joann Ward and her two daughters, Brooke Ward, 5, and Emily Garza, 7, were among other victims of the mass shooting.

Ward's uncle, John Alexander, wrote on Facebook that she was "such a wonderful mother whose whole life was her children and family."

During the attack, Ward was "shielding babies from the shooter," Vonda Greek Smith, a friend of Wards, said on Facebook.

The mother who used herself as a shield to try to protect her four young children when the gunman opened fire lost her life but helped save her five-year-old son and one of her daughters.

Joann Ward pushed her 9-year-old daughter Rihanna to the floor when a gunman sprayed shots inside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, then embraced her three other children, according to an account of her response shared by a family friend on Facebook.

I didnt get shot because I was hiding, and Momma covered Emily, Ryland & Brooke," Rihanna recounted, according to the post by the family friend, Vonda Greek Smith.

Joann Ward and daughter Brooke, 5, were among those who died at the scene. Ward's daughter Emily, 7, died at the hospital.

Son Ryland, 5, was shot five times and was in critical condition after surgery, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a relative, Heather Bradley, to raise money for the family.

"Ryland survived multiple gunshot wounds, went thru extensive surgeries and will have a very long road back to full recovery," Smith said on Facebook.

At the time of the shooting, Ward's husband Chris was at home sleeping after a night shift, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The children's aunt, Leslie Ward, was at her nearby home when she heard gunshots and awakened her husband, Michael Ward, the newspaper reported. He went to the church and carried out his nephew Ryland.

He told his brother of the tragedy. "I'm not lying to you, Chris, they're all shot," Michael Ward recalled saying, according to the newspaper.

The Wards were longtime members of First Baptist, and the congregation felt "like a family," grandmother Sandy Ward told MSNBC.

A photo of Brooke taken in the church a week ago, according to the GoFundMe page, showed her smiling, her blonde pigtails braided, and sitting in a ruffled skirt on the pastor's motorcycle.

Another showed the child beaming as she held up her Kindergarten Perfect Attendance Award and Citizenship Certificate, both dated last month.

"Joann was the most wonderful mom any child could wish for and her children were always laughing and loving life," Ward's uncle John Alexander wrote on the GoFundMe page.
TH Group chairwoman Thai Huong meeting Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Vietnam Business Summit

Thai Huong, chairwoman of TH Group, the owner of the TH true MILK brand, said that one of the key drivers of this brand is the groups focus on developing the core value of For the health of the people.

When we design and develop our brand, we always bear in our mind that we must create safe and fresh milk with all our heart. With the brainpower and the combination of scientific achievements and modern corporate governance, our milk products meet international standards, Huong said.

TH Group is operating its $1.2-billion high-tech concentrated dairy and fresh milk production project in the central province of Nghe Ans Nghia Dan district. This project has made the first breakthrough in the domestic milk industry by using state-of-the-art technology for grass cultivation and raising dairy cows.

The groups product development strategy and brand promotion has earned a series of awards. In 2015, Asian Record Organisation recognised the TH project as the largest concentrated hi-tech applied dairy farm complex in Asia, which accounted for more than 40 per cent of Vietnams fresh milk market.

Our business is built around five core values, including For the health of the community, Completely from nature, Fresh-Delicious-Nutritious, Environmentally friendly, and Excellent mindset and harmonised benefits, Huong said.

Following the great successes in Vietnam, the group is now boosting overseas production activities, with a hi-tech concentrated dairy and fresh milk production complex (first stage) in Russia. This $2.7-billion project, which is currently under construction, will be finished within ten years. In October 2017, the project will receive the first cows.

After the project is completed, it will have more than 350,000 dairy cows with the total processing capacity of 5,900 tonnes per day, equivalent to nearly 1.8 million tonnes per year.

It is expected that TH Group will take the first high-yielding dairy cows to Russia in the near future, and that in May 2018 the first batch of products from this project will be marketed in Russia. At that time, millions of Russian people will be able to enjoy TH true MILK products, which are produced under international standards.
The manufacturing sector is driving imports for export-oriented production Photo: Le Toan

In October, Van Phat An JSC, specialising in producing and exporting plastic items in the northern province of Hung Yen, imported 10 batches of goods from Korea worth about VND2.2 billion ($100,000), 30 per cent higher than the quantity last October.

Since early this year, we have used VND15 billion ($681,820)  up 25 per cent year-on-year  for importing plastic pellets and several types of other materials for our production. It is because local and foreign demands for products like ours are strongly rising, said Van Phat An director Nguyen Van Huan.

In October, the firms export turnover is estimated to reach VND3.8 billion ($172,730), which is 35 per cent higher than that of last October. The firms 10-month export turnover and total revenue are expected to be VND23-28 billion ($1-1.28 million).

Our revenue and profit have risen by about 20 and 25 per cent, respectively, in this years first 10 months, Huan said.

Several optimistic figures of Van Phat An JSC also coincided with the countrys trade picture in this years first 10 months.

Specifically, October witnessed $19.4 billion in export turnover and $18.5 billion in import turnover, resulting in a trade surplus of $900 million.

In this years first 10 months, the country enjoyed a $1.23 billion trade surplus, higher than the $1.1 billion trade surplus of this years first nine months.

Breaking down the 10-month figures, the export turnover hit $173.7 billion, up 20.7 per cent year-on-year  with locally-owned firms reaping $48.2 billion (up 17.2 per cent year-on-year), and foreign-invested firms harvesting $125.5 billion (up 22.1 per cent year-on-year), including crude oil exports.

Meanwhile, the import turnover reached $172.5 billion, up 22 per cent year-on-year  with locally-owned firms fetching $64.6 billion (up 11.6 per cent year-on-year), and foreign-invested firms raking in $107.9 billion (up 29.2 per cent year-on-year).

Of the $1.23 billion trade surplus, locally-owned firms saw a trade deficit of $16.4 billion, and foreign-invested firms witnessed a trade surplus of $17.63 billion.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), the local trade and production situations are getting better, because both exports and imports are strongly increasing. The majority of Vietnams 31 groups of imported goods are used for production and export.

Imports of production materials occupy over 90 per cent of the total import mix, of which about 50 per cent are machinery and equipment.

For instance, the turnover of many imported items used for production soared year-on-year, such as machinery and equipment (nearly $28 billion  up 23.1 per cent), electronics, computers and their spare parts ($30.9 billion  up 35.3 per cent), mobile phones and their spare parts ($12.8 billion  up 49.3 per cent), cloth ($9.2 billion  up 8.3 per cent), steel ($7.5 billion  up 14 per cent), plastic ($6 billion  up 29 per cent), and garment and footwear materials ($4.5 billion  up 8.2 per cent).

According to GSO, in this years first 10 months, the turnover of key export items strongly increased, such as mobile phones and their spare parts ($36.5 billion  up 28.8 per cent), garment and textiles ($21.5 billion  up 9.5 per cent), electronics, laptops and their spare parts ($21 billion  up 39 per cent), footwear ($11.7 billion  up 12 per cent), and machinery and equipment ($10.4 billion  up 28 per cent).

Van Phat Ans Huan said that, like many other companies, his company is quite optimistic about the economys prospects.

We are expecting a rise of at least 25 per cent in export turnover this year, Huan said.
Young Rohingya Muslim refugees attend class at a madrasa in the Balukhali refugee camp in Bangladesh's Ukhia district on November 6, 2017./AFP

Young Rohingya Muslim refugees attend class at a madrasa in the Balukhali refugee camp in Bangladesh's Ukhia district on November 6, 2017./AFP

In a unanimous statement backed by China, the council strongly condemned the violence that has forced more than 600,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

The council expressed "grave concern" over human rights violations, "including by the Myanmar security forces" against the Rohingya such as killing, sexual violence and burning of homes and property.

It called on the government "to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state, to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law."

The statement included most of the demands contained in a draft resolution presented last month by Britain and France, but that measure ran into strong opposition from China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta.

China had indicated it was willing to resort to its veto power to block a resolution, but Beijing finally agreed to a statement during negotiations, diplomats said.

Since late August, more than 600,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes by an army campaign that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar authorities say the military operation is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts.

The Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

Council members called for full access for humanitarian aid workers to Rakhine and said the government must address the root causes of the crisis by allowing "equal access to full citizenship."

The statement did not, however, threaten sanctions.

Addressing the council, Myanmar's Ambassador Hau Do Suan said the statement "exerts undue political pressure on Myanmar" and warned it could exacerbate religious tensions.

CHINA ON BOARD

During negotiations with China, language on citizenship rights was watered down, along with a demand that Myanmar allow a UN human rights mission into the country, diplomats said.

The statement calls on Myanmar to cooperate with the United Nations and encourages UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special advisor on the crisis.

France and Britain stressed that the top UN body was issuing "demands" to Myanmar and that Guterres would report on progress in 30 days.

Through the statement, "the Security Council expresses a strong and unanimous message to end the ethnic cleansing that is taking place before our eyes in Myanmar," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.

"We will judge Myanmar on how they act. They have 30 days before the secretary-general will report," said British Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen.

The council statement was clinched as Guterres prepares to travel to Manila this week to join leaders of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN for a summit during which the Rohingya crisis will be a top issue.

Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet and are calling for sanctions against those involved in the atrocities in Rakhine.

"Going forward, council members should be clear that they won't be held hostage by China's objections, and will instead be driven by the needs of victims and realities on the ground, not what makes China comfortable," said Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch deputy UN director.
Photo: VGP

The Government leader made the statement while addressing the Viet Nam Business Summit (VBS) 2017 that opened in the central coastal city of DaNang on the morning of November 7.

He cited the survey data collected by AmChamSingapore in September 2017 that up to 56% of the businesses surveyed considered Viet Nam as their best trade partner.

By implementing extensive economic reforms, Vietnams gross domestic product (GDP) has grown at an average annual rate of 7%, with the countrys income per capita in 2017 increasing by roughly US$2,300 (approximately US$6,800 as calculated by the Purchasing power parity), he said.

The PM noted that the rapidly growing income has made an increasing number of Vietnamese people into the middle class, thence changing the consumption structure of the economy and opening up opportunities for investors to seize and catch that changing trend.

As predicted, by 2020 Vietnam will join the leading group of the region with regards to the number of mobile users, he said, emphasising this as an important foundation and a big opportunity to help potential investors easily connect their products and services to the potential customers in Viet Nam.

PM Phuc affirmed the determination to build a growth enabling and action- oriented Government in service of the people and businesses, whilst clearly announcing a number of the Governments directions in the time ahead.

Accordingly, Viet Nam will focus on developing the healthcare and educational systems, bridging the income gap, and improving the social security network aiming to protect the vulnerable residential groups from negative shocks, he stated.

The country will also develop the startup and innovative economy via supporting and creating favorable conditions to foster and realize startup initiatives, the PM said, calling for the engagement of investors in the process as well as the establishment of more startup support funds and venture capital funds in Viet Nam.

In addition, Viet Nam will reform its tax policies in orientation towards improving the economys competitiveness, towards transparency, equality and efficiency in line with the high standards set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, he affirmed.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue speaks with Alibaba CEO Jack Ma (right) at the Vietnam Electronic Payment Forum 2017 held in Ha Noi on Monday. - Photo Courtesy of SBV

Addressing the Vietnam Electronic Payment Forum 2017 (VEPF) in the capital city, the Chinese tycoon said the rate of cash transactions in Viet Nam was too high, despite the huge potential to develop e-commerce in the country, given its young and active population.

He said people keeping cash in their wallets increases chances of cheating, corruption and pick-pocketing. If people dont use wallets, the cutpurse will be jobless.

Instead of using cash, consumers can use mobile phones equipped with anthropometric technology, Ma said, adding that such transactions would be safe and any fraud easy to detect.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said at the forum that in the context of globalisation and integration, mobile payment was an obvious trend, and that no one wants to be left behind.

It is a trend that can bring many benefits to the people, enterprises and the State, he said.

Hue said that implementing digital technology solutions has helped many countries in the world achieve breakthroughs in promoting financial inclusion, enabling people from all walks of life to access financial and banking services.

Digital technology helps remove spatial, time and geographic barriers, allowing credit institutions to offer products and services at a lower cost, and facilitating consumers access, he said.

Hue said he agreed with the Alibaba Chairman that mobile payment would also improve transparency in economic activities.

Viet Nam will soon see an explosion in mobile payment, he predicted, saying the Government supported and was strongly committed to creating favourable conditions for mobile payment development in Viet Nam. This would help, in part, to reach the target of reducing cash transactions to below 10 per cent by 2020, he said.

Solid foundation

According to the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV)s Payment Department, Viet Nam has good foundations to popularise the mobile payment method, thanks to easy availability of telecommunications services and the high rate of mobile phone use.

So far, there are 130 million mobile phone subscriptions in Viet Nam, and 41.8 million of them use 3G to access the Internet. More than half the Vietnamese population uses smart phones, and their number is expected to increase to 80 million by 2020.

The department also notes that there are 41 commercial banks nationwide offering mobile payment services and their transaction value has been increasing strongly. In the first nine months of this year, there were 90 million mobile payment transactions worth VND423 trillion (US$18.8 billion), an increase of 93 per cent and 139 per cent, respectively, over 2016 figures.

Hue said that to address challenges in developing mobile payment, the Government will regularly hold dialogues with the business community as well as domestic and foreign financial institutions to figure out barriers and seek timely solutions.

The Government will also complete a legal framework and build action programmes to promote e-commerce application in general and mobile payment services in particular, he said.

The Deputy PM asked ministries and other agencies to study the possibility of e-payment application in informal economic sectors. These sectors need to be better managed to avoid tax losses, he said.

SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh said that the central bank has been encouraging commercial banks to apply advanced technologies in banking operations in general and payment activities in particular.

This will expand consumers ability to access modern banking products and services, which will help improve the business efficiency and governance capacity of credit institutions, he said.

Fintech development

Anh also said that the SBV has established a steering board of financial technology (Fintech) development to give the Government advice on legal frameworks and facilitate the operation of Fintech businesses.

Can Van Luc, director of training with the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam, said that the Government needs to build a customer authentication infrastructure based on anthropometric data to support payment service providers in verifying customers information.

The VEPF, titled "Mobile Payment - a factor to promote non-cash economy" was organised by e-newspaper VnExpress and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) under the leadership of the State Bank of Viet Nam.
The Use Wood Wisely campaign has warned that the governments 2020 emissions targets, and commitment to promoting biomass fuel, could harm the UKs forests.

The UK government has signed up to meet CO2 emissions targets by ensuring that 15% of all our energy requirements are met from renewable energy sources by 2020.

The campaign noted that, while wind, solar and geothermal are all infinite and freely available, woody biomass meets neither of these criteria and is not actually truly renewable. Use Wood Wisely believes that this promotion of biomass poses a threat to forests and woodland in the UK.

To learn more, visit www.usewoodwisely.co.uk.
. To do so, first type the original number into the text box. Then click on the "Scientific Notation" option located at the top of the floating window. Finally, click on the "Standard" button found beneath the text box to display your result. This program is useful for scientists and engineers working with decimal-based numbers. It provides easy access to those who need to convert those numbers into more compact forms without having to do heavy math calculations first.

Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers. It is used in physics, chemistry and other fields where large numbers are common. Those numbers are written as a power of 10 followed by a number with an exponent. For example, 1,000,000 (one million) is written as 1  103. The exponent shows how many zeros are after the first digit. For example, 1,000,001 is written as 1  102. Scientific notation is a useful tool for making calculations easier. You can use it to write down very big or very small numbers in one step instead of writing out both the large and small numbers separately. You can also use it to express large or small numbers in terms of other units like centimeters or millimeters.

Scientific notation solver is an online tool that can be used to convert any number into scientific notation. Simply enter any number to the left of the decimal point and it will automatically convert it into a scientific notation equivalent. This web tool can be very helpful when you need to convert a large number into scientific notation. However, please note that this online tool can only convert numbers that are in scientific format. For example, it cannot convert a non-scientific number like "1,085" into a scientific notation equivalent. It is also important to keep in mind that this web tool only works when converting numbers from one particular format to another. For example, if you want to change a non-scientific number like "1,085" into standard format, then you will have to use another online tool like NumberFormatting.com.


Vicissitudes of history and variations of (geography on the Indian subcontinent have created an intricately patterned cultural fabric, woven but also rent along strands of language, religion, and caste. Over the millennia, newcomers by land and by sea have added to the fabrics designAryans, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Moguls, and British among others. As the portraits around the map show, the peoples of this distinctive world defy generalization.

Beginning some 3,500 years ago, Central Asians filtered in from the northwest, subjugating Dravidian speakers and bequeathing Sanskrit, the source of most Indo-European languages in South Asia. Today in India alone there is 15 official written languages, hundreds of more mother tongues, and countless dialects.

The birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism and an exporter of Islam, South Asia embraces a multitude of faiths. Hinduisms caste system of social tiers based on descent and occupation still orders Indian life, though less rigidly than before.

British administration tied the subcontinent together, but independence movements led to the painful birth in 1947 of Islamic Pakistan, from which Bangladesh split away in 1971, and the secular, predominantly Hindu, Republic of India.

The worlds most populous democracy and a leading industrial power, nonaligned India contains three-quarters of South Asias billion people. Like its neighbors, India confronts severe problems. The young nation struggles to maintain political integrity, control population growth, and improve a lot of its diverse peoples.

PAKISTAN AND NORTH INDIA

For thousands of years, the passes of the Hindu Kush funneled waves of colonizers from Central and Western Asia. Virtually all 97 million Pakistanis and many Indians follow Islam, the legacy of Muslim invasions that began in the eighth century.

Long the home of Punjabi and Sindhi farmers, the irrigated Indus Plain increasingly lures semi-nomads the fiercely independent but hospitable Pathans and Baluchisfrom the arid mountains. Purdah-observing Muslim women veil themselves from head to toe, but modern Punjabis prefer a trouser-shirt combination. Despite Islams egalitarianism, Muslims retain social ranks; Sayyids are among the gentry.

Traditionally Indias priests, Brahmans also work in government and the professions. The enterprise of Sikh Jats and the sweat of Chamars, largest of the once untouchable castes, help make India self-sufficient in grains. Too dry for a large farming population, Rajasthan gave rise to the now widespread Marwari merchant castes. As laborers, brightly clad Rajast

HIMALAYAS

A barrier but sometimes a bridge between India and China, the Himalayas (Sanskrit for abode of snow) fuse natural beauty and exotic peoples, derived from Central Asia, Tibet, and India. The soaring peaks and plunging valleys so isolate the populace that a herder-farmer in one valley may speak a different language from his neighbor in the next.

Kashmiris are renowned for their shawl weaving, using cashmere wool from mountain goats. Ladakhis, who speak a dialect of Tibetan, herd yaks, goats, and sheep, and coax crops of barley and buckwheat from irrigated terraces. In Nepal, Newars reap greater rewards in the lush Kathmandu Valley. Courageous, proud, and disciplined, the Gurkhas (a name misleadingly applied to all Nepalese soldiers) are recruited mainly from the Magar and Gurung peoples. The British and Indian Armies still count brigades of these fierce fighters. Life in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where serfdom was formally abolished in 1956, centers on land-rich monasteries once closely tied to Tibet.

SOUTH INDIA AND SRI LANKA

The fragmented Deccan interior, which connects the mostly Indo-European north and the Dravidian south, shelters large agrarian castes, such as the Marathas, and tribes of Bhils and Gonds. Dry farming of millet contrasts with lowland wet-rice farmingas on the east coast by the Reddis, a major peasant caste, and the Oriyas. Like the Reddis and Marathas, the landowning Nairs extol their military past. The Tamils, with a cultural tradition of two millennia, take pride in their art, dance, and literature. English fares well among professional groups, especially the cosmopolitan Parsis of Bombay. Pre-Muslim Syrians brought Christianity to the Kerala coast; Portuguese traders spread the faith in Goa and other maritime locations in the 1500s. Buddhists, active in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years, and Lingayats, whose sect emerged in India in the 12th century, represent a continuing rejection of Brahman domination in Hinduism.

HIMALAYAS

A barrier but sometimes a bridge between India and China, the Himalayas (Sanskrit for abode of snow) fuse natural beauty and exotic peoples, derived from Central Asia, Tibet, and India. The soaring peaks and plunging valleys so isolate the populace that a herder-farmer in one valley may speak a different language from his neighbor in the next.

Kashmiris are renowned for their shawl weaving, using cashmere wool from mountain goats. Ladakhis, who speak a dialect of Tibetan, herd yaks, goats, and sheep, and coax crops of barley and buckwheat from irrigated terraces. In Nepal, Newars reap greater rewards in the lush Kathmandu Valley. Courageous, proud, and disciplined, the Gurkhas (a name misleadingly applied to all Nepalese soldiers) are recruited mainly from the Magar and Gurung peoples. The British and Indian Armies still count brigades of these fierce fighters. Life in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where serfdom was formally abolished in 1956, centers on land-rich monasteries once closely tied to Tibet.

EAST INDIA AND BANGLADESH

Easterners are as varied as their land of forested hills, monsoon-drenched plains, and dissected tablelands. A score of Mongoloid Naga tribes, each with its own dialect, raises a range of crops by slash-and-burn farming. Headhunters until recently, the Nagas constitute about 90 percent of Nagalands population, and more than two-thirds are Christians. Also mostly Christian are the well-educated Khasis. Some Khasis still erect megaliths to honor their dead. In steamy Bangladesh, with nearly 100 million people squeezed 1,800 to a square mile, Muslim farmers wear sarong-like lungis. Although separated by religion and nationhood, Bangladeshis and West Bengalis share geography and language. Through language, Santals hope to preserve their tribal culture from inroads by land-hungry Bengali and Bihari peasants. The unclassifiable tongue of the fewer than 500 Sentinelese pygmies bespeaks their long isolation in the Andaman Islands.



National Geographic
Sheikh Hatem Al-Taei, Mayor of Kirkuk, has published a preliminary list of 7 000 inhabitants that had been kidnapped and detained by the Barzanis Secret Police, Assayish, during the Kurdish occupation of the district.

If the prisoners families were to protest, then these prisoners would be sure to disappear.

Massoud Barzanis PDK had annexed the Arab region of Kirkuk and had hoped to integrate it into a pseudo-Kurdistan under Israeli protection. The region has just been liberated by the Iraqi army. The occupation troops left without doing battle and more than 100 000 Kurdish colonels fled.

The victims were non-Kurdish inhabitants, principally Arabs, that might be Sunni or Christian but also even Turkoman.
The French government has spoken to the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohamed Ben Salmane, to ask him set free the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri. The latter is currently being detained in the Ritz Hotel, Riyadh with several personalities arrested during the coup at the Palace. He cannot be reached.

Mr Hariri announced from the Ritz Hotel that he was resigning from the office he was holding in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Constitution, he remains responsible for on-going matters until his successor has been appointed. Although he directly informed President Michel Aoun by telephone that he was resigning, he did not articulate his reasons for doing so.

In a televised speech, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, leapt to the defence of Saad Hariri, Leader of the Coalition opposed to his party. He denounced Saudi interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon.

On Monday morning, President Michel Aoun convened the Council of Defence at the Palace of Babda to gauge their reactions to the unexpected disappearance of the Prime Minister. He does not seem to consider a telephone resignation as a valid form of resignation and should only take account of it if the Prime Minister were to return to Lebanon to announce it to him in person.

Apart from the former Head of Police, Achraf Rifi, who had returned from exile to succeed Saad Hariri, the Lebanese ruling class is exercising caution. According to Rifi, President Aoun must assume his duties and must set about choosing a new Prime Minister as a matter of urgency.

As Saad Hariri is a national of both Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, he cannot benefit from diplomatic immunity in Saudi Arabia.
A new period in the Middle East

It is said that Nature abhors a vacuum. The defeat of the  Islamic Emirate in Iraq and Syria  (or  Daesh , according to its Arab acronym)  which, in quick succession, has just lost Mosul, under the onslaught of the Iraqi army, Rakka, taken by the US army, and Deir ez-Zor, liberated by the Syrian army  ends a war and opens a new period. The failure of Massoud Barzani to force recognition for the annexation of Kirkuk by the Kurds of the PDK cancels the project for a new colonial State, a pseudo-Kurdistan, an advance base for the Israeli army against Iran.

Although the Greater Middle East is devastated, particularly Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan, there still remain four States capable of advancing their interests - Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran. In order to do so, each of them will have to adopt an initiative before the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled to take place during the APEC summit in Danang (8 to 10 November).

On 3 November, Israel declared itself ready to protect the Druzes, from the South of Syria, against the jihadists who had just attacked the Syrian village of Hader. Since the beginning of 2017, Tel-Aviv has been trying to create a Druze separatist movement in the South of Syria on the model of the one it had built with the Kurds from the North and Iraq. Mossad recruited Syrian Major Khaldoun Zeineddine, who attempted to declare a  Druzistan . But he managed to raise only a dozen combatants willing to fight Damascus.

On the same day, Turkey gathered the different jihadist organisations from Idleb in order to create a  Government of National Salvation , presided by Muhammad Al-Sheikh, and including Riyad Al-Asaad as Vice-Prime Minister. For the governorate of Idleb, Ankara recycled the idea of its Qatari ally, which, in 2012, had already founded an alternative Syrian government under the title of the  Syrian National Coalition .

There has been no sign from Teheran, probably because the Islamic Republic of Iran is the only one of the four great States which has beaten both Daesh and the Barzanis. It therefore has no interest in changing the deal.

The surprise came from Riyadh. The royal family has not sought to impose a new regional order, but Prince Mohammed ben Salame ( MBS ) has shaken up the fossilised structure of his kingdom.

The resignation of Saad Hariri

On 4 November at about 11 a.m. UTC, the Lebanese Prime Minister, speaking on the TV channel Al-Arabiya, live from the Hotel Ritz in Riyadh, and in the presence of the Saudi Crown Prince  MBS , announced his resignation. Reading carefully from the text which had been written for him, Saad Hariri suddenly forgot that he was President of a government which included ministers from Hezbollah. He expressed himself in these terms -  Wherever Iran is present, it sows division and destruction. The proof of this is evident in their interference in the Arab countries, without mentioning its deep grudge against the Arab nation () Iran maintains a grip on the destiny of the countries of the region (...) Hezbollah is the arm of Iran, not only in Lebanon, but also in the other countries () Unfortunately, I have realised that certain compatriots are working hand in hand with Iran, and are trying to force Lebanon out of its Arab environment. Glorious People of Lebanon, Hezbollah has succeeded, thanks to the force of arms, in imposing a de facto situation () I want to tell Iran and its acolytes that they have lost. The hands that clutch at the Arab States will be cut off, and evil will turn on those who use it. 

This dramatic text buries the religious Sunni / Chiite conflict and relaunches the racist conflict of the Arabs against the Persians. This is a form of progress, despite appearances, insofar as the occasions for war are more limited - the Sunnis and the Chiites live together, while the Arabs and the Persians are settled in distinct territories. In concrete terms, for Lebanon, this shake-up does not really change much. Above all, the text offers no indication of the reasons for the Prime Ministers resignation.

Saad Hariri added that he was afraid for his life. Shortly afterwards, Al-Arabiya explained that a few days earlier, Hariri had escaped an assassination attempt. However, first the Lebanese police, then Lebanese General Security expressed their doubts by denying that they had any knowledge of such an attack. Al-Arabiya assured that Rafic Hariri, Saads father, had been assassinated in 2005 by Iran  despite the fact that the same channel had persisted for years in accusing the Lebanese and Syrian Presidents, Emile Lahoud and Bachar el-Assad, of having ordered the murder.

Once he had finished his speech, Saad Hariri telephoned the Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, to inform him officially of his resignation. The conversation was very brief, and he did not answer the question as to why he had resigned.

The Saudi Minister for Affairs of the Gulf, assured that, contrary to what one might think at first, Saudi Arabia had not imprisoned Saad Hariri, and that he could return to Lebanon whenever he liked. Since the rumours of his arrest persisted, the Prime Ministers Twitter account shared a photo of him in a polo shirt, with the Saudi ambassador for Lebanon.

Even before Saad Hariri had finished his speech, his rival, the ex-Central Director of the police (FSI) then Lebanese Minister for Justice, Achraf Rifi, headed to Beirut from his Italian exile. As it happens, since Mister Hariri is one of the most profoundly indebted people on the planet - he owes a personal debt to the Saudi government of about four billion dollars  he is probably not in a position to take decisions which go against the interests of his creditor.

At about 11 p.m. UTC, Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile, from Yemen, at the King Khaled airport in Riyadh. It was intercepted by a salvo of Patriot anti-missile missiles. Since the Houthis sophisticated weapons were supplied by Iran, observers made a connection between Hariris resignation and the missile shot, and agreed that they all interpreted the operation as a response to Saad Hariris anti-Iranian discourse.

The seizure of power by  MBS 

Events began to speed up. A few minutes later, King Salmane signed two decrees. The first placed the Chief of Marine Staff in early retirement, and also dismissed the Minister of the Economy and the Minister of the Royal Guard, the very powerful son of ex-King Abdallah, Prince Muteb. The second decree set up a Commission for the fight against corruption, under the presidency of  MBS . The Press also announced the implementation of the new antiterrorist law, which incidentally includes dispositions condemning offenders to prison sentences of between 5 and 10 years for any defamation or public insult against the King or the Crown Prince.

Within the hour, the Commission for the fight against corruption met and adopted a series of measures which had been prepared well in advance. Eleven princes, four serving ministers and dozens of ex-ministers were accused of embezzlement. They were immediately arrested by the new commander of the Royal Guard and some of them faced charges under the new anti-terrorist law. In the box were the three personalities who had been stripped of power earlier in the day by the King, including the ex-Commander of the Royal Guard, Prince Muteb. We learned later in the day that the bank accounts of the suspects had been seized, and that if they were to be declared guilty  a simple formality  their wealth would be transferred to the National Treasury.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the suspects apparently diverted money during the floods of 2009 and the coronavirus crisis (MERS  The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)  an accusation which may be well-founded but does not distinguish them from the other Caziques of the regime.

Although no nominative list of the suspects has been published, we know that Prince Walid Ben Talal is on it. Considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the world, he was the kingdoms secret ambassador to Israel. His company, the Kingdom Holding Company, a share-holder notably of Citygroup, Apple, Twitter and Euro-Disney, fell by 10 % at the opening of the Riyadh Stock Exchange on Sunday morning, before its credit rating was suspended.

Contrary to appearances, it seems that the victims of the purge were not chosen because of their functions or their ideas, which seems to confirm the official anti-corruption story.

On Sunday evening, a helicopter crashed near Abha. We learned that several dignitaries died in the accident, including a certain Prince Mansour.

The success of  MBS , who has just overturned the oligarchy in order to install his autocracy, does not, however, guarantee his capacity to govern. Aged only 32, this entitled rich kid from a super-wealthy family has hardly had the time to get to know his people, and only entered politics two year ago. His first decisions were catastrophic - decapitation of the leader of the opposition and the war against Yemen. Having neutralised all those who could have stood against him within the royal family,  MBS  has no choice but to ensure himself of popular support in order to be able to exercise Power. He has already taken various measures in favour of the young (70 % of the population) and women (51 % of the population). For example, he has opened cinemas and organised concerts  which until now had been forbidden. As from 2018, women will be allowed to drive. He will soon have to abolish the sinister religious police on one hand and the tutelage system on the other  both to satisfy women and also free men from this charge  making it possible to kick-start the economy. Above all,  MBS  has announced that he wants to transform Islam in his country and make it a  normal  religion. He has declared that he not only wants to modernise Wahhabism, but also to cleanse the Hadiths - the golden legend of Mohammed  of their violent or contradictory passages. This is a secular project which goes against the practice of the whole of the Muslim community over the last few centuries.

This strategy prevents  MBS  from waging a war against Iran and Hezbollah, and gives the lie to the current official story  it is impossible to imagine a war against Teheran because ever since the Revolutionary Guard came to help the Houthis, Saudi Arabia has suffered defeat after defeat in Yemen. And it is also impossible to rally the Saudis to the flag while  MBS  is radically reforming society.

Retrospectively, this palace coup had been announced a few days earlier.  MBS  had indeed declared that it was necessary to be ready for a change which would occur in the night of Saturday to Sunday. It is obviously impossible that the collapse of the Lebanese government and the decapitation of the Saudi royal family could have been organised without Washingtons approval. An agreement was discreetly concluded with  MBS  that the public offer of the sale of Aramco would be launched not in Riyadh, but on the New York Stock Exchange. Furthermore, the anti-Iranian speech by Saad Hariri was preceded by a Washington campaign. Since 10 October, the Trump administration has promised rewards for the arrest of two commanders of the Lebanese Resistance, and presented a plan against the financial activities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, while Congress has voted no fewer than five laws against Hezbollah.

Hypothesis for analysis

Not one element of the media will make the connection between the resignation of Saad Hariri and the purge of the royal family. In the same way, the Press does no more than mention the Palace Coup without bothering to ask the identity of the arrested suspects. Its true that it has forgotten the way absolute monarchies work. I shall propose a different hypothesis for the analysis of these events  before anything else, lets remember that at the death of King Abdallah, the Crown Prince was his friend Prince Moukrine. The royal family was divided into three clans  the clan of Abdallahs son, Prince Muteb, the clan of Minister for the Interior Neyef, and the clan of King Salmanes son,  MBS . Lets also remember the secret that is not a secret - Saad Hariri is not the biological son of his legal father, but a bastard of the Saoud family, born into the Fadh clan.

In April 2015, Crown Prince Moukrine was relieved of his functions. Mohamed Ben Nayef succeeded him, and  MBS  entered into politics by suddenly becoming the second Crown Prince. In June 2017,  MBS  managed to get rid of Nayef and had him placed under house arrest. In order to be not only the first Crown Prince, but also the only contender, he now had to eliminate the Abdallah clan. For that, he had to strip Prince Muteb of power, despite his control over the Royal Guard, not forgetting Saad Hariri, who could have offered help to the members of his clan in his quality as Prime Minister of Lebanon.

If Saad Hariri has not yet been arrested, its because despite his resignation, he is still acting  provisionally  as the Prime Minister of Lebanon in order to expedite current affairs until his successor takes his post. Achraf Rifi, who has returned to Beirut in order to occupy the position, needs to wait a little before being legally nominated. Particularly since President Michel Aoun does not wish to rush events and intends to clarify the current state of affairs before going any further. This will take even longer since Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, did not hesitate to defend Saad Hariri during a televised speech on Sunday night. He confirmed that the Prime Minister had resigned under pressure from  MBS , and that this event constituted one more Saudi interference in Lebanons affairs. Finally, thanks to French intervention, the Lebanese Prime Minister was allowed to leave Saudi Arabia for the United Arab Emirates.

Most of the people arrested were transferred to the Hotel Ritz, where Saad Hariri awaited them  and where they were placed under house arrest.

As if to show that no-one could rival with  MBS , it was also necessary to cut away the branch of ex-Crown Prince Moukrine. This was accomplished with the helicopter crash which killed his son, Prince Mansour. Within two days, more than 1,300 personalities were under arrest.

Neither Saad Hariri himself, nor Iran, could have anticipated the events of 4 and 5 November. The Guide Ali Khamenei had sent the ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, to take a tour in Lebanon, where he met each Lebanese leader, including the Prime Minister. All the meetings went well, and the meeting with Saad Hariri ended with an exchange of congratulations. It was only a few minutes later that Hariri was urgently called back to Riyadh.

Moscow and Washington are the only ones who gain from the Palace Coup

Attentive to what was going on, Russia accompanied the movement by extending its influence. King Salmane went to Moscow on 5 October. Although he is allied with the United States, he has, like his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, bought Russian weapons  including S-400 missiles. Having abandoned his support for terrorism since President Donald Trumps speech in Riyadh last May, he has managed to agree on a plan for the exchange of anti-terrorist intelligence. Above all, after having signed a great number of contracts, there now exists an agreement to maintain the limitations on the production of oil after the public offer of the sale of Aramco, which should favour speculation, and consequently, higher prices. This latter agreement has been finalised and discreetly signed recently in Tachkent.

Then President Vladimir Putin went to Teheran on 1 November. He assured his Iranian counterpart, Cheikh Hassan Rohani, that the declarations of his US opposite number contesting the 5+1 agreements concerning nuclear energy would not be followed through. He reminded Guide Ali Khamenei of the Israeli demand that there be no Revolutionary Guards and no Hezbollah in Southern Syria. Above all, he agreed with the Ayatollah about a plan for the future Syria based on the idea that soon Saudi Arabia would cease to play a destructive role.

Finally, the Greater Middle East has everything to gain by Saudi Arabia evolving from obscurantist dictatorship to enlightened despotism. In any case, the change in methods, leaders and objectives in Riyadh opens many opportunities. Each of the regional actors will attempt to adapt even faster in order to promote their interests before the situation freezes once again.
Imperial Valley News Center

Secretary of State Tillerson Travels to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Burma

Washington, DC - Secretary Tillerson will accompany President Trump on his travels to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The Secretary will also make an additional stop in Burma. The Secretarys six-country trip demonstrates the Administrations commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Asia Pacific and highlights our ongoing engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia Summit (EAS) on regional issues of mutual interest and concern.

The Secretary will travel to Tokyo, Japan November 5-7. Secretary Tillerson will participate in the Presidents bilateral summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe, engage with Japanese and American business leaders, and meet with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by the North Korean regime. The Secretary will support the Presidents focus on bolstering the U.S.-Japan Alliance, strengthening our shared resolve on North Korea, and pressing for more balanced trade that fosters strong domestic demand-driven growth and free and fair trade practices.

Secretary Tillerson will travel to Seoul, Republic of Korea November 7-8. He will join the President in meeting with senior Korean officials to discuss the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance and our shared global priorities, including our coordinated response to the threat posed by North Korea.

On November 8-10, the Secretary will visit Beijing, China and will participate in the Presidents summit meeting with President Xi Jinping. He will have discussions with Chinese officials on bilateral, regional, and global issues that affect both countries. At the top of the agenda will be North Korea and the economic relationship between the United States and China. The United States seeks a constructive and results-oriented relationship with China.

Secretary Tillerson will travel to Danang, Vietnam on November 10, to participate with the President in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. APEC is the preeminent leaders-level forum for promoting cooperation on reducing barriers to trade and investment throughout the Asia-Pacific region. On November 11, the Secretary will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam with the President for bilateral engagements with senior Vietnamese leaders.

On November 12-13, the Secretary will join the President in Manila, Philippines to reaffirm the enduring U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Philippines alliance and ASEAN-centered regional architecture as the President engages with his counterparts from the East Asia Summit (EAS), the regions premier leaders-led forum for addressing the Asia-Pacifics most pressing political and security issues. The Secretary will join the President in celebrating the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and in participating in the U.S.-ASEAN 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit. He will also join President Trump on November 13, for a bilateral meeting with President Duterte. On November 14, Secretary Tillerson will represent the President and the United States at the EAS plenary meeting.

The Secretary will then travel to Naypyidaw, Burma, where on November 15, he will meet and consult with senior leaders and officials on actions to address the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and U.S. support for Burmas democratic transition.
Each month, Boris Kachka offers nonfiction and fiction book recommendations. You should read as many of them as possible.

Freya  Anthony Quinn $13 $13 Freya, by Anthony Quinn (Europa, November 7) This falls great historical epic may be an import. Freya is the second novel of a loose trilogy on postwar Britain from a former film critic who knows how to weave political intrigue, social history, and interpersonal fireworks into fiction of seemingly any style. Here, the focus is on the fraught friendship between Freya and Nancy, who meet just after VE Day and later make their own way through the straitlaced sexist 50s and the freewheeling sexist 60s. $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy

Mrs. Osmond  John Banville $14 $14 Mrs. Osmond, by John Banville (Knopf, November 7)

Why would a contemporary author with his own revered style borrow not only a story from Henry James  to whose Portrait of a Lady this is a direct sequel  but also the authors foggy, ornate syntax? It has be Banvilles devotion to the Master, along with a desire to exact revenge on behalf of Jamess famous protagonist, Isabel Archer. Banvilles ventriloquism is word-perfect, manna for fans of James and frustrating for those put off by his style. But for any reader who remembers pitying Isabel, still tethered to her duplicitous husband at novels end, Banville offers some satisfying closure. $14 at Amazon Buy $14 at Amazon Buy

Dont Save Anything  James Salter $12 $12 Dont Save Anything, by James Salter (Counterpoint, November 14)

By the time he died in 2015, Salter was well established as one of his generations best fiction stylists. He also left behind a ream or so of published but uncollected nonfiction, relics of a time when, say, People magazine was interested in an interview with an elderly Vladimir Nabokov. In the writers cut-crystal sentences, portraits of Eisenhower and the designer of the artificial heart mingle with essays on the evolving armed forces, the Hollywood book-adaptation machine, and the future of the novel (in his opinion, not bright). $12 at Amazon Buy $12 at Amazon Buy

The World Goes On  Laszlo Krasznahorkai $15 $15 The World Goes On, by Laszlo Krasznahorkai (New Directions, November 28)

The Hungarian winner of an international Booker may currently be the foreigner most frequently shelved in right-thinking homes, but hes no pop sensation. Given to sentences that wind for pages, his fiction can be dense, bleak, and abstract. But his first translated story collection is a relatively forgiving entry point. They were written in the second, post-Soviet half of Krasznahorkais career, when he traveled widely and contemplated the lighter side of despair. So readers still get voices form the void, but also flaneurs in Shanghai and Varanasi and Venice, and a Portuguese miner discovering a buried palace. $15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy

Using Live - Ahmed Naji $22 $22 Using Life, by Ahmed Naji, ill. Ayman al Zorkany, trans. Benjamin Koerber (University of Texas, November 14)

The author of this wild Egyptian novel was ostensibly jailed for depicting a Cairo youth culture awash in sex and drugs. But the winner of last years PEN Freedom to Write award gave his government plenty of cause to suppress him. His story, liberally and whimsically illustrated, follows a professional kiss-ass who ends up stumbling upon a dystopian architectural conspiracy. The real revelation, though, is the cynicism and paralysis afflicting Bassam and his friends, victims of political and religious forces squandering a great citys creativity. $22 at Amazon Buy $22 at Amazon Buy

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Photo: FX Networks.

For decades, horror movies have dreamed up more and more outlandish ways to kill their poor victims. (Remember how Scream finished off Rose McGowan with an automatic garage door?) The stakes are even higher for American Horror Story co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk: Not only do they compete with Hollywood, they also have to find a way to top themselves every year. Each season devises new, ever more creative ways to kill characters off, whether its giving birth to a demon baby, having sex with cursed vagina, or being sodomized by a demon with a razor dildo. The only thing thats harder than enduring these 15 showstopping horrors? Imagining what American Horror Story might do next.

Murder House, episode four: Halloween: Part One

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is drowned by the Rubber Man in an apple-bobbing bucket.

Murder House, episode six: Piggy, Piggy

American Horror Story - Photo: FX

Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) is executed by SWAT team after killing 15 students in a school shooting.

Murder House, episode 11: Birth

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) dies while giving birth to a demon baby.

Asylum, episode six: The Origins of Montrosity

American Horror Story Photo: FX

After having both her legs amputated, her skin mutilated, and being injected with unknown pathogens, Shelly (Chloe Sevigny) is choked to death with a rosary by Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes).

Coven, episode one: Bitchcraft

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) takes revenge on the only surviving frat boy who gang-raped Madison (Emma Roberts) by having sex with him, a.k.a. killing him with her cursed witch vagina.

Coven, episode two: Boy Parts

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Kyle Spencer (Even Peters) is dismembered during a telekinetic bus crash.

Coven, episode 13: The Seven Wonders

American Horror Story

Misty Day (Lily Rabe) gets trapped in her own personal hell, where she must dissect live frogs for eternity.

Coven, episode 13: The Seven Wonders

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Fashion-loving Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is burned at the stake as she shouts, Balenciaga! (This one foreshadows a number of characters being burned alive in Roanoke.)

Freak Show, episode one: Monsters Among Us

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) bludgeons two picnickers with juggling clubs and stabs them to death with shears.

Freak Show, episode seven: Test of Strength

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) is smothered by a deadly hug.

Freak Show, episode 12: Show Stoppers

American Horror Story Photo: FX

Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts) is literally sawed in half by an insane magician. (Yes, the magician is played by Neil Patrick Harris.)

Hotel, episode one: Checking In

American Horror Story Photo: FX

After having his tongue and eyes plucked out, this unnamed man was force-fed erectile-dysfunction drugs and his erect penis was superglued inside his dead mistress, who was impaled and nailed to the headboard.

Hotel, episode one: Checking In

American Horror Story Photo: FX

A heroin addict named Gabriel (Max Greenfield) is raped to death with the Addiction Demons razor dildo (This is actually the shows second death by sodomy, following the man who was killed with a fire poker in Murder House.)

Hotel, episode five: Room Service

American Horror Story Photo: FX

A bunch of kids catch a virulent strain of vampire rabies because their parents wouldnt vaccinate them. After this poor teacher and a school administrator are killed, the kids drink their blood.

Roanoke, episode two: Chapter Two

American Horror Story Photo: FX

A homicidal nurse is punished by the Butcher (Kathy Bates) for murdering the elderly. Shes not exactly drawn and quartered, but her arms are torn from her body. That seems grisly enough, doesnt it?

Roanoke, episode five: Chapter Five

Photo: FX Networks.

The Butcher absolutely loves one particular killing method: impaling her victim with a giant pole and then setting them on fire. We first see this in a reenactment in Roanokes fifth episode, when she does it to Edward Philippe Mott (Evan Peters). Later, in episode nine, the real deal happens to wannabe influencers Sophie Green (Taissa Farmiga) and Milo (Jon Bass).

Roanoke, episode five: Chapter Five

Photo: FX Networks

Dr. Elias Cunningham (Denis OHare) gets his head bashed in by a rock, which isnt that upsetting as far as AHS goes. But watching those hillbilly, meth-head cannibals turn his legs into beef jerky? Thats a nightmare you wont soon forget.

Cult, episode four: 11/9

Photo: FX Networks.

TV reporter Serena (Emma Roberts) and her cameraman getting hacked apart by a bunch of clowns wasnt just gruesome. It was chillingly reminiscent of a real, horrifying event.

Cult, episode five: Holes

Photo: FX Networks

When Kai (Even Peters) stabs the Gimp (Chris Guzzi) in the heart, his dying body pulls out the hooks in his chest, nipples, groin, and legs that are suspending him from the ceiling. Even for AHS, its a lot.

Cult, episode five: Holes

Photo: FX Networks.

After deciding the R.J. doesnt have the stomach for clown killings, Kai forces everyone in his cult to take turns shooting nails into his head. Poor R.J. survives almost a dozen before Kai puts him out of his misery.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

The animated Netflix series Big Mouth reveals the horrors and horniness of puberty, and does it from the perspectives of boys as well as girls. Thats in keeping with the gender-inclusive vision laid out by co-creators Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett, who decided that periods and penises deserved equal time on their half-hour comedy.

Last month, Goldberg and Jessi Klein  the comedian and Inside Amy Schumer writer who voices one of the shows main characters, also named Jessi  spoke to me about how they depicted the challenges that middle-schoolers, particularly female ones, face during that special time in life. At the time of our conversation, the wave of accusations against Harvey Weinstein was only beginning to crest, which put some of the subjects Big Mouth addresses in a new context. Suddenly, the main focus of the show  learning how to navigate ones sexuality and the confusing gender dynamics that come with it  seemed more relevant than it had when the show dropped on Netflix in late September.

Obviously a lot of this show is based on your own experiences going through puberty. At what point did you think to yourselves, We really want this to be about girls as well as boys.

Jessi Klein: Did that only happen after Harvey Weinstein was fired?

Andrew Goldberg: Yeah, we were like, Oh shit, we have to rapidly change course. Screw the intricacies of how long it takes to animate TV.

I mean, Nick and I created it with Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, and I think Nick and Mark and I were all very interested in showing the girls side, too. Jen is somebody that, in the writing, we really leaned very heavily upon in terms of telling those girls stories. Mark and Jen [who are married] also have a teenage daughter. They have a teenage daughter and a teenage son, so theyve seen both sides and are a great resource in that respect.

I remember very early on we knew that we wanted the first episode to be Andrew coming in his pants and Nick seeing Andrews penis and feeling insecure. We knew that we wanted the second episode to be Jessi getting her first period inside the Statue of Liberty. I remember very early on, we were interviewing one of our female writers and, because we had said Were going to show Andrews penis in the first episode, she was like, Are you going to show a vagina at some point? Nick and I were like, Uh, I dont know, and Jen was like, Absolutely. One hundred percent, we have to. And were like, Okay, if we have to. And then we did. And we made the vagina talk.

I really loved the period episode. When that experience is depicted, often its either really celebrated or its really stigmatized. What you did was right down the middle, acknowledging that it is an uncomfortable and weird thing for a girl, but it also isnt anything to be ashamed of. Jessi, did you have any input as far as how that would be presented?

JK: Everyone involved, all of the creators of the show, have always been amazing about asking for my input, especially on episodes that feature Jessi heavily. So, for sure, I think I was in the writers room for at least a couple of days while that one was happening.

I remember very clearly getting my first period, which, for the record, was on Yom Kippur at my grandmothers house, which is perhaps the most traumatic version that could have happened to me at that time.

AG: Good Yontif.

JK: Ah, Good Yontif to you, maam.

What did you do?

JK: You know, my very old grandmother definitely didnt have any pads floating around. She was 90 million decades past that point. I wasnt sure what was happening. I stuffed some toilet paper in my underwear and somehow made it back up from Staten Island, where she lived, to Manhattan in the evening and told my mom what was going on. I think she started to cry in a nice way.

The other insane part of my personal story was  and this is really obscure and weird, and Im realizing Im taking you to this weird place. My grandmother is first-generation American-Russian-Jewish. When I told her I thought this was happening, she was really excited. She slapped me across the face, which I think is an obscure tradition.

Later in life, I met only two other Jewish women who were like, I know what that is. It was truly the weirdest possible way for how that all could have happened. There was not one normal detail about what happened around any of it for me. Part of what I loved about that episode was that it felt like it was happening in an equally weird, uncomfortable way for Jessi. I was just so happy it was capturing that mix of feelings that you have about it, which arent one thing or the other. Its a lot of different stuff.

I remember feeling very upset more than anything else. I was like, This is going to happen over and over again? This just seems excessive.

JK: Its also just so physically shocking. Youre like, Wait, what now? I cant believe this happened and now its going to continue to happen one million times. [Laughs.] Or whatever. Right? Thats the average number of times a woman has a period in her life: one million. I feel like Im there.

AG: One to eight million, I think.

JK: Between one and one billion times.

AG: For the Jessi stories especially, we got some Jessi Klein time in the room, which is super-useful. Part of what helps is Jessi will record with Jessica Chaffin, who plays her mom, or with Maya Rudolph, who plays her Hormone Monster, or with Jenny Slate, who plays Missy. Just getting two or three women in the booth together and letting them read the script a few times but then improvise, I think also helps it feel more authentic. I remember that scene with you and your mom in the car when Jessi is just crying and half making sense and Chaffin is reacting to you. You guys did that together and its a scene that would be almost impossible to write.

JK: Yeah, and Jessica Chaffin is also a good friend of mine. Were about the same age and we have a lot of similar cultural and timeline experiences growing up when we did. We just get such a kick out of doing this together. I love having her as my mom.

I was wondering about how often you were in the booth with other people. Thats not always the case for animated shows, but you were with other actors more often than not?

JK: For sure, yeah. Definitely more with other people than not.

AG: We have a busy cast with busy schedules. But as often as we can, we try to get people in the room together because its just that much better comedically and emotionally. Also, you have all these actors who are great improvisers. Wed be really remiss if we werent taking advantage of that. Well record it a couple of times on script and then well let them open it up and find different funny or personal moments. Our audio editors spend hours and hours going through all of the improv and finding the stuff that works the best.

Can you think of specific things that came out of improvisation that ended up in the episodes, aside from the crying scene you mentioned? Especially with Maya Rudolph, because it felt really important for those two characters to play off each other.

AG: Gosh, its hard to remember what was written and what was improvised, which is a testament to how organically it all comes together. Any scene, whether its gone off-script or not, something from improv will always sneak in. Those moments are usually the most unexpected and the most quirky and unique in our experience.

JK: Ill just say for me, performing-wise, it was so much easier for me to be in the scenes with Maya because Ive worshipped her always. She is just one of my all-time most beloved writer-performer-actresses ever. I met her a few times before we recorded for this show, but I certainly didnt know her well. Im just so in love with her. Being in a room with her brings to life the combination of love and intimidation that I feel for her, and it really transfers over to the relationship between the character Jessi and the Hormone Monstress. Im afraid of her in the most worshipful way, which is kind of what I think the relationship is supposed to be.

You referenced Harvey Weinstein earlier. I was rewatching some episodes again and I feel like Im seeing everything differently now. Even the episode where Jessi gets the red bra, its very confusing and upsetting. Those moments are formative in terms of how people think about sexuality, even at that young age. That feels even more relevant in light of all these discussions about harassment. Can you speak to how that episode came about?

AG: The writer is Emily Altman, who did such an amazing job. We were first thinking about that episode when we were writing it about a girl getting breasts for the first time. We read an article by Peggy Orenstein, who wrote the book about girls and adolescent sexuality called Girls & Sex, where she was pointing out that sex ed for boys is about erections and ejaculation, and for girls, they teach periods and dont get pregnant. We realized that we fell into that trap a little bit with the first two episodes, all about ejaculation and periods, so Girls Are Horny, Too is our way to course correct.

JK: Yeah, I hear you on seeing these things differently in light of Harvey Weinstein being outed as a serial rapist in the last few weeks. Its hard to not see everything differently. I remember moments in the room when we were on the topic of kids in junior high school  and particularly the character of Jay, [who says], You can tell Jessi wants it, shes wearing a red bra  it was clear this is volatile territory to go into because obviously, this is what kids have to deal with as they move through adolescence. Girls are suddenly thrust into this position where wearing a red bra gives you a power you dont necessarily want, and boys ideally are learning how to treat women with respect.

Im pretty lucky, relatively speaking. I went to a school that was relatively safe, but it was still a free-for-all. There was a day where all the boys decided they would run up next to the girls and put their arms around our shoulders and say, like, How you doing? Theyd squeeze our shoulders and then run away. We realized they were looking to see who was wearing a bra and who wasnt. They were feeling for a strap. At the time, I was most definitely not. [Laughs] I felt two things: One, why are these boys running up and touching us? And two: I was embarrassed I wasnt wearing a bra yet.

If you do have a bra, that means youre more developed and youre embarrassed by that, and if you dont, you feel like youre underdeveloped and youre embarrassed by that. Theres no winning at that age.

JK: Yeah, there is no winning. I think about what my junior high school was like. Tons of things were happening to girls no matter what, but I do specifically remember having a couple of friends who were more developed or had the biggest boobs in the class. The things that were happening to them were fucking crazy. Boys were groping them.

Maybe the show can help open up some of the conversations between parents and their sons, in addition to daughters, but boys taking more responsibility for the way they treat girls. Andrew, I didnt tell you, but a friend who I went to junior high school with emailed me that she watched the entire season with her 13-year-old son. She was like, He loved it, but I kind of wish we hadnt watched the episodes together. [Laughs.] The language was so brazen. She was like, Im happy to talk to him about it, but watching it with him  I dont think he felt anything bad about it, but I was dying.

AG: Nick has been very vocal about about wanting parents to watch it with their kids. Weve gotten emails and DMs and stuff where people have said that they did and it was a good experience. I have a friend who watched it with her husband and her husband shared that he ejaculated climbing the rope at gym class for the first time and I was like, Oh, you guys are sharing. Thats lovely.

I also have a son and hes going to start middle school next year. I havent watched this with him, and I will wait a little while to do that. But just yesterday, he was saying to me that he heard someone say the middle-school years are the worst years of your life. He was like, Is that true? And I was like, Weeeelllll

JK: Yeah, thats a real toughy. Its hard to pave that one over. It really fucking sucks. Hell get through.

I hope so.

AG: Its a dramatic time. Thats one of the reasons its fun doing a show about it. Theres also a lot of truth in the show that its made a lot easier if you have good friends to go through it.

Right. Im still friends with a lot of my friends from middle school, actually.

JK: I was going to say, yeah, my best friend is still my best friend from middle school.

Jessi, is there anything in particular you would want to tackle in the second season?

JK: I would like to delve into Harvey Weinsteins puberty and see what went wrong. Kind of like, if we could do a Hitler time machine, and try and just go and fix it. Yeah, no, I mean, theres really just so much to talk about. I think theres endless material, Weinstein aside.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Disneys new Star Wars film could be affected. Photo: Lucasfilm

Last week, the Los Angeles Times revealed that Disney had barred the papers film critics from screenings of Thor: Ragnarok and other upcoming Disney films over unfair coverage of the companys business dealings in Anaheim. In response, several critics and media companies have joined a growing protest of Disney films. Now, four major film critics groups  the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and the National Society of Film Critics  have released a joint statement denouncing Disney. Theyve also announced a collective vote to disqualify Disney films from their year-end awards until the company lifts the blackout on the L.A. Times. [Ed. note: New Yorks film critic David Edelstein is a member of the NYFCC.]

Films potentially affected could include Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Thor: Ragnarok; the live-action Beauty and the Beast; Cars 3; Pixars Coco; and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Disney, which is reportedly in the process of buying 21st Century Fox, said it banned the paper for what it believed was a biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda. The four film critics associations say that justification should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included. You can read the full statement below.

The members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics jointly denounce the Walt Disney Companys media blackout of the Los Angeles Times. Furthermore, all four critics organizations have voted to disqualify Disneys films from year-end awards consideration until said blackout is publicly rescinded.

On Nov. 3, The Times published a statement that its writers and editors had been blocked from attending advance screenings of Disney films, in response to The Times news coverage of Disneys business arrangements with the City of Anaheim. Disneys actions, which include an indefinite ban on any interaction with The Times, are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists.

It is admittedly extraordinary for a critics group, let alone four critics groups, to take any action that might penalize film artists for decisions beyond their control. But Disney brought forth this action when it chose to punish The Times journalists rather than express its disagreement with a business story via ongoing public discussion. Disneys response should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included.

The New York Film Critics Circle will vote on its annual awards Thursday, Nov. 30; the Los Angeles Film Critics Association will vote Sunday, Dec. 3; the Boston Society of Film Critics will vote Sunday, Dec. 10; and the National Society of Film Critics will vote Saturday, Jan. 6.

Update, 12:30 p.m.: The Television Critics Association has also issued a statement about the controversy.
Photo: null/LucasFilms/Disney

Disney has lifted its screening ban on the Los Angeles Times. The paper will be allowed once again to attend advanced showings of Disney films after journalists and critics associations resolved not to attend screenings and even to ban Disney movies from awards consideration unless its lockout of the Times was revoked. In a statement this afternoon, the studio explained its decision to rescind the ban amid backlash, Weve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at the Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, weve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics. Last week the Times explained to readers why upcoming releases from the studio were absent from its annual holiday-movie preview. After the paper published an investigative report in September that detailed Disneys intricate business ties to the city of Anaheim, the home of Disneyland, the company blocked the Times from review screenings prior to the release of its films. In a statement issued last week, Disneys party line was, We regularly work with news organizations around the world that we dont always agree with, but in this instance the L.A. Times showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards, despite the fact that, according to the Times, the massive studio had not asked for any corrections to their two-part series that touched on issues such as Disneys tax protections and incentives in Anaheim, as well as its impact on local politics. The company characterized the reporting as a biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda.

Since yesterday, the Washington Posts Alyssa Rosenberg, the New York Times, The A.V. Club, and groups like the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association all stood in solidarity with the L.A. Times and denounced Disney for its actions.
Photo: CBS

A group of white 20-something friends hanging out in their inexplicably large apartments and dating their way through half of New York is about as traditional as network sitcoms get. But in its nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother gained a loyal fan base and picked up an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy by movingly and masterfully refining the romantic comedy. At its best, HIMYM was as hilarious, heartbreaking, or swoon-worthy as anything on TV, blessed as it was with a top-notch cast and a storytellers knack for knowing how to build suspense. And as its characters aged into their late 20s and early 30s, the show never refrained from throwing true-to-life trials their way.

Sadly, HIMYM will be leaving Netflix on November 13. To beginners and outsiders, the series may look daunting, with nearly a decades worth of episodes and an intricate mythology that never stopped developing. So, heres a guide to 12 of this iconic sitcoms most essential episodes. If you havent had the chance yet, get to know the show that proved once and for all that rom-coms dont have to be dumb or predictable.

Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)

Revisiting the shows first chapter, its remarkable how fully formed it is, from the introduction of future callbacks to the playfulness with which it tweaks the romantic-comedy genre. Most impressively, the HIMYM pilot proved that co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas knew exactly who their characters were from the start: lovey-dovey Marshall and Lily (Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan), overcompensating Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), sincere-to-a-fault Ted (Josh Radnor), and his dream girl Robin (Cobie Smulders), who is and always will be too cool for him.

Swarley (Season 2, Episode 7)

This mostly silly episode exemplifies how HIMYM could do it all: make you laugh, make you feel like one of the gang, make you happy-cry when love triumphs (Lily and Marshall get back together after their post-engagement breakup), and make smart observations about dating (see guest star Morena Baccarins crazy eyes). Like so many installments, it begins with the goofiest of premises  in this case, Barney being called Swarley at a coffee shop  and ends with the friends appreciating their bonds in whole new ways.

Slap Bet (Season 2, Episode 9)

The classic episode that gave us two of HIMYMs best gags ever  Robin Sparkles and the titular slap bet  this is the show at its fastest and funniest. Try to keep up as Ted tries to pry a secret from Robins early years in Canada, and as the cast demonstrates its screwball chemistry and brilliant comic timing via verbal duels. Oh, and slaps.

Something Borrowed (Season 2, Episode 21)

Unsurprisingly for a rom-com, HIMYM loved weddings, and Marshall and Lilys is the best nuptials of the series. Because its a sitcom, everything that could possibly go wrong does (especially Marshalls hair), but luckily, the gang MacGyvers a dream wedding for HIMYMs happiest pair at the last minute. Ultimately, the episode is an earnest illustration of an undeniable truth: The best celebration of love is the one most suited for the couple.

How I Met Everyone Else (Season 3, Episode 5)

Not all of HIMYMs story lines have aged well. In the Tinder era, this one about Teds girlfriend of the week (Abigail Spencer) being embarrassed that they met online definitely feels dated, but the episode is still a gem that showcases one of the series biggest strengths: providing satisfying character backstories that make the gang feel like real people with layered biographies. The story of the night Lily and Marshall met during the first week of college is extraordinarily sweet, while puncturing some of their syrupy-ness with an acknowledgement that couples often mythologize their relationships.

Dowisetrepla (Season 3, Episode 7)

Speaking of Teds most grown-up friends, Marshall and Lily undergo the rite of passage of buying their first apartment in this episode. HIMYM often seemed to depict a New York that no longer exists  or, arguably, never existed  but this episode about financial dishonesty within a marriage and the disastrous consequences thereof is one of the shows most bittersweet and emotionally grounded half hours.

Spoiler Alert (Season 3, Episode 8)

Other than love, friendship makes the world go round in the HIMYM universe. Spoiler Alert is a hilarious example of how (gratingly) well the gang knows each other, including those tiny annoying habits that can send any close friend who dwells on them too long into a flying rage. Mostly, though, the groups mocking of Teds actuallys, Robins literallys, or Marshalls tendency to sing nonsense strings of words make us ever closer to feeling like one of them. Lots of shows bring friends together, but HIMYM was uniquely great at making us feel like theirs.

Slapsgiving (Season 3, Episode 9)

The significant awkwardness from Ted and Robins breakup threaten Lily and Marshalls first Thanksgiving as a married (i.e., grown-up) couple. Its a testament to the specificity of Ted and Robins relationship and split that, as in HIMYMs best episodes, the discomfort feels both idiosyncratic to them as characters and about dating and relationships in general.

Ten Sessions (Season 3, Episode 13)

Also known as the (first) Britney Spears episode, Ten Sessions is rightly celebrated for the one-shot, two-minute date that Ted devises for a new romantic prospect, Stella (Sarah Chalke). Grand gestures were HIMYMs bread and butter, but this one takes the cake, as Ted attempts to convince a busy single mother that her life does indeed have room for romance.

Intervention (Season 4, Episode 4)

Few shows utilize flashbacks as skillfully as HIMYM did, and Intervention is a great example of the power of the shows time-jumping storytelling. As Ted, Marshall, and Lily pack up the apartment theyd lived in to head off to new homes (Ted to his fiancee Stellas house, Lily and Marshall to their condo), the trio reminisce about the adventures theyve had in just their living room, including the interventions (against tanning, magic, and fake British accents, among various things) that theyve held for one another over the years. Theres a cautionary tale here about how the gang sometimes go after each others quirks a bit too aggressively, but also a moving demonstration of how sometimes your friends know you better than you know yourself.

The Leap (Season 4, Episode 24)

As much as HIMYM was built on optimism and happy endings, it always did disappointments exceedingly well. In The Leap, Ted is forced to ask himself if its time to give up on his youthful dreams of becoming an architect after hes fired from his job and cant hack it as a one-man shop. What results is a moving ode to taking chances and embracing new phases of adulthood, even if it hurts to leave the safety of familiarity behind.

How Your Mother Met Me (Season 9, Episode 16)

Arguing which was HIMYMs last good season is a well-worn game for its fans. (Id say its the shows sixth.) Yet theres something undeniably satisfying about this season-nine episode, in which the many, many hints weve gotten about the Mother (Cristin Milioti) over the years  the yellow umbrella, the bass guitar, the first day of econ class  are finally threaded into a cohesive story. The episodes most poignant scenes are her leading a parallel existence to Teds, with her own hopes, dreams, and struggles. Ted might have been waiting for Tracy for nearly a decade, but in the meantime, she had her own life to lead, her own challenges to accept. Hed call their eventual romance fate. He wouldnt be wrong, but How Your Mother Met Me shows how much two people had to grow to become the people they were meant to be.
Photo: A24

I love Lady Bird with all of my of twisted little ex-Catholic-schoolgirl heart. Greta Gerwigs coming-of-age movie is a love letter to Sacramento, and to the kinds of bitter fights only mothers and daughters can have, but most of it revolves around a Catholic-school education. Lady Bird is a senior at Immaculate Heart  lovingly called Immaculate Fart  where she and her friends gossip about masturbating while chomping on unconsecrated Communion wafers, stare into space during the priests homily, and decorate a nuns car with streamers and paint, declaring her Just Married to Jesus.

The stereotypes about Catholic school  strict nuns, pleated skirts  are usually true, but Lady Bird treats them lovingly. I spent nine years in Catholic school (and then two years at Episcopal school, which was basically the same, but no nuns), and recognized the tenderness Gerwig shows Lady Birds all-girls school. As Gerwig put it in an interview with the Jesuit magazine America, Theres plenty of stuff to make a joke out of [in Catholic schools], but what if you didnt? What if you took it seriously and showed all the things that were beautiful about it? In honor of Immaculate Fart, here are Lady Birds most Catholic-school moments:

Daydreaming during Mass

Lady Birds opening credit sequence shows its titular hero kneeling in mass, letting out a heavy sigh. In the press notes, Gerwig wrote that, sitting in mass, Lady Bird might be wondering where she  a 17-year-old girl  fits into the patriarchal structure of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But pray tell, is there a better place to let your mind wander than as a protestant sitting in a Catholic mass? The act of sitting, standing, kneeling, singing, giving thanks, and sitting again is the ultimate alone togetherness: Youre isolated and surrounded, able to think about what youll wear for free dress, how much that math quiz brought down your average, if that boy will ask you to the winter formal, and  whats that the priest just said? Should you be spending more time with your grandparents, on behalf of your immortal soul?

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Through the drudgery of weekly chapel, theres that one hymn you look forward to: the version of Gloria that included clapping, When Israel Was in Egypts Land, which was absolutely a Negro spiritual that no one acknowledged, or my personal favorite, Lord of the Dance. Make Me a Channel of Your Peace is absolutely, 100 percent not that favorite hymn, which makes it even funnier that Lady Birds best friend Julie (Beanie Feldstein) uses it to audition for Merrily We Roll Along.

The abortion assembly

Its never just a regular classroom lecture. Its always an assembly, where some well-meaning, soft-spoken woman insists that abortion  or as shell call it, killing babies  is the worst period thing period ever period. Its well-meaning, anti-choice propaganda, sometimes punctuated with a hilariously illogical What if Mary decided to abort Jesus? (In other words, this is a free period that practically requires some good gossip.) Lady Bird, always the contrarian, speaks out during her schools version of this assembly, saying that just because something is ugly doesnt make it morally wrong. Shes promptly suspended.

The popular girl driving a Range Rover

The heart of Lady Bird is in the mother-daughter/child lifeadult life dynamic, but its brilliance is in its fully realized cast of supporting characters. (Dont act like you didnt have a Kyle [Timothee Chalamet], because frankly I ran into mine on the sidewalk like two weeks ago, and it was hella awkward.) But didnt everyone also have a Jenna (Odeya Rush): the platonic ideal of popular girl, with her immaculate skin, wearing uniform skirts a full three inches shorter than allowed, driving a luxury SUV that shuttled you from one group hang to another? She had the facade of having her life and boys and high school figured out  later, you (like Lady Bird) will realize that she got what she wanted because she wanted so little. But every Catholic school has a glamazon with the Range Rover, who always elicited a Whos that, again? from your mom when you asked to sleep over at her mini-mansion.

The hot teacher who isnt actually that hot, but high schools high school, and pickings are slim

During a conversation with a teacher about love and attention, Lady Bird wonders if one grows from another, or if perhaps theyre the same thing. This is echoed in Julies Catholic-school teacher-crush: Mr. Bruno (Jake McDorman) pays attention to her, and so Julie loves him. She knows he has a family and a whole life outside of their algebra class  she meets his pregnant wife, and stares longingly after them as they walk away  but it doesnt do anything to dull her lust. Having a crush on a teacher isnt just a Catholic-school thing. Its just a high-school thing, one that feels a little more mischievous when youre in Catholic school because then you know Gods watching.

Skirt checks

True hopelessness is when a teacher chastises you for rolling your uniform skirt, and sends you to the bathroom to unroll it. I once had a pet hamster that would always freeze when I opened his cage to feed him, and thats how it feels when a teacher calls you out: Can you please go to the bathroom and unroll that skirt? All you can do is stand still and roll your eyes. Appropriately, its during a routine skirt check that Lady Bird starts to be friends with Jenna, the Range Roverdriving popular girl. Lady Birds skirt is awkwardly knee-length like everyone elses; Jennas is the length of a Catholic-schoolgirl Halloween costume. For the record, rolling a pleated skirt is careful, tedious work: You have to roll the whole waistband under one time (and maybe twice, if your mom really isnt hip), then roll it an extra time at the center of the waistband so you dont get an awkward, pronounced flare on each side.

The inevitable end-of-day question: Why isnt your uniform folded?

Speaking of uniforms: When Lady Bird gets home from a dance, her mom yells at her for not folding her uniform properly. Cue an Oprah reaction: Its always when youre sleepiest that you hear the question from the next room. Did you hang your uniform up? We all know it was overpriced and know that it takes a long time to iron each pleat, and know that the same button-down will have to be washed and worn again in literally three days  but cant it just be left on the floor just this once?

Your favorite nun

Gerwig told America that her Catholic school in Sacramento had its fair share of groovy priests and nuns who were very funny and engaged and open and really truly saw their students. The nuns and priests that populate Catholic-school classrooms are like any other adults  they can be harsh or peculiar or funny  but that duality never stops being surprising. Lady Birds favorite nun is Sister Sarah Joan (Lois Smith), who knows how to take a joke, and is the first to suggest that Lady Bird has great affection for Sacramento. Talking to nuns is the best part of being a Catholic schoolgirl, being continually surprised by their grace and kindness, and in my experience, how much they know about American Idol.
Photo: Steven Lawton/Getty Images

Meek Mill is having a bad year. The rapper was first arrested in March for misdemeanor assault in St. Louis, then again in August for reckless driving and reckless endangerment in New York City. And now hes been sentenced to two-to-four years in state prison by a Philadelphia court for violating his probation. The rapper was first put on probation in 2009 after serving jail time related to a drug and gun conviction, and over the last eight years, he has violated the terms of his probation numerous times, resulting in additional jail time in 2014 and a term of house arrest last year. Although the charges for both arrests earlier this year were dropped, Mills multiple run-ins with the law this year were enough for Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley, who has presided over Mills court cases for years, to send him back to prison for an extended time. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Brinkley was visibly fed up with seeing Mill return to her courtroom, and felt his behavior indicated he was thumbing his nose at her. The rappers attorney, Brian McMonagle, was asked if he would appeal the sentence and responded, Youre goddamned right I am.
Meek Mill. Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Fanatics

Can we go back to the days our love was strong? Or can we at least go back to one day last year when Meek Mill and his judge had a private meeting in her chambers? Boyz II Mens On Bended Knee might be the reason for Meeks prison sentence, according to one of his lawyers. Joe Tacopina told TMZ Monday that Judge Genece Brinkley has a personal vendetta against his client, because he wouldnt cover the song for her. Tacopina claims that during a meeting in Brinkleys chambers, the judge suggested that Meek remake On Bended Knee and include a shout-out to her. Naturally, Meek Mill thought she was kidding, and laughed  hes no Wanya Morris! Then, according to what Tacopina told TMZ, Brinkley said, Okay, suit yourself, when Meek declined. Imagine it: that Okay, suit yourself is what sealed Meeks two-to-four-year prison sentence, if his attorney is to be believed. Meeks legal team  Tacopina and Brian McMonagle  have said they plan to appeal the ruling. Maybe itd be good to have a cover of One Sweet Day handy, just in case?

In addition to that whole Boyz II Men thing, Tacopina says Brinkley is infatuated with his client. Maybe she felt scorned that he didnt add her in a song that she may have requested for. I dont know, Tacopina told Billboard. Why did she show up at a community service [event that he attended]? What judge has ever showed up at a community service to watch whether somebody is doing something, community service or not. Tacopina claims Brinkley even asked that Mill leave his Roc Nation manager to work with one of her friends. That lacks appropriateness of a judge, Tacopina said. You cant do that as a judge, but she did it.
Photo: Netflix

The first season of Netflixs Mindhunter ends with a cliff-hanger: The FBIs Behavioral Science Unit has been betrayed by one of its own, and Agent Holden Ford is last seen hyperventilating after getting a little too personal with a serial killer. With such an open-ended finale, there are certainly high hopes for the shows second season. The unfortunate fact that there are plenty of cases and interviews left in the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBIs Elite Serial Crime Unit  which written by John E. Douglas, the actual FBI agent who inspired Fords character  means Mindhunter still has a lot of serial killers to investigate.

So, whats to come in Mindhunter season two? We already know a few things: Director and executive producer David Fincher told Billboard that one of the major cases will be the Atlanta child murders of 1979 to 1981, in which a serial killer took the lives of 28 African-Americans, mostly children under the age of 15. In an interview with Vulture, Holt McCallany suggested that the show might feature Charles Manson and David Berkowitz, two serial killers who were briefly mentioned during season one.

Nevertheless, there are a lot of things we dont know. Will Holden Ford keep meeting with Ed Kemper? Is Holden himself actually a psychopath? When will the FBI begin looking for the BTK killer? And will Dr. Carr ever get a cat? While we wait for those answers, lets dig into the pages of history to try and predict which cases might be featured in season two. Below are Vultures best guesses, based on Douglass book and the known serial killers of the late 70s and early 80s.

The Potential Cases

Dennis Rader

After appearing in short scenes throughout season one, the BTK killer is sure to play a major role in season two, though it almost certainly wont involve his capture. In real life, Raders murders spanned from 1974 until 1991, only pausing for a period after his wife caught him wearing womens clothing, and the police did not actually catch him until 2005. However, theres a theory that the unsolved murder of Ada Jeffries and her son  which Mindhunter featured in its very first episode  is actually the work of the shows version of the BTK killer. (He used the same knots in other murders and he was a member of a local church council, suggesting the importance of the church and broomstick.) Although none of Raders actual victims lived in Fairfield, Iowa, its not too far from Wichita, if Fincher and Mindhunter creator Joe Penhall have decided to take creative liberties with the case.

The Stocking Strangler

In early 1978, the town of Columbus, Georgia, was rattled by a serial killer who called himself the Stocking Strangler. He had already assaulted six elderly white women before the chief of police received a letter from a group calling itself the Forces of Evil. The group was allegedly seven white men who assumed the Stocking Strangler was black and in retaliation would kill a black woman if the Strangler was not caught by June 1. The identities behind the Stocking Strangler and the Forces of Evil are part of what made the case so interesting, but if youd like to learn more details, youll find them here.

David Carpenter

The capture of the Trailside Killer is a rather fascinating case in Douglass book. Carpenter killed at least ten people along hiking trails near San Francisco between 1979 and 1981, and Douglas nailed Carpenters unique criminal profile so precisely that the local cops accused him of being psychic. If this case appears in Mindhunter, expect it to happen when Holden is back on his A game  unless its yet another push down the slippery psychological slope.

Carmine Calabro

Although this serial killer isnt as well-known as Rader or Carpenter, his crime does not lack in horrific detail. In 1983, Calabro killed and mutilated schoolteacher Francine Elveson on the roof of her Bronx apartment building. Carmine and Francine were both white, and race played a huge a part in the case: Local police wanted to nail a black man for the crime, due to evidence they found on the body, but FBI profilers were sure that a white man committed the murder. If this case gets included, itll likely be akin to the Altoona murder from season one  a longer investigation that Mindhunter uses to explore the tense collaborations between feds and local police.

The Potential Interviews

Charlie Davis

Later in Douglass career, he began interviewing inmates in groups, which allowed him to quickly gather insights and test theories. One session in the early 1980s yielded a particularly interesting case, after he asked the inmates if there were any rapist-murderers he should talk to. They suggested Charlie Davis. While he isnt an especially well-known killer, Daviss interview marked the very first time that Douglas went into an interview cold. Douglas knew nothing about him, yet he was able to pinpoint the who, what, when, where, and why of his crimes effortlessly. It seems like a no-brainer to include in the show, though it depends on how far into the future Mindhunter plans to go.

John Wayne Gacy

For those lucky enough to not know, John Wayne Gacy, a.k.a. the Killer Clown, was an Illinois man who raped and killed nearly three dozen young men, burying 29 of them in a crawl space of his home. The rest of his victims were thrown into the Des Plaines River. Most of the victims were identified, one as recent as July 2017, while six still remain unknown. Gacy would find his victims while cruising or by hiring young men for his construction company. When his workers disappeared, he would claim they didnt show up for work. Gacy was sentenced in 1980, so if the show continues on its current timeline, he seems like a candidate for one of Fords interviews  especially considering our current cultural obsession with scary clowns.

Herbert Mullin

Both Edmund Kemper and Herbert Mullin were active during the same time and location, making Santa Cruz one very scary place to live. In the early 1970s, Mullin, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, brutally killed 13 people out of a belief that he could stop earthquakes in California. Mullins interview could add a valuable discussion to Mindhunter about mental health, and how FBI agents handle criminals who struggle with mental disorders.

Ted Bundy

The unnervingly charismatic Bundy murdered more than 33 women between 1974 and 1979, killing many in his Volkswagen Beetle  a car just like the one Debbie drives in the show. He was particularly fond of brunettes with their hair parted in the middle  again, much like Debbies. Ann Rule, a famous crime writer, was friends with Bundy and was completely taken aback when his actions came to light. (She would later write a book about Bundy, titled The Stranger Beside Me.) His charm and the extent of his crimes make Bundy a likely interviewee for season two, but if Mindhunter plans to introduce him, it wont be jumping too far ahead: He was executed by electrocution in 1989.

Ed Gein

Gein was found guilty of one murder in 1957, though he admitted to another homicide. While other serial killers had more victims, what makes Geins case uniquely deranged is what he did with human bodies: He would dig up recently deceased women and take their body parts to make bowls, leggings, and lampshades. His horrific crimes would inspired several fictional villains, including Leatherface of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Norman Bates of Psycho, and Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. Gein ultimately died from illness in a psychiatric hospital in 1984, but at the pace Mindhunter is going, dont be surprised if he winds up sitting across from Ford in season two.
As suspected after last weeks episode, Danny has found out about his moms ongoing chemo treatments for breast cancer. And as befits Dannys general dickishness (sometimes lovable, sometimes not), hes quick to forgive Annette for ordering the deception, but pissed at Mindy for hiding it from him. Still, were obviously getting closer to some kind of final reconciliation for Danny and Mindy, who will always be linked by their child  and, it seems, their childs grandmother. Incidentally, I love how Annette has grown to love Mindy. It makes some sense, if only because Mindy brings a sense of girly fun into her life.

Meanwhile, Anna is gearing up to host Tamras braby shower  thats a bridal and baby shower, squished into one handy portmanteau, as Anna explains. Mindy had been hoping to throw Tamra a shower at the Rainforest Cafe with a screening of Boss Baby if they could find a TV to hook up. But Morgan explains that Anna is classier and wealthier and thus better equipped to host. (Also, Anna presumably does not share Mindys enthusiasm for Boss Baby.)

Things are also moving forward for Jody, who announces that hes moving to Africa with Mary, and Colette is coming with him. This does not go over well with the other doctors, who will be unexpectedly left without any nurses for a time: Tamra and Morgan are going on their honeymoon to Essence Fest, and then Tamra will be on maternity leave.

Meanwhile, Annette and Mindy have been watching Gilmore Girls together at chemo, and so Annette wants Mindy there even though Danny doesnt. For some reason, she prefers the fast-talking, quirky characters of Stars Hollow to Danny harping on her cancer, namely by saying cancer constantly. Finally, Danny snaps at Mindy, Why are you even here in the first place? As she later says, Words cannot express  no, reaction GIFs cannot express how hurtful it was.

At the Physicians on the Front orientation, Colette and Jody learn that the pro of going to Africa is helping the less fortunate. The cons include disease, kidnapping, child soldiers, no internet, and a sense of existential ennui. (It is a French organization, after all.) Jody still seems committed, while Colette appears less so. In fact, Jody is still even committed when later at the office, Jeremy ices him out when he speaks: Did someone hear something? Jeremy says. It sounded like the brittle squeak of a former friend. Jeremy refuses to let Jody in on the group wedding gift for Morgan and Tamra that hes selected: a vintage chaise lounge from the home of Wallis Simpson, of course. Collette, however, proves that shes definitely freaking out about Africa when she asks Morgan to shoot her in the foot so she cant go.

Back at Mindy-free chemo, we get a sighting of Dannys brother, Richie, apparently taking a break from being a dystopian chauffeur in The Handmaids Tale. (You have to admit that even chemo probably looks pretty good in comparison.) Danny is annoyed by Gilmore Girls: Anytime anything happens, someones got a little remark  You want good writing? Let me show you a JAG sometime. Danny turns the TV off and continues to harp on cancer, even reading aloud from Curing Cancer Through Prayer and Healthy Eating. Richie finally snaps at him: Danny, you gotta pull it together. Youre really bumming everybody out. Annette misses Mindy, who would bring celebrity-gossip magazines to distract her, not make her listen to recipes. Mindy also brought cupcakes, not jicama like Danny, who accurately explains that the vegetable has all the crunch of apple with the taste of air. Annette promptly declares Danny the worst part about chemo.

Everything, naturally, comes to a head at the braby shower. Dr. Montpelier of Physicians on the Front shows up with Jody, namely to deliver lines in a French accent like, Thank you for having me. Where I work, there are such high levels of infant and bridal mortality that such a party would be impossible. He also declares Colette totally fit for duty despite having been shot in the foot: We have a doctor who is just a torso in a wheelbarrow. At that, Colette cracks: Shes not going! Jody is touched, in a way: You really shot off your toe to get out of going with me? Daddy wouldve been proud. Thats how he got out of Vietnam.

Jeremy continues to give Jody the cold British shoulder, which feels much colder because of the accent, and Anna finally calls him on it after the party ends. At this, Jeremy realizes that his hurt feelings are fueling his punishment of Jody, and time is running out for him to set things right. So he adorably runs through the rain, romantic-comedy-grand-gesture style, to Totos majestic 80s classic Africa (which I immediately added to my workout playlist). He runs all the way to Jodys place to say. Jody, youre my best friend. Aww.

Oh, right, and Danny shows up at Mindys, though in slightly less-dramatic fashion. (One should note, however, that he must have traveled in the same rain.) Though he does express chagrin that Leo is no longer reading The Red Badge of Courage because Mindy threw it at a neighbor who was playing the trumpet, he is also there to say some nice things. The bad news is that Ma is going to have a double mastectomy. The good news is that he wants Mindy to be there. You have a good effect on Ma, Danny says. And on me.

Alas, the sweetness of that moment is undercut a bit by the episodes cliffhanger: Jody is pulling his equity out of Later Baby, because, as he says, New York has taught me that women can do anything. So good luck, fellow feminist!
Photo: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

The New Yorker has published a follow-up to its earlier story on allegations of sexual harassment made against Harvey Weinstein, and like the other bombshell accounts, it is damning.

The story, written by Ronan Farrow, documents that starting in the fall of 2016, Weinstein put an elaborate army of spies in place to suppress allegations of sexual harassment and assault from coming out in The New Yorker and New York Times. (He also targeted New York Magazines editor-in-chief Adam Moss and reporter Ben Wallace who was working on a story about Weinstein at the time.)

Weinstein reportedly hired private security agencies, staffed by people who had previously worked in Israeli intelligence, to collect information both on women like Rose McGowan who had accused him of sexual assault and on the journalists who were trying to expose him.

Read the full story here. In the meantime, here are the biggest shockers.

Weinstein allegedly hired corporate security agencies to prevent the allegations from emerging.

According to dozens of pages of documents, and seven people directly involved in the effort, the firms that Weinstein hired included Kroll, one of the worlds largest corporate intelligence companies, and Black Cube, an enterprise run largely by former officers of Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies. Black Cube, which has branches in Tel Aviv, London, and Paris, offers its clients the skills of operatives highly experienced and trained in Israels elite military and governmental intelligence units, according to its literature.

One of the operatives met with some of the women who brought up allegations against Weinstein, as well as journalists pursuing stories on him.

One of the investigators pretended to be a womens-rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan. The same operative, using a different false identity and implying that she had an allegation against Weinstein, met twice with a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press. In other cases, journalists directed by Weinstein or the private investigators interviewed women and reported back the details.

The operatives put together reports and dossiers on journalists reporting on Weinstein, including New York Magazines editor-in-chief Adam Moss.

All of the security firms that Weinstein hired were also involved in trying to ferret out reporters sources and probe their backgrounds. In a series of e-mailsDan Karson of Kroll sent Weinstein preliminary background information on Wallace and Moss. No adverse information about Adam Moss so far (no libel/defamation cases, no court records or judgments/liens/UCC, etc.), Karson wrote in one e-mail. Two months later, Palladino, the PSOPS investigator, sent Weinstein a detailed profile of Moss. It stated, Our research did not yield any promising avenues for the personal impeachment of Moss.

Celebrated lawyer David Boies was allegedly aware of some of these tactics.

In some cases, the investigative effort was run through Weinsteins lawyers, including David Boies, a celebrated attorney who represented Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential-election dispute and argued for marriage equality before the U.S. Supreme Court. Boies personally signed the contract directing Black Cube to attempt to uncover information that would stop the publication of a Times story about Weinsteins abuses, while his firm was also representing the Times, including in a libel case.

Weinsteins team reportedly hired a freelance investigative journalist to interview the women accusing him of sexual harassment and assault.

Black Cube also agreed to hire an investigative journalist, as per the Client request, who would be required to conduct ten interviews a month for four months and be paid forty thousand dollars. In January, 2017, a freelance journalist called McGowan and had a lengthy conversation with her that he recorded without telling her; he subsequently communicated with Black Cube about the interviews, though he denied he was reporting back to them in a formal capacity. He contacted at least two other women with allegations against Weinstein, including the actress Annabella Sciorra, who later went public in The New Yorker with a rape allegation against Weinstein.

The team reportedly gathered information on women accusing Weinstein of sexual assault that could later be used to discredit these women.
World War II veteran Morris Barker will be the speaker at a meeting honoring veterans at the McLennan County Republican Womens meeting Nov. 15. The special event is set for 11:30 a.m. in Brazos Room C of the Waco Hilton, 113 S. University Parks Drive.

Reservations for the meeting are due by Thursday. Cost is $15, which includes lunch. Make reservations by contacting Rosemary Stovall at 855-3773 or roseandmary57@yahoo.com.

Veterans Day event

All active duty military personnel, retirees and veterans receive free admission to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame on Saturday in observance of Veterans Day. Valid ID or documentation of service is required.

Family members receive discounted admission Saturday.

CRRC dinner and movie

The Community Race Relations Coalition will host Dinner and a Movie on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30pm at St. Albans Episcopal Churchs parish hall, 305 N. 30th St.

The film screened will be Daughters of Destiny with discussion following. The event is free and open to all. Dinner is provided by the CRRC board, with donations accepted. You must reserve a space by calling 717-7903 or by emailing Jo@welterfamily.org.

Teach-A-Rama

The Gamma Upsilon Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., will host its annual Teach-A-Rama on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., at the East Waco Development Corporation, 713 Elm Ave.

Three Waco ISD principals, Julie Sapaugh, Joseph Alexander, and Ed Love, will share their views and strategies for achieving success on their respective campuses. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 744-5800.

Toastmaster meeting

Waco Early Bird Toastmaster meets Wednesday from 7-7:50 a.m. at the Association of General Contractors, 4500 West Waco Drive.

All are welcome. For more information, call 855-4409.

Pecans for sale

The Beverly Hills Lions Club is selling 1-pound bags of shelled pecan halves for $10.50 each Wednesday.

Call Joe Frank Holder at 753-6380.
As Superintendent A. Marcus Nelson started his last of three community meetings about contingency plans for five schools on the verge of closure, he dove into deeper details about what realigning campuses or nonprofit partnerships could look like if the schools dont pass state standards again in May.

He reiterated the options under state law for a third time Monday at the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and focused on whats next for his administration and the Waco ISD school board between now and January.

We want to be emphatically clear, theres a change coming to Waco ISD and it is intended to improve the organization, Nelson said. No matter what school we have in our organization, all of our schools can do better. With these rising levels of accountability coming from the Texas Education Agency, urban school districts are going to have to be more fierce in our expectations and how we go about doing our business, but were not going to be able to do it alone.

Alta Vista Elementary School, Brook Avenue Elementary School, J.H. Hines Elementary School, G.W. Carver Middle School and Indian Spring Middle School have failed state academic standards for five consecutive years or more.

If the five schools dont meet state accountability ratings in May, a 2015 law requires the campuses to close or the districts elected school board to be replaced with state appointees. Again, Nelson said, Texas Education Agency officials told the district replacing the school board isnt an option because the board is considered one of the top in the state. The district received the application for an alternative plan last week and administrators are looking over the application process, he said.

But a law passed this year gives districts a chance to come up with an alternative plan to keep the schools open another two years if approved by the state.

Theyre going to have to take these schools out of my dead, cold hands, Nelson told a full crowd.

Waco ISD must come up with a plan for the school board to approve in January and submit to the state in February. If it doesnt, the state will take it to mean Waco ISD isnt proactively pursuing changes. Under the new law, Waco ISD can repurpose schools with a new campus ID number, effectively making them new schools, create partnerships with a for-profit charter school or create a partnership with a nonprofit group, Nelson said.

But Nelson has already said surrendering to a for-profit charter school system wasnt an option, so the other options have included repurposing campuses.

Im looking at the community of Waco, and Im like, Do you understand how unacceptable it would be in Waco ISD if we just closed two middle schools next fall?  Nelson said. Where are they going to go? What the state of Texas wants me to do is put them on buses and send them to Tennyson (Middle School) and put portables up and send them to Tennyson.

Im willing to bet if I looked at the history of Waco ISD, there was a time when we did that in the 50s or the 60s. Im not busing kids from South Waco or East Waco to another school, so its harder for their parents to be engaged. Its harder for their parents to get to school. ... Were not going backward.

The five campuses serve an estimated 2,400 students. Waco ISD students are resilient and diversity is Wacos strength, Nelson said.

In his first two meetings, he presented the initial idea of considering making both middle schools single-gender campuses, creating a sixth-grade center. But after community feedback, he said the district might be hesitant to pursue the option.

Nelson said he would give single-gender campuses 24 months to improve before possibly considering another change, but emphasized any plan the district goes with to change campuses would be a plan that would show improvement.

Nelson also proposed realigning J.H. Hines and South Waco elementaries to serve prekindergarten through second grade, while Alta Vista and Brook Avenue could be realigned to serve third through fifth grades.

Bryan Dalco, pastor of One Fellowship United Methodist Church and volunteer at South Waco Elementary encouraged residents to take action in their schools on a regular basis. He also asked several questions on behalf of South Waco residents about the possible realignment plan, including why his campus was part of the discussion when its considered successful by the state.

I challenge everyone here to not just show up to these meetings, but to be actively engaged in these schools, Dalco said. They really need you there. ... Everybody needs to be there. This is Wacos problem, not just the school boards and not just the superintendents problem.

Nelson responded by saying South Waco would be involved in the realignment because its location would allow for a central location for help from nonprofits and to avoid the possibility of busing students across Interstate 35.

As for nonprofits, Nelson said he believes Waco has several viable options that could help the district accomplish its goals, including the United Way of Waco-McLennan County, Prosper Waco and others.

I really dont know how well do this planning with a nonprofit, and then dealing with it once our schools make it. I havent got that far yet, Nelson said. But I know right now we spend every day working in our campuses as if our schools are going to make it. Its just the administration at the senior level thats working on some of these contingency plans in the event we dont.

Realistically, the effort would take the collaborative work of many organizations to support students and family, Prosper Waco Executive Director Matthew Polk stated in an email to the Tribune-Herald on Friday. If Prosper Waco is asked to formally partner with Waco ISD to help operate the campuses, the collaborative nonprofit would do so as a backbone organization that helps pull resources together in innovative ways, Polk stated.

A significant part of the Prosper Waco effort over the last three years has been to partner with and support Waco ISD (and other local districts) in improving education outcomes for Waco kids. Our board has told Dr. Nelson that were ready to step up that partnership however needed to serve students on the campuses that could be closed if they fail to meet state standards this school year, Polk wrote.

From here, discussion about an alternative plan for the five campuses will be on every school board agenda between now and January before the board makes a final decision, Nelson said. District officials will also reach out to transformation committee members for feedback.

Waco ISD is also pushing for more family engagement focused on improving literacy gaps at all levels, the districts biggest challenge going into 2020, Nelson said last week. The district will host a literacy night 6 p.m. Tuesday at Waco High and University High for parents from feeder elementary schools to learn how they can help their children at home.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the at the Waco ISD Conference Center, 115 S. Fifth St.

I knew what I signed up for, and I want this for Waco. I want Waco to want this as bad as I want this for us, Nelson said. I want us to boldly proclaim in the same newspaper that puts on the front page, Closure looms, Skys falling,  I want that same newspaper to put, Oh my, they made it. Our principals and teachers will tell you, our kids understand this, and our kids want their schools to stay open. We need to help them. We need to help them accomplish that task.
While millions of other Christians were singing hymns or opening their Bibles or taking communion Sunday, at that very moment a gunman was opening fire on the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. This, believed to be the largest church shooting in history, ended with at least 26 people killed, according to authorities.

Several children were among the fallen, including pastor Frank Pomeroys 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Whatever the shooters twisted objective might have been, we do know this: It wont work.

The goal the gunman sought  to terrorize worshippers  has been attempted constantly over the centuries around the world by cold, rational governments and terrorist groups, all thinking that they could, by the trauma of violence, snuff out churches or at least intimidate those churches into hiding from one another. Such violent tactics always end with exactly opposite of what the intimidators intend: a resilient church that, if anything, moves forward with even more purpose than before. Why?

Whether they are crazed loners in the United States or jihadist cells in Syria or governing councils in the old Soviet bloc, these forces fundamentally misunderstand the source of Christianitys strength in the first place. Killers assume, after all, that gunfire or poison gas or mass beheadings will show Christians how powerless we are. That is true. They assume that this sense of powerlessness will rob the community of its will to be the church. That is false.

If they looked overhead, in almost any of the churches they attempt to destroy, these killers might see what they miss: the cross.

The church was formed against the threat of terror. Jesus himself stood before a Roman governor who told him that the state had the authority to kill him, and in the most horrific way possible  staking him to a crossbeam to bleed slowly to death before a jeering crowd. Thats, of course, exactly what Pilate did  and the empires intimidation seemed to work, at first.

Most of Jesus core followers went into hiding out of fear that they would be endangered next. Thats exactly what crosses were designed to do: Their public display was to warn people that they could be the next in line. The very ones who scattered, though, soon returned, testifying that they had seen the crucified Jesus alive. The result was an open proclamation of the Christian message that led to thousands joining themselves to the tiny persecuted movement. Within a matter of centuries, the terrorists themselves, the Roman Empire, would be gone, with the church marching forward into the future. The reason was not that the church came to believe that they could find safety in the threats of violence. The reason was that the church came to conclude, in the midst of the violence, that death is not the endpoint.

Much of the New Testament is made up of letters from the apostles of Jesus on why the cross is, counterintuitively, the power of God. The Christian gospel does not cower before death. Those who give their lives in witness to Christ are not helpless victims, in our view. In fact, the Book of Revelation maintains that those who are martyred are in fact ruling with Christ. This is not in spite of the fact that they are killed. They triumph even as they are killed. Thats because they are joined to a Christ who has been dead and never will be again.

The day of the shooting was, for many churches, a day of remembrance for the persecuted church. Christians do not see as victims those around the world who are rooted out of their churches, even lined up and executed. We see in them the power Jesus promised us: the power that is made perfect in weakness.

To eradicate churches, our opponents will need a better strategy. They should see that Christianity can be easier suffocated with comfort, to the point we forget who we are, than it can be terrorized with violence. Those who try to confront the church with the threat of death only remind the church that we were dead and are now alive in Christ.

The days ahead will be awful for the grieving community of Sutherland Springs. But one thing is certain: Come Sunday, they will be gathered again, singing and praying and opening the word. That church will bear witness to the truth that shaped them: Eternal life cannot be overcome by death. And over that church will be a cross.
Star Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott has been arrested for being drunk in public and urinating in a rubbish bin after Victoria Derby Day celebrations early on Sunday morning.

Elliott, 25, was spotted in the early hours of Sunday behaving drunkenly in North Melbourne, according to Victoria Police.

"Police arrested a 25-year-old man for being drunk in North Melbourne early Sunday morning," a VIctoria Police Statement read. "It's understood the Richmond man was seen urinating into a bin on Victoria Street about 4.50am. He was released and fined $634 for being drunk in a public place."

Elliott notified the club of the incident and admitted to the misdemeanour.
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten will meet on Wednesday to nut out a solution to the dual citizenship "circus", consuming the government and the 45th Parliament.

But how willing are they really?

Both sides are hedging. Turnbull's pseudo-voluntary self declaration register for all MPs cannot be called an audit, but only for political reasons. He has repeatedly scoffed at the very idea of a parliamentary audit as preposterous, unworkable, unnecessary.

Sophistry, which is never too far away in political communication, dictates that if a humiliating retreat is unavoidable, it must come under another name. Thus, Turnbull parades the register as an honour system that is both comprehensive and declarative, while being distinct from an audit, which technically would be conducted by a third party.
The last time a Hollywood "It Girl" named Paris attended the Melbourne Cup, she ended up in a jacuzzi with a budding reality television star named Millsy.

That was 2003 and the world is a very different place in 2017, especially inside the Birdcage enclosure at this year's Melbourne Cup, where the reigning celebrity appears to be the 19-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson.

Things were decidedly looser back in the early noughties, as the strict rules governing Paris Jackson's media "commitments" in Melbourne have proven.

Indeed, it's who pays the most money that appears to gain greatest access.
Key evidence that could have exonerated Rolf Harris was not seen by the jury in his 2014 sexual abuse trial, his lawyers have told a London appeals court.

It includes evidence that a prosecution witness was a 'Walter Mitty-type' fantasist who lied about serving in the Korean War, and that one of his accusers had complained of sexual assault on almost 50 occasions without naming Harris as her abuser.

And the father of another of his accusers said he would never have let her go alone to see Harris perform, as she had claimed.

Harris, 87, is fighting to be pronounced innocent on all 12 convictions of indecent assault on four victims, who were aged between 8 and 19 at the time of the attacks.
Sutherland Springs, Texas: A man convicted of beating his wife and child had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law before shooting and killing 26 people in the rural Texas church that she attended.

Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, walked into the white-steepled First Baptist Church in rural Sutherland Springs carrying an assault rifle and wearing black tactical gear, then opened fire during a Sunday prayer service. He wounded at least 20 others, officials said.

After he left the church, two local residents, at least one of whom was armed with a rifle, chased him in their vehicles and exchanged gunfire, and Kelley crashed his car and shot himself to death, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CBS News in an interview on Monday morning.

Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said one of the residents, who he described as a "Texas hero [and] Good Samaritan", heard the gunfire and grabbed his own assault rifle before running outside to engage the shooter.
The Regional Workshop on Passenger Controls and Programme Global Shield was held from 16 to 18 October 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand as part of the WCO Security Project for South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. The event was organized by the WCO and co-hosted by the Thai Customs Department.

The WCO Security Project, funded by the Government of Japan, aims to support Member administrations in South East Asia and surrounding countries in their efforts to enhance security against the threat of terrorist attacks.

The objectives of the Workshop were to: (i) raise awareness amongst Customs administrations of the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and of the cross-border movement of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and other individuals supporting terrorism; (ii) discuss requirements for training in inspection techniques, risk management and investigations; (iii) and provide a platform for delegates from the Asia/Pacific (A/P) region to share experiences and discuss best practices relating to both initiatives.

Delegates from 22 Members in the A/P region and representatives from the WCO Secretariat, INTERPOL, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UK Border Force and US Customs and Border Protection participated in the Workshop, which was opened with a speech by Mr. Chaiyut Kumkun, the Deputy Director General of the Thai Customs Department.

The WCO Secretariat provided updates on the WCO Security Projects initiatives, and shared information on planned training, technology deployment and operational activities. INTERPOLs briefing set the scene in relation to the threat posed by IEDs and FTFs, while Japan Customs explained how new technologies can help Customs face the threat posed by chemical precursors used in the manufacture of IEDs. IATA and ICAO described the regulatory framework for using Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) for passenger risk assessment, and a number of participants shared their experience in implementing API and PNR systems.
A court in Delhi has adjourned to Dec 5 hearing in the 2G spectrum cases against former Minister A. Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi among others after CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini said that the judgment was not ready.

By Indo-Asian News Service: A Delhi court has adjourned to December 5 hearing in the 2G Spectrum allocation cases against former Telecom Minister A. Raja and DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi among others.

The matter was deferred by CBI Special Judge O.P. Saini, who said that the judgment was not ready as documents filed in the case were voluminous and technical in nature and were still being perused.

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The judge said that it might take two-to-three weeks more and deferred the matter for further clarification, if required.

The court said that it might decide the date of judgment on the next date fixed for hearing.

The court issued fresh production warrant against Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and Bollywood producer Karim Morani on the next date fixed for hearing.

The court was hearing two separate cases related to 2G spectrum allocation. One is being probed by the CBI while the other by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The court had concluded final arguments in the case on April 26.

WHAT DID CBI SAY ABOUT 2G CASES

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Raja was biased in allocating 2G mobile air waves and operating licences to telecom firms, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

The CBI chargesheet said that an amount of Rs 200 crore was transferred from DB Group to Kalaignar TV, which were kickbacks in lieu of the allocation of 2G spectrum to Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd.

The ED has filed a separate case related to money laundering, alleging that a conspiracy was hatched by Raja, Kanimozhi, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal and others and that the sum of Rs 200 crore was proceeds of the crime.

All accused, including Raja, are out on bail in this case.

On December 5, the court will also seek clarification in the 2G case against Essar and Loop promoters.

The CBI has alleged that the promoters of the Essar Group were the real investors and beneficiaries of the spectrum and licences issued to Loop Telecom, which was used as a front company by Essar to acquire 2G licences and spectrum in 2008.

Essar and Loop promoters are facing trial for hatching conspiracy to cheat the government for obtaining spectrum licence.

All the accused have denied the charges.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Those used to 2G, coal scam will face problems with legitimate tax, says Jaitley

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By PTI: By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Nov 7 (PTI) The 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of Sikhism, was celebrated here with an evening of divine classical music.

Guru Nanak Jayanti also known as Gurpurab and Prakash Utsav marks the birthday of the first Sikh Guru Guru Nanak. It is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated by Hindus also with equal fervour.

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This year November 4 was marked as Guru Nanak Jayanti.

"Its a universal message and a message of global importance," said Navtej Singh Sarna, Indian Ambassador to the US, during a panel discussion ahead of the music performance by The Raj Academy Conservatoire.

The Indian-American Congressman from Illinois, Ro Khanna, was among those who attended the escalating musical concert along with the Singaporean Ambassador to the US.

Organised by the Indian Embassy in association with the Asian Cultural History Programme of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, a large number of Sikhs from in and around Washington and several from across the country gathered here yesterday to celebrate the 350th years of the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh.

Sarna, who is considered as an authority on Sikhism, said the 10th Guru was a person as "accomplished" and "multi- talented" whose preaching has universal relevance and acceptance.

"His message, his story, his work is far too important to be contained so to speak to one community, or one state or one country. Its a universal message and a message of global importance," Sarna said.

Eminent Sikh scholars also participated in panel discussions on "Guru Gobind Singh and his legacy" with presentations by Paul Michael Taylor, Nikky-Gurinder Kaur Singh, Jasvir Kaur Rababan, Sonia Dhami, Cristin McNight Sethi and Surinder Singh.

Prof Nikky-Guninder K Singh, Crawford Family Professor at Colby College in Maine, said Sikhs have come a long way indeed in the US.

"Centuries earlier, the 10th Sikh Guru, born in 1666 in Patna had kindled the fire of freedom in our hearts and minds," she said as she shared with the audience the "four freedom fires" he ignited.

The message of the 10th Guru, she asserted, is very much relevant to the present times. "Indeed, it is universal," Kaur Singh said. PTI LKJ AMS AKJ AMS

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By PTI: Kolkata, Nov 7 (PTI) Fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 9.70 lakh have been sized from along the India- Bangladesh border in West Benglas Malda district, the BSF today said.

A senior officer of the border guarding force said Iqramul Seikh (50), a resident of Kaliachak in Malda, has also been apprehended by them after fake notes were allegedly seized from him yesterday night.

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Seikh, he said, was nabbed as part of a special operation planned by the Border Security Force to check the fake Indian currency notes (FICN) menace along the Indo-Bangla border.

"A total of 485 fake notes of Rs 2,000 were seized from Seikh. The face value of the seized currency is Rs 9.70 lakh," he said.

The man has been handed over to the local police, he said.

The BSF, in the area of the south Bengal frontier, has seized FICN of the face value of Rs 53.56 lakh and has apprehended seven smugglers this year, he said. PTI NES DV

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By PTI: By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Nov 7 (PTI) The body of a Pakistani diplomatic staffer who was shot dead by unidentified assailants Afghanistans Jalalabad city, arrived here today, a day after Islamabad lodged a strong protest with Kabul over the incident.

Afghanistan handed over the body of Nayyar Iqbal Rana to Pakistani authorities at the Torkham border near Peshawar, from where it was sent to Islamabad for funeral and last rites, officials said.

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The 52-year-old Rana was shot dead by two bike-borne unknown assailants at a shop near his residence yesterday. He is survived by his widow and five children.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack and Afghan officials were still clueless about the motive of the murder, Pakistani officials said.

Pakistan strongly condemned the killing of Rana who serving at its Consulate General in Jalalabad.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif urged the Afghan government to take urgent steps to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the safety and security of Pakistans diplomatic personnel and its missions in Afghanistan, Pakistans Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a statement, issued late yesterday, the FO said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the Afghan Charge d?Affairs to lodge a strong protest against this heinous act and demanded that the perpetrators should be apprehended and brought to justice.

The Foreign Secretary asked for fool proof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan, the FO said. PTI SH SMJ AKJ SMJ

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Over $400,000 raised at BBQ on the River
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 07, 2017 | 03:31 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Paducah police seek the publics help in identifying two men suspected of stealing merchandise from Walmart.

According to police, the two men took merchandise valued at nearly $1,600 and left the store without paying for it on Oct. 22.

Anyone with information about the mens identities is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270/444-8550 or Crime Stoppers at 443-TELL.



Tipsters also may access the online tip form through the City of Paducah website at http://paducahky.gov/west-ky-crime-stoppers. Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000.
Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required.

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By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 02, 2017 | 11:03 AM | PRINCETON, KY

Princeton Police have identified the victim of a fatal Halloween night hit and run, but are still searching for a suspect.

According to police, officers responded at around 9:20 pm Tuesday and found the victim, 41-year-old Ramiro Ortiz lying on the side of Baldwin Avenue in a gravel driveway.

Ortiz was taken to Caldwell County Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

Police are looking for a red or maroon Chevrolet Blazer or Trailblazer, or a GMC Jimmy or Envoy. The vehicle reportedly has a tailgate with a flip up back window, and witnesses said the window was open at the time of the incident. Police also say the vehicle will possibly have damage to the front passenger side.

The vehicle was last seen at the intersection of East Legion and South Jefferson Streets at around 9:25 p.m. last Tuesday. Anyone who may have seen this vehicle or has any information should call Princeton Police.
By The Associated Press

By The Associated Press Nov. 06, 2017 | 08:29 PM | LOUISVILLE, KY

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says fellow Sen. Rand Paul's absence while recovering from an assault in which his neighbor is charged creates another challenge in what's become a daily "Maalox moment" while trying to keep together his slim Republican majority.

McConnell on Monday wished his fellow Kentuckian a speedy recovery from the attack Friday that left Paul with five broken ribs.

It's unclear when Paul will return to work.

McConnell told reporters in Kentucky "it's potentially a challenge" any time a Republican senator is absent from the Senate. He acknowledged that his 52-member majority caucus isn't "always totally in lockstep."

McConnell said he plans to talk with Paul later Monday.

Police in Bowling Green arrested one of the senator's neighbors who is accused of tackling him from behind at Paul's home.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) along with online career and recruitment resource Monster India will work to provide job opportunities to students and fresher candidates across the country.

The AICTE along with Monster India has signed an MoU in this regard. As a part of this alliance, Monster India will act as an interface among students, colleges and recruiters by aiding institutions approved with the AICTE, to map their students talent and provide them with relevant job opportunities.

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"Such MoU will definitely help college students and fresher candidates seeking career opportunities," AICTE Chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe said.

Under the alliance, Monster India will manage and monitor campus recruitment activities of over 10,360 colleges approved by the AICTE with a collective intake capacity of over 36 lakh students from various streams- engineering and technology; applied arts and craft; hotel management and catering; management; pharmacy and architecture and town planning.

"Our association with AICTE will allow greater access to students and colleges with a large pool of employers present on our data base and provide relevant job opportunities," Sanjay Modi, Managing Director (APAC & Middle East), Monster.com said.

Apart from creating and managing the platform, Monster India will also provide facility for practice tests to check employability, identify skill gaps through assessment and suggest proactive measures to overcome it.

The AICTE is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development. PTI DRR MR

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The judges sought the stand of Civil Aviation Ministry and Air India on a plea by Shanavi Ponnuswamy, who told the court that she did well in her tests, but was not absorbed due to her transition.

Supreme Court judges sought the stand of civil aviation ministry and Air India on a plea made before the court by Shanavi Ponnuswamy. (Picture for representation)

By Harish V Nair: The Supreme Court on Monday gave hope to a man "denied" a cabin crew job by Air India after he underwent a sex change surgery to become a woman. The person is now being treated as a "transgender".

The judges sought the stand of Civil Aviation Ministry and Air India on a plea by Shanavi Ponnuswamy, who told the court that she did well in her tests, but was not absorbed due to her transition.

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She had applied for a cabin crew job with Air India in female category. She also said that her repeated representation to Civil Aviation Ministry had fallen on deaf ears.

"I have taken four attempts so far but unfortunately has not been shortlisted by Air India for the post in question even after faring well in the tests conducted.

"I have learnt that I have not been able to make the cut on account of the fact that I am a transgender and the vacancies in the cabin crew were earmarked only for women," Shanavi said.

She cited a Supreme Court judgment of April 2014 - which has recognised the rights of transgender as a third gender, to bolster her case.

In a historic judgment, paving the way for lakhs of transgenders to join the mainstream, the Supreme Court had granted legal recognition to the community.

Upholding their demand for treatment at par with male and females, the court had directed the central and state governments to treat people belonging to the transgender community as "socially and educationally backward classes". The court had also ordered the government to provide them reservation in educational institutions and jobs.

"Issue a writ or direction in the nature of a mandamus directing the respondents (Air India and Civil Aviation Ministry) to consider the candidature of the petitioner for the post of Cabin crew in Air India", the prayer in Shanavi's petition said.

"The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 prohibits discrimination. It is clear that no person shall discriminate against a transgender person in relation to employment or occupation," her plea said.

The right to chose one's gender identity is an essential part to lead a life with dignity which again falls under the ambit of Article 21. Determining the right to personal freedom and self determination, SC had observed that the gender to which a person belongs is to be determined by the person concerned.

"SC has given the people of India the right to gender identity. Further, they cannot be discriminated against on the ground of gender as it is violative of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 21", the plea said.

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The case comes close on the heels of sacking of a male sailor by Navy after he underwent sex change and Delhi High Court asking Navy to consider giving her a alternate job terming it an "out of the box situation".

Calling for a change in mindset, the bench had said, "Here is an opportunity to look at it from a different perspective. It is an out of the box situation. It maybe a first of its kind situation."

"Here is a person struggling with gender identity. Had she suppressed the condition and continued, it would have been dangerous. It could have been fatal."

"Think about it and come back," the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on November 23.

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Heavy smog enveloped the Delhi-NCR region on Tuesday morning, reducing visibility to 50 meters and raising concerns about the increasing air pollution in the city.

Visibility went down to 50 mts on Tuesday morning due to heavy smog. | Photo: ANI

By Abhishek Anand: Come winters and Delhi is engulfed in heavy smog. With the ever-increasing pollution and onset of winter season, the layer of smog over Delhi was so dense that visibility was reduced by up to 50 metres. Heavy smog was reported on Monday evening as well, with visibility dropping to 500 metres. Air quality has remained poor in the city for the past few days.

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The Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) shows the air quality as "hazardous" in most parts of the city. PM 2.5 levels are alarmingly high.

Visuals from Rajpath and India Gate show that visibility levels were very poor. The low visibility levels are a cause of trouble for the residents of the city. Many residents said that they had to skip their morning walks as the visibility was too low.

#Delhi: Visuals of smog from India Gate and Rajpath pic.twitter.com/vsnPbWdlHr- ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Highest pollution was witnessed in Delhi's RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh areas with PM 2.5 at 999 gm-3. Areas adjoining Mandir Marg remains the second most polluted parts of the city with PM 2.5 level shooting up to 715 followed by Anand Vihar where PM 2.5 was recorded 704 ugm-3.

"With rain or strong wind in site, the air quality is likely to worsen in coming days as the temperature gradually decreases," said a weather department official.

Doctors say being exposed for a long time to such alarmingly poor level of air can cause serious problems in lungs.

"Excessive pollutants can worsen conditions of simple cough and cold. It is advised not to be exposed to such air for a long time. It can immediately harm vulnerable people like kids and elderly ones. Pollution masks strongly recommended," said Dr Sumit Singh, a child specialist at a Noida Hospital.

Air quality at satellite cities of Noida and Greater Noida also remained in "very poor" category with PM 2.5 hovering around 200-300 gm-3. Air quality at Faridabad was recorded "severe" with PM2.5 level at 449 ugm-3. However, Gurugram's air quality was recorded slightly better yet 'very poor' with PM 2.5 level at 286 ugm-3.

Delhiites will have to resort to wearing pollution masks with the increasing level of smog. Meanwhile, no concrete steps have been taken by the authorities to curb air pollution in the city.

SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) forecast also shows that air quality in the city will remain poor in the coming days.

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Ankita Konwar's real name is Sunkusmita Konwar, and she's an air hostess.

By India Today Web Desk: Ankita Konwar, Milind Soman's current girlfriend, has been in the limelight since the 52-year-old model and fitness enthusiast declared their relationship on an Instagram post.

Also Read: Milind Soman trolled for dating 18-year-old girl

The couple have officially been together for months now, even though rumours say that they've been seeing each other for around four years now.

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Soman and Konwar, going by their Instagram posts, seem to be deeply in love with each other, and have been spotted at a number of events together (including Amazon India Fashion Week 2017 ).

Recently, the couple faced a spate of criticism because of their age gap. Undaunted by this, they are vacationing Oslo, and are busy having a good time.

Thank you all for your wishes! Have funnnnn !! :) #Tromso #NorthernLights A post shared by Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) on Nov 4, 2017 at 9:11am PDT

But what do we know about Ankita Konwar? Here are a few things that you should totally know about the young lady:

1. Ankita Konwar's real name is Sunkusmita Konwar.

2. Konwar was born in Guwahati, Assam, to Niranjana Konwar and Nagen Konwar.

3. Konwar started working as a cabin crew executive with Air Asia in 2013. She currently lives in Delhi.

4. According to a recent social-media post by Konwar, she can safely be assumed to be at least 27 years old.

5. Konwar is an avid traveller. She calls herself an ''art freak,'' which is best manifested in her love for nature. She also enjoys running, reading, watching movies and swimming.

6. Konwar completed her first 10k marathon with Milind Soman in November 2015.

7. Konwar can speak many languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese and French.

Me&Smt A post shared by Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) on Apr 22, 2017 at 8:35am PDT

8. Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar are yet to tie the knot, but the actor already addresses the lady as Smt (srimati) on his Instagram posts.

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9. With regard to love, Konwar says, ''I don't hold grudge over love, which is totally an ancient artifact!...I don't hate anyone or anything but if you hurt me then you're dead to me, so sure it's not very easy to hurt me!''

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By PTI: Central Waqf Board (Eds: Updating with additional inputs, background)

By Abhinav Pandey

Lucknow, Nov 7 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board today said it would prepare a draft proposal for a peaceful settlement of the Ayodhya dispute by December 6, the day the Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992.

Board Chairman Wasim Rizvi, who has made public his opinion that a Ram temple should be built at the site, said he would visit Ayodhya this month to meet seers and mahants.

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"I have already discussed terms and conditions with many of them and some petitioners for the draft proposal for agreement to settle the dispute mutually," Rizvi told PTI.

"By December 6, I hope we will be able to prepare our draft proposal for a mutual agreement," he said.

Rizvi last month met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore and apprised him of the Boards stand on a Ram temple at the site.

The Board does not want a mosque constructed at the site. Instead, it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim- populated area, he has said.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77-acre area between the Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Lord Ram Lalla.

Rizvi, however, was of the view that partition of the disputed land in Ayodhya would not be a "practical idea" and would not be "peaceful and long lasting".

He did not divulge the contents of the draft he was preparing but said he would convene a meeting of the Waqf Board to get consent of the members before moving ahead on it and making it public.

The Shia Central Waqf Board

has impleaded itself as a party in the Ayodhya case by submitting a 30-page affidavit to the Supreme Court on August 8 this year. It has staked claim to the Babri mosque, maintaining that it was a Shia mosque.

Rizvi, who claims to be authorised by the Board to move ahead on the issue, said the number of mosques in Ayodhya was sufficient for the Muslims residing there and there was no need for a new mosque.

He said that those demanding construction of a mosque at Lord Rams birthplace, or near it, only wanted to prolong the dispute.

"The demolished mosque belonged to the Shia Waqf and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has no right to decide on it. Only the Shia board has the right to decide," Rizvi has said earlier.

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About his meeting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, he said he had conveyed his intentions to him, adding that the initiative for the out-of-court settlement would strengthen Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.

In a bid to resolve Ayodhya issue, Ravi Shankar reportedly met Nirmohi Akhara leaders and Muslim law board members recently.

Though the AIMPLB is not a party in the case, it wields considerable influence as the apex Islamic body on religious and personal matters.

AIMPLB member and Convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) Zafaryab Jilani has denied that any of its authorised representatives met the Art of Living founder for an out-of-court settlement.

"The Ayodhya dispute cannot be settled through arbitration. We will never withdraw our claim to the land in Ayodhya where once the Babri mosque stood and was demolished on December 6, 1992," Jilani has said. PTI ABN SMI MIN

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By PTI: life in Delhi hospital

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) A two-year-and-11-month-old boy from Bangladesh, who was suffering from acute liver failure, got a new lease of life after undergoing a liver transplant at a private hospital here.

Aman Jawad Uddin was detected with jaundice at the end of August which progressively worsened leading to vomiting and irritability. He was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka on September 11.

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The boy was diagonised with acute liver failure due to Hepatitis A. His condition deteriorated to such an extent that he developed coagulopathy (prothrombin time increased to 70 seconds while normal is 13 seconds) and went into coma.

The family was told that the child needed urgent liver transplant.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Delhi was contacted and the boy was flow in to Delhi on September 20, a hospital official said, adding after assessment, a decision to conduct emergency liver transplant was taken.

"Treatment was initiated to protect the boys brain from cerebral edema. His mother Tanjim Rahas liver was found to be appropriate for donation and 36 hours after arrival, the child underwent a liver transplant," said Dr Anupam Sibal, Group medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group said.

The liver transplant was successful and by the fifth day after the surgery, his encephalopathy had improved. The boy started speaking, the doctor said.

"It was a very critical case because the child was already in stage three Hepatic Encephalopathy. This meant that his liver was not removing the toxins from his body which were damaging his brain function," Dr Sibal said.

Dr Neerav Goyal, Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said "A liver transplant in a child with acute liver failure is more demanding than a standard liver transplant. Amans clotting was severely damaged and that was an extra challenge."

"With his condition deteriorating fast, an emergency liver transplantation was the only treatment to save the life of the boy. We were very happy that Aman made a remarkable recovery and he was discharged in three weeks," Dr Sibal said. PTI PLB NSD

--- ENDS ---
Winona

Monday

10:03 a.m.  A man reported a vehicle missing from South Baker Street, which was later recovered at Stockton Valley Saloon and is being investigated.

10:33 p.m.  A man reported that his vehicle was entered overnight on the 600 block of East Third Street.

11:26 p.m.  Brently Steven Johnson, 55, Winona, was cited for tampering with motor vehicles and not having a light on a bicycle after officers witnessed him trying the doors of multiple vehicles near Fourth and Franklin streets.

Tuesday

2:00 a.m.  Yu Kuang Ch, 21, Winona, was cited for open container at Garvin Heights Park.

Winona County

Monday

12:45 p.m.  Charges of fleeing on foot, driving after cancellation, fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and no insurance were referred against Michael Merlin Feller, 50, Stockton, after a deputy saw a vehicle with Wisconsin plates pull into a driveway in New Hartford township. The deputy asked the owner of the property, who was out walking and was an acquaintance, if they knew the person and they said they didnt.

The deputy went around the garage and when the man saw him he ran into a wooded area and was eventually apprehended. He said he ran because he didnt have a drivers license. Deputies also found a container with a trace amount of methamphetamine.
Devils Lake State Park is on pace to set record attendance totals this year.

Visitation to Wisconsins most popular state park has increased by nearly 50 percent since 2010, going from 1.7 million annual visitors at the time to 2.6 million in 2016, according to estimates from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Steve Schmelzer, the parks superintendent, said he expects the ascent to continue in 2017.

Were right in the neighborhood of 2.8 million (visitors) right now, Schmelzer said. Last year through October it was 2.6 million visitors, so were a couple hundred thousand visitors up.

Almost every year weve had more visitation than the previous.

Schmelzer said hes not sure what exactly is driving the attendance increase, but added that the trend is in step with national parks. He said the increased prevalence of social media and location sharing may have influenced the record count.

Parks in general are getting more popular and more usage, Schmelzer said. If you look at attendance data for national parks, it has also increased substantially.

National parks recorded record attendance in 2016 for the third year in a row, according to statistics from National Parks Service. Federal properties received nearly 331 million recreation visits in 2016, breaking 2015s record by 23.7 million visits.

Minnesota Parks and Trails Division information officer Amy Barrett said park attendance in the neighboring state also has been up over the past decade. She said the states legacy amendment  which temporarily increased tax dollars to fund environmental programming in 2008  along with the state of the national economy and Parks Divisions increased social media presence, influenced the trend.

Families were really looking for something affordable to do, Barrett said. They maybe werent going on out-of-state airplane trips or expensive resorts. Everybody was cutting back, so I think that conveniently drove a lot of people to check out state parks.

Barrett said the uptick in park visitors has led Minnesota to pursue several cost-saving measures. She said state park managers often oversee multiple properties, and parks are exploring self-service options to free up staff and other resources.

Schmelzer said the increased attendance at Devils Lake also has led to changes. Construction crews have expanded the entranceway on the parks north shore and are finishing up an additional lane on the south shore as well. An automated park pass kiosk also has recently been installed on the south shore entrance.

Schmelzer said the electronic vendor is one of several automated pay stations that have been installed on state properties. He said the kiosk accepts credit cards and will be operational 24-7.

There are several locations throughout the state where they have a pilot project for automated self-registration, and one of them is the south shore, Schmelzer said. Its kind of like one of those parking kiosks that you see in Madison.

The park also has upgraded infrastructure and facilities with help from the Friends of Devils Lake group and the Devils Lake Concessions Corporation. The groups donated $105,000 to Devils Lake State Park in September to construct a new boat rental facility on the north shore.

The Concessions Corporation plans to use the building to expand its guided kayak tours and begin offering hiking and boating tours. The group also may explore partnerships with local outfitters to offer other recreational opportunities, like scuba diving and rock climbing.

Schmelzer said other new facilities  like the winterized shower and bathroom building by the park campgrounds  will allow the site to open earlier for the camping season and remain open longer, further increasing future attendance counts.

Well probably keep it open at least through November depending upon demand, he said. That will probably bring in a lot of campers.

Baraboo Chamber of Commerce Director Bobbie Boettcher said Devils Lake has a major impact on the local economy, bringing in millions of tourism dollars each year. Boettcher said she expects the impact to increase following the rerouting of Highway 12, as visitors traveling from the south or west will have to travel through town to reach the park.

Its one of our key tourism attractions, no doubt about it, she said. Baraboo in some ways is on the map because of the lake and the amount of tourism traffic that we have come in here.
JUNEAU  Attorney General Brad Schimel continued his 72-county statewide tour to meet with local law enforcement and elected officials last week with stops in Green Lake and Dodge counties on Friday.

I appreciate Attorney General Schimel coming to Dodge County and listening to local officials and the issues we face, said Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg. His commitment to addressing every aspect of the opioid crisis is clear in his willingness to hear the experiences of those of us on the front lines.

Schimel and the Wisconsin Department of Justice leadership team is meeting with law enforcement and local officials in every county to discuss public safety concerns specific to each county.

DOJ financially supports a number of programs to help each county with its public safety mission in a number of ways.

For instance, next year Dodge County is slated to receive more than $209,000 to fund and expand the countys adult drug court and alcohol abuse court, providing an alternative to incarceration for those struggling with addiction. These funds will come from DOJs budget.

Since 2015, the South East Area Drug Operations Group, which includes Dodge County, has been provided more than $400,000 to fight heroin and methamphetamine. In 2018, Green Lake County will receive more than $100,000 to fund and expand the countys adult drug court. The Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, which includes Green Lake County law enforcement, was also provided more than $240,000 to fight heroin and methamphetamine since 2015.

DOJ also financially supports Dodge and Green Lake counties crime victim service organizations, ensuring that crime victims are given guidance and counseling as they participate in the criminal justice system. Utilizing funds made available through the U.S. Department of Justice since 2015, DOJ has provided People Against a Violent Environment more than $250,000. PAVE provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Dodge County.

In addition, DOJ has provided more than $640,000 to ASTOP, which provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Green Lake and Fond du Lac counties, and designated $250,000 in grant funds to Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, which has an office in Green Lake County.

In attendance at the Dodge County roundtable meeting were: Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Sen. Luther Olsen, Reps. Mark Born and Michael Schraa, Klomberg, Dodge County Circuit Court Judges Steven Bauer, Martin Devries and Brian Pfitzinger, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schimdt, Dodge County Human Services & Health Director Beverley Bell, Beaver Dam Mayor Rebecca Glewen, Mayville Mayor Rob Boelk, Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger, Juneau Police Chief David Beal, Lomira Police Chief Chris Mireski, Waupun Police Chief Scott Louden, and other local elected officials.
JUNEAU  On Tuesday, a Dodge County court deemed a 32-year-old Beaver Dam man, accused of molesting two children, competent to proceed to trial.

Roberto Rodriguez-Rodriguez is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 30. He is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 12. He could be sentenced to 120 years in prison if found guilty of both charges.

Rodriguez was found incompetent in September and spoke to the court Tuesday to say he felt he was still incompetent to go to trial. Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries found that Rodriguez had the mental capacity to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense and is competent to proceed with the case.

According to the criminal complaint, two girls, 6 and 8, went to his apartment July 5 to see his cat. The father of one of the girls contacted police the next day to report the assault. The two girls were crying when police arrived. The girls told police that when they went to the apartment that Rodriguez took the two to his bedroom and sexually assaulted them.

As the police officer was telling the parents of the girls that he needed to contact a detective to interview the girls because of their ages, a relative of Rodriguezs entered the apartment.

According to the complaint, she told officers that Rodriguez denied the assaults when she asked him about them. However, when she told him that she was going to get the girls parents, he left on foot and threatened to kill himself.

The detective met the girls at the Aurora Medical Center in Hartford, where they were undergoing sexual assault exams. The girls told the detective that after Rodriguez assaulted them, he showed them a movie that they described as being disgusting. The girls said he assaulted them after watching the movie as well.

Rodriguez was taken to Beaver Dam Police Department by a woman who told police that he had wanted to go to Mexico to avoid punishment. The woman told police that she had told him that he would be brought back to the U.S. as a fugitive if he didnt surrender to police.
By Indrajit Kundu: A Kolkata court on Tuesday announced its verdict in the 2015 rape case of a nun at a convent school in Nadia district.

The city sessions court found the main accused guilty of raping the 72-year-old nun at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat, about a 100 km from Kolkata. The remaining five accused have been found guilty of robbery.

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The senior nun at the convent was sexually assaulted on March 14, 2015, by a group of anti-socials, including four Bangladeshi nationals who had broken into the school compound in an attempted case of robbery. All six accused have been arrested by the West Bengal CID.

The main accused, 28-year-old Bangladeshi national Nazrul Islam alias Nazu was arrested from the Sealdah station in 2015. The accused had been charged with gangrape, dacoity, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy. The quantum of sentence for all the convicts will be announced by the court on Wednesday.

The case had caused massive outrage across the country with the opposition accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of failing to provide security to women in Bengal. Banerjee, even faced angry protests when she visited the convent soon after the incident. The septuagenarian nun, who had to be admitted in hospital for treatment was flown out of Kolkata after being discharged following the assault.

Even though the chargesheet had mentioned gangrape, the judge concluded that was a case of rape as the crime was perpetrated by the main accused only.

"We have sought the maximum punishment for the accused. The main accused has been found guilty under IPC section 376. Court will pronounce its sentence tomorrow," said Government counsel Anindya Raut.

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CAMBRIA  Officials of Didion Milling on Monday reiterated the companys intent to rebuild the Cambria-based corn grinding operation that exploded on May 31, resulting in five deaths.

Village officials pondered how much public scrutiny of the construction plans would be desirable, necessary or legal.

The agenda for the monthly Cambria Village Board meeting on Monday included a Didion update.

Amy Jones, Didions human development and staffing business partner, told trustees that neither the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration nor Didions internal investigation has reached a conclusion about the cause of the explosion, which rocked Cambria at about 11:30 p.m. May 31.

The OSHA report, Jones said, is due by the end of November, and it likely will not be released until then. The internal investigations conclusion is likely to come out at about the same time, she said.

Regardless of what comes out in the report, we will continue our rebuilding, Jones said.

When Village President Glen Williams asked when Didion officials would have a plan for the rebuilt facility to present to village officials, Jones replied that the plan is not ready.

Later in the meeting, however, the Village Board voted unanimously to invite Didion officials to meet privately with village officials  including Fire Chief Cody Doucette (who also is a village trustee) and Public Works Director Tom Tietz  to present a concept for the rebuild, before finalizing building plans.

Rob Roth, who contracts with Cambria for engineering services, noted that the state open meetings law would require the meeting to be open to the public, with advance public notice, if a quorum of the Village Board or one of the Village Boards committees were present at the meeting.

Plans had originally called for including Williams in the meeting. However, both Williams and Doucette are members of two different Village Board committees: administration and public service. Any meeting that includes both of them would require an open meeting notice and would have to be open to the public.

Frank said Tuesday that the situation is likely to be addressed by having Williams not attend the meeting, and having Doucette, Tietz, Roth and Fire Inspector Ryan Hart in the concept meeting.

Arrangements for the meeting had not been made as of Tuesday afternoon, and Frank said she did not know when the session would happen, or if Didion has a concept proposal ready to present.

I dont know when theyll be ready for the plans, she said.

Doucette said he doesnt want to require Didion to go public with its plans, but he does want to address fire safety concerns  such as the placement of sprinklers and the height of the building  before the plans are finalized.

The area where the rebuild is proposed lies entirely in the village limits, so neither Columbia County nor a neighboring municipal government would have any say in the rebuilding plans.

Didion also operates Didion Ethanol, located in the neighboring town of Courtland, just across Cabbage Road from the milling plant. The ethanol plant is in full operation as the corn harvest continues.

Roth said if the final plans conform to the areas industrial zoning, without requiring any variances or conditional use permits, the plans would have to be approved, possibly without public scrutiny  although Didion officials may choose to hold an open house to show the plans to the public.

Doucette said concrete footings already are being poured at the Didion site, to get them in before the snow flies.

Thats legal, Roth said, but its a risk for Didion.

State law, he said, allows companies to obtain permits for footings and foundations, but if village officials should reject the companys rebuilding plans, the work would have to be torn out and redone, with the company bearing the cost.

Since 2008  the year the ethanol plant began operations  Didion and the village have operated under a development agreement, covering issues such as traffic, safety and the environment. The extent to which that development agreement would apply to any plans to rebuild the milling operation remains to be seen, Doucette said.
Using her talents as a quilter, Judy Hasheider is doing her part to honor veterans of the Sauk Prairie area.

The Sauk City resident has been making quilts for local veterans through the Quilts of Valor program, a nonprofit organization that aims to cover all physically or psychologically wounded service members with a freedom quilt as a way to honor them for their sacrifices.

The concept started with a Delaware woman in 2003, but has since become a national and even international concept.

She had a dream one night that actually caused her to start doing this, Hasheider said. Since she started it 14 years ago more than 170,000 quilts have been given out to servicemen and even civilians touched by war.

Hasheider said there is no formal qualification process to receive a quilt, and veterans or their families can request a quilt online. Locally, Hasheider gets names of veterans with the help of the VFW in Prairie du Sac.

I know some of the members. Some served with my husband in Vietnam and others with my dad in World War II, Hasheider said. I got involved with Quilts of Valor because I felt a personal connection, so I personally chose to give one.

Although the program started with soldiers coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has expanded to include anyone touched by the effects of war, said Bart Mauch, VFW Post 7694 adjutant.

Veterans from earlier wars still have wounds and stress, Mauch said. So why not include them? Now veterans dont have to prove they have post-traumatic stress disorder just to get a quilt.

Getting a quilt can take some time and depends on the availability of quilters.

Its totally volunteer, Hasheider said. No one gets paid. So when a veteran receives a quilt, it comes straight from the quilter.

Hasheider said she has received donations from time to time and it usually comes from a veteran. But in no way does it cover the cost of their quilt, Hasheider said. It gets paid forward so someone else can receive a quilt.

Mauch said a lot of work is put into each quilt, which usually is made from at least $200 worth of material.

I got mine last year, said VFW Post 7694 Commander Tom Schuster. Its quite a ceremony to watch. They talk about how the quilts of valor got started, what they do; the vet gets up, often they are with their family, and she (Hasheider) reads about the quilt and what it symbolizes and then the quilt is wrapped around the veteran as way of consoling them. Its quite touching.

Hasheider said in addition to the quilt, the ceremony serves as a way to recongize veterans.

Its definitely a feel-good project, especially now with the Vietnam vets who were never really recognized, Hasheider said.

Six local veterans received a quilt of valor during the presentation Nov. 3.

As a surprise two brothers received quilts  Maurice and Richard Nolven, Hasheider said.

Hasheider also made a quilt for her uncle. It was Hasheiders uncles first cousin  James Cramer  for whom VFW Post 7694 is partially named.

It was named after the first two veterans from each community (Prairie du Sac and Sauk City) that died in World War II, Hasheider said of the Lachmund-Cramer VFW Post in Prairie du Sac.

It was because of those ties that Hasheider originally decided to get involved.

In some way, in some very minute way, this is our form of giving them a Purple Heart, Hasheider said. For giving us the life we have and because they were willing to fight for our country.
Bandgi and Puneesh got cosy between the sheets, but the former regretted it the morning after.

By India Today Web Desk: Bandgi and Puneesh started out by faking their affair for cameras and ratings. The loyal viewers of the Bigg Boss saw how the two mutually decided to fake their relationship as they were not sure about surviving in the show amidst the string of fights that were hogging all the limelight.

But now it's clear that the two have actually fallen for each other and can't keep their hands off each other. The two are so besotted with each other that they have forgotten the presence of cameras. In the last night's episode, the two got intimate with each other. Not only the cameras, but some of the housemates also noticed that something is happening between the two.

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When the new day started, Bandgi and Puneesh were seen discussing about the last night. Bandgi asked Puneesh if the cameras indeed captured what they did. When Puneesh told her that there were cameras all over, and it didn't matter even if they did, Bandgi said he shouldn't have kissed her.

Housemates Hina, Benafshah and others were also seen discussing that something had definitely transpired between the two, and expressed their disgust, questioning Bandgi's loyalty towards Puneesh.

Only time can tell about the fate of this relationship.

--- ENDS ---
By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss Season 7 winner Gauahar Khan had made an appearance on the show not too long ago. The actress/TV personality gave Akash the nomination shield, and had earlier tweeted in favour of Akash Dadlani, calling him a genuine person.

However, Gauahar is not too fond of Shilpa's 'strategy,' which is basically to annoy Vikas till he apologises for his 'mistakes.' But recently, when probed by a fan on the Shilpa-Vikas feud once again, Gauahar tweeted, "Yes she's playing a good game!! She's great in tasks n has a good heart!!!That's why feeling bad for why she's being so torturous with Vikas."

Yes she's playing a good game!! She's great in tasks n has a good heart!!!That's why feelibg bad for why she's being so torturous with vikas https://t.co/loqKKJ2x6t- Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) November 3, 2017

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Another follower tweeted at her saying that Shilpa is a nice person, to which Gauahar readily agreed, replying with the post which read, "I agree she is nice !!! But needs to let go off her grudge against Vikas!!! It's sad !!"

What I am shocked at is that, why is absolutely no 1 sitting Shilpa down n explaining to her that torturing some 1 is wrong!!It's not a task- Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) November 3, 2017

A little while ago, Gauahar had called out Shilpa's behaviour in the show, and had written, "If she says she's been wronged in the outside world by Vikas, how is this behaviour correct??sad that no1 has a voice for sensible things."

If she says she's been wronged in the outside world by Vikas, how is this behaviour correct??sad that no1 has a voice for sensible thngs- Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) November 3, 2017

Meanwhile, in the Bigg Boss house, things have turned uglier between Vikas and Shilpa, as the contestants refuse to make peace with each other.

--- ENDS ---
"An exercise in vanity." That's how former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today described the much-hyped bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, one of the many pet projects of his successor, Narendra Modi.

PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe pose in front of a Shinkansen bullet train in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters.

By India Today Web Desk: "An exercise in vanity." That's how former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today described the much-hyped bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, one of the many pet projects of his successor, Narendra Modi.

"Bullet train, launched with much fanfare, is an exercise in vanity," Singh said in a meeting at Ahmedabad, one of the two destinations of the Rs 1.1 lakh crore project, which is also India's first.

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"Did PM consider the alternative of the high-speed train by upgrading broad gauge railways?" Manmohan Singh asked.

Singh also took a dig at the BJP by asking whether his criticism of the bullet train project makes him "anti-national".

"By questioning bullet trains, does one become anti-development? Does questioning GST and demonetisation make one a tax evader? This attitude of suspecting everyone to be a thief or anti-national, this low level rhetoric is damaging to democratic discourse," Singh quipped.

Launched with much fanfare in September this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Ahmedabad, the government has set a deadline of August 15, 2022 for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail network to mark India's 75th year of Independence.

The train is expected to cover a distance of over 500 km between the two cities in less than three hours. Japan is financing 81 per cent of the Rs 1.08 lakh crore project at 0.1 per cent interest to be repaid over 50 years.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | My Take: Time for bullet train has come, but cost overruns will be a concern

--- ENDS ---
Hark upon a Kale: Alumnus pens military history of W&M

The following story originally appeared in the fall 2017 issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine. Wilford Kale '66 will hold a book talk and signing at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in Swem Library's Ford Classroom. - Ed.

Wilford Kale 66 likes to say that he came to William & Mary at age 18 and never left. This spring, he published his fifth book on the university, From Student to Warrior: A Military History of the College of William and Mary.

The book chronicles the history of the military at the university.

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kale first came to William & Mary in 1962. He spent five years working toward a diploma before serving two years in the Army, including one in Vietnam. Kale finished his undergraduate degree at Missouris Park College in 1971.

He spent 25 years in the newspaper business, writing for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In 1994, he switched careers, moving to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). There, he developed the agencys public affairs office, ultimately becoming a senior policy advisor for the organization.

When Kale retired from VMRC in 2007, he was already immersed in his next career  historical writing. Kale, a life-long history buff, had already published his first book, Hark Upon the Gale, while still working for the Times-Dispatch. Wanting to pursue a masters degree in history, he sought out the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.

I saw they were recruiting students from continental Europe, he says. I immediately emailed the department and asked, since they were taking continentals, would they mind accepting a student from the colonies?

In short order, he became an extended learning student at the university, completing his degree in 2012. His masters thesis was the basis of his new book. Kale scoured the archives at Swem Library, in addition to repositories nationwide, to create a comprehensive book detailing William & Marys connection to the military going back to the universitys earliest days.

Kale says his interest spurred from the fact that battles of two major wars, the American Revolution and the Civil War, were fought in the immediate vicinity of campus.

Kale found that while Virginias legislative bodies worked to shelter William & Mary students from military service, faculty and students frequently joined the fight anyway. They did not always fight on the same side.

During the Revolution, the professors and the school president were Tories, but the Board of Visitors was full of rebels, says Kale. During the Civil War, of the 60 students who joined the military in the spring of 1861, two joined the Union Army, while the other 58 fought for the Confederacy.

According to Kale, William & Marys history remained closely connected to the military well into the 20th century. During World War I, the College admitted women for the first time while many men were fighting in Europe. During World War II, both the Navy Chaplains School and the Army Special Training Program moved to the universitys campus.

Today, William & Mary maintains a strong connection to the military, generating a significant number of military leaders, soldiers and veterans advocates. Kale points out that in this century alone, the university has produced 32 generals and admirals.

Just months after publishing From Student to Warrior, Kale is already working on his next project, a book about Yorktown. When asked about the motivation driving his prolific writing on William & Mary, he didnt hesitate.

We in Williamsburg live right in the middle of American history, he says. I dont want people to forget that.
Many concerned mothers gathered outside the DOE and were collecting signatures for their petition.

By Shalini Lobo: Air pollution level in the national capital has reached an alarming level, so much so that the mothers of children are now demanding schools to be shut.

Concerned parents along with the founders of My Right To Breathe - an organisation which promotes awareness regarding pollution, made their way to the Delhi Directorate of Education (DelE) today, demanding that schools remain shut till the pollution levels drop.

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"My heart broke when I sent my children to school today. It was like sending them to a chemical warfare. We keep waiting for people to take action, and in the meanwhile, our children are becoming chain smokers", said Radhika Kapoor, one of the mothers.

Many concerned mothers gathered outside the DOE and were collecting signatures for their petition. The petition highlighted the alarming pollution levels in Delhi and also states that it was time for the Chief Minister to declare that Delhi is in a state of emergency and figure out what the next plan of action is.

"Children in Delhi are being exposed to toxic air and the authorities are blind to it. It's high time that we push an advisory out to schools", said Aparna, a concerned parent.

While the mothers tried explaining their line of argument to the staff in the DOE. Vikaas Kalia, Officer on Special Duty to the DOE said, that closing schools is not a solution to the problem.

He went on to state that he is with the families and they want to help the children. But they need to tackle pollution first and that shutting down everything is not the solution.

Deputy CM and Delhi Education Minister, Manish Sisodia, has called a meeting of the Education, Health and Environment departments to look into the matter.

WATCH VIDEO | Delhi covered in smog, visibility dropped to 15 meters

--- ENDS ---




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The event, held at Maitreyi College, was part of the 'Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat' initiative of Delhi University.

By India Today Web Desk: Delhi University (DU) on Friday organised a fest in an attempt to promote cultural diversity of the northeast India among college student. The event, held at Maitreyi College, was part of the 'Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat' initiative of DU.

An inter-college photography competition on the theme 'Art & Culture of Sikkim' was organised in the college. The event witnessed significant participation from colleges across the University.

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The festival witnessed discussion on the ways to bridge gaps between the northeastern states and the rest of country.

Sikkim is the only state in India that undertakes 100 per cent organic farming and hence, remained the focus of discussion highlighting its special features.

The guests at the event addressed the lack of representation of northeastern cultures in educational institutions and stressed on the need to create inclusive spaces.

Cultural performances included various dance forms of the northeastern states incluging Jhumur, Bihu, Mishing and a tribal anthem.

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France to review nuclear reduction target

07 November 2017

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The French government will come up with a more "realistic" target to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the country's electricity generation, Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot told a news conference in Paris today.

The previous government of Francois Hollande in 2015 established an energy transition law which set a target of reducing the share of nuclear in the power mix to 50% by 2025 from the current 75%.

Hulot told reporters today that this is not realistic, but he did not set a new deadline.

"We will reduce the share of nuclear in the mix as soon as possible," he said, adding that doing so in a hurry would increase France's CO2 emissions and could endanger the security of power supply and put jobs at risk, according to Reuters.

Hulot also said that the Fessenheim nuclear plant, France's oldest, would be closed during President Emmanuel Macron's five-year term.

Elected in May, Macron had promised to respect Hollande's target and Hulot had said in July France might have to close as many as 17 of its 58 reactors by 2025 to achieve it.

State-owned utility EDF, which operates France's nuclear power plants, has argued instead to extend the operation of its nuclear fleet from 40 to at least 50 years.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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In the wake of Opposition's attack on demonetisation, the government posted a series of tweets a day ahead of the move's first anniversary.

By India Today Web Desk: As the ruling BJP and the Opposition jar over the impact of demonetisation, the Narendra Modi government has launched a major offensive to extol the positive impacts of note ban. Today, a day ahead of the first anniversary of demonetisation, the government posted a series of tweets with the hashtag 'DeMOWins' to explain the manner in which the initiative proved to be a boon.

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The Modi government's Twitter handle @MyGovIndia posted several cards to claim demonetisation's multi-dimensional success. It said demonetisation was India's highest-ever unearthing of black money and it led to a decisive blow to terrorism and Naxalism.

The posts further said that India's financial system was being cleansed due to demonetisation. There has been an immense increase in formalisation, leading to better jobs for the poor, it said.

The government also claimed that unprecedented increase in formalisation had led to better jobs for the poor. Digital payments have received a significant boost. The move has accrued multiple benefits to the people. Loans have got cheaper and municipalities have received increased revenues post demonetisation.

The government reiterated that demonetisation was the country's biggest-ever measure to unearth black money. It claimed that as many as 17.73 lakh suspicious cases had been identified where cash deposits do not match the tax profile.

Moreover, an amount of Rs 3.68 lakh crore in 23.22 lakh bank accounts is under the scanner. More than 4.7 lakh additional suspicious transactions have been reported by banks and financial institutions.

The government has reiterated that Rs 16,000 crore did not come back to the banks after demonetisation. Undisclosed income worth Rs 29,213 crore has been detected and admitted. Besides, benami assets worth Rs 1,626 crore have been seized and attached.

#DeMoWins: India's biggest ever unearthing of black money. Share your creative ideas here -https://t.co/QtGfN4L6dh pic.twitter.com/gOkOM7p6se- MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) November 7, 2017

The government said just 0.00011 per cent of India's population deposited almost 33 per cent of the total cash in the country. The estimated value of high denomination notes at the end of September 2017 was approximately Rs 12 lakh crore.

Without demonetisation, the values of high denomination notes would have been around Rs 18 lakh crore today. Thus, the high denomination notes have been effectively brought down by about 6 lakh crore, which is 50 per cent of the current value of high denomination notes in circulation.

The government reiterated that decreased proportion of high denomination notes in the economy helped thwart corruption and funding of terrorism.

#DeMoWins: 0.00011% of India's population deposited almost 33% cash. Join the fight against corruption here https://t.co/QtGfN4L6dh pic.twitter.com/YgeRQjnL7O- MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) November 7, 2017

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Calling demonetisation a major victory, the government said that the step had provided a huge push towards formalisation and ensured better jobs for the poor. Among the related measures, it said Payment of Wages Act had been amended. As a result, payment is being made directly in bank accounts of wage labourers.

Moreover, 50 lakh new bank accounts had been opened, enabling cashless transactions of wages. Over 1 crore additional employees had enrolled with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), 1.3 crore workers had been registered with Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and social security and health benefits had been made available for all.

The government said that there had been an unprecedented increase in tax compliance after demonetisation. The number of new taxpayers was 66.53 lakhs in 2016-16. It jumped by 26.6 per cent to 84.21 lakh in 2016-17.

Moreover, the number of e-returns filed in 2016-17 was 2.35 crore. It increased by 27.95 per cent to 3.01 crore in 2017-18.

#DeMoWins: Unprecedented increase in tax compliance after demonetization. Join the movement in creative ways here: https://t.co/QtGfN4L6dh pic.twitter.com/pPyu5ssqJx- MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) November 7, 2017

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The MyGovIndia handle retweeted a post by Health Minister JP Nadda that said digital payments had received a significant boost.

Talking about Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) transactions, it said that in terms of value, they were Rs 26,849 crore in August 2016. The transactions jumped by 59 per cent to Rs 65,149 crore in August 2017.

As far as transactions in terms of volume are concerned, the amount was Rs 3.39 crore in August 2016. They shot up by 55 per cent to Rs 7.57 crore a year later.

Besides these posts and cards on Twitter, there is a pinned tweet on the government's official handle. It says, "As we approach a year since November 8, 2016, let us highlight the fight against black money in creative ways."

Exhorting people to combat corruption and help in the crackdown against black money, the government has invited essays, artworks, videos and poems on the issue. The winners will get cash prizes, the government's official Twitter handle says. The last date for submission of all these creative projects is November 30.

As we approach a year since 8th Nov 2016, let us highlight the fight against black money in creative ways! https://t.co/QtGfN4L6dh pic.twitter.com/SQQllCk9Ak- MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) October 30, 2017

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"May the fight against corruption and black money keep winning great victories!", the government said.

In one of the videos, you can see an actor essaying the role of a terrorist, who is angry that demonetisation has stopped the inflow of cash into the anti-India campaign in Kashmir. The government says stone-pelting incidents have come down by 75 per cent in Kashmir and Naxal activities have reduced by 25 per cent, thanks to demonetisation.

In another video, you can see a frustrated politician, hoarding black money, mock the government's drive that the latter claims has brought back 99 per cent of the currency in the economy back into the banking system. Post demonetisation, the Centre has cracked down, it says, on 2.25 lakh shell companies.

Meanwhile, speaking at the India Today Conclave Next 2017 on Tuesday, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the adverse effects of demonetisation were behind us.

He elaborated, "Ultimately, every structural reform will have some consequences but they help the economy in the long run. If you don't have the capacity to undertake those reforms, the status quo would've continued. If it costs you a step back for a quarter or two, is it too big a cost to pay?"

Jaitley added that the only option the UPA offered to demonetisation was policy paralysis. He said a country that aspires to be a developed nation can't be cash-dependent and allow the status quo to continue.

The BJP plans to organise a nation-wide Anti-Black Money Day programme tomorrow in the face of the Opposition's 'Black Day' campaign.

(WITH INPUTS FROM POULOMI SAHA)

WATCH VIDEO | Jaitley at India Today Conclave Next 2017: Every structural reform like demonetisation will have consequences

--- ENDS ---
From left: Prof Louis Phee, acting dean, College of Engineering, NTU; Dr Vijay Swarup, vice-president of R&D, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company and Prof Philip Liu, vice-president (research and technology), NUS.

SINGAPORE: ExxonMobil Corporation is partnering with two Singapore universities to open a Singapore Energy Center in 2019. This centre will focus on new discoveries and significant improvements to technologies that could improve energy production, and enhance energy efficiency and other efforts to mitigate the risk of climate change.

ExxonMobil signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to become a founding member of the proposed centre  the companys first such research and development (R&D) partnership outside US.

As a founding member, the company will support the centres wide range of early-stage research projects. Company researchers and scientists will also collaborate with students and faculty at the two universities, as well as other industry contributors, once the centre opens in early 2019.

The proposed Singapore Energy Center would build on ExxonMobils collaborative efforts with academic and research institutions that are focused on developing an array of new energy technologies, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2014, ExxonMobil became a founding member of the MIT Energy Initiative with a five-year, $25 million commitment to support faculty and student research efforts.

In 2016 ExxonMobil and Princeton University have selected five research projects associated with their partnership focused on energy technologies.

Again in 2016, ExxonMobil announced a $15 million investment as a leading member of the University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute to pursue technologies to help meet growing energy demand while reducing environmental impacts and the risk of climate change.

ExxonMobil is also a founding member of the Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University.

With the rapidly growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon energy options in Asia Pacific markets, the importance of increasing our research and development capacity in the region to explore emerging technologies that could eventually help meet this demand has never been greater, said Bruce March, president of ExxonMobil Engineering and Research Company.

This tripartite partnership aims to break new grounds in sustainability and clean energy as it synergizes industry expertise with academic excellence. This creates an industry-academic nexus, which not only accelerates technological breakthroughs but also places our researchers and students at the forefront of translational research, said Lam Khin Yong, acting provost, chief of staff and vice president for research at NTU.

NUS is pleased to partner with ExxonMobil and NTU in this joint research initiative, which combines the rich scientific capabilities of both academia and industry to solve complex, real-world challenges. We will contribute our expertise in basic and applied engineering research to develop innovative sustainable energy solutions that will not only boost the competitiveness of Singapore and our industries in the region but also improve overall environmental sustainability, added Ho Teck Hua, deputy president, research and technology, and Tan Chin Tuan centennial professor, NUS.

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A man from the United Kingdom was arrested at an airport in the United Arab Emirates after he was accused of flipping off another driver.

23-year-old Jamil Ahmed Mukadam of Leicester, who works as an IT expert for the local government, went to Dubai for a vacation along with his wife.

Mukadam said that as he went through passport control in Dubai, a scanner started beeping loudly.

Within seconds, I was surrounded by police and taken off to jail, he said.

Mukadam learned that he was wanted for making a rude gesture to another driver the last time he visited the county.

Mukadam admitted that he was driving a rented car when another driver was tailgating him so he flipped him off.

He was detained in Dubai for 5 weeks before he was allowed to leave.

Mukadam said that flipping off others happens in England all the time. You dont go to jail for it, he said.

When he returned to his job at the government office, Mukadam was informed by his bosses that Dubai officials have placed his name on the Interpol list of wanted people.

Due to the nature of his security sensitive job, the government has suspended Mukadam from the department.

He was given a chance to appeal the decision and have his name removed from the wanted list. If he is not successful in getting his name removed from the Interpol list, he will lose his job permanently.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam today said that the party's Mumbai unit workers will shave their heads to mark protest against note ban.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: As the one year anniversary of Modi government's demonetisation drive inches closer, it seems both the BJP and the Congress are bracing up for a nationwide demonstration.

While BJP leaders from Centre will be visiting various cities holding press conferences to rave about the crucial drive, the Congress on the other hand will be seen observing November 8 as Black Day.

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In Mumbai, the city Congress is preparing to hold a protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai against the note ban.

During this protest the Congress workers will pay tribute to those who lost their lives while standing in queues to withdrawing money following demonetisation.

In a sharp contrast to Congress' Black Day, the BJP-led government will celebrate the day as 'anti-black money' day.

"Some 115 people died while standing in queues to withdraw money from their bank accounts (after government withdrew high-value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from circulation). The decision of demonetisation has affected the poor in the country. We will offer our tributes to those who had died," Sanjay Nirupam told media.

Congress will be organising a rally at the Juhu beach in suburban Mumbai, where it will hold a condolence meeting. The meeting will be attended by Maharashtra Congress Chief Ashok Chavan and Maharashtra congress in-charge Mohan Prakash who will also participate in the rally at Juhu Beach.

"Some party workers will tonsure their heads to mark the protest," said Nirupam.

Congress will be holding a meeting with trader's community on November 9 where former CM Prithviraj Chavan and former Congress MP from South Mumbai Milind Deora will interact with them.

Former ally of Congress NCP is also going to protest at CST station to mark first anniversary of Demonetisation. But on the other hand ally of BJP Ramdas Athavle and his RPI (A) will be celebrating November 8 as 'white money day' at Azad Maidan to congratulate the efforts and steps taken by Modi government to curb the black Money exactly year back.

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Over 1700 people in Wrexham given emergency food supplies over six month period

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 7th, 2017

More than 1,770 people across Wrexham have required emergency food supplies in the last six months, new figures have revealed.

Foodbank usage in the county borough also remains the second highest in North Wales, with anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust providing three day emergency food supplies to 1,778 people between April 1st  September 30th 2017.

A breakdown of the figures show that of the 1,778 who required emergency food supplies, 1,249 were adults and 529 were children.

In North Wales only Flintshire has a higher foodbank usage, with 2,624 people requiring emergency food supplies within the period listed above. Across Wales, Wrexham fares better and has the twelfth lowest foodbank usage out of the 22 local authorities.

The figures have been released today by the Trussell Trust charity, who are calling on UK policy-makers for urgent changes after seeing a 4% rise in foodbank usage in Wales. 43,059 three day emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis during the above timeframe.

The charity says it is concerned the situation will worsen in the months leading to Christmas when demand for food traditionally spikes, and when the number of foodbanks in areas of full Universal Credit service will increase across Wales.

The Trust also state that its data shows:

 Of people referred due to a benefit delay, 45% of referrals made due to a wait for a first payment were related to Universal Credit and 36% of referrals made because a new claim had not yet been awarded were related to Universal Credit.

 Of people referred due to a benefit change, 38% of referrals made due to a change to a different benefit were related to Universal Credit.

Tony Graham, Wales Director at The Trussell Trust, said: We are still seeing increasing demand at foodbanks across Wales driven by the inadequacy of income levels and issues with benefit payments, and this is ahead of the acceleration of full Universal Credit rollout.

Foodbanks in Scotland and England already experiencing full rollout are sharing serious concerns about the effect of the six week wait, poor administration and inability of the advance payment system to support everyone on no income. We must act on these insights now to ensure the story is different in Wales.

Our network is working hard to stop people going hungry but the simple truth is that even with the enormous generosity of our donors and volunteers, were concerned Welsh foodbanks could struggle to meet demand if we see the scale of increased foodbank use seen in full Universal Credit areas elsewhere.

People cannot be left for weeks without any income, and when that income does come, it must keep pace with living costs  foodbanks cannot be relied upon to pick up the pieces.
100 people have charged in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking ring.

Authorities began serving arrest warrants Monday as part of "Operation Big Oak" (Breaking Into Gangs/Opiate Addiction Knockdown).

The drug ring dealt with fentanyl, carfenanil, heroin and cocaine.

According to investigators, those accused of trafficking drugs as part of the drug trafficking organization are allegedly responsible for funneling the equivalent of approximately 1 million potentially fatal doses of carfentanil and approximately 350,000 potentially fatal doses of fentanyl into Columbiana County alone.

The amount of fentanyl and carfentanil that this drug trafficking organization allegedly brought to this area was enough to kill every single person in Columbiana County, plus every man, woman, and child in 11 other nearby counties, said Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The drug trafficking ring is alleged to have primarily operated between Cuyahoga and Columbiana counties since 2014.

Authorities with the U.S. Marshals Service and Hancock County (W.Va.) Sheriff's Office are assisting with serving arrest warrants on the 100 suspects charged as part of the investigation.
One hundred years ago, on November 9, 1917, the Times of London published a short letter from British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur James Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild and the Zionist Federation.

Known since then as the Balfour Declaration, it set out a proposal to establish a homeland in rural Palestine for the Jews, who formed around 3-5 percent of the population before 1914, when the territory was part of the Ottoman Empire.

The proposal was intentionally ambiguous, relating to a country that Britain did not yet control and whose people it had not consulted and omitting any reference to the term state.

The 67-word letter, written on November 2, stated:

His Majestys Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

The Declaration is celebrated by the Zionists as laying the foundations for the state of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu flew to London to mark the occasion at a dinner at Lancaster House with his counterpart, Theresa May.

While she said that Britain would mark its role in the founding of Israel with pride, official events have been low-key. Transport for London was moved to ban advertisements on the Underground and buses, highlighting objections to the Balfour Declaration by the Make It Right campaign. Commissioned by the Palestine Mission to the UK, the adverts featured pictures of Palestinian life before and after 1948, when the State of Israel was established, and 750,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes.

The Declaration was a sordid deal made over the heads of the inhabitants of Palestine, launching a nakedly colonial project that was to have a profound impact on the development of conflicts and divisions within the region. Britains role became one of the most controversial actions of its imperial history.

The Declaration paved the way for the establishment of the Jewish Legion to fight alongside British forces in Palestine, as well as the limited emigration of European Jews into post-World War I Palestinewhich would be ruled by Britain under the victors carve-up of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East.

This began the now century-long conflict between the Arabs and Jews, both of who sought to establish nation states on the small Ottoman province largely governed from Damascus.

The Balfour Declaration was bound up first and foremost with the predatory aims of British imperialism in the Middle East region. The control of the newly discovered oil resources in Iraq and Iran, which powered the Royal Navy, was one of the issues that lay at the heart of the imperialist rivalries that erupted into World War I in 1914.

But the considerations involved were also determined by the February and later the October Revolutions in Russia in 1917, mass anti-war sentiment, and the US entry into the war to protect its own commercial interests against its enemies and allies alike, under the guise of making the world safe for democracy and a war to end war.

Just weeks after the Declaration was published, in January 1918, President Woodrow Wilson issued his famous Fourteen Points that included the removal of economic barriers between nations, the promise of self-determination for national minorities, and a world organization that would guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity [of] great and small states alikea League of Nations.

Wilsons professed support for self-determination was a weapon to be wielded on behalf of US imperialism against its rivals and their territorial preserves. Politically, it was a direct response to the Russian Revolutionparticularly the Bolsheviks call for the negotiations with the German High Command at Brest-Litovsk to become the basis for a general peace agreement and their defence of the right to self-determination for oppressed minorities.

Many Jews had rejected nationalism as a solution to the pogroms and political reaction in Russia, which was home to five million Jews, the largest Jewish community in the world, at the end of the nineteenth century. Particularly after the failure of the 1905 revolution, many emigrated (very few of them to Palestine) or joined the socialist movement. Political Zionism was a small minority movement.

British war aims in the Middle East

Britain sought to wrap its own predatory aims in the Middle East in pledges of independence for the Arabs and a homeland for the Jewsunder Britains tutelagein return for support against the Ottoman Empire, Germanys ally in the war. The Balfour Declaration aimed at winning the support of Jews not just in Britain, but also in America and Palestine for the war effort.

Britain believed that the establishment of such a homeland, in effect a small Jewish colony in Palestine, would secure a client regime in a strategic location that would join the various parts of the British Empire from the Atlantic to the middle of the Pacific, and above all the Suez Canal and India. It would also provide an excuse for intervention in the region and counter Frances claims in the region via its support for the Maronites (Roman Catholics) in present day Lebanon.

While the letter bore the signature of Lord Balfour, the driving force behind the Declaration was the new Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George, a former Radical and opponent of the war who had become an arch-imperialist. Having unseated Herbert Asquith as prime minister at the end of 1916, as war losses in Europe and the Middle East mounted, Lloyd George moved quickly to impose a war dictatorship, establish a five-man war cabinet and order British forces in Egypt to launch an offensive and acquire Palestine for Britain.

His aim was to destroy the Turkish Empire and gain control of territory in the Middle Eastnot just for the land route to India but for colonial expansion. This would be at the expense of France, which under the secret Tripartite agreement between Britain, France and Russia in 1916 (the Sykes-Picot agreement) would gain Syria and Lebanon, while Britain would take Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Russia would take Constantinople and parts of the Ottoman Empire.

This secret deal was one of many made public by the Bolshevik government after the seizure of power in October 1917.

The new foreign policy contradicted Londons promise in 1915 to the Hashemite Sherif Hussein of Mecca, in what later became known as the McMahon-Hussein correspondence, of independence for the territories now known as Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, in return for organising the Arab Revolt against the Turks.

The promise of a Jewish home in Palestine was therefore one of a series of secret, fraudulent and mutually irreconcilable agreements designed to bring the Arab territories of the Ottoman Empire, with their oil supplies and trade, under British control.

In line with Lloyd Georges determination to take control of the Ottoman Empire, his war cabinet was attempting to secretly bribe Turkeys rulers to end their participation in the war and conclude a separate peace treaty with Britain. Under the terms of such a treaty, Britain would gain de facto control over Mesopotamia, Syria and Lebanon, over which the Turkish flag would continue to fly. Turkeys leaders rebuffed Britain after the new Bolshevik government in Russia, Turkeys longstanding enemy, announced an armistice and peace based on freedom of the nationalities.

Lloyd George and Zionism

Lloyd George was one of a long-line of Christian Zionists in Britain. He had acted as the legal representative of the Austrian journalist Dr. Theodore Herzl, when he sought in 1903 to secure British support for a Jewish homeland in Sinai. That same year the British government offered to allow for Jewish emigration to Uganda, Britains colony in East Africaa proposal that was seriously discussed by the Zionists before being rejected in 1906.

Herzl had first set out his proposal for a national homeland for the Jews in 1896 as the solution to the persecution and oppression faced by European Jewry at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centurya period characterised by extreme bourgeois reaction, militarism, imperialism and virulent anti-Semitism. Part of a second wave of nationalist movements, after the consolidation of Italy and Germany by 1870, it came too late in the development of capitalism to have any progressive tendencies.

The Zionist project entailed the creation of a Jewish national project within a political entity where they constituted a tiny minority and faced Ottoman restrictions on immigration and land acquisition and increasing opposition to its expansion from the majority Arab population. Such an entity, which could only be established by force and violence at the expense of the existing inhabitants, was based on profoundly undemocratic foundations: the denial of the rights of non-Jews already living there.

From the outset the Zionist project aroused opposition and was always going to be dependent upon Great Power support.

The Zionists justified the Jewish claims to Palestine and nationhood in terms of Biblical history, with the claim that they had been expelled from their homeland nearly 2,000 years earlier. But the prime hope of most Jews was not for a return to Palestine, but emancipation and the attainment of basic democratic rights in the West. Other Jews voted with their feet, with some 2.4 million fleeing the persecution, social misery and economic hardship of Eastern Europe between 1882 and 1914, mostly to the US. Fewer than 3 percent went to Palestine and many of these soon left.

The British governments attitude towards the Jews and the Zionist project went through several twists and turns. The early discussions between Balfour, Chamberlain and Herzl took place against a background of moves towards the 1905 Aliens Act, introducing immigration controls and giving the Home Secretary overall responsibility for immigration and nationality matters. One of its main objectives was to control Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe. Supporting a movement dedicated to encouraging the Jews to settle elsewhere, while possibly even strengthening Britains hand in Africa, was an attractive proposition.

Britain became receptive to the idea of Jewish resettlement in Palestine after Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany and Austria. The Balfour Declaration was the outcome of extensive lobbying for a Jewish state over several years by Zionists in Britain, notably Dr. Chaim Weizmann, a Russian-born chemist whose work at the University of Manchester made an important contribution to the war effort. He won the support of the upper echelons of British Jewry and through them access to key foreign policy officials such as Sir Mark Sykes, who had negotiated the Sykes-Picot Treaty. They called for the government to make a public commitment to a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and thus overturn the secret plans to assign Palestine, as part of Syria, to France after the war.

Impact of the Balfour Declaration

The Balfour Declaration gave succour to a small minority of political Zionists led by the journalist and writer Vladimir Jabotinsky (1880-1940), who went on to form the Revisionist Party that was later to orient towards the fascists in Germany, Italy and Spain in the 1930s. The Revisionist Party was the political antecedent of Likud, which has dominated Israeli politics for the last 40 years.

Jabotinsky argued that the Jews had to take political possession of Palestine if they were to become the majority. To this end, he demanded and won British consent to form three Jewish battalions, comprising the Jewish Legion, that fought with Britains General Allenby in the campaign for Palestine in 1917-18. These forces were later to form the Irgun and the Stern gang and play a key role in terrorist activities aimed at driving the Palestinian Arabs from their homes.

While Weizmann was unhappy that the Declaration made no mention of a Jewish state, he made strenuous efforts to ensure that the promise was embedded in the political arrangements made after the war.

Soon after British troops took Palestine, he led a delegation on a visit to the area, known as the Zionist Commission, that included James Rothschild and Edwin Samuel, whose father would go on to become the first British High Commissioner in Mandatory Palestine. He laid a cornerstone for what would become the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, on land owned by the World Zionist Organization, and established the foundations of what would eventually become the institutions of a government in waiting.

It was far from clear who would rule Palestine after the war as the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 left the boundaries vague, leading to a struggle between Britain and France. The region was convulsed with uprisings against imperialist rule in Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan and Persia. Weizmann was determined to ensure that Britain took sole charge of Palestine. However, at the same time 14 armies, including Britains, were supporting the Whites, the Russian opponents of the Bolshevik revolution. Britain was seriously overstretched.

When the Allies convened in Paris in 1919 to draw up a treaty to present to Germany, the Soviet government was not invited. But the spectre of the October Revolution haunted the Peace Conference. Lloyd Georges letter to French President Clemenceau set out his fears:

The whole of Europe is filled with the spirit of revolution. There is a deep sense not only of discontent but of anger and revolution amongst the workmen against pre-war conditions. The whole existing order in its political, social and economic aspects is questioned by the masses of the population from one end of Europe to the other.

To be continued
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's scathing remarks on demonetisation do not sound like his own.

By Hemender Sharma: Flesh trade has taken a hit because of demonetisation, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while listing the achievements of demonetisation in a press conference in Bhopal said today.

"Among other achievements- incidents of stone pelting have gone down in Kashmir , Naxal activities dipped, Employee Provident Fund deposits increased and flesh trade pimps who used to deal in cash have taken a huge hit," he said.

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Prasad also said that demonetisation was not the first step to root out corruption. "Before demonetisation we formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which the previous UPA government did not do despite Supreme Court guidelines... This is work in progress."

Talking about former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attack on demonetisation Prasad said, "We have seen Manmohan Singh work for 10 years. He rarely used to speak. I have heard him speak on demonetisation. These are not his words... someone else is writing his script," he said.

"The UPA rule was full of corruption and I'm proud to say that there has not been a single scam in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule. India under him is steadily walking towards being corruption free," he added.

Prasad however was at a loss of words in explaining Mukul Roy and and Sukh Ram's son's addition to party ranks in West Bengal and Himachal respectively.

On why a Lokpal has not been appointed yet, Prasad said, "The previous UPA government had put a provision that the Lokpal can be appointed only after consultation with the leader of opposition but the people of country have rejected them in such a manner that there is no leader of opposition so the matter has gone to the standing committee."

Prasad also claimed that digital transactions have increased along with employment generation post demonetisation. "Some jobs have been lost but they have been only of those who failed to upgrade accordingly," he said.

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More than 55 million phone calls to Centrelink, the Australian government welfare office, were met with a busy signal during the 201516 financial yearnearly double the 29 million a year before. A Senate estimates committee was belatedly told last month of this extraordinary rise, which had been hidden from public view.

Millions of welfare recipients were unable to get through to the agency that administers their payments, causing enormous frustration, anxiety and anger. Already struggling to survive on benefits that are far below the poverty linesingle unemployed workers receive less than $40 a daythey were forced to spend hours waiting on phones.

This is another measure of the Liberal-National Coalition governments contempt for those who depend on welfare, especially unemployed or disabled workers, and aged pensioners, as well as its determination to push them off benefits. In effect, the phone logjam is the latest in an endless series of moves by successive governments, both Coalition and Labor, to slash welfare spending at the expense of the working class.

Being unable to contact Centrelink can have serious consequences for some of societys most impoverished and vulnerable members. This includes being cut off benefits for failing to report information, or being unable to complete applications for benefits. In the same year, the government accused tens of thousands of welfare recipients of falsely claiming payments worth $2.8 billion.

The governments hostility toward social security dependents was further displayed at the Senate hearing. Department of Human Services official Renee Leon blamed automatic dialling apps for the sharp rise in failed calls.

Thats not 55 million unique calls, Leon told senators, asserting that about 20 percent of the calls were from repeat dialling apps. She stated: 55 million doesnt mean there were 55 million people who tried to ring, because many of those were repeat calls.

If people are using repeat dialling apps, it is because they know, from bitter experience, that they cannot contact Centrelink without resorting to such devices, which keep calling a number until it is ultimately answered.

Even according to official statistics, phone waits averaged almost 27 minutes at the height of the past years robo-debt outrage, when the government sent out 20,000 automated debt notices every week, demanding that current and former welfare recipients repay hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars.

Seeking to intimidate people relying on pensions, unemployment benefits or other welfare payments, the government hired corporate debt collectors to hound them. It has also threatened to jail people unless they paid the demanded amounts or produced documents to disprove any alleged over-payments. Tens of thousands of people were wrongly accused of defrauding the welfare system, including disabled workers with mental health problems.

This is under conditions in which the ongoing destruction of jobs in manufacturing, mining, retail, public services and other basic industries has created mass unemployment in many working-class and regional areas, especially for young people. Currently, about three quarters of a million workers rely on the meagre Newstart (unemployment) allowance, under constant threat of being penalised or cut off altogether unless they pass onerous and often humiliating work tests, such as attending interviews, applying for 20 or more jobs a month, or performing unpaid charity work.

Recipients can have their benefits suspended or terminated for failing to notify Centrelink if they miss an appointment or interview, even because of ill-health or family emergency. Thus, not being able to phone Centrelink can result in being breached, leaving recipients in severe financial stress.

Anger over inability to contact Centrelink is just part of the seething discontent over the calculated mistreatment of welfare recipients by the government, through Centrelink. Recently released figures show complaints about the agency jumped by more than 50,000 in 201617.

The Department of Human Services latest annual report revealed that complaints rose to 168,709, from 113,746 in 201516. One in four complaints related to dissatisfaction with a decision, outcome or payment, including payments not being received.

About 28 percent of the complaints related to concerns about a claim, application, or assessment process. Centrelinks jammed phone system was the subject of 16.2 percent of the complaints, which included concerns about wait times, engaged signals and call disconnections.

Centrelink workers also are paying the price of the governments cost-cutting. Nearly 1,200 jobs were axed from the Human Services department in the Turnbull governments 201718 budget, on top of about 5,000 job cuts since 2014. This ensures lengthy delays and destroys more working-class jobs. The remaining over-worked Centrelink staff are left to face the justified outrage of those trying to access basic social security rights.

Even worse is being prepared. Human Services Minister Alan Tudge recently announced a three-year $51.7 million contract with Serco, a global corporate services company, for a pilot program in which it will take over some of Centrelinks phone-call facility. In what the government termed an unprecedented move for Centrelink, 250 Serco call centre employees will take calls about welfare payments. To extract profits from this take-over, Serco will only further run down the service provided to callers.

Tudge declared that this out-sourcing was the answer to the phone jam problem, thus seizing on the suffering the government itself has caused to pursue an obvious corporate agenda. The agreement with Serco, which has also profited from contracts to operate the governments refugee detention centres, is another step toward the complete privatisation of government services.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), the main trade union covering the Centrelink workers, and most public sector workers nationally, has called for talks with the Human Services management. While publicly condemning the Serco deal, the CPSU will continue to stifle the opposition of its members, as it has done with all the previous job cuts.

The CPSU backs the return of another Labor government, but Labor is equally committed to further attacks on welfare. Last September it helped the Turnbull government pass an omnibus savings bill, cutting $6.3 billion from social spending over four years. Labor supported provisions such as 9 percent annual interest charges on alleged unpaid welfare debts.

The attack on welfare recipients is bound up with a wider offensive against the working class as a whole. Governments and employers want to increasingly force the unemployed into low-paid jobs on insecure, super-exploitative conditions. This is driving down wage levels, which have fallen in real terms for several years, while slashing social services in order to cut taxes for big business and wealthy individuals, and pour billions into military spending.

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Last week, the Lower Parliament Hall in St Andrews, Scotland hosted a debate, This House Believes That Capitalism Has Failed, organised jointly by St Andrews University Union Debating Society and the universitys Economics Society. The national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain, Chris Marsden, was invited to move the motion.

The ancient hall was named after its brief service as host to the Scottish parliament in 1645. During the civil wars gripping the British Isles, Edinburgh had fallen to Royalist supporters of King Charles I. The Scottish parliament supported the Covenanters who were then broadly aligned with English parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell.

Thursdays debate was run with great attention to democratic proceedure before an engaged and attentive audience. Speakers were given between seven and 10 minutes to outline their position.

Marsden cited utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Benthams declaration that the measure of what is right and wrong is what guarantees the greatest happiness of the greatest number. On this basis, the only verdict that can be delivered as to the success or failure of capitalism is one of abject failure.

Marsden cited figures showing the extraordinary social polarisation as the entire wealth of society is funnelled into the bank accounts and investment portfolios of a tiny layer of the super-rich.

Capitalisms apologists insist that this does not matter, as long as life for the rest of us gets better. But life gets worse by the day, he noted. Nearly half of the worlds populationmore than 3 billion peoplelive on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live on less than $1.25 a day.

Marsden explained the fundamental driving force for the eruption of social inequality is a system based on class exploitation that in turn drives the capitalist class in a relentless global search for markets and resources as new sources of super-profits.

The cut-throat competition between the major powers, corporations and banks to dominate the globe gives rise to the twin evils of fascism and war, he continued.

Fully 160 million people died in wars during the 20th century Even that horrific figure would be dwarfed if [US President] Trump and his coterie of generals, with the Democrats behind them all the way, made good on their threats against North Korea and China.

Marsden concluded by stating, Capitalism has failed. The question is what must be done about it? With what must it be replaced and how?

This year is the centenary of the October Revolution, the first time in world history where, in the midst of world war, the working class gave a practical answer to capitalisms bankruptcy and made good on Marxs declaration: The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various waysthe point however is to change it.

Supposedly speaking for the motion before Marsden was Joshua Osborne, campaigns officer for the Labour Party at the university. Instead he began by explaining that he did not agree with it.

Rather than capitalism having failed, Osborne insisted instead that only a certain model of capitalism was failing. We need to realise that capitalism is not working currently, we need reform an economy based on ever rising house prices is unsustainable and goes away from a capitalism that has worked previously.

Capitalism can only work when regulated by the state and can provide fair opportunities for everyone, he said.

Three times in his nine-minute contribution, Osborne insisted he was not a communist, nor was he advocating communism. This left Marsden in the unusual position of arguing against his nominal platform ally and beginning his contribution by reminding students of what the motion stated!

Both speakers against the motion put forward right-wing and libertarian views, couched in terms that claimed that untrammelled capitalism somehow served the worlds population.

Malcolm Risk, a member of the universitys debating team, informed his audience that capitalism had lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. But to truly take advantage of capitalism meant curtailing democratic oversight, as governments are susceptible to nativist lobbying in a way in which the free market isnt. Government, because we live in democracies, are going to pander to their own people and are not going to help the global poor and the globally dispossessed actually gain a leg in the world.

Moving blithely on from his assertion that capitalist CEOs and billionaires are devoted to assisting the worlds poor, Risk returned to his anti-democratic theme. Governments, he complained, are ultimately incentivised to pay attention to their short-term political interests and mortgage the future of their populations so that they dont have long term success. Risks solution was to take these things out of the hands of the government.

Ross K Allan, who campaigned for Vote Leave in the 2016 referendum that took Britain out of the European Union, also spoke against the motion.

Vaulting airily over centuries and epochs, Allan asserted that command and control systems, [which] you can have as fascism, you can have as feudalism, you can have as communism, or Marxism contributed to bad decisions. This was because under capitalism, every exchange of goods is voluntary... both sides are benefitting from that and society as a whole has improved from that single trade. Therefore every system that is not market based has to be harmful.

Two-minute contributions could be made from the floor, during which several admirers of a system from which they have benefitted greatly spoke while others took their cue from Labours Joshua Osborne and urged an abstention.

Among those speaking in favour of the motion, one student opposed the claim that capitalism is based on free exchange you cant abstain from selling your labour, you cant not work for someone... I came from the United States, the most capitalist country in the world. I defy any of you to go to the States without millions of dollars in pocket change and fall and break your leg outside of somewhere with socialist healthcare like the NHS. I pay $1,000 a month to keep me alive for services that are free here as a right to be alive.

Another said, I honestly believe that capitalism has failed. If you look to Hong Kong... there is a housing crisis in Hong Kong. It will cost me the equivalent of 200,000 to buy a 400 square-foot apartment. How is that fair, when the rich people can afford to pay what they want to buy penthouses?

The motion was defeated by 28 votes to 52, with 20 abstentionsa victory of sorts, given the privileged social composition of St Andrews student population and a sign of growing political disenchantment and oppositional sentiment in the generation now reaching adulthood.

Some students stayed to discuss with Marsden and with SEP members in attendance. Jacob commented, Mr. Marsden did an excellent job presenting a factual, evidence based account of what the failure of capitalism looks like in real terms. The opposition were reduced to arguing that we can reform away capitalisms systematic failures. Failing to be persuasive even on this matter, they deigned to suggest that capitalism is the best system we have. Such tired arguments expose the absolute bankruptcy of bourgeois ideology: Capitalism offers no solutions to the perpetual and ever-intensifying crises in which it is embroiled.
US President Donald Trump flew out of Japan today for the second leg of his 12-day Asian toura formal state visit to South Korea. Prior to leaving Tokyo, he repeatedly voiced support for a more militarist and aggressive foreign policy on the part of Japanese imperialism, against which the United States fought a devastating war between 1941 and 1945. Already, under nationalist prime minster Shinzo Abe, the Japanese ruling elite is casting aside the constitutional limits on the use of military force, imposed on the country after World War II.

At a joint press conference with Abe, Trump repeated his assertion that the era of strategic patience with North Korea was over. Abe declared full Japanese support for the US ultimatum that, if North Korea failed to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, all options are on the table.

Voicing his governments backing for Trumps policy of escalating provocations against North Korea, Abe declared: Now is the time not for dialogue but for applying a maximum level of pressure.

Questioned about North Korean missile tests, Trump proceeded to announcewhether the Japanese leader had agreed to it or notthat he [Abe] will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States. The prime minister is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should.

Abe, temporarily taken aback, nevertheless responded that he would order the shooting down of North Korean missile tests if necessary. The Pyongyang regime has threatened on multiple occasions that such an action would be viewed as an act of war and lead to retaliation.

The exchange was prompted by a question concerning Trumps reported confusion about the fact that a country of samurai warriors had not shot down earlier missile tests. The leaking of the statement, on the eve of the trip, appears to have been an attempt to highlight the American presidents ignorance of history. The feudal samurai caste was abolished in Japan in the late 19th century, as part of the reorganisation of the countrys economy and state on capitalist foundations.

In an interview with Fox News on November 3, prior to his departure for Asia, Trump had provided an even greater demonstration of his contempt for the historical experiences of the masses of the region. He threatened China with a remilitarised Japan if it did not collaborate with the US in disarming and overturning the North Korean regime.

Japan, Trump declared, is a warrior nation, and I tell China and I tell everyone else who will listen  youre going to have yourself a big problem with Japan pretty soon if you allow this to continue with North Korea.

The warrior militarist regime that emerged in Japan during the late 1920s, under conditions of global economic slump and growing conflict with the US, brutally repressed the Japanese working class and unleashed a war of colonial conquest in China and later across Asia. Between 1931 and 1945, it is estimated that at least 20 million Chinese lost their lives at the hands of Japanese imperialism.

These invasions and wars were also a catastrophe for the Japanese people, who suffered as many as 3 million dead and the virtual destruction of the country by US imperialismincluding the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For decades, the attitude of the Japanese working class to any hint of militarism has been resolute opposition and the sentiment, never again.

Trump displayed utter indifference to anti-war sentiment in Japan, as he strutted alongside Abe, a leader whose government is full of right-wing nationalists who glorify Japanese militarism and apologise for, or openly deny, its crimes.

During his time in office, Abe has enacted legislation allowing for so-called collective defencemeaning the deployment of the Japanese military in offensive operations on the pretext that they are defending their US allies. He has ramped up spending on the Self Defense Forces, already one of the most technically advanced and well-equipped military forces on the planet. His government has aggressively pursued territorial conflicts with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, to the point where Japanese and Chinese military aircraft encounter each other on virtually a daily basis, and has forged close independent military ties with India, while strengthening them with Australia and other regional countries.

Abe has faced no meaningful opposition to this agenda from the various parties and organisations that were once described as the left of official Japanese politics, including the misnamed Japanese Communist Party (see: Japans Stalinists seek to head off anti-war movement ahead of election).

Mass alienation, and the absence of any genuine alternative for the working class, saw turn-out in the October 22 election at barely 53 percent. Under these conditions, Abes Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition allies were able to win over two-thirds of the seats in the lower house of parliament. As a result, his government has been able to push ahead with its support for the US war drive against North Korea, and the longer-term perspective of provoking a confrontation with China, to shatter its growing influence in Asia.

In a sign of just how far Japanese remilitarisation could go, top-ranking LDP figure Shigeru Ishiba used Trumps visit to Japan as the backdrop for a November 6 speech, in which he declared: Japan should have the technology to build a nuclear weapon if it wants to do so. Ishiba, who also advocates the establishment of a Japanese Marine Corp, massive increases to military spending and repudiating the pacifist constitution, has previously made similar calls for a nuclear arsenal.

While Trumps visit to Tokyo was dominated by rhetoric on the closeness of the US-Japan alliance, the reality of underlying, objective conflictsand the driving force for Japanese remilitarisationsurfaced on several occasions. Trump raised the sharp competitive struggles that have developed between the transnational corporations of the two great powers, complaining of Japans trade surplus with the US and the lack of American access to certain Japanese markets.

In perhaps the most revealing exchange, the US president, in the full glare of the media, lectured Abe about the determination of the US to remain the dominant world power. Referring to the Japanese economy, Trump stated: I dont know if its as good as ours. I think not. OK? Were going to try to keep it that way. And youll be second.

Japanese imperialism is more than prepared, at this stage, to function as the junior partner of the US in the destruction of North Korea, and in its efforts to contain and undermine the strategic and competitive challenge posed by the rise of China.

The least likely outcome of the growing struggle for geo-strategic and economic advantage, however, is that Japan and the other major imperialist powers will continue to accept a subordinate position to Washington.
The Los Angeles Times reported last Thursday that the Los Angeles Police Departments mass arrests at demonstrations exactly one year ago protesting the election of Donald Trump resulted in virtually no criminal prosecutions.

According to the Times analysis, 462 people were arrested between November 7 and 12 last year at the massive, and overwhelmingly peaceful demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles and nearby Westlake, a center for the citys huge Latin American immigrant community. Of those arrested, the LAPD presented only 10 cases to prosecutors, a tacit admission that the arrests were intended to suppress the demonstrations, a violation of the First Amendment.

Of the few cases presented, two of the three proposed felonies were rejected for insufficient evidence, and the third was resolved with a plea to disturbing the peace. Only two of the seven misdemeanor cases resulted in a criminal filing. One demonstrator was convicted of carrying brass knuckles, and another for vandalism.

No other city appears to have had nearly the number of arrests as Los Angeles, despite many that experienced more provocative conduct. In Oakland, California, for example, police arrested only 60 demonstrators, despite some who threw Molotov cocktails, and Portland, Oregon police made about 100 arrests during demonstrations that included widespread vandalism.

Arresting over 450 people and ultimately prosecuting only three demonstrates that the LAPD openly sided with those seeking to suppress the widespread outrage over the election results.

Rather than reining in its police officers, who have shown contempt for protesters dating back at least to the Vietnam War era, the Los Angeles City Council last Wednesday approved an urgency ordinance banning those who choose to attend future demonstrations from carrying certain objects, including signs made from stiff materials. The ordinance was rammed through so that it could be used at protests marking one year since Trumps election.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California condemned the City Councils action as an attack on freedom of assembly. While many of the prohibited items are already restricted under existing laws, the ACLU pointed out that the new ordinance gives the LAPD even more pretexts to arrest peaceful demonstrators for simply carrying ordinary items such as soda bottles or stiff signs. Many of the items now banned from protests are otherwise legal to carry on the street, thus criminalizing the very act of participating in a demonstration. Moreover, the ordinance gives the LAPD additional powers to decide whether a public assembly is a demonstration, subjecting those present to arrest for possession of prohibited items.

Existing criminal statutes provide police authority to arrest demonstrators who actually commit assaults with weapons, signs or sticks, and the additional law is obviously unnecessary. Many such crimes, moreover, are instigated or committed by the LAPD provocateurs regularly infiltrated into the crowds, or by rightist counter-demonstrators generally ignored by the LAPD.

The Times quoted Commander Vito Palazzolo, who feebly tried to explain that the LAPD sought to charge demonstrators arrested for blocking roadways in municipal traffic court before learning that the venue no longer prosecutes those actions. The cases were not refiled, Palazzolo admitted, because the purpose of the arrests was to end the protests, not to convict demonstrators.

Assistant Chief Michel Moore admitted to the Times that LAPD officers used mass arrests to stop demonstrations in part because spontaneous demonstrations were stretching resources thin. The LAPD paid over $2 million in overtime during the protests.

We effected arrests as a means of stopping violence, of stopping property damage, Moore said to the Times, in some cases, stopping things from going on to infinity.

Jim Lafferty, executive director for the National Lawyers Guild in Los Angeles, which sends legal observers to demonstrations, said LAPD officials gave confusing dispersal orders and made arrests without giving protesters a chance to comply.

They join a protest, its peaceful  and without further ado theyre all arrested after being lulled into believing thats what they can do, Lafferty told the Times. I think thats outrageous behavior on the part of the Police Department.

Nearly a third of the arrests took place on the final night of protests, when Los Angeles police officers detained nearly 150 demonstrators who took part in a winding, hours-long march. The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly in front of City Hall and ordered marchers to leave, but then arrested dozens resting in a nearby park.
Now in its fourth week, the strike Ontario college teachers are waging in opposition to precarious employment is in imminent danger. If the strike is not to be isolated and defeated, the struggle must be broadened, mobilizing students and young people, as well as teachers and other workers across Canada, in a political struggle to defend public education and win decent-paying, secure jobs for all.

What is at stake is not only the working conditions and job security of the 12,000 faculty employed in Ontarios provincially-funded and administered college system, but, more fundamentally, the fate of public education itself. In recent decades, and especially since the 2008 global financial crisis, federal and provincial governments of all political stripes, from the Liberals and Conservatives to the NDP, have mounted, in the name of austerity and balanced budgets, an unrelenting cross-Canada assault on public education and other vital public and social services.

The assault on Ontario College faculty, the majority of whom are employed on short-term contracts, is a further step in the gutting of the public education system, which is itself part of a generalized assault on the entire working class. A counter-offensive has to be mounted! But the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is already preparing to run up the white flag. J.P. Hornick, chair of the college faculty bargaining team, revealed that the union has already made undisclosed concessions to reach a negotiated settlement, declaring, The faculty has moved several times.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) rejects with contempt the calls of various college student associations for Kathleen Wynnes big business provincial Liberal government to intervene in the dispute and press OPSEU and the College Employer Council (CEC) to compromise. The student associations are dividing students from teachers, when they should be forming common cause to fight to defend public education against the predations of big business and their political hirelings.

Far from being neutral, Wynne and her Liberals are the political masters of the CEC and as such have for years slashed funding for post-secondary education and imposed wage austerity on public sector workers, while cutting taxes for big business and the rich.

Any government intervention would be aimed at enforcing the concessionary demands of the college bosses, who according to a Globe and Mail article earlier this year are expecting salary increases of more than 50 percent after Wynnes Liberals lifted a five-year salary cap for senior public servants.

Recent history has provided harsh lessons on what workers can expect from the Ontario Liberals. In 2012, in the face of mounting opposition to its austerity agenda, the provincial Liberal government, then led by Dalton McGuinty, enacted Bill 115 to illegalize all job action by the provinces public school teachers and impose wage-cutting contracts on them by government decree.

In 2015, teaching assistants and education workers at York University and University of Toronto went on strike over poverty wages and the absence of job security, only for the struggle to be isolated and betrayed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), a major ally of the Liberals, both in Ontario and at the federal level.

The unions despicable role in isolating and smothering every struggle workers have mounted for job security and better wagesincluding the recent strikes against GMs CAMI assembly plant and Swissports operations at Toronto airportflows directly from their intimate partnership with the big business Liberals at the provincial and federal level. In the name of defeating the hard-right Conservatives, Ontarios unions have backed the election of a succession of Liberal governments under McGuinty and Wynne that have slashed social spending to the bone, criminalized strike action, and privatized public utilities.

This collaboration was the prelude to the unions 2015 strategic voting campaign in support of Justin Trudeaus Liberals. Like Wynne, Trudeau uses progressive rhetoric, including the promotion of a diversity agenda that is meant to obscure their defence of ever-widening social inequality, while pursuing policies that would make Stephen Harper proud. These include massive new arms expenditures, a scheme to privatize much of the countrys transport and social infrastructure, and pursuit of a close partnership with the Trump administration, the most right-wing government in modern American history.

Thus, when we state that students must come to the support of striking teachers, this does not at all imply support for the trade union apparatus. These pro-capitalist organizations are tied by a thousand threads to the parties of the ruling establishment. For decades they have suppressed the class struggle, imposing concessions and enforcing anti-strike laws. They cannot be pressured to fight on behalf of workers.

The attitude of the unions and of the social-democratic NDP to a genuine challenge to austerity was exemplified by their attitude to the 2012 Quebec student strike, which at its height threatened to become the catalyst for a working-class upsurge. The unions isolated the students, who were fighting massive tuition fee hikes, in the face of an unprecedented campaign of police violence; then, when hundreds of thousands of workers came out into the streets to protest a vicious Quebec Liberal government law that effectively illegalized the strike, the unions announced they would enforce it, and redoubled their efforts to harness the opposition to austerity to the big business Parti Quebecois.

As for the NDP, it refused to provide even nominal support for the student strike, declaring it a provincial matter.

Conditions in Ontarios public college system provide a stark example of the disastrous consequences of the unions repeated betrayals. While tuition has risen to anything from between $2,700 and $6,000 per year depending on the program and level of study, the student-to-teacher ratio has more than doubled from 1989. A ratio of 30:1 in 2015 meant the number of full-time faculty had dropped by 1,000, even though student numbers had risen by 100,000.

When the provincial community college system was established in 1965, instructors were typically hired full-time. The CEC, which represents Ontarios 24 colleges, was made up of provincial appointees. Now, these colleges are only nominally delivering a public service and are increasingly under the control of, and run like, private corporations.

As late as 1992, government funding comprised 77 percent of college revenue. Today, it amounts to just 44 percent of community college budgetsthe lowest ratio of any province in Canada.

Currently about 80 percent of workers are employed on short-term or part-time contracts, with many subsisting on 13-week, low-load contracts with no job security and inferior wages and conditions. Average annual pay even for full-time contract employees is less than $30,000.

This precarious situation is not particular to the community college staff in Ontariofar from it. Low-paying jobs, contract- and part-time work, and unemployment are becoming the norm for masses of working people, in Canada and internationally.

Meanwhile, under the fraudulent pretext that there is no money for public services and social programs, the bourgeoisie has taken the axe to public spending and ordered workers to do more with less. All the while, money is being showered on the richest layers of society, and billions are being wasted on their wars, as seen by Trudeaus commitment to hike military spending by 70 percent by 2026.

Those hardest hit by these policies will be young people. That is why they should see the fight of faculty members as part of their own struggle and turn to the working classthe only force that has the social power to challenge and defeat big business.

Students should join with teachers to form strike committees at every college to take control of the strike out of the hands of the OPSEU bureaucracy, issue appeals to workers and students at all levels of education across Ontario and Canada, and broaden the strike.

We urge students and young people to take up the fight to unify the struggles of the working class across Canada and internationally and place them on a new axis. To defend and expand public education and social and democratic rights, a political fight is required. The working class must organize independently of, and in opposition to, the trade unions and fight for socialismthat is, the reorganization of socioeconomic life under a workers government to make social needs, and not the private profit of a tiny clique of capitalists, the animating principle.

Students who agree with this perspective should contact the International Youth and Students for Social Equality.
Approximately 64,000 Americans died in 2016 from drug overdose, a jump of 21 percent from the previous year, according to newly released figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report substantiates earlier studies that have shown sharp increases in mortality rates due to deaths of despair, such as drug overdoses, alcoholism and suicides, driven by widespread social misery within the American working class. Last month, a report by the Society of Actuaries showed that American life expectancy declined in 2015 for the first time in more than two decades.

Nearly 20 people per 100,000 died of a drug overdose in 2016, compared to 16.3 per 100,000 in 2015. This one-year increase is larger than the combined four-year increase in the drug mortality rate from 2011 to 2015, Bloomberg News noted. The current rate is also more than triple that in 1999, when it was around 6 per 100,000.

While drug overdoses among teenagers declined somewhat, the overall rise in overdose deaths has impacted both young adults and the middle-aged. We have roughly two groups of Americans that are getting addicted, an opioid addiction researcher told the New York Times. We have an older group that is overdosing on pain medicine, and we have a younger group that is overdosing on black market opioids.

A criminal role in the growing opioid epidemic is being played by the US pharmaceuticals industry, which has flooded impoverished communities with highly addictive opioid painkiller drugs. A report last month by the CDC found that in 10 states more than 50 percent of deaths due to opioids, a class of drugs that includes heroin, were caused by the prescription drug fentanyl. Fentanyl is a highly addictive painkiller that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and which has been marketed over the years in patches, sprays and even lollipops.

US drug companies, working through lobbyists and influential members of Congress, have repeatedly blocked attempts to strengthen federal oversight of opioid sales. A report on the news program 60 Minutes last month exposed the bipartisan push, led by Republican congressman Tom Marino, to block the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from halting unusually large shipments of opioids, which culminated in the passage of the 2016 Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which was signed into law by Obama.

Rural areas, such as parts of Appalachia, where social conditions are particularly dire, have been the hardest hit by the opioid epidemic. This is the reverse of the situation in 1999, according to a previous report by the CDC, when the rates of drug overdose in urban and rural areas where 6.4 and 4.0 per 100,000, respectively.

However, the study noted that both rural and urban areas saw substantial increases over that time and that this was consistent across sex, race, and intent (unintentional, suicide, homicide, or undetermined). Provisional statistics for 2016 released in August showed a 50 percent increase in drug overdose deaths in New York City, for a total of 1,478 deaths.

The CDCs statistics also found a significant rise in the number of deaths due to firearms, to more than 38,000. The mortality rate from gunshot wounds also increased sharply in 2015, after staying relatively constant in previous years. While, as in years past, the vast majority of these deaths were due to suicide, the increase in 2016 was mostly due to an increase in homicides.

Even as the CDC report recorded notable declines in the death rates for heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death in the United States, the overall mortality rate continues to climb and life expectancy has even begun to decline. Improvements in treatment methods and medical technology have been more than offset by deaths of despair among workers facing an economic and social situation that many find increasingly impossible to bear.

The response of President Trump, who recently declared that the opioid crisis would get worse before it gets better, exudes indifference and contempt. His administration has refused to declare a state of emergency in the opioid epidemic, as recommended by his own hand-picked commission, because such an announcement would obligate the government to commit significant resources to meet the crisis.

Instead, Trump declared a toothless public health emergency last month without committing any new public resources, while calling for an advertising campaign to discourage opioid use. The cost of curbing the opioid epidemic has been estimated at $60 billion over 10 years, a small fraction of the annual budget of the US military.

However, the CDC report itself is principally an indictment of the Democratic Party and the former Obama administration, which was in the third year of its second term during the period of the study. The growth of opioid deaths is the result of the measures enacted by the Democrats, with the support of the entire political establishment, after the 2008 financial crisis. Social resources were used to prop up the profits of American capitalism through the intensified exploitation of the working class, resulting in the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in American history.
The alleged assailant in an attack last Friday on Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky may face more serious charges following a statement by a spokesman describing the senators injuries as far more serious than originally reported.

According to the criminal complaint filed on Friday, Paul, a second-term senator known for his right-wing libertarian views, was mowing his lawn at about 3PM at his home outside Bowling Green, Kentucky when he was tackled from behind by his next-door neighbor, 59-year-old Rene Boucher, a retired anesthesiologist. The complaint said Boucher admitted to going onto Pauls property and tackling him.

A spokesman for Paul initially issued a statement saying the senator had been blindsided and was the victim of an assault, but that he was fine. The state police released a report that evening saying Pauls injuries were minor.

Boucher was arrested and charged with the relatively minor offense of fourth-degree assault with a minor injury, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $500. He was released from jail Saturday on a $7,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear at the Warren County District Court on Thursday.

The news of the attack on a sitting US senator was initially downplayed by the major newspapers. The print edition of Mondays New York Times carried no report on the incident. Likewise the print edition of USA Today. The Wall Street Journal carried a short dispatch from the Associated Press on page two and the Washington Post, the main newspaper in the nations capital, likewise ran a page-two news story.

However, Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to Paul, issued a statement Sunday making clear that the senator had incurred serious injuries that could sideline him for weeks or even months. Stafford revealed that Paul had suffered five rib fractures, including three displaced fractures, meaning the bones had been partly or completely cracked.

The statement noted, Displaced rib fractures can lead to life-threatening injuries such as: hemopneumothorax, pneumothorax, pneumonia, internal bleeding, laceration of internal organs and lung contusions. Senator Paul does have lung contusions currently. This type of injury is also accompanied by severe pain that can last weeks to months.

This type of injury is caused by high velocity severe force, Stafford said in an email to the Associated Press.

On Monday, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police said that the extent of Pauls injuries could prompt state prosecutors to charge Boucher with a felony. The FBI and the US Capitol Police are also investigating the incident. Assaulting a member of Congress is a federal crime, but no federal charges have been announced as of yet.

No motive for the attack has been reported. Both Paul and Boucher are medical professionals and have worked in the Bowling Green area for decades. Paul is an ophthalmologist who has practiced in the town since moving there with his wife in 1993. Paul and Boucher reportedly worked for a time at the same medical facility.

The two have been next-door neighbors in an upscale gated community outside of Bowling Green for 17 years. According to some reports, they have not spoken to one another for years as a result of disputes either over property boundaries, politics or both.

Boucher is a Democrat whose Facebook page reportedly linked to many articles attacking Donald Trump and the Republicans. The page has evidently been taken down since Fridays assault. A former member of the city commission told the press that the two had been known to have heated discussions about health care.

However, Bouchers lawyer, Matthew Baker, gave a statement to Fox News in which he wrote: The unfortunate occurrence of November 3rd has absolutely nothing to do with eithers politics or political agendas. It as a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the senior Republican senator from Kentucky, took note of Pauls injury when the Senate reconvened on Monday and wished him a speedy recovery. Alluding to the narrow Republican majority of 52 to 48 in the chamber and the need to secure virtually every Republican vote to pass the Trump administrations tax cut for corporations and the wealthy, McConnell said, Its potentially a challenge any time a Republican is absent, because his caucus is not always totally in lockstep.

Paul was the sole Senate Republican to vote against the budget resolution that was passed last month to enable the Republicans to push through the tax bill with a majority vote rather than a filibuster-breaking three-fifths margin. He is seeking to use his vote to push the Senate tax bill even further to the right, with bigger rate cuts and the effective repeal of Obamacare.
One hundred years ago today, on the morning of November 7, 1917, the Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet, chaired by Leon Trotsky, issued a proclamation to the citizens of Russia. It stated:

The Provisional Government has been overthrown. State power has passed into the hands of the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers and Soldiers Deputies, the Military Revolutionary Committee, which stands at the head of the Petrograd proletariat and garrison. The cause for which the people have struggledthe immediate offer of a democratic peace, the abolition of landlord ownership of land, workers control over industry, the creation of a Soviet governmentthis has been assured! Long live the revolution of workers, soldiers and peasants!

Later that afternoon, Leninwho had been denounced just three months earlier as a state criminal by the bourgeois Provisional Governmentreceived a thunderous ovation as he emerged from hiding and entered the hall where the Soviet delegates were assembled. Witnessing the extraordinary events of that day, the American socialist journalist John Reed left behind a memorable description of the Bolshevik leader, loved and revered as perhaps few leaders in history have been. Lenin, he wrote, was a strange popular leadera leader purely by virtue of intellect, possessed with the power of explaining profound ideas in simple terms, of analyzing a concrete situation. And combined with shrewdness, the greatest intellectual audacity.

After he had made his way to the speakers lectern, Lenin began his address to the delegates with the following words: Comrades, the workers and peasants revolution, about the necessity of which the Bolsheviks have always spoken, has been accomplished.

As Russia still adhered to the old Julian calendar, the overthrow of the Provisional government entered into history as the October Revolution. But though the Russian calendar lagged 13 days behind that of Western Europe and North America, the Bolshevik seizure of power catapulted Russia, in political terms, to the forefront of world history. The insurrection led by the Bolsheviks was the culmination of a political struggle that had begun eight months earlier, in February 1917, with the overthrow of the tsarist autocracy, which had ruled Russia for more than 300 years.

The uprising in February-March 1917 unleashed a protracted struggle over the political perspective and historical significance of the revolution that had erupted in Russia. The bourgeois Cadet party, the reformist Mensheviks, and the peasant-based Socialist Revolutionaries viewed the revolution in primarily national terms. The overthrow of the tsarist regime, they insisted, was no more than a national-democratic revolution. The tasks of the revolution were confined to replacing the tsarist regime with some sort of parliamentary republic, modeled on that of France or Britain, dedicated to promoting the development of the Russian economy on a capitalist basis.

In actual practice, the bourgeois Cadet party, fearful of the revolutionary upheaval and despising the masses, opposed any changes in the existing social structure that threatened their wealth. As for the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries, their reformist programs excluded any significant encroachment on capitalist property. Russia, they insisted, was not ripe for a socialist revolution. Decades of capitalist development would be required before a transition to socialism could be considered a realistic possibility.

Within the framework of this perspective, the political overthrow of the capitalist class and the assumption of power by the working class were absolutely rejected. The political subordination of the working class to bourgeois rule meant continued support for Russias participation in the bloodbath of the imperialist world war that had begun in 1914.

Prior to Lenins return from exile in April 1917, the main Bolshevik leaders in PetrogradLev Kamenev and Joseph Stalinhad accepted the Menshevik subordination of the working-class soviet (council) to the Provisional Government. Flowing from this, Kamenev and Stalin accepted the Menshevik argument that, with the overthrow of the tsarist regime, Russias participation in the imperialist war had been transformed into a democratic struggle against autocratic Germany, which should be supported by the working class. The blatantly imperialist interests of the Russian bourgeoisie were sugarcoated with hypocritical phrases about a democratic peace.

Lenins return to Russia on April 16 led to a dramatic change in the orientation of the Bolshevik Party. In opposition to the allies of the Provisional Government in the Petrograd Soviet, as well as a substantial faction of the Bolshevik leadership, Lenin called for the transfer of power to the soviets. The basis of this revolutionary demand, which stunned not only the Mensheviks but also most of Lenins comrades in the Bolshevik leadership, was a profoundly different conception of the historical significance of the Russian Revolution.

Since its very beginning in August 1914, Lenin had insisted that the imperialist world war marked a new stage in world history. The bloody carnage unleashed by the war arose from the global contradictions of capitalist imperialism. The contradictions of the imperialist system, which the capitalist regimes sought to resolve through war, would necessarily evoke a revolutionary response from the international working class.

This understanding of the world historical context of the Russian Revolution formed the basis of the policies that were to guide the Bolshevik Party following Lenins return. Lenin insisted that the Russian Revolution had to be understood as the beginning of the world socialist revolution. Upon opening the Seventh Congress of the Bolshevik party in April 1917, he stated:

The great honor of beginning the revolution has fallen to the Russian proletariat. But the Russian proletariat must not forget that its movement and revolution are only part of the world revolutionary proletarian movement, which in Germany, for example, is gaining momentum with every passing day. Only from this angle can we define our tasks.

In the months between April and October, Lenin wrote scores of articles in which he imbued and elevated the consciousness of party members, and the tens of thousands of workers who read Bolshevik pamphlets, newspapers and leaflets, with an understanding of the international character of the revolution. Those who claim that the Bolshevik revolution was a putsch or coup detat plotted in secret simply ignore the fact that Lenins appeals for a socialist revolution were being read, studied and debated in factories, in soldiers barracks and in the streets of all the major cities of Russia.

In September, just a month before the seizure of power, the Bolshevik Party published Lenins pamphlet, The Tasks of the Proletariat in Our Revolution. There was nothing ambiguous, let alone surreptitious, in Lenins presentation of the Bolshevik Partys program and intentions. With an astonishing level of historical consciousness, Lenin explained the objective necessity of which Bolshevik policies were an expression:

The war is not a product of the evil will of rapacious capitalists, although it is undoubtedly being fought only in their interests and they alone are being enriched by it. The war is a product of half a century of development of world capitalism and of its billions of threads and connections. It is impossible to slip out of the imperialist war and achieve a democratic non-coercive peace without overthrowing the power of capital and transferring state power to another class, the proletariat. The Russian revolution of February-March 1917 was the beginning of the transformation of the imperialist war into a civil war. This revolution took the first step towards ending the war; but it requires a second step, namely the transfer of state power to the proletariat, to make the end of the war a certainty. This will be the beginning of a breakthrough on a worldwide scale, a breakthrough in the front of capitalist interests; and only by breaking through this front can the proletariat save mankind from the horrors of war and endow it with the blessings of peace.

In the aftermath of the July Daysthe brutal suppression of the working class by the Provisional GovernmentLenin was forced into hiding. Leon Trotsky, who had returned to Russia in May and soon joined the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, had been imprisoned. But he was released in September, in the aftermath of the aborted counterrevolutionary coup of General Kornilov, and was elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. In the weeks that followed, Trotsky emerged as the greatest mass leader and orator of the Revolution. He played the decisive role in the strategic planning and organization of the Bolshevik insurrection.

There was, without question, an element of genius in Trotskys leadership of the Bolshevik insurrection. But Trotskys role in the October Revolution was, no less than Lenins, prepared on the basis of his analysis of the place of the Russian Revolution in world history. In fact, Trotsky, in his elaboration of the theory of permanent revolution, had been the first to foresee, as far back as 1905, that the democratic revolution against tsarist autocracy in Russia would necessarily develop into a socialist revolution that would transfer power to the working class.

Trotskys analysis challenged claims that the political tasks of the working class were determined by the economic backwardness of Russia, which was supposedly not ready for a socialist revolution. In an economically backward country, he wrote in 1905, the proletariat can come to power sooner than in a country of the most advanced capitalism.

But how would the working class sustain its revolution? Trotsky, far in advance of the events of 1917, wrote that the working class

will have no alternative but to link the fate of its political rule, and, hence, the fate of the whole Russian revolution, with the fate of the socialist revolution in Europe. That colossal state-political power given it by a temporary conjuncture of circumstances in the Russian bourgeois revolution it will cast into the scales of the class struggle of the entire capitalist world. With state power in its hands, with counterrevolution behind it and European reaction in front of it, it will send forth to its comrades the world over the old rallying cry, which this time will be a call for the last attack: Workers of all countries, unite!

* * * * *

Amidst the nightmarish reality of the First World War, which by October 1917 had already cost the lives of millions of soldiers, the news of the Bolshevik insurrection passed like an electric shock through the consciousness of the masses. The February Revolution was a Russian event. But the October Revolution was a world-changing event. What had been merely a specter in 1847 now existed as a revolutionary government, which had come to power on the basis of a working class insurrection.

Rosa Luxemburg, learning of the Revolution while still in prison, wrote to a friend of the impatience with which she awaited the morning newspapers in order to follow the developments in Russia. She expressed doubts as to whether the revolution could survive in the face of the armed opposition of world imperialism. But of the greatness of the revolutionary event she had no doubt, and she beheld with admiration what Lenin and Trotskycomrades whom she had known for many yearshad achieved. The Bolshevik-led insurrection, Luxemburg wrote, is a world-historical act, whose example will live for eons.

Many years later, celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the October Revolution, the American Trotskyist leader James P. Cannon recalled the impact of 1917 on socialists throughout the world:

For the first time, concentrated in revolutionary action, we had a demonstration of the real meaning of Marxism. For the first time, we learned from the example and teachings of Lenin and Trotsky and the leaders of the Russian revolution the real meaning of a revolutionary party. Those who remember that time, whose lives became welded to the Russian revolution, must think of it today as the greatest inspiring and educational force that the oppressed class of the world has ever known.

The October Revolution ranks among the greatest and most progressive events in world history. It is part of the chain of world-historical eventssuch as the Reformation, the American Revolution and the French Revolutionthat rank as great milestones in the development of human civilization.

The global impact of the October Revolution was incalculable. It was an event that ignited a worldwide movement of the working class and the oppressed masses against capitalist exploitation and imperialist oppression. It is all but impossible to think of a significant political or social conquest of the working class in the twentieth century, anywhere in the world, which did not owe some substantial portion of its realization to the October Revolution. The establishment of the Soviet state was the first great achievement of the October Revolution. The victory of the Bolshevik Revolution demonstrated in practice the possibility of the working class conquering state power, ending the rule of the capitalist class, and organizing society on a non-capitalist and socialist basis.

However, while the establishment of the Soviet Union was the immediate product of the Bolshevik-led insurrection, the creation of this state does not encompass the full historical significance of the October Revolution. The establishment of the Soviet state in October 1917 was only the first episode in the new epoch of World Socialist Revolution.

This distinction between episode and epoch is critical to an understanding of the fate of both the Soviet Union and the contemporary world. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the state founded in 1917. But it did not mark the end of the epoch of world socialist revolution. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the outcome of the abandonment, which began in the early 1920s, of the international socialist perspective upon which the October Revolution was based. The Stalinist program of socialism in one country, promulgated by Stalin and Bukharin in 1924, was a turning point in the nationalist degeneration of the Soviet Union. As Trotsky warned, Stalinist nationalismwhich found political support in a rapidly growing bureaucratic eliteseparated the fate of the Soviet Union from the fight for world socialism. The Communist International, which had been founded in 1919 as an instrument of world socialist revolution, was degraded into an appendage of the Soviet Unions counterrevolutionary foreign policy. The treacherous and disorienting policies of Stalin led to devastating defeats of the working class in Germany, France, Spain and many other countries.

In 1936, Stalin launched the Great Terror, which during the next four years resulted in the physical extermination of virtually all of the leading representatives of revolutionary internationalism within the working class and socialist intelligentsia. Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico in 1940.

* * * * *

The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 was hailed as a momentous victory for world capitalism. At long last the specter of communism and socialism had been eradicated. History had come to an end! The October Revolution had ended in ruins! Of course, such proclamations were not supported by a careful examination of what had occurred during the previous 74 years. No account was given of the enormous achievements of the Soviet Union, which included not only its central role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, but also the immense advances in the social and cultural conditions of the Soviet people. But aside from its efforts to obliterate from collective memory all recollection of Soviet achievements, the essential falsification of twentieth-century history has been the effort to define the fate of socialism on the basis of a nationalist narrative of the October Revolution, in which the Bolshevik seizure of power is presented as an aberrant, illegitimate and even criminal event in Russian history. The original Bolshevik conception of October must, in turn, be either ridiculed or ignored. No enduring historical and political relevance can be attributed to the October Revolution.

This reactionary narrative, aimed at divesting the October Revolution of all legitimacy, relevance and honor depends, however, on one small thing: that the world capitalist system has resolved and transcended the contradictions and crises that gave rise to war and revolution in the twentieth century.

It is precisely here that the efforts to discredit the October Revolution and all future efforts to realize socialism fall apart. The quarter-century that has passed since the dissolution of the USSR has been marked by relentless and intensifying social, political and economic crisis. We now live in an age of perpetual war. Since the initial US invasion of Iraq in 1991, the number of lives destroyed by American bombs and missiles easily surpasses one million. With geopolitical conflicts intensifying, the outbreak of a third world war is seen more and more as inevitable.

The economic crisis of 2008 exposed the fragility of the world capitalist system. Social tensions are mounting against the backdrop of levels of inequality that are the highest in a century. As the traditional institutions of bourgeois democracy are unable to bear the pressure of escalating social conflict, the ruling elites turn ever more openly to authoritarian forms of rule. The Trump administration is merely one disgusting manifestation of the universal breakdown of bourgeois democracy. The role of the military, police and intelligence agencies in the running of the capitalist state is becoming ever more open.

Throughout this centenary year, innumerable articles and books have been published whose aim is to discredit the October Revolution. But the declarations of the irrelevance of October are belied by the tone of hysteria that pervades so many of these denunciations. The October Revolution is treated not as a historical event, but as an enduring and dangerous contemporary threat.

The fear that underlies the denunciations of the October Revolution found expression in a recently published book by a leading academic specialist in historical falsification, Professor Sean McMeekin. He writes:

Like the nuclear weapons born of the ideological age inaugurated in 1917, the sad fact about Leninism is that, once invented, it cannot be uninvented. Social inequality will always be with us, along with the well-intentioned impulse of socialists to eradicate it If the last hundred years teaches us anything, it is that we should stiffen our defenses and resist armed prophets promising social perfection.

In an essay published in the New York Times in October, columnist Bret Stephens warns:

Efforts to criminalize capitalism and financial services also have predictable results A century on, the bacillus [of socialism] isnt eradicated, and our immunity to it is still in doubt.

The anxiety expressed in these statements is not without foundation. A newly published poll shows that among American Millennials (people below the age of 28), a greater percentage would prefer to live in a socialist or communist society than in a capitalist one.

* * * * *

Throughout this centenary year, the International Committee of the Fourth International has celebrated the anniversary of the October Revolution by studying and explaining its origins and significance. It conducted this important historical work as the only political tendency in the world that represents the program of international socialism upon which the October Revolution was based. The defense of this program is rooted historically in the struggle waged by Trotskyfirst as the leader of the Left Opposition and later as the founder of the Fourth Internationalagainst the nationalist betrayal and perversion of the program and principles of the October Revolution by the Stalinist bureaucracy. While defending all that was achieved within the Soviet Union as a consequence of the October Revolution, this never assumed the form of an adaptation, let alone capitulation, to the reactionary policies of the bureaucratic regime.

Thus, the Fourth International is the contemporary expression of the program of World Socialist Revolution. In the present period of insoluble capitalist crisis, this program once again is acquiring intense relevance. The October Revolution lives not only in history, but in the present.

We call on workers and youth throughout the world to join the fight for world socialism.

Long Live the Example of the October Revolution!

Build the International Committee of the Fourth International!

Forward to the World Socialist Revolution!
A small town in Texas was the scene of a horrific mass shooting Sunday morning. A lone gunman, wearing black tactical gear and a ballistics vest, and toting what authorities described as an assault-type rifle, opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, population about 700, southeast of San Antonio, killing 26 people.

At least a dozen of the dead were children, one as young as 18 months. Eight members of one family were killed. The grandmother of the shooters wife was also killed. Fifteen of the 20 wounded remain in area hospitals, several in critical condition.

The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, was pursued by a local resident, who saw the attack and drew a weapon and fired on the gunman. Kelley dropped his weapon and attempted to escape by driving away. Two people followed him by car and he was eventually found dead in his vehicle, crashed by the roadside in a neighboring county. Authorities believe he died of a self-inflicted wound, with several weapons at his side.

When Americans turned on their televisions or checked their phones or laptops midday Sunday, many shook their heads in disgust at the news of yet another gruesome mass shooting in America. More innocent lives gunned down in what authorities would have us believe are senseless killings, with no real explanation provided aside from describing the gunman as someone gripped by pure evil.

But do such banal explanations hold up under conditions where these mass shootings continue to occur with regularity and increasing brutality? The Sutherland Springs shooting took place just five weeks after the Las Vegas shooting at a country music festival, the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, which left 59 dead and 546 injured.

Eight of the 20 deadliest mass shootings in the US have taken place over the past five years (all figures include the perpetrators):

November 5, 2017: Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting27 dead

October 1, 2017: The Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada59 dead

June 12, 2016: Pulse Nightclub, Orlando, Florida49 dead

December 2, 2015: San Bernardino, California shooting14 dead

October 1, 2015: Umpqua Community College shooting, Oregon10 dead

September 16, 2013: Washington Navy Yard shooting, Washington DC13 dead

December 14, 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Newtown, Connecticut28 dead

July 20, 2012: Century 16 movie theater shooting, Aurora, Colorado12 dead

Following Sundays shootings, the authorities were quick to chime in with their religious platitudes, as well as cynically seizing on the tragedy as an opportunity to advance their pro-gun-lobby or gun-control agendas.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Japanese President Abe Shinzo in Japan, President Trump stated: I think that mental health is a problem here. Based on preliminary reports, this was a very deranged individual with a lot of problems over a very long period of time  but this isnt about guns.

Former president Barack Obama tweeted: We grieve with all the families in Sutherland Springs harmed by this act of hatred, and well stand with the survivors as they recover. May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst.

But such statements are cold comfort to the Sutherland Springs families who are grieving and offer little by way of explanation to the public at large as to why such atrocities continue to happen. Of course, the perpetrators of these mass shootings are invariably deranged individuals. How could it be otherwise? What sane person would gun down innocent people at a church, a university, an elementary school, or a music festival? But there are always deeper societal issues at work in the lives and actions of these individuals that drive them to lash out with violence.

In his 26 years, Devin Patrick Kelley had already participated in his share of violence before Sundays incident. A spokeswoman for the Air Force confirmed that Kelley, who joined the military after graduating from high school in 2009, was court-martialed in 2012 on two charges of assaulting his first wife and her child. The child reportedly suffered a fractured skull.

He was confined for a year, given a bad conduct discharge, and reduced in rank to an airman basic. Although this discharge should have barred him from purchasing weapons, the Air Force never informed the FBI of the charges against him.

Kelleys first wife divorced him in 2012 and he remarried in Texas in 2014. Authorities say there was a domestic situation between him and his in-laws that led to the assault. His mother-in-law was a parishioner at the Sutherland Springs church, and she had reportedly received threatening text messages from him, although she was not present at the church on Sunday.

NBC also reported that two of Kelleys ex-girlfriends said he stalked them after breakups. A search of criminal records in Comal County, Texas, where he lived, found a record of only minor violations, including driving with an expired registration, speeding, and driving without insurance.

While Kelley lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado for a short time in 2014, he was arrested on an animal cruelty charge, according to police records, involving beating a dog with both fists and punching it in the head and chest, a witness said. He paid a fine in that case.

But the question remains, what kind of society molds such an individual, willing to settle a seemingly petty score by carrying out mass murder? One must first look to the US military. For Kelley and other young men and women, the US has been in a perpetual state of warin the Middle East, Afghanistan, Africa and elsewherefor their entire lives. The current occupant of the White House is threatening the obliteration of an entire nation and people in North Korea.

Kelleyfaced with the prospect of unemployment, a low-paying job in the service industry or the precarious gig economychose to enlist in the military upon graduation from high school. He likely absorbed the militarys jingoism and America First mentality, but the Air Force eventually spit him out with a bad conduct discharge after he abused his family.

Thousands of young people have also been drawn into the abuse of opioids, spurred on by the lack of job opportunities and the predatory drug companies. Opioid overdoses claimed the lives of about 64,000 Americans last year, a jump of 21 percent over the previous year, according to new figures release by the Centers for Disease Control.

And while the Trump administration claims that not one cent in additional funding can be provided for the opioid public health emergency, the White House and the Republicans are pushing through a massive tax cut for corporations that will lower the corporate tax rate from the current 35 percent to 20 percent.

Increasing numbers of older workers are unable to retire, and are working into their 70s to maintain their health insurance and enough money to pay their rent or mortgages. For the first time since 1993, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, life expectancy actually declined between 2014 and 2015.

It is no wonder that a new report from the American Psychological Association, Stress in America: The State of Our Nation, reveals that nearly two thirds of Americans (63 percent) are really, really, really stressed about the future of the United States. This stress about the future of America supersedes even the usual suspects: money (62 percent) and work (61 percent).

Other common sources of stress reported by those surveyed include social divisiveness (59 percent), health care (43 percent), the economy (35 percent), potential wars/conflicts with other countries (30 percent), unemployment and low wages (22 percent), and climate change and environmental issues (21 percent).

Despite these very real concerns among ordinary Americans, the two big-business parties have no interest in addressing issues of social inequality and the struggles of workers and young people on a daily basis to survive and provide for their families.

The mainstream media and cable news networks took some time away from talk of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections to provide some sensationalist and uninformative coverage of the Sutherland Springs church massacre. But this coverage was peppered with new revelations about Russia and Vladimir Putins intervention into every aspect of American political life. It would not be shocking to hear one of the medias talking heads suggest that Putin may have somehow been responsible for Sundays shooting tragedy.
The second annual report on Americans attitudes toward socialism released last week by the anti-communist Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation worryingly reports that, in the centenary year of the Russian Revolution, most young people prefer socialism over capitalism.

According to the poll, which was carried out by the international polling firm YouGov between September and October, 51 percent of those Americans currently between the ages of 21 and 29, defined in the report as Millennials, would prefer to live in a socialist or communist country over a capitalist country.

A majority of Millennials (56 percent) also reported that they would not be offended if someone accused them of being a communist. Significantly, a similar percentage of this age group (53 percent) reported that they feel that Americas economic system is working against them.

Many of those defined as Millennials are part of a generation that has experienced the failure of the capitalist system first-hand. They graduated high school or college and entered the workforce just around the time of the 2008 economic crisis. Many are without access to decent employment opportunities, are mired in student loan debt that they are incapable of paying off, and find themselves unable to afford to leave their parents homes.

A decade after the 2008 crisis, young workers and students in the US continue to confront unsustainable levels of poverty, unemployment or underemployment, unending and ever-expanding wars and a raging opioid crisis that is taking the lives of their friends and family members.

While confusion remains over the meaning of socialism and communism, there is a general sense that socialism means greater social equality, the guarantee of a job at a decent wage, free high-quality education and the right to universal health carethings which capitalism has proven itself incapable of providing.

Growing interest in socialism is not limited to young people. The report found that among Americans overall, more than one-third (37 percent) would prefer to live in a socialist or communist country.

The poll also found that nearly 70 percent of Americans do not believe that the rich pay their fair share in taxes, and nearly 90 percent of this group think it would require either higher taxes (49 percent) or a complete change of the economic system (37 percent) to ensure that they do so. Additionally, 80 percent of Americans think that income inequality between the rich and the poor is a serious issue.

Disregarding public opinion, the Trump administration and the Republican Congress, with the complicity or support of the Democratic Party, are rushing to push through historic tax cuts that will provide a massive windfall for the ruling class and fuel opposition to capitalism.

The data on attitudes toward socialism, which confirms other surveys with similar findings, is all the more extraordinary given that opposition to capitalism is excluded from the mass media.

The anti-capitalist and pro-socialist sentiments of workers and students found distorted expression last year in the success of the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who won 13 million votes in the Democratic primaries. Presenting himself as a democratic socialist who was going to fight the billionaire class, Sanders garnered widespread support, particularly among young people.

Sanders role from the outset was to channel oppositional sentiments back into the Democratic Party and prevent widespread opposition to the capitalist system from finding any independent political expression.

Support for Sanders, however, was only a partial reflection of the opposition to the capitalist system that has built up beneath the surface of official politics in the United States and extends well beyond what is revealed in the YouGov poll.

On the centenary of the Russian Revolution there is great nervousness in the United States, the center of world imperialism, that the growing popular opposition to capitalism will produce an independent socialist movement based in the working class, taking as its example the October Revolution of 1917.

While concern is being aired by anti-communist groups like the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, which has close ties to the Heritage Foundation, the Democratic Party is waging a vicious campaign to crack down on all oppositional sentiment by blaming Russia for sowing divisions on social media.

The ferocious anti-Russian McCarthyite campaign, which echoes the anti-Communist witch-hunts of the 1950s, is targeted ultimately at left-wing, anti-war and progressive web sites, foremost the World Socialist Web Site. The WSWS is being censored by Google because it gives expression to the sentiments of the ever growing segment of the population that is fundamentally opposed to the interests of the ruling class and favors the establishment of socialism.
Armed with statistical report, Manmohan Singh said that UPA's performance was way ahead of NDA's and that leaders now only indulge in constant self-praise.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today launched a scathing attack on the economic reforms carried out by Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, calling demonetisation an example of an ill thought out action with negative effects.

Armed with statistics comparing the performance of UPA and NDA governments, Singh asserted that the UPA's performance was way ahead than that of the present government.

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Campaigning here for the Congress ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election, the former prime minister started by saying that he will be the happiest person if Modi's claim that India will be become a developed country by 2022 becomes a reality.

"To increase our income five-fold in five years, we would have to achieve a growth rate of 35 per cent per year. No country has ever done this. Is Modi promising he will do that?" Singh questioned.

To buttress his point, the former PM also compared the growth figures of the two governments. He said in the ten years of UPA I and II, the government on an average achieved 7.8 per cent GDP growth. This includes the slowdown period in the last two years (of the UPA government).

He further said when the present government took over they said they would take growth to 8 to 10 per cent. Modi has so far achieved an average of only 7.3 per cent in the first three years, he added.

Singh also came down heavily on demonetisation and the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). He said note ban was an example of ill thought out action with negative effects. He added that demonetisation was thrust upon the economy with not enough prior thoughts about its likely impact and undesirable side effects.

Attacking the implementation of GST, Singh demanded that serious concerns should be addressed to and loopholes in the administrative system be plugged.

He also quipped that the present government has only indulged in constant self praise. "If leaders only want to be praised, they will hear nothing but praise. This is not a recipe for vikas," Singh said.

--- ENDS ---
Directed by George Clooney; screenplay by Clooney, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen and Grant Heslov

A would-be black comedy, directed and co-written by George Clooney, Suburbicon is set in 1959 in a bland suburban community.

The film incorporates two principal stories.

The first involves the Lodge family. One night, two thugs invade the home of Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon), his wife, Rose (Julianne Moore), and their son, Nicky (Noah Jupe), ostensibly as part of a robbery. They chloroform the family members, but Rose dies of an overdose. Her twin sister, Margaret (also Moore), then becomes a kind of stepmother to Nicky.

It soon becomes evident that the robbery was staged by Gardner so that his wife could be done away with and he would be free to pursue a relationship with Margaret. Nicky eventually catches on to this too. The criminals become angry with Gardner because he hasnt paid them for their efforts. An insurance agent, Bud Cooper (Oscar Isaac), whose company is on the hook for a large claim on Roses life, shows up and makes clear that he sees through the plot. Things thereupon get sadistically and pointlessly bloody.

Meanwhile, an African American family, the Mayerses (Leith M. Burke, Karimah Westbrook and Tony Espinosa), has moved into the previously all-white community where the Lodges live. Angry residents protest outside their home. The mob grows larger and larger, and ultimately turns violent. A riot occurs the same night as the Lodge family drama explodes into mayhem.

Suburbicon has very few redeeming features. Many of the principal figures, including Gardner, Margaret, Cooper, the two thugs and, of course, the members of the mob, are thoroughly detestable. It is not clear why we should concern ourselves with their respective fates. The violent conflicts and confrontations, which occur for the most part between equally dislikeable characters, generate little interest.

The Lodge story, even considered as a parable, doesnt really make any sense. Gardner, a cautious white-collar worker, proceeds in a manner guaranteed to get him either caught by the authorities or dispatched by his hired assassins. It doesnt seem a good idea to employ a couple of psychopaths and then refuse or be unable to pay them. The thugs themselves do not seriously function as one would imagine cold-blooded, professional killers to act.

With the exception of Nicky, every white person in the suburban community we encounter is either a sociopath or a bigot, or both. Does Clooney intend us to take this seriously? Suburbicon is mean-spirited, unfunny and clumsy. It has not been well received even by American film critics, whose standards are so low these days as to be nearly invisible.

The films script was apparently first worked on by Joel and Ethan Coen in the 1980s. It originally included only the murder-insurance strand of the plot. Clooney and his collaborator, Grant Heslov, added the neighborhood opposition to the black family, the refusal of local stores to serve them and the final riot.

Clooney told the Atlantic: I got an idea about sort of mixing these two [stories] up and having everybody looking in the wrong direction. I thought it would be the fun way to talk about these issues  [Suburbicon] was really written as a piece to talk about the idea that theres a group of white Americans who are terrified that theyre losing their place in society and are blaming minorities for it.

He added, I think its really important to remind ourselves that every time we see these things, this [racism] is ingrained in our soul, and its part of our original sin, and its something that we still have to exorcise.

Clooney should speak for himself. His viewpoint here jibes with the general efforts of the Democratic Party and its pseudo-left hangers-on to paint the mass of the American population as hopelessly backward, if not overtly racist. Indeed, the election of Donald Trump, partway through production of Suburbicon, darkened the film, according to both Clooney and Heslov.

If Suburbicon had been directed by the Coen brothers, it would probably not have been any less misanthropic, but it might very well have been a bit more elegantly executed.

The two dramas sit unpleasantly side by side in Clooneys film and never cohere or convince. Almost no one comes off well here, including the generally reliable Julianne Moore.

In the proper circumstances, Clooney is an appealing and often amusing performer. In the 1990s, I once referred to him, in an unkind moment, as a walking smirk. However, the 2000 election and the ascension of Bush-Cheney, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and accompanying tragedies pushed him to do more valuable work, as an actor, a director, or both: Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Syriana (2005), Michael Clayton (2007), Burn After Reading (2008) and The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009).

The election of Barack Obama had the effect on Clooney, as it did on the liberal Hollywood milieu as a whole, of largely sealing up whatever was critical in his psyche. Clooney, a frequent visitor to the Obama White House, became an unofficial member of the administration, a spokesman on human rights issues and advocate of UN and US intervention.

In October 2010, for instance, Clooney had a meeting with the president on the crisis in Sudan. The New York Times reported: Mr. Clooney reported to Mr. Obama on his recent week-long tour of the Texas-sized southern Sudan; preparations are lagging there for a referendum in January that is expected to result in residents favoring independence from the Khartoum government but which could end up reigniting civil war and atrocities.

Speaking to the media following his conversation with Obama, Clooney praised the president for his Sudan policy, But Mr. Clooney urged continued, tough diplomacy by world leaders.

In 2012, the actor stopped by at the White House again, also to discuss the situation in Sudan. Asked about Obamas chances for re-election, the Washington Post noted, Clooney, who has donated money to his campaign, said: I hope theyre very good. Im a Democrat and a supporter of the president. I hope he has a successful election.

Whatever an actor or artist may think, joining the establishment, and a deeply reactionary and crisis-ridden establishment at that, has consequences. The last three films the fabulously wealthy Clooney has directed, The Ides of March (2011), The Monuments Men (2014) and now Suburbicon, have been largely lifeless.

Clooney and Heslov based their race-related sequences on events that took place in Levittown, Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia, in 1957. The planned community was officially white-only (actually, Puerto Ricans, American Indians, Asians, mixed race couples and even black families with light skin already lived there!) until a Jewish couple from the Bronx resold their home to a black couple, William and Daisy Myers. Protests erupted, the vacant house next to the Myers home became the headquarters of the Levittown Betterment Committee, which unfurled a Confederate flag and provocatively blasted loud music, and, in the end, a small-scale riot, in which stones were thrown at police, broke out.

However, in an excerpt from her memoir included in Second Suburb: Levittown, Pennsylvania (edited by Dianne Suzette Harris), Daisy Myers presents the events in more complex terms than Suburbicon cares to. She refers at one point to a press conference the Myerses held at which she asked the reporters, Why dont you newspapermen write about the good things happening to us? One hundred fifty Levittown people have written us letters. Other Levittowners have mowed our lawn, hung our curtains, presented us with a fine oil painting, brought cakes and fruit, and kept us busy receiving well-wishers.

A white teenager arrested outside the Myers home during the subsequent riot wrote the family a letter, which Daisy Myers observes she and her husband particularly valued, explaining that he had been picked up by mistake: I wanted to let you know that I harbor no malice against you or your family, and I was never once among the mob  I have no objection to you living there, as I am sure most of your neighbors dont object. I hope you can believe this and do not think that I was one of the rioters.

The Myerses received mail from all over the world expressing support. Daisy Myers writes, As the opposition continued, we were blessed by the many deeds of kindness toward us. Many additional Levittowners let us know we were welcome.  Visitors continued to come. A friend I had known previously from the Country Club section [of the community], who had a full-time servant, came and scrubbed my floors.

Daisy Myers does not paint the entire incident in pretty colors, nor is there any need to. In a comment written in 2007, at the age of 86, she wrote, Levittown was like a wound that healed and left a scar, with some goodness and some sadness. Thats true even today. But it gave me a better understanding of people and where they came from. If only one could say the same about Clooneys film.
According to press reports, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne talked to federal investigators last year in relation to a scandal involving the misappropriation of $4.5 million in funds from a union-management training center in Detroit.

The revelation, published in the Detroit News Sunday, follows reports that the corruption investigation involving Fiat Chrysler and United Auto Workers officials has spread to Ford and General Motors.

The investigation first erupted to the surface in July with the indictment of former top Chrysler negotiator Alphons Iacobelli and UAW officials involved in the running of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center in Detroit. Among those indicted was Monica Morgan, the wife of late UAW Vice President General Holiefield. The multi-year scheme involved illegal payoffs carried out in a variety of ways, including unaudited use of training center credit cards and the funneling of money through fake charities to the pockets of Holiefield and other UAW officials.

Marchionne reportedly met with investigators at the United States Attorneys Office in Detroit in July 2016 escorted by his personal defense attorney, William Jeffress of Washington DC, an expert in white-collar criminal defense. Among Jeffresss past clients were former president Richard Nixon. Marchionne apparently agreed to the meeting with federal officials voluntarily and has not been named as a suspect in the case.

Those currently under investigation in relation to possible misappropriation of funds include UAW Vice President for General Motors Cynthia Estrada, who heads the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources. Estrada also heads the Cynthia Estrada Charity Fund with more than $100,000 in assets. Joe Ashton, a retired UAW vice president who currently sits on the GM board of directors, is also the subject of a probe.

Another UAW official with his own charity is UAW Vice President for Ford Jimmy Settles, who runs the JUST foundation. Settles, who also heads the UAW-Ford training center, has not yet been named in the corruption probe.

The UAW vice president for Chrysler, Norwood Jewell, has not been named in the investigation either, though he received a shotgun purchased by another UAW official illegally using an unaudited credit card. Jewell is head of the Making Our Children Smile nonprofit. It has received $629,000 in the last three years from unidentified donors.

A source with knowledge of the inner workings of the UAW told the World Socialist Web Site Auto Worker Newsletter that the creation by UAW officials of charities raised many questions. There is a charity in each training center. The question is why? If the UAW wants to donate money to a charity, fine. Why would they put these charities in training centers and put UAW officials in charge? After all, he noted, everything in the training center is a tax write off.

He rejected the claim by UAW President Dennis Williams that his administration had no knowledge of the scandal. He pointed out that according to a federal indictment former UAW President Bob King confronted Iacobelli and Holiefield in 2011 over payouts from UAW-run charities to Morgan, warning they could go to jail. He noted, Dennis Williams was UAW financial secretary when King was president. It was obvious he must have been at that meeting. Who would you take but your financial guy?

He said he believed that pressure was being put on the FBI to slow down the investigation. We dont know  of what they know. It could be that Ford, Chrysler and GM are leaning on the government to shield the UAW as much as possible. There have only been a few indictments so far.

The time lag is too long. It is being dragged out above the level of the FBI. How long does it take to trace charge card purchases?

He continued, If Dennis Williams and with him the Ford and GM contracts get thrown out because of union-management collusion the whole sweet deal comes apart at the seams. If Dennis Williams gets dirtied out of this, he is no longer of any use to them.

He continued, Ford kept the UAW out of the sexual harassment lawsuit in Chicago. That means Ford told [UAW Vice President Jimmy] Settles and the UAW you owe us.

Now comes this, but Ford is experienced in covering things up.

The naming of Estrada in the FBI probe has dire implications for the UAW, given that she is seen by many as a likely replacement for Dennis Williams. It further undercuts the claim that the scandal involved merely a few bad actors and not the organization as a whole.

Along with Williams, Estrada led the charge in denouncing the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter for providing rank-and-file workers with the truth and organizing opposition to the 2015 sellout contracts. In a Facebook post, Estrada claimed the WSWS newsletter was really backed by Right-to-Work Republicans.

The present crisis in the UAW is the product of decades of degeneration in which the union, born out of semi-insurrectionary struggles of workers, has morphed into a pliant tool of management. It has presided over the gutting of wages, benefits and job protections, handing back the hard-won gains workers fought for over generations.

The UAW responded to changes in the globalization of production by abandoning any defense of the interests of workers and adopting a program of unbridled union-management collaboration. Beginning in the 1980s, the UAW contracts became increasingly corporatist documents, enshrining the principle of joint-ness and increasingly merging the union into the structure of management through the establishment of labor-management schemes, such as the training centers.

The establishment of these schemes required the passage of the bipartisan Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978, which overturned the decades-long legal ban on corporate payments to unions.

The recent apparent suicide of 21-year-old Jacoby Hennings at a Ford stamping plant outside of Detroit highlights the horrific conditions that have been created in the auto factories as a product of this betrayal. New workers now can look forward to a life as disposable temporary workers, without any contract rights though they are still compelled to pay dues to the UAW.

The source noted that untold millions have been funneled into the coffers of the UAW by the auto companies over the years through the training centers, which were first set up in the 1980s. Now there is no way to track the money going to the training centers. The training centers have become a big business.

The exposure of widespread bribe taking by UAW officials means all the contracts negotiated with the auto companies are legally inoperative. It further establishes the fact that the UAW is not a workers organization, but an arm of the employers and the state.

Workers must take their future into their own hands by organizing new organizations of struggle, controlled by the rank-and-file and committed to the principles of the class struggle and the uncompromising defense of the social rights of all workers.
Terming November 8 a "black day" for the economy and democracy, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today repeated what he said in Parliament last year: that demonetisation was "organised loot and legalised plunder".

By India Today Web Desk: Calling November 8, 2016 a "black day" for our economy as well as democracy, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today repeated his famous statement he made in Parliament last year: that demonetisation was "organised loot and legalised plunder".

Addressing traders in poll-bound Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation, the 85-year-old Congress veteran said, "8th November was a black day for our economy and indeed our democracy. Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86 per cent of the currency."

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"I repeat what I said in Parliament: this (demonetisation) was organised loot and legalised plunder," he said. "When I heard the demonetisation announcement, I wondered who gave him (Modi) this reckless advice," he added.

Singh said measures like demonetisation are ineffective if the government wants to promote cashless economy. Moreover, he said the fear of "tax terrorism" after the note ban has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest.

NOTE BAN, GST TWIN BLOWS: MANMOHAN

Endorsing his party vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statement that both demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) were the two shots fired at the Indian economy, Manmohan said, "This twin blow is complete disaster for our economy. It has broken the back of our small businesses."

Singh termed the implementation of GST as "badly designed, hastily implemented, and a complete disaster and monumental blunder". Calling the present form of the GST "a great departure from our vision", Singh said it has transformed into a "complicated mess, multiple slabs along with additional cess".

"When undertaking the endeavour of One Nation, One Tax, if the PM had taken inspiration from the resolve of the great Sardar Patel, the outcome would have been different," Singh said in what was a clear dig at the BJP, which often tries to appropriate Patel, a Congress icon.

Singh said jobs have suffered because of the two policies. "We had to run for Chinese imports at the cost of Indian jobs. In the first half of 2016-17, India's imports from China stood at Rs 1. 96 lakh crore. In 2017-18, it increased to Rs 2.41 lakh crore," he said.

"Unprecedented growth of imports by over Rs 45,000 crore, a 23% increase in a year, can be attributed largely to demonetisation and GST," the former Prime Minister said.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Organised loot and plunder: When Manmohan said demonetisation would cause a fall in GDP growth

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LAKE TALQUIN, Fla. (WTXL) - Dive teams are searching Lake Talquin Monday morning, looking for the body of a 10-year-old boy.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, two boats collided on the lake Saturday and four people were thrown overboard.

Authorities are seeking the body of the boy, John Skylar Brogdon/Marr, and say the collision left three others injured.

An aunt said the missing boy was her nephew.
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Highway Patrol reports on a car crash in Jackson County on Monday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Reports say two cars collided when Alvah Lawrence Williams crossed the northbound lane of U.S. 231 hitting the right front side of a 2004 Chevy SUV.

Troopers say Williams' car began to rotate clockwise and the Chevy began to rotate counter clockwise, which caused Williams' to hit the Chevy again. Both drivers were ejected from their cars.

Both drivers were taken to Southwest Alabama Medical. Williams is in critical condition. The driver of the Chevy is in serious condition.

The Florida Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County EMS, Jackson County Fire Rescue, Air Heart helicopter and the Florida Department of Transportation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Five Leon County schools will be honored in Atlanta at the Americas Healthiest Schools Southern Regional Celebration.

The five schools were named to the 2017 list of Americas Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

The complete list of Leon County schools to be recognized Thursday includes:

Conley Elementary School, Bronze

DeSoto Trail Elementary School, Silver

Killearn Lakes Elementary School, Bronze

Roberts Elementary School, Silver

Sealey Elementary Math Science Magnet School, Bronze

The schools make up five of the 17 Florida schools that made the annual list.

The 2017 list of Americas Healthiest Schools identifies 323 of the nations healthiest schools based on the schools ability to meet certain criteria, including serving healthier meals and snacks, getting students moving more, offering high-quality physical and health education, and empowering school leaders to become healthy role models.

The Southern Regional Celebration will honor 86 schools from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee at one of three levels: Bronze, Silver or Gold.

The schools will be recognized Nov. 9 in Atlanta.

To view the complete list of Americas Healthiest Schools visit healthiestschools.org.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - There was a scary moment over the weekend at the North Florida Fair for one girl on a carnival ride.

Somehow, she was thrown off the ride and was sent to the hospital with injuries.

Going to the fair is usually a fun time for everyone, but Saturday night was a different story, when a girl was thrown from the "Musik Express" ride, leaving her with bruises and a broken nose.

Organizers say the ride was immediately shut down for the night and didn't reopen until the Florida Department of Agriculture conducted an inspection Sunday morning. The fair's executive director, Mark Harvey, says the ride has been part of the fair for the past 10 years and this was the first incident on it.

Harvey says Musik Express is safe to ride and although someone did get hurt, there was no plan of closing the ride for good.

"I think you have to take any of these things with a grain of salt and look at the totality of the circumstances," said Harvey. "This ride has been ridden millions of times safely, and just because something happens one time, don't believe everything you read on social media."

We reached out to Strates Shows, which brought this ride to the fair. The company says the lap restraints are and have been working properly and the speed of the ride has been in line with the manufacturer's recommendations.

The fair has seen a slight drop in attendance so far compared to this time last year but the executive director expects crowds to continue coming until the end.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The man of accused of crashing his car and killing three Florida State University students received a Jan. 16, 2008, sentencing date on Tuesday.

A case management hearing for Stanley Jaboin on Tuesday took but a few minutes, and he was not in court for the proceeding.

Jaboin has been found guilty of three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of manslaughter by driving under influence and other charges.

He'll be in court at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

In 2015, Jaboin crashed his car into a PT Cruiser driven by Nikolas Bonilla while going more than 100 miles per hour at the intersection of West Pensacola Street and White Drive.

Three passengers died: Kevin Boos, 22, Vincenzo Libio, 22, and Morgan Carr, 21.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

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Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The Florida State University President is suspending all Greek life on campus after the death of a 20 year old Pi Kappa Phi fraternity member, Andrew Coffe, on Friday. President John Thrasher says, "Losing a member of the Florida State University family is always hard, but to see a young persons life cut short is especially heart-breaking."

Thrasher says what occurred is a problem and requires an immediate response and a serious message from the administration. He says all sorority and fraternity chapters will be prohibited from holding new member events, weekly chapter meetings and chapter organized tailgates, socials or events of any kind until further notice. In addition, participation in market Wednesday's and Homecoming events will be supervised.

President John Thrasher says, "Like most universities, we worry about alcohol and drug abuse and other dangerous behaviors and we are doing all we can to educate our students. But our students and their organizations on campus must step up." Thrasher stresses that this pause is necessary to review and reflect on the loss of a young life.

He adds that for the suspension to end, there needs to be a new normal for Greek life at the university. According to Thrasher, he and the administration feel they need to implement changes to fraternity and sorority life to benefit the safety and well-being of students. Thrasher is asking for student body participation to create a new culture for Greek life on campus.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Veterans will be honored at an Operation Thank You Day Breakfast sponsored by Leon County and the American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13.

Volunteers will be at the American Legion at 229 Lake Ella Drive on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. At 8 a.m., a ceremony will honor all veterans and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Shington Lamy at the Leon County Human Services and Partnerships at (850) 606 - 1900 or at LamyS@LeonCountyFL.gov or Mathieu Cavel, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606 - 5300 or at cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

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Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Heavy traffic isn't the biggest problem in school zones. Sometimes, it's when drivers are make terrible decisions.

WTXL asked parents on Facebook which school drop-off sites had the worst traffic, and you answered. Among the many responses we received was this one from Marissa Barry Miller saying simply "Chaires Elementary is bad."

To experience the this school zone first hand, WTXL went to Chaires.

Three miles south of 1-10 in eastern Leon county is Chaires Elementary School...a school only accessible by a two-lane road. Chaires Elementary parents say a number of near-accidents have occurred during heavy-traffic times.

"There's been too many times that I've been run off the road, friends of mine have been run off the road," says Kathryn Mesmith, a parent of a Chaires Elementary student. "I had a lady that stopped me in the road the other day and made me move over because she refused. She was in the wrong. She was in my lane."

The traffic in front of Chaires Elementary School is nonstop and backs up as parents drop off and pick up their children. However, the biggest problem stems from cars passing the solid double yellow lines.

"Nobody should be passing in a school zone, period," says Mesmith. It's a double yellow line. Nobody should be passing on a double yellow line. It backs up both directions. People try to pass. People almost go head-on with each other. It's chaos, is what it is."

As for Mesmith, she has an extra concern with this traffic. She's responsible for picking up two other children along with her own son.

"I worry about, you know, the responsibility that they're in my vehicle," explains Mesmith. "If something happens because some dummy decides to pass and puts those kids in jeopardy. That's on me."

Leon County Sheriff's Office recognizes that traffic around schools during the arrival and dismissal times cause delays, but say that patience is important.

"There is some traffic congestion when a lot of people are going to one venue at this one particular time," says Leon County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Grady Jordan. "So again, patience is key as well."

And parents agree. Either be patient and wait in line, or find a different road to travel.

Although afternoon traffic at Chaires Elementary school has been rerouted and only backs up in one direction, there are still many cars that insist on crossing the solid double yellow lines to pass the school traffic.

Mesmith has suggested that signs be put up telling people not to pass during drop-off and pick-up times.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

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Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
By PTI: Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zaffar is ready with his next project "Tiger Zinda Hai" but says the film wasnt written as a sequel to "Ek Tha Tiger".

"Ek Tha Tiger", released in 2012, was directed by Kabir Khan and featured Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif as agents.

The second installment of the action-drama is helmed by Ali, who previously directed "Sultan".

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"When I wrote this film, it wasnt like a sequel. I first wrote the story and felt it was worth telling. I thought since its about two agents -? and we already had a film about two agents with Salman and Katrina -? Ill merge these two in this story so that it becomes a story of two characters which people already know," Ali told reporters here.

He was speaking at the trailer launch of "Tiger Zinda Hai".

The director said he feels tremendous pressure to take the franchise ahead.

"Theres a lot of pressure. Obviously, its such a big film with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Its a big franchise and I did Sultan with Salman, so theres an added baggage," he said.

The film chronicles the story of two agents on a mission to rescue 25 Indian nurses taken hostage in Iraq by a terrorist organisation.

Ali said they have based the film on a true story but have fictionalised it a lot.

"When they (Salman and Katrina) heard about the story and I told them about the rescue mission ? what happened in those ten days when the nurses were captured ? they both felt excited. Its a completely fictional account, its a fictional film which we have written around the event, how these two get those nurses back," he said.

Ali said the sequel is very different from "Ek Tha Tiger", which was more romantic.

"Its very different from the first part. The first one was romantic, whereas this one is about a mission. In Ek Tha Tiger, you saw them (Salman Katrina) as lovers, here youll see them as agents. The action is more real and gritty. We have spoken about relevant things in todays times which are affecting us," he said.

This is Alis second film with both Salman and Katrina after "Sultan" and "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan", respectively.

The director said it was easy to convince both of them as they "reacted very strongly to the story of the film."

"The equation is the same. Somewhere its a good a relationship. We have worked together very well. He is such a big superstar and there is a certain way people like to present him, perceive him," he said when asked about his equation with Salman.

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"I think somewhere between him and me, we have the understanding that I kind of look at him in the way that people want to look at him - as the quintessential hero. He is not a superman, he is real yet at the same time he can do what we want him to do," the filmmaker said.

The film is scheduled to release on December 22. PTI JUR GK BK

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Parents just want to make sure their children are safe.

Unfortunately, some parents fear that just getting to school each morning is a major risk.

We asked you on Facebook which school drop-off zones pose the biggest safety concerns, and you answered.

Although we received many responses, "Jo Anne's" caught our attention. She explains that Kate Sullivan, though the crossing guards do an amazing job, sometimes actually coming between moving cars and the children, gets scary. On the same road are K-S, Cobb, Leon and the hospital.

Kate Sullivan Elementary sits just off Miccosukee Road, which many people consider to be a main artery through town. But it's not the number of cars that worries parents.

Joe Gabovitz, the parent of a Kate Sullivan Elementary Student: "The traffic is one thing. It's the safety of the people crossing the street."

"Cars that travel along Miccosukee Road in the morning and afternoon hours really cause a concern for the parents as they don't really slow down for the children in the crosswalks."

"It seems that people come through here and they forget they're in a school zone and the speed goes up," Gabovitz said. "Or, you know, we have side roads that are feeding into Miccosukee. There's a lot of foot traffic between the school opening and school closing and people aren't always looking."

And it's not just the morning traffic. Parents like Gabovitz recognize that afternoons can get just as busy, forcing pedestrians to exercise caution yet again.

"You're going to have a lot of traffic here because people will be picking their kids up by car," Gabovitz said. "But also, you have a lot of traffic coming in the afternoon, people leaving work or just trying to get through."

Of course, you have crossing guards like Mr. Bob who ensure that traffic is stopped before allowing the kids to walk across the street. Leon County Sheriff's Office knows that sometimes traffic may get backed up while children are walking, but it's important that you stop anyway.

Lt. Grady Jordan of the Leon County Sheriff's Office, PIO: "Obey the school crossing guards. We have crossing guards at every school that help direct traffic and help direct that flow of pedestrian traffic across the street."

Because no one wants these children putting their lives in danger on the way to school.

In Tallahassee, Jennifer Meyers, WTXL ABC 27.

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Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 7 (PTI) The European Union Election Observation Mission was today officially launched to monitor the general and provincial polls in Nepal which are scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

Around 100 election observers from member countries of the European Union (EU) have been deployed to oversee the polls in the Himalayan nation, an official said.

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"It is a great privilege to have been given this opportunity to lead the EU Election Observation Mission to Nepal," Chief Observer Zeljana Zovko, a member of the European Parliament from Croatia told a press conference here.

"The elections scheduled on November 26 and December 7 mark an important stage in Nepals democratic development and I very much hope that our presence will contribute to an inclusive and transparent electoral process," she remarked.

The EU deployed a 38 member long-term election observers across the country today, who will observe the electoral preparations and the campaign throughout the country.

The mission also dispatched a core team of 10 election analysts that will be based in Kathmandu. The mission will be informed by 20 short-term observers, who will observe the election day proceedings.

Another of its 24 short-term observers will arrive to observe the second election day on December 7.

"The EU Election Observation Team will also be joined by a seven member parliamentary delegation from the European Union as well as diplomats from European countries missions in Nepal," said a press release issued by the EUEOM.

The mandate of the EU EOM is to observe all aspects of the electoral process and to assess the extent to which the elections are in compliance with the law of Nepal, as well as with international and regional commitments for democratic elections to which the country is a signatory, according to Zovko.

The EU has allocated 3.5 million euro for the entire election observation process.

The general and provincial elections in Nepal were declared on August 21 and are seen as the final step in the Himalayan nations post-war transition to a federal democracy

The Maoists have dominated Nepals politics for more than 20 years after waging a decade-long insurgency against government forces that claimed more than 16,000 lives

The civil war in Nepal came to an end in 2006. PTI SBP KIS

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With increasing age, Thakur's fingerprints changed. It got more difficult to capture them on the biometric machine, because the skin of the fingers lost its elasticity.

By Harish V Nair: While several pleas are piling up in Supreme Court questioning linking of various services to Aadhaar, this unique petition by a 73-year-old doctor seeks quite the opposite- to allow him to update his almost-faded fingerprint and use the 12-digit biometric-based ID number for various facilities which he is being deprived of due to the mismatch.

Dr CPN Thakur, hailing from Muzzafarupur, Bihar had obtained an Aadhaar card by submitting his demographic and biometric information. However, he rushed to the court raising a problem which any senior citizen can face.

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With increasing age, Thakur's fingerprints changed. It got more difficult to capture them on the biometric machine, because the skin of the fingers lost its elasticity and the patterns of ridges and furrows become less prominent.

On February 8 this year, he applied for Reliance JIO-Wi-Fi connection, but was not granted due to variance in his fingerprints. At stake was many other services with almost everything being linked to Aadhaar today.

Thakur's advocate Mukti Singh told a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri that he approached authorities of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), then nodal agency which issues Aadhaar cards, twice for updating his biometric details but the request was rejected citing "poor quality of fingers".

Kindling hopes in the minds of thousands of senior citizens facing similar problems, a bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan asked advocate Zoheb Hossain, who appeared for UIDAI to consider Thakur's plea and take a decision within a month. Section 31 of the Aadhaar Act allows updating personal details.

Thus in case any biometric and demographic information of an Aadhaar number holder is found incorrect or changes subsequently, the card holder shall request the authority to alter such information with the Central Identities Data Repository in such manner as may be specified by regulations.

Singh also urged the court to exempt Thakur from giving fingerprints and to collect only iris scan for updating the biometric information of his Aadhaar Card.

Thakur has sent a letter to the chairman and Public Grievance Cell of UIDAI, and other authorities, requesting them to take steps to help senior citizens whose fingerprints do not match their earlier fingerprints due to the loss of elasticity of skin due to age. In his case, he had received a response from the public grievance cell of UIDAI, informing him that the update request is "rejected" and he had to "re-enroll himself".

"The response was like making a mockery of my grievance, totally overlooking the fact that the swirls and ridges of my fingers have been obliterated due to ageing and cannot regenerate," he said.

"Because Aadhar card has been made essential for a number of services like banking, telecom and is likely to be made mandatory for several more services and day to day activities like driving licence, renewal of passport and checking in to airport etc, the card is very essential", said Thakur.

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He pointed out, "If my current finger prints don't match the information in CIDR, I will be denied various services and facilities."

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At the end of a Parents CircleFamilies Forum (PCFF) conference in the town of Beit Jala about a month ago, we marched together with the Combatants for Peace and Standing Together movements to the village of al-Walaja in a show of solidarity with its residents. The village has been suffering for years from home demolitions, arrests, casualties and a siege, which is essentially imposed by Israel through the separation fence.

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We were about 1,000 men and women. When we reached the entrance to the village, we were greeted by a handful of Palestinian anti-normalization activists who refused to let us in, even though the visit was coordinated in advance. A major argument broke out between the Palestinians themselves, as the Israeli activists and IDF soldiers stood aside watching them with astonishment. Eventually, it was decided that the situation was too explosive, and we turned back.

The events unexpected ending stirred up emotions: Some of the Israelis were offended, while others were disappointed. But what happened demonstrates more than anything how much we Israelis lack an understanding and awareness of internal processes within the Palestinian society against what the Palestinians refer to as tatbianormalization with Israel.

Its important to continue the efforts for a joint struggle against the occupation and its wrongs (archives photo)

Since the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian society in the territories has been following the multiplying coexistence and dialogue meetings between Palestinians and Israelis with growing reluctance. While representatives of the sides began meeting in cafes in Ramallah and Tel Aviv, travelling to conferences abroad together, hugging, kissing and eating hummus togetherat the end of the day, the Palestinians returned to their refugee camps and to the humiliating occupation, and the Israelis returned to their convenient democracy.

And so, wide parts of the Palestinian society began feeling that while those people were hugging and kissing, allegedly forgetting the wrongs of the past, the situation on the ground was only getting worse: The number of settlers doubled, the roadblocks, the traffic restrictions, the home demolitions, the land theft and the killing and arrests of anti-occupation protestors increased. All this created an unbearable dissonance.

The growing discomfort over the unbearable situation was reflected in the growing use of the term tatbia (normalization). In the Palestinian political culture, this term basically reflects opposition to any joint Palestinian-Israeli activity that deviates from the framework of a struggle and is perceived as a sort of collaboration with the occupier.

As far as many Palestinians are concerned, that public dialogue with Israelis is a false representation of normalityas if both sides share equal strength and as if justice is equally divided between them. So any cooperation and dialogue between the sides are immediately suspected by many as a normalization attempt and encounter strong opposition from those in the Palestinian society who are working to prevent iteven at the cost of boycotting Israeli peace activists who wish to help them.

Many Israelis are finding it difficult to accept this opposition and dont understand why Palestinians are rejecting a hand extended in peace. Even though we cant judge the occupied side from our superior position as rulers, its important to continue the efforts for a joint struggle against the occupation and its wrongs.

We must not let an incident like the one that took place in Beit Jala cloud the holy reconciliation work or serve as an excuse for some of us to avoid the effort to build immensely important bridges between the people. Just like we sometimes face elements in the Israeli public who oppose any type of contact with the Palestinians, our Palestinian partners are forced to face harsh criticism from radical elements opposing any contact with Israelis.

We must try to understand each other, honor our Palestinian partners who are courageously standing at the forefront of the battle against their society, and keep deepening the joint activity of those who believe in peaceful cooperation against the occupation.
TOKYO - The US Navy carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, conducted three days of drills with a Japanese destroyer and two Indian warships in the Sea of Japan, Japan's navy said on Tuesday.

The exercise involving five ships, which ended Monday, came amid heightened tension in the region over North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear tests and as US President Donald Trump began a 12-day tour of Asia beginning in Japan on Sunday.

"The exercise helped improve fighting skills and deepened cooperation with India," Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force said in a press release.

The 100,000-ton Reagan, which is based in Japan carries around 70 combat aircraft and is the US Navy's most powerful warship in Asia.

The Reagan will join two other carriers in the Western Pacific, the USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt, in a potent reminder to Pyongyang of the US ability to rapidly mobilize military force, US officials told Reuters earlier.
WASHINGTON - A Texas man suspected of traveling to Washington to kill "all white police" at the White House was arrested on Monday by Secret Service agents near the executive mansion, the agency said.

Michael Arega of Dallas, whose age was not listed by authorities, was arrested Monday afternoon after police in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland, issued an alert for the suspect in the Washington area, the Secret Service said.

"Secret Service personnel at the White House immediately increased their posture of readiness and began searching for Arega," the agency said in a statement.

A little more than an hour after receiving the bulletin, agents spotted Arega on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue near Lafayette Square, a park across the street from the White House, and he was taken into custody without incident by uniformed Secret Service officers, the agency said.

Arega was not armed when he was arrested, and was under investigation for allegedly making felony threats, Secret Service spokesman Shawn Holtzclaw told Reuters by telephone.
ABCNews.com(WASHINGTON) -- A longtime aide to President Donald Trump, who followed the businessman-turned-president from New York City to the White House, is expected on Capitol Hill Tuesday to face questions from congressional Russia investigators.



Keith Schiller, who served as Trumps director of Oval Office operations until September, will meet with the House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors. The panel is investigating Russian election interference and allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.



ABC News first reported congressional investigators interest in Schiller earlier this year.



A former New York City police officer, Schiller has been a fixture at Trumps side for decades, serving as a body man for the New York developer and a point of contact for many people trying to get in touch with Trump.



He is expected to face questions from Democrats about Trump's 2013 trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant, sources told ABC News. Schiller joined Trump on that trip, which is the focus of some of the salacious, unverified allegations in the controversial dossier produced by former British spy Christopher Steele.



Steele was hired by political research firm Fusion GPS to dig up dirt on Trump. The firm was retained by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons presidential campaign after initially working for the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news organization, during the 2016 GOP presidential primary.



In May, Schiller hand-delivered Trumps letter firing former FBI Director James Comey to FBI headquarters. Special counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating the circumstances around Comeys firing.



Schiller was also known on the campaign trail as Trumps enforcer, physically removing Univision anchor Jorge Ramos from a 2015 press conference and hitting a protester in the face outside another Trump Tower event.



Schiller did not respond to a request for comment on his appearance before congressional investigators.





Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
By PTI: Bhopal, Nov 7 (PTI) On the eve of the first anniversary of demonetisation, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today claimed that flesh trade and trafficking of women had reduced substantially in the country due to the move.

He also claimed that the economic move brought down the number of stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir and put a check on Naxal activities.

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"Flesh trade has nosedived in India. Trafficking of women and girls has gone down considerably," the law minister told reporters here while listing the "achievements of demonetisation", a day before the Congress-led oppositions proposed "Black Day" protest.

"Due to the flesh trade, a huge amount of cash used to flow to Nepal and Bangladesh...Notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 (now junked) were used to make payments in the flesh trade, which has now come down," he said.

Prasad claimed that the note ban reduced the number of stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir, put a check on Naxal activities, increased the provident fund (PF) and insurance cover of the employees immensely and gave a huge push to digital transactions.

"I have the data," he added.

Earlier in the day, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, speaking in poll-bound Gujarat, had claimed that the note ban exercise was a failure.

"None of its (note ban) objectives was achieved," he had said during an interactive session with businessmen and traders on the current state of the economy. PTI LAL MAS ADU NP RC

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TOKYO - Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea in response to the continuing threat posed by the reclusive nation's missile and nuclear programs, Japan's top government spokesman said on Tuesday.

The sanctions, mentioned by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a joint news conference with US President Donald Trump on Monday, will freeze the assets of nine organizations and 26 individuals, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

"The North Korean missile and nuclear issue is a pressing threat unseen before. Its provocative actions, in which it has ignored the severe warnings of international society, are totally unacceptable," he said.

The organizations are North Korean banks, several of them based in China, while the individuals are based in a number of nations, including China, Russia and Libya.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday he hoped that an international Syrian peace congress would take place in the near future.

The Russian-sponsored Syrian peace congress scheduled for November 18 was postponed after objections by Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said over the weekend.

Asked whether the congress was postponed, Lavrov told a briefing that the date had not been officially announced. He added that he hoped that the United Nations would support holding the congress.
French police launched an anti-terrorism operation on Tuesday, with raids on premises in the Alpes-Maritimes region in the southeast, a police source said.

The operation comes a week after France introduced tougher national security laws to permanently replace emergency powers given to police and intelligence services following deadly attacks by Islamist militants on Paris two years ago.

More than 240 people have been killed in France since early 2015 in attacks by Islamist militants or assailants inspired by the Islamic State militant group, which has sought to establish a caliphate in Syria and Iraq and called for attacks on France.

France is among countries contributing to military operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Media organisations including Le Parisien newspaper and BFM TV said at least seven people were arrested in a series of raids by elite police troops in the Paris region as well as southeastern towns, including Menton and Aix-en-Provence.
Europe must make clear how it will react if the United States pulls out of the multinational nuclear deal with Iran and do more to encourage international banks to return to the country, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Last month, US President Donald Trump broke ranks with European allies, Russia and China by refusing to re-certify Iran's compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, reached during Barack Obama's tenure.

The Republican president gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran, lifted under the pact in exchange for scaling down a program the West fears was aimed at building a nuclear bomb, something Tehran denies.
Two attackers, one of them a suicide bomber, struck a local TV station in Kabul on Tuesday, killing at least two guards, officials said. The Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the assault.

Najib Danish, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the casualties were a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV.

"There were two attackers and both have been killed," Danish said shortly after the attack, adding that the police have sealed off the station and were combing the premises.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wish Hananel Dorani luck Tuesday upon entering his new position as head of the pro-settlement Yesha Council.

Dorani and Netanyahu met in Jerusalem to discuss the construction of roads and cellular signals in the West Bank.

The new Yesha Council head thanked Netanyahu, assuring him the council will continue to operate with the prime minister and his representatives for the good of the communities.
Britain's foreign secretary phoned his Iranian counterpart Tuesday to express "his anxiety over the continued suffering" of a British-Iranian woman being held in Iran.

Boris Johnson has been under pressure to publicly correct a statement he made about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian who is serving a five-year sentence for plotting the "soft toppling" of Iran's government.

Johnson told lawmakers last week that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "simply teaching people journalism" when she was detained last year. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, insist she was merely visiting her family.
Seven terror attacks against Israelis in the West Bank were thwarted by Palestinian security forces in October, a Palestinian official claimed Tuesday in an interview with Ynet.

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According the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Palestinian security apparatus prevented planned stabbings, shootings and bombings.

Information obtained by Ynet and published at the beginning of the week also illustrated that last month the Palestinian forces arrested scores of Hamas terrorists in the West Bank, despite the reconciliation deal signed in early October between the Gaza-ruling movement and Fatah.

(Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

A total of 46 Hamas terrorists were arrested, while dozens more activists affiliated with other militant factions were also handcuffed, the Palestinian official claimed.

In addition, the official claimed that Palestinian security forces carried out various operations in which weapons and accessories were confiscated, along with ammunitions intended to be used in terror attacks and money earmarked for their funding.

The extensive security activity of the Palestinian security forces carried out against Hamas infrastructures embedded in the West Bank comes shortly after the terror group began ceding control of the Gaza Strip's border crossings with Israel and Egypt to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas as part of the reconciliation agreement brokered by Cairo to end a decade of internal schism.

Rafah crossing

The intensified efforts to clamp down on Hamas in the West Bank however, is also intended to send a clear signal to Israel and the United States that the PA is not willing to permit Hamas to exploit the freshly planted seeds of reconciliation from which a civil and military terror infrastructure could bloom.

With the PA tightening the noose, Hamas has publicly demanded from the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to instruct the security forces to immediately cease its arrests, which the movement dubbed as criminal.
UK Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel has come under attack for reportedly violating parliamentary rules by meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians without receiving official permission or instruction during a visit to Israel.

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Patel was reported to have held 12 meetings during her 13-day trip to Israel, and that at least one of them was conducted at the recommendation of the Israeli ambassador to London.

After being accused of breaking protocol, despite the British Foreign Office stating that it was informed of the visit, Patel published Monday an official letter clarifying the matter.

Min. Patel (Photo: AFP)

A member of the Conservative party, Patel was reported by the BBC last Friday to have discussed state matters with Israeli officials without the prior knowledge of her countrys Foreign Ministry, as is the protocol.

Confronted with the allegations, Patel initially denied any wrongdoing, telling the Guardian that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was aware of the visit, which she had paid for herself, and not with public funding.

In her original statement, Patel said that during her meeting with Netanyahu in August, the two discussed the Israeli political sphere and his recent visit to London. She later changed her position, saying that she had informed the British Foreign Ministry of their meeting in real time, instead of in advance.

Patel apologized for not following protocol in regard to her Israeli meetings. "In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be mis-read, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it."

PM May (Photo: Getty Images)

She also mentioned that the meetings led to greater cooperation between the two nations, and that Britain's interests were not jeopardized in any way by them.

In addition to Netanyahu, Patel reportedly met with Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan, the Foreign Ministry dir. Gen. and MK Yair Lapid, which posted a photo of the meeting to Twitter.

Great to meet with Priti Patel, UK Secretary of State for International Development, today. A true friend of Israel. pic.twitter.com/8q9qSeX7YZ    (@yairlapid) August 24, 2017

Patel further claimed that it was Jewish MP Stuart Polak who was behind her meetings in Israel. Polak is also the director of the Conservative Friends of Israel, a group within the British Parliament dedicated to strengthening ties between Israel and the UK.

British media were quick to report that UK Prime Minister Theresa May had reprimanded Patel for her actions, while the PM's Office responded by saying that May had accepted Patel's apology.

The Labour party, meanwhile, has called to look into Patel's visit and see whether she had violated the Parliament's lobbying rules, with some opposition members going as far as to suggest she resign if she is found to have done so.
By India Today Web Desk: Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on the popular American show, has been accused of rape by actress Kristina Cohen.

In a long Facebook post, the actress wrote about the incident, and stated that the actor raped her at his house.

"I was briefly dating a producer who was friends with the actor Ed Westwick. It was this producer who brought me up to Ed's house where I met Ed for the first time. I wanted to leave when Ed suggested "we should all f**k". But the producer didn't want to make Ed feel awkward by leaving. Ed insisted we stay for dinner. I said I was tired and wanted to leave, trying to get out of what was already an uncomfortable situation. Ed suggested I nap in the guest bedroom. The producer said we would stay for just another 20 more minutes to smooth everything over, and then we could leave.

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So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body. I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to f**k me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me."

According to the post, the alleged assault happened three years ago.

The post comes in wake of the #MeToo campaign, in which many men and women came forward and spoke about their tales of harassment. Thanks to the social media campaign, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey's alleged attempts of molestation and rape have been made public.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Knesset plenum on Tuesday, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which recognized the Jewish peoples right to a "national home" in the Land of Israel. "When the leaders of the Palestinian leadership define the Balfour Declaration as a 'crime', when they call on the British government to apologize for it, they are not going forwardthey are going back, a hundred years back," Netanyahu said. "And that is the root of the conflictthe 100-year refusal to recognize Zionism, to recognize the Jewish national home in the Land of Israel, to recognize the State of Israel within any borders."

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"The tragedy of the Balfour Declaration is that it took 30 years to implement it," said Prime Minister Netanyahu. "It is now absolutely clear: the key to the future of the Jewish people is the Jewish state, and our basic obligation is to stand firm against those who seek to harm us and ensure the existence and future of the State of Israel.

"After it was granted, the Balfour Declaration was supported not just by the League of Nations but also gained the sympathy of some in the Arab world. Prince Feisal (of Syriaed) was at the head of the Arab camp that had rebelled against the Ottoman Empirehe recognized the right of the Jews to establish their national home in Palestine, and Faisal favored cooperation between Jews and Arabs on the basis of mutual understanding and brotherhood.





Netanyahu (Courtesy of the Knesset Channel)

"The Arab nationalistic movement, however, strongly attacked the Balfour Declaration, providing grounds for incitement and violence, not least with the encouragement of the Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini.

"In 1943, he found a loyal partnerHeinrich Himmler, commander of the SS in Germany. Himmler sent the Mufti a congratulatory letter in which he wrote, "Warm Wishes for the continuation of your struggle until the great/final victory."

Netanyahu continued by saying, "Himmler is now gone, the Mufti is now gone, and Zionism has triumphed. Those who seek the roots of the intra-Islamic struggle that we have been witnessing in recent years will find them there."

He continued to state that Israel has been working to strengthern it ties with Arab countries recipient to its efforts. "We are tightening our relations with the moderate elements in the region and establishing peace with Egypt and Jordan. We are acting to achieve peace with other Arab countries who stand with us in the face of radical Islam, and I can only hope that the Palestinians finally adopt this approach and turn to peace. "

Netanyahu and May during his visit to London, last week (Photo: EPA)

Netanyahu also referred to a visit he made last week to Britain, where Malcolm met British Prime Minister Theresa May and hosted a special dinner to mark 100 years to the Balfour Declaration, which included the current Lord Balfour, who defended the declaration by saying, "Jews needed a home because of persecution, so it wasnt something to debate."

"I warmly thanked the British leader Teresa May, who delivered an extraordinary speech in which she made it clear that she would not think of apologizing for her country's assistance in building our national home," added Netanyahu before the Knesset.

Netanyahu thanked May in person last week, saying, "A hundred years after Balfour, the Palestinians should finally accept the Jewish national home and finally accept the Jewish state. And when they do, the road to peace will be infinitely closer. In my opinion, peace will be achievable."
The Jewish National Fund announced Tuesday it will no longer work with the Israel Lands Authority (ILA) under their current agreement.

"In light of repeated violations by the Israeli government of its obligations, we hereby announce that the Israeli Lands Authority is hereby required not to take any action On land owned by the JNF, including any act of marketing land owned by the JNF or any other transaction relating to lands owned by the JNF," stated the JNF announcement.

The letter was sent after the government approved a law stating that if the JNF does not transfer 80 percent of its revenues annually to the state, its tax exemption will be canceled.
An Israeli media mogul and member of the International Olympic Committee has apologized after being accused of sexual harassment by two female journalists.

Haaretz columnist Neri Livneh said this week that Alex Gilady exposed himself to her during a 1999 business meeting at his home. Days earlier, Channel 10 TV journalist Oshrat Kotler said Gilady made an "indecent" proposal during a job interview 25 years ago.
The New Yorker magazine reported that Weinstein hired ex-Mossad investigators to look into women accusing him of sexual assault and harrassment, as well as journalists pursuing the story.

The report said the law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner hired and paid one organization with a background in Israeli intelligence agencies. A spokesman for the firm did not immediately return a request for comment. Boies told the magazine that it would be in the Times' interest if investigators turned up evidence disputing charges against Weinstein.

Meanwhile, the New York Times says it's inexcusable that lawyer David Boies' firm tried to halt the newspaper's investigation into sexual harassment charges against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein while it was also working on other matters for the Times. Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha called that a "grave betrayal of trust."
The gunman who killed 26 people at a small-town Texas church was treated at a mental health center in New Mexico and briefly escaped in 2012, a Houston TV station reported Tuesday.

Devin Patrick Kelley was also caught trying to bring guns onto Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico when he was stationed there, according to an El Paso police report obtained by KPRC.

Kelley, who was 21 at the time, had made death threats against superior officers, the report said.
The children of families affected by deadly terror attacks in the West Bank have joined their parents in fighting for better security along the roads and settlements in which they live, by personally writing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve more security measures in the region.

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Among others, the letter was signed by Yuval, Itay and Nadav Mizrahi, who lost their father, Baruch Mizrahi, in a shooting attack in 2014; Meidad, Hanan and Mazal Hasano, whose father Avraham Hasano was murdered in a vehicular attack in 2015; and Yuval Abutbul, the daughter of Hadas Abutbul, who was murdered in a shooting attack in 2001.

This is the second week in which settlers are protesting outside the Prime Minister's Residence for better security measures in the West Bank. Their children voiced their support by telling Netanyahu, "We stand with our parents' courageous decision to fight so other families in Israel will not have to experience the pain, loss and destruction we have experienced and continue to experience, each and every day.

Itay, Nadan and Yuval Mizrahi, sons of Baruch Mizrahi, who died in terror attack (Courtesy)

"Our parents won't come home until you don't move things forward. Until a budget is not set to fund roads, lighting, proper cellular reception and security cameras for half a million Israeli citizens, living in the West Bank, they are determined to stay on your doorstep.

"These are basic demands entitled to every Israeli citizen," continued the children's letter.

"You still haven't met with our parents or come to talk with them. You're our prime minister, and we love and appreciate you very much! We're asking you, Mr. Prime Ministerit's in your hands! Bring our parents home!"

On Monday, settlers who lost loved ones in terror attacks in the West Bank arrived at the Likud Party meeting to urge Netanyahu to transfer funds to improve the infrastructure in the area in an effort to prevent future deadly terror attacks.

"My name is Adva Biton, mother of Adele Biton. I buried my daughter at age four and eight months. What are you waiting for, the next disaster?" the distraught mother told Netanyahu.

Adele Biton was critically hurt in March 2013 when a truck driver unexpectedly hit the brakes after his vehicle was struck by stones hurled by Palestinians. The car behind him, carrying Adele, her two sisters and their mother, lost control and collided with the truck. The two other sisters, Avigail and Naama sustained moderate injuries. Adele passed away two years later as a result of complications from her injury.

"We're dealing with the pain and loss every day," Biton told Netanyahu. "Every day, we're driving on roads across Judea and Samaria without proper lighting, without cell reception. (Government) representatives come to console us. Everyone is showing empathy. You're all being sincere. But we're tired of this. We want actual decisions, budgets allocated. The citizens in Judea and Samaria deserve a decision."

Hadas Mizrahi, whose husband Baruch Mizrahi was murdered in a shooting attack near Hebron on Seder night three years ago, shared her story with Netanyahu and the other Likud MKs.

"I waited out there for 20 minutes because the (cell) network went down. Twenty minutes with no lighting," she said. "I've been going through this hell for three and a half years, we're being forgotten."
York Police Department

 Friday at 7:53 a.m., report of an accident on S. Lincoln Ave.

 Friday at 8:25 a.m., report of a medical emergency on Edison Ave.

 Friday at 8:27 a.m., report of a traffic-related incident on S. Lincoln Ave.

 Friday at 8:57 a.m., assisted a motorist on S. Lincoln Ave.

 Friday at 9:21 a.m., report of a medical emergency on E. Eighth St.

 Friday at 9:45 a.m., report of a theft on S. Lincoln Ave.

Friday at 9:58 a.m., report of a juvenile-related situation.

 Friday at 2:04 p.m., report of a theft on N. College Ave.

 Friday at 2:46 p.m., report of an accident on W. 10th St.

 Friday at 3:19 p.m., report of possible fraud.

 Friday at 3:23 p.m., report that someone was possibly in need of mental health care.

 Friday at 3:33 p.m., report of a dog running loose on S. Grant Ave.

 Friday at 3:48 p.m., report of a medical emergency on N. Michigan Ave.

 Friday at 4 p.m., report of an accident on S. Lincoln Ave.

 Friday at 4:36 p.m., report of a dog running loose on N. Nebraska Ave.

 Friday at 5:11 p.m., report of a theft on E. David Drive.

 Friday at 5:47 p.m., report of a parking complaint on E. 10th St.

 Friday at 9:38 p.m., checked on the welfare of a pedestrian on N. Grant Ave.

 Friday at 11:15 p.m., report of a dog running loose on Duke Drive.

 Friday at 11:55 p.m., report of an animal running loose on Road 11.

 Saturday at 4:20 a.m., report of criminal trespassing on N. Grant Ave.

 Saturday at 6:49 a.m., assisted the fire department on Highway 81 and the 93D Spur.

 Saturday at 8:08 a.m., report of a traffic-related incident on S. Lincoln Ave.

 Saturday at 1:26 p.m., report that someone was being physically harassed on N. Grant Ave.

 Saturday at 2:08 p.m., report of a juvenile-related incident on E. Eighth St.

 Saturday at 3:24 p.m., report of a dog running loose on N. Nebraska Ave.

 Saturday at 4:05 p.m., report of a traffic-related incident on N. Lincoln Ave.

 Saturday at 5:31 p.m., report of a dog running loose on N. Thompson Ave.

 Saturday at 6:23 p.m., report of a traffic-related incident on N. Division Ave.

 Saturday at 7:20 p.m., report of a domestic dispute on N. College Ave.

 Saturday at 8:35 p.m., report of a parking complaint on W. 18th St.

 Saturday at 8:44 p.m., report of a medical emergency on S. Platte Ave.

 Sunday at 12:25 a.m., report of a medical emergency on N. Lincoln Ave.

 Sunday at 1:36 a.m., assisted a motorist on N. Platte Ave.

 Sunday at 1:04 a.m., assisted a motorist on S. Cowan Ave.

 Sunday at 1:13 a.m., report of suspicious activity on N. Lincoln Ave.

 Sunday at 11:42 a.m., assisted a motorist on E. David Drive.

 Sunday at 1:20 p.m., report that property was lost.

 Sunday at 4:42 p.m., report of an accident on N. Blackburn Ave.

 Sunday at 6:14 p.m., report of a juvenile-assault on N. College Ave.

 Monday at 2:04 a.m., assisted a motorist on S. Lincoln Ave.

York County

Sheriffs Department

 Thursday, reports of medical emergencies in the York and Henderson areas.

 Thursday, report of an accident on the interstate.

 Thursday, assisted an outside agency in the York area.

 Thursday, report of a motor vehicle theft in the York area.

 Thursday, report of a fire in the Bradshaw area.

 Thursday, report of an assault in the York area.

 Thursday, report of suspicious activity in the York area.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Women who are sexually harassed at their workplaces in the private sector can now lodge their complaints on a government portal, Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi said today.

Launching the portal, the minister said the online complaint management system ? SHe-box (sexual harassment electronic box) ? would be hosted on the WCDs website.

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Harassment could include the use of foul language or cracking of lewd jokes, she said.

The complaint mechanism, which the ministry had initiated for government employees in July, is now open for women working in the private sector, too.

"We received 346 complaints from women employed in the government sector. Seeing such a huge response we are opening SHe-box to all women who have faced any kind of sexual harassment at the workplace in India," Gandhi told reporters.

Referring to the #MeToo campaign on Twitter sparked by allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, Gandhi said, "India is the first country in the world that is responding as a government."

A cell under the ministry will look into every complaint filed online and share it with the concerned organisations internal complaints committee (ICC), which is a mandatory requirement under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013.

Complainants will also be able to monitor the status of the inquiry initiated by the ICC.

Elaborating on the kind of offences women can complain about online, Gandhi said, "Not just physical harassment but also complaints of being transferred or terminated by an employer, discrimination due to maternity (can be filed). It is not necessary that there is physical touch but (harassment can include) men using foul language or cracking lewd jokes."

While the law requires all organisations to submit an annual report on the number of complaints of sexual harassment received, there is no mechanism to ensure compliance.

Maneka Gandhi said she would appeal to the finance ministry once again to make the disclosure of the constitution of an ICC mandatory under Section 134 of the Companies Act, 2013 -- a proposal earlier shot down.

Under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, it is compulsory for any organisation with 10 or more employees to set up an ICC for addressing complaints of sexual misconduct.

A committee should consist of a presiding officer who is a woman employee at a senior level in the same organisation, at least two employees "preferably committed to the cause of women", and a member from an NGO or a person "familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment".

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The committee would have powers similar to that of a civil court and have to complete its inquiry within 90 days. An employer who doesnt constitute an ICC could face a fine of up to Rs 50,000. PTI JC BDS

--- ENDS ---
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

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Despite growing concerns that the property market may see a downturn, a significant number of Australians said they were optimistic about the direction of property prices in their area in six months time.

A recent National Property Seller Sentiment Survey, conducted by OpenAgent, a real estate agent referral platform company, in partnership with onthehouse.com.au (a CoreLogic business), has unveiled numerous insights from property sellers.

The survey drew 8,000 responses from 3,185 recipients who opted into the survey over the past 11 months to September.

A key takeout from the survey was Perth, which, after years of delivering lacklustre property activity, finally looks to be making a comeback, said Marta Higuera, co-founder and co-CEO of OpenAgent.

The survey also revealed that there has been a significant shift from a pessimistic to an optimistic homeowner sentiment. On the flipside, the survey confirmed that Sydneys property price confidence has been slowly eroding since the beginning of the year, making Melbourne the leading capital city in terms of pricing outlook [as seen by homeowners].

The index used in the survey operates on a scale of -10 to +10. Hence, a reading of 0 denotes a neutral view, +5 denotes strong optimism, and -5 denotes strong pessimism.

When breaking down national sentiment, a relative low in consumer sentiment appeared in the index from the second quarter of 2017 into the third quarter, with readings of between +3.6 and +3.7 for the four consecutive months. In contrast, consumer sentiment was higher in January, March, and April, when index values were at least +4.0.

In New South Wales, there was a steady decline in consumer sentiment, from a peak of +6.5 in January 2017. Some fluctuation occurred in the third quarter, with values of +4.2 in July, +4.9 in August, and +3.8 in September. In Victoria, index values hovered around +5.5 this year, with an occasional spike downward, though no clear trend has emerged.

As for the capitals, Melbourne is now the clear winner when it comes to price growth expectation at +5.4. This is followed by Sydney (+4.2), Adelaide (+3.9), and Brisbane (+3.8).

Related Stories:

Customers In Different States Rate Their Lenders

National Outlook For House & Unit Prices To Soften
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Green bodies today called for a "systematic and coordinated" action plan to check air pollution which soared to "severe" levels in the national capital, raising health concerns.

A combination of smoke from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and moisture turned Delhi into a "gas chamber" today, prompting authorities to announce a series of preventive measures including a four-fold hike in parking fees and slashing of metro fares.

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Delhi recorded 448 on the air quality index the second time this year.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) suggested closure of schools and introduction of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

It said air pollution levels were increasing over the last 35 days and at present pollutant concentrations are three to five times higher than the prescribed standards.

Huge quantities of pollutant emissions are being released in the Delhi-NCR and upwind regions from various sources, TERI said.

Low wind speeds and inversion conditions are leading to severe pollutant concentrations, which have extremely adverse health outcomes, such as increased respiratory disorders and cardio-vascular problems.

"We suggest stringent enforcement of the plan with emphasis on restricted entry of trucks other than those complying with BS-IV regulations... extensive cleaning of roads using mechanised and manual mechanism," it said and added that schools be shut.

It said the government should bring back the odd-even scheme and that two-wheelers, taxis and women should not be exempt from it.

Among other measures, it said government and private employees should be allowed to work from home and strict enforcement of the ban on DG sets should be ensured.

Alarming levels of pollution in Delhi calls for an action on a war-footing, Akshima Tejas Ghate, Associate Director (Transport and Urban Governance) TERI said.

Greenpeace India said a systematic, time-bound and comprehensive action plan addressing all sources of pollution is the need of the hour.

It said the situation in Delhi-NCR is a result of the episodic event of crop biomass burning.

"Delhi remains the epicenter of the pollution debate. However, Punjab, Haryana and most parts of northern India breath even worse quality of air," said Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Greenpeace India. PTI TDS GVS

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking to transfer a cash-for-vote scam case relating to the 2015 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council election to the CBI.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the petition will be heard along with another plea challenging the Hyderabad High Court decision setting aside a trial court order directing the anti-corruption bureau to probe the role of alleged suspects including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The plea, filed by YSR Congress party MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, has sought direction from the apex court to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to hand over the probe to CBI.

"Proposed accused being the Chief Minister of the State is a highly influential person in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh especially in the capital city of Hyderabad. In view of the same, the investigation in the crime has come to a complete standstill after the filing of the initial charge sheet," the plea said.

Reddy also alleged that the state police was not acting or carrying out investigation in the matter and was not in a position to conduct a fair and impartial probe.

"Therefore in the interest of justice, the investigation be hand over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or otherwise the guilty will escape the clutches of the law," the plea said.

The apex court had on March 6 issued notice to Naidu on Reddy's plea challenging the high court order.

The Hyderabad High Court had in December last year set aside the Special ACB Court's order directing the Telangana ACB to conduct probe into the role of suspects, including Naidu, in the scam.

The matter had surfaced when Telangana TDP legislator Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31, 2015, for allegedly offering Rs 50 lakh to nominated MLA Stephenson in order to make him vote for the TDP-BJP candidate in the elections to Telangana's Legislative Council.

ACB, which had laid a trap on a complaint by Stephenson, had also arrested Revanth's aides.

In November last year, an ACB court ordered that Naidu's reported role in the case be probed.
Jaipur: Film distributors in Rajasthan are wary of releasing Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, scheduled to hit the screens on December 1.



"I can talk about my company... We will not like to buy the distribution rights of the film till the controversy is resolved," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor here, told IANS.



Echoing similar views, another distributor on condition of anonymity, said: "No one would like to be part of controversy... So I would not like to buy the distribution rights."



The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community and the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, a Brahmin community organisation, have decided to oppose the release of the film. According to them, historical facts have been distorted in the film.



"They are trying to defame Padmavati by distorting historical facts. It is not acceptable," an activist of Sri Rajput Karni Sena said.



There are around 300 screens in Rajasthan and it will be a loss of around Rs 5 crore if the film is not released in the state, sources said.



"We are demanding that Bhansali's team should screen the movie for historians and intellectuals before releasing it as was promised by them a few months back. We are apprehensive that historical facts have been distorted in the movie," Vishavbandhu Rathore, Pradesh Mahasachiv, Sri Rajput Karni Sena, told IANS.



In January, activists of Sri Rajput Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of "Padmavati", claiming Bhansali was distorting historical facts in the movie.



The movie sets out to tell the tale of Rani Padmavati - the legendary Mewar queen known as much for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her courage, her husband Maharawal Ratan Singh - a glorious Rajput ruler and a warrior king who fought till his dying breath to defend his kingdom and his wife's honour and Sultan Alauddin Khilji - an ambitious and obsessive invader.



The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, along with other organisations, had called for a Chittorgarh bandh on November 3. Along with like-minded organisations, the Karni Sena plans to organise a big rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on November 12 against the movie.
Mumbai: Its been a while we have been discussing Jhanvi Kapoors debut film. The daughter of veteran actress Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, Jhanvi has already become a huge hit on social media.

The young girl, who will be launched by Karan Johar has been paired with Ishaan Khattar, half-brother of superstar Shahid Kapoor, latest buzz suggests.

Indian movie industry tracker Ramesh Bala, took to Twitter Monday to share this latest development.

He tweeted: #JhanviKapoor and #IshaanKhattar starrer Hindi remake of Marathi Blockbuster #Sairat will go on da floors from Dec 1st.. @karanjohar co-prod (sic).

#JhanviKapoor and #IshaanKhattar starrer Hindi remake of Marathi Blockbuster #Sairat will go on da floors from Dec 1st.. @karanjohar co-prod pic.twitter.com/nv71vKoweh  Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) 6 November 2017

However, neither Dharma Productions nor Sridevi has confirmed the news or made any announcement regarding the same. Jhanvi has been seen with Ishaan a few times in the recent past and this added more spark to speculations about their collaboration for a film.

The two young actors will start shooting for the official Hindi remake of blockbuster Marathi movie Sairat from December 1, reports suggest.

Sairat directed by Nagraj Manjule introduced young actor Akash Thosar and Rinku Rajguru to the world of Marathi cinema. The young actress went on to bag National Film Award  Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film). The film released on April 29, 2016.

Ishaan will be making his debut with world famous Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidis Beyond The Clouds. The first look poster of the film was revealed at the Berlin Film Festival and is being jointly produced by Zee Studios and Eyecandy Films.

Jhanvi and Ishaan are among the array of celebrity kids who are gearing up for their dreamlike Bollywood debut. Besides Jhanvi and Ishaan, Sara Ali Khan (daughter of Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan), Karan Deol (Son of Sunny Deol too are all set to make an entry into the world of celluloid.
New Delhi: One of the much talked about and highly anticipated trailers Tiger Zinda Hai is out! And we must say it has all the ingredients of a high octane action masala potboiler Bollywood film.

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif rock the screens together after a hiatus of five long years and that in itself makes it a must watch. Tiger Zinda Hai trailer is full of power stunts imagery, drama and romance too.

The trailer has a gripping plot and is bound to give you goosebumps. The film is definitely way too larger-than-life from its original and there are many wow moments in the enticing trailer as well. The story of an Indian agent Tiger and Pakistani spy Zoya is set to let the cash registers ringing as we know it's going to be a merry Christmas this year! Also, veteran actor Girish Karnad can be seen reprising his role as Shenoy, Tiger's boss.

Tiger Zinda Hai is a sequel to 2012 blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger which was helmed by Kabir Khan. The sequel is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and is hitting the screens on December 22, 2017.

The action stunts look a class apart as famous Hollywood action director Tom Struthers had been given the charge to plan it in a big way.

Do tell us how you find the trailer?
Chennai: Tamil film icon Kamal Haasan, who recently courted a controversy over his comments on Hindu right-wing terror groups, said on Tuesday that his remarks were lost in translation.

"I never used the word 'terrorist', I used 'extremist'," he said.

Hassan had recently come under attack a Tamil Daily quoted him as saying ''the existence of Hindu terrorists could not be denied and that where the Hindus once used to debate, they have now resorted to violence.''

"I definitely don't want to hurt Hindu sentiments, as I myself belong to a Hindu family, but have taken a different path," Haasan added.

"The right-wing cannot challenge the talk of the Hindu terrorists because terror has spread into their camp as well," the Tamil film icon had reportedly written.

Referring to the controversy over his write up in the Tamil weekly last week, the actor said violence in the name of any religion was not proper, adding it was not his "appeal" against violence but "apprehension."

Amid strong buzz of his taking the political plunge and possibly launching a party by next year, the veteran Tamil actor today announced the launching of a mobile application that would serve as a platform to communicate with the people.

Addressing a press conference on with his 63rd birthday, the actor said he was ''already there'' referring to questions on his possible entry into the world of politics.

"I am already here," (that he was in politics) and holding discussions with various experts on the matter,'' he added.

Talking about the soon-to-be-launched mobile application, Haasan said, "The app 'maiyamwhistle' is currently in the developmental stage and would be launched by January."

The actor also informed that he would undertake a state-wide tour of Tamil Nadu to communicate with the people ahead of launching a political party.

"After the launch of the mobile app, we will indicate when I will be touring Tamil Nadu to understand my people from a different perspective, not as an artiste," he said.

The mobile application, which is 'beta tested', would provide a platform to users to quickly report any complaint that needs to be redressed in a transparent manner, Haasan said, adding after the app is launched, he would explain how it works and then "we will have series of announcements."

"It is a very important day. It is hopefully a day towards progress. Progress not just for an individual but also for Tamil Nadu," he said.

"There has been constant references in the media that I will be introducing an app. I am not saying it is wrong. This 'maiamwhistle' is not just an app, we are creating a platform through which people can be reached at various levels," the actor said.

Asserting that he has been waiting for many years for a "change", he said, "We have waited for many years. I have waited for many years for a change. No need to be in a hurry. We are not doing what everybody else is doing, we are trying to be honest."

The clarification from the actor came nearly a week he was criticised over his comments on right-wing extremism by several Hindu outfits, including the RSS.

Haasan said he was not bothered about how many Hindus were present in that hall or even in the country but was concerned about those back at home.

"I will be reduced to tears if they (family) deny me the weapon called love," he said. "No religion preaches violence.... I never begin a word trying to hurt Hindus. Because I hail from that family," the actor said.

A complaint was filed against the actor in a court in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus by his remarks.

"Earlier such Hindu right-wingers, without indulging in violence against those belonging to other religions, made the latter indulge in violence through their arguments and counter-arguments," he had said in the controversial remarks.

However, since "this old conspiracy" had begun to fail, the groups were indulging in violence, he had said.

"Extremism is in no way a (mark of) success or growth for those who call themselves Hindus," he had said in the write-up.

With PTI inputs
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned chairman of Yash Raj Films (YRF) Aditya Chopra; vice-president of Sony Music India Shridhar Subramanium and MD-CEO of Universal Music Devraj Sanyal, for recording their statements in connection with the alleged multi-crore royalty non-payment scam, media reports have said.

The music bigwigs are likely to appear before the agency in a couple of days with relevant documents, media reports further stated.

The move, reportedly comes in the backdrop of quizzing and recording statements of Bhushan Kumar, managing director of T-Series, and Vikram Mehra of the Saregama music label.

Quoting Vinod Bhanushali, President - Marketing, Media, Publishing and Music Acquisition, T-Series, reports said, As law-abiding citizens, whatever documents are required, we have submitted to the ED team. We have not collected any royalties of composers and lyricists. We have collected royalties for our sound recordings, which are legally purchased from producers.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) will undergo sweeping changes to provide relief to traders, consumers and other sections hit by it, after Congress comes to power in 2019, says Rahul Gandhi.

By PTI, India Today Web Desk: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi is raring to go for the upcoming elections. He said today that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would undergo sweeping changes to provide relief to traders, consumers and other sections hit by it, after his party comes to power at the Centre in 2019.

He also hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his charge of rampant corruption in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh claiming that according to a NITI Aayog report, graft levels in the hill state were way below others. Himachal fared far better than BJP-ruled Gujarat on development parameters, he said citing the report.

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He also accused Modi of speaking "selectively" on the issue of corruption and demanded to know where the jobs that the BJP had promised were.

"We will completely change the GST after coming to power in 2019 to mitigate the sufferings of the people hit by it," Rahul Gandhi said addressing poll rallies at Paonta Sahib, Chamba and Nagrota in the poll-bound hill state.

Responding to the claims of BJP leaders that the tax was passed with Congress support, he said that GST that has been implemented by the Modi government was not what was proposed by his party.

"The government implemented the GST in haste with the highest tax slab of 28 per cent and a very complicated procedure of filing returns which has ruined businesses," the Congress vice president said.

He said the agitation planned by the Congress on the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 was aimed at highlighting the plight of small businesses, youth, women and farmers, who had suffered the most.

Taking on Prime Minister Modi over his allegations of widespread corruption in Himachal, Rahul Gandhi said that as per a NITI Aayog report, corruption level was lowest in Himachal and it was also adjudged the best in the country in education, health and cleanliness.

Comparing the data for Himachal and Gujarat, he claimed that the hill state was ahead on all parameters be it health, education, employment or any other sector.

The Congress vice president accused Modi of speaking selectively on issues related to corruption and alleged "he never spoke about the Vyapam scam, Lalit Modi scam or any other scam surfacing in BJP ruled states and has skipped mention of Jai Shah, or his crorepati business friends".

He blamed the prime minister for "squeezing employment opportunities" in the country and asked "where are the two crore annual jobs, promised by the BJP in 2014?"

Demonetisation and GST have not only resulted in big job losses but also destroyed the basic structure for creating job opportunities; he claimed adding that the government policies were helping only a few corporate houses.

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Drawing a comparison with China, Rahul Gandhi said that, "China gives jobs to 50,000 people every 24 hours while the Modi government provides employment to only 450 people, which means that jobs provided by China in two days equals the jobs provided by Modi government in an year.

"The prime duty of the prime minister should be job creation for the unemployed youths," he said adding that it was not being done which was a betrayal.

Questioning the prime minister on the benefits of the "painful exercise of demonetisation", Rahul Gandhi said that it was "a loot of people's hard earned money".

He said Prime Minister Modi should tell the nation where the "black money" recovered during demonetisation was.

He asked the people to beware of BJP claiming that false promises and steps like demonetisation and GST were the real face of the saffron party.

Quoting from the speech of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said that "there are two categories of people; first those who just believe in the working, and second who don't believe in working but are quick in claiming credit".

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"Modiji is very quick in taking the credit but poor in working, while the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh, followed the teachings of Bhagwad Gita : Work relentlessly and the results will show," he claimed.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the he is committed to granting tribal status to the Trans-Giri area of Sirmour district and his government had raised this issue time and again with the Union government. He also said that he was not afraid of BJPs claims and allegations, as he was confident that the people of the state were with the Congress.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Prince Riaz Oudh died a forgotten and lonely man on September 3. His body was discovered was discovered three days after he died.

There were no external injury marks on his body and any suspicion of foul play was also ruled out. Police claimed that he died of natural causes.

The last prince of the royal house of Oudh was laid to rest without anyone being told about it as he had no surviving relatives.

Police did try to call some phone numbers but they were switched off.

Following are some of the details of Prince Riaz's life story:

- His body was found outside his home, the 700-year-old dilapidated Malcha Mahal.

- Prince Riaz's sister Sakina had died a few months ago. Their mother, the Begum of Oudh had poisoned herself in 1993.

- As per reports, the prince used to pour water into a glass kept on the table, where his mother used to sit.

- The prince's mother called herself Begum Wilayat Mahal and claimed to be the direct heir to the Oudh kings.

- Once upon a time, his family used to have vast estates and huge palaces.

- The last Nawab of Oudh ruled till 1856 following which the family lost their fortune.

- In 1970s the Begum camped herself in the first class waiting room of the Delhi railway station together with her young son and daughter, seven liveried Nepali servants, some 15 ferocious bloodhounds, and a collection of huge and beautiful Persian carpets.

- There she insisted she and her retinue would stay until the Indian government recognised the sacrifice she claimed her family had made during the uprising against the British in 1857.

- In May 1985, Malcha Mahal was allotted to the royals of Oudh.

- In return of their ancestral property in Lucknow, the Begum had got the Malcha Mahal and a monthly allowance of Rs 500.

- The place had no electricity, no doors, no windows and no water.

- After his mother's death, the Prince used to live there with his sister Princess Sakina.

- It was when his sister too died that Cyrus became terribly lonely.

- After his death, the prince was laid to rest on September 5 at the burial grounds near ITO. Later the Waqf board was informed.
Washington: Observing that the recent increase in India's ease of doing business ranking by the World Bank was long overdue, a top Indian American economist today said the country as a place for business is a lot more attractive than its ranking suggests.

Investors usually go where the environment is the best and not where the World Bank collects its data, Arvind Panagariya, professor at the prestigious Columbia University, told PTI in an interview.

"Our best investment destinations do significantly better than the latter," said the former vice chairman of NITI Aayog.

"I have often said that India as a place to do business is a lot more attractive than the World Bank ranking suggests. This is because the bank collects its data in Delhi and Mumbai, not in the states with the best business environment such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat," he said.

Panagariya was responding to a question on the latest annual report of the World Bank on ease of doing business.

India registered an impressive 30-point jump in one year, registering the best performance among emerging economies.

"This (increase in ranking) was overdue. The government had made a large number of improvements that did not get included last year. I am delighted this has been rectified in the 2018 rankings," Panagariya said.

The single most important factor, for this he said, has been the focused effort by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to "cajole" the relevant entities into making improvements to the ease of doing business in areas covered by the World Bank survey.

The DIPP created a detailed checklist of items and saw to it that the entities involved do the needful, noted the economist who headed NITI Aayog from January 2015 to August 2017.

"From NITI, we helped the DIPP where we could, particularly in getting the states on board," he said, adding that frankly, this is the area in which the credit must go largely to DIPP.

Panagariya said he has known for some time that the processes were undergoing improvement continuously after the present government came to office.

But the recognition of this fact by a major international financial institution sends a very important signal, he said.

"As you must know, the western press has been slow to recognise the improvements in governance that have taken place in India in the last three years. Hopefully, the jump in the rankings will go some distance towards convincing foreign investors that India is fast changing as a place to do business," he hoped.

Based on the series of reforms that have been going on for quite some time now, the economist exuded confidence in further improvement in India's ranking next year.

"Not only can India improve its ranking, it will do so. Many improvements already in place have not been included in the 2018 rankings due to usual lags between implementation and their recognition. Inclusion of these change alone would give India another boost in the 2019 rankings," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now set the target of India's ranking in ease of doing business in the top 50. This he said is achievable, but one should not underestimate the difficulties.

"The prime minister always thinks big. At the time, he moots these big ideas, they seem unachievable. But he makes them achievable," he said.

"Today, reaching into the top 50 looks a lot more within our gasp, though we should not underestimate the difficulty: as we climb up, the slope gets steeper and steeper since we are competing against better and better performing countries," Panagariya told PTI.

Responding to a question, Panagariya said there are several areas where there is considerable scope for improvement. Prominent among them being registration of properties, enforcement of contracts, starting a business, construction permits and trading across borders.

"Each of these areas has its own multiple pain points that must be addressed using the DIPP checklist approach," he said.

India, he asserted, is already looking a lot better than in May 2014.

"The growth rate during the last three full financial years has averaged 7.5 per cent compared with 5.9 per cent during the last two years of the UPA. By May 2019, we will see further improvement," Panagariya said.
AHMEDABAD: In the run-up to Gujarat elections, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government over demonetisation while addressing businessmen, professionals and traders on the current economic situation in Ahmedabad.

"November 8 was a black day for our economy and indeed our democracy. Tomorrow we mark one year since the disastrous policy was thrust on the people of our country," the former PM said in Gujarat.

Criticising the policy, he said that coercive steps like demonetisation are ineffective in promoting less cash economy. "Nowhere in the world has any nation taken such a drastic step that swept off 86% of the currency," he said.

Repeating what he earlier said on demonetisation in Parliament, he said: "This was organised loot and legalized plunder."

Also criticising the goods and services tax, Singh said the fear of tax terrorism has eroded the confidence of Indian business to invest. "This twin demonetisation and GST blow is a complete disaster for our economy, it has broken the back of our small businesses," he said.

Ahead of his visit, Dr Singh had on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi government over its economic policies like demonetisation. Terming the notes ban as a catastrophic economic policy, Singh said that the move would aggravate inequalities and prove to be a "far greater social malaise" in a diverse country like India.

He asked Modi to accept the "blunder" and work towards a consensus to rebuild the economy.

"Demonetisation has proved to be a catastrophic economic policy. The damage it has caused has been multiple fold - economic, social, reputational and institutional. Slowing GDP is merely one indicator of the economic damage. Its impact on the weaker sections of our society and business is far more damaging than any economic indicator can reveal," he said.
Ahmedabad: Ahead of Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will on Tuesday kick-start BJP's mass contract drive, 'Gujarat Gaurav Maha-Sampark Abhiyan', in an attempt to maximise its reach to voters across the state.

The 'abhiyan' would continue till November 12, under the 50,000-odd polling booths.

The BJP members would visit households across the state to canvass for the party.

Shah will launch the 'abhiyan' from his constituency Naranpura.

The BJP workers will try to visit every household and educate the electorate regarding party's development model.

Gujarat will go to polls on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes in the Gujarat Assembly Polls would be held on December 18.

During the drive, the party would distribute publicity materials and a leaflet carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to voters.

State leaders, including Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, would take part in the drive.

BJP heavyweights and Union Ministers Smriti Irani, JP Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, VK Singh, Mansukh Mandaviya and Prakash Javadekar would participate and in the 'abhiyan'.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Manmohan Singh is set to visit poll-bound Gujarat on Tuesday. He is expected to interact with traders and businessmen on issues like GST and current situation of economy.

Ahead of his visit, the Congress leader attacked the Narendra Modi government over its economic policies like demonetisation. Terming the notes ban as a catastrophic economic policy, Singh warned that the move would aggravate inequalities and prove to be a "far greater social malaise" in a diverse country like India.
Ahmedabad: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be joining the Opposition-sponsored ''Black Day'' protest to mark the first anniversary of the Centre's much-criticised demonetisation move on Wednesday.

As per reports, the Congress vice president will visit Surat on Wednesday, the textile and diamond capital of the country, to participate in a candle-light vigil there as part of the "Black Day" protest.

Gandhi is expected to reach Surat early morning, after which he will have informal meetings with the industry representatives and workers during the day, sources in the Congress said.

"He will have formal interaction with traders in Adajan area of the city in the evening," the sources added.

"He will participate in a candle-light vigil on the 'Black Day' near Vivekanand Statue in Chowk Bazar area of Surat city after a formal meeting with traders," they said.

Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi confirmed the proposed visit and the programme of the party vice president.

Congress and other Opposition parties have decided to observe November 8, the date when Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year announced demonetisation, as "Black Day".

Gandhi's decision to take part in the protest in Gujarat is significant as the state is going to polls next month.
Ahmedabad: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will visit Surat on Wednesday, the textile and diamond capital of the country, to participate in a candle-light vigil as part of the Opposition parties' 'Black Day' protest.

He is expected to have informal meetings with the industry representatives and workers during the day, sources in the Congress said.

"He will have formal interaction with traders in Adajan area of the city in the evening," the sources added.

"He will participate in a candle light vigil on the 'Black Day' near Vivekanand Statue in Chowk Bazar area of Surat city tomorrow after a formal meeting with traders," they said, as per PTI.

Congress and other Opposition parties have decided to observe November 8, the date when Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year announced demonetisation, as 'Black Day'.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday called demonetisation a "watershed moment" while former PM Manmohan Singh said it was a "reckless step".

Singh and Jaitley were locked in a fresh war of words after the Congress veteran said he is repeating what he said earlier that demonetisation was an "organised loot and legalised plunder."

Jaitley hit back at the former prime minister, insisting that demonetisation was an "ethical drive and a moral step" that made corruption difficult.

He said the "loot" is what happened in 2G scam, commonwealth games and allocation of coal blocks, whereas demonetisation was an economic exercise based on ethical and moral rationales.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Out of 338 candidates contesting the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, only 19 are women, the Election Commission said on Tuesday.



The poll panel also said that about 112 candidates are contesting the assembly elections as independents; the main parties, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are contesting on all the 68 seats.



The Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting on 42, CPI-M is contesting on 14, CPI is contesting on three and the Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party is contesting on two seats each.



A total of over 50.2 lakh voters consisting of over 25.68 lakh male and 24.57 lakh women voters will cast their votes on November 9.



The elections will be held at 7,525 polling stations across the state.



According to the poll panel, Lahaul and Spiti is the largest constituency area-wise but the smallest in terms of number voters.



Dharamshala, with 12 candidates, is the constituency with maximum candidates, while Jhanduta reserved seat has the minimum candidates with only two candidates.


NEW DELHI: Delhi woke up partially blind and with gasping breaths on Tuesday morning. A thick blanket of smoke covered the city, affecting visibility, promising traffic jams and causing concern in millions of households of impending breathing trouble for family members.

The Punjab government claimed just last week that stubble burning, or crop burning as it has come to be known in public imagination, has reduced by up to 30 percent this year. Of course, on Tuesday morning, that was hardly evident in the National Capital Region.

Northwesterly winds from the Punjab-Haryana region are expected to continue smoking out the Delhi atmosphere for at least two more days.

Particulate matter in the air soared to scary levels. Central Delhi had a PM2.5 level of 792 g/m3 near India Gate at 7:30 am. Now, this is a part of the city that usually sees better air quality thanks to the higher level of green cover of Lutyens zone.

PM2.5 level was 856 g/m3 in Anand Vihar, 894 g/m3 at Punjabi Bagh and a figuratively apt 666 g/m3 in Tughlakabad.

The maximum PM2.5 level considered 'safe' by Indian standards is 60 g/m3. It is 25 g/m3 by most international standards.

The level of PM2.5 in the air may not be the best indicator of overall air quality. But it is critical because it at that size that particulate matter can directly enter the human blood stream through as simple an activity as breathing.

Every year, around this time, northern regions of the country are covered in smoke that comes out of the practice of burning the remaining stubble of crops instead of clearing them. This is done by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Calls to end the practice have borne little fruit considering the politics of attempting to control farmers of the region.

Even Pakistan had blamed its own smog troubles on the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. However, scientists have rubbished Pakistan's claims.
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for steps in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to prevent crop stubble burning from turning Delhi into a 'gas chamber' every year. He said this after a torrid morning in which a public emergency was declared because of the literally sky-high levels of air pollution.

"Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states," Kejriwal tweeted.

Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 7, 2017

"All of us together have to find a soln to this," he added in another tweet.

Though Kejriwal did not specifically name the states in which the crop stubble burning take splace each year, his call to work together involves mostly working with BJP government.

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh set fire to the stubble of their crop during this time of the year to clear the fields for the next sowing season. When combined with falling temperatures and weather patterns that push the smoke southwards and keep them locked in the region, this causes heavy smoke and smog throughout the area. The issue comes into acute focus each year, especially around Diwali.

In 2016, the situation was worse than ever before as smoke from the raging forest fires in Uttarakhand too descended to the plains.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had taken a stern stand on the issue and called for ways to end the practice of stubble burning. The Punjab government only last week had told the NGT that stubble burning had reduced about 30 percent this year.

The issue of crop burning has the potential to become a hot-button political issue, pitting urban interests against the agrarian concerns of the rural belts.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgium's King Philippe today held talks to strengthen bilateral ties.

Modi and the Belgian king, who is accompanied by six ministers and a high-powered business delegation comprising CEOs of 86 Belgian companies, held talks in Hyderabad House.

"Held talks with the King of the Belgians. India cherishes the ties with Belgium and we look forward to diversifying bilateral cooperation," Modi tweeted.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU, according to official data.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion. While exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.

Ahead of the meeting with Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary, who arrived here on Sunday on a week-long trip, his first state visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

"Swaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit will further strengthen the historically strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.

Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, were accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
By Srivatsan: "Indha samuthayathula nadakara annithiku ethura vara mudhal kural enn kural-a dhan irukkum. I'm just a stupid common man of this republic," says an unnamed caller in Unnaipol Oruvan, a remake of the Hindi film, A Wednesday. Considering the political developments in Tamil Nadu over the last few months, the dialogue has never been more apt to describe yet another matinee idol -- who appears to have positioned himself as a potential third front -- Kamal Haasan.

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We've been following Haasan's career so long that it's difficult to draw a line between his on and off-screen persona. If not in India, Kamal Haasan is unarguably the best actor in Tamil cinema. In a career over six decades, Haasan has donned several characters. What's amusing is that the multifaceted actor has never played a hardcore politician (barring Indrudu Chandrudu) in films. Which is perhaps the reason why Kamal Haasan has chosen to get his hands dirty by entering into active politics. It was all the more evident when Haasan recently made a visit to Ennore to highlight the ecological crisis. The move was widely perceived as his first step towards 'cleaning' politics. The video of Kamal Haasan on the field, that went viral, was compared to the scene from Thevar Magan.

Though he unabashedly admits that he's an opportunist, the fact remains that Haasan's political entry is out of compulsion, of course, not from the people. Since the demise of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, Haasan has ruffled political feathers with the ruling EPS and OPS fractions. Taking into account the political vacuum in the state, Kamal was asked a question whether this was the opportune time to enter politics. To which, Haasan said, "This is the wrong time to enter politics. That's why I'm coming." Call it a punch dialogue if you may, but Kamal Haasan, if not anything, is an excellent orator -- a quintessential Dravidian hormone that has always translated to vote banks, considering the likes of CN Annadurai and MK Karunanidhi.

In a recent interview, Kamal Haasan had requested the journalist to no longer ask 'will he or won't he'. As the people of Tamil Nadu eagerly await his next move, we take a look at Haasan's controversial life.

POLITICAL PAWN

Kamal Haasan has the record of highest number of Oscars submissions in India. If someone were to audit the numbers of cases filed against the Vishwaroopam star, it shouldn't be a surprise that he may have achieved a rare feat too. From defamation cases to death threats, his bold stand over some of the sensitive issues in the country has always caused more damage than good. The politics over Haasan stems from the fact that he's an atheist, although he hails from an upper-caste background. Smitten by Periyar's principles, Haasan has remodelled himself as a rationalist. He never misses an opportunity to take on religion and superstition, and most of his films have a strong political statement. While addressing his fans on Sunday, Haasan said, "I'm ready to take few beats. But I must warn you, I'm not a Mridangam." How appropriate of this to come from a man, who's been accused of being self-indulgent and a 'pompous' idiot.

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Over the years, political parties/fringe groups have merely used Haasan a punchbag to gain political mileage. His Vishwaroopam was regarded as the best film by LK Advani, while the Congress called for a ban against Hey Ram for the same reason. This is not just limited to national parties. In Tamil Nadu, the Thevar caste took offence to Haasan's Thevar Magan for portraying their community in a poor light.

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He was forced to change the title of Sandiyar to Virumaandi after stiff protest from fringe outfits. The Hindu Makkal Katchi sought a ban on Manmadhan Ambu and slammed Haasan for a writing a sarcastic poem on Hindus. It also drives home the point that art and artist have no respect in India.

UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF KAMAL POLITICS

You may agree to disagree but Haasan's core belief mirrors with communism. Call him 'Thalaivar', he quickly corrects you by quoting Spartacus and the rebel that lead to the abolition of slavery. Even political commentators find it hard to comprehend Kamal Haasan's statements. For instance, when Rajinikanth said that fame and money aren't enough to become a successful politician, Kamal explained the context in Vikatan. He wrote, "What is real victory in politics? Starting a party with candidates eyeing the next election, win the majority, become the chief minister or prime minister? Even if this is considered as a victory in politics, does it make any difference?"

"The purpose is to give better governance without taking away people's self-respect. With hundreds of such victories, what have we done to education, health, and economics? Some people have improved the state. I'm asking for a lot more. Meaning that their success means nothing. In my opinion, there's no need for such victories at all."

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Going by the statement, it appears that Haasan wants to mould himself as a socialist/activist. But for that, he needs to have a base in Tamil Nadu. So far, he has been only talking to the members of his Narpani Iyakkam.

CAN KAMAL 'PUYAL' SWEEP TAMIL NADU?

As a prelude to politics, Kamal Haasan started writing for the Tamil magazine Vikatan reflecting his thoughts. Cashing in on the popularity of 'Modi Hurricane', the column is titled Kamal Puyal. With his recent 'Hindu extremist' remark, Haasan has once again reiterated that his color is not saffron. However, in a state that accounts for 87% of Hindus, he should be little cautious when it comes to 'hurting' sentiments. Having said that, Kamal should ideally move onto more pressing issues like education, health and governance.

Kamal Haasan is popularly called 'Aandavar'. The word means one who has ruled the people's heart for a brief time. Sure, Kamal, the Nayagan will continue to be the Aandavar of Tamil cinema. But what about Kamal, the Tamil Thalaiva?

ALSO WATCH: Kamal Haasan meets fans in Chennai, will launch citizen connect app

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: BJP leader and Patna MP Shatrughan Sinha yet again took to the social media on Tuesday to take a jibe at the ruling dispensation and profess his loyalties to veteran party leader LK Advani.

"Tomorrow is November 08 the 'black day', oh sorry, black money eradication day. Our people celebrating the demon anniversary and its great or hollow effect of getting much hyped black money (which I'm sure RBI is not aware of) from Swiss Bank, Singapore, Germany, even Timbuktu," he tweeted.

Sinha added, "Some may term it as immature decision resulting in nation's suffering. On the other hand, our friends from Opposition shall mark this day as an 'anti-demon' and 'hasty and complicated GST day' in Indian history under most important and learned leaders."

He further said, "Everything, as usual, is fair in a democracy? Nonetheless, we the loyalists, shall be celebrating birthday of the statesman, stalwart most mature of BJPs and Indias tallest leader Mr LK Advani. Times have changed isnt it ? God Bless all. Jai Hind."

Tomorrow is 08 Nov the Black Day..oh sorry! Black money eradication day!! Our people celebrating the demon anniversary & its great or..1>2  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

...hollow effect of getting much hyped black money (which I'm sure RBI is not aware of) from Swiss Bank, Singapore, Germany, even Timbuktu.  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

Some may term it as immature decision resulting in nation's suffering. On d other hand, our friends from opposition shall mark this day1>2  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

...as a "anti-demon" & "hasty & complicated GST day" in Indian history under most important & learned leaders. 2>3  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

Everything as usual is fair in a democracy? Nonetheless,we the loyalists, shall be celebrating birthday of the statesman, stalwart..3>4  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

...most mature of BJPs & Indias tallest leader Mr LK Advani. Times have changed isnt it ? God Bless all. Jai Hind!  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 7, 2017

A day earlier, on November 06, the BJP MP had again taken on PM Narendra Modi and had said that it was time to get out of 'one-man show, two-man army'.

"High time, get out of the one-man show, two-man army syndrome and must take learned professionals, experts and most important mature seasoned politicians on board in the larger interest of nation and party. It is still not too late," he had tweeted.

Sinha had tagged veteran BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi in his tweet.

Last week too, the actor had launched an attack on PM Modi, citing a statement made by the latter on Diwali milan.

He had posted a series of tweets quoting PM's  Some of our own people are not on the same page.

Sinha had asked PM Modi as to what efforts had been made to find out why those leaders were not on the same page.

High time, get out of One-Man show, Two-men army syndrome & must take learned professionals, experts & most important mature seasoned 1>2 November 6, 2017

politicians on board in the larger interest of nation & party. It is still not too late. @LKAdvaniBJP @drmmjoshibjp, @ArunShourieFans 2/3  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 6, 2017

Meanwhile, Advani, who will turn 90 on Wednesday, will celebrate his birthday with the visually challenged children at his residence in the national capital.

Many top BJP leaders, including PM Modi and party president Amit Shah, are expected to visit Advani's residence to greet him.

He had served as the minister of home affairs during the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1998 and 2004.

Advani was the deputy PM between 2002 and 2004.

In 2014, he was included in the 'marg darshak mandal' of the party.
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar: Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, stars likely to play their last WC
New Delhi: Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Tuesday warned that counter-terrorism operations against Pakistan-backed terrorists trying to create unrest in the Kashmir Valley will continue unabated.

"Such operations will continue. We will try to neutralise people involved in spreading terrorism. Our focus is to eradicate terrorism,'' General Bipin Rawat said while speaking to the reporters in Delhi.

Rawat's remarks came shortly after the security forces killed three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, including Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew, in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district which began Monday evening.

General Rawat asserted that aim of the Indian Army is to eradicate terrorism from the Kashmir Valley and it will do anything to achieve that goal.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, the Army Chief said the recovery of an assault rifle used by NATO forces in Afghanistan from the slain Jaish terrorists showed that they were getting support from across the border.

"Operations are going on. As I said, the operations will continue. If any terrorists carry out activities that put the life and property of our citizens at risk, if they target any building, police station or army, they are troubling the citizens. Our attempt would be to neutralise whoever is involved in terror activities," General Rawat said.

"Whether it is the nephew of Maulana Masood or anyone else, we are concerned only with finishing terror. We are not concerned what is their religion or other things," he added.

He also highlighted the importance of improving the tunnel technology to shorten the distance in the hilly area.

He said it is important to make this tunnel as earliest as possible.

"I think we need to outsource some technology and equipment for the same. We only want that these routes to be constructed fast," he said.

The three JeM militants were killed following specific intelligence inputs about their presence in the Aglar village of Pulwama district. A joint operation was then launched by the 44 RR, Special Operations Group of the J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force, which cordoned off the entire village to flush out the terrorists hiding in the area.



As the cordon was being tightened, the hiding militants fired at the joint team of security forces, triggering a fierce gunfight resulting in their killing.

Earlier, the terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad confirmed that three terrorists, who were gunned down by the security forces, included Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew and outfit's divisional commander.

"Three militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and outfit's divisional commander," a JeM spokesman told in a statement.

The JeM spokesman identified Masood Azhar's nephew as commander Talha Rasheed.

Meanwhile, one security personnel Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh had lost his life in yesterday's encounter.

A civilian was also got injured during the operation.

M4 carbines, a shorter and lighter variant of the American origin M-16 A2 assault rifle, AK-74 rifles, pistols and matrix sheets were recovered from the slain JeM terrorists. The seizure comes days after a picture of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was circulated on social media holding another variant of the M-16 rifle.

The American origin gun is used by NATO forces in Afghanistan, and questions have been raised how it reached the terrorists.

The internet services had been suspended in the Pulwama district after the encounter.
Srinagar: Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday.

The slain JeM terrorist has been identified as Talha Rasheed, who was also acting as a local commander of the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit in Kashmir, ANI reported.

News agency ANI quoted JeM spokesperson saying, besides JeM chief's nephew two other terrorists were killed in the encounter. One was divisional commander Muhammad Bhai and another one was Waseem, a resident of Drubgam Pulwama.

The joint operation was conducted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama.

Unfortunately, one soldier of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was martyred and two soldiers and a civilian injured during the operation. The martyred soldier has been identified as Sham Sunder.

"Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site," said a police spokesman.

The troops of 182 Batallion and 183 Batallion CRPF, along with 44 RR and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were carrying out a cordon and search operation in the region, when the encounter broke out.
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised notes during its probe into the Kashmir terror funding case.

"The NIA is investigating a case relating to the financing of terrorist and separatist activities in the Kashmir valley. During the investigation, it had emerged that persons/ entities linked to the separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency which they could not deposit/convert during the period earmarked by the government. Surveillance was mounted on such persons/ entities. This led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein a gang of such persons/entities were making an attempt to convert this demonetised money into valid currency... The demonetised currency notes having face value equivalent to Rs 36,34,78,500 were duly seized and brought to the HQ," it said.

NIA seizes Rs 36,34,78,500 crore in demonetised currency, 9 arrested in J&K terror funding casehttps://t.co/wI9nSa1j38  NIA India (@NIA_India) November 7, 2017

In September 2017, the NIA had conducted searches at 16 locations in Kashmir and Delhi on traders who were allegedly indulging in hawala operations and using the money for funding terror and separatist activities.

As many as five traders in old Delhi were also raided by the NIA officials.

These raids and arrests by the NIA were part of its investigation in a case registered on May 30 in which the leader of the Pakistan-based JamaatudDawa and banned terrorist outfit LashkareTaiba, Hafiz Saeed, was named as an accused.

The NIA has arrested several persons in the case of alleged funding of terror and subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley to fuel unrest there.

The case has been registered on issues of raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala channels, for funding such activities, as per PTI.

It also includes causing disruption in the Valley by stone pelting, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India.

Prominent among those searched included Hurriyat leaders Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Syed Aga Hassan Budgami, and close aides of Shabbir Shah - Zameer Sheikh and Razzaq Choudhary, the spokesman said.

Badgami, a prominent separatist Shia leader, and Sumji are part of the pro-Pakistan, Syed Ali Shah Geelani-headed faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

Shabir Shah is at present in judicial custody after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him last month in connection with an earlier case of money laundering.

(With Agency inputs)
SRINAGAR: Three Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists were killed in an overnight encounter with the security forces in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. M4 carbine has been recovered from the site, in a clear indication of support to terrorists from across the border.

"This makes it clear that terrorists are getting support from across the border," Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Tuesday. One AK47 along with other ammunition was also recovered from the encounter site.

The JeM has confirmed that three of its men were killed during the encounter including the nephew of its chief Maulana Masood Azhar. The JeM spokesman identified Masood Azhar`s nephew as commander Talha Rasheed.

J&K: Visuals from Pulwama's Aglar Kandi where one security personnel lost his life & three terrorists were killed in an encounter yesterday. pic.twitter.com/YEsWnmFIz2  ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Reacting to reports of the death of Masood Azhar's nephew, the Army Chief said: "It doesn't matter if he is Masood Azhar's nephew or anyone else. We aim at neutralizing all terrorists no matter where they belong."

The encounter was a joint operation between Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Lance Naik Vrahma Pal Singh lost his life in the encounter and a civilian has also been injured.
Srinagar: The body of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar's nephew, who was killed in Pulwama encounter Monday night, will be handed over to the terrorist outfit, Jammu and Kashmir Police announced on Tuesday.

We will ask them (the JeM) to collect the body because they have accepted him as one of their own," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Munir Khan said.

Khan's statement comes after three JeM militants, including the nephew of terror outfit chief Masood Azhar, Talha Rasheed, were killed in an overnight gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson of the terror outfit confirmed that the militants killed during an encounter at Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama district includes nephew of JeM chief and outfit`s divisional commander.

He said the two other terrorists who were killed in the encounter included Divisional Commander Muhammad Bhai and Waseem, a resident of Drubgam, Pulwama.

The troops of 182 Batallion and 183 Batallion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police were carrying out a cordon and search operation in the region, when the encounter broke out.

The joint operation was conducted by CRPF, RR and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kandi Aglar village of Pulwama.

Unfortunately, one soldier of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was martyred and two soldiers and a civilian injured during the operation. The martyred soldier has been identified as Sham Sunder.

"Three weapons, including one AK, one M16 rifle and one pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the encounter site," said a police spokesman.
RANCHI: Rafia Naaz, a popular Muslim girl who teaches yoga in Jharkhand, has received death threats from the members of her own community after which the authorities decided to step up security around her.

Reports on Tuesday said that the girl is facing a threat to her life from members of her own community, who have asked him not to teach yoga to anyone.

The matter was brought to the notice of Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

On his instructions, the police stepped up the security of the girl.

Acting on the instructions, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Dwivedi even sent a police team to meet the girl.

She has also been provided two security guards - one male and one female  the reports quoting Jharkhand Police said.

A resident of Doranda locality in Ranchi, Rafia Naaz ekes out a living for her family by teaching yoga.

She is the eldest of her siblings and also doing M.Com from a local college.

Naaz rose to fame after she shared the stage with yoga guru Ramdev in the city some time back.

Her family members are scared of threats issued by the members of her own community. She was threatened with fatwa if she continued with her yoga teaching.

"My problem is with members of both communities. On one hand, I am asked not to teach yoga, and on the other, I am asked to change my name so that people do not hesitate to learn Yoga from me," Rafia told reporters.

Naaz, however, said, "I will continue to do yoga and teach yoga till the end of my life."

(With inputs from IANS)
By PTI: Chandigarh, Nov 6 (PTI) Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today rejected the accusation of the Congress that he was a "government agent" as regards the mediation in the Ram Temple dispute in Ayodhya.

"I have always worked on my own and I am not working at the instance of anybody," he told reporters here today.

He was asked to respond on the charge levelled by the Congress, which had dubbed him as a "government agent" on the Ayodhya issue.

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"I have already been doing this work," he added.

Asked what would be his stand on the Ayodhya issue, he said, "If I take a stand, how can I mediate. I will look at whether we can find a solution by bringing all the stakeholders together through dialogue."

The Congress had dubbed the spiritual leader a "government agent", who was "representing its interests" in the Ram Temple dispute in Ayodhya.

"Sri Sri is representing the government interests," Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan had said on October 31 in Delhi, when he was asked about the mediation being done by the Art of Living Foundation head in the Ram Temple issue.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had reportedly offered to mediate in the Ram Temple row for an out-of-court settlement.

Meanwhile, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today addressed about 100 school children during the Bal Chetna Shivir, a programme aimed at helping the kids rise to their potential through various stress-elimination techniques.

The programme was organised by the Art of Living Chandigarh Chapter.

The students in the 12-15 age group attended the session and had an interactive session with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. PTI CHS VSD CHT RC CHT

--- ENDS ---
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday refused put a stay on Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations, slated to be celebrated across the state on November 10.

The Karnataka government, headed by Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah, has planned to celebrate the erstwhile ruler's birth anniversary. However, opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations as they call him "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu Jayanti is being observed since 2015 following a government decision, which had triggered a major row and caused violence in Kodagu district that year.

President Ram Nath Kovinds mention of the 18th century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan, in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature on Wednesday triggered a political slug fest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans, Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde had stirred a hornets nest after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

"Conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had tweeted.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from the state Prahlad Joshi has alleged that Tipu Sultan was "anti-Hindu, anti-Kannada and exploited India".

Known as the "Tiger of Mysore", Tipu Sultan ruled the Mysore kingdom from 1782-1799 succeeding his father Hyder Ali.

Though Tipu Sultan was born in 1750 at Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, his kingdom's capital was at Srirangapatna near Mysore.

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district of the state where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.
New Delhi: HDFC Standard Life Insurance, the third largest private sector life insurance company, will open its Rs 8,700-crore initial public offering (IPO) on Tuesday.

Promoters will dilute its 14.92 percent stake in HDFC Standard Life Insurance.

The Initial Public Offer, for which the company set a price band of Rs 275-290, will see HDFC offloading 9.52 percent stake while Standard Life will dilute 5.4 percent.

Currently, HDFC owns 61.21 percent stake in the joint venture which will come down to 51.69 percent, while Standard lifes 34.75 percent will come down to 29.35 percent post issue.

The IPO will open on November 7 and close on November 9.

The funds raised will be used by HDFC Ltd for its business purposes as the insurance arm has adequate capital needed for growth.

The IPO is offering up to 299,827,818 equity shares of the face value of Rs 10 each.

This comprises an offer for sale of 191,246,050 equity shares by Housing Development Finance Corporation and up to 108,581,768 equity Shares by Standard Life (Mauritius Holdings), the promoters of HDFC Life.

The global coordinators and book running lead managers of the IPO are Morgan Stanley India Company, HDFC Bank, Credit Suisse Securities (India), CLSA India and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India).

The book running lead managers are Edelweiss Financial Services, Haitong Securities India, IDFC Bank, IIFL Holdings and UBS Securities India.

The equity shares offered in the IPO are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE.

HDFC Standard Life was one of the first private life insurance companies to register in India and was established as a joint venture between HDFC and Standard Life Aberdeen plc (global investment company), initially through its wholly owned subsidiary The Standard Life Assurance Company and now through its wholly owned subsidiary, Standard Life Mauritius.

The company has a pan-India presence, comprising 414 branches across India as of September 30, supported by a workforce of 16,544 full-time employees.

Five Insurance IPOs, including HDFC Life, will together raise over Rs 44,000 crore from the capital market this financial.

The companies are HDFC Standard Life Insurance, GIC of India, SBI Life Insurance Company and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.
BHUBANESWAR: There is no evidence to prove that 14-old-girl of Kunduli in Koraput district was raped, the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) ADG revealed on Tuesday.

ADG Mahendra Pratap, who submitted the medical reports to the Odisha Human Rights Commission on Monday said medical experts have found no proof of gangrape after examining the girl.

I have discussed with all medical experts treating the girl at Kunduli, Jeypore and MKCG hospital in Berhampur during the course of investigation. I have submitted the reports attached with doctors' version to the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) yesterday. As per doctors opinion, there is no such evidence of rape, he said.

During the course of the investigation, the movement of security forces, who were alleged to be involved in the case, could not be established.

The 14-old-girl of Kunduli in Koraput district had alleged that she was gangraped by a group of security personnel on October 10 which triggered State-wide outrage forcing police to declare it as a Red-flag case.



A case under Sections 376 (D) and 377 of IPC and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act had been registered.
Thane: On the occasion of her 44th birthday, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan donated free meals for 1,000 children for a year under a mid-day meal programme.

Aishwarya, who turned 44 on November 1, sponsored free meals for 1,000 students for a year under a mid-day meal scheme run by the Annamrita Foundation that is set up by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The mid-day meal scheme, called Annamrita, reaches out to nearly 500 municipal schools in and around Mumbai along with over 2,000 schools in Maharashtra with heavy nutritious meals, ISKCON spiritual leader Radhanath Swami Maharaj said in a release.

"The scheme, which started in 2004 from a small room with meals being prepared for just 900 children, today serves meals to 12 lakh children across seven states in India. Through 20 hi-tech kitchens, Annamrita reaches out to nearly 500 municipal schools in and around Mumbai along with over 2,000 schools in Maharashtra with heavy nutritious meals," he added.
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that Pakistan's notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was behind the targeted killings of several right-wing leaders across the state.

Singh further said that it was a major conspiracy by the ISI to fan communal disturbances and destabilise the state by killing the right-wing leaders.

The veteran Congress leader added that the arrests made by the Punjab Police have established the ISI link to the killings.

Amarinder Singh said the questioning of the accused revealed that they were trained abroad and were using encrypted mobile software and apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries.

"The ISI is always looking to disturb the country's peace and to radicalise the youth," he said.

He said the probe pointed out that targeted killings were aimed at fanning communal disturbances to further the ISI's anti-India game plan.

The remarks from Singh came after the Punjab Police busted a terror module and arrested four persons, including a gangster lodged in Nabha jail, cracking most cases of targeted killings in the border state since January 2016.

Punjab was rocked by the murder of at least nine right-wing, other religious leaders in the past two years, including the sensational killing of senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd).

Three arrested suspects are Jimmy Singh of Jammu, who returned to India from the United Kingdom after spending many years there and picked up a week ago from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport; Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national apprehended in Jalandhar; and Dharmender alias Guggni, a gangster from Meharban in Ludhiana, who was supplying weapons to the killers, and currently lodged in Nabha jail.

The Chief Minister told the media here that the identity of the fourth arrested suspect, the main shooter in various cases, could not be revealed as he was caught on Tuesday afternoon and his interrogation was on.

"Though the Punjab government handed over Gagneja murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, our police cracked this case too with the latest busting of the terror module, the eighth such module to be smashed since the Congress government took charge in March 2017," the Chief Minister said.

"Last month's murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain has also been solved with these arrests, which have been linked to most cases of targeted killings in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since January 2016," he said.

Director General of Police Suresh Arora said more such incidents in the future could not be completely ruled out, adding that police was fully geared up to face all situations.

The DGP said similar weapons were used in the killing of Durga Das and Gagneja in Jalandhar, as was in the Amit Sharma case in Ludhiana, as also in February 2017 Khanna killings of Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and his son; July 2017 Ludhiana killing of Christian Pastor Sultan Masih; and last month's Ludhiana murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain.

"In fact, similar weapons -- standard 9mm, .32 bore and .30 bore pistols -- were also used in the Ludhiana RSS 'shakha' attack case of January 2016 and Amit Arora murder case of February 2016," the DGP said.

With IANS inputs
New Delhi: Confounding experts with his knowledge on outer space for nearly 20 years, a Russian has now baffled scientists by claiming that he lived on Mars before he was reborn on Earth.

According to his parents, Boriska Kipriyanovich was able to speak months after he was born and would often discuss subjects they had never taught him, such as alien civilisations.

By the age of two, he was able to read, write and draw.

As per a report in the Daily Mail, his mother, who herself is a doctor, said the first indication that he was special came a couple of weeks after birth, as he was able to hold his own head up unassisted.

Claiming that he lived on 'war-ravaged' Mars, Boriska says Martians  measuring about seven-feet tall  are immortal and still live undergound on the Red Planet and breathe in carbon dioxide.

They stop ageing after the age of 35 years, he said.

As a schoolboy, Boriska explained how the Martians had a strong connection to the ancient Egyptians on Earth and how he had once visited the planet as a pilot.

He said that life on Earth will change dramatically when the Great Sphinx monument in Giza is 'unlocked', adding that the opening mechanism is hidden behind an ear, the report said.
Mumbai: With changing ecosystem and increasing awareness of digital payments, Samsung Pay, the mobile payments service of South Korean handset maker, has seen an addition of 1 million users in over a month.

Samsung Pay was launched in the country in March this year and India features in the top three countries among the 20 nations for Samsung Pay globally in terms of users, behind South Korea and Russia.

"On September 12 we had announced that we had 1.5 million users of Samsung Pay. Now we have an additional 1 million users in the last one-and-half months. The user growth has been significant," Samsung India Director Commercialization Group (Product Planning) Sanjay Razdan told reporters here.

Samsung Pay is available for users of devices like Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 plus, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy J7 Max and Galaxy J7 Pro, among others and allows users to just tap and pay using the debit/credit cards and wallets stored on their mobile devices.

During the launch Samsung Pay was available through 10 models and has expanded it to 26 models since then.

According to industry estimates the overall mobile phone market in India is pegged at Rs 1 lakh crore for 2017, with Samsung commanding a market share of 47 per cent at the end of September 30.

Samsung witnessed a growth of 40 per cent in terms of value during the festive season this year for its handset sales.

It has 17 partners on board, including 10 banks and is in talks with a couple of more banks for pay service.

Razdan, who heads the Samsung Pay business in India, said some of the other countries are trying to implement some of India's model like bank to bank transfer.
New Delhi: A Delhi-Kolkata GoAir flight G8 127 made an emergency landing at Kolkata airport on Tuesday after a bomb threat letter.

Official sources said flight G8-127 landed at the Kolkata airport around 9:30 pm after the pilot informed the ground authorities about a bomb threat.

The plane was taken to an isolated bay at the airport after which regular security procedures were followed, they said, PTI reported.

A bomb threat assessment committee later declared the threat as hoax, officials said.

Meanwhile, in another incident National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it had taken over the case wherein Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight was diverted to Ahmedabad on October 30 following a security threat.

NIA official said the case was taken over by the agency as Gujarat Police registered the case under the anti-hijacking law and arrested Birju Kishore Salla, a Mumbai-based diamond businessman, as per IANS.



The flight 9W-339, with 122 passengers, including seven crew, made an emergency landing at the Ahmedabad airport after a letter warning about a hijack and bomb threat was discovered in the plane`s toilet.



The pilot had alerted the Ahmedabad airport authorities about the threat letter, reported to be in Urdu and English.



The plane was taken to a remote bay at Ahmedabad airport and all passengers disembarked and screened. It was later cleared for take-off.

(With Agency inputs)
KOLKATA: A Kolkata court on Tuesday held one of the six accused as guilty of raping a 71-year-old nun in Nadia districts Ranaghat in 2015. The other five men have been convicted for robbery.

Six persons had been arrested by the state CID in connection with the rape while one accused is still absconding. The six arrested are Milan Kumar Sarkar, Ohidul Islam, Mohd Selim Sheikh, Nazrul Islam, Khaledar Rahman and Gopal Sarkar.

The Sister Superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary at Gangnapur here was gang-raped in the early hours on March 14 after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident. The nun left for an undisclosed location outside West Bengal after her discharge from hospital.

A study of the CCTV footage at the convent in Ranaghat subdivision had shown visuals of four persons, who were allegedly involved in the crime, which sparked outrage in the country and abroad.

The gang also took away Rs 12 lakh kept in the almirah locker before fleeing the place.
TEXAS: An 18-month-old child, a pregnant mother of five and three generations of a single family were among the victims of a gunman who opened fire on a church in a rural Texas community on Sunday, killing at least 26 people.

Up to 14 of those killed were children, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told NBC News on Monday.

The following describes some of the victims, as they were identified by family members and friends via media interviews and social media posts:

HOLCOMBE FAMILY

One couple, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, told the Washington Post they lost eight extended family members.

Bryan Holcombe, an associate pastor of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs where the shooting took place, was killed in the gunfire. His wife, Karla was also killed.

Bryan and Karlas son, Marc Daniel Holcombe, was also killed with his infant child, Noah Holcombe.

Another son of Bryan and Karla, John Holcombe, survived, but his wife, Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, died with her unborn child and three of her children - Emily, Megan and Greg.

A GoFundMe page created for the Holcombe family had raised nearly $150,000 in the last 20 hours.

JOANN WARD

Joann Ward and her two daughters, Brooke, 5, and Emily, 7, were among other victims of the mass shooting.

Ward`s uncle, John Alexander, wrote on Facebook that she was "such a wonderful mother whose whole life was her children and family."

During the attack, Ward was "shielding (her) babies from the shooter," Vonda Greek Smith, a friend of Wards, said on Facebook.

Joann`s 5-year-old son Ryland was shot four times in the attack and flown by helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio where he underwent surgery, according to the Dallas Morning News. Her 9-year-old daughter, Rihanna, survived.

ANNABELLE POMEROY

Annabelle Pomeroy, 14, was among the first victims to be identified. Her father, Frank Pomeroy, the pastor of the First Baptist Church, was out of town with his wife when the gunman opened fire on his congregation.

Annabelle`s uncle, Scott Pomeroy, posted a tribute on Facebook, saying Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more.

RICHARD RODRIGUEZ

Richard Rodriguez, 51, is also among the dead, according to ABC News. His daughter Regina, who posted a picture of herself with her father on her Facebook on Monday, said he attended church every Sunday.

LULA WOICINSKI WHITE

Lula Woicinski White, 71, was the gunman`s grandmother-in-law, according to CNN, citing multiple friends of the victim.

White`s niece Amy Backus wrote on Facebook: "I have no doubt where she is right now. She is in Heaven laying her crowns and jewels at the feet of Jesus and celebrating." Backus added: "I love and will miss you Aunt Lula Woicinski White.
By PTI: Hyderabad, Nov 7 (PTI) BJP MLA from Goshamahal constituency Raja Singh today said he would try to stop the upcoming release of the Bollywood film "Padmavati" if it portrays the Rajput queen incorrectly.

He claimed the film made by noted director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has incorrect facts.

"You (film director) show what the fact is. But, if you add masala for money and show differently, how can we keep quiet. That is why, you change the story and release the film. If you release as it is, we will stop the movie. That is our effort," Singh said.

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"We will definitely stop the movie in the theatres where you release the film. If you release in a theatre by force, we said we will burn..," he said.

Singh posted a video of his speech on the issue at an event on a social networking site.

"I am not inciting you. This is our culture. It is the duty of every Indian to protect this. Because, Rajas and Maharajahs did not fight for personal (gains). They fought for nations security. They made sacrifices for nations security. Hence, if any dog makes any movie on our Maharanis (queen) for personal selfishness...makes movie to earn more money, it is the duty of every Indian, every Hindu and every Rajput to boycott that," he said in the video.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film has kicked up a controversy as Rajput organisations in Rajasthan have accused the filmmaker of distorting history.

"Padmavati", starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is slated for release on December 1.

Singh had been embroiled in controversies in the past as well. PTI SJR NSK

--- ENDS ---
ROME: Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of death of 26 teenage girls whose bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea, the media reported on Tuesday.

The girls, aged 14-18, were believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria who had embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya over the weekend.

Lorena Ciccotti, a senior police official, told CNN on Monday night that autopsies would be carried out on Tuesday and that coroners would be investigating whether the girls had been tortured or sexually abused.

Their bodies were found close to a flimsy rubber dinghy that had all but sunk when rescuers arrived, Ciccotti said.

The girls` rescue was one of four separate rescue operations carried out in the Mediterranean over the weekend. In total, 400 people were brought aboard the Spanish vessel Cantabria before disembarking at the Italian port town of Salerno.

Among them were 90 women and 52 minors, including a week-old-baby, CNN quoted authorities as saying.

On Monday, Italian police arrested two men, an Egyptian and a Libyan accused with human smuggling.

Since the start of this year, 2,839 migrants have died on the central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organization for Migration.

A total of 150,982 migrants have reached European shores, of which around 74 per cent were Italian arrivals.
Beijing: He may be a divisive figure back home, but US President Donald Trump will be landing in friendly territory when he arrives in Beijing on Wednesday, judging by Chinese social media.

On platforms such as the Twitter-like Sina Weibo, Trump`s Chinese supporters, who admire his business success and a free-wheeling style unconstrained by political correctness, are far more prominent than detractors.

While no comprehensive survey has been done to assess the size and intensity of Trump`s popularity in China, several pundits suggest he has broad and vocal support.

"Chinese people are impressed that he is extremely rich, he loves things splendid and magnificent, and he loves to show off. Not every billionaire is like that," said Yin Hao, who translates American news and comedy clips for his nearly one million followers on Weibo.

Yin said his translated Trump-related video clips sometimes attract thousands of comments, where some supporters engage in name-calling and invective in defending the president.

"They will keep posting comments to defend Trump, mock his opponents under all news clips that involve Trump, and rebuke any comments that are not in favour of Trump, Yin said.

Chen Jibing, a Shanghai-based political commentator, said Trump`s Chinese fan base is different than that for previous foreign leaders such as his predecessor, Barack Obama, and for British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who enjoyed widespread but tepid support.

"Chinese Trump fans are seriously and truly invested, and you had better not make light of offending them," Chen wrote in a social media post to his millions of followers.

POLITICALLY INCORRECT

While Trump encountered protests during his visits to Japan and South Korea on the first two legs of his 12-day Asian tour, such scenes are unlikely in China, which tightly controls public gatherings, with media and the internet subject to censorship.

China`s ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, said Trump will receive a "state visit-plus" experience in Beijing. He is expected to go to the Forbidden City and participate in an inspection of Chinese troops, though China has released few other details.

Trump`s popularity in China largely comes from his disdain for political correctness and defiance of traditional liberal western views, which many Chinese consider elitist and unrealistic, Chen said.

His criticism of the US trade deficit with China, for example, is seen by many in the country as standard US political talk, some pundits say.

"In China, realists hold a deep-rooted belief that the rule of the jungle means the strong prey on the weak," Chen said. "For them, the world is not split into right and wrong, good or evil, it is only success or failure, the powerful and the weak."

Factual errors or gaffes by Trump tend to be ignored by his Chinese fans or explained away as harmless mistakes made by a leader who writes his own rules.

In Japan on Monday, Trump told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the Japanese economy was not performing as well as the United States` and appeared to mistakenly say that Japan`s economy was the world`s second-largest. It is actually third, after China`s.

An editor at a major state publication told Reuters was inclined to be forgiving about Trump`s remark to Abe: "He`s a free spirit. No one can tell him what to do."

Many on Chinese social media see Trump as a figure of fun.

"Rather than being a president, Trump is more like a comedian!" one Weibo user wrote.

EXCELLENT CHILDREN

In a country where parents are traditionally judged by the success of their children, Trump scores extra points for his daughter Ivanka, a businesswoman and currently advisor to President Trump, and her Mandarin-speaking children.

One Chinese state publication said that all five of Trump`s children are a testament to his character.

"You can tell what parents are like through their childrens` success. Trumps five children are all excellent, it means he is a very successful father, the China Education Daily said on its social media account.

Ivanka Trump is sometimes referred to as goddess on Chinese social media, where some were upset that the first daughter would not be accompanying her father to Beijing.

SAD! Ivanka is not coming to China, said Jiang Xiaofeng, a journalist with Phoenix TV on Sina Weibo, appropriating one of Donald Trump`s favourite Twitter exclamations.
OSAN: US President Donald Trump landed in South Korea on Tuesday, the second leg of his 12-day Asia trip dominated by the North Korean nuclear standoff.

South Koreans are bracing for the possibility that Trump`s state visit could risk further inflaming tensions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has stepped up his pursuit of nuclear weapons that could soon be capable of striking the mainland United States.

Trump will visit with US troops and is also expected to raise criticisms of a U.S-South Korean trade pact when he meets with President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a move by Saudi Arabias future king who tightened his grip on power through an anti-corruption purge by arresting royals, ministers and investors.

Trump, who has cultivated much warmer ties with Riyadh than his predecessor Barack Obama, tweeted on Monday that he has "great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia" following the mass arrests, which was the biggest anti-corruption purge of the kingdom`s affluent elite in its modern history.

Trump also tweeted that "they know exactly what they are doing," adding: "Some of those they are harshly treating have been `milking` their country for years."

Among those arrested were billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal who is one of the kingdoms most prominent businessmen.

The purge is the latest in a series of dramatic steps by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to assert Saudi influence internationally and amass more power for himself at home.

Trump`s first trip abroad as president was to Saudi Arabia where King Salman gave him a remarkably warm greeting. U.S.-Saudi ties had been strained under the Obama administration, whom they felt considered Riyadhs alliance with Washington less important than negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.
CAIRO: Egypt`s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will not seek a third term in office, he said in an interview with CNBC, adding that he does not intend to change the constitution and its provision of a two-term presidential limit.

"It doesn`t suit me as a president to stay one more day against the will of the Egyptians," he told CNBC over the weekend.

"We will not interfere with (the constitution)..I am with preserving two four-year terms," Sisi added.

However, he did not confirm if he intended to run for a second term when his current term expires.

Sisi came to power in 2014, a year after he led the military in ousting elected but unpopular Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. Rights groups say Sisi has since led an unprecedented crackdown on political opponents, activists and critical media.

He is unlikely to face strong opposition and many in Egypt see him as vital to stability in a country where unrest since 2011 has battered the economy.

Egyptian human rights lawyer and opposition leader Khaled Ali on Monday became the first person to announce he is running against Sisi, vowing to challenge him in the 2018 presidential election, provided he was not barred from the contest.

The 45-year-old gained prominence in January, when he won a case that nullified a government transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, a deal that had provoked mass protests.
JAKARTA: Authorities in Indonesia`s West Java province have called a halt to contests pitting dogs against wild boars, following media coverage of the bloody spectacle and pressure by animal rights activists, the provincial governor`s spokesman said on Tuesday.

Last month, Reuters reported that cash prizes of up to $2,000 were being given to dogs victorious in the fights, which villagers call `adu bagong`, or boar fighting.

Owners of participating animals said they saw the fights as a way to preserve a regional tradition, besides testing the agility and hunting abilities of the dogs.

"Not all traditions that we have are good," said Ade Sukalsah, a spokesman for provincial governor Ahmad Heryawan. "If a tradition has a bad influence and impact on people`s lives, the tradition must be eliminated or forgotten."

Heryawan`s decision to halt the fights was based on Indonesian criminal law provisions against the torture of animals, he added.

The shows "have a negative impact on the community by showing cruelty, torture and violence against animals," Sukalsah said.

They were also a forum for gambling, he said, adding that Heryawan had issed a circular to regional officials, urging police and the local community to help enforce the law.

Sukalsah said the decision was made in response to "some media reports from Reuters, the BBC and then some animal protection NGOs that sent letters to us."

The practice, which began in the 1960s when wild pigs were hunted to protect crops, has angered animal rights groups who created an online petition demanding the halt.
New Delhi: In a disturbing video that has surfaced online, an Egyptian Salafist cleric has suggested that Muslim men can marry their daughters born out of wedlock.

The Egyptian mullah Mazen Al-Sersawi, said that Islam allows incest between men and their daughters if she is illegitimate. This is because illegitimate daughters are not officially attributed to their fathers and can be married to them.

The cleric claimed this in a video which has gone viral and garnered immense criticism from people across social media platforms.

The video was made in 2012 but has recently resurfaced.

According to his claims, a girl born out of marriage cannot be considered the father's "real daughter" and Sharia laws don't allow illegitimate daughters to be attributed to the father.

People on Twitter reacted strongly and furiously towards the video. Check out some of the reactions below:

Fresh Fatwa: Prominent extremist scholar says you can marry your own daughter. New plans for New Years Eve I guess. https://t.co/t9ig3V0IJ1  Imam Tawhidi (@Imamofpeace) November 5, 2017

Only a very sick individual, who doesn't understand biological consequences of incest can make such ludicrous statements!  Socrates, I admire (@Socrate41429642) November 5, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today appeared before an anti-graft court to face trial in corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal that forced him to resign.

Sharif, 67, appeared before the Accountability Court Islamabad along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Mohmmad Safdar.

Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London.

He resigned as prime minister in July after the country's Supreme Court disqualified him over undeclared income.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

The Accountability Court is considering the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which last week ordered the trial judge, Muhammad Bashir, to hear again a plea by Sharif that all three cases against him should be clubbed together.

The trial court on October 19 rejected an application by Sharif that since all three cases deal with assets beyond means, so they should be taken up as a single case.

The decision was challenged in the IHC which referred the case to the Accountability Court with an order to hear it again. The court on the previous hearing on November 3 had briefly taken up the application.

Sharif was indicted in absence in three corruption cases. Maryam and Safdar have been indicted in one case with him, while the court is proceeding separately against his two sons Husain and Hasan who are co-accused in three cases.

The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of his sons from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

The cases are based on the July 28 disqualification verdict of the Supreme Court and to launch three corruption cases against him, his family, and one case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The political future of Sharif, who leads the country's most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since then. If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Sharif's family alleges that the cases are politically motivated.
Seoul: South Korea has agreed to buy US weapons worth "billions of dollars" to guard against threats from nuclear-armed North Korea, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

After a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-In, Trump also said the US -- the South`s key security guarantor -- had agreed to remove a warhead weight limit on Seoul`s ballistic missiles.

Trump arrived in Seoul on Tuesday for a two-day visit as part of his Asia tour amid high tensions over North Korea`s weapons drive.

Trump said the South -- a key Asian ally which hosts 28,500 US troops -- would be buying a large amount of US weapons "whether it`s planes, whether it`s missiles, no matter what it is".

"South Korea will be ordering billions of dollars of that equipment, which for them makes a lot of sense and for us it means jobs, reducing our trade deficit with South Korea," he said.

Moon confirmed the planned purchases which he described as "essential", saying Seoul had agreed to begin talks to buy US strategic assets to enhance Korea`s defence capabilities.

Under the existing missile pact between the US and the South, Seoul has only been allowed to develop warheads as heavy as 500 kilograms for its ballistic missiles.

The US instead offers the South a "nuclear umbrella" against potential attacks, but Seoul has sought to remove the limit in recent years amid the growing missile threat from the North.

The allies had agreed in principle to do so in September following the North`s latest nuclear test, by far its most powerful to date.

Moon, noting "ever-growing threats" from the North`s missiles and nuclear weapons, said Tuesday the two allies had reached a "final agreement" to remove the restriction.

"We also reaffirmed our stance to put maximum pressure and sanctions on the North until it... comes foward for genuine negotiations," he told reporters.
The death toll from typhoon downpours and floods wreaking havoc along Vietnam`s south-central coast has risen to 61, an official said Tuesday, as the country opens its doors to world leaders for this week`s APEC summit.

http://zeenews.india.com/world/typhoon-damrey-lashes-vietnam-29-killed-several-missing-2054607.html struck just before Vietnam was set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Danang, which will bring together US President Donald Trump, China`s Xi Jinping and Russia`s Vladimir Putin, among other leaders.

While Danang itself was spared the worst damage, muddy flood waters have submerged the hardest-hit provinces and swamped nearby Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was set to host APEC spouses later this week.

On Tuesday an official from Vietnam`s search and rescue committee told AFP the death toll had reached 61, with victims perishing in floods, landslides and capsized boats at sea.

"We are looking for more than 20 others," the official added.

Authorities said rivers were raging as reservoirs filled up to near capacity in central and southern provinces, with rain still pelting some areas.

Typhoon Damrey, which made landfall on Saturday, is the latest in a string of major storms to thrash Vietnam`s long coastline this year.

Flooding and landslides in northern and central regions killed more than 70 people last month.

In September, Typhoon Doksuri tore through central Vietnam, killing 11 people and decimating communities across several provinces.

The country has reported at least 240 people dead or missing in floods and landslides since the beginning of the year.
India has framed its involvement in Chabahar's development as primarily about establishing a gateway to Afghanistan.

By Reuters: India is in talks with Iran to begin interim operations at a port in southeast Iran, officials say, proceeding cautiously on developing the facility at a time when the Trump administration has laid an aggressive new approach toward Tehran.

India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port that it is building as a way to bypass rival Pakistan and crack open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan, as well as the resource-rich countries of central Asia.

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New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January. A first shipment arrived last week from India's western Kandla port, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul said. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan.

India is expanding its economic diplomacy in Afghanistan, seeing itself as a regional power. But Pakistan says India is trying to use Afghanistan as a base to destabilise Pakistan, and has long blocked India from conducting bilateral trade with Afghanistan using its territory as transit.

The shipments are meant to demonstrate the route's viability, officials said, and the plan is to broaden the cargo flow before the port is fully operational by the end of next year.

"Things are moving quite well and as planned," Saurabh Kumar, Indian ambassador to Iran, said in an email.

So far, the United States, keen for India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of renewed Indian efforts to develop the Iranian corridor.

India's ties with Iran came up during U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's talks in New Delhi last month, and the top U.S. diplomat said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people.

But he warned that the administration would crack down on financial benefits accruing to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the country's most powerful security entity, blamed for fuelling regional proxy wars.

GATEWAY

India has framed its involvement in Chabahar's development as primarily about establishing a gateway to Afghanistan, more than Iran itself, Indian officials and a Western diplomatic source said.

Washington has not intervened directly in the port's development, but, previously, India drastically cut back its oil imports from Iran, one of its main suppliers, in the face of international sanctions on Tehran for its suspected nuclear programme.

"In general, I get the impression that conservative analysts in (Washington) DC have accepted the fact that India will maintain some form of relationship with Iran," said Jeff Smith, a south Asia expert at The Heritage Foundation in Washington.

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"They recognize that for India, Iran is more about a transport corridor to Afghanistan; that it has no interest in advancing Iran's agenda in the Middle East; and that whatever space India evacuates there will be filled by China."

An Indian government source said India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL), a company set up by the government to lead the Chabahar project, had held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations.

In August, IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships.

After some delay, IGPL awarded contracts last month for port construction equipment such as cranes, the source said. Iran, meanwhile, had completed the construction of a jetty.

"We are moving slowly, but there is movement on the port development despite U.S.-Iran relations deteriorating," said Meena Singh Roy, an expert on India-Iran ties at the government-funded Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

--- ENDS ---
United Nations: The UN on Tuesday urged the Saudi-led coalition to end a blockade which has halted the flow of humanitarian supplies into Yemen, further threatening some seven million people facing famine-like conditions.

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in what we have already called the world`s worst humanitarian crisis," a spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, told reporters in Geneva.
Years before he walked into a Texas church and gunned down 26 Sunday worshippers, Devin Kelley proved capable of fearsome violence, convicted of fracturing his infant stepson`s skull and accused of beating his dog with his fists.

In 2012, while stationed at an Air Force base in New Mexico, Kelley was court-martialed and sentenced to a year`s confinement for abusing his wife and child. The Air Force`s chief prosecutor at the time told the New York Times and NBC News that Kelley broke his stepson`s skull.

Two years later, soon after he was given a bad conduct discharge for his crime, Kelley was cited for animal cruelty after neighbours told police he viciously punched his dog outside his trailer home, according to a report from the El Paso County sheriff`s office. Court records show the case was dismissed after he paid a fine.

His behavioural problems appear to have started much earlier. A former girlfriend said Kelley engaged in years of harassment, bordering on stalking, after a brief relationship nearly a decade ago, and classmates from his Texas hometown described a "loner" who became increasingly disturbed as a teenager.

Domestic problems may have triggered Sunday`s shooting, as well. Authorities said on Monday that he had sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs but was not there on Sunday when Kelley opened fire.

"There was a domestic situation going on within the family and the in-laws," Freeman Martin, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters. Kelly was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after fleeing the church.

HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS

The former girlfriend, Brittany Adcock, said she dated Kelley nearly a decade ago, when he was 18 and she was only 13.

The relationship lasted for about four months, but Kelley would harass her with phone calls from blocked numbers and Facebook messages from fake accounts for years afterward, she said in an interview.

Adcock said she once called police to try to file a complaint and had to change her number to stop Kelley`s calls.

"He just started getting really weird," Adcock, now 22, said.

He last contacted Adcock about six months ago via Facebook, when he sent her a topless photo of someone else he had found online and appeared to think it was her, she said.

Kelley graduated from New Braunfels High School in Texas in 2009 and joined the Air Force soon thereafter, serving on a base in New Mexico. He and his first wife divorced in 2012, the same year of his court-martial, and he was discharged in 2014.

That year, he married Danielle Shields in Texas, and they lived in Colorado Springs for a time before returning to New Braunfels, according to public records. Attempts to reach Shields or her parents were unsuccessful.

MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Former schoolmates of Kelley said he may have had some mental health problems even as a teenager.

Reid Mosis, 26, who attended school in New Braunfels with Kelley from 6th through 9th grades, said in an interview that Kelley was "always a bit of a loner."

"I know his parents had him on heavy doses of meds in middle school," Mosis said. "A lot of friends that knew him said he was too sick in the head to deal with by senior year of high school."

In recent years, Kelley shared posts on Facebook about atheism and his assault weapon, Mosis said. A cached photo of Kelley`s Facebook page, which was deleted in the wake of the shooting, showed a photo of a rifle under which Kelley wrote, "She`s a bad bitch."

Another New Braunfels native, Courtney Kleiber, said on Facebook she was close with Kelley in middle and high schools and that he had slowly changed from a "normal" kid into one with emotional or mental problems.

"Over the years we all saw him change into something that he wasn`t," she wrote. "To be completely honest, I`m really not surprised this happened, and I don`t think anyone who knew him is very surprised either."
CAMP HUMPHREYS: US President Donald Trump praised cooperation with South Korea during a visit to a US base there on Tuesday and said he planned to address trade issues in discussions with President Moon Jae-in in Seoul.

"There is great cooperation," he said. "We have a terrific meeting scheduled on trade in a little while with President Moon and his representatives. And hopefully that will start working out and working out so that we create a lot of jobs in the United States which is one of the reasons that I`m here."

Moon met briefly with Trump before he toured the sprawling U.S. military base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea.
At the India Today Conclave NEXT 2017, five industry leaders from different sectors joined Busines Today Managing Editor Rajeev Dubey today for a discussion on 'The Maturing of Internet of Things.'

Industry leaders discuss the maturing of IoT at the India Today Conclave NEXT 2017

By India Today Web Desk: IoT, or Internet of Things, is a network of objects that use the Internet to communicate with each other. These objects don't necessarily have to be conventional computing devices like PCs and phones.

IoT devices can use sensors to transmit data to each other and even make each other do things. For example, a smart car can help you find a free parking spot. A smart refrigerator can add milk to your shopping list when you run out.

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So, what is the current state of IoT technology? What's the future? What are the challenges that lie ahead?

At the India Today Conclave NEXT 2017, five industry leaders from different sectors joined Busines Today Managing Editor Rajeev Dubey today for a discussion on 'The Maturing of Internet of Things.'

Sachin Gupta (CIO, Havells India), Rachna Nath (Partner, Digital Consulting, KPMG India), Vineeth Purushothaman (CIO, Fortis Healthcare), Sridhar V (Group Vice President & Director, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd), and S Anantha Sayana(Vice President & Head - Digital, L&T Construction) participated in the session.

Fortis CIO - @Veneethp - speaking at a panel discussion on The Internet of Things about its role in Healthcare delivery at the prestigious India Today Conclave 2017. #IOT #conclavenext17 pic.twitter.com/3XLhTLn3Xt- Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) November 7, 2017

Earlier in the day, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella mentioned IoT when he said "no computer experience is going to be bound to a single computing device."

A full video of the session on 'The Maturing of Internet of Things' will be available soon.

--- ENDS ---
What will the workplace of the future look life? At the India Today Conclave Next 2017, six top panelists came together for a discussion of how technology will intersect with workplaces

By India Today Web Desk: The workplace of the future will see companies change their attitudes to how their employees use social media at work, workers come to terms with a new order of work-life balance, and a sharper focus on hyper-specialisation of skills.

That was the general consensus of a panel discussion on 'Technology and the Workplace of the Future' at India Today Conclave Next 2017 (read our live coverage here).

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The panel was moderated by Business Today Managing Editor Rajeev Dubey and saw participation from Kiran DB, the senior director of solution sales at Microsoft India, Harmeen Mehta, CIO & Head of Digital at Bharti Airtel, Keshav Murugeshm, Group CEO of WNS, Manish Bahl, senior director at , Cognizant's Center for the Future of Work, Padmaja Alaganandan, Partner Consulting at PwC India, and Mayur Danait from Lupin Limited.

SOCIAL MEDIA AT WORK

Social media has become part of today's life and companies can no longer afford to ignore that, the panelists agreed even as they spoke about the need to educate employees on the correct and appropriate online behaviour.

"There is a lot of work employers need to do to educate employees about ensuring privileged information does not end up on social media," said Mayur Danait.

Keshav Murgesh concurred, saying that his company is developing a curriculum the country-levelin order to teach employees how to use of social media responsibly.

Harmeen Mehta and Manish Bahl, at the same time, cautioned against bringing in too many restrictions with respect employees and their social media use. We don't believe in putting boundaries or rules, Harmeen Mehta said, with Manish Bahl adding that companies can't just stop employees from accessing social media at work.

Kiran DB, on the other hand, spoke about how employees' interactions on social media could prove beneficial, professionally. "People are designed to get things done, so they will figure out a way to get it done," Kiran DB explained, adding that sometimes employees could use their social network in order to achieve a professional goal.

So, it is imperative that companies create an environment where people can access the social network and harness it for work, Kiran DB added.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

In a highly connected world, can employees actually expect a work-life balance? Padmaja Alaganandan suggested that they can but said the current paradigm of companies deciding what a work-life balance looks like will change in the workplace of the future.

Employees will have a greater say in how they balance their personal lives with their professional even as Keshav Murugeshm asserted that work-life balance will always remain critical. Employees must always enjoy what they are doing, they must be excited to come to work every day, Keshav Murugeshm said.

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Meanwhile, Harmeen Mehta added that the discussion on work-life balance must not be independent from one on ensuring employees' mental well-being. We have to think about the responsibility that employers have of ensuring their employees' metal wellness and well-being, she added.

SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY

One of the more interesting aspects of the panel discussion was on the aspect of increasing surveillance at workplaces and whether employees must be okay with have less privacy when they are work.

For Mayur Danait, surveillance of employees and its impact on their privacy is but an unfortunate impact of the digitisation of the workplace that is taking place. Employers would like to monitor their employees' activities mainly for two reasons - to ensure productivity and keep a tab on potential misconduct, Mayur Danait said.

Manish Bahl too concurred that surveillance is a reality but added, "There is a very thin line between tracking your employees' activity and being creepy."

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For Keshav Murugesh it's about trusting employees and educating them on the importance of integrity. At the same time, companies must take steps to safeguard their information. "We are not a Big Brother company," Keshav Murugesh said.

Kiran DB, on the other hand, recommended using technological tools to protect companies' data. "Privacy of an individual is far more meaningful for that individual than employment," Kiran DB said.

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Excavations continued this year as well in the tomb field dating back to the early Bronze Age in Karnut community, Shirak province, Armenia.

Expedition leader Ruben Badalyan, a researcher at the National Academy of Sciences, told ARMENPRESS that both a settlement and a tomb field has been located on the same territory.

This is a very promising monument. Ive excavated it back in 1981, but then the excavations stopped. The monument was damaged due to agricultural and construction works, he said.

The researcher says the excavations fundamentally changed the perception about the monuments size and chronology.

Commenting on the findings, Badalyan pointed out vessels, bronze items  bracelet and earrings belonging to the Kur-Araks culture, which were found from a tomb.

The expedition is hopeful to continue the excavation next year as well, and to expand the sites area to 300 sq. meters.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of Israel attaches importance to the steps aimed at giving new impetus to the Armenia-Israel relations.

Hakob Sevan, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem, told Armenpress that in the recent period certain progress is noticed on this path. Over the past 20-25 years no significant results were recorded in the Armenia-Israel relations. But now we witness certain progress, and we hope these steps will become a beginning point for the development of the relations between the two countries, Hakob Sevan said.

He said the two countries have great cooperation potential in the economic field. In particular, the spheres of agriculture, healthcare can be of mutual interest. Today the level of economic cooperation between the two countries is very low. You can hardly find Armenian products in the Israeli market, only wine in some places. Meanwhile, this gap could be filled. The Armenian community is in favor of the level of economic relations to be high, he said.

Despite the optimism over the economic relations, Hakob Sevan expressed concern over the situation in the political field. According to him, the relations of the two countries in this field will still remain unchanged. We know that Israel continues supplying arms to Azerbaijan which carries out an anti-Armenian policy. On the other hand, we have the issue of non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Its not ruled out that the steps aimed at boosting the relations with Armenia will be in the context of having not so good relations with Turkey. Its not a secret that today the relations between Israel and Turkey are not the same, Hakob Sevan stated. However, he attached importance to the recent visits and expressed hope that they will give their results in the near future.

Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian paid an official visit to Israel on November 6-7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the visit the FM will meet with high-ranking officials.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. While on an official visit in Israel, Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian met with Vice Speaker of the Knesset (Parliament), head of Armenia-Israel parliamentary friendship group Tali Ploskov, press service of the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

Welcoming the minister, the Knesset Vice Speaker warmly remembered the comprehensive meetings with the Armenian FM during his visits to Armenia.

Minister Nalbandian attached importance to further expanding the inter-parliamnetary ties and in this context highlighted the cooperation of parliamentary friendship groups, as well as the activity of Armenia-Israel public forum. The officials also discussed the steps aimed at developing the bilateral relations, the decentralized cooperation, as well as a number of issues relating to intensifying the cultural contacts, boosting tourism. The meeting also touched upon the Armenian-Jewish historical ties, the activities of the Armenian community of Israel and the Jewish community of Armenia.

The Armenian FM and the Knesset Vice Speaker also exchanged views on a number of urgent regional issues.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. More than 600 Armenians live in Chile. Originally they worked in commerce and industry: textiles, carpets, socks, retail, jewellery, etc. the following generation produced many professionals: academicians, diplomats, journalists, doctors.

Hernan Couyoumdjian  Chilean Navy Admiral, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS talking about the Armenian community of Chile, the Armenian Army, as well as his activity.

-Mr. Couyoumdjian, how did you decide to enter naval forces? What has attracted you in that system?

-I was 14 years old when I entered the Naval Academy. I really did not know what it was, but I liked the sea, boats and sailing. We used to holiday by the sea and I was a good swimmer. As time went by and I got to know the Navy, I liked it more and more. The 5 years at the Academy were tough, but I managed well and, every year, got the first prize of my class, which was an incentive to go on.

-Looking back, what was the naval path youve passed? What interesting episodes will you remember?

-After graduating I spent 39 years in the Navy, some were very difficult and hard, others, even though hard, I enjoyed more. The following stand out. Commanding officer of the Navy Commando Underwater Demolition Teams, Commanding Officer of Yelcho a survey, ocean tug and Antarctic supply ship, Commanding Officer of the training Ship Esmeralda ( 4 masted sailing ship 3.670 tons), on which we went to South Africa, Uruguay and crossed Cape Horn under sail, Commanding Officer of Destroyer Blanco Encalada operating with the fleet. My year as Aid the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Jose Toribio Merino, a wise and just man. My 10 years as admiral in different posts. I have a theory that wherever you get sent to, you must work hard, motivate your people and enjoy it, which I did. The cost of this wonderful life is leaving the family alone and not being there during the special occasions when the children are growing up.

-What has been the pledge of your success? With what principle have you been guided in contacts with colleagues and political figures?

-Always do your best. Be frank and look after relations with the people which surround you. Care for your subordinates, communicate and gain their trust. Be always truthful and never shun a task.

This morning I gave a lecture on Leadership to all the officers of the Naval Polytechnic Academy stressing these and other aspects.

With colleagues, mutual respect and help whenever you can. If God has given one talents, one must make the most of them and help others. With the political figures, openness and frankness; be tolerant and accept that there are people who can think different and show with actions that your love for country and humans is what moves you. If you are straightforward and truthful they will respect you.

-What do you think about the Armenian Armed Forces? In your opinion, what steps are needed for having a more powerful Army?

-I do not know them enough to give a full opinion. Anyway they have been very brave and effective in fighting the Azerbaijan to recover Nagorno Karabah. I visited the front in 2013 and got a very good impression of the men. Very motivated and prepared.

-If Im not mistaken, this is your 3rd visit to Armenia, what changes do you see every time you visit the country?

-I have got to know the people better. More and better friends. Very positive changes, in particular to see more people, especially youth, speaking English and French.

-After working in naval forces for more than 40 years you started doing business. Please, tell me about what activity do you carry out now and in which field?

-It is now 17 years that I have been retired and have done many things in different areas. Today, further to non-profit activities in education, religion and cultural activities, I have a small company which imports and supplies forensic tools for criminal investigations and intelligence. These systems help to extract information from cell phones and computers to present as proof in court. Also more sophisticated detection, jamming and intelligence systems. My idea is to supply our Police and National Attorneys labs with the best tools and training for fighting crime. We also work with cyber defence to offer protection for cyber networks.

-Can you please talk a little about the Armenian community of Chile? How many Armenians live there, in which spheres they are mainly concentrated.

-The Armenian community is very small. My father Loris Couyoumdjian was the first President of the Armenian Community in 1957, although he and many others arrived in the 1930s. Today there are about 100 members registered in the Hay Dun, which represent with their families about 400 in all. There must be a couple of hundred more around the country so in total, less than a thousand. This is very few in comparison with Argentina 130.000. Originally they worked in commerce and industry: textiles, carpets, socks, retail, jewellery, etc. the following generation produced many professionals: academicians, diplomats, journalists, doctors. Amongst the well known are Enrique Melkonian, Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also President of the Association of Diplomats, Tamara Avetikian, journalist of the main newspaper El Mercurio, Ambassador Lucia Avetikian, Juan Pablo Couyoumdjian, PhD in Economics, Professor at the Universidad del Desarrollo and etc.

Interview by Anna Gziryan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Only in the last one month, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan made two visits to Lori province, where he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the factories which are being built by an Iranian company, and then held several consultations with the officials of the province.

ARMENPRESS had an interview with Lori Governor Arthur Nalbandian about the planned projects of the province.

Nalbandian, which sectors in your opinion are the most promising in the province?

In order to give an answer, one must take into account the provinces specifications  geographical location, climate conditions, and several peculiarities of the 8 urban and 99 rural communities of the province. The province is industrial in nature. As a leading industrial branch, the mining sector can be pointed out. Overall, the mining industry volume grew nearly 9.3 times in 2016 against 2011, which is mainly due to the operation of Teghut CJSC. Sagamar, ACP, and other companies are also engaged in mining in the province.

Light industry, machine building and wood processing industries also recorded growth in volumes in last year, the governor said, adding that agriculture, IT and tourism development is also under the spotlight.

We have great expectations particularly for the development of IT, the prerequisites of which exist, and we are sure that it will become one of the main cornerstones of economic development of the province, he said.

Back in 2014, the Vanadzor Technological Center was established at the initiative of the Government and with nearly 6 million dollar funding from the World Bank.

Since 2015, Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is carrying out works for creating a Smart Center, and the construction works are planned to be completed in the beginning of 2018.

In 2017 we declared Lori a Smart Province. The launch of this initiative began by creating Smart classrooms in 13 public schools of different communities, the governor said, adding that the initiative is being expanded.

He also said that personally the President of Armenia has supported the idea of creating a Tumo Center in the province.

The governor said that they also find tourism to be a promising branch for development.

Speaking on the PMs visits to the province, the governor said that Karen Karapetyan is interested in ensuring an attractive business and investment environment for the province. With his direct participation in the province and namely in Vanadzor, I wont avoid this word, an investment boom is expected soon, he said.

Serious investments are being made especially in the road construction sector, with the largest investment program being worth 102 million Euros  the construction of the Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian border highway.

Major investments are also being made in the healthcare, education, culture and other sectors as well.

The governor also mentioned the investments of the Iranian Rad Sane Vashamir Group LLC, with total investments estimated at 130 million USD, and 2000 new jobs.

The full interview is available in Armenian.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The 5th Business Innovation Forum this year will gather Armenian and foreign specialists over digitization of Armenias economy, innovation strategy approaches, development of scientific-research infrastructure.

The event will be held in Dilijan on November 10-11 under the high patronage of the Armenian Prime Minister.

Karen Vardanayan  executive director of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE), told Armenpress that the main goal of the Forum is to create a platform of professional discussions on strategic issues.

The Union has set a task before it to restore Armenias image as a country of high technologies, thus, a platform is needed where the ways of achieving this are being discussed. High technological country without an agreed policy in different areas and clear innovative approach is impossible, the UITE executive director said.

Foreign specialists are also invited to attend the event, the international experience is examined and discussed. This year the Forum will be attended by specialists from Germany, Belgium and Romania. We hope it will become an Armenian Davos. If Davos mostly discusses economic, financial topics, this Forum will become a platform for those interested in innovation, as well as will receive an international and more thorough nature, he said.

As for the topics to be discussed at the Forum, Vardanyan said the participants will first of all discuss issues relating to creating a local industry necessary for the digitization of the economy, developing scientific-research infrastructure, innovative strategy approaches, digital security. They will also touch upon issues on improving the intellectual property system since it, according to Vardanyan, doesnt fully meet the requirements.

The innovate strategy must show the ways how to create a competitive and innovative brain since its growing is a cultural issue. But no matter how much we discuss other elements and infrastructures, the number one issue today is the education, he said, adding that in order to capture the first place, it is necessary to have a serious scientific-research potential, and this must be ensured by universities.

The Forum is organised in partnership with Support to SME development in Armenia (SMEDA) is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZs Private Sector Development in South Caucasus Programme.






YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting on November 7 with Wencai Zhang, Vice President of Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Presidents Office told ARMENPRESS.

During the meeting the President highly appreciated ADBs mission and role in the economic development of Armenia, and stressed that during the 12 years of cooperation with the bank which has become a stable partner for the country, numerous programs have been implemented in Armenia, which included both public and private sectors. President Sargsyan expressed hope that the effective cooperation will continue.

At the beginning of the meeting, the ADB Vice President warmly recalled his meeting with the Armenian President in New York as part of the investment forum, and noted that the cooperation between the bank and Armenia recorded noticeable progress.

Wencai Zhang mentioned the nearly three dozen major programs which were implemented in several important sectors in the Armenian economy, which were aimed at the development of Armenias infrastructures, reforms, raising the quality of public administration, contributing to the state-private sector partnership, and had impact in the economic development of the country.

The banks Vice President said that currently the ADB is working on designing the 2019-2023 Armenia Partnership Strategy, which will include both mid-term and long-term development programs. In this context, Wencai Zhang asked the President which priorities of the Armenian economy can be placed at the basis of the new strategy and become cooperation programs for upcoming years.

Wencai Zhang stressed that the ADB is ready to assist Armenia not only in implementing international projects, but also in works contributing to regional cooperation.

The Armenian President requested the ADB Vice President to focus on especially programs of infrastructure development in the new strategy, since in his conviction, these programs will significantly contribute to increasing the economys competitiveness.

In the Presidents opinion, without developed infrastructures it is impossible to have competitive economy.

As another priority for Armenia, President Sargsyan mentioned the consistent continuation of reforms in directions such as improvements of social, financial and business environments, reforms of urban transportation, digitization of the economy and others.

The ADB Vice President reassured that the bank will continue assisting programs of key importance for the economic development of Armenia, including digitization of the economy.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Four reports and three urgent resolutions have been adopted during the plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly which was held in Kiev from October 29 to November 1, Armenpress reports.

One of the resolutions was authored by the Armenian delegation, Armen Ashotyan  head of the Armenian delegation at the Euronest PA, told reporters in the Armenian Parliament. Our resolution related to the production, export and use of weapons through robotized systems, he said.

Member of the Armenian delegation, Yelk faction MP Mane Tandilyan said the members of the Armenian delegation were represented in all four committees during the session, as well as in the working groups. During the sessions of different committees and working groups we delivered remarks and made proposals. We have presented our expectation that the EUs more for more principle will also apply to Armenia taking into account that we are going to sign the new framework agreement with the European Union soon, Tandilyan said.

Overall, MP Tandilyan positively assessed the activity of the Armenian delegation. In fact, the Azerbaijani lobbyists were actively working, and leaving a free space of activity for them in any platform will be harmful for us, and I am convinced on this already for the second time. We need to work hard on this path. Our delegations should actively take part in the works of all parliamentary platforms and promote Armenias interests, the MP said.

Another member of the Armenian delegation, ARF faction MP Armenuhi Kyureghyan attached importance to the fact that the Armenian delegation managed to fix the following formulation in all adopted documents according to which the Nagorno Karabakh conflict significantly differs from the other conflicts.

Tsarukyan faction MP Vardan Bostanjyan also positively assessed the activity of the Armenian delegation, stating that it is mostly due to the hard work of the head of the delegation.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership agreement between Armenia and the European Union will be signed, if not on November 24, it will be signed later, Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute, told reporters, Armenpress reports.

He considered it possible that the agreement will be signed in Brussels during the Eastern Partnership summit. There is no political obstacle for signing this agreement, the problem is more technical, the political scientist said.

Iskandaryan noted that there are no obstacles in the agreement not only for Armenia, but also for Europe and Russia. The text of the agreement has been agreed with all countries long ago, he said.

Armenia and the European Union have initialed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership agreement on March 24.
By India Today Tech: Is artificial intelligence good or bad? The question sounds like a topic for school essays -- remember those "is science good or bad" questions from school -- but it is one of the hotly-debated subjects right now. At the two sides of debate are Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. Musk says AI is going to annihilate humans while Zuckerberg says that it going to make the world a better place.

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With debate heating up, Musk called Zuckerberg's knowledge of AI limited. At the India Today Conclave Next , however, most experts cautiously sided with Zuckerberg.

At a session titled Applying Artificial Intelligence to Your Business, experts said that AI was a force for good but at the same time also noted that it needed to be handled carefully and responsibly.

The discussion on AI saw participation from Radhakrishnan Srikanth, Group Program Manager at AI & Research Division, Microsoft Dr Badri Raghvan, Chief Data Scientist at Ola, Mayur Datar Chief Data Scientist and VP of Engineering at Flipkart, Madhu Gopinathan, Data Science Head at MakeMyTrip, Abhijit Singh, Head of Business Technology Group at ICICI Bank, Sudipta Ghosh, Data and Analytics Leader at PwC India, and, Rajat Tyagi, CIO at PVR Limited.

Most of the people in the AI panel at the Conclave sided with Zuckerberg. Ghosh said that Zuckerberg has right ideas about the AI but at the same time said that trust transparency in AI systems is going to be important. The underlying cause why we have this debate (on AI) is the trust and transparency. If we understand the AI then it is all good. If we trust it then it is going to be a force for the good," he said.

A few months ago, Elon Musk had weighed on the issue. He had said "I keep sounding the alarm bell... But until people see robots going down the street killing people, they don't know how to react."

Zuckerberg called the statement irresponsible. "In some ways I actually think it is pretty irresponsible," he said about the statement Musk made. But then came the reply from Tesla boss on Twitter. Musk wrote, "I've talked to Mark about this. His understanding of the subject is limited."

Datar at the India Today Conclave Next sided with Zuckerberg. "In AI there is a lot of goodness, lot of value... People fear that it will take over from humans or that it will AI systems will triumph over humans but you need to understand AI has no consciousness," said Datar, implying that doomsday scenario is unreal.

Srikanth added that in a way no one, neither Zuckerberg nor Musk, are implying that we should stop developing and using AI. But we need to go forward with caution. "We should be careful how we develop technology. We need to keep going. We need to be responsible (in how we use technology)," he said.

The India Today Conclave Next, a CXO-only conference on the technology and how it impacts people and work, opened on Tuesday with a keynote from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. At the event Nadella said that the future is going to be all about AI, mixed reality and quantum computing.

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on November 7 received members of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE co-rapporteurs Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati, press service of the government told Armenpress.

The PM attached importance to the regular visits of co-rapporteurs to Armenia which enable to discuss the ongoing reforms in the country and the process of implementation of duties. Since its membership to the Council of Europe Armenia has been actively involved in the works of the structure and its different bodies. We highly appreciate our cooperation and thank the CoE for the expert assistance, as well as in the development of the packages of legislative reforms. I think Armenia has passed a great path on implementing these commitments the evidence of which are the monitoring results conducted by the PACE and CoE ministerial committee, Karen Karapetyan said.

The PACE co-rapporteurs agreed that Armenia has passed quite a long path in a short period of time, stating that after the pan-national elections the country has entered the next stage of changes and developments.

During the meeting issues relating to the processes conditioned by constitutional reforms, electoral reforms and fight against corruption were discussed. PM Karapetyan presented the works carried out so far on this path, as well as the ongoing activities which aim at effectively and smoothly organizing the abovementioned processes. The PM noted that the anti-corruption fight is in the constant spotlight of the Armenian government, and in addition to the concrete steps to reduce the corruption risks, certain achievements were recorded also in the legislative field. The PM informed that at the moment the Armenian judicial and legal reforms 2018-2023 strategy and the action plan are being prepared.

The PM also touched upon the economic cooperation opportunities with different integration unions and countries, talked about the ongoing works aimed at improving the business environment, boosting investment activeness and attracting investments. Our main goal is to provide each investor, both local and foreign, with all the necessary conditions for their activity. We pay special attention to the business environment, we record that we have positive results over the past year, but we also know the weak points and try to eliminate them, the PM stated.

The PACE co-rapporteurs welcomed the Armenian Governments ongoing reforms in different spheres. We want to thank for two things: firstly, for a dignified and serious approach your country shows towards Syrian refugees, in particular, in terms of the flow of Diaspora-Armenians. We are grateful for that: this is an example for other peoples to follow. On behalf of the Council of Europe we want to thank you for the work the Armenian diplomats and representatives carry out in Europe, as well as your delegation to the PACE. We can assure that we will continue assisting you to keep this pace on the way of building your dreamed Armenia, Alan Meale said.

The PM thanked for the appreciation and readiness to assist and stated: Our relations with the Council of Europe will continue deepening in accordance with the commitments and political obligations assumed by us. Their unconditional implementation will contribute to expanding democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms as stable components for our security and sustainable development.




YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan on November 7 received co-rapporteurs of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale, press service of the Parliament told Armenpress.

Ara Babloyan welcomed the PACE co-rapporteurs visit to the Parliament and talked about the ongoing processes launched in Armenia after the constitutional reforms.

Speaker Babloyan thanked the guests for the cooperation with Armenia and the activity contributing to strengthening democracy in the country.

He highlighted the role and importance of the Parliament in the context of ongoing changes in Armenia. According to him, the Parliament has always played an important role, but now its opportunities and powers are further expanding.

The PACE co-rapporteurs asked their questions to the Parliament Speaker.

The sides discussed issues relating to the recent political developments in Armenia, the electoral reforms, the implementation of the Constitution, independence of judiciary and anti-corruption fight.

Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale expressed their readiness to deepen the cooperation with Armenia.
YEREVAN, 7 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 7 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.58 drams to 485.74 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.12 drams to 561.81 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 8.27 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.00 drams to 638.75 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 81.41 drams to 19847.52 drams. Silver price down by 2.34 drams to 264.16 drams. Platinum price down by 29.66 drams to 14351.93 drams.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia who is in Israel on an official visit met with Israel's minister of regional cooperation Zakhi Hanegbi on November 7, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia.

Greeting the Armenian Foreign Minister, Zakhi Hanegbi recalled with warmth his meeting with Edward Nalbandian this year in Yerevan, hoping that FM Nalbandians visit to Israel will give new impetus to Armenian-Israeli relations.

Thanking for the reception Edward Nalbandian noted with satisfaction that the activation of interactions and more frequent mutual visits in the recent period show the reciprocal interest of Armenia and Israel to further deepen relations.

During the meeting the interlocutors referred to the implementation process of the agreements reached in the sidelines of Minister Hanegbis visit to Armenia.

The Ministers also discussed in detail the recent regional and international developments.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the official visit to Israel Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited on November 6 the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, and laid a wreath at the memorial of the Holocaust victims.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, following the tour in the Holocaust museum, the Armenian FM made a note in the book of honorable guests of Yad Vashem, which reads as follows, The most important lesson we learn in Jerusalem, at Yad Vashem, and in Yerevan, at Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, is that new genocides and crimes against humanity can be prevented only by the joint efforts of the international community. The moral obligation of the Armenian and Jewish peoples who have passed through the horrors of the genocide is to stand in the front line of those efforts.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan attended on November 7 the opening of the largest solar energy system in Armenia located in Talin city of Aragatsotn Province.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, it was mentioned that this unique project is of key importance for Armenias solar energy, environmental protection and economic development.

The project was implemented by the group of Armenian investors (Eduard Marutyan, Arayik Karapetyan, Zaven Sargsyan, Hayk Chobanyan) and was co-funded by the German-Armenian Found in the sidelines of Support to renewable energy and KFW Bank. Solar Production company implemented the project. Arpi Solar Company designed and constructed of the solar station.

After the opening ceremony Premier Karapetyan had a private conversation with Secretary General of the Energy Charter Urban Rusnak. The Head of the Executive mentioned that energy sector is one of the fast developing spheres of Armenias economy, and the state highlights its diversification. Urban Rusnak saluted the activities of the Armenian Government aimed at ensuring energy security of the country.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Israel on an official visit, met on November 7 with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia.

The meeting kicked off in an expanded format with the participation of the delegations, afterwards, private conversation took place.

Greeting the guest, the Israeli PM highlighted the visit of the Armenian FM to Israel, and noted that Israel is ready to expand relations with Armenia, stressing that a great potential for cooperation exists between the two states.

Thanking for the invitation and the reception, Minister Nalbandian conveyed the greetings and warm wishes of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Benjamin Netanyahu. The Armenian Foreign Minister noted with satisfaction that in the recent period activation of Armenian-Israeli interactions is visible and expressed conviction that based on the rich historical friendly relations between the two peoples, new impetus will be given to Armenian-Israeli relations.

The interlocutors noted that its symbolic that the visit takes place in a jubilee year of establishment diplomatic relations between the two states, the 25th anniversary, expressing conviction that its a good opportunity to evaluate the past path and take new steps aimed at developing the relations.

During the meeting the sides also discussed the bilateral agenda of the Armenian-Israeli relations, and issues of cooperation in international platforms. A reference was made to economic issues.

The Israeli PM and the Armenian FM touched upon the rich Armenian historical heritage in Israel.

PM Netanyahu and Minister Nalbandian exchanged views on pressing regional and international issues and developments in the Middle East.

FM Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenias solar energy production will reach 1 GW in the coming 5-6 years, Hayk Chobanyan, CEO of Arpi Solar Company told the reporters during the opening ceremony of Armenias largest solar power station  Talin -1 with 1 MW capacity. According to him, Armenias sun and nature are a great advantage for creating solar stations and its possible to do that in a very short period of time. For example, the engineering works of Talin-1 were done during 20 days.

Development of solar energy in Armenia has no alternative. Its considered one of the cheapest energy sources in the world, and particularly in Armenia where we have powerful solar radiation and many sunny days. The possibilities are unlimited, ARMENPRESS reports Hayk Chobanyan saying. He added that 1 MW station is enough for 400 families.

To the conviction of Chobanyan, Armenias capacities are far more and there will be an opportunity for creating stations with 1 GW total capacity during the coming years.

Talin-1 project is estimated at 1 million USD.

Armenian Premier Karen Karapetyan attended the opening of the station. The project was implemented by the group of Armenian investors (Eduard Marutyan, Arayik Karapetyan, Zaven Sargsyan, Hayk Chobanyan) and was co-funded by the German-Armenian Found in the sidelines of Support to renewable energy and KFW Bank. Solar Production company implemented the project. Arpi Solar Company designed and constructed of the solar station.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan receives on November 7 PACE Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteurs for Armenia Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, greeting the guests, the President of the Republic highlighted the monitoring process of the PACE in terms of strengthening democracy in Armenia and stressed that cooperation with the CoE as a result of which significant progress has been recorded in the recent years in the spheres of human rights, democracy and rule of law stems from the interests of Armenia. The President underlines that Armenia has also contributed to the development of that key European institution by always remaining devoted to its commitments assumed as a CoE member state. According to President Sargsyans assessment, the meetings with the PACE Co-Rapporteurs are always held in an open and constructive atmosphere that helps to carry out the works in the correct direction and record positive results. The President noted that the visit of the Co-Rapporteurs has coincided with an important stage of structural reforms in Armenia, which is unprecedented both in terms of raising public trust towards electoral processes and the post-electoral consensus  something that deserved positive feedbacks from international observer missions, including the PACE delegation.

Serzh Sargsyan once again stressed that the Council of Europe is an important partner for Armenia in terms of reform implementation, with which Armenia is interested to continue active cooperation. Considering that this is the last visit of Alan Meale to Armenia as a co-rapporteur, Serzh Sargsyan highly appreciated his activities, which was constructive and directed at effective solutions of existing problems.

The Co-Rapporteurs recorded with satisfaction the changes they witnessed during their visit. They saluted Armenias policy of accepting Syrian-Armenian refugees in the historical motherland of their ancestors and for rendering them significant support, noting that it can be a good example for other countries and peoples. The Co-Rapporteurs congratulated the President of Armenia for the visible progress in the country and noted that the CoE praises the transfer from semi-presidential governance system of Armenia to a more democratic one  parliamentary system, as well as the consistency displayed by the country for the implementation of the reforms stemming from the constitutional changes. Co-Rapporteurs Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale hoped that Armenia will continue making all possible efforts to strengthen democracy and the place of Armenia in the global arena.

During the meeting a reference was made to the negotiation process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.
Goliath, the internationally known European-based publisher of art books, has just released its latest edition, Private Nudes by Italian fashion photographer Leonardo Glauso. The 128-page hardcover features "natural beauties": women specifically selected for their lack of enhancements by Glauso himselfor as he describes them, "A cross between a nude fashion shoot and private snapshots. Beautiful, sexysimply erotic."

"Who are these women showing their most beautiful sidesfashion models or 'just' good-looking students?" asks the company's website. "Whether or not there is even a difference, or if they are interrelated, isnt important. One thing is definite; they are all very young, pretty and spontaneous. Glausos photography sways far from moral norms, his models stand for freedom of sexual expression. In short: stylishly independent, erotic, unbelievably beautiful, loaded with sensuality. ... What more could one ask for in a time of growing censorship, a time when politicians could care less about free artistic development, or even perceive it as 'evil'?"

Goliath features a variety of nude photography books, including Kinky Super Beauties and Kinky Lingerie Girls by Holly Randall, as well as Sexy Lingerie Girls by Tammy Sands, and Lust Circus and Fresh by Dave Naz. And let's not forget Charles Gatewood's Wallpaper of Fame 1: Tattoo Special and Messy Girls. In fact, pretty much no matter what one's taste in the nude, art, music and fetish worlds, there's probably a Goliath book to sate that appetite. A full list of Goliath's available volumes can be found here.

Private Nudes (ISBN: 978-3-95730-024-9) sells for US$34.99, and can be purchased from Goliath on its website. Editions are available in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
By PTI: Shillong, Nov 7 (PTI) The Indian Army and its Bangladesh counterpart have begun their week-long joint training exercise at the Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi cantonment of Meghalaya. The Indo-Bangladesh exercise, the seventh such joint training exercise, is held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year to build and promote positive relations between the two Armies in view of an "emerging threat from transnational terrorism".

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General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen AS Bedi, yesterday inaugurated the joint exercise SAMPRITI in which 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army were participating.

In his speech, Lt Gen Bedi welcomed the foreign contingent and briefed them on the week-long exercise, an Army spokesperson, Lt Col Suneet Newton, said in a statement.

"The Indian Army believes that the joint Army exercise is a signal that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and are united in countering this menace," the statement said.

The exercise also aims to enhance inter-operability between the two nations and enrich from each other?s experience while carrying out counter insurgency/ counter terrorist operations, the statement said. PTI JOP MM MM

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LIMASSOL, CyprusPeter Rabenseifner has been appointed managing director of RTB ad network TrafficStars, based in their Barcelona offices.

Rabenseifner, an online marketing expert with extensive experience in the industry, began his career at DIMOCO, a leading mobile payment aggregator and was later responsible for growing the mainstream business at Exoclick. He then co-founded the AdXite ad network, which today is part of Wiget Media, and has now joined TrafficStars, a well-established ad network and ad exchange.

TrafficStars has offices in Barcelona, Limassol and Montreal and Rabenseifner will be managing all teams and processes across the world.

On the reasons that drove him to join TrafficStars, Rabenseifner remarked, TrafficStars is an exciting opportunity because as a young company at this point in its upward trajectory, it's the perfect time to implement new strategies and be able to see immediate impacts on the business.

In an industry with tough competition and fast changes, it has been the only network we have seen advancing so quickly in technology and innovation during the last few years. I am very confident in the capacity TrafficStars has to react swiftly to market changes and remain on top of its game.

Rabenseifners plans to maintain TrafficStars rapid growth include improving processes across departments, focusing on new technologies and pushing forward programmatic buying and selling through RTB.

TrafficStars CEO Geoffrey Bonnechere said, Peter is a great addition to our stellar team. Ive learned throughout my experience that people are the key to a successful business and the only way to keep growing is to hire highly qualified experts. He is going to have a very positive impact and Im confident he will help us to maintain and propel our status as pioneers in technology and innovation in this industry.
Pret A Manger has launched its Christmas sandwich range  including its first-ever vegan festive sandwich.

Available now, the Christmas Lunch and Veggie Christmas Lunch sandwiches will be joined by the vegan sandwich, the Very Merry Christmas Lunch.

Prets Vegan Christmas Sandwich, priced 3.50, combines grilled carrots, spinach and a vegan stuffing on granary bread, which is finished with a port & orange cranberry sauce and a handful of caramelised pecans and crispy onions.

Its Veggie Christmas Lunch Sandwich, also priced 3.50, combines chunks of roasted butternut squash, pesto and rocket, served with yoghurt & mayo dressing on granary bread.

The Christmas Lunch Sandwich contains slices of British free-range turkey breast on granary bread with a dash of port & orange cranberry sauce, which is served with pork stuffing and priced at 3.75.

Fifty pence from the sale of each Christmas sandwich will be donated to the Pret Foundation Trust to help the homeless.

Pret is aiming to tap the growing vegetarian and vegan market after opening its third Veggie Pret outlet in Islington, London, in October.
The Farm Shop & Deli show is set to return to the NEC, Birmingham from 16-18 April 2018  with more than 450 companies predicted to exhibit.

Visitors to the show will be able to hear about the latest industry trends and listen to presentations from leading figures in the UKs food industry. They will also be able to benefit from live demonstrations and tastings.

Yorkshire Baker, Bonta Italia and Cotswold Fayre are among the companies that have confirmed they will be exhibiting for 2018. The show said that the range of exhibitors from the speciality sector, such as bakers and butchers, would be able to source their produce to fuel growth throughout 2018.

Some of the highlights from the show will include the Farm Shop & Deli awards. Running for its fifth consecutive year, a panel of judges  including food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden  will score stores on levels of service, innovation and community involvement in speciality retail. Category and regional winners will be revealed at the show on Monday 16 April, as well as the overall Farm Shop & Deli Retailer of the Year.

Also returning to the trade show next year will be Britains Best Loaf competition.

Awards will be presented to bakers that excel in the following categories: Sourdough, Wholegrain, White, Innovation and Gluten Free. Seasons Bakerys Beetroot Multiseed Sourdough loaf was declared Britains Best Loaf at this years show.

Artisan food continues to be one of the success stories of the UK food and drink industry, said Dan Eversfield, commercial manager for the Farm Shop & Deli show. Farm Shop & Deli Show will showcase the very best products that our country has to offer, providing invaluable inspiration for businesses in the UK and further afield.

Farm Shop & Deli Show is co-located with the UKs largest food and drink trade event  Food & Drink Expo National Convenience Show and Foodex, as well as the new The Ingredients Show.
EU citizens are to be given a two-year grace period following Brexit to apply for settled status in the UK.

In news that will offer some relief to employers and employees in the bakery and foodservice industries, the government has today (7 November) announced details of how the previously announced settled status scheme will operate.

The government said it expected the majority of applications to stay in the UK following Brexit would be granted, and that applications would not be refused on minor technicalities. Caseworkers considering applications would exercise discretion where appropriate, it added.

Employers and trade organisations have previously flagged up concerns about the impact the loss of EU workers could have on the UK food industry.

We have been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens is our top priority in our negotiations, said David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU. They make a huge contribution to our economy and society and we do not want to see that change as a result of our decision to leave the EU.

We will support everyone wishing to stay to gain settled status through a new straightforward, streamlined system.

The government has today published a technical document that commits to:

giving EU citizens plenty of time to apply, with a two-year grace period after Britain leaves the EU to make an application for settled status

minimising documentary evidence applicants need to provide and enabling caseworkers to contact applicants to resolve minor issues

keeping the cost of an application to no more than that of a British passport

giving EU citizens a statutory right of appeal, in line with current rights through the Free Movement Directive, if their application is unsuccessful

making decisions solely on the criteria set out in the Withdrawal Agreement, with no discretion for other reasons for refusal

introducing a digital, streamlined and user-friendly application system

not requiring EU citizens to have held comprehensive sickness insurance or to provide fingerprints

a simpler, lower-cost process for those who already have permanent residence documentation.

Applicants will be asked to declare any criminal convictions and be checked against UK security databases, which the government described as a reasonable measure to keep the country safe from those who have abused our hospitality by committing serious crimes.

We know that there is some anxiety among EU citizens about how the process of applying for settled status will work, so I hope this document provides some further reassurance, said Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

I have been clear that EU citizens living in the UK make an enormous contribution to our country and we want them to stay.
2001 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

news@dhhs.nc.gov (919) 855-4840

RALEIGH An updated resource for fighting cancer in North Carolina is now available to citizens and medical professionals through the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.The publication, which is available online , details where cancer is most concentrated in North Carolina, which population groups experience the highest burden of cancer, and what public health professionals and partnering agencies can do to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals and their families. Cancer has been the leading cause of death in North Carolina since 2009, when it surpassed heart attack and stroke.The project was a joint effort between the Division of Public Health's Cancer Prevention and Control Branch and the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control.said State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Betsey Tilson, M.D., MPH.Poverty, education, environmental exposures, access to healthy foods and safe outdoor spaces, access to care, transportation, health behaviors and insurance coverage all play in role in the cancer burden for our population," Tilson added.Early detection of cancer works. While breast cancer incidence in North Carolina has risen 10 percent since 1999, breast cancer is being discovered earlier. This has resulted in a 21 percent decrease in deaths from breast cancer in that same period. Lung and colorectal cancer cases have each been on a steady decline, with colorectal cancer incidence dropping by 25 percent since 2002, and lung cancer incidence dropping by 9 percent since 2008. The colorectal cancer death rate has dropped by 33 percent and the lung cancer death rate has dropped by 20 percent since 1999.Designed to serve as a companion to the A Call to Action, N.C. Comprehensive Cancer Control 2014-2020 (N.C. Cancer Plan), Reducing the Burden of Cancer in North Carolina provides critical data on six specific cancers prioritized in the N.C. Cancer Plan: female breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate and melanoma skin cancer. The priority cancers were chosen because they are either the most common, or the most preventable forms of cancer. Together, these resources serve as a statewide blueprint for cancer prevention and control work.This supplement also highlights statewide progress made on each of the six priority cancers over the last two decades, while comparing North Carolina's status on these cancers to national rates. North Carolina has experienced dramatic declines in the incidence rates of prostate cancer in the last five years, and the mortality rate for lung cancer continues to decline as more people are quitting smoking. However, these declines are not experienced equitably across the state.Reducing the Burden of Cancer in North Carolina can help cancer partners prioritize where to target their efforts across the state with data-informed recommendations. It provides data visualization with GIS mapping and heat maps, county level incidence and mortality data by demographics, late-stage diagnoses data and data of patients uninsured at the time of their diagnosis. This document provides partners with possible strategies they can use through lists of evidence-based interventions and recommendations for resources to make their part in the fight against cancer easier.The Cancer Prevention and Control Branch, its Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and the Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control will use this document to train and equip local, regional and state partners how to interpret and use the data in cancer prevention and control efforts.For more information, contact the N.C. Cancer Prevention and Control Branch at 919-707-5300 or visit publichealth.nc.gov/chronicdiseaseandinjury/cancerpreventionandcontrol The Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control is a legislatively mandated committee comprised of 34 members, including but not limited to representatives from DHHS, the Department of Public Instruction, state legislators, North Carolina medical schools, the Cancer Committee of the North Carolina Medical Society, Old North State Medical Society, the North Carolina Hospital Association, the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors, Medical Directors of the North Carolina Association of Health Plans, clinicians, and cancer survivors. It meets twice a year.NC Department of Health and Human Services
Represents largest state distribution of the opioid overdose reversal medication in state history. Also announces key Medicaid change to get people treatment faster

Contact: Ford Porter

Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov

RALEIGH: North Carolina is making nearly 40,000 more units of life-saving medication available to help fight the opioid epidemic, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The state has purchased the additional naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdose, to help reduce the number of unintentional opioid-related deaths in North Carolina.In addition, individuals with opioid use disorders will now have better treatment options thanks to a decision to remove the North Carolina Medicaid program's prior approval requirement for Suboxone Film, allowing physicians to start this treatment immediately when indicated.Gov. Cooper said.The governor made the announcement while visiting Carolina Treatment Center in Fayetteville, one of the facilities statewide that will receive the extra naloxone. He also visited the Fayetteville Police Department to learn more about law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD) that fights substance use by connecting individuals with treatment instead of jail.The $3 million naloxone purchase funded by the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration allows the state to make the overdose reversal drug more widely available.Increased access to naloxone is a focus area of the North Carolina Opioid Action Plan and a priority of the President's Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and Opioid Crisis. Gov. Cooper serves on the commission, where he has urged his colleagues to help expand access to affordable substance use disorder treatment and mental health care nationwide.Suboxone Film is a prescription drug used for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) that combines buprenorphine, which helps reduce opioid cravings, and naloxone, which helps prevent abuse of the drug. Before November 1, 2017, patients had to receive prior approval from North Carolina Medicaid to be prescribed Suboxone Film. Removing that requirement allows quicker access to treatment for patients who are ready to commit to treatment for their substance use disorder.added Cooper.Opioid overdoses have been on the rise in North Carolina and across the nation in recent years. According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), more than 12,000 North Carolinians have died from opioid overdoses since 1999. In 2016, opioid related deaths were up by more than 30 percent from the previous year. Since 1999, North Carolina has seen a 1000% increase in the number of opioid-related deaths.said DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.DHHS is distributing the naloxone to partners across the state, including: EMS agencies, treatment centers, nonprofit drug addiction centers and networks of volunteers.Each unit provides two doses of 4 milligrams that can reverse an opioid overdose and save a life.NARCAN Nasal Spray is the only FDA-approved intranasal naloxone formulation that does not require assembly.Last month, Governor Cooper participated in a naloxone training for law enforcement officers in Wilmington.Individuals who need assistance with treatment and recovery can contact non-profit organizations, treatment centers and hospitals. For additional information about efforts to combat North Carolina's opioid crisis, visit: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/opioids
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day?

Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount.

Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what so called "Democracy" does exists.
If you are involved in politics and public policy in North Carolina, I have some unwelcome news: lots of North Carolinians are dissatisfied with the quality of our political discourse and leadership.In a recent statewide survey by High Point University , for example, nearly three quarters of North Carolina voters said it bothered them "a great deal" or "quite a bit" that politics has become "too divisive" and full of "a lack of respect for people who disagree with each other." Almost as many said they were greatly bothered byandThis is not about party or ideology. Because two-thirds to three-quarters of the electorate say this, it isn't just about Democrats shocked by President Trump or conservatives angry about mob rule on college campuses. It's a widespread concern.I share it. Letting political disagreements turn into shouting matches, lost friendships, and endless trench warfare can only make North Carolina and the country worse off. To engage with others more constructively is not to surrender your position or show weakness. It is a sign of confidence and strength.North Carolinians are yearning for something better. Some are already responding to that public demand. The North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership, for example, is ramping up its training regimen for people of all parties and philosophies who are interested in running for and serving in public office in our state.Through a series of weekend retreats and exercises, IOPL encourages future politicians to be ethical, civil, and intellectually curious. Now is the time to apply ( IOPL.org ) if you'd like to be considered for one of its 2018 fellowship classes.Another option, the E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders, is administered by the John Locke Foundation. While IOPL concentrates on government service, the Morris Fellowship has a narrower age focus - people in early- to mid-career - but a broader purview, encompassing potential leaders in all sectors. Morris Fellows learn to play to their strengths, build teams, and rally people to a better future by appealing to shared values. That program ( EAMorrisFellows.org ) is also taking applications for its 2018 class.Still another program, the North Carolina Leadership Forum , deserves mention in this context. Rather than seeking to train new leaders, this project - housed within Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy - is convening a diverse set of current state leaders to discuss challenging issues. While the proceedings are private, NCLF issues reports to the public that serve to chronicle its conversations and export its model to other community groups.I'm involved in all of these initiatives. I believe in the value of structured, face-to-face programs. But they can't scale up large enough to solve the problem on their own. Everyone has a role to play.We can start by making concerted efforts to avoid politicizing all our personal and professional relationships, or thinking we can always know why "they" disagree with us. Why not ask them?Also, we shouldn't assume our social divisions are simply the product of external forces or technological changes. Russian spy agencies, for instance, clearly sought to manipulate American elections last year. Their operatives placed messages on Facebook feeds designed to intensify political and racial animosities. But political polarization has many causes. In a recent Cato Institute paper, three Brown University scholars explained their findings on the subject.they observed,Watch, read, and listen to a broad set of media sources, not just ones that reinforce your views. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Be civil and curious. If we want better leadership from our politicians, we'll have to model it for them.
N.C. DOT still valuing taken properties, frustrating landowners and officials alike

"We were told to go out in early 2010 and find people who were in the beltway that might be interested in suing. We really had no firm grasp of the scope of the frustration, the animosity, the distrust and the damage the department had done across the entire scope of the beltway. From that, one client here and one client there, and pretty soon you have 300, 400 clients across the state. ... It really highlights that, if you don't do anything, the state's just going to roll over you like a freight train."

"Whatever happened before I got here I really can't talk about, but my orientation and goal on this has been to try to resolve these cases. Clearly, the property owners, some of them have been injured, and the state has an obligation to pay them. The question is, What's the fair payment, and you have to be fair to both taxpayers and property owners. To try to draw that line is what's difficult, because the Supreme Court, while they indicated there was a cause of action here, did not provide any further guidance as to the nature of the taking, the impact of a proportion of property being taken, any of that. So, we don't really have what I call rules of the road yet to resolve it."

"The state stubbornly stuck to its guns until the Supreme Court said the Map Act was a taking, and the legislature's reaction has been to hire more lawyers, pay more legal fees, try to take away the interest these owners would be entitled to and have the maps rescinded."

"Instead of honoring a constitutional obligation, they fund more attorneys to fight people's rights to be paid fairly."

"They get the benefit of their bargain. In the tax cases they have to refund money; they don't get anything back for that. So, we're puzzled why people think this is some type of anomalous expense for the state. They're getting a bargain here. They've got unimproved property without apartment buildings or shopping centers on it. They just have to pay for it and take the property. Very simple."

A decision last year by the N.C. Supreme Court ordering the state to compensate fairly property owners who filed a lawsuit over the Map Act appeared to signal a win for all people living in planned highway corridors throughout North Carolina, most notably a proposed beltline around Winston-Salem.But now - more than a year after the June 2016 decision - the property owners who signed on to the lawsuit remain frustrated, angry, and unpaid.The high court's ruling came as a result of some nearly 500 lawsuits from North Carolina residents who cried foul over provisions of the act, enacted by the General Assembly in 1987. The act cleared the way for the DOT to file a highway corridor map locally and, consequently, prohibited governments from issuing building permits and stopped owners from subdividing property within the corridor.So the property owners waited for relief. They waited some more, yet no compensation was forthcoming.A long-time corporate client of Winston-Salem attorney Matthew Bryant told the lawyer something was amiss. That the playing field was skewed.Bryant said.Bryant and his partners began aggressively looking at the issue in 2009.The question is: Did that train keep on a rolling or is the DOT doing its level best to stand on the brake and fairly pay the property owners while remaining fine stewards of taxpayer dollars?The courts, as an outcome of the Supreme Court decision, set a timetable for the DOT to complete appraisals and begin making deposits to property owners within highway corridors under the Map Act. But in late December 2016, the N.C. Court of Appeals , at the request of the DOT, blocked that order by issuing a temporary stay until an appeal could be heard.The DOT says it's working with property owners and have negotiated multiple settlements outside of the lawsuits. But the differences among each piece of property - as well as the properties' inherent uniqueness and the varied guidance from district courts - affects greatly each individual compensation package. It's virtually impossible, the DOT says, to throw a blanket over the litigants and simply start issuing checks.The state's response does little to satisfy Bryant.he said.The DOT is looking at 470 cases, all specific to the geography of the particular case, says Chuck Watts, N.C. DOT general counsel. He came on with the new administration earlier this year.The range of outcomes for any particular property goes from zero to a high number, he said.Watts said,Bryant and his clients see things differently. He represents more than 300 parties in the lawsuits, which encompass seven counties.He compared it to being shot and left on a street for dead.He wants the state to begin compensating property owners as part of the lawsuit and court ruling. As the properties sit without upgrades or other renovations, common sense says their respect values will only continue to drop.
In January of this year, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors unanimously adopted a system-wide strategic plan commissioned by President Spellings. The plan, entitled Higher Expectations, provides an outline of specific goals and metrics that are aimed to help the University prioritize its efforts in the next five years, essentially functioning as the University's decision-making "roadmap."The University's goals and metrics are laid out in a clear and precise way, though little is known yet about actual policies except that much of the implementation will be pushed back to the constituent campuses. But the "devil is in the details," and now that some of the specifics are known, it appears that many of the goals may be unrealistic.In developing the plan, Spellings and her team consulted student, faculty, and public feedback via online surveys and public forums held at each of the 17 university campuses. One open forum was held at UNC-Chapel Hill on November 10, 2016. Yet, public feedback in such surveys and forums tends to come from those with vested and political interests rather than a true representation of the population.The plan highlights five main themes: Affordability, Accessibility and Efficiency, Student Success, Economic Impact and Community Engagement, Excellent and Diverse Institutions. Within each of these broad areas, the plan lists two or three goals that it aims to achieve by the 2021-22 academic year.The major impression of the plan and the subsequent discussion is that the current UNC administration is adopting an expansive approach similar to Spellings's predecessors regarding the university system's role in the state. This approach includes an aggressive commitment to system growth, expansion into new endeavors, and redistributive social policies.In his first presentation before the Board of Governors in May 2016 , the UNC system's policy advisor Andrew Kelly emphasized the importance of making college more accessible to low-income and rural students and of improving overall student success. While on the surface this appears to be a laudable goal, it also appears to be based on unlikely assumptions about the potential for improving the performance of students.To start, Kelly noted that there are participation gaps between different demographics of students. Because of this discrepancy, Kelly advised the UNC system to make it a priority to increase enrollment from underrepresented counties. To address this issue, the UNC system aims to increase enrollment of students from rural counties by 11 percent and low-income students by 13 percent by the 2021-22 academic year.UNC officials, and indeed many in higher education, argue that a lack of college preparedness is a key factor behind the gap in attendance of low-income students-which, in turn, speaks to the lack of educational resources in those areas of the state. Kelly told the Martin Center that the gaps in enrollment underscore "differences in college readiness" and "differences in the quality of high schools."To remedy those low enrollment rates, the UNC system has set goals to improve K-12 education in low-income counties. As of Fall 2017, Western and East Carolina Universities opened their own university-operated public school in an effort to improve grade-school quality in the surrounding areas. According to the strategic plan, seven more UNC institutions will open their own "laboratory school" by 2019.UNC also has initiated a commission on education called "My Future NC," which is the most recent initiative to address K-12 education reform. Top leaders in education will come together to investigate the needs of state education and recommend policies to address those needs. According to Spellings,There is little debate that education, especially in low-income and rural counties, needs improvement. But it is unclear whether additional bureaucratic intervention will prove to be a viable solution. Indeed, it seems that many educational problems are rooted in lifestyle issues, such as the disintegration of the family , and therefore are in need of cultural-not a governmental-solutions.There is also the worry that the university will, in an effort to 'level the educational playing field,' simultaneously lift up some students who have not yet achieved at a high academic level while reducing opportunities for students with track records of success. If the university makes an intentional effort to increase enrollment from low-income populations, will that mean that it will also intentionally limit the amount of students that it accepts from more highly represented counties?Or will the university system increase the overall size of its student body-forcing the legislature to either increase appropriations from taxpayers or raise tuition for all students? The main concern, of course, is that, in order to achieve its ambitious enrollment goals, the university may create a quasi-affirmative action admissions policy.That is a question that Board of Governors (BOG) member Marty Kotis posed in a Martin Center interview: "When you talk about access, how is that accomplished? Are you changing the demographics of students who are there? Are you turning away students? What are the trade-offs?" Kotis also told the Martin Center that he had no idea how much the implementation of the strategic plan would cost.asked Kotis.In the time since the board's acceptance of the plan, the UNC system has been working with representatives from each constituent institution to determine the most effective way for each university to implement the system's goals and metrics. In September and October, sixteen Strategic Plan Implementation Agreements were created and signed by UNC system chancellors and President Spellings. The agreements outline how each institution will integrate and help contribute to fulfilling the system's strategic goals. UNC-Chapel Hill's metrics include enrolling 198 additional rural students and improving low-income graduation rates by 14.4 percent. All of the signed agreements can be found here Some of the metrics seem to be unrealistic: for example, Appalachian State University is expected to increase the number of rural graduates by 16.2 percent by 2021-22-at a time when the state's rural population is not keeping pace with the growth in metropolitan areas. ASU also agreed to increase low-income graduates by 24.2 percent and will "reduce by 50% the achievement gap in undergraduate degree efficiency among low-income students.Such dramatic increases invariably raise concerns whether academic standards must be sacrificed in order to achieve these goals.Andrew Kelly told the Martin Center that all of the data UNC collects as a result of the policies it implements will be made available in an online interactive dashboard accessible to the public.It will be very interesting whether the UNC system will be able to achieve its highly ambitious goals. If it fails, maybe then the system will finally get governance from a more realistic perspective that accepts human limitations and motivations instead of trying to remake society.
By PTI: Shillong, Nov 7 (PTI) The Indian Army and its Bangladesh counterpart have begun their week-long joint training exercise at the Joint Warfare Centre in Umroi cantonment of Meghalaya. The Indo-Bangladesh exercise, the seventh such joint training exercise, is held alternately in India and Bangladesh every year to build and promote positive relations between the two Armies in view of an "emerging threat from transnational terrorism".

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General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen AS Bedi, yesterday inaugurated the joint exercise SAMPRITI in which 14 officers from the Bangladesh Army and 20 officers from the Indian Army were participating.

In his speech, Lt Gen Bedi welcomed the foreign contingent and briefed them on the week-long exercise, an Army spokesperson, Lt Col Suneet Newton, said in a statement.

"The Indian Army believes that the joint Army exercise is a signal that both India and Bangladesh understand the emerging threat of transnational terrorism and are united in countering this menace," the statement said.

The exercise also aims to enhance inter-operability between the two nations and enrich from each other?s experience while carrying out counter insurgency/ counter terrorist operations, the statement said. PTI JOP MM LNS

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On Sunday afternoon, Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, walked out of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where he had just opened fire on parishioners during mass. Dressed in all black tactical wear and body armor, he strode across the parking lot.That's when he met Stephen Willeford, 55, a local plumber. Willeford lives near the church, and when he heard shooting, he grabbed his rifle and rushed over.While Kelley was armed with a powerful AR-15 and was formerly a military member, Willeford engaged Kelley, getting into a shootout. One witness said that when he came face to face with Kelley, Willefordthe Daily Mail reported.Wounded, Kelley dropped his Ruger assault rifle and jumped into an SUV to flee.But another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who works at a nearby auto parts store, had just pulled up the intersection nearest the church and saw the gunfight. After Kelley sped away,Langendorff told the San Antonio Express . "So that's what I did. I just acted."The two jumped into the truck and sped after Kelley. The Mail picks up the story:In a Facebook post, Langendorff's girlfriend Summer Caddel described how the pair had 'jumped in my boyfriend's truck and they chased that sick b*****d down in pursuit until the cops could catch up. He was able to run the shooter off of the road on 539!'Langendorff told KSAT 12 that he'd been speeding at 95mph, while on the phone to dispatch, while Willeford kept his rifle trained on the gunman's car.As they approached a sharp curve in the road, near the 307 and 539, he said Kelley appeared to lose control and his car swerved off the road.he said.Caddel added that Kelley died within a few feet from her boyfriend.A local resident told the Mail that Kelley was already dead when they found him,the resident told the Mail of the shooter while he was driving.Authorities so far aren't saying how Kelley died. Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin confirmed that the shooter was found dead, but addedBut no matter which way Kelley died, two Texas heroes ended the massacre before it got worse.


After a man called Connor Zion experienced several seizures, he became disoriented and attacked some of his family members, who called the police. Orange County, California Deputy Michael Higgins arrived, shot Zion nine times, approached Zion's motionless body, fired nine more shots into him at point-blank range, then, after a running start, stomped on Zion's head three times.



A lower court gave Higgins immunity for the murder on the grounds that he was a police officer worried about a threat to his life. The Ninth Circuit reviewed the dashcam footage of Higgins murdering Zion and concluded that he had lied, and stripped him of his immunity. Higgins's case has been sent back to the lower court.



[T]erminating at threat doesn't necessarily mean terminating the suspect. If the suspect is on the ground and appears wounded, he may no longer pose a threat; a reasonable officer would reassess the situation rather than continue shooting. This is particularly true when the suspect wields a knife rather than a firearm. With that, the Ninth Circuit sends the case back to the district court, overturning its summary judgment in favor of Officer Higgins. It also points out the plaintiff is entitled to recover her costs for the appeal. And, importantly, it unseals the two videos it relied on to reach its conclusions, so the public can draw its own conclusions about the incident in question in light of the officer's misleading statements.



Cop Loses Immunity After Shooting, Headstomping Gravely-Injured Suspect

[Tim Cushing/Techdirt]
You decided to read this article on a whim, and I'm glad you did. Not all decisions require a decision matrix. I'm an author, so I use decision matrices to methodically decide what's going to happen in a story. After completing a decision matrix, I'm satisfied with my choice and I can concentrate on writing about the option I selected.

In preparing to describe how I use decision matrices to make decisions, I noticed that Boing Boing's primary reference to decision matrices is highlighting another website's flowchart. It's a great flowchart. It's just not a decision matrix.

Decision matrices start with a matrix, in this context defined as a rectangular array of elements. A blank spreadsheet is fine. If you abhor spreadsheets, use any other medium you can make rows and columns with, but keep in mind that the decision at the end involves some elementary math. This is an example of customizations I'll suggest while I'm explaining decision matrices, to make the technique work well for you.

Now that you have an empty matrix, define the problem you want to solve. If you're into the 5 why's technique, or if you've never tried it before, this is a good place to use it. If you'd rather meditate or walk or shower to let your subconscious define the problem, that may work better for you. A decision matrix is a tool, so make sure you're applying it to the question which will get you the results you want.

A simple question which a decision matrix can answer is "What should I write about?" List every possible option in the first column. For fiction, I generally agree with Seth Godin: "If you come up with 20 bad ideas, you'll have a good idea" (2010 interview). This is the brainstorming stage, so if you have time, list every remotely plausible idea and eliminate bad ones later.

However, we're in a hurry and we need our writing topic now. Maybe we procrastinated planning for NaNoWriMo. Let's start with four options to choose between:

Note that this is a tiny decision matrix. A baby. It is cute. My cell count is usually closer to 300. Also note that the above is an excellent example of using a decision matrix to choose between less than ideal options.

Next, list criteria by which to judge your options. I use subjective criteria, but if you want to operationalize concepts and go the objective route, you can. Also, if you don't mind limiting your brainstorming possibilities by listing criteria, you can complete this step before filling the first column with options.

Put the criteria in the first row:

I fill in my decision matrices by column, so I can compare, say, how awesome haunted lunar bases are to the awesomeness of robot girlfriends. Rating each idea completely before moving on to the next row lets you build a more detailed mental model of how that idea would work before you rate the next one. Do what makes sense to you.

I rate how well each criterion applies to the idea on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being YES! and 1 being NO! Note that we are rating options, not ranking them. Reuse ratings as often as needed.

The table below indicates that I, personally, couldn't write 100,000 words about bringing a robot girlfriend to dinner. Moon Ghosts and Miasma was Right! sound totally doable. I'm already in the process of writing the best 300,000 words I can about AI, so I'd have to read a lot more before I have enough AI ideas for another 100,000 words. It's still a fun topic, though, so it gets a 3 on that criterion.

I weight the most important criteria with a multiplier. Since I write science fiction, awesomeness (both formal and colloquial) is essential. If I happen across a sufficiently awesome idea, I can research and get excited enough about it to write 100,000 words. The multiplier also prevents me from writing 100,000 words on a topic I enjoy, but which few other people are interested in (i.e. it isn't colloquially "awesome").

Now, let's make the decision by adding the rows. The row with the highest total is your best option.

For even better results, combine your highest rated options where possible. The "haunted" lunar base our protagonist moved to could very well host an AGI. The AGI reaches its limit watching humans jam up in the corridors, so it starts scaring people into efficient traffic patterns and killing the worst flying car drivers. Will our protagonist stop it, or give it access to every city in the solar system? That's a better story than either concept would've been individually.

R.E. Stearns wrote her first story on an Apple IIe computer and still kind of misses green text on a black screen. She went on to annoy all of her teachers by reading books while they lectured. Eventually she read and wrote enough to earn a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Florida. She is hoping for an honorary doctorate. When not writing or working, R.E. Stearns reads, plays PC games, and references Internet memes in meatspace. She lives near Orlando, FL with her husband/computer engineer and a cat.

About R.E. Stearn's new novel, Barbary Station: Two engineers hijack a spaceship to join some space piratesonly to discover the pirates are hiding from a malevolent AI. Now they have to outwit the AI if they want to join the pirate crewand survive long enough to enjoy it. Adda and Iridian are newly minted engineers, but aren't able to find any work in a solar system ruined by economic collapse after an interplanetary war. Desperate for employment, they hijack a colony ship and plan to join a famed pirate crew living in luxury at Barbary Station, an abandoned shipbreaking station in deep space. But when they arrive there, nothing is as expected. The pirates aren't living in luxurythey're hiding in a makeshift base welded onto the station's exterior hull. The artificial intelligence controlling the station's security system has gone mad, trying to kill all station residents and shooting down any ship that attempts to leaveso there's no way out. Adda and Iridian have one chance to earn a place on the pirate crew: destroy the artificial intelligence. The last engineer who went up against the AI met an untimely end, and the pirates are taking bets on how the newcomers will die. But Adda and Iridian plan to beat the odds. There's a glorious future in piracyif only they can survive long enough.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Here's the annoying thing about computers: While it matters what model you get, it also matters what software you install to it. It impacts what you're able to do with your READ THE REST
Paul Manafort, a lobbyist for some of the most brutal and corrupt dictators in modern history, was indicted last week on money laundering charges. As a holder of three different US passports, he is considered a flight risk, and has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor at all times. One of Manafort's many lawyers complained to the court that Manafort dislikes wearing the ankle monitor and shouldn't have to suffer the indignity of having to wear it, but a federal judge ruled against the request, saying Manafort "remains in the High Intensity Supervision Program," reserved for "high safety or appearance risks" who "need an increased level of supervision through weekly contact, drug testing, and/or location monitoring."

From New York Mag:

Since Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced the indictment of the former chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign last week, he's been confined to house arrest. Manafort  along with his protege Rick Gates  pleaded not guilty to crimes relating to funneling millions of dollars earned lobbying for foreign powers through shell companies. Their trial isn't set to begin until May 2018, but cabin fever is already setting in. Over the weekend, Manafort's attorney, Kevin Downing, filed a motion in the United States District Court in Washington D.C. requesting bail and offering up several homes, including his Trump Tower condo, as collateral. Downing argued that Manafort isn't a flight risk, in part, because his offshore accounts don't have much money in them, and the majority of his assets are in the U.S. He added that despite his characterizations in the media, Manafort isn't "a 68-year-old 'Jason Bourne' character."

Image: Manafort: Flickr, A barricade burning outside the headquarters of the internal defence forces in Lviv, caused by mass protests: Wikipedia/Aeou
The United States is en route to be the only country in the world to ignore the benefits of the Paris Climate accord, should the Trump administration's plan to withdraw from the the deal go into effect.

Even while in the midst of a bloody civil war, Syria announced at an international climate summit in Bonn, Germany on Tuesday that it was ready to join the global agreement to limit carbon emissions, according to the Washington Post.

"As if it wasn't already crystal clear, every single other country in the world is moving forward together to tackle the climate crisis, while Donald Trump has isolated the United States on the world stage in an embarrassing and dangerous position," Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement published by the Washington Post.

President Trump pulled out of the 2015 accord in June claiming it was unfair to American workers, although the withdrawal can't be completed until the end of Trump's term due to the deal's framework.

Even as some may consider the accord weak  considering countries set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and face no penalties for not reaching those goals  it still embodies a global acknowledgment of climate change and the need to combat it.

Syria's announcement comes just four days after 13 U.S. federal agencies released a report suggesting humans are the leading cause of increasing temperatures.

Via Washington Post:

According to news reports and people who were present Tuesday, the Syrian delegation to the talks announced the war-torn country's intention to ratify the Paris agreement. Separately, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency, lawmakers in Damascus last month "approved a draft law on ratifying Syria's accession to the Paris Climate Agreement." The move comes after the only other holdout, Nicaragua, announced plans to join the Paris agreement in September. Nicaragua initially had refused to join the agreement in 2015 because its leaders felt the accord did not go far enough in compelling nations to reduce their carbon emissions. But in joining the deal this fall, the country's president noted that it is the "only instrument we have" to unite the world around the goal of staving off the most catastrophic effects of global warming.

Image: photoshopper24
Waymo minivan

Waymo

Waymo, the self-driving-car company spun out of Google, is allowing residents in Arizona to hail its driverless Chrysler Pacifica minivans.

The cars will operate entirely on their own; there won't be a driver sitting behind the wheel.

Uber has similar pilots in Pittsburgh and Tempe, Arizona, but keeps a safety driver up front.



Waymo, the self-driving-car company spun out of Google, just made a huge move to rival Uber in the driverless-car arms race.

Waymo said Tuesday that select people in Arizona can now hitch a ride in one of the company's autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans. The effort mimics the ones launched by Uber in Pittsburgh and Tempe, Arizona, but Waymo will differentiate itself by not having a human driver sit behind the wheel.

That's right: people will be able to ride in a completely driverless car for the first time.

"Now, in an area of the Phoenix metro region, a subset of our fleet will operate in fully autonomous mode, with Waymo as the sole driver," Waymo said in the Medium post. "Over time, well cover a region thats larger than the size of Greater London, and well add more vehicles as we grow."

Waymo said its driverless cars will be available to transport passengers to work, to an evening out on the town or to take kids to school, among other uses. The company did not provide specifics about how many cars will initially be part of the ride-hailing fleet, or whether passengers will have to pay for the service.

Waymo_Pacifica_Interior_UI_Hero_Closeup

Waymo.

The driverless minivans are equipped with screens in the back seat that provide passengers with information such as the speed limit in the area, or a quick message to explain that the car is "yielding to pedestrians." When the car arrives at its destination, the screen reads "We're here," according to Business Insider's Troy Wolverton, who took a test ride in one of the Chrysler minivans in October.

Story continues

Going after Uber's bread and butter

The move signals the increasing competition between Waymo and Uber, both in developing driverless cars and in the ride-hailing business that Uber pioneered.

Waymo said that it also expects that self-driving cars will one day be sold to individuals. But "by giving people access to a fleet of vehicles, rather than starting with a personal ownership model, more people will be able to experience this technology, sooner," it said in the Medium post.

Residents in Pittsburgh have been able to hail a self-driving Uber since September 2016, but all of the cars have a safety driver and engineer sitting upfront. Uber has a similar pilot running in Tempe, but it's attempt to launch a program in San Francisco was shut down after a public feud with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Waymo said the vehicles are equipped with safety features like backup steering and braking to ensure the rides go smoothly. According to Ars Technica, the cars will also have a Waymo employee in the back to observe and to push the "pull over" button if something goes wrong.

Waymo has already been conducting tests in Phoenix allowing some residents to ride in its self-driving vehicles as part of its "early riders" program. Those riders will be the first ones allowed to hail the robotaxis before Waymo expands access to the general public.

Waymo spun out of Google's self-driving-car project that was launched back in 2009. The Waymo cars have driven more than 3.5 million miles on public roads across 20 different US cities. The technology on the cars still faces challenges in certain conditions like snow and rain, which is one reason why the initial pilot project is taking place in Arizona.

Here's a video of the self-driving car in action that Waymo posted on Tuesday:

Youtube Embed:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/aaOB-ErYq6Y

Width: 560px

Height: 315px

NOW WATCH: Waymo is now letting ordinary people sign up to test its self-driving cars in Phoenix

See Also:

SEE ALSO: Tesla just told Model 3 reservation holders it is pushing back delivery dates
Ever since her Gossip Girl days, Blake Lively has topped best-dressed lists thanks to her effortless style, both on and off-screen. But for her new film The Rhythm Section, the actress has taken on a whole new lookand its a far cry from her signature red carpet glamour.

While filming the spy thriller on the streets of Dublin on Sunday (Nov 5), a makeup-free Blake was captured decked out in a short blond wig, a ratty oversized jacket and a pair of baggy pink sweatpants. The actress looked unrecognizable, save for the times she flashed her famous megawatt smile at the cast and crew.

Blake looked unrecognizable while filming in Ireland.

The 30-year-old actress is hot off her press tour for her latest movie All I See Is You, during which she made not one, but a whopping seven outfit changes in one day! She hit the press circuit in everything from a sunny, monochrome look from Brandon Maxwells Spring 2018 collection to an androgynous all-plaid ensemble from Ralph Laurens Fall 2017 collection.
By PTI: Panaji, Nov 7 (PTI) India and Bangladesh are likely to resume their collaboration in the oceanic research after the earlier attempts to share the expertise failed due to diplomatic issues.

CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Dhaka University had signed memorandum of understanding in the year 2015 following which NIOs ship had ventured for the research but was not allowed to enter Bangladeshs Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

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"During that time the collaboration that had started between two countries (India and Bangladesh) was at scientists level. The ministries of both the countries were not involved," CSIR-NIO Director Sunil Kumar Singh told PTI.

He said the Indian researchers were not allowed to enter the exclusive economic zone of Bangladesh by their government.

"Now the collaboration will resume in near future as it would be done at the level of ministries of both the countries," he said.

Singh said the mission which was set as a part of Indo-Bangla collaboration was "not suspended" as "our researchers did work in our own areas but could not go into Bangladeshs EEZ."

He said that the collaboration will resume soon with Myanmar also being considered to be part of it.

Indo-Bangladesh initiative was announced by then Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan in presence of senior researchers in Goa in the year 2015. PTI RPS RMT

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Civil liberties advocates have launched a legal challenge over the constitutionality of Quebec's face-covering ban, arguing it "directly infringes on the freedom of religion of individuals."

The law passed last month requires people to uncover their face to receive public services under certain circumstances.

The legal challenge, filed Tuesday in Quebec Superior Court, contests a section of the province's religious neutrality law under both Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Such blatant and unjustified violations of freedom of religion, as well as of the quality guarantees of the Quebec and Canadian charters, have no place in Quebec or Canada," the plaintiffs argue in a court filing.

"These violations cannot be justified in Quebec's free and democratic society."

The National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Marie-Michelle Lacoste, a Quebec woman who converted to Islam and wears a niqab, are also plaintiffs in the case.

'Living in fear'

At a news conference, Lacoste, who uses the name Warda Naili, said the legislation has emboldened anti-Muslim sentiment and she has been "living in fear" since the law was passed.

She said she would be "humiliated" if she were forced to remove her niqab for longer than "absolutely necessary."

Another woman named in the suit, Fatima Ahmad, said she has no problem removing her niqab briefly "in order to identify myself," as she does to get her student ID photo for the bus or if she is being examined at the doctor's office.

But the Montreal-born McGill University student said she is concerned the new rules will limit her ability to use public services, including the bus and the library, and attend university.

"I am devoted to wearing the niqab, so removing it in public would make me feel like I am not acting in accordance with my religious beliefs," Ahmad said in an affidavit.

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"I was shocked that the government had thought it necessary to regulate the deeply personal religious choices of a small minority of women in Quebec."

Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said at the news conference the law was another example of politicians targeting the Muslim community for "electoral gain." The next provincial election is slated for October 2018.

Quebec Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee maintains the law is needed for communication, identification or security reasons.

The law, Vallee argued, represents a "well-balanced response" to a debate over the reasonable accommodation of minorities that has been ongoing in the province for the past 10 years.

Last month, in the face of mounting criticism and confusion, she laid out guidelines for when it should be applied.

Feds 'committed to upholding rights'

On Tuesday, Vallee told reporters she was confident the law would survive a court challenge, but she didn't rule out invoking the notwithstanding clause in the Canadian Constitution.

While opinion polls suggest Quebecers were in favour of a law on religious neutrality, the practical application has been more problematic.

- ANALYSIS Quebec Liberals 'not satisfying anyone' with face-covering ban

The ban was panned by Quebec's association of municipalities, as well as both outgoing Montreal mayor Denis Coderre and mayor-elect Valerie Plante. The premiers of Alberta and Ontario have also denounced the law.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said governments shouldn't tell women what they can and cannot wear.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould said the federal government is "aware that an application has been filed in Quebec and we are reviewing it carefully."

"I am committed to upholding the rights of all Canadians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms," she said in a statement.

Jean-Francois Lisee, the head of the Parti Quebecois, which has pressed for an even stronger religious neutrality law, called the court challenge "extremely predictable."

For his part, Premier Philippe Couillard maintained the law was crafted to be in compliance with both the provincial and Canadian charters. Catherine McKenzie, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, disagrees.

"We feel that there is fairly clear case law from the Supreme Court of Canada saying that those types of choices are a violation," she said.
By Jon Herskovitz and Lisa Maria Garza SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (Reuters) - After one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings unfolded on their doorstep, pastors and parishioners around the tiny Texas hamlet of Sutherland Springs have begun asking whether guns have a rightful place inside their houses of worship. It is a debate that is echoing across the United States as security experts and some politicians ask churches to consider a wide range of enhanced measures to thwart tragedies like Sunday's deadly rampage at the First Baptist Church. Barbara Burdette, who knew the 26 people killed in the massacre and as well as the 20 wounded, is ready to see her church hire armed security, or allow congregants to carry their own concealed firearms for self-defense. "God is our protector," said Burdette, 62, "but I do still think that we need to have people with conceal carry." Her pastor at the First Baptist Church of La Vernia, a one-story brick sanctuary 7 miles from the shooting scene, said the issue of guns in church requires a delicate balance between providing safety instead of fear. Arming parishioners is not the only option. At the historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, where a white gunman killed nine at a June 2015 bible study session, uniformed police officers now attend regular worship services. "It's part of our new normal," said Reverend Eric Manning at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, by phone. He said the church also created in-house security, as have most black churches in the region. Muslim and Jewish institutions for years have added security measures to address the threat of violence and hate crimes. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stresses the importance of security cameras, strong doors and clearing brush away from buildings so attackers have no place to hide. A law enforcement vehicle prominently parked in front of a house of worship is also a strong deterrent to crime, said Claude Pichard, director of Training Force USA, which worked with churches across the country to improve security after the Charleston shooting. The question of enabling, or even encouraging, parishioners to shoot back is a discussion particularly important to communities where guns are a part of life, such as rural Texas. In Sutherland Springs, the shooter was confronted as he left the church by a resident who shot and wounded him. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told Fox News that churches should consider whether they wanted parishioners to be armed as a way of preventing another tragedy. His state allows for the concealed carrying of handguns by licensed owners. It is not clear exactly how First Baptist Church, where the shooting occurred, addressed gun issues. A sheriff in Williamson County, Texas, a two-hour drive from the massacre, expects to discuss arming parishioners at a church security summit he is organizing in the wake of the attack. He said churches have a responsibility to ensure that responding officers can distinguish a protector from the assailant. "What are you doing to make sure we don't have a friendly on friendly fire?" said Sheriff Robert Chody by phone. New Life Church, a congregation of 10,000 people in Colorado Springs, Colorado, requires churchgoers to leave their guns in their vehicles, a decade after it was the scene of a deadly shooting that killed two. A parishioner trained in church security used a firearm to wound the shooter, preventing greater carnage, said pastor Brady Boyd. "Pastors are now waking up to this reality that we are not living in Mayberry anymore," he said, referring to the fictitious North Carolina hometown on the "Andy Griffith Show," a long-running 1960s television comedy. He pointed out that no church could have security in place to withstand an attack by a military-trained shooter using an assault rifle, the scenario that unfolded this weekend in Texas. About 10 miles from the shooting, Floresville Christian Fellowship Pastor Bennie Herrera said he needed to re-examine security but knows there is only so much that can be done. "We will not be gripped by fear," he said. "Faith will rise up and we will come together," he said. (Additional reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, South Carolina and Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Writing and additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Detroit; Editing by Frank McGurty and Lisa Shumaker)
Even light doses of glyphosate can cause disease in organs later on, says a biologist opposed to spraying the herbicide to kill weeds and young hardwoods in New Brunswick and elsewhere.

"Glyphosate accumulates in all our organs," said Thierry Vrain, a soil biologist and former president of the International Federation of Nematology Societies.

The New Brunswick forest industry uses glyphosate to kill maple, oak and other hardwood growth, and by NB Power uses it to kill hardwood growth near transmission lines.

The main ingredient Roundup, glyphosate is also sprayed on farmland around the world, despite a finding by the cancer and water branch of the World Health Organization that it is "probably carcinogenic to humans."

Hangs around in soil

Vrain, who worked for Agriculture Canada for 30 years and has a doctorate in plant pathology, said that the company that invented glyphosate thought it was biodegradable and would last a only few days in the soil before disappearing.

"It's a lot longer than that," said Vrain, who was recently invited to speak in Fredericton to groups opposed to glyphosate spraying.

"In most soil it takes weeks and months. There's a study done in Sweden where they still found the glyphosate three years later."

Once introduced into the environment, glyphosate is remarkably stable, he said.

- Worry about glyphosate spraying in reservoir is unwarranted, says toxicologist

- Moncton mayor wants glyphosate spraying stopped near Turtle Creek

Although Vrain believes glyphosate is a risk to human health, he said no research has been done on humans.

Research done on animals, however, shows cause for concern, he said.

In recent years, research on animals, including rats and pigs, has found they become chronically diseased even with small doses of glyphosate, Vrain said.

He said the animals have developed cancer, kidney and liver disease and obesity.

Can only speculate about humans

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"All we can do is speculate with all the data that we have on research from animals."

The European Union is deciding whether to ban glyphosate, and this year California moved to add it to its list of potentially cancerous chemicals.

Despite critics' concerns about the safety of glyphosate, its effects on the water supply, forest diversity and the environment, the herbicide is registered in 100 countries.

In New Brunswick, a report by the acting chief medical officer of health found that in 2016, nearly 29,000 hectares of forest were treated with glyphosate.

But Dr. Jennifer Russell also said there was no increased health risk for New Brunswickers.

"We acknowledge that some uncertainty about glyphosate exists, but based on our review, exposures in New Brunswick are similar to or less than elsewhere," she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives in Vietnam today for a two-day state visit ahead of the APEC summit, only the second such meeting between the two countries' leaders since the end of war and the normalization of relations.

It is a bilateral relationship undeniably defined by the Vietnam war as Canada's peripheral involvement in that U.S.-led conflict left an indelible mark on the national psyche.

"For many Canadians, when you say the word Vietnam they will think first of the war  and indeed they might simply say Vietnam and mean the Vietnam war," Robert McGill, a University of Toronto professor and the author of War Is Here: The Vietnam War and Canadian Literature.

"But Vietnam is not just a period in time. It's actually a country with a much longer history than one of war with the United States."

Canada's relative neutrality in the war secured its position as one of the world's champions of peacekeeping, and later, thousands of Vietnamese boat people would be welcomed to Canada, fleeing the resulting chaos that created by the fall of Saigon.

"The war has had a tremendous impact on Canadian identity  it was the central issue in a decade when Canadian identity was undergoing a significant reconsideration, and the nation itself was undergoing many changes."

For many of the Vietnam's leaders, including its current prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, whom Trudeau will meet Wednesday, the war is personal. His mother and one of his sisters were killed in the conflict while working with the Viet Cong and living in what was then South Vietnam.

The familial home was destroyed three times by bombings, before he picked up and moved north to the communist-controlled area for his studies, according to Vietnamese state news outlets. The country's president, Tran Dai Quang, has similarly impeccable revolutionary credentials.

Much has changed in the southeast Asian country since that conflict, although it is still a one-party socialist republic ruled by a politbureau that espouses the virtues of its own brand of communism. It has embraced aspects of market economics in some sectors, leading the Economist magazine to dub the country's leadership "ardently capitalist communists."

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TPP minus Trump

Vietnam is now one of Asia's fastest-growing economies in large part due to its openness to trade  fuelled by a mass of cheap labour  and a big trade imbalance with the United States. The country was counting on even greater access to the U.S. market through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a deal U.S. President Donald Trump dumped shortly after taking office.

Despite Trump's move, Canada, Vietnam and the nine other original signatories, are still in negotiations to keep the deal alive. Reports have suggested renewed talks are now in the "final stretch," with some countries pushing for a signing at the APEC summit. Sources in Ottawa have sought to tamp down such optimism. A government official, speaking on background ahead of the trip, said Canada "isn't there yet."

Stewart Beck, chief executive of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the APEC summit in Da Nang will be an opportune time to hammer out a deal. "I think that will be consuming a lot of time, and a lot of air," he said of TPP. "It's getting some sunshine now because of what's going on with NAFTA."

The pact aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial and farm products across a bloc whose trade totaled $356.3 billion last year. Bilateral trade between Canada and Vietnam is fairly substantial, but it's lopsided. Vietnam sent $5 billion worth of goods here, much of it textiles, while Canada by comparison exported just $500 million worth of products to Vietnam.

The country is still grappling with its past, and the side effects of its newfound, breakneck economic growth. Vietnam's GDP is expected to grow by 6.7 per cent this year. Canada, by comparison, is leading other G7 countries with a projected growth rate of 3.2 per cent.

'Link with human rights'

Conservative Senator Thanh Hai Ngo, a former officer in the south Vietnamese armed forces who fled to Canada after the fall of Saigon in 1975, said Trudeau's economic overtures should be combined with specific demands to improve the state of human rights in the country.

"Canada is a country of trade, we have to do trade, we agree with that, but trade has to link with human rights, it has to link with the labour law, it has to link to [reforming] commercial law.

"Right now, it's like doing business with your eyes closed," Ngo, a frequent critic of the communist regime, who hasn't returned to his native land since the war, said in an interview with CBC News. "Trade and human rights must go hand in hand."

Ngo said, despite economic growth, wealth has accrued mostly to people in highest echelons of the communist party, and political leaders are siphoning money from state-owned corporations. "The Vietnamese communist government, all Vietnamese officials, I can say, are corrupt. That's the word we can use with no problem," Ngo said.

"Everybody over there, as long as they have the power, it's time for them to be rich, line their pockets, and they just don't care about the Vietnamese people, I'm afraid to say."

Ngo's office has compiled a criticial human rights report, which shames the country for its draconian measures to crack down on free expression, assembly and religion (the faithful have to register with the government to legally worship), and its affinity for plainclothes police officers who spy on citizens, jail bloggers and allow poor working conditions in the country's many textile factories.

He said Canada, given its trade imbalance and its role as a top customer for Vietnamese businesses, shouldn't be afraid to press for reforms.

"We have an upper hand, and Canada has the opportunity now that Prime Minister Trudeau is going there, he has the opportunity to raise the issue of human rights, of releasing political prisoners, I think that's the key. It's a good chance for Canada to make our presence known, and let our values be known."

Ngo said he'd like to invite Trudeau to a meeting with the Vietnamese community after the trip to "let us know what he did.

"I can organize the meeting for him, I could have a group of 5,000 or 10,000 people there to hear what he has to say."
The company that operates the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Maine is re-examining some familiar territory.

Bay Ferries, which operates The Cat high-speed ferry, has made enquiries to town council in Bar Harbor, Maine, about potential use of its ferry terminal. Company president Mark MacDonald described it as "a long-term examination" and said it's a matter of considering what is best for the business and what can be done at the lowest possible cost.

"There's nothing new in what we're doing here," he said.

What is new is clarification about the ownership of the ferry terminal in Bar Harbor, as well as work to upgrade its condition. Those two things brought the location back on the radar for Bay Ferries, said MacDonald.

Portland concerns

For the last two years, Bay Ferries has run The Cat back and forth from Yarmouth to Portland, Maine. MacDonald said Portland is "a great place" and a good partner, but there are also challenges with the location. One of the concerns is limited space along the waterfront and a growing cruise ship industry, which isn't always seen as compatible with ferry service.

"We love Portland and it's been great operating there and we expect we will be for the short-term future at least, but we always have to look at what are the other possibilities and they understand that," said MacDonald.

He said he's been open about that approach with Portland, as well as Bar Harbor.

Two years into a 10-year deal with the province, Bay Ferries has seen its passenger numbers increase and MacDonald said he's optimistic about future years.

However, the service has not been without its challenges. Engine problems this season resulted in the cancellation of almost 25 per cent of the runs, resulting in slower-than-hoped-for growth. Work to repair the engine, at the expense of the manufacturer, is underway now and expected to take until sometime in March.

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Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines reaffirmed his support for the service and Bay Ferries last month.

Location could change, schedule wouldn't

MacDonald said it's too early to say what the company might do, and that includes whether The Cat could run from Yarmouth to both Maine locations in the same season. There is precedent for that approach, which Bay Ferries did with a former version of The Cat in the wake of the cancellation of the Scotia Prince service in 2005.

But MacDonald conceded it can be confusing for customers.

One thing that wouldn't change, regardless of where The Cat travels, is the schedule. MacDonald said he believes the schedule, which sees the ferry leaving Yarmouth in the morning and returning in the evening, is the right one and would be used regardless of the port in Maine.

No one from town council in Bar Harbor could be reached for comment on Monday.
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

$6 Million Meant to Fight Ebola Lost to Fraud: Red Cross

At least $6 million meant to fight the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was lost to fraud, the Red Cross says.

An internal investigation said at least $2.13 million vanished due to "likely collusion" between Red Cross staff and employees at a bank in Sierra Leone, the Associated Press reported.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which handled more than $124 million during the epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, said it was "outraged" by the fraud.

"We are pursuing every possible avenue to reclaim all funds that have been misappropriated, diverted, or otherwise illegally taken. This includes working with authorities in affected countries and elsewhere as appropriate," said Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, the IFRC under secretary general for partnerships, the AP reported.

The IFRC also said it was boosting efforts to combat corruption.

-----

First Sexually Transmitted Zika Case of Year in Miami-Dade County

The first sexually transmitted case of Zika virus in Miami-Dade County this year was reported by Florida health officials.

The case involves two people who tested positive for Zika. One of them did not travel, but that person's partner had recently gone to several areas where Zika transmission could occur, state health officials said Friday, CBS News reported.

Zika is commonly spread by mosquitoes in parts of Central and South America.

There is no evidence of ongoing, active transmission of Zika anywhere in Florida, according to health officials. There have been 205 confirmed cases of Zika in Florida so far this year, CBS News reported.
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Bogota, Colombia, November 6, 2017The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Venezuelan authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of Jesus Medina Ezaine, a Venezuelan freelance photographer who went missing on November 4.

Medina tweeted that he and his family began receiving threats on November 1, the day after his article on Tocoron, one of Venezuelas most violent and overcrowded prisons, was published on the widely read news site Dolar Today.

The journalist did not specify who made the threats or if the threats were made anonymously.

Elyangelica Gonzalez, the Venezuela correspondent for the Miami-based Univision TV network, wrote in a tweet that shortly before Medina disappeared, she had received a message from him saying: Urgent. Theyve got me.

The director of the Caracas free-expression organization Espacio Publico, Carlos Correa, told CPJ that government security forces might have detained Medina or criminal gangs who were upset with the journalists recent reporting on the lax security conditions at Tocoron prison could have targeted the journalist.

The National Union of Press Workers said via Twitter that officials from Venezuelas intelligence body, the National Bolivarian Intelligence Service, have denied that they were holding Medina at their main detention facility in Caracas.

We are deeply troubled by the disappearance of Jesus Medina Ezaine given the current turmoil in Venezuela, said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney from New York City. We hold the government of President Nicolas Maduro responsible for ensuring his welfare and swift return.

Medinas work has frequently appeared on Dolar Today, which is based in the U.S. and is fiercely critical of Venezuelas socialist government. The site also provides information on the countrys black-market exchange rate.

During a reporting trip to Tocoron in October, the prisons director accused Medina and two foreign correspondents, Roberto di Matteo of Italy and Filippo Rossi of Switzerland, of smuggling unauthorized audiovisual equipment into the penitentiary, according to news reports. Prison authorities held the journalists for two days and then freed them without charges.

Dolar Today published the photos and video Medina took as well as images provided by some prison guards that purportedly show numerous irregularities at Tocoron, such as inmates in possession of weapons, smart phones, and motorcycles. In his report, Medina also described how criminal gangs partially control the prison.
By PTI: Pakistan Army recovered

Srinagar, Nov 7 (PTI) Three militants, including Jaish- e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhars nephew and another commander from the group, were gunned down by security forces in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, officials said here today.

A US-made M4 rifle used by Pakistani Army special forces was recovered following the encounter, which took place yesterday and is being described as a "breakthrough".

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An Army soldier was also killed in the fierce gunbattle in Aglar area last night and two AK-47 rifles recovered.

The killed militants have been identified as Mehmood Bhai, the so-called divisional commander of Jaish in the south, Tallah Rashid, Masood Azhars nephew, and Wasim Ahmed Ganie.

While the first two were in the category of most wanted militants carrying a cash reward, the third was a local and had joined militancy in May this year, top officials from the police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said at a press conference here.

A Jaish spokesperson identifying himself as Hassan Shah sent a statement to local news agencies claiming that one of the slain militants was Tallah Rashid, nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar.

Inspector General (Kashmir Range) Munir Khan thanked the militant outfit for acknowledging the identity of the killed militant and said the state police would like to request Pakistan to claim the body of the two foreign militants.

?I am thankful that for the first time they have owned a Pakistani militant, that ?yes, he is nephew of Maulana Masood Azhar?. Now, we will take up the matter through proper channels and we will very firmly request... please claim the body and take it because they have owned it,? he said.

Major General B S Raju, who heads Victor Force and is responsible for security in south Kashmir and parts of Budgam and Bandipore, said Pakistan?s special forces use M4 carbine rifles and it is likely that they supplied the weapon to the JeM.

The weapon is mostly used by the US Army in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

?M4 Carbine is a US-made weapon, presently with a lot of armies in NATO and it is also with the Special Forces of the Pakistan Army. So we have reason to believe that this particular weapon was given by the Pakistan Army to the JeM cadre. This clearly shows the complicity between the JeM and Pakistan and its nefarious designs in Kashmir," he said.

The army commander said it was the first time that a US- made weapon was recovered in Kashmir.

He added that there were reports that 10 such rifles were brought by terrorists who infiltrated from across the border recently.

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While the number of militants has not come down, the level or quality of militancy in Kashmir ?definitely has come down?, Raju said.

?The quality of people who are joining is definitely being compromised and the relative level of peace that is there in the environment is ensuring that the government is able to function better... That is an important development,? he said.

According to him, the presence of JeM militants in the Valley is an indication that Pakistan thinks the "capacity and the propensity" of Hizbul Mujahideen to survive has reduced.

?My understanding is that there is too much relationship between this and radicalisation... This void is being filled by JeM... So, this fundamentally tells me that the Valley wants peace and to get back to normalcy but is not being permitted by Pakistan,? he said.

Kashmir IG Khan said police would launch a thorough investigation to ascertain how such a weapon reached the hands of militants.

?The matter will have to be taken thorough different channels, with concerned embassies," he said.

He said there are about 16-20 more JeM militants in the Valley.

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In his view, displaying the pictures of new weapons on social media was a part of the psychological war by militants.

Commenting on stone-pelting, CRPF Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan said people should understand that there is a limit to everything.

?Yesterday, after a gap, we noticed a lot of stone- pelting. It started from Pulwama and continued till where the operation was taking place. We would like to reiterate that we are fully capable of facing these situations."

Masood Azhar was released along with two other terrorists -- Sheikh Omar and Mushtaq Zargar -- in exchange for passengers of IC-814 Indian Airlines plane, which was hijacked and taken to Kandahar on December 31, 1999. He later formed Jaish-e-Mohammed, believed to be responsible for many terror incidents, including the 2001 attack on Parliament.

India has been making diplomatic efforts to list Azhar as a global terrorist under the UN anti-terror law but the process has been blocked by China. PTI SSB MIJ SKL MIN

--- ENDS ---
Paris - Burkina Faso's president said on Sunday that the existence of the death penalty in his country should not stop France from extraditing the brother of its ousted leader over the 1998 killing of a journalist.





French police detained Francois Compaore, 63, at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport late last month under an arrest warrant filed by Burkina Faso.





He was one of the most disliked figures in the regime of his brother Blaise Compaore, who was ousted in a popular revolt in October 2014 after he tried to change the constitution to extend his 27-year grip on power.





But French courts might refuse his extradition because Burkina Faso still has the death penalty on its books.





"I already consider it a major victory that the arrest warrant has been executed on French territory," President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said in an interview with French media outlets in Ouagadougou.





"Even if it's legal, the death penalty is not applied in Burkina Faso," Kabore said just a few weeks ahead of a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Ougadougou this month, the first by a French head of state in over 20 years.





"It's been more than 20 years since anyone has been executed," Kabore added.





Francois Compaore is wanted over the killing of journalist Norbert Zongo and three companions, whose charred bodies were found in a burnt-out car in the south of the country in December 1998.





Zongo's family have long accused Francois Compaore of having had a hand in the killings, which triggered mass protests in Burkina Faso and drew international condemnation.





Kabore also said he hoped that France would soon declassify its archives concerning the killing of the revolutionary Burkina leader Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated 30 years ago last month.





"I think this would be a good thing, it would be a sign of good faith toward uncovering the truth," Kabore said.





Sankara was killed in October 1987, along with 12 comrades, in a putsch that brought his close friend Blaise Compaore to power.





Several people have been charged in connection with Sankara's assassination as part of an inquiry opened in March 2015, including soldiers from the presidential security unit.





"The case is evolving, there have been 17 indictments," Kabore said. "I think the case will be settled very rapidly."

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

Agence France-Presse, November 6, 2017
It's hard to wire a wind turbine while juggling a thick technical manual, or to ask offsite experts for help without being able to show them exactly what you see. Augmented reality can help, overlaying digital data onto the real world to give workers immediate access to vital information.

Seeing information in a new way

LEARN MORE Subscribe to receive Future of Work content Visit the Future of Work collection Read Deloitte Review, issue 21 Create a custom PDF or download the issue

The first tools used by humans were little more than sticks and small rocks. Later, as tasks became more complicated, tools did as well. More complicated tools, in turn, allowed for new types of work previously undreamt of. Imagine Galileo looking through his newly constructed telescope and seeing clearly for the first time that the uneven spots on the moon were, in fact, shadows from mountains and craters. He had built his telescope to meet the demands of his scientific studies, but in doing so, also created new fields. Little did Galileo know that within three and a half centuries of his sketches, workers from an entirely new career fieldastronautswould be walking in those exact craters.

While simple tasks require only simple tools, today workers are increasingly asked to do much more: to sift through troves of data, and to perform complex, variable, and often unpredictable tasks that require an ability to access and understand that data, often quickly while juggling heavy workloads. Tasks such as diagnosing an almost invisible crack in a jet engine turbine or finding the optimal route for a delivery truck can require workers to access, aggregate, analyze, and act on vast amounts of informationmore than any human could possibly memorizethat changes constantly depending on real-world conditions. To avoid overwhelming workers and allow the future of work to actually . . . well, work, workers need the ability to sift through it all and determine what is relevant to the task at hand. This means that modern workers will commonly need an entirely new set of tools that affords them a new way to interface with information and tasks.

That new toolset can be found in the promise of augmented reality (AR), enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT). Like the telescope before it, AR can offer an opportunity to see and use information in a new way. AR presents digital information to workers by overlaying it on their view of the real world (figure 1). For example, with AR, technicians who wire control boxes in wind turbines can see exactly where each wire goes in their field of view rather than wasting time flipping pages in a technical manual. In one experiment, eliminating even this seemingly minor inconvenience resulted in a 34 percent faster installation time.1 By marrying digital and physical information in this way, AR can offer more realistic training, speed up repetitive tasks, and even introduce entirely new forms of work.2

By reimagining how humans relate to digital tools, AR can offer fresh insights about how work gets done as well as new opportunities for collaboration and remote work. In this sense, AR can be seen as a tool that can work alongside people, with humans and digital technologies working together, leveraging their inherent strengths to achieve an outcome greater than either could accomplish alone.

What is augmented reality, really?

For many, the term augmented reality may conjure images of slick presentations of datadigital images overlaid on live video or projected on glasses, for example. But that is only one facet of AR; it has the potential to provide far more value to todays workplaces. AR can integrate digital information into the ways in which workers perceive the real world, enabling them to seamlessly use that information to guide their choices and actions in real time, as they accomplish tasks.3

Three key elements underpin AR (figure 2):

The source of the data

The ways in which that data are presented

The interaction with, and use of, that data as an impetus for action

Together, these three elements combine to make AR a unique tool with powerful potential.

Source of the data

Starting at the beginning, where information is created, takes us outside of the realm of pure AR and into another connected technology: the IoT. Put simply, the IoT creates flows of information from connected tools, systems, and objectsinformation that, when aggregated, can be used to create a more holistic view of the world and illuminate new insights. Information can drive the workday; workers use information in one form or another, from some source or another, to accomplish their tasks. Much of this information can easily be pulled from databases or reference materials, but in the fast-paced world of the modern workplace, it is not helpful to know the as-designed pressure in a hydraulic pump or what the pressure was last month. Workers need to know what the pressure in that specific pump is todayright nowif they are to accurately use or maintain that pump. Gathering digital information about the world from sensors, and communicating that information so it can be aggregated, analyzed, and acted upon is what the IoT is all about.4

Presentation of the data

Simply having the right information isnt always enough. Workers can be quickly overwhelmed when presented with too much information, which can actually lead to poorer performance.5 Instead, try to present information when it is relevant, and in a manner that workers can easily absorb. Much of the current research into AR focuses on how to present digital information in increasingly natural, contextual ways. For example, while early systems had to rely on specific markers or cues, such as lines or bar codes telling computers where and how to display information, current development focuses on marker-less systems that can more seamlessly weave digital content into a users field of vision.6

Interacting with, and using, the data

Even having the right data, presented in the right way, does not create any new value if it fails to result in action. Value is created only when a worker can use this information to do something newfind the right part faster or get help from an expert. This means that AR sits at the end of a long trajectory of not only displaying digital information, but controlling it in increasingly natural ways.

Early computers displayed data via tape printouts; later versions progressed to screens via command line interfaces. Workers controlled these machines with keyboards or punch cards, but could not easily edit or control the data once it had been printed. Later, the graphic user interface and the mouse made consuming and controlling digital information easier. But AR can take this trajectory still further; it not only incorporates the display of information in a way that people naturally perceive the world, but also increasingly allows workers to control that information through movements such as gestures or gazes.7

AR is fundamentally about allowing humans and machines to team together to achieve results neither could alone. That teamwork can be the key to success in the complex, data-rich environment of the 21st century.

AR is a prime example of how optimally leveraged new technologies can change the future of work. After all, work is, at its foundation, an interaction between people and tools. New tools introduce new capabilities that can generate measurable improvements in work performance. Freestyle chess exemplifies this. Instead of asking, Which is better, human or machine? it takes the question one step further and asks, What happens if the humans and the machine team up? In freestyle chess, competitors can use any technical tool or reference aid to help select their moves; this often results in large teams of people and computers working together to try to win a game.

In 2005, playchess.com hosted a freestyle chess tournament. Armed with the best computers, several grandmasters entered the tournament as heavy favorites. But none of the grandmasters took home the prize. Instead, it was awarded to two amateur players who used three home computers.8 How did they beat the odds? It turned out the most important thing was not technology or the skill of the players, but rather the quality of the interaction between them. As Garry Kasparov later explained, Weak human + machine + better process was superior to a strong computer alone and, more remarkably, superior to a strong human + machine + inferior process.9 Similarly, AR is fundamentally about making the human-machine team work as naturally as possible.

AR is fundamentally about allowing humans and machines to team together to achieve results neither could alone.

Why AR? Why now?

While AR may seem cutting-edge, it is actually not a new technology. Its roots stretch back to World War II, when British engineers combined RADAR information with a gunsight, enabling fighter pilots to attack targets in the dark.10 But in the decades that followed, AR failed to catch on in the workplace, likely because it was not required to complete tasks. But as the nature of work in the 21st century is transforming, tasks are changing; in the future, human-machine relationships will likely become increasingly critical to organizational success. To those of us bombarded daily with hundreds of emails, social media posts, and texts, it is perhaps no surprise that the volume of information in the world is increasing every day.11 In fact, in 2003 alone, the amount of information contained in phone calls alone was more than three times the amount of words ever spoken by humans up to that point.12 As more companies derive value from this information, the demands of sifting through mountains of information to find the right pieces of data for a complex task will be beyond the capabilities of most people.13 The result is that AR will likely be increasingly necessary for tasks with high volumes of data or highly variable tasks.

Research from psychology, economics, and industrial design indicate that there are two main factors that determine how we process information to accomplish tasks: the volume/complexity of data and the variability of the task.

Volume and complexity of data. Data is an invaluable asset to decision making and task performance, but it can have diminishing returns: While a little information is good, too much information can actually reduce performance. This is because information overload often distracts workers from key tasks and causes them to miss relevant details. Highway accident statistics illustrate this principle: As car manufacturers continue to make safer vehicles, highway fatalities actually rose in 2015. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this was at least partially due to an increase in distracted driving; more drivers are now using phones and other devices when behind the wheel.14 And while smartphone apps featuring turn-by-turn directions can be useful, they can also cause drivers to miss even more important information, such as the brake lights of a truck ahead.

Variability of task. When each iteration of a task is different, it may also become difficult to sift out the relevant pieces of data.15 In this case, humans may have the advantage over computers. Computers do a better job handling large volumes of data, but humans are much better at dealing with variation. For example, human language is rich in variation and context. So while a person would quickly detect the sarcasm if a friend said how great the weather was on a rainy vacation, computers would struggle to detect anything but praise for the precipitation.16

Both of these factors can negatively impact job performance, and both are increasingly inherent in the tasks asked of modern workers. In order to accomplish todays tasks, we likely need a new way to interact with digital tools. We cannot rely on ourselves alone because humans cannot process or remember enough information. But neither can we rely solely on automation, because it can only do what it was programmed to do and cannot deal well with variability. And so, it seems clear that increasingly, we will need teaming between human and machine, with each playing to its strengths. In short, for many modern tasks, we would benefit from AR.

What does this mean for business?

Todays work environment often asks workers to perform tasks that are both increasingly data-intensive and increasingly variable. These two attributes determine the value that AR can bring to an organization. Large organizations will continue to offer a wide variety of jobs, falling across multiple categories, and AR can bring value to each in different ways. So understanding the type of tasks each job requires is the first step to understanding how AR can help. While concepts such as task variability and volume of data can seem abstract, organizations can work through these two questions to make this process a bit more intuitive:

What do I need to know to accomplish this job successfully (complexity of information)?

Where, and how often, do judgment and intuition come into play in this job (variability of task)?

Because these questions can be answered yes or no independently, the result is that AR can bring benefits and improve work along four main categories (figure 3).

Evolution I: Equilibrium

In this scenario, both data complexity and task variability are low. Here, the employee can use AR largely to do what he or she already does today, but perhaps just a little bit better. In this stage, AR can be leveraged to provide insights the typical worker may not easily have at his or her fingertips, which can result in more efficient, more productive, and even more accurate work. This can involve using AR to make up for deficiencies in human senses or abilities, to uncover the temperature of an object via superimposed heat maps, to view three-dimensional visual terrain models, to be guided by other perceptual enhancements, or to provide an overlaid measurement scale that enables greater precision in construction, assembly, or repair.17 For example, AR has been used to help historical reconstruction efforts painstakingly reassemble Roman vaulting by precisely guiding the placement of each piece of the vault, providing feedback on when a portion had been placed incorrectly.18

AR can also be used to help discover new information, such as detecting when a machine or device might be emitting excessive heat or radiation, or providing enhanced visibility of terrain in conditions (fog, fire, darkness, etc.) in which humans might not be able to see or navigate on their own.19

In other cases, AR can log data and information automatically for the user, transforming how a workforce captures, reports, and shares information. This can, in turn, increase productivity, reduce errors in documentation, and streamline audit or accounting processes. It can also more accurately track physical tasks and labor to help optimize assignments and scheduling based on worker availability and capacity. All of these uses of AR represent a streamlining and potential improvement of current work processes, rather than an evolution of capabilities.

Implications of Evolution Ia new mind-set. While Evolution I does not significantly change the tasks workers are asked to do, it does significantly impact how they are asked to accomplish them. Whether inspecting pipelines for leaks or setting ancient Roman vaults, workers will be asked to do familiar tasks in new ways. The rationale for this shift must be clearly communicated and workers must see some benefit or they may simply revert to older, more familiar techniques.

Evolution II: Infinite mind

Workers are increasingly being asked to handle high volumes of datain many cases, a greater load than the human mind can possibly handle. For scenarios in which the volume of information is high while tasks are relatively predictable, AR can be used to provide workers with a data overlay in a consumable way that still makes it possible to accomplish tasks. Here, AR can begin to enable workers to accomplish new tasks, or address old tasks in new ways.

Maintenance crew on an aircraft carrier, for example, must maintain and repair a wide variety of extremely complex machinery, from fighter jets to helicopters. This requires highly technical skills, but also the use of bulky manuals; crewmembers often find themselves stopping and starting as they scroll through documentation to find the correct set of instructions to accomplish a task. AR can free the maintenance crew from the need to remember large lists or carry around bulky manuals, by overlaying instructions in the crew members field of vision in real time, as needed. This makes the work faster and more accurateand frees both hands to accomplish tasks. In fact, this is already becoming a reality with a beta test from Siemens, which has equipped its Vectron series of train locomotives with AR manuals.20 These manuals allow workers to pull up CAD drawings or even repair instructions for the exact part they are looking at, offering them immediate and easy access to several thousand pages of information.

Implications of Evolution IInew skills. Evolution II makes huge volumes of data available to workers. This can allow them to perform previously impossible tasks, but it also requires new skills to navigate vast amounts of information. For example, now train drivers would not only need to know how to operate a train, they would also be required to learn how to inspect and use the AR tablet. Care must be taken in the training, and even hiring of these positions, given the new skills required.

Evolution III: New connections

In the third evolution, new connections can be formed using AR, enabling highly variable tasks with simple information requirements. The majority of tasks of this nature involve human interactions, which differ and can be highly unpredictable. Some, however, can require the user access data that a worker might not have at his or her fingertips. So in this stage, having ready and contextual access to that sort of information can enable higher productivity.

At its simplest, this sort of new connection can simply take the form of see-what-I-see sharing. For example, continuing with train maintenance, imagine a train that wouldnt start and a worker who, after attempting all of the typical troubleshooting steps, could not identify the malfunction. Since the problem is unknown, the worker cannot use AR to call up instructions to fix it. So instead, he or she could contact a small cadre of senior maintainers at a central facility. With AR showing those maintainers exactly what the on-site worker sees, they can help to diagnose the issue.

AR can also be used to capture and disseminate specialized knowledge. For example, a surgeon who just developed a novel, potentially lifesaving technique can use AR to easily share information and instructions with colleagues, spreading the word more quickly and effectively than a journal article would. By using AR, colleagues would then be able to access this information quickly during surgery, should that specialized knowledge be needed at any given moment. In another scenario, engineers and designers could use AR to make the design process more efficient and less wasteful. Rather than printing or manufacturing physical prototypes to test product ideas, they could use AR to improve designs by planning and testing product assemblies or working with virtual prototypes during the design process.21

Implications of Evolution IIIuntethered work. Evolution III offers the opportunity to break free of the constraints of location. Now maintainers do not need to be in the same location as the machinery; workers can collaborate on designs or share notes across the globe. Much like the tele-work revolution enabled by the Internet, this use of AR will require some care to create cohesive teams that can work together effectively despite the loss of direct contact.

Evolution IV: Full symbiosis

This final evolution represents the culmination of ARs use in the workplace. In assisting workers with highly variable tasks that also require a great deal of information to complete, AR can augment and complement the human strengths of intuition, creativity, and adaptability with those of computingthe ability to handle, access, and analyze high data volumes while connecting with other resources in real timeto enable new capabilities and maximize performance. This can bring the best of both humans and machines together, with machines able to deal with more complex data than any human could, and workers able to adjust to variability faster and more reliably than any computer. In this way, Evolution IV describes the future of human-machine interaction and the future of work.

In these scenarios, AR can link a human worker to, for example, a digital supply network, overlaying data about supplies, expected shipment times, production schedules, external data, and machine functioning over a field of vision, enabling planning processes or re-routing troubled shipments in real time to reach the production site on time.22 In this way, AR can bring together a full, complex network of constantly changing information and provide it in a contextual, visual manner to enable decision making in the moment.

In these data-rich, fast-paced uses of AR, human-machine interaction goes beyond a simple interface between worker and tool; the human and machine become a true team. Research from NASA offers a glimpse of what these future human-robot partnerships may look like, using AR for space exploration. Through research into joint human-robot teams, NASA is examining ways in which astronauts and scientists can collaborate naturally with robots and computing systems during complex missions via AR. NASA has pointed out that to reduce human workload, costs, fatigue-driven error, and risk, intelligent robotic systems will need to be a significant part of mission design.23 The agency points in particular to actions such as grounding, situational awareness, a common frame of reference, and spatial referencing as crucial to performing its work effectively, making AR a useful partner to solve these challenges. Using spatial dialog, NASA is looking to AR as a means of facilitating the collaboration between humans and robots as part of a holistic system. Taken back down to earth, similar AR-driven systems can be used to aid humans in highly unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations, such as search and rescue missions.24

In the long run, these uses of AR have the potential to completely reshape how work is done. Imagine it is 2025, and a cybersecurity analyst comes into the office in the morning. Defending a computer network involves sifting through immense volumes of data, but also reacting to the unpredictable variability of human hackers on the other side. After getting his or her morning cup of coffee, the analyst can sit down at the terminal and ask the system, What is unusual about my network this morning?25 If the system detected something unusual, not only could it highlight any unusual parameters, it could also identify who the individual hackers might be and what they may be after.26 With this information, the analyst can better respond to the variability of the situation and take appropriate action to deny the hackers goals and protect the system.

Far from being the realm of science fiction, the component parts of such a system already exist. What remains is for leaders to combine them in a way that is suitable for their organizations.

Implications of Evolution IVPushing the boundaries. More than any other use of AR, Evolution IV pushes the boundaries of human-machine interfaces to uncover previously unknown uses of the technology. As with any exploration into uncharted territory, it is likely to uncover new problems that designers or operators of AR may not have anticipated. As a result, companies electing to try to reap the large rewards of such a massive transformation need a workforce that is ready for the inevitable hiccups and motivated by the sheer challenge of exploring new ground.

Evolving into the future

These four evolutions of AR are not firm categories that restrict how the technology can be used. On the contrary, they are simply guides to help understand how AR can change the work environment. As a result, the evolutions canand quite likely willbegin to merge together over time. Take the two areas where AR has already been widely piloted: vision picking and see-what-I-see expert support. Vision picking is an Evolution II use of AR; warehouse workers use smart glasses to keep track of a pick list and direct them to the proper shelf to find those items. In see-what-I-see support, part of Evolution III, workers are able to call upon experts to help them diagnose issues on the fly.

Flash forward a few years into the future, and we can see how both examples have expanded and pushed the boundaries of ARs potential. The same vision picker now can not only see where the next item to be picked is located, but can also see other workers and their locations, passing items back and forth on lists depending on who is closest (Evolution III). The handful of employees in the warehouse are supplemented by an automated workforce that can take over many of the less difficult and repetitive tasks, such as moving inventory (Evolution IV). In addition, passive capturing of product data can help create records of arriving and departing shipments without the need to stop and answer phones, talk to drivers, or sit at a workstation (Evolution I). The wearable AR device has become a seamlessly integrated tool that allows workers to have maximum flexibility, access to information, and the ability to interface with a wide range of systems, from IoT-enabled machinery to legacy video feeds and communication systems.

A similar story can be told around see-what-I-see support. The system continues to offer live video support, but only as a last-ditch effort to solve a problem that has likely been faced before. The field worker is now equipped with a wearable device that has a library of solutions, compiled from a database of previous issues. By simply focusing on a given part within the field, the wearable will be able to identify the specific part and download performance data from sensors on that part. Predictive maintenance algorithms will then be able to show the worker directly when the part will likely fail (Evolution IV).27 If the part needs to be replaced, an overlay of how-tos will provide the field operator with just-in-time, step-by-step information including sequencing, proper tools, and tips/tricks to move through the process (Evolution II). Once completed, the AR device will record the maintenance procedure and the data will be added to better predict future part failures or maintenance needs before they become an issue (Evolution I).

The future of work merges humans and machines into one team so that they can seamlessly accomplish multiple types of tasks quickly and intuitively.

Realizing the future

How will this future of work be realized? Certainly the technology must continue to develop. Currently, AR still has some technical limitations, which include the need for tethering (being wired to a PC or laptop for processing power), an inability to recognize 3D objects, and a lack of actual spatial awareness. Much of AR is currently limited to 2D image recognition, meaning that devices can only recognize 3D objects from within a limited angle. And while the current technology can easily create 2D overlays on 3D objects, without the ability to lock these digital items onto the physical environment, it is difficult to accomplish anything meaningful. Hardware, too, must continue to develop; many headsets are clunky and awkward and have a very limited field of view, which make them seem restrictive and can be dangerous in high-risk environments (warehouses, industrial settings, etc.).

While the above may seem like a long list of shortcomings, they are all well-known and improvements are already being developed. So the real challenge to achieving the future of work promised by AR is not technological; it lies in how AR changes work itself. In other words, the impact of AR can stretch far beyond mere technology and touches how we work as individuals and as teams. This is where the true hurdles to AR lie and, as a result, it is where organizations would likely need to take the critical first steps toward achieving an AR-infused workplace.

Organizational leaders should understand that preparing a workforce for the inevitable onslaught of technologies that will support the emergence of an augmented workplace requires a shift in culture toward innovation and collaboration. Leaders also need to provide an incentivized way to integrate technology and just-in-time learning into the DNA of the organization. Here are some practices leaders could adopt to help build a more innovative and collaborative culture:

Give credit for explorative and just-in-time learning. Employees could earn credit for activities such as watching TED Talks and listening to educational podcasts, as well as sharing solutions to issues and best practices with colleagues through lunch and learns. These informal sessions, in particular, can help develop a culture that values active problem solving.

Employees could earn credit for activities such as watching TED Talks and listening to educational podcasts, as well as sharing solutions to issues and best practices with colleagues through lunch and learns. These informal sessions, in particular, can help develop a culture that values active problem solving. Promote the use of emerging toolsets (such as Skype, FaceTime, and Speech to Text) to increase the adoption of new productivity tools as they become available . This can be done by making tools readily available and having a rollout plan that includes incentivizing the use of new technologies. For example, encourage staff to use webcasts, screen sharing, and the live chat tool by having more remote meetings or creating work-at-home opportunities.

. This can be done by making tools readily available and having a rollout plan that includes incentivizing the use of new technologies. For example, encourage staff to use webcasts, screen sharing, and the live chat tool by having more remote meetings or creating work-at-home opportunities. Create a culture of technology integration and play. Organizations that adopt technical solutions quickly have established a culture of exploration where play is often encouraged. Having activities such as hackathons, where colleagues are provided a play time to identify ways in which tools can be used to solve problems, can create a culture where innovation and problem solving are recognized as important aspects of the organization.

Organizations that adopt technical solutions quickly have established a culture of exploration where play is often encouraged. Having activities such as hackathons, where colleagues are provided a play time to identify ways in which tools can be used to solve problems, can create a culture where innovation and problem solving are recognized as important aspects of the organization. Cultivate a fast-fail mind-set among your staff. The fear of failing can choke innovation, stifle problem solving, and slow the adoption of toolsets that can make the workplace more efficient. A culture that encourages a fail fast mind-set where experimentation is supported and failures are viewed as learning opportunitiesand as such, stepping stones on the path to successcan quickly adapt to innovations as they emerge in the marketplace.

By instilling these features in a workforce, an organization can help ensure that it is positioned to take advantage of the benefits of AR, wherever those leadeven to the moon.
A 70-year-old woman in Japan dated wealthy men and killed them using cyanide. The woman known as Black Widow has been sentenced to death.

By India Today Web Desk: Chisako Kakehi, 70, was sentenced to death for the murder of three men, including her husband, and the attempted murder of another.

A Japanese court has sentenced Chisako who met wealthy men via dating agencies and poisoned them with cyanide, according to an RT report.

Chisako murdered her 75-year-old husband just a month after they got married.

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Chisako is accused of using the deadly poison cyanide to kill her lovers. She is also accused of making money in millions from insurance payouts and her lawyers are planning to appeal the sentence.

Chisako used to go for wealthy men and the men she has already killed were all in their 70s too. The infamous killer is also known as Black Widow in the Japanese media. The name comes from a female spider which is known to kill its mates after sex.

Kyoto District Court ruled that Chisako Kakehi used cyanide "with a murderous intention" in the four cases, and that she should be held responsible for the crimes irrespective of the face that she had been diagnosed with dementia.

"The cases were well prepared in advance. They were cunning and malicious. I have no choice but to impose the ultimate penalty," BBC quoted Judge Ayako Nakagawa.

Chisako was wearing a hearing aid and asked the judge to speak loudly during the proceedings. The Black Widow was devoid of emotions when the sentence was handed down.

The Black Widow made special request to dating agencies to fix her with wealthy and childless men.

She reportedly inherited around one billion yen (Rs 57 crore approximately) in all, although she later lost some of it through the stock market.

--- ENDS ---
Citing solidarity with the Cuban people, the United States voted against an annual United Nations resolution condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The resolution was adopted by the General Assembly, with 191 countries voting in favor; and two, the United States and Israel, voting against.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Cuban regime uses the yearly UN debate on the U.S. embargo as political theater, a distraction from the destruction it has inflicted on its own people and on others in the Western Hemisphere.

Ambassador Haley said, As long as the Cuban people continue to be deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms  as long as the proceeds from trade with Cuba go to prop up the dictatorial regime responsible for denying those rights  the United States does not fear isolation in this chamber or anywhere else. Our principles are not up for a vote.

She pointed out that those principles are not only enshrined in the U.S. Constitution but also in the Charter of the United Nations.

In her remarks to the General Assembly, Ambassador Haley spoke directly to the Cuban people. She noted that many were hopeful after Cuba and the United States, under the previous administration, opened diplomatic relations between the two countries.

What you probably dont know, she said, is that your government responded to this gesture of good will, not by joining in the spirit in which it was offered, but by expanding its politically motivated detentions, harassment, and violence against those who advocate for political and economic freedom in Cuba.

Your government silences its critics, Ambassador Haley declared. It disrupts peaceful assemblies. It censors independent journalists and rigs the economy so the government alone profits.

Ambassador Haley emphasized that the American people fully support the Cuban peoples dreams of living in a country where freedom of expression is respected and leaders are freely chosen.

The United States opposes this resolution today in continued solidarity with the Cuban people and in the hope that they will one day be free to choose their own destiny, said Ambassador Haley. When the day of freedom comes for the Cuban people  and it will come  we will rejoice with them as only a free people can.
Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

UK Prime Minister Theresa May. EFE

The similarities between Brexit and the Catalan independence push known in Catalan as el proces have become widely acknowledged.

The parallels have even made an appearance at the usually prudent BritishSpanishSociety panel discussions, a cross-disciplinary forum whose 29th edition ended yesterday in Bath. Here are some of the parallels that were drawn between both:

1. Both Brexit and the Catalan proces have polarized their respective societies, which are now aggressively split in two.

2. Both executives (one led by UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the other by former Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont) have deteriorated the democratic principle according to which the nations government represents everybody and governs for everyone, your own rivals included. In Catalonia, non-secessionists counted for nothing, while in Britain, the official debate only took place between radical and ultra-radical Brexiteers.

3. This in turn undermines the rule of law. The Catalan breakaway laws demolished this notion of representing and ruling for everyone, while Mays (failed) attempt at wresting Article 50 from the House of Commons tried to do the same.

4. Parliament and the separation of powers are the ultimate victims. In Britain, they are being denied the freedom of an open vote (or amendment) on the final deal (or lack thereof) with the EU. In Catalonia, minorities (which nevertheless represent a majority of the popular vote) were condemned to oblivion.

5. In both cases, nationalist passion (anti-European in Britain, anti-Spanish in Catalonia) is becoming mixed with the kind of populism that promises simple solutions to complex problems.

6. Both are avoiding their responsibilities and redirecting them towards an outside enemy (Brussels, Madrid).

7. Both are avoiding economic accountability and their own commitments: long-term European program and pension payments; assaults on economic and business stability.

8. Both are turning their backs on 40 years of history (EU membership in one case, co-leadership of Spains democracy in the other), even though these roles have done the most to forge their (plural) identities.

9. May and Puigdemont are concealing data. She is withholding reports on the economic effects of separating from Europe. Puigdemont concealed his breakaway laws until the last minute.

10. It is claimed that both processes are irreversible. But it wasnt in the Basque Country, nor was Padanias secession drive in 1996 final; nor was the centuries-old enmity between France and Germany a done deal.

Only death is final (so it seems).

English version by Susana Urra.
Puigdemont during the interview on Tuesday. Catalunya Radio

A team from Catalunya Radio, a regional publicly funded radio network, traveled to Brussels on Tuesday to interview former premier Carles Puigdemont and the four ex-ministers who fled with him to Belgium last week to avoid legal action in Spain over their independence drive.

The interview is part of a new communications campaign launched by Catalan separatists to attract international support for their cause. This is no longer a Spanish problem, this is an issue that interests media outlets from all over the world, said Puigdemont.

On Monday, The Guardian ran an opinion column by Puigdemont denouncing the mass imprisonment and criminalization of candidates for the regional election scheduled for December 21. The election was called by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after his government invoked emergency powers in the wake of Catalan secessionists unconstitutional independence declaration of October 27.

The Constitutional Court is ultra-partisan, it has a single vision and it imposes it

Carles Puigdemont

The former premier said that he went to Brussels to unmask the Spanish state. Puigdemont and his aides failed to appear before a Spanish judge for questioning last week. They are wanted on charges including rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds in connection with their secession push. The Audiencia Nacional, Spains High Court, issued a European arrest warrant for them, and all five turned themselves in to Belgian authorities on Sunday. They are due to appear in a Brussels court on November 17, and could be ultimately sent back to Spain, although Puigdemonts Belgian lawyer has pledged to appeal such a move.

We all know we could end up in jail if extradition is granted, said Puigdemont. His former deputy Oriol Junqueras and eight other former cabinet members who showed up at the High Court last week are being held in pre-trial custody inside Madrid penitentiaries.

Speaking on the radio, the ousted premier denied that secessionists violated the Spanish Constitution with their self-made breakaway laws and October 1 referendum, and said that he and his colleagues are being persecuted for their ideas.

It is false that we have ignored the Constitution

Carles Puigdemont

It is false that we have ignored the Constitution... because there are international treaties that contemplate the right to self-determination, and constitutions are favorable to interpretation under international law, he said, alluding to the United Nations resolution 50/6, which only acknowledges this right for people under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation.

Puigdemont described his own ousted Catalan government as perfectly legitimized to do what it has done. On September 26, 2015, in a historic vote, Catalans elected the most legitimate parliament in history [] and that is why we are the legitimate government of Catalonia.

At that election, the separatist Junts pel Si coalition won 62 seats in the 135-seat assembly, short of a majority. Forced to seek alliances for legislative support, it turned to the small far-left CUP party, which is a strong advocate of immediate secession from Spain and anti-capitalist economic policies. Together these groups represent 48% of the votes that were cast on election day.

On Tuesday, Puigdemont also said that Spains Constitutional Court is ultrapartisan, it has a single vision and it imposes it. This court recently struck down the Catalan breakaway laws and the October 1 referendum. Earlier, it had also outlawed a non-binding referendum held in November 2014. And before that, in 2010, the court ruled that parts of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy  the regional charter of rights  were unconstitutional, a move that triggered widespread protests in Catalonia at the time.

Mayors in Brussels Around 200 separatist mayors are due to arrive in Brussels on Tuesday to provide a first-hand account of the situation in Catalonia. Ciudadanos, a Spanish party whose genesis was as a Catalan unionist group  its Catalan branch is currently the second most-voted force in the regional parliament  said that the separatists had requested to speak inside the European Parliament, but that their petition has been denied.

English version by Susana Urra.
These are the responsibility of the editor and convey the newspaper's view on current affairs-both domestic and international

Puigdemont in the prosecutor's office in Belgium. NICOLAS MAETERLINCK (AFP)

As well as the circus-like flight of former Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont and several members of his ousted government to Belgium, there was the added farce of the group calling itself the provisional government. Now, by ending up in the Belgian courts, the episode has provoked the worst nightmare of the Belgian government, according to that countrys press.

The escapade has damaged those former ministers who faced up to their responsibilities in Spain by seemingly creating a push for them to be subject to strict precautionary measures because they constituted a flight risk. Indeed, eight of them are currently being held in pre-trial custody. Puigdemonts behavior must be entertaining for some, but it is tragic for those who were unlucky enough to be in government with him.

Puigdemonts behavior must be tragic for those who were unlucky enough to be in government with him

The decision by Puigdemont and his ex-ministers to call themselves a government in exile is laughable in that they are responsible for nothing, in contrast with the Catalan and republican governments based overseas during the rule of Franco. They oversaw the protection of exiles, assets and archives, while also being responsible for institutional relations with other countries that recognized them.

That is why Puigdemonts humorous remarks so infuriate the survivors and descendants of those who managed, with their dignity intact, to achieve the smallest of results in truly horrific conditions (the Nazi Reich, internal divisions).

The problems created in the judicial and political system by the ousted premier show that he is only managing to increase instability and chaos. It confirms that the few sympathizers with the so-called pro-independence proces in Europe are extremist movements such as the Flemish nationalists (whom the Catalans are agitating, weakening a fragile Belgian coalition government), and the Lega Nord of northern Italy, who are aligned with the right-wing Le Pen movement of France. By their friends you shall know them.

Above all, the Belgian episode is projecting the exact opposite image of what it is trying to achieve: supposed international validation has become rejection on the part of perhaps the only groups who were willing to back them. They are slighting their supposed friends: not content with trying to destabilize Spain, they are repeating the attempt elsewhere. Is this the pro-European sentiment that the Catalan independence movement promised? Puigdemont is in for a disappointment, not to mention the damage to Catalonias image and, in part, to Spains.

The few sympathizers with the so-called proces in Europe are extremist movements such as the Flemish nationalists

Puigdemont argues that he is the legitimate premier of a legitimate government. But it is not a government; rather it is the shattered remains of one. It is not legitimate; it violated legality. It has no authority whatsoever. Puigdemont has no authority because he lied again when he said he would not stand in any elections, citing family reasons. Meanwhile, his ghost government lacks all authority because it doesnt look as if attempts to unify those forces that gave it parliamentary support via the creation of a single ticket for the upcoming regional elections will be successful. The deadline for the registration of coalitions is today.

The comparison between the restrained 40-year resistance of the former premier of Catalonia Josep Tarradellas and the shameful adolescent blunders of his successor over the course of just one week is a sad one for both Catalonia, and for a Spain that is committed to an autonomous and pro-autonomy Catalan region.

English version by George Mills.
Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau in a file photo. Albert Garcia

Members of the Catalan branch of left-wing anti-austerity party Podemos have voted in favor of running in the December 21 regional elections in coalition with Catalunya en Comu (Catalonia in Common), a leftist coalition that includes green groups and Barcelona en Comu (Barcelona in Common), the party of the mayor of the Catalan capital, Ada Colau.

The vote on the future of Podem Catalunya, as the party is called, was proposed by Podemos, which is led by politician Pablo Iglesias, and was widely expected to win the support of its members.

With participation of 17,379 party members  more than 70% of the total, around 12,432 voted in favor of the coalition, while 4,876  around 28% - rejected the plan.

We are not pro-independence and all of Catalonia knows it

Podem spokesperson

The issue of Catalan independence has been driving a wedge between Podem Catalunya and the parent party run by Iglesias, and the perceived imposition of the vote from Madrid has already prompted Podems general secretary, Albano-Dante Fachin, and another eight members of the party, to resign. These officials are angry at the contempt they consider that is being displayed by Madrid for their own decisions.

At the heart of the dispute is the Catalan independence drive. Podemos officials in Madrid oppose any unilateral declaration of independence and instead support holding a valid referendum with legal guarantees.

Central leaders have complained about the damage to the partys political prestige caused by Podem officials alleged sympathies for the independence movement in Catalonia, even though Fachin describes himself as non-separatist and a supporter of a plurinational state.

We are not pro-independence and all of Catalonia knows it, said a Podem spokesman.

But Podem deputies participated in the vote to illegally declare independence from Spain inside the Catalan assembly on October 27, a move that caught Podemos leaders in Madrid by surprise. And one of the Podem officials who resigned on Tuesday is Angels Martinez Castells, who tweeted a welcome message to the republic shortly after the vote.

The disagreements had begun earlier than that. A decision by Podem grassroots members to participate in the unconstitutional independence referendum of October 1 proved very divisive. Pablo Iglesias had stated that if I were Catalan, I would not go to vote.

Iglesias and other Podemos officials are seeking to fill the space between Catalonias separatist and unionist parties

Fachins resignation evidences Podemoss difficulties establishing itself as a nationwide party in the peripheral regions, despite its continuing defense of a plurinational Spain and good election results in Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia. In three years, Podemos has watched two leaders resign in Catalonia, one in the Basque Country and another in Galicia.

Catalunya en Comu will focus on reversing the welfare cuts made during the economic crisis by the Catalan government, and on all the corruption cases affecting ousted regional premier Carles Puigdemonts PDeCAT party, which was formerly known as Convergencia.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has ruled out running in tandem with separatist parties, although she also wants to see a legal referendum for Catalonia, as well as the repeal of Madrids emergency powers in the region, and the release of former Catalan officials being held in pre-trial custody on rebellion and sedition charges.

Iglesias and other Podemos officials are seeking to fill the space between Catalonias separatist and unionist parties, and exploring the possibility of a non-separatist, leftist government after December 21.

English version by Simon Hunter and Susana Urra.
The ultra-conservative Kayhan daily in Iran, has disregarded a warning from the Media Supervisory Committee about a headline it ran yesterday, which said, Ansarallahs missile launch against Riyadh, Dubai next target.

The headline referred to a ballistic missile launch from Yemen on Riyadh, which was intercepted by the Saudi missile shield and exploded harmlessly in the air last Saturday.

Ansarallah is the name of the main Houthi grouping, allied with Iran and fighting Saudi Arabia.

The media watchdog representing the Ministry of Culture told Kayhan that its headline was against the national interest.

Despite this warning, Kayhan on Tuesday put a defiant headline: The national interest should defend the oppressed in Yemen, not the skyscrapers in Dubai.

Kayhan is closely associated with the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader, ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The managing director of the newspaper, Hossein Shariyatmadari enjoys the title of Supreme Leaders Representative.

He has consistently attacked the nuclear deal or any suggestion of changing the countrys foreign policy towards more engagement and cooperation with the international community.

Saudi Arabia has directly blamed Iran for the missile attack and has said it reserves the right to respond. Riyadh insists that Iran is supplying Yemens Houthis with ballistic missiles.

Iranian officials have rejected these accusations, claiming that the missiles are made by Yemenis in Yemen.

But a provocative headline in an official newspaper can have repercussions for Iran in the prevailing tense regional situation.

Some media in Iran have criticized Kayhan. Sharq newspaper on Tuesday wrote that In the opinion of many, Kayhans statements can create headacheThey say that this can be used by Saudi Arabia and America to prove Irans role in the missile attack.
AFP - Shiite rebels in Yemen threatened on Tuesday to attack ports and airports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, raising the stakes in a flare-up between Riyadh and Tehran.

The threat came hours after Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince accused Iran of "direct military aggression" through its support for the rebels -- a claim Tehran rejected as "contrary to reality".

The soaring tensions between the key oil producers saw crude trading at close to two-year highs on Tuesday and spooked Gulf markets.

The rebels already showed on Saturday that despite a more than two-year Saudi-led bombing campaign, they retain missiles capable of striking targets deep inside the kingdom.

A rebel missile was intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh international airport -- the first to reach the Saudi capital -- with smouldering debris inside the perimeter underscoring the growing fallout for Saudi Arabia from its involvement in neighbouring Yemen.

"All airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance to Saudi Arabia and the UAE will be a direct target of our weapons, which is a legitimate right," the rebels' political office said in statement.

"We will not stand idly by -- we will seek more radical means to prevent both the tightening of the blockade and all acts aimed at starving and humiliating the people of Yemen."

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the two major powers in a coalition that has been fighting against the Yemeni rebels since 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.

Since Saturday's missile attack, the coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen, blocking even UN-supervised relief supplies despite urgent appeals from the world body.

The coalition said its action was aimed at filling the gaps in inspection procedures that enable "smuggling of missiles and military equipment" to the rebels.

But the blocking of all relief supplies further threatens some seven million people already on the brink of famine and the UN urged the coalition to lift it as soon as possible.

"If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in what we have already called the world's worst humanitarian crisis," said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) in Geneva.

Saturday's missile attack sparked a bitter war of words between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran.

"The involvement of Iran in supplying missiles to the Houthis is a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying.

This "could be considered an act of war," he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif retorted that "the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality", a foreign ministry spokesman said.

The rebels' threat of more missile attacks like that on Riyadh airport threatens to escalate the proxy conflict between Riyadh and Tehran, which back opposing sides in wars and power struggles from Yemen to Syria.

On Monday, the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said it reserved the "right to respond" to the missile attack, calling it a blatant military aggression by the Iranian regime which might amount to an act of war.

Six Gulf Arab bourses ended lower on the tensions and the Saudi market was down 2.9 percent in afternoon trade at levels last seen more than five months ago.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.7

Trend:

Azerbaijan has always positioned itself as a country which promotes dialogue and understanding between different cultures, said Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, who spoke to International Policy Digest.

International Policy Digest, an independent foreign policy website, has published an article highlighting the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel.

The article by Noah Ross entitled "The Land of Fire and the Land of Milk and Honey" features an interview by Suleymanov and stresses that Azerbaijan and Israel, are two geopolitically diverse economies with similar civil identities.

"Two bastions of investment opportunity and havens of religious freedom, inclusiveness and expression. Two strategic partners who since their independence declarations have shared a surprisingly rich history of understanding and cooperation.

Two democratic nations serving as beaming hopes amidst regions suffering from recurring destabilization, threatening within their very borders or just beyond them. Their locations place them at a perpetual cross-roads," reads the article.

The author notes that beyond existing trade ties in the fields of technology, defense, national security, medicine, information and communications, agriculture and energy (e.g. Azerbaijan provides over 40% of Israels oil, the latters single largest supplier), it is their ambitions for sustainable development that is truly impressive because they are strikingly similar yet wholly unique.

Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, who spoke to International Policy Digest, said that the relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel actually preceded formal statehood for either one.

"We have a 2,500-year-old Jewish community in Azerbaijan, with both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Jewish people have always been part of Azerbaijans society. There is also a very strong Azerbaijani Jewish community in Israel. Haifa is now a sister city of Baku, our capital, and there are direct flights between Tel Aviv and Baku. When Azerbaijan became independent again (with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991), Israel was among the very first countries to recognize it. So there are very strong ties. Its a mutually beneficial relationship," the author cites Suleymanov as saying.

In December 2016, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Baku, where he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and authorized a series of initiatives to enhance trade relations in the bilateral relationship. In doing so, Netanyahu noted that while the world sees so much intolerance, so much darkness, here is an example of what relations can be and should be between Muslims and Jews everywhere.

Azerbaijan has always positioned ourselves as a country which promotes dialogue and understanding between different cultures, continued Ambassador Suleymanov. We want to see the world as a cooperative place where it doesnt matter what your background is, but rather what you do.

The author adds that at times, peace in the Middle East, much like reconciliation within Nagorno-Karabakh, seems too daunting a geopolitical challenge; diplomatic observers and accredited journalists report as much from the front lines.

"However, the international community must not waver, tire or stop facilitating the negotiations that can effectively end these ongoing conflicts within our lifetimes.

And so while challenges linger, there is potential in partnership; the bond between the Land of Fire and the Land of Milk and Honey has never been stronger and may play a role in ending the conflicts in order to further their respective and shared development ambitions."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

Trend:

The OSCE is expected to monitor the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on November 8, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said in a message Nov. 7.

The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative along the line of contact in Azerbaijans Tartar district, according to the message.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be held by field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative, Mikhail Olaru and Martin Schuster.

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring will be held by Ghenadie Petrica and Ognjen Jovic, who are field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative.

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.
Details added (first version posted on 11:51)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Afghanistans Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi on Nov. 7.

Noting the existence of strong partnership relations between the two countries, President Aliyev said that the cooperation of the sides already covers such an important sphere as political dialogue and other directions.

Stressing the importance of meetings between the heads of state for the development of bilateral relations, President Aliyev recalled with satisfaction the visit of Afghanistans President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to Azerbaijan and meeting with him at various international events.

The head of state expressed hope for the full implementation of agreements reached during the high-level meetings and negotiations.

President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan supports Afghanistan, and noted the importance of participation of Azerbaijani servicemen in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and an active role in logistics.

The head of state also noted the importance of expanding the cooperation in the spheres of investment and economy.

Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, in turn, conveyed greetings of Afghanistans President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to Ilham Aliyev.

The minister stressed that Azerbaijans support to his country is highly appreciated by the leadership and people of Afghanistan. He noted that the main purpose of his visit is to discuss issues related to the implementation of reached agreements.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude for the greetings of the Afghan counterpart and asked the minister to convey his greetings to Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The two sides also exchanged views on prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan.
By PTI: Srinagar, Nov 7 (PTI) One of the two foreign militants killed in the Pulwama encounter last night is believed to be nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar even as security forces for the first time ever recovered a US-made M4 rifle from the scene of gunbattle, officials said here today.

"It is learnt that Talha Rasheed, nephew of Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was among the three militants (including two foreigners) killed in the encounter at Aglar in Pulwama yesterday," a police hand out said.

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General officer Commanding Victor Force Major General B S Raju said while there were reports that Azhars nephew was among the slain militants, it was for the police to investigate it.

Three militants and an army soldier were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Aglar area last night.

Besides two AK-47 rifles, the security forces also recovered an M4 rifle, a weapon mostly used by the US army in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Muneer Khan said besides investigating the claim of JeM nephews killing, police will also probe as to how the US-made rifle made its way to Kashmir.

"I am thankful that they (Jaish) have for the first time owned the (slain) Pakistani militant. Now I request them to now claim the body as well," Khan told reporters.

Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of Jaish, was one of the three militants released by the Centre in exchange of passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu in 1999. PTI SSB MIJ RCJ

--- ENDS ---
Headline changed, details added (first version posted on 11:39)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received a delegation of the European Union Eastern Partnership ambassadors-at-large.

Ambassador-at-Large for the Eastern Partnership from Estonia, which currently chairs the EU Council, Jaan Reinhold conveyed the greetings of Estonias Prime Minister Juri Ratas to President Ilham Aliyev.

On behalf of the EU leadership and all the ambassadors participating in the meeting, Jaan Reinhold said that the structure he represents pays special attention to relations with Azerbaijan, and the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU develops in a very positive way.

Jaan Reinhold noted that significant progress has been made in connection with the new agreement, and the EU will continue to make efforts in this direction.

As for the Eastern Partnership summit, which will be held in Brussels soon, the ambassador noted that the EU is fully committed to the Eastern Partnership and related projects, and highly appreciates this cooperation. The diplomat reiterated that the EU-Azerbaijan relations are developing positively and dynamically.

Touching upon the last visit of the Azerbaijani president to Brussels, Jaan Reinhold stressed that the structure he represents attaches great importance to this visit, and this in not a coincidence that negotiations on the new agreement began on the next day of the visit.

The cooperation of the EU and Azerbaijan has solid bases in terms of the full use of the existing potential, said Reinhold.

The ambassador noted the importance of development achieved by Azerbaijan in the field of democratic reforms and the great value of experience accumulated by the country in the spheres of freedom of religion, tolerance and intercultural dialogue.

Jaan Reinhold said that, in particular, strategic cooperation in the energy sphere is of great importance.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude for the opinions expressed in connection with the relations between the EU and Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the Brussels visit in February 2017, the president noted that this visit played a major role within the framework of the Eastern Partnership and, in general, in the development of relations with the European Commission.

The head of state stressed the importance of the Eastern Partnership initiative in terms of expanding the relations between the EU and Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev appreciated the signing by Azerbaijan of the strategic partnership documents with more than ten member countries of the organization as a good indicator of ties.

Touching upon the agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU, the head of state said that work in this direction is also continuing very positively.

The president noted that political relations of the parties are developing successfully, the cooperation is multifaceted and covers broad spheres, including spheres of democratic development, multiculturalism, economy and others.

Having said that Europe is the main trade partner of Azerbaijan, the head of state added that ties are developing in the spheres of investment, energy security, transport, and social protection.

President Aliyev appreciated the visit of the delegation in such a broad format as a demonstration of successful cooperation of the parties and expressed hope that this visit will create a good opportunity for the delegation members to witness the development processes ongoing in Azerbaijan and receive even more information about the country.

They also exchanged views on prospects of cooperation of the parties.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude for greetings of Estonias Prime Minister Juri Ratas and asked to convey his greetings to the prime minister.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 6

Trend:

Sweden could get benefited from the prospects of Sweden could get benefited from the prospects of North-South railway linking South Asia and Northern Europe, said Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov linking South Asia and Northern Europe, said Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as he met with the first deputy speaker of the Riksdag, Ewa Thalen Finne in Sweden.

The sides exchanged views over the ways of developing cooperation between the Parliaments of Azerbaijan and Sweden, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.

It was mentioned that parliamentary diplomacy and mutual exchange of parliamentary delegations play an important role in the development of bilateral relations.



The sides also stated that 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden and during these years political dialogue based on friendship and mutual understanding was forged between the two countries.



Mammadyarov briefed about Azerbaijans role in the region, large-scale transport and energy infrastructure projects that realized with the initiative and direct participation of Azerbaijan and noted that Sweden could also get benefited from the prospects of North-South railway linking South Asia and Northern Europe.



In economic field of cooperation, the sides praised the activities of Swedish companies working in Azerbaijan and mentioned the importance of increasing mutual investments. The sides underlined that there is great potential for strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries.



The sides also touched upon the role played by Azerbaijan in the promotion of religions and intercultural dialogue and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

Trend:

Armenia violates human rights of refugees and IDPs of Azerbaijan who were forcefully subjected to ethnic cleansing, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mats Andersson as part of his official visit to Sweden, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message Nov. 7.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the ways to develop bilateral cooperation, including mutual high level visits. It was noted that the existing political dialogue based on mutual understanding plays an important role in the development of bilateral relations between Sweden and Azerbaijan.



Talking about strategic road map on development of economy in Azerbaijan, especially the development of non-oil sector, and about the measures taken to diversify export and conducted the fundamental reforms to this end, Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned that there is a huge potential for the cooperation in science, information and communication technologies, tourism, manufacturing and other spheres between the two countries.

In this regard, the importance of establishing business relations among business circles of Azerbaijan and Sweden and holding of joint business forums was mentioned.



Speaking about the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which was inaugurated on October 30, Minister Mammadyarov stated that East-West and North-South international transport corridors that are implemented with the initiation and participation of Azerbaijan, promise strengthening of inter-continental relations, peace, stability and economic prosperity.



During the meeting, Mammadyarov touched upon the negotiation process on the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and drew the attention to the fact that to change the status quo that heads of states of co-chair countries of OSCE Minsk Group declared as unacceptable and unsustainable, the fact of occupation must end and the armed forces of Armenia must withdraw from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

He brought into the attention of Deputy Prime Minister the decision of Council of Europe Court of Human Rights Chiragov and others v. Armenia, which Armenia refuses to accept and implement.



The relations between the EU and Azerbaijan were also discussed during the meeting and it was mentioned that the Southern Gas Corridor project and its important component  TAP project will have a significant contribution to the European energy security.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijan will start to perform corneal transplant surgeries in the coming weeks, Farah Abdulaliyeva, leading researcher at the Zarifa Aliyeva National Ophthalmology Center, told reporters in Baku Nov. 7.

More than 3,000 patients, waiting for corneal transplantation, have been registered at the National Ophthalmology Center, she said, adding that 20 percent of them are children.

Abdulaliyeva stressed that cornea is planned to be imported to Azerbaijan from the US, Iran and Russia.

"Negotiations were held and an agreement was reached with donor banks from US, Iran and Russia," she said. In the coming weeks, the eye cornea will be imported into Azerbaijan."

At first, cornea will be transplanted to the patients who need urgent surgery, she said. Surgeries will be performed at the National Ophthalmology Center.

President Ilham Aliyev in a decree Nov. 3 permitted the import of cornea into Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.7

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Slovak Economy Minister Peter Ziga and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Eastring gas pipeline project, said the message on Eastrings website.

The parties of the memorandum articulated their support to the gas transmission project Eastring and to the concept of Southern Pipeline Corridor, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe.

Earlier, Public Relations and Communication specialist at Slovakias Eustream company Pavol Kubik told Trend that there is significant potential for the delivery of gas via the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe through the Eastring gas pipeline.

Eastring project is not linked to any supplier. Therefore, it will be open for every source on the non-discriminatory basis in full compliance with EU legislation. In this context, we believe there is a significant potential towards Caspian region and Southern Gas Corridor route, said Kubik.



Eustreams project Eastring is the EUs Project of Common Interest (PCI). It can provide shippers with possibility to supply Balkan countries and Turkey from European hubs and will be ready for future gas imports to Europe from well-established and also alternative sources - the Caspian region and the Middle East. Eastring can secure natural gas supply for 100 percent of all Balkan countries` natural gas consumption. The European Commission has awarded the support for the Eastring project by funding the feasibility study under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) mechanism up to 50 percent of the eligible costs.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor project. Other sources can also join this project at a later stage.



As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of TANAP and TAP.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Qatar Airways launched direct flights to the Turkish province of Adana, the office of Adana City Mayor said in a message Nov. 7.

The first direct flight between Doha and the Adana province was carried out on November 6, 2017, says the message.

The direct flights will be implemented three times a week.

Currently, Qatar Airways carries out direct flights to Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen international airports of Istanbul, as well as to the Esenboga international airport of Ankara.

Total volume of Qatari investments put in the world economy totals $335 billion, including the investments put in the Turkish economy that reach $18 billion.

The volume of Turkish investments in Qatar reaches $14.2 billion. Turkish companies are involved in implementation of about 130 projects in the country, including the construction of subway in Doha. This projects cost is $4.4 billion.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation OJSC will become a new stage in the development of the processing sector, said Ziyad Samadzade, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, industry and entrepreneurship.

Addressing a joint meeting of five parliamentary committees within the framework of the discussion of the 2018-state budget of Azerbaijan, Samadzade stressed that the creation of the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation is a very timely step for diversifying the country's economy.

He added that the AIC will help ensure the dynamic development of industry in the country.

The MP stressed that the year 2017 was very significant for the economy of Azerbaijan, mainly due to the signing of a new contract of the century and the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and other significant events.

"Azerbaijan is very successfully and effectively participating in global transnational projects. Our country is dynamically developing and effectively using its resources," he added.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation OJSC Nov. 6. President Aliyev also decreed to appoint Natig Amirov as Chairman of Supervisory Board at the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation and Kamran Nabizade as Director General of the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The Chamber of Accounts of Azerbaijan should audit 500 million manats allocated to the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF), said the Azerbaijani MPs.

The MPs noted that about 43,000 depositors of Bank Standard have not been able to return more than 150 million manats so far. The MPs also said that they receive hundreds of complaints from the depositors of the bank in connection with this problem.

In 2016, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan allocated a loan worth 500 million manats to ADIF for paying compensations to depositors of closed banks in the country.

Eleven banks went bankrupt in Azerbaijan since 2016. According to ADIF, compensations worth 750 million manats have been paid to the clients of these banks, including almost 440 million manats paid to Bank Standard depositors.

(1.7003 manats = 1 USD on Nov. 7)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will increase the regions trade potential, Turkish media quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying Nov. 7.

Erdogan noted that BTK is an alternative to air and maritime freight traffic.

BTK is a good example of regional cooperation, said the Turkish president.

The main goal is to increase the annual cargo transportation via BTK from 6.5 to 17 million tons, and subsequently to 25 and 50 million tons, said Erdogan.

Official opening ceremony of the BTK railway was held in Baku Oct. 30. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Details added (first version posted on 13:57)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

None of the depositors of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) suffered losses as a result of the banks recovery process, Azerbaijans Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said Nov. 7.

He made the remarks in Baku at a session of five parliamentary committees during discussions on Azerbaijans draft state and consolidated budgets for 2018.

One may think that all state funds are used to cover IBAs debts to foreign creditors. It is not so, the minister noted. "The IBA had to fulfill its liabilities to creditors, otherwise the banks default would have been declared. Then, the banks bankruptcy procedure would start and problems might arise regarding protection of rights of the population and companies that are clients of the IBA.

By undertaking the banks liabilities, the Azerbaijani government has chosen the only correct way, the minister said. This has led to an increase in Azerbaijans external debt by $2.4 billion, but [thanks to the measures taken] the situation in the bank is improving today, and I think the IBA can continue its work.

He added that the Azerbaijani government was able to save $300 million by undertaking the banks liabilities.

Sharifov reminded that the Azerbaijani banking sector faced a crisis for the first time in the last 12 years.

Our neighbors today have the same problems, he said. Kazakhstan still cannot cope with the banking crisis that began in 2008, and even Russias fourth biggest bank was closed. We cannot say we have solved all the problems of the banking sector, but we are working on them.

On July 18, 2017, creditors of the IBA adopted a plan of voluntary restructuring of the banks foreign liabilities.

As a result of the restructuring, the bank exchanged foreign currency liabilities of about $3.34 billion for new bonds of the bank and the state. Also, all interest on senior and subordinated liabilities that falls due before September 1, 2017 were paid to claimants in cash on the relevant distribution date.

On July 15, 2015, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on rehabilitation measures related to preparations for privatizing the state-owned shares of the International Bank of Azerbaijan OJSC. In order to restore the banks financial position, its distressed assets were transferred to Aqrarkredit CJSC, a state-owned non-bank credit organization. Aqrarkredit CJSC provides the IBA with liquid assets in exchange for distressed assets.

The International Bank of Azerbaijan has been operating since 1992. More than 90 percent of the banks shares belong to the Azerbaijani state.
At a press conference, Kamal Haasan sought to end speculation about his entry into politics, saying he was already in it.

Actor Kamal Haasan said today that his new mobile application will be a "whistleblowing" platform which anyone can use to expose corruption.

At a press conference, the actor also sought to end speculation about his entry into politics, saying he was already "here."

"People say I am going to launch a political party. I am waiting because I need to lay a strong foundation. I am discussing with experts...Don't ask me when I will deliver. Work has begun for my entry into politics. It's not time for me to talk about this now," he said.

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The actor explained that he need time to work on his manifesto and policy, and that he had films to complete.

"I will tell you all in detail. I am in no hurry. I have waited many years for change," he said.

When asked whether he would contest local body bolls, he said he was looking at a longer time-frame.

'CONTINUOUS PRESSURE' ON THOSE IN POWER

Kamal Haasan said it gave him "great joy and pride" to launch his app (named 'Maiyam whistle'), which he said was being beta-tested.

The time has come to say what is wrong with the government, and "vociferously," he said.

His app, he explained, would apply " continuous pressure" on those in power.

"You can blow the whistle against me too in the future, if I make a mistake. You can correct me through this whistle," he said.

TAMIL NADU TOUR

Kamal Haasan said he would tour Tamil Nadu with his fans to better understand the needs of his fellow citizens.

He said the Ashok chakra on the national flag, which he thought of as a "virtuous" cycle, had become a "vicious cycle." He asked his supporters and the public to help him make it "virtuous" again.

"Dreams create inventions. Inventions become a way of life," was Kamal Haasan's message to all those who might think his initiative is a lofty idea.

ON THE 'HINDU TERROR' CONTROVERSY

Kamal Haasan said he never mentioned the term "Hindu terror" in the magazine column which sparked a political controversy last week.

In fact, the national vice-president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha said the actor should either be shot or hanged for saying such a thing.

But Kamal Haasan said today that he had only "mentioned extremism."

"There is violence in religion. It can be Hinduism. We cannot deny the extremism. If they want to kill me for this I am ready to take the bullet. But it should be the last life lost in this."

He said he was neither a "believer," nor an "atheist."

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"I come from a Hindu background. My family are Hindus. But I have come out of that in search of truth. My non-religious identity, I don't want to glorify or ridicule it."

ALSO WATCH | Politics is a crown of thorns, but I am willing to wear it: Kamal Haasan on joining politics

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Kazakhstan's government decided to exempt the citizens, engaged in electronic commerce (e-commerce) from income tax, in order to encourage this sector of the country.

More and more individuals do business online. We try to give an impetus to electronic commerce, by eliminating corporate and individual income tax for the persons who deal only with electronic commerce. This amendment will be valid for five years, activating the electronic commerce of the country, by making it legal, said Ruslan Dalenov the Deputy Minister of Economy of Kazakhstan, during the meeting of the senate, Kazakh media reported.

He added the government will also take measures against the illicit economy, and stimulate the mining sector of the country through its new tax code.

The country also facilitates conditions for small and medium-sized businesses, said Dalenov.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway creates excellent opportunities for cargo transportation to Afghanistan, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev said.

Mustafayev made the remarks at a meeting with the Afghan delegation headed by countrys Finance Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi in Baku Nov. 7.

The Azerbaijani minister stressed that the transit of goods from Europe to Afghanistan through Azerbaijan increased five-fold in January-September 2017.

Hakimi, for his part, said Afghanistan is also interested in the BTK railway.

The preparation of legal documents and road maps is required for the development of bilateral relations in various spheres, he noted.

During the meeting, Mustafayev said that Azerbaijani companies can provide NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with food and uniforms.

The Azerbaijani minister said that joint ventures can be established for those purposes.

Data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee shows that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan amounted to $17.96 million in January-September 2017. Moreover, the entire amount accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products to Afghanistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu, Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak tweeted Nov. 7 that he discussed joint energy projects with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.

The two ministers also discussed the progress of TANAP project, as well as the development of relations in the energy sector.

The meeting was held in Ankara, where the Azerbaijani minister arrived at the invitation of Albayrak.

The Azerbajani minister particularly noted the fact that as a minister, he made the first official visit to Turkey, and this is an indicator of friendship, brotherhood and strategic cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry told Trend Nov. 7.

The two ministers also discussed the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, Petkim and Star refinery projects and investments in these projects, as well as their impact on the two countries trade turnover.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction natural gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers, with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
Headline changed, details added (first version posted on 11:55)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu, Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak tweeted Nov. 7 that he discussed joint energy projects with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.

The two ministers also discussed the progress of TANAP project, as well as the development of relations in the energy sector.

The meeting was held in Ankara, where the Azerbaijani minister arrived at the invitation of Albayrak.

The Azerbajani minister particularly noted the fact that as a minister, he made the first official visit to Turkey, and this is an indicator of friendship, brotherhood and strategic cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry told Trend Nov. 7.

The two ministers also discussed the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, Petkim and Star refinery projects and investments in these projects, as well as their impact on the two countries trade turnover.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction natural gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers, with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.7

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree "On measures for further liberalization of foreign trade activities and support of business entities".

The document establishes the procedure under which, starting from December 1, 2017, legal entities and individuals freely choose payment terms for the foreign trade contracts that they concluded.

Mirziyoyev also unified the terms for the formation of overdue accounts receivable on foreign trade operations within 120 days from the date of export shipment for export and from the date of payment for import operations.

The exception will be the goods exported by Uzbek resident-founders to companies abroad and members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan to trade and investment houses of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the goods imported under contracts concluded in the framework of projects implemented in accordance with the decisions of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Legal entities and individuals are allowed to export goods, works and services for foreign currency without prepayment, opening a letter of credit, issuing a bank guarantee and having a policy on insurance of an export contract against political and commercial risks.

Meanwhile, the customs clearance for export, with the exception of the commodities specified in the annex to this decree, as well as goods exported on the basis of the invoice, is carried out without reference to settlements in the Unified Electronic Information System for Foreign Trade Operations .

To create favorable conditions for exporters, the document provides business entities with the right from December 1, 2017 to export goods (excluding specific goods), works and services without concluding an export contract, on invoices registered in the Unified System after 100% prepayment to accounts of exporters in banks of Uzbekistan.

The president also signed a decree "On measures to streamline the licensing of exports and imports of specific goods, as well as registration of export and examination of import contracts."

The decree provides for the transfer of the licensing function from the Ministry of Foreign Trade to the Cabinet of Ministers with a view to optimize export-import procedures and consolidate functions for issuing licenses for the export and import of specific goods. At the same time, jewelry items, precious metal products, precious stones and products made of them are excluded from the list of licensed goods.

To exclude duplicate procedures, the decree provides for simplification and introduction of changes in the current procedure for examination of import contracts in the State Committee for Investments. In particular, the procedure is canceled for the examination of import contracts concluded with an amount of less than $100,000.

The examination of import contracts with the sum of more than $100,000 and concluded based on the results of tender is canceled, with the simultaneous introduction of the procedure for the examination of tender documents or the evaluation of tender proposals during the bidding period. At the same time, the registration of import contracts, concluded on the basis of the results of the tenders, will be carried out without conducting their additional expertise.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 7

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov sent a message of condolences to US President Donald Trump in connection with the tragic incident in Texas that resulted in numerous human casualties and injuries, the Turkmen government said in a message.

On behalf of the people and government of Turkmenistan, and also on his own behalf, President Berdimuhamedov conveyed the words of deep empathy and support to the families, relatives and friends of the victims and wished speedy recovery to the injured people.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 7

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Czech President Milos Zeman spoke about the growing dynamics of the traditionally friendly relations between the Czech Republic and Turkmenistan in his congratulatory letter sent to Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Turkmenistans independence.

I hope that this tendency will continue, noted Zeman in his letter.

Such areas as trade, industry, agro-industry, pharmaceutics, high-tech industry and the use of alternative energy sources, investment activities are among the promising areas of partnership between Turkmenistan and the Czech Republic.

There are also good opportunities in the transportation and communications sector, and Ashgabat made a number of initiatives to create international transit and transport corridors linking the regions of the Eurasian continent.

Moreover, Turkmenistan is one of the important partners in the field of energy security for the EU.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 6

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans MAPNA Group has signed an initial agreement with the US multinational conglomerate General Electric, CEO of MAPNA, Abbas Aliabadi, said.

Talks are underway between the two parties to finalize the deal, Aliabadi told reporters in Tehran Nov. 6.

Cooperation between MAPNA, an Iranian enterprise involved in power, oil and infrastructure projects, and  General Electric, will start soon in the fields of power as well as oil and gas, the official said.

Aliabadi further said that the US rules ban cooperation of the companies that are active inside the United States territory, not those which are outside, for instance, in Europe, adding that the mutual cooperation will not face any legal problem.

Earlier in 2016, a spokesperson with General Electric told Trend that the company is looking at business opportunities in Iran, underlining that General Electric is fully complying with the rules laid out by the US government in this regard.

Previously, Iranian oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that the ministry is negotiating with the US company over oil and gas cooperation, referring to the talks as positive.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

The amount of Irans gas exports to its western neighbor, Iraq, has reached 12 million cubic meters (mcm) per day and the figure is expected to hit 40 mcm within the coming months.

The Iranian deputy oil minister, Hamidreza Araqi, has forecasted that Iran would launch supplying its gas to Iraqi port city of Basra by March, IRNA news agency reported.

The official described the plans for supplying Irans gas to Iraqi capital of Baghdad and also Basra as the Islamic Republics most significant plans for exporting gas.

He further added that the obstacles to banking transactions regarding the current projects have been removed and Iran currently faces no difficulty in receiving payments from Iraq.

Saying that Iran has already laid a part of Basra gas pipeline on its own soil, he added that Iraq is expected to complete the construction of its part within the next three months.

Iran plans to boost its capacity for annual exports of gas to 80 billion cubic meters by 2021. The Iranian plan has also envisaged exporting 50 billion cubic meters of the total amount to its neighbors.

So far, Turkey has been known as the largest customer of Irans gas as its daily imports of gas from the Islamic Republic stands at 30 million cubic meters.

Iran has extended its gas pipeline to Iraqi capital of Baghdad and with the inauguration of the second pipeline to Basra Iraqs imports of gas from Iran will amount to 40 million cubic meters per day.
Baku, Azerbaijan

By Umid Niayesh  Trend:

Iran exported 2.434 million tons of agricultural products, worth $1.415 billion during the first half of current fiscal year (March 20-Sept. 22).

The countrys agricultural exports increased by 15 percent in terms of volume, however the value of exports registered a fall by 9 percent, year-on-year.

Agricultural products shared 6.8 percent of Irans total exports in terms of value.

According to the latest statistics released by Irans agriculture ministry, which covers the first five months of current fiscal year (March 20-Aug. 22), pistachio worth $127.77 million topped the list of Irans agricultural exports, followed by ice cream worth $104 million, melons worth $97.8 million, tomatoes worth $73.25 million and cheese worth $72.5 million.

Meanwhile in terms of volume watermelon stood at top of the list with 503,400 tons (from 2.015 million tons of total agricultural exports).

Watermelon exports registered an 18 percent and 33 percent growth in terms of volume and value respectively.

Watermelon which is the main Iranian agriculture product in terms of weight is a water-consuming product and has raised criticism among some experts, who argue that Iran is actually exporting water, in a period which is suffering drought.

Located in an arid zone, Iran is just one of the countries facing severe water problems, such severe droughts have plagued the country over the last 40 years. The drought of 1992-2002 caused a major blow to agriculture. There were quotas imposed for fresh water in several cities, including the capital Tehran.

Meanwhile Irans agriculture ministry officials say the exported agricultural products use only 5 billion cubic meters of water per year.

According to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO), Iran's total annual water consumption is approximately 93 billion cubic meters, out of which about 92 percent is used in agriculture (86 billion cubic meters), 6.6 percent in municipality (6.18 billion cubic meters), and 1.2 percent in industry (1.12 billion cubic meters),

Up to 70 percent of water used in the agriculture sector is being wasted, Iranian officials say.

According to Nasser Karami, an Iranian physical climatologist, in the last 30 years Iran consumed 70 percent of its groundwater reserves, which were collected in a million years.Up to 62 percent of water used in the country's agriculture comes from groundwater reserves, according to the FAO.

For the time being, Iran's limited water reserves are strategic and agriculture is not an economic priority sector any more, Karami believes.

Some experts even believe that using limited vital water sources for the agriculture sector is not logical and Iran is better to import its agricultural demand rather than producing, which is more justified economically, considering the countrys depleting water reserves.

Certain experts such as Karami believe that drought will force Iran to shut down developing agriculture sooner or later.

Issa Kalantari, head of Irans environment protection organization, earlier warned that Iran's water crisis was more of a threat to the country than "Israel, the US or political infighting."

According to veteran politician, who served as agriculture minister years ago, if the water issue is not addressed, Iran could become a place where no one can live.

Amid all of these concerns, the country continues to produce agricultural products for exports, while the revenues share below 7 percent of the total non-oil exports value and seems to have no plan to cut that, given the fact that the weight of exported agricultural products has increased even by 15 percent.
By India Today Web Desk: Hailing from a small town called Paramakudi in Tamil Nadu, a six-year-old child made his acting debut with the film Kalathur Kannamma (1960). Back then, who would've thought that the same kid would go on to become one of the most legendary actors in Indian cinema! Kamal Haasan first caught the attention of the audience on August 12, 1960, when his Kalathur Kannamma hit the screens.

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In a career spanning over five decades, Kamal Haasan left no stone unturned in Indian cinema. He was won three National Awards and several international recognitions. Last year, Kamal Haasan was conferred with the prestigious Chevalier Award by the French government.

As Kamal Haasan turns a year older today, Shruti, who is currently in London, took to Twitter to write a post message for Ulaganayagan. She wrote, "Happy birthday to my wonderful father. May your kind generous spirit and sparkling mind always shine the way it always does for years to come in everything you choose to grace your presence! Love and hugs my Bapuji."

Meanwhile, fans have been relentlessly wishing their 'Aandavar' on social media by trending the hashtag #HappyBirthdayKamalHaasan.

On the work front, Kamal's much-awaited Vishwaroopam 2 trailer is expected to be out later today.

ALSO WATCH: Kamal Haasan meets fans in Chennai, will launch citizen connect app

--- ENDS ---
Tehran, Iran, November 7

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Irans Power Control Co. is hopeful to receive a line of credit in the very near future to complete the construction of a combined cycle power plant in northwestern parts of the country.

The Central Bank is doing the final correspondences in order to finalize the LC and I believe only the final percent of the job remains to be done, Mohsen Kavoosi, the executive deputy at Power Control Company told Trend November 7.

Power Control Co. is the investor in this project and hopes to bring it on stream in two years after the LC is opened, Kavoosi said.

He said the line of credit is worth near $300 million.

The operational phase of the construction of the 400-megawatt combined cycle power plant in Zanjan started in August 2016.

The plant includes a 310-megawatt gas unit and a 180-megawatt steam unit.

Mansour Payam, the CEO of Power Control Co. earlier said the contract was signed with PowerChina in 2008, but a general economic downturn prolonged the completion of the project.
Tehran, Iran, November 7

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Hyundai Electric is able to export more products to Iran in the post-sanctions era compared to the time before the 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action/ JCOPA) when the Islamic Republic was under economic sanctions, an official with a Hyundai Electric representative in Iran says.

Before the JCPOA, Hyundail Electric could not export to Iran certain products because if it did, it would have lost markets in Europe or Americas because of the sanctions. These products included electromotors, transformers, and many other products, Afshin Rahnavard, sales manager at Arian Niroo Ray told Trend November 7.

However, this year the company started exporting these products to Iran, he noted.

According to Rahnavard, Hyundai Electric enjoys a better status among Iranian customers than European rivals do.

Under sanctions, some European companies could not provide after-sale services to their customers in Iran. This made Iranians unsatisfied with their services and they are now rather reluctant to do business with Europeans, he said.

Rahnavard added that Hyundail Electric products are also more competitive than their European-made rivals in terms of prices, making the company cherish the expectation of a booming market in Iran.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Arab countries lost their strong leaders as a result of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the so-called Arab Spring. As there are no leaders in the Arab world, such countries as Turkey and Iran began to actively promote their interests in the region.

Saudi Arabia thinks that during Barack Obamas presidency, Washington has changed its best ally to Iran.

Irrespective of Obama's policy in the region, Saudi Arabia has never concealed its ambitions for leadership in the Middle East.

Taking into account Irans current ambitions, today the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran is growing every day.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said that the chaos and instability occur in the region due to Iran.

Saudi Arabian Minister of Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan also said that Riyadh will see Lebanon as a country that declared war on it.

"Lebanon must know and understand the danger of Hezbollah," al-Sabhan said. Hezbollah's militants are involved in all the terrorist attacks that threatened Saudi Arabia, drug trafficking.

Special attention should be also paid to the statement made by Lebanese Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

As the main reason of his resignation, Hariri named interference by Iran and its accomplices, represented by Hezbollah, in Lebanons internal affairs which he could not resist.

Hariri has already left Riyadh and paid a visit to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been unofficially fighting in Yemen for three years.

It is clear that Lebanon will become the new bridgehead of confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabias media outlets have already written that when taking part in the war in Syria, Hezbollah has lost its military power. However, Iran, actively fighting in Syria and Iraq and rendering military support to Hussites in Yemen, is simply unable to open another front in Lebanon in case of a popular uprising against Hezbollah.

But according to other opinion, Hezbollah gained combat experience due to its participation in the war in Syria.

Hezbollah is also a real threat to Israel. Amid the current events, one can say that a number of Arab countries see Iran as an enemy, rather than Israel.

Perhaps, during the confrontation with Iran, Saudi Arabia will have to look for new allies among all the Sunni countries.

At the same time, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Sauds secret visit to Israel in September gives grounds to think that Saudi Arabia and Israel have already agreed on an alliance against Iran.

According to Israeli media outlets, Mohammad bin Salman held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and high-ranking representatives of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The sides discussed a joint regional peace initiative.

It is also worth noting that the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia occurred as a result of a joint confrontation with the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu has recently said that relations between Israel and some Arab countries have become close.

The development of events in the region is still unknown. Sooner or later, Saudi Arabia will have to create an ideological doctrine that will not be based on a religious principle. It will be directed against Iran's "sectarian" policy.

The military clashes in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, which were presented by Saudi Arabia as Shiite-Sunni, did not bring it the expected results. As a result, while using all opportunities, Saudi Arabia will try to revive Arab nationalism, aimed at uniting all Arabs, including Arab Shiites against Iran's policy.

"Moderate Islam" project is planned to be the basis of the new Arab nationalism.

If one recalls the recent history, one can see that Pan-Arabism and Arab nationalism are not new for the Arab countries.

For example, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party was founded in Syria in 1947. It was hostile to political Islam, as well as to Israel.

No matter how Saudi Arabia tried to revive Arab nationalism, there are a number of obstacles, one of which is Russia. Without taking into account Russia's interests in the region, Saudi Arabia will fail to promote the ideas of new Arab nationalism.

Another obstacle to the revival of Pan-Arabism is the Muslim Brotherhood organization, which is considered an ideological enemy of Saudi Arabia and a friend of Iran, despite a number of disagreements with Iran.

As for Turkey, which is making only moderate statements regarding Iran and Saudi Arabia, Ankara will not join the anti-Iran bloc.

---

Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.7

By Rashid Shirinov- Trend:

The South Caucasus is a mountainous region where the seismic activity is considerably high. Due to this reason, the operation of large industrial facilities is very risky for the life of millions of people living in the region and beyond. Despite this, Armenia still operates its outdated Metsamor nuclear power plant, which was built more than 40 years ago.

The NPP was built in six years in the city of Metsamor and began to operate in 1976. After the devastating earthquake of 1988 in the town of Spitak, it was closed; but in 1995, despite numerous international protests, the Armenian government renewed the operation of the NPP  moreover, the second reactor was launched.

Last fall, the license for the exploitation of the plant expired, but the Armenian government made the decision to prolong the date of exploitation of the plant for additional 10 years.

During all these years, international ecologists and scientists have been noting that the seismic activity of the area makes the operation of the plant in Metsamor an extremely dangerous enterprise even if a reactor of new sample is constructed. They urge that due to its deplorable state, the Armenian NPP could repeat the fate of the Chernobyl NPP in Ukraine. The possible tragedy will jeopardize the life of people and environmental state of the region, and its consequences will be also felt in Europe and in the Middle East.

The need to close down the plant in Metsamor has been also noted by numerous media publications. Last week, the Washington Post has published an article describing the threats of the Armenian NPP.

The plant has long been a cause for concern for at least two reasons: It was built without containment vessels, and it sits in a seismic zone In 2011, National Geographic even suggested that it might be the worlds most dangerous nuclear plant, wrote the author of the article Stefano Morelli.

The author noted that despite the risks, the power plant is still open, and people still live in the town created for the plants workers.

Photographer Stefano Morelli visited the town in January to document its way of life. What he found was 10,000 people (1,000 who still work at the plant) living in a town of old Soviet buildings, caught in suspension between doubts and fears, between poverty and survival, between life and death, reads the article.

The French newspaper Le Monde diplomatique has also published an article describing the threats and possible consequences of the Metsamor NPP.

The article entitled Metsamor, a potential Chernobyl informs that the Metsamor NPP was built during the time of the Soviet Union and on a highly seismic zone.

This plant continues to pose a considerable risk for the whole of Europe because of its age and its situation in a region with strong seismic activity, wrote a European Union envoy later.

The organization proposed an aid of 100 million euros for the closure of the plant, the newspaper reminded, adding that Armenia refused the aid and continues to operate the NPP, risking life of millions of people.

The whole world tells Armenia that it is high time for the closure of the Metsamor NPP, but the countrys government, as always, tries to postpone the process, thus forcing the people of the whole region to live in a constant concern about their lives.
The UN Security Council has called on Myanmar to rein in its military campaign in Rakhine state and to allow thousands of Muslim Rohingya to return home, euronews. reports.

In a unanimous statement backed by China, the council strongly condemned the violence that has forced 600,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

The Security Council calls upon the government of Myanmar to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state to restore civilian administration and apply the rule of law and to take immediate steps in accordance with the obligations and commitments to respect human rights, announced Italian Ambassador to the UN Sebatiano Cardi. Italy currently holds the presidency of the council.

Myanmars ambassador to the UN Hau Do Suan immediately described the statement as partly unbalanced.

We are deeply concerned by the adoption of the presidential statement on the situation in Myanmar. We think those allegations try hard to balance the text and reflect the reality, however it fails to give sufficient recognition to the government of Myanmar for its efforts to address the challenges in Rakhine state. It is also singling out a member state based on accusations and falsely claimed evidence.

De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been criticised for not speaking out against the violence has for the first time since the conflict began visited Rakhine and pledged accountability for rights abuses.

The refugee crisis was sparked two months ago following a military clampdown after attacks by militants from the Rohingya Muslim minority.
US President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea on the second leg of his five-nation tour of Asia, bringing the leader closer than ever to the frontlines of the nuclear standoff between Seoul and its neighbour to the North, euronews. reports.

Amid heightened tensions with Pyongyang over the secretive communist regimes aggressive weapons programme, the White House says that Trumps trip is intended to demonstrate U.S. resolve over his hardline approach to North Korea.

But many on the Korean peninsula fear that the outspoken leaders rhetoric could only serve to increase the risk of military conflict between the two countries.

While many were on hand to greet him, Trumps arrival on Air Force One at the Osan Air Base outside the South Korean capital came amid popular protests over his bellicose approach to such a sensitive issue.

While in South Korea, Trump will visit U.S. troops stationed at the sprawling Camp Humphreys garrison close to the North Korean Border and hold talks with President Moon Jae-in.

In a rare show of US military might in the region, three of the countrys aircraft carrier strike groups are due to carry out an exercise together in the Western Pacific, according to US officials.

Trumps visit to the region is aimed at ratcheting up pressure on North Korea and forging a united front against the Kim regime, as well as bolstering trade.

Trumps 24-hour stay in Seoul comes after a visit to Tokyo, where he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and said Japan could shoot North Korean missiles out of the sky if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed to do so  a stance Japan has long avoided.
Gunmen have attacked a local television station in the Afghan capital Kabul, with reports that people have been killed and injured, BBC NEWS reports.

Witnesses say the attackers threw grenades and fired guns as they entered the Shamshad TV headquarters.

One reporter for the channel who managed to escape told the BBC the attackers were still inside the building. Gunfire is still being heard.

More than 100 employees are thought to be inside the building.
US President Trump blamed mental health and evil rather than readily available assault weapons for Sundays mass shooting in Texas, NEW EUROPE reports.

Addressing the press in Japan, where he is on an official state visit, he said the problem was a dangerous individual rather than access to weapons. This isnt a guns situation, he specified.

On the contrary, he underlined that the assailant was shot by an armed nearby resident. Fortunately  somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, Trump said.

He invited the people of Texas to stand strong.

The Texas mass murderer has been confirmed as former US Air Force serviceman, Davin P. Kelley, who had been discharged for assaulting his spouse and child. His rampage on a Sunday morning, during mass, in First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs resulted in the murder of 26 people aged 5 to 72. And additional 19 were injured.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are expected to discuss North Korea at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vietnam this week, Reuters reports.

Presidents of Russia and the United States will have an opportunity to talk at the summit and details of their meeting are still being worked on, Peskov told reporters at a conference call.
The iCapital award, granted under the EUs research and innovation programme Horizon 2020, recognises Paris for its inclusive innovation strategy, eureporter reports.

Tallinn (Estonia) and Tel Aviv (Israel) were selected as runners-up, and were both awarded 100,000. The prize money will be used to scale up and further expand the cities innovation efforts.

Research, Science and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas announced the results at the Web Summit in Lisbon. He said: Cities are not defined by their size and population, but by the breadth of their vision and the power bestowed upon their citizens. Some cities are not afraid to experiment. They are not afraid to involve their citizens in developing and testing out new ideas. These are the cities that empower their citizens. Today we are here to acknowledge these cities.

Commissioner Moedas added: This years competition has been particularly tough. The outstanding achievements of all competitors are great examples of the vital importance of our innovation ecosystems and participation of citizens in Europe.

Over the past decade, Paris has built more than 100,000 square metres of incubators, and hosts now the worlds largest start-up campus. In addition, the city spends 5% of its budget on projects proposed and implemented by citizens. Thanks to this strategy, citizens and innovators from the private, non-profit and academic sectors have made Paris become a true FabCity.

Tallinn has been awarded for its initiative to act as a testing ground for potential breakthrough technologies. The municipality fostered the use of self-driving cars, parcel delivery robots and ride-sharing. Tallinn has also implemented an innovative e-Residency system, which enables local citizens and businesses to work closely together with foreign entrepreneurs.

Tel Aviv has set up a Smart City Urban Lab that links up innovative start-ups with leading technology companies in order to facilitate breakthrough innovations for solving urban challenges. Education being among Tel Avivs priorities, part of the prize will be dedicated to strengthening the Smart Education Initiative, developed by the municipality in collaboration with teachers, parents, students and local tech start-ups.
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan has decided to cancel his birthday celebration today and speak at a medical camp for the rain-affected areas in Tamil Nadu.

By India Today Web Desk: Kamal Haasan is back in the headlines. This time, it is because he chose to cancel his birthday celebrations.

Haasan, who turns 63 today, cancelled his birthday bash taking into account the heavy rains that has been taking Chennai down lately.

Last night, Haasan came to Twitter to explain why he chose to ditch his birthday bash.

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"To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations [sic]," Haasan tweeted with a screenshot of the message he wanted to give.

To those who love me and dislike the idea of my cancelling my birthday celeberations pic.twitter.com/hkSPJj97C9- Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 6, 2017

Kamal Haasan will be spending his birthday at a medical camp in the rain-affected area of Avadi. Daughter Akshaya Haasan was spotted accompanying him.

Speaking at this medical camp, Haasan said, "There is no connection of this camp with politics, but we could use this for that."

"The government is arranging for water outlets in waterlogged areas. It is equally important that medical camps detect diseases before it becomes an epidemic," an ANI report quotes Kamal Haasan. "We had a dengue epidemic last time, and for various reasons, we pretended it is not there."

There is no connection of this camp with politics but we could use this for that: Kamal Haasan at a medical camp in Chennai pic.twitter.com/olbycRQrz8- ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

Reaching out to people, Haasan insisted that instead of cutting cakes in his name, people should help build canals to help those stuck because of the waterlogging and rain.

Reports have it that Haasan is set to make a major announcement at noon today.

Considering Haasan has been actively participating in Tamil Nadu's political scenario for a while now, speculation has it that this announcement could be regarding which political party he would be joining.

--- ENDS ---
The US Army is practicing artillery defense in a live-fire exercise with Patriot, Avenger and Stinger missiles as part of Artemis Strike 2017, which runs from October 31 to November 9, the Army said in a news announcement Monday, Sputnik reported.

Artemis Strike is aimed at boosting air missile defense capabilities through "integration of allied assets," US Army Europe said. The exercise, named after the archery-skilled Greek goddess of the hunt, takes place at the NATO Missile Firing Range Installation in Chania, Greece, on the northwest coast of Crete.

Two-hundred US soldiers and about 650 German airmen are participating in the two-week exercises.

Artemis Strike is part of "a recent Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to help bring back that capability of short-range air defense," Col. David Shank told Stars and Stripes.

The Army recently upgraded its fighting manual to prepare for "near-peer adversaries" who boast modern military capabilities, marking a shift from focusing on counter-insurgency operations. The military's battlefield "advantage has steadily eroded," due to potential adversaries as Russia, China, North Korea and Iran having studied the Pentagon's modus operandi the past 15 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said.

The US and German personnel will fire up to 100 Patriot and Stinger missiles from Chania, Stars and Stripes reports. Shank called the exercise "a great opportunity for these soldiers to do what they came into the Army to do, and that's put steel on target," adding, "this is how we improve our craft."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and US Vice President Mike Pence has been postponed to November 9, the Turkish media reported Nov. 7.

This decision was made after Yildirim has left for the US today.

In Washington Yildirim will discuss regional issues, as well as the visa issue between the two countries.

On Oct. 8, 2017, the US suspended issuance of visas to Turkish citizens due to the arrest of an employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul. Turkey also suspended the issuance of visas to US citizens.

Turkish authorities, commenting on the arrest of the Consulate Generals employee, noted that he had links with the movement of Fethullah Gulen.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
KYODO NEWS - Nov 7, 2017 - 20:03 | World, All

Hong Kong's top court on Tuesday allowed three young democracy activists the opportunity to appeal their prison sentences over their roles in pro-democracy protests in 2014.

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma of the Court of Final Appeal gave the green light to Alex Chow, 27, Nathan Law, 24, and Joshua Wong, 21, citing points that merit further discussion, such as the motivations behind their acts, local broadcaster RTHK reported.

An appeal hearing for the three was scheduled for Jan. 16.

After their "unlawful assembly" convictions in August last year, Chow served a suspended prison term, while Law and Wong served community service orders.

But a year later, they were given prison terms between six and eight months by the Court of Appeal after the Justice Department appealed their initial sentences.

"The Court of Appeal set a very strict ruling on defining assembly that's not peaceful," Law told the press before entering the court. "By appealing the result of the Court of Appeal, we could really get a better ruling on the sentencing concerning the incident or concerning the cases on unlawful assembly."

Law and Wong had been released on bail last month to appeal their prison sentences. Chow, who did not join them in applying for bail then, was released Tuesday.

"I think I also have to thank (Secretary for Justice) Rimsky Yuen for providing a platform to give us or the people of Hong Kong a lot of opportunities to let justice not only be done but also to be seen," Chow said.

Yuen had reportedly pushed for imprisonment of the trio in what has been criticized as being politically motivated move.

The authorities have stressed that the activists committed an unlawful act, the "serious nature" of which could only be reflected in prison terms.

But the move has prompted concerns among politicians, academics and lawyers from countries including the United States and Britain, who cast the three activists' treatment as political prosecution.

Thousands of people occupied the streets and brought part of the territory to a halt for 79 days in 2014 to protest China's restrictive electoral reform plan drafted for Hong Kong's future leader, which was described as "fake universal suffrage" by the pro-democracy camp for it would grant Beijing's favored candidates the public mandate.
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Nov 7, 2017 - 21:20 | World, All

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday there has been "a lot of progress" in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, thanks to his country's "unparalleled" military strength.

"I believe it makes sense for North Korea to do the right thing" and "come to the table to make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world," Trump told a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae In in Seoul after their official talks.

"I do see certain movement...Let's see what it happens," he said without elaborating and clarifying if Washington is or will be in direct diplomatic talks with Pyongyang.

Moon said he and Trump agreed to maximize pressure on North Korea until it changes its behavior.

"I sincerely hope President Trump's visit at this time will be a turning point in managing the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a stable way," Moon said.

The meeting in Seoul took place as the United States and its key allies in the region, Japan and South Korea, are intent on improving their coordination in responding to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.

To coincide with Trump's first visit to Asia as president, the United States has deployed three aircraft strike groups in the Pacific and sent B-1 bombers near the Korean Peninsula in exercises with Japanese and South Korean fighter jets.

"I think we are making a lot of progress...they understand that we have unparalleled strength. There has never been strength like it," Trump said. "We hope to God we never have to use (military options.)"

He characterized North Korea as a "worldwide threat that requires worldwide action" and called all "responsible" countries, including China and Russia, to put more pressure on North Korea and terminate trade with it.

"We will together confront North Korea's actions and prevent the North Korean dictator from threatening millions of innocent lives...so needlessly," he said.

At the same time, Trump renewed the United States' pledge to defend itself and its allies by using its "unmatched" military capabilities.

However, overall his comments were not as hawkish as before.

After arriving from Tokyo for the two-day second leg of a five-country Asian trip, in an attempt to demonstrate Washington's commitment to its longtime security alliance with Seoul, Trump first visited military personnel of the two countries at Camp Humphreys.

Although Moon was open to reaching out to North Korea for dialogue when he took office in May, he has lately become more supportive of imposing sanctions and pressure against the reclusive country.

Still, Moon has made it clear that those steps are for the purpose of bringing North Korea back to the negotiating table and compelling it to change its behavior.

While Trump has not ruled out military options, the liberal South Korean president has expressed strong opposition to any kind of war on the Korean Peninsula.

He also reiterated last week in a nationally televised address that the United States must not take military action on the peninsula without South Korea's prior consent.

On Wednesday, before leaving for Beijing, Trump will give a speech at South Korea's parliament, which is expected to focus on North Korea.

A number of countries, not to speak of North Korea, will be looking for clarity about Trump's policies toward this region and if it will again be tough-talk speech.

In his U.N. address in September, Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary and mocked the country's leader Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man."

Trump's remarks touched off a war of words with North Korea, prompting Kim to issue an unprecedented statement in which he warned about the possibility of the "highest-level" of retaliatory action, without specifying what it may be.

Ri Yong Ho, the country's foreign minister, said it could be the most powerful detonation of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

North Korea's next move could hinge on the tone of Trump's speech at the National Assembly in Seoul.

There has been an unusual pause in North Korea's saber-rattling since it fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan on Sept. 15 in its longest-ever flight, which would have been enough to reach the U.S. territory of Guam in the Pacific.

South Korea has rolled out the red carpet for Trump, who is the first sitting U.S. leader in 25 years to come to Seoul in the format of a "state visit."

While both sides reaffirmed their strong security alliance, a review of the existing bilateral free trade pact, which Trump has described as "horrible," was also high on the agenda during their talks.

Specifically at issue was the huge U.S. trade deficit with South Korea. Trump, as he has done with many other countries, also pushed for more balanced trade ties with Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Trump told reporters that he is confident to see more "reciprocal" trade ties with South Korea and noted that Seoul will purchase U.S. military equipment worth "billions of dollars."

Under pressure from the United States, South Korea has started domestic procedures for an amendment to the bilateral free trade agreement, which came into effect in 2012.

South Korea's surplus in goods trade with the United States reached $23.24 billion last year, compared with $11.63 billion in 2011, according to the Asian country's customs data.

However, the data showed that the surplus is much smaller in this year's first nine months, standing at $13.50 billion.
Florida DEP Sets TMDL Public Meeting

Participants in the Nov. 8 meeting in Bartow, Fla., will discuss the status of TMDL development for nutrient impaired water bodies in the Upper Peace River basin.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public meeting Nov. 8 in Bartow, Fla., so personnel can discuss the status of TMDL development for nutrient impaired water bodies in the Upper Peace River basin -- Lake Alfred, Lake Mariana, Lake Blue, Lake Conine, Lake Rochelle, Lake Haines, Lake Ariana, Lake Sears, and Lake Spirit.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. at the Polk County Parks & Natural Resources Division, 4177 Ben Durrance Road.

The meeting is an opportunity for the department to present the approach to be used for development of TMDLs and to obtain input from stakeholders. Written comments on the TMDL approach should be received by Nov. 22 and should be directed to: Erin Rasnake, Program Administrator, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, MS 3555, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, or via email to: Erin.Rasnake@dep.state.fl.us.
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I am not starting a party to hurt Hindus. I come from a Hindu family and I do not want to lose the affection of my family first. I am not trying to hurt Hindu sentiments, but when mistakes are done, I will speak about it, Haasan said in Chennai.

By India Today Web Desk: Facing massive fire from the BJP and the larger Sangh Parivar - and even a couple of court cases - over his "Hindu terror" remark, megastar Kamal Haasan today sought to cool the tempers by saying he doesn't want to hurt Hindu sentiments since he himself comes from a Hindu family.

"I am not starting a party to hurt Hindus. I come from a Hindu family and I do not want to lose the affection of my family first. I am not trying to hurt Hindu sentiments, but when mistakes are done, I will speak about it," Haasan said in Chennai while addressing press reporters on his 63rd birthday.

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In his column in a popular Tamil weekly last week, Haasan had written, "Right-wing cannot challenge anyone saying there are Hindu terrorists, because their terror has spread into their camps as well. Such terror activities are not going to help them in way."

Haasan claimed he had not used the word terror while speaking about religious violence last week. "I did not use the word terror; the word I used was 'extreme', like some of my fans who love me," he said.

Asked about the perception that he was anti-Hindu in view of his recent statements, Kamal sought to suggest that he was only talking about Hindu extremism and not Hindu terrorism.

'NEITHER HINDUS NOR MUSLIMS MUST INDULGE IN VIOLENCE'

"I am only talking reality when I speak of violence. All Hindus should understand and discuss. Nobody should indulge in such violence. It applies to Hindus and Muslims. When I say extreme, it doesn't mean terror. But there is violence," he said.

To another question about Hindutva elements attacking him, Kamal said: "I only spoke truth. If punishment is given for that, I am ready to accept it."

He was apparently referring to threats to his life from some Hindutva organisations after his recent statement slamming Hindu extremism.

"I have friends and relatives in all communities, though some people are calling me anti-Hindu. I have moved away from my Brahmin moorings. It is a search. There is no pride or shame in it. I am being called an atheist by believers but I am a rationalist," the actor said.

WATCH VIDEO | Didn't talk about Hindu terrorism, was only pointing out extremism, says Haasan

--- ENDS ---
Now, with this ruling of HC, the state government can go ahead and celebrate Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

By Nolan Pinto: A PIL which was filed a few days ago challenging the celebration of Tipu Jayanti and requesting for an interim stay, has been rejected by the Karnataka High Court.

The petitioner, Kokkalemada P Manju Chinnappa from South Kodagu, told India Today that the court did not accept their plea for an interim stay. However, it has issued a notice to the state government to respond in 4 weeks, to completely stop the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, especially in Kodagu and Mangaluru districts.

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Chinnappa unfazed with the ruling says that the fight will go on regardless of the court's order.

He added, "We will continue to fight and will not leave this matter."

In fact the HC had also rejected the interim stay since this PIL has been filed multiple times.

In 2016 as well, Chinnappa had filed a petition against the celebration of Tipu Jayanti. The HC disposed the matter then and directed the petitioner to make a representation to the State Chief Secretary to consider the objections raised against the event by him.

Now, with this ruling of HC, the state government can go ahead and celebrate Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

Senior police officials have been instructed to make sure that the celebrations take place without any obstacles. This comes after the BJP threatened of mass protests on the occasion.

In Udupi district, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed from November 8 to 11, and similar orders may be issued in other sensitive districts as well.

--- ENDS ---
A top level source said that the new infiltration is mostly by JeM terrorists, who are considered more deadly than Lashkar, and believed to be behind recent fidayeen attacks in Kashmir.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: While security forces in Kashmir valley are riding high on the encounter of Pakistan-based terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew, they may get but little time to rejoice.

According to intelligence, Pakistan will try to push across as many terror agents as possible into the Valley before the onset of winters.

Documents accessed by India Today indicate that there is no let up in Pakistan's plans to destabilise Kashmir.

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The figures of terrorist infiltrating have come down from the summer months, though not drastically. (From nearly 750 to 630). Further the intelligence inputs indicate that the movement of terrorist is high in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The movement of terrorist in various launch pads is active especially opposite Gurez, Machhal, Keran, Tanghdhar, Naugam and Uri in Kashmir valley. Besides movement being detected in Rampur, Poonch, Krishnaghati, Bhimber Gali, Rajouri, Naushera, Sunderbani, Samba and Hiranagar sectors in Jammu. The input suggests that maximum movement of SSG special operation force of the Pakistan Army was seen opposite Uri and Bhimber Gali sector.

The cross border infiltration figures also suggest that just before winters months, in September, around 41 terrorists attempted to cross over the Indian border. While aggressive patrolling at the LoC led to 32 returning to PoK, three were killed.

Similarly on August 22, in yet another foiled bid of infiltration, five terrorists were gunned down while 12 returned.

Defence expert PK Sehgal said, "Pakistan wants to keep the Kashmir pot boiling. They seem to be showing no remorse whatsoever. So they will continue to send jihadis till the time snow falls and the passes close."

A top level source said that the new infiltration is mostly by JeM terrorists, who are considered more deadly than Lashkar, and believed to be behind recent fidayeen attacks in Kashmir.

But the latest trend has been of hybrid group of militants- a recent picture shows six militants from terror organisations Ansar Ghazwat-u-Hind's, Jaish E Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen regrouping.

With recent setbacks to militant groups with close to 185 terrorists being neutralised in an year alone, it seems many are choosing softer targets.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Ways to boost defence cooperation between India and Kazakhstan were discussed at a meeting today between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Deputy Defence Minister of the Central Asian country.

Mukhtarov also met Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and discussed about enhancing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, officials said.

Enhancing bilateral defence cooperation was the focus of the two meetings, they said.

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Indian and Kazakh armies on November 2 began a 14-day joint exercise in Himachal Pradesh to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange skills and experience.

It is the second joint military exercise between the two countries. The first edition of "Prabal Dostyk" was held in Kazakhstan in 2016. PTI MPB SMN

--- ENDS ---
By Shweta Keshri: KBC 9 aired its finale special on Monday, which was titled Abinandan Aabhar. The episode started with Euphony band's special composition for KBC 9.

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi graced KBC 9's hot seat as a special guest on Monday. The social reformer, who works for child's rights talked about his experiences while trying to save children from human trafficking and it was no less than an eye-opener for everyone present in the audiences and the viewers watching the show.

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The Nobel Laureate was accompanied by his wife Sumedha on the hot seat, who has been his greatest support system while fighting against human trafficking. His son Bhuvan Ribhu and daughter Asmita were there as his companions while his student Kinshu Kumar was on the show as his 'jodidaar'.

Satyarthi narrated an incident about how he once tried to rescue girls from a circus. Girls as young as 12-13 years old were trained to do dangerous stunts and were subjected to sexual abuse. If they performed well, they were rewarded and as a reward, the circus heads and nearby police officials raped them and if their performance was not up to the mark, they used to be subjected to the same as punishment. A girl rescued from the circus, who was just 13 years old, was so traumatised with the inhuman treatment, that she was scared to go near any man. According to reports, in every six minutes a kid goes missing but Satyarthi said that the statistics only refer to registered cases whereas the actual figures are more alarming as many cases are not even registered with the police. These kids are used as slaves, child brides and for illegal organ trade. From their kidneys to their skins, everything is in demand in the market.

According to National Crime Records Bureau, there was an increase of more than 25 per cent in crime related to human trafficking during 2015 over 2014. Incidents of human trafficking has been on a rising trend.

Indian Ocean band on KBC 9.

The Indian children's right activist also talked about his 100 million to 100 million campaign. He said that around the world there are 100 million kids and youth, who are victim to different kinds of violence. He also shared shocking statistics, which was issued by Indian government ten years back that says that in India 53 per cent of kids (girls + boys) are subjected to sexual harassment and before attaining the age of 18, one in every two child gets sexually abused.

Expressing his concern over rising incidents of crime against children, Kailash Satyarthi said that sexual abuse of children has become a moral epidemic because around 70 per cent of accused are family members or close relatives of the child.

The child rights crusader won Rs 50 lakh, which he would be using to provide legal help to victims of sexual abuse.

The show concluded with an incredible performance by Hindi rock band Indian Ocean, that sung their popular number Are Ruk Ja Re Bande and Nikal Pade Hein, written by Satyarthi and composed by the band.

--- ENDS ---

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Rupert (left) and James Murdoch. The latter is chairman of Sky and chief executive of 21st Century Fox - Reuters

Shares in 21st Century Fox surged almost 10pc in the US, on reports it has been holding talks to sell a large chunk of its business, including its stake in Sky, to Walt Disney.

The talks had been ongoing for the past few weeks, but are not currently taking place, according to reports from CNBC and the Wall Street Journal.

It is thought the preliminary discussions broke down over price and other terms of the deal.

21st Century Fox, which is controlled by the Murdoch family, was looking to sell its film studio and a significant portion of its TV assets to focus on news and sports, reports said.

The assets being sold were also thought to have included Fox's 39pc stake in Sky, after a probe was launched by the UK competition watchdog into Fox's attempted acquisition of the remaining 61pc in the broadcaster.

Earlier this year, the purchase was referred to the UK Competition & Markets Authority by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, despite an earlier three-month investigation by Ofcom which found there was no reason to block the takeover bid on the grounds of broadcasting standards.

The CMA investigation is expected to take six months, and will look at both whether broadcasting standards or media plurality will be affected should the deal go ahead.

21st Century Fox declined to comment. Disney was not immediately available for comment.
U.S. equities are pushing higher on Monday on M&A hype in the semiconductor space, but the single most interesting move underway is in the energy sector.

Crude oil pushes to levels not seen since 2015 on a number of headlines out of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia seems to be in the midst of a power play as Crown Price Mohammed bin Salman ordered the arrest of other members of the royal family on anti-corruption allegations. Two other princes have died, one in a helicopter crash and one in a gunfight.

Also adding to the upward pressure was the downing of a ballistic missile out of Yemen by the Saudi-coalition, something Riyadh called direct Iran military aggression in what looks like an escalation of a regional fight for influence.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

As a result, a number of stocks in the energy sector look ready to emerge from multi-month downtrend. Here are five on the move, as well as two related ETFs playing along:

Schlumberger (SLB)



Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) shares are up more than 5%, crossing back over its 50-day moving average, after lifting off of double-bottom support near $62.

In its recent post-earnings call, management said they believe the current situation in the energy market is more positive than is reflected by the market as U.S. rig counts level off.

The company will next report results on January 19 before the open. Earnings are looking for earnings of 46 cents per share on revenues of $8.2 billion. When the company last reported on Oct. 20, earnings of 42 cents per share matches estimates on a 12.6% rise in revenues.

Halliburton (HAL)

Haliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) shares are lifting up and off of their 50-day moving average closing in on the 200-day average that hasnt been crossed since April.

In a recent note, FBR analysts highlighted that the company had the strongest quarterly results of the big three diversified oil field services provider. Management, in their post-earnings call, said they believed crude oil near the $50-a-barrel level would drive significant activity in the North American marketplace.

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The company will next report results on Jan. 22, with earnings of 46 cents expected on a $5.6 billion in revenues.

When the company last reported on Oct. 23, earnings of 42 cents beat estimates by four cents on a 42% rise in revenues.

Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD)

Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) shares are lifting towards their 200-day moving average, lifting off of support near the 50-day average.

Already up more than 26% from its August low, a return to the April high would be worth another 25% gain from here. Analysts at Imperial Capital recently upgraded their price target to $172 on production growth and a better cost structure.

The company will next report results on Feb. 7 after the close. Analysts are looking for earnings of 53 cents per share on revenues of $1.6 billion.

When the company last reported on Nov. 1, earnings of 48 cents per share beat estimates by 20 cents on a 23.1% rise in revenues.

Devon Energy Corp. (DVN)

Devon Energy Corp (NYSE:DVN) shares are extending away from their 200-day moving average returning to levels not seen since April. Up from 40% from their early July low, watch for a return to the January high near $49.

That would be worth a 20% gain from here. Analysts at Stephens recently upgraded shares to buy in the wake of solid quarterly results.

The company will next report results on Feb. 13 after the close. Analysts are looking for earnings of 55 cents per share on revenues of $3.4 billion.

When the company last reported on Oct. 31, earnings of 43 cents per share beat estimates by five cents on a 9.5% rise in revenues.

Apache (APA)

Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) shares are rising off of double-bottom support in the high-$30s, threatening to move over resistance from the early October highs setting up a run at the 200-day moving average and the July highs near $51.

That would be worth a 13% gain from here. Shares were hit in late August by disappointing quarterly results, but sentiment is turning now after a positive result last quarter.

The company will next report results on Feb. 22 before the bell. Analysts are looking for earnings of 13 cents per share on revenues of $1.5 billion.

When the company last reported on Nov. 2, earnings of six cents per share beat estimates by six cents despite a 3.5% drop in revenues.



Oil Services ETF (OIH)

VanEck Oil Services ETF (NYSEARCA:OIH) is rising away from its 50-day moving average, closing in on its 200-day moving average, setting up a move up and out of an inverted head-and-shoulders bottoming pattern going back to June.

A break of the neckline near $26 would set up a move to $30, which would be worth a gain of 15% from here.

The ETF gives easy and diversified exposure to the oilfield services industry, including holdings such as SLB, HAL and Transocean Ltd (NYSE:RIG).

U.S. Oil Fund (USO)

With crude oil pushing to two-year highs, the United States Oil Fund (ETF) (NYSEARCA:USO) is extending enjoying a golden cross as its 50-day moving average passes up and over its 200-day average.

This reverses a death cross from April and sets up a possible move up and out of a three-year consolidation range near $11.

USO is down roughly three-fourths from the highs set in the summer of 2014. But now, with geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East heating up, global inventories diminishing, and U.S. rig counts leveling off, higher energy prices appear to be persistent.

Anthony Mirhaydari is the founder of the Edge (ETFs) and Edge Pro (Options) investment advisory newsletters. Free two- and four-week trial offers have been extended to InvestorPlace readers.

The post 5 Oil Stocks That Are On Fire Right Now (and 2 ETFs) appeared first on InvestorPlace.
William 'Bill' Ackman, CEO and Portfolio Manager of Pershing Square Capital Management, speaks during the Sohn Investment Conference in New York City, U.S., May 8, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/files (Reuters)

By Trevor Hunnicutt

ROSELAND, N.J. (Reuters) - William Ackman got what Automatic Data Processing Inc's <ADP.O> chief executive called an "ass-whipping" on Tuesday as the activist hedge fund manager lost an acrimonious fight to win seats on the payroll company's board.

It was the latest in a string of public defeats for Ackman, who raised $500 million from investors to take a stake in ADP. Some of Ackman's backers have told Reuters they are considering pulling their money from his funds.

Fewer than 25 percent of votes were cast in favor of Ackman's slate of three directors looking to shake up the company in the proxy contest, which became a three-month-long showdown between the billionaire investor and ADP CEO Carlos Rodriguez.

Ackman arrived at the company's annual shareholder meeting at its Roseland, New Jersey, headquarters looking relaxed. He helped himself to a pastry, then took a seat in the fourth row with his associates, a few feet away from an anxious-looking Rodriguez, seated alone.

The mood changed after the vote tally was announced.

Reading from prepared remarks, Ackman faulted the proxy voting system but accepted defeat. "We came in peace," he began, later shaking Rodriguez's hand.

Rodriguez got in the last word. "This was an ass-whipping," he told Ackman and the assembled shareholders.

BITTER BARBS

Over the last few months, Ackman and ADP had traded increasingly bitter barbs through securities filings, television appearances, conference calls, webcasts and private meetings with investors.

Ackman said management complacency had turned ADP into an inefficient corporate slugabed pushing outmoded products that even a top sales force could not sell. ADP countered that Ackman brought no new ideas to the table, risked disrupting the company's steady path to growth and behaved like a "spoiled brat."

ADP's stock was up 0.8 percent at $112.17 in early trading after the vote results were announced.

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Ackman launched the ADP proxy contest as an underdog, taking aim at a company engaged in the unglamorous business of providing human resources technology and largely backed by Wall Street. ADP's share price has more than doubled under Rodriguez's tenure, and the company has posted relatively solid earnings growth.

Ackman had asked ADP shareholders to approve his proposal to seat three new directors, including himself, and oust three others, including Chairman John Jones. He has also suggested Rodriguez is the wrong person for the job, and called for the departure of ADP's technology chief, Stuart Sackman.

INVESTOR UNREST

Several of Ackman's Pershing Square investors who spoke to Reuters in the run-up to the ADP vote said the outcome would affect their confidence in his investment ability.

Ackman, 51, made a name for himself during the 2007-2009 financial crisis with a public and aggressive bet against bond insurer MBIA Inc <MBI.N>. He has made similarly contentious investments in or against companies ranging from retailers Target Corp <TGT.N> and JC Penney Co Inc <JCP.N> to Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd <CP.TO>.

Although the average annual returns for Pershing Square's core fund are 15 percent since its inception in 2004, Ackman racked up double-digit losses in 2015 and 2016 after a 37 percent gain in 2014.

Bets on Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc <VRX.TO>, Herbalife Ltd <HLF.N> and more recently Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc <CMG.N> have all weighed on returns. So far this year, the fund is barely in the black, compared with a 15 percent rise in the S&P 500 Index and a roughly 6 percent gain for the average hedge fund.

On Tuesday, Kevin Walkush, a portfolio manager at Jensen Investment Management, said the firm had cast about 1 million votes in favor of ADP management, and has since sold some shares based on their rising value.

Walkush said Ackman deserved credit for pushing ADP to disclose more details on its margins and other areas. But the portfolio manager said the companys strategy was sound as it revamps its sales force and migrates to the cloud.

He seemed late to the party, Walkush said of Ackman. His expectations to us seemed unrealistic.

MORE AGITATING

Among major investors, spokespeople for Vanguard Group and State Street Corp <STT.N> declined to comment on how they voted their ADP shares. A person familiar with the vote said funds run by BlackRock Inc <BLK.N> supported at least one of Ackmans nominees.

Ackman's Pershing Square owns almost 2 percent of ADP's common shares, making it the seventh-largest voting shareholder, according to Thomson Reuters data. When counting unexercised options, the value of the stake is roughly $2.3 billion.

After the meeting, Ackman said he was disappointed but felt he had accomplished a lot. He has said he will continue agitating for change.

"The company, in order to win, made a number of very significant commitments to shareholders about growth," he said. "If they achieve those objectives and they exceed them, then I think shareholders will be happy, the stock will go up. If they dont, well be back next year."

Rodriguez played down Ackman's influence and said he was insulted by how Ackman had characterized ADP and its employees. Despite having little knowledge of the company, he was able to get media attention with his remarks, the CEO told Reuters.

"This is all about who had the best narrative, who has the best hair," Rodriguez said.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Roseland, New Jersey; Additional reporting by Ross Kerber and Svea Herbst in Boston; Writing by Lauren Tara LaCapra; Editing by Bill Rigby and Colleen Jenkins)
Of all the places where climate change affects, it's the small island nations of the Pacific Ocean that are being hit the hardest.

It's a story that's being presented by Fijians in a VR documentary called Our Home, Our People, which has been put together by the World Bank.

SEE ALSO: Earth to overshoot global warming targets, U.N. warns in blunt report

The film reflects on rebuilding efforts following the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Winston last year, and the ongoing threat of rising sea levels.

It ties in with Fiji presiding over COP23, the United Nations' climate change conference, which takes place in Bonn, Germany over the next two weeks. It's the first small island nation to preside over the talks, and an appropriate choice given how crucial climate change action is to its survival.

Behind the scenes: Noqu Vanua. Rupeni and children from Namarai village prepare for a scene with the 360 VR camera.

Image: world bank

The film also coincides with a report released by the World Bank, examining how vulnerable Fiji is to climate change, and pushes for stronger action by leaders on the issue.

Created by a team of five Fijians and five Australians, Our Home, Our People puts the spotlight on the village of Vunisavisavi and Ra Province.

Vunisavisavi is one of the first villages in Fiji to be have houses relocated because of the impact of rising sea levels. You'll meet 11-year-old Catalina, who reflects on how a seawall could help stop flooding of her village.

"[Catalina] is extraordinarily savvy, and I think about what I was thinking about when I was 11 years old. Compared to what she's talking about, it's amazing," Tom Perry, who worked on the film for the World Bank, explained.

Climate change is part of a Fijian child's learning, a point that's emphasised with Asmita, an Indian-Fijian teacher who appears in the film.

"She and all her students went through Cyclone Winston, and so her big focus is making these kids understand why that's happening. Why they went through this traumatic event, and what they can do about it," Perry said.

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The deep cultural heritage of Vunisavisavi makes relocation a very difficult decision. Vunisavisavi is the original home of the first Tui Cakau, the highest chief in the province.

"They can't just leave. They've got a duty to their ancestors to stay," Perry added.
Devin Kelley, 26, the alleged Sutherland Springs shooter - FACEBOOK

A US Air Force veteran who fatally shot at least 26 people in a rural Texas church during Sunday services took his own life after a shootout with residents, the local sheriff said on Monday.

The gunman, who had been thrown out of the military for assaulting his wife and child, wounded at least 20 others during the rampage in the white-steepled First Baptist Church in the small town of Sutherland Springs.

After the gunman, dressed in black tactical gear and firing an assault rifle, left the church, two armed local residents pursued him in vehicles.

The chase ended when the gunman crashed his car and then shot himself, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CBS News in an interview on Monday morning.

"At this time we believe that he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Tackitt said.

The suspect was identified him as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, multiple media reported, citing law enforcement officials.

Devin Kelley, 26, the alleged Sutherland Springs shooter Credit: FACEBOOK

Civilians 'chased after gunman'

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS News the attack on the church in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 people, located about 40 miles (65 km) east of San Antonio, did not appear to be a "random act."

It was the latest in a long string of U.S. mass shootings in recent years, coming weeks after a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting by a sole gunman in U.S. history.

Emergency personnel load a wounded person on an helicopter following a fatal shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Credit: KSAT12

U.S. President Donald Trump, on a trip in Asia, told reporters in Tokyo the preliminary reports indicated the shooter was "deranged."

"This isn't a guns situation, I mean we could go into it, but it's a little bit soon to go into it," Trump said. "But fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise ... it would have been much worse. But this is a mental health problem at the highest level."

Sutherland Springs shooting, in pictures

Among the dead was the 14-year-old daughter of church Pastor Frank Pomeroy, the family told several television stations.

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One couple, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, told the Washington Post they lost eight extended family members, including their pregnant granddaughter-in-law and three of her children.

A candlelight vigil is held for the victims of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Credit: AP

In rural areas like Sutherland Springs, gun ownership is a part of life and the state's Republican leaders for years have balked at gun control, arguing that more firearms among responsible owners make the state safer.

Jeff Forrest, a 36-year-old military veteran who lives a block away from the church, said what sounded like high-caliber, semi-automatic gunfire triggered memories of his four combat deployments with the Marine Corps.

"I was on the porch, I heard 10 rounds go off and then my ears just started ringing," Forrest said. "I hit the deck and I just lay there."

How the Texas church mass shooting unfolded

Online records show a man named Devin Patrick Kelley lived in New Braunfels, about 35 miles (56 km) north of Sutherland Springs.

Kelley served in its Logistics Readiness unit at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child, and given a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 12 months and a reduction in rank, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Kelley's Facebook page has been deleted, but cached photos show a profile picture where he appeared with two small children. He also posted a photo of what appeared to be an assault rifle, writing a post that read: "She's a bad bitch."

Pastor's teen daughter among victims

Among the victims was the teenage daughter of the pastor at the small Texas church.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy said he and his wife Sherri were out of town when the attack happened at the First Baptist Church but their 14-year-old daughter Annabelle was among more than 20 killed.

Annabelle was one very beautiful, special child, Mr Pomeroy told ABC News.

His wife said many friends had died.

How the Texas church mass shooting unfolded

Pregnant woman feared dead

A congregant who wasn't at a Texas church when a gunman opened fire says his pregnant cousin and her in-laws were among those killed.

Nick Uhlig said that his cousin Crystal Holcombe and her in-laws Karla and Bryan Holcombe died in Sunday's attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Crystal Holcombe was eight months pregnant.

Uhlig says Bryan Holcombe did prison ministry, adding that he would go to the prison with a ukulele and sing for the inmates.

Uhlig earlier said that he was not at church on Sunday because he was out late on Saturday.

Other victims, some of whom were evacuated by helicopter, included a six-year-old boy named Rylan who was in surgery after being shot four times, his uncle told CBS News. A two-year-old was also shot and wounded, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Trump: shooting result of a mental health problem

US President Donald Trump on Monday condemned what he described as a "horrific shooting".

He said the mass killing was the result of a "mental health problem at the highest level". He also described the gunman as a "very deranged individual".

"This act of evil occurred as the victims and their families were in their place of worship. Our hearts are broken," Mr Trump said on a visit to Japan.

"Americans do what we do best, we pull together," Mr Trump said at the start of a meeting with business leaders. "We stand strong, oh so strong."

He added federal authorities would help Texas in the aftermath of the shooting and that all of America was praying to God.

We grieve with all the families in Sutherland Springs harmed by this act of hatred, and well stand with the survivors as they recover...  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 6, 2017

May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 6, 2017

Barack Obama, the former president, appealed for "concrete steps" to be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, tweeted: "Tragic loss of life in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Thoughts and prayers with all those affected by this terrible shooting."

There was no escape

A sheriff says there was likely "no way" for parishioners to escape once shooting started at the Texas church.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. said Sunday night that the shooter fired several shots outside before entering the Sutherland Springs church and walking toward the front of the congregation. Tackitt says the gunman then turned around and opened fire on his way back out the front door.

Tackitt says "I don't think they could have escaped. You've got your pews on either side."

The sheriff did not name the shooter, but officials identified the gunman to The Associated Press as Devin Kelley.

Tackitt says investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack.

Civilians praised for confronting gunman

A man who said he pursued the gunman in a Texas church shooting says he was acting on instinct to try to prevent the suspect from escaping.

Johnnie Langendorff told KSAT television that he was driving past the church as the shooting happened and he saw the gunman exchanging fire with a member of the community.

Johnnie Langendorff has been praised as a hero after they were able to stop Texas gunman Devin Kelley's rampage Credit:

He said the member of the community asked for help and got into Langendorff's truck. They took off at high speed in pursuit of the gunman on a nearby highway as police were going in the opposite direction toward the church.

Langendorff said the gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. He said the other civilian walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn and the suspect did not move. He stood guard over the gunman until police arrived 5 to 7 minutes later.

Stephen Willeford Credit:

Langendorff says: "I was strictly just acting on what's the right thing to do."

Social media users have heaped praise on Langendorff.

One wrote on his Facebook page: Well done, Johnnie! Youre a true patriot and a hero. Thank you for coming to the aid of those in need, at such a terrible time.

Law enforcement officials work the scene of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Credit: Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Sunday services at the small white church are usually attended by about 50 people, local residents said.

Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr said his "heart is broken".

"You never think this can happen but it can, it doesn't matter where you're at. Look at what can happen. It's a tragic day, massive."

He added: "The gunman took off. They were in a pursuit. They told me he's deceased, I don't know if he shot himself or not.

'People all know each other'

"It's a small community, small church, real nice community. Man, you never expect something like this. We don't know what would inspire a guy to start shooting like that.

"I got a call and they told me there was a big scene going on with a lot of shooting. The details are sketchy, we're trying to find out what's gone on."

Emergency personnel respond to a fatal shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Credit: KSAT via AP

One witness, a cashier at a petrol station over the road from the church, said she heard dozens of shots being fired in rapid succession while the church service was going on.

Carrie Matula said: "We heard semi-automatic gunfire. We're only about 50 yards away from this church. This is a very small community so everyone was very curious as to what was going on."

Dana Fletcher, a nearby shopkeeper, said: "It's a little church in a very small community, I don't know why it would be targeted. It's a very tight knit community. People all know each other."

She added: "People weren't sure whether there was more than one gunman."

The shooting came just over a month after a gunman in Las Vegas, firing down from a hotel room, killed 58 people and wounded hundreds attending an outdoor concert.

Two years ago a white supremacist, Dylann Roof, entered a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot nine people to death.

Local TV images as police look at the alleged gunman's car

A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Centre in Floresville, near Sutherland Springs, said: "We have accepted a number of patients from the shooting".

Helicopters and emergency personnel converged on the scene along with agents form the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Ted Cruz, the Texas Senator, said: "Keeping all harmed in Sutherland Springs in our prayers and grateful for our brave first responders on the scene."

A woman who lives about 10 minutes away from Sutherland Springs in Floresville and was monitoring the chaos on a police scanner and in Facebook community groups, said that everyone knows everyone in the sparsely populated county.

"This is horrific for our tiny little tight-knit town," said Alena Berlanga. "Everybody's going to be affected and everybody knows someone who's affected," she said.
In Riyadh in April, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, one the worlds richest men with investments spanning the globe, sat down with Robert Jordan, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. In their conversation, the prince expressed his approval for an overhaul of the Saudi economy led by the then-Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. In private, Alwaleeds words were consistent with his public statements of support for Prince Mohammed, who at 32 is now apparent to the Saudi throne  and who ordered Prince Alwaleeds arrest along with that of 10 other Saudi royals.

Over the weekend, Mohammed Bin Salman set in motion an unprecedented crackdown that included the arrest of dozens of senior Saudi figures, including Prince Alwaleed and the other royals. He also replaced the economy minister and the commander of the National Guard, taking control of the last branch of the security forces that was not yet under his power. The Saudi government said the arrests were taken as a part of a crackdown on corruption, but they appear to be a part of a sweeping effort to consolidate the young crown princes power within the Saudi state.

In interviews, analysts and diplomats with contacts inside the Saudi royal family suggested that some the royals had been chosen for arrest because they possessed power independent of the crown prince, who is often referred to by his initials, MBS. While rumblings of discontent within the ranks of the royal family surfaced when he was appointed crown prince in June, there was no sign of a real challenge against the young princes authority. The roundup of high-profile Saudis did not spare those who expressed support for MBS, including Alwaleed.

Its the equivalent of having Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Colin Powell arrested. It is a shocking display of power, Jordan, the former ambassador, told TIME.

The arrests also signal a new pinnacle in the meteoric rise of Mohammed Bin Salman. In less than three years, the young prince has gone from being a relatively obscure royal known for his purchase of a $550 million yacht from a Russian vodka tycoon, to one of the most powerful and controversial leaders in the Middle East. Appointed minister of defense in 2015, he oversaw a disastrous war in Yemen in which more than 10,000 people have died.

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His appointment as crown prince in June upended decades of royal tradition, sidelining the former Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Nayef, who had been a favorite of Washington. Even before becoming the heir to the throne, his portfolio was vast. He is in charge of an overhaul of the Saudi economy including a highly anticipated plan to sell shares of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco in an IPO. In a signal of a possible move toward social reform, the government announced in September a decision to end its embarrassing ban on women driving cars.

Now, the crown prince is amassing power not seen within the royal family in generations.

The arrests signal a move to quash remnants of the previous ruling coterie under the late king Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who died in 2015. Those arrested include two of Abdullahs sons  Prince Mutaib, the former head of the National Guard once considered a possible contender for the throne, and Prince Turki, the former governor of Riyadh. Others include Bakr Bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladen Group. According to observers, only one, Prince Mutaib, had a political power base of note. At least some of the detainees are being held at the Ritz-Cartlon in Riyadh.

It sends a message to everyone within the kingdom that MBS has a direction he intends to pursue, so you better bend the knee, said H.A. Hellyer, an analyst with the Washington-based Atlantic Council. Bending the knee isnt simply bending the knee; its bending the knee as far as he wants.

The churn within Saudi Arabia coincided with ripples of instability in the wider region related to the kingdoms contest for power with arch rival Iran. Also on Saturday, Lebanons Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned, a move most analysts believe he made at the urging of Saudi Arabia, which is allied with his bloc in Lebanese politics. Hariri made the announcement from Saudi Arabia, during a speech in which he denounced Iran and said he feared for his life.

The detention of Prince Alwaleed produced global reverberations. His investments include portions of Twitter, Citigroup, and Lyft, as well as luxury hotels around the world. Shares of his $8.8 billion company, Kingdom Holding, plunged in trading on Monday. Prince Alwaleed was one of the most famous Saudis worldwide, but he was not known to have any political ambitions within Saudi Arabia, and his statements in public and private suggest he supported the crown prince.

Its actually the opposite of the Game of Thrones. There are no real actors mobilizing against Bin Salman, said Toby Craig Jones, a historian at Rutgers specializing in Gulf monarchies, referring to the hit HBO show.

Now Prince Mohammed is positioning himself as an enforcer against corruption, bringing to heel some of the most ostentatiously wealthy members of the royal family. The allegations of corruptions are difficult to assess, given the permeable boundaries between the personal fortunes of individual royals and Saudi state funds. Some observers suggested that MBS was taking a gamble on seeking the approval of the Saudi public at the expense of discord within the royal family.

Hes the first prince in modern Saudi history whose constituency has not been within the royal family, its outside it. Its been young Saudis, particularly younger Saudi men in the street, said John Jenkins, a former British ambassador to Riyadh. The issue is can he produce effect out of this? Can he execute all the plans he has?

Correction: The original version of this story gave the incorrect first name for Lebanons Prime Minister who recently resigned. He is Saad Hariri, not Rafiq Hariri.
Bethane Middleton-Brown knows the pain the families and victims in Sundays mass shooting at a Texas church are feeling all too well. In June 2015, her sister, Rev. DePayne Middleton, was among the nine parishioners killed by a self-proclaimed white supremacist who had been welcomed at a Wednesday night Bible study class at Charlestons Emanuel A.M.E. Church.

In the wake of the tragedy at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people  including 8 members of one family and children as young as 18-months-old  were killed by a shooter during Sunday services, Middleton-Brown has offered heartfelt prayer for the victims and their families in a statement to TIME.

It is a horrific tragedy that continues to lurk its ugly face at the world, but I believe this too shall pass, she said. The families will feel the wrath of pain and the sinful ways of this old world and in time they will learn just as I have how to find a balance because the pain wont go away, but you can live through it.

There have been numerous mass shootings since a gunman opened fire on the gathered group in the Emanuel church basement. In the time since, the families have grown all too familiar with the cycle  and in turn they, like the families of the Sandy Hook massacre and countless other tragedies, have become de-facto experts on grief and tragedy. Members of the media often call on them to offer thoughts and prayers and help for others who now find themselves members of an increasingly non-exclusive club they never imagined theyd be forced to join. Its a responsibility they carry on top of the heavy burden of grief.

In her prayer, Middleton prayed that the families find the same patience, guidance and strength she and the rest of DePaynes family have had to find for themselves.

May they all be guided by God through the spirit of their beloveds, she said. I will carry their pain and burden in my heart because its just simply too great of a burden to bear alone. I pray for healing.

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Middleton-Brown, who stepped up to take care of her sisters children in the wake of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church massacre was not the only family member to speak out. Chris Singleton, the son of Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, expressed his grief in a series of tweets on Sunday. The Lord blessed us with free will and at times like these I am destroyed by the things people do with it, he said in one message.

Hard to breathe thinking that 20 more people were killed in a place of worship. Gun violence is REAL & needs to be STOPPED!!!  Chris Singleton (@csingleton__2) November 5, 2017

The Lord blessed us with free will and at times like these I am destroyed by the things people do with it. ???? #TexasShooting  Chris Singleton (@csingleton__2) November 5, 2017

If this doesn't upset you about our laws on gun control then nothing will. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!! https://t.co/A6g3QmO37f  Chris Singleton (@csingleton__2) November 5, 2017

Singleton was one of the many Charleston family members who spoke out in forgiveness of his mothers killer shortly after the shooting took place. At the time, he said, love is always stronger than hate, If we just love the way my mom would, then the hate wont be nearly as strong as the love is. In a recent interview with USA Today, Singleton said he formed his own relationship with God in the wake of his mothers death. For a while, he told the paper, hed call his moms old cellphone just to hear her voice. He stopped about a year ago when a person answered  his mothers number was taken.

Now, I have this video of my mom praying on my phone, at a funeral service of her friends dad, he told USA Today. She was ironically talking about how you get through that stuff. So I listen to that. It helps me get through tough times.

Malcolm Graham, a former North Carolina state senator and the brother of Cynthia Hurd, another of the Emanuel A.M.E. victims, says during a different time, before Emanuel, the bulk of the calls he received related to politics. Now, he says, whenever theres a shooting his phone is ringing.

The frequency of mass shootings in America has made healing all the more difficult, he says. A month after his sister and eight others were killed, there was another shooting at a military recruitment station in Tennessee. A few months later in October, a shooting on a community college campus in Oregon. And then in December, the terrorist-linked mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. So, too, has the familiar set of events that unfold after each shooting  the rush of coverage followed by a lull until the next tragedy. And, he says, the lack of action from lawmakers.

I think policy makers need to stop saying their thoughts and prayers are with the families. The folks in Charleston, the folks that died yesterday were in the church. These are prayed up folks. They were worshiping their God, he says. What they ought to do is get to work addressing these issues that affecting our country.

Its time for lawmakers to get their head out of the sand and acknowledge the elephant in the country, which he says is domestic terrorism perpetrated by folks who have easy access to powerful weapons. You should have the right to bear arms, you should have the right to protect your family, you should have the right to protect your property with a firearm, he says. But those individuals in Charleston, those individuals at the church yesterday, those individuals who were enjoying the concert in Las Vegas also had the right of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Hes calling on lawmakers to address what he calls common sense gun safety measures, including limits on the types of weapons people can buy, how many rounds the guns can shoot, background checks and resources for mental health needs. His message to the Texas families and community members, in the meantime, is to be strong.

Something that we learned when I was pledging a fraternity is this quote. Its something that I had to repeat over and over to myself when Cynthia passed, he says. It says, Be strong, were not hear to play, dream or drift, we have hard work to do and heavy loads to lift. Shun not the struggle for its Gods gift  be strong.'

Encourage the families in Texas to be strong, he says.  To the faith leaders in that community, I would just encourage them to be strong and to demonstrate their faith. But also like James Chapter 2 says, Faith without works is dead. They also have work that they have to do to help this country face some troubling issues.
The worlds most valuable company is in the spotlight on day two of the Paradise Papers revelations.

The massive trove of leaked files shows that in 2015 Apple secretly began funneling part of its revenue from outside the Americas to the island of Jersey, a UK crown dependency with a 0% corporate-tax rate for foreign companies. Apple has traditionally had most of its overseas subsidiaries in Ireland, paying taxes no higher than 5%, but the EU began cracking down on that arrangement in 2013, and eventually ordered the company to repay 13 billion (plus 1 billion in interest) in taxes. (Ireland and Apple have appealed the decision.)

Apple went on the hunt for a new tax haven to manage its non-Americas cash. It turned to the offshore experts at the Appleby law firm for advice with a 14-item questionnaire, according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The BBC published four of those questions:

The ICIJ published one more, which reportedly asked to confirm that an Irish company can conduct management activitieswithout being subject to taxation in your jurisdiction.

All five questions seem to show a concern with secrecy, the ability to not pay taxes, and the stability of any tax-avoiding arrangement.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously insisted to the US Congress that, We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. We do not depend on tax gimmickswe do not stash money on some Caribbean island.

Apple ended up controlling two of its Irish subsidiaries from Jersey for around a year. The BBC suggests that the company may have used this arrangement to sell its intellectual-property rights back to Ireland from the Jersey subsidiary. A move like that could allow Apple to offset $13 billion in taxes per year for the next 15 years on any income earned in Ireland, the New York Times reports (paywall).

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Apple told the BBC the arrangement didnt lower its taxes, saying that the company is the worlds biggest taxpayer, and insisting it had followed the law.

Read next: A guide to the major Paradise Papers revelations

Read next: How is the Queen tied up in the Paradise Papers revelations?

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam both claim momentum is on their side with one day to go before Election Day in Virginia's high-stakes, closely watched race for governor.

The candidates are racing across the state Monday after a weekend spent trying to trying to rally supporters ahead of the Tuesday vote.

Northam felt strong enthusiasm from his supporters and said he was heartened by the high number of absentee votes that had been cast so far compared with four years ago, particularly in Democratic-leaning areas. Northam predicted turnout could be significantly higher than recent past gubernatorial elections.

"We may get well over 50 percent, which would be real good for our party," Northam said.

Gillespie told supporters at a rally Sunday that Republicans were set to sweep statewide races.

"We no longer just have momentum  we have the lead," Gillespie said.

Virginia is one of only two states electing a new governor this year, and the contest is viewed by many as an early referendum on President Donald Trump's political popularity.

Democrats are eager to prove they can harness anti-Trump energy into success at the polls, while Republicans are looking to show they have a winning blueprint in a blue-leaning state. Most public polls have shown a close race to succeed Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who is term limited.

Northam, a pediatric neurologist and the state's lieutenant governor, spent Saturday in voter-rich northern Virginia, where Democrats have run up huge leads in recent statewide elections. He attended rallies with union members, immigrant groups and others where he sought to use anti-Trump energy as a motivating factor.

"Do you all remember how you felt when you woke up on November the 9th of 2016?" Northam asked a group of canvassers in a supporter's backyard in Ashburn, referring to the day after Trump won the presidential campaign. "We cannot take any chances and wake up like that again."

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National Democrats, still stinging from last year's presidential race, are hoping a strong showing by Northam will help motivate the party ahead of the 2018 mid-term elections. A string of high-profile surrogates, including former President Barack Obama, have campaigned on his behalf.

Some volunteers helping Northam said Trump's victory had spurred them to get involved in a political campaign for the first time.

"Really, a lot of us feel unsettled," said Kee Jun, a Korean-American from Northern Virginia who helped introduce Northam to voters at a restaurant Saturday. "I feel an obligation to my children, Virginia residents and the nation."

But some Republicans said they felt Trump's victory has energized their party in a lasting way that will help Gillespie.

"People realize they can have a voice and can make a difference in an election," said John Ancellotti, a retired Coast Guard captain and federal agent who attended a Gillespie rally Sunday.

Gillespie, a White House adviser to President George W. Bush and former lobbyist, has kept Trump at a distance and has not campaigned with him. But in a bid to rally Trump supporters, Gillespie has run hard-edge attacks ads against Northam focused on immigrants in the country illegally and preserving Confederate statues. The approach has drawn bipartisan criticism, but Gillespie supporters say he's been unfairly maligned for taking positions that are popular with voters but may not be politically correct.

"Ed is willing to take those arrows," said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who campaigned with Gillespie on Sunday.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon said Saturday that Gillespie's tack to the right will help him "pull this out," according to the pro-Trump website Breitbart News.

Gillespie did not mention the president during Sunday rallies in Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, instead focusing his message on his plan to boost the state's economy.

Republicans said a controversial last-minute ad by the Latino Victory Fund, which features a Gillespie supporter chasing down children of different minority groups in a pickup truck, has helped galvanize Gillespie supporters at a key time.

"That was God's way of helping him," said Robin Milewski, a York County Republican volunteer.
By Shweta Keshri: Naa Iss Des Laado's sequel Laado - Veerpur Ki Mardaani deals with disturbing subjects like women trafficking and sexual abuse. Set in the hinterlands of Haryana, the show is back and so is the tough matriarch Ammaji (Meghna Malik), who seems to have softened with time. The show starts with a 70-plus old man entering Balwant Singh's (Rituraj Singh) haveli with a bag full of money in exchange of a young bride.

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Balwant kidnaps young girls and sells them off for hefty gains. The show has taken a leap and a lot of things have changed in Ammaji's Veerpur, which is now ruled by Balwant Singh, whose terror is spread across the village.

While female infanticide and misogyny was rampant in Laado 1, the situation has worsened in Veerpur in Laado 2, as there are hardly any girls left in the village which has led to kidnapping of young girls and increase in crime against women.

Ammaji, who has now shifted to Delhi with her two granddaughters wants to keep them away from Veerpur as it's not safe for young girls.

Avika Gor, who plays Ammaji's elder granddaughter Anushka is an independent and fearless individual. While Anushka is fearless and fightsfor the right, her sister Jhanvi is quite opposite to her--coy and very homely. Brought up in Delhi, Anushka will get the shock of her life when her sister Jhanvi will be kidnapped in Veerpur, which is also her ancestral village.

Meghna Malik, who has reprised the role of Ammaji yet again impresses with her flawless acting. Avika, whom we have seen in Balika Vadhu and Sasural Simar Ka, has played strong characters but they were never a fierce one. As Anushka, she will get to explore something new and we are already quite excited to see her in a new avatar.

The conditions in Veerpur will somewhat remind you of the 2003 movie Matrubhoomi, which depicted the future of an Indian village populated exclusively by males due to female foeticide and infanticide over the years.

The show deals with relevant issues, as human trafficking is on a rise and the gender imbalance in states of Haryana and Rajasthan have given rise to a lot of criminal activities in these areas, where law and order seems to be gone for a toss.

In the coming episodes, the show will feature some disturbing sequences, as the kidnapped bride will be auctioned and Ammaji's granddaughter Jhanvi, who will be visiting Veerpur with Anushka will be kidnapped by Balwant Singh's men.

It would be interesting to see Anushka, who saved a young girl from a psycho lover in Delhi deal with Balwant Singh and his goons in Veerpur. Seeing her stand with Ammaji and challenge Balwant Singh's rule in Veerpur would be intriguing for us and challenging for the actress.

--- ENDS ---

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Wireless chip manufacturer Broadcom has officially bid to buy its rival Qualcomm in a deal worth up to $130 billion. If successful, it would become the richest tech acquisition in history, nearly doubling Dell's $67 billion purchase of EMC in 2015. Rumors of the acquisition started popping up yesterday, and the offer will likely kick off a pitched battle between the two companies and regulators around the world.

Qualcomm has been particularly vulnerable lately, having been fined in Korea and Taiwan for breaching anti-trust rules, and fighting battles with Apple and other firms over wireless technology patents. The company has even gone so far as to file a lawsuit seeking to ban sales of the iPhone in China. As a result of all that, its stock has fallen steeply, making it a much better bargain than it was just a year ago. Broadcomm's offer now represents a 30 percent premium over the current stock price.

"We would not make this offer if we were not confident that our common global customers would embrace the proposed combination," said Broadcom CEO Hock Tan. "Our proposal provides Qualcomm stockholders with a substantial and immediate premium in cash for their shares, as well as the opportunity to participate in the upside potential of the combined company."

We would not make this offer if we were not confident that our common global customers would embrace the proposed combination.

Qualcomm is not that thrilled about the unsolicited offer, however, according to Bloomberg and other sources. It will reportedly recommend that shareholders reject it, saying that it could get held up in regulatory purgatory, negating any potential stock gains.

Broadcom itself was recently acquired by Singapore-based Avago for $37 billion. The combined company, now called Broadcom, made a much-publicized announcement with Donald Trump to move its home base to Delaware (the company has joint headquarters in San Diego, California and Singapore).

Both companies currently supply Apple with wireless chips and patent licenses, and the deal would make Broadcom the world's third-largest chipmaker after Intel and Samsung. If successful, Broadcom/Qualcomm would have a virtual monopoly and vast patent portfolio on wireless chips and technology. That could have a sharp effect on the supply and cost of WiFi and cell modem chips, so US regulators might have serious concerns. In other words, don't expect this deal to close anytime in the near future.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of General Electric is shown at their subsidiary company GE Aviation in Santa Ana, California, U.S. on April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

By Anshuman Daga and Greg Roumeliotis

SINGAPORE/NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric Co (GE.N) is weighing options for its aircraft leasing operations, including the sale of all or part of the business, as Chief Executive John Flannery searches for new divestitures, according to people familiar with the matter.

GE's move on GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the world's second-largest lessor, follows expressions of interest from some of its competitors, the sources said.

A spin-off of the business is also a possibility, the sources said, cautioning that GE may decide to keep the business.

The move comes at a time when a flood of Chinese funding is shaping the $260 billion-strong aircraft leasing industry as a significant new asset class.

GE declined to comment. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.

GECAS has a fleet of roughly 1,300 planes worth an estimated $25 billion, ranking behind only U.S.-listed AerCap Holdings NV (AER.N), which is estimated to have a $30 billion portfolio, according to data from industry consultancy Ascend Flightglobal.

AerCap has a market value of $8.3 billion.

Some 40 percent of the airline industry's aircraft is leased to avoid the fixed costs of owning planes.

Both GECAS and AerCap trace their roots to the collapsed (Guinness Peat Aviation) (GPA) leasing empire of Irish leasing baron, Tony Ryan, over two decades ago.

GE Capital bought $1.3 billion of prime GPA assets and struck a deal to manage most of the rest to form GECAS  coupling GPA's hardware with GE's balance sheet. The remaining core of old GPA was later acquired by AerCap, which is now the main competitor to GECAS.

RISE OF ASIAN LESSORS

Consolidation in the leasing sector has intensified in the last few years, as Asian competitors chip away at the market shares of GECAS and AerCap. GECAS has also been trimming its fleet in the last few years.

"I believe that GECAS sees opportunity in the market to sell aircraft with leases attached to new emerging lessors which allows them to generate profit on these specific transactions whilst also managing their asset and customer concentration risk," said Rob Morris, global head of consultancy at Ascend Flightglobal.

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Avolon Holdings, owned by China's shipping-and-airline giant HNA Group, has vaulted to become the world's third biggest lessor after acquiring U.S. rival CIT Group Inc's (CIT.N) plane leasing business this year.

Bank of China-owned Bank of China Aviation Ltd (2588.HK) and subsidiaries of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China , China Development Bank and Bank of Communications have emerged among the list of top 15 lessors after placing multi-billion dollar orders for Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) aircraft.

In June, GECAS struck a partnership with Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, Canada's second largest pension fund, to create a new company focused on leasing high-tech, fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft. [nL1N1JG15H]

Flannery has been looking for divestitures to meet his goal of identifying more than $20 billion worth of assets for GE. The company has also been exploring divesting its transportation and healthcare information technology businesses, sources said last month. [nL2N1N11J1]

GE is looking to bounce back after what Flannery said last month were horrible results in the third quarter. He has argued that GE's strong businesses are being held back by others that "drain investment and management resources without the prospect for a substantial reward".

Flannery is due to update GE shareholders on the company's strategy at an event on Nov. 13.

(Reporting by Anshuman Daga in SINGAPORE and Greg Roumeliotis in NEW YORK; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in PARIS and Alwyn Scott in NEW YORK; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, Tom Brown and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
When technology power players such as Amazon AMZN, Apple AAPL, Facebook FB, and others make announcements, or signal even the slightest shift in a business practice, investors clamor to find out exactly what is going on. This eagerness is due in part to the continued weight many investors place on these high growth stocks.

But in a world where investors often focus on stocks like Netflix NFLX, or the next hot tech IPO, in an effort to find outsized growth potential, companies that present value can be tossed to the wayside. This might make many investors forgot about industry heavyweights and household names that offer great bang for your buck.

One such company, which presents outstanding value right now, might also be one of the most recognizable names in the world.

Ford F is a stock that investors in search of value should take a long look at, despite changing consumer habits and potentially industry-altering eventssuch as the electrification of the automotive world.

Now, lets take a look at some of Fords most recent quarterly results, as well as some of the companys current fundamentals, to help investors determine if they want to drive off with shares of this auto giant.

Fundamentals

Near the end of October, Ford reported strong third-quarter earnings. The companys revenues jumped from $35.94 billion in the year-ago period to $36.45 billion this year. Fords net income skyrocketed over 63% to $1.57 billion. On top of that, the companys EPS jumped from $0.24 to $0.39.

Ford noted that gains in both Asia Pacific and South America helped company revenues increase. And over the last year, shares of Ford have gained 8.90%, which crushes the Automotive  Domestic industrys 3.49% decline.

All of these are strong signs that Ford might be a solid stock to pick, and we havent even touched on the companys valuation metrics yet.

Ford Motor Company PE Ratio (TTM)

Ford Motor Company PE Ratio (TTM) | Ford Motor Company Quote

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One of the first big value-based indicators that many investors look to is a companys price to earnings ratio.

Ford is currently trading at just 6.83x earnings, which marks over a 50% discount compared to its industrys 13.71 average P/E ratio. This relatively tried and true indicator of value also tops the S&P 500s average by a wide margin.

Fords 0.32 price to sales ratio is also outstanding and comes in well below the Automotive  Domestic industrys 1.03 average. Fords P/B ratio of 1.48 also marks a major discount compared to the industry and helps further cement the automotive powers standing as a great value investment.

Along with these more-traditional valuation metrics, the companys is currently presenting a respectable dividend yield of 4.85%.

Ford is also currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rank is bolstered by the stocks overall VGM grade of an A.

The companys recent signs of strength have helped its shares jump almost 15% in the last 12 weeks. Yet, the company still sits over 7% below its 52-week high, which should help ease investors worries that Ford wont be able to move substantially higher.

And lastly, so investors dont think of Ford as a pure value play, the company rocks a B grade for Growth in our Style Scores system. The companys Q4 earnings are expected to jump over 46%, based on our current Zacks Consensus Estimates. Fords revenues are also projected gain over 3% to hit $37.18 billion.

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Zacks Investment Research
By PTI: By Sourav Roy Barman and Saloni Bhatia

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) The "last prince of Awadh" was found dead on September 2 in Delhis Malcha Mahal, police said.

Under ordinary circumstances, that would have conveyed the story, followed by a brief obituary narrating his lavish life and times.

But the story of Ali Raza, known as Cyrus, is no ordinary tale.

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So, it can be rewritten thus:

The "last prince of Awadh", who lived in abject penury, was found dead on September 2 in Delhis Malcha Mahal, a Tughlak-era hunting lodge, tucked deep inside a patch of forest, overrun by moss and disrepair.

He was the last surviving member of a family that traced its lineage to the royals of Awadh - a claim that was never verified.

The news of the death was broken by a section of the media yesterday, over two months after a team of police officers found him lying motionless inside the derelict 14th century structure.

He had been staying here since 1985, after his imperious mother Begum Wilayat Mahal, who allegedly swallowed crushed diamonds to death in the early 90s, forced the then Union government to provide them with accommodation behoving their royal antecedents.

She claimed she was a direct descendant of the kings of Awadh, who were known for opulence and luxury.

Armed with an unparallelled sense of entitlement, the Begum started camping in a first class waiting room of the New Delhi Railway Station in the 70s, demanding recognition for the sacrifice made by her family during the 1857 war of independence, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Sometime in 1985, the Begum and her two children - Cyrus and his sister Sakina - moved into the lodge, which was then known as Bistadari ruins.

Old pictures show the Begum posing in regal attire inside the lodge, its beds covered in Persian carpets and table holding expensive porcelain crockery.

"She hung a metal sign outside: Entry restricted. Cautious of hound dogs. Proclamation: Intruders shall be gundown (sic)," the BBC reported.

Subsequently, the place came to be known as Malcha Mahal for its close proximity to Malcha Marg, which houses the Delhi elite including diplomats, businessmen and authors.

The family chose a life of isolation and notorious hostility such as letting loose a pack of ferocious dogs on outsiders who came knocking as they zealously guarded their royal status and studiously avoided the commoner.

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Foreign correspondents posted to New Delhi were treated somewhat better.

"Ordinariness is not just a crime, it is a sin," Sakina had declared to a reporter, the BBC reported, adding how the prince once dismissed the Mughals as "common as dirt".

However, over the years, the bloodhounds perished, as did the Begum and her daughter.

And now Cyrus.

"The body of the prince was found on September 2. There were some contact numbers found from the spot but none of them could be reached. We waited for 72 hours for anyone to come and claim the body but no one came.

"We sought help from the Delhi Waqf Board and he was buried near Delhi Gate on September 5. A post-mortem was carried out and it said that he died due to natural causes. No foul play was found. A detailed autopsy report is awaited," a senior police officer said.

The tenth and last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, ruled Awadh for nine years till 1856, and died near Kolkata in 1887. PTI SBR SLB BDS

--- ENDS ---
Google and Salesforce just become better friends.

The two tech giants said Monday that they had signed a deal in which the two companies would make their respective services work better with each other.

Customers of Googles G Suite-branded business software will be able to more easily use Salesforces crm various sales-related tools with Googles business services like its online word processing software and spreadsheets.

Although businesses could previously use the two companies products with each other, Salesforce executive vice president of business partnerships Ryan Aytay pitched the partnership as providing a deeper level of integration. One such feature will let companies move customer data stored in Salesforce into Googles data crunching service for marketers, Google Analytics, Aytay said during a press conference.

Salesforce customers will also get a free year of Googles goog G Suite service, Aytay added.

He also said that Google is now a Salesforce preferred cloud partner, a title that the search giant also shares with Amazon Web Services. Salesforces preferred cloud partners sell Salesforce access to computing resources and infrastructure that Salesforce can use to build and improve its own software services.

As part of the deal, Salesforce will now use Googles overseas data centers when it wants to expand in other countries. Aytay said the deal with Google would not affect its deal with Amazon, and that Salesforce has a great relationship with Amazon.

Under the deal, Google will pitch Salesforces software services to its own business customers. Likewise, Salesforce employees will use Googles G Suite software.

Technology analyst Rebecca Wettemann, of Nucleus Research, noted that the new deal seems similar to a Google-Salesforce partnership in 2008, when Google was pitching its older Google Apps business software. Googles head of partnerships for its cloud business unit said the new deal is different, however, because of the amount of investment Google is now making in its burgeoning enterprise unit, which wasnt the case nearly a decade ago.

Story continues

Wettemann remains skeptical of the partnership saying that in the business of cloud computing, people frequently hear these I love you announcements.

Theres a lot of speed dating in the cloud world, Wettemann said about the frequency of partnership deals between big companies. For example, Salesforce partnered with IBM in March, and then last year, it also partnered with Amazons cloud computing unit.

Still, the fact that Google seems more focused on attracting business clients than in the past is worth noting, Wettemann explained. This wasnt the case in the past, she said, and often Google would suddenly make changes to its workplace software. Although the sudden software changes may not bother consumers, they do upset businesses. With Google more focused on landing business clients, she expects the company to be more responsive to business needs.

Google clearly wasnt ready for business then, Wettemann said.

Update: Nov. 7 12:35 PM  Story clarified to emphasize that the deal affects Salesforces various sales tools, not its analytics services.
The GOPs Tax Cut and Jobs Act would reduce taxes across all income groups on average next year, but in 10 years more than one-quarter of Americans would experience an increase in taxes, a new study showed.

According to a new analysis by the Tax Policy Center, overall average after-tax income would increase by 1.5% next year if the Republican tax bill passes in its current form. However, a little more than 12% of taxpayers would owe more in 2018. In 2027, 28% of Americans would experience a tax increase when compared with the current law.

The study also showed that the highest benefits would accrue for the wealthiest Americans.

Those with incomes under $48,000 could expect to receive tax cuts between 0.3% and 0.5% of after-tax income next year, the Tax Policy Center found. Those with average incomes between $48,000 and $86,000 would receive a tax cut worth 1.2% of after-tax income, or about $700. The top 1% of American taxpayers, or those with incomes in excess of $730,000, would receive 22% of the total tax break with an average cut of $37,000, or 2.5% of after-tax income.

By 2027, taxpayers could expect their tax cuts to shrink to about $700 on average as provisions in the bill expire.

On Thursday, the Republican Party unveiled the details of its long-awaited legislation, which it claimed would save the average middle-income family of four $1,182. The GOP proposed collapsing the current seven-tier bracket system into just four: 12%, 25%, 35% and 39.6%. The highest rate is in line with the current top tax rate, but kicks in at an income level of $1 million for married couples. Currently the top rate applies to those with incomes in excess of $470,700.

Additionally, the plan would leave retirement plans untouched, lower the corporate tax rate by 15 percentage points and phase out the estate tax over the course of six years.

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Looking to enhance your portfolio with high-growth, financially-robust stocks, but not sure where you should even begin? Stocks such as Alimentation Couche-Tard and Dominion Diamond are deemed to be superior in terms of how much theyre expected to earn and return to shareholders, according to analysts. Analysing the most recent financial data, Ive created a list of companies that compare favourably in all criteria, making them potentially good additions to your portfolio.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. operates and licenses convenience stores. Founded in 1980, and currently headed by CEO Brian Hannasch, the company provides employment to 120,000 people and with the market cap of CAD CA$35.33B, it falls under the large-cap category.

An outstanding 20.10% earnings growth is forecasted for ATD.B, driven by an underlying sales growth of 39.79% over the next few years. An affirming signal is when net income increase is supported by top-line growth. Since net income isnt artificially inflated by one-off initiatives such as cost-cutting, we know this profit growth is more likely to be sustainable. This prospective profitability should trickle down to shareholders, with analysts expecting the company to generate a high double-digit return on equity of 20.23%. ATD.B ticks the boxes for robust growth generation on all levels of line items, which makes it an appealing stock to dig into deeper.

A potential addition to your portfolio? Have a browse through its key fundamentals here.

TSX:ATD.B Future Profit Nov 7th 17

Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX:DDC)

Dominion Diamond Corporation engages in the mining and marketing of rough diamonds. Established in 1980, and currently run by Patrick Evans, the company currently employs 854 people and with the companys market capitalisation at CAD CA$1.50B, we can put it in the small-cap stocks category.

DDC is expected to deliver a triple-digit high earnings growth over the next couple of years, driven by a positive revenue growth of 37.77% and cost-cutting initiatives. Though some cost-cutting activities may artificially inflate margins, it appears that this isnt solely the case here, as profit growth is also coupled with top-line expansion. DDCs bullish prospects on both the top and bottom lines make it an interesting stock to invest more time to understand how it can add value to your portfolio. Want to know more about DDC? Take a look at its other fundamentals here.

Story continues

TSX:DDC Future Profit Nov 7th 17

PHX Energy Services Corp. (TSX:PHX)

PHX Energy Services Corp., through its subsidiaries, provides horizontal and directional drilling technology and services to oil and natural gas producing companies in Canada, the United States, Albania, and the Russian Federation. The company employs 529 people and has a market cap of CAD CA$137.65M, putting it in the small-cap stocks category.

PHXs projected future profit growth is an exceptional 84.79%, with an underlying 47.66% growth from its revenues expected over the upcoming years. Though some cost-cutting activities may artificially inflate margins, it appears that this isnt solely the case here, as profit growth is also coupled with high top-line expansion. This prospective profitability should trickle down to shareholders, with analysts expecting the company to generate a positive return on equity of 2.24%. PHXs impressive outlook on all aspects makes it a worthy company to spend more time to understand. Interested to learn more about PHX? Have a browse through its key fundamentals here.

TSX:PHX Future Profit Nov 7th 17

For more financially robust companies with high growth potential to enhance your portfolio, use our free platform to explore our interactive list of these stocks.

To help readers see pass the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price sensitive company announcements.



The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned.
Nordstrom, Inc. JWN is slated to release third-quarter fiscal 2017 results on Nov 9, after the closing bell. The question lingering in investors minds is, whether this leading fashion specialty retailer will be able to maintain its positive earnings surprise streak in the soon-to-be reported quarter.



The companys earnings have outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the five consecutive quarters now. It has also pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 36.7% in the trailing four quarters.



Lets see how things are shaping up prior to the earnings announcement.



Which Way are Estimates Treading?



In order to get a clear picture of what analysts are thinking about the company right before earnings release, lets have a look at the earnings estimate revisions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal third quarter has been stable at 63 cents in the past 30 days but reflects nearly 25% decline from 84 cents earned in the year-ago quarter.



Further, analysts polled by Zacks expect revenues of $3.6 billion, up 1.7% from the prior-year quarter. The consensus mark for revenues at Nordstrom full-line stores and Nordstrom Rack are currently pegged at $1,495 million and $997 million, respectively. These estimates show a year-over-year decline of 4.7% for Nordstrom full-line stores but 4.1% increase for Nordstrom Rack.



Factors at Play



Nordstroms shares have lost 18.9% in the last three months, wider than the industrys decline of 3.8%. The downturn was owing to the temporary call off of the Nordstrom family's plans to take the company private.





Though Nordstroms growth strategy bodes well, investments related to occupancy, technology, supply chain and marketing are expected to increase near-term cost and weigh upon margins. Evidently, the companys merchandise performance was hurt by higher occupancy expenses related to new Rack and Canada stores in the previous quarter. Also, for fiscal 2017, management anticipates Retail gross profit to be impacted by higher new store occupancy expenses and mix impact from off-price growth.



Further, the companys projections for SG&A expenses incorporates higher technology and supply chain expenses related to its growth initiatives, offset by progress in productivity improvements.



While Nordstroms business is in line with the evolving retail industry that focuses on offering maximum choices to customers to enhance their shopping experience, the company cannot be fully immune to the ill-effects of the industry. However, sales growth at Nordstrom Racks and solid e-commerce performance remains encouraging. Also, the companys cost saving initiatives, store expansion efforts and progress on 2020 strategy remains on track and is likely to drive growth.



What the Zacks Model Unveils?



Our proven model does not show that Nordstrom is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both  a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold)  for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Nordstrom has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% as the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 63 cents. Moreover, the company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). This combination makes our surprise prediction difficult.



As it is we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Strong Sell) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks With Favorable Combination



Here are some other companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:



Zumiez Inc. ZUMZ has an Earnings ESP of +0.69% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



The Home Depot, Inc. HD has an Earnings ESP of +0.76% and a Zacks Rank #2.



Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF has an Earnings ESP of +6.38% and a Zacks Rank #3.



Wall Streets Next Amazon



Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.



Click for details >>



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Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. HII is set to report third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 8, before the market opens.

Last quarter, this military shipbuilder posted a positive earnings surprise of 22.52%. While the companys Ingalls segment is expected to drive strong growth in the third quarter, the Newport News segment is likely to be a spoilsport.

Lets discuss these factors influencing Huntington Ingalls quarterly results, in brief.

Ingalls Unit  A Key Catalyst

Huntington Ingalls Ingalls segment manufactures amphibious assault and expeditionary ships for the U.S. Navy and is the only builder of National Security Cutters (NSCs) for the U.S. Coast Guard. Notably, this division launched LHA 7, the second America-class amphibious assault (AAA) ship in May which has been driving sales volumes for this segment, lately. Based on the companys better-than-expected second-quarter result, we expect the soon-to-be reported quarters results to reflect similar solid sales volumes, as well.

In line with this, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the companys Ingalls business segment is pegged at $595 million for the third quarter, reflecting an annual improvement of 4.4%.

Newport News Segment May Dent Growth: Heres Why

Huntington Ingalls Newport News is the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.This division, which generates more than 50% of the companys total revenues, has been underperforming for the last couple of years. Going ahead, no near-term improvement can be expected anytime soon for this business unit.

In line with this, our third-quarter consensus estimate for Newport News unit stands at $988 million, reflecting an annual decline of 16.3%. However, at the onset of the third quarter, this business unit signed a contract with United Steelworkers of America as the largest bargaining unit, which in turn may boost this divisions results.

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Other Factors to Consider

In addition to the aforementioned facets of Huntington Ingalls quarterly results, a steady inflow of orders from Pentagon is expected to provide an impetus to third-quarter sales. Among the notable deals that the company won in the yet-to-be-reported quarter, worth mentioning is the $105-million modification contract for upgrading nuclear submarines, another modification deal worth $149 million to procure additional long-lead-time material for USS Enterprise (CVN 80) and a $2.8-billion contract to support the refueling and complex overhaul of USS George Washington (CVN73).

Moreover, the companys Technical Solutions business continues to gain traction from Camber Corps acquisition.

As a whole, for the third quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings reflects improvement of 22.5% year over year, while the consensus for revenues is estimated at $1.78 billion, implying a 5.9% year-over-year increase.

What Does the Zacks Model Unveils?

Our proven model shows that Huntington Ingalls has chances of beating third-quarter earnings estimates because it has the right combination of two key components. While the company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), its Earnings ESP is +0.84%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate is pegged at $2.80, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.78. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

A positive ESP along with a favorable Zacks Rank serves as a meaningful and leading indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Conversely, we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. Quote

Recent Peer Releases

Raytheon Company RTN reported third-quarter 2017 earnings from continuing operations of $1.97 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.90 by 3.7%. The figure also improved 7.1% from $1.84 recorded in the year-ago quarter.

Rockwell Collins Inc. COL reported results for fourth-quarter fiscal 2017 (ended Sep 30, 2017). The companys adjusted earnings per share of $1.80 came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Reported earnings grew 10.4% from $1.63 per share a year ago.

General Dynamics Corporation GD reported third-quarter 2017 earnings from continuing operations of $2.52 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43 by 3.7%. Its third-quarter total revenues of $7,580 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7,892 million by 4%.

Wall Streets Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

Click for details >>



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We expect Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. INO to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 8, after market close.



Inovios shares have underperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has lost 16.9% versus the industrys increase of 3.9% during the period.

Inovios earnings performance is a mixed bag. The company surpassed expectations in two of the last four quarters and missed in the other two. Overall, the company delivered an average negative surprise of 0.41% in the trailing four quarters.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quote

Last quarter, the company beat estimates with a positive earnings surprise of 18.75%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Factors to Consider

Given that Inovios portfolio is devoid of any revenue-generating product, investors focus will remain on its pipeline and regulatory updates.

VGX-3100 vaccine is the most advanced candidate in the companys pipeline. It is being studied for treatment of HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection and pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix and vulva. Inovio at present conducts a pivotal phase III REVEAL study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VGX-3100 and treat cervical dysplasia caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Data from the study will support the potential licensure of VGX-3100 as the first immunotherapy for this disease.

Apart from VGX-3100, Inovio has several other candidates in its pipeline in early-to-mid-stage development. Also, the company is working on the development of Ebola, Zika and Middle East respiratory syndrome virus vaccines. In October, the company announced positive data from phase I study, evaluating its Zika vaccine, GLS-5700.

Inovio is also collaborating with several companies and institutes for developing its pipeline. These partners not only lend their expertise to Inovio but also provide the required funding for developing its candidates.

Story continues

This month, Inovio has initiated a phase Ib/IIa immuno-oncology study, evaluating the safety and efficacy of the combination therapy of Regenerons REGN PD-1 inhibitor, REGN2810, with Inovios T cell activator, INO-5401, on patients with brain cancer. Earlier in October, the company also initiated a phase Ib/II immuno-oncology study, evaluating INO-5401 in combination with Roches Tecentriq on patients with metastatic bladder cancer.

However, with dearth of an approved product in its portfolio, Inovio depends largely on collaborations, grants and other payments for revenues as well as development of its pipeline candidates. Hence, the companys top line varies on a quarterly basis, depending on the timing of its receipt of collaboration revenues.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model shows that Inovio is likely to beat on earnings this quarter because it has the right combination of the two key ingredients  a positive Earnings ESP and a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen.

Zacks ESP: Inovio has an Earnings ESP of +41.79%, representing the difference between the Most Accurate estimate (loss of 13 cents per share) and the Zacks Consensus Estimate (loss of 22 cents). A positive ESP indicates a likely positive earnings surprise. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Inovio has a Zacks Rank #3, which increases the predictive power of ESP.

We caution against all Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Other Stocks That Warrant a Look

A couple of other health care stocks worth considering with the right combination of elements to surpass estimates this quarter are:

Agenus Inc. AGEN is scheduled to release results on Nov 7. The company has an Earnings ESP of +8.11% and carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY is scheduled to release results on Nov 7. The company has an Earnings ESP of +2.02% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

Wall Streets Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

Click for details >>



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



Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Zacks Investment Research
FILE PHOTO: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) group's Chairman Emeritus Leo Melamed speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo June 30, 2014. REUTERS/Yuya Shino/Files

By Tomo Uetake and Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO (Reuters) - Bitcoin is likely to become a new asset class in its own right, such as gold or stocks, which can be traded by major investors and regulated, not simply a crypto-currency, Leo Melamed, Chairman Emeritus of CME Group, said on Tuesday.

CME, the world's largest derivatives exchange, last week announced that it would launch the futures contract of bitcoin, marking a major step in the digital currency's path toward mainstream acceptance.

Melamed said he expects major investors to take part in bitcoin futures, which the exchange plans to start by the end of year.

"That's a very important step for bitcoin's history...

We will regulate, make bitcoin not wild, nor wilder. We'll tame it into a regular type instrument of trade with rules," Melamed told Reuters in an interview.

The futures will allow investors to short-sell bitcoins, making two-way bets possible, a development that he expects will attract major institutional investors, not just speculators.

Six-fold gains in the bitcoin price so far this year have stirred a debate among financial professionals on whether the digital currency represents a revolution in financial technology or just another tech bubble.

Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co said in September that bitcoin "is a fraud" and will blow up while regulators in many countries tightened their grip on its trading.

Melamed, 85, said while he was initially sceptical about bitcoin he sees similarities between it and International Monetary Market currency futures trading, which he launched as chairman of the Chicago exchange in 1972.

"The world in the 1970s didn't look at currency trading as a valid instrument of finance. I too went from not believing (in bitcoin) to wanting to know more," he said.

He says bitcoin could go beyond being a crypto-currency and represent a new asset class based on blockchain technology.

Pundits say blockchain will enable the transfer of assets without a centralised system such as banks and sharply reduce costs of money transfer.

Story continues

"My whole life is built abound new technology. I never said no to technology. People who say no to technology are soon dead. Im still that same guy who believes in, at least examining change. That's what bitcoin represents," he also said.

Melamed was elected chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1969. He moved to Chicago in his youth, having fled Nazi-occupied Poland with his family.

Melamed's parents were among a small number of Jews to flee to Lithuania after Germany invaded their native town of Bialystok in Poland, he said.

There, his family obtained visas to Japan, thanks to a diplomat, Chiune Sugihara, who helped resettle thousands of refugees despite Tokyo's policies at the time.

(Reporting by Tomo Uetake and Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Rajya Sabha during the question hour that the probe into the Indian names stashing black money in Liechtenstein banks were complete and undeclared income of around Rs 6,500 crore was found.

By Santosh Chaubey: Liechtenstein is a tiny landlocked principality between Switzerland and Austria. The 160 Sq Km country that is almost one-tenth of Delhi's area is known as a tax haven and its 38,000 residents owe much of its wealth to illegal financial transactions through over a dozen banks and many trusts. Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries of the world with its GDP per capita (USD 179,478.58) being highest in the world.

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Earlier this year, on March 21, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Rajya Sabha during the question hour that the probe into the Indian names stashing black money in Liechtenstein banks were complete and undeclared income of around Rs 6,500 crore was found.

The Liechtenstein scandal broke out in February 2008 when a bank employee sold incriminating data to various countries containing names of account holders. In March 2009, under Indo-Germany Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, India got a list from the German government with names and details of Indians having accounts in Liechtenstein's LGT Bank. Since then, there have been many reports of Indians stashing their wealth in Liechtenstein, creating controversies and becoming a source of political mud-slinging in the country.

From time to time, many news organisations have dug in and published list of account holders but there had been no clear official word about it from the government of India until the Supreme Court forced it to do so. Though the government launched a probe on the list provided by Germany, it never looked in hurry to take it to a logical conclusion.

It, in fact, desisted from making the names public in the name of confidentiality clause with Germany and even resisted the Supreme Court order for three years before finally giving in. The Supreme Court, in its July 4, 2011 order, had clearly laid out directives to make the names in the LGT list public and to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to comprehensively investigate the black money issue while hearing a petition filed by Ram Jethmalani and five others in the Supreme Court in 2009 to direct the government to recover the money stashed by Indians in foreign banks.

The petition was filed against the Union of India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). On April 29, 2014, then Manmohan Singh's United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, submitted an affidavit the Supreme Court revealing names of 18 people. The affidavit also named the trusts involved. While prosecution had been initiated against them, the centre also informed the court that it had found no grounds of tax evasion in eight other cases and requested not to make them public.

Ambrunova Trust and Marline Management: Manoj Dhupelia and Rupal Dhupelia, Bhavya Manoj Dhupelia, Mohan Manoj Dhupelia, Ambrish Manoj Dhupelia

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Manichi Trust: Hasmuk Ishwarlal Gandhi, Chintan Hasmukh Gandhi, Madhu Hasmukh Gandhi, Late Mirav Hasmukh Gandhi

Ruvisha Trust: Rajesh Chandrakant Gandhi, Chandrakant Ishwarlal Gandhi, Viraj Chandrakant Gandhi, Dhanalaxmi Chandrakant Gandhi

Dainese Stiftung Trust: Arunkumar Ramniklal Mehta

Dryade Satiftunf Trust: Harshad Ramnikal Mehta

Webster Foundation: KM Mammen

Urvashi Foundation: Arun KochharRaj Foundation: Ashok Jaipuria

WHAT CENTRE SAID IN ITS AFFIDAVIT

"It is respectfully submitted that the information regarding deposits/outstanding amounts in the accounts maintained by 12 trustees/entities with LGT bank in Liechtenstein was received by government from German tax authorities in March 2009 under the Indo-Germany Double Taxation Avoidance Convention."

"The 12 trusts/entities involved 26 individuals of Indian origin. Out of the 26 cases, investigations in 18 cases have been concluded by the I-T department and prosecutions have been launched in 17 cases (one tax payer has expired)."

BLACK MONEY SIT

But the UPA government still did not come up with any word on forming the black money SIT. It, in fact, tried all to kill the issue. First it resisted any notion of forming the SIT during hearings but when it failed, the government filed an application to recall the entire 2011 verdict which was also dismissed by the apex court on March 26, 2014.

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But to stall the SIT formation, the UPA government again filed a review petition on May 8, 2014. It was also bound to be dismissed by the Supreme Court as it too had highlighted the same grounds as in its earlier appeals.The 2014 parliamentary elections ousted the Manmohan government and Delhi's power corridors were replaced by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Narendra Modi which, in its first official decision, constituted the black money SIT to headed by Justice (Retd.) M.B. Shah.

--- ENDS ---
japan gun shotgun

AP

Japan is a country of more than 127 million people, but it rarely sees more than 10 gun deaths a year.

Culture is one reason for the low rate, but gun control is a major one, too.

Japan has a long list of tests that applicants must pass before gaining access to a small pool of guns.



Gun control discussions crop up every time there is an attention-grabbing shooting in the US. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old allegedly shot dozens of his former classmates at a Florida high school, leaving 17 of them dead.

One of the biggest questions: How does the US prevent this from happening over and over again?

Although the US has no exact counterpart elsewhere in the world, some countries have taken steps that can provide a window into what successful gun control looks like. Japan, a country of 127 million people and yearly gun deaths rarely totaling more than 10, is one such country.

"Ever since guns entered the country, Japan has always had strict gun laws," Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, a British advocacy group, told the BBC. "They are the first nation to impose gun laws in the whole world, and I think it laid down a bedrock saying that guns really don't play a part in civilian society."

Japan is a country with regulations upon regulations

Japan's success in curbing gun deaths is intimately linked with its history. Following World War II, pacifism emerged as one of the dominant philosophies in the country. Police only started carrying firearms after American troops made them, in 1946, for the sake of security. It's also written into Japanese law, as of 1958, that "no person shall possess a firearm or firearms or a sword or swords."

Government has since loosened the law, but the fact Japan enacted gun control from the stance of prohibition is important. (It's also one of the main factors separating Japan from the US, where the Second Amendment broadly permits people to own guns.)

Story continues

If Japanese people want to own a gun, they must attend an all-day class, pass a written test, and achieve at least 95% accuracy during a shooting-range test. Then they have to pass a mental-health evaluation, which takes place at a hospital, and pass a background check, in which the government digs into their criminal record and interviews friends and family. They can only buy shotguns and air rifles  no handguns  and every three years they must retake the class and initial exam.

japan riot police

Toru Hanai/ReutersJapan has also embraced the idea that fewer guns in circulation will result in fewer deaths. Each prefecture  which ranges in size from half a million people to 12 million, in Tokyo  can operate a maximum of three gun shops; new magazines can only be purchased by trading in empty ones; and when gun owners die, their relatives must surrender the deceased member's firearms.

The role of trust can't be overstated

The result is a situation where citizens and police seldom wield or use guns.

Off-duty police aren't allowed to carry firearms, and most encounters with suspects involve some combination of martial arts or striking weapons. When Japanese attacks do turn deadly, they generally involve fatal stabbings. In July of 2016, an assailant killed 19 people in an assisted living facility. Japan rarely sees so many fatalities from guns in an entire year.

Related Video:

Gun control in Japan, combined with the prevailing respect for authority, has led to a more harmonious relationship between civilians and the police than in the US. It's something of a chicken-egg problem: The police, in choosing to use sub-lethal force on people, generate less widespread fear among the public that they'll be shot. In turn, people feel less of a need to arm themselves.

The US, meanwhile, has a more militarized police force that uses automatic weapons and armored cars. There is also less widespread trust between people (and between people and institutions). The factors combine to produce a much fearful culture that can seem to be always on-edge.

Japan's approach would be a tough sell in the face of American gun culture, but it can provide a starting point for reining in the senseless violence that has become a hallmark of life in the US.

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SEE ALSO: American police kill more people in one day than Norway cops have in 9 years
U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international Brent crude oil futures soared to their highest levels since mid-2015 on Monday as a major political crisis in Saudi Arabia triggered an acceleration to the upside due to concerns over geopolitical risk.

December WTI crude oil settled at $57.35, up $1.71 or +3.07% and January Brent crude oil finished at $64.27, up $2.20 or +3.54%.

Daily December WTI Crude Oil

According to Reuters, crude oil futures spiked higher early in the session in reaction to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans coordinated arrests of several princes and ministers, as part of a crackdown on corruption.

The firing of a rocket from Yemen toward the Saudi capital of Riyadh this weekend also contributed to the geopolitical tensions in the market. Saudi Arabia is waging a war against Iran-supported rebels in Yemen.

Daily January Brent Crude

Forecast

Crude oil futures are trading mixed early Tuesday, with WTI posted a slight gain and Brent edging lower. The early moves are likely related to profit-taking and position-squaring after Mondays biggest gain in six weeks. Some traders are also saying the reaction to the Saudi Arabian crown princes attempt to tighten his grip on power and rising tensions between the kingdom and Iran may have been overdone.

Mondays price action indicates that speculators may have priced in the possibility that a potential conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran could limit significant supply out of the region. Some are saying that WTI crude may move above $60 and Brent crude may move above $70 over the near-term if the situation escalates.

In addition to the speculative events involving Saudi Arabia, bullish traders remain focused on the strong possibility that the OPEC-led coalition will extend their current production cuts beyond the March 2018 deadline when it meets in Vienna, Austria on November 30.

Although buyers are concerned about increasing U.S. production, last week, U.S. drillers cut eight oil rigs last week. This was seen as supportive for prices.

Story continues

Late Tuesday, traders will get the opportunity to respond to the latest weekly supply and demand data from the American Petroleum Institute. Its report is expected to show a 2.8 million barrel drop in crude, a 2.176 million barrel draw in gasoline inventories and a 2.1 million barrel decline in distillates.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading higher shortly before the regular session opening on Monday. Brent is trading at a two-year high. WTI crossed the February 10 top at $56.16. If it continues to gain momentum then we could see a drive into the January 17 top at $57.07 later this week.

At 1048 GMT, December WTI crude oil futures are trading at $56.00, up $0.36 or +0.63% and January Brent crude oil is at $62.49, up $0.42 or +0.68%.

Daily December WTI Crude Oil

Traditional fundamentals and political uncertainty are helping to drive futures prices higher on Monday. Brent futures are at their highest levels since July 2015 as the supply/demand situation continued to tighten. Additionally, a number of high profile arrests in Saudi Arabia solidified the crown princes authority over the weekend though an anti-corruption crackdown.

Looking at the traditional fundamentals revealed signs of tightening market conditions.

According to oil services giant Baker Hughes, U.S. energy companies cut eight oil rigs last week to 729, the biggest reduction since May 2016.

Traders also continue to expect the OPEC-led coalition to extend its program to cut production beyond the March 2018 deadline at its next meeting on November 30.

Daily January Brent Crude

Finally, according to CNBC, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias designated future king, has tightened his grip on power through an anti-corruption purge by arresting royals, ministers and investors including prominent business billionaire Alwaleed bin Talai and the head of the National Guard, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah.

The trend is up and upside momentum is strong so we expect prices to continue to rise over the near-term. There may be a few setbacks due to profit-taking and position-squaring, but these short-term breaks are likely to be bought by aggressive trend traders.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
Oil prices surged on Monday to highs not seen since July 2015

Global oil prices broke above two year highs and could climb higher to hit $70 a barrel in the wake of a shock anti-corruption purge of Saudi royals and senior officials.

Oil prices bounded to highs not seen since July 2015 at over $64 a barrel on Monday following a sweep of arrests targeting ministers, investors and members of the Saudi royal family on corruption charges over the weekend.

The shock crackdown also helped drive shares in Royal Dutch Shell to within a breath of its highest ever share price at 24.89 following the companys rosy financial results last week. Before the oil price crash in late 2014 the companys shares traded at a peak of 25.76.

Oil prices surged in the immediate aftermath of the purge within the worlds largest oil producing state, but experts believe the upheaval could drive prices even higher in the coming weeks as the Kingdom rethinks its position on the markets recovery.

The Saudi state can ill-afford another decline in prices, decline in oil revenues and resumption of austerity, said John Kemp, a market analyst at Thomson Reuters.

The Kingdoms desire for an economy-boosting oil price of $70 a barrel could trump the desire to defend market share against the rise of US shale producers, leading to higher market prices, he said.

The Kingdom can ill-afford an oil price slip ahead of its ambitious listing of state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco Credit: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

If major exporters keep a lid on production US frackers can be kept at bay in a $50 a barrel world  but this would bring a return to austerity for the politically precarious state.

Given the delicate political and economic context, Saudi Arabia will prefer to risk tightening the oil market too much rather than too little, Mr Kemp said.

Roberto Friedlander, head of energy trading at Seaport Global Securities, agreed that the Saudis would rather see oil at $70 a barrel than risk a return to $50.

The Kingdom is also trying to move forward plans for its ambitious listing of state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco, which would be hampered by an oil price slip.

The upheaval comes just a fortnight before Saudi Arabia is due to meet Opec leaders later this month to discuss whether to extend the production freeze which has helped to revive the market from lows of $27.50 a barrel early last year.

Opec has already displayed better than expected compliance with the agreed quotas while forging fresh partnerships with producers outside of the cartel, including Russia.

A sizable drop in crude exports from Opec last month had already supported prices in recent weeks, according to Thomson Reuters Oil Research. Opecs seaborne crude exports fell by 1.3 million barrels of oil a day in October compared to the previous month.
The most respected leaders driving the technology revolution participated in the India Today Conclave Next 2017. Here are the highlights from the conclave sessions.

By India Today Web Desk: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delivered the keynote address at the first edition of the India Today Conclave Next 2017, an exhaustive technology thought leadership forum that was held all-day long today.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley participated in a session titled "India - Technology and Governance, the Indian Experience."

The India Today Conclave Next 2017 was a daylong CXO only event. It explored the impact of some of today's biggest technology trends, and featured the best thought leaders from industry and academia.

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The most respected leaders driving the technology revolution came together to discuss, debate and decode the next I-T evolution, and how it will shape businesses and lives.

Here are the highlights from the conclave sessions. You can watch stories and videos from each session here.

HIGHLIGHTS

India Today Conclave Next 2017 ends.

Saurabh Agarwal advocates cybersecurity education at the school level.

Conversation on ecosystem of protection for digital Indians is only beginning to start: Rajeev Chandrashekhar

Larger enterprises don't have a choice but to continuously invest in cyber: Saurabh Agarwal

Jaspreet Singh (Partner - Cyber Security at EY), Saurabh Agarwal (Founder & Managing Director, Skill Cube), Pavan Duggal (Cyberlaw Expert & Head of Pavan Duggal Associates), Dr. Gulshan Rai (National Cyber Security Coordinator, Prime Minister's Office) and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar join India Today TV Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal for a discussion on 'The Challenge of Cyber Security and Cyber Privacy'.

@rajeev_mp says New #DataProtection law will make all entities more responsible for the data they collect from consumers. #ConclaveNext17 pic.twitter.com/Di1FdrVAdy- Sid Sekhar Barpanda (@meyvun) November 7, 2017

UPA's #Aadhaar was terribly designed, loosely verified & 1000s of crores of public money was spent w/o legislation. #CONCLAVENEXT17- Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) November 7, 2017

What constitutes reasonable restrictions will be debated: Rajeev Chandrashekhar

Supreme Court's ruling on privacy is a milestone; a beautifully written judgement: Rajeev Chandrashekhar

MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar delivers keynote address on 'The Fundamental Right for the Digital Citizen.'

India Today Conclave Next 2017 will be back after a short break.

Abhijit Singh, Head of Business Technology Group, ICICI Bank, talks about how the bank major has experimented with chatbots.

PVR is experimenting with a chatbot for ticket booking: Rajat Tyagi, CIO, PVR Limited

On humans & AI - Radhakrishnan Srikanth @Microsoftindia: "humans should be at the core of AI development". #ConclaveNext17 #IndiaInnovates- Modern Business (@ModernBizIN) November 7, 2017

Flipkart uses cognitive services and abilities for product images and to handle customer service calls: Mayur Datar, Chief Data Scientist, VP of Engineering, Flipkart

Fundamental difference between neural networks of past and AI of today is the data that we have available now: Radhakrishnan Srikanth

Nobody can stop a technology whose time has come. The great #AI debate at #conclavenext17 @elonmusk vs @markzuckerburg pic.twitter.com/RtjMjpi6jG- Ashutosh P Singh (@Ashutosh_Delhi) November 7, 2017

There are going to be accidents, what matters is how we deal with it: Radhakrishnan Srikanth, Group Program Manager at AI and Research Division Microsoft, on AI research.

AI is in at the stage of being a five-year-old, it needs to be taught a value system: Dr. Badri Raghavan, SVP & Chief Data Scientist, OLA

Fortis Healthcares CIO - @Veneethp - speaking at a panel discussion on The Internet of Things at the prestigious India Today Conclave 2017 #IOT #conclavenext17 pic.twitter.com/id6eiIPpxp- Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) November 7, 2017

S Anantha Sayana explains how data generated by IoT-enabled devices can be valuable to their manufacturer.

Industrial IoT applications have great potential: Sridhar V

Sachin Gupta (CIO, Havells India), Rachna Nath (Partner, Digital Consulting, KPMG India), Vineeth Purushothaman (CIO, Fortis Healthcare), Sridhar V (Group Vice President & Director, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd), and S Anantha Sayana (Vice President & Head Digital, L&T Construction) discuss the maturing of IoT (Internet of Things).

The India Today Conclave Next 2017 will now break for lunch.

Privacy of an individual is far more meaningful for that individual than employment: Kiran DB

There is a very thin line between tracking your employees' activity and being creepy: Manish Bahl

Employee surveillance and its impact on privacy is the unfortunate impact of the digitisation of the workplace that we are seeing: Mayur Danait

I am all for work-life balance, but is it practically possible to implement it in today's technology-drive work? I am not sure: Keshav Murugesh

Kiran DB, however, feels that temps do not have a future in the current form.

At India Today #conclavenext17 , six top panelists discuss on how technology will intersect with workplaces.https://t.co/ra1dKnYneH- India Today (@IndiaToday) November 7, 2017

Will the workplace of the future have space for temporary workers? Yes, says Harmeen Mehta.

You can't stop employees from accessing social media at work: Manish Bahl

I don't believe in putting boundaries or rules, Harmeen Mehta says on the subject of employees using social media.

At a country-level, we are creating a new curriculum on responsible use of social media: Keshav Murugesh

There is a lot of work employers need to do to educate employees about ensuring priveleged information does not end up on social media: Mayur Danait, who replaced Ramesh Swaminathan, the CFO of Lupin Limited, on the panel.

The younger the workforce gets, the more technology minded they are: Harmeen Mehta

Keshav Murugesh brings up a recent experiment in South Africa, where employees were given the option to choose every aspect of their work life, including how many hours they put in and what compensation they earned.

The future is all about skills, not scale - when you see technology and these technology tools, don't get scared, says Keshav Murugesh.

Talent will be immensely difficult to acquire: Kiran DB on the workplace of the future.

They way we are seeing the modern workplace - it's like a film production where the best people come together and create a fantastic project, says Kiran DB.

Kiran DB Senior, Director - Solution Sales, Microsoft India, Harmeen Mehta, CIO & Head of Digital, Bharti Airtel, Keshav Murugeshm, Group CEO, WNS, Manish Bahl, Senior Director, Center for the Future of Work, Cognizant, Padmaja Alaganandan, Partner Consulting, PwC India, Ramesh Swaminathan, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director, Lupin Limited, are now discussing how technology will define the workplace of the future.

The India Today Conclave Next 2017 will return at 1 pm after a short networking break.

I don't think industry can correct the country's education system: CP Gurnani

Organizations are not making the investment to teach the skill set required for the future: Sri Rajan

There is a debate for the first time in the history of technology, whether technology is destroying more jobs than it is creating: R Chandrashekhar

The world is more connected, more boundary-less: CP Gurnani

R Chandrashekhar (President, NASSCOM, CP Gurnani (CEO & MD, Tech Mahindra) and Sri Rajan (Chairman, Bain & Co India) participate in the session, 'Getting ready for Digital Disruption'

FM @arunjaitley : Prompt remonetisation has helped contain the Demonetisation impact on unorganized sector.- Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) November 7, 2017

FM @arunjaitley on Demonetisation step: Every structural reform needs political courage to shoulder responsibilities. pic.twitter.com/Yo0zmJjgAv- Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) November 7, 2017

It was a way of life to not pay taxes in India before demonetisation: Jaitley

We've succeeding in bringing to the centre stage the issue of how financial transactions in India should be carried out: Arun Jaitley on demonetisation

Jaitley discusses the impact of demonetisation ahead of its first anniversary

Utilizing technology aptly is our focus and this will help us have better governance : @arunjaitley #ConclaveNext17 pic.twitter.com/GoGf6dPDcA- India Today (@IndiaToday) November 7, 2017

Technology has a powerful role at almost every stage of governance: Arun Jaitley

Technology has brought about a disconnect between the assessing officer and the assesse: Arun Jaitley on tax returns, in conversation with India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) Raj Chengappa

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveils Business Today's new emoji.

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.@satyanadella introduces three timeless values -People empowerment; inclusive design & build trust in technology - @ #ConclaveNext17 pic.twitter.com/W7A3YFVnNz- India Today (@IndiaToday) November 7, 2017

Satya Nadella's on India in 2040: The choices that people make in 2017 will shape 2040.

#ConclaveNext17AI can empower us, AI can be inclusive depending on the choices we make: Microsoft CEO @satyanadellahttps://t.co/bLJmetyop8 pic.twitter.com/8GKxXrWZtb- India Today (@IndiaToday) November 7, 2017

I am sad you left @Microsoft but glad that you are working with us says @satyanadella to @bhash at #ConclaveNext17 @IndiaToday- Amit K Nanchahal??? (@thecorpcommguy) November 7, 2017

Our nation has the ability and the opportunity to lead in this future paradigm of mobility: Ola Cabs CEO Bhavish Aggarwal

The worlds of technology and transportation are converging very quickly: Ola Cabs CEO Bhavish Aggarwal

Ola's mission is to build mobility for a billion Indians: Ola Cabs CEO Bhavish Aggarwal

Satya Nadella invites his colleague Puneet Agarwal to introduce the chatbot Ruuh

Have you met Ruuh, yet? pic.twitter.com/htmFgOlVdF- Rajat Agrawal (@rajatagr) November 7, 2017

70 of the 100 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange use our cloud: Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella invites Dr. Anthony Vipin Das on stage to explain how the L V Prasad Eye Institute is using mixed reality.

Timeless values according to Satya Nadella. - Empower people - Inclusive design - Build trust in technology. #ConclaveNext17- Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) November 7, 2017

Our mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more: Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delivers keynote address.

Tweet about the conclave with the hashtag #CONCLAVENEXT17 !

India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) Raj Chengappa delivers the welcome address.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will deliver the keynote address.

Technology is only the enabler. Hear more from Microsoft CEO & Hit Refresh Author @satyanadella at #ConclaveNext17 in New Delhi pic.twitter.com/T2Pp4764kS- India Today (@IndiaToday) November 6, 2017

India Today Conclave Next 2017 to begin shortly.

#ConclaveNext17CXO only event that will explore impact of tech's biggest trends & will feature the best thought leaders from the industry. pic.twitter.com/tww2RhHMSe- IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) November 6, 2017

--- ENDS ---

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Pastor's 14-Year-Old Daughter Among at Least 26 Killed in Texas Church Shooting Pastor Frank Pomeroy said his youngest daughter, Annabelle, was among the victims killed at his church Sunday.

The 14-year-old daughter of a church pastor in Texas was among the more than two dozen killed when a gunman opened fire during a service on Sunday.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy confirmed to ABC News his youngest daughter, Annabelle, was killed in the shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

[She] was one very beautiful, special child, said Pastor Pomeroy, who was in Oklahoma when the shooting occurred.

"Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more," the teen's uncle wrote on Facebook. "I lost a lot of friends and family this morning but that just means Jesus needed them more. I know all that have taken their last breath of dirty air and took their first breath of heavenly air with new bodies with no pain and suffering."

At least 26 were killed in what Gov. Greg Abbott called the deadliest mass shooting in the states history.

Read: Children and Pregnant Woman Among 26 Killed After Gunman Opens Fire at Texas Church: Reports

Eight members spanning three generations of a single family  including a pregnant woman and three of her five children  were also among the dead.

Bryan and Karla Holcombe

Bryan and Karla Holcombe Facebook

Associate Pastor Bryan Holcombe was walking up to the podium to lead the congregation in worship when he was killed, his parents said.

His wife Karla Holcombe was also fatally shot.

The couple was remembered for their generosity and devout natures.

Both volunteered at local prisons, where Bryan Holcombe was often found playing his ukulele for inmates, family said.

"We knew when he was born, that he was going to be a preacher, Joe Holcombe, his father, told The Washington Post. His first word was God.

The couple, who had been together more than two decades, owned a canvas repair shop in Floresville, The Daily Beast reported.

Joe Holcombe told the Post Bryan and Karla Holcombes son Marc Daniel Holcombe, 36, and his 1-year-old daughter, Noah Holcombe, were also killed.

Story continues

Crystal Holcombe

Crystal Holcombe Facebook

Their daughter-in-law, Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, was shot and killed. She and her husband, John Holcombe, who was in the church but survived, had five children.

Only two of those children survived the shooting. Their daughters Emily and Megan and their son Greg, were killed in the attack.

Other victims killed in the massacre included Joann Ward and her daughters Brooke Ward, 5, and Emily Garza, 7, the New York Daily News reported.

Joann Ward

Joann Ward Facebook

They are survived by Chris Ward, who reportedly received word of the shooting by a family member.

Ward's sister-in-law Leslie Ward told The News that she rushed to the church after hearing the gunfire from her home.

She found Joann and Chris' 5-year-old son Ryland Ward lying among the pews. He had been shot four times and had to be airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio to undergo surgery, his aunt said. He is reportedly now in stable condition.

"Ryland is the only one left," McKinley Ward, the children's cousin, told The Dallas Morning News.

Officials said at least 20 more people ranging in age from 5 to 72 were injured.

The gunman was dressed in all-black tactical gear, including a ballistic vest, when he opened fire, Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, told CNN.

The shooter left the church and reportedly fled as a local resident used his own rifle to engage him.

Residents chased after the gunman, who drove off in a Ford Explorer before losing control of his vehicle and crashing in a ditch, witnesses said.

Law enforcement later found the suspect dead of a gunshot wound inside his vehicle.

Read: Mom Kills Daughters and Tells Husband, 'Babe, I Shot the Kids': Report

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CBS News that Kelley fatally shot himself after crashing his car while being pursued by residents.

Officials identified the gunman as Devin Patrick Kelley, a 26-year-old former U.S. Air Force airman with a history of legal troubles.

In 2012, Kelley was court-martialed and sentenced to a year in military prison for assaulting his wife and child, an Air Force spokeswoman told The Washington Post.

Police were working to identify the shooters motive.

CNN reported that the gunmans in-laws were members of the church, but were not in attendance on Sunday.

Related Articles:
(Adds details and background)

WASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A powerful U.S. House of Representatives committee is set on Tuesday to examine tensions between Puerto Rico and the oversight board in charge of managing the island's finances in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

The House Natural Resources committee is looking at whether the oversight board needs additional tools to help the U.S. territory recover from the devastation, and said it is concerned about contracts issued for rebuilding its power grid.

"Already, questionable contracts have occurred demanding both congressional and federal oversight," the committee said in a memo on the hearing, citing a $300 million contract with small Montana firm Whitefish Energy Holdings.

"Contracts of a certain magnitude need to be properly vetted by responsible actors through a transparent and accountable process, rather than utility managers in an ill-advised moment of desperation," the committee said.

Lawmakers are slated to hear from Natalie Jaresko, the executive director of the oversight board, Noel Zamot, a retired Air Force colonel tapped by the board to oversee the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, and Ricardo Ramos, the executive director of PREPA.

The Puerto Rico government has vowed to fight Zamot's appointment in court.

Two mayors are also slated to testify: San Juan's Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has been an outspoken critic of federal recovery efforts, and Angel Perez Otero of Guaynabo, a San Juan suburb visited by President Donald Trump in October. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Richard Cowan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler)
FILE PHOTO - The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, California, U.S. August 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Cloud-based software maker Salesforce.com Inc <CRM.N> said on Monday it has entered into a partnership with Google's cloud platform G Suite, to support its rapidly growing global customer base.

Salesforce shares were up 1.5 percent at $104 in extended trading.

Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> Google will offer eligible Salesforce customers G Suite licenses at no additional cost for up to one year as part of the agreement, Salesforce said.

The partnership will also integrate Salesforce with Google Analytics, connecting sales, marketing and advertising data across both platforms.

Salesforce, which already has a tie-up with Amazon.com Inc's <AMZN.O> web services unit AWS, named Google Cloud as a preferred public cloud provider and said it plans to use it to support the company's international expansion.

"Our partnership with Google represents the best of both worlds for our customers," said Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.

AWS will also remain its preferred public cloud provider, Salesforce said at its annual Dreamforce event in San Francisco on Monday.

In 2016, Salesforce selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred public cloud infrastructure provider. (http://sforce.co/25mp6gG)

The big three cloud vendors  AWS, Microsoft's <MSFT.O> Azure and Google Cloud  benefit from the decision by many enterprises to build their applications using more than one cloud vendor.

Retailers Home Depot Inc <HD.N> and Target Corp <TGT.N>, for example, told Reuters last month they use a combination of cloud providers.

(Reporting by Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Middle Eastern nations to maintain stability just as tensions were suddenly spiking between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. "The stability of the region is very important and we all have to protect it ... I am talking to all the parties in the region to preserve it," Al-Sisi said in an interview with CNBC over the weekend that aired Tuesday morning. On Saturday, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri shocked the political establishment in Beirut by announcing his resignation. The leader said he was stepping down amid concerns of a potential assassination plot against him. Speaking from Riyadh, Hariri criticized Iran , and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, for igniting conflict in the region. Following the CNBC interview, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia sharply escalated rhetoric in the region by declaring that Lebanon had  figuratively at least  declared "war" against it because of aggression from Hezbollah. Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the government of Lebanon "would be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia," Reuters reported.When asked whether the time had come for Egypt to consider its own measures against Hezbollah, Al-Sisi replied, "The subject is not about taking on or not taking on, the subject is about the status of the fragile stability in the region in light of the unrest facing the region.""The region cannot support more turmoil," he said.Trump tweets his 'confidence' in the Saudis On Monday night U.S. East Coast time, President Donald Trump tweeted encouragement to Saudi Arabia, saying the Kingdom's leaders know "exactly what they are doing." Donald Trump tweet: I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.... King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the weekend launched a broad roundup of fellow royals and government officials in what they have termed a crackdown on corruption. Analysts who follow Saudi Arabia closely have characterized those arrests as a consolidation of power around Bin Salman . Among those taken into custody is Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal , a billionaire investor and prominent figure in Western media . Egypt's Al-Sisi told CNBC that countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Somalia would all be vulnerable to an escalation of turmoil, and therefore Cairo would not look to impose any measures against Hezbollah.The United States has for years classified Iran-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist group. In July, Trump described Hezbollah as a " menace " to Lebanon and the wider region during a meeting with then Prime Minister, Saad al-Hariri. The president also vowed Washington would continue to support the Lebanese army. In taking office last year, Lebanon's Hariri had successfully grouped together almost every main party in the country  including Hezbollah. Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, became president as part of the political deal in what was viewed as a victory for Iran. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Middle Eastern nations to maintain stability just as tensions were suddenly spiking between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. "The stability of the region is very important and we all have to protect it ... I am talking to all the parties in the region to preserve it," Al-Sisi said in an interview with CNBC over the weekend that aired Tuesday morning. On Saturday, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri shocked the political establishment in Beirut by announcing his resignation. The leader said he was stepping down amid concerns of a potential assassination plot against him. Speaking from Riyadh, Hariri criticized Iran , and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, for igniting conflict in the region. Following the CNBC interview, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia sharply escalated rhetoric in the region by declaring that Lebanon had  figuratively at least  declared "war" against it because of aggression from Hezbollah. Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the government of Lebanon "would be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia," Reuters reported. When asked whether the time had come for Egypt to consider its own measures against Hezbollah, Al-Sisi replied, "The subject is not about taking on or not taking on, the subject is about the status of the fragile stability in the region in light of the unrest facing the region." "The region cannot support more turmoil," he said. Trump tweets his 'confidence' in the Saudis On Monday night U.S. East Coast time, President Donald Trump tweeted encouragement to Saudi Arabia, saying the Kingdom's leaders know "exactly what they are doing." Donald Trump tweet: I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing.... King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the weekend launched a broad roundup of fellow royals and government officials in what they have termed a crackdown on corruption. Analysts who follow Saudi Arabia closely have characterized those arrests as a consolidation of power around Bin Salman . Among those taken into custody is Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal , a billionaire investor and prominent figure in Western media . Egypt's Al-Sisi told CNBC that countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Somalia would all be vulnerable to an escalation of turmoil, and therefore Cairo would not look to impose any measures against Hezbollah. The United States has for years classified Iran-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist group. In July, Trump described Hezbollah as a " menace " to Lebanon and the wider region during a meeting with then Prime Minister, Saad al-Hariri. The president also vowed Washington would continue to support the Lebanese army. In taking office last year, Lebanon's Hariri had successfully grouped together almost every main party in the country  including Hezbollah. Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, became president as part of the political deal in what was viewed as a victory for Iran.



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The powerful Saudi crown prince's purge of royals and ministers this weekend could pave the way for improved business conditions in the kingdom, analysts say. However, it also risks plunging Saudi Arabia into chaos if it touches off a showdown in the sprawling royal family, they warn. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has framed the arrest of 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of officials this weekend as a crackdown on corruption. Others have a called it a power grab meant to smooth the way for the 32-year-old's widely anticipated rise to the throne and his bid to overhaul the Saudi economy . However, several Middle East watchers rejected an either-or explanation. Instead they say the roundup has elements of an anti-corruption drive, a consolidation of power and a populist appeal to average Saudis fed up with royal excess.

Bin Salman is "trying to change the dynamic between politics and business in Saudi Arabia, centralize that in a way that's never been done before, and really show that the royal family is no longer immune to corruption charges in a way that they have been, really for the duration of their rule," Allison Wood, Middle East consultant at Control Risks Group, told CNBC Europe on Tuesday. More centralized decision-making could create greater certainty for international investors, said Michael Rubin, Middle East scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Rather than navigating a web of power centers run by thousands of princes, the business community would know exactly whose door to knock on, he said. Bin Salman "wants to reform the economy, to modernize it, and he doesn't want to deal with resistance. The question is, what happens if he fails? Then you could see a regression in Saudi Arabia that leaves it far worse than it is now," Rubin told CNBC's " Power Lunch " on Monday. "Ultimately there's a danger in consolidating policy into one single individual. When that individual is gone, then chaos can reign supreme. We're at a very dangerous time for Saudi Arabia right now." Investors likely to pause plans It is also a time when Saudi Arabia is aggressively courting international investors. The kingdom is preparing to sell shares in state-owned Saudi Aramco, a tricky endeavor given the energy giant's notoriously opaque finances. The sale is the cornerstone of bin Salman's plan to expand Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and diversify its economy. Just last month, the country hosted a Future Investment Initiative conference that drew financial sector luminaries to the capital city of Riyadh. Those heavyweights included Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a billionaire investor often referred to as the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, who was among those swept up in the purge. In light of recent events, some investors may think twice about putting money to work in the kingdom in the near term, analysts say. "There'll be a concern about whether or not there's going to be stability in the kingdom or not, and that's going to raise questions about is this a good time to be investing?" said Dennis Ross, a diplomat who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations. The market should not expect Saudi Arabia to develop into a democracy any time soon, he said, but economic reform is a net positive for investors and stands to create a successful model of development that has been lacking in the Arab world. That absence is part of the reason extremist groups like the so-called Islamic State have flourished, added Ross, now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Bin Salman has vowed to return Saudi Arabia to "a more moderate Islam." A hard-line conservative interpretation has dominated the kingdom for decades. Modernization and economic reform give Islamic nations a way to counter radicalization in the digital world, said Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council. "Over the short term you're going to have a lot of investor nervousness ... but if this 32-year-old reformer stays in power, can actually change the kingdom ... he could be in power for 30, 40 years and this could be an amazing long-term play," Kempe told "Power Lunch." Tackling Corruption Still, the crackdown might have the opposite effect that bin Salman intended, according to Simon Henderson, director of the Washington Institute's Gulf and Energy Policy program. It could very well "scare the hell out of potential investors" who partner with the Saudis. In his view, the purge was indeed a "power grab" meant to sweep aside influential figures like Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, the former head of the National Guard and an opponent of bin Salman's swift rise to power. Bin Salman "needed to bypass Mutaib," Henderson told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Monday. "To accuse him of corruption is a neat way of doing it." While uncertainty stirred by the arrests will inevitably have an impact on investment, the main obstacle to doing business in Saudi Arabia is corruption, said Mohammed Alyahya, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. But prosecuting corruption will actually alleviate longer-term uncertainty and promote transparency, he said. The purge "stands to change a culture of corruption in the kingdom that can only be changed if a policy of cracking down on the bigwigs, if you like, without any half measures is embarked upon," he told "Squawk on the Street." Corruption is indeed endemic in Saudi Arabia, but the purge might not be the best way to deal with it, said Joseph Westphal, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President Barack Obama. Rather than rounding up royals, the Saudis could have better addressed corruption by reforming the country's judicial system. "I think as an investor I would want to make sure that I'm investing in a country where my corporate investment, my business is protected through some type of rule of law," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "I don't think that's there." More from Global Investing Hot Spots: Saudi Aramco's IPO, the world's largest ever, is 'on track' for 2018, CEO Amin Nasser says More than 5% of Saudi Aramco could be offered beyond the IPO, Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed says Prince Alwaleed says bitcoin will implode: 'Enron in the making'



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Saudi Arabia suddenly arrested powerful royals and businessmen over the weekend, in what officials call an anti-corruption drive, but outside observers deem domestic power consolidation. Either way, the move is likely making investors see Saudi assets as riskier, so they're set to demand higher returns.Some believe the extraordinary purge is an attempt by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to consolidate his power by eliminating potential rivals. That may herald political uncertainty, tension and possibly unrest not seen before in the history of OPEC's biggest oil producer.Among those removed from power was Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah. Prince Miteb, relieved of his post as head of the National Guard, was once considered a contender for the throne."It is not possible to remove and imprison all these top princes and all will be business as usual," warned Fereidun Fesharaki, founder of energy consultancy FACTS Global Energy.That expectation of a new normal will likely mean investors need a higher risk premium  the additional expected return on investment compared to a risk-free (but otherwise identical) asset  to invest in the Kingdom."This should increase the risk premium for Saudi assets," said Alastair Newton, a political analyst heading Alavan Business Advisory and a former British diplomat.Saudi government bonds and credit default swaps will likely reflect the weekend's developments "in the coming days," Newton said, adding investors' assessment of the Saudi Aramco share sale, which may value the state oil giant at $2 trillion or more, could also be impacted.For what it's worth, Saudi Arabia's Finance Ministry said Sunday that the country's new anti-corruption committee and detention of prominent figures actually enhanced confidence in the rule of law, Al Arabiya television reported.But even if they are now worried about political risks, investors may eventually buy the argument that business can win from the weekend's events, especially as the crown prince leads a broad initiative to reshape the Saudi economy."This is the latest act of concentration of power in Saudi. As unprecedented and controversial as it may be, this centralisation might also be a necessary condition for pushing the austerity and transformation agenda, the benefits of which very few investors are pricing in," Hasnain Malik, global head of equity research at the investment bank Exotix Capita commented Sunday.The anti-corruption campaign is "clearly a preemptive move by MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] to further establish his authority and remove any opposition to his reform plans, and gain some public support for some difficult economic and social reforms," said Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, and a former Shell executive. "If the political shake-up passes relatively smoothly and the reform plans begin to move ahead, though, it will be positive."International profileAmong those detained in the corruption crackdown was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the Middle East's richest people, with investments in Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Citigroup.That, Newton said, "is significant, given he has a much higher international profile than other royals. Investors will take note of this."Parag Khanna, a senior research fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said the weekend's events didn't entirely surprise him "given some of the internal politics that MBS has aggressively pursued so far."Bin Salman in June ousted his elder cousin, interior minister Mohammad bin Nayef, as heir to the throne in what was perceived by many as a palace coup. The 81-year-old King Salman Bin Abdulaziz is expected to abdicate soon, clearing the way for the crown prince's elevation."MBS has repudiated the norms and rules of conduct of the royal family and is emerging as an authoritarian strongman who no longer accepts the ruling-by-consensus style of governing," said Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a Washington-based think tank focused on energy security.The first actBin Talal's arrest "shows that Saudi Arabia is too small for two charismatic men with competing visions especially in light of the fact that the Salman branch of the royal family grabbed power unilaterally," Luft said."Expect the 'Game of Thrones' to be fierce," he said. "This is only the first act and the implications for the oil market will soon be felt as well."Oil traders are likely to bid benchmark crude futures higher in Asian trade on Monday on fears of heightened political uncertainty after the Saudi arrests.An attempted missile strike on King Khaled Airport on the northern outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday will be an additional bullish driver. Saudi Arabia's air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen over the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday, state news agencies reported.The missile was brought down near King Khaled Airport on the northern outskirts of the city and did not cause any casualties.Reuters contributed to this report. Saudi Arabia suddenly arrested powerful royals and businessmen over the weekend, in what officials call an anti-corruption drive, but outside observers deem domestic power consolidation. Either way, the move is likely making investors see Saudi assets as riskier, so they're set to demand higher returns. Some believe the extraordinary purge is an attempt by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to consolidate his power by eliminating potential rivals. That may herald political uncertainty, tension and possibly unrest not seen before in the history of OPEC's biggest oil producer. Among those removed from power was Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah. Prince Miteb, relieved of his post as head of the National Guard, was once considered a contender for the throne. "It is not possible to remove and imprison all these top princes and all will be business as usual," warned Fereidun Fesharaki, founder of energy consultancy FACTS Global Energy. That expectation of a new normal will likely mean investors need a higher risk premium  the additional expected return on investment compared to a risk-free (but otherwise identical) asset  to invest in the Kingdom. "This should increase the risk premium for Saudi assets," said Alastair Newton, a political analyst heading Alavan Business Advisory and a former British diplomat. Saudi government bonds and credit default swaps will likely reflect the weekend's developments "in the coming days," Newton said, adding investors' assessment of the Saudi Aramco share sale, which may value the state oil giant at $2 trillion or more, could also be impacted. For what it's worth, Saudi Arabia's Finance Ministry said Sunday that the country's new anti-corruption committee and detention of prominent figures actually enhanced confidence in the rule of law, Al Arabiya television reported. But even if they are now worried about political risks, investors may eventually buy the argument that business can win from the weekend's events, especially as the crown prince leads a broad initiative to reshape the Saudi economy. "This is the latest act of concentration of power in Saudi. As unprecedented and controversial as it may be, this centralisation might also be a necessary condition for pushing the austerity and transformation agenda, the benefits of which very few investors are pricing in," Hasnain Malik, global head of equity research at the investment bank Exotix Capita commented Sunday. The anti-corruption campaign is "clearly a preemptive move by MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] to further establish his authority and remove any opposition to his reform plans, and gain some public support for some difficult economic and social reforms," said Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, and a former Shell executive. "If the political shake-up passes relatively smoothly and the reform plans begin to move ahead, though, it will be positive." International profile Among those detained in the corruption crackdown was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the Middle East's richest people, with investments in Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Citigroup. That, Newton said, "is significant, given he has a much higher international profile than other royals. Investors will take note of this." Parag Khanna, a senior research fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said the weekend's events didn't entirely surprise him "given some of the internal politics that MBS has aggressively pursued so far." Bin Salman in June ousted his elder cousin, interior minister Mohammad bin Nayef, as heir to the throne in what was perceived by many as a palace coup. The 81-year-old King Salman Bin Abdulaziz is expected to abdicate soon, clearing the way for the crown prince's elevation. "MBS has repudiated the norms and rules of conduct of the royal family and is emerging as an authoritarian strongman who no longer accepts the ruling-by-consensus style of governing," said Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a Washington-based think tank focused on energy security. The first act Bin Talal's arrest "shows that Saudi Arabia is too small for two charismatic men with competing visions especially in light of the fact that the Salman branch of the royal family grabbed power unilaterally," Luft said. "Expect the 'Game of Thrones' to be fierce," he said. "This is only the first act and the implications for the oil market will soon be felt as well." Oil traders are likely to bid benchmark crude futures higher in Asian trade on Monday on fears of heightened political uncertainty after the Saudi arrests. An attempted missile strike on King Khaled Airport on the northern outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday will be an additional bullish driver. Saudi Arabia's air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen over the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday, state news agencies reported. The missile was brought down near King Khaled Airport on the northern outskirts of the city and did not cause any casualties. Reuters contributed to this report.



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After months of flirting, Sprint and T-Mobile have decided not to mergebut the rapidly changing nature of the telecommunications industry could have them both wishing they had been able to come to terms in the years to come.

While the companies say they were unable to find mutually agreeable terms, Jeff Kagan, a telecom analyst, warns that big competition is looming, which could over overshadow both companies.

Ten years ago we had a lot of little players in the industry, he says. Today we have fewer larger players, but were seeing new entrants, like Google. Youve also got Comcast, which entered with Xfinity mobile. Youve got Charter, which is going to enter the mobile space next summer.  Youve got a lot of new big brand name companies that are coming in and carving out a slice of the pie.

It makes sense for Internet providers to take an interest in the mobile space. Last year, mobile internet use surpassed desktop usage for the first time and the trend isnt likely to reverse itself.

Sprint and T-Mobile have big marketing budgets, and may target Verizon and AT&T in their commercials, but theyre largely competing against each other as they both attempt to woo customers willing to leave the two industry giants.

The bigger question, though, is will big Internet companies swoop in and take customers from both?
Stephen Hawking thinks that one day robots will actually replace humanity completely. In an interview with Wired, the physicist said that he thinks that artificial intelligence will eventually end up becoming so advanced that it's able to outperform humans and become a new form of life.

Over time, Hawking thinks that AI will be able to replace humans altogether, specifically getting to a point where it will be able to improve and replicate itself. Its a claim hes made before, arguing that eventually, robots would be able to supersede the human race.

In the interview, Hawking also warned that Earth is becoming too crowded for our population and that there will be huge consequences for the human race if we don't start more seriously considering colonies on other planets.

Hawkings thoughts on the future of the world are highly regarded. Cambridge University put Stephen Hawking's doctoral thesis "Properties of Expanding Universes" up on its site as a free download last month. It was so popular it crashed the Universitys website.

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By Andrew Chung (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to step back into the years-long feud over patents between the world's top smartphone makers, declining to hear Samsung's <005930.KS> appeal of a lower court ruling that reinstated a jury award of about $120 million in favor of Apple . The justices left in place a 2016 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that upheld a verdict that found South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd had infringed Apple Inc's patents on several popular features of the California-based company's iPhone. Those included slide-to-unlock, autocorrect and quick links, which automatically turn information like addresses and phone numbers into links. The Supreme Court in December 2016 sided with Samsung in a separate case over its fight with Apple. In that one, the justices threw out a $399 million damages award against Samsung to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs. A judge in California in October ordered a new trial over damages in that case. The current appeal stems from a May 2014 verdict by a jury in federal court in San Jose, California ordering Samsung to pay $119.6 million for using the Apple features without permission. Infringement of the quick links feature accounted for nearly $99 million of the damages. A three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit, a Washington-based court that specializes in patent matters, had originally overturned the verdict, but it was reinstated in an October 2016 ruling by a full slate of 11 judges on that court. Appealing to the Supreme Court, Samsung said that the patent court's judges did not follow proper procedure in reviving the verdict because they made the decision without considering additional legal papers or hearing oral arguments. The judges also wrongly changed the law related to invalidating patents and awarding injunctions, Samsung added. In a dig at the patent court, Samsung told the justices in legal papers that they have "long served as the bulwark when the Federal Circuit tips the balance too far in favor of patent-holders' rights at the expense of innovation and competition." Apple urged the justices to leave the jury award in place, saying there was nothing "novel or important" to review in its rival's appeal. The Trump administration backed Apple's view. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
Advani, who is currently chairman BJP Parliamentary Party, is also the oldest Lok Sabha MP. He is a seven-term MP from Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

By India Today Web Desk: Senior BJP leader LK Advani will turn 90 today. He will start his day by greeting 90 visually challenged children at his residence 30, Prithviraj Road, at 9 am.

According to a statement from Advani's office, the former deputy prime minister will serve breakfast to the visually challenged children and will also share food with them. Thereafter, he will meet and greet people from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

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Advani, who is currently chairman BJP Parliamentary Party, is also the oldest Lok Sabha MP. He is a seven-term MP from Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

He had served as BJP president for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, Advani was the home minister before becoming the deputy prime minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet from 1999 to 2004).

Born on November 8, 1927 in Karachi (Pakistan), Advani grew up in pre-Partition Sindh. As a student in St Patrick's School, Karachi, his patriotic ideals inspired him to join the Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh (RSS) at the tender age of 14.

He shifted to India during Partition. Through the latter half of the 1980s and the 1990s, Advani dedicated himself to building the BJP into a national political force. The BJP bounced back from its 1984 tally of two seats to bag 86 in 1989.

It further moved increased to 121 seats in 1992 and 161 in 1996. For the first time since independence, the Congress was dethroned from its preeminent position, and the BJP became the single largest party in the Lok Sabha.

ABOUT ADVANI: A TIMELINE

November 8, 1927 - LK Advani was born in Karachi, in present day Pakistan, to parents Kishenchand and Gyanidevi Advani.

1936-1942 - Studied at St Patricks School, Karachi, standing first in every class until matriculation.

1942 - Joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak.

1942 - Joined Dayaram Gidumal National College, Hyderabad, during the Quit India movement.

1944 - Held a job as a teacher in Model High School, Karachi.

12 September, 1947 - Left from Sindh to Delhi by propeller aircraft during Paritition.

1947-1951 - Organised RSS work in Alwar, Bharatpur,Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar as RSS secretary in the Karachi branch.

Early 1957- Shifted to Delhi to assist Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

1958-63 - Held the position of secretary of the Delhi State Jana Sangh.

1960-1967 - Joined the Organiser, a political journal of the Jana Sangh, as an assistant editor.

February 25, 1965 - Married Kamla Advani, with whom he has two children, Pratibha and Jayant.

April 1970 - Entered the Rajya Sabha.

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Dec 1972 - Was elected president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

June 26, 1975 - Was arrested in Bangalore during Emergency and taken to Banaglore Central Jail along with other BJS members.

March 1977 to July 1979 - Held the position of Union minister for Information and Broadcasting.

May 1986- Became BJP president.

1980-86 - Held the position of BJP general secretary.

May 1986 - Was announced as BJP president.

March 3, 1988 - Was re-elected BJP president.

1988 - Held the position of home minister in the BJP government.

1990 - Began the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya.

1997 - Began the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence.

October 13, 1999 - May 13 2004 - Held the position of deputy prime minister.

--- ENDS ---
By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court ruling that an Alabama man convicted of killing a police officer in 1985 was no longer legally eligible to be executed because strokes wiped out his memory of committing the murder.

The nine justices ruled unanimously that Alabama can execute 67-year-old Vernon Madison, who has spent decades on death row. They said Supreme Court precedent had not established "that a prisoner is incompetent to be executed because of a failure to remember his commission of the crime."

Madison has suffered several strokes in recent years, resulting in dementia and memory impairment, court papers said. He is legally blind, cannot walk on his own and speaks with a slur.

Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, a death penalty critic, wrote in a separate opinion that Madison's case illustrated "the unconscionably long periods of time that prisoners often spend on death row awaiting execution."

The amount of time condemned inmates spend on death row has increased from seven years in 1987 to more than 19 years in 2017, Breyer said, meaning the justices will face more cases of states trying to execute prisoners suffering diseases of old age.

"And we may well have to consider the ways in which lengthy periods of imprisonment between death sentence and execution can deepen the cruelty of the death penalty while at the same time undermining its penological rationale," Breyer wrote.

Alabama had appealed a March federal appeals court ruling that Madison could not be executed because his memory loss had left him unable to understand the connection between his crime and the punishment he is due to receive.

Madison shot Julius Schulte, a police officer in Mobile, twice in the back of the head as Schulte supervised Madison's move out of his former girlfriend's house, according to court papers.

Madison, who is black, was sentenced to death in 1994 in his third trial after his first two convictions were thrown out on appeal for racial discrimination in jury selection and other prosecutorial misconduct.

Story continues

After his execution date was set for May 2016, Madison's attorneys filed a court challenge saying he was not competent to be put to death because he could not remember committing the murder. A state court and a lower federal court denied the request.

But the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held in a 2-1 ruling that Madison could not be executed, saying the evidence showed he has a serious mental disorder resulting in dementia and believes he did not kill anyone.

"A finding that a man with no memory of what he did wrong has a rational understanding of why he is being put to death is patently unreasonable," that court wrote.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
Devin Kelley

The man who opened fire on a Texas church on Sunday, killing 26 people, had been involved in a row with his mother-in-law, according to authorities.

Devin Kelley, 26, died after the shooting, which targeted a church frequented by his in-laws. They were not believed to be among the victims.

"We know she had received threatening texts from him," said Freeman Martin, of the Texas department of public safety. "There was a domestic situation within this family."

The youngest victim of Sunday's shooting was an 18-month-old baby, officials said. Around half of the victims are children, and US media report many of the victims are of the same family.

The gunman called his father after being shot an armed bystander, and told him he did not think he would survive.

The First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people were murdered on Sunday

Kelley, who had been dishonourably discharged from the air force following a violent attack on his wife and child, had three guns - all of which, said Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, had been obtained illegally.

So how was it that he was able to get a gun?" Mr Abbott asked.

"By all the facts that we seem to know, he was not supposed to have access to a gun. So how did this happen?

Authorities said Kelley had bought four guns - three of which were on him - at a rate of one a year for the past four years.

They said his dishonourable discharge from the air force should have prevented his buying a firearm.
Texas authorities have confirmed a death toll of 26 at todays Baptist church shooting, the largest in the states history, according to Governor Greg Abbott. The number does not include the shooter, who was chased by a church neighbor and found dead after crashing his car.

Victims range in age from 5 years old to 72.

Law enforcement officials, speaking at a press conference in Stockdale, Texas, would not confirm the identity of the killer, nor would they say whether he died by his own hand.

The 26-year-old killer  who police had already identified as Devin Patrick Kelley of Texas  was armed with what officials called an semi-automatic assault-type rifle. He was dressed in black and was wearing a bullet-proof vest. He had stopped at a gas station across the street from the church, crossed the road and began firing at the church, killing two people outside and 23 inside the church.

A 24th victim died while being transported to a hospital. The shooter was not included in the death toll.

Officials said the shooter was stopped and disarmed by an onlooker, then fled the scene, crashing his car. He was found shot dead inside the vehicle but police could not immediately say whether his death was self-inflicted.

Wilson Country Sheriff Joe Tackitt would not identify any victims pending notification of family.

Asked by a reporter whether the shooter had been linked to any known militia groups, Freeman Martin, Regional Director Department of Public Safety, said the matter was being investigated but unknown at this time.

Related stories

Texas Shooter Sent Threatening Texts To Mother-In-Law Before Massacre At Her Church

Texas Gunman Should Not Have Passed Background Check To Buy Weapon Used In Church Slaughter

Donald Trump Addresses Texas Shooting From Japan: "All Of America Is Praying To God"
Time Inc. TIME is slated to report third-quarter 2017 results on Nov 9, before the opening bell. The question lingering in investors minds is whether this leading media company will be able to deliver positive earnings surprise in the soon-to-be reported quarter.



The companys earnings have lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average miss of 25.3%.



Lets see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.



Which Way are Estimates Treading?



In order to get a clear picture of what analysts are thinking about the company right before earnings release, lets have a look at the earnings estimate revisions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter has moved down by 3 cents to 30 cents in the past 30 days and is also a penny down from the year-ago quarter.

Time Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Time Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Time Inc. Quote

Further, analysts polled by Zacks expect revenues of $700 million, down 6.7% from the prior-year quarter.



Factors Influencing this Quarter



Apart from a weak earnings surprise history, Times revenues have been declining for a while now. In fact, the top line decreased 8% and 10% in the first and second quarters of 2017, respectively. Also, the same lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the last five quarters. While, advertising revenues were down 12% during the second quarter, Print and other advertising revenues fell 17% and digital advertising revenues dipped 2%.



Nevertheless, the company is targeting adjacent revenue opportunities that comprise Live Media, SI Play, e-commerce and various other products. In fact, through acquisitions of Bizrate Insights  an online survey and subscription marketing company  and Adelphic  a provider of programmatic advertising platform  Time is expanding its digital presence. Also, these acquisitions are likely to boost its revenues in the near term.



Meanwhile, this media company is concentrating on customization of data to aid advertisers target audience more effectively. In this regard, it acquired the assets of Viant, an ad tech company. Also, Times Transformation Program remains encouraging.



What the Zacks Model Unveils?



Our proven model does not show that Time is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both  a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold)  for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Time has an Earnings ESP of +3.33% as the Most Accurate estimate of 31 cents is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 30 cents. However, the company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



As it is we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Strong Sell) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks With Favorable Combination



Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:



News Corporation NWSA has an ESP of +3.70% and has a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



MSG Networks Inc. MSGN has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% and a Zacks Rank #3.



DISH Network Corporation DISH has an ESP of +1.68% and carries a Zacks Rank #3.



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Zacks Investment Research
TJX  the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Homegoods  is still paying their employees in Puerto Rico, despite the fact that their stores remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Maria, according to multiple reports.

Based on the devastating situation in Puerto Rico, we can confirm that we have continued to pay our TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods Associates on the island, a spokesperson for TJX said in a statement to NBC Boston. We believe it is the right thing for us to do under these circumstances.

The Boston Globe reported that there are 29 stores owned by the Massachusetts-based TJX in Puerto Rico, although they added that TJX did not comment on how many of those stores remain closed.

PEOPLEs calls for comment to TJX were not immediately answered.

WSVN also reported that a Facebook post written about TJXs decision to continue paying its employees has gone viral. In the post, which is written in Spanish, Ivan Melendez  who says he is a father of a Marshalls employee in Puerto Rico  thanked the company for continuing to send paychecks to his son.

So far, Hurricane Maria  which ravaged the U.S. territory Sept. 20, leaving the entire island without electricity and destroying many homes  has claimed at least 55 lives in Puerto Rico. Yet, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz told CNN that the death toll could actually be much higher.
Valeant jumps on strong quarterly results

Valeant (VRX) shares are surging after posting a better-than-expected third-quarter profit and revenue that topped Wall Streets expectations. The company also maintained its earnings guidance. Strong results in the Canadian drugmakers eye-care business boosted results. Valeant reported adjusted quarterly earnings of $1.04 on revenue of $2.22 billion. Analysts were expecting a profit of 88 cents and sales of $2.15 billion. Valeant shares were last trading up 16.6% at $14.03 a share.

Fox, Disney engaged in deal talks

Disney (DIS) reportedly held preliminary talks with 21st Century Fox (FOXA) to buy most of its business. The talks, which were first reported by CNBC, are no longer taking place but could resume in the future. For Fox, a deal would have left behind a media company thats focused on news and sports. Shares of 21st Century Fox were last trading up 2.8% at $28.23 a share and Disneys stock was up 1.4% at $102.38 a share

Travel stocks sink

Shares of Priceline (PCLN) and TripAdvisor (TRIP) are sinking after the two travel companies disappointed Wall Street. Despite Priceline topping earnings expectations on the top and bottom lines in the third quarter, investors dumped the stock after the company issued a weak profit outlook. TripAdvisor missed analyst expectations on third-quarter revenue. The company reported sales of $439 million versus analysts expectations of $451.7 million.

Snap third-quarter results: what to expect

Snapchats parent company Snap (SNAP) is scheduled to report third-quarter results after the bell this afternoon. Wall Street is expecting a loss of 15 cents on an adjusted basis and revenue of $235.5 million. The key number to watch will be daily users. Snap is expected to grow its daily user base to 180.5 million, up from 173 million in the second quarter. Snap is currently trading 11% its IPO price.
BOJA vs. SBUX: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

Monday, November 6, 2017

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Facebook (FB), Celgene (CELG) and BlackRock (BLK). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of todays research reports here >>>

Facebooks shares have outperformed the S&P 500 index over the last year, gaining +46.5% vs. +21.3%. Facebook reported strong third quarter 2017 results as mobile and live video efforts continue to pay off in a big way. Instagram remains another important revenue stream.

Apart from mobile and video, the monetization opportunities of the companys other subsidiaries  Messenger, WhatsApp and Oculus  and a huge user base/higher engagement levels are expected to drive growth going ahead. Facebook is also dabbling in AR/VR and AI technologies, which bodes well for long term growth.

However, due to the recent uproar caused by apparent usage of the platform by Russian elements for interfering in the election process has put Facebook in a spot. As a result, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that it will make sizable investments to tighten security on the platform which along with continued investments in video, AR/VR and AI, will dent operating margins going ahead.

(You can read the full research report on Facebook here >>> ).

Shares of Celgene have underperformed the Zacks Biomedical and Genetics industry in the year so far, losing -13.6% vs. an increase of +3.9%. Celgenes third-quarter results were mixed with the company beating on earnings but missed on sales estimates.

While Revlimid sales were impressive yet again, Otezla sales in the United States were weak due to challenges in the dermatology market which led the management to cut guidance. Celgenes Revlimid continued to outperform driven by further market share increases in newly diagnosed myeloma and the continued increase in treatment duration. Pomalyst and Abraxane also performed well.

Story continues

The Zacks analyst likes the companys progress with its label expansion efforts and pipeline development. The approval of Idhifa in the United States for relapsed and/or refractory acute myeloid leukemia has further boosted the companys portfolio.

However, Celgene is highly dependent on Revlimid while Abraxane sales are under competitive pressure. Weakness in Otezlas performance will also remain a headwind.

(You can read the full research report on Celgene here >>> ).

Buy-rated BlackRocks shares have outperformed the Zacks Investment Management industry in the last six months, (+25.3% vs. +16.9%). This performance is supported by impressive earnings surprise history, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters.

The companys third quarter 2017 earnings were supported by a rise in revenues and steady asset inflows while higher expenses were the undermining factor. The Zacks analyst likes Blackrocks initiatives to restructure its actively managed equities business with an aim to meet changing client needs.

These efforts, along with technological changes and its attempt to expand globally via acquisitions will further help top-line growth going forward. However, mounting expenses mainly due to continued rise in marketing costs and high dependence on overseas revenues remain major concerns.

(You can read the full research report on BlackRock here >>> ).

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today Danaher (DHR), EOG Resources (EOG) and BP (BP).

Wall Streets Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

Click for details >>

Mark Vickery

Senior Editor

Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>

Today's Must Read

Facebook's (FB) Mobile Efforts Impress, Rising Costs a Worry

Revlimid's Growth Being Offset By Otezla at Celgene (CELG)

Equity Focus, Acquisitions Support BlackRock (BLK) Revenues

Featured Reports

Intercontinental (ICE) Grows on Solid Data Services Revenue

Per the Zacks analyst, Intercontinental Exchange's is poised for growth banking on improving Data Services revenue, which management estimates will increase at least 6% in constant currency in 2017.

BP Plc (BP) Banks on Upstream Projects

The strong lineup of upstream projects will help BP fetch significant cash flow starting 2020.

Eaton (ETN) Gains From Restructuring and End Market Growth

The Zacks analyst believes Eaton is gaining from end market growth that will help organic sales increase 2-3%, while its restructuring initiatives will result in a net gain of $55 million in 2017.

EOG Resources (EOG) to Gain From Oil-Rich Eagle Ford Acreage

Huge inventory of premium drilling wells in the Bakken and Eagle Ford shale plays will drive EOG Resources' oil production, per the Zacks analyst.

Cummins (CMI) Gains from High Truck Demand, 2017 Guidance Up

Per the Zacks analyst, increased demand for on-highway trucks and construction equipment from global mining customers has encouraged Cummins to anticipate a higher revenue growth in 2017.

Valspar Buyout to Aid Sherwin-Williams (SHW)

The Zacks analyst thinks while Sherwin-Williams will gain from synergies of the Valspar acquisition, hefty costs related to the buyout and higher raw materials costs will weigh on its FY17 earnings.

Rising Healthcare Spending, Buyouts to Drive Danaher (DHR)

Per the Zacks analyst, Danaher is enjoying sustained margin expansion and sales growth amid rising spending on healthcare and fitness.

New Upgrades

Equinix's (EQIX) IBX Expansion Strategy to Boost Revenues

The Zacks analyst thinks that Equinix's aggressive IBX expansion strategy will fortify its global footprint in the data center space and bring in additional revenues over the long run.

Solid Investment Plan Continues to Boost PG&E Corp (PCG)

Per the Zacks analyst, PG&E Corp's solid capital expenditure plan in gas-related projects and electric system safety enables the company to provide reliable services to its customers.

Sinopec (SNP) Banks on Oil-Rich Shengli Field, Junggar Basin

Per the Zacks analyst, Sinopec's discovery of attractive and economically-viable oil reserves in the Shengli field and Junggar Basin will drive production.

New Downgrades

Lower U.S. Life Insurance Sales Hurt Genworth (GNW)

Per the Zacks analyst, declining sales at U.S. Life Insurance segment, owing to product innovation and pricing changes, will continue to weigh on Genworth's overall performance.

Competition, Weak Printer Demand Restrict 3D Systems (DDD)

Per the Zacks analyst, 3D Systems is struggling with execution amid contracting printer demand and intensifying competition. Sustained margin contraction and high operating expenses remain a concern.

Weak North American Mailing Sales Hurting Pitney Bowes (PBI)

Per the Zacks analyst, lacklustre performance of Pitney Bowes' Small & Medium business solutions due to lower sales in the North American Mailing business is weighing on the company's bottom line.



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Facebook, Inc. (FB) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Shares of drug firm Lupin today plunged nearly 17 per cent, wiping out Rs 7,866 crore from its market valuation, after the company said it has received warning letter from the US health regulator for its manufacturing facilities in Goa and Pithampur, Indore.

The stock tumbled 16.84 per cent to end at Rs 860.50 on BSE. During the day, it tanked 18.21 per cent to Rs 846.20 -- its 52-week low.

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On NSE, shares of the company plummeted 16.88 per cent to close at Rs 859.90.

The stock was the biggest loser among the bluechips on both the key indices.

Following the steep decline in the stock price, the companys market valuation also eroded by Rs 7,866.28 crore to Rs 38,884.72 crore.

In terms of equity volume, 28.92 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 2 crore shares changed hands on NSE during the day.

The company had earlier received three form 483 observations for the Goa facility on April 7, 2017 and six form 483 observations for Pithampur (Unit II) on May 19, 2017, Lupin said, adding that it had responded to all the observations.

"The company has received a warning letter issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on November 6, 2017 for our formulation manufacturing facilities at Goa and Indore (Pithampur Unit II)", Lupin said in a filing to BSE.

The company is deeply disappointed to have received this outcome, it said, adding that while there will be no disruption of product supplies from either of these locations, there is likely be a delay of new product approvals.

Lupin however did not share the concerns raised by the US health regulator in its warning letter. PTI SUM SBT

--- ENDS ---
A man with an assault rifle killed at least 26 people and wounded 20 in a rural Texas church during Sunday services, adding the name of Sutherland Springs to the litany of American communities shattered by mass shootings.

The massacre, which media reports say was carried out by a man thrown out of the Air Force for assaulting his wife and child, is likely to renew questions about why someone with a history of violence could amass an arsenal of lethal weaponry.

The lone gunman, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, drove up to the white-steepled First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and started firing inside. He kept shooting once he entered, killing or wounding victims ranging in age from five to 72 years, police told a news conference.

President Donald Trump told reporters the shooting was due to a mental health problem and wasnt a guns situation. He was speaking during an official visit to Japan.

Read More: NRA Criticized for Tweeting About Gun Terminology Amid Deadly Texas Church Shooting

Among the dead was the 14-year-old daughter of church Pastor Frank Pomeroy, the family told several television stations. One couple, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, told the Washington Post they lost eight extended family members, including their pregnant granddaughter-in-law and three of her children.

The gunman was later found dead, apparently of a gunshot wound, after he fled the scene.

We are dealing with the largest mass shooting in our states history, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told a news conference. The tragedy of course is worsened by the fact that it occurred in a church, a place of worship.

Read More: More Republican Voters Support Stronger Gun Control Measures Following the Las Vegas Shooting

About 40 miles (65 km) east of San Antonio in Wilson County, Sutherland Springs has fewer than 400 residents.

This would never be expected in a little county like (this), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told CNN.

Story continues

A local resident with a rifle fired at the suspect as he left the church. The gunman dropped his Ruger assault weapon and fled in his vehicle, said Freeman Martin, regional director of the TexasDepartment of Public Safety.

A man told San Antonio television station KSAT he was driving near the church when the resident who had opened fire on the gunman approached his truck and urged him to give chase.

He said that we had to get him (the gunman), and so thats what I did, Johnnie Langendorff, the driver of the truck, told KSAT. He added they reached speeds of 95 miles (153 km/h) per hour during the chase, while he was on the phone with emergency dispatchers.

Soon afterward, the suspect crashed the vehicle near the border of a neighboring county and was found dead inside with a cache of weapons. It was not immediately clear if he killed himself or was hit when the resident fired at him outside the church, authorities said.

The suspects identity was not disclosed by authorities, but law enforcement officials who asked not to be named said he was Devin Patrick Kelley, described as a white, 26-year-old man, the New York Times and other media reported.

We dont think he had any connection to this church, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CNN. We have no motive.

I HIT THE DECK

The massacre came weeks after a sniper killed 58 people in Las Vegas. It was the deadliest attack in modern U.S. history and rekindled a years-long national debate over whether easy access to firearms was contributing to the trend of mass shootings.

In rural areas like Sutherland Springs, gun ownership is a part of life and the states Republican leaders for years have balked at campaigns for gun control, arguing that more firearms among responsible owners make the state safer.

Jeff Forrest, a 36-year-old military veteran who lives a block away from the church, said what sounded like high-caliber, semi-automatic gunfire triggered memories of his four combat deployments with the Marine Corps.

I was on the porch, I heard 10 rounds go off and then my ears just started ringing, Forrest said. I hit the deck and I just lay there.

To honor the victims, Trump ordered flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half staff.

In Japan during the first leg of a 12-day Asian trip, the president said preliminary reports indicated the shooter was deranged.

This isnt a guns situation, I mean we could go into it, but its a little bit soon to go into it, Trump said. But fortunately somebody else had a gun that was shooting in the opposite direction, otherwise  it would have been much worse. But this is a mental health problem at the highest level.

The First Baptist Church is one of two houses of worship in Sutherland Springs, which also has two gas stations and a Dollar General store.

The white-painted, one-story church features a small steeple and a single front door. On Sunday, the Lone Star flag of Texas was flying alongside the U.S. flag and a third, unidentified banner.

Inside, there is a small raised platform on which members sang worship songs to guitar music and the pastor delivered a weekly sermon, according to videos posted on YouTube. In one of the clips, a few dozen people, including young children, can be seen sitting in the wooden pews.

It was not clear how many worshipers were inside when Sundays shooting occurred.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Online records show a man named Devin Patrick Kelley lived in New Braunfels, Texas, about 35 miles (56 km) north of Sutherland Springs.

The U.S. Air Force said Kelley served in its Logistics Readiness unit at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014.

Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child, and given a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 12 months and a reduction in rank, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Kelleys Facebook page has been deleted, but cached photos show a profile picture where he appeared with two small children. He also posted a photo of what appeared to be an assault rifle, writing a post that read: Shes a bad bitch.

Sundays shooting occurred on the eighth anniversary of the Nov. 5, 2009, massacre of 13 people at the Fort Hood Army base in central Texas. A U.S. Army Medical Corps psychiatrist convicted of the killings is awaiting execution.

In 2015, a white gunman killed nine black parishioners at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The gunman was sentenced to death for the racially motivated attack.

In September, a gunman killed a woman in the parking lot of a Tennessee church and wounded six worshipers inside.
President Donald Trump is unlikely to change China's stance on North Korea when he visits Beijing this week, but he could well make some headway on trade deals between the two countries. When Trump arrives in the capital Wednesday, he'll be meeting his Chinese counterpart possibly at the height of Xi Jinping 's power. After the Communist Party Congress in October  when Xi consolidated his power base  the Chinese president has been projecting himself as a steady, stable leader with a set vision for the nation. Trump will be negotiating with China's most powerful leader in decades.

Addressing the trade imbalance On the economy, Trump is expected to focus on the trade imbalance. After July's Comprehensive Economic Dialogue (an annual economic dialogue session in Washington), both countries expressed their interest in narrowing the U.S.'s trade deficit with China. On the Chinese leg of his 12-day Asia visit, Trump will likely announce billions of dollars in deals to address the gap. Based on the business delegation traveling with the U.S. president, the deals will likely center on China buying American energy and farm products, as well as aircraft and other machinery. Chief executives on his trip include those from Boeing, Cheniere Energy, Texas LNG Brownville, DowDuPont, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council.

Minor Chinese reforms Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein is in the delegation along with insurers such as PartnerRe. That has raised speculation that China could announce a liberalization in the financial sector soon  though expectations for any significant structural moves are quite low. "More complicated structural issues, such as the U.S. criticism of China's intellectual property practices and China's demand to boost its technology exports to the U.S. to address its deficit, are unlikely to make material headway in the upcoming meeting," ANZ research said in a recent note. Market access, tech transfers slip off the radar Despite the likely deliverables, many in the American business community are concerned that Trump's fixation on the deficit could distract from larger problems challenging U.S.-Sino relations such as market access and competition in the industries of the future. "My concern is (the Trump administration) will come and trumpet a bunch of deals and MOUs (memorandums of understanding) that have a big number and Trump will tweet victory," James McGregor, China chair with APCO Worldwide, said. "China will focus on a couple of tweetable deliverables and the very serious industrial policies will not get the attention they deserve," he added. Others are more hopeful. William Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told CNBC that his best case scenario is what he would call a "proactive, reciprocal treatment." "That is the Chinese will see that it's in their interest to open up different industry sectors to foreign investment and to U.S. products that will actually help the Chinese people." "My worst case scenario is that we don't have any opening up and that we might see some kind of reactive, reciprocal treatment on the side of the U.S., limiting investment, limiting Chinese exports, that's what we do not want to see," he added.



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By Julia Simon NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil settled lower on Tuesday after rising to the highest since July 2015 the previous day, while tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power. Brent crude futures settled down 58 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $63.69 a barrel, having climbed 3.5 percent on Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $57.20 a barrel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to shore up his power base with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, which an official described as part of "phase one" of a crackdown. More tellingly, tensions escalated between OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran, which analysts said did more to rattle the market than the prince's purge. "Saudi Arabia is really going all-in again against Iran and that is, for me, more the focus than the domestic issue," Petromatrix strategist Olivier Jakob said. "On the one hand, it increases the global geopolitical risk level, but it also increases the difficulty of keeping consensus within OPEC." The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, has agreed to restrain crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) together with 10 other nations including Russia until March 2018. OPEC meets at the end of this month and has been widely expected to extend the deal. "That idea that the extension is going to be a done deal is still adding buoyancy in the market," said Gene McGillian, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. The producers are in the process of inviting other countries to the Nov. 30 meeting, OPEC's Mohammad Barkindo told reporters on Tuesday, with a view to joining the deal. He declined to name the countries concerned. Brazil has rejected an informal effort by Saudi Arabia to coax Latin America's top oil producer into joining OPEC-led production cuts aimed at boosting prices that have been hit by oversupply, a Brazilian official said. The Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Monday that it was closing all Yemeni air, sea and land crossings after a missile was fired towards Riyadh at the weekend. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they see Iran as responsible for the Yemen conflict and on Monday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country reserves the right to respond to Iran's "hostile actions". The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast domestic crude oil production in 2018 to rise by more than previously expected. In its monthly short-term energy outlook, the agency forecast that U.S. crude oil output will rise by 720,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.95 million bpd in 2018. Last month, it expected a 680,000 bpd year-over-year increase to 9.92 million bpd. Market watchers were looking ahead to weekly energy data from the American Petroleum Institute at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT). U.S crude oil and refined product inventories were seen falling for a second straight week, an extended Reuters poll showed on Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London, Jane Chung in Seoul and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Goodman)
(Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc said on Monday it will sell its female libido-pill business Sprout Pharmaceuticals back to its former owners, two years after buying the company for about $1 billion. Addyi, the controversial pink pill made by Sprout, was touted as a possible blockbuster drug that would command much of what analysts had said could be a $2 billion market. But sales of the pill has been sluggish and last year Valeant was sued on behalf of former Sprout investors over its alleged failure to market Addyi successfully. The complaint had said that sales of the pill may have totaled less than $10 million in 2016, far short of the $1 billion targeted by July, 2017. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2015 under intense pressure from patient advocacy groups, Addyi is meant to activate sexual impulses in the brain and is taken daily. But it carries a strong warning about potentially dangerous low blood pressure and fainting, especially when taken with alcohol. Valeant said on Monday it would get 6 percent royalty on global sales of Addyi beginning 18 months from the signing of the deal, which is expected to close before the end of the year. Valeant said it will provide a $25 million loan to fund initial operating expenses. (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh)
These are the names of the victims of the Texas church shooting

At least 26 people were killed when a gunman opened fire on a church in a rural community in Texas Sunday, law enforcement officials said. The victims ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years and included at least eight members of an extended family as well as a mother and her two young daughters, family members and officials said.

The gunman, identified by authorities as 26-year-old Devin Kelley, shot churchgoers at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small town located in Wilson County. At least 20 others were injured in the attack and taken to local hospitals. Ten were in critical condition as of Monday.

Of the 26 people who died, 23 were found dead inside the church, while two people were found outside. One person died after being transferred to a local hospital, authorities said during a press conference Sunday.

Among those killed was the 14-year-old daughter of First Baptist Churchs pastor Frank Pomeroy, her mother Sherri Pomeroy told the AP. The couple was out of town during the shooting.

The attack, which has become one of the most deadly mass shootings in recent U.S. history, comes just a month after a shooter opened fire on a crowd at a concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people.

The suspected Texas gunman was chased from the scene and later found dead in his vehicle from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said Monday.

Annabelle Pomeroy, 14

Fourteen-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy was among the 26 killed in Sundays church attack, her father told ABC News. Frank Pomeroy is the pastor of the First Baptist Church and said he and his wife Sherri Pomeroy were out of town when the gunman opened fire on his congregation. Annabelle is his youngest daughter.

Frank Pomeroy said Annabelle was one very beautiful, special child.

Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more. I lost a lot of friends and family this... Posted by Scott Pomeroy on Sunday, November 5, 2017

Story continues

Related article: What we know about the gun used in the Texas church shooting

At a news conference, Sherri Pomeroy described the church congregation as a close-knit family.

We ate together, we laughed together, we cried together, and we worshipped together. Now most of our church family is gone, our building is probably beyond repair and the few of us that are left behind lost tragically yesterday, she said. As senseless as this tragedy was, our sweet Belle would not have been able to deal with losing so much family.

Annabelles uncle Scott Pomeroy posted a tribute to Facebook, saying Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more.

Crystal Holcombe, Marc Daniel Holcombe, Noah Holcombe, Karla Holcombe and Bryan Holcombe

At least eight members of an extended family were killed on Sunday. Crystal Holcombe, three of her children, and her in-laws, Karla, Marc, Noah and Bryan Holcombe, were among those killed in Sundays church attack.

Crystal, who was eight months pregnant, died with her unborn child and three of her children, Emily, Megan and Greg, the Washington Post reports. Her husband, John Holcombe, survived with two of her other children.

NBC News reporting 8 members of one family were killed in church shooting. Associate Pastor Bryan Holcombe, 60, and his wife Karla, 58. pic.twitter.com/MSYu8XCL1x  Robert Price (@RobertPriceTV) November 6, 2017

Related article: Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Gun control advocates demand action after Texas shooting

Bryan Holcombe, who was an associate pastor in the church, was walking up to the pulpit when Kelley opened fire. His parents, Joe and Claryce Holcombe, told the Post that John was killed in the shooting along with his wife Karla.

Bryan and Karlas 26-year-old son, Marc Daniel Holcombe, was killed with his infant daughter, Noah Holcombe.

This is unimaginable. My father was a good man, and he loved to preach. He had a good heart, Scott Holcombe, Bryans son told the New York Times.

Nick Uhlig, Crystals cousin who was not at the church when the gunman opened fire, told AP that Bryan did prison ministry and would sing and play the ukulele for prison inmates.

Joann Ward, Brooke Ward and Emily Garza

Joann Ward and her young daughters, 5-year-old Brooke Ward and 7-year-old Emily Garza, were all killed during the church massacre, family members told the Dallas Morning News. The girls uncle, Michael Ward, struggled to comprehend the tragedy.

This is the sad story of Joann Ward and her four children, who all went to church on Sunday, but only two survived. https://t.co/norRovvtp2  Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) November 6, 2017

Related article: Texas church shooter contacted his father before he died, officials say

Its unreal at first, he told the newspaper. The church of all places.

Michael Ward, 31, said he carried his wounded 5-year-old nephew Ryland Ward out of the church once the bullets stopped. The boy had been shot four times, in the stomach, groin and arm, his uncle said. He is now fighting for his life at the hospital.

They got him all cut open, from the gunshots, Michael Ward told the Morning News. I dont think hes going to make it.

This post will be updated as more victims are identified.
The UK's major carriers have mobile all sewn up, and after a bit of broadband here and TV there, they're turning to other things to get their kicks, grow their brands and pad their bank accounts. For O2, that meant moving into smart home gear, and for Vodafone, that means launching a range of internet of things (IoT) devices under the banner "V by Vodafone." Available to Vodafone customers in the UK and a handful of other European countries from today is a car telematics dongle, pet tracker, bag tracker and connected camera, with more products due to join this launch lineup next year.

V-Auto is a little dongle that plugs into the OBD-II port of your car, provided your vehicle was manufactured in 2002 or later, since the port itself wasn't a common feature until then. Like many similar products of its type, the dongle allows you to track your car remotely, and it can also give you a driver safety rating for each journey based on the data it collects. If you happen to get into an accident, the dongle will know and the "Auto SOS" feature will kick in, first giving you a call to check everything's fine before notifying the emergency services if you don't pick up. The V-Auto device itself is 80, and requires a 4 per month subscription to keep it connected to Vodafone's network. Incidentally, O2 has an OBD-II dongle of its own that assesses how safely you drive as part of its car insurance scheme, O2 Drive.

V-Camera is basically an Arlo Go camera with a Vodafone SIM in it, meaning it doesn't need a WiFi connection to function. It's weatherproof, records at 720p, has a rechargeable battery supposedly good for one month of cordless operation, as well as motion and sound detection features. It's available for 339 upfront and 4 per month thereafter.

V-Pet is an activity and location tracker, from brand Kippy, you clip onto your dog or cat's collar. The main draw of this is you can be alerted when your hairy beast wanders outside of defined zones, and see where they've run off to should they go for a wander. The device is 50 and demands a 4 per month subscription. V-Bag, aka the Alcatel MOVETRACK, has the same feature-set as V-Pet, just without the activity tracking element. Not that you need that functionality when you're simply sticking it a bag to keep tabs on its location. V-Bag is 59 upfront and 3 per month thereafter.

These are all the products available through V by Vodafone right now, but if you already have an IoT device that supports a cellular connection, you can also pick up just a SIM. This costs 5 outright, and will set you back 3 or 4 per month depending on the device you're sticking it into. This standalone SIM will also be offered to third-party retailers next year so they have the option of bundling them with new and existing products. The benefit of being on the V by Vodafone platform, though, is users can manage all their connected devices through the one, Vodafone-branded app.

Vodafone has actually been playing around with IoT devices for several years, but primarily behind the closed doors of its "xone" program. The carrier clearly thinks some ideas are ready for primetime, though. Toying around with hardware is one thing, but now Vodafone is ready to sell it to the masses.
Juli Briskman was just out for a bike ride when the motorcade of Donald Trump drove by. Not an especially big fan of the president and even less of one of some of his recent actions, she raised her middle finger to express her opinion.

What she didnt know is that a White House photographer traveling with the president snapped a picture of that from behind. Nor did she know it would go viral as opponents of the president felt it showcased their own frustrations with the administration. And she certainly never suspected she would lose her job because of it in the days to come.

Briskmans employer, the government contractor Akima LLC, terminated her last Tuesday, saying she had violated its social media policy by using the photo as her profile picture on Twitter and Facebook.

They said, Were separating from you, Briskman told The Huffington Post. Basically, you cannot have lewd or obscene things in your social media. So they were calling flipping him off obscene.

A woman on a bike gestures with her middle finger as a motorcade with US President Donald Trump departs Trump National Golf Course October 28, 2017 in Sterling, Virginia.

Virginia is an at-will state for employers, meaning companies can let workers go for any reason.

Briskman spent six months at Akima, working in the marketing and communications division. And while shes not happy about the companys action, she says she doesnt regret her own one-fingered salute to the president.

In some ways, Im doing better than ever, she said. Im angry about where our country is right now. I am appalled. This was an opportunity for me to say something.
By PTI: Nagpur, Nov 7 (PTI)AThe BJP today suggested that its ally Shiv Senas "achievements" in Maharashtra in the last three years remained restricted only to disruption.

Addressing reporters here, state chief spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said the BJP had formed the state government on its own strength and that Sena and others are just part of it.

He also listed out various development works being done by his party which is heading the coalition government with the Sena.

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Referring to the completion of three years in office by the BJP-led NDA government in Maharashtra, Bhandari said the Sena should tell people about achievements of various departments being handled by their ministers.

"If you want to see the achievements of Sena then you have to find them in the ST bus strike, MIDC land sale, the health scenario, environmental issues and issues related to portfolios being held by that party (sic)," Bhandari said while addressing a press conference here.

Bhandari further said the BJP governments efforts helped in improving the basic facilities and has also boosted agriculture and industrial growth over the last three years.

"Investment worth around Rs 40,000 crore has been pumped in the development of national highways in the state. Similarly, the work on Metro train gathered momentum in the state," he said.

Bhandari said the agriculture output has been increased to 12.5 per cent under the BJP rule.

"Besides, Maharashtra is ranked number one in the country on the FDI front. Around 52 per cent (Rs 1,29,340 crore) of the total FDI in the country came into Maharashtra," he said. PTI CLS NSK

--- ENDS ---
The Xbox One X is released on Tuesday - Microsoft

The head of Xbox has opened the door for titles running exclusively on the new Xbox One X console in the future.

The new 450 machine, which goes on sale on Tuesday, is billed as the worlds most powerful console, with major processing and graphics improvements that allow games to run in 4K definition.

But despite the power improvements, Microsoft has stipulated that games enhanced to take advantage of the Xbox One Xs extra muscle must also run on the Xbox One and Xbox One S, Microsofts less powerful and cheaper consoles.

The policy is designed to ensure that gamers are still able to play all new games and not lose out if they have opted for the cheaper machines, and means that game developers can reach the widest audience possible.

But Phil Spencer, Microsofts executive vice president for gaming, said in an interview with The Telegraph that the situation could change in the future.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer Credit: Bloomberg

"They [developers] want to reach the largest audience possible," Spencer said. Now, at some point in the future are there pieces of hardware that become old enough that they fall out of the ecosystem? We see that today; we're not manufacturing Xbox 360 and yet there are 360 games that do very well right now on our platform.

"We'll talk more about this and frankly keep our ears open to what customers want and developers want. But our goal right now is to give them the highest performance in the broadest market they can."

When asked if this meant the policy was one for now, rather than a guarantee, he said: "That's right, that's what we're saying to people now and I'm always listening to what people want.

Three or four years ago if someone made an investment in an Xbox One, they bought that they bought their library of games, I want them to feel they get a full generational use out of their console, same with the Xbox One S. [But] at some point, we see this usage and other things can drop low enough where you kind of move on to things.

Story continues

The best games for Xbox one

The Xbox One X, along with last years PS4 Pro, marks a shift in the console industry, introducing more powerful versions of a console within the same generation. The change brings the console industry closer to the PC, in which the same game can run at different levels depending on the computers specifications, and eventually new games start to abandon older specifications as performance improves.

Spencer said that the Xbox One X is likely to make up a minority of console sales at first, so developers are currently keen to support all Xbox One consoles to maximise their reach.

He added that the PS4 Pro, released last year, really didnt hit the 4K spec that people want on a television.
privacy fears connected future

BI Intelligence

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Chinese electronics company Xiaomi has partnered with communications company Agora to bring voice calling to its Mi AI smart speaker.

Users of the speaker, which is available only in China, will be able to make voice calls using Agoras cloud-based communications systems, without needing to link their phone service to the smart speaker.

Calling is emerging as a key feature for smart speakers. Amazon and Google both rolled out voice calling on their smart speakers earlier this year. The voice interface that smart speakers use lends itself naturally to voice calling, since people using the devices are talking to the AI assistant, giving commands, and receiving audio feedback and information  its just a short step to move from talking to that voice assistant to talking to a friend or family member.

A key part of Amazons unveiling and marketing campaign for its Echo Show smart speaker, for instance, was its ability to act as a stationary, voice-activated communication platform. This has also been a key feature that has differentiated Amazons Echo speakers, which support Alexa-powered calling, from third-party Alexa-powered speakers, which dont as of now.

The spread of connected devices is creating anxieties for some consumers, and introducing tools to reinforce social bonds into devices could alleviate those fears.Nearly a quarter of respondents to a recent Mozilla survey stated that they fear losing touch with other people as connected devices continue to take over. Calling features are a way for people to take those connected devices and maintain their relationships with other people, rather than become more isolated from others. Calling features also enable smart speakers to integrate more fully into peoples lives and everyday routines.

Story continues

BI Intelligence, has put together a Smart Speaker report that analyzes the market potential of the Echo Look, Echo Show, and HomePod. Using exclusive survey data, this report evaluates each device's potential for adoption based on four criteria: awareness, excitement, usefulness, and purchase intent. Finally, the report draws some inferences from our data about the direction the smart speaker market could take from here.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Amazon's new Echo Show is the big winner  it has mass-market appeal and looks like it will take off. The combination of usefulness and excitement will drive consumers to buy the Echo Show. The Echo Look, though, seems like it will struggle to attract that same level of interest.

Apples HomePod looks likely to find a place in the smart speaker market but wont dominate its space like the iPhone or iPad did.

The smart speaker market will evolve rapidly in the next few years, with more devices featuring screens, a variety of more focused products emerging, and eventually, the voice assistant moving beyond the smart speaker.

In full, the report:

Showcases exclusive survey data on initial consumer reactions to the Echo Look, Echo Show, and HomePod.

Highlights the aims and strategies of major players in the smart speaker market.

Provides analysis on the direction this nascent market will take and the opportunity for companies considering a move into the space.

To get the full report, subscribe to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now

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English Norwegian

Oslo, 7 November 2017: Yara will sign a mining agreement with the Ethiopian authorities, making possible the future development of the Yara Dallol potash mine.



The mining agreement will be signed today at a ceremony in Addis Abeba by Ethiopian Minister of the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, H.E. Ato Motuma Mekasa, and Yara International President and CEO, Mr. Svein Tore Holsether.



"We are glad to achieve this key milestone in the Dallol mining project. A mine in the Afar region would contribute significantly to economic development locally and nationally. We recognize and appreciate the efforts made by the Ethiopian government in supporting the project, both by providing necessary infrastructure and through making the mining agreement possible," said Svein Tore Holsether.



Yara Dallol is a mining project located in the Afar region in the northern part of Ethiopia. During the feasibility studies carried out over the recent years, significant reserves of natural resources used for the production of Sulphur of Potash (SOP) have been identified in the allocated exploration area. SOP is a premium fertilizer product especially beneficial for fruit, vegetable and coffee crops.



The planned Yara Dallol mine will have a production capacity of approximately 600,000 tonnes of SOP per year, equivalent to approximately ten per cent of the global market. The products will be mined using solution mining, meaning there will be no open pit at the site.



Yara Dallol is a 51.8 per cent Yara International owned company. The other owners are Liberty Metals and Mining Holdings (25 per cent) and XLR Capital (23.2 per cent). A final investment decision is expected towards the end of 2018. The total capital expenditure frame for the project has yet to be finalized, but significant efforts have been made to optimize expenditure, and the amount has been reduced from the previously estimated USD 740 million.





About Yara





Office: (+47) 24 15 72 95Mobile: (+47) 48 07 53 56E-mail: thor.giaver@yara.com Phone: (+47) 90 50 84 00E-mail: esben.tuman@yara.com Phone: (+47) 90 01 55 50E-mail: kristin.nordal@yara.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
MONTREAL, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRG Graphite Inc. (TSXV:SRG) (SRG or the Company) today announced that SRGs subsidiary, SRG Graphite International Inc. (SRGI) and Great Lakes Graphite Inc. (GLK) (TSXV:GLK) (OTC PINK:GLKIF) (FWB:8GL) (SRGI and GLK collectively, the Companies) have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) whereby the Companies agree to work towards negotiating a supply agreement from SRGs Lola Deposit located in Guinea, West Africa.

Highlights

SRGI and GLK have executed an MoU regarding the potential supply of between 5,000 and 20,000 tons of natural flake graphite per annum.

The MoU Confirms continued interest in SRGs graphite concentrate.

The MoU calls for the Companies to work towards establishing a potential supply agreement. For GLK, the agreement represents the opportunity to expand the number of product offerings and enter new markets. The MoU specifies that the Companies will seek to negotiate an agreement for the annual supply of between 5,000 and 20,000 tons of natural flake graphite concentrate.

SRG is developing a high-quality graphite deposit in Guinea, West Africa. The Lola Graphite deposit is located approximately 1,000 kilometers east of Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea. The first 20 meters or so of the deposit are well weathered (lateralized), freeing graphite flakes from the silicate gangue and thus allowing for easy grinding and optimal recovery of all large and jumbo flakes. The graphite mineralization continues at depth within the non-weathered sheared gneiss.

Metallurgy

Lola graphite has favorable ash composition and the comparably low efforts required to attain high carbon grades.

The graphite is seemingly suitable for highly demanding applications like Lithium Ion batteries or synthetic diamonds.

The purification performed was mild compared to the harsh purification usually applied for Lithium-Ion battery grade, thereby attesting again to the likelihood that the material will be very suitable for such an application.



The volatiles are low, oxidation resistance is very high and the specific surface area is in the normal range.

The graphite from the Lola deposit has a high bulk density (>700 g/l); typical Chinese graphite has bulk densities of 450-550 g/l for +80 mesh.

Doftner-Anzaplan from Germany reported that bulk density, tap density, morphology, chemical purity and specific surface area of the spherical graphite product obtained from SRGs Lola graphite deposit are similar to typical spherical graphite products in the market. The produced graphite concentrate is well suited for generating anode material for lithium-ion battery.

The arrangement can provide a potential source of high quality large and jumbo flake graphite that will enable the GLK to expand the number of high value products that can be offered to their customers. GLKs CEO Paul Gorman said, We are very excited to be working with SRG Graphite. They are an extremely capable group that is developing a highly attractive project. Due to the indications that we are getting from customers as we progress through our product qualifications, we understand that it is imperative for us to be able to demonstrate that we have access to the supply chains required to service very large customers.

ABOUT GREAT LAKES GRAPHITE

Great Lakes Graphite is a Clean Technology Minerals Processing Company supplying customers with innovative, high quality value-added carbon products. Through our partner relationships, GLK began selling micronized synthetic graphite in 2016 and now supplies micronized and high-purity micronized natural flake graphite products to a growing customer base.

ABOUT SRG

SRG is a Canadian-based company focused on developing the Lola Graphite deposit, located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. SRG is committed to operate in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

For additional information, please visit SRGs website at www.srggraphite.com.

For more information contact:

SRG Graphite Inc. (SRG)

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President & CEO

Tel.: (514) 726-4158

Email: ceo@srggraphite.com

Jean-Paul Blais

NXT Communications

Tel.: +1 (514) 867-7447

Email: jp@thenxtgroup.com

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P.Geo, President and CEO, SRG and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Neither the TSXV 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. Although SRG believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because SRG can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as potential, confirms, continued, opportunity, expands, will, develop, can enable, projected, targeting, pursuing, growth, opportunities and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include the ability to negotiate and enter into a definitive off-take agreement, the ability to bring the Lola deposit to production, the ability to produce between 5,000 and 20,000 tons per year of concentrate, the ability to execute on our strategic focus, fluctuation in the price of currencies, operating costs, price of graphite concentrate, mining industry risks, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and resources, delays, political and social stability in Africa and in Guinea (including our ability to maintain or renew licenses and permits) and other risks described in SRGs documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect SRGs operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). SRG disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TOKYO, JAPAN - Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government's development finance institution, President and Chief Executive Officer Ray W. Washburne today signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Chief Executive Officer and Executive Managing Director Tadashi Maeda and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kazuhiko Bando highlighting their commitment to tackling development challenges and bolstering investment in infrastructure, energy and other critical sectors throughout Asia and the Indo Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. U.S. Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty and State Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Kosaburo Nishime officiated at the signing ceremony.





During his remarks on November 6 in Tokyo to American and Japanese business leaders, President Donald J. Trump stated that the agreements are "a major development that will advance our shared interests in the region."

Each MOU develops a framework for cooperation between the agencies to bolster support for investment in emerging markets by mutually collaborating on projects that meet policy objectives and by coordinating business development efforts.

"These agreements will allow us to have a broader impact while strengthening the continued work between the U.S. and Japan," Mr. Washburne said. "Through focusing on infrastructure and energy projects around the globe, we can enhance the position of our respective private sector companies in an increasingly competitive global market."

The MOUs follow the recent Japan-U.S. Economic Dialogue, when the Governments of Japan and the U.S. committed to bolster energy and infrastructure projects in emerging markets. To date, OPIC, JBIC, and NEXI have coordinated support for several projects together including a 370MW natural gas-fired power in Jordan and a private equity fund supporting the renewable energy value chain in India and South Asia. From Tokyo, Mr. Washburne is traveling to Vietnam in conjunction with President Trump's visit to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Chief Executive Officer Summit.

###

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.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff060d28-9417-42db-b8c9-427456492d70

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40f95a6f-1de5-4e16-b776-0e5fce5f5209
Martin0108 wrote:

Hello, guys!

This is my first post on gmatclub! (Excited!)

congrats on your first post on GMAT Club! It is a great forum.

Last two months I have been searching through the whole forum and got my first draft of CV done with tips and advice found here. So, the first thing coming to my mind upon my completion is to post it here, since I know everyone here is super nice and professional!



Currently I am a senior college student in China, and plan to apply for a B-school in Europe, Nova sbe hopefully, so, really hope I can get some help here. Appreciate every comment! (Anything about Nova sbe is more than welcome!)





Educational Background

Bachelor: Northwest University (211), Xian City, P.R. China

Major in International Economics and Trade

 Overall GPA: 3.46/4(Top 15%), Major GPA: 3.5/4, 85.45/100 On Average

Exchange student: FoGuang University, Yilan County, Taiwan

Major in Finance and Applied Economics

 Overall GPA: 3.96/4(Top 5%), Major GPA: 3.95/4, 92.29/100 On Average



Honors & Scholarships

 National Motivational Scholarship (Three Times)

 2nd Academic scholarship of Northwest University (Two Times)

 3rd Academic Scholarship of Northwest University

 2nd Prize in the National English Competition for College Students

 National Volunteer Certificate of Social Investigation in New Rural Area of China



Professional Experience

HNA Modern Logistics Group , Xian City

Summer Intern, Eco-Innovation Department (12 weeks) suggest giving dates rather than #weeks

 Proposed and drafted the Business Plan Eco-Box with my mentor, which was selected as an Incubation

Project by the Innovation Committee.

 Analyzed 6 logistic enterprises profit models, and launched 6 project reports accordingly. what did you discover?

 Participated in the design of Innovative management system actively by utilizing knowledge of Management,

International Business and Distribution Economics.

China Construction Bank , Leping City

Summer Intern, Consultant (7 weeks) suggest also you put the months- and think what key result or actionable item did you accomplish- sometimes it is hard in 7 weeks to have a big result- but if you can quantify anything that is always more impressive than just saying you got training.

 Received proficient training and thus strengthened understanding of financial products and markets.

 Collected and organized news about economics and finance on a daily basis.

 Translated 10+ promotion announcements, resulting in high praise from the Director of Bank Consultant.



Academic Project

Internet Plus National Project: An Investigation and Exploitation of Source Reduction System of Illegal

Water Discharge & Gas Emission (3rd Prize)

 Initiated a research group of 7 to investigate the status quo of local Pollutant Discharge Enterprises.

 Created and compiled the Operation System and Profit Mode for a sustainable commercialization of this

Source Reduction System using Input-Output tables and Feasibility Analysis.

 Negotiated with 2 local companies to achieve trade-offs by adopting this system.



Extracurricular Experience

Model United Nations

Head of Public Relations Department

 Assigned as the Dais member of the 4th & 5th Model United Nations Conference of Northwest University

 Participated in the 12th China Model United Nations, Shanghai (Two Quotas per University)

 Awarded as the Outstanding Delegate of the 15th MUN Conference of Northwestern Polytechnic University

English Debate Team (British Parliament System)

Vice President

 Practiced Debate Demos and presented News Sharing & Case Analysis on a weekly basis

 Participated in the 2016 China Open, the largest debate competition in Mainland China

 Won the 1st prize in the English Debate Competition of Xian International Studies University



Languages

Mandarin (C2), English (C1), French (A2)

Definitely off to a good start here!



Thanks a lot!!!!! Open to any mean words, just bring all on!



Posted from my mobile device

_________________
madGMAT wrote:

Twelve years ago and again five years ago, there were extended periods when Darfir Republic's currency, the pundra, was weak: its value was unusually low relative to the world's most stable currencies. Both times a weak pundra made Darfir's manufactured products a bargain on the world markets, and Darfir's exports were up substantially. Now some politicians are saying that, in order to cause another similarly sized increase in exports, the government should allow the pundra to become weak again.



Which of the following if true provides the government with the strongest grounds to doubt the politican's recommendation, if followed, will achieve its aim?

a) Several of the politicians no recommending that the pundra be allowed to become weak made that same recommendation before each of the last two periods of currency weakness.

b) After several decades of operating well below its peak capcity, darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at near-peak levels

c) the economy of a country experiencing a rise in exports will become healthier only if the country's currency is strong or the rise in exports is significant.

d) those countries whose manufactured products compete with darfir's on the world market currently all have stable currencies

e) a sharp improvement in the efficiency of darfir's manufacturing plants would make darfir's products a bargain on the world markets even without weakening of the pundra relative to other currencies.



Can someone explain???



Owner of Angles and Arguments





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It is a 'weaken the plan' question.What is the plan?Plan: When currency weakens, exports increase. (Foreigners can buy more using same amount of their currencies so they buy more.) Therefore, in order to cause [highlight]another similarly sized increase in exports[/highlight], the government should allow the pundra to become weak again.Focus on the highlighted words. The aim is to cause a similarly sized increase in exports. That is what the plan is trying to achieve. On weaken questions, we focus on the conclusion. What the plan is trying to achieve is parallel to conclusion. So we focus on trying to weaken what the plan is trying to achieve. We need to find something that tells us why we will not get a similarly sized increase in exports even if we weaken pundra.Options a, c, d and e do not talk about the reasons we will not see similarly sized increase in exports.Option B tells us that darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at near-peak levels. If this is true, exports cannot increase much because darfir cannot manufacture more than it is manufacturing now. If there are no extra products manufactured, there cannot be extra exports. In previous instances, darfir was manufacturing below capacity so they could manufacture extra products. Hence the plan worked in those instances but this time it may not. Therefore, option (B) is correct._________________
CISF has written to Ministry of Home Affairs to take charge of the protection of the newly-built Shirdi airport.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Shirdi with Sai Baba shrine there makes it a prominent place of pilgrimage in the country. According to an estimate, about 60,000 people visit Shirdy every day, out of which, the airport authority plans to tap at least 10-12 per cent.

This is the centenary year of the death of Sai Baba.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has written to Ministry of Home Affairs to take charge of the security of the newly-built airport in Shirdi, located in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

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The airport was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind on October 2 this year. The airport is currently manned by the Maharashtra Police.

DG CISF OP Singh confirmed to India Today, "Yes, we have written to Home Ministry to deploy CISF personnel for the job. We are awaiting the nod. And will deploy as soon as we get a clearance."

The force recently carried out a survey of the newly-built Shirdi airport with them proposing to deploy around 100 CISF personnel led by commandant rank officer.

The airport currently has only two flights operational from the airport. But coming January 1, the airport is likely to expand its operations inducting eight more flights.

While the footfall is expected to increase, CISF is being considered as the apt force to handle passenger security.

CISF is currently deployed at 60 airports across the India.

CISF recently took over Vijaywada airport deploying 230 trained CISF personnel under the leadership of a deputy commandant.

--- ENDS ---
In 2 miles, turn left on Burr Salem Road, Siris charming voice kindly reminds me.

If youre like me, Siri is now part of your drive to any new destination . . . and even many previously visited destinations. I rarely memorize routes anymore; or phone numbers for that matter thanks to the database capabilities on our smartphone.

We no longer ask for directions from our host . . . just an address to plug into our map app. We no longer keep roadmaps in our vehicles. We no longer watch the horizon for upcoming road signs and landmarks. We just listen to Siri tell us where to go.

What a far cry from the days of directions that went, Turn left at Andersons corner (except the Anderson family hasnt owned that land for at least 30 years), then turn right at the broken oak tree, and finally, take the first left after you cross over the creek.

We rarely get lost anymore, unless our technology fails us.

This reliance on technology and the consequent extinction of the ability to find our way came up during a tour of our farm last week.

Well beyond the map

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce brought its Leaders Lab participants here to learn more about agriculture in the state. Leaders Lab is a multi-session experiential learning program for young professionals from a variety of Minnesota business sectors.

The tour participants asked some of the best questions Ive ever fielded during a visit.

One of the questions was pretty standard: How will technology change dairy farming in the next 10 years?

I explained that there is definitely a trend toward automation on dairy farms, with devices now available for everything from feeding cows and calves to milking cows.

In addition to automation, dairy farmers are adopting precision dairy technologies, including devices that monitor cow activity, rumination, and body temperature. The newest monitors will tell us when a cow is about to calve. Many automation devices also include monitors that track body weight, feeding behavior, milk quality, and more.

Data from these monitors help dairy farmers and herdspeople identify cows and calves that need extra attention. In the case of illness, changes in behavior detected by monitors can alert farmers to the need for intervention before a cow or calf shows any clinical symptoms. Before the advent of monitors, dairy animal husbandry required skilled observation and interpretation of signals from cows and calves themselves.

So what youre saying, one of our visitors asked, is that in 10 years dairy farmers will be looking at iPads instead of looking at cows?

He then likened it to the example I shared above about relying on technology to tell us where to turn instead of learning how to observe landscape markers and read maps.

What will animal care look like for my childrens generation?

Theres no doubt in my mind that precision dairy technologies can help us take better care of our cows. But are they dulling our cow sense?

Will precision dairy technology replace old-fashioned observation? Or will dairy farmers and herdspeople need to be both tech-savvy and cow-savvy?

The author is a dairy farmer and writer from central Minnesota. She farms with her husband, Glen, and their three children. Sadie grew up on a dairy farm in northern Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in agricultural communications and marketing. She also blogs at Dairy Good Life.
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The Delhi BJP chief has instructed his media team to maintain the attendance log of all party workers when called for the meetings.

By Rakesh Ranjan: Change the work culture or face music, is the new command of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari to discipline the party workers. With the party beginning preparations for the 2019 General Elections, the party has made it mandatory for office bearers and heads of different units and cells to attend all review meetings.

Three consecutive absences from meetings will result in removal from the post, Tiwari told Mail Today. He has instructed his media team to maintain the attendance log of all party workers when called for the meetings.

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The move came after he found that a number of office bearers were missing from a crucial meeting called to plan out one year of demonetisation on November 8. The meeting was held on Sunday but several senior leaders did not turn up for the same, despite Tiwari convening the meeting soon after his return from campaigning in Himachal Pradesh.

The meeting was significant as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself asked party leaders to reach out to people and share with them the benefits of currency ban in fighting black money.

"Habitual absenteeism from party meetings will not be tolerated. One has to have genuine reasons for skipping party meetings. Three consecutive absences might result in removal from the post. All office bearers and heads of different cells have to come prepared for the meetings. Flimsy ground will not be considered for taking leave from party meetings," Tiwari said. Sources said a number of office bearers, including those in the media cell, have been frequently skipping party meetings.

A party leader said an attendance register shall be maintained in the party office where all invitees to the meeting will have to mark their presence. He also said any communication gap on part of the media team will also be taken seriously.

Notably, the media convener of the state unit is responsible for informing all party members about the meeting notices and other official communication. However, several party leaders have complained Tiwari of not being informed about the meetings.

"The Sunday's meeting was called to finalise plans for November 8 program but a number of leaders were clueless. Only one vice president and a general secretary of Delhi BJP were present, along with some district presidents. The media cell has been told to ensure proper communication about party meetings," a party leader said.

--- ENDS ---
Saudi air defense forces shot down the missile before it could hit the airport in the national capital. Experts ascertained that they were manufactured in Iran.

A thorough examination of the debris of these missiles, including the missile launched on July 22, 2017, has confirmed the role of Irans regime in manufacturing these missiles and smuggling them to the Houthi militias in Yemen for the purpose of attacking the Kingdom, its people, and vital interests, said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

However, on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi was quoted as saying the accusations by the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen were unjust, irresponsible, destructive and provocative.

Iran described the missile attack as an independent action by the Yemenis in response to Saudi measures.

This was the first time a ballistic missile fired from Yemen reached close to the Saudi capital. Houthi insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kayhan newspaper, on Monday, ran a controversial headline that suggested that Houthi rebels in Yemen will next target Dubai, which prompted widespread reactions in Iran. Subsequently, Irans Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance sent a written warning to the newspaper. IRNA news agency reported that the Secretary of the Board Responsible for Supervising the Iranian Press said the headline went against national security and interests.

However, activists promptly circulated an image of the front page, just moments before the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen published a statement regarding Irans role in supplying Houthis with missiles to strike the Kingdom.

The newspaper claimed that the missiles were accurate, and that their launch confirms the seriousness of the threats of Abdul Malik al-Houthi.

It added that there was a test of missile systems in the Gulf states, and pointed out that the Houthis decision to launch rockets was a response to developments in West Asia and to strong criticism by regional countries against Irans destabilizing role.

Media outlets close to the Revolutionary Guards announced their support for the missile fire on Saudi Arabia, and the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps purportedly welcomed the development of the range of missiles by the Houthis, but denied that Iran had the means to transfer missiles to Yemen.
Many analysts see the purge as Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans attempt to consolidate his power ahead of his ascension to the throne when his 81-year-old father King Salman abdicates, which is expected to happen in the next few months.

Holly Ellyatt, correspondent for CNBC.com says in her article, There is also the view that the crown prince has aimed to get rid of conservative rivals who might try to halt his plans for change in the country. There may be more coming in Saudi Arabias push against corruption, as on Sunday the countrys chief legal advisor called the crackdown the completion of phase one of our anti-corruption push.

Some fear that the purge may scare away investors. On Tuesday, Emad Mostaque, co-chief investment officer at Capricorn Fund Managers, told CNBC that there ware questions over whether the crown prince could go too far. He (Mohammed bin Salman) has been incredibly decisive at the moment in getting things sorted but the question is does he veer over the line and go beyond what the law says  which he, of course, can change  to overdoing it in terms of the crackdown?

Also on Monday, the Kingdom accused Iran of being behind a ballistic missile attack carried out by Houthi militias in Yemen. Saudi Arabia said that the missiles were intercepted as they headed to the Saudi capital Riyadh. The Kingdom condemned

the missile launch, and said that its regional arch-rival Iran was to blame for what it called flagrant military aggression, and that it had supplied the Houthi militias in Yemen with missiles.

Ellyatt writes, There is an ongoing civil war in Yemen, mainly between rebel Houthi militias and allied forces backing Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. However, the conflict is also something of a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and their competing ideologies of Sunni and Shia Islam, respectively. While Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia backs the government of President Hadi, its rival Iran backs the pro-Shia Houthi movement that is loyal to the countrys former president Ali Abdulla Saleh.

According a report by the Saudi Press Agency, Crown Prince bin Salman was said to have told British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in a phone call on Tuesday, that his country considered the Houthi missile directed at Riyadh a a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime and said it may be considered an act of war against the Kingdom,

In Lebanon, religious divergences and competition for influence in the Middle East has Saudi Arabia and Iran backing opposing sides.

In a surprising move on Saturday, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a long-term Sunni ally of Saudi Arabia, resigned, citing assassination threats and blaming Iran for interference in Lebanon. He criticized the growing power of Iran-backed Shia militia and political party Hezbollah, which was part of Lebanons fragile coalition government. According to Press TV reports, Iran rejected Hariris remarks.

On Monday, Moodys ratings agency said that Hariris resignation threatens to disrupt the fragile political balance in place in Lebanon and that the resignation has occurred within the context of an intensifying power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

In another Saudi bombshell, the country said Monday that Lebanon had effectively declared war against it because of aggression from Hezbollah, who is represented in the Lebanese parliament, and was part of Hariris coalition government.

Thamer al-Sabhan, Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister, said the Lebanese government would be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia and Reuters reported, citing comments from an Al-Arabiya TV interview with Sabhan, that he said, Lebanese must all know these risks and work to fix matters before they reach the point of no return.

These developments have prompted concerns in the Middle East that there might be an escalation of tensions between between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for stability in the region, telling CNBC in an interview at the weekend that many countries would be vulnerable to an escalation of tensions.
The Coalition Command said in a press statement that the decision was made after ballistic missiles were fired by Houthis from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia, including the one intercepted over Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia shot down the missile that was intended to target Riyadh. Fragments of the missile landed in an uninhabited area north of the capital near Riyadh international airport. Experts ascertained that the missile was manufactured in Iran.

The Command Coalitions statement to the press said the closures would be temporary and take into account the work of humanitarian and aid organizations.

The statement said that the borders were being closed to fill the gaps in the inspection procedures which enable the continued smuggling of missiles and military equipment to the Houthi militias loyal to Iran in Yemen.

The coalition said additionally, that it would protect the entry and exit of relief and humanitarian personnel during the temporary closure of the air, sea and land ports.

Their statement called the attack a dangerous escalation. The coalition said, Irans role and its direct command of its Houthi proxy in this matter constitutes a clear act of aggression that targets neighboring countries, and threatens peace and security in the region and globally. Therefore, the coalitions command considers this a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime, and could rise to be considered as an act of war against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The statement added, The coalition command also affirms that the kingdom reserves its right to respond to Iran in the appropriate time and manner.

The coalition urged the Yemeni people and all civilian and humanitarian crews to avoid areas of combat operations, areas populated by the Houthi armed insurgents, areas and ports exploited by this Iranian-controlled militia to smuggle weapons, and areas from which this militia launch its attacks against the Kingdom.

It also warned, Diplomatic missions to avoid areas that are not controlled by the Legitimate Government of Yemen.

The coalitions statement also called on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to implement Resolution 2216, and to take all necessary legal measures to hold Iran accountable for its violation of UN Resolutions.
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By PTI: (Eds: Updating with PMs tweet)

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgiums King Philippe today held talks to strengthen bilateral ties.

Modi and the Belgian king, who is accompanied by six ministers and a high-powered business delegation comprising CEOs of 86 Belgian companies, held talks in Hyderabad House.

"Held talks with the King of the Belgians. India cherishes the ties with Belgium and we look forward to diversifying bilateral cooperation," Modi tweeted.

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India is Belgiums second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside EU, according to official data.

In 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion. While exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion, imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.

Ahead of the meeting with Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary, who arrived here on Sunday on a week-long trip, his first state visit to India following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

"Swaraj call on His Majesty The King Philippe of Belgium. Engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit will further strengthen the historical strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.

Philippe and his wife, Queen Mathilde, were accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. PTI PYK ZMN

--- ENDS ---
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

A new study on pain management around the world has shocked researchers.

The study found that many people in poor and middle-income countries suffer unimaginable pain without any help. They lack even the cheapest painkillers to manage severe pain.

The results of this study has led to action. Researchers now want to find ways to help the millions of people who suffer needlessly.

Felicia Knaul is one of the researchers involved in the study. She is a professor at the University of Miamis School of Medicine. She says that around 61 million people worldwide live and some die in great pain because of a lack of pain medicine and proper care.

Knaul says she became interested in global pain management after her own surgery for breast cancer.

"I woke up from a mastectomy and I remember the horror of the pain, of not being able to breathe. And yet, I got access almost immediately to pain relief, which allowed me to push through it much more easily."

She says that when she realized how inexpensive it could be to help people suffering in pain, she felt the need to act.

"When I thought about other women going through this, when I thought about children, burn victims and having their wounds dressed and cleaned, and the agony of that without pain relief, and then when I found out how inexpensive it is to solve this problem, a real win-win in global health --- that was when we really decided to move forward."

Knaul led the international study on pain relief published in The Lancet. She explains that the researchers looked at worldwide access to a common pain medication, morphine.

"We looked across the world using, as a tracer, access to morphine. And more than 100 countries could satisfy less than 30 percent of need for pain relief just for palliative care alone. And, in fact, the vast majority have almost nothing."

In the United States, morphine costs three cents per dose. In low-income countries, it costs five times as much. However, it is usually not available.

If the cost of morphine were the same for all countries, the study found that it would cost $145 million to make pain relief available for all.

Developing countries can work to close -- what researchers are calling -- the pain gap. Uganda is one example. Its government makes and distributes morphine for the country's hospitals. Doctors are trained in giving the drug and patients are monitored.

Knaul has asked the World Bank to help end the pain gap. Experts are still developing plans. But the goal is clear: to provide pain relief for the millions of people who truly need it.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo.

Carol Pearson reported this story for VOA News in Washington. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson edited the story.

______________________________________________________________

Quiz

Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz.

Quiz - Researchers Alarmed at 'Pain Gap' Between Rich and Poor Countries Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

palliate  v. to moderate the intensity of : palliative  adj.

mastectomy  medical n. : surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles

horror  v. the quality of something that causes feelings of fear, dread, and shock : the horrible or shocking quality or character of something

agony  v. extreme mental or physical pain

tracer  medical n. : a substance that is put in a patient's body so that doctors can watch a biological process (such as digestion) or see how a condition (such as cancer) is progressing

access  n. freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something

vast  adj. very great in size, amount, degree, intensity, or especially in extent or range

dose  n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time

distribute  v. to give out or deliver especially to members of a group
Catalonias effort to separate from Spain became more complex Sunday when the former president of the region, Carles Puigdemont, surrendered to police in Belgium. Puigdemont had fled to Brussels from Spain last week.

Spain ordered the arrest of Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders. They are accused of rebellion.

As Madrid seeks to stop the drive toward Catalan independence, similar movements, such as in Scotland, are watching with interest.

On the streets of Scotlands biggest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Scottish flag has flown alongside the Catalan flag to show support for the separatists.

Sonja Coquelin, a French student, joined the protests in Edinburgh last month.

"Whether its the Basque Country, Catalonia, Scotland, and then going elsewhere to Palestine, to Kurdistan, they all have the right to exist as nations, she said.

Scotland already enjoys some autonomy from Britain. The British government approved Scotlands plan to hold an independence vote in 2014. The Scottish people chose to remain part of Britain.

Scottish independence supporter Chris Bambery is the writer of the new book, Catalonia Reborn. He said Spains government should have treated Catalonia the way Britain treated Scotland.

Bamberry said the Spanish Prime Minister may have been able to dissuade Catalans from seeking independence had he been more respectful of them. He said the government acted too strongly. That angered Catalans and intensified their support for independence.

James Ker-Lindsay, a professor at St Marys University in London, agrees.

If Scotland had voted for independence, we know that Britain would have allowed it...But Spain said absolutely no way, were not even going to give that vote," he said.

And, he said, the international community supported Spains government because it did not want to deal with European problems.

Independence movements are taking place elsewhere in Europe. Italy, for example, saw two of its richest areas vote last month for more autonomy from Rome.

In Belgium, tensions between the Flemish-speaking north and French-speaking south also may threaten the country.

Ker-Lindsay said that other movements are troubled by events in Spain. The violence following the vote, and the reaction of the international community, demonstrate the difficulty in gaining independence.

The European Union supported the Spanish government. However, Chris Bambery argues, history shows it is better to be sympathetic to people who seek independence.

He said, The EU can look back in 1989 and say when the Soviet Union collapsed, actually the Baltic states and other countries got their independence peacefully.

Both Catalonia and Scotland are wrong to believe the EU will help them become independent, argues Ker-Lindsay. He said the EU does not have the power to decide questions of independence.

Ker-Lindsay added that the EU is already worried about the British decision to leave the EU, and the migrant crisis.

E.U. worries may grow: The Scottish National Party is proposing to hold another independence vote after Britain leaves the EU. If it succeeds, it may inspire the Catalans to fight harder to separate.

Im Jill Robbins.

And I'm Susan Shand.

Reporter Henry Ridgwell wrote this story for VOANews. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

autonomy  n. the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself

allow  v. permit

absolutely  adv. completely or totally

inspire  v. to cause someone to have a feeling or emotion
Mexico City has made changes to its emergency announcement service known as 911 CDMX.

The service now sends messages to peoples smartphones warning them of earthquakes.

The changes come after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Mexicos capital on September 19. The quake killed 369 people and caused 38 buildings to collapse.

Officials announced the new smartphone program last week. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said users of the free 911 CDMX program will receive messages for any earthquake strong enough to damage the city.

The program will send sound messages and cause the smartphone to vibrate.

The governmental center known as C5, for Command, Control Computing, Communications and Contact developed the program. It is available for both iOS and Android smartphone operating systems.

Mancera said at a news conference there would be no demonstration of the system to avoid causing any unnecessary worry.

We are not interested in having anyone hear it who does not know the context in which it is being presented, he said.

More than 20 million people live in the capital and surrounding area. Many buildings there are built on a former lake bottom. Its soil can increase the effects of earthquakes which are centered far away. Shockwaves from such earthquakes may arrive at the city later.

Early in September, an earthquake that was stronger than the one that hit Mexico City was centered hundreds of miles away. The United States Geological survey recently changed the record of its magnitude from 8.1 to 8.2. And many people in the capital felt it strongly.

Mexico City already has a system of loudspeakers that give out a warning whenever a serious earthquake is detected.

Idris Rodriguez Zapata is the general coordinator for C5. He urged residents to put the new 911 CDMX program on their smartphones. He also said they should pay attention to earthquake instructions at the moment they hear announcements on the loudspeakers or their phones.

Mancera said there had been reports of people setting their smartphone ringtones to the sound of the new earthquake warning. He urged them not do so to avoid causing worry.

The 911 CDMX program has other uses. It lets users see messages about earthquake activity on the website Twitter. It also can put them in contact with an emergency worker and lets them register their blood type and medical history.

Im Pete Musto.

Peter Orsi reported this for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. What systems does the government in your city have in place to warn you about disasters? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

smartphone(s)  n. a mobile telephone that can be used to send and receive e-mail, connect to the Internet, and take photographs

magnitude  n. a number that shows the power of an earthquake

vibrate  v. to move back and forth or from side to side with very short, quick movements

context  n. the situation in which something happens

loudspeaker(s)  n. a device that is used to make sound, such as music or a person's voice, louder and to send it out so that many people can hear it in a public space

ringtone(s)  n. the sound that a cell phone makes when someone is calling


A new report says Europe leads the world in English language proficiency, followed closely by Asia.

The Netherlands continues for the second year to have the best non-native English speakers, while Laos had the lowest English proficiency rate of any country.

These are just some of the findings from the 2017 English Proficiency Index report. The private education company Education First, or EF, released the findings on Wednesday.

This is the seventh such report produced by the business. It examined the English language knowledge and ability of adults in 80 countries.

The results do not represent the English ability and language skills of everyone living in a country. They are instead the results of an online test, called the EF Standard English Test or EFSET. More than one million people took EFSET during 2016. You can take it online for free.

The company has offices and established partnerships around the world. We have 500 schools and offices in 54 countries, noted Minh Tran, EFs director of research. And in countries where we dont have a local office we have a team of worldwide agents that help us recruit test-takers.

Europe still strong, but not growing

In the latest study, Europe had the highest overall average of English language proficiency for any area. The Netherlands was at the top of EFs list, followed by Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. They each earned a very high proficiency rating and were among the top five countries in the world.

The report said that European countries with high English proficiency ratings are alike in a number of ways. Often their students are required to take English as a foreign language, beginning at the primary school level. The countries also use teaching methods that emphasize speaking over memorization of grammar rules. Finally, citizens of these nations are more likely to meet up with English speakers, through travel or media contact, than other areas.

However, while Europe had the highest overall proficiency average, that average is not improving. The report notes that in many places, English proficiency levels are too low to be used effectively in the workplace. It adds that the rise of nationalist politicians and ideas may have an effect on how much effort European countries put into English learning in the future.

Singapore leads Asia

Adults in Asia rated strongly in English proficiency, which is why the area rated second highest in the latest study, after Europe.

The most notable result is Singapore, which was the highest-rated country for English proficiency in Asia, and had the fifth highest ranking in the world.

This was Singapores first time to rank in the top five. It was among the most improved Asian countries over the past year.

According to Minh Tran, one reason the rating for Singapore improved was the education system.

Singapore is hailed as one of the best education systems in the world, and theyre able to get their students to do some of the most difficult things in schools academically.

He added that while all countries have some students who perform well, the difference with Singapore is that nearly all of its students perform at a very high level.

In East Asia, Malaysia and the Philippines also rated high in English language proficiency, while Laos and Cambodia received low rankings.

A first look at Africa

This is the first year the EF report has had enough information to rate English proficiency in Africa. As a whole, Africa ranked just below the world average, but higher than both Latin America and the Middle East.

South Africa ranked first on the continent, and was the only country at the very high proficiency level. Libya had the lowest proficiency rating in Africa.

One interesting finding was that women outperformed men on the test in Africa at higher rates than in any other part of the world. African women also had higher proficiency ratings than the global average for women.

Minh Tran noted that EF researchers examined data from only five North African countries and four countries south of the Sahara. He said they hope to gather data from more African countries next year.

Latin America improving slowly

Latin America continues to rank low on the English proficiency index, with most countries falling into the low proficiency rating.

Argentina is the only South American country with a very high rating. Yet its proficiency levels were lower than last year.

The EF report says that teachers in Latin America generally have low English proficiency levels. It says this lack of proficiency has an effect on their students. To increase understanding of English in the area, the report has two suggestions: provide more training and resources to teachers and offering employment to teachers with a better understanding of English.

The one promising result the study found was that the proficiency ratings for most Latin American countries improved from 2016 levels.

Middle East still struggling despite investment

The new report says the Middle East continues to be the lowest performing region in English proficiency. It was the only area to rank in the very low proficiency grouping -- well below the world average.

The United Arab Emirates was the highest scoring country in the area, and the only Middle Eastern country in the low proficiency category. But it was rated 57th in the 80-country survey. Iraq had the lowest rating for English proficiency in the area.

However, almost every country improved over the past 12 months, with Saudi Arabia having the highest improvement rate of any country in the world.

The report identified several reasons for the Middle Easts low ratings. It noted that violence or conflict in some areas makes it impossible to develop or provide a strong education system for students. EFs Minh Tran says even in countries without conflict, the local education systems are not strong enough to provide quality English teaching.

While its great to be able to send so many students abroad, the vast majority of students in your country are still going to be trained locally through the public school education system. What weve seen is so much of the countrys English levels have to do with the quality of the public school education system...

He noted that EF has found a very clear link between the countrys English level and the average number of years that a student spends in public schools.

English rises with Development

The study had other interesting findings. In general, English proficiency levels among women were higher than those for men. On average, women in most countries were more educated than men, and more likely to complete secondary school and attend college. However, the differences between the sexes appear to be getting smaller from year to year.

Also, EF officials say English proficiency levels appear to be linked with innovation and economic development. Countries with better internet connections, investment in research, and service exports all have higher English levels. In addition, the higher a country ranks on the Human Development Index, the higher its English proficiency score was, on average.

Im Phil Dierking.

And I'm Caty Weaver.

Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

For those interested in taking the EFSET English Proficiency Test, you can find it on the EF website here.

How well does your country speak English? Do you agree with the reports findings? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

proficiency - n. being good at something

innovation - n. a new idea, device, or method

academic - adv. of or relating to schools and education

according (to) - prep. as stated, reported, or recorded by 

primary - adj. most important

emphasize - v. to give special attention to something)

overall - adv. with everyone or everything included

online - adj. connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet

recruit - n. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.
1 U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Japan's Emperor Akihito while his wife Melania talks with Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is expanding his power over the Middle East country with a reported anti-corruption campaign.

King Salman named his son Mohammed bin Salman Crown Prince in June. The 32-year-old prince replaced his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef as the next in line to be King.

There have been no public displays of opposition to the campaign within the kingdom.

But outside observers say the prince is removing opponents to expand his own power. In the Washington Post newspaper, Saudi reporter Jamal Kashoggi wrote that the Saudi royals usually share power and rule by consent.

He added, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is upending this arrangement and centralizing all power within his position as crown prince.

Prominent princes arrested

Almost 50 people were detained early Sunday, including 11 princes, four government ministers and one billionaire.

A royal order on Saturday said the campaign was launched in reaction to abuses of power. The order said some officials had put their own interests above the public interest, in order to make money illegally.

A Saudi official told Reuters that the men are accused of several serious financial crimes, including bribery. The accusations could not be confirmed independently. Family members of those detained could not be reached.

The detainees are being held in hotels in the capital. And a no-fly list has been created to prevent owners of private airplanes from leaving the country.

Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah is among those detained. He has been serving as head of Saudi Arabia's National Guard. He was responsible for security in the capital and the guarding of members of the royal families.

The moves give Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman control of all Saudi security and military forces. That power has long been divided among branches of the royal family.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire with holdings across the world, is also among those arrested. His holdings include shares of News Corp, Citigroup and Twitter and ownership of hotel companies.

Former Economy Minister Adel Faqieh was also arrested along with some leading Saudi businessmen. Some experts questioned the decision as these are men the kingdom was depending on for help in moving the country from an oil-based economy.

Greg Gause is a Middle East expert at Texas A&M University. He told Reuters, It seems to run so counter to the long-term goal of foreign investment and more domestic investment and a strengthened private sector.

Other changes under the Crown Prince

Over the past year, the Crown Prince has become the decision-maker on military, foreign, economic and social policies.

His Vision 2030 plan includes cuts in government assistance, raising taxes, sales of state property, an efficiency campaign and efforts to gain foreign investment.

Much of Saudi Arabias largely young population has supported the plan. Older and more conservative members of Saudi society, including parts of the Al Saud royal family, were angered by the Crown Princes quick rise to power.

Saudi Arabia recently announced it would end its ban on women drivers by June 2018. The decision is part of the Crown Princes efforts toward social reform. Conservative clergymen with large followings have criticized movement toward such reforms.

As defense minister, Muhammad bin Salman led Saudi Arabia into a now two-year-old war in Yemen. The Saudi government says it is fighting Iran-backed Houthi militants there. The conflict has caused a dispute between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia said it would temporarily close all its air, land and sea ports to Yemen. The move came after Saudi forces shot down a missile fired at Riyadh.

I'm Caty Weaver.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters and Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

royal - n. member of the king or queen family

arrangement - n. a usually informal agreement

branch - n. part of a family

counter - adv. in a way that goes against

domestic - adj. of, relating to, or made in your own country

sector - n. an area of the economy
A gunman in Texas shot and killed 26 people in a church in the small community of Southerland Springs, Texas on Sunday. At least 20 people were injured in the shooting.

Victims included children and the elderly.

The suspected gunman is also dead.

The event comes weeks after another major mass shooting in the United States. On October 1, Stephen Paddock shot and killed 58 people at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada and wounded about 500 more. It was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

In both events, the reason remains unclear. The police and the public search for answers.

Jeffery Simon, an expert on mass killings, told CNN that wanting to know why someone would commit such a terrible crime is natural. It is hard to get an answer, however.

What we know about the shooting in Texas

Public safety official Freeman Martin identified the gunman in Texas as 26-year-old Devin Kelley. Martin described him as a white male wearing a bullet-proof vest. Reports say he opened fire with an assault rifle outside of the First Baptist Church, entered and continued shooting.

The names of those killed have not been officially released yet. However, many people in the church knew Kelley.

While Kelley was shooting, a local person with his own rifle approached the gunman. This caused the gunman to drop his weapon and flee in his vehicle.

The citizen reportedly chased the gunmen. Police then joined in pursuing the suspect.

The suspect crashed and was found dead in his vehicle. Officials say he shot and killed himself.

Police have not found any links between Kelley and an organized terror group. They say that his criminal history with the police includes only minor driving violations.

However, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force told VOA that records show Kelley was discharged from the Air Force three years ago. He was charged with assaulting his wife and their child.

The couple divorced. Two years later, Kelley married again. It is unknown whether he and his second wife are still together.

So, why did he do it?

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said the shooting was the worst in the history of the state of Texas. He added that law enforcement officials had many pieces of a complex puzzle to put together about the events.

President Trump called the event a mental health problem at the highest level.

Examinations of previous mass shooting events have linked a number of issues to such violence.

After the Las Vegas shooting, CNN reporter Eric Levenson interviewed Michael Stone, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University. Levenson writes, In general, mass killers, almost all of whom are young men, are motivated by some combination of paranoia and mental illness or financial and social problems, he said.

In the case of the Texas shooter, reports say that Kelley had a troubled relationship with his mother-in-law, who attended the church.

But Katherine Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University, has cautioned against identifying a motive too quickly. She points to the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. In that event, two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher, and wounded more than 20 other people. They then killed themselves.

After Columbine, Ramsland says, the media used the information they had to offer an explanation that was not complete or proven. Later studies of the event found more complicated reasons.

In general, experts agree that a single event usually does not cause a person to take violent action. Instead, many things can be involved over a long period of time.

The lack of a single  or simple  explanation has been a hallmark of the Las Vegas shooting in October. The gunman did not seem troubled by money or romantic relationship problems.

And the public is still struggling to understand the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. In that event, a 20-year-old man shot and killed 20 children and 6 adults before committing suicide.

A report from state officials confirmed that the Sandy Hook shooter had mental health problems. But it did not identify a reason for the crime.

Writing in Time magazine, Ari Schulman has said that the lack of a reason defines violence against a large number of strangers. The mass shooting is a crafted public spectacle, a theater of violence, Schulman wrote.

Its aim is to cause a public reaction, and to bring attention to the shooter  even if the attention is negative, Shulman said.

And the victims are more than the people who are struck by the bullets. The guns are aimed at society itself.

Im Kelly Jean Kelly.

Kelly Jean Kelly adapted this story for Learning English, with reports from VOA News, CNN, CBS, NBC, Time, and Psychology Today. Mario Ritter was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

church n. a Christian place of worship

assault rifle n. a military weapon that can shoot many rounds quickly

assaulting n. an act or crime causing harm or threatening to do so

divorce v. to legally end a marriage

paranoia n. a mental state of believing others are trying to harm you

hallmark n. something that marks as an example of some quality

spectacle n. a show meant to attract attention

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
Fire department was unable to take action against RK Studio after the owners replied saying they were still in process of completing the fire safety norms when the massive fire broke out on the premises.

By Vidya : The Mumbai civic body's fire department issued a notice in September to the owners of the iconic RK Studio for alleged violation of safety norms which, it claims, led to a massive blaze on the premises.

On September 16, a major fire broke out on the sets of a dance reality show at the RK Studio, founded by legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor in suburban Chembur.

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Recently, fire department was unable to take action against RK Studio's owners after the department received a reply from the studio on the show cause notice.

The studio says that they were still in the process of completing the fire safety recommendations when the fire took place so the fire department cannot take any action.

Soon after the fire which damaged RK Studio in September, fire department had sent a show cause notice to the owners of RK Studio asking why they should not be prosecuted for endangering lives of people in the studio.

According to the fire department officials at that time, automatic sprinkler system, alarm systems, a public address system and automatic smoke detectors which should have been in place were not provided by the studio owners.

They had also said that there was insufficient underground water storage tank due to which water for fire fighting was available for only 30 minutes while ideally water should have lasted for two hours.

NOTHING FIRE DEPARTMNET CAN DO

However, after getting the reply from the studio, the fire department has realised that there is nothing that they can do legally against the Kapoors.

"They are an old establishment so they do not come under our purview. It was because they wanted to do some alteration like they wanted to modernise their studios, make museum, etc, that is the only reason they had approached us for in 2014 and we had given them a recommendation," says chief fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale of Mumbai fire department.

The recommendations concern the safety norms like the fire detectors, sprinklers and other safety equipment that have to be put in place for the studio to be given a go ahead for commercial use.

The technical glitch that the fire department discovered itself is that the studio implemented 70 per cent of the recommendations by the fire department. The remaining 30 per cent work was still in progress.

"Had they completed the work as per the recommendations, we could have still taken action against RK Studio but since the work was still in progress, we cannot do much here," said Rahandale.

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The fire department which had cancelled the No Objection Certificate (NOC) of the studio after the fire will keep it that way and the studio will now have to apply for a fresh NOC whenever it is built again.

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This is Whats Trending today

The United States is now alone in the world in its rejection of the Paris climate agreement.

Syria announced it would sign that agreement Tuesday in Bonn, Germany at the United Nations yearly climate change conference. The treaty calls for individual limits on greenhouse gas releases among participating countries. It is not binding nor does it provide any enforcement mechanism.

Barack Obama signed the treaty in his second term as U.S. president.

However, in June, President Donald Trump withdrew the nation from the agreement. He said the agreement hurts the U.S. economy and American workers.

At that time, Syria and Nicaragua were the only other countries that had not signed.

Nicaragua signed the agreement last month.

Environmental organizations around the world praised Syrias decision. But comments on social media were directed more at the United States and Donald Trump.

Senator Michael Bennett is a Democrat from the state of Colorado. He tweeted, Even Syria will join #ParisAgreement. This doesn't make America great. It makes us the only country denying the reality of #climatechange.

A user with the name Curious Doubter replied to Bennett, Its 30 degrees, windmills are never going to heat our houses, and the seas have been rising and the climate warming since the last Ice Age.

On Facebook, user Brian McNoldy noted that Syria took action even though it is currently involved in a civil war. He described the U.S. as left in the dust behind industrial giants, third-world developing countries, and everyone in between.

Twitter user Achille disagrees however. Achille tweeted, All of you pseudo intellectuals that haven't read the #ParisAgreement yet are nevertheless outraged should probably move to a country in it!

And thats Whats Trending Today.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

pseudo - adj. not real

mechanism - n. a process used to produce a particular result

windmill - n. a structure that has parts which are turned by the wind to produce power, pump water

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know "TAKE THAT, CHINA!" USA Gains in EV Battery Arms Race (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report New Banking App Revolution (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine This Govt. Act Can Help Investors (Ad) Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US The Latest | UN Climate Summit

S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know "TAKE THAT, CHINA!" USA Gains in EV Battery Arms Race (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report New Banking App Revolution (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine This Govt. Act Can Help Investors (Ad) Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US The Latest | UN Climate Summit

S&P 500 3,991.73 DOW 33,592.92 QQQ 289.39 Retiring Soon? 8 Facts About Retirement You Need to Know "TAKE THAT, CHINA!" USA Gains in EV Battery Arms Race (Ad) Three Penny Stocks Making Big Moves In November Agilent Remains In Buy Range Ahead Of Next Week's Q4 Report New Banking App Revolution (Ad) Dont Chase Walmart Higher, Wait For Extra Low Prices Russian airstrikes reported in cities across Ukraine This Govt. Act Can Help Investors (Ad) Stocks gain ground after wholesale inflation eases in US The Latest | UN Climate Summit
By PTI: By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Nov 7 (PTI) The 2008 Mumbai terror attack has tarnished Pakistans image internationally and done an "irreparable damage" to the Kashmir cause, former foreign secretary of Pakistan Riaz Mohammad Khan has said.

The terror attacks in November left 166 people dead and many more injured. Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive and was tried in a court before being hanged in a jail in India.

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"Besides tarnishing Pakistans image, the attacks also did an irreparable damage to the Kashmir cause," the Dawn quoted Khan as saying.

He was addressing a gathering at the Kashmir Day event held at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Sunday, the report said, adding that Indias blaming of Pakistan for the attacks did hurt Islamabads image in the world capitals.

Ambassador Touqir Hussain, another senior former Pakistani diplomat, who now teaches diplomacy at the Georgetown University, emphasised the need to provide political and moral support to the Kashmiri struggle.

Hussain said that as US interests brought Washington closer to New Delhi.

"Kashmir has become a victim of the geo-politics of the region," he said.

Hussain also referred to a recent statement by Americas UN envoy Nikki Haley in which she said the Washington had asked India to keep an eye on Pakistan.

Hussain said that Haley was trying to diminish Pakistans influence to help India suppress the Kashmiri struggle.

Pakistans Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhary alleged that the Indian government was using brutal violence to suppress the Kashmiri freedom movement. PTI SH MRJ AKJ MRJ

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A quick fact-check to start: Louis C.K.'s show, "Louie," is on long-term hiatus with no definite plans for another season, which means that the people who worked on previous seasons of the show are not currently drawing paychecks from him that they'll now lose because FX isn't comfortable producing the show anymore. So I'd be a little less concerned about collateral damage in that case.

Second, I agree! Firing and blacklisting abusive criminals is absolutely a necessary first step, but if it's the last step, this moment will have been a failure. I'm encouraged by the news that some networks are in the process of doing larger audits of their workplace culture and trying to figure out how abusive people went underdetected for so long. Hopefully, these investigations, which take time, will help identify both best and worst practices so studios and networks can take more concrete steps. I also think it's encouraging to note that some Hollywood unions are intent on tackling these issues, which could become the focus of future contract negotiations.

But man, these are hard questions. I've covered personnel management and HR in the past, but I don't know that I have all the answers here; ultimately, we're going to need a combination of policies that make it harder to offend, policies that deliver much more swift and decisive punishment for offenders, and a truly profound cultural shift such that there are fewer men who think it's okay to, among other things, take out their genitalia in front of people who don't want to see it, or to kiss women without their permission. I think a big challenge is that so many people feel like this behavior is already just so baffling that it's hard to see how people could feel otherwise, and thus to figure out how to stop them.
This week, publication of a special issue on Advances in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Cure begins in PLOS Medicine, advised by guest editors Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Steven Deeks of the University of California San Francisco, USA; and Sharon Lewin of the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia.

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most critical health challenges, with around 36.7 million people living with HIV and an estimated 1.8 million new infections in 2016. Although progress in research, care, advocacy and donor funding has brought antiretroviral therapy to some 19.5 million people, AIDS-related illnesses continue to claim a million lives annually. The special issue will feature research and discussion articles aimed at advancing progress against HIV/AIDS, with ambitious global goals seeking to bring the epidemic under control by 2020.

In a Research Article, Samantha Kaplan of Yale School of Medicine, USA and colleagues report on almost 40,000 participants in an established antiretroviral programme in Khayelitsha township in South Africa, where maintaining long-term carerequired for consistent viral suppressionis an important issue. About a quarter of patients were estimated to have disengaged from treatment in a 2-year period, but some 33% of these patients re-engaged in care. In a further research paper, Tonia Poteat, of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA and colleagues describe behavioural and psychosocial factors associated with HIV infection in two key populations at elevated risktransgender women and men who have sex with men, across 8 African countries.

In a research paper reporting on Link4Health, a cluster-randomized trial in Swaziland, Margaret McNairy of ICAP, Columbia University, New York, USA and colleagues describe the effect of a combined intervention comprising 5 evidence-based methods aimed at improving HIV linkage to and retention in care, including point-of-care testing, accelerated initiation of antiretroviral therapy and non-cash incentives. With a primary trial outcome of combined linkage to care at 1 month and retention in care at 12 months, McNairy and colleagues report substantial benefits for people with HIV as compared with standard care (adjusted relative risk 1.52, 95% CI 1.19-1.96).

In a Perspective article, Wafaa El-Sadr, also of ICAP in New York, and colleagues discuss the need for differentiated approaches to HIV prevention and care, tailored to the needs of specific groups of people (such as pregnant women or sex workers) and the relevant health care settings.

Turning to the long-term consequences of HIV infection, in another Research Article Mark Boyd of the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia and colleagues report analyses from D:A:D, a large multinational study focusing on comorbidities and the adverse effects of antiretroviral treatment. Boyd and colleagues assess the risks of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease by predicted 5-year risk scores in people with HIV infection. As anticipated they find elevated risks of each disease occurring together with the otherfor example, people at high risk of cardiovascular disease had a 5.63 fold increase (95% CI 4.47-7.09) in risk of chronic kidney disease events compared to those at low risk. The authors report that, for people at high risk of cardiovascular and renal disease, the risk of both comorbidities was multiplicative as compared with that of people at low risk, and note that the risks for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease in people with HIV should be assessed together.

Curing HIV infection remains an elusive goal. In a further research paper, Timothy Henrich of the University of California San Francisco, USA and colleagues describe detailed analyses of two patients who received prophylactic antiretroviral treatment within an estimated 10 to 12 days of HIV infection (at which point infection had not been identified), later followed by full antiretroviral therapy with four individual drugs. Although cure was not achieved in either case, detailed analyses allow the authors to follow the sequence of events and estimate the size of the viral reservoir, to inform future efforts towards curing HIV infection.

The Special Issue will continue with further research and discussion articles appearing over the next several weeks.

More information: Kaplan SR, Oosthuizen C, Stinson K, Little F, Euvrard J, Schomaker M, et al. (2017) Contemporary disengagement from antiretroviral therapy in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A cohort study. PLoS Med 14(11): e1002407. Journal information: PLoS Medicine Kaplan SR, Oosthuizen C, Stinson K, Little F, Euvrard J, Schomaker M, et al. (2017) Contemporary disengagement from antiretroviral therapy in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A cohort study.14(11): e1002407. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002407
The man sits on the edge of the bed, feet touching the floor but incapable of supporting his weight. He doesn't speak and his eyes stare vacantly ahead, despite the eight or ten people who have crowded in to see him. His mother stands nearby, beside herself with despair. He's had these symptoms for a year, she tells us. His brother has to carry him on his back at home in their village.

His name is Ibrahima Sory Camara, and he's in a sleeping sickness clinic in Forecariah, a town in Guinea, West Africa. Camara may be experiencing many other symptoms that he can't tell anyone about: sleeping sickness can also cause headache, severe itching, apathy, aggression, confusion, insomnia at night, and in the day the overwhelming desire to sleep that gives the disease its common name.

If left untreated, the disease is almost invariably fatal, as the parasite that causes it eventually reaches the brain. But severe cases are rare in Guinea these days. The number has fallen dramatically since the 1990s, thanks to a national programme to catch infections early and to control the flies that spread it. But it seems impossible to get the number all the way to zero  and no one knows why.

Guinea is constantly fighting disease. It was here, in 2013, that the first known victim of the Ebola outbreak died, a two-year-old boy. The ensuing epidemic spread rapidly through the country and its neighbours Liberia and Sierra Leone, eventually killing more than 11,000 people. Guinea was declared Ebola-free in 2016. Yet sleeping sickness, a disease that killed millions in the 20th century, lingers on  as does the threat of a new epidemic. Why?

I met Camara earlier this year when I went to Guinea with a group of scientists who think they may have the answer to this conundrum. If their theory is correct, it would fundamentally change our understanding of this disease. It might explain why sleeping sickness is able to cling on despite the national programme's best efforts. And it could even lead to a paradigm shift in tactics as Guinea tries to eliminate sleeping sickness for good.

It's 6am on a warm May morning and I am waiting for the sunrise and a truck to take me to Missira, a village on the Guinean coast. I'm travelling with a team from the national programme fighting sleeping sickness  they've been visiting villages in the area for the past two weeks and this is their last day in the field.

We bounce along rust-red roads, stopping only to pick up some bread along the way. Since gaining independence in 1958, Guinea has retained some French culture, not least its official language and a love of freshly baked baguettes. We pass many bikes and motorbikes on the early-morning roads with loaves sprouting out of their panniers. These, along with a cup of instant coffee and a bit of cheese, are the basis of our breakfast when we finally reach Missira around 8am.

I learn later that another name for sleeping sickness here translates as "the sickness at the end of the track"  and Missira is literally at the end of the track, for the road leads straight to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. We're close to the mangroves where people hunt, fish and grow crops. Mangroves are also home to tsetse flies, which carry the sleeping sickness parasite and whose bites are the source of all human infections. And that's why we're here today  to test everyone in Missira for signs of the parasites in their blood.

The team  10 or 12 scientists, health workers and local representatives, all but one from Guinea  get smoothly on with setting up for the day. Tables form stations for every stage of the process: registration, then a finger-prick to take blood, the test itself, and somewhere more private for a consultation with the nurse if the test is positive. Here, the nurse will check for swollen lymph nodes in the neck, before they take more blood to try and spot parasites wriggling about under the microscope.

These field tests aren't perfect, although they are relatively accurate considering they can be done anywhere there's a power source (a car battery is enough). But not everyone who tests positive will actually be infected. Some will be false positives, while others may have antibodies to the parasites  which are what the test detects  but not any actual parasites in their blood. So anyone who tests positive today will be invited to the clinic in Forecariah for more tests and only then  if required  receive treatment.

This approach, which is how Camara was diagnosed a few days ago, is called active surveillance. Unlike passive surveillance, which relies on having the capacity to diagnose and treat people who come to a health centre with symptoms, active surveillance means regularly testing everyone in specific areas. In other countries, when cases of sleeping sickness have fallen to similarly low levels, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that passive surveillance is enough. But the man in charge of fighting sleeping sickness in Guinea wants to keep throwing everything he can at the disease because he knows what will happen if they step back before it has been eliminated.

Mamadou Camara, no relation to Ibrahima, is a biologist and director of Guinea's programme against sleeping sickness. He tells me that the disease has been recognised as a major problem for decades.

It killed millions of people in the 20th century, in a series of devastating epidemics as well as the slower, persistent death tolls of endemic disease. In the 1940s, the number of reported cases across Africa was around 50,000 a year, with the real number likely to have been much higher. By the end of the 1960s, after sustained internationally supported efforts dropping insecticide from aircraft to kill the flies, and culling wild animals suspected of harbouring the disease, cases of sleeping sickness fell to just 5,000 a year.

But leaving that small foothold for the disease proved a disastrous mistake. By the 1990s, cases of sleeping sickness had soared back almost to the levels of 50 years earlier. Was there something we hadn't understood about this infection? And will that same gap in our knowledge stop us eliminating sleeping sickness this time around, too? A 2017 Lancet article says that neglecting sleeping sickness, "either because of social or political instability or the tyranny of success, will inevitably lead to resurgence".

Active surveillance has been enough to get rid of the infection in many countries and regions since the 1990s. But in three small areas of Guinea, including the villages around Forecariah, the disease just won't die out. The national programme here now includes vector control  targeted ways to trap and kill tsetse flies  which has helped, but there always seem to be a few more cases cropping up. Since 2004, there have been between 50 and 100 reported cases a year in Guinea. There was a dip to 33 in 2014 and just 29 in 2015, but this was due to under-reporting during the Ebola epidemic. In 2016, after the end of Ebola, 107 cases were reported  the highest for 13 years.

Camara says the disease is back under control now, thanks to the actions of his team, the ministry of health, and the international partners who provide resources for surveillance and vector control as well as funding research to better understand the parasite and how it spreads.

Jose Franco is the WHO's Medical Officer for the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. He says that, although it can be hard to keep pushing when cases fall so low, it is not the number of cases being treated that should be counted but "the number of cases you are avoiding".

"You are always working," he explains. "Detecting cases, treating them, and complementing in some areas with vector control In some countries, they are not detecting cases for some time, they have a good health system, then in these cases we are now working more in setting up a surveillance system, mainly based on passive screening.

"We have to adapt these strategies according to the evolution of the disease and the evolution of the country."

The WHO's current aim is to eliminate the disease in 80 per cent of endemic areas by 2020. In this instance, "elimination" is a technical term, meaning transmission is so low that it is no longer a public health problem in the country. It doesn't mean there are zero cases  and this worries Camara, because he knows that history shows it can always come roaring back.

So as well as active surveillance and vector control, Camara is a big supporter of more scientific research into sleeping sickness, to figure out why it is clinging on in Guinea, and whether a change in approach could help them make further progress  and, maybe one day, eradicate it altogether.

Somewhat surprisingly, there are no positive results in Missira today, meaning no one has to come back to the clinic for more tests. Over the fortnight that the team have been testing villages around Forecariah, around 25 people have been invited to go to the treatment centre in town. They will all arrive there tomorrow for further tests, and treatment if they need it. While they are there, if they are willing, they can also take part in research to test a new hypothesis about sleeping sickness and just why it is proving so stubborn in Guinea.

Annette MacLeod is a Wellcome Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. She's been investigating the parasites that cause sleeping sickness, called trypanosomes, since her PhD. She says she always found bugs fascinating  "disgusting and beautiful at the same time"  but it's the potential to use science to rid people of this infectious disease that attracted her to the field.

"An infectious disease can be cured," she says. "Whereas an inherited disease, it's a lot more tricky to actually do anything."

But sleeping sickness has proved trickier than she expected: "Now we're realising that it's a lot more complicated and you can't just look at the pathogen on its own. It's very much about the whole parasite interaction and how we can interfere with that to combat the disease."

Trypanosomes have co-evolved with people and tsetse flies for thousands of years. They cannot proliferate without spending some of their life cycle in humans and some of it in flies, switching between species when the flies bite people to take blood meals.

Based on what we know, however, sleeping sickness should have died out long ago.

Most people who are diagnosed with sleeping sickness have a very low concentration of parasites in their blood. And when a tsetse fly feeds, it will slurp only a tiny drop. So, most of the time, a fly wouldn't ingest any parasites from an infected person. Mathematical models  based on how many flies there are, how often they feed and so on  show that sustained transmission of trypanosomes ought to be impossible.

And yet people continue to get infected. How can this paradox be explained?

A new clue came from MacLeod's longtime collaborator, Bruno Bucheton, a French scientist based in Guinea who has previously been stationed in Sudan and Burkina Faso working for the Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement. Working closely with the active surveillance teams in Guinea, he noticed that there were a surprisingly high number of false positives.

Of course, this could have been due to a lack of accuracy in the field test  the rarer a disease gets, the lower a test's predictive power will be, because false positives start to outnumber true positives. But because the team were testing the same people repeatedly over a number of years, Bucheton was able to track everyone who got a presumed false positive result. About a third of them tested negative the next time, as expected. However, another third went on to develop sleeping sickness  so maybe the earlier test had been right, but the concentration of parasites in their blood had been just too low to be detectable.

Even more interesting were the final third, who consistently tested positive for antibodies despite having no discernible parasites in their blood and never showing any signs of the disease. Why would their bodies produce antibodies if there weren't any parasites?

MacLeod tells me of a case in the UK, a man from Sierra Leone who had not been back for nearly 30 years when he suddenly developed sleeping sickness. He must have harboured some parasites undetected, without any symptoms, for decades. If a significant number of people were infected with hidden parasites like this, could they be acting as a reservoir for the trypanosomes and tipping the mathematical equations back in favour of transmission?

There was a problem with this hypothesis, though: how could these people be transmitting trypanosomes to flies if they didn't have any in their blood? The answer, according to MacLeod, is that we should have been looking elsewhere.

"You need to understand how the tsetse fly feeds," she explains. "They're like flying chainsaws  they've got serrations all down their mouth parts, and they probe up and down and kind of mash up the skin and then suck on the flow of blood and lymph, interstitial fluid and everything that's there."

So the parasites don't necessarily need to be in the blood to be ingested by the fly  they could just as easily be in these other fluids or, as MacLeod and Bucheton thought, in the skin itself.

In hindsight, this wasn't such a radical idea. People with sleeping sickness often experience intense itching on their chests and backs  old textbooks show pictures of people who have scratched their skin raw as a result. One historical reference MacLeod found even said that sleeping sickness was "primarily a skin disease". But in an age of genetics and blood tests, most researchers seem to have lost sight of this side of it.

So what would it mean, practically, if this hypothesis is true? Well, if you can have a trypanosome infection in your skin without any discernible parasites in your blood, it would mean thousands of people across Africa have been told they are clear when they are, in fact, infected and could be passing the infection to flies and then on to other people. It could even mean that all of these people would have to be treated too if we want to stop transmission of the disease once and for all.

Experiments with mice showed that parasites in the skin could indeed be transmitted when flies fed, but MacLeod, Bucheton and their colleagues needed to find out if there really were people who had parasites in their skin and not their blood. To do that, Bucheton invited MacLeod to Guinea.

Before she could go, however, she needed to wait for an outbreak of another infectious disease to die down, and for its effects to be repaired. This other disease was Ebola.

I've heard conflicting accounts of what happened outside the village of Tanene at the end of May 2015. What's agreed is that a woman from Tanene was suspected to have Ebola. Whether she was living there or travelled back there in the dead of night is unclear. Either way, when the authorities went to investigate and, if necessary, take her to an Ebola treatment centre, young men from her village  probably including her brother  objected and tried to turn them away.

Mamadou Leno, nicknamed "Blo" because he sometimes blows his top like a volcano, tells me he was caught up in the violence. Blo is well known in the area  a lab technician, he is also a social mobiliser for the sleeping sickness programme, working with the community to emphasise the importance of participating in active surveillance. But 18 months into the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Blo  like practically every other health worker in Guinea  had been commandeered for the new fight against Ebola. Part of his job was checking out suspected cases.

As he approached Tanene on 31 May, he was met by a group of men. They knew exactly who he was, and why he had come, and they were not there to give him a warm welcome. Despite improved public health information about the epidemic, many people in Guinea were still scared and suspicious, particularly in areas like Tanene where Ebola had not yet struck. All that these young men knew was that when someone was taken to an Ebola treatment centre, they usually didn't come back, either alive or dead.

In a culture where burial rituals are supremely important, rumours of blood and dead bodies being sold were taken seriously, and had fuelled attacks on health workers early on in the outbreak. The first treatment centre built by Medecins Sans Frontieres was attacked within a week, and eight Ebola workers and journalists were killed in the village of Womey in September 2014.

Blo knew he was in trouble when the men started banging on his car. He got out and tried to run for it, but they caught him, beat him and dragged him back to his car. They set it on fire, intending to burn him inside. The only thing that saved him was the women from the village, who persuaded the young men to stop. He was in hospital for two months, during which time he was visited by national radio and TV. When they asked him if he would dare to go back into the field, his response was simple: "I'm a health agent. I'm here to help people. So yes, I'm going back."

Indeed he did, and when the Ebola epidemic was declared over in 2016, he rejoined the sleeping sickness team. Their work was harder now, though: Ebola and the discordant relationships between the government, health workers and communities were still fresh in people's memories. According to Blo, it was the vector control teams who saved the sleeping sickness programme. When these teams went to the villages, carrying the blue and black traps and targets used to lure tsetse flies, people could see they were not the same as the Ebola teams. People would then help to clear roads and tracks so the team could reach the tsetse fly habitats amid the mangroves.

The screening team have been careful to maintain that trust, dispensing with lab coats and making an extra effort to engage people in advance. A specially written play to raise awareness of sleeping sickness was performed a few weeks before surveillance started, and one or two team members go ahead and stay in each village the night before the rest of the team are due  this means they are able to reinforce the message that as many people as possible should stay in the village and get tested.

Facinet Yansane is one of those who was tested and found positive. Now he has come from his home on an island to have the follow-up tests. The most important is a lumbar puncture to see if there are any parasites in his spinal fluid. If there are, he'll be diagnosed with stage 2 sleeping sickness and given immediate treatment.

Then, whether he's diagnosed with sleeping sickness or not, and if he is willing to help test MacLeod and Bucheton's theory, a dermatologist will take a small chunk of skin out of Yansane's upper back so that they can look for any parasites hiding there. MacLeod has promised that she will dance a jig if they find any parasites in people's skin. The stakes suddenly got a lot higher.

The treatment centre in Forecariah was built specifically for sleeping sickness. However, as the number of cases fell, its use was extended to include leprosy and tuberculosis as well. In 2014/15, it was requisitioned to become an Ebola treatment centre instead. On the ground, I see discarded laminated instructions for how to put on the yellow protective suits that healthcare workers had to wear. There are still scraps of the orange plastic netting used to isolate patients  apparently it is so iconic of the epidemic that it can't be used for anything else in Guinea any more.

It's a stark reminder that sleeping sickness is just one of many life-threatening infections that people in Guinea have to live with.

Sakoba Keita was the national coordinator of the Ebola response. He tells me that people stayed away from healthcare facilities during the epidemic because of rumours that that's where you got infected. He says the percentage of people accessing the healthcare they needed fell from 70 per cent before the outbreak to just 30 per cent. Micaela Serafini from Medecins Sans Frontieres says more people died because of the impact of the epidemic on other conditions than died of Ebola itself.

While MacLeod and the others wait for the skin biopsy samples to be prepared for inspection, I meet Ibrahima Sory Camara again. After just a few days of treatment, he is walking, albeit at a slow shuffle, making tentative eye contact and speaking in a low whisper as if rediscovering his voice. His mother is now beside herself with relief and gratitude.

A few years ago, the treatments for stage 2 sleeping sickness were pretty bad. One of them contained arsenic and had a 5 per cent chance of killing the patient before it cured the disease. A new combination of drugs called NECT is much safer and more effective. NECT, which combines a previously used intravenous drug with an oral tablet, was launched in 2009 by a partnership including the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and Medecins Sans Frontieres. It is now used to treat all stage 2 patients in West Africa, thanks to drug donations from the pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and Bayer.

But the treatment is still complicated enough that people have to stay in the clinic for 10 days to receive it. If the skin hypothesis turns out to be true, and it's decided that anyone who tests positive should be treated even if they don't have parasites in their blood, this treatment regimen would be a massive hindrance  people just won't want to come to hospital for 10 days, not working, not earning money, to be treated for an infection that isn't bothering them.

A treatment that could be given just in pill form would revolutionise the way the disease is dealt with. More people would be encouraged to attend screening if a positive test simply meant taking pills. DNDi and others are working on developing new sleeping sickness drugs, and in October 2017 DNDi researchers announced that an effective oral treatment is in the final phase of trials. They are also working on what they hope will be an even simpler, single-dose treatment.

These new drugs might even make it practical to treat those who tested positive only to the field test  often referred to as "seropositive" people  in case they have parasites in their skin.

Even so, Jose Franco at the WHO is sceptical about the need to change the policy. "In some areas, yes, you could do that. Difficult access, areas with insecurity, you don't know when you will be able to go again  yes, in these areas it could be interesting to treat seropositive people. But as a general rule, now I will say not."

MacLeod and Bucheton think everyone with a trypanosome infection should be treated, whether it is in the blood or in the skin. But first they have to find out whether seropositive people really can have a skin infection without any evidence of parasites in the blood.

Back in the lab in Forecariah, there are problems with the microscope slides. Nono-raymond Kuispond Swar, a pathologist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country with the greatest number of sleeping sickness cases, has been overseeing the skin biopsies as well as preparing the slides. It's been a juggle, and other small setbacks have slowed things down even further.

Now it's our last night here  tomorrow the last few people come for follow-up tests and then the team will pack up and head back to the capital, Conakry. Mamadou Camara has come to see how things are going and there's even a party arranged for tonight, at which everyone wants to see MacLeod's victory dance. So on every front, time is running out  and, just to add to the tension, a storm is approaching.

As thunder cracks outside, MacLeod is in the lab, helping with the staining, and watching in frustration whenever Kuispond goes to the microscope. She's getting nervous that they won't have time to look properly for trypanosomes in the skin here and will have to wait until they are back in Glasgow. Her hope was to get a quick look so that if they did see trypanosomes in the skin of seropositive people here in Forecariah, they could be treated right away. If they don't even get to look, those people will be off home and potentially spreading the infection to their neighbours.

Each biopsy has been rolled gently over a slide so that some of the skin cells  and any parasites  are transferred onto the glass. Then they are treated with fixers and stains, every step involving more waiting.

It starts to rain, and in the humid conditions the slides need even longer to dry. At one point, a gas camping stove is brought out and the slides are balanced near the flame in an attempt to speed things along. As we huddle round the little stove, MacLeod comments that it feels absurd to have come all the way to Guinea just to watch slides dry.

Night falls as fast as it always does, and the waiting continues. Kuispond does take the slides to the microscope once, only to declare that they are still not ready. MacLeod is on tenterhooks but also knows that they can't risk losing these precious samples. It would be awful to have taken little chunks out of people's backs only to waste their contribution by rushing.

"They must be dry by now," she says at one point. Kuispond only sighs in response. Reluctantly, the effort is adjourned for tomorrow, but how much time they will have then is not certain.

The hunt begins in earnest the next morning, but it's full of false alarms, as if everyone looking down the microscope has begun to see what they want to see more than anything. Trypanosomes come in two forms depending on where they are in their life cycle, but essentially they look like tiny worms, thin single cells with a tail  a flagellum  at one end that keeps them always on the move. In textbooks, they easily stand out from other cells, but here it's proving to be like an especially hard game of Where's Wally?  if Wally was a microscopic parasite.

Whenever someone thinks they've seen one, another member of the team comes running to verify the possible sighting. The news is never good.

10.38am: "Where?" "Straight in front of you." "No, it's too small."

10.47am: "Are you talking about that thing right in the middle?" "Yes, sometimes they are more" "No, I couldn't see that."

11.46am: "Well?" "Voila. But too short."

4.18pm: "No flagellum." "OK."

4.25pm: "Tell me what you see." "It's curved, it's like a crescent-shaped cell and it looks like it's got a flagellum and  let's have a look and see what the others think. I'm not sure it's the right size."

MacLeod has finally got onto the microscope. She knows Kuispond's painstaking approach is the right way to examine slides, but she has been desperate to just have a quick scan of all of them to see if there are any obvious trypanosomes. And now, with Kuispond in the other room supervising one final biopsy and with just minutes to go before everything has to be packed up ready to leave, she thinks she has seen one.

The first person to arrive is Oumou Camara (no relation to the other Camaras in this piece), a Guinean PhD student who has spent all day poring over the slides with Kuispond. She positions herself at the microscope and nods. She turns to MacLeod. "I think," she emphasises, "it's a trypanosome."

Mamadou Camara is next in the room. "Annette found it?" he asks, delighted. He looks and gives a big thumbs-up. He hugs MacLeod, who does a little jig to celebrate. Mamadou goes off to get Bucheton and the others. They all agree  it's definitely a trypanosome.

"I told you Annette would find it," says Mamadou, and he slaps a 10,000 franc note (worth about 1) into her hand. "I didn't know there was a reward!" she says, and does another little jig.

"This is what we've been building up towards for a few years now," MacLeod tells me a few minutes later. "It's just fantastic to be here and see it down the microscope."

Had she been worried they'd have to leave without seeing a trypanosome in the skin?

"I really thought that. But no, I was really pleased to find it. Relieved. It means it was all worthwhile. I felt a bit guilty when I saw people going around with big patches on their back where they'd had the skin biopsies. I was thinking, 'Have we done this for no reason? Just chasing something elusive?' But now we have confirmation."

Spurred on by the discovery, the team arrange to have a microscope brought to the hotel in Conakry, so they can keep looking in the time they have before flying home. The floodgates have opened and they are identifying trypanosomes in almost every sample, in both diagnosed patients and undiagnosed seropositives. This is extraordinary because the biopsies are just 2 mm wide and the slides just superficial touch preparations. To find at least one on most of the samples they look at indicates that these people have significant numbers of trypanosomes in their skin.

We left Guinea knowing that the findings would still have to be confirmed in Glasgow by more advanced microbiology techniques. Now, the team are preparing to publish their findings in a peer-reviewed journal. But what they saw strongly suggests that the skin really could be at least as important as the blood when it comes to diagnosing sleeping sickness and understanding how the disease is spread.

It may take time to convince the WHO and other global health policy makers, but if national plans don't take account of this finding, there may always be thousands of people living with the risk of this potentially fatal disease.

If the policies evolve, however, it might just be possible to eliminate sleeping sickness for good.

Provided by Mosaic

This article first appeared on Mosaic and is republished here under a Creative Commons licence.


Depression among new fathers may be more common than previously believed, says the study.

By Asian News International: New dads too can get the baby blues, but their mental health condition could be hard to detect, according to a recent study.

The research from the Lund University in Sweden showed that depression among new fathers may be more common than previously believed. There is also a major risk that it remains undetected using today's screening instruments, and that fathers do not receive the help they need.

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Detecting depression in new parents is crucial - not only for their own sake but also because depressed parents often become less perceptive to the needs of their child, particularly if the child cries a lot. Babies of depressed parents tend to receive less stimulation which, eventually, could lead to slower development. In some cases, depression may lead to neglect of the child or inappropriately forceful behaviors.

Co-author Elia Psouni noted that these behaviours are not unusual - depression does not only involve major suffering for the parent, but also a risk for the child.

All new mothers are screened for depression, and an estimated 10-12 per cent of women are affected during their first year after giving birth. Fathers, however, are not screened, but previous international studies claim that the proportion of depressed fathers amounts to just over 8 per cent.

Also Read: Just an hour of exercise a week can kill depression

The study of 447 new fathers showed that the established method of detecting depression (EPDS, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) works poorly on men.

"This means that current statistics may not tell the whole truth when it comes to depression in new fathers", said Elia Psouni. "The screening method does not capture symptoms which are particularly common in men, such as irritation, restlessness, low stress tolerance, and lack of self-control."

Although one-third of the depressed fathers in the study had thoughts of hurting themselves, very few were in contact with the healthcare system. Among those who were classified being moderately to severely depressed, 83 per cent had not shared their suffering with anyone. Although difficult to know, the corresponding figure for new mothers is believed to be 20-50 per cent.

When it comes to screening depression in fathers, Elia Psouni thinks that the period to consider should be longer than the 12 months currently applied in studies of new mothers.

The study appears in Scandinavian Journal of Psychology.

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More than 80 percent of immigrants residing in the U.S. without authorization near the California-Mexico border have a lifetime history of traumatic events, according to a new study from a psychologist at Rice University. Nearly 50 percent of these immigrants suffer from clinically significant psychological distress.

"One Scar Too Many:" The Associations Between Traumatic Events and Psychological Distress Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants" will appear in an upcoming edition of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. This is the first study to provide population-based estimates for the prevalence of traumatic events and the association to clinically significant psychological distress among Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization.

Luz Garcini, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Rice and the study's lead author, sought to assess the prevalence of traumatic events among this population and to identify the prevalence of psychological distress associated with these events.

Overall, 82 percent of the participants interviewed reported a history of traumatic events, from being victims of or witnessing violence to living in poverty. About a third of the participants reported a history of at least six or more different types of traumatic events. Among those with a history of traumatic events, there was a high prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress47 percent. Fifty-nine percent of participants with this psychological distress reported a history of domestic violence or bodily injury, 56 percent said they had witnessed violence toward others, 55 percent reported material deprivationthe inability of individuals or households to afford consumption of goods and activities that are typical in a society at a given point in timeand 53 percent said they had witnessed injury of their loved ones. Garcini said differences in psychological distress were not significant between males and females.

"Our findings are alarming," she said. "The prevalence of traumatic events among undocumented immigrants in our study is much higher compared with estimates for other U.S. populations. Of primary concern is that the current socio-political climate and punitive actions against the undocumented community, such as the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, may increase risk of exposure to traumatic events among these immigrants without access to needed services or legal protection."

Garcini hopes the research will encourage the development and provision of culturally and contextually sensitive prevention and treatment interventions, as well as policy efforts to protect the human rights of this immigrant population.

"Revisiting immigration policies to devise solutions grounded in evidence and advocating support mechanisms aimed at protecting the human rights of this immigrant population are essential to prevent the negative consequences of trauma for these immigrants and the broader communities in Mexico and the U.S.," Garcini said.

The study included 248 Mexican immigrants (172 women and 76 men) living in high-risk neighborhoods near the California-Mexico border. (The city where the study was conducted is listed among the most conservative U.S. cities with strong opposition and disciplinary actions against undocumented immigrants. Because of this, Garcini said, the area is considered high-risk for undocumented immigrants.) The majority of participants ranged between the ages of 18 and 45, and approximately 20 percent were older than 45 years of age. Participants had lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years.

The participants took part in clinical interviews conducted by psychology doctoral trainees under the supervision of mental health clinicians. The interviews were assessed using an adapted version of the Traumatic Events Inventory of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, which is designed to assess traumatic experiences among at-risk immigrants.

"This information is only the tip of the iceberg," Garcini said. "Additional research and funding are needed to document the devastating effects of contextual stress and trauma on the health of undocumented immigrants, which is key to inform advocacy, policy and intervention efforts."
Brain images of people who developed neurological complications from West Nile virus found that many of themincluding those who had experienced mild symptoms or none allshowed evidence of brain damage years after the original infection, according to a new study presented today at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).

The 10-year study from researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston is one of the largest assessments to date tracking neurological deficits in West Nile virus victimsand the first to link neurological problems associated with the disease, like muscle and memory impairments and tremors, to physical evidence of brain damage as seen via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

"Our findings add to a growing amount of evidence that West Nile virus is a serious health threat that deserves considerably more attention because there still are no drugs available to treat it and no vaccines to prevent it," said Kristy Murray, DVM, PhD, of Baylor's National School of Tropical Medicine and the lead author of the study.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease originally confined to East Africa that did not emerge in North America until 2000. It is now found in every state except Hawaii and Alaska and maintains a consistent presence because it infects both birds and humans. Experts believe up to 3 million people in the U.S. have been exposed to the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented more than 2,000 deaths from West Nile. But previous research by Murray and her colleagues suggests the death rate may be much higher. It found evidence that many people infected with West Nile die years lateryet far earlier than had they not been infected.

The current study, presented at the ASTMH meeting by co-author Shannon Ronca, PhD, MPH, emerged from a 10-year effortfrom 2002 to 2012 to track 262 people in the Houston, Texas region with a history of West Nile virus to look for evidence of long-term health problems. From that group, 117 were recruited to be tested extensively for signs of neurological deficits. Those tests revealed that 57 of them (49 percent) were suffering from some type of neurological abnormality.

The most common physical problems involved muscle weakness, abnormal reflexes and tremors. Several subjects showed signs of cognitive impairments as well, mainly problems with short- or long-term memory beyond what would be expected from normal age-related cognitive decline.

From that group of 57, 30 subjects agreed to be further assessed with MRIs of the brain. Those scans revealed damage or thinning in different parts of the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the outer surface of the brain often referred to as gray matter that handles much of the brain's higher levels of activity, like memory, attention and language.

The scientists also found that people whose initial infection had progressed to West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, which can produce swelling in the brain, showed signs of degeneration or atrophy in several regions. They included the cerebellum, where damage can affect movement and balance, and the brain stem, which links the brain to a range of bodily functions, including breathing, speech and sleep cycles. In addition, atrophy was observed in the thalamus, where damage can lead to tremors and problems with reflexes.

"The issues we are seeing on the MRIs are consistent with what would occur from an infection that caused a lot of inflammation in the brain," Murray said. "Inflammation can lead to scarring as the brain starts to heal, and that scarring can cause damage."

Moreover, evidence of neurological disorders and brain injury was found across the spectrum of West Nile virus infections. They were seen not just in those who had experienced neuroinvasive disease, but also in people who reported only mild symptoms. Of the 57 people diagnosed with neurological deficits, seven had never noticed any symptoms at all. Their infection was detected during a routine screening test for blood donors.

At the ASTMH conference, Ronca said the new evidence from the brain scans should prompt greater attention to the fact that any West Nile virus infection has the potential to cause long-term neurological problems.

"It will be important to regularly assess people who have been infected with West Nile virus for early signs of neurological deficits and brain MRIs should be considered when symptoms are observed," Ronca said.

"It's critical for our scientists to keep following the outcomes for patients who have suffered a West Nile virus infection so that we have a full picture of the dangers posed by this disease," said Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH. "The risks they are uncovering highlight the need to intensify prevention efforts, from mosquito control to developing a protective vaccine."

Provided by Burness
(HealthDay)Tezacaftor-ivacaftor or ivacaftor alone is effective for patients with cystic fibrosis who are heterozygous for the Phe508del deletion, and tezacaftor-ivacaftor is effective for patients who are homozygous for the CFTR Phe508del mutation, according to two studies published online Nov. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, being held Nov. 2 to 4 in Indianapolis.

Steven M. Rowe, M.D., M.S.P.H., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial involving 248 patients aged 12 years or older with cystic fibrosis who were heterozygous for the Phe508del mutation and a CFTR mutation associated with residual CFTR function. Patients were randomized to tezacaftor-ivacaftor, ivacaftor monotherapy, or placebo. The researchers found that the least-squares mean difference with respect to the absolute change in the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) from baseline was 6.8 and 4.7 percentage points for tezacaftor-ivacaftor and ivacaftor alone, respectively, versus placebo.

Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, M.D., from National Jewish Health in Denver, and colleagues conducted a trial involving 475 patients aged 12 years or older with cystic fibrosis who were homozygous for the CFTR Phe508del mutation. Participants were randomized to receive tezacaftor and ivacaftor or placebo for 24 weeks. The researchers found that the effects on the absolute and relative changes in the percentage of the predicted FEV 1 were 4 and 6.8 percent, respectively, in favor of tezacaftor-ivacaftor over placebo.

"The combination of tezacaftor and ivacaftor was efficacious and safe in patients 12 years of age or older who had cystic fibrosis and were homozygous for the CFTR Phe508del mutation," Taylor-Cousar and colleagues write.

Both studies were funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Caenorhabditis elegans. Credit: Wikipedia

Researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute found that a previously dismissed genetic mechanism may contribute to nicotine dependence, and to the withdrawal effects that can make quitting smoking so difficult.

Scientists in the lab of Shawn Xu examined withdrawal responses in the millimeter-long roundworms Caenorhabditis elegans, which get hooked on nicotine just like humans.

In the findings, scheduled to be published Nov. 7 in Cell Reports, the researchers identified specific genes and microRNA that play an essential role in how the roundworms develop nicotine dependence and withdrawal responsesclues that may carry over to the mammalian realm.

The study took a fresh look at a previously dismissed biological mechanism. Most research in the field has focused on how proteins called nicotine acetylcholine receptors contribute to dependence.

Xu and his colleagues focused on an earlier step in the genetic coding process and discovered that a series of genes were involved in a process that ultimately increased the production of the nicotine receptor proteins, with microRNAsa class of small RNA molecules that help fine-tune gene expressionplaying a pivotal role.

"We're seeing a clear link between nicotine, microRNA, the receptor proteins, and nicotine-dependent behavior," said Jianke Gong, a researcher in Xu's lab and one of the lead authors on the study.

This mechanism had been dismissed as unimportant to nicotine dependence. However, Xu pointed out, those conclusions were made decades ago, using less sophisticated techniques.

Xu's lab previously demonstrated that the worms exhibit behavioral responses to nicotine similar to what mammals experience, and that some of the genes involved in nicotine dependence in worms are conserved in mammalsmeaning the worms are a good genetic and behavioral model for studying nicotine dependence.

Xu hopes that this latest discovery in C. elegans will now lead other scientists to re-examine the role of these microRNAs in nicotine dependence in mammals, and ultimately lead to a better understanding of what causes the dependence.

"People believed this question had been settled," said Xu, a professor at the LSI and in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the U-M Medical School. "But we have better tools now. We, as a field, need to take another look at this mechanism in nicotine addiction."

More information: "MicroRNA regulation of nAChR expression and nicotine-dependent behavior in C. Elegans," Cell Reports (2017). Journal information: Cell Reports "MicroRNA regulation of nAChR expression and nicotine-dependent behavior in C. Elegans,"(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.10.043
" " University of Waterloo's start-up incubator, Velocity, is located in Kitchener's historic Tannery District in Ontario.  STAFF/Reuters/Corbis

Innovation Depot used to be a 1940s-era Sears department store. Fully renovated in 2007, the modern, 140,000-square-foot (13,006-square-meter) glass and concrete facility in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, is now home to 99 technology companies specializing in everything from mobile software development to microbial testing kits [sources: Innovation Depot, Strauss].

But it isn't a corporation or even a for-profit business, and it's not just a cool office building in Birmingham's hip "Entrepreneurial District." Innovation Depot is what's known as a tech incubator, an organization that supports the development of new business ideas by providing mentorship, business services and funding connections to young tech companies.

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There are more than 1,250 business incubators in the United States (up from 12 in 1980), and about 37 percent focus specifically on developing technology companies [source: NBIA]. Tech incubators come in all shapes and sizes and business models.

Innovation Depot, for example, is a nonprofit organization created by a partnership between the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the greater Birmingham business community to promote the local tech economy [source: Innovation Depot]. Thirty-two percent of American incubators are sponsored by colleges and universities and 25 percent by economic development organizations. Just 4 percent are sponsored by for-profit entities [source: NBIA].

The idea of an incubator sounds like something forged in the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, but the business incubator concept dates all the way back to 1959, when the Batavia Industrial Center was created in upstate New York [source: NBIA].

In 2015, more than 7,000 business incubators operate worldwide, some in shiny Silicon Valley industrial parks, some on college campuses, and others in developing countries [source: NBIA].

So how does a business join an incubator and what services do they offer?
Former Catalan president prepared for prison in Spain if extradition is granted



ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Carles Puigdemont vows to take his case to the international courts if necessary

The courts in Belgium announced on Monday that the procedure during which Carles Puigdemont, the former president of the regional government in Catalunya, will be required to make statements as the Spanish courts request to extradite him is considered is to begin on 17th November.

Sr Puigdemont hurriedly travelled to Brussels on Monday 30th October almost at the same time as Spains Attorney General announced that he was to be formally accused of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds in relation to the holding of the illegal independence referendum on 1st October. The events of the following four weeks culminated in the Catalan parliament passing a motion to declare independence on 27th October, and just 45 minutes later the Senate in Madrid authorized the Spanish government to implement Article 155 of the Constitution.

This implied the almost immediate dissolution of the regional government of Catalunya and the imposition of direct rule, a situation which will last until after the regional election which has been called on 21st December.

Reacting to Mondays news, Carles Puigdemont warned that his case and those of four of his former colleagues in the Catalan government who are also in Brussels will end up in the international courts, while reiterating that he is aware that extradition could result in him being imprisoned in Spain. He says that he is prepared for this eventuality, adding that at no point has he sought to evade his responsibilities and that he handed himself over to the Belgian authorities voluntarily on Sunday.

The hearing on 17th November will take place at 14.00 behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, Oriol Junqueras, who was the vice-president of Catalunya in Sr Puigdemonts government, has requested that he be released from the Estremera jail in Madrid in order to participate in the forthcoming election campaign. He and other former ministers in the regional government were imprisoned last week on the grounds that there was a high risk of them fleeing the country as Sr Puigdemont had done, but Sr Junqueras claims that his intention is to remain in Catalunya to canvas for votes rather than to absent himself from the proceedings.

Similar appeals against the custody behind bars decided upon by Judge Carmen Lamela have been made by other former Catalan ministers including Raul Romeva, Carles Mundo and Dolors Bassa, all of them belonging to Sr Junqueras ERC party, and Antoni Comin and Meritxell Serret, who originally accompanied Carles Puigdemont to Brussels but then returned to Spain to appear before the High Court on 2nd November.

Image (EFE, copyrighted): members of the Catalan government on 27th October just after the vote in favour of a declaration of independence

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Liquid Telecom South Africas mission is to get fibre all over South Africa and deliver content to everyone through Kwese Play.

This was the instruction from Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa to Kyle Whitehill, CEO of Liquid Telecom SA.

Whitehill said Liquid Telecom is unlike any blue chip telecommunications company hes worked for.

The Liquid Telecom philosophy is if you want to do it, get it done. Find a way to make it happen, said Whitehill.

He said they have the necessary capital for a major push in South Africa, following the companys acquisition of Neotel in February.

It announced its intention to buy the company for R6.55 billion in June 2016, and received regulatory approval from ICASA in October 2016.

Liquid Telecom has also raised $700 million in bond and loan financing this year, which was to refinance existing debt and to expand its fibre network across Africa.

Cloud partner

Since the acquisition of Neotel, Liquid Telecom stated it will become a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider to offer Azure, Dynamics 365, and other Microsoft services in South Africa.

It declined to comment on whether it will provide Microsoft with the facilities it will use to launch Azure servers in Johannesburg and Cape Town during 2018.

Masiyiwas vision of delivering content to South Africa through Kwese Play has also taken shape.

Kwese Play launched in SA in September and is the official partner for Roku and Netflix in Africa.

The division sells Roku players and offers integrated Netflix billing in rand. It also offers payment options for citizens without a credit card.

Kwese Plays Roku player is R1,599, and includes 3 months of Netflix access as a launch special.

Now read: Amazon and Microsoft are cautious of Africa
Google has rolled out merchant registration support for its Play marketplace in South Africa, reported Android Police.

Android smartphones have been available in South Africa for over eight years, but this is the first time local developers are able to sell their apps without registering an overseas company.

Previously, it was only possible for developers to offer free apps from South Africa.

The default currency will be rand, and developers will work with Google Commerce Limited for distribution.

Long wait

When Android smartphones from HTC launched locally in 2009, Googles app marketplace was not available in SA.

This which was rectified by HTC distributor Leaf International Communications, but paid-for applications were blocked for years.

By 2012, both iOS and Android supported purchases in rand. Apple also allowed South African developers to list their iOS apps and charge for them.

Apple and Googles streaming music services are also available in South Africa.

Now read: Google Play Music family plan and Family Library launched in South Africa
Nikol Pashinyan holds telephone conversation with Irakli Garibashvili

NATO Secretary General to hold meeting of alliance on incident in Poland

Finnish Foreign Ministry: Many in NATO believe that Turkey has created an awkward situation for the alliance

Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem receives group of wounded participants of 44-day Karabakh war

AP: Drone with explosives attacks oil tanker off the coast of Oman

LPR announces attack by AFU from Popasna to Kharkiv Oblast

Toyota reveals next-generation Toyota Prius hybrid

Central Bank head: State Budget deficit in Armenia to grow to 3.1% of GDP in 2023

Erdogan believes Russia had nothing to do with the missile incident in Poland

Thanasis Bakolas shares concerns that Armenian politician banned from leaving Armenia

Biden and Sunak discuss missile incident in Poland at G20 summit

Russian Defense Ministry: Elements of the Ukrainian S-300 system fell in Poland

Erdogan: Biden administration is determined to sell F-16s to Turkey

Gold price remains stable

Copper falls in price

Microsoft to leave Azerbaijan

G7 and NATO leaders say they are ready to support Poland in investigation of bombings

Joe Biden asks Congress for new funding for Ukraine

Finance Minister: Capital expenses will greatly increase in Armenia in 2023

Azerbaijani MFA accuses French Senate of undermining relations normalization process between Baku and Yerevan

Armen Grigoryan to pay working visit to India

AP: Missile falls in Poland may have been fired by Ukraine to shoot down Russian missile

Erdogan plans to discuss fertilizer transportation and grain deal with Putin

Oil price falls

Blinken calls on Armenian Prime Minister to maintain momentum of peace talks with Azerbaijan

CNN: NATO aircraft tracked the trajectory of the missile that fell in eastern Poland

Armenian FM to visit Tunisia

Yerevan draft budget 2023 revealed

U.S. Embassy: Major General Daniel Lasica arrives in Armenia

Armenian MOD refutes another misinformation of Azerbaijani MOD

Media: Fire in Istanbul is caused by several explosions, not just one

Drone 'allegedly' blows up oil depot in Oryol Oblast

Trump officially announces that he will run for president in 2024

Anwar Gargash: UAE has no interest in choosing sides between great powers

Ukraine suspends oil pumping through Druzhba pipeline towards Hungary

Germany urgently needs gas turbines to stabilize power grids

Polish media report on fall of two missiles on country's territory

Economic downturn worsens in eastern EU due to a spike in inflation

U.S. believes that meeting between Biden and Jinping was strong signal to rest of world

Karabakh MFA welcomes resolution adopted by French Senate

Italy bans facial recognition technology and smart glasses

Germany to establish maintenance center in Slovakia for weapons supplied to Ukraine

Energy Ministry: Russia carried out most massive shooting of Ukraine's energy system since war starts

French Senate passes resolution calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan

Rishi Sunak hints that he will abandon plans to declare China 'threat' to national security

EU supports any call to phase out fossil fuel use

Secretary of Security Council of Armenia receives delegation of EU special envoys, member states

Armenian President Vahagn Khachatryan receives newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus

Zelenskyy's adviser: The situation after Russian shelling is critical

Newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus visits Armenian Genocide memorial

Borrell: EU countries must work together to replenish their military stocks

French Senator: Are the lives of Armenians worth less than the lives of Ukrainians?

Turkey plans to strike targets in northern Syria

Emergency power outages in Kyiv due to explosions

Lavrov calls Zelenskyy's speech at G20 summit performance beyond all regulations and decency

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince embarks on Asian tour

Ukrainian media report missile strikes in number of areas

Chinese 50-year-old man runs marathon smoking

Pashinyan receives delegation of EU special envoys, EU member states on Eastern Partnership

Bloomberg: Paris overtakes London to become Europe's largest stock market

Anti-Iranian rally held in Baku

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Pashinyan's approaches and wordings do not contribute to solving urgent problems

Borrell announces appearance of EU rapid reaction force in 2023

Norwegian Defense Minister pledges $30 million to NATO fund for Ukraine

Italy auctioned biggest truffle for record 184 thousand euros

Serviceman kills fellow soldier in Armenia

Kyodo: 67-year-old Japanese princess diagnosed with breast cancer

Mehriban Aliyeva hurriedly gives up her role of UNESCO 'Goodwill Ambassador' before French Senate meeting

Jeff Bezos says he's ready to give away most of his fortune

Britain to allocate $11.8m to rebuild Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Peskov: Kyiv cannot and doesn't want to negotiate, SVO will continue

Turkey detains another suspect in planning terrorist attack in Istanbul

Tasnim: Iranian authorities released 38 protesters in southeast

Terrorist attack: Number of detainees in Istanbul grows to 50

Armenian FM presents to Europeans consequences of September Azerbaijani aggression

Biden and Erdogan back extension of grain deal

Macron and Erdogan meet on G20 margins

UN: Earth's population is 8 billion people

Indian PM urges G20 countries to find peaceful solution to Ukraine

Minimum wage to rise in Armenia

Ministry: Air pollution level in Armenia up by 30-40% over the past five years

Erdogan and Biden hold talks in Bali

Media: Macron asks Xi Jinping to 'pressure' Putin to return to negotiations

UN: Armenia's population will decrease by 2050

Zelenskyy states that only realistic model of POW exchange is all for all

Ameriabank launches Google Pay, Google Wallet support for card users in Armenia

Argentine President Fernandez feels ill at G20 summit

Ruben Vardanyan receives head of ICRC mission: We must ensure a peaceful childhood for children living in Artsakh

Copper rises in price

Newspaper: Armenian Prime Minister wants to hold referendum on constitutional amendments in spring

Ardshinbank showcases the Google Pay for Android fans in Armenia

Zelenskyy calls not to offer Ukraine compromise with territory and independence

Secretary of State: U.S. stands ready to continue support for Karabakh settlement

Google Pay is a new contactless payment option for Converse Bank customers

French Senate to consider resolution on sanctions against Azerbaijan

Zelenskyy addresses G20 leaders: It's time to stop Russia's war

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases

Another four-day parliamentary session begins in Yerevan

Gold declines in value

World oil prices go down
This comes after the NIA arrested 9 suspects from Delhi including a Delhi Police constable and a big property dealer.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: On Monday evening, bank officials were rushed to the National Investigation Agency Headquarters in Delhi. It took several hours before they arrived at a figure of Rs 36.34 crore seized by the agency carefully bundled in 28 cartons.

On Tuesday, when the agency sleuths disclosed that there had been a major breakthrough in terror funding case. This comes after the NIA arrested 9 suspects from Delhi including a Delhi Police constable and a big property dealer.

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The money recovered from the suspects was under surveillance for sometime. Recently, the NIA swooped down on 7 men travelling in luxury cars at Jai Singh Road. Notes of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 were recovered from 2 BMW, 1 Creta and 1 Ford Ecosport.

Only one among them was let off. While six were apprehended. After interrogation, three other associates of this gang were arrested on November 6.

While three suspects are from Kashmir, the rest are from Delhi, Maharashtra and UP. Constable Bhagwan Singh is an important catch. Despite meagre earnings, Singh (54) had amassed property in the affluent Sainik Farm.

Inspector General, NIA Alok Mittal said, "All 9 accused were arrested in Delhi in connection with the terror funding case. Further probe is on."

With the latest arrests, the number of arrested accused has gone up to 19.

Unearthing of the conspiracy began with the scrutiny of mobile phones of the suspects. Detailed questioning helped the sleuths to zero down on the men.

From the links it had emerged that some of the persons with links to the separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency.

While the government had given a window for people to deposit and convert old notes to new ones. The gang kept the money with them. A senior officer said, "We are interrogating the accused. The role of an insider from a private bank or kingpin cannot be ruled out. It seems that they have perhaps figured out a loophole."

The wads of cash in old currency is not more than mere trash now, but the gang attempted to convert this demonetised money into valid currency.

All the 9 accused will be produced in the Special NIA Court of Patiala House tomorrow.

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  No matter how much President Serzh Sargsyan will put off the intrigue regarding who will become the Prime Minister of Armenia in 2018, it is known that the intrigue seems to have been resolved already, according to Hraparak (Square) newspaper.

[Russian Armenian] tycoon Samvel Karapetyan has consulted with [PM] Karen Karapetyan, [and] both have come to the conclusion that the right thing is Serzh Sargsyans becoming Prime Minister, from the viewpoint of Armenias security, including the Karabakh issue, because it will be difficult for Karen Karapetyan to negotiate with [Azerbaijan President Ilham] Aliyev, plus it is not worth the effort to get into this kind of a burden.

At the same time, RPA [ruling Republican Party of Armenia] First Vice-Chairman Karen Karapetyan himself will probably make the proposal that Serzh Sargsyan become the Prime Minister, wrote Hraparak.
YEREVAN.  Recognition of the Armenian Genocide was an expected news for us, ANC of Indiana Chairperson Seda Arzumanyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The decision of the Indiana governor to recognize the Armenian Genocide testifies to the successful work of the ANC for decades, both in Indiana and in other states. The Armenian community of Indiana is small, but it is strong in its faith and activities aimed at raising public awareness of the Armenian Genocide and, ultimately, its recognition, said Arzumanyan, who assured that the Armenian Cause will continue active work on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide at the federal level.

Congressman Andre Carson, representing Indiana, has joined Resolution No. 220 on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, she said, expressing hope that many would follow his lead.

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb issued a powerful proclamation memorializing the Ottoman Turkish Empires centrally-planned and executed annihilation of close to three million Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and Syriacs, making the Hoosier State the 48th U.S. state to properly recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

Indiana recognizes Armenian Genocide
YEREVAN.  Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in Israel on an official visit, on Monday met with Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament).

Edelstein stressed that the Knesset stands ready to provide all assistance in the comprehensive development of relations with friendly Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

FM Nalbandian, for his part, conveyed to the head of the Israeli parliament the greetings and good wishes by the chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia, as well as the invitation to visit capital city Yerevan.

The interlocutors lauded the productive cooperation between the two parliaments.

Also, Nalbandian and Edelstein reflected on Armenian-Israeli relations, and conferred on the avenues for further consolidation and broadening of parliamentary ties, and cooperation within international organizations.

In addition, they exchanged views on several urgent regional matters.

And reflecting on the chances of Armenian Genocides recognition by the Knesset, Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein noted that his viewpoint on the importance of its recognition is known.
Padmavati starring Deepika Padukone in the titular role and Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in the lead roles will probably not see a release in Rajasthan.

By India Today Web Desk: The problems for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati are not going to end any time soon. Now, distributors are refusing to release the film in cinema halls in Rajasthan. Their argument is that if the film offends the sentiments of the people, due to distortion of historical facts, they will not pick up the distribution rights.

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"Let the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali reach an amicable solution. We will buy the distribution rights only after that," Raj Bansal, a leading film distributor from the state, said on Monday. Other film distributors said the same thing.

The erstwhile royal family of Jaipur too has expressed its reservations against the release of the movie in its current form.

Narendra Singh, a Jaipur royal, said, "There are large-scale protests against Padmavati. The main purpose behind the protests is that historical facts have been distorted in the movie. The kind of promos that are coming to the fore, the kind of publicity that has been going on; all of it conveys that the story of a Maharani who committed Jauhar with 16,000 women, that Maharani is depicted in a manner that she is doing Ghoomar in front of everyone or that Khilji is seeing such a dream. This kind of projection that is being done, I think this will be a huge insult for a woman who made such a huge sacrifice."

He went on to add, "The Rajput community, Hindu community, the country's youth will not accept this thing at any cost. My request to the film producers is that they, as soon as it's possible, with senior people of the Rajput community, historians, sit and hold a screening of the movie. So that whatever objectionable scenes that there are, are removed immediately. Otherwise, this film will not be allowed to run, nor will this film run in India and a very big issue will be created here. In the name of Hindutva and the Rajput community, an attempt is being made to create such an issue that will be very wrong."

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, is scheduled to release on December 1, across the country. The story revolves around the siege of Chittor, written by 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, 200 years after the actual siege.

According to this tale, Khilji lusted after Rani Padmini. As a result, he wanted to capture Chittorgarh. However, Rani Padmini committed self-immolation to avoid capture.

The chaos regarding the film began because the Karni Sena believed there was a dream sequence of a love scene between Rani Padmini (played by Deepika) and Khilji (Ranveer). Time and time again, filmmaker Bhansali, the actors and the team of Padmavati have refuted these rumours, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

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Earlier this year, Bhansali was beaten up, and the sets of the film were vandalised. Last month, a Padmavati rangoli was destroyed. Political parties are now trying to impose a ban on the film, and are planning to take to the streets to protest against its release.

(With inputs from Dev Ankur Wadhawan)

ALSO WATCH | Exposed: Karni Sena thugs holding Padmavati hostage

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  The Armenian parliament holds round-table discussion on The Voice of a Woman and Women-Leaders in Politics. Perspectives of Armenia.

During the event, regional research on women's representation in politics in the Eastern Partnership Countries was presented. Discussion about gender quotas followed right after.

The research was made out by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the framework of Partnership for Good Governance 2015-2016, and was first introduced in Kiev in 2016. The research especially notes the main restrictions in political representation of women, which take place in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldavia and Ukraine. Particularly in these countries women are nominated for political positions less often than men do.
United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said the US continues to provide support to the leaders of the two countries [Armenia and Azerbaijan] for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reported APA news agency of Azerbaijan.

The ambassador said he has recently been in Washington and met with Andrew Schofer, the American co-chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group.

We had discussions as to how to what should be done in order to move the settlement process forward, Cekuta added. Its a sign that the United States takes it seriously that when the new administration came in, they looked at a number of positions and whether or not to continue them  and one of the ones they continued was the co-chair of the Minsk Group process.
NATO defense ministers will discuss the strengthening of sea lanes and Europe-USA communication lines on November 8-9, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference before the Ministerial meeting.

NATO chief said the Alliance will have command for the Atlantic region, which will protect the sea lines between the US and Europe, TASS reported.

NATO is preparing military requirements for the European land-based transport infrastructure, including bridges, roads and tunnels, which must ensure the passage of the heaviest military vehicles.

According to him, NATO defense ministers will discuss the expansion of the alliance's command structure in Europe. Ministers will approve the action plan, which will include a new command and carry out the troop and funds movements within Europe, Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg added that cyber defense will become an integral part of the measures to strengthen the command structures of NATO. According to the Secretary General, NATO members should be able to act upon cyber attacks.

This year the attacks on NATO networks have increased by 60%, he added.
YEREVAN.  The Polish-Armenian relations are traditionally very good, thus the countries do not need new agreement with EU to improve the climate of bilateral relations, Polands deputy foreign minister Bartosz Cichocki said in an interview with the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent.

The Polish-Armenian relations are traditionally very good. Our cooperation has a very long history, especially taking into account that the Armenian minority has been present in Poland for centuries. Thus, we do not need the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU to improve the climate of bilateral relations. We however need CEPA to develop our bilateral relations in terms of economic cooperation. As CEPA contains a lot of the EU acqui communataire, its implementation will bring about the harmonization of business rules, standards and procedures. This will facilitate our economic exchange and hopefully increase its volume significantly. In the end, this may also contribute to yet closer political cooperation, the diplomat said when asked how the new deal will affect development of relations between Poland and Armenia.

Deputy foreign minister of Poland, a country that was joined by Sweden to present the idea of Eastern Partnership program back in 2008, said his country expects the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit to show unity and present coherent vision of the Eastern Partnership shared by the EU and our partner countries.

Participation of the invited Prime Ministers and Heads of States is a proof for that. We want to keep the language about the European aspirations and the European choice of Eastern Partnership countries in the Summit Declaration. We know there is contemporary no consensus in the EU about the enlargement perspective so we pragmatically do not pursue this issue and focus rather on concrete deliverables which will bring tangible results for our citizens. We are however on the position that in line with the EU Treaties each European country can apply for EU membership. The language of the Brussels Summit Declaration is important but we should first of all focus on a long-term perspective for our Eastern neighbors, Mr. Cichocki said.

The official admits that we live in a very turbulent times and the EU has its own problems indeed. However, he adds that the EU has always developed thanks to crises and survived all of them, and the same is about the Eastern Partnership program.

Since its beginning on 2009 Eastern Partnership was a constant crisis management  we have had armed conflicts in Georgia and Ukraine and problems with territorial integrity of all EaP countries but Belarus. Nevertheless, we were able to introduce Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and to lift visa regimes for these countries. We are about to sign CEPA with Armenia, we have already started negotiation of an analogue agreement with Azerbaijan. Also Belarus signalizes its willingness to negotiate such a new agreement, the diplomat said.

The EU is also ready for visa liberalization negotiations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus, and it is very much, especially given the unexpected obstacles that occurred.

However, Polish official said they are far from being satisfied and want to go step further, as the future of the Eastern Partnership program will be mainly about implementation of commitments taken in respective sectors.

This is why we have to find fields of sectorial cooperation which will bring the most added value and which will be accepted by all of them, regardless of the level of their ambitions in the cooperation with the EU, Cichocki emphasized.

The sides will have to focus on extending of all kinds of mutual connections, including transport, energy, people-to-people contacts. Developing digital connections would be crucial in this regard  internet media followed especially by youth thanks to smartphones and tablets are very often the only source of alternative information in EaP countries.

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) will hopefully be successfully extended on EaP countries. The European External Investment Plan (EIP) has already been launched. This enables to increase investment in transport infrastructure in EaP countries. In this regard we should also look further in Asia, for example in the context of the Belt and Road initiative. EaP countries are of crucial transit location for land connections between EU and Asia. It is in our common interest not to have bottlenecks between us.
A group of 40 Chinese tourists was attacked and robbed in Paris by four suspects armed with tear gas, according to China's embassy.

The tour group had just returned from a shopping trip in the French capital at around 8.20pm on Thursday evening. But when they made it back to the car park of the Kyriad Hotel they were jumped by the gang who sprayed tear gas at them.

The group then sprinted off with nine bags filled with shopping - including luxury items, according to Xinhua.



A hotel worker told Le Parisien: "I heard screams, and when I looked out the window, I saw two people assaulting a Chinese guide, and I saw others using tear gas against the tourists.

"For an hour, it was absolute panic. Many of the tourists asked me to hide their bags."

It is unclear whether any of the tourists were injured but it is believed two of the group complained about feeling sick before returning to China the following day.

The Chinese Embassy contacted the authorities in France and urged them to track down the suspects.

It also urged Chinese tourists to remain vigilant following the attack on Thursday and described the security situation in France as being "grim."

The Embassy said: "The greater Paris region has reported a series of violent muggings and attacks against Chinese tourists and Chinese-French."

Police in Paris have now launched an investigation.
Padmavati starring Deepika Padukone in the lead role and Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in pivotal roles is once again in trouble with other political groups protesting against the film.

By Lakshana N Palat: Unless you've been living under a rock, you would have been hearing about the never-ending trouble that the Padmavati team seems to be battling. Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor tells the story of Alauddin Khilji (played by Ranveer) and his desire to capture Chittorgarh, owing to his lust for Rani Padmini, (played by Deepika). To prevent this, she and the rest of the women in the fort committed jauhar, an act of self-immolation to ensure not falling into the enemy's hands.

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Fringe Rajput group Karni Sena has been up in arms against the film since the beginning, and have clearly made no secret of their resentment. From beating up director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, to vandalising the sets, and threatening to burn theatres that showed the film, they've used every trick in the book to prevent a smooth run for the film, even before it is actually on screens. They also destroyed a beautiful rangoli last month. They called for a Chittorgarh bandh, and are planning to take to the streets of Gujarat next week.

Now, other political groups have jumped on to this bandwagon. A Congress leader, Pratap Singh Kachariyawas demanded a ban on the film, and said that Padmavati was guilty of distorting history. The BJP too has sought a stay on the film. The argument is that Rani Padmini is the pride of the nation, so anything related to her must not be distorted. And now, distributors have refused to release the film in Rajasthan, until Bhansali and Karni Sena reach an amicable solution.

Mind you, this is BEFORE the film has even released. Or been seen by anyone or the script read by anyone. Telepathic?

To put it bluntly and brutally, the film is being targeted mercilessly, not out of love for history, but out of a growing mob-mentality and a misguided sense of patriotism. And this is frightening for a country that claims to be an upholder of freedom of expression.

HISTORY? WHAT HISTORY?

If these ringleaders truly were such history buffs, they would know that the existence of Rani Padmini has been debated for centuries now. Putting it out there again, Rani Padmini is a fictitious character created by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in the 16th century. Almost 200 years after the siege of Chittor (an event that actually took place), Jayasi wrote the epic poem Padmavat. It was a FICTIONAL, allegorical account of the siege, and in the poem, Khilji's reason for attacking Chittor was because he was lusting after Rani Padmini.

Logically speaking, there are several reasons for conquests. In those times, Chittor was a valuable asset, for strategic and commercial reasons. It's hardly likely that Khilji rushed to the fort just because he saw Rani Padmini's reflection. Also, there's a complicated (read: fabricated) way of how he saw her. Apparently, she looked into a mirror, which was then reflected on the lake. A reflection of a reflection. (Inception, anyone?)

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Read about it yourself, you'll see how absurd and ridiculous it sounds. It's bizarre that all these organisations, who claim to be the custodians of history, are refusing to even read a history text book. How can you distort history, when there's no history to distort?

CULTURAL SUPPRESSION

Films are an intrinsic part of our culture. People watch films mostly because they aren't based on real events. And even if they are, it's always enjoyable to watch fictional re-tellings of real events. Let's draw a comparison to Hollywood for a bit. Charlton Heston's famous Ten Commandments (1956) was a completely glorified version of Moses from the Bible. Most of the film's events, along with a love story, were not even in the Bible - and this is the Bible - mind you. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards. The film did not face flak "for distorting" Biblical tales. Why? Because that's freedom of cultural expression, that's why. The logical possibility of the Biblical tales is another debate altogether.

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For that matter, look at Brad Pitt's Troy as well. The story of Homer's Troy is a legendary tale, and has been embroidered and adapted into various versions over the centuries, by different authors. The 2004 film changed several aspects, according to its will. So, why can't we do that here?

This constant hounding, belittling and berating of the Padmavati team, is an example of cultural suppression. It is purely criminal to try and silence and intimidate a film on the basis of vague rumours. The chaos started because there was a rumour that there might be a love scene - a dream sequence - between Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmini. Because god forbid, we want to show a romance between a Rajput woman and a tyrannical Muslim invader.

The director and actors have screamed themselves hoarse explaining that there is no truth at all to these rumours, that there is NO dream sequence or any scene featuring Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji together, but they might as well talk to the Chittorgarh fort walls. It is shameful that they have to constantly justify themselves before the film has even seen the light of the day.

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If filmmakers are expected to follow orders and direct films the way the government wants, then what hope is there for films anymore? There's no reason to watch films then, and we might as well sit and watch government documentaries.

It's crazy that there's so much rage over a fictional queen. Do we not have anything better to do with our time?

MOB MENTALITY

This rage against Padmavati has grown into a despicable mob mentality, where people are just blindly listening to what they want to hear, and targeting the film, without even seeing it. They believe that they're being patriotic, or nationalist, but the truth is that they're just being narrow-minded thugs. It isn't patriotism or nationalism to beat up anyone, or to keep threatening havoc, and to intimidate art and culture.

In fact, India Today conducted an expose, and found that Karni Sena is not motivated by Rajput pride, but by greed for money when it stages protests against films.

The worst part is, this misguided anger has spread to several groups, who know that they're not going to be stopped. How can they, if they have the support of powerful political parties?

ALSO WATCH: Exposed: Karni Sena thugs holding Padmavati hostage

--- ENDS ---
NATO will increase the combat Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan from 13 to 16 thousand troops next year, the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Brussels on November 7, reported Reuters.

The increase of the NATO mission takes place against the backdrop of strengthening the position of the Islamist group Taliban and the expansion of Islamic State in Afghanistan.

NATO Resolute Support Mission was launched in 2015, replacing the 13-year-old combat mission of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), which included about 130,000 NATO soldiers and officers. Representatives of the alliance are not participating in the military actions, but are conducting trainings and giving advice to the local law enforcement agencies
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu during his official visit to Israel, the press service of MFA Armenia reported.

The meeting kicked off in an expanded format with the participation of the delegations, afterwards, private conversation took place.

Greeting the guest, the Israeli PM highlighted the visit of the Armenian FM to Israel, and noted that Israel is ready to expand relations with Armenia, stressing that a great potential for cooperation exists between the two states.

Thanking for the invitation and the reception, Minister Nalbandian conveyed the greetings and warm wishes of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Armenian Foreign Minister noted with satisfaction that in the recent period activation of Armenian-Israeli interactions is visible and expressed conviction that based on the rich historical friendly relations between the two peoples, new impetus will be given to Armenian-Israeli relations.

The interlocutors noted that its symbolic that the visit takes place in a jubilee year of establishment diplomatic relations between the two states, the 25th anniversary, expressing conviction that it is a good opportunity to evaluate the past path and take new steps aimed at developing the relations.

During the meeting the sides also discussed the bilateral agenda of the Armenian-Israeli relations, and issues of cooperation in international platforms.

The Israeli PM and the Armenian FM touched upon the rich Armenian historical heritage in Israel. PM Netanyahu and Minister Nalbandian exchanged views on pressing regional and international issues and developments in the Middle East.

Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict.
YEREVAN.- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan receives on Tuesday PACE Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteurs for Armenia Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale, the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office reported.

Greeting the guests, the President of the Republic highlighted the monitoring process of the PACE in terms of strengthening democracy in Armenia and stressed that cooperation with the CoE as a result of which significant progress has been recorded in the recent years in the spheres of human rights, democracy and rule of law stems from the interests of Armenia.

The President underlines that Armenia has also contributed to the development of that key European institution by always remaining devoted to its commitments assumed as a CoE member state.

According to Sargsyans assessment, the meetings with the PACE Co-Rapporteurs are always held in an open and constructive atmosphere that helps to carry out the works in the correct direction and record positive results.

The President noted that the visit of the Co-Rapporteurs has coincided with an important stage of structural reforms in Armenia, which is unprecedented both in terms of raising public trust towards electoral processes and the post-electoral consensus  something that deserved positive feedbacks from international observer missions, including the PACE delegation.

Serzh Sargsyan once again stressed that the Council of Europe is an important partner for Armenia in terms of reform implementation, with which Armenia is interested to continue active cooperation.

Considering that this is the last visit of Alan Meale to Armenia as a co-rapporteur, Serzh Sargsyan highly appreciated his activities, which was constructive and directed at effective solutions of existing problems.

The Co-Rapporteurs recorded with satisfaction the changes they witnessed during their visit. They saluted Armenias policy of accepting Syrian-Armenian refugees in the historical motherland of their ancestors and for rendering them significant support, noting that it can be a good example for other countries and peoples.

The Co-Rapporteurs congratulated the President of Armenia for the visible progress in the country and noted that the CoE praises the transfer from semi-presidential governance system of Armenia to a more democratic one  parliamentary system, as well as the consistency displayed by the country for the implementation of the reforms stemming from the constitutional changes.

Co-Rapporteurs Giuseppe Galati and Alan Meale hoped that Armenia will continue making all possible efforts to strengthen democracy and the place of Armenia in the global arena.

During the meeting a reference was made to the negotiation process of Karabakh conflict mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.
Pro-IS Group Publishes Article Rallying Muslims to Ignite Jihad in Myanmar, Utilize Border with Bangladesh for Smuggling
By PTI: Jaisalmer, Nov 7 (PTI) A 12-year-old Pakistani boy was apprehended by a patrolling team of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jaisalmer, BSF officials said today.

Identified as Asif Haji, the youth during interrogation claimed he had crossed the international border while grazing camels, they said.

He was held on Monday and was handed over to Pakistan rangers after flag meeting, they added. PTI CORR AG ADS

--- ENDS ---

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try to go to rehab to cure this, harvey.







the firms that Weinstein hired included Kroll, one of the worlds largest corporate intelligence companies



also it's crazy that's nick kroll's dad's company

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Ah shit I didn't mean to reply to you sorry!



Edited at 2017-11-07 02:05 am (UTC)

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what the hell i never made the connection between nick kroll and this. wow

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The dude in the wig and big mouth? that nick kroll O.o

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Ughhhhh I knew Kroll came from money but didnt know how specifically. This whole story continues to be horrifying but I hope the details never stop and all the trash men are burned.

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to be fair, he had nothing to do with his particular case. i think his dad left the company a few years ago but he did found it and was obvs behind similar investigations for decades.

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oh my god lmao

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Nicks father sold that company YEARS ago. Lets leave Run the Jules out of this (sorry for the Comedy Bang Bang reference, its rare I have an opportunity to drop a Nick Krolls dad joke)

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but why didn't the women report sooner??????

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Obviously Hillary's fault.

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Kill urself

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I hope he's dead in a ditch somewhere



http://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/lawyers-for-toronto-actress-cant-find-harvey-weinstein-but-sexual-assault-lawsuit-will-proceed-regardless



Edited at 2017-11-07 02:05 am (UTC) That is disgusting. And people still fucking ask why women don't come forward.I hope he's dead in a ditch somewhere

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I'm reading this now. So fucking insane. And David Carr was surveilled back 15 or so years ago. This has been happening for SO long. I bet his victims who experienced this thought they were going crazy too. =\

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isn't this motherfucker MIA right now?

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lmao omg



i thought i saw a tweet about him being hard to find

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this is giving me this season of Curb - Larry David fatwa disguise vibes

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Too much to hope he's done us all a favour and killed himself I guess.

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My jaw was dropped pretty much the entire time I was reading this. weinstein is seriously unhinged and this shit is really scary. Explains why no one ever came forward.

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So his crazy tweets were real?

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People criticize her a lot and I get she's not perfect and all but I respect the hell out of her for doing this. Also, I love Jawbreaker. She's criminally underrated as an actress imo. Same with Ashley Judd, actually. Ashley should have the same career as Nicolas Cage, if not bigger.

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She's amazing for doing this, but I do feel like she needs a break from twitter between the last few weeks and all that terrifyingly crazy shite that company did to her in the article she needs to go to a tropical island and put her feet up lol.

I still can't believe they hired someone to essentially "befriend" her, he's seriously deranged!



And Double Jeoparday was such a good movie!

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Men are weak thin skinned cowards

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Andy Cohen was praising Alec on WatchWhatHappensLive tonight.



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This is wild

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What a monster.



Isn't it easier to just...not habitually assault women?

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But then how would he feel like a man?

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Poor emasculated men. Women push them to this.

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Can he just die already

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These poor women being victimized over and over again by the same bastard, i hope he dies slowly

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Like it's the textbook definition of someone actually using their privilege to do some good. Because of his name and clout, he could actually do this story.

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He is the Bruce Wayne we deserve

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It really, really is. If you have some leverage, might as well use it for something good

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Should we be worried about him? i feel like there's been zero blow back on him, but there's no way shady ppl aren't seething over this expose.

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it's so rare that we see true investigative journalism anymore. it's all talking heads, and not pissing off sponsors. because of that, i'm weirdly amazed this story broke, or broke like it did.

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Jesus fucking christ

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O M G

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I love Lovett, esph when he rants. Quality entertainucation lmao

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Is Ronan East Coast based or is he out here in LA?

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i was just abt to follow him on twitter & then saw his 'hillary would be a better president than bernie sanders' tweet and was like. nope. lol

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He really should. These stories have had a huge impact.

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at this point he has to get that pulitzer, he just has to.

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If he doesn't get a pulitzer or 5 for all that he's doing, the pulitzers should fucking cancel themselves and just go home.

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He, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey all do. There was a price on their head as well

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he does tbh.

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I can see why they all said it was a masterpiece. look at the cult. I wouldnt risk saying Red was better.

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all of the people that go to these sessions are annoying as fuck in their defense of taylor just because they met her one time... I guess thats the point though

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she just feels like my best friend oh honey no

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mte

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thats the saddest thing.

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I feel bad for her. This is why this sort of thing isn't a good idea.

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it kinda makes you worry what's going on at school or back at home

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These people need mental help.

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Those losers are beyond help.

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Calling her as we speaknow.zip... Calling her as we speaknow.zip...

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lmao

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This reminds me of when people are initiated into scientology.

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it reminds me of American Horror Story: Cult for some reason

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It reminds me of rats and their rat queen

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From a previous secret session:

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see u in court

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omg

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Lmao watch out for that c&d letter, she's coming for ontd next!





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jsfhafafafaf

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I'M DYING LMAOOOOO



Girl delete this before her lawyers come for you. LOL

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OMG LMAO

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is ....that a real picture?

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this is just so fucking weird, bring back the fourth wall omg

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cant wait for the scream queens version

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Tay had that show cancelled.

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lol is it rly cancelled? good tbh

then 'i cant wait for the -insert whatever show satan murphy currently has on the air- version'

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omg this gif is terrifying.

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What is this gif from?

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LOL! MTE.



And the video is so cringe they wouldn't even have to change anything. Just drop Chanel in via cgi.

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i dont even like mormons coming to my front door

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occasionally i regret deleting my tumblr lol

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well we know ha team keeps tabs on ontd!



@taylornation inbox me for my swiftmas wish list <3

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yass get that rep merch sis <3

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Its not gonna happen for ya sis as long as youre hanging out with so many jerks (us)

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lmao being on ontd probably gets u banned instantly

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i havent used tumblr for like 2.5 years but she follows me on there so i can't delete it

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I love this gif so much

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What I got from this is that that hair seems to be a permanent look now 

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If only she took note of Cathy Anne when she spoke out against Nazis instead of stealing her look...

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can this be classified as a cult?

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she could probably have them sit in silence for an hour and they'd all be like "experimental genius!! john cage who tbh!!"

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Good on the reporters who banded together on this. If only political reporters did the same...

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Film critics seem to be way more of a community than political reporters

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They have actual associations and guilds where you're literally a card carrying member (LAFCA for the LA film critics). Do political reporters have anything similar?

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Good. Disney acting like they're the owners of California and not just a company operating there was nagl.

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fuck disney, garbage piece of shit company.

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Um.. ok

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The ban was believed to have been in response to a critical story which ran in the LA Times about the corporation's relationship with the city of Anaheim, where Disney theme parks are located.



My first thought re. that story:





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Best ND song tho.

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i wish we could see what their article views were for the Anaheim piece pre- and post-ban. disney dun goofed.

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streisand effect for real.

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its amazing that they thought they would enact the ban and everyone would just go about their day like nothing was wrong. fools.

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If only political reporters did the same.....

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Weve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, weve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics, Disney said in a statement.



they someone lose their job and the were able to chenge the editor team?

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The Timess publisher hired a new editor-in-chief (who used to work at Forbes, sooooo) between when the original story ran and this news came out. Odd that Disney couldnt chat with him before they got enormous blowback...

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ok thanks

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Also, i hope the ban is still in place:

"The National Society of Film Critics joined the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics in denouncing the Walt Disney Companys media blackout of the Los Angeles Times announced last week in retaliation for critical stories by the paper.



In addition, all four groups voted to disqualify Disneys films from year-end awards consideration until the blackout is publicly lifted." from theWrap.com

https://www.thewrap.com/critics-denounce-disney-blackout-la-times-disqualify-awards/

lmao! suffer, bitch!Also, i hope the ban is still in place:"The National Society of Film Critics joined the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics in denouncing the Walt Disney Companys media blackout of the Los Angeles Times announced last week in retaliation for critical stories by the paper.In addition, all four groups voted to disqualify Disneys films from year-end awards consideration until the blackout is publicly lifted." from theWrap.com

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Good on the film community for all of this

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So glad they didn't get away with it.

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It was great seeing all these critics join the boycott and keep the story going, plus threaten to cut off early buzz.



Disney is still bullshit for this, tho. They didnt even ask for corrections; they were just mad the LA Times wrote something true without giving them a friendly spin. No promise they wont do it again if someone writes something critical about buying Fox :/

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Good. Fuck Disney for trying it.

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Disney went to the Taylor Swift school of publicity. In trying to silence that article they only made people aware of it. Ridiculous

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lol yes. They pulled a Swift. They Barbra Streisand-ed themselves

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Honestly it was stupid, if you went to any site discussing the article (it was mostly diehards) it was mostly "Anaheim should be grateful for what Disney does for them!!" There was no reason to blow it open and make people who dgaf about Disney aware of it.

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Wildflowers on Mount Rainier in the summer. Credit: Elli Theobald

With climate change, Mount Rainier floral communities could 'reassemble' with new species relationships, interactions

Central to the field of ecology is the mantra that species do not exist in isolation: They assemble in communitiesand within these communities, species interact. Predators hunt prey. Parasites exploit hosts. Pollinators find flowers.

Yet these interactions are built on more than just serendipity, because species adapt over generations to environmental cues. But when conditions shift due to climate change, species might change markedly in responsecreating "reassembled" communities that might show disrupted interactions among species.

Recently, a trio of ecologists from the University of Washington witnessed such reassembly. It was by accident: They were collecting data on the subalpine wildflowers that bloom each summer on the slopes of Mount Rainier, a volcano stretching 14,411 feet high (4,932 meters) in the Cascade Range of Washington state. As they report in a paper published online on Oct. 11 in the journal Ecology, an unseasonably warm, dry summer in 2015 caused reassembly among these subalpine wildflower communities.

The conditions in 2015 gave the teamconsisting of doctoral student Elli Theobald, doctoral student Ian Breckheimer and biology professor Janneke Hille Ris Lambersa preview of what subalpine communities may look like by the end of this century. By then, significant climate change is expected to permanently alter environmental cues that wildflowers rely upon and make community reassembly a more common phenomenonwith unknown consequences for species interactions in those communities.

"2015 was such an outlier that it gave us a glimpse of what this environment on Mount Rainier might be like toward the end of this century," said Theobald, who is co-lead-author on the paper with Breckheimer. "Conditions were so warm that they affected the flowering time and flowering duration of species, forming communities in 2015 that simply did not exist in the other years of our study."

Their study is one of few to demonstrate evidence for community-level reassembly among multiple species.

Credit: University of Washington/Elli Theobald

"These reassembled communities could potentially change the interactions among wildflowers and other species in this subalpine setting," said Theobald.

For six summers from 2010 to 2015, Theobald tracked environmental conditions and plant behavior for 48 species at 70 field plots, each one square meter, along the southern slope of Mount Rainier. The plots ranged from 1,490 to 1,901 meters in elevation. Within each plot, Theobald used sensors to record temperature, snowmelt and soil moisture content.

"At these elevations on Mount Rainier, snow is the major driver of plant behavior, because the annual cycle of flowering and reproducing cannot begin until the snow melts," said Hille Ris Lambers. "If there is snow on the ground, plants cannot photosynthesize, and if they cannot photosynthesize, they cannot grow."

When the sensors reported that snow had melted at each plot, Theobald collected data on when plants would emerge, flower and begin to produce fruit. These included species familiar to hikers such as avalanche lily, magenta paintbrush, mountain blueberry, wild huckleberry and wild lupines.

Most of these plants are perennials, which retreat underground each winter. But when snow melts, they typically have a two- to four-month windowdepending on elevation and positionto grow, flower and produce fruit and seeds for the next generation before snow returns.

In 2015, conditions were so warm that, on average, snow began to melt at the study plots 58 days earlier than in 2010-2014. The team recorded major shifts in the bloom times of wildflower species. All of the species100 percentflowered earlier in 2015 and 54 percent of species also lengthened their flower duration that year, some by as many as 15 days. The remaining species showed shorter flower duration, in one case by nearly 19 days, possibly due to accelerated soil drying, altered pollinator activity or other factors.

Since species shifted in different ways, conditions in 2015 produced new patterns of reassembled wildflower communities, with unknown ecological consequences.

Broadleaf arnica on Mount Rainier with bumblebees. Credit: Elli Theobald

"These are species that have always coexisted at these subalpine sites," said Theobald. "But in 2015, we saw species flowering at the same time that normally flowered weeks apart."

The team saw the most dramatic signs of reassembly among plants that normally flowered early in the summer. These plants tended to grow at sites experiencing less snowfallsuch as plots at lower elevations, or along ridges and slopes instead of coves and valleys, where snow tends to accumulate. In addition, the plants that tended to lengthen flowering duration did so if they experienced a greater number warm, photosynthetically "productive" days in 2015.

Reassembly on the scale that the researchers saw in 2015and that Mount Rainier may see every year by the end of this centurymay change interactions among species. For example, plants could compete for access to pollinators, which at Mount Rainier include bumblebees, flies and hummingbirds.

"We simply don't yet have enough information to know who the 'winners' and 'losers' of reassembly will be, or even what 'winning' or 'losing' in such a scenario would look like," said Theobald.

To predict that, scientists must observe and test how ecological reassembly affects reproduction for all species in these regionsfrom flowers and pollinators, to even the bears that feed on subalpine berries. These effects will also impact the people who visit these sites and try to preserve them.

"All of these interactions among speciesand how those interactions will shift due to climate changewill affect how we manage these sites," said Hille Ris Lambers. "After all, Mount Rainier is a national park that is here for all of us, as well as the species that call it home."

More information: Elli J. Theobald et al, Climate drives phenological reassembly of a mountain wildflower meadow community, Ecology (2017). DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1996 Journal information: Ecology
With wildfires causing widespread destruction in California, Montana and other western states, it's understandable why officials have been investing in fire suppression efforts for decades. However, nature eventually must run its coursewhich contributed to record-breaking fires this year, according to a firefighter and wildfire consulting specialist.

The fires in the western states were inevitable, said Stephen Creech, who responded to three firefighting assignments in Montana this summer for a total of 48 days.

"What people don't know is that these ecosystems are fire-adapted," said Creech, who teaches firefighting certification courses at Purdue University. "Fire is a natural part of the system out here."

And after nearly 100 years of fire suppression across the United States, Montana, California and other western states were susceptible to fires, according to Creech.

"Fuel feeds the flames," he said. "The past two years have been very wet for Montana and it's built up a whole lot of brush. Couple that with the unusually hot, dry conditions of this year and all that vegetation is parched and flammable. It was only a matter of time before it started to burn."

The wildfire that recently raged across the Montana landscape gobbled up more than 438,000 acres of the dry rangeland and forced hundreds of people to evacuate. The fires in the western portion of Montana, like Rice Ridge and Lolo Peak, had reached 160,187 and 53,902 acres in size respectively. Creech ran the operations on the Lolo Peak fire.

The Northern California fires that contributed to at least 43 deaths and the destruction of 14,000 homes recently have been described as among the deadliest in the state's history. Wildfires also broke out in Utah, Oregon, Washington and Idaho this year.

"As for the California fires, there are three main factors at play here," Creech said. "First, California consists of numerous fire-dependent ecosystems. Second, the west slopes of the various mountain ranges in California all have what are called "foehn" winds. These are hot, dry, and very strong winds that blow down the slopes to the west. The third issue is the wildland urban interface. People have elected to build homes in fire prone areas."

Creech is all too familiar with flames. During the spring and fall, the Purdue grad works as a wildfire consulting specialist with his company in Bloomington, Ind. The business was originally started for fire training, but Creech also writes prescribed fire burn plans for The Nature Conservancy and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. That leaves his summers open to fight fire with the U.S. Forest Service.

"Every fire is different," Creech said. "I went back to Lolo Peak after a short break and it was completely different. Fire changes minute by minute."

Fire suppression has led to a great deal of build-up in not only Montana, but other states as well. Many ecosystems, such as a prairies and grasslands, depend on fire to persist. Otherwise, woody vegetation like shrubs and trees would take over the grassy plains and the landscape would slowly turn into a forest. Out west, consistent, low-burning fires keep the Great Plains from building up too much fuel and allowing for greater diversity of plant species. Wildflowers, in particular, depend on fire to open up space for the faster-growing, more aggressive grasses.

"Fire occurs naturally in almost all ecosystems," Creech said. "Ponderosa Pine, [a common tree species in Montana], has a three- to five-year fire return interval. For prescribed burns, you run fire below the trees  it's a natural part of their cycle. It's the woodlands and grasslands that don't get burned that burn out of control, very hot, and there's nothing we can do."

Prescribed fire reduces fuel and promotes the natural cycles of fire. By having controlled burns, it greatly reduces the risk of massive wildfires breaking out because there is less material to fuel them.

"It's extremely dry out there," Creech said. "To give you an idea of how dry, a two-by-four at a lumber yard has 24 percent moisture content. A board out there has 5 percent. Any fire brand that lands on a receptive fuel bed  95 percent of those will start a new fire. Then you have to go fight that fire on top of the one you're already fighting."

Without the prescribed burns, the outcome could be even worse, Creech said.

"The best thing those states could do is manage forestland and prairielands. By harvesting timber and doing prescribed fire, you reduce the risk dramatically," Creech said, who has 43 years of fire experience. "For example, on Lolo Peak, we went into a polygon and burned 1,000 acres. This robbed the main fire of fuel, so when it got there it just went out. We fight fire with fire."

But current prescribed fire efforts are not enough, according to Creech.

"The federal agency, namely the U. S. Forest Service, runs out of money every year," Creech said. "They have to spend down their budget, the entire thing, not just the budget for fire suppression. In bad fire years, this drains the funds for recreation, trail management, and other projects; fuels management pays the price here. They typically run out of money right in the middle of the fire season."

Once the funds are gone, there's nothing left over to try to prevent the fires in the first place.

"There's a bill afoot to fund fire suppression separately and would not require the U.S. Forest Service to break into the rest of their budget," Creech said. "But this has been tied up for years. The fires are getting bigger and harder to suppress every year, it's only going to get worse."
A reconstruction of the mammals by palaeo-artist Dr Mark Witton. Credit: University of Portsmouth

Fossils of the oldest mammals related to mankind have been discovered on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset.

The two teeth are from small, rat-like creatures that lived 145 million years ago in the shadow of the dinosaurs. They are the earliest undisputed fossils of mammals belonging to the line that led to human beings.

They are also the ancestors to most mammals alive today, including creatures as diverse as the Blue Whale and the Pigmy Shrew. The findings are published today in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, in a paper by Dr Steve Sweetman, Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth, and co-authors from the same university.

Dr Sweetman, whose primary research interest concerns all the small vertebrates that lived with the dinosaurs, identified the teeth but it was University of Portsmouth undergraduate student Grant Smith who made the discovery.

Dr Sweetman said, "Grant was sifting through small samples of earliest Cretaceous rocks collected on the coast of Dorset as part of his undergraduate dissertation project in the hope of finding some interesting remains. Quite unexpectedly he found not one but two quite remarkable teeth of a type never before seen from rocks of this age. I was asked to look at them and give an opinion and even at first glance my jaw dropped."

"The teeth are of a type so highly evolved that I realised straight away I was looking at remains of Early Cretaceous mammals that more closely resembled those that lived during the latest Cretaceous  some 60 million years later in geological history. In the world of palaeontology there has been a lot of debate around a specimen found in China, which is approximately 160 million years old. This was originally said to be of the same type as ours but recent studies have ruled this out. That being the case, our 145 million year old teeth are undoubtedly the earliest yet known from the line of mammals that lead to our own species."

Credit: University of Portsmouth

Dr Sweetman believes the mammals were small, furry creatures and most likely nocturnal. One, a possible burrower, probably ate insects and the larger may have eaten plants as well. He said: "The teeth are of a highly advanced type that can pierce, cut and crush food. They are also very worn which suggests the animals to which they belonged lived to a good age for their species. No mean feat when you're sharing your habitat with predatory dinosaurs."

The teeth were recovered from rocks exposed in cliffs near Swanage which has given up thousands of iconic fossils. Grant, now reading for his Master's degree at The University of Portsmouth, said that he knew he was looking at something mammalian but didn't realise he had discovered something quite so special. His supervisor, Dave Martill, Professor of Palaeobiology, confirmed that they were mammalian, but suggested Dr Sweetman, a mammal expert should see them.

Professor Martill said: "We looked at them with a microscope but despite over 30 years experience, these teeth looked very different, and we decided we needed to bring in a third pair of eyes and more expertise in the field in the form of our colleague, Dr Sweetman.

The teeth under an electron microscope. Credit: University of Portsmouth

"Steve made the connection immediately, but what I'm most pleased about is that a student who is a complete beginner was able to make a remarkable scientific discovery in palaeontology and see his discovery and his name published in a scientific paper. The Jurassic Coast is always unveiling fresh secrets and I'd like to think that similar discoveries will continue to be made right on our doorstep."

One of the new species has been named Durlstotherium newmani, christened after Charlie Newman, the landlord of the Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers, close to where the fossils were discovered.

More information: Steven Sweetman et al. Highly derived eutherian mammals from the earliest Cretaceous of southern Britain, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica (2017). DOI: 10.4202/app.00408.2017 Journal information: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
At Jacob Rawlins's first job, he learned he would be preparing food for "guests," not "customers." And to straighten up he'd use "cleaning cloths," not "rags." It's language, he said, that the company's management encouraged to foster a particular kind of culture among employees and customersscratch that: guests.

That intentional culture shapingwhich happens in notable ways at companies including Disney, Google and Chick-fil-Ais often bolstered by managements' use of myth, said Rawlins, now a BYU linguistics and English language professor. For a study recently published in Enculturation, Rawlins explored the ways companies use myths to promote team unity and support during times of change.

"Myth-making is when you create a story to affect the decisions people make," he said. "Managers will often create these stories and place their employees into them. Just like classical myths there are heroes and villains, and everyone understands their place in the story."

As an example, Rawlins points to Disney, which does extensive training to teach their employees about the history of the company, the legacy of Walt Disney and the current culture of the organization. The Disney parks, he added, offer additional visual reminders of the mythology. "Every item in the park, from trash cans to the largest rides, and every employee in the park, from the ticket takers to Mickey Mouse, are carefully controlled so that park visitors have the Disney experience."

And Disney isn't alone: "It happens all the time," Rawlins said. "Every organization has a story that gives meaning for why we're here in this office doing what we do. And when they put it into a certain context, it's because they want me to act a certain way as an employee."

For this project, Rawlins spent three years observing a printing company as it underwent a major transition to a new and technologically challenging print management system.

To help facilitate the change, the group's manager created a myth in the context of the company's history, labeling the old technology as the villain and praising the new technology as the hero. The employees were placed into the story as key characters capable of helping the hero triumph.

"The manager could have talked about the history of printing, and it's a fairly dry history," Rawlins said. "Instead he told his employees, 'We are a part of this noble work of disseminating this information to mankind, with a legacy going back to Johannes Gutenberg, and you're a part of that. And this new technology is the next step for that legacy.'"

An effective company myth, Rawlins said, will answer such questions as How did we get here? What should we be doing? Where are we going?

In exploring those questions, Rawlins said, companies can both define acceptable behavior and discourage behavior that will lead to the villain's triumph (whether the villain is a competitor, an unmotivated workforce or an outdated technology that hinders productivity).

"It's especially helpful when there's conflict in the community," Rawlins said. "Myths remind people that they're wearing the same jersey and fighting for the same cause."

Rawlins hopes to continue his research by analyzing how people react when their company myths fail.
Pakistan's army and ISI have planned to disturb Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma's efforts to maintain peace in Kashmir.

By Manjeet Negi: After the Modi government initiated peace talks in Kashmir, the Pakistan army along with terror groups and ISI have stepped up attempts to infiltrate and carry out attacks in Kashmir in order to derail efforts of interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma.

As per intelligence, inputs agencies are concerned about Pakistan's plan to derail Interlocutor's efforts to bring peace by more BAT action and other sensational actions at Border and destabilise the valley.

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In a communique intercepted by the forces, JeM senior commander asked his terrorists to infiltrate the valley and if they fail to do so, they should place IEDs and blow up the forward posts.

Derailing peace

On 22 October, in Muzaffrabad, Sayed Salauddin held a big conference in which all the LET/ JEM / ISI commanders were present. Sallauddin emphasised on pushing at least 40 terrorists before harsh winter sets in Kashmir.

On October 23, government of India announced former IB Chief Dineshwar sharma as an interlocutor for Kashmir. The interception also stated the name of Dineshwar Sharma during their conversation after they asked all terrorist organisations in Pakistan including their Army to step up efforts to infiltrate and plan an attack.

On October 25, in Kotli, 3 PoK brigade commanders held a high level meeting with SSG and other terrorist commanders along with their mentor. The commander gave them direction for a BAT action including a group of 8-10 taking assistance of Pakistan's army.

More attempts of Infiltration and BAT action direction were also given.

Main BAT camp locations:

Muzaffrabad: It's in Cluster indicate more small camps in this area.

BAT camps are also located in Mansher and Kotli. It's a 10 corps area of Pakistan Army and known to be supportive of radical Islamic groups.

Terrorist are carrying out recce missions in groups of 2-3 Pakistan Special Forces' 3 SSG and 2 SSG units have been enrolled for destructive activities as well. Approximately, about 12 BAT action attempts have taken place till now.

--- ENDS ---
Matchwood-like amyloid crystals could represent the most stable folded structure of a protein or a long peptide sequence. Credit: Reynolds et al., Nat. Comm. 2017

An international team of researchers have discovered a new type of transition in protein folding: amyloid crystals formed from amyloid fibrils by a decrease in energy. The crystals are even more stable than the fibrils, which are responsible for a number of serious neurodegenerative diseases in humans.

Amyloid fibrils are infamous for the role they play in serious neurological diseases in humans, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. One trigger for Alzheimer's disease is the misfolding and aggregation of proteins such as tau and ABeta. This causes the formation of tiny fibrils that then accumulate in the brain. Specialists refer to these fibres as amyloid fibrils.

Raffaele Mezzenga, Professor of Food & Soft Materials at ETH Zurich, has spent a long time studying amyloid fibrils, which he synthesises in the lab starting from non-toxic and edible precursors such as the whey protein component beta-lactoglobulin. He does this by heating the proteins in acid to degrade the original structure; the proteins are "denatured" and become fibrous. Multiple individual strands congregate and twist into a helix to form the mature amyloid fibrils in the lab.

During the process, the whey proteins not only lose their original structure, but also their functionality. In the case of non-toxic food protein precursors, new functionalities are built, which are at the core of an intense research program in the group of Mezzenga.

Transformation of an amyloid fibril

An international team of amyloid experts led by Mezzenga has now made a fundamental discovery with amyloid fibrils generated by fragments of proteins from animal, human and disease related protein sources, made synthetically in the laboratory. The discovery has just been published in Nature Communications.

Under certain circumstances, the fibrils can be transformed into a protein structure that has never been observed before in-vivo and seldom observed in in-vitro studies: an amyloid crystal. The scientists resolve for the first time the physical mechanism by which this transition takes place: this involves untwisting the fibril to form elongated, matchstick-like amyloid crystals without the need to unfold and refold the protein; that is, by simply getting rid of torsional energy associated with the twisted amyloid fibrils.

In the past, researchers had only observed this phenomenon in the test tube but without really being able to identify the mechanisms leading from one structure to another; the amyloid crystals, nonetheless, have never before been found in living cells.

AFM 3-D Images of the peptides showing conversion from fibril (twisted) to crystals (untwisted). Credit: J. Adamcik/ETH Zurich

For the research team, it is therefore difficult to say for the time being what implications the discovery will have in the field of amyloid-related diseases. Mezzenga is already sure, however, that the results are significant for protein folding and the formation of amyloid fibrils: "Our results shed new light on the self-organisation of proteins that have a tendency to form amyloids, and on the most stable status of proteins in general."

Nick Reynolds, Research Scientist at Swinburne University of Technology, further believes this work will have major implications in understanding the mechanisms by which amyloid proteins misfold and aggregate in neurodegenerative diseases, eventually leading to the identification of potential new routes for the early diagnosis and treatment of these socioeconomically devastating conditions.

The most stable form of protein

Indeed, once they have formed, the crystals are likely to be the most stable possible form of a protein. This is due to the fact that they have a very low level of internal energy. In terms of the energy landscape, amyloid crystals lie in the deepest valley when compared to other forms of proteins  even lower than amyloid fibrils, which were previously thought to be the lowest-energy and most stable form of protein.

Researchers have statistically and experimentally determined that energy is released when an amyloid fibril transforms into an amyloid crystal. "Our discovery means that the energy landscape of protein folding must now be revisited," says Mezzenga.

Rarely found in nature

Yet the situation is paradoxical from a statistical physics perspective, Mezzenga continues: "If the amyloid crystal represents the lowest possible energy state of a protein form, then most proteins would have to transition to this structure sooner or later." This is due to a well-established principle of statistical thermodynamics that states that in a system with many degrees of freedom, the state of lowest energy is the one most probable and thus most often observed. The same should hold true for proteins, which is why it is astonishing that amyloid crystals have never been found in natural systems such as cells, says Mezzenga.

Mezzenga sees the explanation for this in the fact that cells contain special proteins (chaperones) that assist proteins to fold correctly. This is an energy-intensive process. In the test tube, however, where researchers have managed to produce amyloid crystals directly from amyloid fibril precursors, these enzymes were not present. "Protein-folding in living systems is, after all, much more complex than in the test tube," says Mezzenga.

The fundamental behaviours of amyloid fibrils are is still not entirely understood and somewhat controversial. Mezzenga hopes that his work will help to improve understanding of how proteins with a tendency to form amyloids behave and what is the natural evolution of folded protein conformations in general.

More information: Nicholas P. Reynolds et al. Competition between crystal and fibril formation in molecular mutations of amyloidogenic peptides, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01424-4 Journal information: Nature Communications
Several different swallowtail butterfly variations showing mimicry and polymorphism, or different forms of the same species. In the center, a female Papilio polytes that does not mimic another species. Credit: Matt Wood, UChicago

Female swallowtail butterflies do something a lot of butterflies do to survive: they mimic wing patterns, shapes and colors of other species that are toxic to predators. Some - but not all - swallowtail species have evolved several different forms of this trait. But what kind of genetic changes led to these various disguises, and why would some species maintain an undisguised form when mimicry provides an obvious evolutionary advantage?

In a new study published this week in Nature Communications, scientists from the University of Chicago analyze genetic data from a group of swallowtail species to find out when and how mimicry first evolved, and what has been driving those changes since then. It's a story that started around two million years ago, but instead of steady, progressive changes, one chance genetic switch helped create the first swallowtail mimics. And it has stuck around ever since.

"In butterflies with one color pattern, we have a gene in a normal orientation on the chromosome. In the butterflies with the unusual, alternate color pattern, that gene was spliced out, flipped, and then spliced back into the chromosome at some point," said Marcus Kronforst, PhD, associate professor of ecology and evolution at UChicago and the senior author of the study.

"That flip, or inversion, keeps the two genes from recombining if those two different kinds of butterflies mate, so they've kept both copies of the gene over evolutionary time, since they split from their common ancestor two million years ago," Kronforst said.

For a long time, scientists thought that butterfly mimicry was controlled by "supergenes," groups of several tightly linked genes that were always inherited as a group. In a 2014 study, Kronforst and his colleagues showed what appears to be a supergene is actually a single gene called doublesex that controls the different color patterns and shapes we see in female swallowtails.

The doublesex gene was already well-known for its role in differentiating between sexes, but in females the inverted, or flipped, version also dictates wing patterns. It can still be thought of as a supergene because it controls the entire, complex process of wing patterning, but in this case, it is just the single gene.

Several different swallowtail butterfly variations showing mimicry and polymorphism, or different forms of the same species. Row 1: A female and male Papilio protenor, the species that is closely related to Papilo polytes, the focal of the new study. InP. protenor, males and female look the same and they do not mimic. Row 2: Papilio ambrax, a species where males and females look different and the female is a mimic. In this species, there is no female polymorphism. The new study shows that its evolutionary ancestor was polymorphic, but females lost that train and only display the mimetic form. Row 3: Polymorphic Papilio polytes, (L-R) A mimetic female form (one of 3 mimetic forms in this species), a non-mimetic female, and the male. Row 4: A distantly related swallowtail, Pachliopta aristolochiae. This is the toxic species that the species in the new study mimic. Credit: Matt Wood, UChicago

In the new study, led by postdoctoral fellow Wei Zhang, PhD, the team analyzed whole-genome sequence data form Papilio polytes, the Asian swallowtail butterfly, and several similar species to see how they are related to each other, and how their copies of doublesex compare. Using these data, the team compared some alternative explanations for the origins of mimicry and identified key factors that have maintained different forms of mimicry long-term.

The most closely related species to the P. polytes group, called Papilio protenor, is spread across mainland Asia from India to Japan and did not develop mimicryboth males and females look alike. Other species that spread from the mainland to islands in the Philippines and Indonesia developed three or four distinct forms, a feature known as polymorphism. Still other swallowtail species spread further to Papua New Guinea and the northeast coast of Australia, but those females display only one disguised wing pattern.

The researchers compared the patterns they saw in the genome sequence data to some possible explanations for how these patterns of mimicry developed over time and geography. Did mimicry evolve independently in different species at different points in time? Did it evolve in one species, and then spread through cross-breeding or hybridization?

It appears that mimicry actually has a single ancient origin, when the doublesex gene flipped two million years ago. Since that initial inversion, Zhang and Kronforst did see signs of what's known as balancing selection. When one type of butterfly becomes more common, predators realize they aren't toxic and start to feed on them. This reduces the number of that particular butterfly, until another one becomes more common, and so on. Eventually this process balances out and preserves the relative number of each form.

They also saw that some butterfly populations have maintained multiple female forms for millions of years, while others lost the original, undisguised form. Historically, the smallest groupse.g. the ones that spread the furthest to Australialost the polymorphism, allowing random genetic drift and natural selection to weed out the original form.

The researchers also looked at what maintained polymorphism over time. One cause could be sexual selection, that males prefer certain female color patterns over another. Previous research on mating behavior doesn't back up that idea though. Another possibility is "crypsis," or the idea that undisguised females blend into their natural surroundings better than the mimics. Kronforst and the team tested that hypothesis by comparing mimetic and non-mimetic females against a green forest background using models for predator (i.e. bird) vision. The non-mimetic, undisguised females actually don't blend in to the background any more than mimics, so this idea is out too.

Several different swallowtail butterfly variations showing mimicry and polymorphism, or different forms of the same species. Row 1: A female and male Papilio protenor, the species that is closely related to Papilo polytes the focal of the new study. In P. proteno, males and female look the same and they do not mimic. Row 2: Papilio ambrax a species where males and females look different and the female is a mimic. In this species, there is no female polymorphism. The new study shows that its evolutionary ancestor was polymorphic, but females lost that train and only display the mimetic form. Row 3: Polymorphic Papilio polytes, (L-R) A mimetic female form (one of 3 mimetic forms in this species), a non-mimetic female, and the male. Row 4: A distantly related swallowtail, Pachliopta aristolochiae. This is the toxic species that the species in the new study mimic. Credit: Matt Wood, UChicago

Those two findings, combined with the genomic sequence data, led the researchers to start thinking about another intriguing possibility. It could be that the genetic changes that led to mimicry in the first place also built in some long-term disadvantages. When the original doublesex gene inverted, it probably carried a bunch of other unrelated genetic material with it. Since the flipped doublesex gene can't be recombined with its original version, the extra stuff has "hitchhiked" ever sinceand it could have consequences. In fact, some research shows that female mimics don't live as long as standard ones.

"We think a bunch of differences were accidentally captured when one copy of the gene flipped and became the mimetic copy. Because a lot of those changes are functional, they could be detrimental to health," Kronforst said.

"The idea is that you have this hardwired disadvantage to mimicry. The standard females don't have the protection of mimicry, but they also don't have this inherent genetic cost and these two things offset one another" he said.

Now that they have unraveled some of the history behind the evolution of mimicry, Kronforst said his team wants to start looking for the specific genetic mutations on doublesex that cause different kinds of mimicry.

"If we can find ways to piece through all the differences that we see, we should be able to narrow it down to something much more discrete than all the differences we see now," he said.

The study, "Tracing the origin and evolution of supergene mimicry in butterflies," was supported by University of Chicago Neubauer research funds, a Pew Biomedical Scholars Fellowship, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Additional authors include Erica Westerman from the University of Arkansas, along with Eyal Nitzany and Stephanie Palmer from the University of Chicago.

More information: Wei Zhang et al, Tracing the origin and evolution of supergene mimicry in butterflies, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01370-1 Journal information: Nature Communications
Using glow sticks in traps, researchers found that spotted salamanders were three times more likely to be captured in population surveys. Credit: David Munoz, Penn State

With amphibian populations declining around the world and funds to find the causes scarce, a team of Penn State researchers has shown that an unorthodox tactic will make it easier and therefore less expensive to capture adult salamanders and frogs.

The researchers demonstrated that glow stickscheap, self-contained, short-term light-sourcesattract the creatures to traps set in vernal pools where they come to reproduce in the spring. The translucent plastic tubes contain isolated substances that, when combined, make light through chemiluminescence.

Often used for recreation, glow sticks are sometimes relied upon for light during military, police, fire or emergency operations. However, they have not been widely used in wildlife research and their appeal to amphibians is not well understood, according to David Miller, assistant professor of wildlife population ecology, College of Agricultural Sciences.

"This work is important because research funding is often limited, especially when we're talking about amphibians and reptiles compared to mammals or other charismatic species," he said. "With a warming climate, monitoring data will become only more important for informing conservation decisions. If we can find a way to improve our capture rate, it is going to mean less time, effort and expense to study amphibians."

Penn State researchers have documented that wood frog numbers have declined at Pennsylvania sites they have monitored in the last two decades. Credit: Michael Antonishak, Penn State

As part of a long-term national study, Miller's lab has been monitoring amphibian populations at sites around Pennsylvania. Spearheading that effort has been David Munoz, doctoral degree candidate in ecology, who helped create the Salamander Population Adaptation Research Collaboration Network, or SPARCnet. It was his idea to "bait" traps with glow sticks at one site as an experiment. The researchers chose State Game Land 176 in Centre County, managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The research using glow sticks took place in a forested area known as the Scotia Barrens, which contains a dense network of vernal pools where Miller's lab has been monitoring amphibian populations for years.

Within this network, researchers surveyed 12 pools, varying in size but with similar habitat characteristicsno aquatic vegetation and leaf-litter bottoms. Each pool dries mid- to late-summer in most years. Surveys for this experiment were conducted in March and April 2015, and traps were continuously deployed during surveys.

Over the course of nine trapping nights, researchers captured 4,935 amphibians. Glow sticks increased the average number of captures of spotted salamanders by more than three times, Jefferson salamanders by nearly four times, wood frogs by almost three times and Eastern newts by as much as six times, compared to control traps.

The research, which was published in Herpetological Review, focused on adult amphibians, noted lead researcher Michael Antonishak, an undergraduate majoring in wildlife and fisheries science when the study was done. He worked closely with Munoz on the project.

The researchers demonstrated that glow sticks -- cheap, self-contained, short-term light-sources -- attract Eastern newts, Jefferson salamanders, spotted salamanders and wood frogs to funnel traps set in vernal pools where they come to reproduce in the spring. Credit: David Munoz, Penn State

Past studies found that baiting traps with glow sticks increased the capture rates of larval amphibians two to eight times compared to funnel traps with no lure, but no studies have tested the effectiveness of glow-stick lures on the capture rates of adult, vernal pool-breeding amphibians, Antonishak pointed out.

"We specifically focus on the adult stage of amphibians because life history suggests adults play the most critical role in population persistence," he said. "Capturing adults also make techniques such as mark-recapture feasible, providing estimates of abundance and survival to improve conservation decisions."

Why are glow sticks effective lures for capturing amphibians? Researchers are not sure, Munoz admitted. It is likely a straightforward visual cue, but it could be more than that.

It is generally accepted that amphibians do not eat while they are breeding but it is possible that the light actually attracts different organisms that the amphibians may eatperhaps the amphibians are gravitating toward those species, he explained.

"Without actually testing that, we can't say for sure," Antonishak added. "Are they attracted to the light itself or is it possible that the amphibians just see a little better in the pool where glow sticks are illuminating the water? Perhaps females, for instance, see males a little better and they are more attracted to them."
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received worldwide attention due to excellent power-to-electricity conversion efficiency (PCE). Currently, 22.1 percent certified PCE has been achieved compared to those of CIGS and CdTe solar cells. However, there are still some critical issues to be solved in order to promote PSC commercialization.

Perovskite metal halide materials, such as CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 , have attracted wide interest in the field of photoelectric conversion, detecting and luminescence. As an emerging semiconductor, this type of material has distinct advantages of high light absorption coefficient, long carrier lifetime, low defect density and exciton binding energy, and low fabrication cost. The energy conversion efficiency of the perovskite solar cell (PSCs) has been exceeding 22 percent, even higher than that of multicrystalline silicon cells, implying its potential commercial application. In the development process of PSCs, Chinese scientists have made contributions in developing efficient hole transport material-free PSCs, exploring new materials with photoelectric and luminescence properties, regulating the material fabrication, integrating large-area devices, and investigating the stability issue of the cell.

Here, Meng's group from Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, reviews the latest advance from the perspective of material structure, fabrication technology to the critical physics properties. Especially for the physics properties, the doping, defects, carriers, junction and electric field, ion transportation and their influence on the semiconductor properties are discussed.

The carrier property of ternary perovskite is closely related to the self-doping, and the carrier control can also be experimentally realized by regulating the physics-chemistry process behind the material fabrication. Meanwhile, impurity atoms could be an alternative for the carrier adjustment. Due to the p-type doping, a single heterojunction at the TiO2/perovskite interface was observed in the cell, where the heterojunction is mainly located in the perovskite region. Interestingly, no obvious junction was found at the perovskite/hole transporting layer interface, which implies that the cell may be not a p-i-n cell. For the defect properties, some works have been reported. The defect density of these low-temperature solution-processed perovskites is as low as 1015 cm-3, which thus contributes to the long carrier lifetime. Recently, significant ion transport in the material has been found, which would redistribute the doping and defect in the cell, thus affecting the photoelectric behavior and stability.

These physics properties play essential roles in the operation of the cell and need to be understood thoroughly. For the cell, the low stability is the key limitation to its further development, and the physics stability has the critical effect. It is believed that, with substantial effort toward developing new hybrid perovskite materials and new fabrication techniques, a reliable perovskite photovoltaic technology can be realized in the future.

More information: Dongmei Li et al, Inorganicorganic halide perovskites for new photovoltaic technology, National Science Review (2017). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwx100
Credit: The National Research Council

An international team of researchers have found an infrequent variation in the brightness of a forming star. This 18-month recurring twinkle is not only an unexpected phenomenon for scientists, but its repeated behavior suggests the presence of a hidden planet.

This discovery is an early win for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Transient Survey, just one-and-a-half years into its three-year mandate to monitor eight galactic stellar nurseries for variations in the brightness of forming stars. This novel study is critical to understanding how stars and planets are assembled. The survey is led by Doug Johnstone, Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada and Greg Herczeg, Professor at Peking University (China), and is supported by an international team of astronomers from Canada, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

"This variation in the brightness or twinkle of the star EC53 suggests that something large is disrupting the gravitational pull of the forming star. The fact that it recurs every 18 months suggests that this influence is orbiting around the star  it's quite likely a hidden, forming planet," says Doug Johnstone. It is thought that a companion planet is orbiting the star, and its passing gravitational pull disrupts the rate of the gas falling onto the forming star, providing a variation in the observed brightness, or light curve, of the star.

Young stars are born in regions of the galaxy where molecular gas is abundant. When the star is young, gas and dust form a thick cloud that surrounds the star. Some of this material quickly flattens into a disk, in which planets will form. The cloud blocks the star itself from optical view, so astronomers study the star indirectly by using the cloud to learn details about the star growing inside. The star builds up its mass as gravity attracts gas to move from the disk onto the star, a process that also releases significant energy that heats up the surrounding gas cloud. Astronomers use telescopes sensitive to sub-millimetre wavelengths, like the JCMT, to measure the cloud brightness and reveal details about the growth of the star.

EC53's light curve anomaly was discovered by Hyunju Yoo, graduate student at Chungnam National University and advisor Jeong-Eun Lee, Professor at Kyung Hee University (South Korea), through careful analysis of monthly observations of Serpens Main, a stellar nursery known to contain many forming stars. Although the brightness of EC53 has been observed to vary periodically at near-infrared wavelengths for some time, these sub-millimetre observations were essential in validating that the brightness variation was due to heating from gas accreting onto the forming star, rather than variations in the cloudiness of the environment.

"What caught my eye was a new round of data that showed a sudden brightness that hadn't existed in previous observations," says Lee. "I knew that something unique and interesting must be happening around this forming star. It turned out that it is indeed a very special object, providing a new window into how stars and planets form."

Credit: The National Research Council

A deeper understanding of the formation of stars and planets

For the remainder of the three-year sub-millimetre survey, the team will continue to monitor EC53 and will also be searching for additional young stars showing variations in growth to learn more about how stars and planets assemble. There are already a half-dozen additional candidate variables within the survey. By studying these stars, and using additional telescope facilities such as the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, the study will provide new and unique insight into the timescale for the formation of stars and planets, including whether planets form during or after the assembly of the star.

"This discovery marks a turning point; in a sense, it's like sub-millimetre astronomy is moving from taking pictures of our galaxy to taking videos," says Greg Herczeg. "The last 25 years have been devoted to perfecting observing techniques and instruments to allow us to see early star formation. But with recent advances in technology, we can now observe regions changing over time, for a deeper understanding of how stars form. This discovery is just one example of how much more we can now learn."

Monitoring the brightness of forming stars over time using sub-millimetre wavelengths is an unconventional approach to observing that has been made possible by recent advances in imaging technology, like SCUBA-2, and data reduction processing which enables precise calibration and measurement.

The JCMT resides at the summit of Maunakea in Hawaii and is the largest single-dish sub-millimetre telescope in the world. The JCMT is operated by the East Asian Observatory, a partnership between China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, with support from the astronomy communities in Canada and the United Kingdom. The university-led contributions from Canada are supplemented by the NRC's support for the JCMT archive at the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre.

This discovery has been accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal.

More information: Hyunju Yoo et al. The JCMT Transient Survey: Detection of Submillimeter Variability in a Class I Protostar EC 53 in Serpens Main, The Astrophysical Journal (2017). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aa8c0a Journal information: Astrophysical Journal

Provided by The National Research Council
The VA001 can carry 35 pounds of payload, flying at 500 to 15,000 feet above sea level. Its primary attraction -- and the primary reason NASA funded its development through the SBIR program -- is its ability to carry out research over some of the most forbidding locations on Earth. Credit: Jeremy Novara/Vanilla Aircraft

NASA scientists, who always are on the hunt for new platforms from which to carry out their research, now may avail themselves of two agency-developed unmanned aerial systems, or UASs, that some say represent the future for drone aircraft.

Unlike most commercially available unmanned aircraft systems, Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 and Black Swift Technologies' S2 small Unmanned Aircraft System, or sUAS, purposely were designed for scientific investigations.

Both provide one-of-a-kind capabilities that represent a significant success for NASA's Small Business Innovative Research, or SBIR, program, which funded their development, said Geoff Bland, a research engineer at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

"Our goal always is to advance state-of-the-art airborne capabilities and platforms tailored to the needs of our scientists," said Bland, who oversaw the aircrafts' development. "The SBIR program offered us an outstanding venue for engaging small businesses in our quest to develop new tools for gathering scientific data."

Now operational after months of development, the aircraft are offering the scientific community complementary, easy-to-use capabilities at a lower cost.

To Antarctica and Back

Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 provides a case in point.

Smaller than NASA's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft, which requires a relatively large team to operate, the VA001 can carry 35 pounds of payload and fly at 500 to 15,000 feet above sea level. Its primary attractionand the reason NASA funded its development through the SBIR programis its ability to carry out research over the most forbidding locations on Earth. It can cover thousands of square miles of treacherous terrain and bone-chilling temperatures of -40-degrees Fahrenheit in a single flight.

It runs on jet-grade fuel, which contains corrosion inhibitors and anti-icing additives crucial to operations in the Arctic or Antarctica. "It was an important part of the aircraft's design to fly under the toughest and coldest conditions," said Joe Famiglietti, the technology-infusion manager for Goddard's SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Since NASA's initial SBIR investment in the aircraft's development, the Virginia-based Vanilla Aircraft has garnered support from the U.S. Department of Defense, or DoD, which funded a second prototype as well as test flights. In one non-stop test flight, the VA001 flew for 56 hours on a single tank of fuel, proving the aircraft could meet both NASA and DoD's needs, Bland said.

"The dream mission would be for the VA001 to leave the Wallops Flight Facility, fly over Antarctica, and then return after two days of mapping the changing ice. We could do this on demand for quick response to changing phenomena over the poles," Bland said.

Packed and Ready to Go

The Colorado-based Black Swift offers a completely different set of capabilities with its sUAS. The company originally developed the aircraft to fit inside a vehicle trunk, take off anywhere, and fly up to 90 minutes over 705 acres, with a full payload.

"The company did more than just develop a unique aircraft," Famiglietti said. The company also integrated a specialized radiometer developed by the University of Colorado in a partnership with Black Swift. Its miniature antennas are used to detect proportions of energy reflected from the objects over which the sUAS flies.

Scientists can use the energy readings, along with other aircraft sensors, to differentiate between water contained within the soil or vegetation. With this data, NASA scientists can better understand soil-moisture levels and ground-truth NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite data that scientists use to monitor drought, predict flooding, and assist in crop productivity.

Because the sUAS has a modular "plug-and-fly" instrument capability and can be toted to virtually any location, its use is not restricted to soil-moisture measurements, however.

NASA scientist Miguel Roman at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland now is using the sUAS to map vegetation and climate dynamics under a pathfinding mission called MALIBU, short for the Multi Angle Imaging Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function sUAS.

In 2016, his team integrated MALIBU's two multispectral imagers onto the platform at different angles to precisely match the viewing geometry of polar-orbiting satellite images. It proved so effective that he and his team have acquired a second platform, Roman said.

The aircraft is continually evolving, and will be able to observe volcanic plumes in the future, said Black Swift Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jack Elston, a MALIBU partner.

"Through NASA's SBIR program, we are enabling new types of science," Bland said. "These aircraft represent the future."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A future quantum computer, using quantum bits, or qubits, might be able to solve problems that are not tractable for classical computers. Scientists are currently struggling to build devices with more than a few qubits, as they mutually hamper each other's proper operation.

Researchers led by Professor Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler und Dr. Ulrich Poschinger at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have now demonstrated the operation of a four-qubit register composed of atomic ions trapped in microchip trap. The ion qubits can be freely positioned within the trap, such that laser-driven quantum operations at high accuracy remain possible.

The team has realized the generation of an entangled state of four qubits, in which each of the qubits loses its individual identity, but the register as a whole does have a well-defined state.

This has been accomplished by sequential operations on pairs of qubits, interleaved with ion movement operations. The resulting quantum state is carried by qubits that are distributed across macroscopic scales of up to several millimeters.

The approach for realizing a quantum computer based on moving ions in a micro-structured trap was originally proposed by the team of physics Nobel laureate David J. Wineland called "quantum CCD" for the analogy with the controlled movement of charges in the devices underlying modern cameras.

The work by Kaufmann and coworkers appeared in the journal Physical Review Letters.

More information: H. Kaufmann et al, Scalable Creation of Long-Lived Multipartite Entanglement, Physical Review Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.150503 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
'Business as usual' is not an option for the UK's nuclear energy sector; our energy companies' 'regressive and unjust funding approach' is causing fuel poverty, and the Northern Powerhouse could play a key role in shaping the UK's climate change future. Credit: The University of Manchester

Business as usual' is not an option for the UK's nuclear energy sector; our energy companies' 'regressive and unjust funding approach' is causing fuel poverty, and the Northern Powerhouse could play a key role in shaping the UK's climate change future.

These are just some of the opinions in a new publication, 'On Energy: How can evidence inform future energy policy?', by The University of Manchester. It is being launched on Wednesday 8th November at the House of Commons.

The report brings together some of the country's leading energy, policy, and climate change scientists, academics and experts to offer their opinions and solutions for the UK's most pressing energy issues.

The publication draws on expertise from across The University of Manchester and external collaborators, including Lord Jim O'Neill, Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, Professor Francis Livens, leading climate change researcher, Professor Alice Larkin and SUPERGEN Bioenergy Hub Director, Professor Patricia Thornley.

On the UK's nuclear policy, Professor Livens and his co-authors from DNI, Professors Tim Abram, Juan Matthews and Richard Taylor, say the industry needs to recognise that its competitors in the renewable sector, such as wind, solar and wave, are substantially cheaper. To combat this he says more innovation is needed to reduce the cost if it is to be taken seriously as an alternative to fossil fuels.

'Business as usual' is not an option for the UK's nuclear energy sector; our energy companies' 'regressive and unjust funding approach' is causing fuel poverty, and the Northern Powerhouse could play a key role in shaping the UK's climate change future. Credit: The University of Manchester

They say: 'We can argue forever about the importance of baseload reliability, which nuclear gives you and renewables don't, but does that reliability really justify nuclear being 50% more costly? Nuclear has to look at its costs.'

Estimates for decommissioning the 'nuclear legacy', an issue 'dominated by Sellafield', range from 120 billion to 220 billion.

They added: 'Sellafield, like life, is complicated. Its fate is determined by real people and it is governed by the laws of unintended consequence. So how do we harness the power of innovation in this environment?

'We must do everything differently, our technology, our governance, our regulation, our public engagement and anything else that define the decommissioning challenge as a project in our society.'

The report also tackles the issue of fuel poverty and energy justice in a low carbon society. Dr Harriet Thomson, Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Environment, Education and Development, says: 'The human and societal costs of fuel poverty are extensive, resulting in worsened physical and mental health, increased usage of health services, and social isolation. Reducing carbon emissions and alleviating fuel poverty are both vitally important policy goals, but they have the potential to be in conflict.'

On the potential for the Northern Powerhouse to drive economic growth through a focus on its prime capabilities, Lord Jim O'Neill added: 'The North's civic and business leaders have identified four areas where the North of England has genuine world class economic competitive potential, and one of these is alternative energies.'

There are many key areas in the setcor which require a greater scrutiny to create sensible polices and drive effective solutions to address the energy and environment challenges. This report highlights some of the key pressing topics.
A real car has been turned into a driving simulator. The virtual environment is visible in front of the window. Credit: KIT, IMI

Chinese driving schools are currently experiencing a strong demand, the number of learner drivers is growing constantly. A new type of driving simulator based on a car modified for virtual training of learner drivers in advance and an automatic feedback is to help meet this demand. For the close-to-reality driving exercises, complex projection technology and virtual-reality hardware and software are applied. The simulator was developed within the Driving Simulator (DriveSim) technology transfer project of KIT and Chinese partners.

For the driving training to be as close to reality as possible, a mid-sized car made in Germany and frequently applied in Chinese driving schools is turned into a driving simulator. The learner driver sits behind the steering wheel of a real vehicle without an engine and learns intuitive operation. "Modern vehicles are equipped with an internal network of actuators and sensors. Via this interface, a conventional vehicle can be turned into a driving simulator without changing its outer appearance," Professor Jivka Ovtcharova, Head of the KIT Institute for Information Management in Engineering, says. Research of Ovtcharova, who is mechanical engineer and computer scientist, focuses on virtual engineering in all phases of IT support for innovative product development and production. The smart driving simulation system developed under her direction combines virtual reality with artificial intelligence and live maps, i.e. web-based map services. "Around 30 million people in China obtain the driver's license every year. According to law, they have to pass a certain number of training lessons in the simulator," Ovtcharova points out.

In the new type of driving simulator, all displays in the cockpit can be activated for real-time interaction: In case the driver moves the steering wheel, if he/she presses the pedal or changes the gear, the pressurized air system equipped with a special force feedback technology will ensure that road bumps or accelerations can be felt. "The learner drivers make their test drives in a virtual world that is based entirely on data of geoinformation systems," Ovtcharova explains. For generating this environment, DriveSim uses virtual-reality projection technology. Viewing directions of the learner driver are tracked by an eye-tracking system and the environment is displayed at the correct angle. The learner driver is shown a three-dimensional artificial environment by projection onto a wall in front of the vehicle and three monitors for the rear-view mirrors. In this way, changing driving environments can be generated, such as roads in the neighborhood known to the learner, but also different traffic situations, weather conditions, and road surface properties.

Credit: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The role of a virtual driving instructor is taken over by an intelligent tutoring system. It displays information on e.g. the driving speed in the projection, points out hazards, identifies driving mistakes, and assesses the driving behavior of the learner in order to document his/her individual progress. The real driving instructor can use this assessment to configure new driving exercises adapted to the driving skills learned.

A Chinese engineer who visited KIT, his former education institution, with a delegation in summer 2016, very quickly realized the market potential of KIT's software development that is now used as a basis of DriveSim. "Within five minutes, he wanted to turn it into a product together with us," Ovtcharova remembers. In September 2016, the two-year development project with the industry partner tuobaba Technology (TBB) started at Hangzhou, a city located 200 km southwest of Shanghai. Another cooperation partner is the Jiangyin Sino-German Technology Transfer Center. Development of the hardware configuration for the driving simulator is coordinated by KIT, the software solution is designed by KIT alone. The Chinese partners among others establish the necessary server infrastructure and will be responsible for remote maintenance of the driving simulators. "DriveSim is a pioneer project of German-Chinese technology transfer at KIT," Ovtcharova says.

"Apart from research and education, innovation is one of the three core tasks of KIT," emphasizes Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs. "The DriveSim project is an example of how innovation can be achieved by product-oriented development from fundamental research to commercialization in cooperation with an industry partner." The DriveSim project is supported by KIT's Innovation Management Service Unit within a program for the transfer of product-oriented research results of market-relevant potential to industry through joint cooperation projects as well as cooperation and license agreements.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Investigations in the Panama Papers leak cases have resulted in the Income Tax Department detecting undisclosed wealth of 792 crore so far even as the probe is on in "full swing", the CBDT said today.

Over a year after Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) made the documents public, the CBDT said it has found 147 of the total 426 cases "actionable".

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"Investigations have led to the detection of undisclosed credits (in offshore bank accounts) of about Rs 792 crore so far. Investigation is in full swing," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the poilcy-making body of the income tax department, said in a statement.

It said that taxman has filed 5 criminal prosecution complaints in these instances, while it has served seven notices under the new anti-black money act to the entities allegedly involved.

The department also conducted searches in 35 cases and surveys in 11, it said.

"The Income Tax Department conducted enquiries in all 426 cases, inter alia, through making 395 references to 28 foreign jurisdictions.

"Based on analysis of the information obtained and investigation conducted, the outcome so far indicates 147 actionable cases and 279 non-actionable cases (non-residents/ or no irregularities)," it said.

The Panama Papers, the CBDT said, contained brief particulars of about 426 persons, prima facie, Indians or persons of Indian origin.

The government constituted a multi-agency group (MAG) of investigative agencies in April last year to probe these instances.

The MAG has so far submitted seven reports to the government.

The CBDT said further investigation was in progress. PTI NES SK

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Additionally, there are huge opportunities for advancements in retail automation systems owing to the increasing usage of smartphones and enhanced internet accessibility. This, in turn, is expected to fuel the growth of the retail automation market. The increasing adoption of the technology by a number of end users such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, fuel stations, and retail pharmacies is anticipated to boost the market over the forecast period.

Retail automation technology is witnessing increasing demand among the growing urban population since it offers improved service quality and instant access to everything ranging from carts to food. There are tremendous opportunities for advancements in the retail automation system owing to the increasing usage of smartphones.

The retail automation market has been segmented based on products into barcode and Radio-frequency identification (RFID), point of sale (POS), cameras, electronic shelf labels, autonomous guided vehicles, and others. RFID technology is enabling retailers to compete with online sellers as it helps facilitate regular inventory checks, which in turn leads to inventory accuracy. Self-checkout terminals have grown substantially due to the benefits that they offer for retailers in improving the customer experience. Automation is gaining significance as retailers are using a combination of mobile devices, self-checkout, digital kiosks, proximity beacons, and workforce and task management solutions to remain competitive in the market.

The growing awareness and popularity of retail automation are encouraging manufacturers to invest in research & development for creating better, more reliable, and cost-effective products. Manufacturers are making significant investments to develop new products in an effort to enhance user experience.

Browse full research report with TOC on Retail Automation Market Analysis By Product (Barcode & RFID, POS, Cameras, Electronic Shelf Labels), By End User (Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Fuel Stations, Pharmacies), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2014  2025 at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/retail-automation-market

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

The growing demand for retail automation can be accredited to the increasing demand among retailers for business optimization and improvement in service quality.

The growing penetration of Internet of Things (IoT) and enhanced internet accessibility, which help direct digital controls for improved Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, have encouraged retailers to adopt the retail automation technology.

Innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, digital traceability, and robotics are also some of the key factors expected to drive the demand for retail automation over the projected period.

The North American region accounted for the largest market share in 2016, which may be attributed to its large consumer base.

Some of the key industry participants include Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (U.S.), Fujitsu Limited ( Japan ), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), NCR Corporation ( Georgia ), and ZIH Corp. (U.S.).

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Grand View Research has segmented the retail automation market based on products, end users, and regions:

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014  2025)

Barcode and RFID POS Cameras Electronic Shelf Labels Autonomous Guided Vehicles Others

End-User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014  2025)

Hypermarkets Supermarkets Convenience Stores Fuel Stations Retail Pharmacies

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014  2025)

North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Read Our Blog By Grand View Research: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blogs/advanced-materials

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company 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, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Other Point of Sale News:
Retailers Ask House to Address Real-World Consequences of Expanded Joint Employer Rules

WASHINGTON, November 6, 2017  The National Retail Federation today urged the House to approve legislation set for a vote this week that would reverse an expanded definition of a joint employer adopted during the Obama administration that has increased businesses exposure to lawsuits.

Restoring certainty in labor relations is a top priority for retailers, and we appreciate congressional efforts to address the real-world consequences associated with limitless joint employer liability, NRF Senior Vice President David French said. Without congressional action, retailers and chain restaurants will continue to face unlimited and unpredictable joint employer threats that slow job creation and entrepreneurship.

Frenchs comments came in a letter to members of the House, which is expected to vote Tuesday on the Save Local Business Act.

The legislation would overturn a 2015 National Labor Relations Board ruling that said waste management company Browning Ferris Industries could be considered a joint employer with Leadpoint Business Services, a staffing agency it subcontracted, even if it had only indirect or unexercised control over Leadpoints workers. In a separate 2014 case, the NLRB said McDonalds could be considered a joint employer with its restaurant franchisees. In the two cases, the NLRB reversed guidelines followed for more than 30 years in which it said a company had to have direct control over the actions of a subcontractor or franchisees employees in order to be a joint employer.

Retailers of all sizes and in every portion of the country continue to have significant concerns with the NLRBs controversial decision, French said. The NLRB created the impossible scenario in which one business can be held accountable for the actions of another entirely independent business. These harmful and unnecessary changes have resulted in seemingly limitless liability.

The legislation would restore the previous standard, saying a company could be considered a joint employer only if it directly, actually and immediately exercised significant control over issues such as hiring, firing, determining pay or supervising employees on a routine basis.

NRF is the worlds largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nations largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs  42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nations economy.

Other Point of Sale News:
Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

Read more
The panel, probing the case, will first go through details of income tax returns filed by the 714 Indian individuals and entities named in the Paradise Papers and subsequently take action.

Fugitive businessman and liquor baron Vijay Mallya finds himself in yet another soup after his name cropped up in the expose.

By Mail Today Bureau: The government on Monday launched an investigation, spearheaded by the income tax department, into offshore assets and bank accounts of over 700 Indian individuals and entities disclosed in the Paradise Papers released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

The Indian names include Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, film star Sanjay Dutt's wife Dilnashin, now known as Manyata, Union minister Jayant Sinha and Rajya Sabha MP RK Sinha.

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The Indian names also included those associated with the Sun-TV-Aircel-Maxis case, Essar-Loop 2G case, SNCLavalin in which Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was named and then cleared, and a case against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; as also entities linked to Rajasthan ambulance scam that names an entity called Ziquista Healthcare (with Congress leader Sachin Pilot and former minister P Chidambaram's son Karti as early honorary/independent directors).

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) announced that the multi-agency group probing the Panama Papers leak will also monitor the investigations on the Paradise Papers on financial holdings abroad. It said the investigation units of the income tax department across the country have been alerted to take note of the disclosures for immediate action.

In all, 714 Indian entities and individuals figure in the list. The Paradise Papers include nearly seven million loan agreements, financial statements, emails, trust deeds and other paperwork over nearly 50 years from inside Appleby, a well-known offshore law firm with headquarters in Bermuda.

ICIJ worked with 95 media partners globally for the investigation. The leaked documents include files from smaller, family-owned trust company Asiaciti (Singapore), and from company registries in 19 secrecy jurisdictions. However, at the same time, the mention of names in the list does not mean that such entities have generated tainted money or evaded taxes, the body said.

CBDT, which is the apex policy-making body for the I-T department, said investigation in many cases of offshore entities is already on the fast track. As soon as further information surfaces, swift action as per law will follow, it added.

CBDT said the government has directed that investigation in cases of Paradise Papers will be monitored by a reconstituted multi-agency group (MAG), which is headed by the CBDT chairman and has representatives from the tax body, Enforcement Directorate, RBI and Financial Intelligence Unit.

The panel will first go through details of income tax returns filed by the 714 Indian individuals and entities named in the Paradise Papers and subsequently take action, on a case-to-case basis, official sources said.

However, the CBDT said it is still to receive full details of the latest disclosures. It said the names of only a few Indians have appeared so far in the media. The Paradise Papers relate to an investigation into offshore and banking assets of individuals and entities carried out by the Indian Express in collaboration with ICIJ. Even the ICIJ website has not yet released the names and other particulars of all entities, it said.

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The ICIJ website suggests that information will be released in phases and structured data connected to the Paradise Papers investigation will be released only in the coming weeks on its offshore leaks database, a CBDT statement said.

A senior official said notices will be issued once complicity of an individual or entity is established in these cases. The CBDT said revelations made on Monday in the media indicate that out of 180 countries represented in the data of offshore entities held by people of different nationalities, India ranks 19th in terms of number of names.

Sun Group, founded by Nand Lal Khemka, figured as Appleby's second largest client with as many as 118 offshore entities.

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There is a price on their heads, and one of them has already been gunned down. Now, the leaders of a black community in Colombia who dared urge farmers to stop growing coca plants are "hiding like rats" from drug lords intent on maintaining their supply of narcotics. "We started receiving death threats and left our area on September 26," said Francisco Jacome, who heads the group of community leaders working to halt coca production, in line with a peace deal between the government and former rebels of the Marxist FARC group. Armed men -- whom the leaders are too afraid to name, even in hiding -- showed up in their village and publicly threatened them, putting a five-million peso ($1,500) bounty on their heads for pushing their communities to end the illegal cultivation of coca leaves. They fled their region of Alto Mira y Frontera and are now in hiding in Tumaco, the port of the southwestern region of Narino, a 50-minute drive from their homes. "Alto Miro is the largest area for the cultivation of coca leaves in the world," said Jacome, the 40-year-old president of the government assembly of community councils. The area was legally given over to descendants of slaves who once worked in the gold mines of neighboring Barbacoas, but of its 60,500 acres (24,470 hectares), 17,000 (42,00 hectares) are planted with coca, the base material for cocaine. Colombia was the world's largest producer of cocaine in 2016, turning out 866 tons of the drug, according to the United Nations. - A splintering of armed groups - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, were for half a century Marxist rebels who turned to drug production in recent decades to finance their struggle. Their disarmament in a landmark peace deal with the government last November triggered a bloody power struggle between 15 rival factions made up of FARC splinter groups, former right-wing paramilitaries and rebels from another left-wing guerrilla organization, the ELN, according to Christian Visnes, director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). "And there are other groups starting to spring up that we don't even know about," he said. Narino contains 20 percent of the 360,700 acres (146,000 hectares) of land under coca cultivation across the country. Afro-Colombians in the area follow a traditional lifestyle of fishing and growing cacao beans and palm trees, and reject any responsibility for the "colonos," as they call the peasant farmers from neighboring areas who followed the FARC into the sector when they took control of it around 15 years ago. Strategically placed on the border with Ecuador, Tumaco's Pacific coast is a maze of inlets and mangrove swamps that provide access for smuggling boats and escape routes from the police, a combination of factors that have turned this town of around 200,000 people into an epicenter of drugs trafficking. The authorities regularly break up cocaine labs, arrest traffickers and seize mini-submarines used to smuggle the drugs. Local coca leaf growers, known as "cocaleros," have denounced the forced destruction of their harvests and what they deem insufficient government aid to help them switch to alternative cash crops. Six of them were killed when police cracked down on a protest march in October. Jacome, whose predecessor Genaro Garcia was murdered in 2015, appealed to both the government and the former guerrillas, who have reinvented themselves as a political party. "If the FARC and the government negotiated the substitution and the eradication of coca, it is they who have to underwrite it." - Too much blood spilled - Local community leaders in the region are the go-betweens between armed groups and the state, something that "puts them in a very difficult position," said Visnes of the NRC. So the 13 surviving leaders of Alto Mira y Frontera communities have remained in hiding for more than a month, under the scant protection of three police officers who log the identity of any visitors in a large black book. "We are living like rats," Jacome told AFP, tears in his eyes. "You don't even dare lean out the window." He recalled how the council's spokesman, Jose Jair Cortes, got a little too confident. He was riddled with 17 bullets on October 17. "He said everything was quiet out there ... right up to the moment when he was tragically assassinated." Under the pale neon lighting of their house, 41-year-old Luz Dari, piped up: "The government and the FARC have a debt to pay for our dead. There's been too much blood spilled here, too many widows and orphans." The community leaders have been told the council will pay for their food and accommodation until November 26, but after that their fate is murky. The authorities in Tumaco declined to comment to AFP about what would become of the group after that date. For Visnes, the "historic peace accord has not brought an immediate peace" to Tumaco, something he said was all the more tragic for being so predictable. Almost 200 community leaders and human rights defenders have been killed in Colombia since the start of 2016.
Also, startups Bitspark and Crayon Data have raised funding

Indonesia wants Alphabet to censor Googles obscene content

The Indonesian government is tightening its grip on censorship in the country. According to a report by Reuters, the government plans to summon representatives of major internet messaging and search services, including Google, to demand that they remove obscene content.

Yesterday, the Indonesian government warned it will block WhatsApp within 48 hours if it did not remove GIFs (animated graphics files) on the platform. According to the report, WhatsApp told the government to work directly with the third-party developers who provide GIF content to WhatsApp.

One of the providers, Tenor Inc, has already implemented fixes and today, users reported they were unable to access Tenors GIFs.

The Indonesian government has made similar demands in the past. Last year, it demanded Google and chat app Telegram remove extremist content on from their platform. It banned popular image sharing site Tumblr, then reversed its decision almost immediately.

The Indonesian government also banned video streaming giant Netflix before allowing state-owned telco Telkom to launch the service in the country.

Apple iPhone supplier to expand in India

Apples iPhone manufacturer, Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron Corp, is planning to expand its operations in India.

According to a Bloomberg report, the iPhone assembler is looking to secure about 100 acres of land in Bangalore, including a plot near the airport.

Wistron first launched its plant in Bengaluru this year, with the sole purpose of manufacturing iPhones. It may now, however, explore manufacturing other brands, the report said.

Another Apple assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry is in talks with the local Indian governments to set up plants, the report added.

In India, Apple iPhones do not sell as well as compared to other markets; this is in part due to high tariffs imposed on products manufactured outside of India.

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Most of the iPhones manufactured in the country (which it began this year) have been of its lower-end model, the iPhone SE. This has enabled Apple India to double its revenue YoY for the third quarter of this year.

Apple is currently in negotiations with the federal government to build more manufacturing facilities and open its retail stores. Apple wants the government to remove custom duty barriers, capital equipment duty barriers and permission to import and export used iPhones to refurbish, said the Bloomberg report.

Big data startup Crayon Data raises funding

Singapore and Chennai-based big data startup Crayon Data has raised funding from Infosys co-founder Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan.

The investment amount was not disclosed, but it is part of a Series A2 funding. Crayons previous investors include Jungle Ventures, Ratan Tata, Mitsui & Co., and many prominent angels.

Crayon will use the newly-raised financing to expand its presence globally as well as strengthen its product offerings.

Founded in 2012 by Srikant Sastri and Suresh Shankar, Crayon Data builds tools that deliver business solutions by bringing together enterprise, public, external internet and social data to a single platform.

Also Read: We have a US$65B big data opportunity in Asia Pacific, and the trends point to big benefits

Its flagship product Simpler Choices uses big data and analytics so enterprises can enable clients to increase their sales conversions and improve returns from existing accounts. The firms key focus verticals are hospitality, finance, retail and technology.

The firm also offers Maya, a personalisation engine that facilitates choice delivery for the banking, hotel and digital media verticals.

It also has a tool called TasteGraph, which maps nearly 4 million restaurants, over a million hotels and 500,000 attractions, globally.

I see that the future of business will be the ability to leverage AI and big data to create personal digital experiences for millions of customers, said Gopalakrishnan.

Crayon has a unique ability to bridge multiple worlds: analytics to digital, offline to online, internal, and external data. This makes them as critical to credit cards, travel and hospitality, and retail enterprises, as a Bloomberg terminal is to traders today, he added.

British startup Dream Agility wins US$9,000 in Korean startup competition

British adtech startup Dream Agility has won the 2017 Global Tech Challenge at the Bounce Busan Global Conference, a South Korea government-backed event. It beat 20 startups to win the 10,000 (US$13,100) prize.

Dream Agilitys cloud-based machine learning tech optimises product data for online retailers, lead Gen and travel companies.

Its service is available in over 20 countries, and is one of 35 Google Shopping Partners.

Its a huge win, especially in Korea where the adtech adoption is quite small and the companies still employ the manual approach to advertising, said Dream Agilitys VP of Technology, Daniel Wardin.

Bitspark raises funding from a major US life reinsurance company

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency remittance startup Bitspark has raised an undisclosed funding from RGAx, the fintech innovation accelerator of Reinsurance Group of America, a major US life reinsurance company with over US$58.7 billion in assets.

The partnership between RGAx and Bitspark will allow them to further their mutual goal of delivering financial protection to the underserved populations.

At RGAx we are actively partnering with our existing clients and new innovators, such as Bitspark, to create business opportunities that improve consumer access to financial services, said Dennis Barnes, CEO, RGAx, in an official press release.

Also Read: The economics of blockchain and crypto assets

We believe Bitsparks technology could help reduce friction for the millions of people who use remittance to support their families and friends abroad.

Bitspark currently operates in seven countries with over 100 000 cash distribution options including banks, convenience stores and mobile money payments



Image Credit: antbphotos / 123RF Stock Photo

The post Captains Log, November 7: Indonesia demands Google, WhatsApp remove obscene content, Apple iPhone supplier planning expansion in India appeared first on e27.
Hundreds of protesters blocked roads in Guatemala on Tuesday to demand that President Jimmy Morales step down because of accusations of corruption stemming from his 2015 election campaign. The demonstrators were mostly from rural and indigenous communities. The national roads authority said main roads in the Central American country were blocked at at least seven locations. A leader of the rural group organizing the protest, Neftali Lopez, said the demonstrators wanted Morales to resign "for corruption" and facilitating organized crime, a purge of Congress, and graft investigations against Guatemala City's mayor and a former president, Alvaro Arzu. Morales, a 48-year-old former TV comic, took office last year vowing to clean up Guatemala's notoriously shady politics. He succeeded Otto Perez, who had to step down when a corruption scandal implicating him exploded into street protests and ended with him in jail pending a trial. But Morales' star has tumbled since, with a UN-backed anti-corruption body, the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG in Spanish), demanding the president's immunity be lifted so he can be investigated for suspected illegal campaign financing. Morales responded by trying to boot out the Colombian head of the CICIG, prompting a public and international uproar. Guatemala's top court voided his order. Congress has held two votes on whether to withdraw Morales' immunity, but each time the motion has failed to gather the 105 votes necessary.
A man holds a Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia flag during a protest against the President Joko Widodo's decree to disband Islamist groups in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 28, 2017. Picture taken July 28, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta (Reuters)

By Ed Davies and Agustinus Beo Da Costa

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, (Reuters) - When students at Indonesia's prestigious Institute of Agricultural Studies swore an oath to support a caliphate in the world's largest Muslim-majority country last year, a video of the event went viral and the government grew alarmed.

Months later, Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned the decades-old hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which organised the student pledge, and declared its goal to set up a caliphate was incompatible with the constitution and could threaten security.

Last month, under prodding from the government, thousands of students across the nation made an anti-radicalism pledge. It followed an unprecedented gathering in late September of some 3,000 academics in Bali, who also pledged to fight extremism and defend the secular constitution.

The campaign against extremism in education comes amid a rise of a hardline, politicised Islam in Indonesia, which until recently had occupied the fringe of the nation's politics.

"Radical organizations can spread like a virus in universities," said Professor Muhammad Sirozi, rector of the State Islamic University Raden Fatah in Palembang on Sumatra.

"These are not the organizations that students form themselves, but they are from outside," he said at a briefing that outlined ways to help universities tackle radicalism following the Bali conference.

The campaign to root out boosters of the caliphate is not just confined to schools.

A document collated by Indonesia's intelligence agency lists 1,300 HTI members in senior posts in the civil service, universities, the military and police.

An intelligence source confirmed the authenticity of the document, which was reviewed by Reuters. Some of those on it declined to comment after being contacted, but HTI's former spokesman Ismail Yusanto said it did include some of its members.

SUHARTO TACTICS

Illustrating how a politicised brand of Islam has gained traction, nearly 20 percent of high school and university students in Indonesia support the establishment of a caliphate, a survey showed last week.

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Moreover, around one in four of the 4,200 Muslim students in the survey by pollster Alvara said they were, to varying degrees, ready to wage jihad to achieve this. [nL4N1N823F]

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international organisation, established by a Palestinian Islamic scholar in 1953, has been banned in some Arab, Asian and European countries. One of its former members in Indonesia is Bahrun Naim, who went to fight for Islamic State in Syria and is accused of masterminding a series of attacks in Indonesia since early last year.

An officially registered organisation in Indonesia since 2000, HTI has sought a judicial review in the constitutional court over its disbanding.

"They never gave us a chance to defend ourselves. Is it not an authoritarian and repressive action?" said HTI spokesman Yusanto, who likened the crackdown to the tactics used against opponents under former strongman President Suharto.

Asked whether HTI was still operating, Yusanto said no one could ban members from their duty to do "Dakwah" (missionary work) and those activities would continue.

Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir told reporters in July that HTI members were lecturers "in many universities" - Indonesia has 394 state universities and about 3,000 private ones. He warned they could be sacked unless they proffer loyalty to Indonesia's secular ideology Pancasila, or "five principles".

Yusanto said, however, no lecturers who were HTI members had been sacked. A Home Ministry spokesman said a task force set up to find members in the civil service had not found any so far.

MILITARY SYMPATHISERS

One former HTI member, Ayik Heriansyah, said the group tries to enlist support from influential members of society and sympathisers in the security forces to overthrow governments, or what it terms "the handing over of power".

Universities have been a key recruiting ground.

Heriansyah, who was once chairman of HTI at the University of Indonesia, said potential recruits were usuallyinvited to an Islamic study group. After about three months, they might be asked to participate in intensive Hiz b-ut-Tahrir study, said Heriansyah, who said left the group after a falling out with its central board.

Heriansyah said the ban on the group would simply push it underground.

"They are still running the movement as usual, but with a new structure and stewardship," he said.

HTI has not disclosed its membership. Raymond Arifianto, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said his sources say HTI had about one million members, including an estimated 10-15 percent of junior army officers as members or sympathisers.

A spokesman for Indonesia's military denied this.

TARGETING HIGH SCHOOLS

The group has also gained a strong presence in state universities that train public school teachers, meaning new teachers could spread HTI ideology to high school pupils.

A survey published last December by the Institute for the Study of Islam and Society, showed that 78 percent of 505 religious teachers in public schools supported implementing sharia law in Indonesia. The survey also found that 77 percent backed Islamist groups advocating this goal.

Muhammad Abdullah Darraz, director of the Maarif Institute, which promotes religious and cultural harmony, said HTI had targeted religious lessons at state high schools to spread its ideology.

Clerics offered their services for free, often with school principals and teachers being unaware of their affiliation, he told Reuters.HTI's spokesman denied this was a strategy but said members were obliged to do missionary work without charge.

Indonesia's biggest Islamic groups, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, which claim to have about 120 million members between them, back the crackdown on HTI.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, chairman of NU's GP Ansor youth wing, said that Indonesia had been built by many religions and cultures, but "HTI came and wanted to change this diversity into one nation called an Islamic country."

(Additional reporting by Jessica Damiana, Stefanno Reinard, Kanuprya Kapoor and Tom Allard; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan at a media briefing on 16 October 2017 where he apologised to commuters affected by the MRT tunnel flooding last month. Photo: Yahoo News Singapore

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will not be convening a Commission of Inquiry (COI) on last months MRT tunnel flooding incident that affected some 250,000 commuters, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament on Tuesday (7 November).

As regulator, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will also separately assess SMRTs findings on the extent of dereliction of duties and falsification of records.

While investigations by LTA will take a few more weeks to complete, the facts of the incident are not complicated, and the cause of the incident is clear. My ministry will therefore not be convening a Commission of Inquiry, said Khaw.

The 64-year old was delivering a Ministerial Statement in response to a total of 15 Parliamentary Questions on the flooding of the tunnel between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations, which disrupted North-South Line services for some 20 hours. Top management from SMRT and LTA, including SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and chief executive officer Desmond Kuek, were present in the public gallery as Khaw spoke.

Alluding to Kueks earlier statement that SMRT was grappling with deep-seated cultural issues, Khaw added that he looked to SMRTs top management to set a culture of excellence and the right tone for the whole company.

If there is poor work culture, the CEO is responsible. You set the corporate culture growing the right culture is the responsibility of everyone, said the minister, who also noted that Kuek had been working very hard to try to change work culture at SMRT.

Khaw revealed that Kuek had volunteered for the job of SMRT CEO following the removal of his predecessor Saw Phaik Hwa in 2012.

He volunteered for this job, he wasnt parachuted in or (was) asked to go and fix this I mean as former Chief of Defence force, I know, I think his heart is in the right place, said the minister.

Khaw noted that SMRT has suspended six members of its maintenance staff, who will face disciplinary action for their part in the incident. They include three SMRT veterans of more than 20 years experience.

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An SMRT statement on 31 October had revealed that maintenance records for the anti-flood system at Bishan MRT had been falsified, with no actual works having been conducted for over a year leading up to the incident.

SMRT is in contact with the National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) (and) has assured the union that these suspended officers will be accorded due process, said Khaw.

SMRT will take swift and stern action to root out any improper practices and prevent a recurrence of this incident.

Khaw revealed that seven managerial staff at SMRT have also been suspended. They include Ng Teck Poo, the former head of the Building and Facilities Maintenance Group, who was replaced in the immediate aftermath of the tunnel flooding by senior mechanical engineer Siu Yow Wee. The other six were Ngs predecessor, a chief engineer, a deputy director, and three managers.

Remedial measures

Alluding to Desmond Kueks statement that SMRT was grappling with deep-seated cultural issues, the minister also detailed other steps that both LTA and SMRT have taken in the wake of the incident.

On a micro level, these include tightening the flood recovery plans and plans to strengthen coordination with the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Public Utilities Board through regular exercises. Both agencies played a key role in clearing the flood waters on 7 October.

At a macro level, a team of experts from the Taipei Metro has also been invited to do a thorough and independent review of (SMRTs) operations to flush out any gaps and recommend improvements in the areas of system management, engineering and maintenance. The team will begin its work in December.

SMRT also aims to develop and cultivate a stronger culture of accountability, ownership and open reporting across the whole organisation. Further, the rail operator will be undertaking a comprehensive audit of its maintenance records and practices to uncover any lapses or impropriety.

To that end, ST Kinetics has released its executive vice-president and chief technology officer, Dr Richard Kwok, to head SMRTs newly augmented audit team from next month.
(Photo: Getty images)

He was part of a five-member gang who posed as National Environment Agency (NEA) officers on a mosquito-fogging job to commit a robbery in 2010, stealing more than $112,000.

Facing charges and possible jail time, he escaped to Batam illegally where he stayed for six years and started a family. But the law finally caught up with him when Indonesian police arrested him for overstaying at the start of 2017 and deported him back to Singapore in April.

Khoo Wei Chyi, a 42-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to four years and six months jail and given six strokes of the cane for his role in the robbery, as well as three months jail for leaving Singapore illegally after pleading guilty at the State Courts on Tuesday (7 November). District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim, who presided over the case, ordered both sentences to run consecutively.

The court heard that Khoo, along with accomplices Ong Bee Han, Ong Chye Kwee, Low Soon Kwee and Tay Chuan Bock, robbed a house at Pavilion Rise in Bukit Batok at about 12.50pm on 22 September 2010.

They entered the house on the pretext of checking the house for mosquitos. Posing as NEA officers, they wore surgical masks, gloves and suits, and had a fogging machine with them. The house was targeted because Ong Bee Han and Low heard that the male owner of the house was a big boss who kept a lot of money in various safes at their house, Deputy Public Prosecutor Amanda Sum said.

During the robbery, they tied up the owners daughter, who was only nine then, and their maid with cable ties and stuck a piece of duct tape over their mouths. The female owner was held at knifepoint and forced to reveal where their valuables are.

The group also used crow bars, a power drill and screw drivers to force open two safes. The total value of items stolen from the house amounted to S$112,791.94, including cash in various currencies amounting to S$106,556.36. Khoo received $18,000 for his part in the robbery, which he spent on gambling and repaying his debts.

Story continues

While facing charges in July 2011, Khoo fled the country even though his passport was impounded. He paid $5000 to a person known as Ah Wen to make preparations for him to leave the country. In the first week of July 2011, he departed Singapore from an unknown shoreline by hiding in a luggage.

Khoos lawyer, Alice Tan, told the court that he had moved on with life while in Batam and got married during his six years there. Khoo, who has kids from a failed marriage in Singapore, also has a two-year-old son in Batam.

However, DJ Hamidah said that it is impossible for Khoo to move on with life given that he is a wanted man in Singapore, and it is impossible for the court to give leeway to Khoo just because he has kids.

The prosecution pushed for a sentence of at least four years and six months jail and six strokes of the cane. DPP Sum said a deterrent effect is needed, given that Khoo is the only one among the group of five who absconded to Batam. Khoos accomplices had been dealt with by the court previously.

DPP Sum also pointed out that it is not Khoos first time committing robbery. In 1996, Khoo was given three years and six months jail, as well as 12 strokes of the cane for a similar offence. Tan argued that the offence in 1996 had happened some time ago but DJ Hamidah replied that it wasnt that far apart from the later offence in 2010.

For committing robbery during daylight, Khoo could be jailed up to 10 years and given at least six strokes of the cane. For leaving Singapore illegally, he could be jailed up to six years and fined up to $2,000.
The United States called Tuesday for international action to hold Iran to account after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of "direct military aggression" over a Yemeni rebel missile attack near Riyadh. The Iran-backed Huthi rebels also threatened to attack ports and airports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, escalating a crisis between Riyadh and Tehran. Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince had accused Iran of supplying missiles to the Huthis, which he said "could be considered as an act of war". Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif retorted that "the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality", a foreign ministry spokesman said. Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that Iran had supplied a missile to the Huthis that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July, and referred to Riyadh's claim that the weapon used on Saturday "may also be of Iranian origin". "By providing these types of weapons to the Huthi militias in Yemen, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously," Haley said. "We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations." Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposing sides in wars and power struggles from Yemen to Syria. Soaring tensions between the key oil producers pushed crude closer to two-year highs on Tuesday and spooked Gulf markets. Europe's top diplomat Federica Mogherini warned the mounting tension was "extremely dangerous", and urged Riyadh and Tehran to seek a "minimum of common ground" on which to build peace. "I know that this is not the wind that is blowing as the majority voice in the world of today," Mogherini told reporters at the EU mission in Washington. "But allow me to bring a little bit of wisdom as the European voice in a world that seems to go completely crazy here: It's dangerous." Saturday's attack showed that despite a more than two-year Saudi-led bombing campaign and blockade, the Huthis retain missiles capable of striking targets deep inside the kingdom. The rebels' warned that they considered Saudi and UAE "airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance" as legitimate targets. "We will not stand idly by -- we will seek more radical means to prevent both the tightening of the blockade and all acts aimed at starving and humiliating the people of Yemen," the Huthis' political office said. The missile, intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh international airport, was the first to reach the Saudi capital and underscored the growing fallout for Saudi Arabia and its UAE ally from their involvement in neighbouring Yemen. The two are the major powers in a coalition that has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. Since Saturday's attack, the coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen, blocking UN-supervised aid deliveries despite urgent appeals from the world body. The coalition said it aimed to fill gaps in inspection procedures that enable "smuggling of missiles and military equipment" to the rebels. - 'Catastrophic' blockade - But the blocking of aid threatens some seven million people already on the brink of famine. The UN urged the coalition to lift the blockade as soon as possible. "If these channels, these lifelines, are not kept open it is catastrophic for people who are already in... the world's worst humanitarian crisis," said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) in Geneva. OCHA said the coalition had also asked it to clear ships from the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida, a key entry point for UN aid. Laerke said fuel prices in rebel-held areas had jumped by up to 60 percent and cooking gas prices had doubled. The International Committee of the Red Cross also urgently called for humanitarian access to be restored. "Humanitarian supply lines to Yemen must remain open," said Robert Mardini, who heads ICRC's Near and Middle East operations. "Food, medicine and other essential supplies are critical for the survival of 27 million Yemenis already weakened by a conflict now in its third year." Saudi Arabia is also embroiled in the biggest purge of the kingdom's elite in its modern history. Dozens of high-profile figures including princes, ministers and billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal were swept up in the weekend purge -- just after the creation of an anti-graft commission headed by Prince Mohammed. burs-oh-ac/par/dv
Did you cancel your subscription to Pioneer magazine? We really cant blame you (as Alvin did teach us how) but you may be crying tears of regret right now.

Why?

If you had thrown the previous issues into the dustbin, you may find yourself digging through your own trash to get the magazines feature on M4 Liping Ang, an officer in the Navy that turns heads and inspires beauty with her lovely Instagram feed.

With almost 6000 followes on Instagram, youll find that she has no trouble transitioning from It Girl to MilITary Girl in a jiffy.

Here she is with other #navygirls.

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And with her buddy, who is also pretty gorgeous.

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This was her start.

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Looks like the training didnt get to her at all. We wish we looked as fresh as she did at the start and after our training period.

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Shes got pretty sisters rooting for herno wonder shes gotten through her training with flying colors.

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We are all asking, though, How do you look fresh after all that training?!

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Maybe its the yoga. She seems to love yoga. And we love that she loves yoga as well. Did we say we love yoga?

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Do you think shell give these other officers a run for their money? Or has Pioneer finally hit on something worth more than than the paper theyre printing their content on?

Let us know which officer inspires you the most to join the Singapore military in the comments!

The post Singaporean men are rushing to join the Navy after finding out about ME4 Liping Ang from Pioneer magazine appeared first on Alvinology.
France wing Yoann Huget on Tuesday rated his side's chances of upsetting the world champion All Blacks at just "10 percent" ahead of Saturday's showdown in Paris. New Zealand kicked off their tour of Europe with a 31-22 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham last weekend, while France are playing their first Test since a 3-0 whitewash in South Africa in June. "You have to be realistic, we're playing the best team in the world. And looking at our results, most of the world sees us losing this match," Huget told reporters at French rugby's national training centre. "We'll try to give our best to hang with them and make their task as difficult as possible." France have won just three of eight matches this year and last defeated the All Blacks in 2009. After Saturday's match Guy Noves's team host South Africa on November 18 and then face Japan a week later. "We know very well where we stand. We're trying to get going again after a difficult tour in South Africa," said Toulouse's Huget, adding there would be "no pressure" on France this weekend. "Everyone is saying 'good luck' to us. It's never a good sign."
A senior tax department source said that the income tax returns will be matched with the data regarding 714 Indians or people of Indian origin whose names figured in the leaked documents.

By Rahul Shrivastava: The government on Monday asked a multi-agency group (MAG) to monitor investigations related to the Paradise Papers. The tax department has ordered its investigators to milk the additional information made available by the expose.

The MAG will be headed by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman and comprise representatives of the apex policy making body apart from enforcement directorate (ED), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and financial intelligence unit.

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Top sources in the tax department said that the offshore accounts exposed by the Paradise Papers didn't come as a huge surprise to the income tax (IT) department as it was already probing some of the accounts of investments made in tax havens which feature in the revelations.

The Paradise Papers include nearly 70 lakh loan agreements, statements of finances, e-mails, trust deeds and others over a period of nearly 50 years. The documents were leaked from Appleby, an offshore law firm which has offices in Bermuda and few other places.

A senior tax department source said that the income tax returns will be matched with the data regarding 714 Indians or people of Indian origin whose names figured in the leaked documents.

"If the matching process throws discrepancies and there is actionable intelligence then the department will act. For this, officials of the level of directors general, investigation, have been put on alert," said a senior official.

Late on Tuesday evening an I-T department release said that all investigation units have been alerted to take note of the revelations for immediate appropriate action.

In the next follow up action, the income tax department will issue notices for information on overseas assets named in the leaked documents. The entities will be given a fortnight to respond.

According to sources, the I-T department may also ask those figuring in the expose to file affidavits or statements on oath in case they want to state that they hold no such accounts in offshore companies.

A failure to file these affidavits will be considered "suspicious conduct".The I-T department feels the data which has emerged does not carry any constraints and since it is not stolen but public data, it can be used to make assessments.

The Paradise Papers indicate that India ranks 19th out of 180 countries represented in the data of offshore entities held by persons of different nationalities. This is the second set of documents brought into public domain involving offshore accounts held by Indians.

In case of the Panama Papers leak, there were brief particulars of about 426 people, prima facie, Indians or persons of Indian origin. The I-T department conducted enquiries in all 426 cases, through 395 references to 28 foreign jurisdictions.

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Based on analysis of information obtained and investigation conducted, the outcome so far indicates 147 actionable cases and 279 non-actionable cases. Out of the 147 actionable cases, probes have led to the detection of undisclosed credits of about Rs 792 crore, so far.

Searches have been conducted in 35 cases and survey exercises have been carried out in 11 cases. In other cases, people have been confronted with the evidences during enquiries.

In 5 cases, criminal prosecution complaints have been filed. In 7 cases, notices under section 10 of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) Act, 2015 have been issued.

Sources said work on all 147 actionable cases is still in progress.

Meanwhile, the I-T department continuing its probe in the post demonetisation financial activities has chosen over 20,000 tax returns for "detailed scrutiny" to identify discrepancies in incomes before and after note ban.

This is apart from the 1,00,000 "high risk" instances of alleged tax evasion for detailed investigation.

Soon after the first few months of note ban, approximately 18 lakh suspicious transactions from 23.22 lakh bank accounts involving Rs 3.7 lakh crore were identified. Tax authorities contacted those who held the accounts or were involved in the transactions. Online response from 12 lakh people for 17 lakh bank accounts were sought and received.

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Sources said now 20,572 tax returns have been selected after a detailed study for scrutiny. This selection was not random but based on the visible discrepancies in the pre and post note ban profiles of entities, said sources.

The next step in these cases would be submission of a volume of records and testimonials. Tax officials will then judge whether the returns filed were correct.

This is part of the government's 'Operation Clean Money' of which Phase 1 was launched in January.

Post note ban, the tax department has been extremely active and carried out almost 1,000 raids and 8,300 surveys or scrutiny exercises seizing Rs 640 crore in cash, Rs 260 crore other assets and disclosures worth Rs 8,000 crore and almost Rs 6,800 crore of black money.

--- ENDS ---
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday, the government said, as the battle between Mnangagwa and Mugabe's wife Grace to succeed the veteran leader intensified. "(President) Mugabe has exercised his powers to relieve honourable vice president E.D. Mnangagwa of his position as vice president," Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo told a press briefing in Harare, accusing him of "disloyalty". Mugabe's dramatic move came after a weekend of high drama between Mnangagwa and Grace after which Mugabe appeared to finally back his wife in the succession race. On Saturday the 93-year-old president threatened to fire Mnangagwa, accusing him of fanning factionalism to garner support ahead of a party special congress due in December, after Grace was booed at a weekend rally. Grace responded defiantly on Sunday by saying that she was ready to succeed her husband. "It had become evident that his conduct in the discharge of his duties had become inconsistent with his official responsibilities," Moyo said. "The vice president has consistently and persistently exhibited the traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability." Mnangagwa was appointed vice president in 2014, taking over from Joice Mujuru -- who was axed after Grace Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.
Keen Dist crew in Valencia Keen Dist owner and logistics commander in Valencia  We just invented Gooses official job title but I think logistics commander sounds pretty impressive. Sink your teeth in a couple of minutes of fun skating from Keen Dist owner Mike Halls and Goose on a recent trip to Valencia, filmed by Oxford top lad James Neddy Needham . Some spots youll recognise, some you wont, a few beers and general good vibes. Good stuff Whos your mate in the sandals?

The Cirencester Skatepark Scratch and Skate Jam 2018, organised by Decimal Skateshop, can now be seen courtesy of James Harris' lens.

Power moves from Bromley here as Blast Skates welcomes Joe Howard to the team with two minutes of RWTB assisted DIY quarterpipe shredding.

Here are our favourite shots from the #CanonFirsts competition, including the two winners

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The pizza market is already fairly saturated. But that doesnt mean that there are no new opportunities in the industry. Businesses like Urban Bricks Pizza are still finding new ways to differentiate their offerings.

You can read more about Urban Bricks Pizza and how the business sets itself apart in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Offers artisan pizza and build-your-own salads.

Sammy Aldeeb, founder and CEO of Urban Bricks Pizza told Small Business Trends, Were known for our real authentic, build-your-own Neapolitan pizza with an all-American attitude. Were the only build-your-own pizza concept that offers delivery, bar and drive-thru options for its Mad Dough Loving Customers.

Business Niche

Offering a large variety of quality options.

Aldeeb says, Each pizza starts with fresh, never frozen dough made in-house every morning that was designed by World Pizza Champion Michele dAmelio. We also have gluten-friendly and wheat options available. Customers can choose from more than 30 ingredients that are prepared fresh each morning to top their pizza. We use flour and tomatoes imported from Italy. Pizzas are cooked to perfection in our stunning lime green ovens in just two minutes. Guests also have the option to select from build-your-own salads, wings and premium Italian gelato.

How the Business Got Started

After buying other franchise businesses.

Aldeeb explains, I emigrated to the U.S. from Dubai in 1998. At the time, I was unfamiliar with American business culture and I had no college degree to fall on, so I jumped into franchising and invested my life savings to open a Marble Slab Creamery in 2005. That location performed so well that after six months, I bought a Subway franchise in the same mall and within 10 years, my portfolio grew to more than 20 franchise locations between Marble Slab, Subway and Great American Cookies.

I decided to then explore the fast-casual pizza industry because I heard about the consistency and profitability of it. I researched franchise concepts in the space but couldnt find one that resonated with me, so I created my own brand. I launched Urban Bricks Pizza in San Antonio in 2015. It was so successful that within two months of opening, I decided to sell all 20+ of my other franchises to focus on Urban Bricks Pizza full-time. I sold the first franchise within six months of opening my first corporate location.

Now, we currently have 12 locations open in Texas and Ontario, Canada, with six under construction and 25 signed leases. There are 117 committed stores through master franchise agreements.

Biggest Win

Creating a profitable business opportunity for franchisees.

Aldeeb says, Its great visiting stores in different parts of the country when it was just an idea on paper less than three years ago! Being able to have Urban Bricks be an unforgettable first summer job for many young men and women also is a huge win in my book!

Biggest Risk

Entering a crowded market.

Aldeeb says, Starting a business in the crowded fast-casual pizza industry was definitely a big risk. We had to make sure Urban Bricks Pizza was different and stood out among the competition. Because I was a multi-unit franchisee myself, I understand what its like to be on that side of it. I worked to make sure we were different not only from the customers perspective, but the franchisees as well. Were the only fast-casual pizza concept with delivery, drive-thru and full bar options, and the only one to offer master franchise agreements for new markets.

How Theyd Spend an Extra $100,000

Marketing.

Aldeeb says, Marketing our brand, letting the public know that they can always get an awesome product for a very reasonable price brickin quick!

Words of Wisdom

Aldeeb says, They often ask me how you get a restaurant to succeed  its simple: REMARKABLE Location, EXCELLENT product, GOOD customer service & a FAIR price.

* * * * *

Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program
Theres no shortage of business conferences and networking events to attend as a new entrepreneur. These events can be fruitful in their ability to connect you with other like-minded professionals, as well as educate you on a myriad of business topics that are geared to savvy business startups such as yourself. Thats why we asked 13 members of Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) the following question:

What one thing have you taken from your experience at a business conference and applied to your startup?

Lessons Learned at a Business Conference

Heres what YEC community members had to say:

Understand Ice Breakers

Ive learned from networking that there are four discussion points that people can talk about when wanting to break the ice: best places to travel, whats good to do locally, what kind of food they enjoy, and somehow, sports. Being well-cultured in these four topics can help create a common relatable point between parties. ~ Kenny Nguyen, Big Fish Presentations

Know When to Listen

I meet a lot of people at conferences and my favorite thing is listening to their stories. Because of this, I think Ive become a stronger listener and have applied this to our company. I dont want a team of yes people. I encourage employees to challenge me and ask questions so we feel comfortable around each other and understand one another better. ~ Syed Balkhi, OptinMonster

See Campaigns as Systems

Think about campaigns as systems. This was a fantastic learning. Instead of looking at marketing efforts from the point of view of a campaign we focused our efforts from a total system perspective. By making this shift we were able to look at strategic gaps instead of one-off directions. ~ Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now

Learn Shortcuts

One of the best things I heard at a conference was how to dramatically speed up my learning for business growth. When theres a new marketing or sales effort youre experimenting with for the first time, find five proven experts in that field and pay for one hour of their time. One or two will accept the offer, and youll get a private lesson from one of the best in that area. ~ Ruben Gamez, Docsketch

Be Prepared

The best conference presentations are those that are exceptionally well prepared, delivered crisply, and have clear takeaways. I realized that a lot of our meetings at work and, yes, my presentations to the team  were done on the fly. Weve started to be more rigorous in structure and expected quality. Now attendees get the important takeaways in less time. ~ Aaron Schwartz, Passport

Learn to Empathize

If youve seen a great networker at a conference, you know the power of empathy. The best networkers talk to dozens of people a day, but make everyone feel like theyre the only one. They focus, empathize, and exude warmth. I have tried to apply the same strategy to my companys interactions with each customer  every customer is an individual, not a name in a database. ~ Vik Patel, Future Hosting

Master Email Marketing

I had always thought of email marketing as sending newsletters. Then, I attended the eCommerce Fuel conference last year and I learned that email marketing can generate higher returns than advertising on Google and Facebook. Email marketing is not about sending out newsletters anymore, tools like Klaviyo have changed the space completely. Today email marketing is responsible for 10 percent of my sales. ~ Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors

Learn to Get Peoples Attention

You get immediate attention when you address a person by their name. Theyre instinctively committed to giving you at least one second of their attention. Its up to you to use that second creatively! ~ Patrick Barnhill, Specialist ID, Inc.

Seek Innovation Over Expertise

One thought-provoking point I heard from a small business conference was that expertise can in many cases be the enemy of innovation. Many of the great industry disruptors have entered their industries without a great deal of experience, and this inspired me to take more chances on people without as much experience. Who knows; maybe Ill find the next Nikola Tesla! ~ Bryce Welker, Beat The CPA

Focus on Being Concise

The worst conference lectures are filled with too many facts and are boring. In business, you need to engage, give simple-to-digest information and move on. Some people seem to speak for their benefit, not for those they are lecturing to. ~ Marc Lobliner, TigerFitness.com and MTS Nutrition

Pay Attention to Details

Whether its presentations, conversations, or product demonstrations, its immediately obvious who pays attention to small details and polish. The most inspiring entrepreneurs care about every feature. I try to apply the same focus to creating products that are better than they need to be. Most customers wont see the details, but they do see the overall quality and understand how much we care. ~ Justin Blanchard, ServerMania Inc.

Continue the Journey of Learning

Business conferences have taught me that theres always something new to learn in any industry. After every conference, I leave with new information that helps me in my business. By promoting conference attendance to employees, they are also able to further their knowledge and expertise in their specific role. Business conferences have been positive for me and Ive passed that on to my team. ~ Dave Nevogt, Hubstaff.com

Always Seek Great Talent

I have met some great people at these conferences that now work with our company. I hired them on the spot because I knew they would fit, and I needed to fill those skills gaps. It may not always be that immediate, but at least its ground zero for finding some great talent. ~ Zach Binder, Bell + Ivy
Jobs for skilled freelancers online are booming, thank you very much, on account of new technologies.

According to data from Upwork, a website that matches freelancers with employers, job postings for independent skilled workers in emerging technologies more than doubled this year.

In its latest Quarterly Skill Index showing the top 20 fastest-growing freelance skills in America, Upwork ranks robotics specialists first among the hottest skills freelancers can possess. Blockchain developers and Bitcoin cryptocurrency developers come in second and third respectively for the third quarter of 2017.

Top 20 Fastest-Growing Skills for Freelancers Q3 2017 Report

Upwork notes the 20 fastest growing freelance skills in the third quarter of 2017 all saw more than 100 percent year-over-year growth, while the top 10 fastest growing skills grew more than 200 percent compared to the same time period in 2016.

Check out Upworks full list of 20 fastest growing freelance skills, Q3 2017:

Robotics Blockchain Bitcoin Penetration testing React.js Amazon Web Services Lambda Augmented reality Deep learning Instagram marketing Final Cut Pro X Swift development AngularJS development Salesforce Vulnerability assessment Natural language processing HubSpot marketing Machine learning Objective-C development Learning Management System (LMS) jQuery development

These skills, eight of which are new to the quarterly list, are seeing an uptick due to growing demand for new tech from businesses and consumers alike. Rates for the skills are also on the rise, with freelancers on Upwork reportedly earning more than $1 billion annually. If you are a freelancer looking to acquire the most in demand skills in tech, you should probably expand to these skills to meet demands.

Small Businesses Benefiting from Freelance Skills Uptick

Since small businesses are not always able to reskill their employees as fast as required by the market, they often rely on freelancers to complete essential tasks in their business. A large number of small business jobs in emerging technologies are outsourced to freelance techies.

And with Upworks more comprehensive Freelancing in America: 2017 study projecting the majority of the U.S. workforce will be freelance within a decade, it may be worth it for your small business to keep tabs on new and emerging skills freelancers are providing that could be harder to find and cost more as time goes on.

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The winner of the journalistic photographs competition is not journalistic in stricter sense, professionals argued.

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The Slovak Press Photo has seen several novelties, improvements in some categories but also a decline in some others.

One of the new things is the participation of Slovenia in the international part of the contest  which defies the adjective Slovak. In fact, two parts of SPPh are international: the Young Talent of The Year, meant for international photographers under 25 years of age and students, and the Central-European Photography, both open to photos from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Ukraine and Slovenia.

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Konstancja Nowina Konopka: Iranian Love (Source: Courtesy of SPPh)

The former category was won by a Slovak, Sona Maletz, and the latter by two Poles, Konstancja Nowina Konopka in the category of individual photos, and Damian Lemanski in the series category.

Sona Maletz: Sunday, series (Source: Courtesy of SPPh)

International jury

Apart from contestants, also jury was international. It was headed by Noor photographer Nina Berman (Columbia University professor), French Benedicte Kurzen, two Czechs  Jindrich Streit and Roman Vondrous and Slovak, Jana Hojstricova. The jury for videos was composed of Czech Zdenek Samal and two Slovaks, Tomas Stanek and Pavol Barabas.

Thanks to Berman, and also another US photographer, Stanley Greene who, apart from being a jury member, also gave a workshop in Slovakia, exhibited in the Bratislava City Gallery (GMB), and helped spread the word about the competition in other countries, the SPPh has already been noticed by the World Press Photo and a future possible cooperation looks probable, organizer Jana Garvoldtova said.

L-R: NIna Berman for the jury, Jana Garvoldtova for organisers of the Slovak Press Photo (Source: TASR)

This year, Berman exhibited in the GMB, too, and offer a continued cooperation with the project.

Winners, losers and not awarded titles

A total of 2,055 photographs  a record of the contest  by 185 photographers was divided into several thematic categories, and in each category, there were series and individual pictures evaluated. Also, there was the Bratislava Grant awarded by the Bratislava Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal.

After several years of poor quality, some categories, like the Nature, have improved visibly, juror Hojstricova said, adding that there are famous and good-quality photographers in Slovakia but it seemed they do not care to compete in this project until now. However, this has changed recently.

Tomas Hulik: Swan Lake (Source: Courtesy of SPPh)

The Reportage category was poorly represented this time, and the jury did not award a single prize.

From among the categories, the Portraits were very strong, while also Daily Life of The World of Art were represented very well, both as for quantity and quality.

Lubos Kotlar: Case Study Jerusalem (Source: Courtesy of SPPh)

The category of Sport could be better, though, jurors agreed, and not all prizes were given. This is a pity, Hojstricova noted, as we provably have at least one international star, cyclist Peter Sagan, who could be more portrayed by his countrymen, she added. A Special Award in this category went to Jozef Jakubco from the Sme daily  exactly for making a series of photos from Sagans Polish race and also from the way he was hailed by his fans there.

Jozef Jakubc: The Phenomenon Sagan (Source: Courtesy of SPPh)

I knew Sagan was popular but I didnt expect such an interest, Jakubco said for his daily. When he only left the car, the whole crowd turned towards him; he had no second of peace, everyone wanted to make a common photo with him, everyone took their mobile phones. He pretended not to mind but I think he missed his privacy.

Much discussed winner

The winner of the Daily Life category, called Prague 2017, Old-Town Square, by Andrej Belovezcik became also the overall winner of Grand Prix 2017. The picture caused some controversy, though, as it does not show any scene or event that would be typical for journalistic photography; but, instead, it shows a happy moment from the crowded square, one of the most visited ones, in the Czech capital.

The winning photo drew the interest of the jury with its positive message  apart from the photographic quality, Jindrich Streit said, adding that the jurys decision were difficult, with differing opinions and a lot of discussions among jury members, sometimes caused also by the differing background of US and French jurors on one side, and the Slovak and Czech ones on the other. He also noted that the photo of IT teacher from Stropkov in eastern Slovakia, Andrej Belovezcik shows that at a time when main squares in European capitals become sites of terrorist attacks, fear, grief and security measures, such a public space can bring optimism and happiness, too.

Streit also praised the winner of the Bratislava Grant, Olja Triaska Stefanovic who, being a non-Bratislavan, managed to capture the changing face of the Slovak capital and its architecture.

The awarded pictures of all categories can be seen until the end of November in two places, in the Bratislava City Museum, and in the Justis Hall of the Primates Palace in downtown Bratislava, lying close to one another.
A variety of interesting and award-winning films await audiences at the International Film Festival Bratislava, including these insider tips from organisers.

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The International Film Festival (IFF) Bratislava, to take place between November 9 and 15, offers dozens of awarded, discussed and interesting films (and some premieres) in film clubs in the downtown area of the capital.

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Here are some insider tips as offered by the organisers:

1. The latest movie of Canadian director Denis Cote, A Skin So Soft, was well received at the Locarno festival. The documentary takes a closer look at body-building, perfection, and the desire to improve in strength and beauty. Denis Cote will arrive in person to present the film at its Slovak premiere, in the Profile section.

D. Cote: A Skin So Soft (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

2. In the Fiction Competition category, the Iranian movie No Date, No Signature by Vahid Jalilvand about a coroner who comes across a familiar corpse, already won the Horizon section at Vencie for The Best Director.

V. Jalilvand: NO Date, No Signature (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

3. Another catcher in this section is the Golden Camera winner from Cannes, Montparnasse Bienvenue by Leonor Serraille, which focuses on a young woman in Paris.

L. Serraile: Montparnasse Bienvenue (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

4. From among documentaries, the feature debut of Norwegian director and cameraman, Egil Haskjold Larsen  69 Minutes of 86 Days  stands out, the story of Leana and her refugee family through the eyes of the child.

E. H. Larsen: 69 MInutes of 68 Days (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

5. & 6. The Made in Slovakia section brings several interesting works, for example The White World According to Daliborek of Czech filmmaker Vit Klusak, or Varga, the cameo of the recently deceased phenomenal Slovak composer Marian Varga by Sonia Maletzova.

V. Klusak: White World according to Daliborek (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

7. The section Lexicon is focused on film acting this year, and one of its highlights is Kate Plays Christine by Robert Green, where actress Kate Lyn Sheil excels.

R. Green: Kate Plays Christine (Source: Courtesy of IFF Bratislava)

8. The special guest of the 19th year of the festival, to receive the Artistic Excellence in World Cinematography award is actor/director Jean-Marc Barr, also the juror in the first- and second feature films category.

Jean-Marc Barr (Source: TASR)

In the section dedicated to him and his works, the recently premiered Grain film of Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu will be of interest.
By India Today Web Desk: The world has seen the rise of a new restaurant trend since last year, and it basically allows one to eat in the buff. And when it comes to setting culinary standards, how can France stay behind? So, the country's capital has finally got its first naked restaurant!

O'naturel is the first naturist or nudist restaurant to open in Paris, and the buzz around it is already sky high. Paris has always attracted those who believe in and follow nudism, and now, the followers of this cultural and political movement have a place where they can enjoy a meal with the freedom to ditch their clothes.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/O'Naturel

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Of course, the idea of including naked humans and hot food in the same equation can be quite messy--what if a hot dish or beverage falls on your bare body?

Also Read: Fit & young? You can make a reservation at Tokyo's naked restaurant

But this is clearly something that the two brothers behind O'naturel don't have to worry about, as their diners revel in the good food and bodily freedom offered at the restaurant. A Mashable report reveals that the 40-seater restaurant is located in a quiet street in Paris' 12th arrondisement.

Picture courtesy: Twitter/Luisarte7

The guests can leave their clothes and belongings in the cloakroom at the entrance, and dine without their clothes. The restaurant offers delicacies like roasted snail and homemade dried duck chips.

However, unlike the naked restaurant in Tokyo--called The Amrita, inspired by the Sanskrit word--O'naturel doesn't want to weigh its guests before they enter. It doesn't have any of the negative restrictions that the Tokyo restaurant does.

Also Read: Chai with cheese? 4 crazy food trends that have hit us this year

Instead, going by the pictures of the people who have dined at O'naturel, it seems like a place that's actually allowing the punters to be who they are.

With such a body positive attitude, this naked restaurant in France's capital is sure to attract nudists from across the world.

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Slovaks return home due to fixed travel time, family interests, sentimentality, but also to utilize experience gained from abroad.

There are several factors behind the decisions of Slovaks to come back from abroad. (Source: TASR)

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At the turn of the century, many Slovaks were leaving their country for a better life abroad. The massive wave of emigration from the early 2000s has resulted in the current shortfall of skilled labour in the Slovak market. Slovaks who left within the brain-drain wave now seem eager to return.

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The European Union is currently experiencing a favourable economic situation with rising living standards and improving labour market conditions. While Slovakia shares in the success, labour force surveys are also beginning to record slightly fewer citizens abroad.

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The most Slovaks living abroad are in the United Kingdom, though the precarious situation before the country leaves the EU in 2019 may play a role when deciding whether to return.

Research by the Institute for Forecasting of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), however, identifies that expats most often return after fulfilling their goals and when a fixed period of time ends. Family and social connections often lure people back as well, experts agree.

Most emigrants consider their departure only as a temporary solution, Vladimir Balaz from the institute told The Slovak Spectator.

More people return

In 2016, Slovakia recorded the departure of 3,674 people with Slovak citizenship, while returnees of the same group numbered 4,076. For comparison, in 2015, a total of 3,835 people left the country and only 3,223 came; in 2014, 3,575 left and 2,939 came, according to the migration surveys of the Slovak Statistics Office.

(Source: Institute of Financial Policy)

So far, two significant migration waves have taken place since 2000. Though before the EU expansion in 2004 mainly educated young people left Slovakia, during the economic crisis in 2007-2009 it was people who lost their jobs and left to solve their economic situation, according to Martin Kahanec of the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI). These were men going mainly into construction and women into nursing in Austria and Germany.Paid content beyond this line

When the second group fulfils their ambitions, have something in their pockets and can spend that at lower prices, their return becomes a temptation, Kahanec said.
Though life as a stranger in a foreign country is not easy, the return home also presents expats with certain obstacles, says Andrea Sadlonova, a returnee to Slovakia, in an interview.

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Slovaks who decide to migrate abroad gain a major chance to know how the world operates, acquire experience and language skills. Though life as a stranger in a foreign country is not easy, the return home also presents expats with certain obstacles. Andrea Sadlonova has experienced them. She is a Slovak-born scientist who returned home after 19 years in the USA.

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The Slovak Spectator (TSS): Could you briefly explain your current situation, years abroad and reasons for your return?

Andrea Sadlonova (AS): I came back to Slovakia in 2015 after 19 years of study and work in the scientific field of Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Tumor Immunology in the US. Earlier in 2012, I had found a job at a company from Prague which needed to launch a branch in the US. At the beginning I worked overseas but later the company transferred me to Prague where I stayed for two years. Now I am back in Slovakia. It is easier to be with my family now without having to travel between Slovakia and Prague every weekend. When I left Slovakia after finishing high school at the age of 19, I wanted to study and fulfil my American dreams. Now I want to experience the comfort of European life with more time for hobbies and family.

TSS: You left Slovakia in 1996, seven years after the fall of the totalitarian regime. Why did you decide to emigrate?

AS: I did not run away from anything. I just wanted to dedicate my life to science which was, according to my family members who spent years in the educational system, not possible in Slovakia at that time. I moved to the US with the goal of putting my signature under scientific articles and new discoveries. But I and many of my classmates from high school did not know where we were going.
More than half of respondents saw the possible victory of Marian Kotleba and his extremist LSNS party in the regional elections as a threat.

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Slovaks mostly fear the future when considering threats like terrorism, deepening social gaps as well as the stagnation and decline of the Slovak education system. This stems from the representative poll of the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO), the TASR newswire reported.

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A total of 73 percent of respondents feel worried about terrorism, while deepening social differences are feared by 71 percent, and the stagnation and decline of education as a serious problem for the future are perceived as a threat by 65 percent of those who answered our poll, Zora Butorova of IVO informed.

The research also showed that 56 percent of respondents considered the potential victory of Marian Kotleba in the regional elections as a threat, she added, referring to the results of the poll conducted between-September 11 and 18, 2017 by the Focus agency on 1,005 respondents.

Apart from domestic threats, Slovaks fear developments abroad.

In the poll, 52 percent of those polled feared the possible weakening of the European Union (EU), while 47 percent of them saw a risk in the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and 41 percent in the disinformation campaign led by Russia against the West, Butorova added, as quoted by TASR.

Political sympathies divided

In the poll, no considerable differences in answers were indicated concerning the gender, age, education or residence of the respondents.

These opinions are evenly spread throughout the entire spectrum of polled people, Butorova said, as quoted by TASR.

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Mostly different levels of fear from the possible weakening of the EU divided respondents due to sympathies towards political parties, or the view on the potential victory of Kotleba in the regional elections that took place on November 4.

For example, the EUs weakening was perceived as a threat for Slovakia by most SaS, OLaNO, SNS, Most-Hid and Sme Rodina supporters, but only half of Smer and KDH supporters, Butorova said, as quoted by TASR. The lowest level of apprehension from such a development was among the voters of the strictly anti-EU LSNS party.

Kotleba also haunted his own fans

The possible continuation of Marian Kotleba at the helm of Banska Bystrica Region was evaluated as a threat for the successful development of society by most voters across the political spectrum.

From the most critical Most-Hid party, to the least critical voters of Sme Rodina, the social analyst specified, as quoted by TASR. Paradoxically, even among LSNS supporters there were 11 percent who did not consider such a scenario beneficial for Slovakia.
The involved person faces criminal prosecution.

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The information leak on the tax situation of the company co-owned by President Andrej Kiska, KTAG, was not caused by a systemic error on the part of Financial Administration, but rather by the failure of an individual, Financial Administration President Frantisek Imrecze said on November 6.

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I really dont know how these individuals were motivated into resorting to the offence of violating tax secrets. I regret that things like this happen in our society, Imrecze said, as quoted by the TASR newswire

Tax officials very quickly narrowed down a group of people who checked the presidents files through the information systems, he added.

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Eco Minister also involved

The same procedure was followed when examining the case of Economy Minister Peter Ziga, Imrecze continued, as quoted by TASR. Weve also identified a close circle of people within the systems.

A criminal complaint has been filed in the president's case and one should follow in Zigas case as well.

I still believe that 99 percent of the Financial Administration staff carry out their duties in a fair manner and respect tax secrets, Imrecze noted, as quoted by TASR. Were actually talking about an individual failure. Well do our best to investigate it. Its very difficult in the case of a physical leak when somebody copies something and passes it on to somebody else.

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The tax authority found out in late 2014 that the KTAG company applied for an illegal VAT refund of 146,000 for April 2014 from costs totalling over 770,000. Kiska is the co-owner of the company and was one of its legal representatives at the time.

Meanwhile, a company called Taper, in which Economy Minister Ziga is a shareholder, is being investigated by the tax authorities over suspect deals involving timber, according to the Trend weekly. Taper is in danger of having to make an additional payment of some 340,000 in VAT.
Slovak authorities need 286 days to issue a permit, the report finds.

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Slovakia ranks 91st among 185 countries in terms of handling a building permit, the Hospodarske Noviny economic daily on November 7. The chart was disclosed within the World Banks annual Doing Business report.

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Slovakia needs 286 days to issue a permit, the report finds, adding that even African countries like Jibuti and Angola beat it. If only the duration of getting a permit had been assessed, then Cambodia would have been the worst with 652 days.

Denmark scored best, with building permit proceedings taking about two months. Afghanistan received the worst evaluation.

China is known for being able to build quickly, Hospodarske Noviny wrote, adding that the quick granting of permits is among the enabling factors.

Why building permits are a problem?

In Slovakia, on the other hand, obtaining a permit is a huge problem, CEO of the Institute of Urban Development, Juraj Suchanek, told the daily, adding that this process is overly complicated compared to other countries, and its duration is hard to be estimated, due to various appeals. Also, other subjects enter the approval process, which prolong the process itself, he added.

Too many third parties are involved in the course of official construction approval, experts opine, adding that it is also important whether the permit concerns a house or a development project. They see as a problem that while other authorities usually have 30 days to decide on an application, the construction office has a deadline of 60 days. It usually requests additional information, which prolongs the process by several months, or even seasons, insiders complain.

Ministry blames applicants

The Transport Ministry claims that sometimes it is the builder who creates problems.

If the submitter files a request without all due documents, the construction office has to call on them to add the necessary data and suspend the permission procedure, Karolina Ducka, ministry spokesperson, told Hospodarske Noviny.

When compared to neighbouring countries, Slovakia is not the worst.

We are better off than Hungary or the Czech Republic, and worse than Poland and Austria, legal representative of the real estate company Re/Max, Alexander Krajnak, told Hospodarske Noviny, adding that in terms of expenses, Slovakia is the best. The number of procedures necessary for receiving a building permit is the lowest here, he added.

In the future, the procedure is to be made shorter. The Transport Ministry stated that a reform proposal has been approved, which should boost Slovakia up among the 10 best members of the EU.
The difficult hike for connoisseurs and experienced tourists will re-open in mid-June.

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More information about travelling in Slovakia

Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide

The via ferrata in the Kysel gorge in Slovensky Raj (Slovak Paradise) has been closed to the public for winter on November 1. Tourists will be allowed to hike there again in mid-June next year.

An estimated 15,000 people visited the via ferrata this year in the 4-and-a-half months since its opening.

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"Of course, compared to top localities in Slovensky Raj like Sucha Bela, Prielom Hornadu and the Dobsinska Ice Cave, this is just a fraction of visitors, head of the Slovensky Raj National Park Administration, Tomas Drazil, told the SITA newswire. Kysel has troublesome access, however, it takes two hours on foot just to arrive to the gorge, so it's a daylong, difficult hike.

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The goal is not mass tourism in Kysel but instead its promotion as a locality for connoisseurs and experienced hikers who want to enjoy true wild life and beautiful scenes of Slovensky Raj, Drazil explained. From this point of view, national park administrators are satisfied with the visitor rate in the gorge.

A novelty this tourist season was a 100-metres long ferrata path at the beginning of the gorge, which proved to be a good idea.

This section of the path was added solely to prevent the vegetation on the slopes above the gorge bottom from being destroyed, Drazil noted for SITA. When there was more water, some hikers did not use the brook bed but climbed the slopes instead.

Today, visitors can choose between walking on the brooks bed and the via ferrata.

The ferrata will now undergo fundamental maintenance, inspections of footboards and safety ropes.

No novelties are planned for 2018. But shortly before the start of the new season some smaller work may be necessary, since the silts in the gorge are a live organism, reacting to the acute situation at the water levels, Drazil said.

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Kysel opened in August 2016, after four decades of closure. It is open for hikers between June 15 and October 31.

Since the gorge was closed for 40 years without any human intervention, it needs a time of peace without visitors, in winter and spring, Drazil explained for SITA. We have to be absolutely careful and environmental protection has total priority here. We need the biotopes to regenerate, to develop undisturbed in spring, and for the protected fauna to have necessary peace in the winter and a sensitive spring season.

If visitors violate the ban on entering Kysel, they will face a fine of 66.
There are still reasons to worry, but something has changed in Slovakia now that elections have wiped the fascists out at regional level.

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The election of Marian Kotleba to a regional governors post four years ago broke a taboo. Suddenly, people who voted for him no longer felt so ashamed about admitting that they supported a one-time leader of street hooligans and a consistent apologist for Slovakias fascist wartime regime.

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After all, why feel ashamed if more than 71,000 other people share your prejudices?

Observers of the Slovak political scene immediately warned of the effect that Kotlebas election would have on the country and its political landscape. The presence of a fascist leader in high public office would legitimise his opinions in the eyes of many. The media would have to deal with the dilemma of whether he should or should not be allowed to contribute to political discussions. And politicians would be tempted to resort to extremism-tinged rhetoric in order to appeal to those voters who seemed responsive to ultra-nationalist, anti-migration, hate-fuelled messages.
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By PTI: claims CM

Chandigarh, Nov 7 (PTI) The Punjab police today claimed to have solved most of the cases of targeted killings, including the shooting of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja last year, with the arrest of four persons.

Addressing a press conference this evening, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed that a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbance and destabilise the state was hatched by the ISI.

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Though the Punjab government had handed over the case of the killing of RSS state vice president Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja to the CBI, the state police had cracked the case with the busting of a latest terror module, the eighth such module to be busted since the Congress came to power in the state, he said.

Citing the police probe and interrogation of suspects, the chief minister said the killing of another RSS leader, Ravinder Gosain, last month, had also been solved with these arrests, which had been linked to most of the cases of targeted killings in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since January last year.

Those arrested include a gangster, Dharmendra alias Guggni, lodged in Nabha jail, further endorsing the suspicions of a growing nexus between radicals and gangsters, the chief minister revealed.

He said the interrogation of the four conspirators showed that they had met and been trained at various places abroad and had been using encrypted mobile software and apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries.

"The ISI was always looking to disturb the countrys peace and radicalise the youth," said the chief minister in response to a question and asserted that the state government would not allow the peace and harmony of Punjab to be disrupted. He said it was evident from the investigations that the targeted killings were aimed at fanning communal disturbance to further ISIs "anti-India" gameplan since there were strong "indications" of an active involvement of Pakistani intelligence operatives based on Pakistani and foreign soil.

Three of the suspects have been identified as Jimmy Singh (a Jammu resident who recently returned to India from the UK after spending many years there, and was picked up a week ago from Delhis IGI airport), Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi (a UK national who got married last month and was apprehended from Jalandhar), Dharmender alias Guggni (a gangster from Meharban in Ludhiana who allegedly supplied weapons to the killers.

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The fourth accused, who was allegedly the main shooter in various cases, was caught this afternoon and details of him could not be disclosed at this juncture as his interrogation was still continuing, said the chief minister, adding that the police had both forensic and ballistic evidence against him.

The police were on top of the cases, Singh said, adding that he had directed the DGP to work out a system of awards and rewards for the police team that had busted this module and for future too.

While he could not completely rule out such incidents in the future in view of Punjab being a border state, with international conspirators working against it, DGP Suresh Arora assured the people of the state that they were in safe hands of the Punjab police.

The DGP attributed the success in busting the terror module to the team effort of the intelligence and counter- intelligence wings as well as the district police of Batala and Moga.

The team consisted of IG Intelligence Amit Prasad, DIG Counter-Intelligence Ranbir Khatra, SSP Moga Ranjit Singh, SSP Batala Opinderjit Ghuman, SP Rajinder Singh, SP Wazir Singh, DSPs Sulakhan Singh and Sarabjit Singh, Inspector Kikar Singh and ASI Haripal. PTI CHS GS HP NSD

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AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
By PTI: Jammu, Nov 6 (PTI) The cross-LoC bus service from Rawalakot to Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir resumed after 17 weeks today with 20 passengers from Pakistan occupied Kashmir crossing over, an official said.

The bus service, poetically titled Paigam-e-Aman (message of peace), was suspended on July 10 due to heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side. No bus had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch district since then.

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"The suspended bus service resumed this morning and 20 people arrived from PoK," Mohammad Tanveer, Custodian of the LoC trade (Poonch), told PTI. He added that "no passenger from this side travelled to the other side and the bus had to ply empty".

Senior civil officials from Poonch and PoK held a meeting at the crossing point near the LoC on November 3 and reached a consensus to resume the suspended bus service and trade between the two sides.

The cross-LoC bus service was started along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route in April 2005 and the Poonch- Rawalakot road in June 2006 to facilitate trade and travel between the divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and PoK.

The trade, which works on the barter system, between the two parts of Kashmir started in October 2008.

"With the resumption of bus service, the trade which takes place four days a week is also likely to start tomorrow,? Tanveer said.

The chances of resumption of the service had brightened on August 24 when senior Army commanders of India and Pakistan held a flag meeting at Chakan Da Bagh and agreed to keep the channels of communication open between local commanders along the LoC.

However, the scheduled meeting between the civilian officials on August 28 prior to the resumption of bus service could not take place as the other side did not turn up due to fresh cross-border shelling.

As many as 119 passengers from both sides were left stranded in Poonch and PoK after the suspension of the bus service, leading to protests by passengers from across the border on several occasions in support of their demand for early return to their homes.

From January Till August 1, there were 285 ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army. In 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to the Army figures.

Eleven people, including nine soldiers, were killed and 18 injured in ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army in July, according to the figures.

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There were as many as 83 ceasefire violations, one BAT (border action team) attack and two infiltration bids from the Pakistani side in June in which four people, including three jawans, were killed and 12 injured. PTI TAS AB AQS MIN AQS

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STEM Events

Long Island Schools Bring STEM to Life Through Amusement Park Rides

More than 2,200 Long Island middle school students recently rode amusement park rides to get a better handle on STEM concepts.

The students were attending Technology Day at Adventureland, an annual event dating back to 2001. For the event, students get to ride the park's attractions, then complete workbook lessons focused on the design, operation, ergonomics or mechanics of the rides to help bring STEM ideas to life.

"The park is pretty unique on Technology Day," said Emily Guarnieri, technology director for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, in a prepared statement. "There are students working in small groups everywhere you look, measuring, triangulating height and exploring engineering design principles such as structure, safety and accessibility."

Students from the Diocese of Rockville Centre made up the bulk of the crowd, with 37 of the 50 schools attending coming from the Catholic organization.

The event is organized by the Long Island Technology and Engineering Education Association (LITEEA) and is the brainchild of Joe Fili, an officer in the organization and a retired teacher.

"The teachers whose classes participate come to a workshop the week before the event where they are introduced to 13 teaching concepts that are illustrated by the rides." said Fili in a local report about the event. "They choose the four or five rides that best align with their classroom curriculum and create a custom workbook that their students complete during the day. It is quite an unusual sight to see and hear the squeals of delight of the students on the rides as you are standing in the middle of groups of students working to complete their workbooks."

More information is available at adventureland.us.
The question Bitcoin regulation is back on the table in Vietnam after a private university announced plans to accept tuition payments in the cryptocurrency despite the central bank reiterating its position that the digital currency is outlawed in the country.

While Vietnam originally made Bitcoin transactions illegal, the government issued a directive in August tasking relevant agencies with preparations to complete a legal framework to manage the cryptocurrency.

The agencies were required to identify the appropriate regulatory measures to oversee Bitcoin and other virtual assets by August 2018 and complete the legal framework to enact those measures by June 2019, according to the directive.

However, the State Bank of Vietnam announced late last month that Bitcoin is banned in the country and those who do business using the currency will be subject to fines or even criminal charges.

In a media statement on October 28, the central bank asserted that Bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrency are not considered as legal modes of payment in Vietnam, and the issuance, supply, and use of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are prohibited in the Southeast Asian country.

Those breaching this regulation will be subject to a fine of between VND150 million (US$6,575) and VND200 million ($10,959), in accordance with a decree on penalties in the monetary and banking sector.

The announcement came after Le Truong Tung, president of privately-owned FPT University, announced that the institution accepts tuition payment in Bitcoin, calling the payment in the cryptocurrency a feasible solution for many international students.

Following the latest announcement of the central banks position, Tung defended that FPT University only planned to accept tuition in Bitcoin and has yet to enact the payment method in practice.

With the central bank reiterating its position that Bitcoin is outlawed, FPT University will form a research group on Bitcoin as it believes that cryptocurrency is an issue that shouldnt be ignored during these times of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

To ban or not to ban

While the State Bank of Vietnam is unlikely to recognize Bitcoin as a legal mode of payment, the underground world of Bitcoin investors and miners in Vietnam is quite active.

The central bank only bans the use of Bitcoin as a means of payment, which means investors in the currency are still able to store and exchange the cryptocurrency as an asset, not a currency unit, without violating the law.

Regulating Bitcoin is a headache suffered not only by Vietnam, according to Associate Professor Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao, dean of the finance department of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.

The world is still unable to find, or to be more precise, come to a mutual decision on how to treat this special form of currency, Bao said.

People around the world are arguing over the nature of Bitcoin as a currency, and whether it should be accepted in official transactions.

Economic expert Ngo Tri Long said the first problem that needs solving is whether Bitcoin should be treated as goods or a currency.

In the meantime, Vietnam may look to other countries to form its official policy.

In early September, Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov said his ministry expects to finish working on a law that would define a procedure for buying cryptocurrencies, including the registration of entities willing to buy the virtual money, by the end of this year.

Siluanov said Russias government understands that cryptocurrencies are real and there is no sense in banning them, but instead, there is a need to regulate them, according to Reuters.

The buying of crypto-currencies should be similar to buying securities, such as treasury bonds for households launched by the finance ministry this year, Siluanov was quoted by Reuters.

China has banned Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies since September 30, but there are signs that the ban will soon be lifted.

Analysts believe that Bitcoin has the potential to replace Chinas currency in everyday transactions and as a store of value in the long term, according to Forbes.

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Shares of Vietnam's biggest shopping mall operator, Vincom Retail, closed little changed in a lacklustre debut on Monday after the country's biggest ever initial public offering.

Although there was demand for 13.3 million shares, only 800 changed hands in the session. Analysts said shares would be actively traded only later this week after the completion of the IPO settlement.

Despite the thin trade, analysts said the success of the IPO, which raised $709 million and valued Vincom Retail at about $3.4 billion, provided an encouraging sign for other private Vietnamese firms seeking to list and for the state's privatisation plans.

"Foreign investors are clearly showing strong interest in the market in Vietnam," said Nguyen Thanh Lam at Maybank Kim Eng Securities.

Vietnam's economic growth rate of nearly 7 percent, and a young and increasingly affluent population in the country of 90 million have made it a magnet for foreign money, but with limited opportunities for portfolio investors.

Vincom Retail stock closed at 40,550 dong ($1.79 each) on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, unchanged from its opening price and slightly below its IPO price of 40,600 dong a share, which was at the top end of the range for the sale of the shares.

"Its pricing on the first trading day can be considered a success," said an analyst in Ho Chi Minh City.

The broader Vietnam index gained 0.6 percent to mark its highest close in more than nine years. The exchange allows shares to move a maximum of 20 percent from their listing price on the first day of trading. Prices can fluctuate up to 7 percent thereafter.

Vincom shares will only reach IPO buyers two days after their transaction date.

Warburg Pincus-owned fund WP Investments III, Credit Suisse and other individual shareholders sold shares in the IPO. Vingroup, a major shareholder in Vincom Retail, did not sell any shares.

In Vietnam, a stock exchange listing and initial public offering are separate steps and a listing may come months after an IPO.

Vietnam's government is also selling more of its stakes in companies to raise money and to drive reform of state-owned enterprises. The list of pending share sales includes a further stake in dairy firm Vinamilk, Vietnam's biggest listed company by market value, and top brewers Habeco and Sabeco .
The first Vietnam Business Summit (VBS), held in parallel with the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week, opened on Tuesday in the central city of Da Nang.

VBS is an initiative of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and is attended by Vietnamese government leaders and officials, representatives from prestigious international organizations, scholars and hundreds of business influencers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Themed Vietnam: We Mean Business, VBS creates an opportunity for domestic and global businesses to meet, connect and exchange information on world trade and integration with Vietnam as well as other APEC member economies.

Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vice President of East Asia and the Pacific for the World Bank Victoria Kwakwa, and Philipp Rosler, managing director of the World Economic Forum, are among the attendees.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc prepares to deliver his remarks at the Vietnam Business Summit in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 7, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The summit is expected to feature six sessions, covering issues including sustainable agriculture, healthcare and education, infrastructure, small- and medium-sized enterprises, startups and special economic zones.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Phuc said the VBS, held during the ongoing APEC Economic Leaders Week 2017, will bring about clear, comprehensive visions for the economy and favorable development policies for Vietnam.

At the same time [it will] open up vast opportunities for successful investment and business links with Vietnam, a fast-growing nation with great development potential that is pursuing extensive renovation and an open-door policy.

The Vietnamese head of government briefed the summit delegates on Vietnams active integration with the global trade community, having signed and participated in 12 free trade agreements and negotiating four separate pacts.

We strongly believe that the success of enterprises is at the core of the success of every economy, and the success of each member economy contributes to the prosperity of our APEC community, PM Phuc concluded.

Philipp Rosler, managing director of the World Economic Forum , delivers a speech at the Vietnam Business Summit in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 7, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

In his keynote speech, the World Economic Forum managing director Rosler said that the right policies and proper legal frameworks are key factors in boosting Vietnams labor capacity and productivity.

Rosler also underlined that the biggest asset of Vietnam is not oil infrastructure, but its young people, who are a key factor in attracting further foreign investment.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly spent an entire meeting session on Monday discussing measures to deal with corruption and other types of crime.

-- New United States Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink presented a credential letter to State President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on Monday morning to officially assume his position.

Society

-- Police in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Monday they had broken up an illegal ring that manufactured, traded, and used a variety of military weapons, arresting Nguyen Hong Phuc, the kingpin, and his eight accomplices.

-- As of Monday night, traffic had been paralyzed due to serious inundation at multiple locations along National Highway 1 from the central city of Da Nang to the central province of Quang Ngai.

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to offer VND1 trillion (US$43.9 million) worth of support to the provinces that have been ravaged by typhoon Damrey.

-- Regarding the food poisoning of over 500 elementary students in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang in late October, the provincial Peoples Committee announced on Monday that the Milo chocolate drinks were not properly mixed, resulted in bacterial infection.

-- Several routes in Ho Chi Minh City were inundated on Monday evening as high tide peaked at 1.66 meters, causing challenges for commuters during rush hours.

Business

-- The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) has for the second time stated in a proposition that the countrys car import policies pose many difficulties for their business operations.

-- During a forum on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue asserted that the Vietnamese government will provide favorable conditions to boost mobile payment in the country.

Lifestyle

-- The 2017 Saigon International Guitar Festival will take place at the Conservatory of Ho Chi Minh City from November 8 to 12, with the attendance of seven international guitar players and nearly 70 local artists and guitar students.

-- To welcome the 20th Vietnam Film Festival later this month, 29 Vietnamese movies will be screened free-of-charge from November 8 to 14 at the National Cinema Center in Hanoi and Cinestar Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Typhoon Damrey tore across central Vietnam at the weekend just days before the region is due to host the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, among them U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin.

The countrys Search and Rescue Committee said 61 people had been killed and 28 were recorded as missing. It said some of the victims were in vessels that capsized at sea. Others were killed in landslides. It did not give a full breakdown.

More than 2,000 homes had collapsed and more than 80,000 had been damaged, it said. Roads that had been flooded or washed away caused traffic jams across several provinces.

People ride a boat along submerged houses in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an emergency meeting on the disaster. Ministers said that because some dams were so full, water might need to be released to relieve pressure - potentially worsening flooding downstream.

In Danang, authorities called on soldiers and local people to clean up so that the beach resort would be ready for delegates to the meetings of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries, which started on Monday.

Leaders are due to meet from Nov. 10 and organizers said the schedule had not been disrupted because of the weather.

A woman pushes a motorbike along a flooded street in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

But in much of the ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site that spouses of APEC leaders are scheduled to visit on Saturday, muddy waters rose to head height and people boated through the streets.

Hoang Tran Son, 37, who left his home there when the water reached his chest, said it was the worst flooding he had seen for decades.

Were pretty much all right in the city, but people in remote areas are devastated, he said.

People stand on the roof of their house in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

The storm moved from the coastal area into a key coffee-growing region of the worlds biggest producer of robusta coffee beans. The typhoon had damaged some coffee trees at the start of the harvest season, farm officials said. But farmers in Daklak, the heart of the region, said the damage was limited.

Authorities said that more than 7,000 farm animals had been killed.

Floods killed more than 80 people in northern Vietnam last month, while a typhoon wreaked havoc in central provinces in September. The country of more than 90 million people is prone to destructive storms and flooding, due to its long coastline.

A traffic sing indicating APEC summit vehicles priority is seen along submerged street in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

Dogs stand on a flooded drink shop in Hue city. Photo: Reuters

Motorbikes are seen along a flooded street in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

Residents sit on their flooded fashion shop in Hue. Photo: Reuters

People ride a boat along submerged houses in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

People ride a motorcycle along a flooded road in Hue. Photo: Reuters

People ride a boat along submerged houses in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters

A bridge is seen on the overflowing Thu Bon river in Hoi An. Photo: Reuters
Damrey made landfall in Khanh Hoa on Friday last week with winds gusting at up to 90km per hour.

It is now considered the fiercest storm to hit the area in the past two decades.

As of Monday morning, 16 deaths had been recorded, half of which were in the coastal district of Van Ninh, the home of multiple fishing villages.

The victims were either lost at sea, swept away by floods, or buried under their collapsed homes.

Phan Thi Bo, a resident of Van Phuoc Commune, wipes the tears from her face. Her home and fishing equipment were destroyed by storm Damrey.

Those who survived the disaster have been mourning the loss of family members, while many others are now empty-handed as their homes and fishing equipment are gone.

Given that Khanh Hoa Province has rarely been directly impacted by tropical storms, local residents were caught off guard when Damrey struck.

Villages in Van Ninh District now resemble a giant landfill as they are filled with debris from damaged homes and the wreckage of local fishing boats.

According to Le Hong Thai, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee in Dai Lanh Commune, Van Ninh District, about 85 percent of ships in the area were destroyed, and 50 percent of those were completely ravaged.

We rely on nature to earn our living. Now nature has taken everything from us, Huynh Tai, a fisherman in Dai Lanh, whined.

Despite the rain, Tai and his wife were trying to salvage an engine, which cost them hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million = US$4,395), among the debris of their fishing boat.

My house has been knocked down, my ship is broken. I will have to go to Nha Trang City to find a new job, Tai cried.

Vo Chut tries to save his ship from sinking in Van Phuoc Commune, Van Ninh District.

In Van Phuoc Commune, over 100 ships docked along the coast were ravaged, of which eight were sunk.

Vo Chut, another local resident, was attempting to pump sand out of his sunken boat to get it to float again.

The storm also blew away the roof of his home.

Nguyen Ngoc Y, an official from the Van Ninh Peoples Committee, said thousands of fishing ships in the district had been damaged, adding that the exact number was yet to be determined.

Phan Thi Lac, 63, sits by the debris of her home in Van Phuoc Commune.

Huynh Tai stands amongst the wreckage of his ship in Dai Lanh Commune, Van Ninh District.

Houses along the coast of Van Ninh District are devastated.

Roads along the coast of Van Ninh District are also damaged.

Electric wires lie near the ground in Van Phuoc Commune after the storm.

A family attempts to salvage their sunken ship.

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An iron mine in the north-central Vietnamese province of Ha Tinh, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, has been abandoned for years after an exploitation project was halted.

The Thach Khe mine houses about 50 percent of the iron ore deposits in Vietnam and is considered Southeast Asias biggest iron mine.

In September 2009, Thach Khe Iron JSC (TIC) initiated a project worth VND10 trillion (US$439.5 million) to exploit the natural resource.

The firm got as far as testing its technology and digging up the soil to a depth of 28 meters before ceasing operations.

Due to financial challenges and other shortcomings, the prime minister ordered the cessation of the project in late 2011 to re-evaluate the technical design and restructure the firms shareholders.

Following this, TIC intended to resume the operation of the project at the Thach Khe mine, but the proposal was not approved by authorities in Ha Tinh Province.

Deserted land at the mine. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Duong Tat Thang, vice-chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, the operation at the mine could have long-term effects on the local environment including pollution, desertification and loss of groundwater resources, among others.

Meanwhile, Vo Quang Toan, an official from TIC, said that the mining does not involve the use of any chemicals.

Suspending the project will impact its overall schedule as well as affect the provinces plan for social-economic development, Toan continued.

TIC has spent nearly VND2 trillion ($87.9 million) on the project so far, the representative stated, adding that ending the project would mean heavy financial losses.

Abandoned

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters in early November, the Thach Khe mine was already abandoned.

Only a few machines were spotted at the venue and no workers could be found.

Cattle are raised in the abandoned iron mine. Photo: Tuoi Tre

After the project ceased, some residents had returned to their old homes to resume farming, including growing vegetables and raising poultry and cattle, said Pham Van Ngoc, secretary of the Thach Dinh Party Committee.

In order to execute the project, about 96 households in Thach Dinh Commune were relocated and 331 hectares of agricultural land was used to facilitate its implementation.

Our lives at the mine over the past seven years have been quite tough. It is difficult to grow plants during the dry season, while the water reddens and is unable to be used when it rains, said local resident, 56-year-old Nguyen Cong Tam.

During a meeting on November 3, Do Thang Hai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, said that the central government has requested competent authorities give their opinion on the matter.

A final decision will then be made by the prime minister and the government, said Hai.

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Prince Ali Raza was often seen wandering the forested areas of Chanakyapuri. When the localites did not spot him for a few days they informed the police. The prince was found dead in his house Malcha Mahal.

By India Today Web Desk: Next to the Earth Station of Indian Space Research Organisation in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is Malcha Mahal. Also known as, Wilayat Mahal, the hunting lodge was given to Begum Wilayat, the Begum of Oudh and the great granddaughter of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Begum Wilayat ended her life in 1993 by, as stories go, drinking crushed diamonds. She was survived by a son, Prince Ali Raza and a daughter, Princess Sakina Mahal.

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Princess Sakina died a few months ago and Prince Ali was the last surviving member of the royal family of Oudh.

Living a lonely and pitiable life, Prince Ali was found dead in the Malcha Mahal on September 3. He used to even scourge for food. He was seldom seen wandering near the forested area of Chanakyapuri. On September 3, when the localites had not spotted the prince since the past 2-3 days they alerted the police. The police went out in search of the prince when he was found dead in his house Malcha Mahal. According to initial reports, the cause of death are natural causes.

Prince Ali was laid to rest on September 5 at the burial ground near ITO.

With the death of Prince Ali the legacy of the kingdom of Oudh is also dead.

In 1985, the last remaining members of the royal family of Oudh were allotted the Malcha Mahal. The battle to acquire the dilapidated bulding was spearheaded by Begum Wilayat, who spent years at the VIP Lounge at New Delhi Railway Station with a pack of hounds. She demanded compensation from the Indian government for British overtaking their property in 1856. When the government finally allotted the Malcha Mahal to her family, she moved in with her son, daughter and the dogs.

She shifted to the palace, and put up a signboard that read: Entry Restricted, Cautious of Hound Dogs, Proclamation: Intruders shall be gunned down.

#Delhi: Ali Raza, who claimed to be the last prince of Royal house of Oudh, found dead at his Malcha Mahal near forest area in Chanakyapuri. pic.twitter.com/yRpy2QIuKc- ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

In an interview to Indian Express in 1997, Prince Ali had spoken about his mother's death and his sister's distress. "My sister is in deep distress and since the Begum died, (she) has been wearing black. She has not combed her hair even once," he said.

The prince lived a lonely life, not interacting much with people. He had no visitors except some distant relatives who used to visit him every few years. Apart from that, the prince was visited by a few journalist friends who kept him company during the lonely days following his sister's death.

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Prince Ali was said to be extremely shy, and there were stories about him pointing a gun at reporters in the past. A story published in the Sunday Guardian in 2014, said that when the prince was contacted after rumours that his sister was dead. He admonished the reporter and requested him to respect his privacy. According to source, cited in the same story, the prince used to take care of his mother's dogs.

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Australian composer Dudley Simpson, best known for Doctor Who scores, has died aged 95.

Simpson wrote music for around 290 episodes of the classic sci-fi between the 1960s and 1970s.

He first began working on Doctor Who during William Hartnells tenure as the first Doctor, even appearing on the show during the 1977 episode The Talons of Weng-Chiang, playing an on-screen composer. When John Nathan-Turner took over as producer in 1980, Simpson was removed as composer, his last episode being The Horns of Nimon.

He also composed for 50 of Blakes 7s 52 episodes, including the theme song.

Other credits include Jacks Horrible Luck, Moonstrike, The Tomorrow People, The Ascent of Man, along with several BBC adaptations of Shakespeares work.

Simpson was principle conductor at the UKs Royal Opera House for three years, retiring in the 1990s, before returning to Australia.

He once said in an interview, I used to sit up all night doing Doctor Who. It used to be such a rush. I would have to deliver music to my copyist at all hours. I got pulled up once by a policeman, who said Id been past him three or four times each way. I said Its alright, Im delivering music. What for? he asked. When I told him, he said What? Doctor Who? Well, youd better be going on your way, then.

Source: Independent
* Preliminary deal with Brazilian authorities collapses

* Company unable to participate in Petrobras tenders (Updates with details, background)

By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM, Nov 6 (Reuters) - SBM Offshore, the marine engineering firm that paid $240 million to Dutch authorities to settle a Latin American bribery case in 2014, said on Monday it had taken a new $238 million provision, mainly to settle a related case with U.S. authorities.

However, the company said a preliminary settlement reached with Brazilian authorities last year had fallen apart, dealing a blow to its efforts to draw a line under a scandal that erupted in 2012 when SBM said it had uncovered "improper sales practices."

As a result, it will no longer be able to participate in tenders as a subcontractor for Brazilian state oil firm Petrobras, one of its largest customers, SBM said.

In the 2014 settlement, Dutch prosecutors said payments made with the cooperation of SBM employees constituted "the indictable offence of bribery."

That settlement precluded the company and its officials from being prosecuted in the Netherlands, but did not rule out the possibility they could be indicted elsewhere.

SBM said in Monday's statement that "individuals" and former executives could still be prosecuted.

Chief compliance officer Erik Lagendijk said in a statement that since 2012 SBM had "completely changed its business model and ways of working."

"Although it appears that the company can likely reach a resolution with the DoJ (U.S. Department of Justice) and thus make an important step towards closure of the past ... no global solution to bring finality is currently available," he said.

SBM said it had been prepared to pay "substantial amounts" to resolve the issues in Brazil and regain access to Petrobras tenders. However, the deals on offer were rejected by Brazilian courts and the newest versions did not offer the company finality.

Story continues

It said it would continue negotiations with Brazilian authorities over a comprehensive settlement. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri and Mark Potter)

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DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Senegal reports say two buses collided, killing at least 25 people and injuring at least a dozen, including many who were heading to an annual pilgrimage.

Senegal radio station Rfm reported Monday that one of the buses involved in the accident was heading toward Touba where up to 1 million people are heading for Wednesday's annual Muslim pilgrimage. The other bus was heading the opposite direction toward Kebemer when the two vehicles collided.

The city of Touba hosts the annual pilgrimage celebrating the work of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, a Sufi guide who peacefully opposed French settlers. Cheikh Bamba created the Mouride brotherhood which includes thousands of Senegalese followers.

President Macky Sall and former President Abdoulaye Wade are expected to attend the Touba pilgrimage.

See Also:
FILE PHOTO: Freddy Guevara, first Vice-President of the National Assembly and lawmaker of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), smiles during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, July 23, 2017. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo

By Andrew Cawthorne and Deisy Buitrago

CARACAS (Reuters) - From his refuge at the Chilean ambassador's home, Venezuela's deputy congressional leader has defended "civil disobedience" against President Nicolas Maduro and urged demoralized opponents to unite and oust him in a presidential vote.

"All the focus of our struggle now is to have truly free presidential elections," opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara said in a video released overnight after he entered the Chilean diplomatic residence at the weekend.

Venezuela is due to hold a presidential vote in 2018. But foes of Maduro are demanding that the pro-government election board first be reformed, charging the election will be rigged if it is not.

Saying he should be tried for violence, authorities have revoked Guevara's parliamentary immunity and banned the 31-year-old leader of hardline Popular Will party from travelling.

Guevara, who is vice president of the opposition-led National Assembly, was at the forefront of anti-Maduro street demonstrations between April and July in which at least 125 people died and thousands were injured.

Opponents say Maduro's leftist government has run oil-rich Venezuela's economy into the ground and resorted to increasingly authoritarian tactics to retain power.

"The usurpers of the Supreme Court and State Prosecutor's Office accuse me of crimes I have not committed but based on events I do recognise," Guevara said in the video released via social media.

"Yes, I called protests and believe in civil disobedience. I organised them and will do it again. Never will they convince me, those who were in the street, nor the international community, that we are guilty when you murdered us."

Chief prosecutor Tarek Saab, who recently replaced a dissident prosecutor, presented the case against Guevara to the pro-Maduro Constituent Assembly superbody, which has sidelined congress, in a session late on Monday.

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Saab blamed Guevara for the shooting, stoning and stabbing of security officials, paying adolescents to protest, and exhorting violence during the protests this year.

"He didn't care who died," Saab said.

The U.S. State Department weighed in on the Guevara case on Tuesday, saying in a statement the government's moves against him were "yet another extreme measure to close the democratic space in Venezuela, criminalize dissent and control information."

'NO MORE HOSTAGES, MADURO'

Maduro, 54, has long had his sights on Guevara, nicknaming him "Chucky" in reference to a horror film's murderous doll.

Popular Will founder Leopoldo Lopez is under house arrest, for his role in protests in 2014, and the party is under constant threat of being banned as officials accuse it of terrorism.

"Mr. Nicolas Maduro, sadly for you, we have taken the decision not to give you any more hostages," Guevara added in his video, explaining his decision to take refuge rather than face trial like Lopez did.

Earlier this year the Chilean ambassador's opulent residence in the Country Club zone of Caracas took in five pro-opposition magistrates threatened with jail time.

They eventually crossed the border secretly to Colombia before flying to Santiago to be received by President Michelle Bachelet's government, which has joined a chorus of major Latin American nations in denouncing Maduro for rights abuses.

Critics say Maduro has turned the country into a dictatorship by twisting elections and detaining opponents.

His supporters say Maduro, who inherited the socialist course of his predecessor the late Hugo Chavez, is resisting a U.S.-backed push for a coup, and insist Venezuela's election process is sound.

In another overnight development, a local journalist missing since Saturday turned up at dawn wearing only his underwear on a motorway outside Caracas, he and authorities said.

Jesus Medina, who works for the DolarToday currency and political website that virulently opposes Maduro, said he was kidnapped, tortured and threatened before being released.

"To inform is not a crime," Medina said in a video, showing injuries on his face. He declined to give more details of the alleged kidnapping, including the identity of his captors, because the incident was under investigation.

The state prosecutor's office opened an investigation.

(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, Makini Brice in Washington; Editing by Brian Ellsworth, Jeffrey Benkoe and Frances Kerry)
This satellite image shows the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea, close to where babies are reportedly being born with deformities (AP)

Defectors from North Korea have claimed that babies born close to an underground nuclear test site in the county suffer from severe deformities.

The area surrounding Punggye-ri has reportedly become a wasteland where 80% of trees planted die, while underground wells have run dry, according to the 21 former residents of the secretive state.

Locals in Kilju county, the location of the site, now fear that radioactive contamination is destroying the area.

North Korea is ramping up its nuclear missile programme (AP)

One of those who escaped from the North Korea told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper: I heard from a relative in Kilju that deformed babies were born in hospitals there.

Another added: I spoke on the phone with family members I left behind there and they told me that all of the underground wells dried up after the sixth nuclear test.

One defector told the newspaper that locals were not warned of any tests, while family members of soldiers were moved to underground shafts.

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Authorities have apparently begun arresting anyone from Kilju county who attempts to expose the nuclear tests.

Once detained, defectors claim these people are then sent to prison camps.

North Korea is ramping up its nuclear missile programme, with American officials believing the country will soon have the capability to reach the shores of the US.

Earlier today, President Donald Trump signalled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons programme, urging Pyongyang to come to the table and make a deal.

In a notable shift from his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea, Mr Trump took a more optimistic tone in South Korea on Tuesday, suggesting ultimately, itll all work out.
The UK Government is heading for a no deal Brexit, according to EU officials (Rex)

Britain is heading for the catastrophe of a no deal Brexit, according to top EU officials.

Jonathan Lis, deputy director of pressure group British Influence, posted in a series of tweets that the likelihood of the UK not securing a deal with the EU stands at over 50%.

Mr Lis said that he had returned from meetings in Brussels with extremely bad news  and claimed that the UK Government is in denial about how talks are going.

11/ So senior EU officials now putting chances of no-deal at over 50%, and making detailed impact assessments about what it means for EU  Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) November 6, 2017

19/ If UK planning to leave hole in EU budget, forget about deal no deal, basic deal, or orderly no deal. No deal means no deal.  Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) November 6, 2017

He wrote: Senior EU officials now putting chances of no-deal at over 50%, and making detailed impact assessments about what it means for EU.

On the thorny issue of the divorce bill, Mr Lis claimed that the EU will not go ahead with trade talks in December if Theresa May does not budge on how much the UK pays.

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EU went as far as it could in Oct. Nobodys asking for precise figure, just specific commitments. 60bn the ballpark figure.

UK Government knows all this, incidentally. Theyre in denial about it. But what happens if they test EU anyway?

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If no agreement in Dec, next opportunity to kick-start talks is in March. That leaves *7 months* to agree deal. They cant, and wont.

36/ Its not too late to see this cliff-edge & prevent whats otherwise an unavoidable catastrophe. All they need to do is open their eyes.  Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) November 6, 2017

Mr Lis urged the UK to prevent whats otherwise an unavoidable catastrophe by revoking Article 50 and not going ahead with Brexit.

A Government spokesman said they were confident of securing a deal which is in the interests of both the UK as a whole and our European partners.
Three terrorists, including the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, have been killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

By India Today Web Desk: Three terrorists, including the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, have been killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Azhar's nephew has been identified as Abu Talha. He was an A++ category terrorist.

The encounter broke out in the district's Kandi Aglar village on Monday. The other two slain terrorists, also belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed have been identified as Mehmood Bhai and Wasim Ahmed Ganai.

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"Three weapons, including one AK, an M16 rifle and a pistol, besides ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter," a police official said.

"It is the same group that was wanted for the attack on the police check-post in Rajpora", he added.

An M16 rifle also recovered apart from 1 AK47 & pistol. Photo of M16 was doing rounds on social media recently: J&K Police #PulwamaEncounter pic.twitter.com/rge3JDMLVL- ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017

According to the police, a soldier of 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) was martyred and two soldiers and a civilian injured during this operation. The encounter has ended, said cops.

Photo of Naik Vrahma Pal Singh, who lost his life in Pulwama encounter, last night. He is a resident of Bulandshahar's Syana in UP. pic.twitter.com/MLng897Orz- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 7, 2017

On Monday, a joint team of the Army's 44 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off the village after intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there.

The security personnel carrying out search operations were fired upon by hiding terrorists after which a gunfight started late last evening.

A civilian called Showkat Ahmad was also injured when protesters clashed with the security forces to disrupt the operation against the terrorists.

Internet services have been suspended in Pulwama district to check the spread of rumours.

(WITH INPUTS FROM IANS)

WATCH VIDEO | Masood Azhar's nephew among 3 Jaish terrorists gunned down in Pulwama encounter

--- ENDS ---
BAMAKO (Reuters) - A French military strike on armed militants in northern Mali last month inadvertently killed Malian soldiers who were being held hostage by the Islamist group, the West African nation's Defence Ministry said on Monday.

The French army has previously said that 15 members of the Islamist militant group Ansar Dine were taken "out of action" in the Oct. 23 operation in the Abeibara region, which involved Mirage jets, attack helicopters and ground forces.

In the week following the raid however, Malian media reported that 11 soldiers had also been killed. French and Malian military and government officials initially declined to comment on the deaths.

In a statement dated Oct. 31 but only distributed on Monday, the Defence Ministry said that "Malian soldiers, detained by the terrorists, died" in the attack without giving a death toll.

It was not immediately clear why the distribution of the statement, which was drafted following a meeting between the defence minister, France's ambassador to Mali and a French military official, appeared to have been delayed.

Paris has maintained that military intelligence had identified the site as a militant camp and French army spokesman Colonel Patrik Steiger declined to comment on the Malian statement.

"Work is under way with the Malian authorities to determine the identities of individuals killed. It's up to Mali, a sovereign country, to communicate on this subject, not the French forces," he said.

France intervened in 2013 against Islamist militants that seized northern Mali a year earlier. Around 4,000 of its troops remain in West Africa's Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane, a cross-border anti-terrorism operation.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo and Adama Diarra; Additional reporting by Sophie Louet in Paris; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Alison Williams)
BONN, Germany (AP)  Diplomats and activists have gathered in Germany for two-week talks on implementing the Paris agreement to fight climate change.

Environmental groups staged protests in the western city of Bonn and at a nearby coal mine ahead of the meeting to highlight Germany's continued use of heavily polluting fossil fuels.

The 23rd conference of the parties, or COP23, will be opened Monday by Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe 'Frank' Bainimarama. The Pacific island nation is already suffering the impacts of global warming.

Negotiators will focus on thrashing out some of the technical details of the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

While President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism, a recent U.S. government report concluded there's strong evidence that man-made climate change is taking place.

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FILE PHOTO - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani delivers remarks at a news conference during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S. September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) - Europe must make clear how it will react if the United States pulls out of the multinational nuclear deal with Iran and do more to encourage international banks to return to the country, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump broke ranks with European allies, Russia and China by refusing to re-certify Iran's compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, reached during Barack Obama's tenure.

The Republican president gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran, lifted under the pact in exchange for scaling down a programme the West fears was aimed at building a nuclear bomb, something Tehran denies.

European leaders say they are determined to keep alive the accord which offered Iran an economic lifeline and opened new investment opportunities for European businesses.

But the official, who declined to be identified, said Tehran expected Europe to be more proactive in explaining its stance should the United States pull out.

"If they want to wait until Trump decides to make a decision it will be too late," the official said, speaking in English. "For the time being we are hearing from Europe that they want to stick to (the nuclear deal), but if Trump decides otherwise they have no other ammunition."

"It is important for European countries to work with Iran," the officials said, adding that European capitals needed to stick to their commitments "not just in words but in practice".

The official described the lack of big multinational banks returning to Iran as a "deficiency" saying that Europe had committed as part of the deal to normalise business ties with Iran, which he said was still not the case.

"When Total comes to Iran to sign an agreement with Iranian entities they do not use French banks. They use others. Why?"

The official reiterated that Iran would not be first to leave the deal and accused the Trump White House of deliberately creating uncertainty for foreign firms eyeing new investments in Iran.

"We consider the American approach to the JCPOA (nuclear agreement) as dishonest," the official said in Paris.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough/Jeremy Gaunt)
Boris Johnson plans to visit Iran in the wake of a blunder which could lengthen the sentence of a British woman imprisoned in the country.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been jailed in Iran since April last year, and her husband has called on Mr Johnson to correct remarks he made last week after Iran's regime used the Foreign Secretary's words as justification for continuing to detain the charity worker.

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson spoke with Iran's foreign minister Javid Zarif as he attempted to deal with the fallout from a row sparked by his comments to a parliamentary committee.

He also informed Mr Zarif he intends to visit Iran before the end of the year to discuss the case further, in a trip where he hopes to visit Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison.

Mr Johnson "reiterated his anxiety about the continued suffering of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family and hoped a resolution would be reached soon", a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

"The Foreign Secretary expressed concern that his remarks to the Foreign Affairs Committee were claimed by the Iranian Judiciary High Council for Human Rights to have shed new light on the case," they added.

"The Foreign Secretary said this was absolutely not the case.

"It was clear as it had always been that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been in Iran on holiday when she was arrested.

"The point he was making was that he condemned the Iranian view that training journalists was a crime, not that he believed that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been engaging in such activity.

"The Foreign Secretary concluded by emphasising that his remarks formed no justified basis for further action in this case and urged the Iranians to urgently release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe on humanitarian grounds."

Mr Zarif was said to have told Mr Johnson developments in the British-Iranian national's case were unrelated to his comments and that he is committed to working with the UK Government on finding a resolution.

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Mr Johnson was said to have accepted his remarks to the committee could have been clearer.

Last week, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee: "When I look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it."

Both her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, and her employers, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, strongly dispute this, saying Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in the country on holiday with her young daughter.

Three days after Mr Johnson's comments, the 38-year-old was hit with fresh charges of spreading propaganda against the country's regime, which could double her sentence.

She was initially arrested as she attempted to return to London in 2016 on accusations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian regime.

The row has led to calls for Mr Johnson to consider his position should Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe have her sentenced increased.

Former Conservative minister Anna Soubry branded the Foreign Secretary's actions "appalling", adding: "In 'normal' times Boris Johnson would have been sacked long ago."

Labour's shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth told Sky News the row over Mr Johnson's comments, and another controversy involving International Development Secretary Priti Patel , had left the Prime Minister "humiliated".

But Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, dismissed the criticism as a plot to discredit his Cabinet colleague.

Asked whether Mr Johnson should be sacked over the controversy, Dr Fox told Sky News: "I don't believe it is a serious gaffe.

"I think people in the Iranian regime, which is a very brutal regime, are using this as an excuse to hold a UK citizen in the most tenuous, if not illegal, circumstances."

In his defence of the Foreign Secretary, Dr Fox also urged caution amid the backlash at Mr Johnson's actions.

He added: "I think what we're seeing here is an attempt to discredit the Foreign Secretary without thinking, first of all, what the impact may be and what excuses it may give to the Iranian regime to act improperly.

"We always have to be very circumspect about what we say in a free society about the implications it may have elsewhere."

Downing Street also voiced support for Mr Johnson, with Theresa May's official spokesman saying the Prime Minister thinks her Foreign Secretary is "doing a good job representing Britain's interests abroad".

Mr Ratcliffe, whose daughter has not been allowed to return to the UK while her mother is in jail, has also suggested the Foreign Secretary should visit his wife in Tehran.

Mr Johnson is expected to appear in Parliament later on Tuesday.
Asylum seekers react to the PNG court decision on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, in this picture taken from social media November 7, 2017. Social Media/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES (Reuters)

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court rejected an application on Tuesday to restore water, electricity and food supplies to an Australian-run detention centre for asylum seekers where nearly 600 men have been barricaded for a week.

The men in the remote Manus Island facility have defied attempts by Australia and Papua New Guinea to close the camp, refusing to move to three transit centres despite having little food or drinking water.

Dozens of them also need medical help, three asylum seekers said, in a stand-off that the United Nations has described as a "looming humanitarian crisis".

The men have repeatedly said they would not move to the transit camps because they feared PNG residents on the island may attack, or that the will be resettled elsewhere in PNG or another developing nation.

The court rejected the challenge on behalf of one of the detainees because it said power, water and food were available at the three transit centres, Ben Lomai, a lawyer for the detainee who lodged the application, told Reuters.

Kate Schuetze, Pacific researcher for rights group Amnesty International, warned conditions could deteriorate "catastrophically".

"The lives of these men, who are only asking for their rights to dignity and safety, are at serious risk," Schuetze said in a statement.

The men, who include asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Syria, were last given food on Oct. 29 and have been relying on sporadic aid from Manus island locals and rainwater.

Several of the detainees told Reuters Papua New Guinea's navy had blocked access for islanders trying to deliver supplies in the past few days. Representatives for Papua New Guinea Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas did not respond immediately to a request for comment about the claim.

Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish journalist from Iran who has been detained on Manus island for more than four years, said 90 of the men were sick and required "urgent" medical treatment.

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"They have infection, stomach ache and diarrhoea because of dirty water," Boochani told Reuters.

Despite the conditions, several of the men said they would continue to defy efforts to get them to leave, frustrating Australia's attempts to close one of two controversial detention centres it uses to detain asylum seekers who arrive by boat.

The Manus island camp, and another on the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru, have been the cornerstones of Australia's controversial immigration policies, which has been strongly criticised by the United Nations and rights groups.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said before the court ruling on Tuesday the men were only refusing to move to the new transit centres on the encouragement of advocates.

"There are alternative facilities available of a very high quality with food and all of the facilities," Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

The relocation of the men is designed to give the United States time to complete vetting of candidates as part of a refugee swap deal that Australia hopes will see it no longer responsible for the detention of nearly 1,400 asylum seekers who have been classified as refugees.

Turnbull negotiated the deal with former U.S. President Barack Obama last year. Under the deal, Australia will accept refugees from Central America.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Additional reporting by Will Ziebell; Editing by Eric Meijer and Paul Tait)
Men inspect damages after an airstrike on the rebel-held city of Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh (Reuters)

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday he hoped that an international Syrian peace congress would take place in the near future.

The Russian-sponsored Syrian peace congress scheduled for Nov. 18 was postponed after objections by Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said over the weekend.

Asked whether the congress was postponed, Lavrov told a briefing that the date had not been officially announced. He added that he hoped that the United Nations would support holding the congress.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova)
The flight headed to Bali was diverted and landed in Chennai after an Iranian woman created a ruckus mid-air learning of her husband's affair.

The woman checked her sleeping husband's phone and realised that the man was having an affair. (Picture for representation)

By Shashank Shekhar: While her husband was blissfully asleep on a flight from Doha, probably dreaming of Bali, a woman managed to unlock his smartphone and found some excess baggage: she discovered he was cheating on her.

The flight headed to Bali was diverted and landed in Chennai after the Iranian woman created a ruckus mid-air. Security agencies said she was drunk.

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The Iranian couple were travelling with their young child on the Qatar Airways flight on Sunday which had no stopover in India.

"On November 5, at about 10 am, Qatar Airways flight QR-962 (Doha-Bali) was diverted to Chennai. A lady along with her husband and a child, all Iranian nationals, were offloaded by the airline, which had no stopover, as the woman created a ruckus and misbehaved with crew members inflight," said a senior security officer.

Sources told Mail Today that the husband fell asleep an hour after take-off. The woman who suspected infidelity took advantage of the opportunity. "She unlocked her sleeping husband's phone by putting his finger on its scanner and after checking the contents realised that her husband was cheating on her," they said.

The woman, who was allegedly inebriated, got into a heated altercation with her husband. When the crew intervened and tried to pacify her she also purportedly misbehaved with them.

"Seeing the situation getting out of hand, the crew decided to offload the woman along with her husband and their child. The pilot diverted the flight to Chennai, where the family was de-boarded. The plane went ahead to Bali leaving them in India," an official said.

Authorities in Chennai decided to keep the family at the airport till the woman got sober. Later, they were put on a plane to Kuala Lumpur and taken to Doha by a connecting flight from there.

"The family was de-boarded due to the ruckus created by her but no FIR was registered as there was no security issue. They stayed in Chennai for a while and later the family was sent to Kuala Lumpur by Batik Air flight 6019 for further travel to Doha," said the official.

Sources said the family also came under some intense security scrutiny because they didn't have any Indian visa.

Qatar Airways issued a statement, saying, "In respect of passenger privacy we do not comment on individual cases."

A Mumbai-based businessman was arrested last month for making a hoax bomb threat on a Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight to get his love.

The passenger admitted to faking a bomb scare to win the affections of a Jet Airways employee. The same man last year created a ruckus and alleged that he was served cockroach in his meal when he was travelling business class. He claimed that he fell ill soon after, but the issue did not get much attention.

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In March this year, an Egyptian man hijacked a plane and forced it to divert to Cyprus, demanding to see his ex-wife. He surrendered after a six-hour airport standoff.

A Delta flight had to turn around just 20 minutes after take-off when a couple began fighting with the plane's crew shortly after it left Minneapolis in December 2016. Blake Adam Fleisig, 35, and Anna Christine Koosmann, 36, were both arrested after the plane was diverted.

The chaos began when Koosmann got up to use the restroom shortly after take-off and was told to return to her seat by a flight attendant, one passenger claimed.

--- ENDS ---
By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Tanzania is mounting a legal challenge against a construction firm's seizure of one of the country's new commercial planes in Canada as compensation for a disputed contract, President John Magufuli said on Monday.

A Canadian construction firm, Stirling Civil Engineering Ltd, seized the newly manufactured Q400 turbo-prop plane in Canada earlier this year over a $38 million lawsuit before it could be delivered by Bombardier Inc to the Tanzanian government.

"We have decided to challenge these claims in court ... I have already sent the attorney general to Canada to handle this matter," Magufuli said in a televised speech late on Monday at the inauguration of a new airport in the Tanzanian lakeside town of Bukoba.

"I have also written a letter to the Canadian prime minister to help speed up this case because this airplane has been confiscated for the past six months now."

Stirling's claim stems from a 2010 compensation ruling by the International Court of Arbitration, a court of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), over a road contract that was terminated before Magufuli became president.

Magufuli said in his speech that another claim worth over 40 billion Tanzanian shillings ($18 million) has been filed against the government by a company in a United Kingdom court, but did not reveal the name of the firm nor details of the lawsuit.

Known as "The Bulldozer" for his management style, Magufuli used some colour language as he pledged Tanzania would overcome its business challenges..

"These are just development challenges and we will deal with them.... When a farmer bumps into a snake while farming his land, he does not quit - he knocks the snake in the head and continues with his work," he said.

Magufuli's government is investing around $500 million in the purchase of at least six new planes as part of plans to revive its loss-making national flag carrier, Air Tanzania Company Ltd.

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The government's airline revival plan includes the purchase of at least three Q400 planes, two CS-300 series jet planes from Bombardier and one Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Boeing .

Two Q400 planes have already been delivered, with the other planes expected to arrive in Tanzania before the end of next year.

Analysts said the new planes had been put under the ownership of state-run Tanzania Government Flight Agency to avoid possible confiscation of the planes from lawsuits related to Air Tanzania's multi-million dollar debts from previous suppliers. ($1 = 2,240.0000 Tanzanian shillings) (Repurting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala Editing by Katharine Houreld/Jeremy Gaunt)

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FILE PHOTO - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim attends a press briefing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc (not pictured) at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kham (Reuters)

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday described the United States' move to partially resume issuing visas in Turkey as a positive step, but said Washington should extradite a cleric blamed for last year's failed military coup in Turkey.

"The limited reissuing of visas between the United States and Turkey... prior to our visit can be seen as a positive development," Yildirim told reporters before leaving for the United States, where he is due to meet U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

The United States said on Monday it would resume "limited visa services" in Turkey after getting what it said were assurances about the safety of its local staff. Washington halted issuing visas at its missions in Turkey last month, citing the detention of two local employees.

Turkey said it would match the move, relaxing a visa ban of its own that was instituted last month in retaliation against Washington. However, Yildirim reiterated Turkey's stance that it had not offered assurances to Washington.

"Both countries are states of law, and procedures are being carried out in accordance with the law. Negotiations regarding the offering of assurances to the United States or vice-versa would breach the principles of laws of state," he said.

In May, a translator at the U.S. consulate in the southern province of Adana was arrested and, more recently, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worker was detained in Istanbul. Both are accused of links to last year's coup attempt. The U.S. embassy has said the accusations are baseless.

Turkey has been angered by what it sees as U.S. reluctance to hand over the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in Pennsylvania since 1999 and whom Ankara blames for orchestrating the coup. U.S. officials have said courts require sufficient evidence to order his extradition.

Yildirim said Gulen's extradition would be discussed during his visit, as well as the fate of some Turkish citizens arrested in the United States - a reference to the wealthy gold trader who was arrested over Iran sanctions evasion last year and an executive at a state-owned bank arrested this year.

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"We have strong evidence that Gulen was behind the July 15 coup attempt and we want his extradition. We want the concerns we have regarding the cases of our citizens arrested in the United States to be eased," Yildirim said.

"They also have similar requests, and diplomatic channels are being used for discussions, we are both seeking a way out."

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Dominic Evans)
Royal Dutch Shell shares gained on Wednesday after RBC Capital Markets lifted its target price on the stock to 2,000p from 1,9000 and reiterated an outperform rating.

The oil producer on Tuesday announced plans for more asset sales and cost-cutting over the next few years amid lower oil prices.

Shell will exit oil and gas operations in up to 10 countries and sell 10% of its production as part of a $30bn asset sale plan by 2018. The group lowered its planned 2016 capital expenditure (capex) to $29bn, with exploration set at $2.5bn, in a third cut from an initial $35bn.

The company also said it expected to save another $1bn from its takeover of BG Group. Chief executive Ben van Beurden confirmed that Shell was cutting another 2,200 jobs after the BG deal, on top of the 2,800.

Management's hardceiling on capex is a clear positive, in our view, although this commitment is likely to be tested over time, RBC said.

We see this commitment as significant, in particular for the dividend focused community, as many had likely feared that any oil price increase would ultimately lead to higher capex. While we do think this is likely to be the case for some oil companies, we think Shells focus on dividend sustainability means additional capex will have to compete with the buyback programme from now until 2020.

RBC said it continues to believe Shell has some of the best project optionality in the peer group and its rigorous capital allocation process should support the investment case in the long run. The BG Group acquisition brings project optionality with the introduction of BG's Brazil assets and liquefied natural gas volumes likely to kick-start the high-grading process, the broker added.

In the short term, however, RBC said cash flows are likely to be outstripped by Shells capex and dividends so confidence on divestments could weigh on investor sentiment.

We remain positive, and think Shell should remain a core energy holding for longer term investors.

Shares rose 1.62% to 1,784p at 0956 BST.
Pre-tax profits at property outfit Workspace Group jumped 8.7% to 391.3m, with revenues up to 101.2m from 83.6m driven by income and capital growth.

The company noted the uncertainty caused by the June 23 referendum on UK EU membership, but was confident in the strength of its customer base and business model.

Net rental income rose to 74m from 57.7m and net asset values jumped 31% to 923p.

The final dividend was increased 25% to 10.19p a share making a total for the year of 15.05p.

Workspace said it saw a revaluation uplift of 9.6%, or 143m in the first half of the year and an increase of 10.2% (165m) in the second half.

The increase in the second half is despite the adverse impact of the increase in stamp duty introduced in March 2016, it said.

Chief executive Jamie Hopkins said the company had managed its existing portfolio to create value through its refurbishment and redevelopment programme.

We have also recycled capital by disposing of our industrial portfolio and reinvesting in targeted acquisitions to drive incremental returns for shareholders, he said.

We are aware of the uncertainty caused by the upcoming EU referendum but remain confident in the resilience of our customer base and business model, he said.

We look forward to continuing to execute our strategy and the business remains in good financial shape to take advantage of our pipeline of redevelopment and refurbishment opportunities, as well as targeted acquisitions that meet our investment criteria."
Rex Willis, Virginia Techs 2017-18 Student Government Association (SGA) president, steps into his new role with ambitious goals and the experience and passion to achieve them.

Willis, of Earlysville, Virginia, a senior majoring in management in the Pamplin College of Business, hopes to continue expanding on the initiatives he helped with as SGA vice president in 2016-17 while also creating new ones.

Willis wants to focus on reconnecting SGA with the student body to be proactive in learning about issues and creating solutions.

There are always ways to improve outreach efforts, so one of our biggest focuses this year is rebuilding relationships with other student organizations, constituent groups, and students in general to ensure we are well informed and focused on the issues that are on the minds of students, said Willis.

According to Willis, connecting with other student organizations will allow SGA to get a stronger sense of the views of a broader group of students, providing for a government more representative of the student body as a whole.

Along with continued engagement with student organizations, Willis hopes to encourage SGA to promote the participation of individual students in making changes on campus.

I think there has always been an assumption that students know to bring their issues to their Student Government representatives, but on a campus this large and complex, that isnt always the case, said Willis. Increased interaction starts with the members of SGA reaching out to their constituents, supporting their work, and showing them how SGA can help them achieve their goals.

One way Willis hopes to collaborate with students is by engaging the student body through town hall meetings. Students can also be involved by attending SGA meetings, all of which are open, with the exception of meetings of the judicial branch. All undergraduate students are also invited to join SGA.

During his first two years at Virginia Tech, Willis was influenced by mentors in student government and was inspired by the work done to promote inclusion within the student body, which made him feel more welcome on campus. While these experiences helped and inspired him, they also made him aware of the amount of work that could still be done to ensure that all students feel welcome at Virginia Tech.

Willis admires fellow members of SGA, noting that they go out of their way to serve others and ensure that voices are heard. He knows the importance of listening to those around him and making himself accessible to those who are not often heard, both of which he believes will help him in life after graduation.

Whether it is as small as the frustration of long lines in dining halls, or as big as feeling unsafe on our campus because of the way you look, I am driven by the passion in other students and their desire to see things improve for themselves and for those who will come after us, he said.

Written by Jessie Rogers, of Suffolk, Virginia, a senior majoring in Language and Literature in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Insiders maintain Rahul almost revamped his image, turned PM Modi's 'shehzada' jibe on its head to coin 'shahzada' for BJP chief Amit Shah's son and turned the tables, at least, on social media.

The Congress vice-president used puns to attack the BJP with his 'shahzada' jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after an article on Amit Shah's son Jay's firm earning exponential profits came to the fore. (Photo: Twitter)

By Sweta dutta: Over the past few months, social media handles of Congress party leaders, particularly vice-president Rahul Gandhi, have seen a slew of humorous and satirical posts prompting him to pitch his pet dog Pidi as the one behind the makeover.

It not only got him a few laughs, but insiders maintain Rahul has almost revamped his image, turned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'shehzada' jibe on its head to coin 'shahzada' for BJP chief Amit Shah's son and turned the tables, at least, on social media.

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Following suit, the rank and file of the party has resorted to satire, carefully stepping away from confrontational or accusatory posts against the PM or other BJP leaders, dramatically changing the discourse in the run-up to several crucial polls across the country. "Between the choices on social media today, satire helps make a point. None of us are making a deliberate effort, but it is something that people are appreciating," said Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot.

"We have seen that humour always gets more traction and it serves the purpose as intelligent humour drives home the point," added Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, who recently left the Aam Aadmi Party red-faced asking on Twitter if former AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, who had hurled a shoe at Congress leader P Chidambaram, accompanied Arvind Kejriwal to seek his legal counsel.

Youth leader and secretary, Maharashtra Congress, Shehzad Jai Hind said, "You cannot view humour as a strategy for direct political gains. Humour, wit and presence of mind are reflective of political growth, maturity and evolution in any leader. Today, Rahul Gandhi is demonstrating a certain quality of the global leaders like Lincoln, Churchill, Nehru- who were known for their self deprecatory humour and quick wittiness."

"See this as a facet of his personality that was always there but is now more visible. It also shows a certain growing confidence that is also transcending into the entire party organisation and a young voter base by virtue of the social media." "While we are showing openness to having a conversation and to reach out to young folks - Modi and BJP are becoming more closed, intolerant and insecure. They are trying to muzzle comedians like Shyam Rangeela and censor films. And they keep saying Congress is irrelevant, but one tweet from Rahul and 15 ministers pounce to attack him."

"Satire has always been the strongest weapon to fight against the establishment. Cartoons or satirical articles are more disturbing for the government, while the Opposition manages to express more powerfully and aptly through this. Looking at Rahul's tweets, all other leaders feel motivated," said Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

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The party leadership credits social media head and actress-turned-politician Divya Spandana not just for the makeover but for catching up with the BJP's social media outreach that played a game-changer in the 2014 parliamentary polls.

"BJP coined the 'Pappu Can't Talk' slogan that created much damage to Rahul Gandhi's image back then. It took several years for us to shed that and recover from it. Also, as the Opposition, it is easier to use humour and satire to take on the ruling party whereas the party in power hardly has the option to do so," said a senior party leader requesting anonymity.

ALSO WATCH | Rahul Gandhi launches scathing attack on BJP in poll-bound Gujarat, calls GST Gabbar Singh Tax

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A new study by Virginia Tech researchers tracks land cover changes in the Chobe district of Northern Botswana and provides information that will allow governments and nonprofit organizations to improve dryland management strategies in the region.

The study was published in Arid Land Systems: Science and Societies, a special issue of the journal Land.

There is an incredibly dynamic and complex relationship between land cover types that are constantly changing. Not much is known about what happens in these transitional savanna ecosystems located between more arid and wetter climate zones, information critical to their management, said lead author J. Tyler Fox, who earned his doctorate in fish and wildlife conservation in Virginia Techs College of Natural Resources and Environment in 2016.

If we can understand how the landscape has changed over decades and what that does to water quality, human health, and ecosystem health, we can begin to make predictions for the future, said senior author Kathleen Alexander, professor of wildlife conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and a Fralin Life Science Institute affiliate.

The team conducted the study in Alexanders long-term field site through CARACAL (Centre for Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities, and Land Use), a nonprofit organization she and her husband, Mark Vandewalle, established in Northern Botswana. Vandewalle, a co-author of the study, is a wildlife biologist with a focus on ecosystem function in African savanna habitats and serves as CEO of CARACAL.

The study, funded by the National Science Foundation and Forest Conservation Botswana, examined Landsat satellite data from the past 30 years to track broad land cover change in the Chobe district, a 21,000-square-kilometer area encompassing urban, rural, communally managed, and protected land. The Botswana government wanted to better understand how land cover is changing over time and how this might impact ecosystem services.

The regions savanna landscapes provide critical resources for both people and animals. Communities in these areas rely heavily on forest resources, such as firewood, thatch for roofs, and plants for food and medicine. These areas are also used in tourism and even in spiritual or cultural ceremonies, noted Fox, who is currently a post doctoral fellow at the University of Arkansas.

This study is one of the first to quantitatively examine the loss of forested areas and other land cover changes in savanna environments, said Richard Yuretich, program director for the National Science Foundations Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems Program, which funded the research. The complex relationships among climate, ecology, and human activities reveal the overwhelming influence of people on the loss of woodlands. This paves the way for effective management of these diminishing resources.

The study observed a long-term trend of decreasing woodland cover and increasing shrubland. Grasslands also varied considerably over the study period. Surprisingly, loss of woodlands tended to be higher in protected forest reserves compared with the larger Chobe District.

We looked specifically at drought, fire, and elephant disturbance as possible causes for these changes, Fox said.

Dryland ecosystems are especially vulnerable to human impacts, Alexander added. Domestic animals, wildlife, and people congregate in riparian areas near scarce water resources, impacting these regions. Using this approach, we can begin to track change and identify possible drivers, system couplings, and hot spots of degradation. We can see how various stressors are affecting the landscape and begin to engage proactive rather than reactive management approaches.

According to Vandewalle, many people in Botswana believe that there has been a linear loss of trees, a progression from forested land to shrubs to bare ground.

Our data, however, reveal extensive regeneration of trees in certain areas in association with the right conditions, Vandewalle noted. Change is complex, dynamic, and can be bidirectional in these systems.

The team also discovered that while many people believe the regions fast-growing elephant population is a major driver of forest cover loss, there was little evidence for this in their analysis.

Fire, however, was a driving force in land cover change. Fox explained that over a 13-year period, there were nearly 10,000 fires in the Chobe district. More than 85 percent of those happened during a time when there were no storms or lightning, meaning that most of the fires originated from human activities.

We were able to pinpoint where and when fires were happening, which allowed us to make some fire management suggestions, Fox said. For instance, thatch collection activities appear related to fire hotspots, which extended into several of the protected forest reserves. These areas can be more intensively targeted for management and outreach activities. People rely heavily on natural resources extracted from this landscape and need to have sustainable access to those materials to ensure livelihood security.

Alexander is working with the Botswana government to develop an active monitoring approach based on the groundwork laid by this study.

Across the globe, forest products remain an essential natural resource, she said. We need to understand the status of those resources and identify the primary threats and drivers. Decadal studies of this nature are necessary to understand system dynamics and fundamental to the development of improved and targeted management.

Alexander also noted that the implications of the study have the potential to benefit not only Botswana, but dryland systems globally.

Drylands represent over 41 percent of the global landmass and are extremely vulnerable to human impacts, she added. What were learning in Botswana has application to other drylands that are under increasing threat and pressure to supply human and animal needs.
CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Raje has visited the Ajmer district ten times after the seat fell vacant. She met people of different castes, including Rajput, Brahmin, Gujjar and Meena.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: A political tug-of-war is currently on between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Rajasthan owing to the by elections to be held in two Lok Sabha seats and one Assembly seat.

The two Parliamentary seats, Ajmer and Alwar and one Assembly seat, Mandalgarh in Bhilwara, fell vacant after the death of BJP's Ajmer MP, Sanwarlal Jat, Alwar MP, Mahant Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA, Kirti Kumari.

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While Chand Nath died after battling cancer, Sanwar Lal Jat, the former minister in Modi Government, passed away post cardiac arrest. Kirti Kumari succumbed to suffering swine flu.

Speculations were rife that senior Congress leader and Rajasthan PCC Chief Sachin Pilot may himself contest the Ajmer Lok Sabha seat. Pilot had lost the seat to BJP's Sanwar Lal in the last Lok Sabha election. But, Pilot, while speaking to India Today said, the party will decide, who will contest from where.

"As party President, it is my endeavour to win all the three seats, and I am being very clear. I have served the people of Ajmer for five years, when I was their MP. Today, even though I am now looking after the entire state. But still, we have to win that seat and if the party asks me to be the candidate, ofcourse, I will defeat the BJP. But, my objective is to defeat them in all the three seats.", Pilot said.

After the Dholpur by election, which the BJP won by a huge margin, the two Lok Sabha seats of Ajmer and Alwar are being considered as contests which can be a decider for the Vasundhara Raje government in the desert state.

Raje has visited the Ajmer district ten times after the seat fell vacant. She met people of different castes, including Rajput, Brahmin, Gujjar and Meena. It is being seen as an attempt to assuage people from different communities before the crucial election.

"Tomorrow, you will ask about the next State Assembly elections. Alwar, Ajmer, and Mandalgarh State Assembly, we will win all three seats. The way we had earlier won Dholpur election. Sachin Pilot ji had mentioned that Dholpur election will decide how is the Vasundhara government faring. The Dholpur election which the BJP never used to win, we won that by more than 37,000 votes. Now, we will win both the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha as well, by a huge margin", Ashok Parnami, Rajasthan BJP State President, told India Today.

In political circles, BJP is believed to be keen on putting up a good show. Even though the ruling party came to power with a thumping majority, the fate of these three seats can decide whether there is pro or anti-BJP sentiment in Rajasthan.

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Both the Congress and BJP realise what is at stake and have been gearing up for the electoral battle that lies ahead.

"We will win Alwar and Mandalgarh also. So far, there have been five by elections in Rajasthan. For Assembly, there have been five. We won three, BJP won two. And this, despite when they have majority in state as well as Centre. Despite all that, we have been able to win three out of five. The CM spent ten days in Ajmer because they neglected that district earlier. Therefore, now she is trying to announce schemes, give money and lure people. Because she has received reports from her party workers that they are on sticky wicket", Pilot concluded.

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"When Bob came home from therapy, he needed help with everything, Jan explains. That included me walking with him everywhere he went in the house. Bob needed help with going to the restroom, bathing, getting dressed  everything."

Jan originally researched facilities that could provide Bob the 24/7 care he required, but quickly realized that on one salary they couldn't afford the over $4,000 monthly fees.

"Bob was in the hospital for several months, so you can imagine the hospital bills were astronomical. Insurance did pay for part of it, but we still had lots of bills coming in the first couple of years, she says, noting that they have had to dip into their retirement savings for therapy, wheelchairs, walkers and other specialized equipment. There wasn't enough monthly income to pay for his care and for the things that he needed and be able to survive.

LeaMond says this is a common scenario among those providing care. Caregivers often sacrifice their careers and financial futures by reducing work hours, taking on debt and tapping into their own savings  ultimately jeopardizing their own retirement security, she says.

The Beards recently made the decision to move into a basement apartment in the home of their adult son and daughter-in-law so Jan could get some much-needed caregiving assistance.

And while the physical stressors of caregiving are tough  the bathing, lifting and moving  Jan says the financial stress and fear of running out of money is always on her mind. People do not realize what all is involved until you're in that place. It's frustrating and sad and overwhelming."

LeaMond says that feeling of being overwhelmed is why it is so critical that laws supporting family caregivers are enacted. The newly introduced Credit for Caring Act would provide a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 to eligible working caregivers.

"Family caregivers are struggling financially, spending over a quarter of their income to care for parents, spouses and other loved ones. Many are at the breaking point; some are drowning in debt, she says. They desperately need direct support to defray the cost of caring. The bipartisan Credit for Caring Act will help ease the financial stress of these hardworking Americans.
Canadian rock star Bryan Adams and his longtime collaborator Jim Vallance are writing the music and lyrics. The book is by J.F. Lawton, the hit movie's screenwriter, and the late Garry Marshall, who was the director.

Samantha Barks, who played Eponine in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Miserables, and Steve Kazee, a Tony award winner for the 2012 musical Once, will star in the roles originally played by Roberts and Richard Gere. Jerry Mitchell, who won Tony awards for choreographing La Cage aux Folles and Kinky Boots, will direct and handle the choreography.

The films soundtrack included hits such as Roxettes It Must Have Been Love, along with the 1964 Roy Orbison classic Oh, Pretty Woman. Nevertheless, the producers decided to commission a completely new score by Adams and Vallance. The songwriting duo were hired for the job in 2015, after they passed an audition in which they presented three songs they had written for the stage, Adams told Billboard.

Pretty Woman will open in Chicago for a five-week run in the spring of 2018 before heading to Broadway that fall.
Reporting on hurricane-hindered third-quarter earnings today, CVS also announced even faster, same-day delivery service in major urban areas. The service is due to start in Manhattan on Dec. 4, with expansion to Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in early 2018. The Manhattan service will be free, and CVS reports that delivery costs in other markets will vary.



While CVS, like Walgreens, already offers a mail-order prescription service, its scaling up to nationwide delivery is largely seen as a preemptive strike in advance of Amazons possible entry into the prescription drug market. Amazon faces a variety of licensing and other hurdles to enter such a highly regulated market, but the companys widely reported consideration of such an expansion has already sent waves through the prescription drug business.
1. Demilitarize the language. List your title and rank in your resume, of course, but provide some basic information about what that position means without resorting to jargon. Assume recruiters arent veterans, so avoid military terms and acronyms they wont understand. Identify the job titles private sector firms use to cover the duties you performed in the military. Luckily, there are numerous sources of translation services to help.

2. Focus on skills. Describe the skills gained from your role in the military, not just the assigned responsibilities. For example, a member of the infantry who patrolled a base and engaged in combat must demonstrate how that experience is relevant to a nonmilitary environment. Dont say you patrolled. Say you created a safe working environment for 300 people, said Terry Howell, senior director of strategic alliances at Military.com, a website loaded with information about how veterans can find jobs. Dont say you shot at people. Talk about working under pressure and constantly assessing situations, said Howell, who served in the Coast Guard for 20 years.

3. Brag a little. Boast about your individual accomplishments. Bragging isnt encouraged in the team-focused military. And while civilian companies definitely value individuals who work productively with others, employers are considering whether they should hire you. Emphasize your specific contributions to the teams success.

4. Keep it short. Limit your resume to two pages or less. Many civilians dont understand how the military operates (and may even have negative stereotypes about veterans). But your resume is not the place to provide a detailed explanation of military practices and procedures. Stick to your experience, check the document for spelling and grammar, and tailor each resume to the specific position you are seeking.

5. Use all your options. Your status as a veteran gives you access to special help with the job-hunt. Every branch of the military provides its members with transition training. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Labor Department also offer tools to ease the road to a civilian career, as do many private employers. Some ex-military members dont consider themselves veterans if they didnt see combat so they harbor misgivings about taking advantage of these services, according to Brian Kropp, HR practice leader at Gartner, who works on strategies to recruit veterans. He encourages veterans to use every program at their disposal. Identifying firms that are actively recruiting veterans and reaching out directly to those in charge of these efforts is a great way to find a job, even though the idea might make some veterans uncomfortable, he noted. For veterans that can be like breaking the chain of command, he said. Military.com lists companies that want to hire veterans. Other sources are Veteran Jobs Mission and Hire Heroes USA.

6. Find a mentor. Look for another former member of the military who already has made the switch to the career that interests you. That person can help guide you through the process and discuss successful strategies for making the change.

7. Speak freely. Be aware that communications in the civilian world are more relaxed than they are in the military, said Carol Pugh, a professor at Grantham University who served in the army for seven years. About half the students at the school are ex-military, and she runs a program to teach corporations about the benefits of hiring veterans. She said that during interviews, veterans should feel free to ask questions and highlight their achievements.

8. Plan ahead. Dont wait until your discharge to think about your next move. Explore the many educational opportunities the military offers its members. Consider taking classes, especially if you want to pursue a career that requires a different skill set than the one developed in your military role. Volunteering for organizations that are related to your next career goal is another way to prepare for the transition.

Editors note: This article, originally published Nov. 2, 2017, has been updated with the latest job resources available from AARP.
If youre an older adult considering a career change or actively looking for a new gig, heres a weird idea: Move to Austin, Texas. The state capital and university town with the quirky slogan Keep Austin Weird recently was tabbed by Fortune magazine as one of the five cities with the best job markets for people over 50.

With the average retirement age continuing to rise and workers more interested in staying on a job full time or part time well past their 50th birthday, theres a growing segment of older job seekers hitting the market. The magazine examined municipalities and gauged them by attractiveness to the over-50 worker and job seeker, taking into account fast-growing economic sectors with opportunities for older workers and cultural amenities that would appeal to veteran professionals.



Austins booming tech industry is noted as a point in the citys favor, but other growing sectors  including education, health, and leisure and hospitality  are contributing heavily to its job growth and minuscule 3.2 percent unemployment rate. Its vibrant arts scene  highlighted by the annual South by Southwest music and film festival  offers plenty to do and new things to discover.



Among the other cities on the list is Greenville, S.C., where big employers like BMW, General Electric and Michelin have established hubs in recent years and residents live in proximity to both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast beaches. Minneapolis also makes the cut, with Fortune citing the Midwest meccas explosive job growth over the past year, particularly in health care and business services. And though the assumption would be that the frigid winters drive away older residents, the city has seen a net migration of workers 50-plus in the past few years.



To read the full list of cities with the best job markets for workers over 50, visit Fortune.
At least 10,000 doctors are on strike seeking an immediate resolution to their demands of better service conditions and benefits.

By Rohit Parihar: Patients across Rajasthan are likely to suffer more as talks have failed between the government and the striking doctors for the second day.

At least 10,000 doctors are on strike seeking an immediate resolution to their demands of better service conditions and benefits. Many of them have submitted their resignation as well.

Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf told media persons that talks have failed because doctors have been adamant about immediately implementing their demands which have financial repercussion but this was not within his jurisdiction. The talks concluded around 11 pm.

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Yesterday too, talks were held between the government and the doctors which remained inconclusive.

Saraf accused the president of striking doctors Ajay Chaudhary for failure whereas he said it was the government which had not done anything to meet their demands despite their notice of strike given 100 days ago.

The government has imposed essential Services Maintenance Act and threatened to take strict action but so far has not resorted to tough measures.

Government is trying to maintain basic medical services through Ayurveda and homeopathic treatment but medical services have crumbled across the state with several deaths reported for want of emergency care.

--- ENDS ---
How to watch and what to know about Northern Iowa at South Dakota
The gunman who slaughtered 26 people at a Texas church was able to buy weapons because the Air Force failed to report his domestic violence conviction to the federal database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun purchasers, authorities said Monday.

Federal officials said the Air Force didnt submit Devin Patrick Kelleys criminal history even though it was required to do so by Pentagon rules.

Kelley, 26, was found guilty of assault in an Air Force court-martial in 2012 for abusing his wife and her child and was given 12 months confinement followed by a bad-conduct discharge in 2014. That same year, authorities said, he bought the first of four weapons.

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel for crimes like assault should be submitted to the FBIs Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division.

Its the kind of lapse that gun-control advocates say points to loopholes and failures with the background check system.

At issue is the Lautenberg Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1996. The federal law was designed to prohibit people convicted of domestic violence from buying or possessing a firearm regardless of whether the crime was a felony or a misdemeanor.

This is exactly the guy the Lautenberg Amendment is supposed to prevent from possessing a firearm, said Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former judge advocate. Of course, the law only works if folks are abiding by the law.

Matthew Mata and Erika Gonzalez participate in a memorial service for the victims of Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The gunman of the deadly shooting had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist, before the attack in which he fired at least 450 rounds at helpless worshippers, authorities said Monday. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Sophia Martinez, 9, prays at a memorial service for the victims of Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. The gunman of the deadly shooting had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist, before the attack in which he fired at least 450 rounds at helpless worshippers, authorities said Monday. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Irene and Kenneth Hernandez and their daughter Miranda Hernandez say a prayer Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in front of some of the crosses placed in a field in Sutherland Springs, Texas, to honor those who were killed in Sunday's mass shooting when a gunman opened fire at the town's First Baptist Church. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News) Johnnie Langendorff stands a block away from the location of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. Langendorff says he and another man chased down the gunman after he fled the church where he killed at least 26 people. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Stephen Willeford, right and Johnnie Langendorff, left, attend a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Stephen Willeford, right, hugs Johnnie Langendorff during a vigil for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Willeford shot the suspect and Langendorff drove the truck while chasing Devin Patrick Kelley. Kelley opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing more than two dozen and injuring others. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) In this Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, photo, a team of FBI personnel walks the adjacent property looking for evidence at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The gunman of a deadly shooting at the small-town Texas church had a history of domestic violence and sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, a member of First Baptist, before the attack, authorities said Monday. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News via AP) A law enforcement officer helps a man changes a flag to half-staff near the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs to honor victims, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing and wounding many. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife Sherri join a news conference near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing more than two dozens and injuring others. The Pomeroy's daugher, Annabelle, 14, was killed in the shooting. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Flags mark evidence on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, a day after over 20 people died in a mass shooting Sunday. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Law enforcement official move flowers left at the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing and wounding many. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Law enforcement officials investigate the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing and wounding many. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Law enforcement officials hold their hats as they bow during a prayer at the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing and wounding many. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) A couple comfort each other at a community center in Sutherland Springs, Texas, near the scene of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. A man opened fire inside of the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing more than 20 people. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Prev 1 of 14 Next

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email that the service is launching a review of its handling of Kelleys case and taking a comprehensive look at Air Force databases to make sure other cases have been reported correctly.

An initial review indicates that Kelleys conviction was not entered into the federal database by officials at Holloman Air Force Bases Office of Special Investigations, the Air Force said.

Kelley served at Holloman in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. He was in logistics, responsible for moving passengers and cargo.

Law enforcement authorities said Kelley owned four guns, including the three he had with him during the attack: a Ruger AR-15 that was used in the church and two handguns that were in his car. The weapons were purchased  one each year  from 2014 to this year.

A 2015 report by the Pentagons inspector general found lapses in the militarys reporting to civilian authorities of domestic violence convictions.

From Nov. 30, 1998, until last week, firearms purchases in the U.S. were denied 136,502 times because of a domestic violence conviction, according to Justice Department statistics.

The fact this guy was even court-martialed at all indicates it reached a certain level of severity that should act as a red flag that this is a dangerous person and shouldnt have a gun, said Lindsay Nichols, the federal policy director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, named after former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was gravely wounded by a gunman in 2011.



Associated Press reporter Robert Burns, who covers the Pentagon, reported from Washington. Lisa Marie Pane, who covers gun issues, reported from Atlanta.

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SANTA FE  A former Santa Fe County deputy pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two young girls and will learn how long hell be incarcerated after his mental health is evaluated by state prison officials.

Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna said Dustin Bingham, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13, one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor by force or coercion, one count of child solicitation by electronic device and one count of sexual exploitation of children on Wednesday in Los Alamos District Court. Bingham faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing, Serna said.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Bingham, who was a deputy from April 2015 to February 2017, to undergo a 60-day diagnostic evaluation at the Central New Mexico prison before hes sentenced, Serna said. Bingham will undergo a mental health evaluation during his diagnostic, then a recommendation on sentencing and treatment will be sent to Marlowe Sommer.

Im very happy that he pled guilty to these charges, Serna said Monday. Now its just a matter of sentencing.

Binghams crimes happened between November 2015 and April this year, according to a criminal complaint. State Police began investigating Bingham in January after a mother reported that she was concerned about her daughters social media contact with Bingham. Bingham then resigned from the sheriffs office on Feb. 3 after Sheriff Robert A. Garcia placed him under an internal investigation.

Garcia said in May that Bingham resigned the same day he was supposed to go over the findings of the internal probe with him.

In May, Binghams parents called the Los Alamos Police Department and said Bingham molested two girls who he regularly visited and babysat. At one point Bingham lived with the girls family and shared a room with one of the victims. One girl told police that Bingham removed her bra while she was sleeping, which she discovered when she woke up the next morning without one.
ARLINGTON, Va.  Today,Virginias voters confront what will almost certainly be the most consequential election for governor of their lifetimes.

The contest between Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie matters for the state, of course, but its implications will be even larger for the nation.

A Northam victory would send a signal to the country that President Trump is a severe drag on the GOP, especially if it were combined with Democratic pickups in the Legislature. This would bolster the forces trying to contain Trumps abuses and give heart to those doing the organizing work against him at the grass roots.

It would tell Republicans in Congress that coddling and imitating Trump carry a high cost while strengthening Democratic efforts to recruit strong candidates for the 2018 midterms.

A win by Gillespie would convey exactly the opposite message. It would ratify the Republican candidates vile and dishonest campaign tying Northam to felons and criminal gangs. This, in turn, would lead to more ugly racial and anti-immigrant appeals by GOP candidates next year. The party would decide that playing around with a few of Trumps more hateful themes is the way to go. The race to the bottom would continue.

A Northam defeat would also demoralize Democrats, who up to now have had grounds for believing that anti-Trump sentiment has energized their side. Mobilization is the key, both today and in 2018. A mediocre Democratic turnout in Virginia bodes ill for next year.

If Gillespie prevails, Trump will, for all these reasons, be very, very happy. Independents and Democrats who are thinking of staying home should ponder whether they really want to put a big smile on the face of a president who is busily tearing apart political norms and undermining a legitimate investigation into his campaign.

It is commonly said that off-off-year elections such as those in Virginia and New Jersey this week are over-interpreted and over-spun.

Well, sure. Give political pundits a few election returns and they will always squeeze them as hard as they can to extract every drop of deep, long-term meaning. Give political operatives a chance to make sweeping claims on behalf of their respective parties and theyll take it every time.

But guess what? These post-presidential races have, in fact, been predictive in the past. Most recently, the big 2009 Republican triumphs in these two states proved to be genuine harbingers of the Democratic catastrophe of 2010.

And the interpretations of this showdown are already baked in. If Democrats lose, they will no doubt try to discount the wider significance of the result by blaming Northam for whatever mistakes he and his campaign made.

It wont work.

This is a state that voted for Hillary Clinton last year. According to the Washington Post-Schar School Poll, 59 percent of likely voters disapprove of Trumps performance in office; only 38 percent approve. If Trump doesnt hurt Republicans in Virginia, where will he hurt them?

Along similar lines, Republicans will try to write off a Gillespie loss as inevitable, precisely because of those anti-Trump numbers. But in doing so, they will be conceding the central point at issue: That Trump has, indeed, become lethal to the party in many parts of the country. Mainstream conservatives would also learn that me-too Trumpian campaigns wont save them.

Republican members of the House and Senate in blue and purple areas will notice this. So will the partys leadership. Many now-timid GOP politicians might begin to worry less about losing primaries to pro-Trump candidates and more about how much damage their reckless, autocratic leader is doing to the party as a whole.

Local issues alone should inspire moderates and progressives to care about this choice. The candidates differ on taxes, climate policy, the fair drawing of legislative district lines, Confederate statues, Obamacare  and guns. This last cause alone should be enough to bestir citizens to the polls. The National Rifle Association would be no less gleeful than Trump over a Northam setback.

This competition might have been a more congenial affair. Northam is a middle-of-the-road Democrat in a long Virginia tradition who inspires great loyalty among those who worked with him. Gillespie is a former lobbyist and GOP operative who can be quite amiable and almost lost the GOP primary because he was not in the Trump mold.

But Gillespie decided he could only win by injecting Trumps poison into his campaign. The antidote to noxious politics of this sort is to defeat it.

Dionnes columns, including those not published in the Journal, can be read at abqjournal.com/opinion  look for the syndicated columnist link. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group; e-mail: ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: @EJDionne.
In considering the indictment of former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and an associate, I am reminded of former Bill Clinton aide and defender James Carvilles line about the ability of a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.

Manafort and a longtime business partner, Rick Gates, pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts against them. Manafort is under house arrest after posting an outrageously high bond of $10 million. Gates bond was set at $5 million. George Papadopoulos, who was a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign, has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI about his foreign contacts with several top Russian officials.

Predictably, the major media are celebrating this as the beginning of the end of the nascent Trump presidency. Within hours of the announced indictments, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof rushed into print with a column titled Will Manafort Sing? If so, it may mark the beginning of the end of this presidency. Look for more of this wishful thinking that the establishment, the Democrats and all of the mainstream media have been hoping for since Trump won the election.

What Manafort stands accused of has nothing to do with the 2016 election, or with Russian collusion. No one, so far, has produced any evidence the Russians affected the elections outcome. This is all about overturning the results and keeping the swamp full for those who live in it and reject change.

Real collusion might be in the significant share of U.S. uranium sold to the Russians during Hillary Clintons tenure as secretary of state  she signed off on the deal  followed by a $500,000 fee paid to her husband for a speech in Moscow and the millions of dollars that subsequently flowed into the Clinton Foundation from uranium investors.

Special counsel Robert Mueller and Congress should investigate that Russian connection, along with the role of the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign  and the earlier Republican role  in creating an anti-Trump dossier that has been shown to be a fraud and yet was used to justify the appointment of Mueller. If the reason for Muellers appointment is fraudulent, how can it be said that his investigation, which includes staff attorneys who made donations to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, is not tainted?

Among the many problems with this investigation is that it has no legal, subject or monetary limits. If Mueller and his associates are unable to prove collusion with the Russians, one can count on them coming up with something else. Far-left members of Congress, such as Maxine Waters, (D-Calif), openly state that their objective is to take out the president, and they dont mean to lunch.

There is also the matter of leaks from the grand jury. Not surprisingly, the details of the indictments matched the leak to CNN. Unless that network employs mind readers and engages in paranormal activity, those leaks are felonies, and the leakers should be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are firing up investigations of their own, including long-overdue looks into various questionable and possibly illegal activities by the Clintons. Congress is the proper avenue for such investigations, not special counsels, who can go rogue if they wish.

These seemingly endless accusations and investigations are what so much of the country hates about Washington, the D.C. that increasingly seems to stand for dysfunctional city. No matter which party controls government, the other party does all it can, by whatever means, to undermine those elected. This behavior solves no problems. It is only about grabbing and holding onto power.

Given the many moving parts in the Mueller probe and the loss of focus on the primary reason for it, the government may have a difficult time proving its case in court. But with unlimited funds and a staff of lawyers who have Democratic affiliations, you can bet they will try to make more than a ham sandwich out of it.

Email: tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Copyright, Tribune Content Agency LLC.
When New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his lawsuit against Presbyterian Healthcare Services in a July 11 news conference, he said the company had engaged in a 15-year fraudulent enterprise, had claimed more than $754 million in unlawful deductions and realized a multimillion-dollar windfall by evading taxes and surcharges owed on Medicaid premiums the state paid it from 2001 to 2015.

The 43-page suit included counts alleging violation of the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, violation of the New Mexico Insurance Code, unjust enrichment, fraud and negligent misrepresentation.

It would appear, in hindsight, that the AGs claims were overblown. The two settled for $18.5 million  and 20 percent of that will go to three whistleblowers who work in the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance and their attorneys, who filed the original lawsuit. Balderas took over their case earlier this year.

At the same time the AG was negotiating this settlement, a company hired by the Office of the Insurance Superintendent under the auspices of the state Auditors Office was conducting an audit, which showed Presbyterian owed the state $28.9 million. In addition to what the AG settlement covers, the audit found another $14 million in estimated underpayments related to tax credits that offset Presbyterians contributions to a high-risk insurance pool. That amount remains in dispute, but Presbyterian is working with the state insurance superintendents office to address the discrepancy.

Given that the audit was already underway, its still unclear why Balderas would charge ahead with such hard-hitting allegations.

The AG didnt bring up any claims of fraud against 17 other insurance companies doing business in the state that are also alleged to have underpaid insurance premium taxes. Those companies have also reportedly negotiated or are in the process of negotiating settlements with the state. Collectively, the amounts in dispute for those companies total about $35 million.

Its also worth noting PHS worked closely with Insurance Superintendent John Franchinis office, and that office signed off on the premium taxes that turned out to be incorrect.

Lawmakers had to be licking their chops when an earlier special report said the five largest health insurers in the state owed at least $193 million in premium taxes. Now it turns out that fiscal feast is more of a snack.

But now that there has been a settlement, the public will probably never know what was behind Balderas over-the-top language in his lawsuit and the op-ed he authored in the July 17 Journal.

In announcing the settlement, Balderas appears to be walking back his harsh criticism of Presbyterian and redirecting it at bureaucrats. He said New Mexico has done a horrible job of assessing, recovering, and collecting taxes owed by insurance companies, and can ill-afford to have the same regulatory body set rates for insurers and also collect taxes.

At this juncture, it would appear no fraud took place on PHS end  even though Balderas emphatic allegations had the potential to wreak havoc with the states largest health care insurers reputation, as well as its clients trust.

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.
Jason Hessler, a financial planner and attorney from Artesia, is launching a campaign for state treasurer this week, aiming to become the first Republican to fill the office in more than a decade.

Hessler said his background in finance makes him a natural fit for an office that invests public money, manages the states operating cash and provides banking help for state agencies.

He said he works as a fiduciary in his banking job, meaning he looks out for his clients best interests rather than trying to sell them products before moving on to the next customer.

I have no reason to enter this campaign other than to do whats best for the people of New Mexico, Hessler said in an interview Monday.

Hessler, 41, is the first Republican in the race.

The incumbent treasurer, Democrat Tim Eichenberg, plans to run for re-election. Before winning office in 2014, Eichenberg worked as a property tax consultant and real estate broker, and he won elections as Bernalillo County treasurer and to the Albuquerque area flood control board.

Hessler is seeking an elected office for the first time.

He said he was introduced to New Mexico when he was assigned to Holloman Air Force Base after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Hessler was an undergraduate student at Purdue University  and a member of the Indiana Air National Guard  when he was called out of class the day of the attack and activated for Air Force service.

Military training, Hessler said, taught him to work under pressure and take the emotion out of tough decisions.

It gives you perspective, he said.

Only one Republican has occupied the Treasurers Office since the 1960s  Douglas Brown, who served in 2005-06 after he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Robert Vigil, who resigned as a legislative panel considered impeachment.

Vigil and his predecessor, Michael Montoya, each spent time in federal prison after facing corruption charges.
SANTA FE  Two more state senators took the hot seat  the witness stand in a third-floor courtroom  on Monday in the ongoing public corruption trial of former longtime state Sen. Phil Griego.

Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, testified he did not know of Griegos financial stake in the sale of a historic state-owned building when the property deal came before the Legislature for approval in 2014.

The rule of thumb were taught to follow is (to always err toward) disclosure, Ortiz y Pino said at one point during Mondays proceedings.

Attorney General Hector Balderas office is prosecuting Griego, a Democrat from San Miguel County, for using his position as a legislator to pocket a $50,000 brokers fee from the sale of the building in downtown Santa Fe.

The AGs Office has now called three of Griegos former colleagues to testify in the trial, which began last week and is expected to wrap up next week.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, testified last week that he would have asked a lot more questions if hed received correct information about the sale, and would have tried to slow down the approval process if Griego had disclosed a potential conflict of interest. But he also acknowledged that he wouldnt necessarily have changed his vote in favor of the building sale if hed had all the correct information at the time.

Meanwhile, Griegos attorneys have sought to portray Griegos actions during and around the 2014 legislative session as possibly unethical, but not criminal.

During cross-examination, Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, testified Monday that Griego did not instruct him to mislead senators during debate on the 2014 measure to authorize the building sale.

Cisneros was the floor sponsor of the measure  which passed by an overwhelming margin  and provided incorrect information about the sale process during floor debate, saying the building would be available to any potential buyers. He acknowledged Monday that the information was flawed, but said it was based on a financial analysis of the legislation.

Griego resigned from the Senate in March 2015 instead of facing possible disciplinary action, and one issue jurors will have to confront is what bearing Griegos admission of violating Senate rules and the state Constitution has on the criminal charges he is facing.

In all, Griego is facing eight charges, most of them felonies, including fraud, bribery and violating the ethical principles of public service. He is facing up to 23 years in prison and $33,000 in fines if convicted of all counts.
New Mexico saw a slight increase in anti-Semitic incidents from January through September, though not as significant as in other parts of the country where the Jewish population is far greater.

According to the Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released last week by the Anti-Defamation League, there were seven incidents in New Mexico  six cases of harassment and threats, and one case of vandalism  compared with five total incidents for the same time last year.

Among the specific incidents that occurred in 2017 were two bomb threats to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque and one threat of violence received by a Jewish blogger, the audit says.

Nationwide, there were 1,299 anti-Semitic incidents during the first nine months of this year, a 67 percent increase over the same period in 2016, the ADL report says. There were 1,266 incidents reported for all of last year. These incidents have included physical assaults, vandalism, attacks on Jewish institutions and a disturbingly high number of anti-Semitic bullying and vandalism in K-12 and on college campuses across the country.

Even though the total number of anti-Semitic incidents in New Mexico remains low, any increase in anti-Semitism is concerning, especially since this is the second year in a row that the number of incidents has increased, said Scott L. Levin, regional director of the ADL Mountain States Region, which is based in Denver, and also includes Wyoming and New Mexico.

Anti-Semitism is often a bellwether for hate in a community. We know that the Jewish community is not alone in experiencing a significant increase in hate incidents and hate crimes, Levin said. Refugees, immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ individuals, Latinos and African-Americans are also experiencing increased incidents of hate.

ADL Mountain States Region associate director Jeremy Shaver said some of the increase can be attributed to the coarsening of our public dialogue during the 2016 election cycle and continuing into 2017, which has emboldened and empowered some individuals and groups to move from simple bigoted belief into action.

But drawing a straight line between President Donald Trump and the current tone of the country is not entirely fair and doesnt take into consideration the many other factors at play, such as the economic downturn of 2008, years of extreme political rhetoric on immigration and deep-seated racism in the U.S., Shaver said.

Still, the ADL has expressed concern about President Trumps failure to quickly disavow the support of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke; Trumps implication of moral equivalency regarding white nationalists and white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville, Va., and the counter protestors who opposed them; and the placement of people with extremist ties, such as Steve Bannon, into White House staff positions, Shaver said.
By PTI: ministry to officials

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Officials of Information and Broadcasting Ministry and various departments under it have been asked to refrain from interacting with the media without authorisation from competent authorities, according to a ministry circular.

"It has come to the notice of this ministry that some officers of this Ministry/Media Units interact with media without authorisation from the competent authority," the circular, issued last month to senior officers of the ministry, said.

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It also referred to the Press Information Bureaus (PIB) manual that lays down guidelines for interaction with the media on behalf of the government.

It said only ministers, secretaries and other specially authorised officers may give information or be accessible to the representative of media.

"Any other official, if approached by a representative of media, will direct him/her to the Press Information Bureau or will seek permission of the Minister or the Secretary of the ministry/department before meeting the media persons," it added.

The circular, which has been sent to heads of all media units and autonomous bodies under the ministry, underlined that official information to the press, electronic and digital media should be communicated through the PIB.

"All the officers/officials of the media units and the Ministry are hereby once again informed to restrain from communicating with media without authorisation from the competent authority," said the circular.

However, a government official said such communication are issued from time to time, dubbing it as a "routine" exercise. PTI MP RT

--- ENDS ---
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerque city councilors approved a measure late Monday night that will severely restrict panhandlers in the Duke City, prohibiting them from soliciting motorists at busy medians and even on sidewalks, and also making it illegal for motorists to physically interact with them.

The pedestrian safety ordinance, sponsored by City Councilor Trudy Jones, doesnt apply just to panhandlers. It would also prohibit so-called boot brigades that firefighters sometimes engage in to raise money from motorists, a Brownie trying to sell cookies to motorists, an individual handing out fliers to motorists or any other activity when drivers are being asked to physically interact with a pedestrian.

Under the new ordinance, a driver can be cited for physically engaging with panhandlers or others while in a travel lane.

The ban wont apply in instances in which a motorist can safely pull over into street side parking.

The unanimous vote came toward the end of Mondays lengthy City Council meeting and there wasnt much discussion among council members.

Councilor Ken Sanchez did ask Jones whether she had discussed her measure with the Albuquerque Police Department and whether the ordinance is enforceable.

Yes, this is an enforceable ordinance and they are more than willing to enforce it, Jones responded.

After the meeting, Jones told the Journal that she proposed the ordinance to make Albuquerques streets safer for both pedestrians and drivers.

We do have federal statistics and local statistics, she said Truly, the feds are very happy when we do this because they are concerned about our  accident numbers. It will be helpful.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has raised concerns about the constitutionality of the measure, arguing that people have a right to stand in public spaces like sidewalks and street corners to solicit. Similarly, Jeremy Reynalds, founder and CEO of Joy Junction, a local homeless shelter, has also spoken out against the ordinance, noting in a guest column published by the Journal in September that people who ask for money and food are just trying to survive.

Jones said she is expecting to be sued over the ordinance but argued that it isnt infringing on anyones free speech rights.

They have as much free speech as they want, she said. They just have to put it someplace different. Were not trying to limit their speech; were just trying to say it needs to be in a safe place.

Were trying to keep them safe.

The city previously had a stringent panhandling ordinance, but it was struck down more than a decade ago for violating free speech and due process rights.
SEOUL, South Korea  President Donald Trump delivered a sharp warning to North Korea Wednesday, telling the rogue nation: Do not underestimate us. And do not try us.

In a speech delivered hours after he aborted a visit to the heavily fortified Korean demilitarized zone due to bad weather, Trump said he had a message for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer, they are putting your regime in grave danger, Trump told an audience of South Korean lawmakers, calling on all nations to join forces to isolate the brutal regime of North Korea.

The world cannot tolerate the menace of a rogue regime that threatens with nuclear devastation, he said.

Trump had hoped to underscore his message with an early morning visit to the DMZ, but his plans were thwarted by heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing at the heavily fortified border that has separated the North and South for the last 64 years.

The Marine One helicopter left Seoul at daybreak and flew most of the way to the DMZ, but was forced to turn back just five minutes out due to poor weather conditions. Reporters traveling in a separate helicopter as part of the presidents envoy saw fog through the windows, and weather reports from near the heavily fortified border showed misting conditions and visibility below one mile. Pilots, officials said, could not see the other helicopters in the air.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was disappointed he couldnt make the trip. I think hes pretty frustrated, she told reporters. It was obviously something he wanted to do.

Before he left for Asia, a White House official had ruled out a DMZ visit for Trump, claiming the president didnt have time on his schedule and that DMZ visits have become a little cliche.

But Sanders said the visit had been planned well before Trumps departure for Asia. The trip was kept secret for security reasons, she said.

The aborted visit came hours before Trump addressed the South Korean National Assembly as he closed out his two-day visit to the nation and headed to his next stop, Beijing.

In the speech, Trump painted a bleak portrait of life in North Korea, describing citizens as bribing government officials to leave the country just so they can work as slaves. He contrasted the poverty and desperation to thriving South Korea  home to a long list of top-rated golfers, he noted.

Trump said the U.S. will not allow its cities to be threatened with destruction, and said that, while America does not seek conflict or confrontation, it will not run from it, either.

The regime has interpreted Americas past restraint as weakness. This would be a fatal miscalculation?, Trump said. This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past.

He also called on all nations to downgrade diplomatic and economic ties with the North and fully implement a series of U.N. Security Council measures, specifically calling out Russia and China, whose leaders he will meet in coming days.

On Tuesday, Trumps first day on the Korean Peninsula, he had signaled a willingness to negotiate as he urged North Korea to come to the table and make a deal over its nuclear weapons program.

He also said hed seen a lot of progress in dealing with Pyongyang, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct talks.

It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world, Trump said at a news conference with South Koreas president, Moon Jae-in.

He also sounded an optimistic note on disagreements with the North, saying confidently, if vaguely: Ultimately, itll all work out.

It was a striking shift in tone for a president who for months had issued increasingly dire threats to answer any hostile North Korean action with fire and fury. In a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump said he would totally destroy the nation, if necessary, and has derided Kim as little Rocket Man.

North Korea has fired more than a dozen missiles this year but none in nearly two months. Analysts caution against reading too much into the pause.

Ever the showman, Trump had teased that he had a surprise in store, saying at a Tuesday evening banquet that he had an exciting day planned Wednesday  for many reasons that people will find out. He did not elaborate on what turned out to be the aborted trip to the DMZ.

Visiting the border that has become something of a ritual for U.S. presidents trying to demonstrate their resolve against North Koreas ever-escalating aggression. Every American president since Ronald Reagan, save for George H.W. Bush, has made the trip, peering across the barren north through binoculars, hearing broadcast propaganda and reaffirming their commitment to standing with the South.

Visiting the wooded, craggy terrain inside the DMZ is like going back in time to 1953. In July of that year, the Korean War armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom, the so-called truce village bisected by a marker that is the official dividing line between the North and South.

Theres no public sign of any diplomatic progress between Washington and Pyongyang. U.S. officials say the back channel between the State Department and the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York remains intact, but contacts have not been substantive other than achieving the release of American college student Otto Warmbier in June. He died days after his repatriation to the U.S.

Moon, who has been eager to solidify a friendship with Trump, said he hoped the presidents visit would be a turning point in the standoff with North Korea.

___

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com///twitter.com/@colvinj
WASHINGTON  The medical expense deduction targeted for repeal by GOP tax writers has helped to offset costs including nursing home care and fertility treatments, laser eye surgery and travel out-of-state for a second opinion on a rare cancer.

Several million people unlucky enough to face big medical bills not covered by their insurance would lose a valuable deduction under the House GOP bill. Groups representing older people and patients are trying to save it.

Anybody who is paying for the cost of nursing home care is paying a great deal of money, and they are going to lose that deduction, and their taxes are going to go up, said Thomas DeCoursey, a retired lawyer from Kansas, in his 70s.

He relies on the deduction to help offset costs associated with nursing home care for his wife, who has Alzheimers. Some of his own medical expenses also factor in. DeCoursey estimates that in a couple of years their annual costs will pass $100,000.

There are a lot of people in my shoes, said DeCoursey, who lives in Leawood, a well-to-do Kansas City suburb that voted for President Donald Trump last year.

About 9 million households  6 percent of tax filers  claim the medical expense deduction, said Gordon Mermin, a senior researcher at the nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. The annual cost to the U.S. Treasury is about $10 billion, which ranks it as a modest tax break. Those who benefit tend to be middle-income and upper-middle-income people.

For the people who claim it, it is not a trivial benefit, said Mermin.

The medical expense deduction is also versatile. In addition to nursing home care, not generally covered by medical insurance plans, it can be used for:

Transportation expenses to a top hospital, like a comprehensive cancer center.

Some long-term care insurance premiums.

Installing specialized medical equipment in a patients home or vehicle.

Dental procedures.

Bills from out-of-network doctors.

When you are faced with large medical costs and dont have a lot of options, this is one that helps people, said Barbara Collura, president of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Most insurance plans do not cover fertility treatments, which can cost from $15,000 to $30,000. The deduction can offset some of that cost.

Advocacy groups pushing back against repeal may get help from the Senate.

House Republicans defend their approach.

In a statement, Ways and Means GOP spokeswoman Lauren Aronson said the bill would allow people to keep more of the money they earn for expenses that arise throughout their lives  such as medical bills  rather than providing a myriad of provisions that many Americans may only use once in their lifetimes, and only if they go through the hassle and frustration of itemizing.

Republicans say doing away with, or curbing, tax breaks creates a big pot of revenue, which can then be used to lower tax rates. The lower rates and higher standard deduction in the GOP bill would compensate for the loss of particular tax breaks, they say.

An argument against the medical deduction is that it cant be easily claimed.

Taxpayers have to have enough deductions to itemize in the first place.

Then theres another step. Taxpayers can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 10 percent of their income, in most cases. Take a hypothetical single man under 65 making $45,000 a year. If he had $4,000 of qualifying medical expenses, he could not deduct any of it.

Independent analyst Greg Rosica, a tax partner at the Ernst & Young accounting firm, said tax legislation has to be looked at in its totality, not through the lens of individual tax breaks.

It is a change, he said of the potential loss of the medical deduction. Its not necessarily the loss of something, but its something thats being replaced and changed.

Democrats have jumped on the issue, arguing that the medical expense deduction would be sacrificed to reduce taxes for the wealthy.

One of the challenges Republicans have with this provision is that people can understand it, said Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, senior Democrat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Some of this tax stuff is arcane; this is not.

AARP, the seniors lobby, is urging Congress to keep the deduction, saying the vast majority of those who claim it are older people.

For people who are sick, many of whom are going to be older Americans, this medical expense deduction makes their health care more affordable, said Cristina Martin Firvida, AARPs lead lobbyist on financial security issues. To them, it is a very big deal.

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Associated Press multimedia journalist Kevin S. Vineys contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Iraqs highest-ranking Sunni is in Washington this week pleading for more military aid for his communitys militias, hoping the Trump administration will deliver on pledges to counter Irans influence.

Osama al-Nujaifi is one of Iraqs three vice presidents. His brother heads a major Iraqi defense faction. Both have been represented in Washington by the same lobbyist employed last year by President Donald Trumps first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Trump fired Flynn in February.

Al-Nujaifi met Monday with U.S. officials in an effort to bolster the influence of Iraqs minority Sunni Muslims  and shore up his power base.

His requests for equipment and training face resistance. While Trump has tweeted warnings about Shiite Irans influence, Americans officials arent yet providing direct military aid to Iraqs Sunni fighters.
RICHMOND, Va.  Voters in Virginia and New Jersey gave Democratic gubernatorial candidates large victories Tuesday and sent a clear message of rebuke to Republican President Donald Trump.

In Virginias hard-fought contest, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie. In New Jersey, front-running Democrat Phil Murphy trounced Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to succeed unpopular GOP Gov. Chris Christie.

The victors said Tuesdays electoral results had far-reaching repercussions in a sharply divided country.

Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry, Northam said.

The days of division are over. We will move forward, Murphy said in his own victory speech, invoking Trump by name as he looked headed to a double digit win. Murphy, who earned a fortune at Goldman Sachs before serving as Barack Obamas ambassador to Germany, delivered his address in the same spot as Christie in his 2013 re-election after Christie won big over his Democratic rival.

The wins in both states are a morale boost to Democrats who had so far been unable to channel anti-Trump energy into success at the ballot box in a major election this year.

The people are gonna rise up. Theyre not gonna take what he says and this is not fake news, said Leanna Barnes, a 76-year-old from East Orange, New Jersey, who voted for Murphy and called his victory a message to the president.

Virginia college student Tamia Mallory said she began paying attention to her states gubernatorial race when she saw tweets from Trump endorsing Gillespie. That motivated her to examine the race and find out who was running against Gillespie, she said.

It was kind of an anti-Trump vote, Mallory said.

Northam, the states lieutenant governor, repeatedly sought during long months of divisive campaigning to tie Gillespie to the president. His victory was in large part due to the surge in anti-Trump sentiment since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race in Virginia, a swing-state and the only Southern state Trump lost last year.

Gillespie, meanwhile, sought to keep Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the presidents supporters with hard-edge attack ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues. The strategy was criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as race baiting, but drew praise from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and others as a canny approach in a state that voted for Hillary Clinton last year.

Trump lent limited pre-election support to Gillespie with robocalls and tweets.

In one call, Trump said Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help Make America Great Again. Trump also said Northam would be a total disaster for Virginia.

But after Tuesdays loss, Trump suggested that Gillespie hurt himself by not more closely aligning himself with the president.

Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for, Trump said in a tweet after Northam won. He also pointed out that Republicans have won every special election to the U.S. House since he was elected.

Northams victory is a blow to Republicans, who were hoping that Gillespie could provide a possible roadmap for moderate Republicans to follow in next years midterm elections. Several Republicans have announced plans to retire next year instead of seeking re-election, and Gillespie loss may prompt more such announcements.

A former White House aide to President George W. Bush and a Washington lobbyist, Gillespie struck a humble tone in his concession speech as he offered support to Northam. Gillespie wiped tears from his eyes while thanking his wife and said the million people who voted for him love Virginia, and so do those who disagree with them.

And I know they too are rooting for our new governor to succeed because we all love the commonwealth of Virginia, Gillespie said.

The mood was subdued at Gillespies gathering at a Richmond-area hotel, with supporters not shocked at the outcome but surprised at how poorly Republicans did. Democrats swept all three of Virginias statewide races and nearly wiped out Republicans overwhelming majority in the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday. A handful of races that will decide control of the body remaining too close to call.

Gillespie supporter Elsa Smith said Republicans needed to do a better job of appealing to minorities if they want to win future races.

We are not taking care of the demographics the way we should, said Smith, an owner of a Spanish translation business.

Democrats were gleeful at Northams victory party. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly called Northam the perfect antidote to the president.

This is a comprehensive victory from the statehouse to the courthouse. Thank you, President Trump, Connolly said.

The Democratic victories are another sign of Virginias shift toward a more liberal electorate. Democrats have won every statewide election since 2009 and now have won four out of the last five gubernatorial contests. Northam, pediatric neurologist and Army doctor, banked heavily during the campaign on his near-perfect political resume and tried to cast himself as the low-key doctor with a strong Southern drawl as the healer to Trumps divisiveness.

___

Catalini reported from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Josh Cornfield, Matt Barakat, Hank Kurz, Ben Finley and Sarah Rankin contributed to this report.
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz.  A Lake Havasu City man is in custody after he told authorities he killed his roommate last week.

Lake Havasu City police say 58-year-old Enrique Reyes turned himself in to the Quartzsite Police Department last Friday.

Hes expected to be extradited to Mohave County and face a murder charge.

Lake Havasu City police found 63-year-old Paul Smith dead inside the homes living room.

They say Smith was stabbed and shot at least once.

Police say the time of death appears to be last Thursday, but an autopsy has been scheduled to help determine an exact cause of death.

Reyes was interviewed by detectives and told police he and Smith had an argument that escalated.

The two men lived at the Lake Havasu City home for an unknown period of time.
TUCSON, Ariz.  Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona say four Phoenix residents are among five people accused of smuggling citizens from Mexico.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol officials say most of the arrests occurred at an immigration checkpoint near Tombstone.

According to agents, two Phoenix women, both 20, were taken into custody last Friday when a 23-year-old man from Mexico was found in their vehicles trunk.

Two men, both 19 and from Phoenix, were arrested two days later when a 25-year-old Mexican national was discovered during a secondary inspection.

A 50-year-old woman, who is a permanent resident, was arrested the same day near Ajo after her 59-year-old male passenger was found to be in the U.S. illegally.

The agency says all three Mexican nationals will be processed for immigration violations.
SANTA TERESA  Devin Patrick Kelley was a patient at a behavioral health hospital in Santa Teresa in 2012 after he was caught sneaking fire arms onto Holloman Air Force Base, where he was attempting to carry out death threats against his military chain of command, according to an El Paso Police Department report.

The airmans time in the hospital is part of a series of troubling events leading up to when he opened fire and killed 26 people at the First Baptist Church in Southerland Springs, Texas, the state s deadliest mass shooting.

Police officers tracked down Kelley at a bus station in downtown El Paso after he escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Services, where authorities said he was considered a danger to himself and others and feared he was attempting to take a bus out of state, according to the police incident report. Kelley was a patient just before he was court-martialed for assaulting his first wife and baby stepson.

Peak Behavioral Health Services has a 119 inpatient bed hospital that serves patients of all ages and their families in both New Mexico and Texas and offers a a specialized program to meet the needs of the military and veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings, according to the companys website.

The hospital called El Paso police to report Kelley was missing at at 11:23 on the night of , 2012, according to the incident report. The officers who found Kelley called the Sunland Park Police Department to take him into custody since the hospital is located across the state line in New Mexico.

Peak Behavioral Health Services is located across the street from the Gadsden Independent School District offices and shares a busy parking lot with the Santa Teresa Family Medical Center.

It doesnt look secure at all. If it was secure, it would have VA cops or something of the sort but it doesnt look like it, said Eric Bartlett, an advocate for veterans who lives in Albuquerque. He drove to Peak Behavioral Health Services in Santa Teresa to pick up a friends son at the facility.

Bartlett questioned treating military service members like Kelley with other patients. You cant mix disabled veterans with psychiatric conditions with other civilians because the treatment of what we went through is a lot different. Thats how I feel about that, said Bartlett.

Claudia Naranjo who stopped by to visit her son at Peak Behavioral Health Services, was disturbed to learn Kelley had been a patient years before he attacked the church.

The first thing that comes to mind is where is there a break in the system. We already know we have a shortage of doctors. I experience that everyday, said Naranjo who runs a mental health clinic in Santa Teresa.

He should have been on a list to not get a gun.

Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 at Holloman AFB and served a year long sentence after he was convicted of fracturing his baby stepsons skull and assaulting his wife He received a bad conduct discharge and later also faced animal animal cruelty charges for beating a dog.

More recently, investigators said he sent threatening text messages to his mother-in-law, who attended the Texas church.

The Air Force inspector general is investigating why Kelleys criminal record was not shared and included in a database to prevent gun sales to anyone convicted of domestic violence.
WASHINGTON  When China rolls out the red carpet for Donald Trump, the grandeur of its welcome for the larger-than-life American president will mask a sobering reality.

President Xi Jinping, Chinas most powerful figure in a generation, is elevating his nation as a global power. Trump is unpopular and untrusted, pursued by political scandal and questions over his temperament as commander in chief of the worlds most formidable military.

As they compete over shaping the future of the worlds most populous and fastest-growing economic region, the stakes have never been higher.

On Wednesday, Trump begins what Chinese officials are billing as a state visit plus to Beijing, the highest-profile stop of his five-nation swing through Asia. Hell be seeking Chinese action to rebalance trade with the U.S. and to increase pressure on North Korea. Both presidents will then travel to Vietnam and the Philippines for regional summits, where they will bid for support among the continents wavering leaders.

Trump is at a distinct disadvantage against Xi.

Xi two weeks ago consolidated his grip over China when he was endorsed for a second five-year term as communist party leader. His philosophy was enshrined in the constitution, arguably making him Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s.

Trump congratulated Xi for his extraordinary elevation and compared the status of the Chinese president to that of a king  unusually fulsome American praise for an autocrat.

Although questions remain over Xis stewardship of the Chinese economy  he faces rising debt and an inefficient state sector  hes won popular domestic support for a countercorruption drive in the ruling party and gained effective control over disputed areas of the South China Sea through a massive island-building campaign opposed by Washington.

As Trump heads to China, he will find Xi at the pinnacle of his power with some significant home court advantages, said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

Xi has big ambitions, too, having told the party congress it is now time for China to take center stage as a world power.

Theres clearly a confidence that extends from his newly secured position and permeates into the foreign policy realm, Rapp-Hooper said.

As for Trump, nine months into his presidency, he has alarmed strategists in Asia with his America First doctrine. He opposed the universally supported Paris agreement to combat climate change, adopted a protectionist stance on trade and raised doubts over his ability to manage a security crisis by vacillating between threats and conciliation toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Republican Trump is also carrying a lot of domestic baggage.

While Xi is lauded like a demigod in Chinas fawning, state-run media, Trump is buffeted by a free press and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. His approval ratings  around 38 percent, according to Gallup  suggest hes the most unpopular new U.S. president in the history of modern polling.

Reviled by political rivals, he has faced repeated and increasingly acrimonious run-ins with senior members of his own party who have been outraged by his freewheeling use of Twitter, off-the-cuff interview style and penchant for personally attacking those who cross him. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, a leading foreign policy voice, recently argued that Trump debases our nation with constant untruths and name-calling, accusing the president of setting the U.S. on the path to World War III.

More immediately, perhaps, a legal net is closing on former Trump associates as the FBI investigates allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. A former campaign adviser pleaded guilty last week to lying to the FBI in a criminal case that pushed the investigation closer to the president.

Trump denies any collusion. And predictably, he maintains that hes in Asia with great negotiating strength because of our tremendous economy. The latest U.S. jobs report showed unemployment at a 17-year low and the stock market at a record high.

Kurt Campbell, a former top U.S. diplomat for Asia and architect of President Barack Obamas strategic pivot, said domestic woes will shadow Trump on his travels to the region, where the conventional wisdom is of U.S. retrenchment during a period of dramatic Chinese advancement.

Nations are likely to skate a little closer to Beijing, Campbell said.

However, Thitinan Pongsudhirak at Thailands Chulalongkorn University said Trump has clawed back U.S. influence in Southeast Asia after Obamas human rights criticism pushed some American allies closer to Beijing. With authoritarian leaders in Thailand and the Philippines, in particular, Trump has repaired ties.

But the Trump administration hasnt helped itself elsewhere with its mixed policy signals, veering from America-centric economic nationalism to more traditional expressions of U.S. engagement in Asia. Recently, Washington outlined a strategy of building ties with democracies across the Indo-Pacific.

The idea is similar to the Obama pivot that Beijing always viewed as a China containment policy. The Chinese would prefer the two countries accommodate each others interests. It may view the close personal relationship between Trump and Xi as the best way toward that relationship.

I dont think anyone would be able to contain China, Cui Tiankai, Chinas U.S. ambassador, told reporters in Washington last week.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A U.S. court has sided with a New Mexico ranching family in a decades-long battle over access to water on national forest land, providing more certainty that state law allows for the protection of water rights dating back more than a century.

The case of the Goss family has been closely watched by thousands of ranchers who hold grazing permits across the West. Attorneys and others say the outcome could have ripple effects on ranchers and rural communities that have often complained about federal land managers trampling property rights.

The Goss family claimed the federal government violated its constitutional rights by not providing just compensation after condemning property  in this case water rights that had been established before Lincoln National Forest was created.

U.S. Court of Federal Claims Chief Judge Susan Braden agreed. On Friday, she ordered the family and the U.S. Forest Service to determine whether alternative water sources are available that can allow the family  operating as the Sacramento Grazing Association Inc.  to operate a viable cattle business.

Braden must still determine how much compensation the family is owed.

Regional officials with the U.S. Forest Service declined to comment pending a final judgment.

Michael Van Zandt, a California attorney who represents the family, said Tuesday the family has been working for the past few years with the U.S. Forest Service to find alternative sources of water but those efforts have not always been successful.

The grazing operation was forced to decrease its herd as forest officials fenced off more areas over the years due to habitat concerns and endangered species.

Its been a huge financial burden to the Gosses, Van Zandt said, noting that his clients were ecstatic about the ruling.

Ranchers around New Mexico said they were excited but cautious given their somewhat tumultuous history with federal land managers. Hispanic ranchers in the north have often complained that federal officials have discriminated against them despite policies that recognize their cultural and traditional ties to the land. Some families have worked the land since the Spanish colonized what is now New Mexico hundreds of years ago.

Bradens ruling made reference to several dozen ranchers who unsuccessfully attempted to find common ground with environmental groups and officials from Oregons Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for over a decade.

The ruling noted that in January 2016, the ranchers decided to take up arms to protest federal policy and regulations that prioritize water habitat for migrating birds by limiting the number of cattle that historically grazed and used water in the area.

Rather than take up arms, the Sacramento Grazing Association filed a complaint in federal claims court to affirm its right to the beneficial use of stock water on the grazing allotment in Lincoln forest  a right that predated federal control, the ruling said.

The judge found that the Forest Service has responsibility for managing national forests, including the habitat of endangered species, but that a small, family-owned cattle ranch should not be forced to bear the entire financial burden of the agencys management choices where they interfere with property rights recognized by state law.

The Office of the State Engineer, which handles water rights issues, said the ruling recognizes that over the past 110 years, New Mexico has lived under the doctrine that beneficial use of water makes for the establishment of a water right.

The decision affirms this doctrine and gives certainty to ranchers in the state that protects their water rights and the way they have been ranching in New Mexico since before statehood, water agency spokeswoman Melissa Dosher-Smith said.
By PTI: Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) With changing ecosystem and increasing awareness of digital payments, Samsung Pay, the mobile payments service of South Korean handset maker, has seen an addition of 1 million users in over a month.

Samsung Pay was launched in the country in March this year and India features in the top three countries among the 20 nations for Samsung Pay globally in terms of users, behind South Korea and Russia.

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"On September 12 we had announced that we had 1.5 million users of Samsung Pay. Now we have an additional 1 million users in the last one-and-half months. The user growth has been significant," Samsung India Director Commercialization Group (Product Planning) Sanjay Razdan told reporters here.

Samsung Pay is available for users of devices like Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 plus, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy J7 Max and Galaxy J7 Pro, among others and allows users to just tap and pay using the debit/credit cards and wallets stored on their mobile devices.

During the launch Samsung Pay was available through 10 models and has expanded it to 26 models since then.

According to industry estimates the overall mobile phone market in India is pegged at Rs 1 lakh crore for 2017, with Samsung commanding a market share of 47 per cent at the end of September 30.

Samsung witnessed a growth of 40 per cent in terms of value during the festive season this year for its handset sales.

It has 17 partners on board, including 10 banks and is in talks with a couple of more banks for pay service.

Razdan, who heads the Samsung Pay business in India, said some of the other countries are trying to implement some of Indias model like bank to bank transfer. PTI DS RMT BAS

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Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is teaming up with Republican Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake to close a background check loophole that allowed a court-martialed convict who killed 26 at a Texas church to purchase a firearm, Heinrichs office said Tuesday afternoon.

The pair will introduce the Domestic Violence Loophole Closure Act  legislation that will close the background check loophole exploited by the Sutherland Springs, Texas shooter and prevent any individual convicted of domestic violence  whether it is in civilian or military court  from legally purchasing a firearm, according to a statement by Heinrichs office.

Glad to be working w/ @JeffFlake on bipartisan bill to close DoD/NICS loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of those that want to do harm, Heinrich tweeted this afternoon.

Asked why they decided to target only domestic violence convictions, Flake and Heinrich said that it was legislation that should actually be able to pass in the divided Congress.

This is something we clearly had agreement on out of the gate its what we could and can address right now and I think well be looking at other issuesto determine what can and should be done, Heinrich said at a hastily arranged Capitol Hill press conference Tuesday afternoon. This is clearly a loophole that is a problem.

Flake announced his retirement from the Senate last month and offered a scathing critique of Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, former New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson  now the U.S. Air Force secretary  today said the Air Force accepted responsibility for the failure to properly process the shooters fingerprints and vowed to fix the system.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.  The Navajo Nation has signed a deal that swaps more than 37,000 acres of New Mexico trust land for a ranch owned by the tribe.

The state trust properties are in northwestern New Mexico where Navajos are living, surrounding Navajo trust lands and adjacent to the reservation.

Navajo Nation spokesman Mihio Manus said Tuesday the tribe eventually will seek to have the acreage added to the formal reservation.

The state will get the tribes Slash Ranch in southern New Mexico in the exchange.

State and tribal officials began talking about a land swap when the tribe learned Navajo families unknowingly were burying family members in a cemetery on state trust land near Gallup.

At one point, the tribe says the state fined funeral homes for conducting services there.
SANTA FE, N.M.  An ex-Internal Revenue Service employee in Albuquerque has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and making false statements.

Prosecutors say 55-year-old Joan Mobley, of Socorro, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Santa Fe. She also was ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in restitution.

Mobley was responsible for performing audits of small businesses and self-employed taxpayers while with the IRS.

According to an indictment, Mobley falsely stated to the IRS between January 2011 and December 2011 that certain taxpayers either had consented to extending the time for assessing employment taxes or agreed to the collection and assessment of additional taxes.

The indictment alleged Mobley used the identification of those taxpayers in making those false statements without obtaining consent.
Lending voice to a new generation of creators, global sportswear brand Puma has pioneered the largest movement in Indias street culture with its latest collaboration campaign  Suede Gully. A brain child of Puma and DDB Mudra, this collaboration portrays the street culture of India, giving a single, creative stage for self-expression to a talented breed of artists, musicians and dancers. Suede Gully comes alive in a video that captures the essence of Indian streets in the most authentic manner. The collaboration also gives the iconic Puma Suede, which has been a cultural street and hip-hop symbol for decades, a fresh and local perspective.

India has a very strong and unique Gully (street) culture, which, while having evolved over the years, still retains its rawness. Our streets carry, shape and communicate opinions and over time, have grown to become a mode of self-expression for many. DDB Mudra recognised this resilient underground street culture bubbling under the surface and decided to amp it up and bring it to light. Thus was born Suede Gully.

The agency, along with the brand used Puma Suede as a medium to bring together the talent of the street, and make it a symbol for authentic self-expression. Keeping Suede at the center of it all they have brought together the three major street art forms  Graffiti, Rap and Dance  into one major creative collaboration. Ideated and executed by the Bengaluru office of DDB Mudra, the campaign trains the spotlight on 8 rappers, 7 street artists and 36 hip-hop dancers, all hailing from 4 different corners of the country  Mumbai, Delhi, Shillong and Madurai. The idea was to bring out the artists from the untainted part of the city and stitch together their talent, passion and attitude into one addictive music video.

The Suede Gully street anthem, composed by Sneha Khanwalkar and directed by Sasha Rainbow, features four different languages as well  Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi and Khasi. The video, that traverses the realm of street culture in the country and alternates between the artists who are transforming the streets, fuses into a single rap collaboration featuring the entire crew. Shot to represent the Indian streets in their real element, the Suede Gully anthem is full of character - a graffiti-ed local train in Mumbai, a sprayed staircase in Shillong, the vibrant roads of Madurai, and the street walls of Delhi.

As innovators of street culture, Puma is taking forward the legacy of Suede to establish it as the representation of hip-hop street culture in India. The dance crews are led by Mukti Mohan and features the Bengaluru-based Black Ice Crew, Shillongs Unity One Crew, Mumbais Beast Mode Crew and Delhis Higher Vision Crew. Creating a canvas of self-expression through art are Indias most intriguing street artists  Shilo Shiv Suleman, Baadal Nanjundaswamy, Indian Artists crew and Anpu Varkey, whose works transform streets into brilliant exhibits. Representing Indian rap and hip-hop are a bunch of talented rappers  Bombays Divine, Delhis Prabhdeep, Shillongs rap crew Khasi Bloodz and Madurais Madurai Souljour.

A legacy built by icons like Frazier Clyde and Tommie Smith, Puma Suede has been immortalised by athletes and hip hop artists alike.

Commenting on the campaign, Debosmita Majumder, Head of Marketing, Puma (India), said, Todays youth have taken to modern forms of self-expression, giving rise to a new generation of creators. They use the streets as a canvas to express themselves through various forms of art, music and dance. For the first time in India, Puma is bringing these diverse art forms on a single platform  Suede Gully. Suede Gully is our attempt to bring to the forefront the true essence of Indian street culture.

Elaborating on the work, Vishnu Srivatsav, Creative Head, DDB Mudra South, said, Pumas Suede has always been a voice of street culture and Suede Gully looks to bring to life the incredibly unique and diverse culture and expression of our very own gullies. Its art, its music, its culture and its fashion. So many people, folks who live for their art, from different corners of the country, bringing their awesome talents to collaborate on this platform, thats really special.

Campaign credits:

Brand: Puma (India)

Agency: DDB Mudra Group

President and Managing Partner, DDB Mudra South: Ranji Cherian

Account Management: Pritika Gupta, Yash Singh Dabi, Atria Ghosh

Media: Bharath Gaddam, Sagar Govindraju

Creative: Brijesh Jacob, Vishnu Srivatsav, Sooraj Pillai, Jonah Costa, Sukanya Subramaniyan, Sajni Masturlal
Samsung India has announced the expansion of its brand shops in Bengaluru to further increase its retail presence in the city. These outlets will enable the brand to create more touch-points for customers while tapping into the huge demand for Samsungs innovative products in the region.

The brand shops, spread across 1,750 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft have been set up in high footfall areas such as Whitefield, Hebbagodi, Peenya, Banashankari, Ramamurthy Nagar, Jaya Nagar and Marathalli. All 10 outlets will be functional by December-end, making it the largest number of stores opened within three months. The stores will display the entire range of Samsung offerings  QLED TV, The Frame and other Televisions, FlexWash and other Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Galaxy Note8 and other mobiles phone and wearables  thereby creating a one-stop shopping experience.

Samsung has always been at the forefront of driving innovation that aims at creating products catering to the evolving needs of consumers. The reception for Samsung products has been overwhelming and we have witnessed tremendous demand from Bengaluru, which is one of the top markets for Samsung. The opening of 10 new brand shops will help us in reaching out to our customers at their convenience and also enable us to serve them better, said Rajeev Bhutani, Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

Samsung products are sold via retail outlets across the country, built through 22 years of strong partnership. A robust distribution network and healthy relationship with retail partners has enabled Samsung to sustain its market leadership in various product categories.
Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd is reported to have fled Saudi Arabia and sought asylum in Iran, Riyadh's arch nemesis.

By India Today Web Desk: The Saudi royal family - the House of Saud - is throwing up one intrigue after another.

Hours after the reported death of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, his nephew and son of late King Fahd's eldest surviving son, Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd has fled the country. His destination, according to speculation among those who are watching the situation closely, is, wait for it, Iran.

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If this is true, this may put new strain on Tehran and Riyadh, already at loggerheads for dominance in the restive Middle East region, where Saudi Arabia and Iran are fighting, what analysts term, a proxy war in Yemen.

What makes Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd's reported flight to Iran, where he is said to have sought asylum, interesting, apart from his destination, is that it comes at a time when Saudi aviation authorities are said to have been told not to let any of the oil-rich kingdom's many royals fly out of the country.

#Saudi Crown Prince orders Civil Authority to prevent ALL private & royal planes from taking off to prevent any suspects from fleeing https://t.co/XGCWJks9E9- SaadAbedine (@SaadAbedine) November 4, 2017

Of course,with the outflow of information from Saudi Arabia particularly restricted right now, all reports of developments on the region must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Turki bin Mohamed, is the son of Muhammad bin Fahd Al Saud, the second-oldest son of late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and is also the grandnephew of the current King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

This is the same King Salman whose son Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (known informally as MBS) is believed to be have orchestrated what many are seeing as a coup by sideling prominent Saudi royals and taking decisions that could win over the country's liberal quarters.

2 DEATHS AND FLIGHT TO FREEDOM

Turki bin Mohamed's reported escape to Iran, where he has reportedly sought asylum, comes just a day after two Saudi princes reportedly died in mysterious conditions.

Yesterday, there were strong rumours and reports that Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd, the youngest son of late King Fahd, died in a gunbattle with Saudi security forces while resisting arrest.

The Arabic website AlIthad News carried a report quoting a Saudi Royal Court notification to say that the Saudi royal family mourned the death of Prince Abdul Aziz but did not mention a reason for his reported death.

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Abdul Aziz's death itself came merely hours after Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin, the son of former Crown Prince Muqrin al-Saud, died in a helicopter crash. According to an Al Jazeera report, the cause of the crash, which took place near the Yemen border, wasn't immediately known.

The Saudi-run Al Arabiya even posted a video of Mansour Bin Muqrin boarding the ill-fated chopper.

VIDEO: Last video of #Saudi Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, officials before helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/424VsFI9jT- Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) November 6, 2017

THE 11 ARRESTS

Just the deaths of two princes on their own may not have caused Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd to consider fleeing Saudi Arabia had what happened Saturday night not happened.

Just as the Middle East was coming to terms with the Lebanon prime minister's surprise resignation, the Saudi-run Al Arabiya reported that authorities had placed under arrest 11 princes and dozens of former ministers as part of a supposed anti-corruption drive.

Among those arrested were Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a leading investor and one of the world's richest businessmen, and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was the head of the influential National Guard.

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The arrests came just after Saudi Arabia constituted a new anti-corruption committee headed by none other than Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Prince Salaman, notably, is also the authority credited for the kingdom's recent decision to (finally) let women drive cars.

Click here to Enlarge Saudi Crown Prince Salaman (Reuters file photo)

Oh and by the way, on the same day, Saudi Arbia also managed to intercept a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh's international airport. The missile was reportedly fired from Yemen and Saudi Arabia laid the blame at its rival Iran's feet.

According to a New York Times report citing a CNN interview, the Saudi foreign minister Adel Jubair said his kingdom sees the missile firing as an "act of war". "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps," Jubair was quoted as saying.

Remember, this is the same Iran that Prince Turki bin Mohamed bin Fahd is reported to have fled to. The Iran whose relations with Saudi Arabia have always been marked with hostility, hostility that Riyadh and Tehran seem ready to resume as the fight against the Islamic State enters its fag end and geopolitical tensions in the volatile Middle East rise again.

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We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
November 6, 2017

A backpack, camera, tent, bicycle and social media platforms are all the equipment Abd al-Rahim al-Zraiee needs to reveal hidden gems in Gaza that even local residents might not know. The young Palestinian is known on social media as the Gaza Tourist. Through his travels  which are posted to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter  Zraiee documents the territorys history and seeks out its beauty.

Zraaie set out on his first tour about a year ago, exploring his own hometown, Deir al-Balah, a historical city in central Gaza. What motivated me to start this initiative is my wanderlust and passion for discovering new places, meeting new people and understanding different cultures, traditions and rituals, Zraaie told Al-Monitor. I started traveling around Gaza and documenting my tours through photos and short comments. I focused on dusting off our archaeological sites and presenting Gazas beauty, which still remains despite the wars and crises it has experienced.

Zraaie said he also wanted to learn more about Palestinian heritage, from archaeological sites to history to local traditions. I wanted to show the world the sublime beauty and history of Gaza, he said. He therefore created the Facebook page Gaza Tourist. With time, and a few trips, it has become a gallery of photographs, videos and stories.

The young documentarian has visited more than 80 locations in Gaza. Unfortunately, a lack of equipment prevented me from taking many pictures, he said, referring to when he first set out on his tours. He explained that he does not follow a set protocol or try to predetermine a route in deciding on his next destination. He either hikes or bikes from one city to the next, where he meets residents and learns about their lifestyles and local culture.

Zraiee has trained in electronics, but the lack of employment opportunities in Gaza has left him jobless. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the unemployment rate in February reached 42%. This pushed Zraiee to do something in life in line with his passion.

Pack your equipment, and go anywhere.  explore your country. That is how Zraiee sums up his tours, which get him out of his own routine for three or four days at a time. He cooks in a small tent that he carries with him. He might sometimes have company at dinner, if some of his friends accompany him on his travels.

Zraiee says that his bike and tent at times initially elicit negative reactions from residents, but that he tirelessly strives to establish good relations with them. They often end up introducing him to their daily routines and recommending camping areas worth visiting.

The Gaza Strip, with an area of some 140 square miles, is something of an archaeological gem, with more than 15 archaeological sites, 20 ancient mosques and three ancient churches. Yet much of this is crumbling due to government neglect. Zraiee says he wants to exploit social media to create awareness and encourage visits to what remains of Gaza's heritage.

Among the places Zraiee has visited is the Barquq Fort, the fifth most important Islamic monument in Palestine, located in Khan Yunis. It dates to the 14th century. He has also traveled to Saint Hilarion, the oldest monastery in Palestine, and explored the Qissariya Market, or Gold Market, in Gaza City, as well as the Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, the oldest active church in the city.

When I visit [new] places, I feel happy and enjoy them in silence, Zraiee said. I touch on all the corners of the places and imagine how many people before us passed through them.

He also said, however, I feel extremely sad to see places that have stood through time, and yet are at risk of disappearing because of our neglect.

This past summer, Zraiee led the Hiking Challenge: From the Crossing to the Border. On July 14, he and 30 others walked the 33 miles from the Erez crossing, in the north, to the Rafah border crossing, in the south. The journey took 10 hours.

Zraiee's ambition is to become the foremost Palestinian tourist and to document the history and traditions of all Palestinian cities. After that he would like to become a globetrotter. I aspire to visit all the countries around the world, discover their cultures and other interesting aspects and introduce them to mine, he said.
November 7, 2017

As Kurdish defenses collapsed in Kirkuk province on Oct. 16, the top leadership of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a critical part of Baghdads offensive to recapture the disputed areas, received an urgent call from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to a senior source within the PMU, there was a request: Dispatch a unit to kill or capture a battalion of peshmerga stationed in the village of Kharabarut, near the oilfields of Bai Hassan and Avana in Dibis. Two senior Kurdish commanders confirmed to Al-Monitor that they were aware of an effort by Iran to hunt down this specific peshmerga, but did not know which Iraqi force was involved.

The peshmerga fighters who were about to be targeted were exclusively Iranian: members of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), an Iranian Kurdish opposition group with the stated aim of fighting Tehran to establish a Kurdish state. The group is a strong ally of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Massoud Barzani, and it is seen by Iran as a threat to its interests in Iraq.

We realized in the afternoon that the other peshmerga around us had retreated, Saiwan Sahrayi, a prominent PAK commander, told Al-Monitor on the front line near Kirkuk, referring to the events of Oct. 16. "We packed our things and left around 2:30 p.m., but we could see from the distance that our base was bombed shortly after we left.

The unit that swooped in to target the PAK, according to the PMU source, belonged to the al-Abbas Combat Division (Firqat al-Abbas al-Qitaliyah). While it is unclear why it was chosen for the task, it notably has a commando battalion.

The PAK peshmerga pulled back to Altun Kupri, a Turkmen-Kurdish town bisected by the Little Zab River, 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Erbil, where they would face the Iraqi forces four days later. IRGC commanders hoped to strike a deadly blow at their fellow Iranians, just as they had done in Iraqi Kurdistan in the past.

In one such incident, as 5,000 civilians lay dead following chemical gas attacks in Halabja in March 1988 by the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, the IRGC, which had seized the Kurdish town a few days earlier, tracked down a battalion of peshmerga from an Iranian Kurdish opposition group and killed or captured all except for two, who escaped to tell the tale. But on Oct. 16, the IRGC failed to strike a deadly blow to PAK, whose fighters have honed their skills fighting Islamic State (IS) militants for the past three years in the vicinities of Mosul and Kirkuk.

In the chaos of Baghdads offensive against the Kurds, many groups and individuals with various loyalties were pitted against each other. In the early hours of Oct. 20, a 30-year-old American volunteer was sleeping alongside a group of PAK peshmerga behind a berm in Altun Kupri  along with two former British soldiers  when mortars and shells started falling all around them. The Iraqis, buoyed by their seizure of Kirkuk four days earlier, were on the offensive again, now pushing toward Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region. The battle that day, which lasted for over 12 hours and resulted in a halt to the Iraqi forces advance, is now the stuff of legend in the Kurdistan region. What is little known is that at the heart of it were the very Iranian PAK peshmerga that had withdrawn from Dibis only four days earlier.

As the battle intensified on Oct. 20, the American trooper  Ryan OLeary, a former US Army sergeant who has volunteered with various groups of Iranian Kurds for the last three years  set up an 81 mm mortar tube aiming at the area where an Abrams tank was firing. "I fired the first five or six mortars and then I handed over the operation to the PAK peshmerga," OLeary, who served in Iraq in 2007-2008 at the height of sectarian war, fighting a cluster of terrorist groups and sectarian militias, told Al-Monitor. Soon afterward, the Kurds fired a guided missile and destroyed the American-made tank. We destroyed two tanks, including one Abrams, and 11 Humvees, Kamal Kirkuki, the commander in Altun Kupri, told Al-Monitor. Asked what missile system was used to destroy the Abrams and the Humvees, he said, I am not going to tell you with what we hit them.

Former US Army sergeant Ryan OLeary (C) sits by a mortar with other PAK peshmerga members in Altun Kupri, Oct. 20, 2017. (photo by Hanna Noori)

"PAK peshmerga are one of the best groups fighting on my front line, Kirkuki, who has had Iranian fighters under his command for three years in Dibis, said. "The stretch of land they guarded was always very secure." In the battles in the area between Kirkuk and Erbil, PAK used a variety of weapons, including Russian and other weapons supplied by the anti-IS coalition.

PAKs fighters are headed by a 51-year-old Iranian Kurd with a long, bushy moustache. "I have been a peshmerga since I was 13," Hussein Yazdanpanah told Al-Monitor on the front line just outside Altun Kupri on Oct. 29. "We'll fight in any part of Kurdistan that needs us," he said. PAK was set up in Iraqi Kurdistan by Yazdanpanah's brother, Saeed, in 1991. It was established as a party whose ultimate aim was to set up a single Kurdish state that includes parts of Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran, where tens of millions of Kurds live. "My brother was assassinated four months after he set up the party by Iranian agents in Sulaimaniyah," Yazdanpanah said. "We are still fighting the Revolutionary Guard and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis here in [Altun Kupri]," said Yazdanpanah, referring to the deputy commander of the PMU.

PAK commanders refused to divulge their strength, but they are estimated to be made up of around 1,000 battle-hardened young Iranian Kurds  including 200 women. Each fighter receives 20,000 Iraqi dinars ($17) a month to buy toiletries and the like.

OLeary and a number of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga described the PAK fighters  both men and women  as a highly disciplined and agile" force that can maneuver its various small units fast in the battlefield. I think the PAK peshmerga are more disciplined. They are a professional force, OLeary said. But they need more training in mortar systems.

Over three years of fighting IS, PAK lost 13 men with 31 wounded. In Altun Kupri, half a dozen of its fighters were injured. "Last December, my younger brother was a lookout guard facing Hawijah when he was hit by a Daesh [IS] sniper," Deldar Mohammadi , a 36-year-old who has fought for PAK for two years and prior to that spent three years in Iranian prisons for political activism, told Al-Monitor.

I dont believe in federalism as a solution for the Kurdish issue, said Yazdanpanah, who does not hide the fact that, for him, the enemy is Iran. For us, the real battlefield is Rojhalat," referring to the Kurdish-inhabited region of Iran by its Sorani name.
November 7, 2017

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walked into the Likud conference room at the Knesset on Nov. 6, he knew that the families of terror victims would be waiting for him there. They were the same families who had been holding a hunger strike outside his Jerusalem residence for the past two weeks. They were demanding hundreds of millions of shekels, which they claim have been promised to them, to fund the paving of roads to bypass Arab villages and to install defensive measures at their settlements.

Netanyahu arrived prepared. He brought with him a check for 200 million shekels ($57 million) to increase security on West Bank roads, having discussed the issue with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon. The leaders of the protest knew about this in advance, but they still refused to forgo their organized attack on Netanyahu. It was broadcast live on all the media outlets with representatives in the room.

Both sides  the settler leaders as well as Netanyahu  benefited from the highly publicized event. As far as the settlers were concerned, 200 million shekels is just a drop in the bucket. They want a security package to include the paving of bypass roads, the installation of street lights, security cameras and sophisticated fencing, and upgrades to improve cellphone infrastructure, all of which would cost a minimum of 3 billion shekels ($850 million). As far as Netanyahu was concerned, the attack on him allowed him to present a budgetary "achievement" that the right favors and perhaps even distract the public from the police investigation of two of his confidantes, attorneys David Shimron and Yitzhak Molcho, in the German submarine scandal.

Under normal circumstances, Netanyahu makes a point of showing up late to Likud meetings. This time, however, he arrived on time, so he could announce, "I am coming from a meeting with the finance minister, where we decided together to immediately set aside 200 million shekels to pave roads that have been agreed upon already.  In early January, we will initiate a Cabinet discussion to approve the allocation of another 600 million shekels to complete the roads and lighting."

Despite this announcement, the families of the terror victims interrupted him. Knowing that this would happen, Netanyahu allowed them to attack him in front of the cameras as much as they wanted. He even silenced Knesset member Nava Boker when she tried to make the point over all the shouting that the protests had achieved their goal. The money had been transferred. She was right about that.

Netanyahu displayed empathy as he listened to their claims and with a stern expression listened to Adva Biton, the mother of 2-year-old Adelle, who was wounded in 2013 by a rock thrown on a West Bank highway and died from her injuries in 2015. "I buried my daughter at age four and eight months. What are you waiting for, the next disaster?" the girl's mother cried.

Security is a bottomless pit. There is no end to the defenses, wall and bypass roads to pave. No less important to personal security, however, is knowing the truth.

The settler protests over security gathered momentum last July, after the horrific attack in the settlement of Halamish. In that incident, a Palestinian infiltrated a home and murdered Yosef Salomon, his daughter Chaya and his son Elad, gathered around the table for their Sabbath meal. Salomon's surviving daughter Racheli Menzali, having lost her father and two siblings in the attack, wrote the prime minister a letter stating, "I have a hard time understanding how the leader of the national camp will not let the most basic security needs be provided to the settlements and main roads in Judea and Samaria."

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, some 400,000 Jews now live in the West Bank, in major settlement blocs and isolated settlements and outposts. They are exposed to terrorism on a daily basis because of their proximity to the local Palestinian population and the friction that ensues. As far as they are concerned, their demand that the right-wing government act to improve their personal security is only natural and should be taken for granted.

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman estimates that a comprehensive plan to improve security would cost approximately 3.3 million shekels ($938,000). He made this assessment in a meeting with the settlers leaders, based on a plan prepared by his ministry. He then said that there was no budget for it, sending the settlers off to exert political pressure to find the money.

The settlers' desire to prevent the next attack is little more than a pipe dream, especially as long as the diplomatic circumstances of the occupation persist or the situation intensifies. In other words, as long as the Palestinian aspiration for self-determination is alive and kicking, the West Bank will not be a safe place for Israeli citizens and soldiers. It will remain that way, even if billions of shekels from the state budget are invested in bypass roads, lighting and checkpoints. The facts speak for themselves. A way will always be found to launch the next attack.

This was the missing angle at a Nov. 1 Likud meeting that included a political discussion about the settlers' protest. Not one major figure on the center-left took advantage of the opportunity to raise a challenge by bringing up this point. It can be assumed that the reason is that the two major parties in that camp, Labor and Yesh Atid, are busy investing considerable resources in recruiting votes on the right.

It is worth remembering the harsh years of terrorism in the Gaza Strip, such as along the Philadelphi Route, running along the Gaza-Egypt border. From the start of the first intifada in 1987 until the 2005 disengagement, terrorism made it almost impossible for the people in the Katif settlement bloc to live a normal life. It didn't stop even when vast sums of money were invested in sophisticated defensive measures and enormous numbers of troops deployed there.

Settler children were driven to school in armored buses under heavy security, but the attacks did not relent. The Palestinians replaced Molotov cocktails with rifles and artillery, so Israeli soldiers were still sitting ducks. One of the reasons provided for the disengagement was security, both in terms of cost and effectiveness.

A healthy debate over how to ensure the security of settlements in the West Bank must include the contention that any investment in security, no matter how generous, will not prevent the next wave of casualties from Palestinian terrorism. This does not mean that the settlers should be left to their fate, but that is also far from the situation today. Studies and research over the past few years have shown that the budget per Israeli Jew is greater than it is per person within the Green Line. There is no transparency in this part of the budget, so it is hard to know what the sums actually cover.

Nevertheless, one thing is certain. Security is a bottomless pit. There is no end to the defenses, wall and bypass roads to pave. No less important to personal security, however, is knowing the truth. None of these security measures will prevent terrorism.
November 6, 2017

The Israeli police continue to investigate the sale of German submarines to Israel and the people involved in the deal. But while we cannot predict the end results of the submarine affair, we already know that it has changed the face of the government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be forced to at least testify on this affair in the near future, can no longer run the country via his two lawyer-cousins who are his closest, most loyal associates. This system through which the prime minister conducted Israels most secret issues has been dismantled. It is gone for good.

On Nov. 5, just after 6 a.m., two arrest teams from elite police unit Lahav 433 made their appearance in front of the magnificent houses of the two strongest attorneys in Israel: Yitzhak Molcho, Netanyahus personal diplomatic emissary; and David Shimron, Netanyahus personal lawyer who is responsible for the internal-political front on behalf of the prime minister. The two are partners in a booming legal office in Jerusalem, which has turned into a veritable empire due to the long years that Netanyahu has been running the country.

Shimron is Netanyahus first cousin, while Molcho is married to Shimrons sister and is also the prime ministers cousin (second degree). These two, together with Netanyahus wife, Sara, and son, Yair, comprise Netanyahus war Cabinet, his inner beehive and nuclear family. This is a team from which there are never any leaks. It is with this group that Netanyahu conducts Israels most sensitive, convoluted and stately issues on all fronts.

If someone would have prophesied the arrest of the two attorneys on such a huge issue as the submarine affair  which threatens to implicate Netanyahu himself soon  the district psychiatrist would have surely ordered the hospitalization of the soothsayer. But this scenario actually transpired, last Sunday.

These arrests caught Netanyahu at the conclusion of a five-day visit to London, while he was celebrating his wifes birthday. The arrests of Netanyahus two cousins/cronies could be compared to a US scenario in which the FBI would arrest President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump. In fact, Trump has no confidant at his side with the same seniority enjoyed by Molcho and Shimron. They have always been at Netanyahus side, from his very first term of office in 1996. Shimron is the interior minister, political adviser and head of staff, and he is responsible for financial affairs and internal management. Molcho is the foreign minister, defense minister, national security adviser and secret emissary for the states most clandestine missions.

Most astonishing of all is the fact that the two were never asked to take a break from their booming attorney practices, and they never joined the civil service. They did what they did for Netanyahu while they still managed thriving private practices, constituting a clear case of conflicting interests. All ears and eyes, however, evidently pretended not to see what was going on. Israels gatekeepers allowed all this to take place.

It had been known for some time that Shimron would be investigated as a suspect in the submarine affair; it wasnt a question of if, but when. However, the surprising arrest of Molcho shocked many in and out of Israel. Molcho is an icon of respectability: always discrete, always confidential, always knew how to keep a secret. Molcho was a frequent visitor at castles of Middle Eastern rulers; he was a frequent inhabitant of Washington and even the White House. During the most difficult of the Obama days (the tumultuous relations between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu), Molcho would wander around Europe on a regular basis, banging on proverbial doors to open the route for the prime minister, even in destinations that best remain unnamed.

Molcho did all this for years while simultaneously directing Netanyahus most sensitive negotiations, including various peace initiatives: the 2000 London route, in which Molcho operated via Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emissary Hussein Agha (with direct involvement of US diplomat Dennis Ross) and the intensive, desperate negotiations conducted here by former Secretary of State John Kerry, until he reached an impasse in 2014. Molcho was Netanyahus direct and sole representative everywhere. Not infrequently would he raise the ire of those present, but never did anyone doubt that Molcho was representing the prime minister faithfully. He had the requisite authority and permission.

But what did Molcho have to do with the submarine affair? It turns out that at the same time Shimron was acting as the representative of the ThyssenKrupp shipyard in Israel, Molcho is suspected of carrying out diplomatic missions in Germany for the prime minister. While Shimron was reaping economic benefits from the billion-dollar submarine deal, his partner Molcho continued organizing diplomatic meetings that dealt with the same subject.

According to Israeli reports, Molcho was the one who gave the go-ahead to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to sell ThyssenkKrupp submarines to Egypt. Israel had veto power on the sale of submarines to neighboring countries, but did not take advantage of it in this case. When then-Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon found out about it, he raised hell. When Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited Berlin and met with Merkel in May 2015, he asked the chancellor why she authorized the sale of submarines to Egypt. Merkel answered that Molcho had brought word of Netanyahus agreement to the sale. At this stage, warning lights went on in the Defense Ministry. Yaalon was fired a short time later, and Avigdor Liberman was appointed in his place. It was argued that the reason Israel did not try to raise obstacles for the selling of submarines to Egypt was because it wanted to speed up the transactions and wrap up the deal involving three new submarines as quickly as possible. Now the police are checking what interests were involved in these considerations, and whose interests they were. It is not certain that these interests were the national and security-related interests of the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, the submarine deal between Israel and Germany is continuing as usual. This was made possible mainly by virtue of the written authorization given by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to the German government. Nevertheless, the German government permitted continued communication with Israel, only as long as no governmental corruption connected to the deal will be proven.

The answer to the corruption question will be provided by the Israeli police in the next few months.
November 7, 2017

Several days before the centenary celebrations of the Balfour Declaration that recognized the Jewish peoples right to a national home, a ruckus erupted over the absence of the word Zionism from the platform of the leftist Meretz Party. Leaders of this small party twisted themselves into knots trying to grab the stick at both ends: to assuage the concerns of its Jewish voters who define themselves as members of the Zionist left and to appease its Arab minority members who cannot bring themselves to sing the lyrics of an anthem that describes a Jewish soul yearning. The intense focus on the alleged denial of Zionism by the tiny opposition party swept under the carpet the governments persistent denial of the foundations of Zionism.

Needless to say, an abyss lies between the outrageous warning by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on election day in 2015 against the Arabs flocking in droves to the ballot boxes" and the Declaration of Independence. That 1948 founding Zionist document clearly states that Israel will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex. Netanyahus refusal to include the word equality in the text of the Nationality law (emphasizing Israels Jewish character) that he is trying so hard to promote proves beyond a doubt that his apology to a group of Arab dignitaries  Israeli-Arab leaders hand-picked by Netanyahus associates for the occasion  over his despicable election-day ploy was in itself a reprehensible exercise in public relations.

Its attitude toward the countrys Arab minority is not the only way the Israeli government tramples the principle of religious equality. The Declaration of Independence states that the Holocaust was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew. However, the Israeli establishment at all levels widely opens the gates only to those considered Jewish according to the principles of Orthodox Judaism. Israel does not recognize the marriage of a Jewish man to a woman converted to Judaism by a Conservative rather than an Orthodox rabbi, or, heaven forbid, by a female Reform rabbi. Even at Jerusalems Western Wall, the remnants of the ancient Jewish Temple sacred to Jews throughout the world, women are banned from donning a prayer shawl and saying the Kaddish (the mourners prayer).

Its been almost two years since the government approved the establishment of an egalitarian prayer section for men and women at the southern end of the Western Wall for use by Jews of the Conservative and Reform persuasions. However, strong pressure by the ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahus coalition convinced the government to go back on the commitment it made to a coalition of liberal Jewish groups in Israel and the United States, where they constitute a clear majority in the Jewish communities. The CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Rabbi Steven Wernick, slammed the governments reneging on its decision as a betrayal of US Jewry. During a Nov. 1 debate in the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, Rabbi Noa Sattath, one of the heads of the Reform movement in Israel, announced that the movement would not meet with the prime minister until it is convinced of his intention to fulfill the commitment he made.

On Nov. 14, Netanyahu is scheduled to appear via satellite at the Jewish Federations of North Americas annual General Assembly convening in Los Angeles. Prior to the announcement of his planned appearance, some media outlets reported that the prime minister would not address the assembly, possibly due to the deteriorating relationship with US Jewry. The president of the Jewish Federations of North America, Jerry Silverman, briefed the Knesset committee about the sense of rage and insult among Jewish communities in the United States generated by Netanyahus conduct over the Western Wall. He warned that the discrimination against the central streams of American Judaism could alienate young Jews from Israel.

The contempt displayed by successive Israeli governments toward the liberal Diaspora communities is by way of shooting itself in an already injured leg. The comprehensive 2013 Pew Research Center study among American Jews showed that the American Jewish community  a stronghold of Israels support  is shrinking. Almost six out of 10 American Jews who were wed since 2000 married non-Jews (only 2% of those were Orthodox Jews). The survey also found that the level of support for Israel was significantly lower among those who described themselves as devoid of Jewish affiliation compared with those who defined themselves as Jewish by religion. Only 23% of those without Jewish affiliation had ever visited Israel (compared with 49% among the other group). It seems that the ongoing crisis between Israeli governments and Jews affiliated with the Reform and Conservative streams erodes their linkage with Israel.

Also indicative of the erosion of US Jewrys affiliation with Israel is the persistent decline in the funds channeled by Jewish communities to Israel compared with the donations used for community needs. According to a recent Haaretz investigative report by Uri Blau, the percentage of funds donated by the federations to Israel is not more than 10% of the money raised.

The Birthright Israel Foundation funded by Jewish tycoons, chief among them Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, brings thousands of American students to visit Israel each year in order to strengthen their affinity for the Jewish state and mobilize their support for pro-Israel public diplomacy on US campuses. Last week, the organization reportedly decided to cut out of the programs itinerary meetings between the Jewish students and Israeli Arabs. If these students dont meet Palestinians, they wont have to deal with questions of their liberal Jewish identity vis-a-vis the occupation policies of the Jewish state. If they only meet attractive Israeli soldiers, they wont know that the state they are being asked to defend against activists of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is considered throughout the world as "a pariah state."

The main thrust of the Zionist vision was  and is to this day  to turn the State of Israel into the physical and spiritual center of all hues of world Jewry. The prime minister went to 10 Downing Street on Nov. 2-5 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration that recognized the land of Israel as the home of the Jewish people. Someone should have reminded him that the letter sent by then-Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour said His Majestys government looks favorably upon the establishment of a national home for all the Jewish people, not just for the Orthodox stream of Judaism  nor for only the nationalist one. A Jewish home not built on the foundations of democracy and equality is not a Zionist home.
November 6, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The success of the internal Palestinian reconciliation hinges in large part on how the parties involved handle their highly sensitive security issues. For years  since their violent split in 2007  security has posed the biggest stumbling block for both the Fatah and Hamas rival political parties and has hampered all Arab and regional efforts toward their reunification.

The Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank has always refused to allow Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip to merge with its own.

Another security-related issue recently came up, namely what to do with those officers affiliated with Fatahs Reformist Current, which was headed by dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan. These officers represent a large part of the Preventive Security Service, also known as the Palestinian Preventive Security (PPS), founded by Dahlan in 1994 by order of late President Yasser Arafat. Over the years, the PA has cut the salaries of hundreds of these officers in both Gaza and the West Bank and forced many into early retirement in the wake of the dispute that broke out in 2010 between Dahlan and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

A senior PA security official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that PA security has formed committees in the Gaza Strip to investigate all the officers under age 45 who plan to remain within the ranks of the security services, particularly those affiliated with Dahlans faction, to either dismiss them or force them into early retirement.

The first investigation, he said, showed there are between 1,500 and 2,000 Dahlan-affiliated officers in Gaza, mostly working in the PPS, and a few in the General Intelligence Service. He pointed out that Fatah and Hamas briefly discussed the security issue during reconciliation talks Oct. 10 in Cairo. As a result of their differences  which almost derailed the talks  head of the Egyptian intelligence service Khaled Fawzi proposed postponing talks on the topic until the two sides form a joint security committee from Gaza and the West Bank to resume discussions in Cairo in early December. The source further confirmed that Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah discussed this proposal during a meeting with security services leaders Oct. 27 in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Ashraf Jumaa, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a leader in the Reformist Current, told Al-Monitor the PAs security services in the West Bank are investigating and contacting security officers in the Gaza Strip to find out more about their affiliations. He said these steps are provocative and unacceptable.

Jumaa stressed that the security issue entails three main goals: rebuilding the security services and merging the forces in the West Bank and Gaza; having a unified security doctrine; and forming a security committee by presidential decree, with Egyptian follow-up and Arab support. This committee would discuss the status of Gazas security officers without having to dismiss them or force any into early retirement, for whatever political reason.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatahs Central Committee and head of the delegation in the Cairo talks, stressed that the doctrine of the PAs security services is a national one and not a doctrine of factions, nor does it follow foreign agendas. He noted that Palestinian law prohibits security officers from being involved in political action.

When asked about dismissing Dahlan-affiliated officers, Ahmad told Al-Monitor, I have no information about this and I will not discuss this topic. We are currently taking steady steps to achieve internal reconciliation. As a first step, the PAs security forces took over the administration of the Gaza crossings and deployed officers along the border on Nov. 1, in the presence of an Egyptian security delegation.

Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh revealed in an Oct. 16 interview with Palestinian state television that Abbas signed a presidential decree opening security recruitment in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Pension Agency head Majid al-Helou said in an Oct. 25 interview with Sawt Palestine radio that another 7,000 security officers in the West Bank and Gaza have been told they must retire, following 7,000 others in August. The current move, according to the government, is an effort to reform and improve the performance of security agencies. He stressed that this step complements previous actions as part of a plan prepared years ago and has no political goals.

The head of the Center for Regional Studies in Gaza, Ayman al-Rafati, told Al-Monitor that dismissing Dahlan-affiliated officers implies that the elimination of any Dahlan supporters left in Gaza is a priority for many of the PA leaders who believe some Arab and international parties see Dahlan as an alternative or a successor to Abbas.

Rafati said the PA will reorganize the security services in the Gaza Strip and employ officers loyal to Abbas by opening recruitment for two months. The PA urgently needs to impose true security control, given that it's been a decade since the PA has had any real contact with its Gaza security officers.

Rafati did not rule out the possibility of dismissed Dahlan-affiliated officers trying to ruin the reconciliation process by either organizing protests or carrying out attacks against PA-affiliated officers, thus resurrecting the security chaos that prevailed in Gaza before 2007.

Hisham al-Maghari, a security expert and dean of al-Awda University College in Gaza, told Al-Monitor he expects Abbas security services to force all those connected to Dahlan into early retirement. He added that the lists to be submitted for the PA-Egypt joint security committee will most likely not include Dahlan-affiliated officers.

Like Rafati, Maghari also believes dismissing these officers could pose quite the threat if security disturbances erupt to pressure all parties to give the officers back their jobs.

Dismissing these officers or forcing them to retire would sound an alarm, as it could be seen as the first step to the PA dismissing large numbers of other officers appointed during the years of division, particularly those appointed by Hamas, whose numbers amount to 18,000 employees.
By PTI: Kashmiris: JK DYCM

Jammu, Nov 6 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said separatists should talk to Centres special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma if they were "well wishers" of the Kashmiri people.

"If they (Hurriyat) are well wishers of Kashmiris, they should talk to Sharma," he told reporters here.

His statement comes after the Joint Resistance Forum, a conglomerate of three separatist organisations -- the hardline and moderate factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF -- announced earlier this week that they would not meet Sharma and dubbed his appointment a "time-buying tactic" of the Centre.

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Singh said all those who believe in peace should participate in the dialogue process if normalcy has to be restored in the state.

"If some people keep away from talks, they will be exposing themselves," the deputy chief minister said.

Asked whether the talks would mean anything without taking the Hurriyat on board, he said, "We have an elected assembly with peoples representatives. Besides, there are other people who are stakeholders. There is no pre-condition, whosoever wants can talk. It is just the beginning. I hope there will be good results".

"If anybody shuts the doors, like some did it last time, the people of Kashmir will not pardon them and they are going to get exposed because they will be doing so under the pressure of Pakistan," Singh said.

Accusing the neighbouring country of sponsoring terrorism, he said the Kashmiri youth was being misguided by Pakistan and getting them killed. PTI AB AQS AQS

--- ENDS ---
November 7, 2017

The latest developments in the Middle East have left Turkey facing challenges and headaches anew. Ankara has been caught off guard once more, this time by the Nov. 4 missile attack on Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans attempts to steer his country toward moderate Islam and consolidate his power under the guise of rooting out corruption and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariris surprise resignation while in Riyadh. The common element in these developments is the increasing animosity between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two key regional players with which Ankara has differences on a number of levels, but with whom it must maintain good relations to avoid further isolation in the Middle East, where it no longer has many true friends.

Meanwhile, deepening US and Russian involvement in Iraq and Syria in particular and the region in general is compounding the Turkish governments concerns. In just one example, the spearheading of an anti-Iranian coalition by Washington and Riyadh, with support from Egypt and Israel, has alarmed Ankara, a fact clearly discernible in the pro-government media.

Hilal Kaplan, a political commentator for the daily Sabah, referred in a column to an anti-Iranian axis comprising the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel and argued, The next target of this axis will be Qatar and Turkey. Her assessment is based on the awareness that Turkeys unconditional support for Qatar has angered Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, which want Doha to end its support to the Muslim Brotherhood and stop trying to establish good relations with Iran.

Osman Koruturk, a retired ambassador and former special envoy to Iraq who also served in Tehran, points to the growing volatility in the region and counsels a return to Turkeys traditional policies toward the Middle East.

Turkey has to free itself from sectarian entanglements. It has to return to its former secular foreign policy, from which vantage point it can talk to all of the regional players, including Israel, Koruturk told Al-Monitor. It can then offer its good offices in order to reduce tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Koruturk is not sure if such an attempt by Turkey would bear fruit, given that few in the region trust Ankaras motives at this stage. He nevertheless believes that attempting to reduce regional tensions from a position of neutrality would help improve Turkeys standing. The problem, however, is that calling for a secular foreign policy is a red flag for the ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) base, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan keeps happy with his Islamist discourse.

Turan Kislakci, an Islamist commentator, for example, told the pro-government daily Star that the latest developments involving Saudi Arabia amounted to an operation aimed at the heart of Islam, adding, The Islamic world is entering its second period of secularization.

The implication of his remark is that the first period occurred in 1923, when secularism was forced on Turkey despite its predominantly Muslim population. Islamists see the AKP as moving to correct this since coming to power in 2002. In view of such Islamist sensitivities, Koruturk also sees a potential crisis between Ankara and Riyadh if the Saudi crown prince decides to come down hard on the Muslim Brotherhood, which Saudi Arabia has already designated a terrorist group.

The AKP and its supporters have an affinity with the Muslim Brotherhood and were shocked when Saudi Arabia backed the coup in July 2013 that toppled Egypts democratically elected president ,Mohammed Morsi, and his predominantly Muslim Brotherhood government. Turkeys relations with Egypt remain severed over Morsis ouster, and Ankara has not been willing to repair them because the AKP is concerned about how it will reverberate among its base.

The truth is that Ankara does not really know how developments in Saudi Arabia and the rising tensions between Riyadh and Tehran will play out. It is watching with concern as events unfold, remaining circumspect for the time being while calling for calm.

When the crisis over Qatar erupted earlier this year, Ankara initially reacted in a similar fashion. It did not take long, however, for Erdogan to come out strongly in support of Doha, much to the annoyance of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The situation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is much more serious, though, and it puts Ankara on the spot diplomatically.

The situation regarding Syria also remains fraught with uncertainties for Turkey, especially after Moscow extended an invitation to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) to a congress of all Syrian ethnic groups to be held Nov. 18. Turkey says the PYD is a terrorist organization.

Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, who called Moscow's invitation unacceptable, told the private news channel NTV on Nov. 5 that the congress had been postponed to a future date after Turkeys protests. Russia told us the meeting had been postponed and that the PYD would not be invited, Kalin said. This is how we assess the situation.

Kalin's statement did not elicit a response from Moscow. Nevertheless, Ankara is aware that Russia has not only said in the past that the PYD should be part of Syrian talks, but has also produced a draft constitution that proposes autonomy for the Syrian Kurds. The issue remains a thorn in the side of Turkish-Russian relations, and Erdogan is expected to bring it up when he meets President Vladimir Putin in the Russian resort of Sochi on Nov. 13.

Galip Dalay, research director for Al Sharq Forum, said US policies in Syria may have pushed Turkey toward Russia and Iran, but cautions Ankara against relying too much on these two countries, which are clearly pursuing their own agendas in Syria.

With every passing day, Turkey condemns itself more to these relations [with Russia and Iran] and is losing its ability to act flexibly, Dalay argued in an article for the daily Karar, which is critical but sympathetic to the AKP. He added that the discourse in Turkey on how well the relationship between Turkey, Iran and Russia is developing does not reflect the situation correctly.

This last remark pinpoints Turkeys problem. While the government and its supporters in the media try to highlight just how successful Ankaras policies in the region are, new and unexpected developments emerge daily to contradict this, highlighting instead the difficulties and challenges facing the country.

By straying from its traditional policy of not getting involved in Middle Eastern disputes and of remaining actively neutral in order to contribute to stability to the extent that it could, Turkey under the AKP has significantly limited its options in the region.

The AKPs initial calculations were predicated on the mistaken assumption that with an Islamist government at the helm, Turkey would automatically become the big brother of the predominantly Muslim region. This did not happen. It was also a shock to the AKP to discover that not everyone in the Middle East is enamored with what the party represents as a proponent of political Islam. This is patently clear in the case of Saudi Arabia.

In his upcoming travels, Erdogan will move on to Kuwait after Sochi. Many hope he will do more listening than talking, so he can adjust his bearings on what is happening in the region, process what it all implies for Turkey and act accordingly.
November 6, 2017

HABUR CROSSING, Turkey  Tensions were already high last week between Iraq's central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil. The stress spiked Oct. 31 near the Iraq-Turkey border when sirens began wailing and a military convoy escorted by tanks was seen moving toward the border. People feared Turkey's army was entering Iraq.

The convoy turned out to be a mixed Iraqi-Turkish one. Iraqis who had come to Turkey to participate in exercises were on their way home.

After the KRG held an independence referendum Sept. 25 and Baghdad responded Oct. 15 by sending in troops to retake disputed territory and squelch any talk of secession, many people wondered what would happen on the Turkey-Iraq border.

Habur crossing, known as Ibrahim Khalil border gate on the Kurdish side, is the sole crossing between the two countries. After taking over Kirkuk, Baghdad then decided it wanted control of the crossing. Iraqi soldiers who had flown to Turkey for the exercises were now going back by road for the first time in 26 years.

When the Iraqi army had abandoned that crossing in 1991, nobody had cell phones to report it. It took the world many days to learn that the Iraqis had handed over northern Iraq to the Kurds. But as Iraqi soldiers recently approached the border crossing, the entire world knew about it.

Some Turkish media ran false headlines saying the crossing had been handed over to Baghdad. The Turkish side was pleased with this development, especially when social media began spreading photos of Iraqi soldiers accompanied by senior officers from both sides at the border crossing. Nobody seemed to notice that there was not a single photo or report of a customs administration office being handed over.

The KRG soon followed with a statement attributed to the crossing's director that said: Ibrahim Khalil border crossing is not closed. Our citizens and businessmen should understand this. This crossing will always be open for travels and business. All those reports in the media that the crossing is closed or is now under Iraqi control are totally baseless. This is all part of psychological warfare against us.

The KRG statement did not, however, deny that Iraqi soldiers had arrived at the crossing. It said, rather, that the soldiers were making a simple visit.

It didnt take the Iraqi media long to join in the triumphant but false reporting, colorfully trumpeting that the border crossing was now in the hands of the government.

A customs official who did not want to be identified told Al-Monitor that customs work was still being carried out by civil servants attached to the KRG. In the morning, Iraqi soldiers and commanders came, met with our officials and then left. At the moment, there is not a single government civil servant or military official there, the official said.

Another customs official also told Al-Monitor nothing had changed in the customs zone. Following the crescendo of reports about the situation at Habur crossing, Samal Abdurrahman, the director general of the KRG Customs Administration, issued a statement saying no Iraqi force had entered the customs zone. Some truck drivers Al-Monitor reached by phone said they hadnt seen any changes on the Iraqi side.

The only "reality" was the sight of Iraqi soldiers in the area, but according to the border crossing's assistant director, Muhammad Tahir, those were only the soldiers who had been on exercises in Turkey and were returning to Iraq accompanying Iraqi Chief of Staff Gen. Othman al-Ghanmi. However, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was among those who declared that the customs zone has been taken over by the Iraqi government.

So, its a he said, she said situation.

Although there are some who are happy with the reported changes at the border crossing, there are also some who are worried. Nevaf Kilic, the chairman of the Turkey-Iraq Industrialists and Businessmen Association, said the group's members dont want developments at the border crossing to hamper trade between the two countries.

Habur is a vital crossing. We are trying to increase trade between the countries. If the central government can ensure security, we want Turkish  vehicles to reach as far as Baghdad and Basra. Now because of ambiguity, some companies have ceased trading. We have to overcome that. Yes, the crossing was in the hands of the Kurdish authority for 26 years. A sudden change may cause short-term problems. Our vehicles travel from Sulaimaniyah to Baghdad, but we want immediate opening of the roads to Mosul and Kirkuk. The Turkish government is deeply concerned with our relations with Iraq, Kilic told Al-Monitor.

Despite all the contradictory statements and speculations, it's still not clear who's in charge of the Ibrahim Khalil border gate. It looks as if the KRG will continue to manage the crossing quietly, and if it does hand over control, nobody will be told. There are people who today think Baghdad has already quietly taken over the crossing but is not talking about it loudly so as not to anger the Kurdish public.
November 7, 2017

Interventions by Iraqi federal forces in northern Iraq following the independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) could imperil the Kurdish autonomy project in northern Syria. Iraqi government forces took over the Rabia border crossing to Syria on Oct. 17 and are now bargaining to share control of the Fish Khabur crossing with the Iraqi Kurds. The draft agreement put forth in negotiations with Kurdish representatives calls for joint administration of Fish Khabur by Iraqi federal forces, Kurdish peshmerga and the international coalition.

The new setup of the two border crossings will likely affect the future of the Kurdish autonomy project known as the Northern Syria Democratic Federation. Fish Khabur, on the Tigris River, is not an official crossing, but since the Kurds began to dominate northern Syria in July 2012, it has been used for crossing into Iraqi Kurdistan. The Syrian side of the crossing is called Semelka.

Under pressure from Turkey, then-KRG President Massoud Barzani closed the Fish Khabur/Semelka crossings and imposed an embargo on Rojava. The blockade was at times relaxed under US prodding to allow freedom of movement to the US-backed Peoples Protection Units (YPG), a Syrian Kurdish force that was fighting the Islamic State (IS). The crossing operated generally according to the needs of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Until June 2014, when IS captured Mosul, Kurds were also using the Rabia crossing. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and other Kurds, which developed several unofficial crossings for their fight against IS at Sinjar in Iraq, thought a blockade against IS would be weakened if Rabia were to come under Iraqi federal control. At a time when Baghdad was having problems both with Ankara and the KRG, Iraq considered the PKK presence in the area as a balancing factor against the KRG's peshmerga. With this policy, Baghdad turned a blind eye to the YPGs use of the Rabia crossing between 2012-2014, and also started to pay salaries of Yazidis organized by the PKK to fight IS.

But the unexpectedly swift rapprochement and coordination between Ankara and Baghdad in reaction to the Sept. 25 referendum upended the Kurdish calculations.

Now what is awaited is Iraq's border policy once it secures the control of Fish Khabur and Rabia. If it heeds Turkeys demands, these crossings could become part of an embargo.

Before the recent advances of the Iraqi army and Shiite Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), one scenario discussed in Ankara was the creation of a buffer zone from Fish Khabur to Sinjar and Tal Afar in Iraq, similar to the Turkish intervention in Syria that was designed to prevent the linking of the Afrin and Kobani Kurdish cantons. Today the Iraqi army is trying to achieve a similar scenario in coordination with the PMU, which only recently was treated as a terrorist force by Turkey. The Iraqi goal is to bypass the Kurdistan Region by reactivating the pipeline that carries Kirkuk oil from Fish Khabur to Turkeys Ceyhan oil terminal and to have access to at least a segment of the Turkish border that has been out of the Iraqi central government's control since 1991. Given Turkeys sensitivity to the Rojava issue, such moves by Baghdad are welcomed by Ankara.

There are two other factors to consider: Iran and the United States. Iran has been tolerant of the Kurds as long as they didnt fight with the Syrian army. But the YPG's widening of its partnership with the United States as far as Raqqa and suggestions by the Trump administration that the Kurds could play a role in blocking Iranian objectives in the region have since altered Irans approach. To compel the Kurds to negotiate with the Damascus regime, Iran could ask Baghdad to close the border crossings. The United States frequently used the Rabia crossing to support the Syrian Democratic Forces-YPG in their combat against IS at Raqqa. Kurds are hoping that the United States will not allow an action that will block that crossing.

Rojava, already suffering economically because of Turkeys embargo, will suffer even more if the crossings to Iraqi Kurdistan are closed. On Oct. 28, when Fish Khabur was closed temporarily, Doctors Without Borders warned that conditions would deteriorate in the area, and that 500,000 refugees and others, particularly at Manbij, Tell Abyad, Kobani, Hasakah and Raqqa, might not be able to receive medical care.
November 6, 2017

The Donald Trump administration is standing by the Lebanese army despite Prime Minister Saad Hariris shocking resignation over the weekend.

Hariri announced his decision to step down during a visit to Saudi Arabia, citing threats from Hezbollah and its Iranian patron. The move raises concerns about US support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which critics worry is too close to the Shiite militia.

The United States expects an orderly political process in Lebanon and will remain supportive of the legitimate institutions of the Lebanese state, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway told Al-Monitor.

Hariris resignation comes less than a week after US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard announced the first delivery of Super Tucano attack aircraft to the Lebanese military. During an Oct. 31 event at Lebanons Hamat air base, Richard said US support for the Lebanese military over the past year totaled $160 million from State Department and Defense Department accounts.

Two months earlier, on Aug. 14, Richard had announced the delivery of eight Bradley fighting vehicles to the Lebanese military. At the time, she said the United States over the past 12 months had provided the Lebanese military with 40 howitzers, 50 armed Humvees, mortar systems and more than 5,000 small arms, including machine guns, grenade launchers and assault rifles.

Our support to the LAF, including our Oct. 31 announcement, will continue, a State Department official told Al-Monitor today.

The show of support comes even as Trumps State Department cut down its annual foreign military financing grants to Lebanon from $105 million to zero in the budget request for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Still, US officials insist that neither budgetary turmoil nor political intrigue will derail efforts to outfit Lebanons military; this funding has totaled more than $1.4 billion since 2005.

The administration is committed to combating threats to Lebanon and the region, including [the Islamic State] and other terrorist organizations, and maintains the flexibility to respond with any combination of [State Department and Defense Department] programs, another State Department official told Al-Monitor. We are confident that we can work closely with the Department of Defense to ensure we are able to address the most urgent needs for the LAF.

The US government could potentially draw upon a new $850 million Defense Department program to provide security and counterterrorism assistance around the world, as well as a Pentagon effort designed to build up foreign military capacity. A provision in the House version of pending defense legislation would also allow the Pentagon to allocate money to strengthen Lebanons military from funds budgeted to counter the Islamic State. Lebanon is also a priority country for receiving assistance through a $200 million global train-and-equip program for countries to secure their borders and fight terrorism.

Lawmakers who supervise foreign aid said they were keeping an eye on the situation.

Hezbollah may increase its already strong grip on Lebanon," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., told Al-Monitor in an e-mailed statement. "We are watching Lebanon closely as we continue working to advance our House-passed bill imposing new sanctions on Irans terror proxy.

Former US officials pointed out that US support for the Lebanese Armed Forces has continued throughout a series of political crises in recent years. Washington has provided more than $800 million in training and equipment to the Lebanese military since Hariri was first forced from power in 2011, after Hezbollah and its allies left his political coalition.

Political instability is a time-honored tradition in Lebanon, Mara Karlin, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense during the Barack Obama administration, told Al-Monitor. The bigger questions would be what does this instability mean for the Lebanese military? Is it still using materiel appropriately and in line with efforts to ascertain government sovereignty? Is it still taking on bad actors?

But the effort to outfit countries such as Lebanon with security assistance could still change, experts say, given the larger foreign aid shakeup underway during the Trump administration. Strengthening ties between the White House and Saudi Arabia as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightens his control in the kingdom is another wild card.

Foreign military financing to Lebanon has to be reviewed in its entirety given recent events between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, said Theodore Karasik, a senior adviser with the Gulf State Analytics consultancy and an adjunct senior fellow at the Lexington Institute think tank in the Washington area. The kingdom has been able to convince America to halt and/or alter FMF [foreign military financing] and other aid before. Given the US-Saudi security nexus against Iran," he said, foreign military financing to the Lebanese military "may not resume until there is a resolution to the emerging Lebanese crisis.
November 7, 2017

The US State Department eased visa restrictions on Turkish citizens in an apparent welcoming gift for Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who is in Washington this week for talks on a slew of disputes fraying ties between the NATO allies.

Tensions erupted on Oct. 8, when US missions in Turkey suspended non-immigration visas after authorities arrested a long-time employee at the Istanbul consulate in connection with a 2016 coup plot. It's the second time this year a local consular staff member was jailed in Turkey.

The US Embassy said late on Monday that the security situation had improved sufficiently to allow for the resumption of limited visa services in Turkey after high-level Turkish officials had assured it that no other local employees were under investigation and no further arrests would be carried out without first informing the US government.

Turkey, which had likewise suspended visas for Americans, also lifted restrictions on Monday, but a subsequent statement differed sharply. Turkey is a state of law, and our government cannot provide any assurances regarding files that are subjects of ongoing legal processes, said the Turkish Embassy in Washington.

Still, the reciprocal moves signal a truce in a diplomatic row that has enflamed relations already strained by the United States refusal to hand over Turkish citizens sought by Ankara and its policy in Syria, where it backs Kurdish militants fighting the Islamic State who are closely linked with the Kurdistan Workers Party, a group on the US terror list for waging a three-decade insurgency against Turkey that has killed 40,000 people.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly implied that the United States is plotting against him and undermining Turkish security, has not softened his stance in public, lashing out obliquely again over the weekend.

No legitimate state would put its own soldiers, its personnel alongside terrorists. To us, everyone standing with terrorists are terrorists, he said in a speech. These are my final words to those who think they have fooled us by claiming to be allies and strategic partners.

But Yildirim, who flew to the United States on Tuesday, was said to have Erdogans permission for the trip. The prime minister will not see President Donald Trump, who is on a 12-day tour of Asia, but will meet Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday to discuss the situation in Syria and Iraq, newspapers reported.

The Turkish government wants a working relationship with the Trump administration, said Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Most people in Washington have Turkey fatigue. They are tired of having to deal with a crisis every single month or day.  Nevertheless, there are a lot of people who believe strongly in keeping the alliance intact and so they work hard to try and manage the relationship. Its too big to fail, Stein told Al-Monitor.

During his meeting with Pence, Yildirim will also supply new evidence to bolster Turkeys demand that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, the 76-year-old, ailing Muslim cleric who lives in Pennsylvania and is widely believed to have masterminded the bungled military coup in Turkey in July 2016 that killed more than 300 people.

Pence, an Evangelical Christian, is expected to push for the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor detained last year for alleged missionary activities and links to Gulen. Erdogan has previously floated freeing Brunson in a prisoner swap for Gulen, an idea the US State Department rejected.

Erdogan has also lobbied for the release of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian gold trader in jail awaiting trial on money-laundering and conspiracy charges to begin Nov. 27 in New York. Erdogan has said the United States is attempting to turn Zarrab on him. Zarrab may have reached a plea agreement or prosecutors have decided to drop the charges against him, US news outlets reported, after his co-defendant, a Turkish state bank executive, filed court documents saying the 34-year-old gold dealer was no longer participating in the case.

Any political interference in the Zarrab or Gulen cases by the Trump administration is seen as unfeasible. Trump is grappling with an investigation by a special prosecutor who is reportedly now looking at whether Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, attempted to organize Gulen's rendition for millions of dollars.

Maybe a swap of Zarrab for Brunson was possible at one point, due to the extraordinarily strange powers of the US president. But this kind of thing is done quietly with deep negotiations. A swap  would be a very difficult legal move for Trump, who is already in a jam, wrote Cumhuriyet columnist Asli Aydintasbas, adding that the Zarrab case now poses a greater concern for Turkish officials than the long-vilified Gulen.

As for Gulen, Stein squarely blamed Ankara for failing to provide enough conclusive evidence for the US Department of Justice to begin the extradition process.

At some point the Turkish government will have to look inward and ask itself why, despite providing 85 boxes of evidence, they have been so unsuccessful in moving an independent body of the US government, he said. Gulen will die in Pennsylvania.
Amazon on Tuesday announced the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition, a streamlined and more affordable variant of its plug-and-play streaming gadget. The product is priced at $50 and will start shipping to more than 100 countries tomorrow, the company said. The global audience targeted by the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition will be able to choose between English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese as their default system language, with the device also being eligible for Prime-related benefits and compatible with Amazons services like Prime Video. Brazil and Mexico arent among the countries that are set to receive the new gadget tomorrow but the streaming stick will hit both of these markets in the near future, presumably by early 2018.

The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition is equipped with 8GB of internal flash memory and features a MediaTek-made quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz backed by the Mali450 MP4 GPU, as well as 1GB of RAM. The gadget supports 1080p video streaming and Dolby Audio 5.1, in addition to being compatible with HEVC codecs. Apart from a slight downgrade in specs compared to the more full-fledged stick, Amazons new offering also ships without support for the companys artificial intelligence assistant Alexa. The Seattle, Washington-based tech giant described the release of the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition as the latest step in its global video push which started with the worldwide launch of Prime Video just under a year ago. By presenting users with an affordable device capable of streaming FHD content, Amazon is hoping to continue growing its online video platform. Besides Fire TV devices, Prime Video is also available on smartphones, tablets, Android TV, and a range of other smart TV platforms including Samsungs Tizen.

The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition comes bundled with a streamlined remote controller and is compatible with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. The device requires almost no setup save for plugging it into a TV and logging into your Amazon account, thus being suitable for first-time streamers, Amazon suggested. Refer to the banner below to order the newly announced stick and find out more technical details about Amazons latest gadget.
Chinas news giant Jinri Toutiao attempted to acquire Reddit in 2016, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the Beijing-based companys bid. The content aggregators shareholders ended up rejecting the unsolicited offer after an undefined period of reviews, sources said, adding that the outcome of the move was prompted by numerous factors; Jinri Toutiao was offering its private stock as part of the deal, but Reddits investors were skeptical about its value which may have been hard to determine to parties outside of the Far Eastern country. The propositioned company also wasnt able to accurately estimate Jinri Toutiaos revenue and user base, which may have contributed to the bid being rejected, according to the same report.

Reddit itself is presently in the process of overhauling its content platform, with the company now wrapping up the development of its comprehensive user profile pages and native video support. The San Francisco, California-based firm raised $200 million in late July, with those funds putting it at a valuation of $1.8 billion. Presuming that Jinri Toutiao was willing to pay a premium for Reddit last year, its bid may have been close to the $1.8 billion mark, though no specific financial details of the deal were reported. Reddit presently boasts over 300 million users and is one of the most visited websites on the Internet, with the company reportedly nearing profitability after 12 years in the business.

Jinri Toutiao parent Bytedance Technology is significantly larger than Reddit, being valued at approximately $20 billion after its latest funding round. The companys main business relies on selling advertising, with Jinri Toutiao mimicking that strategy, serving ads through its artificial intelligence-powered news aggregator used by around 120 million people in China. The attempted acquisition of Reddit was understood to be a move signaling Bytedances growing ambitions in the West where the company is already offering an app called TopBuzz and is also planning on launching an English version of its social media service Tik Tok, insiders claim. Its unclear what Jinri Toutiao was planning on doing with Reddit in case of its bid being accepted, with the American firm being much more of a user-reliant aggregator that may not have been a natural fit for the Chinese startups existing offerings.
The existence of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2018) was seemingly confirmed with the recent sighting of the phones regulatory listing which was spotted by Dutch tech blog MobielKopen earlier today. The handsets basic profile was published by the South Korean National Radio Research Agency on Tuesday, with the bureaus documentation suggesting that Samsungs upcoming mid-ranger will bear the model number SM-A530 and that one of its variants will be labeled as the SM-A530N. Another model known as the SM-A530F was previously spotted in some mobile benchmarks, with this particular version of the device likely being the international one. The newly uncovered listing doesnt reveal any new information about the Galaxy A5 (2018), save for confirming that the Android smartphone unsurprisingly comes with 4G LTE support.

The Galaxy A5 (2018) and other members of the upcoming product family have already been the subject of numerous leaks and rumors in recent months, with many insiders claiming that Samsung is planning on equipping its mid-range handsets with some features that debuted alongside its 2017 flagship offerings. The main characteristic of Samsungs premium devices set to trickle down to the next revision of the Galaxy A lineup is the Infinity Display panel found on the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, and the recently released Galaxy Note 8, according to previous reports. All of the 2018 mid-rangers should feature comparable 18.5:9 screens with significantly thinner bezels and high screen-to-body ratios. The new aesthetic should make them significantly thinner and possibly even lead to a smaller physical footprint, so long as Samsung doesnt opt to increase the overall screen real estate of the Galaxy A (2018) lineup.

The South Korean original equipment manufacturer repeatedly signaled that its bezel-free design language is here to stay and that its future offerings will also take advantage of it, though the aesthetic has yet to be officially mentioned in the context of any mid-range and possibly even entry-level handsets from the company. This years Galaxy A series succeeded the IP68-certified elements resistance from the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, thus offering a feature that even some contemporary Android flagships like the Pixel 2 (which feature IP67 certification) are lacking, so a bezel-free mid-range lineup from Samsung isnt out of the realm of possibility in 2018.
Visa recently issued a statement confirming that the collaboration with Samsung Pay is beginning to show its benefits to end consumers, specifically Visa Checkout users who are now able to use the platforms in order to securely conduct payments at more than 350,000 Visa Checkout merchants in the United States. The joint partnership between the two companies was initially announced in April and the service went live on November 1st.

According to Visa, Samsung Pay is leaning on Visa Checkouts open platform and streamlined APIs in order to allow its users to make payments using fingerprint authentication. Furthermore, a Visa Checkout username and password will no longer be required while using Samsung Pay for online purchases, and instead, the authentication process will be done through the push of a co-branded Visa Checkout and Samsung Pay button. Having said that, existing Visa Checkout users who also happen to utilize Samsung Pay are now able to enjoy a more streamlined checkout process for online purchases at various locations throughout the country.

Compatibility with Visa Checkout arrives to Samsung Pay roughly two weeks after the credit card company brought the service to Googles own online payment platform  Android Pay  in mid-October. As for Samsung Pay, the service continued to expand into more regions over the past couple of years, and this year alone it was released in a total of eight additional countries beyond the existing ten regions, including Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sweden, UAE, and the United Kingdom. The platform was first launched in South Korea in mid-2015 and arrived in the United States a month later. China, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Russia, and Canada have also joined Samsung Pay in that particular order throughout 2016, and the platform is rumored to expand its availability even further in 2018, although as of this writing, there are no official details in regards to where Samsung Pay could be launched next. There have been some reports to suggest that the platform may be launching in Italy early next year but Samsung has yet to make any announcements on the matter, though more details on the rollout of the service will likely follow shortly.
Some owners of the Galaxy Note 8 recently took to Samsungs official forums to complain about a highly specific issue that sees their smartphones frozen when the default Contacts app is launched. Almost all reports about the issue originated on Samsungs U.S. forums where units like the SM-N950U and SM-N950/DS were reported as experiencing the problem, whereas only a single customer from another part of the world claimed to have encountered the same bug. Some customers of Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the United States are saying theyre having their phones freeze on them the moment they tap the Contacts app. Only one user from India claims to have encountered the same freezing behavior when opening not only the Contacts app but also the default Phone one.

The main difference between the Galaxy Note 8 units sold in the United States and those intended for most other markets is the system-on-chip powering them; while the stateside variants of the phablet feature Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 SoC, the ones sold in other countries apart from China come with Samsungs own Exynos 8895 silicon. While this state of affairs could indicate that the newly uncovered bug may somehow be related to Qualcomms chip, i.e. its drivers, no official confirmation of that possibility has yet been provided by the South Korean original equipment manufacturer. The Snapdragon 835 may also have nothing to do with the issue, as suggested by the aforementioned report about the same problem from India.

Samsung has yet to even acknowledge the issue on its official forums, with none of the users who reported it being able to resolve it on their own. In case youre experiencing the same problem, clearing the apps cache and reinstalling its updates may help to a degree, but the situation will most likely be resolved for good with a client-side patch issued by the phone maker. First reports of the problem emerged in early October, though the bug doesnt appear to be widespread and may even be caused by an unrelated app. Users who arent able to circumvent the problem should rely on a third-party contacts book app until Samsung manages to determine its cause and address it.
By PTI: Islamabad, Nov 7 (PTI) Pakistans Supreme Court today said the disqualification of prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "uncontroversial" as it issued a detailed verdict rejecting review petitions filed by the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case.

The apex court had issued a short-order on September 15 rejecting the review petitions of the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the July 28 verdict.

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Sharif, 67, had to step down after he was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

In its detailed verdict, the apex court observed that no error has been identified in the Panama case, which could be reviewed and the accountability court is free to make a decision on the basis of nature of evidence, Geo TV reported.

"The facts about disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister were uncontroversial," the apex court observed in its verdict, maintaining that it could not be said the decision surprised Sharif.

It said the trial court has the authority to reject weak evidence.

"The accountability court is free to review evidence in accordance with the law," the 23-page verdict stated.

The directions to finish the trial in six months are not meant for influencing the trial court, but for early completion of the trial.

The court also addressed the appointment of a Supreme Court judge to supervise the trial. It said that appointing a supervising judge is not a new thing; the measure is taken to avoid any negligence during the trial.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Commenting on the apex courts verdict, Sharifs daughter and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said that the law and justice are embarrassed.

"Thats exactly how minority brings a bad name to the majority! Victim is not Nawaz Sharif but justice itself!," she said.

"This decision could only be under immense pressure otherwise such travesty of justice is unimaginable," she said in a series of tweets.

Referring to the inclusion of her name, she alleged she was being avenged as she spoke up against injustice.

Maryam said it was vendetta as before her name was not included in the verdict issued earlier.

She further said that this was the sixth decision in the same case and added that the decision was given on the same day when those who lost politically to Sharif were asked to file a petition which could not be heard in the court.

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The political future of Sharif, who leads the countrys most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since the July 28 verdict.

Sharifs family alleges that the cases are politically motivated. PTI ZH AKJ ZH

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According to a recent report originating from China, Xiaomi plans to release a rugged smartphone within the first half of 2018. The report mentions a three-defense system which would indicate that the smartphone could be dust, water, and shock-resistant, and as a result, it would become Xiaomis first handset to offer a noteworthy IP rating.

As more smartphone manufacturers including Samsung and Apple have started creating devices with some level of dust and water resistance, Xiaomi might be persuaded into doing the same before the end of 2018. The companys CEO Lei Jun previously discussed the possibility of a waterproof smartphone back in 2016 and explained why his company has yet to offer this type of a product. He argued that a waterproof device can still easily lose this capability in situations where its been dropped and damaged, and further added that building a waterproof smartphone would ramp up production costs. The CEO also said that if customers would be willing to pay 20 to 30 percent more than they currently do for a Xiaomi device, the company would consider creating such a phone. In other words, although a waterproof device was not entirely off the table, Xiaomis philosophy for creating high-quality phones carrying affordable launch prices would be put at risk by this particular change in design. With that in mind, and assuming that Xiaomi is now working on a waterproof smartphone for 2018, its unclear whether the products launch price will actually be higher or if the relevant technology became affordable enough to not impact the ultimate cost cited to consumers.

Given the fairly wide scope of the company, theres also the possibility that this device will take the form of a full-fledged rugged handset wrapped in an industrial design, so it may not be just a regular flagship treated with a notable IP rating. Not to mention that a truly rugged device would technically be capable of surviving drops on hard surfaces and retain its waterproofing. It could also be more of a niche device with shock resistance given the rumored three-defense design and not necessarily a response to most of Xiaomis rivals adopting a decent IP rating for their latest smartphones.
Although managing payroll in Singapore is a relatively less complex process than elsewhere in ASEAN, it is not without its inherent challenges given the city-states constantly evolving regulatory environment. While Singapore-based companies may find it challenging to keep track of the countrys changing social security, tax, and regulatory norms when computing payroll for its employees, those with operations in the wider ASEAN region are likely to find the task even more daunting.

When a company operates in multiple countries, its internal HR teams often struggle to stay updated with changing payroll regulations. Indeed, payroll regulations in emerging markets can change quickly and without proper notification. HR staff doing payroll without up-to-date information may, inadvertently, lead to issues of non-compliance. Non-compliance, even accidental, can invite unwanted scrutiny from authorities, heavy fines, and may negatively impact the morale of employees adversely affected.

Under such circumstances, it is advisable that Singapore-based companies, including those with operations in the wider ASEAN region, outsource their payroll management to a professional payroll processor. Individual HR employees can learn and monitor regulatory changes in Singapore and across ASEAN states. However, if that individual is absent or switches jobs, the company effectively loses its knowledge of payroll regulations in the country and across ASEAN.

Choosing a Singapore-based third-party payroll service provider will ensure continuity in payroll processing as regulatory knowledge is institutional and not dependent on individuals.

Who should outsource payroll processing?

New market entrants who are unfamiliar with local labor regulations in Singapore and the wider ASEAN region;

SMEs with limited budgets for an independent internal HR department;

SMEs that desire access to advanced payroll automation software without incurring the related costs; and,

Rapidly expanding companies that need to manage limited time and resources while concentrating on core business goals.

Why should you outsource payroll processing?

Improved compliance: Outsourcing payroll processing improves a firms compliance and oversight record, and therefore limits associated risks. Professional payroll service providers have dedicated staff that specialize in monitoring the latest updates in rules and regulations at the local, state, national, regional, and industry levels, as well as changes in the withholding tax rates. They calculate social insurance deductions, manage filings and payments, and will undertake the cost of penalties due to incorrect calculations, under-reporting, or delayed payments so long as accurate personnel information and funds are provided on time.

Streamlined HR: An internal payroll division involves staffing concerns and running costs, but firms outsourcing payroll can streamline their internal human resources department to focus on managing the companys relationship with its employees and strategic issues.

Confidentiality and transparency: The more employees aware of salary details in an organization, the greater the risk that such information becomes public knowledge within the company. Outsourcing payroll ensures that sensitive data stays secure, and only key decision-makers and senior personnel in the firm are aware of the payroll details. At the same time, outsourcing increases transparency in the payroll process  errors can be reported immediately and directly to management without the complications of inter-departmental reporting structures.

Mediate Cultural Issues: Cultural barriers can lead to miscommunication when collecting data from diverse workforces. Good payroll processing maintains confidentiality  even among a companys own workforce  and cultural miscommunication can compromise that privacy. Multinational companies with operations in different countries in ASEAN can face work-issues and incomplete data when internal HR staff overlook nuanced cultural differences. Given Singapores unique history, the city-state is well suited to act as a cultural mediator between ASEAN states and foreign companies. When collecting, processing, and explaining payroll data, Singapore-based third party operators can understand the nuances in cultural differences and act accordingly  thus minimizing the risk of miscommunications.

Choosing the right service provider

Given ASEANs complex tax and labor regulations, only payroll processors with capabilities and experience of operating across several jurisdictions in the region can provide reliable services.

It is advisable that companies looking to outsource payroll conduct professional due diligence into a potential payroll partner to ensure it has compatible resources to run payroll processing that are customized to their needs.

Payroll management has taken on an expanded functionality today, offering client firms an array of services while ensuring the efficient distribution and management of payroll, maintaining compliance, and securing confidentiality of payroll data. In recent years, firms specializing in payroll outsourcing invest in advanced software that enables them to produce reports according to the exact specifications required by the tax authorities and banks. Small firms or companies outsourcing their payroll functions benefit from access to this human resource information system as well, and without incurring any of the direct costs.

Thus, even though payroll outsourcing incurs an overhead expense to the firm, it effectively reduces their overall liabilities and costs, and ensures that more time and resources get spent on critical business functions instead, including the consolidation of their ASEAN expansion.
By PTI: By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Nov 7 (PTI) Pakistans Supreme Court today said the disqualification of prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "uncontroversial" as it issued a detailed verdict rejecting review petitions filed by the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case.

Sharif, 67, had to step down after he was disqualified as the prime minister by the apex court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal. He had sought review of the verdict.

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The apex court had issued a short-order on September 15 rejecting the review petitions of the Sharif family and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the July 28 verdict.

In its detailed 23-page verdict, the apex court observed that no error has been identified in the Panama case, which could be reviewed and the accountability court is free to make a decision on the basis of nature of evidence.

"The facts about disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister were uncontroversial," the court observed in its verdict, maintaining that it could not be said the decision surprised Sharif.

In scathing observation, the court also asserted that Sharif fooled the masses in and outside of parliament as well as the apex court.

"He (Nawaz) even tried to fool the court without realising that you can fool all the people for some of the time, some of the people all the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time," according to the verdict.

The judgment also observed that Sharifs daughter Maryam was prima facie beneficial owner of London flats and it cannot be said that her spouse Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar has no connection with that property.

The court rejected Sharifs objection to the appointment of a monitoring judge to oversee the trial of corruption cases in the accountability court or fixation of six month period for conclusion of the trial.

It said that appointing a supervising judge is not a new thing; the measure is taken to avoid any negligence during the trial.

The court said the directions to finish the trial in six months are not meant for influencing the trial court, but for early completion of the trial.

However, the court also observed that the accountability court was not bound by the decision of Panama Papers verdict while deciding the corruption cases against the Sharif family.

"The accountability court is free to review evidence in accordance with the law," the verdict stated.

Later, former attorney general Irfan Qadir told local media that the judgment shows that its decision was not binding on the accountability court.

"It is major relief for the accused as Supreme Court has said that trial court should decide the case on merit and not on the basis of Panama Paper case verdict," he said.

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Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the court on September 8.

If convicted, Sharif can be jailed.

Commenting on the courts verdict, Sharifs daughter and PML-N leader Maryam said the law and justice are embarrassed.

"Thats exactly how minority brings a bad name to the majority! Victim is not Nawaz Sharif but justice itself!," she said.

"This decision could only be under immense pressure otherwise such travesty of justice is unimaginable," she said in a series of tweets.

Referring to the inclusion of her name, she alleged she was being avenged as she spoke up against injustice.

Maryam said it was vendetta as before her name was not included in the verdict issued earlier.

She further said that this was the sixth decision in the same case and added that the decision was given on the same day when those who lost politically to Sharif were asked to file a petition which could not be heard in the court.

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The political future of Sharif, who leads the countrys most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, has been hanging in balance since the July 28 verdict.

Sharifs family alleges that the cases are politically motivated. PTI SH/ZH AKJ ZH

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Global law firm HFW has expanded its presence in Asia Pacific with the launch of a new association in Indonesia. The firm has announced the association will be working with local law practice Rahayu & Partners in Jakarta.The move takes the total number of HFW lawyers working across the region to 104, according to figures from the law firm. The deal expands the Indonesian firms capabilities into HFWs core sectors including aerospace, commodities and shipping.This cements our existing client relationships in Indonesia which we have in all our sectors and enables us to better serve our clients in offering local expertise whether in the context of Indonesian legal advice or in understanding the business environment and culture, said HFW global senior partner Richard Crump in a statement. This adds to our existing strong offering in South East Asia where we have been operating for more than 25 years.The Indonesian firms founder, Sri Rahayu, joins HFW as a partner and will work closely with HFW Partners Haydn Dare and Brian Gordon. HFW said Rahayuhas a strong reputation in the region in banking finance and corporate transactions."With business opportunities increasing in Indonesia across a range of industries, the association with HFW offers our clients strength and depth across a number of core sectors vital to grow our business in this vibrant economy, said Rahayu.
Just over three years since it opened its doors in Canberra, Mills Oakley has increased its staff in the city to more than 50.The announcement came as the firm named Ben Gulan as partner in Canberra. He joined the firms property team, bringing with him a team of five from McInnes Wilson.Gulan is an expert in commercial, industrial, and residential/mixed-use developments, as well as land subdivisions and community title schemes. He has been involved in some of the largest developments in the ACT, including joint ventures with the state government.Mills Oakley said Gulan will work closely with property partner Adam Peppinck and will advise clients in both the government and private sectors.John Nerurker, Mills Oakley chief executive, said that the hiring of Gulan and his team will enhance the firms capacity to service large private-sector residential developments. He also said the appointments are a major milestone for the firm.Reaching 50 staff is a notable milestone for our Canberra office, but even more enhancements are planned and we look forward to making other announcements in the coming weeks, Nerurker said.The firm hired Luke Geary, the founder and managing partner of humanitarian law firm Salvos Legal, earlier this month. Geary will relocate to Queensland to lead the firms not-for-profit team in Brisbane when he returns to his old firm on 20 November.In September, the firm brought in partner Louise Cantrill from Henry Davis York in Sydney.
Slater and Gordon has announced two senior promotions in its New South Wales offices as it seeks to develop its crop of young lawyers.Jessica Mackenzie was made principal lawyer, while Josh McKay  who runs Slater and Gordons Lismore office  has been promoted to senior associate. The firm also promoted David Allen, Tom Mithieux, Erin Sellars and Zorana Spasojevic to associates.Mackenzie joined the Slater and Gordon Sydney team in 2013 and was promoted to associate in 2014 and senior associate the following year. She became an accredited specialist in 2014.McKay joined the law firm in 2013 as a lawyer in its Dubbo office, and moved to Tamworth the following year. He set up the firms Lismore office in January 2016 and received his specialist accreditation 10 months later. The law firm managed to achieve success in Lismore, despite having to temporarily relocate the office following this years major floods.This group of lawyers has worked hard and shown commitment to the important work they carry out every single day, said Rachel James, comcare law general manager.Earlier this year, the law firm said it will focus on its Australian business and separate the UK operation. Slater and Gordon in the UK will be transferred to a new holding company fully owned by senior lenders (UKHoldCo) with existing shareholders giving up any interest in the UK operations.The company believes the separation of the UK operations provides the best option to enable both the Australian and UK operations to succeed in their own right and will enable the company to focus its managements time and resources on the Australian business, the firm said.
EV

Out of the entire range, the Raptor is by far the most iconic version. It's powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine dishing out 450 hp, so that's one reason why it's so popular. Ford says the SVT Raptor is a high-performance pickup but also a tough off-roading machine that can go pretty much anywhere.Well, Chris Harris and Mike Spinelli of NBC Sports' DRIVE show would like to disagree. In a trailer for an upcoming episode (airs November 9), the pair is shown driving the Blue Oval pickup truck through a snowy field (they say it's a glacier, but it looks like a flat field) in Iceland, only to end up beached in the slushy white stuff.It's hard to tell whether any of this is real or the two learned the tricks from the old Top Gear crew who are renowned for how they staged their materials. One of the best examples - which also led to a small scandal - was the Tesla Roadster review where the person dropping off the car said he saw how the script mentioned thewould run out of power.Well, whatever the case, it took a Toyota Hilux (admittedly modified), a rope that looked as though it could hold an oil tanker tied in the harbor and an Icelander who looked dressed for going to the beach despite the obvious cold temperature to get Raptor going.Raptor fans aren't going to take this lightly and Chris Harris and particularly Mike Spinelli, the one who was driving, might have a few questions to answer. For their sake, we hope this was just bad driving and not some stunt meant to raise the people's interest in the show because a lot of people won't be happy about it.
HP

Javelins aren't the most popular cars from that era. People seem to think that the nose is way too long compared to the rest of the body. Despite this, Jim and Mike Ring, the founders of Ringbrothers, still suggested it as a base car when Prestone approached them.The coolant company is celebrating its 90th anniversary and wanted a special car to wow the SEMA crowd. We think they got it.One of the most stand-out features is the color, which had to match the Prestone logos. Ringbrothers went over dozens of options until arriving at what they say is a 2017 BMW color. It looks like Austin Yellow, but we could be wrong about that.The engine chosen for this project is the mighty Hellcat. However, while the 6.2-liter V8 normally makes 707, this one has gone above and beyond. A much larger 4.5-liter Whipple supercharger has been strapped to allow it to develop 1,100 HP. The brothers say the supercharger is as de-tuned as you can get, so there's a lot left on the shelf.Ringbrothers out of Spring Green, Wisconsin spend 12 months putting this awesome car together. It's got hardware upgrades that include 4-link rear suspension, a 12-bolt axle, side exhaust exits, and a modern braking Brembo disk brakes.Furthermore, the custom Javelin has constructed using scanning and 3D printing for the first time 3D scanning at Ringbrothers. This was needed to achieve the quick turnaround required for every SEMA project.We especially like the view from the front, with a hood like a COPO Camaro, a grille like a classic Skyline and that massive chin splitter. However, the side exhaust must have been equally as hard to fabricate.
SUV

A few black lines on an almost white background are hardly something to lose your mind over, even if they do suggest the shape of what appears to be an/crossover. Even though the manufacturer did not release any other info attached to the picture, looking at its lineup and its recent activity, this can't point to anything other than the new QX50 compact SUV.The current one looks, feels, and IS outdated. Its exterior design hasn't aged well even though it's been just four years since its release, while its interior is reminiscent of the old Mercedes-Benz layout with spades of wood and lots of buttons.The upcoming second generation has been previewed twice so far, first through the QX Sport Inspiration Concept and then the QX50 Concept , and it looks to right the wrongs of the first generation. For starters, the new model will have a much more commanding presence.Gone is the taller station wagon silhouette and in comes a classic SUV stance. A massive vertical grille with metallic mesh and tall, aggressive air vents on the sides gave the QX50 Concept a less goofy appearance compared to the outgoing model. And even though it was still a concept, it looked at least 90 percent production ready.The same goes for the interior. The central console had two separate displays and touch-sensitive buttons, with just a volume knob protruding from its otherwise plane surface to offer a more precise and rapid control. The instrument cluster featured two analog dials, but it also had a rather large digital display in the center, so there was plenty of space for all the important information.But none of this explains what Infiniti means by the "most advanced" vehicle it has produced so far. The most obvious answer to that is the implementation of Nissan 's ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving features. The Concept made it abundantly clear the advanced driving aide suite would be featured on the car, and even if it didn't, it would have been an easy guess.The second novelty the new QX50 might debut is the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine - a four-cylinder unit that can vary its compression ratio depending on the driving style. It's all done by controlling the stroke of the pistons which allows for a compression variation between 8:1 and 14:1. That means the same engine can offer the performance of a V6 unit and the fuel consumption of a 2.0-liter mill, though not both at the same time.Infiniti will launch the all-new QX50 later this month at the 2017 Los Angeles Motor Show which will start November 29 (December 1 for the public). That means we might get a few more teasers over the coming weeks which will hopefuly confirm the model's resemblance to the QX50 Concept.
After stopping production more than 20 years ago, Aero Vodochody is preparing to bring an updated version of the L-39 Albatros jet trainer back to the market. In the L-39NG, a William FJ44-4M will replace the Ivchenko AI-25 found in the original. The new model will also come with a lighter airframe, wet wings and modern avionics. Aero Vodochody has selected Evektor-Aerotechnik, another Czech aircraft manufacturer, best known to U.S. pilots for its light-sport aircraft, to build the nose and tail assembly. L-39 has built a great reputation on the market of jet training aircraft and the new L-39NG with the modern systems and technologies brings further benefits to air forces, says Vladimr Matela, managing director of Evektor-Aerotechnik.

Almost 3,000 of the single-engine, two-seat jets were made from 1971 to 1996, mostly serving as primary trainers for Soviet-affiliated air forces. Some were also used in ground attack roles. The relatively low-cost jet has been popular with private jet demonstration teams. The Breitling, Black Diamond and Patriots jet teams all fly the L-39. Breitling and Black Diamond have reportedly contracted to have their L-39s upgraded to the NG spec. Aero expects to make its first customer deliveries in 2019. More than 200 of the Soviet-era jets are registered in the United States, mostly in the experimental category.

Photo Credit: CS92

Update: A previous version of this story erroneously reported that the original L-39 was powered by a Garrett turbofan.
The Air Force, in a press release, says it has deployed drone defenses at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Our mission is to ensure the safety and security of resources and personnel on base and this is just one method of keeping pace with an ever-evolving threat, says Lt. Col. William Smith, commander of Offutts 55th Security Forces Squadron. That one method isnt exactly clear. The Air Force isnt saying what technology or technologies its using to keep the drones outwhether its a kinetic or energy weapon or signal jamming technique. In its press release, the Air Force simply says, The 55th SFS now has the ability to stop any unauthorized sUAS that cross Offutts airspace or boundaries through a number of unique defense systems.

The announcement follows an announcement by the Pentagon in August, where Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters that a classified policy regarding the defense of U.S. military installations from light drones had been approved. Offutt is the home of the U.S. Air Force Strategic Command headquarters. Drones are prohibited in Offutts Class C surface area, but requests for waivers may be approved by the Air Force between three and five miles from the center of the airfield.
Seema Verma, the federal Medicare and Medicaid administrator, made clear in a speech this morning that the Trump administration intends to let states impose new requirements, including work requirements, on some Medicaid recipients. Using Medicaid "as a vehicle to serve working age, able-bodied adults does not make sense," Verma said.

Why it matters: Medicaid is the largest insurance program in the country. Verma has made clear she intends to roll back the program's ambitions  and she's begun laying out exactly how she aims to get there.

The details: Verma said her office "will approve proposals that promote community engagement activities"  which she defined as working, receiving job training, going to school or volunteering  as a requirement for able-bodied adults to receive Medicaid benefits.
By PTI: Vietnam

New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) In the backdrop of Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, Vietnam today said "more diplomatic engagement" was needed to resolve the issue and that the region should not move towards a conflict situation.

Interacting with reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Club here, Vietnams Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh, however, asserted that "whatever belongs to Vietnam has to be defended".

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He said South China Sea was an important maritime region and the trade of some of the worlds powerful countries, including the US and India, was conducted through it.

"China is not just a big country, but also a big neighbour. The South China Sea is a complicated problem and related not just to the island but also the exclusive economic zone. However, we do not have any other way (out of this problem) than through talks and negotiations.

"We should not move to a situation where we have to involve in a conflict. We need more diplomatic engagement and legal measures to solve this problem," Thanh said in response to a question on Vietnams position on the South China Sea issue.

"Our position on this issue is very clear. We have already entered into a declaration with China as regards the code of conduct in the South China Sea. Hope there would be support from other countries, inside and outside of the region," he said.

China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. However, a number of ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counter claims.

"But, of course, we have to be prepared. Whatever belongs to Vietnam, we have to defend. We have to defend our island and the exclusive economic zone," the envoy said.

An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a sea zone as prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, over which a country has special rights regarding exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.

"There should be a voice from the region. If South China Sea is blocked, what will happen," Thanh asked. PTI KND RC

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Ohio voters will decide today whether they want to cap how much state-run health programs will pay for prescription drugs. A ballot initiative in the state would prohibit Ohio agencies from paying any more for drugs than the Veterans Affairs system pays. A similar proposition in California failed in 2016.

Why it matters: High drug costs are one of the most omnipresent political issues, and the public has craved solutions for a long time. There's been debate, and confusion, over whether Ohio's measure would lower drug costs. The pharmaceutical industry deeply opposes it and built up a $58 million war chest to bring it down.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn plans to introduce a bill that would require federal agencies to keep a government database updated with convictions that legally bar individuals from buying guns. His announcement comes after revelations that the Air Force failed to record Texas shooter Devin Kelley's conviction for domestic violence. Kelley bought four guns after his conviction, one of which he used to kill 26 people on Sunday.

'"According to the Department of Justice, the number of these records that are actually uploaded is staggeringly low," Cornyn said. "That is unacceptable and it must change. We need to better understand why our existing laws didn't work in this instance."
Pierce's Disease is a grapevine strangler. Once bacteria that cause it get into a plant  via insects  it clogs the plant's vascular system and deprives it of water. There's no treatment. Andy Walker, a plant geneticist at UC Davis, is developing new grape varietals that resist the disease. But once the wine is ready to grow, there's another challenge: getting vintners and consumers to try a new wine.

Why it matters:

Modern movement of people seems to have increased the spread of agricultural diseases.

It's also possible climate change may increase the range over which a pest or disease can flourish.

As demand for organic products increases, Walker thinks vintners will need to grow more disease-resistant types of grapes.

The stigma of genetic modification might be too much for wine consumers. And, Walker says because the genetics for disease resistance are so complicated, it could be hard to engineer a plant that can survive Pierce's Disease. Instead, he bred one.

What they did: North America has a number of native grapes (think: Concord, of Maneschewitz fame), and one of them, the notoriously un-drinkable Vitis arizonica, is resistant to Pierce's Disease. Walker crossed arizonica with traditional European varietals, only selecting offspring that could survive the disease. Each subsequent generation was crossed back with the drinkable grapes.

The challenge: Wine growing comes with deep regional traditions, and consumers love their varietals. Walker says it can be hard for new varietals to gain traction, both with vintners and consumers. "There are over 5,000 different wines, but we only drink a few hundred," Walker notes.

Whit Winslow, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council, where Pierce's disease is a problem, tells Axios visitors are eager to try new wines in the tasting room. But he notes that anecdotally, it doesn't necessarily translate to commercial and restaurant sales. "They might walk out of the winery with a new bottle," says Winslow, but that doesn't mean they'll grab one off the liquor-store shelf.

Yes, but: Consumers and vintners can and have been convinced to try new things. In 1996, the Cornell University-developed Traminette wine, which is somewhat fungus and frost resistant, hit the market. A combination of high-profile tasting events and media coverage increased its popularity. Today, it's found in vineyards across the United States, is Indiana's state wine and has won several awards. Bruce Reisch, a plant geneticist at Cornell, helped develop the wine. "No varietal starts with name recognition," says Reisch, but growers are eager to appease consumers' desire for fungicide-free vino.

Looking forward:

Walker has only just started doing tastings of the new wines (Reisch has tried them: "they're fantastic!") and they won't be ready for commercial vineyards for a few more years. When they are, it'll likely take some Traminette-style marketing to get consumers ready. But, if Pierce's disease spreads the way some fear it will, Reisch thinks the industry will come together to create a market, and bring a pesticide-free wine to our tables.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Nov. 14, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: Sessions' hearing will give the committee a chance to question him about reports that George Papadopoulous told him about his various meetings with and connections to Russian officials. Specifically, the 17 Democratic members will ask Sessions about why he denied any knowledge of any former Trump campaign member having any connections to Russia.
The headquarters of MedCure, an Oregon-based company that dissects bodies donated to science, was raided as part of an F.B.I investigation into the way it distributes body parts, according to Reuters. MedCure is one of the largest body brokers in the U.S.

Profiting from selling organs intended for transplants is illegal, but it is legal in most states to sell whole bodies or "dissected parts, such as arms and heads, for medical research, training and education," per Reuters. The FBI seized documents from MedCure, and had a search warrant for the headquarters, a sign the investigation has reached "an advanced stage."
A majority of Americans across political ideologies do not feel that the federal government should regulate large social media platforms (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) that display but don't produce content the way the government regulates media companies, according to the latest Axios/SurveyMonkey poll.

Data: SurveyMonkey poll conducted Nov. 2 to Nov. 3; Chart: Axios Visuals

Why it matters: Fake news hype hasn't convinced the public that large tech companies should be held accountable for the information that is distributed on their platforms, even though more people are getting news and information from those companies and more people continue to take real-life action as a result of misinformation being promoted on the platform.Per Pew, about 1/4 of all U.S. adults get news from two or more social media sites, up from 15% in 2013 and 18% in 2016. And just under half (45%) of U.S. adults use Facebook for news. Even more telling, of the 45% of Facebook news users, around half say they get their news from that social media network alone.

Methodology: The poll was conducted online by SurveyMonkey on Nov. 2 and 3 with a 5,503 person sample and a modeled error estimate of plus or minus two percentage points. Data have been weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau's American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States age 18 and over. Crosstabs available here.
Syria announced its plans to sign the Paris Climate accord during United Nations climate talks on Tuesday, per the New York Times. The move, which follows Nicaragua's announcement to participate in the agreement last month, means the U.S. is now the only country opposed to participating in the pact.

Why it matters: Syria joining the climate pact underscores  but won't change  the Trump administration's lone position withdrawing from it. It provides a talking point to those urging the president to rejoin, but the calculations inside the White House have nothing to do with what other countries are doing, and everything to do with how the deal could (or couldn't) help America.

White House spokeswoman, Kelly Love, said the administration's position regarding the accord remains the same, and pointed reporters to the statement that was released following Nicaragua's announcement to join the pact: "[T]he United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms the are more favorable for our country," the statement said.

Go deeper: Why Trump is pulling out of the Paris climate deal
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is recovering from five broken ribs, including three displaced fractures and bruised lungs, following an assault at his home Friday night, per AP. An attorney for the man charged in the attack issued a statement Monday claiming that "the regrettable dispute" was not politically motivated, but was rather a "trivial" issue between neighbors.

Why it matters for Washington: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Monday that Paul's potential extended absence from work could complicate the GOP agenda, as every Republican vote is needed in the busy weeks ahead to keep his slim majority. "Any time a senator on our side is not there, it's potentially challenging," said McConnell.

The latest on the attack:

Police charged Paul's neighbor, 59-year-old anesthesiologist Rene Broucher, with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault after he admitted to tackling Paul from behind while the senator was mowing his lawn, per AP.

Broucher, was taken to the Warren County Regional Jail, but was later released on $7,500 bond. His court date is set for Thursday.

"Displaced rib fractures can lead to life-threatening injuries," said Doug Stafford, Paul's senior adviser. "This type of injury is also accompanied by severe pain that can last weeks to months." He added that three of Paul's broken ribs were displaced.

The FBI, in addition to Capitol Police, is investigating the incident as assaulting a member of Congress is a federal crime.

Possible motive:

Broucher's lawyer, Matthew Baker, said in a statement that the two men have been neighbors for 17 years and worked together when they were both practicing physicians, and suggest that the "dispute" was "over a matter that most people would regard as trivial."

However, NBC reported that the neighbors have not spoken in several years, and the animosity between the two could be a result of "Boucher's distaste for Paul's politics, as well as those of his father," former Texas congressman Ron Paul.

Paul and Boucher have also reportedly disagreed about a property line regarding a creek behind Paul's house, where the senator's sons would sometimes play, per NBC.

Two Kentuckians also told NYT's Jonathan Martin that the attack may have stemmed from a dispute over "some sort of planting or flora issue around the properties."

Photo of his alleged attacker, Rene Broucher:
Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Photo provided to the AP by the Texas Department of Public Safety

Devin Kelley, the gunman who killed 26 people Sunday at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas escaped from a mental health hospital while serving in the Air Force, per the New York Times.

A 2012 police report revealed that Kelley was placed in the psychiatric facility after being charged in a military court for repeatedly assaulting his wife and baby stepson, including one attack that left the boy with a fractured skull. Kelley later pleaded guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to a year in a Navy prison.

Details of his escape:

Police took Kelley into custody at a bus station in downtown El Paso where he was planning to flee after escaping from Peak Behavioral Health Services, a hospital a few miles away.

The person who reported his escape from the hospital told authorities that Kelley "suffered from mental disorders" and "was a danger to himself." She added that he had made death threats against "his military chain of command" and had been caught sneaking firearms into the base where he was stationed.

Take note: President Trump said Monday that the Texas shooting was a mental health issue, not a guns issue. That's a debate that has continued to crop up after mass shootings.
In late June, President Trump hosted a group of Native American tribal leaders at the White House. The meeting  attended by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, several governors, and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt  was to discuss ways to make it easier for tribal leaders to access the coal and other energy resources stored under their land.

Two sources in the room confirmed this account and the White House did not dispute it.

The tribal leaders planned to give the president a visual presentation to illuminate the regulatory barriers to their energy exploration. They had a slide deck ready to go, showing a map of Indian land, and it was teed up to play on the TV inside a cabinet in the Roosevelt Room.

Trump, however, wasn't interested in sitting through a slide presentation. He wanted to get to the nut of what they were talking about. He asked the tribal leaders what they needed and how he could help them. The tribal leaders told the president they couldn't get to the resources they needed quickly enough.

Trump interjected: "Why?"

They explained there were government regulatory barriers preventing them.

Trump replied:

"But now it's me. The government's different now. Obama's gone; and we're doing things differently here... So what I'm saying is, just do it."

There was a pause in the room and the tribal leaders looked at each other. One of them started to try to walk back through the barriers to accessing the energy; and Trump cut in again. "No. You've got to just do it. Just do it."

"Chief, chief," Trump continued, addressing one of the tribal leaders, "what are they going to do? Once you get it out of the ground are they going to make you put it back in there? I mean, once it's out of the ground it can't go back in there. You've just got to do it. I'm telling you, chief, you've just got to do it."

The tribal leader looked back at one of the White House officials in the room  perhaps somebody from the Counsel's office  and he said "can we just do that?" And the official responded that the administration is making progress and has a plan to roll back various regulations.

Trump interjected again: "Guys, I feel like you're not hearing me right now. We've just got to do it. I feel like we've got no choice; other countries are just doing it. China is not asking questions about all of this stuff. They're just doing it. And guys, we've just got to do it."

The president closed the meeting by telling the tribal leaders he wasn't asking them for anything in return. He told them they probably remember that he didn't have to take everyone's money when he ran for president.

"I'm not asking for anything," he said, "but all I'm saying is it'd be great if the tribal people across this country knew that I did this for you guys. Just make sure that everyone knows that I did it."

There wasn't really a conclusion to the meeting. "It was kind of like, 'all right'," said a source in the room. "And the president's like, 'let's go take a picture!'"

Editor's Note: This is the unfiltered version of a post from yesterday, "Trump's Government of One".
Swara Bhaskar said that she has been stalked by a director who would keep harassing her with texts and dinner invites.

By India Today Web Desk: After several Hollywood actresses came forward with sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, people from different parts of the world decided to share their stories of harassment.

Bollywood actresses also backed the "Me Too" movement, and shared their harrowing tales on social media. Swara Bhaskar is among them.

Without taking names, Swara recently spoke about her experiences of being harassed by a filmmaker and being groped in public.

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In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Swara said, "Actors are vulnerable because they are perennially out of work and much too ambitious to risk their careers for a cause. Also, the backlash on social media is scary. See how Mallika Dua was trolled (recent controversy concerning Akshay Kumar). Bollywood is not conducive to an honest conversation about sexual misconduct."

Speaking about her personal experiences, Swara shared, "I've been propositioned by men who were in a position to cast me. I lost a few roles because I didn't give in. It made me vulnerable, nervous. Some people even stopped responding to my messages. Being an articulate, educated girl, they sensed that I would not take things lying down."

Swara also said that she has experienced catcalls and eve-teasing during her shoots. "I've been groped by a mob during promotions and during a 56-day outdoor at a remote location, when I was still fairly new. The director harassed me with texts and dinner invites," she said.

The director continued to stalk her, and asked her to come to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing a film.

"During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex and one night, arrived in my room, drunk, and asked to be hugged. It was scary! I was young and alone. I would switch off the lights after pack-up and remove my make-up in the dark, so he would think I was asleep and stop calling me," she shared.

The harassment continued till Swara finally confided in the executive producer of the film, who ensured that she was escorted everywhere she went.

On the work front, Swara will next be seen in Veere Di Wedding, which also stars Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan in pivotal roles.

ALSO WATCH | India Today Summit 2017: Swara Bhaskar reads out a letter to Sexism

--- ENDS ---
Sources with direct knowledge tell me Gary Cohn and Marc Short are scheduled to meet Tuesday with moderate Senate Democrats to discuss tax reform. The group could be as large as 10 Democratic senators, according to a source familiar with the planning. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is a key player in the arrangements.

Why this matters: The White House learned a tough lesson during its failed effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act  they can't rely on only Republicans to pass a bill. So while many top officials are highly skeptical that Democrats will sign onto any GOP-led tax reform bill  and especially not if they're called on to be the crucial 50th vote  the administration is trying harder than it ever did with health care.

Behind the scenes: Trump has told a number of Senate Democrats that he agrees with their position that rich people shouldn't get a tax cut. He's also told them he wants to spend big on infrastructure. But the current state of the House GOP bill isn't likely enough to sway Dems.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to improve Israels uneasy relationship with Armenia after holding talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The two men were reported to have discussed not only Armenian-Israeli ties but also the situation in the Middle East and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, with Netanyahu expressing concern over Irans attempts to establish a military presence in the region.

We'll strengthen relations between Israel and Armenia in tech, cyberspace and agriculture, the Israeli leader, who is also his countrys foreign minister, tweeted after the talks.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry likewise said Netanyahu told Nalbandian that Israel is ready to expand its relations with Armenia and sees great potential for cooperation between the two nations.

According to a ministry statement, Nalbandian expressed confidence, for his part, that bilateral contacts will gain new impetus. They have already intensified of late, he said during what was apparently his first-ever official visit to Israel.

The statement added that the two men explored ways of boosting modest bilateral trade and cooperating in the areas of agriculture, information technology, education and tourism.

Israels Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi similarly sought to strengthen our relationship when he visited Yerevan in late July. Hanegbi and Nalbandian signed agreements on avoidance of double taxation and mutual lifting of visa requirements for holders of Armenian and Israeli diplomatic passports. The Israeli cabinet member, who is affiliated with Netanyahus Likud party, also met with Prime Minister Karen Karapetian.

Armenian-Israeli relations have been frosty until now, reflecting differing geopolitical priorities of the two states. Armenia has maintained a warm rapport with Iran to ease its geographic isolation, while Israel has pursued strategic cooperation with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Armenia has been particularly worried about Israels large-scale arms deals with its arch-foe. In 2012, Israeli defense officials confirmed a reported deal to provide the Azerbaijani military with more weapons worth a combined $1.6 billion. The Azerbaijani army used some of these Israeli-made weapons, notably sophisticated anti-tank rockets, during April 2016 hostilities in Karabakh.

Just weeks after Hanegbis trip to Yerevan, an Israeli Defense Ministry agency halted exports to Azerbaijan of suicide drones manufactured by an Israeli company accused of using them against an Armenian army position in early July. The export control agency launched an investigation into the alleged incident in August.

The Israeli daily Maariv reported at the time that representatives of the company, Aeronautics Defense Systems (ADS), traveled to Azerbaijan this summer to finalize a contract for the sale of Orbiter drones to the Azerbaijani military. The paper claimed that two Israeli drone operators working for the company rebuffed Azerbaijani officials demand to demonstrate the use of the deadly drone by hitting the Armenian position with it. But other, more senior ADS executives agreed on launch the deadly craft on the target, according to Maariv. ADS denied the report.

It was not clear whether Nalbandian discussed the alleged drone attack with Netanyahu. The Armenian Foreign Ministry statement said only that he briefed Netanyahu on Armenias and international mediators efforts to achieve a solely peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict.

The ministry added that the two men also exchanged views on pressing regional and international issues, developments in the Middle East.

A short statement by a spokesman for Netanyahu said: The Prime Minister raised the issue of Iran's attempts to establish a military presence in the region and its negative influence. It did not elaborate.
7 November 2017 10:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 133 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on November 7.

Armenians were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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7 November 2017 10:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The extension of the moratorium on business inspections in Azerbaijan until 2021 will further improve the business environment in the country, Head of the Business Development Department at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy Elchin Ibrahimov told Trend on November 6.

He added that the extension of the moratorium makes it possible to protect business entities from planned inspections of state bodies for another three odd years, which creates additional business opportunities.

"As you know, business inspections have been suspended for two years since November 2015, which played an important role in the development of entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan and improvement of the business environment," he said. Over the past 24 months, 127 inspections have been carried out in business entities with the exception of inspections carried out through tax bodies.

Ibrahimov also stressed that the extension of the moratorium doesn't mean entrepreneurs are entitled to abuse the conditions created for them.

"The entrepreneurs must pay great attention to the quality and safety of produced goods and rendered services, he said. The moratorium on inspections doesn't mean that all control measures will not be taken at all. The state bodies can regularly take various measures to control the quality of products and services.

According to the law, if there is a danger to public health or economic security of the state, the state bodies are entitled to conduct appropriate unscheduled inspections. Thus, along with creating conditions for entrepreneurs, the country continues to protect the consumers interests, he added.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on extension of the moratorium on business inspections in Azerbaijan until Jan. 1, 2021.

The moratorium will not apply to quality control of medicines, compliance with safety regulations, and safety control of food products.

Meanwhile, according to the decree, quality control of medicines and compliance with safety regulations will be conducted by the Ministry of Healthcare, while control over food quality will be carried out by the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan.

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7 November 2017 13:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps to turn into major transport hub by participating in a number of international projects aimed at creating various transport routes.

The North-South corridor is one of such projects and Azerbaijan has already prepared the entire infrastructure on its territory to realize this transport route.

The volume of cargo transportation at the existing section of the international North-South transport corridor is forecasted at the level of 1.5-2 million tons in 2018, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Igbal Huseynov told journalists at a briefing in Baku on November 7.

He noted that the Azerbaijani section of the corridor from Astara to the Iranian border and the bridge over the Astarachay River are completely ready to be commissioned.

Meanwhile, railroad bed has been laid from the bridge to the terminal in Irans Astara. In this direction the work continues, said Huseynov.

Official opening of four terminals for container, general cargo, transported by universal rolling stock, oil and grain cargoes is planned. It is also expected to open the connecting branch on the Iranian territory in late December, he added.

At the first stage, it is planned to limit to two terminals - container and general cargo, the deputy chairman noted.

The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo per year through the corridor and over 10 million tons of cargo in the future.

Along with making a great contribution to the diversification of Azerbaijan's economy the project is expected to turn the country into a major transport hub.

The project, which is considered to be a strategically important and advantageous in terms of time of transit cargo transportation, is also expected to bring great economic benefits. This corridor, part of which will pass along the western coast of the Caspian Sea, from Russia to Iran through Azerbaijan enjoys several advantages compared to the others, such as Suez Canal-the Mediterranean Sea-Northern Europe and the Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Russia-Northern Europe routes.

Meanwhile, Huseynov noted that the next meeting of the working group on development of the western direction of the international North-South railway corridor can be held in India.

He said that recently, at an informal meeting of representatives of railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Belarus, the idea was put forward to hold the upcoming meetings outside of the four countries with the participation of shipping companies and importers.

This is not only about India, but also about the countries of Scandinavia, Northern Europe. If our experts support this idea, then we will add it in the protocol, but there is no such decision so far, added Huseynov.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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7 November 2017 15:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will increase the regions trade potential, Turkish media quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying on November 7.

Erdogan noted that BTK is an alternative to air and maritime freight traffic.

BTK is a good example of regional cooperation, said the Turkish president.

The main goal is to increase the annual cargo transportation via BTK from 6.5 to 17 million tons, and subsequently to 25 and 50 million tons, said Erdogan.

Official opening ceremony of the BTK railway was held in Baku on October 30. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement.

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7 November 2017 15:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The 10th Annual International Contemporary Art Exhibition Artisterium started in Tbilisi on November 4.

The Exhibition of Contemporary Art to run until November 14, is dedicated to the dialogue between visual arts, craft, and design.

Exhibition hosts artists, artist groups, curators and art critics from around the world and sets out to create a platform for exchange. It provide new insights and new approaches to the ever-changing state of contemporary art and culture.

Artists from Georgia, Russia, US, Great Britain, South Korea, Germany, as well as from Azerbaijan and Turkey are attending the event., Report.Az informs.

Azerbaijan at the exhibition is represented by artist and photographer Elnur Babayev.

His photograph from the Azerbaijani Refugee Camp (1994-1996) will be displayed on November 7.

The work by national artist and photographer will feature at photo exhibition "Face to Face", organized as part of the event.

Being the son of the People's Artist of Azerbaijan, artist Rasim Babayev, he also devoted his life to creativity.

Elnur Babayev enjoys not only painting, but also wood carving, art pottery and digital photography.

His photo from the cycle "Refugees" is dedicated to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, territorial and ethnic conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the bloody war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Today Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from there.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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7 November 2017 16:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The U.S. continues its support in finding a way to a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta told reporters on November 7.

The ambassador said recently he was in Washington, where he met with the new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Andrew Schofer and discussed with him possible measures of promoting the settlement process.

Schofer has previously noted that while there are obviously many difficult issues to discuss, he believes firmly that a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible, provided leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia demonstrate the political will necessary to bring peace to this region.

For the peaceful settlement of the conflict, we continue to assist the leaders of the leading countries, Cekuta said.

Touching upon the recent meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Geneva, the ambassador said that this is a very positive step and such steps should continue, and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs continue to work in this direction.

After the meeting in Geneva, the Minsk Group reported that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to take measures to intensify the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to take additional steps to reduce tensions along the frontline.

"There is a work underway on meeting with foreign ministers, trying to keep the process moving ahead to realize a peaceful settlement to the conflict, Cekuta noted.

The U.S., along with Russia and France, is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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7 November 2017 18:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Armenia violates human rights of refugees and IDPs of Azerbaijan who were forcefully subjected to ethnic cleansing, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mats Andersson as part of his official visit to Sweden, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message on November 7.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the ways to develop bilateral cooperation, including mutual high level visits. It was noted that the existing political dialogue based on mutual understanding plays an important role in the development of bilateral relations between Sweden and Azerbaijan.



Talking about strategic road map on development of economy in Azerbaijan, especially the development of non-oil sector, and about the measures taken to diversify export and conducted the fundamental reforms to this end, Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned that there is a huge potential for the cooperation in science, information and communication technologies, tourism, manufacturing and other spheres between the two countries.

In this regard, the importance of establishing business relations among business circles of Azerbaijan and Sweden and holding of joint business forums was mentioned.



Speaking about the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which was inaugurated on October 30, Minister Mammadyarov stated that East-West and North-South international transport corridors that are implemented with the initiation and participation of Azerbaijan, promise strengthening of inter-continental relations, peace, stability and economic prosperity.



During the meeting, Mammadyarov touched upon the negotiation process on the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and drew the attention to the fact that to change the status quo that heads of states of co-chair countries of OSCE Minsk Group declared as unacceptable and unsustainable, the fact of occupation must end and the armed forces of Armenia must withdraw from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

He brought into the attention of Deputy Prime Minister the decision of Council of Europe Court of Human Rights Chiragov and others v. Armenia, which Armenia refuses to accept and implement.



The relations between the EU and Azerbaijan were also discussed during the meeting and it was mentioned that the Southern Gas Corridor project and its important component  TAP project will have a significant contribution to the European energy security.

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7 November 2017 10:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to US President Donald Trump.

I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and injuries in an armed attack on a Baptist church in Texas, Ilham Aliyev said in the letter.

On the occasion of this tragic event, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed and all the people of the United States, and wish those injured recovery, President Aliyev added.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today held talks with the Foreign Minister of Guinea, Mamadi Toure, over a broad range of issues, her ministry said in a statement.

Toure, whose four-day visit to the country (November 3-6) is scheduled to conclude today, met his Indian counterpart, Swaraj, and the two expressed happiness over the "cordial and friendly relationship" between their countries.

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Swaraj also welcomed the ratification of the Framework Agreement on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by Guinea and extended an invitation to the African country to attend the summit-level meeting of the founder members of the ISA in New Delhi.

The ISA initiative is being spearheaded by India.

"Foreign Minister Toure and EAM (Swaraj) exchanged views on a broad range of subjects, covering bilateral friendship and cooperation," the statement said.

Toure appreciated Indias support to his countrys economic development. On her part, Swaraj conveyed Indias readiness to assist in developmental cooperation, including lines of credit and capacity building, in the west African country.

"She (Swaraj) requested FM Toure that Guinea may propose new projects for financing through LoC, announced during IAFS (India-Africa Forum Summit) III," the statement said. PTI PR RC

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7 November 2017 11:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Sweden could also benefit from the North-South railway, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on November 6. He met with First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Ewa Thalen Finne as part of his visit to Sweden.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the ways of developing cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Swedish parliaments. They mentioned that parliamentary diplomacy and mutual exchange of parliamentary delegations play an important role in developing the bilateral relations.

They stated that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden, and during these years the two countries forged political dialogue based on friendship and mutual understanding.

Mammadyarov briefed Thalen Finne about Azerbaijans role in the region, large-scale transport and energy infrastructure projects realized with the initiative and direct participation of Azerbaijan, and noted that Sweden could also benefit from the North-South railway linking South Asia and Northern Europe.

As for economic relations, Mammadyarov and Thalen Finne praised the activities of Swedish companies working in Azerbaijan and mentioned the importance of increasing mutual investments. They underlined that there is great potential for strengthening economic and trade relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden.

The sides also touched upon the role of Azerbaijan in the promotion of religions and intercultural dialogue and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden were established on May 8, 1992. The two countries share a common position in a number of fields, including regional development and security, migration and culture, as well as international issues.

The trade turnover between the countries exceeded $68 million last year, overwhelming majority of which accounted for imports from Sweden.

Today it is important to expand relations between the two countries in a variety of fields, as there is good potential for this. First of all, relationship between the representatives of business should be enhanced in terms of the development of economic ties and exploring new opportunities in this sphere.

Bilateral relations between the two countries also play a special role in expanding Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation even more.

Sweden recognizes Azerbaijans territorial integrity and the countrys officials have repeatedly noted that it is ready to support peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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7 November 2017 16:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The IT project for ladies with hearing and speech problems has been launched in Baku.

The project is financially supported by the Youth Foundation under the President of Azerbaijan, ASAN Volunteers, the E-Government Training and Education Center, IT STEP Academy and Femmes Digitales (IT -club of women of Azerbaijan), Trend Life reported.

The project involved ladies with hearing and speech disorders aged between 16-30 years.

The author of the idea Turana Gasimova stressed that her project aims to master the skills of IT technologies of people with disabilities, in order to further assimilate programs at the professional level as well as to integrate into society.

About twelve classes in basic and office programs, graphic design, coding, robot technology, e-government, etc., will be organized.

The project participants will be awarded certificates, and the best one will be provided with work in various companies.

It was stressed that hearing and speech disorders do not interfere with work on the computer. Almost all the information comes from the screen, and the soundtrack is optional. On the other hand, digital technologies allow you to compensate and overcome the limitations associated with hearing loss, partial or complete deafness, speech disorders.

Modern hearing aids, both portable and implantable, are specialized microcomputers. A home computer, among other things, is a universal music and video player. For people with hearing impairments, it offers interesting possibilities: the connection of some models of hearing aids to the audio output, the reproduction of films with subtitles. There are a number of programs designed for people with hearing and speech. They help to master sign language, reading on the lips, correct speech deficiencies. You can work with such programs yourself, and with the teacher of the deaf.

Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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7 November 2017 16:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden on November 6-7 to meet his counterpart and other officials.

During the meeting with Swedish FM Margot Wallstrom, who visited Azerbaijan in February 2016, the ministers reviewed the current status of relations, issues on the agenda between the two countries and stressed the importance of high level mutual visits with a view of expanding cooperation. They noted with satisfaction the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden.

Mammadyarov and Wallstrom reviewed the ways of further development of economic relations between their countries. In this regards, they commended activity of Swedish companies in Azerbaijan and mentioned the importance of increasing mutual investment. The ministers also said that there is broad potential for strengthening of economic-trade relations and increasing of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Sweden.

They also exchanged views on the current level of negotiations process on Strategic Partnership Agreement between Azerbaijan and European Union and expressed their belief that this agreement will contribute to the development of comprehensive cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Mammadyarov mentioned that Azerbaijan stands for the development of cooperation with EU member states based on mutual respect and understanding, and noted that Azerbaijan already signed strategic partnership agreements with around 10 EU member states.

The minister further informed Wallstrom about the projects realized with Azerbaijans initiative and participation including North-South and East-West corridors and in this regards noted that Sweden can also benefit from North-South railway linking South Asia and Northern Europe.

Touching upon the latest negotiations process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov stated that the attempts to change the internationally recognized borders of states by use of force is unacceptable. He added that Sweden is one of OSCE Minsk Group countries and contribution of all Minsk Group countries is important for the conflict resolution.

The Azerbaijani and Swedish foreign ministers also exchanged views on the cooperation within the international organizations and regional issues of mutual interest.

Prior to meeting with Wallstrom, Mammadyarov met with First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Ewa Thalen Finne.

The sides exchanged views on the ways of developing cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Swedish parliaments. They mentioned that parliamentary diplomacy and mutual exchange of parliamentary delegations play an important role in developing the bilateral relations.

The sides stated that during 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two countries forged political dialogue based on friendship and mutual understanding.

Mammadyarov further briefed Thalen Finne about Azerbaijans role in the region, large-scale transport and energy infrastructure projects realized with the initiative and direct participation of Azerbaijan.

The sides also touched upon the role of Azerbaijan in the promotion of religions and intercultural dialogue and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Sweden were established in 1992 and since then, the two countries share a common position in a number of fields, including regional development and security, migration and culture, as well as international issues.

The trade turnover between the countries exceeded $68 million last year, overwhelming majority of which accounted for imports from Sweden.

Today it is important to expand relations between the two countries in a variety of fields, as there is good potential for this. First of all, relationship between the representatives of business should be enhanced in terms of the development of economic ties and exploring new opportunities in this sphere.

Bilateral relations between the two countries also play a special role in expanding Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation even more.

Sweden recognizes Azerbaijans territorial integrity and the countrys officials have repeatedly noted that it is ready to support peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
7 November 2017 16:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijan has a wonderful history both in terms of its art, its architecture and in terms of traditions, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Robert Cekuta, told reporters on November 7.

He pointed out that jointly with Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture and Tourism, officials, and experts in the countrys Guba region, the US embassy is working on the project for restoring the 18th century hammam (bath).

We are very pleased to work with national authorities in Azerbaijan, with local authorities here on restoring the 18th century hammam, noted the ambassador.

Cekuta pointed out that this project is a good opportunity to help boost tourism, economic development and awareness of the rich history of Guba, where Jews and Muslims have for a long time lived together in harmony.

The US ambassador went on to add that many officials coming from Washington to Azerbaijan wished to visit Guba.

One of them is the former special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs at the US Department of State, Amos Hochstein, but his visit was impossible due to his busy schedule, Cekuta said.

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7 November 2017 10:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Kazakhstan eyes increase in export of goods which will further contribute to the growth of the country's economy.

The export of Kazakh goods amounted to $35.1 billion in January-September, showing an increase of 31.1 percent, or $8.3 billion compared to the same period of last year.

This was reported by the National Bank's press service on November 6.

The cost of export of oil and gas condensate increased by 36.6 percent, exports of ferrous and non-ferrous metals - by 59.1 percent and 20.9 percent, respectively, according to the bank.

The current account of Kazakhstan in January-September 2017 was formed with a negative balance of $5 billion, which is 16.4 percent less than the current account deficit received in the same period in 2016, the report said.

Imports of goods amounted to 23.1 billion dollars, showing an increase of 15.6 percent. The growth in imports occurred across all groups of the main commodity nomenclature. As explained, the greatest increase occurred in the import of consumer non-food products and intermediate industrial consumption goods.

As a result, the trade surplus rose by 77 percent to $12 billion. The negative balance of the investment income balance for January-September of this year was 12.3 billion dollars, due to the growth of payments to foreign direct investors by 1.5 times.

More than half of these revenues were invested by foreign direct investors in subsidiaries in Kazakhstan.

Net capital inflows on the financial account (excluding operations with reserve assets of the National Bank), according to preliminary data, amounted to $6.6 billion.

On direct foreign investment (FDI), the net inflow of capital was $ 3.3 billion. Significant payments for the repayment of intercompany debt to affiliated persons, made by Kazakhstani enterprises in the third quarter of this year, contributed to a reduction in net inflow of FDI, the report noted.

Net inflow of capital for portfolio investments was $8.4 billion due to the reduction of resident assets placed in foreign securities, as well as the issuance of Eurobonds on international capital markets by the non-bank sector.

The outflow of financial resources from the country for other investments is mainly linked to the growth of short-term assets of residents in foreign accounts. Reserve assets (excluding assets of the National Fund) as of October 1, 2017 were estimated at $32.2 billion.

The economic growth in Kazakhstan is expected to accelerate to 2.2 percent in 2017 and to 4.7 percent for the nine months of 2018.

Economic growth in this period will be provided due to the growth in domestic consumption amid rising real wages, the growth of investment in fixed assets in the framework of the implementation of government programs to support and diversify the economy, and the growth of production of mineral resources (the Kashagan effect).

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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7 November 2017 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

A number of new measures, which will greatly simplify export-import operations, are introduced in Uzbekistan.

These measures are envisaged by the two new documents signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 3.

The documents are entitled as a decree "On measures for further liberalization of foreign trade activities and support of business entities" and a decree "On measures to streamline the licensing of exports and imports of specific goods, as well as registration of export and examination of import contracts."

The new decrees intend to eliminate the barriers that still exist in various departmental instructions and regulatory documents which impede the broad participation of entrepreneurs in foreign economic activity.

Starting from December 1, legal entities and individuals are allowed to export goods, works and services (except fresh fruit and vegetable products and certain types of raw materials) for foreign currency without prepayment, opening a letter of credit, issuing a bank guarantee and having a policy on insurance of an export contract against political and commercial risks.

To create favorable conditions for exporters, the document provides business entities with the right from December 1, to export goods (excluding specific goods), works and services without concluding an export contract, on invoices registered in the Unified System after 100 percent prepayment to accounts of exporters in banks of Uzbekistan.

At the same time, with regard to the export of fresh fruit and vegetables, grapes, melons, legumes, and dried vegetables and fruits, individual requirements are established in accordance with the law.

In addition, certain measures aimed to create favorable conditions for exporting enterprises, actively developing new ones, including promising foreign sales markets are introduced. In particular, the document unified the terms for the formation of overdue accounts receivable on foreign trade operations within 120 days from the date of export shipment for export and from the date of payment for import operations.

Meanwhile, valid terms of receipt of payment  180 days  remain in place for the goods exported by Uzbek resident-founders to companies abroad and members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan to trade and investment houses of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as for the goods imported under contracts concluded in the framework of projects implemented in accordance with the decisions of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Among other innovations is the use of a unified approach to take responsibility for allowing the formation of overdue receivables, both for exporters and importers, as well as to extend the receipt of proceeds in foreign currency for a period of duration of force majeure circumstances.

In addition, Mirziyoyev abolished the requirement to issue a permit by customs authorities to re-export goods under the regime of "temporary importation", as well as to compulsory submit import cargo customs declaration by importers in order to confirm the value of goods imported to the territory of the republic with the use of benefits.

Other good news for businessmen include the introduction of a mechanism from December 1 to reduce the amount of receivables under an export contract for the amount of insurance compensation received to the account of the exporter of goods, works and services.

In addition, the documents provide for the transfer of the licensing function from the Ministry of Foreign Trade to the Cabinet of Ministers from November 10 with a view to optimize export-import procedures and consolidate functions for issuing licenses for the export and import of specific goods.

At the same time, jewelry items, precious metal products, precious stones and products made of them are excluded from the list of licensed goods.

To exclude duplicate procedures, the decree provides for simplification and introduction of changes in the current procedure for examination of import contracts in the State Committee for Investments. In particular, the procedure is canceled for the examination of import contracts concluded with an amount of less than $100,000.

The examination of import contracts with the sum of more than $100,000 and concluded based on the results of tender is canceled, with the simultaneous introduction of the procedure for the examination of tender documents or the evaluation of tender proposals during the bidding period. At the same time, the registration of import contracts, concluded on the basis of the results of the tenders, will be carried out without conducting their additional expertise.

The foreign trade turnover of Uzbekistan in January-September 2017 amounted to more than $19.95 billion.

In 2016, the volume of foreign trade amounted to $5.4 billion and demonstrated a decrease by 1.4 percent compared with 2015. Agricultural and engineering products occupied the largest share in the structure of exports. Last year the volume of coal exports amounted to 29.2 percent, glass products to 27.4 percent, ores and precious metals to 45.4 percent in the total export structure.

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7 November 2017 11:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has harshly criticized Saudi Arabia over its destabilizing behavior and risky provocations in the region.

The Iranian foreign ministers tweets condemning the Kingdoms role in the region came after his Saudi counterpart accused Tehran of threatening regional security.

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7 November 2017 12:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Uzbekistan have reached an agreement to create a national anti-doping agency in the country, the NOC reported.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of WADA Deputy Director General Rob Koehler and Secretary General of the Uzbek NOC Oybek Kasimov in Prague.

The Uzbek NOC noted that the initiative came from WADA. The NOC supported the idea of creating a national anti-doping agency in Uzbekistan.

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7 November 2017 12:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

South Korean Hyundai Motor Company has signed a contract for the delivery of 182 trucks worth $14 million to Uzbekistan, Yonhapnews reported.

Delivery of trucks will be completed by February 2018. They will be used by workers of sanitary services of Tashkent.

This is the second delivery of trucks to Uzbekistan as in 2001 the company has already exported 200 trucks.

Earlier, Russian KAMAZ and Uzavtosanoat JSC signed a cooperation agreement, providing for the organization of production of freight vehicles in Uzbekistan.

The production of trucks under the KAMAZ brand in Uzbekistan will be organized at the facilities of UzAutoTrailer LLC (a subsidiary of JSC Uzavtosanoat).

In addition, in the future, the creation of a joint venture to assemble vehicles on the territory of the republic is envisaged.

Foreign Trade Company KAMAZ will supply parts of assembly sets to UzAutoTrailer, and the latter will ensure the assembly of the chassis, and organize the superstructure for own and joint production.

Within the framework of the organization of cargo auto production in Uzbekistan, stipulated by the agreement, by the end of December 2017 it is planned to put the first 100 assembly kits for assembling KAMAZ vehicles in the republic.



The data of January-August, 2017 shows that enterprises of Uzavtosanoat JSC produced products worth 6 057.6 billion soums, which indicates a two-fold increase compared to the figures for the same period in 2016.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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7 November 2017 14:03 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are negotiating the resumption of supplies of Uzbek blue fuel to Tajikistan.

During the second round of negotiations held in Tashkent, the Uzbek side requested about $150 for each thousand cubic meters of fuel, Uzbek media outlets reported.

The Tajik side will review the sounded price for fuel by the end of the month and determine the needs of domestic industrial enterprises in natural gas, the chief accountant of Tajiktransgaz, Olimdzhon Rakhimov, said.

The Uzbek side suggested signing the document in Tashkent in December in case all points of the deal are agreed upon, according to Rakhimov.

Earlier, the gas distribution company said that at the first stage it could purchase fuel for industrial enterprises in the amount of 350 to 800 million cubic meters per year.

Energy rich Uzbekistan terminated the supplies of natural gas to Tajikistan in early 2012 due to the fact that it allegedly increases its exports to Russia and China. Until the 2000s, annual supplies of Uzbek gas to a neighboring country amounted to about 1 billion cubic meters.

This situation forced Tajik authorities to transfer many of the country's large industrial enterprises, including the aluminum plant Talco and the Dushanbe cement plant, from natural gas to coal.

Mountainous Tajikistan experiences frequent power blackouts. Only southern regions of the country and upmarket homes in the centre of Dushanbe receive regular supplies of gas.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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A day after succumbing to injuries he got during a scuffle with men allegedly from the bank, a case was filed against a Tamil Nadu farmer for damaging the two-wheeler of his 'attackers'.

By Pramod Madhav: Gnanasekaran, a farmer from Bonthai village in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvannamalai, had taken a loan out of a bank to buy a tractor. After paying off some of it, he was unable to repay the rest of the amount to the bank.

On November 4, Gnanasekaran died in a hospital after being hurt badly.

Reports have it, on that day, a couple of men had turned up at Gnanasekaran's doorstep to take away his tractor as a compensation for his unpaid debt. When Gnanasekaran asked to see their ID cards proving they were from the bank, and the men failed to do so, a scuffle broke out.

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As Gnanasekaran and his son tried to keep them from taking his tractor away, Gnanasekaran got badly injured in the scuffle. His family claims that he was then rushed to the hospital, where he died.

The following day, as the case got muckier, a different case was filed against a now-dead Gnanasekaran for damaging the two-wheeler of the men who had 'attacked' him.

Whether the bank had sent the men to Gnanasekaran's house or not hasn't been confirmed yet.

Gnanasekaran is said to have taken out a loan of Rs 4.80 lakh, and paid back Rs 1.50 lakh. His family alleges that the bank was threatening him to pay back the rest of the loan immediately. Unable to come up with the lump some amount on time, he had requested for more time.

The Opposition has criticised the bank for 'flouting norms' to retrieve the loan.

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7 November 2017 15:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Experimental Gas and Coal Chemistry Complex "Kazakhstan" was tested on Saryadyr coal mine, said academician Bolat Yermagambet, the director of the Research Institute for Chemistry of Coal and Technologies.

He noted that coal production in Kazakhstan exceeds 100 million tons yearly, and only 5-7 percent of this figure is processedin metallurgic industry for production of coke, char, gas and electric power, reads a message on the website of the prime minister.

"In perspective, it is necessary to direct up to 10 million tons of coal for chemical processing and produce not only motor fuels, but very important products with a high added value, the scientist said.

The advantage of coal gasification process is the absence of harmful effects on the atmosphere, also, after the burning, it is possible to extract rare and rare-earth metals and other valuable components, according to him.

"The scientists of the Research Institute for Chemistry of Coal and Technologies, in 3 years, on the basis of their developments, created the Experimental Gas and Coal Chemistry Complex 'Kazakhstan' on Saryadyr coal mine. The complex is designed for testing new technologies for processing coal products.

The technology has been developed by the domestic scientists and protected by several patents of Kazakhstan and the Eurasian patent," Yermagambet noted.

In perspective, in 2-3 years, the plan is to process up to 2 million tons of coal for receiving organic fertilizers and nanocomposite materials at the expense of investment.

For the further development of coal chemistry, scientists of the Research Institute are proposing the development of the Target Republican Science-Technology Program on coal chemistry, as well as the creation of industrial consortia for convergence of the state, business and science on the basis of gas coal and chemistry complex Kazakhstan LLP Institute for Chemistry of Coal and Technologies at the Saryadyr coal mine on the principle of public-private partnership.

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Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center saw operating income fall in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 as patient revenue declined.

The nonprofit medical center recorded revenue of $791 million in the three months ended Sept. 30, down about 2 percent from $810 million reported in the same period last year, according to unaudited financial documents. Cedars-Sinai saw net patient service revenue decline 3.5 percent to $722 million in the first quarter of 2018, after excluding the hospital fee program. The medical center achieved less revenue than budgeted in the most recent quarter due to lower Medicare and commercial insurer payments from decreased patient acuity.



At the same time, Cedars-Sinai saw expenses fall in the first quarter of 2018 to $726 million. That is down 1.5 percent from $737 million in expenses the hospital incurred in the same period last year. The decline reflects lower supplies costs and professional fees.



Including these results, Cedars-Sinai ended the first quarter of 2018 with operating income of $65 million, down nearly 11 percent from $73 million reported in the same period a year prior.
A committee of experts on physician-focused payment models recommended two new programs to HHS on Oct. 20 to potentially become future Alternative Payment Models under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.

The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee, which was created under MACRA to recommend physician-focused payment models to HHS, flagged two submissions for implementation and testing last month. Here are six things to know about those submissions.

1. The committee recommended HHS implement the Hospital at Home Plus model. This model, submitted by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, outlines a way to provide home-based, hospital-level acute care and tie it to value. This is the first model the committee has recommended for full implementation to HHS.

2. The HaH-Plus model was recommended because it offered an alternative to hospitalization and promotes integrated and coordinated care, the panel said in a letter to HHS Acting Secretary Eric Hargan. With a few updates, such as adding formalized training for providers in the program, external monitoring for adverse events and some refinement in the payment system, the model would likely be of interest to many providers and patients, the panel believes.

3. HaH-Plus would provide a payment system and value-based care model for in-home care for carefully selected Medicare patients. The model would include at-home care for the illness plus 30 days of transition services "post-discharge." Care teams would be tasked to beat spending during this episode of care compared to that of hospitalized patients in the same area in the same diagnosis-related group.

4. The second model recommended by the committee was a bundled payment model for cancer patients, called the Oncology Bundled Payment Program Using CNA-Guided Care. This model was flagged for limited-scale testing by the committee. It was submitted by Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Cota, a precision analytics company. This partnership  and the model's support for precision medicine  gave it merit, the committee said in a letter to the secretary.

5. The Oncology Bundled Payment Program focuses on the most common types of cancer, including breast, colon, rectal and lung cancers. HMH and Cota developed 27 bundles for the model that would cover the oncology episode and all related services for a fixed period of time. HMH also developed a model to build more bundles in other medical specialties.

6. The panel recommended HHS consider rolling the oncology bundle proposal into another proposal submitted earlier this year, the ACS-Brandeis Advanced Alternative Payment Model. The ACS-Brandeis Advanced APM was submitted by the American College of Surgeons and was also flagged for limited-scale testing by the committee. The model is episode-based and includes more than 100 procedures and conditions with a broader focus than the oncology proposal.

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Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico Hospital's board voted unanimously Friday to change the hospital's financial assistance policies and to reverse a policy implemented earlier this year that required uninsured patients to pay a 50 percent down payment before nonemergency surgeries, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Under the new policy, uninsured patients are allowed to pay $25, $75 or $300 up front, depending on their level of poverty, and then make monthly payments on the balance owed for the elective procedure.

"The hospital's policies created an insurmountable barrier for low-income patients to get surgeries, impacting their livelihoods and forcing them to suffer through worsening medical conditions," said Sireesha Manne, healthcare attorney at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. "We are grateful for the collaborative effort of community groups, patient navigators, and policymakers to hold the hospital accountable to its public mission."

The board also voted Friday to establish a discount program for low-income patients in New Mexico who meet poverty guidelines, are ineligible for Medicaid and are unable to purchase private insurance on the health insurance exchange.

UNM Hospital is New Mexico's only academic medical center. The hospital provides more than $135 million of uncompensated care annually, according to its website.

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CMS notified Pine Ridge (S.D.) Indian Health Service Hospital Nov. 3 that it had placed the hospital on "immediate jeopardy" status and will terminate the hospital's provider agreement Nov. 18.

Here are four things to know about CMS' findings.

1. CMS recently surveyed Pine Ridge IHS Hospital and found the hospital inaccurately determined the severity of a patient's condition on Oct. 16. Although the patient was transferred to another hospital several hours after being admitted to Pine Ridge, the inaccurate assessment allegedly led to delays in appropriate emergency care and the patient's death on Oct. 17.

2. In a letter to CMS sent Monday, Michael Toedt, MD, CMO of IHS, said it is impossible to know if the patient's death was due to care he received at Pine Ridge. "Many factors could contribute to the patient's outcome, including comorbidities and care in another facility, and it is not possible to draw a direct conclusion from the care received at Pine Ridge Hospital to the patient's ultimate outcome," he said.

3. CMS said Friday that Pine Ridge's participation in the federal Medicare program will end Nov. 18. Termination means the hospital can no longer bill Medicare for services, which would impact Medicaid funding as well. CMS also placed the hospital on "immediate jeopardy" status, which is the term used when a hospital's actions have caused or are likely to cause serious injury or death to a patient.

4. Pine Ridge Hospital was also placed on "immediate jeopardy" status last year, but the status was lifted in January.

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Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Ky., named John Wilson COO, according to a West Kentucky Star report.

Here are four things to know:

1. Mr. Wilson has worked at the hospital for nine years.

2. Previously, he was vice president of human resources/operations.

3. Before joining Murray-Calloway, he worked in human resource leadership roles at numerous hospitals in Kentucky and New York.

4. He holds a master's degree in human resources from Sullivan University in Louisville, Ky.
Orchard Hospital, a 45-bed facility located in Gridley, Calif., laid-off employees Oct. 27, according to the Taft Midway Driller.

This year Orchard Hospital faced a serious lack of funding due to an increase of unfavorable payers, a delay in the Hospital Fee Program, which provides $250,000 per month to the hospital, and the failed passage of special tax measure that would've provided additional funding.

To offset this lack of funding, the hospital implemented cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions to ensure the longevity of the hospital.

"[The layoffs were] the last choice we wanted to make at Orchard Hospital and it is not the only expense cuts we made; however, given the financial issues we are facing, staff reductions became necessary for the survival of our hospital and for the patients and communities we serve," Steve Stark, Orchard Hospital's CEO told Taft Midway Driller.

Orchard Hospital did not immediately respond to Becker's Hospital Review's request for more information.
A disagreement over landscaping may have led a disgruntled neighbor to allegedly attack Sen. Rand Paul, MD, R-Ky., Friday, leaving the senator with lung contusions and five broken ribs, according to The New York Times.

Several of Dr. Paul's neighbors and three Kentucky Congressmen familiar with the matter told The New York Times Dr. Paul and Rene Boucher, DO, have lived next door to each other for 17 years and had previously worked at the same hospital for some time.

While police have said Dr. Boucher's motive for the alleged assault is unclear, the sources told The New York Times the incident may have resulted from growing tension over "stray yard clippings, newly planted saplings and unraked leaves," the report states. The publication also noted Dr. Paul had previously shown little interest in neighborhood regulations, and claimed Dr. Paul grows pumpkins and composts on his property.

Dr. Boucher, 59, reportedly came onto Dr. Paul's property around 3:20 p.m. Nov. 3 and allegedly tackled him from behind. One of the Kentucky Congressmen and an individual close to Dr. Paul said the senator had been wearing noise cancelling earmuffs while riding a lawn mower moments before the incident and did not hear Dr. Boucher coming toward him, according to the report.

A lawyer on behalf of Dr. Boucher told The New York Times Monday the altercation had "absolutely nothing to do with either [individual's] politics or political agendas. It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial."

The three Congressmen, who asked The New York Times for anonymity, said Dr. Paul had been embarrassed by the incident and was not interested in drawing attention to it, according to the report.

Police charged Dr. Boucher with a misdemeanor count of assault. However, authorities may raise the charge to a felony given the severity of Dr. Paul's injuries. Police may also take evidence to a grand jury to seek an indictment against Dr. Boucher, the report states.

It is unclear when Dr. Paul will be able to travel or return to work in Congress, NPR reports.

To read The New York Times's full report, click here.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions took place or were announced during the past week.

1. Children's Hospital & Medical Center Nebraska to purchase 7-acre lot from Methodist Health

Omaha, Neb.-based Children's Hospital & Medical Center signed an agreement to purchase a portion of a 12-acre lot from Dallas-based Methodist Health System for just under $10 million.

2. McLaren Health to buy Indiana health plan

Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care signed a definitive agreement to acquire nonprofit health maintenance organization MDwise.

3. Owens & Minor to acquire surgical and prevention medicine business for $710M

Owens & Minor, a medical device distributor, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the surgical and infection prevention business from Halyard Health, a medical technology and device manufacturer, for $710 million.

4. CHS sells Mississippi hospital to Curae Health

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems sold Merit Health Northwest Mississippi, a 181-bed hospital in Clarksdale, to Clinton, Tenn.-based Curae Health.

5. For-profit company wins bid for cash-strapped North Carolina hospital

Empower iHCC, a for-profit company based in Miami, beat out six other healthcare organizations to place the winning bid for Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, N.C.

6. KU Health, Ardent close St. Francis Health purchase

Kansas City-based University of Kansas Health System and Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services closed on their joint acquisition of St. Francis Health, a 378-bed hospital in Topeka, Kan., Nov. 1.

7. Quorum sells 72-bed Alabama hospital

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health divested 72-bed L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Ala., to the Health Care Authority of the City of Greenville-L.V. Stabler Hospital, a public corporation.

8. CHS divests Florida hospital to HCA

Community Health Systems completed the sale of Highlands Regional Medical Center, a 126-bed hospital in Sebring, Fla., to Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

9. Rice Memorial board OKs partnership with CentraCare, ACMC Health

The Willmar, Minn.-based Rice Memorial Hospital board of directors approved a series of agreements Oct. 30 to create a regional healthcare entity in partnership with Willmar-based ACMC Health and St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare Health.

10. Elliot, Southern New Hampshire Health combine to create Solution Health

Manchester, N.H.-based Elliot Health System and Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Health signed an agreement Oct. 30 to combine operations.
Healthcare workers at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge (Tenn.) plan to picket Tuesday, days after members took a strike authorization vote, according to The Oak Ridger.

The announcement came from Service Employees International Union Local 205, which represents more than 800 nurses and support staff at the hospital. In a media advisory about the picket, SEIU said members plan to strike if the two sides are unable to reach a labor deal, according to the report.

The union is currently in negotiations with the hospital, part of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Covenant Health, as a contract extension is set to expire Nov. 15. According to the union, key sticking points include staffing levels, work hours, pay and health insurance.

The hospital expressed disappointment in the union's picket plans, but told Becker's via email it "remains focused on reaching a proposal that is fair for all parties."

"There are several issues that have not been resolved at this point but our goal remains to reach an agreement. We are working in earnest to negotiate a contract that rewards a staff of dedicated professionals and invests for the future of this hospital and the community," MMC added.

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Devin Patrick Kelley, the suspected gunman who killed 26 people in an attack on a church on Sunday in Sutherland Springs, Texas, was already convicted in a domestic violence case in 2012, which the Air Force failed to report to FBI.

By AP: The Air Force failed to report the accused Texas church shooter's domestic violence conviction to the FBI as required by Pentagon rules, officials said Monday.

The lapse prompted the Pentagon to announce a review of whether the problem has gone undetected in other cases across the military.

Devin Patrick Kelley was convicted of assault against his wife and stepson in an Air Force court-martial in New Mexico in 2012 and served 12 months in confinement before being given a bad-conduct discharge in 2014.

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He is the suspected gunman in the attack on Sunday in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in which 26 people were killed.

An Air Force record of the Kelley court-martial says he pleaded guilty to multiple specifications of assault, including striking his wife, choking her with his hands and kicking her. He also was convicted of striking his stepson on the head and body "with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm."

Under Pentagon rules, information about convictions of military personnel in crimes like assault is supposed to be submitted to the FBI's Criminal Justice Investigation Services Division for inclusion in the National Criminal Information Center database.

For unspecified reasons, the Air Force did not provide the information about Kelley as required.

AIR FORCE ACKNOWLEDGES MISTAKE

Acknowledging its mistake, the Air Force said in a written statement that the top two Air Force officials - Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein - have ordered a review of the Kelley case by the Air Force Office of the Inspector General.

"The service will also conduct a comprehensive review of Air Force databases to ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly," Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

Later Monday, the Pentagon issued a written statement saying it had asked its inspector general to work with the Air Force to review the handling of criminal records in the Kelley case. It also said the inspector general will "review relevant policies and procedures to ensure records from other cases" throughout the Defense Department have been correctly reported to the FBI.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Texas church shooting: Man with assault rifle guns down 26 people

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Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago is suing Leapfrog for defamation, alleging the hospital ratings agency knowingly used incorrect information to lower the hospital's letter grade for patient safety, according to the Cook County Record.

The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Leapfrog awarded Saint Anthony Hospital letter grades of "A" for patient safety in its fall 2016 and spring 2017 reports, but lowered the hospital's grade to "C" in its fall 2017 report.

The hospital claims Leapfrog lowered its grade for patient safety for allegedly only prescribing patient medications electronically 50 to 74 percent of the time. However, Saint Anthony Hospital said its physicians prescribe medications electronically at least 95 percent of the time, and that data was provided to Leapfrog, according to the report.

The hospital alleged it informed Leapfrog of the error numerous times in October, but Leapfrog never said it would correct the issue prior to releasing its hospital ratings Oct. 31. Saint Anthony contends Leapfrog's refusal to issue the hospital a higher letter grade and correct the alleged error amounts to defamation, according to the report.

"Saint Anthony lacks an adequate remedy at law because once the grade is published, Saint Anthony cannot undue the effect to its reputation," the hospital said in its complaint. "Saint Anthony brings this motion to seek the narrowest relief possible  temporarily stop Leapfrog from publishing the false statements regarding Saint Anthony and Saint Anthonys inaccurate Hospital Safety Grade of a 'C.'"

A search of Leapfrog's website on Nov. 6 did not return a rating for Saint Anthony Hospital.

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Toby Cosgrove, MD, CEO of Cleveland Clinic, called for healthcare providers to rethink pain management in an effort to help reverse the tide of the nation's ongoing opioid overdose epidemic, according to a recent viewpoint article.

In the article, Dr. Cosgrove cited the statistic suggesting more than 60,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2016, which is more than the total number of American deaths (58,200) tallied in the Vietnam War. The 2016 death toll is primarily attributable to opioid-related overdoses.

"This has to stop and healthcare providers have a key role in turning the tide," Dr. Cosgrove wrote in the article. "One of the most sobering statistics, from a physician's point of view, is that over 75 percent of opioid and heroin deaths begin with a prescription pain killer. The healthcare industry bears some responsibility. That's not to say that patients aren't in legitimate pain. They are, maybe as many as 100 million by some estimates. But we as healthcare providers have to approach pain differently, smarter."

Dr. Cosgrove detailed strides made by providers to reduce opioid prescriptions at Cleveland Clinic. Since July, the health system has cut emergency department opioid prescriptions exceeding three days by 50 percent.

"Essentially, we can attack the opioid epidemic in four ways: giving healthcare providers the prescribing tools and resources they need; insisting on team engagement among hospital departments; tracking prescribing data and demanding accountability; and sharing information with other hospitals in the region," wrote Dr. Cosgrove.

Additional efforts to reduce opioid use at Cleveland Clinic include designating "pain champions" in every hospital unit, training providers to compassionately decline patient requests for opioids, and using the nonopioid pain medication Exparel in mastectomy patients.

To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic's efforts to curb opioid use, click here.

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Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear on Monday filed a lawsuit against Endo International for allegedly engaging in deceptive marketing tactics while promoting its controversial opioid Opana ER in the state.

Opana ER  extended release oxymorphone  is a highly potent opioid meant to be swallowed and released over the span of 12 hours. After its release, drug users began crushing the pill to bypass its time-release mechanism before snorting or injecting it. The lawsuit claims Endo's marketing efforts expanded the demand for opioids. The suit also alleges that when the company was confronted with data suggesting Opana ER was being widely abused, it introduced a reformulated version of the drug that was harder to crush and marketed it as safe when the company had evidence that it wasn't. In July, Endo removed its abuse-deterrent formulation of the drug from the market after the Food and Drug Administration requested the company do so.

"Today we are taking action to hold Endo responsible for unlawfully building a market for the chronic use of opioids in the name of increasing corporate profits, knowing all along the dangers of Opana ER that led to devastating effects on the commonwealth," Mr. Beshear said. "My office refuses to sit back and watch families be torn apart while opioid manufacturers like Endo line their pockets at the expense of our communities and our future."

In 2016, more than 190 people in Kentucky died of an oxymorphone-related overdose. The lawsuit alleges Endo contributed to these overdoses and others through the promotion of Opana ER.

Endo does not comment on ongoing litigation. However, Matthew Maletta, the company's executive vice president and chief legal officer, described Mr. Beshear's comments about Endo as "offensive" in an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review.

"The public statement made by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear in connection with filing suit against Endo that this organization and its dedicated employees seek to 'line their pockets at the expense of communities' is patently offensive," Mr. Maletta said. "We intend to vigorously defend the company against the claims set forth in this lawsuit."

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A medical tourism program has officially launched in San Diego, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Here are five things to know about the program.

1. The program, DestinationCare San Diego, aims to bring patients to the city for healthcare.

2. Four area healthcare organizations  UC San Diego Health System, Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare and Rady Children's Hospital  are all part of the program, according to the report. The San Diego Tourism Authority is also collaborating with the healthcare organizations on the effort.

3. Joe Terzi, the tourism authority's president and CEO, expects other healthcare providers to join DestinationCare San Diego in the future. "The goal has been to start with this nucleus, because they are the primary (healthcare) institutions in the San Diego," Mr. Terzi said, according to the report. "So once we start to move out, there is a discussion about where do we extend, and how far. Because we want the treatment to be rated very highly."

4. Initial funding for DestinationCare San Diego is coming from the tourism authority as well as veteran philanthropist Malin Burnham, who donated $100,000 to the initiative.

5. Eventually, though, the program is anticipated to sustain itself, possibly through commissions hotels take in from visiting patients, hospital payments or other sources, Mr. Terzi said in the report.
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana will lay off 1,300 employees in early 2018, according to the Courier Journal.

The insurer announced the layoffs, which will affect about 3 percent of the company's workforce, in an email sent to employees Monday. The insurer said another 1,150 employees accepted voluntary buyouts, which were offered in September. To be eligible for the buyout, employees had to be age 55 or older, have at least five years at the company, and have a combined age and years of service totaling at least 65 years.

Becker's Hospital Review reported in March that Humana would lay off an undisclosed number of employees as part of the insurer's growth strategy following its unsuccessful bid to merge with Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna. At that time, a Humana spokesperson told Becker's the layoffs were part of a plan to create "new jobs that are aligned with the company's enhanced growth strategy  and phase out positions that are no longer as aligned."

Affected employees may apply for the more than 1,450 open positions at Humana. Those who do not secure a new position within the company will receive career counseling, severance pay and help finding a new job, according to Insider Louisville.

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Hospitals must implement effective antibiotic stewardship programs to mitigate the infection risks associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use.

While more than half of all hospitalized patients will receive an antibiotic during their stay, research shows 30 to 50 percent of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals are unnecessary or incorrect, according to the CDC.

This overuse of antibiotics threatens patient safety and promotes the spread of dangerous antibiotic-resistant infections, according to Ed Septimus, MD, vice president of research and infectious diseases at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Clinical Services Group.

Dr. Septimus holds more than 30 years of experience in infectious diseases. Prior to joining HCA Healthcare in 2008, he served as medical director of infectious diseases and employee health at Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston for 22 years. Dr. Septimus has held leadership roles in numerous advisory groups, panels and medical societies throughout his career, most recently co-chairing the National Quality Forum's steering committees on antibacterial stewardship and patient safety.

Dr. Septimus spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the prevalence of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, his collaboration with NQF and how hospitals can improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: Has the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitals increased in the past decade? If yes, what are the causes of this upward trend?

Dr. Ed Septimus: While overall rates of antibiotic use in hospitals have been stable, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in acute care and outpatient sites has increased significantly. This distressing trend is due to increasing antibiotic resistance, as well as insecurity by physicians about what constitutes a viral versus bacterial infection and inappropriate use, both of which can spur antimicrobial resistance.

Q: How can the healthcare community address broad-spectrum antibiotic use? What are the most important areas to focus on?

ES: It is important the healthcare community attack broad-spectrum antibiotic use on multiple fronts. First, the use of better diagnostics will result in improved diagnostics certainty, which, in turn, will reduce antibiotic use. Second, more education around common clinical syndromes and diagnostics is necessary. Third, hospitals should develop approaches to measuring antibiotic stewardship, including regular audits and feedback, followed by academic detailing. Finally, hospital staff should implement a de-escalation after 48 to 72 hours  known as an antibiotic "time-out"  to avoid inappropriate use and overuse, both of which can to contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Q: What are some of the most common challenges hospitals face when trying to implement a successful antibiotic stewardship program?

ES: Some of the most common challenges hospitals face when creating or strengthening antibiotic stewardship programs stem from the absence of an approach to implementing CDC's Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs at a practical level. To succeed, antibiotic stewardship programs need clear support from hospital leadership. Leadership commitment can be demonstrated in many ways, and the board, executive team, leadership and professional staff must all clearly articulate that commitment. Other challenges include allocating appropriate funding for staff and resources and having the right competencies among hospital staff. To be successful, hospitals must appoint the right physician or pharmacist to champion the program among staff. They should also ideally convene a stewardship committee that meets regularly and includes physicians, emergency department personnel, hospitalists, intensivists, surgeons, infectious disease specialists (if available), and representatives from pharmacy, the senior C-suite, microbiology, infection prevention, nursing and IT. Hospitals should not underestimate the importance of performance measurement and accountability, both of which can help staff identify common barriers and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Q: What resources or guidelines should hospitals consult when looking to improve antibiotic stewardship?

ES: Some of the most widely used and scientifically rigorous guidelines include 2016 IDSA/SHEA implementation guidelines and NQF's National Quality Partners Playbook: Antibiotic Stewardship for Acute Care. In addition to CDC's Core Elements for acute care, other resources include CDC's Core Elements for long-term care and outpatient care. Hospital staff should address and incorporate these guidelines across the continuum of care to optimize patient safety and maintain effective antimicrobial stewardship systemwide.

Q: Can you share more about your involvement with NQF's antibiotic stewardship initiative? What is the initiative's main goal?

ES: I co-chaired NQF's Antibiotic Stewardship Action Team alongside CDC's Arjun Srinivasan, MD, to develop the NQP Playbook. This practical resource is based on CDC's Core Elements and provides actionable strategies to help hospitals and health systems strengthen existing antibiotic stewardship initiatives or create antibiotic stewardship programs from the ground up. I also co-chaired NQFs 2015-17 Patient Safety Standing Committee, along with Iona Thraen, PhD, from the University of Utah.

I will also serve as one of the lead faculty for NQF's Antibiotic Stewardship Workshop on Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. This workshop builds on the NQP Playbook and CDC Core Elements to provide real-world guidance and education to help quality professionals understand common barriers to successful antibiotic stewardship programs, identify corresponding solutions from a multidisciplinary perspective, build upon existing antibiotic stewardship programs, and develop approaches to measure antibiotic stewardship and identify opportunities for improvement.

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Phoenix-based OrthoArizona welcomed Caleb Behrend, MD, to its practice.

Here are five things to know:

1. Dr. Behrend has a special interest in minimally invasive spinal procedures, including decompression, discectomy, fusion and revision procedures.

2. In addition to performing cervical spine reconstruction, Dr. Behrend has a special interest in adult scoliosis and deformity surgery. He also works with patients to alleviate pain and reduce disability.

3. Dr. Behrend joined more than 70 physicians already practicing out of 25 locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and will see patients in the East Valley region.

4. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Behrend teaches and participates in clinical research focused on patient outcomes, risk reduction and complication prevention. He is also a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.

5. Prior to joining OrthoArizona, Dr. Behrend completed his medical degree at UC Los Angeles and residency at The University of Rochester (N.Y.). He also underwent a complex spine surgery and spinal trauma fellowship at Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.
Tech companies across the island of Ireland have been succeeding on the international stage for many years, establishing a reputation for the region as a home of innovative tech start-ups and companies with high potential to scale up.

Dublin of course has an immensely strong tech scene, from the huge US multinationals like Google, Facebook and Microsoft, which employ thousands of people, to a vibrant group of fast-growing indigenous businesses taking their expertise to customers across the globe - such as overall Fast 50 winner eShopWorld.

Northern Ireland may have a smaller number of technology companies, but this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards suggests that there is much to celebrate in the technology community around Belfast, Derry and beyond.

The Fast 50 awards, now in their 18th year, rank Ireland's fastest growing technology companies and recognise the indigenous technology companies that have demonstrated exceptional growth in turnover over the last four years. The awards in Dublin last week showcased companies that, despite the challenges in the global economy, continue to innovate and drive the sector forward.

This year saw a record number of NI entrants ranked in the Fast 50 awards. Fifteen companies was the highest amount of ranked entrants from Northern Ireland since the awards began.

They included: AquaQ Analytics, Engaged Web, Fathom, Flint Studios, JAR Technologies, Leaf, Learning Pool, Lucid Interactive, Neueda, Origin Digital, Ozaroo, P2V Systems, Repstor, Tascomi and The Web Bureau.

Some of these companies are well known and have made the list before. At sixth place on the list, online retailer Ozaroo was the top-ranked NI company for the second year running.

But what is perhaps most positive was the number of companies making their debut. Out of the 15 firms from NI, seven are new entrants to the ranking - which tracks the growth posted over the last four years. For those emerging companies, the Fast 50 awards provide added validation and credibility for what they are doing as they try to establish themselves as significant players in the technology sector.

AquaQ Analytics, ranked 26th on the Fast 50 list, is a provider of specialist data management, data analytics and data mining services to clients in the capital markets sectors. Ronan Pairceir, the company's CEO, is confident the NI tech sector is in good shape.

"The NI tech industry is thriving. Both small and large companies are being well supported to do some really innovative work. Our team work hard to provide clients with a quality, expert service and as we do that, we really value the recognition that comes with something like the Fast 50 ranking," he said.

The increased profile, he says, helps smaller firms address one of the industry's biggest challenges.

"Our revenues have grown significantly year on year, proving to us that NI is an excellent place to be working in tech. But we're all trying to tap into the same pool of resources and that means there is a lot of competition for the best resources. That is a challenge."

Jar Technologies helps organisations perform online, using real browser testing and monitoring to ensure applications work. CEO Ryan McAnlis believes competition in NI's relatively small marketplace can be overcome if the region can attract larger scale investment and a bigger footprint from global enterprise tech companies present in Dublin.

"Investment is necessary for larger growth within the NI tech industry. We have great venture capital investment and productive programmes for angel and seed start-ups, but we need access to the further investment required for larger growth," he said.

"Jar Technologies is delivering world-leading innovative products and we believe we have the talent in Northern Ireland to continue to do that.

"The Deloitte Fast 50 ranking is a first-rate recognition that we hope will help us gain further confidence with large enterprises.

"Those are the companies that will deliver further growth to sustain that next level of investment."

The Technology Fast 50 awards celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship and provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the strength and achievements of businesses in the tech sector.

In Belfast and Northern Ireland we do have some of those big players and our innovative indigenous tech companies are increasingly on the radars of larger private equity and venture capital investors.

But there is still much to be done to ensure that some of the high quality companies on the Fast 50 have access to the means they need to kick on to the next level.
Silicon Valley Bank is embarking on a major recruitment drive in Frankfurt as London's Square Mile faces an exodus of banking firms in the wake of Brexit

Silicon Valley Bank, one of the most high-profile investors in the UK's tech scene, is embarking on a major recruitment drive in Frankfurt as London's Square Mile faces an exodus of banking firms in the wake of Brexit.

The commercial bank has already made two notable hires from the German banking industry as it waits for local regulator Bafin to approve its licence application.

The US-headquartered bank has brought in former Deutsche Bank managing director Katrin Stark, as well as Christian Hoppe, a founder and former director of Commerzbank subsidiary Main Incubator, as managing directors.

It is now advertising Frankfurt-based positions for a sales director, relationship management VP and an associate position for commercial and corporate banking.

Filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from August show that its application for a banking licence in Germany was still in progress, but it is understood that, pending regulatory approval, its local operations could open in 2018.

Silicon Valley Bank declined to comment. It provides loans and seed funding to British tech start-ups and fintech firms.

The lender first entered the European market in 2012 with a full service branch in London, where it now has 160 staff, and has since set up an office in Dublin, but only has one employee on the ground focused on business development.
By PTI: Kolkata, Nov 7 (PTI) Two drug peddlers have been arrested from Muchipara area here and over 70 gm of heroin was seized from their possession, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid yesterday and arrested the duo from a hide-out at B B Ganguly Street under Muchipara police station limits, a senior Kolkata Police official said.

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Heroin of around 73 gm, with a market value of about Rs 70,000, was seized, he added.

The duo have been remanded to police custody till Thursday. PTI SCH RBT

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The German supermarket giant now employs some 3,200 staff across the Republic and last year contributed 1.2bn to the nation's GDP. Managing director Giles Hurley sees no reason to stop despite the market facing increased challenges.

Giles Hurley breezes out of the conference room at the Heritage Killenard Hotel just outside Portarlington. The managing director of Aldi Ireland has just been rallying the troops - suppliers in this case - and fielding what he says were some tough questions.

About 400 delegates attended the day-long conference and got to meet Aldi's buyers face-to-face to talk about their products and what the German discounter is looking for.

"Our message was focused on some of the challenges there are now in the market for our suppliers," says Hurley, who's squeezing in an interview before he legs it to the airport to catch a flight to Scotland.

Brexit is an obvious challenge, but suppliers - Aldi has about 175 in Ireland - also quizzed Hurley about why they should be doing business, or more business, with the chain. This is no place for wallflowers.

"There's also unprecedented levels of competition, currency and (grocery) deflation, Brexit on the horizon and a general air of uncertainty," says Hurley (42), who lives in Warwick in England's Midlands and commutes regularly to Ireland and Scotland in his role as an Aldi managing director with responsibility for the two countries .

He oversees almost 130 Aldi outlets in Ireland, having joined the group as an area manager 18 years ago when there were just five here.

"We have known challenging times in Ireland, but this is a little different," he adds, pointing out that the conference with suppliers was about reassurance as much as anything else.

At least Aldi has a solid market position to console them, if that's what part of what they needed. The retailer is also neck-and-neck with fellow German discounter Lidl in terms of their share of the grocery market in Ireland.

According to the latest figures from research group Kantar Worldpanel, Aldi has an 11.6% share of the market in terms of value of sales. Lidl has 11.7% (Tesco and SuperValu are joint first, each with 22%).

Back of the envelope calculations based on sales figures from SuperValu results in both Aldi and Lidl each likely generating annual sales in the region of 1.4bn in Ireland.

Aldi doesn't split out its numbers for Ireland, but the chains work on wafer-thin margins. Aldi's combined UK and Ireland operation posted revenue of 8.74bn (9.9bn) last year and a 255.6m (289.5m) profit. Sales were 13.5% higher, but profits were down 17% as the chain kept margins low amid intense competition.

Aldi and Lidl did well from the downturn, with their promise of lower-priced, quality produce resonating with hard-pressed consumers. And they managed to hang on to shoppers who had ventured through their doors nursing their pay cheques.

Hurley says the customer remains "at the heart" of Aldi's decision-making, and that pushing products made in Ireland yields dividends for the chain. He also reckons that Aldi's share of sales volumes is probably "three of four percentage points higher" than the share based in value of sales.

"Consumers in Ireland want to buy Irish," he says. "With Irish product comes that sense of assurance and quality and of supporting our own."

There's no doubt that for many suppliers, the push by grocery chains here to stock innovative produce has spurred growth in the domestic food sector. New Irish products emerge all the time, with some, such as Kerrygold Shortbread Biscuits and dairy-free ice-cream maker Nobo, managing to quickly break into global markets.

Aldi spent about 700m buying from Irish suppliers last year. Among the companies doing well from a relationship with the chain is Waterford-based Blackwater Distillery. Its small-batch Boyle's Gin is being sold exclusively through Aldi and the chain has bagged 15,000 cases worth 300,000 to sell in its UK stores in the run-up to Christmas.

Aldi has a 6.9% share of the UK grocery market, which is worth a total of about 180bn, so the potential for Irish suppliers that get a toehold in the market there is significant.

But could the focus by grocery retailers on beefing up their relationship with Irish suppliers and showcasing Irish food as a selling point become tired, now that grocery chains have increasingly latched on to it?

"The key is to continue to breathe life into it," says Hurley. "You have to continue to innovate and that means always working with the supplier base to find the best new products and opportunities."

And those new opportunities include pushing sales of Irish products into other Aldi geographies, as has happened with Boyle's Gin.

"Having fostered these relationships, to support those suppliers to continue growing their volume is a great story," he says. "As their volumes grow, it's good for their cost base, and that's a benefit for us too."

Hurley insists that the provenance of food, especially for millennials, remains important in their grocery buying decisions.

But concerns over so-called food miles often evaporate when the cold, hard reality of pricing comes into the equation. Will consumers really pay more for a vegetable or fruit grown in Europe rather than one imported from say, Morocco?

"There is a bit of an irony," Hurley concedes. "Consumers would like everything, but they want it in a way that's sustainable. I think that's a bit of a challenge for retailers in terms of how we do that. But if Irish consumers want Irish strawberries in April, let's find a way to make that happen.

"People have to vote with the money in their pockets," he agrees. "Basmati rice is always going to come from India. Parma ham will always come from Italy, but there are lots of other areas where there are opportunities to innovate. And you don't have to have a hefty price tag to get quality."

Born in Surrey, Hurley might have a strong English accent, but his parents are Irish and he has spent a big chunk of his life in Ireland.

He was a boarder at the pricey Headfort primary school in Kells, Co Meath, before returning to the UK for his secondary education. He studied history in Trinity College, Dublin, and taught English in China before heading home and joining the McDonald's graduate training programme.

Hurley applied for his first Aldi job using his address in Donegal, despite being based in Dublin at the time.

"I think in those embryonic days in Ireland they thought: 'Oh there's somebody from Donegal and we've got a store in Letterkenny'," he says on first getting through the Aldi door.

The pace of investment quickly accelerated.

A study prepared for the chain this year estimated that Aldi, which employs 3,200 people here, has spent 1.2bn on capital expenditure in Ireland since its debut, and contributed 1.2bn to Ireland's gross domestic product last year.

Earlier this year, the chain embarked on a 60m project to expand its array of fresh foods at its stores in Ireland. That has also seen it move fresh produce to the front of stores, and also trial bakeries.

Hurley says that Aldi and Lidl played a key role making own-brand products, or exclusive brands as he likes to describe them, more mainstream in Ireland.

"You just need to track the popularity of brands in Ireland over the past 15 years to see how it's changed," he says.

"We're 17% of the nappy market in Ireland now for instance. That's a massive share and makes us the second-biggest brand in Ireland."

Aldi hopes to open about 10 new stores next year in Ireland, and has 100m "ring-fenced", says Hurley, to open a total of 20 new outlets in the next three years.

"It's slightly quieter than we would have liked this year," he says, adding that there is "plenty coming down the tracks".

"How big are we going to get? It's difficult to answer. We'll keep on adding stores as long as we're growing sales. Another 20 will bring us to 150 stores. Could there be another 50 stores after that? Yes, I think there could be. We're under-represented in Dublin. It's a big opportunity. It's a great complaint to have that we want to open more stores more quickly."
Harry Potter star Julie Walters will cast a spell over Buckingham Palace when she is made a dame today.

The actress will receive the honour for services to drama, almost 35 years after her breakout role in Educating Rita, for which she was nominated for an Oscar.

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Since then she has bagged a second Academy Award nomination for her turn in Billy Elliot and has had starring roles in films including Mamma Mia, Calendar Girls, Brave and seven of the eight Harry Potter films, playing Molly Weasley.

On the small screen she is best known for her collaborations with the late Victoria Wood, including Wood And Walters and Dinnerladies.

She was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours.

Also present at the investiture ceremony will be Doreen Kenny, who will receive the George Medal awarded to her late husband Bernard Kenny for attempting to save the life of murdered MP Jo Cox.

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The former miner died before he could collect his honour, awarded for his bravery after he was stabbed as he intervened when Thomas Mair attacked Mrs Cox in his home village of Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June 2016.

After Mrs Coxs murder there were numerous calls for Mr Kenny to be honoured, including a petition aimed at securing him the George Cross  the highest possible civilian honour.

At Mairs trial at the Old Bailey, the jury heard that the pensioner was waiting for his wife outside the library in Birstall when he saw Mair going berserk.

He said in a statement to police: I thought if I could jump on to the back, I could take him down.

I thought he was thumping her until I saw the blood. I saw he had a knife in his hands. It was what I call a dagger. The blade was about nine inches.

Just as I got short of him, he turned around and saw me. He shoved the knife in and it hit me in the stomach. The blood started pouring out between my fingers. I saw the blood and I thought Oh my God.

Mr Kenny described Mairs actions as a pure act of evil.

After the attack, more than 80,000 people signed an online petition calling for Mr Kenny to be awarded the George Cross for his bravery.

Mr Kenny, who shared a birthday with Mrs Cox, worked as a miner for 40 years and was a former member of the Gomersal Mines Rescue team, which tried to save victims of the Lofthouse mine disaster in 1973.

Neo-Nazi Mair was given a whole life sentence for the murder of Mrs Cox, and was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Kenny and possession of a gun and dagger.

At the same investiture ceremony actress Helen McCrory will be made an OBE.

The Peaky Blinders star will be honoured for services to drama.
The Weinstein Company name will not appear on Paddington 2 and all options are being explored to find a new distributor in north America, the films producer has said.

The highly anticipated sequel to Paddington, which is released in UK cinemas on Friday, had been acquired by Harvey Weinsteins former company for release in America in the new year.

David Heyman, the producer behind the films, as well as the Harry Potter movies and Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, said he is hopeful a new distributor will now be found.

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He told the Press Association: To be clear, The Weinstein Company had absolutely nothing to do with the making of this film.

Studio Canal, a French company, financed it and have been incredibly supportive.

The Weinstein Company had acquired it for North American distribution.

Their name will not be on the film or anywhere near the film and we are currently exploring all options, my hope is we will find an alternative distributor.

We are exploring all options and fingers crossed there will be a happy ending and one that befits Michael Bond and Paddington.

The Weinstein Company, which was co-founded by disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, distributed the first film in the US in 2014.

The company has since been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against the movie mogul, from actresses including Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne.

Weinstein has been sacked by the company and has resigned from its board.

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Heyman said the fact Bond, the creator of Paddington, died on the last day of filming, made it particularly important the film was a fitting tribute.

He said: Its sad in the sense that he wont be here to enjoy the reception and festivities and at the same time I think this is a celebration of all he created and his wife Sue and his daughter Karen have seen the film and loved it.

There is a little note at the end thanking him, we wouldnt be here without him.

It is sad there wont be any more Paddington books written by Michael Bond, that is indeed sad, and he passed away on the last day of filming too, so its definitely sad, but at the same time I also hope the film is a celebration of what he created.

Paddington 2 is released in UK cinemas on November 10.
The DUP is urging the Secretary of State to stand firm on his declaration that Northern Ireland is unlikely to remain in the single market or customs union after Brexit.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP said James Brokenshire didn't represent the interests of the majority of people in Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State was in Brussels to meet leading EU figures including chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan.

He updated them on Stormont's power-sharing crisis and highlighted the issues Brexit poses locally.

Mr Brokenshire said a bespoke solution for Northern Ireland was unlikely to see it remain in the single market or customs union.

"We joined the Common Market in 1973 as one United Kingdom and we will leave the European Union in 2019 as one United Kingdom," he said.

"As the Prime Minister has made clear, leaving the EU will mean that we leave both the single market and the customs union.

"I find it difficult to imagine how Northern Ireland could somehow remain in while the rest of the country leaves."

However, he pledged that the government was determined to find "bespoke solutions to Northern Ireland's unique circumstances, not least as the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state".

He said: "We fully recognise the extent to which the Northern Ireland economy, while an integral part of the UK economy, is also fully integrated with that of Ireland, particularly in areas like the agri-food sector.

"We fully recognise the flow of traffic across the border on a daily basis for people going about their business - be it to work, study, shop or simply visit friends and relatives.

"And we fully recognise those ties of family and shared history that exist between people on the island of Ireland as well as between Ireland and Great Britain.

"All of this requires creative and imaginative thinking by the UK and Irish governments along with the EU."

DUP MEP Diane Dodds urged Mr Brokenshire to stand firm on Northern Ireland leaving the single market and the customs union and said there must be "no new border between Britain and ourselves".

She said: "The DUP will not countenance internal borders within the UK single market.

"The EU has said the outcome must uphold the Belfast Agreement but this must not give Brussels license to renegotiate the terms of cross-border relations to serve their own interests.

"Brussels has made a positive contribution to progress in Northern Ireland through consecutive PEACE programmes.

"However, its final act should not be to overreach into affairs over which it has no authority."

UUP MEP Jim Nicholson said he had a "useful, constructive meeting" with Mr Brokenshire and urged him "to keep coming back to Brussels to put the Northern Ireland view".

Mr Nicholson also expressed concern at the lack of a Stormont Executive voice in Brussels.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "The Secretary of State does not speak for the remain majority in Northern Ireland, his party has no representation and no mandate here.

"Yet the absence of an Executive and Assembly is allowing him to inherit the role as our voice and representative on Brexit.

"The imposition of direct rule will only make this situation worse."

Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson claimed it was hypocritical for Mr Brokenshire to talk about protecting Northern Ireland interests when "in reality his government's Brexit agenda can only damage those interests".

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said full consideration should be given to "allowing Northern Ireland as a region to remain within the EU single market, alongside continuing to operate within the UK single market".
The Housing Executive spent more than 7m rehoming people who fled under threat in the last five years, it has emerged.

Almost 2,000 incidents of residents being forced out took place in Northern Ireland since 2012.

Despite the high number of cases, just 32 convictions linked to the intimidation were recorded in a similar period.

The information was obtained by The Detail website.

Figures show that since 2012 the Housing Executive spent 6,709,430 to purchase 57 properties from homeowners forced out as a result of paramilitary, sectarian, racist, homophobic or disability-related intimidation.

These properties were purchased through the Scheme for the Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED).

For renters, emergency grant payments of 754 were made in more than 1,000 cases where people were forced out due to intimidation.

A breakdown of the types and location of intimidation by The Detail suggests the majority of incidents involved loyalist paramilitaries.

An analysis for the past two years by council area shows the majority of such incidents happened in Belfast, Lisburn & Castlereagh, Ards & North Down, and the Antrim & Newtownabbey council areas.

A Freedom of Information request to the PSNI seeking the number of individuals arrested on grounds of intimidation was refused because of cost reasons.

A similar request to the courts service recorded 32 convictions that related to "intimidation - causing a person to leave residence/occupation".

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said 50m was being spent on a new paramilitary taskforce, with tackling intimidation part of its focus.

However, SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said the figures reveal the strength of the grip that paramilitaries have on communities across Northern Ireland. He urged the PSNI to disrupt and dismantle the gangs responsible.

"The new paramilitary taskforce must be a vehicle to disrupt and dismantle these criminal gangs.

"There can be no hiding place for the thugs seeking to dominate our communities," he commented.

"The clearance rate for these crimes is appallingly low.

"I will be pressing PSNI representatives for progress on this."

Last month it emerged that threats had forced four Catholic families to leave the Cantrell Close shared housing scheme in south Belfast.
Women can be "destroyed" by having an abortion, a DUP MP has said.

Jim Shannon said that often vulnerable young women "are themselves destroyed by the sorrow that can naturally engender".

He also said mistreatment by the industry could lead to a woman's destruction.

The DUP has fought to halt an extension of abortion rights to Northern Ireland.

Strangford MP Mr Shannon made the comments during an adjournment debate on abortion, led by Labour MP Diana Johnson.

Mr Shannon said: "She knows my opinion in relation to these matters as well, and I understand that she's going to bring some things forward which would be a help.

"But at the same time, we are meant to believe that abortion somehow is an expression of a woman's right.

"But on the contrary, some of us believe that it is so often the means by which vulnerable young women are themselves destroyed by the sorrow that can naturally engender.

"Even an abortion itself does not come, does not cause the destruction of women, their mistreatment by the industry and by the sector that provides abortion in this country quite clearly can."

Yesterday was the first day that women from Northern Ireland could access abortions free of charge through NHS Scotland.

Regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament last month to allow the provision of the service to women from Northern Ireland came into force yesterday.

Scotland's Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "Abortion can be an emotive subject however I am proud this government is working hard to ensure women are always able to access clinically safe services."

The Scottish Government's offer of free abortions to women from here means the province will be the only part of the UK not to do so, after moves by the parliaments in London and Cardiff.

Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except where the physical or mental wellbeing of the mother is at risk.
A Belfast man has denied an offence of so-called revenge porn.

On Tuesday appearing on behalf of 34-year-old John Paul McCusker at Antrim Magistrates Court, defence barrister Aaron Thompson confirmed he was entering not guilty pleas to both counts.

McCusker, from Colinmill in Dunmurry, is charged with disclosing a private sexual image without the complainants consent "and with the intention of causing her distress" on February 25 and accused of "pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment" of the same woman two days later.

Mr Thompson revealed the charge of revenge porn arose over an allegation that McCusker took a screen shot from a video recording.

He further revealed there may be some kind of consent given within that recording so he would be seeking to consult with the investigating police officer to arrange a viewing of the material.

Freeing McCusker in continuing bail, District Judge Peter King said he would review the case on November 21 but warned that it maybe sometime before we have a contest.
A mother who had a life-changing stroke while pregnant with her second child has described her battle to learn how to walk again while caring for her newborn and toddler.

Lisa Lecky (40) was in her tenth week of pregnancy when she collapsed while out jogging.

Life for the mum-of-two changed forever in March 2015 when she woke up in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast two weeks after suffering a stroke.

Lisa, who lives in Belfast with her partner Adam and children Conor (3) and Orla (2), had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm - a bleed on her brain - which caused the stroke.

It would be a month before Lisa could see and hold Conor again as she struggled to recover from the haemorrhage.

After a month, Lisa was moved to the brain injury unit at Musgrave Park Hospital where she stayed for a further five months, undergoing treatment and rehabiliation. She was only able to leave just before Orla was born.

Lisa had to learn to walk again but she wasn't able to attempt walking for over a year and instead had to use a wheelchair.

Today, the Belfast mum can walk short distances with the help of a leg splint and walking stick, but her left arm is permanently paralysed.

While in Musgrave Park Hospital, Lisa was put in touch with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke charity and began attending the Belfast Young Stroke Activity Group where she completed the Post Rehabilitation Exercise Programme (PREP).

Lisa said: "I got so much out of PREP. I just loved it. I loved seeing how much other people improved during the programme, no matter what age they were. Everyone is so inspiring and supportive. The motivation and encouragement I get from the Belfast Young Stroke Activity Group members has played a huge part in my recovery."

Life is now returning to what Lisa describes as a "new normal" for her and Adam. They have just moved back to their own home and Conor has started nursery school, while Lisa recently returned to work part-time.

Lisa's next goal is to drive again and her friends at the Young Stroke Activity Group are encouraging her.

She fully supports funding research and believes it is essential to give people like her hope.

Lisa spoke about her recovery as part of the Chest, Heart and Stroke Christmas gift appeal.

"I was so young when I had my stroke and I worry things will become much more difficult for me living with my disabilities as I get older," she said.

"There are so many people having strokes at young ages and even more people are living longer with the devastating effects of stroke. That's why we all need to support research.

"It can help save lives, as well as improving the lives of people who have suffered strokes, heart disease or respiratory illnesses.

"For people like me, any research that could help in the future would be incredible."
Police in south Belfast are investigating two hate crimes in Belfast.

Police in south Belfast are appealing for witnesses following two hate crime incidents on Monday night.

Around 9.40pm it was reported that a number of youths had kicked the front door of a house in Kilburn Street.

Damage was caused to the door as a result of the incident.

Then at 10.45pm police received a report that two windows of a house in Donegall Avenue were damaged after bricks were thrown at the house.

Police have not established a link between the two incidents but are treating them as racially motivated hate crimes.

Inspector Jamie Hughes said: "I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the incidents or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact officers at Lisburn Road station on 101 quoting reference 1526 or 1590 06/11/17.

"Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"Hate crime, in all its forms, is totally unacceptable. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that we live in a society where diversity is respected."

Inspector Hughes added: "If you, or someone you know is the victim of a hate crime, please contact police or your local support agency."
By PTI: Peshawar, Nov 6 (PTI) Unidentified gunmen today opened fire at a police team manning a check post, killing two policemen in northwest Pakistans Mardan district.

The policemen, who were on duty at Shagonaka check post, tried to stop a car but the unidentified occupants of the vehicle opened fire on them, killing two of them, police said.

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The victims were identified as Farhad and Muhammad Nawar.

One of them died at the spot while the other succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, police said.

The incident occurred at Shago Naka check post Shergarh in Mardan district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Police began a search operation in the surrounding area to track down the attackers. PTI AYZ ZH

--- ENDS ---
'Colin Demet will testify before a coroner examining the disputed circumstances of Joseph Parker's death in December 1971' (stock photo)

A British Army deserter is to give evidence at the inquest for a man shot dead by soldiers at a Christmas dance.

Colin Demet will testify before a coroner examining the disputed circumstances of Joseph Parker's death in December 1971.

The 25-year-old married father-of-one was killed when soldiers opened fire at a community centre in Ardoyne in north Belfast during a festive disco.

The episode unfolded when troops entered Toby's Hall, which no longer exists, claiming to be searching for a suspect.

Mr Demet, originally from Manchester, deserted the Army after becoming disillusioned while serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, citing incidents such as Mr Parker's shooting and the Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry a month later. He was jailed for his action.

He later wrote a book about his decision to walk out of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Mr Demet is now scheduled to give evidence at Mr Parker's inquest, which starts later this month. It is understood he was at the scene of the shooting, though outside the hall when it unfolded.

A preliminary hearing at Belfast Coroner's Court heard that another soldier who deserted at the same time has been subpoenaed to attend the inquest.

A range of civilian witnesses are also due to give evidence during the two-week hearing.

Yesterday, coroner Joe McCrisken was told that two fresh civilian witnesses had come forward in recent days - one of whom has agreed to testify from his home in Australia.

Mr McCrisken praised the efforts to trace witnesses for the historic case.

"With very, very limited resources to hold legacy inquests we have, in my view, done a fantastic job in tracking down witnesses and taking statements from witnesses," he said.

The inquest is due to begin hearing evidence from witnesses on November 13.
Belfast Coroner's Court was not told which 12 historical inquiries are affected

A fingerprint expert who twice failed to match a print linked to the Kingsmill massacre also made a series of mistakes in at least a dozen other historical inquiries, an inquest has been told.

Dennis Thompson was a fingerprint specialist for the police's Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and worked on 685 cases over the course of eight years.

It was previously revealed he failed on two separate occasions in 2010 and 2014 to link a suspect's palm print to a sample found on an alleged getaway vehicle in the 1976 Kingsmill massacre, when 10 Protestant workmen were gunned down in south Armagh.

No-one has ever been held to account for the atrocity.

After the errors in Mr Thompson's work on the Kingsmill case came to light, a review of his work was undertaken by the PSNI and officers from London's Metropolitan Police to examine their quality.

A random "dip sample" was undertaken of 70 of the 685 cases which Mr Thompson had worked on.

An inquest into the Kingsmill massacre was told on Tuesday that, as a result of the review, errors were found in 12 cases within the sample.

Belfast Coroner's Court was not told which 12 historical inquiries are affected.

Jeff Logan, head of the PSNI's fingerprint division, told the court: "There are a number of errors which have come to light but there were not errors in everything he did. We found errors in twelve of the cases."

Asked by a lawyer for the victims' families how these errors could have occurred, Mr Logan told the court: "It troubles me that this identification was missed and it is something which shouldn't have happened, but when you have human beings, you can have human errors."

Mr Logan added: "I can't tell you why Mr Thompson made the mistakes that he did."

Mr Thompson later gave evidence to the court in which he was asked why he had made the errors.

He told the court: "I have thought this through a lot and I do not have an answer. I am disappointed that I missed it (the fingerprint match)."

Mr Thompson is due to give further evidence to the court on Wednesday, when he will be examined by lawyers representing the relatives of those killed at Kingsmill.
PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/11/2017 Victims spokesperson Anne Cadwallader speaks on behalf of Relatives of victims of the Glenanne Gang as they make their way out of the High Court in Belfast. A judge, who has already ruled that police unlawfully frustrated any chance of an effective probe, was urged to order the completion of an overarching investigation into the so-called Glenanne Gang's killing spree throughout the 1970s.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/11/2017 Relatives of victims of the Glenanne Gang make their way out of the High Court in Belfast. A judge, who has already ruled that police unlawfully frustrated any chance of an effective probe, was urged to order the completion of an overarching investigation into the so-called Glenanne Gang's killing spree throughout the 1970s.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/11/2017 Edward Barnard talks to the press as Relatives of Glenanne make their way out of the High Court in Belfast. A judge, who has already ruled that police unlawfully frustrated any chance of an effective probe, was urged to order the completion of an overarching investigation into the so-called Glenanne Gang's killing spree throughout the 1970s.

Witnesses and those bereaved by a loyalist unit behind more than 100 murders are dying without achieving any closure on suspected state collusion, a High Court judge stated on Tuesday.

As Mr Justice Treacy confirmed he will make an order compelling Northern Ireland's Chief Constable to complete an overarching investigation into the so-called Glenanne Gang's killing spree throughout the 1970s, he set out the wider impact of legal complexities in the case.

He said: "The very sad inescapable fact is that while these debates rage on at huge public expense the victims' families languish with no end in sight and the ever increasing realisation that nothing much may happen in their lifetime."

Earlier this year he ruled that police unlawfully frustrated any chance of an effective probe into the series of atrocities.

Relatives who lost loved ones were denied in their legitimate expectation that the now-defunct Historical Enquiries Team would publish a thematic report, the judge held.

The verdict was reached in a legal challenge brought in the name of Edward Barnard.

Mr Barnard's 13-year-old brother Patrick was among four people killed in a St Patrick's Day bomb attack on the Hillcrest Bar in Dungannon in March, 1976.

Five years later Dungannon UVF member Garnet James Busby was convicted after admitting his role in the attack.

The murder gang based at a farm in Glenanne, Co Armagh allegedly contained members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Up to 120 murders in nearly 90 incidents in Mid Ulster and Irish border areas are under scrutiny.

They include outrages such as the 1975 Miami Showband Massacre, where three members of the popular group were taken from their tour bus and shot dead on a country road in Banbridge, County Down, and the Step Inn pub bombing in Keady a year later, which claimed the lives of two Catholics.

It has also been linked to the murder of 33 people, including a pregnant woman, in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

A draft HET report into alleged security force collaboration with the killers was said to have been 80% finalised before being shelved.

Mr Barnard and other relatives wanted to have police compelled to complete the full investigation and publish the findings.

His barrister said documents in the case revealed Busby named two other suspects who allegedly took the bomb to the bar.

He argued that the development represented fresh evidence in the case.

Counsel for the Chief Constable had insisted it would be an unnecessary step to force police to finalise an overarching report he claimed had yielded no new investigative opportunities.

Following his original ruling Mr Justice Treacy was urged to make an order of mandamus compelling the Chief Constable to conduct a lawful investigation, and complete and publish an overarching thematic report.

He was told the PSNI is set to appeal his judgment, with no steps taken to implement his substantive findings.

"No good reasons having been established in this case, I thus consider that mandamus is appropriate," he confirmed.

Before drafting the terms of his order he requested confirmation that there are no minutes or documents about the adoption of new terms of reference or the decisions of the Chief Constable and an Assistant Chief Constable referred to in the case.

Referring to the collusion allegations, he said: "I have no doubt that for some families their confidence has been undermined by delays which they believe are inimical to addressing their principal unresolved concerns.

"In the meantime witnesses or potential witnesses are lost and family members of the deceased die without any closure or resolution."

The judge added: "Furthermore, the anxiety of the surviving family members is not only undimmed but exacerbated by the delays of a system that appears powerless to stop it."
A sinister threat which goes "as far as execution" has been publicly issued against 14 men in an area of west Belfast.

A leaflet alleges that those named on it are drug dealers and orders them to "come forward to the republican movement".

It goes on to warn that "failure to do so will result on the severest punishment, even as far as execution", adding "take this as the only warning".

The leaflet has been 'signed' by AAD, believed to refer to the group Action Against Drugs, although the Belfast Telegraph understands that another, more secretive group is behind the threat.

It was distributed around the Beechmount and Springfield areas of west Belfast last Monday.

The PSNI last night refused to reveal whether any of the men had been attacked.

However, it is understood that a shooting last week in the St James area was linked to the list, although the wrong address was targeted.

The group behind the leaflet is believed to be a breakaway outfit which has also previously used the name of Oglaigh Na Eireann in the past and were responsible in 2015 for a series of devices left across the city in milk cartons.

PSNI Inspector Daniel Kelly confirmed that police are aware of the leaflet and warned groups against taking the law into their own hands.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey slammed those behind the leaflet as "extortionists" and "criminal gangs", and urged them to "get off the backs of the community".

"The organisations issuing these threats have a long history of extorting cash from drug dealers and other criminal elements in return for allowing them to continue inflicting misery on this community," he said.

"These people aren't interested in protecting communities, they're only interested in extorting cash.

"The reckless shooting in St James is yet another example of their callous disregard for the people of this area. All the indications are that this was a case of mistaken identity, as the house they targeted was close to the home of one of the individuals named on the list."

In a statement, Mr Kelly said: "Police are aware of a leaflet which has reportedly been circulated in the Beechmount area of Belfast which contains a number of names.

"We do not discuss the security of any individual; however, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk.

"The PSNI does not tolerate any type of vigilante activity and we would caution any individual or group against taking the law into their own hands. The PSNI is responsible for law enforcement in Northern Ireland - we are here to protect local people and we are proud to serve them."

In July, the Belfast Telegraph reported on a similar list on social media which named almost 50 people. It accused named individuals of housebreaking, joyriding and drug dealing.

In January, a list of names appeared on a Facebook page which has since been deleted, with updates when a person named on the list had been shot.
New official statistics show that almost 300 people died by suicide in Northern Ireland in 2016 / Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

New official statistics show nearly six people died by suicide in Northern Ireland every week in 2016.

Figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show 297 people were recorded as having died by suicide last year.

This was a decrease on the number for 2015, when 318 suicides were recorded in Northern Ireland - the highest number since records began in 1970.

Despite this, it is still one of the highest recorded figures of recent years.

In 2014, 268 deaths by suicide were recorded in Northern Ireland, with 303 deaths in 2013.

Of the deaths in 2016, 221 males took their own lives compared to 76 females, meaning men accounted for 74% of all deaths.

In keeping with the rest of the United Kingdom, suicides in Northern Ireland are recorded as either 'intentional self-harm' or 'event of undetermined intent'.

The figures also break down by age, and show the group suicide is most prevalent in are those aged 25 to 34, with 71 deaths recorded.

The number of suicides for the other age categories were as follows:

10 to 14 - 1

15 to 24 - 50

25 to 34 - 71

35 to 44 - 49

45 to 54 - 64

55 to 64 - 37

65 to 74 - 17

75 to 84 - 8

According to investigative website The Detail, the final figures contradict quarterly reports issued by NISRA for 2016 - which showed 305 deaths by suicide, a figure eight higher than the final number.

It was also found there had been 164 deaths by suicide recorded in the first six months of this year.

Speaking to the publication, professor of mental health sciences at Ulster University Siobhan O'Neill said: "I am shocked that the suicide death numbers are not really going down. They vary slightly year on year, but there is no downward trend. The trend in the rest of the UK is downwards and in Ireland it is stabilising.

"We need a suicide prevention strategy as a matter of urgency but we dont have a government to sign off on it."

Responding to the figures the SDLP's Mark H Durkan said the figures made for "sobering reading".

"The issues that have divided parties and politicians pale into insignificance next to this massive problem that affects all of our communities. There must be cross party unity on this issue," he said.

"The failure to agree and implement a new suicide prevention strategy is a damning indictment of our politics. How can we credibly tell people in despair to seek help if we arent providing enough support ourselves?"

If you, or anyone close to you, is affected by any issues in this article, please contact the Samaritans free on 116123 or Lifeline on 080 8808 8000.
Allegations of incompetence and corruption around a botched green energy scheme in Northern Ireland have left many taxpayers questioning whether hundreds of millions of pounds of public money went up in smoke, a public inquiry has been told.

The furore over the renewable heat incentive (RHI) affair reached such a "fever pitch" that it struck at the very heart of the region's democratic institutions, triggering the collapse of powersharing at Stormont, a lawyer for the inquiry said.

Delivering his opening statement on the first day of the high profile independent probe, David Scoffield QC said "explosive" claims of political interference and improper patronage would be examined in forensic detail.

The inquiry will investigate the design and operation of the ill-fated RHI scheme, an eco-friendly state subsidy initiative that left the Stormont administration facing a potential 700 million overspend bill.

"It is hard to find a taxpayer in Northern Ireland who does not have questions to ask about how a scheme intended to do so much good turned out to have an unplanned bill of such proportions as to threaten other public spending priorities, apparently well into the future," Mr Scoffield said.

The RHI was established to incentivise businesses to shift to renewable energy sources by offering a proportion of the costs to run eco-friendly boilers.

But in Northern Ireland the subsidy tariffs were set too high and without a cap, so it ended up paying out significantly more than the price of fuel.

This effectively enabled some applicants to "burn to earn", getting free heat and making a profit as they did so.

Along with claims of incompetent handling of the scheme there have been more damning corruption allegations that steps to clamp down on the costs were subject to inappropriate political obstruction, with the intent of enabling others to benefit from the generous terms.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster's role in the RHI scheme was at the heart of the row that brought down the Sinn Fein/DUP coalition government in Belfast.

She had a central role in establishing the RHI during her time as Stormont economy minister.

The DUP leader and former first minister, who will not be called to give evidence to the inquiry until next year, has insisted she acted correctly throughout.

A series of DUP party advisers, who have all rejected allegations of wrongdoing, will also appear before the probe chaired by retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin.

Sir Patrick told the opening hearing at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, that the inquiry team has already examined one million pieces of documentary evidence.

"This inquiry was established in the wake of a media and political turmoil during which strongly worded allegations and repudiations were exchanged," he said.

"The inquiry was set up to provide a measured, objective, independent and publicly transparent investigation of the facts in accordance with the terms of the reference and that is what this inquiry shall seek to do."

Mrs Foster's refusal to accede to Sinn Fein's demand that she step aside as first minister pending the outcome of an inquiry prompted the late Martin McGuinness to resign as Sinn Fein deputy first minister in January, forcing the collapse of powersharing.

In the wake of the RHI furore, Sinn Fein repeatedly stated its unwillingness to return to devolved coalition government at Stormont with Mrs Foster as first minister until her actions were examined by the inquiry.

That demand has somewhat faded into the background as the powersharing impasse has been overtaken by a row over the Irish language.

Mr Scoffield noted there was "precious little" in the scope of the inquiry that was "uncontentious".

He said the inquiry would not deliberate on whether Mr McGuinness's resignation was justified.

But the barrister added: "It is undoubtedly part of the RHI story, that concern about what happened with this scheme reached such fever pitch that it struck at the very heart of our democratic institutions."

The said the RHI scheme had caught the public imagination in part due to allegations of "incompetence, corruption and improper patronage".

Mr Scoffield added: "The notion that money might be going up in smoke which could otherwise pay for doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen and so on has been anathema to many in the public."

The barrister made clear it was not the inquiry's function to determine civil or criminality liability.

He said the probe would also not be assessing whether all the individual RHI applicants were using it legitimately.

Mr Scoffield also referred to the explosive TV interview last December with former DUP economy minister Jonathan Bell who broke cover to level a series of allegations against Mrs Foster and DUP party advisers.

The lawyer said it was "probably unprecedented" in contemporary Northern Ireland politics for a former minister to turn on party colleagues in such a way.

He revealed the inquiry has secured texts and emails that were exchanged among politicians and officials in the wake of Mr Bell's interview.

Mr Scoffield said the inquiry was not concerned with the "political drama and theatre" of the episode but with the claims made by Mr Bell.

The RHI scheme was closed to new applicants when the scale of the overspend bill emerged, however Mr Bell alleged DUP advisers delayed this action.

After the eventual closure, Stormont ministers then took action to cut the tariffs they had pledged to pay in long-term contracts, a move currently being challenged by RHI boiler owners in the courts.

Mr Scoffield said many had been left "aggrieved" by the scheme, noting there were those in the renewables sector who felt the government "broke faith".

The inquiry will also focus on how whistleblower claims on the RHI were handled.

The opening session heard that one key whistleblower's application for anonymity had been declined by Sir Patrick.

Mr Scoffield confirmed that Mrs Foster and Mr Bell would not be called to give evidence until the "very end" of the inquiry's hearings.

This is expected to be well into 2018.

The barrister noted there would be those who would like to see the appearance of certain witnesses "fast forwarded" to an earlier date.

He said the sequencing of witnesses was a matter for the inquiry and would be determined solely on what was most conducive to its work, not on "other considerations".

Mr Scoffield's statement is scheduled to last three days.

After his opening remarks, the lawyer spent the remainder of the first day outlining in detail the chronology of events around the creation of the scheme.
An inquiry into the RHI scheme was announced in January by the then Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir

Almost a year after it collapsed Stormont, details of the 'cash for ash' scandal are set to be aired as the doors of the inquiry are opened to the public.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme set up by then Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster in 2012 aimed to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy boilers.

But it became mired in controversy when it emerged that a lack of caps on tariffs meant those on the scheme could make a profit just from burning wood pellets.

The row over how the scheme operated came amid allegations of conflicts of interest and led to the then Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigning, effectively collapsing the power sharing Executive.

An inquiry was announced in January by the then Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir and it then began its work on February 1.

It has sifted through more than one million pages of documents and more than 500 statutory notices have been issued to people and organisations, compelling the production of documents and witness statements, as part of a massive evidence-gathering process in preparation for the public hearings.

The hearings start today with an opening statement from the inquiry's chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin and will then hear from senior counsel to the inquiry David Scoffield QC, whose opening statement is expected to continue for most of the week.

He will set the scene for members of the public in order to help them understand what is likely to follow and the key issues which the inquiry will consider.

On Friday afternoon the inquiry will hear opening statements from core participants, including the departments for the Economy and Finance and energy regulator Ofgem.

More information about the inquiry can be found at www.rhiinquiry.org
A son allegedly killed his father after claiming he was a detective inspector restraining a dangerous criminal, a court has heard.

Ronald Reid was found dead at his apartment in Bangor on Christmas Eve in 2014.

Yesterday a jury at Belfast Crown Court heard that because the accused, Stuart Alexander Reid, is "mentally unwell", he won't be attending the trial arising out of the death of his 63-year-old father.

Mr Reid Snr was found dead on December 24, 2014, by police in his flat in the Savoy Apartments in Bangor, three days after his son, who lived in nearby Bingham Street, was arrested for disorderly behaviour in the Ulster Hospital.

The jury was told that given the "unusual" nature of the case and Mr Reid's "mental disability", they would not decide on whether he was guilty of murder or manslaughter, but whether he "committed the act", resulting in his father's death.

Prosecution QC Toby Hedworth said that in the weeks and days leading up to his father's death, "there were a number of incidents demonstrating that Stuart Reid was behaving in a bizarre and irrational way".

In one instance a "clearly intoxicated and agitated" Reid Jnr claimed he "could not trust his mother because she was a clone and he was working for MI6 and the Marines in west Belfast".

Mr Hedworth said on December 19, 2014, the day his father died, he made a series of emergency calls, involving either him dialling 999, or the emergency services trying to call back.

However, the prosecution lawyer said that what operators heard during the taped calls was "radically different" from that later uncovered when analysed by police, and then by a forensic speech expert at the University of York using specialist equipment.

They revealed that on occasions Mr Reid Snr was heard in the background breathing and coughing, or attempting to shout out his address or saying his "son is a psychopath... he's trying to kill me... he's leaning towards me".

Mr Hedworth said what the operators heard was Reid Jnr, claiming initially to be "Detective Inspector Reid" with a "violent dangerous criminal here and I am restraining him".

A post-mortem revealed Mr Reid Snr had multiple injuries to his rib cage. His voice box was also injured.

Mr Hedworth said it was the prosecution case that a "clearly unwell Stuart Reid", who apparently got on well with his father, had for some unknown reason "needed to detain his father and subjected him to considerable violence from which he died".

The hearing continues.
By PTI: Peshawar, Nov 7 (PTI) Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a temporary check post in the restive northwest Pakistan, killing two policemen, an official has said.

The gunmen riding a car were asked to stop by the police as their vehicle came near the Shago Naka check post in Mardan district bordering Malakand agency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yesterday, but responded by opening fire at the security officials, the police official said.

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He said one of the policeman died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injures at the hospital.

After the firing incident, the police officers reached the spot and launched a search operation to nab the killers, the officer said.

The police had set up the temporary check-post after receiving prior information of a bid to smuggle narcotics into the area. PTI AYZ MRJ

--- ENDS ---
The inquiry into the botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme held its first public evidence session.

It heard how the botched green energy scheme, which ultimately brought down Stormont power sharing "struck at the heart of Northern Ireland's democratic institutions".

Inquiry head Sir Patrick Coghlin told the opening hearing at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, that the inquiry team has already examined one million pieces of documentary evidence.

"This inquiry was established in the wake of a media and political turmoil during which strongly worded allegations and repudiations were exchanged," he said.

"The inquiry was set up to provide a measured, objective, independent and publicly transparent investigation of the facts in accordance with the terms of the reference and that is what this inquiry shall seek to do."

The lead counsel, David Scoffield said the inquiry will impartially examine the "key allegations," including "the most damning claim," that politicians and their special advisers had interfered to keep the scheme open when it ought to have been closed, by delaying the introduction of cost controls.

He went into detail on the process the inquiry will take over the coming months before beginning an examination of how the scheme was established and how it developed over time.

The QC said there would be "no parade of the guilty," but the failure and who was responsible would be the over-arching purpose of the final report. Stressing the inquiry would not find criminal or civil liability, he said those hoping otherwise would be "disappointed".

Not everyone will be "content" with the inquiry's ultimate conclusions, he said, "but they should be satisfied with the fairness of its work".

Mr Scoffield outlined how each witness would be heard in relevance to their part in the sequence of the establishment of the scheme and their importance. Therefore key players, such as DUP leader Arlene Foster who was Enterprise Minister at the time the scheme was established and former MLA Jonathan Bell who closed the scheme would be heard nearer the end of the process. They deny wrongdoing in any way in the system.

The inquiry will not investigate individual applications to the scheme of which there were over 2,000 but Mr Scoffield said it would look at applications if they cut across the inquiry's remit and involve those responsible for taking decisions.

Some documents are also to be redacted, but this will only be done at the behest of the inquiry head after careful consideration on their usefulness and potential detriment they could cause, while a whistleblower who raised concerns about the scheme and asked for anonymity, will be identified, the inquiry heard.

Here's how the first day unfolded:
'Weir's barrister said his legal team was awaiting a defence report regarding DNA found on the gun's magazine' (stock photo)

A Co Antrim man will face trial at the start of next year on firearms offences linked to a loyalist feud in Carrickfergus.

David Weir (36), from Rossmore Green in Greenisland, appeared at Belfast Crown Court, where he was charged with possessing a Ruger gun, a magazine and ammunition with intent some time between October 25, 2015 and October 29, 2016. He was also charged with possessing the items in suspicious circumstances.

Weir denies both charges.

Weir's barrister said his legal team was awaiting a defence report regarding DNA found on the gun's magazine.

Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland said he would review the case in December, and set a date of January 29 next year for trial. Weir was released on continuing bail.

A previous hearing was told the gun was seized by police last October during an investigation into a loyalist feud in the Carrickfergus area.
A missionary from Northern Ireland has returned home safely after surviving a horrific kidnapping ordeal which saw one of her colleagues murdered.

Alanna Carson, an optometrist from Ballymoney in Co Antrim, had been working with the New Foundations Christian medical charity in Nigeria when she was taken with three other UK colleagues three weeks ago.

Her colleague Ian Squire was killed during their capture, with the others let go after the west African country's authorities negotiated for their release.

Mr Squire had been drafted in alongside Ms Carson by the charity to carry out hundreds of cataract operations in January.

They had been working with New Foundation's David and Shirley Donovan when they were abducted in the Niger Delta in the south of the country on October 13.

It's understood a ransom was demanded, but it is not known if it was paid.

The BBC was told the kidnappers were a criminal gang who had recently kidnapped the mother of a local politician.

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the families of four British people who were abducted in Nigeria, one of whom was tragically killed.

"This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families.

"We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations."

A statement issued on behalf of all the families of the four hostages said: "We are grateful for the support received by the British High Commission and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release.

"We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely.

"Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.

"This has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who were kidnapped and for their families and friends here in the UK."

Ms Carson works full time as an optometrist at Specsavers in Leven, Fife, Scotland.

Store director Adrian McCann said: "We are of course hugely relieved to hear that our colleague has been safely released and is back home with her family."

DUP MLA for North Antrim Mervyn Storey welcomed Ms Carson's safe return and praised her family's bravery as they waited for news.

"To have her home I'm sure is a great relief. I'm sure as well that while they waited the family have relied on their faith and now as a family, they can try to deal with this traumatic experience," he said.
The report will be launched at Stormont

A report on female genital mutilation in Northern Ireland will be launched today at Stormont.

The event will be hosted by the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI) in association with community groups.

The research was carried out by a team from Ulster University.

The NHS estimated that approximately 137,000 women and girls are affected by FGM in the UK. AkiDwa, a national network of migrant women, said approximately 3,780 females in Ireland have undergone the procedure.

FGM is any procedure which involves the removal of part or all of external genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is believed to be most common between the ages of four and 10.

It can cause chronic infection, severe pain, childbirth complications and psychological trauma.

Dr Fiona Bloomer from Ulster University said the study had identified a series of key issues.

Jospeh Rickett from the ACSONI said female genital mutilation was child abuse and a harmful practice with devastating health consequences for women.
Police have issued a fresh appeal for information in relation to missing Newry man, Peter Quigley on the fourth anniversary of his disappearance.

The 35-year-old is believed to have last been seen at Moria train station in County Down on September 26, 2013.

Peter was reported missing on Thursday, November 7.

He was last seen wearing a dark hooded top, a blue coloured sweatshirt, three quarter length grey jeans, black shoes/trainers and dark socks.

Inspector Neil Graham said: Peter is described as being 58 tall, of medium build with dirty fair hair and blue coloured eyes.

Peters last address was in the Newry area where he lived for 10 years with family. However, he never lost his London accent where he was born and where he lived for a number of years in the Heathrow area.

PSNI and Peter's family are appealing to anyone who believes they may have seen Peter, or anyone who knows anything about his whereabouts, to contact his family or police in Newry on the non-emergency number, 101 quoting reference CCS 797 07/11/13.
By PTI: United Nations, Nov 7 (PTI) Stepping up pressure on Myanmar, the UN Security Council has asked the country to end its military campaign in Rakhine state and ensure the safe return of Muslim Rohingya refugees driven from their homes.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-membered powerful wing of the UN also demanded safe, unhindered access for its agencies and their partners to provide humanitarian assistance.

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Britain and France dropped a push for the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the situation to appease council veto power China, a supporter of Myanmars former ruling junta.

The Council instead unanimously agreed on a formal statement. It is only for the third time in nearly a decade that the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on Myanmar.

As a result of the alleged atrocities by security forces in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, more than 600,000 individuals, vast majority of whom are Rohingya Muslims, have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The unrest in troubled Rakhine state began after deadly attacks on police stations across the state, blamed on a newly emerged militant group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).

Scores of people were killed in the ensuing military crackdown, and there are widespread allegations of villages being burned and Rohingya being driven out.

The military in Myanmar says its operations are aimed at rooting out militants, and has repeatedly denied targeting civilians. Survivors, witnesses and refugees have contested this.

Stressing the importance of holding to account those responsible for human rights abuses and violations, the Security Council statement called for the Government of Myanmar to co-operate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Through the statement read out by its President for the month of November, Sebastiano Cardi from Italy, the Council urged Myanmar to support the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced people and refugees to their homes in Rakhine State.

It commended the efforts undertaken by Bangladesh, with the assistance of the United Nations, their partners and other nongovernmental organisations, to provide safety, shelter, and humanitarian assistance to those who have fled the violence.

"The humanitarian situation remains desperate," Jonathan Allen, Britain?s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN told reporters after the presidential statement on Myanmar.

Britain has repeatedly called on the Myanmar security forces to protect all civilians and act now to stop the violence and allow humanitarian aid to urgently reach all those who need it, he said.

"We are encouraged to see State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi making important steps forward, including establishing a domestic body to deliver humanitarian and development assistance in Rakhine ? although this cannot substitute for UN agencies ? and making efforts to promote interfaith and inter-communal harmony, including a recent visit to northern Rakhine," he added.

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Allen said Britain will be watching closely to ensure that the Burmese security forces do not attempt to frustrate these efforts. PTI LKJ NSA

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'The use of informants in Northern Ireland remains highly controversial' (stock photo)

Police in Northern Ireland paid out more than 270,000 for information on crime in the last year, it can be revealed.

The cost of informants has risen by almost 70% in the past decade. On average 743 a day is spent on obtaining criminal intelligence, PSNI figures show.

Across the last five years the total bill comes to more than 1.8m. It is believed to be one of the highest spends of all 45 UK police forces, second only to the Metropolitan Police.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said the level of expenditure was "shocking and unwarranted".

"No community is so impenetrable that thousands of pounds should be spent on hiring informants," he said.

It is unlikely the total includes money spent on intelligence relating to national security, which falls under MI5's remit.

Details of the PSNI's spend on informants, known as Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS), were revealed after a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper.

In the 12 months to April, the total cost was 271,387.

That has fallen from 2013/2014, when a record 466,332 was spent, but is well above the 160,169 figure from 10 years ago.

However, the PSNI refused to release further details, including the number of informers in its network and the highest amounts paid out to individuals.

The PSNI said any disclosure relating to "sensitive informant information" would jeopardise its investigations and law enforcement. Its response added: "Informants play a vital role in assisting the police and this is based very much on relationships built on trust and the expectation of complete confidentiality.

"The PSNI would never disclose information which would compromise our tactics."

However, Mr McCrossan, who has served as a Policing Board member, said too many questions remained.

He intends to seek answers from PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton. "There is little accountability on the spend, of how many individuals are given money and how much, and even concerning whether the information provided led to successful prosecution," he added.

"I will be raising the issue with the Chief Constable of the PSNI at the earliest opportunity."

The use of informants in Northern Ireland remains highly controversial. In 2007 a report by then-Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan concluded that RUC officers protected loyalist informers from probes into a series of murders.

However, a senior officer said intelligence plays a key role in policing. Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said informants are used to save and protect lives by police services across the world. "The information provided by informants is collected and processed professionally and is used to assist officers tackle the threats posed by drugs, burglaries, child abuse, human trafficking, terrorism, paramilitarism and a range of other issues which cause communities harm and concern," he said.

"Few terrorist or criminal gangs operate in an overt fashion, therefore, the use of CHIS plays an important role in assisting the police to prevent harm and apprehend criminals.

"However, it is important to note that the use of CHIS is fully governed by legislation and is subject to rigorous internal levels of accountability and management.

"It is also subject to extensive external oversight, with which the PSNI fully co-operates, not least of which is with the Investigatory Powers Commissioner."

The National Police Chiefs' Council said: "Informants often provide timely and essential intelligence which cannot always be obtained by other means."

Earlier this year it emerged a police force in England had paid a child rapist more than 10,000 for help during a sex abuse investigation. Northumbria Police paid the man to infiltrate parties where girls were being drugged and abused by an Asian gang.
The PSNI is investigating after a pet cat was found dead in Portadown having suffered "horrific" injuries.

Mylo's heartbroken owner described her as "very trusting and friendly."

She was found this week in the Ballyoran Park area.

At this stage officers have no direct witnesses to the incident but they believe this may be the result of a deliberate attack with a firework or banger.

Mylo was let out of the house overnight on Saturday into Sunday morning, around 3am, and never returned home. She was found dead around midday on Sunday.

Posting on the PSNI Craigavon Facebook pages officers said: "If indeed this was a deliberate act, someone out there knows. The sort of people who would be playing with fireworks will not be doing so alone. Someone somewhere witnessed this. Someone somewhere knows who is responsible.

"If that is you, and you're reading this, look again at Mylo. Now imagine her decapitated and without her legs. That is what a human being has potentially done to her. If you know anything, or saw anything, don't sit silently, call us. You can get us on 101 or you can pass information completely anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"We can't bring Mylo back, but we can crack down on those who would inflict such suffering to an animal and try and make sure it doesn't happen again. Help us do that."

Emma O'Hare from Pet Connections in Newry highlighted the attack on their Facebook page. It was shared hundreds of times.

She said: "I can only hope that the perpetrator will be caught through the investigation. Someone capable of such a cruel act is not someone who I believe should be walking the streets."

The incident number is 230 06/11/17.
A Co Down woman has pledged her support for efforts to find a cure for blood cancer after finding out she is dying from the disease.

Brave Joanne McCawley is speaking out about her fight for life in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI's blood cancer awareness campaign - despite being told last month that her condition is now terminal.

The 32-year-old surgical nurse from Drumaness is now more determined than ever to support the charity in its search for a cure - which will sadly come too late to save her life.

Joanne had hoped she would be among the 75% of people who beat the disease, but was told last month that it had returned and doctors could only offer palliative care. She opted not to have any more treatment and chose to make the most of the time she has left and help the fundraising drive for more research.

Joanne was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia towards the end of 2015.

It was a heavy blow - Joanne was 29 at the time, had recently married her husband, Jason, and found out she was pregnant.

"As soon as I heard the results, I knew that my anaemia wasn't caused by the pregnancy, it was too severe," she said. "It took weeks to confirm the cause, but eventually I received a call to say I had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia."

She quickly started treatment but was dealt another blow after her first bout of chemotherapy, when she suffered a miscarriage. It later turned out that the treatment had been unsuccessful.

However, a second round of chemotherapy combined with a bone marrow transplant helped her into remission.

But last month, after only a year free from illness, Joanne began to feel unwell. She quickly learned that her blood cancer had returned.

Despite this, she wanted to remain a part of the campaign and share her story.

She explained: "My recent diagnosis has only increased my determination to help raise awareness of blood cancer and the importance of continuing to fund research.

"My own story shows how up and down, how powerful this disease is and how it throws curveballs, but we just have to give it our best shot.

"You just keep fighting on - that's all you can do."

Visit www.leukaemiaandlymphomani.org for more information, or to support the charity's work, go to www.justgiving.com/nilrf
The Taoiseach is to take part in a Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony in Co Fermanagh, it has been confirmed.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessor Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar will make the trip to Enniskillen for Remembrance Sunday this weekend.

Mr Kenny, who took part in every ceremony since 2012, always laid a green laurel wreath alongside the many red poppies at the town's war memorial.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach's office confirmed Mr Varadkar will attend Sunday's event.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen Poppy Day massacre.

A poignant service will remember the 11 people killed and dozens injured in the IRA bomb. A 12th victim died 13 years later, having never woken from a coma.

DUP leader Arlene Foster is expected to lay a wreath at the cenotaph close to where the bomb exploded on November 8, 1987.

Hundreds of people attend the annual service, including the families of those killed and injured in the explosion.

Royal British Legion (RBL) chairman John Jones said: "The Royal British Legion thoroughly welcomes Mr Varadkar to the annual remembrance day parade. It's great that he has taken over from Enda and it can only be good for the town.

"We are doing the normal Remembrance Day parade that's held in any town except that it's the 30th anniversary of the Poppy Day bomb. There is a separate mark of remembrance on Wednesday 8th and the RBL were invited and we will attend."

Other senior political representatives are expected to take part in the Remembrance Day events.

Kenny Donaldson, director of victims' rights group South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), said that the families of the deceased and injured "won't be forgotten".

The victims' group supports a number of the bereaved families and those who were injured in the atrocity. Mr Donaldson said: "As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb and wider society refreshes its interest, there is a need for particular understanding to be shown to those directly impacted by the events of that day - the bereaved and those physically and psychologically traumatised.

"And we also remember the Lambert family who had 19-year-old Adam murdered in a retaliatory action the day after the Enniskillen Poppy Day massacre by loyalist terrorists and in a supposed case of mistaken identity.

"The resilience and dignity of the Enniskillen families has been a constant over three decades but has the behaviour of others towards them been as honourable?"

Mr Donaldson continued, accusing: "Or what about the criminal justice system inclusive of the police who have failed the families via a catalogue of mistruths which has left many feeling despondent and deeply hurt.

"And then there are others who surely need to look long and hard at themselves in the run-up to this substantive anniversary.

"Have they behaved honourably in best ensuring that the dignity of the innocents impacted by the horrors of that day is best acknowledged, or have they hid behind the curtain of process and bureaucracy as a means not to do the right thing by those who actual ly should be the focus of their concern?"
The men were arrested in Dublin's north inner city

Four men have been arrested in Dublin on suspicion of conspiracy to murder by gardai investigating organised crime gangs in the city.

The major swoop was carried out by specialist officers investigating the long-running bloody feud between the Kinahan and Hutch crime gangs.

A gun and silencer were also seized during the operation.

The detained men are aged 23, 35, 37 and 38.

The were arrested in the north inner city.

The are being held under the provisions of section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Gardai from Special Crime Operations (SCO) were assisted by the Emergency Response Unit and Armed Support Unit.

Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll said the operation represented a significant achievement in what he said was the Garda's "ongoing and unrelenting effort" to tackle organised crime gangs and their "total disregard" for human life.

Mr O'Driscoll added: "I continue to be heartened and assured by the level of absolute commitment and 'top drawer' professionalism and, indeed, bravery exhibited over and over again by the personnel within the Garda Siochana who are assigned to the difficult tasks associated with the operational activity involved."
Gender equality in higher education has taken a step forward following the launch of a new government taskforce.

The group will carry out a review of recruitment and promotion policies in the sector, as well as other practices.

The establishment of the Gender Equality Taskforce, launched on Monday by Minister of State Mary Mitchell O'Connor, was welcomed by NUI Galway's vice president for equality and diversity, Professor Anne Scott.

A series of high-profile gender discrimination cases have been taken against the university by female academic staff in recent years.

"This new Gender Equality Taskforce will continue to shape the future approach to gender equality across the sector," said Professor Scott.

She added that it will "support in leading change in terms of recruitment and promotion policy, process and practice, to ensure equality of opportunity is provided to all staff working in Higher Education in Ireland and to all new colleagues entering the sector."

The government taskforce follows the publication in 2016 of a national third level gender review carried out by the Higher Education Authority.

That review found that numerous factors meant that women in the sector faced barriers to progression that were not experienced to the same degree by men.

It found that what it called "radical action" was necessary to combat the problem of gender inequality in Irish Higher Education Institutions.

Minister of State Mary Mitchell O'Connor, who has responsibility for Higher Education, said the taskforce would build on the work of the national review.

She added: "I know there are good practices in our higher education system, but we need to ensure that all institutions learn from these.

"Where improvements are required, they need to be addressed without delay. Having a national action plan with progress monitored on a regular basis will help to drive the change that we need to see.

"It will give us a clear line of sight on all relevant activities across the sector."

Funding of 500,000 euro was set aside in Budget 2018 to support the work of the Taskforce.

Chairwoman of the Irish Research Council, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, said the establishment of the taskforce is a "timely development" as "over the past month alone, the discrimination and challenges faced by women across a range of sectors has been very publicly highlighted, both in Ireland and further afield."
File photo dated 18/12/07 of a general view of Magilligan Prison, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland as even though the authorities had considered plans to shut the jail in 2018, it has now emerged Justice Minister David Ford is reassessing the proposal, sources said.

A convicted Samurai sword killer who failed to return to prison after a day release in Northern Ireland has been remanded in custody.

Stephen Henry, 41, was convicted of murdering father-of-two John Cooke in Lisburn in 2004. He did not return to Magilligan jail in Co Londonderry a week ago after he was temporarily freed.

He crossed the border into the Republic where he was detained over a public order offence but subsequently released.

He was arrested in Northern Ireland on Friday and appeared in court in Lisburn on Monday.

Henry was charged with being unlawfully at large while under sentence and possessing a Class C controlled drug.

District judge Rosemary Watters remanded him in custody for four weeks. He is due to appear at Craigavon Magistrates' Court on November 24 via video link.

As he was taken away a woman in the public area of the court shouted abuse at him.

Henry did not speak during the brief hearing. He wore a black hoodie.

A constable appeared in the witness box as the accused was charged.

Henry's defence barrister said there would be a plea on the drugs charges.
Britains last surviving Dambuster said his memories of the bombing raids on Germany will last forever as he collected an MBE from the Queen.

Squadron Leader George Leonard Johnny Johnson, 95, was part of Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, which conducted a night of raids on German dams in 1943 in an effort to disable Hitlers industrial heartland.

After collecting his gong at Buckingham Palace for services to the Second World War remembrance and the community in Bristol, he said he was indebted to the thousands of people who signed a petition calling for his wartime service to be recognised.

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TV presenter Carol Vorderman launched a petition to get Mr Johnson a knighthood, branding the decision to leave him off the list disgraceful after finding out that he had been nominated in 2015.

She marched to Westminster in January to hand-deliver the petition, containing 235,000 signatures, to 10 Downing Street, alongside RAF veteran John Nichol.

Mr Johnson told the Press Association: Im glad its over but very much appreciative. Apart form everything else Im very grateful to all those people who signed that petition, particularly Carol Vorderman and John Nichol. The outcome for me is very gratifying for me, it really is.

He said he was also grateful to Paul Walmsley, who wrote to the Queen on his behalf.

Collecting his award, he said the Queen told him: Glad to see the Dambusters are still here.

The pensioner is now one of only two survivors to take part in the legendary bombing raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany. The other is Canadian former front gunner Fred Sutherland.

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On May 16 and 17 1943, a total of 133 Allied aircrew left for the raid aboard 19 Lancaster bombers, carrying Barnes Walliss specially-adapted bouncing bombs  that looked like glorified dustbins, according to Mr Johnson  led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.

Fifty-three men were killed and three were captured.

Mr Johnson said he still has strong memories from that period, adding: That is something which will live forever as far as Im concerned.

I dont volunteer, but if people ask will I talk to their club or their group, that means they are interested and if they are interested I will talk to them.

Ive got to the stage now where I say to the children If I say I dont want to do this any more, you can send the box in as soon as you like.

He added: I also had an honorary doctorate with Lincoln University which was basically because of my work with the mentally handicapped and that to me meant as much as this did, apart from the fact of meeting the Queen again, which was wonderful.

I had the honour of an audience with her about three years ago and I felt honoured to meet her for a second time.

I think shes a wonderful lady, I have always thought so and it was confirmed so much at that audience at Windsor Castle, that has to be the highlight of my life, that audience.

Mr Johnson, who served as a bomb aimer, previously said his crew was asked to join a special mission towards the end of his first tour, when he was due to get leave.

They were not told what the mission was until the night before.
File photo dated 24/02/17 of Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, who will be sentenced for murdering his daughter Elsie by violently shaking her and striking her head just two weeks after adopting her. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The birth family of Elsie Scully-Hicks have said she would still be alive today if she had not been removed from their care by social services.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years in prison for murdering Elsie just two weeks after formally adopting her.

Scully-Hicks, of Delabole, Cornwall, showed no emotion as judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies described how he had murdered 18-month-old Elsie at his home in Llandaff, Cardiff in May 2016.

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Cardiff Crown Court heard he struggled to cope with Elsie, describing her as Satan dressed up in a Baby grow, a psycho and the exorcist in text messages.

Mrs Justice Davies, when sentencing Scully-Hicks, took into account a victim impact statement  which was not read in court  provided by Elsies birth family.

In the statement, which can now be reported following an application by the Press Association, Elsies natural family said they were numb with pain.

Elsie was named Shayla OBrien by her birth family when she was born in November 2014.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Elsies birth grandmother Sian OBrien said: I accept that at the time of giving birth my daughter was living a chaotic lifestyle and was not in a position to care for Shayla and she was removed from the hospital five days after birth by social services.

As a family, we continued to have contact with Shayla whilst she was in the care of the foster family.

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Ms OBrien said all of Elsies family were extremely attached to her and loved her very much.

She said: In January 2015, I started proceedings in the family court to become the legal guardian for Shayla.

I wanted to bring her up in a happy, healthy and warm family environment, that was all taken away from me when social services and the family court decided I would not be able to cope.

A decision was made that Elsie, who was renamed by her future adoptive parents Matthew and Craig Scully-Hicks, would be put up for adoption in May 2015.

The statement continued: We all continue to fight on even though every day we are numb with pain and hurt deep in the knowledge that Shayla was loved unconditionally by us all as a family and knowing that had she not been taken away from us, she would still be alive today.

Despite this decision and Shayla being in foster care, we as a family were still able to have weekly contact with her and we saw her without fail at every opportunity, Ms OBrien said.

In August 2015, out of nowhere, we were told by social services that we had to go and see Shayla as soon as possible and say goodbye for the final time as a suitable adoptive family had been found for her.

This was completely devastating for us all.

Ms OBrien said the family hoped that one day the little girl would be reunited with them but were visited by social services in January 2017.

The family were informed that Elsie, who suffered bleeding in her brain and eyes, a fractured skull and fractured ribs, had died in May the previous year.

In itself this was devastating news but to then be informed that one of the parents who had adopted her had been charged with murder and was allegedly responsible for her death was completely incomprehensible, Ms OBrien added.

A person who had been deemed by the authorities to be a fit and proper person to bring up my granddaughter was responsible for her death, and they took her from me telling me I would be unable to cope.
By PTI: Lucknow, Nov 7 (PTI) After showcasing Uttar Pradesh before the US companies as an investment-friendly state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said it was everyones duty to welcome entrepreneurs to the state.

"Not only the government, but every citizen is responsible for making the state attractive for investors," Adityanath said at a programme organised here by HCL Foundation.

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"Being the largest state of India, Uttar Pradesh is also the biggest market in the country, and hence, all must join hands to make the state investment-friendly," he said. The chief minister lauded the efforts of HCL Foundation for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme Samuday.

Adityanath said the company has taken up many important social projects in the state to make people self-reliant.

The chief minister said it was necessary to make people aware of various schemes launched by the government so that they could take benefit.

Samuday is a rural development initiative to create model villages.

"We feel that through the Samuday model, we will be able to develop a blueprint that is sustainable, scalable and replicable throughout the world," HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra said.

Adityanath recently met representatives of more than two dozen US companies exploring investment opportunities in the state and assured them his governments commitment to providing an investor-friendly environment.

Led by Boeing, the delegation that included major US firms such as Facebook, Adobe, Coca Cola, Mastercard, Monsanto, Uber, Honeywell, P&G, Oracle and GE Health and Cargill has shown keen interest in investing in the state.

During his Mauritius tour, the chief minister met NRIs and explored possibilities for investment in Uttar Pradesh.

He apprised them of the steps taken by his government to facilitate investors in the state and the measures taken in this regard. PTI SMI MR

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Four packages of white powder that sparked security alert at Scottish Parliament are not being treated as suspicious, police have said.

Earlier part of the Scottish parliament building had been evacuated after the discovery of white powder sent to Conservative MSPs.

Speaking to The Guardian, a Holyrood spokesman said it affected the MSPs' area of the parliament building.

This area had been cleared of all MSPs and their staff.

During the alert emergency vehicles from the Scottish fire and rescue service attended the scene, and the area around the building was cordoned off.

While part of the building was cleared, business continued as normal in other parts of the building.

According to the BBC, it is understood the packages were sent to Tory MSPs Liz Smith, Jamie Halcro-Johnston, Edward Mountain and Donald Cameron.

Mr Mountain told the state broadcaster the package he received appeared to be an invitation to the Inverness Courier newspaper's 200th anniversary celebration.

The alarm was initially raised just after 11.30am when Police Scotland received a report of a suspicious package.

Inquiries were carried out, and once police decided there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident and no crime had been committed, normal service was able to resume.
Priti Patel took time out from a family holiday to meet Benjamin Netanyahu, other politicians, businesses and charities without telling the Foreign Office (Victoria Jones/PA)

Labour have demanded an investigation by the Prime Ministers standards adviser into International Development Secretary Priti Patels meetings with the Israeli government, claiming they involved four serious breaches of the ministerial code.

Downing Street insisted Theresa May continued to have confidence in Ms Patel, after she was given a dressing down on Monday over her decision to conduct a series of meetings, including one with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without informing the Foreign Office.

Number 10 confirmed that Ms Patel had discussed the possibility of UK aid being used to support medical assistance for refugees from the Syrian civil war arriving in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

However the Prime Ministers official spokesman was unable to say whether she had explained when she met Mrs May that the scheme would have involved supplying funding to the Israeli army.

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I dont have precise detail on that beyond saying that she disclosed that shed had conversations about humanitarian support, the spokesman said.

As to whether or not we ever had the conversation specifically about that particular aspect of foreign aid, it may well be that we didnt.

In a letter to Mrs May, Labours shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said she should either call in her independent adviser on ministerial standards Sir Alex Allen or state publicly and explain your full reasons for why Priti Patel retains your confidence despite clear breaches of the ministerial code.

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Mr Trickett said there were strong grounds to believe that Ms Patel had broken the codes requirements for openness, collective responsibility, honesty and performing only those duties allocated to them by the PM.

Given that it is reported you met Priti Patel yesterday and reminded her of her responsibilities under the ministerial code, I believe it important that either you or the Cabinet Secretary publicly set out whether you have determined that Priti Patel failed to adhere to the code and if that is the case, why she still remains a member of your Government, wrote Mr Trickett.

Labour sought to force Ms Patel to explain herself in the Commons by tabling an urgent question, but it was left to Middle East Minister Alistair Burt to answer as MPs were told she had left on a trip to Africa.

He said Foreign Office officials in Israel had only become aware of her visit on August 24, after she was already in the country.

I dont have the dates of all the meetings. I suspect its after the meetings took place but I believe it was (Ms Patel) who told the official abroad that she was there and she was having the visits, he said.

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The Prime Minister was forced to remind Ms Patel of her obligations as a minister after it emerged that she took time out from a family holiday to meet Mr Netanyahu, other politicians, businesses and charities during a visit to Israel between August 13 and 25.

It is very clear  and Priti Patel was clear herself  that this was not handled in the proper way. Thats why she apologised, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said .

The meetings were arranged by the honorary president of the lobbying group Conservative Friends of Israel, Lord Polak, who also attended all but one.

On returning from her trip, Ms Patel commissioned Department for International Development (Dfid) work on disability and humanitarian and development partnerships between Israel and the UK.

Ms Patel only made Mrs May aware of the meetings on Friday, more than two months after they took place, when reports began to emerge of talks she held with a politician and a disability charity.

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The minister has apologised and admitted a lack of precision for suggesting last week that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson knew about the trip, and that only two meetings had taken place when she attended 12.

Mrs May also took steps to tighten the ministerial code, asking Whitehalls top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood to look at how it can be clarified.
Police have questioned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest associate over the country's purchase of German submarines, it is reported.

Israeli media identified Isaac Molho on Tuesday as the second prominent lawyer to be grilled this week on the case.

He joins his law partner David Shimron, Mr Netanyahu's personal lawyer, who has long been linked to the affair.

Mr Netanyahu is not a suspect in the case, but the investigation has engulfed his closest associates.

It relates to a possible conflict of interest involving a two billion US dollar purchase of German submarines.

Mr Shimron, who is also Mr Netanyahu's cousin, represented the German firm involved and is suspected of trading his influence in return for a hefty cut of the deal.

A former Cabinet minister and top former security officials have also been questioned.

AP
Pro-secession parties held a slim majority in the Catalan parliament before it was dissolved by Spanish authorities (AP)

Catalonia's ousted leader has vowed to prolong the fight for independence from Spain and urged the European Union (EU) to speak out over the jailing of Catalan officials in a rebellion case.

Carles Puigdemont's comments came at a campaign-style rally in Belgium's capital attended by about 200 mayors from Catalonia who greeted the deposed president with chants of "president" and "freedom".

The mayors raised their walking sticks, a symbol of mayoral power in Spain, in the air at the end of his speech and the crowd sang the Catalan anthem.

"We will never renounce this ideal of a country, of this notion of democracy," Mr Puigdemont told the mayors, gathered in a central Brussels art museum.

Flanked by four associates who fled Spain with him, Mr Puigdemont challenged the Spanish authorities and international community to accept the results of a snap Catalan election on December 21 if separatists win.

Mr Puigdemont and his colleagues could face 30 years in jail in Spain on charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement if Belgian justice authorities agree to extradite them.

Nine former Catalan government members have already been sent to jail in Spain. One of them was released on bail during the investigation.

Mr Puigdemont also challenged the EU to make its voice heard.

"Is this the Europe you want, is this the Europe you want to build, with a democratically-elected government in jail?" he said before a group of mayors held up big letters spelling "Help Catalonia".

The leaders of all the EU's main institutions are party allies of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

They have refused to criticise his government and only reacted very cautiously to police violence during the October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia.

Hours earlier, Mr Puigdemont told Catalan public radio that there is an "absolute disconnect between the interests of the people and the European elites", and that Catalonia's problem is an "issue of human rights that requires maximum attention".

Mr Puigdemont is fighting extradition to Spain, where other members of the ousted Cabinet have been sent to jail while awaiting the results of a probe for allegedly implementing a strategy to secede from Spain. His next hearing before a Belgian court is on November 17.

Catalan independence is now the second cause of concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment and ahead of corruption, according to the latest government-run poll.

Before the illegal independence referendum that deepened the political crisis, the issue was only ninth in the ranking of concerns by the CIS survey.

Spanish central authorities are now in direct control of the north-eastern region, where the early election next month is shaping into a tight race between separatist and pro-union forces.

The civil society group that spearheaded the Catalan bid for secession from Spain on Tuesday called for the region's separatist political parties to run in a "unified pro-independence ticket".

In a statement, Assemblea Nacional Catalana said such a joint coalition should include jailed separatist activists and the members of the deposed Catalan Cabinet as candidates.

The parties have until midnight on Tuesday to register an interest in forming coalitions.

AP
If anyone can relate to the horror of the massacre at the Texan Baptist Church, in which 26 people were killed and another 20 injured, it is Pastor David Bell. For he was caught up in a similar incident in Northern Ireland 34 years ago when republican gunmen opened fire on the congregation of Darkley church in south Armagh, killing three and wounding seven.

It was not the most serious crime of the Troubles in scale, but it did plumb new depths. It was an evil sectarian act, an obscenity which sent shudders through the province.

Just as the people in Sutherland Springs, Texas are wondering why death was visited on their little church at the weekend, so too did the people of Northern Ireland in 1983 when news of the Darkley attack began to spread.

In any faith-based society, the idea of wantonly attacking a Church service is beyond the comprehension of the vast majority of people. Places of worship, even in the worst of times, are regarded as somehow sacrosanct, although low level vandalism of Church properties is becoming more commonplace.

For the most part, during the Troubles churches were oases of safety. Large numbers of people congregated there, but attacks on and near Church property were rare. It was as if terrorists felt that faith, and its practice, was for the most part out of bounds to their campaigns.

The number of mass killings in America is often blamed on the existence of the second amendment of the constitution, which protects the rights of citizens to bear arms, a right that is jealously - although in the minds of outsiders, insanely - guarded. But as Darkley showed, when evil takes root those infected by it do not need an excuse to allow them to give expression to their hatred and bigotry. In the US, guns of all varieties are as common as supermarket vegetables, which facilitates the sort of horror seen in Texas and recently in Las Vegas.

Yet in Northern Ireland, where huge security operations were carried out on an ongoing basis, those who wanted to kill their fellow men, women and children were able to get the weapons they needed. It is not so much the guns we need to decommission, but the hatred that lurks in some people's minds.

David Bell is now pastor of Darkley church and the events of 1983 remain fresh in his mind. His life has moved on, but the obscenity of the church attack still stains his memory, as it will for the survivors in Texas.
Age gap between Mick and Noor Alfallah earned comparisons with Hugh Hefner, Playboy's founder, writes Sarah Caden.

Last week, while reporting the alleged new romance between Mick Jagger and film producer Noor Alfallah, one online news site compared them to the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his wife, Crystal Harris.

The age gap between that married couple was 60 years. The gap between Mick and Noor, at 74 and 23 years of age respectively, is 51 years.

It's comparable all right, but how did it happen that Mick and Hef could end up in the same bracket?

It happened because time marches on and somehow Mick, though still touring, is a septuagenarian great-grandfather. In fact, his eldest grandchild is two years older than Noor Alfallah.

This is how he ends up compared with Hef, who was regarded, for decades, as nothing short of a dirty old man.

There are many who would object to comparisons between Mick and Hef. Mick, somehow, is still regarded as a cool rock icon. He's a totem of hope for middle-aged to elderly men everywhere as he continues not only to romance, but to romance women of the same age as the women he was romancing 50 years ago.

How does he do it, is asked of Mick - and in an admiring way, without a hint of finding it distasteful.

If he wasn't a rock 'n' roll star, we'd be picking his behaviour apart as a classic case of an old man needing to boost his ego by wooing very young women with his status and power.

But we don't, because this is Mick and because this is rock 'n' roll and the rules are different.

The first suggestion of a romance between Mick Jagger and Noor Alfallah came last weekend, when they were photographed after enjoying a "romantic dinner" together. To be clear, they were photographed leaving a Paris restaurant together.

There were sources, though, claiming that a relationship has been going on for more than a month.

A newspaper also reported that Mick appears to remain involved with Melanie Hamrick, mother of his youngest and eighth child - a son, Deveraux - born last December. Melanie Hamrick, an American ballerina, is 30 years old, which seems suddenly ancient.

One source conceded that "Mick still has his legendary charm, but even the band were surprised someone as young and beautiful as Noor came to Paris to see him", before adding that "they are both single and seemed to have a lot of fun together, so everyone just let them get on with it".

Well, yes. And no.

In the current climate, it's interesting to note that while men of power in film, politics and business have been revealed for their sexually aggressive, inappropriate and exploitative behaviour, nothing has emerged from the rock 'n' roll ranks.

This is not to suggest that Mick Jagger has ever behaved sexually inappropriately. It is to say, however, that we have accepted that the rules of sexual behaviour have always been different in the world of rock 'n' roll. And we've all been complicit.

Never mind the casting couch of Hollywood, what about the groupies of rock 'n' roll? How distasteful is it that there's a name for women who congregate around musicians?

They're the women who hang around and hope that the musicians will notice and have sex with them. Their status is conferred by the grade of muso they can score and there has always been an acceptance that groupies are passed around. Consensually, obviously, but it's still creepy.

Back in the 1960s, a groupie was a rebel who rejected the patriarchal path of settling down, bearing babies and keeping house. She seemed like a self-determining libertarian, compared with her tied-down sisters.

But, in truth, the groupie is as wedded to a man's ego and status as any little housewife. This is the culture in which Mick Jagger was young.

Women ''threw themselves'' at him and no one is suggesting, even for a second, that he has ever exploited them. The age gap between him and his romantic partners matters now, though. Young women may still be keen on Mick, but not exactly for the reasons that they were when he was young - or even middle-aged.

They say that Mick Jagger and Noor Alfallah are having fun together. Which makes them sound like a pair of free-spirited equals.

But they're not both youngsters and she's an unknown film producer, while he's one of the most famous men in the world.

Sure, he still has the on-stage moves and he's still fathering children, but at this point his major appeal is his status and power. If this was anything but rock 'n' roll, we'd be turning up our noses at it.

Last week, one red-top tabloid headline ran: 'I Can Get Noor Satisfaction'. That's great for Mick's great-grandad ego, but it's a bit off in the current climate.

It buys into this sort of sniggering, "Good man, Mick, you dirty dog" idea.

And it's getting a bit old. So to speak.
By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will be among the 10 ASEAN leaders who will be chief guests at Indias Republic Day celebrations next year.

According to official sources, 10 ASEAN leaders have been invited for the Republic Day celebrations, and almost all of them have confirmed their participation.

"25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations is being marked. And invitations were sent by the Indian government to all ASEAN leaders for the Republic Day function. And, I can confirm that our prime minister will be attending it in January," Vietnams Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh told reporters here.

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The envoy said the prime minister would also be attending the special India-ASEAN Summit during his visit.

Hailing the bilateral ties, Thanh said, "India and Vietnam are like two brothers."

"Our (India-Vietnam) relations are now better than ever. Our relations with India is free from any problem, always as clear as the sky without any cloud," he said.

India and ASEAN are observing 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of summit level interaction and five years of strategic partnership throughout 2017 by undertaking a wide range of activities, both in India and through missions in ASEAN member states, which would culminate in a commemorative summit on the theme "Shared Values, Common Destiny".

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian states -- Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei -- which promotes regional cooperation.

"We (India and Vietnam) are two reliable partners," the envoy said.

Thanh said Chief Justice of Vietnam would be visiting India from November 26-29 and its deputy prime minister would pay a bilateral visit in July next year.

A troupe of Vietnamese artistes will be arriving in India later this month to participate in a cultural festival in Ahmedabad. Then they will travel to Chennai and Delhi, where they will perform at the India International Trade Fair. PTI KND PYK ZMN

--- ENDS ---
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By PTI: By Aditi Khanna

London, Nov 7 (PTI) A Labour party Assembly Member of the UKs devolved Welsh government was found dead today, days after he was sacked and placed under investigation over allegations about his personal conduct by a number of women.

Carl Sargeant is understood to have committed suicide after North Wales Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

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The 49-year-old had been sacked as the Welsh cabinet secretary for communities and children last Friday after allegations about inappropriate behaviour were passed to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones.

North Wales Police Superintendent Mark Pierce said the force had been called this morning to a report that a mans body had been found at an address in Connahs Quay, Flintshire, Wales.

"North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner," he said.

The exact cause of death will be known once the coroner makes a statement.

"This is terrible and deeply shocking news. My thoughts and profound sympathy are with Carls family, friends and colleagues," Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

Sargeant, the Welsh Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside, said last week that he had met the First Minister and been told that allegations had been made against him. He was suspended from party membership "while an investigation into allegations received takes place", the Welsh government said.

The politician, who was married with two children, had called for an urgent investigation to clear his name.

A family statement described Sargeant as a "much loved husband, father and friend".

"He wasnt simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. We are devastated beyond words," the statement said.

First Minister Jones had said yesterday that he had heard of a number of alleged incidents with women, and felt he had no choice but to refer the matter to the party.

"Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local assembly member," Jones said in a statement. PTI AK ZH

--- ENDS ---
More than 65 million people worldwide have been forcefully displaced from their homes by conflict and war. Bowling Green State University will address the global refugee crisis at the daylong 2017 "Immigrant Ohio" symposium on Nov. 14 starting at 9:30 a.m. in 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Refugees Past and Present will include three panel sessions that will focus on refugee stories of displacement from the 1940s through the present, settling refugees, and a discussion about the future of the global refugee situation, according to event co-organizers Drs. Vibha Bhalla, an associate professor of ethnic studies, and Christina Guenther, an associate professor of world languages and cultures.



BGSU alumna Anne Marie McGranaghan from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Washington, D.C., will provide the keynote address. McGranaghan, an associate resettlement officer, will talk about Global Resettlement Trends. She earned a bachelors degree in social work in 1981 and masters degrees in college student personnel and guidance counseling in 1988.

The symposium, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is free and open to the public. The first panel, Becoming Refugees: Stories of Displacement, will include people who were refugees from North to South Korea, Pakistan to India, and from Hungary, Vietnam, Cuba, Russia, Somalia, Syria and Burundi.

Settling Refugees, the panel after a lunch break, will include representatives from US Together in Toledo, Ohio, Jobs and Family Services, Cleveland Catholic Dioceses Ohio Center for Survivors of Tortures, ASPIRE at the Penta Career Center, and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE).

The final panel of the day offers a look at Whats Next? A Time to Ponder, with panelists Peter and Betsy Ujvagi talking about The Community Perspective: The Hungarian Community in Toledo; Brittany Ford from Welcome Toledo-Lucas County; BGSU faculty members who will address Preserving Refugee Life Stories"; and Eugenio Mollo of ABLE exploring Discourses on Refugee Policy.

The event closes with the opening of a special photography exhibition titled Refugee Stories from Three Continents by Tariq Tarey, a Somalian asylee. Tarey, a visual artist living in Columbus, Ohio, uses his visual art to advocate for refugees throughout the world. His exhibit at BGSU will be featured in the William T. Jerome Library through April 2018. Guests are invited to view the opening of the exhibit at 4 p.m. followed by a reception in the library. The Ethnic Cultural Arts Program is helping sponsor the photographic exhibit.

The symposium is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities grant that BGSU received to address the refugee crisis and to develop an interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum on the topic of migration. The Department of Ethnic Studies, School of Cultural and Critical Studies and Department of World Languages and Cultures are hosting the event.








First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

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Is AMR Modern-day FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER?

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The rising AMR is a matter of huge concern that needs to be tactfully handled and health authorities of several countries, including India, have formulated action plans for its containment. Significant efforts by the government, an active involvement of startups and diagnostic players is a good start. The question remains, whether this will be enough.

For Feedback, please email us at: communications@mmactiv.com
From Reducing Stress To Fighting Cancer, Tulsi Has Powerful Health Benefits Wellness oi-Neha Ghosh

Since ancient times, holy basil has been used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is commonly called 'tulsi' in India and is well-known for its therapeutic health benefits. Holy basil has started gaining popularity in Western countries because it contains adaptogens (anti-stress agents) that promote overall health.

According to the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, consuming tulsi leaves daily helps prevent diseases, promotes longevity, well-being and assists in dealing with day-to-day stress [1] .

The tulsi plant embodies medicinal and spiritual properties which is why it's considered a tonic for the mind, body, and spirit. From the leaves to the seeds of the plant, tulsi has the powerful ability to cure various ailments.

The flowers of the plant are used for treating bronchitis.

The leaves and seeds of the plant are used for malaria treatment.

The whole plant is used for treating diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea.

Tulsi essential oil extracted from the leaves is used for insect bites.

Nutritional Information Of Tulsi Leaves

Tulsi leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, folates carbohydrates, sodium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. They also contain phytonutrients like cryptoxanthin, carotene and zeaxanthin.

Health Benefits Of Tulsi (Holy Basil)

1. Lowers blood sugar

If you have type 2 diabetes, all parts of the tulsi plant can help decrease your blood sugar levels. Consuming the parts of the plant can alleviate the symptoms of diabetes such as weight gain, excess insulin in the blood, insulin resistance, hypertension, and high cholesterol [2] .

2. Prevents stomach ulcers

Tulsi has the ability to counteract the effects of stress-induced ulcers by decreasing stomach acids, increasing mucous secretion, increasing mucous cells, and extending the life of mucous cells. A study showed that tulsi possesses antiulcer and anti-inflammatory properties which inhibit gastric ulcer [3] .

3. Fights cancer

According to a research study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, tulsi contains phytochemicals like eugenol, apigenin, myrtenal, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and -sitosterol. All these phytochemicals elevate antioxidant activity, prevent blood vessel growth, alter healthy gene expressions, and induce cancer cell death, thereby contributing to the decline of cancer cell growth. Consuming tulsi every day will prevent skin, lung, liver, and oral cancers [4] .

Tulsi has another added benefit - it protects the body from radiation poisoning and treats the damage caused by radiation treatment [5] .

4. Reduces cholesterol

Tulsi aids in losing weight and reduces cholesterol levels. It also keeps metabolic stress under control, metabolic stress gives rise to obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Studies have shown that tulsi improves lipid profiles, prevents weight gain, and prevents the formation of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels [6] , [7] .

5. Supports bone health

This herbal plant has important minerals like calcium, vitamin C, and magnesium that helps in supporting better bone health. These minerals possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help in the treatment of arthritis or fibromyalgia [1] .

6. Protects against infections

Tulsi leaf extract aids in faster wound healing and can treat infections due to its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties [8] . It can treat infections like mouth ulcers, acne, raised scars, urinary tract infections, fungal infections, etc.

7. Prevents tooth decay

Tulsi's powerful activity against Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay has been studied. According to the International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences, tulsi can be used as a herbal mouth wash for treating mouth ulcers, gum disease, and bad breath [9] . Another study has shown that tulsi is as effective as Listerine and Chlorhexidine in preventing tooth decay [10] .

8. Alleviates stress and anxiety

The psychotherapeutic properties of tulsi have been studied and it shows that the plant has antidepressant and antianxiety properties. Studies reveal that tulsi improves memory, cognitive function, general stress, sexual and sleep problems [11] , [12] .

So consume tulsi leaves daily to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

9. Promotes eye health

The efficacy of tulsi has been mentioned in Ayurveda to fight against conjunctivitis and other eye-related diseases like cataracts, thanks to its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties [13] .

10. Fights acne

Since ancient times, tulsi extract has been used in treating skin infections and other skin problems. Tulsi contains active compound eugenol, which can help combat skin disorders and aid in treating acne, according to the International Journal of Cosmetic Science [14] .

Tulsi has been shown to be effective against animal pathogens, which is why it is used in animal rearing to reduce the chances of infections in poultry, cows, goats, fish, and silkworms. The plant is also used in preserving food, preventing water-borne and food-borne pathogens, for water purification, and as a hand sanitizer.

The Recommended Dosage Of Tulsi

When tulsi is taken in pill or capsule form, the recommended dosage is 300 mg to 2,000 mg per day. When used as a treatment, the recommended dosage is 600 mg to 1,800 mg per day.

The tulsi leaves are used in cooking or eaten raw because of its taste. Drinking tulsi tea has much more benefits than consuming normal coffee and tea [1] .

How To Make Tulsi Tea

Ingredients:

A cup of water

2-3 tulsi leaves

Method:

Boil the water in a pan and add 2-3 tulsi leaves in it.

Allow it to boil for 5 minutes so that the water absorbs the colour and flavour.

Strain the tea in the cup, add a teaspoon of honey and drink it.

How To Make Tulsi Seeds Water For Weight Loss

Ingredients:

2 tsp tulsi seeds

2 glasses of chilled water

6 tbsp rose syrup or strawberry syrup

2 tsp lemon juice

5-6 mint leaves

Method:

Wash the tulsi seeds in running water. Soak it in a glass of water for about 2 hours.

Strain the excess water from the soaked seeds.

In a glass, add 3 tbsp of rose syrup or any other flavoured syrup of your choice.

Add chilled water into the glass and stir well.

Add a tablespoon of soaked tulsi seeds into it.

Add in some lemon juice and mint leaves. Serve chilled.

View Article References [1] Cohen M. M. (2014). Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons.Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine,5(4), 251259. [2] Jamshidi, N., & Cohen, M. M. (2017). The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM,2017, 9217567. [3] Singh, S., & Majumdar, D. K. (1999). Evaluation of the gastric antiulcer activity of fixed oil of Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil).Journal of ethnopharmacology,65(1), 13-19. [4] Baliga, M. S., Jimmy, R., Thilakchand, K. R., Sunitha, V., Bhat, N. R., Saldanha, E., ... & Palatty, P. L. (2013). Ocimum sanctum L (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and its phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancer.Nutrition and cancer,65(sup1), 26-35. [5] Baliga, M. S., Rao, S., Rai, M. P., & D'souza, P. (2016). Radio protective effects of the Ayurvedic medicinal plant Ocimum sanctum Linn.(Holy Basil): a memoir.Journal of cancer research and therapeutics,12(1), 20. [6] Suanarunsawat, T., Ayutthaya, W. D., Songsak, T., Thirawarapan, S., & Poungshompoo, S. (2011). Lipid-lowering and antioxidative activities of aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum L. leaves in rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet.Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity,2011, 962025. [7] Samak, G., Rao, M. S., Kedlaya, R., & Vasudevan, D. M. (2007). Hypolipidemic efficacy of Ocimum sanctum in the prevention of atherogenesis in male albino rabbits.Pharmacologyonline,2, 115-27. [8] Singh, S., Taneja, M., & Majumdar, D. K. (2007). Biological activities of Ocimum sanctum L. fixed oilAn overview. [9] Kukreja, B. J., & Dodwad, V. (2012). Herbal mouthwashes-a gift of nature.Int J Pharma Bio Sci,3(2), 46-52. [10] Agarwal, P., & Nagesh, L. (2011). Comparative evaluation of efficacy of 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Listerine and Tulsi extract mouth rinses on salivary Streptococcus mutans count of high school childrenRCT.Contemporary clinical trials,32(6), 802-808. [11] Giridharan, V. V., Thandavarayan, R. A., Mani, V., Ashok Dundapa, T., Watanabe, K., & Konishi, T. (2011). Ocimum sanctum Linn. leaf extracts inhibit acetylcholinesterase and improve cognition in rats with experimentally induced dementia.Journal of medicinal food,14(9), 912-919. [12] Saxena, R. C., Singh, R., Kumar, P., Negi, M. P., Saxena, V. S., Geetharani, P.,  Venkateshwarlu, K. (2011). Efficacy of an Extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the Management of General Stress: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM,2012, 894509. [13] Prakash, P., & Gupta, N. (2005). Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review.Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology,49(2), 125. [14] Viyoch, J., Pisutthanan, N., Faikreua, A., Nupangta, K., Wangtorpol, K., & Ngokkuen, J. (2006). Evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial activity of Thai basil oils and their microemulsion formulas against Propionibacterium acnes.International journal of cosmetic science,28(2), 125-133.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 07/11/2017 (1835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Westman communities set to lose their only banking institutions are calling on credit unions to fill the void.

Talk of finding a replacement began last month when the Royal Bank of Canada announced it would uproot its brick-and-mortar branches from McCreary and Pierson next April.

RBC has described the moves as a consolidation brought about by Canadians increasingly relying on online and mobile banking. Services from the McCreary branch will be transferred to the Neepawa location and offerings from the Pierson branch are moving to Melita.

Local politicians, however, say not all of the banks clients want to follow RBC out of town.

In the Municipality of McCreary, Reeve Larry McLauchlan has wasted no time seeking another financial institution.

Within a day, McLauchlan contacted most of the four credit unions he has since heard back from. Those credit unions are Catalyst and Vanguard (which are voting to merge this month), Prairie Mountain, based in Laurier and Ste. Rose du Lac, and Beautiful Plains, located in Neepawa and Glenella.

Most of the credit unions, he said, are quite interested at the prospect of opening in McCreary.

Credit unions have had their eye on the community of 500 people for a while. Approximately 15 years ago, a community survey found citizens were happy with their bank and didnt want a credit union, but McLauchlan argues thats changing.

He heard that a few people closed their RBC accounts the day after the news broke.

I can see a credit union latching onto us, he said, explaining the municipality would likely transfer their $6 million of assets to whichever credit union services their community, should it happen.

McLauchlans worried about the elderly in the community and what they will end up doing. Teaching them about online and mobile banking wont suffice, he argues.

Theyre old, and then theyre going to risk their lives, driving up and down the road, he said, explaining the drive to Neepawa takes 40 minutes. Theyre going to have to get to the bank.

In Pierson, Local Urban District (LUD) chairperson Bill Warren plans to recommend at next weeks meeting that they invite Sunrise Credit Union to town.

Already, hes spoken with a staff member at Sunrises closest branch, Melita, to provide a heads-up.

Some of the folks are kind of disgruntled with the Royal because of the move, he said of Pierson residents. They may just choose the credit union over the Royal.

He said RBC has pledged to place a banking machine in the community of some 200 people, which, the bank said, would permit money withdrawals, transfers between accounts and bill payments, but Warren feels that option is limiting.

For at least the four years Warren has lived in Pierson, the bank maintained 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours from Monday to Thursday. The bank is open from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Friday.

Its not convenient, Warren said, but its better than nothing.

Terry Burgess, RBCs regional vice-president for Manitoba South, said its unfortunate two communities will lose their branches, but its a byproduct of the changing ways people bank.

The last thing we like doing is moving locations, but changes in our industry have caused us to make some of these decisions, he said. We totally understand that this will inconvenience our clients from those two communities that weve been in for a very long time.

Burgess explained the company is moving, but not leaving. In addition to a banking machine placed somewhere in McCreary and Pierson, some staff will make house calls for such services as commercial accounts and mortgages.

Clients still have opportunities to do business in branches, albeit not in their community, via the phone, through our online banking, as well as through their mobile devices, he added.

Burgess wouldnt delve into the number of clients or traffic at each of the two branches. He said there are not enough people through the doors to warrant having physical premises anymore.

The Canadian Bankers Association says the trend of banking away from a physical building is felt nationwide.

According to 2016 data, only 12 per cent of Canadian customers use in-branch as their primary means of banking  and for those under 35, that number drops to eight per cent.

More than three-quarters of Canadians reported using online banking, they discovered.

This year, Erickson lost its RBC branch and CIBC deserted Elkhorn, leaving the latter community without a financial institution.

Burgess said RBC has three employees in each of its McCreary and Pierson locations. They will be offered different opportunities, aligned with their experience, though it may not be at the branch closest to them, he added.

In the months before closure, Burgess said RBC employees will help clients find new ways to do their banking, such as encouraging online and mobile platforms.

We understand that our clients are going to be inconvenienced and were going to work with each and every one of them to find solutions that work for them.

RBC has been located in both communities for more than a century. Burgess said the Pierson branch opened on May 17, 1906, and the McCreary location began operations on Oct. 1, 1912.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese
Supermarket giant Coles has agreed to fast-track a vote on a new workplace agreement that will pay much higher penalty rates as part of a settlement of a massive underpayment case against it.

Brisbane night-fill worker Penny Vickers wrote to the Fair Work Commission on Monday that she wanted to discontinue her action as part of a settlement agreement with Coles.

She told Fairfax Media as part of the settlement that a vote on a new Coles agreement  that pays at least the minimum rates of the award "at all times"  would be held no later than February.

"It's an excellent outcome for everyone," Ms Vickers said. "It fixes the whole problem."
Australian shares rose on Tuesday to a near 10-year high, breaching the psychologically important 6000-point level, tracking global moves in equity markets.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.81 per cent, or 48.42 points, to 6,002.20, its highest level since February, 2008.

After breaking through, it immediately retreated below 6000. At around 1:10pm, it is trading at 5998.50 points.

The benchmark has increased nearly 6 per cent so far this year, and is on track for a second year of gains.
A Sydney woman has lost a defamation case against a business owner who posted a photo of her with the word "Thief!" in a Mount Druitt discount store.

The poster appeared at the counter of One Stop Bargains, a two-dollar shop on Mount Druitt Road, in July 2016.

The poster appeared in the One Stop Bargains store in Mount Druitt.

The word "Thief!" was written in capital letters above and below the woman's photograph, which was taken from CCTV footage of her in the make-up section of the store.

The woman denied stealing from the shop and demanded that the poster be taken down before launching defamation proceedings in the NSW District Court.
2017 will, according to the experts, be the hottest non-El Nino year ever recorded. It will also be the third hottest year ever measured. The two hottest years to date were in 2016 and 2015.

These facts are vitally important to humanity. They have also been taken as the latest confirmation of a global warming trend that will ultimately affect every aspect of life on this fragile planet.

We are, according to the ANU's Sophie Lewis, already on track to experience 50 degree days in Sydney and Melbourne within the lifetimes of most Australians aged under 60 if the most stringent efforts are not made to reduce carbon emissions.

Such days, which would almost certainly lead to numerous heat related deaths, are possible even if the two degree global warming limit agreed to in the Paris Accord in 2015 is achieved.
One person is dead and another critically injured in a helicopter crash at Hobart Airport.

Police say two people were on board when the helicopter crashed on Tuesday evening.

They say one of those people has died, with the other critically injured. Police plan to hold a press conference about the crash about 8.30pm.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau say it was a single-engine AS350BA Squirrel helicopter that crashed.
The eastern Queensland coast has been drenched and battered on Tuesday afternoon, with five severe storms cells on the radar at one point, but inner Brisbane remained dry.

The Bundaberg region was hammered with almost 40 millimetres of rain in 15 minutes during the late afternoon, while the Sunshine Coast hinterland reported 4-5 centimetre hailstones.

The storm approaches Bundaberg. Credit:Ruth McCosker - Fairfax Media

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michael Paech said the storm cells weren't strong enough to reach inner Brisbane despite tracking towards the city, but surrounding areas saw plenty of the extreme weather.
Melbourne DJ and nightclub promoter Jason Peter Kolbeck, 36, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking a large commercial quantity of drugs and possession of prohibited weapons.

Kolbeck was raided by drug squad detectives in April last year, when they uncovered a cache of drugs, cash, knuckle dusters and a Taser.

Flyers for Two Floors Up's 'Jailhouse Rock' event featured an image of Jason Kolbeck as a prisoner.

Drugs seized from a room in the Grand Chancellor hotel and a Prahran property linked to Kolbeck included almost 2.5 kilograms of MDMA, 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 974 grams of MDA and a small quantity of ethylone.

A month earlier, telephone intercepts revealed Kolbeck selling 200 MDMA tablets to an associate between March 5 and 6, 2016.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuks campaign ventured so deep into LNP territory on Tuesday, she attended the same country race meet as the Deputy Opposition Leader.

Despite the Premier spending a couple of hours at the Kumbia race track, she somehow managed to avoid crossing paths with the member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, who held the seat with a 13.3 per cent margin, despite at times standing only metres away.

Racing Minister Grace Grace and Premier Annastacia Palasczcuk place a bet with bookmaker Trevor Byrnes at the Kumbia Race Club. Credit:Darren England/AAP

As the campaign bus drove through the gates to the meet for the Melbourne Cup, a sign at the entrance protested Labors vegetation management laws: Stop treating farmers like criminals.

The town of Kumbia is home to about 350 people, with cattle and avocado farmers among the main industries in the region.
Los Angeles: Harvey Weinstein employed private investigators to spy on his accusers and keep tabs on reporters investigating his past, according to a report in the New Yorker.

According to the report, the disgraced Hollywood producer hired Black Cube, a firm run by former Mossad agents, to collect information on Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of rape.

The firm employed undercover agents, one of whom posed as a women's rights activist, to meet with McGowan and obtain information on her forthcoming book.

Weinstein employed Black Cube and Kroll, a corporate security firm, in an effort to block stories in the New Yorker and the New York Times detailing decades of allegations of sexual misconduct, according to the New Yorker.
Northern Ireland will not stay in the European Union's single market or the customs union after Brexit, a British government official said, adding that arrangements for the border with Ireland must not eat into the United Kingdom's integrity.

Allowing Northern Ireland to retain some access has been floated by the European Parliament's Brexit pointman, Guy Verhofstadt.

"We will leave the European Union in 2019 as one United Kingdom," the British minister for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, said on Monday. "We need to ensure that nothing is done that undermines the integrity of the UK single market."

"I find it difficult to image how Northern Ireland could somehow remain in while the rest of the country leaves. I find it impossible," he told a seminar in Brussels.

Brokenshire reiterated Prime Minister Theresa May's insistence that the United Kingdom would be exiting both as a result of the 2016 referendum.

London has proposed an "invisible border" without checkpoints or immigration controls between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit. But it has given no firm ideas on customs arrangements and the EU has mostly been critical, seeing these plans as unrealistic.

Dublin has said it will not let Brexit negotiations move from the divorce talks to discussions about future trade relations between Britain and the EU - as London is pushing for - without more guarantees on the border.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has demanded more guarantees that the Irish issue would be solved even if the future trade talks between Britain and the remaining 27 EU states collapse.

"Show us how it could be done in practice, how can you be outside of the single market and customs union and not have border infrastructure at the same time," one EU diplomat said in Brussels. "It's about where and how you will carry out checks."

With London reluctant to accept controls between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, and both sides declaring determination to avoid a hard border between the two Irish communities, the person said the only remaining option would be to run checks between Irelandand the rest of the EU.

"That would complicate Ireland's exports to the EU as everything would be checked as if it were coming from Northern Ireland, but maybe that would still be a less bad option for them than having a border on the island," the diplomat added.

Brokenshire said some agricultural laws in Northern Ireland -- which is trying to reach agreement on how to relaunch its regional executive that is ruled at arm's length from London -- were already different than elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

After meeting the EU's top agriculture official in Brussels, Irish Commissioner Phil Hogan, Brokenshire signalled Belfast could keep some of its laws closer to those of the EU after Brexit to minimise trade disruptions across the future border.

He also said London was keen to preserve the common travel area Ireland has with Britain, as well as the single electricity market on the island of Ireland. He hoped for close cooperation with Dublin, including on security matters, after Britain leaves, as is now due to happen in March, 2019.

British and EU negotiators will meet in Brussels again this Thursday and Friday for more Brexit talks that have been grinding slowly, unnerving investors and businesses who seek clarity to plan their operations.

Brussels is growing sceptical that there will be enough progress in time for another gathering of all EU leaders in mid-December on the three main issues the bloc wants to settle before opening trade talks.

The question of the Irish border is one. The most politicaly contentious one is agreeing Britain's divorce bill.

Most progress has been achieved in the third - setting mutual safeguards for Britons living in the EU after Brexit and EU citizens residing in the first country to ever decide to leave the bloc - but that is not yet settled either. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Digicom has today announced the creation of 30 new jobs over the next three years on the back of a strong pipeline in the burgeoning commercial office market which has seen more than 520 million in new lettings in the first nine months of 2017 alone.



The Irish office technology firm the provision of managed print services, audio visual solutions and support services with partners located across the globe. The company this week marked its 20th year in business and is undertaking several significant projects in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. It currently employs more than 40 people.



Digicom recently completed a substantial project for global medical devices firm Teleflex which employs over 250 people in Athlone. The Irish facility services other Teleflex operations across three continents.

The company also includes Mazars, IBEC, SMBC and Ardagh Glass in its list of clients. Recently, Digicom worked on projects with Zurich in the Isle of Man and Bank of Ireland in London and Bristol.



Commenting on the expansion, Digicom MD, Greg Clarke said, "Brexit is almost upon us but this will bring a wealth of opportunities to our shores. With UK and European companies hoping to relocate to Ireland, Digicom is particularly well-placed to meet the growing demand for commercial space. Similarly, companies who are based in Dublin are expanding into EMEA and they want to have a knowledgeable safe pair of hands from people who have looked after them in Ireland."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that Going for Growth, the award-winning business development programme for ambitious female entrepreneurs, is looking for applications for the latest cycle of the initiative.



Going for Growth is for female entrepreneurs, across all sectors, who are strongly focussed on growth. Ideally their businesses will be well established and they will have been trading for at least two years. The programme will give them a unique experience of peer support in a collaborative environment with entrepreneurs supporting entrepreneurs.

With the focus very much on action and results, participants work in interactive round table sessions led by successful female entrepreneurs and businesswomen who share their experience and insights with the group on a completely voluntary basis. They support the participants to examine and address the issues and challenges they face in driving growth in their businesses.



The six-month part time programme, which is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG, will run from January to June 2018. There is no charge to those who are selected to participate. The deadline for applications for Going for Growth is Friday 8 December 2017.



Over 500 female entrepreneurs have participated in the initiative to date and the evidence from them is that the peer support approach delivers major impacts for both the entrepreneur and for her business. In the most recent cycle, the 78 participants reported an increase in their combined sales of over 20million over the six months of the cycle, bringing their total sales to over 136million.

Almost half the participants have customers in overseas markets. Between them the participants employed an additional 187 people full time, bringing their combined total to 1,250 people, an increase of 17.5% over the six month cycle.



Commenting on the initiative, National Director of Going for Growth, Paula Fitzsimons said, "Our mission in Going for Growth is to support female entrepreneurs to achieve their growth ambitions and to get more female owner managers into a growth frame of mind. We have demonstrated over many cycles that the collaborative peer based approach really works and delivers significant results for the entrepreneurs and their businesses."



Partner at KPMG, Olivia Lynch added, "The promotion of female entrepreneurship has many benefits from the unlocking of personal potential to the valuable employment opportunities it creates. Were delighted to support Going for Growth and we look forward to working with the many ambitious entrepreneurs who will participate in the next cycle."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Ibec today published its latest Quarterly Economic Outlook, which forecasts growth of 4.8% for 2017, and 3.9% in 2018.



The group that represents Irish business believes this growth is being driven by a buoyant labour market, with figures showing total household disposable income increasing sharply. Ibec warned, however, that the risk of Irish growth being derailed over the coming years has risen significantly due to external developments.

The group has warned the lack of progress in Brexit negotiations has increased the risk of a no-deal scenario and that all forecasts must be seen in that context.



Ibec believe housing is now the major domestic issue for many businesses. The most recent release of stamp duty data suggests in the region of 9,800 new housing units came to market in the last 12 months. This represents a significant pick-up but from a very low base.

Ibec say it is notable, however, that one-third of the units sold over the past twelve months were purchased by buy-to-let or non-household investors. As such, the gap between supply and household demand (estimated to be in the region of 40,000 units annually) will take some time to close yet, according to Ibec.



Speaking this week, Ibec's Head of Tax and Fiscal Policy, Gerard Brady said, "The Brexit debate in the UK is now mired in divisive domestic politics and the final destination for all involved is an unknown. Whilst our best hope is that economic interests win out in the end, it is far from clear that they will. Diversification by our exporters will be important, but our analysis shows how difficult it may be for sectors most exposed to the UK."

He added, "At recent rates of new market development it would take five years for the dairy sector and nine years for the meat sector to make up for lost trade with the UK in a hard Brexit scenario. This is before displacement effects on prices are taken into account. Sectors will clearly need more support than was offered in the recent Budget over the coming years."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Prime Minister Theresa May's government said it would submit legislation to parliament on Tuesday needed to let Britain pursue an independent trade policy once it leaves the European Union.

The trade bill contains provisions to help Britain in its bid to convert existing EU free-trade agreements into British ones after it leaves the trading bloc, the government said.

The legislation will also include powers to ensure British companies can continue to access government contracts in other countries and create a new trade body to defend businesses against unfair trade practices, such as dumping.

"For the first time in over 40 years the UK will be able to shape our own trade and investment agenda - and we are determined that businesses and consumers can take advantage of this opportunity," trade minister Liam Fox said in a statement.

Supporters of the vote to leave the EU have said the freedom to strike new trade deals independently of the bloc will be one of the main benefits.

They say it will easier for Britain to strike deals more quickly with other nations, such as China, than the EU with all its member countries and their different priorities.

But critics of Brexit say Britain does not have the individual capacity to negotiate dozens of new trade deals without the EU.

The bill is part of an array of legislation that will be discussed by parliament over the next year aimed at ensuring a smooth departure from the EU.

The government will also submit another bill soon that will allow it to vary the customs duty on goods. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
EU regulators have asked iPhone maker Apple for details of its recent tax structure following last year's order to pay back taxes of up to 13 billion euros to Ireland, Europe's anti-trust chief said on Tuesday.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who issued the record back-tax bill against Apple in August 2016, said she wanted to make sure the company now complies with the bloc's rules which ban unfair state aid.

"I have been asking for an update on the arrangement made by Apple, the recent way they have been organized, in order to get the feeling whether or not this is in accordance with our European rules but that remains to be seen," Vestager told a news briefing on the sidelines of an international tech summit in Lisbon.

"We are looking into this of course without any kind of prejudice, just to get the information," she said.

Vestager said her request preceded reports based on the "Paradise Papers" which showed that Apple shifted key parts of its business to Jersey as an offshore tax haven in a move to maintain a low tax rate. Apple has said no operations were moved from Ireland.

"We have no contact after the Paradise Papers. We are in the process. There is no particular need," she said.

She also said it was too early to say whether the latest leaks on tax arrangements by companies would lead to any investigation.

"That remains to be seen if we will open more cases after the Paradise Papers."

The European Commission last month sued Ireland for its tardiness in collecting the money from Apple.

"We have no indication when it comes to the time perspective of Apple's recovery. We do have from the Irish government the progress made," she said. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Since 2016, Bank of China has moved its banking assets in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia into its Hong Kong subsidiary as Chinas fourth largest lender looks to boost growth in Southeast Asia. Photo: IC

Bank of China Ltd. is grooming its Hong Kong-listed unit to become the lenders flagship for Southeast Asian business.

Chinas fourth-largest lender by assets said in a statement Monday that it plans to inject the banking businesses of both its Hochiminh City and Manila branches into its Hong Kong-listed unit, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Since 2016, Bank of China has moved banking assets in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia into its Hong Kong subsidiary.

Bank of China said Southeast Asian markets have notable strategic significance in Chinas One Belt One Road initiative and going-out strategy.

The move aims to enhance the banks regional customer service capabilities, boost product innovation and market competitiveness, and foster the accelerated growth of the bank in the (Southeast Asia) region, Bank of China said.

The bank did not provide additional information about the proposed asset injection.

Bank of Chinas third-quarter net profit rose 0.1% to 41.82 billion yuan ($6.3 billion) from a year ago, and its nonperforming loan ratio stood at 1.41% as of the end of September.

Contact reporter Leng Cheng (chengleng@caixin.com)
U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad (pictured) told reporters that U.S. President Donald Trump would be pushing for American companies to have greater access to Chinese markets. What we really want is for American companies to have the same access here in China as Chinese companies have in the United States, he said. Photo: Visual China

Trade, market access and North Korea will be at the top of President Donald Trumps agenda when he meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, Terry Branstad, the U.S. ambassador to China said.

Talks about free, fair and reciprocal trade will be a very important part of President Trumps three-day trip, which begins on Wednesday, Washingtons top diplomat in Beijing told a small group of Chinese reporters on Monday.

President Trump will be accompanied by a business delegation that includes the leaders of 28 U.S. companies, which is different than (what has) happened in the past on these state visits, Branstad said, noting that business leaders have not traditionally accompanied U.S. presidents on such occasions.

We anticipate there will be a number of MOUs (memorandums of understanding) signed during the trip, the ambassador said.

He did not provide details but said the agreements will be many and varied, with some in the manufacturing and energy industries.

Reciprocity on market access

Branstad urged China to broaden market access to U.S. business, citing social media and insurance as some of the sectors that Washington is concerned about.

What we really want is for American companies to have the same access here in China as Chinese companies have in the United States, he said. We want to make sure that there is reciprocity and there is opportunity for Americans here.

Another focus of President Trumps mission in China will be the denuclearization of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula, Branstad said.

The president is appreciative of the Chinese cooperation at the United Nations Security Council in pushing through two major resolutions to impose sanctions on North Korea, which led to bans on imports of coal and seafood into China from the country. Nevertheless, the U.S. believes more needs to be done, the ambassador said.

We are hopeful that more can be done to increase the pressure and convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile program, he said.

Cutting off oil supplies to North Korea, for example, would be certainly one of the areas that we feel could make a real difference, he said.

That could be very helpful in convincing North Korea that they need to abandon this provocative direction that theyve been taking. So I would expect there will be discussion on that issue between the two presidents, Branstad said.

Contact reporter Fran Wang (fangwang@caixin.com)
Published On Nov 07, 2017 05:19 PM By Raunak for Volkswagen T-Cross

The upcoming T-Cross compact SUV will share VW Groups MQB A0 platform with the new Polo

The upcoming compact SUV from Volkswagen, the T-Cross, has been spied for the first time. It is based on the T-Cross Breeze concept, which was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, and is expected to be revealed in 2018 with sales likely to commence in the same year.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is based on the MQB A0 platform, which is the smaller avatar of VW Groups MQB platform (Modularer Quer Baukasten a.k.a Modular Transverse Matrix), and shared with the new Polo. While the Polo borrows its platform from the Seat Ibiza, the T-Cross is expected to borrow the platform from the Seat Arona. For the uninitiated, Seat is also one of the brands under VW Group and was the first brand under the German umbrella to introduce the MQB A0 platform. The Seat Arona has slightly larger footprints compared to the two MQB A0-based hatchbacks.

At the recent launch of the Volkswagen Passat, the director of VW India hinted that the T-Cross could be one of the solutions the German manufacturer is currently looking at to fend off the Hyundai Creta. So, therea possibility that the T-Cross could be introduced in the Indian market as well. However, nothing is concrete as of now since VW has not confirmed whether they will introduce the MQB A0 platform in the country or not. Check out more detail here.

Dimension Check

Disclaimer: The specs of the Seta Arona are taken as reference for the Volkswagen T-Cross since both the SUVs are likely to have identical footprints like the VW Polo and the Seat Ibiza. Further, the specs of the VW T-Cross Breeze concept showcased at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show were also similar.

Volkswagen T-Cross Hyundai Creta Length 4,138mm 4,270mm Width 1,780mm 1,780mm Height 1,552mm 1,630mm Wheelbase 2,566mm 2,590mm Boostspace 400-litres 402-liters

The equipment list of the VW T-Cross is expected to be similar to the all-new Polo which packs features like Volkswagens second-gen, fully-digital instrument cluster; an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink connectivity options; and wireless charging among others. Check out what the new Polo packs here: Meet The All-New Sixth-Generation Volkswagen Polo

Mechanically, the VW T-Cross is expected to be identical to the Seat Arona. The latter packs the 1.0-litre TSI, 3-cylinder, turbo petrol motor in two states of tune - 95PS and 115PS - along with VW Groups latest 1.5-litre TSI EVO turbo petrol motor (150PS). The diesel variants will be powered by a 1.6-litre TDI motor globally. The India-spec model, if launched, would get the 1.5-litre TDI.

Transmission duties are handled by 5- and 6-speed manual gearboxes along with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission (dual-clutch). The Seat Arona doesnt offer an AWD model and it could be the same case with the upcoming T-Cross SUV as well.

Source
With Tuazamas help, Dorley avoided illegal incarceration and worked out a repayment plan with his lender: I feel great because he rescued me right there, he said. I began to understand I have to know my rights.

Tuazama works as a community justice advisor for the Carter Center-supported Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, mediating disputes and teaching people about their rights under the law. He offered to mediate Dorleys case on the spot.

Luckily for him, Victor Tuazama (right) happened by and explained to the policeman that debts are civil matters, not criminal ones.

Boimah Dorley, a brickmaker in Kakata, Liberia, found a policeman at his door one day, threatening to take him to jail over a US$30 debt. (All photos: The Carter Center/S. Umstattd)

Victor Tuazama was walking home from his office in Kakata, Liberia, when he stumbled upon a confrontation between a police officer and a citizen.

Tuazama stopped to observe.

It soon became clear that brickmaker Boimah Dorley was about to be arrested because he owed a man the equivalent of about US$30. The lender had shown up on Dorleys door with the policeman, and though Liberian law says debts are civil matters, not criminal ones, Dorley was in real danger of being arrested and jailed.

Luckily for him, Tuazama works as a community justice advisor for the Carter Center-supported Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, mediating disputes and teaching people about their rights under the law.

I intervened when I could tell the policeman was about to take him to jail, said Tuazama. I said to the police officer, No. From what Ive heard, this has nothing to do with you. I asked him, Will you let these guys work this out? Because it does not involve you at all.

The policeman was not happy. Neither was the lender, who accused Tuazama of interfering.

I told the man, I am interfering for your own good. My brother, if you want your case settled, we can go and sit and figure out how to get your money.

Roughly 10 minutes later, everyone  including the police officer  was seated around a wooden conference table in his office. And about 45 minutes after that, a deal had been struck: Dorleys brother, who was also at the table, paid a little more than half the debt with money from his pocket, and Dorley signed a promissory note agreeing to pay the rest in about a months time.

He kept his word, and all is now well.

I feel great because he rescued me right there, said Dorley, who is the father of 3-year-old and 9-year-old boys. If I am in jail, time will be passing by, and I will not be working.

He also called the matter a learning experience: I began to understand I have to know my rights.

Tuazama, who has worked as a community justice advisor since 2009, said such incidents are all too common.

People like the lender dont know where to take their issues, and members of the police force sometimes ignore the law. If Tuazama had not happened along, he said, Dorley would likely have gone to jail and had to pay a fine to get out, decreasing the likelihood that the lender would ever have gotten his money.

It happens all the time.

Tuazama is one of more than 50 community justice advisors working in eight of Liberias 15 counties. Since the inception of the program, theyve helped resolve more than 12,000 cases involving everything from boundary disputes to child support, from salary complaints to police brutality.

There are 12,000 Boimah Dorleys out there whose lives are a little better because of the work of Victor and the other community justice advisors, said Pewee Flomoku, chief of party for the Carter Centers Access to Justice project. Their efforts are essential to the overall goal of helping to ensure justice and equal treatment for all Liberians.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

In Monrovia, Meaghan Fitzgerald, meaghan.fitzgerald@cartercenter.org or +231(0) 881-367-189

MONROVIA  As todays Supreme Court ruling means a significant delay in the Liberian presidential run-off originally scheduled for Nov. 7, The Carter Center reiterates its call for all political parties to reaffirm their commitments to a peaceful process and ensure that their supporters maintain calm and exercise patience as they await resolution of electoral disputes.

All Liberians must remain committed to ensuring a peaceful democratic transition from one government to another. Although the timing for the remainder of the electoral process is now uncertain, and continued delays could raise concerns about constitutionally mandated timeframes, The Carter Center is encouraged by Liberian voices that have pledged to put Liberia first and ensure that the peace is upheld.

The Carter Centers election observation mission has been observing the proceedings before the National Election Commission and the Supreme Court. The Center notes that in the hearings to date, all parties to the complaints have been given sufficient time to prepare their cases and be heard before the adjudicating bodies. With one exception, the NEC has granted complainants requests to submit documentary evidence and call witnesses. The Center further notes that delays in these proceedings have often been caused by the political parties themselves requesting additional time or not being fully prepared at the time of the hearing.

It is crucial that electoral dispute-resolution processes are evidence-based to allow for a credible assessment of the impact the alleged issues would have on the results and on the ability of the people to express their will. In this regard, the Center commends the NEC for ensuring transparency throughout the tabulation process and notes that the results by polling station have been posted on the NEC website for public scrutiny.

The Carter Center urges all political parties with pending disputes before the NEC or the Supreme Court to do their part to ensure efficiency in the process. Similarly, the Center urges the NEC and the Supreme Court to review all matters expeditiously.

The Center commends repeated calls by The Coalition for Democratic Change for its supporters to maintain the peace, allow the proper institutions to do their work, and wait for the run-off.

As the public becomes aware of the implications of todays ruling and the further delays in the electoral calendar that it will cause, the potential for unrest increases. In this context, it is critical for all parties to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful transition under the Farmington and Ganta declarations, to refrain from using inflammatory rhetoric, and to work with all election stakeholders to ensure that the people of Liberia understand the process. To avoid misinformation that calls into question the rule of law, The Carter Center urges all stakeholders to communicate clearly about the impact of these rulings and the fact that any decisions should be based on actual evidence presented to the tribunals.

On Oct. 10, the Liberian people demonstrated a clear desire for peace and a determination to express their will at the ballot box, turning out in high numbers. The election day observations of the Carter Centers mission were reported in a statement issued on Oct. 12. The mission remains in the country to observe the ongoing electoral dispute-resolution process and the run-off and will continue to report on its observations.

###



"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Fund manager gains veto control over PPC

07 November 2017

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has increased its stake in PPC Ltd, South Africa, to just over 25 per cent, the threshold required to gain negative control over the countrys largest cement producer, according to a report in Business Day.



The PIC, which also controls 66 per cent of the second-largest player in South Africa, Afrisam, is now the able to block any significant transactions the PPC Ltd board seeks to pursue. Such transactions would require support from 75 per cent of shareholders.



This means an effective stalemate situation has arisen in the ongoing PPC-AfriSam merger saga, as more than 25 per cent of PPC shareholders have indicated they will oppose a tie-up with AfriSam and the PIC is now likely to oppose any transaction that does not involve AfriSam.



Investors had been waiting to see the terms of LafargeHolcim's non-binding proposal to combine its African assets with those of PPC.



Separately, PPC Ltd reported a 40 per cent increase in 1H17 profits, citing a robust performance in Zimbabwe and Rwanda and lower finance costs.

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Its hard to know what next-generation idea is going to change the world, but regardless of what it is, its going to take innovation to make it happen.

Several European countries are among the most innovative in the world, partly because they have educated populations and easy access capital. When it comes to technology, the United States is one of the world leaders. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google are some of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world, and few U.S. companies could soon join them.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation took a look at several factors to determine the cities that could house the next big things in tech. In a world that is becoming more digital every day, these innovative cities are leading the way for the United States.

10. Portland, Ore.

Population: 639,863

Notable tech companies: Intuitive Digital, Zapproved

Even though Portlands Silicon Forest seems to be in a bit of a downturn, it is still one of the cities that could be among the most innovative in the country. Companies like Google have offices there, and homegrown startups like Intuitive Digital are poised to make waves in the tech sector. Cheaper real estate (at least relative to Silicon Valley) helped promote the boom to begin with and keeps Portland competitive. Software engineers in Portland earn an average of $77,340 and have easy access to great restaurants and craft beer.

Next: A big city doing big things in the tech industry.

9. New York

Population: 8,537,673

Notable tech companies: Foursquare, Yext

It makes sense that the largest city in the United States would be a melting pot for innovative tech companies. Foursquare might be the most well known, but a company like Yext is changing the way businesses reach out to consumers. Yext is just the tip of the iceberg, however, as there are a handful of hot tech startups helping keep New York on the cutting edge. Being on the cutting edge can be quite lucrative, as software engineers in New York earn a median salary of $96,516.

Next: This city is more than just its most famous tech resident.

8. Seattle

Population: 704,352

Notable tech companies: Amazon, Tableau

When it comes to Seattle and game-changing tech companies, the conversation starts with Amazon. It doesnt end there. GeekWires list of 200 Pacific Northwest tech startups features a dense cluster in Seattle. Data collator Tableau and home improvement app Porch are two software businesses keeping Seattle innovative. A median salary of $96,438 for software engineers ensures Seattle lures some of the best talent in the industry.

Next: The tech sector keeps booming in this city.

7. Dallas

Population: 1,317,929

Notable tech companies: Active Network, CyrusOne

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study shows Dallas made a huge jump up the rankings of most innovative cities. A big reason for the move is because Dallas has legitimized its startup businesses, helping them secure the financing they need to get off the ground. An overall cost of living below the national average is enticing, meaning the $70,095 entry level salary for software engineers stretches just a little bit further. As such, the number of tech startups calling Dallas home seems to be growing all the time.

Next: Zipping across the South to our next destination.

6. Atlanta

Population: 472,522

Notable tech companies: NFANT Labs, SalesLoft

Atlanta is proof that if you put in the effort, you can become a leader in innovation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation applauds Atlanta city officials for making the city an inviting environment for entrepreneurs starting tech companies. Companies like NFANT Labs and B2B firm SalesLoft are shaping Atlanta into an innovative tech hotspot. With tech companies paying a median salary of $77,072, it gives Atlanta staying power as a tech leader.

Next: Thinking outside the box pays off for this city.

5. Austin, Texas

Population: 947,890

Notable tech companies: ESO Solutions, Turnkey

A city that could be the home of the new Amazon headquarters, Austin will do just fine even if Amazon doesnt move in. Access to young talent via the University of Texas helps keep Austin innovative, but its not the only factor. The city champions its startup culture, and it has shown it can think outside of the box. One of the startups is a company helping other startups navigate the legal obstacle course on the way to opening for business. Software engineers earn a median of $80,739 per year, a healthy wage that will keep the personnel pipeline moving in the right direction for years to come.

Next: A West Coast stop to one of the most innovative cities in the country.

4. San Diego

Population: 1,406,630

Notable tech companies: Fuse Integration, Ossic

GoPro is headquartered just north of San Diego, but even if you take that company off the list the city is still a hot location for tech companies. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation notes, San Diegos mayor is very active is cultivating a tech startup-friendly atmosphere, and even wireless megacorp Qualcomm is helping innovative tech companies get off the ground. Ossic (3D sound technology) and Fuse Integration (communication hardware and software) are among the innovative companies in the San Diego, where the median salary for a software engineer is $83,884.

Next: Something of a surprise? This next city might be.

3. Philadelphia

Population: 1,567,872

Notable tech companies: KickUp, The One Health Company

Maybe more than any city on this list, Philadelphia is home to startup tech companies hoping to impart lasting social change. KickUp (helping teachers be more effective), The One Health Company (curing pets of cancer), and HomeGrown Farms (hydroponic farming in southern New Jersey) are in it for more than just the money. Even if the general population doesnt see Philadelphia as a tech hotspot, the industry does. Amazon, Google, and IBM have snatched up some of Phillys innovative companies in recent years. Being in the tech field in Philly can be quite lucrative, with the media software engineer salary sitting at $77,236.

Next: The region well-known for tech is actually No. 2 on this list.

2. Bay Area, Calif.

Population: 2,634,454

Notable tech companies: Apple, Intel

You cant turn around in Californias Bay Area and Silicon Valley without seeing the headquarters of a huge tech company. In addition to the ones listed above, the Bay Area is also home to Adobe, Facebook, Tesla, and hundreds of others. This part of the country, which includes San Francisco (population 870,887), San Jose (1,025,350), Oakland (420,005), Santa Clara (125,948), Palo Alto (67,024), and Berkeley (125,240) has long been at the forefront of the tech field. With Stanford and the University of California-Berkeley nearby, innovative Bay Area companies have some of the brightest young, computer-savvy talent at their fingertips. The average salary for software engineers, $103,000, is more than any other city on this list.

Next: The one city leading the way in innovation.

1. Boston

Population: 673,184

Notable tech companies: Fuze, Toast

How did Boston earn the top spot on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation innovation ratings? The answer is as complex as the tech industry itself. For one thing, world-class colleges like Harvard, MIT, and Boston University ensure there is plenty of highly educated talent in the city on a regular basis. For another, Boston has a website dedicated to pairing personnel and potential investors with innovative tech companies. Third, software engineers can expect a healthy salary (a median of $87,421). Finally, the community at large has embraced the tech startup industry, investing heavily to help keep the innovation rolling. Add it all up and Boston is the best of the best innovative cities in the U.S.

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New details reveal that President Donald Trumps aide George Papadopoulos maintained close ties to Vladimir Putin and Russia. Reporter and attorney Seth Abramson released the new information on Twitter. He noted the Greek media has a very different perspective on Papadopoulos  one which looks damaging for Trump. That might mean big things for the Trump campaign. Heres what Abramson found out, and what it means for Trump.

1. Papadopoulos has close ties with this Putin puppet

This video shows Vladimir Putin meeting Panos Kammenos, the Greek Defense Minister and an ally of Putin. According to The Daily Beast, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos signed a memorandum of understanding between his Athens think tank, the Institute for Geopolitical Studies, and a Moscow counterpart, the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, known as RISS. RISS serves as the public face of the Kremlin. The RISS also orchestrated interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to Reuters.

Next: He met and dined with Trump.

2. He met and dined with Trump prior to his hiring

In early March, according to Abramsons sources, Papadopoulos spoke with Trump over the phone about working for the campaign. He represented himself as an expert on eastern Mediterranean energy, but apparently falsified much of his resume. While Trump called him a low-level volunteer, that doesnt jive with Abramsons findings.

On March 20, 2016, Papadopoulos met with Kammenos in Washington D.C. The next day, he attended a press conference at the Old Post Office Building, which later became Trump Hotel, and Trump invited him upstairs for dinner. This directly conflicts with statements Trump has made about when he first met Papadopoulos.

Next: The timeline is not adding up.

3. Trump did not meet the advisor when he says he did

When asked about meeting Papadopoulos, Trump said he doesnt remember much about the meeting, Politico reported.

In court documents recently released, Papadopoulos said he offered to arrange a meeting between Trump and Putin. The New York Times reported in its timeline that Trump met Papadopoulos on March 31. That means Trump lied about when he first met his adviser. It also means he was much closer than the White House previously let on.

Next: Caught in another lie?

4. He lied about the number of times his National Security Team met

According to CNN, Papadopoulos told the FBI that in a national security meeting attended by Trump and campaign advisers, he in sum and substance said that he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between then-candidate Trump and President Putin.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the foreign policy group that Papadopoulos was a part of only met once. But CNN was told Papadopoulos attended another campaign policy meeting, though Trump was not in attendance. In fact, Papadopoulos and Jeff Sessions attended at least one more meeting, where he and Papadopoulos sat next to each other. The Washington Post broke that story. Sessions and Papadopoulos may have been at the same press event in March, Abramson reported.

Next: Papadopoulos sent a series of emails about Trump and Russia.

5. Papadopoulos emailed with Manafort about Russia

According to a Washington Post timeline, Papadopoulos sent a series of emails about connecting Trump and the Kremlin. In May, he emailed former campaign chairman Paul Manafort that Russia has been eager to meet Mr. Trump for quite sometime and have been reaching out to me to discuss.

Manafort forwarded the email to Rick Gates, writing, We need someone to communicate that [Trump] is not doing these trips, he writes. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal.

On June 19, Papadopoulos emailed, The Russian ministry of foreign affairs messaged and said that if Mr. Trump is unable to make it to Russia, if a campaign rep (me or someone else) can make it for meetings? I am willing to make the trip off the record if its in the interest of Mr. Trump and the campaign to meet specific people.

Next: A secret meeting took place with both Papadopoulos and Putin meeting this person.

6. Papadopoulos and Putin traveled to Athens on the same day

While The Washington Post noted that the meetings Papadopoulos tried to set up between the Trump campaign and Russia never happened, he did meet with Russian officials in May.

According to this Greek newspaper, Papadopoulos took a secret trip to Athens in May 2016. That means he and Putin both met with Kammenos during the same trip. Greek media described the events as secretive. By that point, Papadopoulos told Greek officials he could name his position at the White House.

Next: He also met with Kammenos at Trumps big event.

7. He met with Kammenos at the inauguration

Greek media also reported a different timeline for Papadopoulos relationship with Trump than the president did. Kammenos reportedly met with incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, as well as with Papadopoulos, at the inauguration. Trump, Kammenos said, has some very important Greek-Americans by his side who maintain their ties with our country, with Orthodoxy and with the Greek people. We are certain that when the time comes for them to help their homeland  they will do so do the best of their ability.

Next: Trump warned him about the press.

8. Trump told Papadopoulos not to talk to the press

Abramson obtained this text from a Greek newspaper, which reports that Papadopoulos not only worked for the Trump campaign longer than anyone knew, but under a gag order. He not only became forbidden from talking about Russia, but also worked on the campaign for a different timeline than anyone knew. Whatever his piece was, it appears he came back specifically to spread dirt on Hillary Clinton.

While Abramsons in-depth reporting reveals staggering new information, much more will undoubtedly come out. The connections between Russia, Papadopoulos, and Trump continue to emerge, from foreign media as much as that within the U.S.

Scott Stedman contributed reporting to Abramsons story, as did reporters at Ta Nea (Greece), Kathimerini (Greece), SKAI TV (Greece), and Sky News (U.K.).

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Group of Senators Reach Compromise on Changes to Respect for Marriage Act
After Texas church shooting, 70 Episcopal bishops say US must tackle relaxed gun laws

More than 70 Episcopal bishops working to curtail relaxed gun laws in the US have said that the nation must 'make amends' and called on elected representatives to be replaced if they are not up to protecting the people.

Bishops United Against Gun Violence released a statement yesterday condemning the gun attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, which left at least 26 people dead and many more wounded, including children, on Sunday.

In their statement reported by the Church Times, Bishops United Against Gun Violence said: 'As a nation, we must acknowledge that we idolize violence, and we must make amends. Violence of all kinds denigrates humankind; it stands against the will of God and the way of Jesus the Christ.

'The shooting in Sutherland Springs brings the issue of domestic violence, a common thread in many mass killings, into sharp relief. It is not only essential that we keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, but that we, as a society, reject ideologies of male dominance that permeate our culture and the history of our churches.

'Each of us has a role to play in our repentance. Elected representatives bear the responsibility of passing legislation that protects our citizenry. If our representatives are not up to this responsibility, we must replace them.'

The statement came before Pope Francis today expressed how he was 'deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries' caused by the shooting.

In a telegram signed by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope condemned the 'senseless violence' and offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of the victims and wounded, members of the congregation and the local community.

He closed the letter, addressed to Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Archbishop of San Antonio, by praying that the Lord would 'console all who mourn and to grant them the spiritual strength that triumphs over violence and hatred by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love'.

Donald Trump has claimed that the Sutherland Springs shooting was 'not a guns situation'.
When politicians or clergy abuse, the institution doesn't need protection: it needs honesty

'I [...] was worried I would be blacklisted as untrustworthy. In Westminster, where power and loyalties are hard currency, I feared making enemies', wrote Jane Merrick as she explained why she did not report former defence secretary Michael Fallon's attempt to kiss her to the party whips.

Labour activist Bex Bailey was told by a senior party member not to report the fact that she was raped because it might damage her career. Other women who have come forward as victims of sexual assault or harassment in Westminster have found that officials have 'at best turned a blind eye and at worst actively covered it up'. Why is it that institutions are so reluctant to hold their members accountable for sexual assault?

It's a pattern we are becoming used to, that is even becoming normalised: someone (typically male) empowered with a sense of entitlement, acts towards another (typically female) as if he had the right to her body and then somehow passes the burden of shame and professional consequences on to the one they have assaulted. Unless, the abuser or those around them reassures the victim, they keep it to themselves. Otherwise, the one who has been betrayed is warned: you won't be trusted; you'll be letting the side down. It is not surprising that efforts to hush up sexual assault scar all political parties. Such is the cost of tribalism.

Both the UK's major political parties, I'm sure, wish perpetrators of sexual assault were only to be found on the opposite side of the Commons. All institutions, likewise, hope it is only Hollywood and Westminster where these incidents take place. Yet nothing could be further from the truth: a survey for the Young Women's Trust found one in eight large employers admit they are aware of sexual harassment that has gone unreported. More than half of women say they have experienced sexual harassment at work, according to research by the TUC.

We all want to be immune from wrongdoing  just as much perhaps as we want to be immune from harm. It is surely the belief that we  whoever that 'we' is  are above such things that leads people to suggest that victims of sexual assault should not come forward. After all, we don't have a systemic problem: it's just a couple of bad apples. No need to make a fuss.

No wonder, then, that the Church has so often suppressed the truth of sexual assault in order to present itself as the representative of the Truth. If victims of sexual assault in Westminster can be asked to put party loyalty over their own needs, how much more can church leaders ask those in their care to prioritise God's public image.

If the act of assault itself is an issue of abused power and potential misogyny, then part of the sin behind hush-ups is that of self-righteousness. Supposing that, in order to be trustworthy and authoritative, a group must be seen as having a squeaky clean record, certain of its members invest great energy into presenting an immaculate facade and suppressing voices which would testify otherwise. But it is a short-term solution: as Jesus warned the Pharisees, trying to look free from sin is connected to not actually dealing with sin, and hence the charge of hypocrisy:

'First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity' (Matthew 23: 26-7).

Hypocrisy is one of the central obstacles to people not engaging with political parties and the Church. Both politicians and church leaders claim to know what is in the interests of others, not just themselves. And yet, time and again, their actions suggest they really are just self-interested after all, and that claims to the contrary were just made for the sake of retaining power.

Cover-ups, then, do not bolster trust in such institutions: they demolish it. Violating someone's body is a horrendous wrong. But so is silencing their voice, denying their experience, and refusing to take action to prevent it from happening again. And those who commit the second are not always those guilty of the first. Deception corrodes any claim to stand for and protect the weak, as both politicians and church leaders do.

It is not the case that everything would be fine if victims of sexual assault just kept quiet: sticking-plasters over mouths do not heal wounds. Enforced silence does not make an institution a place of safety and flourishing. Vulnerability, humility, and openness, however, do. Where there are dark corners and closets full of secrets, we need light. We need failures to be admitted, forgiveness sought, and amends made. That means letting go of the pretence of perfection. But that pretence long ago lost people's respect.

Maybe we are all ready for an age of vulnerability and accountability: one in which leaders accept, rather than deflect guilt, and always try to do better; one in which no one is left alone with a burden of shame that they did not deserve; and one in which we do not protect the institution at the expense of the individual.
'Days of Our Lives' spoilers: Tense encounters and revenge showdowns

This week on "Days of Our Lives," spoilers indicate that another confrontation is on its way between Eric (Greg Vaughan) and Brady (Eric Martsolf), and as fans might figure, it is not going to be pretty.

It is safe to say that Eric and Brady have not been on the best of terms ever since Nicole (Arianne Zucker) decided to forgive Eric. The two former flames having to work so closely together has started to make Brady suspicious of them. Nicole tried to fight her feelings for Eric but she eventually decided to act on it  as did Eric.

It came as quite a surprise when the normally peaceful Eric decided to punch Brady in the face, triggering a fight between the two inside the living room of the Kiriakis mansion. Lamps and chairs were knocked over, figurines were shattered, and it took Victor (John Aniston) stepping in to stop the fight before it could get any worse.

So how will Eric and Brady meet this time around? Whether or not they will start throwing punches is unclear, but it will obviously be a tense meeting. Perhaps, the two brothers would be staring daggers at each other and throw in some insults. Even if they will not engage in a physical brawl, it is certain that forgiveness is out of the question.

Unfortunately, Brady may have other more important things to worry about as "Days of Our Lives" spoilers reveal that his plan to frame Eve (Kassie DePaiva) for Deimos' (Vincent Irizarry) murder will backfire immensely.

It seems that Brady may have been a little hasty with his plan. It would not only work out but he would end up being a suspect to Deimos' murder along with Victor.

As previous spoilers would reveal, Victor forced Brady into dealing with Eve permanently. Eve's latest revelation regarding Basic Black will have the two seeing her as a threat, which also led to Victor demoting Brady in the business until Eve is taken care of. However, Victor does not explain how he wants it to happen, which could be a potentially big mistake on his part.

After Brady thinks he has come through with his plan to frame her, this leads Eve to coming up with a plan of her own. She will come back to the Kiriakis mansion to inform them that they should be expecting detectives to question them. Eve will also tell them that one of them killed Deimos, and if they did not, then they know who did.

Of course, at the moment, Nicole recalled having killed Deimos, leading everyone to believe that she really was the killer. Yet, the way it was revealed seemed to lack a real climax, so Eve's plan to turn the tables on Brady and Victor seems to go in an interesting direction. Then again, it is a far off shot that either Brady or Victor will be going to prison. That is not going to happen anytime soon. However, it is teased that Eve and Brady will be trying to one-up each other in an attempt to exact revenge, so this should be interesting.

"Days of Our Lives" airs Mondays to Fridays at 1 p.m. EDT on NBC.
'Enough is enough': Christian Aid blasts 'corrupt' offshore tax system after Paradise Papers release

Christian Aid has condemned the 'rotten' and 'corrupt' system of off-shore tax havens in the wake of the 'Paradise Papers' revelations and called for an end to financial secrecy, declaring 'enough is enough'.

The aid and development charity has been campaigning for 10 years to end the financial secrecy that facilitates tax avoidance, tax evasion and corruption on the grounds that poor people in poor countries are most vulnerable to the impact of these practices.

It said that new revelations about the activities of the global giant Glencore in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrate how the secrecy provided offshore can have a devastating impact in one of the poorest countries in the world, preventing development and consigning a population to a life of poverty.

The Paradise Papers' latest revelations, which have drawn in the British royal family as well as US President Donald Trump along with a string of celebrities, come some 18 months after the similarly revelatory Panama Papers.

The head of economic development at Christian Aid, Toby Quantrill, said: 'These revelations are yet further evidence of the extent and nature of the global offshore system. A rotten system that enables a few of the richest amongst us to dodge their financial responsibilities, but is unavailable to the vast majority of us. A corrupt system that has been deliberately created by the most powerful, at the expense of the powerless, from all countries in the world. A system which undermines democracy and markets alike. And which reinforces the cycle of inequality, perpetuating the entrenchment of power at the top.

'This, surely, has to signal the end of financial secrecy. This is not the first leak of this nature and it won't be the last. It is clear that transparency is now inevitable. Whether by design or by leakage, nobody can expect to keep the details of their tax affairs secret any more. The message has to be that 'if you are not comfortable with it being public, then don't do it'.

Christian Aid added: 'Government ministers like [Prime Minister] Theresa May and [Foreign Secretary] Boris Johnson have the power to make it much harder to dodge taxes by increasing transparency but seem complacent about the scale of the problems they are facilitating. They have failed to match words with concrete and effective measures, and now seem to have given up on getting transparency in their own backyard. This damages the UK's reputation around the world. The UK is responsible for its crown dependencies and overseas territories, and must act to end their secrecy.'

The charity provided a specific example, saying that the UK Government should legislate to require UK companies to report publicly their key financial indicators such as taxes paid in every country where they work. 'The UK should also work to persuade other countries to do the same. But given that we've been waiting over a year for any decisive action on this, the time has come for change,' Christian Aid said.
'I don't understand, but I know my God does': Tearful pastor and wife speak of losing their daughter in church shooting

The pastor at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs and his wife have spoken about losing their 14-year-old daughter during the shooting there on Sunday which left 26 people dead.

Annabelle Pomeroy's adoptive father, Frank Pomeroy, who had been out of town during the attack in Texas, said at a tearful press conference yesterday: 'I don't understand, but I know my God does.'

Frank described Annabelle, known as Belle, as 'one beautiful girl' and a 'special child'.

His wife, Sherri Pomeroy, said: 'We lost more than Belle yesterday. And one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement is that Belle was surrounded yesterday by her family that she loved fiercely.'

Sherri continued: 'We ate together, we laughed together, we cried together, and we worshiped together. Now most of our church family is gone, our building is probably beyond repair and the few of us that are left behind lost tragically yesterday. As senseless as this tragedy was, our sweet Belle would not have been able to deal with losing so much family.'

The couple urged people: 'Please don't forget Sutherland Springs.'

Annabelle was a seventh grader at Briesemeister Middle School and the school district have made therapists available to students who feel affected by the shooting.

Her uncle, Scott Pomeroy, wrote on Facebook: 'Heaven truly gained a real beautiful angel this morning along with many more'.

All those killed at the church on Sunday, he wrote, 'have taken their last breath of dirty air and took their first breath of heavenly air with new bodies with no pain and suffering'.

As well as the 26 who were killed in what was the biggest shooting in Texan history on Sunday, 20 more were injured.

The victims included a heavily pregnant woman and reportedly five other members of her family, and ranged in age from 18 months to 77, with two killed outside the church, 23 killed inside, and one person who died after medical transport.

The victims also included the stand-in pastor for the Pomeroys, Bryan Holcombe. Witnesses say that he was the first to be struck.

'Bryan was filling in,' one witness told DailyMail.com. 'He was walking up to the pulpit when he was shot in the back. He was an awesome Christian.'

Holcombe was killed alongside his wife of 25 years, Sunday school teacher Karla Holcombe, their son Marc Daniel 'Danny' Holcombe, 36, and his one-year-old daughter Noah.
'Justice League' cast news: Jason Momoa wants Aquaman-Thor crossover

Seeing Marvel and DC characters on the same screen is the ultimate dream crossover for comic book fans. It may seem unlikely at this point, but the stars of "Justice League" are all down for it. Jason Momoa, for one, is wishing to rub shoulders with Chris Hemsworth's Thor.

When asked about a potential crossover, the Aquaman actor said it would be fun and he would certainly love to be in one. "Hell yeah," the actor told Channel News Asia. "I mean like, Hemsworth, I love him. It's like, to be next to Thor, or to be next to the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). It's like 'oh, I'm going to take you out on the water and drown your ass.'"

It was not just Momoa though. His fellow "Justice League" actors are also on board with the idea of a Marvel and DC crossover. Gal Gadot, who plays Wonder Woman in the upcoming film, thinks it is an awesome idea, gushing over Marvel's great female characters. Ben Affleck, who plays Batman, on the other hand, pointed out that a crossover would be beneficial to both companies. "People would like to do it, so why not?"

Unfortunately, pigs will likely have to fly first before this potential crossover happens. While it did happen once on paper, DC boss Dan Didio said that it is never happening again, especially on the big screen, mainly because the companies are rivals.

"It's not that we're mortal enemies  it is competition, if you want the truth," he previously explained at the San Diego Comic-Con. "It means that we're trying harder to make our books better so you come to our books rather than Marvel books. That's what the competition is all about."

DC's main goal is to tip sales in their favor, not the competitions. Sure, a marquee crossover may boost sales and generate a lot of money, but that is also shared with the rival. Plus, they are already making that with their own titles, so there is no valid point in a Marvel/DC team-up, at least not right now.

As Henry Cavill, who plays Superman, said, once the studios have run out of stories to tell, maybe the crossover would happen. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, fans can enjoy the plethora of films from each studio. Marvel's "Thor Ragnarok" is now showing in theaters, while DC's "Justice League" opens in cinemas next week, on Nov. 17.
Meghan Markle's sister denies issues with Prince Harry's girlfriend; unsure if she will get royal wedding invitation

Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Grant made noise by dropping her memoir titled "The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister." Since then, the two have been surrounded with a lot of rumors about their relationship as siblings.

Aside from revealing the secrets about her family and the "Suits" star's relationship with Prince Harry, the book's title itself has confused the fans. In fact, there are hearsays that there is a big gap between them.

However, in a report by Daily Mail, Grant narrated that she and Markle used to be very close when they were young. The last time she saw her half-sister was when she graduated in 2008. Since then, they have not seen each other again. Will they be reunited at her sibling's royal wedding with Prince Harry?

Although Grant is not yet sure that she will be invited, she will definitely find a way to be there because of her love and respect for Markle, in spite of her disability. "I'm in a wheelchair. I don't know that it's that easy to travel," she told Daily Mail.

She went on to say that she will never make her sister feel that she is not sharing her joy. Although it will be an honor for her to be invited, it still depends on the decision of Prince Harry's girlfriend. "It will be what it will be," she added.

Additionally, Grant also addressed the issues between her, Markle, and their family. She firmly said that she does not want to use the word "estranged" and cleared that she does not believe that they are "more dysfunctional than any other clans. She even said that the royal family also has their own problems and no family is perfect.

In an interview for the ITV documentary "Prince Harry and Meghan: Truly, Madly, Deeply," which will be released on Monday, Nov. 6, she also talked about the claims that she called Markle "Princess Pushy." According to London Evening Standard, Grant explained that she was just misquoted by some tabloids and a victim of mistruths. She even insisted that she never said those words and these publications are creating a gap between her and her half-sister to use for their own advantage.
Texas church shooting leaves at least 26 dead and dozens more wounded

A gunman entered a small church in southeast Texas and opened fire, killing at least 26 worshippers and wounding many others in the latest mass shooting to plague the United States, according to authorities and media reports.

The shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs in Wilson County, about 40 miles (65 km) east of San Antonio. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle but was killed about 12 miles away in neighbouring Guadalupe County, according to local media and Sergeant Robert Murphy, a spokesman for the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley from New Braunfels, Texas. Kelley served in the U.S. Air Force from 2010 to 2014, and was court-martialed in May 2014.

The suspect's motive has not been disclosed by authorities. But law enforcement officials who were not identified have said the gunman as a white, 26-year-old man, the New York Times and other media reported.

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CNN that at least 20 people were killed. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Fox News that at least 25 people were killed and 30 injured.

The 14-year-old daughter of pastor Frank Pomeroy was killed, the family told several television stations.

Jeff Forrest, a 36-year-old military veteran who lives a block away from the church, said what sounded like high-caliber, semi-automatic gunfire triggered memories of his four combat deployments with the Marine Corps.

'I was on the porch, I heard 10 rounds go off and then my ears just started ringing," Forrest said. "I hit the deck and I just lay there.'

The massacre comes just weeks after a sniper killed 58 people at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. The shootings have stirred a years-long national debate over whether easy access to firearms was contributing to the trend.

President Donald Trump said he was monitoring the situation while in Japan on a 12-day Asian trip.

'May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene,' he said on Twitter.

According to the witnesses, about 20 shots rang out at 11:30 a.m. (1730 GMT) during the church services, according to media reports. It was unclear how many worshippers were inside at the time.

After the shooting, the suspect sped away in a car and was soon cornered by sheriff's deputies just outside of Wilson County in Guadalupe County, Wiley told Reuters. He did not know if the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot or was killed by deputies.

Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville received eight patients, the hospital said in a statement, while Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston received another eight.

At Connally, three people were treated and released, one is in critical condition and four were transferred to the University Hospital in San Antonio for a higher level of care.

The First Baptist Church is one of two houses of worship in Sutherland Springs, an area that is home to fewer than 900 residents, according the 2010 Census. There are also two gas stations and a Dollar General store in town.

The white-painted, one-story structure features a small steeple and a single front door. On Sunday, the Lone Star flag of Texas was flying alongside the US flag and a third, unidentified banner.

Inside there is a small raised platform on which members sang worship songs to guitar music and the pastor delivered a weekly sermon, according to videos posted on YouTube. In one of the clips, a few dozen people, including young children, can be seen sitting in the wooden pews.

Pastor Paul Buford of River Oaks Church, about 2 miles from First Baptist, said the community was deeply shaken.

'We are holding up as well as we can,' he said. 'We are a strong community.'

The shooting occurred on the eighth anniversary of the Nov. 5, 2009 massacre of 13 people at the Fort Hood Army base in central Texas. A US Army Medical Corps psychiatrist convicted of the killings is now awaiting execution.

In 2015, a white gunman killed nine black parishioners at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The gunman was sentenced to death for the racially motivated attack.

In September, a gunman killed a woman in the parking lot of a Tennessee church on Sunday morning and wounded six worshippers inside the building before shooting himself in a scuffle with an usher who rushed to stop the attack.
'The Young and the Restless' spoilers: Crystal, J.T. to return; Cane arrives hungover to divorce hearing; Hilary exposes Jordan

Some characters will be popping in Genoa City while there will be an exit on the way. Spoilers for this week's episodes of "The Young and the Restless" reveal who will be coming and who will be going.

For starters, Crystal (Morgan Obenreder) will be appearing this week. She will escape from the witness protection program after seeing a suspicious car parked outside the safehouse. Crystal will also explain that Alice (Tamara Clatterbuck) has been lurking around, too. While Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) will be happy to see her again, it seems that Crystal will not have much time.

Sharon (Sharon Case) will get down to business right away. She will show Crystal a photo of Zack (Ryan Ashton), and Crystal will confirm the claims that Zack is the leader of the prostitution ring. They will come up with a plan to exact justice and expose him afterwards.

Another return which has fans buzzing is that of Reed's (Tristan Lake Leabu) father, J.T. (Thad Luckinbill). As to why J.T. will suddenly appear in Genoa City remains to be seen. It is possible that J.T. might arrive to handle a problem with Reed. Then again, he might just want to spend some time with his son. J.T. will be coming by mid-December, so he will be around the holidays.

There is another return that fans are hoping to see in the series. Could Adam Newman (then played by Justin Hartley) be resurfacing again? Michael Muhney, who also portrayed the character, did reveal that he has started watching the show again after a few years of not being able to.

Actors sometimes tend to start watching the show again when they are preparing for their comeback. So, there is a possibility that Muhney will be reprising his role as Adam anytime soon.

As previous spoilers have revealed, someone will be making their exit this week. There is a good chance it will either be Zack or Juliet (Laur Allen), who will go six feet under. Aside from the death that is coming this week, fans can also expect that a few more characters will be leaving Genoa City.

In the meantime, "The Young and the Restless" spoilers for Wednesday's episode state that Juliet will also show up at Cane (Daniel Goddard) and Lily's (Christel Khalil) divorce hearing. Lily and Michael (Christian LeBlanc) will wonder why Cane has not shown up yet. Little do they know, Cane spent some time in jail after getting drunk with Billy (Jason Thompson), so he will be pretty hungover when he arrives.

After having drank his sorrows the night before, Cane might be ready to go through with the divorce proceedings. He may decide to accept Lily's decision, but she might be having second thoughts about whether or not she should really end their marriage. This is where Juliet suddenly comes in, and Cane and Lily's divorce proceedings will not go as planned. So, there is sure to be some drama up ahead.

Jordan (Darnell Kirkwood), on the other hand, will find out that some things are missing from his room. He will report a burglary to Paul (Doug Davidson) but it seems like he will be too late. Jordan might suspect that Hilary (Mishael Morgan) is responsible for the theft and he will later get confirmation for that.

At the same time, Hilary will be determined to get a show together. She got her hands on some information that could bring Jordan down. She will call up Mariah (Camryn Grimes) and demand that she come to the studio as soon as possible so they can go live. Mariah will show up and they will start the show. Hilary will reveal all of Jordan's fake IDs along with other incriminating info about him. However, it seems like Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) will also get caught in this mess.

"The Young and the Restless" airs Mondays to Fridays at 1:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
York Minster responds to terrorism threat

York Minster has become the first cathedral in the UK to install security blocks aimed at stopping terrorist attacks, following advice from the Counter Terrorism Unit.

Work will begin this week to install 12 of the blocks, which are designed to defend against attacks of the sort seen at Nice in France, where an attacker drove a truck into victims last year.

The Dean of York, Dr Vivienne Faull, said: 'Chapter has been concerned about the potential vulnerability of the area around the Minster's West End for some time.

'The clear recommendation from the Counter Terrorism Unit required us to take urgent and decisive action to protect the area.

'The protective barrier will provide a physical defence and will be a visible deterrent at the front of the minster.

'We have a clear duty of care to everyone who visits York Minster and we will do everything we can to ensure that our worshippers and visitors feel safe and secure when they are here.'

The blocks, which can be removed if the security situation improves, are similar in style to those currently used by the Tower of London.

York Minster has its own police force with the power of arrest after eight constables and the cathedral's head of security were sworn in in May.

The present building was built over about a period of around 250 years between 1220 and 1472 although a large Roman building stood on the site and a wooden Anglo-Saxon church was built there by 627, according to the BBC.

Earlier this year the Dean of Westminster revealed that police had recommended that stronger security should be put in place at Westminster Abbey.

However, the Dean said that after seeking further advice the Abbey 'concluded that it would be wrong to undertake the measures we see around the Palace of Westminster and Whitehall that would turn the Abbey into a fortress'.
The public is often left either confused by or hostile to the language charities use to respond to critical press coverage, an audience of finance professionals heard this week.

Aidan Warner, external relations manager at NCVO, told an audience of finance professionals at Barclays National Charity Day in London that charities faced a decline in trust, and in many cases had not used the correct language to defend themselves when facing questions in the press.

He said that unless charities could address a fall in trust, they risked losing the ability to deliver their objectives.

You could certainly make the case that without trust, we will be in terminal decline, he said. You could take the view that as long as enough people keep giving, it doesnt matter if other people, even a majority, dont trust us, well be able to survive.

But thats a gamble, and Id say that even if it is financially feasible to survive on diminished trust, charity leaders have a moral obligation to try to arrest and reverse the decline.

We owe it to the people and causes we work for to secure our sectors future and preserve our authority.

No media vendetta against charities

He said that there was not a media vendetta against charities, but there were factors which have got charities firmly on the medias radar. Warner also said that newspapers had found stories about charities with real meat and that they were tapping into what the public already worry about with charities.

If you look at the focus groups that NCVO has done, its abundantly clear that media stories about charities, again fundraising in particular, werent creating these ideas in the publics mind, they were confirming them, he said. The reason Radio 4s You and Yours, for example, keep returning to the topic of fundraising, is because they know listeners care.

One of the key things we found was that the public are confused by, turned off by or hostile to some of the language that charities tend to reach for when theyre answering questions about things like finances or governance, he said.

I know Ive read quite a few defensive press statements from charities that come across, to be frank, as overly corporate, unfeeling or stand-offish. Certainly not in keeping with the tone of voice we use in other areas."

Charity leaders should plan more in advance for crisis PR

He also said it was important for senior leaders in charities to develop a crisis communications plan.

Id strongly encourage you to take some time with your communications team to think about what the areas of reputational risk are in your organisation and how you would respond to questions about them.

I think it would be fair to say that some of the less deft handling weve seen by charities of PR crises recently has come at times when a chief executive has been away.

The more thinking and planning you do in advance, the more quickly and effectively you can respond when you are confronted with an issue.

Anyone whos spent any significant time in a press office will tell you that the very worst questions come at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Its worth thinking about how you would respond to questions on any number of topics at any time of the day.

He said that charities needed to believe that trust issues were real, needed to spend more time thinking about reputation, and needed to resist the temptation to reach for comfortable, familiar legalese and jargon when criticised.

Think about how you would explain something to a stranger in the pub, he said. Get lawyers involved where need be but please, please dont let them write any media statements.
The Zoological Society of London has appointed former British Ambassador to Afghanistan Dominic Jermey as its new director general.

Jermey will replace Ralph Armond, who is retiring having been in the role at the wildlife conservation charity for almost 13 years. Jermey will formally take up the role at the end of the month.

As director general, he will be responsible for ZSLs goal of achieving the "global conservation of animals and their habitats", according to the charity. This remit will include overseeing ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, as well as ZSLs Institute of Zoology and field programmes in over 50 countries worldwide.

Jermey said: I have always been driven by a desire to help shape a better world for my children. I have already had the opportunity to serve and contribute in some of the most challenging environments around the world. I am proud now to be joining ZSL, an organisation that has advanced zoology, promoted understanding of conservation and engaged the public on wildlife for nearly two centuries.

I want to develop ZSL's reach and impact at this critical moment for global biodiversity, so that as we approach ZSL's bicentenary, we are a core part of the answer to the global challenges facing wildlife today.

Sir John Beddington, ZSLs president professor, said: On behalf of ZSLs trustees, I am delighted to announce the selection of Dominic Jermey as our new director general. He has extensive experience of working with FTSE CEOs on international business strategies, as well as operating globally at a senior level. We believe that Dominic will bring strategic vision to ZSL, which we need to take us forward in achieving our aims.
Connecticut legislators are looking to help hundreds, if not thousands, of homeowners whose foundations are crumbling because of an iron sulfide found in the concrete by creating the states own insurance company.

The newly minted state budget includes language establishing a not-for-profit captive insurance company, run by a volunteer board of directors, to distribute grants for costly repairs or replacement of deteriorating foundations. It will be funded with $100 million in state bonds over five years.

Rep. Jeff Currey, a Democrat from East Hartford, said the captive insurance company will be regulated and licensed to give it that extra layer of oversight.

This will mark the first time the state has created such a captive insurance company, which is essentially a highly regulated form of self-insurance.

Steven Werbner, Tolland town manager and co-chairman of the Capitol Region Council of Governments crumbling foundations committee, said his group didnt recommend the state create its own insurance company to distribute financial assistance, concerned it might be a bit too complex. But theyre taking a wait-and-see approach to the concept, which could take months to set up.

We remain open to see how it works, he said. But our immediate concern was to get money into the hands of those who need it as soon as possible.

An estimated 30,000 or more homes and condominiums built in eastern and central Connecticut from the mid-1980s to 2016 could have failing foundations because of the presence of pyrrhotite. It reacts naturally with oxygen and water, causing concrete to crack and crumble over the decades, making some homes unsellable and unlivable. In many cases, homeowners have been unable obtain insurance. Repairs can cost as much as $200,000 to replace a foundation.

Its unclear exactly how many homes are affected. As of Thursday, the Department of Consumer Protection had received 636 homeowner complaints. State officials are hoping that news of this new financial assistance will encourage more affected homeowners to come forward, potentially giving the state more ammunition in its bid to persuade federal authorities they need federal assistance.

Im hoping that by the sheer numbers of this, the federal government will see that this is truly a natural disaster, said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague. She and Currey both stressed that this $100 million likely will not address the regions entire problem, which some estimate has the potential to cost as much as $5 billion.

The new captive insurance company will eventually create eligibility requirements and underwriting guidelines for affected homeowners. Grants will only be released to approved contractors and vendors. While the insurance company terminates in 2022, it can be extended.

The bill also creates for a separate loan program to help homeowners obtain lower cost state loans, as well as a new state-funded advocate to guide homeowners through the various assistance programs.

Considering this problem first came to light in the mid-1990s, Currey said some homeowners are skeptical about the new legislation. He and Rep. Chris Davis, R-Ellington, were scheduled to meet with affected homeowners on Saturday in Ellington to explain the initiative and answer questions.

Theres a level of caution for all homeowners right now who are affected by this, because they havent seen the movement theyd like to have seen by now, Currey said. Thats now on us, to go out and have conversations.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Han Nguyen was consumed by depression and struggling to stay afloat at one of the worlds most prestigious universities. His mental health continued to decline until one day, moments after a professor confronted him about an offensive email, the 25-year-old jumped from the top of a campus building to his death.

Nguyens suicide has sparked a contentious legal battle headed to Massachusetts highest court over whether schools can be held responsible when students take their own lives. The case is being closely watched by colleges and universities, who say a decision against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology would place an unreasonable burden on untrained employees to stop suicides.

It would be groundbreaking, said Gary Pavela, a consultant on law and policy issues in higher education and author of a book about legal questions surrounding student suicides. It would cause alarm in higher education, he said.

The students family says his death was preventable and that the school had a legal duty to use reasonable care to protect him from harm. Nguyens professors and other MIT officials knew he was a suicide risk, but failed to get him the help he needed, an attorney for Nguyens family argues.

Months before Nguyens death, a professor encouraged his colleagues to pass him or they might have blood on their hands. Moments before Nguyen jumped, the professor read him the riot act over an email Nguyen sent to another MIT official that they deemed inappropriate, court records say.

Academic freedom is not a license to needlessly and recklessly endanger students known to be at risk of death with impunity; and this court should not allow it to become one at institutions that routinely admit students  many with mental health issues  as young as their mid-teens, attorney Jeffrey Beeler wrote in court documents.

Beeler declined to comment and said Nguyens family didnt want to speak to the media.

MIT says the school wasnt aware of the severity of his condition and he was treated by outside professionals and refused on-campus resources. None of the nine professionals who treated Nguyen while he was at MIT believed he was an imminent risk of killing himself, the school says.

Mr. Nguyens suicide was a tragedy. That does not warrant a legal conclusion that MIT or any individual associated with MIT had a legal duty to prevent it, attorneys for the school, two professors and one dean named in the lawsuit say in court documents.

MIT, which refused to answer questions about the case, said in a statement it remains committed to the well-being of its students, offering a robust network of support resources, including comprehensive mental health services.

Nguyens family attorney disputes the idea that the man didnt want help and has accused MIT of blaming the victim.

No state supreme court has ever found that colleges and universities have a legal duty to prevent student suicides, MITs attorneys say. Courts have generally been reluctant to do so because, among other things, suicide is an impulsive act thats difficult to predict, Pavela said.

A Massachusetts trial court judge ruled in 2005 that an MIT housemaster and dean could be held responsible for the death of a woman who lit herself on fire in her dorm room. But Elizabeth Shins case, which was later settled for an undisclosed amount, never reached the states highest court.

The Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments in Nguyens case after a lower court judge tossed the lawsuit last year.

A group of 18 colleges and universities  including Harvard University and Boston College  is urging the court to reject the case, saying a decision in favor of the family could have devastating consequences.

Fear of liability may cause professors and others without mental health expertise to overreact to concerns, which in turn could discourage students from coming forward with their problems, the schools say.

Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a psychiatry expert at Columbia University, agrees.

To the extent that you heighten every resident assistants sensitivity to the risk of suicidality, with the threat of liability hanging over them, they are far more likely to over predict, over intervene, see it where its not, Appelbaum said.

The Nguyen family attorney and their supporters  including the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys  say the schools concerns are baseless.

Beeler, in his filing, said he merely wants the court to affirm that the duty to provide reasonable care extends to the ivory tower as it does every other civilized corner of the Commonwealth.

Thomas Murphy, chair of the amicus committee of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, says a jury should get to decide whether MIT was negligent and caused Nguyens suicide.

Maybe the school can convince them that they didnt cause (Nguyens suicide) and it was going to happen anyway, he said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Two recent cases have addressed insurance company extracontractual exposure for failing to initiate settlement negotiations.

In Stalley v. Allstate Insurance Co., 2016 WL 1752764 (M.D. Fla. April 29, 2016) the court considered the so-called Powell rule where the insurance company has an affirmative duty to initiate settlement negotiations under Florida law when the liability of the insured has become clear and the injuries are so serious that a judgment in excess of the policy limits is likely to occur. The Stalley case involved an automobile accident in which Benjamin Hintz was rendered totally incapacitated as a result of a head injury that was received when his scooter was struck by a Volkswagen driven and owned respectively by Emily Boozer and Otto Boozer. The Volkswagen was insured under Emilys parents Allstate policy. The parents policy had a $100,000 policy limit. Douglas Stalley brought suit in the status of a third party and guardian of Mr. Hintz. The case went to trial with a jury rendering a verdict in excess of $11 million. Judgment was entered against Emily Boozer in the entire amount of the judgment and against her father, Otto, in the amount of $100,000.

At the time of the accident, Allstate had several policies available, including two policies which had been issued to Emily Boozers grandparents, with one of those policies having a $100,000 liability limit and the other being an umbrella policy with $1 million of liability limits. Allstate ultimately paid $1.1 million under the Boozer parents primary policy and under the Boozer grandparents umbrella policy in partial satisfaction of the judgment against Emily. Thereafter, Stalley sued Allstate for bad faith.

Allstate moved for summary judgment, asserting that there was no bad faith in settlement. The federal judge applied Floridas Powell rule, noting that while Allstate paid one of the policy limits within ten days under the Boozer parents policy, the record also reflected that there were two other Allstate policies (apparently unbeknownst to Allstate initially) which were issued to Emily Boozers grandparents. Allstate did not offer the $1 million policy limits under the grandparents umbrella policy until 1  years after the accident. Under the facts presented, the court found that a fact issue existed to preclude summary judgment regarding whether Allstate should have resolve issues regarding damages and coverage under the grandparents policy earlier.

A similar ruling was reached in Kleinsasser v. Progressive N. Insurance Co., 2016 WL 1583664 (W.D. Okla. April 19, 2016). In the Kleinsasser case, two vehicles struck a cow. The first vehicle to strike the cow was driven by Bellows. The first collision killed the cow. The second vehicle was driven by Michael Kleinsasser. Daniel Caswell was riding in the Kleinsasser vehicle when it struck the cow. Mr. Caswell was injured in the second collision with the cow, which also involved a collision with the rear end of the Bellows pickup truck.

Progressive Northern settled Mr. Caswells claim without notifying Mr. Kleinsasser. No demand had been made by Mr. Caswell. The record reflected that Progressive Northern approached Mr. Caswell to achieve the settlement. Thereafter, Kleinsasser sued Progressive Northern, alleging that it breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing. The Federal District Court noted that Oklahoma law imposed upon insurance companies an affirmative duty to initiate settlement negotiations when an insureds liability was clear and the injuries of a claimant were so severe that a judgment in excess of the policy limits was likely. Kleinsassers complaint pled a bad faith claim based upon Progressive Northerns settlement with Caswell, in part because Kleinsasser argued that Progressive Northern did not have an obligation to initiate settlement negotiations. The ruling of the district court found that Kleinsasser had sufficiently pled a bad faith claim against Progressive Northern. The district court denied Progressive Northerns motion for judgment on the pleadings because the face of the bad fad pleadings revealed issues of fact.

The takeaway from the Stalley and Kleinsasser cases is that bad faith failure to settle cases are very difficult to receive summary judgment on.
For almost a decade, self-driving cars have graced public roads  but always with a person behind the wheel. Now Waymo is yanking the driver.

The autonomous car unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc. said on Tuesday it will soon start chauffeuring people in minivans without safety drivers, staffers that man the steering wheel. Waymo is doing so in a limited region of Phoenix, Ariz., where it is running a pilot program with volunteer passengers. The move, a first for any company, is a major milestone for the internet giants bid to lead the crowded pack trying to commercialize driverless technology.

We want the experience of traveling with Waymo to be routine, so you want to use our driver for your everyday needs, John Krafcik, Waymos chief executive officer, said at the Web Summit conference in Portugal. Fully self-driving cars are here.

Krafcik said a Waymo service will arrive soon, allowing people to hail the cars with a mobile app, similar to services like Uber and Lyft. Waymo has partnered with Lyft but hasnt shared details on that deal.

Waymos cars have driven with an empty front seat on its 91-acre test site in central California, where the company recently hosted reporters. The Chrysler minivans have a small graphical interface in the back seat, which lets riders watch the driverless course, and buttons to call customer service or pull the car over.

The Alphabet arm has racked up more autonomous test miles on roads than others developing the tech, including Ford Motor Co. and Uber Technologies Inc. But those companies have existing manufacturing capabilities (like the automakers) and rider networks (like Uber) that Waymo lacks.

Krafcik, a former Ford executive, said that an on-demand service would be the first commercial use case for Waymo. During his appearance at the summit in Lisbon, he also discussed how the vehicles may replace personal car ownership, an existential fear of the car industry.

Because youre accessing vehicles rather than owning, in the future, you could choose from an entire fleet of vehicle options that are tailored to each trip you want to make, Krafcik said, according to a transcript of his remarks. People could claim the cars for a day, a week or even longer, he said. He ticked off the ways driverless cars could be redesigned if the vehicle didnt need space for a driver: to ferry groceries, as a personal dining room or for naps.

Waymos driverless cars will role out in selected areas of Chandler, Arizona, a Phoenix suburb. Representatives for Waymo and the city of Chandler declined to specify the size of the test area. In his speech, Krafcik said the test without drivers will soon expand to the entire metropolitan Phoenix area.

Some states have existing laws that require a human to be in the drivers seat of a vehicle, although Waymo and other companies have lobbied against these. Last month, California regulators peeled back that rule in the state.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
A Southern California auto body shop owner was sentenced yesterday to six years in state prison for involvement in the scheme where he filed over 35 fraudulent claims, manipulated used car odometers and vehicle titles to make the vehicles appear more valuable and then used false identities of other victims to sell those cars on Craigslist and Auto Trader to unsuspecting customers.

Hani Abujudeh, who led an auto insurance fraud scheme, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts including auto insurance fraud, money laundering, perjury, false impersonation and grand theft.

As a result of his plea, he was required to pay victim restitution in the full amount of $183,475.22. The victims included 15 individuals and four insurance companies who appeared in court yesterday to receive their restitution checks.

An investigation by the Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force, led by the Department of Insurance, revealed Abujudeh, owner and operator of Perfect Auto Detailers, filed over 35 claims on his company insurance policy claiming various fictitious employees crashed customer vehicles as they were being moved. Abujudeh claimed the vehicles were taken to his shop for auto detailing when the collisions occurred.

During a search warrant conducted at Abujudehs residence, 25 fraudulent California drivers licenses were recovered with Abujudehs picture on them as well as evidence of the various fraudulent insurance claims and vehicle sales. By following the title transfers on each of these vehicles, the team began to unravel the complex web of fraud involving Abujudeh and his co-defendants. Investigators revealed the licenses were used by Abujudeh in various curbstoning and grand theft schemes.

This prosecution is a prime example of how much can be accomplished when our law enforcement agencies network their information and resources, said San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney Karen Parker-Parent. Because Mr. Abujudeh used so many different identities in the many various auto insurance fraud schemes he committed, it wouldve been difficult for any one agency alone to identify the perpetrator.

Task force investigators found Abujudeh conspired with additional suspects Eduardo Hernandez, 27, of Rancho Cucamonga, Francisco Aguilera, 26, of Santa Paula, and Dane Santibanez, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, to damage their vehicles in order to use the insurance proceeds to get their vehicles painted for free by Abujudeh. The Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force consists of detectives from the California Department of Insurance, the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County District Attorneys Office. The California Department of Motor Vehicles, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations joined the investigation with other open cases against Abujudeh. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) assisted the department in working with the many insurance carries involved. The San Bernardino District Attorneys Office prosecuted this case.

Source: California Department of Insurance

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California Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers asked the U.S. government Friday for $7.4 billion to help rebuild after a cluster of fires tore through the heart of wine country, killing more than 40 people and leaving thousands without housing.

In a letter to the White House, Brown joined Californias U.S. senators and 39 members of its congressional delegation to urge President Donald Trump and Congress to quickly adopt another disaster-related appropriations measure to support the states recovery.

Brown said the funding would go toward cleanup and programs to support housing, transportation, agriculture, environmental protection and other services for those affected by the fires.

A series of blazes that started in Northern California the night of Oct. 8 killed at least 43 people and destroyed about 8,900 homes and other buildings. At the peak, thousands of firefighters battled 21 blazes that burned simultaneously.

Officials have not yet assessed all the damage and effects of the fires, but the governors office and the affected counties determined that $7.4 billion in federal funding is needed to help California recover, the letter says.

The wildfires significantly damaged farmland, rangeland and watersheds, and more than a third of the funding requested, $3.1 billion, would go toward helping agricultural industries bounce back, including affected wineries, California officials said.

The full economic impact to the agricultural, tourism, hospitality, and wine industries is still not known, the letter says. Nine California wineries were destroyed and 21 were damaged in the nations most prominent winemaking region.

Congress last month approved $576.5 million in aid for wildfires in California and the U.S. West.

Trump pledged aid for California fire victims on Oct. 10, saying he had told Brown that the federal government will stand with the people of California.

Brown said he has asked the California Department of Finance to expedite doling out $41.5 million to support the immediate needs of victims not eligible for federal aid.

During the wildfires last month, Brown declared a state of emergency for the Northern California counties of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino and Nevada as well as Orange County in the south.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Worries that Washington may resort to unilateral military action on the Korean Peninsula are generating angst in Asia's fourth-largest economy , according to analysts.

"There's just a lot of anxiety growing in South Korea about where the alliance is headed," said Jenny Town, the assistant director of the U.S.-Korea Institute in Washington and managing editor at 38 North, a website that provides analysis on North Korea. "A lot of South Koreans just feel like they're not part even of the deliberations and as an alliance they are not consulted."

Concerns about potential U.S. military action against Pyongyang increased in September after Trump hinted of force in a tweet. The president also recently said that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was "wasting his time" on diplomacy.

"Donald Trump tweet: South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!"

The world's largest economy has also been flexing its military might in recent weeks: the Navy has three carrier strike groups operating around Asian waters while B-1B bombers have been conducting exercises over the Korea Peninsula.

Moon, who has been pushing for dialogue with Pyongyang, has repeatedly said he wants no military action without Seoul's approval.

"The thing that has been sucking the wind out of the room of North Korean discussion has been, will the U.S. conduct a preventive attack" said Bruce Klingner, former chief of the CIA's Korea branch and now senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center.

According to Klingner, another concern is that the Trump administration will abandon Seoul once North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shows the ability to hit the U.S. with an intercontinental ballistic missile.
A former foreign policy advisor to President Donald Trump's campaign has acknowledged in testimony to Congress that he had contact with a high-level Russian official while on a trip to Russia last year, according to a transcript released Monday. Carter Page, an unpaid advisor who left the campaign before Trump was elected, told the House intelligence committee last week that he "briefly said hello to" Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich when he traveled to Russia for a speech. Under repeated questions about the contact  which he had at times denied in the past  Page said that he had spoken to Dvorkovich after his July 2016 speech at Moscow's New Economic School.

Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump, makes a presentation during a visit to Moscow. Artyom Korotayev | TASS | Getty Images

"It was a very brief interaction. It was some nice pleasantries. I cannot recall the precise words I said, but it was sort of best wishes, and, you know, that's about it," Page said in response to several questions about the contact. The testimony was part of the committee's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether it is linked to Trump's campaign. Page's trip raised questions just as the FBI began its counterintelligence investigation into the Russian meddling in the summer of 2016, and he has offered contradictory accounts about whom he met there  at one point telling The Associated Press that he hadn't met with Dvorkovich. But his testimony on Thursday was under oath. Page was interviewed in March for several hours as part of the FBI probe, before special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to take it over. Page wouldn't answer questions about his contact with Mueller. The House panel released the transcript as part of its agreement with Page, who was subpoenaed by the committee in early October. Parts of the transcript are redacted, even though lawmakers started the discussion by saying it would be unclassified. Page told the panel he had informed some members of the Trump campaign about the Russia trip, including then Senator Jeff Sessions. He said he mentioned in passing to Sessions, who is now attorney general, that he was preparing to visit Russia and Sessions "had no reaction whatsoever." The testimony could raise more questions about the extent of Sessions' knowledge about interactions between Trump campaign aides and Russians. Sessions recused himself from overseeing an investigation into the Trump campaign in March after acknowledging two previously undisclosed conversations with former Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the campaign. Since then, Sessions has downplayed his own knowledge about communications between campaign aides and Russian officials and intermediaries.

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Page has insisted  and continued to insist in the interview  that the trip was personal and not campaign related. However, the committee produced an email during the interview in which Page wrote to campaign officials and asked them to let him know "if you have any reservations or thoughts on how you'd prefer me to focus these remarks," apparently referring to the speech he was giving in Moscow. He also suggested that Trump take his place at the speech  a suggestion that appeared to go nowhere. In a statement prepared for the committee, Page insisted that he had no personal information that the Russian government or anyone affiliated with it played any role in the 2016 presidential campaign. He said he was not approached by anyone during the trip who led him to believe they were planning to interfere in the election. Under questioning at the hearing, Page depicted himself as an unpaid member of a campaign foreign policy team that met infrequently and provided him with no direct access to Trump. "I have never met him in my life," Page said of Trump. "I've been in a lot of meetings with him, and I've learned a lot from him, but never actually met him face to face." Page said he had no direct relationship with the Russian government, though he conceded that he may have spoken with different Russian government officials over the years. At another point in the interview, Page was asked about his relationship with George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor whose guilty pleas to lying to the FBI about his foreign contacts was unsealed last week.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk past honor guards at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan on November 6, 2017

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that Japan would not enter a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States to resolve the two countries' trade imbalance.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Aso said it was true that the United States was running a trade deficit but said the situation was different from that of the 1980s, when trade friction strained bilateral relations.
Salesforce on Tuesday revealed its latest progress around ways to translate text from one language into another without human input.

The translation system comes close to being the most accurate there is today by one measurement, and the researchers have ideas about how to improve it.

"We want to see it deployed in a lot of places," Salesforce chief scientist Richard Socher told CNBC in an interview at the company's Salesforce IQ office in Palo Alto, California.

In recent years, web companies like Facebook and Google have been the ones leading the way in terms of incorporating artificial intelligence into their products. Now Salesforce is among the companies drawing on AI to improve the software that people at big companies use. That could help Salesforce as it competes with the likes of IBM , Microsoft and Oracle .

Salesforce established its AI research lab following its 2016 acquisition of Socher's start-up, MetaMind. The group has doubled in size since then, Socher said. Like many other corporate research organizations, Salesforce Research regularly publishes results of its research and releases code online for free for others to explore.

In this case, Salesforce circumvented technology called long short-term memory networks (LSTMs) that have become popular for machine translation. Instead, they chose to build on a system called Transformer, which Google unveiled earlier this year.

Translation has been revolutionized by the use of a trendy type of AI called deep learning, which involves training systems called artificial neural networks on lots of data and then getting them to make inferences about new data.

But the neural network-based systems can be slower to make inferences than more traditional architectures, as Socher and four of his collaborators -- Jiatao Gu, James Bradbury, Caiming Xiong and Victor O.K. Li -- point out in a new academic paper. Simply put, their model comes up with the best words for a translation in parallel, instead of in sequential order, which provides a speed boost.

Bradbury explained some of the team's work with an analogy.

"You have a whole panel of professional translators, and they're all in separate cubicles somewhere," he said. "You want to get a translated sentence, but you don't let them talk to each other. When you ask each of them to output one word, they're not going to make the right guesses about what each other is thinking. They're going to produce something that totally is gibberish. That's the problem that we ended up solving."

While Salesforce already offers technology that's based on work from its research lab, machine translation isn't in use in Sales Cloud, Service Cloud or any other product. That could change in the next few years, though.

"I think we'll see especially for technical documentation" that it can come in handy, Socher said.
Salesforce stock rose 2.5 percent after hours on Monday after the company disclosed guidance for its 2019 fiscal year for the first time. The guidance suggests the company could post revenue growth of up to 20 percent.

In a statement the company said it would bring in $12.45 billion to $12.5 billion in revenue for the fiscal year, which will end on Jan. 31, 2019. According to FactSet, analysts estimated an average of $12.46 billion in revenue for the period, which falls at the lower end of the guidance range.

In August the company estimated it would bring in $10.35 billion to 10.4 billion in revenue for the full 2018 fiscal year, which would be up 23-24 percent year over year. The high end of the guidance for the 2019 fiscal year implies a 20 percent revenue increase.

And the actual revenue may be higher, based on past performance. "For the revenue target, as is customary for the company, we think initial forecast will likely prove to be conservative as management is likely to walk the numbers higher," Mizuho analysts Abhey Lamba and Parthiv Varadarajan wrote in a note.

Also on Monday Salesforce announced a partnership with Google that touches on using Google public cloud infrastructure and integrating with Google cloud applications.

Salesforce is set to hold its annual investor day at its Dreamforce conference in San Francisco on Tuesday. The company reports earnings for the third quarter of its 2018 fiscal year on Nov. 21.
Dreamforce brings thousands of Salesforce employees to San Francisco for the company's annual meeting. This year, CNBC was able to escape the crowds for a bit by traveling to higher ground: the Salesforce Tower.

At 1,070 feet tall, the tower dwarfs other buildings in the vicinity and is the tallest office building on the West Coast. It has 61 floors and elevators that can zip visitors to the top in 39 seconds, fast enough to make our ears pop.

The Wilshire Grand in Los Angeles is technically taller, at 1,100 feet, but includes a 166-foot spire on top, while the Salesforce Tower has no spire.

The floor is still under construction. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 360-degree views of the city. We were able to spot the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz during our visit.

Instead of executive offices, Salesforce says it will use the top floor as an events space, which will be open to employees as well as non-profits and NGOs. Salesforce is the building's anchor tenant and will occupy floors three to 30, 39 to 44, and the top two levels. The building is owned by Boston Properties and Hines.

The Salesforce Tower is expected to open in early 2018.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017.

President Donald Trump praised Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in a Tweet on Monday, days after the Saudi leader removed a number of prominent officials in an anti-corruption crackdown.

Over the weekend, King Salman arrested a number of royals and businessmen. Officials have called it an anti-corruption initiative, while some outsiders have criticized it as a power move.

Regardless, Trump backed the king on Monday.

"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing...."

"....Some of those they are harshly treating have been "milking" their country for years!"
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a source for good and we need to understand its full potential before it's regulated, the co-founder of online retail platform Trouva told CNBC Tuesday.

"I think as with any innovation it takes time for it to basically dissimilate within a specific environment and there needs to be enough flexibility for people to really figure out how to utilize a technology in the best way," Alex Loizou told CNBC on the sidelines of the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon.

"So regulating it too soon may very well have a significant negative effect on it, so give it time to expand, give it time to evolve until we figure it out what we can use it for and then we can think about ways to regulate it," he added.

The benefits and drawbacks of AI are controversial. At the opening day of the Web Summit, the famous physicist Stephen Hawking said Monday that it can be "the best or worst thing to ever happen to humanity."
Billionaire hedge fund manager William Ackman faces a crucial shareholder vote on Tuesday that will decide his months-long battle with Automatic Data Processing to get three seats on the payroll company's board.

The result could affect not just his scorecard as a corporate agitator but the amount of capital investors maintain at his firm.

A handful of investors have told Reuters they are either pulling cash out of Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management or considering doing so after a string of setbacks on his high-profile investments.

Withdrawals and losses have shrunk Pershing Square's assets to $10 billion as of Sept. 30, less than half of what it had in early 2015 but the same amount it managed in 2013.

If Ackman loses the ADP proxy contest, dealing a blow to his efforts to make the paycheck processor and human-resources technology company more efficient and profitable, it is not clear that ADP's shares will fall or that he will sell his $2.3 billion stake.

But clients, rivals, and associates say that if the ADP bet does not work out, it could be another strike against Ackman's once-unquestioned investing prowess and could threaten outside capital housed with his firm.

"It is only so long that we can ignore poor performance," said Joelle Mevi, chief investment officer at the City of Fort Worth Employees Retirement Fund, which is invested with Pershing Square.

George Hopkins, executive director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, which invests $180 million with Ackman, said his fund has not made any moves to exit Pershing Square but is not planning to add money either. Several others said they were waiting to decide whether to stay with Ackman.
An advocate for reform of HIV criminal laws holds an "End HIV Stigma" sign at a Pride event in Los Angeles. California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a revised HIV law in October.

In six U.S. states, individuals living with HIV who are found guilty of knowingly exposing a partner are required to be registered as a sex offender. They can face felony charges, or felony-level punishments, in 32 states. But as breakthrough HIV drug treatments and medical studies show there is essentially no risk of sexually exposing someone to HIV while taking antiretroviral drug therapy (ART), states are being forced to play catch-up to the science, and stigma, of the AIDS virus. There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2003 and 2013, ProPublica reported (in the most recent data available) 2,352 records of HIV-related charges, with at least 541 convictions or guilty pleas. "It's not easy to get people to agree with science," said Bruce Richman, executive director at the Prevention Access Campaign, an organization that seeks to provide the public with accurate information about HIV exposure. "It conflicts with their long, deeply held beliefs about transmission risks." Last month Gov. Jerry Brown signed bill SB 239, making California the fourth state to rewrite HIV exposure laws that were enacted in the 1990s during the AIDS epidemic. Before the legislative reform, a person living with HIV who violated the California law could spend eight years in prison, with additional time if the person was a sex worker. The punishment resembled a typical sentence for voluntary manslaughter  three, six or 11 years in prison. The bill reduced charges from a felony to a misdemeanor, with maximum sentencing in a county jail now set at six months, and is no longer HIV-specific but includes other communicable diseases, such as hepatitis. Anyone who intentionally attempts to transmit a disease without success will be charged with a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 90 days. While the bill passed in the California Assembly 44-13, not all legislators agreed with the decision. "I'm of the mind that if you purposefully inflict another with a disease that alters their lifestyle the rest of their life, puts them on a regimen of medications to maintain any kind of normalcy, it should be a felony. It's absolutely crazy to me that we should go light on this," Sen. Joel Anderson said as he debated the bill, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. "This isn't about making people sick; it's about people living with HIV being able to live their lives and not be subject to felonies that people with other communicable diseases are not subject to," said Jo Michael, legislative manager at LGBT advocacy group Equality California. In fact, Michael said this legislation will lead to more individuals seeking treatment. "HIV was singled out, and that increases the stigma," Michael said. "If you want to lower new infection rates and have fewer people living with it over time, addressing the disparity in discrimination is a way to do it."

Two recent medical studies  the PARTNER study, which followed 900 heterosexual and gay couples for 16 months; and Opposites Attract study, which followed 358 gay couples  have determined that the risk of transmission while taking ART is effectively zero. "We can achieve full suppression of viral replication, and we know from the data: If the medication is taken continuously and over the time of the infection, there is no breakthrough infection anymore," said Hendrik Streeck, director of the Institute of HIV Research at the University Duisburg-Essen in Germany, which conducts research on therapy methods and vaccine development. Without taking ART, condoms and PrEP (a medicine that lowers the risk of infection), reduce the risk of getting HIV by more than 90 percent. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health and Paris-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi are also moving closer to developing a vaccine for AIDS. According to research at the William Institute of Law at UCLA, the California law before its reform disproportionately affected women and people of color, and 95 percent of HIV-specific criminal incidents impacted sex workers or suspected sex workers. Recent CDC statistics show that individuals living below the poverty line are two times more likely to be HIV-positive than those living above it.

States are still resistant to reforming HIV laws

Despite the latest science, many states remain hesitant to change laws adopted in the 1990s. In total, 29 states impose felonies on an individual who fails to disclose their HIV status before sex, and three states (Louisiana, Minnesota and New Jersey) impose punishments equivalent to that of a felony offense, with sentences of at least two years in prison. In Tennessee a person living with HIV who knowingly exposes others can be quarantined by the state's Department of Health "after exercising other appropriate measures" if he or she is determined to be a threat to the public. This health code does not require a conviction under the Tennessee HIV-exposure law. State HIV criminal laws stem from a federal initiative in 1990 under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which made funding for AIDS treatment and care contingent on states passing laws to prosecute individuals who knowingly exposed someone to HIV. In 1995, AIDS was the leading cause of deaths for adults 25 to 44 years old. There were 51,414 deaths that year, the peak of the epidemic. Since new drugs to treat HIV became available between 1995 and 1996, the number of HIV-related deaths per year in the United States have sharply declined. In 2014 there were 6,721 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iowa was among the first states to take small steps in reforming HIV laws, along with Colorado. In 2014, Iowa eliminated a requirement for convicted individuals to register as sex offenders, and it created a tiered penalty system, which now looks at whether transmission of HIV occurred and whether or not exposure was intentional. Additionally, other diseases were elevated to be included under the law, such as hepatitis or tuberculosis. However, someone who exposes a partner to HIV can still face up to five years in prison  up to 25 years in prison if the virus is transmitted. In 2016, Colorado eliminated felony penalty enhancements involving sex workers living with HIV and modernized language having to do with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in its public health code. It also reduced the sentence enhancement for sexual assault if a person is HIV-positive to twice the original sentence and requires proof of transmission. Catherine Hanssens, executive director of The Center for HIV Law & Policy, says these state measures still don't reflect the latest science regarding HIV. "The rest of the country does not understand that it is not easily transmittable and easily manageable," Hanssens said. "[HIV] is serious, but it can be managed." Advocates are pushing against many state legislatures that show little inclination to reform their laws. "There are efforts to change the laws under way across the country from Florida to Ohio to Washington state," said Kate Boulton, staff attorney at the HIV Center for Law & Policy. She says it is a highly complex process, depending on the political climate of the states. "It has a lot to do with how the individual legislation works and how connected to policymakers the advocates are," Hanssens said.

An Ohio Supreme Court challenge fails

Ohio could have been the next state to reform their HIV criminalization laws, but the Ohio Supreme Court decided to uphold its current HIV codes in a ruling on Oct. 27. Orlando Batista appealed after being charged with a second-degree felony assault in 2016 for transmitting HIV to his girlfriend without disclosure and receiving a charge of eight years in prison. The American Civil Liberties Union advised the court that his conviction violated the equal-protection clause by singling out people living with HIV, and it forced disclosure of personal medical diseases that violated his right to freedom of speech. Elizabeth Bonham, staff attorney at ACLU, had been hopeful the law would be struck down in its entirety. "This was a disappointing decision and a setback for the rights of people living with HIV, but we will continue fighting against the stigma and against criminalization," she said in an email the day the Supreme Court decision was released.

Nina Martinez sits in an art piece called "Cages" which represents the layers of stigma felt by people living with HIV. Source: Lauren Shay Lavin

I live in a state where legislators aren't educated on HIV. The laws don't protect me. Nina Martinez diagnosed with transfusion-acquired HIV at age 8

In Georgia, reform of HIV laws might take even longer, as advocates are still in the process of trying to update their legislators on the medical science of HIV transmission. "I live in a state where legislators aren't educated on HIV. The laws don't protect me. ... There is no room for defense for people like myself," said Nina Martinez, who was diagnosed with transfusion-acquired HIV (passed along through blood) when she was 8 years old. Martinez was present last week when Georgia State Legislator Betty Price  former Trump Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's wife  used the word "quarantine" in a suggestion for how to stop the spread of HIV in a meeting on improving health-care access. "I feel like we're back in the '90s, but we're in 2017," Martinez said. In Indiana the health codes are tied to HIV laws. Individuals given an HIV-positive diagnosis are asked to sign an acknowledgement that their health providers have a "duty to warn"  meaning doctors and health-care providers are permitted to break client/patient confidentiality agreements in cases having to do with HIV exposure. This could make people less likely to seek out a diagnosis or disclose information to their therapists or doctors. "Health providers become an extension of the laws," said Carrie Foote, chair of the HIV Modernization Movement in Indiana, which was formed last summer.

People living with HIV caught in the crosshairs

Aside from health providers, residents who seek diagnosis open themselves to potential criminal action merely by knowing their status. "If you don't know your HIV status, it's not a crime," Foote said. Travis Spoor was diagnosed with HIV in 2012, but he had never been linked to care when he was sentenced to three years in prison in Indiana for failing to disclose his HIV status to a sexual partner, even though he did not transmit HIV. Foote said it will be incredibly difficult for him to start getting treatment in the Indiana jails, since he had not been receiving care before his arrest. "He should have been linked to care. Our system failed him, and it's still failing him," Foote said. HIV is the only disease criminalized under Indiana laws. "It is not based on whether someone intended to harm or did harm. It's based solely on their HIV status," Foote said. EQCA legislative manager Michael said, "Wherever laws like this exist, they are harming people."

Carrie Foote stands with Travis Spoor's mother as she gives her testimony about how the HIV criminal laws have affected her son and devastated her family at the HIV Modernization Movement advocacy day in Indiana. Source: HIV Modernization Movement-Indiana
The Air Force said Tuesday it takes responsibility for not properly registering the fingerprints of the court-martialed shooter who massacred 26 people inside a small church in South Texas before committing suicide.

"We've taken responsibility and we're going to find out what happened and fix it," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Authorities identified the gunman as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley. Kelley, of neighboring Comal County, served in the Air Force's Logistics Readiness unit at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 bad conduct discharge.

Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 for choking his ex-wife and fracturing her son's skull, authorities said. The ex-wife's mother was a congregant at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs but was not at services on Sunday, when Kelley went on his rampage there.

Wilson said the Air Force does not know if this is the only case where court-martialed convicts were not reported in the federal civilian database. She said the Air Force is "checking all" of its databases to find out what happened.

"We have initiated a review inside the Air Force to find out why his fingerprint record were not transmitted to the database. We will find out why," Wilson said.

The Defense Department's inspector general, led by Glenn Fine, is also looking to "make sure that everything is checked and that all procedures are clarified," Wilson said.
Apple's iPhone X has been the "most highly-anticipated" version of the technology giant's flagship phone, the chief executive of AT&T Communications, told CNBC on Tuesday.

John Donovan, who is the boss of the second-largest U.S. mobile carrier, answered in the affirmative when asked by CNBC if sales of this iPhone would be "bumper".

"All the signs are that customers love it. It's probably the most highly-anticipated version... and demand has been strong. So we're pleased," Donovan said in a TV interview at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

Apple's tenth anniversary edition iPhone X began shipping Friday. It starts at $999 and has been praised in numerous reviews.

Chief Executive Tim Cook told CNBC in a recent interview that "customer demand is off the charts." Several analysts have also backed up the view.
If you feel like you've hit a wall in your job and are all out of creative ideas, there are things you can do to become more innovative, according to Jeff Chapin.

He's a co-founder and the Chief Product Officer of direct-to-consumer mattress company Casper, and is tasked with re-thinking the experience of sleep and learning how to improve it. Since launching in 2014, the company has brought in over $300 million in revenue selling its original Casper Mattress along with pillows, sheets, duvets, bed frames and even dog mattresses. Casper has raised $240 million in funding, including a reported $75 million from Target, according to Recode.

Over the course of his career at Casper, and in his previous job at design firm IDEO, developing products ranging from spinal surgical tools to shipping containers, Chapin has learned a thing or two about how to have an original idea at work. His top advice?

"Get out of your desk chair," Chapin tells CNBC Make It.

The reason is pretty simple: "You're never getting good ideas sitting behind your computer," he says. "That is for producing something, but the good ideas come elsewhere  you need stimulus."

As the leader of the design team at Casper, Chapin encourages his employees to immerse themselves in learning about sleep, often out of the office.

"My main responsibility is making sure people get exposed to enough stimulus that they get good ideas," he says. "I can't take the team and put them in a room and say, 'Come up with a good idea.'"

Chapin sends his team members to do things like shop along with a customer looking for a mattress in one of Casper's new brick-and mortar locations, or to interview people about their sleep rituals and their bedding. Casper will even go to people's homes to ask how they sleep on all sorts of mattresses, not just its own brand.

"It is really interesting to go spend two hours with somebody in their house," Chapin explains. "People are really open and transparent and you can get to really personal conversations with complete strangers."

For another example, when Casper engineers were working on a new kind of blanket, they put it in a tactile box (where you can feel it but can't see it) and went to a Casper pop-up shop in San Francisco to get in-person feedback.

"If sleep is our mission, we try to understand that in many different ways," he says. And his advice can be applied to any field. "If you do financial planning as a business, go spend time with low income people who have financial planning issues."

For whatever profession you're in, ask yourself "What are the inputs you need so you can get the good ideas?" Chapin suggests. Then, seek out whatever customers, users, competitors or clients might be able to provide you with that fodder.

"If you're going to do something new, go immerse yourself in that," he says. "Just immerse yourself in all aspects of that thing and I guarantee you're going to get a new idea."

Don't miss: CEO of 'bed in a box' start-up Casper on going from zero to a $500 million+ company in 4 years

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Analyst Dick Bove is beating up on Goldman Sachs again, recommending that clients sell the investment banking giant's stock and again calling for the ouster of CEO Lloyd Blankfein.

Two recent developments have soured Bove even more on Goldman: Its decision to drop its market-making role in U.S. options exchanges, and some business dealings with the deeply troubled Venezuelan government.

The complaints are just the latest salvos from Bove, who sees the bank as being in need of new management. He had first called for Blankfein to be removed in July, and earlier in the year had lowered his rating on the bank from "buy" to "hold."

"I am not a fan of Goldman Sachs and have repeatedly expressed my concern about

the company's leadership," the Vertical Trading Group analyst wrote in a note to clients. "My problem is that Goldman never understood the changes in its core businesses and, therefore, continued to pursue its traditional business model when it was evident that this model was no longer relevant."

After a sharp rally following President Donald Trump's election in November, Goldman has been a laggard, underperforming both the broader market and its peers. Shares are up just 2.2 percent this year at a time when the has rallied nearly 16 percent and the SPDR Bank ETF has gained 4.6 percent.

Bove charged that the bank has missed out on the big move to passive investing and exchange-traded funds, while also taking on questionable dealings with Venezuela. Goldman has lost money on bonds it bought from the country's state-run oil company and still is shadowed by a transaction it made with a Portuguese bank that lent to Venezuela, which is on the edge of a potential debt default, he said.

Goldman's market-making revenue has dropped from $29.7 billion in 2007 to $14.8 billion in 2017, according to Bove, coming as the market has switched to passive investing and automated trading.

"What is being revealed by the business model errors and the Venezuelan activities is bad judgment," he wrote. "This bad judgment has led to 10 years of earnings weakness. This company has an insular management team that sees itself as a partnership. It is not. It is a publicly owned company that, in my opinion, needs outside blood to change its direction."

Goldman again beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter earnings, turning in profit of $5.02 a share vs. expectations of $4.17, but the company again came up light in trading revenue. In fact, a company official said the commodities side was on its way to its worst full-year performance since the company went public in 1999.

Though analysts had expected the earnings performance to boost investor sentiment, shares have been flat since the report.

Goldman officials declined comment.

WATCH: An analyst talks about why Goldman doesn't get any respect
While eliminating state and local tax deductions will "hurt in some places," it's something that has to be done, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., told CNBC on Tuesday.

While the Senate Finance Committee is working on its version of the tax bill, the draft of the GOP House tax bill released last week included the repeal of the deductions for state and local income tax (SALT) payments.

"There's no reason in the world  that a couple with two children in Iowa pay more federal tax than the same couple with two children, same income, same deductions, in California," Perdue said in an interview with "Power Lunch."

"We're going to clean that up. Create a more level playing field, both on the individual side and on the corporate side as well."

New York, California and other high-tax states would be hard hit by the removal of the deduction, a fact seized upon by Democrats to bolster their argument that Trump's plan is a gift to the wealthiest Americans and the corporate sector.

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady has said lawmakers would have a chance to propose changes to the bill. The House is marking up, or debating and amending, the legislation, this week.

Brady has already agreed to retain the deduction for property tax payments up to a cap of $10,000 as part of a SALT compromise and has said he would be open to raising it.

Meanwhile, it's unclear when Senate Republicans will release their tax bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday it would be out on Friday, but his spokesperson later said he misspoke. Earlier in the day, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, told NBC News the proposal would be released Thursday.

McConnell also said the chamber will aim to mark up its legislation next week.

Ultimately, the Senate bill would have to be reconciled with the House version before it is sent to President Donald Trump to sign.

Perdue told CNBC he's optimistic Republicans will wind up with tax legislation that will cause the economy to "really pop," noting that this is "what America wants."

"We're in a good position to get this across the line. The president wants to get this done in the House and Senate, get it passed by Thanksgiving so it's on his desk by Christmas."

On Tuesday, Fitch Ratings said the proposed cuts will not pay for themselves through growth and will "significantly" add to the long-term U.S. debt.

 CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Reuters contributed to this report.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed lower by 0.39 percent, with major bourses and most sectors in the red.

The retail sector was down 0.9 percent. Online clothing retailer Zalando was the worst performing stock, trading over 5 percent lower. This came after the German company warned its full-year operating profit margin would be lower than expected after weak October business and ongoing heavy investment in logistics.

Danish shipping firm Moller-Maersk was the worst performing company on the Stoxx 600, with its shares down over 7 percent. The world's largest container shipping group cut the profit forecast for its core business following a cyber attack and a weaker than anticipated third quarter.

Dialog Semiconductor was also one of the worst performing companies in the Stoxx 600 after the firm reported a cautious outlook for the final three months of the year. The Anglo-German chipmaker, which also makes chips for Samsung electronics, posted a 4 percent increase in third-quarter adjusted operating profit. Its shares were nearly 7 percent lower.

Danish jewelry maker Pandora said its projected full-year earnings would be at the lower end of the forecast range due to a challenging retail environment  most notably in its U.S market. Pandora's shares closed nearly 3.5 percent lower Tuesday afternoon.

Oil and gas was one of the few sectors that closed positively, up 0.68 percent. Oil prices were supported Tuesday as Saudi Arabia's crown prince moved to tighten his grip on power amid rising tensions between the Kingdom and Iran. U.K.-based companies TechnipFMC and Tullow Oil led the sector in afternoon trade, both closing up approximately 3 percent.

Stateside, the media sector shined as investor sentiment was boosted by potential deal-making. Disney and 21st Century Fox's stocks are up for a second straight day as the companies have been in talks, though there is no certainty that a deal will get done.
quickly raised possible antitrust concerns, but a former FCC commissioner said the potential deal would probably pass regulatory muster.

"It could go through  very much so," former FCC head Robert McDowell told CNBC's " " on Tuesday.

To be sure, there's no guarantee that a deal between and would ever come, but McDowell said the political moment could be just right for a deal this size.

"If you look through history, at this point early in an administration, in the first year of any new administration  especially when you have a change in parties at the White House  you have a lot of trial balloons floated," he said. "A lot of companies want to try to test the waters."

Republican administrations typically define competition in future terms, McDowell said, in contrast to Democratic administrations that tend to take real-time snapshots in evaluating the level of competition in an industry.

So a Republican White House could look to redefine what is considered a reasonably competitive landscape in media to better fit the era of "over-the-top" content distribution ushered in by , McDowell said.

"I think it's very doable, very approvable here," he said.
Turns out Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross may have greatly exaggerated his wealth, according to a report from Forbes.

Just a year ago, Forbes listed Ross' net worth at $2.9 billion and included him in the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans by net worth. The new report says Ross had just under $700 million in assets. It cited financial-disclosure forms filed by Ross after being nominated for his Commerce secretary.

After Forbes learned about this, the magazine said, it wanted to remove Ross from the Forbes 400. Ross protested, according to the report, telling the magazine it wasn't taking into account some trusts created for his family, which add "more than $2 billion" to his net worth and which he did not have to disclose in federal filings.

But the magazine said that after "one month of digging," it is confident that the more than $2 billion never existed. It said it removed him when it updated its list of richest Americans last month.

"It seems clear that Ross lied to us, the latest in an apparent sequence of fibs, exaggerations, omissions, fabrications and whoppers that have been going on with Forbes since 2004," Forbes' report said.

A Commerce Department spokesman told CNBC in a statement:

"Secretary Ross's disclosure documents were compiled by legal counsel and accountants. The relevant rules were followed, and the documents were closely reviewed and approved by ethics officials at the Department of Commerce and the Office of Government Ethics. We regret any earlier miscommunication."

Ross is listed on the "The World's Billionaires" list from March 2017 on Forbes' website. In it, he is No. 814, with a worth of $2.5 billion, just above private equity titan David Rubenstein. As of Tuesday, Forbes estimates Ross' net worth at $700 million.

Click here to read Forbes full report.
Among the major business figures recently identified with activities in the tax haven of Bermuda is White House economic advisor Gary Cohn  and he says he doesn't mind a bit.

Cohn, the former Goldman Sachs executive who directs President Donald Trump's National Economic Council, was named in the leaked "Paradise Papers" from a Bermuda-based law firm as an officer of 22 business entities in the island nation. He described their creation as a routine part of commerce in a globally integrated economy.

"I found out about them in the newspaper," Cohn explained in our Speakeasy interview. "Goldman Sachs had them. Because I worked at Goldman Sachs, in the division I was running at the time, I became an officer of those companies by the mere position I had. I didn't have money in them."

The purpose, he said, was to use Bermuda as a gathering spot for investors from different countries.
Aparna Chennapragada, Senior Director of Product at Google, Inc., talks about the new Augmented Reality stickers feature of the Pixel 2 smartphone at a product launch event, October 4, 2017.

Google expects that "hundreds of millions" of Android devices will be capable of augmented reality (AR) uses next year, bringing a slew of potential monetization opportunities.

Amit Singh, vice president of business and operations for virtual reality (VR) at Google, spoke about the company's investment in the technology and the release of ARCore, a platform that allows developers to make AR apps for Android.

The Google executive expects the use of AR to become a daily occurrence.

"There will be hundreds of millions of phones that will be AR ready. And the current stage is  we are helping developers  build the experiences  so that it becomes a daily habit," Singh said Tuesday during a talk at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

"And once it does, I suspect the natural evolution of monetization comes through."

Singh talked about the potential to make money from games or even shopping.

The U.S. search giant expects that 100 million devices will be AR ready by the end of this year, and then "hundreds of millions" by the end of 2018.

When ARCore was released in August it was launched on Google's Pixel phone and the Samsung Galaxy S8. Both are high-end phones. But Singh said he expects that mid-and-lower-end phones to get the capabilities over the next two years.

"Augmented reality (will become) a core feature of most of Android over the next few years," Singh said.

AR has become a big battleground for the technology giants, in particular Apple and Google . Apple released its ARKit, a set of tools to help developers create AR apps on its iOS operating system. That is Google's direct competitor.

Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC earlier this year that AR would make the iPhone "even more essential."
The record $2.7 billion antitrust fine that the European Union slapped on Google in June will help drive innovation, the European commissioner for competition told a tech summit Tuesday.

Margrethe Vestager, who has been criticized for targeting U.S. tech giants, said it is a problem when successful companies that dominate a market, like Google, use their power to shut down competition.

"That can end up closing the door to innovation," Vestager said during her speech at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

In June, Vestager fined Google the record amount for abusing its dominance of the search engine market to place its shopping services at the top of web searches. Google decided in September to appeal against the European Commission's decision  a process that might take several years to be resolved in court.

However, Vestager believes that the Commission took the right approach to ensure that small companies can innovate and have a chance to compete against multinationals.

"That's why dominant companies like Google have a special responsibility not to undermine competition... And we had to fine Google because it didn't live up to that responsibility," Vestager said.

"By making sure these markets are open for competition, our decision will help innovation to thrive."
Imagine that you've just arrived at work exhausted. As you walk to your office, a co-worker asks if you can help them with a task. If your first instinct is to say yes, a new study says you should rethink that.

Researchers from the Michigan State University found that helping a colleague complete their own tasks in the morning before your own exacerbates feelings of mental exhaustion and tiredness. This, in turn, decreases your productivity.

Scientists studied 91 full-time employees over a period of 10 workdays. Participants completed two surveys a day, in the morning and afternoon, on their workplace experiences.

"The increase in mental fatigue from helping co-workers in the morning led employees to reduce their helping behaviors in the afternoon," says Michigan State associate professor of management Russell Johnson in a statement.

"Perhaps more interestingly, they engaged in more self-serving political behaviors in the afternoon as well," he adds.

The research also found that when people don't focus on themselves first thing in the morning, these negative feelings and their mental exhaustion worsen throughout the day.

"They switched from being other-oriented in the morning to being selfish in the afternoon," says Johnson.

The study suggests getting your work done before helping a fellow employee to avoid these feelings in the office.
But, of course, there will also be an impact on European firms that have close links to the U.K. The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) recently reported that British businesses are increasingly searching for domestic suppliers, to obviate the need for any European participants in their supply chain. This will bolster the argument that Brexit will raise costs for many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and will have negative consequences for Britain's trading relationship with the single market.

And that cuts both ways. Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of the EU companies the CIPS has surveyed said they were planning to relocate aspects of their supply chain elsewhere, as the British government prepares to exit Europe's customs union. That is a significant increase from the institute's numbers back in May, when just 44 percent said they would be doing so.

Another survey last week from Ipsos Mori found that more than four-fifths of foreign businesses operating inside the U.K. were "not very," or indeed "not at all confident" about a positive outcome from the negotiations that will end in March 2019. And a mere one in eight foreign firms took an optimistic view. But that does not stop Theresa May from talking positively about a "new chapter in the story of the British economy."

Speaking in the shadow of Canary Wharf before heading back to Downing Street in her five-vehicle convoy with police motorcycle outriders, the prime minister promised attendees at the CBI conference that her government would get "the best Brexit deal" for Britain. But nobody should be under any illusion that what that constitutes is entirely subjective, and it comes with a caveat that it can only be the best "possible" deal under the circumstances.

Right now, May's most pressing priority in the negotiations, as she acknowledged, is to nail down detailed arrangements for what she terms a "time-limited implementation period."

Besides adding to the work-load of already overburdened British diplomats, such a multi-pronged request  designed to buy British business more time to plan for the future  is useless unless it too comes with what the CBI's Fairbairn demands: unity, clarity and, at this late stage, urgency.

Correction: This story has been updated to correctly identify the U.K. CEO of JLL as Chris Ireland.
Investors should avoid buying CVS Health due to Amazon's competitive threat and the pharmacy chain's overly ambitious acquisitions strategy, according to one Wall Street firm.

Jefferies reduced its price target to $76 from $86 and reaffirmed its hold rating for CVS Health shares, telling its clients to stay on the sidelines until the uncertainty passes.

Despite the report, CVS' share prices were up 1 percent Tuesday morning.

CVS reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings Monday morning. The company also revealed a next-day and same-day prescription drug delivery service in select markets. Its stock declined 3.5 percent Monday, closing at $66.80 after the announcements.

"Based on recent trading patterns (including yday's reaction to CVS's introduction of same-day/next-day Rx delivery that some viewed as a defensive move against a supposed Amazon's entry into Rx), it is evident that overhangs related to speculation of an Aetna purchase and Amazon's supposed pharmacy plans are the more relevant drivers of [near term] stock performance," analyst Brian Tanquilut wrote Tuesday.

"Since it is difficult to refute either overhang, we believe investors will continue to put a discount on CVS shares until some clarity emerges on these issues."

The company's shares have underperformed the market this year due to concerns Amazon is considering selling prescription drugs online. CVS Health stock is down 15 percent in 2017 through Monday, compared with the S&P 500's 16 percent return

Reports last month said CVS Health is in talks to buy health insurance company Aetna in potential health-care megadeal. Some analysts have speculated CVS Health may be considering the acquisition of Aetna to protect itself from potential Amazon disruption.

"They needed to defend the business from encroachment by Amazon," RBC Capital Markets analyst George Hill told CNBC on Oct. 26. "Amazon's ability to impact the business over the near to mid term is low, but the ability to impact the stock is high."



CVS Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Robert Mercer speaks on the phone during the 12th International Conference on Climate Change hosted by The Heartland Institute on March 23, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

Renaissance Technologies founder Jim Simons played a role in Robert Mercer giving up his leadership roles at the hedge fund, Bloomberg News reported.

Bloomberg said Simons urged Mercer to step down as co-chief executive because of concerns about backing Breitbart News. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said Simons was concerned that Mercer's backing of the right-wing website was hurting morale at the world's most profitable hedge fund.

The report also said Simons was concerned that controversy surrounding Mercer's politics was hurting the hedge fund's recruiting efforts.

Mercer was a prominent backer of conservative causes and Donald Trump's presidential campaign. He also supported former White House adviser Steve Bannon's efforts at Breitbart.



Mercer sent a letter to investors on Thursday announcing plans to step down as co-chief executive and from the board of Renaissance Technologies. He said he will stay on as a researcher for the firm.

In a letter to his colleagues, Mercer also announced he is selling his stake in Breitbart News to his daughters.



Renaissance Technologies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

See here for the full Bloomberg News report.
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An anti-corruption purge in Saudi Arabia in which 11 princes were arrested, the resignation of the Lebanese prime minister, and a perceived 'declaration of war' by Iran  just some of the news coming out of the Middle East in the last few days. CNBC explains what the tumultuous events in the region could signify.

Saudi Arabia purge

The most powerful regime in the Middle East surprised many at the weekend by conducting an anti-corruption purge among the highest levels of the establishment. The purge on Saturday was overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son and heir, who is leading a newly-created anti-corruption committee. Despite the royal origin of the crackdown, members of the Saudi royal family weren't spared. As well as four current, and scores of former, government ministers, as well as businessmen, being detained during the crackdown, 11 princes were among those arrested, including the billionaire nephew of King Salman, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

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Some analysts have viewed the purge as an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who has a reform agenda, to consolidate his power ahead of his ascension to the throne when his 81-year-old father King Salman abdicates, an event expected in the next few months. There is also the view that the crown prince has aimed to get rid of conservative rivals who might try to halt his plans for change in the country. In a signal that there could be more to come in Saudi Arabia's push against corruption, the country's chief legal advisor said Sunday that the crackdown was the completion of "phase one of our anti-corruption push." There are fears though that the crackdown could spook investors. Emad Mostaque, co-chief investment officer at Capricorn Fund Managers, told CNBC on Tuesday that there was a question mark over whether the crown prince could go too far. "He (Mohammed bin Salman) has been incredibly decisive at the moment in getting things sorted but the question is does he veer over the line and go beyond what the law says - which he, of course, can change - to overdoing it in terms of the crackdown?"

An 'act of war'

If Saudi Arabia wasn't busy enough with its corruption purge, on Monday the Kingdom accused Iran of being behind a ballistic missile attack carried out by Houthi militias in Yemen. The missiles were intercepted as they headed to the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia said.

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Condemning the missile launch, Saudi Arabia said Monday that its regional arch-rival Iran was to blame for what it called "flagrant military aggression," and that it had supplied the Houthi militias in Yemen with missiles. There is an ongoing civil war in Yemen, mainly between rebel Houthi militias and allied forces backing Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. However, the conflict is also something of a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and their competing ideologies of Sunni and Shia Islam, respectively. While Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia backs the government of President Hadi, its rival Iran backs the pro-Shia Houthi movement that is loyal to the country's former president Ali Abdulla Saleh. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince bin Salman was reported to have told British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in a phone call that his country considered the Houthi missile directed at Riyadh a "a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime" and said it "may be considered an act of war against the Kingdom," according to comments reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Lebanese prime minister resigns

The religious divergences and competition for influence in the Middle East has caused Saudi Arabia and Iran to back opposing sides, not only in Yemen but in Syria, Qatar and Lebanon. The latter is the latest country to become the epicenter of hostile relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

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Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a long-term Sunni ally of Saudi Arabia, surprised the world by resigning Saturday, citing assassination threats and blaming Iran for interference in Lebanon. He also criticized the growing dominance of Iran-backed Shia militia and political party Hezbollah, which was part of Lebanon's fragile coalition government that has now collapsed. Iran rejected Hariri's remarks, according to Press TV reports. Moody's ratings agency said in a note on Monday that Hariri's resignation "threatens to disrupt the fragile political balance in place" in Lebanon and that the resignation has occurred within the context of "an intensifying power struggle" between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Saudi Arabia sees war from Lebanon
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks as Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and other congressional Republicans listen during a press event on tax reform September 27, 2017 at the Capitol in Washington, DC.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell misspoke Tuesday when he said Senate Republicans would release their version of a tax-cut bill on Friday, a spokesman for him said.

It is not clear when exactly the chamber will release its tax plan. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, earlier told NBC News that the proposal would be released Thursday.

The Senate aims to mark up, or debate and amend, the legislation next week, McConnell also said Tuesday.

It is unclear how much the Senate plan will differ from one already proposed by House Republicans. The House is marking up its bill this week and could pass it as early as next week.

Republicans aim to pass legislation chopping tax rates by the end of the year.

The House bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, while moderately reducing household income tax rates. It changes some popular provisions such as the mortgage interest deduction, but leaves others like the 401(k) tax benefit unchanged.

GOP lawmakers are allowing for the bill to add up to $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade. But they argue that economic growth will boost tax revenues over time, making up for that gap.

McConnell on Tuesday said he "fully" anticipates the final bill will not lead to a federal revenue loss or even cause more money to go to the government. His comment came after Fitch Ratings estimated that the House plan would add "significantly" to the United States debt.

If the House and Senate pass separate bills, they would have to reconcile the plans in a joint conference committee.

 Update: This story has been updated to reflect that McConnell's spokesman said the senator misspoke about the proposal's release date.
The CEO of Qatar Airways has called on President Donald Trump to do more to end an economic blockade of his country.

Qatar is locked in a dispute with neighboring countries which has curtailed airspace rights over the nation. The airline's management predicts it will swing to a full-year loss as a result of the diplomatic standoff.

Speaking at the CAPA aviation conference in Singapore, Akbar Al Baker told CNBC Tuesday that the U.S. leader must act faster.

"President Trump is trying to do more, but I think he needs to do even more because he has given an undertaking to my ruler that he will solve the problem and he will solve it soon," he said.

"And we are depending on him," Al Baker added.

The airlines boss said the U.S. had a responsibility to protect Qatar.

"We are an American ally, you have a very large American community in my country. You have important assets and interests in my country. As Americans, you should never allow such a thing to happen to my country," he said.
U.S. stock futures were mixed this morning, but they do indicate a possible extension of 2017's remarkable run of record highs. The Dow has closed at a record high 57 times this year, with 52 for the S&P 500. (CNBC)

21st Century Fox (FOXA) shares were about 10 percent higher premarket after CNBC reported that it had been holding talks to sell most of the company to Disney (DIS). The talks had taken place over the last few weeks and there is no certainty they will lead to a deal.



* Amid deal talks, I'm closely watching Disney earnings: Portfolio manager (CNBC's Trading Nation)

* Here's how Disney's and Fox's assets stack up (CNBC)

Earnings reports out this morning include quarterly numbers from Crocs (CROX), Dean Foods (DF), and Emerson Electric (EMR). After-the-bell reports today include Blue Buffalo (BUFF), Fossil (FOSL), Marriott (MAR), and Match Group (MTCH). (CNBC)

The Labor Department is out with its September JOLTS (Job Opportunities and Labor Turnover) report at 10 a.m. ET, while the Commerce Department issues September consumer credit figures at 3:00 p.m. ET. (CNBC)
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The powerful Saudi crown prince's purge of royals and ministers this weekend could pave the way for improved business conditions in the kingdom, analysts say. However, it also risks plunging Saudi Arabia into chaos if it touches off a showdown in the sprawling royal family, they warn. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has framed the arrest of 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of officials this weekend as a crackdown on corruption. Others have a called it a power grab meant to smooth the way for the 32-year-old's widely anticipated rise to the throne and his bid to overhaul the Saudi economy. However, several Middle East watchers rejected an either-or explanation. Instead they say the roundup has elements of an anti-corruption drive, a consolidation of power and a populist appeal to average Saudis fed up with royal excess.

Ultimately there's a danger in consolidating policy into one single individual. When that individual is gone, then chaos cam reign supreme. Michael Rubin American Enterprise Institute Middle East scholar

Bin Salman is "trying to change the dynamic between politics and business in Saudi Arabia, centralize that in a way that's never been done before, and really show that the royal family is no longer immune to corruption charges in a way that they have been, really for the duration of their rule," Allison Wood, Middle East consultant at Control Risks Group, told CNBC Europe on Tuesday. More centralized decision-making could create greater certainty for international investors, said Michael Rubin, Middle East scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Rather than navigating a web of power centers run by thousands of princes, the business community would know exactly whose door to knock on, he said. Bin Salman "wants to reform the economy, to modernize it, and he doesn't want to deal with resistance. The question is, what happens if he fails? Then you could see a regression in Saudi Arabia that leaves it far worse than it is now," Rubin told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Monday. "Ultimately there's a danger in consolidating policy into one single individual. When that individual is gone, then chaos can reign supreme. We're at a very dangerous time for Saudi Arabia right now."

Investors likely to pause plans

It is also a time when Saudi Arabia is aggressively courting international investors. The kingdom is preparing to sell shares in state-owned Saudi Aramco, a tricky endeavor given the energy giant's notoriously opaque finances. The sale is the cornerstone of bin Salman's plan to expand Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and diversify its economy. Just last month, the country hosted a Future Investment Initiative conference that drew financial sector luminaries to the capital city of Riyadh. Those heavyweights included Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a billionaire investor often referred to as the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, who was among those swept up in the purge. In light of recent events, some investors may think twice about putting money to work in the kingdom in the near term, analysts say.

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"There'll be a concern about whether or not there's going to be stability in the kingdom or not, and that's going to raise questions about is this a good time to be investing?" said Dennis Ross, a diplomat who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations. The market should not expect Saudi Arabia to develop into a democracy any time soon, he said, but economic reform is a net positive for investors and stands to create a successful model of development that has been lacking in the Arab world. That absence is part of the reason extremist groups like the so-called Islamic State have flourished, added Ross, now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Bin Salman has vowed to return Saudi Arabia to "a more moderate Islam." A hard-line conservative interpretation has dominated the kingdom for decades. Modernization and economic reform give Islamic nations a way to counter radicalization in the digital world, said Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council. "Over the short term you're going to have a lot of investor nervousness ... but if this 32-year-old reformer stays in power, can actually change the kingdom ... he could be in power for 30, 40 years and this could be an amazing long-term play," Kempe told "Power Lunch."

Tackling Corruption

Still, the crackdown might have the opposite effect that bin Salman intended, according to Simon Henderson, director of the Washington Institute's Gulf and Energy Policy program. It could very well "scare the hell out of potential investors" who partner with the Saudis. In his view, the purge was indeed a "power grab" meant to sweep aside influential figures like Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, the former head of the National Guard and an opponent of bin Salman's swift rise to power. Bin Salman "needed to bypass Mutaib," Henderson told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Monday. "To accuse him of corruption is a neat way of doing it."

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While uncertainty stirred by the arrests will inevitably have an impact on investment, the main obstacle to doing business in Saudi Arabia is corruption, said Mohammed Alyahya, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. But prosecuting corruption will actually alleviate longer-term uncertainty and promote transparency, he said. The purge "stands to change a culture of corruption in the kingdom that can only be changed if a policy of cracking down on the bigwigs, if you like, without any half measures is embarked upon," he told "Squawk on the Street." Corruption is indeed endemic in Saudi Arabia, but the purge might not be the best way to deal with it, said Joseph Westphal, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President Barack Obama. Rather than rounding up royals, the Saudis could have better addressed corruption by reforming the country's judicial system. "I think as an investor I would want to make sure that I'm investing in a country where my corporate investment, my business is protected through some type of rule of law," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "I don't think that's there."
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are unlikely to survive long-term as governments scramble to regulate them, according to the chief executive of French banking giant Societe Generale .

Frederic Oudea said that, while he was a believer in distributed ledger technology  which allows data to be stored in enormous volumes across a secure network of computers  virtual currencies carry too much risk due to their anonymity.

"The benefit so far is it provides anonymity to the people who are making the transactions," Oudea told CNBC on the sidelines of the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday.

"I can't see a future of this when I see the attention played by all governments and regulators on anti-money laundering, on anti-tax evasion, on anti-terrorism financing. The anonymity of the transaction is a problem I think which would put pressure on bitcoin."

Societe Generale has itself experimented with a blockchain-based trade finance platform. But Oudea said: "I prefer to use the word distributed ledger technology and not blockchain."

Blockchain technology was originally created to serve as a digital log of all bitcoin transactions. But now companies are looking at other use cases of the technology.

Oudea said he was "not convinced" digital currencies would "see any development."

"I'm more a believer of a distributed ledger technology where you have a defined set of players (that are) well-identified," he said. "We choose this mix of crypto technology to secure transactions."
China's President Xi Jinping claps after his speech as he and other new Politburo Standing Committee members meet with the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 25, 2017. Jason Lee | Reuters

Trade tensions between the world's two largest economies are hot ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, with the American leader calling the U.S. trade deficit with China "embarrassing" and "horrible" last week. The comments follow trade-related disputes in recent weeks, highlighting friction between the two economic giants as they prepare to go to the negotiating table. There's just one problem: North Korea. "The key priority for the U.S. is to maintain good economic relations with China since the U.S. wants to strengthen joint co-operation with China to tackle the key geopolitical threat from North Korea's aggressive development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles program," Rajiv Biswas, chief economist for Asia Pacific at IHS Markit, told CNBC. That is why the U.S. has avoided taking "harsh trade measures" against China, he added. But there still have been some actions against Asia's largest economy.

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Last month, the Commerce Department acted on aluminum foil, imposing anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports. Beijing responded swiftly and strongly, saying it was "strongly dissatisfied" with a U.S. decision that was based on a "serious distortion" of facts. Still, selective duties like that are not the same as "blunt bilateral trade measures that could endanger the overall bilateral geopolitical relationship with China," Biswas added.

The trouble with tariffs

Indeed, punitive action on Chinese imports will complicate trade for the U.S. more than it will for the world's second-largest economy.

In the case of aluminum, "China has already been cutting back on supply in response to trade frictions with other countries as it had a lot of excess capacity for years," said Helen Lau, metals and mining analyst at Argonaut, a broker in Hong Kong. Now, most production  more than 90 percent  is kept at home for domestic use, she told CNBC. Also weighing on supply are efforts by the Chinese government to cut excess capacity and to clean up air pollution due to the use of coal in metal making.

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So the U.S. may institute additional tariffs, but that will do little to dent global market fundamentals for some products like aluminum. Instead, it would actually tighten supply in the U.S. and drive up prices for end-consumers as local products are more expensive  even though the move will achieve its political aim of appeasing domestic suppliers, said Lau. Against that complex backdrop, both countries are likely to seek a constructive relationship during Trump's state visit.

Trump to push for market access

China's state media is playing up Trump's visit positively, noting that the U.S. leader will be the first to visit President Xi Jinping after his re-election to the helm at the recent Communist Party Congress. The two leaders will "announce significant outcomes" on the trade and economic fronts, reported CGTN, the international arm of China Central Television, quoting the country's ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai. Rather than punitive measures like broad-based tariffs to curb Chinese imports, the U.S. is more likely to negotiate for better market access to the huge mainland market to narrow the trade deficit, said analysts. "Practically speaking, the goal for the U.S. side is to improve exports of the U.S. to China rather than necessarily reducing imports from China," said Jian Chang, Barclays chief China economist. China may already be paving the way for goodwill before Trump lands on its shores: China's Commerce Ministry recently said the country will lower tariffs and step up bank financing to support more imports and narrow its massive trade surplus, Reuters reported.

WATCH: Sec. Ross on China, Japan and protectionism
Bike riders and pedestrians land from ferries outside the Central Station in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Horacio Villalobos | Corbis | Getty Images

First came the Panama Papers, then the BahamasLeaks, and now it's the Paradise Papers. Journalists continue to shed light on and raise a public outcry over the offshore financial centers that corporations use to reduce their tax bill  something that is still being challenged in court. A recent study has now uncovered all the world's corporate tax havens and, for the first time, revealed the intermediary countries that companies use to funnel their money into these places. Published on July 24 in the academic journal Scientific Reports, the paper Uncovering Offshore Financial Centers: Conduits and Sinks in the Global Corporate Ownership Network shows that offshore finance is not the exclusive business of exotic, far-flung places such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom also play a crucial  although a heretofore obscure  role in the tax-avoidance game, acting as conduits for corporate profits as they make their way to tax havens.

What makes a tax shelter

Tax havens are a popular, legal and often secret instrument for multinational corporations to move capital across borders. By taking advantage of loopholes in various national legislations and placing operations in countries with low taxes, companies can reduce their tax rate from around 35 percent to 25 percent to 15 percent or lower. The United State Effective Corporate Tax Rate (1947-2011)

Silicon Valley companies have become expert at this tactic. Using a combination of subsidiaries in Ireland, the Netherlands and Bermuda to reduce its tax burden, Apple paid just 0.005 percent tax on its European profits in 2014, the European Comission reported. If multinationals' profits were accounted for where the economic activity takes place, they would pay a combined $500 to $650 billion more on taxes each year, according to estimates by the Tax Justice Network and the International Monetary Fund. Of this, around $200 billion a year would go to developing countries, which is more than they receive annually in development aid ($142.6 billion). Findings like this have put tax havens on the radar of U.S. and European regulators, but there's no broadly accepted definition of what makes a country an offshore financial center.

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Big data and network analysis

By bringing together political economists and computer scientists in the CORPNET research group at the University of Amsterdam, it became possible to study how corporations make use of particular countries and jurisdictions in their international ownership structures. The novel, data-driven network approach of our study shed light on how offshore finance flows across the globe. We looked not at country-level statistics but at detailed company data. By asking which countries and jurisdictions play a role in corporate ownership chains that is incommensurate with the size of their domestic economies, we were able to identify, for the first time, a complex global web of offshore financial centers. We analysed the entire massive global network of ownership relations, with information of over 98 million firms and 71 million ownership relations. This granular firm-level network data helped us to distinguish two kinds of tax havens: sinks and conduits.

Introducing sinks and conduits

New targets

Our findings debunk the myth of tax shelters as exotic far-flung islands that are difficult, if not impossible, to regulate. Many offshore financial centers are highly developed countries with strong regulatory environments. That means that targeting conduit OFCs rather than sinks could prove more effective in stemming tax avoidance. This realization may help European Union and the OECD officials, who have increased pressure on cracking down on tax avoidance since the 2008-2009 financial crisis (to modest effect), by helping regulators better tailor their policies. British Finance Minister Philip Hammond has speculated that the U.K. could become a European tax haven if the EU fails to offer it a good Brexit deal. But, in practice, the City of London is already a major offshore financial center. Of 24 sink OFCs, 18 have a current or past dependence to the U.K., including major tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Jersey. New territories with low or no corporate taxes are continuously emerging as sink OFCs, but, as our study shows, there are just a handful of conduit OFCs. Commentary by Javier Garcia-Bernardo, a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Amsterdam. Follow him on Twitter @javiergb_com. Commentary also by Eelke Heemskerk, an Associate Professor Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, Frank Takes, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Amsterdam and Assistant Professor at Leiden University, and Jan Fichtner, a Postdoctoral Researcher in Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. They are all contributors at The Conversation, an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.

WATCH: Ross responds to Paradise Papers
Job interviews are a bit like blind dates. You can spend hours stressing over the perfect outfit to wear, coming up with all the right things to say and trying your best not to sweat, but in the end, it's all about chemistry.



So imagine the nerves candidates felt when they arrived for an interview with Ariel Schur, head of executive search firm ABS Staffing, and found themselves sitting in a glass box in the heart of Rockefeller Center, with crowds of curious onlookers listening to every word as it's being broadcast over speakers.

"I had people bang on the door [and] throwing ... cashews at the window," said Lauren Sham, a candidate who braved the very public interview for a chance to land a recruiter position with ABS Staffing. "But, I just kind of ignored it."

Sham, along with 10 other hopeful candidates  some of whom were gunning for an HR role with mini-cupcake chain Baked by Melissa  arrived for an interview on an unseasonably warm November day in New York City prepared for the cameras and hordes of passersby. Still, navigating an "open interview" was something she and the other candidates had to deal with in the moment, to varying degrees of success.

"So I just did a public interview in a hot box on television and I'm feeling not terrible about it," said Nathan Figueroa. "I think I did pretty well. I tripped over my tongue a bit. I sped up a bit, but that's just ... I'm excited."

The glass interview box wasn't just some surprise twist ABS Staffing designed to push the candidates to their limits. This real-world stress test was all part of a promotional push for CNBC's upcoming reality show "The Job Interview," a voyeuristic look at the high stakes and embarrassing mistakes that can happen in actual job interviews.



The show, which debuts Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT is an unscripted peek into the interview process most every adult can relate to, featuring real people going on very real interviews, and dealing with all the flop sweat and cringeworthy faux pas that comes with the territory.

Which is why the premise of a public interview might have seemed too off-putting for other professionals. But Schur, who sat on display in the box for the better part of the day, took it all in stride.

"I'm actually surprised how unfazed I am, probably for a multitude of reasons," she said. "One, living in New York, you're constantly in the middle of a lot of craziness. So yes, this is, you know, in a box, literally; but at the same [time], it's a microcosm of what I often experience. So from that vantage point, it's not that crazy. "

Schur, a former psychotherapist turned entrepreneur, jumped at the opportunity to promote her staffing business while hunting for a new recruit in the midst of one of the busiest tourist destinations in the city.

"I have three children, so I'm used to people knocking on things and running around like crazy," she said. "So for me, I'm like, 'Oh, this is actually calm compared to when I'm at home trying to do some work.'"

And, in case you were wondering, amid the frenzied atmosphere and production crew encircling the glass box, Schur did end up selecting one of the candidates for the recruiter position. But you'll have to watch the clip above to find out which candidate stayed cool enough to seal the deal.

The series "The Job Interview" premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT
"More aggressive anti-Iranian hawks like bin Salman may have seen Donald Trump's election as an excuse to win the day over more dovish princes and ministers. And the White House seemingly gave Saudi Arabia a green light."

But the direct line to these more bellicose moves begins earlier than that and goes directly to the White House. While still deputy crown prince, bin Salman visited with President Trump in March of this year. During that meeting, they publicly declared Iran as the key regional security threat in the Middle East. That was step one.

Step two was President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia in May. That visit and the Saudi side of that agenda was arranged by bin Salman and was seen as a great triumph for him. The key message from the Trump visit wasn't that the 31-year-old now heir to the throne was good at event planning. The takeaway came from President Trump's green light to the Saudis to use new measures to crack down on terrorism in the Middle East. And the Saudis seem to be taking "terrorism" to specifically mean Iranian-backed terrorism and military forces.

Step three came almost exactly a month after that visit, when bin Salman was made crown prince.

Step four seems to have come in September, when bin Salman reportedly secretly visited Israel to discuss Iran and other potential cooperative measures. Neither country is officially acknowledging that visit took place, but at least one Israeli government source confirmed the meeting last month.

And now we're on the step five, which appears to be a combination of the purge to remove any possible internal hurdles towards a greater anti-Iranian push, and blatant protests against any real or perceived Iranian aggression.

There may be more intermediate steps to come, but we can all see where this is leading. A direct conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as opposed to the proxy war they're fighting in Yemen, looks inevitable.

Speaking of proxy wars, if that direct conflict happens would it make fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran a U.S. proxy war? The answer seems to be yes, especially when one connects the very clear and sequential dots listed above. The harder question to answer is whether such a war, proxy or not, can be avoided.

The fact is that Iran and the U.S. have been in a state of cold war for almost 40 years. Iran has done almost all of the killing during that period, in terrorist attacks carried out by Iran's proxies including Hezbollah and other armed groups who targeted U.S. troops during the war in Iraq.

But Saudi-Iranian hatred has been even more intense during this same period. They remain the two leading combatants in the centuries-old Sunni-Shia civil war for Islamic supremacy. Iran is the more powerful military player while Saudi Arabia has more cash and control of the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

Enter the last two American presidential administrations. First, the Obama team seemed to be giving Iran a major leg up by promoting the nuclear deal with Tehran and -- just as importantly -- working to end many economic sanctions and release up to $150 billion in frozen assets back to the mullahs.

Next, the Trump administration comes in vowing to either nix or radically modify that nuclear deal and bashing Iran in a way no other president ever has. More aggressive anti-Iranian hawks like bin Salman may have seen Donald Trump's election as an excuse to win the day over more dovish princes and ministers. And the White House seemingly gave Saudi Arabia a green light.

Whether the U.S. initiated this or the Saudis took advantage of a new administration, it's not clear where it goes next. Some kind of peace deal or cooperation agreement between the Saudis and the Iranians does not seem very likely. Remember, their dispute goes beyond and long predates America's involvement or seeming favoritism to either side.

But if full blown war breaks out directly between the two countries, it's hard to see the U.S. being able to sit it out without at least some form increased weapons support and other aid. Then it will be up to Iran's possible allies, like Russia and China to make the next move.

None of these scenarios are comforting. But it's important to avoid the naive thought that had President Trump and this new crown prince not come along, relative peace would have been sustainable for much longer. Instead of hand wringing about what may or may not speed up the inevitable, all reasonable parties need to figure out how to make sure two countries destined to confront each other like Iran and Saudi Arabia don't end up fighting a war more deadly and prolonged than what we've seen in Syria and Yemen for the past several years.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
"A trade war could be the final straw that leads Beijing to severely contain American corporate interests in China, if not close off the market altogether."

On both sides, economic hostility has been driven recently by accusations, counter-accusations, and ongoing investigations into China's practice of coercing American companies to hand over advanced technology and other intellectual property as a price for doing business. The U.S. Trade Representative's ongoing investigation into these shenanigans has illuminated the ways China's regulators railroad U.S. corporations. During open hearings in October, voice after voice recounted examples of American firms essentially forced into disadvantageous commercial arrangements with Chinese partners  the localization of customer data, software source codes, core intellectual property rights  because Chinese law often requires such provisions before regulators will grant operating rights.

Why do major American companies allow themselves to be perennially manipulated by the Chinese government into forgoing their hard-earned innovations? Because Beijing is masterful at playing one company against the other, and Chinese leaders know multinational corporations cannot resist the lure of China's consumers. Thus, companies compromise to gain access, for fear if they don't play ball someone else will.

China's government will only change its tune if all the private players team up to reject unfair market-access offers  and withhold their investments en masse. But U.S. firms are legally prohibited from and instinctively disinclined to collaborate with one another in their own defense. Private sector players will almost always seek to steal a march on their competitors, particularly if they can do so in such a way that blocks out rivals.

Back at home in the U.S., multinational corporations are concerned about the U.S. government's ability to address these and other challenges. The Trump administration and many in Congress appear increasingly determined to do something to change the status quo. But Washington pushing too hard could worsen the situation by triggering Chinese retaliation.

Adding to the complications, American multinationals also find themselves dealing with an administration focused more on investments inside the U.S. and less on supporting U.S. industry abroad. For example, negotiations over a U.S.-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) have gone moribund, despite a U.S.-China BIT arguably ranking as corporate America's top policy priority in the relationship. Moreover, many multinational corporations thought the Trans-Pacific Partnership would be a strong bulwark to help normalize China's trade and investment practices.

Despite the uncertainty on the U.S. side, America has more opportunity to push back on China's leaders than it did a decade ago. The days of China's double-digit growth figures are gone, permanently, making the risk of heightened tensions less dangerous for business than in the past. China is no longer a wonderland of easy growth and easy profits, so some leverage has shifted back to American negotiators. Additionally, China's investments abroad have skyrocketed  particularly in the U.S.  creating a mutual incentive for keeping doors open.

This week in Beijing, some pushing from the Trump side could help in cajoling China into improving market-access conditions for foreign companies. However, if threats and heated rhetoric turn into painful protectionist U.S. policies down the road, "face issues" for China would likely come into play and lead Beijing to institute retaliatory actions  step one towards a trade war. It behooves American business to ensure its voice is heard now and heard clearly, without the mixed messages of the past. In this way, the populist proposals kicking around Washington can be handled moderately, to help bring about positive change rather than a downward spiral.

Commentary by Steve Odland, CEO of the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board, and former CEO of Office Depot and AutoZone; and Ethan Cramer-Flood, Associate Director of The Conference Board's China Center.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion onTwitter.
President Donald Trump has said it makes sense for North Korea to "do the right thing" and discuss the possibility of giving up its nuclear weapons.

Speaking at a joint press conference Tuesday alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul, Trump said, "North Korea is a worldwide threat that requires worldwide action."

He added that it made sense for North Korea to "come to the table," and "do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world."

The U.S. president also called on China, Russia and other nations to "demand" an end to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic weapons programs, before adding, "It's time to act with urgency and with great determination."
The chief executive of Qatar Airways has continued his war of words with rival U.S. carriers.

American Airlines , Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have jointly alleged for some time that Qatar Airways, along with fellow Gulf carriers Etihad and Emirates, receive unfair subsidies.

Akbar Al Baker told CNBC Tuesday that those allegations were a smokescreen.

Speaking at the CAPA aviation conference in Singapore, he said: "The allegations they are making against us are nothing more than just to protect their own companies from the unions who now want, legitimately, for their members to get better pay because of the record profits that they are making."

Members of the Transport Workers Union have been protesting outside the Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters of American Airlines. The union said it was attempting to negotiate a new contract deal and prevent the airline from outsourcing work to cheaper foreign workers.

Al Baker said U.S. carriers should better look after their staff and consider following the Qatar Airways model of pay.

"You know when my staff make the airline get profit, they get a share of the profit and the same should be done by these three American carriers who are making record profits in the history of aviation," Al Baker said.
A floor crew pull steel pipe out of a natural gas well in the Barnett Shale of Fort Worth, Texas that is owned by Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

The American shale drillers that have upended the energy industry will capture much of the growth in oil demand in the coming years, OPEC forecasts in a new report.

But after years of booming U.S. production and flat output from OPEC, the tables will turn, the producer group says.

The forecast, released Tuesday, signals that OPEC believes its battle for oil-market share against U.S. shale will persist for years to come.

The U.S. shale revolution paved the way for a three-year oil price downturn that sent crude spiraling from more than $100 a barrel in 2014 to about $60 today. That has piled pressure on the oil-dependent economies of OPEC nations and forced a round of production cuts this year.

The forecast for oil demand looks stronger than it did last year, according to OPEC. The group's prognosticators raised their projections for oil demand in 2022 by 2.2 million barrels a day in this year's World Oil Outlook report.
The second day of the trading week will continue to dole out a new batch of corporate earnings.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Tuesday, as investors geared up for another big batch of earnings from major U.S. companies.

Traders work on the floor during the Snap Inc. IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, March 2, 2017, in New York.

Marriott , Blue Buffalo , Match Group , Lattice Semiconductor , Snap and Zillow are expected to publish corporate earnings after the bell.

In the data space, JOLTS data are due at 10 a.m. ET and consumer credit at 3 p.m. ET.

Looking to the political sphere, President Donald Trump has been continuing with his excursions abroad in Asia this week.

On Tuesday, Trump called upon the world to take action against the threats that North Korea pose, stating that the U.S. was prepared to use the full range of its military force to defend itself and allies, Reuters reported.

The incumbent's trip abroad is expected to showcase the president and the U.S.' commitment to established alliances and partnerships within Asia.

In central bank news, Federal Reserve's Vice Chair for Supervision Randal Quarles is set to deliver remarks at The Clearing House's annual conference in New York.

Current Fed Chair Janet Yellen is expected to be at the presentation of the Paul H. Douglas Award for ethics in government, set to take place in Washington. Yellen's latest speech comes hot on the heels of the October jobs data, FOMC meeting and news that Jay Powell will become chair of the U.S. central bank next February.
Waymo, formerly known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, is getting into the ride-hailing business, but with a twist. Sometime within the next few months Waymo will start offering the public rides in driverless Chrysler Pacifica minivans.



"The vehicles will be fully self-driving," said Waymo CEO John Krafcik. "So you have your own personal space where you can sit back and relax."



While Krafcik has yet to say exactly when Waymo's ride-hailing service will launch, the first metropolitan area where people will be able to order a Waymo is Phoenix, he said. The public will use an app to catch a ride just as they do for Uber and Lyft.



Initially, those ride-hailing companies may hardly notice Waymo. After all, Waymo has a small fleet of minivans and is just starting up in one city at first. By comparison, Uber dominates the ride-hailing industry, while Lyft is a distant second, though quickly adding customers around the country.



Second Measure, which tracks the ride-hailing industry by analyzing credit card data, estimates Uber has an about 70 percent share of the U.S. market, while Lyft is around 25 percent and other smaller services make up the remaining 5 percent.



Still, Waymo's corporate parent, Alphabet , has deep pockets and a strategy designed to leverage eight years of developing self-driving cars. While other tech firms, many automakers, some auto suppliers, as well as Uber and Lyft are also developing self-driving vehicles, Waymo is considered to be ahead of others when it comes to taking the driver out of car and having it operate safely on public roads.



"This technology has the potential to be transformative," said Krafcik before having reporters take rides in Waymo self-driving minivans at the firm's R&D facility southeast of San Francisco.



Is the public ready to be driven in a robo-taxi with nobody sitting in the front seat? Waymo believes the answer is yes. If there is problem or issue with the ride, passengers will be able to contact a Waymo operator by simply pressing a button in the back seat. They can also tell the car when to stop if they want to get out before the original destination.
Having a four-year college degree is generally regarded as a necessity to score a job in tech. But as the number of tech jobs has climbed, far outpacing the number of applicants, companies like IBM have turned to talent with non-traditional educational backgrounds.

With this drastic shortage of tech workers, the company is now focusing on skills-based hiring rather than credentials to fill these roles.

IBM's hiring practices are part of a larger trend in the industry. Tech companies like Intel and GitHub have also been seeking talent from other educational avenues, such as coding programs and high school partnerships, according to Fast Money.

In a USA Today column, the company's CEO Ginni Rometty explains that not all tech jobs require a college degree. As industries transform, she says, "jobs are being created that demand new skills  which in turn requires new approaches to education, training and recruiting."

These "new collar jobs," says Rometty, are becoming harder to fill. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 500,000 open jobs in tech- related sectors, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. A recent study by Code.org reports that as many as 1 million programming jobs will be unfilled by 2020.

To counter this, IBM's CEO says that the company intends to hire 6,000 employees by the end of this year, many of whom will have unconventional backgrounds.

"About 15 percent of the people we hire in the U.S. don't have four-year degrees," IBM's vice president of talent Joanna Daly tells CNBC Make It. "There's an opportunity to broaden the candidates to fill the skills gap."

In June, the company announced that it would be partnering with community colleges across the U.S. to better prepare more Americans for "new collar career opportunities."

For those who don't have a bachelor's degree, Daly says she likes to see hands-on experience and that you've enrolled in vocational classes that pertain to the industry you're applying to.

"I like candidates who have taken the initiative to learn these skills," she says. For example, she advises that you take a coding boot camp if you want to work online.

"Know about the area that you're applying for," says the HR exec, "and have a point of view about what we're doing."
MATTOON -- The City Council is scheduled tonight to consider appointing Deputy Chief Jason Taylor as chief of the Mattoon Police Department, effective Dec. 1.

The city's current chief, Jeff Branson, is set to retire from Mattoon and become the new chief of the Lake Land College Police Department. The college's current chief, Randy Ervin, is scheduled to retire on Nov. 30.

City Administrator Kyle Gill said Taylor has served as deputy chief for seven years and worked closely with Branson during this time. He said Taylor is fully aware of the administrative responsibilities for the department and has worked there for approximately 20 years.

"(Taylor) is going to be a good chief, that is for sure," Gill said. "It should be a pretty smooth transition."

In other matters, the council will consider authorizing the city to apply to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a loan. This loan would fund the construction of piping to connect the new combined sewer overflow satellite treatment facility along North Sixth Street to the existing sewer system on the north side of town.

Public Works Director Dean Barber reported in a memo that the IEPA loan is expected to be presented to the council for approval, along with a bid for the construction work, next summer when the city is ready to proceed with this project.

Gill said the loan of up $10 million from the IEPA will be paid off over the course of several years with sewer fund revenue. He said a similar loan agreement funded the construction of the satellite treatment facility. The IEPA mandated that the city construct this facility, which is designed to prevent untreated sanitary sewer water from overflowing into Riley Creek during rainfalls.

The council also is scheduled to consider a $32,772 change order for the recently completed construction of new sidewalks along both sides of Marshall from 25th to 32nd streets. The change order covers additional expenditures for the construction of wheelchair ramps, curb and gutter removal and replacement, additional sidewalk replacement, and driveway patching.

Gill said the city had planned to leave in place wheelchair ramps that were constructed in the last six years, but the state subsequently required that the city reconstruct these ramps to meet updated accessibility requirements.

The council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 208 N. 19th St.

Other proposed actions on the agenda include:

Approving the $33,346.78 payment to Vermeer Midwest for repairs to the citys tub grinder.

Authorizing agreements with the Coles County Regional Planning & Development Commission for up to $10,000 in technical assistance and up to $3,000 in Mattoon Revolving Loan Fund administration services from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30, 2018.

Approving a water adjustment in the amount of $1,020 for Tidal Wave Car Wash due to a water leak.

Giving notice to the Illinois Department of Transportation of the Celebrate Downtown parade on Dec. 1 to be sponsored by the city.

Amending the municipal code to update the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners.

The full agenda for tonight's meeting and related documents can be read online at http://mattoon.illinois.gov/government/citycouncil/city_council_meeting_2017_11_07.
Special Election on Tuesday

WHAT: Election on use tax ballot measures in Columbia, Harrisburg, Ashland and Boone County

WHEN: Tuesday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: You can find your polling location on the website of the Boone County Clerk or by calling the Clerk at 573-886-4375.

DETAILS: You'll need to bring a photo ID to the polls. Acceptable IDs include a drivers license or military ID, or a secondary ID such as a paycheck or bank statement. For more information see the website of the Missouri Secretary of State.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: The ballot language for the four use tax measures varies slightly. Here's the language of each.

Boone County:

Proposition U

Shall the County of Boone impose a local use tax on out-of-state purchases at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently one and three quarters percent (1.75%), provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year. The purpose of the proposal is to eliminate the current sales tax advantage that non-Missouri vendors have over Missouri vendors.

City of Columbia: Proposition 1

Shall the City of Columbia, Missouri impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently two percent (2%), provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) in any calendar year.

City of Ashland: Question

Shall the City of Ashland, Missouri impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently two percent (2%), provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year.

Town of Harrisburg: Proposition One

Shall the Town of Harrisburg, Missouri be authorized to impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate by a vote of the governing body, provided that if the local sales tax rate is repealed, reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be repealed, reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by persons whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year. Rejection of this measure will result in an inability to collect revenue on purchases from internet-based vendors and therefore places Harrisburg vendors at a competitive disadvantage to internet- based vendors.
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
During the last three months, my geographically diverse network of contacts, who represent over 15 vertical markets, has increasingly voiced concern that the management teams at many very visible global institutions appear to have lost their way with regards to creating value with IT. Some have forgotten critical lessons learned during ITs formative years.

I asked the high performers in my network what they thought organizations needed to do to get back on track toward building an Ideal IT organization  an organization capable of delivering the full potential value of the digital technologies that define modern existence.

Three imperatives emerged: bring ITs leaders into the inner circle of leadership, make information security a top-level concern, and recognize the centrality of technology in modern life and the modern enterprise.

Digital excellence

A companys board of directors defines the far edge of the potential value IT can create: A great board expands the value envelope, while a poor board reduces it. In other words, a great board is digitally competent. Unfortunately, there is a shocking lack of digital competence seated on boards of publicly traded companies today.

Show me a board that does not have at least two rock-star CIOs the caliber of Becky Blalock (former CIO at the Southern Company), H. James Dallas (former CIO at Medtronic and Georgia Pacific), Cheryl Smith (former CIO at West Jets and McKesson), Gary King (former CIO at T-Mobile and Chicos), Jody Davids (currently CIO at PepsiCo) and Bruce Barnes (formerly CIO at Nationwide Financial Services), and I will show you an organization that is under-delivering on the promise of IT and exposing stakeholders to unnecessary digital risk.

The IT industry is chock-a-block full of high-quality senior executives who simultaneously think strategically, understand technology and are sensitive to the operating realities of making high-value technology change happen. But most of them do not currently sit on the boards of publicly traded companies. Why is this?

Every company needs to examine that situation and carefully review the process whereby board members are selected. Sadly, it seems that, with regard to the makeup of its board of directors, a company needs to be sued or have one of its executives go to jail before real change starts to happen. Maybe we need to start suing the search firms that recruit board members.

[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]

Digital responsibilities

In the information age, every organization is essentially in the data business. Data is a big and a very lucrative business (e.g., at Equifax the gross margin on many data products is 90%). But not every organization recognizes the top-to-bottom, existential security responsibilities associated with being in the data business.

Senior managements responsibility for digital security was once thought to begin and end with making sure that the security budget was high enough. That was never truly enough, of course, and it turns out it wasnt really anything. Increasingly, the security experts I talk say they have concluded that it is not so much how much you spend as it is how smart you spend.

A 2017 survey by KPMG LLP showed that U.S. CEOs ranked cybersecurity as their top investment focus over the next three years. Well, good for them. But whats really important to realize is that responsibility for digital security is pervasive. Even though CEOs, CIOs, CISOs and board members are losing their jobs over security missteps, the concept that responsibility for a firms digital assets is not really their responsibility persists. Take note: If you use data  and everyone uses data  you are responsible for digital security.

Capital One Financial Corp. has announced the sort of program needed today to spread that sense of shared responsibility. The Tech College project will train thousands of employees on more than a dozen technology disciplines, including cybersecurity.

Digital workloads

Digital technology has become ubiquitous. Randy Mott, the CIO at GM, recently told The Wall Street Journal, Years ago, only 10% of a company would use technology. Today its 100%. At the same time, ITs reach has extended. Customer experience, once thought to be the sole preserve of the marketing department, is now materially impacted by IT.

The centrality of IT and the influence of IT as a result of it mean that predictions about the hollowing out of IT are ungrounded. Pundits outside my network bemoan the 40% decline in IT employees because of automation and use of the cloud. But those are jobs associated with KTLO (keeping the lights on), which will indeed decline or even disappear. It is perhaps paradoxical that despite the exponentially increasing capabilities of machines, every vertical market has experienced a rapid expansion in the types of IT tasks needed to be performed effectively and efficiently. The detailed, hands-on technical work associated with machine maintenance will expand.

At this point, we all know that every organization needs a cloud strategy (and having a cloud strategy is different from just being in the cloud). Via what combination of competence and process will cloud decisions be made? Will there be a chief cloud officer overseeing the relationships with multiple cloud providers?

And every organization will use algorithms, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics. GE CIO Jim Fowler told colleagues at the fall 2017 conference of the Open Networking User Group (ONUG), Machines are telling people what to do more than people are telling machines what to do. Algorithmic excellence and A.I. mastery will be foundational elements of organizations hoping to realize the full potential value of IT.

Getting to full value

Historically, IT has appeared on the cost side of the income statement. Increasingly, it is appearing on the revenue side as it takes an expanded role in new product/service development and revenue generation. As an example, take Bridgestone, which is developing new sensing technology allowing tires to provide information on surface conditions while traveling.

Or consider that most manufactured equipment sold today comes complete with digital tools providing ongoing services that monitor equipment in real time to optimize for maintenance, repairs or upgrades  creating an entirely new revenue stream.

There has never been a time when ITs potential for adding value has been higher. With a digitally competent board of directors, a security-savvy workforce and appropriate investments in new competency areas such as cloud and algorithms, the future for IT is bright indeed.
Cllr John Moss is Chairman of Chingford & Woodford Green Conservative Association, a councillor in Waltham Forest and a former Parliamentary Candidate.

Councils across England have sold several thousand properties under the new Right to Buy which started in 2012. Many of them havent built a single home with the money and have simply handed it back to the Treasury, with interest, after three years of it sitting in their bank accounts doing nothing.

This is because of regulations covering what councils can do with the money they receive. The most onerous of which limits the percentage of funding for a new home that can come from Right to Buy receipts to just 30 per cent of the total cost. So, a 200,000 build cost needs 140,000 to be found from other sources. George Osbornes one per cent cut in all social rents from 2016 made this even harder to achieve  because rising rents were helping to bridge that funding gap  and several plans were shelved as a consequence.

This is all because of a perceived political imperative that the home sold has to be replaced. Thats nonsense. The one sold has somebody living in it, it cant be occupied by anybody else. So even if you had to sell three properties to build one, that one is a new, additional property available to house somebody.

But what if you could sell one home and build two with the money?

Here goes:

Sell one property under Right to Buy. Almost everywhere there is an affordability problem and even with the maximum discount, you will probably have enough cash to build a new one. Find a piece of council land where two properties can be built, like an old unused block of garages or a bit of infill land on an existing estate (all those shelved projects!) Build one to sell at build cost + 10% (low-cost home ownership anybody?) retaining an equity stake equivalent to the land value, but charging no rent on that. Use that cash to build the second home and rent that one out.

What is really good about this idea is that those regulations can be changed in weeks. This doesnt need legislation, it just needs political will. This could be in place by April 2018, old plans could be dusted off and this could give London Conservatives a huge boost for the elections next year.

The buyers of those low-cost homes should be entitled to buy the remaining equity with their own version of Right to Buy. They should build up a discount over time which is applied each time they buy an additional share. As the value of the retained share will be rising relative to the value of a home, not just a piece of land, councils will do very well out of this
James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. The focus of this column is Theresa Mays conservatism for ordinary working people.

Those working in Westminster and Whitehall consider themselves to be at the centre of national life  and that whatever happens there takes on huge significance for the population at large. And so the sexual harassment scandal unfolding within Westminster is portrayed as a national crisis, with the public watching in horror as their elected representatives are shown to be capable of morally reprehensible and even criminal activity. In reality, this attitude seems unlikely in the extreme.

This is absolutely not to belittle the nature of allegations, many of which are dreadful and for which people are being rightly held to account  either through the law or the court of public opinion. But whats a genuine and real scandal for those that work in, or comment on, Westminster politics, is likely to be seen as unsurprising by much of the public. Such is the contempt many voters have for Westminster, few seem destined to change their views on the British political scene by all this. After all, its not as if voters believe most politicians are more honourable and admirable people than the rest of us. Quite the opposite.

When I moderated focus groups around the time of the MPs expenses scandal, it was shocking how little the scandal affected what people thought about politicians, Westminster and the political process more broadly. In practically every group I recruited and ran, people made clear they always viewed politicians as selfish, out of touch and on the take  and the expenses scandal merely confirmed what they already knew. While the reality of life in Westminster changed as a small number of MPs faced criminal charges, and as some faced deselection and internal rules were changed, there was no major shift in public opinion, as public respect and trust was already at rock bottom.

What was true for expenses looks set to be true for sexual harassment. While the most recent polls were undertaken early in the course of this scandal, the polls show headline views on politics havent changed. According to Ipsos MORI, who polled between 27th October and 1st November, after Jared OMara was suspended by Labour, voting intention by party hasnt moved, the party leaders ratings havent moved and the Governments ratings havent moved either. It will be interesting to see if the next polls reveal any change, although it seems unlikely.

While this lack of movement in the headline polls is surely a reflection on the contempt with which politicians are held (and the fact that bad behaviour appears to be evenly spread between the parties), it might also reflect the fact that sexual harassment is something that a very large number of women have direct, personal experience of. A YouGov poll conducted between 18th and 20th October showed around half of women have this direct, personal experience. With this in mind, it will not be a shock to voters that Westminster, run as it is by people they dont trust or respect, has a problem with it.

The parties have a legal and moral duty to deal with harassment where it appears. But does all this mean, as it stands, that its not important politically or electorally? No. The useful polling evidence that has surfaced since the scandal not only suggests that many women have experienced (often regular) harassment in their lives, but that younger and more professional women seem more concerned about it. This strongly suggests that the issue is going to become more important in the future, not less.

But in dealing with the issue, the parties, Government and Parliament need to consider two issues. Firstly, they should be wary of obsessing about what goes on in Westminster, rather than focusing on the issue in the country at large. People will expect wrong-doers in politics to be punished appropriately, but leading an existential conversation on harassment at Westminster will strike many as odd. People dont hold Westminster up as any sort of beacon.

Secondly, as they set out legal and cultural responses to harassment, they need to find a way to deal with the divide that exists in peoples experiences and perceptions about what constitutes harassment. Voters are united in condemning the most serious harassment. But there are huge differences between older and younger women on what constitutes harassment and unwelcome behaviour, with younger women more likely to view behaviour as being unwanted, and also huge differences between professional and non-professional women on whether theyve been harassed, with professional women much more likely to say theyve been harassed. Blanket condemnation of what younger women view as unacceptable will cause problems with older voters who dont share their views. And discussing harassment as if its ubiquitous will not chime with all women. They must keep this in mind as they take action against those in Westminster.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Small town fire departments are concerned at how Bill 148 may impact volunteer fire services.

While most are familiar with the impact Bill 148 will have on minimum wage, it is also expected to increase on-call pay for firefighters and other emergency workers.

As it currently stands, municipalities have control over their on-call pay, which varies between different townships. The the new legislation would see volunteer firefighters paid a minimum of three hours per day, regardless of whether they were responding to a call.

While three hours has been the longstanding minimum to accommodate for volunteers full-time jobs, North Glengarry Fire Chief, Patrick Gauthier says imposing the minimum is a problematic solution.

Paying people to be on stand by is at face value, not bad idea, said Gauthier. The problem is that implementation so abruptly would take the wage budget and multiply it by six.

Gauthier says that while North Glengarrys volunteer firefighters earn slightly more on average, they are currently only paid by the hour.

Our concern is whether or not this is actually affordable, said Gauthier. There has been some discussion about next steps, but right now, were just in a wait and see mode.
The Norwegian Joy only has a handful of sailings left in 2017, but for cruises from Nov. 2 to Dec. 31, Norwegian Cruise Line is now offering free WeChat to all passengers aboard the new vessel.

WeChat is a Chinese social media mobile application used by some 963 million monthly active users.

Norwegian said in a recent marketing promotion in China that the WeChat incentive would allow free use of photos and text messaging, but would not include voice or video, which carry an extra charge.

This marketing blitz follows an aggressive push toward Chinese families in October.

In addition, the company is offering guests booking specific suite categories on the Joy free dining packages that include most of the ships specialty restaurants.

December deployment for the Shanghai-based Joy includes a five-night cruise with a single call to Okinawa on December 3.

This is followed by a six-day sailing calling in Fukouka and Nagasaki. After that, its a five-day cruise on Dec. 12 with a single call to Fukuoka, which is followed by a Dec. 16 sailing calling to Nagasaki and Fukouka.

On Dec. 21, the company is sailing a five-day cruise to Nagasaki, followed by the Christmas voyage, departing on Dec. 25 and calling in Osaka, Kochi and Hiroshima.

The ship sails again for six days on Dec. 31 to celebrate the New Year, with calls to Nagasaki and Fukuoka.
The 12th China Cruise Shipping Conference and International Expo continued on Tuesday in Sanya with a full conference program, focusing on shipbuilding, tailoring the product to the local consumer, the supply chain, human resources, port development and more.

Tuesday Notebook:

Fabrizio Ferri, CEO China, Fincantieri said it's key to have a rock solid supply chain in the world of cruise ship building.

That has led to the shipyard group's deal in China to build a so-called industrial park in Shanghai, where Fincantieri will encourage its supplier network to enter the local market.

This will not only support the company's joint venture with Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), but also allow European suppliers an opportunity to enter the Chinese market.

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"We are working with Fincantieri. They are in charge of the construction (of the ships) and are sending a large team of experts to China," said Zhaoben Zhang, vice chairman, CSSC.

"After that, we are working with Carnival (Corporation) as partners, as co-owners. Our joint venture will be operated by Carnival , this is the business model.

"We are working to replicate the technology of the Western world and to localize it," Zhang said.

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"The Chinese cruise industry is at a strategic bottleneck," said Yi Sun, board member, On the Coast of Electric Energy Technology, which is involved in various cruise projects ranging from consulting to shorepower.

"There is a very simple product mix. Many international companies are here but their products are similar. The only difference is the names," Sun continued. "Customers do not recognize the difference between the companies even when onboard. The products and itineraries are similar and the price war is everywhere."

Sun said most cruise companies were offering an international product with a Chinese flair, which will not help the market grow in the long-term.

"Imposing the European lifestyle onto the Chinese consumer will result in failure," he noted.

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"Your supply chain is critical, and the robustness of it is critical," commented Paul R. Nichols, lead specialist marine, Lloyd's Register.

He said the main challenge for shipbuilding in China is the fact the world is watching.

"If the first one or two come out and are not as good as they should be or are delayed or late, people will lose confidence," he added.

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For a newbuild cruise ship, a set of key suppliers is critical, accounting for up to 80 percent of the newbuilding process, said Eero Makinen, advisor to Meyer Werft.

"The critical role of specialized suppliers is not fully understood and will likely be appreciated only through trial and error," noted Makinen, talking about the potential to build cruise ships in China.

Makinen said that previous China events had been "positive without limits but today the situation is somewhat different."

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China is not a new market for ABB, said Marcus Hogblom, vice president of global sales for cruise. Not only does the company have 250 marine staff in China, it has production and service staff in the market for any needs that may arise.

He said that many cruise ships that are being currently under construction feature ABB generators that were manufactured in a Chinese factory.

"We can service ships remotely, locally, or abroad," said Hogblom.

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"Chinese cruise companies will be ordering cruise ships overseas," said Paul Ho, head of China practice, Ince & Co., a maritime law firm.

Ho said the firm is representing a Chinese firm that is currently in negotiations with a European shipyard on a cruise order.

Ince & Co. represents various Chinese yards, and Ho said there was no shortage of activity in potential cruise projects.

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The 13th China Cruise Shipping venue and date will be announced in early 2018, with an event expected at a major Chinese homeport in October.

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For insight and in-depth analysis of the Chinese cruise market, download the 2018 China Market Report.

About the 2018 China Market Report

The 2018 China Market Report by Cruise Industry News is the only resource covering the future trajectory of the Chinese and Asia-Pacific cruise industry, presenting the past, present and future in a concise 95-plus page PDF download.

It is the only forward looking and independently-researched data available on the Chinese cruise market.

Cruise Industry News profiles all the major cruise lines operating in Asia, from Carnival Corporation to Royal Caribbean and local operators.

In addition, there are discussions with leading Chinese travel agents about the charter model and pricing trends, port news and updates from across the region, and a look at the fleet of ships in Asia through 2027.

There is also exclusive analysis and statistics of the Asia-Pacific market going back to 1998 and supply projections through 2027, in addition to a break-down of Asia-Pacific and China by operator and market capacity. Click here to learn more.
Lindblad Expeditions today announced that it has signed an agreement with Norway's Ulstein to build a new 138-passenger expedition vessel.

The contract price is $134.6 million, with 20 percent due up front, according to a statement.

The delivery deadline is Jan. 21, 2020, with the potential for a so-called "accelerated" delivery as soon as Nov. 18, 2019.

The new vessel will be built in Ulsteinvik, Norway and is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2020, with an option for two additional ships to be delivered in subsequent years, according to a statement.

The state-of-the-art polar vessel has been designed as the ultimate expedition platform with a focus on safety and comfort, as well as incorporating innovative sustainability solutions to reduce its environmental impact, said Lindblad.

A core feature is Ulstein's signature X-BOW, a distinctive bow that provides fuel efficiency while significantly improving guest comfort in rough seas; and a very high ice class for access deep into polar regions.

The ship's expanded fuel and water tanks provide for extended operations in remote areas; while the zero-speed stabilizers will ensure stability underway, whether at zero speed when stopped for wildlife observation, or embarking/disembarking the ship.

"We are incredibly excited to be working with Ulstein and their brilliant team of engineers and designers on this state-of-the-art vessel as we continue expansion of our fleet. It is the next step in the long-term growth of the company, and will be the most extraordinary global expedition ship in the world on a multitude of levels," said Sven Lindblad, President and CEO of Lindblad.

"The launch of this ship will mark the 50th anniversary year of the first-ever purpose-built expedition ship, Lindblad Explorer, which was built by my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, and will set another important milestone in the company's commitment to deliver expedition travel at its best," added Lindblad.
The top stakeholders in the Gujarat Assembly elections are set to visit Surat in the span of the ongoing week. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed the last rally of the third phase of his Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in Surat's Varachcha area and announced that he will spend the anniversary of the demonetisation drive - November 8 - in the city. Incidentally, Amit Shah will also be campaigning in the diamond hub at the same time.

PM Narendra Modi has already done a road show in Surat and is likely to be back soon. So what makes the city crucial in the context of the Assembly elections? Why are both Congress and BJP going all out to hold rallies here? Why are political pundits calling Surat the deciding factor? Well, the identity of the city itself is the reason behind the political importance the city has assumed in the run-up to the battle of Gujarat.

Demonetisation, GST and the Patidar reservation are the most important election issues in the state today. Known as a diamond hub and the biggest textile market in the country, Surat also has a strong Patidar presence. These three issues may appear different, but in Surat they are interwoven and interconnected.

Amit Shah's campaign in Surat is set to clash with Rahul Gandhi's rally in the city. Photo: PTI

40 percent of the country's manmade fabric is from the city of Surat. The daily turnover is in the tune of 1,000 crores. From a small loading labourer to a millionaire, the textile industry in Surat touches almost every household of Surat directly or indirectly. More than the buzzing markets, small and medium textile units, power looms or value addition units like embroidery works, dyeing and printing etc form a large part of the textile industry. These units were the worst-hit during demonetisation. And just as they were limping back to normalcy, they received a body blow by GST. The journey of the final textile product goes through 27 different procedures. For the smaller and relatively less educated who run small businesses, the structure of the tax reform was too complicated to comprehend. This led to a double whammy and hence Surat became the epicentre of protests against demonetisation and GST.

The story isn't different for the diamond industry. With an annual import of 1 lakh crore and export of 1.48 lakh crore, the industry has seen a decline of 18 percent in the last one year. With close to 6,000 cutting/polishing units, the industry is responsible for the direct employment of 5 lakh people. While there is an exemption in the IGST, the diamond industry is unhappy about the 3 percent GST on business-to-business transactions.

Although these problems have been in the public domain for some time, what makes them politically relevant today is the fact that the Patidar community is a major stakeholder in both the businesses. According to a rough estimate, 70 percent of the small textile units are linked to the Patidars while a similar number or more are associated with them in the diamond industry.

The community that was already up in arms against the government demanding reservations suffered on the economic front owing to two of the BJP-led Centre's major reforms.

The BJP has all the 12 Assembly seats in its pocket today. But will it be able to repeat its electoral feat is the big question. Rahul's rally in Varachcha could also be seen as an indicator. In last two decades, this was the biggest crowd a Congress rally had seen. The Patels have been a strong and defendable vote bank for the BJP. And it's not just Varachcha - even Kamrej, Karanj, North Surat and Katargam Aasembly seats have a strong Patidar presence. The problem for the BJP is that a significant number of affected parties are Patidar - a politically dominant caste fighting for reservation is also impacted as a business community. And that's what makes Surat the symbol of the entire battle for Gujarat.
The annual climate change talks have begun in Bonn, Germany. The meeting is supposed to draw a framework of rules for the Paris Agreement, which had set the target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century compared to the preindustrial revolution levels. While this broad agreement was reached in Paris, countries did not agree on how they will achieve this ambitious goal.

The meeting in Bonn is supposed to work out a rulebook or plan to do this. It is going to be a contentious round of talks as usual, with developing and developed country blocks taking divergent positions. And the backdrop would be the Trump administrations decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

If the temperature rise has to be capped, global emissions have to be addressed. For this, internationally accepted standards will have to be developed on measuring which country is emitting how much. Along with this, countries have to agree on a set of rules for measuring their emissions as well as actions to reduce those emissions after 2020.

On top of all this, diplomats will have to grapple with the US position questioning the agreement in Paris itself. Overall, the thrust of the talks will be on actions after 2020. So, if you are expecting a series of steps to save the globe from impacts of climate change at the end of the two-week talks, you will be disappointed.

The question is: Can the world afford to wait for negotiators to come up with a possible set of actions to be implemented after 2020? What happens between now and 2020? Will it be ethically right not to take any action, when the impact of climate change is already being felt in several countries?

Temperatures are rising locally in many regions of the world, rainfall patterns have drastically changed and agricultural productivity has taken a hit, affecting farmers. While mountain communities are the worst hit, the impact is also being felt in other regions. In India, for instance, in three districts of Meghalaya  West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills  the temperature rise is projected to be 1.8 to 1.9 degrees from 2021-2050.

In other parts of the state, the rise will be between 1.6 and 1.7 degrees. Similar projections have been made for other states in the Indian Himalayan Region. This region has already started feeling the impact of rising temperatures and erratic rainfall on their livelihoods. Farmers in Mizoram have been forced to take to exotic species such as dragon fruit, which are heat tolerant and can be grown at up to 40 degrees.

The production of muga silk is shifting from Assam to Mizoram as silkworms are not able to survive the rising temperature in Assam.

Elsewhere in the country, the rising frequency of extreme weather events is affecting productivity and increasing climate risk for farmers in vulnerable areas.

Its time urgent steps are taken for adaptation, rather than wait for steps to reduce emissions which may be several decades away. The impact of climate change is here and now.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A former Sullivan and Charleston resident, Jerry Ginther writes a column the first Tuesday of each month in the JG-TC with his remembrances of years gone by in Charleston, Sullivan and the area.

Of course the turkey is part of the meal, but not all of the meal. And, the day is not all about eating the meal. What else takes place on this national holiday in America? Ill throw in a few extra features associated with the day that we are pleased to call traditions.

One of the largest parades in America, known as the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, begins the celebration in New York City at 9 a.m. It originates at 77th Street and Central Park West and terminates at Herald Square and 34th Street at approximately noon. Each year thousands of spectators line the parade route, and millions more watch by television to view this parade as it makes its way through the city. With its impressive floats, marching bands, and helium filled balloons floating several stories in the air, it has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition since 1924.

I said in last years column that Thanksgiving Day is an American tradition because it has been observed since colonial times. Our decor still includes napkins and tablecloths with images of turkeys, pilgrims and pumpkins. However, it was observed nationally by presidential proclamations until 1941. In November of that year, President Roosevelt signed a bill establishing the fourth Thursday as the official Thanksgiving Day for America.

We are aware that there are turkeys that do not meet up with the hatchet, and therefore do not become part of the Thanksgiving Day meal. This is not merely because of a huge surplus of fat turkeys. No, its because of another special celebration that does include the turkey, but not as the main course of the meal. Each year the president of the United States pardons at least one turkey that will live out his natural life, usually on a petting farm. Now, as I recall, none of the turkeys or chickens that we had for Thanksgiving, or even Sunday dinner, were ever considered for pardon, except by me. As a boy I tried hard to save a few of my feathered friends by hiding the hatchets and axes, only to surrender them due to threats of disciplinary action if I should persist in withholding the necessary hardware.

There was yet another tradition, not often mentioned nowadays, that took place near the end of the meal. Usually, a couple of youngsters would take the pulley bone, also known as the wish bone, and each would pull the y shaped bone from opposite sides until it broke. The person who ended up with the long side of the break got to make a wish.

Then, there are the songs we have associated with this day for many decades. When we were kids we would sing, "Over the River and Through the Woods." You well know the line, To Grandmothers house we go. And, most of us did go to Grandmothers house for the day. It was always an exciting time, getting to see so many folks that we did not see often during the year. Now, I may be wrong, but I dont recall invitations being sent out; it seemed to be a perpetual, open invitation. Of course, the invitation may have been included in the parting goodbyes from the previous year, such as, Yall come back to see us next year! Regardless of who showed up, they were welcome.

As the title suggests, it isnt all about the meal regardless of the splendid preparations. It is a day of family gathering and thanksgiving, which seems so much a part of our American fabric. The name of the day proclaims its purpose as does the hymn, "We Gather Together." It has been sung traditionally for this holiday as far back as I can remember. It rings so appropriately as the first line begins, We gather together to ask the Lords blessing. So, let us not forget the very important tradition of giving thanks to our Creator for our many blessings.
Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the hospitality industry. The companys portfolio is concentrated in upper upscale, full-service hotels across the US. The portfolio strategy seeks to optimize total returns by maximizing the value of new acquisitions while paying dividends over time. The company boasts a geographically diversified portfolio of dominant branded full-service hotels. Ashford Inc externally advises Ashford Hospitality Trust.

Ashford Hospitality Trust is the culmination of decades of real estate experience dating back to the 1960s. Now based in Dallas, TX, the company was founded and went public in 2003. The company is geared to withstand the ups and downs of the hospitality and hotel cycles. The company is committed to disciplined capital market activities, has a successful transaction track record, and brings value-added asset management to the table.

Ashford Hospitality Trust is guided by five principles that best describe the company. These are Ethical, Innovative, Profitable, Engaging, and Tenacious and all key components of its reputation for integrity.

The companys portfolio is well-diversified across brands and includes but is not limited to Courtyard, Crown Plaza, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton, Marriot, Ritz-Carlton, and Sheraton. Properties are located in 25 of the 50 US states and Washington, D.C. targeting the top 25 markets in the nation. The company also owns a number of private and boutique names as well.

Ashford Hospitality Trust was founded by Monty J. Bennet who is the Chairman of the Board as well as Chairman, CEO, and President of Ashford, Inc which also trades on the NYSE. Mr. Bennet has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry including owning and operating major hotels.
Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Manufacturing, U.S. Manufacturing, and Retail segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen and heavy oil in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. This segments Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise, and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster thermal and conventional heavy oil assets The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, Clearwater, and Rainbow Lake operating in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as interests in various natural gas processing facilities. The offshore segment engages in the exploration and development activities. The Canadian Manufacturing segment includes the owned and operated Lloydminster upgrading and asphalt refining complex, which upgrades heavy oil and bitumen into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, and other ancillary products, as well as owns and operates the Bruderheim crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants. The U.S. Manufacturing segment comprises the refining of crude oil to produce diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other products. The Retail segment consists of marketing of its own and third-party refined petroleum products through retail, commercial, and bulk petroleum outlets, as well as wholesale channels. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
100 years ago, Nov. 7, 1917

MATTOON -- Henry Gibler, the well-known painter-musician, has been named Mattoon's new chief of police, succeeding C.O. Lawson, who recently became deputy sheriff. Mr. Gibler was given the appointment by Mayor Swan at the Mattoon City Council meeting last night. The vote on confirmation was unanimous... MATTOON -- The new Illinois Central Railroad passenger station is nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy in a month or six weeks. The building and its extras represent an expenditure of $120,000. Work on the new passenger station was begun about a year ago. Half of the new roundhouse building will be completed soon. This building and its extras will probably cost $110,000. There are to be 14 engine stalls. The new turntable will be 85 feet long, large enough to handle the biggest of the Illinois Central's engines... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The big heart that is packed under the olive-drab blouse of Army Capt. G.W. Bliss, Company G, 334th Infantry, bids fair to become as hard as a kiefer pear. And all will be chargeable to the grandmothers of the men stationed at Camp Taylor. The number of those old ladies who die every Friday has the captain's soul swathed in sorrow. He says Company G has more grandmothers than any other outfit in camp. One soldier already has lost six grandmothers since he came here in September. Yesterday, Capt. Bliss walked into regimental headquarters with a stack of telegrams for soldiers who were asked for weekend leave to attend a grandmother's funeral. The telephone rang and Capt. Bliss was called to the telephone where one soldier's sister asked that her brother come home at once because grandmother was very ill. "I'm sorry miss," the captain interrupted, "but there are 11 other grandmothers who have precedence over your brother's grandmother."

50 years ago, 1967

MATTOON -- the city manager form of government or some variation is needed for Mattoon to achieve its growth and progress potential. So stated Frank Ronchetti, president of the Mattoon Association of Commerce, at the organization's annual dinner last night. Ronchetti emphasized he was not casting any reflection on current city officials. He said the city manager form of government is synonymous with city progress. Eugene W. Hogan was named the recipient of the Association of Commerce's annual achievement award. Hogan, manager of the Anaconda American Brass Co. plant in Mattoon, has been active in numerous community projects since coming to Mattoon in April 1956. Among those activities have been with the Mattoon United Fund, Mattoon chapter of the Red Cross, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, Mattoon Association of Commerce, Mattoon Memorial Hospital and Coles County Mental Health Association... MATTOON -- "A New Vista -- New Horizons" is the title of the address that Gerald Smith, executive director of the Illinois Junior College Board, will deliver Sunday during formal dedication ceremonies of Lake Land College. The ceremonies begin at 2 p.m. at the National Guard Armory. Clem Phipps of Mattoon, chairman of the Lake Land Board, will deliver a dedicatory statement. The Effingham High School band will provide a musical prelude to the ceremonies.

25 years ago, 1992

HINDSBORO -- Finding where to spend $60,000 in lottery winnings is no problem for Anita Mercer of Hindsboro. She claimed a first prize of $60,125 from the Oct. 7 Little Lotto drawing. She and three other people correctly matched all five numbers, splitting the $240,500 payout. She said she and her husband, Paul, invested some of the winnings. They also paid bills and bought a bass boat. Mercers winning ticket was purchased at Wareco Country Market in Arcola, which received 1 percent bonus of $601 CHARLESTON -- News that may have cost pennies in the 1850s is estimated to be worth thousands of dollars in 1992. According to a Charleston police report, someone took an 1851 Ohio Register newspaper from the home of Brenda E. Fiscus of Charleston between 12:45 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Fiscus, who declined comment when contacted yesterday, told police the newspaper was valued at $40,000.

100 years ago, Nov. 8, 1917

MATTOON -- Thirty thousand fish -- bass, crappie and cat -- reclaimed from the Indian Graves drainage district near Quincy, were received in Mattoon today from a special rail car of division of fish and game of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. the fish were hurriedly hauled from track No. 2 at the Illinois Central Railroad freight house, and were hurriedly hauled in large cans to the Paradise Reservoir. A number of people interested in fish visited the rail car to make an inspection. One of the state men accompanying the fish it is estimated the 22 million pounds of fish from from just the Illinois River annually to eastern markets when they should be consumed within this state... CHARLESTON -- What will they think of next? Starting this week, patrons of a Charleston barber shop have been getting their hair cut by an electric clipper, a most perfect and well-arranged machine. The little machine does its work so rapidly that one now can have a hair cut in one-half the time that it usually consumed, one patron remarked after he had his dome cleared of hair in no time.

50 years ago, 1967

CHARLESTON -- Preliminary estimates indicate the fire that destroyed the Wilb Walker Supermarket and the Ben Franklin store in Charleston last night caused $500,000 in damages. Wilb Walker of Mattoon, owner of the supermarket and the building which housed both stores on Charleston's west side, said plans are to re-build the structure, which was a little more than two years old. There were no injuries in the blaze which firemen battled for more than six hours. Both stores were still open when the fire was discovered at 8:05 p.m... STRASBURG -- Army Spec. 4 Steve A. Giertz, son of Mrs. Wanda M. Giertz, Strasburg, has been awarded the Purple Heart Medal for injuries received in Vietnam Oct. 20. He has been transferred from Vietnam to a hospital in Tokyo, Japan.

25 years ago, 1992

Sunday. No paper.
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes products serving the oil, natural gas, industrial, and renewable energy industries in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Drilling & Downhole, Completions, and Production. The Drilling & Downhole segment designs, manufactures, and supplies products, and provides related services to the drilling, well construction, artificial lift, and subsea energy construction markets, including applications in oil and natural gas, renewable energy, defense, and communications. This segment offers drilling technologies consisting of capital equipment and a line of products consumed in the drilling process; well construction casing and cementing equipment, and protection products for artificial lift equipment and cables; and subsea remotely operated vehicles and trenchers, submarine rescue vehicles, specialty components and tools, and complementary subsea technical services. The Completions segment offers hydraulic fracturing pumps, cooling systems, high-pressure flexible hoses, and flow iron for pressure pumping, hydraulic fracturing and flowback services markets; wireline cable and pressure control equipment for well completion and intervention service markets; and coiled tubing strings and coiled line pipe. The Production segment designs, manufactures, and supplies products, and provides related equipment and services for production and infrastructure markets. This segment offers engineered process systems, production equipment, specialty separation equipment, and various industrial valves for oil and natural gas customers, power generation, renewable energy, and other general industrial applications. The company was formerly known as Forum Oilfield Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. in August 2010. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Artists from the Nebraska by Heart public art project opened their hearts and shared stories about what inspired them to create the projects 89 six-foot heart sculptures as they visited with guests at a public viewing event Oct. 5 on the Haymarket Park concourse.

Artist Nicole Battelle Van Hook of Lincoln said she created her sculpture Moonlight and Romeo, which had previously been displayed in front of the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, in memory of her father, the late K.D. Battelle.

He gave me a copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare when I was a girl, she said. Since Shakespeare is in the public domain, I photographed the pages of Romeo and Juliet and reproduced them on vinyl to make the young womans dress. She is a modern-day Juliet, and the heart is the moon. She is waiting for her Romeo on the selfie bench.

Its been beautiful seeing people mingle with my artwork, she added. Its very humbling to see people sit there and have their pictures taken.

Battelle Van Hook, an artist-in-residence at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, also created the heart sculptures Blank Canvas, The Key and Save a Little Room for Magic.

Artist Karen Neppl of Grand Island described how she created her sculpture Significant Symbols of Nebraska.

I started scribbling a list of significant things Nebraska is about, and then I started drawing and putting things together, making a zentangle, using different patterns and doodling, she said.

Her resulting design symbolizes some of Nebraskas highlights  from Carhenge and wind turbines out west to teepees representing the Winnebago tribe up north, to the Kool-Aid mascot in south-central Nebraska at Hastings (where Kool-Aid was developed), to the Capitol building in Lincoln and an apple in the southeast representing Nebraska City, where Arbor Day was founded  plus many more.

Neppl also created heart sculptures titled Favorite Fishing Hole and Sunrise/Sunset Nebraska Mosaic.

Nebraska by Heart project director Liz Shea-McCoy of Lincoln created a heart sculpture titled Hail to the Red, White and Blue. She said the piece portrays the patriotism that has always been part of her life. Her father, Dr. Bill Weyhrauch, served in World War II, and her husband, Dr. Michael McCoy, is a U.S. Navy veteran from the Vietnam era.

The sculptures all symbolize Nebraska as Americas Heartland and the love its citizens feel for their great state, in 89 dynamic perspectives, featuring imaginative designs  realistic and whimsical, Shea-McCoy said.

Auction raises over $250,000

The heart sculptures were auctioned off the following evening, Oct. 6. Stormy weather did not deter bidders from throughout Nebraska and as far away as Washington D.C. At the end of the evening, the auction raised over $250,000, which was split three ways between the artists and Lincoln-based nonprofits Lead Up and Sadie Dog Fund.

The $250,000 amount does not include money raised from sales of a book and other merchandise created for Nebraska by Heart. The book and merchandise continue to be available online at nebraskabyheart.org and at the From Nebraska gift shop at Eighth and Q streets.

Many who purchased heart sculptures are still deciding where to install them, so a list of the hearts new locations is not yet available, Shea-McCoy said.

The Nebraska Sesquicentennial Commission endorsed Nebraska by Heart as a Legacy project in celebrating our states 150th anniversary celebration this past year. The hearts were transported to Haymarket Park for the public viewing and auction after being displayed throughout Lincoln May 1-Oct. 1.
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Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.

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Apollo Global Management, Inc. is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity and real estate markets. The firm's private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions. The firm provides its services to endowment and sovereign wealth funds, as well as other institutional and individual investors. It manages client focused portfolios. The firm launches and manages hedge funds for its clients. It also manages real estate funds and private equity funds for its clients. The firm invests in the fixed income and alternative investment markets across the globe. Its fixed income investments include income-oriented senior loans, bonds, collateralized loan obligations, structured credit, opportunistic credit, non-performing loans, distressed debt, mezzanine debt, and value oriented fixed income securities. The firm seeks to invest in chemicals, commodities, consumer and retail, oil and gas, metals, mining, agriculture, commodities, distribution and transportation, financial and business services, manufacturing and industrial, media distribution, cable, entertainment and leisure, telecom, technology, natural resources, energy, packaging and materials, and satellite and wireless industries. It seeks to invest in companies based in across Africa, North America with a focus on United States, and Europe. The firm also makes investments outside North America, primarily in Western Europe and Asia. It employs a combination of contrarian, value, and distressed strategies to make its investments. The firm seeks to make investments in the range of $10 million and $1500 million. The firm seeks to invest in companies with Enterprise value between $750 million to $2500 million. The firm conducts an in-house research to create its investment portfolio. It seeks to acquire minority and majority positions in its portfolio companies. Apollo Global Management, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, New York with additional offices in North America, Asia , India and Europe.
The following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial.

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OMAHA  A woman charged with vehicular homicide and drunken driving after a fatal Sarpy County collision has pleaded not guilty.

Paige Seaton, 22, entered the pleas Tuesday.

The Oct. 4 crash on Nebraska 50 killed 15-year-old Alexandra Linscott of Eagle, who was a passenger in her mother's car. Her mother, 48-year-old Elisa Linscott, was critically injured.

Investigators say Seaton's car crossed the center line, hitting the Linscotts' car. Officials say Seaton's blood-alcohol level after the crash measured more than twice the legal driving limit.
A California man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for 7.8 pounds of heroin found in a traffic stop in Dawson County last year.

Miguel Eduardo Sanchez, 28, of Chula Vista, California, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin on April 23, 2016.

U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced him Friday in Omaha to the prison time, plus five years of supervised release.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped to help Sanchez and Teara Voris of Carson City, Nevada, in a U-Haul truck on Interstate 80 near the Overton exit in Dawson County and became suspicious.

The trooper was given permission to search and found five bundles of heroin in a side-by-side refrigerator.

Rossiter sentenced Voris in August to two years in prison, plus two years of supervised release.